bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying the Importance of Disaster Resilience Dimensions across Different Countries Using the Delphi Method
Authors: Rodriquez Carlotta , Mendes José Manuel , Romão Xavier
Published: July 2022

The article proposes a framework establishing a disaster resilience index applicable worldwide that accounts for differences between countries in terms of development and in terms of the relevance of several resilience dimensions. To achieve this index, countries were clustered using an indicator that reflected their performance according to the Sustainable Development Goals. For each cluster of countries, a Delphi process was used to obtain scores for every resilience dimension and sub-dimension that were then transformed into weights that varied from cluster to cluster to reflect differences in sustainable development. The article discusses the methodology that led to the quantification of the weights according to the Delphi process, as well as its results. The results highlighted the anticipated differences between different groups of countries, but also reflected cluster-specific features that should be accounted for when analyzing disaster resilience. The article also discusses different applications and possible improvements of the proposed framework based on comments collected during the Delphi process.
A Novel Method for Traffic Estimation and Air Quality Assessment in California
Authors: Moon Jucheol , Hong Jin Gi , Park Tae-Won
Published: July 2022

Motor vehicle traffic is recognized as one of the critical factors that causes air pollution; however, the relationship between traffic volume and air pollutant concentrations is unclear, especially at a local level. Traditional traffic volume monitoring systems collect traffic data through counting the number of vehicles, using either sensors or surveillance cameras, but they have clear limitations such as they can only monitor certain areas and specific occasions. To overcome such limitations, we introduce a method of monitoring traffic volume in the local area by collecting estimated travel times for virtual trips in Google Maps. We began collecting the data in January 2020; ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a natural experimental environment of showing unusual trends in traffic volume and unexpected changes in air pollutants. We demonstrate monthly traffic volumes in urban areas and analyze the correlation of traffic volume with typical traffic-related air pollutants using the proposed traffic volume monitoring method.
A Methodology for Machine-Learning Content Analysis to Define the Key Labels in the Titles of Online Customer Reviews with the Rating Evaluation
Authors: Zaki Ahmed Ayat , Rodríguez Díaz Manuel
Published: July 2022

Online reputation is of great strategic importance to companies today. Customers share their emotions and experiences about the service received or the product acquired through online opinions in the form of quantitative variables or text comments. Although quantitative variables can be analyzed using different statistical methods, the main limitation of comment content analysis lies in the statistical analysis because the texts are qualitative. This study proposes and applies a methodology to develop a machine learning designed to identify the key labels related to the quantitative variables in the general rating of the service received from an airline. To this end, we create a quantitative dichotomous variable from zero to one from a database of comment title labels, thus facilitating the conversion of titles into quantitative variables. On this basis, we carry out a multiple regression analysis where the dependent variable is the overall rating and the independent variables are the labels. The results obtained are satisfactory, and the significant labels are determined, as well as their signs and coefficients with the general ratings. Findings show that the significant labels detected in titles positively influence the prediction of the overall rating of airline. This paper is a new approach to applying cluster analysis to the text content of customers’ online reviews in an airline. Thus, the proposed methodology results in a quantitative value for the labels that determines the direction and intensity of customers’ opinions. Moreover, it has important practical implications for managers to identify the weakness and the strengths of their services in order to increase their positioning in the market by developing meaningful strategies.
The Importance of Selected Aspects of a Company’s Reputation for Individual Stock Market Investors—Evidence from Polish Capital Market
Authors: Nawrocki Tomasz L. , Szwajca Danuta
Published: July 2022

In recent decades, the company’s reputation has become an important signal and a decision-making stimulus for one of the key stakeholder groups—investors. Reputation includes both cognitive and affective aspects that investors may be more or less guided by. The article examines the importance of selected aspects of reputation for individual stock market investors on the capital market in Poland. The research used the method of an internet survey addressed to 417 individual investors, and the survey results allowed the answering of five research questions. The research results showed that from the point of view of individual investors operating on the Polish capital market, the informational aspects of companies’ reputations are slightly more important than the financial and growth aspects, and the least important are the social aspects, although a considerable internal differentiation of the significance of individual sub-criteria was noted. This study is the first to examine the importance of various aspects of reputation among Polish individual investors and one of the few such studies on an international scale.
Cooperative and Non-Cooperative Green Advertising in the Low-Carbon Supply Chain under Monopoly or Competitive Market
Authors: Zeng Hong , Jiang Dongqin , Li Yimeng
Published: July 2022

Customers feel a degree of ambiguity associated with low-carbon products, such as remanufactured products, and undervalue them. Although green advertising significantly impacts consumers’ acceptance of remanufactured products and the low-carbon supply chain (LCSC), limited research has been carried out on advertisement decisions for remanufactured products in the LCSC. This study introduces a two-echelon remanufacturing supply chain motivated by the practice of applying green advertising to update consumers’ low-carbon awareness. We use a game-theoretical approach to analyze the remanufacturer’s and retailer’s decisions on the green advertising program (non-coop vs. co-op green advertising) under different competitive scenarios in the LCSC. We find that the LCSC’s and the retailer’s profits are optimal in the non-coop green advertising under the monopoly, but the LCSC’s and the remanufacturer’s profits are optimal in the co-op green advertising under the competition. We suggest that the entry and royalty fees can be applied to coordinate the LCSC under different competitive scenarios.
COVID-19 Pandemic as a Change Factor in the Labour Market in Poland
Authors: Adamowicz Mieczysław
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic started in late 2019 in China. and At the beginning of 2020 it spread to all countries of the world, causing damage in all aspects of economic and social lives, including the labour market. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market throughout its course so far has become an important topic of research in various countries, including Poland. Research is conducted in four main areas concerning: the situation of employees and employers on the labour market; unemployment and professional activity; remote work; and anti-crisis measures undertaken by the state. The paper refers to all these aspects of the labour market in Poland, in some cases against the background of other countries. Based on the source literature, the pandemic is presented from different perspectives: as a cause of the global crisis; the implications of the pandemic on the labour market; its impact on employers and employees and on the economy and society more broadly; government programmes aimed at preventing and combating the pandemic in the form of so-called anti-crisis shields and financial shields; and the spread of remote work and its effects. The paper also presents the results of its own survey research on a sample of 170 respondents, representing people active in the labour market in April 2022. The pandemic has caused disruptive, immediate and long-term effects on the labour market in Poland. The anti-crisis policy of the state mitigated quite effectively the negative economic and social effects, noticeably more so and additionally more appreciated by employers than by employees. The case of Poland, where broad anti-pandemic and anti-crisis measures were undertaken, may be partly applicable to other, mainly European, countries. Further research on the crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in different aspects of socio-economic areas in national and international economies are recommended. The pandemic, in causing a general economic crisis, has left a permanent mark on the labour market in Poland, which will be structurally important for its functioning in the future.
Business Performance Evaluation for Tourism Factory: Using DEA Approach and Delphi Method
Authors: Chen Ti-An
Published: July 2022

The tourism industry contributes more than 10% of global GDP, and creates than 330 million jobs. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, tourism has been one of the hardest hit areas, and one of the most explosive growth sectors, in the post-COVID-19 era. This study analyses the operational efficiency of tourism factories, before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. This study develops a PADME (Product, Aesthetic, Digitalization, Management and Experience) efficiency evaluation model for the non-financial components of tourism factories. This study has also successfully developed the evaluation scale of the PADME model. In addition, with reference to studies on the operational efficiency of financial components, two output variables (turnover and net profit after tax), and three input variables (assets, R&D expenses, and employees) were set, and the efficiency of the PADME model was calculated. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach was used to measure the operational efficiency of tourism factories. The empirical research goals of this study are focused on 12 listed companies in Taiwan, with operational efficiency before and after COVID-19 analyzed in relation to their general and individual analyses. The conclusions of this study lead to both enlightening and practical management implications. Academically, this study fills a gap in the research on operational efficiency of tourism factories in the tourism industry.
Water Environment Quality Evaluation and Pollutant Source Analysis in Tuojiang River Basin, China
Authors: Zhang Kai , Wang Shunjie , Liu Shuyu , Liu Kunlun , Yan Jiayu , Li Xuejia
Published: July 2022

A water environment quality evaluation and pollution source analysis can quantitatively examine the relationship among water pollution, resources, and the economy, and investigate the main factors affecting water quality. This paper took COD, NH3-N, and TP of the Tuojiang River as the research objects. The water environment quality evaluation and pollution source analysis of the Tuojiang River Basin were conducted based on the grey water footprint, decoupling theoretical model, and correlation analysis method. The results showed that grey water footprint decreased, and the water environment quality improved. Among the pollution sources of the grey water footprint, TP accounted for the highest proportion. Moreover, the economic development level and the water environment were generally in a state of high-quality coordination. Farmland and stock breeding pollution accounted for the largest proportion of agricultural pollution and were thus the main source of the grey water footprint. The results of Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated that the source of the pollutants were the imported pollution from the tributaries and agricultural pollution (especially stock breeding and farmland irrigation). These results showed that the quality of the water environment was improving, and the main factors affecting the water environment were stock breeding and farmland pollution in agriculture. This study presents a decision-making basis for strengthening the ecological barrier in the Yangtze River.
Using Compound-Specific Carbon Stable Isotope Analysis of Squalene to Establish Provenance and Ensure Sustainability for the Deep-Water Shark Liver Oil Industry
Authors: Revill Andrew T. , Saul Richard , Brewer Elizabeth A. , Nichols Peter D.
Published: July 2022

Deep-water dogfish (sharks) are caught on Australia’s continental shelf as by-products to other deep-water species with revenue derived from fillets for human consumption and from the livers which are sold for their oil content. Deep-water dogfish utilise a large oil-rich liver for buoyancy, which may account for 20–25% of their body weight. An important constituent of certain dogfish liver oil is squalene, a highly unsaturated triterpenoid (C30H50) hydrocarbon which in some species can be up to 90% of the oil, though in the Australian commercial species it is typically around 50%. Squalene (and deep-water dogfish liver oil in general) has a long-standing high value in products, such as cosmetics and nutraceuticals. Manufacturers are increasingly required to demonstrate the sustainability of products, and this is integral to the importance of demonstrating product provenance. Australia’s mid-slope deep-water dogfish fishery is recognised globally as well managed and sustainable; therefore, it is important to be able to distinguish products derived from these regions from other unregulated, unsustainable and cheaper sources in order to protect Australia’s competitive advantages and ensure sustainability. In this study, we have sourced deep-water dogfish liver oil samples originating from Southeast Australia, New Zealand, India, Northeast Africa and the Arabian Sea. The squalene was isolated by commercial or laboratory processing. A compound-specific carbon stable isotope analysis of the derived squalene was then used to determine isotopic resolution and assign the likely origins of a variety of commonly available off-the-shelf nutraceuticals in Australian outlets. Squalene sourced and produced from Southeast Australian and New Zealand dogfish liver oils showed δ13C values in the range of −22.1 to −24.2‰, with all other squalene samples distinguishable at −19.9 to −20.7‰. Many of the off-the-shelf squalene products claiming to be of Australian origin showed δ13C values very distinct from the range of the genuine Southeast Australian- and New Zealand-produced squalene.
Striving for Social Sustainability of Football Commercialization: An Ethnographic Case Study of the German Fan-Governed Club HFC Falke
Authors: Brandt Christian , Kurscheidt Markus
Published: July 2022

In several European countries, a new football fan type has emerged in recent years—the post-consumer fan. These fans break with commercialized football by founding their own clubs in order to incorporate their vision of football. This vision is antagonistic to commercialized “modern football”. However, the newly founded clubs compete in the existing commercialized structures and need to generate financial capital. To date, little is known about how clubs deal with these contradictory goals. Based on a 27 month long ethnographic participant observation and ten semi-structured interviews, this article investigates how the members of the German club HFC Falke negotiated sponsoring and players’ wages. It highlights how the clubs implement alternative practices in order to remain close to their values while being competitive. As a result, they emphasize the democratic process, and implement normative guidelines. Some of the strategies are known from previous research on other clubs but during our research we also detected new strategies. The club and its members experiment with new practices, such as transparent payment based on effort and sponsoring used for the fans’ benefit (e.g., subsidies of beer prices on matchdays). Through these normative guidelines and practices, the clubs strive to establish a more sustainable football in commodified structures. The discussions in the club and its practices might also inspire debates on the future of professional football.
The Use of Macro-Level Safety Performance Functions for Province-Wide Road Safety Management
Authors: Intini Paolo , Berloco Nicola , Coropulis Stefano , Gentile Roberta , Ranieri Vittorio
Published: July 2022

Safety Performance Functions (SPFs) play a key role in identifying hotspots. Most SPFs were built at the micro-level, such as for road intersections or segments. On the other hand, in case of regional transportation planning, it may be useful to estimate SPFs at the macro-level (e.g., counties, cities, or towns) to determine ad hoc intervention prioritizations. Hence, the final aim of this study is to develop a predictive framework, supported by macro-level SPFs, to estimate crash frequencies, and consequently possible priority areas for interventions. At a province-wide level. The applicability of macro-level SPFs is investigated and tested thanks to the database retrieved in the context of a province-wide Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (Bari, Italy). Starting from this database, the macro-areas of analysis were carved out by clustering cities and towns into census macro-zones, highlighting the potential need for safety interventions, according to different safety performance indicators (fatal + injury, fatal, pedestrian and bicycle crashes) and using basic predictors divided into geographic variables and road network-related factors. Safety performance indicators were differentiated into rural and urban, thus obtaining a set of 4 × 2 dependent variables. Then they were linked to the dependent variables by means of Negative Binomial (NB) count data models. The results show different trends for the urban and rural contexts. In the urban environment, where crashes are more frequent but less severe according to the available dataset, the increase in both population and area width leads to increasing crashes, while the increase in both road length and mean elevation are generally related to a decrease in crash occurrence. In the rural environment, the increase in population density, which was not considered in the urban context, strongly influences crash occurrence, especially leading to an increase in pedestrian and bicyclist fatal + injury crashes. The increase in the rural network length (excluding freeways) is generally related to a greater number of crashes as well. The application of this framework aims to reveal useful implications for planners and administrators who must select areas of intervention for safety purposes. Two examples of practical applications of this framework, related to safety-based infrastructural planning, are provided in this study.
Electricity Generation from Municipal Solid Waste in Nigeria: A Prospective LCA Study
Authors: Nubi Oluwaseun , Morse Stephen , Murphy Richard J.
Published: July 2022

Diverse opportunities and environmental impacts could occur from a potential move towards waste-to-energy (WtE) systems for electricity generation from municipal solid waste (MSW) in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. Given this, the purpose of this study is to use life cycle assessment (LCA) as a primary analytical approach in order to undertake a comparative analysis from an environmental impact perspective of different WtE scenarios, along with diesel backup generators (DBGs) and grid electricity. A functional unit of 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity produced was used in assessing the following environmental impact categories: abiotic depletion (fossil fuels) potential (ADP), global warming potential (GWP 100a), human toxicity potential (HTP), photochemical oxidation potential (POCP), acidification potential (AP), and eutrophication potential (EP). The overall result indicated that anaerobic digestion (AD) had the highest energy generated per one tonne of MSW processed for both Lagos (683 kWh/t) and Abuja (667 kWh/t), while landfill gas to energy (LFGTE) had the lowest for both (Lagos 171 kWh/t, Abuja 135 kWh/t). AD also had the lowest environmental impacts amongst the four WtE systems for both cities based on all the impact categories except for POCP. In contrast, LFGTE had the highest impact in all the categories except ADP and HTP. Extending the analysis to include diesel-based generators (DBG) and grid electricity saw the DBGs having the highest impact overall in ADP (14.1 MJ), HTP (0.0732 Kg, 1.4 DB eq), AP (0.0129 Kg SO2 eq), and EP (0.00313 Kg PO4 eq) and grid electricity having the lowest impact in GWP (0.497 Kg CO2 eq), AP (0.000296 Kg SO2 eq), and EP (0.000061 Kg PO4 eq). It was concluded that additional electricity supply from AD to the grid, with its potential to reduce the reliance on DBGs (worst scenario overall), would be a positive action in environmental impact terms.
The Management of Meals in Food Service Establishments in the Context of Food Waste—Results of Focus Group Interviews with Employees and Owners
Authors: Bilska Beata , Tomaszewska Marzena , Kołożyn-Krajewska Danuta
Published: July 2022

Food waste in the food service industry is global and affects the whole world. Despite the fact that food service establishments are significant food waste producers, they have received less academic attention than other food waste producers. The aim of this paper is to analyse the methods of management of meals in food service establishments in the context of food waste. The study was carried out using a qualitative research method in the form of a focus group interview between 24 January and 3 February 2020 in four locations. Three interviews were carried out with 23 owners and three interviews with 24 employees of six types of food service establishments, e.g., restaurants, bars, etc. In the respondents’ opinion, the amount of food thrown away is not large and most often includes perishable foodstuffs and food discarded when preparing dishes. At the same time, the respondents admitted that many foodstuffs that were thrown away were fit for further use, for example, withered fruit and vegetables or products with no signs of spoilage but whose packages had been opened. To achieve a maximum reduction of wastage of dishes prepared in advance by food service outlets, greater emphasis must be placed on the cooperation between food service establishments and charitable institutions. According to the study, caterers are reluctant to officially engage in such cooperation because they have no knowledge of the current donation law, among others.
Airport Access Mode Choice: Analysis of Passengers’ Behavior in European Countries
Authors: Colovic Aleksandra , Pilone Salvatore Gabriele , Kukić Katarina , Kalić Milica , Dožić Slavica , Babić Danica , Ottomanelli Michele
Published: July 2022

Transportation systems require many challenges in providing seamless door-to-door mobility. The main initiatives are encouraging a shift from private to other transport modes by providing a fully integrated multimodal service in which the coordination and data sharing among different stakeholders are required. The idea of this paper is to analyze the mode choice, as well as the variables that affect the travelers’ airport access mode choice. For that purpose, we used multinomial logistics (MNL) regression to determine probability of mode choice given various multimodal chain alternatives. The inputs of the proposed model were based on the answers from the participants of the online survey which was disseminated in Europe. Through more than 2000 answers to the survey, we collected the data related to the factors that influence the airport access mode choice, travelers’ attitude, motives for traveling, as well as the socio-demographics of participants. Afterwards, we investigated the influence of the main factors that have an impact on the non-coordination in the multimodal travel chain. The obtained results highlight the impact of the factors “reliability” and “waiting time” in making mode choice.
Natural Fibers: An Alternative for the Reinforcement of Expansive Soils
Authors: Medina-Martinez Carlos J. , Sandoval-Herazo Luis Carlos , Zamora-Castro Sergio A. , Vivar-Ocampo Rodrigo , Reyes-Gonzalez David
Published: July 2022

The reinforcement of soils is the technique that geotechnical engineers currently use to improve the shear strength and bearing capacity parameters, especially when the land available for the execution of a project is not able to withstand the structural loads to which it is subjected. One of the techniques, used for this purpose since ancient times, is the incorporation of fibers into the soil matrix; however, great interest in its study has only begun in the last two, mainly because it constitutes a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative. In this paper, a brief bibliographic review is presented on seven of the natural fibers that are currently used in order to improve the mechanical behavior of expansive clay soils (bamboo, jute, coco, palm, sugar cane bagasse, rise husk, and sawdust). It can be concluded that in many cases, the addition of certain amounts of natural fibers increases the parameters of resistance to the cutting of soils.
Development of the Circular Product Readiness Method in Circular Design
Authors: Boorsma Nina , Polat Esra , Bakker Conny , Peck David , Balkenende Ruud
Published: July 2022

Design indicators can be used by companies to track circular design implementation, which can yield insights into their performance and opportunities for improvement. Yet, existing indicator methods either lack depth with regard to circular design, are incomplete, or do not use design semantics. This study explores product-level circularity indicators, with the aim of developing a comprehensive circularity indicator method specifically aimed at designers. The method development process follows a three step Design Science Research approach. It comprises a literature review and knowledge coproduction sessions with circular design experts on topics such as durability, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. Furthermore, it includes company evaluations with two multinational corporations operating in the white goods and automotive industries. The study delivers the first indicator method for assessing circular product design on a broad range of aspects, including levels of readiness, company strengths, and opportunities for improvement. The method uses product design semantics to evaluate design aspects, takes a comprehensive view of the full life cycle, and has been specifically developed for industry use.
Special Issue Editorial: “Symmetry and Geometry in Physics”
Authors: Ungar Abraham A.
Published: July 2022

Nature organizes itself using the language of symmetries [...]
Mathematical Assessment of Convection and Diffusion Analysis for A Non-Circular Duct Flow with Viscous Dissipation: Application of Physiology
Authors: Nadeem Sohail , Waqar Hiba , Akhtar Salman , Zidan Ahmed , Almutairi Shahah , Ghazwani Hassan , Kbiri Alaoui Mohammed , Tarek El-Waked Mohamed
Published: July 2022

The present analysis has interesting applications in physiology, industry, engineering and medicine. Peristaltic pumps acquire an elliptical cross-section during motion. Peristaltic pumps, roller pumps and finger pumps also have highly useful applications. Transportation through these pumps provides an effective fluid movement and the substance remains separate from the duct walls. Convection and diffusion analyses were executed with accentuated viscous dissipation for the non-Newtonian flow that occurs inside a duct. The viscous effects are reviewed with an integrated convection and diffusion analysis that elucidates in-depth heat flux. Viscous dissipation appears to be the primary cause of increased heat generation. The Cartesian coordinate system is availed to develop this problem under consideration. A dimensionless set of coupled partial differential equations is attained by utilizing the relevant transformations that eventually simplify this complex problem. These coupled equations are solved step by step with a consideration of a polynomial solution method for coupled equations. The unfolded graphical outcomes of velocity, temperature and concentration reveal an axial symmetric flow. A higher rate of convection is observed due to viscous effects. Both the velocity and temperature profiles have an increasing function of Q.
Double Penalized Expectile Regression for Linear Mixed Effects Model
Authors: Gao Sihan , Chen Jiaqing , Yuan Zihao , Liu Jie , Huang Yangxin
Published: July 2022

This paper constructs the double penalized expectile regression for linear mixed effects model, which can estimate coefficient and choose variable for random and fixed effects simultaneously. The method based on the linear mixed effects model by cojoining double penalized expectile regression. For this model, this paper proposes the iterative Lasso expectile regression algorithm to solve the parameter for this mode, and the Schwarz Information Criterion (SIC) and Generalized Approximate Cross-Validation Criterion (GACV) are used to choose the penalty parameters. Additionally, it establishes the asymptotic normality of the expectile regression coefficient estimators that are suggested. Though simulation studies, we examine the effects of coefficient estimation and the variable selection at varying expectile levels under various conditions, including different signal-to-noise ratios, random effects, and the sparsity of the model. In this work, founding that the proposed method is robust to various error distributions at every expectile levels, and is superior to the double penalized quantile regression method in the robustness of excluding inactive variables. The suggested method may still accurately exclude inactive variables and select important variables with a high probability for high-dimensional data. The usefulness of doubly penalized expectile regression in applications is illustrated through a case study using CD4 cell real data.
Development of an Interactive Code for Quick Data Analyses between STOR-M Tokamak Experimental Plasma Discharges
Authors: Nakajima Masaru , Basu Debjyoti , Melnikov Alexander V. , McColl David , Xiao Chijin
Published: July 2022

Saskatchewan Torus-Modified (STOR-M) is a small tokamak, well known for various fusion-related basic experimental studies such as edge turbulent heating, different instabilities, Alternating Current (AC) tokamak operation, Ohmic H-mode triggering by the electrode biasing, fueling and momentum injection by Compact Torus (CT) injection, and the effects of Resonance Magnetic Perturbations (RMPs), among others. Some of those experiments require real-time visualization of magnetic surface reconstructions either through EFIT or quick analyses and visualization of experimental data during experiments. Recently, experimental studies of Geodesic Acoustic Mode (GAM) and zonal flows were performed in the STOR-M tokamak. The GAM experiments strongly require the collection of fluctuation data from different Langmuir probes installed at different poloidal locations, but on the same magnetic surfaces. This is requires the adjustment of radial locations between discharges. It is therefore important to analyze and visualize the features of all probe data quickly during discharges. For this purpose, a Python code was developed and used for quick analysis of the data. This article describes the development of the code using Python and its use in detail.
Mechanistic Interplay between HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Enzyme Kinetics and Host SAMHD1 Protein: Viral Myeloid-Cell Tropism and Genomic Mutagenesis
Authors: Bowen Nicole E. , Oo Adrian , Kim Baek
Published: July 2022

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) has been the primary interest among studies on antiviral discovery, viral replication kinetics, drug resistance, and viral evolution. Following infection and entry into target cells, the HIV-1 core disassembles, and the viral RT concomitantly converts the viral RNA into double-stranded proviral DNA, which is integrated into the host genome. The successful completion of the viral life cycle highly depends on the enzymatic DNA polymerase activity of RT. Furthermore, HIV-1 RT has long been known as an error-prone DNA polymerase due to its lack of proofreading exonuclease properties. Indeed, the low fidelity of HIV-1 RT has been considered as one of the key factors in the uniquely high rate of mutagenesis of HIV-1, which leads to efficient viral escape from immune and therapeutic antiviral selective pressures. Interestingly, a series of studies on the replication kinetics of HIV-1 in non-dividing myeloid cells and myeloid specific host restriction factor, SAM domain, and HD domain-containing protein, SAMHD1, suggest that the myeloid cell tropism and high rate of mutagenesis of HIV-1 are mechanistically connected. Here, we review not only HIV-1 RT as a key antiviral target, but also potential evolutionary and mechanistic crosstalk among the unique enzymatic features of HIV-1 RT, the replication kinetics of HIV-1, cell tropism, viral genetic mutation, and host SAMHD1 protein.
Matrix Metalloproteinases Expression Is Associated with SARS-CoV-2-Induced Lung Pathology and Extracellular-Matrix Remodeling in K18-hACE2 Mice
Authors: Gutman Hila , Aftalion Moshe , Melamed Sharon , Politi Boaz , Nevo Reinat , Havusha-Laufer Sapir , Achdout Hagit , Gur David , Israely Tomer , Dachir Shlomit , Mamroud Emanuelle , Sagi Irit , Vagima Yaron
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection induced lung inflammation characterized by cytokine storm and fulminant immune response of both resident and migrated immune cells, accelerating alveolar damage. In this work we identified members of the matrix metalloprotease (MMPs) family associated with lung extra-cellular matrix (ECM) destruction using K18-hACE2-transgenic mice (K18-hACE2) infected intranasally with SARS-CoV-2. Five days post infection, the lungs exhibited overall alveolar damage of epithelial cells and massive leukocytes infiltration. A substantial pulmonary increase in MMP8, MMP9, and MMP14 in the lungs post SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with degradation of ECM components including collagen, laminin, and proteoglycans. The process of tissue damage and ECM degradation during SARS-CoV-2 lung infection is suggested to be associated with activity of members of the MMPs family, which in turn may be used as a therapeutic intervention.
Inhibition of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Using Small Interfering RNAs
Authors: Haikerwal Amrita , Barrera Michael D. , Bhalla Nishank , Zhou Weidong , Boghdeh Niloufar , Anderson Carol , Alem Farhang , Narayanan Aarthi
Published: July 2022

Acutely infectious new world alphaviruses such as Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) pose important challenges to the human population due to a lack of effective therapeutic intervention strategies. Small interfering RNAs that can selectively target the viral genome (vsiRNAs) has been observed to offer survival advantages in several in vitro and in vivo models of acute virus infections, including alphaviruses such as Chikungunya virus and filoviruses such as Ebola virus. In this study, novel vsiRNAs that targeted conserved regions in the nonstructural and structural genes of the VEEV genome were designed and evaluated for antiviral activity in mammalian cells in the context of VEEV infection. The data demonstrate that vsiRNAs were able to effectively decrease the infectious virus titer at earlier time points post infection in the context of the attenuated TC-83 strain and the virulent Trinidad Donkey strain, while the inhibition was overcome at later time points. Depletion of Argonaute 2 protein (Ago2), the catalytic component of the RISC complex, negated the inhibitory effect of the vsiRNAs, underscoring the involvement of the siRNA pathway in the inhibition process. Depletion of the RNAi pathway proteins Dicer, MOV10, TRBP2 and Matrin 3 decreased viral load in infected cells, alluding to an impact of the RNAi pathway in the establishment of a productive infection. Additional studies focused on rational combinations of effective vsiRNAs and delivery strategies to confer better in vivo bioavailability and distribution to key target tissues such as the brain can provide effective solutions to treat encephalitic diseases resulting from alphavirus infections.
SERINC5-Mediated Restriction of HIV-1 Infectivity Correlates with Resistance to Cholesterol Extraction but Not with Lipid Order of Viral Membrane
Authors: Raghunath Gokul , Chen Yen-Cheng , Marin Mariana , Wu Hui , Melikyan Gregory
Published: July 2022

Serine incorporator 5 (SER5) is a protein that upon incorporation into virions inhibits HIV-1 infectivity by interfering with the ability of the Env glycoprotein to promote viral fusion. The mechanisms by which SER5 antagonizes HIV-1 fusion are not well understood. A recent study of SER5’s structure revealed a lipid-binding pocket, suggesting the ability to sequester lipids. This finding, along with the well-documented modulation of HIV-1 infectivity by viral lipids, especially cholesterol, prompted our examination of SER5′s effect on the general lipid order of the HIV-1 membrane. Pseudoviruses bearing the SER5-sensitive HXB2-Env and containing SER5 or SER2, a control protein that lacks antiviral activity, were analyzed using two distinct lipid-order probes. We show that SER5 incorporation does not noticeably affect the lipid order of pseudoviruses. Although viral cholesterol extraction reduces HIV-1 infectivity, SER5+ viruses are less sensitive to cholesterol extraction than the control samples. In contrast, the virus’ sensitivity to cholesterol oxidation was not affected by SER5 incorporation. The hydrolytic release of sphingomyelin-sequestered cholesterol had a minimal impact on the apparent resistance to cholesterol extraction. Based on these results, we propose that a subpopulation of more stable Env glycoproteins responsible for the residual infectivity of SER5+ viruses is less sensitive to the cholesterol content of the viral membrane.
Harnessing Human Papillomavirus’ Natural Tropism to Target Tumors
Authors: Kines Rhonda C. , Schiller John T.
Published: July 2022

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are small non-enveloped DNA tumor viruses established as the primary etiological agent for the development of cervical cancer. Decades of research have elucidated HPV’s primary attachment factor to be heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). Importantly, wounding and exposure of the epithelial basement membrane was found to be pivotal for efficient attachment and infection of HPV in vivo. Sulfation patterns on HSPG’s become modified at the site of wounds as they serve an important role promoting tissue healing, cell proliferation and neovascularization and it is these modifications recognized by HPV. Analogous HSPG modification patterns can be found on tumor cells as they too require the aforementioned processes to grow and metastasize. Although targeting tumor associated HSPG is not a novel concept, the use of HPV to target and treat tumors has only been realized in recent years. The work herein describes how decades of basic HPV research has culminated in the rational design of an HPV-based virus-like infrared light activated dye conjugate for the treatment of choroidal melanoma.
Detection of Nipah and Hendra Viruses Using Recombinant Human Ephrin B2 Capture Virus in Immunoassays
Authors: Yang Ming , Zhu Wenjun , Truong Thang , Pickering Bradley , Babiuk Shawn , Kobasa Darwyn , Banadyga Logan
Published: July 2022

Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV) are classified as high-consequence zoonotic viruses characterized by high pathogenicity and high mortality in animals and humans. Rapid diagnosis is essential to containing the outbreak. In this study, the henipavirus receptor ephrin B2 was examined to determine whether it could be used as a universal ligand for henipavirus detection in immunoassays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed using recombinant ephrin B2 as the capture ligand and two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as detection reagents. Using mAb F27NiV-34, which cross-reacts with NiV and HeV, we were able to detect NiV and HeV, while mAb F20NiV-65 was used to detect NiV. Therefore, using these two ELISAs, we were able to differentiate between NiV and HeV. Furthermore, we developed a rapid lateral flow strip test for NiV detection using ephrin B2 as the capture ligand combined with mAb F20NiV-65 as the detector. Taken together, our results show that the combination of ephrin B2 and a specific mAb provides an excellent pairing for NiV and HeV detection.
High Ecological Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Metals in Polluted Drainage Sediments: Is There a Need for Public Concern during Flash Floods?
Authors: Yap Chee Kong , Al-Mutairi Khalid Awadh
Published: July 2022

The present study aimed to investigate the concentrations of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in the drainages, rivers, and coast of Malacca in Peninsular Malaysia. The ranges of total PTM concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) were 1.88–7.01 for Cd, 18.9–1689 for Cu, 26.0–850 for Ni, 56.5–307 for Pb, and 75.4–312 for Zn. Based on an ecological risk assessment and geochemical fractions, it was concluded that heavy metals pollute the drainages and the Malacca River. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) categorised the drainage and river sites as a “very high ecological risk”. Therefore, it was shown that elevated levels of PTMs in the drainages near Malacca Industrial Area and in the Malacca River sediment were most probably attributed to untreated (or incomplete treatment of) industrial effluents. The drainage sediments were found to have higher hazard quotient (HQ) values for the three pathways of the PTMs for children and adults. Although in general, the non-carcinogenic risks of the PTMs for children and adults indicated no significant detrimental health effects, the hazard index (HI) for Pb in children at drainage locations surpassed 1.0, suggesting a non-carcinogenic risk (NCR), which is a cause for worry. Consequently, the ecological health risk assessments offered critical information for PTM pollution reduction and environmental management in future sustainable development initiatives in Peninsular Malaysia’s drainages and rivers. The present findings on the ecological health risks of PTMs based on 2006 samples can serve as an important baseline for future reference and comparison. This work should encourage future investigations on the direct impact of the risks to the residents during floods in Malaysia, as part of mitigation and risk assessments of the contaminated drainage and river sediments in an attempt to lower the hazards for the surrounding residents.
Kanchan Arsenic Filters for Household Water Treatment: Unsuitable or Unsustainable?
Authors: Ndé-Tchoupé Arnaud , Konadu-Amoah Bernard , Gatcha-Bandjun Nadège , Hu Rui , Gwenzi Willis , Noubactep Chicgoua
Published: July 2022

This article critically evaluates the conventional Kanchan Arsenic Filter (KAF) in order to determine the main reasons for its reported poor performance. The KAF was introduced in 2004 in Nepal and makes use of non-galvanized nails as a Fe0 source for As removal. As early as 2009, the KAF was demonstrated to be ineffective for As removal in many cases. This was unambiguously attributed to the Fe0 layer which is placed on top of a sand filter instead of being incorporated into a sand matrix. Despite this conceptual mistake, the conventional KAF has been largely distributed in Asia, and recent articles have assessed its sustainability. This study reiterates that the suitability of the technology, rather than its sustainability, should be addressed. Evidence shows that the KAF has the following design limitations: (i) uses iron nails of unknown reactivity, and (ii) operates on the principle of a wet/dry cycle. The latter causes a decrease in the corrosion rate of the used nails, thereby limiting the availability of the iron corrosion products which act as contaminant scavengers. Taken together, these results confirm the unsuitability of the conventional KAF. Besides correcting the design mistakes, more attention should be paid to the intrinsic reactivity of the used iron nails, including using alternative Fe0 materials (e.g., iron filings, steel wool) for filters lasting for just 6 or 18 months. Specific design considerations to be addressed in the future are highlighted.
Assessing Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Deep Percolation Using Crop Evapotranspiration Derived from Earth Observations through Google Earth Engine
Authors: Ferreira Antónia , Rolim João , Paredes Paula , Cameira Maria do Rosário
Published: July 2022

Excess irrigation may result in deep percolation and nitrate transport to groundwater. Furthermore, under Mediterranean climate conditions, heavy winter rains often result in high deep percolation, requiring the separate identification of the two sources of deep percolated water. An integrated methodology was developed to estimate the spatio-temporal dynamics of deep percolation, with the actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act) being derived from satellite images data and processed on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. GEE allowed to extract time series of vegetation indices derived from Sentinel-2 enabling to define the actual crop coefficient (Kc act) curves based on the observed lengths of crop growth stages. The crop growth stage lengths were then used to feed the soil water balance model ISAREG, and the standard Kc values were derived from the literature; thus, allowing the estimation of irrigation water requirements and deep drainage for independent Homogeneous Units of Analysis (HUA) at the Irrigation Scheme. The HUA are defined according to crop, soil type, and irrigation system. The ISAREG model was previously validated for diverse crops at plot level showing a good accuracy using soil water measurements and farmers’ irrigation calendars. Results show that during the crop season, irrigation caused 11 ± 3% of the total deep percolation. When the hotspots associated with the irrigation events corresponded to soils with low suitability for irrigation, the cultivated crop had no influence. However, maize and spring vegetables stood out when the hotspots corresponded to soils with high suitability for irrigation. On average, during the off-season period, deep percolation averaged 54 ± 6% of the annual precipitation. The spatial aggregation into the Irrigation Scheme scale provided a method for earth-observation-based accounting of the irrigation water requirements, with interest for the water user’s association manager, and at the same time for the detection of water losses by deep percolation and of hotspots within the irrigation scheme.