bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Unexploitable Smartness of Open Data
Authors: Concilio Grazia , Molinari Francesco
Published: July 2021

The paper identifies a contradiction between data openness and economic value, possibly hiding a ‘market failure’ requiring a more active intervention from the public hand. Though the sheer quantity of data available for free usage is steadily increasing worldwide, its average quality usually stays well below the minimum threshold required for value creation. In contrast, there is now growing evidence that the use of data has enormous potential for the economy and society, including research and the progress of science. Unfortunately, useful datasets are usually locked in and when actually made accessible, suffer from the same limitations mentioned before. Maybe the time is ripe to undervalue the generalized disclosure of government data in favor of an appropriately incentivized and targeted creation of actionable bases of new IT applications. We present four cases touching upon the issues and potentials of service design, urban innovation, and data-related policies. We identify two possible ways of tackling the highlighted market failure: direct subsidies to government bodies or agencies engaged in disclosing their own datasets and keeping them clean and accessible over time or new regulations that establish more productive data ecosystems, rewarding knowledge creation rather than mere data ownership.
Green(er) Cities and Their Citizens: Insights from the Participatory Budget of Lisbon
Authors: Falanga Roberto , Verheij Jessica , Bina Olivia
Published: July 2021

There is rising scholarly and political interest in participatory budgets and their potential to advance urban sustainability. This article aims to contribute to this field of study through the specific lens of the city of Lisbon’s experience as an internationally acknowledged leader in participatory budgeting. To this end, the article critically examines the lessons and potential contribution of the Lisbon Participatory Budget through a multimethod approach. Emerging trends and variations of citizen proposals, projects, votes, and public funding are analysed in tandem with emerging key topics that show links and trade-offs between locally embedded participation and the international discourse on urban sustainability. Our analysis reveals three interconnected findings: first, the achievements of the Lisbon Participatory Budget show the potential to counteract the dominant engineered approach to urban sustainability; second, trends and variations of the achievements depend on both citizens’ voice and the significant influence of the city council through policymaking; and, third, the shift towards a thematic Green Participatory Budget in 2020 was not driven by consolidated social and political awareness on the achievements, suggesting that more could be achieved through the 2021 urban sustainability oriented Participatory Budget. We conclude recommending that this kind of analysis should be systematically carried out and disseminated within city council departments, promoting much needed internal awareness of PBs’ potential as drivers of urban sustainability. We also identify further research needed into the sustainability potential of green PBs.
Identification of the Optimum Environments for the High Yield and Quality Traits of Lentil Genotypes Evaluated in Multi-Location Trials
Authors: Vlachostergios Dimitrios N. , Noulas Christos , Kargiotidou Anastasia , Baxevanos Dimitrios , Tigka Evangelia , Pankou Chrysanthi , Kostoula Stavroula , Beslemes Dimitrios , Irakli Maria , Tziouvalekas Miltiadis , Lithourgidis Anastasios , Tokatlidis Ioannis , Dordas Christos , Mavromatis Athanasios
Published: July 2021

Lentil is a versatile and profitable pulse crop with high nutritional food and feed values. The objectives of the study were to determine suitable locations for high yield and quality in terms of production and/or breeding, and to identify promising genotypes. For this reason, five lentil genotypes were evaluated in a multi-location network consisting of ten diverse sites for two consecutive growing seasons, for seed yield (SY), other agronomic traits, crude protein (CP), cooking time (CT) and crude protein yield (CPY). A significant diversification and specialization of the locations was identified with regards to SY, CP, CT and CPY. Different locations showed optimal values for each trait. Locations E4 and E3, followed by E10, were “ideal” for SY; locations E1, E3 and E7 were ideal for high CP; and the “ideal” locations for CT were E3 and E5, followed by E2. Therefore, the scope of the cultivation determined the optimum locations for lentil cultivation. The GGE-biplot analysis revealed different discriminating abilities and representativeness among the locations for the identification of the most productive and stable genotypes. Location E3 (Orestiada, Region of Thrace) was recognized as being optimal for lentil breeding, as it was the “ideal” or close to “ideal” for the selection of superior genotypes for SY, CP, CT and CPY. Adaptable genotypes (cv. Dimitra, Samos) showed a high SY along with excellent values for CP, CT and CPY, and are suggested either for cultivation in many regions or to be exploited in breeding programs.
Synthesis of Two Decades of US EPA’s Ecosystem Services Research to Inform Environmental, Community and Sustainability Decision Making
Authors: Harwell Matthew C. , Jackson Chloe A.
Published: July 2021

A conceptual framework is helpful to understand what types of ecosystem services (ES) information is needed to support decision making. Principles of structured decision making are helpful for articulating how ES consideration can influence different elements in a given decision context resulting in changes to the environment, human health, and well-being. This article presents a holistic view of an ES framework, summarizing two decades of the US EPA’s ES research, including recent advances in final ES, those ES that provide benefits directly to people. Approximately 150 peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and book chapters characterize a large ES research portfolio. In introducing framework elements and the suite of relevant US EPA research for each element, both challenges and opportunities are identified. Lessons from research to advance each of the final ES elements can be useful for identifying gaps and future science needs. Ultimately, the goal of this article is to help the reader develop an operational understanding of the final ES conceptual framework, an understanding of the state of science for a number of ES elements, and an introduction to some ES tools, models, and frameworks that may be of use in their case-study applications or decision-making contexts.
A Fluorescence Method Based on N, S-Doped Carbon Dots for Detection of Ammonia in Aquaculture Water and Freshness of Fish
Authors: Zhang Jiaran , Xu Zeyu , Shi Ce , Yang Xinting
Published: July 2021

Excessive ammonia can cause the death of fish and the eutrophication of the water environment, so ammonia detection is essential for environmental monitoring. In this study, a highly selective sensing strategy for ammonia detection based on N, S co-doped carbon dots (N, S-CDs) was developed. The as-prepared N, S-CDs exhibited excellent photoluminescence properties and fluorescent stability. N, S-CDs demonstrated fluorescence quenched in the presence of ammonia in the wide linear range of 2–80 mmol/L, and were highly selective towards ammonia over metal ions. Furthermore, a possible fluorescence quenching mechanism is proposed. N, S-CDs were further applied to detection of ammonia in aquaculture water samples and river water samples, showing good practicability with recoveries from 0.93 to 1.27 and relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.54% to 17.3%. N, S-CDs were also successfully used to determine the freshness of bighead carps.
Shipboard Data Compression Method for Sustainable Real-Time Maritime Communication in Remote Voyage Monitoring of Autonomous Ships
Authors: Jurdana Irena , Lopac Nikola , Wakabayashi Nobukazu , Liu Hongze
Published: July 2021

Due to the ever-increasing amount of data collected and the requirements for the rapid and reliable exchange of information across many interconnected communication devices, land-based communications networks are experiencing continuous progress and improvement of existing infrastructures. However, maritime communications are still characterized by slow communication speeds and limited communication capacity, despite a similar trend of increasing demand for information exchange. These limitations are particularly evident in digital data exchange, which is still limited to relatively slow and expensive narrowband satellite transmission. Furthermore, with the increasing digitalization of ships and introducing the sustainable concept of autonomous ship operation, large amounts of collected data need to be transmitted in real-time to enable remote voyage monitoring and control, putting additional pressure on the already strained means of maritime communications. In this paper, an adaptive shipboard data compression method based on differential binary encoding is proposed for real-time maritime data transmission. The proposed approach is verified on the actual data collected on board a training ship equipped with the latest data acquisition system. The obtained results show that the proposed data encoding method efficiently reduces the transmitted data size to an average of 3.4% of the original shipboard data, thus significantly reducing the required data transmission rate. Moreover, the proposed method outperforms several other tested competing methods for shipboard data encoding by up to 69.6% in terms of compression efficiency. Therefore, this study suggests that the proposed data compression approach can be a viable and efficient solution for transmitting large amounts of digital shipboard data in sustainable maritime real-time communications.
Bilateral Symmetry of Jumping and Agility in Professional Basketball Players: Differentiating Performance Levels and Playing Positions
Authors: Versic Sime , Pehar Miran , Modric Toni , Pavlinovic Vladimir , Spasic Miodrag , Uljevic Ognjen , Corluka Marin , Sattler Tine , Sekulic Damir
Published: July 2021

Although functional asymmetry is very common and normal in professional athletes, the better interlimb symmetry between dominant and nondominant sides (bilateral symmetry) could contribute to successful performance in basketball. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of bilateral symmetry of the one-leg jumping and agility performances in differentiating basketball players according to their (i) playing position (guards, forwards, and centers) and (ii) performance levels (first division vs. second division). The participants were 102 professional male basketball players, with all members of the teams competing in the two highest national divisions at the moment of testing (height: 194.92 ± 8.09 cm; body mass: 89.33 ± 10.91 kg; 21.58 ± 3.92 years of age). Performance levels (first division, N = 58 vs. second division, N = 44) and playing positions (guards, N = 48; forwards, N = 22; centers, N = 32) were observed as dependent variables. We measured one-leg jumping capacities (running vertical jump and lay-up vertical jump), basketball-specific preplanned agility (CODS), and basketball-specific reactive agility (RAG), all executed on dominant and nondominant sides. Accordingly, the bilateral symmetry of jumping and agility was calculated by calculating the ratio of the corresponding performances on the dominant and nondominant sides. Factorial analysis of variance (performance levels × positions) indicated that the bilateral symmetry of one-leg jumping differentiated players according to their playing position, with better bilateral symmetry among guards (F-test = 6.11 (medium effect size) and 5.81 (small effect size), p < 0.05 for lay-up and running-jump symmetry, respectively). Performance levels significantly differed in the bilateral symmetry of lay-up jump, with better symmetry for first-division players (F-test = 10.11 (medium effect size), p < 0.001), which was mostly influenced by significant differences among guards. Playing positions and performance levels did not differ in bilateral symmetry of the CODS and RAG. The study reveals the importance of bilateral symmetry of the sport-specific performance in differentiating playing positions and performance levels in basketball. Further studies in other multidirectional sports and other sport-specific performances are warranted.
A Compound Class of the Inverse Gamma and Power Series Distributions
Authors: Rivera Pilar A. , Calderín-Ojeda Enrique , Gallardo Diego I. , Gómez Héctor W.
Published: July 2021

In this paper, the inverse gamma power series (IGPS) class of distributions asymmetric is introduced. This family is obtained by compounding inverse gamma and power series distributions. We present the density, survival and hazard functions, moments and the order statistics of the IGPS. Estimation is first discussed by means of the quantile method. Then, an EM algorithm is implemented to compute the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters. Moreover, a simulation study is carried out to examine the effectiveness of these estimates. Finally, the performance of the new class is analyzed by means of two asymmetric real data sets.
A Pairing-Free Identity-Based Identification Scheme with Tight Security Using Modified-Schnorr Signatures
Authors: Chia Jason , Chin Ji-Jian , Yip Sook-Chin
Published: July 2021

The security of cryptographic schemes is proven secure by reducing an attacker which breaks the scheme to an algorithm that could be used to solve the underlying hard assumption (e.g., Discrete Logarithm, Decisional Diffie–Hellman). The reduction is considered tight if it results in approximately similar probability bounds to that of solving the underlying hard assumption. Tight security is desirable as it improves security guarantees and allows the use of shorter parameters without the risk of compromising security. In this work, we propose an identity-based identification (IBI) scheme with tight security based on a variant of the Schnorr signature scheme known as TNC signatures. The proposed IBI scheme enjoys shorter parameters and key sizes as compared to existing IBI schemes without increasing the number of operations required for its identification protocol. Our scheme is suitable to be used for lightweight authentication in resource-constrained Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) as it utilizes the lowest amount of bandwidth when compared to other state-of-the-art symmetric key lightweight authentication schemes. Although it is costlier than its symmetric key counterparts in terms of operational costs due to its asymmetric key nature, it enjoys other benefits such as decentralized authentication and scalable key management. As a proof of concept to substantiate our claims, we perform an implementation of our scheme to demonstrate its speed and memory usage when it runs on both high and low-end devices.
Fractional Dual-Phase Lag Equation—Fundamental Solution of the Cauchy Problem
Authors: Ciesielski Mariusz , Siedlecka Urszula
Published: July 2021

In the paper, a fundamental solution of the fractional dual-phase-lagging heat conduction problem is obtained. The considerations concern the 1D Cauchy problem in a whole-space domain. A solution of the initial-boundary problem is determined by using the Fourier–Laplace transform technique. The final form of solution is given in a form of a series. One of the properties of the derived fundamental solution of the considered problem with the initial condition expressed be the Dirac delta function is that it is symmetrical. The effect of the time-fractional order of the Caputo derivatives and the phase-lag parameters on the temperature distribution is investigated numerically by using the method which is based on the Fourier-series quadrature-type approximation to the Bromwich contour integral.
Behavioral Pattern Analysis between Bilingual and Monolingual Listeners’ Natural Speech Perception on Foreign-Accented English Language Using Different Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Ahad Md Tanvir , Ahsan Md Manjurul , Jahan Ishrat , Nazim Redwan , Yazdan Munshi Md. Shafwat , Huebner Pedro , Siddique Zahed
Published: July 2021

Speech perception in an adverse background/noisy environment is a complex and challenging human process, which is made even more complicated in foreign-accented language for bilingual and monolingual individuals. Listeners who have difficulties in hearing are affected most by such a situation. Despite considerable efforts, the increase in speech intelligibility in noise remains elusive. Considering this opportunity, this study investigates Bengali–English bilinguals and native American English monolinguals’ behavioral patterns on foreign-accented English language considering bubble noise, gaussian or white noise, and quiet sound level. Twelve regular hearing participants (Six Bengali–English bilinguals and Six Native American English monolinguals) joined in this study. Statistical computation shows that speech with different noise has a significant effect (p = 0.009) on listening for both bilingual and monolingual under different sound levels (e.g., 55 dB, 65 dB, and 75 dB). Here, six different machine learning approaches (Logistic Regression (LR), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), Naïve Bayes (NB), Classification and regression trees (CART), and Support vector machine (SVM)) are tested and evaluated to differentiate between bilingual and monolingual individuals from their behavioral patterns in both noisy and quiet environments. Results show that most optimal performances were observed using LDA by successfully differentiating between bilingual and monolingual 60% of the time. A deep neural network-based model is proposed to improve this measure further and achieved an accuracy of nearly 100% in successfully differentiating between bilingual and monolingual individuals.
Environmentally Relevant Mixture of Pesticides Affect Mobility and DNA Integrity of Early Life Stages of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Weeks Santos Shannon , Cachot Jérôme , Cormier Bettie , Mazzella Nicolas , Gourves Pierre-Yves , Clérandeau Christelle , Morin Bénédicte , Gonzalez Patrice
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of three concentrations of a pesticide mixture on the first development stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The mixture was made up of three commonly used pesticides in viticulture: glyphosate (GLY), chlorpyrifos (CPF) and copper sulfate (Cu). Eyed stage embryos were exposed for 3 weeks to three concentrations of the pesticide mixture. Lethal and sub-lethal effects were assessed through a number of phenotypic and molecular endpoints including survival, hatching delay, hatching success, biometry, swimming activity, DNA damage (Comet assay), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), protein carbonyl content and gene expression. Ten target genes involved in antioxidant defenses, DNA repair, mitochondrial metabolism and apoptosis were analyzed using real-time RT-qPCR. No significant increase of mortality, half-hatch, growth defects, TBARS and protein carbonyl contents were observed whatever the pesticide mixture concentration. In contrast, DNA damage and swimming activity were significantly more elevated at the highest pesticide mixture concentration. Gene transcription was up-regulated for genes involved in detoxification (gst and mt1), DNA repair (ogg1), mitochondrial metabolism (cox1 and 12S), and cholinergic system (ache). This study highlighted the induction of adaptive molecular and behavioral responses of rainbow trout larvae when exposed to environmentally realistic concentrations of a mixture of pesticides.
Differing Effects of Vinegar on Pelagia noctiluca (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) and Carybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) Stings—Implications for First Aid Protocols
Authors: Ballesteros Ainara , Marambio Macarena , Fuentes Verónica , Narda Mridvika , Santín Andreu , Gili Josep-Maria
Published: July 2021

The jellyfish species that inhabit the Mediterranean coastal waters are not lethal, but their stings can cause severe pain and systemic effects that pose a health risk to humans. Despite the frequent occurrence of jellyfish stings, currently no consensus exists among the scientific community regarding the most appropriate first-aid protocol. Over the years, several different rinse solutions have been proposed. Vinegar, or acetic acid, is one of the most established of these solutions, with efficacy data published. We investigated the effect of vinegar and seawater on the nematocyst discharge process in two species representative of the Mediterranean region: Pelagia noctiluca (Scyphozoa) and Carybdea marsupialis (Cubozoa), by means of (1) direct observation of nematocyst discharge on light microscopy (tentacle solution assay) and (2) quantification of hemolytic area (tentacle skin blood agarose assay). In both species, nematocyst discharge was not stimulated by seawater, which was classified as a neutral solution. In P. noctiluca, vinegar produced nematocyst discharge per se, but inhibited nematocyst discharge from C. marsupialis. These results suggest that the use of vinegar cannot be universally recommended. Whereas in case of a cubozoan C. marsupialis sting, the inhibitory effect of vinegar makes it the ideal rinse solution, in case of a scyphozoan P. noctiluca sting, vinegar application may be counterproductive, worsening the pain and discomfort of the stung area.
Factors Influencing the Surgical Decision in Dystonia Patients Referred for Deep Brain Stimulation
Authors: Gorodetsky Carolina , Azevedo Paula , Candeias da Silva Carolina , Fasano Alfonso
Published: July 2021

There is no available data on the journey of dystonia patients once referred to a tertiary center to undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS). We hypothesized that some patients might be incorrectly diagnosed while others might decline the procedure or experience significant benefit with switching to a different botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). This is a single-center, retrospective study of dystonia patients who were referred to the DBS program between January 2014 and December 2018. We collected data on the surgical decision as well as factors influencing this decision. Sixty-seven patients were included (30 males, mean age: 48.3 ± 20.1 years, disease duration: 16.9 ± 15.3 years). Thirty-three (49%) patients underwent DBS. Four (6%) patients were awaiting the procedure while the remaining 30 patients (45%) did not undergo DBS. Reasons for DBS decline were patient refusal (17, 53%), functional dystonia (6, 20%), and successful use of AbobotulinumtoxinA (3, 10%) in patients who had failed other BoNTs. Our study highlights the importance of structured patient education to increase acceptance of DBS, as well as careful patient evaluation, particularly with respect to functional dystonia. Finally, changing BoNT formulation might be beneficial in some patients.
The Radiative Δ(1600) → γN Decay in the Light-Cone QCD Sum Rules
Authors: Alrebdi Haifa I. , Barakat Thabit
Published: July 2021

Within the framework of the light-cone QCD sum rules method (LCSR’s), the radiative Δ(1600)→γN decay is studied. In particular, the magnetic dipole moment GM1(0) and the electric quadrupole moment GE1(0) are estimated. We also calculate the ratio REM=−GE1(0)GM1(0) and the decay rate. The predicted multipole moments and the decay rate strongly agree with the existing experimental results as well as with the other available phenomenological approaches.
Spin Distribution for the ’t Hooft–Polyakov Monopole in the Geometric Theory of Defects
Authors: Katanaev Mikhail O.
Published: July 2021

Recently the ’t Hooft–Polyakov monopole solutions in Yang–Mills theory were given new physical interpretation in the geometric theory of defects describing the continuous distribution of dislocations and disclinations in elastic media. It means that the ’t Hooft–Polyakov monopole can be seen, probably, in solids. To this end we need to compute the corresponding spin distribution on lattice sites of crystals. The paper describes one of the possible spin distributions. The Bogomol’nyi–Prasad–Sommerfield solution is considered as an example.
Cosmological Particle Production in Quantum Gravity
Authors: Tavakoli Yaser
Published: July 2021

Quantum theory of a test field on a quantum cosmological spacetime may be viewed as a theory of the test field on an emergent classical background. In such a case, the resulting dressed metric for the field propagation is a function of the quantum fluctuations of the original geometry. When the backreaction is negligible, massive modes can experience an anisotropic Bianchi type I background. The field modes propagating on such a quantum-gravity-induced spacetime can then unveil interesting phenomenological consequences of the super-Planckian scales, such as gravitational particle production. The aim of this paper is to address the issue of gravitational particle production associated with the massive modes in such an anisotropic dressed spacetime. By imposing a suitable adiabatic condition on the vacuum state and computing the energy density of the created particles, the significance of the particle production on the dynamics of the universe in Planck era is discussed.
Application of Oxford Nanopore Technology to Plant Virus Detection
Authors: Liefting Lia W. , Waite David W. , Thompson Jeremy R.
Published: July 2021

The adoption of Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing as a tool in plant virology has been relatively slow despite its promise in more recent years to yield large quantities of long nucleotide sequences in real time without the need for prior amplification. The portability of the MinION and Flongle platforms combined with lowering costs and continued improvements in read accuracy make ONT an attractive method for both low- and high-scale virus diagnostics. Here, we provide a detailed step-by-step protocol using the ONT Flongle platform that we have developed for the routine application on a range of symptomatic post-entry quarantine and domestic surveillance plant samples. The aim of this methods paper is to highlight ONT’s feasibility as a valuable component to the diagnostician’s toolkit and to hopefully stimulate other laboratories towards the eventual goal of integrating high-throughput sequencing technologies as validated plant virus diagnostic methods in their own right.
Bacteriophage Therapy to Reduce Colonization of Campylobacter jejuni in Broiler Chickens before Slaughter
Authors: D’Angelantonio Daniela , Scattolini Silvia , Boni Arianna , Neri Diana , Di Serafino Gabriella , Connerton Philippa , Connerton Ian , Pomilio Francesco , Di Giannatale Elisabetta , Migliorati Giacomo , Aprea Giuseppe
Published: July 2021

Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported gastrointestinal disease in humans. Campybacter jejuni is the main cause of the infection, and bacterial colonization in broiler chickens is widespread and difficult to prevent, leading to high risk of occurrence in broiler meat. Phage therapy represents an alternative strategy to control Campylobacter in poultry. The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of two field-isolated bacteriophages against experimental infections with an anti-microbial resistant (AMR) Campylobacter jejuni strain. A two-step phage application was tested according to a specific combination between chickens’ rearing time and specific multiplicities of infections (MOIs), in order to reduce the Campylobacter load in the animals at slaughtering and to limit the development of phage-resistant mutants. In particular, 75 broilers were divided into three groups (A, B and C), and phages were administered to animals of groups B and C at day 38 (Φ 16-izsam) and 39 (Φ 7-izsam) at MOI 0.1 (group B) and 1 (group C). All broilers were euthanized at day 40, and Campylobacter jejuni was enumerated in cecal contents. Reductions in Campylobacter counts were statistically significant in both group B (1 log10 colony forming units (cfu)/gram (gr)) and group C (2 log10 cfu/gr), compared to the control group. Our findings provide evidence about the ability of phage therapy to reduce the Campylobacter load in poultry before slaughtering, also associated with anti-microbial resistance pattern.
New Insights into the Management of an EHV-1 (Equine Hospital) Outbreak
Authors: Vandenberghe Eveline , Boshuizen Berit , Delesalle Catherine J. G. , Goehring Lutz S. , Groome Katy A. , van Maanen Kees , de Bruijn Cornelis M.
Published: July 2021

In May 2018, Wolvega Equine Hospital (WEH) experienced an EHV-1 outbreak. This outbreak caused significant economic losses and negative publicity for the hospital. How should hospitals prepare themselves for these outbreaks and prevent shedding of the virus on multiple neighboring premises? The hospital transformed most of its activities into mobile practice and the entire infected hospital population was moved to a separate remote location. The hospital was cleaned and disinfected according to the latest recommendations before reopening. Four neighboring professional equine businesses and three privately owned premises were affected by the spread of the virus from the hospital population and initiated quarantine restrictions. Equine hospitals should prepare themselves for EHV-1 outbreaks as the intake of the virus cannot be prevented. A management protocol should include public information protocols, swift client information and quarantine measures that ensure quick containment of the outbreak. Timely reopening of the hospital can be achieved by rehousing the contaminated population. It should also include good regulations with clients and a properly carried out release protocol. Equine sports organizations should establish sufficient vaccination coverage in order to decrease the frequency of EHV-1 outbreaks.
Fungal F8-Culture Filtrate Induces Tomato Resistance against Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Thailand Virus
Authors: Chiu Yi-Shu , Tzean Yuh , Chen Yi-Hui , Tsai Chi-Wei , Yeh Hsin-Hung
Published: July 2021

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important economic crop worldwide. However, tomato production is jeopardized by the devastating tomato yellow leaf curl disease caused by whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses (WTBs). In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of our previously developed plant antiviral immunity inducer, fungal F8-culture filtrate, on tomato to combat tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV), the predominant WTB in Taiwan. Our results indicated that F8-culture filtrate treatment induced strong resistance, did not reduce the growth of tomato, and induced prominent resistance against TYLCTHV both in the greenhouse and in the field. Among TYLCTHV-inoculated Yu-Nu tomato grown in the greenhouse, a greater percentage of plants treated with F8-culture filtrate (43–100%) were healthy-looking compared to the H2O control (0–14%). We found that TYLCTHV cannot move systemically only on the F8-culture filtrate pretreated healthy-looking plants. Tracking the expression of phytohormone-mediated immune maker genes revealed that F8-culture filtrate mainly induced salicylic acid-mediated plant immunity. Furthermore, callose depositions and the expression of the pathogen-induced callose synthase gene, POWDERY MILDEW RESISTANT 4 were only strongly induced by TYLCTHV on tomato pretreated with F8-culture filtrate. This study provides an effective way to induce tomato resistance against TYLCTHV.
Influenza Virus Infections in Cats
Authors: Frymus Tadeusz , Belák Sándor , Egberink Herman , Hofmann-Lehmann Regina , Marsilio Fulvio , Addie Diane D. , Boucraut-Baralon Corine , Hartmann Katrin , Lloret Albert , Lutz Hans , Pennisi Maria Grazia , Thiry Etienne , Truyen Uwe , Tasker Séverine , Möstl Karin , Hosie Margaret J.
Published: July 2021

In the past, cats were considered resistant to influenza. Today, we know that they are susceptible to some influenza A viruses (IAVs) originating in other species. Usually, the outcome is only subclinical infection or a mild fever. However, outbreaks of feline disease caused by canine H3N2 IAV with fever, tachypnoea, sneezing, coughing, dyspnoea and lethargy are occasionally noted in shelters. In one such outbreak, the morbidity rate was 100% and the mortality rate was 40%. Recently, avian H7N2 IAV infection occurred in cats in some shelters in the USA, inducing mostly mild respiratory disease. Furthermore, cats are susceptible to experimental infection with the human H3N2 IAV that caused the pandemic in 1968. Several studies indicated that cats worldwide could be infected by H1N1 IAV during the subsequent human pandemic in 2009. In one shelter, severe cases with fatalities were noted. Finally, the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 IAV can induce a severe, fatal disease in cats, and can spread via cat-to-cat contact. In this review, the Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), a scientifically independent board of experts in feline medicine from 11 European countries, summarises current data regarding the aetiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, diagnostics, and control of feline IAV infections, as well as the zoonotic risks.
Health Education and Vaccination for the Construction of Inclusive Societies
Authors: García-Toledano Eduardo , Palomares-Ruiz Ascensión , Cebrián-Martínez Antonio , López-Parra Emilio
Published: July 2021

Globalization has led to what has happened in a certain part of the world having a significant and rapid impact on other places, causing significant changes in health problems. In the last quarter of the 18th century, the history of vaccination began, becoming an effective tool to prevent and control communicable diseases. This paper proposes an observational research with a cross-sectional design to study the importance of health education and vaccination in building inclusive societies. With a sample of 1000 participants from 76 countries, vaccine awareness and regulation were analyzed, considering the following variables: gender, age, sector, Human Development Index (HDI), and continent. The instrument used was a questionnaire (VACUNASEDUCA) developed for this research and timely validated. As a result, it is highlighted that the profiles of women, people under 30 years of age, education sector, high Human Development Index, and European continent are those that most value the importance of raising awareness in society and the regulation of actions for vaccination compliance. The consequences of “vaccine reluctance” are of concern in every country on the planet. Therefore, it is concluded that effective and evidence-based communication is key to allaying fears and promoting acceptance of vaccination around the world, building inclusive societies in which all citizens enjoy the health benefits.
Towards an Ensemble Vaccine against the Pegivirus Using Computational Modelling Approaches and Its Validation through In Silico Cloning and Immune Simulation
Authors: Zheng Bowen , Suleman Muhammad , Zafar Zonara , Ali Syed Shujait , Nasir Syed Nouman , Namra  , Hussain Zahid , Waseem Muhammad , Khan Abbas , Hassan Fakhrul , Wang Yanjing , Wei Dongqing
Published: July 2021

Pegivirus, HPgV, which was earlier known as Gb virus and hepatitis G virus, is an enveloped, positive-stranded RNA and lymphotropic virus classified into the Flaviviridae family. The transmission routes primarily involve blood products, and infections are worldwide, leading up to 25% of persistent infections. To date, no effective therapeutic means are available to clear Pegivirus infections. Effective vaccine therapeutics is the best alternative to manage this disease and any associated potential pandemic. Thus, whole proteome-based mining of immunogenic peptides, i.e., CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocytes), HTL (helper T lymphocytes), and B cell epitopes, was mapped to design a vaccine ensemble. Our investigation revealed that 29 different epitopes impart a critical role in immune response induction, which was also validated by exploring its physiochemical properties and experimental feasibility. In silico expression and host immune simulation were examined using an agent-based modeling approach and confirmed the induction of both primary and secondary immune factors such as IL, cytokines, and antibodies. The current study warrants further lab experiments to demonstrate its efficacy and safety.
Identification and Clinical Significance of Heart Murmurs in Puppies Involved in Puppy Trade
Authors: Pugliese Michela , Biondi Vito , La Maestra Rocky , Passantino Annamaria
Published: July 2021

The detection of a congenital heart defect at purchase is an important step in early detection from a clinical and legal standpoint. Indeed, some cardiac abnormalities may be corrected with surgery, and very often, treatment needs to be performed early before congestive heart failure or irreversible heart damage can occur. From a legal viewpoint, if the defect is revealed in a newly purchased puppy, the buyer may be required to return it and receive compensation. Puppies affected with congenital heart defects are likely to die prematurely, causing emotional suffering to the owner. Furthermore, by considering breed predisposition, early recognition allows breeders to avoid breeding from particular dogs with genetic defects and prevent the continuation of genetic defects in breeding lines. Given gaps in the literature about the recognition of murmurs in the puppy trade, the present article describes how to identify a heart murmur in a puppy during a pre-purchase examination and its significance from a clinical and legal viewpoint. In the canine population, the prevalence of cardiac defects ranges between 0.13 and 1.6%. Pulmonic stenosis is the most common defect found in puppies, followed by patent ductus arteriosus, subaortic stenosis, and ventricular septal defect. On the basis of the above considerations, the veterinarian should recognize and identify the murmur following a protocol for routine examination of puppies involved in trade.
How Owners of Epileptic Dogs Living in Italy Evaluate Their Quality of Life and That of Their Pet: A Survey Study
Authors: Masucci Marisa , Di Stefano Valeria , Donato Giulia , Mangano Cyndi , De Majo Massimo
Published: July 2021

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder of dogs and requires a substantial commitment by the pet owner. The aim of this study was to evaluate how Italian owners of epileptic dogs receiving long-term treatment perceived their own quality of life (QoL) and that of their pet, using a list of key questions. A questionnaire was sent to owners of dogs affected by recurrent seizures and treated with antiepileptic drugs for at least three months. The questions included signalment, medical history and physical, social and psychological aspects associated with managing an epileptic dog. Eighty complete questionnaires were obtained. Most owners surveyed had a positive opinion on their dog’s QoL and they did not believe that commitment to managing their animals was a limitation of QoL. Dog QoL, seizure, frequency and severity were considered the most important factors in evaluating the efficacy of the antiepileptic treatment. The evaluation of the different aspects of QoL can help veterinary professionals understand the need for correct and exhaustive information provided to owners and the development of therapeutic plans and follow up, corresponding to the needs of dogs and owners.
Earthquake-Resilient Design of Seismically Isolated Buildings: A Review of Technology
Authors: Yenidogan Cem
Published: July 2021

Earthquake Seismic isolation plays an important role in achieving sustainable earthquake resilience communities. Seismic isolation method is a justified, mature, and reliable performance enhancement strategy for a wide range of structural systems and valuable contents. As a result of the targeted response modification, high-performance expectations and earthquake resilience can be achieved during the service life of the structures that are compliant with the design code requirements. Design and analysis procedures of isolation systems in standards were evolved substantially to expand the use of isolation technology and quantify the benefits of isolation systems to overcome the existing impediments. Strictly speaking, new tools are offered to the engineering community to highlight the possible issues that may appear in isolation units beyond the design basis earthquake level to improve the accuracy of response prediction. This paper aims to overview the characteristics of frequently used isolation systems in the industry with mathematical models, design criteria toward sustainable communities, the current state of practice along with the set forth design requirements of selectively well-known standards with special emphasis to the ELF procedure from the perspective of performance-based design philosophy. Additionally, two large-scale seismic isolation applications in the world are given as benchmark studies for the new construction and upgrading scheme in the content of the study.
Performance of a Pilot-Scale Constructed Wetland and Medium-Term Effects of Treated Wastewater Irrigation of Arundo donax L. on Soil and Plant Parameters
Authors: Licata Mario , Rossini Francesco , Virga Giuseppe , Ruggeri Roberto , Farruggia Davide , Iacuzzi Nicolò
Published: July 2021

On marginal lands in the Mediterranean basin, giant reed (Arundo donax L.) represents one of the most interesting perennial crops due to high levels of biomass production. Considering periodic water shortage during the summer months in this area, the reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) would seem to be a good opportunity for the growth of the species. The aim of this study was to assess the medium-term effects of irrigation using freshwater (FW) and TWW on soil characteristics and growth in giant reed plants. TWW was obtained from a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland system (HSSF CWs) with a total surface area of 100 m2. A split-plot design for a two-factor experiment was used with three replications. Medium-term TWW irrigation increased organic matter and plant nutrients in the soil; however, pH was not affected. Plants irrigated with TWW showed greater growth (+10.49% in height, +12.75% in stem diameter, +11.51% in above-ground biomass) than those irrigated with FW. The higher heating value of crop residues ranged between 16.83 (FW-irrigated plants) and 17.00 MJ kg−1 (TWW-irrigated plants). Results show that HSSF CWs produces TWW, which can be an alternative source of water for growing giant reed with high biomass performance.
Optimal Water Quality Sensor Placement by Accounting for Possible Contamination Events in Water Distribution Networks
Authors: Marlim Malvin S. , Kang Doosun
Published: July 2021

Contamination in water distribution networks (WDNs) can occur at any time and location. One protection measure in WDNs is the placement of water quality sensors (WQSs) to detect contamination and provide information for locating the potential contamination source. The placement of WQSs in WDNs must be optimally planned. Therefore, a robust sensor-placement strategy (SPS) is vital. The SPS should have clear objectives regarding what needs to be achieved by the sensor configuration. Here, the objectives of the SPS were set to cover the contamination event stages of detection, consumption, and source localization. As contamination events occur in any form of intrusion, at any location and time, the objectives had to be tested against many possible scenarios, and they needed to reach a fair value considering all scenarios. In this study, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was selected as the optimizer. The SPS was further reinforced using a databasing method to improve its computational efficiency. The performance of the proposed method was examined by comparing it with a benchmark SPS example and applying it to DMA-sized, real WDNs. The proposed optimization approach improved the overall fitness of the configuration by 23.1% and showed a stable placement behavior with the increase in sensors.
Application of a Zoning Methodology for Groundwater Suitability on Islands, a Case Study of Pingtan Island, China
Authors: Teng Xiaomin , Li Yuxi , Li Panlin , Li Wanglin
Published: July 2021

A groundwater function evaluation systems and associated model was applied to Pingtan Island in China, to support future development, use and protection of groundwater. Groundwater function was assigned to resource, ecology and geological environmental functions, and then further sub-divided, based on hydrogeological conditions, development status, planning and Chine policy requirements. At the same time, it is the first time to try to apply the technical requirements for the division of groundwater resources in island areas. According to the planning and utilization of groundwater resources in Pingtan Island, established a second-level system of shallow groundwater function zoning. Then, by comparing the strong and weak relationships among the groundwater resource function, ecology function, and geological environment function, developed a scoring system of the shallow groundwater function zoning. The division of shallow groundwater function zones in Pingtan Island was finally carried out. The zoning result will play an essential role in the future development, utilization, and protection of groundwater in Pingtan Island. At the same time, it provides the first example for the application of groundwater function zoning in island areas and improves the theoretical results of groundwater function zoning.
Assessing Soil Loss by Water Erosion in a Typical Mediterranean Ecosystem of Northern Greece under Current and Future Rainfall Erosivity
Authors: Stefanidis Stefanos , Alexandridis Vasileios , Chatzichristaki Chrysoula , Stefanidis Panagiotis
Published: July 2021

Soil is a non-renewable resource essential for life existence. During the last decades it has been threatened by accelerating erosion with negative consequences for the environment and the economy. The aim of the current study was to assess soil loss changes in a typical Mediterranean ecosystem of Northern Greece, under climate change. To this end, freely available geospatial data was collected and processed using open-source software package. The widespread RUSLE empirical erosion model was applied to estimate soil loss. Current and future rainfall erosivity were derived from a national scale study considering average weather conditions and RCMs outputs for the medium Representative Concentration Pathway scenario (RCP4.5). Results showed that average rainfall erosivity (R-Factor) was 508.85 MJ mm ha h−1 y−1 while the K-factor ranged from 0.0008 to 0.05 t ha h ha−1 MJ−1 mm−1 and LS-factor reached 60.51. Respectively, C-factor ranged from 0.01 to 0.91 and P-factor ranged from 0.42 to 1. The estimated potential soil loss rates will remain stable for the near future period (2021–2050), while an increase of approximately 9% is expected by the end of the 21th century (2071–2100). The results suggest that appropriate erosion mitigation strategies should be applied to reduce erosion risk. Subsequently, appropriate mitigation measures per Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) categories are proposed. It is worth noting that the proposed methodology has a high degree of transferability as it is based on open-source data.