bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sero-Epidemiological Survey of Orthopoxvirus in Stray Cats and in Different Domestic, Wild and Exotic Animal Species of Central Italy
Authors: Rosone Francesca , Sala Marcello Giovanni , Cardeti Giusy , Rombolà Pasquale , Cittadini Marina , Carnio Azzurra , Giordani Roberta , Scicluna Maria Teresa
Published: October 2021

Orthpoxvirus infection can spread more easily in a population with a waning immunity with the subsequent emergence/re-emergence of the viruses pertaining to this genus. In the last two decades, several cases of Orthopoxvirus, and in particular Cowpoxvirus infections in humans were reported in different parts of the world, possibly due to the suspension of smallpox vaccinations. To date, in Italy, few investigations were conducted on the presence of these infections, and because of this a serosurvey was carried out to evaluate Cowpoxvirus infection in feline colonies situated in the province of Rome, since these are also susceptible to other zoonotic viruses belonging to Orthopoxvirus, and from which humans may contract the infection. The sample design was set at an expected minimum seroprevalence of 7.5%, a 5% standard error and 95% confidence level. In parallel, a serological investigation was conducted using convenience sampling in domestic, exotic and wild susceptible animals of the Latium and Tuscany Regions, which are areas in the jurisdiction of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana, coordinating this study. The serological methods employed were indirect immunofluorescence for 36 sera of nonhuman primate and virus neutralization for 1198 sera of different species. All the 1234 sera examined were negative for the presence of antibodies against Cowpoxvirus, indicating its limited circulation in the areas of investigation. The methodology applied for the serosurveillance could be adopted in the case of outbreaks of this infection and for the evaluation of the spread of this infection in the area of interest, to obtain essential information crucial for animal and public health policies according to the One Health concept.
Direct RNA Sequencing Reveals SARS-CoV-2 m6A Sites and Possible Differential DRACH Motif Methylation among Variants
Authors: Campos João H. C. , Maricato Juliana T. , Braconi Carla T. , Antoneli Fernando , Janini Luiz Mario R. , Briones Marcelo R. S.
Published: October 2021

The causative agent of COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, has a 29,903 bases positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome. RNAs exhibit about 150 modified bases that are essential for proper function. Among internal modified bases, the N6-methyladenosine, or m6A, is the most frequent, and is implicated in SARS-CoV-2 immune response evasion. Although the SARS-CoV-2 genome is RNA, almost all genomes sequenced thus far are, in fact, reverse transcribed complementary DNAs. This process reduces the true complexity of these viral genomes because the incorporation of dNTPs hides RNA base modifications. Here, we present an initial exploration of Nanopore direct RNA sequencing to assess the m6A residues in the SARS-CoV-2 sequences of ORF3a, E, M, ORF6, ORF7a, ORF7b, ORF8, N, ORF10 and the 3′-untranslated region. We identified fifteen m6A methylated positions, of which, six are in ORF N. Additionally, because m6A is associated with the DRACH motif, we compared its distribution in major SARS-CoV-2 variants. Although DRACH is highly conserved among variants, we show that variants Beta and Eta have a fourth position C > U change in DRACH at 28,884b that could affect methylation. This is the first report of direct RNA sequencing of a Brazilian SARS-CoV-2 sample coupled with the identification of modified bases.
A CRISPR Activation Screen Identifies an Atypical Rho GTPase That Enhances Zika Viral Entry
Authors: Luu Anh Phuong , Yao Zhenlan , Ramachandran Sangeetha , Azzopardi Stephanie A. , Miles Linde A. , Schneider William M. , Hoffmann H.-Heinrich , Bozzacco Leonia , Garcia Gustavo , Gong Danyang , Damoiseaux Robert , Tang Hengli , Morizono Kouki , Rudin Charles M. , Sun Ren , Arumugaswami Vaithilingaraja , Poirier John T. , MacDonald Margaret R. , Rice Charles M. , Li Melody M. H.
Published: October 2021

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging flavivirus that has caused large-scale epidemics. Infection during pregnancy can lead to neurologic developmental abnormalities in children. There is no approved vaccine or therapy for ZIKV. To uncover cellular pathways required for ZIKV that can be therapeutically targeted, we transcriptionally upregulated all known human coding genes with an engineered CRISPR–Cas9 activation complex in human fibroblasts deficient in interferon (IFN) signaling. We identified Ras homolog family member V (RhoV) and WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1) as proviral factors, and found them to play important roles during early ZIKV infection in A549 cells. We then focused on RhoV, a Rho GTPase with atypical terminal sequences and membrane association, and validated its proviral effects on ZIKV infection and virion production in SNB-19 cells. We found that RhoV promotes infection of some flaviviruses and acts at the step of viral entry. Furthermore, RhoV proviral effects depend on the complete GTPase cycle. By depleting Rho GTPases and related proteins, we identified RhoB and Pak1 as additional proviral factors. Taken together, these results highlight the positive role of RhoV in ZIKV infection and confirm CRISPR activation as a relevant method to identify novel host–pathogen interactions.
Binding of a Pocket Factor to Hepatitis B Virus Capsids Changes the Rotamer Conformation of Phenylalanine 97
Authors: Makbul Cihan , Kraft Christian , Grießmann Matthias , Rasmussen Tim , Katzenberger Kilian , Lappe Melina , Pfarr Paul , Stoffer Cato , Stöhr Mara , Wandinger Anna-Maria , Böttcher Bettina
Published: October 2021

(1) Background: During maturation of the Hepatitis B virus, a viral polymerase inside the capsid transcribes a pre-genomic RNA into a partly double stranded DNA-genome. This is followed by envelopment with surface proteins inserted into a membrane. Envelopment is hypothetically regulated by a structural signal that reports the maturation state of the genome. NMR data suggest that such a signal can be mimicked by the binding of the detergent Triton X 100 to hydrophobic pockets in the capsid spikes. (2) Methods: We have used electron cryo-microscopy and image processing to elucidate the structural changes that are concomitant with the binding of Triton X 100. (3) Results: Our maps show that Triton X 100 binds with its hydrophobic head group inside the pocket. The hydrophilic tail delineates the outside of the spike and is coordinated via Lys-96. The binding of Triton X 100 changes the rotamer conformation of Phe-97 in helix 4, which enables a π-stacking interaction with Trp-62 in helix 3. Similar changes occur in mutants with low secretion phenotypes (P5T and L60V) and in a mutant with a pre-mature secretion phenotype (F97L). (4) Conclusion: Binding of Triton X 100 is unlikely to mimic structural maturation because mutants with different secretion phenotypes show similar structural responses.
Facilitating Antiviral Drug Discovery Using Genetic and Evolutionary Knowledge
Authors: Xu Xuan , Zhang Qing-Ye , Chu Xin-Yi , Quan Yuan , Lv Bo-Min , Zhang Hong-Yu
Published: October 2021

Over the course of human history, billions of people worldwide have been infected by various viruses. Despite rapid progress in the development of biomedical techniques, it is still a significant challenge to find promising new antiviral targets and drugs. In the past, antiviral drugs mainly targeted viral proteins when they were used as part of treatment strategies. Since the virus mutation rate is much faster than that of the host, such drugs feature drug resistance and narrow-spectrum antiviral problems. Therefore, the targeting of host molecules has gradually become an important area of research for the development of antiviral drugs. In recent years, rapid advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques have enabled numerous genetic studies (such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screening, etc.) for human diseases, providing valuable genetic and evolutionary resources. Furthermore, it has been revealed that successful drug targets exhibit similar genetic and evolutionary features, which are of great value in identifying promising drug targets and discovering new drugs. Considering these developments, in this article the authors propose a host-targeted antiviral drug discovery strategy based on knowledge of genetics and evolution. We first comprehensively summarized the genetic, subcellular location, and evolutionary features of the human genes that have been successfully used as antiviral targets. Next, the summarized features were used to screen novel druggable antiviral targets and to find potential antiviral drugs, in an attempt to promote the discovery of new antiviral drugs.
School-Level Variation in Coverage of Co-Administered dTpa and HPV Dose 1 in Three Australian States
Authors: Vujovich-Dunn Cassandra , Skinner Susan Rachel , Brotherton Julia , Wand Handan , Sisnowski Jana , Lorch Rebecca , Veitch Mark , Sheppeard Vicky , Effler Paul , Gidding Heather , Venn Alison , Davies Cristyn , Hocking Jane , Whop Lisa J. , Leask Julie , Canfell Karen , Sanci Lena , Smith Megan , Kang Melissa , Temple-Smith Meredith , Kidd Michael , Burns Sharyn , Selvey Linda , Meijer Dennis , Ennis Sonya , Thomson Chloe A. , Lane Nikole , Kaldor John , Guy Rebecca
Published: October 2021

Background: Australian adolescents are routinely offered HPV and dTpa (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccines simultaneously in the secondary school vaccination program. We identified schools where HPV initiation was lower than dTpa coverage and associated school-level factors across three states. Methods: HPV vaccination initiation rates and dTpa vaccination coverage in 2016 were calculated using vaccine databases and school enrolment data. A multivariate analysis assessed sociodemographic and school-level factors associated with HPV initiation being >5% absolute lower than dTpa coverage. Results: Of 1280 schools included, the median school-level HPV initiation rate was 85% (interquartile range (IQR):75–90%) and the median dTpa coverage was 86% (IQR:75–92%). Nearly a quarter (24%) of all schools had HPV vaccination initiation >5% lower than dTpa coverage and 11 % had >10% difference. School-level factors independently associated with >5% difference were remote schools (aOR:3.5, 95% CI = 1.7–7.2) and schools in major cities (aOR:1.8, 95% CI = 1.0–3.0), small schools (aOR:3.3, 95% CI = 2.3–5.7), higher socioeconomic advantage (aOR:1.7, 95% CI = 1.1–2.6), and lower proportions of Language-background-other-than-English (aOR:1.9, 95% CI = 1.2–3.0). Conclusion: The results identified a quarter of schools had lower HPV than dTpa initiation coverage, which may indicate HPV vaccine hesitancy, and the difference was more likely in socioeconomically advantaged schools. As hesitancy is context specific, it is important to understand the potential drivers of hesitancy and future research needs to understand the reasons driving differential uptake.
The COVID-19 mRNA BNT163b2 Vaccine Was Well Tolerated and Highly Immunogenic in Young Adults in Long Follow-Up after Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Matkowska-Kocjan Agnieszka , Owoc-Lempach Joanna , Chruszcz Joanna , Kuźnik Edwin , Szenborn Filip , Jurczenko Lidia , Wójcik Marta , Banyś Dorota , Szenborn Leszek , Ussowicz Marek
Published: October 2021

Sixty five patients (18–31 years) who had received allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (3–27 years from HSCT) were evaluated for the tolerance and immunogenicity of the COVID-19 mRNA BNT163b2 vaccine. Methods: Patients were vaccinated with two doses at 5 weeks interval. After each dose, patients completed a survey concerning adverse events (AE) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were measured before the first vaccine dose (1stVD) and 14–21 days after the second dose (2ndVD). AE reported after 1stVD and 2ndVD, respectively were: fever 0%, 1.7%; fatigue 15.4%, 25.8%; headache 15.4%, 24.1%; chills 6.1%, 12.0%; muscle pain 15.4%, 24.1%; joint pain 3.0%, 6.9%; nausea 6.1%, 6.9%; pain at injection site 30.7%, 34.4%; swelling 3.0%, 10.3%; redness 0, 3.4%; pruritus 0, 5.2%; and axillary lymphadenopathy 3.0%, 1.7%. After 2ndVD, 96.5% patients were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 (GMC 3290.94 BAU/mL). No correlation presented between the antibody titer and symptoms of chronic Graft-versus-Host disease, total IgG, lymphocyte CD4+, or AE. Significantly higher titers were observed in COVID-19 convalescents, and inverse correlation (R2 = −0.0925, p = 0.02) between the time from HSCT and titers after 2ndVD was present. Conclusions: The young adults after HSCT tolerate the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine well and show immunologic response.
RNA Vaccines against Infectious Diseases: Vital Progress with Room for Improvement
Authors: Abdelzaher Hana M. , Gabr Asmaa S. , Saleh Basma M. , Abdel Gawad Rana M. , Nour Ahmed A. , Abdelanser Anwar
Published: October 2021

mRNA vaccines have amassed a strong interest from scientists and nonscientists alike for their potential in treating cancer and curbing the spread of infectious diseases. Their success has been bolstered by the COVID-19 pandemic as mRNA vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 virus showed unrivaled efficiency and success. The strategy relies on the delivery of an RNA transcript that carries the sequence of an antigenic molecule into the body’s cells where the antigen is manufactured. The lack of use of infectious pathogens and the fact that they are made of nucleic acids render these vaccines a favorable alternative to other vaccination modalities. However, mRNA vaccination still suffers from a great deal of hurdles starting from their safety, cellular delivery, uptake and response to their manufacturing, logistics and storage. In this review, we examine the premise of RNA vaccination starting from their conceptualization to their clinical applications. We also thoroughly discuss the advances in the field of RNA vaccination for infectious diseases. Finally, we discuss the challenges impeding their progress and shed light on potential areas of research in the field.
Characteristics of Visual Saliency Caused by Character Feature for Reconstruction of Saliency Map Model
Authors: Takano Hironobu , Nagashima Taira , Nakamura Kiyomi
Published: October 2021

Visual saliency maps have been developed to estimate the bottom-up visual attention of humans. A conventional saliency map represents a bottom-up visual attention using image features such as the intensity, orientation, and color. However, it is difficult to estimate the visual attention using a conventional saliency map in the case of a top-down visual attention. In this study, we investigate the visual saliency for characters by applying still images including both characters and symbols. The experimental results indicate that characters have specific visual saliency independent of the type of language.
Developmental Trajectories of Size Constancy as Implicitly Examined by Simple Reaction Times
Authors: Sperandio Irene
Published: October 2021

It is still unclear whether size constancy is an innate ability or whether it develops with age. As many developmental studies are limited to the child’s comprehension of the task instructions, here, an implicit measure of perceived size, namely, simple manual reaction time (RT), was opted for based on the assumption that perceptually bigger objects generate faster detection times. We examined size constancy in children (from 5 to 14 years of age) and adults using a simple RT approach. Participants were presented with pictures of tennis balls on a screen that was physically moved to two viewing distances. Visual stimuli were adjusted in physical size in order to subtend the same visual angle across distances, determining two conditions: a small-near tennis ball vs. a big-far tennis ball. Thanks to size constancy, the two tennis balls were perceived as different even though they were of equal size on the retina. Stimuli were also matched in terms of luminance. Participants were asked to react as fast as possible to the onset of the stimuli. The results show that the RTs reflected the perceived rather than the retinal size of the stimuli across the different age groups, such that participants responded faster to stimuli that were perceived as bigger than those perceived as smaller. Hence, these findings are consistent with the idea that size constancy is already present in early childhood, at least from the age of five, and does not require extensive visual learning.
Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Isotherms of Methylene Blue Adsorption Study onto Cassava Stem Activated Carbon
Authors: Sulaiman Nurul Syuhada , Mohamad Amini Mohd Hazim , Danish Mohammed , Sulaiman Othman , Hashim Rokiah
Published: October 2021

Water treatment using activated carbon is widely accepted, despite its high production cost. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the potential of cassava stem in activated carbon form for methylene blue (MB) dye uptake from water. Raw cassava stem (RCS) was also utilized to evaluate the difference between cassava stem in its raw form and after being converted to the activated carbon (ACS). The MB adsorption from water using the RCS and ACS was done in this study. The batch adsorption study showed fast MB uptake by ACS at 60 min contact time, while higher adsorbent dosage and higher pH contributed to higher adsorption percentage. The thermodynamic study showed positive values of ∆H° of ACS, indicating that the adsorption process of MB was endothermic. Meanwhile, the negative value of ∆G° showed that the adsorption processes of MB were spontaneous. The thermodynamic study showed higher fitting to Langmuir isotherm, with data from the kinetic study showing better pseudo-second-order equation fitting, which suggests the chemisorption process had happened. The highest adsorption recorded by ACS was 384.61 mg/g, indicating the possibility of cassava stem as the lower cost raw material for activated carbon production with excellent adsorption characteristics.
Removal Performance of Faecal Indicators by Natural and Silver-Modified Zeolites of Various Particle Sizes under Dynamic Batch Experiments: Preliminary Results
Authors: Syngouna Vasiliki I. , Vantarakis Apostolos
Published: October 2021

One of the oldest and most promising applications of natural zeolites (NZs) is in water and wastewater treatment processes. Modified zeolites (MZs), with improved ion exchange and adsorption capacities, have been extensively applied to the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions. However, the application of MZs in pathogens or indicator organisms has not been extensively explored. This study examines the effect of both natural Greek zeolite (NZ), with a clinoptilolite content of up to 85% (OLYMPUS SA-INDUSTRIAL MINERALS), and modified Greek zeolite through incorporation with silver ions (Ag-MNZ), on the survival of two selected faecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis). A series of dynamic batch experiments with a slow agitation of 12 rpm were conducted at a constant ambient temperature (22°C) in order to examine the inactivation of the above bacteria by NZ and Ag-MNZ. It was found that the Ag-MNZ resulted in a much higher reduction in the bacterial numbers when compared to the NZ and the control (absence of zeolites). Moreover, the reduction in bacterial numbers was affected by NZ particle size, with higher removal rates observed for coarse (1–3 mm) than for fine (0–1 mm) NZ. Finally, the E. faecalis was found to be more resistant than E. coli to Ag-MNZ.
Assessment of the Continuous Extreme Drought Events in Namibia during the Last Decade
Authors: Liu Xuan , Zhou Jie
Published: October 2021

In the context of climate change, the intensity, frequency, and duration of drought events have increased significantly, resulting in a profound impact on both natural ecosystems and socio-economic systems. In arid and semi-arid regions, precipitation is the main limiting factor for vegetation growth, and the ecosystems are very sensitive to climate change. Over the past 10 years, the Namibian government has declared national emergencies in 2013, 2016, and 2019 due to extreme drought events. The continued extreme drought has posed serious threat to the country’s food security. Accurately monitoring the continuous drought events in Namibia and assessing their impact on the ecosystem is essential for drought risk management in the region. Based on long-term satellite observation of vegetation index and precipitation, we have evaluated the spatiotemporal dynamics of the three drought events, the vegetation–precipitation relationship across biomes, and the impact of continuous drought events on regional ecosystems. The results suggest that: (1) According to affected area and severity, the drought in 2019 was the most severe one, followed by the drought in 2013; the 2015–2016 drought spread over smaller spatial area, although it continued for two years; (2) Both the accumulated NDVI and precipitation in the growing season in Namibia increased from 2001 to 2010 while showing a significant decreasing trend during 2011–2020; (3) In Namibia, there is a significant correlation between the current season’s accumulated precipitation and the current season’s accumulated NDVI (r = 0.90, p < 0.01). The current season’s accumulated precipitation is also well correlated with the next season’s accumulated NDVI (r = 0.87, p < 0.01), and the correlation between the current season’s accumulated precipitation and the next season’s accumulated NDVI in a wet year is even stronger (r = 0.96, p < 0.01). This indicates that part of the precipitation in the current season may be stored in the soil for the next season’s plant growth, which is more obvious in the northern plains with deep-rooted woody plants; (4) In 2013, the drought event suddenly changed from a long-term relatively humid state to an extremely dry state. During the ecological recovery stage, the NDVI during the growing season could not return to the state before the drought, causing irreversible damage to the Namibian ecosystem. In summary, the continuous extreme drought events during the last decade have caused profound impacts on the regional ecosystem. Much more attention should be paid to whether the extreme drought events will continue into the next decade and how the ecosystem can sustain a new equilibrium under a warmer and drier climate.
Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Surface Soils of Laizhou, Eastern China
Authors: Zhao Zhigang , Jiang Haishui , Kong Linghao , Shen Tianyi , Zhang Xionghua , Gu Songsong , Han Xiangcai , Li Yachao
Published: October 2021

With the rapid industrialization and urbanization, more attention is turning to heavy metal contamination in the soil environment. To assess the potential environmental risk on soil, a comprehensive geochemistry study on heavy metal was performed in Laizhou, eastern China, using 3834 surface soil samples (0–20 cm, regular grid of 1 × 1 km2) and 60 layered soil samples (0–200 cm) were analyzed. The average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn and Pb were 7.60 mg·kg−1, 0.15 mg·kg−1, 45.50 mg·kg−1, 19.10 mg·kg−1, 44.00μg·kg−1, 18.70 mg·kg−1, 51.40 mg·kg−1 and 29.00 mg·kg−1, which were lower than the threshold levels of the Grade II criteria of China national environment quality standard for soil, but the contents of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were higher than background values of eastern Shandong Province surface soil. Fractionation analysis showed that the potential bioavailability in surface soils decreases in the order of Cd > As > Cu > Ni > Zn > Cr > Pb > Hg. Soil assessments with enrichment factor, contamination factor, Nemerow composite index, geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk index, indicate the soil in Laizhou is contaminated strongly with As, Cd and Hg and a moderately Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn. The level of Pb pollution is between moderate to high. Multivariate analyses suggest that Cr and Ni were derived mainly from natural sources, and As, Cd, Pb, while Hg mostly came from anthropogenic sources. Cu and Zn were from a mixture of anthropogenic and natural sources. Our results demonstrate that more attention should be paid to monitoring soil quality in the heavily polluted site.
Evaluation of MNA in A Chlorinated Solvents-Contaminated Aquifer Using Reactive Transport Modeling Coupled with Isotopic Fractionation Analysis
Authors: Antelmi Matteo , Mazzon Pietro , Höhener Patrick , Marchesi Massimo , Alberti Luca
Published: October 2021

Groundwater contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons is a worldwide problem that poses important challenges in remediation processes. In Italy, the Legislative Decree 152/06 defines the water quality limits to be obtained during the cleanup process. In situ bioremediation techniques are becoming increasingly important due to their affordability and, under the right conditions, because they can be more effective than conventional methodologies. In the initial feasibility study phase, the numerical modeling supports the reliability of each technique. Two different codes, BIOCHLOR and PHREEQC were discussed and compared assuming different field conditions. Isotopic Fractionation-Reactive Transport Models were then developed in one synthetic and one simple field case. From the results, the two codes were in agreement and also able to demonstrate the Monitored Natural Attenuation processes occurring at the dismissed site located in Italy. Finally, the PHREEQC model was used to forecast the remediation time frame by MNA, hypothesizing a complete source cleanup: a remediation time frame of about 10–11 years was achieved by means of natural attenuation processes.
Immobilization of TiO2 Semiconductor Nanoparticles onto Posidonia Oceanica Fibers for Photocatalytic Phenol Degradation
Authors: Morjène Latifa , Schwarze Michael , Seffen Mongi , Schomäcker Reinhard , Tasbihi Minoo
Published: October 2021

A new composite photocatalyst called POF/TiO2 was prepared from commercial P25 TiO2 and Posidonia oceanica fibers (POF), a biomaterial collected from Tunisia’s beach. The composite material was prepared by a classical sol-gel synthesis and was characterized by different methods. SEM images show a TiO2 layer formed on top of the fibers, which was verified by XRD and XPS. Diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy shows that the layer has the same optical properties (Eg = 3.0 eV) as bulk P25. The photodegradation of phenol as a model compound was studied under different operating conditions using POF/TiO2 and the results show degradation efficiencies between 4% (100 ppm) and 100% (<25 ppm) after 4 h of UV-C light irradiation (254 nm) using a POF/TiO2 concentration of about 1 g/L. The composite material showed good stability and could be recycled up to three times.
How Waterlogged Conditions Influence the Nitrogen Dynamics in a Soil–Water–Plant System: Implications for Wetland Restoration
Authors: Xie Lumeng , Liu Ying , Zhao Shiqiang , Dai Liyi , Zhang Zhifa , Zhang Mingxiang , Zhang Zhenming
Published: October 2021

Growing populations and industrialization have led to increased nitrogen (N) loads in wetland ecosystems. A micro-constructed wetland planted with Lythrum salicaria L. to treat artificial wastewater was used to investigate the short-term variations in the plant biomass and dynamics of total nitrogen (TN) content. Our results showed that the biomass of Lythrum salicaria L. rapidly increased during the experiment due to their extensive root system and vigorous spread, and waterlogged conditions had little effect on the relationship between biomass and the TN content in soil and effluent. Under different waterlogged conditions, the TN removal rates in the water were all greater than 60%, providing a reference for the waterlogged conditions used in wetland eutrophication restoration.
Biodegradation of Brown 706 Dye by Bacterial Strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Khan Asad Ullah , Rehman Mujaddad Ur , Zahoor Muhammad , Shah Abdul Bari , Zekker Ivar
Published: October 2021

Dyes are the most challenging pollutants for the aquatic environment that are not only toxic, but also interfering photosynthesis as light penetration into deep water is changed. A number of methods are used for the water reclamation, however, among them biological methods are preferably used due to their compatibility with nature. In the present research, 15 different bacterial strains were used to decolorize Brown 706 dye. Among the bacterial strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed maximum decolorization activity; hence in the subsequent experiments Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used. First the decolorization activities were carried out under different physicochemical conditions to obtain the optimum decolorization benefits of the selected microorganism. The optimum conditions established were 37°C, pH of 7 and operation cycle time 72 h. In the subsequent experiment all optimum conditions were combined in a single experiment where 73.91% of decolorization efficiency was achieved. For the evaluation of metabolites formed after decolorization/degradation the aliquots containing bacteria were homogenized, filtered and then subjected to extraction. The extracted metabolites were then subjected to the silica gel column isolation. UV–Vis, FTIR, and NMR techniques were used to elucidate structures of the metabolites. Out of the collected metabolites only P-xylene was identified, which has been formed by cleavage of azo linkage by azo reductase enzyme of bacteria following the deamination and methylation of nitro substituted benzene ring.
Cyclones and Global Floods from an Observation-Simulation Evaluation: Contributions and Long-Term Changes
Authors: Wang Liangyi , Gu Xihui , Beck Hylke E.
Published: October 2021

As two of the most destructive natural disasters, tropical cyclones (TCs) and extratropical cyclones (ETCs) can bring about huge casualties and socioeconomic losses to the major continents. However, little is known about the contributions of TCs and ETCs to global flooding and the spatial-temporal variations both in the magnitude and frequency of cyclone-related floods. We collected, to our knowledge, the most complete global streamflow dataset with at least 25-year complete records between 1979 and 2012. Using this observed streamflow dataset and simulated runoff dataset from ERA5 reanalysis, for the first time at the global scale, our results show that the highest contributions of TCs to annual floods occur in coastal areas of East Asia and Australia (both > 40%), followed by North America (>25%), with a general decrease from coastline to inland, while the highest contributions of ETCs to annual floods occur in Eurasia (>70%) and North America (>60%), followed by South America and South Africa (>50%). Seasonally, TC-induced floods are clustered to occur in boreal (austral) summer and autumn, respectively, in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere, while there is no significant difference in ETC-induced floods among the four seasons. Additionally, contributions of cyclones to floods in simulations are highly consistent with the observations. Except for East Asia, both the magnitude and frequency of TC-induced floods show increasing trends in South Asia, coastal North America, Mexico, north Australia and southeastern South Africa, which is basically and directly explained by increasing TC tracks, duration and density in these areas. For ETCs, widespread decreasing trends in magnitude and frequency of ETC-induced floods were detected across Eurasia, South America, and most of North America. Changes in large-scale environmental variables also correspond well to cyclone activities, which further confirms the reasonable trends in magnitude and frequency of cyclone floods.
Erasmus+ Projesinde Gençlik Çalışanı Rolünde Öğretmen Olmak
Authors: FANSA Mehmet
Published: October 2021

Küreselleşmenin etkisiyle insanlar arasındaki bilgi alışverişi artmakta ve uluslararası düzenlenen projeler ile öğrenme hareketliliği hız kazanmaktadır. Uluslararası hareketlilik kapsamındaki etkinlikler değerlendirildiğinde Erasmus projelerinin bu alanda öncü olduğu görülmektedir. Bu projeler, fırsat ve imkân eşitliğini sağlamanın yanı sıra Avrupa Birliği’ne üye ve aday ülkelerin eğitim seviyesini de yükseltmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Son yıllarda bu projeler, uluslararası alanda düzenlenen informal öğrenme etkinliklerinin merkezi haline gelmiştir. Türkiye de Erasmus projelerine katılım gösteren ülkeler arasındadır. Türkiye’nin Erasmus kapsamında katılımcı olarak dâhil olduğu projelerden biri de Romanya’da gerçekleştirilen “Listen, Feel, Communicate” [Dinle, Hisset, İletişim Kur] adlı projedir. Projenin katılımcı ülkeleri; İtalya, İspanya, Litvanya, Romanya ve Türkiye’dir. Proje katılımcıları; öğretmenlik ve diğer sosyal bilimler alanlarından mezun olmuşlardır. Araştırma grubu, projedeki beş ülke grubundan seçilen altı öğretmenden oluşmaktadır. Bu araştırma, projeye katılan öğretmenlerin kendilerini gençlik çalışanı olarak nasıl anlamlandırdığını ve projenin mesleki gelişimlerine katkısını betimlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu çalışma, fenomenoloji deseninde nitel bir araştırmadır. Araştırmada bulguları ortaya çıkarmak için içerik analizi yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda katılımcılar, gençlik çalışanı olmayı; gönüllü, eleştirel, hareketli, öz güveni yüksek ve yenilikçi roller ile betimlemiştir. Ayrıca proje sürecindeki deneyimlerin öğretmenlere yeni dil ve eğlenceli öğrenme ortamı sağladığı, öğretmenlerin teknoloji becerilerini geliştirdiği ve informal öğrenme yolu ile proje konusu olan iletişim alanındaki bilgilerini artırdığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Araştırma, uluslararası projelerin artırılmasını, proje kazanımlarının proje sonrasında etkinliklerle yaygınlaştırılmasını ve katılımcıların İngilizce seviyelerinin geliştirilmesini önermektedir.
Vacance du siège épiscopal ou absence de l’évêque dans le diocèse de Liège (971-1200)
Authors: Kupper Jean-Louis
Published: October 2021

L’article traite des vacances et absences de l’évêque dans le diocèse de Liège au temps de l’Église impériale (Reichskirche). Il fait ressortir les problèmes rencontrés et les solutions apportées. Les dispositions arrêtées pour combler le vide passager du pouvoir restent conformes à la structure même de l’État ecclésiastique liégeois : pas de laïc dans le conseil de régence, peu de moines, surtout des chanoines de la cathédrale et, en particulier, le grand-prévôt qui s’empare du «vice-épiscopat » . Le sceau de l’évêque, un des symboles les plus importants de l’autorité épiscopale, reste sur place : il continuera, dans le diocèse, de conférer aux actes épiscopaux la force probante indispensable ; là où est le sceau, là même demeure le pouvoir épiscopal.
Un comte pour évêque : l’accession de Miron III de Besalú au siège de Gérone en 970/971
Authors: Strauch Yanick
Published: October 2021

Het artikel behandelt de verkiezing van graaf Miro III van Besalú, bekend als “ Bonfill”, als bisschop van Girona, in 970/ 971. De successie van de bisschoppelijke troon, vacant sinds de dood van bisschop Arnulf in april 970, veroorzaakt een conflict tussen de lokale aristocratie, vertegenwoordigd door de graven van Barcelona, van Cerdagna-Besalú en Empúrias, en de kerkelijke autoriteiten, waaronder Bisschop Atto van Vic. De verkiezing van graaf Miro iii “ Bonfill” sluit de interim-periode ; ze kan gezien worden als een ware casestudy van de politieke interactie en de individuele belangen van de lokale vorsers, evenals van de problemen veroorzaakt door hun familiale banden. De rol van het pausdom en de sociaaleconomische aspecten die voortvloeien uit de vacature van een belangrijke bisschoppelijke zetel van de Spaanse Mark worden ook benadrukt door deze studie.
Bischofsabsetzungen und ihre Konsequenzen : Konfliktpotentiale und Konfliktlösungen im frühen 12. Jahrhundert
Authors: Rückert Maria Magdalena
Published: October 2021

Although the period from the conclusion of the Worms Concordat until the outbreak of the Alexandrian schism was considered a quiet period in the German Imperial Church, between 1122 and 1159 there were 20 depositions of bishops. They were usually triggered by local conflicts, which generally continued during the vacancies. Throughout interim periods, the various local parties tried to exert their influence. In eight of ten cases, for example, the cathedral chapters succeeded in installing their desired candidate in the new elections. The rulers played a decisive role in resolving the local conflicts. Since the Concordat of Worms granted kings the right to be present at the bishop’s election and to approve the sanior pars in ambiguous elections, rulers were able, despite the loss of the royal right of investiture, to make use of the replacement of bishops for their imperial church policy.
Disparities in Access to Preemptive Repeat Kidney Transplant: Still Missing the Mark?
Authors: Vinson Amanda J. , Kiberd Bryce A. , West Kenneth , Mannon Roslyn B. , Foster Bethany J. , Tennankore Karthik K.
Published: October 2021

Background

The need for repeat transplant due to failing kidney allografts is increasing over time. The benefit of preemptive kidney retransplant (PKre-T) is controversial. Marginalized populations are less likely to undergo their first transplant preemptively; however, whether inequities exist for those undergoing PKre-T is unknown.

Methods

We performed a cohort study of adult patients undergoing live and deceased kidney transplant in the United States from 2000 to 2018 identified using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, and we identified patients with first preemptive kidney transplant (PKT) and PKre-T. In the primary analysis, a multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of PKre-T. In secondary analyses, multivariable Cox models were used to determine the association of PKre-T with death-censored and all-cause graft loss.

Results

In total, 4910 (15.5%) patients underwent PKre-T, and 43,293 (19.1%) underwent first PKT. Inequities in access to PKre-T persisted (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.55 for unemployed versus full time; OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.25 for graduate school versus not completing high school; OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.70 for Black versus White race); 7.1% of all transplanted Black patients received PKre-T versus 17.4% of White patients. Women were more likely to undergo PKre-T than men (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.29 to 1.57). PKre-T was associated with superior graft survival relative to retransplant after a period of dialysis (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.80 for all-cause graft failure; HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.81 for death-censored graft loss).

Conclusions

Despite improved patient and graft survival, inequities in access to PKre-T persist. Patients with lower education, patients with reduced employment status, patients of Black race, and men are less likely to receive PKre-T.
Plaque Removal Efficacy of Chewing Apples and Tooth-Brushing: A Comparative Cross Over Clinical Study
Authors: Mojarad Farzad , Entezari Moghaddam Niloufar , Farhadian Maryam , Ahmadi Bahar , Torkzaban Parviz
Published: October 2021

Background: The best and the most reliable methods to manage the dental plaque are still mechanical procedures. It has been traditionally recommended that a firm fruit such as an apple be eaten to minimize caries and control plaque at the end of a meal. However, several studies have reported contradictory findings about the microbial plaque function of the apples. Some studies, for instance, have found that apples contain sugar and, therefore, can cause plaque growth; some other researches, on the other hand, have shown that they have the potential to decrease plaque due to their mechanical plaque removal function. This study, therefore, aimed to compare the effects of apple-chewing method and that of tooth-brushing one on plaque removal. Methods: The study group included 48 healthy dental students with good oral health status, who were randomly selected to participate in this comparative, crossover clinical study. First, they were asked to brush their teeth or eat an apple. After 2 weeks, the experiment was repeated with the order reversed. Plaque indexes (PIs) were determined as before brushing/apple eating (baseline, B), immediately afterward (A), and 24 hours afterward (24). Results: Over time, there was a significant shift in the plaque index pattern between the groups (P value<0.001) but this discrepancy, in general, was not significant between the group using apple and the one using toothbrush (P value =0.495), as well as between the group using yellow apples, and the ones using red apples or the toothbrushes (P value =0.768). Conclusions: Comparing the two plaque control methods, it was found they were extremely similar; however, chewing yellow apples was discovered to be more effective method in reducing dental plaque than chewing red apples or using toothbrushes.
Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nanofibers: Current Research and Applications in Biomedical Application
Authors: Azari Arezo , Golchin Ali , Mahmoodinia Maymand Maryam , Mansouri Fatemeh , Ardeshirylajimi Abdolreza
Published: October 2021

Unique mechanical properties, miscibility potency, and biodegradability are the three prominent features of Polycaprolactone (PCL), making it an attractive biomaterial which commonly applied in regenerative medicine and biomedical engineering. Different strategies developed for fabricating nanofibrous construct, electrospinning is a practical, simple, and efficient technique based on electro-hydrodynamic systems that use an electrified viscous fluid jet drawn by the air toward a collector at a changing electric potential. PCL electrospun-based nanofibrous composites as proper scaffolds are employed in stem cell-related research, particularly in tissue engineering, wound dressing, and systems designed for sending drugs. A compilation of mechanochemical properties and most common biological performance on PCL-based electrospun fibrous structures in biomedical application are included in this study. Therefore, electrospun PCL nanofiber applying has been presented, and after that, current progress and prospects have been discussed. Literature reviews revealed that electrospun PCL nanofibrous composites had gained significant attention in regenerative medicine, and these structures have shown notable development in mechanobiological properties. This evidence is a crucial success for biomedical strategies, especially in regenerative medicine.
Transdermal Delivery of Capsaicin Nanoemulgel: Optimization, Skin Permeation and in Vivo Activity Against Diabetic Neuropathy
Authors: Saab May , Raafat Karim , El-Maradny Hoda
Published: October 2021

Purpose: Diabetic somatic neuropathy is one of the most prevalent complications in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Many treatments were investigated to alleviate the pain associated with this condition. Capsaicin is a naturally occurring lipophilic alkaloid that proved to be an effective and safe treatment of chronic painful disorders. Despite the known therapeutic benefits of capsaicin, the conventional topical formulations have limited bioavailability. Therefore, the current study aims to develop capsaicin nanoemulgel to increase skin permeation and enhance its activity against neuropathic pain. Methods: Low-energy emulsification method was used to prepare nanoemulsions, using eucalyptus oil as the oily phase, tween 80 as a surfactant, propylene glycol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol as co-surfactants. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to investigate and optimize the formulation. Subsequently, the optimum formulation was formulated as a nanoemulgel and investigated for, skin permeation using Franz diffusion cell, and diabetic neuropathy management using alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Results: The selected nanoemulsion containing 0.05% capsaicin is composed of 8 % oil, 24 % Smix (Tween 80: isopropyl alcohol 2:1 w/w) and 68 % water. It is characterized by nanosized globules (28.15±0.24 nm) with a relatively low polydispersity index (0.27±0.05). The nanoemulgel revealed circa 4-fold increase in capsaicin cumulative permeation when compared to the conventional gel, and an improvement in its antinociceptive properties was observed in the treated diabetic mice (p<0.05). Conclusion: The selected capsaicin nanoemulgel would be a promising transdermal formulation that may alleviate diabetic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients.
Bioactive PI3-kinase/Akt/mTOR Inhibitors in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy
Authors: Ghareghomi Somayyeh , Atabaki Vahideh , Abdollahzadeh Naseh , Ahmadian Shahin , Hafez Ghoran Salar
Published: October 2021

One of the central signaling pathways with a regulatory effect on cell proliferation and survival is Akt/mTOR. In many human cancer types, for instance, lung cancer, the overexpression of Akt/mTOR has been reported. For this reason, either targeting cancer cells by synthetic or natural products affecting the Akt/mTOR pathway down-regulation is a useful strategy in cancer therapy. Direct inhibition of the signaling pathway or modulation of each related molecule could have significant feedback on the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. A variety of secondary metabolites has been identified to directly inhibit the AKT/mTOR signaling, which is important in the field of drug discovery. Naturally occurring nitrogenous and phenolic compounds can emerge as two pivotal classes of natural products possessing anticancer abilities. Herein, we have summarized the alkaloids and flavonoids for lung cancer treatment together with all the possible mechanisms of action relying on the Akt/mTOR pathway down-regulation. This review suggested that in search of new drugs, phytochemicals could be considered as promising scaffolds to be developed into efficient drugs for the treatment of cancer. In this review, the terms "Akt/mTOR", "Alkaloid", "flavonoid", and "lung cancer" were searched without any limitation in search criteria in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google scholar engines.
Influence of Salinity on the Resources and Uses of Great Salt Lake
Authors:   Great Salt Lake Salinity Advisory Committee
Published: October 2021

The salinity of Great Salt Lake (GSL) plays a very influential role in shaping the lake’s unique ecological, recreational, and mineral resource uses. This memorandum summarizes a review of the literature and GSL databases to describe critical salinity ranges that influence these resources and uses. It presents a GSL Salinity Matrix intended to provide decision-makers with an important illustration; not to predict how GSL’s salinity will change, but to illustrate the potential consequences of salinity changes.
The image of Peter I in the poetry of Marina Tsvetaeva
Authors: Koptelova Natalya G.
Published: October 2021

The article discusses the features of the interpretation of the image of Peter I in the poetry of Marina Tsvetaeva. Some methods of its creation are characterised. The intersections of Marina Tsvetaeva's concept of personality of Peter the Great with the assessments of the activities of the reformer tsar is presented in the philosophy of Slavophiles, Nikolay Danilevsky, Vladimir Solovyov, as well as in the novel “The Antichrist (Peter and Alexis)” by Dmitry Merezhkovsky and the poem “Russia” by Max Voloshin, and that is revealed in our article. It is shown that when depicting Peter's rule in the cycle “Moscow” Marina Tsvetaeva refracts individual images and motifs borrowed from the painting (“Feodosia Morozova” and “The Morning of the Streltsy Execution” by Vasily Surikov). It is proved that the semantic evolution of the image of Peter I in Marina Tsvetaeva's lyrics fits into the framework of the triad: Peter the Great is the enemy of Moscow (“Poems about Moscow”, “Moscow”); Peter the Great is the Antichrist, guilty of the post-October troubles of Russia (“Peter”); Peter the Great is the “founder” of Alexander Pushkin (“Poems to Pushkin”). It is concluded that such a sharp change in the interpretation of the image of Peter I, which occurred in the cycle “Poems to Pushkin”, testifies not only to an impulsive change in Marina Tsvetaeva's perception of the reformer Tsar’s activity, but also to the poetess's desire to illuminate different facets of this contradictory historical personality.