bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unpicking the Secrets of African Swine Fever Viral Replication Sites
Authors: Aicher Sophie-Marie , Monaghan Paul , Netherton Christopher L. , Hawes Philippa C.
Published: January 2021

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly contagious pathogen which causes a lethal haemorrhagic fever in domestic pigs and wild boar. The large, double-stranded DNA virus replicates in perinuclear cytoplasmic replication sites known as viral factories. These factories are complex, multi-dimensional structures. Here we investigated the protein and membrane compartments of the factory using super-resolution and electron tomography. Click IT chemistry in combination with stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy revealed a reticular network of newly synthesized viral proteins, including the structural proteins p54 and p34, previously seen as a pleomorphic ribbon by confocal microscopy. Electron microscopy and tomography confirmed that this network is an accumulation of membrane assembly intermediates which take several forms. At early time points in the factory formation, these intermediates present as small, individual membrane fragments which appear to grow and link together, in a continuous progression towards new, icosahedral virions. It remains unknown how these membranes form and how they traffic to the factory during virus morphogenesis.
In Tribute to Michael Goodin
Authors: Verchot Jeanmarie , Jackson Andrew O. , Simon Anne E.
Published: January 2021

It is with great sadness and sympathy for his family and the plant virology community that we convey the passing of Michael Goodin unexpectedly in December 2020 [...]
The Impacts of Low Diversity Sequence Data on Phylodynamic Inference during an Emerging Epidemic
Authors: Lam Anthony , Duchene Sebastian
Published: January 2021

Phylodynamic inference is a pivotal tool in understanding transmission dynamics of viral outbreaks. These analyses are strongly guided by the input of an epidemiological model as well as sequence data that must contain sufficient intersequence variability in order to be informative. These criteria, however, may not be met during the early stages of an outbreak. Here we investigate the impact of low diversity sequence data on phylodynamic inference using the birth–death and coalescent exponential models. Through our simulation study, estimating the molecular evolutionary rate required enough sequence diversity and is an essential first step for any phylodynamic inference. Following this, the birth–death model outperforms the coalescent exponential model in estimating epidemiological parameters, when faced with low diversity sequence data due to explicitly exploiting the sampling times. In contrast, the coalescent model requires additional samples and therefore variability in sequence data before accurate estimates can be obtained. These findings were also supported through our empirical data analyses of an Australian and a New Zealand cluster outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2. Overall, the birth–death model is more robust when applied to datasets with low sequence diversity given sampling is specified and this should be considered for future viral outbreak investigations.
Pregnant Women Infected with Zika Virus Show Higher Viral Load and Immunoregulatory Cytokines Profile with CXCL10 Increase
Authors: Camacho-Zavala Elizabeth , Santacruz-Tinoco Clara , Muñoz Esteban , Chacón-Salinas Rommel , Salazar-Sanchez Ma Isabel , Grajales Concepción , González-Ibarra Joaquin , Borja-Aburto Victor Hugo , Jaenisch Thomas , Gonzalez-Bonilla Cesar R.
Published: January 2021

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy usually shows only mild symptoms and is frequently subclinical. However, it can be vertically transmitted to the fetus, causing microcephaly and other congenital defects. During pregnancy, the immune environment modifications can alter the response to viruses in general and ZIKV in particular. Objective: To describe the role of pregnancy in the systemic pro- and anti-inflammatory response during symptomatic ZIKV infection. Materials and Methods: A multiplex assay was used to measure 25 cytokines, chemokines, and receptors in 110 serum samples from pregnant and nonpregnant women with and without ZIKV infection with and without symptoms. Samples were collected through an epidemiological surveillance system. Results: Samples from pregnant women with ZIKV infection showed a higher viral load but had similar profiles of inflammatory markers as compared with nonpregnant infected women, except for CXCL10 that was higher in infected pregnant women. Notably, the presence of ZIKV in pregnancy favored a regulatory profile by significantly increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-10, receptors IL-1RA, and IL-2R, but only those pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 that are essential for the antiviral response. Interestingly, there were no differences between symptomatic and weakly symptomatic ZIKV-infected groups. Conclusion: Our results revealed a systemic anti-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine profile that could participate in the control of the virus. The anti-inflammatory response in pregnant women infected with ZIKA was characterized by high CXCL10, a cytokine that has been correlated with congenital malformations.
Viruses in Extreme Environments, Current Overview, and Biotechnological Potential
Authors: Gil Jose F. , Mesa Victoria , Estrada-Ortiz Natalia , Lopez-Obando Mauricio , Gómez Andrés , Plácido Jersson
Published: January 2021

Virus research has advanced significantly since the discovery of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), the characterization of its infection mechanisms and the factors that determine their pathogenicity. However, most viral research has focused on pathogenic viruses to humans, animals and plants, which represent only a small fraction in the virosphere. As a result, the role of most viral genes, and the mechanisms of coevolution between mutualistic viruses, their host and their environment, beyond pathogenicity, remain poorly understood. This review focuses on general aspects of viruses that interact with extremophile organisms, characteristics and examples of mechanisms of adaptation. Finally, this review provides an overview on how knowledge of extremophile viruses sheds light on the application of new tools of relevant use in modern molecular biology, discussing their value in a biotechnological context.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Respiratory Tissue and Cell Line Models to Examine Glycosylation Machinery during SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Oommen Anup , Cunningham Stephen , Joshi Lokesh
Published: January 2021

Glycosylation, being the most abundant post-translational modification, plays a profound role affecting expression, localization and function of proteins and macromolecules in immune response to infection. Presented are the findings of a transcriptomic analysis performed using high-throughput functional genomics data from public repository to examine the altered transcription of the human glycosylation machinery in response to SARS-CoV-2 stimulus and infection. In addition to the conventional in silico functional enrichment analysis methods we also present results from the manual analysis of biomedical literature databases to bring about the biological significance of glycans and glycan-binding proteins in modulating the host immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our analysis revealed key immunomodulatory lectins, proteoglycans and glycan epitopes implicated in exerting both negative and positive downstream inflammatory signaling pathways, in addition to its vital role as adhesion receptors for SARS-CoV-2 pathogen. A hypothetical correlation of the differentially expressed human glycogenes with the altered host inflammatory response and the cytokine storm-generated in response to SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is proposed. These markers can provide novel insights into the diverse roles and functioning of glycosylation pathways modulated by SARS-CoV-2, provide avenues of stratification, treatment, and targeted approaches for COVID-19 immunity and other viral infectious agents.
Overexpression of the Bacteriophage T4 motB Gene Alters H-NS Dependent Repression of Specific Host DNA
Authors: Patterson-West Jennifer , Tai Chin-Hsien , Son Bokyung , Hsieh Meng-Lun , Iben James R. , Hinton Deborah M.
Published: January 2021

The bacteriophage T4 early gene product MotB binds tightly but nonspecifically to DNA, copurifies with the host Nucleoid Associated Protein (NAP) H-NS in the presence of DNA and improves T4 fitness. However, the T4 transcriptome is not significantly affected by a motB knockdown. Here we have investigated the phylogeny of MotB and its predicted domains, how MotB and H-NS together interact with DNA, and how heterologous overexpression of motB impacts host gene expression. We find that motB is highly conserved among Tevenvirinae. Although the MotB sequence has no homology to proteins of known function, predicted structure homology searches suggest that MotB is composed of an N-terminal Kyprides-Onzonis-Woese (KOW) motif and a C-terminal DNA-binding domain of oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide (OB)-fold; either of which could provide MotB’s ability to bind DNA. DNase I footprinting demonstrates that MotB dramatically alters the interaction of H-NS with DNA in vitro. RNA-seq analyses indicate that expression of plasmid-borne motB up-regulates 75 host genes; no host genes are down-regulated. Approximately 1/3 of the up-regulated genes have previously been shown to be part of the H-NS regulon. Our results indicate that MotB provides a conserved function for Tevenvirinae and suggest a model in which MotB functions to alter the host transcriptome, possibly by changing the association of H-NS with the host DNA, which then leads to conditions that are more favorable for infection.
Ginkgolic Acid Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Skin Infection and Prevents Zosteriform Spread in Mice
Authors: Bhutta Maimoona , Shechter Oren , Gallo Elisa , Martin Stephen , Jones Esther , Doncel Gustavo , Borenstein Ronen
Published: January 2021

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes a lifelong latent infection with an estimated global prevalence of 66%. Primary and recurrent HSV infections are characterized by a tingling sensation, followed by an eruption of vesicles, which can cause painful erosions. Commonly used antiviral drugs against HSV infection are nucleoside analogues including acyclovir (ACV), famciclovir, and valacyclovir. Although these nucleoside analogues reduce morbidity and mortality in immunocompetent individuals, ACV-resistant HSV strains (ACVR-HSV) have been isolated from immunocompromised patients. Thus, ACVR-HSV infection poses a critical emerging public health concern. Recently, we reported that ginkgolic acid (GA) inhibits HSV-1 by disrupting viral structure, blocking fusion, and inhibiting viral protein synthesis. Additionally, we showed GA affords a broad spectrum of fusion inhibition of all three classes of fusion proteins, including those of HIV, Ebola, influenza A and Epstein Barr viruses. Here we report GA’s antiviral activity against HSV-1 skin infection in BALB/cJ mice. GA-treated mice demonstrated a significantly reduced mortality rate and decreased infection scores compared to controls treated with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-vehicle. Furthermore, GA efficiently inhibited ACVR-HSV-1 strain 17+ in vitro and in vivo. Since GA’s mechanism of action includes virucidal activity and fusion inhibition, it is expected to work alone or synergistically with other anti-viral drugs, and we anticipate it to be effective against additional cutaneous and potentially systemic viral infections.
Modulation of Antigen Display on PapMV Nanoparticles Influences Its Immunogenicity
Authors: Laliberté-Gagné Marie-Eve , Bolduc Marilène , Garneau Caroline , Olivera-Ugarte Santa-Mariela , Savard Pierre , Leclerc Denis
Published: January 2021

Background: The papaya mosaic virus (PapMV) vaccine platform is a rod-shaped nanoparticle made of the recombinant PapMV coat protein (CP) self-assembled around a noncoding single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) template. The PapMV nanoparticle induces innate immunity through stimulation of the Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 8. The display of the vaccine antigen at the surface of the nanoparticle, associated with the co-stimulation signal via TLR7/8, ensures a strong stimulation of the immune response, which is ideal for the development of candidate vaccines. In this study, we assess the impact of where the peptide antigen is fused, whether at the surface or at the extremities of the nanoparticles, on the immune response directed to that antigen. Methods: Two different peptides from influenza A virus were used as model antigens. The conserved M2e peptide, derived from the matrix protein 2 was chosen as the B-cell epitope, and a peptide derived from the nucleocapsid was chosen as the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) epitope. These peptides were coupled at two different positions on the PapMV CP, the N- (PapMV-N) or the C-terminus (PapMV-C), using the transpeptidase activity of Sortase A (SrtA). The immune responses, both humoral and CD8+ T-cell-mediated, directed to the peptide antigens in the two different fusion contexts were analyzed and compared. The impact of coupling density at the surface of the nanoparticle was also investigated. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that coupling of the peptide antigens at the N-terminus (PapMV-N) of the PapMV CP led to an enhanced immune response to the coupled peptide antigens as compared to coupling to the C-terminus. The difference between the two vaccine platforms is linked to the enhanced capacity of the PapMV-N vaccine platform to stimulate TLR7/8. We also demonstrated that the strength of the immune response increases with the density of coupling at the surface of the nanoparticles.
Tail Coiling Assay in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos: Stage of Development, Promising Positive Control Candidates, and Selection of an Appropriate Organic Solvent for Screening of Developmental Neurotoxicity (DNT)
Authors: de Oliveira Andréia , Brigante Tamires , Oliveira Danielle
Published: January 2021

It is relatively recent that tail coiling assay in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos has been proposed as an alternative method to screen for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) induced by chemicals. Despite the considerable use of the method, there is no consensus related to the most suitable age of embryos and other experimental parameters. Non-exposed embryos were videotaped for tail-coiling activity from 18 to 54 h post-fertilization (hpf) and after exposure to positive control candidates (caffeine, fluoxetine, and tricaine (MS-222)) and organic solvents (acetone, dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO), and ethanol) from 26.0 to 28.5 hpf. Results demonstrated that embryos from 22 to 29 hpf presented a constant coiling activity, with no significant differences between the activity measurements. We also found that stimulant properties of caffeine and the anesthetic effects of MS-222 induced hyperactivity and hypoactivity, respectively. Finally, even using DMSO at 1%, it seems to be safer as a solvent for neurotoxicity evaluation by tail coiling assay. The period from 26.0 to 28.5 hpf was appropriate for a fast protocol of tail coiling assay. Caffeine and MS-222 were demonstrated to be promising positive control candidates, whereas DMSO was considered the most appropriate solvent choice for tail coiling assay.
A Robust Neutrosophic Modeling and Optimization Approach for Integrated Energy-Food-Water Security Nexus Management under Uncertainty
Authors: Ahmad Firoz , Ahmad Shafiq , Zaindin Mazen , Adhami Ahmad Yusuf
Published: January 2021

Natural resources are a boon for human beings, and their conservation for future uses is indispensable. Most importantly, energy-food-water security (EFWS) nexus management is the utmost need of our time. An effective managerial policy for the current distribution and conservation to meet future demand is necessary and challenging. Thus, this paper investigates an interconnected and dynamic EFWS nexus optimization model by considering the socio-economic and environmental objectives with the optimal energy supply, electricity conversion, food production, water resources allocation, and CO2 emissions control in the multi-period time horizons. Due to real-life complexity, various parameters are taken as intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. A novel method called interactive neutrosophic programming approach (INPA) is suggested to solve the EFWS nexus model. To verify and validate the proposed EFWS model, a synthetic computational study is performed. The obtained solution results are compared with other optimization approaches, and the outcomes are also evaluated with significant practical implications. The study reveals that the food production processes require more water resources than electricity production, although recycled water has not been used for food production purposes. The use of a coal-fired plant is not a prominent electricity conversion source. However, natural gas power plants’ service is also optimally executed with a marginal rate of production. Finally, conclusions and future research are addressed. This current study emphasizes how the proposed EFWS nexus model would be reliable and beneficial in real-world applications and help policy-makers identify, modify, and implement the optimal EFWS nexus policy and strategies for the future conservation of these resources.
Impact of Industrial Production, Dam Construction, and Agriculture on the Z-IBI in River Ecosystems: A Case Study of the Wanan River Basin in China
Authors: Yao Na , Feng Bing , Zhang Meng , He Liang , Zhang Huan , Liu Zugen
Published: January 2021

Industrial activity, dam construction, and agriculture—while important for socioeconomic progress—can severely damage the natural environment. To evaluate the effects of these human activities on the bio-integrity of riverine ecosystems, we examined the Wanan reach of the Ganjiang River (Wanan River basin), which contains the river’s largest reservoir. On the basis of 20 attributes of zooplankton, we constructed a zooplankton index of bio-integrity (Z-IBI) evaluation system using range analysis, discriminant analysis, and correlation analysis. Our research found that these anthropogenic activities can greatly change the composition and number of zooplankton community. The overall health status of this catchment was classified as “good”, and the eco-health situation of the reference, industrial, dam-controlled and agricultural sites were deemed “healthy”, “fair”, “good”, and “fair”, respectively. Our results suggested that the three activities adversely affected the integrity of local aquatic ecosystems. Agriculture was the activity most detrimental to the zooplankton community, followed by industrial production and dam construction. Therefore, we demonstrated that the Z-IBI evaluation system can be applied to reservoir–riverine ecosystems. We also provide guidance on the ecological protection, assessment, monitoring and of reservoir–riverine ecosystems and suggest that additional Z-IBI evaluation approaches be further developed in the future.
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods to Address Water Allocation Problems: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gebre Sintayehu Legesse , Cattrysse Dirk , Van Orshoven Jos
Published: January 2021

The water allocation problem is complex and requires a combination of regulations, policies, and mechanisms to support water management to minimize the risk of shortage among competing users. This paper compiles the application of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) related to water allocation. In this regard, this paper aims to identify and to discern the pattern, distribution of study regions, water problem classifications, and decision techniques application for a specific water allocation problem. We applied a systematic literature review study from 2000 to 2019 by using four literature databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar). From 109 papers, 49 publications have been identified and information extracted. This study reveals that in the past two decades the application of MCDM in the area of water allocation has increased particularly after 2014. Around 65% and 12% of study papers were conducted in Asia and Europe, respectively. Water shortage, water use management, and water quality were consecutively the most top-ranked discussed water problems. NSGA II (non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm), GA (genetic algorithm), and LP (linear programming) are the more often applied decision methods to solve water allocation problems. The key findings of this study provide guidelines for future research studies.
Study on the Dynamic Responses of a Large Caisson during Wet-Towing Transportation
Authors: Gu Haoyang , Wang Huakun , Zhai Qiu , Feng Weibing , Cao Jiaxiu
Published: January 2021

Large caissons are extensively applied as deep-water foundations in marine engineering. In fact, caissons are generally prefabricated and transported to project site by wet towing. Motion responses of large caissons and those occurring during the towing process were investigated, and CO2 emissions under various conditions were calculated. These are all considered to ensure towing safety and environmental protection. The caisson resistance coefficient was simulated via Ansys Fluent software. The effects of towrope length, towing speed, and drift depth on the motion responses of caissons under the combined action of wind and wave were evaluated via Ansys AQWA software. Maximum heave value was dominantly affected by rope length and draft depth, and its fluctuation was highly influenced by towing speed and draft depth. However, all of the above mentioned factors had insignificant influences on pitch response. When towing existed, rope tension was rapidly increased from zero to a constant value that depended on towing speed and drift depth. However, the speed of achieving this stable phase depended on the length of the towrope.
Nutrient Loading, Temperature and Heat Wave Effects on Nutrients, Oxygen and Metabolism in Shallow Lake Mesocosms Pre-Adapted for 11 Years
Authors: Jeppesen Erik , Audet Joachim , Davidson Thomas , Neif Érika , Cao Yu , Filiz Nur , Lauridsen Torben , Larsen Søren , Beklioğlu Meryem , Sh Tserenpil , Søndergaard Martin
Published: January 2021

Global changes (e.g., warming and population growth) affect nutrient loadings and temperatures, but global warming also results in more frequent extreme events, such as heat waves. Using data from the world’s longest-running shallow lake experimental mesocosm facility, we studied the effects of different levels of nutrient loadings combined with varying temperatures, which also included a simulated 1-month summer heat wave (HW), on nutrient and oxygen concentrations, gross ecosystem primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), net ecosystem production (NEP) and bacterioplankton production (BACPR). The mesocosms had two nutrient levels (high (HN) and low (LN)) combined with three different temperatures according to the IPCC 2007 warming scenarios (unheated, A2 and A2 + 50%) that were applied for 11 years prior to the present experiment. The simulated HW consisted of 5 °C extra temperature increases only in the A2 and A2 + 50% treatments applied from 1 July to 1 August 2014. Linear mixed effect modeling revealed a strong effect of nutrient treatment on the concentration of chlorophyll a (Chl-a), on various forms of phosphorus and nitrogen as well as on oxygen concentration and oxygen percentage (24 h means). Applying the full dataset, we also found a significant positive effect of nutrient loading on GPP, ER, NEP and BACPR, and of temperature on ER and BACPR. The HW had a significant positive effect on GPP and ER. When dividing the data into LN and HN, temperature also had a significant positive effect on Chl-a in LN and on orthophosphate in HN. Linear mixed models revealed differential effects of nutrients, Chl-a and macrophyte abundance (PVI) on the metabolism variables, with PVI being particularly important in the LN mesocosms. All metabolism variables also responded strongly to a cooling-low irradiance event in the middle of the HW, resulting in a severe drop in oxygen concentrations, not least in the HN heated mesocosms. Our results demonstrate strong effects of nutrients as well as an overall rapid response in oxygen metabolism and BACPR to changes in temperature, including HWs, making them sensitive ecosystem indicators of climate warming.
Fish Response to Multiple Anthropogenic Stressors in Mediterranean Coastal Lagoons: A Comparative Study of the Role of Different Management Strategies
Authors: Zucchetta Matteo , Capoccioni Fabrizio , Franzoi Piero , Ciccotti Eleonora , Leone Chiara
Published: January 2021

Transitional waters are among the most productive ecosystems of the world and their biotic communities show high diversity and complex mechanisms of self-regulation that provide valuable ecosystem services and societal goods and benefits. In this work a comparison of the fish assemblages of three non-tidal Mediterranean coastal lagoons is carried out in order to evaluate the impacts of alternative management strategies. The anthropogenic pressures acting on the lagoons were quantified by means of categorical indicators, while the characteristics of the fish assemblages were summarized in multi-metric indices (MMIs). Two MMIs were developed using data collected with a beach seine net and with fyke nets, following an empirical approach that selects, from a pool of 73 metrics, the combination that maximizes the MMI/pressure relationship. The two MMIs include four metrics each, most of which are based on feeding mode functional guilds and habitat use functional guilds, and they are sensitive to anthropogenic pressures. The human activities directly or indirectly affecting water quality are the ones that most influence the fish assemblage, while the presence of artisanal fisheries, a typical and relevant resource use in these lagoons, seems to play a beneficial role. Lagoon fisheries management relies on the maintenance of infrastructures that guarantee the hydraulic functioning of the lagoon, thus ensuring exchanges with the adjacent coastal sea, and therefore indirectly contributing to the habitat quality.
Sectorization for Water Distribution Systems with Multiple Sources: A Performance Indices Comparison
Authors: Bianchotti Jezabel D. , Denardi Melina , Castro-Gama Mario , Puccini Gabriel D.
Published: January 2021

Sectorization is an effective technique for reducing the complexities of analyzing and managing of water systems. The resulting sectors, called district metering areas (DMAs), are expected to meet some requirements and performance criteria such as minimum number of intervention, pressure uniformity, similarity of demands, water quality and number of districts. An efficient methodology to achieve all these requirements together and the proper choice of a criteria governing the sectorization is one of the open questions about optimal DMAs design. This question is addressed in this research by highlighting the advantages of three different criteria when applied to real-word water distribution networks (WDNs). To this, here it is presented a two-stage approach for optimal design of DMAs. The first stage, the clustering of the system, is based on a Louvain-type greedy algorithm for the generalized modularity maximization. The second stage, the physical dividing of the system, is stated as a two-objective optimization problem that utilises the SMOSA version of simulated annealing for multiobjective problems. One objective is the number of isolation valves whereas for the second objective three different performance indices (PIs) are analyzed and compared: (a) standard deviation, (b) Gini coefficient and (c) loss of resilience. The methodology is applied to two real case studies where the first two PIs are optimized to address similar demands among DMAs. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective for sectorization into independent DMAs with similar demands. Surprisingly, it found that for the real studied systems, loss of resilience achieves better performance for each district in terms of pressure uniformity and demand similarity than the other two specific performance criteria.
Essential Trace Elements and Arsenic in Thermal Springs, Afghanistan
Authors: Jawadi Hussain Ali , Malistani Hasan Ali , Moheghy Mohammad Anvar , Sagin Jay
Published: January 2021

Thermal springs are natural hydrogeological features which are highly affected by local volcanism or tectonic activity. Thermal springs are the best source of hydrothermal energy to heat houses and aid in the recovery of skin diseases. However, they consist of some heavy and trace metals such as arsenic, lead, zinc, copper, iron, and so forth. Somehow, the thermal springs of central Bamyan have become contaminated with some essential trace elements. Thus, this study was conducted to assess and determine the number of these trace elements in the thermal springs. To achieve these objectives, a preliminary survey, water sampling, and in situ measurements of physicochemical parameters were conducted in research areas. All the collected water samples were analyzed chemically to determine the amount of trace elements, including arsenic, barium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. The study shows that temperature ranged from 16 to 32 °C, while the average pH value was 6.25. Almost all of the trace elements showed an extremely high value of electrical conductivity (average: 5713 µS/cm) and significantly high total dissolved solids (average: 3063 mg/L). The average value of chloride was 797 mg/L, which is dramatically higher than standard values. In regard to trace element concentration, almost all thermal springs were heavily contaminated with arsenic and it was recorded as 100 µg/L in the eastern part of central Bamyan. The average amounts of barium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc were 4.14, 6.05, 1.90, 1.76, and 0.74 mg/L, respectively. In conclusion, the water of the thermal springs of central Bamyan are not suitable for human consumption because of the significant amount of trace elements as well as the high-water quality index value. Using these springs for drinking and irrigation purposes has been deemed inappropriate.
Deterministic Analysis and Uncertainty Analysis of Ensemble Forecasting Model Based on Variational Mode Decomposition for Estimation of Monthly Groundwater Level
Authors: Wu Min , Feng Qi , Wen Xiaohu , Yin Zhenliang , Yang Linshan , Sheng Danrui
Published: January 2021

Precise multi-time scales prediction of groundwater level is essential for water resources planning and management. However, credible and reliable predicting results are hard to achieve even to extensively applied artificial intelligence (AI) models considering the uncontrollable error, indefinite inputs and unneglectable uncertainty during the modelling process. The AI model ensembled with the data pretreatment technique, the input selection method, or uncertainty analysis has been successfully used to tackle this issue, whereas studies about the comprehensive deterministic and uncertainty analysis of hybrid models in groundwater level forecast are rarely reported. In this study, a novel hybrid predictive model combining the variational mode decomposition (VMD) data pretreatment technique, Boruta input selection method, bootstrap based uncertainty analysis, and the extreme learning machine (ELM) model named VBELM was developed for 1-, 2- and 3-month ahead groundwater level prediction in a typical arid oasis area of northwestern China. The historical observed monthly groundwater level, precipitation and temperature data were used as inputs to train and test the model. Specifically, the VMD was used to decompose all the input-outputs into a set of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), the Boruta method was applied to determine input variables, and the ELM was employed to forecast the value of each IMF. In order to ascertain the efficiency of the proposed VBELM model, the performance of the coupled model (VELM) hybridizing VMD with ELM algorithm and the single ELM model were estimated in comparison. The results indicate that the VBELM performed best, while the single ELM model performed the worst among the three models. Furthermore, the VBELM model presented lower uncertainty than the VELM model with more observed groundwater level values falling inside the confidence interval. In summary, the VBELM model demonstrated an excellent performance for both certainty and uncertainty analyses, and can serve as an effective tool for multi-scale groundwater level forecasting.
Why People (Do Not) Adopt the Private Precautionary and Mitigation Measures: A Review of the Issue from the Perspective of Recent Flood Risk Research
Authors: Andráško Ivan
Published: January 2021

Based on the literature review, this paper synthesizes recent state of knowledge on flood risk perception and related human behaviors. The main attention is paid to private precautionary and mitigation measures, and the reasons why these are (not) adopted by agents such as individual households. Results of a wide range of relevant studies are presented and critically examined. The findings are presented within an interpretive framework established during the review process; six key themes (responsibility, risk perception, people and social environment, geography of risk, emotions, theories and conceptual models) and several sub-themes closely related to them were identified by the content/thematic analysis. These were then utilized to overview and discuss particular factors and issues involved, as well as various relevant theoretical underpinnings and conceptual models. The review identifies, illustrates, and addresses not only the consensual views and contradictory findings of flood risk research, but also several related and essential ambiguities, uncertainties, and knowledge gaps. Based on these findings, suggestions for future research are discussed, including the terminological, semantic, methodological, theoretical, and ethical aspects. The paper thus serves two main tasks: (a) It is a useful reference/departure point for those with research interests in topics and issues such as flood risk perception, flood risk protective and mitigation behaviors and measures, or flood risk management in general; and (b) it provides suggestions and incentives for future flood risk research agenda.
Relationship between Morphological Characteristics and Quality of Aquatic Habitat in Mountain Streams of Slovakia
Authors: Štefunková Zuzana , Macura Viliam , Škrinár Andrej , Ivan Peter , Čistý Milan , Majorošová Martina , Tyukosová Viktória
Published: January 2021

This study evaluated the relationship between abiotic flow characteristics and habitat quality. Habitat quality was assessed using the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM), which uses bioindication. Brown trout was selected as a bioindicator because of its sensitivity to morphological changes and its occurrence in sufficient reference reaches. The correlation between the morphological characteristics of the stream and the area-weighted suitability (AWS), which represents habitat quality, was evaluated. Fifty-nine reference reaches of fifty-two mountain and piedmont streams in Slovakia were analysed. The correlation analysis demonstrated the strongest relationship between the AWS and the stream depth and width. The relationship between the water surface area and the AWS indicated that, for mountain streams, there is a significantly increasing trend of the AWS value with increasing surface area. Considering piedmont streams, the AWS variation with a change in the water-surface area was minimal. These results can form the basis for deriving regression equations to determine habitat quality. Such a procedure can significantly simplify the evaluation of the quality of aquatic habitat, making it much more accessible for design practice.
Bioelectricity Generation and Production of Ornamental Plants in Vertical Partially Saturated Constructed Wetlands
Authors: González-Moreno Humberto Raymundo , Marín-Muníz José Luis , Sánchez-Dela-Cruz Eddy , Nakase Carlos , Del Ángel-Coronel Oscar Andrés , Reyes-Gonzalez David , Nava-Valente Noemí , Sandoval-Herazo Luis Carlos
Published: January 2021

Energy production in constructed wetlands is a little-known field, as is the operation of vertical partially saturated constructed wetlands (VPS-CWs) that promote both aerobic and anaerobic microbial interactions. By doing so, bacterial degradation is increased, becoming the main mechanism of pollutant removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). For the first time, the generation of bioelectricity, together with the production of ornamental plants in vertical partially saturated constructed wetlands during the treatment of domestic wastewater, was evaluated. Six VPS-CW systems functioned as bioelectricity generators, where the systems were filled with red volcanic gravel and activated carbon as anode and cathode. Three systems were planted with Zantedeschia aethiopica and three with Canna hybrids plants. The development was measured through mother plants and shoots produced every 60 days. The input and output of each VPS-CW was monitored using control parameters such as BOD5, phosphates (P-PO4), and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN). Bioelectricity, power, voltage, and current measurements were performed every 15 days for a period of 7 months. It was found that the VPS-CWs used as biobatteries in combination with the use of domestic wastewater as a substrate improved the development of the two evaluated plant species and stimulated growth and germination of new shoots. No significant differences were found between the different treatments (p ≤ 0.05). Likewise, an average efficient removal of BOD5 (98%) for both systems without statistical differences was observed (p ≤ 0.05), but for TKN and P-PO4, significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between systems planted with Z. aethiopica (TKN: 65%; P-PO4: 20%) and Canna hybrids (TKN: 69%; P-PO4: 27%). This method of water treatment and bioelectricity production with Canna hybrids was an efficient system that generated a great electric current (140 mA/m2), voltage (750 mV), and electric power (15 mW/m2), compared with those observed in systems with Z. aethiopica (60 mA/m2, 500 mV, 9 mA/m2).
Impacts of Urbanization on Variations of Extreme Precipitation over the Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Kang Congxuan , Luo Zujiang , Zong Wen , Hua Jian
Published: January 2021

The urbanization process is the hallmark of the population’s economic activities and land-use types, including population-, economic-, and landscape-urbanization. The question of how to classify the stations into urbanized and suburbanized stations is important for detecting the contribution rates of urbanization to precipitation extremes. This study used the fuzzy c-means clustering method to classify different urbanized level stations by population, economy, and impervious surface in the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou urban agglomeration. Based on the change trends of six extreme precipitation indices, the contribution rates of urbanization to the precipitation extremes were estimated. The results show that the increasing indices were the intensity indices, while the decreasing indices were the duration indices during 1980–2015. Moreover, high urbanization tended to have a higher contribution to the most extreme precipitation indices, especially the intensity indices, than urbanization in the medium-size cities, indicating the urbanization leads to the phenomenon of extreme precipitation enhancement. The results of the three kinds of classification methods were different, especially the classification by the impervious area. This paper investigated the spatiotemporal changes in precipitation extremes and the contribution of urbanization to extreme precipitation, which will provide support for the development of urban agglomeration in the future.
Les droits fondamentaux du travail et le développement économique du Québec : obstacles et perspectives
Authors: Tremblay Potvin Charles
Published: January 2021

To say that labor law is inherently linked to the economic system is a truism. The existence of the employment contract is a necessary condition to the establishment of a market structured by the capitalist firm as a production unit. Thus, since wage labor first started to emerge in the West, labor law has aimed to establish some “ rules of the game” to structure the market. However, the reduction of trade barriers and the free movement of persons and capital which we witness in today’s world tend to generate a high level of competition between jurisdictions. This new situation operates a reversal of the hierarchical relationship between juridical and economical logics. As outsourcing of the production and the search for greater flexibility on the employment market exacerbates concerns for the workers, the social rights that have already been granted to them are being strongly criticized on the grounds that they constitute barriers to the proper functioning of firms and to foreign investment attractiveness. What needs to be retained from this huge upheaval ? What is the future of social law in Quebec ? This text proposes to revisit the genesis of labor law and to study the connexions that may exist between this field of law and the economic system, in light of the current context of globalization.
Le droit face aux défis culturels européens
Authors: Castillo Monique
Published: January 2021

Two evils strike European thinking. On the one hand, professional technicality outweighs symbolic creation : we manage things instead of inspiring intelligences. On the other hand, the tendency towards self-depreciation in Europe creates a false pluralism that separates communities instead of engaging them in a common destiny. For philosophy of law, these problems constitute cultural as well as legal challenges. The need for legal, economic and political culture is tantamount to a quest for meaning, for considering words more as a collective potential than an expertise.
Le financement des territoires foraux en Espagne : réflexion sur une originalité du droit public financier
Authors: Barque François
Published: January 2021

Spain is a State known as “ regionalized” in which the autonomous communities enjoy a great autonomy and, in particular, an important financial autonomy. However, the Basque historical territories and the community of Navarre, called entities forales, profit from a financial autonomy stronger, their taxing right being quasi-total, and thus largely higher than the State. Follows a link of financial dependence of the State and other local entities, with regard to the forales territories. This article aims at apprehending this consequent degree of autonomy. It is a question of studying this unheard of situation, while insisting on the fact that autonomy is not independence and that the entities forales must comply with certain rules intended to guarantee the unit of the Spanish State.
Objection de conscience et médicament en droit franco-espagnol : utiles éclaircissements du Tribunal constitutionnel espagnol
Authors: Rousset G. , la Osa Escribano A. L. de
Published: January 2021

Conscientious objection is not a mechanism specific to health law, but finds nonetheless a privileged place in this discipline. While this objection may be raised in a number of cases, one frequent situation concerns pharmacists selling contraceptive or abortive health products. On this specific issue, the Constitutional Court in Spain issued an important judgment on June 25th 2015. In this decision the High Court recognizes the right to conscientious objection of pharmacists for abortive health products, but clearly rejects it for male contraceptives. The meaning of this decision makes it possible to observe from a comparative law perspective, the law in France and in Spain and see how different they can be in certain aspects.
Le droit judiciaire saoudien à l’épreuve de la réforme judiciaire de 2007 : nouveauté ou continuité ?
Authors: Belarbi Houari
Published: January 2021

The development of the Saudi judicial law has passed into various steps through the history of the Arabian Peninsula. Successive laws have been enacted after the reunification of the kingdom, and they have set up a simple organization of courts deprived of their competences because of the proliferation of committees with jurisdictional authority. The old legal codifications had already recognized judicial duality (judicial courts and administrative courts), but the fields were not clearly separated since administrative courts could for example hear both criminal and commercial cases. The openness of the kingdom towards the world, and the evolution of the Saudi society were the seeds of the 2007 reform for the establishment of a modern judicial system. This reform has paved the way for specialized courts, the establishment of professional judges and the affirmation of the principle of double jurisdiction.
Financement participatif par souscription de titres (Crowdfunding Equity) : analyse comparée des droits français et calédonien
Authors: Buchberger Matthieu
Published: January 2021

The rules which apply to Crowdfunding platforms based in New Caledonia are very similar to the ones which apply to the French metropolitan platforms. Hence, as everywhere in France, the Caledonian platforms can offer «minibons » to the crowd. Nevertheless, specificities do exist, most of them concerning «equity crowdfunding » . Due to the competence of New Caledonia to rule commercial law and write the commercial code, the new rules, adopted in order to make «sociétés par actions simplifiées » (French Simplified stock companies) the ideal vehicle for such investments, don’t apply in New Caledonia. Concerning the «Groupement de droit particulier local » (a typical entity in New Caledonia, created for entrepreneurship in Customary land), it may be able to raise money via crowdfunding equity, but only indirectly.
Le moratoire sur la peine de mort aux États-Unis. La dimension fédérale en question
Authors: Coutant Arnaud
Published: January 2021

Among the western Democracies, the United States are an exception as far as the theoretical and practical support of the death punishment is concerned. The capital punishment is protected by the constitutional texts and by the Supreme Court. But this fact mustn’t hide the evolution of American law about this question. In fact, the moratorium on the death punishment, in the 1970’ s, implied a Federal control, asking the question of a regulation of this practice by the Supreme Court. It doesn’t signify a prohibition of the death penalty by the Federal jurisprudence. Nevertheless, the interpretation of the constitution by the Federal judges implied a states’ convergence of the practices and of the texts.
L’influence du droit souple international sur le législateur interne. Le grand saut dans l’inconnu du droit des contrats internationaux au Paraguay
Authors: Foster Ethel
Published: January 2021

Le Paraguay s’est ouvert aux échanges internationaux avec la création du MERCOSUR. Après 20 ans, il lui fallait moderniser sa législation de droit international privé des contrats parce qu’elle ne laissait aucune place à l’autonomie de la volonté. À cette fin, il a repris les Principes de La Haye relatifs aux contrats commerciaux internationaux, sorte de soft law proposée aux États souhaitant réformer leur droit national. Ces Principes permettent aux parties de choisir le droit applicable au contrat, y compris un droit a-national, solution rejetée par de nombreux États. Le législateur paraguayen a également incorporé les dispositions libérales de la Convention interaméricaine de Mexico, qui permettent aux juges, dans le silence des parties, d’appliquer la loi qui présente les liens les plus étroits avec le contrat. Il reste toutefois à savoir comment le juge sélectionnera le droit applicable sachant que le législateur paraguayen lui permet de mettre en oeuvre un droit a-national.