bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Key Factors for Sustainability Reporting Adoption in the Semiconductor Industry Using the Hybrid FRST-PSO Technique and Fuzzy DEMATEL Approach
Authors: Wang Jeng-Bang , Wang Guan-Hua , Ou Chung-Ya
Published: January 2023

The proliferation of sustainability reporting (SR) is in response to environmental and social responsibility, but investors are increasingly concerned over the effects of sustainability reporting in corporate sustainability. The Sustainability Accounting Standard Board (SASB)’s sustainability standards are acknowledged as the main framework for implementing this activity, yet the influencing factors among sustainability reports highly correlate and are diverse and complicated, especially in the semiconductor industry, which is the key driving force for economic development in China. To exploit and evaluate those key factors, this research introduces a hybrid model that integrates fuzzy rough set theory with particle swarm optimization (FRST-PSO) and a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL). FRST-PSO is adopted to filter out redundant and irrelevant factors, and the selected results are then inserted into fuzzy DEMATEL to depict the opaque relationships and set up a prioritization strategy for improvement among the factors. According to the findings on the magnitude of the impact, the priorities for improvement are environment, human capital, social capital, leadership and governance, and business model and innovation. Based on the results, an optimal and practical solution is proposed as the basis for information disclosure of sustainability reporting for the semiconductor industry.
Does Person–Organization Value Fit Affect Job Performance of Post-90s Employees in China? A Moderated Mediation Model Based on Self-Determination Theory
Authors: Liu Yanzhi , He Yi , Cao Rong
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, post-90s employees are becoming the main cohort within organizations in China. They are considered to have strong self-awareness, weak collective consciousness, and low work motivation, making it difficult for managers to improve their job performance. After reviewing the relevant literature, we found that person–organization (PO) value fit is positively related to job performance, but there is a limitation in explaining the psychological characteristics of post-90s employees. This study aims to explore the mechanism that how PO value fit impacts the job performance of post-90s employees in China. From the view of self-determination theory (SDT), we selected happiness as a mediating variable and love of money (LOM) as a moderating variable. Based on valid data collected from 919 employees from all walks of life in China, we utilized both linear regression analysis and a bootstrapping approach to verify our propositions. The results revealed a positive relationship between PO value fit and job performance through happiness. The moderated mediation analysis further indicated that the mediated path bonding happiness with job performance was weaker for post-90s employees with higher levels of LOM. The present study offers a nuanced interpretation of how PO value fit affects the job performance of post-90s employees in China and contributes to providing suggestions for improving the sustainability of organizations.
Occupants’ Perceptions of Comfort, Control, and Adaptation in Colonial Revival Style Residences
Authors: Adekunle Timothy O.
Published: January 2023

This study examines occupants’ perceptions of comfort, control, and adaptation in Colonial Revival style residences in the “Building America Climate” cold region of the United States. The research considered these buildings due to their attractiveness and availability in the study area. The research intends to address the following question—Do occupants’ perceptions of comfort significantly impact their perceptions of control and adaptation within the buildings? This study utilized indoor monitoring of variables in the summer, thermal comfort surveys (110 respondents), walk-throughs, observations, and informal interviews to collect data for analysis. The residents that perceived higher air movement and humidity also use control more often and are more often satisfied with the level of control. The differences between the mean neutral temperatures were within the range of 2.2 °C. On a seven-point scale, the mean thermal sensation votes (TSV) and thermal comfort (TC) were 3.25 and 5.05, respectively. The study revealed higher perceptions of the thermal environment among residents who spent longer hours in the buildings than those that spent fewer hours within the residences. The research implies that while there are limited options for control, the residents who spent longer hours in the buildings perceived themselves to be more comfortable and to be able to adapt better using available adaptive measures than those who spent fewer hours in the residences. The study notes that, as people migrate from one thermal environment to another, their adaptation level may change depending on certain factors, including the adaptive measures available to them. The research recommends the integration of transitional smart devices (such as remotely controlled thermostats, etc.), including control for the residents who spent fewer hours in those buildings.
Community Participation in the Importance of Living Heritage Conservation and Its Relationships with the Community-Based Education Model towards Creating a Sustainable Community in Melaka UNESCO World Heritage Site
Authors: Abdul Aziz Noor Azramalina , Mohd Ariffin Noor Fazamimah , Ismail Nor Atiah , Alias Anuar
Published: January 2023

Living heritage runs the risk of being lost forever, or frozen as a practice of the past, if not promoted in the community. The preservation of this history, its transmission to following generations, and its ability to transform and adapt to any circumstance, are all made possible by strengthening living heritage. Investigating the function of living heritage in advancing education for sustainable development has been deemed a crucial goal by quality education as Sustainable Development Goal number 4 (SDG 4). The aim of this article is to gather information on living heritage conservation toward creating a sustainability community by using the community-based education model on the communities’ attitudes, cultural knowledge, and awareness of the importance of living heritage, and their participation level towards living heritage conservation in Melaka UNESCO World Heritage Site. This study uses the quantitative method of online questionnaire survey technique to collect data. There are 392 respondents from the multicultural community of Melaka World Heritage Site, who randomly responded. Based on the mean comparison in gender, age level, and race, there is a positive significant relationship between the importance of living heritage and the local community’s participation level. The increasing of the participation level to ACTIVE would lead to a higher altitude, cultural knowledge, and awareness of the importance of living heritage in the local community.
Has Digital Finance Made Marine Energy Carbon Emission More Efficient in Coastal Areas of China?
Authors: Xu Sheng , Liang Liang
Published: January 2023

Energy is an essential material foundation for ensuring economic sustainability and national security. With the development of digitalization, the importance of digital finance in promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of the economy has emerged. The ocean is a national energy treasure house. In order to explore whether digital finance improves the carbon emission efficiency of marine energy, this paper selects panel data from 11 coastal areas from 2011 to 2019 in China and uses the panel fixed effect model, mediation, and moderation model to analyze the mechanism between them empirically. The results show that: (1) digital finance improves marine energy carbon emission efficiency, and the depth of use has the most obvious effect; (2) the incentive effect is heterogeneous due to different geographical locations, resource endowment degree, and digitalization degree; (3) the marine energy consumption structure plays a mediating effect, and marine industrial structure and technological innovation can enhance the impact of the digital finance on marine energy carbon emission efficiency. Therefore, optimizing the energy consumption structure and giving full play to the effect of digital finance in promoting the efficiency of marine energy carbon emission to help accelerate the low-carbon development of China’s economy and the realization of carbon emission reduction.
Soil Erosion Type and Risk Identification from the Perspective of Directed Weighted Complex Network
Authors: Tu Ping , Zhou Qianqian , Qi Meng
Published: January 2023

Identifying the geographic distribution and erosion risks of various soil erosion regions are critical inputs to the implementation of extensive and effective land protection planning. To obtain more accurate and sufficient erosion information on a large scope, this paper introduced the complex network theory to quantitatively simulate the topographic spatial structure and topological relationship of the erosion area. The watershed was selected as the basic study unit and the directed weighted complex network (DWCN) of each watershed was constructed from DEM data. The directed weighted complex network factor (DWCNF) of each watershed was calculated by the DWCN. After combining DWCNFs with existing SEEF, the soil erosion types and risks of sample areas in the Chinese Loess Plateau were identified by the random forest model. The results show that in both typical and atypical sample areas, the identification performance of soil erosion by combining DWCNFs with existing SEEFs was performed better than that by employing only the DWCNFs or SEEFs dataset. It is suggested that the quantitative description of the spatial structure and topological relationship of the watershed from the perspective of a complex network contributes to obtaining more accurate soil erosion information. The DWCNF of structural entropy, betweenness centrality, and degree centrality were of high importance, which can reliably and effectively identify the types and risks of soil erosion, thus providing a broader factor reference for relevant research. The method proposed in this paper of vectoring terrain into complex network structures is also a novel sight for geological research under complex terrain conditions.
Will the “Pairing Assistance” Policy Trigger the Migration of Polluting Enterprises? An Empirical Study Based on the Yangtze River Delta Region
Authors: Lin Bingquan , Wang Junsong
Published: January 2023

The migration of polluting enterprises and its mechanism are a recent research hotspot in enterprise geography and environmental economic geography. This paper finds that the “Pairing Assistance” policy (PAP) is an important driving force for the migration of polluting enterprises (MPE), which is widely ignored by the existing research. Based on the perspective of inter-regional correlations, this paper establishes an analytical framework for the MPE. The negative binomial regression model was used to conduct a big data analysis on enterprises based on the Qichacha database. The main findings are as follows. (1) The average number of polluting enterprises migrating between cities with a PAP relationship is 129.51% more than that between other cities. (2) This policy can also promote the MPE from cities that are not in a PAP relationship with cities that receive assistance from the policy. The average frequency of these cities accepting polluting enterprises was 63.76% more than that of other cities. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that under the influence of the policy, highly polluting and low-tech enterprises mainly migrated from developed regions to less-developed regions. (4) The mechanism mainly includes lower environmental regulations, operating costs, inter-regional differences in industrial upgrading, and the easiness for polluting enterprises to adapt into the network of government–enterprise relationships in the assistance-accepting cities. This paper, based on China’s empirical research, provides a new mechanism for the migration of polluting enterprises.
River Sand and Gravel Mining Monitoring Using Remote Sensing and UAVs
Authors: Diaconu Daniel Constantin , Koutalakis Paschalis D. , Gkiatas Georgios T. , Dascalu Gabriel Vasile , Zaimes George N.
Published: January 2023

The development of methodologies for analyzing the evolution and pressures exerted on the river channel network is one of the main concerns of researchers today. The assessment of natural or artificial changes of river channels and beds plays an important role in environmental protection, but also in the implementation of integrated water resource management plans. Given the episodic and dynamic nature of river bank and bed erosion, along with the difficulty of reaching certain reaches, a methodological approach that uses aerial imagery, initially from satellite sources and afterwards from unmanned aerial vehicles, is proposed. This approach was utilized in a perennial river in Romania but also in an ephemeral torrent channel in Greece, in order to test the prevalent types of hydrographic network in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. The methodology used was able to identify the location and the volume of the bed material extracted and the time frame in which it occurred. These encouraging results showcase an accurate but also relevantly low-cost monitoring method for illegal anthropogenic activities that can be easily adopted by the responsible authorities. The adoption of the method will contribute to the more efficient monitoring of river protection, by accurately and timely identifying areas of illegal river bed extraction that will enable authorities to enforce European Union and national legislation.
An Open-Source Modelling Methodology for Multimodal and Intermodal Accessibility Analysis of Workplace Locations
Authors: Pfertner Maximilian , Büttner Benjamin , Wulfhorst Gebhard
Published: January 2023

Workplace location has a significant impact on daily mobility behavior, such as mode of transportation choice, as well as long-term decisions such as car ownership and residential location choice. Therefore, understanding accessibility to workplaces is crucial for promoting sustainable mobility. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive, open-source methodologies for multimodal and intermodal accessibility modeling for workplace locations. In this study, we present a modeling concept based on open-source tools such as OpenTripPlanner, PostGIS, and R, which allows for efficient and fast accessibility analysis of workplace locations at a regional level. Using the Munich Metropolitan Region as a case study, we demonstrate the feasibility of our model in conducting large-scale, multimodal, and intermodal accessibility analysis on consumer hardware. The maps produced by our model provide both absolute and relative indicators of accessibility, such as public transportation versus car accessibility, as well as a score. The results show that Munich and other centers have high competitiveness for non-car modes and intermodal combinations, but smaller cities also have potential for workplace locations that are not reliant on car access, with a large number of potential workers able to reach these locations within 30 min without driving.
Theoretical Nexus of Knowledge Management and Tourism Business Enterprise Competitiveness: An Integrated Overview
Authors: Ogutu Hellen , Adol Gogo Fredrick Collins , Bujdosó Zoltán , Andrea Benedek , Fekete-Farkas Maria , Dávid Lóránt Dénes
Published: January 2023

Most recently, there has been a growing interest in understanding the correlation concerning knowledge management and competitiveness more so in the area of tourism. Hence, this paper looks to provide a synthesis on theoretical nexus of knowledge management and tourism business enterprise competitiveness by giving an integrated overview of four micro economic related theories that influence competitiveness and knowledge management. These theories were examined to exhibit the extent of their applicability to tourism businesses as a way to alleviate challenges posed by susceptibility, complexity, ambiguity, uncertainty, and volatility brought about by market liberalization and globalization. Moreover, theories are, considered a set of systematic hunches, which have multiple parts, which play a role in the overall idea of what exactly a theory is proposing. During the review of literature various theories assert to explain knowledge management and competitiveness individually, but on some occasions in relation either to organizational learning or organizational (quality) culture. Thus, the need to supply an integrated overview of the theoretical nexus between these concepts by exploring the theoretical frameworks and related facets. Of the micro-economic theories: the institutional theory, the knowledge-based theory, the resource-based theory, and the (dynamic) capabilities theory were used to guide and try to explain the relationship of aforementioned facets. The knowledge-based theory posits that an organization’s competitive gain stems from the distinctive knowledge assets along with its ability to effectively utilize and share these assets within the organization. The resource-based theory, conversely, emphasizes the role of physical and intangible resources in determining an organization’s competitiveness. The (dynamic) capabilities theory underscores the importance of an enterprise’s ability to continuously learn, adapt, as well as innovate to sustain a competitiveness. Finally, institutional theory highlights the role of external factors, such as business standards, industrial policies and procedures such as quality approaches, in shaping an organization’s competitiveness. Overall, with the comprehensive perception of the given theories the paper attempts to feature the correlation between knowledge management and competitiveness within the tourism industry. Highlighting ways in which these theories can be integrated to supply a more holistic understanding of this relationship especially in the study areas of tourism managerial micro-economics, tourism competitiveness and organizational knowledge management aimed at impending application in particular to enhance the sustainability tourism business enterprises.
Vehicle Tracking Algorithm Based on Deep Learning in Roadside Perspective
Authors: Han Guangsheng , Jin Qiukun , Rong Hui , Jin Lisheng , Zhang Libin
Published: January 2023

Traffic intelligence has become an important part of the development of various countries and the automobile industry. Roadside perception is an important part of the intelligent transportation system, which mainly realizes the effective perception of road environment information by using sensors installed on the roadside. Vehicles are the main road targets in most traffic scenes, so tracking a large number of vehicles is an important subject in the field of roadside perception. Considering the characteristics of vehicle-like rigid targets from the roadside view, a vehicle tracking algorithm based on deep learning was proposed. Firstly, we optimized a DLA-34 network and designed a block-N module, then the channel attention and spatial attention modules were added in the front of the network to improve the overall feature extraction ability and computing efficiency of the network. Next, the joint loss function was designed to improve the intra-class and inter-class discrimination ability of the tracking algorithm, which can better discriminate objects of similar appearance and the color of vehicles, alleviate the IDs problem and improve algorithm robustness and the real-time performance of the tracking algorithm. Finally, the experimental results showed that the method had a good tracking effect for the vehicle tracking task from the roadside perspective and could meet the practical application demands of complex traffic scenes.
Revisiting Current Trends in Electrode Assembly and Characterization Methodologies for Biofilm Applications
Authors: Estudillo-Wong Luis Alberto , Guerrero-Barajas Claudia , Vázquez-Arenas Jorge , Alonso-Vante Nicolas
Published: January 2023

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a sustainable technology resulting from the synergism between biotechnology and electrochemistry, exploiting diverse fundamental aspects for the development of numerous applications, including wastewater treatment and energy production. Nevertheless, these devices currently present several limitations and operational restrictions associated with their performance, efficiency, durability, cost, and competitiveness against other technologies. Accordingly, the synthesis of nD nanomaterials (n = 0, 1, 2, and 3) of particular interest in MFCs, methods of assembling a biofilm-based electrode material, in situ and ex situ physicochemical characterizations, electrochemistry of materials, and phenomena controlling electron transfer mechanisms are critically revisited in order to identify the steps that determine the rate of electron transfer, while exploiting novel materials that enhance the interaction that arises between microorganisms and electrodes. This is expected to pave the way for the consolidation of this technology on a large scale to access untapped markets.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Sustainable Chemistry in 2022
Authors:   Sustainable Chemistry Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Singularities for Timelike Developable Surfaces in Minkowski 3-Space
Authors: Li Yanlin , Chen Zhizhi , Nazra Sahar H. , Abdel-Baky Rashad A.
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we consider the singularities and geometrical properties of timelike developable surfaces with Bishop frame in Minkowski 3-space. Taking advantage of the singularity theory, we give the classification of generic singularities of these developable surfaces. Furthermore, an example of application is given to illustrate the applications of the results.
The Data Mechanisms of Diagnosis and Intelligence
Authors: Fu Jianjing , Hsiao Ching-An
Published: January 2023

Diagnosis is a measurement, and so is intelligence. We present a novel visual method to analyze diagnoses. The concept of country health was introduced in a trial to compare the efficiency of two treatments: box plot and pull anti. We found that the pull anti performs better in both accuracy and extent. The box plot is a diagnosis of abnormality using simple up–down symmetry; however, when abnormalities occur in the probability, the symmetry of the structure may be negatively affected. The pull anti checks the asymmetry of the left and right and therefore results in a better analysis. Furthermore, we designed another trial to test the sampling bias and found that an insensible disturbance might lead to statistical self-significance. We thus suggest that extended observations towards certainty are necessary to obtain better diagnoses or intelligence.
Creep Properties of Cylinder Metal Rubber under Static Compression at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Lai Fuqiang , Hao Xiangfei , Liu Niuniu , Wu Yiwan , Xue Xin , Bai Hongbai
Published: January 2023

In this study, the creep properties of cylindrical metal rubber (MR) specimen under static compression at elevated temperatures were investigated by a series of creep experiments. The cylindrical MR specimen has a good symmetrical property, and the mechanical properties are consistent in its different axial section. The failure determination parameters of MR under the coupling of thermal and mechanical static load of the forming direction were proposed in four aspects: the overall height, the average stiffness, the energy dissipation, and the variation of the loss factor. The variation patterns of the properties of the MR specimens were investigated with a static load at different temperatures for 324 h. The analytical equipment, including the simultaneous thermal analyzer (TGA/DSC), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM), were used for material characterization and failure analysis. Based on the results, it is found that there are significant differences in the MR property variations subjected to creep tests at different elevated temperatures. The results indicated that an appropriate heat treatment for MR specimens would improve the creep resistance at elevated temperatures. In addition, the overall height and energy dissipation of the MR specimens were increased, and the average stiffness and the loss factor were decreased under the creep tests at 200 °C and 250 °C. However, under the creep tests at 25 °C, 300 °C, 350 °C, and 400 °C, the overall height, the energy dissipation and the loss factor were decreased, but the average stiffness was increased.
Mathematical Modeling of Spherical Shell-Type Pattern of Tumor Invasion
Authors: Amereh Meitham , Struchtrup Henning , Nadler Ben
Published: January 2023

Cancer cell migration, as the principal element of tumor invasion, involves different cellular mechanisms. Various modes of cell migration including single and collective motions contribute to the invasion patterns. The competition between adhesive cell–cell and cell–matrix forces is a key factor that determines such patterns. In this paper, we study a distinct shell-type mode of tumor invasion observed in brain and breast tumors. In this mode, cells at the outer layer of the tumor collectively move away from the core and form a shell-type shape. Both the core and the shell sustain a sharp interface between cells and the surrounding matrix. To model the preserved interface, we adopted a Cahn–Hilliard-type free energy relation with the contribution of the interfacial stress. This nonconvex form of free energy allows for cells to remain together and preserve the tumor core via adhesive cell–cell forces while separating the core from the surrounding matrix across a continuous sharp interface. In addition, the motion of the shell was modeled using the chemotactic migration of cells in response to the gradient of nutrients. The associated fluxes of cells were implemented in a general form of balance law. A non-Michaelis–Menten kinetics model was adopted for the proliferation rate of cells. The flux of nutrients was also modeled using a simple diffusion equation. The comparison between the model predictions and experimental observations indicates the ability of the model to manifest the salient features of the invasion pattern.
The Development, Coupling Degree, and Value-Added Capability of the Digital Economy and Manufacturing Industry in China
Authors: Su Rengang , Fang Yinhai , Zhao Xianglian
Published: January 2023

Our goal in this study was to measure the developments, coupling degrees, and value-added abilities of the digital economy and manufacturing industry in China. We clarified the relationship between the coupling degree and value-added ability of the system. We also identified the dynamic factors that affect the value-added ability of the system. On the basis of a literature review and theoretical analysis, we constructed a vector coupling model of the evolution of the system, and we used a combination of entropy weight, SFA, and other methods. We found that the development levels of the digital economy and manufacturing industry in China have continued to im-prove, but we noted considerable differences between different provinces. Furthermore, by using model decomposition, we calculated the average contribution rate of the digital economy, manufacturing industry, and the coupling degree of the two systems to the added value of the overall system. The digital economy has rapidly developed in all provinces and has played a notable role in promoting the value-added capacity of the system, especially in provinces that were lagging. This catch-up effect of the digital economy can narrow the economic gap between provinces. The digital economy is highly efficient, enabling, and inclusive, and thus can be coupled with the development of the manufacturing industry to produce synergies and enhance the value-added abilities of the two systems.
How Can Community-Based Organizations Improve Flood Risk Communication? A Case Study of China Based on Grounded Theory
Authors: Li Qiang , Lin Yi
Published: January 2023

Urban flood risk communication continues to challenge governments. Community-based organizations (CBOs) aim to rapidly detect deficiencies in capacity to deal with flood risk in vulnerable communities and disseminate accessible risk information to assist in the selection and implementation of risk mitigation measures. This paper discusses the methods through which CBO members think their work is beneficial in the response to urban floods. Grounded theory is utilized to guide a mixed-method approach that included semistructured interviews with CBO members (N = 34), participatory observations, and policy document analysis. The findings show that localization of risk knowledge and the emergence of new social networks are important factors in flood risk communication in vulnerable communities. This discovery may highlight the varied aspects of creating community resilience and explain why traditional risk communication is currently unsuccessful. Our findings also shed light on the priorities associated with urban flood risk communication. Only by linking flood risk management to actual livelihoods can we ensure the smooth execution of relevant disaster mitigation measures, especially for vulnerable groups.
Heat Capacity of Solid Halide Eutectics and Their Enthalpy at Melting Point
Authors: Redkin Alexander , Korzun Iraida , Yaroslavtseva Tatyana , Reznitskikh Olga , Zaikov Yuriy , Kumkov Sergeiy , Kodintseva Anna
Published: January 2023

The isobaric heat capacity of solid eutectic mixtures LiCl-KCl-CsCl, LiBr-CsBr and LiBr-KBr-CsBr was investigated from room temperature up to melting point. The molar heat capacity of all mixtures under study was found to be close to the additive sum of that of pure salts. The heat accumulated up to melting temperature is directly dependent on the melting point.
Multiple Site Dissimilarities of Herbaceous Species Due to Coal Fly Ash Dumping Based Soil Heavy Metal Toxication
Authors: Singh Deepak Kumar , Singh Anushka , Gacem Amel , Kashyap Shruti , Yadav Virendra Kumar , Yadav Krishna Kumar , Hussein Hany S. , Shukla Neeraj Kumar , Alsuhaibani Amnah Mohammed , Abdellattif Magda H. , Lee Chaigoo , Lee Wonjae , Modi Timsi , Jeon Byong-Hun
Published: January 2023

The present study analyzes the determinants and patterns of the regional, local, and differential plant diversity of two different sites with similar climatic but varied edaphic factors. This research was undertaken to study the plant diversity and population structure as a consequence of variation in the soil quality between two biotopes: Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya in Koni (site-I) and National Thermal Power Corporation in Sipat (site-II). The soil of site-I was found to be fertile and showed rich vegetation. On the other hand, the soil of site II was found to be contaminated with heavy metals, which impacts the flora of the region. The ecology of both sites was studied, and their quantitative and qualitative aspects were compared and contrasted. The abundance, density, and richness of the plants in site II were fairly lower than in site-I, which was confirmed by utilizing Simpson’s and Shannon’s diversity indices. Many of the species collected from site II were heavy metal accumulators and could also serve as indicators of heavy metal toxicity.
Chemical Characteristics and Cytotoxicity to GC-2spd(ts) Cells of PM2.5 in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area from 2015 to 2019
Authors: Ge Pengxiang , Liu Zhengjiang , Chen Mindong , Cui Yan , Cao Maoyu , Liu Xiaoming
Published: January 2023

PM2.5 is an air pollutant with complex components. After entering the body through respiration, PM2.5 can not only cause respiratory diseases, but also break through the blood–testis barrier and influence the reproductive system. PM2.5 with different components may result in different toxic effects. In the first five years of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area, industrial transformation would change the concentration and chemical fraction of PM2.5 in the local environment to a certain extent. In this study, PM2.5 collected in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area every autumn and winter from 2015 to 2019 was analyzed. PM2.5 concentration generally decreased year by year. The large proportion of secondary inorganic ions indicated the presence of secondary pollution at the sampling site. PM2.5 was mainly emitted from fossil fuel combustion and vehicle exhaust. The cytotoxicity of PM2.5 samples was evaluated by PM2.5 exposure to mouse spermatocytes (GC-2spd(ts) cells). Cell viability was relatively low in 2016 and 2018, and relatively high in 2017 and 2019. Reactive oxygen species levels and DNA damage levels followed similar trends, with an overall annual decrease. The cytotoxicity of PM2.5 on GC-2spd(ts) cells was significantly correlated with water-soluble ions, water-soluble organic carbon, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (p < 0.01). According to principal component analysis and multiple linear regression, fossil fuel combustion, secondary transformation of pollutants and construction dust were identified as the major contributors to cytotoxic effects, contributing more than 50%.
Unraveling the Variation Pattern of Oncomelania hupensis in the Yangtze River Economic Belt Based on Spatiotemporal Analysis
Authors: Li Lu , Zhang Lijuan , Li Yinlong , Hong Zhong , Wang Qiang , Deng Wangping , Li Shizhu , Xu Jing
Published: January 2023

The construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB) is a great national economic development strategy in China. As the YEB covers most endemic provinces of schistosomiasis japonica featured by low endemicity, this study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of Oncomelania hupensis (O. hupensis), which serves as the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in the YEB. Annual data reflecting the distribution of O. hupensis from 2015 to 2021 were collected from the National Institute of Parasitic Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Spatial autocorrelation analysis, hotspot analysis and space–time scan analysis were performed to explore the aggregation features and spatiotemporal dynamics of the snail distribution. The distribution of both total snail habitats (during 2015–2021) and emerging snail habitats (in 2016, 2018 and 2020) showed spatial autocorrelation (Z = 15.8~16.1, p < 0.05; Z = 2.3~7.5, p < 0.05). Hotspot (high-value areas in space) counties were mainly clustered in the alluvial plain of the middle and lower reaches of the YEB. Eight spatial and temporal clusters of snail habitats were scanned and were mainly concentrated in the counties of Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangsu provinces along the Yangtze River. The YEB carries a tremendous burden of O. hupensis. Surveillance and risk identification based on the snail presence should be strengthened to provide reference for protecting humans and public health security in the YEB.
Molecular Surveillance for Vector-Borne Bacteria in Rodents and Tree Shrews of Peninsular Malaysia Oil Palm Plantations
Authors: Mohd-Azami Siti Nurul Izzah , Loong Shih Keng , Khoo Jing Jing , Husin Nurul Aini , Lim Fang Shiang , Mahfodz Nur Hidayana , Ishak Siti Nabilah , Mohd-Taib Farah Shafawati , Makepeace Benjamin L. , AbuBakar Sazaly
Published: January 2023

Many human clinical cases attributed to vector-borne pathogens are underreported in Malaysia, especially in rural localities where healthcare infrastructures are lacking. Here, 217 small mammals, consisting of rodents and tree shrews, were trapped in oil palm plantations in the Peninsular Malaysia states of Johor and Perak. Species identification was performed using morphological and DNA barcoding analyses, and 203 small mammals were included in the detection of selected vector-borne bacteria. The DNA extracted from the spleens was examined for Orientia tsutsugamushi, Borrelia spp., Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. using established PCR assays. The small mammals collected in this study included Rattus tanezumi R3 mitotype (n = 113), Rattus argentiventer (n = 24), Rattus tiomanicus (n = 22), Rattus exulans (n = 17), Rattus tanezumi sensu stricto (n = 1) and Tupaia glis (n = 40). Orientia tsutsugamushi, Borrelia spp. and Bartonella phoceensis were detected in the small mammals with the respective detection rates of 12.3%, 5.9% and 4.9%. Rickettsia spp., however, was not detected. This study encountered the presence of both Lyme disease and relapsing fever-related borreliae in small mammals collected from the oil palm plantation study sites. All three microorganisms (Orientia tsutsugamushi, Borrelia spp. and Bartonella phoceensis) were detected in the R. tanezumi R3 mitotype, suggesting that the species is a competent host for multiple microorganisms. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the relationships between the ectoparasites, the small mammals and the respective pathogens.
Construction and Rescue of a DNA-Launched DENV2 Infectious Clone
Authors: Holliday Madeline , Corliss Lochlain , Lennemann Nicholas J.
Published: January 2023

Flaviviruses represent a large group of globally significant, insect-borne pathogens. For many of these viruses, there is a lack of antivirals and vaccines. Thus, there is a need to continue the development of tools to further advance our efforts to combat these pathogens, including reverse genetics techniques. Traditionally, reverse genetics methods for flaviviruses rely on producing infectious RNA from in vitro transcription reactions followed by electroporation or transfection into permissive cell lines. However, the production of Zika virus has been successful from CMV promoter-driven expression plasmids, which provides cost and time advantages. In this report, we describe the design and construction of a DNA-launched infectious clone for dengue virus (DENV) serotype 2 strain 16681. An artificial intron was introduced in the nonstructural protein 1 segment of the viral genome to promote stability in bacteria. We found that rescued viruses maintained the ability to form plaques and replicate efficiently in commonly used cell lines. Thus, we present a rapid and cost-effective method for producing DENV2 strain 16681 from plasmid DNA. This construct will be a useful platform for the continued development of anti-DENV therapeutics and vaccines.
Evidence of a Set of Core-Function Genes in 16 Bacillus Podoviral Genomes with Considerable Genomic Diversity
Authors: Ismail Ahmed , Saini Tanuj , Al Qaffas Ahmed , Erill Ivan , Caruso Steven M. , Temple Louise , Johnson Allison A.
Published: January 2023

Bacteriophage genomes represent an enormous level of genetic diversity and provide considerable potential to acquire new insights about viral genome evolution. In this study, the genome sequences of sixteen Bacillus-infecting bacteriophages were explored through comparative genomics approaches to reveal shared and unique characteristics. These bacteriophages are in the Salasmaviridae family with small (18,548–27,206 bp) double-stranded DNA genomes encoding 25–46 predicted open reading frames. We observe extensive nucleotide and amino acid sequence divergence among a set of core-function genes that present clear synteny. We identify two examples of sequence directed recombination within essential genes, as well as explore the expansion of gene content in these genomes through the introduction of novel open reading frames. Together, these findings highlight the complex evolutionary relationships of phage genomes that include old, common origins as well as new components introduced through mosaicism.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Viruses in 2022
Authors:   Viruses Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Pepper Mild Mottle Virus: An Infectious Pathogen in Pepper Production and a Potential Indicator of Domestic Water Quality
Authors: Ochar Kingsley , Ko Ho-Cheol , Woo Hee-Jong , Hahn Bum-Soo , Hur Onsook
Published: January 2023

Pepper (Capsicum spp.; Family: Solanaceae; 2n = 24) is an important crop cultivated worldwide for the consumption of its fresh and dried processed fruits. Pepper fruits are used as raw materials in a wide variety of industrial processes. As a multipurpose vegetable crop, there is a need to increase the yield. However, yield productivity of pepper is severely constrained by infectious plant pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes. The pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is currently one of the most damaging pathogens associated with yield losses in pepper production worldwide. In addition to impacts on pepper productivity, PMMoV has been detected in domestic and aquatic water resources, as well as in the excreta of animals, including humans. Therefore, PMMoV has been suggested as a potential indicator of domestic water quality. These findings present additional concerns and trigger the need to control the infectious pathogen in crop production. This review provides an overview of the distribution, economic impacts, management, and genome sequence variation of some isolates of PMMoV. We also describe genetic resources available for crop breeding against PMMoV.
Immunostimulatory Profile of Cancer Cell Death by the AdV-Lumc007-Derived Oncolytic Virus ‘GoraVir’ in Cultured Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Bots Selas T. F. , Landman Sanne L. , Rabelink Martijn J. W. E. , van den Wollenberg Diana J. M. , Hoeben Rob C.
Published: January 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy which shows unparalleled therapeutic resistance. Oncolytic viruses have emerged as a new treatment approach and convey their antitumor activity through lysis of cancer cells. The therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic viruses is largely dependent on the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) and the subsequent antitumor immune responses. However, the concurrent generation of antiviral immune responses may also limit the a virus’ therapeutic window. GoraVir is a new oncolytic adenovirus derived from the Human Adenovirus B (HAdV-B) isolate AdV-lumc007 which was isolated from a gorilla and has demonstrated excellent lytic activity in both in vitro and in vivo models of PDAC. In this study, we characterized the immunostimulatory profile of cancer cell death induced by GoraVir and the concerted cellular antiviral responses in three conventional pancreatic cancer cell lines. While GoraVir was shown to induce late apoptotic/necrotic cell death at earlier time points post infection than the human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV-C5), similar levels of ICD markers were expressed. Moreover, GoraVir was shown to induce ICD not dependent on STING expression and regardless of subsequent antiviral responses. Together, these data demonstrate that GoraVir is an excellent candidate for use in oncolytic virotherapy.
Electrostatic Surface Potential as a Key Parameter in Virus Transmission and Evolution: How to Manage Future Virus Pandemics in the Post-COVID-19 Era
Authors: Fantini Jacques , Azzaz Fodil , Chahinian Henri , Yahi Nouara
Published: January 2023

Virus-cell interactions involve fundamental parameters that need to be considered in strategies implemented to control viral outbreaks. Among these, the surface electrostatic potential can give valuable information to deal with new epidemics. In this article, we describe the role of this key parameter in the hemagglutination of red blood cells and in the co-evolution of synaptic receptors and neurotransmitters. We then establish the functional link between lipid rafts and the electrostatic potential of viruses, with special emphasis on gangliosides, which are sialic-acid-containing, electronegatively charged plasma membrane components. We describe the common features of ganglioside binding domains, which include a wide variety of structures with little sequence homology but that possess key amino acids controlling ganglioside recognition. We analyze the role of the electrostatic potential in the transmission and intra-individual evolution of HIV-1 infections, including gatekeeper and co-receptor switch mechanisms. We show how to organize the epidemic surveillance of influenza viruses by focusing on mutations affecting the hemagglutinin surface potential. We demonstrate that the electrostatic surface potential, by modulating spike-ganglioside interactions, controls the hemagglutination properties of coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2) as well as the structural dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 evolution. We relate the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of repositioned molecules to their ability to disrupt virus-raft interactions, challenging the old concept that an antibiotic or anti-parasitic cannot also be an antiviral. We propose a new concept based on the analysis of the electrostatic surface potential to develop, in real time, therapeutic and vaccine strategies adapted to each new viral epidemic.
Epidemiology of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Poland during 2016–2022
Authors: Pikuła Anna , Lisowska Anna , Domańska-Blicharz Katarzyna
Published: January 2023

Infectious bursal disease virus is an immunosuppressive ubiquitous pathogen that causes serious economic losses in poultry production. The virus is prone to genetic changes through mutations and reassortment, which drive the emergence of new variants and lead to a change in the epidemiological situation in a field. Such a situation is currently being reported due to a large wave of IBDV A3B1 reassortant infections in northwestern Europe. On the other hand, in Poland, which is the largest producer of chicken meat in the EU, the IBDVs of genotypes A3B2 and A3B4 were circulating just before the emergence of A3B1 reassortants. The purpose of the presented study was to update the IBDV epidemiological situation. The performed molecular survey based on the sequence of both genome segments showed the presence of very virulent strains (A3B2) and reassortants of genotypes A3B4 and A3B1; moreover, two of these genotypes are newly introduced IBDV lineages. In addition, a number of amino acid substitutions were demonstrated, including within antigenic epitopes and virulence determinants. In conclusion, the results obtained indicated a dynamic epidemiological situation in Poland, which highlights the need for further monitoring studies in the region and verification of protection conferred by the vaccines used against infection with detected IBDV.
Towards a Future of Personalized Vaccinology: Study on Individual Variables Influencing the Antibody Response to the COVID-19 Vaccine
Authors: Visalli Giuseppa , Laganà Antonio , Lo Giudice Daniela , Calimeri Sebastiano , Caccamo Daniela , Trainito Alessandra , Di Pietro Angela , Facciolà Alessio
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has hugely impacted many different aspects of human health, and vaccination is one of the most effective weapons to manage it. However, many different factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities and lifestyles, play a role in the response to infections and vaccines. We carried out this study to evaluate the potential role played by some individual factors in the production of anti-COVID-19 antibodies in the light of personalized and future vaccinology. We conducted an observational study consisting of a retrospective phase, exploiting previous data about anti-COVID-19 antibody responses, with a prospective phase to investigate individual variables through the use of a questionnaire. The antibody response after the COVID-19 vaccination was inversely related to old age, increased BMI and the number of smoking years, while a positive correlation was found with moderate alcohol consumption and especially with circulating levels of vitamin D, as clearly shown by the multivariate regression analysis. Our study showed that a number of variables are involved in the COVID-19 vaccine antibody response. These findings are very important and can be considered in the light of a future and personalized vaccinology.