bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measurement of Systemic Risk in Global Financial Markets and Its Application in Forecasting Trading Decisions
Authors: Liu Jianxu , Song Quanrui , Qi Yang , Rahman Sanzidur , Sriboonchitta Songsak
Published: May 2020

The global financial crisis in 2008 spurred the need to study systemic risk in financial markets, which is of interest to both academics and practitioners alike. We first aimed to measure and forecast systemic risk in global financial markets and then to construct a trade decision model for investors and financial institutions to assist them in forecasting risk and potential returns based on the results of the analysis of systemic risk. The factor copula-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models and component expected shortfall (CES) were combined for the first time in this study to measure systemic risk and the contribution of individual countries to global systemic risk in global financial markets. The use of factor copula-based models enabled the estimation of joint models in stages, thereby considerably reducing computational burden. A high-dimensional dataset of daily stock market indices of 43 countries covering the period 2003 to 2019 was used to represent global financial markets. The CES portfolios developed in this study, based on the forecasting results of systemic risk, not only allow spreading of systemic risk but may also enable investors and financial institutions to make profits. The main policy implication of our study is that forecasting systemic risk of global financial markets and developing portfolios can provide valuable insights for financial institutions and policy makers to diversify portfolios and spread risk for future investments and trade.
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Walking in Urban Parks and Its Imagery in Different Seasons in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Evidence from Matsudo City, Japan
Authors: Pratiwi Prita Indah , Xiang Qiongying , Furuya Katsunori
Published: May 2020

The benefits of park therapy have been investigated in young adults, but rarely for middle-aged and older adults. This study evaluates the physiological and psychological effects of walking in urban parks and park therapy images in winter, spring, and early summer. The experiments were implemented in two walking courses in the urban park in Japan and involved 12 middle-aged and older adults. Participants walked on walking courses in an urban park and city street for 11–15 min. Their heart rate and blood pressure were evaluated to determine physiological responses. The Profile of Mood States (POMS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Landscape Image Sketching Technique (LIST) were used to determine psychological responses and spatial conditions. Walking in an urban park exhibited lower heart rates and blood pressure as compared to walking in the city. It was congruent with lowered negative moods, total mood disturbance (TMD) scores, and state anxiety, while the higher positive mood was observed in the urban parks as compared to the city. Images in winter displayed trees, relaxation, and comfort; in spring, water, activity, people, surrounding place, and recreational space; and in early summer, greenery, lawn, and broadness. In conclusion, walking in urban parks leads to physiological, psychological relaxation, and varied landscape appreciation.
The Business Case for a Journey Planning and Ticketing App—Comparison between a Simulation Analysis and Real-World Data
Authors: Harrison Gillian , Gühnemann Astrid , Shepherd Simon
Published: May 2020

Successful development of “Mobility-as-a-Service” (MaaS) schemes could be transformative to our transport systems and critical for achieving sustainable cities. There are high hopes for mobile phone applications that offer both journey planning and ticketing across all the available transport modes, but these are in their infancy, with little understanding of the correct approach to business models and governance. In this study, we develop a system dynamics diffusion model that represents the uptake of such an app, based on one developed and released in West Yorkshire, UK. We perform sensitivity and uncertainty tests on user uptake and app operating profitability, and analyse these in three key areas of marketing, competition, and costs. Comparison to early uptake data is included to demonstrate accuracy of model behaviour and would suggest market failure by month 12 without stronger marketing, even if additional tickets and functions are offered. In response to this, we offer further insights on the need for direct targeted marketing to ensure mass market adoption, the importance of understanding a realistic potential adopter pool, the awareness of competing apps, and the high uncertainty that exists in this market.
Farmers’ Attitudes Towards the Use of Biomass as Renewable Energy—A Case Study from Southeastern Europe
Authors: Ymeri Prespa , Gyuricza Csaba , Fogarassy Csaba
Published: May 2020

Among the renewable energy sources, increasing the use of biomass (agricultural by-products) could be important from both an environmental and a climate protection perspective, but in many cases this is not a part of the current practice. Especially in developing countries, a large amount of agricultural waste suitable for energy use remains unused, remaining on the arable land or being burned in the field. Complicating matters is the fact that some countries have significant fossil energy reserves. This is also the case in Kosovo, which has the largest reserves of coal reserves (lignite) in southeastern Europe. An important question is how polluting and non-climate-friendly fossil fuels are to be replaced when they are available cheaply and in large quantities. The function of the political and economic models used in Europe has local specificity. It is not possible to copy the good solutions introduced by each country because of differences in the economic systems and farmers. Previous research has paid little attention to the producer conditions for available waste biomass sales. Studies have not examined the sales attitudes of farmers, or under what conditions they are willing to sell a larger proportion of the straw produced—of course, in such a way that they also meet the needs of animal husbandry, nutrients, and carbon supply. Using binary logistics regression and descriptive statistics not yet used in previous research, we analyzed the factors that influence farmers’ willingness to sell, sales barriers, and incentives. According to the respondents, the biggest barriers to selling straw are the lack of a market (74.1%) and baling machines (50.9%), while the main incentives may be a good price (75%) and a guaranteed contract (67.8%). The farmers surveyed believe that, in a safe market, with a multiyear contractual agreement, they would sell more than half of their straw for biomass energy production. The use of straw in animal husbandry is declining due to the introduction of new technological solutions, so the use of straw for energy purposes is an increasingly topical issue in the rapidly developing southeastern European countries as well. Based on our research results, it can be stated that the majority of farmers are willing to sell more than 50% of the amount of straw produced for energy purposes if the business model and state regulations are appropriate.
Segmenting the Older Resident’s Perception of a Major Cycling Event
Authors: Vegara-Ferri José Miguel , López-Gullón José María , Ibanez-Pérez Ricardo José , Carboneros María , Angosto Salvador
Published: May 2020

The aim of the study is to evaluate the social perception of older adults, resident in the host communities where the stage of “La Vuelta” 2019 starts or ends, identifying the possible existing groups and comparing the results before and during the event. Community support is a critical factor in ensuring the success of a major sports event and in generating a greater sense of community involvement. In order to analyze the social perception of the event, 521 older adults were interviewed using a questionnaire of 27 items. Data were collected online in the pre-event period and face-to-face in the on-site period using tablets. A t-test and cluster analysis was carried out to identify different residents’ opinions. The results showed an improvement in the perception of the positive and negative impacts in the in situ period with respect to the pre-event. Three clusters were identified (Positives, Moderates, Haters) with the Positives group being the most represented in each of the periods. The findings suggest that a high level of future intentions for positive behavior can benefit the intangible characteristics of the event and host communities, and that these population groups can better harness the tangible benefits of sports events.
The Key Factors Affecting Tree Producer Associations Involved in Private Commercial Forestry in Kenya
Authors: Ngome Chisika Sylvester , Yeom Chunho
Published: May 2020

Formal tree producer associations are critical for the sustainable management of private commercial farm forests in Kenya. However, there is limited information on their current status and the key factors driving their operations in the country. This paper sought to address this informational gap by reviewing the existing literature in the country from the theoretical background of sustainable development and later validating the obtained findings with the current state of knowledge at regional and global levels. Results from document content analysis indicate that there are over 10,000 tree growing farmers organized into planting groups across the country after many years of piloting by the government and private sector players. At the national level, there are two associations. These include Kenya Forest Growers Association (KEFGA), mainly composed of large scale planters, and Farm Forestry Smallholder Producers Association of Kenya (FFSPAK), targeting small-holders. Besides these two, six major sub-national associations are seeking to improve members’ welfare by enhancing the acquisition of livelihood assets. Further, various socio-cultural, economic, and political factors affect their operations in Kenya. These associations have deployed multiple strategies to benefit their members. However, the formation of savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOs) seems to be their preferred mode of community empowerment. In conclusion, even though these associations are still at the infancy stage, their future remains promising in-view of the observed behavioral change in their governance, which appears to favor entrenched equality and equity towards sustainable development.
Evaluation of Thermal and Energy Performance in Mosque Buildings for Current Situation (Simulation Study) in Mountainous Climate of Abha City
Authors: Shohan Ahmed Ali A. , Gadi Mohamed B.
Published: May 2020

Achieving and maintaining indoor thermal comfort is a crucial factor for energy saving and human health, especially in heavily occupied public buildings, such as mosque buildings. The acceptable level of thermal comfort should not be achieved at the expense of damaging the environment by using preventable energy depletion. This study aims to investigate what level thermal comfort is achieved and related issues in mosque buildings in Abha city, which has a semi-arid moderate/cold mountainous climate. The research involved a computer modelling investigation by using Thermal Analysis Software (TAS). A number of comparisons of the simulation results with actual measurement data in mosque buildings, such as temperature, relative humidity, and energy demand were conducted. Main factors influencing thermal comfort and PMV were investigated for the selected mosques. In addition, thermal performance of mosques’ fabrics and envelopes in terms of solar gain and heat loss/gain by conduction and its impacts on thermal comfort and energy demands were also discussed. The outcome showed some discomfort due to heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. The results also revealed that the main factors behind heat gain or loss were the poor quality of the investigated mosque buildings’ envelopes, including walls, roofs, floors, windows, and doors.
A Transdisciplinary Approach for the Development of Sustainable Yam (Dioscorea sp.) Production in West Africa
Authors: Kiba Delwendé Innocent , Hgaza Valérie Kouamé , Aighewi Beatrice , Aké Sévérin , Barjolle Dominique , Bernet Thomas , Diby Lucien N. , Ilboudo Léa Jeanne , Nicolay Gian , Oka Esther , Ouattara Florence Y. , Pouya Nestor , Six Johan , Frossard Emmanuel
Published: May 2020

Yam (Dioscorea sp.) is an understudied tuber crop despite its importance for food security, income generation, culture, and health in West Africa. Traditional yam cropping practices in West Africa deliver low yields and lead to environmental degradation. In the context of a ‘research for development’ project, we developed and implemented a participatory and transdisciplinary research approach as a means to derive more sustainable yam production practices. We identified and studied different soil and plant management technologies adapted to varying biophysical and socio-economic contexts. For this purpose, we established innovation platforms (IPs) in four yam growing regions of West Africa, to validate the new technologies and to promote their adoption. These co-developed technologies were set up and tested first in researcher-managed plots before doing the same in farmer-managed plots. The new technologies resulted in a significant increase in yam productivity compared to conventional practices. The results discussed in the IPs gained interest from regional stakeholders and were shared through the media at local and national levels. Overall, this development-focused research approach showcases the relevance of purposeful stakeholder involvement to improve agricultural research outcomes.
Digital Entrepreneurship: A Theory-Based Systematization of Core Performance Indicators
Authors: Satalkina Liliya , Steiner Gerald
Published: May 2020

Digital transformation affects socioeconomic systems, bringing inevitable changes to business processes, particularly those related to resource demands, networking processes, and communication mechanisms within entrepreneurial activities. Furthermore, digital transformation leads to unintended side effects on the societal system and affects the competitiveness, resilience, and viability of the overall innovation system. It also fosters the formation of new business models or the reshaping of existing ones and determines digital entrepreneurship as a process or as an outcome of business activity. The tendencies of digital entrepreneurship differ concerning the underlying innovation system conditions. The analysis and the systematization of categories and performance indicators of digitalization and digital entrepreneurship provide a framework for micro- and macro analytic perspectives. This research aims to provide a theory-based systematization of the existing performance indicators that characterize digital entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on compound indicators that characterize the tendencies of digital entrepreneurship on a country basis in the period from 2016 to 2019. As a theoretical basis for categorization and further analysis of the indicators, we applied a set of 10 determinants of digital entrepreneurship. These determinants cover a broad range of elements (from individual patterns to organizational management processes and the influence of external infrastructure and institutional settings) that define the phenomenon of digital entrepreneurship within three core dimensions: the entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial process, and the relevant ecosystem. We defined how the subindices of the chosen compound indicators are interrelated with the determinants of digital entrepreneurship. Further correlation analysis was applied in order to define the systematic interrelations between the different dimensions of digital entrepreneurship as part of a socioeconomic system.
Promoting Research and Landscape Experience in the Management of the Archaeological Networks. A Project-Valuation Experiment in Italy
Authors: Giuffrida Salvatore , Gagliano Filippo , Giannitrapani Enrico , Marisca Carmelo , Napoli Grazia , Trovato Maria Rosa
Published: May 2020

Archaeological sites are part of the history and identity of a community playing a strategic role on the different scales of the cultural and economic common life. Whereas on the one end the most famous archaeological sites attract huge flows of tourists and investment, on the other hand, many minor archaeological sites remain almost ignored and neglected. This study proposes a project-evaluation approach devoted to the “minor” archaeological site development, outlining a territorial, socio-economic, and landscape communication pattern aimed at creating an archaeological network integrating other cultural and natural resources. As such, these networks get able to match the demand of customers who shy away from iper-consumerist tourism and want to deepen their knowledge of a place. The proposed approach integrates knowledge, evaluation, and design in a multiscale pattern whose scope is to foster and extend the archaeological research program, involving public and private stake/stockholders to widen the cultural-contemplative experience and promote further educational events concerning the themes of the local identity. With reference to the archaeological basin of Tornambè, Italy, a Web-GIS knowledge system has been drawn to provide the territorial information requested by the economic-evaluation multiscale pattern implemented to verify the cost-effectiveness of the project. The expected negative results of the economic valuation supported the allocation pattern of the considerable investment costs, as well as the hypothetic scenarios about the evolution of the cultural-contemplative experience due to the extension of the archaeological estate. Some disciplinary remarks propose a heterodox approach for a further interpretation of the economic results and financial indexes, by introducing the monetary dimension of such a social capital asset.
Modeling and Uncertainty Analysis of Groundwater Level Using Six Evolutionary Optimization Algorithms Hybridized with ANFIS, SVM, and ANN
Authors: Seifi Akram , Ehteram Mohammad , Singh Vijay P. , Mosavi Amir
Published: May 2020

In the present study, six meta-heuristic schemes are hybridized with artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy interface system (ANFIS), and support vector machine (SVM), to predict monthly groundwater level (GWL), evaluate uncertainty analysis of predictions and spatial variation analysis. The six schemes, including grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), cat swarm optimization (CSO), weed algorithm (WA), genetic algorithm (GA), krill algorithm (KA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO), were used to hybridize for improving the performance of ANN, SVM, and ANFIS models. Groundwater level (GWL) data of Ardebil plain (Iran) for a period of 144 months were selected to evaluate the hybrid models. The pre-processing technique of principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to reduce input combinations from monthly time series up to 12-month prediction intervals. The results showed that the ANFIS-GOA was superior to the other hybrid models for predicting GWL in the first piezometer (RMSE:1.21, MAE:0.878, NSE:0.93, PBIAS:0.15, R2:0.93), second piezometer (RMSE:1.22, MAE:0.881, NSE:0.92, PBIAS:0.17, R2:0.94), and third piezometer (RMSE:1.23, MAE:0.911, NSE:0.91, PBIAS:0.19, R2:0.94) in the testing stage. The performance of hybrid models with optimization algorithms was far better than that of classical ANN, ANFIS, and SVM models without hybridization. The percent of improvements in the ANFIS-GOA versus standalone ANFIS in piezometer 10 were 14.4%, 3%, 17.8%, and 181% for RMSE, MAE, NSE, and PBIAS in training stage and 40.7%, 55%, 25%, and 132% in testing stage, respectively. The improvements for piezometer 6 in train step were 15%, 4%, 13%, and 208% and in test step were 33%, 44.6%, 16.3%, and 173%, respectively, that clearly confirm the superiority of developed hybridization schemes in GWL modelling. Uncertainty analysis showed that ANFIS-GOA and SVM had, respectively, the best and worst performances among other models. In general, GOA enhanced the accuracy of the ANFIS, ANN, and SVM models.
Length of Stay and Sustainability: Evidence from the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal
Authors: Martínez-Roget Fidel , Moutela José Alberto , Rodríguez Xosé A.
Published: May 2020

There is evidence that increasing the Length of Stay (LOS) contributes to the sustainability of destinations. This paper analyzes LOS determinants in the Schist Villages Network (SVN) in Portugal, where almost half of the visitors are same-day visitors. Given that these visitors generate more environmental impacts, an increase in LOS would help guide tourism towards more sustainable standards. The analysis was performed using several Heckman selection models. Unlike the findings of previous studies, LOS depended mainly on the characteristics of the trip and the destination—not on visitor profile—and can therefore be considered a highly specific form of tourism. Comparatively, motivations associated with rest, residents’ hospitality, and local produce consumption encourage visitors to extend their stay, thereby boosting tourism sustainability. The SVN is also shown to have various cultural and heritage resources that are currently highly valued. However, the leisure offer is insufficient to increase LOS. Furthermore, conventional advertising was not shown to be effective in raising LOS compared with word-of-mouth (WOM). The paper concludes that measures should be adopted to increase the local produce offer, retain population, maintain traditional village activities, and attract visitors from nearby regions. These actions could increase overnight stays and LOS, contributing to more sustainable development.
Issues Regarding the Design Intervention and Conservation of Heritage Areas: The Historical Pedestrian Streets of Kuala Lumpur
Authors: Bindajam Ahmed , Hisham Fadrul , Al-Ansi Nashwan , Mallick Javed
Published: May 2020

This study focused on the areas of Petaling Street and Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur, in a historical enclave that is well known locally for its cultural, architectural, and historical interest that is worth preserving and conserving. To fulfill the purpose of enhancing the areas, the local authority introduced a covered pedestrian street, which is said to be more convenient for shoppers, considering the tropical climate of Kuala Lumpur. This effort is believed to have been done without any consultation with heritage conservators and activists, thus invoking a debate regarding its many pros and cons. This study examined the arguments concerning the intervention in the heritage area from various groups of stakeholders that are directly involved. Furthermore, this paper presents the method of implementation used by the local authority when executing a conservation project. The collection of primary and secondary data in the form of surveys and interviews with the professionals, traders, and officials in the local area was carried out. The findings show that the majority of the respondents had no objection to the modern intervention in the Heritage Enclave, including the roofing structure, except for its design. This study also found that the intervention did not affect the heritage value of the place, but at the same time, brought concerns regarding the extemporaneous method taken by the local authority when implementing the project.
A New Approach to Intertemporal Choice: The Delay Function
Authors: Cruz Rambaud Salvador , González Fernández Isabel
Published: May 2020

The framework of this paper is intertemporal choice, which traditionally has been studied with preference relations and discount functions. However, the interest of econophysics in this topic makes time become a central magnitude. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to introduce the concept of delay function and, by using this tool, to analyze the concept of impatience and the different types of inconsistency. In behavioral finance, consistency is correlated with the concept of symmetry because, in this case, the indifference between two rewards does not change when the same delay is added to their respective availability dates. Moreover, we have shown the way to derive a discount (respectively, delay) function starting from the expression of its corresponding delay (respectively, discount) function by requiring some suitable conditions for this construction. Finally, we have deduced the concept of instantaneous variation rate and Prelec’s measure of inconsistency in terms of the delay function.
Efficient Algorithm for Generating Maximal L-Reflexive Trees
Authors: Anđelić Milica , Živković Dejan
Published: May 2020

The line graph of a graph G is another graph of which the vertex set corresponds to the edge set of G, and two vertices of the line graph of G are adjacent if the corresponding edges in G share a common vertex. A graph is reflexive if the second-largest eigenvalue of its adjacency matrix is no greater than 2. Reflexive graphs give combinatorial ground to generate two classes of algebraic numbers, Salem and Pisot numbers. The difficult question of identifying those graphs whose line graphs are reflexive (called L-reflexive graphs) is naturally attacked by first answering this question for trees. Even then, however, an elegant full characterization of reflexive line graphs of trees has proved to be quite formidable. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm for the exhaustive generation of maximal L-reflexive trees.
Representing Measurement as a Thermodynamic Symmetry Breaking
Authors: Fields Chris , Glazebrook James F.
Published: May 2020

Descriptions of measurement typically neglect the observations required to identify the apparatus employed to either prepare or register the final state of the “system of interest.” Here, we employ category-theoretic methods, particularly the theory of classifiers, to characterize the full interaction between observer and world in terms of information and resource flows. Allocating a subset of the received bits to system identification imposes two separability constraints and hence breaks two symmetries: first, between observational outcomes held constant and those allowed to vary; and, second, between observational outcomes regarded as “informative” and those relegated to purely thermodynamic functions of free-energy acquisition and waste heat dissipation. We show that breaking these symmetries induces decoherence, contextuality, and measurement-associated disturbance of the system of interest.
Significance of Non-Linear Terms in the Relativistic Coupled-Cluster Theory in the Determination of Molecular Properties
Authors: Prasannaa V. Srinivasa , Sahoo Bijaya K. , Abe Minori , Das Bhanu P.
Published: May 2020

The relativistic coupled-cluster (RCC) theory has been applied recently to a number of heavy molecules to determine their properties very accurately. Since it demands large computational resources, the method is often approximated to single and double excitations (RCCSD method). The effective electric fields ( E e f f ) and molecular permanent electric dipole moments (PDMs) of SrF, BaF, and mercury monohalides (HgX with X = F, Cl, Br, and I) molecules are of immense interest for probing fundamental physics. In our earlier calculations of E e f f and PDMs for the above molecules, we neglected the non-linear terms in the property evaluation expression of the RCCSD method. In this work, we demonstrate the roles of these terms in determining the above quantities and their computational time scalability with the number of processors of a computer. We also compare our results with previous calculations that employed variants of RCC theory, as well as other many-body methods and available experimental values.
Chiroptical Properties and Conformation of Four Lasiocepsin-Related Antimicrobial Peptides: Structural Role of Disulfide Bridges
Authors: Pazderková Markéta , Profant Václav , Maloň Petr , Dukor Rina K. , Čeřovský Václav , Baumruk Vladimír , Bednárová Lucie
Published: May 2020

We report an investigation of the role of disulfide bridges in the 27-residue antimicrobial peptide lasiocepsin (I) containing two disulfide groups (Cys8–Cys25, Cys17–Cys27) and three its analogs lacking one (II, III) or both (IV) native disulfides. Selective alternate incorporation of one or both disulfide bridges influences symmetry, conformation and biological properties of these peptides as demonstrated in their chiroptical (particularly Raman) properties. The effect of modifying the disulfide bridge pattern on the peptide secondary structure is investigated in water and in the presence of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and sodium dodecyl sulphate. A combination of experimental electronic and vibrational chiroptical data shows that both disulfide groups are necessary for stabilizing lasiocepsin secondary structure. While the Cys8–Cys25 disulfide group is important for sustaining lasiocepsin tertiary structure and maintaining its biological activity, the Cys17–Cys27 disulfide bridge has a supporting function consisting in reducing peptide flexibility.
Thermoelectric Relations in the Conformal Limit in Dirac and Weyl Semimetals
Authors: Arjona Vicente , Borge Juan , Vozmediano María A. H.
Published: May 2020

Dirac and Weyl semimetals are three-dimensional electronic systems with the Fermi level at or near a band crossing. Their low energy quasi-particles are described by a relativistic Dirac Hamiltonian with zero effective mass, challenging the standard Fermi liquid (FL) description of metals. In FL systems, electrical and thermo–electric transport coefficient are linked by very robust relations. The Mott relation links the thermoelectric and conductivity transport coefficients. In a previous publication, the thermoelectric coefficient was found to have an anomalous behavior originating in the quantum breakdown of the conformal anomaly by electromagnetic interactions. We analyze the fate of the Mott relation in the system. We compute the Hall conductivity of a Dirac metal as a function of the temperature and chemical potential and show that the Mott relation is not fulfilled in the conformal limit.
Effect of Exposure of Plastic Infant Feeding Bottle Leached Water on Biochemical, Morphological and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Rats
Authors: Pant Mahendra K. , Ahmad Abul H. , Naithani Manisha , Pandey Hari S. , Pandey Monika , Pant Jayanti
Published: May 2020

Bisphenol A (BPA) is leached out from plastic infant feeding bottles that are filled with warm milk/water due to high temperatures, exposing the infants to BPA. The present study aims to understand the effects of ingestion of BPA leached from plastic infant feeding bottle and delineate the underlying mechanisms in rats. In this study, adult rats of Wistar strain were divided into 3 groups. In the first group, the rats consumed normal food and tap water ad libitum. In the second group, the rats ingested BPA (20 µg/kg bodyweight/day, orally). In the third group, the rats drank water leached from plastic infant feeding bottles. After 30days, tests involving biochemical parameters, histopathological examination, and oxidative stress enzyme markers were performed, and the levels of BPA in plastic-leached water were estimated by HPLC analysis. There were significant biochemical changes in the form of increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in both treated groups as compared to control group, accompanied by structural damage to the vital organs, and lipid peroxidation, glutathione reductase, and catalase activity were also high in the treated groups. Further, the BPA concentration in plastic leached water was estimated to be 0.1 ± 0.02 µg/mL.
A Screening Tool for the Direct Analysis of Marine and Freshwater Phycotoxins in Organic SPATT Extracts from the Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Onofrio Michelle D. , Mallet Claude R. , Place Allen R. , Smith Juliette L.
Published: May 2020

Many detection methods for phycotoxins, bioactive compounds produced by harmful algae, focus on one compound or a class of related compounds. Multiple harmful algal species often co-occur in the environment, however, emphasizing the need to analyze for the presence of multiple groups of marine and freshwater phycotoxins in environmental samples, e.g., extracts from solid phase adsorption toxin tracking (SPATT). Two methods were developed to screen for 13 phycotoxins (microcystin-RR, -LR, -YR, azaspiracid-1, -2, karlotoxin 3, goniodomin A, brevetoxin-2, yessotoxin, pectenotoxin-2, dinophysistoxin-1, -2, and okadaic acid) in organic SPATT extracts using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) equipped with a trapping dimension (trap) and at-column dilution (ACD). The performance of each compound under 36 combinations of chromatographic conditions was characterized, and two final methods, acidic and basic, were selected based on peak shapes, signal intensities, resolution, and the separation in time of positive and negative MS ionization modes. Injection volumes of up to 1 mL were possible through trap/ACD technology, resulting in limits of detection between 0.001 and 0.05 µg/L across the analytes. Benefits highlighted in this study, beyond the improved detection limits and co-detection of multiple toxin groups, include the ability to inject samples of 100% organic solvent, ensuring analyte stability and streamlining workflow through the elimination of laborious sample preparation steps.
An Integrated Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Venom Complexity of the Bullet Ant Paraponera clavata
Authors: Aili Samira R. , Touchard Axel , Hayward Regan , Robinson Samuel D. , Pineda Sandy S. , Lalagüe Hadrien , Mrinalini  , Vetter Irina , Undheim Eivind A. B. , Kini R. Manjunatha , Escoubas Pierre , Padula Matthew P. , Myers Garry S. A. , Nicholson Graham M.
Published: May 2020

A critical hurdle in ant venom proteomic investigations is the lack of databases to comprehensively and specifically identify the sequence and function of venom proteins and peptides. To resolve this, we used venom gland transcriptomics to generate a sequence database that was used to assign the tandem mass spectrometry (MS) fragmentation spectra of venom peptides and proteins to specific transcripts. This was performed alongside a shotgun liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of the venom to confirm that these assigned transcripts were expressed as proteins. Through the combined transcriptomic and proteomic investigation of Paraponera clavata venom, we identified four times the number of proteins previously identified using 2D-PAGE alone. In addition to this, by mining the transcriptomic data, we identified several novel peptide sequences for future pharmacological investigations, some of which conform with inhibitor cysteine knot motifs. These types of peptides have the potential to be developed into pharmaceutical or bioinsecticide peptides.
The Predictive Factors for Severe Leptospirosis Cases in Kedah
Authors: Sandhu Rakesh Singh , Ismail Halim Bin , Ja’afar Mohd Hasni Bin , Rampal Sanjay
Published: May 2020

Over the past decade, increased awareness about leptospirosis disease in developing and industrialized countries has resulted in increased numbers of leptospirosis cases being reported worldwide. About 5% to 15% of leptospirosis patients end up with severe forms of the disease. Complication due to leptospirosis requires monitoring, specific treatments, and intensive care admission, thus increasing the cost of treating severe leptospirosis cases. Currently, we have data on incident and mortality rates, but we do not have data on the number of patients with severe form of leptospirosis or how many patients have complications, and whether or not these complications were resolved. Therefore, we carried out this study to determine the predictive factors for severe leptospirosis cases in Kedah. We conducted a cross-sectional study. The data of patients diagnosed with leptospirosis were obtained from the surveillance unit, Kedah Health Department, through the e-notification system. These data were then sorted according to the hospitals where the patients were admitted. The patients’ medical records were collected, and their information was obtained using a checklist. A total of 456 confirmed leptospirosis cases were included in the study, with 199 patients classified as severe cases and 257 patients as mild cases, based on the Malaysian leptospirosis guidelines. Most patients were male (71.5%) with a mean SD age of 36.62 ± 20.75 years. The predictive factors for severe leptospirosis include abnormal lung sounds (OR: 3.07 [CI 1.58–6.00]), hepatomegaly (OR: 7.14 [1.10–45.98]), hypotension (OR: 2.16 [1.08–4.34]), leukocytosis (OR: 2.12 [1.37–3.29]), low hematocrit (OR: 2.33 [1.43–3.81]), and increased alanine aminotransferase (SGPT ALT) (OR: 2.12 [1.36–3.30]). In conclusion, knowing these predictive factors will help clinicians identify severe leptospirosis cases earlier and develop their treatment plans accordingly, to reduce the complications and death from severe leptospirosis.
Mode of Transmission Determines the Virulence of Black Queen Cell Virus in Adult Honey Bees, Posing a Future Threat to Bees and Apiculture
Authors: Al Naggar Yahya , Paxton Robert J.
Published: May 2020

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) can be infected by many viruses, some of which pose a major threat to their health and well-being. A critical step in the dynamics of a viral infection is its mode of transmission. Here, we compared for the first time the effect of mode of horizontal transmission of Black queen cell virus (BQCV), a ubiquitous and highly prevalent virus of A. mellifera, on viral virulence in individual adult honey bees. Hosts were exposed to BQCV either by feeding (representing direct transmission) or by injection into hemolymph (analogous to indirect or vector-mediated transmission) through a controlled laboratory experimental design. Mortality, viral titer and expression of three key innate immune-related genes were then quantified. Injecting BQCV directly into hemolymph in the hemocoel resulted in far higher mortality as well as increased viral titer and significant change in the expression of key components of the RNAi pathway compared to feeding honey bees BQCV. Our results support the hypothesis that mode of horizontal transmission determines BQCV virulence in honey bees. BQCV is currently considered a benign viral pathogen of adult honey bees, possibly because its mode of horizontal transmission is primarily direct, per os. We anticipate adverse health effects on honey bees if BQCV transmission becomes vector-mediated.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Influenza A Virus NS1 Reveal a Remarkably Stable RNA-Binding Domain Harboring Promising Druggable Pockets
Authors: Abi Hussein Hiba , Geneix Colette , Cauvin Camille , Marc Daniel , Flatters Delphine , Camproux Anne-Claude
Published: May 2020

The non-structural protein NS1 of influenza A viruses is considered to be the major antagonist of the interferon system and antiviral defenses of the cell. It could therefore represent a suitable target for novel antiviral strategies. As a first step towards the identification of small compounds targeting NS1, we here investigated the druggable potential of its RNA-binding domain since this domain is essential to the biological activities of NS1. We explored the flexibility of the full-length protein by running molecular dynamics simulations on one of its published crystal structures. While the RNA-binding domain structure was remarkably stable along the simulations, we identified a flexible site at the two extremities of the “groove” that is delimited by the antiparallel α-helices that make up its RNA-binding interface. This groove region is able to form potential binding pockets, which, in 60% of the conformations, meet the druggability criteria. We characterized these pockets and identified the residues that contribute to their druggability. All the residues involved in the druggable pockets are essential at the same time to the stability of the RNA-binding domain and to the biological activities of NS1. They are also strictly conserved across the large sequence diversity of NS1, emphasizing the robustness of this search towards the identification of broadly active NS1-targeting compounds.
HDVdb: A Comprehensive Hepatitis D Virus Database
Authors: Usman Zainab , Velkov Stoyan , Protzer Ulrike , Roggendorf Michael , Frishman Dmitrij , Karimzadeh Hadi
Published: May 2020

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) causes the most severe form of viral hepatitis, which may rapidly progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been estimated that 15–20 million people worldwide are suffering from the chronic HDV infection. Currently, no effective therapies are available to treat acute or chronic HDV infection. The remarkable sequence variability of the HDV genome, particularly within the hypervariable region has resulted in the provisional classification of eight major genotypes and various subtypes. We have developed a specialized database, HDVdb, which contains a collection of partial and complete HDV genomic sequences obtained from the GenBank and from our own patient cohort. HDVdb enables the researchers to investigate the genetic variability of all available HDV sequences, correlation of genotypes to epidemiology and pathogenesis. Additionally, it will contribute in understanding the drug resistant mutations and develop effective vaccines against HDV infection. The database can be accessed through a web interface that allows for static and dynamic queries and offers integrated generic and specialized sequence analysis tools, such as annotation, genotyping, primer prediction, and phylogenetic analyses.
Detection of Recombinant Rousettus Bat Coronavirus GCCDC1 in Lesser Dawn Bats (Eonycteris spelaea) in Singapore
Authors: Paskey Adrian C. , Ng Justin H. J. , Rice Gregory K. , Chia Wan Ni , Philipson Casandra W. , Foo Randy J.H. , Cer Regina Z. , Long Kyle A. , Lueder Matthew R. , Lim Xiao Fang , Frey Kenneth G. , Hamilton Theron , Anderson Danielle E. , Laing Eric D. , Mendenhall Ian H. , Smith Gavin J. , Wang Lin-Fa , Bishop-Lilly Kimberly A.
Published: May 2020

Rousettus bat coronavirus GCCDC1 (RoBat-CoV GCCDC1) is a cross-family recombinant coronavirus that has previously only been reported in wild-caught bats in Yúnnan, China. We report the persistence of a related strain in a captive colony of lesser dawn bats captured in Singapore. Genomic evidence of the virus was detected using targeted enrichment sequencing, and further investigated using deeper, unbiased high throughput sequencing. RoBat-CoV GCCDC1 Singapore shared 96.52% similarity with RoBat-CoV GCCDC1 356 (NC_030886) at the nucleotide level, and had a high prevalence in the captive bat colony. It was detected at five out of six sampling time points across the course of 18 months. A partial segment 1 from an ancestral Pteropine orthoreovirus, p10, makes up the recombinant portion of the virus, which shares high similarity with previously reported RoBat-CoV GCCDC1 strains that were detected in Yúnnan, China. RoBat-CoV GCCDC1 is an intriguing, cross-family recombinant virus, with a geographical range that expands farther than was previously known. The discovery of RoBat-CoV GCCDC1 in Singapore indicates that this recombinant coronavirus exists in a broad geographical range, and can persist in bat colonies long-term.
The Neisseria gonorrhoeae Vaccine Candidate NHBA Elicits Antibodies That Are Bactericidal, Opsonophagocytic and That Reduce Gonococcal Adherence to Epithelial Cells
Authors: Semchenko Evgeny A. , Day Christopher J. , Seib Kate L.
Published: May 2020

Due to the continuing emergence of multidrug resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae there is an urgent need for the development of a gonococcal vaccine. We evaluated the gonococcal Neisseria heparin binding antigen (NHBA) as a potential vaccine candidate, in terms of its sequence conservation and expression in a range of N. gonorrhoeae strains, as well as its immunogenicity and the functional activity of antibodies raised to either the full length NHBA or a C-terminal fragment of NHBA (NHBA-c). The gene encoding NHBA is highly conserved and expressed in all N. gonorrhoeae strains investigated. Recombinant NHBA is immunogenic, and mice immunized with either NHBA or NHBA-c adjuvanted with either Freund’s or aluminium hydroxide (alum) generated a humoral immune response, with predominantly IgG1 antibodies. Antibodies generated by both NHBA and NHBA-c antigens promoted complement activation and mediated bacterial killing via both serum bactericidal activity and opsonophagocytic activity, with slightly higher titers seen for the NHBA-c antigen. Anti-NHBA was also able to block the functional activity of NHBA by reducing binding to heparin and adherence to cervical and urethral epithelial cells. These data suggest that the gonococcal NHBA is a promising vaccine antigen to include in a vaccine to control N. gonorrhoeae.
Efficacy of Live Attenuated Vaccine and Commercially Available Lectin against Avian Pathogenic E. coli Infection in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Abd El-Mawgoud Ahmed I. , El-Nahass El-Shayma , Shany Salama A.S. , EL-Sawah Azza A. , Dahshan Al-Hussien M. , Nasef Soad A. , Ali Ahmed
Published: May 2020

In this study, the protective efficacy of an E. coli live attenuated vaccine was compared to the preventive administration of lectin preparation before the challenge. Two hundred broiler chicks were divided into eight equal groups. The first group was used as a negative control group. Three groups were vaccinated at day 1 with the avian colibacillosis live vaccine of which one group served as a vaccinated nonchallenged group. Another two groups were treated with lectin product (0.5 mL/L drinking water) for three days before the challenge. The last two groups served as challenge control for either E. coli O78 or O125 strains. The challenge was conducted at three weeks of age with either homologous O78 or heterologous O125 E. coli strains, using 0.5 mL/bird of each avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strain (~108 colony forming units “CFU”/mL)/subcutaneously. The bodyweight and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were calculated for four weeks. Clinical signs and gross and histopathological lesions were scored at two and seven days post inoculation (dpi). The heart and liver of euthanized chickens at 2 dpi were removed aseptically and homogenized to evaluate pathogenic E. coli colonization. Results showed that live avian colibacillosis vaccine reduced mortalities and APEC colonization in the homologous challenge group but not in the heterologous challenge group. Lectin-treated groups showed 20% and 16% mortality after challenge with E. coli O78 and O125, respectively, and both groups showed performance parameters, clinical signs, and histopathological lesion scores comparable to the negative control group, with variable E. coli colonization of heart and liver. The study demonstrated the efficacy of live attenuated avian colibacillosis vaccine against homologous but not heterologous APEC challenge in broiler chickens. The lectin-containing products can be used as a preventive medication to reduce the clinical impacts of colibacillosis regardless of the challenge strain. Standardization of the evaluation parameters for APEC vaccines is recommended.