bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainability of Groundwater Potential Zones in Coastal Areas of Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, South India Using Integrated Approach of Remote Sensing, GIS and AHP Techniques
Authors: Sathiyamoorthy Mahenthiran , Masilamani Uma Shankar , Chadee Aaron Anil , Golla Sreelakhmi Devi , Aldagheiri Mohammed , Sihag Parveen , Rathnayake Upaka , Patidar Jyotendra , Shukla Shivansh , Singh Aryan Kumar , Kumar Bimlesh , Martin Hector
Published: March 2023

This paper aims to identify the groundwater-potential zones in coastal zones of the Cuddalore district by integrating remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques. The thematic layers such as geomorphology, landuse/land cover, lineament density, geology, soil, drainage density, rainfall, and slope are considered for the identification of groundwater-potential zones. The groundwater-potential zones are categorized into five zones as ‘very good’, ‘good’, ‘moderate’, ‘poor’, and ‘very poor’. From the study, it is observed that the rainwater/surface water infiltration to the aquifer is high in the eastern region due to flat topography, and thus, these zones possess ‘very good’ and ‘good’ groundwater-potential zones. The groundwater potential in the central region of the study area possesses moderate infiltration capacity, which is suitable for agricultural practices. Moreover, it is also observed that the groundwater potential is ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ in the northwest region due to steep slopes in which suitable recharge structures should be constructed in these zones to harvest the rainwater. Eventually, the obtained results are validated with existing bore wells in the study area, and it reveals that a GIS-based integrated method is an effective tool for the exploration of groundwater resources with high accuracy.
Adjusted Controlled Pass-By (CPB) Method for Urban Road Traffic Noise Assessment
Authors: Moreno Ricardo , Bianco Francesco , Carpita Stefano , Monticelli Alessandro , Fredianelli Luca , Licitra Gaetano
Published: March 2023

Noise associated with road infrastructure is a prominent problem in environmental acoustics, and its implications with respect to human health are well documented. Objective and repeatable methodologies are necessary for testing the efficacy of sustainable noise mitigation methods such as low noise emission pavement. The Controlled Pass-By (CPB) method is used to measure the sound generated by passing vehicles. Despite its popularity, the applicability of CPB is compromised in urban contexts, as its results depend on test site conditions, and slight changes in the experimental setup can compromise repeatability. Moreover, physical conditions, reduced space, and urban elements risk confine its use to only experimental road sites. In addition, vehicle speed represents a relevant factor that further contributes to the method’s inherent instability. The present paper aims to extend the applicable range of this method and to provide more reliable results by proposing an adjusted CPB method. Furthermore, CPB metrics such as LAmax do not consider the travelling speed of the vehicle under investigation. Our proposed method can yield an alternative metric that takes into account the duration of the noise event. A hypothetical urban case is investigated, and a signal processing pipeline is developed to properly characterize the resulting data. Speed cushions, manhole covers, and other spurious effects not related to the pass-by sound emissions of ordinary vehicles are pinpointed as well.
Application of ANN, XGBoost, and Other ML Methods to Forecast Air Quality in Macau
Authors: Lei Thomas M. T. , Ng Stanley C. W. , Siu Shirley W. I.
Published: March 2023

Air pollution in Macau has become a serious problem following the Pearl River Delta’s (PRD) rapid industrialization that began in the 1990s. With this in mind, Macau needs an air quality forecast system that accurately predicts pollutant concentration during the occurrence of pollution episodes to warn the public ahead of time. Five different state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) algorithms were applied to create predictive models to forecast PM2.5, PM10, and CO concentrations for the next 24 and 48 h, which included artificial neural networks (ANN), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), support vector machine (SVM), and multiple linear regression (MLR), to determine the best ML algorithms for the respective pollutants and time scale. The diurnal measurements of air quality data in Macau from 2016 to 2021 were obtained for this work. The 2020 and 2021 datasets were used for model testing, while the four-year data before 2020 and 2021 were used to build and train the ML models. Results show that the ANN, RF, XGBoost, SVM, and MLR models were able to provide good performance in building up a 24-h forecast with a higher coefficient of determination (R2) and lower root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and biases (BIAS). Meanwhile, all the ML models in the 48-h forecasting performance were satisfactory enough to be accepted as a two-day continuous forecast even if the R2 value was lower than the 24-h forecast. The 48-h forecasting model could be further improved by proper feature selection based on the 24-h dataset, using the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) value test and the adjusted R2 value of the 48-h forecasting model. In conclusion, the above five ML algorithms were able to successfully forecast the 24 and 48 h of pollutant concentration in Macau, with the RF and SVM models performing the best in the prediction of PM2.5 and PM10, and CO in both 24 and 48-h forecasts.
Study on the Impact of Social Capital on Farmers’ Decision-Making Behavior of Adopting Trusteeship Services
Authors: Zhang Xiuru , Zhang Lin , Nie Tangzhe
Published: March 2023

The development of sustainable agriculture is an important link in promoting agricultural modernization. As a new sustainable agricultural production model, the promotion effect of agricultural production trust depends on the participation of farmers. Therefore, based on the micro-data of 461 valid questionnaires from farmers in the Heilongjiang Province and the Heckman sample selection model, this study empirically analyzed the impact of social capital on the decision behavior of farmers to adopt custody services from two aspects of adoption behavior and adoption degree. The results showed that social capital had a significant positive impact on the adoption behavior and the degree of adoption of rural households’ trusteeship services. From the perspective of different business scales, for large-scale households, participation in the service promotion activities of agricultural means of production suppliers and trust in the technical information disseminated by the government had a significant positive impact on the adoption of custody services. However, for small farmers, participating in village collective service promotion activities and trusting the service information spread by their neighbors’ relatives and friends had a significant positive impact on trust adoption behavior. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the impact of social capital on farmers’ trust adoption behavior decision making in the future agricultural trust service promotion process to accelerate the promotion of sustainable agricultural development.
Predicting the Potential Distribution of the Endangered Plant Eucommia ulmoides in China under the Background of Climate Change
Authors: Xie Siyuan , Si He , Sun Hongxia , Zhao Qian , Li Xiaodong , Wang Shiqiang , Niu Junfeng , Wang Zhezhi
Published: March 2023

Eucommia ulmoides, a single extant species of Eucommiaceae, is a perennial deciduous tree distributed across central China. The bark of E. ulmoides is rich in chlorogenic acid and flavonoids that possesses high medicinal value, whereas its leaves and seeds contain abundant Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG), which is a unique strategic resource in China that can be used as a substitute for natural rubber. Under the background of global warming, the evaluation of habitat suitability is of great significance for the protection and management of E. ulmoides. For this study, maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling was employed to simulate the potentially suitable region for E. ulmoides over four periods (current, 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s) under four climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5), as well as to analyze changes in the spatial patterns of E. ulmoides and the essential environmental factors affecting the growth and distribution of E. ulmoides. The results revealed that the current potentially suitable region for E. ulmoides was 211.14 × 104 km2, which accounted for 21.99% of China’s territory. The low impact areas for E. ulmoides were distributed in Guizhou, Zhejiang, Sichuan, eastern Chongqing, southern Shaanxi, western Hubei, eastern Shandong, southern Anhui, southern Gansu, and northern Yunnan Provinces. The key bioclimatic variables affecting the distribution of E. ulmoides were mean diurnal range and mean temperature of the coldest quarter, with their contribution rates of 53.8% and 41.4%, respectively. Furthermore, core distributional shift analysis indicated that the center of the potentially suitable regions of E. ulmoides exhibited a general trend of shifting to the northwest and high latitudes. Finally, conservation strategies are proposed, such as the establishment of ex situ protection sites and germplasm resource collection. Future researchers can conduct further studies by integrating the quality of E. ulmoide herbs and environmental variables. In this study, for technical reasons, we only considered the effect of climate on species distribution without considering other biotic and abiotic factors, which can be further addressed by future researchers.
Roles of Hydrogen, Halogen Bonding and Aromatic Stacking in a Series of Isophthalamides
Authors: Osman Islam Ali , McKee Vickie , Jelsch Christian , Gallagher John F.
Published: March 2023

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of six bis(5-X-pyridine-2-yl)isophthalamides (X = H, F, Br, Cl, I, NO2) are reported, together with five crystal structure analyses (for X = H, F to I). The isophthalamides span a range of conformations as syn/anti (H-DIP; I-DIP), anti/anti- (F-DIP; Br-DIP) and with both present in ratio 2:1 in Cl-DIP. The essentially isostructural F-DIP and Br-DIP molecules (using strong amide…amide interactions) aggregate into 2D molecular sheets that align with either F/H or Br atoms at the sheet surfaces (interfaces), respectively. Sheets are linked by weak C-H⋯F contacts in F-DIP and by Br⋯Br halogen bonding interactions as a ‘wall of bromines’ at the Br atom rich interfaces in Br-DIP. Cl-DIP is an unusual crystal structure incorporating both syn/anti and anti/anti molecular conformations in the asymmetric unit (Z’ = 3). The I-DIP•½(H2O) hemihydrate structure has a water molecule residing on a twofold axis between two I-DIPs and has hydrogen and N⋯I (Nc = 0.88) halogen bonding. The hydrate is central to an unusual synthon and involved in six hydrogen bonding interactions/contacts. Contact enrichment analysis on the Hirshfeld surface demonstrates that F-DIP, Cl-DIP and Br-DIP have especially over-represented halogen···halogen interactions. With the F-DIP, Cl-DIP and Br-DIP molecules having an elongated skeleton, the formation of layers of halogen atoms in planes perpendicular to the long unit cell axis occurs in the crystal packings. All six DIPs were analysed by ab initio calculations and conformational analysis; comparisons are made between their minimized structures and the five crystal structures. In addition, physicochemical properties are compared and assessed.
Modeling of Satellite-to-Underwater Integrated FSO-PON System Using NOMA-VLC
Authors: Arya Vivek , Kumari Meet , Al-Khafaji Hamza Mohammed Ridha , Aljunid Syed Alwee
Published: March 2023

In recent years, optical wireless communication has promised several benefits over radio frequency communication in atmospheric, deep space and underwater communications. Satellite-to-underwater communication technology can be applied to commercial, naval, scientific and engineering operations because of its high data rate, high security, long-reach and low cost. In this paper, a high-speed, long-reach integrated free space optics (FSO)-passive optical network (PON) system using non-orthogonal multiple access visible light communication (NOMA-VLC) is proposed. It poses a 10/2.5 Gbps per channel bit rate for satellite-to-underwater applications. Numerically calculated results provide the splitter power budget of −35 dBm in the downlink and −32 dBm in the uplink. Additionally, a receiver sensitivity of 23 dB in the downlink and 10 dB in the uplink direction can be obtained in the system using a modified new zero cross-correlation (MNZCC) code under clear environment conditions. Again, the simulative analyses indicate that the suggested system supports 290 underwater devices successfully and offers a high 10 dBm signal-to-noise ratio over 10 km FSO, 100 km fiber and 5 m VLC range. Moreover, it provides a signal-to-noise ratio of 39 dB, with −9 dBm received optical power at 300 fields of view under fiber-wireless channels’ impairments. We argue that the suggested system is a symmetric system adapted to different link distances and which offers improved receiver sensitivity and high received optical power at a 10−9 bit error rate (BER). The comparative analysis shows the advantages of the suggested system over previously reported works.
2-Absorbing Vague Weakly Complete Γ-Ideals in Γ-Rings
Authors: Onar Serkan , Hila Kostaq , Etemad Sina , Akgül Ali , De la Sen Manuel , Rezapour Shahram
Published: March 2023

The aim of this study is to provide a generalization of prime vague Γ-ideals in Γ-rings by introducing non-symmetric 2-absorbing vague weakly complete Γ-ideals of commutative Γ-rings. A novel algebraic structure of a primary vague Γ-ideal of a commutative Γ-ring is presented by 2-absorbing weakly complete primary ideal theory. The approach of non-symmetric 2-absorbing K-vague Γ-ideals of Γ-rings are examined and the relation between a level subset of 2-absorbing vague weakly complete Γ-ideals and 2-absorbing Γ-ideals is given. The image and inverse image of a 2-absorbing vague weakly complete Γ-ideal of a Γ-ring and 2-absorbing K-vague Γ-ideal of a Γ-ring are studied and a 1-1 inclusion-preserving correspondence theorem is given. A vague quotient Γ-ring of R induced by a 2-absorbing vague weakly complete Γ-ideal of a 2-absorbing Γ-ring is characterized, and a diagram is obtained that shows the relationship between these concepts with a 2-absorbing Γ-ideal.
Time and Frequency Spillovers between the Green Economy and Traditional Energy Markets
Authors: Zhao Lili , He Wenke , Wang Anwen , Zhu Fangfei
Published: March 2023

The green economy is aimed at decreasing the dependence of the global economy on traditional fossil energy, thereby resolving conflicts between economic development and environmental issues and achieving sustainable economic development. Thus, the relation between the green economy and traditional energy markets is of great importance for both policymakers and portfolio managers. In this study, we investigate the dynamic spillover effects between the green economy and traditional energy markets by applying time and frequency spillover measures based on the TVP-VAR model. The results reveal a strong spillover relationship between the green economy and traditional energy system, and the spillover direction is mainly from green economy markets to traditional energy markets. Our analysis further reveals the heterogeneity of these spillover effects, both within green economy markets and between these markets and traditional energy markets. The performance of the U.S. green economy market is similar to that of Europe, whereas the Asian green economy market is more complex. The frequency domain results demonstrate that the spillover effects are mainly dominated by short-term (1–5 days) components, whereas medium- and long-term components have less of an effect. In addition, we find a sharp increase in the level of spillover effects during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Functional and Proteomic Insights into Aculeata Venoms
Authors: Dashevsky Daniel , Baumann Kate , Undheim Eivind A. B. , Nouwens Amanda , Ikonomopoulou Maria P. , Schmidt Justin O. , Ge Lilin , Kwok Hang Fai , Rodriguez Juanita , Fry Bryan G.
Published: March 2023

Aculeate hymenopterans use their venom for a variety of different purposes. The venom of solitary aculeates paralyze and preserve prey without killing it, whereas social aculeates utilize their venom in defence of their colony. These distinct applications of venom suggest that its components and their functions are also likely to differ. This study investigates a range of solitary and social species across Aculeata. We combined electrophoretic, mass spectrometric, and transcriptomic techniques to characterize the compositions of venoms from an incredibly diverse taxon. In addition, in vitro assays shed light on their biological activities. Although there were many common components identified in the venoms of species with different social behavior, there were also significant variations in the presence and activity of enzymes such as phospholipase A2s and serine proteases and the cytotoxicity of the venoms. Social aculeate venom showed higher presence of peptides that cause damage and pain in victims. The venom-gland transcriptome from the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) contained highly conserved toxins which match those identified by previous investigations. In contrast, venoms from less-studied taxa returned limited results from our proteomic databases, suggesting that they contain unique toxins.
In-Vitro and In-Silico Investigation for the Spent-Coffee Bioactive Phenolics as a Promising Aflatoxins Production Inhibitor
Authors: Farouk Amr , Alsulami Tawfiq , Ali Hatem S. , Badr Ahmed Noah
Published: March 2023

Aflatoxin, is a naturally occurring polyketide generated by Aspergillus flavus via biosynthetic pathways, including polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal enzymes. The in vitro analysis supported by molecular dynamics (MD) techniques was used to examine the antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic activity of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) methanol extract. The High-Performance Liquid Chromatography results revealed the presence of 15 phenolic acids and five flavonoids. (R)-(+)-Rosmarinic acid (176.43 ± 2.41 µg/g) was the predominant of the detected acids, followed by gallic acid (34.83 ± 1.05 µg/g). At the same time, apigenin-7-glucoside is the dominant flavonoid in the SCGs extract by 1717.05 ± 5.76 µg/g, and naringin (97.27 ± 1.97 µg/g) comes next. The antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic activity of the SCGs extracts was 380 µL/mL and 460 µL/mL, respectively. The SGGs’ effect of inhibiting five Aspergillus strains’ growth on the agar media ranged between 12.81 ± 1.71 to 15.64 ± 1.08 mm by two diffusion assays. Molecular docking results confirmed the inhibitory action of different phenolics and flavonoids on the PKS and NPS key enzymes of the aflatoxin biosynthetic mechanism. The SCGs extract components with the highest free binding energy, naringin (−9.1 kcal/mL) and apigenin 7-glucoside (−9.1 kcal/mol), were subjected to an MD simulation study. The computational results infer the stabilizing effects on the enzymes upon ligand binding led to the impairment in its functionality. The current study represents a novel attempt to assess the anti aflatoxins mechanism of phenolics and flavonoids targeting PKS and NPS via computational approaches compared to in-vitro assays.
The Effect of Environmental Factors on Mould Counts and AFB1 Toxin Production by Aspergillus flavus in Maize
Authors: Molnár Krisztina , Rácz Csaba , Dövényi-Nagy Tamás , Bakó Károly , Pusztahelyi Tünde , Kovács Szilvia , Adácsi Cintia , Pócsi István , Dobos Attila
Published: March 2023

The toxins produced by Aspergillus flavus can significantly inhibit the use of maize. As a result of climate change, toxin production is a problem not only in tropical and subtropical areas but in an increasing number of European countries, including Hungary. The effect of meteorological factors and irrigation on mould colonization and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) mycotoxin production by A. flavus were investigated in natural conditions, as well as the inoculation with a toxigenic isolate in a complex field experiment for three years. As a result of irrigation, the occurrence of fungi increased, and toxin production decreased. The mould count of fungi and toxin accumulation showed differences during the examined growing seasons. The highest AFB1 content was found in 2021. The main environmental factors in predicting mould count were temperature (Tavg, Tmax ≥ 30 °C, Tmax ≥ 32 °C, Tmax ≥ 35 °C) and atmospheric drought (RHmin ≤ 40%). Toxin production was determined by extremely high daily maximum temperatures (Tmax ≥ 35 °C). At natural contamination, the effect of Tmax ≥ 35 °C on AFB1 was maximal (r = 0.560–0.569) in the R4 stage. In the case of artificial inoculation, correlations with environmental factors were stronger (r = 0.665–0.834) during the R2–R6 stages.
Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 Spike Mutations on T-Cell Epitopes in Mice
Authors: Wang Yudong , Wang Busen , Zhao Zhenghao , Xu Jinghan , Zhang Zhe , Zhang Jinlong , Chen Yi , Song Xiaohong , Zheng Wanru , Hou Lihua , Wu Shipo , Chen Wei
Published: March 2023

T-cell immunity plays an important role in the control of SARS-CoV-2 and has a great cross-protective effect on the variants. The Omicron BA.1 variant contains more than 30 mutations in the spike and severely evades humoral immunity. To understand how Omicron BA.1 spike mutations affect cellular immunity, the T-cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 wild-type and Omicron BA.1 spike in BALB/c (H-2d) and C57BL/6 mice (H-2b) were mapped through IFNγ ELISpot and intracellular cytokine staining assays. The epitopes were identified and verified in splenocytes from mice vaccinated with the adenovirus type 5 vector encoding the homologous spike, and the positive peptides involved in spike mutations were tested against wide-type and Omicron BA.1 vaccines. A total of eleven T-cell epitopes of wild-type and Omicron BA.1 spike were identified in BALB/c mice, and nine were identified in C57BL/6 mice, only two of which were CD4+ T-cell epitopes and most of which were CD8+ T-cell epitopes. The A67V and Del 69-70 mutations in Omicron BA.1 spike abolished one epitope in wild-type spike, and the T478K, E484A, Q493R, G496S and H655Y mutations resulted in three new epitopes in Omicron BA.1 spike, while the Y505H mutation did not affect the epitope. These data describe the difference of T-cell epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 wild-type and Omicron BA.1 spike in H-2b and H-2d mice, providing a better understanding of the effects of Omicron BA.1 spike mutations on cellular immunity.
Membraneless Compartmentalization of Nuclear Assembly Sites during Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection
Authors: Mahmutefendić Lučin Hana , Lukanović Jurić Silvija , Marcelić Marina , Štimac Igor , Viduka Ivona , Blagojević Zagorac Gordana , Lisnić Berislav , Ruzsics Zsolt , Lučin Pero
Published: March 2023

Extensive reorganization of infected cells and the formation of large structures known as the nuclear replication compartment (RC) and cytoplasmic assembly compartment (AC) is a hallmark of beta-herpesvirus infection. These restructurings rely on extensive compartmentalization of the processes that make up the virus manufacturing chain. Compartmentalization of the nuclear processes during murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection is not well described. In this study, we visualized five viral proteins (pIE1, pE1, pM25, pm48.2, and pM57) and replicated viral DNA to reveal the nuclear events during MCMV infection. As expected, these events can be matched with those described for other beta and alpha herpesviruses and contribute to the overall picture of herpesvirus assembly. Imaging showed that four viral proteins (pE1, pM25, pm48.2, and pM57) and replicated viral DNA condense in the nucleus into membraneless assemblies (MLAs) that undergo a maturation sequence to form the RC. One of these proteins (pM25), which is also expressed in a cytoplasmic form (pM25l), showed similar MLAs in the AC. Bioinformatics tools for predicting biomolecular condensates showed that four of the five proteins had a high propensity for liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), suggesting that LLPS may be a mechanism for compartmentalization within RC and AC. Examination of the physical properties of MLAs formed during the early phase of infection by 1,6-hexanediol treatment in vivo revealed liquid-like properties of pE1 MLAs and more solid-like properties of pM25 MLAs, indicating heterogeneity of mechanisms in the formation of virus-induced MLAs. Analysis of the five viral proteins and replicated viral DNA shows that the maturation sequence of RC and AC is not completed in many cells, suggesting that virus production and release is carried out by a rather limited number of cells. This study thus lays the groundwork for further investigation of the replication cycle of beta-herpesviruses, and the results should be incorporated into plans for high-throughput and single-cell analytic approaches.
Susceptibility and Permissivity of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Larvae to Cypriniviruses
Authors: Streiff Cindy , He Bo , Morvan Léa , Zhang Haiyan , Delrez Natacha , Fourrier Mickael , Manfroid Isabelle , Suárez Nicolás M. , Betoulle Stéphane , Davison Andrew J. , Donohoe Owen , Vanderplasschen Alain
Published: March 2023

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) represents an increasingly important model organism in virology. We evaluated its utility in the study of economically important viruses from the genus Cyprinivirus (anguillid herpesvirus 1, cyprinid herpesvirus 2 and cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3)). This revealed that zebrafish larvae were not susceptible to these viruses after immersion in contaminated water, but that infections could be established using artificial infection models in vitro (zebrafish cell lines) and in vivo (microinjection of larvae). However, infections were transient, with rapid viral clearance associated with apoptosis-like death of infected cells. Transcriptomic analysis of CyHV-3-infected larvae revealed upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes, in particular those encoding nucleic acid sensors, mediators of programmed cell death and related genes. It was notable that uncharacterized non-coding RNA genes and retrotransposons were also among those most upregulated. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of the zebrafish gene encoding protein kinase R (PKR) and a related gene encoding a protein kinase containing Z-DNA binding domains (PKZ) had no impact on CyHV-3 clearance in larvae. Our study strongly supports the importance of innate immunity-virus interactions in the adaptation of cypriniviruses to their natural hosts. It also highlights the potential of the CyHV-3-zebrafish model, versus the CyHV-3-carp model, for study of these interactions.
An Outbred Guinea Pig Disease Model for Lassa Fever Using a Host-Adapted Clade III Nigerian Lassa Virus
Authors: Deschambault Yvon , Soule Geoff , Klassen Levi , Sloan Angela , Audet Jonathan , Azaransky Kim , Musa Abdulmajid S. , Ahmad Adama , Akinpelu Afolabi M. , Mba Nwando , Stein Derek R. , Ranson Marc , Almiski Muhamad , Tierney Kevin , Fischer Gabor , Chan Mable , Safronetz David
Published: March 2023

Nigeria experiences annual outbreaks of Lassa fever (LF) with high case numbers. At least three clades of Lassa virus (LASV) have been documented in Nigeria, though recent outbreaks are most often associated with clade II or clade III viruses. Using a recently isolated clade III LASV from a case of LF in Nigeria in 2018, we developed and characterized a guinea pig adapted virus capable of causing lethal disease in commercially available Hartley guinea pigs. Uniform lethality was observed after four passages of the virus and was associated with only two dominant genomic changes. The adapted virus was highly virulent with a median lethal dose of 10 median tissue culture infectious doses. Disease was characterized by several hallmarks of LF in similar models including high fever, thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, and increased inflammatory immune mediators. High viral loads were noted in all solid organ specimens analyzed. Histological abnormalities were most striking in the lungs and livers of terminal animals and included interstitial inflammation, edema, and steatosis. Overall, this model represents a convenient small animal model for a clade III Nigeria LASV with which evaluation of specific prophylactic vaccines and medical countermeasures can be conducted.
Candida parapsilosis Cell Wall Proteome Characterization and Effectiveness against Hematogenously Disseminated Candidiasis in a Murine Model
Authors: Gong Xiaolong , Srivastava Vartika , Naicker Previn , Khan Amber , Ahmad Aijaz
Published: March 2023

Candida parapsilosis poses huge treatment challenges in the clinical settings of South Africa, and often causes infections among immunocompromised patients and underweight neonates. Cell wall proteins have been known to play vital roles in fungal pathogenesis, as these are the first points of contact toward environments, the host, and the immune system. This study characterized the cell wall immunodominant proteins of pathogenic yeast C. parapsilosis and evaluated their protective effects in mice, which could add value in vaccine development against the rising C. parapsilosis infections. Among different clinical strains, the most pathogenic and multidrug-resistant C. parapsilosis isolate was selected based on their susceptibility towards antifungal drugs, proteinase, and phospholipase secretions. Cell wall antigens were prepared by β-mercaptoethanol/ammonium bicarbonate extraction from selected C. parapsilosis strains. Antigenic proteins were identified using LC–MS/MS, where 933 proteins were found, with 34 being immunodominant. The protective effect of the cell wall immunodominant proteins was observed by immunizing BALB/c mice with cell wall protein extracts. After the immunization and booster, the BALC/c mice were challenged with a lethal dose of C. parapsilosis. In vivo results demonstrated increased survival rates and lower fungal burden in vital organs in the immunized mice compared to the unimmunized mice, thereby confirming the immunogenic property of cell wall-associated proteins of C. parapsilosis. Therefore, these results advocated the potential of these cell wall proteins to act as biomarkers for the development of diagnostic assays and/or vaccines against infections caused by C. parapsilosis.
Safety Profile of Homologous and Heterologous Booster COVID-19 Vaccines in Physicians in Quito-Ecuador: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Flores-Lastra Nancy , Rivadeneira-Dueñas Josue , Fuenmayor-González Luis , Guayasamín-Tipanta Glenda , Jácome-García Michelle , Otzen Tamara , Manterola Carlos
Published: March 2023

More than 600 healthcare workers died due to COVID-19 infection until January 2022 in Ecuador. Even though the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, local and systemic reactions were reported among physicians. This study aims to analyze the adverse events of COVID-19 with an emphasis on comparing the homologous and heterologous booster doses in physicians that received three approved vaccines in Ecuador. An electronic survey was performed in Quito, Ecuador, directed at physicians who were vaccinated with the three doses of COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 210 participants were analyzed after administering any dose of the vaccines. At least one AE was identified in 60.0% (126/210) of the sample after the first dose, 52.40% (110/210) after the second dose, and 75.2% (158/210) after the booster dose. The most frequent AEs were localized pain, myalgia, headache, and fever. At least one drug was used in 44.3% of the population after the first dose, 37.1% after the second dose, and 63.8% in the booster dose. Heterologous booster produces more AEs compared with homologous booster (80.1% vs. 53.8%), and 77.3% of participants reported that interfered with daily activities. Similar studies agree that reactogenicity occurs mainly with heterologous vaccination compared to homologous vaccination. This situation affected physicians’ performance in daily activities and led them to use medication for the symptoms. In the future, it is recommended to perform cohort studies, where adverse events that are associated with vaccine boosters in the general population can be analyzed longitudinally, thus improving the level of evidence of the results.
Is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis a Cost-Effective Intervention to Avert Rabies Deaths among School-Aged Children in India? Comment on Royal et al. A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to Avert Rabies Deaths in School-Aged Children in India. Vaccines 2023, 11, 88
Authors: Kapur Vivek
Published: March 2023

I read with interest the article “A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to Avert Rabies Deaths in School-Aged Children in India” by Royal et al., recently published in Vaccines [...]
Estimation of Aquifer Storativity Using 3D Geological Modeling and the Spatial Random Bagging Simulation Method: The Saskatchewan River Basin Case Study (Central Canada)
Authors: Hamdi Mohamed , Goïta Kalifa
Published: March 2023

Hydrosystems in the Saskatchewan River Basin of the Canadian Prairies are subject to natural and socioeconomic pressures. Increasingly, these strong pressures are exacerbating problems of water resource accessibility and depletion. Unfortunately, the geometric heterogeneity of the aquifers and the presence of lithologically varied layers complicate groundwater flow studies, hydrodynamic characterization, and aquifer storativity calculations. Moreover, in recent hydrogeological studies, hydraulic conductivity has been the subject of much more research than storativity. It is in this context that the present research was conducted, to establish a 3D hydrostratigraphic model that highlights the geological (lithology, thickness, and depth) and hydrodynamic characteristics of the aquifer formations and proposes a new uncertainty framework for groundwater storage estimation. The general methodology is based on collecting and processing a very fragmentary and diverse multi-source database to develop the conceptual model. Data were harmonized and entered into a common database management system. A large quantity of geological information has been implemented in a 3D hydrostratigraphic model to establish the finest geometry of the SRB aquifers. Then, the different sources of uncertainty were controlled and considered in the modeling process by developing a randomized modeling system based on spatial random bagging simulation (SRBS). The results of the research show the following: Firstly, the distribution of aquifer levels is controlled by tectonic activity and erosion, which further suggests that most buried valleys on the Prairies have filled over time, likely during multiple glaciations in several depositional environments. Secondly, the geostatistical study allowed us to choose optimal interpolation variographic parameters. Finally, the final storativity maps of the different aquifer formations showed a huge potential of groundwater in SRB. The SRBS method allowed us to calculate the optimal storativity values for each mesh and to obtain a final storativity map for each formation. For example, for the Paskapoo Formation, the distribution grid of groundwater storage shows that the east part of the aquifer can store up to 5920 × 103 m3/voxel, whereas most areas of the west aquifer part can only store less than 750 × 103 m3/voxel. The maximum storativity was attributed to the Horseshoe Canyon Formation, which contains maximal geological reserves ranging from 107 to 111 × 109 m3. The main contribution of this research is the proposed 3D geological model with hydrogeological insights into the study area, as well as the use of a new statistical method to propagate the uncertainty over the modeling domain. The next step will focus on the hydrodynamic modeling of groundwater flow to better manage water resources in the Saskatchewan River Basin.
Odorous Substances in Urban Drainage Pipelines and the Removal Technology: A Review
Authors: Jin Sha , Zhang Kejia , Cen Cheng , Shuai Youwen , Hu Tingting , Mao Ruyin
Published: March 2023

The existence of odors in drainage pipelines is one of the most prominent environmental problems that urban residents complain about nowadays. Odorous substances in sewage can cause corrosion and erosion in drainage pipelines, and even lead to great harm to the human body and environments. Ideas for in situ odor control can be divided into two main categories: the elimination of odorous substances and the inhibition of the production of odorous substances. However, there is a lack of comprehensive summary of in situ overall deodorization techniques, which has limited the wide application of these methods. We conducted a systematic review to summarize recent advances in in situ overall deodorization. Firstly, the main odorous substances in drainage pipelines and their basic characteristics are concluded. Special attention has been paid to volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) and nitrogen-containing compounds, as the main odorous substances. Subsequently, typical sources of these odorous substances are summarized based on their formation mechanisms. Then, in situ deodorization techniques (including pipeline condition optimization techniques, odor source control techniques, chemical control techniques, and biological control techniques) are introduced. Finally, upcoming research efforts on deodorization mechanism improvement, research gap supplementation, and economic efficiency enhancement to meet practical conditions are proposed.
Coagulation Combined with Electro-Fe0/H2O2 Reaction for Effective Treatment of Landfill Leachate Effluent of Membrane Bioreactor
Authors: Long Cheng , Zhu Bin , Liu Wei , Li Qixuan
Published: March 2023

In this study, coagulation combined with the electro-Fe0/H2O2 reaction was developed to treat refractory organics in the landfill leachate effluent of a membrane bioreactor (MBR), and the change in biodegradability was investigated. The results showed that polymerized ferric sulfate (PFS) was the best coagulant, with removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chromaticity of 74.18% and 72.22%, respectively, when the dosage was 2 g/L and the initial pH (pH0) was 6. Under the optimal conditions of pH0 of 3, current density of 5 mA/cm2, Fe0 dosage of 3 g/L, and H2O2 dosage of 0.059 M, the electro-Fe0/H2O2 reaction showed the removal efficiencies of COD and chromaticity for coagulated effluent were 76.68% and 74%, respectively. UV-vis and 3D-EEM spectral analysis showed that humic and fulvic acids were effectively degraded, and the effluent was mostly small molecules of aromatic protein-like substances. The whole process increased the BOD5/COD from 0.049 to 0.46, indicating that the biodegradability was substantially improved. This is due to the conjunction of the Fe0/H2O2 reaction with electrochemistry, which accelerated the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ on the Fe0 surface and cathode and improved the efficiency of hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation, thus promoting the removal of pollutants. The operating cost was only 4.18 $/m3, with the benefits of less Fe0 loss and no pH adjustment. In summary, coagulation combined with the electro-Fe0/H2O2 reaction is a cost-effective method for treating refractory organics in leachate and enhancing biodegradability.
A Coupled Seepage–Deformation Model for Simulating the Effect of Fracture Seepage on Rock Slope Stability Using the Numerical Manifold Method
Authors: Qu Xiaolei , Zhang Yunkai , Chen Youran , Chen Youyang , Qi Chengzhi , Pasternak Elena , Dyskin Arcady
Published: March 2023

Modeling seepage problems in rock fractures is an interesting research approach to evaluating rock slope instability that is attracting increasing attention. In the present study, a coupled seepage–deformation model based on the numerical manifold method (NMM) is proposed, and the flow of groundwater in a fracture network coupled with the effects of seepage pressure and rock deformation are discussed. A global equilibrium equation of the system and a local factor of safety (FoS) of arbitrary rock fractures are derived based on the principle of minimum energy, and a series of verification examples are calculated. The simulation results show the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed numerical model. Finally, a rock slope collapse accident caused by seepage effects is simulated by the proposed method, and the failure process of the slope is reproduced. The simulation results show that excessive hydraulic pressure caused the vertical fractures to open and augmented the rock mass deformation, eventually leading to the failure of the slope. The proposed method possesses the potential to simulate larger-scale engineering problems.
Comparison of an Explicit and Implicit Time Integration Method on GPUs for Shallow Water Flows on Structured Grids
Authors: Buwalda Floris J. L. , De Goede Erik , Knepflé Maxim , Vuik Cornelis
Published: March 2023

The accuracy, stability and computational efficiency of numerical methods on central processing units (CPUs) for the depth-averaged shallow water equations were well covered in the literature. A large number of these methods were already developed and compared. However, on graphics processing units (GPUs), such comparisons are relatively scarce. In this paper, we present the results of comparing two time-integration methods for the shallow water equations on structured grids. An explicit and a semi-implicit time integration method were considered. For the semi-implicit method, the performance of several iterative solvers was compared. The implementation of the semi-implicit method on a GPU in this study was a novel approach for the shallow water equations. This also holds for the repeated red black (RRB) solver that was found to be very efficient on a GPU. Additionally, the results of both methods were compared with several CPU-based software systems for the shallow water flows on structured grids. On a GPU, the simulations were 25 to 75 times faster than on a CPU. Theory predicts an explicit method to be best suited for a GPU due to the higher level of inherent parallelism. It was found that both the explicit and the semi-implicit methods ran efficiently on a GPU. For very shallow applications, the explicit method was preferred because the stability condition on the time step was not very restrictive. However, for deep water applications, we expect the semi-implicit method to be preferred.
Adaptation, Innovation and Co-Production: Meeting the Mental Wellbeing Needs of a Digital Generation
Authors: Jayman Michelle , Ayliffe Jay , Essau Cecilia
Published: March 2023

In the aftermath of a global health pandemic, youth mental health is a public-health emergency. The acceleration of digital technologies, catalysed by COVID-19, has seen the growing significance of online support and social media for promoting health behaviours. This exploratory study utilised a participatory-action research (PAR) design to investigate adolescents’ (N = 10; aged 16–18) perceptions and experiences of social media with respect to mental-wellbeing content. Data were collected using a focus-group method. Young people (YP) also evaluated digital resources adapted from the Super Skills for Life (SSL-A) intervention. Thematic analysis elicited three thematic categories: young people’s relationship with social media, perceptions and experiences of support pathways, and cultivating mental-health and wellbeing provision for a digital generation. Findings revealed that YP were discerning digital citizens and willing to use technologies for support. Although exposure to social-media images and videos can convey social norms and shape normative perceptions of healthy wellbeing, mental-health literacy was a critical factor prompting change. Future co-production research is needed to design, develop, and evaluate digital resources adapted from evidence-based programmes to contribute to hybrid models of mental-wellbeing provision that can offer YP timely and appropriate support and a choice of delivery modalities.
Toma de decisiones organizacionales en el contexto de la pandemia
Authors: Sánchez Cabanillas Pedro Elí , Hurtado Alendes Ana Margarita , Valverde Sandoval Oscar Guillermo , Mucha Bonifacio Hever Crisólogo
Published: March 2023

La toma de decisiones organizacionales permite mejorar la gestión administrativa y pedagógica, ella se consolida a través de las relaciones sociales para así optimizar y dar solución a los problemas que se enfrenta en una organización. El objetivo fue analizar el desarrollo de la toma de decisiones organizacionales en el contexto de la pandemia. Se desarrolló una revisión sistemática de artículos cuantitativa y cualitativa, para ello se seleccionaron y analizaron 9 artículos de las bases de datos de PROQUEST, Redalyc y EBSCOHost. Se tiene como conclusión que el tema fue abordado como forma integral en toda la organización; por lo que tanto, los directivos como el personal deben conocer alternativas que brinden mejores resultados a los objetivos institucionales.
Pauvreté, pénurie et transition en Russie : de l'économie soviétique à l'économie de marché
Authors: Bertin Alexandre , Clément Matthieu
Published: March 2023

L'objectif de cet article est d'analyser l'évolution du phénomène de la pauvreté en Russie, sous le régime soviétique puis durant la transition vers l'économie de marché. Si dans le système socialiste, la pauvreté monétaire était modérée et les besoins de base globalement satisfaits, la régulation pénurique de l'économie limitait l'accès des individus aux biens et services, restreignant par conséquent leur niveau de bien-être. Le processus de transition économique des années 1990 a, certes, marqué la fin des pénuries mais a également provoqué une dégradation des conditions de vie, modifiant en profondeur la nature de la pauvreté.
Déterminants des investissements directs étrangers en Europe centrale et orientale. Un bilan de la transition
Authors: Lefilleur Julien
Published: March 2023

Cet article présente une revue critique de la très vaste littérature empirique sur les déterminants des investissements directs étrangers (IDE) dans les pays d'Europe centrale et orientale (PECO) durant la transition. Trois catégories de déterminants sont identifiées : ceux faisant l'objet d'un consensus, ceux sur lesquels les résultats sont partagés et, enfin, ceux insuffisamment étudiés. Les résultats montrent que la littérature s'accorde sur l'effet déterminant de la plupart des facteurs économiques - potentiel de marché, ouverture commerciale et distance par rapport à l'UE 15 - et institutionnels - libéralisation de l'économie, qualité du cadre législatif et perspectives d'adhésion à l'UE 15 - suggérés par la théorie. En revanche, certains facteurs intuitivement et théoriquement influents comme le coût et les caractéristiques de la main-d'œuvre, la perception du risque pays ou la concurrence sur les marchés locaux ont, malgré l'abondante littérature qui leur a été consacrée, eu un effet beaucoup plus ambigu. Enfin, la plupart des facteurs financiers (financement des entreprises, finances publiques et évolution des taux de change) ont fait l'objet d'un nombre trop limité d'études pour pouvoir en déduire l'impact. Par ailleurs, les résultats indiquent également que la nature, et donc les déterminants des IDE, a évolué durant la transition, avec une part croissante d'IDE de délocalisation au détriment des IDE de pénétration, notamment dans les petits pays d'Europe centrale. Après avoir recensé les principales lacunes de la littérature, plusieurs pistes sont proposées pour les recherches à venir.