bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Assessment of Different Sealing Methods for Windows to Improve Building Airtightness in UAE Residential Buildings
Authors: Taleb Hanan M.
Published: November 2022

If infiltration is uncontrolled and admits unconditioned air, the results will be undesirable. Controlling this problem will increase thermal comfort and decrease energy consumption. The aim of this paper is to assess the performance of different materials used to improve airtightness, which will increase energy efficiency. This research primarily adopted an experimental approach. A typical residential building in UAE was chosen as a case study. Current airtightness status was measured using a blower door test and infrared technique. Six commonly used materials used for airtightness in UAE were identified and applied in different zones of the building envelope, including exterior walls, door and windows. The test was run before implementing airtightness strategies, following which they were applied for one year. Overall performance and energy reduction were monitored to identify how consumption fell by which method was the most efficient. The results indicate that energy was 3% when applying the 6 different airtightness strategies. The base case energy consumption was 64,287 kWh per year. The energy consumption then decreased after applying the sealants to 62,341 kWh per year. Future recommendations are made to enhance airtightness in residential buildings in a hot and arid climate.
Chemometric Screening of Oregano Essential Oil Composition and Properties for the Identification of Specific Markers for Geographical Differentiation of Cultivated Greek Oregano
Authors: Tsoumani Eleftheria S. , Kosma Ioanna S. , Badeka Anastasia V.
Published: November 2022

The present study investigated the potential interconnection between the place of cultivation of Greek oregano samples and the composition and properties of their essential oils (EOs). In addition, it attempted to identify characteristic chemical features that could differentiate between geographical origins with the use of chemometric tools. To this end, a total of 142 samples of commercially available Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum) plants harvested during the calendar years 2017–2018 were obtained for this study. The samples came from five different geographical areas of Greece and represented twelve localities. After appropriate processing, the oregano samples were subjected to hydrodistillation (HD), and the resulting EOs were analyzed for their total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and chemical composition. The acquired data were subjected to the chemometric methods of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to investigate the potential of classifying the oregano samples in terms of geographical origin. In addition, stepwise LDA (SLDA) was used as a final step to narrow down the number of variables and identify those wielding the highest discriminatory power (marker compounds). Carvacrol was identified as the most abundant component in the majority of samples, with a content ranging from 28.74% to 68.79%, followed by thymol, with a content ranging from 7.39% to 35.22%. The TPC values, as well as the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values, showed no significant variations among the samples, ranging from 74.49 ± 3.57 mg GAE/g EO to 89.03 ± 4.76 mg GAE/g EO, and from 306.83 ± 5.01 μmol TE/g EO to 461.32 ± 7.27 μmol TE/g EO, respectively. The application of the cross-validation method resulted in high correct classification rates in both geographical groups studied (93.3% and 82.7%, respectively), attesting to a strong correlation between location and oregano EO composition.
Factors Affecting the International Flight Delays and Their Impact on Airline Operation and Management and Passenger Compensations Fees in Air Transport Industry: Case Study of a Selected Airlines in Europe
Authors: Zámková Martina , Rojík Stanislav , Prokop Martin , Stolín Radek
Published: November 2022

This paper aims to analyze the causes of flight delays of a selected airline operating in Europe and identify potential risks and reasons for delays in air transport, which carry risk, especially in connection with passenger dissatisfaction and the resulting need to pay compensation for delayed flights, according to EU law, which brings significant financial costs for airlines. Data collected from the years 2013–2019 have been used for the purposes of this article, including data on the duration and causes of the delays and the characteristics of individual flights, such as the flight type, aircraft type, time of departure, aircraft capacity, and the load factor. Multidimensional statistics methods have been applied for data processing, namely tests of independence and correspondence analysis. Dependencies have been presented in graphical form using correspondence maps. The analysis shows that the total share of delayed flights of the company in question does not increase over the mentioned period of time. The analysis furthermore proved that higher capacity aircraft were rather prone to longer delays. The share of delayed charter flights declined slightly over the period under review, while the number of delays caused by airline operating reasons, aircraft clearance by supplier companies, technical maintenance and aircraft defects, operating procedures, and crew flight standards and airport restrictions is increasing. The analysis also shows that the delays propagated by the delays of the previous flights are becoming more frequent, with the exception of the year 2019. In the last pre-COVID year, air traffic control could boast about a positive trend regarding the number of produced delays over the years, contributing to greater air passenger satisfaction and airline service quality. Due to the gradual revival of air transport after the COVID pandemic lockdowns, the topic of flight delays, passenger customer satisfaction and financial costs for the resulting delays is once again an actual issue for air management and operation.
Cogeneration Systems Performance Analysis as a Sustainable Clean Energy and Water Source Based on Energy Hubs Using the Archimedes Optimization Algorithm
Authors: El-Afifi Magda I. , Saadawi Magdi M. , Eladl Abdelfattah A.
Published: November 2022

Different energy requirements of the residential sector are varied, such as electricity, heating, cooling, water, etc., and these necessities are met by multi-energy systems using various energy sources and converters. In this paper, an optimal day-ahead operation of a large residential demand sector is presented based on the energy hub (EH) model with combined heat and power (CHP) as a cogeneration system. The purpose of the optimization is to maximize social welfare (SW) and minimize environmental emissions subjected to numerous technical constraints. To explore the effectiveness of the proposed model, real cases were studied and results were analyzed. Moreover, to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed methodology, the Archimedes optimization algorithm (AOA) is implemented for optimizing the EH system. The performance of the AOA is compared with the genetic algorithm, and the results depict that the AOA is better in terms of convergence speed and global search ability. Implementation of the proposed framework shows that the total SW is increased by 27.44% and environmental emissions are reduced by 18.36% compared to the base case without the EH. Additionally, there is 512.26 MWh and 149.4 m3 as a surplus in the electricity and water that are sold to every network, respectively.
Optimal Aggregate Size of Traffic Sequence Data Based on Fuzzy Entropy and Mutual Information
Authors: Li Junzhuo , Li Wenyong , Lian Guan
Published: November 2022

Before traffic forecasting, it is usually necessary to aggregate the information by a certain length of time. An aggregation size that is too short will make the data unstable and cause the forecast result to be too biased. On the other hand, if the aggregation size is too large, the data information will be lost, resulting in the forecast results tending towards an average or slow response. With the development of intelligent transportation systems, especially the development of urban traffic control systems, high requirements are placed on the real-time accuracy of traffic forecasting. Therefore, it is an essential topic of traffic forecasting research to determine aggregation sizes. In this paper, the mutual information between the forecast input information and the forecast result and the sequence complexity of the forecast result measured by approximate entropy, sample entropy, and fuzzy entropy are considered; then, the optimal data aggregation size is given. To verify the proposed method, the validated data obtained from the simulation is aggregated and calculated with different aggregation sizes, then used for forecasting. By comparing the prediction performance of different aggregate sizes, the optimal aggregate size was found to reduce MSE by 14–30%. The results show that the method proposed in this paper is helpful for selecting the optimal data aggregation size in forecasting and can improve the performance of prediction.
RETRACTED: Prediction of Consumption of Local Wine in Italian Consumers Based on Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Campos-Arteaga Nicole , Alvarez-Risco Aldo , Gonzales-Vásquez Alexandra , Rios-La-Torre Fabrizio , Melillo-Espinoza-Chueca Jaasiel , Anderson-Seminario Maria , Del-Aguila-Arcentales Shyla , Mejia Christian , Yáñez Jaime
Published: November 2022

The consumption of local wine positively influences a country’s economy by providing jobs while preserving the environment. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of complementary factors, based on an extended model of the Theory of Planned Behavior, in consumer behavior toward local wine by evaluating the antecedents of Italian local wine consumption. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. For the study, a survey was sent to a total sample of 404 people residing in Italy. The results showed a relationship between purchase intention and perceived behavioral control. In addition, ethnocentric personality was found to have a positive influence, and cosmopolitan personality was found to have a negative influence. It was also confirmed that personal norms and place identity were related to attitudes toward this behavior. This study contributes to the literature in a way that adds constructs to the theory relevant to local wine consumption. Similarly, for those involved in the internal and external marketing of local products, it addresses and provides implications that can be considered.
A Systematic Review on Sustainability-Oriented Innovation in the Social Enterprises
Authors: Harsanto Budi , Mulyana Asep , Faisal Yudi Ahmad , Shandy Venny Mellandhia , Alam Muntasir
Published: November 2022

Sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) is a subset of innovation that focuses on not just maximizing profits but also on minimizing negative consequences for the environment and society. Despite the fact that the study of SOI has grown rapidly in recent years, little is known about how SOI takes place in social enterprises (SEs). The aim of this study is to understand SOI in SEs with two research questions focusing on the current state of the research and the identification of emergent themes and subthemes regarding SOI practices in SEs. The method used was a systematic review of the scholarly literature guided by the PRISMA protocol. The systematic search and filtering process resulted in 27 studies, which were filtered out of a total of 100 studies. The study’s findings show that process/organizational innovation, such as business model transformation and stakeholder management to increase SEs’ societal impact, is widely practiced in SEs. Unlike SOI in commercial organizations, which is dominant in the subcategory of SOI of environmental innovation, SOI in SEs is more prevalent in social innovation. Several challenges faced by SEs in developing SOIs were also revealed, including a lack of long-term funding, low entry barriers for potential competitors, and inefficiencies. A number of potential future directions were also discussed.
Sustainability Alumni at Work—Interviews on Educated Sustainability Professionalism
Authors: Salovaara Janne J.
Published: November 2022

Education is widely recognized as a key ingredient in furthering society-wide sustainability transformation. Although there has been extensive research on higher education for sustainability, the qualitative outcomes of sustainability-focused education are less robustly interrogated. As more students graduate from sustainability-specific programmes, it should be asked: what kind of professionals are they and how do they operationalise sustainability at their work? This paper studied career paths and professionalism in the emerging professional field of sustainability, using semi-structured, in-depth interviews of 19 alumni of a master’s level sustainability-specific programme. The interview results reveal that professionalism in sustainability is based on ideals that appear to oppose or conflict the norms and values of several fields in which sustainability is applied. The results also show that the professionals often face challenges in practising sustainability in the workplace but have found strategies to manage these challenges. Finally, the alumni suggested that the sustainability profession is poised between being a specialisation orientation in other recognised fields and a generalist approach that takes sustainability itself as the specialisation practicable in several different fields.
The Restoration of the Cities’ Water Waterfront after the COVID-19 Pandemic, Case of Al Khobar City, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Eldardiry Dalia H.
Published: November 2022

The residents of coastal cities have a strong relationship with the waterfront, which people of different ages, types, levels of awareness, and cultural backgrounds use. People of different cultures tend to use these open spaces with various responses. They consider it a lung for them, and practice most of their entertainment and social events with different attitudes. Therefore, municipalities spend a large budget on designing, implementing, and developing these areas. However, sadly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the local authorities in many cities decided to shut down the city, including the waterfront area. Al Khobar city, Saudi Arabia, was one of the cities had that had a broad lockdown. Consequently, the use of open spaces became dangerous, and municipalities placed many restrictions on using such spaces to control the spread of COVID-19. Residents had no opportunity to use them for exercise, sports, social activities, or even for enjoying the fresh air, negatively influencing their lives at different levels. This research discusses this problem and examines the restoration of the waterfront after the authorities announced a decrease in the status of the hazards of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study will consider returning safely to using the waterfront and allowing it to be accessible to the public, like before the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it will suggest recommendations for the future use of the waterfront in a secure way to prevent the spread of such viruses.
Blockchain in the Energy Sector—Systematic Review
Authors: Borkovcová Anna , Černá Miloslava , Sokolová Marcela
Published: November 2022

The article provides an overview of academic contributions to blockchain technology over the past three years. A large number of practical implementations are proving the versatility of blockchain across industries. Some of these areas are easy to deduce, but for some, the benefits of using blockchain technology may not be obvious. Real applications of blockchain can be found in sectors such as cyber security and the financial sector, but also in various categories of the public sector, healthcare, and industry. This paper focuses on the use of blockchain technology in the energy industry. The paper aims to present the current trends of blockchain in the energy sector and provide a summary of blockchain technology discussed in academia. The research questions are formulated to correspond to the basic goals of the energy sector today. The core of the paper forms a systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines. The output of this systematic review brings an up-to-day insight into the issue and introduces potential areas for further research.
Students’ Academic Performance and Engagement Prediction in a Virtual Learning Environment Using Random Forest with Data Balancing
Authors: Jawad Khurram , Shah Muhammad Arif , Tahir Muhammad
Published: November 2022

Virtual learning environment (VLE) is vital in the current age and is being extensively used around the world for knowledge sharing. VLE is helping the distance-learning process, however, it is a challenge to keep students engaged all the time as compared to face-to-face lectures. Students do not participate actively in academic activities, which affects their learning curves. This study proposes the solution of analyzing students’ engagement and predicting their academic performance using a random forest classifier in conjunction with the SMOTE data-balancing technique. The Open University Learning Analytics Dataset (OULAD) was used in the study to simulate the teaching–learning environment. Data from six different time periods was noted to create students’ profiles comprised of assessments scores and engagements. This helped to identify early weak points and preempted the students performance for improvement through profiling. The proposed methodology demonstrated 5% enhanced performance with SMOTE data balancing as opposed to without using it. Similarly, the AUC under the ROC curve is 0.96, which shows the significance of the proposed model.
A Conceptual Model of Developing an Agile Work Environment
Authors: Crnogaj Katja , Tominc Polona , Rožman Maja
Published: November 2022

This study has highlighted the need for an agile work environment to enhance companies’ performance, growth, and sustainability. In today’s rapidly changing business world, the goal of every individual and team in a company should be to deliver value to customers. The paper highlights theoretical and empirical evidence on the importance of an agile work environment and its positive effect on company performance. In addition, the paper provides insights into the important concept of developing an agile work environment and offers a conceptual model with five selected constructs, which can be leveraged to build an agile mindset in companies. Moving away from traditional leadership models, this paper highlights the significant role that agile leadership can play in enhancing effectiveness and performance, even in long-established large companies. The empirical research was based on 468 randomly selected medium and large Slovenian companies. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the model. The empirical results show that changing and adaptive agile companies are the ones that thrive more easily in an environment that is unpredictable and characterized by rapid change.
New Identified Strategies to Forge Multivariate Signature Schemes
Authors: Abdul Jamal Nurul Amiera Sakinah , Kamel Ariffin Muhammad Rezal , Sapar Siti Hasana , Abdullah Kamilah
Published: November 2022

A rogue certificate authority (RCA) is a dishonest entity that has the trust of web browsers and users to produce valid key pairs which are vulnerable. This work analyses two acknowledged post-quantum secure Multivariate Quadratic Problem (MQP) based signature schemes, namely the UOV and Rainbow signature schemes that obtain their key pair from a potential RCA methodology. We revisit two and provide a novel RCA methodology that would enable adversaries to forge UOV and Rainbow signatures. We also lay out two strategies to identify whether the public parameters are generated by the first two methodologies. To this end, strategies to identify the third strategy remain elusive. As such, the UOV and Rainbow schemes remain vulnerable to forgery if it was forged via the third methodology.
Refined Inference on the Scale Parameter of the Generalized Logistic Distribution Based on Adjusted Profile Likelihood Functions
Authors: Baklizi Ayman
Published: November 2022

We consider inference based on the profile likelihood function for the scale parameter of the generalized logistic distribution. This distribution is a generalization of the logistic distribution, a symmetric distribution like the normal distribution, and it has several applications in various fields. The generalization allows for possible left or right skewness, which makes it more flexible for modeling purposes. Inference procedures based on the profile likelihood of the scale parameter do not perform very well when the sample size is small, therefore, we derived adjustments to the profile likelihood for the generalized logistic distribution using results from higher-order likelihood theory. We obtained an adjustment based on the empirical covariances of certain scores of the profile likelihood function. Another adjustment is derived using ancillary statistics. The performance of the adjustments is investigated for point estimation of the scale parameter of the generalized logistic distribution using the bias and mean squared error criteria. Using an extensive simulation study, we found the adjustments are very successful in reducing the bias and the mean squared error of the maximum profile likelihood estimator in most situations. Moreover, we studied the performance of the profile likelihood ratio test and its adjustments using the criterion of the attainment of nominal sizes. We found that, when the sample size is small, the profile likelihood ratio test has empirical sizes that are highly inflated. Therefore, the test will be invalid in such situations. Simulation results show that the adjusted versions of the profile likelihood produce tests that attain the nominal sizes even for very small samples. This also applies to confidence intervals derived from these tests. In conclusion, both adjustments of the profile likelihood have significantly better performance than the unadjusted profile likelihood and are recommended, especially for small samples. In particular, the adjustment based on ancillary statistics appears to have the best overall performance in all situations considered. We applied the methods in this paper to real data on Carbon fibers.
Agent-Based Modeling of Consensus Group Formation with Complex Webs of Beliefs
Authors: Koponen Ismo T.
Published: November 2022

Formation of consensus groups with shared opinions or views is a common feature of human social life and also a well-known phenomenon in cases when views are complex, as in the case of the formation of scholarly disciplines. In such cases, shared views are not simple sets of opinions but rather complex webs of beliefs (WoBs). Here, we approach such consensus group formation through the agent-based model (ABM). Agents’ views are described as complex, extensive web-like structures resembling semantic networks, i.e., webs of beliefs. In the ABM introduced here, the agents’ interactions and participation in sharing their views are dependent on the similarity of the agents’ webs of beliefs; the greater the similarity, the more likely the interaction and sharing of elements of WoBs. In interactions, the WoBs are altered when agents seek consensus and consensus groups are formed. The consensus group formation depends on the agents’ sensitivity to the similarity of their WoBs. If their sensitivity is low, only one large and diffuse group is formed, while with high sensitivity, many separated and segregated consensus groups emerge. To conclude, we discuss how such results resemble the formation of disciplinary, scholarly consensus groups.
Ecotoxicological Assessment of “Glitter” Leachates in Aquatic Ecosystems: An Integrated Approach
Authors: Piccardo Manuela , Provenza Francesca , Anselmi Serena , Renzi Monia
Published: November 2022

The most worrisome fraction within plastic pollution is that of microplastics (MP). A category of MP almost completely ignored is that of glitter. The objective of this study is to test the toxicity of nine types of glitter leachate (3 soak times: 3, 90 and 180 days) on model organisms in freshwater (Allivibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, Daphnia magna) and saltwater (Allivibrio fischeri, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Paracentrotus lividus). An integrated approach was applied to obtain the percentage of ecotoxicological risk. The results show that (i) photosynthesizing primary producers are the most sensitive trophic level; (ii) algae transitioned from growth inhibition to biostimulation; (iii) D. magna showed higher sensitivity after 48 h compared to 24 h; (iv) A. fischeri responded more strongly in saltwater than in freshwater. The integrated data show a greater risk associated with the marine environment, with the highest risk for glitters that are hexagonal and composed of poly-methyl-methacrylate. Our multivariate analysis shows that the toxicity of plastic leaching is a complex phenomenon that depends on the sensitivity of the species, in some cases on the soaking time and on the medium, and is not clearly linked to the polymer type, the contact area or the colors of the particles.
Effects of Benzene: Hematological and Hypersensitivity Manifestations in Resident Living in Oil Refinery Areas
Authors: Cordiano Raffaele , Papa Vincenzo , Cicero Nicola , Spatari Giovanna , Allegra Alessandro , Gangemi Sebastiano
Published: November 2022

Literature is teeming with publications on industrial pollution. Over the decades, the main industrial pollutants and their effects on human health have been widely framed. Among the various compounds involved, benzene plays a leading role in the onset of specific diseases. Two systems are mainly affected by the adverse health effects of benzene exposure, both acute and chronic: the respiratory and hematopoietic systems. The most suitable population targets for a proper damage assessment on these systems are oil refinery workers and residents near refining plants. Our work fits into this area of interest with the aim of reviewing the most relevant cases published in the literature related to the impairment of the aforementioned systems following benzene exposure. We perform an initial debate between the two clinical branches that see a high epidemiological expression in this slice of the population examined: residents near petroleum refinery areas worldwide. In addition, the discussion expands on highlighting the main immunological implications of benzene exposure, finding a common pathophysiological denominator in inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, thus helping to set the basis for an increasingly detailed characterization aimed at identifying common molecular patterns between the two clinical fields discussed.
Early Detrusor Application of Botulinum Toxin A Results in Reduced Bladder Hypertrophy and Fibrosis after Spinal Cord Injury in a Rodent Model
Authors: Bushnell Juliana Y. , Cates Lindsay N. , Hyde Jeffrey E. , Hofstetter Christoph P. , Yang Claire C. , Khaing Zin Z.
Published: November 2022

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), pathological reflexes develop that result in altered bladder function and sphincter dis-coordination, with accompanying changes in the detrusor. Bladder chemodenervation is known to ablate the pathological reflexes, but the resultant effects on the bladder tissue are poorly defined. In a rodent model of contusion SCI, we examined the effect of early bladder chemodenervation with botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) on bladder histopathology and collagen deposition. Adult female Long Evans rats were given a severe contusion SCI at spinal level T9. The SCI rats immediately underwent open laparotomy and received detrusor injections of either BoNT-A (10 U/animal) or saline. At eight weeks post injury, the bladders were collected, weighed, and examined histologically. BoNT-A injected bladders of SCI rats (SCI + BoNT-A) weighed significantly less than saline injected bladders of SCI rats (SCI + saline) (241 ± 25 mg vs. 183 ± 42 mg; p < 0.05). Histological analyses showed that SCI resulted in significantly thicker bladder walls due to detrusor hypertrophy and fibrosis compared to bladders from uninjured animals (339 ± 89.0 μm vs. 193 ± 47.9 μm; p < 0.0001). SCI + BoNT-A animals had significantly thinner bladder walls compared to SCI + saline animals (202 ± 55.4 μm vs. 339 ± 89.0 μm; p < 0.0001). SCI + BoNT-A animals had collagen organization in the bladder walls similar to that of uninjured animals. Detrusor chemodenervation soon after SCI appears to preserve bladder tissue integrity by reducing the development of detrusor fibrosis and hypertrophy associated with SCI.
Jagged-1/Notch Pathway and Key Transient Markers Involved in Biliary Fibrosis during Opisthorchis felineus Infection
Authors: Kovner Anna , Zaparina Oxana , Kapushchak Yaroslav , Minkova Galina , Mordvinov Viatcheslav , Pakharukova Maria
Published: November 2022

Chronic opisthorchiasis associated with Opisthorchis felineus infection is accompanied by severe fibrotic complications. It is of high practical significance to elucidate the mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis in chronic infection dynamics. The goal of the study is to investigate the temporal profile of key markers and the Jagged1/Notch signaling pathway in the implementation of fibrosis in a chronic O. felineus infection. For the first time, using histological methods and real-time PCR analysis, we demonstrated the activation of the Jagged1/Notch pathway in liver fibrogenesis, including the activation of the Hes1 and Hey1 target genes during experimental opisthorchiasis in Mesocricetus auratus. Cluster analysis followed by regression analysis of key markers during the infection showed that Jagged1 and Mmp9have the greatest contribution to the development of cholangiofibrosis and periductal fibrosis. Moreover, we detected a significant increase in the number of Jagged1-positive cells in the liver of chronic opisthorchiasis patients compared to that of the control group without infection. The results of the study are extremely informative both in terms of investigation both diverse fibrosis mechanisms as well as potential targets in complex antihelmintic therapy.
Association of Multidrug Resistance Bacteria and Clinical Outcomes of Adult Patients with Sepsis in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Al-Sunaidar Khalid Ahmad , Aziz Noorizan Abd , Hassan Yahaya , Jamshed Shazia , Sekar Mahendran
Published: November 2022

Background: Multi-drug resistance organisms (MDRO) often cause increased morbidity, mortality, and length of stays (LOS). However, there is uncertainty whether the infection of MDRO increase the morbidity, mortality, and ICU-LOS. Objective: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of MDRO in the ICU, the site of infection, and the association of MDRO or site of infection with mortality. The secondary outcome was determined by ascertaining the association of MDRO or site of infection with ICU-LOS. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed with adult sepsis patients in the ICU. Univariate and multivariate (MVA) logistic regression with cox regression modeling were performed to compute the association of MDRO with ICU mortality. MVA modelling was performed for ICU-LOS predictors. Results: Out of 228 patients, the isolated MDRO was 97 (42.5%), of which 78% were Gram-negative bacteria. The mortality rate among those with MDRO was 85 (37.3%). The hospital acquired infection (HAI) was a significant predictor for ICU-LOS in univariate linear regression (R2 = 0.034, p = 0.005). In MVA linear regression, both Enterococcus faecalis infection and Acinetobacter baumannii (AC)-MDRO were predictors for ICU-LOS with (R2 = 0.478, p < 0.05). In the univariate cox regression, only the infection with AC-MDRO was a risk factor for ICU-mortality with [HR = 1.802 (95% CI: 1.2–2.706; p = 0.005)]. Conclusions: Identifying risk factors for MDRO addresses the appropriate administration of empirical antibiotics and allows to effectively control the source of infection, which would reduce mortality and ICU-LOS. The usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics should be limited to those with substantial risk factors for acquiring MDRO.
Geographically Weighted Regression-Based Predictions of Water–Soil–Energy Nexus Solutions in Île-de-France
Authors: Al-Shaar Walid , Bonin Olivier , de Gouvello Bernard , Chatellier Patrice , Hendel Martin
Published: November 2022

Due to global urbanization, urban areas are encountering many environmental, social, and economic challenges. Different solutions have been proposed and implemented, such as nature-based solutions and green and blue infrastructure. Taking into consideration exogenous factors that are associated with these solutions is a crucial question to assess their possible effects. This study examines the possible explanatory factors and their evolution until the year 2054 of several solutions in the Île-de-France region: wastewater heat-recovery, surface geothermal energy, and heat-mitigation capacities of zones. This investigation is performed by a series of statistical models, namely the ordinary least squares (OLS) and the geographically weighted regressions (GWR), integrated within a geographic information system. The main driving factors were identified as land use/land cover and population distribution. The results show that GWR models capture a large part of spatial autocorrelation. Apropos of prediction results, areas with low, medium, and high potential for implementing specific solutions are determined. Furthermore, the implementation capacities of solutions are compared with the demand depicted as the need for slowing down the effects of surface urban heat islands and the dependence on fossil energy. Moreover, the heat mitigation capacities are not at all times distinctively linked to human activities. Further investigations are needed to discover the remaining possible reasons, particularly air quality, water, vegetation, and climate change.
Evaluating the Potential of Landsat Satellite Data to Monitor the Effectiveness of Measures to Mitigate Urban Heat Islands: A Case Study for Stuttgart (Germany)
Authors: Seeberg Gereon , Hostlowsky Antonia , Huber Julia , Kamm Julia , Lincke Lucia , Schwingshackl Clemens
Published: November 2022

The urban heat island (UHI) effect is a serious health risk for people living in cities and thus calls for effective mitigation strategies in urban areas. Satellite data enable monitoring of the surface urban heat island (SUHI) over large areas at high spatial resolution. Here we analysed SUHI in the city of Stuttgart (Germany) based on land surface temperature (LST) data from Landsat at 30 m resolution. The overall SUHI in Stuttgart decreased by 1.4 °C between the investigated time periods 2004–2008 and 2016–2020, while the absolute LST increased by 2.5 °C. We identified local hotspots of strong warming and cooling in Stuttgart through the change in SUHI and categorised them based on the predominant land cover change occurring at the hotspot using the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Landsat as well as visual information on land cover changes from Google Earth Pro. The establishment of green roofs, as well as albedo changes, are predominantly responsible for cooling spots, while warming spots are mostly associated with the sealing of surfaces. This highlights that vegetation has a dominant influence on SUHI development in Stuttgart. Combining satellite-based LST data with visual information thus provides an effective method to identify local warming and cooling hotspots, which allows monitoring of the success of city policies against heat stress and guides future policy.
Host Cell Entry and Neutralization Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages B.1.620 and R.1
Authors: Sidarovich Anzhalika , Krüger Nadine , Rocha Cheila , Graichen Luise , Kempf Amy , Nehlmeier Inga , Lier Martin , Cossmann Anne , Stankov Metodi V. , Schulz Sebastian R. , Behrens Georg M. N. , Jäck Hans-Martin , Pöhlmann Stefan , Hoffmann Markus
Published: November 2022

The spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) facilitates viral entry into host cells and is the key target for neutralizing antibodies. The SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.620 carries fifteen mutations in the S protein and is spread in Africa, the US and Europe, while lineage R.1 harbors four mutations in S and infections were observed in several countries, particularly Japan and the US. However, the impact of the mutations in B.1.620 and R.1 S proteins on antibody-mediated neutralization and host cell entry are largely unknown. Here, we report that these mutations are compatible with robust ACE2 binding and entry into cell lines, and they markedly reduce neutralization by vaccine-induced antibodies. Our results reveal evasion of neutralizing antibodies by B.1.620 and R.1, which might have contributed to the spread of these lineages.
Molecular Detection of Southern Tomato Amalgavirus Prevalent in Tomatoes and Its Genomic Characterization with Global Evolutionary Dynamics
Authors: Hussain Muhammad Dilshad , Farooq Tahir , Chen Xi , Jiang Tong , Zang Lianyi , Shakeel Muhammad Taimoor , Zhou Tao
Published: November 2022

Southern tomato amalgavirus (STV) is a cryptic pathogen that is abundant in tomato production fields and intensifies the resurgence of tomato yellow stunt disease (ToYSD), together with other phytoviruses. Here, we mapped the geographical and genomic diversity, phylogenetics, and evolutionary dynamics of STV. We found that STV prevailed across China and Pakistan, with a maximum average rate of infection of 43.19% in Beijing, China, and 40.08% in Punjab, Pakistan. Subsequently, we amplified, cloned, and annotated the complete genome sequences of STV isolates from Solanum lycopersicum L. in China (OP548653 and OP548652) and Pakistan (MT066231) using Sanger and next-generation sequencing (NGS). These STV isolates displayed close evolutionary relationships with others from Asia, America, and Europe. Whole-genome-based molecular diversity analysis showed that STV populations had 33 haplotypes with a gene diversity (Hd) of 0.977 and a nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.00404. The genetic variability of RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) was higher than that of the putative coat protein (CP) p42. Further analysis revealed that STV isolates were likely to be recombinant but with a lower-to-moderate level of confidence. With a variable distribution pattern of positively and negatively selected sites, negative selection pressure predominantly acted on p42 and RdRp. These findings elaborated on the molecular variability and evolutionary trends among STV populations across major tomato-producing regions of the world.
Cocktail, a Computer Program for Modelling Bacteriophage Infection Kinetics
Authors: Nilsson Anders S.
Published: November 2022

Cocktail is an easy-to-use computer program for mathematical modelling of bacteriophage (phage) infection kinetics in a chemostat. The infection of bacteria by phages results in complicated dynamic processes as both have the ability to multiply and change during the course of an infection. There is a need for a simple way to visualise these processes, not least due to the increased interest in phage therapy. Cocktail is completely self-contained and runs on a Windows 64-bit operating system. By changing the publicly available source code, the program can be developed in the directions that users see fit. Cocktail’s models consist of coupled differential equations that describe the infection of a bacterium in a vessel by one or two (interfering) phages. In the models, the bacterial population can be controlled by sixteen parameters, for example, through different growth rates, phage resistance, metabolically inactive cells or biofilm formation. The phages can be controlled by eight parameters each, such as different adsorption rates or latency periods. As the models in Cocktail describe the infection kinetics of phages in vitro, the program is primarily intended to generate hypotheses, but the results can however be indicative in the application of phage therapy.
Cross-Reactive Fc-Fused Single-Domain Antibodies to Hemagglutinin Stem Region Protect Mice from Group 1 Influenza a Virus Infection
Authors: Voronina Daria V. , Shcheblyakov Dmitry V. , Favorskaya Irina A. , Esmagambetov Ilias B. , Dzharullaeva Alina S. , Tukhvatulin Amir I. , Zubkova Olga V. , Popova Olga , Kan Vladislav Y. , Bandelyuk Alina S. , Shmarov Maxim M. , Logunov Denis Y. , Naroditskiy Boris S. , Gintsburg Aleksandr L.
Published: November 2022

The continued evolution of influenza viruses reduces the effectiveness of vaccination and antiviral drugs. The identification of novel and universal agents for influenza prophylaxis and treatment is an urgent need. We have previously described two potent single-domain antibodies (VHH), G2.3 and H1.2, which bind to the stem domain of hemagglutinin and efficiently neutralize H1N1 and H5N2 influenza viruses in vivo. In this study, we modified these VHHs with Fc-fragment to enhance their antiviral activity. Reformatting of G2.3 into bivalent Fc-fusion molecule increased its in vitro neutralizing activity against H1N1 and H2N3 viruses up to 80-fold and, moreover, resulted in obtaining the ability to neutralize H5N2 and H9N2 subtypes. We demonstrated that a dose as low as 0.6 mg/kg of G2.3-Fc or H1.2-Fc administered systemically or locally before infection could protect mice from lethal challenges with both H1N1 and H5N2 viruses. Furthermore, G2.3-Fc reduced the lung viral load to an undetectable level. Both VHH-Fc antibodies showed in vivo therapeutic efficacy when delivered via systemic or local route. The findings support G2.3-Fc as a potential therapeutic agent for both prophylaxis and therapy of Group 1 influenza A infection.
Serum Metabolic Correlates of the Antibody Response in Subjects Receiving the Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine
Authors: Zhang Yi , Yue Qiaoyan , Zhu Haojing , Song Jieyu , Li Dingding , Liu Wen , Jiang Shujun , Jiang Ning , Qiu Chao , Ai Jingwen , Zhang Yanliang , Zhang Wenhong
Published: November 2022

Background: Metabolites are involved in biological process that govern the immune response to infection and vaccination. Knowledge of how metabolites interact with the immune system during immunization with the COVID-19 vaccine is limited. Here, we report that the serum metabolites are correlated with the magnitude of the antibody response in recipients receiving the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, which provides critical information for studying metabolism regarding the human immune response to vaccination. Methods: 106 healthy volunteers without history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination were prospectively enrolled to receive the primary series of two doses of inactivated whole-virion SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The serum samples were collected 2–4 weeks after the second dose. The magnitude of the anti-RBD antibody was quantified using surrogate virus neutralization tests. The profile of metabolites in serum was identified using untargeted metabolomics analysis. Results: The level of anti-RBD antibody 14–28 days after the second dose was significantly elevated and its interpersonal variability was diverse in a wide range. Thirty-two samples at extremes of the anti-RBD antibody titer were selected to discover the metabolic correlates. Two hundred and fifteen differential metabolites associated with antibody response independent of body mass index were identified. Pregnenolone and sphingolipid metabolism might be involved in the modulation of the human antibody response to the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: We discovered key metabolites as well as those with a related functional significance that might modulate the human immune response to vaccination.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Implications of Ageing on Infection and Maintaining Protection in the Elderly
Authors: Bonavida Victor , Frame Mitchell , Nguyen Kevin H. , Rajurkar Shlok , Venketaraman Vishwanath
Published: November 2022

Several reports have suggested that ageing negatively affects the human body resulting in the alteration of various parameters important for sufficient immune health. Although, the breakdown of innate and adaptive immunity has been hypothesized to increase an individual’s susceptibility to infections including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), little research has been done to bridge this gap and understand the pathophysiology underlying how ageing increases the pathogenesis of M. tb infection. Our objective was to study research from a plethora of resources to better understand the pathogenesis of ageing and its link to the human immune system. To achieve this goal, this article explores how ageing decreases the collective T-cell immune response, reduces glutathione (GSH) production, over activates the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORC1) pathway, inhibits autophagy and mitophagy, and alters various protective genes/transcription factors. Specifically highlighting how each of these pathways cripple an individual’s immune system and increases their susceptibility from M. tb infection. Furthermore, research summarized in this article gives rise to an additional mechanism of susceptibility to M. tb infection which includes a potential defect in antigen presenting by dendritic cells rather than the T-cells response. Inflammaging has also been shown to play a role in the ageing of the immune system and can also potentially be a driving factor for increased susceptibility to M. tb infection in the elderly. In addition, this article features possible preventative strategies that could decrease infections like M. tb in this population. These strategies would need to be further explored and range from immunomodulators, like Everolimus to antioxidant supplementation through GSH intake. We have also proposed the need to research these therapies in conjunction with the administration of the BCG vaccine, especially in endemic populations, to better understand the risk contracting M. tb infection as well as ways to prevent infection in the first place.
Overcoming Aging-Associated Poor Influenza Vaccine Responses with CpG 1018 Adjuvant
Authors: Kang Xinliang , Li Yibo , Zhao Yiwen , Chen Xinyuan
Published: November 2022

Aging is associated with diminished immune system function, which renders old people vulnerable to influenza infection and also less responsive to influenza vaccination. This study explored whether the CpG 1018 adjuvant was effective in enhancing influenza vaccine efficacy in aged mice equivalent to human beings in their late 50s to early 60s. Using the influenza pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pdm09) vaccine as a model, we found that the CpG 1018 adjuvant could significantly enhance the pdm09 vaccine-induced serum antibody titer, while the pdm09 vaccine alone failed to elicit significant antibody titer. In contrast, the pdm09 vaccine alone elicited significant antibody titer in young adult mice. Antibody subtype analysis found that the pdm09 vaccine alone elicited Th2-biased antibody responses in young adult mice, while incorporation of the CpG 1018 adjuvant promoted the elicitation of potent Th1-biased antibody responses in aged mice. The pdm09 vaccine alone was further found to induce significant expansion of Th2 cells in young adult mice, while incorporation of the CpG 1018 adjuvant stimulated significant expansion of Th1 cells in aged mice. The CpG 1018 adjuvant also stimulated vaccine-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in aged mice. The pdm09 vaccine in the presence of CpG 1018 elicited significant protection against lethal viral challenges, while the pdm09 vaccine alone failed to confer significant protection in young adult or aged mice. Our study provided strong evidence to support the high effectiveness of the CpG 1018 adjuvant to boost influenza vaccination in aged mouse models.