bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preclinical multi-target strategies for myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Li Yuqing , Gao Yi , Li Guangping
Published: August 2022

Despite promising breakthroughs in diagnosing and treating acute coronary syndromes, cardiovascular disease’s high global mortality rate remains indisputable. Nearly half of these patients died of ischemic heart disease. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting can rapidly restore interrupted blood flow and become the most effective method for salvaging viable myocardium. However, restoring blood flow could increase the risk of other complications and myocardial cell death attributed to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). How to reduce the damage of blood reperfusion to ischemic myocardium has become an urgent problem to be solved. In preclinical experiments, many treatments have substantial cardioprotective effects against myocardial IRI. However, the transition from these cardioprotective therapies to clinically beneficial therapies for patients with acute myocardial infarction remains elusive. The reasons for the failure of the clinical translation may be multi-faceted, and three points are summarized here: (1) Our understanding of the complex pathophysiological mechanisms of myocardial IRI is far from enough, and the classification of specific therapeutic targets is not rigorous, and not clear enough; (2) Most of the clinical patients have comorbidities, and single cardioprotective strategies including ischemia regulation strategies cannot exert their due cardioprotective effects under conditions of hyperglycemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and aging; (3) Most preclinical experimental results are based on adult, healthy animal models. However, most clinical patients had comorbidities and received multiple drug treatments before reperfusion therapy. In 2019, COST Action proposed a multi-target drug combination initiative for prospective myocardial IRI; the optimal cardioprotective strategy may be a combination of additive or synergistic multi-target therapy, which we support. By establishing more reasonable preclinical models, screening multi-target drug combinations more in line with clinical practice will benefit the translation of clinical treatment strategies.
Role of serum C1q/TNF-related protein family levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Liu Yixiang , Wei Chen , Ding Zhenjiang , Xing Enhong , Zhao Zhuoyan , Shi Fei , Tian Yanan , Zhang Ying , Fan Wenjun , Sun Lixian
Published: August 2022

Background

The C1q/TNF-related protein (CTRP) family affects inflammation regulation, energy metabolism, and insulin signaling. However, their role in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) development is unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the association between CTRP family and ACS.

Methods

We enrolled 289 consecutive inpatients with suspected ACS. Serum CTRP family, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and adiponectin (ADP) levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multivariate logistic regression and subgroup analyses were used to assess risk factors for ACS. Spearman's tests were used to analyze correlations between CTRP family and continuous variables.

Results

Serum CTRP family levels differed significantly between ACS and Control groups (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, CTRP family were independently associated with ACS (p < 0.05). The association between serum CTRP family levels and ACS was stable in various subgroups according to sex, age, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia status (p for interaction > 0.05). Increasing tertiles of serum CTRP1 levels, significantly increased ACS risks, which decreased gradually with increasing CTRP2, CTRP12, and CTRP13 tertiles (p for trend < 0.05). Additionally, serum CTRP1, CTRP2, CTRP13, and CTRP15 levels were weakly correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis.

Conclusion

CTRP1 and CTRP5 were identified as independent ACS risk factors, whereas CTRP2, CTRP3, CTRP9, CTRP12, CTRP13, and CTRP15 were independent protective factors for ACS. CTRP family, especially CTRP1 and CTRP3 could be novel potential clinical biomarkers of ACS.
Stroke risk evaluation for patients with atrial fibrillation: Insights from left atrial appendage
Authors: Fang Runxin , Li Yang , Wang Jun , Wang Zidun , Allen John , Ching Chi Keong , Zhong Liang , Li Zhiyong
Published: August 2022

Left atrial appendage (LAA) is believed to be a common site of thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the commonly-applied stroke risk stratification model (such as. CHA2DS2-VASc score) does not include any structural or hemodynamic features of LAA. Recent studies have suggested that it is important to incorporate LAA geometrical and hemodynamic features to evaluate the risk of thrombus formation in LAA, which may better delineate the AF patients for anticoagulant administration and prevent strokes. This review focuses on the LAA-related factors that may be associated with thrombus formation and cardioembolic events.
Adeno-associated virus 9 vector-mediated cardiac-selective expression of human secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Mongkolpathumrat Podsawee , Nernpermpisooth Nitirut , Kijtawornrat Anusak , Pikwong Faprathan , Chouyratchakarn Wannapat , Yodsheewan Rungrueang , Unajak Sasimanas , Kumphune Sarawut
Published: August 2022

Protease enzymes contribute to the initiation of cardiac remodeling and heart failure after myocardial ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Protease inhibitors attenuate protease activity and limit left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling. Previous studies showed the cardioprotective effect of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) against I/R injury. However, overexpression of SLPI gene in cardiovascular diseases has only been investigated in an in vitro experiment. Here, cardiac-selective expression of the human secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (hSLPI) gene and its effect on I/R injury were investigated. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 9 carrying hSLPI under the control of cardiac-selective expression promoter (cardiac troponin, cTn) was intravenously administered to Sprague–Dawley rats for 4 weeks prior to coronary artery ligation. The results showed that myocardial-selective expression of hSLPI significantly reduced infarct size, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and myoglobin levels that all served to improve cardiac function. Moreover, overexpression of hSLPI showed a reduction in inflammatory cytokines, oxidatively modified protein carbonyl (PC) content, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), and necrosis and cardiac tissue degeneration. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate cardiac-selective gene delivery of hSLPI providing cardioprotection against myocardial I/R injury in an in vivo model.
Detection of hidden faults within the Fucino basin from single-station ambient noise measurements: The case study of the Trasacco fault system
Authors: Famiani Daniela , Cara Fabrizio , Di Giulio Giuseppe , Vassallo Maurizio , Milana Giuliano
Published: August 2022

The presence of normal fault systems in central Italy, outcropping or hidden below Quaternary covers in intra-mountain basins, is the expression of the Neogene–Quaternary evolution of the area, characterized by an extensional tectonic regime following the fold and thrust structuring of the Apennine orogen. Italian urban settlements of central Italy are developed on hills or mountains but also in lowland areas, which are often set up in sedimentary basins. In this framework, urban centers found close to fault lines are common, with strong implications on the seismic risk of the area. In this work, we performed a dense seismological passive survey (88 single-station ambient noise measurements) and used the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVNSR) technique to investigate hidden faults in the Trasacco municipality located in the southern part of the Fucino Basin (central Italy), where microzonation studies pointed out hypothetical fault lines crossing the urban area with the Apennine orientation. These hidden structures were only suggested by previous studies based on commercial seismic lines and aerial photogrammetry; their presence in the basin area is confirmed by our measurements. This case study shows the potentiality of using the HVNSR technique in fault areas to have a preliminary indication of anomalous behaviors, to be investigated later with specific geophysical techniques. Our approach can support microzonation studies whenever fault zones are involved, especially in urban areas or in places designated for future developments.
Model test study on the rock mass deformation law of a soft rock tunnel under different ground stresses
Authors: Zhu Zhengguo , Fang Zhichun , Xu Fei , Han Zhiming , Guo Xiaolong , Ma Chaoyi
Published: August 2022

It is difficult to monitor the deformation of a rock mass in front of a tunnel owing to the large buried depth and complex geological conditions. In this study, by using a self-designed model test box as a carrier and using loess, sand, gypsum, cement, and water as the raw materials, the class V materials similar to the surrounding rock are obtained through an orthogonal test. These are used to study the deformation law of a rock mass in front of a tunnel in different ground stress soft rock. The results show that similar materials for the surrounding rock can meet the needs of the testing concerning the physical and mechanical properties and have economic and environmental protection advantages. The three-dimensional loading of a similar geological body is used to simulate the state of the rock mass. The real-time monitoring of the rock mass stress and deformation is conducted during a simulation of tunnel excavation, and the deformation laws of the rock mass and surrounding rock in front of the tunnel are obtained. In the range of 0.26 times the tunnel diameter in front of the tunnel in the high ground stress soft rock, the deformation of the core rock mass is the largest part of the tunnel deformation. Therefore, to reasonably control the advanced deformation of the tunnel, it is necessary to pre-reinforce the core rock mass within 0.26 times the tunnel diameter in front of the tunnel. At 1 times the diameter in front of the face, a longitudinal load-bearing arch is formed in the rock mass, and this effectively controls the extrusion deformation of the core rock mass to expand forward.
Luminescence chronology for identifying depositional sequences in an uplifted coast since the Middle Pleistocene, eastern Japan
Authors: Tamura T. , Okazaki H. , Naya T. , Nakashima R. , Nakazato H. , Seike K. , Okuno J.
Published: August 2022

Feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) dating is an advantageous trapped-charge dating method concerning late Quaternary sedimentary records for its direct applicability to clastic sediments and wide time coverage. Its application to depositional sequences in various coastal settings potentially improve our understanding of long-term sea-level changes and regional tectonics that the sequences record. The Kanto coastal plain, eastern Japan is situated in a unique tectonic setting near the triple junction of plate boundaries and characterized by extensive development of the Last Interglacial raised marine terrace in contrast to the longer-term subsidence trend. In this article, we document the application of feldspar pIRIR dating to a 35-m-long sediment core collected from the marine terrace in the northeastern Kanto plain and examine how effective its chronology is for identifying depositional sequences related to the relative sea-level fluctuations since the Middle Pleistocene. The sediment core shows a succession of seven facies units, A to G, in ascending order, representing the shallow marine to shelf (units A to C), fluvial to brackish salt marsh (unit D), beach to shoreface (unit E), fluvial to aeolian (unit F), and loess (unit G) sedimentation. According to pre-tests, pIRIR at 225°C after prior infrared stimulated luminescence at 50°C (pIRIR225) was chosen as an optimal signal for dating. pIRIR225 is characterized by modest anomalous fading with an average g2days-value of 1.8%/decade. Fading-corrected pIRIR225 ages are consistent with the stratigraphy. Units A and B are dated as Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 7 and units C to F as MIS 5. However, uncertainties of individual age estimates do not allow further chronological correlation. Instead, using sea-level changes inferred from characteristic facies transitions as additional constraints, units C to F can be correlated to sub-stages in MIS 5. Unit E represents coastal progradation during the MIS 5c sea-level highstand, which refines the date of the marine terrace around the core site as MIS 5c and revises up the rate of the tectonic uplift accordingly. Our results exemplify a successful application of feldspar pIRIR dating for identifying depositional sequences formed in relations to 100-kyr glacial cycles, in which, with additional information of the sedimentary facies, higher-frequency sequences may be defined.
Revisiting the different responses of the following Indian summer monsoon rainfall to the diversity of El Niño events
Authors: Zhang Xiya , Xu Kang , Wang Weiqiang , He Zhuoqi
Published: August 2022

There is evidence that the interannual relationship between El Niño events and the following Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) has weakened with the more frequent occurrence of central Pacific (CP) El Niño events. We revisited the following ISMR responses to the two different types of El Niño events using observations and reanalysis datasets. Our results show that the ISMR anomalies associated with eastern Pacific (EP) and CP El Niño events are different, with decreased (increased) rainfall in early summer (June–July) following EP (CP) El Niño events. This is primarily attributed to the different responses to anomalous warming of the sea surface temperature (SST) in the northern Indian Ocean (NIO), which is characterized by double peaks in the warming SST during EP El Niño events, but only one peak during CP El Niño events. For EP El Niño events, the second SST warming peak in early summer contributes to the lower level antisymmetric wind pattern over the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO), which delays the onset of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and decreases the supply of moisture to India, implying a decrease in the ISMR. By contrast, for CP El Niño events, the cooling SST over the western TIO directly induces a significantly positive meridional SST gradient and drives the lower level southwesterly wind anomalies, resulting in an eastward shift in the decreased antisymmetric winds over TIO and the early onset of ISM. These circulation features are associated with anomalous upper-level divergence over TIO and sinking over India, jointly leading to the excess ISMR in early summer. These results suggest that, in addition to the key role of the warming of the NIO SST, cooling of the SST over the western TIO during CP El Niño events should be considered carefully in understanding the El Niño–ISMR relationship.
Effects of sitagliptin on intrahepatic lipid content in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Wang Xingchun , Zhao Bangfeng , Sun Hang , You Hui , Qu Shen
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4I), key regulators of the actions of incretin hormones, exert anti-hyperglycemic effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. A major unanswered question concerns the potential ability of DPP-4I to improve intrahepatic lipid (IHL) content in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sitagliptin on IHL in NAFLD patients.

Methods

A prospective, 24-week, single-center, open-label, comparative study enrolled 68 Chinese NAFLD patients with T2DM. Subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group who did not take medicine (14 patients); sitagliptin group who received sitagliptin treatment (100mg per day) (17 patients); metformin group who received metformin (500mg three times per day) (17 patients); and sitagliptin plus metformin group who received sitagliptin (100mg per day) and metformin (500 mg three times per day) (20 patients). IHL, physical examination (waist circumstances, WC; body mass index, BMI), glucose-lipid metabolism (fasting plasma glucose, FPG; hemoglobin A1c, Hb1A1c; triglycerides; cholesterol; alanine aminotransferase, ALT; aspartate aminotransferase, AST) were measured at baseline and at 24 weeks.

Results

1) WC and BMI were decreased significantly in all groups except control group (all P<0.05). 2) There was no statistically significant difference in IHL among the sitagliptin, metformin, and sitagliptin plus metformin groups before and after treatment(all P>0.05). Only the metformin group showed a statistically significant difference in IHL before and after treatment(P<0.05). 3) Sitagliptin treatment led to a significant decrease in FBG and HbA1c when compared with the control group (all P<0.01). Additionally, HhA1c was significant decreased in the sitagliptin group when compared with the metformin group (P< 0.05). 4) HbA1c and FBG were decreased by 0.8% and 0.7 mmol/l respectively and the percentage of patients with HbA1c less than 7% was 65% with sitagliptin treatment.

Conclusion

Sitagliptin improves abnormalities in glucose metabolism, but not reduces the IHL in T2DM with NAFLD, indicating that sitagliptin might be a therapeutic option for treatment of NAFLD indirectly while not directly on IHL. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier CTR# NCT05480007.
Nomogram based on radiomics analysis of ultrasound images can improve preoperative BRAF mutation diagnosis for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Authors: Tang Jiajia , Jiang Shitao , Ma Jiaojiao , Xi Xuehua , Li Huilin , Wang Liangkai , Zhang Bo
Published: August 2022

Background

The preoperative identification of BRAF mutation could assist to make appropriate treatment strategies for patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). This study aimed to establish an ultrasound (US) radiomics nomogram for the assessment of BRAF status.

Methods

A total of 328 PTMC patients at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital between February 2019 and November 2021 were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided into training (n = 232) and validation (n = 96) cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from the US images. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was applied to select the BRAF status-related features and calculate the radiomics score (Rad-score). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were subsequently performed to identify the independent factors among Rad-score and conventional US features. The US radiomics nomogram was established and its predictive performance was evaluated via discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness in the training and validation sets.

Results

Multivariate analysis indicated that the Rad-score, composition, and aspect ratio were independent predictive factors of BRAF status. The US radiomics nomogram which incorporated the three variables showed good calibration. The discrimination of the US radiomics nomogram showed better discriminative ability than the conventional US model both in the training set (AUC 0.685 vs. 0.592) and validation set (AUC 0.651 vs. 0.622). Decision curve analysis indicated the superior clinical applicability of the nomogram compared to the conventional US model.

Conclusions

The US radiomics nomogram displayed better performance than the conventional US model in predicting BRAF mutation in patients with PTMC.
The systemic-level repercussions of cancer-associated inflammation mediators produced in the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Aguilar-Cazares Dolores , Chavez-Dominguez Rodolfo , Marroquin-Muciño Mario , Perez-Medina Mario , Benito-Lopez Jesus J. , Camarena Angel , Rumbo-Nava Uriel , Lopez-Gonzalez Jose S.
Published: August 2022

The tumor microenvironment is a dynamic, complex, and redundant network of interactions between tumor, immune, and stromal cells. In this intricate environment, cells communicate through membrane–membrane, ligand–receptor, exosome, soluble factors, and transporter interactions that govern cell fate. These interactions activate the diverse and superfluous signaling pathways involved in tumor promotion and progression and induce subtle changes in the functional activity of infiltrating immune cells.

The immune response participates as a selective pressure in tumor development. In the early stages of tumor development, the immune response exerts anti-tumor activity, whereas during the advanced stages, the tumor establishes mechanisms to evade the immune response, eliciting a chronic inflammation process that shows a pro-tumor effect.

The deregulated inflammatory state, in addition to acting locally, also triggers systemic inflammation that has repercussions in various organs and tissues that are distant from the tumor site, causing the emergence of various symptoms designated as paraneoplastic syndromes, which compromise the response to treatment, quality of life, and survival of cancer patients. Considering the tumor–host relationship as an integral and dynamic biological system, the chronic inflammation generated by the tumor is a communication mechanism among tissues and organs that is primarily orchestrated through different signals, such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and exosomes, to provide the tumor with energetic components that allow it to continue proliferating. In this review, we aim to provide a succinct overview of the involvement of cancer-related inflammation at the local and systemic level throughout tumor development and the emergence of some paraneoplastic syndromes and their main clinical manifestations. In addition, the involvement of these signals throughout tumor development will be discussed based on the physiological/biological activities of innate and adaptive immune cells. These cellular interactions require a metabolic reprogramming program for the full activation of the various cells; thus, these requirements and the by-products released into the microenvironment will be considered. In addition, the systemic impact of cancer-related proinflammatory cytokines on the liver—as a critical organ that produces the leading inflammatory markers described to date—will be summarized. Finally, the contribution of cancer-related inflammation to the development of two paraneoplastic syndromes, myelopoiesis and cachexia, will be discussed.
Factors affecting prepubertal and pubertal bone age progression
Authors: Satoh Mari , Hasegawa Yukihiro
Published: August 2022

Bone age (BA) is a clinical marker of bone maturation which indicates the developmental stage of endochondral ossification at the epiphysis and the growth plate. Hormones that promote the endochondral ossification process include growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, thyroid hormone, estrogens, and androgens. In particular, estrogens are essential for growth plate fusion and closure in both sexes. Bone maturation in female children is more advanced than in male children of all ages. The promotion of bone maturation seen in females before the onset of puberty is thought to be an effect of estrogen because estrogen levels are higher in females than in males before puberty. Sex hormones are essential for bone maturation during puberty. Since females have their pubertal onset about two years earlier than males, bone maturation in females is more advanced than in males during puberty. In the present study, we aimed to review the factors affecting prepubertal and pubertal BA progression, BA progression in children with hypogonadism, and bone maturation and deformities in children with Turner syndrome.
Ultrasound-based radiomics nomogram combined with clinical features for the prediction of central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Authors: Jin Peile , Chen Jifan , Dong Yiping , Zhang Chengyue , Chen Yajun , Zhang Cong , Qiu Fuqiang , Zhang Chao , Huang Pintong
Published: August 2022

Background

Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is the most common autoimmune thyroid disease and is considered an independent risk factor for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), with a higher incidence of PTC in patients with HT.

Objective

To build an integrated nomogram using clinical information and ultrasound-based radiomics features in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) to predict central lymph node metastasis (CLNM).

Methods

In total, 235 patients with PTC with HT were enrolled in this study, including 101 with CLNM and 134 without CLNM. They were divided randomly into training and validation datasets with a 7:3 ratio for developing and evaluating clinical features plus conventional ultrasound features (Clin-CUS) model and clinical features plus radiomics scores (Clin-RS) model, respectively. In the Clin-RS model, the Pyradiomics package (V1.3.0) was used to extract radiomics variables, and LASSO regression was used to select features and construct radiomics scores (RS). The Clin-CUS and Clin-RS nomogram models were built using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Twenty-seven CLNM-associated radiomics features were selected using univariate analysis and LASSO regression from 1488 radiomics features and were calculated to construct the RS. The integrated model (Clin-RS) had better diagnostic performance than the Clin-CUS model for differentiating CLNM in the training dataset (AUC: 0.845 vs. 0.778) and the validation dataset (AUC: 0.808 vs. 0.751), respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that applying an ultrasound-based radiomics approach can effectively predict CLNM in patients with PTC with HT. By incorporating clinical information and RS, the Clin-RS model can achieve a high diagnostic performance in diagnosing CLNM in patients with PTC with HT.
“Reverse combustion” of carbon dioxide in water: The influence of reaction conditions
Authors: Quintana-Gómez Laura , Connolly Matthew , Shehab Amal K. , Al-Shathr Ali , McGregor James
Published: August 2022

The synthesis of value-added organic products from the hydrothermal conversion of CO2 and H2O has been demonstrated, revealing the impact that reaction conditions have on the product distribution and yield. CO2 has the potential to become a valuable feedstock for the chemicals sector, in part displacing fossil resources and improving the economics of carbon capture. Herein the conversion of CO2 with H2O, in the absence of gas-phase H2, to methanol and other products is shown to occur under sub-critical water conditions in the presence of iron as a reductant and catalyst: this process can be considered as a form of “reverse combustion”. The influence of reaction temperature between 200–350°C and CO2:O2 mole ratio from 9 to 119 (in addition to pure 100% CO2) have been investigated in the presence of Fe powder. The influence of reaction time has also been investigated, employing Fe3O4 as a catalyst. Product analysis is conducted by GC-MS and MS for liquid- and gas-phase products respectively, while SEM and XRD are employed to analyse morphological changes in the catalyst and TPO investigates any coke deposited during reaction. Methanol is the major product formed at all conditions investigated, with a maximum concentration of 8 mmol L−1 after 12 h of reaction, or after 4 h in the presence of oxygen. Acetone and ethanol are also formed, although in smaller quantities than methanol, with larger-chained species also present. An inverse relationship is observed between acetone and ethanol concentrations. Based on the analysis of the reaction data it is hypothesized that ethanol and acetone may be competitively produced in one reaction pathway, while methanol is produced in an independent, parallel, pathway. The observation of acetaldehyde in the gas-phase at all studied conditions suggests that acetone may be produced from the dehydrogenation of ethanol via an acetaldehyde intermediate; catalyzed by zero-valent iron sites. Morphological characterization indicates that the catalysts are stable under the reaction conditions. These studies facilitate the development of improved catalysts and processes for the hydrothermal conversion of CO2, allowing further development of this promising sustainable process.
Self-assembly synthesis of petal-like MoS2/Co9S8/carbon nanohybrids for enhanced lithium storage performance
Authors: Wu Bo , Ma Ran , Liu Xuewei , Zheng Yuqi , Guo Sisheng , Yi Yanmeng , Sun Mingtai , Wang Suhua , Wen Tao
Published: August 2022

Transition metal sulfides are favored as anode materials for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries because of their high theoretical capacities and abundant natural resources. However, serious volume changes during charging and discharging pose great challenges to their stability. In this work, petal-like MoS2/Co9S8/C nanohybrids were synthesized via the immobilization of molybdyl acetoacetonate MoO2(acac)2 in ZIF-67 and subsequent combined vulcanization and thermolysis process. Benefiting from the homogeneous bimetallic sulfide and highly conductive carbon layer, the as-obtained MoS2/Co9S8/C nanohybrids exhibited a high initial discharge capacity of 988.3 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 and a capacity retention > 99.9% after 50 cycles. Even at a high current density of 1000 mA g−1, the reversible capacity of MoS2/Co9S8/C is still as high as 754.6 mAh g−1, revealing extraordinary rate ability. This work can provide a general approach to design and synthesize other advanced bimetallic chalcogenides for boosting lithium-ion batteries storage performance.
Numerical simulation of ternary nanofluid flow with multiple slip and thermal jump conditions
Authors: Alshahrani Saad , Ahammad N. Ameer , Bilal Muhammad , Ghoneim Mohamed E. , Ali Aatif , Yassen Mansour F. , Tag-Eldin Elsayed
Published: August 2022

This study addresses the consequences of thermal radiation with slip boundary conditions and a uniform magnetic field on a steady 2D flow of trihybrid nanofluids over a spinning disc. The trihybrid nanocomposites are synthesized by the dispersion of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in water. The phenomena are characterized as a nonlinear system of PDEs. Using resemblance replacement, the modeled equations are simplified to a nondimensional set of ODEs. The parametric continuation method has been used to simulate the resulting sets of nonlinear differential equations. Figures and tables depict the effects of physical constraints on energy and velocity profiles. According to this study, the slip coefficient enormously decreases the velocity field. For larger approximations of thermal radiation characteristics and heat source term boosts the thermal profile. This proposed model will assist in the field of meteorology, atmospheric studies, biological technology, power generation, automotive manufacturing, renewable power conversions, and detecting microchips. In regard to such kinds of practical applications, the proposed study is being conducted. This study is unique due to slip conditions and ternary fluid, and it could be used by other scholars to acquire further information about nanofluid thermal exchanger performance and stability.
Spatiotemporal variation of household water consumption and coping strategies in water-stressed city of arid and semiarid Northwest China
Authors: Dang Xiaohu , Li Lin , Fan Liangxin
Published: August 2022

Increasing water demand due to population growth and urbanization causes cities in arid and semiarid regions in China to face increasing water scarcity. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of water consumption and its driving factors is of considerable importance in formulating public policy and alleviating the urban water crisis. In this study, spatiotemporal variations of water consumption in 42 cities in Northwest China were identified, and their influencing factors were determined by cluster tree and factor analyses. Results indicate that per capita household water consumption decreased by 9.5% from 2003 to 2020, with significant spatiotemporal variations decreasing in cities with medium consumption (86.87–193.66 L/d per capita per day) but increasing in cities with low (<86.87 L/d per capita per day) and high consumption (>193.66 L/d per capita per day). The influencing factors vary across the three types of cities. An increase in the capacity of water supply and popularization of washing machines are the main reasons for the rise in water consumption for low and high-consumption cities, whereas the implementation of water-saving activities and improvements of reuse rate are the main reasons for reduction of water consumption for medium-consumption cities. Findings suggest that improving water-saving appliances and water-use efficiency in cities with high-water consumption and increasing water supply capacity in cities with low-water consumption requires consideration in urban sustainable water management strategies in Northwest China.
Modeling Socio-Economic Consequences of COVID-19: An Evidence From Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Ansari Yasmeen , Arwab Mohd , Subhan Mohammad , Alam Md Shabbir , Hashmi Nazia Iqbal , Hisam Mohammed Wamique , Zameer M. Nasir
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the world towards a digital era and affected the environment significantly. The present study uses a bibliometric approach to provide a comprehensive overview based on existing literature related to COVID-19 and E-learning and its environmental consequences, particularly from the year 2020–2022. In addition to the terrible impact of the pandemic on the world, environmental advantages have also been noticed. The findings show that the use of E-learning reduces the consumption of paper and prevents the cutting of trees which makes the environment more sustainable. The optimum use of technology leads to the conservation of the environment. Second, E-learning ensures developing and less developing countries to provide education at lower levels or remote areas of the society. The findings also suggest that governments and educational institutions should upgrade technology and digital tools in order to enhance E-learning education. Additionally, reviewing 1807 published articles extracted from the SCOPUS database, enrich literature related to COVID-19, E-learning, and the environment. This study also represents a graphical visualization of the bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and R studio software. A coupling map and three-field plot also have been used for directions for future research.
Analysis of humus formation and factors for driving the humification process during composting of different agricultural wastes
Authors: Zhao Bing , Wang Yuyun , Sun Huarong , Xu Zhi
Published: August 2022

Composting can convert organic materials into stable humus (HS), resulting in high-fertility organic fertilizers that were widely used in the treatment of agricultural wastes. Therefore, it would be beneficial to strengthen the degree of composting humification by exploring the formation law and the main influencing factors of composting humification for different agricultural wastes. In this study, straw, cabbage, chicken manure, and pig manure were used as research objects, and the industrial mixed-material strip-stack composting and the single-material laboratory reactor composting were carried out, respectively. The results showed that the industrial mixed-material composting mode was beneficial to the continuation of the high-temperature period for composting (the heat lasts for 20 days), and the high lignin treatment T2 (straw + chicken manure composting) helped to promote the degradation of lignin and formation of humic acid (HA). At the end of composting, the absolute degradation of lignin in T2 treatment increased by 13.18% and 120.02% (p < 0.01) compared with T1 (straw + cabbage + chicken manure) and T3 (straw + pig manure) treatments, respectively (p < 0.01), and the humic acid (HA) content increased by 11.78% and 26.59% (p < 0.05). In the single-material laboratory reactor composting system, the continuous high-temperature period (31 days) contributed to the degradation of the composting materials and the formation of HA in the straw (TS) composting treatment; at the end of composting, the absolute degradation amount of TS lignin increased by 137.98%, 170.99%, and 196.82% compared with TV (cabbage), TC (chicken manure), and TP (pig manure) treatments (p < 0.01), and the HA content increased by 281.76%, 377.57%, and 460.71% (p < 0.01), respectively. Redundancy analysis showed that temperature was the main environmental factor affecting the decomposition and humification process of composting organic materials; the increase of lignin absolute degradation was helpful to promote the formation of HA. This study found that temperature was the main environmental factor that drove lignin degradation and promoted the humification process of agricultural waste composting; the lignin content in the composting material was the basis for the formation of HA, and the absolute degradation amount of lignin was the main material factor that promoted the humification process.
Green economic development under the fiscal decentralization system: Evidence from china
Authors: Wang Bingbing , Liu Fengshuo , Yang Siying
Published: August 2022

The literature is still divided on the study of the ecological and economic effects of fiscal decentralization. To clarify the relationship between fiscal decentralization between central and local governments and green economic development in developing countries, we take China as an example to test the impact of fiscal decentralization on green total factor productivity and its mechanism. It is found that fiscal decentralization helps local governments play a greater role in the regional economic system and promotes green economic development. From the perspective of policy synergy, environmental regulation is an enhanced mechanism for fiscal decentralization to promote green economic development. We also find that technological innovation is an important mechanism for fiscal decentralization to promote green economic development. Our study develops the theory of fiscal federalism and affirms the necessity of decentralization system reform in the context of the green economy, which has important theoretical and practical implications.
Temporal changes in headwater streams macroinvertebrate assemblages during the snowmelt season in northeast china
Authors: Gao Yufu , Rong Liping , Cao Lina , Li Kun , Lin Chenlu , Zhang Zhenxing , Xiang Hongyong , Yang Haijun
Published: August 2022

Mid-latitude areas such as Northeast China are predicted to have warmer temperature according to IPCC sixth which may influence the duration of the snowmelt season. What remains unknown, however, is how annual snowmelt can influence the biodiversity of macroinvertebrate communities, especially in headwater streams in Northeast China. Here, we investigated the temporal changes (before, during, and after the snowmelt period) of macroinvertebrate communities and stream physicochemical characteristics in five headwater streams in Northeast China. We found that: (1) Macroinvertebrate taxa richness, density, Shannon diversity index, and functional diversity were lower in the melting period than in the other two periods, while biomass and percentage of dominant species were significantly higher in this period; (2) As to functional traits, “erosional”, “strong swimming ability”, “some attachment”, “streamlined shape” and “large size at maturity” traits of the macroinvertebrates taxa were significantly higher in the melting period than in the other two periods; and (3) Redundancy analysis (RDA) and multiple linear regression model found that temperature, turbidity, and velocity were key environmental factors affecting the functional traits of macroinvertebrates during the whole snowmelt process. This study could provide crucial data to support biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration of freshwater ecosystems in mid-to high-latitude and alpine areas.
Environmental regulation, abatement strategy, and labor income share
Authors: Huang Yanyan , Zhao Jun , Lan Jiajun
Published: August 2022

Firms need to adopt abatement strategies and change their modes of production and resource allocation under the strict environmental policy, which affects the labor income share. Based on the firm-level data of China’s Industrial Enterprise Database and Pollution Emission Database from 1998 to 2013, this study uses the difference-in-differences framework to test the effects and mechanisms of environmental policy on labor income share with different abatement strategies. We find that the Two Control Zone policy coupled with Environmental Performance Assessment policy (EPA-TCZ policies) in China, significantly increases the labor income share by 2.6% and reduces sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. Mechanism analyses further find that firms primarily adopt abatement strategies of source control and end-of-pipe treatments to cope with environmental regulation, and labor income share is enhanced through the factor-substitute effect and the cost effect. As the result of labor income share, low-skilled firms and state-owned firms are more sensitive to environmental regulation. The results from this study provide an empirical basis for the formulation and evaluation of environmental policies in developing countries.
Whole genome sequencing reveals footprints of adaptive genetic variation in populations of Eruca sativa
Authors: Bajpai Prabodh Kumar , Harel Arye , Shafir Sharoni , Barazani Oz
Published: August 2022

Populations of Eruca sativa (Brassicaceae) derived from arid and Mediterranean habitats exhibit ecotypic differentiation. Here, pooled DNA sequencing was used to assess adaptive genome differentiation in the two ecotypes. Differentiated SNP loci were scanned with the empirical FST outlier method and by correlating allele frequencies with environmental parameters. Genetic diversity values were relatively higher in the pooled arid genome, whereas the pooled Mediterranean genome exhibited stronger directional selection, indicating the impact of climatic conditions on genetic diversity. GO enrichment analysis categorized the annotated differentiated loci according to biological processes, revealing a large set of candidate genes related to abiotic and biotic stress responses. Allelic variation was detected in regulatory elements and coding regions (synonymous and non-synonymous mutations) of genes belonging to different transcription factors and phytohormone signaling, suggesting adaptation to both abiotic and biotic conditions. Furthermore, SNP mutations were also found in genic regions belonging to the synthesis of secondary metabolites, including aliphatic glucosinolates and their hydrolyzed bioactive compounds, among others. The results of this eco-genomic study demonstrate the role of divergent abiotic and biotic selection factors in evolutionary processes leading to adaptive ecotypic differentiation.
Analysis of the spatiotemporal mechanism of high temperature on residents’ irritability in Beijing based on multiscale geographically weighted regression model
Authors: Huang Huanchun , Liu Xuan , Ren Lijian
Published: August 2022

The emotional health of urban residents is increasingly threatened by high temperatures due to global heating. However, how high temperature affects residents’ emotional health remains unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the spatiotemporal pattern of temperature’s impact on residents’ irritability using data from summer high-temperature measurement and emotional health survey in Beijing, combined with remote sensing images and statistical yearbooks. In detail, this study formulated a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model, to study the differentiated and spatial influence of high-temperature factors on emotion. Results show: From 09:00 to 20:00, irritability level rose first then gradually dropped, with a pattern of “aggregation-fragmentation-aggregation.” Irritability is very sensitive to intercept and building density (BD). Other variables all have spatial heterogeneity [except for fraction vegetation coverage (FVC) or road network density (RND) as they are global variables], including normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), water surface rate (WSR), floor area ratio (FAR), and Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) (sorted from the smallest to the largest in scale). Irritability is negatively correlated with NDVI, WSR, and RND, while positively correlated with intercept, MNDWI, FVC, FAR, and BD. Influence on irritability: WSR < NDVI < BD < MNDWI < RND < intercept < FVC < FAR.
Discourses on social innovation and abandoned land reutilization pathways. A case study on riverside landscapes in a mountain area of Spain
Authors: Sanz-Hernández Alexia , Jiménez-Caballero Paula , Bacallao-Pino Lázaro M. , Salvador Esteban Raquel , Martín-Santafé María
Published: August 2022

The article aims to analyze, based on a multiple case study, the discourses of the individuals that promote social innovation (SI) initiatives for the reuse of abandoned riverside landscapes, connecting SI theory with land reutilization and management through discourse analysis. Following a qualitative methodology, the text analyses the characteristics of the promoting actors, the discourses storylines and the main actors’ discourses, describing some relevant aspects regarding SI, such as why, where and when it takes place; how it has been developed; who has promoted it; its main results, as well as the barriers faced for its development and future opportunities for the territory. Two main discursive tendencies are identified: a negationist trend and a possibilistic one, adopted by individuals who are not promoting initiatives of SI and by promoters of these kinds of experiences, respectively. Possibilistic discourse underlines the coherent articulation between the economic-managerial dimension and the emotional-territorial one, and there is, in this case, a tendency to change in the visions of the territory, reconfiguring the social practices of the actors involved in these initiatives of SI. We conclude that discourses behind successful processes of SI are associated with certain positions on the interrelationships between individual- collective-institutionality-nature and that there is a complex articulation between discourses on SI and social practices developed by individuals as part of these initiatives, in such a reflexive way that discourses advance the desired changes, drawing and modifying the future vision of the subjects, and making the impossible possible.