bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Short-Term Power Output Forecasting Based on Augmented Naïve Bayes Classifiers for High Wind Power Penetrations
Authors: Kim Gyeongmin , Hur Jin
Published: November 2021

Renewable-power-generating resources can provide unlimited clean energy and emit at most minute amounts of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, whereas fossil fuels are contributing to environmental pollution problems and climate change. The share of global power capacity comprising renewable-power-generating resources is increasing. However, due to the variability and uncertainty of wind resources, predicting the power output of these resources remains a key problem that must be resolved to establish stable power system operation and planning. In this study, we propose an ensemble prediction model for wind-power-generating resources based on augmented naïve Bayes classifiers. To select the principal component that affects the wind power outputs from among various meteorological factors, such as temperature, wind speed, and wind direction, prediction of wind-power-generating resources was performed using multiple linear regression (MLR) and a naïve Bayes classification model based on the selected meteorological factors. We proposed applying the analogue ensemble (AnEn) algorithm and the ensemble learning technique to predict the wind power. To validate this proposed hybrid prediction model, we analyzed empirical data from the wind farm of Jeju Island in South Korea and found that the proposed model has lower error than the single prediction models.
Assessing Urban Metabolism through MSW Carbon Footprint and Conceptualizing Municipal-Industrial Symbiosis—The Case of Zaragoza City, Spain
Authors: Valero Antonio , Torrubia Jorge , Anía Miguel Ángel , Torres Alicia
Published: November 2021

This paper proposes a holistic vision of the urban metabolism (UM), viewing the city as a subsystem within an industrial ecosystem (IE) in which municipal-industrial symbiosis is essential to achieve sustainability goals. For this purpose, the metabolism of a large Spanish city, Zaragoza, was studied by analyzing the main fractions of its MSW. A methodology based on carbon footprint (CF) was developed to analyze the environmental impact—in terms of CO2—of the influence of households’ behavior, the City Council’s strategies, and the main MSW fractions. Zaragoza’s IE represents a footprint of 931,250 CO2 tons for the fractions studied, of which 438,000 CO2 tons are due to organic fraction, 180,371 to plastics and 154,607 to paper and cardboard, which are the three most significant contributors. If households selectively separated 100% of their waste, the footprint would drop to 648,660 tons of CO2. Furthermore, monetary savings were quantified through the CO2 emissions price. The proposed methodology accounts for the CF of the whole IE, not just the city. Moreover, it enables the creation of Sankey diagrams to visualize the distribution of emissions of each subsystem, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the city and its recycling industries to reduce its CF.
Estimating Risk Perception Effects on Courier Companies’ Online Customer Behavior during a Crisis, Using Crowdsourced Data
Authors: Sakas Damianos P. , Kamperos Ioannis Dimitrios G. , Reklitis Panagiotis
Published: November 2021

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a real challenge for courier companies on a global scale and has affected customer behavior worldwide. This paper attempts to propound a new methodology in order to predict the effect of courier companies’ e-commerce on customers’ risk perception regarding their online behavior after the outbreak, and the final effect of their behavior on the global ranking of the company’s website, utilizing passive crowdsourcing data from five world-leading courier companies as representative examples of their respective business sectors. The results will allow supply chain risk management (SCRM) managers to make effective strategic decisions regarding the efficient allocation of resources to mitigate the corporate risk to their organization during a novel crisis. In our paper, we monitored five key performance indicators (KPIs) over a 24-month period (March 2019–February 2021) as the first of a suggested three-level analysis process using statistical analysis and fuzzy cognitive mapping techniques. We propose that courier service companies should manage the risk of a potential novel crisis by improving the reputation and brand name of the company, since customers tend to trust an established brand.
Integrating Ecology into Land Planning and Development: Between Disillusionment and Hope, Questioning the Relevance and Implementation of the Mitigation Hierarchy
Authors: Barbé Hélène , Frascaria-Lacoste Nathalie
Published: November 2021

Scientific research on the mitigation hierarchy has steadily increased over the past few years at the international level. While some seek to improve the application of this public action instrument, others point out its shortcomings and risks. This opinion paper—which focuses on the French context—does not provide an exhaustive overview of existing research but instead targets specific issues considered to be a “priority”. We mainly investigate the relevance and implementation of the mitigation hierarchy, especially from an ecological point of view. Part of this paper thus questions the very principle of biodiversity offsetting (BO)—the last resort of the mitigation hierarchy that brings together numerous controversies—and the adequacy of the mitigation hierarchy with the objective of no net loss (NNL) of biodiversity. The general idea underlying this paper is to show how the mitigation hierarchy has been built and based on what values (mainly economic and legal, which leads us to conclude about the lack of ecology in the policy itself). In doing so, we provide a few perspectives as to what should be done to (better) integrate ecology into land use planning and development.
One-Stop-Shops for Energy Renovation of Dwellings in Europe—Approach to the Factors That Determine Success and Future Lines of Action
Authors: Biere-Arenas Rolando , Spairani-Berrio Silvia , Spairani-Berrio Yolanda , Marmolejo-Duarte Carlos
Published: November 2021

Energy renovation of buildings in the European Union would lead to considerable energy savings and a 26% reduction in energy consumption. Despite this and the programmes implemented to promote it in the residential environment in Europe and the United States, the barriers that homes, contractors, and finance companies face to undertake these processes have slowed down the results. The emergence of one-stop-shops (OSSs), promoted by European directives, as integrated management entities to promote the energy renovation of dwellings seems to be a central element in the development of future strategies. This paper looks at experiences of implementing OSSs in Europe, tries to identify the main factors of success, and proposes lines of action to strengthen OSS operation in the long term. To achieve this, documents, regulations, and data on the context were studied, and active cases of OSSs were analysed. Experiences of OSSs that are no longer operating were identified to determine why they had closed down. The results suggested that a lack of structural funding is one reason why activities terminated and that the most successful cases applied an ‘all inclusive’ model and supported families in the entire process.
Assessment of Virtual Reality as a Didactic Resource in Higher Education
Authors: Vergara Diego , Antón-Sancho Álvaro , Extremera Jamil , Fernández-Arias Pablo
Published: November 2021

Given that the university teachers with more experience in the use of virtual reality are those corresponding to the areas of Health Sciences and of Engineering and Architecture, this article analyzes the assessment these teachers make about virtual reality as a teaching resource in their respective disciplines. The study uses a questionnaire that assesses the technical aspects and future projection of virtual reality, its drawbacks and the perception of the different dimensions of the participants’ knowledge about virtual reality and its didactic employability. The questionnaire was answered by a sample of 423 university teachers of different genders, ages, academic level and teaching experience, whose teaching activity is developed in various Latin American universities in the area of Health Sciences or in the area of Engineering/Architecture. Their answers have been analyzed descriptively and Spearman’s r statistics and the Multifactor ANOVA test have been used to verify the existence of significant differences in their evaluations for the different variables considered, cross-referencing them with the field of knowledge. Within the main results, gaps by area, years of teaching experience and academic level in the participants’ evaluations have been identified and discussed.
Influence of Groves on Daylight Conditions and Visual Performance of Users of Urban Civil Infrastructures
Authors: Castillo-Martínez Agustín , Peña-García Antonio
Published: November 2021

The control and efficient use of daylight is a difficult task due to its seasonal and hourly variation. Although it is matter of active research in indoor lighting due to the necessity to light human tasks at any hour of the day in a sustainable way, little attention has been paid to the impact of daylight on visual performance, safety and ergonomics of citizens, especially pedestrians in urban areas. This attention is even lower when dealing with the interaction between daylight and urban groves, which is an essential element in cities due to a wide variety of benefits like shadowing, CO2 absorption, natural aesthetics, noise protection and many others. In this work, the interaction between daylight and typical urban trees in one city with high levels of insolation (Granada, in southern Spain) has been studied. The results, conclusions and proposals for a more sustainable urban planning are analyzed and presented.
On Conditions for L2-Dissipativity of an Explicit Finite-Difference Scheme for Linearized 2D and 3D Barotropic Gas Dynamics System of Equations with Regularizations
Authors: Zlotnik Alexander
Published: November 2021

We deal with 2D and 3D barotropic gas dynamics system of equations with two viscous regularizations: so-called quasi-gas dynamics (QGD) and quasi-hydrodynamics (QHD) ones. The system is linearized on a constant solution with any velocity, and an explicit two-level in time and symmetric three-point in each spatial direction finite-difference scheme on the uniform rectangular mesh is considered for the linearized system. We study L2-dissipativity of solutions to the Cauchy problem for this scheme by the spectral method and present a criterion in the form of a matrix inequality containing symbols of symmetric matrices of convective and regularizing terms. Analyzing these inequality and matrices, we also derive explicit sufficient conditions and necessary conditions in the Courant-type form which are rather close to each other. For the QHD regularization, such conditions are derived for the first time in 2D and 3D cases, whereas, for the QGD regularization, they improve those that have recently been obtained. Explicit formulas for a scheme parameter that guarantee taking the maximal time step are given for these conditions. An important moment is a new choice of an “average” spatial mesh step ensuring the independence of the conditions from the ratios of the spatial mesh steps and, for the QGD regularization, from the Mach number as well.
Slant Helices of (k,m)-Type According to the ED-Frame in Minkowski 4-Space
Authors: Bulut Fatma
Published: November 2021

In differential geometry, relations between curves are a large and important area of study for many researchers. Frame areas are an important tool when studying curves, specially the Frenet–Serret frame along a space curve and the Darboux frame along a surface curve in differential geometry. In this paper, we obtain slant helices of k-type according to the extended Darboux frame (or, for brevity, ED-frame) field by using the ED-frame field of the first kind (or, for brevity, EDFFK), which is formed with an anti-symmetric matrix for ε1=ε2=ε3=ε4∈{−1,1} and the ED-frame field of the second kind (or, for brevity, EDFSK), which is formed with an anti-symmetric matrix for ε1=ε2=ε3=ε4∈{−1,1} in four-dimensional Minkowski space E14. In addition, we present some characterizations of slant helices and determine (k,m)-type slant helices for the EDFFK and EDFSK in Minkowski 4-space.
Thermally Controlled Synthesis of Octahedral Rhenium Clusters with 4,4′-Bipyridine and CN− Apical Ligands
Authors: Ulantikov Anton A. , Sukhikh Taisiya S. , Gribov Evgeniy N. , Maltseva Natalia V. , Brylev Konstantin A. , Mironov Yuri V. , Gayfulin Yakov M.
Published: November 2021

The selective preparation, structural and spectroscopic study of two new rhenium cluster complexes trans-[Re6S8(bpy)4(CN)2] and trans-[Re6S8(bpy)2(CN)4]2− (bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine) obtained by reactions of corresponding hexarhenium cyanohalides with molten bpy are reported. The complexes were crystallized as solvates, displaying supramolecular structures based on cluster units linked by numerous weak interactions with bpy molecules. The molecular compound trans-[Re6S8(bpy)4(CN)2] (1) is insoluble in water and common organic solvents, while the ionic compound trans-Cs1.7K0.3[Re6S8(bpy)2(CN)4] (2) is somewhat soluble in DMSO, DMF and N-methylpyrrolidone. The presence of the redox-active ligand bpy leads to the occurrence of multi-electron reduction transitions in a solution of 2 at moderate potential values. The ambidentate CN− ligand is the secondary functional group, which has potential for the synthesis of coordination polymers based on the new cluster complexes. In addition, both new compounds show a weak red luminescence, which is characteristic of complexes with a {Re6S8}2+ cluster core.
LRW-CRDB: Lossless Robust Watermarking Scheme for Categorical Relational Databases
Authors: Lin Chia-Chen , Nguyen Thai-Son , Chang Chin-Chen
Published: November 2021

In 2002, Agrawal and Kiernan defined six basic requirements, including preventing illegal watermark embedding and authentication, reversibility, robustness, and others, which must be satisfied when a reversible watermark is designed for relational databases. To meet these requirements, in this paper, a lossless watermarking scheme for a categorical relational database called LRW-CRDB (lossless robust watermarking for categorical relational databases) is proposed. In our LRW-CRDB scheme, the database owner needs to generate two secret embedding keys, K1 and K2, in advance. Then, two reference sets are generated based on two different secret embedding keys and a symmetry-based data hiding strategy, and then these are used for the watermark embedding phases. Experimental results confirmed that our LRW-CRDB scheme successfully detects 100% of hidden watermarks, even when more than 95% of the watermarked relational database has been deleted. In other words, the robustness of our proposed LRW-CRDB scheme outperforms other existing schemes under a variety of possible attacks, such as alteration, sorting, deletion, and mix-match attacks.
Three-Phase Feeder Load Balancing Based Optimized Neural Network Using Smart Meters
Authors: Alhmoud Lina , Nawafleh Qosai , Merrji Waled
Published: November 2021

The electricity distribution system is the coupling point between the utility and the end-user. Typically, these systems have unbalanced feeders due to the variety of customers’ behaviors. Some significant problems occur; the unbalanced loads increase the operational cost and system investment. In radial distribution systems, swapping loads between the three phases is the most effective method for phase balancing. It is performed manually and subjected to load flow equations, capacity, and voltage constraints. Recently, due to smart grids and automated networks, dynamic phase balancing received more attention, thus swapping the loads between the three phases automatically when unbalance exceeds permissible limits by using a remote-controlled phase switch selector/controller. Automatic feeder reconfiguration and phase balancing eliminates the service interruption, enhances energy restoration, and minimize losses. In this paper, a case study from the Irbid district electricity company (IDECO) is presented. Optimal reconfiguration of phase balancing using three techniques: feed-forward back-propagation neural network (FFBPNN), radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), and a hybrid are proposed to control the switching sequence for each connected load. The comparison shows that the hybrid technique yields the best performance. This work is simulated using MATLAB and C programming language.
Arithmetic Operations and Expected Values of Regular Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Variables
Authors: Li Hui , Cai Junyang
Published: November 2021

High computation complexity restricts the application prospects of the interval type-2 fuzzy variable (IT2-FV), despite its high degree of freedom in representing uncertainty. Thus, this paper studies the fuzzy operations for the regular symmetric triangular IT2-FVs (RSTIT2-FVs)—the simplest IT2-FVs having the greatest membership degrees of 1. Firstly, by defining the medium of an RSTIT2-FV, its membership function, credibility distribution, and inverse distribution are analytically and explicitly expressed. Secondly, an operational law for fuzzy arithmetic operations regarding mutually independent RSTIT2-FVs is proposed, which can simplify the calculations and directly output the inverse credibility of the functions. Afterwards, the operational law is applied to define the expected value operator of the IT2-FV and prove the linearity of the operator. Finally, some comparative examples are provided to verify the efficiency of the proposed operational law.
Expected Values of Some Molecular Descriptors in Random Cyclooctane Chains
Authors: Raza Zahid , Imran Muhammad
Published: November 2021

The modified second Zagreb index, symmetric difference index, inverse symmetric index, and augmented Zagreb index are among the molecular descriptors which have good correlations with some physicochemical properties (such as formation heat, total surface area, etc.) of chemical compounds. By a random cyclooctane chain, we mean a molecular graph of a saturated hydrocarbon containing at least two rings such that all rings are cyclooctane, every ring is joint with at most two other rings through a single bond, and exactly two rings are joint with one other ring. In this article, our main purpose is to determine the expected values of the aforementioned molecular descriptors of random cyclooctane chains explicitly. We also make comparisons in the form of explicit formulae and numerical tables consisting of the expected values of the considered descriptors of random cyclooctane chains. Moreover, we outline the graphical profiles of these comparisons among the mentioned descriptors.
Prenatal Exposure to Chemical Mixtures and Inhibition among Adolescents
Authors: Oppenheimer Anna , Bellinger David , Coull Brent , Weisskopf Marc , Zemplenyi Michele , Korrick Susan
Published: November 2021

Inhibition, one of the building blocks of executive function, is the ability to focus one’s attention despite interference from external stimuli. It undergoes substantial development during adolescence and may be susceptible to adverse impacts of prenatal exposure to chemical mixtures, yet few studies have explored this association. The New Bedford Cohort (NBC) is a birth cohort of residents living near the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site in Massachusetts. Among adolescents from the NBC, we investigated the association of biomarkers of prenatal exposure to organochlorines (DDE, HCB, PCBs) and metals (Pb, Mn) with inhibition, assessed with the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System Design Fluency (non-verbal task) and Color–Word Interference (verbal task) subtests. An exploratory mixtures analysis using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) informed a traditional multivariable regression approach. NBC adolescents are diverse with 29% non-white and 31% in a low-income household at birth. Cord serum organochlorine concentrations and cord blood metals concentrations were generally similar to other birth cohorts. In BKMR models, we observed a suggestive adverse association of the chemical mixture with Color–Word Interference but not Design Fluency. In covariate-adjusted linear regression models including all five chemical exposure measures, a doubling of cord blood Mn was associated with poorer Color–Word Interference completion time scaled scores (difference = −0.74; 95% CI: −1.34, −0.14). This study provided evidence of an adverse joint association between prenatal exposure to a five-chemical mixture and verbal inhibition in adolescence with exposure to Mn potentially driving this overall association.
Gut Microbiota and Their Derived Metabolites, a Search for Potential Targets to Limit Accumulation of Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Steenbeke Mieke , Valkenburg Sophie , Gryp Tessa , Van Biesen Wim , Delanghe Joris R. , Speeckaert Marijn M. , Glorieux Griet
Published: November 2021

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by gut dysbiosis with a decrease in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria. Levels of protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) and post-translational modifications (PTMs) of albumin increase with CKD, both risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The relationship between fecal metabolites and plasma concentrations of PBUTs in different stages of CKD (n = 103) was explored. Estimated GFR tends to correlate with fecal butyric acid (BA) concentrations (rs = 0.212; p = 0.032), which, in its turn, correlates with the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria. Specific SCFAs correlate with concentrations of PBUT precursors in feces. Fecal levels of p-cresol correlate with its derived plasma UTs (p-cresyl sulfate: rs = 0.342, p < 0.001; p-cresyl glucuronide: rs = 0.268, p = 0.006), whereas an association was found between fecal and plasma levels of indole acetic acid (rs = 0.306; p = 0.002). Finally, the albumin symmetry factor correlates positively with eGFR (rs = 0.274; p = 0.005). The decreased abundance of SCFA-producing gut bacteria in parallel with the fecal concentration of BA and indole could compromise the intestinal barrier function in CKD. It is currently not known if this contributes to increased plasma levels of PBUTs, potentially playing a role in the PTMs of albumin. Further evaluation of SCFA-producing bacteria and SCFAs as potential targets to restore both gut dysbiosis and uremia is needed.
Coherent States for Fractional Powers of the Harmonic Oscillator Hamiltonian
Authors: Giesel Kristina , Vetter Almut
Published: November 2021

Inspired by special and general relativistic systems that can have Hamiltonians involving square roots or more general fractional powers, in this article, we address the question of how a suitable set of coherent states for such systems can be obtained. This becomes a relevant topic if the semiclassical sector of a given quantum theory is to be analysed. As a simple setup, we consider the toy model of a deparametrised system with one constraint that involves a fractional power of the harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian operator, and we discuss two approaches to finding suitable coherent states for this system. In the first approach, we consider Dirac quantisation and group averaging, as have been used by Ashtekar et al., but only for integer powers of operators. Our generalisation to fractional powers yields in the case of the toy model a suitable set of coherent states. The second approach is inspired by coherent states based on a fractional Poisson distribution introduced by Laskin, which however turn out not to satisfy all properties to yield good semiclassical results for the operators considered here and in particular do not satisfy a resolution of identity as claimed. Therefore, we present a generalisation of the standard harmonic oscillator coherent states to states involving fractional labels, which approximate the fractional operators in our toy model semiclassically more accurately and satisfy a resolution of identity. In addition, motivated by the way the proof of the resolution of identity is performed, we consider these kind of coherent states also for the polymerised harmonic oscillator and discuss their semiclassical properties.
The Role of the Nasal Cavity in the Pathogenesis of Prion Diseases
Authors: Kincaid Anthony E.
Published: November 2021

Prion diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are a class of fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by the entry and spread of infectious prion proteins (PrPSc) in the central nervous system (CNS). These diseases are endemic to certain mammalian animal species that use their sense of smell for a variety of purposes and therefore expose their nasal cavity (NC) to PrPSc in the environment. Prion diseases that affect humans are either inherited due to a mutation of the gene that encodes the prion protein, acquired by exposure to contaminated tissues or medical devices, or develop without a known cause (referred to as sporadic). The purpose of this review is to identify components of the NC that are involved in prion transport and to summarize the evidence that the NC serves as a route of entry (centripetal spread) and/or a source of shedding (centrifugal spread) of PrPSc, and thus plays a role in the pathogenesis of the TSEs.
Research Advances on the Interactions between Rabies Virus Structural Proteins and Host Target Cells: Accrued Knowledge from the Application of Reverse Genetics Systems
Authors: Yin Juanbin , Wang Xiangwei , Mao Ruoqing , Zhang Zhixiong , Gao Xin , Luo Yingying , Sun Yuefeng , Yin Xiangping
Published: November 2021

Rabies is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by lyssaviruses, such as rabies virus (RABV), that results in nearly 100% mortality once clinical symptoms appear. There are no curable drugs available yet. RABV contains five structural proteins that play an important role in viral replication, transcription, infection, and immune escape mechanisms. In the past decade, progress has been made in research on the pathogenicity of RABV, which plays an important role in the creation of new recombinant RABV vaccines by reverse genetic manipulation. Here, we review the latest advances on the interaction between RABV proteins in the infected host and the applied development of rabies vaccines by using a fully operational RABV reverse genetics system. This article provides a background for more in-depth research on the pathogenic mechanism of RABV and the development of therapeutic drugs and new biologics.
Mutagenesis of the Varicella-Zoster Virus Genome Demonstrates That VLT and VLT-ORF63 Proteins Are Dispensable for Lytic Infection
Authors: Braspenning Shirley E. , Lebbink Robert Jan , Depledge Daniel P. , Schapendonk Claudia M. E. , Anderson Laura A. , Verjans Georges M. G. M. , Sadaoka Tomohiko , Ouwendijk Werner J. D.
Published: November 2021

Primary varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection leads to varicella and the establishment of lifelong latency in sensory ganglion neurons. Reactivation of latent VZV causes herpes zoster, which is frequently associated with chronic pain. Latent viral gene expression is restricted to the VZV latency-associated transcript (VLT) and VLT-ORF63 (VLT63) fusion transcripts. Since VLT and VLT63 encode proteins that are expressed during lytic infection, we investigated whether pVLT and pVLT-ORF63 are essential for VZV replication by performing VZV genome mutagenesis using CRISPR/Cas9 and BAC technologies. We first established that CRISPR/Cas9 can efficiently mutate VZV genomes in lytically VZV-infected cells through targeting non-essential genes ORF8 and ORF11 and subsequently show recovery of viable mutant viruses. By contrast, the VLT region was markedly resistant to CRISPR/Cas9 editing. Whereas most mutants expressed wild-type or N-terminally altered versions of pVLT and pVLT-ORF63, only a minority of the resulting mutant viruses lacked pVLT and pVLT-ORF63 coding potential. Growth curve analysis showed that pVLT/pVLT-ORF63 negative viruses were viable, but impaired in growth in epithelial cells. We confirmed this phenotype independently using BAC-derived pVLT/pVLT-ORF63 negative and repaired viruses. Collectively, these data demonstrate that pVLT and/or pVLT-ORF63 are dispensable for lytic VZV replication but promote efficient VZV infection in epithelial cells.
Mathematical Modeling of Within-Host, Untreated, Cytomegalovirus Infection Dynamics after Allogeneic Transplantation
Authors: Duke Elizabeth R. , Boshier Florencia A. T. , Boeckh Michael , Schiffer Joshua T. , Cardozo-Ojeda E. Fabian
Published: November 2021

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes significant morbidity and mortality in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Whereas insights gained from mathematical modeling of other chronic viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis C, and herpes simplex virus-2 have aided in optimizing therapy, previous CMV modeling has been hindered by a lack of comprehensive quantitative PCR viral load data from untreated episodes of viremia in HCT recipients. We performed quantitative CMV DNA PCR on stored, frozen serum samples from the placebo group of participants in a historic randomized controlled trial of ganciclovir for the early treatment of CMV infection in bone marrow transplant recipients. We developed four main ordinary differential Equation mathematical models and used model selection theory to choose between 38 competing versions of these models. Models were fit using a population, nonlinear, mixed-effects approach. We found that CMV kinetics from untreated HCT recipients are highly variable. The models that recapitulated the observed patterns most parsimoniously included explicit, dynamic immune cell compartments and did not include dynamic target cell compartments, consistent with the large number of tissue and cell types that CMV infects. In addition, in our best-fitting models, viral clearance was extremely slow, suggesting severe impairment of the immune response after HCT. Parameters from our best model correlated well with participants’ clinical risk factors and outcomes from the trial, further validating our model. Our models suggest that CMV dynamics in HCT recipients are determined by host immune response rather than target cell limitation in the absence of antiviral treatment.
Rocio Virus: An Updated View on an Elusive Flavivirus
Authors: Saivish Marielena Vogel , Gomes da Costa Vivaldo , de Lima Menezes Gabriela , Alves da Silva Roosevelt , Dutra da Silva Gislaine Celestino , Moreli Marcos Lázaro , Sacchetto Livia , Pacca Carolina Colombelli , Vasilakis Nikos , Nogueira Maurício Lacerda
Published: November 2021

Rocio virus (ROCV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus and human pathogen. The virus is indigenous to Brazil and was first detected in 1975 in the Sao Paulo State, and over a period of two years was responsible for several epidemics of meningoencephalitis in coastal communities leading to over 100 deaths. The vast majority of ROCV infections are believed to be subclinical and clinical manifestations can range from uncomplicated fever to fatal meningoencephalitis. Birds are the natural reservoir and amplification hosts and ROCV is maintained in nature in a mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission cycle, primarily involving Psorophora ferox mosquitoes. While ROCV has remained mostly undetected since 1976, in 2011 it re-emerged in Goiás State causing a limited outbreak. Control of ROCV outbreaks depends on sustainable vector control measures and public education. To date there is no specific treatment or licensed vaccine available. Here we provide an overview of the ecology, transmission cycles, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment options, aiming to improve our ability to understand, predict, and ideally avert further ROCV emergence.
Baculovirus Vectors Induce the Production of Interferons in Swine: Their Potential in the Development of Antiviral Strategies
Authors: Molina Guido Nicolás , Amalfi Sabrina , Otero Ignacio , Taboga Oscar , Molinari María Paula
Published: November 2021

The huge variety of viruses affecting swine represents a global threat. Since vaccines against highly contagious viruses last several days to induce protective immune responses, antiviral strategies for rapid control of outbreak situations are needed. The baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), an insect virus, has been demonstrated to be an effective vaccine vector for mammals. Besides the ability to display or transduce heterologous antigens, it also induces strong innate immune responses and provides IFN-mediated protection against lethal challenges with viruses like foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in mice. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of AcMNPV to induce IFN production and elicit antiviral activity in porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Our results demonstrated that AcMNPV induced an IFN-α-mediated antiviral activity in PBMCs in vitro. Moreover, the inoculation of AcMNPV in piglets led to the production of type I and II IFNs in sera from inoculated animals and antiviral activities against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and FMDV measured by in vitro assays. Finally, it was demonstrated that the pseudotyping of AcMNPV with VSV-G protein, but not the enrichment of the AcMNPV genome with specific immunostimulatory CpG motifs for the porcine TLR9, improved the ability to induce IFN-α production in PBMCs in vitro. Together, these results suggest that AcMNPV is a promising tool for the induction of IFNs in antiviral strategies, with the potential to be biotechnologically improved.
Serious Alert and Border Rejection Notifications on Food in the EU RASFF
Authors: Papapanagiotou Elias P.
Published: November 2021

The serious alert and border rejection notifications on food from the European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (EU RASFF) database were used to determine their lag phases (from sampling to notification dates). More specifically, 4503 serious alert notifications on food were used to calculate the percent (%) share of various lag phases in an overall fashion (for all EU RASFF Member States collectively examined) as well as for the top-three Member States (in notification numbers), in each one of seven hazard categories. The same procedure was followed for 5236 serious border rejection notifications in each one of five hazard categories on food. The lag phases calculated revealed a state of nonharmonization (in lag phases percent shares) both overall and among the top-three Member States, and in the same MS in various hazard categories in serious alert but less pronounced in serious border rejection notifications. Thus, a “Performance Effectiveness Reporting (PER)-50/30” indicator (over 50% of notifications being notified to the RASFF within 30 days of sampling) was proposed for both types of serious notifications, and its application herein has revealed volatility in performance effectiveness reporting among the top-three EU RASFF Member States in the hazard categories. Actions to harmonize this inconsistency should be pursued in the context of safeguarding public health, aiming at the fastest possible risk management and risk communication of serious contamination incidents on food. Finally, a proposal of an “RASFF country profile” is hereby proposed.
Comparative Study on Advanced Nitrogen Removal of Landfill Leachate Treated by SBR and SBBR
Authors: Jiang Jinfeng , Ma Liang , Hao Lianjie , Wu Daoji , Wang Kai
Published: November 2021

In order to achieve advanced nitrogen removal from landfill leachate without the addition of external carbon sources, a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) and a Sequencing Biofilm Batch Reactor (SBBR) were proposed for the treatment of actual landfill leachate with ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations of 1000 ± 100 mg/L and 4000 ± 100 mg/L, respectively. The operating modes of both systems are anaerobic–aerobic–anoxic. After 110 days of start-up and biomass acclimation, the effluent COD and the total nitrogen (TN) of the two systems were 650 ± 50 mg/L and 20 ± 10 mg/L, respectively. The removal rates of COD and total nitrogen could reach around 85% and above 95%, respectively. Therefore, advanced nitrogen removal was implemented in landfill leachate without adding any carbon sources. After the two systems were acclimated, nitrogen removing cycles of SBR and SBBR were 24 h and 20 h, respectively. The nitrogen removing efficiency of SBBR was improved by 16.7% in comparison to SBR. In the typical cycle of the two groups of reactors, the nitrification time of the system was the same, which was 5.5 h, indicating that although the fiber filler occupied part of the reactor space, it had no significant impact on the nitrification performance of the system. At the end of aeration, the internal carbon source content of sludge of SBBR was equivalent to that of the SBR system. However, the total nitrogen concentration of SBBR was only 129 mg/L, which is 33.8% lower than that of SBR at 195 mg/L. The main reason was that biofilm enhanced the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) effect of the system.
Integrating the Design of Tall Building, Wastewater Drainage Systems into the Public Sewer Network: A Review of the Current State of the Art
Authors: Sharif Khanda , Gormley Michael
Published: November 2021

The design of above ground building drainage systems follows codes and standards that only give cursory recognition to the fact that this system connects, in the majority of cases, directly to a vast network of sewer pipes leading to a wastewater treatment plant. At the same time, for underground systems, airflow within as well as in and out of sewers is often neglected during the design of sewers, which depend on these building installed systems for pressure relief and venting. There is clearly an interaction between the two systems, yet this is not reflected in the design guidance, particularly inside buildings where air pressure fluctuations can lead to the destruction of water trap seals and the ingress of foul air containing sewer gases and potentially harmful pathogens. In this systematic review of historical research and design practice for both above and belowground drainage systems, we present the current state of the art and make recommendations for advancements that recognise the interaction between systems and present a view on how design could be advanced in a more holistic way.
Wavelet Analysis of Rainfall and Runoff Multidecadal Time Series on Large River Basins in Western North Africa
Authors: Zamrane Zineb , Mahé Gil , Laftouhi Nour-Eddine
Published: November 2021

This work is dedicated to the study of the spatio-temporal variability of climate in Morocco by the analysis of rainfall (gridded and gauged data) and runoff. The wavelet analysis method has been used in this study to compare the rainfall and runoff series and to show the major discontinuities identified in 1970, 1980, and 2000. Several modes of variability have been detected; this approach has been applied to show annual (1 year) and inter-annual modes (2–4 years, 4–8 years, 8–12/8–16 years, and 16–30 years), and some modes are specific to some stations. This analysis will be complemented by the gridded data covering the period from 1940 to 1999, which will allow for a better understanding of the spatial variability of the highlighted signals set, which identified frequencies at 1 year and 8–16 years, distinguished different time periods at each basin and identified three main discontinuities in 1970, 1980, and 2000. The contribution of climatic indices is important as it is between 55% and 80%.
Long-Term Toxicological Monitoring of a Multibarrier Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Comprising Ozonation and Granular Activated Carbon with In Vitro Bioassays
Authors: Phan Lam T. , Schaar Heidemarie , Reif Daniela , Weilguni Sascha , Saracevic Ernis , Krampe Jörg , Behnisch Peter A. , Kreuzinger Norbert
Published: November 2021

A set of CALUX in vitro bioassays was applied for long-term toxicity monitoring at an advanced wastewater treatment plant comprising ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration for the abatement of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC). During the 13-month monitoring, eight reporter gene assays targeting different modes of action along the cellular toxicity pathway were accessed to evaluate the suitability and robustness of the technologies. Two approaches were followed: on the one hand, signal reduction during advanced treatment was monitored; on the other hand, results were compared to currently available effect-based trigger values (EBTs). A decrease of the corresponding biological equivalent concentrations after the multibarrier system could be observed for all modes of action; while the estrogenic activity decreased below the EBT already during ozonation, the potencies of oxidative stress-like and toxic PAH-like compounds still exceeded the discussed EBT after advanced treatment. Overall, the long-term monitoring confirmed the positive effect of the multibarrier system, commonly evaluated only by CEC abatement based on chemical analysis. It could be demonstrated that advanced WWTPs designed for CEC abatement are suitable to significantly decrease toxicity responses not only in the frame of pilot studies but under real-world conditions as well.
Ecological Network Analysis of a Virtual Water System in Tibet, China
Authors: Chen Junhong , Mei Yadong
Published: November 2021

With the development of the economy and urbanization, the contradiction between water use and supply is growing, and it is necessary to explore the relationship and evolutionary process of water flow in the water system from a systematic perspective. Although previous studies have analyzed the water system from a holistic point of view, a comprehensive system that considers virtual water flows is currently lacking. The present study establishes a seven-compartment virtual water system in Tibet in 2012 by combining ecological network analysis (ENA) with the input–output model. Socio-economic sectors and virtual water flows are expressed as network compartments and pathways. The information-based ENA is used to evaluate the characteristics of the virtual water system in Tibet, including its robustness and trade-offs between network efficiency and redundancy. Network control analysis is introduced to characterize the control and dependence intensities over the system, while ecological relationships between pairwise compartments are calculated using network utility analysis. The results indicate that Tibet’s virtual water system has close to optimal robustness, with higher redundancy and limited efficiency. The agriculture compartment is the main controller, while the energy supply compartment is the most dependent on the virtual water system. The overall systematic relationship that the system has is generally mutualistic and synergistic, the majority of which have a positive relationship, although the control and exploitation relationships are dominant. These results can be used to improve network robustness and are of great significance to the sustainable development of the virtual water system in Tibet.
Evidence for Microplastics Contamination of the Remote Tributary of the Yenisei River, Siberia—The Pilot Study Results
Authors: Frank Yulia A. , Vorobiev Danil S. , Kayler Olga A. , Vorobiev Egor D. , Kulinicheva Ksenia S. , Trifonov Anton A. , Soliman Hunter Tina
Published: November 2021

This study is a pioneering attempt to count microplastics (MPs) in the Yenisei River system to clarify the role of Siberian Rivers in the transport of MPs to the Arctic Ocean. The average MPs content in the surface water of the Yenisei large tributary, the Nizhnyaya Tunguska River, varied from 1.20 ± 0.70 to 4.53 ± 2.04 items/m3, tending to increase along the watercourse (p < 0.05). Concentrations of MPs in bottom sediments of the two rivers were 235 ± 83.0 to 543 ± 94.1 with no tendency of downstream increasing. Linear association (r = 0.952) between average organic matter content and average counts of MPs in bottom sediments occurred. Presumably MPs originated from the daily activities of the in-situ population. Further spatial-temporal studies are needed to estimate the riverine MPs fluxes into the Eurasian Arctic seas.
Potential Impacts of Land Use Changes on Water Resources in a Tropical Headwater Catchment
Authors: Martins Magda Stella de Melo , Valera Carlos Alberto , Zanata Marcelo , Santos Regina Maria Bessa , Abdala Vera Lúcia , Pacheco Fernando António Leal , Fernandes Luís Filipe Sanches , Pissarra Teresa Cristina Tarlé
Published: November 2021

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between land use and future scenarios of land changes on water runoff and groundwater storage in an Environmental Protection Area (EPAs) watershed. The methodology was based on the application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological modelling to investigate flow simulations in current land use and in two future scenarios (forest and pasture). The performance of goodness-of-fit indicators in the calibration (NSE = 0.82, R2 = 0.85, PBIAS = 11.9% and RSR = 0.42) and validation (NSE = 0.70, R2 = 0.72, PBIAS = −4% and RSR = 0.55) was classified as good and very good, respectively. The model accurately reproduced the inter-annual distribution of rainfall. The spatial distribution of average annual surface flow, lateral flow, and groundwater flow were different between sub-basins. The future scenario on land use change to forest (FRSE) and pasture (PAST) differed during the year, with greater changes on rainy and dry seasons. FRSE increase of 64.5% in area led to decreased surface runoff, total runoff, and soil water; and increased lateral flow, groundwater, and evapotranspiration. The effect of the natural vegetation cover on soil moisture content is still unclear. The hydrological model indicated the main areas of optimal spatial water flow. Considering economic values, those areas should encourage the development of government policies based on incentive platforms that can improve environmental soil and water sustainability by establishing payment for environmental services (PES).
Groundwater Depletion in an Urban Environment under Semiarid Climate and Persistent Drought–City of Marrakesh (Morocco)
Authors: Analy Mohammed , Laftouhi Nour-Eddine
Published: November 2021

The quantitative monitoring of the shallow aquifer in Marrakesh and its surrounding area shows that the water table has been lowered gradually over the last 40 years, and attaining an acute decline in the early 2000s. This declining trend—if confirmed in the future—may lead to a water shortage, or even to a total aquifer depletion, which would be devastating for a region where economic activity and drinking water supply rely partly on groundwater resources. Two factors account for this situation: the hot semi-arid climate characterized by high temperatures and low precipitation, causing an inadequate groundwater recharge (deficit between rainwater supply and the potential evapotranspiration), and the over-pumping of groundwater from wells for intensive agricultural uses and some leisure activities (golf courses, waterparks and pools, for example). The objective of this study is to assess the hydrodynamic behaviour of the shallow aquifer in this context of persistent drought and semi-arid climate under intense use conditions. Based on earlier research studies and hydrological data recently collected from the field, a spatiotemporal analysis using a geographic information system has been conducted, allowing researchers to monitor the evolution of groundwater resources under the impact of intense exploitation. This study shows a general decline of groundwater level in the city of Marrakesh between 1962–2019. However, by dividing this period into three periods (1962–1985, 1986–2001 and 2002–2019), it is obvious that the main groundwater fall occurred during the two last decades, a period marked by highest recorded temperatures and decreased precipitation levels. This water table decline impacted 85% of the study area and is estimated at 0.9 m/year. The area most affected by the drawdown of the water table experienced a decline reaching 37 m between 2002 and 2019 (more than 2 m a year).