bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in Micro-/Mesopore Regulation Methods for Plant-Derived Carbon Materials
Authors: Liu Jing , Zhang Ke , Wang Huiyan , Lin Lin , Zhang Jian , Li Peng , Zhang Qiang , Shi Junyou , Cui Hang
Published: October 2022

In recent years, renewable and clean energy has become increasingly important due to energy shortage and environmental pollution. Selecting plants as the carbon precursors to replace costly non-renewable energy sources causing severe pollution is a good choice. In addition, owing to their diverse microstructure and the rich chemical composition, plant-based carbon materials are widely used in many fields. However, some of the plant-based carbon materials have the disadvantage of possessing a large percentage of macroporosity, limiting their functionality. In this paper, we first introduce two characteristics of plant-derived carbon materials: diverse microstructure and rich chemical composition. Then, we propose improvement measures to cope with a high proportion of macropores of plant-derived carbon materials. Emphatically, size regulation methods are summarized for micropores (KOH activation, foam activation, physical activation, freezing treatment, and fungal treatment) and mesopores (H3PO4 activation, enzymolysis, molten salt activation, and template method). Their advantages and disadvantages are also compared and analyzed. Finally, the paper makes suggestions on the pore structure improvement of plant-derived carbon materials.
The Neurokinin-1 Receptor: Structure Dynamics and Signaling
Authors: Rodríguez Francisco , Coveñas Rafael
Published: October 2022

Substance P (SP), the first isolated neuropeptide, belongs to the family of tachykinin peptides and is the natural ligand of neurokinin-1 receptors (NK-1R), also named SP receptors. The undecapeptide activates the receptor after specifically binding to the protein and triggers intracellular signals leading to different biochemical events and subsequent physiological responses. This study reviews the main architectural features of this receptor, its interaction with natural and synthetic ligands, and the functional conformational states adopted after interacting with ligands and effector G proteins. The analysis of the main intracellular signaling pathways turned on by the activation of NK-1 receptors reveals the participation of different proteins supporting metabolic changes and genetic and epigenetic regulations. Furthermore, the analysis of receptor occupancy and receptor downregulation and internalization represents a complex and estimable field for basic and clinical research focused on the role of SP in physiopathology. Profound knowledge of the structural dynamics of NK-1R may help develop and assay new selective synthetic non-peptide antagonists as potential therapeutic agents applied to various pathologies and symptoms.
Religion, Animals, and Racialization: Articulating Islamophobia through Animal Ethics in The Netherlands
Authors: Jung Mariska
Published: October 2022

In 2008, the Dutch Party for the Animals submitted a proposal to ban religious slaughter without prior stunning. The proposal was widely supported in the Lower House but finally rejected in the Upper House in 2012, mainly on the grounds of religious freedom. Academia was keen to study the polemic, but no research has attempted to study the controversy through a lens of racialization. This is remarkable, given the well-documented increase in Islamophobia and the political use of racism since (at least) the turn of the millennium in The Netherlands (and the geopolitical “West” at large). In this article, I demonstrate that a racializing dynamic is actually part and parcel of the Dutch controversy. I apply a reflexive thematic analysis to study archival material from the Dutch Parliamentarian debate and show that the dispute foremost references Islamic slaughter. Appeals to civilization, accusations of barbarism, dystopian warnings against Islamization, and invocations of Judeo-Christianity are discursive elements that feature in the debate and have racializing ramifications for Muslims. By unmasking this racializing dynamic, I offer a means to empirically explore the ways in which taxonomies of religion and race intersect with and through the politicization of animal ethics. When considering religious slaughter it is essential, I ultimately maintain, to observe the violence caused by socially constructed racial and species differences. Only if we hold both in serious regard do we have a chance to begin to imagine ourselves in relation to others differently and move towards more just futures—for humans and non-humans alike.
DP–MHT–TBD: A Dynamic Programming and Multiple Hypothesis Testing-Based Infrared Dim Point Target Detection Algorithm
Authors: Du Jinming , Lu Huanzhang , Zhang Luping , Hu Moufa , Deng Yingjie , Shen Xinglin , Li Dongyang , Zhang Yu
Published: October 2022

The detection and tracking of small targets under low signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) has been a challenging task for infrared search and track (IRST) systems. Track-before-detect (TBD) is a widely-known algorithm which can solve this problem. However, huge computation costs and storage requirements limit its application. To address these issues, a dynamic programming (DP) and multiple hypothesis testing (MHT)-based infrared dim point target detection algorithm (DP–MHT–TBD) is proposed. It consists of three parts. (1) For each pixel in current frame, the second power optimal merit function-based DP is designed and performed in eight search areas to find the target search area that contains the real target trajectory. (2) In the target search area, the parallel MHT model is designed to save the tree-structured trajectory space, and a two-stage strategy is designed to mitigate the contradiction between the redundant trajectories and the requirements of more trajectories under low SCR. After constant false alarm segmentation of the energy accumulation map, the preliminary candidate points can be obtained. (3) The target tracking method is designed to eliminate false alarms. In this work, an efficient second power optimal merit function-based DP is designed to find the target search area for each pixel, which greatly reduces the trajectory search space. A two-stage MHT model, in which pruning for the tree-structured trajectory space is avoided and all trajectories can be processed in parallel, is designed to further reduce the hypothesis space exponentially. This model greatly reduces computational complexity and saves storage space, improving the engineering application of the TBD method. The DP–MHT–TBD not only takes advantage of the small computation amount of DP and high accuracy of an exhaustive search but also utilizes a novel structure. It can detect a single infrared point target when the SCR is 1.5 with detection probability above 90% and a false alarm rate below 0.01%.
Vegetation Productivity and Precipitation Use Efficiency across the Yellow River Basin: Spatial Patterns and Controls
Authors: Jiang Ting , Wang Xiaolei , Afzal Muhammad Mannan , Sun Lin , Luo Yi
Published: October 2022

In arid and semi-arid climate zones, understanding the spatial patterns and biogeographical mechanisms of net primary production (NPP) and precipitation use efficiency (PUE) is crucial for assessing the function and stability of ecosystem services, as well as directing ecological restoration. Although the vegetation coverage has changed dramatically after the construction of several ecological restoration projects, due to limited observation data, fewer studies have provided a thorough understanding of NPP and PUE’s recent spatial patterns and the controlling factors of different vegetation types in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). To narrow this gap, we integrated remote-sensing land-cover maps with long-term MODIS NPP and meteorological datasets to comprehend NPP and PUE spatial patterns in YRB. Furthermore, we applied structural equation models (SEM) to estimate the effect intensity of NPP and PUE controlling factors. The results showed that along geographical coordinates NPP and PUE decreased from southeast to northwest and trends were roughly consistent along latitude, longitude, and elevation gradients with segmented patterns of increasing and decreasing trends. As for climate gradients, NPP showed significant linear positive and negative trends across the mean annual precipitation (MAP) and the arid index (AI), while segmented changes for PUE. However, the mean annual average temperature (MAT) showed a positive slope for below zero temperature and no change above zero temperature for both NPP and PUE. SEM results suggested that AI determined the spatial pattern of NPP, whereas PUE was controlled by MAP and NPP. As the AI becomes higher in the further, vegetation tends to have decreased NPP with higher sensitivity to water availability. While artificial vegetation had a substantially lower NPP than original vegetation but increased water competition between the ecosystem and human society. Hence further optimization of artificial vegetation is needed to satisfy both ecological and economic needs. This study advanced our understanding of spatial patterns and biogeographic mechanisms of NPP and PUE at YRB, therefore giving theoretical guidance for ecological restoration and ecosystem function evaluation in the face of further climate change.
Machine Learning Fusion Multi-Source Data Features for Classification Prediction of Lunar Surface Geological Units
Authors: Zuo Wei , Zeng Xingguo , Gao Xingye , Zhang Zhoubin , Liu Dawei , Li Chunlai
Published: October 2022

Taking the Chang’e-4 and Chang’e-5 landing areas as the study areas, this study extracts the geological unit information from the regional USGS geological map, as well as the feature information such as topography and geomorphology, material composition and mineral abundance from Chang’e-2 DOM and DEM, wide angle camera (WAC) and Kaguya multi-band imager data. By applying methods including the statistical-based estimation of mutual information of data and the integrated-algorithmic-model-based evaluation of feature importance to this extracted information, we screen the significant features and construct a high-precision classification model by combining machine learning algorithm with important features of sample data. The practical application of the multi-classification prediction on the complex geological units in the two study areas achieves 97.9% and 95.1% accuracy. At the same time, the significant characteristics of the study area are mined, and the rules and knowledge associated with the geological evolution of the study area are obtained. In this study, we carry out research on quantitative prediction and identification of lunar surface geological units based on large samples and construct a high-precision multi-classification model to achieve automatic classification and prediction on large sample geological units with high accuracy. This method provides a new idea for the predicted mapping of geological units of lunar global digital mapping. In addition, it helps to fully exploit the useful information in the data and enrich the knowledge regarding the formation and evolution of the Moon.
Effect of Gliding Arc Plasma Activated Water (GAPAW) on Maize (Zea mays L.) Seed Germination and Growth
Authors: Mogo Jean Paul Kamseu , Fovo Joseph Djeugap , Sop-Tamo Berthelot , Mafouasson Hortense Nöelle Apala , Ngwem Marcelline Carine Ngo , Tebu Marie Jeanne , Youbi Georges Kamgang , Laminsi Samuel
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the effect of Gliding Arc Plasma Activated Water (GAPAW) technique on maize germination and growth variables. The effect of GAPAW was evaluated on corn texture, water absorption in Lab conditions, and the pathway Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of corn seeds was also carry out. Maize seeds were sown 150 m2 and then watered with tap water and with GAPAW. Seed germination, maize growth and chlorophyll content were evaluated in field conditions in a complete randomized block design with four replicates using the Acid Tolerance Population (ATP) variety. Seed texture treated with 15 min of GAPAW making it darker than those of the control (tap water). Pathway SEM analysis showed no change for the 5 min-GAPAW-treated seeds compared to the control but at 15 min-GAPAW significant changes were observed. Germination was 100% at the 15 min-GAPAW compared to the other treatments (0 and 5 min). Stem length, leaf width, collar diameter, chlorophyll content and water uptake have higher values on plants watered with 15 min-GAPAW compared to others treatments. This application could highlight the germination properties of GAPAW in crop production.
Job Satisfaction and Work Characteristics Combinations in Industry 4.0 Environment—Insight from the Polish SMEs in the Post–Pandemic Era
Authors: Kwiotkowska Anna , Gębczyńska Magdalena
Published: October 2022

The development of Industry 4.0, which has been observed for many years, spans the period before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This concept, which describes the complex process of business transformation, is reflected in a growing number of studies showing that the aim of Industry 4.0 is not to eliminate the human factor, but to introduce effective collaboration between people, systems, and machines. The success of a company depends to a large extent on the efficiency and productivity of its employees, to which job satisfaction is directly related. Job satisfaction is a phenomenon influenced by many factors, including job characteristics. Recognition of the relationship between job satisfaction and job characteristics throughout the implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions is marginal. Therefore, an attempt was made to identify the relationship between job characteristics and the achievement of job satisfaction in the digital transformation era by conducting a survey among Polish SMEs after the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey used the fs/QCA method. The results of the study contribute to SME theory and practice by identifying different combinations of job characteristics leading to high and low job satisfaction in an Industry 4.0 environment.
Incentive Structures for the Adoption of Crowdsourcing in Public Policy: A Bureaucratic Politics Model
Authors: Cingolani Luciana , Hildebrandt Tim
Published: October 2022

Collective intelligence paradigms have been increasingly embraced by the public sector as a way to address complex policy challenges. The field is limited, however, by our little, comparative understanding of the political economy factors that create incentives around the adoption of certain types of collective intelligence over others in different organizational settings. This article uses a typology of citizen-sourced open innovation models based on the work of Daren Brabham as well as insights from Elinor Ostrom and Archon Fung, in order to produce a theoretical model of the determinants of crowdsourcing adoption decisions in the public sector. The model derives a political economy analysis that matches various administrative scenarios to different collective intelligence modalities and developments. The insights are illustrated through a number of crowdsourcing initiatives and provide important lessons to practitioners designing such collective challenges.
Effects of Two Straw Return Methods Coupled with Raising Ducks in Paddy Fields on Stem Lodging Characteristics
Authors: Gong Xiangsheng , Meng Xiangjie , Zhang Ya , Liang Yugang , Chen Can , Huang Huang , Liao Xin
Published: October 2022

Lodging has a negative effect on rice production and leads to a great loss in yield and quality. It is necessary to clarify the effects of straw return measures coupled with rice-duck co-culture on lodging and to explore a measure that can improve lodging resistance. A randomized block experiment with six treatments (rice monoculture (RNN), rice-duck co-culture (RND), direct straw return and rice monoculture (RSN), direct straw return coupled with rice-duck co-culture (RSD), straw carbon and rice monoculture (RBN), and straw carbon coupled with rice-duck co-culture (RBD)) was conducted to investigate the mechanism of the change in lodging resistance. RNN’s rice yield was 6258.02 kg ha−1. The yield of RND, RSN, RSD, and RBN increased by 15.51, 3.06, 10.23, and 1.59%, respectively, while RBD decreased by 5.01% relative to RNN. Direct straw return and straw biochar return coupled with rice-duck co-culture has both negative and positive effects on lodging resistance because of its properties. The stem’s mechanical properties were mainly decided by weight, length, plumpness, and culm anatomy. The increased bending moment at breaking, lodging strength, and bending strength with the RND, RSN, RSD, RBN, and RBD treatments increased, indicated an increase in lodging resistance. Our results clearly demonstrate that direct straw return and straw biochar return coupled with rice-duck co-culture could increase the lodging resistance. In total, rice-duck co-culture could increase the lodging resistance with a higher yield. Compared to straw biochar application, straw return can stabilize the yield and improve the lodging resistance of rice. Thus, direct straw return coupled with rice-duck co-culture should be explored for improving lodging resistance under the condition of ensuring yield.
Impacts of COVID-19 on Sustainable Agriculture Value Chain Development in Thailand and ASEAN
Authors: Tansuchat Roengchai , Suriyankietkaew Suparak , Petison Phallapa , Punjaisri Khanyapuss , Nimsai Suthep
Published: October 2022

The unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have put human and food security at risk. Currently, the literature on its impacts and implications on the agricultural sector towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) is limited. This study aims to expand the existing knowledge by assessing COVID-19 impacts on sustainable agriculture value chain development in a major global hub of food supplies, Southeast Asia, particularly in the context of regional cooperation for the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN). This study employs an empirical qualitative research design to collect primary data from 31 in-depth key-informant interviews with multilateral stakeholders. We also reviewed the latest literature for the secondary data to advance our limited knowledge in this realm. Our study provides a macro-analytical outlook of COVID-19 impacts on the agricultural sector for sustainable development in Thailand and ASEAN, using a SWOT analysis and sustainability framework (i.e., socio-economic and environmental dimensions) with SDGs mapping. Our findings address critical sustainability issues about agriculture and food value chains for food security and post-COVID-19 recovery. Our study also suggests various opportunities and policy recommendations for transformative regional sustainability strategies for sustainable agriculture to achieve the UN SDGs and a sustainable future.
Life Cycle Assessment in the Agri-Food Supply Chain: Fresh Versus Semi-Finished Based Production Process
Authors: Boenzi Francesco , Digiesi Salvatore , Facchini Francesco , Silvestri Bartolomeo
Published: October 2022

The agri-food supply chain is responsible for high GHG emissions. In industrial food processing, there is potential for reducing environmental impacts. In the case of apricot jam, several practices for realizing the finished product can be adopted. If, on the one hand, the scientific literature provides detailed studies on the economic aspects of the existing practices, on the other hand, a comprehensive assessment of the most common production practices from an environmental perspective is not provided. Apricot jam production can be based on two different kinds of raw materials: fresh fruit and the so-called “semi-finished product”, which is obtained by treating fresh fruits with mechanical and thermal processes. The most extended shelf-life of the semi-finished product allows for the adoption of more flexible production practices, leading to increased production performance and ensuring more efficient transportation strategies. In environmental terms, the convenience of this approach compared to adopting fresh fruit is questionable. The aim of this paper is to compare the environmental impacts due to these two different production and transport practices of apricot jam. Consistent with this end, a Life Cycle Assessment methodology has been adopted to evaluate the environmental impact of each step in the apricot jam supply chain. Research results suggest that the use of fresh apricots in the production of jams has a lower environmental impact (about 50–65% without considering transport activities) than the use of semi-finished products, and that losses due to the short shelf-life of fresh fruit limits the transportation distance of the raw and fresh material, also depending on the transport mode adopted (in the range of 875–4450 km). This highlights the need to adopt more clean and sustainable practices in the current industrial food processes.
Optimization of Tree-like Support for Titanium Overhang Structures Produced via Electron Beam Melting
Authors: Ameen Wadea , Al-Ahmari Abdulrahman , Mian Syed Hammad , Mohammed Muneer Khan , Kaid Husam , Abdulhameed Osama
Published: October 2022

Support structures play a significant role in all additive manufacturing (AM) processes. The type of supports, as well as their size, placement, and other characteristics, greatly determine how effectively and efficiently the AM process works. In order to reduce the amount of material and post-processing requirements, tree-like support structures are revolutionary support structures that have so far been employed in polymer AM and have shown good performance. However, they have not yet been investigated for metal AM processes. Therefore, this study aims to propose and optimize the tree-like support structures for additively manufactured metal (Ti6Al4V) overhangs. The overhang specimens are fabricated using Electron Beam Melting (EBM) with a variety of design and process parameters. The effect of design and process structure parameters on the performance of the support is evaluated and optimized experimentally. MOGA-ll is used to perform multi-objective optimization. The results have shown the feasibility of using tree-like support structures in metal AM. The findings of this study demonstrate how important it is to choose the proper minimum distance between rows in order to reduce support volume and support removal time. Furthermore, the most crucial factors in limiting the overhang deviation are the beam current and beam scanning speed. Additionally, the data demonstrate that lowering the beam current and raising the beam scanning speed significantly reduce deformation. Consequently, it is critical to find the right balance between beam current, beam scanning speed, minimum spacing between rows, and branch top diameters that can produce the lowest support volume, lowest support removal time, and least amount of deformation.
Key Factors for Evaluating Visual Perception Responses to Social Media Video Communication
Authors: Tsai Chi-Jui , Shyr Wen-Jye
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the key factors for creating a positive visual perception response evaluation for social media video communication. The aim of this study was to determine what factors of light sources impact visual perception to increase the interactions in social media video communication. First, the key factors of visual perception and response evaluation of visual effects in social media video communication were summarized and analyzed through an interview consultation panel of experts and scholars. Key factors were compiled into four dimensions (48 sub-dimensions), including (1) visual perception, with 12 sub-dimensions; (2) emotional perception, with 12 sub-dimensions; (3) preference perception, with 11 sub-dimensions; and (4) shape perception, with 13 sub-dimensions. Second, 12 experts and scholars were invited to form a panel to develop the Delphi technique questionnaire. After three Delphi technique questionnaires were conducted, the mean (M), mode (Mo), and standard deviation (SD) of each response were statistically analyzed, and the one-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to analyze the appropriateness and consistency of the Delphi technique survey results. The results of this study indicate that 15 sub-dimensions met the criteria of appropriateness and consistency, which were used to establish 15 key factors for evaluating visual perception responses to social media visual communication. This study will provide a technical reference for the visual perception of digital messages in social media to improve the quality of visual perception of digital communication.
Factors of the Revisit Intention of Patients in the Primary Health Care System in Argentina
Authors: Pighin Massimo , Alvarez-Risco Aldo , Del-Aguila-Arcentales Shyla , Rojas-Osorio Mercedes , Yáñez Jaime A.
Published: October 2022

The Argentine health system has three subsectors: private, social works, and public. It is essential to consider the user’s perceptions through studies that measure the intention to revisit, through self-perceived care quality, to obtain results from the health care process and adjust the services provided accordingly. A correlational, cross-sectional, and non-experimental study has been carried out. A total of 407 people were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. The model considered four variables: quality of the use of health programs, satisfaction, confidence, and revisit intention. Second-generation statistics were adopted through multivariate evaluation using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to calculate the correlation values between the study variables. The direct route between the quality of health services and satisfaction was not statistically significant, while the direct routes traced between the other constructs were statistically significant. This study contributes significantly to understanding how users determine the intention to re-choose a health service, explaining the indirect routes through which the quality of care relates to the intention to revisit.
Exploring Values via the Innovative Application of Social Media with Parks Amid COVID-19: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Text and Images Using ATLAS.ti
Authors: Choe Yunseon , Lee Jiyoon , Lee Gyehee
Published: October 2022

Due to the lockdown and restrictions on public activities and gatherings amid COVID-19, parks received renewed attention because of their importance and irreplaceable functions as healthy outdoor recreation. This study aims to explore the values reflected in Twitter content that discussed parks amid COVID-19 through a qualitative content analysis of text and images using ATLAS.ti. Specifically, a qualitative data (visual and textual) set of Twitter posts amid COVID-19 (from February 2020 to September 2022) that mentioned Everglades National Park was explored. The results from the social media content analysis of park values during COVID-19 revealed three themes: (1) nature, (2) recreational tourism, and (3) proximity. This study expands the application of social media via a qualitative content analysis of text and images using ATLAS.ti by providing methodological improvements. Practically, the findings of this study can also provide practitioners with useable knowledge for design strategies considering the value of protected areas as a model of sustainable destination management.
The SEIR Dynamic Evolutionary Model with Markov Chains in Hyper Networks
Authors: Wang Jia , Wang Zhiping , Yu Ping , Wang Peiwen
Published: October 2022

In real life, individuals play an important role in the social networking system. When an epidemic breaks out the individual’s recovery rate depends heavily on the social network in which he or she lives. For this reason, in this paper a nonlinear coupling dynamic model on the hyper network was built. The upper layer is the dynamic social network under the hypernetwork vision, and the lower layer is the physical contact layer. Thus, the dynamic evolutionary coupling mechanism between the social network and epidemic transmission was established. At the same time, this paper deduced the evolution process of the dynamic system according to the Markov chain method. The probability equation of the dynamic evolution process was determined, and the threshold of epidemic spread on the non-uniform network was obtained. In addition, numerical simulations verified the correctness of the theory and the validity of the model. The results show that an individual’s recovery state will be affected by the individual’s social ability and the degree of information forgetting. Finally, suitable countermeasures are suggested to suppress the pandemic from spreading in response to the coupling model’s affecting factors.
Correction: Popov, V.L. An Approximate Solution for the Contact Problem of Profiles Slightly Deviating from Axial Symmetry. Symmetry 2022, 14, 390
Authors: Popov Valentin L.
Published: October 2022

There were misprints in Equations (40), (65), (66), and (67) in the original publication [...]
Study of Transmission Dynamics of Streptococcus suis Infection Mathematical Model between Pig and Human under ABC Fractional Order Derivative
Authors: Prathumwan Din , Chaiya Inthira , Trachoo Kamonchat
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a mathematical model for Streptococcus suis infection is improved by using the fractional order derivative. The modified model also investigates the transmission between pigs and humans. The proposed model can classify the pig population density into four classes, which are pig susceptible class, pig infectious class, pig quarantine class, and pig recovery class. Moreover, the human population density has been separated into three classes, these are human susceptible class, human infectious class, and human recovery class. The spread of the infection is analyzed by considering the contact between humans and pigs. The basic reproduction number (R0), the infectious indicator, is carried out using the next generation matrix. The disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable if R0<1, and the endemic equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable if R0>1. The theoretical analyses of the fractional order derivative model, existence and uniqueness, have been proposed. The numerical examples were illustrated to support the proposed stability theorems. The results show that the fractional order derivative model provides the various possible solution trajectories with different fractional orders for the same parameters. In addition, transmission between pigs and humans resulted in the spread of Streptococcus suis infection.
Bright Soliton Behaviours of Fractal Fractional Nonlinear Good Boussinesq Equation with Nonsingular Kernels
Authors: Sadiq Gulaly , Ali Amir , Ahmad Shabir , Nonlaopon Kamsing , Akgül Ali
Published: October 2022

In this manuscript, we investigate the nonlinear Boussinesq equation (BEQ) under fractal-fractional derivatives in the sense of the Caputo–Fabrizio and Atangana–Baleanu operators. We use the double modified Laplace transform (LT) method to determine the general series solution of the Boussinesq equation. We study the convergence, existence, uniqueness, boundedness, and stability of the solution of the considered good BEQ under the aforementioned derivatives. The obtained solutions are presented with numerical illustrations considering a particular example by two cases based on both derivatives with suitable initial conditions. The results are illustrated graphically where good agreements are obtained. Our results show that fractal-fractional derivatives are a very effective tool for studying nonlinear systems. Furthermore, when t increases, the solitary waves of the system oscillate. As the fractional order α or fractal dimension β increases, the soliton solutions become coherently close to the exact solution. For compactness, an error analysis is performed. The absolute error reveals an approximate linear evolution in the soliton solutions as time increases and that the system does not blow up nonlinearly.
CSVO: Clustered Sparse Voxel Octrees—A Hierarchical Data Structure for Geometry Representation of Voxelized 3D Scenes
Authors: Madoš Branislav , Chovancová Eva , Chovanec Martin , Ádám Norbert
Published: October 2022

When representing the geometry of voxelized three-dimensional scenes (especially if they have been voxelized to high resolutions) in a naive—uncompressed—form, one may end up using vast amounts of data. These can easily attack the available memory capacity of the graphics card, the operating memory or even secondary storage of computer. A viable solution to this problem is to use domain-specific hierarchical data structures, based on octant trees or directed acyclic graphs, which, among other advantages, provide a compact binary representation that can thus be considered to be their compressed encoding. These data structures include—inter alia—sparse voxel octrees, sparse voxel directed acyclic graphs and symmetry-aware sparse voxel directed acyclic graphs. The paper deals with the proposal of a new domain-specific hierarchical data structure: the clustered sparse voxel octrees. It is designed to represent the geometry of voxelized three-dimensional scenes and can be constructed using the out-of-core algorithm proposed in the paper. The advantage of the presented data structure is in its compact binary representation, achieved by omitting a significant number of pointers to child nodes (82.55% in case of Angel Lucy model in 1283 voxels resolution) and by using a wider range of child node pointer lengths, including 8b, 16b and 32b. We achieved from 6.57 to 6.82 times more compact encoding, compared to sparse voxel octrees, whose all node components were 32b aligned, and from 4.11 to 4.27 times more compact encoding, when not all node components were 32b aligned.
Epidemiological Analysis of Cassava Mosaic and Brown Streak Diseases, and Bemisia tabaci in the Comoros Islands
Authors: Shirima Rudolph Rufini , Wosula Everlyne Nafula , Hamza Abdou Azali , Mohammed Nobataine Ali , Mouigni Hadji , Nouhou Salima , Mchinda Naima Mmadi , Ceasar Gloria , Amour Massoud , Njukwe Emmanuel , Legg James Peter
Published: October 2022

A comprehensive assessment of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) was carried out in Comoros where cassava yield (5.7 t/ha) is significantly below the African average (8.6 t/ha) largely due to virus diseases. Observations from 66 sites across the Comoros Islands of Mwali, Ngazidja, and Ndzwani revealed that 83.3% of cassava fields had foliar symptoms of CBSD compared with 95.5% for CMD. Molecular diagnostics confirmed the presence of both cassava brown streak ipomoviruses (CBSIs) and cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs). Although real-time RT-PCR only detected the presence of one CBSI species (Cassava brown streak virus, CBSV) the second species (Ugandan cassava brown streak virus, UCBSV) was identified using next-generation high-throughput sequencing. Both PCR and HTS detected the presence of East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV). African cassava mosaic virus was not detected in any of the samples. Four whitefly species were identified from a sample of 131 specimens: Bemisia tabaci, B. afer, Aleurodicus dispersus, and Paraleyrodes bondari. Cassava B. tabaci comprised two mitotypes: SSA1-SG2 (89%) and SSA1-SG3 (11%). KASP SNP genotyping categorized 82% of cassava B. tabaci as haplogroup SSA-ESA. This knowledge will provide an important base for developing and deploying effective management strategies for cassava viruses and their vectors.
Interspecies Recombination-Led Speciation of a Novel Geminivirus in Pakistan
Authors: Lal Aamir , Kil Eui-Joon , Vo Thuy T. B. , Wira Sanjaya I Gusti Ngurah Prabu , Qureshi Muhammad Amir , Nattanong Bupi , Ali Muhammad , Shuja Malik Nawaz , Lee Sukchan
Published: October 2022

Recombination between isolates of different virus species has been known to be one of the sources of speciation. Weeds serve as mixing vessels for begomoviruses, infecting a wide range of economically important plants, thereby facilitating recombination. Chenopodium album is an economically important weed spread worldwide. Here, we present the molecular characterization of a novel recombinant begomovirus identified from C. album in Lahore, Pakistan. The complete DNA- A genome of the virus associated with the leaf distortion occurred in the infected C. album plants was cloned and sequenced. DNA sequence analysis showed that the nucleotide sequence of the virus shared 93% identity with those of the rose leaf curl virus and the duranta leaf curl virus. Interestingly, this newly identified virus is composed of open reading frames (ORFs) from different origins. Phylogenetic networks and complementary recombination detection methods revealed extensive recombination among the sequences. The infectious clone of the newly detected virus was found to be fully infectious in C. album and Nicotiana benthamiana as the viral DNA was successfully reconstituted from systemically infected tissues of inoculated plants, thus fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Our study reveals a new speciation of an emergent ssDNA plant virus associated with C. album through recombination and therefore, proposed the tentative name ‘Chenopodium leaf distortion virus’ (CLDV).
A Novel Piggyback Strategy for mRNA Delivery Exploiting Adenovirus Entry Biology
Authors: Lee Myungeun , Rice-Boucher Paul J. , Collins Logan Thrasher , Wagner Ernst , Aulisa Lorenzo , Hughes Jeffrey , Curiel David T.
Published: October 2022

Molecular therapies exploiting mRNA vectors embody enormous potential, as evidenced by the utility of this technology for the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, broad implementation of these promising strategies has been restricted by the limited repertoires of delivery vehicles capable of mRNA transport. On this basis, we explored a strategy based on exploiting the well characterized entry biology of adenovirus. To this end, we studied an adenovirus-polylysine (AdpL) that embodied “piggyback” transport of the mRNA on the capsid exterior of adenovirus. We hypothesized that the efficient steps of Ad binding, receptor-mediated entry, and capsid-mediated endosome escape could provide an effective pathway for transport of mRNA to the cellular cytosol for transgene expression. Our studies confirmed that AdpL could mediate effective gene transfer of mRNA vectors in vitro and in vivo. Facets of this method may offer key utilities to actualize the promise of mRNA-based therapeutics.
Seroprevalence of Getah virus in Pigs in Eastern China Determined with a Recombinant E2 Protein-Based Indirect ELISA
Authors: Sun Qing , Xie Yixuan , Guan Zhixin , Zhang Yan , Li Yuhao , Yang Yang , Zhang Junjie , Li Zongjie , Qiu Yafeng , Li Beibei , Liu Ke , Shao Donghua , Wang Jiaxiang , Ma Zhiyong , Wei Jianchao , Li Peng
Published: October 2022

Getah virus (GETV), in the genus Alphavirus and the family Togaviridae, has been detected throughout the world. GETV causes high morbidity and mortality in newborn piglets, entailing serious economic losses. Therefore, the experimental work on GETV detection is necessary. However, due to the influence of a variety of unavoidable factors, the ELISA test for the primary screening of animal diseases has low accuracy in detection results. Therefore, we optimized a recombinant E2 (rE2) protein-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of GETV antibodies in pig serum. The E2 protein was successfully expressed and purified with SDS-PAGE. A Western blotting analysis of sera from infected pigs showed strong reaction with a viral antigen of ~46 KDa corresponding to the E2 glycoproteins. By using chessboard titration and comparing the P/N values, we found that the optimal concentration of coated antigen was found to be 24.5 μg/mL, and the optimal dilution of serum specimens was 1:100. The best working dilution of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated goat anti-pig immunoglobulin (IgG) was 1:5000. The optimal coating conditions were 12 h at 4 °C. The optimal incubation conditions for serum specimens, blocking, and reaction with the secondary antibody were all 1 h at 37 °C. We also investigated the seroprevalence of GETV in 133 serum specimens collected in Eastern China, and 37.59% of the samples tested positive for anti-GETV IgG antibodies, indicating that the seroprevalence of GETV is high in pig populations in China. The seroprevalence was significantly lower in spring (April; 24.24%, 16/66) than in autumn (October; 50.75%, 34/67), which suggested that the presence of anti-GETV antibodies in pigs was seasonal. In conclusion, we improved an rE2 ELISA that detected pig antibodies against GETV after experimental and natural infections. This should be useful in the diagnosis and surveillance of GETV infections.
The Prevalence, Genotype Distribution and Risk Factors of Human Papillomavirus in Tunisia: A National-Based Study
Authors: Ardhaoui Monia , Letaief Hejer , Ennaifer Emna , Bougatef Souha , Lassili Thelja , Bel Haj Rhouma Rahima , Fehri Emna , Ouerhani Kaouther , Guizani Ikram , Mchela Myriam , Chahed Karim , Chahed Mohamed Kouni , Boubaker Mohamed Samir , Bouafif Ben Alaya Nissaf
Published: October 2022

There are limited national population-based studies on HPV genotypes distribution in Tunisia, thus making difficult an assessment of the burden of vaccine-preventable cervical cancer. In this context, we conducted a national survey to determine the HPV prevalence and genotypes distribution and the risk factors for HPV infections in Tunisian women. This is a cross-sectional study performed between December 2012 and December 2014. A liquid-based Pap smear sample was obtained from all women and samples’ DNAs were extracted. Only women with betaglobin-positive PCR were further analysed for HPV detection and typing by a nested-PCR of the L1 region followed by next-generation sequencing. A multiple logistic regression model was used for the analysis of associations between the variables. A total of 1517 women were enrolled in this study, and 1229 out of the 1517 cervical samples were positive for the betaglobin control PCR and tested for HPV. Overall HPV infection prevalence was measured to be 7.8% (96/1229), with significant differences between the grand regions, ranging from 2% in the North to 13.1% in Grand Tunis. High-risk HPV genotypes accounted for 5% of the infections. The most prevalent genotypes were HPV 31 (1%), 16 (0.9%), 59 (0.7%). HPV18 was detected only in four cases of the study population. Potential risk factors were living in Grand Tunis region (OR: 7.94 [2.74–22.99]), married status (OR: 2.74 [1.23–6.13]), smoking habit (OR: 2.73 [1.35–5.51]), occupation (OR: 1.81 [1.09–3.01]) and women with multiple sexual partners (OR: 1.91 [1.07–3.39]). These findings underscore the need to evaluate the cost effectiveness of HPV vaccine implementation, contribute to the evidence on the burden of HPV infections, the critical role of sexual behaviour and socioeconomic status, and call for increased support to the preventive program of cervical cancer in Tunisia.
Comparative Upper Respiratory Tract Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals a Potential Role of Early Activation of Interferon Pathway in Severe COVID-19
Authors: Bhat Shabir A. , Shibata Tomohiro , Leong Matthew , Plummer Jasmine , Vail Eric , Khan Zakir
Published: October 2022

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 results in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to cause mild to acute respiratory infection and sometimes progress towards respiratory failure and death. The mechanisms driving the progression of the disease and accumulation of high viral load in the lungs without initial symptoms remain elusive. In this study, we evaluated the upper respiratory tract host transcriptional response in COVID-19 patients with mild to severe symptoms and compared it with the control COVID-19 negative group using RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq). Our results reveal an upregulated early type I interferon response in severe COVID-19 patients as compared to mild or negative COVID-19 patients. Moreover, severely symptomatic patients have pronounced induction of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), particularly the oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) family of genes. Our results are in concurrence with other studies depicting the early induction of IFN-I response in severe COVID-19 patients, providing novel insights about the ISGs involved.
Canary Bornavirus (Orthobornavirus serini) Infections Are Associated with Clinical Symptoms in Common Canaries (Serinus canaria dom.)
Authors: Rinder Monika , Baas Noreen , Hagen Elisabeth , Drasch Katrin , Korbel Rüdiger
Published: October 2022

While parrot bornaviruses are accepted as the cause of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacine birds, the pathogenic role of bornaviruses in common canaries is still unclear. To answer the question of whether canary bornaviruses (species Orthobornavirus serini) are associated with a PDD-like disease in common canaries (Serinus canaria f. dom.), the clinical data of 201 canary bird patients tested for bornaviruses using RT-PCR assays, were analyzed for the presence of PDD-like gastrointestinal or central nervous system signs and for other viruses (mainly circovirus and polyomavirus), yeasts and trichomonads. Canary bornavirus RNA was detected in the clinical samples of 40 out of 201 canaries (19.9%) coming from 28 of 140 flocks (20%). All nucleotide sequences obtained could unequivocally be determined as canary bornavirus 1, 2, or 3 supporting the current taxonomy of the species Orthobornavirus serini. PDD-like signs were found associated with canary bornavirus detection, and to a lesser extent, with circoviruses detection, but not with the detection of polyomaviruses, yeasts or trichomonads. The data indicate that canary bornaviruses contribute to a PDD-like disease in naturally infected canaries, and suggest a promoting effect of circoviruses for the development of PDD-like signs.
Immunogenicity, Safety, and Anti-Viral Efficacy of a Subunit SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Candidate in Captive Black-Footed Ferrets (Mustela nigripes) and Their Susceptibility to Viral Challenge
Authors: Leon Ariel E. , Garelle Della , Hartwig Airn , Falendysz Elizabeth A. , Ip Hon S. , Lankton Julia S. , Tretten Tyler N. , Spraker Terry R. , Bowen Richard , Rocke Tonie E.
Published: October 2022

A preliminary vaccination trial against the emergent pathogen, SARS-CoV-2, was completed in captive black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes; BFF) to assess safety, immunogenicity, and anti-viral efficacy. Vaccination and boosting of 15 BFF with purified SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit protein produced a nearly 150-fold increase in mean antibody titers compared to pre-vaccination titers. Serum antibody responses were highest in young animals, but in all vaccinees, antibody response declined rapidly. Anti-viral activity from vaccinated and unvaccinated BFF was determined in vitro, as well as in vivo with a passive serum transfer study in mice. Transgenic mice that received BFF serum transfers and were subsequently challenged with SARS-CoV-2 had lung viral loads that negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with the BFF serum titer received. Lastly, an experimental challenge study in a small group of BFF was completed to test susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Despite viral replication and shedding in the upper respiratory tract for up to 7 days post-challenge, no clinical disease was observed in either vaccinated or naive animals. The lack of morbidity or mortality observed indicates SARS-CoV-2 is unlikely to affect wild BFF populations, but infected captive animals pose a potential risk, albeit low, for humans and other animals.