bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whether Increasing Maize Planting Density Increases the Total Water Use Depends on Soil Water in the 0–60 cm Soil Layer in the North China Plain
Authors: Qin Jingtao , Wang Xiaosen , Fan Xichao , Jiang Mingliang , Lv Mouchao
Published: May 2022

Increasing planting density generally increases total water use by maize (Zea mays L.), but there are contrasting conclusions as well. To determine whether increasing planting density would increase total water use by maize, a 3-year field experiment was conducted in the North China Plain. In 2018, maize was planted at the four densities of 57,100, 66,700, 80,000, and 100,000 plants ha−1. In 2019 and 2020, another four planting densities of 27,800, 41,700, 66,700, and 111,100 plants ha−1 were selected. The results showed that increasing planting density increased leaf area index but decreased leaf stomatal conductance; maize grain yield reached the maximum at about 80,000 plants ha−1. At the VE-V6 and R3-R6 stage, soil water use occurred mainly in the 0–60 cm soil layer, and planting density showed no effect on total soil water use by maize. At the V6-R3 stage, when soil water in the 0–60 cm soil layer was sufficient to meet the evapotranspiration demand, soil water use occurred mainly in the 0–60 cm soil layer; increasing planting density did not increase total soil water use. When soil water in the 0–60 cm soil layer was insufficient and could not meet the demand of evapotranspiration, soil water use in the 60–100 cm soil layer increased greatly and kept rising with increased planting density, resulting in elevated total soil water use. Therefore, we conclude that the effect of planting density on water use by maize varies with soil water content in the 0–60 cm soil layer in the North China Plain.
Drying of Food Waste for Potential Use as Animal Feed
Authors: Noori Abdul Wasim , Royen Mohammad Jafar , Medveďová Alžbeta , Haydary Juma
Published: May 2022

A considerable part of food is wasted, causing investment capital loss as well as environmental pollution and health problems in humans. Indirect solar drying was applied to test the potential of drying and reusing this waste as a component of animal feed. The effect of weather changes on drying kinetics and the effective diffusion coefficient, dried feed nutritional composition, and microbiological analysis of the dried product were investigated. A convective laboratory dryer was used as a reference method. Weather conditions have a crucial effect on the use of solar drying; one sunny day with appropriate conditions can reduce the water activity of food waste to below 0.3 and moisture content to below 6%. Much better fitting of experimental and model drying curves was achieved considering sample shrinkage, applying a more complex solution of Fick’s second law combined with an optimization procedure. The studied food waste had a good combination of nutrients, such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates; however, the amount of protein in the dried food waste was found to be lower than that in regular feed, and therefore, adding a protein source is recommended. Autoclaving of fresh samples reduced the total microbial counts of dried samples by more than 50%.
The Effect of Cultural Orientations on Country Innovation Performance: Hofstede Cultural Dimensions Revisited?
Authors: Escandon-Barbosa Diana , Ramirez Agustin , Salas-Paramo Jairo
Published: May 2022

Purpose. One of the perspectives that receives the most attention from studies in international business is cultural dimensions. This is due to the greater complexity and incidence of cultural aspects in economic performance. This paper explored the moderation effect of cultural orientations on the creation of innovation trajectories related to levels of innovation and their outcomes in countries from various geographical areas between 2011 and 2021. Design/Methodology/Approach. A growth trajectories model is conducted to achieve the research’s aim, considering the country’s cultural orientation, innovation inputs (institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, and business sophistication), and impact on innovation output. The Global Innovation Index, Globe Project, and Global Entrepreneurship Index databases used this analysis, containing data from nations on different continents. The trajectories’ analysis approach is utilized to achieve the desired goal, which allows for the assessment of the variations in innovation trajectory across countries with cultural tendencies towards performance and humane orientation from 2011 to 2021. Findings. The literature affirms positive results for various innovation inputs, but the results show differences in innovation outputs. The difference is related to their inputs (institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication), institutions, and market sophistication. Additionally, a difference depends on the country’s performance culture, generating options to obtain higher outputs, such as knowledge and creative results. Research Limitations/Implications. Based on the results achieved, an attempt is made to provide a different perspective on innovation, especially evaluating the results over time and identifying decreasing trajectories that affect the innovation results in countries with different economic development conditions and cultural characteristics. Practical Implications. The results achieved make it possible to strengthen the analysis of the countries’ strategies regarding innovation, especially in the permanent evaluation of the results, which encourages changes in the execution of innovative activities to maintain their performance over time. Social Implications. The contributions allow us to understand the dynamics of innovation in countries’ knowledge and creative outputs over time. Originality/Value. The trajectory analysis used in the data analysis is perhaps one of the most robust techniques for a time series analysis. This allows for identifying trajectories for the study’s independent variables and their influence on a country’s innovation.
Relationship between the Vibration Acceleration and Stability of a Continuous Girder Bridge during Horizontal Rotation
Authors: Zhang Wenxue , Liang Kun , Chen Ying
Published: May 2022

To ensure the safety of bridges during horizontal rotation, we propose a method through which it is possible to evaluate the stability of structures in real time by measuring the vibration acceleration of the rotating structure. First, the vibration characteristics collected during the horizontal rotation of a typical high-speed railway bridge were compared with the results of a finite element analysis. Second, the analytic formula to calculate the ratio of vibration acceleration and the pier-bottom-section bending moment for the rotating structure was deduced by considering the beam and pier as an infinite-degree-of-freedom rod. Then, the results of the analytical formula were compared with those of the finite element calculation. Overall, the results showed that the bending moment of the pier bottom (which was related to the stability of the rotating bridge) was affected only by the two asymmetrical vibration modes. The analytic formula built by considering the beam and pier as an infinite degree-of-freedom rod with equal cross-section effectively described the relationship between the vibration acceleration and pier-bottom-bending moment. Finally, the vibration of the rotating bridge was simplified to the superposition of the first two asymmetric vibration modes in the facade. Based on our findings, we were able to provide a formula and some check tables to calculate the permissible value of vibration acceleration for typical high-speed railway bridges.
How Advanced Technological Approaches Are Reshaping Sustainable Social Media Crisis Management and Communication: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bukar Umar Ali , Sidi Fatimah , Jabar Marzanah A. , Nor Rozi Nor Haizan , Abdullah Salfarina , Ishak Iskandar , Alabadla Mustafa , Alkhalifah Ali
Published: May 2022

The end goal of technological advancement used in crisis response and recovery is to prevent, reduce or mitigate the impact of a crisis, thereby enhancing sustainable recovery. Advanced technological approaches such as social media, machine learning (ML), social network analysis (SNA), and big data are vital to a sustainable crisis management decisions and communication. This study selects 28 articles via a systematic process that focuses on ML, SNA, and related technological tools to understand how these tools are shaping crisis management and decision making. The analysis shows the significance of these tools in advancing sustainable crisis management to support decision making, information management, communication, collaboration and cooperation, location-based services, community resilience, situational awareness, and social position. Moreover, the findings noted that managing diverse outreach information and communication is increasingly essential. In addition, the study indicates why big data and language, cross-platform support, and dataset lacking are emerging concerns for sustainable crisis management. Finally, the study contributes to how advanced technological solutions effectively affect crisis response, communication, decision making, and overall crisis management.
The COVID-19 Impact on Supply Chain Operations of Automotive Industry: A Case Study of Sustainability 4.0 Based on Sense–Adapt–Transform Framework
Authors: Eldem Burak , Kluczek Aldona , Bagiński Jan
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of global manufacturing companies to their supply chains and operating activities as one of the significant disruption events of the past two decades. It has demonstrated that major companies underestimate the need for sustainable and resilient operations. The pandemic has resulted in significant disruptions especially in the automotive industry. The goal of the study is to determine impact of the COVID-19 on supply chain operations in a Turkish automotive manufacturer and to develop a framework for improving operational activities to survive in the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) environment. The study identifies how the case study company has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and what challenges the company faced during the pandemic. A diagnostic survey and semi-structured interviews were used as data sources with qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results showed that the pandemic led to significant disruptions through various factors explained by shortage of raw materials/spare parts, availability of transportation, availability of labors, demand fluctuations, increase in sick leaves, new health and safety regulations. Findings also show the necessity to re-design resilience supply chain management by providing recovery plans (forecasting, supplier selection, simulation, monitoring) which consider different measures in different stages. In addition, the best practices were recommended for the case study by considering internal, external, and technological challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the given targeted guidelines and improvement for the automotive company might be applicable in the industrial practices for other organizations. The article concludes with future research directions and managerial implications for successful applications.
Pathways to Sustainable Deployment of Solar Photovoltaic Policies in 20 Leading Countries Using a Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Authors: Lu Yujie , Yi Fangxin , Yu Shaocong , Feng Yangtian , Wang Yujuan
Published: May 2022

The paper investigates the pathways and combinations of factors for the sustainable development of solar photovoltaic policies using a QCA analysis of 20 leading countries. The main finding of this research is the causal relationship between the selected contributing factors and sustainability of the policy outcomes, which is interpreted as high/low GDP with a high democracy level, high fossil-fuel consumption and high LCOE being related to the deployment of market-based policies which include target, FiT and others (subsidies, tax, loans, TGC/RPS); while high/low GDP, low level of PV penetration, high RE investment, and high R&D expenditure contributes to more successful technological-R&D-based policies which include R&D funding and demonstration programs.
Money, a Drain of Educational Opportunity: A Microregional Study of School Dropouts in Mpigi, Uganda
Authors: Kim Jangsaeng , Jun Miyang
Published: May 2022

This paper sheds light on the causes of school dropouts, a major challenge facing UPE attainment in public primary schools of Uganda. We offer microregional analysis of school dropout patterns in the Mpigi district, and show a number of distinct patterns of school dropouts in Mpigi that can be differentiated from studies based on national data. While the Universal Primary Education program covered tuition fees, additional costs for education, such as meals, school transport, and uniforms, function as hurdles for longer school years. This is an obstacle regardless of parental awareness about education’s importance and how wealthy the parents think they are. Such findings directly conflict with existing knowledge that higher household income results in longer school years. The previous understanding of girl dropouts in Sub-Saharan Africa and its patriarchal context offer little explanations on the dropout pattern of Mpigi, as it is more related to the economic cost of education and the high demand for male agricultural labor. For a multicultural society such as Uganda, we highlight the importance of microlevel regional study in educational research.
Is There Business Potential for Sustainable Shipping? Price Premiums Needed to Cover Decarbonized Transportation
Authors: Schwartz Henry , Solakivi Tomi , Gustafsson Magnus
Published: May 2022

The shipping sector is encountering remarkable costs concerning decarbonization of the maritime business. Both the International Maritime Organization and the European Union are developing tools to limit greenhouse gas emissions of shipping. Given all the tools and planned regulations, it seems that energy efficiency and cost cutting would be a feasible strategy of the future. However, in addition to cost cutting, shipping with net-zero or zero emission fuels might be a way to promote sustainable shipping services. A growing consumer segment is ready to pay for sustainability-marketed consumer goods, and it is possible that people would be ready to pay for net-zero or zero emission shipping as well. Our objective is to pinpoint, how big price premiums would be needed to cover the costs of shipping with sustainable, and typically more expensive, maritime fuels. We do this by calculating the amounts of fuel needed to ship specific good categories at first, and then we estimate the costs of shipping these goods with alternative fuels. We analyze Finnish maritime foreign trade during the year 2018, the time prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. We estimate fuel consumption to the value and quantities of goods. Our findings indicate that a shift to low carbon and carbon neutral fuels would have a limited effect to the price of most goods.
Fostering the Reuse of Manufacturing Resources for Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains
Authors: Napoleone Alessia , Bruzzone Alessandro , Andersen Ann-Louise , Brunoe Thomas Ditlev
Published: May 2022

In the current context characterized by turbulent market conditions and the increasing relevance of sustainability requirements, reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs) offer great potentialities for supply chains and networks. While plenty of contributions have addressed RMSs from a technological and system-specific perspective since the mid-1990s, the research interest for the strategic potentialities of RMSs at the supply chain level is recent and mainly related to building supply chains’ resilience and sustainability. Despite the interest, methods to support supply chains to strategically exploit RMSs are still missing, while being highly needed. In this paper, a method—consisting of an index to assess machines reusability and a mixed integer programming (MIP) algorithm—is provided to support the identification of reusable and reconfigurable machine candidates at the early stage of the strategic network design. The overall method allows machines to be compared based on their reusability and geographical locations. The application of the method, as well as an example referring to the production of emergency devices during the COVID-19 pandemic are reported. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are also discussed, and, among others, strategic parameters related to machines have been identified and elaborated as enablers of supply chain reconfigurability; the proposed method supports practitioners in improving supply chain resilience and sustainability. The method also encourages practitioners towards the development and adoption of reconfigurable machines. Finally, this study also has social impacts for local communities and stimulates customer-centric collaboration among companies belonging to similar industries and sectors.
Interactions and Co-Governance Policies of Stakeholders in the Carbon Emission Reduction
Authors: Wang Yuhao , Wang Jianmin , Dong Zhongbing
Published: May 2022

Stakeholders need to participate in the carbon abatement activities to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutralization. This paper developed a system of evaluation indices on carbon emission reduction of stakeholders to elucidate the interplaying relationships among stakeholders in carbon emission reduction by using the structural equation model. The analysis showed that (1) the five stakeholders affecting carbon-reduction intensity are ranked in the following descending order: manufacturing enterprises, government, energy supply industry, R&D organizations, and financial institutions, while (2) stakeholders positively affect manufacturing enterprises and government. Notably, manufacturing enterprises exhibit the greater positive influence on carbon-reduction intensity. Finally, (3) the study results indicated how to build the co-governance mechanism by stakeholders to reduce carbon emissions. Overall, this study provided a theoretical support for the stakeholders of carbon emission reduction to clarify their roles, cooperation, and participation in carbon emission reduction, thereby realizing their own interests, while guiding stakeholders toward the carbon emission reduction.
Socioeconomic Status of University Students as a Limiting Factor for Various Forms of Distance Education during COVID-19 Measures
Authors: Chytrý Vlastimil , Kubiatko Milan , Šindelářová Romana , Medová Janka
Published: May 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the influences and impacts of the socioeconomic status (SES) of families on university students and their studies during anti-pandemic measures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Another aspect of the study was to investigate the various educational elements used during the course of distance teaching. This research was performed on a sample of 1280 respondents. Statistically significant differences in the case of SES grades were observed only with the following variables: (i) difficulty factor for the combined education form, (ii) age, and (iii) the duration of the teaching practice (p<0.05). The post-hoc analysis (LSD test) did not show a linear trend in the sense that the values of the respective variables also increased as the SES increased. These data proved that the higher the economic status of the family, the lower the value of the variable.
A Comparative Analysis of Fractional-Order Kaup–Kupershmidt Equation within Different Operators
Authors: Shah Nehad Ali , Hamed Yasser S. , Abualnaja Khadijah M. , Chung Jae-Dong , Shah Rasool , Khan Adnan
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we find the solution of the fractional-order Kaup–Kupershmidt (KK) equation by implementing the natural decomposition method with the aid of two different fractional derivatives, namely the Atangana–Baleanu derivative in Caputo manner (ABC) and Caputo–Fabrizio (CF). When investigating capillary gravity waves and nonlinear dispersive waves, the KK equation is extremely important. To demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed technique, we study the nonlinear fractional KK equation in three distinct cases. The results are given in the form of a series, which converges quickly. The numerical simulations are presented through tables to illustrate the validity of the suggested technique. Numerical simulations in terms of absolute error are performed to ensure that the proposed methodologies are trustworthy and accurate. The resulting solutions are graphically shown to ensure the applicability and validity of the algorithms under consideration. The results that we obtain confirm that the proposed method is the best tool for handling any nonlinear problems arising in science and technology.
Organocatalytic Asymmetric Halocyclization of Allylic Amides to Chiral Oxazolines Using DTBM-SEGPHOS—Mechanistic Implications from Hammett Plots
Authors: Moschona Fotini , Misirlaki Christina , Karadimas Nikolaos , Koutiva Maria , Savvopoulou Ioanna , Rassias Gerasimos
Published: May 2022

The intramolecular halocyclization of alkenes possessing an internal heteroatom nucleophile leads to multifunctional heterocycles which are useful versatile intermediates in organic synthesis. The asymmetric chlorocyclisation of 2-substituted allylic amides gives access to chiral oxazolines bearing a chloromethyl moiety for further synthetic manipulation. The literature reports on this transformation involve complex syntheses of the 2-substituted allylic amides and cryogenic temperatures for achieving high enantioselectivities in the organocatalyzed halocyclization step. Based on the Heck reaction of aryl bromides and Boc-protected allylamine or allylamine benzamides, we developed a practical synthesis of 2-substituted allylic amides that does not require chromatography and accomplished their asymmetric halocyclization reaction with 24–92%ee under practical conditions (5 °C, CpME) catalyzed by (S)-(+)-DTBM-SEGPHOS. In addition, using appropriately substituted substrates, we generated Hammett plots and formulated a consistent mechanism for the halocyclization reaction which involves two competing modes of formation of the haliranium intermediate whose relative kinetics are governed by the electronic properties of the substrate.
Evaluating the Impact of Institutional Improvement on Control of Corruption—A System Dynamics Approach
Authors: Taylor Ivan W. , Ullah Muhammad Aman , Koul Saroj , Ulloa Mark Sandoval
Published: May 2022

Political and bureaucratic corruption is a societal threat in every country. It allows organised crime to flourish, slows economic growth, increases income inequality, reduces government effectiveness, and threatens citizens’ confidence in the rule of law. This study uses a “System Dynamics model” from a framework based on econometric analysis wherein the causal relationships between the economic and governance institutions were established. The calibrated model uses the data on institutional quality from 1996 to 2020 from “the World Bank and the World Economic Forum” to project institutional quality and control corruption in the future. The control of corruption was trending downward in the nations studied. The model shows that improving institutional quality can reverse this downward trend. However, improving institutional quality and controlling corruption requires a country-specific approach. This model suggests the most efficient ways that national leaders and policymakers can improve institutional quality and thereby control corruption in their country.
In Vivo Estimation of the Biological Effects of Endocrine Disruptors in Rabbits after Combined and Long-Term Exposure: Study Protocol
Authors: Karzi Vasiliki , Tzatzarakis Manolis N. , Alegakis Athanasios , Vakonaki Elena , Fragkiadoulaki Irene , Kaloudis Konstantinos , Chalkiadaki Christina , Apalaki Paraskevi , Panagiotopoulou Maria , Kalliantasi Aikaterini , Kouretas Demetrios , Docea Anca Oana , Calina Daniela , Tsatsakis Aristidis
Published: May 2022

Recently, an increasing number of chemical compounds are being characterized as endocrine disruptors since they have been proven to interact with the endocrine system, which plays a crucial role in the maintenance of homeostasis. Glyphosate is the active substance of the herbicide Roundup®, bisphenol A (BPA) and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are used as plasticizers, while triclosan (TCS), methyl (MePB), propyl (PrPB), and butyl (BuPB) parabens are used as antimicrobial agents and preservatives mainly in personal care products. Studies indicate that exposure to these substances can affect humans causing developmental problems and problems in the endocrine, reproductive, nervous, immune, and respiratory systems. Although there are copious studies related to these substances, there are few in vivo studies related to combined exposure to these endocrine disruptors. The aim of the present pilot study is the investigation and assessment of the above substances’ toxicity in rabbits after twelve months of exposure to glyphosate (both pure and commercial form) and to a mixture of all the above substances at subtoxic levels. The lack of data from the literature concerning rabbits’ exposure to these substances and the restrictions of the 3Rs Principle will result in a limited number of animals available for use (four animals per group, twenty animals in total).
The Role of Gut-Derived, Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins in the Cardiovascular Complications of Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Caillard Pauline , Bennis Youssef , Six Isabelle , Bodeau Sandra , Kamel Saïd , Choukroun Gabriel , Maizel Julien , Titeca-Beauport Dimitri
Published: May 2022

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent disease encountered in the hospital, with a higher incidence in intensive care units. Despite progress in renal replacement therapy, AKI is still associated with early and late complications, especially cardiovascular events and mortality. The role of gut-derived protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) in vascular and cardiac dysfunction has been extensively studied during chronic kidney disease (CKD), in particular, that of indoxyl sulfate (IS), para-cresyl sulfate (PCS), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), resulting in both experimental and clinical evidence. PBUTs, which accumulate when the excretory function of the kidneys is impaired, have a deleterious effect on and cause damage to cardiovascular tissues. However, the link between PBUTs and the cardiovascular complications of AKI and the pathophysiological mechanisms potentially involved are unclear. This review aims to summarize available data concerning the participation of PBUTs in the early and late cardiovascular complications of AKI.
Field-Theoretical Representation of Interactions between Particles: Classical Relativistic Probability-Free Kinetic Theory
Authors: Zakharov Anatoly Yu. , Zubkov Victor V.
Published: May 2022

It was proven that the class of stable interatomic potentials can be represented exactly as a superposition of Yukawa potentials. In this paper, an auxiliary scalar field was introduced to describe the dynamics of a system of neutral particles (atoms) in the framework of classical field theory. In the case of atoms at rest, this field is equivalent to the interatomic potential, but in the dynamic case, it describes the dynamics of a system of atoms interacting through a relativistic classical field. A relativistic Lagrangian is proposed for a system consisting of atoms and an auxiliary scalar field. A complete system of equations for the relativistic dynamics of a system consisting of atoms and an auxiliary field was obtained. A closed kinetic equation was derived for the probability-free microscopic distribution function of atoms. It was shown that the finite mass of the auxiliary field leads to a significant increase in the effect of interaction retardation in the dynamics of a system of interacting particles.
The Oligomeric Assemblies of Cytomegalovirus Core Nuclear Egress Proteins Are Associated with Host Kinases and Show Sensitivity to Antiviral Kinase Inhibitors
Authors: Kicuntod Jintawee , Häge Sigrun , Hahn Friedrich , Sticht Heinrich , Marschall Manfred
Published: May 2022

The nucleo-cytoplasmic capsid egress of herpesviruses is a unique regulated process that ensures the efficiency of viral replication and release. For human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), the core of the nuclear egress complex (NEC) consists of the pUL50–pUL53 heterodimer that is able to oligomerize and thus to build hexameric lattices. These structures determine capsid binding and multicomponent protein interaction including NEC-associated host factors. The underlying characteristic of the core NEC formation is based on the N-terminal hook structure of pUL53 that binds into an alpha-helical groove of pUL50, and is thus described as a hook-into-groove interaction. This central regulatory element has recently been validated as a target of antiviral strategies, and first NEC-targeted prototypes of inhibitory small molecules were reported by our previous study. Here, we further analyzed the oligomerization properties of the viral NEC through an approach of chemical protein cross-linking. Findings were as follows: (i) a cross-link approach demonstrated the oligomeric state of the HCMV core NEC using material from HCMV-infected or plasmid-transfected cells, (ii) a Western blot-based identification of NEC-associated kinases using the cross-linked multicomponent NECs was successful, and (iii) we demonstrated the NEC-inhibitory and antiviral activity of specific inhibitors directed to these target kinases. Combined, the results strongly underline the functional importance of the oligomerization of the HCMV-specific NEC that is both phosphorylation-dependent and sensitive to antiviral kinase inhibitors.
Reversibility of Central Nervous System Adverse Events in Course of Art
Authors: Taramasso Lucia , Orofino Giancarlo , Ricci Elena , Menzaghi Barbara , De Socio Giuseppe Vittorio , Squillace Nicola , Madeddu Giordano , Vichi Francesca , Celesia Benedetto Maurizio , Molteni Chiara , Conti Federico , Del Puente Filippo , Sarchi Eleonora , Angioni Goffredo , Cascio Antonio , Grosso Carmela , Parruti Giustino , Di Biagio Antonio , Bonfanti Paolo
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the frequency of central nervous system adverse events (CNS-AE) on dolutegravir (DTG) and non-DTG containing ART, and their reversibility, in the observational prospective SCOLTA cohort. Factors associated with CNS-AE were estimated using a Cox proportional-hazards model. 4939 people living with HIV (PLWH) were enrolled in DTG (n = 1179) and non-DTG (n = 3760) cohorts. Sixty-six SNC-AE leading to ART discontinuation were reported, 39/1179 (3.3%) in DTG and 27/3760 (0.7%) in non-DTG cohort. PLWH naïve to ART, with higher CD4 + T count and with psychiatric disorders were more likely to develop a CNS-AE. The risk was lower in non-DTG than DTG-cohort (aHR 0.33, 95% CI 0.19–0.55, p < 0.0001). One-year follow-up was available for 63/66 PLWH with CNS-AE. AE resolution was reported in 35/39 and 23/24 cases in DTG and non-DTG cohorts, respectively. The probability of AE reversibility was not different based on ART class, sex, ethnicity, CDC stage, or baseline psychiatric disorder. At the same time, a lower rate of event resolution was found in PLWH older than 50 years (p = 0.017). In conclusion, CNS-AE leading to ART discontinuation was more frequent in DTG than non-DTG treated PLWH. Most CNS-AE resolved after ART switch, similarly in both DTG and non-DTG cohorts.
Genetic Variations among Different Variants of G1-like Avian Influenza H9N2 Viruses and Their Pathogenicity in Chickens
Authors: Adel Amany , Abdelmagid Marwa A. , Mohamed Ahmed Abd-Elhalem , Wasberg Anishia , Mosaad Zienab , Selim Karim , Shaaban Asmaa , Tarek Mohamed , Hagag Naglaa M. , Lundkvist Åke , Ellström Patrik , Naguib Mahmoud M.
Published: May 2022

Since it was first discovered, the low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H9N2 subtype has established linages infecting the poultry population globally and has become one of the most prevalent influenza subtypes in domestic poultry. Several different variants and genotypes of LPAI H9N2 viruses have been reported in Egypt, but little is known about their pathogenicity and how they have evolved. In this study, four different Egyptian LPAI H9N2 viruses were genetically and antigenically characterized and compared to representative H9N2 viruses from G1 lineage. Furthermore, the pathogenicity of three genetically distinct Egyptian LPAI H9N2 viruses was assessed by experimental infection in chickens. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the H9N2 virus of the Egy-2 G1-B lineage (pigeon-like) has become the dominant circulating H9N2 genotype in Egypt since 2016. Considerable variation in virus shedding at day 7 post-infections was detected in infected chickens, but no significant difference in pathogenicity was found between the infected groups. The rapid spread and emergence of new genotypes of the influenza viruses pinpoint the importance of continuous surveillance for the detection of novel reassortant viruses, as well as monitoring the viral evolution.
B-Cell-Epitope-Based Fluorescent Quantum Dot Biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 Enable Highly Sensitive COVID-19 Antibody Detection
Authors: Zheng Yucheng , Song Kun , Cai Kun , Liu Linlin , Tang Dixiao , Long Wenbo , Zhai Bohui , Chen Jianjun , Tao Yanbing , Zhao Yunong , Liang Simeng , Huang Qing , Liu Qianyun , Zhang Qi , Chen Yu , Liu Yingle , Li Huayao , Wang Ping , Lan Ke , Liu Huan , Xu Ke
Published: May 2022

A new antibody diagnostic assay with more rapid and robust properties is demanded to quantitatively evaluate anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunity in a large population. Here, we developed a nanometer-scale fluorescent biosensor system consisting of CdSe-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) coupled with the highly sensitive B-cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 that could remarkably identify the corresponding antibody with a detection limit of 100 pM. Intriguingly, we found that fluorescence quenching of QDs was stimulated more obviously when coupled with peptides than the corresponding proteins, indicating that the energy transfer between QDs and peptides was more effective. Compared to the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the B-cell-epitope-based QD-biosensor could robustly distinguish coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) antibody-positive patients from uninfected individuals with a higher sensitivity (92.3–98.1% positive rates by QD-biosensor vs. 78.3–83.1% positive rates by ELISAs in 207 COVID-19 patients’ sera) in a more rapid (5 min) and labor-saving manner. Taken together, the ‘QD-peptides’ biosensor provided a novel real-time, quantitative, and high-throughput method for clinical diagnosis and home-use tests.
Barriers and Facilitators to Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccination and Development of Theoretically-Informed Implementation Strategies for the Public: Qualitative Study in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Charlene Hl , Zhong Claire Cw , Chung Vincent Ch , Nilsen Per , Wong Eliza Ly , Yeoh Eng-kiong
Published: May 2022

Objectives: enhancing uptake of COVID-19 vaccines is an important tool for managing the pandemic. However, in Hong Kong, the COVID-19 vaccination rate in the general population was unsatisfactory during the early phase of the vaccination program. This two-part study aimed to (i) identify barriers and facilitators to receiving vaccinations, and (ii) develop theoretically-informed implementation strategies for promoting uptake. Methods: in part 1, 45 Hong Kong residents who differed in their willingness to vaccinate (willing (n = 15), were unwilling (n = 15), and were hesitant (n = 15)), were interviewed individually in February 2021. They were invited to express their perceptions of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. The theoretical domains framework (TDF) was applied to guide the interviews and analyses. Behavioral diagnoses from these findings were then used to develop theoretically-informed implementation strategies in part 2, composed of behavior change techniques (BCTs) informed by the established BCT taxonomy. Results: in part 1, the five main barriers were (i) concerns on severe and long-term side effects; (ii) low confidence in the safety and effectiveness due to concerns of their accelerated development; (iii) unclear information on logistical arrangements of the vaccination program; (iv) insufficient data on safety and effectiveness; and (v) perceived low protection ability conferred by the vaccines. The five main facilitators included (i) healthcare professionals’ recommendations; (ii) news from TV, radio, and newspapers as main sources of trustworthy information; (iii) vaccine-related health education delivered by healthcare professionals; (iv) expectations of resuming to a normal social life; and (v) perceived benefits outweighing risks of mild and short-term side effects. Conclusions: seven implementation strategies were developed in part 2 based on the results above, namely (i) providing trustworthy vaccine-related information and scaling up the promotion; (ii) encouraging healthcare professionals to recommend vaccinations; (iii) giving incentives; (iv) using social influence approaches; (v) allowing a selection of COVID-19 vaccine brands; (vi) increasing accessibility for vaccinations; and (vii) emphasizing social responsibility.
In-Person Schooling Amidst Children’s COVID-19 Vaccination: Exploring Parental Perceptions Just after Omicron Variant Announcement
Authors: Aljamaan Fadi , Alhaboob Ali , Saddik Basema , Bassrawi Rolan , Assiri Rasha , Saeed Elshazaly , Alhasan Khalid , Alenezi Shuliweeh , Alarabi Mohammed , Alrabiaah Abdulkarim , Alkriadees Yazed , Al-Saud Nora , Alenazi Badi , Rabaan Ali A. , Halwani Rabih , AlZamil Fahad , Barry Mazin , Memish Ziad A. , Al-Tawfiq Jaffar A. , Temsah Mohamad-Hani
Published: May 2022

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spread fast globally and became the predominant variant in many countries. Resumption of public regular life activities, including in-person schooling, presented parents with new sources of worry. Thus, it is important to study parental worry about the Omicron variant, willingness to vaccinate their children, and knowledge about school-based COVID-19 precautionary measures. Methods: A national, cross-sectional, pilot-validated online questionnaire targeting parents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was distributed between 31 December 2021, and 7 January 2022. The survey included sociodemographic, COVID-19 infection data, parental and children vaccination status, attitudes towards booster vaccine, parents’ Omicron-related perceptions and worries, and attitude towards in-person schooling. Results: A total of 1340 participants completed the survey, most (65.3%) of whom were mothers. Of the parents, 96.3% either received two or three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 32.1% of the parents were willing to vaccinate their young children (5–11 years of age). In relation to their children 12–18 years of age, 48% had already had them vaccinated, 31% were planning to vaccinate them, and 42.8% were willing to administer a booster dose. Only 16% were more worried about the Omicron variant compared to the Delta variant. Residents of western KSA were more worried about Omicron compared to Delta. Parents worried about the Omicron variant and male participants were significantly less aware of school-based COVID-19 precautionary measures. Parents with post-graduate degrees and those having more children were significantly more inclined to send their children to school even if COVID-19 outbreaks could occur in schools, while parents who were more worried about the Omicron variant and were more committed to infection prevention measures were significantly less inclined to do so. Conclusions: Overall, parents had lower worry levels about the Omicron variant compared to the Delta variant. They had a higher willingness to vaccinate their older children compared to the younger ones. In addition, our cohort of parents showed high willingness to send their children to schools and trusted the school-based preventative measures. These findings can inform policy makers when considering school related decisions during the current or future public health crises.
Investigation on Robustness of Vehicle Localization Using Cameras and LiDAR
Authors: Albrecht Christian Rudolf , Behre Jenny , Herrmann Eva , Jürgens Stefan , Stilla Uwe
Published: May 2022

Vehicle self-localization is one of the most important capabilities for automated driving. Current localization methods already provide accuracy in the centimeter range, so robustness becomes a key factor, especially in urban environments. There is no commonly used standard metric for the robustness of localization systems, but a set of different approaches. Here, we show a novel robustness score that combines different aspects of robustness and evaluate a graph-based localization method with the help of fault injections. In addition, we investigate the influence of semantic class information on robustness with a layered landmark model. By using the perturbation injections and our novel robustness score for test drives, system vulnerabilities or possible improvements are identified. Furthermore, we demonstrate that semantic class information allows early discarding of misclassified dynamic objects such as pedestrians, thus improving false-positive rates. This work provides a method for the robustness evaluation of landmark-based localization systems that are also capable of measuring the impact of semantic class information for vehicle self-localization.
Sucrose Inclusion in Gestating and Lactating Diets of Sows Modifies the Feeding Behavior of Post-Weaning Pigs for Sweet Solutions
Authors: Figueroa Jaime , Valenzuela Carolina , Guzmán-Pino Sergio A.
Published: May 2022

Pigs display an innate preference for sweet taste compounds such as sucrose. However, the influence of sucrose supplementation into maternal diets has not been examined in pigs. We tested the hypothesis that sucrose inclusion into sows’ diets would modify the feeding behavior of post-weaning pigs for sweet and umami solutions. Twenty-two sows (85 days of gestation) were used. They randomly received a gestational and lactating diet with or without 50 g/kg of sucrose. Different sucrose and monosodium glutamate solutions were offered to the progeny to analyze different intake behavior measurements during nursery. Pigs born from treated sows presented a higher sucrose threshold than control animals (15 mM vs. 0.1 mM, p = 0.032) and displayed decreased sensory-motivated intake for this disaccharide (p < 0.023). Sucrose consumption decreased (p < 0.021) in pigs born from treated sows, as well as the consumption patterns for the less concentrated solutions (p < 0.014). The inclusion of sucrose into maternal diets (gestation and lactation) could modified pigs’ feeding behavior after weaning when offered sweet solutions, which speaks against the practicality of this supplementation in pig production systems.
Blood Metabolites and Feed Utilization Efficiency in Thai-Native-Anglo-Nubian Goats Fed a Concentrate Diet Including Yeast Fermented Palm Kernel Cake Instead of Soybean Meal
Authors: Chanjula Pin , Supapong Chanadol , Hamchara Puwadon , Cherdthong Anusorn
Published: May 2022

Feed is the most expensive component in goat production. Hence, lowering it is crucial to increasing producer profitability. The microbial community in rumen is vital for nutritional digestion and absorption in ruminants. Live yeast and yeast-based products generated from the strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae (commercial strain) are actively being used and investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of substituting soybean meal (SBM) in concentrate diets with yeast-fermented palm kernel cake protein (YFPKCP) on dry matter intake, digestibility, blood markers, and nitrogen balance. Five crossbred Thai Native-Anglo-Nubian goats (50% Thai Native goats with 50% Anglo-Nubian goats) weighing an average of 27 ± 2 kg were randomly allocated to one of five diets using a 5 × 5 Latin square design: 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% YFPKCP replacement for SBM. Plicatulum hay (Paspalum plicatulum Michx.) was provided ad libitum. There were no significant differences in dry matter (DM) intake among treatments, but the apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were affected (p < 0.05) by including YFPKCP in diets. They also tended to be slightly lower for goats fed the diet containing 100% YFPKCP replacement for SBM compared to other treatments. Ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), blood glucose, and packed cell volume were equivalent among treatments. On the other hand, replacement YFPKCP reduced digestibility and N absorption by up to 75% (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference in total volatile fatty-acid concentration among goats fed YFPKCP as a substitute for SBM. According to the results of this study, the level of YFPKCP in the concentrate replacement of SBM for goats fed plicatulum hay should be 75%.
Antimicrobial Activity from Putative Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria for the Biological Control of American and European Foulbrood Diseases
Authors: Iorizzo Massimo , Ganassi Sonia , Albanese Gianluca , Letizia Francesco , Testa Bruno , Tedino Cosimo , Petrarca Sonia , Mutinelli Franco , Mazzeo Alessandra , De Cristofaro Antonio
Published: May 2022

The balance of the gut microbiome is important for the honey bee’s growth and development, immune function and defense against pathogens. The use of a beneficial bacteria-based strategy for the prevention and biocontrol of American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) diseases in honey bees offers interesting prospects. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of the honey bee. Among LABs associated with bee gut microbiota, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (previously Lactobacillus plantarum) and Apilactobacillus kunkeei (formerly classified as Lactobacillus kunkeei) are two of the most abundant species. In this study, four Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains and four Apilactobacillus kunkeei strains, isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) were selected for their in vitro inhibition ability of Paenibacillus larvae ATCC 9545 and Melissococccus plutonius ATCC 35311. In addition, these LABs have been characterized through some biochemical and functional characteristics: cell surface properties (hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation), carbohydrates assimilation and enzymatic activities. The antimicrobial, biochemical and cell surface properties of these LABs have been functional to their candidature as potential probiotics in beekeeping and for the biocontrol of AFB and EFB diseases.