bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frame Alignment Between Environmentalists and the Sámi in the Forest Dispute in Inari, Finland Until the 2000s—Competing Conservation Needs and Obstacles for Co-Living With the Non-Human
Authors: Nyyssönen Jukka
Published: July 2022

The cooperation between Sámi actors and environmentalists in the resistance of loggings in the conflict over forestry in Inari, in Finnish Sápmi, in the 2000s has been presented as a cohesive alliance, innovative in creating new political space and channels of influence. Looking more closely, there were foundational non-aligning factors causing friction to the alliance, relating to the legitimacy of the presence of the non-human in the biotic system. I shall examine as to what extent and why the frames employed aligned or conflicted. One way to grasp the fragility of the frame alignment is to study the opinions held by the different actors about what needs restoring/conserving, whether these are economic, ecological, or cultural elements, or a combination of these, and how the entities to be protected were situated in time. The historical context of this article is the long series of forestry conflicts in Inari, for the duration of which the transformations and varying strategies of alignment of environmental, herder, and forestry frames are studied. It is argued that the combination and number of the non-human animals to be protected were one root cause for misalignment, deepening the rifts between environmentalists and the Sámi to this day.
Platelet Aggregation Before Aspirin Initiation in Pediatric Patients With Congenital Heart Disease at High Risk of Thrombosis
Authors: Lu Zhong-Yuan , Zhu Zhi-Yuan , Yang Ju-Xian , Zhou Yu-Zi , Jiang Ya-Zhou , Wei Wei , Wang Xu , Li Shou-Jun
Published: July 2022

Background

Aspirin following unfractionated heparin is the most common anticoagulation strategy for pediatric patients who experienced cardiac surgery at high risk of thrombosis. The platelet aggregation test is the golden method to evaluate the aspirin effect on platelet function. However, the platelet aggregation basal status before postoperative aspirin initiation and the related clinical influencing factors hasn't been investigated systemically in this population.

Methods

In a prospective cohort of 247 children, arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation (PAG-AA) was measured by means of light transmission aggregometry (LTA) before the first dose of aspirin after cardiac surgical procedure and the perioperative variables were also collected. Distribution of this population's PAG-AA basal status was described. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the main influencing factors of PAG-AA.

Results

The median time of aspirin administration was 2 (1–27) days after surgery and the corresponding median value of basal PAG-AA was 20.70% (1.28–86.49%), with 67.6% population under 55% and 47.8% population under 20%. Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) had a significantly lower basal PAG-AA than those without (30.63 ± 27.35 vs. 57.91 ± 27.58, p = 0.013). While patients whose test done within 3 days after CPB had a significantly lower PAG-AA than those out of 3 days (25.61 ± 25.59 vs. 48.59 ± 26.45, p = 0.001). Univariate analysis implied that the influencing factors of the basal PAG-AA including CPB use, test time point, cyanosis, and platelet count. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that only CPB use, test time point, and platelet count were the main independent influencing factors for the basal PAG-AA.

Conclusion

The majority of children have impaired basal platelet aggregometry responses before postoperative aspirin initiation. The main influencing factors are CPB use, test time point, and platelet count. To establish the platelet aggregometry baseline prior to commencement of aspirin therapy, testing should be performed 3 days later following the procedure when effect of CPB is basically over.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Rheumatology to Detect Cardiac Involvement Since Early and Pre-clinical Stages of the Autoimmune Diseases: A Narrative Review
Authors: Sierra-Galan Lilia M. , Bhatia Mona , Alberto-Delgado Angel Leovigildo , Madrazo-Shiordia Javier , Salcido Carlos , Santoyo Bernardo , Martinez Eduardo , Soto Maria Elena
Published: July 2022

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) encompass multisystem disorders, and cardiovascular involvement is a well-known feature of autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Unfortunately, subclinical and early cardiovascular involvement remains clinically silent and often undetected, despite its well-documented impact on patient management and prognostication with an even more significant effect on severe and future MACE events as the disease progresses. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), today, commands a unique position of supremacy versus its competition in cardiac assessment and is the gold standard for the non-invasive evaluation of cardiac function, structure, morphology, tissue characterization, and flow with the capability of evaluating biventricular function; myocardium for edema, ischemia, fibrosis, infarction; valves for thickening, large masses; pericardial inflammation, pericardial effusions, and tamponade; cardiac cavities for thrombosis; conduction related abnormalities and features of microvascular and large vessel involvement. As precise and early detection of cardiovascular involvement plays a critical role in improving the outcome of rheumatic and autoimmune conditions, our review aims to highlight the evolving role of CMR in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), limited sclerosis (LSc), adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) (formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome), and DRESS syndrome (DS). It draws attention to the need for concerted, systematic global interdisciplinary research to improve future outcomes in autoimmune-related rheumatic conditions with multiorgan, multisystem, and cardiovascular involvement.
Surgical Strategies for Preservation of Pulmonary Valve Function in a Radical Operation for Tetralogy of Fallot: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yi Kang , Wang Dan , Xu Jianguo , Zhang Xin , Wang Wenxin , Gao Jie , Wang Wei , You Tao , Tian Jinhui
Published: July 2022

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different surgical strategies to preserve pulmonary valve function. Surgical procedures evaluated include intraoperative balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (IBPV), pulmonary valve reconstruction, and commissurotomy and pulmonary cusp augmentation (PCA) in patients who underwent a radical operation for Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF).

Materials and Methods

The five databases searched in the current study included the Cochrane Library, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, and WanFang data. A systematic search for control trials was performed in each database from the start date of each database until December 2021. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of included studies.

Results

A total of 15 retrospective studies with a total number of 1,396 participants were included in this study. In subgroup 1 (IBPV vs. TAP), patients undergoing IBPV had a less degree of regurgitation at 1–2 years after the surgery. The reintervention rate increased in the IBPV group at 5 years. In subgroup 2 (pulmonary valve reconstruction vs. TAP), the degree of regurgitation decreased in the pulmonary valve reconstruction group at 1 month after the surgery. In subgroup 3 (valve-sparing operation vs. TAP), the comparison demonstrated decreased rates for surgical mortality and reintervention at 5–10 years after the surgery.

Conclusion

We proposed that pulmonary valve function in a radical operation for ToF was preserved. IBPV, pulmonary valve reconstruction, and commissurotomy and PCA can be performed during the surgical procedure based on the developmental status and anatomical characteristics of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), pulmonary valve, and pulmonary artery.

Systematic Review Registration

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022300987].
Patient-Centered Data Home: A Path Towards National Interoperability
Authors: Williams Karmen S. , Grannis Shaun J.
Published: July 2022

Objective

National interoperability is an agenda that has gained momentum in health care. Although several attempts to reach national interoperability, an alerting system through interconnected network of Health Information Exchange (HIE) organizations, Patient-Centered Data Home (PCDH), has seen preliminary success. The aim was to characterize the PCDH initiative through the Indiana Health Information Exchange's participation in the Heartland Region Pilot, which includes HIEs in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Materials and Methods

Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) transactions were collected between December 2016 and December 2017 among the seven HIEs in the Heartland Region. ADTs were parsed and summarized. Overlap analyses and patient matching software were used to characterize the PCDH patients. R software and Microsoft Excel were used to populate descriptive statistics and visualization.

Results

Approximately 1.5 million ADT transactions were captured. Majority of patients were female, ages 56–75 years, and were outpatient visits. Top noted reasons for visit were labs, screening, and abdominal pain. Based on the overlap analysis, Eastern Tennessee HIE was the only HIE with no duplicate service areas. An estimated 80 percent of the records were able to be matched with other records.

Discussion

The high volume of exchange in the Heartland Region Pilot established that PCDH is practical and feasible to exchange data. PCDH has the posture to build better comprehensive medical histories and continuity of care in real time.

Conclusion

The value of the data gained extends beyond clinical practitioners to public health workforce for improved interventions, increased surveillance, and greater awareness of gaps in health for needs assessments. This existing interconnection of HIEs has an opportunity to be a sustainable path toward national interoperability.
Triggering and Relationship Between Mine Earthquake Activities and Stress of Earth Tides During Deep Mining
Authors: Zhang Yuezheng , Ji Hongguang , Wu Haoyuan
Published: July 2022

In the process of deep mining, the prevention and control of rock bursts, mine earthquakes, and other disasters are common problems. The stress of earth tides and its periodic actions should trigger mine earthquakes when the rock masses are in a critical state of rupture. In this study, the Yanbei coal mine was taken as the research background to explore the triggering effect of solid tides on mine earthquakes occurring in the floor. The relationship between the diurnal tidal stress phase and mine earthquakes was studied by statistically analyzing the mine earthquake frequency, and the triggering mechanism was also preliminarily discussed. It was found that the solid tide plays a significant role of trigger action in the occurrence of rock burst of the floor type. For different levels of mine earthquakes, the tidal stress triggering effect is different, but the overall trend is close. Compared with the components of tidal stress, vertical stress, north-south stress, and shear stress, rock burst occurred more at the stage close to 0° and ±180°. For different types of mine earthquakes, the triggered mechanics function of tidal stress is different. Mine earthquakes on the floor mainly include two kinds (the gravity control type and horizontal stress control type). The former easily occurs during the tidal stress vertical component of the maximum, while the latter easily occurs when the two horizontal components of the maximum are combined. The frequency of the former is larger than that of the latter. The results show that the floor seismic activity is correlated with the solid tidal activity of the earth’s crust, which provides a new idea for understanding the mechanism and trigger conditions of mine earthquakes.
Dual Ascent Algorithm-Based Improved Droop Control for Efficient Operation of AC Microgrid
Authors: Jiang Yajie , Yang Yun
Published: July 2022

In this work, the loss (including wire loss and converter loss) of island three-phase AC microgrid is modeled as a quadratic function of the current distribution coefficient, that is, a concave function with equality and inequality constraints. On the basis of the concave optimization principle, the optimal current distribution coefficient of the distributed energy unit (DEU) is calculated online by the double ascent optimization method (DAOM) to minimize the distribution loss. It is proven that the concave function with multi-variables can be optimized by the DAOM. Using the average reactive power distribution scheme, the optimal active power distribution coefficient with the minimum distribution loss of the AC microgrid can be obtained in real time. In addition, given the high R/X ratio in the short-distance AC microgrid, the active power–frequency (P-ω) droop control and reactive power–voltage amplitude (Q-E) droop control are not suitable for power distribution among DEUs. Thus, an advanced strategy comprising active power–voltage amplitude (P-E) droop control and reactive power-frequency (Q-ω) droop control is proposed to dispatch the output active powers and reactive powers of DEUs. Simulation examples are provided to verify the convexity of the proposed model and the effectiveness of the control strategy.
Elevated Adipsin and Reduced C5a Levels in the Maternal Serum and Follicular Fluid During Implantation Are Associated With Successful Pregnancy in Obese Women
Authors: Ramanjaneya Manjunath , Diboun Ilhame , Rizwana Najeha , Dajani Yaser , Ahmed Lina , Butler Alexandra E. , Almarzooqi Thoraya Ali , Shahata Mohammed , Al Bader Moza Khalaf , Elgassim Einas , Burjaq Hasan , Atkin Stephen L. , Abou-Samra Abdul-Badi , Elrayess Mohamed A.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Complement factors mediate the recruitment and activation of immune cells and are associated with metabolic changes during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine whether complement factors in the maternal serum and follicular fluid (FF) are associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in overweight/obese women.

Methods

Forty overweight/obese (BMI = 30.8 ± 5.2 kg/m2) female patients, 33.6 ± 6.3 years old, undergoing IVF treatment for unexplained infertility were recruited. Baseline demographic information, including biochemical hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory markers, and pregnancy outcome, was collected. Levels of 14 complement markers (C2, C4b, C5, C5a, C9, adipsin, mannose-binding lectin, C1q, C3, C3b/iC3b, C4, factor B, factor H, and properdin) were assessed in the serum and FF and compared to IVF outcome, inflammatory, and metabolic markers using multivariate and univariate models.

Results

Out of 40 IVF cycles, 14 (35%) resulted in pregnancy. Compared to women with failed pregnancies, women with successful pregnancies had higher levels of adipsin in the serum and FF (p = 0.01) but lower C5a levels (p = 0.05). Serum adipsin levels were positively correlated with circulating levels of vitamin D (R = 0.5, p = 0.02), glucagon (R = 0.4, p = 0.03), leptin (R = 0.4, p = 0.01), resistin (R = 0.4, p = 0.02), and visfatin (R = 0.4, p = 0.02), but negatively correlated with total protein (R = −0.5, p = 0.03). Higher numbers of top-quality embryos were associated with increased levels of C3, properdin, C1q, factors H and B, C4, and adipsin, but with reduced C2 and C5a levels (p ≤ 0.01).

Conclusions

Higher adipsin and lower C5a levels in the maternal serum during implantation are potential markers of successful outcome in obese women undergoing IVF-assisted pregnancies.
GLP-1 RAs and SGLT-2 Inhibitors for Insulin Resistance in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yan Hongle , Huang Chunyi , Shen Xuejun , Li Jufang , Zhou Shuyi , Li Weiping
Published: July 2022

Objective

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors reduce glycaemia and weight and improve insulin resistance (IR) via different mechanisms. We aim to evaluate and compare the ability of GLP-1 RAs and SGLT-2 inhibitors to ameliorate the IR of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

Data Synthesis

Three electronic databases (Medline, Embase, PubMed) were searched from inception until March 2021. We selected randomized controlled trials comparing GLP-1 RAs and SGLT-2 inhibitors with control in adult NAFLD patients with or without T2DM. Network meta-analyses were performed using fixed and random effect models, and the mean difference (MD) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined. The within-study risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane collaborative risk assessment tool RoB.

Results

25 studies with 1595 patients were included in this network meta-analysis. Among them, there were 448 patients, in 6 studies, who were not comorbid with T2DM. Following a mean treatment duration of 28.86 weeks, compared with the control group, GLP-1 RAs decreased the HOMA-IR (MD [95%CI]; -1.573[-2.523 to -0.495]), visceral fat (-0.637[-0.992 to -0.284]), weight (-2.394[-4.625 to -0.164]), fasting blood sugar (-0.662[-1.377 to -0.021]) and triglyceride (- 0.610[-1.056 to -0.188]). On the basis of existing studies, SGLT-2 inhibitors showed no statistically significant improvement in the above indicators. Compared with SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 RAs decreased visceral fat (-0.560[-0.961 to -0.131]) and triglyceride (-0.607[-1.095 to -0.117]) significantly.

Conclusions

GLP-1 RAs effectively improve IR in NAFLD, whereas SGLT-2 inhibitors show no apparent effect.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, CRD42021251704
Benzene Exposure Leads to Lipodystrophy and Alters Endocrine Activity In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Cui Ying , Mo Ziying , Ji Penglei , Zhong Jingyi , Li Zongxin , Li Daochuan , Qin Lina , Liao Qilong , He Zhini , Guo Wei , Chen Liping , Wang Qing , Dong Guanghui , Chen Wen , Xiao Yongmei , Xing Xiumei
Published: July 2022

Benzene is a ubiquitous pollutant and mainly accumulates in adipose tissue which has important roles in metabolic diseases. The latest studies reported that benzene exposure was associated with many metabolic disorders, while the effect of benzene exposure on adipose tissue remains unclear. We sought to investigate the effect using in vivo and in vitro experiments. Male adult C57BL/6J mice were exposed to benzene at 0, 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg body weight by intragastric gavage for 4 weeks. Mature adipocytes from 3T3-L1 cells were exposed to hydroquinone (HQ) at 0, 1, 5 and 25 μM for 24 hours. Besides the routine hematotoxicity, animal experiments also displayed significant body fat content decrease from 1 mg/kg. Interestingly, the circulating non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) level increased from the lowest dose (ptrend < 0.05). Subsequent analysis indicated that body fat content decrease may be due to atrophy of white adipose tissue (WAT) upon benzene exposure. The average adipocyte area of WAT decreased significantly even from 1 mg/kg with no significant changes in total number of adipocytes. The percentages of small and large adipocytes in WAT began to significantly increase or decrease from 1 mg/kg (all p < 0.05), respectively. Critical genes involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis were dysregulated, which may account for the disruption of lipid homeostasis. The endocrine function of WAT was also disordered, manifested as significant decrease in adipokine levels, especially the leptin. In vitro cell experiments displayed similar findings in decreased fat content, dysregulated critical lipid metabolism genes, and disturbed endocrine function of adipocytes after HQ treatment. Pearson correlation analysis showed positive correlations between white blood cell (WBC) count with WAT fat content and plasma leptin level (r = 0.330, 0.344, both p < 0.05). This study shed light on the novel aspect that benzene exposure could induce lipodystrophy and disturb endocrine function of WAT, and the altered physiology of WAT might in turn affect benzene-induced hematotoxicity and metabolic disorders. The study provided new insight into understanding benzene-induced toxicity and the relationship between benzene and adipose tissue.
Power Coordinated Control and Parameter Analysis for Spiral Spring Energy Storage Systems Based on Backstepping Control Under Current Vector Orientation
Authors: Yu Yang , Wang Mengyun , Zhang Ruifeng , Mi Zengqiang , Zheng Xiaoming
Published: July 2022

As a new and great source of potential energy storage technology, the spiral spring energy storage (SSES) technology uses a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) to tighten or release the spiral spring for energy conversion. In allusion to the feature of simultaneous variations in torque and inertia for spiral springs in operation, it is difficult for the SSES system to show good control performance in regulating the power from/to the grid under a conventional vector control method. A power coordinated control scheme of the SSES system with the grid is proposed to integrate the grid-side converter (GSC) with the machine-side converter (MSC) based on backstepping control under the current vector orientation. First, the mathematical models of GSC and PMSM under the current vector orientation coordinate frame are established. Second, the coordinated control scheme is designed by the backstepping control principle, and its stability is proved in theory. Then, the optimal control parameters in the control scheme are determined by investigating the desired control performance. Ultimately, the simulation and experimental results show that the proposed control scheme with the chosen control parameters coordinates the GSC and the MSC well. The power signal is tracked accurately and rapidly, and the operation performance of the SSES system and its energy exchange with the grid are both improved effectively.
Distributionally Robust Capacity Configuration for Energy Storage in Microgrid Considering Renewable Utilization
Authors: Ding Xin , Ma Hongyan , Yan Zheng , Xing Jie , Sun Jiatong
Published: July 2022

The energy storage plays an important role in the operation safety of the microgrid system. Appropriate capacity configuration of energy storage can improve the economy, safety, and renewable energy utilization of the microgrid. This study considers the uncertainty of renewable energy, and builds an energy storage capacity configuration (ESCC) in microgrid by using the distributionally robust optimization (DRO). This model co-optimizes energy storage planning, day-ahead scheduling, and renewable energy utilization of the microgrid, which derives the energy storage configuration strategy, balancing renewable energy utilization and operation economics of microgrid. The proposed model is a two-stage model with distributionally robust chance constrains. By applying decision rules, variable substitution, and duality techniques, this model is approximately transformed into a mixed integer programming problem with a second-order cone constraint, which can be directly solved. Experiments on the IEEE 33-bus system are carried out to verify the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed model.
Flexibility System for Heilongjiang Power Grid Considering Carbon Reduction Targets
Authors: Liu Qiang , Ban Mingfei , Jiang Haiyang , Liu Yu , Xu Hang , Guo Jiangtao , Liu Yiqi , Shi Xingyu
Published: July 2022

Enhancing the flexibility of power systems helps to balance the increasing renewable generation for achieving the rigid carbon reduction targets. The current flexible system in China can hardly meet the regulating demand of its ever-increasing renewable generation, especially in the Heilongjiang power grid (HPG), where the proportion of combined heat and power units that determine power generation by the heat requirement is enormous, while the peak shaving capacity in winter is limited. This research analyzes the necessity of establishing a new flexibility system for the HPG. Also, it introduces the new characteristics and the flexibility of the HPG. Then, it proposes classification and definition methods for the flexibility system of the HPG by referring to some similar power grids, e.g., the UK grid and the Danish grid. A simulation framework of power systems with flexibility enhancement is developed to perform quantitative evaluation of the HPG in different carbon reduction scenarios. The suggested flexibility system reorganizes and revises the principles of reserve classification, response time, and minimum reserve configuration. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method through the measurement and analysis data of the HPG. This paper takes the HPG as an example to perform a quantitative analysis of the flexibility system. Also, it can provide tips and suggestions for other regions seeking carbon reductions.
Development of a Mathematical Model to Size the Photovoltaic and Storage Battery Based on the Energy Demand Pattern of the House
Authors: Chang Han , Jing Feng-Lin , Hou Yao-Long , Chen Li-Qi , Yang Yi-Jun , Liu Tian-Ye , Wei Chen-Lin , Zhai Bin-Qing , Hou Cai-Ying
Published: July 2022

Solar energy is used in buildings worldwide. However, because the efficiency of photovoltaic power generation varies with environmental fluctuations, it is difficult to control. Therefore, electricity generation from photovoltaics is often poorly matched to the electricity load of the house. The use of storage batteries and photovoltaic panels can effectively improve the stability of the energy supply; however, it also introduces the problem of higher initial costs. Generally, a larger photovoltaic area and battery capacity can lead to higher costs and more renewable energy; therefore, to determine a suitable size of photovoltaic and storage battery for a house, the energy demand of the house must also be considered. The traditional method for sizing photovoltaics and storage batteries mainly considers the daily average electricity demand and the useful area for installing photovoltaics. To size the photovoltaic in a more precise manner, we propose a mathematical model (nonlinear programming) for selecting a relatively optimal solution for the photovoltaic area, battery capacity, and photovoltaic installation angle by considering the hourly and annual demands for electricity from the grid. To validate this mathematical method, a detached house in Zhouzhi county, Shaanxi province, China, was selected to size the devices by the proposed method. Results show that the device sizes determined using the proposed mathematical model are significantly smaller than those determined using the traditional method, without suffering a significant increase in the demand for electricity from the grid. According to our economic analysis, although the proposed method for sizing devices reduces the device cost payback period by half compared to that of the traditional method, the payback period for the devices sized using the proposed method is still 10.6 years. The extremely low electricity price in China may contribute to the extended payback period and thus discourage residents from installing renewable energy devices.
Nexus Between Energy Poverty and Technological Innovations: A Pathway for Addressing Energy Sustainability
Authors: Batool Kiran , Zhao Zhen-Yu , Atif Faraz , Dilanchiev Azer
Published: July 2022

Pakistan has experienced energy poverty, as most of the people live in rural areas. Poor people are stereotyped as collecting the firewood and using the unclean energy sources to meet their residential energy needs. As a result, respondents in the provinces with the highest rates of energy poverty set a high priority on this research. Structured interviews were used to conduct the research in rural parts of Punjab and Sindh provinces. Due to the apparent country’s large population and rapid industrialization, conventional energy sources cannot meet the country’s present energy needs. Results revealed that energy poverty in rural areas had exposed the residents to security problems such as health dangers, fire accidents, time poverty, financial poverty, illiteracy, and other issues at various levels of severity. As a result, alternative energy sources must be explored. This research aims to determine the best renewable energy choice for Pakistan’s rural areas. In terms of pricing, life duration, operation, and maintenance costs, the results show that solar energy is the best renewable energy source for Pakistan. The key barriers that continue to promote energy poverty have been identified. Finally, the study suggests policy recommendation for public and private sectors to overcome energy related barriers to alleviate energy poverty in rural areas by utilizing maximum solar energy.
Visualizing a Field of Research With Scientometrics: Climate Change Associated With Major Aquatic Species Production in the World
Authors: Azra Mohamad N. , Mohd Noor Mohd Iqbal , Sung Yeong Yik , Abd Ghaffar Mazlan
Published: July 2022

Climate change research on major aquatic species assists various stakeholders (e.g. policymakers, farmers, funders) in better managing its aquaculture activities and productivity for future food sustainability. However, there has been little research on the impact of climate change on aquatic production, particularly in terms of scientometric analyses. Thus, using the bibliometric and scientometric analysis methods, this study was carried out to determine what research exists on the impact of climate change on aquatic production groups. We focused on finfish, crustaceans, and molluscs. Data retrieved from Web of Science was mapped with CiteSpace and used to assess the trends and current status of research topics on climate change associated with worldwide aquatic production. We identified ocean acidification as an important research topic for managing the future production of aquatic species. We also provided a comprehensive perspective and delineated the need for: i) more international collaboration for research activity focusing on climate change and aquatic production in order to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal by 2030; ii) the incorporation of work from molecular biology, economics, and sustainability.
Time Series Multi-Sensors of Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar for Monitoring Ground Deformation
Authors: Zhu Chuanguang , Long Sichun , Zhang Jixian , Wu Wenhao , Zhang Liya
Published: July 2022

A stack of images is a prerequisite for the multi-temporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (MT-InSAR) due to the wrapped nature of the interferometric phase. Although the SBAS technique can relieve the requirement of the amount of SAR data, dozens of SAR acquisitions could be regarded as the minimum requirement. However, due to the limitation of the imaging capability of the spaceborne SAR system, the amount of available SAR data acquired from only one SAR sensor is often not enough to satisfy the requirement for phase unwrapping based on the Nyquist sampling assumption. Fortunately, there sometimes may be more than one SAR stack, that is, stacks of SAR data acquired from different SAR systems. In this study, we propose a methodology to detect ground deformation by combining multiple SAR images acquired from different satellite systems for MT-InSAR analysis. First, the low-pass deformation is estimated based on time series SAR acquisitions with low spatial resolution and long wavelengths such as ENVISAT ASAR (ASAR). This information is then incorporated into the processing of time series of SAR acquisitions with high spatial resolution and short wavelength, such as TerraSAR-X (TSX). Specifically, the low-pass deformation will be subtracted from each differential interferogram generated from short-wavelength SAR images, and the rest of the MT-InSAR analysis will be based on the double-differentiation interferograms. Then, the residual deformation will be calculated from these double-differentiation interferograms and together with the low-pass deformation forms the full deformation. As the principal component of deformation has already been subtracted, the phase gradient of those double-differentiated interferograms will be smooth enough to facilitate the phase unwrapping. Between January 2009 and September 2010, 14 ASAR images and 11 TSX images acquired from Tianjin, China are selected as the test data. A root means square error (RMSE) of 9.1 mm/year is achieved from 11 TSX images, while a root means square error of 3.7 mm/year is achieved from 14 ASAR images. However, an RMSE of 1.6 mm/year is achieved when integrating 11 TSX images and 14 ASAR images for MT-InSAR analysis. The experiments show that the proposed method can effectively detect ground deformation.
Reforestation in Southern China Enhances the Convective Afternoon Rainfall During the Post-flood Season
Authors: Li Xing , Li Xiao , Ma Hedi , Hua Wenjian , Chen Haishan , Wen Xiaohang , Zhang Wanxin , Lu Yiwen , Pang Xueqi , Zhang Xuanwen
Published: July 2022

Dynamic and continuous land use and cover change (LUCC) is one of the external forcing factors affecting regional climate in China. Based on the annual dynamic global land cover dataset derived from the Global Land Surface Satellite (GLASS-GLC), this paper modelled and investigated the effects of annual transient LUCC on precipitation over China using the regional climate model RegCM4.8.2. Analysis of the GLASS-GLC data revealed that considerable conversions of cropland to forest, grassland to cropland and bare ground to grassland had occurred during the last 3 decades (1984–2013) in southern, northeastern and northwestern China respectively. By comparing the differences between the two sets of experiments under the fixed LUCC and dynamic LUCC scenarios, the results showed that reforestation in southern China during the past 3 decades significantly enhanced local convective afternoon rainfall (CAR; ∼2 mm/day) during the post-flood season (POF; July-August-September). This reforestation effect on CAR also increased with the intensity of LUCC. However, the realistic LUCC effects were weak and negligible for other periods, regions and large-scale precipitation. Furthermore, we have identified two possible reasons that favored the occurrence of POFCAR, namely that the moisture and instability conditions required to trigger convections were both enhanced by reforestation. This was evidenced by increases (decreases) in convective available potential energy (lifting condensation level), increases in atmospheric water vapor content and declining tendencies of equivalent potential temperature with height. Overall, this study highlights the importance of reforestation impacts on the diurnal variations of the precipitation.
Assessment and Contributing Factors of the Spatial Misallocation of Construction Land: A Case Study of Shandong, China
Authors: Li Shaoxing , Cao Huixi , Wang Jinyan , Wang Xinxin
Published: July 2022

Spatial misallocation is an essential reason for the low utilization efficiency of construction land. Optimizing the spatial pattern of construction land allocation can improve the efficiency of economic operations and resilience to food crisis and climate change challenges. This study constructs a quantitative measurement method for the spatial misallocation of construction land (SMCL), proposes a new government market society support (GMSS) analytical framework for the contributing factors with interlocked relationships, and conducts empirical research in Shandong, China, which is a typical area with a rapid development of construction land and significant regional disparity. It is concluded that the SMCL ensues through the interaction and coevolution of the GMSS system, which plays a key role in adjusting the construction land use sequence, structure, and efficiency under the regulation of the upper government. Effectively using the estimation method based on the equal marginal output principle, the SMCL in Shandong is established as a downward trend, with evident temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics and spatial morphological mode changes, although most sub-regions are significantly approaching the adaptation interval with fluctuation. Furthermore, the empirical results of the regression model indicate that there are different effects and intensities on the SMCL among the contributing factors under the GMSS framework, wherein the local government force has an aggravating and the greatest effect, the market forces have a dual and second-ranking effect, the social forces play a positive but still weak role, and the support system has a differentiated improvement effect. However, the impacts of various dimensional factors on the SMCL also have heterogeneity in the development stages and different regions. Generally, in the low-level development stage and underdeveloped areas, the effect of local government intervention is stronger, the market forces’ importance is lower, and the social forces and support systems remain insufficiently robust.
Prenatal Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Exposure Is Associated With Lower Infant Birthweight Within the MADRES Pregnancy Cohort
Authors: Peterson Alicia K. , Eckel Sandrah P. , Habre Rima , Yang Tingyu , Faham Dema , Farzan Shohreh F. , Grubbs Brendan H. , Kannan Kurunthachalam , Robinson Morgan , Lerner Deborah , Al-Marayati Laila A. , Walker Daphne K. , Grant Edward G. , Bastain Theresa M. , Breton Carrie V.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent synthetic chemicals found in household products that can cross the placenta during pregnancy. We investigated whether PFAS exposure during pregnancy was associated with infant birth outcomes in a predominantly urban Hispanic population.

Methods

Serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were measured in 342 prenatal biospecimens (mean gestational age: 21 ± 9 weeks) from participants in the ongoing Maternal And Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort. PFAS compounds were modeled continuously or categorically, depending on the percentage of samples detected. The birth outcomes assessed were birthweight, gestational age at birth, and birthweight for gestational age (BW-for-GA) z-scores that accounted for parity or infant sex. Single pollutant and multipollutant linear regression models were performed to evaluate associations between PFAS exposures and birth outcomes, adjusting for sociodemographic, perinatal, and study design covariates.

Results

Maternal participants (n = 342) were on average 29 ± 6 years old at study entry and were predominantly Hispanic (76%). Infants were born at a mean of 39 ± 2 weeks of gestation and weighed on average 3,278 ± 522 g. PFOS and PFHxS were detected in 100% of the samples while PFNA, PFOA, and PFDA were detected in 70%, 65%, and 57% of the samples, respectively. PFAS levels were generally lower in this cohort than in comparable cohorts. Women with detected levels of PFOA during pregnancy had infants weighing on average 119.7 g less (95% CI −216.7, −22.7) than women with undetected levels of PFOA in adjusted single pollutant models. PFOA results were also statistically significant in BW-for-GA z-score models that were specific for sex or parity. In models that were mutually adjusted for five detected PFAS compounds, PFOA results remained comparable; however, the association was only significant in BW-for-GA z-scores that were specific for parity (β = −0.3; 95% CI −0.6, −0.01). We found no significant adjusted associations with the remaining PFAS concentrations and the birth outcomes assessed.

Conclusion

Prenatal exposure to PFOA was associated with lower birthweight in infants, suggesting that exposure to these chemicals during critical periods of development might have important implications for children's health.
Case Report: DPM1-CDG: Novel Variant with Severe Phenotype and Literature Review
Authors: Lausmann Hanna , Zacharias Martin , Neuhann Teresa M. , Locher Melanie K. , Schettler Karl F.
Published: July 2022

Background: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) type I include variants in the DPM1 gene leading to DPM1-CDG. The nine previously reported patients showed developmental delay, seizures, electroencephalography abnormalities and dysmorphic features with varying disease onset and severity.

Methods: Clinical features of a new patient are described. Whole exome sequencing using NGS was performed, followed by molecular simulation of the structural changes in the protein.

Results: Our patient with DPM1-CDG presented with more severe symptoms and an earlier onset, specifically non-febrile seizures from the age of 3 weeks, global developmental delay, and severely retarded motor skills. She died at the age of 11 weeks after fulminant sepsis. We identified compound heterozygous variants in the DPM1 gene, one previously reported point mutation c.1A > C p.? as well as the novel variant c.239_241del p.(Lys80del), resulting in the first in-frame deletion located in exon 2. Loss of Lys80 may lead to an impaired α-helical configuration next to the GDP/GTP binding site.

Conclusion: The presented case extends the spectrum of DPM1-CDG to a very young and severely affected child. The deletion of Lys80 in DPM1 results in an impaired helical configuration. This has implications for further understanding the association of structure and function of DPM1.
Case Report: Severe Hypotonia Without Hyperphenylalaninemia Caused by a Homozygous GCH1 Variant: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Chen Yun , Liu Kaiyu , Yang Zailan , Wang Yaozhou , Zhou Hao
Published: July 2022

Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) comprises a group of rare but treatable dystonias that exhibit diurnal fluctuation. The GCH1 gene encodes GTP cyclohydrolase-1 (GTPCH-І), a protein that catalyzes the first rate-limiting step of tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis. Pathogenic variants in GCH1 are the most common causes of DRD. However, the autosomal recessive form of DRD caused by biallelic GCH1 variants is very rare. Homozygous GCH1 variants have been associated with two clinically distinct human diseases: hyperphenylalaninemia, and DRD with or without hyperphenylalaninemia. Here, we describe one patient who presented during infancy with severe truncal hypotonia and motor developmental regression but without diurnal fluctuation and hyperphenylalaninemia. Treatment with levodopa/carbidopa resulted in the complete and persistent remission of clinical symptoms without any side effects. This was accompanied by age-appropriate neurological development during follow-up. A homozygous GCH1 variant (c.604G>A/p.V202I) was identified in the patient. To our knowledge, this is the first Chinese case of DRD caused by a homozygous GCH1 variant, thus expanding the spectrum of DRD phenotypes. Autosomal recessive DRD that is associated with homozygous GCH1 variants should be considered in patients with severe truncal hypotonia, with or without diurnal fluctuation, even if there is an absence of limb dystonia and hyperphenylalaninemia.
Genetic Diagnostic Yield and Novel Causal Genes of Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Tan Meihua , Wang Xinrui , Liu Hongjie , Peng Xiaoyan , Yang You , Yu Haifei , Xu Liangpu , Li Jia , Cao Hua
Published: July 2022

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital malformation in fetuses and neonates, which also represents a leading cause of mortality. Although significant progress has been made by emerging advanced technologies in genetic etiology diagnosis, the causative genetic mechanisms behind CHD remain poorly understood and more than half of CHD patients lack a genetic diagnosis. Unlike carefully designed large case-control cohorts by multicenter trials, we designed a reliable strategy to analyze case-only cohorts to utilize clinical samples sufficiently. Combined low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) were simultaneously conducted in a patient-only cohort for identifying genetic etiologies and exploring candidate, or potential causative CHD-related genes. A total of 121 sporadic CHD patients were recruited and 34.71% (95% CI, 26.80 to 43.56) was diagnosed with genetic etiologies by low-coverage WGS and WES. Chromosomal abnormalities and damaging variants of CHD-related genes could explain 24.79% (95% CI, 17.92 to 33.22) and 18.18% (95% CI, 12.26 to 26.06) of CHD patients, separately, and 8.26% (95% CI, 4.39 to 14.70) of them have simultaneously detected two types of variants. Deletion of chromosome 22q11.2 and pathogenic variants of the COL3A1 gene were the most common recurrent variants of chromosomal abnormalities and gene variants, respectively. By in-depth manual interpretation, we identified eight candidate CHD-causing genes. Based on rare disease-causing variants prediction and interaction analysis with definitive CHD association genes, we proposed 86 genes as potential CHD-related genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the 86 genes revealed regulation-related processes were significantly enriched and processes response to regulation of muscle adaptation might be one of the underlying molecular mechanisms of CHD. Our findings and results provide new insights into research strategies and underlying mechanisms of CHD.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Are Found in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids of Horses With Severe Asthma and Correlate With Asthma Severity
Authors: Janssen Pierre , Tosi Irene , Hego Alexandre , Maréchal Pauline , Marichal Thomas , Radermecker Coraline
Published: July 2022

Asthma encompasses a spectrum of heterogenous immune-mediated respiratory disorders sharing a similar clinical pattern characterized by cough, wheeze and exercise intolerance. In horses, equine asthma can be subdivided into severe or moderate asthma according to clinical symptoms and the extent of airway neutrophilic inflammation. While severe asthmatic horses are characterized by an elevated neutrophilic inflammation of the lower airways, cough, dyspnea at rest and high mucus secretion, horses with moderate asthma show a milder neutrophilic inflammation, exhibit intolerance to exercise but no labored breathing at rest. Yet, the physiopathology of different phenotypes of equine asthma remains poorly understood and there is a need to elucidate the underlying mechanisms tailoring those phenotypes in order to improve clinical management and elaborate novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we sought to quantify the presence of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) of moderate or severe asthmatic horses and healthy controls, and assessed whether NETs correlated with disease severity. To this end, we evaluated the amounts of NETs by measuring cell-free DNA and MPO-DNA complexes in BALF supernatants or by quantifying NETs release by BALF cells by confocal microscopy. We were able to unequivocally identify elevated NETs levels in BALF of severe asthmatic horses as compared to healthy controls or moderate asthmatic horses. Moreover, we provided evidence that BALF NETs release was a specific feature seen in severe equine asthma, as opposed to moderate asthma, and correlated with disease severity. Finally, we showed that NETs could act as a predictive factor for severe equine asthma. Our study thus uniquely identifies NETs in BALF of severe asthmatic horses using three distinct methods and supports the idea that moderate and severe equine asthma do not rely on strictly similar pathophysiological mechanisms. Our data also suggest that NETs represent a relevant biomarker, a putative driver and a potential therapeutic target in severe asthma disease.