bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Abiotic Soil Characteristics Using Sentinel-2 at Nature-Management-Relevant Spatial Scales and Extents
Authors: Moeslund Jesper Erenskjold , Damgaard Christian Frølund
Published: August 2024

Knowledge of local plant community characteristics is imperative for practical nature planning and management, and for understanding plant diversity and distribution drivers. Today, retrieving such data is only possible by fieldwork and is hence costly both in time and money. Here, we used nine bands from multispectral high-to-medium resolution (10–60 m) satellite data (Sentinel-2) and machine learning to predict local vegetation plot characteristics over a broad area (approx. 30,000 km2) in terms of plants’ preferences for soil moisture, soil fertility, and pH, mirroring the levels of the corresponding actual soil factors. These factors are believed to be among the most important for local plant community composition. Our results showed that there are clear links between the Sentinel-2 data and plants’ abiotic soil preferences, and using solely satellite data we achieved predictive powers between 26 and 59%, improving to around 70% when habitat information was included as a predictor. This shows that plants’ abiotic soil preferences can be detected quite well from space, but also that retrieving soil characteristics using satellites is complicated and that perfect detection of soil conditions using remote sensing—if at all possible—needs further methodological and data development.
Mapping Shrub Biomass at 10 m Resolution by Integrating Field Measurements, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and Multi-Source Satellite Observations
Authors: Liu Wenchao , Wang Jie , Hu Yang , Ma Taiyong , Otgonbayar Munkhdulam , Li Chunbo , Li You , Yang Jilin
Published: August 2024

Accurately estimating shrub biomass in arid and semi-arid regions is critical for understanding ecosystem productivity and carbon stocks at both local and global scales. Due to the short and sparse features of shrubs, capturing the shrub biomass accurately by satellite observations is challenging. Previous studies mostly used ground samples and satellite observations to estimate shrub biomass by establishing a direct connection, which was often hindered by the limited number of ground samples and spatial scale mismatch between samples and observations. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide opportunities to obtain more samples that are in line with the aspects of satellite observations (i.e., scale) for regional-scale shrub biomass estimations accurately with low costs. However, few studies have been conducted based on the air-space-ground-scale connection assisted by UAVs. Here we developed a framework for estimating 10 m shrub biomass at a regional scale by integrating ground measurements, UAV, Landsat, and Sentinel-1/2 observations. First, the spatial distribution map of shrublands and non-shrublands was generated in 2023 in the Helan Mountains of Ningxia province, China. This map had an F1 score of 0.92. Subsequently, the UAV-based shrub biomass map was estimated using an empirical model between the biomass and the crown area of shrubs, which was aggregated at a 10 m × 10 m grid to match the spatial resolution of Sentinel-1/2 images. Then, a regional-scale estimation model of shrub biomass was developed with a random forest regression (RFR) approach driven by ground biomass measurements, UAV-based biomass, and the optimal satellite metrics. Finally, the developed model was used to produce the biomass map of shrublands over the study area in 2023. The uncertainty of the resultant biomass map was characterized by the pixel-level standard deviation (SD) using the leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) method. The results suggested that the integration of multi-scale observations from the ground, UAVs, and satellites provided a promising approach to obtaining the regional shrub biomass accurately. Our developed model, which integrates satellite spectral bands and vegetation indices (R2 = 0.62), outperformed models driven solely by spectral bands (R2 = 0.33) or vegetation indices (R2 = 0.55). In addition, our estimated biomass has an average uncertainty of less than 4%, with the lowest values (<2%) occurring in regions with high shrub coverage (>30%) and biomass production (>300 g/m2). This study provides a methodology to accurately monitor the shrub biomass from satellite images assisted by near-ground UAV observations as well as ground measurements.
An Effective LiDAR-Inertial SLAM-Based Map Construction Method for Outdoor Environments
Authors: Liu Yanjie , Wang Chao , Wu Heng , Wei Yanlong
Published: August 2024

SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) is essential for accurate positioning and reasonable path planning in outdoor mobile robots. LiDAR SLAM is currently the dominant method for creating outdoor environment maps. However, the mainstream LiDAR SLAM algorithms have a single point cloud feature extraction process at the front end, and most of the loop closure detection at the back end is based on RNN (radius nearest neighbor). This results in low mapping accuracy and poor real-time performance. To solve this problem, we integrated the functions of point cloud segmentation and Scan Context loop closure detection based on the advanced LiDAR-inertial SLAM algorithm (LIO-SAM). First, we employed range images to extract ground points from raw LiDAR data, followed by the BFS (breadth-first search) algorithm to cluster non-ground points and downsample outliers. Then, we calculated the curvature to extract planar points from ground points and corner points from clustered segmented non-ground points. Finally, we used the Scan Context method for loop closure detection to improve back-end mapping speed and reduce odometry drift. Experimental validation with the KITTI dataset verified the advantages of the proposed method, and combined with Walking, Park, and other datasets comprehensively verified that the proposed method had good accuracy and real-time performance.
Earth Observation Multi-Spectral Image Fusion with Transformers for Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 Using Synthetic Training Data
Authors: Cristille Pierre-Laurent , Bernhard Emmanuel , Cox Nick L. J. , Bernard-Salas Jeronimo , Mangin Antoine
Published: August 2024

With the increasing number of ongoing space missions for Earth Observation (EO), there is a need to enhance data products by combining observations from various remote sensing instruments. We introduce a new Transformer-based approach for data fusion, achieving up to a 10- to-30-fold increase in the spatial resolution of our hyperspectral data. We trained the network on a synthetic set of Sentinel-2 (S2) and Sentinel-3 (S3) images, simulated from the hyperspectral mission EnMAP (30 m resolution), leading to a fused product of 21 bands at a 30 m ground resolution. The performances were calculated by fusing original S2 (12 bands, 10, 20, and 60 m resolutions) and S3 (21 bands, 300 m resolution) images. To go beyond EnMap’s ground resolution, the network was also trained using a generic set of non-EO images from the CAVE dataset. However, we found that training the network on contextually relevant data is crucial. The EO-trained network significantly outperformed the non-EO-trained one. Finally, we observed that the original network, trained at 30 m ground resolution, performed well when fed images at 10 m ground resolution, likely due to the flexibility of Transformer-based networks.
AOHDL: Adversarial Optimized Hybrid Deep Learning Design for Preventing Attack in Radar Target Detection
Authors: Akhtar Muhammad Moin , Li Yong , Cheng Wei , Dong Limeng , Tan Yumei , Geng Langhuan
Published: August 2024

In autonomous driving, Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW) radar has gained widespread acceptance for target detection due to its resilience and dependability under diverse weather and illumination circumstances. Although deep learning radar target identification models have seen fast improvement, there is a lack of research on their susceptibility to adversarial attacks. Various spoofing attack techniques have been suggested to target radar sensors by deliberately sending certain signals through specialized devices. In this paper, we proposed a new adversarial deep learning network for spoofing attacks in radar target detection (RTD). Multi-level adversarial attack prevention using deep learning is designed for the coherence pulse deep feature map from DAALnet and Range-Doppler (RD) map from TDDLnet. After the discrimination of the attack, optimization of hybrid deep learning (OHDL) integrated with enhanced PSO is used to predict the range and velocity of the target. Simulations are performed to evaluate the sensitivity of AOHDL for different radar environment configurations. RMSE of AOHDL is almost the same as OHDL without attack conditions and it outperforms the earlier RTD implementations.
Monitoring of Spatio-Temporal Variations of Oil Slicks via the Collocation of Multi-Source Satellite Images
Authors: La Tran Vu , Pelich Ramona-Maria , Li Yu , Matgen Patrick , Chini Marco
Published: August 2024

Monitoring oil drift by integrating multi-source satellite imagery has been a relatively underexplored practice due to the limited time-sampling of datasets. However, this limitation has been mitigated by the emergence of new satellite constellations equipped with both Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical sensors. In this manuscript, we take advantage of multi-temporal and multi-source satellite imagery, incorporating SAR (Sentinel-1 and ICEYE-X) and optical data (Sentinel-2/3 and Landsat-8/9), to provide insights into the spatio-temporal variations of oil spills. We also analyze the impact of met–ocean conditions on oil drift, focusing on two specific scenarios: marine floating oil slicks off the coast of Qatar and oil spills resulting from a shipwreck off the coast of Mauritius. By overlaying oils detected from various sources, we observe their short-term and long-term evolution. Our analysis highlights the finding that changes in oil structure and size are influenced by strong surface winds, while surface currents predominantly affect the spread of oil spills. Moreover, to detect oil slicks across different datasets, we propose an innovative unsupervised algorithm that combines a Bayesian approach used to detect oil and look-alike objects with an oil contours approach distinguishing oil from look-alikes. This algorithm can be applied to both SAR and optical data, and the results demonstrate its ability to accurately identify oil slicks, even in the presence of oil look-alikes and under varying met–ocean conditions.
Assessing Indigenous Community Radio as Two-Way Communications Infrastructure: Communal Engagement and Political Mobilization in Ecuador
Authors: Tapia Andrés , Simpson Nicholas , Smith-Morris Carolyn
Published: August 2024

Because Indigenous peoples face unique challenges to their autonomy and lifeways from dominant media influences, Indigenous radio has been used to facilitate intra-community engagement among these groups. A small but long-standing literature reveals both strengths and vulnerabilities of Indigenous radio, though the rapidly changing communications landscape suggests new possibilities for these media sources. Our research was a community–academic collaboration that employed exploratory and mixed (survey, interview, and observational) methods across two Indigenous communities in the Central and Southern Amazon of Ecuador. The Indigenous radio station, La Voz de la CONFENIAE (Confederación de las Nacionalidades Indígenas de la Amazonía Ecuatoriana), sought to perform an impact assessment that would measure both the character and extent of the impact of radio programming with sensitivity to the priorities of listeners as to the purpose, function, and appropriate impact metrics for an Indigenous radio station. A total of 92 surveys and 30 interviews across two communities were conducted in July and August of 2022. Our findings reveal (a) the informational function of this radio for the Indigenous communities in its listening reach; (b) that radio programming conveys family, community, and cultural knowledge bi-directionally both from and to its listening audience; and (c) that members of the audience were, in turn, prompted to action and engagement. In our discussion, we identify opportunities to improve the assessment of community-owned radio as a bidirectional resource for communities. Our work also advances a model of self-determined and stakeholder-driven evaluation for Indigenous community radio, with particular attention to the material (e.g., behavioral) impacts of radio messages and potential for radio to support communal and collective engagements desired by the communities it serves.
Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Croatian Version of the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ)
Authors: Sore Katarina , Franic Frane , Androja Luka , Batarelo Kokic Ivana , Marčinko Darko , Drmic Stipe , Markser Zdravko Valentin , Franic Tomislav
Published: August 2024

The aim of this study is to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Croatian Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ-Cro) as part of the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) validation. We assessed the reliability and applicability of the APSQ-Cro among Croatian athletes. The international sports community is increasingly focused on mental health issues in athletes, highlighting the need for early detection tools like the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ) and SMHAT-1. We included 869 Croatian competing athletes across 54 sports who received a link to access the WEB-based questionnaire. The Croatian Olympic Board helped in distributing the questionnaires, aiming to reach as many and as diverse a group of registered competing athletes in Croatia as possible. Results showed a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75 for the entire questionnaire, indicating acceptable reliability. An exploratory strategy of factor analysis was used to determine the underlying structure of the APSQ-Cro. For this purpose, the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett’s test for sphericity were performed to ensure the suitability of the data. The KMO test ensured sampling adequacy, with a measure of 0.77 indicating suitability for factor analysis, while Bartlett’s test confirmed significant correlations among variables (χ2 = 2779.155, df = 45, p < 0.001), validating the dataset’s appropriateness for data reduction techniques. The factor analysis, together with the Cattell scree test and varimax rotation, resulted in a two-factor structure for the APSQ-Cro. Factor 1 included items related to internal psychological struggles, while Factor 2 included items related to external pressures from the athletic environment. These two factors explained 53% of the variability, with Cronbach’s alphas of 0.75 and 0.88 for the respective factors. The APSQ-Cro is a valid and reliable tool for assessing distress in Croatian athletes. Croatian athletes’ sporting experience will be improved with the broad adoption of the APSQ-Cro, which can help detect early signs of psychological distress and subsequently improve mental health outcomes.
Expressions for Stress Concentration Factors for T-Joints of Hollow and Concrete-Filled Square Cross-Sections for In-Plane Axial and Bending Loads
Authors: Gao Liyong , Jiang Lei , Wang Xingzheng , Gao Sheng , Cui Hongxu , Liu Jun , Zhou Hekuan
Published: August 2024

In recent years, square hollow section (SHS) joints with concrete-filled square hollow section (CFSHS) chords have increasingly been used in truss bridges where the fatigue life reliability is a critical issue. In this paper, a finite element analysis was performed to investigate the SCFs in SHS-CFSHS T-joints under in-plane bending in the brace, axial force in the chord and in-plane bending in the chord. The finite element models were developed and validated with experimental results. Then a parametric study was conducted with a reasonable range of three key non-dimensional parameters, i.e., β (width ratio between brace and chord), 2γ (width–to–wall thickness ratio of the chord) and τ (wall thickness ratio between brace and chord). Consequently, the stress concentration factor formulae for the fatigue design of SHS-CFSHS T-joints were proposed through multiple regression analysis. For in-plane bending in the brace, the maximum stress concentration factors were found at lines B and C for thick-walled chords (2γ = 25.0), while the stress concentration factors at all the lines need to be checked for thin-walled chords (2γ < 16.0). Under axial force in the chord and in-plane bending in the chord, only stress concentration factors at lines C and D needed to be considered. A comparison of stress concentration factors between SHS-SHS and SHS-CFSHS joints showed reductions of 10~26% and 14~31% in stress concentration factors in SHS-CFSHS joints under axial force in the brace and in-plane bending in the brace, respectively. In addition, it showed a general increase in stress concentration factors in SHS-CFSHS joints under axial force and in-plane bending in the chord. This reduction is attributed to the reduction in chord face deformation benefiting from the in-filled concrete. Meanwhile, the stress concentration factors caused by loads in the chord are much lower than those caused by loads in the brace. This work complements earlier studies on SHS-CFSHS T-joints under axial force.
Sex-Based Differences in Pressure Pain Thresholds of Myofascial Trigger Points in Cervical and Cranial Muscles in Tension-Type Headache: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Monti-Ballano Sofía , Lucha-López María Orosia , Hidalgo-García César , Ferrández-Laliena Loreto , Vicente-Pina Lucía , Sánchez-Rodríguez Rocío , Tricás-Vidal Héctor José , Tricás-Moreno José Miguel
Published: August 2024

Background: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent primary headache. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) reflect the pressure pain sensitivity of the tissues. Women with TTH have showed greater pressure hypersensitivity in some muscles compared to men. The aim of this study was to compare the PPTs from myofascial trigger points in cervical and cranial muscles which might contribute to headaches between men and women with TTH. Methods: An observational and correlation cross-sectional study was performed. PPTs were evaluated bilaterally and compared between men and women in the following muscles: upper trapezius, splenius capitis and cervicis, semispinalis, rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis superior and inferior, occipitofrontalis posterior and anterior, temporalis, masseter, clavicular and sternal head of sternocleidomastoid, zygomaticus major, and levator scapulae. The mean PPT was calculated as well. Results: Significant differences showing lower PPTs in women compared to men were found in the mean PPT (p = 0.000) and in all the points except in the left clavicular head of the sternocleidomastoid (p = 0.093) and in the left masseter (p = 0.069). Conclusions: Lower PPTs from myofascial trigger points in cervical and cranial muscles, which might contribute to headaches, were observed in women compared to men with TTH. The mean PPT was also lower in women than in men, suggesting the need for gender-specific approaches in the treatment of TTH.
New Fixed Point Theorems for Generalized Meir–Keeler Type Nonlinear Mappings with Applications to Fixed Point Theory
Authors: Huang Shin-Yi , Du Wei-Shih
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we investigate new fixed point theorems for generalized Meir–Keeler type nonlinear mappings satisfying the condition (DH). As applications, we obtain many new fixed point theorems which generalize and improve several results available in the corresponding literature. An example is provided to illustrate and support our main results.
Hierarchical Hypervapotron Structure Integrated with Microchannels for Advancement of Thermohydraulic Performance
Authors: Meng Xin , Cheng Kai , Zhao Qi , Chen Xuemei
Published: August 2024

The hypervapotron structure was considered to be a feasible configuration to meet the high heat-dissipating requirement of divertors in nuclear fusion devices. In this work, symmetric CuCrZr-based transverse microchannels (TMHC) and longitudinal microchannels (LMHC) with an integrated hypervapotron channel were proposed and manufactured, and subcooled flow boiling experiments were conducted using deionized water at an inlet temperature of 20 °C with a traditional flat-type hypervapotron channel (FHC) for comparison. The LMHC and TMHC obtained lower wall temperatures than the FHC for all conditions, and the TMHC yielded the lowest temperatures. The heat transfer coefficients of the LMHC and TMHC outperformed the FHC due to the enlarged heat transfer area, and the TMHC had the greatest heat transfer coefficient (maximumly increased by 132% compared to the FHC) because the transverse-arranged microchannels were conductive, promoting the convection and liquid replenishment ability by introducing branch flow between fins; however, the microchannels of the LMHC were insensible to flow velocities due to the block effect of longitudinal microchannels. The LMHC obtained the largest pressure drop, and the pressure drop for the FHC and TMHC were comparable since the transverse-placed microchannels had little effect on frictional pressure loss. The TMHC attained the greatest comprehensive thermohydraulic performance which might bring significant insight to the structural design of hypervapotron devices.
The p-Frobenius Number for the Triple of the Generalized Star Numbers
Authors: Yin Ruze , Mu Jiaxin , Komatsu Takao
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we give closed-form expressions of the p-Frobenius number for the triple of the generalized star numbers an(n−1)+1 for an integer a≥4. When a=6, it is reduced to the famous star number. For the set of given positive integers {a1,a2,…,ak}, the p-Frobenius number is the largest integer N whose number of non-negative integer representations N=a1x1+a2x2+⋯+akxk is at most p. When p=0, the 0-Frobenius number is the classical Frobenius number, which is the central topic of the famous linear Diophantine problem of Frobenius.
Enhanced Double Inertial Forward–Backward Splitting Algorithm for Variational Inclusion Problems: Applications in Mathematical Integrated Skill Prediction
Authors: Jun-On Nipa , Cholamjiak Watcharaporn
Published: August 2024

This paper introduces a new algorithm that combines the forward–backward splitting algorithms with a double inertial technique, utilizing the previous three iterations. The weak convergence theorem is established under certain mild conditions in a Hilbert space, including a relaxed inertial method in real numbers. An example of infinite dimension space is given with numerical results to support our proposed algorithm. The algorithm is applied to an asymmetrical educational dataset of students from 109 schools, utilizing asymmetric inputs as nine attributes to predict the output as students’ mathematical integrated skills. The algorithm’s performance is compared with other algorithms in the literature to demonstrate its effectiveness. The proposed algorithm demonstrates comparable precision, recall, accuracy, and F1 score but performs a relatively lower number of iterations. The contributions of each performance aspect to the mathematical integration skill of students are discussed to improve students’ mathematical learning.
Decoding Urban Dynamics: Contextual Insights from Human Meta-Mobility Patterns
Authors: Oh Seokjoon , Joo Seungyoung , Kim Soohwan , Kim Minkyoung
Published: August 2024

Research on capturing human mobility patterns for efficient and sustainable urban planning has been widely conducted. However, studies that unveil spatial context beyond macro-level mobility patterns are relatively scarce. This study aims to analyze the spatiotemporal human meta-mobility patterns with rich context using POI data in Seoul from comprehensive perspectives. As a result, the floating population of Seoul exhibits regular and irregular cyclical mobility patterns on weekdays and weekends, respectively, stemming from the periodicity of the dominant POIs. Additionally, graph construction based on mobility similarity and their regional clustering show clusters vary by POIs but are generally divided into peripheral and central regions of Seoul. This indicates that socioeconomic factors cannot be ignored when understanding human mobility patterns. This helps to provide scientific evidence to support policy recommendations towards greenways and sustainable urban mobility systems, such as quantitative disparity of greenways, qualitative issues of greenways in the central areas, and inequality in cultural consumption. Addressing key considerations through targeted policies could significantly improve the overall quality of life for urban residents. We expect this study to lay the groundwork for future research that aims to understand realistic human mobility patterns with a rich context.
Research on Safety Decision-Making Behavior in Megaprojects
Authors: Haiyirete Xuekelaiti , Gan Xiaochang , Wang Jian
Published: August 2024

This research takes the construction companies and supervision units of megaprojects as the research objects and studies safety issues in construction decision-making for megaprojects. Using evolutionary game theory, we construct an evolutionary game model of safety decision-making behavior for construction companies and supervision units based on the bounded rationality assumption. The interaction and dynamic patterns of safety behaviors between the two construction entities are analyzed. Additionally, system dynamics Vensim PLE 10.2.1 software is employed to simulate and analyze the behavior of single entities as well as the impact of exogenous variables on the safety decision-making choices of both units. The research results indicate that positive choices in safety behavior decision-making contribute to enhancing the stability of megaproject construction. Exogenous variables significantly influence the safety behavior decisions of both the construction companies and the supervision units in megaprojects. An increase in cooperation benefits between the two parties fosters their active collaboration in completing mega engineering projects. This research promotes cooperation between construction companies and supervision units during a construction process and provides a reference for the safe and orderly implementation and development of megaprojects.
Evaluation and Decision of a Seat Color Design Scheme for a High-Speed Train Based on the Practical Color Coordinate System and Hybrid Kansei Engineering
Authors: Xie Xuan-Hui , Xu Yunpeng , Guo Shilin , Zhu Hongyang , Yan Huiran
Published: August 2024

Color is an important visual element of high-speed train seats, which has a significant impact on passenger travel experience. In order to solve the problem that color design relies on the subjective experience of designers, this study aims to establish an effective evaluation and decision method for seat color design in a high-speed train based on the Practical Color Coordinate System (PCCS) and hybrid Kansei Engineering. Firstly, we created a series of design schemes based on the typical colors in the PCCS. Secondly, a new hybrid Kansei Engineering system was constructed; in this system, forward Kansei Engineering was constructed with Factor Analysis (FA) and Multidimensional Scaling Analysis (MDS) to analyze the cognitive feature of color sample. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Independent Weight Coefficient Method (IW) were used to calculate comprehensive weights, and backward Kansei Engineering was constructed with the TOPSIS to optimize and evaluate color design schemes. Finally, the design and evaluation methods were illustrated with a case. The results showed that (1) the three main influencing factors of seat color design for high-speed trains included function, aesthetics and experience, and comfort and harmony; two other potential factors included calmness and relaxation. (2) In the PCCS, warm colors have a better esthetic, while cool colors are calmer. Tones with medium brightness and saturation such as It- and Sf-tones are the optimal choice, while the V-tone is not suitable for seat color design. The effectiveness of this method is verified by a case study, which provides a reference for seat color design evaluation and optimization of high-speed trains.
Concomitant Parenchymal, Subarachnoid, and Ventricular Neurocysticercosis in Rome, Italy: A Case Report with a 4-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Giancola Maria Letizia , Haggiag Shalom , Corpolongo Angela , Stasolla Alessandro , Mariano Andrea , Menniti Agazio , Campioni Paolo , Bartolini Barbara , Galizia Pierluigi , Vulcano Antonella , Fontana Carla , Gasperini Claudio , O’Connell Elise , Garcia Hector H. , Nash Theodore E. , Nicastri Emanuele
Published: August 2024

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium. This parasitic disease is endemic in many areas of the world and is emerging in Europe. NCC can affect different brain regions, but simultaneous involvement of the parenchymal, subarachnoid, and ventricular regions is rare. We report the case of a 39-year-old woman from Honduras, resident in Rome for 10 years, who presented to the Emergency Department complaining of headaches, transient hemianopsia, and bilateral papilledema. MRI showed a concomitant parenchymal, subarachnoid, and ventricular involvement in the brain. T. solium IgG antibodies were detected in the blood. The etiological diagnosis of NCC was obtained by identifying T. solium in cerebrospinal fluid using Next Generation Sequencing. Endoscopic neurosurgery with the placement of a ventricular shunt and medical long-term anti-parasitic treatment with a cumulative number of 463 days of albendazole and 80 days of praziquantel were performed. A successful 4-year follow-up is reported. NCC is one of the most common parasitic infections of the human CNS, but it is still a neglected tropical disease and is considered to be an emerging disease in Europe. Its diagnosis and clinical management remain a challenge, especially for European clinicians.
From Organic Wastes to Bioenergy, Biofuels, and Value-Added Products for Urban Sustainability and Circular Economy: A Review
Authors: Vasileiadou Agapi
Published: August 2024

Energy is a crucial factor for urban development. Cities have a crucial role in climate change, as they use 2/3 of the world’s energy, producing 70% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In order to reduce the large ecological footprint of the utilization of conversional energy sources (coal, gas, and oil) and enhance a nation’s energy independence (security), it is crucial to find alternative fuels. Biomass residues are characterized as a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy source. Hence, this review describes a critical assessment of not only the quality characteristics of several waste and biomass residues for bioenergy production and biofuels but also the value-added products that could be produced from wastes to enhance industry (e.g., pharmaceutical, cosmetics, packaging industry, etc.). Furthermore, the challenges and potential solutions of waste utilization for bioenergy production and the transformation of value-added products for urban sustainability are also explored. Despite the high-quality characteristics and the availability of these wastes, several critical factors should be taken into account. Biomass residues could contribute to sustainable development goals (SDG), such as sustainable cities and communities, clean energy, responsible consumption and production, the economic growth of a country, and, as a result, urban development.
Predominance of Dengue Virus Serotype-1/Genotype-I in Eastern and Southeastern Ethiopia
Authors: Tsegaye Mesfin Mengesha , Mekonnen Adamu Tayachew , Gebretsion Daniel Tsega , Gelanew Tesfaye , Alemayehu Dawit Hailu , Tefera Dessalegn Abeje , Woldemichael Tamirayehu Seyoum , Getaneh Bethlehem Adnew , Abera Eleni Kidane , Jebessa Gadissa Gutema , Korkiso Asefa Konde , Tessema Mengistu Biru , Asfaw Admikew Agunie , Temre Yoseph Asrat , Wossen Mesfin , Piantadosi Anne , Zhu Huachen , Abdissa Alemseged , Mihret Adane , Mulu Andargachew
Published: August 2024

We determined the dengue virus (DENV) serotypes and genotypes in archived serum samples that were collected during the 2014–2016 and 2021 dengue outbreaks in Dire Dawa City and the Somali region in Ethiopia. DENV serotype 1 (DENV-1) was predominant followed by DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2). Thirteen of the DENV-1 strains were assigned to Genotype-I, while the remaining two were found to be Genotype-III. All three DENV-2 strains were assigned the Cosmopolitan Genotype. The DENV strains responsible for the outbreaks are genetically closely related to the DENV strains that circulated in neighboring and Asian countries. The findings also showed continued local transmission of a monophyletic lineage and a co-circulation of DENV-1 and DENV-2 during the outbreaks. There is a need to strengthen DENV genomic surveillance capacity for the early detection of circulating serotypes, and prevent devastating consequences of future outbreaks due to the co-circulation of different serotypes.
Bunyamwera Virus Infection of Wolbachia-Carrying Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Reduces Wolbachia Density
Authors: Lefteri Daniella A. , Rainey Stephanie M. , Murdochy Shivan M. , Sinkins Steven P.
Published: August 2024

Wolbachia symbionts introduced into Aedes mosquitoes provide a highly effective dengue virus transmission control strategy, increasingly utilised in many countries in an attempt to reduce disease burden. Whilst highly effective against dengue and other positive-sense RNA viruses, it remains unclear how effective Wolbachia is against negative-sense RNA viruses. Therefore, the effect of Wolbachia on Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) infection in Aedes aegypti was investigated using wMel and wAlbB, two strains currently used in Wolbachia releases for dengue control, as well as wAu, a strain that typically persists at a high density and is an extremely efficient blocker of positive-sense viruses. Wolbachia was found to reduce BUNV infection in vitro but not in vivo. Instead, BUNV caused significant impacts on density of all three Wolbachia strains following infection of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. The ability of Wolbachia to successfully persist within the mosquito and block virus transmission is partially dependent on its intracellular density. However, reduction in Wolbachia density was not observed in offspring of infected mothers. This could be due in part to a lack of transovarial transmission of BUNV observed. The results highlight the importance of understanding the complex interactions between multiple arboviruses, mosquitoes and Wolbachia in natural environments, the impact this can have on maintaining protection against diseases, and the necessity for monitoring Wolbachia prevalence at release sites.
Effect of Phage Spray on Hatchability and Chick Quality of Eggs Contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium
Authors: Wang Leping , Dong Qinting , Tang Kunping , Han Kaiou , Bai Huili , Yin Yangyan , Li Changting , Ma Chunxia , Teng Ling , Li Jun , Gong Yu , Liao Yuying , Peng Hao , Wang Xiaoye
Published: August 2024

Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) contamination poses a significant challenge to breeder egg hatchability and chick health, necessitating the exploration of alternative disinfection methods. This study investigates the potential of phage vB_SPuM_SP02 (SP02) as a novel disinfectant for breeder eggs contaminated with S. Typhimurium SM022. Phage SP02 was isolated from poultry farm effluent and characterized for morphology, biological properties, and genome properties. Experimental groups of specific pathogen-free (SPF) eggs were treated with Salmonella and phage SP02, and efficacy was assessed through hatching rates, chick survival, weight, Salmonella load, immune organ indices, and intestinal flora. Phage treatment effectively eradicated Salmonella contamination on eggshells within 12 h, resulting in increased hatching and survival rates compared to controls. Furthermore, phage treatment mitigated weight loss and tissue Salmonella load in chicks without causing immune organ damage while reducing Salmonella spp. abundance in the intestinal tract. This study demonstrates the potential of phage SP02 as an eco-friendly and efficient disinfectant for S. Typhimurium-contaminated breeder eggs, offering promising prospects for practical application in poultry production.
Detection of Antibodies against Feline Morbillivirus by Recombinant Matrix Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Authors: Chaiyasak Surangkanang , Piewbang Chutchai , Ratthanophart Jadsada , Techakriengkrai Navapon , Rattanaporn Kittipong , Techangamsuwan Somporn
Published: August 2024

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) has been associated with feline health, although its exact role in pathogenesis is still debated. In this study, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) targeting a recombinant matrix protein of FeMV (rFeMV-M) was developed and assessed in comparison to a Western blotting (WB) assay. The i-ELISA was evaluated using blood samples from 136 cats that were additionally tested with real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). The i-ELISA exhibited a sensitivity of 90.1%, specificity of 75.6%, positive predictive value of 88.2%, and negative predictive value of 79.1%. The agreement between i-ELISA and WB analyses was substantial (a κ coefficient of 0.664 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.529 to 0.799). Within the study group, 68.4% (93/136) of the cats were serologically positive in the i-ELISA and 66.9% (91/136) in the WB assay, with 11.8% (11/93) of false positivity with the i-ELISA. However, only 8.1% (11/136) of the cats tested positive for FeMV using RT-qPCR (p < 0.001). The developed i-ELISA proved effective in identifying FeMV-infected cats and indicated the prevalence of FeMV exposure. Combining FeMV antibody detection through i-ELISA with FeMV RT-qPCR could offer a comprehensive method to determine and monitor FeMV infection status. Nevertheless, this assay still requires refinement due to a significant number of false positive results, which can lead to the misdiagnosis of cats without antibodies as having antibodies. This study also provided the first evidence of seroprevalence against FeMV among cat populations in Thailand, contributing valuable insights into the geographic distribution and prevalence of this virus.
Laboratory Replication of Ostreid Herpes Virus (OsHV-1) Using Pacific Oyster Tissue Explants
Authors: Potts Robert W. A. , Regan Tim , Ross Stuart , Bateman Kelly , Hooper Chantelle , Paley Richard , Houston Ross D. , Bean Tim P.
Published: August 2024

Pacific oysters (Crassostrea or Magallana gigas) are one of the most economically important aquaculture species globally. Over the past two decades, ostreid herpesvirus (OsHV-1) has become a major pathogen of cultured Pacific oysters, resulting in widespread mortality with a global distribution. Experimental use of OsHV-1 is challenging for many reasons, including both complexity of host–pathogen dynamics and a lack of functioning model systems. The goal of this study was to improve the tools available for working with OsHV-1 in both whole animals and in tissue explants established from oysters maintained in controlled laboratory conditions. Tissue explants were taken from oysters originating from two different sources that have different levels of mortality in experimental OsHV-1 infections and were exposed to OsHV-1. A whole-animal infection experiment was run concurrently as a comparison. Quantitative PCR and electron microscopy were used to confirm that the explants were capable of replicating OsHV-1. Furthermore, the quantitative PCR results suggest that the source of the oysters was significant in determining the outcome of infection in the explants, supporting the validity of the explant model for OsHV-1 infection. This tissue explant approach for studying OsHV-1 allows for the control of confounding factors in the disease outcome that is not possible in whole-animal experiments, providing a new tool for the study of OsHV-1 in Pacific oysters.
Efficacy of Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis against Infection from SARS-CoV-2 and Severe COVID-19 among Heavily Immunocompromised Patients: A Single-Center, Prospective, Real-World Study
Authors: Basoulis Dimitrios , Mastrogianni Elpida , Karamanakos Georgios , Gkoufa Aikaterini , Georgakopoulou Vasiliki E. , Makrodimitri Sotiria , Gamaletsou Maria N. , Markogiannakis Antonios , Sipsas Nikolaos V.
Published: August 2024

Background: COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to immunocompromised individuals, even with vaccination. The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) tixagevimab/cilgavimab (TXG/CIL) provide targeted prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 with the benefit of a prolonged half-life. Although approved for COVID-19 prevention, there is limited data on their effectiveness among heavily immunocompromised populations. Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study at Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece, from August to December 2022 to investigate the efficacy of TXG/CIL as a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients. Data on breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections were collected over a six-month follow-up period. Results: Of the 375 participants (mean age 61.3 ± 14.1 years; 59.7% male), 76 (20.3%) developed breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections, with an incidence of 3.81 cases/100 patient months. Hospitalization was required for 21 patients (5.6%), with a median stay of 14 days. Seven deaths were recorded, with only one attributed to COVID-19. Previous infection (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26–0.82) and hybrid immunity (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.29–0.92) can protect against new infection. Solid organ malignancy significantly increased the risk of severe outcomes among those infected (OR 7.4, 95% CI 2.2–24.7, p = 0.001). Conclusions: TXG/CIL provides effective prophylaxis against COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients. Future strategies should focus on developing new mAb combinations to address emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and protect vulnerable populations.
High-Throughput Screening of Antiviral Compounds Using a Recombinant Hepatitis B Virus and Identification of a Possible Infection Inhibitor, Skimmianine
Authors: Yoshita Mika , Funaki Masaya , Shimakami Tetsuro , Kakuya Masaki , Murai Kazuhisa , Sugimoto Saiho , Kawase Shotaro , Matsumori Koji , Kawane Taro , Nishikawa Tomoki , Nakamura Asuka , Suzuki Reo , Ishida Atsuya , Kawasaki Narumi , Sato Yuga , Li Ying-Yi , Sumiyadorj Ariunaa , Nio Kouki , Takatori Hajime , Kawaguchi Kazunori , Kuroki Kazuyuki , Kato Takanobu , Honda Masao , Yamashita Taro
Published: August 2024

We developed a novel hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection-monitoring system using a luminescent, 11-amino acid reporter (HiBiT). We performed high-throughput antiviral screening using this system to identify anti-HBV compounds. After the infection of primary human hepatocytes with the recombinant virus HiBiT-HBV, which contains HiBiT at its preS1, 1262 compounds were tested in a first screening using extracellular HiBiT activity as an indicator of viral infection. Following a second screening, we focused on the compound skimmianine, which showed a potent antiviral effect. When skimmianine was added at the same time as HiBiT-HBV infection, skimmianine inhibited HiBiT activity with EC50 of 0.36 pM, CC50 of 1.67 μM and a selectivity index (CC50:EC50 ratio) of 5,100,000. When skimmianine was added 72 h after HiBiT-HBV infection, the EC50, CC50 and selectivity index were 0.19 μM, 1.87 μM and 8.79, respectively. Time-lapse fluorescence imaging analysis using another recombinant virus, ReAsH-TC155HBV, with the insertion of tetra-cysteine within viral capsid, revealed that skimmianine inhibited the accumulation of the capsid into hepatocytes. Furthermore, skimmianine did not inhibit either attachment or internalization. These results imply that skimmianine inhibits the retrograde trafficking of the virus after internalization. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the recombinant virus, HiBiT-HBV, for high-throughput screening to identify anti-HBV compounds.
La transformación digital en un CETPRO en Lima, 2022
Authors: Nina Mallqui Rosario Carolina
Published: August 2024

La transformación digital se refiere al dominio de las tecnologías digitales. Esta investigación correlacional busca evaluar dicho proceso en un CETPRO, enfocándose en las competencias digitales de sus docentes. Se utilizó una muestra de 53 docentes y 3 directivos. La medición de la transformación digital se realizó mediante el marco europeo de competencia digital docente "DigCompEdu" y el autodiagnóstico "DigCompEdu Check-In", con 22 ítems distribuidos en 6 dimensiones: compromiso profesional, contenidos digitales, enseñanza y aprendizaje, evaluación y retroalimentación, empoderar a los estudiantes (3 ítems) y competencias digitales docentes de los estudiantes. El resultado principal indica un promedio de competencias digitales docentes de 2.68 en una escala del 1 al 6, clasificado como perfil Integrador (B1). Los grados o jerarquías más frecuentes fueron Novel (A1) y Explorador (A2), con el 28.30% y 24.53% de la muestra, respectivamente. Esta investigación destaca el papel crucial de la transformación digital en el progreso de los centros educativos.
mito do carnaval
Authors: Leite Francisco Benedito
Published: August 2024

Carnaval em Bakhtin é um conceito fecundos análise da cultura. A obra Cultura Popular na Idade Média e no Renascimento aponta para outros âmbitos da cultura em que se manifesta o carnaval, que é um fenômeno que vem se revelando desde a Antiguidade, sobrevivendo em renovadas formas na Idade Média e no Renascimento e também subsistindo na contemporaneidade, apesar do interesse em reprimi-lo.  Nesse artigo, o objetivo é apontar para a concepção simbólica do carnaval bakhtiniano, a partir da fundamentação do conceito na filosofia das formas simbólicas de Cassirer. Em primeiro lugar, será descrito um resumo da obra de Bakhtin, no segundo momento, será dada uma síntese do pensamento de Cassirer, e, por fim, será feita a proposta de interpretação do referido conceito bakhtiniano a partir da teoria de Cassirer.
Criança com Ciência: dialogando com a curiosidade
Authors: Azevedo Karoline , Almeida Luana , Peres Tiago , Malhado Ana Cláudia Mendes
Published: August 2024

A curiosidade é uma característica marcante das crianças, que questionam o mundo ao seu redor com intensidade. No entanto, esse interesse tende a diminuir com o tempo se não for incentivado. Paralelamente, muitos cientistas carecem de estímulo e capacitação para comunicar suas descobertas a um público diverso. O projeto "Criança com Ciência" foi criado para unir essas duas realidades, ensinando às crianças a importância da conservação ambiental e incentivando os pesquisadores a desenvolverem uma comunicação clara, lúdica e acessível. O objetivo é romper as barreiras que separam a comunidade científica da sociedade, promovendo o letramento científico e mantendo vivo o espírito investigativo nas novas gerações. As crianças têm a oportunidade de fazer perguntas variadas sobre meio ambiente, fauna e flora, e os cientistas respondem por meio de vídeos. Com 75 vídeos já produzidos e mais de 16 mil visualizações no YouTube, os temas abordados incluem alimentação, hábitos de animais, reprodução e processos naturais como a fotossíntese, além do funcionamento de equipamentos de laboratório como o microscópio. O projeto envolve pesquisadores de todas as regiões do Brasil e de instituições internacionais, estabelecendo parcerias, como a participação de crianças de Cabo Verde. À medida que mais pesquisadores se interessam e o conhecimento do projeto se espalha entre o público-alvo, o potencial de expansão do "Criança com Ciência" aumenta.