bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employees’ Perceptions of Green Supply-Chain Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainability in Organizations: Mediating Effect of Reflective Moral Attentiveness
Authors: Mughal Yasir Hayat , Nair Kesavan Sreekantan , Arif Muhammad , Albejaidi Fahad , Thurasamy Ramayah , Chuadhry Muhammad Asif , Malik Saqib Yaqoob
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: The increasing level of concern over reduction non-renewable resources, global warming, pollution, and social issues has led firms to initiate green and social activities. Furthermore, there is limited empirical evidence on the potential impact of green initiatives, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and reflective moral attentiveness (RMA) on sustainable performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of reflective moral attentiveness (RMA) on the relationship between green supply-chain-management practices (GSCM) and CSR on sustainable performance. Based on the natural-resource-based view, stakeholder resource-based view, and signaling theory, this study investigated the role of GSCM practices and CSR in sustainable performance using cross-sectional data from the manufacturing and services industries from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in Pakistan. (2) Methods: Using a non-probability convenience-sampling method, 500 employees were selected from the firms which are listed on the Pakistan stock exchange (PSE) and questionnaires were distributed. Complete questionnaires were received from 380 employees and used in the analysis, yielding a response rate of 76%. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) software was used for the confirmatory-factor analysis (CFA) and the testing of the hypotheses. The CFA results revealed the reliability and validity of the questionnaires. (3) Results: The results of the structural model (hypotheses testing) show that four attributes of GSCM practices (internal environmental management, green purchasing, cooperation with customers, and eco-design) have a positive influence on sustainable performance, while investment recovery and CSR were found to be insignificant. Moreover, there were significant and positive influences of GSCM and RMA on sustainable performance. On the other hand, control variables, such as gender, experience, and age, were found to have no significant role in sustainable performance. A further analysis revealed that reflective moral attentiveness mediated the relationship between GSCM, CSR, and sustainable performance. (4) Conclusions/implications: This study has several implications for green services and manufacturing firms specifically and for practitioners, researchers and academics in general. The innovation and novelty of this study lie in its determination of the contribution of RMA, GSCM, and CSR to achieving sustainable performance. Firms can improve their clean production activities by incorporating this model as a strategy. Future studies may add moderators and mediators to explore the impact of CSR and GSCM practices upon sustainability.
Study on the Effectiveness of Environmental Regulations and Its Spatial Spillover in China’s High-Quality Human Habitat Cities
Authors: Wu Chuansheng , Fan Weixuan , Qi Lingling , Kutlu Levent
Published: July 2023

High-quality human habitat cities in developing countries are facing new urban environmental problems as a result of the significant resource footprints of wealthy urban populations in the process of rapid urbanization. These areas are desperate for solutions to the coexistence of old and new pollutants, as well as inorganic and organic compounds. The authors of this study propose a comprehensive framework and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of environmental regulation in high-quality human habitat cities for a state-of-the-art path of improving environmental governance and optimizing environmental policies in these regions. This paper aims to analyze the effectiveness of environmental regulation and its spatial spillover in cities with high-quality human habitats. The results reveal that environmental regulation has a marginal effect on such cities, and local governments in the area have a race to the bottom in environmental governance. This study not only contributes to the promotion of an evaluation framework for examining the effectiveness of existing environmental regulations but also makes policy recommendations for adapting to the changing ecological environment in high-quality human habitat cities in developing countries.
An Overview and Categorization of the Drivers and Barriers to the Adoption of the Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Pasqualotto Carina , Callegaro-De-Menezes Daniela , Schutte Cornelius Stephanus Lodewyk
Published: July 2023

The adoption of the circular economy (CE) can help to solve the dilemmas of food, economic and social crises, environmental pollution, and continuous decreases in non-renewable resources, caused by the continuous increase in the size of the global population. Identifying drivers of and barriers to the CE is important for the implementation of the CE. In this context, this study aims to identify and categorize the drivers of and barriers to the adoption of the CE through a systematic literature review. In doing this, ten categories of drivers and barriers were identified: environmental, supply chain, economic, information, legal, market, organizational, public, social, and technological. The results of this study may contribute to the development of circular processes, the promotion of sustainability, and may encourage the implementation of the CE in many areas. The CE’s implementation can be a way to achieve some of the Sustainable Development Goals from the 2030 Agenda.
Explaining Global Trends in Cattle Population Changes between 1961 and 2020 Directly Affecting Methane Emissions
Authors: Kozicka Katarzyna , Žukovskis Jan , Wójcik-Gront Elżbieta
Published: July 2023

Methane (CH4) emissions from agricultural sources contribute significantly to the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change. According to the guidelines of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for calculating greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture is responsible for approximately 10% of total CH4 emissions from anthropogenic sources. CH4 is primarily emitted from livestock farming, particularly from cattle production during enteric fermentation and from manure. This article describes the results of multivariate statistical analyses carried out on data collected from 1961 to 2020 for thirty countries with the largest cattle populations. The study evaluated the trends in temporal changes in cattle populations and identified groups of countries with similar patterns during the study period. The global cattle population was highly correlated with CH4 emissions from the enteric fermentation of cattle and their manure. The countries experiencing the largest increase in cattle population were primarily developing countries located in South America, Africa and Southeastern Asia. The cattle population in these countries showed a strong correlation with the human population. On the other hand, the countries where the cattle population remained stable during the study period were mainly highly developed countries. The correlations between most of the examined variables associated with cattle production and the cattle population in these countries were inconsistent and relatively weak. In the near future, further increase in the cattle population and the associated CH4 emissions are expected, mainly in developing countries with high population growth.
Graph Theory: Enhancing Understanding of Mathematical Proofs Using Visual Tools
Authors: Sevcikova Andrea , Milkova Eva , Moldoveanu Mirela , Konvicka Martin
Published: July 2023

Mathematical culture is an essential part of general culture, and mathematical proof is the essence of mathematical culture, which plays an essential role in education for sustainable development. The presented research focuses on the following issue: Can the use of visual tools contribute to a better understanding of mathematical proofs presented within the framework of courses in graph theory? The research focuses on Czech university students of computer science. The presented results were achieved in a pedagogical experiment based on a pre-test, treatment and post-test design carried out during three academic years before the COVID pandemic period. In the pre-test and post-test phases, students were tested to determine their level of mathematical logic knowledge. Visual applications were used in teaching in the treatment phase. The research results clearly showed that the use of visual tools supporting formal explanation of mathematical proofs results in better understanding of the abstraction of the presented process and thus contributes significantly to sustainability in mathematical education. Thanks to the use of the mentioned visual tools during the COVID pandemic period, when schools had to switch to on-line education, the students’ results were comparable to those from face-to-face classes.
Professional Development Workshop for Physical Education Teachers in Southwest China: Benefiting Tai Chi Students with Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Authors: Jiang Man , Yu Hongli , He Juan , Qian Guoping , Bialas Marcin
Published: July 2023

Researchers have examined the common and specialized content knowledge (CCK/SCK) of physical education (PE) teachers and compared their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) with student learning outcomes globally. However, little research has been reported in China on the relationship between PCK and student learning in PE settings. The aims of the study were (i) to investigate the influence of teacher content knowledge (CCK/SCK) on student development stages in PE settings and (ii) to examine the impact of teachers’ PCK on students’ performance in Tai Chi techniques (TCTs) after six days of instruction. Two PE teachers were chosen from two urban, public, mid-sized middle schools located in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. This study involved 332 students from six 5th and six 6th grade classes. The study consisted of 185 5th-grade students (98 boys and 87 girls) and 147 6th-grade students (70 boys and 77 girls). We examined how teacher PCK and student TCT changed after a professional development workshop (PDW). Each PE teacher had two classes randomly assigned to the control or experimental condition groups. This study had three phases. Initially, the control condition was introduced; then, a PDW was provided for the teachers; and finally, the experimental condition was implemented. Teaching behaviors were described using mean values, and t-tests based on the highest TCT scores were conducted to examine the effect of teachers’ PCK on students’ TCT learning. Furthermore, PCK effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Significant relationships existed between teachers’ PCK, CK, and students’ knowledge, with effect sizes ranging from 1.92 to 6.82. Additionally, improvements in teachers’ PCK were associated with improved TCT performance in students (p < 0.05). Increased knowledge and skills can improve teachers’ PCK behavior, resulting in improved student performance in TCTs. These findings may provide evidence for future recommendations regarding knowledge and skill training programs for physical education teachers.
The State of the Art in Deep Learning Applications, Challenges, and Future Prospects: A Comprehensive Review of Flood Forecasting and Management
Authors: Kumar Vijendra , Azamathulla Hazi Md. , Sharma Kul Vaibhav , Mehta Darshan J. , Maharaj Kiran Tota
Published: July 2023

Floods are a devastating natural calamity that may seriously harm both infrastructure and people. Accurate flood forecasts and control are essential to lessen these effects and safeguard populations. By utilizing its capacity to handle massive amounts of data and provide accurate forecasts, deep learning has emerged as a potent tool for improving flood prediction and control. The current state of deep learning applications in flood forecasting and management is thoroughly reviewed in this work. The review discusses a variety of subjects, such as the data sources utilized, the deep learning models used, and the assessment measures adopted to judge their efficacy. It assesses current approaches critically and points out their advantages and disadvantages. The article also examines challenges with data accessibility, the interpretability of deep learning models, and ethical considerations in flood prediction. The report also describes potential directions for deep-learning research to enhance flood predictions and control. Incorporating uncertainty estimates into forecasts, integrating many data sources, developing hybrid models that mix deep learning with other methodologies, and enhancing the interpretability of deep learning models are a few of these. These research goals can help deep learning models become more precise and effective, which will result in better flood control plans and forecasts. Overall, this review is a useful resource for academics and professionals working on the topic of flood forecasting and management. By reviewing the current state of the art, emphasizing difficulties, and outlining potential areas for future study, it lays a solid basis. Communities may better prepare for and lessen the destructive effects of floods by implementing cutting-edge deep learning algorithms, thereby protecting people and infrastructure.
The Effectiveness of Improvement Measures in Road Transport Network Resilience: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Jie , Zhu Jingrong , Lu Di , Yuan Donghui , Azadi Hossein
Published: July 2023

Achieving improvement in the resilience of road transport networks by ensuring their smooth functioning and prompt recovery in the event of damage is crucial. This study focused on optimal measures and compared the effect of improvement measures on the resilience of road transport networks. A meta-analysis was performed to assess whether and to what degree the resilience of road transport networks was improved with different categories of measures. The articles were divided based on improvement measures, such as infrastructure investment, structure and planning, traffic signal management, and recovery schedule. The methodology of how to define and measure the resilience of road transport networks is considerably diverse, and most definitions are based on basic infrastructure structures. The efficiency of four types of improvement methods was grouped: structure and planning, infrastructure investment, recovery schedule, and traffic signal management. This study supports the use of structure and planning as a promising way for improving the resilience of road transport networks. Increasing comparability in studies and finally developing effective improvement measures in transport planning and decision making require more precise conceptual and methodological standardization in road transport network resilience.
Determining Factors for Farmers to Engage in Sustainable Agricultural Practices: A Case from Indonesia
Authors: Sukayat Yayat , Setiawan Iwan , Suharfaputra Ukas , Kurnia Ganjar
Published: July 2023

The Green Revolution still heavily influences the agricultural practices of small-scale farming enterprises employing unsustainable methods of cultivation. As a result, many initiatives have been developed to promote more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. This paper aims to seek the determinants of farmers regarding practicing more sustainable farming in Tasikmalaya Regency, Indonesia, especially in terms of the use of chemicals. Data were gained by interviewing 360 farmers at the study site. A logit regression model was then used to analyze the data. The results of the analysis indicate that the most significant determinants of sustainability in farming practices are each farmer’s standard of education and how active the farmer is in farmers’ groups. This shows the importance of positioning the farmer group as an essential factor for achieving sustainable farming in Indonesia. Consequently, transitioning to more sustainable agricultural practices requires that policymakers address the topic of economic incentives, improving market access, leveraging farmers’ groups, providing education and support, and designing policies that empower farmers as agents of change in their own communities.
Improving Energy Consumption and Order Tardiness in Picker-to-Part Warehouses with Electric Forklifts: A Comparison of Four Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Ebrahimi Ahmad , Jeon Hyun-woo , Jung Sang-yeop
Published: July 2023

Improving energy consumption (EC) and order tardiness (OT) for a warehouse picker-to-parts system is a challenging task since these two objectives are interrelated in a complex way with forklift activities. Thus, this research aims to minimize EC and OT with a multi-objective mixed-integer mathematical model by considering electric forklift operations. The proposed model addresses a lack of studies by controlling (i) order batching, (ii) batch assignment, (iii) batch sequencing, (iv) forklift routing, and (v) forklift battery charging schedule. The feasibility of the presented mathematical model is validated by solving small-sized examples. To solve medium- to large-sized case studies, we also propose and compare four multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs). In illustrative examples, this study identifies the number of battery charging, orders, and forklifts as significant parameters affecting EC and OT. Our analysis also provides regression models connecting EC and OT from Pareto-optimal frontiers, and these results can help industrial practitioners and academic researchers find and investigate the relationship between EC and OT for making relevant decisions in warehouses served by electric forklifts. Among the four MOEAs developed, we show that the NSGA-II non-dominated sorting variable neighborhood search dynamic learning strategy (NSGA-VNS-DLS) outperforms other algorithms in accuracy, diversity, and CPU time.
Effects of SeNPs Fertilizer on Se and Microelement Contents, Eating and Cooking Qualities, and Volatile Organic Compounds in Rice Grains
Authors: Xiong Yin , Tian Xuhong , Qiu Tianci , Cong Xin , Zheng Xingfei , Chen Shaoyu , You Aiqing , Cheng Shuiyuan , Wu Muci , Xu Deze
Published: July 2023

Foliar application of selenium (Se) fertilizer has been widely used in the production of Se-rich rice. However, the effect of Se-nanoparticles (SeNPs) fertilizer on rice quality remains largely unknown. Two bioSeNPs fertilizers were applied at different Se concentrations to explore the effect of the foliar application of SeNPs fertilizer on various rice grain qualities. The results showed that Se treatments resulted in 1.93–9.09 and 1.89–7.73 folds of total Se contents in brown and polished rice relative to the CK, respectively. Moreover, the Se treatments led to 1.04–2.33 folds increases in Cd contents, 14.6–26.4% decreases in As contents, a 13.9–16.7% reduction in Cr contents and no changes in Pb contents to that of the CK in rice grains. In addition, SeNPs exhibited no obvious impact on rice eating and cooking quality, and only the XY1 treatment could slightly improve the fatty acid content. Interestingly, Se treatments enhanced the contents of more than half of volatile organic compounds in brown rice. In general, SeNPs fertilizer XY at 6.4 g/ha was identified as the optimum choice for improvement in grain Se contents and grain qualities.
Using Industrial Waste Heat in District Heating: Insights on Effective Project Initiation and Business Models
Authors: Moser Simon , Jauschnik Gabriela
Published: July 2023

The recovery of industrial waste heat and its reuse in district heating networks can be economical for both the industry and the district heating operator. While the potential for external use of industrial waste heat remains significant, there are already many implemented practical examples. This paper describes an Austria-wide survey of industrial companies that supply waste heat to district heating networks in order to assess the (i) initiation and implementation, (ii) business model design, and (iii) risks and uncertainties associated with external waste heat cooperation. Based on the survey results, good personal relationships are essential, and local politicians can be crucial for initiation. Major changes in the industrial supplier or district heating company are triggers for contact and implementation. For negotiations to be successful, the partners must feel they are being treated fairly, which requires a high degree of transparency. The most commonly used business model is the use of clear interfaces, i.e., a point that separates investment, billing, and responsibility. Billing is usually per kWh, possibly supplemented by other contractual arrangements such as take-or-pay. The lower the industry’s share of the joint investment, the less it receives for the waste heat. Conversely, the more guarantees and risks the industry takes on, the higher the price per kWh.
Two-Stage Robust Programming Modeling for Continuous Berth Allocation with Uncertain Vessel Arrival Time
Authors: Qu Shaojian , Li Xinqi , Liu Chang , Tang Xufeng , Peng Zhisheng , Ji Ying
Published: July 2023

In order to mitigate the environmental pollution caused by sea freight, we focused on optimizing carbon emissions in container terminal operations. This paper establishes a mixed integer programming (MIP) model for a continuous berth allocation problem (CBAP) considering the tide time window. We aimed to minimize the total carbon emissions caused by the waiting time, consumption time and deviation to berth preference. In order to overcome the influence of an uncertain arrival time, the proposed MIP model was extended to mixed integer robust programming (MIRP) models, which applied a two-stage robust optimization (TSRO) approach to the optimal solution. We introduced an uncertainty set and scenarios to describe the uncertain arrival time. Due to the complexity of the resulting models, we proposed three particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms and made two novelties. The numerical experiment revealed that the robust models yielded a smaller variation in the objective function values, and the improved algorithms demonstrated a shorter solution time in solving the optimization problem. The results show the robustness of the constructed models and the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.
Evaluation of Urban Sustainability Based on Transportation and Green Spaces: The Case of Limassol, Cyprus
Authors: Psara Olivia , Fonseca Fernando , Nisiforou Olympia , Ramos Rui
Published: July 2023

Promoting urban sustainability has been on the agenda of researchers, planners, and policymakers. This paper uses quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate the sustainability of the Cypriot city of Limassol through transportation and green spaces indicators. The quantitative approach relies on a geostatistical evaluation of six indicators to describe the transportation sector and the proximity and provision of urban green spaces. The qualitative approach is based on a questionnaire (N = 387) conducted in the city. Results showed that car trips represent more than 90% of the modal share, and around 90% of the city’s transportation infrastructure is designed for cars. In terms of urban green spaces, only 5% of the areas with the highest population density are within 300 m of a green space > 2 ha. The questionnaire confirmed that 71% of the residents are not satisfied with the conditions provided by the city to walk and cycle, while 76% are not satisfied with the green spaces available in the city. This study contributes to informing planners and decision-makers about the need to promote walking, cycling, and greening policies to make Limassol and other similar cities more sustainable.
Human Impact in the Watershed of the Atoyac River in the Metropolitan Area of Puebla, Mexico
Authors: Covarrubias-López Ana Cristina , García-Suastegui Wendy Argelia , Valencia-Quintana Rafael , Avelino-Flores Fabiola , Méndez-Bermúdez Aarón , Handal-Silva Anabella
Published: July 2023

The largest economic, population, administrative, and service production of the State of Puebla (east-central Mexico) is concentrated in the Metropolitan Area of Puebla (MAP), and its effect on the water quality of the Atoyac River is substantial. The anthropogenic contamination of the Atoyac River and its tributaries in the MAP was evaluated and characterized. For this purpose, industry types and industrial density (ID) were identified, and the physical–chemical quality of water in the urban Atoyac, Rabanillo, Zapatero Rivers, and the Covadonga and Echeverría Dams were analyzed. In addition, the cytotoxicity of water was evaluated using the biomodel Allium cepa by analyzing the mitotic index (MI) and the interphase index (II). The correlation between the physical–chemical variables of water and MI was estimated. The results included 4500 industries, among which are the construction, metallurgy, metalworking, food, and textile industries. The highest ID was found in the municipality of San Pedro Cholula. The greatest anthropogenic impact occurred in the Rabanillo River and the Echeverría Dam. Throughout the watershed, anoxic conditions were registered and 18 chemicals, most of which are toxic and carcinogenic, were detected. A Correlation analysis showed that the greatest antimitotic effect in Allium cepa was induced by turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and lead (Pb), with correlation coefficients of −0.919, p = 0.008; −0.864, p = 0.013; and −0.692; p = 0.030, respectively. It was concluded that if the population, industry, and natural resources are associated in the MAP under current conditions, the outlook, if nothing changes, is that the degradation of the water resource will be disruptive and probably unsustainable for any type of use.
Dynamic Tensile Failure Characteristics and Energy Dissipation of Red Sandstone under Dry–Wet Cycles
Authors: Sun Wu , Du Bin , Cheng Qiangqiang
Published: July 2023

Studying the dynamic properties of rocks in complex environments is of great significance to the sustainable development of deep-sea metal mineral resource extraction. To investigate the influence of dry–wet cycles on the dynamic tensile properties and energy dissipation of red sandstone, a series of dynamic Brazilian disc tests was carried out through the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus. The dynamic tensile behaviors and energy dissipation distribution of the red sandstone specimens after different dry–wet cycles (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 cycles) were analyzed in this study. The degree of dynamic tensile fragmentation and energy dissipation of red sandstone is significantly affected by the loading rate. Specifically, when the number of dry–wet cycles remains constant, an increase in loading rate results in a significant reduction in the average fragment size, while the energy consumption density exhibits an approximately linear increase. At a fixed loading rate, the energy consumption density decreases approximately linearly with the increase in dry–wet cycles, and the higher the loading rate, the more sensitive the energy consumption density is to the dry–wet cycle. Under a fixed number of dry–wet cycles, the dynamic tensile strength has an exponential relation with the increase in energy consumption density.
Applying UV Hyperspectral Imaging for the Quantification of Honeydew Content on Raw Cotton via PCA and PLS-R Models
Authors: Knoblich Mona , Al Ktash Mohammad , Wackenhut Frank , Jehle Volker , Ostertag Edwin , Brecht Marc
Published: July 2023

Cotton contamination by honeydew is considered one of the significant problems for quality in textiles as it causes stickiness during manufacturing. Therefore, millions of dollars in losses are attributed to honeydew contamination each year. This work presents the use of UV hyperspectral imaging (225–300 nm) to characterize honeydew contamination on raw cotton samples. As reference samples, cotton samples were soaked in solutions containing sugar and proteins at different concentrations to mimic honeydew. Multivariate techniques such as a principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares regression (PLS-R) were used to predict and classify the amount of honeydew at each pixel of a hyperspectral image of raw cotton samples. The results show that the PCA model was able to differentiate cotton samples based on their sugar concentrations. The first two principal components (PCs) explain nearly 91.0% of the total variance. A PLS-R model was built, showing a performance with a coefficient of determination for the validation (R2cv) = 0.91 and root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) = 0.036 g. This PLS-R model was able to predict the honeydew content in grams on raw cotton samples for each pixel. In conclusion, UV hyperspectral imaging, in combination with multivariate data analysis, shows high potential for quality control in textiles.
Time- and Concentration-Dependent Adverse Effects of Paclitaxel on Non-Neuronal Cells in Rat Primary Dorsal Root Ganglia
Authors: Elfarnawany Amira , Dehghani Faramarz
Published: July 2023

Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat a wide range of malignant tumors. Although it has anti-tumoral properties, paclitaxel also shows significant adverse effects on the peripheral nervous system, causing peripheral neuropathy. Paclitaxel has previously been shown to exert direct neurotoxic effects on primary DRG neurons. However, little is known about paclitaxel’s effects on non-neuronal DRG cells. They provide mechanical and metabolic support and influence neuronal signaling. In the present study, paclitaxel effects on primary DRG non-neuronal cells were analyzed and their concentration or/and time dependence investigated. DRGs of Wister rats (6–8 weeks old) were isolated, and non-neuronal cell populations were separated by the density gradient centrifugation method. Different concentrations of Paclitaxel (0.01 µM–10 µM) were tested on cell viability by MTT assay, cell death by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, and propidium iodide (PI) assay, as well as cell proliferation by Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post-treatment. Furthermore, phenotypic effects have been investigated by using immunofluorescence techniques. Paclitaxel exhibited several toxicological effects on non-neuronal cells, including a reduction in cell viability, an increase in cell death, and an inhibition of cell proliferation. These effects were concentration- and time-dependent. Cellular and nuclear changes such as shrinkage, swelling of cell bodies, nuclear condensation, chromatin fragmentation, retraction, and a loss in processes were observed. Paclitaxel showed adverse effects on primary DRG non-neuronal cells, which might have adverse functional consequences on sensory neurons of the DRG, asking for consideration in the management of peripheral neuropathy.
Effect of Fungicide Treatment on Multi-Mycotoxin Occurrence in French Wheat during a 4-Year Period
Authors: Kleber Alexandra , Gruber-Dorninger Christiane , Platzer Alexander , Payet Clarisse , Novak Barbara
Published: July 2023

Wheat represents one of the most widely consumed cereals worldwide. Cultivated in winter and spring, it is vulnerable to an array of different pathogens, including fungi, which are managed largely through the in-field application of fungicides. During this study, a 4-year field investigation (2018–2021) was performed in France, aiming to assess the efficacy of fungicide treatment to reduce mycotoxin contamination in common and durum wheat. Several different commercially available fungicides were applied via sprayers. Concentrations of mycotoxins and fungal metabolites in wheat were determined using a multi-analyte liquid-chromatography–tandem-mass-spectrometry-based method. The highest contamination levels and strongest effects of fungicides were observed in 2018, followed by 2021. A significant fungicide-mediated reduction was observed for the trichothecenes deoxynivalenol, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, nivalenol, and nivalenol-3-glucoside. Furthermore, fungicide treatment also reduced levels of culmorin and its hydroxy metabolites 5- and 15-hydroxy-culmorin, as well as aurofusarin. Interestingly, the Alternaria metabolite infectopyron was increased following fungicide treatment. In conclusion, fungicide treatment was effective in reducing mycotoxin levels in wheat. However, as complete prevention of mycotoxin contamination was not achieved, fungicide treatment should always be combined with other pre- and post-harvest mycotoxin mitigation strategies to improve food and feed safety.
Inbred Selection for Increased Resistance to Kernel Contamination with Fumonisins
Authors: Santiago Rogelio , Ramos Antonio J. , Cao Ana , Malvar Rosa Ana , Butrón Ana
Published: July 2023

In temperate world-wide regions, maize kernels are often infected with the fumonisin-producing fungus Fusarium verticillioides which poses food and feed threats to animals and humans. As maize breeding has been revealed as one of the main tools with which to reduce kernel contamination with fumonisins, a pedigree selection program for increased resistance to Fusarium ear rot (FER), a trait highly correlated with kernel fumonisin content, was initiated in 2014 with the aim of obtaining inbred lines (named EPFUM) with resistance to kernel contamination with fumonisins and adapted to our environmental conditions. The new released EPFUM inbreds, their parental inbreds, hybrids involving crosses of one or two EPFUM inbreds, as well as commercial hybrids were evaluated in the current study. The objectives were (i) to assess if inbreds released by that breeding program were significantly more resistant than their parental inbreds and (ii) to examine if hybrids derived from EPFUM inbreds could be competitive based on grain yield and resistance to FER and fumonisin contamination. Second-cycle inbreds obtained through this pedigree selection program did not significantly improve the levels of resistance to fumonisin contamination of their parental inbreds; however, most EPFUM hybrids showed significantly better resistance to FER and fumonisin contamination than commercial hybrids did. Although European flint materials seem to be the most promising reservoirs of alleles with favorable additive and/or dominance effects for resistance to kernel contamination with fumonisins, marketable new Reid × Lancaster hybrids have been detected as they combine high resistance and yields comparable to those exhibited by commercial hybrids. Moreover, the white kernel hybrid EPFUM-4 × EP116 exploits the genetic variability within the European flint germplasm and can be an alternative to dent hybrid cultivation because white flint grain can lead to higher market prices.
Novel Strategies for the Biodegradation and Detoxification of Mycotoxins in Post-Harvest Grain
Authors: Zhao Lihong , Qi Desheng , Ma Qiugang
Published: July 2023

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi belonging, in particular, to the Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium genera [...]
Measurements of J/ψ Production vs. Event Multiplicity in Forward Rapidity in p + p Collisions in the PHENIX Experiment
Authors: Shi Zhaozhong
Published: July 2023

J/ψ, a charmonium bound state made of a charm and an anti-charm quark, was discovered in the 1970s and confirmed the quark model. Because the mass of charm quarks is significantly above the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) scale ΛQCD, charmonia are considered excellent probes to test perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations. In recent decades, they have been studied extensively at different high-energy colliders. However, their production mechanisms, which involve multiple scales, are still not very well understood. Recently, in high-multiplicity p+p collisions at RHIC and at the LHC, a significant enhancement of J/ψ production yield has been observed, which suggests a strong contribution of multi-parton interaction (MPI). This is different from the traditional pQCD picture, where charm quark pairs are produced from a single hard scattering between partons in p+p collisions. In this work, we will report the J/ψ normalized production yield as a function of normalized charged particle multiplicity over a board range of rapidity and event multiplicity in the J/ψ→μ+μ− channel with PHENIX Run 15 p+p data at s=200 GeV. The results are compared with PYTHIA 8 simulations with the MPI option turned on and off. Finally, the outlooks of J/ψ in p+Au and Au+p collisions, along with color glass condensate (CGC) predictions and the multiplicity-dependent ψ(2S)/J/ψ ratio in p+p data, will be briefly discussed.
Investigating the Mechanism of Action of Anti-Dengue Compounds as Potential Binders of Zika Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
Authors: Alandijany Thamir A. , El-Daly Mai M. , Tolah Ahmed M. , Bajrai Leena H. , Khateb Aiah M. , Alsaady Isra M. , Altwaim Sarah A. , Dubey Amit , Dwivedi Vivek Dhar , Azhar Esam I.
Published: July 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Zika virus (ZIKV) as a significant risk to the general public’s health. Currently, there are no vaccinations or medications available to treat or prevent infection with the Zika virus. Thus, it is urgently required to develop a highly efficient therapeutic molecule. In the presented study, a computationally intensive search was carried out to identify potent compounds that have the potential to bind and block the activity of ZIKV NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). The anti-dengue chemical library was subjected to high-throughput virtual screening and MM/GBSA analysis in order to rate the potential candidates. The top three compounds were then chosen. According to the MM/GBSA analysis, compound 127042987 from the database had the highest binding affinity to the protein with a minimum binding free energy of −77.16 kcal/mole. Compound 127042987 had the most stable RMSD trend and the greatest number of hydrogen bond interactions when these chemical complexes were evaluated further under a 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation. Compound 127042987 displayed the best binding free energy (GBind) of −96.50 kcal/mol, surpassing the native ligand binding energy (−66.17 kcal/mole). Thereafter, an MM/GBSA binding free energy study was conducted to validate the stability of selected chemical complexes. Overall, this study illustrated that compound 127042987 showed preferred binding free energies, suggesting a possible inhibitory mechanism against ZIKV-RdRp. As per this study, it was proposed that compound 127042987 could be used as a therapeutic option to prevent Zika virus infection. These compounds need to be tested in experiments for further validation.
Analysis of COVID-19 Incidence and Protective Potential of Persisting IgG Class Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Hospital Staff in Poland
Authors: Radziejewska Jadwiga , Arkowski Jacek , Susło Robert , Kędzierski Kamil , Wawrzyńska Magdalena
Published: July 2023

The immune responses to both SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines are of key importance in prevention efforts. In April and May 2020, 703 study participants tested for COVID-19 by PCR tests were registered. In June and July 2020, they were examined for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG. From October 2020 to January 2021, those among the study population with COVID-19 confirmed by PCR tests were registered, and the same group of participants was invited to be examined again for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. In June 2020, antibodies were detected in only 88% of those who had PCR-confirmed COVID-19 in April–May 2020, which suggests that a significant proportion of persons in the Polish population do not produce antibodies after contact with SARS-CoV-2 antigens or rapidly lose them and reach levels below the lab detection limit. The levels of IgG class anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were significantly lower among people who previously had COVID-19 than for those who had received COVID-19 vaccination, which confirms the high immunogenicity of the vaccines against COVID-19 in the Polish population. The study confirms that a detectable level of IgG class anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies cannot be considered a reliable marker of the presence and strength of COVID-19 immunity preventing individuals from acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Immunogenicity of the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine Followed by the 23-Valent Polysaccharide Vaccine in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Haggenburg Sabine , Garcia Garrido Hannah M. , Kant Iris M. J. , Van der Straaten Hanneke M. , De Boer Fransien , Kersting Sabina , Issa Djamila , Te Raa Doreen , Visser Hein P. J. , Kater Arnon P. , Goorhuis Abraham , De Heer Koen
Published: July 2023

Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) have a 29- to 36-fold increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) compared to healthy adults. Therefore, most guidelines recommend vaccination with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV13) followed 2 months later by the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Because both CLL as well as immunosuppressive treatment have been identified as major determinants of immunogenicity, we aimed to assess the vaccination schedule in untreated and treated CLL patients. We quantified pneumococcal IgG concentrations against five serotypes shared across both vaccines, and against four serotypes unique to PPSV23, before and eight weeks after vaccination. In this retrospective cohort study, we included 143 CLL patients, either treated (n = 38) or naive to treatment (n = 105). While antibody concentrations increased significantly after vaccination, the overall serologic response was low (10.5%), defined as a ≥4-fold antibody increase against ≥70% of the measured serotypes, and significantly influenced by treatment status and prior lymphocyte number. The serologic protection rate, defined as an antibody concentration of ≥1.3 µg/mL for ≥70% of serotypes, was 13% in untreated and 3% in treated CLL patients. Future research should focus on vaccine regimens with a higher immunogenic potential, such as multi-dose schedules with higher-valent T cell dependent conjugated vaccines.
Ki67 Index in Patnaik Grade 2/Kiupel Low-Grade Canine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors with Early Lymph Node Metastasis: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Cino Marzia , Gariboldi Elisa Maria , Stefanello Damiano , Spindler Kevin Pascal , Ferraris Erica Ilaria , Morello Emanuela Maria , Bertola Luca , Maniscalco Lorella , Martano Marina
Published: July 2023

Several studies evaluating Ki67 in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (cMCTs) have reported its prognostic value when tumors of all histological grades are included. This study aims to evaluate whether the Ki67 index has a predictive value in a homogeneous cohort of G2/LG cMCTs with HN2 lymph nodes (LNs) and to describe the clinical outcome. The second goal was to explore the correlation between the Ki67 index and MC. The medical databases of three institutions were retrospectively searched for dogs undergoing surgical treatment for cMCT and LN extirpation, with a histological diagnosis of G2/LG with HN2 LNs. Information about histological margins, MC, Ki67 index, local recurrence, nodal relapse, distant metastasis, de novo cMCT occurrence and date and cause of death were included. A total of 39 cases were identified. None of these developed local and nodal relapse or metastatic distant disease. Median MC was 1 (0–2). Median Ki67 index was 3.5 (0.7–14.3). Ki67 and MC were not significantly correlated. At the end of the study, 32 (82%) dogs were alive, 7 (18%) dogs were dead from unrelated causes and 4 (10.2%) dogs were lost to follow-up. The median ST was not reached, and the mean was 893 days (104–2241 days). Considering the strict inclusion criteria, dogs affected by G2/LG with HN2 LNs treated with surgery alone may have a good oncologic outcome; the Ki67 index does not have prognostic impact.
Analysis of (Anti-)Oestrogenic and (Anti-)Androgenic Activities in Wastewater from the Lodz Sewer System
Authors: Brzezinska Agnieszka , Sakson Grazyna , Olejnik Dorota
Published: July 2023

This article presents the results of a study on the oestrogenicity and androgenicity of urban wastewater in Lodz, and the possibility of their removal by the Group Wastewater Treatment Plant (GWWTP). Wastewater samples were taken at five points of the sewer system in the city and at the inlet and outlet of the GWWTP. The study was conducted using Yeast Oestrogen Screen (YES)/Yeast Androgen Screen (YAS) tests, which allow a general assessment of the content of compounds with (anti-)oestrogenic and (anti-)androgenic effects in wastewater, without identifying specific substances. Wastewater samples taken from the sewage network did not show (anti-)oestrogenic activity, while oestrogenic and antagonistic properties to androgens were detected in most of them. In the influent of the treatment plant, oestrogen agonistic activity was detected only in one sample (oestrogen equivalent—EEQ equal to 1.31 × 105 ng 17 β–oestradiol/L) and was 100% removed. The purification efficiencies in GWWTP for oestrogen and androgen antagonistic activity were 51.5–99.2% and 39.4–47.1%, respectively. Although no oestrogenic activity was detected in general wastewater in Lodz, observed high-antagonistic–androgenic activities may adversely affect the water body and cause, among others, the feminization of fish, especially in the case of discharge of untreated wastewater by combined sewer overflows.
A Non-Stationary and Directional Probabilistic Analysis of Coastal Storms in the Greek Seas
Authors: Malliouri Dimitra I. , Moraitis Vyron , Petrakis Stelios , Vandarakis Dimitrios , Hatiris Georgios-Angelos , Kapsimalis Vasilios
Published: July 2023

The variability of coastal storms over the years and direction is considered in a unified, innovative approach, providing crucial information for a wide variety of coastal engineering studies and wave energy applications under the impact of climatic change. Specifically, an alternative easy-to-apply technique is presented and applied to consider the storms’ direction as a covariate. This technique enables the probabilistic representation of coastal storms in every direction over the directional domain and is efficiently incorporated into a non-stationary directional extreme value analysis. The developed methodology is applied to six locations in the Greek Seas. Based on the derived results, the most likely and most extreme significant wave height estimates present, in general, a bimodal behavior with pronounced maxima. In particular, the first peak is observed before the twenty-first century, while the second peak is likely to occur around the middle of the twenty-first century. Furthermore, coastal storms coming from directions of large fetches are the most severe storms, presenting though a drop in their intensity at the end of the twenty-first century. On the contrary, coastal storms of fetch-limited directions may present minor variations in their probability distributions over the years.