bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on Emotion Activation Efficiency of Different Drivers
Authors: Wang Xiaoyuan , Liu Yaqi , Chen Longfei , Shi Huili , Han Junyan , Liu Shijie , Zhong Fusheng
Published: October 2022

Emotion is an implicit psychological characteristic that changes over time. When it accumulates to a certain extent, it will be accompanied by certain external manifestations. Drivers with different traits have different emotional performance, which leads to different effects from different driver traits on the driver’s emotional activation efficacy. In this study, we thoroughly explore the effects of different genders, age, driving competence, driving anger tendency, driving safety attitude and stress state on driver’s emotional activation efficacy. This paper selects 74 young and middle-aged drivers with an age distribution between 20 and 41 years old. The eight most typical driving emotions (anger, surprise, fear, anxiety, helplessness, contempt, ease and pleasure) were screened through questionnaires. An experimental framework for the emotional stimulation and measurement of eight driving emotions was designed based on multiple emotional stimulation methods and PAD emotional model. The effect of emotional activation on drivers of different genders, age, driving competence, driving anger tendency, driving safety attitude and stress state was explored in depth. The results show that gender, age, driving safety attitude, driving anger tendency, stress state, etc., all have different degrees of influence upon the activation efficacy of emotion. The research results reveal the rules for the generation of different driving emotions to a certain extent and provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the cognitive and behavioral characteristics of drivers with different emotions.
Machine Learning Techniques for Decarbonizing and Managing Renewable Energy Grids
Authors: Wu Muqing , He Qingsu , Liu Yuping , Zhang Ziqiang , Shi Zhongwen , He Yifan
Published: October 2022

Given the vitality of the renewable-energy grid market, the optimal allocation of clean energy is crucial. An optimal dispatching method for source–load coordination of renewable-energy grid is proposed. An improved K-means clustering algorithm is used to preprocess the source data and historical load data. A support vector machine is used to predict the cluster of renewable-energy grid resources and load data, and typical scenarios are selected from the prediction results. Taking typical scenarios as a representative, the probability distribution of wind power output is accurately obtained. An optimization model of the total operation cost of the renewable-energy grid is established. The experimental results show that the algorithm reduces the error between the predicted value and the actual value. Our method can improve the real-time prediction accuracy of the renewable-energy grid system and increase the economic benefits of the renewable energy grid.
Application of Algal Nanotechnology for Leather Wastewater Treatment and Heavy Metal Removal Efficiency
Authors: Khilji Sheza Ayaz , Munir Neelma , Aziz Irfan , Anwar Bareera , Hasnain Maria , Jakhar Ali Murad , Sajid Zahoor A. , Abideen Zainul , Hussain Muhammad Iftikhar , El-Habeeb Abeer A. , Yang Hsi-Hsien
Published: October 2022

Wastewater from tanneries may ruin agricultural fields by polluting them with trace metals. The synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) from algal sources and their application could help in decreasing hazardous materials, for environmental safety. The potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles made from Oedogonium sp. was evaluated for removal of heavy metals from leather industrial wastewater. Synthesized algal nanoparticles (0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) were applied to treat wastewater by using different concentrations of leather industrial effluents (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 100%) for 15, 30, and 45 d. The wastewater collected was dark brown to black in color with very high pH (8.21), EC (23.08 μs/cm), and TDS, (11.54 mg/L), while the chloride content was 6750 mg/L. The values of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) ranged between 420 mg/L and 1123 mg/L in the current study. Prior to the application of nanoparticles, Cr (310.1), Cd (210.5), and Pb (75.5 mg/L) contents were higher in the leather effluents. The removal efficiency of TDS, chlorides, Cr, Cd, and Pb was improved by 46.5%, 43.5%, 54%, 57.6%, and 59.3%, respectively, following treatment with 1 mg of nanoparticles after 45 d. Our results suggested that the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles is a useful and ecofriendly biotechnological tool for treating tannery effluents, before they are discharged into water bodies, thus making the soil environment clean.
Characteristics of Mining-Induced Slope Movement and Ground Behavior under Gully Landforms
Authors: Ma Shaojie , Kang Yueming
Published: October 2022

Exploring the phenomenon of surface cracks and the abnormal phenomenon of ground behavior during coal mining under gully landforms, laboratory physical similarity simulation models were established to study the movement characteristics and ground behavior laws of working faces of different mining methods under gully landforms. The results indicate that in cases when a roadway is situated below the top of the slope, the corresponding deformation of the surrounding rock of the roadway is aggravated by the mining stress. Furthermore, when a roadway is located below the base of the gully, it is less affected by mining; thus, it could remain relatively stable. The ground behavior laws of working faces in gully geomorphology areas are associated with the position of the working face and the direction of working: when mining towards the gully, the ground behavior appeared relatively gentle and the surface slipped towards the gully; when mining away from the gully, the ground behavior appeared intense, the pressure was sudden and short, and with the increase in overburden thickness, the interval distance periodically decreased. When a working face passes through a gully, dumping of the hydraulic support should be prevented in the section of mining towards the gully; in sections of mining away from gully, the support strength should be strengthened to prevent the support and other equipment from being crushed. In actual mining, mining towards a gully should be adopted as much as possible in the stoping of the working face. In this way, the ground behavior is gentle, the interval distance periodical weight is longer, and the advance abutment pressure is small.
Education- and Income Inequality as Drivers of Violent Property Crime in South Africa: A System Dynamics Model
Authors: Adam Felix , Grobbelaar Sara
Published: October 2022

Crime statistics indicate that the total number of annually reported crimes decreased steadily between 2008 and 2019 in South Africa. However, annually reported robberies have been steadily increasing over the same period. Additionally, South Africa remains plagued by high income inequality. This paper presents a system dynamics simulation model describing the relationships between education inequality, income inequality and robbery in South Africa. The model employs strain theory to project the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing South African education levels to decrease income inequality and thereby reduce robbery. The model explored robbery prevention interventions aimed at increasing South African education levels to reduce the current high level of income inequality. The results suggest that reducing robbery incidents through improved education levels will require a long time to become effective but will have long-lasting effects. Furthermore, the results indicate that combinations of interventions generate more substantial effects than the sum of effects produced by interventions applied in isolation.
Lie Symmetry Analysis of a Nonlinear System Characterizing Endemic Malaria
Authors: Matadi Maba Boniface
Published: October 2022

In this paper, the integrability of a nonlinear system developing endemic Malaria was demonstrated using Prelle–Singer techniques. In addition, Lie symmetry techniques were employed to identify additional independent variables that led to the modification of the nonlinear model and the development of analytical solutions.
Surface Waves on a Coated Homogeneous Half-Space under the Effects of External Forces
Authors: Mubaraki Ali M. , Almalki Fadhel M.
Published: October 2022

The present study focuses on the examination of the propagation of plane surface waves on a coated half-space, which is accompanied by the magnetic field force, and the normal mechanical loading, due to Winkler’s elastic foundation. The study is based upon the application of the analytical and asymptotic integration procedures to acquire and further analyze the aspiring secular equation. Asymptotically, the influence of the coating layer is suppressed by deploying apposite effective boundary conditions that are ingrained on a long-wave approximation condition, to obtain the resulting pseudo-differential operator of the reduced equation of surface motion. In fact, the comparison between the two approaches yielded considerable agreement through the dependency plots, featuring the scaled velocity v/vR versus the dimensionless wavenumber K. Moreover, certain well-known results in the literature are obtained as liming circumstances of the present examination. Additionally, an insightful finding about the vanishing possibility of the coating layer is illustratively highlighted.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Milling Cutters Based on CNN-BiLSTM and Attention Mechanism
Authors: Nie Lei , Zhang Lvfan , Xu Shiyi , Cai Wentao , Yang Haoming
Published: October 2022

Machining tools are a critical component in machine manufacturing, the life cycle of which is an asymmetrical process. Extracting and modeling the tool life variation features is very significant for accurately predicting the tool’s remaining useful life (RUL), and it is vital to ensure product reliability. In this study, based on convolutional neural network (CNN) and bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM), a tool wear evolution and RUL prediction method by combining CNN-BiLSTM and attention mechanism is proposed. The powerful CNN is applied to directly process the sensor-monitored data and extract local feature information; the BiLSTM neural network is used to adaptively extract temporal features; the attention mechanism can selectively study the important degradation features and extract the tool wear status information. By evaluating the performance and generalization ability of the proposed method under different working conditions, two datasets are applied for experiments, and the proposed method outperforms the traditional method in terms of prediction accuracy.
Seismic Response Analysis of Uplift Terrain under Oblique Incidence of SV Waves
Authors: Cao Mingxing , Ou Erfeng , Yan Songhong , Du Jiaxuan
Published: October 2022

In order to analyze the impact of seismic waves on the venue earthquake, based on the display finite element method, the viscoelastic artificial boundary is used to analyze the variation of the ground motion amplification coefficient and the Fourier spectrum of the raised terrain under different incident angles with SV wave oblique incidence on different slopes. This verification model analysis solution and numerical solution are better. The numerical simulation results show that as the degree of the slope increases, the seismic amplification coefficient increases, and its slope amplification coefficient changes significantly. The X direction coefficient is greater than Y’s magnification coefficient. The Fourier curve with a frequency of 0.2~1 Hz increases with the slope of the raised terrain; when the El Centro is incorporated at 30°, the Fourier spectrum amplitude decreases as the incident angle increases in the low-frequency band. The amplitude of the Fourier spectrum at the high-frequency band monitoring point changes with the incident angle. In the high-frequency band from 1 to 10 Hz, the rate of amplitude change is the largest. When the incident angle is at 0°, the amplification coefficient in the Y direction is basically symmetric.
Analytical Inverse Analysis Methodological Approach for Thermo-Physical Parameters Estimation of Multilayered Medium Terrain with Homogenized Sampled Measurements
Authors: Rysbaiuly Bolatbek , Sinitsa Artem , Capsoni Antonio
Published: October 2022

The current paper presents results of the inverse theory approach utilized for the analytical estimation of thermo-physical properties for a multi-layered medium terrain with homogenized experimental measurements. We demonstrate the derivation steps of the exact solution for the heat transfer problem with third-kind boundary conditions due to natural convection on the outlets posed for the considered experimental domain. There are received analytical expressions. Initially, we illustrate the homogenization of the boundary conditions. We then discuss the process of derivation for the analytical solution of the posed problem with the help of key elements of the Fourier method. We provide an algorithm for applying the contact condition to extend received expressions for multiple layers. After that we demonstrate the major steps for the construction of nonlinear systems of equations to be solved in order to obtain exact values of key thermo-physical and geometrical parameters of the investigated medium with the help of received exact analytical expressions. Along with analytical procedures, we present a posed experimental design and discuss an algorithm of numerical exploitation for a suggested method, outlining its advantages and possible limitations in terms of initial approximations.
An Insight of the Theoretical Physics of Ru-Alloyed Iron Pyrite Studied for Energy Generation
Authors: Nofal Muaffaq M. , Sai Refka , Shawish Ihab , Alaqeel Muneerah A.
Published: October 2022

Pyrite FeS2 has become the focus of many researchers in thin-film photovoltaics because it has some possibilities in photovoltaics. In this manuscript, we present an experimental and a theoretical study of the electronic structure of pyrite FeS2 alloyed with a small concentration of 1.19% of ruthenium (Fe0.9881Ru0.0119S2) by using the Linear Muffin-Tin Orbital Method in the Atomic-Sphere approximation (LMTO-ASA) calculations and the density of states. We observed that the bandgap of FeS2 increases from 0.90508 to 1.21586 eV when we replace ~1.19% of the Fe atoms with ruthenium atoms x=0.0119 concentration of Ru. We prove that this low concentration of Ru saved the gap states and the electronic and optical properties of FeS2 pyrite. Our calculated electronic bandgap is 1.21586 eV and direct. Our results confirm that the symmetric operation of the space Th6 Pa3 saves electronic structure of iron pyrite when alloyed with ruthenium.
Study on the Effect of Gamma-Ray Irradiation on the Adsorption of 99Tc and Re by a Silica-Based Pyridine Resin
Authors: Sang Hongji , Mao Cong , Wu Yan , Wei Yuezhou
Published: October 2022

A silica-based anion exchange resin was synthesized and used to remove 99Tc from real radioactive liquid waste. The adsorbent had a uniform particle size and exhibited good thermal stability up to 100 °C, which is promising for large-scale column experiments. In accordance with the chemical similarity with Tc, Re was used as a surrogate in this study. The N 1s high-resolution XPS spectra of the adsorbent before and after the adsorption of Re indicated that the ion exchange reaction was the controlling mechanism in the process. After γ-ray irradiation, the changing trend of the Kd was consistent, which showed that the competitive adsorption of NO3− led to a decrease in Kd. The adsorption capacity for the Re decreased slightly from 35.8 to 31.9 mg/g with the increase in the absorbed dose from 0 to 50 kGy. The separation and recovery of Re and the coexisting ions were achieved by chromatographic separation experiments, and the recovery percentage of Re was 86%. In real radioactive liquid waste, N3/SiO2 exhibited good selectivity toward 99Tc over the coexisting metals, namely, 90Sr, 137Cs, 241Am, and U, and the decontamination efficiency of 99Tc attained 65%.
Long-Term Performance of Nitrogen Removal and Microbial Analysis in an Anammox MBBR Reactor with Internal Circulation to Provide Low Concentration DO
Authors: Yin Xuejiao , Wen Jiaxin , Zhang Yihang , Zhang Xin , Zhao Jujiao
Published: October 2022

The anammox process is considered as a revolutionary new denitrification technology. In this study, the anammox process was started in a single-stage moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and the mechanism of excess removal of ammonia nitrogen was studied. At stage I (day 0–51), anammox bacteria (AnAOB) was enriched by feeding synthetic sewage without adding organic carbon. The removal rate of ammonia nitrogen was maintained at about 54% and the removal rate of total inorganic nitrogen was maintained at about 62%. At stage II (day 52–91), internal circulation was added into the MBBR. After adding internal circulation, the ammonium removal efficiency reached about 96% (at day 56) and the total nitrogen removal efficiency reached about 86%. At day 90, the biofilm sample was drowned out for high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the relative abundance of AnAOB was 23.23%. The dominant anammox genus was Candidatus Brocadia. The relative abundance of Nitrosomonas (ammonia oxidizing bacteria, AOB) was 0.63%. The excess ammonia nitrogen was removed by AOB and AnAOB through the partial nitrification and anammox (PNA) process.
First Genome-Based Characterisation and Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Production Ability of Methicillin-Susceptible and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Ready-to-Eat Foods in Algiers (Algeria)
Authors: Fanelli Francesca , Chieffi Daniele , Cho Gyu-Sung , Schubert Justyna , Mekhloufi Omar Amine , Bania Jacek , Franz Charles M. A. P. , Fusco Vincenzina
Published: October 2022

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic microorganism of humans and animals, able to cause foodborne intoxication due to the production of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) and to resist antibiotic treatment as in the case of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). In this study, we performed a genomic characterisation of 12 genetically diverse S. aureus strains isolated from ready-to-eat foods in Algiers (Algeria). Moreover, their ability to produce some classical and new staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) was investigated. The 12 S. aureus strains resulted to belong to nine known sequence types (STs) and to the novel ST7199 and ST7200. Furthermore, S. aureus SA46 was assigned to the European clone MRSA-ST80-SCCmec-IV. The 12 strains showed a wide endowment of se and sel (staphylococcal enterotoxin-like toxin) genes (sea, seb, sed, seg, seh, sei, selj, sek, sem, sen, seo, seq, ser, selu2, selw, selx, sey, sel30; ψent1-ψent2), including variants and pseudogenes, and harboured the enterotoxin gene cluster (egc) types 1 and 5. Additionally, they produced various amounts of SEA (64.54–345.02 ng/mL), SEB (2871.28–14739.17 ng/mL), SED (322.70–398.94 ng/mL), SEH (not detectable–239.48 ng/mL), and SER (36,720.10–63,176.06 ng/mL) depending on their genotypes. The genetic determinants related to their phenotypic resistance to β-lactams (blaZ, mecA), ofloxacin (gyrA-S84L), erythromycin (ermB), lincomycin (lmrS), kanamycin (aph(3′)-III, ant(6)-I), and tetracyclin (tet(L), tet(38)) were also detected. A plethora of virulence-related genes, including major virulence genes such as the tst gene, determinant for the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, and the lukF-PV and lukS-PV genes, encoding the panton-valentine leukocidin (PVL), were present in the S. aureus strains, highlighting their pathogenic potential. Furthermore, a phylogenomic reconstruction including worldwide foodborne S. aureus showed a clear clustering based on ST and geographical origin rather than the source of isolation.
Role of PI3K/Akt-Mediated Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in Resveratrol Alleviation of Zearalenone-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in TM4 Cells
Authors: Xu Wenlin , Zheng Hao , Fu Youtian , Gu Yayi , Zou Hui , Yuan Yan , Gu Jianhong , Liu Zongping , Bian Jianchun
Published: October 2022

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a common mycotoxin that induces oxidative stress (OS) and affects the male reproductive system in animals. Resveratrol (RSV) has good antioxidant activity and can activate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) to protect cells through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect and the mechanism of RSV on OS and apoptosis in TM4 cells induced by ZEA. Prior to being exposed to ZEA, TM4 cells were pretreated with RSV or the PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002. Cell viability was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. Flow cytometry was used to determine the level of apoptosis and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), caspase-3, BCL2-associated X (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and PI3K/Akt-mediated Nrf2/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) signaling pathway-related proteins was evaluated by Western blotting. Nrf2 siRNA transfection and LY294002 treatment were used to investigate the role of the Nrf2/HO-1 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in RSV alleviation of ZEA-induced OS. The results showed that pretreatment with RSV significantly reduced the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and increased cell viability. Catalase (CAT) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels were also increased, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) and ROS levels decreased (p < 0.05). RSV also upregulated Akt phosphorylation, Nrf2 nuclear translocation, and HO-1 expression under conditions of OS (p < 0.05). Transfection with Nrf2 siRNA abolished the protective effects of RSV against ZEA-induced cytotoxicity (p < 0.05), ROS accumulation (p < 0.05), and apoptosis (p < 0.05). LY294002 completely blocked the RSV-mediated increase in Nrf2 nuclear translocation (p < 0.05), HO-1 expression (p < 0.05), and cytoprotective activity (p < 0.05). Collectively, the above findings indicate that RSV can protect against ZEA-induced OS and apoptosis in TM4 cells by PI3K/Akt-mediated activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
Dengue Epidemiology in Qatar from 2013–2021: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Farag Elmoubashar Abd , Jaffrey Shariq , Daraan Faisal , Al-Shamali Maha Hammam M. A. , Khan Fahmi Y. , Coyle Peter V. , Schaffner Francis , Al-Romaihi Hamad Eid , Al-Thani Mohammed , Bansal Devendra
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: Qatar does not have any indigenous cases of dengue; however, the influx of immigrants from dengue endemic countries, the environment, and climate suitability for Aedes vector mosquitoes suggest a potential risk for local transmission. In this study, we investigated various demographic factors to determine the epidemiological features of dengue in Qatar. (2) Methods: In the present retrospective study, we reviewed dengue notification data received at the national surveillance system, Ministry of Public Health, Qatar, between January 2013, and December 2021, and we analyzed the incidence of the dengue disease burden to identify factors that could contribute to the dissemination of the disease in Qatar. (3) Results: A total of 166 dengue fever seropositive cases were recorded during the study period in Qatar. The mean incidence was estimated to be 0.7/100,000 population, which increased from 0.7/100,000 in 2013 to 1.5/100,000 in 2019. The majority of the cases were male, between 20–50 years of age and notified during the hot months (June-September). Most of the patients had fever without hemorrhagic manifestations. There were no dengue related deaths during 2013–2021. (4) Conclusion: Dengue fever occurred more frequently among men than women, and its incidence is low among Qatari nationals. The presence of the most efficient vector, Aedes aegypti, in Qatar, if confirmed, poses a risk of local outbreaks. Therefore, regular vector surveillance is needed to assess the distribution, biting habits and abundance of vector mosquito species and the risk for mosquito-borne diseases.
COVID-19 Vaccination Intention and Factors Associated with Hesitance and Resistance in the Deep South: Montgomery, Alabama
Authors: Gray Cicily A. , Lesser Grace , Guo Yuqi , Shah Swapn , Allen Shauntice , Wilkinson Larrell L. , Sims Omar T.
Published: October 2022

Using COVID-19-related survey data collected from residents in the city of Montgomery, Alabama, this study assessed the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, hesitance, and resistance, and identified factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitance and resistance. To analyze the survey data (n = 1000), a consolidation approach (machine learning modeling and multinomial logistic regression modeling) was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance. The prevalence of vaccine acceptance, hesitancy, and resistance was 62%, 23%, and 15%, respectively. Female gender and a higher level of trust that friends and family will provide accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine were positively associated with vaccine hesitancy. Female gender and higher trust that social media will provide accurate information about COVID-19 were positively associated with vaccine resistance. Factors positively associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitance and resistance in the study’s geographical area are worrisome, especially given the high burden of chronic diseases and health disparities that exist in both Montgomery and the Deep South. More research is needed to elucidate COVID-19 vaccination attitudes and reasons for non-acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Efforts to improve acceptance should remain a priority in this respective geographical area and across the general population.
Gravitating Electron Based on Overrotating Kerr-Newman Solution
Authors: Burinskii Alexander
Published: October 2022

We consider a consistent with gravity electron based on the overrotating Kerr-Newman (KH) solution and show that the earlier KH electron models proposed by Carter, Israel and López in 1970–1990 should be modified by the Landau-Ginzburg theory, leading to a superconducting electron model consistent with gravity and quantum theory. Truncated by Israel and López, the second sheet of the KN solution is rearranged and represented in a mirror form as a sheet of the positron, so that the modified KN system forms a quantum electron-positron vacuum interacting with gravity. Regularization of the KN black hole solution creates two new important effects leading to a strong gravitational interaction that acts on the Compton scale contrary to the usual Planck scale of Schwarzschild gravity: (A)—gravitational frame-dragging creates two Wilson loops acting at two boundaries of the modified KN solution, and (B)—formation of the flat superconducting core of the regularized KN solution creates a superconducting electron-positron vacuum state. The Landau-Ginzburg model shows that Wilson loops determine phases of two Higgs fields forming superconducting vacuum state of the modified KN solution, quantum vacuum of the electron-positron pairs. The phases of these Higgs fields correspond to two light-like modes of a classical relativistic ring string. We come to the conclusion that the electron models considered by Israel and López are not complete and must be supplemented by a mirror structure that forms a quantum system consistent with QED.
Improved Quantum Molecular Dynamics Model and Its Application to Ternary Breakup Reactions
Authors: Tian Junlong , Li Xian , Li Cheng
Published: October 2022

Collisions of very heavy nuclei 197Au+197Au at the energy range of 5–30 A MeV have been studied within the improved quantum molecular dynamics (ImQMD) model. A class of ternary events satisfying a nearly complete balance of mass numbers is selected and we find that the probability of ternary breakup depends on the incident energy and the impact parameter. It is also found that the largest probability of ternary breakup is located at the energy around 24 A MeV for the system 197Au+197Au. The experimental mass distributions and angular distributions for the system 197Au+197Au ternary breakup fragments can be reproduced well by the calculation with the ImQMD model at the energy of 15 A MeV. The modes and mechanisms of ternary and quaternary breakup are studied by time-dependent snapshots of ternary events. The direct prolate, direct oblate, and cascade ternary breakup modes, are manifested and their production probabilities are obtained. The characteristic features in ternary breakup events, three mass-comparable fragments, and the very fast, nearly collinear breakup, account for the two-preformed-neck shape of the composite system. The mean free path of nucleons in the reaction system is studied and the shorter mean free path is responsible for the ternary breakup with three mass comparable fragments, in which the two-body dissipation mechanism plays a dominant role.
About Cosmic Ray Modulation in the Heliosphere
Authors: Stozhkov Yuri , Makhmutov Vladimir , Svirzhevsky Nikolay
Published: October 2022

Cosmic ray fluxes in the heliosphere are modulated by solar wind with an embedded solar interplanetary magnetic field. The solar activity changes with a period of ~11 year, and this is the main reason for the observed 11-year variations of cosmic ray fluxes. Besides this, the directions of magnetic fields in solar polar regions and in the heliosphere change to the opposite direction every ~11-years. This causes, in addition, the presence of another 22-year solar magnetic cycle and contributes features to the known ~11-cycle. In this article, we discuss the generally accepted picture of cosmic ray modulation in the heliosphere and show that it requires several changes.
Measuring the Stress of Moving Homes: Evidence from the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure
Authors: Cheung Ka-Shing , Wong Daniel
Published: October 2022

Moving homes has long been considered stressful, but how stressful is it? This study is an original attempt to utilise a micro-level individual dataset in the New Zealand Government’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) to reconstruct the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) and thereby measure stress at a whole-of-population level. The effects of residential mobility on people’s mental well-being in the context of their stress-of-moving homes are examined. By using difference-in-differences analysis, this study scrutinises the stress level across movers, namely homeowners and renters (i.e., treatment groups) and non-movers (i.e., a control group). The results show that the change in residence increases people’s overall stress levels. Homeowners are more stressed than renters, with non-movers as the counterfactuals. Furthermore, the frequency of change in residences increases individual baseline stress levels. By progressing the understanding of such stresses, residential mobility researchers can contribute to broader discussions on how individuals’ interpersonal history and social mobility influence their experience. The whole-of-population-based SRRS will better advance our current ways of measuring mental stress at a population level, which is crucial to broader discussions of people’s well-being.
The CD8+ and CD4+ T Cell Immunogen Atlas of Zika Virus Reveals E, NS1 and NS4 Proteins as the Vaccine Targets
Authors: Zhang Hangjie , Xiao Wenling , Zhao Min , Zhao Yingze , Zhang Yongli , Lu Dan , Lu Shuangshuang , Zhang Qingxu , Peng Weiyu , Shu Liumei , Zhang Jie , Liu Sai , Zong Kexin , Wang Pengyan , Ye Beiwei , Li Shihua , Tan Shuguang , Zhang Fuping , Zhou Jianfang , Liu Peipei , Wu Guizhen , Lu Xuancheng , Gao George F. , Liu William J.
Published: October 2022

Zika virus (ZIKV)-specific T cells are activated by different peptides derived from virus structural and nonstructural proteins, and contributed to the viral clearance or protective immunity. Herein, we have depicted the profile of CD8+ and CD4+ T cell immunogenicity of ZIKV proteins in C57BL/6 (H-2b) and BALB/c (H-2d) mice, and found that featured cellular immunity antigens were variant among different murine alleles. In H-2b mice, the proteins E, NS2, NS3 and NS5 are recognized as immunodominant antigens by CD8+ T cells, while NS4 is dominantly recognized by CD4+ T cells. In contrast, in H-2d mice, NS1 and NS4 are the dominant CD8+ T cell antigen and NS4 as the dominant CD4+ T cell antigen, respectively. Among the synthesized 364 overlapping polypeptides spanning the whole proteome of ZIKV, we mapped 91 and 39 polypeptides which can induce ZIKV-specific T cell responses in H-2b and H-2d mice, respectively. Through the identification of CD8+ T cell epitopes, we found that immunodominant regions E294-302 and NS42351-2360 are hotspots epitopes with a distinct immunodominance hierarchy present in H-2b and H-2d mice, respectively. Our data characterized an overall landscape of the immunogenic spectrum of the ZIKV polyprotein, and provide useful insight into the vaccine development.
SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Canadian Blood Donors: The Advance of Omicron
Authors: O’Brien Sheila F. , Caffrey Niamh , Yi Qi-Long , Pambrun Chantale , Drews Steven J.
Published: October 2022

With the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in late 2021, Canadian public health case/contact testing was scaled back due to high infection rates with milder symptoms in a highly vaccinated population. We monitored the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (anti-N) and spike protein (anti-S) antibodies in blood donors across Canada from September 2021 to June 2022 in 202,123 randomly selected samples. Multivariable logistic regression of anti-N positivity with month, age, sex, racialization, region, material and social deprivation (based on postal code) identified as independent predictors. Piece-wise logistic regression analysed the association between anti-S concentration and month, and anti-N/anti-S positivity. Infection-related seroprevalence (anti-N positive) was 4.38% (95% CI: 3.96, 4.81) in September reaching 50.70% (50.15, 52.16) in June; nearly 100% were anti-S positive throughout. Anti-N positivity was associated with younger age, male sex, the Alberta and Prairies regions, greater material deprivation and less social deprivation (p < 0.001). Anti-S concentration was high initially (3306 U/mL, IQR 4280 U/mL), increased to (13,659 U/mL, IQR 28,224 U/mL) by June (p < 0.001), following the pattern of deployment of the third and fourth vaccine doses and was higher in those that were anti-N positive (p < 0.001). Despite already high vaccination-related seroprevalence, infection-related seroprevalence increased dramatically with the emergence of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant.
Biological Significance of Dual Mutations A494D and E495K of the Genotype III Newcastle Disease Virus Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Lu Xiaolong , Zhan Tiansong , Liu Kaituo , Chen Yu , Hu Zenglei , Hu Jiao , Gu Min , Hu Shunlin , Wang Xiaoquan , Liu Xiaowen , Liu Xiufan
Published: October 2022

As a multifunctional protein, the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is involved in various biological functions. A velogenic genotype III NDV JS/7/05/Ch evolving from the mesogenic vaccine strain Mukteswar showed major amino acid (aa) mutations in the HN protein. However, the precise biological significance of the mutant HN protein remains unclear. This study sought to investigate the effects of the mutant HN protein on biological activities in vitro and in vivo. The mutant HN protein (JS/7/05/Ch-type HN) significantly enhanced the hemadsorption (HAd) and fusion promotion activities but impaired the neuraminidase (NA) activity compared with the original HN protein (Mukteswar-type HN). Notably, A494D and E495K in HN exhibited a synergistic role in regulating biological activities. Moreover, the mutant HN protein, especially A494D and E495K in HN, enhanced the F protein cleavage level, which can contribute to the activation of the F protein. In vitro infection assays further showed that NDVs bearing A494D and E495K in HN markedly impaired the cell viability. Simultaneously, A494D and E495K in HN enhanced virus replication levels at the early stage of infection but weakened later in infection, which might be associated with the attenuated NA activity and cell viability. Furthermore, the animal experiments showed that A494D and E495K in HN enhanced case fatality rates, virus shedding, virus circulation, and histopathological damages in NDV-infected chickens. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of crucial aa mutations in HN in regulating biological activities of NDV and expand the understanding of the enhanced pathogenicity of the genotype III NDV.
Molecular Characterization of Novel Mycoviruses in Seven Umbelopsis Strains
Authors: Kartali Tünde , Zsindely Nóra , Nyilasi Ildikó , Németh Orsolya , Sávai Gergő Norbert , Kocsubé Sándor , Lipinszki Zoltán , Patai Roland , Spisák Krisztina , Nagy Gábor , Bodai László , Vágvölgyi Csaba , Papp Tamás
Published: October 2022

The presence of viruses is less explored in Mucoromycota as compared to other fungal groups such as Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Recently, more and more mycoviruses are identified from the early-diverging lineages of fungi. We have determined the genome of 11 novel dsRNA viruses in seven different Umbelopsis strains with next-generation sequencing (NGS). The identified viruses were named Umbelopsis ramanniana virus 5 (UrV5), 6a (UrV6a); 6b (UrV6b); 7 (UrV7); 8a (UrV8a); 8b (UrV8b); Umbelopsis gibberispora virus 1 (UgV1); 2 (UgV2) and Umbelopsis dimorpha virus 1a (UdV1a), 1b (UdV1b) and 2 (UdV2). All the newly identified viruses contain two open reading frames (ORFs), which putatively encode the coat protein (CP) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), respectively. Based on the phylogeny inferred from the RdRp sequences, eight viruses (UrV7, UrV8a, UrV8b, UgV1, UgV2, UdV1a, UdV1b and UdV2) belong to the genus Totivirus, while UrV5, UrV6a and UrV6b are placed into a yet unclassified but well-defined Totiviridae-related group. In UrV5, UgV1, UgV2, UrV8b, UdV1a, UdV2 and UdV1b, ORF2 is predicted to be translated as a fusion protein via a rare +1 (or −2) ribosomal frameshift, which is not characteristic to most members of the Totivirus genus. Virus particles 31 to 32 nm in diameter could be detected in the examined fungal strains by transmission electron microscopy. Through the identification and characterization of new viruses of Mucoromycota fungi, we can gain insight into the diversity of mycoviruses, as well as into their phylogeny and genome organization.
Analysis of Human Papilloma Virus Content and Integration in Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma
Authors: Gu Wenjin , Bhangale Apurva , Heft Neal Molly E. , Smith Josh D. , Brummel Collin , McHugh Jonathan B. , Spector Matthew E. , Mills Ryan E. , Brenner J. Chad
Published: October 2022

Mucoepidermoid Carcinomas (MEC) represent the most common malignancies of salivary glands. Approximately 50% of all MEC cases are known to harbor CRTC1/3-MAML2 gene fusions, but the additional molecular drivers remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we sought to resolve controversy around the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) as a potential driver of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Bioinformatics analysis was performed on 48 MEC transcriptomes. Subsequent targeted capture DNA sequencing was used to annotate HPV content and integration status in the host genome. HPV of any type was only identified in 1/48 (2%) of the MEC transcriptomes analyzed. Importantly, the one HPV16+ tumor expressed high levels of p16, had high expression of HPV16 oncogenes E6 and E7, and displayed a complex integration pattern that included breakpoints into 13 host genes including PIK3AP1, HIPI, OLFM4,SIRT1, ARAP2, TMEM161B-AS1, and EPS15L1 as well as 9 non-genic regions. In this cohort, HPV is a rare driver of MEC but may have a substantial etiologic role in cases that harbor the virus. Genetic mechanisms of host genome integration are similar to those observed in other head and neck cancers.
Rotavirus A Inoculation and Oral Vitamin A Supplementation of Vitamin A Deficient Pregnant Sows Enhances Maternal Adaptive Immunity and Passive Protection of Piglets against Virulent Rotavirus A
Authors: Chepngeno Juliet , Amimo Joshua O. , Michael Husheem , Jung Kwonil , Raev Sergei , Lee Marcia V. , Damtie Debasu , Mainga Alfred O. , Vlasova Anastasia N. , Saif Linda J.
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of vitamin A deficiency (VAD)/supplementation (±VA) and group A RV (RVA) maternal immunization of RVA seropositive multiparous pregnant sows, on their immune responses (anamnestic response) and on passive protection of their piglets against RVA challenge. Our results showed that VAD- mock sows had increased RVA RNA shedding at 1–5 days post piglet RVA challenge, and their litters had increased RVA shedding and diarrhea frequency throughout the experiment. VAD decreased memory B cell frequencies while VA supplementation increased RVA specific IgA/IgG antibody (Ab) secreting cell (ASC) numbers in blood, milk, and tissues of RVA inoculated VAD sows. The increased numbers of RVA specific IgA/IgG ASCs in blood, milk/colostrum, intestinal contents, and tissues in VA supplemented VAD sows, suggest a role of VA in B cell immunity and trafficking to tissues. We also observed that RVA inoculated sows had the highest viral neutralizing Ab titers in serum and milk while VA supplementation of VAD sows and RVA inoculation increased IgA+ B cell frequencies in sow colostrum. In summary, we demonstrated that daily oral VA-supplementation (2nd trimester-throughout lactation) to RVA inoculated VAD sows improved the function of their gut-mammary-IgA immunological axis, reducing viral RNA shedding, diarrhea, and increasing weight gain in suckling piglets.
Detection and Molecular Characterization of Enteric Viruses in Bivalve Mollusks Collected in Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: do Nascimento Lilian Gonçalves , Sarmento Sylvia Kahwage , Leonardo Raphael , Gutierrez Meylin Bautista , Malta Fábio Correia , de Oliveira Jaqueline Mendes , Guerra Caroline Rezende , Coutinho Ricardo , Miagostovich Marize Pereira , Fumian Tulio Machado
Published: October 2022

Viral bivalve contamination is a recognized food safety hazard. Therefore, this study investigated the detection rates, seasonality, quantification, and genetic diversity of enteric viruses in bivalve samples (mussels and oysters). We collected 97 shellfish samples between March 2018 and February 2020. The screening of samples by qPCR or RT-qPCR revealed the detection of norovirus (42.3%), rotavirus A (RVA; 16.5%), human adenovirus (HAdV; 24.7%), and human bocavirus (HBoV; 13.4%). There was no detection of hepatitis A virus. In total, 58.8% of shellfish samples tested positive for one or more viruses, with 42.1% of positive samples contaminated with two or more viruses. Norovirus showed the highest median viral load (3.3 × 106 GC/g), followed by HAdV (median of 3.5 × 104 GC/g), RVA (median of 1.5 × 103 GC/g), and HBoV (median of 1.3 × 103 GC/g). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that norovirus strains belonged to genotype GII.12[P16], RVA to genotype I2, HAdV to types -C2, -C5, and -F40, and HBoV to genotypes -1 and -2. Our results demonstrate the viral contamination of bivalves, emphasizing the need for virological monitoring programs to ensure the quality and safety of shellfish for human consumption and as a valuable surveillance tool to monitor emerging viruses and novel variants.
Metabolic Responses and Pathway Changes of Vero Cells under High-Vitamin B Medium
Authors: Yu Shouzhi , Yan Junyu , Yang Zhaona , Zhao Yuxiu , Wang Hui , Yang Xiaoming
Published: October 2022

The production efficiency of a cell substrate directly affects the yield of target products such as viruses, while its density is mainly regulated by the type of culture medium and culture conditions. In this study, Vero cells were used as model cells for systematic medium screening, and a high-efficiency medium for biological drug production was identified. Through the results of cell proliferation by a cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay, 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine(EdU) assay, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting, we found that adding an appropriate amount of vitamin B to the conventional basic medium can significantly improve and maintain the high-density growth of Vero cells. In addition, the molecular mechanism of the high-density culture of Vero cells promoted by B vitamins is explained for the first time by using the systems multi-omics analysis methods. Here, we determined that B vitamins regulate cell proliferation through the synthesis and metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids, affecting the productivity of cell substrate in industrial production. This study provides an important tool for the screening of key components of cell-based high-efficiency medium.
Reactogenicity and Humoral Immune Response after Heterologous Vaxzevria/Comirnaty Vaccination in a Group of Individuals Vaccinated in the AOU Policlinic “G. Martino” (Messina, Italy): A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Venuto Roberto , Giunta Ioselita , Vaccaro Mario , La Fauci Vincenza , Ceccio Concetta , Fedele Francesco , Privitera Antonino , Denaro Federica , Pantò Giuseppe , Cortese Rosaria , Visalli Giovanna , D’Amato Smeralda , Squeri Andrea , Squeri Raffaele , Genovese Cristina
Published: October 2022

On 11 June 2021, the Italian Ministry of Health authorized the heterologous vaccination schedule. The goals of our retrospective study were to (a) evaluate the undesirable effects after the administration of Vaxzevria and Comirnaty vaccines; (b) evaluate the antibody response after 28 days from the administration of the second dose; and (c) compare the antibody responses after the homologous and heterologous vaccination regimens. The undesirable effects were collected using a survey; IgG Spike was quantified using the electrochemiluminescence method; the comparison between the antibody responses was carried out using the sample of a homologous vaccine schedule previously analyzed. Pain at the injection site is the most common undesirable effect after the administration of both vaccines (62.1% after Vaxzevria vs. 82.75% after Comirnaty); swelling at the injection site is more frequent after the administration of Vaxzevria than after the administration of Comirnaty: (15.52% vs. 5.17%); headache is more frequent in women than in men for both the vaccination types (p < 0.05); 49.09% of the sample reported IgG Spike ≥ 12,500 U/mL; the antibody titer of the heterologous schedule is higher than that of the homologous vaccination. Our study demonstrated that the undesirable effects after the administration of the second dose are less frequent and less severe than after the administration of the first dose, and that the immunogenicity of the heterologous vaccinations is higher than that of the homologous ones.