bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fiducial Reference Measurements (FRMs): What Are They?
Authors: Goryl Philippe , Fox Nigel , Donlon Craig , Castracane Paolo
Published: October 2023

In recent years, the concept of a Fiducial Reference Measurement (FRM) has been developed to highlight the need for precise and well-characterised measurements tailored explicitly to the post-launch calibration and validation (Cal/Val) of Earth observation satellite missions. The confidence that stems from robust, unambiguous uncertainty assessment of space observations is fundamental to assessing the changes in the Earth system and climate model prediction and delivering the essential evidence-based input for policy makers and society striving to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The underlying concept of an FRM has long been a core element of a Cal/Val program, providing a ‘trustable’ reference against which performance can be anchored or assessed. The ‘FRM’ label was created to embody into such a reference a set of key criteria. These criteria included the establishment of documented evidence of uncertainty with respect to a community-agreed reference (ideally SI-traceable) and specific tailoring to the needs of a satellite mission. It therefore facilitates comparison and interoperability between products and missions in a cost-efficient manner. Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Working Group Cal/Val (WGCV) is now putting in place a framework to assess the maturity and compliance of a ‘Cal/Val reference measurement’ in terms of a set of community-agreed criteria which define it to be of CEOS-FRM quality. The assessment process is based on a maturity matrix that provides a visual assessment of the state of any FRM against each of a set of given criteria, making visible where it is mature and where evolution and effort are still needed. This paper provides the overarching definition of what constitutes an FRM and introduces the new CEOS-FRM assessment framework.
Automatic Detection of VLF Tweek Signals Based on the YOLO Model
Authors: Xu Wei , Ma Wenchen , Wang Shiwei , Gu Xudong , Ni Binbin , Cheng Wen , Feng Jingyuan , Wang Qingshan , Hu Mengyao
Published: October 2023

Tweek signals are a special type of VLF (very low frequency) pulse, originally produced by lightning discharge, which becomes dispersive after repetitive bounces within the waveguide between the Earth’s surface and lower ionosphere. As such, tweek signals carry critical information about the region near the reflection height of the VLF waves, namely the D-region ionosphere. Although tweek measurements have been widely utilized in studies of the D-region ionosphere and lightning discharge, few statistical studies have been conducted, mainly due to the difficulty of manually identifying tweek signals from the enormous amount of VLF data with heavy noise. Considering the importance of tweek signals and the lack of a high-precision detection model, in this study, we propose a method to automatically and accurately pick out tweek signals from VLF measurements. This method is explicitly developed based on the you only look once (YOLO) model and a post-tracing process. Using a total of 2495 randomly selected VLF spectrogram images as the testing set, we evaluated the performance of this method. The precision and recall are found to be 92.0% and 89.2% for the first-order mode, and 97.5% and 86.7% for the first-two-order mode tweek, respectively. The time needed to process 10-s VLF measurements with a cadence of 4 μs is only 6.5 s, allowing for identifying the tweek signals from continuous VLF measurements in real time. Therefore, this method represents a reliable means to automatically detect tweek signals and enables the opportunity to statistically investigate the D-region ionosphere and lightning discharge via these signals.
The Selection of Basic Functions for a Time-Varying Model of Unmodeled Errors in Medium and Long GNSS Baselines
Authors: Wang Jiafu , Yu Xianwen , Aragon-Angel Angela , Rovira-Garcia Adria , Wang Hao
Published: October 2023

Unmodeled errors play a critical role in improving the positioning accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite Systems. Few studies have addressed unmodeled errors in medium and long baselines using their time correlation, which is highly beneficial for achieving a precise and real-time solution. However, before tackling unmodeled errors, it is first necessary to determine reasonable basic functions to fit such unmodeled errors. Therefore, we study the selection of basic functions for time-varying unmodeled errors in two positioning modes: estimating atmospheric delays and using an IF combination. We choose three basic functions: polynomials, sinusoidal functions, and combinatorial functions. Fitting experiments and positioning experiments are conducted using the unmodeled error data provided by four baselines ranging from 30 to 220 km. The Root Mean Square Errors fitted by the second order are approximately 2 mm. The corresponding residuals generally converge to 3 mm in about 30 s. After correcting the observations using the fitted unmodeled errors of the second-order polynomial, the positioning results show improvements of about 40% to 80% in all directions. We conclude that the second-order polynomial is the optimal basic function in all two positioning modes.
Source Parameter Inversion and Century-Scale Stress Triggering Analysis of the 2021 Maduo MW7.4 Earthquake Using GNSS and InSAR Displacement Fields
Authors: Xu Keke , Wang Shuaipeng , Wan Tongtong
Published: October 2023

To explore the degree of constraint by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data on the Maduo earthquake within a layered earth model structure and to gain an insight into the seismogenic mechanism and the seismic risk in the surrounding area, this study employs D-InSAR technology to acquire the InSAR co-seismic deformation field of the Maduo earthquake on 22 May 2021. Utilizing both GNSS and InSAR data, the inversions constrained by single and joint data are conducted and compared to determine the co-seismic slip model and fault plane stress distribution of the Maduo earthquake. Additionally, this paper calculates the Coulomb stress changes induced by 14 M ≥ 7 strong earthquakes, considering co-seismic effects, post-seismic viscoelastic relaxation, and inter-seismic tectonic stress loading, on 19 fault segments within the Bayan Har block research area (96°E~106°E, 29°N~36°N) since 1900. The findings are as follows: (1) The maximum line-of-sight (LOS) deformation was approximately 0.9 m. The joint inversion rupture was primarily located in the Dongcao Along Lake section (~98.6°E), aligning with previous research outcomes. (2) The cumulative Coulomb stress at the Maduo earthquake’s source location was −0.1333 MPa, while the inter-seismic stress loading amounted to 0.0745 MPa. The East Kunlun Fault, Maduo–Gande Fault, Ganzi–Yushu Fault, and Dari Fault C exhibited considerable stress loading, warranting attention due to heightened seismic risk. (3) Based on three different co-seismic slip models, the stress disturbance results caused by the Maduo earthquake to the surrounding area and fault did not differ significantly. After the earthquake, the seismogenic fault still has high seismic risk.
Unsupervised Nonlinear Hyperspectral Unmixing with Reduced Spectral Variability via Superpixel-Based Fisher Transformation
Authors: Yin Zhangqiang , Yang Bin
Published: October 2023

In hyperspectral unmixing, dealing with nonlinear mixing effects and spectral variability (SV) is a significant challenge. Traditional linear unmixing can be seriously deteriorated by the coupled residuals of nonlinearity and SV in remote sensing scenarios. For the simplification of calculation, current unmixing studies usually separate the consideration of nonlinearity and SV. As a result, errors individually caused by the nonlinearity or SV still persist, potentially leading to overfitting and the decreased accuracy of estimated endmembers and abundances. In this paper, a novel unsupervised nonlinear unmixing method accounting for SV is proposed. First, an improved Fisher transformation scheme is constructed by combining an abundance-driven dynamic classification strategy with superpixel segmentation. It can enlarge the differences between different types of pixels and reduce the differences between pixels corresponding to the same class, thereby reducing the influence of SV. Besides, spectral similarity can be well maintained in local homogeneous regions. Second, the polynomial postnonlinear model is employed to represent observed pixels and explain nonlinear components. Regularized by a Fisher transformation operator and abundances’ spatial smoothness, data reconstruction errors in the original spectral space and the transformed space are weighed to derive the unmixing problem. Finally, this problem is solved by a dimensional division-based particle swarm optimization algorithm to produce accurate unmixing results. Extensive experiments on synthetic and real hyperspectral remote sensing data demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method in comparison with state-of-the-art approaches.
Smart Parking Locks Based on Extended UNET-GWO-SVM Algorithm
Authors: Shen Jianguo , Xia Yu , Ding Hao , Cabrel Wen
Published: October 2023

Due to the rapid increase in private car ownership in China, most cities face the problem of insufficient parking spaces, leading to frequent occurrences of parking space conflicts. There is a wide variety of parking locks available on the market. However, most of them lack advanced intelligence and cannot cater to the growing diverse needs of people. The present study attempts to devise a smart parking lock to tackle this issue. Specifically, the smart parking lock uses a Raspberry Pi as the core controller, senses the vehicle with an ultrasonic ranging module, and collects the license plate image with a camera. In addition, algorithms for license plate recognition based on traditional image-processing methods typically require a high pixel resolution, but their recognition accuracy is often low. Therefore, we propose a new algorithm called UNET-GWO-SVM to achieve higher accuracy in embedded systems. Moreover, we developed a WeChat mini program to control the smart parking lock. Field tests were conducted on campus to evaluate the performance of the parking locks. The test results show that the corresponding effective unlocking rate is 99.0% when the recognition error is less than two license plate characters. The average time consumption is controlled at about 2 s. It can meet real-time requirements.
Design and Experiment of a Portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Device for Convenient Prediction of Leaf Chlorophyll Content
Authors: Li Longjie , Guo Junxian , Wang Qian , Wang Jun , Liu Ya , Shi Yong
Published: October 2023

This study designs a spectrum data collection device and system based on the Internet of Things technology, aiming to solve the tedious process of chlorophyll collection and provide a more convenient and accurate method for predicting chlorophyll content. The device has the advantages of integrated design, portability, ease of operation, low power consumption, low cost, and low maintenance requirements, making it suitable for outdoor spectrum data collection and analysis in fields such as agriculture, environment, and geology. The core processor of the device uses the ESP8266-12F microcontroller to collect spectrum data by communicating with the spectrum sensor. The spectrum sensor used is the AS7341 model, but its limited number of spectral acquisition channels and low resolution may limit the exploration and analysis of spectral data. To verify the performance of the device and system, this experiment collected spectral data of Hami melon leaf samples and combined it with a chlorophyll meter for related measurements and analysis. In the experiment, twelve regression algorithms were tested, including linear regression, decision tree, and support vector regression. The results showed that in the original spectral data, the ETR method had the best prediction effect at a wavelength of 515 nm. In the training set, RMSEc was 0.3429, and Rc2 was 0.9905. In the prediction set, RMSEp was 1.5670, and Rp2 was 0.8035. In addition, eight preprocessing methods were used to denoise the original data, but the improvement in prediction accuracy was not significant. To further improve the accuracy of data analysis, principal component analysis and isolation forest algorithm were used to detect and remove outliers in the spectral data. After removing the outliers, the RFR model performed best in predicting all wavelength combinations of denoised spectral data using PBOR. In the training set, RMSEc was 0.8721, and Rc2 was 0.9429. In the prediction set, RMSEp was 1.1810, and Rp2 was 0.8683.
Pain Treatment in Polish Emergency Medical Teams—Is the Pain Management Entitlement Being Used?—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Pryba Bartosz , Mędrzycka-Dąbrowska Wioletta , Małecka-Dubiela Anna
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Pain has been identified as the most common reason for emergency medical service (EMS) calls. Despite many years of pain research, it is still true that oligoanalgesia is an ongoing phenomenon. This demonstrates the need for the implementation of new solutions and for further analyses on the causes of inadequate pain treatment. The study was undertaken to analyze analgesic treatment implemented in specialist “S” and basic “P” Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs). Methods: This retrospective study was based on the analysis of medical records using the emergency medical service card. A total of 1333 medical files were analyzed, of which 539 cases were qualified for the study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The analysis has shown that the majority of interventions were undertaken by basic emergency medical teams and that acute pain was the most common reason for contacting the EMS. However, only 62.52% of patients received analgesia. It was shown that the frequency of administering paracetamol, metamizole, and ketoprofen was proportional to the increase in pain intensity. Similar correlations were identified in the cases of morphine, fentanyl, and drotaverine, which were most often administered to patients with the most severe pain. Conclusions: The nature and location of pain, as well as its intensity, affected the choice of analgesia. Opioids were administered more frequently with more extensive injuries and at greater pain intensity. Significant differences were found in the frequency at which acetylsalicylic acid was administered more often in “S” EMTs and drotaverine more often in “P” EMTs. The intravenous route was found to be the most common route of analgesia administration in EMTs.
Restoration for Intensity Nonuniformities with Discontinuities in Whole-Body MRI
Authors: Hadjidemetriou Stathis , Malich Ansgar , Rossknecht Lorenz Damian , Ferrarini Luca , Papageorgiou Ismini E.
Published: October 2023

The reconstruction in MRI assumes a uniform radio-frequency field. However, this is violated due to coil field nonuniformity and sensitivity variations. In whole-body MRI, the nonuniformities are more complex due to the imaging with multiple coils that typically have different overall sensitivities that result in sharp sensitivity changes at the junctions between adjacent coils. These lead to images with anatomically inconsequential intensity nonuniformities that include jump discontinuities of the intensity nonuniformities at the junctions corresponding to adjacent coils. The body is also imaged with multiple contrasts that result in images with different nonuniformities. A method is presented for the joint intensity uniformity restoration of two such images to achieve intensity homogenization. The effect of the spatial intensity distortion on the auto-co-occurrence statistics of each image as well as on the joint-co-occurrence statistics of the two images is modeled in terms of Point Spread Function (PSF). The PSFs and the non-stationary deconvolution of these PSFs from the statistics offer posterior Bayesian expectation estimates of the nonuniformity with Bayesian coring. Subsequently, a piecewise smoothness constraint is imposed for nonuniformity. This uses non-isotropic smoothing of the restoration field to allow the modeling of junction discontinuities. The implementation of the restoration method is iterative and imposes stability and validity constraints of the nonuniformity estimates. The effectiveness and accuracy of the method is demonstrated extensively with whole-body MRI image pairs of thirty-one cancer patients.
Ranking Sustainable Smart City Indicators Using Combined Content Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process Techniques
Authors: Gazzeh Karim
Published: October 2023

Sustainable Smart Cities have a significant potential to ensure equal access to public services, achieve sustainability and governance transparency, improve livability, and anticipate and mitigate increasingly changing threats. This study aims at prioritizing a core set of Sustainable Smart City (SSC) indicators using a combined methodology: (a) Content Analysis and (b) Analytic Hierarchy Process. The study’s contribution is that it successfully developed a more robust ranking of the above-mentioned set of indicators by combining AHP and co-occurrence analyses. The final combined ranking is intended to serve as a Decision Support Tool to streamline the decision-making process and help decision-makers prioritize dimensions to measure, achieve, or monitor actions when they cannot be undertaken simultaneously in contexts of economic recessions, financial constraints, and resource mobilization challenges. The findings draw attention to the need for considering the concept of SSCs through the prism of interconnecting the various current technology-driven “smart silos” under an inclusive umbrella that focuses on the combinations and connectedness to achieve a systemic approach to sustainability and smartness that none of those single areas can achieve in isolation. The results also revealed an interesting paradox, which relegated the Technology and ICT dimension to the bottom of the ranking, contrary to the widespread consensus and opinion, opening an opportunity for discussion among peers.
Intraoperative Complications of the Anterior Retroperitoneal Approach to the Lumbosacral Spine in the Supine Position: A Proposal for an Algorithm to Predict the Degree of Difficulty of the Surgical Procedure
Authors: Caiazzo Francesco , Capo Lucas , Bago Juan
Published: October 2023

The main concern in anterior exposure of the lumbosacral spine is the risk of vascular injury during mobilization and retraction of the blood vessels. Preoperative planning is considered essential to reducing the incidence of vascular injury, although no consensus has been reached on the preferred methodology for such planning. This is a retrospective study, including all patients operated on by a single surgeon, who received anterior lumbar-spine surgery in the supine position as a primary procedure before undergoing an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) or an artificial disc replacement (ADR). The aim of this study was to list the intraoperative complications observed. We included 156 patients (87 women; mean age, 48 years) who met the inclusion criteria. The overall complication rate was 6.4% (10/156). The most frequent complications were an incidental peritoneal opening (seven patients, 4.4%); two left–iliac-vein injuries (1.28%) that were sutured; and one dural tear during a decompression maneuver of the canal. No neurological, arterial, or ureteral injury or retrograde ejaculation was reported. The use of a sound protocol that includes planning, assessment of approach difficulty, and step-by-step surgical technique can reduce the rate of vascular injury in anterior lumbosacral-spine surgery.
Design and Biomechanical Properties of Symmetrical Lumbar Fusion Cage Based on Lightweight Titanium Alloy Flexible Microporous Metal Rubber
Authors: Xiao Juan , Zhu Tianqi , Li Linlin , Shen Liangliang , Ren Zhiying , Xu Jian
Published: October 2023

In recent years, the incidence rate of lumbar diseases has been progressively increasing. The conventional lumbar fusion cages used in existing lumbar interbody fusion surgery are not able to take into account the multiple characteristics of cushioning, vibration reduction, support, cell adhesion, and bone tissue growth. Therefore, in this work, based on the CT data of a lumbar intervertebral disc plain scan, a combined symmetric lumbar fusion cage structure was innovatively designed. The core was made of lightweight TC4 medical titanium alloy flexible microporous metal rubber (LTA-FMP MR), and the outer frame was made of cobalt–chromium–molybdenum alloy. Its comprehensive biomechanical performance was comprehensively evaluated through finite element simulation, static and dynamic mechanics, and impact resistance tests. The three-dimensional model of the L3/L4 lumbar segment was established by reverse engineering, and a Mises stress analysis was conducted on the lumbar fusion cage by importing it into Ansys to understand its structural advantages compared to the traditional lumbar fusion cage. Through static experiments, the influence of the internal nucleus of a symmetrical lumbar fusion cage with different material parameters on its static performance was explored. At the same time, to further explore the superior characteristics of this symmetrical structure in complex human environments, a biomechanical test platform was established to analyze its biomechanical performance under sinusoidal excitation of different amplitudes and frequencies, as well as impact loads of different amplitudes and pulse widths. The results show that under different amplitudes and frequencies, the lumbar fusion cage with a symmetrical structure has a small loss factor, a high impact isolation coefficient, and a maximum energy consumption of 422.8 N·mm, with a maximum kinetic energy attenuation rate of 0.43. Compared to existing traditional lumbar fusion cages in clinical practice, it not only has sufficient stiffness, but also has good vibration damping, support, and impact resistance performance, and has a lower probability of postoperative settlement, which has broad application prospects.
Analytical Methods for Fractional Differential Equations: Time-Fractional Foam Drainage and Fisher’s Equations
Authors: Alzahrani Abdulrahman B. M. , Alhawael Ghadah
Published: October 2023

In this research, we employ a dual-approach that combines the Laplace residual power series method and the novel iteration method in conjunction with the Caputo operator. Our primary objective is to address the solution of two distinct, yet intricate partial differential equations: the Foam Drainage Equation and the nonlinear time-fractional Fisher’s equation. These equations, essential for modeling intricate processes, present analytical challenges due to their fractional derivatives and nonlinear characteristics. By amalgamating these distinctive methodologies, we derive precise and efficient solutions substantiated by comprehensive figures and tables showcasing the accuracy and reliability of our approach. Our study not only elucidates solutions to these equations, but also underscores the effectiveness of the Laplace Residual Power Series Method and the New Iteration Method as potent tools for grappling with intricate mathematical and physical models, thereby making significant contributions to advancements in diverse scientific domains.
Packet Classification Using TCAM of Narrow Entries
Authors: Lin Hsin-Tsung , Pan Wei-Han , Wang Pi-Chung
Published: October 2023

Packet classification based on rules of packet header fields is the key technology for enabling software-defined networking (SDN). Ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) is a widely used hardware for packet classification; however, commercially available TCAM chips have only limited storage. As the number of supported header fields in SDN increases, the number of supported rules in a TCAM chip is reduced. In this work, we present a novel scheme to enable packet classification using TCAM with entries that are narrower than rules by storing the most representative field of a ruleset in TCAM. Due to the fact that not all rules can be distinguished using one field, our scheme employs a TCAM-based multimatch packet classification technique to ensure correctness. We further develop approaches to reduce redundant TCAM accesses for multimatch packet classification. Although our scheme requires additional TCAM accesses, it supports packet classification upon long rules with narrow TCAM entries, and drastically reduces the required TCAM storage. Our experimental results show that our scheme requires a moderate number of additional TCAM accesses and consumes much less storage compared to the basic TCAM-based packet classification. Thus, it can provide the required scalability for long rules required by potential applications of SDN.
Nano-Sized Chimeric Human Papillomavirus-16 L1 Virus-like Particles Displaying Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigen Ag85B Enhance Ag85B-Specific Immune Responses in Female C57BL/c Mice
Authors: Zhou Fangbin , Zhang Dongmei
Published: October 2023

Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG), the only current vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) that is licensed in clinics, successfully protects infants and young children against several TB types, such as TB meningitis and miliary TB, but it is ineffective in protecting adolescents and adults against pulmonary TB. Thus, it is a matter of the utmost urgency to develop an improved and efficient TB vaccine. In this milieu, virus-like particles (VLPs) exhibit excellent characteristics in the field of vaccine development due to their numerous characteristics, including but not limited to their good safety without the risk of infection, their ability to mimic the size and structure of original viruses, and their ability to display foreign antigens on their surface to enhance the immune response. In this study, the HPV16 L1 capsid protein (HPV16L1) acted as a structural vaccine scaffold, and the extracellular domain of Ag85B was selected as the M. tb immunogen and inserted into the FG loop of the HPV16 L1 protein to construct chimeric HPV16L1/Ag85B VLPs. The chimeric HPV16L1/Ag85B VLPs were produced via the Pichia pastoris expression system and purified via discontinuous Optiprep density gradient centrifugation. The humoral and T cell-mediated immune response induced by the chimeric HPV16L1/Ag85B VLP was studied in female C57BL/c mice. We demonstrated that the insertion of the extracellular domain of Ag85B into the FG loop of HPV16L1 did not affect the in vitro stability and self-assembly of the chimeric HPV16L1/Ag85B VLPs. Importantly, it did not interfere with the immunogenicity of Ag85B. We observed that the chimeric HPV16L1/Ag85B VLPs induced higher Ag85B-specific antibody responses and elicited significant Ag85B-specific T cell immune responses in female C57BL/c mice compared with recombinant Ag85B. Our findings provide new insights into the development of novel chimeric HPV16L1/TB VLP-based vaccine platforms for controlling TB infection, which are urgently required in low-income and developing countries.
Longitudinal Analysis of SARS-CoV-2-Specific Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses and Breakthrough Infection following BNT162b2/BNT162b2/BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1/ChAdOx1/BNT162b2 Vaccination: A Prospective Cohort in Naive Healthcare Workers
Authors: Ko Geon Young , Lee Jihyun , Bae Hyunjoo , Ryu Ji Hyeong , Park Hye-Sun , Kang Hyunhye , Jung Jin , Choi Ae-Ran , Lee Raeseok , Lee Dong-Gun , Oh Eun-Jee
Published: October 2023

Assessing immune responses post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is crucial for optimizing vaccine strategies. This prospective study aims to evaluate immune responses and breakthrough infection in 235 infection-naïve healthcare workers up to 13–15 months after initial vaccination in two vaccine groups (108 BNT/BNT/BNT and 127 ChAd/ChAd/BNT). Immune responses were assessed using the interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, total immunoglobulin, and neutralizing activity through surrogate virus neutralization test at nine different time points. Both groups exhibited peak responses one to two months after the second or third dose, followed by gradual declines over six months. Notably, the ChAd group exhibited a gradual increase in ELISPOT results, but their antibody levels declined more rapidly after reaching peak response compared to the BNT group. Six months after the third dose, both groups had substantial cellular responses, with superior humoral responses in the BNT group (p < 0.05). As many as 55 breakthrough infection participants displayed higher neutralization activities against Omicron variants, but similar cellular responses compared to 127 infection-naïve individuals, suggesting cross-immunity. Distinct neutralization classifications (<30%, >80% inhibition) correlated with different ELISPOT results. Our study reveals diverse immune response patterns based on vaccine strategies and breakthrough infections, emphasizing the importance of understanding these dynamics for optimized vaccination decisions.
HPV Infection Profiles among People Living with HIV and HPV Vaccine Acceptance among Individuals with Different HIV Infection Statuses in China: A Systematic Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yuan Defu , Liu Shanshan , Liu Yangyang , Ouyang Fei , Ai Wei , Shi Lingen , Liu Xiaoyan , Qiu Tao , Wang Bei , Zhou Ying
Published: October 2023

To understand the HPV infection profiles among Chinese HIV/AIDS patients and the HPV vaccine acceptance among unvaccinated Chinese people with different HIV infection statuses after the HPV vaccine launch in China, this study searched Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, CNKI, WANFANG, SinoMed, and VIP databases up to 23 June 2023, according to the registered protocol (CRD42023449913). A total of 58 studies were included. The results showed that the HPV infection rate among Chinese HIV/AIDS patients was 52.54% (95% CI: 42.11–62.86%) and higher in males than in females (74.55% vs. 41.04%); meanwhile, the rate was higher in the anus than in the cervix (69.22% vs. 41.71%). Although there was no statistical difference, the high-risk HPV infection rate (38.98%) was higher than low-risk HPV (23.86%), and single infections were more common (28.84%) than multiple infections (19.23%). HPV vaccine acceptance among the unvaccinated Chinese population was 59.19% (95% CI: 52.50–65.89%), and was slightly higher among HIV-infected rather than non-HIV-infected individuals (67.72% vs. 59.58%). There was a difference in acceptance among respondents from different regions. Although the difference in acceptance rate between males and females was not statistically significant (61.10% vs. 61.18%), MSM had a higher acceptance rate than non-MSM (84.28% vs. 59.05%). HPV infection is prevalent among HIV patients, demonstrating the need to increase the frequency of HPV screening for PLWH. The HPV vaccine acceptance rate is higher than that of non-HIV-infected individuals. Male acceptance is almost the same as female’s, with MSM acceptance higher than non-MSM, suggesting that using MSM, especially MSM in PLWH, as an entry point may be a practical avenue to explore to further expand the scope of HPV vaccination.
Factors Affecting SARS-CoV-2 IgG Production after Vaccination and/or Disease: A Large-Scale Seroprevalence Study
Authors: Karl Tanja , Schuster Anja , Stangassinger Lea Maria , Stiboller Tanja , Cadamuro Janne , Oostingh Gertie Janneke
Published: October 2023

This study aimed at identifying factors influencing SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody levels after vaccination and/or infection. Between January 2022 and March 2023, 2000 adults (≥18 years, Salzburg, Austria) participated in this population-based seroprevalence study by providing 3 mL of blood to detect SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies using an anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG quantitative assay and by completing a self-designed questionnaire including anthropometric factors, vaccination information, and medical history. For 77 of the participants, a time-course study up to 24 weeks post vaccination or quarantine end was performed. Convalescent-only subjects had the lowest median antibody titer (65.6 BAU/mL) compared to vaccinated and hybrid immunized subjects (p-value < 0.0001) The type of vaccine as well as vaccine combinations significantly influenced the levels of SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein-specific IgG, ranging from a median antibody level of 770.5 BAU/mL in subjects who were vaccinated only to 3020.0 BAU/mL in hybrid immunized subjects (p-value < 0.0001). Over time, a significant decline in the levels of neutralizing antibodies was found. Depending on the subpopulation analyzed, further significant influencing factors included sex assigned at birth, disease severity, chronic diseases, and medication. A hybrid immunization resulted in more robust immune responses. Nevertheless, there were multiple other factors impacting these responses. This knowledge should be included in future vaccination strategies and serve as a guide in the development of personalized medicine.
Stakeholders’ Understanding of European Medicine Agency’s COVID-19 Vaccine Information Materials in EU and Regional Contexts
Authors: Castro Indiana , Van Tricht Marie , Bonaccorso Nicole , Sciortino Martina , Garcia Burgos Juan , Costantino Claudio , Gonzalez-Quevedo Rosa
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to communicating accurate information about vaccines because of the spread of misinformation. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) tried to reassure the public by communicating early on about the development and approval of COVID-19 vaccines. The EMA surveyed patients/consumers, healthcare professional organizations, and individual stakeholders, both at the EU level and in an Italian regional context. The objectives of the study were to see if the EMA’s core information materials were informative and well-understood and which communication channels were preferred by the public. The main findings showed that individual patients/consumers generally prefer to obtain information about COVID-19 vaccines from the internet or mass media, while organizations and individual healthcare professionals prefer to obtain information from national and international health authorities. Both at EU and local levels, participants had a good understanding of the key messages from regulators and found the materials useful and relevant. However, some improvements were recommended to the visual, text, and dissemination formats, including publishing more information on safety and using a more public-friendly language. Also, it was recommended to maintain the EMA’s approach of using media, stakeholder engagement, and web-based formats to communicate about COVID-19 vaccines. In conclusion, user-testing of proactive communication materials aimed to prebunk misinformation during a public health crisis helps to ensure that users understand the development and safety of novel vaccine technologies. This information can then be used as a basis for further evidence-based communication activities by regulators and public health bodies in an emergency context.
A Real-Time Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay for Specific Detection of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus
Authors: Zhai Qi , Zhou Xia , Du Liyin , Yang Nan , Lou Yakun , Liu Jianying , Zhai Shaolun
Published: October 2023

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) infection, accompanied by loss of hide quality, poor reproductive efficiency, consistent degenerative emaciation, and milk yield reduction of animals, causes severe economic implications in endemic zones. The heterologous attenuated goat pox (GTPV) vaccine (AV41 strain) was used in China to prevent LSDV infection. Only a few LSDV detection methods that distinguish LSDV from GTPV vaccine strains have been reported before. For simple, rapid, and specific detection of LSDV, the real-time recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) method was established with the specific primers and probes designed according to the conserved regions of ORF132 gene sequences. The assay could be finished within 20 min at a constant temperature (39 °C). This method had a limit of detection (LOD) of 15 copies/μL for LSDV and no cross-reaction with the nucleic acids of goat pox virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, Pasteurella multocida, and bovine healthy tissue. Furthermore, 43 clinical samples were detected by this method and the real-time PCR recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), with a kappa value, was 0.94. These results demonstrated that the real-time RPA method for detecting LSDV developed in this study was characterized by high sensitivity and specificity, which has wide application value in the clinical diagnosis and detection of LSDV in China.
Multiple Hepatic Lipoma: A Case Report of Captive Hill Mynah with Iron Storage Disease
Authors: Lee Seoungw-Woo , Youn Soong-Hee , Park Jin-Kyu
Published: October 2023

The present case describes multiple hepatic lipomas in a common hill mynah (Gracula religiosa). A 21-year-old female captive common hill mynah died without any notable clinical symptoms. An autopsy and histopathological examinations were conducted to determine the exact cause of death. On gross observation, the liver demonstrated a yellowish white surface color and multiple nodules indicating neoplastic lesions. Histopathological assessment found that the nodules purely comprised mature adipocytes. Furthermore, the liver exhibited an excessive accumulation of iron in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells and the infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells, suggesting iron storage disease (ISD). Based on the results, the present case was diagnosed as multiple hepatic lipomas with ISD. To the authors’ best knowledge, multiple hepatic lipomas accompanying ISD lesions have not been reported previously. Hence, the present case is the first case report of hepatic multiple lipomas with ISD in veterinary medicine.
Euthanasia of Cats by Australian Veterinarians: A Survey of Current Practices
Authors: Chan Hedia , Pepper Brianne Marlene , Ward Michael P. , Quain Anne
Published: October 2023

We sought to document the contemporary feline euthanasia practices among Australian veterinarians and determine the factors associated with the administration of a premedication or sedation prior to euthanasia. Australian veterinarians who had euthanised at least one cat during the previous 12 months were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. From 615 valid responses, 585 respondents (95.1%) had euthanised at least one cat in the last 12 months, of which 462 respondents (75.1%) had performed an emergency euthanasia. Intravenous (IV) injection (n = 536, 91.6%) of pentobarbitone sodium (n = 584, 99.8%) was the predominant primary method. Premedication or sedation was administered to cats by 415/585 (71.0%) and 242/462 (52.4%) of respondents in non-emergency and emergency euthanasia, respectively. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, for non-emergency euthanasia, being female and working in a metropolitan area were significant predictors for administering a premedication or sedation (p < 0.001 and p = 0.037, respectively). For emergency euthanasia, working in an ‘other’ type of practice was a significant predictor for administering a premedication or sedation (p < 0.001). Australian veterinarians vary in their approach to feline euthanasia. There is scope for refinement of euthanasia techniques to maximise the welfare of cats, their owners or guardians, and veterinary team members.
FEM Investigation of the Air Resonance in a Cretan Lyra
Authors: Papadakis Nikolaos M. , Nikolidakis Nikolaos , Stavroulakis Georgios E.
Published: October 2023

Cretan lyra is a stringed instrument very popular on the island of Crete, Greece, and an important part of its musical tradition. For stringed musical instruments, the air mode resonance plays a vital part in their sound, especially in the low frequency range. For this study, the air mode resonance of a Cretan lyra is investigated with the use of finite element method (FEM). Two different FEM acoustic models were utilized: First, a pressure acoustics model with the Cretan lyra body treated as rigid was used to provide an approximate result. Secondly, an acoustic–structure interaction model was applied for a more accurate representation. In addition, acoustic measurements were performed to identify the air mode resonance frequency. The results of this study reveal that the acoustic–structure interaction model has a 3.7% difference regarding the actual measurements of the resonance frequency. In contrast, the pressure acoustics solution is approximately 13.8% too high compared with the actual measurements. Taken together, the findings of this study support the idea that utilizing the FEM acoustic–structure interaction models could possibly predict the vibroacoustic behavior of musical instruments more accurately, which in turn can enable the determination of key aspects that can be used to control the instrument’s tone and sound quality.
Use of δ13C and δ15N as Indicators to Evaluate the Influence of Sewage on Organic Matter in the Zhangjiang Mangrove–Estuary Ecosystem, Southeastern China
Authors: Li Danyang , Yan Jinpei , Lu Zhiqiang , Chu Tianshu , Li Jun , Chu Tajen
Published: October 2023

Organic matter in the productive mangrove–estuary ecosystem plays an important role in global climate changes. In recent years, the eutrophication in such areas caused by anthropogenic inputs of sewage has been revealed, highlighting the need to understand its influence on organic matter. In this study, δ13C and δ15N were used to reveal the effects of sewage on organic matters in the Zhangjiang mangrove–estuary ecosystem. Our results indicate that sewage contributed the most of the total particulate organic matter (41%) in the Zhangjiang estuary, while mangrove plants contributed most of the soil organic matter (45%) in the neighboring Yunxiao mangrove. Phytoplankton was another important source of organic matter, accounting for about 21.8% and 49.8% of the particulate and soil organic matter, respectively. Sewage was also a major source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, providing 28.9%, 12.2%, and 100% of the total NO3−, NO2−, and NH4+ in the Zhangjiang estuary, respectively. This may be the major reason for the productive phytoplankton here, which contributed 21.8% and 49.8% of the total particulate and soil organic matter in the study area. Our results reveal the direct contribution and the potential effects of sewage on the contents and bioavailability of organic matter in mangrove–estuary ecosystems, providing new insights into understanding the response of coastal areas to the influence of human activities.
Retail business strategic planning: updating and developing contour elements of geomarketing
Authors:   Belgorod State National Research University, Gerasimenko O. A.
Published: October 2023

The article presents the key prerequisites for the formation of new sources of competitive advantage - the selection of the optimal location of the retail business. What is more, scientific research is emphasized by the postulate that the location can be chosen in unattractive territorial urban locations (zone 2 and 3 of the territorial line). The conducted studies indicate that the client's behavior model has changed, and the client is ready to cover long distances every day.
Transportation logistics
Authors:   Krasnodar Branch of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Lomat E. P.
Published: October 2023

This article discusses the essence of transportation logistics. The analysis of the system of logistics transportation in Russia was carried out, weaknesses and strengths were identified, and recommendations were made in order to eliminate problems in this area.
Factors influencing the efficiency of a small enterprise
Authors:   Krasnodar Branch of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Ankvab A. R.
Published: October 2023

The article provides a classification of factors influencing the efficiency of small enterprises. The factors are divided into two groups: external and internal ones. The external factors are divided into direct and indirect impact factors, while internal factors are divided into process and personal ones.
Management of the company’s fixed capital
Authors:   Lipetsk Branch of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Ziroyan R. A.
Published: October 2023

It is essential for every entrepreneur that the resources of the organization are used efficiently. And fixed capital is no exception. It is the core of the company, its main component, which needs special control. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to this aspect and study it comprehensively.
TÜRKİYE’DE AKILCI İLAÇ KULLANIMINA YÖNELİK ÖLÇEKLER
Authors: METE Soner , ÖZDİL Kamuran
Published: October 2023

Akılcı ilaç kullanımı, önlenebilir olumsuz ilaç etkilerinden kaçınmada, hasta uyumunu artırarak terapötik sonuçları en üst düzeye çıkarmada ve ilaç tedavisinin maliyetini en aza indirmede halk sağlığı açısından önemli bir konuma sahiptir. Bu nedenle akılcı ve akılcı olmayan ilaç kullanımına ilişkin davranışların bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri ile ortaya konması günümüz şartlarında bir gerekliliktir. Nitekim literatürde akılcı ilaç kullanımı davranışlarına yönelik birçok farklı ölçek geliştirilmiştir. Bu bağlamda bu derlemede Türkiye’de akılcı ilaç kullanımına ilişkin geliştirilen ölçekler ve aynı zamanda yabancı dillerden Türkçeye uyarlanan ölçeklerin sunulması amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla Ocak-Haziran 2023 tarihleri arasında Yüksek Öğretim Kurumu Ulusal Tez Merkezi veri tabanı ve Google Akademik’e “akılcı ilaç kullanımı, rasyonel ilaç kullanımı, ilaç uyumu, Türkçe, geçerlilik, güvenilirlik” anahtar kelimeleri kullanılarak tarama yapılmıştır. Tarama sonucunda 240 tez ve 70 makaleye ulaşılmıştır. Bu yayınların incelenmesi sonucunda akılcı ilaç kullanımı konusunda geliştirilen dokuz ölçek, Türkçeye uyarlanan geçerlilik ve güvenilirliği yapılan yedi ölçek olmak üzere toplam on altı ölçeğe ulaşılmıştır. Bu derlemede akılcı ilaç kullanımı konusundaki Türkçe geliştirilen ve Türkçeye uyarlanan ölçeklere ilişkin tanıtıcı bilgiler sunularak araştırmacıların çalışmalarında uygulayacağı veri toplama aracını daha öz ve hızlı bir şekilde tanıması sağlanmış olacaktır.
EVALUACIÓN DE TRIGOS CRISTALINOS DE ETIOPÍA POR SU RESISTENCIA A ROYA DE LA HOJA EN MÉXICO
Authors: Delgado-Sánchez Laura Marisa , Huerta-Espino Julio , Ammar Karim , Benítez-Riquelme Ignacio , Aguilar-Rincón Víctor Heber , Corona-Torres Tarsicio , Hortelano-Santa Rosa René
Published: October 2023

La roya de la hoja, causada por el hongo Puccinia triticina E., continúa siendo una de las enfermedades más importantes del trigo cristalino en México y en el mundo. Una de las formas más eficientes de controlar la enfermedad es mediante resistencia genética, lo que implica la necesidad de identificar fuentes de resistencia, ya sea en variedades cultivadas, en especies relacionadas con el género Triticum, o en genotipos criollos procedentes de los centros de origen o diversidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar fenotípicamente en campo y bajo invernadero trigos criollos provenientes de Etiopía. De 194 genotipos evaluados contra las razas de P. triticina BBG/BPCG y BBG/BPCJ se identificaron 89 genotipos resistentes, equivalente al 45 %, y 91 contra la raza BBG/BPCJ, que representan el 46 %. El 31 % de los genotipos permanecieron resistentes, con el mismo grado de severidad para ambas razas, pero un 15 % de los genotipos aumentó su nivel de resistencia cuando se evaluaron con la raza BBG/BPCJ con respecto a BBG/BPCG, en tanto que, para el 50 % de los genotipos la severidad de la enfermedad aumentó. Es importante que las futuras pruebas de identificación de fuentes de resistencia, así como el seguimiento de la incorporación de las ya identificadas sean realizadas con la raza BBG/BPCJ, que es la de mayor prevalencia desde su aparición en México en 2017. El estudio permitió identificar genotipos resistentes en todas las etapas de desarrollo, así como genotipos con resistencia efectiva sólo en planta adulta. De los genotipos evaluados, 98 criollos y cinco variedades mejoradas fueron seleccionados como resistentes. Estos individuos podrían ser utilizados como fuentes de resistencia en programas de mejoramiento para incorporar resistencia a roya de la hoja.