bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards the Integration of Emerging Technologies as Support for the Teaching and Learning Model in Higher Education
Authors: Criollo-C Santiago , Govea Jaime , Játiva Washington , Pierrottet Jose , Guerrero-Arias Andrea , Jaramillo-Alcázar Ángel , Luján-Mora Sergio
Published: March 2023

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 impacted the entire world, but the significant challenges to be faced during this crisis opened an opportunity for organizations to evolve toward a digital transformation. Educational institutions were a concrete example of the use of technologies, which were abruptly incorporated into the teaching–learning model. Although this initiative was initially a challenge for teachers and students, it has now become a tool for new innovative teaching models, such as hybrid, online, and flexible models. The impact of technology used in education has been beneficial due to emerging technologies (virtual reality, augmented reality, games, web applications, mobile applications, etc.), which have served as tools to facilitate and motivate studying. These educational trends contribute directly to the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). This research analyzes whether the use of a web application, as a support in the educational model, can make students better understand the subjects of network infrastructure and be more efficient when configuring equipment in a data network. Therefore, this research is based on the design of an educational web application based on Python libraries, which allows the configuration of networking equipment based on the concept of network automation with the application of a graphical user interface (GUI). The web application can be deployed with communication equipment or in conjunction with the GNS3 simulator. This versatility allows this web tool to be applied to the teaching of network equipment configuration in any mode of study (classroom, online, hybrid, or flexible). The results obtained in this research are encouraging and open the way for the implementation of network automation and Python libraries for educational applications that can be important tools within the teaching and learning models of higher education.
Can Environmental Regulation Improve Labor Allocation Efficiency? Evidence from China’s New Environmental Protection Law
Authors: Gu Ran , He Zenghua
Published: March 2023

The environmental regulatory stringency and labor reallocation are two defining features in developing countries. This study empirically estimates the impact of environmental regulation on labor allocation efficiency. We adopt the implementation of New Environmental Protection Law (NEPL) as an exogenous shock on environmental regulation to carry out a quasi-natural experiment. We find that the increase in environmental regulatory stringency has a significant and positive impact on labor allocation efficiency. The impact is mainly driven by job transition from heavy polluting industries to non-heavy polluting industries. The heterogeneity analysis results show that NEPL promotes the allocation efficiency of economically developed cities, men, union members, and low- and middle-educated laborers. Our study provides empirical evidence for regionally differentiated environmental regulation policies.
Selenium and Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Improves Potato Root Function, Photosynthesis, Yield and Selenium Enrichment
Authors: Li Shengchun , Chen Huoyun , Jiang Shuochen , Hu Fengqin , Xing Danying , Du Bin
Published: March 2023

The application of selenium (Se) can promote the growth of potatoes and increase the Se content of potato tubers. Nitrogen (N) can promote nutrient absorption and potato yield. However, the effects of Se and N on the yield and Se content of potato tubers have not been reported. Field experiments were conducted in 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. Three N levels, i.e., 0 kg N ha−1 (N0), 150 kg N ha−1 (N1) and 200 kg N ha−1 (N2), and three Se levels, i.e., 0 g Se ha−1 (Se0), 500 g Se ha−1 (Se1) and 1000 g Se ha−1 (Se2), were set up. Potato yield, root dry weight, root activity, leaf area index (LAI), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, antioxidant enzyme activity and Se content were investigated. N application increased root dry weight and activity, LAI, antioxidant enzymes activities, Se content and decreased MDA content. Pn, total potato yield and commercial potato yield first increased and then decreased with the increase in N application level. Se application increased root activity, Pn, antioxidant enzyme activities, total yield, commercial potato yield, commercial potato rate, Se content and decreased MDA content. In general, compared with the single application, the combination of N and Se fertilizers further promoted the growth of potatoes, increased the yield of potatoes and the Se content of potato pieces.
An Empirical Study of Financial Efficiency and Stability of Shrimp–Mangrove Farming Model in Nam Dinh Province, Red River Delta, Vietnam
Authors: Mai Ngo Thanh , Huong Tran Thi Lan , Dat Tran Tho , Truong Dinh Duc
Published: March 2023

Shrimp–mangrove farming is a favorable production model suitable for the Red River Delta, Vietnam. This study was carried out in Nam Dinh province to evaluate the effectiveness and stability of the shrimp–mangrove farming model in the area. A participatory approach was carried out through surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews with 415 farming households in the Giao Thien and Giao An districts, the buffer zone of Xuan Thuy National Park, in 2022. We then used a cost–benefit analysis model to evaluate the financial performance and stability of the shrimp farming model. SWOT analysis was also used to identify opportunities and threats to this model. The research results showed that the shrimp–mangrove model has the advantages of low investment costs, diversified income sources, low risk, and environmental sustainability. However, the limitations of the model are low financial efficiency and not high stability. The main difficulties of the model are poor quality breeds, diseases, limited farming techniques of farmers, limited infrastructure system, the impacts of climate change, and low productivity. The study also proposes management implications to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of shrimp farming in the Red River Delta, Vietnam.
Can Business and Leisure Tourism Spending Lead to Lower Environmental Degradation Levels? Research on the Eurozone Economic Space
Authors: Halkos George , Ekonomou George
Published: March 2023

This study aims to investigate the impacts and identify the causal links between tourism expansion and the environment among countries of the Eurozone from 1996 to 2019 in the context of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). To achieve this end, we used a new set of untested tourism proxies when elaborating the EKC. We disaggregated the tourism phenomenon and highlighted its heterogenous nature by including specific and high-impact market segments such as business and leisure tourism spending as well as capital investment spending. The research findings indicate the pivotal role that tourism proxies have on environmental degradation in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Specifically, the identified reciprocal causalities between leisure and investment spending and environmental degradation suggest some complementarities between these variables. In the case of business tourism spending, an increase (decrease) in this variable leads to an increase (decrease) in environmental degradation. The last two feedback hypotheses indicate that the primary and final energy consumption Granger cause GHGs and vice versa. Such a result offers evidence for incorporating the concept of energy efficiency in tourism. Practical implications should motivate supply and demand dimensions within the tourism system to improve efficiency in tourism flow management. The supply side should transfer the environmental message to visitors to spend wisely and consume smarter, whereas the demand side should perform pro-environmental behavior by spending wisely and acting responsibly at destinations.
Impacts of Climate Change on Hydrological Regimes in the Congo River Basin
Authors: Karam Sara , Zango Baba-Serges , Seidou Ousmane , Perera Duminda , Nagabhatla Nidhi , Tshimanga Raphael M.
Published: March 2023

Surface water resources are essential for a wide range of human activities, such as municipal water supply, fishing, navigation, irrigation, and hydropower. Their regime is also linked to environmental sustainability, water-related risks, human health, and various ecosystem services. Global warming is expected to modify surface water availability, quality, and distribution and therefore affect water use productivity as well as the incidence of water-related risks. Thus, it is important for communities to plan and adapt to the potential impacts of climate change. The Congo River Basin, home to 75 million people, is subject to recurrent flood and drought events, which are expected to worsen as a result of climate change. This study aims to assess future modifications of the hydrological regime of the Congo River and the socio–economic impacts of these projected changes for three future periods: 2011–2041, 2041–2070, and 2071–2100. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model of the Congo River Basin was developed, calibrated, and validated using daily rainfall observations combined with daily time series of precipitation, temperatures, relative humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed derived from the WFDEI (Watch Forced Era Interim) reanalysis data set. The outputs of ten Regional Climate Models (RCMs) from the Coordinated Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX-AFRICA) were statistically downscaled to obtain future climate time series, considering two Representative Concentration Pathways: RCP8.5 and RCP4.5. The calibrated model was used to assess changes in streamflow in all reaches of the Congo River. Results suggest relative changes ranging from −31.8% to +9.2% under RCP4.5 and from −42.5% to +55.5% under RCP 8.5. Larger relative changes occur in the most upstream reaches of the network. Results also point to an overall decrease in discharge in the center and southern parts of the basin and increases in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the basin under both emission scenarios, with RCP8.5 leading to the most severe changes. River discharge is likely to decrease significantly, with potential consequences for agriculture, hydropower production, and water availability for human and ecological systems.
The Impact of Green M&A Listed Companies’ Size on the Rural Ecological Environment—Digitalization as Moderating Effect
Authors: Zhou Lingling , Li Wenqi , Teo Brian Sheng-Xian , Yusoff Siti Khalidah Md
Published: March 2023

In promoting high-quality economic development, environmental protection has become an essential responsibility for the sustainable development of listed companies. This research constructs and measures the level of rural ecological environment in China based on panel data on the rural ecological environment in Chinese inland provinces. Further, the impact of the size of green M&A listed companies on the rural ecological environment and its moderating effect is analyzed. This study uses the entropy method to measure the Rural Ecosystem Index (REI) and STATA software to conduct OLS, 2SLS, IV-GMM regressions, and regressions on moderating variables. This research aims to analyze the impact of listed companies on the environment and explore the role of the digitalization level’s moderating effect. The results show that the size of green M&A listed companies has a negative effect on the development of the rural ecological environment, and the digitalization level positively moderates the relationship between them. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) The average value of the rural ecological index for the 22 provinces in China ranged from 17.32 to 65.17. The index value is higher in the southeastern coastal region, with the highest values in Jiangsu, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces. (2) From 2010–2020, green M&A listed companies were divided into 14 sectors. The industries with the most extensive green M&A are the raw chemical, non-metallic, rubber, and plastic industries. (3) During 2010–2016, the quantity of green M&A listed companies in China showed an upward trend with prominent regional non-equilibrium characteristics, then gradually declined in 2017–2020. It shows that the number is higher in the eastern coastal areas and lower in the inland regions. (4) The size of green M&A listed companies has a negative impact on the rural ecological environment. This negative impact has prominent heterogeneous characteristics, and the higher the index of the rural ecological environment is, the more significant its negative impact is. (5) The digitalization level positively moderates the size of green M&A listed companies and the rural ecological environment. The positive influence of the size of green M&A listed companies on the development level of the rural ecological environment is more significant in the regions with a higher degree of rural digitalization. In other words, the increase in the level of rural digitalization can improve the negative effect of the size of green M&A listed companies on the ecological environment. Based on the above findings, this paper puts forward corresponding countermeasure suggestions.
Pedagogical Design in Technology-Enhanced Language Education Research: A Scoping Review
Authors: Liu Ting , Zhang Zhipeng , Gao Xuesong (Andy)
Published: March 2023

This scoping literature review aims to explore how language teachers incorporate technology into their teaching and learning experiences. It does this by reviewing studies related to language teachers’ technology use and applications of technology in technology-enhanced language education that were published between 2012 and 2022. By using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to analyze 51 empirical studies, this review categorizes and identifies 4 clusters of topics that these studies focused on: teachers’ perceptions, technological application practice and experience, technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), and teachers’ designing/developing scale for the promotion of language learning in pedagogical design in technology-enhanced language education research. The review concludes that researchers have mainly investigated language teachers’ perceptions and experience of technology-enhanced language education, not their pedagogical design processes. The results suggest that more studies are needed to explore the role of language teachers as pedagogical designers in technology-enhanced language education in order to integrate technology into language education and facilitate sustainable language teaching and learning.
Optimized Deep Learning with Learning without Forgetting (LwF) for Weather Classification for Sustainable Transportation and Traffic Safety
Authors: Dalal Surjeet , Seth Bijeta , Radulescu Magdalena , Cilan Teodor Florin , Serbanescu Luminita
Published: March 2023

Unfortunately, accidents caused by bad weather have regularly made headlines throughout history. Some of the more catastrophic events to recently make news include a plane crash, ship collision, railway derailment, and several vehicle accidents. The public’s attention has been directed to the severe issue of safety and security under extreme weather conditions, and many studies have been conducted to highlight the susceptibility of transportation services to environmental factors. An automated method of determining the weather’s state has gained importance with the development of new technologies and the rise of a new industry: intelligent transportation. Humans are well-suited for determining the temperature from a single photograph. Nevertheless, this is a more challenging problem for a fully autonomous system. The objective of this research is developing a good weather classifier that uses only a single image as input. To resolve quality-of-life challenges, we propose a modified deep-learning method to classify the weather condition. The proposed model is based on the Yolov5 model, which has been hyperparameter tuned with the Learning-without-Forgetting (LwF) approach. We took 1499 images from the Roboflow data repository and divided them into training, validation, and testing sets (70%, 20%, and 10%, respectively). The proposed model has gained 99.19% accuracy. The results demonstrated that the proposed model gained a much higher accuracy level in comparison with existing approaches. In the future, this proposed model may be implemented in real-time.
Perspective on Two Major Pandemics: Syphilis and COVID-19, a Scoping Review
Authors: Cunha-Oliveira Aliete , de Brito Pinto Talita Katiane , Pereira Afonso Mónica Raquel , de Almeida Peres Maria Angélica , Pina Queirós Paulo Joaquim , Santos Diana Gabriela , Gómez-Cantarino Maria Sagrario
Published: March 2023

The syphilis and COVID-19 pandemics have marked a turning point in the history of mankind. The aim of this review is to analyze what two pandemics caused by different diseases have in common. It is a scoping review made up of papers covering everything related to syphilis and COVID-19. The dialectical structural model of care (DSMC) is applied, focusing on three thematic plots that explain the historical and current context of the topic addressed. To this end, we compiled information from books, journals, and databases such as Cochrane, National Library of Spain, PubMed/Medline, Scielo, and Google Scholar. Syphilis is a bacterial disease transmitted sexually. COVID-19 is a viral infection transmitted by droplets. Despite their similarities and differences, both have triggered pandemics that have claimed the lives of thousands of people. Both still exist as active diseases. The origin of both remains a scientific enigma; many human and material resources have been devoted to tackling these two infections, and a wide range of drugs have been developed to combat them.
Structural Analysis of Self-Weight Loading Standing Trees to Determine Its Critical Buckling Height
Authors: Karlinasari Lina , Bahtiar Effendi Tri , Kadir Adhelya Suci Apriyanti , Adzkia Ulfa , Nugroho Naresworo , Siregar Iskandar Z.
Published: March 2023

A tree may receive compression and flexure combination, and the structural analysis governed by the building code may be capable of estimating the tree’s safety in the built environment. This study proposed to refer to the building code to check the tree dimension adequacy resisting the load. This study simplified the case by focusing only on the self-weight and ignoring the external loads; therefore, the buckling analysis of a slender tapered round column subjected to compression is advocated. Buckling occurs when the tree’s structure can no longer maintain its original shape. Euler and Ylinen’s buckling stress analysis (Method 1) calculated tree safety with a 95% confidence level. This study also applied the Greenhill formula (Method 2) to determine the critical height of a tree receiving the stem weight, then modified it to include the crown weight (Method 3). The three methods calculated the critical height to determine the safety factor (Sf), that is, the ratio of the actual tree height (H) to the 95% confidence level estimated critical height (Hcr). The safety factors were then categorized as unsafe (Sf < 1.00), safe (1.00 < Sf < 1.645), and very safe (1.645 < Sf). This study demonstrated that Method 1 is the most reliable and applicable among other methods. Method 1 resulted in no unsafe trees, 10 safe trees, and 13 very safe trees among the observed excurrent agathis (Agathis dammara). Meanwhile, among the decurrent rain trees (Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr), 5, 31, and 14 were unsafe, safe, and very safe, respectively.
Reliability Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Beams under Elevated Temperatures: A Probabilistic Approach Using Finite Element and Physical Models
Authors: Szép János , Habashneh Muayad , Lógó János , Movahedi Rad Majid
Published: March 2023

A novel computational model is proposed in this paper considering reliability analysis in the modelling of reinforced concrete beams at elevated temperatures, by assuming that concrete and steel materials have random mechanical properties in which those properties are treated as random variables following a normal distribution. Accordingly, the reliability index is successfully used as a constraint to restrain the modelling process. A concrete damage plasticity constitutive model is utilized in this paper for the numerical models, and it was validated according to those data which were gained from laboratory tests. Detailed comparisons between the models according to different temperatures in the case of deterministic designs are proposed to show the effect of increasing the temperature on the models. Other comparisons are proposed in the case of probabilistic designs to distinguish the difference between deterministic and reliability-based designs. The procedure of introducing the reliability analysis of the nonlinear problems is proposed by a nonlinear code considering different reliability index values for each temperature case. The results of the proposed work have efficiently shown how considering uncertainties and their related parameters plays a critical role in the modelling of reinforced concrete beams at elevated temperatures, especially in the case of high temperatures.
Sustainability of the Metaverse: A Transition to Industry 5.0
Authors: De Giovanni Pietro
Published: March 2023

This study analyzes the sustainability of the metaverse technology by adopting a responsible digitalization perspective to drive the transition to Industry 5.0. This is motivated by the current experiences of digital transformation paths, which appear careless regarding the side effects induced when adopting digital technologies—for example, the energy consumption associated with blockchain, the jobs lost due to 3D printing, and the continuous payments required by artificial intelligence systems. While very few sustainable solutions are currently available to properly address these issues, similar effects might materialize when adopting metaverse technology. Therefore, this study provides tools to undertake a responsible digital transformation path through the metaverse to properly manage the transition to Industry 5.0. Specifically, it offers a set of frameworks to analyze the metaverse either from the perspective of the triple bottom line or by adopting an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) perspective and linking it to the most impacted business strategies or by connecting the technology to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). These tools enable readers to understand how society at large can responsibly implement, adopt, and manage a metaverse. By utilizing these frameworks, businesses can identify the most impacted strategies and take action to address any potential negative impacts.
The Alien Invader, Rhus typhina L., Outperforms Its Native Competitor in the Scenario of Nitrogen Deposition and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Inoculation
Authors: Zhao Xianhui , Wang Tong , Li Yuwu , Li Mingyan , Huang Xuanrui
Published: March 2023

Nitrogen deposition has been proven to facilitate the establishment of alien plants. Previous studies have certified that nitrogen deposition enhances the resource availability of habitats and promotes the growth of alien invaders. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiose with vascular plants and assist plants in nutrient acquisition. AMF colonization has been proven to be another driving factor of plant invasion. However, few studies have integrated nitrogen deposition and AMF inoculation into the exploration on invasion mechanism. Based on a trait approach, the present study subjected the alien invader, Rhus typhina L., and its co-occurring native species, Acer truncatum Bunge, to nitrogen deposition and AMF inoculation and compared the phenotypic variation in aboveground and belowground traits in an inter-specific competition experiment. Through the effects of different nitrogen deposition and AMF infection on the functional traits of R. typhina and A. truncatum, the effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis between R. typhina and A. truncatum on abiotic factors and interspecific relationships were analyzed. We found that inter-specific competition stimulated the colonization of AMF in R. typhina, however, decreased the colonization rate of AMF in A. truncatum. Correspondingly, inter-specific competition significantly reduced the plant growth of A. truncatum as the aboveground morphological traits including plant height and crown area, and belowground traits including root length, root surface area, root volume, number of root tips, number of root tip branches and number of root cross decreased for A. truncatum. Nitrogen deposition promoted the shoot growth of R. typhina rather than that of A. truncatum. AMF inoculation significantly affected the belowground traits of A. truncatum as the root length and root surface area significantly decreased after AMF inoculation in the mixture planting of the two species. The chlorophyll content of A. truncatum decreased without AMF inoculation, while nitrogen deposition enhanced the net photosynthetic rate of R. typhina. The alien invader R. typhina outperforms its native competitor in the simulated scenario of resource fluctuation and facilitates its establishment. We speculate that AMF colonization promotes the extension of R. typhina rhizosphere and, thus, accelerates the growth and invasion of R. typhina.
The Impact of Fisheries on the Economy: A Systematic Review on the Application of General Equilibrium and Input–Output Methods
Authors: Akbari Negar , Failler Pierre , Pan Haoran , Drakeford Benjamin , Forse Andy
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a systematic literature review on the impact of fisheries on the economy and the application of the computable general equilibrium (CGE) and input–output (IO) methods for assessing this impact is conducted. The importance of fisheries as a food source, the over exploitation of this resource, and, consequently, the impact of fisheries on the economy are the motivations behind this study. By reviewing the applications of two of the most common economic modelling tools, we aim to shine light on the state of the art and how the impact of fisheries on the economy has been addressed in the literature. In this analysis, three main themes of socio-economic, ecological, and environmental have been identified, and the application of these methods in each theme has been considered. The results show that while IO methods continue to be applied in the literature, the CGE method has experienced increased application recently, and future applications are anticipated due to its enhanced capabilities in comparison with IO models.
Effects of Urea Application on Soil Organic Nitrogen Mineralization and Nitrogen Fertilizer Availability in a Rice–Broad Bean Rotation System
Authors: Liu Xinyan , Han Huanhao , Gu Shixiang , Gao Rong
Published: March 2023

Rice cultivation is facing a situation where rice production stagnates while nitrogen fertilizer (NF) application continues to increase. The effectiveness of the NF residues from the rice season on the growth of rotating broad beans is unclear. High NF use in rice cultivation also affects the nitrogen supply through soil organic nitrogen (SON) mineralization (SONM). However, the rules of SONM and the NF availability in the rice–broad bean rotation system (RBRS) are unknown. A field trial of the RBRS was conducted using 15N-labeled urea (CO(15NH2)2) as the partial NF source (15N accounted for 5.3% of the total pure nitrogen applied) for the rice and no NF for the broad bean. It was found that 33.0–38.1% of NF in the rice season was utilized. NF availability was low in the broad bean season (3.6–4.0%). SONM was the most important source, providing approximately 60% of the nitrogen for rice growth. The SONM into mineral nitrogen and the fixation of mineral nitrogen into SON occurred simultaneously, with SONM dominating in most cases. SON content decreased slowly in the rice season and dramatically in the broad bean’s podding stage with a 0.64 g kg−1 (24.1%) decrease. The high nitrogen application in rice season promoted SONM and aggravated groundwater pollution. Soil urease activity, rather than catalase, phosphatase, and invertase activities, can be the main monitoring object of SONM. Furthermore, fungal abundance (especially Aspergillaceae, Neuroceae, and unclassified_o__Helotiales), rather than bacteria, was the primary target for SONM monitoring. It is unreasonable to apply large amounts of NF in the rice season but not in the broad bean season in the RBRS. N1 (135 kg N ha−1) had the best comprehensive benefits regarding crop yield, nitrogen supply by SONM, NF utilization, and nitrogen loss on the environment in the RBRS.
CT Scan-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology for Lung Cancer Diagnosis through the COVID-19 Pandemic: What We Have Learned
Authors: Stella Giulia Maria , Chino Vittorio , Putignano Paola , Bertuccio Francesco , Agustoni Francesco , Saracino Laura , Tomaselli Stefano , Saddi Jessica , Piloni Davide , Bortolotto Chandra
Published: March 2023

Background and rationale. Novel coronavirus-related disease (COVID-19) has profoundly influenced hospital organization and structures worldwide. In Italy, the Lombardy Region, with almost 17% of the Italian population, rapidly became the most severely affected area since the pandemic beginning. The first and the following COVID-19 surges significantly affected lung cancer diagnosis and subsequent management. Much data have been already published regarding the therapeutic repercussions whereas very few reports have focused on the consequences of the pandemic on diagnostic procedures. Methods. We, here, would like to analyze data of novel lung cancer diagnosis performed in our Institution in Norther Italy where we faced the earliest and largest outbreaks of COVID-19 in Italy. Results. We discuss, in detail, the strategies developed to perform biopsies and the safe pathways created in emergency settings to protect lung cancer patients in subsequent therapeutic phases. Quite unexpectedly, no significant differences emerged between cases enrolled during the pandemic and those before, and the two populations were homogeneous considering the composition and diagnostic and complication rates. Conclusions. By pointing out the role of multidisciplinarity in emergency contexts, these data will be of help in the future for designing tailored strategies to manage lung cancer in a real-life setting.
Assessment of an Immuno-Diagnostic Method for Hookworm-Related Cutaneous Larva Migrans Using Crude Extracts of Ancylostoma caninum
Authors: Adam Sitthithana , Dekumyoy Paron , Nacapunchai Duangporn , Ketboonlue Thawatchai , Charunwatthana Prakaykaew , Dhitavat Jittima , Koompapong Khuanchai , Chonsawat Putza , Watthanakulpanich Dorn
Published: March 2023

People can become infected with cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) through skin penetration by the infective zoonotic larvae of hookworms. Few studies have investigated CLM’s immunodiagnosis, and the existing studies were limited to crude somatic or excretory/secretory antigens (Ags) from adult worms. Here, we aimed to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to differentiate and diagnose hwCLM by detecting immunoglobulin (Ig)E, IgG, and IgG subclasses 1–4 (IgG1–4) against the somatic Ag of adult Ancylostoma caninum checkerboard titrations of adult A. caninum worm extract. Pooled serum controls were immunocharacterized using an indirect ELISA. The IgG1–4 and IgE results were unsatisfactory; however, the use of total IgG achieved results comparable to those of immunoblotting. Thus, we continued to analyze the IgG-ELISA using serum samples from patients with hwCLM and heterologous infections as well as from healthy controls. The sensitivity and excellent specificity of the total IgG-ELISA were 93.75% and 98.37%, respectively, and its positive and negative predictive values were 75% and 99.67%, respectively. Antibodies from five cases of angiostrongyliasis, gnathostomiasis, and dirofilariasis cross-reacted with the somatic Ag of adult A. caninum. This new assay can adequately serodiagnose hwCLM when combined with clinical features and/or histological examination.
Developing Effective Project Management Strategy for Urban Flood Disaster Prevention Project in EDO State Capital, Nigeria
Authors: Ibeanu Chima , Ghadiri Nejad Mazyar , Ghasemi Matina
Published: March 2023

Emphasizing the need to provide a coordinated flood management strategy in the country and avoid acting in an isolated way when it occurs, improving the attitude of flood control during floods, and controlling floods with comprehensive analysis are among the main purposes of the current study. In this study, the environment’s physical, technological, social, economic, and political characteristics are considered to assess the urban flood risk. This study entails a discussion of flood hazard control in Benin City, the capital city of Edo State of Nigeria. The research methodology involves employing both interviews and questionnaire distribution. First, three key persons involved in flood control are interviewed at the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which coordinates disaster risk reduction in the state, and then, the responses are classified into themes that are used to prepare the questionnaire to be distributed in four main regions. The questionnaires are distributed to the employees in institutions concerned with flood control and to the general population living in the region. Based on the obtained results from the interviews, some methods that could be applicable in controlling flooding in the region are listed. The results showed that the most important ones are flood warning systems, flood prevention through using the building resilient infrastructure and community programs, protection and mitigation through using natural processes, and strategic implementation of a flood emergency plan through sustainability.
Antibody Response to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Nucleocapsid Proteins in Patients with Different COVID-19 Clinical Profiles
Authors: Soares Sinei Ramos , da Silva Torres Maria Karoliny , Lima Sandra Souza , de Sarges Kevin Matheus Lima , Santos Erika Ferreira dos , de Brito Mioni Thieli Figueiredo Magalhães , da Silva Andréa Luciana Soares , de Meira Leite Mauro , da Costa Flávia Póvoa , Cantanhede Marcos Henrique Damasceno , da Silva Rosilene , de Oliveira Lameira Veríssimo Adriana , Vallinoto Izaura Maria Vieira Cayres , Feitosa Rosimar Neris Martins , Quaresma Juarez Antônio Simões , Chaves Tânia do Socorro Souza , Viana Giselle Maria Rachid , Falcão Luiz Fábio Magno , Santos Eduardo José Melo dos , Vallinoto Antonio Carlos Rosário , da Silva Andréa Nazaré Monteiro Rangel
Published: March 2023

The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in Brazil was diagnosed on February 26, 2020. Due to the important epidemiological impact of COVID-19, the present study aimed to analyze the specificity of IgG antibody responses to the S1, S2 and N proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in different COVID-19 clinical profiles. This study enrolled 136 individuals who were diagnosed with or without COVID-19 based on clinical findings and laboratory results and classified as asymptomatic or as having mild, moderate or severe disease. Data collection was performed through a semistructured questionnaire to obtain demographic information and main clinical manifestations. IgG antibody responses to the S1 and S2 subunits of the spike (S) protein and the nucleocapsid (N) protein were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The results showed that among the participants, 87.5% (119/136) exhibited IgG responses to the S1 subunit and 88.25% (120/136) to N. Conversely, only 14.44% of the subjects (21/136) displayed S2 subunit responses. When analyzing the IgG antibody response while considering the different proteins of the virus, patients with severe disease had significantly higher antibody responses to N and S1 than asymptomatic individuals (p ≤ 0.0001), whereas most of the participants had low antibody titers against the S2 subunit. In addition, individuals with long COVID-19 showed a greater IgG response profile than those with symptomatology of a short duration. Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that levels of IgG antibodies may be related to the clinical evolution of COVID-19, with high levels of IgG antibodies against S1 and N in severe cases and in individuals with long COVID-19.
The Modulation of Immune Responses in Tilapinevirus tilapiae-Infected Fish Cells through MAPK/ERK Signalling
Authors: Lertwanakarn Tuchakorn , Khemthong Matepiya , Tattiyapong Puntanut , Surachetpong Win
Published: March 2023

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is a novel RNA virus that has been causing substantial economic losses across the global tilapia industry. Despite extensive research on potential vaccines and disease control methods, the understanding of this viral infection and the associated host cell responses remains incomplete. In this study, the involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway in the early stages of TiLV infection was investigated. The results showed a distinct pattern of ERK phosphorylation (p-ERK) upon TiLV infection in two fish cell lines, E-11 and TiB. Specifically, the p-ERK levels in the TiB cells decreased substantially, while the p-ERK levels in the E-11 cells remained constant. Interestingly, a large number of cytopathic effects were observed in the infected E-11 cells but none in the infected TiB cells. Furthermore, when p-ERK was suppressed using the inhibitor PD0325901, a significant reduction in the TiLV load and decrease in the mx and rsad2 gene expression levels were observed in the TiB cells in days 1–7 following infection. These findings highlight the role of the MAPK/ERK signalling pathway and provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms during TiLV infection that could be useful in developing new strategies to control this virus.
Molecular Modeling of Viral Type I Fusion Proteins: Inhibitors of Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin and the Spike Protein of Coronavirus
Authors: Borisevich Sophia S. , Zarubaev Vladimir V. , Shcherbakov Dmitriy N. , Yarovaya Olga I. , Salakhutdinov Nariman F.
Published: March 2023

The fusion of viral and cell membranes is one of the basic processes in the life cycles of viruses. A number of enveloped viruses confer fusion of the viral envelope and the cell membrane using surface viral fusion proteins. Their conformational rearrangements lead to the unification of lipid bilayers of cell membranes and viral envelopes and the formation of fusion pores through which the viral genome enters the cytoplasm of the cell. A deep understanding of all the stages of conformational transitions preceding the fusion of viral and cell membranes is necessary for the development of specific inhibitors of viral reproduction. This review systematizes knowledge about the results of molecular modeling aimed at finding and explaining the mechanisms of antiviral activity of entry inhibitors. The first section of this review describes types of viral fusion proteins and is followed by a comparison of the structural features of class I fusion proteins, namely influenza virus hemagglutinin and the S-protein of the human coronavirus.
Awareness and Knowledge of Pneumococcal Vaccination in Cardiology Outpatient Clinics and the Impact of Physicians’ Recommendations on Vaccination Rates
Authors: Ekin Tuba , Kış Mehmet , Güngören Fatih , Akhan Onur , Atıcı Adem , Kunak Ayşegül Ülgen , Mutlu Deniz , Katkat Fahrettin , Demir Mevlüt , Saraç İbrahim , Soydan Elton , Karabulut Dilay , Karaduman Medeni , Alp Çağlar , Bekar Lütfü , Böyük Ferit , Adıyaman Mehmet Şahin , Kaplan Mehmet , Zengin İsmet , Çalışkan Serhat , Kıvrak Tarık , Öz Ahmet , Eren Hayati , Bayrak Murat , Karabulut Umut , Öztaş Selvi , Düz Ramazan , Uluuysal Ömer , Balun Ahmet , Sağır Gurur Nar , Kudat Hasan , Pamukçu Hilal Erken , Abacıoğlu Özge Özcan , Göldağ Ömer Görkem , Özmen Çağlar , Günay Şeyda , Zoghi Mehdi , Ergene Asım Oktay
Published: March 2023

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the awareness of pneumococcal vaccination (PCV13, PPSV23) in general cardiology outpatient clinics and impact of physicians’ recommendations on vaccination rates. Methods: This was a multicenter, observational, prospective cohort study. Patients over the age of 18 from 40 hospitals in different regions of Turkey who applied to the cardiology outpatient clinic between September 2022 and August 2021 participated. The vaccination rates were calculated within three months of follow-up from the admitting of the patient to cardiology clinics. Results: The 403 (18.2%) patients with previous pneumococcal vaccination were excluded from the study. The mean age of study population (n = 1808) was 61.9 ± 12.1 years and 55.4% were male. The 58.7% had coronary artery disease, hypertension (74.1%) was the most common risk factor, and 32.7% of the patients had never been vaccinated although they had information about vaccination before. The main differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients were related to education level and ejection fraction. The physicians’ recommendations were positively correlated with vaccination intention and behavior in our participants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant correlation between vaccination and female sex [OR = 1.55 (95% CI = 1.25–1.92), p < 0.001], higher education level [OR = 1.49 (95% CI = 1.15–1.92), p = 0.002] patients’ knowledge [OR = 1.93 (95% CI = 1.56–2.40), p < 0.001], and their physician’s recommendation [OR = 5.12 (95% CI = 1.92–13.68), p = 0.001]. Conclusion: To increase adult immunization rates, especially among those with or at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is essential to understand each of these factors. Even if during COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased awareness about vaccination, the vaccine acceptance level is not enough, still. Further studies and interventions are needed to improve public vaccination rates.
Theoretical Analysis of an Integrated, CPVT Membrane Distillation System for Cooling, Heating, Power and Seawater Desalination
Authors: Anazi Abeer Abdullah Al , Alghamdi Mohammed I. , Chammam Abdeljelil , Kadhm Mustafa Salam , Al-Kharsan Ibrahim H. , Alayi Reza
Published: March 2023

Compared to a photovoltaic array, a photovoltaic/thermal concentrator module can produce thermal power for various productions in downstream cycles in addition to electrical energy. In this study, the system for the combined production of electricity, heat and cooling based on a photovoltaic/thermal concentrator has been evaluated. In this triple production system, a lithium bromide-water absorption chiller with a cooling capacity of 5 kW was used. In the organic Rankine power generation cycle, the annual exergy rate of the incoming stream was almost 48 MWh, the annual production exergy rate was about 54.4 MWh and the annual exergy destruction rate was ~43.1 MWh. According to the results, the freshwater production rate of the desalination plant was approximately 56.7 m3/year; the lowest month was 3.8 m3 in November.
Oil–Water Separation on Hydrophobic and Superhydrophobic Membranes Made of Stainless Steel Meshes with Fluoropolymer Coatings
Authors: Melnik Alexandra , Bogoslovtseva Alena , Petrova Anna , Safonov Alexey , Markides Christos N.
Published: March 2023

In this work, membranes were synthesized by depositing fluoropolymer coatings onto metal meshes using the hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HW CVD) method. By changing the deposition parameters, membranes with different wetting angles were obtained, with water contact angles for different membranes over a range from 130° ± 5° to 170° ± 2° and a constant oil contact angle of about 80° ± 2°. These membranes were used for the separation of an oil–water emulsion in a simple filtration test. The main parameters affecting the separation efficiency and the optimal separation mode were determined. The results reveal the effectiveness of the use of the membranes for the separation of emulsions of water and commercial crude oil, with separation efficiency values that can reach over 99%. The membranes are most efficient when separating emulsions with a water concentration of less than 5%. The pore size of the membrane significantly affects the rate and efficiency of separation. Pore sizes in the range from 40 to 200 µm are investigated. The smaller the pore size of the membranes, the higher the separation efficiency. The work is of great economic and practical importance for improving the efficiency of the membrane separation of oil–water emulsions. It lays the foundation for future research on the use of hydrophobic membranes for the separation of various emulsions of water and oil products (diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene, etc.).
Viabilidade e conservação de grãos de pólen da carnaúba (Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H.E. More)
Authors: Lucas Bezerra Rocha Emanuel , Silva Cássia , Carolina de Carvalho Ana , Tavares de Farias Daniel , Coqueiro Dias Araujo Poliana
Published: March 2023

Objetivou-se com o presente estudo estabelecer uma metodologia para a conservação de grãos de pólen da Carnaúba (Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H.E. More). A viabilidade dos grãos de pólen, recém-liberados, foi avaliada pelas técnicas de coloração por carmim acético 1%, Reativo de Alexander e lugol. A taxa de germinação in vitro foi verificada através de três meios de cultura: M1: 100g L-1 de sacarose; 10g L-1 de ágar; M2: 100g L-1 de sacarose; 500mg L-1 de H3BO3; 10g L-1 de ágar; M3: 100g L-1 de sacarose; 300mg L-1 de CaCl2; 10g L-1 de ágar. A influência da redução do teor de água dos grãos de pólen foi verificada por meio de quatro processos: 1) em dessecador com sílica gel, sob vácuo, por 24 h; 2) em liofilizador por 24h; 3) cloreto de cálcio dihidratado (CaCl2 2H2O) e 4) pólen sem redução de umidade. Os grãos de pólen com melhor resposta à dissecação foram armazenados: congelador (-4°C), geladeira (10°C), e temperatura ambiente (26°C). Todos os corantes utilizados são adequados e práticos para analisar a viabilidade polínica dos grãos de pólen da Carnaúba. O meio de cultura adequado para avaliar a viabilidade polínica da Carnaúba contém em sua composição sacarose e ácido bórico. O armazenamento do grão de pólen da carnaúba pode ser realizado nas temperaturas de 10°C e -4°C.
Pengembangan Media Video Animasi Pembelajaran Berbasis Powtoon Pada Mata Pelajaran Geografi Materi Mitigasi Bencana Alam
Authors: Hidayat Usep , Lihawa Fitryane , Rusiyah Rusiyah
Published: March 2023

This study aims to develop Powtoon-based learning animation video media in geography subjects, especially natural disaster mitigation materials. The research method is Research and development (RD). Data collection methods are observation, interviews, questionnaires, and documentation. The instrument used is a questionnaire. The validation of the developed media product was carried out through three stages: expert validation, limited trial, and general trial. Expert validation was carried out by media experts, materials experts, and geography teachers. The limited trial was conducted on 26 class XI students at SMA Negeri 1 Suwawa Timur totaling 26 people. The general trial was conducted on 133 students in Tapa High School and Suwawa High School, Bone Bolango Regency. The results of the material expert validation obtained a value of 78.18%, with the level of validity being included in a very valid qualification. The results of the validation by media experts obtained a value of 90%, with the level of validity being included in a very valid qualification. The results of the validation by the geography teacher obtained a value of 90% with the validity level of entering a very valid qualification. The results of the limited trial obtained a value of 90.96% (valid). The results of the general scale trial obtained a value of 91.48% (valid). Thus, Powtoon-based learning animation video media on geography subjects and natural disaster mitigation materials can be used as learning media in schools and get a very good response from students.