bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel primary and backup relaying scheme considering internal and external faults in HVDC transmission lines
Authors: Swetapadma Aleena , Agarwal Shobha , Abdelaziz Almoataz Y. , Kotb Hossam , AboRas Kareem M. , Flah Aymen , Shouran Mokhtar
Published: September 2022

Discrimination of different DC faults near a converter end of a DC section consisting of a filter, a smoothing reactor, and a transmission line is not an easy task. The faults occurring in the AC section can be easily distinguished, but the internal and near-side external faults in the DC section are very similar, and the relay may cause false tripping. This work proposes a method to distinguish external and internal faults occurring in the DC section. The inputs are the voltage signals at the start of the transmission line and the end of the converter filter. The difference in voltage signals is calculated and given to an intelligent controller to detect and discriminate the faults. The intelligent controller is designed using machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques for fault detection. The long short-term memory (LSTM-) based relay gives better results than other ML methods. The proposed method can distinguish internal from external faults with 100% accuracy. Another advantage is that a primary relay is suggested that detects faults quickly within a fraction of milliseconds. Nevertheless, another advantage is that a backup relay has been designed in case the primary relay cannot operate. Results show that the LSTM-based protection scheme provides higher sensitivity and reliability under different operation modes than the conventional traveling wave-based relay.
Modeling of hydrogen production system for photovoltaic power generation and capacity optimization of energy storage system
Authors: Wei Daohong , Li Huawei , Ren Yan , Yao Xianhe , Wang Long , Jin Kunyong
Published: September 2022

Hydrogen production using solar energy is an important way to obtain hydrogen energy. However, the inherent intermittent and random characteristics of solar energy reduce the efficiency of hydrogen production. Therefore, it is necessary to add an energy storage system to the photovoltaic power hydrogen production system. This paper establishes a model of a photovoltaic power generation hydrogen system and optimizes the capacity configuration. Firstly, the mathematical model is modeled and analyzed, and the system is modeled using Matlab/Simulink; secondly, the principle of optimal configuration of energy storage capacity is analyzed to determine the optimization strategy, we propose the storage capacity configuration algorithm based on the low-pass filtering principle, and optimal time constant selection; finally, a case study is conducted, whose photovoltaic installed capacity of 30 MW, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, analyzing the relationship between energy storage capacity and smoothing effect. The results show that as the cut-off frequency decreases, the energy storage capacity increases and the smoothing effect is more obvious. The proposed algorithm can effectively reduce the 1 h maximum power variation of PV power generation. In which the maximum power variation of PV generation 1 h before smoothing is 4.31 MW. We set four different sets of time constants, the maximum power variation of PV generation 1 h after smoothing is reduced to 0.751, 0.389, 0.078, and 0.04 MW, respectively.
An improved deep learning algorithm in enabling load data classification for power system
Authors: Wang Ziyao , Li Huaqiang , Liu Yamei , Wu Shuning
Published: September 2022

Load behaviors significantly impact the planning, dispatching, and operation of the modern power systems. Load classification has been proved as one of the most effective ways of analyzing the load behaviors. However, due to the issues of data collection, transmission, and storage in current power systems, data missing problems frequently occur, which prevents the load classification tasks from precisely identifying the load classes. Simultaneously, because of the diversities of the load categories, different loads contribute various amounts of data, which causes the class imbalance issue. The traditional load data classification algorithms lack the ability to solve the aforementioned issues, which may deteriorate the load classification accuracy. Therefore, this study proposed an improved deep learning algorithm based on the load classification approach in terms of raising the classification performances with solving the data missing and class imbalance issues. First, the LATC (low-rank autoregressive tensor completion) algorithm is used to solve the data missing issue to improve the quality of the training dataset. A Borderline-SMOTE algorithm is further adopted to improve the class distribution in the training dataset to improve the training performances of biGRU (bidirectional gated recurrent unit). Afterward, to improve the classification accuracy in the classification task, the biGRU algorithm, combined with the attention mechanism, is used as the underlying infrastructure. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Causal relationship between nuclear energy, carbon-di-oxide emission and economic growth. Empirical evidence from China
Authors: Wu Jinchi , Fu Qinghua , Sial Muhammad Safdar , Pavel Codruta—Daniela , Samad Sarminah , Matac Liviu Marian
Published: September 2022

The present study aims to explore the role of nuclear energy production in aiding the sustainable economic growth of Chine by exploring the underlying causal relationship between reducing Carbon-di-oxide emissions and nuclear energy production. The study also aims to explore the relationship between economic growth and nuclear energy production in the Chinese context. Besides that, the present research also provides evidence in favor of nuclear energy in terms of controlling the overall emissions target of the Chinese government. The main aim of the present research is to investigate the effect of the use of nuclear energy on the Chinese Carbon-di-oxide emissions and its contribution to the growth of Chinese Gross Domestic Product by utilizing the data from 1992 to 2020. Using a modified Granger causality test, the present research identified one-way causation between the usage of nuclear energy and emissions of Carbon-di-oxide. Based on the research findings, it can be argued that by utilizing nuclear power, China can control the emissions of greenhouse gasses, to meet the global emission targets.
A game between green and non-green supply chains considering two-way government intervention and manufacturer competition
Authors: Shang Wenfang , Wang Bingyan , Xia Defeng
Published: September 2022

Enterprise competition has been transformed into chain-to-chain competition, and green development is imperative under the promotion of policies. Horizontal cooperation between green and non-green manufacturers provides a new direction for the supply chain to improve its core competitiveness. This paper develops competition and cooperation models between two manufacturers for the green and non-green supply chain under two-way government intervention to explore the impact of manufacturers’ horizontal cooperation on decisions and profits of supply chain members. In particular, for a situation without cooperation, we consider a Stackelberg game between two manufacturers. Model solutions and numerical analysis have shown that: 1) Cooperation among manufacturers can not only improve their own profits, but also strengthen environmental welfare. However, cooperation will damage consumer surplus. 2) When consumers are more sensitive to product prices, manufacturers’ cooperative behavior is not conducive to retailers, but with the improvement of consumer environmental awareness, retailers will gradually support their upstream cooperation. 3) Under the simultaneous implementation of government subsidy and punishment strategies, whether green consumption can be promoted is related to the adjustment factor of government subsidies, while the relationship between the green level floor for subsidy and product greenness is affected by the adjustment factor of subsidies and manufacturers’ cooperation. 4) The impacts of fierce price competition and green level competition on supply chain members are opposite; when the price competition is moderate or the green level competition is weak, the manufacturers’ cooperation is also beneficial to the improvement of retailers’ profits. This provides ideas for the development of green supply chain, and provides a reference for the implementation of two-way government intervention policy.
Acoustic emission feature events during rock failure and their cumulative probability distribution: Case study of phosphate rock and granite
Authors: Zhang Yi , Feng Guangliang , Lin Manqing , Li Xianfu , Gao Chengcheng , Liang Xiaoshuai
Published: September 2022

Rock mass failure is gradually becoming more common as the number of geotechnical engineering projects continues to increase. In this paper, the probability density distributions of initial and peak frequency events in the acoustic emission (AE) from two types of rock (phosphate rock and granite) undergoing failure are analyzed. Feature events (FEs) in this AE are proposed and obtained. The probabilities of events with an initial frequency of 1,000 kHz and peak frequency of 625 kHz are found to be higher than those with other frequencies. The evolutionary behavior of the cumulative probability distributions (CPDs) of the FEs as the rocks fail is subsequently investigated. The characteristic FEs of the AE and their CPD evolution behavior in the two rocks are then compared and contrasted. The CPD curves derived for both types of rock consist of four stages: slow rise—concave rise—rapid rise—slow rise. The differences related to the FEs for the two rocks are also found. The duration of the last stage (near rock failure) is quite different for phosphate rock and granite. The peak frequencies of the FEs are the highest and the smallest in the two rocks, respectively. Our method of analyzing the AE data and results provide a theoretical method for analyzing the stability of rock masses and predicting their failure.
Citizen Science as a Co-Creative Measure to Water Quality: Chemical Data and Local Participation in a Rural Territory
Authors: Yevenes Mariela A. , Pereira Helen , Bermudez Rafael
Published: September 2022

It is becoming increasingly clear that the threat to the use of natural landscapes and persistent droughts are affecting the water quality of rural communities. The socio-ecological fit emerges as an aid to advance in the search for solutions to environmental problems in rural communities. Consequently, between May 2016 and September 2021, an interdisciplinary study of community-based water quality monitoring (CWQM) was implemented at a coastal catchment in the Ñuble region, Central Chile. The objective of the study was to involve the participation of local communities in initiatives to control the water quality of various parameters [pH, total iron (FeT), alkalinity as CaCO3, hardness (Ca2+ and Mg2+), sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+), water temperature, sulfate (SO42−) chloride (Cl−), and nitrate (NO3-)] in groundwater, share local knowledge, and apply co-creative measures for improving water conservation. In situ chemical data were also analyzed in the laboratory to check data quality. The PHREEQC hydrogeochemical model is used to characterize hydrogeochemical parameters of groundwater and to know about hydrogeochemical processes related to water quality. High levels of NO3− and FeT are recorded in 75% of the groundwater samples, mainly when water scarcity is higher during the summer. According to Chilean standards, nitrate levels exceed the maximum permissible limits for drinking water. A type of mainly Ca (Mg)–HCO3− carbonated water was recorded with Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, and HCO3− as dominant ions. This study demonstrated the opportunity of a rural community group to help fill spatial data gaps in water quality monitoring and reassess water quality protection, especially considering the decrease in water availability in the region. Therefore, the community together with researchers can respond with an early alert system to water quality to collaborate with the implementation of rural drinking established on a community-based water quality monitoring. Moreover, to prioritize the level of urgency of rural water, minimize water pollution and improve the perception of the water and the resilience of their social–ecological system.
An ensemble learning approach to map the genetic connectivity of the parasitoid Stethynium empoasca (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) and identify the key influencing environmental and landscape factors
Authors: Sun Linyang , Li Jinyu , Chen Jie , Chen Wei , Yue Zhen , Shi Jingya , Huang Huoshui , You Minsheng , You Shijun
Published: September 2022

The effect of landscape patterns and environmental factors on the population structure and genetic diversity of organisms is well-documented. However, this effect is still unclear in the case of Mymaridae parasitoids. Despite recent advances in machine learning methods for landscape genetics, ensemble learning still needs further investigation. Here, we evaluated the performance of different boosting algorithms and analyzed the effects of landscape and environmental factors on the genetic variations in the tea green leafhopper parasitoid Stethynium empoasca (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). The S. empoasca populations showed a distinct pattern of isolation by distance. The minimum temperature of the coldest month, annual precipitation, the coverage of evergreen/deciduous needleleaf trees per 1 km2, and the minimum precipitation of the warmest quarter were identified as the dominant factors affecting the genetic divergence of S. empoasca populations. Notably, compared to previous machine learning studies, our model showed an unprecedented accuracy (r = 0.87) for the prediction of genetic differentiation. These findings not only demonstrated how the landscape shaped S. empoasca genetics but also provided an essential basis for developing conservation strategies for this biocontrol agent. In a broader sense, this study demonstrated the importance and efficiency of ensemble learning in landscape genetics.
Temporal change in abundance of potential nesting cavities for wood ducks (Aix sponsa) in Northern Minnesota, United States
Authors: Berdeen James B. , Nelson Mark D. , Zlonis Edmund J. , Giudice John H.
Published: September 2022

Wood duck females often nest in tree cavities located in large-diameter deciduous trees. Temporal changes in forest age and composition during recent decades may have influenced the abundance of stems with suitable nesting cavities in the forested portion of Northern MN, United States. Thus, we ascertained whether temporal changes in the abundance of such stems occurred in this area during six Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) evaluation cycles (i.e., 1977 to 2015–2019). We used FIA data and independently estimated proportions of stems with suitable cavities in different tree-species, health-status, and diameter classes to estimate change in the abundance of such stems at three spatial scales. These spatial scales increased in areal extent from a study area to three ecological subsections to the Laurentian Mixed Forest ecological province. We used a Bayesian analytical approach to accommodate changes in FIA protocols among cycles. Both the abundance of stems with suitable cavities and an attribute associated with cavity occurrence changed during the analysis period, but findings were not entirely consistent among spatial scales. The estimated abundance of both suitable stems overall and those of late-successional tree species generally increased at all scales during the analysis period. Since 1990, increases in the abundance of health-impacted stems that were suitable for nesting occurred at all spatial scales. Our estimated densities of suitable stems during the 2005–2009 (1.20 [85% CrI: 1.04–1.39] suitable stems / ha) and 2015–2019 cycles (1.41 [85% CrI: 1.21–1.63] suitable stems / ha) were substantially greater than the <0.25 and 0.25–0.49 suitable stems / ha another study predicted would occur in Northern Minnesota during 2008 and 2018, respectively. Our results can inform forest management decisions and research directions for follow-up studies of nesting wood ducks.
Reclassifying TNM stage I/II colorectal cancer into two subgroups with different overall survival, tumor microenvironment, and response to immune checkpoint blockade treatment
Authors: Liu Xiangxiang , Qin Jian , Nie Junjie , Sun Huiling , Pan Yuqin , Wang Shukui
Published: September 2022

Background: The traditional TNM staging system is often insufficient to differentiate the survival discrepancies of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at TNM stage I/II. Our study aimed to reclassify stage I/II CRC patients into several subgroups with different prognoses and explore their suitable therapeutic methods.

Methods: Single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing data, bulk RNA sequencing data, and clinicopathological information of CRC patients were enrolled from the TCGA and GEO databases. The tumor microenvironment of CRC tissues was accessed by the ESTIMATE algorithm. The prognostic genes were identified by Cox regression analysis. GO and KEGG analyses were conducted in the DAVID database. GSEA analysis was performed for annotation of the correlated gene sets.

Results: We successfully reclassified stage I/II CRC patients into two subgroups and discovered that patients in cluster-2 underwent worse overall survival than those in cluster-1. GSEA analysis showed that immune-associated gene sets were positively enriched in cluster-2. Besides, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between cluster-1 and cluster-2 patients also participated in immune-related biological processes and signaling pathways. Moreover, we found that more immune cells infiltrated the microenvironment of cluster-2 patients compared to that of cluster-1 patients, such as Tregs and tumor-associated macrophages. ScRNA sequencing analysis uncovered that most of the enriched immune-associated signaling in cluster-2 patients was mainly attributed to these upregulated immune cells whose infiltration levels were also high in CRC tissues rather than in normal tissues. In addition, we demonstrated that the expression of immune checkpoint genes was significantly higher in cluster-2 patients compared to cluster-1 patients. ScRNA sequencing analysis revealed that the infiltrated CD8+T cells in CRC were naïve T cells and can be activated into effector T cells after immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment.

Conclusion: TNM stage I/II CRC patients can be divided into two subgroups, which have different overall survival rates, tumor microenvironment, and response to ICB therapy.
Integrated identification of key immune related genes and patterns of immune infiltration in calcified aortic valvular disease: A network based meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Li-Da , Xiao Feng , Sun Jin-Yu , Li Feng , Chen Yu-Jia , Chen Jia-Yi , Zhang Jie , Qian Ling-Ling , Wang Ru-Xing
Published: September 2022

Background: As the most prevalent valvular heart disease, calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) has become a primary cause of aortic valve stenosis and insufficiency. We aim to illustrate the roles of immune related genes (IRGs) and immune cells infiltration in the occurrence of CAVD.

Methods: Integrative meta-analysis of expression data (INMEX) was adopted to incorporate multiple gene expression datasets of CAVD from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. By matching the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to IRGs from “ImmPort” database, differentially expressed immune related genes (DEIRGs) were screened out. We performed enrichment analysis and found that DEIRGs in CAVD were closely related to inflammatory response and immune cells infiltration. We also constructed protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of DEIRGs and identified 5 key DEIRGs in CAVD according to the mixed character calculation results. Moreover, CIBERSORT algorithm was used to explore the profile of infiltrating immune cells in CAVD. Based on Spearman’s rank correlation method, correlation analysis between key DEIRGs and infiltrating immune cells was performed.

Results: A total of 220 DEIRGs were identified and the enrichment analysis of DEIRGs showed that they were significantly enriched in inflammatory responses. PPI network was constructed and PTPN11, GRB2, SYK, PTPN6 and SHC1 were identified as key DEIRGs. Compared with normal aortic valve tissue samples, the proportion of neutrophils, T cells CD4 memory activated and macrophages M0 was elevated in calcified aortic valves tissue samples, as well as reduced infiltration of macrophages M2 and NK cells activated. Furthermore, key DEIRGs identified in the present study, including PTPN11, GRB2, PTPN6, SYK, and SHC1, were all significantly correlated with infiltration of various immune cells.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that PTPN11, GRB2, PTPN6, SYK, and SHC1 might be key DEIRGs associated with immune cells infiltration, which play a pivotal role in pathogenesis of CAVD.
Significance of immunogenic cell death-related genes in prognosis prediction and immune microenvironment landscape of patients with cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Fu Weijiang , Ma Guangxin
Published: September 2022

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is one of the most life-threatening tumors. Although targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved patient outcomes over the past decades, they still have their efficacy limitations. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) induces regulated cell death through immunogenic signal secretion and exposure. Accumulated evidence suggests that the ICD process is an effective target for the treatment of a variety of tumor types, including CM. However, the research on ICD in CM is far from complete, and its clinical value has not been widely concerned. By analyzing the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we constructed a new risk model based on 4 ICD-related genes and validated its ability to predict the prognosis of CM patients. In addition, we comprehensively analyzed the tumor microenvironment (TME) of CM patients and showed a significant immunosuppressive TME in the high-risk group compared with the low-risk group. By Immunophenoscore (IPS), we further explored the correlation between the model and immunotherapy response. The data of Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database were further extracted to analyze drug sensitivity and evaluate its correlation with the established risk model. In the end, differential expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) to preliminarily explore the possible signaling pathways related to the prognosis of ICD and CM. The results of this study provide new perspectives and insights for individualized and accurate treatment strategies for CM patients.
The role of extracellular traps in ischemia reperfusion injury
Authors: Zhang Feilong , Li Yuqing , Wu Jiyue , Zhang Jiandong , Cao Peng , Sun Zejia , Wang Wei
Published: September 2022

In response to strong signals, several types of immune cells release extracellular traps (ETs), which are web-like structures consisting of DNA decorated with various protein substances. This process is most commonly observed in neutrophils. Over the past two decades, ET formation has been recognized as a unique mechanism of host defense and pathogen destruction. However, the role of ETs in sterile inflammation has only been studied extensively in recent years. Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a type of sterile inflammatory injury. Several studies have reported that ETs have an important role in IRI in various organs. In this review, we describe the release of ETs by various types of immune cells and focus on the mechanism underlying the formation of neutrophil ETs (NETs). In addition, we summarize the role of ETs in IRI in different organs and their effects on tumors. Finally, we discuss the value of ETs as a potential therapeutic target for organ IRI and present possible challenges in conducting studies on IRI-related ETs as well as future research directions and prospects.
Update on mosquito bite reaction: Itch and hypersensitivity, pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment
Authors: Vander Does Ashley , Labib Angelina , Yosipovitch Gil
Published: September 2022

Mosquito bites are endured by most populations worldwide. Reactions to mosquito bites range from localized wheals and papules with associated pruritus to rare systemic reactions and anaphylaxis in certain populations. The mechanism of itch is due to introduction of mosquito saliva components into the cutaneous tissue, although the exact pathophysiology is unclear. Histamine is thought to be a key player through mosquito saliva itself or through activation of mast cells by IgE or through an IgE-independent pathway. However, other salivary proteins such as tryptase and leukotrienes may induce non-histaminergic itch. Some individuals have a genetic predisposition for mosquito bites, and people with hematologic cancers, HIV, and other conditions are susceptible to robust reactions. Prevention of mosquito bites is key with physical barriers or chemical repellents. Treatment consists of second-generation antihistamines and topical corticosteroids. Further research on topical treatments that target neural-mediated itch is needed.
5-Methylcytosine (m5C) modification in peripheral blood immune cells is a novel non-invasive biomarker for colorectal cancer diagnosis
Authors: Yin Haofan , Huang Zhijian , Niu Shiqiong , Ming Liang , Jiang Hongbo , Gu Liang , Huang Weibin , Xie Jinye , He Yulong , Zhang Changhua
Published: September 2022

Current non-invasive tumor biomarkers failed to accurately identify patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), delaying CRC diagnosis and thus leading to poor prognosis. Dysregulation of 5-Methylcytosine (m5C) RNA has gradually been reported in various cancers, but their role in tumor diagnosis is rarely mentioned. Our study aimed to determine the role of m5C methylation modification in blood immune cells for the diagnosis of CRC. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from a total of 83 healthy controls and 196 CRC patients. We observed that m5C RNA contents in blood immune cells of CRC patients were markedly enhanced in both training set and validation set. Moreover, levels of m5C increased with CRC progression and metastasis but reduced after treatment. Compared with common blood tumor biomarkers, m5C levels in peripheral blood immune cells had superior discrimination and reclassification performance in diagnosing CRC. Besides, bioinformatics and qRT-PCR analysis identified increased expression of m5C-modified regulators NSUN5 and YBX1 in CRC patients’ blood. A series of animal models and cell co-culture models further demonstrated that CRC tumor cells could increase immune cells’ m5C levels and m5C-modified regulators. Monocyte was the predominant m5C-modified immune cell type in CRC patients’ blood by Gene set variation analysis (GSVA). Taken together, m5C methylation modification in peripheral blood immune cells was a promising biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis of CRC.
How does climate change affect a fishable resource? The case of the royal sea cucumber (Parastichopus regalis) in the central Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Scannella Danilo , Bono Gioacchino , Di Lorenzo Manfredi , Di Maio Federico , Falsone Fabio , Gancitano Vita , Garofalo Germana , Geraci Michele Luca , Lauria Valentina , Mancuso Maria , Quattrocchi Federico , Sardo Giacomo , Titone Antonino , Vitale Sergio , Fiorentino Fabio , Massi Daniela
Published: September 2022

Holothurians or sea cucumbers are key organisms in marine ecosystems that, by ingesting large quantities of sediments, provide important ecosystem services. Among them, Parastichopus regalis (Cuvier, 1817) is one of the living sea cucumbers in the Mediterranean actively fished for human consumption mainly in Spain, where it is considered a gastronomic delicacy. In the Strait of Sicily (central Mediterranean Sea), this species is not exploited for commercial use even if it is used as bait by longline fishery. P. regalis is frequently caught by bottom trawling and discarded at sea by fishers after catch, and because of its capacity to resist air exposition (at least in cold months), it is reasonable to consider that it is not affected by fishing mortality. Having observed a significant decrease in abundance since 2018, the possible effects of some ecological factors related to current climate change (i.e., temperature and pH) were sought. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were applied to investigate the relationship among the abundance of P. regalis and environmental variables and fishing effort. Long time series of P. regalis densities (2008–2021) were extracted from the MEDITS bottom trawling survey and modeled as function of environmental parameters (i.e., salinity, dissolved oxygen, ammonium, pH, and chlorophyll α) and fishing effort (i.e., total number of fishing days per gross tonnage). Our results showed that this species prefers the soft bottoms (50–200 m) of the Adventure Bank and Malta Plateau, and its distribution changed over time with a slight deepening and a rarefaction of spatial distribution starting from 2011 and 2017, respectively. In addition, a positive relationship with pH concentration in surface waters during the larval dispersal phase (3-year lag before the survey) and nutrient concentration at sea bottom (1-year lag) has been found, suggesting that this species is sensitive to climate change and food availability. This study adds new knowledge about the population dynamics of an unexploited stock of P. regalis under fishing impact and environmental under climate change in fisheries management.
Antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds produced by Trichoderma koningiopsis T2 against Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Kong Wei-Liang , Ni Hang , Wang Wei-Yu , Wu Xiao-Qin
Published: September 2022

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by microorganisms are considered promising environmental-safety fumigants for controlling soil-borne diseases. Verticillium dahliae, a notorious fungal pathogen, causes economically important wilt diseases in agriculture and forestry industries. Here, we determined the antifungal activity of VOCs produced by Trichoderma koningiopsis T2. The VOCs from T. koningiopsis T2 were trapped by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and tentatively identified through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The microsclerotia formation, cell wall-degrading enzymes and melanin synthesis of V. dahliae exposed to the VOC mixtures and selected single standards were examined. The results showed that the VOCs produced by strain T2 significantly inhibited the growth of V. dahliae mycelium and reduced the severity of Verticillium wilt in tobacco and cotton. Six individual compounds were identified in the volatilome of T. koningiopsis T2, and the dominant compounds were 3-octanone, 3-methyl-1-butanol, butanoic acid ethyl ester and 2-hexyl-furan. The VOCs of strain T2 exert a significant inhibitory effect on microsclerotia formation and decreased the activities of pectin lyase and endo-β-1,4-glucanase in V. dahliae. VOCs also downregulated the VdT3HR, VdT4HR, and VdSCD genes related to melanin synthesis by 29. 41-, 10. 49-, and 3.11-fold, respectively. Therefore, T. koningiopsis T2 has potential as a promising biofumigant for the biocontrol of Verticillium wilt disease.
Effects of fungal seed endophyte FXZ2 on Dysphania ambrosioides Zn/Cd tolerance and accumulation
Authors: Sharma Vijay K. , Parmar Shobhika , Tang Wenting , Hu Haiyan , White James F. , Li Haiyan
Published: September 2022

Metal-induced oxidative stress in contaminated soils affects plant growth. In the present study, we evaluated the role of seed endophyte FXZ2 on Dysphania ambrosioides Zn/Cd tolerance and accumulation. A series of pot experiments were conducted under variable Zn (500, 1,000, and 1,500 mg kg–1) and Cd (5, 15, 30, and 60 mg kg–1). The results demonstrated that FXZ2-inoculation significantly enhanced the growth of D. ambrosioides and improved its chlorophyll and GSH content. In the rhizosphere, FXZ2 inoculation changed the chemical speciation of Zn/Cd and thus affected their uptake and accumulation in host plants. The exchangeable and carbonate-bound fractions (F1 + F2) of Zn decreased in the rhizosphere of FXZ2-inoculated plants (E+) as compared to non-inoculated plants (E-) under Zn stress (500 and 1,000 mg kg–1), correspondingly, Zn in the shoots of E+ decreased (p < 0.05). However, at Cd stress (30 and 60 mg kg–1), the F1 + F2 fractions of Cd in E+ rhizospheric soils increased; subsequently, Cd in the shoots of E+ increased (p < 0.05). FXZ2 could exogenously secrete phytohormones IAA, GA, and JA. The study suggests that seed endophyte FXZ2 can increase Zn/Cd tolerance of host plant by altering Zn/Cd speciation in rhizospheric soils, as well as exogenous production of phytohormones to promote growth, lowering oxidative damage while enhancing antioxidant properties. For Zn/Cd accumulation, it has opposite effects: Zn uptake in E+ plants was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased, while Cd accumulation in E+ plants was significantly (p < 0.05) increased. Thus, FXZ2 has excellent application prospects in Cd phytoextraction and decreasing Zn toxicity in agriculturally important crops.
Indole and p-cresol in feces of healthy subjects: Concentration, kinetics, and correlation with microbiome
Authors: Candeliere Francesco , Simone Marta , Leonardi Alan , Rossi Maddalena , Amaretti Alberto , Raimondi Stefano
Published: September 2022

Indole and p-cresol are precursors of the most important uremic toxins, generated from the fermentation of amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine by the proteolytic community of intestinal bacteria. The present study focused on the relationship between the microbiome composition, the fecal levels of indole and p-cresol, and their kinetics of generation/degradation in fecal cultures. The concentration of indole and p-cresol, the volatilome, the dry weight, and the amount of ammonium and carbohydrates were analyzed in the feces of 10 healthy adults. Indole and p-cresol widely differed among samples, laying in the range of 1.0–19.5 μg/g and 1.2–173.4 μg/g, respectively. Higher fecal levels of indole and p-cresol were associated with lower carbohydrates and higher ammonium levels, that are markers of a more pronounced intestinal proteolytic metabolism. Positive relationship was observed also with the dry/wet weight ratio, indicator of prolonged intestinal retention of feces. p-cresol and indole presented a statistically significant negative correlation with OTUs of uncultured Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, the former belonging to Bacteroides and the latter to the families Butyricicoccaceae (genus Butyricicoccus), Monoglobaceae (genus Monoglobus), Lachnospiraceae (genera Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Eubacterium ventriosum group). The kinetics of formation and/or degradation of indole and p-cresol was investigated in fecal slurries, supplemented with the precursor amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine in strict anaerobiosis. The presence of the precursors bursted indole production but had a lower effect on the rate of p-cresol formation. On the other hand, supplementation with indole reduced the net rate of formation. The taxa that positively correlated with fecal levels of uremic toxins presented a positive correlation also with p-cresol generation rate in biotransformation experiments. Moreover other bacterial groups were positively correlated with generation rate of p-cresol and indole, further expanding the range of taxa associated to production of p-cresol (Bacteroides, Alistipes, Eubacterium xylanophylum, and Barnesiella) and indole (e.g., Bacteroides, Ruminococcus torques, Balutia, Dialister, Butyricicoccus). The information herein presented contributes to disclose the relationships between microbiota composition and the production of uremic toxins, that could provide the basis for probiotic intervention on the gut microbiota, aimed to prevent the onset, hamper the progression, and alleviate the impact of nephropaties.
Association between serum transthyretin and intracranial atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: He Jinfeng , Zhu Jiamin , Zhang Wenyuan , Zhan Zhenxiang , Fu Fangwang , Bao Qiongqiong
Published: September 2022

Background

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a primary cause of ischemic stroke. In addition to dyslipidemia, inflammation has been recognized as a potential pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. It remains unknown whether there is a link between transthyretin and ICAS as an inflammatory index.

Methods

Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2019 and June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Blood samples were collected from all patients within 24 h of admission to detect their serum transthyretin levels. ICAS was defined as at least one intracranial artery stenosis on vascular examination with a degree of stenosis ≥50%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with ICAS. Restricted cubic spline models were used to depict patterns in the association between serum transthyretin levels and ICAS.

Results

In total, 637 patients with acute ischemic stroke were included in this study, of whom 267 (41.9%) had ICAS. Compared with the patients without ICAS, serum transthyretin levels in patients with ICAS were significantly lower (226.3 ± 56.5 vs. 251.0 ± 54.9 mg/L; p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, patients in the lowest tertile showed a significant increase in ICAS compared to those in the highest tertile (odds ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–3.05; p = 0.016). This negative linear association is also observed in the restricted cubic spline model. However, this association may only be observed in men. Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, hemoglobin A1c level, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level were independently associated with ICAS.

Conclusions

Decreased serum transthyretin levels are associated with a more severe ICAS burden in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Our findings suggest that transthyretin may play a role in the pathogenesis of ICAS and provide insight into the control of inflammation for the treatment of ICAS.
Novel hybrid visual stimuli incorporating periodic motions into conventional flickering or pattern-reversal visual stimuli for steady-state visual evoked potential-based brain-computer interfaces
Authors: Kwon Jinuk , Hwang Jihun , Nam Hyerin , Im Chang-Hwan
Published: September 2022

In this study, we proposed a new type of hybrid visual stimuli for steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which incorporate various periodic motions into conventional flickering stimuli (FS) or pattern reversal stimuli (PRS). Furthermore, we investigated optimal periodic motions for each FS and PRS to enhance the performance of SSVEP-based BCIs. Periodic motions were implemented by changing the size of the stimulus according to four different temporal functions denoted by none, square, triangular, and sine, yielding a total of eight hybrid visual stimuli. Additionally, we developed the extended version of filter bank canonical correlation analysis (FBCCA), which is a state-of-the-art training-free classification algorithm for SSVEP-based BCIs, to enhance the classification accuracy for PRS-based hybrid visual stimuli. Twenty healthy individuals participated in the SSVEP-based BCI experiment to discriminate four visual stimuli with different frequencies. An average classification accuracy and information transfer rate (ITR) were evaluated to compare the performances of SSVEP-based BCIs for different hybrid visual stimuli. Additionally, the user's visual fatigue for each of the hybrid visual stimuli was also evaluated. As the result, for FS, the highest performances were reported when the periodic motion of the sine waveform was incorporated for all window sizes except for 3 s. For PRS, the periodic motion of the square waveform showed the highest classification accuracies for all tested window sizes. A significant statistical difference in the performance between the two best stimuli was not observed. The averaged fatigue scores were reported to be 5.3 ± 2.05 and 4.05 ± 1.28 for FS with sine-wave periodic motion and PRS with square-wave periodic motion, respectively. Consequently, our results demonstrated that FS with sine-wave periodic motion and PRS with square-wave periodic motion could effectively improve the BCI performances compared to conventional FS and PRS. In addition, thanks to its low visual fatigue, PRS with square-wave periodic motion can be regarded as the most appropriate visual stimulus for the long-term use of SSVEP-based BCIs, particularly for window sizes equal to or larger than 2 s.
Radiomics-based infarct features on CT predict hemorrhagic transformation in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Xie Gang , Li Ting , Ren Yitao , Wang Danni , Tang Wuli , Li Junlin , Li Kang
Published: September 2022

Objective

To develop and validate a model based on the radiomics features of the infarct areas on non-contrast-enhanced CT to predict hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in acute ischemic stroke.

Materials and methods

A total of 118 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke in two centers from January 2019 to February 2022 were included. The radiomics features of infarcted areas on non-contrast-enhanced CT were extracted using 3D-Slicer. A univariate analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used to select features, and the radiomics score (Rad-score) was then constructed. The predictive model of HT was constructed by analyzing the Rad-score and clinical and imaging features in the training cohort, and it was verified in the validation cohort. The model was evaluated with the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve and decision curve, and the prediction performance of the model in different scenarios was further discussed hierarchically.

Results

Of the 118 patients, 52 developed HT, including 21 cases of hemorrhagic infarct (HI) and 31 cases of parenchymal hematoma (PH). The Rad-score was constructed from five radiomics features and was the only independent predictor for HT. The predictive model was constructed from the Rad-score. The area under the curve (AUCs) of the model for predicting HT in the training and validation cohorts were 0.845 and 0.750, respectively. Calibration curve and decision curve analyses showed that the model performed well. Further analysis found that the model predicted HT for different infarct sizes or treatment methods in the training and validation cohorts with 78.3 and 71.4% accuracy, respectively. For all samples, the model predicted an AUC of 0.754 for HT in patients within 4.5 h since stroke onset, and predicted an AUC of 0.648 for PH.

Conclusion

This model, which was based on CT radiomics features, could help to predict HT in the setting of acute ischemic stroke for any infarct size and provide guiding suggestions for clinical treatment and prognosis evaluation.
Population-based input function (PBIF) applied to dynamic whole-body 68Ga-DOTATOC-PET/CT acquisition
Authors: Thuillier Philippe , Bourhis David , Pavoine Mathieu , Metges Jean-Philippe , Le Pennec Romain , Schick Ulrike , Blanc-Béguin Frédérique , Hennebicq Simon , Salaun Pierre-Yves , Kerlan Véronique , Karakatsanis Nicolas A. , Abgral Ronan
Published: September 2022

Rational

To validate a population-based input function (PBIF) model that alleviates the need for scanning since injection time in dynamic whole-body (WBdyn) PET.

Methods

Thirty-seven patients with suspected/known well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors were included (GAPETNET trial NTC03576040). All WBdyn 68Ga-DOTATOC-PET/CT acquisitions were performed on a digital PET system (one heart-centered 6 min-step followed by nine WB-passes). The PBIF model was built from 20 image-derived input functions (IDIFs) obtained from a respective number of patients’ WBdyn exams using an automated left-ventricle segmentation tool. All IDIF peaks were aligned to the median time-to-peak, normalized to patient weight and administrated activity, and then fitted to an exponential model function. PBIF was then applied to 17 independent patient studies by scaling it to match the respective IDIF section at 20–55 min post-injection time windows corresponding to WB-passes 3–7. The ratio of area under the curves (AUCs) of IDIFs and PBIF3–7 were compared using a Bland–Altman analysis (mean bias ± SD). The Patlak-estimated mean Ki for physiological uptake (Ki-liver and Ki-spleen) and tumor lesions (Ki-tumor) using either IDIF or PBIF were also compared.

Results

The mean AUC ratio (PBIF/IDIF) was 0.98 ± 0.06. The mean Ki bias between PBIF3–7 and IDIF was −2.6 ± 6.2% (confidence interval, CI: −5.8; 0.6). For Ki-spleen and Ki-tumor, low relative bias with low SD were found [4.65 ± 7.59% (CI: 0.26; 9.03) and 3.70 ± 8.29% (CI: −1.09; 8.49) respectively]. For Ki-liver analysis, relative bias and SD were slightly higher [7.43 ± 13.13% (CI: −0.15; 15.01)].

Conclusion

Our study showed that the PBIF approach allows for reduction in WBdyn DOTATOC-PET/CT acquisition times with a minimum gain of 20 min.
Association between the empirical dietary inflammatory index and cardiorespiratory fitness in Tehranian adults in 2017–2018
Authors: Payandeh Nastaran , Shahinfar Hossein , Babaei Nadia , Davarzani Samira , Ebaditabar Mojdeh , Djafarian Kurosh , Shab-Bidar Sakineh
Published: September 2022

Background

Inflammatory-related chronic diseases are increasing in Iran with high consumption of a diet containing pro-inflammatory potential and a sedentary lifestyle. The empirical dietary inflammatory index (EDII) was developed as a tool to assess dietary effects on systemic inflammation. We examined the hypothesis that specific dietary patterns reflecting systemic inflammation are associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in Tehranian adults.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 270 adults who are residents of Tehran. Dietary intake was assessed using a 168-item valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. The EDII score was developed according to participant dietary intakes of 21-item pre-defined food groups. CRF was assessed by using a graded exercise treadmill test. Anthropometric measurements were assessed using standard methods. To discover the association between CRF and EDII, we used multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

Those who were in the third tertile of the EDII had 57% lower odds of having better VO2Max (ml/kg/min) than those in the first tertile (OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.16, 1.12, p = 0.01). There were no significant differences between tertiles of the EDII score in terms of VO2 (L·min) and VO2 (LBM) before and after adjusting for confounders. There was a significant decrease in VO2Max (ml/kg/min) across tertiles of the EDII after controlling for covariates (p-value = 0.04). There was a significant inverse association between the EDII score and VO2Max (ml/kg/min) (β = −0.35, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our finding demonstrated that a higher EDII might be associated with lower CRF in Tehranian adults. Prospective studies are needed to shed light on the causal link between the EDII and CRF.