bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Superpixel-Based Style Transfer Method for Single-Temporal Remote Sensing Image Identification in Forest Type Groups
Authors: Yu Zhenyu , Wang Jinnian , Yang Xiankun , Ma Juan
Published: August 2023

Forests are the most important carbon reservoirs on land, and forest carbon sinks can effectively reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations and mitigate climate change. In recent years, various satellites have been launched that provide opportunities for identifying forest types with low cost and high time efficiency. Using multi-temporal remote sensing images and combining them with vegetation indices takes into account the vegetation growth pattern and substantially improves the identification accuracy, but it has high requirements for imaging, such as registration, multiple times, etc. Sometimes, it is difficult to satisfy, the plateau area is severely limited by the influence of clouds and rain, and Gaofen (GF) data require more control points for orthophoto correction. The study area was chosen to be Huize County, situated in Qujing City of Yunnan Province, China. The analysis was using the GF and Landsat images. According to deep learning and remote sensing image feature extraction methods, the semantic segmentation method of F-Pix2Pix was proposed, and the domain adaptation method according to transfer learning effectively solved the class imbalance in needleleaf/broadleaf forest identification. The results showed that (1) this method had the best performance and a higher accuracy than the existing products, 21.48% in non-forest/forest and 29.44% in needleleaf/broadleaf forest for MIoU improvement. (2) Applying transfer learning domain adaptation to semantic segmentation showed significant benefits, and this approach utilized satellite images of different resolutions to solve the class imbalance problem. (3) It can be used for long-term monitoring of multiple images and has strong generalization. The identification of needleleaf and broadleaf forests combined with the actual geographical characteristics of the forest provides a foundation for the accurate estimation of regional carbon sources/sinks.
Multitarget-Tracking Method Based on the Fusion of Millimeter-Wave Radar and LiDAR Sensor Information for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Shi Junren , Tang Yingjie , Gao Jun , Piao Changhao , Wang Zhongquan
Published: August 2023

Multitarget tracking based on multisensor fusion perception is one of the key technologies to realize the intelligent driving of automobiles and has become a research hotspot in the field of intelligent driving. However, most current autonomous-vehicle target-tracking methods based on the fusion of millimeter-wave radar and lidar information struggle to guarantee accuracy and reliability in the measured data, and cannot effectively solve the multitarget-tracking problem in complex scenes. In view of this, based on the distributed multisensor multitarget tracking (DMMT) system, this paper proposes a multitarget-tracking method for autonomous vehicles that comprehensively considers key technologies such as target tracking, sensor registration, track association, and data fusion based on millimeter-wave radar and lidar. First, a single-sensor multitarget-tracking method suitable for millimeter-wave radar and lidar is proposed to form the respective target tracks; second, the Kalman filter temporal registration method and the residual bias estimation spatial registration method are used to realize the temporal and spatial registration of millimeter-wave radar and lidar data; third, use the sequential m-best method based on the new target density to find the track the correlation of different sensors; and finally, the IF heterogeneous sensor fusion algorithm is used to optimally combine the track information provided by millimeter-wave radar and lidar, and finally form a stable and high-precision global track. In order to verify the proposed method, a multitarget-tracking simulation verification in a high-speed scene is carried out. The results show that the multitarget-tracking method proposed in this paper can realize the track tracking of multiple target vehicles in high-speed driving scenarios. Compared with a single-radar tracker, the position, velocity, size, and direction estimation errors of the track fusion tracker are reduced by 85.5%, 64.6%, 75.3%, and 9.5% respectively, and the average value of GOSPA indicators is reduced by 19.8%; more accurate target state information can be obtained than a single-radar tracker.
Raw Acceleration from Wrist- and Hip-Worn Accelerometers Corresponds with Mechanical Loading in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Brailey Gemma , Metcalf Brad , Price Lisa , Cumming Sean , Stiles Victoria
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between peak magnitudes of raw acceleration (g) from wrist- and hip-worn accelerometers and ground reaction force (GRF) variables in a large sample of children and adolescents. A total of 269 participants (127 boys, 142 girls; age: 12.3 ± 2.0 yr) performed walking, running, jumping (<5 cm; >5 cm) and single-leg hopping on a force plate. A GENEActiv accelerometer was worn on the left wrist, and an Actigraph GT3X+ was worn on the right wrist and hip throughout. Mixed-effects linear regression was used to assess the relationships between peak magnitudes of raw acceleration and loading. Raw acceleration from both wrist and hip-worn accelerometers was strongly and significantly associated with loading (all p’s < 0.05). Body mass and maturity status (pre/post-PHV) were also significantly associated with loading, whereas age, sex and height were not identified as significant predictors. The final models for the GENEActiv wrist, Actigraph wrist and Actigraph hip explained 81.1%, 81.9% and 79.9% of the variation in loading, respectively. This study demonstrates that wrist- and hip-worn accelerometers that output raw acceleration are appropriate for use to monitor the loading exerted on the skeleton and are able to detect short bursts of high-intensity activity that are pertinent to bone health.
A Review on Acoustic Emission Testing for Structural Health Monitoring of Polymer-Based Composites
Authors: Ghadarah Noor , Ayre David
Published: August 2023

Acoustic emission (AE) has received increased interest as a structural health monitoring (SHM) technique for various materials, including laminated polymer composites. Piezoelectric sensors, including PZT (piezoelectric ceramic) and PVDF (piezoelectric polymer), can monitor AE in materials. The thickness of the piezoelectric sensors (as low as 28 µm—PVDF) allows embedding the sensors within the laminated composite, creating a smart material. Incorporating piezoelectric sensors within composites has several benefits but presents numerous difficulties and challenges. This paper provides an overview of acoustic emission testing, concluding with a discussion on embedding piezoelectric AE sensors within fibre-polymer composites. Various aspects are covered, including the underlying AE principles in fibre-based composites, factors that influence the reliability and accuracy of AE measurements, methods to artificially induce acoustic emission, and the correlation between AE events and damage in polymer composites.
Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Prediction of Yeast and Mould Counts in Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Feed and Frass: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Alagappan Shanmugam , Dong Anran , Mikkelsen Deirdre , Hoffman Louwrens C. , Mantilla Sandra Milena Olarte , James Peter , Yarger Olympia , Cozzolino Daniel
Published: August 2023

The use of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) grown on different organic waste streams as a source of feed ingredient is becoming very popular in several regions across the globe. However, information about the easy-to-use methods to monitor the safety of BSFL is a major step limiting the commercialization of this source of protein. This study investigated the ability of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics to predict yeast and mould counts (YMC) in the feed, larvae, and the residual frass. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was employed to predict the YMC in the feed, frass, and BSFL samples analyzed using NIR spectroscopy. The coefficient of determination in cross validation (R2CV) and the standard error in cross validation (SECV) obtained for the prediction of YMC for feed were (R2cv: 0.98 and SECV: 0.20), frass (R2cv: 0.81 and SECV: 0.90), larvae (R2cv: 0.91 and SECV: 0.27), and the combined set (R2cv: 0.74 and SECV: 0.82). However, the standard error of prediction (SEP) was considered moderate (range from 0.45 to 1.03). This study suggested that NIR spectroscopy could be utilized in commercial BSFL production facilities to monitor YMC in the feed and assist in the selection of suitable processing methods and control systems for either feed or larvae quality control.
Inter-Frame-Relationship Protected Signal: A New Design for Radio Frequency Fingerprint Authentication
Authors: Li Xufei , Zeng Shuiguang , Liu Yangyang
Published: August 2023

Utilizing a multi-frame signal (MFS) rather than a single-frame signal (SFS) for radio frequency fingerprint authentication (RFFA) shows the advantage of higher accuracy. However, previous studies have often overlooked the associated security threats in MFS-based RFFA. In this paper, we focus on the carrier-sense multiple access with collision avoidance channel and identify a potential security threat, in that an attacker may inject a forged frame into valid traffic, making it more likely to be accepted alongside legitimate frames. To counter such a security threat, we propose an innovative design called the inter-frame-relationship protected signal (IfrPS), which enables the receiver to determine whether two consecutively received frames originate from the same transmitter to safeguard the MFS-based RFFA. To demonstrate the applicability of our proposition, we analyze and numerically evaluate two important properties: its impact on message demodulation and the accuracy gain in IfrPS-aided, MFS-based RFFA compared with the SFS-based RFFA. Our results show that the proposed scheme has a minimal impact of only −0.5 dB on message demodulation, while achieving up to 5 dB gain for RFFA accuracy.
ADSTGCN: A Dynamic Adaptive Deeper Spatio-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network for Multi-Step Traffic Forecasting
Authors: Cui Zhengyan , Zhang Junjun , Noh Giseop , Park Hyun Jun
Published: August 2023

Multi-step traffic forecasting has always been extremely challenging due to constantly changing traffic conditions. Advanced Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) are widely used to extract spatial information from traffic networks. Existing GCNs for traffic forecasting are usually shallow networks that only aggregate two- or three-order node neighbor information. Because of aggregating deeper neighborhood information, an over-smoothing phenomenon occurs, thus leading to the degradation of model forecast performance. In addition, most existing traffic forecasting graph networks are based on fixed nodes and therefore need more flexibility. Based on the current problem, we propose Dynamic Adaptive Deeper Spatio-Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks (ADSTGCN), a new traffic forecasting model. The model addresses over-smoothing due to network deepening by using dynamic hidden layer connections and adaptively adjusting the hidden layer weights to reduce model degradation. Furthermore, the model can adaptively learn the spatial dependencies in the traffic graph by building the parameter-sharing adaptive matrix, and it can also adaptively adjust the network structure to discover the unknown dynamic changes in the traffic network. We evaluated ADSTGCN using real-world traffic data from the highway and urban road networks, and it shows good performance.
Sustainability of Rural Small-Scale Farmers Using a Thematic Content-Fed Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Mokoena Oratilwe Penwell , Ntuli Thembelihle Sam , Ramarumo Tshepo , Seeletse Solly Matshonisa
Published: August 2023

Small-scale dairy farming plays a pivotal role in the development of rural economies and has become a key source for job creation and poverty alleviation. However, the survival rate of these enterprises is compromised due to multifaceted challenges. As a result, the newly established or emerging small scale dairy businesses are not sustainable. The objective of this paper is to therefore investigate the determinants affecting sustainability of small-scale dairy enterprises and to develop a framework for failure minimization. The study used purposive snowball sampling techniques to invite small-scale dairy farmers (SSDFs) in Bojanala Platinum District, North West Province, South Africa. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis (TCA) for factor derivation and ranked using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The study revealed the high cost of agricultural inputs, medication and electricity, followed by a lack of agricultural services, and unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, which were regarded as priority factors proliferating high failure levels and unsustainability by the local farmers. Meanwhile, loadshedding and cattle theft were regarded as low priority factors affecting farming sustainability. The high level of failure in this industry diminishes the chances of farmers to obtain funding or credit; poorer farmers end up falling back into poverty as a consequence of market circumstances beyond their control. The paper concludes that small-scale dairy farming should be revised as part of a broader livelihood strategy by all stakeholders, while continuously pursuing alternative access points to achieve prosperous rural livelihoods, local market information and access, and risk optimization. With the prospects of future climate, geopolitical and environmental crisis, considering how local small-scale dairy farmers (SSDFs) react and use information technology is vital to their sustainability and providing policy relevant knowledge. Furthermore, the SSDFs should be exposed to agricultural funders in their localities, and also access to agricultural sector training authority (AGRISETA) services should be made available for local farmers to receive training for proposal writing to apply for funds.
Comparative Study on Shaking Table Tests for a Pile–Nuclear Island Structure under Different Soil Conditions
Authors: Sun Yunlun , Wang Gang , Wang Yougang , Tu Jian , Jing Liping , Qi Wenhao
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the shaking table tests of a Seismic–Soil–Pile–Superstructure Interaction (SSPSI) in medium-soft and hard base soil were carried out. Silted clay with a unit weight of 1.70 g/cm3 and a shear wave velocity of 175 m/s was adopted to simulate the medium-soft soil, while the composite soil obtained by adding 20% quicklime to silted clay with a unit weight of 1.75 g/cm3 and a shear wave velocity of 300 m/s was adopted to simulate the hard soil in the tests. By inputting the artificial seismic motion time history with different amplitudes synthesized by the RG1.60 response spectrum commonly used in nuclear power engineering to the models, the dynamic interaction characteristics and seismic response laws of the soil–pile–nuclear island structure in the medium-soft and hard base soil were compared, the internal force and deformation distribution characteristics of the pile foundation under different ground conditions were analyzed, and the site conditions and mechanism of seismic failure of the pile group foundation were described. The research results can provide a reference for site selection and seismic design of a nuclear power plant.
Use of Google Earth Engine for Teaching Coding and Monitoring of Environmental Change: A Case Study among STEM and Non-STEM Students
Authors: Callejas Ileana A. , Huang Liana , Cira Marisol , Croze Benjamin , Lee Christine M. , Cason Taylor , Schiffler Elizabeth , Soos Carlin , Stainier Paul , Wang Zichan , Shaked Shanna , McClellan Moana , Hung Wei-Cheng , Jay Jennifer A.
Published: August 2023

Computational skills are advantageous for teaching students to investigate environmental change using satellite remote sensing. This focus is especially relevant given the disproportionate underrepresentation of minorities and women in STEM fields. This study quantified the effects in both a STEM and a non-STEM class of Earth science remote sensing modules in Google Earth Engine on students’ self-efficacy in coding, understanding remote sensing, and interest in science and a career in environmental research. Additionally, the STEM students engaged in a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) on water quality. Satellite imagery was used to visualize water quality changes in coastal areas around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Pre- and post-surveys reveal statistically significant changes in most students’ confidence to apply coding skills to investigate environmental change and understand remote sensing. The intervention was not sufficient to lead to significant changes in interest in science or a career in environmental research. There is great benefit in incorporating remote sensing labs to teach environmental concepts to STEM and non-STEM students and to bolster the confidence of underrepresented minorities and females in STEM.
Predicting Critical Factors Impacting Hotel Online Ratings: A Comparison of Religious and Commercial Destinations in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Singh Harman Preet , Alshallaqi Mohammad , Altamimi Mohammed
Published: August 2023

User-generated online ratings have become a prominent tool for hotels to enhance overall customer satisfaction. Prior research on online ratings has mainly considered commercial destinations, whereas research on religious destinations is limited. This study uses the IPA technique and beta regression analysis to investigate the destination’s (commercial and religious) varying effects on the relationship between hotel service quality attributes and customer satisfaction. In total, data from 338 hotels representing 82,704 customer reviews in two Saudi Arabian cities (Alkhobar and Makkah) were collected from Booking.com and analyzed. Makkah was selected as a key religious heritage destination, whereas Alkhobar was chosen as a commercial destination as it hosts major sea resorts, recreational parks, and shopping destinations. The results indicate that commercial and religious destination tourists do not have similar perceptions of the selected eight hotel service quality attributes. While comfort, facilities, and value-for-money service quality attributes were considered important for commercial destination tourists, religious destination tourists viewed location, cleanliness, and breakfast as important. Since effective management of customer satisfaction is essential for hotels’ profitability and sustainability, therefore it is imperative to identify and prioritize service quality attributes related to each group of customers. This will enable the efficient application of limited resources.
Theoretical Prediction of the Number of Bénard Cells in Low-Porosity Cylindrical/Rectangular Enclosures Saturated by a Fast Chemically Reacting Fluid
Authors: Lakshmi Kanakapura M. , Pérez Laura M. , Siddheshwar Pradeep G. , Laroze David
Published: August 2023

Many applications including chemical engineering and meteorology require the study of a chemically driven convection in cylindrical, as well as rectangular enclosures. The present paper reports a unified analysis of a chemically driven convection in densely packed porous cylindrical/rectangular enclosures saturated by a chemically reactive binary fluid mixture. Employing the degeneracy technique and the single-term Galerkin method involving Bessel functions in a linear stability analysis, an analytical expression for the critical Rayleigh number, Rac, was obtained. An analytical expression for the number of cells that manifest in a given enclosure, at the onset of convection, was derived from Rac. The connection between the stabilizing and destabilizing effects of various parameters and the size or the number of Bénard cells that manifest are described in detail. The results depicted that the chemical parameters related to the heat of reaction destabilize and the parameter depending inversely on the rate of the chemical reaction stabilizes the system. In the latter case, a greater number of smaller cells were formed in the system compared to the former case. Hence, we concluded that the chemically reactive fluid advances the onset of convection compared to the chemically non-reactive fluid. The results of a similar problem in rectangular enclosures of infinite horizontal extent and chemically non-reactive liquid-saturated porous medium were recovered as limiting cases. Thus, the present model presents a unified analysis of six individual problems.
Effects of Microencapsulated Phase Change Material on the Behavior of Silty Soil Subjected to Freeze–Thaw Cycles
Authors: Gençdal Hazal , Kılıç Havvanur
Published: August 2023

Freeze–thaw (F-T) cycles are one of the most important factors affecting the performance of silty soils with high kaolin content in seasonally freezing regions. This study investigates the improvement of a high-plasticity clayey silt soil (MH) with microencapsulated phase change material (mPCM) to prevent changes in mechanical properties when subjected to freeze–thaw cycles. Unconfined compression, one-dimensional compression, and freeze and thaw tests were performed to evaluate the behavior of treated soil under different freeze/thaw cycles and with different mPCM ratios. It has been observed that the mPCM additive decreased the unconfined compression strength (UCS); however, the strength of the soil held constant during the increasing F-T cycles, and the increase in the mPCM additive content increased the strength of the soil. The inclusion of mPCM affected the compression of the soil and increased settlement (∆H), although the settlement remained constant with increasing freeze–thaw cycles. It has been noted that the compression behavior, which is least affected by the unconfined compressive strength and freeze/thaw cycles, is achieved with the addition of 10% mPCM. As a result of the tests, it was determined that the most suitable additive mPCM ratio is 10% for the compression and strength behaviors.
Multi-Objective Optimal Deployment of Road Traffic Monitoring Cameras: A Case Study in Wujiang, China
Authors: Li Yiming , Cheng Zeyang , Yao Xinpeng , Kong Zhiqiang , Wang Zijian , Liu Mengfei
Published: August 2023

This study presents a multi-objective optimal framework for deploying traffic monitoring cameras at road networks. Compared with previous studies that focused on addressing single traffic problem such as OD estimation, link flow observation, path flow reconstruction, and travel time estimation, this study aims to address a comprehensive traffic management problem, including crash prevention, traffic violation governance, and traffic efficiency improvement. First, a potential principle for selecting the location of traffic monitoring deployment is determined, taking into account the key signalized intersections, areas prone to traffic congestion, crash-prone spots, and areas prone to traffic violations. Then, a multi-objective optimal model is developed to minimize the ATFM (i.e., average traffic volume of each five minutes), TCF (i.e., traffic crash frequency), and TVF (i.e., traffic violation frequency) while adhering to cost constraints. Finally, RVEA and NSGA-II algorithms are used to solve the multi-objective optimal model, respectively, and a comprehensive metric is proposed to evaluate the deployment schemes. The case study results demonstrate that the solutions obtained by the RVEA algorithm outperform those of the NSGA-II algorithm, and the best traffic monitoring deployment rate is 62.79%, under cost constraints. In addition, the comparison using the FAHP method also illustrates that the RVEA scheme is superior to the NSGA-II scheme. The above research results could potentially be used to optimize the locations of traffic cameras in road networks, which help to improve traffic management.
Representations of Flat Virtual Braids by Automorphisms of Free Group
Authors: Chuzhinov Bogdan , Vesnin Andrey
Published: August 2023

Representations of braid group Bn on n≥2 strands by automorphisms of a free group of rank n go back to Artin. In 1991, Kauffman introduced a theory of virtual braids, virtual knots, and links. The virtual braid group VBn on n≥2 strands is an extension of the classical braid group Bn by the symmetric group Sn. In this paper, we consider flat virtual braid groups FVBn on n≥2 strands and construct a family of representations of FVBn by automorphisms of free groups of rank 2n. It has been established that these representations do not preserve the forbidden relations between classical and virtual generators. We investigated some algebraic properties of the constructed representations. In particular, we established conditions of faithfulness in case n=2 and proved that the kernel contains a free group of rank two for n≥3.
Solution of Fractional Third-Order Dispersive Partial Differential Equations and Symmetric KdV via Sumudu–Generalized Laplace Transform Decomposition
Authors: Eltayeb Hassan , Alhefthi Reem K.
Published: August 2023

This research work introduces a novel method called the Sumudu–generalized Laplace transform decomposition method (SGLDM) for solving linear and nonlinear non-homogeneous dispersive Korteweg–de Vries (KdV)-type equations. The SGLDM combines the Sumudu–generalized Laplace transform with the Adomian decomposition method, providing a powerful approach to tackle complex equations. To validate the efficacy of the method, several model problems of dispersive KdV-type equations are solved, and the resulting approximate solutions are expressed in series form. The findings demonstrate that the SGLDM is a reliable and robust method for addressing significant physical problems in various applications. Finally, we conclude that this transform is a symmetry to other symmetric transforms.
Synthesis, Purity Check, Hydrolysis and Removal of o-Chlorobenzyliden Malononitrile (CBM) by Biological Selective Media
Authors: Gheorghe Viorel , Gheorghe Catalina Gabriela , Popovici Daniela Roxana , Mihai Sonia , Calin Catalina , Sarbu Elena Emilia , Doukeh Rami , Grigoriu Nicoleta , Toader Constantin Nicolae , Epure Cristiana , Matei Vasile
Published: August 2023

The removal yield of organic substances present in water depends on the environmental conditions, on the chemical composition of the water and on the chemical substance dissolved in the water, which constitutes the substrate of the metabolic activities of the microalgae that use these substances in the biochemical reactions of cellular enzyme complexes. o-Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS, to use its military designation) was synthesized in-house, for research purposes, by a condensing reaction between o-chlorobenzaldehide and malononitrilein the presence of diethylamine. The detection, identification and confirmation of o-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (coded CBM in this experimental study) was performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the purity of CBM was 99%. The biodegradation capacity in the samples that contained the biological suspension, after 24 h and 96 h of incubation, was determined via GC-MS analysis, and no evidence of the presence of CBM or some metabolites of CBM was detected. In the parallel samples, a hydrolysis process of CBM at room temperature, without biological treatment, revealed two main metabolites, malononitrile and o-chlorobenzaldehyde, respectively. This study is focused on evaluating the biodegradation capacity of o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile in the presence of a biological material, culture of Chlorella sp., in comparison with a classical hydrolysis process. The tests performed indicate that the suspension of Chlorella sp. consumed the entire amount of CBM and metabolites from the analyzed samples. The tests prove that the biological material can be used to decontaminate the affected areas.
Biotransformation of Deoxynivalenol by a Dual-Member Bacterial Consortium Isolated from Tenebrio molitor Larval Feces
Authors: Wang Yang , Zhao Donglei , Zhang Wei , Wang Songxue , Huang Kai , Guo Baoyuan
Published: August 2023

In this study, a dual-member bacterial consortium with the ability to oxidize deoxynivalenol (DON) to 3-keto-DON, designated SD, was first screened from the feces of Tenebrio molitor larvae. This consortium consisted of Pseudomonas sp. SD17-1 and Devosia sp. SD17-2, as determined by 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis. A temperature of 30 °C, a pH of 8.0–9.0, and an initial inoculum concentration ratio of Devosia to Pseudomonas of 0.1 were optimal single-factor parameters for the DON oxidation activity of the bacterial consortium SD. Genome-based bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of an intact PQQ biosynthesis operon (pqqFABCDEG) and four putative pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) genes in the genomes of Pseudomonas strain SD17-1 and Devosia strain SD17-2, respectively. Biochemical analyses further confirmed the PQQ-producing phenotype of Pseudomonas and the DON-oxidizing enzymatic activities of two of four PQQ-dependent ADHs in Devosia. The addition of PQQ-containing a cell-free fermentation supernatant from Pseudomonas activated DON-oxidizing activity of Devosia. In summary, as members of the bacterial consortium SD, Pseudomonas and Devosia play indispensable and complementary roles in SD’s oxidation of DON. Specifically, Pseudomonas is responsible for producing the necessary PQQ cofactor, whereas Devosia expresses the PQQ-dependent DON dehydrogenase, together facilitating the oxidation of DON.
The Influence of the Omicron Variant on RNA Extraction and RT-qPCR Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a Laboratory in Brazil
Authors: Silva Lívia Mara , Riani Lorena Rodrigues , Leite Juliana Brovini , de Assis Chagas Jessica Mara , Fernandes Laura Silva , Fochat Romário Costa , Perches Carmen Gomide Pinto , Nascimento Thiago César , Jaeger Lauren Hubert , Silvério Marcelo Silva , dos Santos Pereira-Júnior Olavo , Pittella Frederico
Published: August 2023

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants can affect their detection via RT-qPCR. The Omicron variant has a greater affinity for the upper respiratory system and causes clinical conditions similar to bronchitis, as opposed to the pneumonitis-like conditions caused by other SARS-CoV-2 variants. This characteristic increases the viscosity of clinical samples collected for diagnosis. Coinciding with the arrival of the Omicron variant, we observed a failure in control gene expression in our laboratory. In this report, we have optimized a rapid nucleic acid extraction step to restore gene expression and detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We reevaluated 3000 samples, compared variant types occurring in different time periods, and confirmed that the presence of the Omicron variant was responsible for changes observed in the characteristics of these clinical samples. For samples with large amounts of mucus, such as those containing the Omicron variant, a modification to the nucleic acid extraction step was sufficient to restore the quality of RT-qPCR results.
Geobacillus Bacteriophages from Compost Heaps: Representatives of Three New Genera within Thermophilic Siphoviruses
Authors: Šimoliūnas Eugenijus , Šimoliūnienė Monika , Laskevičiūtė Gintarė , Kvederavičiūtė Kotryna , Skapas Martynas , Kaupinis Algirdas , Valius Mindaugas , Meškys Rolandas , Kuisienė Nomeda
Published: August 2023

We report a detailed characterization of five thermophilic bacteriophages (phages) that were isolated from compost heaps in Vilnius, Lithuania using Geobacillus thermodenitrificans strains as the hosts for phage propagation. The efficiency of plating experiments revealed that phages formed plaques from 45 to 80 °C. Furthermore, most of the phages formed plaques surrounded by halo zones, indicating the presence of phage-encoded bacterial exopolysaccharide (EPS)-degrading depolymerases. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that all phages were siphoviruses characterized by an isometric head (from ~63 nm to ~67 nm in diameter) and a non-contractile flexible tail (from ~137 nm to ~150 nm in length). The genome sequencing resulted in genomes ranging from 38,161 to 39,016 bp. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the isolated phages had no close relatives to date, and potentially represent three new genera within siphoviruses. The results of this study not only improve our knowledge about poorly explored thermophilic bacteriophages but also give new insights for further investigation of thermophilic and/or thermostable enzymes of bacterial viruses.
Mycoviruses in the Rust Fungus Uromyces fabae
Authors: Seitz Janina M. , Voegele Ralf T. , Link Tobias I.
Published: August 2023

Uromyces fabae, the causal agent of broad bean rust, is a major cause of yield losses in North and East Africa, China, and Australia. It has also served as an important model species for research on rust fungi. Early EST sequencing in U. fabae showed that viruses might be present in this species; however, no follow-up investigations were conducted. In order to identify these viruses, we performed purification of dsRNA followed by Illumina sequencing. We also used ultracentrifugation followed by negative staining electron microscopy to visualize virus particles. We identified 20 viral sequences, which we termed Ufvss. A phylogenetic analysis was performed that grouped Ufvss into totiviruses, polymycoviruses, and virgaviruse; three sequences could not be included in the phylogeny. We also found isometric particles. Our findings contribute to the knowledge of mycoviral diversity in rust fungi and point to the importance of further investigation of these viruses.
Virus Inactivation by Formaldehyde and Common Lysis Buffers
Authors: Seeburg Ulrike , Urda Lorena , Otte Fabian , Lett Martin J. , Caimi Silvia , Mittelholzer Christian , Klimkait Thomas
Published: August 2023

Numerous mammalian viruses are routinely analyzed in clinical diagnostic laboratories around the globe or serve as indispensable model systems in viral research. Potentially infectious viral entities are handled as blood, biopsies, or cell and tissue culture samples. Countless protocols describe methods for virus fixation and inactivation, yet for many, a formal proof of safety and completeness of inactivation remains to be shown. While modern nucleic acid extraction methods work quite effectively, data are largely lacking on possible residual viral infectivity, e.g., when assessed after extended culture times, which maximizes the sensitivity for low levels of residual infectiousness. Therefore, we examined the potency and completeness of inactivation procedures on virus-containing specimens when applying commonly used fixatives like formaldehyde or nucleic acid extraction/lysis buffers. Typical representatives of different virus classes, including RNA and DNA viruses, enveloped and non-enveloped, such as adenovirus, enterovirus, lentivirus, and coronavirus, were used, and the reduction in the in vitro infectiousness was assessed for standard protocols. Overall, a 30-minute incubation with formaldehyde at room temperature effectively inactivated all tested enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Full inactivation of HIV-1 and ECHO-11 was also achieved with all buffers in the test, whereas for SARS-CoV-2 and AdV-5, only five of the seven lysis buffers were fully effective under the tested conditions.
The Effects of Vaccines on the Sequelae Rates of Recurrent Infections and the Severity of Pulmonary COVID-19 Infection by Imaging
Authors: Bahadir Suzan , Kabacaoglu Ebru , Memis Kemal Bugra , Hasan Hasan Ilksen , Aydin Sonay
Published: August 2023

Although vaccines have been shown to reduce the number of COVID-19 infection cases significantly, vaccine-related reactions, long COVID-19 syndrome, and COVID-19 infection following vaccination continue to be a burden on healthcare services and warrant further scientific research. The purpose of this study was to research the severity of pulmonary COVID-19 infection following vaccination and the sequelae rates of recurrent infections in vaccinated cases by imaging. Patients who underwent follow-up CTs at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months in our hospital with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were scanned retrospectively. Furthermore, all essential information was gathered from patients’ immunization records. The major findings of our study were: (1) sequelae were frequently observed in unvaccinated cases; (2) the correlation between vaccination status and the severity of sequelae was significant; (3) there was not any significant relationship between the vaccine type and the severity of sequelae; and (4) hematocrit, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte parameters may be used as predictors of sequelae rates. COVID-19 infection, although reduced in prevalence following the development of vaccines, still remains a public health concern because of reinfection. Vaccination not only appears to protect against primary infection, but also seems to reduce reinfection and sequalae rates following reinfection.
How Did We Get Here: The Best Vaccines Ever Facing the Highest Public Hesitancy?
Authors: Ferreccio Catterina
Published: August 2023

mRNA vaccine technology is the most interesting final product of decades of research. This new platform for public health is simple to transfer to low-income countries and can be used against diverse agents, including cancer. It is environmentally clean, relatively low-cost, and does not use animals for its production. Most importantly, mRNA vaccines have been highly efficacious in avoiding serious disease and death from COVID-19. Yet, at the highest point of the pandemic, many voices, including some from prominent positions, opposed their use. Similarly, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, which are highly effective, very safe, and probably confer long life protection against its HPV types, faced strong parents’ hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy has been the subject of extensive research, focusing primarily on factors associated with the public, the political environment, and messaging strategies. However, the issue of unfair worldwide access to the COVID-19 vaccines has recently sparked significant debate about the vaccine industry’s role. Recent data demonstrated that the system’s perceived unfairness with the masses is behind the growing populist anti-vaccine movements worldwide. The association between populism and antivaccine attitudes has been reported at country and individual levels. The anti-science attitudes behind vaccine hesitancy emerge when the scientist is not found credible due to the suspicion that they had monetary investments in pharmaceutical companies. Here, I argue that the obscurity of the vaccine market, but also its unfairness, are important factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy. The purpose of this commentary is to stimulate a review of current market regulations and to improve its transparency and fairness, particularly in the context of public health emergencies. By doing so, a new pandemic would find us better prepared. The general population and much of the healthcare community often ignore the years of dedicated work and substantial public funding that enabled the discovery and design of vaccines. Conversely, pharmaceutical companies often over-emphasize their investments in research and development. A decade ago, Marcia Angell provided a detailed breakdown of pharmaceutical expenses, revealing that marketing and administration costs were 2.5 times higher than research and development expenses; recently, Olivier Wouters confirmed the high expenditures of the pharmaceutical industry in lobbying and political campaign contributions. In this commentary, I will present the cases of HPV and COVID-19 vaccines as examples of when vaccines, instead of being public health goods, became market goods, creating large inequities and health costs. This failure is a structural cause behind more ideological vaccine hesitancy, less studied so far.
Incidental Findings in Computed Tomography Examination of the Head in Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
Authors: Del Chicca Francesca , Puccinelli Caterina , Petrini Daniele , Citi Simonetta
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: Rabbits and guinea pigs are popular pet animals and often undergo computed tomography (CT) examination for assessment of pathologies of the head. The goal of the study was to review CT examinations of the heads of rabbits and guinea pigs to identify and classify incidental findings. (2) Methods: 60 CT studies of the heads of rabbits and 65 of guinea pigs presented at 2 Institutions were reviewed and the indications for the study recorded. (3) Results: The presence of CT findings not directly related to the reason for the CT examination was present in 40/60 (66.7%) studies of rabbits and in 42/65 (64.4%) studies of guinea pigs. Most commonly, the incidental findings involved the ears, in 24/60 studies in rabbits and in 29/65 studies in guinea pigs. Incidental findings involved the nasal cavities, respectively, in 9 and 7 rabbits and guinea pigs. Soft tissue mineralization was present in 11 rabbits and 17 guinea pigs. (4) Conclusions: Based on the present study, incidental findings detected on CT studies are often present in rabbits and guinea pigs. Veterinarians should be aware of the possible clinical impact of these findings.
Roughness Inversion of Water Transfer Channels from a Data-Driven Perspective
Authors: Zhou Luyan , Yan Peiru , Han Zhongkai , Zhang Zhao , Lei Xiaohui , Wang Hao
Published: August 2023

Manning’s roughness coefficient (nc) is an important parameter characterizing the flow capacity of water transfer channels, and it is also an important and sensitive parameter in one-dimensional (1D) flow simulation. This study focused on the roughness inversion for datasets with different sequence lengths, time steps and anomalous data points. A case study was performed with the datasets of the Shandong Jiaodong Water Transfer Project under steady-state conditions. For sequence lengths, the datasets of 6, 12, 24, 40, 88, and 142 h were selected, all with a time step of 1 min. Subsequently, the time step was changed to 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min for the 40 h dataset mentioned above. Finally, the flow data point under a certain moment was selected and changed by 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% respectively. The results show that there is a quadratic relationship between the nc value and the objective function value and the optimal nc value is nc=−b/2a. It is recommended that the nc value retains four decimal places and is inverted using high-frequency and cleaned datasets.
Parameter Matching of Power Systems and Design of Vehicle Control Strategies for Mini-Electric Trucks
Authors: Ma Jianwei , Gu Fengyi , Feng Ziliang , Zhang Shaohang
Published: August 2023

Mini-electric trucks have been widely used because of their high efficiency and zero emission with the rapid development of electronic commerce and express industry. So, improvement of dynamic performance and economy becomes crucial. The research in this field mainly focuses on passenger vehicles at present. However, most passenger vehicles are front−engine, front-drive vehicles; for mini trucks of front−engine and rear-drive, if the dynamics model of passenger vehicles is applied to mini−electric trucks, the dynamic parameters calculated will not be accurate. To enhance the accuracy of the dynamic parameters of mini-electric trucks, by combining the characteristics of mini trucks, the dynamic parameters are designed, and the types of drive motors and power batteries are selected, the dynamic model of mini−electric trucks is established. To improve the economy, control strategies, with five working modes switching, were established. On this basis, the simulation model is established, and the dynamic and economy simulation analysis and performance test were carried out. In applying the method, the error rate of maximum speed, acceleration time, and maximum gradient between simulation results and test results are 0.641% and 5.63% (15.328%), respectively, proving that the dynamic index has reached the expected value and endurance mileage is up to 295 Km under UDC conditions, increased by 5% after the vehicle control strategy was adopted. The results show that the parameter matching is reasonable and the vehicle control strategy is suitable for mini-electric trucks. The research method and conclusions can provide valuable references for the development of power systems for mini−electric trucks.
Coyote Learns Indigenous Academic Writing
Authors: Gladstone Joseph Scott , Stewart Daniel
Published: August 2023

The Indigenous Business and Public Administration journal, IBAPA, strives to be a space where Native and Indigenous authors can de-colonize themselves from academic constraints and have a place where they can share their work to the greater Native and Indigenous community who could immediately benefit from their research. To accomplish this, IBAPA strongly encourages its authors to write in conversational styles, appropriate for their communities, while still retaining high standards for scholarship rigor. IBAPA’s expectations for its contributors is described through a Native-style Coyote story.
On expanding the possibilities of implementing municipal projects of initiative budgeting for the development of physical culture and sports in the regions of Russia
Authors: Fadeikina Natalia V.
Published: August 2023

Alm. The purpose of the study is to determine the essence of initiative budgeting as a tool of modern state public management and a mechanism for managing public finances, as well as to assess the institutional conditions for the use of this tool for the socio-economic development of territories, including in the field of physical culture and sports. Materials and methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research was made up of scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists in the field of public public management, public values management, public management of sustainable socio-economic development of territories, public finance management, including in the field of physical culture and sports, and methodological approaches formed on the basis of the theory of participatory democracy (participatory democracy) to involve citizens in the budget process, public finance management in general and the mechanism of initiative budgeting in particular. In the course of the study, the institutional conditions for the development of initiative budgeting in Russia in 2014-2021 were analyzed, the foundations of its regulatory support were structured. Special attention is paid to the practices of proactive budgeting in the field of physical culture and sports. Results. Typical models of municipal projects of initiative budgeting in the regions of Russia in the field of financial culture and sports are identified, carried out in the context of organizational and methodological support for the implementation of relevant municipal initiative projects structured in the course of the study. Conclusion. Recommendations are given on expanding thepossibilities ofimplementing municipal projects ofinitiative budgeting, improving theregulatory andmethodological support of projects of local initiatives implemented in the field of physical culture and sports in municipalities of the regions of Russia within the framework of models of initiative budgeting.