bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress Monitoring Using Machine Learning, IoT and Wearable Sensors
Authors: Al-Atawi Abdullah A. , Alyahyan Saleh , Alatawi Mohammed Naif , Sadad Tariq , Manzoor Tareq , Farooq-i-Azam Muhammad , Khan Zeashan Hameed
Published: October 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a fundamental framework for interconnected device communication, representing a relatively new paradigm and the evolution of the Internet into its next phase. Its significance is pronounced in diverse fields, especially healthcare, where it finds applications in scenarios such as medical service tracking. By analyzing patterns in observed parameters, the anticipation of disease types becomes feasible. Stress monitoring with wearable sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT) is a potential application that can enhance wellness and preventative health management. Healthcare professionals have harnessed robust systems incorporating battery-based wearable technology and wireless communication channels to enable cost-effective healthcare monitoring for various medical conditions. Network-connected sensors, whether within living spaces or worn on the body, accumulate data crucial for evaluating patients’ health. The integration of machine learning and cutting-edge technology has sparked research interest in addressing stress levels. Psychological stress significantly impacts a person’s physiological parameters. Stress can have negative impacts over time, prompting sometimes costly therapies. Acute stress levels can even constitute a life-threatening risk, especially in people who have previously been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia. To offer a proactive solution within the realm of smart healthcare, this article introduces a novel machine learning-based system termed “Stress-Track”. The device is intended to track a person’s stress levels by examining their body temperature, sweat, and motion rate during physical activity. The proposed model achieves an impressive accuracy rate of 99.5%, showcasing its potential impact on stress management and healthcare enhancement.
Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Sellami Mohamed Houssemeddine , Lavini Antonella
Published: October 2023

The growing interest in soil health and sustainable agriculture has emerged as a paramount element in addressing the multifaceted challenges facing modern agriculture [...]
Indicator Construction of Road Surface Deformation Activity in Cold Regions and Its Relationship with the Distribution and Development of Longitudinal Cracks
Authors: Wang Hao , Ji Lun , Zhang Hongju , Lou Yuqi , Xu Linlin , Tan Yiqiu
Published: October 2023

As a type of road distress in cold areas, longitudinal cracks have a high incidence and cause serious damage. The occurrence of longitudinal cracks is related to the conditions of the subgrade, pavement structure, material properties, and water temperature. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the occurrence mechanism of longitudinal cracks and provide references for the prevention and control of longitudinal cracks. Through the monitoring of vertical deformation, longitudinal crack distribution, and the development of typical roads in cold areas, the discrete characteristics and the variance in the distribution of deformations were analyzed. The construction of an activity index based on the variance of time-series elevation and the standard deviation of elevation change was used to describe the activity level of road sections, longitudinal lines, intervals, and longitudinal deformation. Based on the correlation between vertical deformation and longitudinal cracks on the road surface, the relationships among the activity, condition, distribution, and development characteristics of longitudinal cracks were analyzed. The results indicate that there were significant differences in the deformation activity of the road surface at different times and that the activity was greater during the freezing and thawing periods. The development and distribution characteristics of longitudinal cracks were significantly correlated with activity level. This study can help improve our understanding of the dynamic deformation characteristics of road surfaces under natural conditions and the relationship between transverse distribution differences and longitudinal cracks. It can also provide clarifications and references for the development of the roadbed, pavement structure and materials, the mechanics of the pavement structure, the emergence of distresses, and the laws of development in cold areas.
The Rise of Collaborative Consumption in EU Member States: Exploring the Impact of Collaborative Economy Platforms on Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption
Authors: Gerlich Michael
Published: October 2023

This study identifies a consumption model and consumer behavior patterns in the collaborative economy paradigm. The authors assessed the demand for technical innovation in the online commerce market in EU member states through monitoring, and used a moving average method to highlight the trend of the overall economic effect concerning national conditions. They also analyzed the main sectors of the collaborative economy for 2020–2022 and large online platforms subject to the legal landscape for studying European consumer behavior, establishing a consumption model and characteristic purchasing patterns within the collaborative economy. It has been discovered that collaborative consumption practices in European society are still expanding despite changes in global economic trends. It has been determined that the physical goods sector is the collaborative economy’s priority. It is demonstrated that online platforms of the collaborative economy primarily contribute to the redistribution of consumption centered on the following behavior patterns: economic value quality, social responsibility, and rational consumption. The study’s findings deepen our comprehension of collaborative consumption while also furnishing decision-makers and business leaders with information that can be put into practice to encourage responsible and sustainable consumption behaviors within the collaborative economy.
Developing a Circular Business Model for Machinery Life Cycle Extension by Exploiting Tools for Digitalization
Authors: Cappelletti Federica , Menato Silvia
Published: October 2023

Digitalization technologies have been identified as enablers for the adoption of circular economy practices. The machinery-value chain addressed in this study is affected by the introduction of digital technologies that enable real-time monitoring of data on product condition and control optimization, the deployment of predictive analytics techniques, as well as offering circular-based services. Machinery-lifetime extension can be digitally enabled on both old and new machines. The research objectives were to investigate how digital technologies enable the adoption of circular economy-based business models by manufacturing companies and provide answers regarding (i) which Life Cycle Extension Strategy is suitable for digital circular-business model adoption and (ii) how digitalization of machines enables manufacturing companies to innovate their business models. The correlation matrix is the tool developed from the proposed approach and it aims to support manufacturers in their first contact with circular business models. In the European RECLAIM project context, two manufacturers have applied the approach. The next steps are expected to introduce quantitative indicators to define thresholds for the steps toward circularity without replacing the qualitative approach, as this guarantees its applicability in a context that has never considered circularity yet.
Role of Design for Disassembly in Educating Consumers for Circular Behavior
Authors: Ramzan Muhammad Babar , Habib Muhammad Salman , Omair Muhammad , Naeem Jawad , Mustafa Hajra , Iqbal Muhammad Waqas , Malik Asif Iqbal
Published: October 2023

Promotion of durable materials and products is a common approach to enhance sustainability. However, the effectiveness of such efforts lies on shifts in user behavior and consumption patterns, and these patterns are influenced not only by material aspects but also by social and experiential dimensions. It has been observed that the consumers’ consumption pattern, i.e., post-consumption behavior, is as harmful as production. However, this area remains largely unexplored. The primary purpose of this study is to explore sustainable garment design strategies to enhance emotional durability of garments and reduce pre-consumer and most importantly, the post-consumer waste. For this purpose, 18 garments were produced using ZWPC for pre-consumption waste reduction and DFD for post-consumption waste minimization. Three hypotheses were developed. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires and wear trials on the practicality of DFD implementation in garments. The results demonstrated that the combination of these strategies has the potential to curb both pre-consumer and post-consumer waste by designing garments that can enter the biological as well as technical cycle of circular fashion (CF). Furthermore, DFD is a success in increasing the use-life of a garment.
Generalized Orthopair Fuzzy Weighted Power Bonferroni Mean Operator and Its Application in Decision Making
Authors: Hou Bowen , Chen Yongming
Published: October 2023

The generalized orthopair fuzzy set is more favored by decision-makers and extensively utilized in areas like supply chain management, risk investment, and pattern recognition because it offers a broader decision information boundary than the intuitionistic fuzzy set and Pythagorean fuzzy set. This enables it to express fuzzy information more comprehensively and accurately in multi-attribute decision-making problems. To this end, this paper combines the ability of the power average (PA) operator to eliminate the impact of extreme values and the advantage of the Bonferroni mean (BMs,t) operator in reflecting the relationships between variables, then incorporates weight indicators for different attributes to define the generalized orthopair fuzzy weighted power Bonferroni mean operator. The effectiveness of this operator is demonstrated through aggregation laws for generalized orthopair fuzzy information. Subsequently, the desirable properties of this operator are discussed. Based on these findings, a novel generalized orthopair fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making method, with a correlation between attributes, is proposed. Lastly, an investment decision-making example illustrates the feasibility and superiority of this method.
How Does Economic Resilience Enhance the Innovation Capability of the High-Tech Industry? Evidence from China
Authors: Huang Zhenyu , Hou Bowen
Published: October 2023

There is still a significant gap between most high-tech fields in China and developed countries, and the relationship between the economic resilience of innovation systems and the innovation capability of the high-tech industry has received attention. Using data from 30 provinces in China, this study adopts the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis approach to analyze the relationship between economic resilience and high-tech industry innovation capability, and the findings are as follows: (1) Technological talents and economic development are necessary conditions for explaining the high innovation capability of high-tech industries. (2) The combination of economic resilience and different factors constitutes the equivalent configuration of two high innovation capabilities and four low innovation capabilities. (3) Under high-intensity technological competition between governments, the increased agglomeration of technological talents, and high-quality economic development, the strengthening of economic resilience is conducive to enhancing the innovation capability of high-tech industries. (4) Under low-intensity technological competition between governments, a well-developed technology market, and increased agglomeration of technological talents, the strengthening of economic resilience is adverse to enhancing the innovation capability of high-tech industries. The main contribution of this study is to clarify the configuration mechanism of economic resilience that acts on the innovation capability of the high-tech industry and reveal the complex interaction between economic resilience and multiple factors.
Overseas Market Expansion Strategy of the Global Electronic Components Company Based on the AHP Analysis of Factors in Technology, Organization, and Environment Context: A Case of Samsung Electro-Mechanics
Authors: Cho Won Chang , Atukeren Erdal , Yim Hyosook
Published: October 2023

The overseas market expansion strategy is important for achieving competitive advantage and sustainable growth of global electronic component companies. Although the global electronic component market has grown rapidly recently, research focusing on the innovation strategy of global electronic component companies’ expansion into overseas markets is scarce. This paper defines the key factors that influence the success of a global electronic component company’s overseas market expansion strategy based on the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) framework and quantitatively identifies the relative importance of factors at the technology, organization, and environmental levels through Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis. As a case study, we analyze Samsung Electro-Mechanics, which has grown as a global electronic components company through an overseas market expansion strategy in recent decades. As a result of the analysis, among the three top factors defined as key factors, the technology factor was evaluated as the most important factor, and among the subfactors of the technology factor, “R&D Availability”, and “Production Availability” were analyzed as the most important influencing factors. These analysis results suggest that global electronic component companies can achieve successful results when they pursue overseas market expansion strategies by prioritizing technology development and focusing on growth strategies suited to the market environment. This study is meaningful as an academic study focusing on the overseas market expansion strategies of global electronic component companies and makes a practical contribution by providing management implications that can be taken by electronic component companies seeking to expand overseas markets.
Association between Air Pollution and Lipid Profiles
Authors: Zhang Yi , Shi Jiaqi , Ma Ying , Yu Nairui , Zheng Pai , Chen Zhangjian , Wang Tiancheng , Jia Guang
Published: October 2023

Dyslipidemia is a critical factor in the development of atherosclerosis and consequent cardiovascular disease. Numerous pieces of evidence demonstrate the association between air pollution and abnormal blood lipids. Although the results of epidemiological studies on the link between air pollution and blood lipids are unsettled due to different research methods and conditions, most of them corroborate the harmful effects of air pollution on blood lipids. Mechanism studies have revealed that air pollution may affect blood lipids via oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hypothalamic hormone and epigenetic changes. Moreover, there is a risk of metabolic diseases associated with air pollution, including fatty liver disease, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, which are often accompanied by dyslipidemia. Therefore, it is biologically plausible that air pollution affects blood lipids. The overall evidence supports that air pollution has a deleterious effect on blood lipid health. However, further research into susceptibility, indoor air pollution, and gaseous pollutants is required, and the issue of assessing the effects of mixtures of air pollutants remains an obstacle for the future.
Synergistic Effects of Essential Oils and Organic Acids against Aspergillus flavus Contamination in Poultry Feed
Authors: Satterlee Tim , McDonough Callie Megan , Gold Scott E. , Chen Chongxiao , Glenn Anthony E. , Pokoo-Aikins Anthony
Published: October 2023

Organic acids and essential oils are commonly used in the poultry industry as antimicrobials and for their beneficial effects on gut health, growth performance, and meat quality. A common postharvest storage fungal colonist, Aspergillus flavus, contaminates corn, the primary component of poultry feed, with the highly detrimental mycotoxin, aflatoxin. Aflatoxin adversely affects poultry feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, weight gain, egg production, fertility, hatchability, and poultry meat yield. Both organic acids and essential oils have been reported to inhibit the growth of A. flavus. Thus, we evaluated if the inhibitory synergy between combined essential oils (cinnamon, lemongrass, and oregano) and organic acids (acetic, butyric, and propionic) prevents A. flavus growth. The study confirmed that these compounds inhibit the growth of A. flavus and that synergistic interactions do occur between some of them. Overall, cinnamon oil was shown to have the highest synergy with all the organic acids tested, requiring 1000 µL/L air of cinnamon oil and 888 mg/kg of butyric acid to fully suppress A. flavus growth on corn kernels. With the strong synergism demonstrated, combining certain essential oils and organic acids offers a potentially effective natural method for controlling postharvest aflatoxin contamination in poultry feed.
Long Survival Following Lung Transplantation: What Matters?
Authors: Zhao Jane Y. , Gouchoe Doug A. , Schwartzman William E. , Rosenheck Justin P. , Heh Victor , Henn Matthew C. , Mokadam Nahush A. , Nunley David R. , Whitson Bryan A. , Ganapathi Asvin M.
Published: October 2023

A retrospective review of the UNOS/OPTN Database was performed from 1 October 1987–31 December 2019. Recipients were classified as LSu (15+ years survival without GF/ReTx), normal survival (3–15 years) and short survival (<3 years). In total, 22,646 patients were identified. Groups were assessed with comparative statistics in addition to a multivariate analysis which included recipient, donor, transplant characteristics and select post-transplant complications. LSu recipients were younger, more commonly female, healthier and more commonly had cystic fibrosis, pulmonary vascular disease or bilateral lung transplantation. LSu donors were younger, healthier and lacked clinical infection. Recipients with restrictive lung disease, single lung transplant and dialysis postoperatively were less likely to be LSu. Several recipient, donor and transplant characteristics are associated with long lung transplantation survival. While some factors cannot be altered, others related to donor selection and posttransplant management can potentially be influenced. Understanding these characteristics and employing discretion in donor selection, in appropriate recipients, may optimize the longevity of transplanted lungs.
Revisiting Hansen’s Ideal Frame Propagation with Special Perturbations—1: Basic Algorithms for Osculating Elements
Authors: Lara Martin , Urrutxua Hodei
Published: October 2023

A review of the basic Hansen’s ideal frame algorithms for accurate numerical integration of perturbed elliptic motion is carried out. The fundamental approaches rely on the use of nonsingular variables and differ in the ways in which the ellipse in the orbital plane is determined. It is well known that the accuracy of the propagation of the orbit geometry is notably increased when using time-regularization techniques to transform the independent variable. However, this is at the expense of adding a differential equation to compute the time, which gathers the Lyapunov-type instabilities that are removed from the coordinates. The asynchronism resulting from errors in the numerical integration of the time may be palliated with the use of time elements, to which end a constant and a linear nonsingular time element are presented, which are new to our knowledge.
Uniform Asymptotic Approximation Method with Pöschl–Teller Potential
Authors: Pan Rui , Marchetta John Joseph , Saeed Jamal , Cleaver Gerald , Li Bao-Fei , Wang Anzhong , Zhu Tao
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we study analytical approximate solutions for second-order homogeneous differential equations with the existence of only two turning points (but without poles) by using the uniform asymptotic approximation (UAA) method. To be more concrete, we consider the Pöschl–Teller (PT) potential, for which analytical solutions are known. Depending on the values of the parameters involved in the PT potential, we find that the upper bounds of the errors of the approximate solutions in general are ≲0.15∼10% for the first-order approximation of the UAA method. The approximations can be easily extended to high orders, for which the errors are expected to be much smaller. Such obtained analytical solutions can be used to study cosmological perturbations in the framework of quantum cosmology as well as quasi-normal modes of black holes.
Detection of Immune Escape and Basal Core Promoter/Precore Gene Mutations in Hepatitis B Virus Isolated from Asymptomatic Hospital Attendees in Two Southwestern States in Nigeria
Authors: Sobajo Oguntope Adeorike , Oguzie Judith Uche , Adegboyega Benjamin , Eromon Philomena , Happi Christian , Komolafe Isaac , Folarin Onikepe
Published: October 2023

Several mutations in the surface (S), basal core promoter (BCP), and precore (PC) genes of the hepatitis B virus have been linked to inaccurate diagnosis and the development of immune escape mutants (IEMs) of the infection, which can lead to chronic infection. Understanding the prevalence and spread of these mutations is critical in the global effort to eliminate HBV. Blood samples were collected from 410 people in Osun and Ekiti states, southwest Nigeria, between 2019 and 2021. Participants were drawn from a group of asymptomatic people who were either blood donors, outpatients, or antenatal patients with no record of HBV infection at the medical outpatients’ unit of the hospital. DNA was extracted from plasma using a Qiagen DNEasy kit, followed by nested PCR targeting HBV S and BCP/PC genes. The Sanger sequencing method was used to sequence the positive PCR amplicons, which were further analyzed for IEMs, BCP, and PC mutations. HBV-DNA was detected in 12.4% (51/410) of individuals. After DNA amplification and purification, 47.1% (24) of the S gene and 76.5% (39) of the BCP/PC gene amplicons were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the HBV sequences obtained in this study were classified as HBV genotype E. Mutational analysis of the major hydrophilic region (MHR) and a-determinant domain of S gene sequences revealed the presence of three immune escape mutations: two samples harbored a T116N substitution, six samples had heterogenous D144A/N/S/H substitution, and one sample had a G145E substitution, respectively. The BCP/PC region analysis revealed a preponderance of major BCP mutants, with the prevalence of BCP double substitutions ranging from 38.5% (A1762T) to 43.6% (G1764A). Previously reported classical PC mutant variants were observed in high proportion, including G1896A (33.3%) and G1899A (12.8%) mutations. This study confirms the strong presence of HBV genotype E in Nigeria, the ongoing circulation of HBV IEMs, and a high prevalence of BCP/PC mutants in the cohorts. This has implications for diagnosis and vaccine efficacy for efficient management and control of HBV in the country.
Whole Genomic Constellation of Avian Reovirus Strains Isolated from Broilers with Arthritis in North Carolina, USA
Authors: Nour Islam , Alvarez-Narvaez Sonsiray , Harrell Telvin L. , Conrad Steven J. , Mohanty Sujit K.
Published: October 2023

Avian reovirus (ARV) is an emerging pathogen which causes significant economic challenges to the chicken and turkey industry in the USA and globally, yet the molecular characterization of most ARV strains is restricted to a single particular gene, the sigma C gene. The genome of arthrogenic reovirus field isolates (R18-37308 and R18-38167), isolated from broiler chickens in North Carolina (NC), USA in 2018, was sequenced using long-read next-generation sequencing (NGS). The isolates were genotyped based on the amino acid sequence of sigma C (σC) followed by phylogenetic and amino acid analyses of the other 11 genomically encoded proteins for whole genomic constellation and genetic variation detection. The genomic length of the NC field strains was 23,494 bp, with 10 dsRNA segments ranging from 3959 bp (L1) to 1192 bp (S4), and the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of all the segments were found to be conserved. R18-37308 and R18-38167 were found to belong to genotype (G) VI based on the σC analysis and showed nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity ranging from 84.91–98.47% and 83.43–98.46%, respectively, with G VI strains. Phylogenetic analyses of individual genes of the NC strains did not define a single common ancestor among the available completely sequenced ARV strains. Nevertheless, most sequences supported the Chinese strain LY383 as a probable ancestor of these isolates. Moreover, amino acid analysis revealed multiple amino acid substitution events along the entirety of the genes, some of which were unique to each strain, which suggests significant divergence owing to the accumulation of point mutations. All genes from R18-37308 and R18-38167 were found to be clustered within genotypic clusters that included only ARVs of chicken origin, which negates the possibility of genetic pooling or host variation. Collectively, this study revealed sequence divergence between the NC field strains and reference ARV strains, including the currently used vaccine strains could help updating the vaccination regime through the inclusion of these highly divergent circulating indigenous field isolates.
Genomic and Epidemiologic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the Pandemic Period: Sequencing Network of the Lazio Region, Italy
Authors: Rueca Martina , Berno Giulia , Agresta Alessandro , Spaziante Martina , Gruber Cesare , Fabeni Lavinia , Giombini Emanuela , Butera Ornella , Barca Alessandra , Scognamiglio Paola , Girardi Enrico , Maggi Fabrizio , Valli Maria , Vairo Francesco ,   SARS-CoV-2 Lazio Genomic Surveillance Study Group
Published: October 2023

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, large-scale genomic sequencing has immediately pointed out that SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly mutated during the course of the pandemic, resulting in the emergence of variants with a public health impact. In this context, strictly monitoring the circulating strains via NGS has proven to be crucial for the early identification of new emerging variants and the study of the genomic evolution and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Following national and international guidelines, the Lazio region has created a sequencing laboratory network (WGSnet-Lazio) that works in synergy with the reference center for epidemiological surveillance (SERESMI) to monitor the circulation of SARS-CoV-2. Sequencing was carried out with the aims of characterizing outbreak transmission dynamics, performing the genomic analysis of viruses infecting specific categories of patients (i.e., immune-depressed, travelers, and people with severe symptoms) and randomly monitoring variant circulation. Here we report data emerging from sequencing activities carried out by WGSnet-Lazio (from February 2020 to October 2022) linked with epidemiological data to correlate the circulation of variants with the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients. The model of the sequencing network developed in the Lazio region proved to be a useful tool for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and to support public health measures for epidemic containment.
Development of Polycistronic Baculovirus Surface Display Vectors to Simultaneously Express Viral Proteins of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and Analysis of Their Immunogenicity in Swine
Authors: Hsu Chao-Yu , Jang Yun , Huang Wei-Ru , Wang Chi-Young , Wen Hsiao-Wei , Tsai Pei-Chien , Yang Cheng-Yao , Munir Muhammad , Liu Hung-Jen
Published: October 2023

To simultaneously express and improve expression levels of multiple viral proteins of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), polycistronic baculovirus surface display vectors were constructed and characterized. We engineered polycistronic baculovirus surface display vectors, namely, pBacDual Display EGFP(BacDD)-2GP2-2GP4 and pBacDD-4GP5N34A/N51A (mtGP5), which simultaneously express and display the ectodomain of His-tagged GP2-gp64TM-CTD, His-tagged GP4-gp64TM-CTD, and His-tagged mtGP5-gp64TM-CTD fusion proteins of PRRSV on cell membrane of Sf-9 cells. Specific pathogen-free (SPF) pigs were administered intramuscularly in 2 doses at 21 and 35 days of age with genetic recombinant baculoviruses-infected cells. Our results revealed a high level of ELISA-specific antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, IL-4, and IFN-γ in SPF pigs immunized with the developed PRRSV subunit vaccine. To further assess the co-expression efficiency of different gene combinations, pBacDD-GP2-GP3-2GP4 and pBacDD-2mtGP5-2M constructs were designed for the co-expression of the ectodomain of His-tagged GP2-gp64TM-CTD, His-tagged GP3-gp64TM-CTD, and His-tagged GP4-gp64TM-CTD proteins as well as the ectodomain of His-tagged mtGP5-gp64TM-CTD and His-tagged M-gp64TM-CTD fusion proteins of PRRSV. To develop an ELISA assay for detecting antibodies against PRRSV proteins, the sequences encoding the ectodomain of the GP2, GP3, GP4, mtGP5, and M of PRRSV were amplified and subcloned into the pET32a vector and expressed in E. coli. In this work, the optimum conditions for expressing PRRSV proteins were evaluated, and the results suggested that 4 × 105 of Sf-9 cells supplemented with 7% fetal bovine serum and infected with the recombinant baculoviruses at an MOI of 20 for three days showed a higher expression levels of the protein. Taken together, the polycistronic baculovirus surface display system is a useful tool to increase expression levels of viral proteins and to simultaneously express multiple viral proteins of PRRSV for the preparation of subunit vaccines.
Impact of Bivalent BA.4/5 BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine on Acute Symptoms, Quality of Life, Work Productivity and Activity Levels among Symptomatic US Adults Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2 at a National Retail Pharmacy
Authors: Di Fusco Manuela , Sun Xiaowu , Anatale-Tardiff Laura , Yehoshua Alon , Coetzer Henriette , Alvarez Mary B. , Allen Kristen E. , Porter Thomas M. , Puzniak Laura , Lopez Santiago M. C. , Cappelleri Joseph C.
Published: October 2023

Evidence on the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on symptoms, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) is scarce. We analyzed associations between bivalent BA.4/5 BNT162b2 (BNT162b2) and these patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Symptomatic US adults testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 were recruited between 2 March and 18 May 2023 (CT.gov NCT05160636). PROs were assessed using four questionnaires measuring symptoms, HRQoL and WPAI (a CDC-based symptom survey, PROMIS Fatigue, EQ-5D-5L, WPAI-GH), from pre-COVID to Week 4 following infection. Multivariable analysis using mixed models for repeated measures was conducted, adjusting for several covariates. The study included 643 participants: 316 vaccinated with BNT162b2 and 327 unvaccinated/not up-to-date. Mean (SD) age was 46.5 years (15.9), 71.2% were female, 44.2% reported prior infection, 25.7% had ≥1 comorbidity. The BNT162b2 cohort reported fewer acute symptoms through Week 4, especially systemic and respiratory symptoms. All PROs were adversely affected, especially at Week 1; however, at that time point, the BNT162b2 cohort reported better work performance, driven by less absenteeism, and fewer work hours lost. No significant differences were observed for HRQoL COVID-19 negatively impacted patient outcomes. Compared with unvaccinated/not up-to-date participants, those vaccinated with bivalent BA.4/5 BNT162b2 reported fewer and less persistent symptoms and improved work performance.
Induction of Broad Immunity against Invasive Salmonella Disease by a Quadrivalent Combination Salmonella MAPS Vaccine Targeting Salmonella Enterica Serovars Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Typhi, and Paratyphi A
Authors: Boerth Emily M. , Gong Joyce , Roffler Becky , Thompson Claudette M. , Song Boni , Malley Sasha F. , Hirsch Angelika , MacLennan Calman A. , Zhang Fan , Malley Richard , Lu Ying-Jie
Published: October 2023

Bloodstream infections in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are most frequently attributed to invasive Salmonella disease caused by four primary serovars of Salmonella enterica: Typhi, Paratyphi A, Typhimurium, and Enteritidis. We showed previously that a bivalent vaccine targeting S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A using a Multiple Antigen-Presenting System (MAPS) induced functional antibodies against S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi. In the current study, we describe the preclinical development of a first candidate quadrivalent combination Salmonella vaccine with the potential to cover all four leading invasive Salmonella serotypes. We showed that the quadrivalent Salmonella MAPS vaccine, containing Vi from S. Typhi, O-specific Polysaccharide (OSP) from S. Paratyphi A, S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium, combined with the Salmonella-specific protein SseB, elicits robust and functional antibody responses to each of the components of the vaccine. Our data indicates that the application of MAPS technology to the development of vaccines targeting invasive forms of Salmonella is practical and merits additional consideration.
Pervasive Parental Hesitancy and Resistance towards Measles Rubella Vaccination in Jordan
Authors: Barakat Muna , Abdaljaleel Maram , Atawneh Nada , Alkhazaleh Rawan , Aburumman Dana , Hamed Eman , Sallam Malik
Published: October 2023

Measles remains a highly contagious and potentially severe infectious disease, necessitating high vaccine coverage. However, misinformation and measles vaccine hesitancy/resistance have posed significant challenges to achieving this goal. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, leading to a measles outbreak in Jordan in 2023. This study aimed to investigate the acceptance of the measles rubella (MR) vaccine among parents in Jordan and to identify its associated determinants. This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted using a previously Arabic-validated version of the Parental Attitudes towards Childhood Vaccines (PACV) survey instrument. Data collection took place in October 2023, and the final study sample comprised a total of 391 parents, with mothers representing 69.8% of the participants (n = 273). The majority of participating parents expressed either resistance (n = 169, 43.2%) or hesitancy (n = 168, 43.0%) towards MR vaccination, while only 54 participants (13.8%) expressed MR vaccine acceptance. Multivariate analysis revealed that trust in vaccine safety/efficacy, behavior, and having fewer offspring were significantly associated with MR vaccine acceptance. The current study revealed a concerning level of MR vaccine hesitancy/resistance among parents in Jordan, which could signal a public health alarm in the country. Urgent and targeted interventions are strongly recommended to address this issue, including mass campaigns aimed at building trust in the MR vaccine’s safety/efficacy. Additionally, there is an urgent need for effective public health initiatives to ensure sufficient measles vaccine coverage to prevent future outbreaks of this serious disease.
Feature Extraction Algorithm of Massive Rainstorm Debris Flow Based on Ecological Environment Telemetry
Authors: Li Jun , Zhao Yuandi , He Na , Gurkalo Filip
Published: October 2023

In order to accurately extract the characteristics of debris flow caused by group rainstorms, effectively identify the on-site information of debris flow, and provide a scientific basis for debris flow monitoring, early warning and disaster control, this paper proposes a method for extracting the characteristics of heavy rainstorm debris flow using multiregional ecological environment remote sensing. In the ecological environment where debris flows occur frequently, remote sensing data of heavy rainstorm debris flows are preprocessed using remote sensing technology, providing an important basis for the feature extraction of debris flows. The kernel principal component analysis method and Gabor filters are innovatively used to extract the spectral and texture features of rainstorm and debris flow remote sensing images, and the convolutional neural network structure is improved based on the open source deep learning framework, integrating multilevel features to generate debris flow feature maps. The improved convolution neural network is then used to extract the secondary features of the fusion feature map, and the feature extraction of heavy rainstorm debris flow is realized. The experiment shows that this method can accurately extract the characteristics of heavy rainstorm debris flow. Fused remote sensing images of debris flow effectively ameliorate the problem of insufficient informational content in a single image and improve image clarity. When the Gabor kernel function has eight different directions, the feature extraction effect of the debris flow image in each direction of the heavy rainstorm is the best.
Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Contribution of Agricultural Drought in Daling River Basin: A VIC Model-Based Soil Moisture Simulation and SMAPI Evaluation
Authors: Ding Mei , Lv Juan , Qu Yanping , Jiang Tianliang
Published: October 2023

Soil moisture is a crucial factor that directly influences agricultural drought. As such, investigating drought-monitoring methods utilizing soil moisture data is of significant importance for accurately evaluating and predicting agricultural drought. However, the current soil moisture data for the Daling River Basin is insufficient. Therefore, the variable infiltration capacity (VIC) hydrological model was utilized to simulate soil moisture in the Daling River Basin. The simulated data were then analyzed in conjunction with the standardized moisture anomaly index (SMAPI) to analyze and evaluate the spatio-temporal characteristics of agricultural drought in the Darling River Basin. The results indicate that the frequency of drought occurrence in the basin follows a seasonal pattern of winter > spring > autumn > summer. Between 1981 and 2019, 24 out of 39 years experienced slight or greater drought, 15 years experienced moderate or more severe drought, and 4 years experienced severe drought. Drought conditions have become exceptionally severe in the 21st century. Specifically, the frequency of drought occurrence from 2001 to 2019 was nearly 10 times higher compared to the period from 1981 to 2000. The droughts were most severe in the southeast and southwest of the Daling River Basin, while the northeast and northwest experienced relatively mild drought. Agricultural drought is influenced by numerous complex factors. The contribution of climate change (CC) and other factors (OF) to agricultural drought was quantified by using a partial derivative under six different scenarios. Results showed that SMAPI was positively correlated with precipitation and solar radiation, while negatively correlated with temperature. From 1981 to 2000, SMAPI exhibited an increasing trend that accounted for 61.66% of variability, while a decreasing trend accounted for 38.34%. From 2001 to 2019, SMAPI exhibited a significant decreasing trend that accounted for 93.53% of the variability, while the increasing trend only accounted for 6.47%. CC was the dominant factor in most of the areas with increased SMAPI. OF was the main controlling factor for areas with decreased SMAPI.
The Failure Risk Analysis of the Water Supply Network
Authors: Tchórzewska-Cieślak Barbara , Pietrucha-Urbanik Katarzyna , Piegdoń Izabela
Published: October 2023

The primary objective of this work is to introduce a novel approach that modifies the method for analyzing and assessing the risk of water supply network failure. The approach aligns with recommendations from the World Health Organization and the European Union regarding the reliability and safety of water supply to consumers. The presented method for assessing the risk in the water distribution subsystem was based on the vulnerability identifying method (VIM) and involves the determination of the vulnerability index (VI). The VIM vulnerability factors considered encompass the failure rate, chemical stability of water, and issues related to water corrosion properties in water distribution subsystems. The obtained risk assessment includes parameters such as the probability of hazard occurrence, the consequences of these hazards, and vulnerability to them. This concept was evaluated using real operational data from the water distribution subsystem. The estimated risk level, under the given operating conditions, indicates its acceptability.
Utility Factor Curves for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Beyond the Standard Assumptions
Authors: Hamza Karim , Laberteaux Kenneth P.
Published: October 2023

The utility factor (UF) of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) refers to the ratio of miles traveled in electric mode to the total miles traveled. Standard UF curves provide a prediction of the expected achievable UF by a PHEV given its all-electric range (AER), but such predictions entail assumptions about both the driving patterns (distance traveled and energy intensity) and charging behavior. Studies have attempted to compare the real-world UF achieved by PHEVs to their standard values, but deviations can stem from deviations in assumptions about: (i) achievable electric range, (ii) travel distance and (iii) charging frequency. In this paper, we derive analytical models for modified utility factor curves as a function of both AER and charging behavior. We show that average charging frequency is insufficient to exactly predict UF but can still estimate bounds. Our generalized model can also provide insights into the efficacy of PHEVs in reducing carbon emissions.
Evaluation of oral biotics’ effectiveness for home oral care
Authors: Vinnik A. V. , Kostionova-Ovod I. A. , Appolonova Yu. Yu. , Yudina Ya. S.
Published: October 2023

Relevance. The incidence of oral mucosal diseases is nowadays increasing. Inflammatory periodontal diseases are common in dental practice and occupy second place worldwide among oral diseases.

Purpose. The study aimed to analyze ‘Denta Balance’, an oral synbiotic complex, and ‘Lesnoy balsam’, a mouthwash, as home care products treating inflammatory periodontal diseases and halitosis.

Material and methods. The study included 40 patients aged 18 to 28 y.o., of which 10 were males (25%) and 30 females (75%). They randomly formed two groups. The age in Group 1 was 23.0 ± 2.5 years and in Group 2 – 24.0 ± 3.2 years. In all patients, we assessed the Fedorov-Volodkina hygiene index and papilla bleeding index (PBI, Saxer & Mühlemann, 1975) before and after oral care product use. All patients formed two groups, 20 patients in each group. The fi group used a spray and powder for oral administration containing synbiotic complex; Group 2 used a natural-phytoncide mouthwash as an oral care product. Besides dental status assessment, we conducted a survey where we collected dental history. The main survey criteria were tooth sensitivity, halitosis, dry mouth, tenderness around the gums, bleeding on brushing, eating or spontaneous bleeding. We also asked the patients to assess the one-month effect of synbiotic-complex products and natural-phytoncide mouthwash.

Results. The use of products showed a positive effect in both groups, i.e., tenderness around the gums, tooth sensitivity, and halitosis disappeared; bleeding on brushing and spontaneous bleeding significantly decreased; the gum colour returned to normal. The dental status index assessment confirmed the effectiveness of the treatment: the hygiene index insignificantly improved after the treatment; periodontal indices changed for the better.

Conclusion. The study noticed a positive effect of Denta balance, a spray with a probiotic for bleeding gums, and Denta balance FRESHeffect, a probiotic for fresh breath, included in the protocol of inflammatory periodontal disease and halitosis treatment.
HUBUNGAN ANTARA FAKTOR PEMICU STRESS PADA IBU RUMAH TANGGA DENGAN KEJADIAN HIPERTENSI DI RT 002/011 JATIKRAMAT II KECAMATAN JATIASIH KOTA BEKASI TAHUN 2015
Authors: Gaos Ai Setiawati , Na Fachrizal
Published: October 2023

Ibu rumah tangga di Rt 002/011 Jatikramat II sering melakukan pekerjaan rumahseorang diri sehingga menimbulkan stress, stress yang berkepanjangan akan mengakibatkan hipertensi.Tujuan penelitian adalah mengetahui hubungan antara faktor pemicu stress pada ibu rumah tanggadengan kejadian hipertensi. Metode penelitian deskriptif korelatif dengan desain cross sectional.Populasi berjumlah 99 orang dengan teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan rumus slovin diperolehsampel 79 orang dipilih secara acak. Analisa data univariat menggunakan distribusi frekuensi, analisabivariat menggunakan uji chi-square dengan tingkat kemaknaan alfa 5%. Hasil penelitian uji statistikmenunjukan hubungan antara faktor penghasilan dengan kejadian hipertensi terdapat nilai(1.365<3.841) berarti H0 diterima, artinya tidak ada hubungan antara faktor penghasilan dengankejadian hipertensi. Hubungan antara faktor keharmonisan rumah tangga dengan kejadian hipertensiterdapat nilai (1.105<3.841) berarti H0 diterima, artinya tidak ada hubungan antara faktorkeharmonisan dengan kejadian hipertensi. Hubungan antara faktor tidak ada pembantu dengan kejadianhipertensi terdapat nilai (0.020<3.841) berarti H0 diterima, artinya tidak ada hubungan antara faktortidak ada pembantu dengan kejadian hipertensi. Kesimpulan tidak terdapat hubungan antara faktorpenghasilan, keharmonisan dan tidak ada pembantu dengan kejadian hipertensi. Saran bagi penelitiselanjutnya dapat dijadikan sebagai sumber referensi dan sumber informasi sehingga dapat menemukanfaktor stress yang dapat menimbulkan hipertensi
HUBUNGAN POLA ASUH ORANG TUA DENGAN KECERDASAN EMOSIONAL ANAK PRASEKOLAH (3-6 TAHUN) DI RAUDATUL ATFAL (RA) AL MUTTAQIN JATI BENING BARU TAHUN 2016
Authors: Pujiharti Imelda , Handayani Mathilda Reza
Published: October 2023

anak dalam perkembangannya ditentukan oleh perkembangan psikologis yang termasukperasaan kasih sayang serta hubungan anak dengan orang tua atau orang disekelilingnya, jikakebutuhan kasih sayang terpenuhi dengan baik maka perkembangan psikososialnya akan meningkatdengan baik. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui gambaran pola asuh yang diterapkan orangtua, mengetahui gambaran kecerdasan emosional anak dan mengetahui hubungan antara pola asuhorang tua dengan kecerdasan emosi anak usia prasekolah. Metode penelitian deskriptif korelatifdengan pendekatan cross sectional. Subjek penelitian adalah orang tua yang memiliki anak prasekolahdan menempuh pendidikan di RA Al Muttaqin. Jumlah populasi 120, Sampel didapat menggunakanteknik simple random sampling dengan jumlah 92 responden. Analisis yang digunakan univariat danbivariat menggunakan rumus chi-square dengan nilai α = 5%. Hasil penelitian dengan uji chi-squaredidapatkan hasil sebesar 6,359 dengan nilai 2tabel = 3,841artinya 2hitung > 2tabel yang berarti tolak Ho danTerima H1. Kesimpulan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara pola asuh orang tua dengankecerdasan emosional anak prasekolah (3-6 tahun). Saran Setelah diketahui adanya hubungan antarapola asuh orang tua dengan kecerdasan emosional anak prasekolah diharapkan orangtua dapatmenerapkan pola asuh yang sesuai kepada anak dan guru disarankan membantu untuk mengenalkanpendidikan karakter agar dapat membantu meningkatkan kecerdasan emosional anak sejak dini