bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study of Positivity Analysis for Difference Operators in the Liouville–Caputo Setting
Authors: Srivastava Hari Mohan , Mohammed Pshtiwan Othman , Guirao Juan Luis G. , Baleanu Dumitru , Al-Sarairah Eman , Jan Rashid
Published: February 2023

The class of symmetric function interacts extensively with other types of functions. One of these is the class of positivity of functions, which is closely related to the theory of symmetry. Here, we propose a positive analysis technique to analyse a class of Liouville–Caputo difference equations of fractional-order with extremal conditions. Our monotonicity results use difference conditions ΔaLCμf(a+J0+1−μ)≥(1−μ)f(a+J0) and ΔaLCμf(a+J0+1−μ)≤(1−μ)f(a+J0) to derive the corresponding relative minimum and maximum, respectively. We find alternative conditions corresponding to the main conditions in the main monotonicity results, which are simpler and stronger than the existing ones. Two numerical examples are solved by achieving the main conditions to verify the obtained monotonicity results.
Image Inpainting Anti-Forensics Network via Attention-Guided Hierarchical Reconstruction
Authors: Dou Liyun , Feng Guorui , Qian Zhenxing
Published: February 2023

Privacy security and property rights protection have gradually attracted the attention of people. Users not only hope that the images edited by themselves will not be forensically investigated, but also hope that the images they share will not be tampered with. Aiming at the problem that inpainted images can be located by forensics, this paper proposes a general anti-forensics framework for image inpainting with copyright protection. Specifically, we employ a hierarchical attention model to symmetrically reconstruct the inpainting results based on existing deep inpainting methods. The hierarchical attention model consists of a structural attention stream and a texture attention stream in parallel, which can fuse hierarchical features to generate high-quality reconstruction results. In addition, the user’s identity information can be symmetrically embedded and extracted to protect copyright. The experimental results not only had high-quality structural texture information, but also had homologous features with the original region, which could mislead the detection of forensics analysis. At the same time, the protection of users’ privacy and property rights is also achieved.
On the Modified Laplace Homotopy Perturbation Method for Solving Damped Modified Kawahara Equation and Its Application in a Fluid
Authors: Aljahdaly Noufe , Alweldi Alhanouf
Published: February 2023

The manuscript solves a modified Kawahara equation (mKE) within two cases with and without a damping term by applying the Laplace homotopy perturbation method (LHPM). Since the damped mKE is non-integrable (i.e., it does not have analytic integrals) and does not have exact initial conditions, this challenge makes many numerical methods fail to solve non-integrable equations. In this article, we suggested a new modification at LHPM by setting a perturbation parameter and an embedding parameter as the damping parameter and using the initial condition for mKE as the initial condition for non-damped mKE. The results proved that this mathematical approach is an effective method for solving damped mKE. Thus, we believe that the presented method will be helpful for solving many non-integrable equations that describe phenomena in sciences, such as nonlinear symmetrical wave propagation in plasma.
Contextual Embeddings-Based Web Page Categorization Using the Fine-Tune BERT Model
Authors: Nandanwar Amit Kumar , Choudhary Jaytrilok
Published: February 2023

The World Wide Web has revolutionized the way we live, causing the number of web pages to increase exponentially. The web provides access to a tremendous amount of information, so it is difficult for internet users to locate accurate and useful information on the web. In order to categorize pages accurately based on the queries of users, methods of categorizing web pages need to be developed. The text content of web pages plays a significant role in the categorization of web pages. If a word’s position is altered within a sentence, causing a change in the interpretation of that sentence, this phenomenon is called polysemy. In web page categorization, the polysemy property causes ambiguity and is referred to as the polysemy problem. This paper proposes a fine-tuned model to solve the polysemy problem, using contextual embeddings created by the symmetry multi-head encoder layer of the Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT). The effectiveness of the proposed model was evaluated by using the benchmark datasets for web page categorization, i.e., WebKB and DMOZ. Furthermore, the experiment series also fine-tuned the proposed model’s hyperparameters to achieve 96.00% and 84.00% F1-Scores, respectively, demonstrating the proposed model’s importance compared to baseline approaches based on machine learning and deep learning.
Image Denoising Based on Quantum Calculus of Local Fractional Entropy
Authors: Al-Shamasneh Ala’a R. , Ibrahim Rabha W.
Published: February 2023

Images are frequently disrupted by noise of all kinds, making image restoration very challenging. There have been many different image denoising models proposed over the last few decades. Some models preserve the image’s smooth region, while others preserve the texture margin. One of these methods is by using quantum calculus. Quantum calculus is a branch of mathematics that deals with the manipulation of functions and operators in a quantum mechanical setting. It has been used in image processing to improve the speed and accuracy of image-processing algorithms. In quantum computing, entropy can be defined as a measure of the disorder or randomness of a quantum state. The concept of local fractional entropy has been used to study a wide range of quantum systems. In this study, an image denoising model is proposed based on the quantum calculus of local fractional entropy (QC-LFE) to remove a Gaussian noise. The local fractional entropy is used to estimate the image pixel probability, while the quantum calculus is used to estimate the convolution window mask for image denoising. A processing fractional mask with n x n elements was used in the suggested denoising algorithm. The proposed image denoising algorithm uses mask convolution to process each corrupted pixel one at a time. The proposed denoising algorithm’s effectiveness is assessed using peak signal-to-noise ratio and visual perception (PSNR). The experimental findings show that, compared to other similar fractional operators, the proposed method can better preserve texture details when denoising.
L-Ascorbic Acid 2-Phosphate Attenuates Methylmercury-Induced Apoptosis by Inhibiting Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation and DNA Damage in Human SH-SY5Y Cells
Authors: Zuo Kuiyang , Xu Qi , Wang Yujie , Sui Yutong , Niu Ye , Liu Zinan , Liu Mingsheng , Liu Xinpeng , Liu Dan , Sun Wei , Wang Ziyu , Liu Xiaomei , Liu Jinyu
Published: February 2023

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxin that causes severe neuronal oxidative damage. As vitamin C is an antioxidant well-known to protect neurons from oxidative damage, our goal was to elucidate its protective mechanism against MeHg-induced oxidative stress in human neuroblastomas (SHSY5Y). We treated cells with MeHg, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA2P), or both, and used MTT, flow cytometry, and Western blot analyses to assess cell damage. We found that MeHg significantly decreased the survival rate of SH-SY5Y cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, increased apoptosis, downregulated PAR and PARP1 expression, and upregulated AIF, Cyto C, and cleaved Caspase-3 expression. A time course study showed that MeHg increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation; enhanced apoptosis; increased DNA damage; upregulated expression ofγH2A.X, KU70, 67 and 57 kDa AIF, CytoC, and cleaved Caspase-3; and downregulated expression of 116 kDa PARP1, PAR, BRAC1, and Rad51. Supplementation with AA2P significantly increased cell viability and decreased intrinsic ROS accumulation. It also reduced ROS accumulation in cells treated with MeHg and decreased MeHg-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, AA2P conversely regulated gene expression compared to MeHg. Collectively, we demonstrate that AA2P attenuates MeHg-induced apoptosis by alleviating ROS-mediated DNA damage and is a potential treatment for MeHg neurotoxicity.
Comparison of the Clinical Efficacy and Adverse Events between Intravesical Injections of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Botulinum Toxin A for the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis Refractory to Conventional Treatment
Authors: Jhang Jia-Fong , Yu Wan-Ru , Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: February 2023

Background: Intravesical injection of Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have been reported to alleviate bladder pain and decrease nocturia in patients with refractory interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Both treatments are novel and there has no comparison between them. This study compared the therapeutic effects and adverse events between IC/BPS patients receiving PRP or BoNT-A injections. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed female patients with IC/BPS who were refractory to conventional treatment and received BoNT-A (n = 26) or PRP (n = 30) injections within the previous two years. Patients were arbitrarily treated with four monthly injections of PRP or a single injection of 100 U of BoNT-A. All injections were followed by cystoscopic hydrodistention. The primary endpoint was the global response assessment (GRA), and secondary endpoints were changes in the O’Leary-Sant IC symptom score, visual analog score (VAS) of bladder pain, voiding diary, and uroflow measures from baseline to six months after the first injection day. Results: The baseline demographics revealed no significant difference between groups. The GRA at one, three, and six months was similar between groups. A significant improvement in IC symptom scores was noted in both groups. Although VAS was significantly improved in overall patients, no significant difference was noted between the PRP and BoNT-A groups at 6 months. Only half of the study cohort had a GRA ≥2 at six months. An increase in the post-void residual was noted one month after the BoNT-A injection, but there was no difference between groups at three and six months. More patients reported dysuria (19.2% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.086) and urinary tract infection (UTI, 15.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.041) after BoNT-A injection than after the PRP injections. The time from the first injection to receiving alternative treatment was similar between groups. Conclusion: Both intravesical PRP and BoNT-A injections have similar efficacy in IC symptom improvement. However, only half of the study cohort had a GRA of ≥2 at the six-month follow-up BoNT-A injection carries a potential risk of UTI after treatment.
New Virus Diagnostic Approaches to Ensuring the Ongoing Plant Biosecurity of Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Delmiglio Catia , Waite David W. , Lilly Sonia T. , Yan Juncong , Elliott Candace E. , Pattemore Julie , Guy Paul L. , Thompson Jeremy R.
Published: February 2023

To protect New Zealand’s unique ecosystems and primary industries, imported plant materials must be constantly monitored at the border for high-threat pathogens. Techniques adopted for this purpose must be robust, accurate, rapid, and sufficiently agile to respond to new and emerging threats. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), especially real-time PCR, remains an essential diagnostic tool but it is now being complemented by high-throughput sequencing using both Oxford Nanopore and Illumina technologies, allowing unbiased screening of whole populations. The demand for and value of Point-of-Use (PoU) technologies, which allow for in situ screening, are also increasing. Isothermal PoU molecular diagnostics based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) do not require expensive equipment and can reach PCR-comparable levels of sensitivity. Recent advances in PoU technologies offer opportunities for increased specificity, accuracy, and sensitivities which makes them suitable for wider utilization by frontline or border staff. National and international activities and initiatives are adopted to improve both the plant virus biosecurity infrastructure and the integration, development, and harmonization of new virus diagnostic technologies.
When Plaquing Is Not Possible: Computational Methods for Detecting Induced Phages
Authors: Miller-Ensminger Taylor , Johnson Genevieve , Banerjee Swarnali , Putonti Catherine
Published: February 2023

High-throughput sequencing of microbial communities has uncovered a large, diverse population of phages. Frequently, phages found are integrated into their bacterial host genome. Distinguishing between phages in their integrated (lysogenic) and unintegrated (lytic) stage can provide insight into how phages shape bacterial communities. Here we present the Prophage Induction Estimator (PIE) to identify induced phages in genomic and metagenomic sequences. PIE takes raw sequencing reads and phage sequence predictions, performs read quality control, read assembly, and calculation of phage and non-phage sequence abundance and completeness. The distribution of abundances for non-phage sequences is used to predict induced phages with statistical confidence. In silico tests were conducted to benchmark this tool finding that PIE can detect induction events as well as phages with a relatively small burst size (10×). We then examined isolate genome sequencing data as well as a mock community and urinary metagenome data sets and found instances of induced phages in all three data sets. The flexibility of this software enables users to easily include phage predictions from their preferred tool of choice or phage sequences of interest. Thus, genomic and metagenomic sequencing now not only provides a means for discovering and identifying phage sequences but also the detection of induced prophages.
Temporal Series Analysis of Population Cycle Threshold Counts as a Predictor of Surge in Cases and Hospitalizations during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Cava Fernando , San Román Jesús , Barreiro Pablo , Candel Francisco Javier , Álvarez-Timón Francisco Javier , Melero David , Coya Nerea , Guillén Raquel , Cantarero-Prieto David , Lera-Torres Javier , Cobo-Ortiz Noelia , Canora Jesús , Martínez-Peromingo Francisco Javier , Barba Raquel , Carretero María del Mar , Losa Juan Emilio , Zapatero Antonio
Published: February 2023

Tools to predict surges in cases and hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic may help guide public health decisions. Low cycle threshold (CT) counts may indicate greater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in the respiratory tract, and thereby may be used as a surrogate marker of enhanced viral transmission. Several population studies have found an association between the oscillations in the mean CT over time and the evolution of the pandemic. For the first time, we applied temporal series analysis (Granger-type causality) to validate the CT counts as an epidemiological marker of forthcoming pandemic waves using samples and analyzing cases and hospital admissions during the third pandemic wave (October 2020 to May 2021) in Madrid. A total of 22,906 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-positive nasopharyngeal swabs were evaluated; the mean CT value was 27.4 (SD: 2.1) (22.2% below 20 cycles). During this period, 422,110 cases and 36,727 hospital admissions were also recorded. A temporal association was found between the CT counts and the cases of COVID-19 with a lag of 9–10 days (p ≤ 0.01) and hospital admissions by COVID-19 (p < 0.04) with a lag of 2–6 days. According to a validated method to prove associations between variables that change over time, the short-term evolution of average CT counts in the population may forecast the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Isolation of Ponticelli III Virus (Bunyavirales: Phenuiviridae) in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy
Authors: Daoudi Mohamed , Romeo Giuseppe , Marzani Katia , Petrella Angelica , Bonilauri Paolo , Lelli Davide , Boumezzough Ali , Boussaa Samia , Dottori Michele , Calzolari Mattia
Published: February 2023

The number of newly described sandfly-borne phleboviruses has been steadily growing in recent years. Some phleboviruses are human pathogens, but their health relevance is largely uncharacterized. We aimed to investigate the circulation of these viruses in the Emilia-Romagna region where several have already been described. A total of 482 sandflies were collected in a site in Reggio Emilia in 2019 and 2020. Sandflies collected in 2020 were grouped in 21 pools with a maximum of 25 sandflies per pool, submitted to real time PCR, and isolated in Vero cell culture. Complete genome sequencing showed the isolation of a strain of a Ponticelli III virus. This virus, which belongs to the species Adana phlebovirus, differed in the M segment from the Ponticelli I and Ponticelli II viruses. Analysis performed on the genomic segments of the newly isolated virus compared with other phleboviruses highlighted a strong purifying selection in the L segments, and different substitution saturation, highest in the M segments. Future research should address the ecological processes driving the occurrence of these novel phleboviruses and their possible impact on public health.
Comprehensive Profiling of EBV Gene Expression and Promoter Methylation Reveals Latency II Viral Infection and Sporadic Abortive Lytic Activation in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas
Authors: Ho Joanna W. Y. , Li Lili , Wong Kai Yau , Srivastava Gopesh , Tao Qian
Published: February 2023

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latency patterns are well defined in EBV-associated epithelial, NK/T-cell, and B-cell malignancies, with links between latency stage and tumorigenesis deciphered in various studies. In vitro studies suggest that the oncogenic activity of EBV in T-cells might be somewhat different from that in EBV-tropic B lymphoid cells, prompting us to study this much less investigated viral gene expression pattern and its regulation in nine EBV+ peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) biopsies. Using frozen specimens, RT-PCR showed 6/7 cases with a latency II pattern of EBV gene expression. Analyses of EBNA1 promoter usage and CpG methylation status in these six cases showed that only Qp was used, while Cp, Wp, and Fp were all silent. However, the remaining case showed an exceptionally unique latency III type with lytic activation, as evidenced by EBV lytic clonality and confirmed by the full usage of Cp and Qp as well as weakly lytic Fp and Wp, fully unmethylated Cp and marginally unmethylated Wp. Further immunostaining of the eight cases revealed a few focally clustered LMP1+ cells in 7/8 cases, with rare isolated LMP1+ cells detected in another case. Double immunostaining confirmed that the LMP1+ cells were of the T-cell phenotype (CD3+). In 6/8 cases, sporadically scattered Zta+ cells were detected. Double staining of EBER-ISH with T-cell (CD45RO/UCHL1) or B-cell (CD20) markers confirmed that the vast majority of EBER+ cells were of the T-cell phenotype. Predominant type-A EBV variant and LMP1 30-bp deletion variant were present, with both F and f variants detected. In summary, the EBV gene expression pattern in PTCL was found to be mainly of latency II (BART+EBNA1(Qp)+LMP1+LMP2A+BZLF1+), similar to that previously reported in EBV-infected nasopharyngeal epithelial, NK/T-cell, and Hodgkin malignancies; however, fully lytic infection could also be detected in occasional cases. Rare cells with sporadic immediate-early gene expression were commonly detected in PTCL. These findings have implications for the future development of EBV-targeting therapeutics for this cancer.
Physiological Corticosterone Attenuates gp120-Mediated Microglial Activation and Is Associated with Reduced Anxiety-Like Behavior in gp120-Expressing Mice
Authors: Moss Emaya M. , Mahdi Fakhri , Worth Charlie J. , Paris Jason J.
Published: February 2023

Despite the benefits of combinatorial antiretroviral therapies (cART), virotoxic HIV proteins are still detectable within the central nervous system. Approximately half of all cART-treated patients contend with neurological impairments. The mechanisms underlying these effects likely involve virotoxic HIV proteins, including glycoprotein 120 (gp120). Glycoprotein-120 is neurotoxic due to its capacity to activate microglia. Corticosterone has been found to attenuate neuronal death caused by gp120-induced microglial cytokine production in vitro. However, the concentration-dependent effects of corticosterone on microglial activation states and the associated behavioral outcomes are unclear. Herein, we conducted parallel in vitro and in vivo studies to assess gp120-mediated effects on microglial activation, motor function, anxiety- and depression-like behavior, and corticosterone’s capacity to attenuate these effects. We found that gp120 activated microglia in vitro, and corticosterone attenuated this effect at an optimal concentration of 100 nM. Transgenic mice expressing gp120 demonstrated greater anxiety-like behavior on an elevated plus maze, and a greater duration of gp120 exposure was associated with motor deficits and anxiety-like behavior. Circulating corticosterone was lower in gp120-expressing males and diestrous females. Greater circulating corticosterone was associated with reduced anxiety-like behavior. These findings may demonstrate a capacity for glucocorticoids to attenuate gp120-mediated neuroinflammation and anxiety-like behavior.
A Clinical Insight on New Discovered Molecules and Repurposed Drugs for the Treatment of COVID-19
Authors: Banerjee Surojit , Banerjee Debadri , Singh Anupama , Kumar Sumit , Pooja Deep , Ram Veerma , Kulhari Hitesh , Saharan Vikas Anand
Published: February 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began churning out incredulous terror in December 2019. Within several months from its first detection in Wuhan, SARS-CoV-2 spread to the rest of the world through droplet infection, making it a pandemic situation and a healthcare emergency across the globe. The available treatment of COVID-19 was only symptomatic as the disease was new and no approved drug or vaccine was available. Another challenge with COVID-19 was the continuous mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Some repurposed drugs, such as hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, and remdesivir, received emergency use authorization in various countries, but their clinical use is compromised with either severe and fatal adverse effects or nonavailability of sufficient clinical data. Molnupiravir was the first molecule approved for the treatment of COVID-19, followed by Paxlovid™, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and others. New molecules have variable therapeutic efficacy against different variants or strains of SARS-CoV-2, which require further investigations. The aim of this review is to provide in-depth information on new molecules and repurposed drugs with emphasis on their general description, mechanism of action (MOA), correlates of protection, dose and dosage form, route of administration, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and marketing authorizations.
The Potential Role of Vaccines in Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): An Update and Future Perspectives
Authors: Costanzo Vincenzo , Roviello Giovanni N.
Published: February 2023

In the modern era, the consumption of antibiotics represents a revolutionary weapon against several infectious diseases, contributing to the saving of millions of lives worldwide. However, the misuse of antibiotics for human and animal purposes has fueled the process of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), considered now a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), which significantly increases the mortality risk and related medical costs linked to the management of bacterial diseases. The current research aiming at developing novel efficient antibiotics is very challenging, and just a few candidates have been identified so far due to the difficulties connected with AMR. Therefore, novel therapeutic or prophylactic strategies to fight AMR are urgently needed. In this scenario, vaccines constitute a promising approach that proves to be crucial in preventing pathogen spreading in primary infections and in minimizing the usage of antibiotics following secondary bacterial infections. Unfortunately, most of the vaccines developed against the main resistant pathogens are still under preclinical and clinical evaluation due to the complexity of pathogens and technical difficulties. In this review, we describe not only the main causes of AMR and the role of vaccines in reducing the burden of infectious diseases, but we also report on specific prophylactic advancements against some of the main pathogens, focusing on new strategies that aim at improving vaccine efficiency.
Proteomic Analysis of Mucosal and Systemic Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Antigen
Authors: Martinson Neil , Gordhan Bhavna , Petkov Stefan , Pillay Azure-Dee , Seiphetlo Thabiso , Singh Natasha , Otwombe Kennedy , Lebina Limakatso , Fredolini Claudia , Chiodi Francesca , Fox Julie , Kana Bavesh , Herrera Carolina
Published: February 2023

The mucosal environment of the upper respiratory tract is the first barrier of protection against SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, the mucosal factors involved in viral transmission and potentially modulating the capacity to prevent such transmission have not fully been identified. In this pilot proteomics study, we compared mucosal and systemic compartments in a South African cohort of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals undergoing maxillofacial surgery with previous history of COVID-19 or not. Inflammatory profiles were analyzed in plasma, nasopharyngeal swabs, and nasal and oral tissue explant cultures, using Olink and Luminex technologies. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels were measured in serum and tissue explants. An increased pro-inflammatory proteomic profile was measured in the nasal compartment compared to plasma. However, IP-10 and MIG levels were higher in secretions than in nasal tissue, and the opposite was observed for TGF-β. Nasal anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG correlated with mucosal MIG expression for all participants. A further positive correlation was found with IP-10 in BioNTech/Pfizer-vaccinated individuals. Systemic levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG elicited by this vaccine correlated with plasma IL-10, IL-6 and HBD4. Proteomic profiles measured in mucosal tissues and secretions using combined technologies could reveal correlates of protection at the mucosal portals of viral entry.
Baseline Cytokine Profile Identifies a Favorable Outcome in a Subgroup of Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Regorafenib
Authors: Abbona Andrea , Ricci Vincenzo , Paccagnella Matteo , Granetto Cristina , Ruatta Fiorella , Cauchi Carolina , Galizia Danilo , Ghidini Michele , Denaro Nerina , Merlano Marco Carlo , Garrone Ornella
Published: February 2023

Metastatic colorectal cancer is frequently associated with poor clinical conditions that may limit therapeutic options. Regorafenib is a small molecule approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, but it is hampered by significative toxicities. Moreover, only a relatively limited number of patients benefit from the treatment. Therefore, the identification of reliable markers for response is an unmet need. Eighteen cytokines, selected based on their prevalent Th1 or Th2 effects, were collected. Peripheral blood samples were gathered at baseline in 25 metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with regorafenib. Data extracted have been linked to progression-free survival. ROC identified the best cytokines associated with outcome. The relative value of the selected cytokines was determined by PCA. Data analysis identified 8 cytokines (TGF-β, TNF-α, CCL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-21), used to create a signature (TGF-β, TNF-α high; CCL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-21 low) corresponding to patients with a significantly longer progression-free survival. This report suggests that the analysis of multiple cytokines might identify a cytokine signature related to a patient’s outcome that is able to recognize patients who will benefit from treatment. If confirmed, future studies, also based on different drugs, using this approach and including larger patient populations, might identify a signature allowing the a priori identification of patients to be treated.
Changing Patterns of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence: A Snapshot among the General Population in Kuwait
Authors: Alfouzan Wadha , Altawalah Haya , AlSarraf Ahmad , Alali Walid , Al-Fadalah Talal , Al-Ghimlas Fahad , Alajmi Saud , Alajmi Mubarak , AlRoomi Ebtehal , Jeragh Ahlam , Dhar Rita
Published: February 2023

We sought to assess pre-vaccination and post-vaccination seroprevalences of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Kuwait and to compare antibody levels between vaccine types. In phase 1 (pre-vaccination period, n = 19,363), blood samples were collected before the launch of COVID-19 vaccination in Kuwait between 1 September and 31 December 2020. Blood samples for phase 2 (post-vaccination period, n = 4973) were collected between 1 September and 30 November 2021. We tested subjects for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using the DiaSorin LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 IgM and Trimeric S IgG tests. In the pre-vaccination period, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG was 14.50% (95% CI: 14.01–15.00) and 24.89% (95% CI: 24.29–25.50), respectively. The trend of seropositivity increased with age and was higher for females and non-Kuwaiti participants (p < 0.0001). Interestingly, seroprevalence was significantly higher for those who had received one dose of BNT162b2 (95.21%) than those who had received one dose of ChAdOx1-nCov-19 (92.86%). In addition, those who reported receiving two doses had higher seroprevalence, 96.25%, 95.86%, and 94.93% for ChA-dOx1-nCov-19/AstraZeneca, mix-and-match, and BNT162b2 recipients, respectively. After the second dose, median spike-specific responses showed no significant difference between ChAdOx1-nCov-19 and BNT162b2. Furthermore, statistical analysis showed no significant difference between median anti-trimeric S antibody levels of vaccinated individuals according to sex, age, or nationality (p > 0.05). In contrast, a negative correlation between age and anti-trimeric S IgG titers of BNT162b2-vaccinated subjects was observed (r = −0.062, p = 0.0009). Antibody levels decreased with time after vaccination with both vaccines. Our findings indicate that seroprevalence was very low during the pre-vaccination period (25%) in the general population and was greater than 95% in the vaccinated population in Kuwait. Furthermore, ChAdOx1-nCov-19 and BNT162b2 are effective in generating a similar humoral response.
Development of a TaqMan-Probe-Based Multiplex Real-Time PCR for the Simultaneous Detection of African Swine Fever Virus, Porcine Circovirus 2, and Pseudorabies Virus in East China from 2020 to 2022
Authors: Liu Huaicheng , Zou Jianwen , Liu Rongchao , Chen Jing , Li Xiaohan , Zheng Haixue , Li Long , Zhou Bin
Published: February 2023

African swine fever virus (ASFV), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), and pseudorabies virus (PRV) are important DNA viruses that cause reproductive disorders in sows, which result in huge losses in pig husbandry, especially in China. The multiplex qPCR assay could be utilized as a simultaneous diagnostic tool for field-based surveillance and the control of ASFV, PCV2, and PRV. Based on the conserved regions on the p72 gene of ASFV, the Cap gene of PCV2, the gE gene of PRV, and the porcine endogenous β-Actin gene, the appropriate primers and probes for a multiplex TaqMan real-time PCR test effective at concurrently detecting three DNA viruses were developed. The approach demonstrated high specificity and no cross-reactivity with major pathogens related to swine reproductive diseases. In addition, its sensitivity was great, with a detection limit of 101 copies/L of each pathogen, and its repeatability was excellent, with intra- and inter-group variability coefficients of <2%. Applying this assay to detect 383 field specimens collected from 2020 to 2022, the survey data displayed that the ASFV, PCV2, and PRV single infection rates were 22.45%, 28.46%, and 2.87%, respectively. The mixed infection rates of ASFV + PCV2, ASFV + PRV, PCV2 + PRV, and ASFV + PCV2 + PRV were 5.22%, 0.26%, 1.83%, and 0.26%, respectively. Overall, the assay established in this study provides an effective tool for quickly distinguishing the viruses causing sow reproductive disorders, suggesting its huge clinical application value in the diagnosis of swine diseases.
Multi-Tissue Transcriptome Study of Innate Immune Gene Expression Profiling Reveals Negative Energy Balance Altered the Defense and Promoted System Inflammation of Dairy Cows
Authors: Dai Lingli , Liu Zaixia , Guo Lili , Chai Yuan , Yang Yanda , Wang Yu , Ma Yanfen , Shi Caixia , Zhang Wenguang
Published: February 2023

Negative energy balance (NEB) during the perinatal period leads to metabolic and immunological disorders in dairy cows, resulting in systemic responses and inflammation. The innate immune system is crucial for the host’s protection and inflammatory response. However, systematic research is still lacking on how NEB affects the innate immune system to alter the ’host defense capability and inflammatory response. In this investigation, raw transcriptome data of adipose, blood, endometrial, hypothalamus, and liver tissues were downloaded from a public database, cleaned, aligned, quantified, and batch-corrected. The innate immune gene list was retrieved from innateDB, followed by the expression matrix of innate immune genes in various tissues for differential expression analysis, principle component analysis (PCA), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Under the effect of NEB, adipose tissue had the most differentially expressed genes, which were predominantly up-regulated, whereas blood GSEA had the most enriched biological processes, which were predominantly down-regulated. The gene sets shared by different tissues, which are predominantly involved in biological processes associated with defense responses and inflammation, were dramatically down-regulated in endometrial tissues and highly up-regulated in other tissues. Under the impact of NEB, LBP, PTX3, S100A12, and LCN2 play essential roles in metabolism and immunological control. In conclusion, NEB can downregulate the defensive response of innate immune genes in endometrial, upregulate the immune and inflammatory response of other tissues, activate the host defense response, and increase the systemic inflammatory response. The analysis of the effects of NEB on innate immune genes from the multiple tissues analysis provides new insights into the crosstalk between metabolism and immunity and also provides potential molecular targets for disease diagnosis and disease resistance breeding in dairy cows.
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus italicus) and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Parasite Survey in Anthropized and Natural Areas of Central Italy
Authors: Perrucci Stefania , Maestrini Michela , Coppola Francesca , Di Marco Matteo , Rosso Alessia Di , Pacini Maria Irene , Zintu Paola , Felicioli Antonio
Published: February 2023

Gastrointestinal nematodes and protozoa and other parasite occurrences were evaluated in free-ranging wolf (Canis lupus italicus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations from natural and anthropized areas of Central Italy. Analyzed fecal samples were collected from 60 foxes and 40 wolves in the anthropized areas, and 41 foxes and 39 wolves in the natural areas. In foxes, hookworm infections (p < 0.0001) were more frequently recorded in the anthropized environment, while coccidia (p < 0.05) and Cryptosporidium spp. (p < 0.0001) were more frequent in the natural area. In wolves, a higher frequency of hookworms (p < 0.0001) was observed in natural areas, while coccidia were more common in the anthropized area (p < 0.05). Moreover, in the natural environment, trichuroid nematodes (p < 0.0001) were significantly more frequent in wolves than in foxes, while Cryptosporidium (p < 0.001) and Giardia duodenalis (p < 0.001) were more common in foxes. In the anthropic area, the occurrence of hookworms was found to be significantly higher in foxes (p < 0.0001), while trichuroid nematodes were more common in wolves (p < 0.0001). The obtained data are indicative of a different diffusion of specific parasite taxa in wolves and foxes living in the natural and/or anthropized environments examined herein.
Implementation of Computer-Vision-Based Farrowing Prediction in Pens with Temporary Sow Confinement
Authors: Oczak Maciej , Maschat Kristina , Baumgartner Johannes
Published: February 2023

The adoption of temporary sow confinement could improve animal welfare during farrowing for both the sow and the piglets. An important challenge related to the implementation of temporary sow confinement is the optimal timing of confinement in crates, considering sow welfare and piglet survival. The objective of this study was to predict farrowing with computer vision techniques to optimize the timing of sow confinement. In total, 71 Austrian Large White and Landrace × Large White crossbred sows and four types of farrowing pens were included in the observational study. We applied computer vision model You Only Look Once X to detect sow locations, the calculated activity level of sows based on detected locations and detected changes in sow activity trends with Kalman filtering and the fixed interval smoothing algorithm. The results indicated the beginning of nest-building behavior with a median of 12 h 51 min and ending with a median of 2 h 38 min before the beginning of farrowing with the YOLOX-large object detection model. It was possible to predict farrowing for 29 out of 44 sows. The developed method could reduce labor costs otherwise required for the regular control of sows in farrowing compartments.
Modeling and Validation of Residential Water Demand in Agent-Based Models: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Sattler Bernhard Jonathan , Friesen John , Tundis Andrea , Pelz Peter F.
Published: February 2023

Current challenges, such as climate change or military conflicts, show the great importance of urban supply infrastructures. In this context, an open question is how different scenarios and crises can be studied in silico to assess the interaction between the needs of social systems and technical infrastructures. Agent-based modeling is a suitable method for this purpose. This review investigates (i) how agent-based models of residential water demand should be validated, (ii) how such models are commonly built and (iii) validated, and (iv) how these validation practices compare to the recommendations drawn from question (i). Therefore, a systematic literature review using the PRISMA framework is conducted. Out of 207 screened papers, 35 models are identified with an emphasis on highly realistic models (i.e., highly detailed and representing specific real-world systems) for planning, management, and policy of urban water resources. While some models are thoroughly validated, quantified validation distinct from calibration data should be emphasized and used to communicate the confidence in results and recommendations drawn from the models. Pattern-oriented validation, validation on multiple levels and on higher moments of aggregated statistics should be considered more often. These findings expand prior literature by providing a more extensive sample of reviewed articles and recommending specific approaches for the validation of models.
KDE-Based Rainfall Event Separation and Characterization
Authors: Cao Shengle , Diao Yijiao , Wang Jiachang , Liu Yang , Raimondi Anita , Wang Jun
Published: February 2023

Rainfall event separation is mainly based on the selection of the minimum inter-event time (MIET). The traditional approach to determining a suitable MIET for estimating the probability density functions is often using the frequency histograms. However, this approach cannot avoid arbitrariness and subjectivity in selecting the histogram parameters. To overcome the above limitations, this study proposes a kernel density estimation (KDE) approach for rainfall event separation and characterization at any specific site where the exponential distributions are suitable for characterizing the rainfall event statistics. Using the standardized procedure provided taking into account the Poisson and Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S) statistical tests, the optimal pair of the MIET and rainfall event volume threshold can be determined. Two climatically different cities, Hangzhou and Jinan of China, applying the proposed approach are selected for demonstration purposes. The results show that the optimal MIETs determined are 12 h for Hangzhou and 10 h for Jinan while the optimal event volume threshold values are 3 mm for both Hangzhou and Jinan. The KDE-based approach can facilitate the rainfall statistical representation of the analytical probabilistic models of urban drainage/stormwater control facilities.
The Quantification of Non-Action Costs as an Incentive to Address Water Pollution Problems
Authors: Bellver-Domingo Águeda , Castellet-Viciano Lledó , Hernández-Chover Vicent , Hernández-Sancho Francesc
Published: February 2023

Diffuse pollution is one type of pollution generated by agricultural, livestock, and urban runoff that is responsible for surface and groundwater pollution. As a result, the exposed population develops different diseases that affect their short, medium, and long-term quality of life. Researchers need to be able to assess the loss of quality of life in monetary terms to include this social impact in decision-making processes. Specifically, if no measure is implemented to correct the situation, these costs can be considered as the non-action costs of the social impact of water pollution. This study assesses the importance of measuring healthcare costs as a proxy for non-action costs for the economic assessment of water pollution consequences. Thanks to this analysis, it is possible to identify the health costs produced by the current environmental situation, making it possible to obtain an economic baseline scenario prior to the implementation of any project or measure. This approach is a novelty in the literature since, to date, healthcare costs have not been related to non-action costs. Including these costs in economic feasibility studies allow us to assess in detail both the social impact of pollution and the social benefits of develop water-quality improvement projects.
Biochemical and Pathophysiological Responses in Capoeta capoeta under Lethal and Sub-Lethal Exposures of Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Azadikhah Dariush , Yalsuyi Ahmad Mohamadi , Saha Shubhajit , Saha Nimai Chandra , Faggio Caterina
Published: February 2023

The increasing use of nano-based products raises concerns regarding potential risks related to their manufacturing, transportation, waste disposal, and management operations. We used the riverine carp, Capoeta capoeta, as an aquatic animal model to demonstrate the acute toxicity of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). This study focuses on acute toxicity first, and then integrates the findings through histopathology, hematological, and biochemical testing of lethal and sub-lethal Ag-NPs exposures. Red blood corpuscles (RBC), white blood corpuscles (WBC), hematocrit, and total serum glucose levels were significantly lower in Ag-NPs-exposed fish than in control fish. Total serum protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, and albumin were all significantly greater in exposed fish. This research focused on the impacts of Ag-NPs on gills and liver tissue, and it was found that the level of injury escalated as the concentration of Ag NPs increased. Epithelial lifting of secondary lamellas (ELSL), epithelial hypertrophy (EH) of secondary lamellae (SL), leukocyte infiltration (LI), and bottom hyperplasia (BH) were all detected in Ag-NPs-exposed fish. In Ag-NPs-treated liver cross-sections of Capoeta capoeta, macrophage aggregates (MA), fatty liver (FL), sinusoid dilatation (SD), and necrosis (N) were identified. Ag-NPs dosages, according to biomarker representations, elicit stress-specific biochemical and physiological effects, compromising the general overall health status of aquatic animals. The gradients of toxic responses across exposure concentrations and portrayals of disrupted fish health with increasing silver nanoparticle exposure time indicate a reduced physiological ability for surviving in the wild.
Development of Water Level Prediction Improvement Method Using Multivariate Time Series Data by GRU Model
Authors: Park Kidoo , Seong Yeongjeong , Jung Younghun , Youn Ilro , Choi Cheon Kyu
Published: February 2023

The methods for improving the accuracy of water level prediction were proposed in this study by selecting the Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) model, which is effective for multivariate learning at the Paldang Bridge station in Han River, South Korea, where the water level fluctuates seasonally. The hydrological data (i.e., water level and flow rate) for Paldang Bridge station were entered into the GRU model; the data were provided by the Water Resources Management Information System (WAMIS), and the meteorological data for Seoul Meteorological Observatory and Yangpyeong Meteorological Observatory were provided through the Korea Meteorological Administration. Correlation analysis was used to select the training data for hydrological and meteorological data. Important input data affecting the daily water level (DWL) were daily flow rate (DFR), daily vapor pressure (DVP), daily dew point temperature (DDPT), and 1 h max precipitation (1HP), and were used as the multivariate learning data for water level prediction. However, the DWL prediction accuracy did not improve even if the meteorological data from a single meteorological observatory far from the DWL prediction point were used as the multivariate learning data. Therefore, in this study, methods for improving the predictive accuracy of DWL through multivariate learning that effectively utilize meteorological data from each meteorological observatory were presented. First, it was a method of arithmetically averaging meteorological data for two meteorological observatories and using it as the multivariate learning data for the GRU model. Second, a method was proposed to use the meteorological data of the two meteorological observatories as multivariate learning data by weighted averaging the distances from each meteorological observatory to the water level prediction point. Therefore, in this study, improved water level prediction results were obtained even if data with some correlation between meteorological data provided by two meteorological observatories located far from the water level prediction point were used.