bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interventions used to improve air flow in hospitals – a rapid review
Authors: Brady Gráinne , Bennin Fiona , Koning Rosaline De , Tiwari Manish K , Vindrola-Padros Cecilia , Morris Danielle , Lloyd-Dehler Elizabeth , Slann Jerry , Watt Simon , Stevenson Fiona , Khadjesari Zarnie , Dehbi Hakim-Moulay , Ducci Andrea , Torii Ryo , Ciric Lena , Epstein Ruth , Rubin John , Houlihan Catherine , Hunter Rachael , Lovat Laurence B
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for improved air flow in hospitals, to reduce the transmission of airborne infections such as COVID-19. The aim of this review was to map the existing literature on intervention used to improve air flow in hospitals, understanding challenges in implementation and the findings of any evaluations. We reviewed peer-reviewed articles identified on three databases, MEDLINE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library with no restriction on date. 5846 articles were identified, 130 were reviewed and 18 were included: ten articles were from databases and eight articles were identified through hand searching. Results were discussed in terms of three categories: (i) concentration of aerosol particles, (ii) changes in/effect of air speed and ventilation and (iii) improvements or reduction in health conditions. Eight studies included an evaluation, the majority only had one comparator condition however three had multiple conditions. The most common device or method that was outlined by researchers was HEPA filters, which can remove particles with a size of 3 microns. Articles outline different interventions to improve air flow and some demonstrate their effectiveness in terms of improving health outcomes for patients, they also suggest either mechanical and natural ventilation are the best methods for dispersing particulate matter as well as perhaps two air cleaning units rather than one. With different methods comes different strengths and weaknesses however, the key finding is that air flow improvement measures reduce the likelihood of nosocomial infections.
The macroeconomic and epidemiological impacts of Covid-19 in Pakistan
Authors: Jensen Henning Tarp , Keogh-Brown Marcus R. , Eggo Rosalind M. , Pearson Carl A. B. , Torres-Rueda Sergio , Huda Maryam , Khalid Muhammad , Zulfiqar Wahaj ,   CMMID COVID-19 Working Group, Smith Richard D. , Jit Mark , Vassall Anna
Published: October 2023

“Coronavirus Disease 2019” (C19) is a respiratory illness caused by “new Coronavirus” SARS-CoV-2. The C19 pandemic, which engulfed the world in 2021, also caused a national C19 epidemic in Pakistan, who responded with initial forced lockdowns (15-30 March 2020) and a subsequent switch to a smart lockdown strategy, and, by 31 December 2020, Pakistan had managed to limit confirmed cases and case fatalities to 482,506 (456 per 100,000) and 10,176 (4.8 per 100,000). The early switch to a smart lockdown strategy, and successful follow-up move to central coordination and effective communication and enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures, was motivated by a concern over how broad-based forced lockdowns would affect poor households and day-labour. The current study aims to investigate how the national Pakistan C19 epidemic would have unfolded under an uncontrolled baseline scenario and an alternative set of controlled non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) policy lockdown scenarios, including health and macroeconomic outcomes. We employ a dynamically-recursive version of the IFPRI Standard Computable General Equilibrium model framework (Lofgren, Lee Harris and Robinson 2002), and a, by now, well-established epidemiological transmission-dynamic model framework (Davies, Klepac et al 2020) using Pakistan-specific 5-year age-group contact matrices on four types of contact rates, including at home, at work, at school, and at other locations (Prem, Cook & Jit 2017), to characterize an uncontrolled spread of disease. Our simulation results indicate that an uncontrolled C19 epidemic, by itself, would have led to a 0.12% reduction in Pakistani GDP (−721mn USD), and a total of 0.65mn critically ill and 1.52mn severely ill C19 patients during 2020-21, while 405,000 Pakistani citizens would have lost their lives. Since the majority of case fatalities and symptomatic cases, respectively 345,000 and 35.9mn, would have occurred in 2020, the case fatality and confirmed case numbers, observed by 31. December 2020 represents an outcome which is far better than the alternative. Case fatalities by 31. December 2020 could possibly have been somewhat improved either via a more prolonged one-off 10 week forced lockdown (66% reduction) or a 1-month forced lockdown/2-months opening intermittent lockdown strategy (33% reduction), but both sets of strategies would have carried significant GDP costs in the order of 2.2%-6.2% of real GDP.
Lessons Learned from Development and Implementation of the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan in Ethiopia: a qualitative study
Authors: Belay Amanuel , Getachew Medhanit , Bekele Abebe , Beyene Andualem Deneke , Tadesse Amezene , Davies Justine , Leather Andrew JM , Hanlon Charlotte
Published: October 2023

Background

The Saving Lives Through Safe Surgery (SaLTS) project was launched in 2016 by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to improve access and quality of surgical and anaesthesia care throughout Ethiopia. A key action of SaLTS was to develop a National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP). The aim of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators in the development and implementation of this plan in Ethiopia.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 key stakeholders involved in developing and implementing the NSOAP at national and regional level in Ethiopia. Thematic analysis was performed.

Results

The attention given to safe surgery after the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery that reported in 2015, provided key impetus to commitment from the Ethiopian government to develop an NSOAP. Another important opportunity while drafting the plan was the engagement of relevant and motivated professionals. However, major challenges during development included a lack of consistent leadership, no prior experience to benchmark from, the extended time taken to complete the plan, the lack of exclusively dedicated staff, varying engagement, awareness and commitment of regional bureaus and poor quality of available data to inform the situation analysis. Key facilitators of implementation were ownership of the plan by the government and involvement of a multidisciplinary implementation team. However, this was undermined by poor cost estimation and inadequate commitment of financial resources, the low quality of surgical equipment and supplies, and the lack of dedicated human resources, data management systems, ongoing stakeholder engagement, and government accountability. Recommendations to increase the success of future planning and implementation included the need to properly estimate resources and financial impact, carry out a careful baseline assessment, implement checklists for monitoring and evaluation, ensure reasonable resource allocation and involve grassroots regional stakeholders from the beginning. Alongside this, countries need to have committed leadership and transparency in setting goals to bring about broad stakeholder engagement.

Conclusion

Ethiopia showed early commitment to strengthen surgical systems and improve surgical care. Lessons learned can help to guide and encourage other countries to develop realistic NSOAPs and support their effective implementation on the ground.
Structural dynamics of the active HER4 and HER2/HER4 complexes is finely tuned by different growth factors and glycosylation
Authors: Trenker Raphael , Diwanji Devan , Bingham Tanner , Verba Kliment A. , Jura Natalia
Published: October 2023

Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 4 (HER4 or ERBB4) carries out essential functions in the development and maintenance of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. HER4 activation is regulated by a diverse group of extracellular ligands including the neuregulin (NRG) family and betacellulin (BTC), which promote HER4 homodimerization or heterodimerization with other HER receptors. Important cardiovascular functions of HER4 are exerted via heterodimerization with its close homolog and orphan receptor, HER2. To date structural insights into ligand-mediated HER4 activation have been limited to crystallographic studies of HER4 ectodomain homodimers in complex with NRG1ý. Here we report cryo-EM structures of near full-length HER2/HER4 heterodimers and full-length HER4 homodimers bound to NRG1ý and BTC. We show that the structures of the heterodimers bound to either ligand are nearly identical and that in both cases the HER2/HER4 heterodimer interface is less dynamic than those observed in structures of HER2/EGFR and HER2/HER3 heterodimers. In contrast, structures of full-length HER4 homodimers bound to NRG1ý and BTC display more large-scale dynamics mirroring states previously reported for EGFR homodimers. Our structures also reveal the presence of multiple glycan modifications within HER4 ectodomains, modeled for the first time in HER receptors, that distinctively contribute to the stabilization of HER4 homodimer interfaces over those of HER2/HER4 heterodimers.
A diet of oxidative stress-adapted bacteria improves stress resistance and lifespan inC. elegansvia p38-MAPK
Authors: Bhat Ajay , Cox Rebecca L. , Hendrickson Brice Graham , Das Nupur K. , Wang Emily , Shah Yatrik M. , Leiser Scott F.
Published: October 2023

Organisms across taxa are exposed to stresses such as variable temperature, redox imbalance, and xenobiotics. Successfully responding to stress and restoring homeostasis is crucial for viability of the organism. During aging, the ability to effectively respond to stress declines, contributing to development of disease. In many multicellular animals, aging also coincides with changes in the microbiome that can contribute to disease-states. Because animals and their microbiota coexist in the same broad environment, they each must adapt to similar stresses. However, the short generation time of microbes leads to faster evolution, allowing the possibility that microbial stress adaptation may influence host physiology. Here we leverage a simplified model involving the nematodeC. elegansand its bacterial diet. Our work highlights how bacterial adaptation to oxidative stress impacts the host’s lifespan and response to stress. Intriguingly, our findings reveal that worms fed with bacteria adapted to withstand oxidative stress exhibit enhanced stress resistance and an extended lifespan. Through whole genome sequencing, genetic assays, and metabolic analysis, this study underscores the pivotal role of the bacterial iron-sulfur pathway in governing host stress resistance and lifespan. We further find that iron in the stress-evolved bacteria boost the worm’s stress resistance and lifespan through activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that understanding the evolutionary path of microbial adaptation during stress could be leveraged to slow aging and mitigate age-related decline in health.
DNA Methylation Predicts Adverse Outcomes of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Qin Min , Wu Qili , Tian Xiaoxue , Zhu Qian , Fang Xianhong , Chen Xiaoping , Liu Chen , Zhang Bin , Li Hanping , Wang Xipei , Pan Cuiping , Zhong Shilong
Published: October 2023

Background

Adverse outcomes including myocardial infarction and stroke render coronary artery disease (CAD) a leading cause of death worldwide. Biomarkers that predict such adversity enable closer medical supervision and opportunities for improved outcomes.

Methods and results

We present a study of genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in 933 CAD patients with up to 13 years of clinical follow-up. We discovered 115 methylation sites associated with poor prognosis and inferred that cellular senescence, inflammation, and high-density lipoprotein mediated the adversity. We built succinct prognostic models combining a few methylation sites and clinical features, which could stratify patients of different risks. Furthermore, we assessed genetic regulation of the differential methylation by interrogating QTL effects. Prognostic genes such asFKBP5,UBE2E2andAUTS2appeared recurrently in various analyses and were validated in patients of myocardial infarction and stroke.

Conclusions

Our study provides prognostic models for clinical application and revealed methylation biomarkers and mechanisms of CAD adverse outcomes.
Boosting ascomycin production through n-butanol addition in the fermentation process ofStreptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticusATCC 14891
Authors: Meng Jinyu , Chen Qi , Li Youyuan , Gao Shuhong , Zhang Daojing
Published: October 2023

Ascomycin (FK520) is a macrolide antibiotic known for its immunosuppressive activities. In this study, we screened several short-chain alcohols to enhance titer of FK520 inStreptomyces hygroscopicus var. ascomyceticusATCC 14891, with a particular focus on n-butanol addition. After optimizing the n-butanol addition process, we achieved a FK520 yield of 569.37 mg/L with 0.8% n-butanol addition at 27 h, representing a 1.72-fold increase compared with the control group. We subsequently found that ROS levels of n-butanol addition group reached 1.49x105RFU/g biomass at 29 h, which was 3.02 times higher than the control group. The 0.8% n-butanol addition also promote the accumulation of biosynthesis precursors for FK520 production. The highest ethylmalonyl-CoA content surged to 93.1 nmol/g DCW at 48 h, marking a 5.3-fold increase. Likewise, the highest methylmalonyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA levels increased remarkable 4.33-fold and 3.33-fold compared with the control group at 72 h and at 120 h, respectively. Then, we explored the effects of oxygen supply on FK520 production with n-butanol addition, and improving oxygen supply caused a significant increase of FK520 in shake flask fermentation. Our research has revealed that addition of short-chain alcohols can regulate carbon flux toward FK520 biosynthesis by supplementing various CoA-esters, including ethylmalonyl-CoA, methylmalonyl-CoA, and malonyl-CoA.
Perceived benefits and challenges of school feeding programs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A qualitative study
Authors: Semegn Yihalem Tamiru , Gebreselassie Samson Gebremedhin , Bezabih Afework Mulugeta , Beyene Abebe Ayelign , Mazengia Elyas Melaku
Published: October 2023

Background

School feeding programs aim to reduce children’s immediate hunger, and improve health and education outcomes. However, there is limited data on the perceived benefits and challenges of the school feeding program in Addis Ababa. This study aimed to explore teachers’, students’, and parents’ perceptions of the school feeding program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted in Addis Ababa from April 10 to May 26, 2023. In-depth interviews with children, school directors, and focus groups with parents in 20 randomly chosen public primary schools were used to collect data. A total of 88 participants were included in the study: 20 students (6th and 7th grade), 48 parents, and 20 school directors. The non-probability sampling technique was used to select participants. All data collected in the local language and interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. The data were coded using ATLAS-TI version 9.1.3.0 software, and thematic analysis was done.

Results

The findings were presented as two major themes and eight sub-themes. 1) "Perceived benefits of school feeding programs," which comprised of four sub-themes, “improve educational and health outcomes, "reduce the socioeconomic burden of the family," "student behavior change" and "decreased social stigma and increased social integrity" sub-theme. 2) "Perceived barriers to SFPs gaps " include "poor market linkage between fostering mothers and producers," "poor infrastructure," underpayment of workers" and "increased sense of dependency."

Conclusions

The key perceived advantages of school feeding programs are improved students’ educational, health, behavior, and social integrity. Reduce the socioeconomic burden of the family. In particular, identified barriers and challenges include a lack of market linkage, poor infrastructure, and an emergent sense of dependency. Developing market connections, improving school facilities, raising public awareness of the risks associated with reliance on the school food program, and emphasizing the need for additional research to quantify potential benefits and obstacles of school feeding programs.
ISM- and MICMAC-based modelling of dairy supply chain: a study of enablers in Indian economy perspective
Authors: Asif Mohammad , Sarim Mohd , Khan Waseem , Khan Shahbaz
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims at modelling the enablers of dairy supply chain (DSC) in Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach has been used to model the enabler of dairy supply chain. The opinion has been taken from the industry experts and experienced academicians. Further, Matrix Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) used to classify the enablers based on driving and dependence power.

Findings

Findings show that stakeholder trust and top management support/leadership are the very crucial enablers in dairy supply chain; they are at a lower level of hierarchical structure and work as primary enablers to development of DSC. While customer satisfaction and financial performance are at top of the digraph, it shows these enablers are the outcome of a smooth supply chain. The MICMAC analysis suggests that the identified enablers are largely classified into dependent and independent enablers; there are no autonomous enablers in the dairy supply chain.

Practical implications

The study can aid businesses in the dairy processing industry in managing demand fluctuations, enhancing product quality, implementing effective information systems and adapting procedures, thereby enhancing supply chain performance.

Originality/value

There is very limited study on enablers of the dairy supply chain in general, while in the Indian context, there is no specific study on modelling the enablers of dairy supply chain.
Unequal opera-tunities: gender inequality and non-standard work in US opera production
Authors: Vincent Caitlin , Coles Amanda
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper examines the US opera sector as a means for interrogating how varying forms of non-standard work shape gender inequality in the creative industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on 16 seasons of opera production data from Operabase.com to conduct a gender-based exploratory data analysis of the key creative roles of conductor, director and designers, as well as the hiring networks through which teams are formed, at the 11 largest opera companies in the United States.

Findings

The authors find that women, as a group, experienced gender-based disadvantage across the key creative roles of opera production, but particularly in the artistic leadership roles of conductor and director. The authors also find that women's exclusion in the field is being further perpetuated by the sector's non-standard and overlapping employment structures, which impacts women practitioners' professional visibility and career opportunities.

Practical implications

The study can help organizations implement strategic hiring practices that acknowledge the relationship between gender inequality and varying forms of non-standard work with the aim of increasing women's representation.

Originality/value

This study work establishes the scale of gender inequality operating within a sector that has received minimal scholarly attention as a site of employment. The study analysis also offers important insight for the wider creative industries and highlights opportunities to redress gender inequality in other sectors where project-based work is prevalent.
Accounting data, overvaluation, and the cross-section of volatility: industry sector evidence
Authors: Sabbaghi Omid
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the variation in overvaluation proxies and volatility across industry sectors and time.

Design/methodology/approach

Using industry sector data from the S&P Capital IQ database, this study applies traditional cross-sectional regressions to investigate the relationship between overvaluation and volatility over the 2001–2020 time period.

Findings

This study finds that the most volatile industry sectors generally do not coincide with overvalued industry sectors in the cross-section, implying that there are limitations to price-multiple methods for forecasting future volatility. Rather, this study finds that historical volatility significantly increases the goodness-of-fit when modeling volatility in the cross section of industry sectors. The findings of this study imply that firms should increase disclosures and transparency about corporate practices to decrease downside risk that stems from bad news. In addition, the findings underline the consistency between market efficiency and high levels of volatility in periods of significant uncertainty.

Originality/value

This study proposes a novel approach to examining the cross section of volatility across time for industry sectors.
Retail robots as sales assistants: how speciesism moderates the effect of robot intelligence on customer perceptions and behaviour
Authors: Fiestas Lopez Guido Jorge Carlos , Kim Jee Won , Popkowski Leszczyc Peter T.L. , Pontes Nicolas , Tuzovic Sven
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Retailers increasingly endeavour to implement artificial intelligence (AI) innovations, such as humanoid social robots (HSRs), to enhance customer experience. This paper investigates the interactive effect of HSR intelligence and consumers' speciesism on their perceptions of retail robots as sales assistants.

Design/methodology/approach

Three online experiments testing the effects of HSRs' intellectual intelligence on individuals' perceived competence and, consequently, their decision to shop at a retail store that uses HSRs as sales assistants are reported. Furthermore, the authors examine whether speciesism attenuates these effects such that a mediation effect is likely to be observed for individuals low in speciesism but not for those with high levels of speciesism. Data for all studies were collected on Prolific and analysed with SPSS to perform a logistic regression and PROCESS 4.0 (Hayes, 2022) for the mediation and moderated-mediation analysis.

Findings

The findings show that the level of speciesism moderates the relationship between HSR intellectual intelligence and perceived competence such that an effect is found for low but not for high HSR intelligence. When HSR intellectual intelligence is low, individuals with higher levels of speciesism (vs low) rate the HSR as less competent and display lower HSR acceptance (i.e. customers' decision to shop using retail robots as sales assistants).

Originality/value

This research responds to calls in research to adopt a human-like perspective to understand the compatibility between humans and robots and determine how personality traits, such as a person's level of speciesism, may affect the acceptance of AI technologies replicating human characteristics (Schmitt, 2019). To the best of the authors' knowledge, the present research is the first to examine the moderating role of speciesism on customer perceptions of non-human retail assistants (i.e. human-like and intelligent service robots). This study is the first to showcase that speciesism, normally considered a negative social behaviour, can positively influence individuals' decisions to engage with HSRs.
A bibliometric review of the statistical modelling techniques for cost estimation of infrastructure projects
Authors: Atapattu Chinthaka Niroshan , Domingo Niluka , Sutrisna Monty
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Cost overrun in infrastructure projects is a constant concern, with a need for a proper solution. The current estimation practice needs improvement to reduce cost overruns. This study aimed to find possible statistical modelling techniques that could be used to develop cost models to produce more reliable cost estimates.

Design/methodology/approach

A bibliographic literature review was conducted using a two-stage selection method to compile the relevant publications from Scopus. Then, Visualisation of Similarities (VOS)-Viewer was used to develop the visualisation maps for co-occurrence keyword analysis and yearly trends in research topics.

Findings

The study found seven primary techniques used as cost models in construction projects: regression analysis (RA), artificial neural network (ANN), case-based reasoning (CBR), fuzzy logic, Monte-Carlo simulation (MCS), support vector machine (SVM) and reference class forecasting (RCF). RA, ANN and CBR were the most researched techniques. Furthermore, it was observed that the model's performance could be improved by combining two or more techniques into one model.

Research limitations/implications

The research was limited to the findings from the bibliometric literature review.

Practical implications

The findings provided an assessment of statistical techniques that the industry can adopt to improve the traditional estimation practice of infrastructure projects.

Originality/value

This study mapped the research carried out on cost-modelling techniques and analysed the trends. It also reviewed the performance of the models developed for infrastructure projects. The findings could be used to further research to develop more reliable cost models using statistical modelling techniques with better performance.
A high‐throughput single‐cell RNA expression profiling method identifies human pericyte markers
Authors: Sziraki Andras , Zhong Yu , Neltner Allison M. , Niedowicz Dana M. , Rogers Colin B. , Wilcock Donna M. , Nehra Geetika , Neltner Janna H. , Smith Rebecca R. , Hartz Anika M. , Cao Junyue , Nelson Peter T.
Published: October 2023

Aims

We sought to identify and optimise a universally available histological marker for pericytes in the human brain. Such a marker could be a useful tool for researchers. Further, identifying a gene expressed relatively specifically in human pericytes could provide new insights into the biological functions of this fascinating cell type.

Methods

We analysed single‐cell RNA expression profiles derived from different human and mouse brain regions using a high‐throughput and low‐cost single‐cell transcriptome sequencing method called EasySci. Through this analysis, we were able to identify specific gene markers for pericytes, some of which had not been previously characterised. We then used commercially (and therefore universally) available antibodies to immunolabel the pericyte‐specific gene products in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) human brains and also performed immunoblots to determine whether appropriately sized proteins were recognised.

Results

In the EasySci data sets, highly pericyte‐enriched expression was notable for SLC6A12 and SLC19A1. Antibodies against these proteins recognised bands of approximately the correct size in immunoblots of human brain extracts. Following optimisation of the immunohistochemical technique, staining for both antibodies was strongly positive in small blood vessels and was far more effective than a PDGFRB antibody at staining pericyte‐like cells in FFPE human brain sections. In an exploratory sample of other human organs (kidney, lung, liver, muscle), immunohistochemistry did not show the same pericyte‐like pattern of staining.

Conclusions

The SLC6A12 antibody was well suited for labelling pericytes in human FFPE brain sections, based on the combined results of single‐cell RNA‐seq analyses, immunoblots and immunohistochemical studies.
Do fertilizer and seed subsidies strengthen farmers' market participation? Evidence from Tanzania's subsidy program
Authors: Fujimoto Takefumi , Suzuki Aya
Published: October 2023

This study examines whether the Tanzanian subsidy for inorganic fertilizers and improved seeds encourages farmers to participate in the input and grain markets. Using six waves from 2008–2009 to 2020–2021 of the National Panel Survey, we investigated whether the subsidy affected farmers' purchases and expenditures for all conceivable inputs, including nonsubsidized inputs (organic fertilizers, traditional seeds, pesticides/herbicides, labor, and capital). Subsequently, we estimated the subsidy's impact on the probability of farmers selling crops and their sales revenue. In the input markets, we found that improved seeds, rather than inorganic fertilizers, played a major role in farmers' market activities. Beneficiaries who received subsidized seeds were more likely to purchase pesticides/herbicides, hire more labor, and borrow oxen and tractors to make their farmland suitable for the growth of improved seeds. In crop markets, we found that receiving both subsidized fertilizers and seeds increased the probability of farmers selling maize or paddy nearly threefold relative to the receipt of only subsidized fertilizer. Moreover, legume sales revenue also increased among seed beneficiaries through intercropping with maize and paddy.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Social Science Studies, Vol. 11, No. 5
Authors: Young James
Published: October 2023

International Journal of Social Science Studies (IJSSS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJSSS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 11, Number 5Dipankar Chatterjee, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, IndiaLingkai Kong, Izmir University of Economics, TurkeyMd. Nasir Uddin, Prime Minister’s Office, BangladeshNadarajah Pushparajah, University of Jaffna, Sri LankaNAZIAH ABD. KADIR, Universiti Selangor, MalaysiaSana Ali, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan      James YoungEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of International Journal of Social Science StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://ijsss.redfame.com
Damage Control Measures in Composites: BVID Damage Progression
Authors: Jribi Kais , Gosse Jonathan H. , Neill Douglas J. , Mello Alberto W.
Published: October 2023

Damage control in composites is becoming one of the major topics of research as primary structures are transitioning to composites for the benefits of their lightweight, ease of manufacturability, and high strength-to-weight ratio. However, one of the significant challenges with composites is that there is still no accepted standard to define the damage and its propagation compared to well-studied metallic structures.

This ongoing research follows the guidelines of national Agencies with the initiative to create an efficient simulation-based approach to predict the potential initiation of damage propagation in a composite structure. The predictive analysis will incorporate the Onset Theory, a physics-based methodology for assessing the Onset of irreversible deformation. The method utilizes the critical dilatation and distortion of the constituent materials of the composite material system following the micromechanical de-homogenization of the deformed composite material system. As a result, there is a limited dependency on parameters extracted from representative experiments.

The approach consists of extracting the critical dilatation and distortion values for each constituent material from tested coupons, developing a sequence of low-velocity impacts (LVI) to generate Barely Visible Impact Damage (BVID), establishing the catastrophic load environments for the impaired coupons subject to in-plane uniaxial compression while monitoring the propagation of the damage. Then, numerically simulate the initiation of damage propagation using the critical dilatation and distortion of the constituent materials, and finally, compare the numerically derived critical in-plane compression loads to the critical values obtained from the sample’s Compression After Impact (CAI) testing.
Structural Characteristics of Wing Model for High-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing Fabricated by Combined Manufacturing of Additive and Subtractive Processes
Authors: Tsushima Natsuki , Nakakita Kazuyuki , Saitoh Kenichi
Published: October 2023

In this paper, the potentials of wing models fabricated by the combined manufacturing technique of metal additive and subtractive processes for high-speed wind tunnel testing are investigated. The previous works by authors have proven the feasibility of additively manufactured wing models for transonic wind tunnel testing. This work is an extension of those works by combining the additive manufacturing technique and the machining (subtractive) process to construct a wing model for high-speed wind tunnel testing so that the effectiveness of a model construction could be further improved in a systematic manner. The objectives of this paper are 1) to investigate the geometrical accuracies of wing models fabricated by the combined manufacturing technique, 2) to study the structural characteristics of such wing models, and 3) to explore the feasibility and capability of those wing models for high-speed wind tunnel testing. The proposed technique would be a tool for the fast production of wind tunnel models at low cost and enable multiple experiments with various wing designs while precisely realizing designed geometries and structural properties for aeroelastic evaluations.
Experimental Studies of the Effect of Preload on Freeplay-Induced LCO
Authors: Fonzi Nicola , Ricci Sergio , Livne Eli
Published: October 2023

A new experimental wind tunnel test-bed has been developed for the study of limit cycle oscillations induced by control surface freeplay. Studies of the effects of a single nonlinearity, made possible by the new horizontal tail plane, are described here. Several effects are considered, starting from a reference configuration: the effect of changes in inertia and stiffness, a time-varying gap size, and an aerodynamic preload due to an angle of attack. Both time marching simulations and describing functions analytical methods have been used to understand the experimental measurements and study the capability of the methods to capture the physical behavior. Good agreement was found in all cases and physical insights are gained from the mathematical models. Limitations of the analytical tools are also addressed, focusing on the important difference between the self-excited dynamics of the nonlinear system and its forced response to external excitations.
Complete reference genome assemblies and annotations of three
Escherichia coli
MRE162 clones
Authors: Orr Russell J. S. , Littner Eloi , Larigauderie Guilhem , Lonsdale Claire L. , Dybwad Marius
Published: October 2023

Escherichia coli
MRE162 was originally isolated from a toilet pan in 1949 and since been utilized in numerous studies. Here, we sequence, assemble, and annotate clones held at three laboratories providing reference-level assemblies. We show the uniqueness of MRE162 to strains in open databases and make the UK clone publically available.
Complete genome sequences of three commensal and two avian pathogenic
Escherichia coli
strains isolated from farm animals in Russia
Authors: Sutormin Dmitry , Mihailovskaya Veronika , Trofimova Anna , Mamontov Victor , Kuznetsova Marina , Severinov Konstantin
Published: October 2023

Farm animals are a natural reservoir of commensal and pathogenic
Escherichia coli
strains with high zoonotic potential. Here, we present five complete genomes of
E. coli
strains isolated from healthy animals and animals with colisepticemia from farms in Russia. The strains contain diverse virulence-associated and antibiotic resistance genes and multiple plasmids.
Unraveling the mechanistic insights of sophorolipid-capped gold nanoparticle-induced cell death in
Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Shikha Sristy , Kumar Vineet , Jain Ankita , Dutta Dipak , Bhattacharyya Mani Shankar
Published: October 2023

Cholera is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The treatment of cholera includes rehydration therapy, often combined with the administration of antibiotics (in severe cases). With the emergence and rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance, such microbial pathogens have become a compelling medical problem and a global threat. To combat the resistance to antibiotics, there is an urgent need for the discovery of novel and potent antimicrobial agents. The discovery of antimicrobial nanoparticles as an alternative to the existing antimicrobial regime has increased the hope for its use as one of the most promising tools against an array of microbial pathogens, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. Our recent report demonstrated that sophorolipid-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-SL) exhibit potent antibacterial activity against
Vibrio cholerae
; however, the killing mechanism remained obscure. Metal nanoparticle-mediated killing of microbes occurs through non-specific mechanisms. To develop antimicrobial nanoparticles with better efficacy, knowledge of their specific mechanism of action is essential. In this work, we deduced the mechanistic insights of AuNPs-SL mediated cell death of
V. cholerae
. We observed that AuNPs-SL treatment evokes reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. The surge in the ROS level triggers the overexpression of ROS-responsive genes, depolarization of the membrane, change in membrane permeability and leakage of intracellular proteins and DNA, depletion of ATP levels in the cell, DNA damage, and subsequent cell death. This study shows the possibility of use of AuNPs-SL as an alternative potential antimicrobial agent.

IMPORTANCE

Vibrio cholerae
, a Gram-negative bacterium, is the causative agent of a fatal disease, “cholera.” Prevention of cholera outbreak is possible by eliminating the bacteria from the environment. However, antimicrobial resistance developed in microorganisms has posed a threat and challenges to its treatment. Application of nanoparticles is a useful and effective option for the elimination of such microorganisms. Metal-based nanopaticles exhibit microbial toxicity through non-specific mechanisms. To prevent resistance development and increase antibacterial efficiency, rational designing of nanoparticles is required. Thus, knowledge on the exact mechanism of action of nanoparticles is highly essential. In this study, we explore the possible mechanisms of antibacterial activity of AuNPs-SL against
V. cholerae
. We show that the interaction of AuNPs-SL with
V. cholerae
enhances ROS production and membrane depolarization, change in permeability, and leakage of intracellular content. This action leads to the depletion of cellular ATP level, DNA damage, and subsequent cell death.
Dissecting the molecular dance: c-di-GMP, cAMP-CRP, and VfmH collaboration in pectate lyase regulation for
Dickeya dadantii
—unveiling the soft rot pathogen’s strategy
Authors: Banerjee Biswarup , Yuan Xiaochen , Yang Ching-Hong
Published: October 2023

Dickeya dadantii
is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes soft rot diseases in a variety of plants. This pathogen secretes pectate lyase (Pel) enzymes to degrade the plant cell wall, a process controlled by the bacterial second messenger cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP). VfmH is a Fis-family response regulator of the Vfm quorum sensing system, which has been previously reported to positively regulate
pel
transcription. Our results demonstrated that VfmH upregulated the production of Pel at low c-di-GMP levels, which was suppressed by c-di-GMP
via
deleting gene
egcpB
, encoding a phosphodiesterase that degrades c-di-GMP. Multiple sequence alignments between FleQ, a known c-di-GMP binding protein, and VfmH revealed several potential c-di-GMP binding motifs. We further validated these motifs
via
single amino acid substitutions. Indeed, derivatives of VfmH, including VfmH
R195A
, VfmH
R279A
, and VfmH
R344A
, abolished the c-di-GMP binding ability and the corresponding regulation in Pel. We found that VfmH exhibited ATPase activity, and this could be hindered by c-di-GMP binding. Interestingly, our results showed that VfmH interacted with CRP, suggesting that the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathway is also involved in the VfmH-mediated Pel regulation. Taken together, our study suggested that
D. dadantii
amalgamates both c-di-GMP and cAMP signaling networks along with the Vfm quorum sensing pathway to control Pel.

IMPORTANCE

Bacteria respond to environmental changes and adapt to host systems. The response regulator VfmH of the Vfm quorum sensing system regulates a crucial virulence factor, pectate lyase (Pel), in
Dickeya dadantii
. At high c-di-GMP concentrations, VfmH binds c-di-GMP, resulting in the loss of its activation property in the Pel and virulence regulation in
D. dadantii
. VfmH binds to c-di-GMP
via
three conserved arginine residues, and mutations of these residues eliminate the c-di-GMP-related phenotypes of VfmH in Pel synthesis. Our data also show that VfmH interacts with CRP to regulate
pelD
transcription, thus integrating cyclic AMP and c-di-GMP signaling pathways to control virulence in
D. dadantii
. We propose that VfmH is an important intermediate factor incorporating quorum sensing and nucleotide signaling pathways for the collective regulation of
D. dadantii
pathogenesis.
Establishment of two assays based on reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification technology for rapid detection of H5 subtype avian influenza virus
Authors: Li Yang , Shang Jiajing , Wang Yixin , Luo Juan , Jiang Wenming , Yin Xin , Zhang Fuyou , Deng Chunran , Yu Xiaohui , Liu HuaLei
Published: October 2023

The avian influenza virus (AIV), a member of the type A influenza virus group, is harbored by avian hosts. The highly pathogenic H5 subtype of AIV has inflicted significant financial damage on the poultry industry and also presents a possible pandemic hazard to the worldwide human population. There is an urgent need for a detection method that is both rapid and accurate in identifying H5-AIV. In this study, two assays based on reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification technology (RT-RAA) have been developed to detect H5-AIV, namely, real-time fluorescence and reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RF-RT-RAA) and reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification combined lateral flow dipstick (RT-RAA-LFD). The completion of the two methods can be achieved in 30 min, and there was no cross-reaction with the nucleic acid of other avian pathogens. The results indicated that the lowest detectable limit of RF-RT-RAA and RT-RAA-LFD for H5-AIV detection was 1 copy/μL, which was 100 times higher than that of RT-PCR (10
2
copies/μL). A total of 376 samples, consisting of 350 clinical and 26 experimental samples, underwent testing utilizing virus isolation, RF-RT-RAA and RT-RAA-LFD methods, respectively. The results demonstrated a high degree of consistency between those assays. In summary, both the RF-RT-RAA and RT-RAA-LFD methods demonstrated excellent specificity and sensitivity, making them ideal for use in both laboratory and field settings.

IMPORTANCE

Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H5 is a highly contagious zoonotic disease and a serious threat to the farming industry and public health. Traditional detection methods, including virus isolation and real-time PCR, require tertiary biological laboratories and are time-consuming and complex to perform, making it difficult to rapidly diagnose H5 subtype avian influenza viruses. In this study, we successfully developed two methods, namely, RF-RT-RAA and RT-RAA-LFD, for rapid detection of H5-AIV. The assays are characterized by their high specificity, sensitivity, and user-friendliness. Moreover, the results of the reaction can be visually assessed, which are suitable for both laboratory testing and grassroots farm screening for H5-AIV.
High Harmonic Generation near the Low-Frequency Edge of a Plateau under Nonlinear Propagation of 1.24-μm Near-Infrared Femtosecond Laser Radiation in a Dense Argon Jet
Authors: Rumiantsev B. V. , Pushkin A. V. , Potemkin F. V.
Published: October 2023

High (15–25) harmonic generation in the vacuum ultraviolet spectral range (83–50 nm) has been realized by focused (NA = 0.033) near-infrared femtosecond laser radiation (wavelength λ = 1.24 μm) with a vacuum intensity of ~7.5 × 1014 W/cm2 irradiating a dense gas jet. It has been shown experimentally that the use of such a high-numerical aperture focusing requires high (up to 10 bar) gas jet pressures to optimize phase matching. The use of the dense gas jet results in a noticeable manifestation of nonlinear propagation effects for generating radiation, which affect the generation process through the change in the phase matching conditions. Furthermore, it has been shown that the prechirping of the generating pulse makes it possible to compensate a chirp appearing due to self-phase modulation and to increase the harmonic generation efficiency because of the nonlinear compression of the generating pulse. This approach has allowed 17th (73 nm) harmonic generation with an energy of 2 pJ in a pulse and a generation efficiency of 5.4 × 10–9. The estimates obtained have shown that this radiation can be used for single-pulse maskless photolithography in the extreme ultraviolet range.
Acute liver failure due to hepatitis A virus presented with Guillain-Barré syndrome and ocular myasthenia gravis
Authors: KS Aswanth , Kumar Vinod , MS Akhil Raj , Bhat Nowneet Kumar
Published: October 2023

Hepatitis A is one of the most common causes of acute viral hepatitis in children. Immunological manifestations involving the nervous system are rare with hepatitis A infection. We report a case of a toddler who presented with acute liver failure secondary to hepatitis A infection. The child showed clinical and laboratory improvement initially with conservative management. However, after the initial improvement, she developed acute-onset ptosis along with areflexia. Serological and neurophysiological tests revealed the occurrence of ocular variant Guillain-Barré syndrome and ocular myasthenia gravis, which was only partially responsive to treatment (intravenous immunoglobulin and pyridostigmine). A sudden clinical deterioration was noted after the onset of ptosis. She succumbed on day 40 of hospitalisation due to hospital-acquired infection along with the primary hepatic pathology. This is a rare coincidental presentation of acute viral hepatitis A infection with autoimmune manifestations.
Rare cause of abdominal pain in the third trimester: uterine torsion
Authors: Ling Tin Yee , Maravar Kavita , Ardalic Ruzica
Published: October 2023

The occurrence of uterine torsion is rare, as the uterus is supported in place by the uterine ligaments. When occurring during pregnancy, it is associated with increased perinatal mortality and maternal morbidity. We report a case of uterine torsion in a 36-week pregnant woman with a history of one previous caesarean section who presented with acute abdominal pain and signs of fetal distress. A 180 degree uterine torsion was recognised during emergency caesarean section with detorsion done prior to delivery and the baby was delivered in good condition. This case highlights the importance of prompt recognition and decision-making in managing this rare obstetric emergency to achieve a successful maternal and foetal outcome.