bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Youth Guarantee: Looking for Explanations
Authors: Pesquera Alonso Carlos , Muñoz Sánchez Práxedes , Iniesta Martínez Almudena
Published: May 2021

Aiming to tackle the high levels of youth unemployment and rates of Not Employed, in Education, or Training (NEET), the European Union launched the flagship policy Youth Guarantee in 2013. In this article we evaluate this policy in order to reveal the lessons it can teach us and possible ways for its improvement to achieve a sustainable active labor market policy. We use the data collected through the Indicator Framework for Monitoring the Youth Guarantee to analyze the policy impact, limited to some of the countries with the highest NEET rates: those of the Mediterranean European Economic Area (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Spain). We used the data to create regression models for the evaluation of policy measures, spread, and achievements. In our findings we reveal the importance of time in the policy implementation, the differences and commonalities between the countries, and hidden problems in the data collection that lead to biases and misleading results. We conclude that it is too soon to judge the usefulness of the policy and recommend an improvement in the data collection process.
Perspectives on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Hotel Industry—A Case Study from Southern Europe
Authors: Trišić Igor , Štetić Snežana , Privitera Donatella , Petrović Marko D. , Maksin Marija , Vujović Slavoljub , Jovanović Zoran , Kalinić Marija
Published: May 2021

Sustainable development is in many ways the fundamental basis of tourism. The importance and role of sustainable tourism development in the 21st century is at the center of this paper on eco-certificates and green procurement in the hotel industry, within the field of the responsible or green economy. The green hotel economy implies the selection of accommodation in environmentally responsible hotels and other facilities, which are directing their business operations towards green procurement, eco-labeling, and the responsible economy. This paper includes quantitative research of the attitudes of 506 international tourists, who expressed their views on their needs regarding eco-hotels and the green economy in the hotel industry. This research also included the collection of data on green (responsible) businesses by surveying 100 hotels situated in the capitals of southern Europe. Comparing results from hotels with the needs of tourists in terms of the green economy in the hotel industry, significant results were obtained that contribute to sustainable tourism development.
Strengthening the Call for Intentional Intergenerational Programmes towards Sustainable Futures for Children and Families
Authors: Oropilla Czarecah Tuppil , Ødegaard Elin Eriksen
Published: May 2021

As a response to the call for reimagining early childhood education for social sustainability in the future, this conceptual paper aims to suggest revisiting and strengthening the case to include intentional intergenerational engagements and programmes in kindergartens as approaches towards sustainable futures for children. In this paper, we argue that we must talk about intergenerational solidarity on all levels, including in early childhood education and care settings, and that it must be deliberate and by design. Learning from cultural–historical concepts and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, intergenerational programmes in early years settings are to be presented as intentional initiatives and opportunities for interrelated and collaborating actors and institutions to bring younger children and older adults together. We present a conceptual framework that features conflicts and opportunities within overlapping and congruent spaces to understand conditions for various intergenerational practices and activities in different places, and to promote intergenerational dialogues, collaborations and shared knowledge, contributing to a relational and socially sustainable future for which we aim.
Factors Affecting Consumer Awareness and the Purchase of Eco-Friendly Vehicles: Textual Analysis of Korean Market
Authors: Ju Naan , Lee Kyu-Hye , Kim Seong Hun
Published: May 2021

Despite the positive outlook of various organizations on the prevalence of eco-friendly cars, Korea’s electric vehicle market is small, and growth is slow. To identify factors that hinder consumer awareness and the spread of eco-friendly vehicles, news articles and online postings on eco-friendly vehicles from 2006 to 2020 were collected and analyzed using text mining techniques. This study found that Korean consumers thought hybrid vehicles were fuel-efficient and quiet; however, there were concerns about battery life and safety due to poor battery performance and complaints about battery replacement. Nevertheless, consumers thought electric cars were sophisticated, luxurious, youthful, clean, and that technical problems would be resolved in the future. The inconveniences of charging and short-distance driving, the expenses and the lack of various dispute settlement measures have been shown to lower the intention to purchase electric vehicles.
Effect of Intensifier Additives on the Performance of Butanolic Extract of Date Palm Leaves against the Corrosion of API 5L X60 Carbon Steel in 15 wt.% HCl Solution
Authors: Umoren Saviour A. , Solomon Moses M. , Obot Ime B. , Suleiman Rami K.
Published: May 2021

The quest to replace toxic chemicals in the nearest future is revolutionizing the corrosion inhibitor research world by turning its attention to plant biomaterials. Herein, we report the corrosion inhibiting potential of butanolic extract of date palm leaves (BUT) on the corrosion of API 5L X60 carbon steel in 15 wt.% HCl solution. The mass loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), linear polarization (LPR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were employed in the investigation. We also report the effect of intensifier additives, namely formic acid (FA), potassium iodide (KI), and zinc nitrate (Zn(NO3)2) as well as temperature on the corrosion inhibiting performance of BUT. BUT exhibits inhibiting ability but the extent of inhibition is dependent on concentration, temperature, and intensifiers’ concentration. At 25 °C, 200 mg/L BUT and 700 mg/L BUT protected the carbon steel surface by 50% and 88%, respectively. The addition of 3 mM FA and 5 mM KI to 200 mg/L upgraded the extract performance to 97% and 95%, respectively. Zn(NO3)2 performs poorly as an intensifier for BUT under acidizing conditions. The adsorption of BUT + FA and BUT + KI is synergistic in nature whereas that of BUT + Zn(NO3)2 drifts towards antagonistic behavior according to the calculated synergism parameter. Increase in the system temperature resulted in a slight decline in the inhibition efficiency of BUT + FA and BUT + KI but with efficiency of above 85% achieved at 60 °C. The SEM and AFM results corroborate results from the electrochemical techniques.
Decision-Making Process for Demand Response Public Transportation Service Design—A Case Study in Incheon, Korea
Authors: Roh Chang-Gyun , Jeon Hyeonmyeong
Published: May 2021

Incheon is a major city comprising the metropolitan area around Seoul. However, it ranks the lowest in terms of road extension scale relative to population and number of vehicles. There is extreme traffic congestion and shortages of parking spaces in downtown Incheon, impacting traffic. Alternative policies of the municipal government to address these issues, including road extension and improving public transportation, have not shown results because of the low satisfaction level of the public transportation service and limited transportation mode transfer owing to travel within the metropolitan area. Therefore, to improve the public transportation service, conducting a comprehensive analysis on the current service and improving its quality were deemed necessary. Additionally, adopting a demand response public transportation service was considered. In conjunction, objective and easy-to-use data should be used, so that if anyone repeats the procedure, the same result should be obtained. For this, we propose the simplest process. Thus, to introduce the service, this study presents a decision-making process by establishing a regional prioritizing methodology based on the transportation environment satisfaction level, average access time to major facilities, public transportation competitiveness, personal vehicle demand, and existing public transit routes. To assess the methodology feasibility and conformity, user satisfaction was analyzed in Jung-gu, Incheon. The analysis showed 91% user satisfaction, verifying that the demand response public transportation service was effectively supplied. This analysis process will be useful when applying and expanding new transportation services.
Research Trends in Accounting Fraud Using Network Analysis
Authors: Yu So-Jin , Rha Jin-Sung
Published: May 2021

Accounting fraud is a highly unethical management activity with a significant negative influence on stakeholders, which can harm a firm’s long-term sustainability prospects. Given the considerable progress in this field, a comprehensive theoretical organization of the research, along with a trend analysis, are needed. This study employed network text analysis to systematically analyze the research trends in accounting fraud by combining text mining techniques and network analysis. Unlike other studies on research trends that present statistical data by classifying research topics and methodologies, this study formed networks using the trait information of studies, such as “keywords” and “authors”, and conducted analyses such as centrality and cluster analyses. These exercises allowed for the identification of key research areas and groups. The results suggest that the literature on accounting fraud was developed based on six keywords: fraud detection techniques, executive compensation, assessments of fraud risks in audit processes, forensic accounting, corporate governance, and various topics related to top management. Overall, authorship analysis suggests that the key cluster contributors are Carpenter, Jones, Brazel, Zimbelman, Cohen, Cumming, Carcello, Kaplan, and Lennox.
Abdominal Obesity in Overweight Schoolchildren from Portoviejo (Ecuador). Conicity Index Cut-Points for Sustainable Health
Authors: Arencibia-Moreno Ricardo , Hernández-Gallardo Damaris , Linares-Girela Daniel , Párraga-Acosta Johanna Sabrina , Pilay-Chávez José Gabriel , Linares-Manrique Marta
Published: May 2021

(1) Background: Abdominal obesity describes the accumulation of visceral fat. Monitoring of abdominal obesity in children aids prognosis of atherogenic risk and prediction of the emergence of different comorbidities, many of which persist into and throughout adulthood. For this reason, it is of great diagnostic value to the sustainability of health in populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate abdominal obesity in overweight schoolchildren from Portoviejo (Ecuador) and propose conicity index cut-points for sustainable health. (2) Methods: The sample was formed by 356 schoolchildren whose BMI z-score deemed them to be overweight. Height, weight, waist circumference (wstC), various skinfolds, percent body fat, conicity index (CI) and overweight classification according to wstC were determined. (3) Results: The mean age was 6.83 ± 1.2 years, 17.4% were obese, 34.8% were overweight and 47.8% were at risk of being overweight according to their BMI z-score. The mean height was 1.29 ± 0.12 m, whilst the mean weight was 35.21 ± 11.57 kg. When classifying according to wstC, 37.9% were identified as obese, 28.1% had high-risk abdominal adiposity and 34% were normal. The average CI was 1.16 ± 0.06, whilst that of body fat was 19.34 ± 6.03, with 56.2% of individuals having body fat values lower than 20%. (4) Conclusions: The sample showed a high prevalence of central obesity. Significant agreement was not found between classifications of nutritional status according to BMI z-score and wstC.
AR-Based Navigation Using RGB-D Camera and Hybrid Map
Authors: Chidsin Woranipit , Gu Yanlei , Goncharenko Igor
Published: May 2021

Current pedestrian navigation applications have been developed for the smartphone platform and guide users on a 2D top view map. The Augmented Reality (AR)-based navigation from the first-person view could provide a new experience for pedestrians compared to the current navigation. This research proposes a marker free system for AR-based indoor navigation. The proposed system adopts the RGB-D camera to observe the surrounding environment and builds a point cloud map using Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology. After that, a hybrid map is developed by integrating the point cloud map and a floor map. Finally, positioning and navigation are performed on the proposed hybrid map. In order to visualize the augmented navigation information on the real scene seamlessly, this research proposes an orientation error correction method to improve the correctness of navigation. The experimental results indicated that the proposed system could provide first-person view navigation with satisfactory performance. In addition, compared to the baseline without any error correction, the navigation system with the orientation error correction method achieved significantly better performance. The proposed system is developed for the smart glasses and can be used as a touring tool.
Review of Whole System Simulation Methodologies for Assessing Mobility as a Service (MaaS) as an Enabler for Sustainable Urban Mobility
Authors: Muller Mark , Park Seri , Lee Ross , Fusco Brett , Correia Gonçalo Homem de Almeida
Published: May 2021

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is an emerging concept that is being advanced as an effective approach to improve the sustainability of mobility, especially in densely populated urban areas. MaaS can be defined as the integration of various transport modes into a single service, accessible on demand, via a seamless digital planning and payment application. Recent studies have shown the potential reduction in the size of automobile fleets, with corresponding predicted improvements in congestion and environmental impact, that might be realized by the advent of automated vehicles as part of future MaaS systems. However, the limiting assumptions made by these studies point to the difficult challenge of predicting how the complex interactions of user demographics and mode choice, vehicle automation, and governance models will impact sustainable mobility. The work documented in this paper focused on identifying available methodologies for assessing the sustainability impact of potential MaaS implementations from a whole system (STEEP—social, technical, economic, environmental, and political) perspective. In this research, a review was conducted of current simulation tools and models, relative to their ability to support transportation planners, to assess the MaaS concept, holistically, at a city level. The results presented include: a summary of the literature review, a weighted ranking of relevant transportation simulation tools per the assessment criteria, and identification of key gaps in the current state of the art. The gaps include capturing the interaction of demographic changes, mode choice, induced demand, and land use in a single framework that can rapidly explore the impact of alternative MaaS scenarios, on sustainable mobility, for a given city region. These gaps will guide future assessment methodologies for urban mobility systems, and ultimately assist informed decision-making.
Understanding Diver Behavior on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Enriching the Observation Record Using Video Methods
Authors: Edney Joanne , Dimmock Kay , Boyd William E.
Published: May 2021

Successful underwater heritage management requires a sound understanding of visitor behavior. Primary visitors to underwater heritage sites are divers whose behavior can pose risks to the integrity of site cultural heritage and tourism values. This study seeks to understand wreck diver in-water behavior. Conventional observation of diver behavior is limiting. Wearable cameras are becoming popular across many recreational activities and potentially expand the scope and quality of diver observation. Video observation is rarely used in such research. This article demonstrates the potential of video observation, describing the analysis of first-person video records to explore details of diver behavior on shipwrecks. The evidence demonstrates that while most divers behaved responsibly, a few contributed to most contact behaviors. The analysis details this behavior, identifying, for example, that deliberate holding and touching comprised most contacts. Such findings on diver behavior inform heritage and tourism management decisions and provide a baseline for future studies. Methodologically, the study demonstrates the power of this method of observing divers and other recreationists. This is particularly valuable for researching recreationalists in confined spaces, such as caves or shipwrecks. The quality of results allows for further evidence-based examination of motivations, values, intentions and meanings underlying observed diver behavior.
Effect of Smartphone Dependency on Smartphone Use While Driving
Authors: Yeo Jiho , Park Shin-Hyoung
Published: May 2021

Distracted driving is an important risk factor for traffic accidents. In particular, smartphone use while driving has become the leading cause of distraction in recent years, with the advent of smartphones and their extended functions. One noteworthy change is the addictiveness and dependency on smartphones. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of smartphone dependency on the use of smartphones while driving. A survey of 948 Korean drivers assessed smartphone dependency as well as driver experiences of calling and manipulating the smartphone while driving. Based on the survey, the relationship between smartphone dependency and the use of smartphones was examined using factor analysis and binary logistic regression. Results reveal that drivers who had high smartphone dependency were more likely to use their smartphones while driving, and the effect of smartphone dependency on manipulation was more influential than it was on calls. The results provide compelling evidence that patterns of dependent smartphone usage affect the use of smartphones while driving, especially regarding manipulation. These findings explore smartphone usage whilst driving and can provide a stepping stone toward the formulation of future policies for traffic safety.
Finite Element Analyses of the Modified Strain Gradient Theory Based Kirchhoff Microplates
Authors: Kandaz Murat , Dal Hüsnü
Published: May 2021

In this contribution, the variational problem for the Kirchhoff plate based on the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) is derived, and the Euler-Lagrange equations governing the equation of motion are obtained. The Galerkin-type weak form, upon which the finite element method is constructed, is derived from the variational problem. The shape functions which satisfy the governing homogeneous partial differential equation are derived as extensions of Adini-Clough-Melosh (ACM) and Bogner-Fox-Schmit (BFS) plate element formulations by introducing additional curvature degrees of freedom (DOF) on each node. Based on the proposed set of shape functions, 20-, 24-, 28- and 32- DOF modified strain gradient theory-based higher-order Kirchhoff microplate element are proposed. The performance of the elements are demonstrated in terms of various tests and representative boundary value problems. Length scale parameters for gold are also proposed based on experiments reported in literature.
Lie Symmetry Analysis, Conservation Laws, Power Series Solutions, and Convergence Analysis of Time Fractional Generalized Drinfeld-Sokolov Systems
Authors: Gülşen Selahattin , Yao Shao-Wen , Inc Mustafa
Published: May 2021

In this work, we investigate invariance analysis, conservation laws, and exact power series solutions of time fractional generalized Drinfeld–Sokolov systems (GDSS) using Lie group analysis. Using Lie point symmetries and the Erdelyi–Kober (EK) fractional differential operator, the time fractional GDSS equation is reduced to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) of fractional order. Moreover, we have constructed conservation laws for time fractional GDSS and obtained explicit power series solutions of the reduced nonlinear ODEs that converge. Lastly, some figures are presented for explicit solutions.
R2-Cosmology and New Windows for Superheavy Dark Matter
Authors: Arbuzova Elena , Dolgov Alexander , Singh Rajnish
Published: May 2021

Evolution and heating of the universe in R2-modified gravity are considered. It is shown that the universe’s history can be separated into four different epochs: (1) inflation, (2) heating due to curvature oscillations (scalaron decay), (3) transition to matter dominated period, and (4) conventional cosmology governed by General Relativity. Cosmological density of dark matter (DM) particles for different decay channels of the scalaron is calculated. The bounds on the masses of DM particles are derived for the following dominant decay modes: to minimally coupled scalars, to massive fermions, and to gauge bosons.
On Galilean Invariant and Energy Preserving BBM-Type Equations
Authors: Cheviakov Alexei , Dutykh Denys , Assylbekuly Aidar
Published: May 2021

We investigate a family of higher-order Benjamin–Bona–Mahony-type equations, which appeared in the course of study towards finding a Galilei-invariant, energy-preserving long wave equation. We perform local symmetry and conservation laws classification for this family of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). The analysis reveals that this family includes a special equation which admits additional, higher-order local symmetries and conservation laws. We compute its solitary waves and simulate their collisions. The numerical simulations show that their collision is elastic, which is an indication of its S−integrability. This particular PDE turns out to be a rescaled version of the celebrated Camassa–Holm equation, which confirms its integrability.
A General Optimal Iterative Scheme with Arbitrary Order of Convergence
Authors: Cordero Alicia , Torregrosa Juan R. , Triguero-Navarro Paula
Published: May 2021

A general optimal iterative method, for approximating the solution of nonlinear equations, of (n+1) steps with 2n+1 order of convergence is presented. Cases n=0 and n=1 correspond to Newton’s and Ostrowski’s schemes, respectively. The basins of attraction of the proposed schemes on different test functions are analyzed and compared with the corresponding to other known methods. The dynamical planes showing the different symmetries of the basins of attraction of new and known methods are presented. The performance of different methods on some test functions is shown.
Enhancing Ant-Based Algorithms for Medical Image Edge Detection by Admissible Perturbations of Demicontractive Mappings
Authors: Berinde Vasile , Ţicală Cristina
Published: May 2021

The aim of this paper is to show analytically and empirically how ant-based algorithms for medical image edge detection can be enhanced by using an admissible perturbation of demicontractive operators. We thus complement the results reported in a recent paper by the second author and her collaborators, where they used admissible perturbations of demicontractive mappings as test functions. To illustrate this fact, we first consider some typical properties of demicontractive mappings and of their admissible perturbations and then present some appropriate numerical tests to illustrate the improvement brought by the admissible perturbations of demicontractive mappings when they are taken as test functions in ant-based algorithms for medical image edge detection. The edge detection process reported in our study considers both symmetric (Head CT and Brain CT) and asymmetric (Hand X-ray) medical images. The performance of the algorithm was tested visually with various images and empirically with evaluation of parameters.
Exact Likelihood Inference for a Competing Risks Model with Generalized Type II Progressive Hybrid Censored Exponential Data
Authors: Cho Subin , Lee Kyeongjun
Published: May 2021

In many situations of survival and reliability test, the withdrawal of units from the test is pre-planned in order to to free up testing facilities for other tests, or to save cost and time. It is known that several risk factors (RiFs) compete for the immediate failure cause of items. In this paper, we derive an inference for a competing risks model (CompRiM) with a generalized type II progressive hybrid censoring scheme (GeTy2PrHCS). We derive the conditional moment generating functions (CondMgfs), distributions and confidence interval (ConfI) of the scale parameters of exponential distribution (ExDist) under GeTy2PrHCS with CompRiM. A real data set is analysed to illustrate the validity of the method developed here. From the data, it can be seen that the conditional PDFs of MLEs is almost symmetrical.
Two Different Inoculation Methods Unveiled the Relative Independence of DON Accumulation in Wheat Kernels from Disease Severity on Spike after Infection by Fusarium Head Blight
Authors: Wang Rong , Hua Chen , Hu Yi , Li Lei , Sun Zhengxi , Li Tao
Published: May 2021

Fusarium head blight (FHB) causes wheat yield loss and mycotoxin (deoxynivalenol, DON) accumulation in wheat kernel. Developing wheat cultivars with overall resistance to both FHB spread within a spike and DON accumulation in kernels is crucial for ensuring food security and food safety. Here, two relatively novel inoculation methods, bilateral floret inoculation (BFI) and basal rachis internode injection (BRII), were simultaneously employed to evaluate disease severity and DON content in kernels in a segregating population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from Ning 7840 (carrying Fhb1) and Clark (without Fhb1). Under both inoculation methods, four contrasting combinations of disease severity and DON content were identified: high severity/high DON (HSHD), high severity/low DON (HSLD), low severity/high DON (LSHD) and low severity/low DON (LSLD). Unexpectedly, the BRII method clearly indicated that disease severity was not necessarily relevant to DON concentration. The effects of Fhb1 on disease severity, and on DON concentrations, agreed very well across the two methods. Several lines carrying Fhb1 showed extremely higher severity and (or) DON content under both inoculation methods. The “Mahalanobis distance” (MD) method was used to rate overall resistance of a line by inclusion of both disease severity and DON content over both methods to select LSLD lines.
Contribution of Single-Fiber Evaluation on Monitoring Outcomes Following Injection of Botulinum Toxin-A: A Narrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Moron Hélène , Gagnard-Landra Corine , Guiraud David , Dupeyron Arnaud
Published: May 2021

Botulinum toxin-A (BoNT-A) blocks acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and is widely used for neuromuscular disorders (involuntary spasms, dystonic disorders and spasticity). However, its therapeutic effects are usually measured by clinical scales of questionable validity. Single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) is a sensitive, validated diagnostic technique for NMJ impairment such as myasthenia. The jitter parameter (µs) represents the variability of interpotential intervals of two muscle fibers from the same motor unit. This narrative review reports SFEMG use in BoNT-A treatment. Twenty-four articles were selected from 175 eligible articles searched in Medline/Pubmed and Cochrane Library from their creation until May 2020. The results showed that jitter is sensitive to early NMJ modifications following BoNT-A injection, with an increase in the early days’ post-injection and a peak between Day 15 and 30, when symptoms diminish or disappear. The reappearance of symptoms accompanies a tendency for a decrease in jitter, but always precedes its normalization, either delayed or nonexistent. Increased jitter is observed in distant muscles from the injection site. No dose effect relationship was demonstrated. SFEMG could help physicians in their therapeutic evaluation according to the pathology considered. More data are needed to consider jitter as a predictor of BoNT-A clinical efficacy.
Persistent Neutropenia after ABOi Kidney Transplantation: A Case Report
Authors: Andenna Gabriele Gualtiero , Gregorini Marilena , Elena Chiara , Fusi Miriam , Colangelo Rosa , Pattonieri Eleonora Francesca , Grignano Maria Antonietta , Libetta Carmelo , Rampino Teresa
Published: May 2021

Post-transplant neutropenia (PTN) is frequently reported in the first-year after transplantation. Although prevalence and clinical consequences are widely described, there are no guidelines to manage diagnosis and treatment. We report here a case of persistent PTN occurred in a patient undergoing a kidney transplant from an AB0-incompatible living donor. The desensitization protocol consisted of Rituximab administration and immunoadsorption while the pre-transplant protocol, which was initiated 14 days before the transplant, included Tacrolimus, Mofetil Mycophenolate (MMF), antimicrobial and antiviral prophylaxis. Induction therapy consisted of anti-thymocyte globulins and steroids, while maintenance after transplantation consisted of steroid, tacrolimus and MMF. When the first occurrence of leukopenia was observed six weeks after the transplant, firstly antimicrobial/antiviral prophylaxis was stopped and later also MMF treatment was interrupted but severe neutropenia relapsed after MMF resuming treatment. Immunological and virological causes were excluded. The patient was treated with Filgrastim. Bone marrow biopsy, which was performed to exclude a hematological cause of severe persistent neutropenia, revealed a bone marrow hypoplasia with neutrophils maturation interrupted at the early stages. This case highlights the need to establish diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for PTN which take in consideration all the therapeutic steps including the pre-transplant phase in particular in the context of AB0i where immunosuppression is more consistent.
Microarray Technology May Reveal the Contribution of Allergen Exposure and Rhinovirus Infections as Possible Triggers for Acute Wheezing Attacks in Preschool Children
Authors: Niespodziana Katarzyna , Stenberg-Hammar Katarina , Papadopoulos Nikolaos G. , Focke-Tejkl Margarete , Errhalt Peter , Konradsen Jon R. , Söderhäll Cilla , van Hage Marianne , Hedlin Gunilla , Valenta Rudolf
Published: May 2021

Allergen exposure and rhinovirus (RV) infections are common triggers of acute wheezing exacerbations in early childhood. The identification of such trigger factors is difficult but may have therapeutic implications. Increases of IgE and IgG in sera, were shown against allergens and the N-terminal portion of the VP1 proteins of RV species, respectively, several weeks after allergen exposure or RV infection. Hence, increases in VP1-specific IgG and in allergen-specific IgE may serve as biomarkers for RV infections or allergen exposure. The MeDALL-allergen chip containing comprehensive panels of allergens and the PreDicta RV chip equipped with VP1-derived peptides, representative of three genetic RV species, were used to measure allergen-specific IgE levels and RV-species-specific IgG levels in sera obtained from 120 preschool children at the time of an acute wheezing attack and convalescence. Nearly 20% of the children (22/120) showed specific IgE sensitizations to at least one of the allergen molecules on the MeDALL chip. For 87% of the children, increases in RV-specific IgG could be detected in the follow-up sera. This percentage of RV-specific IgG increases was equal in IgE-positive and -negative children. In 10% of the children, increases or de novo appearances of IgE sensitizations indicative of allergen exposure could be detected. Our results suggest that, in the majority of preschool children, RV infections trigger wheezing attacks, but, in addition, allergen exposure seems to play a role as a trigger factor. RV-induced wheezing attacks occur in IgE-sensitized and non-IgE-sensitized children, indicating that allergic sensitization is not a prerequisite for RV-induced wheeze.
Social Restrictions versus Testing Campaigns in the COVID-19 Crisis: A Predictive Model Based on the Spanish Case
Authors: Candel Francisco Javier , Viayna Elisabet , Callejo Daniel , Ramos Raul , San-Roman-Montero Jesús , Barreiro Pablo , Carretero María del Mar , Kolipiński Adam , Canora Jesus , Zapatero Antonio , Runken Michael Chris
Published: May 2021

The global COVID-19 spread has forced countries to implement non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) (i.e., mobility restrictions and testing campaigns) to preserve health systems. Spain is one of the most severely impacted countries, both clinically and economically. In an effort to support policy decision-making, we aimed to assess the impacts of different NPI on COVID-19 epidemiology, healthcare costs and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A modified Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed epidemiological model was created to simulate the pandemic evolution. Its output was used to populate an economic model to quantify healthcare costs and GDP variation through a regression model which correlates NPI and GDP change from 42 countries. Thirteen scenarios combining different NPI were consecutively simulated in the epidemiological and economic models. Both increased testing and stringency could reduce cases, hospitalizations and deaths. While policies based on increased testing rates lead to higher healthcare costs, increased stringency is correlated with greater GDP declines, with differences of up to 4.4% points. Increased test sensitivity may lead to a reduction of cases, hospitalizations and deaths and to the implementation of pooling techniques that can increase throughput testing capacity. Alternative strategies to control COVID-19 spread entail differing economic outcomes. Decision-makers may utilize this tool to identify the most suitable strategy considering epidemiological and economic outcomes.
Taxonomy of Phleboviruses, Emphasizing Those That Are Sandfly-Borne
Authors: Calisher Charles H. , Calzolari Mattia
Published: May 2021

Sandfly-borne phleboviruses (phylum Negarnavaricota, realm Riboviria, kingdom Orthornavirae, genus Phlebovirus) comprise three genome segments of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and which encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which they use to transcribe the viral RNA genome into messenger RNA and to replicate the genome. At least some of these viruses cause mild 3-day fevers in humans but some also have been associated with more severe illnesses in humans. The 67 recognized phleboviruses are listed here in a table composed by the authors from International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses reports as well as the scientific literature.
Amino Acid Substitutions in NS5 Contribute Differentially to Tembusu Virus Attenuation in Ducklings and Cell Cultures
Authors: Sun Xue , Sun Mengxu , Zhang Lijiao , Yu Ziding , Li Jinxin , Xie Wanying , Su Jingliang
Published: May 2021

Tembusu virus (TMUV), a highly infectious pathogenic flavivirus, causes severe egg-drop and encephalitis in domestic waterfowl, while the determinants responsible for viral pathogenicity are largely unknown. In our previous studies, virulent strain JXSP2-4 had been completely attenuated by successive passages in BHK-21 cells and the avirulent strain was designated as JXSP-310. Based on the backbone of JXSP2-4, a series of chimeric viruses were generated according to the amino acid substitutions in NS5 and their infectivities were also analyzed in cell cultures and ducklings. The results showed that the viral titers of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain-swapped cheimeric mutant (JXSP-310RdRp) in cells and ducklings were both markedly decreased compared with JXSP2-4, indicating that mutations in the RdRp domain affected viral replication. There are R543K and V711A two amino acid substitutions in the RdRp domain. Further site-directed mutagenesis showed that single-point R543K mutant (JXSP-R543K) exhibited similar replication efficacy compared with JXSP2-4 in cells, but the viral loads in JXSP-R543K-infected ducklings were significantly lower than that of JXSP2-4 and higher than JXSP-310RdRp. Surprisingly, the single-point V711A mutation we introduced rapidly reverted. In addition, qRT-PCR and Western blot confirmed that the mutations in the RdRp domain significantly affected the replication of the virus. Taken together, these results show that R543K substitution in the RdRp domain impairs the in vivo growth of TMUV, but sustaining its attenuated infectivity requires the concurrent presence of the V711A mutation.
Microglial HIV-1 Expression: Role in HIV-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
Authors: Li Hailong , McLaurin Kristen , Illenberger Jessica , Mactutus Charles , Booze Rosemarie
Published: May 2021

The persistence of HIV-1 viral reservoirs in the brain, despite treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), remains a critical roadblock for the development of a novel cure strategy for HIV-1. To enhance our understanding of viral reservoirs, two complementary studies were conducted to (1) evaluate the HIV-1 mRNA distribution pattern and major cell type expressing HIV-1 mRNA in the HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rat, and (2) validate our findings by developing and critically testing a novel biological system to model active HIV-1 infection in the rat. First, a restricted, region-specific HIV-1 mRNA distribution pattern was observed in the HIV-1 Tg rat. Microglia were the predominant cell type expressing HIV-1 mRNA in the HIV-1 Tg rat. Second, we developed and critically tested a novel biological system to model key aspects of HIV-1 by infusing F344/N control rats with chimeric HIV (EcoHIV). In vitro, primary cultured microglia were treated with EcoHIV revealing prominent expression within 24 h of infection. In vivo, EcoHIV expression was observed seven days after stereotaxic injections. Following EcoHIV infection, microglia were the major cell type expressing HIV-1 mRNA, results that are consistent with observations in the HIV-1 Tg rat. Within eight weeks of infection, EcoHIV rats exhibited neurocognitive impairments and synaptic dysfunction, which may result from activation of the NogoA-NgR3/PirB-RhoA signaling pathway and/or neuroinflammation. Collectively, these studies enhance our understanding of HIV-1 viral reservoirs in the brain and offer a novel biological system to model HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and associated comorbidities (i.e., drug abuse) in rats.
HBV Pre-S1-Derived Myristoylated Peptide (Myr47): Identification of the Inhibitory Activity on the Cellular Uptake of Lipid Nanoparticles
Authors: Nanahara Masaya , Chang Ya-Ting , Somiya Masaharu , Kuroda Shun’ichi
Published: May 2021

The Myr47 lipopeptide, consisting of hepatitis B virus (HBV) pre-S1 domain (myristoylated 2–48 peptide), is an effective commercialized anti-HBV drug that prevents the interaction of HBV with sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) on human hepatocytes, an activity which requires both N-myristoylation residue and specific amino acid sequences. We recently reported that Myr47 reduces the cellular uptake of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg, subviral particle of HBV) in the absence of NTCP expression. In this study, we analyzed how Myr47 reduces the cellular uptake of lipid nanoparticles (including liposomes (LPs) and HBsAg) without NTCP expression. By using Myr47 mutants lacking the HBV infection inhibitory activity, they could reduce the cellular uptake of LPs in an N-myristoylation-dependent manner and an amino acid sequence-independent manner, not only in human liver-derived cells but also in human non-liver-derived cells. Moreover, Myr47 and its mutants could reduce the interaction of LPs with apolipoprotein E3 (ApoE3) in an N-myristoylation-dependent manner regardless of their amino acid sequences. From these results, lipopeptides are generally anchored by inserting their myristoyl residue into the lipid bilayer and can inhibit the interaction of LPs/HBsAg with apolipoprotein, thereby reducing the cellular uptake of LPs/HBsAg. Similarly, Myr47 would interact with HBV, inhibiting the uptake of HBV into human hepatic cells, while the inhibitory effect of Myr47 may be secondary to its ability to protect against HBV infection.
A Comprehensive Study of the Impact of Large-Scale Landscape Pattern Changes on the Watershed Ecosystem
Authors: Liu Hai , Di Heng , Huang Yuefei , Zheng Liang , Zhang Yuan
Published: May 2021

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWD) is the world’s largest inter-basin water diversion project, and the Danjiangkou Reservoir is a water source of the middle route project of the SNWD. Dynamic monitoring of ecological environment changes in Danjiangkou Water source area can provide theoretical support for reservoir water storage security and ecosystem protection. In this study, the water storage of Danjiangkou reservoir was estimated and its dynamic change was analyzed. On this basis, the changes of landscape pattern and ecosystem services value caused by the SNWD project were analyzed. The results show that the reservoir storage presented an obvious growth trend from 2000 to 2019, especially after the middle route of the SNWD was opened in 2014. After the implementation of the SNWD project, the vegetation degradation in Danjiangkou reservoir area was obvious, which is mainly related to the expansion of construction land. The ecosystem service value of the Danjiangkou Reservoir was mainly determined by the water conservation supply value and climate regulation value. After the implementation of the SNWD project, the values of water conservation and supply, climate regulation, and hydropower generation showed an increasing trend, while the values of fixing carbon and releasing oxygen, and organic matter production showed a decreasing trend.
Changes in Water Environment in Erhai Lake and Its Influencing Factors
Authors: Zheng Liang , An Zeyu , Chen Xiaoling , Liu Hai
Published: May 2021

In recent years, the rapid development of the population, agriculture, and tourism around Erhai Lake has caused increasing environmental problems, which have seriously affected the ecological status of the lake. This study analyzed changes in water volume and quality in Erhai Lake, based on statistical data from 2000 to 2019, combined with climate, land-use type, and socioeconomic data, as well as the influencing factors of water environmental changes in the Erhai Lake basin. The main conclusions include: the water storage of Erhai Lake increased by 3.8 × 106 m3 year−1, from 2000 to 2019. The monthly variation in water volume showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing, in which it increased from August to December and decreased from January to July. The change in water volume was mainly affected by climate factors. From 2000 to 2019, the nitrogen concentration in Erhai Lake showed an increasing trend, and the changes in water quality were closely related to human activities. In the northern part of the basin, agricultural nonpoint source pollution was the main factor affecting water quality, while in the southern part of the basin, economic development, accelerated urbanization, and tourism were the main factors affecting water quality.
Earth Observations Based Assessment of Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Surface Water Quality of Buddha Nala, Punjab, India
Authors: Das Susanta , Kaur Samanpreet , Jutla Antarpreet
Published: May 2021

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) halted almost all the industrial scale anthropogenic activities across the globe, resulting in improvements in water and air quality of megacities. Here, using Sentinel-2A data, we quantified impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the water quality parameters in one of the largest perennial creeks i.e., the Buddha Nala located in District Ludhiana in India. This creek has long been considered as a dumping ground for industrial wastes and has resulted in surface and ground water pollution in the entire lower Indus Basin. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Chlorophyll Index (NDCI), Nitrogen Content Index (NI), Normalized Difference Turbidity Index (NDTI), and Total Suspended Matter (TSM) were compared prior (2019) and during (2020) lockdown in the creek. There was a significant enhancement in NDVI, NDWI, NDCI, and NI values, and reduction in NDTI and TSM values during the lockdown period. When compared with prior year (2019), the values of indices suggested an improvement in water quality and an indicative change in aquatic ecology in the creek. The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the improvement in water quality of Buddha Nala was more evident in the upstream and downstream sections than the middle section. This is intriguing since the middle section of the creek was continually impacted by domestic household effluents. The earth observation inspired methodology employed and findings are testament to the discriminatory power to employ remote sensing data and to develop protocols to monitor water quality in regions where routine surveillance of water remains cost prohibitive.
Nexus between Water Security Framework and Public Health: A Comprehensive Scientific Review
Authors: Paudel Sushila , Kumar Pankaj , Dasgupta Rajarshi , Johnson Brian Alan , Avtar Ram , Shaw Rajib , Mishra Binaya Kumar , Kanbara Sakiko
Published: May 2021

Water scarcity, together with the projected impacts of water stress worldwide, has led to a rapid increase in research on measuring water security. However, water security has been conceptualized under different perspectives, including various aspects and dimensions. Since public health is also an integral part of water security, it is necessary to understand how health has been incorporated as a dimension in the existing water security frameworks. While supply–demand and governance narratives dominated several popular water security frameworks, studies that are specifically designed for public health purposes are generally lacking. This research aims to address this gap, firstly by assessing the multiple thematic dimensions of water security frameworks in scientific disclosure; and secondly by looking into the public health dimensions and evaluating their importance and integration in the existing water security frameworks. For this, a systematic review of the Scopus database was undertaken using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A detailed review analysis of 77 relevant papers was performed. The result shows that 11 distinct dimensions have been used to design the existing water security framework. Although public health aspects were mentioned in 51% of the papers, direct health impacts were considered only by 18%, and indirect health impacts or mediators were considered by 33% of the papers. Among direct health impacts, diarrhea is the most prevalent one considered for developing a water security framework. Among different indirect or mediating factors, poor accessibility and availability of water resources in terms of time and distance is a big determinant for causing mental illnesses, such as stress or anxiety, which are being considered when framing water security framework, particularly in developing nations. Water quantity is more of a common issue for both developed and developing countries, water quality and mismanagement of water supply-related infrastructure is the main concern for developing nations, which proved to be the biggest hurdle for achieving water security. It is also necessary to consider how people treat and consume the water available to them. The result of this study sheds light on existing gaps for different water security frameworks and provides policy-relevant guidelines for its betterment. Also, it stressed that a more wide and holistic approach must be considered when framing a water security framework to result in sustainable water management and human well-being.