bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolating Specific vs. Non-Specific Binding Responses in Conducting Polymer Biosensors for Bio-Fingerprinting
Authors: Smith Phil M. , Sutradhar Indorica , Telmer Maxwell , Magar Rishikesh , Farimani Amir Barati , Reeja-Jayan B.
Published: September 2021

A longstanding challenge for accurate sensing of biomolecules such as proteins concerns specifically detecting a target analyte in a complex sample (e.g., food) without suffering from nonspecific binding or interactions from the target itself or other analytes present in the sample. Every sensor suffers from this fundamental drawback, which limits its sensitivity, specificity, and longevity. Existing efforts to improve signal-to-noise ratio involve introducing additional steps to reduce nonspecific binding, which increases the cost of the sensor. Conducting polymer-based chemiresistive biosensors can be mechanically flexible, are inexpensive, label-free, and capable of detecting specific biomolecules in complex samples without purification steps, making them very versatile. In this paper, a poly (3,4-ethylenedioxyphene) (PEDOT) and poly (3-thiopheneethanol) (3TE) interpenetrating network on polypropylene–cellulose fabric is used as a platform for a chemiresistive biosensor, and the specific and nonspecific binding events are studied using the Biotin/Avidin and Gliadin/G12-specific complementary binding pairs. We observed that specific binding between these pairs results in a negative ΔR with the addition of the analyte and this response increases with increasing analyte concentration. Nonspecific binding was found to have the opposite response, a positive ΔR upon the addition of analyte was seen in nonspecific binding cases. We further demonstrate the ability of the sensor to detect a targeted protein in a dual-protein analyte solution. The machine-learning classifier, random forest, predicted the presence of Biotin with 75% accuracy in dual-analyte solutions. This capability of distinguishing between specific and nonspecific binding can be a step towards solving the problem of false positives or false negatives to which all biosensors are susceptible.
Optimal Localization of Smart Aggregate Sensor for Concrete Damage Monitoring in PSC Anchorage Zone
Authors: Pham Quang-Quang , Dang Ngoc-Loi , Ta Quoc-Bao , Kim Jeong-Tae
Published: September 2021

This study investigates the feasibility of smart aggregate (SA) sensors and their optimal locations for impedance-based damage monitoring in prestressed concrete (PSC) anchorage zones. Firstly, numerical stress analyses are performed on the PSC anchorage zone to determine the location of potential damage that is induced by prestressing forces. Secondly, a simplified impedance model is briefly described for the SA sensor in the anchorage. Thirdly, numerical impedance analyses are performed to explore the sensitivities of a few SA sensors in the anchorage zone under the variation of prestressing forces and under the occurrence of artificial damage events. Finally, a real-scale PSC anchorage zone is experimentally examined to evaluate the optimal localization of the SA sensor for concrete damage detection. Impedance responses measured under a series of prestressing forces are statistically quantified to estimate the performance of damage monitoring via the SA sensor in the PSC anchorage.
Long-Term Performance of Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors Embedded in Reinforced Concrete Beams under Sustained Deflection and Cyclic Loading
Authors: Fernandez Ignasi , Berrocal Carlos G. , Rempling Rasmus
Published: September 2021

This paper explores the performance of distributed optical fiber sensors based on Rayleigh backscattering for the monitoring of strains in reinforced concrete elements subjected to different types of long-term external loading. In particular, the reliability and accuracy of robust fiber optic cables with an inner steel tube and an external protective polymeric cladding were investigated through a series of laboratory experiments involving large-scale reinforced concrete beams subjected to either sustained deflection or cyclic loading for 96 days. The unmatched spatial resolution of the strain measurements provided by the sensors allows for a level of detail that leads to new insights in the understanding of the structural behavior of reinforced concrete specimens. Moreover, the accuracy and stability of the sensors enabled the monitoring of subtle strain variations, both in the short-term due to changes of the external load and in the long-term due to time-dependent effects such as creep. Moreover, a comparison with Digital Image Correlation measurements revealed that the strain measurements and the calculation of deflection and crack widths derived thereof remain accurate over time. Therefore, the study concluded that this type of fiber optic has great potential to be used in real long-term monitoring applications in reinforced concrete structures.
Teaching Industrial Ecology to Undergraduate Students: Lessons Learned
Authors: Liu Changhao , Côté Raymond
Published: September 2021

Industrial ecology (IE) education is a topic that has received attention in institutions of higher education throughout the world. Some universities have been teaching and researching IE for the past 20 years but its scope is still being defined. There is a need to catalog and exchange experiences of IE teaching and their results. Based on a literature review, this paper aims to provide a framework composed of content and strategies for IE teaching. This framework is tested in teaching IE as a general education course for undergraduate students at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT). The methodology applied in this paper is of a descriptive and empirical nature and thus this paper focuses on a practice-oriented perspective in describing the experience of BIT. A range of different strategies, including lectures, group discussions, case studies, role playing games, oral presentations, evaluation, and student feedback have been incorporated in the course. The results show that the course received a highly positive evaluation by the participating students. Students were impressed by IE’s characteristics of interdisciplinarity, ways of thinking, and practical value. Additionally, the course appears to influence students’ values, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. The paper concludes with some thoughts on ways of improving IE education in the future.
An Updated Technical–Tactical Categorisation in Taekwondo: From General Tactical Objectives to Combat Situations
Authors: Barrientos Merce , Saavedra-García Miguel A. , Arriaza-Loureda Rafael , Menescardi Cristina , Fernández-Romero Juan J.
Published: September 2021

Taekwondo competition underwent enormous development with the recent introduction of electronic scoring devices and rule changes. Although the competitive model of taekwondo had been previously studied, most of the literature that analyses this model was previous to the introduction of electronic devices or not based on a prior system of categories. Not only are results of an up-to-date taxonomy essential to guarantee the sustainability of future research about taekwondo based on methodological observation, but they are also completely necessary. This article proposes and validates a new categorisation of taekwondoist technical–tactical actions in the competition after the modifications were introduced between Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2021 qualification events. The association between environmental conditions, tactical objectives, and technical actions determines the defining parameters of the combat situations. To design the category system, a dual methodology was used: in the first stage, an in-depth review of the technical and scientific literature based on observation of combats was carried out. From that review, a synthesis document was produced, which subsequently was used as a basis for canvassing an up-to-date view of the question from expert advisers. The existing terminology and categories were rearranged and updated, establishing new parameters involved in the technical–tactical resources of contest situations. This updated categorisation was tested by using the generalisability theory, revealing excellent-to-perfect observers’ agreement and reliable data. This new categorisation will allow designing precise and sustainable tools over time for methodological observation of taekwondo in future studies.
Building Climate-Resilient Cotton Production System for Changing Climate Scenarios Using the DSSAT Model
Authors: Arshad Awan Zoia , Khaliq Tasneem , Masood Akhtar Muhammad , Imran Asad , Irfan Muhammad , Jarrar Ahmed Muhammad , Ahmad Ashfaq
Published: September 2021

Cotton production is highly vulnerable to climate change, and heat stress is a major constraint in the cotton zone of Punjab, Pakistan. Adaptation is perceived as a critical step to deal with forecasted and unexpected climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to standardize and authenticate a cotton crop model based on climate and crop husbandry data in order to develop an adaptation package for cotton crop production in the wake of climate change. For the study, the data were collected from the cotton-growing areas of Punjab, viz. Bahawalpur and Khanewal. After the calibration and validation against field data, the Cropping System Model CSM–CROPGRO–Cotton in the shell of the decision support system for agro-technology transfer (DSSAT) was run with a future climate generated under two representative concentrations pathways (RCPs), viz. RCPs 4.5 and 8.5 with five global circulation models (GCMs). The whole study showed that a model is an artistic tool for examining the temporal variation in cotton and determining the potential impact of planting dates on crop growth, phenology, and yield. The results showed that the future climate would have drastic effects on cotton production in the project area. Reduction in seed cotton yield (SCY) was 25.7% and 32.2% under RCPs 4.5 and 8.5, respectively. The comparison of five GCMs showed that a hot/wet climate would be more damaging than other scenarios. The simulations with different production options showed that a 10% and 5% increase in nitrogen and plant population, respectively, compared to the present would be the best strategy in the future. The model further suggested that planting conducted 15 days earlier, combined with the use of water and nitrogen (fertigation), would help to improve yield with 10% less water under the future climate. Overall, the proposed adaptation package would help to recover 33% and 37% of damages in SCY due to the climate change scenarios of RCP 4.5 and 8.5, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed package would also help the farmers increase crop yield by 7.5% over baseline (current) yield.
ESG Disclosure in an Emerging Market: An Empirical Analysis of the Influence of Board Characteristics and Ownership Structure
Authors: Lavin Jaime F. , Montecinos-Pearce Alejandro A.
Published: September 2021

In the context of greater demand for corporate transparency, there is a growing pressure on boards to produce and communicate information to their investors and stakeholders. The current literature on integrated reporting shows that the provision of ESG information is a crucial factor that improves corporate governance by reducing agency problems. This issue is also critical in emerging economies, and particularly among Latin American firms. The concentration, opacity, and lack of evidence about ESG disclosure in less developed financial markets provide a promising environment to study the implications of board heterogeneity and ownership structure on strategic corporate decisions such as the disclosure of ESG indicators in developing economies. Using Tobit panel data models, we study how these factors affect the extent of ESG disclosure by Chilean listed firms. Our main results suggest that a board’s independence and gender diversity positively influence the extent of disclosure of ESG indicators. Our evidence helps firms concerned with strengthening their board’s features, investors that require screening firms’ ESG risk factors, and supports regulators’ decisions on setting norms regarding the extent of disclosure of ESG information by firms.
Identifying Spatial Driving Factors of Energy and Water Consumption in the Context of Urban Transformation
Authors: Chen I-Chun , Cheng Kuang-Ly , Ma Hwong-Wen , Hung Cathy C.W.
Published: September 2021

Urban energy and water consumption varies substantially across spatial and temporal scales, which can be attributed to changes of socio-economic variables, especially for a city undergoing urban transformation. Understanding these variations in variables related to resource consumptions would be beneficial to regional resource utilization planning and policy implementation. A geographically weighted regression method with modified procedures was used to explore and visualize the relationships between socio-economic factors and spatial non-stationarity of urban resource consumption to enhance the reliability of predicted results, taking Taichung city with 29 districts as an example. The results indicate that there is a strong positive correlation between socio-economic context and domestic resource consumption, but that there are relatively weak correlations for industrial and agricultural resource consumption. In 2015, domestic water and energy consumption was driven by the number of enterprises followed by population and average income level (depending on the target districts and sectors). Domestic resource consumption is projected to increase by approximately 84% between 2015 and 2050. Again, the number of enterprises outperforms other factors to be the dominant variable responsible for the increase in resource consumption. Spatial regression analysis of non-stationarity resource consumption and its associated variables offers useful information that is helpful for targeting hotspots of dominant resource consumers and intervention measures.
ADHD and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo: Comparing Executive Functioning Response Patterns
Authors: Collado-Valero Joshua , Navarro-Soria Ignasi , Delgado-Domenech Beatriz , Real-Fernández Marta , Costa-López Borja , Mazón-Esquiva Isabel , Lavigne-Cerván Rocío
Published: September 2021

The aim of the present study was to describe and compare the specific profiles of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) through the Hybrid Model of Executive Functioning (HMEF). The total sample of 1049 subjects, aged 6 to 18 years (M = 10.75; SD = 3.20), were classified into a non-pathologic group, an ADHD group and an SCT group, and assessed using the short version of the Barkley Deficit in Executive Functions Scale for Children and Adolescents (BDEFS-CA). The results revealed significant differences between the three groups in all executive domains (non-pathologic < SCT < ADHD). While the ADHD group demonstrated a consistently high profile of difficulties in each subscale, the SCT group showed an irregular profile of difficulties, with middle and low scores, depending on the executive function. Although the SCT group’s score was far away from the ADHD group’s score for Self-Motivation, Emotions Self-Regulation and Self-Restraint and Inhibition, the two groups’ scores were very close for Time Self-Management and Self-Organization and Problem Solving. Accordingly, through logistic regression analyses, the SCT group was exclusively related to these last two executive domains; however, the ADHD group was strongly associated with almost every executive function. The findings suggest that the short version of the BDEFS-CA discriminates between both disorders, supporting psycho-pedagogical assessment and differential diagnosis.
The UNGPs on Business and Human Rights and the Greening of Human Rights Litigation: Fishing in Fragmented Waters?
Authors: Lizarazo-Rodriguez Liliana
Published: September 2021

This article is written around the time a Dutch court ordered the corporate group Shell to cut its carbon emissions by 2030. The aim of the article is to contribute to the conceptualisation of the phenomenon this judgement unveils in terms of greening human rights litigation supported by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). It addresses, firstly, how claiming the protection of the Earth before courts is occurring in a highly fragmented legal, economic and social context as a way to overcome the multiple obstacles flagged by the literature on the UNGPs. Secondly, it assesses how human rights litigation seeking global justice has evolved in waves with common trends, such as activism from social actors and courts that rely on arguments based on progressive soft law. Thirdly, it identifies two trends in the current wave of green litigation: the anthropocentric perspective that claims the protection of the Earth in the public interest and the ecocentric perspective that claims autonomous rights for Mother Earth. Finally, the article flags some gaps in this third wave of human rights litigation, particularly the risk of disregarding the third pillar of the UNGPs: access to an effective remedy for marginalised communities that are not aware of these ongoing developments.
Engaged, Indifferent, Skeptical or Critical? Disentangling Attitudes towards Local Deliberative Mini-Publics in Four Western European Democracies
Authors: Rojon Sebastien , Pilet Jean-Benoit
Published: September 2021

Democratic innovations, such as deliberative mini-publics, are designed to encourage public engagement in policymaking. They are increasingly being used to inform decision-making on the environment, climate change, and other sustainability issues. Research on support for democratic innovations has focused on identifying citizens in favor and understanding whether they are “enraged” or “engaged” with politics. However, this approach ignores potential differences between citizens expressing more (or less) positive attitudes towards democratic innovations. In an online vignette study, respondents from four Western European countries rated varying descriptions of a local mini-public, indicating both their support for the decision-making process and their willingness to get involved. Four distinct groups were identified based on a latent profile analysis: (1) those who are truly engaged, in that their support for mini-publics is reinforced by intentions to participate, correspond to one-third of citizens. Engaged deliberative democrats stand out as being more concerned about the environment than any other issue on the agenda; (2) the majority of citizens are indifferent, expressing neither positive nor negative inclinations towards mini-publics; (3) a group of “elitists” is skeptical of integrating citizens into policymaking despite intending to participate themselves; and finally (4), a small share of citizens was identified as critics, scoring low on both support and willingness to participate in a mini-public. The diversity of profiles points to the challenges of using deliberative mini-publics to address sustainability issues.
Evaluation of the Impacts of Land Use in Water Quality and the Role of Nature-Based Solutions: A Citizen Science-Based Study
Authors: Calderón Cendejas Julia , Madrid Ramírez Lucía , Ramírez Zierold Jorge , Díaz Valenzuela Julio , Merino Ibarra Martín , Morató Sánchez de Tagle Santiago , Chino Téllez Alejandro
Published: September 2021

The present study explores the impact of different land uses on water quality in a Mexican basin and addresses key mitigation measures, with key measurements made by citizen scientists. The Amanalco-Valle de Bravo Basin reservoir is the major freshwater supply for Mexico City. By measuring physical-chemical and bacteriological parameters in creeks over 21 months and correlating them to land use areas, it was possible to understand the impacts of different land uses (urban, forest, riparian forests, and different agricultural systems) in water quality. The results show that the concentration of E. coli, nitrates, nitrites, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and total suspended solids were higher than the recommended reference levels, and that average oxygen saturation and alkalinity were lower than the recommended reference levels in most sites. The analysis of the Pearson correlation coefficient showed a strong relationship between water pollution and urban and agricultural land uses, specifically a higher impact of potato cultivation, due to its intensive use of agrochemicals and downhill tilling. There was a clear positive relationship between total forest area and riparian vegetation cover with improved water quality, validating their potential as nature-based solutions for the regulation of water quality. The results of the present study indicate the opportunities that better land management practices generate to ensure communities’ and water ecosystems’ health. This study also highlights the benefits of citizen science as a tool for raising awareness with regard to water quality and nature-based solutions, and as an appropriate tool for participative watershed management.
Evaluation of Suitability of Urban Land Using GIS Technology
Authors: Yan Yu , Zhang Yukun , Sharma Ashutosh , Al-Amri Jehad F.
Published: September 2021

The accelerating speed of urbanization has a negative impact on environmental degradation, leading to the imbalance in land-use structure and scarcity of its resources. The imbalance of the existing land-use structure and function distribution, along with the scarcity of land resources, were improved in this article to provide people with more a rational use of land service space. This article specifically contributes to the establishment of an evaluation index system for the evaluation of the suitability of urban land using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The topographic aspect of the planning area was determined by the filling and excavation of depth factors and terrain elevation of the planning area. This article also contributes to determining the topographic slope of the planning area and evaluation index weight for the analysis of superposition factors. GIS data processing methods, document analysis methods, and mathematical models are used to evaluate the suitability of construction land. The results of geological engineering, geological foundation, environment, and geological disasters of the northern New Area of Yan’an are combined, and the appropriate evaluation indicators are selected. The results show that the prohibited planning construction area accounts for about 4% of the total planning area. Appropriate construction and more suitable construction in the entire region account for about 96%. The mountain system is connected in form and meaning, and a rainwater collection and management system is established. The proposed method of intercepting flood ditch at the foot of the mountain was designed and adopted, followed by eventual realization of rainwater recycling and safe flood control, making urban land use more reasonable. Therefore, urban land planning is provided with a reasonable reference basis.
Analysis of Housing Market Dynamics Considering the Structural Characteristics of Mortgage Interest
Authors: Baek Insoo , Lee Sanghyo , Lee Joosung , Kim Jaejun
Published: September 2021

Mortgage loan interest rates consists of base interest and spread. In general, the base interest is adjusted by the government for the sustainability of the housing market. On the other hand, spread is determined by market mechanisms. Accordingly, the change pattern of base interest and spread may appear differently depending on the market situation. In the end, the effect of the government’s market intervention through interest rate policy may be different than expected. In this respect, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of base interest and spread of the mortgage loan interest rate on the housing market and to derive important policy implications for the sustainability of the housing market. As a result of this study, the ineffectiveness of the government’s interest rate policies on the stability of the housing market was confirmed. The market mechanisms had more significant effects on the sustainability of the housing market than artificial political intervention. Further, housing supply policies based on the market mechanism could be more effective than housing demand policies based on interest-rate adjustments.
How Does Emotional Labor Influence Voice Behavior? The Roles of Work Engagement and Perceived Organizational Support
Authors: Du Yuechao , Wang Zhongming
Published: September 2021

Promoting employee voice behavior is important for the sustainable development of organizations. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, the study examined the association between emotional labor and employee voice behavior and the mediation of work engagement in this relationship. Surveys were collected at two time points, four weeks apart, from 629 employees in the service industry in China. The results show that surface acting is negatively related to work engagement and that deep acting is positively related to work engagement. Employees’ work engagement is positively associated with voice behavior. Hence, work engagement appears to be a mediating variable that translates the emotional labor into voice behavior. Moreover, perceived organizational support moderates the relationship between emotional labor and voice behavior. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Expansion and Specification of Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Practices Survey Model for Community-Based Tourism Development
Authors: Mtapuri Oliver , Thanh Tran Duc , Giampiccoli Andrea , Dłużewska Anna
Published: September 2021

This paper investigates the use of the Knowledge Attitude Practices (KAP) survey and suggests its extension to Knowledge Attitude Skills Practices (KSAP). It brings value to tourism theories at the level of the tourist and hosts, and argues that communities must be capacitated with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices that transcend tourism. This is a conceptual paper, compiled using secondary data that already exists in the public domain. The paper suggests carrying out surveys that incorporate KSAP regarding CBT at level 1, tourism at level 2, and livelihoods at level 3, for a holistic understanding of these aspects among community members, tourists, and other stakeholders. The KSAP model posited in this paper is a tool that may be used by considering the prevailing local conditions and contexts, and the appropriate unit of analysis from tourism stakeholders.
Damage Function of a Quasi-Brittle Material, Damage Rate, Acceleration and Jerk during Uniaxial Compression: Model and Application to Analysis of Trabecular Bone Tissue Destruction
Authors: Kolesnikov Gennady
Published: September 2021

A diversity of quasi-brittle materials can be observed in various engineering structures and natural objects (rocks, frozen soil, concrete, ceramics, bones, etc.). In order to predict the condition and safety of these objects, a large number of studies aimed at analyzing the strength of quasi-brittle materials has been conducted and presented in publications. However, at the modeling level, the problem of estimating the rate and acceleration of destruction of a quasi-brittle material under loading remains relevant. The purpose of the study was to substantiate the function of damage to a quasi-brittle material under uniaxial compression, determine the rate, acceleration and jerk of the damage process, and also to apply the results obtained to predicting the destruction of trabecular bone tissue. In accordance with the purpose of the study, the basic concepts of fracture mechanics and standard methods of mathematical modeling were used. The proposed model is based on the application of the previously obtained differentiable damage function without parameters. The results of the study are presented in the form of plots and analytical relations for computing the rate, acceleration and jerk of the damage process. Examples are given. The predicted peak of the combined effect of rate, acceleration and jerk of the damage process are found to be of practical interest as an additional criterion for destruction. The simulation results agree with the experimental data known from the available literature.
Recent Advances in Selected Asymmetric Reactions Promoted by Chiral Catalysts: Cyclopropanations, Friedel–Crafts, Mannich, Michael and Other Zinc-Mediated Processes—An Update
Authors: Rachwalski Michał , Buchcic-Szychowska Aleksandra , Leśniak Stanisław
Published: September 2021

The main purpose of this review article is to present selected asymmetric synthesis reactions in which chemical and stereochemical outcomes are dependent on the use of an appropriate chiral catalyst. Optically pure or enantiomerically enriched products of such transformations may find further applications in various fields. Among an extremely wide variety of asymmetric reactions catalyzed by chiral systems, we are interested in: asymmetric cyclopropanation, Friedel–Crafts reaction, Mannich and Michael reaction, and other stereoselective processes conducted in the presence of zinc ions. This paper describes the achievements of the above-mentioned asymmetric transformations in the last three years. The choice of reactions is related to the research that has been carried out in our laboratory for many years.
Feature Selection and Ensemble-Based Intrusion Detection System: An Efficient and Comprehensive Approach
Authors: Jaw Ebrima , Wang Xueming
Published: September 2021

The emergence of ground-breaking technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data powered by the Internet, and its highly valued real-world applications consisting of symmetric and asymmetric data distributions, has significantly changed our lives in many positive aspects. However, it equally comes with the current catastrophic daily escalating cyberattacks. Thus, raising the need for researchers to harness the innovative strengths of machine learning to design and implement intrusion detection systems (IDSs) to help mitigate these unfortunate cyber threats. Nevertheless, trustworthy and effective IDSs is a challenge due to low accuracy engendered by vast, irrelevant, and redundant features; inept detection of all types of novel attacks by individual machine learning classifiers; costly and faulty use of labeled training datasets cum significant false alarm rates (FAR) and the excessive model building and testing time. Therefore, this paper proposed a promising hybrid feature selection (HFS) with an ensemble classifier, which efficiently selects relevant features and provides consistent attack classification. Initially, we harness the various strengths of CfsSubsetEval, genetic search, and a rule-based engine to effectively select subsets of features with high correlation, which considerably reduced the model complexity and enhanced the generalization of learning algorithms, both of which are symmetry learning attributes. Moreover, using a voting method and average of probabilities, we present an ensemble classifier that used K-means, One-Class SVM, DBSCAN, and Expectation-Maximization, abbreviated (KODE) as an enhanced classifier that consistently classifies the asymmetric probability distributions between malicious and normal instances. HFS-KODE achieves remarkable results using 10-fold cross-validation, CIC-IDS2017, NSL-KDD, and UNSW-NB15 datasets and various metrics. For example, it outclassed all the selected individual classification methods, cutting-edge feature selection, and some current IDSs techniques with an excellent performance accuracy of 99.99%, 99.73%, and 99.997%, and a detection rate of 99.75%, 96.64%, and 99.93% for CIC-IDS2017, NSL-KDD, and UNSW-NB15, respectively based on only 11, 8, 13 selected relevant features from the above datasets. Finally, considering the drastically reduced FAR and time, coupled with no need for labeled datasets, it is self-evident that HFS-KODE proves to have a remarkable performance compared to many current approaches.
Experimental Evolution of West Nile Virus at Higher Temperatures Facilitates Broad Adaptation and Increased Genetic Diversity
Authors: Fay Rachel L. , Ngo Kiet A. , Kuo Lili , Willsey Graham G. , Kramer Laura D. , Ciota Alexander T.
Published: September 2021

West Nile virus (WNV, Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus introduced to North America in 1999. Since 1999, the Earth’s average temperature has increased by 0.6 °C. Mosquitoes are ectothermic organisms, reliant on environmental heat sources. Temperature impacts vector–virus interactions which directly influence arbovirus transmission. RNA viral replication is highly error-prone and increasing temperature could further increase replication rates, mutation frequencies, and evolutionary rates. The impact of temperature on arbovirus evolutionary trajectories and fitness landscapes has yet to be sufficiently studied. To investigate how temperature impacts the rate and extent of WNV evolution in mosquito cells, WNV was experimentally passaged 12 times in Culex tarsalis cells, at 25 °C and 30 °C. Full-genome deep sequencing was used to compare genetic signatures during passage, and replicative fitness was evaluated before and after passage at each temperature. Our results suggest adaptive potential at both temperatures, with unique temperature-dependent and lineage-specific genetic signatures. Further, higher temperature passage was associated with significantly increased replicative fitness at both temperatures and increases in nonsynonymous mutations. Together, these data indicate that if similar selective pressures exist in natural systems, increases in temperature could accelerate emergence of high-fitness strains with greater phenotypic plasticity.
Chemical and Enzymatic Probing of Viral RNAs: From Infancy to Maturity and Beyond
Authors: Gilmer Orian , Quignon Erwan , Jousset Anne-Caroline , Paillart Jean-Christophe , Marquet Roland , Vivet-Boudou Valérie
Published: September 2021

RNA molecules are key players in a variety of biological events, and this is particularly true for viral RNAs. To better understand the replication of those pathogens and try to block them, special attention has been paid to the structure of their RNAs. Methods to probe RNA structures have been developed since the 1960s; even if they have evolved over the years, they are still in use today and provide useful information on the folding of RNA molecules, including viral RNAs. The aim of this review is to offer a historical perspective on the structural probing methods used to decipher RNA structures before the development of the selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) methodology and to show how they have influenced the current probing techniques. Actually, these technological breakthroughs, which involved advanced detection methods, were made possible thanks to the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) but also to the previous works accumulated in the field of structural RNA biology. Finally, we will also discuss how high-throughput SHAPE (hSHAPE) paved the way for the development of sophisticated RNA structural techniques.
Generation of Variability in Chrysodeixis includens Nucleopolyhedrovirus (ChinNPV): The Role of a Single Variant
Authors: Aguirre Eduardo , Beperet Inés , Williams Trevor , Caballero Primitivo
Published: September 2021

The mechanisms generating variability in viruses are diverse. Variability allows baculoviruses to evolve with their host and with changes in their environment. We examined the role of one genetic variant of Chrysodeixis includens nucleopolyhedrovirus (ChinNPV) and its contribution to the variability of the virus under laboratory conditions. A mixture of natural isolates (ChinNPV-Mex1) contained two genetic variants that dominated over other variants in individual larvae that consumed high (ChinNPV-K) and low (ChinNPV-E) concentrations of inoculum. Studies on the ChinNPV-K variant indicated that it was capable of generating novel variation in a concentration-dependent manner. In cell culture, cells inoculated with high concentrations of ChinNPV-K produced OBs with the ChinNPV-K REN profile, whereas a high diversity of ChinNPV variants was recovered following plaque purification of low concentrations of ChinNPV-K virion inoculum. Interestingly, the ChinNPV-K variant could not be recovered from plaques derived from low concentration inocula originating from budded virions or occlusion-derived virions of ChinNPV-K. Genome sequencing revealed marked differences between ChinNPV-K and ChinNPV-E, with high variation in the ChinNPV-K genome, mostly due to single nucleotide polymorphisms. We conclude that ChinNPV-K is an unstable genetic variant that is responsible for generating much of the detected variability in the natural ChinNPV isolates used in this study.
Cell-Adapted Mutations and Antigenic Diversity of Influenza B Viruses in Missouri, 2019–2020 Season
Authors: Tang Cynthia Y. , Segovia Karen , McElroy Jane A. , Li Tao , Guan Minhui , Zhang Xiaojian , Misra Shamita , Hang Jun , Wan Xiu-Feng
Published: September 2021

Influenza B viruses (IBVs) are causing an increasing burden of morbidity and mortality, yet the prevalence of culture-adapted mutations in human seasonal IBVs are unclear. We collected 368 clinical samples from patients with influenza-like illness in Missouri during the 2019–2020 influenza season and recovered 146 influenza isolates including 38 IBV isolates. Of MDCK-CCL34, MDCK-Siat1, and humanized MDCK (hCK), hCK showed the highest virus recovery efficiency. All Missourian IBVs belonged to the Victoria V1A.3 lineage, all of which contained a three-amino acid deletion on the HA protein and were antigenically distant from the Victoria lineage IBV vaccine strain used during that season. By comparing genomic sequences of these IBVs in 31 paired samples, eight cell-adapted nonsynonymous mutations were identified, with the majority in the RNA polymerase. Analyses of IBV clinical sample–isolate pairs from public databases further showed that cell- and egg-adapted mutations occurred more widely in viral proteins, including the receptor and antibody binding sites on HA. Our study suggests that hCK is an effective platform for IBV isolation and that culture-adapted mutations may occur during IBV isolation. As culture-adapted mutations may affect subsequent virus studies and vaccine development, the knowledge from this study may help optimize strategies for influenza surveillance, vaccine strain selection, and vaccine development.
H2-M and H2-O as Targeting Vehicles for the MHC Class II Processing Compartment Promote Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cell Activation
Authors: Lapazio Lucia , Braun Monika , Grandien Kaj
Published: September 2021

CD8 and CD4 T cell activation are both required for a strong and long-lasting T cell immune response. Endogenously expressed proteins are readily processed by the MHC class I antigen presentation pathway, enabling activation of CD8+ T cells. However, the MHC class II antigen presentation pathway, necessary for CD4+ T cell activation, is generally not sufficiently accessible to endogenously expressed proteins, limiting the efficiency of mRNA- or DNA-based vaccines. In the current study, we have evaluated the feasibility of using antigen sequences fused to sequences derived from the H2-M and H2-O proteins, two complexes known to participate in MHC class II antigen processing, for the enhancement of CD4 T-cell activation. We analyzed T cell activation after genetic immunization with mRNA-encoding fusion proteins with the model antigen ovalbumin and sequences derived from H2-M or H2-O. Our results show that H2-M- or H2-O-derived sequences robustly improve antigen-specific CD4 T-cell activation when fused to the antigen of interest and suggest that the approach could be used to improve the efficiency of mRNA- or DNA-based vaccines.
A Case Study on Reliability, Water Demand and Economic Analysis of Rainwater Harvesting in Australian Capital Cities
Authors: Preeti Preeti , Rahman Ataur
Published: September 2021

This paper presents reliability, water demand and economic analysis of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems for eight Australian capital cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney). A Python-based tool is developed based on a daily water balance modelling approach, which uses input data such as daily rainfall, roof area, overflow losses, daily water demand and first flush. Ten different tank volumes are considered (1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 75 and 100 m3). It is found that for a large roof area and tank size, the reliability of RWH systems for toilet and laundry use is high, in the range of 80–100%. However, the reliability for irrigation use is highly variable across all the locations. For combined use, Adelaide shows the smallest reliability (38–49%), while Hobart demonstrates the highest reliability (61–77%). Furthermore, economic analysis demonstrates that in a few cases, benefit–cost ratio values greater than one can be achieved for the RWH systems. The findings of this study will help the Australian Federal Government to enhance RWH policy, programs and subsidy levels considering climate-sensitive inputs in the respective cities.
Numerical Investigation of Degasification in an Electrocoagulation Reactor
Authors: Höhne Thomas , Asl Vahid Farhikhteh , Ople Villacorte Loreen , Herskind Mark , Momeni Maryam , Al-Fayyad Douha , Taș-Köhler Sibel , Lerch André
Published: September 2021

In order to enhance retention of particulate and colloidal (organic) matter, chemical coagulation (CC) is often used prior to pressure-driven membrane filtration. This combined hybrid membrane system may be a potential solution for environmental problems dealing with drinking water treatment, water reuse, and rational waste management. In this study, an EC reactor with spiral electrodes was investigated numerically, focusing on modeling with a given design/geometry configuration and boundary conditions. Two-phase flow interactions between water and hydrogen were modeled via computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Different flow rates (Q=1−1000 L/h) through two batches of the watering stage (Case 1–3) and the degassing stage (Case 4–6) were simulated. The results provided information about flow characteristics such as sufficient retention time, water circulation, undesirable gas penetration into the water inlet channel, gas holdup during watering and degassing, and finally the optimal period for the degasification. Retention time decreases with increasing water velocity and thirty seconds seemed to be the optimal time with gas holdup of 0.020%, 0.028%, and 0.027%, respectively, for Case 4, Case 5, and Case 6. Another finding is that the consideration for the most abundant gas holdup for the typical BC was the smallest ratio of water to gas flow.
Multiple Indicators of Extreme Changes in Snow-Dominated Streamflow Regimes, Yakima River Basin Region, USA
Authors: Wagner Anna M. , Bennett Katrina E. , Liston Glen E. , Hiemstra Christopher A. , Cooley Dan
Published: September 2021

Snow plays a major role in the hydrological cycle. Variations in snow duration and timing can have a negative impact on water resources. Excluding predicted changes in snowmelt rates and amounts could result in deleterious infrastructure, military mission, and asset impacts at military bases across the US. A change in snowpack can also lead to water shortages, which in turn can affect the availability of irrigation water. We performed trend analyses of air temperature, snow water equivalent (SWE) at 22 SNOTEL stations, and streamflow extremes for selected rivers in the snow-dependent and heavily irrigated Yakima River Basin (YRB) located in the Pacific Northwest US. There was a clear trend of increasing air temperature in this study area over a 30 year period (water years 1991–2020). All stations indicated an increase in average air temperatures for December (0.97 °C/decade) and January (1.12 °C/decade). There was also an upward trend at most stations in February (0.28 °C/decade). In December–February, the average air temperatures were 0.82 °C/decade. From these trends, we estimate that, by 2060, the average air temperatures for December–February at most (82%) stations will be above freezing. Furthermore, analysis of SWE from selected SNOTEL stations indicated a decreasing trend in historical SWE, and a shift to an earlier peak SWE was also assumed to be occurring due of the shorter snow duration. Decreasing trends in snow duration, rain-on-snow, and snowmelt runoff also resulted from snow modeling simulations of the YRB and the nearby area. We also observed a shift in the timing of snowmelt-driven peak streamflow, as well as a statistically significant increase in winter maximum streamflow and decrease in summer maximum and minimum streamflow trends by 2099. From the streamflow trends and complementary GEV analysis, we show that the YRB basin is a system in transition with earlier peak flows, lower snow-driven maximum streamflow, and higher rainfall-driven summer streamflow. This study highlights the importance of looking at changes in snow across multiple indicators to develop future infrastructure and planning tools to better adapt and mitigate changes in extreme events.
As possibilidades do espaço urbano para a prática de atividades físicas: a Academia a Céu Aberto de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Authors: Matos Juliana Alves Viana , Silva Kênia Lara , Sena Roseni Rosângela
Published: September 2021

Este artigo apresenta uma investigação da Academia a Céu Aberto (AaCA) como espaço para a prática de atividade física e promoção da saúde. O estudo, de abordagem qualitativa, foi desenvolvido com frequentadores de uma AaCA, de livre acesso, situada em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. O conjunto do material empírico foi discutido sob orientação da Análise Crítica do Discurso. Os resultados indicam que o uso do espaço público para a instalação de uma AaCA concretiza-se como um esforço governamental atuando como alternativa ao sedentarismo para aqueles que não podem pagar por uma academia de ginástica privada. Os frequentadores reconhecem inúmeras possibilidades no uso da AaCA como o alongamento, a caminhada e o exercício de lazer denotando a sua multiplicidade e relevância na consolidação da Política Nacional de Promoção da Saúde. A academia pública provoca uma mudança espacial implicando em um novo arranjo do espaço urbano, e, promovendo novos padrões e novas formas de ação com o estímulo às atividades físicas. O seu uso se torna parte constituinte de uma nova convenção de uso da palavra academia o que se constitui como forma de dominação. Ademais, os participantes possuem um discurso favorável à promoção da saúde transcendendo as atividades físicas e reconhecendo a importância do espaço para a socialização e o lazer.
Atenção primária à saúde e pré-natal: o ciclo gravídico puerperal e a avaliação do atendimento recebido a partir da percepção de gestantes e puérperas
Authors: Grzybowski Luciana Suárez , Oliveira Patricia Pereira de , Antoniolli Marinez Amabile , Colombo Talita , Viana Laura de Azevedo , Pereira Camila Selau
Published: September 2021

A gestação é influenciada por múltiplos fatores de natureza biopsicossocial, bem como pela facilidade de acesso e qualidade técnica dos serviços de saúde disponíveis. Dessa forma, identificar as características do atendimento prestado a gestantes e puérperas é fundamental. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo qualitativo com 32 gestantes e 12 puérperas de duas Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) de Chapecó/SC. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com as usuárias. Os resultados evidenciaram que o atendimento recebido satisfaz a maior parte das necessidades das usuárias, que as mesmas realizam o número de consultas e exames preconizados pelo SUS e recebem atendimento competente da equipe. Como fatores negativos elas apontaram o número reduzido de ultrassonografias e a impossibilidade de escolher o profissional responsável pela realização do parto. Percebeu-se que as pacientes possuem uma conduta pró-ativa face às dúvidas que surgem na gestação e uma postura crítica sobre o atendimento recebido, porém há necessidade de qualificar as ações de promoção e prevenção de saúde materno-infantil.