bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Business Decision Making through a New Corporate Reputation Measurement Model: Practical Application in a Supplier Selection Process
Authors: Galdón Salvador José Luis , Marín Díaz Gabriel
Published: January 2024

The importance of corporate reputation is a critical issue for business growth, sustainability, and success, as it represents a key intangible asset for the management of all companies. This business importance has its correlation in the academic and research field, where corporate reputation has a high number of publications in the literature. However, despite the importance of this concept, one of the great challenges of recent decades, and one that is still evident today, is how to measure corporate reputation quantitatively and how it affects sustainability. Following an in-depth exploration of the available literature, this manuscript aims to demonstrate the effective application of fuzzy models in enhancing decision-making processes within the realm of corporate reputation management for companies. To achieve this goal, this paper proposes a new corporate reputation measuring model based on the fuzzy 2-tuple linguistic and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) methodologies. The proposed model promotes the computation of corporate reputation for companies based on three widely cited and universally recognized criteria outlined in the literature, drawing inspiration from a well-established framework in the field. This approach ensures a comprehensive and widely accepted foundation for evaluating corporate reputation: Capability, Benevolence, and Integrity and adding the Net Promote Score variable. To integrate sustainability into this equation, our model suggests the inclusion of variables related to sustainable practices in the measurement of corporate reputation. Recognizing the growing importance of sustainability in the public perception of companies, factors such as social responsibility, environmental management, and business ethics are recommended for consideration in the assessment of corporate reputation. The model proposed in this paper is tested and validated on a real business case, based on the selection of several companies selected for an empirical study in the selection of suppliers. For future research endeavors, the authors suggest expanding the model to encompass various decision-making processes. Additionally, they recommend exploring the integration of machine learning algorithms and data analysis techniques to identify patterns and provide recommendations for enhancing corporate reputation.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Gas Turbine Systems Fueled by a CH4/H2 Mixture
Authors: Mustafa Laith , Ślefarski Rafał , Jankowski Radosław
Published: January 2024

In the coming years, as a result of changing climate policies and finite fossil fuel resources, energy producers will be compelled to introduce new fuels with lower carbon footprints. One of the solutions is hydrogen, which can be burned or co-fired with methane in energy generation systems. Therefore, this study presents a thermodynamic and emission analysis of a gas turbine fueled by a mixture of CH4 and H2, as well as pure hydrogen. Numerical studies were conducted for the actual operating parameters of the LM6000 gas turbine in both simple and combined cycles. Aspen Hysys and Chemkin-Pro 2023R1 commercial software were used for the calculations. It was demonstrated that with a constant turbine inlet temperature set at 1723 K, the thermal efficiency increased from 39.4% to 40.2% for the gas turbine cycle and from 49% to 49.4% for the combined cycle gas turbine. Nitrogen oxides emissions were calculated using the reactor network, revealing that an increase in H2 content above 20%vol. in the fuel leads to a significant rise in nitric oxides emissions. In the case of pure H2, emissions are more than three times higher than for CH4. The main reason for this increase in emissions was identified as the greater presence of H, O, and OH radicals in the reaction zone, causing an acceleration in the formation of nitric oxides.
Utilization of Earthquake Demolition Wastes and Afşin–Elbistan Fly Ash for Soil Improvement after the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake (6 February 2023)
Authors: Cinar Muhammet
Published: January 2024

Türkiye is surrounded by active faults that have the potential to produce big earthquakes. Recently, one of these faults has become active. Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 occurred 9 h apart on 6 February 2023 in Kahramanmaraş. It is reported that 150 million tons of earthquake demolition waste (EDW) is estimated to be produced as a result of those natural hazards. This waste poses a serious risk to both the environment and human health. Its use in geotechnical applications will provide serious environmental benefits. In this study, Afşin–Elbistan fly ash (AEFA) and EDW were used to stabilize weak clayey soils in different proportions. Samples were prepared by separately adding 5, 10, 15, and 20% AEFA and EDW to high-plasticity clay. The AEFA used in this study was used because the production of AEFA is too high, and it is not used in concrete production because it does not comply with the standards and causes serious environmental problems for the region. The Atterberg limit, standard compaction, unconfined compression strength (UCS), triaxial, and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were performed on soil samples, and samples were prepared from soil mixtures with various proportions of AEFA and EDW added. In addition, clay mixtures were prepared with EDW by keeping the AEFA ratio constant at 15% and their effects were also investigated. According to Atterberg test results, the natural soil class was determined as high-plasticity clay, the soil class of the mixtures created by adding EDW and AEFA was determined as low-plasticity clay, and all ternary mixtures were determined as low-plasticity silt. In addition, the maximum dry density increased for all mixtures, while the optimum water content decreased. A significant increase was observed in UCS test results, especially in ternary mixtures. While cohesion increased in AEFA mixtures, it decreased in ternary mixtures as the EDW ratio increased. It was observed that the internal friction angle increased in all mixtures. According to CBR test results, it was determined that the binary AEFA mixture ratio was 20%, the binary EDW mixture ratio was 10% and above, and all ratios of the ternary AEFA + EDW mixtures could be used as road sub-base material. After the major earthquake disaster, the use of EDW is of great importance for the environment. As a result, AEFA and EDW were found to enhance the geotechnical properties of clay.
Modifying Hellwig’s Method for Multi-Criteria Decision-Making with Mahalanobis Distance for Addressing Asymmetrical Relationships
Authors: Roszkowska Ewa
Published: January 2024

Hellwig’s method is a multi-criteria decision-making technique designed to facilitate the ranking of alternatives based on their proximity to the ideal solution. Typically, this approach calculates distances using the Euclidean norm, assuming implicitly that the considered criteria are independent. However, in real-world situations, the assumption of criteria independence is rarely met. The paper aims to propose an extension of Hellwig’s method by incorporating the Mahalanobis distance. Substituting the Euclidean distance with the Mahalanobis distance has proven to be effective in handling correlations among criteria, especially in the context of asymmetrical relationships between criteria. Subsequently, we investigate the impact of the Euclidean and Mahalanobis distance measures on the several variants of Hellwig procedures, analyzing examples based on various illustrative data with 10 alternatives and 4 criteria. Additionally, we examine the influence of three normalization formulas in Hellwig’s aggregation procedures. The investigation results indicate that both the distance measure and normalization formulas have some impact on the final rankings. The evaluation and ranking of alternatives using the Euclidean distance measure are influenced by the normalization formula, albeit to a limited extent. In contrast, the Mahalanobis distance-based Hellwig’s method remains unaffected by the choice of normalization formulas. The study concludes that the ranking of alternatives is strongly dependent on the distance measure employed, whether it is Euclidean or Mahalanobis. The Mahalanobis distance-based Hellwig method is deemed a valuable tool for decision-makers in real-life situations. It enables the evaluation of alternatives by considering interactions between criteria, providing a more comprehensive perspective for decision-making.
Dense Cold Quark–Gluon Matter Clusters and Their Study at the NICA Collider
Authors: Vechernin Vladimir , Belokurova Svetlana , Yurchenko Semyon
Published: January 2024

In this paper, the production of particles outside the region of nucleon–nucleon kinematics due to interactions involving dense cold clusters of quark-gluon matter in nuclei is calculated. The possibility of observing this process in the region of central rapidities and large transverse momenta in heavy ion collisions at low energies with MPD detector at the NICA collider is demonstrated.
Some Novel Fusion and Fission Phenomena for an Extended (2+1)-Dimensional Shallow Water Wave Equation
Authors: Zhou Kai , Zhu Jia-Rong , Ren Bo
Published: January 2024

An extended (2+1)-dimensional shallow water wave (SWW) model which can describe the evolution of nonlinear shallow water wave propagation in two spatial and temporal coordinates, is systematically studied. The multi-linear variable separation approach is addressed to the extended (2+1)-dimensional SWW equation. The variable separation solution consisting of two arbitrary functions is obtained, by assumption, from a specific ansatz. By selecting these two arbitrary functions as the exponential and trigonometric forms, resonant dromion, lump, and solitoff solutions are derived. Meanwhile, some novel fission and fusion phenomena including the semifoldons, peakons, lump, dromions, and periodic waves are studied with graphical and analytical methods. The results can be used to enhance the variety of the dynamics of the nonlinear wave fields related by engineering and mathematical physics.
Stratification and Inequality in the Secondary Education System in Romania
Authors: Zamfir Ana-Maria , Aldea Anamaria Beatrice , Molea Raluca-Mihaela
Published: January 2024

Education is a complex system with implications for educational policy and management. Education systems that are more comprehensive generate more equal outcomes, fostering access to opportunities for all children. On the other hand, systems with early selection and tracking are more stratified and register higher inequalities in educational outcomes. Educational inequalities imply unequal access to education and, subsequently, career opportunities. The present study employs classification techniques, such as decision trees, in order to highlight lines of stratification and inequality in the upper secondary education system in Romania, focusing on the selection of students in general or vocational programs. Our results show that the education of parents and area of residence are factors that influence the stratification of students in the Romanian secondary education system, and the selection process contributes to the reproduction of social inequalities. The conclusions of this study are consistent with the cultural capital theory in education. Policy and strategic management implications are discussed in light of our results.
Understanding the Determinants of Geologically Responsible Behaviour among Geotourists: A Multi-Destination Analysis
Authors: Gou Gloria Rui , Fang Wei , Cheung Lewis T. O. , Fok Lincoln , Chow Alice S. Y. , Zhang Ke
Published: January 2024

This study explores the drivers of geologically responsible behaviour among geotourists in three geoparks in the Greater China region: Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark in southern China, Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, and Yehliu Geopark in northern Taiwan. On-site questionnaire surveys were conducted, collecting over 800 respondents in these geoparks, and structural equation modelling was applied for our analysis. The findings reveal that geologically responsible behaviour is positively associated with environmentally responsible attitudes, in line with some previous research. Notably, place attachment and visitor satisfaction were not directly related to geologically responsible behaviour but were positively correlated with environmentally responsible attitudes. This suggests that emotional connections to geoparks and visitor satisfaction indirectly nurture environmentally responsible attitudes, subsequently leading to geologically responsible behaviour. These results offer practical implications for geopark management practices. Providing informative guided tours and quality informational materials can enhance visitors’ geological knowledge and foster environmentally responsible attitudes. The improvement of the visitor experience, combined with the dissemination of accurate environmental knowledge and conservation messaging, can enhance visitor satisfaction, deepen attachment to geoparks, and, ultimately, encourage more geologically responsible behaviours. Understanding these relationships can assist geotourism destinations in promoting geological resources’ conservation while enhancing the visitor experience.
Pain Control during the Treatment of Primary Palmar Hyperhidrosis with Botulinum Toxin A by a Topical Application of Liposomal Lidocaine: Clinical Effectiveness
Authors: Marani Andrea , Gioacchini Helena , Paolinelli Matteo , Bobyr Ivan , Martina Emanuela , Radi Giulia , Diotalallevi Federico , Campanati Anna
Published: January 2024

Primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) constitutes a debilitating condition that profoundly impacts the social, functional, and occupational aspects of individuals. The intradermal administration of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) stands as an established therapeutic approach for PPH, albeit one frequently accompanied by considerable pain, posing challenges for patient tolerance. Our study aimed to assess the efficacy of combining cryoanalgesia spray (CA) with topical anesthesia utilizing a cream containing liposomal lidocaine at a concentration of 40 mg/g, with the objective of mitigating the pain associated with intradermal BoNT-A injection for PPH treatment. Nineteen participants, aged ≥18 years and afflicted with severe PPH, were enrolled in a double-blind randomized vehicle-controlled trial. Patient-perceived pain during the procedure was quantified using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Statistical analysis was applied to the collected data. The combination of CA and the topical application of liposomal lidocaine during BoNT-A treatment for PPH resulted in diminished pain compared to CA alone and the combination of CA with the application of a basic cream. Topical anesthesia through the application of a liposomal lidocaine-containing cream emerged as a facile, secure, and efficacious approach for alleviating the pain associated with intradermal BoNT-A injection in PPH treatment. Furthermore, it demonstrated compatibility with CA, thereby offering a comprehensive strategy for pain management during BoNT-A administration.
A Novel Catalytically Inactive Construct of Botulinum Neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) Directly Inhibits Visceral Sensory Signalling
Authors: Ibrahim Hodan , Retailleau Kevin , Hornby Fraser , Maignel Jacquie , Beard Matthew , Daly Donna Marie
Published: January 2024

Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) is a potent neurotoxin that silences cholinergic neurotransmission through the cleavage of the synaptic protein SNAP-25. Previous studies have shown that, in addition to its paralytic effects, BoNT/A can inhibit sensory nerve activity. The aim of this study was to identify how BoNT/A inhibits afferent signalling from the bladder. To investigate the role of SNAP-25 cleavage in the previously reported BoNT/A-dependent inhibition of sensory signalling, we developed a recombinant form of BoNT/A with an inactive light chain, rBoNT/A (0), unable to paralyse muscle. We also developed recombinant light chain (LC)-domain-only proteins to better understand the entry mechanisms, as the heavy chain (HC) of the protein is responsible for the internalisation of the light chain. We found that, despite a lack of catalytic activity, rBoNT/A (0) potently inhibited the afferent responses to bladder distension to a greater degree than catalytically active rBoNT/A. This was also clear from the testing of the LC-only proteins, as the inactive rLC/A (0) protein inhibited afferent responses significantly more than the active rLC/A protein. Immunohistochemistry for cleaved SNAP-25 was negative, and purinergic and nitrergic antagonists partially and totally reversed the sensory inhibition, respectively. These data suggest that the BoNT/A inhibition of sensory nerve activity in this assay is not due to the classical well-characterised ‘double-receptor’ mechanism of BoNT/A, is independent of SNAP25 cleavage and involves nitrergic and purinergic signalling mechanisms.
What Is Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) Resistance and What Are Its Food Safety Risks in Wheat? Problems and Solutions—A Review
Authors: Mesterhazy Akos
Published: January 2024

The term “Fusarium Head Blight” (FHB) resistance supposedly covers common resistances to different Fusarium spp. without any generally accepted evidence. For food safety, all should be considered with their toxins, except for deoxynivalenol (DON). Disease index (DI), scabby kernels (FDK), and DON steadily result from FHB, and even the genetic regulation of Fusarium spp. may differ; therefore, multitoxin contamination is common. The resistance types of FHB form a rather complex syndrome that has been the subject of debate for decades. It seems that resistance types are not independent variables but rather a series of components that follow disease and epidemic development; their genetic regulation may differ. Spraying inoculation (Type 1 resistance) includes the phase where spores land on palea and lemma and spread to the ovarium and also includes the spread-inhibiting resistance factor; therefore, it provides the overall resistance that is needed. A significant part of Type 1-resistant QTLs could, therefore, be Type 2, requiring the retesting of the QTLs; this is, at least, the case for the most effective ones. The updated resistance components are as follows: Component 1 is overall resistance, as discussed above; Component 2 includes spreading from the ovarium through the head, which is a part of Component 1; Component 3 includes factors from grain development to ripening (FDK); Component 4 includes factors influencing DON contamination, decrease, overproduction, and relative toxin resistance; and for Component 5, the tolerance has a low significance without new results. Independent QTLs with different functions can be identified for one or more traits. Resistance to different Fusarium spp. seems to be connected; it is species non-specific, but further research is necessary. Their toxin relations are unknown. DI, FDK, and DON should be checked as they serve as the basic data for the risk analysis of cultivars. A better understanding of the multitoxin risk is needed regarding resistance to the main Fusarium spp.; therefore, an updated testing methodology is suggested. This will provide more precise data for research, genetics, and variety registration. In winter and spring wheat, the existing resistance level is very high, close to Sumai 3, and provides much greater food safety combined with sophisticated fungicide preventive control and other practices in commercial production.
Performance Analysis of Serodiagnostic Tests to Characterize the Incline and Decline of the Individual Humoral Immune Response in COVID-19 Patients: Impact on Diagnostic Management
Authors: von Possel Ronald , Menge Babett , Deschermeier Christina , Fritzsche Carlos , Hemmer Christoph , Geerdes-Fenge Hilte , Loebermann Micha , Schulz Anette , Lattwein Erik , Steinhagen Katja , Tönnies Ralf , Ahrendt Reiner , Emmerich Petra
Published: January 2024

Serodiagnostic tests for antibody detection to estimate the immunoprotective status regarding SARS-CoV-2 support diagnostic management. This study aimed to investigate the performance of serological assays for COVID-19 and elaborate on test-specific characteristics. Sequential samples (n = 636) of four panels (acute COVID-19, convalescent COVID-19 (partly vaccinated post-infection), pre-pandemic, and cross-reactive) were tested for IgG by indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT) and EUROIMMUN EUROLINE Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Profile (IgG). Neutralizing antibodies were determined by a virus neutralization test (VNT) and two surrogate neutralization tests (sVNT, GenScript cPass, and EUROIMMUN SARS-CoV-2 NeutraLISA). Analysis of the acute and convalescent panels revealed high positive (78.3% and 91.6%) and negative (91.6%) agreement between IIFT and Profile IgG. The sVNTs revealed differences in their positive (cPass: 89.4% and 97.0%, NeutraLISA: 71.5% and 72.1%) and negative agreement with VNT (cPass: 92.3% and 50.0%, NeutraLISA: 95.1% and 92.5%) at a diagnostic specificity of 100% for all tests. The cPass showed higher inhibition rates than NeutraLISA at VNT titers below 1:640. Cross-reactivities were only found by cPass (57.1%). Serodiagnostic tests, which showed substantial agreement and fast runtime, could provide alternatives for cell-based assays. The findings of this study suggest that careful interpretation of serodiagnostic results obtained at different times after SARS-CoV-2 antigen exposure is crucial to support decision-making in diagnostic management.
Necroptosis in Pneumonia: Therapeutic Strategies and Future Perspectives
Authors: Mei Xiuzhen , Zhang Yuchen , Wang Shu , Wang Hui , Chen Rong , Ma Ke , Yang Yue , Jiang Ping , Feng Zhixin , Zhang Chao , Zhang Zhenzhen
Published: January 2024

Pneumonia remains a major global health challenge, necessitating the development of effective therapeutic approaches. Recently, necroptosis, a regulated form of cell death, has garnered attention in the fields of pharmacology and immunology for its role in the pathogenesis of pneumonia. Characterized by cell death and inflammatory responses, necroptosis is a key mechanism contributing to tissue damage and immune dysregulation in various diseases, including pneumonia. This review comprehensively analyzes the role of necroptosis in pneumonia and explores potential pharmacological interventions targeting this cell death pathway. Moreover, we highlight the intricate interplay between necroptosis and immune responses in pneumonia, revealing a bidirectional relationship between necrotic cell death and inflammatory signaling. Importantly, we assess current therapeutic strategies modulating necroptosis, encompassing synthetic inhibitors, natural products, and other drugs targeting key components of the programmed necrosis pathway. The article also discusses challenges and future directions in targeting programmed necrosis for pneumonia treatment, proposing novel therapeutic strategies that combine antibiotics with necroptosis inhibitors. This review underscores the importance of understanding necroptosis in pneumonia and highlights the potential of pharmacological interventions to mitigate tissue damage and restore immune homeostasis in this devastating respiratory infection.
Distribution of Wheat-Infecting Viruses and Genetic Variability of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus and Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus in Kazakhstan
Authors: Kapytina Anastasiya , Kolchenko Mariya , Kerimbek Nazym , Pozharskiy Alexandr S. , Nizamdinova Gulnaz , Taskuzhina Aisha , Adilbayeva Kamila , Khusnitdinova Marina , Amidullayeva Malika , Moisseyev Ruslan , Kachiyeva Zulfiya , Gritsenko Dilyara
Published: January 2024

Wheat is an essential cereal crop for the economy and food safety of Kazakhstan. In the present work, a screening of wheat and barley from different regions of Kazakhstan was conducted using newly developed specific primers for reverse transcription PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays. In total, 82 and 19 of 256 samples of wheat and barley tested positive for wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV), respectively. A phylogenetic analysis using two independent methods revealed that most of the analyzed isolates had a European origin. Molecular data on the distribution and diversity of cereal viruses in Kazakhstan were obtained for the first time and will help lay a foundation for the implementation of genetics and genomics in wheat phyto-epidemiology in the country.
Responses to Common Misconceptions Relating to COVID-19 Variant-Adapted mRNA Vaccines
Authors: Kassianos George , MacDonald Pauline , Aloysius Ivan , Pather Shanti
Published: January 2024

The evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the waning of immunity over time has necessitated the use of booster doses of original coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. This has also led to the development and implementation of variant-adapted messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines that include an Omicron sub-lineage component in addition to the antigen based on the wild-type virus spike protein. Subsequent emergence of the recombinant XBB sub-lineages triggered the development of monovalent XBB-based variant-adapted mRNA vaccines, which are available for vaccination campaigns in late 2023. Misconceptions about new variant-adapted vaccines may exacerbate vaccine fatigue and drive the lack of vaccine acceptance. This article aims to address common concerns about the development and use of COVID-19 variant-adapted mRNA vaccines that have emerged as SARS-CoV-2 has continued to evolve.
Hospitalisations and Deaths Averted by COVID-19 Vaccination in Navarre, Spain, 2021–2022
Authors: Martínez-Baz Iván , Trobajo-Sanmartín Camino , Miqueleiz Ana , Egüés Nerea , García Cenoz Manuel , Casado Itziar , Navascués Ana , Fernández-Huerta Miguel , Echeverría Aitziber , Guevara Marcela , Ezpeleta Carmen , Castilla Jesús
Published: January 2024

In 2021–2022, most of the Spanish population received COVID-19 vaccines and a high proportion of them had SARS-CoV-2 infection. We estimated the rate of hospitalisations and deaths that were averted by risk reduction among vaccinated COVID-19 cases. Hospitalisations and deaths were analysed among COVID-19 cases confirmed in 2021 and 2022 in Navarre, Spain. To calculate the number of prevented outcomes by sex, age, comorbidities, and semester, the difference in the risk of each outcome between unvaccinated and vaccinated cases was multiplied by the number of vaccinated cases. COVID-19 vaccination coverage with any dose reached 88%, 86% with full vaccination, and 56% with a booster dose. The cumulative rates per 1000 inhabitants were 382 COVID-19 confirmed cases, 6.70 hospitalisations, and 1.15 deaths from COVID-19. The estimated rates of prevented events by vaccination were 16.33 hospitalisations and 3.39 deaths per 1000 inhabitants, which was 70.9% and 74.7% of expected events without vaccination, respectively. People aged 80 years and older or with major chronic conditions accounted for the majority of hospitalizations and deaths prevented by COVID-19 vaccination. One hospitalisation and death due to COVID-19 were averted for every 53 and 258 people vaccinated, respectively. The high COVID-19 vaccine effect in reducing the risk of severe outcomes and the high vaccination coverage in risk populations prevented three out of four hospitalisations and deaths due to COVID-19 during a period of intense circulation of SARS-CoV-2.
COVID-19 Antibody Levels among Various Vaccination Groups, One-Year Antibody Follow-Up in Two University Hospitals from Western and Central Turkey
Authors: Soylu Mehmet , Sağıroğlu Pınar , Özarslan Muhammed Alper , Acet Oğuzhan , Yüce Zeynep Türe , İzci Çetinkaya Feyza , Durmaz Seyfi , Parkan Ömür Mustafa , Akyol Deniz , Zeytinoğlu Ayşin , Kalın Ünüvar Gamze , Taşbakan Meltem , Gökahmetoğlu Selma , Atalay Mustafa Altay , Durusoy İsabel Raika , Çiçek Candan , Pullukçu Hüsnü , Yıldız Orhan , Sertöz Şaziye Rüçhan , Erensoy Memnune Selda
Published: January 2024

Various clinical outcomes, reinfections, vaccination programs, and antibody responses resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the time-dependent changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in infected and/or vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals and to provide insights into spike and nucleocapsid antibodies, which fluctuate during infectious and non-infectious states. This cohort study was carried out at the Ege University Faculty of Medicine hospital in İzmir (western Turkey) and the Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine hospital in Kayseri (central Turkey) between December 2021 and January 2023, which coincided with the second half of COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 100 COVID-19 PCR-positive patients and 190 healthcare workers (HCWs). Antibody levels were followed up via quantitative anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike and qualitative anti-nucleocapsid immunoassays (Elecsys™). Antibody levels declined after infection but persisted for at least 6–8 months. Individuals who had received only CoronaVac had higher anti-nucleocapsid antibody levels in the early months than those who received mixed vaccination. However, anti-spike antibodies persisted longer and at higher levels in individuals who had received mixed vaccinations. This suggests that combining two different vaccine platforms may provide a synergistic effect, resulting in more durable and broad-spectrum immunity against SARS-CoV-2. The study provides information about the vaccination and antibody status of healthcare workers in the second half of the pandemic and provides valuable insights into the dynamics of antibody responses to COVID-19 infection and vaccination.
The Immunogenicity of CpG, MF59-like, and Alum Adjuvant Delta Strain Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Mice
Authors: Xu Kangwei , Li Jing , Lu Xu , Ge Xiaoqin , Wang Kaiqin , Wang Jiahao , Qiao Zhizhong , Quan Yaru , Li Changgui
Published: January 2024

The continuous evolution and mutation of SARS-CoV-2 have highlighted the need for more effective vaccines. In this study, CpG, MF59-like, and Alum adjuvant Delta strain inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were prepared, and the immunogenicity of these vaccines in mice was evaluated. The Delta + MF59-like vaccine group produced the highest levels of S- and RBD-binding antibodies and live Delta virus neutralization levels after one shot of immunization, while mice in the Delta + Alum vaccine group had the highest levels of these antibodies after two doses, and the Delta + MF59-like and Delta + Alum vaccine groups produced high levels of cross-neutralization antibodies against prototype, Beta, and Gamma strain SARS-CoV-2 viruses. There was no significant decrease in neutralizing antibody levels in any vaccine group during the observation period. CpG, MF59-like, and Alum adjuvant Delta strain inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines excited different antibody subtypes compared with unadjuvanted vaccines; the Delta + CpG vaccine group had a higher proportion of IgG2b antibodies, indicating bias towards Th1 immunity. The proportions of IgG1 and IgG2b in the Delta + MF59-like vaccine group were similar to those of the unadjuvanted vaccine. However, the Delta + Alum vaccine group had a higher proportion of IgG1 antibodies, indicating bias towards Th2 immunity. Antigen-specific cytokine secretion CD4/8+ T cells were analyzed. In conclusion, the results of this study show differences in the immune efficacy of CpG, MF59-like, and Alum adjuvant Delta strain inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in mice, which have significant implications for the selection strategy for vaccine adjuvants.
Tip Lesion Most Frequent FSGS Variant Related to COVID-19 Vaccine: Two Case Reports and Literature Review
Authors: Araújo Emmy Marjorie Carvalho de , Campos Marcos Adriano Garcia , Sodré Andressa Monteiro , Holanda Maria Izabel de , Hagemann Rodrigo , Teixeira Júnior Antonio Augusto Lima , Salgado Filho Natalino , Neves Precil Diego Miranda de Menezes , Silva Gyl Eanes Barros
Published: January 2024

Large-scale COVID-19 vaccination has been one of the most effective strategies to control the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, several cases of glomerular injury related to the COVID-19 vaccine have been described in the literature. We report two cases of a tip lesion variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), which presented with significant proteinuria and improved after immunosuppression. In our literature review, the tip lesion variant of FSGS is currently the most frequent variant associated with vaccination against COVID-19. Prognosis is favorable and without significant alterations in the tubulointerstitial or vascular compartments. Adverse effects of vaccines need to be recognized early and will help us to understand the immune and pathological mechanisms of kidney damage.
A Safe Frost Growth Screening Method to Accurately Predict Ice Plug Formation Completion during Waterpipe Freezing Repairs
Authors: Liu Fei-Lung , Fan Shu-Kai S. , Ndi Ebede
Published: January 2024

Fixing waterpipes using cryogenic technology is a complicated activity because it is difficult to see the transformation of water into ice inside a pipe. To solve this problem, a series of experiments and testing was carried out on three types of waterpipes—75, 100, and 150 mm cast-iron pipes (CIP), respectively—to monitor the external characteristics and the frost growth to accurately predict the completion of ice plug formation inside the pipe before applying the freeze-fixing method. A CCD camera was set up to capture four frosting images per minute and to send one image every 15 s to the computer for processing and for identifying the interface between frost and no frost. The results showed that when the brightness distribution along the pipe axis goes down from the 100% brightest and coldest region near the freezing jacket to 90% and hits the 1/10th mark away from the brightest area, which is the interface, the freezing process is finished, and the ice plug has completely formed and can effectively block water flow to allow safe repairs. In other words, the findings determined that the frost length was more or less equal to the ice plug length. Additional testing was done to increase water pressure up to 35 kg/cm2 for about 10 min on one end of the freezing jacket, which is higher than the regular pressure testing of 10 kg/cm2. When 0 kg/cm2 was recorded on the other end of the freezing jacket, it was concluded that the ice plug was strong enough to resist high pressure. The success of these experiments and testing confirmed that this innovative freezing method was safe, cost-effective, and suitable to be used efficiently in semiconductor factories and modern buildings.
Mobility of Nitrates and Phosphates from Animal Manure-Amended Soil to Runoff and Seepage Water from a Sweet Potato Field
Authors: Antonious George Fouad
Published: January 2024

Ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate in animal manure used as fertilizer reduce environmental quality by running off agricultural fields into natural water resources. Runoff and seepage water from five soil management practices (chicken manure CM, sewage sludge SS, chitin CH, biochar Bio, and no-amendment NA control plots), were investigated for their potential nutrient catching down the field slope of a sweet potato, Ipomoea balata field. The results revealed that CM-amended soil released the greatest runoff water volume (172.6 L plot −1) compared to the control treatment (98.6 L plot −1), indicating a 75% increase in the runoff water volume. CM also increased the percolated water into the rhizosphere of the growing plants by 55% compared to the control, whereas SS reduced the runoff water volume and increased the leaching water by 36% and 82%, respectively (a desirable attribute of water conservation), compared to the control plots. The concentration of PO4−3 ions in the percolated water from the biochar treatment was significantly greater compared to the other treatments, indicating there was no impact of biochar on binding PO4−3 ions. SS reduced the nitrate concentrations in the runoff and increased the seepage water volume percolated towards the roots of the growing plants; a desired attribute for preventing surface water contamination by nitrates. Observing the precipitation pattern and improving the N application rate are recommended.
Changes in Population Exposure to Rainstorm Waterlogging for Different Return Periods in the Xiong’an New Area, China
Authors: Chen Jiani , Wang Yanjun , Chen Ziyan , Si Lili , Liu Qingying , Jiang Tong
Published: January 2024

In the context of global climate change and urban expansion, urban residents are encountering greater rainstorm waterlogging risk. Quantifying population exposure to rainstorms is an important component of rainstorm waterlogging risk assessments. This study utilized a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model to simulate the inundation water depth and inundation area resulting from rainstorms, with return periods of 5, 10, 50, and 100 years, in the Xiong’an New Area, and overlaid the gridded population data in 2017 and in 2035 under SSP2 to assess the change in population exposure. The results show that the average inundation depth and area increase were from 0.11 m and 207.9 km2 to 0.18 m and 667.2 km2 as the rainstorm return period increased from once in 5 years to once in 100 years. The greatest water depths in the main urban areas were mainly located in the low-lying areas along the Daqing River. The total population exposed to rainstorm waterlogging for the 5-, 10-, 50-, and 100-year return periods was 0.31, 0.37, 0.50, and 0.53 million, respectively, in 2017. However, this is projected to rise significantly by 2035 under SSP2, increasing 2–4-fold compared with that in 2017 for the four return periods. Specifically, the projected population exposure is expected to be 0.7, 1.0, 1.8, and 2.0 million, respectively. The longer the return period, the greater the increase in population exposure. The proportion of the population exposed at the 0.05–0.2 m water depth to the total population exposure decreases as the return periods increases, whereas the proportion changes in the opposite direction at the 0.2–0.6 m and >0.6 m depth intervals. Spatially, high-exposure areas are concentrated in densely populated main urban regions in the Xiong’an New Area. In the future, more attention should be paid to densely populated low-lying areas and extreme recurrence rainstorm events for urban flood-risk management to ensure population safety and sustainable urban development.
Batch-Mode Denitrifying Woodchip Bioreactors for Expanded Treatment Flexibility
Authors: Díaz-García Carolina , Christianson Laura E.
Published: January 2024

Denitrifying woodchip bioreactors successfully remove nitrates from reverse osmosis desalinization brine. On-farm desalination plants only operate for several hours per day in batch mode, meaning bioreactors should also operate in batch cycles, although this type of bioreactor operation is relatively unstudied. This study compared two tests of three cycles of 24 h per week with two treatments each (Test 1 8 vs. 24 h, and Test 2 8 vs. 12 h). Cylindrical pilot-scale bioreactors were filled with 130 kg of citrus woodchips and an average of 322 L of brine. The results show that the treatments with longer saturation periods of 24 and 12 h exhibited higher removal rates under operational conditions (i.e., 8 h flooding based on a 24 h cycle) than the 8 h treatment. However, the nitrate removal rates of the 8 h treatment were higher under fill cycle conditions (i.e., 8 h flooding based on an 8 h cycle). Dissolved organic carbon liberated from the woodchips was greater in treatments with longer drying periods (i.e., treatments with shorter saturation periods). Batch bioreactors should be considered under applicable conditions to increase nitrate removal rates.
Comparative Evaluation of Deep Learning Techniques in Streamflow Monthly Prediction of the Zarrine River Basin
Authors: Nakhaei Mahdi , Zanjanian Hossein , Nakhaei Pouria , Gheibi Mohammad , Moezzi Reza , Behzadian Kourosh , Campos Luiza C.
Published: January 2024

Predicting monthly streamflow is essential for hydrological analysis and water resource management. Recent advancements in deep learning, particularly long short-term memory (LSTM) and recurrent neural networks (RNN), exhibit extraordinary efficacy in streamflow forecasting. This study employs RNN and LSTM to construct data-driven streamflow forecasting models. Sensitivity analysis, utilizing the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method, also is crucial for model refinement and identification of critical variables. This study covers monthly streamflow data from 1979 to 2014, employing five distinct model structures to ascertain the most optimal configuration. Application of the models to the Zarrine River basin in northwest Iran, a major sub-basin of Lake Urmia, demonstrates the superior accuracy of the RNN algorithm over LSTM. At the outlet of the basin, quantitative evaluations demonstrate that the RNN model outperforms the LSTM model across all model structures. The S3 model, characterized by its inclusion of all input variable values and a four-month delay, exhibits notably exceptional performance in this aspect. The accuracy measures applicable in this particular context were RMSE (22.8), R2 (0.84), and NSE (0.8). This study highlights the Zarrine River’s substantial impact on variations in Lake Urmia’s water level. Furthermore, the ANOVA method demonstrates exceptional performance in discerning the relevance of input factors. ANOVA underscores the key role of station streamflow, upstream station streamflow, and maximum temperature in influencing the model’s output. Notably, the RNN model, surpassing LSTM and traditional artificial neural network (ANN) models, excels in accurately mimicking rainfall–runoff processes. This emphasizes the potential of RNN networks to filter redundant information, distinguishing them as valuable tools in monthly streamflow forecasting.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline by La-Fe Co-Doped SrTiO3/TiO2 Composites: Performance and Mechanism Study
Authors: Hu Mingzhu , Chen Weifang , Wang Jie
Published: January 2024

Human health, as well as the ecosystem’s natural equilibrium, may be jeopardized by the discharge of tetracycline into the aquatic environment. In order to effectively photocatalyzed the degradation of tetracycline in aqueous solution under visible light, this study used a two-step hydrothermal approach to produce composites of SrTiO3/TiO2 doped with two metal elements, lanthanum (La) and iron (Fe). The crystal structure, morphology, electronic structure, particle size, specific surface area and photocatalytic properties of the catalysts were assessed using a variety of methods, such as fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, BET and particle size analysis. After 120 min of exposure to visible light, the co-doped catalyst showed a degradation rate of 99.1%, which was nine times greater than that of SrTiO3/TiO2 at catalyst dosing of 1.6 g/L and tetracycline concentration of 20 mg/L. The synthesized photocatalyst exhibited good tolerance to changes in pH, with the degradation efficiency of tetracycline remaining stable within the pH range of 4–10. The La-Sr (Ti-Fe) O3/TiO2 catalyst also demonstrated excellent photostability after recycling. The mechanism of tetracycline degradation is primarily attributed to the active oxidation by photogenerated holes and •O2−. Furthermore, tetracycline degradation pathways were analyzed via HPLC-MS to identify intermediates.
Untreated Rainfall Runoff Water Quality Characteristics of Different Land Uses in Infilled Lake Areas—The Case of Wuhan Shahu
Authors: Wu Linhong , Zhang Yang , Wang Shaochen , Liu Yaolin , Liu Siyu
Published: January 2024

Fast urbanization in developing countries contributes to heavier pollution in urban water environments, as urbanization enhances land development and even requires lake filling to meet urban land needs, which produces significant water runoff pollution. Centralized construction brings heavier non-point source pollution, which is one of the most crucial types of pollution in urban areas. However, the pollution caused by urbanization in infilled lake areas is lack of attention. To reduce the negative impact of pollution brought on by urbanization, it is important to monitor the characteristics of runoff water qualities and their relationship with rainfall features. In this study, runoff water quality was monitored from 10 rainfall events, totaling 157 samples in the Wuhan Shahu area, an infilled lake area, to characterize the pollutant event mean concentrations (EMCs) and to explore the different effects of land-use types. COD (chemical oxygen demand), TN (total nitrogen), and TP (total phosphorus) were selected as water quality indicators. The results show that the pollutants have a significant spatial variation. Residential runoff had the largest COD (averaged EMC = 54.02 (mg/L)) and TN (averaged EMC = 2.69 (mg/L)) pollution, while road runoff had the second largest COD (averaged EMC = 48.05 (mg/L)) and TN (2.572 (mg/L)) pollution. The TP pollution level is opposite to COD and TN, as commercial and green spaces have heavier pollution, while the differences in TP pollution levels between the four types of land are not significant. The release of organic matter and nitrogen is closely related to human activities on land types, while phosphorus emission is relatively stable, indicating that it is not easily affected or controlled. In addition, the variation in pollutants between land types is also related to a certain extent. The correlation analysis shows that parameters like antecedent dry days (ADDs), rainfall intensity, and rainfall duration most significantly affect the EMCs of commercial and green spaces. Phosphorus pollutants on roads are harder to reduce. These results may help researchers to identify the specific pollutant source and find an effective method to reduce pollution in infilled lake areas and other areas.