bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Excess All-Cause Mortality and COVID-19 Mortality in Peru: Observational Study
Authors: Ramírez-Soto Max Carlos , Ortega-Cáceres Gutia
Published: March 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an excess of all-cause mortality has been recorded in several countries, including Peru. Most excess deaths were likely attributable to COVID-19. In this study, we compared the excess all-cause mortality and COVID-19 mortality in 25 Peruvian regions to determine whether most of the excess deaths in 2020 were attributable to COVID-19. Excess deaths were calculated as the difference between the number of observed deaths from all causes during the COVID-19 pandemic (in 2020) and the number of expected deaths in 2020 based on a historical from recent years (2017–2019). Death data were retrieved from the Sistema Informatico Nacional de Defunciones (SINADEF) at the Ministry of Health of Peru from January 2017 to December 2020. Population counts were obtained from projections from Peru’s Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI). All-cause excess mortality and COVID-19 mortality were calculated by region per 100,000 population. Spearman’s test and linear and multiple regression models were used to estimate the correlation between excess all-cause mortality and COVID-19 mortality per 100,000 population. Excess all-cause death rates varied widely among regions (range: 115.1 to 519.8 per 100,000 population), and COVID-19 mortality ranged between 83.8 and 464.6 per 100,000 population. There was a correlation between the all-cause excess mortality and COVID-19 mortality (r = 0.90; p = 0.00001; y = 0.8729x + 90.808; R2 = 0.84). Adjusted for confounding factors (mean age in the region, gender balance, and number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds), the all-cause excess mortality rate was correlated with COVID-19 mortality rate (β = 0.921; p = 0.0001). These findings suggest that most of the excess deaths in Peru are related to COVID-19. Therefore, these findings can help decision-makers to understand the high COVID-19 mortality rates in Peru.
Genetic Diversity Does Not Contribute to Attenuation of HeLa Passaged Wild-Type Yellow Fever Virus Strain French Viscerotropic Virus
Authors: Strother Ashley E. , Thompson Jill K. , Widen Steven G. , Barrett Alan D. T.
Published: March 2022

The disease yellow fever was prevented by two live attenuated vaccines, strains 17D and French neurotropic vaccine (FNV), derived by serial passage of wild-type (WT) strains Asibi and French Viscerotropic virus (FVV), respectively. Both 17D and FNV displayed decreased genetic diversity and resistance to the antiviral Ribavirin compared to their WT parental strains, which are thought to contribute to their attenuated phenotypes. Subsequent studies found that only a few passages of WT strain FVV in HeLa cells resulted in an attenuated virus. In the current study, the genome sequence of FVV following five passages in HeLa cells (FVV HeLa p5) was determined through Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) with the aim to investigate the molecular basis of viral attenuation. It was found that WT FVV and FVV HeLa p5 virus differed by five amino acid substitutions: E-D155A, E-K331R, E-I412V, NS2A-T105A, and NS4B-V98I. Surprisingly, the genetic diversity and Ribavirin resistance of the FVV HeLa p5 virus were not statistically different to WT parent FVV. These findings suggest that while FVV HeLa p5 is attenuated, this is not dependent on a high-fidelity replication complex, characterized by reduced genetic diversity or increased Ribavirin stability, as seen with FNV and 17D vaccines.
Comparison of Recombinant MVA Selection Methods Based on F13L, D4R and K1L Genes
Authors: Antoshkina Irina V. , Glazkova Dina V. , Urusov Felix A. , Bogoslovskaya Elena V. , Shipulin German A.
Published: March 2022

Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) is a promising vaccine vector due to its highly attenuated phenotype and good immunogenicity. However, obtaining a new recombinant MVA remains a tedious and laborious procedure involving many rounds of plaque purification. Recombinant MVA generation can be greatly improved and facilitated by different selection techniques. Here, we describe a comparison between techniques based on K1L, F13L and D4R genes.
Estimation of Serial Interval and Reproduction Number to Quantify the Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea
Authors: Kim Dasom , Ali Sheikh Taslim , Kim Sungchan , Jo Jisoo , Lim Jun-Sik , Lee Sunmi , Ryu Sukhyun
Published: March 2022

The omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was the predominant variant in South Korea from late January 2022. In this study, we aimed to report the early estimates of the serial interval distribution and reproduction number to quantify the transmissibility of the omicron variant in South Korea between 25 November 2021 and 31 December 2021. We analyzed 427 local omicron cases and reconstructed 73 transmission pairs. We used a maximum likelihood estimation to assess serial interval distribution from transmission pair data and reproduction numbers from 74 local cases in the first local outbreak. We estimated that the mean serial interval was 3.78 (standard deviation, 0.76) days, which was significantly shorter in child infectors (3.0 days) compared to adult infectors (5.0 days) (p < 0.01). We estimated the mean reproduction number was 1.72 (95% CrI, 1.60–1.85) for the omicron variant during the first local outbreak. Strict adherence to public health measures, particularly in children, should be in place to reduce the transmission risk of the highly transmissible omicron variant in the community.
Fatal Neurodissemination and SARS-CoV-2 Tropism in K18-hACE2 Mice Is Only Partially Dependent on hACE2 Expression
Authors: Carossino Mariano , Kenney Devin , O’Connell Aoife K. , Montanaro Paige , Tseng Anna E. , Gertje Hans P. , Grosz Kyle A. , Ericsson Maria , Huber Bertrand R. , Kurnick Susanna A. , Subramaniam Saravanan , Kirkland Thomas A. , Walker Joel R. , Francis Kevin P. , Klose Alexander D. , Paragas Neal , Bosmann Markus , Saeed Mohsan , Balasuriya Udeni B. R. , Douam Florian , Crossland Nicholas A.
Published: March 2022

Animal models recapitulating COVID-19 are critical to enhance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Intranasally inoculated transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 under the cytokeratin 18 promoter (K18-hACE2) represent a lethal model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We evaluated the clinical and virological dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 using two intranasal doses (104 and 106 PFUs), with a detailed spatiotemporal pathologic analysis of the 106 dose cohort. Despite generally mild-to-moderate pneumonia, clinical decline resulting in euthanasia or death was commonly associated with hypothermia and viral neurodissemination independent of inoculation dose. Neuroinvasion was first observed at 4 days post-infection, initially restricted to the olfactory bulb suggesting axonal transport via the olfactory neuroepithelium as the earliest portal of entry. Absence of viremia suggests neuroinvasion occurs independently of transport across the blood-brain barrier. SARS-CoV-2 tropism was neither restricted to ACE2-expressing cells (e.g., AT1 pneumocytes), nor inclusive of some ACE2-positive cell lineages (e.g., bronchiolar epithelium and brain vasculature). Absence of detectable ACE2 protein expression in neurons but overexpression in neuroepithelium suggest this as the most likely portal of neuroinvasion, with subsequent ACE2 independent lethal neurodissemination. A paucity of epidemiological data and contradicting evidence for neuroinvasion and neurodissemination in humans call into question the translational relevance of this model.
Swine Norovirus: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Cavicchio Lara , Laconi Andrea , Piccirillo Alessandra , Beato Maria Serena
Published: March 2022

Norovirus, an ssRNA + virus of the family Caliciviridae, is a leading disease burden in humans worldwide, causing an estimated 600 million cases of acute gastroenteritis every year. Since the discovery of norovirus in the faeces of swine in Japan in the 1990s, swine norovirus has been reported in several countries on several continents. The identification of the human-associated GII.4 genotype in swine has raised questions about this animal species as a reservoir of norovirus with zoonotic potential, even if species-specific P-types are usually detected in swine. This review summarises the available data regarding the geographic distribution of norovirus in swine, the years of detection, the genotype characterisation, and the prevalence in specific production groups. Furthermore, we discuss the major bottlenecks for the detection and characterisation of swine noroviruses.
The Impact of Genital Ulcers on HIV Transmission Has Been Underestimated—A Critical Review
Authors: Sousa João Dinis , Müller Viktor , Vandamme Anne-Mieke
Published: March 2022

In the early 1990s, several observational studies determined that genital ulcer disease (GUD), in either the index or the exposed person, facilitates HIV transmission. Several meta-analyses have since presented associated risk ratios (RR) over the baseline per-act transmission probability (PATP) usually in the range of 2–5. Here we review all relevant observational studies and meta-analyses, and show that the estimation of RRs was, in most cases, biased by assuming the presence of GUD at any time during long follow-up periods, while active genital ulcers were present in a small proportion of the time. Only two studies measured the GUD co-factor effect in PATPs focusing on acts in which ulcers were present, and both found much higher RRs (in the range 11–112). We demonstrate that these high RRs can be reconciled with the studies on which currently accepted low RRs were based, if the calculations are restricted to the actual GUD episodes. Our results indicate that the effect of genital ulcers on the PATP of HIV might be much greater than currently accepted. We conclude that the medical community should work on the assumption that HIV risk is very high during active genital ulcers.
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review of Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: De Rose Domenico Umberto , Salvatori Guglielmo , Dotta Andrea , Auriti Cinzia
Published: March 2022

(1) Objective: This systematic review summarizes current knowledges about maternal and neonatal outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding. (2) Study design: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) were searched up to 27 October 2021. The primary outcome was to estimate how many pregnant and lactating women were reported to be vaccinated and had available maternal and neonatal outcomes. (3) Results: Forty-five studies sourcing data of 74,908 pregnant women and 5098 lactating women who received COVID-19 vaccination were considered as eligible. No major side-effects were reported, especially during the second and third trimester of pregnancy and during breastfeeding. Conversely, available studies revealed that infants received specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after maternal vaccination. (4) Conclusions: Vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus should be recommended for pregnant women, after the pros and cons have been adequately explained. In particular, given the still limited evidence and considering that fever during the first months of gestation increases the possibility of congenital anomalies, they should be carefully counseled. The same considerations apply to breastfeeding women, also considering the immune responses that mRNA vaccines can generate in their human milk.
Low T Cell Responsiveness in the Early Phase of COVID-19 Associates with Progression to Severe Pneumonia in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Cremoni Marion , Cuozzo Sébastien , Martinuzzi Emanuela , Barbosa Susana , Ben Hassen Nadia , Massa Filippo , Demonchy Elisa , Durand Matthieu , Thaunat Olivier , Esnault Vincent , Le Quintrec Moglie , Caillard Sophie , Glaichenhaus Nicolas , Sicard Antoine
Published: March 2022

Kidney transplant (KT) recipients are at increased risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. Little is known about the immunological mechanisms underlying disease severity in these patients receiving T-cell targeting immunosuppressive drugs. We investigated the relationship between T cell responsiveness at the beginning of the infection and the risk of subsequent progression to respiratory failure. We performed a multicentric prospective study in KT recipients with a positive RT-PCR COVID-19 test and only mild symptoms at inclusion. Blood samples were collected at baseline in a cell culture system containing T cell stimuli. We assessed T cell responsiveness by computing the ratio between the levels of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cytokines produced after polyclonal stimulation and the number of blood lymphocytes. We then used an unsupervised classification approach to stratify patients into low and high T cell responders and a penalized logistic regression to evaluate the association between T cell responsiveness and progression to severe pneumonia. Forty-five patients were included. All patients who progressed to severe pneumonia (24.4%, n = 11) were low T cell responders at baseline (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, low T cell responsiveness at baseline was the main risk factor for subsequent progression to severe pneumonia. This study provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying COVID-19 severity in organ transplant recipients and data of interest to clinicians managing immunosuppressive drugs in these patients.
Early Genomic, Epidemiological, and Clinical Description of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Mexico City
Authors: Cedro-Tanda Alberto , Gómez-Romero Laura , de Anda-Jauregui Guillermo , Garnica-López Dora , Alfaro-Mora Yair , Sánchez-Xochipa Sonia , García-García Eulices F. , Mendoza-Vargas Alfredo , Frías-Jiménez Emmanuel J. , Moreno Bernardo , Campos-Romero Abraham , Moreno-Camacho José L. , Alcantar-Fernández Jonathan , Ortíz-Ramírez Jesús , Benitez-González Mariana , Trejo-González Roxana , Aguirre-Chavarría Daniel , Núñez-Martínez Marcela E. , Uribe-Figueroa Laura , Angulo Ofelia , Ruiz Rosaura , Hidalgo-Miranda Alfredo , Herrera Luis A.
Published: March 2022

Omicron is the most mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant—a factor that can affect transmissibility, disease severity, and immune evasiveness. Its genomic surveillance is important in cities with millions of inhabitants and an economic center, such as Mexico City. Results. From 16 November to 31 December 2021, we observed an increase of 88% in Omicron prevalence in Mexico City. We explored the R346K substitution, prevalent in 42% of Omicron variants, known to be associated with immune escape by monoclonal antibodies. In a phylogenetic analysis, we found several independent exchanges between Mexico and the world, and there was an event followed by local transmission that gave rise to most of the Omicron diversity in Mexico City. A haplotype analysis revealed that there was no association between haplotype and vaccination status. Among the 66% of patients who have been vaccinated, no reported comorbidities were associated with Omicron; the presence of odynophagia and the absence of dysgeusia were significant predictor symptoms for Omicron, and the RT-qPCR Ct values were lower for Omicron. Conclusions. Genomic surveillance is key to detecting the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants in a timely manner, even weeks before the onset of an infection wave, and can inform public health decisions and detect the spread of any mutation that may affect therapeutic efficacy.
Restriction-Assembly: A Solution to Construct Novel Adenovirus Vector
Authors: Guo Xiaojuan , Sun Yangyang , Chen Juan , Zou Xiaohui , Hou Wenzhe , Tan Wenjie , Hung Tao , Lu Zhuozhuang
Published: March 2022

Gene therapy and vaccine development need more novel adenovirus vectors. Here, we attempt to provide strategies to construct adenovirus vectors based on restriction-assembly for researchers with little experience in this field. Restriction-assembly is a combined method of restriction digestion and Gibson assembly, by which the major part of the obtained plasmid comes from digested DNA fragments instead of PCR products. We demonstrated the capability of restriction-assembly in manipulating the genome of simian adenovirus 1 (SAdV-1) in this study. A PCR product of the plasmid backbone was combined with SAdV-1 genomic DNA to construct an infectious clone, plasmid pKSAV1, by Gibson assembly. Restriction-assembly was performed repeatedly in the steps of intermediate plasmid isolation, modification, and restoration. The generated adenoviral plasmid was linearized by restriction enzyme digestion and transfected into packaging 293 cells to rescue E3-deleted replication-competent SAdV1XE3-CGA virus. Interestingly, SAdV1XE3-CGA could propagate in human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. The E1 region was similarly modified to generate E1/E3-deleted replication-defective virus SAdV1-EG. SAdV1-EG had a moderate gene transfer ability to adherent mammalian cells, and it could efficiently transduce suspension cells when compared with the human adenovirus 5 control vector. Restriction-assembly is easy to use and can be performed without special experimental materials and instruments. It is highly effective with verifiable outcomes at each step. More importantly, restriction-assembly makes the established vector system modifiable, upgradable and under sustainable development, and it can serve as the instructive method or strategy for the synthetic biology of adenoviruses.
Effects of Religious Practice and Teachings about Sexual Behavior on Intent to Vaccinate against Human Papillomavirus
Authors: Redd David S. , Jensen Jamie L. , Hughes Savannah J. , Pogue Kendall , Sloan-Aagard Chantel D. , Miner Dashiell S. , Altman Jessica D. , Crook Triston B. , Zentz Lydia , Bodily Ruth J. , Poole Brian D.
Published: March 2022

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Most infections are mild and clear without treatment in 1 to 2 years. Some HPV strains result in persistent infection, which can cause various cancers, including cervical, penile, anal, mouth, and throat cancers. Vaccines have been developed that provide protection against the highest risk HPV strains. Despite HPV vaccines having been proven to be safe and effective, uptake has been low. Religiosity has been negatively correlated with HPV vaccine uptake in some studies. It is hypothesized that religiosity and Christian religious affiliation could impact parents’ decision to vaccinate their children against HPV via teachings and beliefs about sexual behaviors. A survey was distributed to participants to determine what factors, including religiosity and views about sex, impacted HPV vaccination. The survey results (n = 442) were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and univariate factor analysis. The association between religious practice and vaccine attitudes were complex, with religious practice slightly positively correlated with pro-vaccine attitudes and vaccine knowledge, but also with the belief that religious adherence to expectations surrounding sexual behavior will protect children from HPV infection, as well as more negative views towards vaccines, in general.
Pre-Vaccination Stress, Post-Vaccination Adverse Reactions, and Attitudes towards Vaccination after Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine among Health Care Workers
Authors: Kałucka Sylwia , Kusideł Ewa , Głowacka Agnieszka , Oczoś Paulina , Grzegorczyk-Karolak Izabela
Published: March 2022

The vaccines against COVID-19 are the best treatment for limiting the spread of the epidemic, and from an individual point of view, for avoiding getting sick. A cross-sectional retrospective survey was conducted from 15 May to 15 July 2021 among healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives, and students at the Medical University of Lodz (nursing, midwifery and medical students) in Poland. Data were obtained from 1080 participants. The aim of the study was to evaluate vaccination coverage against COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Poland, and to analyze their attitude towards the available vaccines, stress before taking, and side effects after administrating them, and motivation towards continuing vaccination in the future (if necessary). The survey also estimated the frequency and quality of adverse post-vaccination reactions after two doses of BioNTech/Pfizer and two doses of AstraZeneca vaccines. The present study revealed that the vaccination ratio after 6 months from the start of vaccination against COVID-19 in Poland among HCWs was very high at 91.2%. However, doctors and medical students were more likely to be vaccinated than nurses and midwives, and nursing and midwifery students (94.8%, 98.3% vs. 78.9% and 86.3%, respectively). The main reasons that HCWs reported receiving a vaccination were to protect the health of themselves and their families, while the main reasons for avoiding a vaccination were fear of side effects, doubts about effectiveness, and an expedited clinical trial process of vaccines. Furthermore, more than two-thirds of those vaccinated reported side effects after receiving at least one dose of the vaccine. Most of the side effects were short-term symptoms with only slight and moderate intensification. The univariate and multivariate logistic regressions showed that the type of vaccine used had a significant impact on the occurrence of adverse post-vaccination effects and the severity and duration of vaccination symptoms. In addition, chronic disease and fear of vaccination also had some influence. Despite this, most participants (more often older than younger participants; p < 0.001) were in favor of compulsory vaccination against COVID-19 for HCWs.
Potential Analysis for a New Vehicle Class in the Use Case of Ride-Pooling: How New Model Developments Could Satisfy Customers and Mobility Makers
Authors: Dorynek Martin , Derle Lisa-Theres , Fleischer Martin , Thanos Alex , Weinmann Paul , Schreiber Michael , Schumann Sebastian , Tunc Tolga , Bengler Klaus
Published: March 2022

Due to changes in mobility and the emergence of new services, it is becoming necessary to establish new vehicle classes between conventional buses and privately owned vehicles. New mobility scenarios need concrete specifications to develop the most user-centered shuttle buses. As a result, we are looking for the requirements and needs of operators and customers. Initially, we want to determine the status quo, as there is no preliminary work in this regard. During the course of extensive literature research, expert interviews, and follow-up workshops, the respective solution space was highlighted and narrowed down. Services such as ride-pooling require adapted vehicle concepts to ensure optimal implementation of their offer. Due to its optimized processes, the automotive industry depends on producing vehicles in a certain quantity and manner. Faster changes and extensive experiments are not possible with the current production approach. Purpose-built vehicle concepts can make mobility services more attractive to customers while facilitating business operations. For instance, potential improvements can be identified in the seating concept.
Dissecting the Mutual Response of Potential Evapotranspiration with Vegetation Cover/Land Use over Heilongjiang River Basin, China
Authors: Zhou Yezhi , Wang Juanle , Grigorieva Elena , Li Kai
Published: March 2022

Spatiotemporal changes in potential evapotranspiration (PET) are important referential data for monitoring the variation in ecohydrology under climate change. As the key area of agricultural/forestry reserves and trade, research on the interactions between vegetation cover and land use with accurate PET among the Heilongjiang River basin, China is vital for the sustainability of this cross-border region. To obtain high-suitability PET estimation based on the proven Penman–Monteith (PM) principle, two schemes were adopted using 36-year in situ meteorological data (1984–2019) and derived remote-sensing product MOD16A2 from 2001 to 2019. At meteorological sites with heterogeneous underlying surfaces, the coefficients of the evaluation factors between MOD_PET and the referrable observations were better. This suggests that remotely sensed estimation was preferentially chosen as the input to study the mutual responses. The results indicated that the annual PET and fractional vegetation cover (FVC) changes differed significantly depending on the land use. The proportions of PET according to equal intervals initially increased and then decreased with increasing vegetation coverage, and changing trends indicated a negative correlation. The strongest correlations appeared in the middle to northern sub-basins, which were affected by their distinctive climatic characteristics. The response of PET was reverse-related with changes in the area of each selected land type, but could change with the expected climatic conditions.
Analysis of the Evolution of Climatic and Hydrological Variables in the Tagus River Basin, Spain
Authors: Mezger Gabriel , De Stefano Lucia , González del Tánago Marta
Published: March 2022

During the second half of the 20th century, several Spanish rivers experienced a decrease in the availability of water resources which coincided with an increase in human water demands. This situation is expected to be exacerbated by climate change. This study analyses the evolution of annual streamflow in 16 sub-basins of the Tagus River basin (Spain) during the 1950–2010 period and its relationship with selected variables. Our main objective is to characterize changes in in-stream flows and to identify what factors could have contributed to them. First, we used non-parametric tests to detect trends in the hydro-climatic series. Then, we analyzed changes in the runoff coefficient and applied regression-based techniques to detect anthropic drivers that could have influenced the observed trends. The analysis revealed a general decreasing trend in streamflow and an increasing trend in air temperature, while trends in precipitation are less clear. Residuals from regression models indicate that the evolution of several non-climatic factors is likely to have influenced the decline in streamflow. Our results suggest that the combination of the expansion of forested areas (a 60% increase from 1950 to 2010) and irrigated land (a 400% increase since 1950) could have played an important role in the reduction of streamflow in the Tagus basin.
Pollution and Release Characteristics of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Organic Carbon in Pond Sediments in a Typical Polder Area of the Lake Taihu Basin
Authors: Peng Changkang , Gao Ya , Tan Yaqin , Sheng Genming , Yang Yang , Huang Jiong , Sun Dayong , Zhang Daofang , Tao Hong , Li Feipeng
Published: March 2022

There is currently a lack of knowledge on the release characteristics of nutrients from artificial pond sediments in polder areas, resulting in problems in future management of such environments, including converting polders to lakes. In this study, sediment samples were taken from a fish pond and a lotus pond in a typical polder area of the Lake Taihu Basin in China. The total nitrogen (TN, 1760–1810 mg/kg), total phosphorus (TP, 1370–1463 mg/kg) and total organic carbon (TOC, 10.1–21.2 g/kg) contents were significantly higher than those found in sediments from the adjacent aquatic system, which indicates that the legacy of agricultural activities has had an obvious cumulative effect on pond sediment nutrients. The release behavior of TN, TP and TOC varied significantly, not only under disturbed and static conditions, but also from sediments sampled at different ponds and depths. During the disturbing condition, there were continuous releases of carbon and nutrients in the lotus pond sediments, while the fish pond sediments showed a higher release at the beginning. Under static release conditions, the release of TP in the surface and bottom sediments of the fish pond increased first, then decreased and stabilized within 24 h, while the release of the lotus pond showed a slow upward trend. Despite the lower concentration of nutrients and TOC, the lotus pond sediment showed a higher release rate. The results suggested that it is necessary to adopt different strategies for different types of ponds in the project of returning polders to lakes; it is especially important to pay attention to the release of nutrients from the bottom sediments of lotus ponds in the project management.
Vulnerability and Risk Assessment to Climate Change in Sagar Island, India
Authors: Bera Aparna , Meraj Gowhar , Kanga Shruti , Farooq Majid , Singh Suraj Kumar , Sahu Netrananda , Kumar Pankaj
Published: March 2022

Inhabitants of low-lying islands face increased threats due to climate change as a result of their higher exposure and lesser adaptive capacity. Sagar Island, the largest inhabited estuarine island of Sundarbans, is experiencing severe coastal erosion, frequent cyclones, flooding, storm surges, and breaching of embankments, resulting in land, livelihood, and property loss, and the displacement of people at a huge scale. The present study assessed climate change-induced vulnerability and risk for Sagar Island, India, using an integrated geostatistical and geoinformatics-based approach. Based on the IPCC AR5 framework, the proportion of variance of 26 exposure, hazard, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity parameters was measured and analyzed. The results showed that 19.5% of mouzas (administrative units of the island), with 15.33% of the population at the southern part of the island, i.e., Sibpur–Dhablat, Bankimnagar–Sumatinagar, and Beguakhali–Mahismari, are at high risk (0.70–0.80). It has been concluded that the island has undergone tremendous land system transformations and changes in climatic patterns. Therefore, there is a need to formulate comprehensive adaptation strategies at the policy- and decision-making levels to help the communities of this island deal with the adverse impacts of climate change. The findings of this study will help adaptation strategies based on site-specific information and sustainable management for the marginalized populations living in similar islands worldwide.
Land Use Change to Reduce Freshwater Nitrogen and Phosphorus will Be Effective Even with Projected Climate Change
Authors: Wade Andrew J. , Skeffington Richard A. , Couture Raoul-Marie , Erlandsson Lampa Martin , Groot Simon , Halliday Sarah J. , Harezlak Valesca , Hejzlar Josef , Jackson-Blake Leah A. , Lepistö Ahti , Papastergiadou Eva , Riera Joan Lluís , Rankinen Katri , Shahgedanova Maria , Trolle Dennis , Whitehead Paul G. , Psaltopoulos Demetris , Skuras Dimitris
Published: March 2022

Recent studies have demonstrated that projected climate change will likely enhance nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss from farms and farmland, with the potential to worsen freshwater eutrophication. Here, we investigate the relative importance of the climate and land use drivers of nutrient loss in nine study catchments in Europe and a neighboring country (Turkey), ranging in area from 50 to 12,000 km2. The aim was to quantify whether planned large-scale, land use change aimed at N and P loss reduction would be effective given projected climate change. To this end, catchment-scale biophysical models were applied within a common framework to quantify the integrated effects of projected changes in climate, land use (including wastewater inputs), N deposition, and water use on river and lake water quantity and quality for the mid-21st century. The proposed land use changes were derived from catchment stakeholder workshops, and the assessment quantified changes in mean annual N and P concentrations and loads. At most of the sites, the projected effects of climate change alone on nutrient concentrations and loads were small, whilst land use changes had a larger effect and were of sufficient magnitude that, overall, a move to more environmentally focused farming achieved a reduction in N and P concentrations and loads despite projected climate change. However, at Beyşehir lake in Turkey, increased temperatures and lower precipitation reduced water flows considerably, making climate change, rather than more intensive nutrient usage, the greatest threat to the freshwater ecosystem. Individual site responses did however vary and were dependent on the balance of diffuse and point source inputs. Simulated lake chlorophyll-a changes were not generally proportional to changes in nutrient loading. Further work is required to accurately simulate the flow and water quality extremes and determine how reductions in freshwater N and P translate into an aquatic ecosystem response.
A Structure Optimized Method Based on AFSA for Soft Magnetic Strips of Inner Double-Layer Shield for Wireless Power Transmission of EV
Authors: Sun Yening , Wei Yao , Tian Yi
Published: March 2022

A structure optimized method based on the artificial fish swarm algorithm (AFSA) for the soft magnetic strips of the inner double-layer shield is proposed in this paper and applied to the coupler of the wireless power transfer (WPT) system of an electrical vehicle (EV). Some structure parameters including length, height, width and distances of the strips are selected to fit their relationships with the coupling coefficient, which directly effects the transfer efficiency of the coupler by the linear fitting method. Based on these relationships, a group of parameters is obtained by the AFSA with the largest coupling coefficient and suitable volume to achieve optimal transfer efficiency without lots of repetitive results of the finite element analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated quantitatively according to the outcomes and comparisons among different structure parameters and algorithms.
A Review on the Development of Spaceborne Membrane Antennas
Authors: Li Ming-Jian , Li Meng , Liu Yu-Fei , Geng Xin-Yu , Li Yuan-Yuan
Published: March 2022

The membrane antenna technology is a very promising approach to obtain large aperture with light weight and low stowed volume. In the past decades, extensive studies have been carried out on active and passive membrane antennas. However, the practical spaceborne applications are rare due to many challenges, e.g., the surface accuracy maintenance, the on-orbit reliability, and the environmental compatibility. This paper summarizes the history and state-of-art progresses on spaceborne membrane antennas. Curved surface reflectors, conformal active membrane antennas, planar array membrane antennas, and planar reflectarray membrane antennas have been introduced, respectively. Radiofrequency design, deploying mechanism, material, experiment, application, and analysis method have been presented. By concluding the advantages and challenges of the current membrane antennas, this paper is aimed at providing a perspective of the existing problems and future trend of spaceborne membrane antennas.
Application of Non-thermal Plasmas in Medicine and Energy-Food-Water
Authors: Rao Lakshminarayana , J Ananthanarasimhan , P.S Ganesh Subramanian , N Punith , Kumar Amit , M.S Anand
Published: March 2022

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) due to their versatile nature have been successfully used in many applications ranging from hydrocarbon destruction to cancer treatment. The NTPs, can deliver high electron temperatures and high densities of radicals at near ambient conditions making it a unique source for applications ranging from treatment of extremely heat sensitive surfaces to complex chemical reactions which are feasible only at low temperatures. This work presents some of the recent understandings on how various NTP reactors can be designed and characterized for various applications. The results obtained from a pin-to-water plasma discharge system, in generating plasma activated water for agricultural applications are discussed. The application of NTPs in hydrocarbon reforming to obtain a tar-free gas from a waste to energy thermo-chemical process is discussed. The results of selective killing of cancer cells using a DBD is presented. Also, application of NTPs in wastewater treatment systems to treat household chemical products are presented.
IoT Based Patient Health Monitoring using ESP8266 and Arduino
Authors: Brown Macheso Paul Stone , G Meela Angel
Published: March 2022

Internet of Things is a technological paradigm which can be incorporated in real time patient monitoring system. The review and implementation of real time monitoring of patients using biomedical sensors and microcontroller is presented where physiological parameters like heart-rate, body temperature is measured. This IoT prototype could read the pulse rate and measure the body temperature updates them to things peak an IoT platform.
SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Route in Wastewater and Possible Solutions
Authors: P Veerababu , Panda Banajarani , Singh Dhiraj Kr
Published: March 2022

In the view of present SARS-CoV-2 pandemic a study on the presence of this novel virus in wastewater treatment facilities is proposed. Other coronavirus species are known to survive in wastewater for days to weeks. Present data also shows that SARS-CoV-2 can be present in waste product generated by infected humans. This generated waste can be source of this virus to wastewater stream and being an enveloped virus can survive for longer period, which can be aerosolized and act as secondary transmission source. Here we propose this pathway of transmission should be rigorously studied, especially in countries like India, where minimum hygiene and sanitation can be tough to achieve because of high population density. We further propose to look into different disinfection methods, which can be most useful to deactivate this lethal virus
Tingkat Literasi Membaca Anak Selama Pembelajar Daring Saat Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Rosdiana Lilis Amaliah , Sunendar Dadang , Damaianti Vismaia Sabariah
Published: March 2022

Artikel ini akan mendeskripsikan tingkat literasi anak selama pembelajaran daring di masa pandemi Covid-19. Metode penelitian yang digunakan penelitian deksriptif kuantitatif. Hasil yang diperoleh yaitu: (1) sebagian besar responden tetap membaca buku pelajaran ketika di luar jam pelajaran berlangsung; (2) rata-rata mereka menghabiskan waktu 1 sampai 2 jam setiap harinya untuk membaca, di luar jam pelajaran berlangsung; (3) jenis bacaan yang dipilih sebagian besar anak adalah bacaan yang sesuai dengan materi pelajaran yang diberikan oleh guru,; dan (4) gawai adalah alat bantu utama anak-anak ketika ingin mendapat bahan bacaan di internet. Dengan demikian, walaupun adanya Covid-19 yang mengharuskan anak-anak melakukan pembelajaran di rumah, mereka tetap meluangkan waktu untuk aktivitas literasi membaca. Oleh karena itu, orang tua perlu menjadi filter untuk bahan bacaan yang anak-anak dapatkan dari buku ataupun internet.Katakunci: tingkat literasi membaca anak, daring, covid-19AbstractThis article will describe the literacy level of children during online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research method used is descriptive quantitative research. The results obtained are: (1) most of the respondents continue to read textbooks outside of class hours; (2) on average they spend 1 to 2 hours per day reading, outside of class hours; (3) the type of reading that most of the children choose is reading that is in accordance with the subject matter given by the teacher; and (4) the device is the main tool for children when they want to get reading material on the internet. Thus, even though there is Covid-19 which requires children to do learning at home, they still make time for reading literacy activities. Therefore, parents need to be a filter for reading materials that children get from books or the internet.Keywords: children's reading literacy, online learning, covid-19
Platform Evaluasi Pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia Masa Pandemi COVID-19
Authors: Safitri Nur Anita Syamsi , Damaianti Vismaia
Published: March 2022

Artikel ini mendeskripsikan platform evaluasi yang digunakan dalam pembelajaran bahasa Indonesia pada masa pandemi covid-19, khususnya di daerah-daerah yang ada di Sulawesi Selatan . Penelitian dilakukan pada semester genap tahun pelajaran 2020/2021. Penelitian dilaksanakan menggunakan desain deskriptif kualitatif. Data diperoleh melalui penyebaran kuesioner dan diperkuat dengan wawancara. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa “Google Form” menjadi platform evaluasi yang dominan digunakan, baik pada saat ulangan harian maupun pada saat penilaian tengah semester. Platform evaluasi sekolah-sekolah di kota lebih variatif, seperti “Google Classroom, Google Form, Quiziz”, bahkan aplikasi “Exambro”. Begitupun platform pembelajaran yang menggunakan “video conference”, seperti “Zoom Meeting” dan “Google Meet”. Sekolah-sekolah di daerah lebih banyak tidak menggunakan platform apapun. Kendala-kendala yang terjadi dalam pelaksanaan evaluasi pembelajaran pada masa pandemi hampir sama, yaitu koneksi internet, keterbatasan fasilitas, rasa jenuh, dan menurunnya motivasi peserta didik dan pendampingan orangtua.Katakunci: evaluasi, platform, WhatsApp, google form google classroom quizizAbstract This article describes the evaluation platform used in learning Indonesian during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in areas in South Sulawesi. The research was conducted in the even semester of the 2020/2021 school year. The research was carried out using a qualitative descriptive design. The data was obtained through the distribution of questionnaires and strengthened by interviews. The results showed that the google form became the dominant evaluation platform used, both during daily tests and during the mid-semester assessment. There are more varied evaluation platforms for schools in the city, such as Google Classroom, Google Form, Quiziz, and even the Exambro application. Likewise, learning platforms that use video conferencing, such as zoom meetings and google meet. Most schools in the area do not use any platform. The obstacles that occurred in the implementation of learning evaluation during the pandemic were almost the same, namely internet connection, limited facilities, boredom, and decreased motivation of students and parental assistance.Keywords: evaluation, platform, WhatsApp, google form google classroom quiziz
Keterbacaan Teks Kesehatan dalam Website WHO pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Purnamasari Yessy
Published: March 2022

Artikel ini akan membahas keterbacaan teks-teks kesehatan yang dirilis oleh WHO yang berkaitan erat dengan pandemi Covid-19. Melalui metode deskriptif kualitatif, formula Gunning Fog Index digunakan untuk menentukan tingkat keterbacaan melalui prosedur pencocokkan hasil perolehan nilai Fog Index dengan tabel Estimated Reading Grades berdasarkan teori Heydari. Sumber data penelitian berupa empat artikel berbahasa Inggris. Analisis data mengggunakan teori Grammatical Intricacy (GI) dan Lexical Density (LD) yang menitikberatkan pada kerumitan tata bahasa serta kepadatan diksi melalui pemanfaatan text analyzer. Berdasarkan hasil analisis, tingkat keterbacaan teks kesehatan pada website resmi WHO di masa pandemi COVID-19 dikategorikan sebagai teks dengan kesulitan cukup tinggi untuk dipahami dengan skor LD rata-rata 52,55% dan skor rata-rata Fog Index mencapai 12,55. Target pembaca untuk teks ini disarankan adalah masyarakat dengan minimal pendidikan sekolah menengah ke atas agar teks dapat dipahami dengan tepat.Kata kunci: COVID-19, tingkat keterbacaan, teks kesehatan, SFLThis article will discuss the readability of health articles published by WHO on which relates to the current COVID-19. Through the qualitative descriptive methodology, the Gunning Fog Index formula is used to determine the readability through the procedure of matching the Fog index results with  Heydari’s theory on Estimated Reading Grades. This research takes four main articles written in English as the data. Data analysis by using the theory of Grammatical Intricacy and Lexical Density using text analyzer website. The results show that the health articles published by WHO during the pandemic are difficult to read by the targeted readers as the average LD score shows 52,55% and the average Fog Index score is 12,55. The targeted readers for these texts are those with minimum high school educational background to ensure that the content of the text is correctly understood.Keywords: COVID-19, readability, health articles, SFL
Pemanfaatan Google Classroom dalam Pembelajaran Menulis Puisi Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Asrori Firman Fajar , Sufanti Main
Published: March 2022

Artikel ini akan mendeskripsikan proses pembelajaran menulis puisi masa pandemic covid 19 dengan memanfaatkan “Google Classroom” di SMA Negeri 1 Sine, Kabupaten Ngawi. Objek penelitian adalah guru dan siswa kelas X sebanyak 60 siswa. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan wawancara dan angket. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa proses pembelajaran menulis puisi masa pandemic Covid 19 di SMA Negeri 1 Sine, Kabupaten Ngawi menggunakan pembelajaran daring dengan memanfaatkan media google classroom. Pemanfaatan Google classroom dalam pembelajaran menulis puisi pada masa pandemic Covid-19  di SMA Negeri 1 Sine dianggap tepat sebagai salah satu media dalam pembelajaran. Sebanyak 60,3% siswa menjawab tertarik belajar puisi dengan “Google classroom” dan “Google classroom” memberikan pengalaman baru. Kendala yang dialami dalam pemanfaatannya adalah lokasi rumah yang tidak terjangkau jaringan internet, karakter dan perilaku siswa sulit dipantau, keterbatasan sarana prasarana seperti laptop atau HP, kondisi listrik yang tidak stabil, dan keterbatasan kuota internet serta kurangnya efektifitas dan efisiensi waktu dikarenakan orang tua siswa yang sibuk bekerja.Katakunci: Google Classroom, pembelajaran, menulis,  puisi, pandemi,  covidAbstractThis article will describe the process of learning to write poetry during the COVID-19  pandemic by utilizing Google Classroom at SMA Negeri 1 Sine, Ngawi Regency. The object of research is the teacher and students of class X as many as 60 students. Data collection techniques using interviews and questionnaires. The results showed that the process of learning to write poetry during the Covid 19 pandemic at SMA Negeri 1 Sine, Ngawi Regency used online learning by utilizing google classroom media. The use of Google classroom in learning to write poetry during the Covid-19  pandemic at SMA Negeri 1 Sine is considered appropriate as one of the media in learning. As many as 60.3% of students answered that they were interested in learning poetry with Google classroom and Google classroom providing a new experience. Constraints experienced in the use of google classroom are the location of the house that is not covered by the internet network, the character and behavior of students are difficult to monitor, limited infrastructure such as laptops or cellphones, unstable electricity conditions, and limited internet quotas and lack of effectiveness and time efficiency due to parents busy students.Keywords: Google Classroom, learning to write poetry, covid,  pandemic.