bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Moderating Effect of the Sense of Power on Green (NonGreen) Appeal in Promoting Sustainable Consumption
Authors: Ni Yue , Cheng Qiqi
Published: October 2022

Sustainable behavior could be promoted via green advertising. Based on the agentic–communal model and the construal level theory, this paper explores the moderating effect of sense of power on the effectiveness of green and nongreen appeals through a random experiment. We expect that in a powerlessness mindset, a green appeal outperforms a nongreen appeal and that in a power mindset, a nongreen appeal outperforms a green appeal with a reduced effect size. As expected, the results show that low-power consumers are more likely to be persuaded when the appeal emphasizes the green attribute rather than the nongreen attribute, whereas the converse holds (not significantly) for high-power consumers. The results also show a significantly positive effect of green appeal on WOM intention. The moderated serial multiple-mediator model indicates that attitudes toward the ad and brand serially mediate the effectiveness of advertising, which is moderated by power. Overall, those results demonstrate that the success of an appeal can be affected by psychological sense of power. The practical implications are also discussed.
Analysis of the Use of Color and Its Emotional Relationship in Visual Creations Based on Experiences during the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: González-Martín César , Carrasco Miguel , Oviedo Germán
Published: October 2022

Color is a complex communicative element. At the level of artistic creation, this component influences both formal aspects and symbolic weight, directly affecting the construction of the message, and its associated emotion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people generated countless images transmitting the subjective experiences of this event, and the social network Instagram was used to share this visual material. Using the repository of images created in the Instagram account CAM (The COVID Art Museum), we propose a methodology to understand the use of color and its emotional relationship in this context. The proposed methodology consists of creating a model that learns to recognize emotions via a convolutional neural network using the ArtEmis database. This model will subsequently be applied to recognize emotions in the CAM dataset, also extracting color attributes and their harmonies. Once both processes are completed, we combine the results, generating an expanded discussion on the usage of color and emotion. The results indicate that warm colors and analog compositions prevail in the sample. The relationship between emotions and composition shows a trend in positive emotions, reinforced by the results of the emotional relationship analysis of color attributes (hue, saturation, and lighting).
A Novel Method for Gas Disaster Prevention during the Construction Period in Coal Penetration Tunnels—A Stepwise Prediction of Gas Concentration Based on the LSTM Method
Authors: Li Penghui , Li Ke , Wang Fang , Zhang Zonglong , Cai Shuang , Cheng Liang
Published: October 2022

Aiming at the tunnel gas disaster can produce major safety problems such as combustion, explosion, and coal and gas outbursts. Firstly, a time series consisting of the tunnel gas concentration was used as the entry point for the article, and the gas prediction models based on multiple intelligent computational methods were established for comparison to determine the optimal network prediction model. Then, this study proposed a stepwise prediction method which is based on the optimal network prediction model for gas disaster prevention during the construction period of tunnels at the excavation workface. The length of the input step, output step, and interval step were considered by the method to investigate the effect on the predictive performance of the model. The model was extrapolated by the rolling prediction method, and the adaptive grid search method was used to determine the optimal parameter combination of stepwise prediction. Finally, a stepwise prediction of short-term gas concentration trends was achieved for each construction process at the excavation workface. As a result, the best LSTM network prediction model was preferred with an R2 value of 0.94 for the fit and MAE and RMSE values of 3.2% and 4.3%. Results based on stepwise predictions showed that single-step prediction is more accurate than multi-step predictions when a reasonable input step size was determined. Moreover, with the length of both the interval step and the output step, the model prediction accuracy showed a decreasing trend. Generally speaking, the single-step continuous and interval prediction of the gas concentration at the excavation workface can be realized by the gas stepwise prediction method, and the gas concentration value can be obtained at any time in the prediction. It can also realize the transformation from single-step point prediction to multi-step trend prediction, and obtain the accurate prediction of gas concentration change trends in the stepwise prediction range (t+1~t+5). Therefore, the important security guarantee can be provided by stepwise prediction for subsequent gas disaster safety prevention and efficient tunnel production.
Predicting Employability of Congolese Information Technology Graduates Using Contextual Factors: Towards Sustainable Employability
Authors: Mpia Héritier Nsenge , Mwendia Simon Nyaga , Mburu Lucy Waruguru
Published: October 2022

Predicting employability in an unstable developing country requires the use of contextual factors as predictors and a suitable machine learning model capable of generalization. This study has discovered that parental financial stability, sociopolitical, relationship, academic, and strategic factors are the factors that can contextually predict the employability of information technology (IT) graduates in the democratic republic of Congo (DRC). A deep stacking predictive model was constructed using five different multilayer perceptron (MLP) sub models. The deep stacking model measured good performance (80% accuracy, 0.81 precision, 0.80 recall, 0.77 f1-score). All the individual models could not reach these performances with all the evaluation metrics used. Therefore, deep stacking was revealed to be the most suitable method for building a generalizable model to predict employability of IT graduates in the DRC. The authors estimate that the discovery of these contextual factors that predict IT graduates’ employability will help the DRC and other similar governments to develop strategies that mitigate unemployment, an important milestone to achievement of target 8.6 of the sustainable development goals.
What to Do with Food Waste? A Holistic Feasibility Framework to Evaluate Different Solutions
Authors: Joensuu Katri , Harrison Eric , Hartikainen Hanna
Published: October 2022

Food waste is generated at several stages of the food chain. According to the European Waste Hierarchy, the creation of food waste should above all be prevented, meaning that waste materials with good microbial and nutritional quality should be directed to food use, either directly or through light processing. However, to be feasible, food waste utilisation solutions should be economically profitable, environmentally sustainable and scalable to provide a means to utilise a larger share of the raw materials. In this study, we propose a feasibility evaluation approach for food waste utilisation and prevention solutions. We use two case examples: (1) an artisan bar soap product based on carrot peels, and (2) the retail selling of 2nd class carrots. Both cases are evaluated with six feasibility indicators: edible food waste reduction potential, scalability, level at waste hierarchy, climate impact reduction potential, economic impact, and social impact. Case 2 performed better regarding all indicators other than economic impact. Critical aspects that need to be improved included climate reduction potential for both cases and food waste reduction potential for case 1. The results show that this kind of a holistic approach is useful in identifying the most feasible food waste prevention and utilisation measures.
Perceptions of Parents of the Quality of the Public Transport Services Used by Children to Commute to School
Authors: Jomnonkwao Sajjakaj , Banyong Chinnakrit , Nanthawong Supanida , Janhuaton Thananya , Ratanavaraha Vatanavongs , Champahom Thanapong , Jongkol Pornsiri
Published: October 2022

The risk of accidents is a danger in public transport that could lead to threats to property, the environment, and the lives and health of people. In particular, parents are keenly aware of and concerned about the safety of school trips. Thus, this study aims to examine the factors that influence the perceptions of parents about the safety of the school trips of children. The study recruited 750 respondents from Northeast Thailand. Data were obtained from responses to a self-report questionnaire. The model consisted of six factors, namely, transportation satisfaction, infrastructure, information, the safe behavior of drivers, the safety of the transportation systems, and the safety policy. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that all six factors were in accordance with the empirical data (model fit statistic: χ2 = 758.098, df = 276, χ2/df = 2.747, CFI = 0.962, TLI = 0.955, SRMR = 0.038, RMSEA = 0.048). The results can serve as a reference for developing guidelines and recommending policies for the management and the implementation of safe school trips for students.
Green Defense Industries in the European Union: The Case of the Battle Dress Uniform for Circular Economy
Authors: Reis João , Rosado David Pascoal , Cohen Yuval , Pousa César , Cavalieri Adriane
Published: October 2022

As climate change is at the top of the world’s agenda, the armed forces and other defense actors must give a signal that they are environmentally responsible. In this regard, the defense industry should be one of the first actors to devise new strategies and actions aimed at reducing the environmental footprint. This article focuses on the measures being taken by the defense industry and the armed forces, and on how technology, the circular economy (CE) and Lean principles can contribute to a better environment. A qualitative multimethod research model was used, covering more than one research method, such as a systematic literature review and a case study research. Although the literature highlights that the defense sector in Europe is far from being a green actor, a transition to the CE was identified. In that regard, the European Union (EU) defense industry has been a key player in CE R strategies, such as: repurpose, remanufacture, repair, reuse, reduce and rethink. The contribution of new technologies has empowered military equipment to acquire enhanced characteristics, such as material resistance, while EU technology centers have been instrumental in a green transition. Additionally, more comprehensive research is needed in order to allow generalization of the results.
Developing a Blue Economy in Depok West Java, Indonesia: Opportunities and Challenges of Neon Tetra Fish Cultivation
Authors: Setiyowati Harlis , Nugroho Mulyanto , Halik Abdul
Published: October 2022

Due to the prospective local and international markets, the neon tetra fish breeding industry has its own charm for fish lovers and as a side business. The purpose of this study is to analyze the opportunities and difficulties associated with the cultivation of neon tetra fish in order to build a policy of “Blue Economy”. The research method uses qualitative techniques, focusing on an evaluation of literature reviews and data collection techniques sourced from descriptive materials. The key elements selected were: (1) the Department of Food and Fisheries Security (DKP3), as the Board of Trustees (2) Researchers from BRIN (National Innovation Research Agency), (3) Government (Sub-districts and Kelurahan), (4) POKDAKAN (Fish Cultivation Group) and (5) LPM (Community Empowerment Institution) and Chairman of RW/RT. The conclusion of the study states that the relevant Dinas should support local policies based on nature identification that are strengthened at the national level, namely that routine human resource training needs to be improved, technology needs to be taken into account in collaboration with the private sector, and that post-harvest and market access are very important for POKDAKAN. The findings of the SWOT analysis, which is in quadrant 1, indicate that POKDAKAN is in a position for a somewhat aggressive expansion.
Driving Path and System Simulation of Green Innovation Capability of Science and Technology Enterprises in Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Zhu Yanna , He Gang , Bao Keyu
Published: October 2022

Green innovation integrates innovation-driven and green development strategies, which helps to realize the green transformation of production and life in the Yangtze River Delta region, and promote high-quality economic development. Based on the multidisciplinary cross attribute of system dynamics (SD), the boundary and influencing factors of the green innovation system are defined, and the system dynamics model of green innovation ability of science and technology enterprises is constructed. With the help of statistical data from 2010 to 2020, the model is simulated to explore the change trend and law of elements. The results show that: (1) The green innovation ability of science and technology enterprises is composed of three stages, knowledge innovation, technological innovation, and innovation application, which are interconnected and progressive. The change trend of each variable is conducive to the improvement of green innovation competitiveness, and the green innovation benefits are significant. (2) Green innovation is driven by multidimensional factors such as R&D investment, technological innovation investment, knowledge innovation ability, and the conversion rate of scientific research achievements. The improvement of the conversion rate of scientific research achievements has the greatest impact on the enterprise’s green innovation ability, and the change trend is more obvious. (3) Positive and negative two-direction sub-mode regulation of R&D investment, technological innovation investment, and scientific research achievement conversion coefficient will affect the speed of green innovation accumulation of enterprises, and this increment is marginally increasing with the increase of the coefficient in the short term. Finally, some suggestions are put forward to promote the green innovation ability of science and technology enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta.
Electromagnetic Particle Algorithm for Beam–Wave Interaction in Traveling Wave Tube of Symmetry
Authors: Zhou Shuanghong , Yao Yuanlin , Zhang Yuting , Ge Bin
Published: October 2022

In many fields, such as space astrophysics, plasma and vacuum electronics, there are many nonlinear strong coupling physical problems. In order to solve the problem of electron beam–wave interaction in cylindrical Traveling wave tube (TWT) with symmetrical structure, a multi particle simulation algorithm for beam circuit is designed. The algorithm allows aperiodic time input, nonuniform linearity and large space diagnosis for different particles. In this algorithm, the field of coupled slow-wave transmission line is simulated by finite difference method. Assuming that there is strong coupling between the beam and the circuit, the space center equation of transmission along the line is obtained, and the space charge field is modeled considering the space charge effect, which can easily be ignored. The Particle In Cell (PIC) method of frog leaping step scheme is adopted to evaluate the electric field of each particle center, determine the circuit and space charge field, and design the termination part to compensate for the loss in order to avoid self-excited agitation. Finally, a simple numerical simulation is carried out for the electromagnetic problem and the accuracy of the code is checked against the electromagnetic simulator CHPIC. Therefore, the algorithm can be used to solve the problem of beam–wave interactions in a fixed structure (cylindrical) in multiple fields and can accurately record the data in the process.
Comparison of 18F-fluorothymidine Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Mori Mio , Fujioka Tomoyuki , Ichikawa Ryota , Inomata Reina , Katsuta Leona , Yashima Yuka , Yamaga Emi , Tsuchiya Junichi , Hayashi Kumiko , Kumaki Yuichi , Oda Goshi , Nakagawa Tsuyoshi , Onishi Iichiroh , Kubota Kazunori , Tateishi Ukihide
Published: October 2022

The uptake of 18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) depends on cells’ proliferative rates. We compared the characteristics of 18F-FLT positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with those of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT for breast cancer. We prospectively diagnosed patients with breast cancer who underwent 18F-FLT PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Subsequently, significant differences and correlation coefficients of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in primary breast cancer and axillary lymph nodes were statistically evaluated. We enrolled eight patients with breast cancer. In six treatment-naive patients, the SUVmax for primary lesions showed a significant difference (mean, 2.1 vs. 4.1, p = 0.031) and a strong correlation (r = 0.969) between 18F-FLT and 18F-FDG. Further, although the SUVmax for the axillary lymph nodes did not show a significant difference between 18F-FLT and 18F-FDG (P = 0.246), there was a strong correlation between the two (r = 0.999). In a patient-by-patient study, there were cases in which only 18F-FDG uptake was observed in lymph nodes and normal breasts. Bone metastases demonstrated lower accumulation than bone marrow on the 18F-FLT PET/CT. In conclusion, a strong correlation was observed between the 18F-FLT PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake. Differences in the biochemical characteristics of 18F-FLT and 18F-FDG were reflected in the accumulation differences for breast cancer, metastatic lesions, and normal organs.
Online Geometric Calibration of a Hybrid CT System for Ultrahigh-Resolution Imaging
Authors: King Dakota , Wang Muyang , Bennett Eric , Mazilu Dumitru , Chen Marcus , Wen Han
Published: October 2022

A hybrid imaging system consisting of a standard computed tomography (CT) scanner and a low-profile photon-counting detector insert in contact with the patient’s body has been used to produce ultrahigh-resolution images in a limited volume in chest scans of patients. The detector insert is placed on the patient bed as needed and not attached. Thus, its position and orientation in the scanner is dependent on the patient’s position and scan settings. To allow accurate image reconstruction, we devised a method of determining the relative geometry of the detector insert and the CT scanner for each scan using fiducial markers. This method uses an iterative registration algorithm to align the markers in the reconstructed volume from the detector insert to that of the concurrent CT scan. After obtaining precise geometric information of the detector insert relative to the CT scanner, the two complementary sets of images are summed together to create a detailed image with reduced artifacts.
Testing the Limit: Evaluating Drinking Water Arsenic Regulatory Levels Based on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Bangladesh
Authors: Andrews Faye , Branscum Adam , Hystad Perry , Smit Ellen , Afroz Sakila , Golam Mostofa , Sharif Omar , Rahman Mohammad , Quamruzzaman Quazi , Christiani David , Kile Molly
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: Arsenic (As) is a common drinking water contaminant that is regulated as a carcinogen. Yet, As is a systemic toxicant and there is considerable epidemiological data showing As adversely impacts reproductive health. This study used data from a birth cohort in Bangladesh (2008–2011) to examine associations between drinking water As levels and reproductive outcomes. (2) Methods: Pregnant individuals (n = 1597) were enrolled at <16 weeks gestation and drinking water As was measured. Participants with live births (n = 1130) were propensity score matched to participants who experienced miscarriage (n = 132), stillbirth (n = 72), preterm birth (n = 243), and neonatal mortality (n = 20). Logistic regression was used to examine drinking water As recommendations of 50, 10, 5, 2.5, and 1 µg/L on the odds of adverse birth outcomes. (3) Results: The odds of miscarriage were higher for pregnant women exposed to drinking water ≥2.5 versus <2.5 µg As/L [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.90, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.07–3.38)]. (4) Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest a potential threshold where the odds of miscarriage increases when drinking water As is above 2.5 µg/L. This concentration is below the World Health Organizations and Bangladesh’s drinking water recommendations and supports the re-evaluation of drinking water regulations.
Development of On-Demand Antiviral Electrostatic Precipitators with Electrothermal-Based Antiviral Surfaces against Airborne Virus Particles
Authors: Park Dae Hoon , An So-Hee , Lee Yeawan , Kim Yong-Jin , Han Bangwoo , Kim Hak-Joon
Published: October 2022

Particulate matter, including airborne pathogens, is of particular concern because it can cause the spread of diseases through aerosol transmission. In this study, a new concept is proposed: on-demand antiviral electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) with electrothermal-based antiviral surfaces. We applied electrothermal-based antiviral surfaces to air-purifying applications and demonstrated that the proposed method is effective with regard to collecting airborne virus particles on collection plates in a two-stage ESP. With alternating current power, MS2 bacteriophage and H1N1 viruses were completely deactivated after exposure to 50 °C for 30 min. This remarkable antiviral performance via electrothermal effects indicates that on-demand platforms for self-antiviral surfaces can perform sterilization immediately without generating secondary pollutants, thus effectively preventing the spread of infectious microorganisms in public places. We believe that the results of this study can provide useful guidelines for the design and realization of practical and wearable devices for antiviral air-purifying applications.
Biokinetics and Internal Dosimetry of Tritiated Steel Particles
Authors: Smith Rachel , Ellender Michele , Guo Chang , Hammond Derek , Laycock Adam , Leonard Martin O. , Wright Matthew , Davidson Michael , Malard Véronique , Payet Mickaël , Grisolia Christian , Blanchardon Eric
Published: October 2022

Decommissioning fission and fusion facilities can result in the production of airborne particles containing tritium that could inadvertently be inhaled by workers directly involved in the operations, and potentially others, resulting in internal exposures to tritium. Of particular interest in this context, given the potentially large masses of material involved, is tritiated steel. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has recommended committed effective dose coefficients for inhalation of some tritiated materials, but not specifically for tritiated steel. The lack of a dose coefficient for tritiated steel is a concern given the potential importance of the material. To address this knowledge gap, a “dissolution” study, in vivo biokinetic study in a rodent model (1 MBq intratracheal instillation, 3-month follow-up) and associated state-of-the-art modelling were undertaken to derive dose coefficients for model tritiated steel particles. A committed effective dose coefficient for the inhalation of 3.3 × 10−12 Sv Bq−1 was evaluated for the particles, reflecting an activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) of 13.3 µm, with the value for a reference AMAD for workers (5 µm) of 5.6 × 10−12 Sv Bq−1 that may be applied to occupational inhalation exposure to tritiated steel particles.
Adapter-Mediated Transduction with Lentiviral Vectors: A Novel Tool for Cell-Type-Specific Gene Transfer
Authors: Cordes Nicole , Winter Nora , Kolbe Carolin , Kotter Bettina , Mittelstaet Joerg , Assenmacher Mario , Cathomen Toni , Kaiser Andrew , Schaser Thomas
Published: October 2022

Selective gene delivery to a cell type of interest utilizing targeted lentiviral vectors (LVs) is an efficient and safe strategy for cell and gene therapy applications, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. LVs pseudotyped with measles virus envelope proteins (MV-LVs) have been retargeted by ablating binding to natural receptors while fusing to a single-chain antibody specific for the antigen of choice. However, the broad application of MV-LVs is hampered by the laborious LV engineering required for every new target. Here, we report the first versatile targeting system for MV-LVs that solely requires mixing with biotinylated adapter molecules to enable selective gene transfer. The analysis of the selectivity in mixed cell populations revealed transduction efficiencies below the detection limit in the absence of an adapter and up to 5000-fold on-to-off-target ratios. Flexibility was confirmed by transducing cell lines and primary cells applying seven different adapter specificities in total. Furthermore, adapter mixtures were applied to generate CAR-T cells with varying CD4/CD8-ratios in a single transduction step. In summary, a selective and flexible targeting system was established that may serve to improve the safety and efficacy of cellular therapies. Compatibility with a wide range of readily available biotinylated molecules provides an ideal technology for a variety of applications.
Pathogenicity of La Jolla Virus in Drosophila suzukii following Oral Administration
Authors: Linscheid Yvonne , Kessel Tobias , Vilcinskas Andreas , Lee Kwang-Zin
Published: October 2022

Drosophila suzukii (Ds) is an invasive pest insect that causes severe and widespread damage to soft fruit crops. Chemical control based on topical insecticides is inefficient and harmful to consumers and the environment, prompting interest in the development of biological control measures such as insect viruses with narrow host specificity. We previously described a strain of La Jolla virus (LJV) found in moribund Ds specimens in Germany. We demonstrated a pathogenic effect following the intrathoracic injection of LJV into adult Ds flies. However, the development of an effective biocontrol product based on LJV would require the characterization of (1) virulence following oral delivery, particularly in larvae, and (2) stability under different pH and temperature conditions reflecting realistic exposure scenarios. Here we describe the pathogenicity of LJV following oral delivery to Ds adults and larvae. The oral infection of Ds adults with LJV reduced survival in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas the oral infection of Ds larvae caused the arrest of development during pupation. LJV remained stable and infectious following exposure to a broad pH range and different temperatures. We, therefore, demonstrated that LJV is promising as a candidate biological control agent against Ds.
Production and Characterisation of Stabilised PV-3 Virus-like Particles Using Pichia pastoris
Authors: Sherry Lee , Grehan Keith , Swanson Jessica J. , Bahar Mohammad W. , Porta Claudine , Fry Elizabeth E. , Stuart David I. , Rowlands David J. , Stonehouse Nicola J.
Published: October 2022

Following the success of global vaccination programmes using the live-attenuated oral and inactivated poliovirus vaccines (OPV and IPV), wild poliovirus (PV) is now only endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, the continued use of these vaccines poses potential risks to the eradication of PV. The production of recombinant PV virus-like particles (VLPs), which lack the viral genome offer great potential as next-generation vaccines for the post-polio world. We have previously reported production of PV VLPs using Pichia pastoris, however, these VLPs were in the non-native conformation (C Ag), which would not produce effective protection against PV. Here, we build on this work and show that it is possible to produce wt PV-3 and thermally stabilised PV-3 (referred to as PV-3 SC8) VLPs in the native conformation (D Ag) using Pichia pastoris. We show that the PV-3 SC8 VLPs provide a much-improved D:C antigen ratio as compared to wt PV-3, whilst exhibiting greater thermostability than the current IPV vaccine. Finally, we determine the cryo-EM structure of the yeast-derived PV-3 SC8 VLPs and compare this to previously published PV-3 D Ag structures, highlighting the similarities between these recombinantly expressed VLPs and the infectious virus, further emphasising their potential as a next-generation vaccine candidate for PV
Hsp40/JDP Requirements for the Propagation of Synthetic Yeast Prions
Authors: Miller Sarah C. , Wegrzynowicz Andrea K. , Cole Sierra J. , Hayward Rachel E. , Ganser Samantha J. , Hines Justin K.
Published: October 2022

Yeast prions are protein-based transmissible elements, most of which are amyloids. The chaperone protein network in yeast is inexorably linked to the spreading of prions during cell division by fragmentation of amyloid prion aggregates. Specifically, the core “prion fragmentation machinery” includes the proteins Hsp104, Hsp70 and the Hsp40/J-domain protein (JDP) Sis1. Numerous novel amyloid-forming proteins have been created and examined in the yeast system and occasionally these amyloids are also capable of continuous Hsp104-dependent propagation in cell populations, forming synthetic prions. However, additional chaperone requirements, if any, have not been determined. Here, we report the first instances of a JDP-Hsp70 system requirement for the propagation of synthetic prions. We utilized constructs from a system of engineered prions with prion-forming domains (PrDs) consisting of a polyQ stretch interrupted by a single heterologous amino acid interspersed every fifth residue. These “polyQX” PrDs are fused to the MC domains of Sup35, creating chimeric proteins of which a subset forms synthetic prions in yeast. For four of these prions, we show that SIS1 repression causes prion loss in a manner consistent with Sis1′s known role in prion fragmentation. PolyQX prions were sensitive to Sis1 expression levels to differing degrees, congruent with the variability observed among native prions. Our results expand the scope known Sis1 functionality, demonstrating that Sis1 acts on amyloids broadly, rather than through specific protein–protein interactions with individual yeast prion-forming proteins.
Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Mexican Children and Adolescents
Authors: Flores-Alanis Alejandro , Saldaña-Ahuactzi Zeus , Parra-Ortega Israel , López-Ramírez Pablo , Salazar-García Marcela , Alemán-García Yolanda P. , Cruz-Rangel Armando , Moreno-Paredes Alba , Diaz-Rojas Adrián , Maldonado-Bernal Carmen , Quevedo-Moran Jessica , Luna-Pineda Victor M.
Published: October 2022

Background: We analyzed the demographic, clinical, and diagnostic data of children and adolescents in Mexico, from the first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to 28 February 2022. Methods: Using the open databases of the Ministry of Health and a tertiary pediatric hospital, we obtained demographic and clinical data from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic until 28 February 2022. In addition, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction outputs were used to determine the viral load, and structural protein-based serology was performed to evaluate IgG antibody levels. Results: Of the total 437,832 children and adolescents with COVID-19, 1187 died. Of these patients, 1349 were admitted to the Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gómez, and 11 died. Obesity, asthma, and immunosuppression were the main comorbidities, and fever, cough, and headache were the main symptoms. In this population, many patients have a low viral load and IgG antibody levels. Conclusion: During the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, children and adolescents had low incidence and mortality. They are a heterogeneous population, but many patients had comorbidities such as obesity, asthma, and immunosuppression; symptoms such as fever, cough, and headache; and low viral load and IgG antibodies.
First Genomic Evidence of a Henipa-like Virus in Brazil
Authors: Hernández Leonardo H. Almeida , da Paz Thito Y. Bezerra , Silva Sandro Patroca da , Silva Fábio S. da , Barros Bruno C. Veloso de , Nunes Bruno T. Diniz , Casseb Lívia M. Neves , Medeiros Daniele B. Almeida , Vasconcelos Pedro F. da Costa , Cruz Ana C. Ribeiro
Published: October 2022

The viral genus Henipavirus includes two highly virulent zoonotic viruses of serious public health concern. Hendra henipavirus and Nipah henipavirus outbreaks are restricted to Australia and Southeast Asia, respectively. The Henipavirus genus comprises mostly bat-borne viruses, but exceptions have already been described as novel viruses with rodents and shrews as reservoir animals. In the Americas, scarce evidence supports the circulation of these viruses. In this communication, we report a novel henipa-like virus from opossums (Marmosa demerarae) from a forest fragment area in the Peixe-Boi municipality, Brazil, after which the virus was named the Peixe-Boi virus (PBV). The application of next-generation sequencing and metagenomic approach led us to discover the original evidence of a henipa-like virus genome in Brazil and South America and the original description of a henipa-like virus in marsupial species. These findings emphasize the importance of further studies to characterize PBV and clarify its ecology, impact on public health, and its relationship with didelphid marsupials and henipaviruses.
Genetic Reassortment between Endemic and Introduced Macrobrachium rosenbergii Nodaviruses in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
Authors: Costa Vincenzo A. , Geoghegan Jemma L. , Holmes Edward C. , Harvey Erin
Published: October 2022

Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV)—the aetiological agent of white tail disease—is a major limiting factor of crustacean aquaculture as it causes up to 100% mortality in M. rosenbergii larvae and juveniles. Despite the importance of MrNV, there have been few studies on the phylogenetic diversity and geographic range of this virus in Australian waterways. Here, we detected MrNV genomes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) metatranscriptomes sampled at five freshwater sites across the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Australia. We identified genetic divergence of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene between MrNV sequences identified in the northern and southern rivers of the MDB. Northern viruses exhibited strong phylogenetic clustering with MrNV from China, whereas the southern viruses were more closely related to MrNV from Australia. However, all five viruses were closely related in the capsid protein, indicative of genetic reassortment of the RNA1 and RNA2 segments between Australian and introduced MrNV. In addition, we identified Macrobrachium australiense in two of the five MrNV-positive libraries, suggesting that these species may be important reservoir hosts in the MDB. Overall, this study reports the first occurrence of MrNV outside of the Queensland region in Australia and provides evidence for genetic reassortment between endemic and introduced MrNV.
Predicted Structure and Functions of the Prototypic Alphaherpesvirus Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 UL37 Tegument Protein
Authors: Collantes Therese Marie A. , Clark Carolyn M. , Musarrat Farhana , Jambunathan Nithya , Jois Seetharama , Kousoulas Konstantin G.
Published: October 2022

The alphaherpesvirus UL37 tegument protein is a highly conserved, multi-functional protein. Mutagenesis analysis delineated the UL37 domains necessary for retrograde transport and viral replication. Specifically, the amino-terminal 480 amino acids are dispensable for virus replication in epithelial cell culture, but it is unknown whether this amino-terminal deletion affects UL37 structure and intracellular transport in epithelial cells and neurons. To investigate the structure and function of UL37, we utilized multiple computational approaches to predict and characterize the secondary and tertiary structure and other functional features. The structure of HSV-1 UL37 and Δ481N were deduced using publicly available predictive algorithms. The predicted model of HSV-1 UL37 is a stable, multi-functional, globular monomer, rich in alpha helices, with unfolded regions within the linker and the C-tail domains. The highly flexible C-tail contains predicted binding sites to the dynein intermediate chain, as well as DNA and RNA. Predicted interactions with the cytoplasmic surface of the lipid membrane suggest UL37 is a peripheral membrane protein. The Δ481N truncation did not alter the predicted structure of the UL37 C-terminus protein and its predicted interaction with dynein. We validated these models by examining the replication kinetics and transport of the Δ481N virus toward the nuclei of infected epithelial and neuronal cells. The Δ481N virus had substantial defects in virus spread; however, it exhibited no apparent defects in virus entry and intracellular transport. Using computational analyses, we identified several key features of UL37, particularly the flexible unstructured tail; we then demonstrated that the UL37 C-terminus alone is sufficient to effectively transport the virus towards the nucleus of infected epithelial and neuronal cells.
Isolation and Genotyping of Adenoviruses from Wastewater and Diarrheal Samples in Egypt from 2016 to 2020
Authors: Allayeh Abdou Kamal , Al-Daim Sahar Abd , Ahmed Nehal , El-Gayar Mona , Mostafa Ahmed
Published: October 2022

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are a prevalent cause of diarrhea in children all over the world. Adenoviral infections are responsible for 2% to 10% of diarrheic cases. A long-term investigation was required to gain better knowledge about the incidence of HAdV in Egypt. Herein, we conducted 5 years of detection, isolation, and genotyping of HAdV in fecal and sewage samples from 2016 to 2020, in Cairo, Egypt using molecular and cell culture assays. Human adenoviruses were identified in 35 of 447 fecal samples (7.8%), but only 53.3% (64/120) of the sewage samples. Children under the age of two had the highest positive rate for HAdV infection (77.1%). Species F of HAdV was the most common prevalent genotype in fecal and sewage samples, at 88.5% and 85.9%, respectively. The most prevalent genotypes detected in fecal samples were HAdV-41 (71.2%), HAdV-40 (17.2%), HAdV-6 (5.7%), and HAdV-1 (5.7%). In contrast, the most common genotypes in sewage samples were HAdV-41 (64%), HAdVs-40 (21.8%), HAdV-6 (7.8%), HAdV-1 (4.7%), and HAdV-2 (1.6%). HAdV was detected in all months of the year, with a peak period for clinical samples from December to February (p < 0.001), which matched Egypt’s rainy season, while the monthly distribution of HAdV in sewage samples remained consistent throughout the year, with no statistically significant peak period. Interestingly, the HAdV-type 41 genotype was the most common genotype during all of the years of this study. Throughout a 5-year period, our work revealed the infection rate, seasonal distribution, virus isolates, and genetic diversity of HAdV infections in environmental and clinical samples in Cairo, Egypt. Non-enteric adenovirus types (1, 2 and 6), as well as enteric adenovirus (41 and 40), may play a key role in gastroenteritis in Egypt.
A Review of Omics Studies on Arboviruses: Alphavirus, Orthobunyavirus and Phlebovirus
Authors: Peinado Rafaela dos S. , Eberle Raphael J. , Arni Raghuvir K. , Coronado Mônika A.
Published: October 2022

Since the intricate and complex steps in pathogenesis and host-viral interactions of arthropod-borne viruses or arboviruses are not completely understood, the multi-omics approaches, which encompass proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics and metabolomics network analysis, are of great importance. We have reviewed the omics studies on mosquito-borne viruses of the Togaviridae, Peribuyaviridae and Phenuiviridae families, specifically for Chikungunya, Mayaro, Oropouche and Rift Valley Fever viruses. Omics studies can potentially provide a new perspective on the pathophysiology of arboviruses, contributing to a better comprehension of these diseases and their effects and, hence, provide novel insights for the development of new antiviral drugs or therapies.
Avian Reovirus σB Interacts with Caveolin-1 in Lipid Rafts during Dynamin-Dependent Caveolae-Mediated Endocytosis
Authors: Wang Yuyang , Zhang Yangyang , Zuo Wei , Bo Zongyi , Zhang Chengcheng , Zhang Xiaorong , Wu Yantao
Published: October 2022

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is the basic component of caveolae, a specialized form of lipid raft that plays an essential role in endocytic viral entry. However, the evidence of direct involvement of caveolae and Cav-1 in avian reovirus (ARV) entry remains insufficient. In this study, the membrane lipid rafts were isolated as detergent-resistant microdomains (DRMs) by sucrose gradient centrifugation, and the capsid protein σB of ARV was found to associate with Cav-1 in DRMs fractions. Additionally, the interaction between ARV σB protein and Cav-1 was demonstrated by immunofluorescence co-localization and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Furthermore, we found that the internalization of ARV is sensitive to caveolae and dynamin inhibitors, while it is insensitive to clathrin inhibitors. In conclusion, these results indicate that the ARV σB protein interacts with Cav-1 during dynamin-dependent caveolae-mediated endocytosis for the entry of ARV.
Catching the Wave: Detecting Strain-Specific SARS-CoV-2 Peptides in Clinical Samples Collected during Infection Waves from Diverse Geographical Locations
Authors: Mehta Subina , Carvalho Valdemir , Rajczewski Andrew , Pible Olivier , Grüning Björn , Johnson James , Wagner Reid , Armengaud Jean , Griffin Timothy , Jagtap Pratik
Published: October 2022

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in a major health crisis worldwide with its continuously emerging new strains, resulting in new viral variants that drive “waves” of infection. PCR or antigen detection assays have been routinely used to detect clinical infections; however, the emergence of these newer strains has presented challenges in detection. One of the alternatives has been to detect and characterize variant-specific peptide sequences from viral proteins using mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods. MS methods can potentially help in both diagnostics and vaccine development by understanding the dynamic changes in the viral proteome associated with specific strains and infection waves. In this study, we developed an accessible, flexible, and shareable bioinformatics workflow that was implemented in the Galaxy Platform to detect variant-specific peptide sequences from MS data derived from the clinical samples. We demonstrated the utility of the workflow by characterizing published clinical data from across the world during various pandemic waves. Our analysis identified six SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific peptides suitable for confident detection by MS in commonly collected clinical samples.
A20 Enhances the Expression of the Proto-Oncogene C-Myc by Downregulating TRAF6 Ubiquitination after ALV-A Infection
Authors: Chen Xueyang , Wang Xingming , Yang Yuxin , Fang Chun , Liu Jing , Liang Xiongyan , Yang Yuying
Published: October 2022

Hens infected with avian leukosis virus subgroup A (ALV-A) experience stunted growth, immunosuppression, and potentially, lymphoma development. According to past research, A20 can both promote and inhibit tumor growth. In this study, DF-1 cells were infected with ALV-A rHB2015012, and Gp85 expression was measured at various time points. A recombinant plasmid encoding the chicken A20 gene and short hairpin RNA targeting chicken A20 (A20-shRNA) was constructed and transfected into DF-1 cells to determine the effect on ALV-A replication. The potential signaling pathways of A20 were explored using bioinformatics prediction, co-immunoprecipitation, and other techniques. The results demonstrate that A20 and ALV-A promoted each other after ALV-A infection of DF-1 cells, upregulated A20, inhibited TRAF6 ubiquitination, and promoted STAT3 phosphorylation. The phosphorylated-STAT3 (p-STAT3) promoted the expression of proto-oncogene c-myc, which may lead to tumorigenesis. This study will help to further understand the tumorigenic process of ALV-A and provide a reference for preventing and controlling ALV.
Transcriptome Analysis of Duck and Chicken Brains Infected with Aquatic Bird Bornavirus-1 (ABBV-1)
Authors: Pham Phuc H. , Tockovska Teodora , Leacy Alexander , Iverson Melanie , Ricker Nicole , Susta Leonardo
Published: October 2022

Aquatic bird bornavirus 1 (ABBV-1) is a neurotropic virus that infects waterfowls, resulting in persistent infection. Experimental infection showed that both Muscovy ducks and chickens support persistent ABBV-1 infection in the central nervous system (CNS), up to 12 weeks post-infection (wpi), without the development of clinical disease. The aim of the present study was to describe the transcriptomic profiles in the brains of experimentally infected Muscovy ducks and chickens infected with ABBV-1 at 4 and 12 wpi. Transcribed RNA was sequenced by next-generation sequencing and analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and differential gene expression. The functional annotation of differentially expressed genes was evaluated by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. The PCA showed that the infected ducks sampled at both 4 and 12 wpi clustered separately from the controls, while only the samples from the chickens at 12 wpi, but not at 4 wpi, formed a separate cluster. In the ducks, more genes were differentially expressed at 4 wpi than 12 wpi, and the majority of the highly differentially expressed genes (DEG) were upregulated. On the other hand, the infected chickens had fewer DEGs at 4 wpi than at 12 wpi, and the majority of those with high numbers of DEGs were downregulated at 4 wpi and upregulated at 12 wpi. The functional annotation showed that the most enriched GO terms were immune-associated in both species; however, the terms associated with the innate immune response were predominantly enriched in the ducks, whereas the chickens had enrichment of both the innate and adaptive immune response. Immune-associated pathways were also enriched according to the KEGG pathway analysis in both species. Overall, the transcriptomic analysis of the duck and chicken brains showed that the main biological responses to ABBV-1 infection were immune-associated and corresponded with the levels of inflammation in the CNS.
Susceptibility to Resurgent COVID-19 Outbreaks Following Vaccine Rollouts: A Modeling Study
Authors: Neofotistos Georgios , Angeli Mattia , Mattheakis Marios , Kaxiras Efthimios
Published: October 2022

Using the recently proposed Susceptible–Asymptomatic–Infected–Vaccinated–Removed (SAIVR) model, we study the impact of key factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine rollout effectiveness and the susceptibility to resurgent epidemics. The SAIVR model expands the widely used Susceptible–Infectious–Removed (SIR) model for describing epidemics by adding compartments to include the asymptomatic infected (A) and the vaccinated (V) populations. We solve the model numerically to make predictions on the susceptibility to resurgent COVID-19 epidemics depending on initial vaccination coverage, importation loads, continuing vaccination, and more contagious SARS-CoV-2 variants, under persistent immunity and immunity waning conditions. The parameters of the model represent reported epidemiological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus such as the disease spread in countries with high levels of vaccination coverage. Our findings help explain how the combined effects of different vaccination coverage levels and waning immunity lead to distinct patterns of resurgent COVID-19 epidemics (either surges or endemic), which are observed in countries that implemented different COVID-19 health policies and achieved different vaccinated population plateaus after the vaccine rollouts in the first half of 2021.