bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal Placement and Operation of FACTS Technologies in a Cyber-Physical Power System: Critical Review and Future Outlook
Authors: Okampo Ewaoche John , Nwulu Nnamdi , Bokoro Pitshou N.
Published: June 2022

With the current transitioning and increasing complexity of power systems owing to the continuous integration of distributed generators (DGs) and Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), power system quality and security studies have extended to incorporate the impacts of these technologies. This paper presents a review of the operation and reliability impacts of FACTS technologies in improving power quality and security in modern Cyber-Physical Power Systems (CPPS). While introducing DG to the power system helps to decentralize the network for easy accessibility and enhances clean energy system, it creates new challenges such as harmonics, voltage instability, and frequency distortion. These challenges can be tackled with FACTS devices which are flexible and dynamic smart electronic controllers used to stabilize power system parameters to improve power quality and reliability. This paper examines the current state-of-the-art optimization techniques and artificial intelligence and/or computational techniques for optimal placement and operation of FACTS devices. This review highlights the generational advancement of FACTS technologies and the different objectives of optimal placement and operation of these devices. Moreover, the concept of CPPS is discussed with the potential utilization of distribution-FACTS (D-FACTS) devices for network security. Furthermore, a bibliometric analysis was carried out to show research trend of FACTS utilization. The result presents future trajectories for power utility industries and researchers interested in power system optimization and the application of FACTS technologies in smart power system networks. Some of the significant findings leads to proposed demand-side management for placement of DGs and FACTS technologies as a more strategic optimal system sizing to minimize cost. It was also concluded that future design of FACTS/D-FACTS devices must consider and appreciate interactions with the automated systems of CPPS to enhance effective integration. To this end, design modification of the operational configuration of these devices with sensors for real-time synchronized control and interaction with other CPPS technologies is an area that requires more research attention in the future.
Use of Heat Pumps in the Hydrogen Production Cycle at Thermal Power Plants
Authors: Kalmykov Konstantin , Anikina Irina , Kolbantseva Daria , Trescheva Milana , Treschev Dmitriy , Kalyutik Aleksandr , Aleshina Alena , Vladimirov Iaroslav
Published: June 2022

The paper considers the integration and joint operation of a methane steam reforming unit (MSRU) and a heat pump unit (HPU) at a thermal power plant (TPP) as one of the possible ways to follow the global decarbonization policy. Research methods are simulation modeling of a thermal power plant in the program “United Cycle” and analysis of thermodynamic cycles of heat pumps. The Petrozavodskaya combined heat and power plant (CHPP) was selected as the object of the research. During the research, technological schemes for hydrogen production at the Petrozavodskaya CHPP were developed: with steam extraction to MSRU from a live steam collector and with the use of production steam. A scheme for HPU integration is proposed to reduce the cost of hydrogen and to reduce waste heat. A heat pump is used to preheat natural gas before going to MSRU. A method for determining fuel costs for hydrogen production in the trigeneration cycle of a thermal power plant was developed. The minimum specific fuel consumption for hydrogen production—7.854 t ref.f./t H2—is achieved in the mode with steam extraction to MSRU from the turbine PT-60-130/13 (industrial extraction with a flow rate of 30 t/h). At this mode, the coefficient of fuel heat utilization is the highest among all modes with hydrogen production—66.18%.
Sustainable Development Goals in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review
Authors: Clemente-Suárez Vicente Javier , Rodriguez-Besteiro Stephanie , Cabello-Eras Juan José , Bustamante-Sanchez Alvaro , Navarro-Jiménez Eduardo , Donoso-Gonzalez Macarena , Beltrán-Velasco Ana Isabel , Tornero-Aguilera Jose Francisco
Published: June 2022

The present narrative review aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sustainable development goals (SDGS). This information would allow a better comprehension of the actual state of the SDGS and a more efficient programming in future interventions. To achieve the objective of the study, a consensual and critical review was carried out using both primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary sources, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages and databases. The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, close the gender gap, protect the planet, and improve the lives of people around the world. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 17 goals as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets out a plan to achieve the goals in 15 years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has been a turning point in the achievement of these goals, due to all its consequences at the political, economic, and socio-cultural levels. This review can be used as a guide for future research and reviews in order to understand the status of each of the SDGs and what actions have been taken and proposed in the aftermath of the pandemic in recent years.
A Landslide Susceptibility Evaluation of Highway Disasters Based on the Frequency Ratio Coupling Model
Authors: Fan Huadan , Lu Yuefeng , Hu Yulong , Fang Jun , Lv Chengzhe , Xu Changqing , Feng Xinyi , Liu Yanru
Published: June 2022

A landslide disaster, especially a highway landslide, may greatly impact the transport capacity of nearby roads. Keeping highways open, in particular, is crucial for supporting the functioning of the economy, society and people. Therefore, evaluating the highway landslide susceptibility is particularly important. In this paper, the city of Laibin, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, was taken as the study zone. According to data on 641 highway landslide disaster points measured in the field and a basic evaluation of the study area, nine evaluation factors—the elevation, slope, aspect, height difference, plan curve, profile curve, precipitation, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) and vegetation coverage—were selected. We coupled a Frequency Ratio (FR) model, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Logistic Regression (LR), Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) to evaluate the susceptibility to highway landslides, with a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve used to analyze the precision of these models. The ROC curve showed that the accuracy of the five models was greater than 0.700 and thus had a certain reliability. Among them, the FR-LR model had the highest accuracy, at 0.804. The study protocol presented here can therefore provide a reference for evaluation studies on landslide susceptibility in other areas.
Evaluation of the Thermal Environmental Effects of Urban Ecological Networks—A Case Study of Xuzhou City, China
Authors: Guo Nana , Liang Xinbin , Meng Lingran
Published: June 2022

Urban heat islands (UHIs) constitute an important ecological problem in cities. Ecological space has a positive effect on UHI mitigation, which can be effectively organized in the form of ecological networks. In this study, the framework for structural UHI improvement based on ecological networks considering the source-corridor model is proposed to examine the spatial threshold of the thermal effect of ecological network factors. Additionally, the cooling mechanism of each constituent element in the ecological network context is further explored. The results demonstrate that (1) an obvious cold and heat island spatial aggregation distribution exists in the Xuzhou main urban area, and land of the same land use type exhibits the dual thermal environmental properties of cold and heat islands through its spatial distribution and characteristics. Ecological space is the main bearing area of cold islands. (2) The ecological network in the main urban area of Xuzhou city occurs at a moderately complex level, and the overall network efficiency is acceptable; the network connectivity is low, while the network loop distribution is uneven. (3) Ecological networks represent an effective spatial means to improve overall UHI patterns. The ecological source area cooling threshold is 300 m, and the optimal threshold is 100 m, while the ecological corridor width threshold is 500 m and 60 m, respectively. (4) Within the optimal threshold in the context of ecological networks, the temperature of ecological sources in category G land is influenced by NDBI and FVC; ecological corridors are mainly influenced by NDBI. The results can provide a quantitative basis for urban ecological network planning considering UHI improvement and a reference for urban thermal environment research within different ecological substrates and planning and control systems in other countries and regions worldwide.
Continuance Usage Intention toward E-Payment during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Financial Sustainable Development Perspective Using Perceived Usefulness and Electronic Word of Mouth as Mediators
Authors: Liu Tsai-Ling , Lin Tyrone T. , Hsu Shu-Yen
Published: June 2022

Digital transformation is essential to financial sustainable development. Since the beginning of 2020, the whole world has been under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the pace of financial digitization. According to the perceived usefulness of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the perceived seriousness of the health belief model (HBM), this study developed and explored the theoretical framework of consumers’ continuance usage intention toward e-payment. A questionnaire survey was conducted to explore this continuance usage intention among consumers who have used e-payment in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a total of 387 valid samples. The overall model was analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM). The empirical results showed that the security, perceived seriousness, and perceived usefulness of e-payment significantly affect electronic word of mouth (eWOM), while the security and perceived seriousness of e-payment have a significant effect on continuance usage intention through perceived usefulness and eWOM. During the COVID-19 pandemic, e-payment providers should encourage consumers to use e-payment via eWOM, perceived usefulness, and consumers’ perceived health seriousness and should improve the use efficiency of e-payment through e-payment financial services, thus encouraging consumers’ continuance usage intention toward e-payment.
The Sense of Safety and Active Leisure in Gated Enclaves: Evidence from Fuzhou University Campus
Authors: Li Wen-Ying , Chiou Shang-Chia , Huang Bo-Xun
Published: June 2022

Scientific interest in how residential patterns affect both people’s subjective sense of safety and their behavior is increasing. The surge of gated communities in the world has changed the way we live to a great extent. Research on the gated development trend in postmodern cities is still limited; therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between residents’ attitudes toward gated enclaves and their sense of safety. At the same time, the relationship between a sense of security and active leisure behavior was also investigated. Using data collected from 350 college students in Fuzhou University Town, this study introduces a conceptual model to test the relationship between closed enclaves, campus security, and active leisure behavior while controlling population and community characteristics. The results of structural equation model analysis show that gated enclaves positively correlate with campus safety and positively correlate with active leisure behavior, and a safe campus positively correlates with active leisure behavior. The results of this study focus on the importance of gated enclaves as a living environment, and the discovery of functional characteristics of gated enclaves supports future interventions. In other words, when promoting active leisure behavior and increasing the sense of safety in the neighborhood environment, attention must be paid to the characteristics of these gated enclaves. In addition, the simultaneous measurement of these structures provides a dynamic observation of the existing environment, as well as information for future research and construction. Decision makers and urban planners can use these results to promote interaction and healthy behavior in the community under the multi-angle development of the existing access control, thereby improving residents’ sense of security, and increasing leisure participation.
Research and Analysis on the Influencing Factors of China’s Carbon Emissions Based on a Panel Quantile Model
Authors: Liu Yunlong , Chang Xianlin , Huang Chengfeng
Published: June 2022

Since the beginning of the new century, China’s carbon emissions have increased significantly, and the country has become the world’s largest carbon emitter. Therefore, determining the influencing factors of carbon emissions is an important issue for policymakers. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and cities across the country from 2000 to 2018, this study empirically tested how per capita disposable income, industrial structure, urbanization level, average family size, and technological innovation level impacts carbon emissions at different quantile levels by using the panel quantile STIRPAT model. The results showed that per capita disposable income and industrial structure had significant promoting effects on carbon emissions, while urbanization level, average family size, and technological innovation level had significant inhibitory effects on carbon emissions. The main thing is that the emission distributions of the 10th and 90th quantiles of the independent variables were quite different, which shows that the influence of each factor on carbon emissions has obvious heterogeneity at different levels. Specifically, the impact of per capita disposable income and technological innovation level on carbon emissions in low carbon emission areas were higher than that in high carbon emission areas, and the impact of industrial structure, urbanization level, and average household size on carbon emissions in high carbon emission areas was higher. Finally, specific policy implications are provided based on these results.
Reliability Assessment of Highway Bridges Based on Combined Empowerment–TOPSIS Method
Authors: Xu Baosheng , Qi Ningning , Zhou Jianpeng , Li Qingfu
Published: June 2022

(1) In recent years, with the continuous increase of the state’s investment in infrastructure, the construction of highways and bridges has developed rapidly, which has brought great convenience to people’s lives. At the same time, with the increase of bridge service time, the reliability of bridges declines. In order to meet the requirements of sustainable development, it is necessary to accurately evaluate the reliability of bridges. However, most of the existing evaluation methods have single-weighting and one-sidedness. There are problems such as strong subjectivity and overly simple evaluation procedures. Therefore, it is urgent to establish a new scientific bridge reliability evaluation system. (2) Methods. In this paper, a bridge superstructure is taken as the research object, and the “Technical Condition Assessment Standard for Highway Bridges” (JTG/T H21-2011) is used as the criterion to establish a bridge reliability evaluation index system. The subjective and objective weights of the evaluation indicators are based on minimum discriminant information. Each evaluation indicator is combined and weighted; then, the closeness of each evaluation object to the positive ideal solution is determined according to Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Finally, the reliability level of each evaluation object is determined. (3) Results. Reliability evaluation of the three-span superstructure of the bridge was carried out, and final reliability evaluation results of “Grade 2, Grade 2, Grade 2” were obtained, which are consistent with the actual working state of the bridge. (4) Conclusions. The evaluation results of this paper are consistent with the results obtained by the traditional AHP–Extenics method, but the evaluation model of this paper adopts combined weighting, which avoids the one-sidedness of the weighting of a single method—thus, the comprehensive weight obtained not only reflects the subjective intention of decision makers, but also reflects the objective properties of the data.
The Mediating Effect of Group Cohesion Modulated by Resilience in the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Military Life Adjustment
Authors: Ha Jung Hee , Jue Juliet
Published: June 2022

This study’s purpose was to investigate the relationship among soldiers’ perceived stress, group cohesion, military life adjustment, and resilience. Specifically, we aimed to verify the mediating effect of cohesion and the modulating effect of resilience. In addition, we examined the mediated modulating effect of resilience within the comprehensive relationship among variables. The research participants comprised 300 soldiers from two different army troops, and a total of 285 data points were analyzed, excluding unfinished responses. The main results were as follows. First, we identified the mediated effect of cohesion in the relationship between soldiers’ perceived stress and their military life adjustment. Second, resilience showed a moderating effect in the relationship between soldiers’ cohesion and military life adjustment. Third, while on the path of moving from perceived stress to successful military life adjustment through cohesion, resilience modulated the relationship between cohesion and military life adjustment. Lastly, in this paper, we address this study’s implications and limitations.
An Autonomous Storage Optimization LRM Generation Strategy Based on Cascaded NURBS
Authors: Ding Song , Zhou Kui , Yang Yanding , Zhang Youbing , Cao Kai , Liang Huanghuang , Fu Yongzhi
Published: June 2022

Automatic control of intelligent vehicles depends heavily on accurate lane-level location information. The traditional digital map cannot meet the automatic driving requirements, and it is very difficult for lane-level road maps (LRMs) to achieve a good balance between the representation accuracy and data storage volume. To tackle this problem, we obtain the recursive definition of a lane line by analyzing road lanes using the fractal geometry theory. Subsequently, we construct a recursive feedback system and model it. On this basis, an autonomous storage optimization LRM generation strategy based on cascaded NURBS is devised. According to the input data density, this framework generates an LRM with the minimum data storage volume within the error constraint. It is mainly composed of two modules: (1) a random fractal and (2) an adaptive iteration memory optimizer, based on cascaded NURBS error feedback. First, the whole lane is divided into several meta lane line modules. Second, data sampling/interpolation is carried out iteratively according to the NURBS fitting error and symmetry of road geometry. In this way, the storage space used to store lane lines and other information is automatically optimized. Last, a simulation experiment is carried out by using a dataset obtained from a park. The simulation results show that the proposed method can achieve high accuracy and high storage efficiency. Under the constraint of a 0.1 m curve fitting error, the average memory demand of the lane line elements is less than 2.4 bytes/m.
A New Approach to COVID-19 Detection: An ANN Proposal Optimized through Tree-Seed Algorithm
Authors: Aslan Muhammet Fatih , Sabanci Kadir , Ropelewska Ewa
Published: June 2022

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which affects the whole world, continues to spread. This disease has infected and killed millions of people worldwide. To limit the rate of spread of the disease, early detection should be provided and then the infected person should be quarantined. This paper proposes a Deep Learning-based application for early and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19. Compared to other studies, this application’s biggest difference and contribution are that it uses Tree Seed Algorithm (TSA)-optimized Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to classify deep architectural features. Previous studies generally use fully connected layers for end-to-end learning classification. However, this study proves that even relatively simple AlexNet features can be classified more accurately with the TSA-ANN structure. The proposed hybrid model provides diagnosis with 98.54% accuracy for COVID-19 disease, which shows asymmetric distribution on Computed Tomography (CT) images. As a result, it is shown that using the proposed classification strategy, the features of end-to-end architectures can be classified more accurately.
Periodic Orbits of Nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equations Computed by a Boundary Shape Function Method
Authors: Liu Chein-Shan , Chang Chih-Wen , Chen Yung-Wei , Chang Yen-Shen
Published: June 2022

In the paper, we determine the period of an n-dimensional nonlinear dynamical system by using a derived formula in an (n + 1)-dimensional augmented space. To form a periodic motion, the periodic conditions in the state space and nonlinear first-order differential equations constitute a special periodic problem within a time interval with an unknown length. Two periodic problems are considered: (a) boundary values are given and (b) boundary values are unknown. By using the shape functions, a boundary shape function method (BSFM) is devised to obtain an initial value problem with the initial values of the new variables given. The unknown terminal values of the new variables and period are determined by two iterative algorithms for the case (a) and one iterative algorithm for the case (b). The periodic solutions obtained from the BSFM satisfy the periodic conditions automatically. For the numerical example, the computed order of convergence displays the merit of the BSFM. For the sake of comparison, the iterative algorithms based on the shooting method for cases (a) and (b) were developed by directly implementing the Poincaré map into the fictitious time-integration method to determine the period. The BSFM is better than the shooting method in terms of convergence speed, accuracy, and stability.
Lie Symmetry Analysis, Particular Solutions and Conservation Laws of Benjiamin Ono Equation
Authors: Wang Zhenli , Sun Liangji , Hua Rui , Zhang Lihua , Wang Haifeng
Published: June 2022

In this paper, by applying the Lie group method and the direct symmetry method, Lie algebras of the Benjiamin Ono equation are obtained, and we find that results of the two methods are same. Based on the Lie algebra, Lie symmetry groups, relationships between new solutions and old solutions, two kinds of ODEs as symmetry reductions are obtained. Making use of the power series method, the exact power series solution of the Benjiamin Ono equation has been derived. We also give the conservation laws of Benjiamin Ono equation by means of Ibragimovs new conservation Theorem.
Particle Multiplicity Fluctuations and Spatiotemporal Properties of Particle-Emitting Source of Strongly Interacting Matter for NICA and RHIC Energies
Authors: Cheremnova Mariya , Chernyshov Alexey , Khyzhniak Yevheniia , Kodolova Olga , Kuzmin Valentin , Lokhtin Igor , Malinina Ludmila , Mikhaylov Konstantin , Nigmatkulov Grigory
Published: June 2022

The results of the model analysis of hadron femtoscopic correlations and factorial moments of particle multiplicity in heavy ion collisions for the energy range of the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program at RHIC and future NICA collider are presented. For this purpose, the simulation of Au+Au collisions at center-of-mass energies 7.7 and 11.5 GeV per nucleon pair using the UrQMD, vHLLE+UrQMD (with the crossover and first-order equation of states), and HYDJET++ event generators was performed. The sensitivity of pion and kaon correlation radii and the dependence of the factorial moments on heavy ion beam energy to quark–hadron phase transition details was studied. In addition, the possible influence of some relevant detector effects on the corresponding experimental observables is discussed.
Mycotoxin Co-Occurrence in Michigan Harvested Maize Grain
Authors: Fusilier Katlin , Chilvers Martin I. , Limay-Rios Victor , Singh Maninder P.
Published: June 2022

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi that, depending on the type and exposure levels, can be a threat to human and animal health. When multiple mycotoxins occur together, their risk effects on human and animal health can be additive or synergistic. Little information is known about the specific types of mycotoxins or their co-occurrence in the state of Michigan and the Great Lakes region of the United States. To understand the types, incidences, severities, and frequency of co-occurrence of mycotoxins in maize grain (Zea mays L.), samples were collected from across Michigan over two years and analyzed for 20 different mycotoxins. Every sample was contaminated with at least four and six mycotoxins in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Incidence and severity of each mycotoxin varied by year and across locations. Correlations were found between mycotoxins, particularly mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. Environmental differences at each location played a role in which mycotoxins were present and at what levels. Overall, data from this study demonstrated that mycotoxin co-occurrence occurs at high levels in Michigan, especially with mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp., such as deoxynivalenol.
Serum Markers Associated with Disease Severity in a Bosnian Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Cohort
Authors: Noack Danny , Travar Maja , Mrdjen Visnja , Voermans Jolanda J. C. , van de Vijver David , Molenkamp Richard , Koopmans Marion P. G. , Goeijenbier Marco , Rockx Barry
Published: June 2022

Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) is endemic in Europe and can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (nephropathia epidemica). Disease features include fever, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury (AKI). This retrospective cohort study of forty PUUV patients aims to characterize associations of serum immunological, hemostatic or kidney injury markers to disease severity. While interleukin-18 (IL-18) was significantly increased in severely thrombocytopenic patients (<100 × 109 platelets/L) compared to patients with higher platelet counts, RANTES was significantly decreased in these patients. These data suggest that patients with significant thrombocytopenia might have experienced pronounced Th1 immune responses. When kidney dysfunction was used as the primary disease outcome, recently identified AKI biomarkers (Cystatin C, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7, Nephrin, and trefoil factor 3) were significantly upregulated in patients with severe PUUV infection, defined as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 30 m/min/1.73 m2. The increased expression of these markers specifically indicates pathology in glomeruli and proximal tubuli. Furthermore, E-selectin was significantly higher while interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) was significantly lower in PUUV patients with more severe kidney dysfunction compared to patients with higher eGFR-values. Increased E-selectin illustrates the central role of endothelial cell activation, whereas decreased IP-10 could indicate a less important role of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of kidney dysfunction.
The Role of Latency-Associated Transcripts in the Latent Infection of Pseudorabies Virus
Authors: Deng Jiahuan , Wu Zhuoyun , Liu Jiaqi , Ji Qiuyun , Ju Chunmei
Published: June 2022

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) can cause neurological, respiratory, and reproductive diseases in pigs and establish lifelong latent infection in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Latent infection is a typical feature of PRV, which brings great difficulties to the prevention, control, and eradication of pseudorabies. The integral mechanism of latent infection is still unclear. Latency-associated transcripts (LAT) gene is the only transcriptional region during latent infection of PRV which plays the key role in regulating viral latent infection and inhibiting apoptosis. Here, we review the characteristics of PRV latent infection and the transcriptional characteristics of the LAT gene. We also analyzed the function of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) produced by the LAT gene and its importance in latent infection. Furthermore, we provided possible strategies to solve the problem of latent infection of virulent PRV strains in the host. In short, the detailed mechanism of PRV latent infection needs to be further studied and elucidated.
Follow up of the Humoral Response in Healthcare Workers after the Administration of Two Dose of the Anti SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines—Effectiveness in Delta Variant Breakthrough Infections
Authors: Fernández-Rivas Gema , Barallat Jaume , Quirant-Sánchez Bibiana , González Victoria , Doladé María , Martinez-Caceres Eva , Piña Monica , Matllo Joan , Blanco Ignacio , Cardona Pere-Joan
Published: June 2022

The implementation of vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) allowed the management of the pandemic in a manner that differed from that in the first waves. It has been demonstrated that the mRNA vaccines elicit good humoral responses but that there are still breakthrough infections. In summer 2021, a fifth wave emerged, despite the good coverage of HCWs in Spain. We aimed to study the SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels as a marker to predict the possibility of Delta variant infections after vaccination after a seroepidemiological campaign. Of the 5000 participants, a total of 4902 (98.04%) showed a positive result in the serological anti-S test and only 98 (1.96%) were negative. Among the 4368 fully vaccinated participants, only in five cases was the serology negative. Of the total number of participants that received antibody results during the study, 162 were PCR positive in the subsequent two months. Among these, 151 were fully vaccinated (two doses). Significant differences between antibody BAU/mL levels were found between PCR positive and non-PCR positive participants (p < 0.01). The median of BAU/mL was higher in those vaccinated patients with no infection (1260 BAU/mL; 465–2080) versus infected patients (661 BAU/mL; 361–2080). These data support the idea that vaccines play an important role in the control of the pandemic, especially among HCWs at the time of the Delta variant circulation. More studies with other variants of concern must be performed in order to establish a correlation between the levels of IgG and the new infections.
Infectious Bronchitis Coronavirus: Genome Evolution in Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated SPF Chickens
Authors: Flageul Alexandre , Allée Chantal , Courtillon Céline , Béven Véronique , Quenault Hélène , Blanchard Yannick , Amelot Michel , Courtois David , De Wit Sjaak , Eterradossi Nicolas , Grasland Béatrice , Brown Paul A.
Published: June 2022

Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) continues to cause significant economic losses for the chicken industry despite the use of many live IBV vaccines around the world. Several authors have suggested that vaccine-induced partial protection may contribute to the emergence of new IBV strains. In order to study this hypothesis, three passages of a challenge IBV were made in SPF chickens sham inoculated or vaccinated at day of age using a live vaccine heterologous to the challenge virus. All birds that were challenged with vaccine heterologous virus were positive for viral RNA. NGS analysis of viral RNA in the unvaccinated group showed a rapid selection of seven genetic variants, finally modifying the consensus genome of the viral population. Among them, five were non-synonymous, modifying one position in NSP 8, one in NSP 13, and three in the Spike protein. In the vaccinated group, one genetic variant was selected over the three passages. This synonymous modification was absent from the unvaccinated group. Under these conditions, the genome population of an IBV challenge virus evolved rapidly in both heterologous vaccinated and non-vaccinated birds, while the genetic changes that were selected and the locations of these were very different between the two groups.
Potential of Using Dual-Media Biofilm Reactors as a Real Coffee Industrial Effluent Pre-Treatment
Authors: Abu Hasan Hassimi , Sai Annanda Shanmugam Dheenesh , Sheikh Abdullah Siti Rozaimah , Muhamad Mohd Hafizuddin , Budi Kurniawan Setyo
Published: June 2022

The coffee processing industry produces toxic and low biodegradable effluent, which can pollute water bodies. A pre-treatment study on coffee effluent using a dual-media biofilm reactor (DM-BR) containing sand and Hexafilter (HEX) was conducted alongside a control biofilm reactor (C-BR) containing sand media. The novelty of this study lies in the use of dual media in biofilm reactor (DM-BR) for real coffee effluent treatment, where these processes were used individually in previous studies. The performance of DM-BR and C-BR in treating coffee effluent were investigated at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs), 24, 48 and 72 h, and the degrading bacteria were identified. Both biofilm reactors were inoculated with a recycled paper mill-activated sludge and acclimatised for 97 days. The DM-BR displayed the highest removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH4+-N at 47% and 38%, respectively, within 48 h of HRT, whereas colour and tannin–lignin reached maximum average removal of 21% and 29%, respectively, at 24 h of HRT. The combination of sand and HEX media in a system showed COD and NH4+-N removal improvement at 48 h of HRT and encouraged a variety of bacterial species growth. Bacterial characterisation analysis revealed Proteobacteria to be dominant.
Modeling of Nitrification Kinetics in a Respirometric Biosensor under Suboptimal Conditions
Authors: Woznica Andrzej , Karczewski Jerzy , Klis Czesław , Długosz Jacek , Ziemski Przemysław , Nowak Agnieszka , Bernas Tytus
Published: June 2022

Sensitive detection with cell biosensors requires optimization of their working conditions and standardization of the response in variable physicochemical conditions. The introduction of an analyte to a sensor, which contributes to this variability, may account for the modeling of microbial metabolism. We constructed a multiparameter model of a water toxicity sensor of Automatic Biodetector for Water Toxicity (ABTOW), developed by our group and based on nitrifying bacteria. The model describes the kinetics of nitrification as a function of four orthogonal parameters: temperature, pH, oxygen and ammonium concentration. Furthermore, we characterized the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ABTOW readout as a function of these parameters. Thus, a region of parameter space corresponding to optimal ABTOW operation is identified and its sensitivity quantified. We applied the model to describe the ABTOW performance in non-equilibrium conditions produced by rapid changes in pH and temperature. In sum, the model based on four physicochemical parameters describes changes in the biosensor’s activity, the biological element of which are nitrifying bacteria characterized by simple chemolithoautotrophic metabolism. The description of reaction kinetics through multiparameter modeling in combination with stability analysis can find application in process control in biotechnology, biodetection and environmental research.
Bioretention Systems Optimization and Design Characterization Model Using Fuzzy Rough Set Theory
Authors: Galleto Fredelino A. , Cabatuan Melvin K. , Africa Aaron Don M. , Maniquiz-Redillas Marla C. , Navaluna Jay M. , Herrera John Christian Q. , Ubando Aristotle T. , Culaba Alvin B. , Redillas Mark Christian Felipe R.
Published: June 2022

Urban stormwater has become a persistent concern on a global scale due to its adverse environmental implications. It is the prime vector of aquatic contaminants worldwide that causes pollutants when water bodies drain. Bioretention systems are increasingly used to alleviate setbacks associated with stormwater run-off in urban locales. It has played a substantial role in the implementation of low impact development (LID), a concept that addresses urban stormwater problems caused by land changes and development. The use of LID technologies is an innovative approach. However, it is beset with challenges, such as the insufficiency of data on rainfall distribution and difficulty in interpreting data. To address these research gaps, the present study developed a fuzzy rough set data algorithm for bioretention systems. Event mean concentration calculations and fuzzification of rainfall were performed to produce a rough set-based decision rule. Using the Weibull probability distribution, fuzzification of rainfall and parameter data, rule induction, and Preece testing, bioretention design considerations were determined. The bioretention characterizations generated evident pollutants present in the catch basin before and after filtration. In addition, the bioretention characterization conducted in this study was able to reduce the number of tests needed for rainfall identification based on the different attributes.
Experimental and Numerical Study on Vortical Structures and Their Dynamics in a Pump Sump
Authors: Uruba Václav , Procházka Pavel , Sedlář Milan , Komárek Martin , Duda Daniel
Published: June 2022

Research on water flow in a pump inlet sump is presented. The main effort has been devoted to the study of the vortical structures’ appearance and their behavior. The study was conducted in a dedicated model of the pump sump consisting of a rectangular tank 1272 × 542 × 550 mm3 with a vertical bellmouth inlet 240 mm in diameter and a close-circuit water loop. Both Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and experimental research methods have been applied. The advanced unsteady approach has been used for mathematical modeling to capture the flow-field dynamics. For experiments, the time-resolved Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method has been utilized. The mathematical modeling has been validated against the obtained experimental data; the main vortex core circulation is captured within 3%, while the overall flow topology is validated qualitatively. Three types of vortical structures have been detected: surface vortices, wall-attached vortices and bottom vortex. The most intense and stable is the bottom vortex; the surface and wall-attached vortices are found to be of random nature, both in their appearance and topology; they appear intermittently in time with various topologies. The dominant bottom vortex is relatively steady with weak, low-frequency dynamics; typical frequencies are up to 1 Hz. The origin of the vorticity of all large vortical structures is identified in the pump propeller rotation.
Quality of Bottom Sediments of Sołtmany Lake (Masurian Lake District, Poland) in the Light of Geochemical and Ecotoxicological Criteria—Case Study
Authors: Świercz Anna , Tomczyk-Wydrych Ilona , Bąk Łukasz
Published: June 2022

The quality of bottom sediment is important for the condition of aquatic environments. High levels of potentially harmful components in sediments negatively affect the quality of surface water environments. Lake bottom sediments are commonly used to control the quality of the environment in terms of both heavy metals and harmful organic compounds. This paper presents new data on the compositions of bottom sediments from Sołtmany Lake, located in the Masurian Lake District (Poland). The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical properties of bottom sediments and to assess their quality based on geochemical and ecotoxicological criteria. The field study was conducted in July 2021. Thirty sediment samples were collected for analysis from six study sites located in the upper central and lower part of the reservoir. Contamination of the bottom sediments with trace metals was determined on the basis of the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), while an ecological risk assessment was carried out on the basis of calculated values of TEC (Threshold Effect Concentration) and PEC (Probable Effect Concentration) indices. The study shows that the concentration of trace metals in sediments was characterised by slight variation and that the maximum values did not exceed: 1.1 mg·kg−1 for Cd, 8.7 mg·kg−1 for Cr, 10.9 mg·kg−1 for Cu, 7.7 mg·kg−1 for Ni, 12.9 mg·kg−1 for Pb and 52.3 mg·kg−1 for Zn. The analyses further showed that the concentration of trace elements in the sediment surface layer increased in the following order: Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > Cd. The maximum pH value of H2O was 7.1, while that of KCl was 7.0. The maximum values of Corg, Ntot, P2O5, K2O and Mg were, respectively: 6.1 g·kg−1, 1.4 g·kg−1, 40.2 mg·100 g−1, 31.2 mg·100 g−1 and 35.1 mg·100 g−1. The assessment of the degree of lake pollution is essential for the conservation of biodiversity and the organisation of environmental management activities.
Annual Evaluation of 17 Oestrogenic Endocrine Disruptors and Hazard Indexes in the Douro River Estuary—The Atlantic Discharge of the Highest-Flow River of Southwestern Europe
Authors: Rocha Maria João , Silva Frederico , Rocha Eduardo
Published: June 2022

The concentrations of seventeen endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) that included oestrogens, phytoestrogens, sitosterol, and banned industrial pollutants were investigated at ten sites of the Douro River estuary. Surface waters were collected during 2019. After evaluating the physicochemical data (ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and phosphates), the waters were filtrated and submitted to solid-phase extraction (SPE) to extract and pre-concentrate (4000-fold) the EDCs. The extracts were derivatized with BSTFA + 1% TMS and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). All EDCs showed a high detection rate (97%, on average), exhibiting ubiquity in this estuary. The finding of biologically relevant amounts of oestrogens (up to 8.5 ng/L for oestradiol, E2), phytoestrogens (up to 827 ng/L for biochanin A, BIO-A) and industrial pollutants (up to 2.7 µg/L for nonylphenol di-ethoxylated, NP2EO) strongly support ongoing risks of endocrine disruption for the local aquatic wildlife. Globally, there was an E2-equivalents (E2-EQs) concentration of 25 ng/L and a hazard index (HI) of 26, which further indicates considerable potential for adverse effects on local biota. Moreover, the physicochemical data suggest direct sewage discharges. Beyond possible toxicological effects on fauna, the detected contaminants may pose risks to humans via direct contact (bathing at local fluvial beaches) or by ingestion (local fish).
Biological and Social Change of the Aayar Ethnic Group in the Keethari Novel
Authors: R Vimala Devi
Published: June 2022

Novels are one of the mainstays of contemporary media documenting the biographies of soil-based peoples.  Contemporary writers have documented people's lives, customs, rituals, values, in their novels with a contemporary character.  The industrial revolution, the Green Revolution, the White Revolution, the deforestation for development projects, the occupation of agricultural lands, the loss of livelihoods to the people living in their respective areas as refugees, the loss of their own land due to land occupation. Their work records the changes in society during the respective eras, such as the transformation of wages into agricultural wages and the loss of livelihood and suicide.  Sundara Ramasamy's Oru Puliyamarathin Kathai, Vairamuthu's Kallaikattu epic, work in novels that record the history of the community or a component of a race. S. Tamilchelvi has recorded the lives of the common people who migrate for their livelihood as sheep migrated for their livelihood as evidenced by Kovalan's complaint to chase the prey for livelihood through the sociological approach in the novel. The writers have written extensively on the unique cultural life style of the Mullai people, the people of Mullai land, from the Tolkappiyam to the novel literature up to today. The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of globalization, liberalism, capitalism, the astounding growth of consumer culture and natural disasters on the livestock breeding and availability of the ancient Aayar.
Veredas epistêmicas e metodológicas da poesia oral
Authors: Xavier Luciano Santos , Sousa Denise Dias de Carvalho
Published: June 2022

No seio da Literatura, a poesia oral, ou as poéticas da oralidade como um todo, abarcam metodologias de análise que se diferem daquelas da Crítica e Teoria Literárias conservadoras e tradicionalistas, uma vez que seu amplo suporte teórico e conceitual relaciona o escopo literário com muitos outros campos epistêmicos, como o do teatro, da música, da antropologia, da sociologia, da etnologia, entre outros. Em vista disso, este trabalho aspira discutir alguns pontos teóricos no que concerne à poesia oral e sua genealogia nas culturas populares, incursionando em suas interfaces metodológicas e epistemológicas. Para tanto, nos pautamos em uma revisão de literatura de textos e pesquisas de autores como: Zumthor (1993), Fernandes (2007), Culler (1999), Santos (1994), Burke (1989), entre outros.
Texto, memória e subjetividade: uma leitura de "Aperfeiçoamento o imperfeito", de Carla Luma
Authors: Soares Isabelle Maria
Published: June 2022

“Aperfeiçoando o imperfeito” de Carla Luma, conto escolhido como objeto de estudo do presente artigo, é um texto literário situado no espaço virtual. Publicado no blog Escritoras Suicidas, o conto instigou a seguinte proposta: uma leitura pela ótica de alguns conceitos acerca do texto (BARTHES, 2004; KARVALHAL, 2012; CARVALHAL, 1992; SAMOYAULT, 2008), da memória (NORA, 1993; BERGSON, 1999; HALBWACHS, 2015; POLLAK, 1989, 1992) e da subjetividade (GIDDENS, 1991; HALL, 2015; CASTORIADIS, 1999). A abordagem do aporte teórico é colocada em prática a partir da nossa análise do conto de Luma. Percebemos, assim, que o texto literário estudado dialoga com outros textos por meio de uma pluralidade de memórias e da subjetividade fragmentada da voz que narra.
Marriage Contract Through Teleconference During the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Overview of Maqashid Syariah
Authors: Supriadi Supriadi
Published: June 2022

Rapid technological developments have affected all aspects of people's social life, including in the field of marriage. One indication is the use of teleconference developments as a medium for conducting marriage contracts, but the problem is, Islamic law has not specifically regulated the rules or laws of marriage contracts through teleconference technology or other online media, while the development of information technology is faster and faster when compared to development of legal substance. The issue of the marriage contract via teleconference caused controversy because of differences in interpretation of the concept of the unity of the assembly. This research is a type of normative legal research. Normative legal research that focuses on legal principles related to the implementation of the marriage contract. This study is descriptive in nature, collecting information about a teleconference marriage contract phenomenon. The approach used is a normative theological approach, phenomenology and philosophy. The analytical knife uses the maqashid shariah theory in observing the marriage contract by teleconference. The research findings show that the marriage contract through teleconference which was carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic was reviewed according to maqashid shariah is a legal event that is allowed, and this will be an alternative to avoid harm as a goal to maintain the human soul.