bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uncovering the Spatiotemporal Patterns of Regional and Local Driver Sources in a Freeway Network
Authors: Wang Pu , Wang Bin , Ke Rihong , Yang Hu , Li Shengnan , Dai Jianjun
Published: April 2024

We propose a method to identify the congestion driver sources contributing to the major traffic congestion of a regional (Hunan province) freeway network. The results indicate that the congestion driver sources are mostly observed during heavy traffic periods and mainly distributed in the regions surrounding Changsha (the capital of Hunan province) and the regions adjacent to other provinces and freeway interconnecting hubs. Moreover, we develop a method to analyze the major driver sources of a local freeway section. Using the method, the trips affected by traffic accidents or road maintenance works can be identified well. Our findings and the proposed methods could facilitate the deployment of effective traffic control countermeasures and the development of sustainable regional transportation.
Iterative Investigation of Wind Environments Influenced by Bulge-Part Geometries of Typical T-Form High-Rise Buildings Using Parametric Modelling, CFD and IAs Analysis
Authors: Guo Han , Liu Yawen , He Yi
Published: April 2024

Although T-form buildings have been widely observed in newly constructed high-rise residential communities, there have been relatively limited investigations into the influence of their geometries on wind environments. This study aims to address this gap by conducting iterative quantitative assessments of the influences of various bulge-part sizes of typical T-form high-rise residential buildings on surrounding wind environments. A methodology has been employed by integrating multiple computational tools, including parametric modeling, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Influenced Areas (IAs) analysis. Representative T-form buildings have been modeled with parametric components, allowing for easy variation of bulge-part sizes. The investigation process involves sequential steps of parametric modeling, experimentally validated CFD simulations, statistical assessment, and subsequent results analysis and discussions. Findings could be summarized as follows: (1) according to IAs analysis, the influences on wind environments were decreased as the bulge-part sizes were increased, and the decrease of the bulge-part sizes could cause the contrary effect; (2) the promotion of outdoor ventilation caused by the increase of the bulge-part length was more than the increase of the bulge-part width according to the correlation coefficients (0.88 > 0.78; 0.88 > 0.76); (3) it was recommended to design relatively large bulge parts on the windward side to enhance outdoor ventilation. The research outcomes provide valuable and insightful information for the development of sustainable architectural design strategies aimed at optimizing natural ventilation.
Sustainability Assessment of Araucaria Forest Remnants in Southern Brazil: Insights from Traditional Forest Inventory Surveys
Authors: Hess André Felipe , Demétrio Laryssa , de Sousa Alex Nascimento , Costa Emanuel Arnoni , Liesenberg Veraldo , Biffi Leonardo Josoé , Finger César Augusto Guimarães , Borsoi Geedre Adriano , Stepka Thiago Floriani , Ransoni José Guilherme Raitz de Lima , Silva Elton Ivo Moura da , Ferreira Maria Beatriz , Bispo Polyanna da Conceição
Published: April 2024

Precise estimates of dendrometric and morphometric variables are indispensable for effective forest resource conservation and sustainable utilization. This study focuses on modeling the relationships between shape (morphometric), dimension (dendrometric) and density (N) to assess the sustainability of forest resources. It sheds light on the current state of site characteristics, reproduction, and the structure of Araucaria angustifolia trees at selected forest remnants across multiple sites in Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. Individual trees and their dendrometric variables, such as the diameter at breast height (d), height (h), crown base height (cbh), annual periodic increment (API) in growth rings, and morphometric variables, including four radii of the crown in cardinal directions, were evaluated. These measurements allowed us to calculate various morphometric indices and crown efficiency, enabling the assessment of both vertical and horizontal structural conditions. Statistical analysis confirmed a positive relationship of the crown volume (cv) and crown surface area (csa) with the crown length (cl). Conversely, the crown efficiency, density, increment rate, and reproductive structure production declined. These morphometric relationships emphasize the complex dynamics within these forest ecosystems, irrespective of the chosen site, indicating that horizontal and vertical forest structures have stagnated and have been characterized by limited change in the last ten years. Such results raise concerns about sustainability, highlighting the need for proper conservation measures and sustainable forest management practices. Our findings underscore the need for substantial adjustments in the structure and dynamics of the forest, particularly on selected rural properties where this tree species is abundant, to ensure long-term sustainability.
Identification of Perceived Challenges in the Green Energy Transition by Turkish Society through Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Bilgin Ugur , Soner Kara Selin
Published: April 2024

Green energy refers to energy derived from renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass, which are environmentally sustainable. It aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate environmental impacts. In the Turkish context, alongside positive sentiments regarding the establishment of energy plants, there are also prevalent negative perspectives. Societal responses to the transition towards green energy can be effectively gauged through the analysis of individual comments. However, manually examining thousands of comments is both time-consuming and impractical. To address this challenge, this study proposes the integration of the Transformer method, a Natural Language Processing (NLP) technique. This study presents a defined NLP procedure that utilizes a multi-labeled NLP model, with a particular emphasis on the analysis of comments on social media classified as “dirty text”. The primary objective of this investigation is to ascertain the evolving perception of Turkish society regarding the transition to green energy over time and to conduct a comprehensive analysis utilizing NLP. The study utilizes a dataset that is multi-labeled, wherein emotions are not equally represented and each dataset may contain multiple emotions. Consequently, the measured accuracy rates for the risk, environment, and cost labels are, respectively, 0.950, 0.924, and 0.913, whereas the ROC AUC scores are 0.896, 0.902, and 0.923. The obtained results indicate that the developed model yielded successful outcomes. This study aims to develop a forecasting model tailored to green energy to analyze the current situation and monitor societal behavior dynamically. The central focus is on determining the reactions of Turkish society during the transition to green energy. The insights derived from the study aim to guide decision-makers in formulating policies for the transition. The research concludes with policy recommendations based on the model outputs, providing valuable insights for decision-makers in the context of the green energy transition.
Government Subsidies, Green Innovation, and Firm Total Factor Productivity of Listed Artificial Intelligence Firms in China
Authors: Zhang Guangwei , Shi Yahan , Huang Nuozhou
Published: April 2024

The world is being reshaped under global economic development driven by new advances in information technology. Artificial intelligence, an essential potential technology, will play a vital role in technological change and industrial upgrades. Exploring the relationship between government subsidies, green innovation, and total factor productivity will help us analyze government decisions’ effects and better promote artificial intelligence’s technological innovation process. Based on data from China’s listed artificial intelligence companies from 2011 to 2020, this study uses the Levinsohn–Petrin method to measure the total factor productivity of companies and analyzes the impact of government subsidies on the total factor productivity of AI companies, the mediating effect of green innovation, and the moderating effect of intellectual property protection intensity. The research results show that (1) government subsidies can promote the total factor productivity of AI enterprises; (2) green innovation capabilities play a mediating role between government subsidies and enterprise total factor productivity, and government subsidies can indirectly promote green innovation to promote the improvement of total factor productivity effectively; (3) in the AI industry, the promotion effect of government subsidies on total factor productivity is more significant among state-owned enterprises, while the impact mechanism of government subsidies on private enterprises is not significant; and (4) the intensity of intellectual property protection has played a positive moderating role in the impact of government subsidies for artificial intelligence enterprises on total factor productivity. However, the current intensity of intellectual property protection remains unable to promote improvements in enterprise total factor productivity by stimulating green innovation. The research results will help us better understand the relationship between government subsidies and the development of corporate economic benefits and promote more scientific and effective government decision-making.
From Oasis to Desert: The Struggle of Urban Green Spaces Amid Heatwaves and Water Scarcity
Authors: Scharfstädt Lennart , Schöneberger Peer , Simon Helge , Sinsel Tim , Nahtz Tim , Bruse Michael
Published: April 2024

In the summer of 2022, an intense heatwave swept through Northern Europe, with London bearing a significant impact. While nature-based solutions are often considered to be ideal responses to such heatwaves, experiences from the 2022 heatwave and others revealed potential drawbacks, particularly for urban green spaces. Prolonged dry spells, frequently accompanying heatwaves, result in excessively dry soil and the subsequent decline of vegetation in large parks. In the present study, microclimate simulations were conducted for Hyde Park in London, a location that experienced such drought during the 2022 heatwave, to examine its microclimatic performance in terms of thermal comfort and tree health. In alignment with the observations, ENVI-met could replicate the lack of noticeable cooling effects during the daytime and only marginal cooling during the nighttime. To address these challenges, mitigation scenarios were explored, incorporating heat mitigation measures such as part-time irrigation, temporary sun sails, and façade greenery. The findings demonstrated that implementing these measures could reduce heat stress by up to 13 K PET (physiologically equivalent temperature). These practical solutions emerged as effective remedies for mitigating the impact of heatwaves on urban green spaces and, hence, improving future urban development overall.
Exploring Tourists’ Preferences for Bike-Sharing Services in the Context of Tourism
Authors: Tru Vu Ngoc , Ngoc An Minh
Published: April 2024

This study explores tourists’ preferences for bike-sharing services in the context of tourism. Based on a sample of 800 individuals who visited Da Nang, Vietnam between July and August 2023, a latent class behavior model was developed to investigate preferences for bike-sharing services from tourists’ point of view. The results show that tourists prefer a bike-sharing service that ensures round-the-clock availability, is accessible within a 5-min walk from both the origin and destination, features bikes stationed at specific designated locations, and provides a variety of payment options at an affordable rate of USD 1.00 per h. Under these attributes, about 41.63% of tourists are likely to choose a bike-sharing option for their travel tours. These findings offer valuable insights for traffic management authorities and policymakers, demonstrating that bike-sharing services can be hailed as an effective complement to existing transportation modes and can help bridge the gap between supply and demand in tourist cities.
Influence of the Symmetry Neural Network Morphology on the Mine Detection Metric
Authors: Peleshchak Roman Mykhailovych , Lytvyn Vasyl Volodymyrovych , Nazarkevych Mariia Andriivna , Peleshchak Ivan Romanovych , Nazarkevych Hanna Yaroslavivna
Published: April 2024

Presently, active detectors are widely used to detect mines, providing high accuracy. However, the principle of the operation of active detectors can lead to the explosion of hidden mines. The novelty of this work is the development of the morphology of a neural network for the classification of mines made of different materials (metallic, semi-metallic, plastic) with high accuracy (99.23%), based on a vector of input features with the following components: the value of the output voltage of the FLC-100 magnetic field sensor, which measures magnetic field anomalies in the vicinity of mines with an accuracy of 10−10–10−4 Tesla; six different soil types, depending on the humidity; and the height at which the magnetic field sensor is located above the mine. Due to the fact that mines, when made of different materials (metallic, semi-metallic, plastic), have different magnetic properties, the neural network method of mine classification, based on the sensor data regarding anomalies of the magnetic field in the vicinity of mines, allows the classification of mines made of different materials. The accuracy of mine classification was assessed with two-layer and three-layer neural networks on various metrics (confusion matrix, ROC curves, accuracy–loss curves), using ADAM, RMSprop, and SGD optimisers, and analyses and comparisons were then carried out. The impact of asymmetry in the neuron number and the types of activation functions in the first and second hidden layers on the values of the accuracy and loss metrics was studied. In particular, it was established that the asymmetry of the number of neurons in the first and second hidden layers relative to the plane of symmetry between the hidden layers has a significant effect on the accuracy of the model (decrease in accuracy by 25%), while the loss function, when the symmetry of the neurons number in the hidden layers is violated, increases to a maximum of 50%.
Cascading Failure Modeling for Circuit Systems Considering Continuous Degradation and Random Shocks Using an Impedance Network
Authors: Jin Yi , Zhang Qingyuan
Published: April 2024

The reliability of circuit systems is primarily affected by cascading failures due to their complex structural and functional coupling. Causes of cascading failure during circuit operation include the continuous degradation process of components and external random shocks. Circuit systems can exhibit asymmetric structural changes and functional loss during cascading failure propagation due to the coupling of degradation and shock and their uncertainty effects. To tackle this issue, this paper abstracts the circuit into an impedance network and constructs a component failure behavior model that considers the correlation between degradation and shock. The interactions between soft and hard failure processes among different components are discussed. Two types of cascading failure propagation processes are described: slow propagation associated with continuous degradation and damage shock, and fast propagation due to fatal shock. Based on this, a cascading failure simulation algorithm is developed. This article presents a case study to demonstrate the proposed models and to analyze the reliability of a typical circuit system.
Controlled State Transfer in Central Spin Models
Authors: Khurshudyan Martiros
Published: April 2024

In the recent literature, various aspects of the transfer of quantum states by spin chains have been thoroughly investigated. Part of the existing study is devoted to the problem of optimal control, with the goal of achieving a highly reliable information/state transfer for a given time T. In general, achieving this goal is not an easy task in the case of (open) quantum systems. Various approaches have been developed and applied, including Krotov’s method to study the problem. It is a gradient-based method used here to study the problem of state transfer control in central spin models. Our results show that with Krotov’s method, it is possible to find an optimal control form that allows for very-high-fidelity state transfer in the central spin models we have developed. Our results will be of interest for a better understanding of the non-trivial effects of the classical world on the quantum world, which have been discussed in the form of various new effects, including the Epstein effect, in the recent literature.
Bootstrap Method of Eco-Efficiency in the Brazilian Agricultural Industry
Authors: Marques Serrano André Luiz , Saiki Gabriela Mayumi , Rosano-Penã Carlos , Rodrigues Gabriel Arquelau Pimenta , Albuquerque Robson de Oliveira , García Villalba Luis Javier
Published: April 2024

With the economic growth of the Brazilian agroindustry, it is necessary to evaluate the efficiency of this activity in relation to environmental demands for the country’s economic, social, and sustainable development. Within this perspective, the present research aims to examine the eco-efficiency of agricultural production in Brazilian regions, covering 5563 municipalities in the north, northeast, center-west, southeast, and south regions, using data from 2016–2017. In this sense, this study uses the DEA methods (classical and stochastic) and the computational bootstrap method to remove outliers and measure eco-efficiency. The findings lead to two fundamental conclusions: first, by emulating the benchmarks, it is feasible to increase annual revenue and preserved areas to an aggregated regional level by 20.84% while maintaining the same inputs. Given that no municipality has reached an eco-efficiency value equal to 1, there is room for optimization and improvement of production and greater sustainable development of the municipalities. Secondly, climatic factors notably influence eco-efficiency scores, suggesting that increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation can positively impact eco-efficiency in the region. These conclusions, dependent on regional characteristics, offer valuable information for policymakers to design strategies that balance economic growth and environmental preservation. Furthermore, adaptive policies and measures can be implemented to increase the resilience of local producers and reduce vulnerability to changing climate conditions.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a Novel Cycloid-Type Rotor versus S-Type Rotor for Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine
Authors: González-Durán José Eli Eduardo , Olivares-Ramírez Juan Manuel , Luján-Vega María Angélica , Soto-Osornio Juan Emigdio , García-Guendulain Juan Manuel , Rodriguez-Resendiz Juvenal
Published: April 2024

The performance of a new vertical-axis wind turbine rotor based on the mathematical equation of the cycloid is analyzed and compared through simulation and experimental testing against a semicircular or S-type rotor, which is widely used. The study examines three cases: equalizing the diameter, chord length and the area under the curve. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate these cases and evaluate moment, angular velocity and power. Experimental validation was carried out in a wind tunnel that was designed and optimized with the support of CFD. The rotors for all three cases were 3D printed in resin to analyze their experimental performance as a function of wind speed. The moment and Maximum Power Point (MPP) were determined in each case. The simulation results indicate that the cycloid-type rotor outperforms the semicircular or S-type rotor by 15%. Additionally, experimental evidence confirms that the cycloid-type rotor performs better in all three cases. In the MPP analysis, the cycloid-type rotor achieved an efficiency of 10.8% which was 38% better than the S-type rotor.
Spatiotemporal Gradients of PAH Concentrations in Greek Cities and Associated Exposure Impacts
Authors: Tsiodra Irini , Tavernaraki Kalliopi , Grivas Georgios , Parinos Constantine , Papoutsidaki Kyriaki , Paraskevopoulou Despina , Liakakou Eleni , Gogou Alexandra , Bougiatioti Aikaterini , Gerasopoulos Evangelos , Kanakidou Maria , Mihalopoulos Nikolaos
Published: April 2024

To study the spatiotemporal variability of particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and assess their carcinogenic potential in six contrasting urban environments in Greece, a total of 305 filter samples were collected and analyzed. Sampling sites included a variety of urban background, traffic (Athens, Ioannina and Heraklion), rural (Xanthi) and near-port locations (Piraeus and Volos). When considering the sum of 16 U.S. EPA priority PAHs, as well as that of the six EU-proposed members, average concentrations observed across locations during summer varied moderately (0.4–2.2 ng m−3) and independently of the population of each site, with the highest values observed in the areas of Piraeus and Volos that are affected by port and industrial activities. Winter levels were significantly higher and more spatially variable compared to summer, with the seasonal enhancement ranging from 7 times in Piraeus to 98 times in Ioannina, indicating the large impact of PAH emissions from residential wood burning. Regarding benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), an IARC Group 1 carcinogen and the only EU-regulated PAH, the winter/summer ratios were 24–33 in Athens, Volos, Heraklion and Xanthi; 60 in Piraeus; and 480 in Ioannina, which is afflicted by severe wood-burning pollution events. An excellent correlation was observed between organic carbon (OC) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) during the cold period at all urban sites (r2 > 0.8) with stable BaP/OC slopes (0.09–0.14 × 10−3), highlighting the potential use of OC as a proxy for the estimation of BaP in winter conditions. The identified spatiotemporal contrasts, which were explored for the first time for PAHs at such a scale in the Eastern Mediterranean, provide important insights into sources and controlling atmospheric conditions and reveal large deviations in exposure risks among cities that raise the issue of environmental injustice on a national level.
Innovation of BiOBr/BiOI@Bi5O7I Ternary Heterojunction for Catalytic Degradation of Sodium P-Perfluorous Nonenoxybenzenesulfonate
Authors: Xu Tao , Liu Yang , You Tie-Qing , Bao Jia
Published: April 2024

As an alternative for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), sodium p-perfluorononyloxybenzene sulfonate (OBS) has been widely used in petroleum, fire-fighting materials, and other industries. In order to efficiently and economically remove OBS contaminations from water bodies, in this study, a ternary heterojunction was constructed by coupling BiOBr and BiOI@Bi5O7I for improving the redox capacity and carrier separation ability of the material and investigating the effect of the doping ratios of BiOBr and BiOI@ Bi5O7I on the performance of the catalysts. Furthermore, the effects on the degradation of OBS were also explored by adjusting different catalyst doping ratios, OBS concentrations, catalyst amounts, and pH values. It was observed that when the concentration of OBS was 50 mg/L, the amount of catalyst used was 0.5 g/L, and the pH was not changed. The application of BiOBr/BiOI@ Bi5O7I consisting of 25% BiOBr and 75% BiOI@ Bi5O7I showed excellent stability and adsorption degradation performance for OBS, and almost all of the OBS in the aqueous solution could be removed. The removal rate of OBS by BiOBr/BiOI@ Bi5O7I was more than 20% higher than that of OBS by BiOI@Bi5O7I and BiOBr when the OBS concentration was 100 mg/L. In addition, the reaction rate constants of BiOBr/BiOI@ Bi5O7I were 2.4 and 10.8 times higher than those of BiOI@ Bi5O7I and BiOBr, respectively. Therefore, the BiOBr/BiOI@ Bi5O7I ternary heterojunction can be a novel type of heterojunction for the efficient degradation of OBS in water bodies.
Linear Stability Analysis of Relativistic Magnetized Jets: The Minimalist Approach
Authors: Vlahakis Nektarios
Published: April 2024

A minimalist approach to the linear stability problem in fluid dynamics is developed that ensures efficiency by utilizing only the essential elements required to find the eigenvalues for given boundary conditions. It is shown that the problem is equivalent to a single first-order ordinary differential equation, and that studying the argument of the unknown complex function in the eigenvalue space is sufficient to find the dispersion relation. The method is applied to a model for relativistic magnetized astrophysical jets.
Antibodies Induced by Smallpox Vaccination after at Least 45 Years Cross-React with and In Vitro Neutralize Mpox Virus: A Role for Polyclonal B Cell Activation?
Authors: Mariotti Sabrina , Venturi Giulietta , Chiantore Maria Vincenza , Teloni Raffaela , De Santis Riccardo , Amendola Antonello , Fortuna Claudia , Marsili Giulia , Grilli Giorgia , Lia Maria Stella , Kiros Seble Tekle , Lagi Filippo , Bartoloni Alessandro , Iacobino Angelo , Cresta Raffaele , Lastilla Marco , Biselli Roberto , Di Bonito Paola , Lista Florigio , Nisini Roberto
Published: April 2024

Aims: To evaluate whether antibodies specific for the vaccinia virus (VV) are still detectable after at least 45 years from immunization. To confirm that VV-specific antibodies are endowed with the capacity to neutralize Mpox virus (MPXV) in vitro. To test a possible role of polyclonal non-specific activation in the maintenance of immunologic memory. Methods: Sera were collected from the following groups: smallpox-vaccinated individuals with or without latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), unvaccinated donors, and convalescent individuals after MPXV infection. Supernatant of VV- or MPXV-infected Vero cells were inactivated and used as antigens in ELISA or in Western blot (WB) analyses. An MPXV plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was optimized and performed on study samples. VV- and PPD-specific memory T cells were measured by flow cytometry. Results: None of the smallpox unvaccinated donors tested positive in ELISA or WB analysis and their sera were unable to neutralize MPXV in vitro. Sera from all the individuals convalescing from an MPXV infection tested positive for anti-VV or MPXV IgG with high titers and showed MPXV in vitro neutralization capacity. Sera from most of the vaccinated individuals showed IgG anti-VV and anti-MPXV at high titers. WB analyses showed that positive sera from vaccinated or convalescent individuals recognized both VV and MPXV antigens. Higher VV-specific IgG titer and specific T cells were observed in LTBI individuals. Conclusions: ELISA and WB performed using supernatant of VV- or MPXV-infected cells are suitable to identify individuals vaccinated against smallpox at more than 45 years from immunization and individuals convalescing from a recent MPXV infection. ELISA and WB results show a good correlation with PRNT. Data confirm that a smallpox vaccination induces a long-lasting memory in terms of specific IgG and that antibodies raised against VV may neutralize MPXV in vitro. Finally, higher titers of VV-specific antibodies and higher frequency of VV-specific memory T cells in LTBI individuals suggest a role of polyclonal non-specific activation in the maintenance of immunologic memory.
Spatial Transmission Characteristics of the Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 Epidemic in The Netherlands, 2023
Authors: Boender Gert-Jan , Hagenaars Thomas J. , Holwerda Melle , Spierenburg Marcel A. H. , van Rijn Piet A. , van der Spek Arco N. , Elbers Armin R. W.
Published: April 2024

A devastating bluetongue (BT) epidemic caused by bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) has spread throughout most of the Netherlands within two months since the first infection was officially confirmed in the beginning of September 2023. The epidemic comes with unusually strong suffering of infected cattle through severe lameness, often resulting in mortality or euthanisation for welfare reasons. In total, tens of thousands of sheep have died or had to be euthanised. By October 2023, more than 2200 locations with ruminant livestock were officially identified to be infected with BTV-3, and additionally, ruminants from 1300 locations were showing BTV-associated clinical symptoms (but not laboratory-confirmed BT). Here, we report on the spatial spread and dynamics of this BT epidemic. More specifically, we characterized the distance-dependent intensity of the between-holding transmission by estimating the spatial transmission kernel and by comparing it to transmission kernels estimated earlier for BTV-8 transmission in Northwestern Europe in 2006 and 2007. The 2023 BTV-3 kernel parameters are in line with those of the transmission kernel estimated previously for the between-holding spread of BTV-8 in Europe in 2007. The 2023 BTV-3 transmission kernel has a long-distance spatial range (across tens of kilometres), evidencing that in addition to short-distance dispersal of infected midges, other transmission routes such as livestock transports probably played an important role.
The Immunogenicity of Monovalent Oral Poliovirus Vaccine Type 1 (mOPV1) and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) in the EPI Schedule of India
Authors: Mohanty Lalitendu , John T. Jacob , Pawar Shailesh D. , Ramanan Padmasani Venkat , Agarkhedkar Sharad , Haldar Pradeep
Published: April 2024

Background: In 2016, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) recommended the cessation of using type 2 oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) and OPV, with countries having to switch from the trivalent to bivalent OPV (bOPV) with the addition of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) in their routine immunization schedule. The current GPEI strategy 2022–2026 includes a bOPV cessation plan and a switch to IPV alone or a combination of vaccine schedules in the future. The focus of our study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of monovalent OPV type 1 (mOPV1) with IPV and IPV-only schedules. Methods: This was a three-arm, multi-center randomized–controlled trial conducted in 2016–2017 in India. Participants, at birth, were randomly assigned to the bOPV-IPV (Arm A) or mOPV1-IPV (Arm B) or IPV (Arm C) schedules. Serum specimens collected at birth and at 14, 18, and 22 weeks old were analyzed with a standard microneutralization assay for all the three poliovirus serotypes. Results: The results of 598 participants were analyzed. The type 1 cumulative seroconversion rates four weeks after the completion of the schedule at 18 weeks were 99.5% (97.0–99.9), 100.0% (97.9–100.0), and 96.0% (92.0–98.1) in Arms A (4bOPV + IPV), B (4mOPV1 + IPV), and C (3IPV), respectively. Type 2 and type 3 seroconversions at 18 weeks were 80.0% (73.7–85.1), 76.9% (70.3–82.4); 93.2% (88.5–96.1), 100.0% (98.0–100.0); and 81.9% (75.6–86.8), 99.4% (96.9–99.9), respectively, in the three arms. Conclusions: This study shows the high efficacy of different polio vaccines for serotype 1 in all three schedules. The type 1 seroconversion rate of mOPV1 is non-inferior to bOPV. All the vaccines provide high type-specific immunogenicity. The program can adopt the use of different vaccines or schedules depending on the epidemiology from time to time.
Effects of Influenza Vaccine on the Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination
Authors: Riccomi A. , Trombetta C. M. , Dorrucci M. , Di Placido D. , Sanarico N. , Farchi F. , Giuseppetti R. , Villano U. , Marcantonio C. , Marchi S. , Ciaramella A. , Pezzotti P. , Montomoli E. , Valdarchi C. , Ciccaglione A. R. , Vendetti S.
Published: April 2024

A number of studies have suggested that influenza vaccination can provide protection against COVID-19, but the underlying mechanisms that could explain this association are still unclear. In this study, the effect of the 2021/2022 seasonal influenza vaccination on the immune response to the booster dose of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was evaluated in a cohort of healthy individuals. A total of 113 participants were enrolled, 74 of whom had no prior COVID-19 diagnosis or significant comorbidities were considered for the analysis. Participants received the anti-influenza tetravalent vaccine and the booster dose of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine or the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine alone. Blood was collected before and 4 weeks after each vaccination and 12 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and analyzed for anti-flu and anti-spike-specific antibody titers and for in vitro influenza and SARS-CoV-2 neutralization capacity. Results indicated an increased reactivity in subjects who received both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations compared to those who received only the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, with sustained anti-spike antibody titers up to 12 weeks post-vaccination. Immune response to the influenza vaccine was evaluated, and individuals were stratified as high or low responders. High responders showed increased antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine both after 4 and 12 weeks post-vaccination. Conversely, individuals classified as low responders were less responsive to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. These data indicate that both external stimuli, such as influenza vaccination, and the host’s intrinsic ability to respond to stimuli play a role in the response to the vaccine.
The Association between Parental Child Vaccination Refusal Rate and the Impact of Mass Vaccination against COVID-19 in Kazakhstan: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis with Predictive Modelling of Nationwide Data Sources from 2013 to 2022
Authors: Abenova Madina , Shaltynov Askhat , Jamedinova Ulzhan , Ospanov Erlan , Semenova Yuliya
Published: April 2024

Despite well-established evidence supporting vaccination efficacy in reducing morbidity and mortality among infants and children, there is a global challenge with an increasing number of childhood vaccination refusals. This issue has intensified, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study aims to forecast mandatory childhood vaccination refusal trends in Kazakhstan until 2030, assessing the impact of mass COVID-19 vaccination on these rates. Utilizing annual official statistical data from 2013 to 2022 provided by the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, the study reveals a significant surge in refusals during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, reaching record levels of 42,282 cases in 2021 and 44,180 cases in 2022. Notably, refusal rates sharply rose in specific regions, like Aktobe (13.9 times increase) and Atyrau (4.29 times increase), emphasizing the need for increased public healthcare attention in these areas. However, despite a decade of data, our forecasting analysis indicates a lack of volatility in childhood vaccine refusal trends for all vaccine types up to 2030, highlighting the statistical significance of the obtained results. The increasing trend in vaccine refusals underscores the necessity to enhance crisis response and support health initiatives, particularly in regions where a substantial rise in refusals has been observed in recent years.
STAT1-Deficient HPV E6/E7-Associated Cancers Maintain Host Immunocompetency against Therapeutic Intervention
Authors: Lim Ling , Hu Ming-Hung , Fan Darrell , Tu Hsin-Fang , Tsai Ya-Chea , Cheng Michelle , Wang Suyang , Chang Chih-Long , Wu Tzyy-Choou , Hung Chien-Fu
Published: April 2024

Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains a global health concern because it contributes to the initiation of various HPV-associated cancers such as anal, cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancer. In HPV-associated cancers, oncogenesis begins with an HPV infection, which is linked to the activation of the Janus protein tyrosine kinase (JAK)/STAT signaling pathway. Various STAT signaling pathways, such as STAT3 activation, have been well documented for their tumorigenic role, yet the role of STAT1 in tumor formation remains unclear. In the current study, STAT1−/− mice were used to investigate the role of STAT1 in the tumorigenesis of a spontaneous HPV E6/E7-expressing oral tumor model. Subsequently, our candidate HPV DNA vaccine CRT/E7 was administered to determine whether the STAT1−/− host preserves a therapeutic-responsive tumor microenvironment. The results indicated that STAT1−/− induces robust tumorigenesis, yet a controlled tumor response was attained upon CRT/E7 vaccination. Characterizing this treatment effect, immunological analysis found a higher percentage of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells. In addition, a reduction in exhaustive lymphocyte activity was observed. Further analysis of a whole-cell tumor challenge affirmed these findings, as spontaneous tumor growth was more rapid in STAT1−/− mice. In conclusion, STAT1 deletion accelerates tumorigenesis, but STAT1−/− mice maintains immunocompetency in CRT/E7 treatments.
Comparison of Wealth-Related Inequality in Tetanus Vaccination Coverage before and during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 72 Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Johns Nicole E. , Blumenberg Cauane , Kirkby Katherine , Allorant Adrien , Costa Francine Dos Santos , Danovaro-Holliday M. Carolina , Lyons Carrie , Yusuf Nasir , Barros Aluísio J. D. , Hosseinpoor Ahmad Reza
Published: April 2024

Immunization of pregnant women against tetanus is a key strategy for reducing tetanus morbidity and mortality while also achieving the goal of maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination. Despite substantial progress in improving newborn protection from tetanus at birth through maternal immunization, umbilical cord practices and sterilized and safe deliveries, inequitable gaps in protection remain. Notably, an infant’s tetanus protection at birth is comprised of immunization received by the mother during and before the pregnancy (e.g., through childhood vaccination, booster doses, mass vaccination campaigns, or during prior pregnancies). In this work, we examine wealth-related inequalities in maternal tetanus toxoid containing vaccination coverage before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and at birth for 72 low- and middle-income countries with a recent Demographic and Health Survey or Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (between 2013 and 2022). We summarize coverage levels and absolute and relative inequalities at each time point; compare the relative contributions of inequalities before and during pregnancy to inequalities at birth; and examine associations between inequalities and coverage levels. We present the findings for countries individually and on aggregate, by World Bank country income grouping, as well as by maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination status, finding that most of the inequality in tetanus immunization coverage at birth is introduced during pregnancy. Inequalities in coverage during pregnancy are most pronounced in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and even more so in countries which have not achieved maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination. These findings suggest that pregnancy is a key time of opportunity for equity-oriented interventions to improve maternal tetanus immunization coverage.
Advancing Digital Image-Based Recognition of Soil Water Content: A Case Study in Bailu Highland, Shaanxi Province, China
Authors: Zhang Yaozhong , Zhang Han , Lan Hengxing , Li Yunchuang , Liu Honggang , Sun Dexin , Wang Erhao , Dong Zhonghong
Published: April 2024

Soil water content (SWC) plays a vital role in agricultural management, geotechnical engineering, hydrological modeling, and climate research. Image-based SWC recognition methods show great potential compared to traditional methods. However, their accuracy and efficiency limitations hinder wide application due to their status as a nascent approach. To address this, we design the LG-SWC-R3 model based on an attention mechanism to leverage its powerful learning capabilities. To enhance efficiency, we propose a simple yet effective encoder–decoder architecture (PVP-Transformer-ED) designed on the principle of eliminating redundant spatial information from images. This architecture involves masking a high proportion of soil images and predicting the original image from the unmasked area to aid the PVP-Transformer-ED in understanding the spatial information correlation of the soil image. Subsequently, we fine-tune the SWC recognition model on the pre-trained encoder of the PVP-Transformer-ED. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the excellent performance of our designed model (R2 = 0.950, RMSE = 1.351%, MAPE = 0.081, MAE = 1.369%), surpassing traditional models. Although this method involves processing only a small fraction of original image pixels (approximately 25%), which may impact model performance, it significantly reduces training time while maintaining model error within an acceptable range. Our study provides valuable references and insights for the popularization and application of image-based SWC recognition methods.
Research on Permeability Characteristics and Gradation of Rockfill Material Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Yang Qigui , Zhang Jianqing , Dai Xing , Ye Zhigang , Wang Chenglong , Lu Shuyang
Published: April 2024

The density of rockfill material is an important index to evaluate the quality of rockfill dams. It is of great significance to accurately obtain the densities and permeability coefficients of rockfill material dams quickly and accurately by scientific means. However, it takes a long time to measure the permeability coefficient of rockfill material in practice, which means that such measurements cannot fully reflect all the relevant properties. In this paper, using a convolutional neural network (CNN), a machine learning model was established to predict the permeability coefficient of rockfill material with the full scale (d10~d100), pore ratio, Cu, and Cc as the inputs and the permeability coefficient as the output. Through collecting the permeability coefficient and related data in the literature, the set samples were sorted for model training. The prediction results of the trained CNN model are compared with those of the back propagation (BP) model to verify the accuracy of the CNN model. Laboratory constant head penetration experiments were designed to verify the generalization performance of the model. The results show that compared with the BP model, the CNN model has better applicability to the prediction of the permeability coefficient of rockfill material and that the CNN can obtain better accuracy and meet the requirements of the rough estimation of rockfill materials’ permeability in engineering.
Evaluation Method of Severe Convective Precipitation Based on Dual-Polarization Radar Data
Authors: Tang Zhengyang , Chang Xinyu , Ni Xiu , Xiao Wenjing , Liu Huaiyuan , Guo Jun
Published: April 2024

With global warming and intensified human activities, extreme convective precipitation has become one of the most frequent natural disasters. An accurate and reliable assessment of severe convective precipitation events can support social stability and economic development. In order to investigate the accuracy enhancement methods and data fusion strategies for the assessment of severe convective precipitation events, this study is driven by the horizontal reflectance factor (ZH) and differential reflectance (ZDR) of the dual-polarization radar. This research work utilizes microphysical information of convective storms provided by radar variables to construct the precipitation event assessment model. Considering the problems of high dimensionality of variable data and low computational efficiency, this study proposes a dual-polarization radar echo-data-layering strategy. Combined with the results of mutual information (MI), this study constructs Bayes–Kalman filter (KF) models (RF, SVR, GRU, LSTM) for the assessment of severe convective precipitation events. Finally, this study comparatively analyzes the evaluation effectiveness and computational efficiency of different models. The results show that the data-layering strategy is able to reduce the data dimensions of 256 × 256 × 34,978 to 5 × 2213, which greatly improves the computational efficiency. In addition, the correlation coefficient of interval III–V calibration period is increased to 0.9, and the overall assessment accuracy of the model is good. Among them, the Bayes–KF-LSTM model has the best assessment effect, and the Bayes–KF-RF has the highest computational efficiency. Further, five typical precipitation events are selected for validation in this study. The stratified precipitation dataset agrees well with the near-surface precipitation, and the model’s assessment values are close to the observed values. This study completely utilizes the microphysical information offered by dual-polarized radar ZH and ZDR in precipitation event assessment, which provides a wide range of application possibilities for the assessment of severe convective precipitation events.
Aplicação do curso de formação inicial e continuada - FIC, em agricultura familiar na comunidade Davinópolis, Araguatins – TO
Authors: Silva Cleudiane Chaves da , Guimarães Kelly Cristina Figueiredo , Silva Thiago de Loiola Araújo e , Reis Jucilene Alves dos Santos , Nogueira Elzilene de Sales Dias
Published: April 2024

A implantação dos cursos de formação inicial e continuada (FIC), no Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Tocantins (IFTO) Campus Araguatins surgiu da busca pela capacitação técnico-profissional das comunidades da região, nas quais algumas famílias dependem da assistência de órgãos de fomento agropecuário, que não têm possibilidade de atender às necessidades de todas as famílias de comunidades e projetos de assentamentos no município. Um dos objetivos deste trabalho foi possibilitar a melhoria na qualidade de vida dos moradores da comunidade Davinópolis, e da preocupação com a falta de preparo técnico dos trabalhadores dessa comunidade em relação ao cultivo das culturas necessárias à sua subsistência, bem como a falta conhecimento sobre os aspectos de preservação e/ou conservação ambiental.
Experiences of Clinical Lecturers in Providing a Supportive Learning Atmosphere Required for the Development of the Medical Students' Professional Identity
Authors: Hazrati Hakimeh , Behshid Mozhgan , Mahari Armin
Published: April 2024

Background. Clinical environments create unpredictable conditions that affect the professional excellence of learners. This study aimed to explore and elucidate the lived experiences of clinical lecturers in creating a supportive learning environment necessary for developing the professional identity of medical students. Methods. To conduct this qualitative study, a conventional content analysis approach was adopted. The data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with clinical instructors and students of medical sciences, which continued until data saturation was reached. Four criteria of credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability were adopted to maintain the study's trustworthiness, and MAXQDA 10 software was used for data management. The interviews were analyzed employing the content analysis method. Results. Three themes were extracted and listed under the headings of "Clinical Professor as an architect of a learning environment", "creating a supportive atmosphere", and "a holistic view of the education process and students' needs" based on the results from the interview analyses. Conclusion. Clinical educators may pay special attention to the students' needs and provide them with appropriate learning opportunities to shape their professional identity, show their respect for professional values by creating a supportive atmosphere, concentrate their attention on different human dimensions, and show their respect for the principles of conduct and professional obligations. Clinical educators, as professional advisors and role models, may have also helped the students improve their metacognitive skills and enhance their professional competence.