bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Monitoring and Analysis of Land Subsidence in Kunming (China) Supported by Time Series InSAR
Authors: Xiao Bo , Zhao Junsan , Li Dongsheng , Zhao Zhenfeng , Xi Wenfei , Zhou Dingyi
Published: September 2022

As urban construction has been leaping forward recently, large-scale land subsidence has been caused in Kunming due to the special hydrogeological conditions of the city; the subsidence scope has stretched out, and the subsidence rate has been rising year by year. As a consequence, Kunming’s sustainable development has seriously hindered. The PS-InSAR (Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) and the SBAS-InSAR (Small Baseline Subsets Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) technologies were adopted to process the descending Sentinel-1A data stacks from July 2018 to November 2020 to monitor the land subsidence of Kunming, so as to ensure the sustainable development of the city. Moreover, the causes were analyzed. As revealed by the results, (1) the overall subsidence trend of Kunming was large in the south (Dian lakeside), whereas it was relatively small in the north. The significant subsidence areas showed major distributions in Xishan, Guandu and Jining district. The maximal average subsidence rates of PS-InSAR and SBAS-InSAR were −78 mm/a and −88 mm/a, respectively. (2) The ground Subsidence field of Kunming was analyzed, and the correlation coefficient R2 of the two methods was reported as 0.997. In comparison with the leveling data of the identical period, the root mean square error (RMSE) is 6.5 mm/a and 8.5 mm/a, respectively. (3) Based on the urban subway construction data, geological structure, groundwater extraction data and precipitation, the causes of subsidence were examined. As revealed by the results, under considerable urban subways construction, special geological structures and excessive groundwater extraction, the consolidation and compression of the ground surface could cause the regional large-area subsidence. Accordingly, the monthly average precipitation in Kunming in the identical period was collected for time series analysis, thereby indicating that the land subsidence showed obvious seasonal variations with the precipitation. The results of this study can provide data support and facilitate the decision-making for land subsidence assessment, forecasting and construction planning in Kunming.
Numerical Simulation of Seepage and Stability of Tailing Dams: A Case Study in Ledong, China
Authors: Yang Jianxin , Hu Jun , Wu Yuwei , Zhang Boyang
Published: September 2022

Tailings dams are built to safely store tailings and to protect the natural environment from damage. However, tailings dam accidents occur frequently, endangering the safety of life and property, and causing pollution to the environment. Many tailings dam accidents are caused by seepage. As such, this study takes the No. II tailings dam of Ledong Baolun Gold Mine in Hainan Province as an example and builds a two-dimensional finite element model to simulate the seepage field. The effects of normal-water-level and high-water-level conditions on the total head, pressure head, and wetting line of the main and auxiliary dams were compared. The results show that higher water levels in both the main dam and the auxiliary dam lead to a higher pressure head at the top of the dam, lower pressure head at the bottom of the dam, higher total pressure head, and at the same time, a higher wetting line, and greater destabilization. In this study, the seepage deformation failure of the main dam and the auxiliary dam, in both cases, does not occur.
Methodology to Improve the Acceptance and Adoption of Circular and Social Economy: A Longitudinal Case Study of a Biodiesel Cooperative
Authors: Lobato-Calleros Odette , Fabila-Rodríguez Karla , Roberts Brian
Published: September 2022

Purpose: The aim was this study was to test the effectiveness of the Mexican User Satisfaction Index of Circular and Social Economy (MUSI-CSE) methodology to improve user acceptance and the adoption of biodiesel from the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op (CB-DC), a social enterprise that upcycles cooking oil waste. Approach: The external strategy is to study factors of user experience with products and/or services and internal processes. This type of economy tends to build its value chain independently to avoid barriers in the economic structure. Methodology/Techniques: MUSI-CSE presents a model of satisfaction (present acceptance) and loyalty (future acceptance) factors and a measurement system comprising the same factors. It also identifies and monitors interventions in key factors and evaluates their effectiveness. Here, MUSI-CSE has been tested through a longitudinal and prospective study. In-depth interviews, surveys, SEM, and PLS were used. Findings/originality/applicability: User acceptance and adoption are based on self-benefits and the achievement of specific sustainable local development goals. Satisfaction did not change. Loyalty did experience a statistically significant increase at a 95% confidence level, and sales increased by 26%. It can be concluded that MUSI-CSE innovation contributed to improving users’ future acceptance and adoption. In the future, MUSI-CSE will be adjusted based on other case studies and will support the co-creation of an international methodology and index of circular and social economy.
Fiscal Pressure, Policy Choices and Regional Economic Disparity: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in China
Authors: Ruan Mengting , Zhao Xiaolu
Published: September 2022

How significantly and through what mechanisms can regional economic disparity be shaped by fiscal incentives? This paper uses the exemption of the agricultural tax in 2005 across China as a natural experiment to answer this question. Using a “difference-in-differences” model, which allows us to make within-group comparisons before and after the reform, we show that the revenue loss of county governments aggravated inter-regional economic disparity. Reasons behind it lie in the different tactics that local governments employed when dealing with the financial stress. In particular, governments in lower-income regions chose a negative way including tougher tax enforcement and less production-oriented investments, while those in higher-income localities embraced positive taxation and expenditure strategies to attract more capital inflow. This paper helps shed light on how to optimize fiscal system arrangement to alleviate the broadening regional economic disparity and improve local fiscal sustainability.
The Effects of China’s Country-of-Origin Image on Uzbekistani Consumers’ Food Purchase Intentions
Authors: Bulibuli Abulizi , Maitiniyazi Shalamujiang , Karimov Narboy
Published: September 2022

Country of origin (COO) is one of the key extrinsic factors to consumers in their decision-making process. This research evaluates the effects of COO image on food purchase intentions in terms of Chinese processed foods among Uzbekistani customers, and there are four dimensions of COO image: product, economic, people, and international relationships. A questionnaire was distributed to consumers in the city of Tashkent, and a total of 287 valid samples were collected. The collated data were analyzed using frequency distribution and charts in addition to Cronbach’s alpha, which was utilized to determine the reliability of the variables. In addition, definitions and explanations were provided with the aid of means and standard deviations, percentages, correlation, and regression. The results showed that product image and people’s perception of COO image influence customers’ food purchase intentions, but there is no significant correlation between economic image or international relationship image and customer purchase intentions inclined towards foods manufactured in China based on the view of Uzbekistani consumers. Furthermore, the outcomes indicated that the effect of COO image would vary based on the nationality of the consumer.
Influence of Energy Management System Control Strategies on the Battery State of Health in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Previti Umberto , Brusca Sebastian , Galvagno Antonio , Famoso Fabio
Published: September 2022

Nowadays, the automotive market has showed great interest in the diffusion of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs). Despite their low emissions and energy consumptions, if compared with traditional fossil fuel vehicles, their architecture is much more complex and presents critical issues in relation to the combined use of the internal combustion engine (ICE), the electric machine and the battery pack. The aim of this paper is to investigate lithium-ion battery usage when coupled with an optimization-based strategy in terms of the overall energy management for a specific hybrid vehicle. A mathematical model for the power train of a Peugeot 508 RXH was implemented. A rule-based energy management system (EMS) was developed and optimized using real data from the driving cycles of two different paths located in Messina. A mathematical model of the battery was implemented to evaluate the variation of its voltage and state of charge (SOC) during the execution of driving cycles. Similarly, a mathematical model was implemented to analyze the state of health (SOH) of the battery after the application of electrical loads. It was thus possible to consider the impact of the energy management system not only on fuel consumption but also on the battery pack aging. Three different scenarios, in terms of battery usage at the starting SOC values (low, medium, and maximum level) were simulated. The results of these simulations highlight the degradation and aging of the studied battery in terms of the chosen parameters of the rule-based optimized EMS.
Online Learning Management for Primary and Secondary Students during the COVID-19 Epidemic: An Evolutionary Game Theory Approach
Authors: Li Dayin , Wang Yubiao
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study is to explore the management of primary and secondary school students’ online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the impact of stakeholders’ behavioral choices on students’ online learning management. Based on evolutionary game theory, this paper constructs two-game models of "schools-students" and “schools-students-parents”, analyzes the influence of the behavioral interaction of game subjects on the game equilibrium in the two scenarios, and uses MATLAB 2018 software to carry out the numerical simulation. The results show significant differences in different game players’ strategy choices on students’ online learning management. Among them, the benefits brought by learning are the main factors affecting students’ strategic choices. Although the participation of parents has a positive effect on promoting students’ game strategy selection towards cooperation, there is a participation boundary to the involvement of parents. The school’s choice of punishment or reward has no significant effect on students’ online learning management. Compared with schools, punishments and rewards from parents have a substantial impact on promoting students’ strategic choices towards cooperation.
Elastic Hop Count Trickle Timer Algorithm in Internet of Things
Authors: Masadeh Raja , AlSaaidah Bayan , Masadeh Esraa , Al-Hadidi Moh’d Rasoul , Almomani Omar
Published: September 2022

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology that allows machines to communicate with each other without the need for human interaction. Usually, IoT devices are connected via a network. A wide range of network technologies are required to make the IoT concept operate successfully; as a result, protocols at various network layers are used. One of the most extensively used network layer routing protocols is the Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks (RPL). One of the primary components of RPL is the trickle timer method. The trickle algorithm directly impacts the time it takes for control messages to arrive. It has a listen-only period, which causes load imbalance and delays for nodes in the trickle algorithm. By making the trickle timer method run dynamically based on hop count, this research proposed a novel way of dealing with the difficulties of the traditional algorithm, which is called the Elastic Hop Count Trickle Timer Algorithm. Simulation experiments have been implemented using the Contiki Cooja 3.0 simulator to study the performance of RPL employing the dynamic trickle timer approach. Simulation results proved that the proposed algorithm outperforms the results of the traditional trickle algorithm, dynamic algorithm, and e-trickle algorithm in terms of consumed power, convergence time, and packet delivery ratio.
Prediction of Potential Habitats of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. and Their Changes under Climate Change
Authors: Tian Pingping , Liu Yifu , Sui Mingzhen , Ou Jing
Published: September 2022

Climate change poses a severe threat to biodiversity. Greenhouse gas emissions have accelerated climate warming and significantly impacted species distribution and population dynamics. Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is an ecologically, medicinally, and economically important plant; it is cultivated as an economic crop at large scales in China, and is a valuable medicinal plant in India, Nepal, etc. A precise prediction of the potential distribution areas of Z. armatum will contribute to its protection and determination of its planting areas. In this paper, based on 433 distribution points and 19 climate factors, the MaxEnt model was used to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of Z. armatum between 1970 and 2000, predict its spatial distribution pattern in 2040–2060 (the 2050s) and 2081–2100 (the 2090s), and comprehensively assess the critical climate factors limiting its geographical distribution. The findings are as follows: (1) in the 1970–2000 scenario, the potential suitable distribution areas of Z. armatum include the subtropical monsoon climate regions of Japan, the Korean Peninsula, the south of the Qinling–Huaihe Line of China, and the regions along the southern foot of the Himalayas (India, Bhutan, Nepal, etc.), with an area of 330.54 × 104 km2; (2) the critical climate factors affecting the potential distribution of Z. armatum include temperature (mean diurnal temperature range, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, and temperature seasonality) and annual precipitation; (3) the distribution areas of Z. armatum will shift to higher latitudes and shrink under the three climate change scenarios in the 2050s and 2090s. In the 2090s–SSP585 scenario, the total area of suitable habitat will decrease most markedly, and the decrease rate of the highly suitable areas will reach up to 97.61%; only the region near Delong Town, Nanshan District, Chongqing City, will remain a highly suitable habitat, covering an area of merely 0.08 × 104 km2. These findings suggest that Z. armatum is susceptible to climate change. The border area between Guizhou Province and Chongqing City and the southwest district of Leshan City, Sichuan Province, will be a stable and moderately high potential suitable habitat for Z. armatum in the future. The above regions are recommended to be managed as key protected areas.
A Straightforward Framework for Road Network Screening to Lombardy Region (Italy)
Authors: Bonera Michela , Barabino Benedetto , Maternini Giulio
Published: September 2022

It is not possible to deal with sustainable mobility without considering road safety as a key element: Target 3.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals aims at halving the number of road deaths by 2030. To do so, further effort and effective tools are required for road authorities, to implement improvement measures and enhance road safety for all. Road network screening (RNS) is the first step of the whole Road Infrastructure Safety Management (RISM) System process. It is applied to a wide scale to assess the safety performance of the whole road network and identify the worst performing roads (or sites). The literature is quite rich with RNS models and methods, which have greatly improved, recently. Moreover, although many national frameworks on road safety have been issued over time, some barriers remain, specifically related to data quality, such as accurate crash location, which is mainly used to integrate crash data with other databases. In addition, most of these frameworks adopted partial indexes to identify black spots and presented results using fixed maps for visualization. This paper fills these gaps by the proposal of a straightforward operational framework to perform RNS, based on a simple and flexible rationale to integrate raw crash, traffic, and road data. Specifically, the framework: (i) manages crash location data, without relying on plane or geographical coordinates, which are missing or inaccurate and still are a crucial issue in many European countries such as Italy; (ii) adopts an adjusted accident cost rate index that integrates frequency and severity of crashes as well as a measurement of exposure; (iii) introduces variable maps that show the results at different jurisdiction levels. A relevant case study demonstrates the usefulness of this framework using 30,000+ crash data of the whole non-urban road network of the Lombardy Region (Northern Italy). Road authorities could adopt this framework to perform an accurate safety screening on the overall regional road network. Moreover, this framework could be implemented in a road traffic safety managerial system to better prioritise safety interventions within a tight budget and help achieve sustainable development targets.
The Environment in the Lead: A Scorecard System to Assess Adaptation Measures and Score Ecosystem Services at the Street Level
Authors: Heikoop Rick , Idahmanen Aniss , de Ruiter Pascal , Oosthoek Elma , van der Heijden Angela , Boogaard Floris
Published: September 2022

Currently, there is no method available that can systematically score the available ecosystem services in streets or street segments in suburban districts. In this study, different climate adaptation measures and their ecosystem services were categorized into green, blue, and grey categories and weight was given to each category based on their impact on the microclimate. This study took place in the Hillesluis district in the city of Rotterdam and the Paddepoel district in the city of Groningen. In Rotterdam, 21 streets, composed of 42 street segments, were assessed. In Groningen, 17 streets, composed of 45 street segments, were assessed. The available ecosystem services of each street segment were scored from 0–100. The scorecard method that was developed and tested during this study provided insight in the variation of available ecosystem services of streets and street segments. Individual street scores were very low in the city of Rotterdam and ranged between 3 and 50, with the average score for the street segments of 29. In Groningen, the scores were considerably higher with a range between 23 and 70, with an average score of 47 per street segment. The presence of larger green trees, front yards, and façade gardens in the green category are the most distinctive variable, while adaptation measures in the blue category were absent in both cities. The scorecard proved to be very useful in the adaptation labeling of street segments and entire streets. After assessing a neighborhood, the least adaptive streets can be identified relatively easy. Based on the score a label can be given between A+++ and G. The scorecard informs residents and decision makers about which streets are most adaptive and which streets have an adaptation potential. The method can easily be duplicated and used by local governments and community groups to have better insight in the level of climate adaptation of their street. Labels for entire streets can be used to create awareness and encourage residents to take action and expand the number of climate adaptation measures in their street.
Vacancy Dwellings Spatial Distribution—The Determinants and Policy Implications in the City of Sapporo, Japan
Authors: Van Ha Thi Khanh , Ha Tran Vinh , Asada Takumi , Arimura Mikiharu
Published: September 2022

As the population is shrinking in many municipalities in Japan, one of its effects is the vacant house crisis. The rise of empty houses profoundly affects the city’s society and economy, e.g., property value reduction, increased crime rate, poor sanitation, and housing market stagnation. To better understand the mechanism of the vacant house crisis, the present study proposes to examine the determinants of housing vacancy spatial distribution with the case study of the city of Sapporo. The results highlight the severe vacant cluster in the central city, which would seem to link to the disequilibrium housing market rather than the urban decline. Regarding vacancy determinants, demographic features were the most influential factors, followed by housing and neighborhood characteristics. Specifically, the vacancy correlated strongly with a high density of single households, children, the elderly (in the center), and a high share of offices. The surplus in housing supply and the inelasticity in housing structures also affected the vacancy significantly. On the contrary, a high percentage of private property, household ownership, and the elderly (in suburban) would reduce the vacancy. For other facilities, clinics, parking, public transportation, and educational institutions had a medium effect on the vacancy. Finally, the influence factors varied, across city areas, in magnitude and direction. These outcomes would be helpful for decision-making to alleviate the rise of vacant houses and their effect on the urban area.
Study on the Impact of Supply Chain Dynamic Capabilities on Long-Term Performance of Enterprises
Authors: Yan Borui , Yao Bo , Li Qian , Dong Qianli
Published: September 2022

The risk of frequent disasters is becoming a huge challenge for enterprises and their supply chains. In particular, sudden global public health events have brought a great test to the supply chain. How to make sustainable planning and preparedness and smoothly carry out supply chain operations and obtain sustainable firm performance in the complex market environment requires urgent attention from industries and academia. The different effects of supply chain operational capability and dynamic capability on the long-term performance and short-term performance of enterprises are still unclear; therefore, a model was established to discuss this. Based on the theory of dynamic capability, a relational model between supply chain dynamic capability, supply chain operational capability, and firm performance was constructed, a hypothesis testing method and Amos software were used to verify the set model, and the mechanisms of supply chain dynamic capability and supply chain operational capability on firm performance were discussed. The empirical results show that supply chain operational capability has a mediating effect on supply chain dynamic capability and firm performance, and supply chain dynamic capability has a moderating impact on supply chain operational capability and firm performance. The supply chain and its enterprises should cultivate and continuously improve the supply chain dynamic capability as soon as possible, so that in the face of emergencies, the supply chain operation capability can be reasonably configured to avoid damage, improve firm performance, and gain competitive advantages.
Science|Environment|Health, One Health, Planetary Health, Sustainability, and Education for Sustainable Development: How Do They Connect in Health Teaching?
Authors: Heuckmann Benedikt , Zeyer Albert
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we explore Science|Environment|Health, One Health, Planetary Health, and Sustainability/Education for Sustainable Development in the context of the 2030 Agenda as four major frameworks that take a step toward investigating health from different angles to tackle the grand challenges that lie ahead of humanity. In most of these frameworks, the topic of health is no longer limited to the health of humans; it also encompasses the health of ecosystems and planetary systems. Therefore, our ways of teaching and discussing health in science education may need to be adjusted. To this aim, we first shortly characterize the four frameworks and then analyze the concepts of health, the contributing sciences, and the role of values in the frameworks. In our opinion, three main questions have to be settled: (1) Which concept of health lies at the root of each framework? (2) Which sciences should be considered when teaching about health, and what role will they take in an interdisciplinary, integrative approach and under complexity restraints? (3) What is the role of values in these frameworks, and how can the is–ought fallacy be avoided? We finally discuss our findings in light of the concept of two-eyed seeing in science education. This concept helps us disentangle and sharpen the three main questions and draw implications for teaching about health in school science.
Sustainability Rating Systems for Historic Buildings: A Systematic Review
Authors: Karimi Farzaneh , Valibeig Nima , Memarian Gholamhossein , Kamari Aliakbar
Published: September 2022

Historic buildings are an integral part of the built environment that have historical, cultural, social, and economic value. Sustainable conservation/rehabilitation/renovation of historic buildings that will perform well for decades is therefore critical. Numerous sustainability-rating systems (e.g., LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, etc.) have been developed to deal with broader sustainability objectives in the design of new buildings, which are not adequate/sufficient in intervention in historic buildings. This paper aims to study and explore rating systems for historic buildings. It is hypothesized that using rating systems can help historic buildings achieve more sustainable outcomes. The paper begins by presenting comprehensive background information on existing sustainability-rating systems worldwide, followed by a systematic review of the literature on rating systems for historic buildings. The PRISMA flowchart (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) was used, searching Science Direct and Google Scholar databases. The study reveals most current studies focus on environmental aspects, such as improving the energy efficiency of historic buildings, which results in lowering economic costs and increasing occupant satisfaction with the indoor environment. We argue that all three traditional dimensions of sustainability should be balanced when developing or adapting the next generation of rating systems to assess/address the sustainability of historic buildings.
Life-Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Using Rock Dust as a Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate and Cement in Concrete Pavements
Authors: Zhao Yunpeng , Goulias Dimitrios , Dobiszewska Magdalena , Modrzyński Paweł
Published: September 2022

The use of recycled materials and industrial by-products in pavement construction and rehabilitation can achieve substantial benefits in saving nature resources and reducing energy consumption as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Alternative geological origin rock dust for the partial replacement of fine aggregate and/or cement in Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements may provide positive environmental and economic benefits. The objective of this study was to quantitatively assess the life-cycle economic and environmental impacts when rock dust is used in PCC pavement roadway construction. Previous studies have primarily focused on the economics and/or environmental impacts during the material production process. Thus, a methodological framework considering all stages (such as material production, transportation, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and end of life), involved in the life-cycle assessment of concrete pavements is proposed when using recycled materials/by-products. The life-cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on a pavement project representative of typical construction practices in Poland to quantify such benefits. The alternative sustainable construction strategies considered partially replacing fine aggregate and/or cement with rock dust of basalt origin in PCC pavements. The LCA results indicate that using rock dust to replace 20% FA and 10% cement provided a reduction of 6.5% in cost, 10% in CO2 emissions and 11% in energy consumption. This study also provides significant insights on the specific contribution of material production, construction processes and the transportation of materials to the overall environmental benefits and cost savings. The suggested approach for LCA analysis in pavement construction can be adopted elsewhere for quantifying the sustainability benefits of using alternative recycled materials in roadways.
Early Cervical Cancer and Recurrence after Minimally Invasive Surgery without Uterine Manipulator
Authors: D’Asta Marco , Gulino Ferdinando Antonio , Cannone Francesco , Ettore Carla , Bonanno Giulia , Ettore Giuseppe
Published: September 2022

Objective: Worldwide cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and is also the fourth leading cause of death among women, after breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term oncological safety of laparoscopic treatment without the use of a uterine manipulator for patients with early stage cervical cancer. Materials and methods: A single-center retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of ARNAS Garibaldi Nesima on patients surgically treated for early cervical cancer from 2014 to 2017. Inclusion criteria included squamous or adenosquamous histotype, FIGO stage from Ia1 to Ib2, cancer size < 4 cm, ECOG status 0–1, and negative serum beta-HCG. The patients were divided into two groups: treatment with and without an intra-uterine manipulator. Results: Seventy patients were identified, but only thirty-one met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled. All patients underwent surgery: three patients with the uterine manipulator, twenty-eight without. Among the thirty-one patients enrolled, twelve women had cancer in situ (IA1), nineteen had an early stage cervical cancer, in particular two cases of cervical cancer stage IA2, ten cases of cervical cancer stage IB1, and seven cases of cervical cancer stage IB2, according to the FIGO classification. At follow-up, three cases of recurrence occurred, but the uterine manipulator was not used. Conclusion: After five years of follow-up, recurrence rates in patients treated with minimally invasive surgery are about 10%, but the use of a uterine manipulator is not related to a higher level of recurrence rates.
The Orb-Weaving Spider Algorithm for Training of Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Mikhalev Anton , Tynchenko Vadim , Nelyub Vladimir , Lugovaya Nina , Baranov Vladimir , Kukartsev Vladislav , Sergienko Roman , Kurashkin Sergei
Published: September 2022

The quality of operation of neural networks in solving application problems is determined by the success of the stage of their training. The task of learning neural networks is a complex optimization task. Traditional learning algorithms have a number of disadvantages, such as «sticking» in local minimums and a low convergence rate. Modern approaches are based on solving the problems of adjusting the weights of neural networks using metaheuristic algorithms. Therefore, the problem of selecting the optimal set of values of algorithm parameters is important for solving application problems with symmetry properties. This paper studies the application of a new metaheuristic optimization algorithm for weights adjustment—the algorithm of the spiders-cycle, developed by the authors of this article. The approbation of the proposed approach is carried out to adjust the weights of recurrent neural networks used to solve the time series forecasting problem on the example of three different datasets. The results are compared with the results of neural networks trained by the algorithm of the reverse propagation of the error, as well as three other metaheuristic algorithms: particle swarm optimization, bats, and differential evolution. As performance criteria for the comparison of algorithms of global optimization, in this work, descriptive statistics for metrics of the estimation of quality of predictive models, as well as the number of calculations of the target function, are used. The values of the MSE and MAE metrics on the studied datasets were obtained by adjusting the weights of the neural networks using the cycling spider algorithm at 1.32, 25.48, 8.34 and 0.38, 2.18, 1.36, respectively. Compared to the inverse error propagation algorithm, the cycling spider algorithm reduced the value of the error metrics. According to the results of the study, it is concluded that the developed algorithm showed high results and, in the assessment of performance, was not inferior to the existing algorithm.
An Approach for Predictive Maintenance Decisions for Components of an Industrial Multistage Machine That Fail before Their MTTF: A Case Study
Authors: García Francisco Javier Álvarez , Salgado David Rodríguez
Published: September 2022

Making the correct maintenance strategy decision for industrial multistage machines (MSTM) is a constant challenge for industrial manufacturers. Preventive maintenance strategies are the most popular and provide interesting results but cannot prevent unexpected failures and consequences, such as time lost production (TLP). In these cases, a predictive maintenance strategy should be used to maintain the appropriate level of operation time. This research aims to present a model to identify the component that failed before its mean time to failure (MTTF) and, depending on whether the cause of the failure is known, propose the use of a predictive maintenance strategy and further decision-making to ensure the highest possible value from operating time. Also, it is necessary to check the reliable value of MTTF before taking certain decisions. For this research, a real case study of a MSTM was characterized component by component, setting the individual maintenance times. The initial maintenance strategy used for all the components is the preventive programming maintenance (PPM). If a component presents an unexpected failure, a method is proposed to decide whether the maintenance strategy should be changed, adding a predictive maintenance strategy to monitor said component. The research also provides a trust level to evaluate the reliable value of MTTF of each component. The authors consider this approach very useful for machine manufacturers and end users.
Biological Responses of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus as Influenced by Dietary Florfenicol
Authors: Bardhan Avishek , Abraham Thangapalam J. , Das Ratnapriya , Patil Prasanna K.
Published: September 2022

Antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial diseases in commercial aquaculture. In this study, we the biological responses of Oreochromis niloticus juveniles upon dietary florfenicol (FFC) administration at 15 mg (1×) and 45 mg kg biomass−1 day−1 (3×) for 10 days in terms of feed intake, survival, biomass, hematological, erythro-morphological, serum biochemical, and histopathological aberrations as compared with controls. FFC caused a dose-dependent reduction in feed intake, survival, and biomass, with marked variations in hematology, hematological indices, and erythrocytic cellular and nuclear abnormalities, suggesting its apparent cytotoxic and nucleotoxic effects. The serum biomarkers increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, except for calcium and chloride, which decreased significantly. The therapeutic dose (1×) group exhibited marked histopathological aberrations, such as renal tubular epithelial degeneration and a widened lumen in the kidney, as well as glycogen-type vacuolation and cytoplasmic degeneration in the liver during the dosing period. The extent of kidney and liver tissue damage was more prominent in the 3× group. The 1× serum biomarker levels became normal, with the exception of alkaline phosphatase, within 3 weeks of suspension of dosing. The recovery of the measured parameters and histopathological and erythro-morphological changes suggested that the therapeutic dietary biological responses induced by FFC are reversible and safe for O. niloticus.
Influence of African Swine Fever Virus on Host Gene Transcription within Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Infected Pigs
Authors: Olesen Ann Sofie , Kodama Miyako , Skovgaard Kerstin , Møbjerg Ask , Lohse Louise , Limborg Morten T. , Bøtner Anette , Belsham Graham J.
Published: September 2022

African swine fever virus (ASFV) has become a global threat to the pig production industry and has caused enormous economic losses in many countries in recent years. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from pigs infected with ASFV not only express ASFV genes (almost 200 in number) but have altered patterns of host gene expression as well. Both up- and down-regulation of host cell gene expression can be followed using RNAseq on poly(A)+ mRNAs harvested from the PBMCs of pigs collected at different times post-infection. Consistent with the time course of changes in viral gene expression, only few and limited changes in host gene expression were detected at 3 days post-infection (dpi), but by 6 dpi, marked changes in the expression of over 1300 host genes were apparent. This was co-incident with the major increase in viral gene expression. The majority of the changes in host gene expression were up-regulation, but many down-regulated genes were also identified. The patterns of changes in gene expression within the PBMCs detected by RNAseq were similar in each of the four infected pigs. Furthermore, changes in the expression of about twenty selected host genes, known to be important in host defence and inflammatory responses, were confirmed using high-throughput microfluidic qPCR assays.
Evaluation of Cardiac Biomarkers and Expression Analysis of IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-25 among COVID-19 Patients from Pakistan
Authors: Ullah Razi , Khan Jadoon , Basharat Nosheen , Huo Danqun , Ud Din Ahmad , Wang Guixue
Published: September 2022

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by viral infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Where upregulation of several important biomarkers and multiple organ dysfunction occurs, this study aimed to evaluate the association of cardiac biomarkers and CS induced acute lung damage with disease severity and mortality in survival of COVID-19 patients. A total of 500 COVID-19 patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers were studied for the analysis of myocardial abnormality through cardiac enzymes, inflammatory biomarkers, and the expression analysis of various cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-25 genes. The elevation of various cardiac enzymes including LDH (87%), CK (78.4%), TNI (80.4%), CK-MB (83%), and D-dimer (80.8%) were found correlated (p < 0.001) with COVID-19 infection. Cardiac enzyme elevation was highly associated with an increased level of inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP (14.2%), SAA (11.4%) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (7.8%) (p = 0.001 for all). The quantitative expression analysis of IL-10, 1L-17, and 1L-25 were found to be high, while those of IL-1 and IL-6 were moderately elevated. The death-to-live ratio of COVID-19 patients was 457:43 indicating that the patients having elevated levels of both CKMB, D-dimer, CK and IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and D-dimer, Troponin, CK and IL-1, IL-10 had high fatality rate (73% and 12% respectively). The current finding concludes that the evaluation of cardiac biomarkers with cytokine storm plays a significant role in COVID-19-associated anatomical organ damage, myocardial injury, and mortality. Physicians should pay special attention to cardiac biomarkers in patients with old age, inflammation, and comorbidities among COVID-19 infections.
A Transcriptomics-Based Bioinformatics Approach for Identification and In Vitro Screening of FDA-Approved Drugs for Repurposing against Dengue Virus-2
Authors: Punekar Madhura , Kasabe Bhagyashri , Patil Poonam , Kakade Mahadeo B. , Parashar Deepti , Alagarasu Kalichamy , Cherian Sarah
Published: September 2022

The rising incidence of dengue virus (DENV) infections in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world emphasizes the need to identify effective therapeutic drugs against the disease. Repurposing of drugs has emerged as a novel concept to combat pathogens. In this study, we employed a transcriptomics-based bioinformatics approach for drug identification against DENV. Gene expression omnibus datasets from patients with different grades of dengue disease severity and healthy controls were used to identify differentially expressed genes in dengue cases, which were then applied to the query tool of Connectivity Map to identify the inverse gene–disease–drug relationship. A total of sixteen identified drugs were investigated for their prophylactic, virucidal, and therapeutic effects against DENV. Focus-forming unit assay and quantitative RT-PCR were used to evaluate the antiviral activity. Results revealed that five compounds, viz., resveratrol, doxorubicin, lomibuvir, elvitegravir, and enalaprilat, have significant anti-DENV activity. Further, molecular docking studies showed that these drugs can interact with a variety of protein targets of DENV, including the glycoprotein, the NS5 RdRp, NS2B-NS3 protease, and NS5 methyltransferase The in vitro and in silico results, therefore, reveal that these drugs have the ability to decrease DENV-2 production, suggesting that these drugs or their derivatives could be attempted as therapeutic agents against DENV infections.
Foliar Application of Nanoclay Promotes Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Growth and Induces Systemic Resistance against Potato Virus Y
Authors: Aseel Dalia G. , Abdelkhalek Ahmed , Alotibi Fatimah O. , Samy Marwa A. , Al-Askar Abdulaziz A. , Arishi Amr A. , Hafez Elsayed E.
Published: September 2022

Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the most harmful phytopathogens. It causes big problems for potatoes and other important crops around the world. Nanoclays have been extensively studied for various biomedical applications. However, reports on their interactions with phytopathogens, particularly viral infections, are still limited. In this study, the protective activity of Egyptian nanoclay (CE) and standard nanoclay (CS) against PVY was evaluated on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants. Their physicochemical and morphological properties were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). SEM and TEM analyses revealed that CE has a spherical and hexagonal structure ranging from 20 to 80 nm in size, while CS has boulder-like and tubular structures of about 320 nm in size. FTIR and EDS showed that both nanoclay types have different functional groups and contain many vital plant nutrients that are necessary for every stage and process of the plant, including development, productivity, and metabolism. Under greenhouse conditions, a 1% nanoclay foliar application enhanced potato growth, reduced disease symptoms, and reduced PVY accumulation levels compared with non-treated plants. Significant increases in levels of antioxidant enzymes (PPO and POX) and considerable decreases in oxidative stress markers (MDA and H2O2) were also reported. Moreover, a significant increase in the transcriptional levels of defense-related genes (PAL-1, PR-5, and CHI-2) was observed. All experiment and analysis results indicate that the CE type is more effective than the CS type against PVY infection. Based on these results, the foliar applications of nanoclay could be used to manage plant viral infections in a way that is both effective and environmentally friendly. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the antiviral activity of the foliar application of nanoclay against PVY infection.
(+)-Usnic Acid and Its Derivatives as Inhibitors of a Wide Spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 Viruses
Authors: Filimonov Aleksandr S. , Yarovaya Olga I. , Zaykovskaya Anna V. , Rudometova Nadezda B. , Shcherbakov Dmitriy N. , Chirkova Varvara Yu. , Baev Dmitry S. , Borisevich Sophia S. , Luzina Olga A. , Pyankov Oleg V. , Maksyutov Rinat A. , Salakhutdinov Nariman F.
Published: September 2022

In order to test the antiviral activity, a series of usnic acid derivatives were synthesized, including new, previously undescribed compounds. The activity of the derivatives against three strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus was studied. To understand the mechanism of antiviral action, the inhibitory activity of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 virus was studied using the developed model as well as the antiviral activity against the pseudoviral system with glycoprotein S of SARS-CoV-2 virus on its surface. It was shown that usnic acid exhibits activity against three strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus: Wuhan, Delta, and Omicron. Compounds 10 and 13 also showed high activity against the three strains. The performed biological studies and molecular modeling allowed us to assume that the derivatives of usnic acid bind in the N-terminal domain of the surface glycoprotein S at the binding site of the hemoglobin decay metabolite.
COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Galanis Petros , Vraka Irene , Katsiroumpa Aglaia , Siskou Olga , Konstantakopoulou Olympia , Katsoulas Theodoros , Mariolis-Sapsakos Theodoros , Kaitelidou Daphne
Published: September 2022

The vaccine-induced immunity of healthcare workers (HCWs) is crucial to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the COVID-19 vaccine uptake among HCWs worldwide and to identify predictors of vaccination. We searched Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL, and medRxiv up to 25 August 2022. We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. We found 25 studies including 491,624 vaccinated HCWs, while the full sample included 555,561 HCWs. The overall proportion of vaccinated HCWs was 77.3%. Vaccine uptake for studies that were conducted in North America (85.6%) was higher than the proportion for studies that were conducted in Asia (79.5%), Europe (72.8%), and Africa (65.6%). The overall prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine uptake was 83.6% and 77.4% for physicians and nurses, respectively. Older age, white race, physicians’ profession, seasonal influenza vaccine, direct COVID-19 patient care, and confidence in COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness were positive predictors of vaccine uptake, while history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was a negative predictor. Deep understanding of the factors that influence HCWs’ decisions to receive a COVID-19 vaccine is critical to implementing tailored communication strategies for HCWs who are at risk for not getting vaccinated.