bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Risk Assessment of Antibiotic in the Aquatic Environment in China Nationwide, A Review
Authors: Li Nan , Cai Yongxin , Chen Hanling , Huang Junjie , Hou Zhihao , Li Qi
Published: December 2022

Antibiotics have been an emerging concern due to the potential adverse threat on the environment and human health. Studies on the presence and fate of antibiotics in Chinese aqueous environments have increased in the past few years. Nevertheless, the distribution of antibiotics contributing to the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance in China nationwide remains unclear. This review summarizes the temporal and spatial distribution of antibiotics in different aqueous environmental systems across the China in the last decade. In all, 79 antibiotics with the concentration range of 0.04 ng/L~6.54 μg/L have been detected in the aquatic environment in China. The Bohai Sea had the highest annual average concentration of total antibiotics ranging from 5.66 to 1552.59 ng/L. The peak of antibiotics in four typical water systems occurred in different years. Antibiotics in the surface water of Northern China accounted for 47.0% of the total annual average concentrations in four regions. Sulfonamides, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones were the dominant compounds both for seawater and surface water. In contrast, β-lactams, sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones were the most abundant for the wastewater treatment plants. That indicated that β-lactams were from human medicine and tetracyclines were from veterinary antibiotics. The risk assessment demonstrated ofloxacin, norfloxacin and enrofloxacin had posed the higher risk than other antibiotics. The review provides an improved understanding on aquatic antibiotics pollution to outline the Chinese scenario and addresses the prospects for future research relating to the issues requiring urgent attention.
A Systematic Review of the Development of Sport Policy Research (2000–2020)
Authors: Ouyang Yi , Lee Ping-Chao , Ko Ling-Mei
Published: December 2022

Since the 1990s, sport policy research has gradually attracted increasing academic attention as a reflection of contemporary society at a particular time. This study adopted four types of theory proposed by Houlihan (2014) to analyze the research development of sport policy. It conducted a systematic review and yielded 100 policy articles related to elite sports, physical education, and sport for all. The scope of the research data was identified from 2000 to 2020 with collation from 24 international Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) journals, which specialized in policy and sport–related studies of social science to look forward to a comprehensive report. The four major findings were as follows: first, this study pointed to evidence that nearly half the research on the topic aimed at meso–level analyses of organizations; second, it demonstrated governance theory, the Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success (SPLISS) model, the advocacy coalition Framework (ACF), and network-related theories played a pivotal role in focusing on policy backgrounds and dynamic relationships within organizations; third, it identified some studies highlighted in the policy texts themselves, or discourse about them, and, thereby, were grouped into the fifth type; finally, the paper suggested that attention has been brought to policy formation and implementation rather than policy evaluation, which has made a contribution to the development of their own operating mechanisms.
A Hybrid Algorithm for Parameter Identification of Synchronous Reluctance Machines
Authors: Wang Huan , Lin Guobin , Zhao Yuanzhe , Ren Sizhe , Duan Fuchuan
Published: December 2022

In rail transit traction, synchronous reluctance machines (SynRMs) are potential alternatives to traditional AC motors due to their energy-saving and low-cost characteristics. However, the nonlinearities of SynRMs are more severe than permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) and induction motors (IM), which means the characteristics of SynRMs are challenging to model accurately. The parameter identification directly influences the modeling of nonlinearity, while the existing algorithms tend to converge prematurely. To overcome this problem, in this paper, a hybrid optimizer combining the SCA with the SSO algorithm is proposed to obtain the parameters of SynRMs, and the proposed Sine-Cosine self-adaptive synergistic optimization (SCSSO) algorithm preserves the self-adaptive characteristic of SSO and the exploration ability of SCA. Comprehensive numerical simulation and experimental tests have fully demonstrated that the proposed method has obviously improved parameter identification accuracy and robustness. In the dq-axis flux linkage, the mismatch between reference and estimated data of proposed algorithm is below 1% and 6%, respectively. Moreover, the best d-axis RMSE of SCSSO is 50% of the well-known algorithm CLPSO and 25% of BLPSO and its performance has improved by two orders of magnitude compared to traditional simple algorithms. In the q-axis, the best RMSE is 10% of CLPSO and 50% of Rao-3 and Jaya. Moreover, the performance of the proposed algorithm has improved nearly 90 times compared to traditional simple algorithms.
Urban Forest Visit Motivation Scale: Development and Validation
Authors: Lee Jun , Kim Dong-Han
Published: December 2022

Due to the importance of the positive effects of urban forests on urban dwellers and the limitations of prior studies, which have mainly dealt with motivations involving rural or tourism-oriented forests, this study aims to develop a scale of visit motivation for an urban forest specifically as a way to deal with more diverse and specific motivations. The first step is to develop a draft version of the Urban Forest Visit Motivation Scale (UFVMS) through experts’ discussions of important factors from prior studies and the analysis of Big Data. Then, to confirm the reliability and validity of these items, 878 valid data of visitors of urban forests living in Seoul and Incheon were collected to conduct EFA and CFA to validate the final version of the scale. As a result of factor analysis, seven dimensions (Experience Activities, Healing and Rest, Health, Environmental Experience, Daily Leisure, Family, Eco-Friendly) with 24 items for the UFVMS were drawn after deleting 5 items that had a low standard regression weight on CFA or were unsuitable for the characteristics of a dimension. The results of this study are expected to provide academic and practical implications for urban forest visit motivation. In particular, unlike common purposes such as healing and health, the results indicate that the purpose of daily leisure-related activities is a notable factor of visiting urban forests, showing that there is also a high need for good-quality facilities such as food suppliers, toilets, and so on. This study will contribute to the academic development of research on UFVMS and the practical development for managers of urban forests in terms of planning a better management of the urban forest with a full understanding of visitors’ motivations. This improving management will contribute to the development of the social sustainability of urban citizens while giving various benefits.
Failure Mechanism and Control Technology for Coal Roadway in Water-Rich Area
Authors: Fan Hao , Niu Xingang , Li Shaobo
Published: December 2022

Accurate analysis of failure mechanisms and scientific support for design of coal roadways in water-rich areas plays an important role in the long-term stability control of roadways. In this study, taking the water-rich 1044 return laneway in the Taoyuan Coal Mine of China as an example, laboratory experiments and field tests were performed to study the potential failure mechanisms of the roadway. It was found that the microcracks inside the coal body increase and strength of the coal decreases with the long-term influence of groundwater. The weak surrounding rock and high vertical in-situ stress were the main internal causes of roadway instabilities. Based on the potential failure mechanisms, a new optimal support design including bolt, cable, metal mesh, shotcrete, and grouting was proposed and detailed support parameters were introduced. A field experiment was performed with the new support, and surface deformations of the experimental roadway were monitored. Results show that the new support can reduce the deformation of the 1044 return laneway by nearly 90% compared with those of the original design. Support technology presented in this contribution provides a significant reference for the control of roadways in water-rich areas.
A Review of Ontology-Based Safety Management in Construction
Authors: Chen Wei Tong , Bria Theresia Avila
Published: December 2022

The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries in terms of safety performance, with practitioners and experts actively developing various solutions to reduce accident frequency and severity. However, accident information is collected in a wide range of formats by various elements in the construction industry, leading to interoperability issues and poor productivity due to the difficulties of sharing and reusing information. To improve the management of various types of safety management (SM) records in the construction industry, practitioners and researchers have adopted ontological methods. This paper summarizes the SM trends in construction management, along with gaps and opportunities for future work. A data processing framework is developed with a phase research for objective and subjective topic analysis from a collection of articles from 2012–2022 on topics relevant to the use of ontology in SM. The analysis focuses on the ontological life cycle (development, integration, and application), revealing an increasing trend of ontology-based SM (ObSM) research in the SM maintenance phase. Increasing case size and system automation is needed for future ontology-based SM optimization. The findings of the study will help to gain a thorough knowledge of ObSM, which will increase interest in effectiveness and the use of engineering and analytical techniques in SM.
The Road to Low Carbon: Can the Opening of High-Speed Railway Reduce the Level of Urban Carbon Emissions?
Authors: Li Heng , Wang Wei
Published: December 2022

Adhering to green and low-carbon development is the only way to achieve sustainable economic development in China. High-speed railway (HSR) has the advantages of low energy consumption and low pollution, which is representative of the high-quality development of China’s transportation industry. Based on the panel data of 285 cities in China from 2004 to 2017, this paper explores the impact of HSR development on CO2 emissions using a difference-in-difference model. The results show that the opening of HSR can effectively reduce the level of urban CO2 emissions. After the endogeneity test and the robustness test, this core conclusion is still valid. The mechanism test confirms that the opening of HSR can reduce the level of urban carbon emissions by promoting the upgrading of industrial structures and improving the level of green technology innovation. Based on empirical results, this paper proposes that we should make rational use of the positive externalities of the HSR network to promote green development, intensive development, and innovative development.
Investigation of Local Tsunami Effect on Coastal Areas: A Case Study of Putian City, Fujian Province, China
Authors: Fan Tingting , Hou Jingming , Xu Zhiguo , Wang Yuchen , Zhao Lianda , Gao Yi , Wang Peitao
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we explored the local tsunami hazards induced by an active local seismic Quanzhou fault, along the coastlines of the City of Putian, Fujian Province, in the southeast of China. The simulation results indicated that the tsunami wave will hit the nearest coast of Putian 0.5 h after the earthquake occurs. The most serious tsunami inundation depth in Putian was less than 3.0 m. This study also conducted a sensitivity test of the tsunami amplitude and inundation in response to different seismic source parameters, particularly the rake and strike angles of the Quanzhou fault. Based on the post-earthquake survey and the most updated geophysical data, the uniform dislocation distribution is applied in the range of scientific geometrical characteristic parameters for numerical modeling. A 20° change in the rake angle increases the inundation area from 50.0 km2 to more than 100.0 km2, and increases the tsunami amplitude from 0.2 m to 1.0 m. In this study, the tsunami hazard of Putian is more sensitive to the rake than to the strike angle for a local fault. Tsunamis generated by seismic fault could also result in serious coastal flooding along the coastlines locally, and the time for emergency response is limited. The research results could provide technical support for refining local tsunami hazard assessment and contingency plans, to save decision-making time and avoid waste of social resources.
Regulatory Effect on Information Sharing of Industrial Internet Platforms Based on Three Differentiated Game Scenarios
Authors: Jiang Lihua , Chen Wei , Lu Shichang , Chen Zhaoxiang
Published: December 2022

This study constructs a regulatory system for information sharing on industrial internet platforms from a technical and socio-legal perspective. A differentiated game is used to construct decentralized, centralized, and cost-sharing contract decision-making scenarios to obtain the optimal level of efforts for information-sharing regulation. Through a comparative analysis, the optimal solutions under the three scenarios were derived. These solutions were then analyzed through numerical simulations using Matlab2016a. Our research demonstrates the following: (1) Centralized decision-making is most beneficial to the development of information-sharing regulatory systems. (2) Beyond a critical value for the local government cost subsidy coefficients, changes in these coefficients have a more pronounced effect on improving the economic efficiency of the regulatory system, and vice versa. That is, when the cost subsidy coefficient is higher than 1/2, increasing the cost subsidy coefficient has a more pronounced effect on improving the economic efficiency of the information-sharing regulatory system. (3) In all scenarios, an increase in the regulatory effort can effectively enhance the reputation of the information-sharing regulatory system. This study further extends the research on information-sharing regulations and provides a practical guide to industrial internet platforms.
Decadal Impacts of Climate Change on Rainfed Agriculture Community in Western Somaliland, Africa
Authors: Sharmake Mohamed Aden , Sultan Khawar , Zaman Qamar uz , Rehman Roeya , Hussain Afzal
Published: December 2022

The western region of Somaliland is prone to climate change and variability due to the widespread use of rainfed agriculture, which has been the practice historically since the colonization era; however, this mode of livelihood is losing its significance due to climate change. This research aims to examine the impact of climate elements’ trends (rainfall and temperature) on rainfed agriculture communities and how these changes affect the rainfed agriculture community. The specific objectives of this study are to determine the major trends of precipitation and temperature over the past three decades, and to assess the level of awareness of climate change in communities’ perception of environmental change in terms of rainfed agriculture. Hence, the study adopted a mixed-methodology approach to concluding the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the research. The main outcome of this study was that climate change has been an active challenge in western rainfed agriculture regions of Somaliland for the last three decades. Decadal precipitation and temperature trend analysis (1985–2015) indicated reduced rainfall both annual and seasonal, and an increase in annual temperature, both in terms of the maximum and minimum. The decrease in annual total rainfall from the Awdal and Waqooyi Galbeed regions was 2 mm/year and 1.5 mm/year, respectively, while in the long rainy season, the decrease of rainfall was 1.4 mm per season and 0.88 mm per season, respectively. In the case of maximum and minimum annual temperatures, both stations depict an increase in temperature. This increase in temperature was 0.043–0.045 °C for the Awdal region and 0.06–0.02 °C for the Waqooyi Galbeed. The qualitative phase of this study supported the quantitative observations, and respondents (≥45 years of age) reported decreasing annual rainfall, a declining long rainy season, and increasing maximum and minimum temperatures. Furthermore, participants mentioned an increase in the occurrence of drought, a reduction of rainfed agriculture productivity, the disappearance of indigenous plants and animals, and an increase of exotic plant species. In addition to that, respondents outlined current adaptation practices; however, these adaptation strategies are short-term, and farmers need more appropriate and practical adaptation practices in the future.
The Weak Field Approximation of General Relativity and the Problem of Precession of the Perihelion for Mercury
Authors: Yahalom Asher
Published: December 2022

In this paper we represent a different approach to the calculation of the perihelion shift than the one presented in common text books. We do not rely on the Schwarzschild metric and the Hamilton–Jacobi technique to obtain our results. Instead we use a weak field approximation, with the advantage that we are not obliged to work with a definite static metric and can consider time dependent effects. Our results support the conclusion of Křížek regarding the significant influence of celestial parameters on the indeterminacy of the perihelion shift of Mercury’s orbit. This shift is thought to be one of the fundamental tests of the validity of the general theory of relativity. In the current astrophysical community, it is generally accepted that the additional relativistic perihelion shift of Mercury is the difference between its observed perihelion shift and the one predicted by Newtonian mechanics, and that this difference equals 43″ per century. However, as it results from the subtraction of two inexact numbers of almost equal magnitude, it is subject to cancellation errors. As such, the above accepted value is highly uncertain and may not correspond to reality.
Ab Initio Calculations of Transport and Optical Properties of Dense Zr Plasma Near Melting
Authors: Fokin Vladimir , Minakov Dmitry , Levashov Pavel
Published: December 2022

The dynamic electrical conductivity of dense Zr plasma near melting is calculated using ab initio molecular dynamics and the Kubo–Greenwood formula. The antisymmetrization of the electronic wave function is considered with the determinant of one-electron wave functions; exchange and correlation effects are treated via an exchange–correlation functional. Optical properties are restored using the Kramers–Kronig transformation. The influence of computational parameters and inner shell electrons on the results is thoroughly investigated. We demonstrate the convergence of our computations and analyze comparison with experimental data.
Simulation Studies on the Dissipative Modified Kawahara Solitons in a Complex Plasma
Authors: Ismaeel Sherif M. E. , Wazwaz Abdul-Majid , Tag-Eldin Elsayed , El-Tantawy Samir A.
Published: December 2022

In this work, a damped modified Kawahara equation (mKE) with cubic nonlinearity and two dispersion terms including the third- and fifth-order derivatives is analyzed. We employ an effective semi-analytical method to achieve the goal set for this study. For this purpose, the ansatz method is implemented to find some approximate solutions to the damped mKE. Based on the proposed method, two different formulas for the analytical symmetric approximations are formally obtained. The derived formulas could be utilized for studying all traveling waves described by the damped mKE, such as symmetric solitary waves (SWs), shock waves, cnoidal waves, etc. Moreover, the energy of the damped dressed solitons is derived. Furthermore, the obtained approximations are used for studying the dynamics of the dissipative dressed (modified Kawahara (mK)) dust-ion acoustic (DIA) solitons in an unmagnetized collisional superthermal plasma consisting of inertia-less superthermal electrons and inertial cold ions as well as immobile negative dust grains. Numerically, the impact of the collisional parameter that arises as a result of taking the ion-neutral collisions into account and the electron spectral index on the profile of the dissipative structures are examined. Finally, the analytical and numerical approximations using the finite difference method (FDM) are compared in order to confirm the high accuracy of the obtained approximations. The achieved results contribute to explaining the mystery of several nonlinear phenomena that arise in different plasma physics, nonlinear optics, shallow water waves, oceans, and seas, and so on.
Error Estimates of a Symmetric Spectral Method for a Linear Volterra Integral Equation
Authors: Wu Danna , Zheng Weishan , Chen Yanfeng
Published: December 2022

A symmetric spectral method is applied to investigate the two-dimensional Volterra integral equation with weakly singular kernels and delays. In this work, the solution of the equation we considered is assumed to be sufficiently smooth so that the spectral method can be applied naturally. Employing three couples of variable transformations, we apply the two-dimensional Gauss quadrature rule to approximate the weakly singular integral with delays and obtain the spectral discretization. Then we derive the convergence results of the proposed approximation scheme. We show that the errors of solution decay exponentially in both the infinity norm and weighted square norm. In the end, we carry out numerical experiments to verify the theoretical results.
On Convex Ordered Hyperrings
Authors: Rao Yongsheng , Gheisari Mehdi , Abbasizadeh Nategh
Published: December 2022

The concept of convex ordered hyperrings associated with a strongly regular relation was investigated in this study. In this paper, we first studied hyperatom elements of ordered hyperrings and then investigated characterizations of quotient ordered rings. Is there a strongly regular relation θ on a convex ordered hyperring R for which R/θ is a convex ordered ring? This leads to an ordered ring obtained from an ordered hyperring.
Study of Chaos in Rotating Galaxies Using Extended Force-Gradient Symplectic Methods
Authors: Zhang Lina , Liu Wenfang , Wu Xin
Published: December 2022

We take into account the dynamics of three types of models of rotating galaxies in polar coordinates in a rotating frame. Due to non-axisymmetric potential perturbations, the angular momentum varies with time, and the kinetic energy depends on the momenta and spatial coordinate. The existing explicit force-gradient symplectic integrators are not applicable to such Hamiltonian problems, but the recently extended force-gradient symplectic methods proposed in previous work are. Numerical comparisons show that the extended force-gradient fourth-order symplectic method with symmetry is superior to the standard fourth-order symplectic method but inferior to the optimized extended force-gradient fourth-order symplectic method in accuracy. The optimized extended algorithm with symmetry is used to explore the dynamical features of regular and chaotic orbits in these rotating galaxy models. The gravity effects and the degree of chaos increase with an increase in the number of radial terms in the series expansions of the potential. There are similar dynamical structures of regular and chaotical orbits in the three types of models for the same number of radial terms in the series expansions, energy and initial conditions.
Analysis of the Fractional Differential Equations Using Two Different Methods
Authors: Partohaghighi Mohammad , Akgül Ali , Akgül Esra Karatas , Attia Nourhane , De la Sen Manuel , Bayram Mustafa
Published: December 2022

Numerical methods play an important role in modern mathematical research, especially studying the symmetry analysis and obtaining the numerical solutions of fractional differential equation. In the current work, we use two numerical schemes to deal with fractional differential equations. In the first case, a combination of the group preserving scheme and fictitious time integration method (FTIM) is considered to solve the problem. Firstly, we applied the FTIM role, and then the GPS came to integrate the obtained new system using initial conditions. Figure and tables containing the solutions are provided. The tabulated numerical simulations are compared with the reproducing kernel Hilbert space method (RKHSM) as well as the exact solution. The methodology of RKHSM mainly relies on the right choice of the reproducing kernel functions. The results confirm that the FTIM finds the true solution. Additionally, these numerical results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Novel Complex Pythagorean Fuzzy Sets under Aczel–Alsina Operators and Their Application in Multi-Attribute Decision Making
Authors: Jin Huanhuan , Hussain Abrar , Ullah Kifayat , Javed Aqib
Published: December 2022

Aggregation operators (AOs) are utilized to overcome the influence of uncertain and vague information in different fuzzy environments. A multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) technique plays a vital role in several fields of different environments such as networking analysis, risk assessment, cognitive science, recommender systems, signal processing, and many more domains in ambiguous circumstances. In this article, we elaborated the notion of Aczel–Alsina t-norm (TNM) and t-conorm (TCNM) under the system of complex Pythagorean fuzzy (CPyF) sets (CPyFSs). Some basic operational laws of Aczel–Alsina TNM and TCNM are established including Aczel–Alsina sum, product, scalar multiplication, and power operations based on CPyFSs. We established several AOs of CPyFSs such as CPyF Aczel–Alsina weighted average (CPyFAAWA), and CPyF Aczel–Alsina weighted geometric (CPyFAAWG) operators. The proposed CPyFAAWA and CPyFAAWG operators are symmetric in nature and satisfy the properties of idempotency, monotonicity, boundedness and commutativity. To solve an MADM technique, we established an illustrative example to select a suitable candidate for a vacant post in a multinational company. To see the advantages of our proposed AOs, we compared the results of existing AOs with the results of newly established AOs.
Some New Symbolic Algorithms for the Computation of Generalized Asymptotes
Authors: Campo-Montalvo Elena , Fernández de Sevilla Marián , Magdalena Benedicto J. Rafael , Pérez-Díaz Sonia
Published: December 2022

We present symbolic algorithms for computing the g-asymptotes, or generalized asymptotes, of a plane algebraic curve, C, implicitly or parametrically defined. The g-asymptotes generalize the classical concept of asymptotes of a plane algebraic curve. Both notions have been previously studied for analyzing the geometry and topology of a curve at infinity points, as well as to detect the symmetries that can occur in coordinates far from the origin. Thus, based on this research, and in order to solve practical problems in the fields of science and engineering, we present the pseudocodes and implementations of algorithms based on the Puiseux series expansion to construct the g-asymptotes of a plane algebraic curve, implicitly or parametrically defined. Additionally, we propose some new symbolic methods and their corresponding implementations which improve the efficiency of the preceding. These new methods are based on the computation of limits and derivatives; they show higher computational performance, demanding fewer hardware resources and system requirements, as well as reducing computer overload. Finally, as a novelty in this research area, a comparative analysis for all the algorithms is carried out, considering the properties of the input curves and their outcomes, to analyze their efficiency and to establish comparative criteria between them.
Solving a System of Integral Equations in Rectangular Menger Probabilistic Metric Spaces and Rectangular Menger Probabilistic b-Metric Spaces
Authors: Ghasab Ehsan Lotfali , Chaharpashlou Reza , Lopes António M.
Published: December 2022

This work introduces the concepts of rectangular Menger probabilistic metric (RMPM) space and rectangular Menger probabilistic b-metric (RMPbM) space as generalizations of the Menger probabilistic metric space and the Menger probabilistic b-metric space, respectively. Some nonunique fixed-point and coupled-fixed-point results for contractive mappings are provided. The findings extend and improve outcomes presented in the existing literature. The main results are illustrated with examples, and validated by means of an application to a system of integral equations. The importance of spaces with non-Hausdorff topology is high, as is the case of computer science, with the Tarskian approach to programming language semantics.
Deformation of Sandy Ground Induced by Tunneling of Super-Large-Diameter Shield—Influence of Buried Depth of Tunnel and Relative Density of Sand
Authors: Li Jiquan , Li Xiaolu , Wen Yuqin , Su Dong
Published: December 2022

The mechanical properties of sandy soil depend on both the confining pressure and the state of compactness. Therefore, both the buried depth of the tunnel and the relative density of the sand are key factors that affect the ground deformation induced by the tunneling of a super-large-diameter shield. In this study, the parameters of the SANISAND constitutive model are first calibrated based on triaxial test data for Foshan silty fine sand. Then, based on the actual project, a two-dimensional finite-element analysis model is established to investigate the ground deformation induced by the tunneling of a super-large-diameter shield. The width and maximum value of the settlement trough, the volume loss ratio, and the deformation characteristics of the soil are summarized and analyzed for 13 cases. The results show that as the ratio of the buried depth to the diameter and the relative density of sand increases, the anti-disturbance ability of the sand layer to the tunnel construction increases and the volume loss ratio of the stratum reduces correspondingly. The denser the sand and the smaller the confining pressure of the soil around the tunnel, the more significant the shear-induced expansion of the sand at the tunnel haunch; this expansion partially makes up the volume loss caused by the tunnel excavation and reduces the loss ratio of the stratum at the arch crown.
Designing a Stable g-C3N4/BiVO4-Based Photoelectrochemical Aptasensor for Tetracycline Determination
Authors: Qiao Lu , Zhao Yue , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhang Mingjuan , Tao Yani , Xiao Yao , Zeng Xinxia , Zhang Yi , Zhu Yuan
Published: December 2022

The excessive consumption of tetracycline (TC) could bring a series of unpredictable health and ecological risks. Therefore, it is crucial to develop convenient and effective detection technology for TC. Herein, a “signal on” photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor was constructed for the stable detection of TC. Specifically, the g-C3N4/BiVO4 were used to promote the migration of photo-generated charges to an enhanced photocurrent response. TC aptamer probes were stably fixed on the g-C3N4/BiVO4/FTO electrode as a recognition element via covalent bonding interaction. In the presence of TC, the aptamer probes could directly recognize and capture TC. Subsequently, TC was oxidized by the photogenerated holes of g-C3N4/BiVO4, causing an enhanced photocurrent. The “signal on” PEC aptasensor displayed a distinguished detection performance toward TC in terms of a wide linear range from 0.1 to 500 nM with a low detection limit of 0.06 nM, and possessed high stability, great selectivity, and good application prospects.
The Simultaneous Removal of Ammonium and Manganese from Surface Water in South China by Manganese Co-Oxide Film
Authors: Xing Xiangxuan , Huang Tinglin , Cheng Ya , Hu Ruizhu , Wen Gang , Li Kai
Published: December 2022

Exceeding the permitted manganese (Mn2+) and ammonium (NH4+-N) levels is a frequent seasonal occurrence in a water treatment plant in south China. An iron Fe–Mn complex oxide film was found capable of removing more than 95% of Mn2+ and NH4+-N at a water temperature of 20 °C and an alkalinity level of 30 mg/L. It could remove up to 5.5 mg/L of Mn2+ and up to 3.5 mg/L of NH4+-N in a stable manner. Alkalinity is a crucial factor in the removal process. The morphology, elemental composition, and micro-structure of the oxide film were investigated using a scanning electron microscope, an energy-dispersive spectrometer, a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface-area analyzer, an X-ray diffractometer, and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer. The capacity of the Fe–Mn complex oxide film on the surface of the filter medium increased appreciably as its content and specific surface area increased. This research, which provides a theoretical basis for simultaneous manganese and NH4+-N removal by catalytic oxidation, demonstrates an engineering reference value.
A Novel Trichothecene Toxin Phenotype Associated with Horizontal Gene Transfer and a Change in Gene Function in Fusarium
Authors: Proctor Robert H. , Hao Guixia , Kim Hye-Seon , Whitaker Briana K. , Laraba Imane , Vaughan Martha M. , McCormick Susan P.
Published: December 2022

Fusarium trichothecenes are among the mycotoxins of most concern to food and feed safety. Production of these mycotoxins and presence of the trichothecene biosynthetic gene (TRI) cluster have been confirmed in only two multispecies lineages of Fusarium: the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti (Incarnatum) and F. sambucinum (Sambucinum) species complexes. Here, we identified and characterized a TRI cluster in a species that has not been formally described and is represented by Fusarium sp. NRRL 66739. This fungus is reported to be a member of a third Fusarium lineage: the F. buharicum species complex. Cultures of NRRL 66739 accumulated only two trichothecenes, 7-hydroxyisotrichodermin and 7-hydroxyisotrichodermol. Although these are not novel trichothecenes, the production profile of NRRL 66739 is novel, because in previous reports 7-hydroxyisotrichodermin and 7-hydroxyisotrichodermol were components of mixtures of 6–8 trichothecenes produced by several Fusarium species in Sambucinum. Heterologous expression analysis indicated that the TRI13 gene in NRRL 66739 confers trichothecene 7-hydroxylation. This contrasts the trichothecene 4-hydroxylation function of TRI13 in other Fusarium species. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that NRRL 66739 acquired the TRI cluster via horizontal gene transfer from a close relative of Incarnatum and Sambucinum. These findings provide insights into evolutionary processes that have shaped the distribution of trichothecene production among Fusarium species and the structural diversity of the toxins.
Kinetics of Immune Subsets in COVID-19 Patients Treated with Corticosteroids
Authors: Pappas Apostolos Georgios , Chaliasou Anna-Louiza , Panagopoulos Andreas , Dede Konstantina , Daskalopoulou Stavroula , Moniem Evie , Polydora Eftychia , Grigoriou Eirini , Psarra Katherina , Tsirogianni Alexandra , Kalomenidis Ioannis
Published: December 2022

Rationale: Changes in anti-SARS-CoV-2 defense immune subsets in patients treated with dexamethasone (DXM) for severe COVID-19 and their relation to disease outcomes are poorly understood. Methods: Blood-lymphocyte subsets of 110 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were prospectively examined. A first sample was taken at enrollment and a second one 7–10 days later. Total B-, T-lymphocytes, CD4+, CD8+, T-regulatory (Treg), Natural-Killer (NK) and NK T-cells were counted using flow cytometry. Results: At enrollment, patients with respiratory failure, characterized by DXM failure (intubation/death) or DXM success (hospital discharge) exhibited significantly fewer CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells and B-lymphocytes compared to the control group (no respiratory failure/no DXM). At the time of treatment completion, the DXM-failure group exhibited significantly fewer CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells, memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, compared to the control and the DXM-success groups and fewer activated CD4+ T-lymphocytes, Tregs and NK cells compared to the control group. At the time of treatment completion, the number of all investigated lymphocyte subsets increased in the DXM-success group and was similar to those of the control group. NK cells significantly decreased over time in the DXM-failure group. Conclusion: The lymphocyte kinetics differ between DXM-treated and control COVID-19 patients and are associated with clinical outcomes.
Critical Assessment of Whole Genome and Viral Enrichment Shotgun Metagenome on the Characterization of Stool Total Virome in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Zhang Fan , Gia Andrew , Chen Guowei , Gong Lan , Behary Jason , Hold Georgina L. , Zekry Amany , Tang Xubo , Sun Yanni , El-Omar Emad , Jiang Xiao-Tao
Published: December 2022

Viruses are the most abundant form of life on earth and play important roles in a broad range of ecosystems. Currently, two methods, whole genome shotgun metagenome (WGSM) and viral-like particle enriched metagenome (VLPM) sequencing, are widely applied to compare viruses in various environments. However, there is no critical assessment of their performance in recovering viruses and biological interpretation in comparative viral metagenomic studies. To fill this gap, we applied the two methods to investigate the stool virome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and healthy controls. Both WGSM and VLPM methods can capture the major diversity patterns of alpha and beta diversities and identify the altered viral profiles in the HCC stool samples compared with healthy controls. Viral signatures identified by both methods showed reductions of Faecalibacterium virus Taranis in HCC patients’ stool. Ultra-deep sequencing recovered more viruses in both methods, however, generally, 3 or 5 Gb were sufficient to capture the non-fragmented long viral contigs. More lytic viruses were detected than lysogenetic viruses in both methods, and the VLPM can detect the RNA viruses. Using both methods would identify shared and specific viral signatures and would capture different parts of the total virome.
Advances in CRISPR-Cas9 for the Baculovirus Vector System: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sari-Ak Duygu , Alomari Omar , Shomali Raghad , Lim Jackwee , Thimiri Govinda Raj Deepak
Published: December 2022

The baculovirus expression vector systems (BEVS) have been widely used for the recombinant production of proteins in insect cells and with high insert capacity. However, baculovirus does not replicate in mammalian cells; thus, the BacMam system, a heterogenous expression system that can infect certain mammalian cells, was developed. Since then, the BacMam system has enabled transgene expression via mammalian-specific promoters in human cells, and later, the MultiBacMam system enabled multi-protein expression in mammalian cells. In this review, we will cover the continual development of the BEVS in combination with CRPISPR-Cas technologies to drive genome-editing in mammalian cells. Additionally, we highlight the use of CRISPR-Cas in glycoengineering to potentially produce a new class of glycoprotein medicines in insect cells. Moreover, we anticipate CRISPR-Cas9 to play a crucial role in the development of protein expression systems, gene therapy, and advancing genome engineering applications in the future.
The Potential Role of Wild Suids in African Swine Fever Spread in Asia and the Pacific Region
Authors: Oberin Madalene , Hillman Alison , Ward Michael P. , Holley Caitlin , Firestone Simon , Cowled Brendan
Published: December 2022

African swine fever (ASF) in Asia and the Pacific is currently dominated by ASF virus transmission within and between domestic pig populations. The contribution made by wild suids is currently not well understood; their distribution, density and susceptibility to the virus has raised concerns that their role in the epidemiology of ASF in the region might be underestimated. Whilst in the Republic of Korea wild suids are considered important in the spread and maintenance of ASF virus, there is an apparent underreporting to official sources of the disease in wild suids from other countires and regions. A review of the current literature, an analysis of the official reporting resources and a survey of the World Organisation of Animal Health Member delegates in Asia and the Pacific were used to assess the potential role of wild suids in ASF outbreaks, and also to gain insight into what ASF management or control strategies are currently implemented for wild suids. Applying appropriate population control and management strategies can be increased in some areas, especially to assist in the conservation of endangered endemic wild suids in this region.
The Dynamic Change in Plasma Epstein–Barr Virus DNA Load over a Long-Term Follow-Up Period Predicts Prognosis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Gihbid Amina , Benzeid Raja , Faouzi Abdellah , El Alami Imane , Tawfiq Nezha , Benchakroun Nadia , Bendahhou Karima , Benider Abdellatif , Guensi Amal , Khaali Wafa , Chaoui Imane , El Mzibri Mohammed , Cadi Rachida , Khyatti Meriem
Published: December 2022

The current study was designed to investigate the changes in the circulating Epstein–Barr virus DNA load (EBV DNA) at various time points before and after treatment and its clinical significance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A total of 142 patients with NPC were prospectively enrolled in this study. The plasma EBV DNA concentration was measured before and after treatment using qPCR. The prognostic values of the EBV DNA load were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression tests. Following multivariate analysis, our data showed that high pre-EBV DNA loads were associated with significantly poorer distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) and progression free survival (PFS); detectable end-EBV DNA loads were associated with significantly worse loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRRFS) and PFS, and the detecTable 6 months-post-EBV DNA loads were associated with significantly poorer overall survival (OS), DMFS and PFS (p < 0.05). Additionally, combining the pre-EBV DNA load and the stage of the disease, our results showed that patients at stage III-IVA with a low pre-EBV DNA load had similar survival rates as patients at stage II with a low or high pre-EBV DNA load, but had better survival rates than those at stage III-IVA with a high pre-EBV DNA load. Taken together, we showed that the change of the EBV DNA load measured at several time points was more valuable than at any single time point for predicting patients’ survival for NPC. Furthermore, combining the pre-EBV DNA load and the TNM classification could help to formulate an improved prognostic model for this cancer.
The Elusive Coreceptors for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
Authors: Berkowitz Reed L. , Ostrov David A.
Published: December 2022

Evidence suggests that the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacts with host coreceptors that participate in viral entry. Resolving the identity of coreceptors has important clinical implications as it may provide the basis for the development of antiviral drugs and vaccine candidates. The majority of characteristic mutations in variants of concern (VOCs) have occurred in the NTD and receptor binding domain (RBD). Unlike the RBD, mutations in the NTD have clustered in the most flexible parts of the spike protein. Many possible coreceptors have been proposed, including various sugars such as gangliosides, sialosides, and heparan sulfate. Protein coreceptors, including neuropilin-1 and leucine-rich repeat containing 15 (LRRC15), are also proposed coreceptors that engage the NTD.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Enhanced Virology Research in Greece
Authors: Beloukas Apostolos , Chaintoutis Serafeim C. , Karakasiliotis Ioannis
Published: December 2022

The emergence of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presented an unprecedented public health threat, being the cause of one of the most devastating pandemics in history [...]
A Retrospective Study with a Commercial Vaccine against Lyme Borreliosis in Dogs Using Two Different Vaccination Schedules: Characterization of the Humoral Immune Response
Authors: Wilczek Claudia K. , Wenderlein Jasmin , Hiereth Stephanie , Straubinger Reinhard K.
Published: December 2022

Lyme borreliosis, a multisystemic disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, is the most common tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. Differently from human medicine, several vaccines are available for dogs. To provide the best protection possible, vaccination schemes should be adapted regularly to meet the needs resulting from an increased tick exposure risk due to an inescapable climate change. In this retrospective study, a total of 183 vaccinations were performed with a commercial, multivalent vaccine against Lyme borreliosis, and vaccinated dogs were monitored over an observation period of 13 months. Dogs were either vaccinated on days 0 and 21 and a booster on day 365 (standard vaccination schedule), or with an additional booster vaccination on day 180. Canine serum samples were then tested for their borrelia-specific antibody levels using a two-tiered test system consisting of a kinetic ELISA followed by a line immunoassay. Dogs vaccinated with the standard vaccination schedule displayed decreasing antibody levels between days 120 and 360, which is probably insufficient to prevent an infection with borreliae. In contrast, the additional booster vaccination received on day 180 intercepts this decline in antibody levels between days 225 and 360, providing a sufficient immunity to prevent infection. The results from this retrospective study allow us to recommend a basic vaccination schedule with an additional booster vaccination on day 180 to ensure the best possible protection for dogs against Lyme borreliosis.
Immunological Studies to Understand Hybrid/Recombinant Variants of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Chavda Vivek P. , Mishra Toshika , Vuppu Suneetha
Published: December 2022

The zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 virus was present before the onset of the pandemic. It undergoes evolution, adaptation, and selection to develop variants that gain high transmission rates and virulence, resulting in the pandemic. Structurally, the spike protein of the virus is required for binding to ACE2 receptors of the host cells. The gene coding for the spike is known to have a high propensity of mutations, as a result generating numerous variants. The variants can be generated by random point mutations or recombination during replication. However, SARS-CoV-2 can also produce hybrid variants on co-infection of the host by two distinct lineages of the virus. The genomic sequences of the two variants undergo recombination to produce the hybrid variants. Additionally, these sub-variants also contain numerous mutations from both the parent variants, as well as some novel mutations unique to the hybrids. The hybrid variants (XD, XE, and XF) can be identified through numerous techniques, such as peak PCR, NAAT, and hybrid capture SARS-CoV-2 NGS (next generation sequencing) assay, etc., but the most accurate approach is genome sequencing. There are numerous immunological diagnostic assays, such as ELISA, chemiluminescence immunoassay, flow-cytometry-based approaches, electrochemiluminescence immunoassays, neutralization assays, etc., that are also designed and developed to provide an understanding of the hybrid variants, their pathogenesis, and other reactions. The objective of our study is to comprehensively analyze the variants of SARS-CoV-2, especially the hybrid variants. We have also discussed the techniques available for the identification of hybrids, as well as the immunological assays and studies for analyzing the hybrid variants.