bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sentinel-1 and 2 Time-Series for Vegetation Mapping Using Random Forest Classification: A Case Study of Northern Croatia
Authors: Dobrinić Dino , Gašparović Mateo , Medak Damir
Published: June 2021

Land-cover (LC) mapping in a morphologically heterogeneous landscape area is a challenging task since various LC classes (e.g., crop types in agricultural areas) are spectrally similar. Most research is still mostly relying on optical satellite imagery for these tasks, whereas synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery is often neglected. Therefore, this research assessed the classification accuracy using the recent Sentinel-1 (S1) SAR and Sentinel-2 (S2) time-series data for LC mapping, especially vegetation classes. Additionally, ancillary data, such as texture features, spectral indices from S1 and S2, respectively, as well as digital elevation model (DEM), were used in different classification scenarios. Random Forest (RF) was used for classification tasks using a proposed hybrid reference dataset derived from European Land Use and Coverage Area Frame Survey (LUCAS), CORINE, and Land Parcel Identification Systems (LPIS) LC database. Based on the RF variable selection using Mean Decrease Accuracy (MDA), the combination of S1 and S2 data yielded the highest overall accuracy (OA) of 91.78%, with a total disagreement of 8.22%. The most pertinent features for vegetation mapping were GLCM Mean and Variance for S1, NDVI, along with Red and SWIR band for S2, whereas the digital elevation model produced major classification enhancement as an input feature. The results of this study demonstrated that the aforementioned approach (i.e., RF using a hybrid reference dataset) is well-suited for vegetation mapping using Sentinel imagery, which can be applied for large-scale LC classifications.
Remote Sensing-Based Analysis of Urban Landscape Change in the City of Bucharest, Romania
Authors: Nistor Constantin , Vîrghileanu Marina , Cârlan Irina , Mihai Bogdan-Andrei , Toma Liviu , Olariu Bogdan
Published: June 2021

The paper investigates the urban landscape changes for the last 50 years in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. Bucharest shows a complex structural transformation driven by the socialist urban policy, followed by an intensive real-estate market development. Our analysis is based on a diachronic set of high-resolution satellite imagery: declassified CORONA KH-4B from 1968, SPOT-1 from 1989, and multisensor stacked layers from Sentinel-1 SAR together with Sentinel-2MSI from 2018. Three different datasets of land cover/use are extracted for the reference years. Each dataset reveals its own urban structure pattern. The first one illustrates a radiography of the city in the second part of the 20th century, where rural patterns meet the modern ones, while the second one reveals the frame of a city in a full process of transformation with multiple constructions sites, based on the socialist model. The third one presents an image of a cosmopolitan city during an expansion process, with a high degree of landscape heterogeneity. All the datasets are included in a built-up change analysis in order to map and assess the spatial transformations of the city pattern over 5 decades. In order to quantify and map the changes, the Built-up Change Index (BCI) is introduced. The results highlight a particular situation linked to the policy development visions for each decade, with major changes of about 50% for different built-up classes. The GIS analysis illustrates two major landscape transformations: from the old semirural structures with houses surrounded by gardens from 1968, to a compact pattern with large districts of blocks of flats in 1989, and a contemporary city defined by an uncontrolled urban sprawl process in 2018.
Automatic Point Cloud Semantic Segmentation of Complex Railway Environments
Authors: Lamas Daniel , Soilán Mario , Grandío Javier , Riveiro Belén
Published: June 2021

The growing development of data digitalisation methods has increased their demand and applications in the transportation infrastructure field. Currently, mobile mapping systems (MMSs) are one of the most popular technologies for the acquisition of infrastructure data, with three-dimensional (3D) point clouds as their main product. In this work, a heuristic-based workflow for semantic segmentation of complex railway environments is presented, in which their most relevant elements are classified, namely, rails, masts, wiring, droppers, traffic lights, and signals. This method takes advantage of existing methodologies in the field for point cloud processing and segmentation, taking into account the geometry and spatial context of each classified element in the railway environment. This method is applied to a 90-kilometre-long railway lane and validated against a manual reference on random sections of the case study data. The results are presented and discussed at the object level, differentiating the type of the element. The indicators F1 scores obtained for each element are superior to 85%, being higher than 99% in rails, the most significant element of the infrastructure. These metrics showcase the quality of the algorithm, which proves that this method is efficient for the classification of long and variable railway sections, and for the assisted labelling of point cloud data for future applications based on training supervised learning models.
A Spatio-Temporal Local Association Query Algorithm for Multi-Source Remote Sensing Big Data
Authors: Zhu Lilu , Su Xiaolu , Hu Yanfeng , Tai Xianqing , Fu Kun
Published: June 2021

It is extremely important to extract valuable information and achieve efficient integration of remote sensing data. The multi-source and heterogeneous nature of remote sensing data leads to the increasing complexity of these relationships, and means that the processing mode based on data ontology cannot meet requirements any more. On the other hand, the multi-dimensional features of remote sensing data bring more difficulties in data query and analysis, especially for datasets with a lot of noise. Therefore, data quality has become the bottleneck of data value discovery, and a single batch query is not enough to support the optimal combination of global data resources. In this paper, we propose a spatio-temporal local association query algorithm for remote sensing data (STLAQ). Firstly, we design a spatio-temporal data model and a bottom-up spatio-temporal correlation network. Then, we use the method of partition-based clustering and the method of spectral clustering to measure the correlation between spatio-temporal correlation networks. Finally, we construct a spatio-temporal index to provide joint query capabilities. We carry out local association query efficiency experiments to verify the feasibility of STLAQ on multi-scale datasets. The results show that the STLAQ weakens the barriers between remote sensing data, and improves their application value effectively.
Coronavirus and Immigration Detention in Europe: The Short Summer of Abolitionism?
Authors: Brandariz José A. , Fernández-Bessa Cristina
Published: June 2021

In managing the coronavirus pandemic, national authorities worldwide have implemented significant re-bordering measures. This has even affected regions that had dismantled bordering practices decades ago, e.g., EU areas that lifted internal borders in 1993. In some national cases, these new arrangements had unexpected consequences in the field of immigration enforcement. A number of European jurisdictions released significant percentages of their immigration detention populations in spring 2020. The Spanish administration even decreed a moratorium on immigration detention and closed down all detention facilities from mid-spring to late summer 2020. The paper scrutinises these unprecedented changes by examining the variety of migration enforcement agendas adopted by European countries and the specific forces contributing to the prominent detention decline witnessed in the first months of the pandemic. Drawing on the Spanish case, the paper reflects on the potential impact of this promising precedent on the gradual consolidation of social and racial justice-based migration policies.
A Framework for Industry 4.0 Readiness and Maturity of Smart Manufacturing Enterprises: A Case Study
Authors: Çınar Zeki Murat , Zeeshan Qasim , Korhan Orhan
Published: June 2021

Recently, researchers have proposed various maturity models (MMs) for assessing Industry 4.0 (I4.0) adoption; however, few have proposed a readiness framework (F/W) integrated with technology forecasting (TF) to evaluate the growth of I4.0 adoption and consequently provide a roadmap for the implementation of I4.0 for smart manufacturing enterprises. The aims of this study were (1) to review the research related to existing I4.0 MMs and F/Ws; (2) to propose a modular MM with four dimensions, five levels, 60 second-level dimensions, and 246 sub-dimensions, and a generic F/W with four layers and seven hierarchy levels; and (3) to conduct a survey-based case study of an automobile parts manufacturing enterprise by applying the MM and F/W to assess the I4.0 adoption level and TF model to anticipate the growth of I4.0. MM and F/W integrated with TF provides insight into the current situation and growth of the enterprise regarding I4.0 adoption, by identifying the gap areas, and provide a foundation for I4.0 integration. Case study findings show that the enterprise’s overall maturity score is 2.73 out of 5.00, and the forecasted year of full integration of I4.0 is between 2031 and 2034 depending upon the policy decisions.
Oil Pollution Affects the Central Metabolism of Keystone Vachellia (Acacia) Trees
Authors: Ferrante Marco , Dangol Anuma , Didi-Cohen Shoshana , Winters Gidon , Tzin Vered , Segoli Michal
Published: June 2021

Vachellia (formerly Acacia) trees are native to arid environments in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where they often support the local animal and plant communities acting as keystone species. The aim of this study was to examine whether oil pollution affected the central metabolism of the native keystone trees Vachellia tortilis (Forssk.) and V. raddiana (Savi), as either adults or seedlings. The study was conducted in the Evrona Nature Reserve, a desert ecosystem in southern Israel where two major oil spills occurred in 1975 and in 2014. Leaf samples were collected to analyze the central metabolite profiles from oil-polluted and unpolluted adult trees and from Vachellia seedlings growing in oil-polluted and unpolluted soils in an outdoor setup. We found that oil pollution had a stronger effect on one-year-old seedlings than on adult trees, reducing the levels of amino acids, sugars, and organic acids. While adult trees are mildly affected by oil pollution, the effects on young seedlings can cause a long-term reduction in the population of these keystone desert trees, ultimately threatening this entire ecosystem.
Defence Expenditure–Government Debt Nexus in the Context of Sustainability in Selected Small European Union Countries
Authors: Dudzevičiūtė Gitana , Česnuitytė Vida , Prakapienė Dalia
Published: June 2021

This paper explores the relationship between defence expenditure and government debt in small European Union countries that are members of NATO, such as Luxembourg, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, DRenmark, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The investigation used Eurostat data in relation to gross government debt, as well as NATO information regarding defence expenditure as a share of GDP and its distribution by main category for the period between 2005 and 2019. The authors applied descriptive statistics and methods of multivariate statistics: Spearman’s correlation, the ANOVA test, and Life tables. Taking into consideration the tendencies of variables in all examined countries, the results show that the share of defence expenditure in GDP correlates statistically significantly and negatively with government gross debt. Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia revealed statistically significant relationships between variables, while Luxembourg, Denmark and Lithuania insignificant. In Estonia, the relationship between variables is strong and positive. Additionally, the investigation shows that, whether for increasing defence expenditure or for stable or decreasing defence expenditure, the trajectories of government debt have no clear interrelation in explored countries. Therefore, the cause of government debt by means of defence expenditure alone can only be partially explained. The insights that were drawn from this study could be applied to government finance management processes, as well as to ensure both national security and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Capital Return Rate and Carbon Storage on Forest Estates of Three Boreal Tree Species
Authors: Kärenlampi Petri P.
Published: June 2021

In this study, the capital return rate and carbon storage on forest estates with three boreal tree species are discussed. A growth model is applied, along with verified yield models of sawlogs and veneer logs. Using the normal forest principle, thinning schedules and rotation ages maximizing the estate-level capital return rate are clarified. Regeneration expenses are amortized at the end of any rotation. Capitalizations are greater and rotations longer than in recent studies. The capital return rate is a weak function of initial stem count and rotation age but differs by tree species. The initial stem count strongly contributes to biomass stored in trees. Omission of thinnings increases carbon storage very effectively but requires financial compensation. The most promising way of increasing the capital return rate is the reduction of regeneration expenses. Thinnings are triggered by stand volumes of at least 200 m3/ha. The average commercial trunk volume of trees removed in thinnings always exceeds 200 L. Risk aversion theory proposes short rotations and low stem count in seedling planting unless carbon storage compensation exists. Even a small carbon storage compensation justifies increased seedling counts and extended rotations.
Selected Good Practices in the Hungarian Agricultural Heritage
Authors: Centeri Csaba , Saláta Dénes , Szilágyi Alfréd , Orosz György , Czóbel Szilárd , Grónás Viktor , Gyulai Ferenc , Kovács Eszter , Pető Ákos , Skutai Julianna , Biró Zsolt , Malatinszky Ákos
Published: June 2021

Agriculture has always played a determining role in Hungarian landscapes. Forested areas were also under agricultural use; however, their use changed, starting at least from the Middle Ages when the need for new arable fields resulted in a tremendous decrease in forested areas. The protection of forests started for many reasons, saving them for fuelwood and construction materials. This is the reason why there were periods when forests of the Carpathian Basin suffered from considerable pressure, and even today, this pressure continues; however, the source changed from animal husbandry to tourism, forestry, and wildlife management, or rather hunting. This created the need to search for and analyse former sustainable use of the forests. Furthermore, the consideration of the use of trees/treelines is under the scope of helping the climate adaptation of arable fields. Wooded grasslands have also been mapped and various analyses were done, related to their survival. We wish to introduce some of the ancestral forms of the agricultural use of Hungarian farming, where trees play an important role, their origin, distribution, threatening factors, and their future. Sustainable arable farming systems with trees, including wood-pastures; orchard grasslands and conventional, organic, and permaculture horticultural farms with various proportion of tree cover, will be described.
Natural Resources of Tourism: Towards Sustainable Exploitation on a Regional Scale
Authors: Ruban Dmitry A.
Published: June 2021

Modern tourism studies focus largely on sociological perspectives on tourist activities [...]
The Effects of Local Food and Local Products with Geographical Indication on the Development of Tourism Gastronomy
Authors: Pamukçu Hüseyin , Saraç Ömer , Aytuğar Sercan , Sandıkçı Mustafa
Published: June 2021

Various tourism trends have appeared with developing technology. One of them is gastronomy tourism. It is necessary to determine the factors which affect the development of this type of tourism for supply determinants to be successful in marketing activities. Products registered with geographical indication are considered to be one of these elements. In this direction, the purpose of the study is to determine the effects of local food and local products registered with geographical indications on the development of gastronomy tourism. Bolu, which is one of the Turkey’s cities, was selected as implementation area. Data were collected from effective tourists, who visited Bolu, or potential tourists, who have a possibility of visiting Bolu, via questionnaire technique, and 391 questionnaires were reached. Data were solved using statistical package program. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the effect of the products registered with geographical indication. According to the research results, the most effective element on the development of gastronomy tourism is local products registered with geographical indications with an impact rate of 60%. The effect of local foods, registered with geographical indication, is 37.7%.
Causal Nexus between Sci-Tech Talent and Economic Growth in the Pan-Yangtze River Delta of China
Authors: Hu Chenhui , Jiang Haining
Published: June 2021

Spatial coupling analysis, cointegration, and the Granger causality test model were adapted from a geographical perspective to analyse the relationship between sci-tech talent and economic growth, as well as their spatial differences in the Pan-Yangtze River Delta from 1998 to 2019. The results demonstrate that the sci-tech talent centre of gravity and economic centre of gravity are close to each other, showing as two parallel chains, and there is higher spatial overlap and variation consistency between centres of gravity. Sci-tech talent and economic growth are in a long-term relationship of equilibrium, showing a better fitting cointegration equation, in which the latter affects the former. Shanghai has the greatest elasticity, with a 2.119 coefficient of sci-tech talent, while Zhejiang has the smallest elasticity with a coefficient of 0.859. There are differences in the causal nexus between sci-tech talent and economic growth. Economic growth has a unidirectional effect on sci-tech talent in Shanghai and Jiangsu while sci-tech talent has a unidirectional effect on economic growth in Zhejiang. There is a bidirectional effect between sci-tech talent and economic growth in Anhui. There is also a unidirectional effect from economic growth to sci-tech talent in the entire Pan-Yangtze River Delta.
Sustainability in the Aerospace Sector, a Transition to Clean Energy: The E2-EVM Valuation Model
Authors: Cruz Rambaud Salvador , López Pascual Joaquín , Meléndez Rodríguez Juan Carlos
Published: June 2021

Civil aviation is one of biggest industrial contributors to CO2 emissions worldwide. One of the most urgent problems of this sector is providing new technologies to continue operating in a more sustainable environment through a transition to clean energy. The Earned Value Management (EVM) model, as a traditional project management tool, is continuously being revised with new releases and extensions (e.g., ESM, EDM, QEVM, E-EVM, and ZEVM), but to date none of them has applied an expert judgment criterion to be able to modify and anticipate the final result of the project. In such a way, this paper introduces a novel approach to the topic with the so-called Enhanced and Efficient Earned Value Management (denoted E2-EVM) model by including this new capability through the real options methodology, thus helping to support the sustainability of the aerospace sector. This research focuses on three main goals: the description of recent green initiatives in the aerospace sector by checking its contribution to reaching the well-known Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the development of a new version of the EVM model by applying the real options methodology, and, finally, the financial contribution to the aerospace industry by applying these initiatives and methodologies.
Carbon Cycling in Mangrove Ecosystem of Western Bay of Bengal (India)
Authors: Banerjee Kakoli , Mitra Abhijit , Villasante Sebastián
Published: June 2021

Carbon cycling in the mangrove ecosystem is one of the important processes determining the potential of coastal vegetation (mangroves), sediment, and adjoining waters to carbon absorption. This paper investigates the carbon storage capacity of five dominant mangrove species (Avicenia marina, Avicenia officinalis, Excoecaria agallocha, Rhizophora mucronata, and Xylocarpous granatum) on the east coast of the Indian mangrove along with the role they play in the carbon cycling phenomenon. Soil and water parameters were analyzed simultaneously with Above Ground Biomass (AGB) and Above Ground Carbon (AGC) values for 10 selected stations along. The total carbon (TC) calculated from the study area varied from 51.35 ± 6.77 to 322.47 ± 110.79 tons per hectare with a mean total carbon of 117.89 ± 28.90 and 432.64 ± 106.05 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). The alarm of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for reducing carbon emissions has been addressed by calculating the amount of carbon stored in biotic (mangroves) and abiotic (soil and water) compartments. This paper focuses on the technical investigations on the factors that control the carbon cycling process in mangroves. This blue carbon will help policymakers to develop a sustainable relationship between marine resource management and coastal inhabitants so that carbon trading markets can be developed, and the ecosystem is balanced.
Skewness-Based Projection Pursuit as an Eigenvector Problem in Scale Mixtures of Skew-Normal Distributions
Authors: Arevalillo Jorge M. , Navarro Hilario
Published: June 2021

This paper addresses the projection pursuit problem assuming that the distribution of the input vector belongs to the flexible and wide family of multivariate scale mixtures of skew normal distributions. Under this assumption, skewness-based projection pursuit is set out as an eigenvector problem, described in terms of the third order cumulant matrix, as well as an eigenvector problem that involves the simultaneous diagonalization of the scatter matrices of the model. Both approaches lead to dominant eigenvectors proportional to the shape parametric vector, which accounts for the multivariate asymmetry of the model; they also shed light on the parametric interpretability of the invariant coordinate selection method and point out some alternatives for estimating the projection pursuit direction. The theoretical findings are further investigated through a simulation study whose results provide insights about the usefulness of skewness model-based projection pursuit in the statistical practice.
Crowdsourced Geospatial Infrastructure for Coastal Management and Planning for Emerging Post COVID-19 Tourism Demand
Authors: Bakogiannis Efthimios , Potsiou Chryssy , Apostolopoulos Konstantinos , Kyriakidis Charalampos
Published: June 2021

In recent years, the use of crowdsourcing has positively transformed the way geographic information is collected, stored and analyzed. Many countries have promoted and funded research into the potential of using crowdsourcing in various fields of governance. This paper focuses on developing a methodology for fast, low-cost and reliable coastal management for touristic purposes in Greece. In particular, a group of a professional surveyor have developed the methodology and trained two volunteers to collect a variety of data points of interest about a public coastal zone, such as the area size of free and unused public space, rocky areas, parking spaces (organized or not), land use types, build up and green areas, municipal lighting, pedestrian crossing points, beach umbrellas, path routes, street furniture, etc. A pilot case study was compiled for a part of the Athenian Riviera to check the methodology. Derived conclusions point out that the developed methodology may be successfully used for managing the 16,000 km length of the coastal zone of Greece for touristic purposes. Considerations for further improvements to the methodology are given.
HIV-1 Drug Resistance Genotyping in Resource Limited Settings: Current and Future Perspectives in Sequencing Technologies
Authors: Manyana Sontaga , Gounder Lilishia , Pillay Melendhran , Manasa Justen , Naidoo Kogieleum , Chimukangara Benjamin
Published: June 2021

Affordable, sensitive, and scalable technologies are needed for monitoring antiretroviral treatment (ART) success with the goal of eradicating HIV-1 infection. This review discusses use of Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing (NGS) methods for HIV-1 drug resistance (HIVDR) genotyping, focusing on their use in resource limited settings (RLS). Sanger sequencing remains the gold-standard method for detecting HIVDR mutations of clinical relevance but is mainly limited by high sequencing costs and low-throughput. NGS is becoming a more common sequencing method, with the ability to detect low-abundance drug-resistant variants and reduce per sample costs through sample pooling and massive parallel sequencing. However, use of NGS in RLS is mainly limited by infrastructure costs. Given these shortcomings, our review discusses sequencing technologies for HIVDR genotyping, focusing on common in-house and commercial assays, challenges with Sanger sequencing in keeping up with changes in HIV-1 treatment programs, as well as challenges with NGS that limit its implementation in RLS and in clinical diagnostics. We further discuss knowledge gaps and offer recommendations on how to overcome existing barriers for implementing HIVDR genotyping in RLS, to make informed clinical decisions that improve quality of life for people living with HIV.
Evidence of Transcriptional Shutoff by Pathogenic Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia Virus in Rainbow Trout
Authors: Cano Irene , Santos Eduarda M. , Moore Karen , Farbos Audrey , van Aerle Ronny
Published: June 2021

The basis of pathogenicity of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) was analysed in the transcriptome of a rainbow trout cell line inoculated with pathogenic and non-pathogenic VHSV isolates. Although both VHSV isolates showed similar viral replication patterns, the number of differentially expressed genes was 42-fold higher in cells inoculated with the non-pathogenic VHSV at 3 h post inoculation (hpi). Infection with the non-pathogenic isolate resulted in Gene Ontologies (GO) enrichment of terms such as immune response, cytokine-mediated signalling pathway, regulation of translational initiation, unfolded protein binding, and protein folding, and induced an over-representation of the p53, PPAR, and TGF-β signalling pathways. Inoculation with the pathogenic isolate resulted in the GO enrichment of terms related to lipid metabolism and the salmonella infection KEGG pathway involved in the rearrangement of the cytoskeleton. Antiviral response was evident at 12hpi in cells infected with the pathogenic isolate. Overall, the data showed a delay in the response of genes involved in immune responses and viral sensing in cells inoculated with the pathogenic isolate and suggest transcriptional shutoff and immune avoidance as a critical mechanism of pathogenicity in VHSV. These pathways offer opportunities to further understand and manage VHSV pathogenicity in rainbow trout.
Global mRNA and miRNA Analysis Reveal Key Processes in the Initial Response to Infection with WSSV in the Pacific Whiteleg Shrimp
Authors: Millard Rebecca S. , Bickley Lisa K. , Bateman Kelly S. , Farbos Audrey , Minardi Diana , Moore Karen , Ross Stuart H. , Stentiford Grant D. , Tyler Charles R. , van Aerle Ronny , Santos Eduarda M.
Published: June 2021

White Spot Disease (WSD) presents a major barrier to penaeid shrimp production. Mechanisms underlying White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) susceptibility in penaeids are poorly understood due to limited information related to early infection. We investigated mRNA and miRNA transcription in Penaeus vannamei over 36 h following infection. Over this time course, 6192 transcripts and 27 miRNAs were differentially expressed—with limited differential expression from 3–12 h post injection (hpi) and a more significant transcriptional response associated with the onset of disease symptoms (24 hpi). During early infection, regulated processes included cytoskeletal remodelling and alterations in phagocytic activity that may assist WSSV entry and translocation, novel miRNA-induced metabolic shifts, and the downregulation of ATP-dependent proton transporter subunits that may impair cellular recycling. During later infection, uncoupling of the electron transport chain may drive cellular dysfunction and lead to high mortalities in infected penaeids. We propose that post-transcriptional silencing of the immune priming gene Dscam (downregulated following infections) by a novel shrimp miRNA (Pva-pmiR-78; upregulated) as a potential mechanism preventing future recognition of WSSV that may be suppressed in surviving shrimp. Our findings improve our understanding of WSD pathogenesis in P. vannamei and provide potential avenues for future development of prophylactics and treatments.
Clinical Course and Risk Factors for In-Hospital Mortality of 205 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia in Como, Lombardy Region, Italy
Authors: Turrini Mauro , Gardellini Angelo , Beretta Livia , Buzzi Lucia , Ferrario Stefano , Vasile Sabrina , Clerici Raffaella , Colzani Andrea , Liparulo Luigi , Scognamiglio Giovanni , Imperiali Gianni , Corrado Giovanni , Strada Antonello , Galletti Marco , Castiglione Nunzio , Zanon Claudio
Published: June 2021

The aim of this study is to explore risk factors for in-hospital mortality and describe the effectiveness of different treatment strategies of 205 laboratory-confirmed cases infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the Lombardy outbreak. All patients received the best supportive care and specific interventions that included the main drugs being tested for repurposing to treat COVID-19, such as hydroxychloroquine, anticoagulation and antiviral drugs, steroids, and interleukin-6 pathway inhibitors. Clinical, laboratory, and treatment characteristics were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods to explore their impact on in-hospital mortality. Univariate analyses showed prognostic significance for age greater than 70 years, the presence of two or more relevant comorbidities, a P/F ratio less than 200 at presentation, elevated LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) and CRP (C-reactive protein) values, intermediate- or therapeutic-dose anticoagulation, hydroxychloroquine, early antiviral therapy with lopinavir/ritonavir, short courses of steroids, and tocilizumab therapy. Multivariable regression confirmed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with age older than 70 years (OR 3.26) and a reduction in mortality for patients treated with anticoagulant (−0.37), antiviral lopinavir/ritonavir (−1.22), or steroid (−0.59) therapy. In contrast, hydroxychloroquine and tocilizumab have not been confirmed to have a significant effect in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Results from this real-life single-center experience are in agreement and confirm actual literature data on SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in terms of both clinical risk factors for in-hospital mortality and the effectiveness of the different therapies proposed for the management of COVID19 disease.
Structure and Immunogenicity of the Bordetella pertussis LOS-Derived Oligosaccharides in the Endosomal-Like Pre-Processing Mice Model
Authors: Koj Sabina , Ucieklak Karolina , Lugowski Czeslaw , Niedziela Tomasz
Published: June 2021

Glycoproteins are processed endosomally prior to presentation to T cells and subsequent induction of specific antibodies. The sugar part of glycoconjugate may be degraded while the type of the process depends on the features of the particular structure. The generated carbohydrate epitopes may differ from native structures and influence immunogenicity of the antigens. We have devised a model of endosomal-like pre-processing of Bordetella pertussis 186 oligosaccharides (OSs) to verify how it affects the immunogenicity of their conjugates. The glycoconjugates of structurally defined forms of the dodecasaccharide OS were synthesized and their immunogenicity was assessed using immunochemical methods. The structural features of the oligosaccharides and their sensitivity to deamination were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. The distal trisaccharide-comprising pentasaccharide conjugated to a protein was the most effective in inducing immune response against the B. pertussis 186 LOS and the immune response to the complete OS conjugates was significantly lower. This could be explained by the loss of the distal trisaccharide during the in-cell deamination process suggesting that the native structure is not optimal for a vaccine antigen. Consequently, our research has shown that designing of new glycoconjugate vaccines requires the antigen structures to be verified in context of possible endosomal reactions beforehand.
Finding Children with High Risk of Non-Vaccination in 92 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Decision Tree Approach
Authors: Santos Thiago M. , Cata-Preta Bianca O. , Victora Cesar G. , Barros Aluisio J. D.
Published: June 2021

Reducing vaccination inequalities is a key goal of the Immunization Agenda 2030. Our main objective was to identify high-risk groups of children who received no vaccines (zero-dose children). A decision tree approach was used for 92 low- and middle-income countries using data from Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, allowing the identification of groups of children aged 12–23 months at high risk of being zero dose (no doses of the four basic vaccines—BCG, polio, DPT and measles). Three high-risk groups were identified in the analysis combining all countries. The group with the highest zero-dose prevalence (42%) included 4% of all children, but almost one in every four zero-dose children in the sample. It included children whose mothers did not receive the tetanus vaccine during and before the pregnancy, who had no antenatal care visits and who did not deliver in a health facility. Separate analyses by country presented similar results. Children who have been missed by vaccination services were also left out by other primary health care interventions, especially those related to antenatal and delivery care. There is an opportunity for better integration among services in order to achieve high and equitable immunization coverage.
Impacts of Side Effects to BNT162b2 and the First Dose of ChAdOx1 Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on Work Productivity, the Need for Medical Attention, and Vaccine Acceptance: A Multicenter Survey on Healthcare Workers in Referral Teaching Hospitals in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Kim Tark , Park Se Yoon , Yu Shinae , Park Jung Wan , Lee Eunjung , Jeon Min Hyok , Kim Tae Hyong , Choo Eun Ju
Published: June 2021

To establish a successful anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategy, it is necessary to take possible tradeoffs into account. We conducted a survey on vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) inthree referral teaching hospitals in the Republic of Korea. We investigated the frequency of vaccination side effects (SEs), the impact on their work productivity, the need for medical attention, and vaccine acceptance. Three groups of HCWs were surveyed: 1406 who had received the first dose of BNT162b2 (BNT162b2#1), 1168 who had received the second dose of BNT162b2 (BNT162b2#2), and 1679 who had received the first dose of ChAdOx1 (ChAdOx1#1). More SEs and impact on work productivity were reported in ChAdOx1#1 than in the other two groups. However, among individuals aged ≥40 years, no significant difference of absence from work was found between ChAdOx1#1 and BN162b2#2 (4.4%, 31/699 vs. 3.0%, 12/405; p = 0.26), and none were hospitalized. Older HCWs in ChAdOx1#1 showed intention to receive the second dose of the vaccine. Although the incidence of SEs and their impacts were greater after the first dose of ChAdOx1 than BNT162b2 in young people, significant impact of SEs seemed to be rare in individuals aged ≥40 years, regardless of the vaccine they received.
The Ecological Relationship of Groundwater–Soil–Vegetation in the Oasis–Desert Transition Zone of the Shiyang River Basin
Authors: Cao Le , Nie Zhenlong , Liu Min , Wang Lifang , Wang Jinzhe , Wang Qian
Published: June 2021

Groundwater is an important ecological water source in arid areas. Groundwater depth (GWD) is an important indicator that affects vegetation growth and soil salinization. Clarifying the coupling relationship between vegetation, groundwater, and soil in arid areas is beneficial to the prevention of environmental problems such as desertification and salinization. Existing studies lack research on the water–soil–vegetation relationship in typical areas, especially in shallow groundwater areas. In this study, the shallow groundwater area in Minqin, northwest China, was taken as study area, and vegetation surveys and soil samples collection were conducted. The relationships between vegetation fractional coverage (VFC) and GWD, soil salinity, soil moisture, and precipitation were comprehensively analyzed. The results showed low soil salinity in the riparian zone and high soil salinity in other shallow-buried areas with salinization problems. Soil salinity was negatively correlated with VFC (R = −0.4). When soil salinity >3 g/kg, VFC was less than 20%. Meanwhile, when GWD >10 m, VFC was usually less than 15%. In the areas with soil salinity <3 g/kg, when GWD was in the range of 4–10 m, VFC was positively correlated with soil moisture content (R = 0.99), and vegetation growth mainly depended on surface soil water, which was significantly affected by precipitation. When GWD was less than 4 m, VFC was negatively correlated with GWD (R = −0.78), and vegetation growth mainly relied on groundwater and soil water. There are obvious ecological differences in the shallow-buried areas in Minqin. Hence, it is reasonable to consider zoning and grading policies for ecological protection.
Overland Flow Resistance Law under Sparse Stem Vegetation Coverage
Authors: Zhang Jingzhou , Zhang Shengtang , Chen Si , Liu Ming , Xu Xuefeng , Zhou Jiansen , Wang Wenjun , Ma Lijun , Wang Chuantao
Published: June 2021

To explore the characteristics of overland flow resistance under the condition of sparse vegetative stem coverage and improve the basic theoretical research of overland flow, the resistance characteristics of overland flow were systematically investigated under four slope gradients (S), seven flow discharges (Q), and six degrees of vegetation coverage (Cr). The results show that the Manning roughness coefficient (n) changes with the ratio of water depth to vegetation height (h/hv) while the Reynolds number (Re), Froude number (Fr), and slope (S) are closely related to vegetation coverage. Meanwhile, h/hv, Re, and Cr have strong positive correlations with n, while Fr and S have strong negative correlations with n. Through data regression analysis, a power function relationship between n and hydraulic parameters was observed and sensitivity analysis was performed. It was concluded that the relationship between n and h/hv, Re, Cr, Q, and S shows the same law; in particular, for sparse stem vegetation coverage, Cr is the dominant factor affecting overland flow resistance under zero slope condition, while Cr is no longer the first dominant factor affecting overland flow resistance under non-zero slope condition. In the relationship between n and Fr, Cr has the least effect on overland flow resistance. This indicates that when Manning roughness coefficient is correlated with different hydraulic parameters, the same vegetation coverage has different effects on overland flow resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to study overland flow resistance under the condition of sparse stalk vegetation coverage.
Decision Support Model for Ecological Operation of Reservoirs Based on Dynamic Bayesian Network
Authors: Zhou Tao , Dong Zengchuan , Chen Xiuxiu , Ran Qihua
Published: June 2021

In this study, a model was proposed based on the sustainable boundary approach, to provide decision support for reservoir ecological operation with the dynamic Bayesian network. The proposed model was developed in four steps: (1) calculating and verifying the sustainable boundaries in combination with the ecological objectives of the study area, (2) generating the learning samples by establishing an optimal operation model and a Monte Carlo simulation model, (3) establishing and training a dynamic Bayesian network by learning the examples and (4) calculating the probability of the economic and ecological targets exceeding the set threshold from time to time with the trained dynamic Bayesian network model. Using the proposed model, the water drawing of the reservoir can be adjusted dynamically according to the probability of the economic and ecological targets exceeding the set threshold during reservoir operation. In this study, the proposed model was applied to the middle reaches of Heihe River, the effect of water supply proportion on the probability of the economic target exceeding the set threshold was analyzed, and the response of the reservoir water storage in each period to the probability of the target exceeding the set threshold was calculated. The results show that the risks can be analyzed with the proposed model. Compared with the existing studies, the proposed model provides guidance for the ecological operation of the reservoir from time to time and technical support for the formulation of reservoir operation chart. Compared with the operation model based on the designed guaranteed rate, the reservoir operation model based on uncertainty reduces the variation range of ecological flow shortage or the overflow rate and the economic loss rate by 5% and 6%, respectively. Thus, it can be seen that the decision support model based on the dynamic Bayesian network can effectively reduce the influence of water inflow and rainfall uncertainties on reservoir operation.
Recent Changes in Hydroclimatic Patterns over Medium Niger River Basins at the Origin of the 2020 Flood in Niamey (Niger)
Authors: Massazza Giovanni , Bacci Maurizio , Descroix Luc , Ibrahim Mohamed Housseini , Fiorillo Edoardo , Katiellou Gaptia Lawan , Panthou Geremy , Pezzoli Alessandro , Rosso Maurizio , Sauzedde Elisa , Terenziani Andrea , De Filippis Tiziana , Rocchi Leandro , Burrone Sara , Tiepolo Maurizio , Vischel Théo , Tarchiani Vieri
Published: June 2021

Niamey, the capital of Niger, is particularly prone to floods, since it is on the banks of the Niger River, which in its middle basin has two flood peaks: one in summer (the red flood) and one in winter (the black flood). In 2020, the Niger River in Niamey reached its all-time highest levels following an abundant rainy season. On the other hand, the floods in Niamey have been particularly frequent in the last decade, a symptom of a change in hydroclimatic behaviour already observed since the end of the great droughts of the 1970s and 1980s and which is identified with the name of Sahelian Paradox. This study, starting from the analysis of the 2020 flood and from the update of the rating curve of the Niamey hydrometric station, analyses the rainfall–runoff relationship on the Sahelian basins of the Medium Niger River Basin (MNRB) that are at the origin of the local flood. The comparative analysis of runoffs, annual maximum flows (AMAX) and runoff coefficients with various rainfall indices calculated on gridded datasets allowed to hydroclimatically characterise the last decade as a different period from the wet one before the drought, the dry one and the post-drought one. Compared to the last one, the current period is characterised by a sustained increase in hydrological indicators (AMAX +27%) consistent with the increase in both the accumulation of precipitation (+11%) and the number (+51%) and magnitude (+54%) of extreme events in the MNRB. Furthermore, a greater concentration of rainfall and extremes (+78%) in August contributes to reinforcing the red flood’s positive anomalies (+2.23 st.dev in 2020). The study indicates that under these conditions the frequency of extreme hydrological events in Niamey will tend to increase further also because of the concurrence of drivers such as river-bed silting and levee effects. Consequently, the study concludes with the need for a comprehensive flood-risk assessment on the Niamey city that considers both recent hydroclimatic trends and urbanisation dynamics in flood zones hence defining the most appropriate risk-reduction strategies.
Indigenous Water Ontologies, Hydro-Development and the Human/More-Than-Human Right to Water: A Call for Critical Engagement with Plurilegal Water Realities
Authors: Viaene Lieselotte
Published: June 2021

Water conflicts across the world are bringing to the fore fundamental challenges to the anthropocentric boundaries of the human rights paradigm. Engaging with the multi-layered legal ethnographic setting of the Xalalá dam project in Maya Q’eqchi’ territory in Guatemala, I will critically and empirically unpack not only the anthropocentric boundaries of the hegemonic human rights paradigm, but also the ontological differences between indigenous and Euro-Western legal conceptualizations of human-water-life. I argue that it is necessary to pave the way for urgent rethinking of the human right to water and, more broadly, human rights beyond the modern divide of nature-culture. International law and human rights scholars should therefore not be afraid of plurilegal water realities and should start engaging with these ontologically different concepts and practices. Embarking on a bottom-up co-theorizing about human and beyond-the-human water rights will be imperative to avoid recolonization of indigenous knowledges-ontologies by non-indigenous scholarships and public policy.
Emergency immunoprophylaxis of tetanus in the practice of specialists with secondary medical education
Authors: Guseva Larisa Vasilievna
Published: June 2021

The article is devoted to an urgent problem of public health, i.e. ensuring the quality and safety of emergency tetanus immunization. The issues of storage of immunobiological drugs are considered. The technology of administration of tetanus toxoid and anti-tetanus serum is presented.
Peculiarities of the integration of medical care and the system of professional education in the Tyumen region in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Prilepskaya Olesya Aleksandrovna
Published: June 2021

The article assesses the current state of integration of medical care, medical science and the educational process in vocational education and healthcare institutions in the context of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection. The role of professional educational organizations in the implementation of practical assistance in medical care for patients with COVID-19 in accordance with the innovative requirements of modern Russian education and healthcare is highlighted.
Worship of Lord Shiva and the development of Religious Principles
Authors: A Maria Dhanabal
Published: June 2021

Down the century’s humans embraced nature for living and worshiped nature as God. Humans were one with nature for their happiness. He thanked nature for all goodness received from it. He worshipped nature as God to ward off evil spirits. Worshiping nature is antiquity. Religious factors are found uniquely and comprehensively in the primitive literature. But, the word (Samayam) religion is not found anywhere in olden literature. Moreover, the names Saivam and Vainavam are also not found in them. Despite, this article explores how the worship of Lord Shiva came to existence and the religio-morals in Tamilnadu.
Atheism is the cult of the grave
Authors: M Dhanalakshmi
Published: June 2021

The Superman was afraid of nature and began to worship. In its aftermath, the warrior who guarded the tribal society was worshiped as a deity. In the course of time, heroic worship became a planting ceremony. Later, idolatry took root because of racism. However, the purpose of this study is to show that the Nadukars, which were celebrated by the ancient Tamils, are still worshiped as idols.