bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Essential and Non-Essential Metal Toxicity in the Drosophila melanogaster Insect Model: A Review
Authors: Slobodian Mitchell R. , Petahtegoose Jesse D. , Wallis Athena L. , Levesque Danica C. , Merritt Thomas J. S.
Published: October 2021

The biological effects of environmental metal contamination are important issues in an industrialized, resource-dependent world. Different metals have different roles in biology and can be classified as essential if they are required by a living organism (e.g., as cofactors), or as non-essential metals if they are not. While essential metal ions have been well studied in many eukaryotic species, less is known about the effects of non-essential metals, even though essential and non-essential metals are often chemically similar and can bind to the same biological ligands. Insects are often exposed to a variety of contaminated environments and associated essential and non-essential metal toxicity, but many questions regarding their response to toxicity remain unanswered. Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent insect model species in which to study the effects of toxic metal due to the extensive experimental and genetic resources available for this species. Here, we review the current understanding of the impact of a suite of essential and non-essential metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Ni) on the D. melanogaster metal response system, highlighting the knowledge gaps between essential and non-essential metals in D. melanogaster. This review emphasizes the need to use multiple metals, multiple genetic backgrounds, and both sexes in future studies to help guide future research towards better understanding the effects of metal contamination in general.
Tetrodotoxin/Saxitoxins Selectivity of the Euryhaline Freshwater Pufferfish Dichotomyctere fluviatilis
Authors: Zhu Hongchen , Sakai Towa , Nagashima Yuji , Doi Hiroyuki , Takatani Tomohiro , Arakawa Osamu
Published: October 2021

The present study evaluated differences in the tetrodotoxin (TTX)/saxitoxins (STXs) selectivity between marine and freshwater pufferfish by performing in vivo and in vitro experiments. In the in vivo experiment, artificially reared nontoxic euryhaline freshwater pufferfish Dichotomyctere fluviatilis were intrarectally administered a mixture of TTX (24 nmol/fish) and STX (20 nmol/fish). The amount of toxin in the intestine, liver, muscle, gonads, and skin was quantified at 24, 48, and 72 h. STX was detected in the intestine over a long period of time, with some (2.7–6.1% of the given dose) being absorbed into the body and temporarily located in the liver. Very little TTX was retained in the body. In the in vitro experiments, slices of intestine, liver, and skin tissue prepared from artificially reared nontoxic D. fluviatilis and the marine pufferfish Takifugu rubripes were incubated in buffer containing TTX and STXs (20 nmol/mL each) for up to 24 or 72 h, and the amount of toxin taken up in the tissue was quantified over time. In contrast to T. rubripes, the intestine, liver, and skin tissues of D. fluviatilis selectively took up only STXs. These findings indicate that the TTX/STXs selectivity differs between freshwater and marine pufferfish.
Multi-Modal Clustering Events Observed by Horizon-10T and Axion Quark Nuggets
Authors: Zhitnitsky Ariel
Published: October 2021

The Horizon-10T collaboration have reported observation of Multi-Modal Events (MME) containing multiple peaks suggesting their clustering origin. These events are proven to be hard to explain in terms of conventional cosmic rays (CR). We propose that these MMEs might be result of the dark matter annihilation events within the so-called axion quark nugget (AQN) dark matter model, which was originally invented for completely different purpose to explain the observed similarity between the dark and the visible components in the Universe, i.e., ΩDM∼Ωvisible without any fitting parameters. We support this proposal by demonstrating that the observations, including the frequency of appearance, intensity, the spatial distribution, the time duration, the clustering features, and many other properties nicely match the emission characteristics of the AQN annihilation events in atmosphere. We list a number of features of the AQN events which are very distinct from conventional CR air showers. The observation (non-observation) of these features may substantiate (refute) our proposal.
Viral Glycoproteins Induce NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptosis in Macrophages
Authors: Eisfeld Hannah S. , Simonis Alexander , Winter Sandra , Chhen Jason , Ströh Luisa J. , Krey Thomas , Koch Manuel , Theobald Sebastian J. , Rybniker Jan
Published: October 2021

Infections with viral pathogens are widespread and can cause a variety of different diseases. In-depth knowledge about viral triggers initiating an immune response is necessary to decipher viral pathogenesis. Inflammasomes, as part of the innate immune system, can be activated by viral pathogens. However, viral structural components responsible for inflammasome activation remain largely unknown. Here we analyzed glycoproteins derived from SARS-CoV-1/2, HCMV and HCV, required for viral entry and fusion, as potential triggers of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis in THP-1 macrophages. All tested glycoproteins were able to potently induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation, indicated by ASC-SPECK formation and secretion of cleaved IL-1β. Lytic cell death via gasdermin D (GSDMD), pore formation, and pyroptosis are required for IL-1β release. As a hallmark of pyroptosis, we were able to detect cleavage of GSDMD and, correspondingly, cell death in THP-1 macrophages. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of NLRP3 and GSDMD in THP-1 macrophages confirmed and strongly support the evidence that viral glycoproteins can act as innate immunity triggers. With our study, we decipher key mechanisms of viral pathogenesis by showing that viral glycoproteins potently induce innate immune responses. These insights could be beneficial in vaccine development and provide new impulses for the investigation of vaccine-induced innate immunity.
Roles of Non-Structural Protein 4A in Flavivirus Infection
Authors: Klaitong Paeka , Smith Duncan R.
Published: October 2021

Infections with viruses in the genus Flavivirus are a worldwide public health problem. These enveloped, positive sense single stranded RNA viruses use a small complement of only 10 encoded proteins and the RNA genome itself to remodel host cells to achieve conditions favoring viral replication. A consequence of the limited viral armamentarium is that each protein exerts multiple cellular effects, in addition to any direct role in viral replication. The viruses encode four non-structural (NS) small transmembrane proteins (NS2A, NS2B, NS4A and NS4B) which collectively remain rather poorly characterized. NS4A is a 16kDa membrane associated protein and recent studies have shown that this protein plays multiple roles, including in membrane remodeling, antagonism of the host cell interferon response, and in the induction of autophagy, in addition to playing a role in viral replication. Perhaps most importantly, NS4A has been implicated as playing a critical role in fetal developmental defects seen as a consequence of Zika virus infection during pregnancy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the multiple roles of this small but pivotal protein in mediating the pathobiology of flaviviral infections.
Clonal Expansion of Infected CD4+ T Cells in People Living with HIV
Authors: Coffin John M. , Hughes Stephen H.
Published: October 2021

HIV infection is not curable with current antiretroviral therapy (ART) because a small fraction of CD4+ T cells infected prior to ART initiation persists. Understanding the nature of this latent reservoir and how it is created is essential to development of potentially curative strategies. The discovery that a large fraction of the persistently infected cells in individuals on suppressive ART are members of large clones greatly changed our view of the reservoir and how it arises. Rather than being the products of infection of resting cells, as was once thought, HIV persistence is largely or entirely a consequence of infection of cells that are either expanding or are destined to expand, primarily due to antigen-driven activation. Although most of the clones carry defective proviruses, some carry intact infectious proviruses; these clones comprise the majority of the reservoir. A large majority of both the defective and the intact infectious proviruses in clones of infected cells are transcriptionally silent; however, a small fraction expresses a few copies of unspliced HIV RNA. A much smaller fraction is responsible for production of low levels of infectious virus, which can rekindle infection when ART is stopped. Further understanding of the reservoir will be needed to clarify the mechanism(s) by which provirus expression is controlled in the clones of cells that constitute the reservoir.
Efficacy of Ion-Channel Inhibitors Amantadine, Memantine and Rimantadine for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro
Authors: Zhou Yuyong , Gammeltoft Karen A. , Galli Andrea , Offersgaard Anna , Fahnøe Ulrik , Ramirez Santseharay , Bukh Jens , Gottwein Judith M.
Published: October 2021

We report the in vitro efficacy of ion-channel inhibitors amantadine, memantine and rimantadine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In VeroE6 cells, rimantadine was most potent followed by memantine and amantadine (50% effective concentrations: 36, 80 and 116 µM, respectively). Rimantadine also showed the highest selectivity index, followed by amantadine and memantine (17.3, 12.2 and 7.6, respectively). Similar results were observed in human hepatoma Huh7.5 and lung carcinoma A549-hACE2 cells. Inhibitors interacted in a similar antagonistic manner with remdesivir and had a similar barrier to viral escape. Rimantadine acted mainly at the viral post-entry level and partially at the viral entry level. Based on these results, rimantadine showed the most promise for treatment of SARS-CoV-2.
Identification and Characterization of Swine Influenza Virus H1N1 Variants Generated in Vaccinated and Nonvaccinated, Challenged Pigs
Authors: López-Valiñas Álvaro , Sisteré-Oró Marta , López-Serrano Sergi , Baioni Laura , Darji Ayub , Chiapponi Chiara , Segalés Joaquim , Ganges Llilianne , Núñez José I.
Published: October 2021

Influenza viruses represent a continuous threat to both animal and human health. The 2009 H1N1 A influenza pandemic highlighted the importance of a swine host in the adaptation of influenza viruses to humans. Nowadays, one of the most extended strategies used to control swine influenza viruses (SIVs) is the trivalent vaccine application, whose formulation contains the most frequently circulating SIV subtypes H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2. These vaccines do not provide full protection against the virus, allowing its replication, evolution, and adaptation. To better understand the main mechanisms that shape viral evolution, here, the SIV intra-host diversity was analyzed in samples collected from both vaccinated and nonvaccinated animals challenged with the H1N1 influenza A virus. Twenty-eight whole SIV genomes were obtained by next-generation sequencing, and differences in nucleotide variants between groups were established. Substitutions were allocated along all influenza genetic segments, while the most relevant nonsynonymous substitutions were allocated in the NS1 protein on samples collected from vaccinated animals, suggesting that SIV is continuously evolving despite vaccine application. Moreover, new viral variants were found in both vaccinated and nonvaccinated pigs, showing relevant substitutions in the HA, NA, and NP proteins, which may increase viral fitness under field conditions.
Vaccinating Adolescents and Children Significantly Reduces COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality across All Ages: A Population-Based Modeling Study Using the UK as an Example
Authors: Shiri Tinevimbo , Evans Marc , Talarico Carla A. , Morgan Angharad R. , Mussad Maaz , Buck Philip O. , McEwan Phil , Strain William David
Published: October 2021

Debate persists around the risk–benefit balance of vaccinating adolescents and children against COVID-19. Central to this debate is quantifying the contribution of adolescents and children to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and the potential impact of vaccinating these age groups. In this study, we present a novel SEIR mathematical disease transmission model that quantifies the impact of different vaccination strategies on population-level SARS-CoV-2 infections and clinical outcomes. The model employs both age- and time-dependent social mixing patterns to capture the impact of changes in restrictions. The model was used to assess the impact of vaccinating adolescents and children on the natural history of the COVID-19 pandemic across all age groups, using the UK as an example. The base case model demonstrates significant increases in COVID-19 disease burden in the UK following a relaxation of restrictions, if vaccines are limited to those ≥18 years and vulnerable adolescents (≥12 years). Including adolescents and children in the vaccination program could reduce overall COVID-related mortality by 57%, and reduce cases of long COVID by 75%. This study demonstrates that vaccinating adolescents and children has the potential to play a vital role in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infections, and subsequent COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, across all ages. Our results have major global public health implications and provide valuable information to inform a potential pandemic exit strategy.
A Data-Driven Digital Application to Enhance the Capacity Planning of the COVID-19 Vaccination Process
Authors: Markhorst Berend , Zver Tara , Malbasic Nina , Dijkstra Renze , Otto Daan , van der Mei Rob , Moeke Dennis
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a decision support system (DSS) is presented that focuses on the capacity planning of the COVID-19 vaccination process in the Netherlands. With the Dutch national vaccination priority list as the starting point, the DSS aims to minimize the per-class waiting-time with respect to (1) the locations of the medical hubs (i.e., the vaccination locations) and (2) the distribution of the available vaccines and healthcare professionals (over time). As the user is given the freedom to experiment with different starting positions and strategies, the DSS is ideally suited for providing support in the dynamic environment of the COVID-19 vaccination process. In addition to the DSS, a mathematical model to support the assignment of inhabitants to medical hubs is presented. This model has been satisfactorily implemented in practice in close collaboration with the Dutch Municipal and Regional Health Service (GGD GHOR Nederland).
Shedding the Light on Post-Vaccine Myocarditis and Pericarditis in COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients
Authors: Hajjo Rima , Sabbah Dima A. , Bardaweel Sanaa K. , Tropsha Alexander
Published: October 2021

Myocarditis and pericarditis have been linked recently to COVID-19 vaccines without exploring the underlying mechanisms, or compared to cardiac adverse events post-non-COVID-19 vaccines. We introduce an informatics approach to study post-vaccine adverse events on the systems biology level to aid the prioritization of effective preventive measures and mechanism-based pharmacotherapy by integrating the analysis of adverse event reports from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) with systems biology methods. Our results indicated that post-vaccine myocarditis and pericarditis were associated most frequently with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines followed by live or live-attenuated non-COVID-19 vaccines such as smallpox and anthrax vaccines. The frequencies of cardiac adverse events were affected by vaccine, vaccine type, vaccine dose, sex, and age of the vaccinated individuals. Systems biology results suggested a central role of interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) in the biological processes leading to cardiac adverse events, by impacting MAPK and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. We suggest that increasing the time interval between vaccine doses minimizes the risks of developing inflammatory adverse reactions. We also propose glucocorticoids as preferred treatments based on system biology evidence. Our informatics workflow provides an invaluable tool to study post-vaccine adverse events on the systems biology level to suggest effective mechanism-based pharmacotherapy and/or suitable preventive measures.
In Situ Hybridization of PRRSV-1 Combined with Digital Image Analysis in Lung Tissues of Pigs Challenged with PRRSV-1
Authors: Dénes Lilla , Horváth Dávid G. , Duran Oliver , Ratkhjen Poul H. , Kraft Christian , Acs Balazs , Szász Attila M. , Rümenapf Till , Papp Marton , Ladinig Andrea , Balka Gyula
Published: October 2021

Betaarterivirus suid 1 and 2 are the causative agents of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which is one of the most significant diseases of the swine industry, causing significant economic losses in the main pig producing countries. Here, we report the development of a novel, RNA-based in situ hybridization technique (RNAscope) to detect PRRS virus (PRRSV) RNA in lung tissues of experimentally infected animals. The technique was applied to lung tissues of 20 piglets, which had been inoculated with a wild-type, highly pathogenic PRRSV-1 strain. To determine the RNAscope’s applicability as a semi-quantitative method, we analysed the association between the proportion of the virus-infected cells measured with an image analysis software (QuPath) and the outcome of the real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) tests performed in parallel. The results of the quantitative approach of these two molecular biological methods show significant association (pseudo R2 = 0.3894, p = 0.004). This is the first time RNAscope assay has been implemented for the detection of PRRSV-1 in experimental animals.
Green Veterinary Pharmacology Applied to Parasite Control: Evaluation of Punica granatum, Artemisia campestris, Salix caprea Aqueous Macerates against Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Sheep
Authors: Castagna Fabio , Piras Cristian , Palma Ernesto , Musolino Vincenzo , Lupia Carmine , Bosco Antonio , Rinaldi Laura , Cringoli Giuseppe , Musella Vincenzo , Britti Domenico
Published: October 2021

Resistance to anthelmintic drugs in gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of sheep is of high concern for livestock production worldwide. In Calabria (southern Italy), many plants have been used in ethnoveterinary medicine for parasite control in small ruminants. Here, we present an in vivo evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy of three plant extracts. The first was based on bark and leaves of Salix caprea, the second and the third were based on the whole plant Artemisia campestris and whole fruit (seeds and peel) of Punica granatum, respectively. Anthelmintic efficacy was evaluated according to the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) performed with the FLOTAC technique. The results showed a significant anthelmintic effect of Punica granatum macerate (50%), a low effectiveness of the Artemisia campestris macerate (20%), and a complete ineffectiveness of Salix caprea macerate (0.1%). With these outcomes, we report a P. granatum-based remedy reducing 50% GIN egg output. This result was obtained without using any synthetic drug, paving the way for the employment of green veterinary pharmacology (GVP) as a complementary and sustainable method to reduce the use of chemicals and to counteract anthelmintic resistance.
Modelling and Incorporating the Variable Demand Patterns to the Calibration of Water Distribution System Hydraulic Model
Authors: Hossain Sharif , Hewa Guna A. , Chow Christopher W. K. , Cook David
Published: October 2021

Calibration of a water distribution system (WDS) hydraulic model requires adjusting several parameters including hourly or sub-hourly demand multipliers, pipe roughness and settings of various hydraulic components. The water usage patterns or demand patterns in a 24-h cycle varies with the customer types and can be related to many factors including spatial and temporal factors. The demand patterns can also vary on a daily basis. For an extended period of hydraulic simulation, the modelling tools allows modelling of the variable demand patterns using daily multiplication factors. In this study, a linear modelling approach was used to handle the variable demand patterns. The parameters of the linear model allow modelling of the variable demand patterns with respect to the baseline values, and they were optimised to maximise the association with the observed data. This procedure was applied to calibrate the hydraulic model developed in EPANET of a large drinking water distribution system in regional South Australia. Local and global optimisation techniques were used to find the optimal values of the linear modelling parameters. The result suggests that the approach has the potential to model the variable demand patterns in a WDS hydraulic model and it improves the objective function of calibration.
Seasonal Variations in Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Source Region of the Yellow River on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: You Xiaoni , Li Xiangying
Published: October 2021

Rivers as the link between terrestrial ecosystems and oceans have been demonstrated to transport a large amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to downstream ecosystems. In the source region of the Yellow River (SRYR), climate warming has resulted in the rapid retreat of glaciers and permafrost, which has raised discussion on whether DOC production will increase significantly. Here, we present three-year data of DOC concentrations in river water and precipitation, explore the deposition and transport processes of DOC from SRYR. Results show that annual mean concentrations of riverine DOC ranged from 2.03 to 2.34 mg/L, with an average of 2.21 mg/L. Its seasonal variation is characterized by the highest concentration in spring and summer (2.65 mg/L and 2.62 mg/L, respectively), followed by autumn (1.95 mg/L), and the lowest in winter (1.44 mg/L), which is closely related to changes in river runoff under the influence of precipitation and temperature. The average concentration of DOC in precipitation (2.18 mg/L) is comparable with riverine DOC, while the value is inversely related to precipitation amount and is considered to be the result of precipitation dilution. DOC deposition flux in precipitation that is affected by both precipitation amount and DOC concentration roughly was 86,080, 105,804, and 73,072 tons/year from 2013 to 2015, respectively. DOC flux delivered by the river ranged from 24,629 to 37,539 tons/year and was dominated by river discharge. Although permafrost degradation in SRYR is increasing, DOC yield is not as significant as previously assumed and is much less than other large rivers in the world.
High Concentration Organic Wastewater with High Phosphorus Treatment by Facultative MBR
Authors: Wang Bing , Liu Yunlong , Zhang Siyu , Zhang Kaihang , Alvarez Pedro , Crittenden John , Sun Bing , Yang Lin , Liu Su , Ran Zhilin
Published: October 2021

Phosphorus is one of the main factors causing water eutrophication, and the traditional phosphorus removal process causes phosphorus-rich sludge pollution. The facultative MBR process uses phosphate-reducing bacteria to convert phosphate into directly recyclable gaseous phosphine to solve this malpractice and make sewage become a new phosphorus resource. In order to investigate the phosphorus removal efficiency and the mechanism under facultative conditions, run the facultative MBR reactor for 30 days. The COD value, phosphate concentration, and phosphine yield were measured, and the changes of sludge metabolic pathway abundance and community composition in different periods were detected. According to the measurement, the maximum phosphorus removal efficiency is 43.11% and the maximum yield of phosphine is 320 μg/m3 (measured by the volume of sewage). Combined with thermodynamic analysis, the microbial mechanism of the reactor was proposed, and the possible transformation pathway of phosphorus was analyzed. At last, changes the phosphorus removal process from the ‘removal type’ to the ‘recycling type’.
Study of Long-Term Effectiveness of Water Safety Plan Applied to Microfiltered Water Dispensers to Improve Water Quality
Authors: Mazzotta Marta , Salaris Silvano , Pascale Maria Rosaria , Girolamini Luna , Ciani Graziella , Cristino Sandra
Published: October 2021

The use of Microfiltered Water Dispensers (MWDs) is increasing in offices, companies, or commercial facilities, as a response to plastic pollution. Despite their widespread use, poor data are available about the water quality and pathogens developed. Starting from a high contamination found in MWDs, a Water Safety Plan (WSP) was implemented on 57 MWDs to improve the water quality. To assess the effectiveness of WSP during the period 2017–2021, the environmental monitoring of heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) at 36 °C and 22 °C, Enterococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens, as prescribed by Italian regulation for drinking water, was conducted. A high level of HPCs at both temperatures was observed, over the regulation limit; contrarily, the pathogenic bacteria were absent. The contamination found was studied with respect to the temperature threshold of 25 °C, suggested by directives. No significant differences were found between samples above and below the threshold, while a significant decrease over the years was observed for HPCs at 36 °C (p = 0.0000000001) and 22 °C (p = 0.000006). The WSP implementation resulted in a 43.09% decrease for HPCs at 36 °C and a 24.26% decrease for HPCs at 22 °C. Moreover, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the WSP contributed to limit the microbial contamination, preserving the MWDs’ functionality and hygienic conditions and the drinking water quality.
Trends of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Surface Sediments of the Lagoons of the Northern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Sfriso Adriano , Buosi Alessandro , Tomio Yari , Juhmani Abdul-Salam , Mistri Michele , Munari Cristina , Sfriso Andrea
Published: October 2021

The analysis of nutrient concentrations in surface sediments is a reliable tool for assessing the trophic status of a water body. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations are strongly related to the sediment characteristics but are mainly driven by anthropogenic impacts. The results of the determination of total nitrogen and total inorganic and organic phosphorus in surface sediments of the lagoons and ponds of the northwestern Adriatic Sea (Marano-Grado, Venice, Po Delta, Comacchio Valleys, Pialassa della Baiona) show the merit of this approach. Indeed, when previous data are available, the ratio between the actual and background values can provide useful information on the trophic changes that have occurred in the most recent times, and the results can also explain the conditions present in less studied environments. In this context, numerous studies performed in the Venice lagoon since the second half of the 20th century during different environmental scenarios provide mean concentration ranges and propose the main causes of changes. The results of single datasets available for the other lagoons fall into scenarios that occurred in the Venice lagoon. At present, the most eutrophic basins are Pialassa della Baiona, the Po Delta lagoons and ponds and the Comacchio valleys due to industrial effluents, fish farming and clam harvesting, respectively, whereas the Venice lagoon is now experiencing environmental recovery.
Reduction in Arsenic Exposure by Domestic Water Purification Devices in Shanghai Area and Related Health Risk Assessment
Authors: Qin Qin , Lu Hongtao , Zhu Zhiliang , Sui Minghao , Qiu Yanling , Yin Daqiang
Published: October 2021

Domestic water purification devices (point-of-use) are important choices for people to deal with sudden drinking water contamination. Especially for sudden heavy metal and arsenic contamination, home water purification units can play a key role as a secondary line of defense. Most of the arsenic removal studies are limited to meeting the requirements of local water quality standards and few studies have been conducted on arsenic removal from household water purifiers. In this paper, the distribution characteristics of arsenic in water at the end of the pipeline network in the Shanghai water supply area have been investigated. Three types of household water purifiers, mainly with membrane separation technology, were selected to treat the simulated arsenic contamination in tap water sources. The effects of pH and inorganic salts on arsenic removal were studied in comparison to the results of coexisting ion concentrations in tap water. The results showed that the total arsenic concentrations in different tap water samples range from 0.479–1.195 µg L−1, which is lower than the limit value for arsenic concentration set by China’s drinking water standard GB 5749–2006 (10 µg L−1) and by the World Health Organization (10 µg L−1). It is found that reverse osmosis and nanofiltration water purifiers were more effective in removing As(V), with removal rate above 97.7%, and less effective in removing As(III), the rate ranging from 40.1 to 56.3%. Preliminary validation was provided for the safety of household water purifiers in securing universal and sudden drinking water contamination. Domestic water purifiers are effective in reducing the risk of arsenic exposure in drinking water.
Drinking Water Standards and Their Implementation—A Critical Assessment
Authors: Tsaridou Charikleia , Karabelas Anastasios J.
Published: October 2021

Diminishing clean water resources and their pollution (due to human activities and climatic change) are of great concern on a global basis. Under such conditions, the adequacy of drinking water (DW) standards and their meticulous implementation are issues of utmost importance in safeguarding human health. Unfortunately, the significant number of disease outbreaks (and of other suspected/potential health effects) related to DW, even in developed countries, attests to the fact that these issues require vigilance and continuous re-appraisal, particularly considering the assorted emerging contaminants and the ever-improving technological tools to cope with them. Therefore, the present comprehensive assessment addresses the main issues and concerns regarding DW standards and implementation thereof. Emphasis is placed on identifying the inherent deficiencies of standards (due to neglect of potential toxic contaminants and to debatable specifications/limit values) and regulations for their implementation and the monitoring of DW quality (due to weaknesses of available analytical/measurement techniques and inadequacies of tools and protocols). Rather serious deficiencies on these aspects are evident regarding the main categories of contaminants, i.e., synthetic chemicals and biological species. In regard to addressing these issues, progress made in recent years at the scientific/technical level and the main challenges are outlined toward the goal of an improvement in standards and their implementation.
Improving Household Agriculture with Roof-Harvested Rainwater: A Case Study in Sydney and Nairobi
Authors: Amos Caleb Christian , Rahman Ataur , Jahan Sayka , Gathenya John Mwangi , Alim Mohammad A.
Published: October 2021

The production and distribution of a sufficient quantity of food and water of satisfactory quality is at the heart of sustainable development. At the small domestic scale, roof-harvested rainwater can make a significant contribution to food supply and distribution systems (production, handling, storage, and transportation). In this paper, we compare the potential crop production of a small garden plot using three methods of watering: (1) rainfed only with no irrigation; (2) irrigated with the ideal amount of water; and (3) rainwater tanks of various sizes installed and used to irrigate the plot. Yield was determined on the basis of the yield calculation method presented in FAO 33. It was found that yields can be increased considerably by installing a correctly managed rainwater storage system (RSS). A 3 kL RSS connected to a 120 m2 roof can increase yields in Nairobi from 40 kg to 96 kg. In Sydney, a larger roof of 200 m2 can increase yields from 66 kg to 143 kg. This study makes an important contribution to water and food security-related sustainable development goals.
A Novel Interior Permanent Magnet Machine with Magnet Axis Shifted Effect for Electric Vehicle Applications
Authors: Ge Yongsheng , Yang Hui , Wang Weijia , Lin Heyun , Li Ya
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes a novel interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine with asymmetrical PM configuration. Different from the traditional IPM counterparts, the proposed machine can perform a magnet axis shifted (MAS) effect. The magnet axis is shifted towards the reluctance axis so that a higher resultant torque capability can be obtained. Firstly, the configuration and the basic principle of the proposed machine are described. The design parameters are optimized to improve the torque capability, and the effect of the PM asymmetry ratio on the torque performance is then evaluated in detail. In addition, the major electromagnetic characteristics of the optimized machine are investigated and compared with those of the Prius 2010 IPM machine by finite element method (FEM). The results demonstrate that the proposed asymmetrical PM configuration can achieve the torque improvement due to the MAS effect.
Simultaneous Long-Term Planning of Flexible Electric Vehicle Photovoltaic Charging Stations in Terms of Load Response and Technical and Economic Indicators
Authors: Azimi Nasab Morteza , Zand Mohammad , Padmanaban Sanjeevikumar , Khan Baseem
Published: October 2021

Photovoltaic charging stations (PVCSs) are one of the most important pieces of charging equipment for electric vehicles (EVs). Recently, the process of designing solar charging stations as flexible sources has been growing and developing. This paper presents a relatively complete design of a solar charging station as a flexible economic resource in a 10-year planning horizon based on a genetic algorithm in two scenarios. PVCSs are not considered in the first scenario. This scenario is only to confirm the results, and the proposed method is proposed. However, in the second scenario, the effects of PVCSs and the demand response strategy (DR) on this development are considered. Copula probability distribution functions are used to create appropriate scenarios for vehicles during different planning years. The proposed energy management system shows a stable performance in terms of the annual load growth index and electricity price of each level of demand over the time horizon along with minimizing power losses and costs required, which makes PVCS efficiency higher and gives them a suitable structure and stability. The modeling results in terms of uncertainties in the system indicate that the use of load management along with PVCS design and flexible electric vehicle charge control strategies improves power quality parameters and optimizes system cost over a period of 10 years. Compared to the obtained results with the traditional case, it is observed that long-term planning in terms of DR and PVCSs and the technical specifications of the network have been improved. As a result of this proposed long-term planning, PVCSs are more flexible.
A Copper Foil Electromagnetic Coupler and Its Wireless Power Transfer System without Compensation
Authors: Wu Xueying , Mao Mingxuan
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes a copper foil electromagnetic coupler integrating inductance and capacitance and its wireless power transfer (WPT) system without additional compensation structure. Firstly, the equivalent circuit model of the integrated electromagnetic coupler is established, and the circuit model is simplified based on the circuit theory and mutual inductance coupling theory. The self-compensating characteristics of the coupler are utilized to analyze and design the relation between electrical parameters of the system, and the basic conditions of full resonance working of the system are given. The system’s performance is verified by simulation.
Research on Electric Vehicle Rollover Prevention System Based on Motor Speed Control
Authors: Dong Mengyuan , Fan Yuezhen , Yu Donglei , Wang Qingchun
Published: October 2021

Vehicle driving safety is an important performance indicator for vehicles, and there is still much room for development in the active safety control of electric vehicles. A vehicle rollover is an important road traffic safety problem, as rollover accidents cause serious casualties and huge economic losses. It is very easy for vehicles in high-speed sharp turns or high-speed overtaking to roll over; in order to improve the vehicle in these conditions with the anti-rollover stability, this study proposed a real-time motor control strategy, mainly through the acquisition of vehicle attitude data and the use of multi-sensor fusion on the vehicle running state for real time. The lateral load transfer rate was used as the vehicle rollover evaluation index, and the test results indicate that when the real-time rollover index exceeds the set limit safety threshold, the motor speed is reduced through active control so that the vehicle avoids rollover accidents, or the risk of rollover is reduced. The STM32F103RET6 was used as the main chip for hardware design, control board fabrication, control program software design, and joint testing of software and hardware. The tests and data analysis prove that the motor control strategy is reliable in real time and can significantly improve the active safety of electric vehicles.
A Multi-Particle Physics-Based Model of a Lithium-Ion Battery for Fast-Charging Control Application
Authors: Li Xiaoyu , Hua Wen , Tian Jindong , Tian Yong
Published: October 2021

The charging safety of electric vehicles is an area of focus in the electric automobile industry. For the purpose of ensuring safety, charging electric vehicles as soon as possible is a goal pursued by the public. In order to ensure the safety of electric vehicles during fast charging and to reduce the cycle life decay of the battery, a simplified multi-particle lithium-ion battery model is proposed, based on the pseudo two-dimensional (P2D) model. The model was developed by considering heterogeneous electrochemical reactions in the negative electrode area. The Butler–Volmer (BV) kinetic equation and the distribution of the pore wall flux in the negative electrode is approximated by the quasi-linear approximation method. Furthermore, this paper also analyzes the conditions of lithium precipitation from the negative electrode of a lithium-ion battery in the case of high charging rates, which has a certain reference significance for fast-charging control applications. The experimental and simulation results show that the model has a high simulation accuracy and can reflect the heterogeneity of electrochemical reactions in the negative electrode of the battery. The model can be adapted to fast-charging control applications.
When Gospels Collide
Authors: Price Robert M.
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this book is to show how fundamentalist attempts to harmonize and suppress contradictions between the four Gospels are misguided because they fail to see that most “contradictions” actually represent purposeful editorial changes of one Gospel by the writer of another. The successive evangelists were trying to make new and different points. There is nothing more pious than understanding the text.

Harmonization cheats readers of the Bible by preventing them from discerning the richness and variety of Gospel teachings. Harmonizers see themselves as champions of Scripture, but they are, ironically, suppressing a proper understanding of the very texts that they profess to honor and adore. To recognize the plurality of Gospel teachings allows readers to strip off the threadbare straitjacket that has long been imposed on the text by theologians, which then allows people to read the Gospels each on their own terms.

This book forces readers to ask: Do you love the Bible or your theology of the Bible?
A rare presentation of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm within an amyand’s hernia: a case report
Authors: Saim Hani Atiqah , Chik Ian , Jaafar Fahrol Fahmy , Zuhdi Zamri , Jarmin Razman , Azman Azlanudin
Published: October 2021

An Amyand’s hernia is characterised as the presence of the appendix in an inguinal hernial sac. During laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyps, an incidental Amyand’s hernia was discovered in a 75-year-old female patient. On examination, the hernia contained an appendiceal mucocele but no evidence of perforation. An open appendicectomy with tension-free mesh repair was performed for the hernia. The histopathological report of the appendix was a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN), an entity that is just as rare as an Amyand’s hernia. The patient had the right inguinal swelling for over 10 years but it was thought to be an inguinal intramuscular cyst as reported on a previous abdominal ultrasound. Mucocele of the appendix may have a benign or malignant appendiceal progress, leading to individualised diagnosis and treatment. We review an Amyand’s hernia with LAMN and discuss the asymptomatic tendency yet malignant potential of appendiceal mucoceles along with treatment strategies.
Effect of LiCoO2-Coated Cathode on Performance of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell
Authors: Kim Dohyeong , Kim Hyung Tae , Song Shin Ae , Kim Kiyoung , Lim Sung Nam , Woo Ju Young , Han Haksoo
Published: October 2021

Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) are environmentally friendly, large-capacity power generation devices operated at approximately 650°C. If MCFCs are to be commercialized by improving their competitiveness, their cell life should be increased by operating them at lower temperatures. However, a decrease in the operating temperature causes a reduction in the cell performance because of the reduction in the electrochemical reaction rate. The cell performance can be improved by introducing a coating on the cathode of the cell. A coating with a high surface area expands the triple phase boundaries (TPBs) where the gas and electrolyte meet on the electrode surface. And the expansion of TPBs enhances the oxygen reduction reaction of the cathode. Therefore, the cell performance can be improved by increasing the reaction area, which can be achieved by coating nanosized LiCoO2 particles on the cathode. However, although a coating improves the cell performance, a thick coating makes gas difficult to diffuse into the pore of the coating and thus reduces the cell performance. In addition, LiCoO2-coated cathode cell exhibits stable cell performance because the coating layer maintains a uniform thickness under MCFC operating conditions. Therefore, the performance and stability of MCFCs can be improved by applying a LiCoO2 coating with an appropriate thickness on the cathode.
Monitoring of the introduction of new key performance indicators of public administration bodies and development institutions into the practice of their functioning
Authors: Svirina Lyudmila Nikolaevna
Published: October 2021

The article tracks the results of the implementation of the key measures approved by the Government of the Russian Federation «Reforms of the state Apparatus 2021» in the direction of improving the efficiency of management, executive authorities and development institutions based on the introduction of key performance indicators (KPIs) for achieving the planned, strategic development goals of these organizations. Before the reform, many experts questioned the possibility of creating an effective working model with the widespread introduction and use of KPI tools in public administration bodies and development institutions due to the limited time lag and the difficulty of determining indicators that adequately reflect the target settings of the functioning of state structures. However, according to the results of monitoring at the moment, the author comes to the conclusion about the positive dynamics of this process, which is largely predetermined by the Government of the Russian Federation taking it under control.
ESSENCIALISMO E EXISTENCIALISMO: UM ESTUDO SOBRE A INFLUÊNCIA DAS CONCEPÇÕES NA EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA
Authors: Francioli Fátima Aparecida de Souza , Nunes Meire Aparecida Lóde , de Souza Thais Regina Ravazi , Thomé Tatiana Viaes
Published: October 2021

O objetivo desse trabalho está fundamentado na influência das concepções Pedagógicas, essencialista e existencialista, na Educação Física no que se refere a sua origem e utilização. Observa-se na atualidade, que existe um déficit de conhecimento em relação às pedagogias por parte dos Educadores Físicos, distanciando estes do conhecimento acerca do assunto em questão. Assim, propomos este estudo sobre as pedagogias do Essencialismo e o Existencialismo, por considerá-las parte do processo histórico e cultural do contexto educativo. Para a composição deste trabalho utilizaremos fontes e documentos a respeito do assunto que enriquecerão e darão base para as análises. Esperamos que o estudo seja de grande valia aos Educadores Físicos, profissionais que estudam a temática e a comunidade em geral, pois será desenvolvida na composição estruturante escolar identificando a influência e a correlação das concepções pedagógicas na formação da Educação a Física.
PENGGUNAAN GADGET BAGI KEHARMONISAN KELUARGA KRISTIANI DI STASI SANTO PAULUS SLOROK PAROKI SANTO YUSUF BLITAR
Authors: Yulida Louisa Sharon Ghea , Wijaya Albert I Ketut Deni
Published: October 2021

Gadgets are the fruit of technological developments that make communication easier. From several research results on family, it was found that gadgets have an impact on families. One of the impacts is the emergence of problems in harmony between family members. From this explanation, an idea emerged of how families use communication tools, gadgets and what are the impacts of using them. This study aims to explore how Christian families use gadgets for family harmony. This study uses a qualitative method. Data collection was carried out by interviewing techniques. This research was conducted at Stasi Santo Paulus Slorok, Parish of Santo Yusuf Blitar. Respondents of this study were 10 married couples. The results of the study show that today's families are accustomed to using gadgets and using them as a means of communication. The use of gadgets has a positive and negative impact on family life. The use of gadgets can have a positive impact if the gadgets are used wisely and responsibly. So that communication or relationships in the family and the surrounding environment are maintained. Likewise, the use of gadgets can also have a negative impact if not used wisely and responsibly.