bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stable organic carbon formation accelerated by manganese oxide mineral reduction and the implications for the global carbon cycle
Authors: Purvis Graham , Johnson Karen L. , Peacock Caroline , Wegorzewski Anna , Sano Naoko , Sheriff Jake , Cumpson Peter , Lopez-Capel Elisa
Published: September 2022

Marine and terrestrial sediments stabilise organic carbon (OC) against microbial respiration, influencing the climate by slowing the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. Redox-active element-bearing minerals, such as the manganese oxide mineral birnessite (δMnO2) play an important role in OC stabilisation. However, the mechanism for birnessite-OC stabilisation is unclear, limiting further understanding of the role of birnessite in the carbon cycle. We hypothesise that bond formation is promoted on δMnO2 surfaces, ultimately producing a complex assembly of stabilised OC. We test our hypothesis by investigating δMnO2 samples spanning < 1 year to 2.5 billion years old, using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis to synergistically observe OC thermal decomposition. We propose that thermally stable OC is generated during δMnO2 reduction. We speculate that thermally stable OC is unsuitable for rapid microbial respiration and is therefore chronologically stable. We conclude that the OC stabilisation described here could be an important but hitherto unrecognised process that removes OC from the readily exchangeable OC pool, thereby helping to modulate the climate.
The Diagnostic Accuracy of 332 Incisional Biopsies in Patients with Malignant Tumors in the Musculoskeletal System
Authors: Dirks Michael , Ewerbeck Nicolas Konstantin , Ballhause Tobias Malte , Weiß Sebastian , Luebke Andreas , Schlickewei Carsten , Frosch Karl-Heinz , Priemel Matthias
Published: September 2022

It is known that specimen collection followed by histopathological workup is the core of evidence-based medical therapy of musculoskeletal tumors. There exist many controversies about how a biopsy should be performed. While some centers recommend minimal invasive biopsy procedures, mostly the core needle biopsy (CNB), others prefer the incisional biopsy. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of incisional biopsy for malignant tumors in the musculoskeletal system. Moreover, advantages and disadvantages to other biopsy methods are discussed. This retrospective, single-center study about 844 incisional biopsies (benign and malignant) analysis the diagnostic accuracy of 332 malignant tumors, concerning the final histopathological result. In addition, surgical complications are analyzed to find the best way to plan and treat patients timely and correct. Secondary endpoints are the patients age, the pure operation time, as well as the type of tumor, and the subsequent therapy. In summary, incisional biopsy corresponded a sensitivity of 100% for malignancy in 844 incisional biopsies and a specificity of 97.6% in 332 malignant tumors, but it features greater operative expense (incision/suture 23.5 min) and the risk of general anesthesia. The method of biopsy should be tailored to the individual patient and the experience of the center performing the procedure.
The Prediction for moisture content at the outlet of tobacco blending and flavoring with non-equidistant grey model GM(1,1)
Authors: LI Zijuan , Chen Jiaojiao , Sun Shuo , Gao Yang , Feng Zixian , Zhao Liyuan , Ma Yanling , Lv Xuan
Published: September 2022

In order to solve the problem of no moisture monitoring point and feedback lag after the cut tobacco blending and flavoring, a grey system theory was applied to propose a moisture prediction method for the tobacco blending and flavoring outlet. Using the historical data of Diamond (yinghong) cut tobacco blending and flavoring outlet moisture in Zhangjiakou Cigarette Factory as gray numbers, a non-equidistant gray GM (1, 1) model was established, and the residual error was corrected by the support vector regression machine, t-3 , t-2, t-1 corresponding residuals are used as input data, and the residuals at time t are used as output data to update the non-equidistant gray GM (1, 1) model. The model was used to predict the moisture content of tobacco blending and flavoring outlet and the accuracy test. The results showed that the posterior difference test ratio was C=0.348<0.35, the average relative error was less than 0.1, P=1>0.95, and the model was more accurate. Use information technology to establish a data prediction module, form a tobacco blending and flavoring outlet moisture prediction system, and feed back the adjustment of the drying outlet moisture control. After the system is applied, the relative error of tobacco blending and flavoring outlet moisture prediction is <0.3%.
Diversity of the phoD Gene Encoding Alkaline Phosphatase in Sediment of Sancha Lake and Its Relationship with Environmental Factors
Authors: Li Yong , Yu Xintao , Liu Huan , Gong Zhilian , Li Yong
Published: September 2022

The bacterial phoD gene encoding alkaline phosphatase (ALP) plays animportant role in the release of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) from organic phosphorus in environmental systems. However, phoD gene diversity in the sediments of the sub-deep freshwater lakes with eutrophication is poorly understood. In the present study, we sampled the sediments and the overlying water of Sancha Lake, a typical eutrophic sub-deep freshwater lake in China, in April (spring) and November (autumn), 2017. High-throughput sequencing and qPCR were performed to analyze the bacterial phoD gene in the sediments. The diversity and abundance of the phoD gene and the bacterial community structure based on this gene were characterized. We further discussed the relationships between the diversity and abundance of the phoD gene and environmental factors. A total of 881,717 valid sequences were obtained from 18 samples and were classified into 41 genera, 31 families, 23 orders, 12 classes, and 9 phyla and grouped into 477 OTUs. The dominant phyla were Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. The phylogenetic tree based on the sequences of the phoD gene was plotted and composed of three branches. The genetic sequences were aligned predominantly with genera Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Cupriavidus, and Paludisphaer. The phoD-harboring bacterial community structure showed a significant difference in spring and autumn, but no apparent spatial heterogeneity. Significant spatial heterogeneity and seasonal changes were observed in phoD gene abundance. pH value, dissolved oxygen (DO), total organic carbon (TOC), ALP, and phosphorus were important environmental factors affecting the diversity of the phoD gene and the phoD-harboring bacterial community structure. Changes in phoD-harboring bacterial community structure, phoD gene abundance, and ALP activity were negatively correlated with SRP in overlying water. Our study indicated phoD-harboring bacteria in the sediments of Sancha Lake with the characteristics of high diversity and significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in abundance and community structure, which played a crucial role in the release of SRP.
The observations of the 2022 Tonga-Hunga tsunami waves in the Sea of Japan
Authors: Tsukanova Elizaveta , Medvedev Igor
Published: September 2022

On 15 January 2022, the Tonga-Hunga submarine volcano erupted in the southwest Pacific Ocean and created strong tsunami waves that had a dual generation mechanism: “direct” (caused by the explosion) and “atmospheric” (induced by propagating atmospheric Lamb waves). Trans-oceanic waves spread across the ocean and were clearly recorded in marginal seas of the northwestern Pacific, including the Sea of Japan. The two distinct types of incoming waves produced a variety of effects in the sea as determined by the wave origin, propagation features and local topographic properties. Statistical and spectral properties of the tsunami waves recorded in the Sea of Japan and vicinity, including the adjacent part of the northwestern Pacific, are the main subject of the present study. The Sea of Japan is a semi-isolated basin connected to the Pacific Ocean through several straits. The strait features (widths, depths and geometry) significantly affect the arriving waves, strongly modifying their statistical characteristics and spectral content. As discussed in detail in this paper, the two types of incoming tsunami waves are consequently transformed in substantially different ways.
Visualizing Twitter Opinions with Social Network Analysis: Vaccine Debates amid the COVID-19 Beta and Omicron pandemics
Authors: Kan Anson Chi On
Published: September 2022

COVID-19 vaccination rate remained globally low despite governments’ ongoing efforts to encourage vaccination. Sentiment analysis and social network analysis were employed on tweets collected on selected dates during the Beta and Omicron pandemics. It is found that the data exhibit real-world properties. People became more polarized and negative towards vaccination during the Omicron pandemic. Unaccredited authors exerted immense influence on anti-vaccination clusters, which became more concentrated after a year. To increase vaccination rate, it is suggested government officials enhance their presence in these platforms or social media companies reconstruct the information diffusion mechanism to cultivate the interaction anti-vaccination clusters with other communities.
Hide or die when the winds bring wings: predator avoidance by activity shift in a mountain snake
Authors: Radovics Dávid , Szabolcs Márton , Lengyel Szabolcs , Mizsei Edvárd
Published: September 2022

Background
Understanding predator-prey relationships is fundamental in many areas of ecology and conservation. Basking time often increases the risk of predation and one way to minimise this risk is to reduce activity time and to stay within a refuge. However, this implies costs of lost opportunities for foraging, reproduction, and thermoregulation. We aimed to determine the main potential and actual predators of Vipera graeca, to estimate the incidence and the age and sex distribution of predation events based on body injuries to infer predation pressure, and to assess whether and how the activity of V. graeca individuals is modified by predation pressure.
Results
We observed n = 12 raptor bird species foraging at the study sites, and we determined Circaetus gallicus, Falco tinnunculus and Corvus cornix as predators of V. graeca. We found injuries and wounds on 12.5% of studied individuals (n = 319). The presence-absence of injuries were significantly positively influenced by estimated age of vipers, and were more frequent on females than on males, while interaction of age and sex showed a significant negative effect. The overlap between the activity of raptors showed significantly smaller overlap with observed viper activity than with potential viper activity.
Conclusion
The time being active on the surface by the snakes has cost: the incidence of predation-related injuries increased with age, were more frequent in females than in males and they occurred earlier in age for females than for males. The vipers show a shift in the bimodal activity time-frame by being active earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon than could be expected based on thermal conditions suggesting that there is no maximalization to exploit the whole time frame available to reach the preferred body temperature in a cold environment.
Coronal Elemental Abundances during A-class Solar Flares Observed by Chandrayaan-2 XSM
Authors: Nama Lakshitha , Mondal Biswajit , Narendranath S
Published: September 2022

The abundances of low First Ionisation Potential (FIP) elements are three to four times higher (FIP bias) in the closed loop active corona than in the photosphere, known as the FIP effect. Observations suggest that the abundances vary in different coronal structures. Here, we use the soft X-ray spectroscopic measurements from the Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) on board the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter to study the FIP effect in multiple A-class flares observed during the minimum of solar cycle 24. Using time-integrated spectral analysis, we derive the average temperature, emission measure, and the abundances of four elements - Mg, Al, Si, and S. We find that the temperature and emission measure scales with the flares sub-class while the measured abundances show an intermediate FIP bias for the lower A-flares (e.g., A1), while for the higher A-flares, the FIP bias is near unity. To investigate it further, we perform a time-resolved spectral analysis for a sample of the A-class flares and examine the evolution of temperature, emission measure, and abundances. We find that the abundances drop from the coronal values towards their photospheric values in the impulsive phase of the flares, and after the impulsive phase, they quickly return to the usual coronal values. The transition of the abundances from the coronal to photospheric values in the impulsive phase of the flares indicates the injection of fresh unfractionated material from the lower solar atmosphere to the corona due to chromospheric evaporation. However, explaining the quick recovery of the abundances from the photospheric to coronal values in the decay phase of the flare is challenging.
Catalyst-free, one-pot three-component synthesis of N,3- diphenybenzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and oxybis(1-phenyl-2- (phenylamino)ethanones
Authors: Hajipour Mina , Mehrabi Hossein
Published: September 2022

The present work, highlights a highly effective unique procedure for the synthesis of N,3-diphenybenzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and oxybis(1-phenyl-2-(phenylamino)ethanones via the one-pot three-component reaction between aryl glyoxal, aryl amine, and 2-aminobenzothiazole under catalyst-free conditions. The present mild and green method uses EtOH without catalyst at reflux conditions. No catalyst with high yields, availability of the starting materials, operational simplicity, cleaner reaction profile, no harmful by-products, and the isolated products in pure form are the advantages of this protocol. Structures of all the freshly synthesized products have been deduced by their FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and elemental analysis.
One-Step Combinatorial Strategy for Optimization of Antibiotics With Plant Extract Against Drug Resistant Clinical Bacteria
Authors: Gideon Mathew
Published: September 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most worrying health problems worldwide, antimicrobial research with reference to medicinal plants is a growing domain, likewise the synergism between plant extract and antibiotics. The present study seek to propose and develop strategic synthetic means to overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria using ethnopharmacological approach with conventional antibiotics. Concentrated sulphuric acid and 10% sodium hydroxide were used in combinatorial synthesis of Calotropis procera extract with Amoxicillin and Ampicillin.to validate the positive results obtain in stage one, Piliostigma reticulatum extract was combine with 100 µg/mL of azithromycin and again with 100 µg/ml of ampicillin with 0.1 mL, 0.2 mL and 0.3 mL the acid to validate and a different bacteria strain was also introduced. Higher inhibitions zone were observed at 16.7 mm for salmonella spp, 16.4 mm shigella spp, 16.8 mm S. aureus, 21.3 mm E.coli and 22.4 mm streptococus at situations where antibiotics inhibitions zones was 0 mm. The present study results uses a simple, less time consuming, cost-effective, safe and eco-friendly methods, and further shows that acid combinatorial synthesis of antibiotic with plant extract can be made to be effectively active against bacteria isolates which were initially resistant to the antibiotic used in the synthesis as compared to others done before, as they shows that green synthesis of nanoparticles and combination of plant extracts with antibiotics can only have synergistic effects on resistant bacteria or may enhance in overcoming bacteria resistance in a situation where the antibiotics have already shown some degree of antibacterial activity on the tested pathogens, these methods however has little possibility of overcoming resistance at a concentration were the antibiotic does not.
Manifold-constrained Gaussian process inference for time-varying parameters in dynamic systems
Authors: Sun Yan , Yang Shihao
Published: September 2022

Identification of parameters in ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is an important and challenging task when modeling dynamic systems in biomedical research and other scientific areas, especially with the presence of time-varying parameters. This article proposes a fast and accurate method, TVMAGI (Time-Varying MAnifold-constrained Gaussian process Inference), to estimate both time-constant and time-varying parameters in the ODE using noisy and sparse observation data. TVMAGI imposes a Gaussian process model over the time series of system components as well as time-varying parameters, and restricts the derivative process to satisfy ODE conditions. Consequently, TVMAGI completely bypasses numerical integration and achieves substantial savings in computation time. By incorporating the ODE structures through manifold constraints, TVMAGI enjoys a principled statistical construct under the Bayesian paradigm, which further enables it to handle systems with missing data or unobserved components. The Gaussian process prior also alleviates the identifiability issue often associated with the time-varying parameters in ODE. Unlike existing approaches, TVMAGI can be applied to general nonlinear systems without specific structural assumptions. Three simulation examples, including an infectious disease compartmental model, are provided to illustrate the robustness and efficiency of our method compared with numerical integration and Bayesian filtering methods.
Spatial patterns and the associated factors for breast cancer hospitalization in Fujian Province, China
Authors: Song Mengjie , Huang Xiaoxi , Wei Xueqiong , Tang Xuwei , Rao Zhixiang , Hu Zhijian , Yang Haomin
Published: September 2022

Despite the known increasing incidence of breast cancer in China, evidence on the spatial pattern of hospitalization for breast cancer is scarce. This study aimed to describe the disparity of breast cancer hospitalization in Southeast China and to explore the impacts from socioeconomic factors and heavy metal pollution in soil. This study was conducted using the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NRCMS) claims data covering 25.52 million female rural residents from 73 counties in Southeast China during 2015–2016. The associations between breast cancer hospitalization and socioeconomic factors and soil heavy metals pollutants were evaluated with quasi-Poisson regression models and geographically weighted Poisson regressions (GWPR).The annual hospitalization rate for breast cancer was 101.40/100,000 in the studied area and the rate varied across different counties. Overall, hospitalization for breast cancer was associated with road density (β = 0.43, P = 0.02), urbanization (β = 0.02, P = 0.002) and soil cadmium (Cd) pollution (β = 0.01, P = 0.02). In the GWPR model, a stronger spatial association of Cd, road density and breast cancer hospitalization was found in the northeast regions of the study area while breast cancer hospitalization was mainly related to urbanization in the western regions. Soil Cd pollution, road density, and urbanization were associated with breast cancer hospitalization in different regions. Findings in this study might provide valuable information for healthcare policies and intervention strategies for breast cancer.
Dilutions of household detergents kill Eisenia andrei and Pheretima guillelmi earthworms
Authors: Liu Baoping
Published: September 2022

Soil health plays a vital role in sustainable agronomy development. Earthworms are visible organisms in the soil ecosystem, rendering them convenient to monitor soil health. Household detergents are widely used for daily cleaning purposes. To study their effects on two types of earthworms, Pheretima guillelmi and Eisenia andrei, dilutions of six household detergents (1‰, m/v), such as perfumed soap, washing powder, shampoo, dish washing liquid, bath lotion, and lavatory cleanser, were prepared to immerse 20 earthworms for 4 h or more, either directly or mixed with yellow brown soil samples from a peanut cultivation field; rain water without detergent dilutions served as the control. Surviving earthworms were counted, and the survival rate was calculated. The results showed that after 4 h of immersion in the six detergent dilutions, 100% of the E. andrei died, whereas 100% of P. guillelmi survived. When the immersion period was extended to 24 h, 100% of the P. guillelmi also died. However, after adding the six detergent dilutions to yellow brown soil after the earthworms had drilled into it, 100% P. guillelmi and E. andrei survived after 4 h in control solutions and two detergents dilutions, namely perfumed soap and lavatory cleanser. However, 100% of the P. guillelmi died in the other four detergent dilutions. In contrast, 30%, 24%, 19%, and 12% E. andrei survived in washing powder, shampoo, dish washing liquid, and bath lotion treatments, respectively. It can be concluded that dilutions of the six household detergents (1‰; m/v) can kill P. guillelmi and E. andrei both in soil and on direct exposure. This is the first study to report the mortality of earthworms after exposure to dilutions of household detergents.
Incidence and predictors of mortality among adults ART users on universal test and treat approach in a public health facility, South Ethiopia 2021
Authors: Dawit Zinabu , Sahile Serekebrehan , Getaneh Yigrem , Samuel Habtamu , Bojola Fiker , Hailu Mesrach , Mulatu Bahiru , Taye Wodimageng , Dessu Samuel , Dishole Desalegn
Published: September 2022

Background
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced mortality and improved the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients. WHO developed the "universal test and treat" (UTT) program as a strategy for HIV elimination. Universal "test and treat approach" (UTT) is a program that commends for all populations those diagnosed HIV positive receive early treatment not considering their CD4 count and WHO clinical stage. UTT program was implemented a seven-year. Yet, the effect of this program in terms of patient status was not assessed about the current and previous( CD4 and WHO clinical) approach.
Methods
Institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted at Public hospitals in Southern Ethiopia with a total of 802 randomly selected records of ART enrolled adults from March 1, 2013, to February 31, 2020. Data were extracted by using a standardized checklist by trained health professionals, then it was cleaned, entered by epidata version 4.2, and analyzed by STATA version 14. The Cox model was used to estimate survival differences across different study variables.
Results
A total of 790 patients were followed for 1490.8 person-year (PY) of observation. The overall incidence density rate (IDR) of death in the cohort was 3 per-100-PY. The incidence of death was significantly higher in the CD4-based and WHO stage program than the UTT program. The death among CD4-based and WHO stage programs were 3.7 times higher than the UTT program. The log-rank test and Kaplan–Meier survival curve indicated patients enrolled in the UTT program survived longer than patients enrolled in the CD4-based and WHO clinical stage program (log-rank X2 test = 17.6 p-value = 0.001). WHO clinical stage, functional status, Program of ART, New opportunistic infection, Adherence to ART drugs, and Initiation of IPT were predicted mortality from HIV infection.
Conclusion
Mortality was significantly reduced in the universal test and treat program. Hence, intervention to further reduce deaths has to focus on early initiation of treatment and strengthening universal test and treat programs.
Residues in HLA class I that Account for Variation of the HIV Host Response Distinctly Modulate Interactions with TCR and KIRs
Authors: Tano-Menka Rhoda , Singh Nishant , Muzhingi Itai , Li Xiaolong , Mandanas Michael , Kaseke Clarety , Zhang Angela , Ogunshola Funsho , Vecchiarello Liza , Piechocka-Trocha Alicja , Bashirova Arman , Birnbaum Michael , Carrington Mary , Walker Bruce D. , Gaiha Gaurav D.
Published: September 2022

Polymorphisms in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes strongly influence outcomes to HIV infection. However, the underlying mechanisms by which certain alleles mediate protection is not well understood. Here we systematically investigate residues within HLA class I molecules (at positions 67, 70, 97 and 156) that have been demonstrated by genetic studies to explain the observed variation of HLA class I alleles on HIV infection. Through a detailed assessment of the protective HLA-B*5701 allele, we find that each of these residues has distinct effects on either HIV-specific CD8+ T cell recognition (67, 70, 156), stabilization of HLA class I-peptide complexes (67, 156), binding of HLA class I-peptide to HIV-specific T cell receptors (70, 156) or KIR3DL1 (97). Structural analyses illustrate that residue mutations uniquely affect the residue microenvironment of the class I binding groove to impact interactions between HLA-peptide complexes with TCR and KIR. These results thereby provide a structural and mechanistic basis for the HLA association with HIV disease outcome. Moreover, they definitively demonstrate that the major host genetic determinant of HIV control is modulation of the stability and conformation of viral peptides by HLA class I for recognition by both the innate and adaptive immune system.
Construction of Deep Learning Model using RESNET 50 for Schizophrenia Prediction from rsFMRI Images
Authors: Rani K.Emily Esther , S.Baulkani
Published: September 2022

Purpose:
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a mental disorder that affects many young people. Early detection and treatment can release the stress of family members and save societal costs. Deep learning in neuro imaging creates new insights in modification of brain structures during various brain disorders. Therefore, resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Image(rsFMRI) data for schizophrenia is used in this paper.
Method
Initially, rsFMRI images in the dataset are preprocessed. After that, data augmentation is done and data is splitted into training and testing images. Then, the prediction model based on the deep learning framework RESNET 50 is constructed to extract features. Finally, the test images are given to the pre trained model to predict schizophrenia and Healthy Controls(HC).
Result
The proposed system produces the classification accuracy of 95.53% for predicting schizophrenia patients according to the experimental results.
Conclusion
Based on the comparative analysis, we conclude that our model outperforms some recent methods and also increases the schizophrenia prediction accuracy.
Resurgence of Omicron BA.2 in SARS-CoV-2 infection-naive Hong Kong
Authors: Xie Ruopeng , Edwards Kimberly M. , Adam Dillon C. , Leung Kathy S.M. , Tsang Tim K. , Gurung Shreya , Xiong Weijia , Wei Xiaoman , Ng Daisy Y.M. , Liu Gigi Y.Z. , Krishnan Pavithra , Chang Lydia D.J. , Cheng Samuel M.S. , Gu Haogao , Siu Gilman K.H. , Wu Joseph T. , Leung Gabriel M. , Peiris Malik , Cowling Benjamin J. , Poon Leo L.M. , Dhanasekaran Vijaykrishna
Published: September 2022

After keeping infections at bay for two years, Hong Kong experienced a surge of Omicron BA.2 infections in early 2022 that overwhelmed the health care system, isolation facilities, and contact tracing capacity, leading to one of the highest per-capita death rates of COVID-19 in early 2022. The outbreak occurred against a backdrop of a dense population with low immunity towards natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, high vaccine hesitancy in vulnerable populations, comprehensive disease surveillance and the capacity for stringent public health and social measures. Using genome sequences and epidemiological data from this time, we reconstruct the epidemic trajectory of the BA.2 wave, estimate transmission and incidence rates, and evaluate the effectiveness of policy changes. We identify an increase in the effective reproductive rate (Re) to 9.5 in mid-January 2022, which preceded real-time estimates of transmission (Rt), revealing that BA.2 community transmission was under-ascertained weeks before the epidemic appeared to surge in mid-February 2022. Due to this, public health measures were relaxed in early February (Spring Festival) while Re increased and remained > 1 throughout February. An independent estimation of point prevalence and incidence using phylodynamics also indicates extensive superspreading at this time, which likely contributed to the rapid expansion of the epidemic. This study demonstrates that relying on Rt estimation methods dependent on case reporting can misinform epidemic response planning, sometimes with substantial consequences. There is a need for future research and implementation of improved estimates of epidemic growth in near real-time that combine multiple disparate data sources to better inform outbreak response policy.
REDbox: a comprehensive semantic framework for data collection and management in tuberculosis research
Authors: Lima Vinícius Costa , Rijo Rui Pedro Charters Lopes , Bernardi Filipe Andrade , Filho Márcio Eloi Colombo , Júnior Francisco Barbosa , Pellison Felipe Carvalho , Galliez Rafael Mello , Kritski Afrânio Lineu , Alves Domingos
Published: September 2022

The outcomes of a clinical research directly depend on the correct definition of the research protocol, the data collection strategy and the data management plan. Furthermore, researchers often need to work within challenging contexts, such as in Tuberculosis services, where human and technological resources for research may be rare. The use of Electronic Data Capture systems, such as REDCap and KoBotoolbox, can help to mitigate such risks and to enable a reliable environment to conduct health research and promote results dissemination and data reusability. The proposed solution was based on needs pinpointed by researchers, considering the lack of an embracing solution to conduct research in low resources environments. The REDbox framework was built to enhance collection, management, sharing and availability of data in tuberculosis research, while providing a better user experience. The relevance of this article lies in the innovative approach to support TB research by combining existing technologies and tailored supporting features. REDbox was implemented as a valuable asset in nationwide cross-institutional Tuberculosis research projects in Brazil.
TLR7/8-agonist loaded M1 Macrophagederived nanovesicles promote the polarization of macrophages to enhance bladder cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Zhang Qing , Lin Tingsheng , Zhang Wenlong , Ding Yuanzhen , Wang Xiaofeng , He Xin , Lu Wenfeng , Cao Wenmin , Wang Tingzheng , Chen Wei , Guo Hongqian
Published: September 2022

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies, have been successfully used to modulate the cancer killing function of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, in bladder cancer, the level of the proinflammatory M1 macrophages were significantly low than the immunosuppressive M2 macrophages. The abundant of M2 macrophages released cytokines to induce the resistance of ICIs treatment and alleviate immune cell attack, finally resulting in promoting tumor growth. To enhance the bladder cancer immunotherapy, nanovesicles derived from M1 macrophages (M1 NV) was applied to load the TLR7/8 agonist of R848, a potent driver of M1 macrophages, for constructing M1 NV-R848. The results revealed M1 NV-R848 could more effectively induce polarization of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages when compared to M1 NV or R848 alone both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, intravenous injection of M1 NV-R848 would improve the immunosuppressive TME by upregulation of proinflammatory M1 macrophages, improvement of CD8+T cells infiltration, finally enhancing the immunotherapy of PD-L1 antibodies with good biocompatibility in bladder cancer bearing mouse model. Thus, our study demonstrates that M1 NV-R848 could serve as a potential strategy to improve the polarization of M1 macrophages in bladder cancer, which might be further used for other cancer with the immunosuppressive TME.
Educação e crise estrutural do capital: Como superar?
Authors: Dos Santos Felipe Néo , Nogueira da Silva Raimundo Jackson , Barbosa Fabiano Geraldo , Almeida Emanoel Rodrigues , Da Silva Solonildo Almeida
Published: September 2022

O presente estudo teve como objetivo geral analisar os impactos da crise estrutural do capital na educação, sendo os objetivos específicos: a) verificar as mudanças ocorridas na educação como objeto de interesses do capital; b) problematizar a educação enquanto atividade educativa imediatista; e c) identificar estratégias para superar a lógica da educação como mercadoria. Em termos metodológicos, a pesquisa se baseou no método ontológico, a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa e de uma investigação bibliográfica. Para tanto, tomou-se, fundamentalmente, como referências as proposições teóricas dos seguintes autores: Tonet (2016) e Mészaros (2011), dentre outros. Os resultados e discussões indicaram que a atividade educativa mantém estreita relação ontológica com o trabalho. Isso explica o fato de que a educação é objeto de interesse do capital. Nas considerações finais, enfatizou-se a importância de pesquisadores/as em aprofundar a discussão acerca da relação entre a crise estrutural do capital e suas influências no campo educacional diante da dominação neoliberal que possui inflexões de cunho político, econômico, cultural e social.
A Study on Urban Planning Directions and Strategies Coping with Pandemic
Authors:   Korea Urban & Real Estate Association, Hyun Jae-Hyuk , Oh Jang-Hyun , Park Jae-Hoon , Lee Jea-Sun
Published: September 2022

This study aims to propose urban planning directions and strategies that enable building urban space safe from transmissive disease like COVID-19. Through reviewing published articles and interviewing experts of various urban fields, this study derived fourteen planning considerations and reassembled them into five urban planning directions: accssibility, self-sustainability, smart technology, health, and prevention. Also, eighteen strategies covering the following seven urban planning areas were proposed: land use, traffic infrastructure, green infrastructure, public facility, medical facility, residential environment, and urban environment. This study contributes to providing comprehensive urban planning directions and strategies necessary for planning resilient cities in POST-COVID-19 era. Specifying the proposed strategies into different approaches, implementing necessary policy improvements, and conducting pilot projects are required to applicate the result of this study into actual urban planning stage.
Large Diameter Open-end Steel Piled Foundations for the Hong Kong Offshore LNG Terminal – Design and Installation
Authors: Shea Victor , Li Dazhong , Shum Dora , Chu Freda
Published: September 2022

Large diameter tubular piles are the most common offshore foundation type in the energy sector due to their relatively easy installation compared to other methods, yet local experiences with regards to their design and offshore installation are still limited. Successful installation of pile foundation on the Hong Kong Offshore LNG Terminal (HKOLNGT) Project provides valuable experience for future offshore developments in the territory. Unlike onshore piling works, offshore piling works are heavily limited by the available machinery, site constraints and weather conditions. This Paper shares the experiences gained on the HKOLNGT Project and draws together solutions to several challenges pertaining to the design and offshore installation of large diameter pile foundations, such as limitations arising from offshore environmental conditions.
Frost Depth Prediction for Seasonal Freezing Area in Lithuania
Authors: Zakarka Mindaugas , Skuodis Šarūnas
Published: September 2022

The calculation of the frost depth is included in the geotechnical design for the Lithuanian region. The average temperature could be below zero for three months a year and maximum seasonal frost depth reaches more than 1.5 m. The analysis has shown that the frost has been declining for the last 200 years, which has intensified particularly in recent years. The purpose of this study is to review two different methods (LST EN ISO 13793 and RSN 156-94) for determining frost depths. The frost depth calculations performed for dry and saturated sandy soils, which are mainly observed in road construction. Obtained results are compared with frost depth map based on road weather stations data
Active Site Supervision to Enhance Drilling & Blasting
Authors: Leung Simon , Ko Elton M Y
Published: September 2022

In Hong Kong, the steep hilly terrain is a significant constraint on surface development but provides good opportunities for underground rock caverns. The systematic use of rock caverns will be the long-termed options to increase the land supply, and drill-and-blast is still the most commonly adopted excavation method in underground. However, the technology adopted in site supervision of drill-and-blast excavation has no significant advancement along the time-tunnel of development in Hong Kong. The checking on the as-built blast holes is not comprehensive enough as only the layout on the blast face and the depth of only reachable blast holes can be checked. The alignment of blast holes behind the blast face is unknown, which is however important. In addition, no qualitative and quantitative review on the geological condition ahead of the blast face can be carried out continuously while drilling.
Novel Cementitious Materials for Geotechnical Applications -Vibration Resistant Sprayed Concrete for Rock Tunnel Lining and Self compacting Backfill for Slope Upgrading Works
Authors: Kwong Martin M K , Zhu H G , Chen Eric X R , Sham Ivan M L , Chan Ivan H H , Chan Chris C W , Goh S N
Published: September 2022

Innovations in material sciences create new opportunities to enhance the ways of construction in the geotechnical field. By streamlining the conventional construction procedures with the application of new materials, more efficient, more cost-effective and safer construction could be achieved. Two material development projects have been launched by the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO), Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, and the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) was commissioned to develop the vibration resistant sprayed concrete (VRSC) and the self-compacting backfilling material. This paper presents the development of the two novel materials with particular highlights on the benefits of their applications in rock tunnels and slope upgrading works respectively and addresses the potential development in further applications of the novel materials in the fields.
Laboratory Studies on the Characteristics of Public Fill used in Reclamation Project in the Deep-sea Area
Authors: Cao Z X , Chen Y , Chen J , Xu Q
Published: September 2022

To reduce solid wastes and recover useful resources, an artificial island in the deep-sea area was built and it was planned to use the sorted public fill as the replacement of sand in the land reclamation. The use of the public fill as the replacement of sand not only reduced the CO2 emission, but also shortened the construction period. Although the use of public fill gives benefits to environmental sustainability, the public fill is rarely used in Hong Kong for reclamation in the deep-sea artificial island. Furthermore, the short-term and long-term post-construction settlement due to surcharge load is a key issue in the reclamation work, while limited information of the physical and mechanical properties of the public fill could be found in the past engineering projects. In addition, there are many uncertainties and influencing factors in the construction site such as the surcharge load magnitudes, modes of the loading process, and the variability of geotechnical parameters. How these factors influence the mechanical behavior of the public fill is an interesting issue. This paper gives first-hand laboratory test results accompanied by theoretical analysis to address the mentioned issues. After a comprehensive and careful measurement of several basic engineering properties, such as bulk density, particle size distribution, and Atterberg limits, large-scale oedometer tests were systematically conducted to study the compressibility of the public fill. It is found both volume compressibility and consolidation coefficient decrease with an increasing axial effective stress. An interesting finding is that an increasing fines content with a certain range will lead to an increase in the compressibility of the public fill, indicating the fines content may need to be considered in the land reclamation works. In addition, remarkable creep could be observed if the current vertical stress is lower than the preloading pressure. After obtaining design parameters and ensuring allowable settlement through both in-house laboratory tests and in-situ field tests, the project in the technical paper may be a good reference for future land reclamation design and construction cases.
Marine Deep Cement Mixing (Cutter Soil Mixing Technique)
Authors: Yung Derek , Pang Ricky , Chan Alex
Published: September 2022

In recent years, marine deep cement mixing was widely adopted in Hong Kong as the ground treatment method for many mega reclamation projects. Compared to the traditional dredging method, the deep cement mixing method is renowned for its environmentally friendly and high-quality standard. The installation of the deep cement mixing works will generate less vibration to the surrounding and prevents bringing the toxic material into the open water. Also, the deep cement mixing can provide a stable foundation for the land formation and comparatively less settlement is expected. The Cutter Soil Mixing technique is a type of deep cement mixing method. It is developed based on the Hydrofraise Cutter technology, crushing the soil through two counter-rotary cutters, and simultaneously mixed with a slurry binder to achieve the contract required strength. This paper presents a recent ground improvement project in Hong Kong with the application of marine Cutter Soil Mixing technique. Several essential working parameters such as mixing factor, dosage design and the criterion to achieve the top of competent stratum for the Cutter Soil Mixing installation are discussed. In addition, real time supervision and monitoring system by using a set of sophisticated instruments are introduced. The environmental considerations and measures of the project are also presented in this paper.
Use of Smart Devices in Civil and Geotechnical Works for Vibration, Noise and Temperature Measurement
Authors: Lam Thomas S K , Lau Kathy , Zhu Songye , Ho Goman
Published: September 2022

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) was set up with a vision to drive for excellence of the construction industry in Hong Kong. The CIC encourages and facilitates research activities and the use of innovative techniques for the construction industry, as one of the many functions. The CIC engages consultants, academic institutions, in-house resources, etc., to carry out study and research work on practical construction problems in response to the needs of the construction industry. Recently, work on the development of an App for iPhones for real-time monitoring and assessment of construction-induced vibration and noise, and the application of the maturity method for estimation of concrete strength in concrete structures was completed. In this paper, a detailed description of the laboratory calibration and site validation of the App developed for iPhones for vibration and noise monitoring, and the results obtained, including the setting-up requirements, are presented. This is followed by a discussion of the use of the maturity method for concrete strength measurement. The application of the maturity method to a case, involving installation of temperature sensors to measure the temperature development in a retaining wall structure to estimate the gain in strength, and a detailed interpretation of the results, are given.
A Critical Review of the Current Practice of Design and Construction of Offshore Foundations in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Daman , Hung K T , Lee Samuel , Li Victor
Published: September 2022

Large diameter driven tubular piles have recently been used as the foundation system for the Hong Kong Offshore LNG Terminal located in the southern waters of Hong Kong SAR, to the east of the Soko Islands. At present, there are limited guidelines in local codes or guides for the design of offshore foundations in Hong Kong. It is observed that the current practice of regulatory control in Hong Kong will often cause great difficulties in planning and construction of foundation works. Moreover, it is of paramount importance to have experience in offshore pile installation, which is severely lacking in local industry, in order to produce safe and efficient foundation designs to handle the much more hostile site conditions. Some suggestions for revising the current practice are suggested to bring it more in line with accepted international practices for offshore foundations.
Do all shocks produce embedded herding and bubble? An empirical observation of the Indian stock market
Authors: Khan Tabassum , G. Suresh
Published: September 2022

Herding has a history of igniting large, irrational market ups and downs, usually based on a lack of fundamental support. Intuitively, most herds start with an external shock. This empirical study seeks to detect shock-induced herding and the creation of nascent bubbles in the Indian stock market. Initially, the multifractal form of the detrended fluctuation analysis was applied. Then the Reformulated Hurst exponent for the Bombay stock exchange (BSE) was determined using Kantelhardt’s calibration. The investigation found evidence of high-level herding and a bubble in 2012, with a high value of Hurst Exponent (0.7349). The other years of the research period (2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020–2021) observed mild to significant herding with comparatively lower Hurst values. The results confirm that herding behavior occurs during a crisis and harsh situations emitting shocks. The study concludes that shock-based herding is prevalent in all six shocks: the economic meltdown, commodities and currency devaluation, geo-political problems, the Central Bank’s decision on liquidity management, and the Pandemic. Additionally, the years following the Financial Crisis and the years of the Pandemic are when herding and bubble are prominent.
AcknowledgmentsWe thank Dr. Bikramaditya Ghosh (Associate Professor, Symbiosis International University, Bangalore, India) for motivating us in this research. We also thank Dr. Natchimuthu N (Assistant Professor, Commerce, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India) and Dr. Mahesh E. (Assistant Professor, Economics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India) for their support throughout this study.