ahmedabdelwahed/Medical_papers_title_and_abstract_NLP_dataset huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Frequency of 10 Polymorphic Markers of CDKN2A and RB1 Genes in Russian Populations

The study of population frequencies of rare clinically significant alleles is a prerequisite of the development of personalized medicine. We performed genotyping of 1785 DNA samples from representatives of Russian populations according to 10 benign polymorphic markers of two genes involved in oncogenesis: 3 variants of the CDKN2A gene (rs3731249, rs116150891, and rs6413464) and 7 markers of the RB1 gene (rs149800437, rs147754935, rs183898408, rs146897002, rs4151539, rs187912365, and rs144668210). Genotyping was performed using the Illumina biochip test system. The sample covered 28 populations of the Russian Federation and neighboring countries, which were later combined into 3 groups (Asian, European, and Caucasian). The information from the ALFA (NCBI) project was used as reference for the frequencies of these polymorphisms in the Asian and European populations. It was shown that rare alleles in 8 of 10 studied polymorphic markers are presented in Russian populations of European and Caucasian origin with frequencies that are tens and hundreds of times higher than the available data for Western European populations, and in Russian Asian populations, alternative alleles of 5 markers absent in the Asian population of the ALFA project were found. In the subpopulation of Astrakhan Tatars, exceptionally high frequencies of rare alleles were identified; this requires further study.
Prospective techno-economic and environmental assessment of a national hydrogen production mix for road transport

Fuel cell electric vehicles arise as an alternative to conventional vehicles in the road transport sector. They could contribute to decarbonising the transport system because they have no direct CO2 emissions during the use phase. In fact, the life-cycle environmental performance of hydrogen as a transportation fuel focuses on its production. In this sense, through the case study of Spain, this article prospectively assesses the techno-economic and environmental performance of a national hydrogen production mix by following a methodological framework based on energy systems modelling enriched with endogenous carbon footprint indicators. Taking into account the need for a hydrogen economy based on clean options, alternative scenarios characterised by carbon footprint restrictions with respect to a fossil-based scenario dominated by steam methane reforming are evaluated. In these scenarios, the steam reforming of natural gas still arises as the key hydrogen production technology in the short term, whereas water electrolysis is the main technology in the medium and long term. Furthermore, in scenarios with very restrictive carbon footprint limits, biomass gasification also appears as a key hydrogen production technology in the long term. In the alternative scenarios assessed, the functional substitution of hydrogen for conventional fossil fuels in the road transport sector could lead to high greenhouse gas emission savings, ranging from 36 to 58 Mt CO2 eq in 2050. Overall, these findings and the model structure and characterisation developed for the assessment of hydrogen energy scenarios are expected to be relevant not only to the specific case study of Spain but also to analysts and decision-makers in a large number of countries facing similar concerns.
Waste paper recycling decision system based on material flow analysis and life cycle assessment: A case study of waste paper recycling from China

China's paper industry development is rapid, but the recycling rate of China's waste paper has been low all the time. Meanwhile, material flow analysis can help determine the flow of waste paper, and life cycle assessment (LCA) is the methodological framework for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, present study integrates these two methods into the model construction of China's waste paper recycling decision system. Present study constructs a benchmark model of China's waste paper recycling decision system in 2017, focusing on the impact of nonstandard waste paper recycling on the economic and environmental benefits of China's domestic waste paper recycling system. This model construction is followed by sensitivity analysis of the relevant parameters affecting the efficiency of the waste paper recycling system. Finally, present study forecasts the system's economic benefits and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the context of integrating and regulating nonstandard recycling vendors. The results show that the economic benefit of China's waste paper recycling in 2017 is approximately 458.3 yuan/t and that the GHG emissions are 901.1 kgCO(2)eq. The standard recovery rate and nonstandard recovery acceptance rate will both have a significant impact on the system's economic benefits and improve the GHG emissions structure. In the context of integrating nonstandard recycling enterprises and individual recycling vendors, the economic benefits will rise to 3312.5 yuan/t in 2030, while GHG emissions will rise to 942.9 kgCO(2)eq. Present study can play a certain guiding role for policy makers in formulating waste paper recycling industry specifications and formulating relevant policies.
Combined overexpression of four transcription factors promotes effector T cell dedifferentiation toward early phenotypes

Effector T cells, which are abundant but are short-lived after reinfusion into the body, are generally used for T-cell therapy, and antitumor immunity is typically not maintained over the long term. Genetic modification by early differentiated T cells and reinfusion has been shown to enhance antitumor immunity in vivo. This study overexpressed the characteristic transcription factors of differentiated early T cells by transfecting effector T cells with transcription factor recombinant lentivirus (S6 group: BCL6, EOMES, FOXP1, LEF1, TCF7, KLF7; S1 group: BCL6, EOMES, FOXP1, KLF7; S3 group: BCL6, EOMES, FOXP1, LEF1) to induce a sufficient number of effector T cells to dedifferentiate and optimize the transcription factor system. The results revealed that overexpression of early characteristic transcription factors in effector T cells upregulated the expression of early T cell differentiation markers (CCR7 and CD62L), with the S1 group having the highest expression level, while the rising trend of late differentiation marker (CD45RO) expression was suppressed. Moreover, the expression of early differentiation-related genes (ACTN1, CERS6, BCL2) was significantly increased, while the expression of late differentiation-related genes (KLRG-1) and effector function-related genes (GNLY, GZMB, PRF1) was significantly decreased; this difference in expression was more significant in the S1 group than in the other two experimental groups. The antiapoptotic ability of each experimental group was significantly enhanced, while the secretion ability of TNF-α and IFN-γ was weakened, with the effector cytokine secretion ability of the S1 group being the weakest. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the gene expression profile of each experimental group was significantly different from that of the control group, with differences in the gene expression pattern and number of differentially expressed genes in the S1 group compared with the other two experimental groups. The differentially expressed gene enrichment pathways were basically related to the cell cycle, cell division, and immune function. In conclusion, overexpression of early characteristic transcription factors in effector T cells induces their dedifferentiation, and induction of dedifferentiation by the S1 group may be more effective.
The role of fibroblast growth factor 8 in cartilage development and disease

Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF-8), also known as androgen-induced growth factor (AIGF), is presumed to be a potent mitogenic cytokine that plays important roles in early embryonic development, brain formation and limb development. In the bone environment, FGF-8 produced or received by chondrocyte precursor cells binds to fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), causing different levels of activation of downstream signalling pathways, such as phospholipase C gamma (PLCγ)/Ca2+ , RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase-extracellular regulated protein kinases (RAS/MAPK-MEK-ERK), and Wnt-β-catenin-Axin2 signalling, and ultimately controlling chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation, cell survival and migration. However, the molecular mechanism of FGF-8 in normal or pathological cartilage remains unclear, and thus, FGF-8 represents a novel exploratory target for studies of chondrocyte development and cartilage disease progression. In this review, studies assessing the relationship between FGF-8 and chondrocytes that have been published in the past 5 years are systematically summarized to determine the probable mechanism and physiological effect of FGF-8 on chondrocytes. Based on the existing research results, a therapeutic regimen targeting FGF-8 is proposed to explore the possibility of treating chondrocyte-related diseases.
Optimal Whole-Life-Cycle Planning of Battery Energy Storage for Multi-Functional Services in Power Systems

One battery energy storage system (BESS) can provide multiple services to support electrical grid. However, the investment return, technical performance and lifetime degradation differ widely among different services. This paper proposes a novel method for the whole-life-cycle planning of BESS for providing multiple functional services in power systems. The proposed model aims to balance between extending BESS life duration and maximizing its overall revenue by strategically allocates battery capacity for each application over its whole life cycle. Specifically, BESS are initially used in ancillary service market for frequency regulation service; after certain lifetime degradation, the used batteries are transferred in energy arbitrage market for load shifting service. BESS depreciation along with the services is considered to accurately model the battery degradation effect under different marketing rules. The proposed method is tested on a modified IEEE 33-bus radial distribution system. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve higher economic benefits and longer life span than a single application service.
An environment Kuznets curve for ecological footprint: Evidence from GCC countries

Using country's ecological footprint, the present empirical study aims to analyze the influence of the economic growth, energy consumption, and globalization on ecological footprint in the Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries; namely Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE covering the period 1991-2017. By employing panel econometric approaches that considered issues of heterogeneity and cross sectional dependence, we find that all variables are first-difference stationary by using the cross-sectional augmented IPS (CIPS) and the cross-sectional augmented Dickey-Fuller (CADF) unit root tests. There exists a long-run relationship among examined variables tested by using the Westerlund cointegration tests statistics. By employing the dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS), and the fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), we also find that increase in the consumption of energy and globalization increases the ecological footprint, and the EKC hypothesis is not supported for the GCC countries. From the outcome of this empirical work a number of policy implications have been discussed in the study.
Factors affecting eco-efficiency of municipal waste services in Tuscan municipalities: An empirical investigation of different management models

The efficient provision of municipal solid waste (MSW) services is essential from an economic and environmental perspective. This paper investigates the effect of ownership type on the eco-efficiency of MSW management in Tuscan municipalities. In the first stage of the analysis, the authors use a data envelopment analysis metafrontier approach with the integration of unsorted waste as an undesirable output. Three different clusters of municipalities are created based on the ownership type of the municipal waste operators: public, private, and mixed. In the second stage of analysis, the paper investigates factors affecting eco-efficiency in order to provide new knowledge that can be used by policy and decision makers to improve eco-efficiency. The results show that eco-efficiency is higher for municipalities that entrust the delivery of waste services to publicly owned firms compared to municipalities with delivery by mixed and private firms. Moreover, eco-efficiency in MSW management is higher for municipalities with younger residents, a larger population, and an overall higher population density. Smaller municipalities and those with less tourism manage their waste services more eco-efficiently than do bigger municipalities and those with more tourism. The results indicate that policy-makers should improve communication and engagement activities with older residents in smaller, less densely populated areas. In municipalities featuring heavy tourism, eco-taxes could be used to support these activities, avoiding any impact on residents. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Linkages between Psychedelics and Meditation in a Population-Based Sample in the United States

There are neurophysiological and phenomenological overlaps between psychedelic and meditative states, but there is little evidence on how exposure to psychedelics might be associated with meditation-related variables. We assessed lifetime classic psychedelic use, ego dissolution during one's most intense experience using a classic psychedelic, and exposure to meditation in a representative sample (n = 953) of American adults. Those who reported experience with meditation were invited to complete a follow-up survey (n = 536, 92.1% response rate) measuring meditation-related variables. Models controlled for a range of potential confounds. Exposure to meditation was associated with lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution in covariate-adjusted models. In addition, among meditators, greater ego dissolution was associated with more frequent meditation practice. Both lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution were associated with enlightenment as motivation to practice meditation as well as lower likelihood of overall perceived barriers to meditation practice. Ego dissolution was positively associated with finding meditation more effective. Neither lifetime classic psychedelic use nor ego dissolution was associated with greater likelihood of meditation-related adverse effects. Taken together, results support potential synergy between psychedelics and meditation, but randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish safety and evaluate potential causal relationships.
Adaptive robust energy and reserve co-optimization of integrated electricity and heating system considering wind uncertainty

The uncertainty and variability of wind power pose significant challenges to secure and reliable operation of power systems. Coordinated operation of the electric power system and district heating system, which can provide sufficient reserve capacity and flexibility, is an effective way to cope with the uncertainty. This paper proposes an adaptive robust energy and reserve co-optimization for the integrated electricity and heat system to minimize the total system cost under the worst-case realization of wind uncertainty considering spatial correlations of wind uncertainties. The available reserve capacity and flexibility provided by the district heating system is fully used by exploiting the regulation capabilities of combined heat and power units and electrical boilers, as well as utilizing the building thermal inertia. To reduce the conservatism of the robust solution, the spatial correlation of wind uncertainties is considered in the uncertainty set. The column-and-constraint generation algorithm is adopted to solve the adaptive robust model iteratively by reformulating the second stage with its Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions. Simulation results demonstrate that the economic efficiency is improved by utilizing the reserve flexibility from the district heating system and considering wind farm spatial correlations. Compared with the conventional single-stage optimized model, the feasibility of the two-stage robust solution is always guaranteed by considering the real-time operation constraints of the electric power system and district heating system.
Network analysis of host-pathogen protein interactions in microbe induced cardiovascular diseases

Large-scale visualization and analysis of HPIs involved in microbial CVDs can provide crucial insights into the mechanisms of pathogenicity. The comparison of CVD associated HPIs with the entire set of HPIs can identify the pathways specific to CVDs. Therefore, topological properties of HPI networks in CVDs and all pathogens was studied using Cytoscape3.5.1. Ontology and pathway analysis were done using KOBAS 3.0. HPIs of Papilloma, Herpes, Influenza A virus as well as Yersinia pestis and Bacillus anthracis among bacteria were predominant in the whole (wHPI) and the CVD specific (cHPI) network. The central viral and secretory bacterial proteins were predicted virulent. The central viral proteins had higher number of interactions with host proteins in comparison with bacteria. Major fraction of central and essential host proteins interacts with central viral proteins. Alpha-synuclein, Ubiquitin ribosomal proteins, TATA-box-binding protein, and Polyubiquitin-C &B proteins were the top interacting proteins specific to CVDs. Signaling by NGF, Fc epsilon receptor, EGFR and ubiquitin mediated proteolysis were among the top enriched CVD specific pathways. DEXDc and HELICc were enriched host mimicry domains that may help in hijacking of cellular machinery by pathogens. This study provides a system level understanding of cardiac damage in microbe induced CVDs.
Synthesis and DFT-NMR-guided structure revision of cremenolide

The structure of an anti-plant pathogenic and plant growth-promoting nonenolide, namely cremenolide, was revised by an efficient combination of DFT-based theoretical NMR calculations and synthesis of a target diastereomer. Initially, the planar structure of cremenolide was reconsidered by an individual analysis of the reported NMR spectra. Subsequently, the relative configuration was predicted using NMR calculations of all possible diastereomers based on the ωB97X-D functional. Finally, the relative configuration of cremenolide was unambiguously confirmed by preparation of the proposed structure.
Energy poverty in energy rich Ghana: A SWOT analytical approach for the development of Ghana's renewable energy

Ghana has been facing cyclical erratic power supply in recent years due to increasing population, urbanization and industrialization. The country's electricity generation is hugely dependent on fossil fuels which makes the cost of electricity generation susceptible to cost of fuel on the international market and other economic factors such as exchange rate, despite the country's huge renewable energy potentials. This research used the SWOT analytical approach to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the country's renewable energy sector. Results from the analysis shows that, geographical location, political stability and availability of Renewable Energy Act (Act 832) are the main strengths. However, issues such as complex and bureaucratic procedures in securing licenses and the high initial cost of renewable energy projects are some of the key weaknesses in the sector. The study also identified the existence of a regional integration network in the sub-region and increasing electricity demand as the major opportunities. Insufficient research and development were identified as the greatest threat to the sustainable development of the sector followed by unequal playing field and changing climatic conditions. The research therefore proposed some recommendations to the government to help in the development of the country's renewable energy sector.
COVID-19 outbreak: Migration, effects on society, global environment and prevention

The COVID-19 pandemic is considered as the most crucial global health calamity of the century and the greatest challenge that the humankind faced since the 2nd World War. In December 2019, a new infectious respiratory disease emerged in Wuhan, Hubei province, China and was named by the World Health Organization as COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). A new class of corona virus, known as SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) has been found to be responsible for occurrence of this disease. As far as the history of human civilization is concerned there are instances of severe outbreaks of diseases caused by a number of viruses. According to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO as of April 18 2020), the current outbreak of COVID-19, has affected over 2164111 people and killed more than 146,198 people in more than 200 countries throughout the world. Till now there is no report of any clinically approved antiviral drugs or vaccines that are effective against COVID-19. It has rapidly spread around the world, posing enormous health, economic, environmental and social challenges to the entire human population. The coronavirus outbreak is severely disrupting the global economy. Almost all the nations are struggling to slow down the transmission of the disease by testing & treating patients, quarantining suspected persons through contact tracing, restricting large gatherings, maintaining complete or partial lock down etc. This paper describes the impact of COVID-19 on society and global environment, and the possible ways in which the disease can be controlled has also been discussed therein.