bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controlling and Its Influence on Organizations’ Functioning under Conditions Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bieńkowska Agnieszka , Tworek Katarzyna
Published: December 2022

The paper concerns the role of controlling—a contemporary management method—in organizations operating under conditions caused by COVID-19 as a black swan event, which may cause a crisis within an organization. The main aim of the paper is to verify whether quality of controlling has the ability to mitigate negative effects of organizational disruptions occurring in such conditions on the performance of the organization as a whole. Empirical research was performed in order to verify the proposed set of hypotheses. The research was carried out among 1133 organizations operating in Poland, Italy, and the USA during an active wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, influencing the way in which organizations functioned in those countries. Linear regression analysis and multigroup path analysis were performed in order to verify the hypotheses. The results show that, indeed, quality of controlling in an organization limits the negative influence of organizational disruptions on organizational performance, simultaneously positively influencing the organizational performance itself. Moreover, such effects are the strongest among organizations that were able to function without crisis in such critical conditions and non-existent among those who were not able to survive such crisis. The results show that the use of controlling can support organizations in avoiding crisis while operating in unpredictable and dynamic environments or support them in surviving that crisis, in cases where avoiding it is not possible. This confirms that these theoretical considerations can be usefully applied in the practice of management.
Energy Transition and Economic Development in China: A National and Sectorial Analysis from a New Structural Economics Perspectives
Authors: Wang Dong , White Ben , Mugera Amin , Wang Bei
Published: December 2022

New Structural Economics (NSE) predicts that structural change in energy production would follow different patterns during different development stages and across different sectors. These variations require a range of policy responses. In this paper, we investigate this assertion by modeling China’s energy transition and economic development based on provincial panel data from 2000 to 2012. By using static models (Fama–MacBeth, OLS, fixed effect) and dynamic models (difference and system GMM), we find the relationship between low-carbon energy transition and economic development presents a U-shaped curve at the national level, but it is an inverted-U curve at the residential level. Furthermore, it is ambiguous in the agricultural sector and independent of economic development in the industry and service sectors. Institutional factors, natural resource endowment, environmental policy, and technological change influence China’s energy transition. Our findings supports NSE application in the Chinese energy economy and diversify energy transition policy by adjusting to the local conditions.
Does Fintech Development Reduce Corporate Earnings Management? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhan Weiwei , Jing Hao
Published: December 2022

This paper takes A-share companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2011 to 2020 as the research object and empirically tests the impact of fintech development on corporate earnings management and its mechanism. It is found that fintech development significantly reduces corporate earnings management. This conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. The mechanism test shows that fintech development reduces corporate earnings management by alleviating information asymmetry and easing corporate financing constraints. A heterogeneity test shows that fintech development has a greater effect on reducing earnings management in non-state-owned enterprises, small-scale enterprises and enterprises with low profitability, as well as enterprises in non-eastern China and regions with low marketization levels. This study clarifies the impact of fintech development on the field of micro corporate governance and provides rewarding policy implications for reducing corporate earnings management behavior, improving the level of corporate governance and facilitating the high-quality development of the capital market.
Sustainable CSR: Legal and Managerial Demands of the New EU Legislation (CSRD) for the Future Corporate Governance Practices
Authors: Primec Andreja , Belak Jernej
Published: December 2022

Despite its short-term use, non-financial reporting is an important measure, as demonstrated by numerous theoretical studies and empirical research. However, the mandatory nature of non-financial reporting and public pressure have persuaded company management to address non-financial issues alongside financial ones. Companies from countries with a more prolonged culture and tradition have been more successful in this respect than the companies from “younger” transition countries. Overall, non-financial reporting has raised the level of social responsibility in companies. However, things are far from ideal. Many uncertain situations, e.g., environmental, health, energy, etc., bring new challenges. They require not only non-financial, but also sustainable solutions. Therefore, it is unsurprising that the disclosure of non-financial information has also been renamed sustainability reporting (regarding designation in legal acts). In the presented research, we analyze how Slovenian companies comply with the current legislation (NFRD) requirements and whether their non-financial reports are qualitatively and quantitatively adequate. We are interested in what changes the new legislative proposal (CSRD) requires from them. Are the efforts of the legislator going in the right direction? Will companies be better prepared for environmental and social risks, and therefore better manage for sustainability once the CSRD is in place? The results suggest that the qualitative part of the non-financial reporting is the weakest. This gap in the quality of (required) non-financial reporting is also the subject of the presented research, which shows the (non)quality of the present non-financial reporting and therefore justifies the development of further requirements. Thus, CSRD introduces mandatory and uniform reporting standards based on double materiality, unification of the system of sanctions, external audit, etc. Therefore, our expectations that the new directive will contribute to more sustainability-oriented corporate governance are legitimate and justified. Since the CSRD harmonized sustainability reporting in the EU, this applies to Slovenia and all member states.
Impact of Modern Technologies on the Organization of the Cadastral Data Modernization Process
Authors: Kocur-Bera Katarzyna , Grzelka Iwona
Published: December 2022

Land surface and environmental data (cadastral data) are extremely important in the functioning of the country and society. Upgrading the data is fundamental. Methods of traditional surveying (TM) or using modern remote data acquisition methods (PhM) are used for this purpose. The aim of the study is to compare the process of upgrading space and environmental data made by traditional methods and using modern remote data collection methods. The study established the following research hypotheses: (1) the election of the method of performing the cadastral data modernization process to consider effectiveness, productivity, profitability, quality (accuracy), reliability, and efficiency; (2) technical factors, as well as employee well-being and commitment, are equivalent motivators for the election of the cadastral data modernization method; (3) modern survey technologies using photogrammetric images are more efficient than traditional survey methods. The process evaluation methodology was tested on two objects located in Poland. The analyses considered both technical aspects and the comfort of the process contractors. The results showed that despite the higher unit price per cadastral plot (TM 180 PLN/cadastral plot, PhM 190 PLN/cadastral plot), the remote methods require less time commitment (TM-86 days; PhM-50 days) and involve reduced business travel (TM-65 days; PhM-29 days). The comfort of working with modern methods (PhM) is higher than with traditional measurement methods. In total, considering all the parameters studied, traditional methods required about 33% more commitment than modern remote methods of collecting surface and environmental data collection. Modern data acquisition methods are friendly to process contractors but gain less public acceptance than traditional methods (the level of border non-acceptance is higher in PhM methods than in TM (TM-3, Phm-8).
Effect of Biochar and Process Water Derived from the Co-Processed Sewage Sludge and Food Waste on Garden Cress’ Growth and Quality
Authors: Kul Raziye , Yıldırım Ertan , Ekinci Melek , Turan Metin , Ercisli Sezai
Published: December 2022

Very little is known about how products derived from the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of municipal waste affect the availability and uptake of nitrogen in plant nutrition. This study examined the effects of 60% sewage sludge and 40% food waste HTC products, i.e., biochar (BC) and process water (PW), as nitrogen sources on garden cress growth and quality. A fertilization program using four nitrogen doses [(control), 9, 12, and 15 kg da−1 N] and BC, PW, chemical nitrogen (CN), and their combinations were used in a pot experiment conducted under greenhouse conditions. The highest nitrogen dose often produced better results in terms of plant growth and quality. Additionally, fertilization with PW+CN and BC+CN at the highest nitrogen dose significantly improved plant height, plant fresh and dry weight, and root dry weight parameters of garden cress over the previous treatments. The highest stem diameter, number of leaves, and plant area values were obtained in the 15 kg da−1 N dose PW+BC application. The vitamin C content in cress decreased with the increasing levels of CN. The highest vitamin C content was obtained with 15 kg N da−1 PW fertilization. BC+PW and CN fertilization applications improved chlorophyll a, b, and the total contents of garden cress leaves. Moreover, the nitrate (NO3) concentration of cress increased with CN doses while it decreased in all BC and PW administrations. The 9, 12, and 15 kg N da−1 doses of PW+CN and the 15 kg N da−1 dose of BC+CN yielded the highest agricultural nitrogen utilization efficiency (ANUE) values. Plant nutrient content was positively affected in all fertilization applications, except for Na and Cl. However, it was determined that BC+CN fertilizer application improved plant nutrient uptake. Surprisingly, PW+CN treatment at the lowest nitrogen dosage resulted in the highest soil organic matter and total nitrogen content. In conclusion, it has been determined that biochar and process water have a synergistic effect with CN to increase plant growth by improving nitrogen efficiency, but their application alone without CN is insufficient to meet the nitrogen requirement.
Research on Green Technology Path of Cold-Chain Distribution of Fresh Products Based on Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Zhou Lei , Li Qianpeng , Li Fachao , Jin Chenxia
Published: December 2022

In order to meet customers’ demand for freshness and the time window of fresh product distribution, and achieve the sustainable development of the fresh product cold-chain logistics industry, green technology is used to solve the optimization problem of the cold-chain distribution path of a variety of fresh products, taking transportation, refrigeration, and carbon emission cost as the objective functions. A hybrid particle swarm optimization (HPSO) algorithm was designed to solve this problem with the minimum freshness requirement of different kinds of cold-chain distribution. The results show that when the minimum freshness requirement of each fresh product is 75%, the total distribution cost obtained by the hybrid particle swarm optimization algorithm is CNY 4218, and the customer satisfaction is 88.22%. While satisfying the freshness constraint, the results obtained by the particle swarm optimization algorithm reduce the total distribution cost by CNY 362 and improve customer satisfaction by 3.82%. Green technology is beneficial to reduce vehicle pollution emissions and the loss of fresh product resources, thus achieving sustainable development.
Use of E-Waste in Metakaolin Blended Cement Concrete for Sustainable Construction
Authors: Selvaraj Thirumalini , T Shanmugapriya , Kaliyavaradhan Senthil Kumar , Kakria Kunal , Malladi Ravi Chandra
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates the use of non-metallic portion (NMP) reclaimed from e-waste (i.e., waste printed circuit board—PCB) as replacement of natural sand in the blended cement concrete by using Metakaolin (MK) as supplementary cementitious material for its effect on the mechanical, durability, microstructural, and mineralogical properties of concrete. It was found that the blended mixes containing NMP and MK outperformed the control mix. With the addition of 10% NMP and 10% MK, the maximum compressive strength was obtained, with the splitting tensile and flexural strength following the same trend. The performance of the mixes was lowered above 10% replacement levels, although it was still better than the control mixture. When compared to other mixes, 10% NMP and 10% MK concrete had the lowest sorptivity and water absorption values, as well as the highest resistance to chloride-ion penetration. FESEM was used to confirm the results, and then XRD was used to determine the elemental classification. This study lays the groundwork for a long-term strategy for utilising NMP and MK as extremely effective concrete additives.
Biogenic Production of Thiosulfate from Organic and Inorganic Sulfur Substrates for Application to Gold Leaching
Authors: McNeice James , Mahandra Harshit , Ghahreman Ahmad
Published: December 2022

Gold mining and processing is an activity with large environmental impact due to the low concentration of gold in ore deposits and chemical resistance to most chemicals. Over 75% of gold is leached from ores using cyanide, however less toxic lixiviants have been proposed in the literature. Thiosulfate is one of these alternative reagents, but high reagent consumption has slowed acceptance in mining operations. Reducing the cost and impact of thiosulfate production is a way to reduce the cost of reagent consumption during leaching. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of leaching gold from ore with biogenic thiosulfate. Biogenic thiosulfate was produced using a marine methylotroph bacterium from three substrates: sodium sulfide, elemental sulfur, and dimethyl sulfide for application in bioleaching. The different substrates were evaluated to determine conversion efficiency from the sulfur source to biogenic thiosulfate and verified by titration and ion chromatography. Optimal conditions for conversion to thiosulfate were determined to be in the range of pH = 7–8, 25–30 °C, with sodium sulfide as a substrate in a sealed system to prevent sulfide from escaping as hydrogen sulfide gas. An oxide gold ore with a grade of 4.02 g/t was selected as a gold source for leaching experiments. The leaching of gold using the biogenic thiosulfate was compared with chemical thiosulfate solutions under experimental conditions of pH = 9.5, 50 mg/L copper, 500 RPM mixing, and 0.1 L/min air. The efficiency of gold bioleaching was measured using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and fire assay. Gold extraction efficiencies ranging from 20–60% were achieved using the biogenic thiosulfate, and 27–77% with sodium thiosulfate solutions, respectively. It was concluded that the sodium sulfide substrate was best for producing higher biogenic thiosulfate concentrations and leaching efficiency.
Taking Advantage of Invasive Eupatorium adenophorum Plant for Eco-Synthesis and Stabilization of Nanosilver towards Durably Coloristic and Bioactive Silk Materials
Authors: Li Qing , Gao Kang , Liang Yan , Lu Run , Hang Jiahe , Jiang Huiyu , Zhou Yuyang
Published: December 2022

Recently, a growing emphasis has been placed on taking advantage of invasive plants for fabricating value-added and functional materials. In the present study, an easy and efficient approach to developing durably coloristic, antioxidant and antimicrobial silk using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) prepared with the extract of an invasive weed—Eupatorium adenophorum (EA)—which plays dual roles of bio-based reductant and stabilizer. The impact of factors including pH, concentration of EA extract (EAE) and Ag+ ions, temperature and time during AgNPs synthesis against the nanoparticle size and distribution, and the AgNPs concentration, were explored. The relationship between the color feature of silk and the treatment conditions was investigated through a central composite experimental analysis. Finally, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as the washing durability of the AgNPs-decorated silk were demonstrated. The results revealed that the size of AgNPs also decreases when pH ranges from 7.7 to 10.1. The zeta potential of AgNPs is −18.3 mV due to the existence of EAE on the surface of AgNPs. AgNPs generated efficiently within first 30 min, and then slowed down from 30 to 60 min. Based on the mathematical modeling study, a theoretical highest KS of 6.95 is able to be obtained using the processing condition of AgNPs/EAE conc. 2.32 g/L; pH 2.65, temperature 68.6 and time 42.6 min. The silk decorated with AgNPs/EAE killed over 95% of E. coli and S. aureus within 24 h. The superb antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs-treated silk is contributed by the AgNPs that enable the microbial cell membrane damage and segmentation. After 30 times repeated washing, the antimicrobial activity of the treated silk still remained over 85% against both strains. In all, the functionalization of silk established in this work not only reduces the ecological destructions and economic losses induced by EAE, but also permits the obtaining of sustainably developed value-added, safe and functional textiles.
Knowledge Trajectories Detection and Prediction of Modern Emergency Management in China Based on Topic Mining from Massive Literature Text
Authors: Wu Feng , Tang Yue , Lin Chaoran , Zhang Yanwei , Xu Wanqiang
Published: December 2022

China has witnessed dramatic advances in emergency management in the past two decades, while the knowledge trajectories and future trends of related research are still unclear. This study takes the published articles in China National Knowledge Infrastructure as a data sample and introduces text mining and machine learning methods, namely Latent Dirichlet Allocation combined with the Hidden Markov Model, to detect and predict the knowledge trajectories of Chinese modern emergency management research. We analyzed 5180 articles, equivalent to approximately 1,110,000 Chinese characters, from 2003 to 2021, and mined 35 latent research topics. By labeling the topics manually and analyzing the evolutionary hotspots, confusion and transition features, and transition direction and network of the topics, we explored the knowledge trajectories of emergency management research in China. By training the HMM model, we predicted the research trends in the next five years. The main conclusions are: a mapping relationship exists between the hotspots of the published articles and the main events of emergency management in China; most emergency management research topics could confuse and transfer with others in the evolution process, and seven significant paths exist in the transition network. The research topics in the following years will be more detailed and concerned with the intellectual needs of modernization.
Exploring Experiential Patterns Depending on Time Lapses in Virtual Reality Spectatorship (VRS): The Role of Interruption in Reducing Satiation
Authors: Oh Jihyeon , Kim Dae Hee , Kim Daehwan
Published: December 2022

Virtual reality spectatorship (VRS) is receiving the limelight as a new form of sports media consumption in the sports industry, but prolonged exposure to the virtual reality (VR) environment is likely to reduce the benefits of VR due to satiation or adaptation. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the experiential differences in telepresence, flow experience, and satisfaction between a two-dimensional (2D) screen, VRS without interruptions, and VRS with interruptions. For this purpose, 150 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to one of the three conditions. They watched a 12-min-long soccer game and then answered the measurement items. A total of 149 participants were used for the data analyses, including confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed that VRS offers more enhanced telepresence, flow experience, and satisfaction than a 2D screen. Furthermore, flow experience was enhanced in VRS with interruptions compared to VRS without interruptions. Lastly, satisfaction was found to increase depending on time lapses in VRS with interruptions. The experiential patterns in VRS depending on interruptions and time lapses imply that inserting interruptions such as commercials could be not only beneficial for viewing experiences but also effective practice for increasing revenue from advertising.
Environmental Risk Assessment in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains of Northern Pakistan: Palas Valley, Kohistan
Authors: Haq Noor Ul , Kontakiotis George , Janjuhah Hammad Tariq , Rahman Fazlur , Tabassum Iffat , Khan Usman , Khan Jamil , Ahmad Zahir , Jamal Naveed
Published: December 2022

Forest cover in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountains of northern Pakistan has changed dramatically due to community dynamics such as population growth, household dynamics, and intensive economic activity for people’s livelihoods. Demographic development is one of the major factors influencing forest cover change in a previously sparsely populated environment. An abrupt upsurge in population exerts adverse effects on the local natural resources, specifically forests. The present research shows an increase in population from 1980 to 2017, the development of human settlements, and a long-term decline in forest cover. This study was conducted in the Palas valley in the HKH mountains using GIS and remote sensing (RS) technology. Analysis of the changes between 1980, 2000, and 2017 was done using ArcGIS and the maximum likelihood algorithm for supervised classification of Landsat MSS TM ETM+ and Sentinel 2A satellite images. We used Euclidean distances and buffer analysis techniques to identify that most changes occurred within 1 to 3 km of the settlement’s proximity in each period. We also found changes in forest cover to be much greater near settlements than elsewhere in the study area. According to the findings of the study, population explosion and other socio-economic factors have imposed excessive pressure on vegetation cover, resulting in the loss of 17,076 ha of forests in the remote Palas valley.
Partial Clipping and Multilayered Wrapping Using Collagen Matrix for Partially Thrombosed Basilar Trunk Aneurysm: A Technical Case Report
Authors: Sayanagi Taichi , Kuranari Yuki , Katayama Makoto , Tamura Ryota
Published: December 2022

Treatment of basilar artery trunk aneurysms is still challenging today, although numerous approaches and modalities of treatment exist. The authors present a case of a patient with a partially thrombosed, ruptured basilar trunk artery aneurysm successfully treated by clipping occlusion of the rupture point and multilayered wrapping of the aneurysmal dome. A 49-year-old man presented to our emergency room with a chief complaint of altered mental status. The patient was diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). No apparent bleeding point was identified on initial 3-dimension computerized tomography (CT) angiography and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Follow-up DSA revealed a partially thrombosed saccular aneurysm emerging from the basilar trunk. We decided to treat the aneurysm surgically with partial clipping including the bleb and wrapping via the anterior transpetrosal approach. The surgery was performed successfully without any complications, and the residual blood flow within the aneurysm diminished remarkably over time. Although direct clipping and wrapping for basilar trunk artery aneurysms is one of the most challenging operations, it is a highly effective treatment for complex aneurysms, especially if other treatments are not available.
Cognitive Model for Assessing the Security of Information Systems for Various Purposes
Authors: Baranov Vladimir V. , Shelupanov Alexander A.
Published: December 2022

This article substantiates the relevance of the development of a cognitive model for assessing the security of information systems for various purposes, designed to support decision-making by officials of information security management bodies. The article analyzes scientific papers and research in this area, formulates the requirements for the functional capabilities of the model, and investigates and identifies the most appropriate modeling tools, based on the symmetry property that develops from integrated ontological and neuro-Bayesian models; typical clusters of information systems; tactics and techniques for the implementation of information security threats through the vulnerabilities of objects at various levels of the International Organization of Standardization/Open Systems Interconnection model (the ISO/OSI model); protective influences; and attacking influences. This approach allowed us to identify such objects of influence and their current vulnerabilities and scenarios for the implementation of information security threats; to calculate the joint probability distribution of information security events of various origins; and to simulate the process of operational management of information security.
Superpotential for Novel Symmetry in Real and Complex Space
Authors: Rath Biswanath
Published: December 2022

We propose a new “superpotential” and find that neither the supersymmetric energy conditions nor the associated shape invariance conditions remain valid. On the other hand, a new energy condition En+−En(−)=2λ between the two partner Hamiltonians H(±) emerges. A mathematical proof supports the present findings, with examples being presented. It is observed that when the superpotential is associated with discontinuity or distortion, the SUSY energy conditions and the shape invariance conditions will no longer hold well. The above formalism is also valid in complex space for models involving PT-symmetry.
Review and Evaluation of Belief Propagation Decoders for Polar Codes
Authors: Zhou Lingxia , Zhang Meixiang , Chan Satya , Kim Sooyoung
Published: December 2022

The polar code has become one of the most popular and important forward error correction (FEC) coding schemes due to its symmetric characteristics of channel polarization. This paper reviews various decoding schemes for polar codes and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. After reviewing the existing performance-enhancing techniques such as belief propagation decoding with list, a new method is proposed to further improve the performance. In addition, a new complexity reduction technique based on the constituent codes is proposed, and a new scheduling scheme is introduced to reduce the decoding latency. Due to the recent development of neural networks, their applications to decoding schemes are also reviewed and evaluated. Finally, the proposed complexity-reduced technique is integrated with a neural network-based belief propagation decoding, which demonstrates performance enhancement as well as computational complexity reduction.
Comparative Evaluation of Artifacts Originated by Four Different Post Materials Using Different CBCT Settings
Authors: Helvacioglu-Yigit Dilek , Seki Umut , Kursun-Cakmak Sebnem , Demirturk Kocasarac Husniye , Singh Maharaj
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in the presence of four different post materials, obtained from different kVps with varying resolutions and varying metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithms, differed in artifact estimation, and to compare tooth regions in terms of artifact value. Materials and Methods: Forty premolar teeth were used in this study. Root canals were treated, and teeth were randomly distributed into four subgroups (n = 10) for the preparation of post materials: titanium, gold (Nordin), quartz fiber (Bisco DT Light), and glass fiber (Rely X). The CBCT images were taken with two different kVps, three different metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithm options, and two different resolutions. For each protocol, the effective dose was calculated according to the dose area production (DAP) value. The standard analysis of variance technique and the Tukey multiple comparison adjustment method were used to assess interactions among material types, kVp, MAR, and voxel settings. Results: More artifacts were found in the middle third than in the cervical third (p < 0.05). The mean value of artifacts was highest for gold (Nordin), 90 kVp, no MAR, and 100 voxel size. Glass or quartz fiber posts at low resolution, with high MAR and 96 kVp, originated fewer artifacts. Moreover, the use of 90 and 96 kVp with 200 voxel size and high MAR provided the least amount of radiation. Conclusion: The best setting for radiographic follow-up of post materials on the Planmeca ProMax is 96 kVp with low resolution and high MAR; this setting produced one of the lowest effective doses. Clinical Significance: This study estimated the best scanning protocol by lowering the effective dose to a minimum level according to the “as low as reasonably achievable” principle, as well as assessing the tooth region and the post material generating the fewest artifacts, in order to prevent image interpretation challenges such as false-positive and false-negative results stemming from the deterioration of the visibility of the root canal due to perforation, fractures, and voids in the root canal region.
Life and Family Travel in the Time of COVID-19: Pandemic in England 2020
Authors: Seaton Anthony V.
Published: December 2022

This reports an exploratory attempt at a real–time account of COVID’s physical and social impacts on society, particularly family behavior, as the pandemic spread through England during 2020. Particular focus is on its effects on movement, travel and social relations and the contradictions for many in the way these were personally experienced, compared with media representations of national life during COVID. The study started with a sketch of historical pandemics in order to situate COVID contextually in relation to pandemics of the past. This was followed by a year-long, mixed-methodology, qualitative survey combining: diary observations, participant observation, unobtrusive observation, interviews, and oral reports by, and from, observer-informants at different locations in England. The results are reported in tabular form as 10 tracked outcomes, alongside each of which are notes, suggesting how actions might be derived as responsive measures to them in managing future pandemics.
Trauma Care for Forced Migrants
Authors: Dubus Nicole
Published: December 2022

Ever since World War II, forced migrations have increased exponentially, shaping our world, economies, and political discussions. When the United Nations formed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950, it could not predict the escalation of forced migration from civil unrest, personal persecution, war, and recently, climate crises. As forced migrations increase, we must understand the emotional trauma involved, and how to mitigate it. This study examined how providers of refugee services understand, assess, and treat trauma in the forced migration population. This paper is based on qualitative data collected from social work providers who work with forced migrants. Transcribed interviews were analyzed through content analysis regarding assessment and treatment approaches. The findings show that the lack of trauma-informed care was prevalent among the participants. This was reflected in the participants’ experiences. Three main themes emerged: (1) trauma was misdiagnosed; (2) few were trained in evidence-based practices to manage trauma; and (3) providers felt isolated in their work as if working in silos. These themes and their implications are discussed.
High Immune Response Rate to the Fourth Boost of the BNT162b2 Vaccine against the Omicron Variants of Concern among Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Davidov Yana , Indenbaum Victoria , Atari Nofar , Kliker Limor , Tsaraf Keren , Asraf Keren , Cohen-Ezra Oranit , Likhter Mariya , Mor Orna , Doolman Ram , Weiss-Ottolenghi Yael , Hod Tammy , Afek Arnon , Kreiss Yitshak , Lustig Yaniv , Regev-Yochay Gili , Mandelboim Michal , Ben-Ari Ziv
Published: December 2022

The immune response of liver transplant (LT) recipients to a third dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine significantly waned after four months. We aimed to evaluate the immune response and breakthrough infection rates of a fourth dose against the Omicron variants among LT recipients. LT recipients who had no past or active SARS-CoV-2 infection and received three doses of the BNT162b2mRNA vaccine were included. Of the 73 LT recipients, 50 (68.5%) received a fourth dose. The fourth dose was associated with a significantly higher positive immune response than the third dose. Receptor-binding domain (RBD) IgG and Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 neutralizing antibodies were determined at a median of 132 and 29 days after the third and fourth vaccines. They were 345 binding antibody units per milliliter (BAU/mL) vs. 2118 BAU/mL (p < 0.0001), 10 vs. 87 (p < 0.0001), and 15 vs. 149 (p = 0.001), respectively. Breakthrough infections were documented among nine (18%) LT recipients after the fourth dose and among seven (30.4%) patients following the third dose (p = 0.2); 93.5% of breakthrough infections were mild. The infection rate after the fourth dose was higher among diabetic vs. nondiabetic recipients (33.3% vs. 6.9%, respectively; p = 0.02). Further studies are needed to evaluate additional factors influencing the breakthrough infection rate among LT recipients.
Diversity, Dynamics and Therapeutic Application of Clostridioides difficile Bacteriophages
Authors: Nale Janet Y. , Thanki Anisha M. , Rashid Srwa J. , Shan Jinyu , Vinner Gurinder K. , Dowah Ahmed S. A. , Cheng Jeffrey K. J. , Sicheritz-Pontén Thomas , Clokie Martha R. J.
Published: December 2022

Clostridioides difficile causes antibiotic-induced diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis in humans and animals. Current conventional treatment relies solely on antibiotics, but C. difficile infection (CDI) cases remain persistently high with concomitant increased recurrence often due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Antibiotics used in treatment also induce gut microbial imbalance; therefore, novel therapeutics with improved target specificity are being investigated. Bacteriophages (phages) kill bacteria with precision, hence are alternative therapeutics for the targeted eradication of the pathogen. Here, we review current progress in C. difficile phage research. We discuss tested strategies of isolating C. difficile phages directly, and via enrichment methods from various sample types and through antibiotic induction to mediate prophage release. We also summarise phenotypic phage data that reveal their morphological, genetic diversity, and various ways they impact their host physiology and pathogenicity during infection and lysogeny. Furthermore, we describe the therapeutic development of phages through efficacy testing in different in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo infection models. We also discuss genetic modification of phages to prevent horizontal gene transfer and improve lysis efficacy and formulation to enhance stability and delivery of the phages. The goal of this review is to provide a more in-depth understanding of C. difficile phages and theoretical and practical knowledge on pre-clinical, therapeutic evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of phage therapy for CDI.
The Persistence of HIV Diversity, Transcription, and Nef Protein in Kaposi’s Sarcoma Tumors during Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Nolan David J. , Rose Rebecca , Zhang Rongzhen , Leong Alan , Fogel Gary B. , Scholte Larissa L. S. , Bethony Jeffrey M. , Bracci Paige , Lamers Susanna L. , McGrath Michael S.
Published: December 2022

Epidemic Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), defined by co-infection with Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a major cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly reduces the risk of developing KS, and for those with KS, tumors frequently resolve with ART alone. However, for unknown reasons, a significant number of KS cases do not resolve and can progress to death. To explore how HIV responds to ART in the KS tumor microenvironment, we sequenced HIV env-nef found in DNA and RNA isolated from plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and tumor biopsies, before and after ART, in four Ugandan study participants who had unresponsive or progressive KS after 180–250 days of ART. We performed immunohistochemistry experiments to detect viral proteins in matched formalin-fixed tumor biopsies. Our sequencing results showed that HIV diversity and RNA expression in KS tumors are maintained after ART, despite undetectable plasma viral loads. The presence of spliced HIV transcripts in KS tumors after ART was consistent with a transcriptionally active viral reservoir. Immunohistochemistry staining found colocalization of HIV Nef protein and tissue-resident macrophages in the KS tumors. Overall, our results demonstrated that even after ART reduced plasma HIV viral load to undetectable levels and restored immune function, HIV in KS tumors continues to be transcriptionally and translationally active, which could influence tumor maintenance and progression.
Immune Responses against the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 after a Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLWH): Comparison with Healthcare Workers
Authors: Park Joung Ha , Chung Hyemin , Kim Min-Chul , Choi Seong-Ho , Chung Jin-Won
Published: December 2022

We compared immune responses against the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 after a third dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine between people living with human immunodeficiency (PLWH) and healthcare workers (HCWs). In this prospective observational study, PLWH and HCWs vaccinated with at least two doses of vaccine were enrolled. We analyzed neutralizing responses using the GenScript SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralization test kit. Twenty-nine PLWH and 114 HCWs were included to analyze immune responses after the third vaccination. Most PLWH (86.2%) had fully suppressed viral loads and CD4 T cell counts were well-controlled (median 670.0 cells/μL). The neutralizing responses against the omicron variant in PLWH were not significantly different from those in HCWs (43.94% vs. 51.77%, p = 0.42). However, neutralizing responses against the omicron variant were significantly impaired by about 50% compared with wild type SARS-CoV-2 in PLWH (43.94% vs. 97.46%, p < 0.001) and HCWs (51.77% vs. 97.74%, p < 0.001). Although neutralizing responses against the omicron variant in well-controlled PLWH were comparable to those of HCWs, the responses were much lower than those against wild type in both PLWH and HCWs. Therefore, the risk of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection due to the currently circulating omicron variant is still high despite three doses of vaccine in PLWH and will not differ from HCWs.
Effect of Vaccination against Glässer’s Disease in a Farm Suffering from Polyserositis in Weaned Pigs
Authors: Hattab Jasmine , Marruchella Giuseppe , Trachtman Abigail Rose , Gabrielli Luigino , Bernabò Nicola , Mosca Francesco , Tiscar Pietro Giorgio
Published: December 2022

Polyserositis mostly affects 4–8 weeks old piglets and is usually caused by Glaesserella parasuis, and/or Streptococcus suis, and/or Mycoplasma hyorhinis. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and etiology of polyserositis in a tricky pig herd. The concurrent effect of vaccination for Glässer’s disease was also assessed. A total of 46 sows and 387 piglets were herein investigated, subdivided into three groups based on their immune status (i.e., vaccination of sows and piglets). All the piglets found spontaneously dead between the 2nd and 16th week of age were recorded and necropsied. Whenever polyserositis was diagnosed, biomolecular investigations were carried out to detect the above-mentioned pathogens. Mycoplasma hyorhinis was detected most frequently (n = 23), often as the only causative agent (n = 15), whereas S. suis was observed in 8 cases (6 as the only pathogen). Moreover, Glaesserella parasuis was demonstrated in 6 piglets, always in combination with Mycoplasma hyorhinis and/or Streptococcus suis. Vaccination did not significantly affect mortality rates. Overall, our data indicate that polyserositis is likely caused by an intricate puzzle of pathogens, even when dealing with a small herd and during a short time span. That makes it challenging to achieve the correct diagnosis and to properly manage this health issue.
Multimodal Assessment of Bottlenose Dolphin Auditory Nuclei Using 7-Tesla MRI, Immunohistochemistry and Stereology
Authors: Orekhova Ksenia , Selmanovic Enna , De Gasperi Rita , Gama Sosa Miguel A. , Wicinski Bridget , Maloney Brigid , Seifert Alan , Alipour Akbar , Balchandani Priti , Gerussi Tommaso , Graïc Jean-Marie , Centelleghe Cinzia , Di Guardo Giovanni , Mazzariol Sandro , Hof Patrick R.
Published: December 2022

The importance of assessing neurochemical processes in the cetacean brain as a tool for monitoring their cognitive health and to indirectly model human neurodegenerative conditions is increasingly evident, although available data are largely semiquantitative. High-resolution MRI for post-mortem brains and stereology allow for quantitative assessments of the cetacean brain. In this study, we scanned two brains of bottlenose dolphins in a 7-Tesla (7T) MR scanner and assessed the connectivity of the inferior colliculi and ventral cochlear nuclei using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Serial thick sections were investigated stereologically in one of the dolphins to generate rigorous quantitative estimates of identifiable cell types according to their morphology and expression of molecular markers, yielding reliable cell counts with most coefficients of error <10%. Fibronectin immunoreactivity in the dolphin resembled the pattern in a human chronic traumatic encephalopathy brain, suggesting that neurochemical compensation for insults such as hypoxia may constitute a noxious response in humans, while being physiological in dolphins. These data contribute to a growing body of knowledge on the morphological and neurochemical properties of the dolphin brain and highlight a stereological and neuroimaging workflow that may enable quantitative and translational assessment of pathological processes in the dolphin brain in the future.
Low-Concentration Atropine Monotherapy vs. Combined with MiSight 1 Day Contact Lenses for Myopia Management
Authors: Erdinest Nir , London Naomi , Lavy Itay , Landau David , Ben Ephraim Noyman Dror , Levinger Nadav , Morad Yair
Published: December 2022

Objectives: To assess the decrease in myopia progression and rebound effect using topical low-dose atropine compared to a combined treatment with contact lenses for myopic control. Methods: This retrospective review study included 85 children aged 10.34 ± 2.27 (range 6 to 15.5) who were followed over three years. All had a minimum myopia increase of 1.00 D the year prior to treatment. The children were divided into two treatment groups and a control group. One treatment group included 29 children with an average prescription of 4.81 ± 2.12 D (sphere equivalent (SE) range of 1.25–10.87 D), treated with 0.01% atropine for two years (A0.01%). The second group included 26 children with an average prescription of 4.14 ± 1.35 D (SE range of 1.625–6.00 D), treated with MiSight 1 day dual focus contact lenses (DFCL) and 0.01% atropine (A0.01% + DFCL) for two years. The control group included 30 children wearing single-vision spectacles (SV), averaging −5.06 ± 1.77 D (SE) range 2.37–8.87 D). Results: There was an increase in the SE myopia progression in the SV group of 1.19 ± 0.43 D, 1.25 ± 0.52 D, and 1.13 ± 0.36 D in the first, second, and third years, respectively. Myopia progression in the A0.01% group was 0.44 ± 0.21 D (p < 0.01) and 0.51 ± 0.39 D (p < 0.01) in the first and second years, respectively. In the A0.01% + DFCL group, myopia progression was 0.35 ± 0.26 D and 0.44 ± 0.40 D in the first and second years, respectively (p < 0.01). Half a year after the cessation of the atropine treatment, myopia progression (rebound effect) was measured at −0.241 ± 0.35 D and −0.178 ± 0.34 D in the A0.01% and A0.01% + DFCL groups, respectively. Conclusions: Monotherapy low-dose atropine, combined with peripheral blur contact lenses, was clinically effective in decreasing myopia progression. A low rebound effect was found after the therapy cessation. In this retrospective study, combination therapy did not present an advantage over monotherapy.
Influence of Livelihood Capital of Rural Reservoir Resettled Households on the Choice of Livelihood Strategies in China
Authors: Wu Jing , Chen Shaojun , Zhou Kexin , Chen Xinxin
Published: December 2022

The livelihood capital of resettled households is an important factor that affects their choice of livelihood strategies. The relationship between the two can help to transform the livelihood behavior of resettled households aiming to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Based on survey data of livelihoods of the Wuxikou Water Control Project, the logistic regression model was used to analyze the influence of livelihood capital on the choice of livelihood strategies. The results showed the following: (1) The five categories of livelihood capital values were generally not high. The value of human capital was the highest (0.480), while the value of natural capital was the lowest (0.362). (2) Natural and financial capital have significant effects on the choice of an agricultural-oriented livelihood strategy, in which natural capital has a positive effect and financial capital has a negative effect. Social and financial capital have a significant positive effect on the choice of a migrant-oriented livelihood strategy. Human and physical capital have significant positive effects on the choice of a part-time balanced livelihood strategy. (3) Decisive factors are used to promote transformation from agriculture-oriented to migrant-oriented, mostly comprising education level and interpersonal communication, among other indicators. The important factors used to promote transformation from agriculture-oriented to part-time balanced are mainly labor force quantity and total family income, among other indicators. Finally, on the basis of the above findings, context-specific policies are proposed from the observations of livelihood capital and livelihood strategies, such as upgrading the level of human capital by category, reconstructing the social capital network in multiple forms, and diversifying and broadening financial capital channels.