bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review on Thermal Performance of Nanofluids With and Without Magnetic Fields in Heat Exchange Devices
Authors: Yang Jiawang , Yang Xian , Wang Jin , Chin Hon Huin , Sundén Bengt
Published: April 2022

Addition of nanoparticles into a fluid can improve the heat transfer performance of the base fluid in heat exchangers. In this work, the preparation method and process of nanofluids are introduced, and thermal properties of nanofluids, such as thermal conductivity and viscosity, are discussed deeply. This paper summarizes various theoretical models of thermal conductivity and viscosity of nanofluids. A comprehensive literature survey on applications and limitations of nanofluids has been compiled. This paper also aims to review the natural and forced convective heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids with and without magnetic fields. The discussion for the natural convective heat transfer of nanofluids focuses on the heat transfer performance of non-conventional enclosures and electric heaters. The effects on heat transfer due to variations of heated walls are also investigated. Specific applications of nanofluids in a tube with trapezoidal ribs, double-tube heat exchangers, and plate heat exchangers have been reviewed and presented in a discussion about forced convective heat transfer. The previous results show that the inlet temperature of nanofluids obviously affects the heat transfer characteristics of double-tube heat exchangers, whereas a multi-walled carbon nanotube–water nanofluid shows significant advantages in plate heat exchangers. Finally, this paper studies natural convective heat transfer of magnetic fluids in a square cavity and forced convection heat transfer in a straight tube and a corrugated structure under the action of magnetic fields. It is found that the heat transfer performance of an Fe3O4–water nanofluid is enhanced when a magnetic field is applied to the corrugated plate heat exchangers, and the pressure drop can be reduced by around 10%. It is recommended that natural convection of magnetic fluids needs to be investigated experimentally in a real cavity and a corrugated channel under the influence of a magnetic field. In addition, studies of alternating magnetic field are recommended to reveal any improvements of thermal performance of magnetic fluids in heat exchange devices. This review puts forward an effective solution for improvement of the thermal performance of heat transfer equipment and serves as a basic reference for applications of nanofluids in heat transfer fields.
Control Method for Improving Voltage Response and Ripple of Isolated DC-DC Converter
Authors: Li Ming , Wang Kairang , Zhao Zhou , Liu Hongyong , Zhang Wenyu , Kou Jian , Meng Jianhui
Published: April 2022

Affected by the abrupt changes of load and unregulated first-stage rectifiers, it is difficult for the output voltage of the isolated DC-DC converter with traditional proportional-integral (PI) control to meet the needs of industrial applications such as automotive electrophoretic painting. A voltage response improving the method based on a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is proposed in this study for the output voltage mutation of DC converter caused by load mutation. By detecting the output voltage deviation and load current value, the RBF model gives the compensation amount of the duty ratio to enhance the PI controller to speed up the voltage regulation and improve voltage response. For the six-pulse voltage ripple introduced by the unregulated rectifier in the previous stage, a delay link is adopted, where the compensation amount of the duty ratio and its delay time are reasonably designed to reduce the ripple value. The experimental test platform is built, and the proposed method is verified. The results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the output voltage response and ripple as well as improve the output voltage quality of the DC converter, which is of certain engineering application value.
Environmental Flows to Estuaries and Coastal Lagoons Shape the Salinity Gradient and Generate Suitable Fish Habitat: Predictions From the Coorong, Australia
Authors: Brookes Justin D. , Huang Peisheng , Zhai Sherry Y. , Gibbs Matthew S. , Ye Qifeng , Aldridge Kane T. , Busch Brendan , Hipsey Matthew R.
Published: April 2022

Freshwater flows to estuaries shape habitat, transport nutrients to drive productivity, and generate a salinity gradient that impacts water quality and provides spawning cues for fish. The aim of this study was to quantify how environmental flows improved outcomes for a coastal lagoon system (the Coorong, South Australia), considering the export, and prevention of ingress, of salt from the system, and the increased available habitat for key fish biota. A hydrodynamic model was used to simulate salinity and water temperature, and to determine the salt exchange between the Coorong and ocean for the observed conditions with environmental water release included. Scenario simulations showed that maintaining river flow is shown to arrest salt intrusion from the ocean into the Coorong. Without environmental water, the net import of salt into the Coorong would have been considerably greater, ranging between 1.86 million tonnes in 2018–19 to approximately 2.33 million tonnes in 2019–20. The fresher conditions created by environmental water provision supported a considerable expansion of suitable fish habitat area, derived from a simple habitat index based on salinity and water temperature. Without environmental water the habitat suitable for mulloway would have contracted by 38% over the 3 year investigation period. A similar trend is evident for black bream, Tamar goby, greenback flounder, yelloweye mullet, congolli and smallmouth hardyhead. The results highlighted the importance of cumulative benefits from delivering environmental water over multiple years, with different results obtained if the environmental water provided regularly or just focused over a single year. The approach used in this work to relate hydrological changes from water management to indicators of habitat suitability through changes to physical attributes provides information to inform the evaluation of environmental watering, as well as a tool to support future decision making to maximise the benefits from this precious resource.
How do Independent Directors View Carbon Information Disclosure? Evidence From China
Authors: Khan Haroon Ur Rashid , Khidmat Waqas Bin , Al Hares Osama , Awan Sadia , Saleem Kashif
Published: April 2022

This study examines the effect of independent directors on carbon information disclosure (CID) in China from 2011 to 2017. Additionally, this study investigates the effect of independent director’s attributes (gender, academic experience, and political connection) on the CID. To test our hypothesis, we collected data of 511 Chinese listed firms. The empirical results show that independent directors have a positive influence on the CID. Moreover, the independent female directors, independent academic directors and independent politically connected directors also enhances the CID. Our findings offer shareholders, regulators, and other stakeholders an integrating perspective on motivating firms to disclose high quality carbon information.
The Green Innovative Power of Carbon Neutrality in China: A Perspective of Innovation Efficiency in China’s High-Tech Industry Based on Meta-Frontier DEA
Authors: Zou Wenjie , Shi Yi , Xu Zhihao , Ouyang Fang , Zhang Lin , Chen Huangxin
Published: April 2022

The high-tech industry plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emission and achieving green economic development. This research uses Meta-Frontier data envelopment analysis to measure the innovation efficiency level of the high-tech industry in China’s provinces from 1999 to 2018, compares the difference in this industry’s innovation efficiency under the regional Frontier and common Frontier, and inspects the convergence condition of its innovation efficiency in the three major areas of eastern, central, and western China. The results show under the regional Frontier that the difference in innovation efficiency of the western region’s high-tech industry is the biggest, while the difference in the central region is the smallest, and under the national common Frontier the innovation efficiency level of the eastern region’s high-tech industry is the highest, while that of the western region is the lowest. The regional pattern of innovation efficiency in the high-tech industry is consistent with the development trend of the regional economy. Moreover, by using the ratio of the technology gap ratio, we find that the eastern region has the potential optimal technology in China, whereas the central and western regions have large room for improvement. Lastly, the stochastic convergence test shows that the innovation efficiency of the central region’s high-tech industry presents a convergence trend, but the same trend does not occur in the western and eastern regions as well as for the whole country.
Response of Summer Ozone to Precursor Emission Controls in the Yangtze River Delta Region
Authors: Mao Yu-Hao , Yu Shukun , Shang Yongjie , Liao Hong , Li Nan
Published: April 2022

Surface ozone concentrations in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in China have shown a significant increase with the dramatic reduction of anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions since 2013. As the nonlinearity between ozone and its precursors (i.e., NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) varies greatly in time and space, we quantify the monthly changes of surface ozone with the co-control of NOx and VOCs anthropogenic emissions in the YRD region from May to October 2017 by using the GEOS-Chem model. Model evaluations show that the GEOS-Chem model exhibits good performance to simulate ozone concentrations in the region. For May–September 2017, most areas in the YRD region are under a transitional regime, but the regions with high anthropogenic emissions including Shanghai and southern Jiangsu are under a VOCs-limited regime. In October, basically, the entire YRD region is under a VOCs-limited regime. Generally, reducing VOCs emissions only is the most effective method for ozone control in the YRD. Nanjing is under a VOCs-limited regime in May, June, September, and October, and under a transition regime from July to August. The VOCs/NOx emission reduction ratio of 1:1 is effective for ozone mitigation in Nanjing (Shanghai) in May, June, and September (for May–September); the corresponding ratio is 2:1 in October. Hangzhou belongs to a transitional regime from May to September and is under a VOCs-limited regime in October. Reducing NOx emissions only would control ozone in Hangzhou from May to September, while the VOCs/NOx emission reduction ratio of 1:1 is favorable to reduce ozone concentrations in October. During high pollution days on July 22–27, 2017, the three cities belong to a transitional regime and reducing NOx emissions only is generally the most effective way to control high ozone pollution. GEOS-Chem tagged ozone simulation shows that ozone problem in the region is caused by the joint effect of local generation and regional and long-distance transport. Local generation (19.0–50.7%) is generally the largest contributor to monthly mean ozone concentrations in Jiangsu and Shanghai, Zhejiang, and central eastern China; the contribution of ozone from regions outside the YRD is larger in spring and autumn (42–76.0%) than in summer (23.3–51.8%). Since the annual VOCs (NOx) anthropogenic emissions in the region have shown a decline by 8% (11%) from 2017 to 2020 and would continue to reduce by 10% (10%) by 2025 according to the Chinese government requirement, the growth of ozone would be stopped in the YRD for May–September but likely to continue in October. Our study thus would provide a scientific base for guiding the effective emission reduction strategies to control ozone pollution in the YRD region.
Pesticide Regime Can Negate the Positive Influence of Native Vegetation Donor Habitat on Natural Enemy Abundance in Adjacent Crop Fields
Authors: Pandey Sunita , Johnson Anne C. , Xie Gang , Gurr Geoff M.
Published: April 2022

The benefits of non-crop vegetation to conservation biological control of insect pests in adjacent crops have often been demonstrated. Other studies have established that pesticide use can negatively impact natural enemies; but little is known about the outcomes from providing non-crop vegetation in systems with pesticide use. Here we conducted a natural experiment, sampling arthropods from within a set of four fields with varying pesticide use intensities that were otherwise similar and had perennial native vegetation adjacent to a single edge. Bayesian network analysis was applied to model the entire data set, then sensitivity analysis of numbers of arthropods captured in pitfall traps and sticky traps revealed that the overall effect of pesticide toxicity was large. Numbers of multiple arthropod taxa were especially strongly reduced in fields with pesticide regimes that had greater calculated toxicity scores. The effects on natural enemy numbers of the presence of adjacent perennial native vegetation was weaker than the effect of pesticide regime for all taxa except for Staphilinidae, for which it was equivalent. The benefit to in-crop numbers of natural enemies from the adjacent vegetation was strongest for ground active Araneae, Formicidae, and Dermaptera. Descriptive statistical analysis of the spatial distribution in the least heavily sprayed field suggested that the native vegetation was donor habitat for in-crop natural enemies, especially Hymenoptera, Dermaptera, and Formicidae, with numbers elevated close to the native vegetation, an effect that was apparent for around 100 m. Conservation of invertebrates in agricultural landscapes, including efforts to promote natural enemies for conservation biological control, are strongly impeded by “real world” pesticide regimes that include frequent applications and toxic compounds. Landscape features such as perennial native woody vegetation are potentially important refuges for a wide range of natural enemy taxa. The donor habitat effect of such refuges can elevate in-crop densities of these important ecosystem service providers over a scale of around 100 m, implying scope to enhance the strength of biological control in large fields (around 4 ha) by use of entirely wooded margins provided pesticide use is moderated.
Evaluation of a Restoration Approach After One Century – Effects of Admixed European Beech on the Natural Regeneration Potential and Humus Condition in Spruce Stands
Authors: Axer Maximilian , Kluckow Fabian , Wagner Sven
Published: April 2022

About 100 years ago, groups of European beech were reintroduced into Norway spruce stands in some parts of Germany as a restoration approach. The aim of this approach was to maintain or rehabilitate the ecological function of soil fertility and the regeneration option of beech for the next generation. The effect of beech groups on surrounding spruce stands was studied in the Ore Mountains by recording natural regeneration of beech and humus layer thickness and form. Point pattern statistics were used to analyse the spread of beech regeneration and to determine factors influencing its establishment. It was found that the density of regeneration decreases with increasing distance from the beech group. However, beech regeneration was found up to distances of 69 m. Furthermore, it becomes evident that PAR radiation (maximum regeneration densities at PAR values of 35 W/m2) and fencing (3.41 times higher regeneration density compared to unfenced areas) against deer have a positive influence on beech regeneration density. Ordered categorical models were used to model humus form and non-linear models were used to model humus layer thickness. It could be proven that the most bioactive humus forms and lowest humus layer thicknesses were found within the beech group. With increasing distance to the beech group, the total humus layer thickness and the proportion of mormoder in the spruce stand increased. The positive influence of the beech group on the humus composition extends to about 40 m from the centre of the beech group. Due to the former arrangement of the beech groups in the terrain, the effects can also extend to the spruce stands in between. The hypotheses on the restoration approach of reintroducing groups of beech into spruce stands formulated by foresters 100 years ago can thus be confirmed. For future restoration approaches of spruce stands, groupwise mixtures of beech should be established with a distance of 40–50 m.
Legal Aliens: Experiencing Civic Marginalisation in Entrepreneurship in South Africa
Authors: Nyakabawu Shingirai
Published: April 2022

This study focuses on the challenges faced by Zimbabwean migrant entrepreneurs in South Africa involved in agro-processing, transport, logistics, information technology, transport, education, accounting, and remittances among others. These challenges stem from the limits that temporary residence permits. These include delays in the adjudication of residence permits renewals which threaten the viability of migrant-owned businesses, access to finance, conditions of the temporary protected statuses of Zimbabwean permits xenophobia, and their experience with affirmative action laws. Based on data gathered through interviews in Cape Town, this study concludes that migrant entrepreneurs remain in positions of vulnerability and contribute disproportionately to the economy of South Africa because of the limitation of residence visas.
Gut Microbiota Interact With the Brain Through Systemic Chronic Inflammation: Implications on Neuroinflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Aging
Authors: Mou Yi , Du Yu , Zhou Lixing , Yue Jirong , Hu Xianliang , Liu Yixin , Chen Sao , Lin Xiufang , Zhang Gongchang , Xiao Hengyi , Dong Birong
Published: April 2022

It has been noticed in recent years that the unfavorable effects of the gut microbiota could exhaust host vigor and life, yet knowledge and theory are just beginning to be established. Increasing documentation suggests that the microbiota–gut–brain axis not only impacts brain cognition and psychiatric symptoms but also precipitates neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). How the blood–brain barrier (BBB), a machinery protecting the central nervous system (CNS) from the systemic circulation, allows the risky factors derived from the gut to be translocated into the brain seems paradoxical. For the unique anatomical, histological, and immunological properties underpinning its permeable dynamics, the BBB has been regarded as a biomarker associated with neural pathogenesis. The BBB permeability of mice and rats caused by GM dysbiosis raises the question of how the GM and its metabolites change BBB permeability and causes the brain pathophysiology of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration (NF&ND) and brain aging, a pivotal multidisciplinary field tightly associated with immune and chronic systemic inflammation. If not all, gut microbiota-induced systemic chronic inflammation (GM-SCI) mainly refers to excessive gut inflammation caused by gut mucosal immunity dysregulation, which is often influenced by dietary components and age, is produced at the interface of the intestinal barrier (IB) or exacerbated after IB disruption, initiates various common chronic diseases along its dispersal routes, and eventually impairs BBB integrity to cause NF&ND and brain aging. To illustrate the immune roles of the BBB in pathophysiology affected by inflammatory or “leaky” IB resulting from GM and their metabolites, we reviewed the selected publications, including the role of the BBB as the immune barrier, systemic chronic inflammation and inflammation influences on BBB permeability, NF&ND, and brain aging. To add depth to the bridging role of systemic chronic inflammation, a plausible mechanism indispensable for BBB corruption was highlighted; namely, BBB maintenance cues are affected by inflammatory cytokines, which may help to understand how GM and its metabolites play a major role in NF&ND and aging.
Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor 3 Suppress Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Production and Thrombosis During Sepsis
Authors: Pei Shengqiang , Xu Chuansheng , Pei Jianqiu , Bai Ruifeng , Peng Rui , Li Tiewei , Zhang Junjie , Cong Xiangfeng , Chun Jerold , Wang Fang , Chen Xi
Published: April 2022

Sepsis consists of life-threatening organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated response to infection. Recent studies have found that excessive neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to the pathogenesis of sepsis, thereby increasing morbidity and mortality. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a small glycerophospholipid molecule that exerts multiple functions by binding to its receptors. Although LPA has been functionally identified to induce NETs, whether and how LPA receptors, especially lysophosphatidic acid receptor 3 (LPA3), play a role in the development of sepsis has never been explored. A comprehensive understanding of the impact of LPA3 on sepsis is essential for the development of medical therapy. After intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Lpar3-/-mice showed a substantially higher mortality, more severe injury, and more fibrinogen content in the lungs than wild-type (WT) mice. The values of blood coagulation markers, plasma prothrombin time (PT) and fibrinogen (FIB), indicated that the Lpar3-/- mice underwent a severe coagulation process, which resulted in increased thrombosis. The levels of NETs in Lpar3-/- mice were higher than those in WT mice after LPS injection. The mortality rate and degree of lung damage in Lpar3-/- mice with sepsis were significantly reduced after the destruction of NETs by DNaseI treatment. Furthermore, in vitro experiments with co-cultured monocytes and neutrophils demonstrated that monocytes from Lpar3-/- mice promoted the formation of NETs, suggesting that LPA3 acting on monocytes inhibits the formation of NETs and plays a protective role in sepsis. Mechanistically, we found that the amount of CD14, an LPS co-receptor, expressed by monocytes in Lpar3-/-mice was significantly elevated after LPS administration, and the MyD88-p65-NFκB signaling axis, downstream of toll-like receptor 4 signaling, in monocytes was overactivated. Finally, after an injection of the LPA3 agonist (2S)-1-oleoyl-2-methylglycero-3-phosphothionate (OMPT), the survival rate of mice with sepsis was improved, organ damage was reduced, and the production of NETs was decreased. This suggested the possible translational value and application prospects of (2S)-OMPT in the treatment of sepsis. Our study confirms an important protective role of LPA3 in curbing the development of sepsis by suppressing NETs production and thrombosis and provides new ideas for sepsis treatment strategies.
Chaperones and Catalysts: How Antigen Presentation Pathways Cope With Biological Necessity
Authors: Margulies David H. , Taylor Daniel K. , Jiang Jiansheng , Boyd Lisa F. , Ahmad Javeed , Mage Michael G. , Natarajan Kannan
Published: April 2022

Immune recognition by T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells is in large part dependent on the identification of cell surface MHC molecules bearing peptides generated from either endogenous (MHC I) or exogenous (MHC II) dependent pathways. This review focuses on MHC I molecules that coordinately fold to bind self or foreign peptides for such surface display. Peptide loading occurs in an antigen presentation pathway that includes either the multimolecular peptide loading complex (PLC) or a single chain chaperone/catalyst, TAP binding protein, related, TAPBPR, that mimics a key component of the PLC, tapasin. Recent structural and dynamic studies of TAPBPR reveal details of its function and reflect on mechanisms common to tapasin. Regions of structural conservation among species suggest that TAPBPR and tapasin have evolved to satisfy functional complexities demanded by the enormous polymorphism of MHC I molecules. Recent studies suggest that these two chaperone/catalysts exploit structural flexibility and dynamics to stabilize MHC molecules and facilitate peptide loading.
Persistent Lung Injury and Prothrombotic State in Long COVID
Authors: Xiang Mengqi , Jing Haijiao , Wang Chengyue , Novakovic Valerie A. , Shi Jialan
Published: April 2022

Lung injury may persist during the recovery period of COVID-19 as shown through imaging, six-minute walk, and lung function tests. The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to long COVID have not been adequately explained. Our aim is to investigate the basis of pulmonary susceptibility during sequelae and the possibility that prothrombotic states may influence long-term pulmonary symptoms of COVID-19. The patient’s lungs remain vulnerable during the recovery stage due to persistent shedding of the virus, the inflammatory environment, the prothrombotic state, and injury and subsequent repair of the blood-air barrier. The transformation of inflammation to proliferation and fibrosis, hypoxia-involved vascular remodeling, vascular endothelial cell damage, phosphatidylserine-involved hypercoagulability, and continuous changes in serological markers all contribute to post-discharge lung injury. Considering the important role of microthrombus and arteriovenous thrombus in the process of pulmonary functional lesions to organic lesions, we further study the possibility that prothrombotic states, including pulmonary vascular endothelial cell activation and hypercoagulability, may affect long-term pulmonary symptoms in long COVID. Early use of combined anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy is a promising approach to reduce the incidence of pulmonary sequelae. Essentially, early treatment can block the occurrence of thrombotic events. Because impeded pulmonary circulation causes large pressure imbalances over the alveolar membrane leading to the infiltration of plasma into the alveolar cavity, inhibition of thrombotic events can prevent pulmonary hypertension, formation of lung hyaline membranes, and lung consolidation.
A Toolkit for Profiling the Immune Landscape of Pediatric Central Nervous System Malignancies
Authors: Rozowsky Jacob S. , Meesters-Ensing Joyce I. , Lammers Julie A. S. , Belle Muriël L. , Nierkens Stefan , Kranendonk Mariëtte E. G. , Kester Lennart A. , Calkoen Friso G. , van der Lugt Jasper
Published: April 2022

The prognosis of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) malignancies remains dismal due to limited treatment options, resulting in high mortality rates and long-term morbidities. Immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibition, cancer vaccines, engineered T cell therapies, and oncolytic viruses, have promising results in some hematological and solid malignancies, and are being investigated in clinical trials for various high-grade CNS malignancies. However, the role of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in CNS malignancies is mostly unknown for pediatric cases. In order to successfully implement immunotherapies and to eventually predict which patients would benefit from such treatments, in-depth characterization of the TIME at diagnosis and throughout treatment is essential. In this review, we provide an overview of techniques for immune profiling of CNS malignancies, and detail how they can be utilized for different tissue types and studies. These techniques include immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry for quantifying and phenotyping the infiltrating immune cells, bulk and single-cell transcriptomics for describing the implicated immunological pathways, as well as functional assays. Finally, we aim to describe the potential benefits of evaluating other compartments of the immune system implicated by cancer therapies, such as cerebrospinal fluid and blood, and how such liquid biopsies are informative when designing immune monitoring studies. Understanding and uniformly evaluating the TIME and immune landscape of pediatric CNS malignancies will be essential to eventually integrate immunotherapy into clinical practice.
Fishing for Litter: Creating an Economic Market for Marine Plastics in a Sustainable Fisheries Model
Authors: Nguyen Linh , Brouwer Roy
Published: April 2022

This paper studies an economy specialized in fisheries facing a rising marine litter problem. We present a dynamic optimization model to explain the mechanism through which marine litter causes inefficiencies in the fishery sector. We do so by investigating the properties of the model when the marine litter externality is internalized through the price of fish. We find that if the marine litter externality is neglected, fish harvest increases, and ocean quality deteriorates. We subsequently explore the possibility of introducing an incentive scheme where marine litter can be traded in a hypothetical market. The introduction of a so-called fishing-for-litter market removes the inefficiencies caused by fishermen neglecting marine litter and provides a direct incentive for them to maximize overall welfare through resource recovery, i.e. by converting plastic waste into a new valuable resource.
A Protocol for Extracting Structural Metrics From 3D Reconstructions of Corals
Authors: Aston Eoghan A. , Duce Stephanie , Hoey Andrew S. , Ferrari Renata
Published: April 2022

The 3D structure of individual coral colonies provides insights into their ecological functioning. While structure from motion techniques make it possible to reconstruct 3D models of coral colonies based on overlapping images, the extraction of relevant metrics of complexity in a reproducible way remains challenging. We present a method and associated scripts for the 3D reconstruction of coral colonies from in-situ images and the automatic extraction of eleven structural complexity metrics, designed to be run in widely-used software packages. The metrics are designed to capture aspects of complexity relating to the colony’s size and shape that are related to their ecological function. We explored the potential ecological applications of some of these metrics using linear models, comparing aspects of complexity among colonies of different size and morphotaxa (combined information on morphology and taxa). Our results showed that a metric as simple as colony diameter explained 95% of the variation in shelter provisioning capability when paired with information on colony morphotaxa. Further, the habitat provisioning of colonies of comparable size was similar among the six of the seven morphotaxa examined. During the current period of rapid uptake of photogrammetry among ecologists, the results of our study provide a basis to use data derived from 3D models to further explore the nuances of the relationship between structure and function of corals at the colony scale in a replicable and standardised way.
First Report on Large-Scale Phaeocystis globosa Bloom in the Southern Yellow Sea, China
Authors: Li Dongmei , Xue Yue , Song Qingshang , Cui Fuxu , Ma Yujuan , Tong Mengmeng , Shen Pingping
Published: April 2022

From late November 2021, a large-scale Phaeocystis globosa bloom occurred for the first time in the southern Yellow Sea, covering an area of over 630 km2 and lasting for nearly 40 days. Two investigations, combined with satellite remote sensing, were successively conducted on December 11 and 23, 2021 to study the bloom dynamics and impacts. During the bloom, the average temperature decreased from 11.8°C to 10.0°C and salinity increased slightly from 30.9 to 31.3. The pH remained consistently at 8.22, while dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll-a content decreased dramatically from 7.23 mg L-1 to 5.82 mg L-1, 8.72 μg L-1 to 2.35 μg L-1, respectively. The concentration of nitrate and silicate decreased moderately, whereas nitrite, ammonium and phosphate increased obviously, especially the ammonium content, elevated from 0.90 μmol L-1 to 1.39 μmol L-1 during two investigations. Meanwhile, the P. globosa colony densities varied between 10 colonies L-1 and 185 colonies L-1, with a mean of 70.0 colonies L-1 on Dec. 11, and decreased dramatically to an average of 1.46 colonies L-1 on Dec. 23. Similarly, single cells decreased from 3.6×106 cells L-1 to 1.05×106 cells L-1 accordingly. Moreover, diameter of the colonies varied from 0.5 cm to 2.0 cm, with an average diameter of 1.0 cm, and no colonies smaller than 0.5 cm was observed in the bloom. Correlation analysis indicated temperature and salinity related with the colony abundance positively (P<0.001) and negatively (P<0.05), respectively, and silicate and nitrite concentration showed significant positive effects on solitary cell density (P<0.05). No mortality of marine organisms was observed and the haemolytic activity of Phaeocystis samples was low, varying between 13.07 Hu L-1 and 19.22 Hu L-1. Based on phylogenetic analysis, this P. globosa strain may represent a possible different ecotype which prefers low temperature and is less or nontoxicity.
Novel Silane Crosslinked Chitosan Based Electrospun Nanofiber for Controlled Release of Benzocaine
Authors: Naz Mehwish , Jabeen Sehrish , Gull Nafisa , Ghaffar Abdul , Islam Atif , Rizwan Muhammad , Abdullah Huda , Rasool Atta , Khan Shahzad , Khan Rafi
Published: April 2022

Nanofibers mats of chitosan (CTS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/halloysite nanoclay and drug loaded CTS/PVA/halloysite nanoclay//3-glycidyoxypropyl trimethoxysilane were fabricated using the electrospinning method. Electrospun nanofiber samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). FTIR confirmed the chemical and physical bonding among ingredients such as CTS, PVA, nanoclay and crosslinker in the nanofibers. SEM images showed the development of uniform nanofibers. The average nanofiber diameter was observed in the range of 50–200 nm. Antimicrobial activity was examined againstE. coliandS. aurusbacteria. The results obtained indicated that all nanofiber samples showed significant antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacteria. TGA results indicated that the thermal stability of nanofibers increased with the addition of the crosslinker. The drug release was studied in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution (pH 7.4) at 37°C and was released from nanofibers in 2.5 h. Hence, these prepared nanofibers can be used in medication where the drug is required for a long duration.
Fluorescence Quenching of Graphene Quantum Dots by Chloride Ions: A Potential Optical Biosensor for Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Ifrah Zahid , Shah Rukh Abbas , Muhammad Nauman Sharif , Maryam Shahid , Rahat Ullah
Published: April 2022

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that encodes an ABC transporter-class ion channel protein, resulting in sticky and thick mucus secretion which clogs the airways and leads to respiratory failure and other complications. It also results in higher chloride ions (Clˉ) in body fluids. Cystic fibrosis is generally detected using the sweat chloride test and ion exchange chromatography, which are lab restricted. Therefore, there is a dire need to develop portable assays to monitor circulatory changes (Clˉ ion detection) to detect CF at the point of care. In this work, fluorescence quenching of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) was used as a property of the optical sensor for chloride ion detection. GQDs were synthesized by varying the carbonizing temperature and time, and then their optical and fluorescence (FL) quenching was investigated upon exposure to chloride ions in comparison with different ionic species. GQDs synthesized at 160°C for 50 min were chosen as they displayed the highest fluorescence. The morphological and optical characterization confirmed the preparation of 12–15 nm GQDs, which were amorphous in nature with the peak emission observed at 462 nm when excited at 370 nm. The fluorescence quenching response of GQDs with Clˉ ions displayed linearity up to 100 mM with a correlation coefficient of 0.98 and the lowest detection limit of approximately 10 mM Clˉ ions.
Global Research Status and Trends in Venous Thromboembolism After Hip or Knee Arthroplasty From 1990 to 2021: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Song Wei , Ma Tao , Cheng Qianyue , Wen Pengfei , Wu Jiayuan , Hao Linjie , Zhang Binfei , Wang Yakang , Wang Qiuyuan , Zhang Yumin
Published: April 2022

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hip or knee arthroplasty has attracted increasing attention over the past few decades. However, there is no bibliometric report on the publications in this field. The purpose of this study was to analyze the global research status, hotspots, and trends in VTE after arthroplasty.

Methods

All articles about VTE research after hip or knee arthroplasty from 1990 to 2021 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The information of each article including citation, title, author, journal, country, institution, keywords, and level of evidence was extracted for bibliometric analysis.

Results

A total of 1,245 original articles from 53 countries and 603 institutions were retrieved. The USA contributed most with 457 articles, followed by England and Canada. McMaster University in Canada was the leading institution for publications. The journals with the highest output and citation were the Journal of Arthroplasty and the Thrombosis and Haemostasis, respectively. The median number of citations was significantly different among the levels of evidence (F = 128.957, P < 0.001). The research hotspots switched from VTE diagnosis and heparin to factor Xa inhibitors (fondaparinux, rivaroxaban, apixaban) and direct thrombin inhibitors (dabigatran etexilate, ximelagatran), and finally to aspirin, risk factor studies, which can be observed from the keyword analysis and co-cited reference cluster analysis.

Conclusions

This study observed an increasing trend of research articles on VTE after arthroplasty. Publications with higher levels of evidence gained further popularity among researchers and orthopedic surgeons. Additionally, individualized VTE prevention and the development of new, safe, effective, and inexpensive oral agents would be emerging trends in the future.
Management of Acute Kidney Injury and Extracorporeal Blood Purification Therapies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Italian SIN–SIAARTI Joint Survey (and Recommendations for Clinical Practice)
Authors: De Rosa Silvia , Marengo Marita , Romagnoli Stefano , Fiorentino Marco , Fanelli Vito , Fiaccadori Enrico , Brienza Nicola , Morabito Santo , Pota Vincenzo , Valente Fabrizio , Grasselli Giacomo , Messa Piergiorgio , Giarratano Antonino , Cantaluppi Vincenzo
Published: April 2022

Background and Aim

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 remains challenging. A large number of hospitalized patients are at a high risk of developing AKI. For this reason, we conducted a nationwide survey to assess the incidence and management of AKI in critically ill patients affected by the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

This is a multicenter, observational, nationwide online survey, involving the Italian Society of Nephrology and the critical care units in Italy, developed in partnership between the scientific societies such as SIN and SIAARTI. Invitations to participate were distributed through emails and social networks. Data were collected for a period of 1 week during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

A total of 141 responses were collected in the SIN–SIAARTI survey: 54.6% from intensivists and 44.6% from nephrologists. About 19,000 cases of COVID-19 infection have been recorded in hospitalized patients; among these cases, 7.3% had a confirmed acute kidney injury (AKI), of which 82.2% were managed in ICUs. Only 43% of clinicians routinely used the international KDIGO criteria. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) was performed in 628 patients with continuous techniques used most frequently, and oliguria was the most common indication (74.05%). Early initiation was preferred, and RRT was contraindicated in the case of therapeutic withdrawal or in the presence of severe comorbidities or hemodynamic instability. Regional anticoagulation with citrate was the most common choice. About 41.04% of the interviewed physicians never used extracorporeal blood purification therapies (EBPTs) for inflammatory cytokine or endotoxin removal. Moreover, 4.33% of interviewed clinicians used these techniques only in the presence of AKI, whereas 24.63% adopted them even in the absence of AKI. Nephrologists made more use of EBPT, especially in the presence of AKI. HVHF was never used in 58.54% of respondents, but HCO membranes and adsorbents were used in more than 50% of cases.

Conclusion

This joint SIN–SIAARTI survey at the Italian Society of Nephrology and the critical care units in Italy showed that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an underestimation of AKI based on the “non-use” of common diagnostic criteria, especially by intensivists. Similarly, the use of specific types of RRT and, in particular, blood purification therapies for immune modulation and organ support strongly differed between centers, suggesting the need for the development of standardized clinical guidelines.
High Fat Diet Induces Kidney Injury via Stimulating Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling
Authors: Yu Ying , Mo Hongyan , Zhuo Hui , Yu Chen , Liu Youhua
Published: April 2022

High fat diet could cause kidney injury, and the underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the role of Wnt signaling in this process. Mice were fed with high-fat diet in vivo, and podocytes were stimulated with palmitate in vitro. In mice fed with high-fat diet, renal function was impaired, accompanied by induction of various proinflammatory cytokines and proteinuria. Renal expression of Wnt ligands was also significantly induced, with Wnt1 and Wnt3a being the most pronounced, in high-fat diet mice, compared with normal diet controls. Intervention with ICG-001, a small molecule Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor, improved renal function, inhibited proinflammatory cytokines expression, reduced proteinuria and alleviated podocyte injury. In palmitate-treated podocytes, intracellular lipid deposition was increased, Wnt1 and Wnt3a expression was up-regulated, which was accompanied by an increased proinflammatory cytokines expression and podocyte injury. These lesions caused by palmitate were largely alleviated by ICG-001. Furthermore, ICG-001 also restored the expression of phosphorylated AMPK repressed by palmitate in podocytes or a high-fat diet in mice. These studies suggest that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of high-fat diet-induced kidney injury. Targeting this signaling may be a potential therapeutic strategy for alleviating obesity-related nephropathy.
Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy as Primary Treatment for Advanced Unilateral Retinoblastoma in China
Authors: Liang Tingyi , Zhang Xin , Li Jiakai , Hua Xuming , Zhao Peiquan , Ji Xunda
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and complications of intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) as a primary treatment for advanced unilateral retinoblastoma in Chinese patients.

Methods

This study was a retrospective review of patients with advanced unilateral retinoblastoma treated with IAC as the primary treatment. The IAC procedures were performed using a balloon-assisted technique. The clinical status and treatment complications were recorded at each visit. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to estimate recurrence-free survival and ocular survival.

Results

In total, 116 eyes of 116 patients with advanced unilateral retinoblastoma were enrolled, including 66 eyes (57%) in group D and 50 eyes (43%) in group E. All treated eyes received a mean of 3 cycles of IAC (range, 3–5), and 66% of the eyes were combined with local consolidation therapy. The median follow-up time was 39 months (range, 22–57 months). The 3-year recurrence-free survival and ocular survival rates were 68.8% (95% CI, 59.2–76.6%) and 88.5% (95% CI, 80.9–93.2%), respectively. Moreover, the 3-year ocular survival rate in group D was significantly higher than that in group E (96.9%, 76.3%; P < 0.01). The common ocular complication was vitreous hemorrhage (19.8%). No deaths or severe systemic complications occurred.

Conclusion

Primary intra-arterial chemotherapy is effective for the treatment of advanced unilateral retinoblastoma, especially in group D, with acceptable toxicity.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Rapid Antigen Tests for COVID-19 Detection: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis
Authors: Arshadi Maniya , Fardsanei Fatemeh , Deihim Behnaz , Farshadzadeh Zahra , Nikkhahi Farhad , Khalili Farima , Sotgiu Giovanni , Shahidi Bonjar Amir Hashem , Centis Rosella , Migliori Giovanni Battista , Nasiri Mohammad Javad , Mirsaeidi Mehdi
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2 is time-consuming and sometimes not feasible in developing nations. Rapid antigen test (RAT) could decrease the load of diagnosis. However, the efficacy of RAT is yet to be investigated comprehensively. Thus, the current systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of RAT against RT-PCR methods as the reference standard.

Methods

We searched the MEDLINE/Pubmed and Embase databases for the relevant records. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. Diagnostic accuracy measures [i.e., sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratios (PLR), negative likelihood ratios (NLR), and the area under the curve (AUC)] were pooled with a random-effects model. All statistical analyses were performed with Meta-DiSc (Version 1.4, Cochrane Colloquium, Barcelona, Spain).

Results

After reviewing retrieved records, we identified 60 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the rapid antigen tests against the reference test (the real-time PCR) were 69% (95% CI: 68–70) and 99% (95% CI: 99–99). The PLR, NLR, DOR and the AUC estimates were found to be 72 (95% CI: 44–119), 0.30 (95% CI: 0.26–0.36), 316 (95% CI: 167–590) and 97%, respectively.

Conclusion

The present study indicated that using RAT kits is primarily recommended for the early detection of patients suspected of having COVID-19, particularly in countries with limited resources and laboratory equipment. However, the negative RAT samples may need to be confirmed using molecular tests, mainly when the symptoms of COVID-19 are present.