bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Federated Meta-Learning with Attention for Diversity-Aware Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Shen Qiang , Feng Haotian , Song Rui , Song Donglei , Xu Hao
Published: January 2023

The ubiquity of smartphones equipped with multiple sensors has provided the possibility of automatically recognizing of human activity, which can benefit intelligent applications such as smart homes, health monitoring, and aging care. However, there are two major barriers to deploying an activity recognition model in real-world scenarios. Firstly, deep learning models for activity recognition use a large amount of sensor data, which are privacy-sensitive and hence cannot be shared or uploaded to a centralized server. Secondly, divergence in the distribution of sensory data exists among multiple individuals due to their diverse behavioral patterns and lifestyles, which contributes to difficulty in recognizing activity for large-scale users or ’cold-starts’ for new users. To address these problems, we propose DivAR, a diversity-aware activity recognition framework based on a federated Meta-Learning architecture, which can extract general sensory features shared among individuals by a centralized embedding network and individual-specific features by attention module in each decentralized network. Specifically, we first classify individuals into multiple clusters according to their behavioral patterns and social factors. We then apply meta-learning in the architecture of federated learning, where a centralized meta-model learns common feature representations that can be transferred across all clusters of individuals, and multiple decentralized cluster-specific models are utilized to learn cluster-specific features. For each cluster-specific model, a CNN-based attention module learns cluster-specific features from the global model. In this way, by training with sensory data locally, privacy-sensitive information existing in sensory data can be preserved. To evaluate the model, we conduct two data collection experiments by collecting sensor readings from naturally used smartphones annotated with activity information in the real-life environment and constructing two multi-individual heterogeneous datasets. In addition, social characteristics including personality, mental health state, and behavior patterns are surveyed using questionnaires. Finally, extensive empirical results demonstrate that the proposed diversity-aware activity recognition model has a relatively better generalization ability and achieves competitive performance on multi-individual activity recognition tasks.
Association of 7-Day Profiles of Motor Activity in Marital Dyads with One Component Affected by Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Rabuffetti Marco , De Giovannini Ennio , Carpinella Ilaria , Lencioni Tiziana , Fornia Luca , Ferrarin Maurizio
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: A noticeable association between the motor activity (MA) profiles of persons living together has been found in previous studies. Social actigraphy methods have shown that this association, in marital dyads composed of healthy individuals, is greater than that of a single person compared to itself. This study aims at verifying the association of MA profiles in dyads where one component is affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). (2) Methods: Using a wearable sensor-based social actigraphy approach, we continuously monitored, for 7 days, the activities of 27 marital dyads including one component with PD. (3) Results: The association of motor activity profiles within a marital dyad (cross-correlation coefficient 0.344) is comparable to the association of any participant with themselves (0.325). However, when considering the disease severity quantified by the UPDRS III score, it turns out that the less severe the symptoms, the more associated are the MA profiles. (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PD treatment could be improved by leveraging the MA of the healthy spouse, thus promoting lifestyles also beneficial for the component affected by PD. The actigraphy approach provided valuable information on habitual functions and motor fluctuations, and could be useful in investigating the response to treatment.
Selective Voltammetric Sensor for the Simultaneous Quantification of Tartrazine and Brilliant Blue FCF
Authors: Gimadutdinova Liliya , Ziyatdinova Guzel , Davletshin Rustam
Published: January 2023

Tartrazine and brilliant blue FCF are synthetic dyes used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The individual and/or simultaneous control of their concentrations is required due to dose-dependent negative health effects. Therefore, the paper presents experimental results related to the development of a sensing platform for the electrochemical detection of tartrazine and brilliant blue FCF based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with MnO2 nanorods, using anodic differential pulse voltammetry. Homogeneous and stable suspensions of MnO2 nanorods have been obtained involving cetylpyridinium bromide solution as a cationic surfactant. The MnO2 nanorods-modified electrode showed a 7.9-fold increase in the electroactive surface area and a 72-fold decrease in the electron transfer resistance. The developed sensor allowed the simultaneous quantification of dyes for two linear domains: in the ranges of 0.10–2.5 and 2.5–15 μM for tartrazine and 0.25–2.5 and 2.5–15 μM for brilliant blue FCF with detection limits of 43 and 41 nM, respectively. High selectivity of the sensor response in the presence of typical interference agents (inorganic ions, saccharides, ascorbic and sorbic acids), other food dyes (riboflavin, indigo carmine, and sunset yellow), and vanillin has been achieved. The sensor has been tested by analyzing soft and isotonic sports drinks and the determined concentrations were close to those obtained involving the chromatography technique.
Quantitative Identification Method for Glass Panel Defects Using Microwave Detection Based on the CSAPSO-BP Neural Network
Authors: Fang Jun , Deng Zhiyang , Tu Jun , Song Xiaochun
Published: January 2023

To address the problem of the quantitative identification of glass panel surface defects, a new method combining the chaotic simulated annealing particle swarm algorithm (CSAPSO) and the BP neural network is proposed for the quantitative evaluation of microwave detection signals of glass panel defects. First, the parameters of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm are dynamically assigned using chaos theory to improve the global search capability of the PSO. Then, the CSAPSO-BP neural network model is constructed, and the return loss and phase of the microwave detection echo signal of glass panel defects are extracted as the input feature quantity of the network, from which the intrinsic connection between input and output is found through network training and testing to achieve the prediction of the depth and width of glass panel surface defects. The results show that the CSAPSO-BP network model can more accurately characterize the defect geometry of glass panels than the PSO-BP network model.
Embedding Ethical Principles into AI Predictive Tools for Migration Management in Humanitarian Action
Authors: Guillén Andrea , Teodoro Emma
Published: January 2023

AI predictive tools for migration management in the humanitarian field can significantly aid humanitarian actors in augmenting their decision-making capabilities and improving the lives and well-being of migrants. However, the use of AI predictive tools for migration management also poses several risks. Making humanitarian responses more effective using AI predictive tools cannot come at the expense of jeopardizing migrants’ rights, needs, and interests. Against this backdrop, embedding AI ethical principles into AI predictive tools for migration management becomes paramount. AI ethical principles must be imbued in the design, development, and deployment stages of these AI predictive tools to mitigate risks. Current guidelines to apply AI ethical frameworks contain high-level ethical principles which are not sufficiently specified for achievement. For AI ethical principles to have real impact, they must be translated into low-level technical and organizational measures to be adopted by those designing and developing AI tools. The context-specificity of AI tools implies that different contexts raise different ethical challenges to be considered. Therefore, the problem of how to operationalize AI ethical principles in AI predictive tools for migration management in the humanitarian field remains unresolved. To this end, eight ethical requirements are presented, with their corresponding safeguards to be implemented at the design and development stages of AI predictive tools for humanitarian action, with the aim of operationalizing AI ethical principles and mitigating the inherent risks.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Software in 2022
Authors:   Software Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Correction: Lencwe et al. An Effective Control for Lead-Acid Performance Enhancement in a Hybrid Battery-Supercapacitor System Used in Transport Vehicles. Sustainability 2021, 13, 13971
Authors: Lencwe Mpho J. , Chowdhury S. P. Daniel , Olwal Thomas O.
Published: January 2023

The authors would like to make the following corrections about the published paper [...]
Classroom Quantitative Evaluation: A Method of Both Formative and Summative Evaluation
Authors: Zhang Yi , Wu Xiaoxia , Zhu Cheng , Zhou Jincheng
Published: January 2023

As the most important carrier of education and teaching, the quality of classroom teaching directly affects the quality of formal school education. Traditional classroom teaching evaluation is usually based on expert experience, which can only give sporadic and one-sided evaluation results, and it is difficult for teachers to obtain systematic and operational improvement schemes, which has caused great obstacles to teachers’ sustainable development. Based on the concept of teachers’ sustainable development and Flanders Interactive Analysis System (FIAS), this study evaluates classroom teaching from two aspects: formative evaluation and summative evaluation. From the perspective of formative evaluation, a quantitative comprehensive analysis framework of classroom teaching language is constructed from two aspects of matrix analysis and dynamic curve analysis. The matrix analysis makes an in-depth analysis of classroom teaching from five aspects: classroom teaching structure, teaching style, classroom atmosphere, variable analysis, and question innovation degree. The dynamic curve of the classroom is analyzed from three aspects: teacher talk, student talk, as well as silence and confusion. From the perspective of summative evaluation, this paper combines the projection pursuit of entropy (PPE) model to form a class teaching grade evaluation model. On the basis of the above model, this study selects 5 + 5 (five expert teachers and five novice teachers) lessons that have heterogeneous forms for the same subject with Chinese high school math teachers as the research objects. Based on this framework, the verbal information of classroom teaching is encoded and a thorough analysis is carried on from the perspective of formative assessment, while at the same time, the level of classroom teaching evaluation is given from the perspective of formative evaluation. The results show that expert teachers use indirect discourse more, they also pay more attention to blank space and have a more harmonious classroom atmosphere as well as ask more innovative questions compared to novice teachers. Under the PPE model, expert teachers have higher scores than novice teachers. This study provides a systematic and comprehensive analysis scheme for the comprehensive evaluation of classroom teaching, which not only provides comprehensive and operational information for teachers to improve their classroom teaching, but also guarantees the sustainable development of teachers’ specialization, and provides a solution for the summative evaluation of classroom teaching.
Experimental Research on Coal-Gas Outburst Prevention by Injection Liquid Freezing during Uncovering Coal Seam in Rock Crosscut
Authors: Jia Zhenzhen , Tao Feng , Ye Qing
Published: January 2023

According to the existing problems of the control measures of uncovering coal seams in rock crosscut, such as long time of uncovering coal, poor construction safety, etc., the main effect factors of coal–gas outburst of uncovering coal seams in rock crosscut are analyzed, the existing hypotheses and the process of coal–gas outburst are described, and then the feasibility of the injection liquid freezing to prevent the coal–gas outburst is analyzed. It is concluded that the measure of the injection liquid freezing has the following functions: ① changing the physical properties of coal, ② improving the integrity of the surrounding rocks of the coal–rock interface, ③ enhancing coal strength, ④ effectively avoiding the discontinuous deformation of coal and rock under the action of gas pressure, ⑤ strengthening the block action of the external coal, ⑥ changing the stress distribution of coal near rock crosscut. The freezing makes the freezing ring in the roadway surroundings become a relatively stable flexible combination, which has a better stability. The experiment device of injection liquid freezing is designed, and the coal samples are analyzed before and after the freezing. The experiment results show that the indexes of coal–gas outburst are greatly dropped after adopting the measure of the injection liquid freezing, which can effectively control the coal–gas outburst. The experiments also show that it is feasible to prevent coal–gas outburst by the technology of the injection liquid freezing. The study results provide a new way to prevent the coal–gas outburst in uncovering coal seams in rock crosscut.
Mapping Ecosystem Services in an Andean Water Supply Basin
Authors: Ruíz Ordoñez Diana Marcela , Camacho De Angulo Yineth Viviana , Pencué Fierro Edgar Leonairo , Figueroa Casas Apolinar
Published: January 2023

Socio-ecological dynamics affect the ecosystem services supply and are relevant to generate effective water management strategies; this condition is considered to evaluate under a holistic approach, the water ecosystem services (WES) in an Andean supply basin (ASB) in Colombia. This analysis focus on the connection of biophysical and sociocultural components for the multi-purpose use of water based on The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) modelling for Las Piedras River Basin (LPRB). The generated Hydrological Response Units (HRUs), allows to estimate the capacity of the basin for supplying water (quantity) in adequate conditions (quality) for local populations in rural and urban areas, as well as WES zoning. The model was calibrated and validated to generate a baseline scenario, which was complemented with social cartography and participative workshops. The results indicate a low concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus, boosted by specific agro-ecological strategies developed by local communities; however, there are health risks for populations downstream and those that are supplied with water directly from the source. Additionally, Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) affects water availability, which demands restoration and conservation strategies to maintain WES supply for socioeconomic and cultural purposes, since different views on the available WES converge in the basin.
The Continuous Use Intention for the Online Learning of Chinese Vocational Students in the Post-Epidemic Era: The Extended Technology Acceptance Model and Expectation Confirmation Theory
Authors: Ye Jian-Hong , Lee Yi-Sang , Wang Chiung-Ling , Nong Weiguaju , Ye Jhen-Ni , Sun Yu
Published: January 2023

In an attempt to prevent and control the outbreak of COVID-19, education systems worldwide have comprehensively implemented online courses to fulfill the educational goal of the suspension of classes without suspending school. Numerous online courses have been developed under these circumstances. From the perspective of sustainable development goals, these online courses should be continued. However, as the epidemic gradually eases, it is questionable whether or not students will still willingly participate in these courses. The method of teaching is a critical issue for schools to decide. Compared with other related educational research, the research on the vocational education system is still limited. To expand the understanding of this topic, this study adopted snowball sampling and invited students from Chinese vocational colleges to fill in a questionnaire to help understand the perceptions that affect students’ expectations, attitudes, perceived effects, and satisfaction and the persistence of online learning. A total of 819 valid questionnaires were retrieved, with an effective questionnaire response rate of 81.9%. Meanwhile, under the framework of Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study extended the theoretical model and proposed a sustainable model. The results of this study showed the following: 1. Expectancy belief and online learning attitudes had a positive impact on perceived ease of use and usefulness; 2. Perceived ease of use had a negative impact on practical class satisfaction but a positive impact on theoretical class satisfaction and perceived usefulness; 3. Perceived usefulness had a negative impact on practical course satisfaction but a positive impact on theoretical course satisfaction; and 4. Both types of course satisfaction had a positive impact on continuous use intentions for learning.
Effect of the Wetting Hydraulic Property of Soil on 1-D Water Infiltration
Authors: Li Xuebo , Shen Tianlun , Xiang Ke , Zhai Qian , Rahardjo Harianto , Satyanaga Alfrendo , Wang Shijun
Published: January 2023

Rainwater infiltration is primarily governed by the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) and hydraulic conductivity function (HCF) of soil. Both the SWCC and the HCF are hysteretic during the drying and wetting processes. In a numerical simulation, different seepage results can be obtained by incorporating different hydraulic conductivity functions of soil. In practice, the wetting HCF is commonly estimated from the wetting SWCC using the statistical method, which is named HCFswcc,w in this note. However, there is no study that has verified the results from seepage analyses using HCFswcc,w. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the influence of wetting SWCC and wetting HCF on 1-D water infiltration. The results from the numerical simulations were verified with the instrumentation reading from a soil column. It was observed that the results from the model using wetting HCFPSDF, which defines the wetting HCF estimated using the concept of pore-size distribution function, gave better agreement with the instrumented data. Therefore, both wetting SWCC and wetting HCFPSDF are advised to be used as input information for the numerical simulation of rainwater infiltration.
Thermal-Stress Coupling Optimization for Coaxial through Silicon Via
Authors: Chen Dongdong , Yang Yintang , Wang Xianglong , Li Di , Liang Yi , Xu Changqing
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a thermal-stress coupling optimization strategy for coaxial through silicon via (TSV) is developed based on the finite element method (FEM), artificial neural network (ANN) model and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. In order to analyze the effect of design parameters on the thermal-stress distribution of coaxial TSV, the FEM simulations of coaxial TSV are conducted by COMSOL Multiphysics. The structure of coaxial TSV is symmetric. The mapping relationships between the design parameters and performance indexes are described by ANN models based on the simulation data of FEM. In addition, the multi-objective optimization function is formulated based on the desired performance indexes, and then the design parameters are optimized by the modified PSO algorithm. Based on the optimized design parameters, the effectiveness of the developed method is validated by FEM simulations. The simulated performance indexes agree well with the desired ones, which implies that the design parameters of coaxial TSV can be optimized to control the thermal-stress distribution. Therefore, the thermal-stress coupling optimization of coaxial TSV can achieve thermal-stress management to improve its reliability.
A General Single-Node Second-Order Dirichlet Boundary Condition for the Convection–Diffusion Equation Based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Chen Yong , Wang Xiangyang , Zhu Hanhua
Published: January 2023

A general single-node second-order Dirichlet boundary condition for curved boundaries for the convection–diffusion equation based on the lattice Boltzmann method has been developed. The boundary condition simply utilizes the bounce back rule for the temperature distribution and linear interpolation. The developed boundary condition is quite general and stable. The asymptotic analysis indicates that the proposed boundary scheme is of second-order accuracy. The comparison in terms of L2-norm between the simulation results and the analytical solutions confirms that it is indeed second-order accurate for 2D and 3D symmetric flows comprising straight and curved boundaries. Moreover, the Nusselt numbers for a spherical particle in uniform flow obtained by current simulations agree very well with the predictions of empirical correlations and the data of previous direct numerical simulations with a maximal relative deviation within 8%.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Systems in 2022
Authors:   Systems Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Evaluation of a Remote-Controlled Drone System for Bedridden Patients Using Their Eyes Based on Clinical Experiment
Authors: Kai Yoshihiro , Seki Yuuki , Suzuki Riku , Kogawa Atsunori , Tanioka Ryuichi , Osaka Kyoko , Zhao Yueren , Tanioka Tetsuya
Published: January 2023

With the aging of the population in Japan, the number of bedridden patients who need long-term care is increasing. The Japanese government has been promoting the creation of an environment that enables everyone, including bedridden patients, to enjoy travel, based on the principle of normalization. However, it is difficult for bedridden patients to enjoy the scenery of distant places and to talk with the local people because they need support from helpers to travel to distant places using travel agencies. Therefore, to enhance their quality of life (QOL), we developed a remote-controlled drone system, which involves using only the eyes. We believe that bedridden patients are able to operate the system’s drone in a distant place, to easily view the scenery of the distant place with a camera installed on the drone, and to talk with the local people. However, we have never evaluated whether actual bedridden patients can operate the drone in a distant place, to see the scenery, and to talk with the local people. In this paper, we presented clinical experimental results to verify the effectiveness of this drone system. Findings showed that, not only subjects with relatively high levels of independence in activities of daily living, but also bedridden subjects, could operate the drone at a distant place with only their eyes and communicate with others.
Determination of Microcystins in Fish Tissue by ELISA and MALDI-TOF MS Using a Highly Specific Single Domain Antibody
Authors: Badagian Natalia , Pírez Schirmer Macarena , Pérez Parada Andrés , Gonzalez-Sapienza Gualberto , Brena Beatriz M.
Published: January 2023

The development of simple, reliable, and cost-effective methods is critically important to study the spatial and temporal variation of microcystins (MCs) in the food chain. Nanobodies (Nbs), antigen binding fragments from camelid antibodies, present valuable features for analytical applications. Their small antigen binding site offers a focused recognition of small analytes, reducing spurious cross-reactivity and matrix effects. A high affinity and broad cross-reactivity anti-MCs-Nb, from a llama antibody library, was validated in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and bound to magnetic particles with an internal standard for pre-concentration in quantitative-matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (Nb-QMALDI MS). Both methods are easy and fast; ELISA provides a global result, while Nb-QMALDI MS allows for the quantification of individual congeners and showed excellent performance in the fish muscle extracts. The ELISA assay range was 1.8–29 ng/g and for Nb-QMALDI, it was 0.29–29 ng/g fish ww. Fifty-five fish from a MC-containing dam were analyzed by both methods. The correlation ELISA/sum of the MC congeners by Nb-QMALDI-MS was very high (r Spearman = 0.9645, p < 0.0001). Using ROC curves, ELISA cut-off limits were defined to accurately predict the sum of MCs by Nb-QMALDI-MS (100% sensitivity; ≥89% specificity). Both methods were shown to be simple and efficient for screening MCs in fish muscle to prioritize samples for confirmatory methods.
Toxicokinetics of a Single Oral Dose of OTA on Dezhou Male Donkeys
Authors: Kang Ruifen , Qu Honglei , Guo Yanxin , Zhang Mengjie , Fu Tianze , Huang Shimeng , Zhao Lihong , Zhang Jianyun , Ji Cheng , Ma Qiugang
Published: January 2023

Ochratoxin (OTA) is widely present in a wide range of foods and feeds, causing adverse effects on animals and humans. This study aims to explore the toxicokinetics of OTA-contaminated materials on the Dezhou male donkey. Donkeys received a single orally dose of 2500 μg OTA/kg BW, obtained from Aspergillus ochraceus culture material. The concentrations of OTA in plasma collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 min, and at 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h were detected by HPLC. OTA eliminated in urine and feces were quantified at 6-h intervals up to 24 h and then at 4-h intervals up to 120 h. The results suggested that the maximum concentration of OTA in plasma was observed at 12 h after administration, with a mean value of 10.34 μg/mL. The total excretion in both urine and feces was about 10% of the intake until 120 h.
Application of Multilocus Sequence Typing for the Characterization of Leptospira Strains in Malaysia
Authors: Amran Fairuz , Noor Halim Nurul Atiqah , Muhammad Ayu Haslin , Mohd Khalid Mohd Khairul Nizam , Dasiman Nur Mukmina , Shamsusah Nadia Aqilla , Abd Talib Abdul Khalif Adha , Noh Mohamed Asyraf , Mohd Ali Mohammad Ridhuan , Hashim Rohaidah
Published: January 2023

Leptospirosis is a common zoonotic disease in tropical and subtropical countries. It is considered an emerging disease in Malaysia and is a notifiable disease. This study was conducted to characterize Malaysian isolates from human, animal and environmental samples via MLST and rrs2 sequencing in an attempt to develop a Malaysian genotypic database. An existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based MLST scheme was performed to facilitate subsequent sequencing. Out of 46 extracted DNA, 36 had complete MLST profiles whereby all six genes were amplified and sequenced. Most of the pathogenic Leptospira genotypes with full MLST profiles were L. interrogans serogroup Bataviae (n = 17), followed by L. borgpetersenii serogroup Javanica (n = 9), L. interrogans serogroup Sejroe (n = 2), L. interrogans serogroup Australis (n = 2), L. kirschneri (n = 2), L. interrogans serogroup Grippotyphosa (n = 1) and L. interrogans serogroup Pyrogenes (n = 3). Two samples (R3_SER/17 and R4_SER/17) were not closely related with any of the reference strains. For the samples with incomplete MLST profiles, leptospiral speciation was conducted through rrs2 analysis, in which four samples were identified as L. borgpetersenii, five samples were closely related to L. kmetyi and one sample was known as L. yasudae. This study shows that molecular approaches that combine both MLST and rrs2 sequencing have great potential in the comprehensive characterization of pathogenic Leptospira because they can be performed directly from cultured and clinical samples.
Discovery of a Closterovirus Infecting Jujube Plants Grown at Aksu Area in Xinjiang of China
Authors: Lu Qian , Wang Guoping , Yang Zuokun , Wang Yanxiang , Yang Buchen , Bai Jianyu , Hong Ni
Published: January 2023

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is a widely grown fruit crop at Aksu in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Viral disease-like symptoms are common on jujube plants. Here, for the first time, we report a virus tentatively named persimmon ampelovirus jujube isolate (PAmpV-Ju) infecting jujube plants. The virus was identified using high-throughput sequencing from a jujube plant (ID: AKS15) and molecularly related to viruses in the family Closteroviridae. The genomic sequences of two PAmpV-Ju variants named AKS15-20 and AKS15-17 were determined by RT-PCR amplifications. The genome structure of PAmpV-Ju was identical to that of a recently reported persimmon ampelovirus (PAmpV) and consisted of seven open reading frames. The genomes of AKS15-20 and AKS15-17 shared 83.7% nt identity with each other, and the highest nt sequence identity of 79% with two variants of PAmpV. The incidence of PAmpV-Ju on Aksu jujube plants was evaluated by RT-PCR assays. The phylogenetic analysis of amplified partial sequences coding for polymerase, HSP70h, and CP revealed two phylogenetic clades represented by AKS15-20 and AKS15-17. Our study provides important evidence for understanding viruses infecting jujube plants and establishing efficient measures to prevent virus spread.
Simple Wastewater Preparation Protocol Applied to Monitor the Emergence of the Omicron 21L/BA.2 Variant by Genome Sequencing
Authors: Wurtz Nathalie , Boussier Maelle , Souville Louis , Penant Gwilherm , Lacoste Alexandre , Colson Philippe , La Scola Bernard , Aherfi Sarah
Published: January 2023

Detecting and monitoring viruses in wastewater samples have been reported as useful ways of tracking SARS-CoV-2 epidemic trends. However, there is currently no unanimously recognised method of processing samples to identify and quantify SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater. We aimed to implement a method that was as simple as possible in order to be used universally. In a study performed between January 2022 and June 2022 in the city of Marseille, France, we first evaluated the impact of the sample preservation strategy. We then compared ultracentrifugation to ultrafiltration and several steps of filtration to determine the optimal approach for virus concentration. As a proof-of-concept, the definitive protocol was applied to next-generation sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater to monitor the emergence of the Omicron variant in the city. For sewage water to be processed in the week following the sampling, storage at +4 °C is sufficient, with less than 1 Ct loss. Filtration with a 5 µm syringe filter, then with a 0.8 µm filtration unit, followed by ultrafiltration was the optimal protocol, leading to an average increase of 3.24 Ct when the starting Ct was on average 38 in the wastewater. This made it possible to observe the emergence of the Omicron 21L/BA.2 variant after Omicron 21K/BA.1 by genome sequencing over a period ranging from 20 February to 10 April 2022 in agreement with observations based on patient data. To conclude, by using a simple method requiring only basic filters and a centrifuge as equipment, it is possible to accurately track the relative incidence rates and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants based on sewage samples.
Cross-Protection against Acute Staphylococcus aureus Lung Infection in Mice by a D-Glutamate Auxotrophic Vaccine Candidate
Authors: García Patricia , Cabral Maria P. , Beceiro Alejandro , Moscoso Miriam , Bou Germán
Published: January 2023

Staphylococcus aureus is regarded as a threatening bacterial pathogen causing invasive pneumonia in healthcare settings and in the community. The continuous emergence of multidrug resistant strains is narrowing the treatment options for these infections. The development of an effective S. aureus vaccine is, therefore, a global priority. We have previously developed a vaccine candidate, 132 ΔmurI Δdat, which is auxotrophic for D-glutamate, and protects against sepsis caused by S. aureus. In the present study, we explored the potential of this vaccine candidate to prevent staphylococcal pneumonia, by using an acute lung infection model in BALB/c mice. Intranasal inoculation of the vaccine strain yielded transitory colonization of the lung tissue, stimulated production of relevant serum IgG and secretory IgA antibodies in the lung and distal vaginal mucosa and conferred cross-protection to acute pneumonia caused by clinically important S. aureus strains. Although these findings are promising, additional research is needed to minimize dose-dependent toxicity for safer intranasal immunization with this vaccine candidate.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Water in 2022
Authors:   Water Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
A Chronology-Based Wave Input Reduction Technique for Simulations of Long-Term Coastal Morphological Changes: An Application to the Beach of Mastichari, Kos Island, Greece
Authors: Malliouri Dimitra I. , Petrakis Stelios , Vandarakis Dimitrios , Moraitis Vyron , Goulas Tatiana , Hatiris Georgios-Angelos , Drakopoulou Paraskevi , Kapsimalis Vasilios
Published: January 2023

The main objective of the present paper is to achieve the simulation of the long-term (e.g., annual) morphological evolution (bathymetry and shoreline) of a coastal area (Mastichari beach, Greece) due to wind-generated waves in an accurate and cost-effective way. For this purpose, wave climate schematization techniques are adopted in order to reduce the computational effort without losing or distorting the crucial information. Referring to the current practice, the wave chronology is not considered in detail in these acceleration techniques, and therefore, sea bottom and shoreline evolution are not estimated as a function of time. To fill this gap, a novel and easy-to-use chronology-based wave input reduction method is developed to produce representative wave time series of different intensities and durations. The performance of all the applied techniques in the present study is evaluated, and a comparative analysis is conducted. It is shown that the new chronology-based wave input reduction method can achieve a model run-time reduction of about 70%, while at the same time, it provides satisfactorily accurate results. In general, this research could be useful for coastal engineering studies and coastal zone monitoring, and thus, it would be a valuable tool for coastal engineers and marine scientists.
Assessment of Water Quality and Heavy Metal Environmental Risk on the Peri-Urban Karst Tropical Lake La Sabana, Yucatán Peninsula
Authors: Cohuo Sergio , Moreno-López Antonia , Escamilla-Tut Naydelin Y. , Pérez-Tapia Alondra M. , Santos-Itzá Iván , Macario-González Laura A. , Villegas-Sánchez Carmen A. , Medina-Quej Alejandro
Published: January 2023

In the Yucatán Peninsula, anthropogenic activities such as urbanization and the final disposal of solids and wastewater critically impact aquatic systems. Here, we evaluated the anthropogenic-related environmental alteration of Lake La Sabana, located in the northern limits of one of the main cities of the Mexican Caribbean. We evaluated lake water quality, using physical, chemical, and microbiological indicators, and heavy metals in surficial sediment and fish tissue to evaluate the potential environmental risk. Multivariate analyses revealed that environmental conditions in La Sabana are spatially and temporally heterogeneous. Medium to bad water quality was determined within different basins by the National Sanitation Foundation water quality index, related to the degree of anthropogenic influence at each zone. The central-south zones displayed critical microbiological values largely exceeding national standards. Heavy metals in sediment and fish tissue such as Zn and Hg were relatively low, but Hg concentrations threaten the ecological environment. Incipient wastewater treatment and its final disposal in La Sabana are mainly responsible for the changes in the trophic status and availability of nutrients, which in turn may have promoted changes in the biological structure and aquatic plant invasions. Lake La Sabana can be considered a model of the potential and sequential effects of anthropogenic alterations in the oligotrophic karst tropical aquatic systems in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Exploring Justice in the Process of Redesigning Local Development Strategies for LEADER: Representation, Distribution, and Recognition
Authors: Lengerer Franziska , Haartsen Tialda , Steinführer Annett
Published: January 2023

After its first funding period from 1991 to 1994, LEADER was positively evaluated as a successful strategy to empower actors at the regional level, enable regional development and contribute to territorial cohesion within the European Union. Critical studies, however, have highlighted elitist tendencies in LEADER processes and asked whether the proclaimed goal of strengthening ‘the local’ contributes to new or other forms of social and spatial injustice. Our research focus lies in how representation, distribution, and recognition—as the three interrelated dimensions of justice according to Nancy Fraser—are featured in the discourse related to redesigning a local development strategy (LDS). During this process, which is conceived as the most open and inclusive phase in each LEADER funding period, we conducted expert interviews and participatory observations in a case study region and gathered media reports, documents, and official regulations. In our analysis of issues of representation, distribution, and recognition, we also focus on the spatial scales that are referred to and the ways in which the involved actors challenge and justify the status quo. Our analysis explicates the actors’ implicit normative understandings as well as their different perspectives and positions considering perceived injustice. Even though the LDS process provides opportunities to negotiate these positions and to work towards more just representation, distribution, and recognition, they are partly constrained by structural and individual dependencies.
How Immigration affects the Health and Subjective Well-being: Evidence from Destination Countries
Authors: Javaid Anum , Syed Shabib Haider , Shahzad Khurrum
Published: January 2023

This research finds the effect of immigration on health and subjective well-being and how immigrants combined effects on health, life satisfaction, and happiness in Destination Countries from 2000 to 2018. We employ two models for health and well-being. The data of variables have been taken from WHO and OECD datasets. We examined the panel and cross-section analysis to estimate the association among immigration, health, and subjective well-being and confirmed that immigration has positively and significantly related to health, life satisfaction, and happiness. This study suggested that policies for better employment opportunities should be provided. Employment opportunities would increase peoples' earnings as well as their happiness, life satisfaction, and health conditions.
Elena Rykova's “101% mind uploading”: On the Materialism, Theatre and Sonic Resonance
Authors: Ингельдеев Марат Рафаэлевич , Яковлева Татьяна Олеговна
Published: January 2023

Настоящий текст является расшифровкой беседы о пьесе «101% mind uploading» композитора Елены Рыковой, состоявшейся на «антиконференции» Gnesin Contemporary Music Week 2021. Пьеса находится на стыке жанровых границ, представляя собой музыкальный перформанс, в котором исполнители проводят «операцию над роялем». В основном выступлении музыковед Марат Ингельдеев задается вопросом о том, как некоторые из теорий нового материализма, в том числе предложенные Биллом Брауном и Джейн Беннетт, могут находить отражение в проблематике тактильности и физического в пьесе Рыковой. Театровед Екатерина Кострикова и музыковед Анастасия Кожевникова предлагают трактовки произведения через призму перформативного и театрального восприятия, находя параллели с античным театром и ритуальностью восточных культур. Модератор и музыковед Татьяна Яковлева рассуждает о природе жанровой принадлежности «101% mind uploading» в сравнении с музыкой Джона Кейджа и Маурисио Кагеля. Участники приходят к выводу об особом значении понятия звукового резонанса в творчестве Рыковой.

This text is a transcript of a discussion, which took place during the Gnesin Contemporary Music Week 2021 anti-conference, on the musical piece 101% mind uploading, written by the composer Elena Rykova. The work is situated at the intersection of genres, being a musical performance art piece, in which the performers carry out a "surgery on the piano.” In the main section, musicologist Marat Ingeldeev explores how some of the new materialism theories, including the ones by Bill Brown and Jane Bennett, can be reflected in the issues of tactility and physicality in the composer's work. Theatre expert Ekaterina Kostrikova and musicologist Anastasiya Kozhevnikova propose some interpretations of the work through the lens of performative and theatrical perception, finding parallels with ancient Greek and Roman theatre traditions and the rituals of east Asian cultures. Discussion moderator and musicologist Tatyana Yakovleva speaks about the nature of genre labelling, comparing it with the music of John Cage and Mauricio Kagel. The participants come to some conclusions, regarding the special significance of Rykova's concept of sonic resonance.
Review of Joining Various Materials by FSW Process and Applications
Authors:   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, India, Devanathan C. , Suresh Babu A. ,   Department of Manufacturing Engineering, College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai, India, Senthil Murugan S. ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, India, Shankar E. ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, India, Giri R. ,   Department of Robotics and Automation, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai, India
Published: January 2023

Welding is necessary in industries like light and heavy-duty manufacturing, construction, automotive, aerospace, maintenance, repair works, etc. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a recently created welding technique that is employed with a non-consumable pin in all of the above-mentioned production areas. The cross-sectional size and shapes of the pin are also showing a great impact on the properties of the joints. This review article begins with the history of welding methods and it covers the topics of welding evolution, principle, joining of similar and dissimilar materials using FSW, applications and defects, as well as the various process factors in managing the qualities of the welded joint. The necessity of FSW is inevitable as it shows a good response of the mechanical properties with solid state temperature. It is a versatile welding process that has the capacity to join numerous materials, beginning with aluminium alloys and moving on to magnesium alloys, steel, composites, polymers, and dissimilar metals combinations.
Influence of Titanium Additions on The Electrochemical Behaviour of NiCr/Ti Laser Cladded Coatings
Authors:   Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Politehnica University Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania, Avram D. N. , Davidescu C. M. ,   Renewable Energy Research Institute-ICER, Politehnica University Timisoara, Timisoara Romania, Dan M. L. ,   Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Politehnica University Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania, Stanciu E. M. ,   Materials Engineering and Welding Department, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania, Pascu A. ,   Materials Engineering and Welding Department, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania, Mirza-Rosca J. C. ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University, Tafira, Spain, Iosif H. ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University, Tafira, Spain
Published: January 2023

In this research, the electrochemical evaluation of NiCr/Ti laser cladded coatings in simulated polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) environment was investigated. The Laser Cladding technique was used to develop protective coatings on mild steel substrate using NiCr-based powders mixed with 12.5, 15, 17.5 and 20 wt.% Ti additions. The samples were tested at room temperature in Na2SO4 0.1M + 0.1 ppm F-. The potentiodynamic polarization curves are presented before and after the samples were subjected to accelerated stress tests, for 6 hours each, at +0.736 V (cathodic environment) and at -0.493 V (anodic environment). Afterwards, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the effect of Ti addition in terms of morphology. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was performed for chemical evaluation of the surface after corrosion tests.
Öğrenci Yaşam Alanlarında Yangın Güvenliği Davranışı Ölçeğinin (RSFSBS) Türkçe Geçerlilik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması
Authors: TURAN Melikşah , ORAL Vildan
Published: January 2023

Genellikle insan faktörünün yoğun etkisi sonucu ortaya çıkan konut yangınları, bireysel ve toplumsal davranış değişiklikleri gerçekleştirilerek güvenli yaşam ortamlarının oluşturulmasına olanak tanımasından ötürü önlenebilir afetler kategorisinde yer almaktadır. Bu kapsamda çalışmanın amacı Griffin (2011) tarafından geliştirilen “Öğrenci Yaşam Alanlarında Yangın Güvenliği Davranışı Ölçeğinin” (RSFSBS) Türkçe formunun geçerlilik ve güvenilirliğini test etmektir. Çalışma kapsamında Bucak Sağlık Yüksekokulunda araştırmaya katılmaya gönüllü 244 öğrenciye 29 soruluk RSFSBS ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Ölçeğin yapı geçerliğinin tespitinde açımlayıcı faktör analizi (AFA) ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizi (DFA), güvenirliğinin belirlenmesinde ise Cronbach alfa katsayısı değerlendirilmiştir. Ölçeğin faktör yapısını incelemek için yapılan temel bileşenler faktör analizi sonucunda, maddelere ait faktör yük değerlerinin 0.41-0.92 arasında olduğu ve toplam varyansın %63,63’ünü açıklayan üç alt boyut olduğu görülmüştür. DFA sonuçlarına göre ise ölçeğin (Ki-kare/serbestlik değeri: 1.95; RMSEA: 0.06; CFI: 0.94; NFI: 0.88; NNFI: 0.93; GFI: 0.85 ve AGFI: 0.81) 3 bileşen ve 25 ifadeden oluştuğu tespit edilmiştir. Ölçeğin iç tutarlık güvenirliğinin (cronbach alfa = .95) yüksek olduğu, alt boyutlar incelendiğinde F1, F2 ve F3 için alt boyut iç tutarlılık katsayılarının sırasıyla 0.94, 0.81, 0.90 olduğu ve düzeltilmiş madde-toplam korelasyonlarının 0.49 ile 0.78 arasında değiştiği görülmüştür. Araştırma sonucunda elde edilen bulgular RSFSBS ölçeğinin üç faktörlü yapısının Türk kültürü için geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçüm aracı olduğunu göstermektedir.