bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Artificial Intelligence to Predict CO2 Emissions: Critical Step towards Sustainable Environment
Authors: Nassef Ahmed M. , Olabi Abdul Ghani , Rezk Hegazy , Abdelkareem Mohammad Ali
Published: May 2023

Prediction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is a critical step towards a sustainable environment. In any country, increasing the amount of CO2 emissions is an indicator of the increase in environmental pollution. In this regard, the current study applied three powerful and effective artificial intelligence tools, namely, a feed-forward neural network (FFNN), an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and long short-term memory (LSTM), to forecast the yearly amount of CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia up to the year 2030. The data were collected from the “Our World in Data” website, which offers the measurements of the CO2 emissions from the years 1936 to 2020 for every country on the globe. However, this study is only concerned with the data related to Saudi Arabia. Due to some missing data, this study considered only the measurements in the years from 1954 to 2020. The 67 data samples were divided into 2 subsets for training and testing with the optimal ratio of 70:30, respectively. The effect of different input combinations on prediction accuracy was also studied. The inputs were combined to form six different groups to predict the next value of the CO2 emissions from the past values. The group of inputs that contained the past value in addition to the year as a temporal index was found to be the best one. For all the models, the performance accuracies were assessed using the root mean squared errors (RMSEs) and the coefficient of determination (R2). Every model was trained until the smallest RMSE of the testing data was reached throughout the entire training run. For the FFNN, ANFIS and LSTM, the averages of the RMSEs were 19.78, 20.89505 and 15.42295, respectively, while the averages of the R2 were found to be 0.990985, 0.98875 and 0.9945, respectively. Every model was applied individually to forecast the next value of the CO2 emission. To benefit from the powers of the three artificial intelligence (AI) tools, the final forecasted value was considered the average (ensemble) value of the three models’ outputs. To assess the forecasting accuracy, the ensemble was validated with a new measurement for the year 2021, and the calculated percentage error was found to be 6.8675% with an accuracy of 93.1325%, which implies that the model is highly accurate. Moreover, the resulting forecasting curve of the ensembled models showed that the rate of CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia is expected to decrease from 9.4976 million tonnes per year based on the period 1954–2020 to 6.1707 million tonnes per year in the period 2020–2030. Therefore, the finding of this work could possibly help the policymakers in Saudi Arabia to take the correct and wise decisions regarding this issue not only for the near future but also for the far future.
Socioeconomic Inequality and Associated Factors Affecting Health Care Utilization among the Elderly: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Authors: Zhang Huiru , Meng Fanli , Chen Mingsheng
Published: May 2023

Background: Elderly population is particularly vulnerable to socioeconomic disparities. This study assessed inequalities in health care utilization among the elderly in China and identified contributing factors. Methods: This study used data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study survey. A non-linear probit regression model based on the Andersen Health Care Utilization Model was used to identify determinants of health care utilization among the elderly. The concentration index (CI) and the decomposition of the CI were calculated to evaluate inequalities in health care utilization among the elderly and identify related contributors. Results: The CI for actual and standardized outpatient visits was 0.0889 and 0.0945, respectively, and the corresponding values for inpatient service utilization were 0.1134 and 0.1176, respectively. Factors that contributed to greater inequalities in the utilization of outpatient and inpatient service included income (73.68% for outpatient service; 85.20% for inpatient service), Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) (40.75% for outpatient service; 32.03% for inpatient service) and non-agricultural Hukou status (12.63% for outpatient service; 18.73% for inpatient service). New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) (−34.30% for outpatient service; −33.18% for inpatient service) and poor health status (−7.36% for outpatient service; −8.30% for inpatient service) reduced inequalities in outpatient and inpatient utilization. Conclusions: This study found that a key contributor to these inequalities was income, followed by UEBMI coverage. Meanwhile, health care coverage through NRCMS was associated with fewer disparities in health care utilization.
Hyperspectral Classification of Hazardous Materials Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Sun Yanlong , Hu Jinxing , Yuan Diping , Chen Yaowen , Liu Yangyang , Zhang Qi , Chen Wenjiang
Published: May 2023

The identification of hazardous materials is a key measure in the prevention and control of fire and explosion disasters. Conventional techniques used to identify hazardous materials include contact detection and post-sampling laboratory testing, which cannot meet the needs of extreme environments, where personnel and equipment are not accessible for on-site detection. To address this problem, this paper proposes a method for the classification and identification of hazardous materials based on convolutional neural networks, which can achieve non-contact remote detection of hazardous materials. Firstly, a dataset containing 1800 hyperspectral images of hazardous materials, which can be used for deep learning, is constructed based on the hazardous materials hyperspectral data cube. Secondly, based on this, an improved ResNet50-based classification method for hazardous materials is proposed, which innovatively utilizes a classification network based on offset sampling convolution and split context-gated convolution. The results show that the method can achieve 93.9% classification accuracy for hazardous materials, which is 1% better than the classification accuracy of the original ResNet50 network. The network also has high performance under small data volume conditions, effectively solving the problem of low classification accuracy due to small data volume and blurred image data features of labelled hazardous material images. In addition, it was found that offset sampling convolution and split context-gated convolution showed synergistic effects in improving the performance of the network.
Challenges in Effective Implementation of Saudization Policy in the Restaurant Sector
Authors: Sobaih Abu Elnasr E.
Published: May 2023

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is one of the countries that heavily rely on expatriates, especially in the private sector, which includes restaurants. However, to overcome the increasing rate of unemployment, the government has adopted new quota up to 50% Saudi Arabian people in restaurants. Notwithstanding, Saudization has been more successful in public sectors than it has been in the private sector. The current study undertook a sequential mixed method approach, starting with a questionnaire for newly joined local workers in restaurants and supplemented with in-depth interviews with managers. The main purpose of the questionnaire was to understand how new local workers perceive their new jobs/careers in restaurants, while the managers’ interviews explored the challenges encountered in the effective implementation of the new quota in restaurants. The results of questionnaire showed that local workers had negative perceptions about their new jobs/careers. They perceived it as a “bad” and “disrespected” job and reported overall dissatisfaction with their new job. Newly joined local workers consider restaurant positions as a “transit job”, with no intention to continue it as a career or even recommend it to their friends and family members. Managers, on the other hand, identified six main challenges that are associated with this, albeit they are linked to the absence of a clear strategic framework and executive plan by the government for the effective implementation of the new quota. The plan has to clearly focus on the employability and mitigate the wrong assumption about working in restaurants due to cultural and social impacts. The plan should consider the needs of both employers and employees to promote sustainable career among local workers, which ultimately influences the sustainable development of restaurants in the KSA.
Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Building Construction: A Case Study in China
Authors: Dong Yahong , Liu Peng , Hossain Md. Uzzal
Published: May 2023

Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) has been increasingly implemented in a wide spectrum of products. Considering the vital importance of buildings to human lives, it is surprising that there have been few LCSA case studies of buildings from mainland China, which boasts the largest developing economy in the world. This study aims to implement LCSA in a typical residential building project in China. The three areas of protections (AoPs) are integrated into an overarching LCSA framework by applying the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. It is found that the building project has less impacts of climate change, acidification and human toxicity, but greater impacts of ozone depletion and freshwater eutrophication, as compared to benchmarks of buildings. The sustainability single score is estimated to be 71.5/100, with 40.86% caused by the environmental impact, 29.68% by the economic impact and 29.46% by the social impact. The sustainability results of the studied case are further compared with an existing study in Hong Kong. The results would contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the sustainability performance of buildings in China. The methodology presented in this study can contribute to further improvements in LCSA evaluation, both regionally and globally.
Applying Enterprises’ Frugal Innovation in Ecologically Vulnerable Areas: A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of the Influence Paths
Authors: Zhang Shudan , Su Rina , Zhao Yunhui , Liu Jing , Li Chenlu
Published: May 2023

Frugal innovation has become popular in ecologically vulnerable areas in the past decade, as it was initiated under a resource-constrained innovation paradigm. However, there has been limited research on its influence factors and fundamental operating mechanisms in such areas. This paper aims to address this gap by using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to analyze unique datasets from three ecologically vulnerable areas in China. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the study identifies three key influence factors in frugal innovation: behavioral attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control. The relationships among these factors and pathways are also described. The study’s findings suggest: (1) frugal innovation is an integrated product of multiple influence factors and pathways, where the same goal can be achieved through different pathways; (2) Three pathways for conducting high-level frugal innovation are identified: attitude-oriented, norm-oriented, and attitude-norm-oriented pathways. Behavioral attitudes and subjective norms are the two dominant factors that influence enterprises to carry out frugal innovation. (3) Perceived behavior control does not play a leading role in frugal innovation as the resource-constrained environment in ecologically vulnerable areas and the characteristics of enterprises heavily influence frugal innovation. (4) The lack of behavioral attitudes and subjective norms are the main causes leading to the low-level frugal innovation of enterprises. In conclusion, this study systematically investigates the different influence factors and pathways of frugal innovation in ecologically vulnerable areas. The findings enrich the frugal theory and promote the effective development strategy of innovation for enterprises in such areas.
Building Density Dynamics and Habitability Evaluation of China’s Nanning City
Authors: Wu Yongke , Yang Xiankun , Jia Zhiqiang , Wang Jinnian
Published: May 2023

Unlocking the secrets of habitable urban areas is crucial to improve the quality of life for urban dwellers. Accurate assessment of the ever-changing dynamics of a modern metropolis remains a challenging task. Previous studies have failed to reveal the dynamics of urban building spatial configuration at the micro-level. By analyzing high-resolution satellite imagery, this study has developed new direct and indirect metrics to better understand building density dynamics. We also applied these metrics to a study area located in Nanning City, China, revealing fascinating insights into the evolving spatial patterns of building density over the past 17 years. Our Q/R analysis uncovered areas with high habitability and suggested strategic improvements for sustainable building spatial configuration. This study is a valuable addition to the growing body of urban development research and provides scientific references for measurements of sustainable urban planning worldwide.
Experimental and Estimated Evaluation of Drying Shrinkage of Concrete Made with Fine Recycled Aggregates
Authors: Sosa Maria E. , Zega Claudio J.
Published: May 2023

Using fine recycled concrete aggregates (FRCA) in concrete manufacturing points towards achieving sustainability in recycled aggregate valorisation. The higher absorption and amount of hardened cement paste of FRCA may impair concrete performance. One of the most influenced properties is drying shrinkage; this is because of the extra cement paste content and higher porosity and deformability of FRCA when compared to natural sand. Thus, the influence of FRCA on shrinkage appears to depend on the quality of FRCA and how its absorption is considered during mix design. In this study, the influence of FRCA mineralogy and quality on drying shrinkage is evaluated, also considering the compensation of FRCA absorption rates. In addition, the feasibility of different models to predict the ultimate shrinkage is also analysed. The quality of FRCA and the compensation of water absorption cause different effects on concrete according to the property evaluated. The storage of water inside the FRCA particles causes no influence (or even a beneficial influence) on the shrinkage of concretes. Models used to estimate the drying shrinkage show they are still reliable with the use of FRCA.
Assessment of a Diffuser-Augmented Hydrokinetic Turbine Designed for Harnessing the Flow Energy Downstream of Dams
Authors: Vaz Jerson R. P. , de Lima Adry K. F. , Lins Erb F.
Published: May 2023

Harnessing the remaining energy downstream of dams has recently gained significant attention as the kinetic energy available in the water current is considerable. This work developed a novel study to quantify the energy gain downstream of dams using a horizontal-axis hydrokinetic turbine with a diffuser. The present assessment uses field data from the Tucuruí Dam, where a stream velocity of 2.35 m/s is the velocity at which the highest energy extraction can occur. In this case, a 3-bladed hydrokinetic turbine with a 10 m diameter, shrouded by a flanged conical diffuser, was simulated. Numerical modeling using computational fluid dynamics was carried out using the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes formulation with the κ – ω shear stress transport as the turbulence model. The results yield good agreement with experimental and theoretical data available in the literature. Moreover, the turbine power coefficient under the diffuser effect could increase by about 55% for a tip speed ratio of 5.4, and the power output increased by about 1.5 times when compared to the same turbine without a diffuser. Additionally, as there are no hydrokinetic turbines installed downstream of dams in the Amazon region, the present study is relevant as it explores the use of hydrokinetic turbines as an alternative for harnessing the turbined and verted flow from dams. This alternative may help avoid further environmental impacts caused by the need for structural extensions.
High-Resolution Greening Scenarios for Urban Climate Regulation Based on Physical and Socio-Economical Factors
Authors: La Rosa Daniele , Li Junxiang
Published: May 2023

Urban ecosystems represent the main providers of ecosystem services in cities and play a relevant role, among the many services, in the regulation of the urban microclimate and mitigation of the urban heat island effect. The amount, localization, and spatial configuration of vegetation (i.e., urban trees) are key elements for planners and designers aiming at maximizing the climate regulation potential and therefore extending the related benefits to a higher number of residents and city users. Different factors and constraints related to urban morphology and socio-economical characteristics of the urban environment influence the localization of new greening scenarios, therefore impacting the potential benefits that can be obtained by residents. This paper investigates these factors by identifying high-resolution greening scenarios that are able to maximize the cooling benefits for people and local residents. For the case study of metropolitan areas of Catania (Italy) with a hot Mediterranean climate, scenarios are derived by modelling physical and socio-economic factors as spatial constraints with the UMEP model and GIS spatial analysis. Results show that new greenery should be mostly located in public areas that are mostly used by residents. Built on the results obtained in the case study analyzed, the paper also proposes some general planning criteria for the localization of new urban greenery, which should be extended to other geographical urban contexts.
Development of Platform Economy and Urban–Rural Income Gap: Theoretical Deductions and Empirical Analyses
Authors: Hao Nan , Ji Mingxing
Published: May 2023

Against the historical background of the burgeoning platform economy and the promotion of common prosperity, this paper focuses on the impact of the development of the platform economy on the urban–rural income gap. Theoretical mechanism analyses are conducted from three aspects such as nonlinear action of the platform economy on the urban–rural income gap, the rural human capital level-based moderating effect, and the spatial spillover effect. Moreover, empirical analyses are carried out using the threshold model, interaction model, and spatial lag model in turn with panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2013 to 2020. The results of the study show that there is a significant double threshold effect of the development of the platform economy on the urban–rural income gap. The initial development of the platform economy can improve urban–rural income inequality, and the scale effect of the platform will further contribute to the reduction in the urban–rural income gap, but the expansion of market share and the deepening of monopoly will have a suppressive effect on the urban–rural equilibrium. There is a moderating effect of rural human capital in the platform economy in reducing urban–rural income inequality. The increase in the level of rural human capital will enhance the driving effect of the platform economy on the reduction in the rural–urban income gap. There are spatial spillover effects for the impacts of the platform economy on the urban–rural income gap and it positively promotes the coordinated development of urban and rural areas in neighboring provinces. Based on the above results, this paper makes policy proposals from three aspects such as perfecting the system and standard of the platform, improving the rural human capital level, and optimizing platform-based regional cooperation.
Enhanced Simultaneous Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal Performance of the AGS-SBR Reactor Based on the Effects of the C/N Ratio and Microbial Community Change
Authors: Su Lei , Li Yafeng , Chao Lei , Li Qianqian , Hu Zhiqiang
Published: May 2023

In recent years, the development of AGS technology will likely lead to a new direction in wastewater treatment development in the future. Traditional sewage treatment technology has been unable to meet the increasingly strict quality standards of wastewater treatment and limited land requirements. AGS technology may be a new method to replace traditional sewage treatment technology. However, the stable operation of AGS technology is a major obstacle to the popularization and development of this technology. The C/N ratio is an important parameter affecting the stability and simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal of AGS technology. In order to enhance the nitrogen and phosphorus removal capacity of a low-load aerobic granular sludge SBR (AGS-SBR) system, changes in the morphology, EPS, and simultaneous removal of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the AGS system were studied by regulating different C/N ratios (20, 15, 10, 5). The changes in the microbial community in the system were deeply analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that different C/N ratios have a significant effect on the nitrogen removal rate of AGS but have little effect on the removal rate of organic matter and phosphorus. When the C/N ratio was reduced to 10, it was conducive to the stability of the low-load AGS-SBR system. An effective C/N ratio promoted the secretion of EPS by microorganisms, and the increase in the PN value contributed to the stability of the granular sludge, which became smooth and compact. The main functional genus in the system were norank_f__Saprospiraceae, Tetrasphaera, Ellin6067, and Pseudomonas. In addition, the simultaneous nitrogen removal performance of the system was significantly improved.
Temporal and Spatial Divergence of Embodied Carbon Emissions Transfer and the Drivers—Evidence from China’s Domestic Trade
Authors: Jin Chunli , Zhu Qiaoqiao , Sun Hui
Published: May 2023

To understand the embodied carbon transfer in China’s domestic trade from 2007 to 2017 and its driving forces, we quantitatively measured the embodied carbon transfer among 30 provinces by using the Multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model, explored the temporal and spatial evolutionary features of the interprovincial embodied carbon emission transfer by using spatial autocorrelation, and further revealed its drivers using the Geographical Detector Model for the first time. We find that: (1) Based on the producer and consumer accounting principles, the amount of embodied carbon emissions of each province has increased, and there are huge differences. (2) The number of provinces with net embodied carbon emissions transfer is increasing, to 18 in 2017 and the target provinces are mostly energy-rich regions, such as Shanxi, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia, which have a severe “carbon leakage” phenomenon with developed coastal provinces. (3) The scale and spatial distribution of net carbon transfer out shows a characteristic of “high in the north and low in the south”, and the tendency of net transfer from the less developed provinces to the developed regions is becoming more and more obvious. (4) The global differences in the promoting factors of the net embodied carbon transfer are not prominent, but the differences at the local scale are significant, with energy intensity and environmental regulation playing an increasingly significant role. Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen low-carbon technology innovation and environmental regulation, increase the percentage of renewable energy consumption, accelerate the mobility of various resource factors, and improve energy utilization efficiency.
The Impact of Information Infrastructure Construction on Carbon Emissions
Authors: Fu Lianyan , Zhang Luyang , Zhang Zihan
Published: May 2023

As the economy continues to grow, greenhouse gas emissions are increasing, and people are paying more attention to issues related to carbon emissions. The construction of information infrastructure has also become an important support for development in the new era. Therefore, to explore whether information infrastructure construction can reduce carbon emissions, this paper conducts a series of tests based on panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2019. The empirical results show that, in addition to directly reducing carbon emissions, the construction of information infrastructure can also affect carbon emissions through technological innovation. According to the heterogeneity test, we find that the construction of information infrastructure has better emission reduction effects for the eastern region, provinces with a higher technological innovation level, and provinces with a higher carbon emission intensity. The results of this paper provide strong support for the mitigation of global warming.
Some New Fractional Hadamard and Pachpatte-Type Inequalities with Applications via Generalized Preinvexity
Authors: Tariq Muhammad , Shaikh Asif Ali , Ntouyas Sotiris K.
Published: May 2023

The term convexity associated with the theory of inequality in the sense of fractional analysis has a broad range of different and remarkable applications in the domain of applied sciences. The prime objective of this article is to investigate some new variants of Hermite–Hadamard and Pachpatte-type integral inequalities involving the idea of the preinvex function in the frame of a fractional integral operator, namely the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional operator. By employing our approach, a new fractional integral identity that correlates with preinvex functions for first-order differentiable mappings is presented. Moreover, we derive some refinements of the Hermite–Hadamard-type inequality for mappings, whose first-order derivatives are generalized preinvex functions in the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional sense. From an application viewpoint, to represent the usability of the concerning results, we presented several inequalities by using special means of real numbers. Integral inequalities in association with convexity in the frame of fractional calculus have a strong relationship with symmetry. Our investigation provides a better image of convex analysis in the frame of fractional calculus.
How Do Clusters Drive Firm Performance in the Regional Innovation System? A Causal Complexity Analysis in Chinese Strategic Emerging Industries
Authors: Zhao Liangjie , Liang Yan , Tu Haojie
Published: May 2023

From a configurational perspective, this study aims to explain how clusters drive firm performance in the regional innovation system by considering the relationship between cluster and firm performance as causal complexity. Using an original dataset comprising 292 Chinese firms in strategic emerging industries (SEIs), this study employs a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to investigate the conjunction effects of interorganizational dependence, network embeddedness, and ambidextrous innovation on cluster firms’ performance. The results showed that the fsQCA method uncovers causal combinations of these cluster factors that lead to high performance. These configurations imply two alternative pathways to enhance performance, where exploitative innovation is identified as the core causal condition.
Estimation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Groundwater from Campania Plain: Spatial Distribution, Source Attribution and Health Cancer Risk Evaluation
Authors: Montuori Paolo , De Rosa Elvira , Cerino Pellegrino , Pizzolante Antonio , Nicodemo Federico , Gallo Alfonso , Rofrano Giuseppe , De Vita Sabato , Limone Antonio , Triassi Maria
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 1168 groundwater samples of the Campania Plain (Southern Italy), taken using a municipal environmental pressure index (MIEP), and to analyze the distribution of these compounds to determine source PAHs using ratios of isomers diagnostic. Lastly, this study also aimed to estimate the potential health cancer risk in groundwaters. The data indicated that the highest concentration of PAHs was found in groundwater from Caserta Province and the contents of BghiP, Phe, and Nap were detected in the samples. The spatial distribution of these pollutants was evaluated using the Jenks method; moreover, the data indicated that incremental lifetime cancer risk ILCRingestion ranged from 7.31 × 10−20 to 4.96 × 10−19, while ILCRdermal ranged from 4.32 × 10−11 to 2.93 × 10−10. These research findings may provide information about the Campania Plain’s groundwater quality and aid in the development of preventative measures to lessen PAH contamination in groundwater.
Efficient Calibration of Groundwater Contaminant Transport Models Using Bayesian Optimization
Authors: Deng Hao , Zhou Shengfang , He Yong , Lan Zeduo , Zou Yanhong , Mao Xiancheng
Published: May 2023

Numerical modeling is a significant tool to understand the dynamic characteristics of contaminants transport in groundwater. The automatic calibration of highly parametrized and computationally intensive numerical models for the simulation of contaminant transport in the groundwater flow system is a challenging task. While existing methods use general optimization techniques to achieve automatic calibration, the large numbers of numerical model evaluations required in the calibration process lead to high computing overhead and limit the efficiency of model calibration. This paper presents a Bayesian optimization (BO) method for efficient calibration of numerical models of groundwater contaminant transport. A Bayes model is built to fully represent calibration criteria and derive the objective function for model calibration. The efficiency of model calibration is made possible by the probabilistic surrogate model and the expected improvement acquisition function in BO. The probabilistic surrogate model approximates the computationally expensive objective function with a closed-form expression that can be computed efficiently, while the expected improvement acquisition function proposes the most promising model parameters to improve the fitness to the calibration criteria and reduce the uncertainty of the surrogate model. These schemes allow us to find the optimized model parameters effectively by using a small number of numerical model evaluations. Two case studies for the calibration of the Cr(VI) transport model demonstrate that the BO method is effective and efficient in the inversion of hypothetical model parameters, the minimization of the objective function, and the adaptation of different model calibration criteria. Specifically, this promising performance is achieved within 200 numerical model evaluations, which substantially reduces the computing budget for model calibration.
Special Issue “HPV in the Head and Neck Region 2.0”
Authors: Dalianis Tina , von Buchwald Christian , Näsman Anders , Syrjanen Stina
Published: May 2023

Members of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family have been known for causing cancers and condylomas in the anogenital tract for some time, as reflected by the Nobel Prize in Medicine given to Professor Harald zur Hausen 2008 [...]
Seroprevalence and Vaginal Shedding of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in Pregnant Adolescents and Young Women from Morelos, Mexico
Authors: Muñiz-Salgado Julio Cesar , la Cruz Gabriela Juárez-De , Vergara-Ortega Dayana Nicté , García-Cisneros Santa , Olamendi-Portugal María , Sánchez-Alemán Miguel Ángel , Herrera-Ortiz Antonia
Published: May 2023

Adolescents and young people are particularly vulnerable to contracting STIs, including HSV-2; furthermore, vaginal shedding of HSV-2 during pregnancy can cause vertical transmission and neonatal herpes. To evaluate the seroprevalence of HSV-2 and vaginal HSV-2 shedding in adolescent and young pregnant women, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 496 pregnant women—adolescents and young women. Venous blood and vaginal exudate samples were taken. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 was determined by ELISA and Western blot. Vaginal HSV-2 shedding was assessed by qPCR of the HSV-2 UL30 gene. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 in the study population was 8.5% (95% CI 6–11), of which 38.1% had vaginal HSV-2 shedding (95% CI 22–53). Young women presented a higher seroprevalence of HSV-2 (12.1%) than adolescents (4.3%), OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.59–7.23. Frequent alcohol consumption was significantly associated with HSV-2 seroprevalence, OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.27–6.99. Vaginal HSV-2 shedding is highest in the third trimester of pregnancy, but this difference is not significant. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 in adolescents and young women is similar to that previously reported in other studies. However, the proportion of women with vaginal shedding of HSV-2 is higher during the third trimester of pregnancy, increasing the risk of vertical transmission.
Comparison of Adverse Effects of Two SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines Administered in Workers of the University of Padova
Authors: Mason Paola , Rizzuto Rosario , Iannelli Luca , Baccaglini Flavio , Rizzolo Valerio , Baraldo Andrea , Melloni Barbara , Maffione Francesca , Pezzoli Camilla , Chiozza Maria Laura , Rupolo Giampietro , Biasioli Marco , Liviero Filippo , Scapellato Maria Luisa , Trevisan Andrea , Merigliano Stefano , Scuttari Alberto , Moretto Angelo , Scarpa Bruno
Published: May 2023

Introduction: In Italy, on December 2020, workers in the education sector were identified as a priority population to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The first authorised vaccines were the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA (BNT162b2) and the Oxford-AstraZeneca adenovirus vectored (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) vaccines. Aim: To investigate the adverse effects of two SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in a real-life preventive setting at the University of Padova. Methods: Vaccination was offered to 10116 people. Vaccinated workers were asked to voluntarily report symptoms via online questionnaires sent to them 3 weeks after the first and the second shot. Results: 7482 subjects adhered to the vaccination campaign and 6681 subjects were vaccinated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and 137 (fragile subjects) with the BNT162b2 vaccine. The response rate for both questionnaires was high (i.e., >75%). After the first shot, the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine caused more fatigue (p < 0.001), headache (p < 0.001), myalgia (p < 0.001), tingles (p = 0.046), fever (p < 0.001), chills (p < 0.001), and insomnia (p = 0.016) than the BNT162b2 vaccine. After the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine, more myalgia (p = 0.033), tingles (p = 0.022), and shivers (p < 0.001) than the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine were elicited. The side effects were nearly always transient. Severe adverse effects were rare and mostly reported after the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. They were dyspnoea (2.3%), blurred vision (2.1%), urticaria (1.3%), and angioedema (0.4%). Conclusions: The adverse effects of both vaccines were transient and, overall, mild in severity.
Surveying a Sample of the Spanish Ophthalmologic Community about Vaccination against Herpes Zoster
Authors: Sánchez-Mellado Alberto , Alcaraz-Clemente Luis , Rodríguez-Calvo-de-Mora Marina , Sánchez-González José-María , Ortiz-Perez Santiago , Rocha-de-Lossada Carlos
Published: May 2023

There are currently two authorized vaccines against herpes zoster (HZ) that have been shown to be safe and effective in its prevention: Zostavax, a zoster vaccine live (ZVL), and Shingrix, a recombinant zoster Vaccine (RZV). Because ophthalmologists work with vision-threatening complications of zoster, such as herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), they are in a good position to advocate for vaccination. Our aim was to determine the current knowledge among Spanish ophthalmologists about the effectiveness of the available vaccines against HZ. A Google Forms questionnaire was created and used as the survey platform for this study. It was an anonymous online survey of 16 questions, which was shared among Spanish ophthalmologists in-training and consultants from 27 April 2022 to 25 May 2022. The survey was completed by a total of 206 ophthalmologists of all subspecialties. We obtained responses from 17 of the 19 regions of Spain. Fifty-five percent of the respondents agreed that HZ is a frequent cause of vision loss. However, 27% of the professionals were unaware of the existence of vaccines against HZ and 71% of them did not know in which cases it could be indicated. Only nine ophthalmologists (4%) had ever suggested vaccination against HZ to their patients. Despite this, 93% considered it important to recommend vaccination against HZ if it proved to be safe and effective. Considering the sequelae, complications, and the existence of safe and effective vaccines against HZ, vaccination of the target population could be considered an important public health measure. We are convinced that it is time for ophthalmologists to take an active role in HZO prevention.
Challenges in Assessing COVID-19 Vaccines Safety Signals—The Case of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine and Corneal Graft Rejection
Authors: Bizimungu Christelle , Sabbe Martine , Wuillaume Françoise , Hamdani Jamila , Koch Philippe , Dogné Jean-Michel
Published: May 2023

The rapid and large-scale roll-out of new COVID-19 vaccines has led to unprecedented challenges in assessing vaccine safety. In 2021, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) processed about 1.7 million safety reports related to COVID-19 vaccines in the EudraVigilance (EV) database and identified more than 900 potential signals. Beyond the large amount of information to be processed, the evaluation of safety signals has faced several difficulties and limitations, both in the assessment of case reports and in the investigation of databases. The evaluation of a signal of corneal graft rejection (CGR) with Vaxzevria® was no exception to this. In this commentary, we present the challenges encountered in making regulatory decisions in the context of evolving evidence and knowledge. The pandemic crisis emphasised the importance of quick and proactive communication to address the many questions and, above all, to ensure the transparency of safety data.
Role of B Cells in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection
Authors: Stewart Paul , Patel Shivani , Comer Andrew , Muneer Shafi , Nawaz Uzma , Quann Violet , Bansal Mira , Venketaraman Vishwanath
Published: May 2023

Historically, research on the immunologic response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection has focused on T cells and macrophages, as their role in granuloma formation has been robustly characterized. In contrast, the role of B cells in the pathophysiology of M. tb infection has been relatively overlooked. While T cells are well-known as an essential for granuloma formation and maintenance, B cells play a less understood role in the host response. Over the past decade, scarce research on the topic has attempted to elucidate the varying roles of B cells during mycobacterial infection, which appears to be primarily time dependent. From acute to chronic infection, the role of B cells changes with time as evidenced by cytokine release, immunological regulation, and histological morphology of tuberculous granulomas. The goal of this review is to carefully analyze the role of humoral immunity in M. tb infection to find the discriminatory nature of humoral immunity in tuberculosis (TB). We argue that there is a need for more research on the B-cell response against TB, as a better understanding of the role of B cells in defense against TB could lead to effective vaccines and therapies. By focusing on the B-cell response, we can develop new strategies to enhance immunity against TB and reduce the burden of disease.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of COVID-19 Inactivated Vaccines in Reducing the Economic Burden of Ischaemic Stroke after SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Du Min , Qin Chenyuan , Liu Min , Liu Jue
Published: May 2023

Due to significant economic burden and disability from ischaemic stroke and the relationship between ischaemic stroke and SARS-CoV-2 infection, we aimed to explore the cost-effectiveness of the two-dose inactivated COVID-19 vaccination program in reducing the economic burden of ischaemic stroke after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We constructed a decision-analytic Markov model to compare the two-dose inactivated COVID-19 vaccination strategy to the no vaccination strategy using cohort simulation. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and used number of the ischaemic stroke cases after SARS-CoV-2 infection and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) to assess effects. Both one-way deterministic sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to assess the robustness of the results. We found that the two-dose inactivated vaccination strategy reduced ischaemic stroke cases after SARS-CoV-2 infection by 80.89% (127/157) with a USD 1.09 million as vaccination program cost, saved USD 3675.69 million as direct health care costs and gained 26.56 million QALYs compared with no vaccination strategy among 100,000 COVID-19 patients (ICER < 0 per QALY gained). ICERs remained robust in sensitivity analysis. The proportion of older patients and the proportion of two-dose inactivated vaccination among older people were the critical factors that affected ICER. This study suggests the importance of COVID-19 vaccination is not only in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, but also in considering its long-term value in reducing the economic burden of non-communicable diseases such as ischaemic stroke after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections of Omicron and Delta Variants in Healthcare Workers
Authors: Regenhardt Elisa , Kirsten Holger , Weiss Melanie , Lübbert Christoph , Stehr Sebastian N. , Remane Yvonne , Pietsch Corinna , Hönemann Mario , von Braun Amrei
Published: May 2023

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in vaccinated healthcare workers is of key importance in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare facilities. An observational prospective cohort study was conducted in vaccinated employees with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection between October 2021 and February 2022. Serological and molecular testing was performed to determine SARS-CoV-2 viral load, lineage, antibody levels, and neutralizing antibody titers. A total of 571 (9.7%) employees experienced SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections during the enrolment period, of which 81 were included. The majority (n = 79, 97.5%) were symptomatic and most (n = 75, 92.6%) showed Ct values < 30 in RT-PCR assays. Twenty-four (30%) remained PCR-positive for > 15 days. Neutralizing antibody titers were strongest for the wildtype, intermediate for Delta, and lowest for Omicron variants. Omicron infections occurred at higher anti-RBD-IgG serum levels (p = 0.00001) and showed a trend for higher viral loads (p = 0.14, median Ct difference 4.3, 95% CI [−2.5–10.5]). For both variants, viral loads were significantly higher in participants with lower anti-RBD-IgG serum levels (p = 0.02). In conclusion, while the clinical course of infection with both the Omicron and Delta variants was predominantly mild to moderate in our study population, waning immune response over time and prolonged viral shedding were observed.
NS1 Protein N-Linked Glycosylation Site Affects the Virulence and Pathogenesis of Dengue Virus
Authors: Fang Enyue , Li Miao , Liu Xiaohui , Hu Kongxin , Liu Lijuan , Zhang Zelun , Li Xingxing , Peng Qinhua , Li Yuhua
Published: May 2023

Live attenuated vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines against flavivirus. Recently, site-directed mutation of the flavivirus genome using reverse genetics techniques has been used for the rapid development of attenuated vaccines. However, this technique relies on basic research of critical virulence loci of the virus. To screen the attenuated sites in dengue virus, a total of eleven dengue virus type four mutant strains with deletion of N-glycosylation sites in the NS1 protein were designed and constructed. Ten of them (except for the N207-del mutant strain) were successfully rescued. Out of the ten strains, one mutant strain (N130del+207-209QQA) was found to have significantly reduced virulence through neurovirulence assay in suckling mice, but was genetically unstable. Further purification using the plaque purification assay yielded a genetically stable attenuated strain #11-puri9 with mutations of K129T, N130K, N207Q, and T209A in the NS1 protein and E99D in the NS2A protein. Identifying the virulence loci by constructing revertant mutant and chimeric viruses revealed that five amino acid adaptive mutations in the dengue virus type four non-structural proteins NS1 and NS2A dramatically affected its neurovirulence and could be used in constructing attenuated dengue chimeric viruses. Our study is the first to obtain an attenuated dengue virus strain through the deletion of amino acid residues at the N-glycosylation site, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the pathogenesis of the dengue virus and developing its live attenuated vaccines.
Bacterial Infections in Sea Turtles
Authors: Ebani Valentina Virginia
Published: May 2023

Sea turtles are important for the maintenance of marine and beach ecosystems, but they are seriously endangered due to factors mainly related to human activities and climate change such as pollution, temperature increase, and predation. Infectious and parasitic diseases may contribute to reducing the number of sea turtles. Bacteria are widespread in marine environments and, depending on the species, may act as primary or opportunistic pathogens. Most of them are able to infect other animal species, including humans, in which they can cause mild or severe diseases. Therefore, direct or indirect contact of humans with sea turtles, their products, and environment where they live represent a One Health threat. Chlamydiae, Mycobacteria, and Salmonellae are known zoonotic agents able to cause mild or severe diseases in sea turtles, other animals, and humans. However, other bacteria that are potentially zoonotic, including those that are antimicrobially resistant, are involved in different pathologies of marine turtles.