bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Promoting Interpersonal Relationships through Elbow Tag, a Traditional Sporting Game. A Multidimensional Approach
Authors: Muñoz-Arroyave Verónica , Pic Miguel , Luchoro-Parrilla Rafael , Serna Jorge , Salas-Santandreu Cristòfol , Damian-Silva Sabrine , Machado Leonardo , Rodríguez-Arregi Rosa , Prat Queralt , Duran-Delgado Conxita , Lavega-Burgués Pere
Published: July 2021

The aim of this research was to study from a multidimensional point of view (decisional, relational and energetic) the interpersonal relationships established by girls and boys in the traditional sport game of Elbow Tag. Scientific evidence has shown that Traditional Sport Games (TSG) trigger different effects on male and female genders in relation to emotional experiences, decision-making, conflicts and motor relationships. Despite the fact that these dimensions are intertwined, there are hardly any studies that interpret motor behaviors holistically, i.e., taking a multidimensional (360°) view of these dimensions. For this study, a quasi-experimental design was used and a type III design was applied, inspired by the observational methodology N/P/M. A total of 147 university students participated (M = 19.6, SD = 2.3): 47 girls (31.97%) and 100 boys (68.02%). A mixed ‘ad hoc’ registration system was designed with acceptable margins of data quality. Cross-tabulations, classification trees and T-patterns analysis were applied. The results indicated that social interactions between girls and boys in a mixed group were unequal. This difference was mainly due to decision-making (sub-role variable), which has much greater predictive power than the energetic variables (MV and steps).
Innovation Resistance and Resource Allocation Strategy of Medical Information Digitalization
Authors: Lu Wei-Chih , Tsai I-Ching , Wang Kuan-Chung , Tang Te-Ai , Li Kuan-Chen , Ke Ya-Ci , Chen Peng-Ting
Published: July 2021

Healthcare industries are facing an enormous flow of medical records due to the progression of information technology and the trend of digital transformation. Thus, medical information digitalization is a huge digital dataset that can be utilized to benefit healthcare systems and patients. While many studies focus on the application of the digitalized medical information in the healthcare field, only a few mentioned its resistance. The theoretical background depicts a comprehensive overview of medical information digitalization and the barriers in previous literature. This study emphasized the interaction of medical information digitalization barriers and applies the importance-resistance analysis model (IRA) to identify the resistant factors overcoming strategy. It also clarifies the pathway to eliminating the innovation resistance and reveals the interaction of medical information digitalization barriers. The acquisition, management, and application of medical information digitalization are the key foundation of medical technology innovation, digital transformation, and the application of artificial intelligence. This work can reduce the limitation of a narrow healthcare context. This study helps healthcare industries to clarify and solve barriers and realizes the innovation and application of medical information digitalization. In the long term, the results provide a basis for the future development direction of medical information digitalization and affect the medical industry.
Usability of an Affective Emotional Learning Tutoring System for Mobile Devices
Authors: Wang Tao-Hua , Lin Hao-Chiang Koong , Chen Hong-Ren , Huang Yueh-Min , Yeh Wei-Ting , Li Cheng-Tsung
Published: July 2021

To echo the United Nations formulated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Furthermore, high-quality education is the base on which human lives can be improved and sustainable development can be accomplished. Therefore, the affective emotional tutoring system established in this study enables learning via mobile devices, which are indispensable in daily life. The real-time interactive agent in the system guides learners to turn negative emotions into positive ones. We explored the usability of and user satisfaction with the affective emotional tutoring system. Sixty-two students participated in the study which used a quantitative research design to explore a learning situation. The overall usability of the system was evaluated with the System Usability Scale (SUS), and the Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction (QUIS) was used to evaluate user satisfaction with the different elements of the system. The results showed that both the usability of and satisfaction with the affective emotional tutoring system were high. The emotional feedback mechanism of the system can help learners turn negative emotions into positive ones.
Climate Change and Informal Education in the Opinion of Forest Users in Poland
Authors: Korcz Natalia , Koba Jacek , Kobyłka Agata , Janeczko Emilia , Gmitrowicz-Iwan Joanna
Published: July 2021

Climate change affects various aspects of the economy, agriculture, economics, and politics, including forestry. There is more and more talk about the real impact of the effects of climate change. This paper presents the results of a survey on the perceptions of two groups, foresters and recreational forest users, about climate change and its impacts on forested areas; 130 foresters and 146 recreational forest users participated in the survey (total n = 276). The survey was conducted from April to November 2019 and consisted of three parts. The first part included questions about the demographic characteristics of the respondents (gender, age, education, place of residence), the second part focused on the respondents’ views on climate change and its implications for forest ecosystems, and the third part focused on informal forest education and its relationship to climate change. The results of our study indicated that progressive climate change affecting forest ecosystems is clearly felt by the professional group related to forests such as foresters, and to a lesser extent by people using forests for tourism and recreation. According to foresters, the effects of climate change on forest areas include rapid changes in weather patterns and more frequent insect infestations. On the other hand, people resting in forests mainly observe the lack of snow cover and occurrence of drought. Informal forest education insufficiently covers the topic of climate change. Thus, our study can help guide informal education towards topics related to climate change and the need for sustainable forest use.
Herders’ Perceptions about Rangeland Degradation and Herd Management: A Case among Traditional and Non-Traditional Herders in Khentii Province of Mongolia
Authors: Ulziibaatar Munguntuul , Matsui Kenichi
Published: July 2021

Herders play essential roles in sustaining Mongolia’s economy and rangeland conditions. As about 90% of Mongolia’s livestock grazes on natural pasture, how herders manage it largely affects the future sustainability of the livestock industry. Since Mongolia transformed its grazing practices from communal management into loosely regulated household practices in 1990, overgrazing has become a growing concern. Considering this concern, this paper examines the extent to which traditional and non-traditional herders perceive pasture conditions and practice management. We conducted the questionnaire survey among 120 herders in Murun Soum of Khentii Province and asked about rangeland degradation and their coping strategies. To determine correlations between their perceptions/practices and sociodemographic characteristics, we conducted multiple regression analyses. We found that, overall, most herders identified rangeland conditions degrading and grass yield declining with less plant diversity and more soil damage by Brandt’s vole. Herders’ mobility and herd movement frequency have decreased since 1990, placing more strains on limited pasture areas. In coping with overgrazing, about 20% of the respondents had practiced traditional rangeland management, whereas many others had overlooked pasture conditions and increased goat production as the world’s demand for cashmere rose. In response to our question about herders’ future contribution of their traditional knowledge to sustainable rangeland management, traditional herders demonstrated their willingness to help local officials manage the pasture. This paper then explores how local administrations and herders may collaborate in the future.
Towards a Transdisciplinary Theoretical Framework of Citizen Science: Results from a Meta-Review Analysis
Authors: Spasiano Andrea , Grimaldi Salvatore , Braccini Alessio Maria , Nardi Fernando
Published: July 2021

This work intends to lay the foundations for a theoretical framework of citizen science combining social and organizational implications with the support of information technologies. The proposed theoretical framework moves towards a shared and common research process between experts and citizens to deal with environmental and social challenges. The role and capacity of online communities is explored and their engagement capacity by means of web-based digital platforms supporting crowdsourcing activities. In this contribution, authors highlight the most common practices, methods and issues of citizen science approaches adopted from multidisciplinary application fields to obtain insights for designing a new participative approach for organizational studies. To reach this goal, authors illustrate the results of a systematic meta-review analysis, consisting of an accurate selection and revision of journal review articles in order to highlight concepts, methods, research design approaches and tools adopted in citizen science approaches.
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Modeling Using Chaos Game Optimization Technique
Authors: Alsaidan Ibrahim , Shaheen Mohamed A. M. , Hasanien Hany M. , Alaraj Muhannad , Alnafisah Abrar S.
Published: July 2021

For the precise simulation performance, the accuracy of fuel cell modeling is important. Therefore, this paper presents a developed optimization method called Chaos Game Optimization Algorithm (CGO). The developed method provides the ability to accurately model the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The accuracy of the model is tested by comparing the simulation results with the practical measurements of several standard PEMFCs such as Ballard Mark V, AVISTA SR-12.5 kW, and 6 kW of the Nedstack PS6 stacks. The complexity of the studied problem stems from the nonlinearity of the PEMFC polarization curve that leads to a nonlinear optimization problem, which must be solved to determine the seven PEMFC design variables. The objective function is formulated mathematically as the total error squared between the laboratory measured terminal voltage of PEMFC and the estimated terminal voltage yields from the simulation results using the developed model. The CGO is used to find the best way to fulfill the preset requirements of the objective function. The results of the simulation are tested under different temperature and pressure conditions. Moreover, the results of the proposed CGO simulations are compared with alternative optimization methods showing higher accuracy.
Bayesian Structure Learning and Visualization for Technology Analysis
Authors: Park Sangsung , Choi Seongyong , Jun Sunghae
Published: July 2021

To perform technology analysis, we usually search patent documents related to target technology. In technology analysis using statistics and machine learning algorithms, we have to transform the patent documents into structured data that is a matrix of patents and keywords. In general, this matrix is very sparse because its most elements are zero values. The data is not satisfied with data normality assumption. However, most statistical methods require the assumption for data analysis. To overcome this problem, we propose a patent analysis method using Bayesian structure learning and visualization. In addition, we apply the proposed method to technology analysis of extended reality (XR). XR technology is integrated technology of virtual and real worlds that includes all of virtual, augmented and mixed realities. This technology is affecting most of our society such as education, healthcare, manufacture, disaster prevention, etc. Therefore, we need to have correct understanding of this technology. Lastly, we carry out XR technology analysis using Bayesian structure learning and visualization.
Numerical Investigation of Fractional-Order Swift–Hohenberg Equations via a Novel Transform
Authors: Nonlaopon Kamsing , Alsharif Abdullah M. , Zidan Ahmed M. , Khan Adnan , Hamed Yasser S. , Shah Rasool
Published: July 2021

In this paper, the Elzaki transform decomposition method is implemented to solve the time-fractional Swift–Hohenberg equations. The presented model is related to the temperature and thermal convection of fluid dynamics, which can also be used to explain the formation process in liquid surfaces bounded along a horizontally well-conducting boundary. In the Caputo manner, the fractional derivative is described. The suggested method is easy to implement and needs a small number of calculations. The validity of the presented method is confirmed from the numerical examples. Illustrative figures are used to derive and verify the supporting analytical schemes for fractional-order of the proposed problems. It has been confirmed that the proposed method can be easily extended for the solution of other linear and non-linear fractional-order partial differential equations.
Diversity in Primate External Eye Morphology: Previously Undescribed Traits and Their Potential Adaptive Value
Authors: Perea-García Juan Olvido , Danel Dariusz P. , Monteiro Antónia
Published: July 2021

Comparative examinations of external eye morphology in primates initially focused on communicative functions of the eye. Subsequent work has failed to find consistent associations between specific eye morphologies and communicative functions. In this article, we review the field of primate external eye morphology and inspect publicly available and unpublished photographs. We identify and describe five commonly occurring traits that have not received attention so far. We cross-examined the clinical and psychological literature to propose potential adaptive functions. These potential adaptive functions include communicative functions, but also photoregulatory functions and photoprotective functions.
Development of a New Risk Assessment Methodology for Light Goods Vehicles on Two-Lane Road Sections
Authors: Subotić Marko , Radičević Veljko , Pavlović Zoran , Ćirović Goran
Published: July 2021

Increasing mobility directly affects traffic frequency and thus increases the possible risk of traffic accident occurrences. Taking this into account, it is necessary to create models for determining risk and to act preventively based on these models; this is of great importance both to society and science. In this paper, six measuring sections of a road network are considered on the basis of eight geometric-exploitation road parameters, taking into account the data for light goods vehicles. An original methodology is proposed for identifying risk levels of road sections through their evaluation. For identifying risk levels, the Dombi Logarithmic Methodology of Additive Weights (D’LMAW) was used, which was combined with the Measurement Alternatives and Ranking according to the Compromise Solution (MARCOS) method. Statistical indicators were processed using a hybrid methodology based on the application of rough numbers and Dombi–Bonferroni functions. The performance of the presented methodology was verified on a real-world example, processing the statistical parameters of six two-lane road sections, with the sixth measuring section showing the best performance, since it had the minimum risk. Research has shown that measuring sections with increasing longitudinal gradients are safer. The analysis of measuring sections from fall to rise reduces the deviation of speeds from the speed limit on the roads. The effectiveness, rationality, and robustness of the solution of the proposed methodology was confirmed through a sensitivity analysis.
Prenatal Household Air Pollution Exposure, Cord Blood Mononuclear Cell Telomere Length and Age Four Blood Pressure: Evidence from a Ghanaian Pregnancy Cohort
Authors: Kaali Seyram , Jack Darby , Opoku-Mensah Jones , Bloomquist Tessa , Aanaro Joseph , Quinn Ashlinn , Boamah-Kaali Ellen Abrafi , Kinney Patrick , Mujtaba Mohammed Nuhu , Agyei Oscar , Yawson Abena Konadu , Osei-Owusu Samuel , Delimini Rupert , Wylie Blair , Ae-Ngibise Kenneth Ayuurebobi , Baccarelli Andrea , Owusu-Agyei Seth , Chillrud Steven N. , Asante Kwaku Poku , Lee Alison
Published: July 2021

Associations between prenatal household air pollution exposure (HAP), newborn telomere length and early childhood blood pressure are unknown. Methods: Pregnant women were randomized to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove, improved biomass stove or control (traditional, open fire cook stove). HAP was measured by personal carbon monoxide (CO) (n = 97) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) (n = 60). At birth, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) were collected for telomere length (TL) analyses. At child age four years, we measured resting blood pressure (BP) (n = 97). We employed multivariable linear regression to determine associations between prenatal HAP and cookstove arm and assessed CBMC relative to TL separately. We then examined associations between CBMC TL and resting BP. Results: Higher prenatal PM2.5 exposure was associated with reduced TL (β = −4.9% (95% CI −8.6, −0.4), p = 0.03, per 10 ug/m3 increase in PM2.5). Infants born to mothers randomized to the LPG cookstove had longer TL (β = 55.3% (95% CI 16.2, 109.6), p < 0.01)) compared with control. In all children, shorter TL was associated with higher systolic BP (SBP) (β = 0.35 mmHg (95% CI 0.001, 0.71), p = 0.05, per 10% decrease in TL). Increased prenatal HAP exposure is associated with shorter TL at birth. Shorter TL at birth is associated with higher age four BP, suggesting that TL at birth may be a biomarker of HAP-associated disease risk.
Antiparasitic Effects of Potentially Toxic Beetles (Tenebrionidae and Meloidae) from Steppe Zones
Authors: Díaz-Navarro Marta , Bolívar Paula , Andrés María Fe , Gómez-Muñoz María Teresa , Martínez-Díaz Rafael A. , Valcárcel Félix , García-París Mario , Bautista Luis M. , González-Coloma Azucena
Published: July 2021

Arthropods and specifically beetles can synthesize and/or sequester metabolites from dietary sources. In beetle families such as Tenebrionidae and Meloidae, a few studies have reported species with toxic defensive substances and antiparasitic properties that are consumed by birds. Here we have studied the antiparasitic activity of extracts from beetle species present in the habitat of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) against four pathogen models (Aspergillus niger, Meloidogyne javanica, Hyalomma lusitanicum, and Trichomonas gallinae). The insect species extracted were Tentyria peiroleri, Scaurus uncinus, Blaps lethifera (Tenebrionidae), and Mylabris quadripunctata (Meloidae). M. quadripunctata exhibited potent activity against M. javanica and T. gallinae, while T. peiroleri exhibited moderate antiprotozoal activity. The chemical composition of the insect extracts was studied by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The most abundant compounds in the four beetle extracts were hydrocarbons and fatty acids such as palmitic acid, myristic acid and methyl linoleate, which are characteristic of insect cuticles. The presence of cantharidin (CTD) in the M. quadripunctata meloid and ethyl oleate (EO) in T. peiroleri accounted for the bioactivity of their extracts.
Virulence Factor Genes and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Blood and Chronic Wounds
Authors: Budzyńska Anna , Skowron Krzysztof , Kaczmarek Agnieszka , Wietlicka-Piszcz Magdalena , Gospodarek-Komkowska Eugenia
Published: July 2021

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the predominant bacteria isolated from skin and soft tissue infections and a common cause of bloodstream infections. The aim of this study was to compare the rate of resistance to various antimicrobial agents and virulence patterns in a total of 200 S. aureus strains isolated from patients with bacteremia and chronic wounds. Disk diffusion assay and in the case of vancomycin and teicoplanin-microdilution assay, were performed to study the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates. The prevalence of genes encoding six enterotoxins, two exfoliative toxins, the Panton–Valentine leukocidin and the toxic shock syndrome toxin was determined by PCR. Of the 100 blood strains tested, the highest percentage (85.0%, 31.0%, and 29.0%) were resistant to benzylpenicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin, respectively. Out of the 100 chronic wound strains, the highest percentage (86.0%, 32.0%, 31.0%, 31.0%, 30.0%, and 29.0%) were confirmed as resistant to benzylpenicillin, tobramycin, amikacin, norfloxacin, erythromycin, and clindamycin, respectively. A significantly higher prevalence of resistance to amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin was noted in strains obtained from chronic wounds. Moreover, a significant difference in the distribution of sea and sei genes was found. These genes were detected in 6.0%, 46.0% of blood strains and in 19.0%, and 61.0% of wound strains, respectively. Our results suggest that S. aureus strains obtained from chronic wounds seem to be more often resistant to antibiotics and harbor more virulence genes compared to strains isolated from blood.
The Usage of Ergot (Claviceps purpurea (fr.) Tul.) in Obstetrics and Gynecology: A Historical Perspective
Authors: Smakosz Aleksander , Kurzyna Wiktoria , Rudko Michał , Dąsal Mateusz
Published: July 2021

In the past centuries consumption of bread made of ergot-infected flour resulted in mass poisonings and miscarriages. The reason was the sclerotia of Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul.—a source of noxious ergot alkaloids (ergotamine and ergovaline). The authors have searched the 19th century medical literature in order to find information on the following topics: dosage forms of drugs based on ergot and their application in official gynecology and obstetrics. The authors also briefly address the relevant data from the previous periods as well as the 20th century research on ergot. The research resulted in a conclusion that applications of ergot in gynecology and obstetrics in the 19th century were limited to controlling excessive uterine bleeding and irregular spasms, treatment of fibrous tumors of the uterus, and prevention of miscarriage, abortion, and amenorrhoea. The most common dosage forms mentioned in the works included in our review were the following: tinctures, water extracts (Wernich’s and Squibb’s watery extract of ergot), pills, and powders. The information documented in this paper will be helpful for further research and helpful in broadening the understanding of the historical application of the described controversial crude drugs. Ergot alkaloids were widely used in obstetrics, but in modern times they are not used in developed countries anymore. They may, however, play a significant role in developing countries where, in some cases, they can be used as an anti-hemorrhage agent during labor.
Reactor Antineutrino Anomaly Reanalysis in Context of Inverse-Square Law Violation
Authors: Naumov Vadim A. , Shkirmanov Dmitry S.
Published: July 2021

We discuss a possibility that the so-called reactor antineutrino anomaly (RAA), which is a deficit of the ν¯e rates in the reactor experiments in comparison to the theoretical expectations, can at least in part be explained by applying a quantum field-theoretical approach to neutrino oscillations, which in particular predicts a small deviation from the classical inverse-square law at short (but still macroscopic) distances between the neutrino source and detector. An extensive statistical analysis of the current reactor data on the integrated ν¯e event rates vs. baseline is performed to examine this speculation. The obtained results are applied to study another long-standing puzzle—gallium neutrino anomaly (GNA), which is a missing νe flux from 37Ar and 51Cr electron-capture decays as measured by the gallium–germanium solar neutrino detectors GALLEX and SAGE.
Neutralizing Antibodies in COVID-19 Patients and Vaccine Recipients after Two Doses of BNT162b2
Authors: Favresse Julien , Gillot Constant , Di Chiaro Laura , Eucher Christine , Elsen Marc , Van Eeckhoudt Sandrine , David Clara , Morimont Laure , Dogné Jean-Michel , Douxfils Jonathan
Published: July 2021

The evaluation of the neutralizing capacity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies is important because they represent real protective immunity. In this study we aimed to measure and compare the neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in COVID-19 patients and in vaccinated individuals. One-hundred and fifty long-term samples from 75 COVID-19 patients were analyzed with a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) and compared to six different SARS-CoV-2 serology assays. The agreement between the sVNT and pseudovirus VNT (pVNT) results was found to be excellent (i.e., 97.2%). The NAb response was also assessed in 90 individuals who had received the complete dose regimen of BNT162b2. In COVID-19 patients, a stronger response was observed in moderate–severe versus mild patients (p-value = 0.0006). A slow decay in NAbs was noted in samples for up to 300 days after diagnosis, especially in moderate–severe patients (r = −0.35, p-value = 0.03). In the vaccinated population, 83.3% of COVID-19-naive individuals had positive NAbs 14 days after the first dose and all were positive 7 days after the second dose, i.e., at day 28. In previously infected individuals, all were already positive for NAbs at day 14. At each time point, a stronger response was observed for previously infected individuals (p-value < 0.05). The NAb response remained stable for up to 56 days in all participants. Vaccinated participants had significantly higher NAb titers compared to COVID patients. In previously infected vaccine recipients, one dose might be sufficient to generate sufficient neutralizing antibodies.
West Nile and Usutu Viruses’ Surveillance in Birds of the Province of Ferrara, Italy, from 2015 to 2019
Authors: Lauriano Alessandra , Rossi Arianna , Galletti Giorgio , Casadei Gabriele , Santi Annalisa , Rubini Silva , Carra Elena , Lelli Davide , Calzolari Mattia , Tamba Marco
Published: July 2021

West Nile (WNV) and Usutu (USUV) viruses are mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Thanks to their importance as zoonotic diseases, a regional plan for surveillance of Arboviruses was implemented in Emilia-Romagna in 2009. The province of Ferrara belongs to the Emilia-Romagna region, and it is an endemic territory for these viruses, with favorable ecological conditions for abundance of mosquitoes and wild birds. From 2015 to 2019, we collected 1842 dead-found birds at a wildlife rehabilitation center, which were analysed by three different PCRs for the detection of WNV and USUV genomes. August was characterized by the highest infection rate for both viruses. Columbiformes scored the highest USUV prevalence (8%), while Galliformes and Strigiformes reported the highest prevalence for WNV (13%). Among Passeriformes (the most populated Order), Turdus merula was the most abundant species and scored the highest prevalence for both viruses. To optimize passive surveillance plans, monitoring should be focused on the summer and towards the avian species more prone to infection by both viruses.
Cellular Uptake and Intracellular Phosphorylation of GS-441524: Implications for Its Effectiveness against COVID-19
Authors: Rasmussen Henrik Berg , Jürgens Gesche , Thomsen Ragnar , Taboureau Olivier , Zeth Kornelius , Hansen Poul Erik , Hansen Peter Riis
Published: July 2021

GS-441524 is an adenosine analog and the parent nucleoside of the prodrug remdesivir, which has received emergency approval for treatment of COVID-19. Recently, GS-441524 has been proposed to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19, perhaps even being superior to remdesivir for treatment of this disease. Evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of GS-441524 requires understanding of its uptake and intracellular conversion to GS-441524 triphosphate, the active antiviral substance. We here discuss the potential impact of these pharmacokinetic steps of GS-441524 on the formation of its active antiviral substance and effectiveness for treatment of COVID-19. Available protein expression data suggest that several adenosine transporters are expressed at only low levels in the epithelial cells lining the alveoli in the lungs, i.e., the alveolar cells or pneumocytes from healthy lungs. This may limit uptake of GS-441524. Importantly, cellular uptake of GS-441524 may be reduced during hypoxia and inflammation due to decreased expression of adenosine transporters. Similarly, hypoxia and inflammation may lead to reduced expression of adenosine kinase, which is believed to convert GS-441524 to GS-441524 monophosphate, the perceived rate-limiting step in the intracellular formation of GS-441524 triphosphate. Moreover, increases in extracellular and intracellular levels of adenosine, which may occur during critical illnesses, has the potential to competitively decrease cellular uptake and phosphorylation of GS-441524. Taken together, tissue hypoxia and severe inflammation in COVID-19 may lead to reduced uptake and phosphorylation of GS-441524 with lowered therapeutic effectiveness as a potential outcome. Hypoxia may be particularly critical to the ability of GS-441524 to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 from tissues with low basal expression of adenosine transporters, such as alveolar cells. This knowledge may also be relevant to treatments with other antiviral adenosine analogs and anticancer adenosine analogs as well.
Viral and Prion Infections Associated with Central Nervous System Syndromes in Brazil
Authors: Sousa Ivanildo P. , dos Santos Flavia B. , de Paula Vanessa S. , Vieira Tuane C.R.G. , Dias Helver G. , Barros Caroline A. , da Silva Edson E.
Published: July 2021

Virus-induced infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are among the most serious problems in public health and can be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, mainly in low- and middle-income countries, where these manifestations have been neglected. Typically, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, varicella-zoster, and enterovirus are responsible for a high number of cases in immunocompetent hosts, whereas other herpesviruses (for example, cytomegalovirus) are the most common in immunocompromised individuals. Arboviruses have also been associated with outbreaks with a high burden of neurological disorders, such as the Zika virus epidemic in Brazil. There is a current lack of understanding in Brazil about the most common viruses involved in CNS infections. In this review, we briefly summarize the most recent studies and findings associated with the CNS, in addition to epidemiological data that provide extensive information on the circulation and diversity of the most common neuro-invasive viruses in Brazil. We also highlight important aspects of the prion-associated diseases. This review provides readers with better knowledge of virus-associated CNS infections. A deeper understanding of these infections will support the improvement of the current surveillance strategies to allow the timely monitoring of the emergence/re-emergence of neurotropic viruses.
Structural Investigation of Orf Virus Bcl-2 Homolog ORFV125 Interactions with BH3-Motifs from BH3-Only Proteins Puma and Hrk
Authors: Suraweera Chathura D. , Hinds Mark G. , Kvansakul Marc
Published: July 2021

Numerous viruses have evolved sophisticated countermeasures to hijack the early programmed cell death of host cells in response to infection, including the use of proteins homologous in sequence or structure to Bcl-2. Orf virus, a member of the parapoxviridae, encodes for the Bcl-2 homolog ORFV125, a potent inhibitor of Bcl-2-mediated apoptosis in the host. ORFV125 acts by directly engaging host proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins including Bak and Bax as well as the BH3-only proteins Hrk and Puma. Here, we determined the crystal structures of ORFV125 bound to the BH3 motif of proapoptotic proteins Puma and Hrk. The structures reveal that ORFV125 engages proapoptotic BH3 motif peptides using the canonical ligand binding groove. An Arg located in the structurally equivalent BH1 region of ORFV125 forms an ionic interaction with the conserved Asp in the BH3 motif in a manner that mimics the canonical ionic interaction seen in host Bcl-2:BH3 motif complexes. These findings provide a structural basis for Orf virus-mediated inhibition of host cell apoptosis and reveal the flexibility of virus encoded Bcl-2 proteins to mimic key interactions from endogenous host signalling pathways.
Aerobic Conditions and Endogenous Reactive Oxygen Species Reduce the Production of Infectious MS2 Phage by Escherichia coli
Authors: Bastin Guillaume , Galmiche Aurélie , Talfournier François , Mazon Hortense , Challant Julie , Robin Maëlle , Majou Didier , Boudaud Nicolas , Gantzer Christophe
Published: July 2021

Most of the defective/non-infectious enteric phages and viruses that end up in wastewater originate in human feces. Some of the causes of this high level of inactivity at the host stage are unknown. There is a significant gap between how enteric phages are environmentally transmitted and how we might design molecular tools that would only detect infectious ones. Thus, there is a need to explain the low proportion of infectious viral particles once replicated. By analyzing lysis plaque content, we were able to confirm that, under aerobic conditions, Escherichia coli produce low numbers of infectious MS2 phages (I) than the total number of phages indicated by the genome copies (G) with an I/G ratio of around 2%. Anaerobic conditions of replication and ROS inhibition increase the I/G ratio to 8 and 25%, respectively. These data cannot only be explained by variations in the total numbers of MS2 phages produced or in the metabolism of E. coli. We therefore suggest that oxidative damage impacts the molecular replication and assembly of MS2 phages.
Co-Infection of Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in the Wild Crustaceans of Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, India
Authors: Saravanan Kandasamy , Praveenraj Jayasimhan , Kiruba-Sankar Rajendran , Devi Varsha , Biswas Utpal , Kumar Thangaraj Sathish , Sudhagar Arun , El-Matbouli Mansour , Kumar Gokhlesh
Published: July 2021

The present study was intended to screen the wild crustaceans for co-infection with Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) and White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, India. We screened a total of 607 shrimp and 110 crab samples using a specific polymerase chain reaction, and out of them, 82 shrimps (13.5%) and 5 (4.5%) crabs were found positive for co-infection of IHHNV and WSSV. A higher rate of co-infection was observed in Penaeus monodon and Scylla serrata than other shrimp and crab species. The nucleotide sequences of IHHNV and WSSV obtained from crab in this present study exhibited very high sequence identity with their counterparts retrieved from various countries. Histopathological analysis of the infected shrimp gill sections further confirmed the eosinophilic intra-nuclear cowdry type A inclusion bodies and basophilic intra-nuclear inclusion bodies characteristics of IHHNV and WSSV infections, respectively. The present study serves as the first report on co-infection of WSSV and IHHNV in Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, India and accentuates the critical need for continuous monitoring of wild crustaceans and appropriate biosecurity measures for brackishwater aquaculture.
Detection and Genetic Characterization of Hepatitis B and D Viruses: A Multi-Site Cross-Sectional Study of People Who Use Illicit Drugs in the Amazon Region
Authors: Silva Ronylson José S. , do Nascimento Raquel Silva , Oliveira-Neto José Augusto J. , Silva Fabricio Quaresma , Piauiense Juliana Nádia F. , Gomes Camila Moraes , Pinheiro Luiz Marcelo L. , Resque Rafael Lima , Pinho João Renato R. , Kupek Emil , Fischer Benedikt , Machado Luiz Fernando A. , Martins Luísa Caricio , Lemos José Alexandre R. , Oliveira-Filho Aldemir B.
Published: July 2021

Hepatitis B (HBV) and delta (HDV) viruses are endemic in the Amazon region, but vaccine coverage against HBV is still limited. People who use illicit drugs (PWUDs) represent a high-risk group due to common risk behavior and socioeconomic factors that facilitate the acquisition and transmission of pathogens. The present study assessed the presence of HBV and HBV-HDV co-infection, identified viral sub-genotypes, and verified the occurrence of mutations in coding regions for HBsAg and part of the polymerase in HBV-infected PWUDs in municipalities of the Brazilian states of Amapá and Pará, in the Amazon region. In total, 1074 PWUDs provided blood samples and personal data in 30 municipalities of the Brazilian Amazon. HBV and HDV were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction. Viral genotypes were identified by nucleotide sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis, whereas viral mutations were analyzed by specialized software. High rates of serological (32.2%) and molecular (7.2%) markers for HBV were detected, including cases of occult HBV infection (2.5%). Sub-genotypes A1, A2, D4, and F2a were most frequently found. Escape mutations due to vaccine and antiviral resistance were identified. Among PWUDs with HBV DNA, serological (19.5%) and molecular (11.7%) HDV markers were detected, such as HDV genotypes 1 and 3. These are worrying findings, presenting clear implications for urgent prevention and treatment needs for the carriers of these viruses.
Animal Models Utilized for the Development of Influenza Virus Vaccines
Authors: Roubidoux Ericka Kirkpatrick , Schultz-Cherry Stacey
Published: July 2021

Animal models have been an important tool for the development of influenza virus vaccines since the 1940s. Over the past 80 years, influenza virus vaccines have evolved into more complex formulations, including trivalent and quadrivalent inactivated vaccines, live-attenuated vaccines, and subunit vaccines. However, annual effectiveness data shows that current vaccines have varying levels of protection that range between 40–60% and must be reformulated every few years to combat antigenic drift. To address these issues, novel influenza virus vaccines are currently in development. These vaccines rely heavily on animal models to determine efficacy and immunogenicity. In this review, we describe seasonal and novel influenza virus vaccines and highlight important animal models used to develop them.
Urban and Rural Disparities in Pneumococcal Carriage and Resistance in Jordanian Children, 2015–2019
Authors: Al-Lahham Adnan , Khanfar Nashat , Albataina Noor , Al Shwayat Rana , Altwal Rawsan , Abulfeilat Talal , Alawneh Ghaith , Khurd Mohammad , Alqadi Altamimi Abdelsalam
Published: July 2021

Background: A pneumococcal carriage surveillance study took place examining Jordanian children in urban and rural areas in the period 2015–2019. Objectives: To determine urban and rural differences in pneumococcal carriage rate, resistance, and serotypes among healthy Jordanian children from Amman (urban) and eastern Madaba (rural). Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs (NP) were taken from 682 children aged 1 to 163 months. Pneumococcal identification, serotyping, and resistance were performed according to standard method. Results: The number of cases tested for Amman was 267 and there were 415 cases tested for eastern Madaba. Carriage rate for eastern Madaba was 39.5% and 31.1% for Amman. Predominant serotypes for eastern Madaba and Amman were 19F (21.3%; 15.7%), 23F (12.2%; 9.6%), 14 (6.7%; 2.4%), 19A (4.9%; 2.4%), and 6A (5.5%; 3.6%). Resistance rates for eastern Madaba and Amman were as follows: penicillin (95.8%; 81.9%), clarithromycin (68.9%; 59.0%), clindamycin (40.8%; 31.3%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (73.2%; 61.4%). Coverage of PCV7, PCV13, and the future PCV20 for Amman was 42.2%, 48.2%, and 60.2%; for eastern Madaba, coverage was 50.0%, 62.2%, and 73.2%, respectively. In Amman 25.8% of children received 1–3 PCV7 injections compared to 1.9% of children in eastern Madaba. Conclusions: There were significant differences in carriage, resistance, and coverage between both regions. The potential inclusion of a PCV vaccination program for rural areas is essential.
A Neural-Network-Based Methodology for the Evaluation of the Center of Gravity of a Motorcycle Rider
Authors: Carputo Francesco , D’Andrea Danilo , Risitano Giacomo , Sakhnevych Aleksandr , Santonocito Dario , Farroni Flavio
Published: July 2021

A correct reproduction of a motorcycle rider’s movements during driving is a crucial and the most influential aspect of the entire motorcycle–rider system. The rider performs significant variations in terms of body configuration on the vehicle in order to optimize the management of the motorcycle in all the possible dynamic conditions, comprising cornering and braking phases. The aim of the work is to focus on the development of a technique to estimate the body configurations of a high-performance driver in completely different situations, starting from the publicly available videos, collecting them by means of image acquisition methods, and employing machine learning and deep learning techniques. The technique allows us to determine the calculation of the center of gravity (CoG) of the driver’s body in the video acquired and therefore the CoG of the entire driver–vehicle system, correlating it to commonly available vehicle dynamics data, so that the force distribution can be properly determined. As an additional feature, a specific function correlating the relative displacement of the driver’s CoG towards the vehicle body and the vehicle roll angle has been determined starting from the data acquired and processed with the machine and the deep learning techniques.
Use of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography and Shear-Wave Elastography in the Diagnosis of Granulomatous Colitis in a French Bulldog
Authors: Cordella Alessia , Stock Emmelie , Van de Maele Isabel , Willems Annelies , Saunders Jimmy
Published: July 2021

An 11-month-old male intact French Bulldog was referred for chronic intermittent diarrhea lasting three months. Ultrasonographic (US) examination revealed severe thickening of the wall of the colon and caecum; contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) and elastography showed increased, heterogeneous vascularization and non-uniform stiffness of the colonic wall. The mucosa was thickened, fragile, and ulcerated as revealed by endoscopy, and histological examination confirmed the suspicion of granulomatous colitis.
Evolution of Storm Surges over the Little Ice Age Indicated by Aeolian Sand Records on the Coast of the Beibu Gulf, China
Authors: Chen Zhi , Li Baosheng , Wang Fengnian , Du Shuhuan , Niu Dongfeng , Zhao Yinjun , Si Yuejun
Published: July 2021

The Wutou section, hereinafter referred to as “WTS”, lies in Jiangping, Guangxi Province, China (21°32′8.25″ N, 108°06′59.9″ E; thickness of 246 cm) and consists of fluvial-lacustrine facies and dune sands of the Late Holocene. This study reconstructed the evolution of storm surges along the coast of the Beibu Gulf, Guangxi over the Little Ice Age, based on three accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)-14C, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating ages, and the analyses of grain size and heavy minerals. The analysis results indicated that the storm sediments interspersed among aeolian sands, lagoon facies, and weak soil display a coarse mean grain size and poor sorting. The storm sediments also show high maturity of heavy minerals and low stability resulting from rapid accumulation due to storm surges originating from the land-facing side of the coastal dunes. Records of seven peak storm surge periods were recorded in the WTS over the past millennium and mainly occurred after 1400 AD, i.e., during the Little Ice Age. The peaks in storm surges, including the 14Paleostrom deposit (hereinafter referred to as “Pd”) (1425–1470AD), 10Pd (1655–1690AD), 6Pd (1790–1820AD), and 4Pd (1850–1885AD) approximately corresponded with the periods of minimum sunspot activity, suggesting that the periods of storm surge peaks revealed by the WTS were probably regulated to a great extent by solar activity.
WDSchain: A Toolbox for Enhancing the Security Using Blockchain Technology in Water Distribution System
Authors: Mahmoud Haitham H. , Wu Wenyan , Wang Yonghao
Published: July 2021

This work develops a toolbox called WDSchain on MATLAB that can simulate blockchain on water distribution systems (WDS). WDSchain can import data from Excel and EPANET water modelling software. It extends the EPANET to enable simulation blockchain of the hydraulic data at any intended nodes. Using WDSchain will strengthen network automation and the security in WDS. WDSchain can process time-series data with two simulation modes: (1) static blockchain, which takes a snapshot of one-time interval data of all nodes in WDS as input and output into chained blocks at a time, and (2) dynamic blockchain, which takes all simulated time-series data of all the nodes as input and establishes chained blocks at the simulated time. Five consensus mechanisms are developed in WDSchain to provide data at different security levels using PoW, PoT, PoV, PoA, and PoAuth. Five different sizes of WDS are simulated in WDSchain for performance evaluation. The results show that a trade-off is needed between the system complexity and security level for data validation. The WDSchain provides a methodology to further explore the data validation using Blockchain to WDS. The limitations of WDSchain do not consider selection of blockchain nodes and broadcasting delay compared to commercial blockchain platforms.
Contrasting Water Use, Stomatal Regulation, Embolism Resistance, and Drought Responses of Two Co-Occurring Mangroves
Authors: Jiang Guo-Feng , Brodribb Timothy J. , Roddy Adam B. , Lei Jin-Yan , Si Huai-Tong , Pahadi Pratima , Zhang Yong-Jiang , Cao Kun-Fang
Published: July 2021

The physiological mechanisms underlying drought responses are poorly documented in mangroves, which experience nearly constant exposure to saline water. We measured gas exchange, foliar abscisic acid (ABA) concentration, and vulnerability to embolism in a soil water-withholding experiment of two co-occurring mangroves, Avicennia marina (Forsskål) Vierhapper (Verbenaceae) and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Savigny (Rhizophoraceae). A. marina showed higher photosynthesis and transpiration than B. gymnorrhiza under well-watered conditions. Cavitation resistance differed significantly between species, with 50% cavitation occurring at a water potential (P50) of −8.30 MPa for A. marina and −2.83 MPa for B. gymnorrhiza. This large difference in cavitation resistance was associated with differences in stomatal closure and leaf wilting. The rapid stomatal closure of B. gymnorrhiza was correlated with ABA accumulation as water potential declined. Meanwhile, stomatal closure and declining water potentials in A. marina were not associated with ABA accumulation. The safety margins, calculated as the difference between stomatal closure and embolism spread, differed between these two species (1.59 MPa for A. marina vs. 0.52 MPa for B. gymnorrhiza). Therefore, A. marina adopts a drought tolerance strategy with high cavitation resistance, while B. gymnorrhiza uses a drought avoidance-like strategy with ABA-related sensitive stomatal control to protect its vulnerable xylem.