bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance and Mechanism of As(III/V) Removal from Aqueous Solution by Fe3O4-Sunflower Straw Biochar
Authors: Zhao Yuling , Shi Hao , Tang Xin , Kuang Daihong , Zhou Jinlong , Yang Fangyuan
Published: September 2022

Humans and ecosystems are severely damaged by the existence of As(III/V) in the aquatic environment. Herein, an advanced Fe3O4@SFBC (Fe3O4-sunflower straw biochar) adsorbent was fabricated by co-precipitation method with sunflower straw biochar (SFBC) prepared at different calcination temperatures and different SFBC/Fe mass ratios as templates. The optimal pH for As(III/V) removal was investigated, and Fe3O4@SFBC shows removal efficiency of 86.43% and 95.94% for As(III) and As(V), respectively, at pH 6 and 4. The adsorption effect of calcining and casting the biochar-bound Fe3O4 obtained at different temperatures and different SFBC/Fe mass ratios were analyzed by batch experiments. The results show that when the SFBC biochar is calcined at 450 °C with an SFBC/Fe mass ratio of 1:5, the adsorption of As(III) and As(V) reaches the maximum, which are 121.347 and 188.753 mg/g, respectively. Fe3O4@SFBC morphology, structure, surface functional groups, magnetic moment, and internal morphology were observed by XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and VSM under optimal working conditions. The material shows a small particle size in the range of 12–14 nm with better magnetic properties (54.52 emu/g), which is suitable for arsenic removal. The adsorption mechanism of As(III/V) by Fe3O4@SFBC indicates the presence of chemisorption, electrostatic, and complexation. Finally, the material was used for five consecutive cycles of adsorption–desorption experiments, and no significant decrease in removal efficiency was observed. Therefore, the new adsorbent Fe3O4@SFBC can be efficiently used for arsenic removal in the aqueous system.
Towards Understanding the Function of Aegerolysins
Authors: Kraševec Nada , Skočaj Matej
Published: September 2022

Aegerolysins are remarkable proteins. They are distributed over the tree of life, being relatively widespread in bacteria and fungi, but also present in some insects, plants, protozoa, and viruses. Despite their abundance in cells of certain developmental stages and their presence in secretomes, only a few aegerolysins have been studied in detail. Their function, in particular, is intriguing. Here, we summarize previously published findings on the distribution, molecular interactions, and function of these versatile aegerolysins. They have very diverse protein sequences but a common fold. The machine learning approach of the AlphaFold2 algorithm, which incorporates physical and biological knowledge of protein structures and multisequence alignments, provides us new insights into the aegerolysins and their pore-forming partners, complemented by additional genomic support. We hypothesize that aegerolysins are involved in the mechanisms of competitive exclusion in the niche.
Combined Hepatotoxicity and Toxicity Mechanism of Intermedine and Lycopsamine
Authors: Wang Ziqi , Qiao Liang , Zheng Qinqin , Han Haolei , Li Zuguang , Zhang Xiangchun , Chen Hongping
Published: September 2022

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are common constituents of plants and have serious hepatotoxicity. Intermedine (Im) and lycopsamine (La) are two monoesters of PAs that frequently coexist in the PA-containing plants (e.g., comfrey and tea). The present study aimed to explore the combined hepatotoxicity and toxicity mechanism of the Im and La mixture. In vitro, the combined cytotoxicity of the Im and La mixture on human hepatocytes (HepD) was examined by CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, and Annexin V/PI staining assays. The combination of Im and La inhibited the ability of HepD cells to proliferate, colonize, and migrate and induced hepatocytes apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In addition to significantly causing a burst of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, the Im and La mixture can also cause an increase in intracellular Ca2+, triggering the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP apoptosis pathway. This study provided the first direct evidence that the combined PAs induced hepatotoxicity through ER-mediated apoptosis. These results supplemented the basic toxicity data for the combined PAs and provided a new perspective for the risk assessment of combined PA toxicity.
On Extra Top Yukawa Couplings of a Second Higgs Doublet
Authors: Hou George Wei-Shu
Published: September 2022

A very likely New Physics in plain sight, but that the community does not see, is a second Higgs doublet that has a second set of Yukawa couplings. The extra tt and tc couplings can each drive baryogenesis, with O(1) Higgs quartic couplings providing a first order electroweak phase transition. A natural cancellation mechanism can tame electron EDM, if extra ee, tt couplings “know” the known fermion mass and mixing hierarchies. Colliding c with g produces tH/A, bH+ via extra tc coupling, and together with extra tt coupling give ttc(bar), ttt(bar), and btb(bar) signatures at the LHC. Extra tu coupling can also be probed, but more definitive would be the B to μν and τν decay rate ratio. Myriad extra Yukawa couplings can make an impact on flavor physics and CP violation, including on muon g-2. The opening to the prelude of a new physics Higgs and flavor era may unfold before us.
Astroparticle Constraints from Cosmic Reionization and Primordial Galaxy Formation
Authors: Lapi Andrea , Ronconi Tommaso , Boco Lumen , Shankar Francesco , Krachmalnicoff Nicoletta , Baccigalupi Carlo , Danese Luigi
Published: September 2022

We derived astroparticle constraints in different dark matter scenarios that are alternatives to cold dark matter (CDM): thermal relic warm dark matter, WDM; fuzzy dark matter, ψDM; self-interacting dark matter, SIDM; sterile neutrino dark matter, νDM. Our framework is based on updated determinations of the high-redshift UV luminosity functions for primordial galaxies to redshift z∼10, on redshift-dependent halo mass functions in the above DM scenarios from numerical simulations, and on robust constraints on the reionization history of the Universe from recent astrophysical and cosmological datasets. First, we built an empirical model of cosmic reionization characterized by two parameters, namely the escape fraction fesc of ionizing photons from primordial galaxies, and the limiting UV magnitude MUVlim down to which the extrapolated UV luminosity functions steeply increased. Second, we performed standard abundance matching of the UV luminosity function and the halo mass function, obtaining a relationship between UV luminosity and the halo mass, whose shape depends on an astroparticle quantity X specific to each DM scenario (e.g., WDM particle mass); we exploited such a relationship to introduce (in the analysis) a constraint from primordial galaxy formation, in terms of the threshold halo mass above which primordial galaxies can efficiently form stars. Third, we performed Bayesian inference on the three parameters fesc, MUVlim, and X via a standard MCMC technique, and compared the outcomes of different DM scenarios on the reionization history. We also investigated the robustness of our findings against educated variations of still uncertain astrophysical quantities. Finally, we highlight the relevance of our astroparticle estimates in predicting the behavior of the high-redshift UV luminosity function at faint, yet unexplored magnitudes, which may be tested with the advent of the James Webb Space Telescope.
On Quantum Representation of the Linear Canonical Wavelet Transform
Authors: Srivastava H. M. , Shah Firdous A. , Teali Aajaz A.
Published: September 2022

For the efficient identification of quantum states, we propose the notion of linear canonical wavelet transform in the framework of quantum mechanics. Using the machinery of Dirac representation theory and integration within an ordered product of operators, we recast the linear canonical wavelet transform to a matrix element of the squeezing–displacing operator U(μ,s)KM between analyzing vector ⟨ψ| and two-mode quantum state vector |f⟩ to be transformed. We also derive the inner product relation and inversion formula for the linear canonical wavelet transform in the realm of quantum mechanics. Lastly, we present an explicit example for the lucid implementation of linear canonical wavelet transform in identifying the quantum states.
Gravitational Radiation at Infinity with Non-Negative Cosmological Constant
Authors: Senovilla José M. M.
Published: September 2022

The existence of gravitational radiation arriving at null infinity J+, i.e., escaping from the physical system, is addressed in the presence of a non-negative cosmological constant Λ≥0. The case with vanishing Λ is well understood and relies on the properties of the News tensor field (or the News function) defined at J+. The situation is drastically different when Λ>0, where there is no known notion of ‘News’ with similar good properties. In this paper, both situations are considered jointly from a tidal point of view, that is, taking into account the strength (or energy) of the curvature tensors. The fundamental object used for this purposes is the asymptotic (radiant) super-momentum, a causal vector defined at infinity with remarkable properties. This leads to a novel characterization of gravitational radiation valid for the general case with Λ≥0, which has been proven to be equivalent when Λ=0 to the standard one based on News. Here, the implications of this result when Λ>0 are analyzed in detail. A general procedure to construct ‘News tensors’ when Λ>0 is depicted, a proposal for asymptotic symmetries is provided, and an example of a conserved charge that may detect gravitational radiation at J+ is exhibited. A series of illustrative examples is listed as well.
The Role of Cross-Correlations in the Multi-Tracer Area
Authors: Blanchard Alain
Published: September 2022

Mapping the same volume of space with different tracers allows us to obtain information through estimated quantities exploiting the multi-tracer technique. Indeed, the cross-correlation of different probes provides information that cannot be otherwise obtained. In addition, some estimated quantities are not sensitive to the noise produced by the sampling variance but are only limited by the shot (or Poisson) noise, an attractive perspective. A simple example is the ratio between the (cross)-correlations, measuring the ratio of the bias parameters. Multi-tracer approaches can thereby provide additional information that cannot be extracted from independent volumes.
Examining Decomposition and Nitrogen Mineralization in Five Common Urban Habitat Types across Southern California to Inform Sustainable Landscaping
Authors: Vourlitis George L. , van der Veen Emma Lousie , Cangahuala Sebastian , Jaeger Garrett , Jensen Colin , Fissore Cinzia , Wood Eric M. , Abraham Joel K. , Whittemore Kevin S. , Slaven Elijah , VanOverbeke Dustin , Blauth James , Braker Elizabeth , Karnovsky Nina , Meyer Wallace M.
Published: September 2022

Urban landscaping conversions can alter decomposition processes and soil respiration, making it difficult to forecast regional CO2 emissions. Here we explore rates of initial mass loss and net nitrogen (N) mineralization in natural and four common urban land covers (waterwise, waterwise with mulch, shrub, and lawn) from sites across seven colleges in southern California. We found that rates of decomposition and net N mineralization were faster for high-N leaf substrates, and natural habitats exhibited slower rates of decomposition and mineralization than managed urban landcovers, especially lawns and areas with added mulch. These results were consistent across college campuses, suggesting that our findings are robust and can predict decomposition rates across southern California. While mechanisms driving differences in decomposition rates among habitats in the cool-wet spring were difficult to identify, elevated decomposition in urban habitats highlights that conversion of natural areas to urban landscapes enhances greenhouse gas emissions. While perceived as sustainable, elevated decomposition rates in areas with added mulch mean that while these transformations may reduce water inputs, they increase soil carbon (C) flux. Mimicking natural landscapes by reducing water and nutrient (mulch) inputs and planting drought-tolerant native vegetation with recalcitrant litter can slow decomposition and reduce regional C emissions.
Host Responses to Live-Attenuated ASFV (HLJ/18–7GD)
Authors: Fan Yuqin , Chen Weiye , Jiang Chenggang , Zhang Xianfeng , Sun Ying , Liu Renqiang , Wang Jingfei , Yang Decheng , Zhao Dongming , Bu Zhigao , He Xijun
Published: September 2022

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and fatal disease caused by the African swine fever virus. Recently, the multigene family and CD2v gene-deleted ASF vaccine candidate HLJ/18-7GD was found to be safe and effective in laboratory and clinical trials. However, the immune-protective mechanisms underlying the effects of HLJ/18-7GD remain unclear. We assessed samples from pigs immunized with a single dose of 106 TCID50 HLJ/18-7GD. We found that pigs immunized with HLJ/18-7GD showed high levels of specific antibodies. T lymphocyte subsets (helper T cells (Th); cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL); double-positive T cells (DP-T cells)) were temporarily increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after HLJ/18-7GD immunization. Once the HLJ/18-7GD-immunized pigs had been challenged with virulent HLJ/18, the percentage of Th, CTL, and DP-T cells increased significantly. PBMCs extracted from the pigs induced higher levels of CD8+ T cells after infection with the HLJ/18 strain in vitro. The levels of GM-CSF, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were upregulated at 7 days post-inoculation; this finding was contrary to the results obtained after HLJ/18 or HLJ/18ΔCD2v infection. The immune protection from HLJ/18-7GD resulted from many synergies, which could provide a theoretical basis for HLJ/18-7GD as a safe and effective ASF vaccine.
Human Cytomegalovirus Induces Vitamin-D Resistance In Vitro by Dysregulating the Transcriptional Repressor Snail
Authors: Stecher Carmen , Maurer Katharina Philomena , Kastner Marie-Theres , Steininger Christoph
Published: September 2022

Vitamin-D supplementation is considered to play a beneficial role against multiple viruses due to its immune-regulating and direct antimicrobial effects. In contrast, the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has shown to be resistant to treatment with vitamin D in vitro by downregulation of the vitamin-D receptor. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism and possible biological consequences of vitamin-D resistance during HCMV infection. Mechanistically, HCMV induced vitamin-D resistance by downregulating the vitamin-D receptor (VDR) within hours of lytic infection. We found that the VDR was inhibited at the promoter level, and treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors could restore VDR expression. VDR downregulation highly correlated with the upregulation of the transcriptional repressor Snail1, a mechanism likely contributing to the epigenetic inactivation of the VDR promoter, since siRNA-mediated knockdown of Snail partly restored levels of VDR expression. Finally, we found that direct addition of the vitamin-D-inducible antimicrobial peptide LL-37 strongly and significantly reduced viral titers in infected fibroblasts, highlighting VDR biological relevance and the potential of vitamin-D-inducible peptides for the antiviral treatment of vitamin-D deficient patients.
The Rise and Fall of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Ongoing Diversification of Omicron
Authors: Wiegand Tanner , Nemudryi Artem , Nemudraia Anna , McVey Aidan , Little Agusta , Taylor David N. , Walk Seth T. , Wiedenheft Blake
Published: September 2022

In late December of 2019, high-throughput sequencing technologies enabled rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 as the etiological agent of COVID-19, and global sequencing efforts are now a critical tool for monitoring the ongoing spread and evolution of this virus. Here, we provide a short retrospective analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants by analyzing a subset (n = 97,437) of all publicly available SARS-CoV-2 genomes (n = ~11.9 million) that were randomly selected but equally distributed over the course of the pandemic. We plot the appearance of new variants of concern (VOCs) over time and show that the mutation rates in Omicron (BA.1) and Omicron sub-lineages (BA.2–BA.5) are significantly elevated compared to previously identified SARS-CoV-2 variants. Mutations in Omicron are primarily restricted to the spike and nucleocapsid proteins, while 24 other viral proteins—including those involved in SARS-CoV-2 replication—are generally conserved. Collectively, this suggests that the genetic distinction of Omicron primarily arose from selective pressures on the spike, and that the fidelity of replication of this variant has not been altered.
Epidemiological and Genomic Characterisation of Middelburg and Sindbis Alphaviruses Identified in Horses with Febrile and Neurological Infections, South Africa (2014–2018)
Authors: Fourie Isabel , Snyman Jumari , Williams June , Ismail Arshad , Jansen van Vuren Petrus , Venter Marietjie
Published: September 2022

Although Old World alphaviruses, Middelburg- (MIDV) and Sindbis virus (SINV), have previously been detected in horses and wildlife with neurologic disease in South Africa, the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of MIDV and SINV infections in animals are not well documented. Clinical samples from horses across South Africa with acute or fatal neurologic and febrile infections submitted between 2014–2018 were investigated. In total, 69/1084 (6.36%) and 11/1084 (1.01%) horses tested positive for MIDV and SINV, respectively, by real-time reverse transcription (RT) PCR. Main signs/outcomes for MIDV (n = 69): 73.91% neurological, 75.36% fever, 28.99% icterus and anorexia, respectively, 8.70% fatalities; SINV (n = 11): 54.54% neurological, 72.73% fever, 36.36% anorexia and 18.18% fatalities. MIDV cases peaked in the late summer/autumn across most South African provinces while SINV cases did not show a clear seasonality and were detected in fewer South African provinces. MIDV could still be detected in blood samples via RT-PCR for up to 71,417 and 21 days after onset of signs in 4 horses respectively, suggesting prolonged replication relative to SINV which could only be detected in the initial sample. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of the nsP4 (MIDV n = 59 and SINV n = 7) and E1 (MIDV n = 45) genes, as well as full genome sequences (MIDV n = 6), clustered the MIDV and SINV strains from the present study with previously detected strains. MIDV infection appears to be more prevalent in horses than SINV infection based on RT-PCR results, however, prevalence estimates might be different when also considering serological surveillance data.
Continuous Circulation of Yellow Fever among Rural Populations in the Central African Republic
Authors: SIMO TCHETGNA Huguette , DESCORPS-DECLERE Stéphane , SELEKON Benjamin , GARBA-OUANGOLE Sandra , KONAMNA Xavier , SOUNGOUZA Mathieu , TEKPA Gaspard , SOMSE Pierre , NAKOUNE Emmanuel , BERTHET Nicolas
Published: September 2022

Yellow fever remains a public-health threat in remote regions of Africa. Here, we report the identification and genetic characterisation of one yellow-fever case observed during the investigation of a cluster of nine suspected haemorrhagic fever cases in a village in the Central African Republic. Samples were tested using real-time RT-PCR targeting the main African haemorrhagic fever viruses. Following negative results, we attempted virus isolation on VERO E6 cells and new-born mice and rescreened the samples using rRT-PCR. The whole viral genome was sequenced using an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencer. Yellow-fever virus (YFV) was isolated from one woman who reported farming activities in a forest setting several days before disease onset. Phylogenetic analysis shows that this strain belongs to the East–Central African YFV genotype, with an estimated emergence some 63 years ago. Finally, five unique amino-acid changes are present in the capsid, envelop, NS1A, NS3, and NS4B proteins. More efforts are required to control yellow-fever re-emergence in resource-limited settings.
Regulation of Stress-Activated Kinases in Response to Tacaribe Virus Infection and Its Implications for Viral Replication
Authors: Holzerland Julia , Fénéant Lucie , Groseth Allison
Published: September 2022

Arenaviruses include important zoonotic pathogens that cause hemorrhagic fever (e.g., Junín virus; JUNV) as well as other viruses that are closely related but apathogenic (e.g., Tacaribe virus; TCRV). We have found that, while TCRV and JUNV differ in their ability to induce apoptosis in infected cells, due to active inhibition of caspase activation by the JUNV nucleoprotein, both viruses trigger similar upstream pro-apoptotic signaling events, including the activation/phosphorylation of p53. In the case of TCRV, the pro-apoptotic factor Bad is also phosphorylated (leading to its inactivation). These events clearly implicate upstream kinases in regulating the induction of apoptosis. Consistent with this, here we show activation in TCRV-infected cells of the stress-activated protein kinases p38 and JNK, which are known to regulate p53 activation, as well as the downstream kinase MK2 and transcription factor c-Jun. We also observed the early transient activation of Akt, but not Erk. Importantly, the chemical inhibition of Akt, p38, JNK and c-Jun all dramatically reduced viral growth, even though we have shown that inhibition of apoptosis itself does not. This indicates that kinase activation is crucial for viral infection, independent of its downstream role in apoptosis regulation, a finding that has the potential to shed further light on the determinants of arenavirus pathogenesis, as well as to inform future therapeutic approaches.
Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in HIV-Coinfected Patients
Authors: Fasano Massimo , Poliseno Maria Cristina , Fiore Josè Ramon , Lo Caputo Sergio , D’Arminio Monforte Antonella , Santantonio Teresa Antonia
Published: September 2022

Hepatitis B virus infection occurs in approximately 7% of people living with HIV (PLWH), with substantial regional variation and higher prevalence among intravenous drug users. Early studies on the natural history of HIV/HBV coinfection demonstrated that in coinfected patients, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has a more rapid progression than in HBV-monoinfected patients, leading to end-stage liver disease complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, the adequate management of CHB is considered a priority in HIV-coinfected patients. Several guidelines have highlighted this issue and have provided recommendations for preventing and treating HBV infection. This article discusses the management of liver disease in patients with HIV/HBV coinfection and summarizes the current and future therapeutic options for treating chronic hepatitis B in this setting.
Role of RNA Polymerase II Promoter-Proximal Pausing in Viral Transcription
Authors: Whelan Marilyn , Pelchat Martin
Published: September 2022

The promoter-proximal pause induced by the binding of the DRB sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF) and the negative elongation factor (NELF) to RNAP II is a key step in the regulation of metazoan gene expression. It helps maintain a permissive chromatin landscape and ensures a quick transcriptional response from stimulus-responsive pathways such as the innate immune response. It is also involved in the biology of several RNA viruses such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the influenza A virus (IAV) and the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). HIV uses the pause as one of its mechanisms to enter and maintain latency, leading to the creation of viral reservoirs resistant to antiretrovirals. IAV, on the other hand, uses the pause to acquire the capped primers necessary to initiate viral transcription through cap-snatching. Finally, the HDV RNA genome is transcribed directly by RNAP II and requires the small hepatitis delta antigen to displace NELF from the polymerase and overcome the transcriptional block caused by RNAP II promoter-proximal pausing. In this review, we will discuss the RNAP II promoter-proximal pause and the roles it plays in the life cycle of RNA viruses such as HIV, IAV and HDV.
The Bovine Seminal Plasma Protein PDC-109 Possesses Pan-Antiviral Activity
Authors: Sperber Hannah Sabeth , Sutter Kathrin , Müller Karin , Müller Peter , Schwarzer Roland
Published: September 2022

Mammalian seminal plasma contains a multitude of bioactive components, including lipids, glucose, mineral elements, metabolites, proteins, cytokines, and growth factors, with various functions during insemination and fertilization. The seminal plasma protein PDC-109 is one of the major soluble components of the bovine ejaculate and is crucially important for sperm motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. A hitherto underappreciated function of seminal plasma is its anti-microbial and antiviral activity, which may limit the sexual transmission of infectious diseases during intercourse. We have recently discovered that PDC-109 inhibits the membrane fusion activity of influenza virus particles and significantly impairs viral infections at micromolar concentrations. Here we investigated whether the antiviral activity of PDC-109 is restricted to Influenza or if other mammalian viruses are similarly affected. We focused on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19), thoroughly assessing PDC-109 inhibition with SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S)-pseudotyped reporter virus particles, but also live-virus infections. Consistent with our previous publications, we found significant virus inhibition, albeit accompanied by substantial cytotoxicity. However, using time-of-addition experiments we discovered a treatment regimen that enables virus suppression without affecting cell viability. We furthermore demonstrated that PDC-109 is also able to impair infections mediated by the VSV glycoprotein (VSVg), thus indicating a broad pan-antiviral activity against multiple virus species and families.
High Frequency of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Canadians Immunized for Influenza: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Valerio Valeria , Rampakakis Emmanouil , Zanos Theodoros P. , Levy Todd J. , Shen Hao Cheng , McDonald Emily G. , Frenette Charles , Bernatsky Sasha , Hudson Marie , Ward Brian J. , Colmegna Inés
Published: September 2022

We assessed the frequency and correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy before Canada’s vaccine rollout. A cross-sectional vaccine hesitancy survey was completed by consecutive patients/family members/staff who received the influenza vaccine at McGill University affiliated hospitals. Based on the self-reported likelihood of receiving a future vaccine (scale 0–10), the following three groups were defined: non-hesitant (score 10), mildly hesitant (7.1–9.9), and significantly hesitant (0–7). Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were assessed with multivariate logistic regression analyses and binomial logistic regression machine learning modelling. The survey was completed by 1793 people. Thirty-seven percent of participants (n = 669) were hesitant (mildly: 315 (17.6%); significantly: 354 (19.7%)). Lower education levels, opposition and uncertainty about vaccines being mandatory, feelings of not receiving enough information about COVID-19 prevention, perceived social pressure to get a future vaccine, vaccine safety concerns, uncertainty regarding the vaccine risk-benefit ratio, and distrust towards pharmaceutical companies were factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine safety concerns and opposition to mandatory vaccinations were the strongest correlates of vaccine hesitancy in both the logistic regressions and the machine learning model. In conclusion, in this study, over a third of people immunized for influenza before the COVID-19 vaccine rollout expressed some degree of vaccine hesitancy. Effectively addressing COVID-19 vaccine safety concerns may enhance vaccine uptake.
Causes of Vaccine Hesitancy in Adults for the Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Kumar Simran , Shah Zayna , Garfield Sara
Published: September 2022

Background: Vaccine hesitancy was labelled as one of the top ten threats to global health by the World Health Organization in 2019 and is associated with negative health outcomes. Previous reviews on cause of vaccines have not included vaccine hesitancy related to the COVID-19 vaccine. This review aimed to fill this gap by synthesising the findings of studies identifying causes of vaccine hesitancy to the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted. Searches were carried out in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases. Following data extraction, a thematic analysis was conducted of the causes of vaccine hesitancy in adults for the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. Results: Fourteen papers were included. Four themes were identified as causes of vaccine hesitancy comprising: concerns over safety, lack of trust, lack of need for vaccination and cultural reasons. While concerns over safety were found in all countries, some of these were specific to particular countries and cultures. Our findings suggest that scientific knowledge of vaccines and size of clinical trials during their development reduce vaccine hesitancy. However, pharmaceutical companies were not a trusted source of information. Conclusion: Our findings build on those of previous research to suggest specific information that may be helpful in addressing vaccine hesitancy. Targeted approaches from trusted sources are needed to address specific safety concerns.
Multiple Effects of Egg Weight, in Ovo Carbohydrates, and Sex of Birds on Posthatch Performance in Broilers
Authors: Ács Virág , Áprily Szilvia , Nagy József , Kacsala László , Tossenberger János , Szeli Nóra Katalin , Halas Veronika
Published: September 2022

Chickens raised for their meat (Gallus gallus domesticus) tend to have a critical phase of life right after hatching due to the management of modern production systems. Early nutrition strategies such as in ovo intervention can be an alternative means to support growth and gut health by compensating for the energy deficit after pipping out of the egg. In the current study, 1200 Ross 308 eggs were used to examine the effects of a complex carbohydrate solution of disaccharides and glucose applied in ovo on hatchability, the hatching time of different-sized eggs, and the development, performance, and carcass characteristics of broilers of both sexes. The eggs were divided into three treatment groups: intact (NT), in ovo saline (ioS), and in ovo carbohydrate mixture (ioCH). The incubation protocol was performed according to the recommendations of Aviagen (2019), and the in ovo process was carried out on day 17 by manually injecting 0.5 mL of the solutions into the amniotic fluid. After hatching, the birds were kept in floor pens until day 35 and fed ad libitum in a three-phase feeding program. Body weight, average daily weight gain, feed intake and conversion, and carcass characteristics were measured during the trial. In ovo carbohydrates reduced hatchability by 15%, while growth performance and the weight of thigh and breast muscle were enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) compared with ioS as a possible outcome of carbohydrate-to-muscle satellite cell proliferation and protein accumulation. However, further study is needed to refine the in ovo carbohydrate supplementation method to minimize the mortality of embryos during hatching.
Redox Status and Hematological Variables in Melatonin-Treated Ewes during Early Pregnancy under Heat Stress
Authors: Bouroutzika Efterpi V. , Theodosiadou Ekaterini K. , Barbagianni Mariana S. , Papadopoulos Serafeim , Kalogiannis Dimitrios , Chadio Stella , Skaperda Zoi , Kouretas Demetrios , Katsogiannou Eleni G. , Valasi Irene
Published: September 2022

The preovulatory follicles and preimplantation stage embryos are found to be rather sensitive to heat stress due to their low potential for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of melatonin administration on redox status and hematological variables during the preovulatory period and early stages of embryogenesis in heat-stressed ewes in vivo. Forty Karagouniko-breed ewes were divided in two groups, the melatonin (M, n = 20) group and control (C, n = 20) one. All animals were subjected to heat stress throughout the study, which lasted forty days (D0 to D40). In M group, melatonin implants were administered on D0. Then, oestrous synchronization was applied (D19-D33). On D34, six rams were introduced into the ewe flock for mating. Ultrasonographic examination was conducted on D73 for pregnancy diagnosis. The temperature humidity index (THI), the rectal temperature (RT), and the number of breaths per minute (BR) were evaluated twice daily. Redox biomarkers, namely total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione (GSH), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), were assayed in blood samples collected on D0, D33, and D40. In addition, packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBCs), leukocyte differential count, and cortisol assessment were conducted in blood samples on D33 and D40. The results indicated improved fertility rate and mean number of lambs born per ewe due to improved redox status (p < 0.05) in ewes that received melatonin implants 34 days approximately before the onset of oestrus. The PCV decreased in both groups between the two time-points (p < 0.05). However, the NEU/LYMPH ratio decreased (p < 0.05) only in group M. The low cortisol levels and the decreased NEU/LYMPH ratio in both groups support the hypothesis that ewes of the indigenous Karagouniko breed may exhibit adaptation to environmental thermal stress. The administration of melatonin as an antioxidant regime may improve the reproductive competence of heat stressed ewes and may also enhance their ability to adapt at high ambient temperatures.
Machine Learning and Canine Chronic Enteropathies: A New Approach to Investigate FMT Effects
Authors: Innocente Giada , Patuzzi Ilaria , Furlanello Tommaso , Di Camillo Barbara , Bargelloni Luca , Giron Maria Cecilia , Facchin Sonia , Savarino Edoardo , Azzolin Mirko , Simionati Barbara
Published: September 2022

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) represents a very promising approach to decreasing disease activity in canine chronic enteropathies (CE). However, the relationship between remission mechanisms and microbiome changes has not been elucidated yet. The main objective of this study was to report the clinical effects of oral freeze-dried FMT in CE dogs, comparing the fecal microbiomes of three groups: pre-FMT CE-affected dogs, post-FMT dogs, and healthy dogs. Diversity analysis, differential abundance analysis, and machine learning algorithms were applied to investigate the differences in microbiome composition between healthy and pre-FMT samples, while Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index (CCECAI) changes and microbial diversity metrics were used to evaluate FMT effects. In the healthy/pre-FMT comparison, significant differences were noted in alpha and beta diversity and a list of differentially abundant taxa was identified, while machine learning algorithms predicted sample categories with 0.97 (random forest) and 0.87 (sPLS-DA) accuracy. Clinical signs of improvement were observed in 74% (20/27) of CE-affected dogs, together with a statistically significant decrease in CCECAI (median value from 5 to 2 median). Alpha and beta diversity variations between pre- and post-FMT were observed for each receiver, with a high heterogeneity in the response. This highlighted the necessity for further research on a larger dataset that could identify different healing patterns of microbiome changes.
Application of Stable Isotopic Compositions of Rainfall Runoff for Evaporation Estimation in Thailand Mekong River Basin
Authors: Laonamsai Jeerapong , Ichiyanagi Kimpei , Patsinghasanee Supapap , Kamdee Kiattipong , Tomun Nattapong
Published: September 2022

The Mekong River Basin comprises approximately 38% of Southeast Asia. Our study area comprises the right-bank tributaries, which drain a substantial portion of Northeast Thailand. This study aimed to estimate the evaporative losses from streams during the 2013–2015 period. The normal and warm El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases caused higher temperatures and low rainfall in the 2014–2015 period. The results show that the local meteoric water line for precipitation isotopes had seasonal variation due to variable precipitation. The enrichment of river isotopes indicated that streams lost an average of 4% of their water through evaporation. During the cooling ENSO phase, significant evaporation occurs due to the deep convection that typically occurs in tropical regions. In contrast, evaporation was low during the warm ENSO phase because of its geographic location. The El Niño year’s isotope values were significantly more enriched than the La Niña year’s, showing that precipitation and positive temperature anomalies affected the isotopic compositions in the continental basin. Furthermore, the deuterium excess helped distinguish the relative contributions of the wet and dry seasonal sources to the moisture origin, indicating that the predominant source of moisture is inland evaporation, with a small contribution from the ocean.
Non-Indigenous Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda): From a Few Notorious Cases to a Potential Global Faunal Mixing in Aquatic Ecosystems
Authors: Kotov Alexey A. , Karabanov Dmitry P. , Van Damme Kay
Published: September 2022

Non-indigenous species may pose a threat to native ecosystems worldwide. In aquatic environments, invasives may have a negative impact on human food security and livelihoods. Several water fleas (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Cladocera) are notorious invasive alien species influencing large freshwater lake systems and even inland seas. In the current review, we discuss the state of knowledge regarding non-indigenous species in the Cladocera and their invasiveness potential in different continents. We argue that the potential impacts and occurrence of cladoceran exotics may be higher than generally assumed. We critically review 79 cases from literature sources, involving 61 cladoceran taxa where records outside of their natural distribution ranges were previously interpreted as invasions. We assessed the probability of natural range expansions versus human-mediated introductions and we discuss several major corridors of invasion. We estimate human-mediated transportations for at least 43 taxa (out of 61; ca 70%), while other cases can be seen as natural expansions of their distribution ranges (not necessarily/not likely human-mediated) and/or taxonomical confusion. We confirm non-indigenous presence in recipient regions for at least 41 cladoceran taxa, of which several are true invasives (i.e., with negative impacts on native ecosystems). The majority are zooplankters with effects on pelagic freshwater ecosystems, yet we also report on introductions by littoral taxa. We argue that cryptic introductions of cladocerans are taking place on a global scale, yet they remain under the radar. We highlight several striking case studies, such as the Ponto–Caspian onychopods that have invaded the Baltic Sea and the Laurentian Great Lakes, and several clones of the anomopod genera Daphnia and Bosmina that have successfully colonised new environments, causing equilibria shifts in native aquatic worlds. At the same time, we dispel some myths about taxa that were misconstrued as invasive in certain localities. Based on our review, the first of its kind for freshwater zooplankton, future environmental monitoring tools including molecular techniques and detailed surveys with rigorous and critical taxonomical assessments may help to provide a clearer picture on the extent of invasiveness of cladocerans.
Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study on Single Point Blasting of Ice Jam of Heilongjiang River Based on ANSYS/LSDYNA
Authors: Liu Dong , Dai Changlei , Yu Chenggang , Ma Yaodong
Published: September 2022

Based on the thickness of the common ice layer in the Heilongjiang Basin, explosions featuring different methods of firing, different thicknesses of the common ice layer, and different distances between the explosive and the ice are hereby simulated using ANSYS/LSDYNA software. The most suitable blasting scheme after field test verification is obtained, and it is concluded through the field blasting test comparison and verification that the central ignition produces the best blasting effect and the largest blasting volume and radius when the explosion is fired under the ice. A larger ice thickness indicates a worse explosive blasting effect, and the number of explosive packs should be used reasonably to achieve the best blasting effect. An ice blast does not finish at once, but experiences energy transfer in the form of waves. The blasting effect is the best in the case of a distance between the explosive and the ice of about L = 150 cm. The shallower the depth of the river is, the more powerful the blast becomes and the more obvious the blast volume becomes. The ice layer is blasted when the maximum temperature on the day of blasting is stable and positive, which is when the texture of the ice sheet maintains its hardness and high efficiency.
Are UK Rivers Getting Saltier and More Alkaline?
Authors: Jiang Shan , Wu Xuan , Du Sichan , Wang Qin , Han Dawei
Published: September 2022

River salinisation and alkalinisation have become one of the major environmental problems threatening the safety of global freshwater resources. With the accelerated climate change and aggravating anthropogenic influences, it is important to identify the trends and causes of river salinisation and alkalinisation so that better mitigation measures could be taken. This study has focused on the UK rivers because there has been insufficient investigation on this topic. To understand the salinisation and alkalinisation trends and causes of rivers in the UK over the past 20 years from a vertical (analysis of each river) and horizontal (comparison of all rivers) perspective, this study uses the Theil-Sen regression and Mann-Kendall test to deal with the trends of conductivity (proxy on salinisation) and pH (proxy on alkalinisation), obtains outliers of conductivity and pH by boxplot, and calculates the Pearson’s and the Kendall’s Tau correlation coefficients (α = 0.05) between the water quality data and the potential factors (potential road salting, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), river discharge, agricultural and urban lands). The results show that the UK rivers are becoming more alkaline with a median pH increase of 0.05 to 0.40, but less salty with a median conductivity decrease of 0.06 to 0.11 mS/cm. And the changes in conductivity and pH have seasonality and regionality, which shows that there are usually greater changes in trends and medians of them in winter or through reaches with more anthropogenic disturbance. Furthermore, from a vertical perspective, the conductivity of more than 50% of rivers in this study is negatively correlated with NDVI and river discharge, and positively correlated with potential road salting, and the pH of that is positively correlated with agricultural lands. While from a horizontal perspective, NDVI and agricultural lands are positively correlated with pH, and potential road salting and urban lands are positively correlated with conductivity. Therefore, road salting, urbanisation, agricultural lands, river discharge and vegetation cover can be considered to affect river salinisation and alkalinisation in the UK.
Area Changes and Influencing Factors of Large Inland Lakes in Recent 20 Years: A Case Study of Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Liu Wenxin , Dai Xiaoai , Wang Meilian , Lan Yan , Qu Ge , Shan Yunfeng , Ren Jiashun , Li Weile , Liang Shuneng , Wang Youlin , Liu Dongsheng
Published: September 2022

Lakes are important natural resources closely related to human survival and development. Based on PIE cloud computing platform, the study uses Landsat images and the empirical normalized water body index (ENDWI) to extract water body information of the large lakes in Sichuan province from 2000 to 2020 in the drought and rainy seasons, respectively, and uses the Mann–Kendall test to obtain the long-term trends of their area and climate. On this basis, the evolution of the lakes and their correlation with climate and human activities are analyzed. The results show that (1) In the past 20 years, the area of Lugu Lake, Qionghai Lake, and Luban Reservoir represent a decreasing trend, with Lugu Lake being the most affected. The area of Ma Lake, Three Forks Lake, and Shengzhong Reservoir increased, with the area of Shengzhong Reservoir increasing significantly; (2) During the drought season, all six lakes showed a decreasing trend in precipitation, with the most apparent decreasing trend for Lugu Lake (Slope = −0.8). Only Lugu Lake showed a decreasing trend in precipitation (Slope = −0.15) during the rainy season. The precipitation of Ma Lake, Three Forks Lake, Luban Reservoir and Shengzhong Reservoir showed a significant increasing trend (Slope value was greater than 1.96); (3) The temperatures of the remaining lakes all decreased in the drought season and increased in the rainy season, except that the temperature of Shengzhong Reservoir decreases throughout the year; (4) The area change of plain lakes is greatly affected by human activities, but the area of plateau lakes is are more impacted by climate. Our study improved the accuracy of long-term water body change monitoring with PIE-Engine Studio. Besides, the findings would provide reference for the implementation of sustainable water resources management in Sichuan Province.
Application of Particle Swarm Optimization for Auto-Tuning of the Urban Flood Model
Authors: Jiang Lechuan , Tajima Yoshimitsu , Wu Lianhui
Published: September 2022

Reliable time-efficient prediction of urban floods is one of the essential tasks for planning of disaster prevention and mitigation measures. A key challenge of urban flood models is to obtain reliable input data. While geometric data can be directly measured, some other data, such as roughness and head loss of each flow system, are not easy to measure. This study proposes a novel approach for the auto-tuning of these unmeasurable data based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). In this paper, we first performed a sensitivity analysis of the present urban flood model to find important parameters, which dominantly determine the predictive skills of the present urban flood model. We then developed a PSO-based auto-tuning system for estimation of these parameters. The entire computation domain was evenly split into square segments, and optimum values of these parameters were determined in each segment. The capability of this method was confirmed by comparisons of Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, normalized root-mean square error, Kling–Gupta efficiency, and Akaike Information Criteria. As a result, it was found that important parameters for the present urban flood model were Manning’s roughness of the pipeline and a coefficient for determination of the discharge from the ground surface to sewer pipelines. It was also found that the present PSO-based auto-tuning system showed reasonably good performance in tuning these parameters, which clearly improve the predictive skills of the present urban flood model.