bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization and Pharmacological Inhibition of the Pore-Forming Clostridioides difficile CDTb Toxin
Authors: Ernst Katharina , Landenberger Marc , Nieland Julian , Nørgaard Katharina , Frick Manfred , Fois Giorgio , Benz Roland , Barth Holger
Published: May 2021

The clinically highly relevant Clostridioides (C.) difficile releases several AB-type toxins that cause diseases such as diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. In addition to the main virulence factors Rho/Ras-glycosylating toxins TcdA and TcdB, hypervirulent strains produce the binary AB-type toxin CDT. CDT consists of two separate proteins. The binding/translocation B-component CDTb facilitates uptake and translocation of the enzyme A-component CDTa to the cytosol of cells. Here, CDTa ADP-ribosylates G-actin, resulting in depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton. We previously showed that CDTb exhibits cytotoxicity in the absence of CDTa, which is most likely due to pore formation in the cytoplasmic membrane. Here, we further investigated this cytotoxic effect and showed that CDTb impairs CaCo-2 cell viability and leads to redistribution of F-actin without affecting tubulin structures. CDTb was detected at the cytoplasmic membrane in addition to its endosomal localization if CDTb was applied alone. Chloroquine and several of its derivatives, which were previously identified as toxin pore blockers, inhibited intoxication of Vero, HCT116, and CaCo-2 cells by CDTb and CDTb pores in vitro. These results further strengthen pore formation by CDTb in the cytoplasmic membrane as the underlying cytotoxic mechanism and identify pharmacological pore blockers as potent inhibitors of cytotoxicity induced by CDTb and CDTa plus CDTb.
Real Clifford Algebras and Their Spinors for Relativistic Fermions
Authors: Floerchinger Stefan
Published: May 2021

Real Clifford algebras for arbitrary numbers of space and time dimensions as well as their representations in terms of spinors are reviewed and discussed. The Clifford algebras are classified in terms of isomorphic matrix algebras of real, complex or quaternionic type. Spinors are defined as elements of minimal or quasi-minimal left ideals within the Clifford algebra and as representations of the pin and spin groups. Two types of Dirac adjoint spinors are introduced carefully. The relationship between mathematical structures and applications to describe relativistic fermions is emphasized throughout.
Teaching Science in Today’s Society: The Case of Particle Physics for Primary Schools
Authors: Lazzeroni Cristina , Malvezzi Sandra , Quadri Andrea
Published: May 2021

The rapid changes in science and technology witnessed in recent decades have significantly contributed to the arousal of the awareness by decision-makers and the public as a whole of the need to strengthen the connection between outreach activities of universities and research institutes and the activities of educational institutions, with a central role played by schools. While the relevance of the problem is nowadays unquestioned, no unique and fully satisfactory solution has been identified. In the present paper we would like to contribute to the discussion on the subject by reporting on an ongoing project aimed to teach Particle Physics in primary schools. We will start from the past and currently planned activities in this project in order to establish a broader framework to describe the conditions for the fruitful interplay between researchers and teachers. We will also emphasize some aspects related to the dissemination of outreach materials by research institutions, in order to promote the access and distribution of scientific information in a way suited to the different age of the target students.
Professor Sir Peter J. Lachmann, FRS, FMedSci (1931–2020)
Authors: Harrison Richard A. , Morgan B. Paul
Published: May 2021

As members of the International Complement Society (ICS) will be aware, Professor Sir Peter Lachmann sadly passed away, peacefully and at home, on 26th December 2020 [...]
Differential Regulation of Cellular FAM111B by Human Adenovirus C Type 5 E1 Oncogenes
Authors: Ip Wing-Hang , Wilkens Britta , Solomatina Anastasia , Martin Judith , Melling Michael , Hidalgo Paloma , Bertzbach Luca D. , Speiseder Thomas , Dobner Thomas
Published: May 2021

The adenovirus type 5 (HAdV-C5) E1 transcription unit encodes regulatory proteins that are essential for viral replication and transformation. Among these, E1A and E1B-55K act as key multifunctional HAdV-C5 proteins involved in various steps of the viral replication cycle and in virus-induced cell transformation. In this context, HAdV-C5-mediated dysregulations of cellular factors such as the tumor suppressors p53 and pRB have been intensively investigated. However, cellular components of downstream events that could affect infection and viral transformation are widely unknown. We recently observed that cellular FAM111B is highly regulated in an E1A-dependent fashion. Intriguingly, previous reports suggest that FAM111B might play roles in tumorigenesis, but its exact functions are not known to date. Here, we set out to investigate the role of FAM111B in HAdV-C5 infections. We found that (i) FAM111B levels are upregulated early and downregulated late during infection, that (ii) FAM111B expression is differentially regulated, that (iii) FAM111B expression levels depend on the presence of E1B-55K and E4orf6 and that (iv) a FAM111B knockdown increases HAdV-C5 replication. Our data indicate that FAM111B acts as an anti-adenoviral host factor that is involved in host cell defense mechanisms in productive HAdV-C5 infection. Moreover, these findings suggest that FAM111B might play an important role in the host antiviral immune response that is counteracted by HAdV-C5 E1B-55K and E4orf6 oncoproteins.
Human Retrotransposons and the Global Shutdown of Homeostatic Innate Immunity by Oncolytic Parvovirus H-1PV in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Neulinger-Muñoz Matthias , Schaack Dominik , Grekova Svetlana P. , Bauer Andrea S. , Giese Thomas , Salg Gabriel A. , Espinet Elisa , Leuchs Barbara , Heller Anette , Nüesch Jürg P. F. , Schenk Miriam , Volkmar Michael , Giese Nathalia A.
Published: May 2021

Although the oncolytic parvovirus H-1PV has entered clinical trials, predicting therapeutic success remains challenging. We investigated whether the antiviral state in tumor cells determines the parvoviral oncolytic efficacy. The interferon/interferon-stimulated genes (IFN/ISG)-circuit and its major configurator, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), were evaluated using qRT-PCR, ELISA, Western blot, and RNA-Seq techniques. In pancreatic cancer cell lines, H-1PV caused a late global shutdown of innate immunity, whereby the concomitant inhibition of HERVs and IFN/ISGs was co-regulatory rather than causative. The growth-inhibitory IC50 doses correlated with the power of suppression but not with absolute ISG levels. Moreover, H-1PV was not sensitive to exogenous IFN despite upregulated antiviral ISGs. Such resistance questioned the biological necessity of the oncotropic ISG-shutdown, which instead might represent a surrogate marker for personalized oncolytic efficacy. The disabled antiviral homeostasis may modify the activity of other viruses, as demonstrated by the reemergence of endogenous AluY-retrotransposons. This way of suppression may compromise the interferogenicity of drugs having gemcitabine-like mechanisms of action. This shortcoming in immunogenic cell death induction is however amendable by immune cells which release IFN in response to H-1PV.
Correlating qRT-PCR, dPCR and Viral Titration for the Identification and Quantification of SARS-CoV-2: A New Approach for Infection Management
Authors: Brandolini Martina , Taddei Francesca , Marino Maria Michela , Grumiro Laura , Scalcione Agata , Turba Maria Elena , Gentilini Fabio , Fantini Michela , Zannoli Silvia , Dirani Giorgio , Sambri Vittorio
Published: May 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and is the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) represents the gold standard for diagnostic assays even if it cannot precisely quantify viral RNA copies. Thus, we decided to compare qRT-PCR with digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR), which is able to give an accurate number of RNA copies that can be found in a specimen. However, the aforementioned methods are not capable to discriminate if the detected RNA is infectious or not. For this purpose, it is necessary to perform an endpoint titration on cell cultures, which is largely used in the research field and provides a tissue culture infecting dose per mL (TCID50/mL) value. Both research and diagnostics call for a model that allows the comparison between the results obtained employing different analytical methods. The aim of this study is to define a comparison among two qRT-PCR protocols (one with preliminary RNA extraction and purification and an extraction-free qRT-PCR), a dPCR and a titration on cell cultures. The resulting correlations yield a faithful estimation of the total number of RNA copies and of the infectious viral burden from a Ct value obtained with diagnostic routine tests. All these estimations take into consideration methodological errors linked to the qRT-PCR, dPCR and titration assays.
Revisiting the Role of γδ T Cells in Anti-CMV Immune Response after Transplantation
Authors: Gaballa Ahmed , Alagrafi Faisal , Uhlin Michael , Stikvoort Arwen
Published: May 2021

Gamma delta (γδ) T cells form an unconventional subset of T lymphocytes that express a T cell receptor (TCR) consisting of γ and δ chains. Unlike conventional αβ T cells, γδ T cells share the immune signature of both the innate and the adaptive immunity. These features allow γδ T cells to act in front-line defense against infections and tumors, rendering them an attractive target for immunotherapy. The role of γδ T cells in the immune response to cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been the focus of intense research for several years, particularly in the context of transplantation, as CMV reactivation remains a major cause of transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie CMV immune responses could enable the design of novel γδ T cell-based therapeutic approaches. In this regard, the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and single-cell TCR sequencing have allowed in-depth characterization of CMV-induced TCR repertoire changes. In this review, we try to shed light on recent findings addressing the adaptive role of γδ T cells in CMV immunosurveillance and revisit CMV-induced TCR reshaping in the era of NGS. Finally, we will demonstrate the favorable and unfavorable effects of CMV reactive γδ T cells post-transplantation.
Bovine Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 (BPIV3) Enters HeLa Cells via Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis in a Cholesterol- and Dynamin-Dependent Manner
Authors: Pan Wei , Nie Hui , Wang Hongmei , He Hongbin
Published: May 2021

Bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (BPIV3) is a crucial causative agent of respiratory disease in young and adult cattle. No specific therapies are available for BPIV3 infection. Understanding the internalization pathway of the virus will provide a new strategy for the development of antiviral therapy. Here, the mechanism of BPIV3 entry into HeLa cells was analyzed using RNA silencing and pharmacological inhibitors. Treatment of HeLa cells with hypertonic medium prevented BPIV3 internalization. These results indicated that BPIV3 entered HeLa cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Moreover, removing cell membrane cholesterol through MβCD treatment hampered viral penetration but not viral replication. In addition, BPIV3 infection was inhibited by pretreatment with dynasore or chlorpromazine (CPZ) or knockdown of dynamin II or clathrin heavy chain. However, virus entry was unaffected by nystatin, EIPA, wortmannin, or cytochalasin D treatment or caveolin-1 knockdown. These data demonstrated that the entry of BPIV3 into HeLa cells was dependent on clathrin-mediated endocytosis but not on caveolae-mediated endocytosis or the macropinocytosis pathway. Many viruses are transported to endosomes, which provide an acidic environment and release their genome upon separation from primary endocytic vesicles. However, we found that BPIV3 infection required endosomal cathepsins, but not a low pH. In summary, we show, for the first time, that BPIV3 enters HeLa cells through the clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway, presenting novel insights into the invasion mechanism of Paramyxoviridae.
Viruses and Bacteria Associated with Cancer: An Overview
Authors: Zella Davide , Gallo Robert C.
Published: May 2021

There are several human viruses and bacteria currently known to be associated with cancer. A common theme indicates that these microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to hamper the pathways dedicated to maintaining the integrity of genetic information, preventing apoptosis of the damaged cells and causing unwanted cellular proliferation. This eventually reduces the ability of their hosts to repair the damage(s) and eventually results in cellular transformation, cancer progression and reduced response to therapy. Our data suggest that mycoplasmas, and perhaps certain other bacteria with closely related DnaKs, may also contribute to cellular transformation and hamper certain drugs that rely on functional p53 for their anti-cancer activity. Understanding the precise molecular mechanisms is important for cancer prevention and for the development of both new anti-cancer drugs and for improving the efficacy of existing therapies.
Comparison of Protein Carbonyl (PCO), Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Septic Inflammation in Dogs
Authors: Ruggerone Beatrice , Scavone Donatella , Troìa Roberta , Giunti Massimo , Dondi Francesco , Paltrinieri Saverio
Published: May 2021

Reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers of sepsis are lacking, but essential in veterinary medicine. We aimed to assess the accuracy of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), protein carbonyls (PCO) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) in differentiating dogs with sepsis from those with sterile inflammation and healthy ones, and predict the outcome in septic dogs. These analytes were retrospectively evaluated at admission in 92 dogs classified into healthy, septic and polytraumatized. Groups were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by a Mann–Whitney U test to assess differences between survivors and non-survivors. Correlation between analytes was assessed using the Spearman’s test, and their discriminating power was assessed through a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. PON1 and CRP were, respectively, significantly lower and higher in dogs with sepsis compared with polytraumatized and clinically healthy dogs (p < 0.001 for both the analytes), and also in dogs with trauma compared with healthy dogs (p = 0.011 and p = 0.017, respectively). PCO were significantly increased in septic (p < 0.001) and polytraumatized (p < 0.005) as compared with healthy dogs. PON1 and CRP were, respectively, significantly lower and higher in dogs that died compared with survivors (p < 0.001 for both analytes). Ultimately, evaluation of CRP and PON1 at admission seems a reliable support to diagnose sepsis and predict outcomes.
Modeling Shallow Urban Groundwater at Regional and Local Scales: A Case Study in Detroit, MI
Authors: Teimoori Sadaf , O’Leary Brendan F. , Miller Carol J.
Published: May 2021

Groundwater plays a significant role in the vitality of the Great Lakes Basin, supplying water for various sectors. Due to the interconnection of groundwater and surface water features in this region, the groundwater quality can be affected, leading to potential economic, political, health, and social issues for the region. Groundwater resources have received less emphasis, perhaps due to an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. The incomplete characterization of groundwater, especially shallow, near-surface waters in urban centers, is an added source of environmental vulnerability for the Great Lakes Basin. This paper provides an improved understanding of urban groundwater to reduce this vulnerability. Towards that end, two approaches for improved characterization of groundwater in southeast Michigan are employed in this project. In the first approach, we construct a regional groundwater model that encompasses four major watersheds to define the large-scale groundwater features. In the second approach, we adopt a local scale and develop a local urban water budget with subsequent groundwater simulation. The results show the groundwater movement in the two different scales, implying the effect of urban settings on the subsurface resources. Both the regional and local scale models can be used to evaluate and mitigate environmental risks in urban centers.
Green Space Optimization Strategy to Prevent Urban Flood Risk in the City Centre of Wuhan
Authors: Liu Yajing , Zhou Yan , Yu Jianing , Li Pengcheng , Yang Liuqi
Published: May 2021

Changing the water permeability ratio of urban underlying surface helps alleviate urban flood. This paper designs the swale identification experiment to modify the flood-submerging simulation experiment based on the SCS-CN model and proves that the results generated by the modified experiment better reflect the realities. The modified flood-submerging simulation experiment is then applied to downtown Wuhan to obtain the quantitative data. The data are used to quantify the catchment capacities of the lots. Based on the rainfall collection capacities, the maximum surface rainfall runoff volume that would not cause flood is arrived at using the rainfall runoff formula. The maximum runoff volume represents the rainwater storage capacities of the lot based on the proportion of the green space that is identified within the study area. The results suggest that this rainwater storage capacity evaluation model works efficiently to identify the urban areas with flood risks and provides the rainwater runoff thresholds for different areas. Adjustments in the spatial patterns and proportions of the green space help ensure that the rainwater runoff volume is below the thresholds, thus contributing to the prevention and control of the urban flood risks.
Flood Inundation Analysis in Penang Island (Malaysia) Based on InSAR Maps of Land Subsidence and Local Sea Level Scenarios
Authors: Gao Guosheng , San Lim Hwee , Zhu Yidan
Published: May 2021

Penang Island is an important economic center in Malaysia and most of its population live in the coastal areas. Although previous studies have shown that it is vulnerable to rising sea levels, the combination of sea-level rise and local land subsidence would be devastating. Therefore, the objective of this study is to apply the local land subsidence model to estimate the inundated areas which relate to sea level rise by 2100. Land subsidence is quantified by the SBAS-InSAR technique on the basis of Sentinel-1 radar images for both ascending and descending tracks. For the first time, the geostatistical analyst method is used to merge the different track results and create the land subsidence models, the results show this method can maximize land deformation fields and minimize deformation errors. According to the land deformation results, all of the coastlines in the east of the island have differing medium levels of subsidence, especially in reclaimed lands and building areas. Lastly, the bathtub model is used to quantify the inundated areas by combing regional sea-level rise projection and local land subsidence models under CoastalDEM in 2100 projections. The results of this study indicate land subsidence that would increase 2.0% and 5.9% of the inundated area based on the different scenarios by 2100 projections.
Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Flow in a Strongly Curved Channel with Gravel Beds
Authors: Lin Ying-Tien , Yang Yu , Chiu Yu-Jia , Ji Xiaoyan
Published: May 2021

This study experimentally and numerically investigated the hydrodynamic characteristics of a 180° curved open channel over rough bed under the condition of constant downstream water depth. Three different sizes of bed particles (the small, middle and big cases based upon the grain size diameter D50) were selected for flume tests. Three-dimensional instantaneous velocities obtained by the acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) were used to analyze hydrodynamic characteristics. Additionally, the Renormalization-Group (RNG) turbulence model was employed for numerical simulations. Experimental results show that rough bed strengthens turbulence and increases turbulent kinetic energy along curved channels. The power spectra of the longitudinal velocity fluctuation satisfy the classic Kolmogorov −5/3 law in the inertial subrange, and the existence of rough bed shortens the inertial subrange and causes the flow reach the viscous dissipation range in advance. The contributions of sweeps and ejections are more important than those of the outward and inward interactions over a rough bed for the middle case. Flow-3D was adopted to simulate flow patterns on two rough bed settings with same surface roughness (skin drag) but different bed shapes (form drag): one is bed covered with thick bottom sediment layers along the curved part of the flume (the big case) as the experimental condition, and the other one is uniform bed along the entire flume (called the big case_flat only for simulations). Numerical simulations reveal that the secondary flow is confined to the near-bed area and the intensity of secondary flow is improved for both rough bed cases, possibly causing more serious bed erosion along a curved channel. In addition, the thick bottom sediments (the big case), i.e., larger form drag, can enhance turbulence strength near bed regions, enlarge the transverse range of secondary flow, and delay the shifting of the core region of maximum longitudinal velocity towards the concave bank.
Assessing Future Rainfall Intensity–Duration–Frequency Characteristics across Taiwan Using the k-Nearest Neighbor Method
Authors: Chen Pei-Yuan , Tung Ching-Pin , Tsao Jung-Hsuan , Chen Chia-Jeng
Published: May 2021

This study analyzes the changes in rainfall intensities across Taiwan using the k-Nearest Neighbor method. Biases are corrected according to the identified discrepancy between the probability distribution of the model run and that of the observed data in the historical period. The projections of 21 weather stations in Taiwan under 10 (2RCP × 5GCM) scenarios for the near-(2021–2040) and far-future (2081–2100) are derived. The frequently occurred short-duration storm events in some regions decrease, but they are still vulnerable to flood considering the existing drainage capacities. More specifically, the land-subsidence region in the central, the landslide-sensitive mountainous region in the north and central, the pluvial- and fluvial-flood prone region in the north, and the eastern regions with vulnerable infrastructures should be especially aware of long-duration extreme events. Associations of the rainfall intensity with the different return period as well as the duration are further analyzed. The short-duration extreme events will become stronger, especially for 1-h events in the northern region and 1 or 2-h events in both the southern and eastern regions. In addition, places without experiences of long-lasting events may experience rainfall amounts exceeding 500 mm should be alert. Adaptation measures such as establishing distributed drainage system or renewing hydrological infrastructures in the eastern region are suggested considering the near future projection, and in the central and the southern regions for far future as well. Our findings can assist adaptation-related decision-making for more detailed stormwater/water resource management.
Quaternary Evolution of Coastal Plain in Response to Sea-Level Changes: Example from South-East Sicily (Southern Italy)
Authors: Distefano Salvatore , Gamberi Fabiano , Baldassini Niccolò , Di Stefano Agata
Published: May 2021

During a cycle of sea-level variation, coastal environments develop in different position of the continental shelf following seaward and landward shift of the coastline. They vary widely in character, reflecting the wide range of process-regimes that are brought about during the different stages of sea-level variations. Within this scenario, the morphology of continental shelves, mainly resulting from the combined effect of tectonic activity and eustatism, plays an important role in controlling the features and the preservation of coastal environments. Coastal deposits formed along continental shelves in the past, during different stages of sea-level changes, consist of discontinuous and thin depositional bodies, thus their reconstruction can be best carried out through the interpretation of high-resolution seismic data. Such a research approach is adopted in the present study to investigate a portion of the continental shelf of the southernmost sector of SE Sicily, in the offshore of Marzamemi village (Syracuse). The interpretation of high-resolution “Sparker” profiles allowed us to reconstruct the evolution of alluvial and lagoonal environments, established on a substratum of Pliocene or more ancient marine deposits, with the detection of several seismic units and unconformity surfaces, which have been related to alternating sedimentation and erosional processes, depicting the sea-level change framework of glacial-interglacial phases, from the late Pleistocene onward.
Planar Installation Characteristics of Crown Depth-Variable Artificial Coral Reef on Improving Coastal Resilience: A 3D Large-Scale Experiment
Authors: Hong Sunghoon , Baek Seungil , Kim Yeonjoong , Lee Jooyong , Prasetyo Adi , Kim Wonkook , Kwon Soonchul
Published: May 2021

Coastal resilience has received significant attention for managing beach erosion issues. We introduced flexible artificial coral reef (ACR) structures to diminish coastal erosion, but planar installation effects should be considered to evaluate the feasibility of coastline maintenance. In this study, we conducted a three-dimensional large-scale experiment to investigate the characteristics of planar installation of ACR, focusing on the wave mitigation performance, wave profile deformation with delay, nearshore current movement, deposition and erosion trends, and beach profile variation. We found that the ACR diminished the wave height by ~50% and the current intensity by ~60% compared with that of a conventional submerged breakwater made of dolos units. Using the dispersion velocity of the dye in a tracer experiment, the dispersion time of the ACR was approximately 1.67-times longer than that of the dolos and the current velocity was reduced, revealing that ACR significantly reduced structural erosion. With dolos, severe erosion of >10 cm occurred behind the structure, whereas there was only slight erosion with the ACR. Moreover, in a vertical beach-profile analysis, the ACR exhibited greater shoreline accretion than that of dolos. These results indicate the potential of ACR in improving coastal resilience.
Biological Early Warning Systems: The Experience in the Gran Sasso-Sirente Aquifer
Authors: Di Giacinto Federica , Berti Miriam , Carbone Luigi , Caprioli Riccardo , Colaiuda Valentina , Lombardi Annalina , Tomassetti Barbara , Tuccella Paolo , De Iuliis Gianpaolo , Pietroleonardo Adelina , Latini Mario , Mascilongo Giuseppina , Di Renzo Ludovica , D’Alterio Nicola , Ferri Nicola
Published: May 2021

Biological early warning systems (BEWS) are installed worldwide for the continuous control of water intended for multiple uses. Sentinel aquatic organisms can alert us to contaminant presence through their physiological or behavioural alterations. The present study is aimed at sharing the experience acquired with water biomonitoring of the Gran Sasso-Sirente (GS-S) aquifer. It represents the major source of the Abruzzi region surface water, also intended as drinkable and for irrigation use. Besides the biomonitoring of drinkable water of the Teramo Province made by Daphnia Toximeter and irrigation water of the L’Aquila Province by Algae Toximeter, a novel sensor named “SmartShell” has been developed to register the behaviour of the “pea clam” P. casertanum, an autochthonous small bivalve living in the Nature 2000 site “Tirino River spring”. The valve movements have been recorded directly on the field. Its behavioural rhythms have been analysed through spectral analyses, providing the basis for further investigations on their alterations as early warnings and allowing us to propose this autochthonous bivalve species as a novel sentinel organism for spring water.
Investigation on Hydraulic Characteristics of Turbine-Type Manhole Cover
Authors: Fan Leilei , Zhan Hang , Zhang Boran , Bao Zhiren , Wan Wuyi
Published: May 2021

Manhole cover is an important device of urban drainage infrastructures. The hydraulic characteristics of turbine-type manhole covers were studied through numerical simulations and physical experiments. The flow field characteristics and water surface were investigated. The drainage process is divided into two parts: free flow regime and submerged flow regime. Numerical and experimental results are in good agreement. It is indicated that the depth of water is constant in the later stage of unstable free drainage, while it changes with time and determines the discharge under the subsequent unstable submerged drainage condition. The influence of the depth on discharge is mainly reflected in the submerged drainage stage, in which period the discharge is linearly related to the square root of the depth. While in free flow regime, the discharge is affected by volume fraction of water with second order. The correlation between the depth and the discharge in the process of submerged flow is proposed based on dimensional harmony principle. With the characteristic of massive discharge, the design of turbine-type manhole cover provides one more choice in urban drainage construction.
A Broad-Scale Method for Estimating Natural Background Levels of Dissolved Components in Groundwater Based on Lithology and Anthropogenic Pressure
Authors: Lions Julie , Devau Nicolas , Elster Daniel , Voutchkova Denitza D. , Hansen Birgitte , Schullehner Jörg , Petrović Pantić Tanja , Samolov Katarina Atanasković , Camps Victor , Arnó Georgina , Herms Ignasi , Rman Nina , Cerar Sonja , Grima Juan , Giménez-Forcada Elena , Luque-Espinar Juan Antonio , Malcuit Eline , Gourcy Laurence
Published: May 2021

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires EU member states to assess the chemical status of groundwater bodies, a status defined according to threshold values for harmful elements and based on/the natural background level (NBL). The NBL is defined as the expected value of the concentration of elements naturally present in the environment. The aim of this study is to propose a methodology that will be broadly applicable to a wide range of conditions at the regional and national scale. Using a statistical approach, the methodology seeks to determine NBLs for SO4, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, and F based on the lithology of aquifers from which groundwater monitoring data were collected. The methodology was applied in six EU countries to demonstrate validity for a wide range of European regions. An average concentration was calculated for each parameter and chosen water point and linked to a lithology. Based on the dataset created, significant differences between lithologies and pressure categories (urban, agricultural, industrial, and mining) were tested using a nonparametric test. For each parameter, 90th percentiles were calculated to provide an estimation of the maximum natural concentrations possible for each lithology.
Status of Endemic Freshwater Fish Fauna Inhabiting Major Lakes of Turkey under the Threats of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Disturbances: A Review
Authors: Giannetto Daniela , Innal Deniz
Published: May 2021

Due to its peculiar geographical position and its environmental heterogeneity, Turkey represents an important biodiversity hotspot for freshwater fish fauna. Unfortunately, native fish communities of Turkey, mainly from lentic ecosystems, have been massively altered in the past decades. Furthermore, these species, especially the endemic species, are now threatened by several human activities in addition to the global issue of climatic changes. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated review on the current status of endemic fish species from main lakes of Turkey including major threats affecting fish assemblages. By gathering data from the literature and authors’ personal observations, 62 endemic fish species were reported to occur in the considered 37 Turkish Lakes. The presence of non-native species, agriculture activities, climatic drought, and decreasing water level were found to be the threats that most affect the fish communities of the considered Turkish Lakes.
Eco-Compensation Schemes for Controlling Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution in Maoli Lake Watershed
Authors: Zheng Yumei , Lei Guangchun , Yu Peng
Published: May 2021

Maoli Lake is the water source for local residents and a national nature protected area. However, due to intensive agriculture development, the water quality has deteriorated over the past decades. An effective measure to improve water quality is to control the agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution through elaborate schemes based on eco-compensation. In order to develop such eco-compensation schemes, three scenarios of agricultural activity adjustment were designed: S1 (halving fertilization every year), S2 (fallow every other year), and S3 (returning agricultural land to forest). A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was adopted to simulate runoff, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. Based on SWAT results, a multi-criteria spatial evaluation model considering the environmental, economic, and social effects of eco-compensation was created for best scenario decision. The results reveal the following: (1) the total nutrients loss of agricultural land reduces in all scenarios, but S2 has more reduction compared to S1 and S3; (2) from the comprehensive perspective of environment–economy–society effects, S2 is the best scenario for rice land and dry land; (3) the comprehensive effect of eco-compensation at the grid scale has a significant spatial difference, and therefore, we highlight the necessity and significance of controlling agricultural NPS pollution by eco-compensation on a precise spatial scale. This study can broaden the application field of the SWAT model and provide a scientific basis and experience for the evaluation and spatial design of agriculture eco-compensation.
Microphytobenthos in the Hypersaline Water Bodies, the Case of Bay Sivash (Crimea): Is Salinity the Main Determinant of Species Composition?
Authors: Shadrin Nickolai , Balycheva Daria , Anufriieva Elena
Published: May 2021

In hypersaline water bodies, the microphytobenthos plays a very important ecosystem role and demonstrates variability along with a salinity change. Due to anthropogenic activity, the sharp salinity increase in Bay Sivash occurred after 2014. To assess the changes in the microalgae community during the bay ecosystem transformation, the study was conducted four times in 2018 and 2019. At every sampling period, the samples were taken in a salinity gradient (from 7 to 10 sites). A total of 40 species of microalgae were identified during all research, including Cyanobacteria (Cyanophyceae, 2 species), Ochrophyta (Bacillariophyceae, 35 species), Haptophyta (Prymnesiophyceae, 2 species), and Miozoa (Dinophyceae, 1 species). According to the calculated similarity indices of Jaccard and Czekanowski–Sørensen–Dice, the species composition significantly differed during sampling periods. A total of 15 species were recorded at salinities of 80–90 psu, and 10 species at higher salinities, which contribute 64% of all species found in this study. The microalgae abundance was two times more in the floating green algae mat than on the bottom. There was no significant correlation between the number of species and salinity in all sampling periods. In November 2018, a significant positive correlation between the number of species in the sample and total suspended solids (TSS) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) was revealed. A significant correlation between the cell length in different species and salinity and DOM concentration was noted. Before the onset of the salinity increase, 61 species of microalgae were found in Eastern Sivash, of which only 12 have now been recorded, 31% of the currently found species. The characteristics of the total microphytobenthos abundance also significantly changed during all studies. Many characteristics have changed in the bay: the concentration of total suspended matter and dissolved organic matter, the temperature regime, composition of zoobenthos and plankton, and oxygen concentration. Due to this, it is unlikely that only the salinity increase caused the microphytobenthos changes in the lagoon.
Flow Rate Measurement of Production Profile Logging Using Thermal Method
Authors: Yang Yuntong , Jiang Zhaoyu , Liu Xingbin , Liu Wancun , Han Lianfu , Yang Lin
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a kind of thermal flow meter designed to measure downhole fluid flow at production profile logging. A computational fluid dynamics model is established to study the variation of temperature field in Downhole Thermal Flow Meter with medium and input power. The relation curve between heating power and fluid velocity and heating time is determined. According to the theoretical research, the experimental prototype of downhole thermal flow meter is designed and manufactured, and the dynamic experimental research is carried out on the multiphase flow simulation experimental device. The results show that when the power of the heating wire is constant, the temperature of the liquid around the heating wire decreases with the increase of the flow rate, and the resolution of the instrument is obvious when the flow rate is less than 20 m3/d. When the flow rate is constant, the greater the power of the heating wire, the more obvious the response characteristics of the instrument. It has a good response in the whole single-phase oil and single-phase water environment. The research of theoretical and dynamic experimental shows that it is feasible to use downhole thermal flow meter to measure downhole flow. This method will provide a new idea for the measurement of flow in production profile.
Application of SWAT in Hydrological Simulation of Complex Mountainous River Basin (Part II: Climate Change Impact Assessment)
Authors: Marahatta Suresh , Aryal Deepak , Devkota Laxmi Prasad , Bhattarai Utsav , Shrestha Dibesh
Published: May 2021

This study aims at analysing the impact of climate change (CC) on the river hydrology of a complex mountainous river basin—the Budhigandaki River Basin (BRB)—using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model that was calibrated and validated in Part I of this research. A relatively new approach of selecting global climate models (GCMs) for each of the two selected RCPs, 4.5 (stabilization scenario) and 8.5 (high emission scenario), representing four extreme cases (warm-wet, cold-wet, warm-dry, and cold-dry conditions), was applied. Future climate data was bias corrected using a quantile mapping method. The bias-corrected GCM data were forced into the SWAT model one at a time to simulate the future flows of BRB for three 30-year time windows: Immediate Future (2021–2050), Mid Future (2046–2075), and Far Future (2070–2099). The projected flows were compared with the corresponding monthly, seasonal, annual, and fractional differences of extreme flows of the simulated baseline period (1983–2012). The results showed that future long-term average annual flows are expected to increase in all climatic conditions for both RCPs compared to the baseline. The range of predicted changes in future monthly, seasonal, and annual flows shows high uncertainty. The comparative frequency analysis of the annual one-day-maximum and -minimum flows shows increased high flows and decreased low flows in the future. These results imply the necessity for design modifications in hydraulic structures as well as the preference of storage over run-of-river water resources development projects in the study basin from the perspective of climate resilience.
Os limites subjetivos da determinação de reparação do dano na sentença penal condenatória
Authors: Alessio Cesa Saulo Henrique
Published: May 2021

O presente artigo busca analisar os limites subjetivos da determinação de reparação do dano na sentença penal condenatória por meio de pesquisa de natureza aplicada e quali-quantitativa. As sentenças penais que determinam a reparação dos danos a ofendidos exclusivamente civis são bastante escassas. Pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, contudo, demonstra que inexiste óbice à fixação da reparação do dano a tais pessoas. Para tal fim, é desnecessária inovação legislativa. Por outro lado, a inegável ausência de pacificidade acerca do tema indica que eventual alteração da lei nos termos de projeto de lei já existente seria salutar, embora não solucione o problema. A solução total à questão consiste na correta aplicação dos artigos 91, I do Código Penal e 387, IV do Código de Processo Penal, fixando-se ao réu do processo penal a obrigação de reparar o dano causado também ao ofendido exclusivamente civil.
El Arte como estrategia lúdica para la enseñanza de la Filosofía
Authors: Quirama Taborda Lucas Andrés
Published: May 2021

El presente artículo surge de un ejercico de investigación acerca de las dificultades para aprender Filosofía que presentaron los estudiantes del grado 11 de la I. E. Bijao en el municipio de El Bagre, subregión de el Bajo Cauca, en el departamento de Antioquia. Aunque se reconoce a la Filosofía como una materia que puede aportar mucho a la vida de los alumnos y al futuro profesional, se encontró que en la Institución rara vez se realizaban actividades lúdicas o artísticas en las clases, en consecuencia, varios estudiantes manifestaron sentir apatía y pereza hacia la materia pues la consideraban algo que no tenía ninguna conexión con la realidad de su entorno. Se concluyó que es necesario comenzar a implementar de forma decidida estrategias Lúdicas mediante actividades artísticas. Los mismos estudiantes reconocieron que la manera de enseñarla influye negativamente en la percepción que se tiene de la misma. Es pues fundamental que se implementen estrategias lúdicas, utilizando el Arte y las actividades artísticas como recurso, para potenciar el aprendizaje en el área de Filosofía.
Escuela de aprendices, Marina Garcés. Barcelona: Galaxia Gutenberg, 2020
Authors: Silva de la Rosa Manuel Antonio
Published: May 2021

La filósofa Marina Garcés (Barcelona, 1973) ha publicado un libro enfocado en la educación. Desde hace varios años está comprometida con la vida, investigando y aportando reflexiones en línea del problema de lo común. Va desarrollando su filosofía como una amplia experimentación, con las ideas, el aprendizaje y las formas de intervención en nuestro mundo actual. En esta ocasión, este libro: Escuela de aprendices, muestra la educación como el sustrato de la convivencia. La educación es un taller donde se van ensayando las distintas formas de vidas posibles.
Regional education system: development characteristics, competitive environment and the need for state support
Authors: Klochko Elena , Arutyunova Asya , Vorobey Elena , Myasnikova Tatiana , Treshchevsky Yuri
Published: May 2021

The modern system of preschool education is unique in its multidimensional nature of services since in a preschool educational institution a child is provided with upbringing, training, supervision, and care. The child's future academic performance largely depends on his preschool education. The article examines key indicators featuring the development of preschool education in the Krasnodar Region. The purpose of this study is to summarize the results of improvements in education, to determine the main guidelines for further activities. Today in the Russian Federation there are no mechanisms for a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the activities of preschool educational institutions; the assessment is implemented mainly using the method of expert estimates. Therefore, specialists of the education management bodies and heads of the educational institutions can compare the preschool educational institutions only based on these scattered data. The authors propose the following directions of state support for the development of the regional education system: 1) to determine the list of services on the market; provide a description and define their sourcing; 2) to develop an annually updated system of accounting for unmet needs of the population in preschool educational services; 3) to create a system for the development of entrepreneurship in the field of preschool education, given the support from public authorities.
Dose mergers and acquisitions significantly impact the performance of banks in long run? A pre and post CAMEL study of banking in Pakistan
Authors: Zafar Muhammad Raghib , Shah Abdul Sattar
Published: May 2021

The competition among corporates to become market leader is not only with in economy but also it is global and it effects the organizations in a positive or in a negative way as well in such a challenging and rapid environment Merger & Acquisition (M&A) is one of the best ways to enhance the capital, customers, and profitability. This paper is based on the CAMEL (Capital Adequacy, Asset Quality, Management Soundness, Efficiency and Liquidity Ratios) framework. Overall, twenty-five ratios before and after merger included on nine year pre and nine-year post were collected/ calculated and analyzed with SPSS and E-Views. Paired Sample T test were calculated and analyzed with the use of SPSS and structural break down test with the use of E-Views. The research after testing and analysis with software conclude that banks in long run shows significant difference in Capital adequacy ratios and Asset Quality and shows better Capital Adequacy and Asset Quality Ratios after merger among the five ratios tested.
Nesting biology of the Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix in a mixed residential–agricultural area in southern Sweden
Authors: Hessel Rebecca , Elmberg Johan
Published: May 2021

We studied 11 active and 29 old nests of Hooded Crows Corvus corone cornix in a mixed residential-farmland landscape (3.6 km2) in southern Sweden in 2009. The density of active nests was 3.06/km2 land area and 7.33/km2 forest area. Thirty-eight nests were in pine-dominated forest and two in private gardens. All nests (active and old) were in pine trees Pinus sylvestris, and sample plots around nest trees had the following characteristics (means): 350 tree stems/hectare, 1,487 bushes/ hectare, and canopy cover 8%. Distance to the nearest active Crow nest averaged 234 m, but variation was large. Mean distance from nests to nearest forest edge was 19 m and to the nearest inhabited building 68 m. Nests were placed near the tree top (mean height 11 m) in all cardinal directions but with a significant bias towards the south. Seven out of 11 (64%) active nests produced fledglings (mean 1.2 nestling/successful nest). Breeding success was higher in nests that were close to another crow nest. Compared with previous studies, hatching success was high but final fledgling production was low.