bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevention and Treatment of Monkeypox: A Systematic Review of Preclinical Studies
Authors: Sudarmaji Nurizzati , Kifli Nurolaini , Hermansyah Andi , Yeoh Siang Fei , Goh Bey-Hing , Ming Long Chiau
Published: November 2022

The outbreak of monkeypox, coupled with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic is a critical communicable disease. This study aimed to systematically identify and review research done on preclinical studies focusing on the potential monkeypox treatment and immunization. The presented juxtaposition of efficacy of potential treatments and vaccination that had been tested in preclinical trials could serve as a useful primer of monkeypox virus. The literature identified using key terms such as monkeypox virus or management or vaccine stringed using Boolean operators was systematically reviewed. Pubmed, SCOPUS, Cochrane, and preprint databases were used, and screening was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A total of 467 results from registered databases and 116 from grey literature databases were screened. Of these results, 72 studies from registered databases and three grey literature studies underwent full-text screening for eligibility. In this systematic review, a total of 27 articles were eligible according to the inclusion criteria and were used. Tecovirimat, known as TPOXX or ST-246, is an antiviral drug indicated for smallpox infection whereas brincidofovir inhibits the viral DNA polymerase after incorporation into viral DNA. The ability of tecovirimat in providing protection to poxvirus-challenged animals from death had been demonstrated in a number of animal studies. Non-inferior with regard to immunogenicity was reported for the live smallpox/monkeypox vaccine compared with a single dose of a licensed live smallpox vaccine. The trial involving the live vaccine showed a geometric mean titre of vaccinia-neutralizing antibodies post two weeks of the second dose of the live smallpox/monkeypox vaccine. Of note, up to the third generation of smallpox vaccines—particularly JYNNEOS and Lc16m8—have been developed as preventive measures for MPXV infection and these vaccines had been demonstrated to have improved safety compared to the earlier generations.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 1186 Equids Presented to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in California from 2020 to 2022
Authors: Lawton Kaila , Keller Stefan M. , Barnum Samantha , Arredondo-Lopez Christina , Spann Kennedy , Pusterla Nicola
Published: November 2022

While some companion animals have been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, their role in the COVID-19 pandemic has remained poorly investigated. Equids are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 based on the similarity of the human ACE-2 receptor and reports of infection. Clinical disease and prevalence factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in equids have not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and selected prevalence factors in 1186 equids presented for various conditions to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital over a two-year period. Blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using an ELISA targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Further, selected prevalence factors (season, age, breed, sex, presenting complaint) were retrieved from the medical records. No information was available on whether the horses had come into contact with COVID-19-positive individuals. Among the study animals, 42/1186 (3.5%) horses had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Amongst the prevalence factors investigated, only seasonality (spring) was associated with a greater frequency of seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2. Horses with medical and surgical complaints were more likely to test seropositive to SARS-CoV-2 compared to horses presented for routine health care procedures, suggesting more frequent and/or longer interactions with individuals with COVID-19. While horses can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 via the occasional spillover from COVID-19 individuals, clinical disease expression remains subclinical, making horses an unlikely contributor to the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Evolution of Animal South American RVA Told by the NSP4 Gene E12 Genotype
Authors: Miño Samuel Orlando , Badaracco Alejandra , Louge Uriarte Enrique Louge , Ciarlet Max , Parreño Viviana
Published: November 2022

Rotavirus A (RVA) possesses a genome of 11 double-stranded (ds) RNA segments, and each segment encodes one protein, with the exception of segment 11. NSP4 is a non-structural multifunctional protein encoded by segment 10 that defines the E-genotype. From the 31 E-genotypes described, genotype E12 has been described in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil in RVA strains infecting different animal species and humans. In this work, we studied the evolutionary relationships of RVA strains carrying the E12 genotype in South America using phylogenetic and phylodynamic approaches. We found that the E12 genotype has a South American origin, with a guanaco (Lama guanicoe) strain as natural host. Interestingly, all the other reported RVA strains carrying the E12 genotype in equine, bovine, caprine, and human strains are related to RVA strains of camelid origin. The evolutionary path and genetic footprint of the E12 genotype were reconstructed starting with the introduction of non-native livestock species into the American continent with the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The imported animal species were in close contact with South American camelids, and the offspring were exposed to the native RVA strains brought from Europe and the new RVA circulating in guanacos, resulting in the emergence of new RVA strains in the current lineages’ strongly species-specific adaption. In conclusion, we proposed the NSP4 E12 genotype as a genetic geographic marker in the RVA strains circulating in different animal species in South America.
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Mediates the Co-Distribution of Influenza A Hemagglutinin and Matrix Protein M1 at the Plasma Membrane
Authors: Raut Prakash , Obeng Bright , Waters Hang , Zimmerberg Joshua , Gosse Julie A. , Hess Samuel T.
Published: November 2022

The fully assembled influenza A virus (IAV) has on its surface the highest density of a single membrane protein found in nature—the glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) that mediates viral binding, entry, and assembly. HA clusters at the plasma membrane of infected cells, and the HA density (number of molecules per unit area) of these clusters correlates with the infectivity of the virus. Dense HA clusters are considered to mark the assembly site and ultimately lead to the budding of infectious IAV. The mechanism of spontaneous HA clustering, which occurs with or without other viral components, has not been elucidated. Using super-resolution fluorescence photoactivation localization microscopy (FPALM), we have previously shown that these HA clusters are interdependent on phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (PIP2). Here, we show that the IAV matrix protein M1 co-clusters with PIP2, visualized using the pleckstrin homology domain. We find that cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), which is a positively charged quaternary ammonium compound known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties at millimolar concentrations, disrupts M1 clustering and M1-PIP2 co-clustering at micromolar concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). CPC also disrupts the co-clustering of M1 with HA at the plasma membrane, suggesting the role of host cell PIP2 clusters as scaffolds for gathering and concentrating M1 and HA to achieve their unusually high cluster densities in the IAV envelope.
Weed Hosts Represent an Important Reservoir of Turnip Yellows Virus and a Possible Source of Virus Introduction into Oilseed Rape Crop
Authors: Slavíková Lucie , Ibrahim Emad , Alquicer Glenda , Tomašechová Jana , Šoltys Katarína , Glasa Miroslav , Kundu Jiban Kumar
Published: November 2022

Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) is one of the most important pathogens of oilseed rape worldwide. The virus has a large host range including many crop species (e.g., oilseed rape, pea, chickpea) and weeds from more than twenty plant families. Other than oilseed rape, we detected TuYV in many commonly grown weed species that share the fields and vegetation period together with canola crops in Czech and Slovak Republics. TuYV was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in at least 26 species including main crop hosts (oilseed rape), intercrops and weeds such as Amaranthus retroflexus, Atriplex patula (Amaranthaceae), Arctium lappa, Lactuca serriola, Taraxacum officinale, Tripleurospermum inodorum (Asteraceae), Phacelia tanacetifolia (Boraginaceae), Brassica napus, Capsella bursa–pastoris, Descurainia Sophia, Raphanus raphanistrum, Sinapis alba, Sisymbrium officinale, Thlaspi arvense (Brassicaceae), Silene alba, Stellaria media (Caryophyllaceae), Euphorbia helioscopia (Euphorbiaceae), Geranium rotundifolium (Geraniaceae), Lamium purpureum (Lamiaceae), Fumaria officinalis, Papaver rhoeas (Papaveraceae), Veronica persica (Plantaginaceae syn. Scrophulariaceae), Fallopia convolvulus (Polygonaceae), Solanum nigrum (Solanaceae), Urtica dioica (Urticaceae) and Viola arvensis (Violaceae). The detection of TuYV was further confirmed by RT-qPCR as well as Sanger sequencing of the PCR fragments. We discovered four new weed species as hosts of TuYV such as T. inodorum, S. alba, G. rotundifolium and E. helioscopia, representing their three respective plant families. The readthrough domain (RTD) gene sequence analysis of the Czech and Slovak TuYV isolates from oilseed rape and weed species showed similar within-group nucleotide divergence (7.1% and 5.6%, respectively) and the absence of geographical- or host-based phylogenetic clustering. The high-throughput sequencing of the P. rhoeas sample enabled the obtention of a nearly complete genome of TuYV and revealed the mixed infection of TuYV with turnip mosaic virus and cucumber mosaic virus. Our results thus show that weed species are an important TuYV reservoir and play a significant role in the spread and incidence of the disease in field crops such as oilseed rape.
Early Access to Oral Antivirals in High-Risk Outpatients: Good Weapons to Fight COVID-19
Authors: Bruno Giuseppe , Giotta Massimo , Perelli Serena , De Vita Giuseppina , Bartolomeo Nicola , Buccoliero Giovanni Battista
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir/r (NMV-r) have been proven to reduce severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in unvaccinated high-risk individuals. Data regarding their impact in fully vaccinated vulnerable subjects with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 are still limited, particularly in the era of Omicron and sub-variants. Methods: Our retrospective study aimed to compare the safety profile and effectiveness of the two antivirals in all consecutive high-risk outpatients between 11 January and 10 July 2022. A logistic regression model was carried out to assess factors associated with the composite outcome defined as all-cause hospitalization and/or death at 30 days. Results: A total of 719 individuals were included: 554 (77%) received Molnupiravir, whereas 165 (23%) were NMV-r users. Overall, 43 all-cause hospitalizations (5.9%) and 13 (1.8%) deaths were observed at 30 days. A composite outcome occurred in 47 (6.5%) individuals. At multivariate analysis, male sex [OR 3.785; p = 0.0021], age ≥ 75 [OR 2.647; p = 0.0124], moderate illness [OR 16.75; p < 0.001], and treatment discontinuation after medical decision [OR 8.148; p = 0.0123] remained independently associated with the composite outcome. Conclusions: No differences between the two antivirals were observed. In this real-life setting, the early use of both of the oral antivirals helped limit composite outcome at 30 days among subjects who were at high risk of disease progression.
Fulminant Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: A Case Report
Authors: Lin Rong , Lin Yu-Wei , Chen Mei-Hsiu
Published: November 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines have been used worldwide to control the coronavirus disease pandemic. However, several adverse effects have been reported following vaccination. Therefore, further research on the adverse effects in individuals predisposed to life-threatening conditions is needed. Herein, we present a 39-year-old woman without any systemic disease who developed fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) (low glycohemoglobin levels, despite hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)) following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The patient was initially misdiagnosed as having fresh type 2 diabetes mellitus after the first episode of DKA, which was resolved by short-term insulin therapy and treated with oral anti-diabetic agents after the DKA was resolved. This made her develop a second episode of DKA shortly after treatment. The course and presentation of our case are noteworthy for alerting clinicians to vaccine-related fulminant T1DM.
Chitosan-Based Nanomaterial as Immune Adjuvant and Delivery Carrier for Vaccines
Authors: Gong Xiaochen , Gao Yuan , Shu Jianhong , Zhang Chunjing , Zhao Kai
Published: November 2022

With the support of modern biotechnology, vaccine technology continues to iterate. The safety and efficacy of vaccines are some of the most important areas of development in the field. As a natural substance, chitosan is widely used in numerous fields—such as immune stimulation, drug delivery, wound healing, and antibacterial procedures—due to its good biocompatibility, low toxicity, biodegradability, and adhesion. Chitosan-based nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted extensive attention with respect to vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems due to their excellent properties, which can effectively enhance immune responses. Here, we list the classifications and mechanisms of action of vaccine adjuvants. At the same time, the preparation methods of chitosan, its NPs, and their mechanism of action in the delivery system are introduced. The extensive applications of chitosan and its NPs in protein vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines are also introduced. This paper reviewed the latest research progress of chitosan-based NPs in vaccine adjuvant and drug delivery systems.
Low Genetic Polymorphism in the Immunogenic Sequences of Rhipicephalus microplus Clade C
Authors: Zeb Ismail , Almutairi Mashal M. , Alouffi Abdulaziz , Islam Nabila , Parizi Luís Fernando , Safi Sher Zaman , Tanaka Tetsuya , da Silva Vaz Itabajara , Ali Abid
Published: November 2022

Rhipicephalus microplus tick highly affects the veterinary sector throughout the world. Different tick control methods have been adopted, and the identification of tick-derived highly immunogenic sequences for the development of an anti-tick vaccine has emerged as a successful alternate. This study aimed to characterize immunogenic sequences from R. microplus ticks prevalent in Pakistan. Ticks collected in the field were morphologically identified and subjected to DNA and RNA extraction. Ticks were molecularly identified based on the partial mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit (cox) sequence and screened for piroplasms (Theileria/Babesia spp.), Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma spp. PCR-based pathogens-free R. microplus-derived cDNA was used for the amplification of full-length cysteine protease inhibitor (cystatin 2b), cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase (cathepsin-L), glutathione S-transferase (GST), ferritin 1, 60S acidic ribosomal protein (P0), aquaporin 2, ATAQ, and R. microplus 05 antigen (Rm05Uy) coding sequences. The cox sequence revealed 100% identity with the nucleotide sequences of Pakistan’s formerly reported R. microplus, and full-length immunogenic sequences revealed maximum identities to the most similar sequences reported from India, China, Cuba, USA, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, Israel, and Uruguay. Low nonsynonymous polymorphisms were observed in ATAQ (1.5%), cathepsin-L (0.6%), and aquaporin 2 (0.4%) sequences compared to the homologous sequences from Mexico, India, and the USA, respectively. Based on the cox sequence, R. microplus was phylogenetically assembled in clade C, which includes R. microplus from Pakistan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India. In the phylogenetic trees, the cystatin 2b, cathepsin-L, ferritin 1, and aquaporin 2 sequences were clustered with the most similar available sequences of R. microplus, P0 with R. microplus, R. sanguineus and R. haemaphysaloides, and GST, ATAQ, and Rm05Uy with R. microplus and R. annulatus. This is the first report on the molecular characterization of clade C R. microplus-derived immunogenic sequences.
COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Zhang Xiaojing , Weng Ruopeng , Liu Fei , Xie Yi , Jin Yanyan , Li Qiuyu , Huang Guoping , Chen Junyi , Wang Jingjing , Shen Huijun , Fu Haidong , Mao Jianhua
Published: November 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The administration of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination is the only reliable strategy to prevent COVID-19 and alleviate the severity of COVID-19 in this particular population. The aim of this article was to evaluate the clinical protection by vaccines (breakthrough infections, deaths, and hospitalizations) in KTRs. There were 135 KTRs with COVID-19 breakthrough infections for whom patient-level data were available in PubMed and Web of Science. There was a male predominance (61.4%), 97 were given the standard vaccination regimen, and 38 received three or four doses of the vaccine. The median age was 59.0 (IQR: 49.0–69.0) years. A total of 67 patients were hospitalized, and 10 patients died. In 72.6% of cases, triple-maintenance immunosuppression was employed. The deceased patients were older than the survivors (p < 0.05); an age over 60 years was a risk factor for death (p < 0.05). The KTRs with booster vaccines had a longer time interval from the last vaccine to COVID-19 infection and lower hospitalization rates than the individuals who received the standard vaccination regimen (33.3% vs. 54.8%, p < 0.05). The hospitalized patients were older than the outpatients (p < 0.05). Among 16,820 fully vaccinated or boosted KTRs from 14 centers, there were 633 breakthrough infections (3.58%) and 73 associated deaths (0.41%). The center-level breakthrough infection rates varied from 0.21% to 9.29%. These findings highlight the need for booster doses for KTRs. However, more research is needed to define the long-term effectiveness and immunogenicity of booster doses and to identify methods to boost the protective response to vaccination in these immunocompromised patients.
A Subtraction Genomics-Based Approach to Identify and Characterize New Drug Targets in Bordetella pertussis: Whooping Cough
Authors: Jamal Alam , Jahan Sadaf , Choudhry Hani , Rather Irfan A. , Khan Mohammad Imran
Published: November 2022

Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative bacterium known to cause pertussis or whooping cough. The disease affects the respiratory system and is contagious. Pertussis causes high mortality among infants aged less than one-year-old, although it can affect anyone of any age. Globally, 16 million cases of pertussis were reported in 2008, 95% of which were in developing nations, and approximately 195,000 children died from the disease. Under a computational subtractive genomics approach, the total proteome of a pathogen is gently trimmed down to a few potential drug targets. First, from NCBI, we obtained the pathogen proteins followed by CD hit for removal of duplicate proteins. The BLAST step was applied to find non-similar proteins, and then, we applied BLAST to these non-similar bacterial proteins with DEG to find essential bacterial proteins. After this, to find the location, these vital proteins were screened via PSORTb; the majority of proteins were in cytoplasm. The KASS server was used to determine the involvement of these proteins in the metabolic pathways of bacteria, and KEGG was applied to find the unique metabolic pathways of the pathogen. Finally, we applied BLAST to these vital, unique, and non-similar proteins with FDA-approved drug targets, and four proteins of the B. pertussis strain B1917 were identified that might be powerful drug targets. A variety of therapeutic molecules could be designed to target these proteins in order to treat infections caused by bacteria.
Assessment of Crosslinkers between Peptide Antigen and Carrier Protein for Fusion Peptide-Directed Vaccines against HIV-1
Authors: Ou Li , Gulla Krishana , Biju Andrea , Biner Daniel W. , Bylund Tatsiana , Changela Anita , Chen Steven J. , Zheng Cheng-Yan , Cibelli Nicole , Corrigan Angela R. , Duan Hongying , Gonelli Christopher A. , Kong Wing-Pui , Cheng Cheng , O’Dell Sijy , Sarfo Edward K. , Shaddeau Andrew , Wang Shuishu , Vinitsky Alison , Yang Yanhong , Zhang Baoshan , Zhang Yaqiu , Koup Richard A. , Doria-Rose Nicole A. , Gall Jason G. , Mascola John R. , Kwong Peter D.
Published: November 2022

Conjugate-vaccine immunogens require three components: a carrier protein, an antigen, and a crosslinker, capable of coupling antigen to carrier protein, while preserving both T-cell responses from carrier protein and B-cell responses from antigen. We previously showed that the N-terminal eight residues of the HIV-1 fusion peptide (FP8) as an antigen could prime for broad cross-clade neutralizing responses, that recombinant heavy chain of tetanus toxin (rTTHC) as a carrier protein provided optimal responses, and that choice of crosslinker could impact both antigenicity and immunogenicity. Here, we delve more deeply into the impact of varying the linker between FP8 and rTTHC. In specific, we assessed the physical properties, the antigenicity, and the immunogenicity of conjugates for crosslinkers ranging in spacer-arm length from 1.5 to 95.2 Å, with varying hydrophobicity and crosslinking-functional groups. Conjugates coupled with different degrees of multimerization and peptide-to-rTTHC stoichiometry, but all were well recognized by HIV-fusion-peptide-directed antibodies VRC34.01, VRC34.05, PGT151, and ACS202 except for the conjugate with the longest linker (24-PEGylated SMCC; SM(PEG)24), which had lower affinity for ACS202, as did the conjugate with the shortest linker (succinimidyl iodoacetate; SIA), which also had the lowest peptide-to-rTTHC stoichiometry. Murine immunizations testing seven FP8-rTTHC conjugates elicited fusion-peptide-directed antibody responses, with SIA- and SM(PEG)24-linked conjugates eliciting lower responses than the other five conjugates. After boosting with prefusion-closed envelope trimers from strains BG505 clade A and consensus clade C, trimer-directed antibody-binding responses were lower for the SIA-linked conjugate; elicited neutralizing responses were similar, however, though statistically lower for the SM(PEG)24-linked conjugate, when tested against a strain especially sensitive to fusion-peptide-directed responses. Overall, correlation analyses revealed the immunogenicity of FP8-rTTHC conjugates to be negatively impacted by hydrophilicity and extremes of length or low peptide-carrier stoichiometry, but robust to other linker parameters, with several commonly used crosslinkers yielding statistically indistinguishable serological results.
Assessment of COVID-19 Anxiety Levels and Attitudes to COVID-19 Vaccine among Older Adults in Poland: A Pilot Study
Authors: Cybulski Mateusz , Wojszel Zyta Beata , Wojszel Aleksandra , Jahel Sara , Sliwinska Paulina , Krajewska-Kulak Elzbieta
Published: November 2022

Background: The fear of being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 has become widespread, especially among older adults. Information campaigns to promote mass vaccination against COVID-19 are a key element in controlling and preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their success primarily depends on vaccination coverage in a given population. The aim of this study was to assess the severity of COVID-19 anxiety and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines among older adults in Poland. Methods: This pilot study was conducted among a total of 127 older participants, including 108 students (85%) of Third Age Universities in Bialystok and 19 patients (15%) of the Department and Clinic of Geriatrics of the Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Bialystok. The study used a diagnostic survey based on an author-designed questionnaire and four standardized psychometric tools: The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), The Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale (DrVac-COVID19S), and Scale to Measure the Perception of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines Acceptance (The VAC-COVID-19 Scale). Results: COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the study group was 88.2%, with three doses in most cases. We found a negative vaccination status only in women taking part in the study. Men scored significantly higher on DrVac-COVID19S and its Value subscale, and markedly lower on FCV-19S. We did not observe significant differences in the scales’ scores between age groups. Respondents recruited from the Third Age Universities had significantly higher scores than geriatric clinic patients in the Knowledge subscale of DrVac-COVID19S. In the case of FCV-19S, no correlation with the results obtained in other scales used in the study was found. Additionally, no correlation was found between CAS scores and the following scales: DrVac-COVID19S (total), DrVac-COVID19S Knowledge (K) subscale, DrVac-COVID19S Autonomy (A) subscale and VAC-COVID-19-Scale-positive subscale. The other scales were strongly correlated with each other—the correlations were statistically significant. Conclusions: Subjective COVID-19 anxiety in the study group was moderate. Seniors were more likely to show positive vaccine attitudes, as confirmed by the percentage of respondents vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least one dose. However, there is still a percentage of unvaccinated individuals in the population of seniors; therefore, measures should be taken to motivate this age group and encourage preventive vaccination against COVID-19. Furthermore, representative studies on COVID-19 anxiety and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine among Polish seniors are needed to determine a more precise prevalence of these phenomena and potential correlations on a national level.
Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infections after Vaccination in North Carolina
Authors: Uschner Diane , Bott Matthew , Lagarde William H. , Keating Joseph , Tapp Hazel , Berry Andrea A. , Seals Austin L. , Munawar Iqra , Schieffelin John , Yukich Joshua , Santacatterina Michele , Gunaratne Mihili , Fette Lida M. , Burke Brian , Strylewicz Greg , Edelstein Sharon L. , Ahmed Amina , Miller Kristen , Sanders John W. , Herrington David , Weintraub William S. , Runyon Michael S. ,   on behalf of the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership
Published: November 2022

We characterize the overall incidence and risk factors for breakthrough infection among fully vaccinated participants in the North Carolina COVID-19 Community Research Partnership cohort. Among 15,808 eligible participants, 638 reported a positive SARS-CoV-2 test after vaccination. Factors associated with a lower risk of breakthrough in the time-to-event analysis included older age, prior SARS-CovV-2 infection, higher rates of face mask use, and receipt of a booster vaccination. Higher rates of breakthrough were reported by participants vaccinated with BNT162b2 or Ad26.COV2.S compared to mRNA-1273, in suburban or rural counties compared to urban counties, and during circulation of the Delta and Omicron variants.
PROM SSCOL—Impact of a Papillomavirus Vaccination Promotion Program in Middle Schools to Raise the Vaccinal Coverage on Reunion Island
Authors: Tran Phuong Lien , Chirpaz Emmanuel , Boukerrou Malik , Bertolotti Antoine
Published: November 2022

Introduction: On Reunion Island, cervical cancer is the third most common cause of cancer in women. Primary prevention is based on the HPV vaccination, yet coverage rate is low (8.1%). The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of a health promotion program on the proportion of middle school girls who have completed the HPV vaccination schedule. Material and methods: In this prospective, controlled intervention study of superiority, 12 classes were randomly selected in an intervention school where the promotion program took place, and in a control school where no specific intervention was planned. The program combined: information to students during school classes, information to parents by letter and phone calls, information to general practitioners by letter and video conference call, and the free school-based vaccination (in a “health bus” parked in the schoolyard) with the nonavalent HPV vaccine. Results: In the intervention group, the completion was achieved for 26 girls, which was significantly higher than in the control group (three girls, p < 10−3). The initiated vaccination was also higher in the intervention group (31 girls vs. 6 girls in the control group, p < 10−3). The same results were obtained for the boys as for the full or partial scheme (seven boys vs. 0, p = 0.01; 16 boys vs. 1, p < 10−3, respectively). Conclusions: Implementing a health promotion program and offering the free, school-based vaccination raised the vaccination coverage. These results are promising and may be a stepping stone to expanding this program to the whole Reunion Island and hopefully someday decrease the burden of cervical cancer.
Fifty Years of Wildlife Diseases in Europe: A Citation Database Meta-Analysis
Authors: Vada Rachele , Zanet Stefania , Ferroglio Ezio
Published: November 2022

Although wildlife has progressively been recognized as a booster for the spillover of pathogens to humans and other wild and domestic animals, the interest of scientists in this topic has not been constant over time and uniform in its targets. Epidemiological outbreaks and technological development have contributed to this. Through the analysis of the number of publications from a citation database, we aimed to obtain an indicator of the scientific community’s interest towards wildlife diseases over the years. Using Web of Science, bibliographic searches were performed by adding to the basic search string “Wildlife AND Disease” terms detailing topics such as aspect investigated, pathogen type, aetiologic group and species group. For each host species group, the 100 most frequent Medical Subject Headings (MeSHs) related to specific diseases in each decade were extracted. The scientific production regarding wildlife diseases has increased 3.7 times the relative proportion of publications on diseases during the last 50 years, focusing mainly on zoonotic or epizootic pathogens, and with a sharp growth in contemporary hot topics. Wildlife disease scenarios are complex and challenging to approach. Knowing the trends in the scientific interest in the past decades may pose a guide to direct future steps and actions in several fields, from public health to ecosystem management.
High Concentration of FBS Can Save mTOR Down-Regulation Caused by Mycoplasmas bovis Infection
Authors: Wu Xiaochun , Ma Jinrui , Jia Shangdong , Zhang Xudong , Zhang Xinlan , An Zhen , Wei Yanquan , Xing Xiaoyong , Wen Fengqin , Gao Yuan , Bao Shijun
Published: November 2022

Mycoplasmas bovis (M. bovis) is an important pathogen that causes a variety of diseases, such as bovine respiratory diseases and causes significant losses to the national cattle industry every year, seriously affecting the development of the cattle industry worldwide. The pathogenic mechanism of M. bovis infection is still unknown, which leads to the lack of timely diagnosis and treatment. In this study, embryonic bovine lung (EBL) cells, infected with M. bovis were collected for gene profiling and detection of marker genes in the mTOR signaling pathway. The result showed that M. bovis infection significantly inhibits EBL growth in a dose-dependent manner. The transcription profiling data uncovered that M. bovis infection repressed a series of gene expressions in EBL cells, which are mainly related to metabolic process and immune response. Notably, many marker genes in the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway showed down-regulation after M. bovis infection. Further evidence showed that M. bovis infection inhibits expression of mTOR signaling pathway marker genes in EBL cells, which are time dependent. To further understand the M. bovis-induced inhibitory effect of mTOR signaling pathway, this study employed FBS as a supplement for exogenous nutrients and found that addition of a high concentration of FBS can rescue M. bovis-induced cell damage. In addition, a high concentration of FBS can rescue down-regulated mTOR signaling, including increasing transcriptional expression and protein phosphorylation level of mTOR pathway marker genes. This study demonstrated that M. bovis infection leads to inhibition of the nutrient metabolic pathway mTOR in a time-dependent manner, which would be helpful to further understand M. bovis infection mechanism and develop a new efficient anti-mycoplasma strategy targeting mTOR signaling.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea) during Early Development under Hypoxia and Acidification Stress
Authors: Wang Yabing , Chen Run , Wang Qian , Yue Yanfeng , Gao Quanxin , Wang Cuihua , Zheng Hanfeng , Peng Shiming
Published: November 2022

Fishes live in aquatic environments and several aquatic environmental factors have undergone recent alterations. The molecular mechanisms underlying fish responses to hypoxia and acidification stress have become a serious concern in recent years. This study revealed that hypoxia and acidification stress suppressed the growth of body length and height of the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). Subsequent transcriptome analyses of L. crocea juveniles under hypoxia, acidification, and hypoxia–acidification stress led to the identification of 5897 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the five groups. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses revealed that several DEGs were enriched in the ‘protein digestion and absorption’ pathway. Enrichment analysis revealed that this pathway was closely related to hypoxia and acidification stress in the five groups, and we found that genes of the collagen family may play a key role in this pathway. The zf-C2H2 transcription factor may play an important role in the hypoxia and acidification stress response, and novel genes were additionally identified. The results provide new clues for further research on the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia–acidification tolerance in L. crocea and provides a basic understanding of the potential combined effects of reduced pH and dissolved oxygen on Sciaenidae fishes.
Enterprising Self through Higher Education: Youth, Aspirations and Future Amidst Academic Entrepreneurialism
Authors: Tang Hei-Hang Hayes , Zhang Yan
Published: November 2022

This paper examines the macro trends, policy responses, and their impact on youth and their aspirations about the future. It uses the conceptualisation of “the self as enterprise” to focus our discussions about how, and to what extent, youth try to “enterprise” their selves through higher education amidst the global rise of academic entrepreneurialism. The paper addresses the new reality of changing economies and creative disruptions of employment markets facing youth and their futures. We will talk about the way youth career aspirations will be reconsidered and the role of higher education in it. We also discuss the in-betweenness of materialistic and post-materialistic pursuits among young people, as well as the topic about “enterprising self” through higher education and innovating futures using youth’s entrepreneurial mindset, competence, and “self-entrepreneurship”. The paper will end by discussing some inspirations and insights for policies and practices and empirical research concerning the topic of youth, futures, and aspirations.
FIBRO REINFORCED CONCRETE PLATE DYNAMICS ON DEFORMABLE SUPPORTS WITH VARIABLE AREA OF BLAST LOAD
Authors:   Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, ALEKSEYTSEV A.V. , KURCHENKO N.S. ,   Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, SAZONOVA S.A. ,   Moscow State University of Civil Engineering
Published: November 2022

The article is devoted to the numerical analysis of the stress-strain state of fiber reinforced concrete slab structures under emergency dynamic impacts. A prefabricated cover slab of a protective structure buried in the ground is considered. Shock effects on the slab are considered to be blast ones. An explosion at the ground surface or another impulse transmitted through the ground to the structure is assumed to be the cause of their occurrence. The change in time of the components of the stress-strain in concrete and reinforcement is investigated in case of change in the suppleness of the supports. The possibility of rigid or elastoplastic deformation of supports under impact action is considered. By means of a concrete example, the efficiency of the suggested approach is demonstrated under symmetric loading by a blast load taking into account a variable shock spot area. Numerical modeling has shown that under both static and dynamic additional loading the slab fractures along the fibro concrete with the formation of a cable mechanism while preserving the survivability property of the reinforcement. It is shown that the use of compliant supports plays an essential role in damping of vibrations and allows to regulate both the level of mechanical safety of the structure and its material capacity. The necessity and urgency of determining the actual damping properties of the structures of the considered type has been established.
Maintenance of Genetic Quality in Cultured Tilapia
Authors: SMITHERMAN R.O. , TAVE DOUGLAS
Published: November 2022

Management of a population's effective breeding number (Ne) is crucial, because it is inversely related to genetic drift and to inbreeding. Reductions 1n Ne can irreversibly damage a population's genetic and biological potential. Recommended Nes for standard reference populations of tilapia are 390-500, and those for farm populations are 100-150. Effective breeding numbers for reference populations must be larger because the management goal is conservation genetics - preventing detrimental levels of inbreeding, preventing the loss of rare alleles and preserving heterozygosity. Effective breeding numbers for farm populations can be smaller because the management goal is to maximize productivity. Acquisition of a foundation stock is the most important aspect of management of a population's Ne, because the alleles that exist in that sample are those that determine the population's genetic and biological potential. The fecundity of tilapia can facilitate maintenance of desired Nes females produce only about 150-500 offspring per spawn, so even moderately-sized farms require hundreds of broodfish.
ON THE QUESTION OF CHOOSING THE OPTIMAL WATER-CEMENT RATIO IN THE PRODUCTION OF THERMAL INSULATING FOAM CONCRETE
Authors: Vinokurova O. , Baranova A.
Published: November 2022

The article considers the influence of the water-cement ratio on the formation of the structure of thermally insulating foam concrete, having the D300 average density grade. The basis for the analysis is the contradiction between the experimentally obtained direct dependence of the strength of foam concrete on the water-cement ratio and the practice of improving the structure of the material due to water reduction. The computation of the optimal amount of water in the foam concrete mixture based on the method of absolute volumes is presented. The calculation includes a formula for determining the volume of the interpore space depending on the thickness of the interpore partition, the cell diameter and the type of packing. The actual indicators collected during the experiment confirm the results of the calculations. The influence of the amount of water in the foam concrete mixture on the quality of the foam concrete is evaluated by the compressive strength and the macrostructure character of the material. The strength is determined by the destructive method. The structure is studied using an optical microscope in combination with image processing software. The greatest strength is possessed by a material with a partition thickness exceeding the maximum size of the cement grain, provided that the volume of the interpore space and the sum of the absolute volumes of the components of the foam concrete mixture are equal. A structure with closed pores and dense interpore partitions is observed in foam concrete on a protein foam former with a water-cement ratio, taking into account water in the foam, equal to 0.7.
PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK OF REINFORCED CONCRETE ELEMENTS WITH EXTERNAL REINFORCEMENT WITH COMPOSITE MATERIALS DURING BENDING WITH TORSION
Authors: Merkulov S. , Esipov S. , Kashuba S.
Published: November 2022

The calculation methods of reinforced external reinforcement elements when working on torsion are considered succinctly in available sources and current regulatory documents. This article discusses a number of existing proven methods for calculating reinforced concrete bendable elements with external composite reinforcement, including when working with torsion. The necessity of introducing into the existing calculation dependences of the prerequisites for substantiating the behavior of reinforced concrete bendable elements, including those with external composite reinforcement, when working in a complex stress-strain state is described. The cases of occurrence of additional torsional forces in the conditions of classical variants of loads and impacts on the element are considered. A description of the work of reinforced concrete elements with external reinforcement with composite materials during bending with torsion is proposed. The main provisions of the work of reinforced concrete structures in bending with torsion are given. The main limiting states are presented. An assumptions are made about the possible presence of additional limiting states of reinforced concrete elements with external reinforcement with composite materials. A variant of the condition of proportionality of longitudinal relative deformations for reinforced concrete elements with external reinforcement with composite materials during bending with torsion is proposed.
INVESTIGATION OF THE PARAMETERS OF ADSORPTION OF ETHYLHYDROSILOXANE ON THE SURFACE OF TUNGSTEN CARBIDE
Authors: Pavlenko V. , Kashibadze V. , Romanyuk D. , Sidel'nikov R. , Domarev S.
Published: November 2022

The article deals with the modification of the surface of tungsten carbide powder with ethylhydrosiloxane. The morphology and granulometric composition of the original tungsten carbide have been studied. To modify the powder, the oligomer is preliminarily dissolved in n-hexane. It is found that the adsorption equilibrium is established in the first hour. Based on the data obtained, an adsorption isotherm of oligomeric ethylhydrosiloxane molecules on tungsten carbide particles is plotted as a function of the equilibrium concentration. It has been established that the adsorption isotherm of oligomeric ethylhydrosiloxane molecules on tungsten carbide particles has a typical character of monomolecular (monolayer) adsorption. At an equilibrium concentration of 0.12 mg/cm3, the adsorption isotherm curve reaches a plateau. Data on the determination of the parameters of adsorption of oligomeric molecules of ethylhydrosiloxane on the surface of tungsten carbide are presented: the landing area occupied by one oligomer molecule and the thickness of the adsorption layer of the oligomer. It is shown that modification with ethylhydrosiloxane leads to a transition from a hydrophilic to a hydrophobic surface. To establish the hydrophobization of the surface of tungsten carbide after modification with ethylhydrosiloxane, authors determine the contact angles of surface wetting before and after modification. At oligomer concentrations above 0.12 mg/cm3, the contact angle of wetting the surface of tungsten carbide with water has a maximum value of 96±2°.
Portals, Parallel Realities and Transdisciplinary Place Practice
Authors: Buxton Maggie
Published: November 2022

This article is a portal to my place-based, transdisciplinary practice. In the first section, I argue that adopting a transdisciplinary stance, as I define it, is one way to find solutions to today’s complex issues. Later, I provide examples of my practice, interweaving emerging technology, community development and creativity to support the spirit and spirits of place. Throughout this article, I take a personal, reflective and autoethnographic approach.
Navigating Knowledge Frameworks at the Intercultural Interface
Authors: Citizen Joe
Published: November 2022

As we emerge not altogether unscathed in 2022 into what optimistically might be called a postpandemic world, we are confronted by the pressing need to address global and climate instabilities against a general backdrop of complexity. Potential solutions must be balanced against environmental and societal concerns that cannot take for granted that any system is somehow isolated. Here then is the crux of new materialist and post-humanist approaches – a shift “away from Kant”1 and away it seems, from humancentric understandings of who, or what, has agency in the world.
Despite acknowledging the agencies of non-human others, such as electrical grids2 and quantum entanglement,3 or proposing new speculative realist frameworks by which to engage with such agentic capacities,4 finding workable solutions within such dynamics remains stubbornly difficult. What does become clear, at least, is that these Eurocentric traditions, arising from the European Enlightenment project, have not served the environment particularly well. Newtonian physics can no longer claim mastery over the tangible world through recourse to universal laws acting in isolation, and liberal humanism is revealed to be underpinned by Eurocentric cultural traditions of human exceptionalism and the rights of the individual exceeding the rights of the collective. As I have argued elsewhere,5 such traditions within the European imaginary arise from Judeo-Christian notions of dominion over the nonhuman and are reinforced by successive bifurcations between nature and culture through Plato/Aristotle-Descartes-Kant metaphysical trajectories.
Negotiating Different Worlds and Diverse Cultural Legacies Through Applied Creative Practice in a Situated Learning Project: Hlakanyana 2022
Authors: Roberts Sarah
Published: November 2022

Prism-like, the 2022 Hlakanyana project at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) refracted both clear and shadowy issues embedded in arts, culture and pedagogy in a society grappling with decolonisation. Participation in the project indicated that transformation imperatives have been compounded by the socio-economic consequences of a two-year lockdown. On 8 March, some 300 masked second-year students, seated in Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre auditorium, were introduced to a project that has come to be known as Theatre 101. Daunted and uncertain, they, like similar groups before them, were confronting requirements of designing for an unfamiliar medium amplified by the logistical implications of group work at the start of returning to face-to-face learning. Initial responses at the briefing session indicated skepticism towards an undertaking in which multiplicities converged. My role throughout, as professional designer and academic, was that of participant–observer, and this reflexive report documents the spectrum of intertwined issues that emerged in the UJ initiative rather than pursing a single aspect for sustained interrogation.
Live Performance as a Multiverse:
Authors: Chaouche Sabine
Published: November 2022

What are the different interconnected spaces and times in the construction of the character in drama, and to what extent is acting ‘live’ performances consubstantial with the notion of the multifarious, and especially the multiverse?