bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Economic Value of Ichan Kala Using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM)
Authors: Baymuminova Nigora , Shermukhammedova Guljakhon , Choi Jeong-Gil
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study is to estimate the use-value of Ichan Kala, a historical city located in Khiva, Uzbekistan, that is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It also investigates the visitors’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the economic value of Ichan Kala. The survey was collected from 391 samples, and the factor analysis was done based on the results. After extracting two factors from 11 questions (variables), those factors were used as independent variables to check their impact on WTP. This study involved the contingent valuation method (CVM) to evaluate travelers’ WTP for using Ichan Kala. The outcomes of this research are in line with economic theory, which remarks that visitors’ willingness-to-pay declines as the suggested bid amount increases. In addition, the identity of cultural worldview (ICW) and tangibility of cultural worldview (TCW) showed a positive and significant effect on the WTP, while travel expenses did not remarkably affect the WTP. The results of this study provide practical implications for the government of the city or region when deciding on the entrance fee for using Ichan Kala. Moreover, this study makes an important contribution to the existent study since it is one of the few endeavors to estimate the WTP of the Central Asian inhabitants regarding the travel destination. Previous studies have estimated the use-value of destinations from Europe, the USA, and East Asia, but those studies mostly observed travelers from parallel countries. This research is therefore distinctive because both the travel site and survey sample was taken from Central Asia, specifically from Uzbekistan. This study reports the mindsets of Central Asian people towards paying the charge of using a travel destination; it may thereby function as a baseline study from which forthcoming studies may compare the behaviors of people living in this region with people living in other regions in terms of the estimation of non-market assets.
A Method for Allocation of Carbon Emission Quotas to Provincial-Level Industries in China Based on DEA
Authors: Feng Chenpeng , Zhou Rong , Ding Jingjing , Xiao Xiangze , Pu Mingyue
Published: February 2023

At present, China implements a quota-based trading mechanism to achieve carbon emission reduction, in which the allocation of carbon emission quotas among different provinces is short of considering the influence of unbalanced provincial development. Heterogeneity among the provincial-level three major industries, namely, agriculture, manufacturing and mining, and service industries, is a case in point. To address this insufficiency, this paper proposes a novel parallel data envelopment analysis (DEA) based method for carbon emission quota allocation. The method models each province as a decision-making unit (DMU) and the provincial-level three major industries as parallel sub-decision-making units (SDMUs). A distinguished feature of the method is that it makes explicit tradeoffs between efficiency and equality considerations for policymakers in allocating the carbon quotas among three heterogeneous provincial-level major industries. The empirical results show that the proposed method effectively improves the overall provincial gross domestic product (GDP) potentials through the reallocation of carbon quotas among industries while the equality level is not worse off. This work is helpful for policymakers to achieve a long-term emission reduction target and provides suggestions for improving the initial allocation mechanism of a national carbon trading market.
A Deep-Learning Approach for Identifying and Classifying Digestive Diseases
Authors: Thomas Abraham J. V. , Muralidhar A. , Sathyarajasekaran Kamsundher , Ilakiyaselvan N.
Published: February 2023

The digestive tract, often known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or the gastrointestinal system, is affected by digestive ailments. The stomach, large and small intestines, liver, pancreas and gallbladder are all components of the digestive tract. A digestive disease is any illness that affects the digestive system. Serious to moderate conditions can exist. Heartburn, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and lactose intolerance are only a few of the frequent issues. The digestive system may be treated with many different surgical treatments. Laparoscopy, open surgery and endoscopy are a few examples of these techniques. This paper proposes transfer-learning models with different pre-trained models to identify and classify digestive diseases. The proposed systems showed an increase in metrics, such as the accuracy, precision and recall, when compared with other state-of-the-art methods, and EfficientNetB0 achieved the best performance results of 98.01% accuracy, 98% precision and 98% recall.
Modelling of Phase Diagrams and Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams of Medium Manganese Steels
Authors: Dykas Jakub , Samek Ludovic , Grajcar Adam , Kozłowska Aleksandra
Published: February 2023

The aim of this manuscript was to study the influence of alloying elements on the phase transformation behavior in advanced high-strength multiphase steels. Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) and time–temperature–transformation (TTT) diagrams were calculated to analyze the stability of phases at variable time–temperature processing parameters. The analyzed materials were lean-alloyed transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) medium manganese steels. The simulations of the phase diagrams, the stability of the phases during simulated heat treatments, and the chemical composition evolution diagrams were made using Thermo-Calc and JMatPro material simulation softwares. The influence of alloying elements, i.e., Mn and C, were studied in detail. The computational and modelling results allowed the influence of alloying elements on equilibrium and non-equilibrium phase diagrams and microstructural and chemical composition evolutions to be studied. Good symmetry and correlation between computational softwares were achieved. The study allows for future optimization of the heat-treatment temperature and time conditions of modern medium-Mn automotive sheet steels.
Containment Control Problem of Linear Multiagent Systems with External Disturbance and DoS Attacks
Authors: Xu Xiaole , Luo Huan , Chen Wenhai , Gao Lixin
Published: February 2023

This work investigates the containment control for linear multiagent systems. We assume that the systems are subject to periodic energy-limited denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, which prevent agent-to-agent data transmission. It is assumed that the DoS attacks occur periodically based on the time sequence method. It is also assumed that some devices can be used to predict the duration of DoS attacks and uniform lower bound of communication areas. To achieve containment control, state and disturbance estimators are proposed for each following agent to estimate the relative state information. Under suitable conditions, the containment control problem can be solved with the designed controllers and observers. Finally, we provide a simulation result to confirm the theoretical analysis.
Particle-Laden and Droplet-Laden Two-Phase Flows Past Bodies (a Review)
Authors: Varaksin Aleksey Yu. , Ryzhkov Sergei V.
Published: February 2023

A review of computational–theoretical and experimental works devoted to the study of the flow of bodies by two-phase (dispersed) flows is carried out. The features of particle motion in the vicinity of bodies of various shapes, as well as the effect of the dispersed phase on resistance and heat transfer, are considered. Some consequences of the interaction of particles and droplets with the surface of streamlined bodies (erosive destruction, gas-dynamic spraying, icing, glowing) are analyzed.
Effects of Sodium Arsenite on the Myocardial Differentiation in Mouse Embryonic Bodies
Authors: Jeong SunHwa , Ahn Changhwan , Kwon Jin-Sook , Kim KangMin , Jeung Eui-Bae
Published: February 2023

Arsenic in inorganic form is a known human carcinogen; even low levels of arsenic can interfere with the endocrine system. In mammalian development, arsenic exposure can cause a malformation of fetuses and be lethal. This study examined the effects of sodium arsenite (SA) as the inorganic form of arsenic in embryonic bodies (EBs) with three germ layers in the developmental stage. This condition is closer to the physiological condition than a 2D cell culture. The SA treatment inhibited EBs from differentiating into cardiomyocytes. A treatment with 1 μM SA delayed the initiation of beating, presenting successful cardiomyocyte differentiation. In particular, mitochondria function analysis showed that SA downregulated the transcription level of the Complex IV gene. SA increased the fission form of mitochondrion identified by the mitochondria number and length. In addition, a treatment with D-penicillamine, an arsenic chelator, restored the beat of EBs against SA, but not mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings suggest that SA is a toxicant that induces mitochondrial damage and interferes with myocardial differentiation and embryogenesis. This study suggests that more awareness of SA exposure during pregnancy is required because even minuscule amounts have irreversible adverse effects on embryogenesis through mitochondria dysfunction.
Microbial Removal of Petroleum Hydrocarbons from Contaminated Soil under Arsenic Stress
Authors: Su Qu , Yu Jiang , Fang Kaiqin , Dong Panyue , Li Zheyong , Zhang Wuzhu , Liu Manxia , Xiang Luojing , Cai Junxiong
Published: February 2023

The contamination of soils with petroleum and its derivatives is a longstanding, widespread, and worsening environmental issue. However, efforts to remediate petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted soils often neglect or overlook the interference of heavy metals that often co-contaminate these soils and occur in petroleum itself. Here, we identified Acinetobacter baumannii strain JYZ-03 according to its Gram staining, oxidase reaction, biochemical tests, and FAME and 16S rDNA gene sequence analyses and determined that it has the ability to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons. It was isolated from soil contaminated by both heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons. Strain JYZ-03 utilized diesel oil, long-chain n-alkanes, branched alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as its sole carbon sources. It degraded 93.29% of the diesel oil burden in 7 days. It also had a high tolerance to heavy metal stress caused by arsenic (As). Its petroleum hydrocarbon degradation efficiency remained constant over the 0–300 mg/L As(V) range. Its optimal growth conditions were pH 7.0 and 25–30 °C, respectively, and its growth was not inhibited even by 3.0% (w/v) NaCl. Strain JYZ-03 effectively bioremediates petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil in the presence of As stress. Therefore, strain JYZ-03 may be of high value in petroleum- and heavy-metal-contaminated site bioremediation.
Fe3O4@COF(TAPT–DHTA) Nanocomposites as Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction Adsorbents for Simultaneous Determination of 9 Mycotoxins in Fruits by UHPLC–MS/MS
Authors: Wang Jie , Huang Qingwen , Guo Wenbo , Guo Dakai , Han Zheng , Nie Dongxia
Published: February 2023

In this study, a simple and efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) strategy was developed to simultaneously purify and enrich nine mycotoxins in fruits, with the magnetic covalent organic framework nanomaterial Fe3O4@COF(TAPT–DHTA) as an adsorbent. The Fe3O4@COF(TAPT–DHTA) was prepared by a simple template precipitation polymerization method, using Fe3O4 as magnetic core, and 1,3,5-tris-(4-aminophenyl) triazine (TAPT) and 2,5-dihydroxy terephthalaldehyde (DHTA) as two building units. Fe3O4@COF(TAPT–DHTA) could effectively capture the targeted mycotoxins by virtue of its abundant hydroxyl groups and aromatic rings. Several key parameters affecting the performance of the MSPE method were studied, including the adsorption solution, adsorption time, elution solvent, volume and time, and the amount of Fe3O4@COF(TAPT–DHTA) nanomaterial. Under optimized MSPE conditions, followed by analysis with UHPLC–MS/MS, a wide linear range (0.05–200 μg kg−1), low limits of detection (0.01–0.5 μg kg−1) and satisfactory recovery (74.25–111.75%) were achieved for the nine targeted mycotoxins. The established method was further successfully validated in different kinds of fruit samples.
Integration of Transcriptomics and Microbiomics Reveals the Responses of Bellamya aeruginosa to Toxic Cyanobacteria
Authors: Yang Xianming , Zhu Jinyong , Hu Chaoyang , Yang Wen , Zheng Zhongming
Published: February 2023

Frequent outbreaks of harmful cyanobacterial blooms and the cyanotoxins they produce not only seriously jeopardize the health of freshwater ecosystems but also directly affect the survival of aquatic organisms. In this study, the dynamic characteristics and response patterns of transcriptomes and gut microbiomes in gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa were investigated to explore the underlying response mechanisms to toxic cyanobacterial exposure. The results showed that toxic cyanobacteria exposure induced overall hepatopancreatic transcriptome changes. A total of 2128 differentially expressed genes were identified at different exposure stages, which were mainly related to antioxidation, immunity, and metabolism of energy substances. In the early phase (the first 7 days of exposure), the immune system may notably be the primary means of resistance to toxin stress, and it performs apoptosis to kill damaged cells. In the later phase (the last 7 days of exposure), oxidative stress and the degradation activities of exogenous substances play a dominant role, and nutrient substance metabolism provides energy to the body throughout the process. Microbiomic analysis showed that toxic cyanobacteria increased the diversity of gut microbiota, enhanced interactions between gut microbiota, and altered microbiota function. In addition, the changes in gut microbiota were correlated with the expression levels of antioxidant-, immune-, metabolic-related differentially expressed genes. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of gastropods and intestinal microbiota response to toxic cyanobacterial stress.
Civil Engineering and Malaria Risk: A Descriptive Study in a Rural Area of Cubal, Angola
Authors: Gil Olivas Eva , Bruguera Andreu , Eugenio Arlete Nindia E. , Nunda João José , Tchiyanga Armindo , Ekavo Fernando Graça , Cambali Adriano , Moreno Milagros , Bocanegra García Cristina , Aznar Maria Luísa , Salvador Fernando , Sánchez-Montalvá Adrián , Molina Israel
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: Angola is among the high-burden countries with malaria cases globally. After 2013, we suspected an increase in the number of malaria cases in Cubal (Angola), previously in decline. Our objective was to evaluate the incidence rate in Cubal, overall and by neighborhood, for 2014, 2015, and 2016. (2) Methods: A retrospective, observational study was performed in Cubal (Angola) from January 2014 to December 2016, including all patients with a microbiologically confirmed diagnosis, treated at Cubal’s Hospitals for this period of time. The principal variables calculated were the incidence rates of 2014, 2015, and 2016 in Cubal (overall and by neighborhood). (3) Results: There were 3249 malaria cases. The incidence rates were 2.27, 10.73, and 12.40 cases per 1000 inhabitants in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. In the neighborhood, Hamavoko-Kasseke, there was a 10.73-fold increase in incidence during this period. Additionally, Hamavoko-Kasseke presents an anomalous distribution of malaria cases. (4) Conclusions: We observed an increase in the incidence of malaria in Cubal during the three-year study period. The case distribution was highly heterogeneous with hyperendemic areas, and we found a chronobiological association between the construction of a civil engineering project. This information could be useful for deciding which malaria control strategies must be implemented in this area.
Type 2 Immunity and Its Impact on COVID-19 Infection in the Airways
Authors: Pathinayake Prabuddha S. , Awatade Nikhil T. , Wark Peter A. B.
Published: February 2023

Type 2 immune responses are characterized by elevated type 2 cytokines and blood eosinophilia. Emerging evidence suggests that people with chronic type 2 inflammatory lung diseases are not particularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Intriguingly, recent in vitro, ex vivo research demonstrates type 2 cytokines, particularly IL-13, reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the airway epithelium. IL-13 treatment in airway epithelial cells followed by SARS-CoV-2 diminished viral entry, replication, spread, and cell death. IL-13 reduces the expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in the airway epithelium and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), particularly in ciliated cells. It also alters the cellular composition toward a secretory-cell-rich phenotype reducing total ciliated cells and, thus, reducing viral tropism. IL-13 enhances Muc5ac mucin and glycocalyx secretion in the periciliary layer, which acts as a physical barrier to restrict virus attachment. Moreover, type 2 airway immune cells, such as M2 alveolar macrophages, CD4+ tissue-resident memory T cells, and innate lymphoid 2 cells, may also rescue type 2 airways from SARS-CoV-2-induced adverse effects. In this review, we discuss recent findings that demonstrate how type 2 immunity alters immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and its consequences on COVID-19 pathogenesis.
Retracing Phylogenetic, Host and Geographic Origins of Coronaviruses with Coloured Genomic Bootstrap Barcodes: SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 as Case Studies
Authors: Hassanin Alexandre , Rambaud Opale
Published: February 2023

Phylogenetic trees of coronaviruses are difficult to interpret because they undergo frequent genomic recombination. Here, we propose a new method, coloured genomic bootstrap (CGB) barcodes, to highlight the polyphyletic origins of human sarbecoviruses and understand their host and geographic origins. The results indicate that SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 contain genomic regions of mixed ancestry originating from horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus) viruses. First, different regions of SARS-CoV share exclusive ancestry with five Rhinolophus viruses from Southwest China (RfYNLF/31C: 17.9%; RpF46: 3.3%; RspSC2018: 2.0%; Rpe3: 1.3%; RaLYRa11: 1.0%) and 97% of its genome can be related to bat viruses from Yunnan (China), supporting its emergence in the Rhinolophus species of this province. Second, different regions of SARS-CoV-2 share exclusive ancestry with eight Rhinolophus viruses from Yunnan (RpYN06: 5.8%; RaTG13: 4.8%; RmYN02: 3.8%), Laos (RpBANAL103: 3.3%; RmarBANAL236: 1.7%; RmBANAL52: 1.0%; RmBANAL247: 0.7%), and Cambodia (RshSTT200: 2.3%), and 98% of its genome can be related to bat viruses from northern Laos and Yunnan, supporting its emergence in the Rhinolophus species of this region. Although CGB barcodes are very useful in retracing the origins of human sarbecoviruses, further investigations are needed to better take into account the diversity of coronaviruses in bats from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Comparative Performance of Serological (IgM/IgG) and Molecular Testing (RT-PCR) of COVID-19 in Three Private Universities in Cameroon during the Pandemic
Authors: Kamga Wouambo Rodrigue , Djuikoué Cecile Ingrid , Esemu Livo Forgu , Kagoue Simeni Luc Aime , Tchitchoua Murielle Chantale , Djouela Djoulako Paule Dana , Fokam Joseph , Singwe-Ngandeu Madeleine , Mpoudi Ngolé Eitel , Apalata Teke
Published: February 2023

Background: COVID-19 remains a rapidly evolving and deadly pandemic worldwide. This necessitates the continuous assessment of existing diagnostic tools for a robust, up-to-date, and cost-effective pandemic response strategy. We sought to determine the infection rate (PCR-positivity) and degree of spread (IgM/IgG) of SARS-CoV-2 in three university settings in Cameroon Method: Study volunteers were recruited from November 2020 to July 2021 among COVID-19 non-vaccinated students in three Universities from two regions of Cameroon (West and Centre). Molecular testing was performed by RT-qPCR on nasopharyngeal swabs, and IgM/IgG antibodies in plasma were detected using the Abbott Panbio IgM/IgG rapid diagnostic test (RDT) at the Virology Laboratory of CREMER/IMPM/MINRESI. The molecular and serological profiles were compared, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Amongst the 291 participants enrolled (mean age 22.59 ± 10.43 years), 19.59% (57/291) were symptomatic and 80.41% (234/291) were asymptomatic. The overall COVID-19 PCR-positivity rate was 21.31% (62/291), distributed as follows: 25.25% from UdM-Bangangte, 27.27% from ISSBA-Yaounde, and 5% from IUEs/INSAM-Yaounde. Women were more affected than men (28.76% [44/153] vs. 13.04% [18/138], p < 0.0007), and had higher seropositivity rates to IgM+/IgG+ (15.69% [24/153] vs. 7.25% [10/138], p < 0.01). Participants from Bangangté, the nomadic, and the “non-contact cases” primarily presented an active infection compared to those from Yaoundé (p= 0.05, p = 0.05, and p = 0.01, respectively). Overall IgG seropositivity (IgM−/IgG+ and IgM+/IgG+) was 24.4% (71/291). A proportion of 26.92% (7/26) presenting COVID-19 IgM+/IgG− had negative PCR vs. 73.08% (19/26) with positive PCR, p < 0.0001. Furthermore, 17.65% (6/34) with COVID-19 IgM+/IgG+ had a negative PCR as compared to 82.35% with a positive PCR (28/34), p < 0.0001. Lastly, 7.22% (14/194) with IgM−/IgG− had a positive PCR. Conclusion: This study calls for a rapid preparedness and response strategy in higher institutes in the case of any future pathogen with pandemic or epidemic potential. The observed disparity between IgG/IgM and the viral profile supports prioritizing assays targeting the virus (nucleic acid or antigen) for diagnosis and antibody screening for sero-surveys.
Baculovirus Display of Peptides and Proteins for Medical Applications
Authors: Rodríguez-Hernández Aaron Pavel , Martínez-Flores Daniel , Cruz-Reséndiz Adolfo , Padilla-Flores Teresa , González-Flores Rodrigo , Estrada Kenia , Sampieri Alicia , Camacho-Zarco Aldo Román , Vaca Luis
Published: February 2023

Baculoviridae is a large family of arthropod-infective viruses. Recombinant baculoviruses have many applications, the best known is as a system for large scale protein production in combination with insect cell cultures. More recently recombinant baculoviruses have been utilized for the display of proteins of interest with applications in medicine. In the present review we analyze the different strategies for the display of proteins and peptides on the surface of recombinant baculoviruses and provide some examples of the different proteins displayed. We analyze briefly the commercially available systems for recombinant baculovirus production and display and discuss the future of this emerging and powerful technology.
A Retrospective Evaluation of Self-Reported Adverse Events Following Immunization with Different COVID-19 Vaccines in Türkiye
Authors: Büyüker Sultan Mehtap , Sultana Arifa , Chowdhury Jakir Ahmed , Chowdhury Abu Asad , Kabir Shaila , Amran Md. Shah
Published: February 2023

Background: The Sinovac and BioNTech vaccines were the first to be introduced in Türkiye to fight the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. As these vaccines had shown some side-effects in its clinical trial, we aimed to conduct a survey study to assess the short-term adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) in Türkiye. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using social and electronic media platforms by delivering a pre-formed and validated online questionnaire among people who had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This survey study focused on mass populations from different regions in Türkiye. A total of 603 responses were collected. Among these, 602 were selected based on complete answers and used for the assessment. The collected data were then analyzed to evaluate the various parameters related to the AEFIs of the respondents. Results: Among the total 602 participants, 20.8% were male, and 78.7% were female, actively answering all of the constructive questions. Most of the respondents were between 18–30 years of age. We found that a total of 23.3% of the total respondents had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our survey revealed that out of 602 volunteers, the rate of experiencing physical discomfort was higher in participants who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at all three doses than in those who had received the Sinovac vaccine. When all vaccine types were examined, the most common side effect was pain at the injection site, reported by 75.19% participants. When the side effects were compared according to vaccine types, there was a significant difference only in terms of fever. Fever rates in those who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (20.96%) were found to be significantly higher than those who had received the Sinovac vaccine (8%). Conclusions: The studied vaccines showed minor side effects and there was no significant difference between the vaccines in terms of other side effects. Moreover, further research is needed to determine the efficacy of the existing vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections or after-infection hospitalization.
Development and Assessment of Innovative High-Fidelity Simulation Vaccination Course Integrating Emergency Cases for Pharmacy Undergraduates—A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Sayyed Shahzad Ahmad , Sharkas Ahmed Reda , Ali Sherazi Bushra , Dabidian Armin , Schwender Holger , Laeer Stephanie
Published: February 2023

Recently, pharmacists in Germany were allowed to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for people aged 12 years and older in order to increase vaccination coverage rates. In order to adapt the pharmacy curriculum for clinical practice, an innovative, vaccination training course using a high-fidelity simulator (HFS) was developed, implementing clinical scenarios to manage adverse events. In a randomized controlled trial using a pre and post design with pharmacy undergraduates, the intervention group interacted with an HFS, while the control group was trained with low-fidelity injection pads. Before and after the respective training, each participant went through an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and completed a self-assessment questionnaire and knowledge quiz. Both training methods showed a significant increase in skills, but there was also a significant greater increase in the intervention group when compared to the control group, particularly with respect to the vaccination process. Furthermore, every individual in the intervention group improved from the pre- to post-training OSCEs. Therefore, HFS has been proven to be an appropriate tool to train pharmacy students for the purposes of vaccine administration and to prepare for future challenges. Particularly, recognizing and managing adverse reactions can be addressed in a very effective way.
Lack of Evidence on Association between Iron Deficiency and COVID-19 Vaccine-Induced Neutralizing Humoral Immunity
Authors: Faizo Arwa A. , Bawazir Asma A. , Almashjary Majed N. , Hassan Ahmed M. , Qashqari Fadi S. , Barefah Ahmed S. , El-Kafrawy Sherif A. , Alandijany Thamir A. , Azhar Esam I.
Published: February 2023

Iron is a crucial micronutrient for immunity induction in response to infections and vaccinations. This study aimed to investigate the effect of iron deficiency on COVID-19-vaccine-induced humoral immunity. We investigated the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and ChAdOx nCov-2019) in iron-deficient individuals (n = 63) and provide a side-by-side comparison to healthy controls (n = 67). The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and anti-nucleocapsid (NP) IgG were assessed using in-house S- and NP-based ELISA followed by serum neutralization test (SNT). High concordance between S-based ELISA and SNT results was observed. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies was 95.24% (60/63) in the study group and 95.52% (64/67) in the controls with no significant difference. The presence/absence of past infection, period since vaccination, vaccine type, and being iron-deficient or having iron-deficiency anemia did not exert any significant effect on the prevalence or titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. NP-based ELISA identified individuals unaware of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, absence of anti-NP IgG was noted in participants who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 suggesting the unpredictability of after-infection immunity. To sum up, this study demonstrated an initial lack of evidence on the association between iron deficiency and the effectiveness of COVID-19-vaccine-induced neutralizing humoral immunity. Similar studies with larger sample size remain necessary to obtain comprehensive conclusions about the effect or lack of effect of iron on COVID-19-vaccine effectiveness.
Impact of Rain Intensity on Interstate Traffic Speeds Using Connected Vehicle Data
Authors: Sakhare Rahul Suryakant , Zhang Yunchang , Li Howell , Bullock Darcy M.
Published: February 2023

With the emergence of connected vehicle data and high-resolution weather data, there is an opportunity to develop models with high spatial-temporal fidelity to characterize the impact of weather on interstate traffic speeds. In this study, 275,422 trip records from 41,234 unique journeys on 42 rainy days in 2021 and 2022 were obtained. These trip records are categorized as no rain, slight rain, moderate rain, heavy rain, and very heavy rain periods using the precipitation rate from NOAA High-Resolution Rapid-Refresh (HRRR) data. It was observed that average speeds decreased by approximately 8.4% during conditions classified as very heavy rain compared to no rain. Similarly, the interquartile range of traffic speeds increased from 8.34 mph to 12.24 mph as the rain intensity increased. This study also developed a disaggregate approach using logit models to characterize the relationship between weather-related variables (precipitation rate, visibility, temperature, wind, and day or night) and interstate speed reductions. Estimation results reveal that the odds ratio of reducing speed is 5.8% higher for drivers if the precipitation rate is increased by 1 mm/h. The headwind was found to have a positive significant impact of only up to a 10% speed reduction, and speed reduction is greater during nighttime conditions compared to daytime conditions by a factor of 1.68. The additional explanatory variables shed light on drivers’ speed selection in adverse weather environments, providing more information than the single precipitation intensity measure. Results from this study will be particularly helpful for agencies and automobile manufacturers to provide advance warnings to drivers and establish thresholds for autonomous vehicle control.
Diagnostic Screening of Bovine Mastitis Using MALDI-TOF MS Direct-Spotting of Milk and Machine Learning
Authors: Thompson Jonathan , Everhart Nunn Savana L. , Sarkar Sumon , Clayton Beth
Published: February 2023

Novel strategies for diagnostic screening of animal and herd health are crucial to contain disease outbreaks, maintain animal health, and maximize production efficiency. Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland in dairy cows, often resulting from infection from a microorganism. Mastitis outbreaks result in loss of production, degradation of milk quality, and the need to isolate and treat affected animals. In this work, we evaluate MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as a diagnostic for the culture-less screening of mastitis state from raw milk samples collected from regional dairies. Since sample preparation requires only minutes per sample using microvolumes of reagents and no cell culture, the technique is promising for rapid sample turnaround and low-cost diagnosis. Machine learning algorithms have been used to detect patterns embedded within MALDI-TOF spectra using a training set of 226 raw milk samples. A separate scoring set of 100 raw milk samples has been used to assess the specificity (spc) and sensitivity (sens) of the approach. Of machine learning models tested, the gradient-boosted tree model gave global optimal results, with the Youden index of J = 0.7, sens = 0.89, and spc = 0.81 achieved for the given set of conditions. Random forest models also performed well, achieving J > 0.63, with sens = 0.83 and spc = 0.81. Naïve Bayes, generalized linear, fast large-margin, and deep learning models failed to produce diagnostic results that were as favorable. We conclude that MALDI-TOF MS combined with machine learning is an alternative diagnostic tool for detection of high somatic cell count (SCC) and subclinical mastitis in dairy herds.
A Comparison of Different Matrices for the Laboratory Diagnosis of the Epizootic American Foulbrood of Honey Bees
Authors: Ebeling Julia , Reinecke Antonia , Sibum Niklas , Fünfhaus Anne , Aumeier Pia , Otten Christoph , Genersch Elke
Published: February 2023

American Foulbrood (AFB) of honey bees caused by the spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is a notifiable epizootic in most countries. Authorities often consider a rigorous eradication policy the only sustainable control measure. However, early diagnosis of infected but not yet diseased colonies opens up the possibility of ridding these colonies of P. larvae spores by the shook swarm method, thus preventing colony destruction by AFB or official control orders. Therefore, surveillance of bee colonies for P. larvae infection followed by appropriate sanitary measures is a very important intervention to control AFB. For the detection of P. larvae spores in infected colonies, samples of brood comb honey, adult bees, or hive debris are commonly used. We here present our results from a comparative study on the suitability of these matrices in reliably and correctly detecting P. larvae spores contained in these matrices. Based on the sensitivity and limit of detection of P. larvae spores in samples from hive debris, adult bees, and brood comb honey, we conclude that the latter two are equally well-suited for AFB surveillance programs. Hive debris samples should only be used when it is not possible to collect honey or adult bee samples from brood combs.
Adsorption of Diphenolic Acid from Contaminated Water onto Commercial and Prepared Activated Carbons from Wheat Straw
Authors: Alrowais Raid , Said Noha , Bashir Muhammad Tariq , Ghazy Ahmed , Alwushayh Bandar , Daiem Mahmoud M. Abdel
Published: February 2023

The fabrication of carbon materials from biomass residues can be a promising economical approach for absorbing various target pollutants from aqueous phase. In the study, the adsorption of diphenolic acid (DPA) is investigated on activated carbons fabricated from wheat straw (ACWS) and commercial-activated carbon cloth (CACC). Adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and operational variables (solution pH and ionic strength) are analyzed for the adsorption capacity of the DPA on both carbons. The results show that the ACWS has a higher surface area (1164 m2/g) and volume of micropores (0.51 cm3/g) than those of the CACC. The second-order kinetics model fitted the experiment data better than the first kinetics models with a lower percentage of deviation. The adsorption capacity of the ACWS (264.90 mg/g) is higher than the CACC (168.19 mg/g) because of the higher surface area and volume of micropores of the ACWS. The adsorption isotherm shows that the adsorption of the DPA on the ACWS and CACC is consistent with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, respectively. The pH has a significant effect on DPA adsorption onto both carbons. The adsorption process is favored at the acidic pH, but the presence of electrolytes has no effect on the adsorption capacity of both carbons due to the screening effect. Thus, the preparation of activated carbon from wheat straw is an attractive option to recycle the wheat straw to added-value materials that can be used for the removal of such pollutants from aqueous solution. These findings can increase the research knowledge about the management of different straws in a sustainable way to produce activated carbon for different applications.
Microbial Community Abundance and Metabolism Close to the Ice-Water Interface of the Blomstrandbreen Glacier (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard): A Sampling Survey Using an Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle
Authors: Papale Maria , Caruso Gabriella , Maimone Giovanna , La Ferla Rosabruna , Lo Giudice Angelina , Rappazzo Alessandro Ciro , Cosenza Alessandro , Azzaro Filippo , Ferretti Roberta , Paranhos Rodolfo , Cabral Anderson Souza , Caccia Massimo , Odetti Angelo , Zappalà Giuseppe , Bruzzone Gabriele , Azzaro Maurizio
Published: February 2023

Polar marine environments host a complex assemblage of cold-adapted auto- and heterotrophic microorganisms that affect water biogeochemistry and ecosystem functions. However, due to logistical difficulties, remote regions like those in close proximity to glaciers have received little attention, resulting in a paucity of microbiological data. To fill these gaps and obtain novel insights into microbial structure and function in Arctic regions, a survey of microbial communities in an area close to the Blomstrandbreen glacier in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard Archipelago; Arctic Ocean) was carried out during an early summer period. An Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle designed to safely obtain seawater samples from offshore-glacier transects (PROTEUS, Portable RObotic Technology for Unmanned Surveys) was equipped with an automatic remotely-controlled water multi-sampler so that it could sample just beneath the glacier, where access from the sea is difficult and dangerous. The samples were analysed by image analysis for the abundance of total prokaryotes, viable and respiring cells, their morphological traits and biomass; by flow cytometry for autotrophic and prokaryotic cells (with high and low nucleic acid contents) as well as virus-like particle counts; by BIOLOG ECOPLATES for potential community metabolism; and by fluorimetry for potential enzymatic activity rates on organic polymers. Contextually, the main physical and chemical (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and nutrients) parameters were detected. Altogether, besides the PROTEUS vehicle’s suitability for collecting samples from otherwise inaccessible sites, the multivariate analysis of the overall dataset allowed the identification of three main sub-regions differently affected by the haline gradient (close to the glacier) or terrigenous inputs coming from the coast. A complex microbiological scenario was depicted by different patterns of microbial abundance and metabolism among the transects, suggesting that ice melting and Atlantic water inflow differently supported microbial growth.
The Effect of the Angle of Pipe Inclination on the Average Size and Velocity of Gas Bubbles Injected from a Capillary into a Liquid
Authors: Gorelikova Anastasia E. , Randin Vyacheslav V. , Chinak Alexander V. , Kashinsky Oleg N.
Published: February 2023

This work is devoted to an experimental study of the effect of coalescence on the average diameter and velocity of gas bubbles in an inclined pipe. The measurements were carried out for agas flow rate of 3.3 and 5 mL/min at pipe inclination angles of 30–60°. The study of gas bubble diameters was performed using a shadow photography method. The values of the average diameter and velocity of the bubbles were obtained depending on the angle of inclination of the pipe. A map of regime parameters was constructed at which gas bubbles form a stable structure—a chain of bubbles with an equal diameter.
Erosion and Sedimentation Processes in a Semi-Arid Basin of the Brazilian Savanna under Different Land Use, Climate Change, and Conservation Scenarios
Authors: Bendito Bianca Pietsch Cunha , Chaves Henrique Marinho Leite , Scariot Aldicir
Published: February 2023

Estimating the on-site and off-site impacts of soil erosion as a function of land use and climate conditions in semi-arid basins is key for soil and water conservation strategies. However, a research gap exists in the theme, requiring further investigation using local hydrological data. To accomplish it, the SDR-InVEST model was applied to the Pardo-FB basin (Brazil) using different land use, soil conservation, and climate conditions. The mean annual soil loss and the mean sediment yield in the basin varied between 7 and 36 Mg ha−1 yr−1 and 1.2 and 52.2 Gg yr−1, respectively. The basin areas where on-site and off-site erosion tolerances were exceeded ranged from 20% to 50% and from 0% to 1%, respectively, depending on the scenario. The results indicate that anthropic areas and high erosivities increase soil detachment and decrease sediment retention, generating higher erosion and sedimentation rates in the basin. The restoration of native vegetation and soil conservation practices reduced the erosion impacts, but their effectiveness was reduced in the wet climate scenario. The results contribute to the establishment of soil conservation strategies in the Pardo basin, as well as in similar basins around the world.
Impacts of Returning Straw and Nitrogen Application on the Nitrification and Mineralization of Nitrogen in Saline Soil
Authors: Yin Chunyan , Li Lijun , Zhao Ju , Yang Jingsong , Zhao Haogeng
Published: February 2023

In order to discuss the problems of the transformation of soil nitrogen and nitrogen leaching in saline farmland, this study carried out a split-plot experiment with returning straw and various nitrogen application rates. The main treatment of the experiment was returning corn straw, at quantities of 0.64 g (C1) and 0 g (C0), and the secondary treatment was nitrogen fertilizer (urea) at the quantities of 0 g (N0), 0.015 g (N1) and 0.03 g (N2). The results showed that, firstly, with the extension of the incubation time, the nitrogen nitrification rate of saline soil in each treatment decreased gradually until it stabilized without straw. For Days 0–7 of incubation, the nitrogen mineralization rate of saline soil decreased rapidly, and the mineralization rates of C0N0, C0N1 and C0N2 decreased by 86.91%, 89.26% and 83.64%, respectively. The nitrification rate of nitrogen in saline soil was C0N0 > C0N1 > C0N2, which decreased by 68.01%, 67.42% and 60.52%, respectively. Secondly, under the condition of returning straw to the field, the nitrogen mineralization rate of saline soil in each treatment decreased gradually and became stable with the extension of the incubation time. The nitrogen mineralization rate of saline soil in each nitrogen application treatment was C1N2 > C1N1 > C1N0 within 0–3 days of incubation, which decreased by 87.46%, 87.20% and 81.83%, respectively. The nitrification rate of saline soil under different nitrogen treatments was C1N2 > C1N0 > C1N1, and the nitrification rates of C1N0, C1N1 and C1N2 decreased by 66.62%, 62.54% and 47.21%, respectively. Thirdly, during the incubation period, returning straw slowed down nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in saline soil under the reduced nitrogen and no-nitrogen fertilizer treatments, but it enhanced nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in saline soil under the high nitrogen treatment. In conclusion, returning straw and reducing the application of nitrogen fertilizer to saline soil can retain more ammonium nitrogen, thus inhibiting nitrification of the soil nitrogen, reducing the environmental pollution risk of nitrate leaching and reducing nitrogen losses, all of which are of great significance for environmental pollution.
Hydrotropism: Understanding the Impact of Water on Plant Movement and Adaptation
Authors: Gul Malik Urfa , Paul Anand , S Manimurugan , Chehri Abdellah
Published: February 2023

Hydrotropism is the movement or growth of a plant towards water. It is a type of tropism, or directional growth response, that is triggered by water. Plants are able to detect water through various stimuli, including changes in moisture levels and changes in water potential. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of how root movement towards water and plant water uptake are stabilized. The impact of hydrotropism on plants can be significant. It can help plants to survive in environments where water is scarce, and it can also help them to grow more efficiently by directing their roots towards the most nutrient-rich soil. To make sure that plant growth and water uptake are stabilized, plants must sense water. Flowing down the roots, being absorbed by roots, and evaporating from the leaves are all processes that are governed by plant physiology and soil science. Soil texture and moisture affect water uptake. Hydraulic resistances can impede plants’ water absorption, while loss of water and water movement can change plants’ water potential gradients. Growth causes water potential gradients. Plants respond to gradient changes. Stomata and aquaporins govern water flow and loss. When water is scarce, stomatal closure and hydraulic conductance adjustments prevent water loss. Plants adapt to water stream changes by expanding their roots towards water and refining the architecture of their roots. Our study indicates that water availability, or gradients, are impacted by systemic and local changes in water availability. The amount of water available is reflected in plant turgor. There is still a lot of work to be done regarding the study of how the loss and availability of water affect plant cells, as well as how biophysical signals are transformed in a certain way during their transmission into chemical signals so that pathways such as abscisic acid response or organ development can be fed with information.
Simulation Study for Hydraulic Fracture Monitoring Based on Electromagnetic Detection Technology
Authors: Zhang Liming , Zhou Xingyu , Sun Jijia , Jiang Peiyin , Lu Zhihao , Cheng Cheng
Published: February 2023

The stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) technology extends conventional fracturing technology. Understanding how to effectively and accurately determine modified fracture shape and volume is the key point to evaluating the stimulation effect. Using electromagnetic detection technology can provide a new option for measuring these parameters. By the finite method, the rationality of electromagnetic detection technology to obtain the relevant parameters of reconstruction fracture is testified through forward simulation. This study compared the signals of fractures with different conductivity, volume, and shape collected by electromagnetic detection tool, and the results show that the signals have a specific correspondence with fracture geometric parameters. According to the electromagnetic signal curve of the forward model, the description of propped fractures, including positions and sizes, can be realized.
Contaminant Back Diffusion from Low-Conductivity Matrices: Case Studies of Remedial Strategies
Authors: Blue Julie , Boving Thomas , Tuccillo Mary Ellen , Koplos Jonathan , Rose Jason , Brooks Michael , Burden David
Published: February 2023

Recalcitrant groundwater contamination is a common problem at hazardous waste sites worldwide. Groundwater contamination persists despite decades of remediation efforts at many sites because contaminants sorbed or dissolved within low-conductivity zones can back diffuse into high-conductivity zones, and therefore act as a continuing source of contamination to flowing groundwater. A review of the available literature on remediation of plume persistence due to back diffusion was conducted, and four sites were selected as case studies. Remediation at the sites included pump and treat, enhanced bioremediation, and thermal treatment. Our review highlights that a relatively small number of sites have been studied in sufficient detail to fully evaluate remediation of back diffusion; however, three general conclusions can be made based on the review. First, it is difficult to assess the significance of back diffusion without sufficient data to distinguish between multiple factors contributing to contaminant rebound and plume persistence. Second, high-resolution vertical samples are decidedly valuable for back diffusion assessment but are generally lacking in post-treatment assessments. Third, complete contaminant mass removal from back diffusion sources may not always be possible. Partial contaminant mass removal may nonetheless have potential benefits, similar to partial mass removal from primary DNAPL source zones.