bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aligning Agricultural Research and Extension for Sustainable Development Goals in India: A Case of Farmer FIRST Programme
Authors: Venkatesan Purushothaman , Sivaramane Nilakandan , Sontakki Bharat Shankar , Rao Ch. Srinivasa , Chahal Ved Prakash , Singh Ashok Kumar , Sivakumar P. Sethuraman , Seetharaman Prabhukumar , Kalyani Bommu
Published: January 2023

Agricultural development and farmers’ welfare occupy a central place in the development goals of India. Various pathways which have evolved over the years have been implemented in the country to propel agricultural growth by shifting its focus from achieving food sufficiency to sustainable income and inclusive growth. The Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP), an innovative frontline extension program of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), was launched in 2016 to enhance the reach and effectiveness of agricultural research with a multi-stakeholder approach. This paper evaluates the outcomes of the FFP implemented in ICAR institutions for the upscaling of those promising technologies, which have resulted in a significant impact on the farming community. The criteria chosen for assessing the outcomes are farm income, cropping intensity, use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and organic manure, and nutritional security. The data were collected from 50 FFP-implementing institutions for the period 2016–2021 and grouped into six different zones. The results revealed that there is a significant increase in income, cropping intensity, nutritional security, and saving pesticides through this program. The nutritional security, measured using cereal equivalent quantity (CEQ), showed a considerable increase in average consumption in all the zones. Overall, FFP interventions have resulted in achieving significantly higher income and the nutritional security of the farmholds compared to the control. The recorded results are favorable for scaling up and institutionalizing the FFP approach at the national level. The study recommends a participatory mode of an interdisciplinary approach for the effective scaling-up of the FFP across the agricultural research and development landscape of India.
Discussion on Sustainable Development Strategy of China’s Rehabilitation Assistive Device Industry Based on Diamond Model
Authors: Wang Xiang , Lee Chang-Franw , Jiang Jiabei , Zhu Xiaoyang
Published: January 2023

The rehabilitation assistive device industry is an important field of innovative development in the health industry and occupies a huge consumer market share worldwide. The rehabilitation assistive device industry in China has developed rapidly in recent years, but there is still a gap between China and developed countries. How to improve the industrial competitiveness and promote the sustainable development of this industry is therefore the subject of this study. This study uses the “diamond model” to analyze the development status and competitiveness of China’s rehabilitation assistive device industry from six aspects: “production factors”, “demand conditions”, “related and supporting industries”, “market strategy and peer competition”, “opportunities” and “government”. It concludes that the industry chain is not perfect, the ability of independent innovation is weak, the vitality of market factors is not mobilized, and that there is a lack of systematic industrial policy support. Additionally, it puts forward the development countermeasures of integrating industrial resources, improving the industrial production chain, stimulating market demand, cultivating industrial talents, improving technological innovation, seizing opportunities, and improving industrial policies, laws and regulations. In this study, through the linkage analysis between the elements, it is believed that the elements affect each other. Therefore, in order to achieve sustainable development of the rehabilitation assistive device industry, all of the elements must be strengthened.
Digital Government Development, Local Governments’ Attention Distribution and Enterprise Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from China
Authors: Li Enji , Chen Qing , Zhang Xinyan , Zhang Chen
Published: January 2023

Building digital government is an important means for the government to improve the public service ability and optimize the business environment, which directly affects the production and operation activities of micro-enterprises. Based on the panel data of listed enterprises and municipal government portal website performance in China, this paper empirically investigates the impact of digital government development on enterprise total factor productivity (TFP) and the moderating effect of the local government’s attention distribution. The research results showed that digital government development significantly improved the enterprise TFP, and this conclusion remained unchanged after a series of robustness tests using instrumental variables, one-stage lag of explained variables, and debiased machine learning models. We also found that the greater the pressure faced by local governments and the longer the chief officials’ tenure, the more attention local governments paid to building digital government, and the more obvious the role of digital government development in promoting enterprise TFP. Heterogeneity test results showed that the information disclosure, online service, and public participation all had a positive effect on enterprise TFP, while the user experience had no effect on it. Digital government development had a more obvious role in promoting enterprise TFP of central and western regions, non-SOEs, and technology-intensive enterprises. Moreover, reducing enterprise rent-seeking, attracting new enterprise entry, and increasing enterprise R&D investment are important mechanisms for digital government development to improve enterprise TFP.
Buying Behaviour towards Eco-Labelled Food Products: Mediation Moderation Analysis
Authors: Alam Syed Shah , Wang Cheng-Kun , Masukujjaman Mohammad , Ahmad Ismail , Lin Chieh-Yu , Ho Yi-Hui
Published: January 2023

This study aims to identify the determinants of eco-labelled food product buying behaviour in the Malaysian context. This research develops a comprehensive model proposing that ethical self-efficacy is the moderator, and TPB constructs are the mediators to test empirically. Data were gathered through a questionnaire survey method, and then structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data by AMOS software version 21. The study results confirmed that, besides TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control), eco-labelling, perceived value, and self-efficacy affect buying intention. It was found that ethical self-efficacy moderates the relationship between perceived value and eco-labelled food product buying intention. The results also reveal that attitude, perceived behavioural control, and subjective norms mediate the association between environmental concern and eco-labelled food product buying intention. The research stresses the importance of environmental education from both the government and corporate initiatives regarding the path of environmentally conscious buying behaviour.
Barriers to Building Information Modeling (BIM) Deployment in Small Construction Projects: Malaysian Construction Industry
Authors: Waqar Ahsan , Qureshi Abdul Hannan , Alaloul Wesam Salah
Published: January 2023

Building information modeling (BIM) application in construction projects is considered beneficial for effective decision making throughout the project lifecycle, as it maximizes benefits without compromising practicality. The Malaysian construction industry is also keen on the adoption of BIM culture. However, various identified and unidentified barriers are hindering its practical implementation. In light of this, this study identified and analyzed critical obstacles to using BIM in Malaysian small construction projects. Through the use of semi-structured interviews and a pilot study using the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) method, the critical BIM barriers (CBBs) have been identified. Based on the findings of the EFA, CBBs were classified into five categories, i.e., technical adoption barrier, behavioral barrier, implementation barrier, management barrier, and digital education barrier. Following the questionnaire survey, feedback of 235 professionals was collected with vested interests in the Malaysian construction business, and the CBBs model was created using analysis of moment structures (AMOS). The findings revealed that although Malaysian experts with little experience in practice were fairly educated about BIM, technical adoption barriers, behavioral barriers, management barriers, and implementation hurdles were critical for adopting BIM. The study’s findings will help policymakers eliminate CBBs and use BIM in Malaysia’s modest construction projects to save costs, save time, boost productivity, and improve quality and sustainability.
Environmental Sustainability, Digitalisation, and the Entrepreneurial Perception of Distances as Drivers of SMEs’ Internationalisation
Authors: Szabó Roland Z. , Szedmák Borbála , Tajti Anna , Bera Péter
Published: January 2023

The complex relationship between sustainability, digitalization, entrepreneurship and internationalization has received less academic attention, although each of these topics is an important research area on its own. Thus, our research aims to understand the effect of environmental sustainability, the usage of digital systems, and the entrepreneurial perception of distances on the intention to export in the case of SMEs. The authors have developed a survey to examine three main hypotheses. Based on the answers of 315 SMEs, the article highlights that the communication of environmental sustainability, the usage of ERP systems, and the perception of cultural distance as opportunities to foster internationalisation.
Shaping Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intentions among Business Graduates in Developing Countries through Social Media Adoption: A Moderating-Mediated Mechanism in Pakistan
Authors: El-Gohary Hatem , Sultan Fahad , Alam Sayyam , Abbas Muzaffar , Muhammad Shoaib
Published: January 2023

Entrepreneurship is crucial for alleviating job challenges among business graduates and for sustaining a growing local economy. However, different factors support and encourage students to be entrepreneurs. Modern technologies such as social media are becoming more popular with young people in enterprise creation. However, the connection between social media use and business among the youth of developing countries has yet to be noticed. This study examines the relationship between entrepreneurial education (EE), attitudes toward sustainable entrepreneurship (ATSE), and sustainable entrepreneurial intentions (SEIs); as well as examining the moderating effect of social media adoption on this relationship. To put the proposed concept to the test, data was collected from 314 business graduates from Pakistani universities. Structural equation modeling using AMOS (Version 26) was utilized to test the proposed hypotheses. The study findings show that student attitudes concerning sustainable entrepreneurship mediate the association between EE and sustainable entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, the results illustrate that social media moderated the relationship between the research participants’ attitudes concerning sustainable entrepreneurship and their desire to practice sustainable entrepreneurship. The study makes significant contributions to the field that scholars can use to initiate future research projects.
Numerical Investigation of a Local Precise Reinforcement Method for Dynamic Stability of Rock Slope under Earthquakes Using Continuum–Discontinuum Element Method
Authors: Song Danqing , Shi Wanpeng , Wang Chengwen , Dong Lihu , He Xin , Wu Enge , Zhao Jianjun , Lu Runhu
Published: January 2023

The slope reinforcement scheme has an important influence on the prevention and control of landslides. A reasonable reinforcement scheme can improve the reliability, economy and efficiency of landslide resistance. It is urgent to establish a local precise reinforcement method for landslides on the basis of clear process and the instability modes of landslides. Taking a high-steep anti-dip rock slope as an example, six numerical models are established by using the continuum–discontinuum element method (CDEM) to carry out seismic damage and dynamic analysis of slopes. By comparing the seismic response and damage characteristics of being unstrengthened, local precise reinforcement and overall reinforcement models, the applicability of the proposed local precise reinforcement method for the slopes is discussed. The results show that the determination of the dynamic amplifying effect and seismic damage characteristics of slopes is the primary prerequisite of the local precise reinforcement method. The dynamic amplification effect of the slope toe, crest and shallow slope surface are much larger, that is, they are the potential reinforcement areas. The local precision reinforcement times should be controlled within a certain number of times, and the slope after the first three times of the local reinforcement effect is the best. However, more than three times after the reinforcement effect it becomes worse. Moreover, the dynamic amplification effect, the equivalent crack ratio and the mechanical energy of the slope after three times of local precision reinforcement are similar to the overall reinforcement effect, which indicates that local precision reinforcement has good feasibility. This work can provide references for landslide disasters prevention and control.
Safety Analysis of Rebar Corrosion Depth at the Moment of Corrosion-Induced Cover Cracking
Authors: Jiang Hui , Wang Shengcheng , Ren Yaqun , Li Yan , Song Shaolei , Qin Yanting
Published: January 2023

Concrete cover cracking induced by reinforcement corrosion is an important indication of the durability limit state for reinforced concrete (RC) structures and can be used to determine the structural service life. The process of rebar corrosion from the beginning of rusting to the occurrence of cover cracking due to corrosion expansion can be divided into two phases: the phase of the free expansion of the corrosion product and the phase of cover cracking. Based on the assumption of the uniform corrosion of the reinforcement, one model for predicting the reinforcement corrosion depth from corrosion initiation to cover cracking was established according to the cylindrical cavity expansion theory. The main factors affecting the reinforcement corrosion depth were analyzed. The main factors affecting the corrosion depth of reinforcement were analyzed. The quantitative sensitivity analysis of the factors influencing the calculation formula shows that the depth of reinforcement corrosion and the thickness of the concrete protective layer are approximately linearly increasing, with a growth rate of 0.2366 μm/mm; the diameter of the reinforcement is approximately linearly decreasing, with a decrease rate of 0.2122 μm/mm; the volume expansion rate of rust is approximately power function decreasing; the overall influence range of the yield criterion selection parameter is 0.15 μm; for the concrete strength grade, the overall influence range is 0.1 μm. The coefficient of determination R2 is 0.87, and the overall accuracy of the calculated formula is high, which can be used to predict the service life of reinforced concrete structures and guide the durability design in combination with the research results on the corrosion rate of reinforcement under different environments.
The Green-Awakening Customer Attitudes towards Buying Green Products on an Online Platform in Thailand: The Multigroup Moderation Effects of Age, Gender, and Income
Authors: Srisathan Wutthiya Aekthanate , Wongsaichia Sasichakorn , Gebsombut Nathateenee , Naruetharadhol Phaninee , Ketkaew Chavis
Published: January 2023

In order to respond to sustainable consumption and production, customers today are more aware of how their actions affect the environment. As a result, customers are looking for products that use sustainable practices and are environmentally conscious; an online platform is viewed as a channel to approach such products in the digital era. To meet this demand, understanding how green customer attitudes play a critical role in changing consumer behavior is required. This new concept of "green-awakening" customer attitude encapsulates green positive feelings, green intent, green likeness, and green belief to overcome the limitations of measurements used previously. The objectives of this research were (1) to investigate and confirm the existence of green-awakening customer attitudes toward online platforms in the emerging economy and (3) to investigate differences in equivalent measurements across age, gender, and income properties in Thailand. Data on 348 Thai customers were collected from different parts of the country, including the Northeast, North, Central, East, and South. In addition, a multigroup moderation approach was employed to investigate differences among groups segmented by age, gender, and income. SPSS Amos was used on the basis of the composite-based model to analyze multigroup structural invariance among the segmented data. On the one hand, the findings showed that Thai customers’ attitudes toward purchasing green products on an online platform are more likely to be affected by perceived relative advantage, perceived online social norms, and perceived risk. On the other hand, perceived online compatibility did not have a statistically significant effect on how green customers felt at an aggregate level. According to the findings of the multigroup analysis, Thai customers with a mid-high income level perceived green products positively and appeared to be able to afford them on an online platform when compared to other groups, which suggests that an income-based segment could moderate Thai customers’ attitudes toward purchasing green products on an online platform. Marketers could use the concept and idea of “green-awakening” customer attitudes to strengthen how to decide the precise target segmentation of green consumers.
Computational Analysis for Fréchet Parameters of Life from Generalized Type-II Progressive Hybrid Censored Data with Applications in Physics and Engineering
Authors: Alotaibi Refah , Rezk Hoda , Elshahhat Ahmed
Published: January 2023

Generalized progressive hybrid censored procedures are created to reduce test time and expenses. This paper investigates the issue of estimating the model parameters, reliability, and hazard rate functions of the Fréchet (Fr) distribution under generalized Type-II progressive hybrid censoring by making use of the Bayesian estimation and maximum likelihood methods. The appropriate estimated confidence intervals of unknown quantities are likewise built using the frequentist estimators’ normal approximations. The Bayesian estimators are created using independent gamma conjugate priors under the symmetrical squared-error loss. The Bayesian estimators and the associated greatest posterior density intervals cannot be computed analytically since the joint likelihood function is obtained in complex form, but they may be assessed using Monte Carlo Markov chain (MCMC) techniques. Via extensive Monte Carlo simulations, the actual behavior of the proposed estimation methodologies is evaluated. Four optimality criteria are used to choose the best censoring scheme out of all the options. To demonstrate how the suggested approaches may be utilized in real scenarios, two real applications reflecting the thirty successive values of precipitation in Minneapolis–Saint Paul for the month of March as well as the number of vehicle fatalities for thirty-nine counties in South Carolina during 2012 are examined.
Density of States for the Unitary Fermi Gas and the Schwarzschild Black Hole
Authors: Salasnich Luca
Published: January 2023

The density of states of a quantum system can be calculated from its definition, but, in some cases, this approach is quite cumbersome. Alternatively, the density of states can be deduced from the microcanonical entropy or from the canonical partition function. After discussing the relationship among these procedures, we suggest a simple numerical method, which is equivalent in the thermodynamic limit to perform a Legendre transformation, to obtain the density of states from the Helmholtz free energy. We apply this method to determine the many-body density of states of the unitary Fermi gas, a very dilute system of identical fermions interacting with a divergent scattering length. The unitary Fermi gas is highly symmetric due to the absence of any internal scale except for the average distance between two particles and, for this reason, its equation of state is called universal. In the last part of the paper, by using the same thermodynamical techniques, we review some properties of the density of states of a Schwarzschild black hole, which shares the problem of finding the density of states directly from its definition with the unitary Fermi gas.
Waiting for a Mathematical Theory of Living Systems from a Critical Review to Research Perspectives
Authors: Burini Diletta , Chouhad Nadia , Bellomo Nicola
Published: January 2023

This paper presents a survey of advanced concepts and research perspectives, of a philosophical-mathematical approach to describe the dynamics of systems of many interacting living entities. The first part introduces the general conceptual framework. Then, a critical analysis of the existing literature is developed and referred to a multiscale view of a mathematics of living organisms. This paper attempts to understand how far the present state-of-the-art is far from the achievement of such challenging objective. The overall study leads to identify research perspectives and possible hints to deal with them.
Poly-Cauchy Numbers with Higher Level
Authors: Komatsu Takao , Sirvent Víctor F.
Published: January 2023

In this article, mainly from the analytical aspect, we introduce poly-Cauchy numbers with higher levels (level s) as a kind of extensions of poly-Cauchy numbers with level 2 and the original poly-Cauchy numbers and investigate their properties. Such poly-Cauchy numbers with higher levels are yielded from the inverse relationship with an s-step function of the exponential function. We show such a function with recurrence relations and give the expressions of poly-Cauchy numbers with higher levels. Poly-Cauchy numbers with higher levels can be also expressed in terms of iterated integrals and a combinatorial summation. Poly-Cauchy numbers with higher levels for negative indices have a double summation formula. In addition, Cauchy numbers with higher levels can be also expressed in terms of determinants.
A Hybrid Cracked Tiers Detection System Based on Adaptive Correlation Features Selection and Deep Belief Neural Networks
Authors: Al-juboori Ali , Alsaeedi Ali , Nuiaa Riyadh , Alyasseri Zaid , Sani Nor , Hadi Suha , Mohammed Husam , Musawi Bashaer , Amin Maifuza
Published: January 2023

Tire defects are crucial for safe driving. Specialized experts or expensive tools such as stereo depth cameras and depth gages are usually used to investigate these defects. In image processing, feature extraction, reduction, and classification are presented as three challenging and symmetric ways to affect the performance of machine learning models. This paper proposes a hybrid system for cracked tire detection based on the adaptive selection of correlation features and deep belief neural networks. The proposed system has three steps: feature extraction, selection, and classification. First, the oriented gradient histogram extracts features from the tire images. Second, the proposed adaptive correlation feature selection selects important features with a threshold value adapted to the nature of the images. The last step of the system is to predict the image category based on the deep belief neural networks technique. The proposed model is tested and evaluated using real images of cracked and normal tires. The experimental results show that the proposed solution performs better than the current studies in effectively classifying tire defect images. The proposed hybrid cracked tire detection system based on adaptive correlation feature selection and Deep Belief Neural Networks’ performance provided better classification accuracy (88.90%) than that of Belief Neural Networks (81.6%) and Convolution Neural Networks (85.59%).
Traveling Wave Solutions for Time-Fractional mKdV-ZK Equation of Weakly Nonlinear Ion-Acoustic Waves in Magnetized Electron–Positron Plasma
Authors: Alabedalhadi Mohammed , Al-Omari Shrideh , Al-Smadi Mohammed , Alhazmi Sharifah
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we discuss the time-fractional mKdV-ZK equation, which is a kind of physical model, developed for plasma of hot and cool electrons and some fluid ions. Based on the properties of certain employed truncated M-fractional derivatives, we reduce the time-fractional mKdV-ZK equation to an integer-order ordinary differential equation utilizing an adequate traveling wave transformation. Further, we derive a dynamical system to present bifurcation of the equation equilibria and show existence of solitary and kink singular wave solutions for the time-fractional mKdV-ZK equation. Furthermore, we establish symmetric solitary, kink, and singular wave solutions for the governing model by using the ansatz method. Moreover, we depict desired results at different physical parameter values to provide physical interpolations for the aforementioned equation. Finally, we introduce applications of the governing model in detail.
Tackling the Design of Platform-Based Service Systems, Integrating Data and Cultures: The Case of Urban Markets
Authors: Montagna Francesca , Marcocchia Giulia , Cantamessa Marco
Published: January 2023

Different design traditions address the design of services. When adopted alone, they can limit design, especially if services systems are complex. Some combinations among service design traditions are theorized in the literature and a cultural synthesis is considered a priority. This paper discusses a practical application of that synthesis: systematic/data-driven methods from engineering and service innovation are applied within a participatory and transformative environment. Intangible versus material and functional versus experience service elements are considered. The case study on urban markets shows that economics and the transactional/functional mechanics of a service system must be understood for proper design actions, and that overcoming separations between strands of literature is necessary to achieve this aim. Moreover, since urban markets are two-sided platforms in a physical setting, the study allows easier investigation than in modern digital platforms regarding how platform economics affect the design of a service system, providing insights for digital services as well. Originality is due to generally scant contributions on urban market design, since markets are often regulated, rather than designed, beyond the rare practical attempts of cultural synthesis.
Development of Static and Dynamic Colorimetric Analysis Techniques Using Image Sensors and Novel Image Processing Software for Chemical, Biological and Medical Applications
Authors: Yoo Woo Sik , Kim Jung Gon , Kang Kitaek , Yoo Yeongsik
Published: January 2023

Colorimetric sensing techniques for point(s), linear and areal array(s) were developed using image sensors and novel image processing software for chemical, biological and medical applications. Monitoring and recording of colorimetric information on one or more specimens can be carried out by specially designed image processing software. The colorimetric information on real-time monitoring and recorded images or video clips can be analyzed for point(s), line(s) and area(s) of interest for manual and automatic data collection. Ex situ and in situ colorimetric data can be used as signals for process control, process optimization, safety and security alarms, and inputs for machine learning, including artificial intelligence. As an analytical example, video clips of chromatographic experiments using different colored inks on filter papers dipped in water and randomly blinking light-emitting-diode-based decorative lights were used. The colorimetric information on points, lines and areas, with different sizes from the video clips, were extracted and analyzed as a function of time. The video analysis results were both visualized as time-lapse images and RGB (red, green, blue) color/intensity graphs as a function of time. As a demonstration of the developed colorimetric analysis technique, the colorimetric information was expressed as static and time-series combinations of RGB intensity, HSV (hue, saturation and value) and CIE L*a*b* values. Both static and dynamic colorimetric analysis of photographs and/or video files from image sensors were successfully demonstrated using a novel image processing software.
Contamination Assessment and Potential Human Health Risks of Heavy Metals in Urban Soils from Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
Authors: Saleem Muhammad , Sens Donald A. , Somji Seema , Pierce David , Wang Yuqiang , Leopold August , Haque Mohammad Ehsanul , Garrett Scott H.
Published: January 2023

Heavy metal (HM) pollution of soil is an increasingly serious problem worldwide. The current study assessed the metal levels and ecological and human health risk associated with HMs in Grand Forks urban soils. A total 40 composite surface soil samples were investigated for Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd and Tl using microwave-assisted HNO3-HCl acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. The enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk and potential ecological risk index were used for ecological risk assessment. The park soils revealed the following decreasing trend for metal levels: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > As > Co > Cd > Tl > Hg. Based on mean levels, all the studied HMs except As and Cr were lower than guideline limits set by international agencies. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Cr and Tl may originate from natural sources, while Hg, Pb, As and Cd may come from anthropogenic/mixed sources. The Igeo results showed that the soil was moderately polluted by As and Cd and, based on EF results, As and Cd exhibited significant enrichment. The contamination factor analysis revealed that Zn and Pb showed moderate contamination, Hg exhibited low to moderate contamination and As and Cd showed high contamination in the soil. Comparatively higher risk was noted for children over adults and, overall, As was the major contributor (>50%), followed by Cr (>13%), in the non-carcinogenic risk assessment. Carcinogenic risk assessment revealed that As and Cr pose significant risks to the populations associated with this urban soil. Lastly, this study showed that the soil was moderately contaminated by As, Cd, Pb and Hg and should be regularly monitored for metal contamination.
Associations with Blood Lead and Urinary Cadmium Concentrations in Relation to Mortality in the US Population: A Causal Survival Analysis with G-Computation
Authors: Laouali Nasser , Benmarhnia Tarik , Lanphear Bruce P. , Oulhote Youssef
Published: January 2023

Using the parametric g-formula, we estimated the 27-year risk of all-cause and specific causes of mortality under different potential interventions for blood lead (BLLs) and urinary cadmium (UCd) levels. We used data on 14,311 adults aged ≥20 years enrolled in the NHANES-III between 1988 and 1994 and followed up through 31 Dec 31 2015. Time and cause of death were determined from the National Death Index records. We used the parametric g-formula with pooled logistic regression models to estimate the relative and absolute risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality under different potential threshold interventions for BLLs and UCd concentrations. Median follow-up was 22.5 years. A total of 5167 (36%) participants died by the end of the study, including 1550 from cardiovascular diseases and 1135 from cancer. Increases in BLLs and creatinine-corrected UCd levels from the 5th to the 95th percentiles were associated with risk differences of 4.17% (1.54 to 8.77) and 6.22% (4.51 to 12.00) for all-cause mortality, 1.52% (0.09 to 3.74) and 1.06% (−0.57 to 3.50) for cardiovascular disease mortality, and 1.32% (−0.09 to 3.67) and 0.64% (−0.98 to 2.80) for cancer mortality, respectively. Interventions to reduce historical exposures to lead and cadmium may have prevented premature deaths, especially from cardiovascular disease.
Brown Spider Venom Phospholipase-D Activity upon Different Lipid Substrates
Authors: Chaves-Moreira Daniele , Gremski Luiza Helena , de Moraes Fábio Rogério , Vuitika Larissa , Wille Ana Carolina Martins , Hernández González Jorge Enrique , Chaim Olga Meiri , Senff-Ribeiro Andrea , Arni Raghuvir Krishnaswamy , Veiga Silvio Sanches
Published: January 2023

Brown spider envenomation results in dermonecrosis, characterized by an intense inflammatory reaction. The principal toxins of brown spider venoms are phospholipase-D isoforms, which interact with different cellular membrane components, degrade phospholipids, and generate bioactive mediators leading to harmful effects. The Loxosceles intermedia phospholipase D, LiRecDT1, possesses a loop that modulates the accessibility to the active site and plays a crucial role in substrate. In vitro and in silico analyses were performed to determine aspects of this enzyme’s substrate preference. Sphingomyelin d18:1/6:0 was the preferred substrate of LiRecDT1 compared to other Sphingomyelins. Lysophosphatidylcholine 16:0/0:0 was preferred among other lysophosphatidylcholines, but much less than Sphingomyelin d18:1/6:0. In contrast, phosphatidylcholine d18:1/16:0 was not cleaved. Thus, the number of carbon atoms in the substrate plays a vital role in determining the optimal activity of this phospholipase-D. The presence of an amide group at C2 plays a key role in recognition and activity. In silico analyses indicated that a subsite containing the aromatic residues Y228 and W230 appears essential for choline recognition by cation-π interactions. These findings may help to explain why different cells, with different phospholipid fatty acid compositions exhibit distinct susceptibilities to brown spider venoms.
Killer Knots: Molecular Evolution of Inhibitor Cystine Knot Toxins in Wandering Spiders (Araneae: Ctenidae)
Authors: Brewer Michael S. , Cole T. Jeffrey
Published: January 2023

Venom expressed by the nearly 50,000 species of spiders on Earth largely remains an untapped reservoir of a diverse array of biomolecules with potential for pharmacological and agricultural applications. A large fraction of the noxious components of spider venoms are a functionally diverse family of structurally related polypeptides with an inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) motif. The cysteine-rich nature of these toxins makes structural elucidation difficult, and most studies have focused on venom components from the small handful of medically relevant spider species such as the highly aggressive Brazilian wandering spider Phoneutria nigriventer. To alleviate difficulties associated with the study of ICK toxins in spiders, we devised a comprehensive approach to explore the evolutionary patterns that have shaped ICK functional diversification using venom gland transcriptomes and proteomes from phylogenetically distinct lineages of wandering spiders and their close relatives. We identified 626 unique ICK toxins belonging to seven topological elaborations. Phylogenetic tests of episodic diversification revealed distinct regions between cysteine residues that demonstrated differential evidence of positive or negative selection, which may have structural implications towards the specificity and efficacy of these toxins. Increased taxon sampling and whole genome sequencing will provide invaluable insights to further understand the evolutionary processes that have given rise to this diverse class of toxins.
Aggregation-Induced Red Emission Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Highly Sensitive Detection of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A
Authors: Xiong Hanpeng , Chen Ping , Chen Xirui , Shen Xuanang , Huang Xiaolin , Xiong Yonghua , Su Yu
Published: January 2023

Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) has presented enormous difficulties in dairy food safety and the sensitive detection of SEA provides opportunities for effective food safety controls and staphylococcal food poisoning tracebacks. Herein, a novel aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based sandwich lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) was introduced to detect SEA by using red-emissive AIE nanoparticles (AIENPs) as the fluorescent nanoprobe. The nanoprobe was constructed by directly immobilising antibodies on boronate-tagged AIENPs (PBA-AIENPs) via a boronate affinity reaction, which exhibited a high SEA-specific affinity and remarkable fluorescent performance. Under optimal conditions, the ultrasensitive detection of SEA in pasteurised milk was achieved within 20 min with a limit of detection of 0.04 ng mL−1. The average recoveries of the PBA-AIENP-LFIA ranged from 91.3% to 117.6% and the coefficient of variation was below 15%. It was also demonstrated that the PBA-AIENP-LFIA had an excellent selectivity against other SE serotypes. Taking advantage of the excellent sensitivity of this approach, real chicken and salad samples were further analysed, with a high versatility and accuracy. The proposed PBA-AIENP-LFIA platform shows promise as a potent tool for the identification of additional compounds in food samples as well as an ideal test method for on-site detections.
The Secular Dressed Diffusion Equation
Authors: Chavanis Pierre-Henri
Published: January 2023

The secular dressed diffusion equation describes the long-term evolution of collisionless systems of particles with long-range interactions, such as self-gravitating systems submitted to a weak external stochastic perturbation. We successively consider nonrotating spatially homogeneous systems, rotating spatially homogeneous systems, and spatially inhomogeneous systems. We contrast the secular dressed diffusion equation applying to collisionless systems perturbed by an externally imposed stochastic field from the Lenard–Balescu equation applying to isolated systems evolving because of discreteness effects (“collisions”). We discuss the connection between these two equations when the external noise is produced by a random distribution of field particles.
Co-Circulation of West Nile, Usutu, and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Viruses in the Same Area: A Great Challenge for Diagnostic and Blood and Organ Safety
Authors: Čabanová Viktória , Kerlik Jana , Kirschner Peter , Rosochová Jana , Klempa Boris , Sláviková Monika , Ličková Martina
Published: January 2023

Viral infections caused by viruses from the family Flaviviridae such as Zika (ZIKV), Dengue (DENV), yellow fever (YFV), tick-borne encephalitis (TBEV), West Nile (WNV), and Usutu (USUV) are some of the most challenging diseases for recognition in clinical diagnostics and epidemiological tracking thanks to their short viremia, non-specific symptoms, and high cross-reactivity observed in laboratory techniques. In Central Europe, the most relevant endemic flaviviruses are mosquito-borne WNV and USUV, and tick-borne TBEV. All three viruses have been recognised to be responsible for human neuroinvasive diseases. Moreover, they are interrupting the blood and transplantation safety processes, when the great efforts made to save a patient’s life could be defeated by acquired infection from donors. Due to the trend of changing distribution and abundance of flaviviruses and their vectors influenced by global change, the co-circulation of WNV, USUV, and TBEV can be observed in the same area. In this perspective, we discuss the problems of flavivirus diagnostics and epidemiology monitoring in Slovakia as a model area of Central Europe, where co-circulation of WNV, USUV, and TBEV in the same zone has been recently detected. This new situation presents multiple challenges not only for diagnostics or surveillance but particularly also for blood and organ safety. We conclude that the current routinely used laboratory diagnostics and donor screening applied by the European Union (EU) regulations are out of date and the novel methods which have become available in recent years, e.g., next-gene sequencing or urine screening should be implemented immediately.
A Combined Approach for Detection of Ovine Small Ruminant Retrovirus Co-Infections
Authors: Rosato Giuliana , Abril Carlos , Hilbe Monika , Seehusen Frauke
Published: January 2023

Jaagsiekte retrovirus (JSRV)-induced ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is an important ovine respiratory disease in Switzerland. Furthermore, ovine lungs with OPA frequently exhibited lesions suggestive of maedi-visna virus (MVV) or caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection, indicating that co-morbidities might occur. Lungs and pulmonary lymph nodes were sampled from suspected OPA cases, inflammatory lung lesions and control lungs (total of 110 cases). Tissues were (a) processed for histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and (b) underwent DNA extraction and real-time PCR for JSRV, MVV and CAEV. Peptide sequences were used to generate virus-specific customized polyclonal antibodies. PCR-positive OPA cases and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded MVV- and CAEV-infected synovial cell pellets served as positive controls. Fifty-two lungs were histologically diagnosed with OPA. Histological evidence of MVV/CAEV infection was detected in 25 lungs. JSRV was detected by PCR in 84% of the suspected OPA cases; six were co-infected with MVV and one with CAEV. MVV was detected by PCR in 14 cases, and four lungs were positive for CAEV. Three lungs had MVV/CAEV co-infection. In IHC, JSRV was detected in 91% of the PCR-positive cases, whereas MVV and CAEV immunoreactivity was seen in all PCR-positive lungs. Although PCR showed a higher sensitivity compared to IHC, the combined approach allows for investigations on viral cell tropism and pathogenic processes in co-morbidities, including their potential interdependency. Furthermore, an immunohistochemical tool for specific differentiation of MVV and/or CAEV infection was implemented.
Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir: Tolerability, Safety, and Adherence in a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mazzitelli Maria , Mengato Daniele , Sasset Lolita , Ferrari Anna , Gardin Samuele , Scaglione Vincenzo , Bonadiman Nicola , Calandrino Lucrezia , Cavinato Silvia , Trivellato Sabrina , Venturini Francesca , Cattelan Anna Maria
Published: January 2023

Background. Molnupiravir (MOL) and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NIR) were recently approved for the early treatment of COVID-19, but real-life data on tolerability, safety, and adverse events (AEs) are still scarce. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all patients who were prescribed MOL and NIR at the Infectious Diseases Unit of Padua University Hospital, between January and May 2022. Demographic, clinical, and safety variables were recorded. Results. We included 909 patients, 48.3% males and 95.2% vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. The median age was 73 (IQR: 62–82) years. MOL and NIR were prescribed in 407 (44.8%) and 502 (55.2%) patients, respectively. Overall, 124/909 (13.6%) patients experienced any AEs following antivirals intake: 98/124 (79%) patients reporting adverse events presented grade 1 AEs, 23/124 (18.5%) grade 2 AEs and 3 (2.5%) grade 3 AEs. Treatment discontinuation was recorded in 4.8% of patients. AEs were significantly higher in women, in patients treated with NIR compared to MOL and in people who were not vaccinated. Conclusions. In our real-life setting, AEs were higher than those reported by clinical trials, and were particularly associated with NIR use and with not being vaccinated. Further analyses are needed to better assess safety of oral antivirals and to define which patient’s profile may benefit most from MOL and NIR.
Overexpression of TRIM16 Reduces the Titer of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus and Promotes the Expression of Antioxidant Genes through Regulating the SQSTM1-NRF2-KEAP1 Axis
Authors: Liu Yanwei , Wei Yifan , Zhou Ziwei , Gu Yongxia , Pang Zifeng , Liao Ming , Sun Hailiang
Published: January 2023

Oxidative stress plays a vital role in viral replication. Tripartite motif containing 16 (TRIM16) is involved in diverse cellular processes. However, the role of TRIM16 in oxidative stress induced by infection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is unclear. We found that under conditions of H5N1 HPAIV infection, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in A549 cells peaked at 24 h post infection (hpi), and antioxidant genes’ expression levels were down-regulated. Overexpression of TRIM16 in A549 cells resulted in a decrease in the titter of H5N1 HPAIV and led to significant up-regulation of the antioxidant genes’ expression levels, which indicates that TRIM16 positively regulates the sequestosome 1/Kelch-like associated enoyl-CoA hydratase 1 protein/nuclear factor erythrocyte 2-derived 2-like 2 (SQSTM1/NRF2/KEAP1) pathway. Under basal conditions, TRIM16 led to a modification of NRF2 through an increase in K63-linked poly-ubiquitination of NRF2. Collectively, our findings provide new insight into understanding TRIM16′s role in anti-oxidative stress in H5N1 HPAIV infected A549 cells.
Respiratory Viruses and Virus-like Particle Vaccine Development: How Far Have We Advanced?
Authors: Chu Ki-Back , Quan Fu-Shi
Published: January 2023

With technological advancements enabling globalization, the intercontinental transmission of pathogens has become much easier. Respiratory viruses are one such group of pathogens that require constant monitoring since their outbreak leads to massive public health crises, as exemplified by the influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2. To prevent the transmission of these highly contagious viruses, developing prophylactic tools, such as vaccines, is of considerable interest to the scientific community. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are highly sought after as vaccine platforms for their safety and immunogenicity profiles. Although several VLP-based vaccines against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus have been approved for clinical use by the United States Food and Drug Administration, VLP vaccines against the three aforementioned respiratory viruses are lacking. Here, we summarize the most recent progress in pre-clinical and clinical VLP vaccine development. We also outline various strategies that contributed to improving the efficacy of vaccines against each virus and briefly discuss the stability aspect of VLPs that makes it a highly desired vaccine platform.