bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer’s disease: Pathophysiology and dental pulp stem cells therapeutic prospects
Authors: Xiong Wei , Liu Ye , Zhou Heng , Jing Shuili , He Yan , Ye Qingsong
Published: September 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a destructive neurodegenerative disease with the progressive dysfunction, structural disorders and decreased numbers of neurons in the brain, which leads to long-term memory impairment and cognitive decline. There is a growing consensus that the development of AD has several molecular mechanisms similar to those of other neurodegenerative diseases, including excessive accumulation of misfolded proteins and neurotoxic substances produced by hyperactivated microglia. Nonetheless, there is currently a lack of effective drug candidates to delay or prevent the progression of the disease. Based on the excellent regenerative and reparative capabilities of stem cells, the application of them to repair or replace injured neurons carries enormous promise. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), originated from ectomesenchyme of the cranial neural crest, hold a remarkable potential for neuronal differentiation, and additionally express a variety of neurotrophic factors that contribute to a protective effect on injured neuronal cells. Notably, DPSCs can also express immunoregulatory factors to control neuroinflammation and potentiate the regeneration and recovery of injured neurons. These extraordinary features along with accessibility make DPSCs an attractive source of postnatal stem cells for the regeneration of neurons or protection of existing neural circuitry in the neurodegenerative diseases. The present reviews the latest research advance in the pathophysiology of AD and elaborate the neurodifferentiation and neuroprotective properties of DPSCs as well as their application prospects in AD.
A review of electrochemical oxidation technology for advanced treatment of medical wastewater
Authors: Zhang Chengyu , Yu Zhisheng , Wang Xiangyang
Published: September 2022

Antibiotics widely exist in medical wastewater, which seriously endanger human health. With the spread of the COVID-19 and monkeypox around the world, a large number of antibiotics have been abused and discharged. How to realize the green and efficient treatment of medical wastewater has become a hot research topic. As a common electrochemical water treatment technology, electrochemical oxidation technology (EOT) could effectively achieve advanced treatment of medical wastewater. Since entering the 21st century, electrochemical oxidation water treatment technology has received more and more attention due to its green, efficient, and easy-to-operate advantages. In this study, the research progress of EOT for the treatment of medical wastewater was reviewed, including the exploration of reaction mechanism, the preparation of functional electrode materials, combining multiple technologies, and the design of high-efficiency reactors. The conclusion and outlook of EOT for medical wastewater treatment were proposed. It is expected that the review could provide prospects and guidance for EOT to treat medical wastewater.
Anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene and triterpene acids from Mesona procumbens Hemsley
Authors: Huang Hung-Tse , Lo I-Wen , Liao Geng-You , Lin Yu-Chi , Shen Yuh-Chiang , Huang Hui-Chi , Li Tsung-Lin , Lee Kung-Ta , Kuo Yao-Haur , Liaw Chia-Ching
Published: September 2022

Mesonaprocumbens Hemsley is a plant conventionally processed to provide popular food materials and herbal medicines in Asia. In this study, six triterpene acids, including five new ones (mesonaic acids D-H, 1–5), and one proximadiol-type sesquiterpene (7) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the air-dried M. procumbens. Chemical structures of 1‒7 were established by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR techniques (1H–1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and HRESIMS. Concerning their biological activities, compounds 1, 2, 6, and 7 were examined manifesting high inhibition toward the pro-inflammatory NO production with EC50 values ranging from 12.88 to 21.21 µM, outrunning the positive control quercetin (24.12 µM). The mesoeudesmol B (7) identified from M. procumbens is the very first example, which exhibited high anti-inflammatory activity diminishing the level of the lipopolysaccharide-induced NO in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, thereby suppressing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 and the level of two critical downstream inflammatory mediators iNOS and COX-2.
Highlights in USP7 inhibitors for cancer treatment
Authors: Oliveira Rita I. , Guedes Romina A. , Salvador Jorge A. R.
Published: September 2022

Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a member of one of the most largely studied families of deubiquitylating enzymes. It plays a key role modulating the levels of multiple proteins, including tumor suppressors, transcription factors, epigenetic modulators, DNA repair proteins, and regulators of the immune response. The abnormal expression of USP7 is found in various malignant tumors and a high expression signature generally indicates poor tumor prognosis. This suggests USP7 as a promising prognostic and druggable target for cancer therapy. Nonetheless, no approved drugs targeting USP7 have already entered clinical trials. Therefore, the development of potent and selective USP7 inhibitors still requires intensive research and development efforts before the pre-clinical benefits translate into the clinic. This mini review systematically summarizes the role of USP7 as a drug target for cancer therapeutics, as well as the scaffolds, activities, and binding modes of some of the most representative small molecule USP7 inhibitors reported in the scientific literature. To wind up, development challenges and potential combination therapies using USP7 inhibitors for less tractable tumors are also disclosed.
Oxidative C−C bond cleavage of lignin via electrocatalysis
Authors: Huang Jinshu , Jian Yumei , Zhou Min , Wu Hongguo
Published: September 2022

Lignin, which is an important component of biomass in nature and is constantly produced in industry, becomes potential raw material for sustainable production of fine chemicals and biofuels. Electrocatalysis has been extensively involved in the activation of simple molecules and cleavage-recasting of complex scaffolds in an elegant environment. As such, electrocatalytic cleavage of C−C(O) in β-O-4 model molecules of lignin to value-added chemicals has received much attention in recent years. This mini-review introduces various anodes (e.g., Pb, Pt, Ni, Co., and Ir) developed for electro-oxidative lignin degradation (EOLD) under mild conditions. Attention was placed to understand the conversion pathways and involved reaction mechanisms during EOLD, with emphasis on the product distribution caused by different electrodes.
Effect of solution pH, precursor ratio, agitation and temperature on Ni-Mo and Ni-Mo-O electrodeposits from ammonium citrate baths
Authors: To Dung T. , Park Sun Hwa , Kim Min Joong , Cho Hyun-Seok , Myung Nosang V.
Published: September 2022

The induced co-electrodeposition of Ni and Mo is a complex process, where metallic Ni-Mo alloys and Ni-Mo-O composites can originate from the complete and partial reduction of Mo respectively. By adjusting electrolyte compositions and electrodeposition parameters, various metallic, metal/oxide composite, and oxide thin films of Ni-Mo and Ni-Mo-O were electrodeposited from ammonium citrate baths. Ni-ammonia complexes, which play a critical role in promoting the deposition of metallic Ni-Mo alloys, were enhanced at alkaline pH (i.e., 8–10) and lower temperature (i.e., 25–45°C). Moreover, the electrochemical reduction of Ni is under mass transfer limitation, so the deposited Mo content decreased with increasing agitation. On the other hand, higher Mo content can be achieved by relatively higher citrate concentration and larger Mo-to-Ni precursor molar ratio. However, a critical molar ratio of metal precursor resulted in transition from alloy to composite due to Ni inducing the reduction of Mo.
Recent advances in the design of single-atom electrocatalysts by defect engineering
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Zhikai , Jiang Xiaoli , Jiang Jinxia , Zhang Yagang
Published: September 2022

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with isolated metal atoms dispersed on supports have attracted increasing attention due to their maximum atomic utilization and excellent catalytic performance in various electrochemical reactions. However, SACs with a high surface-to-volume ratio are fundamentally less stable and easily agglomerate, which weakens their activity. In addition, another issue that restricts the application of SACs is the low metal loading. Defect engineering is the most effective strategy for the precise synthesis of nanomaterials to catch and immobilize single atoms through the modulation of the electronic structure and coordination environment. Herein, in this mini-review, the latest advances in designing SACs by defect engineering have been first highlighted. Then, the heteroatom doping or intrinsic defects of carbon-based support and anion vacancies or cation vacancies of metal-based supports are systematically evaluated. Subsequently, the structure–activity relationships between a single-atom coupled defect structure and electrocatalytic performance are illustrated by combining experimental results and theoretical calculations. Finally, a perspective to reveal the current challenges and opportunities for controllable preparation, in situ characterization, and commercial applications is further proposed.
The longitudinal influence of hedonic and eudaimonic entertainment preferences on psychological resilience and wellbeing
Authors: Reinecke Leonard , Kreling Rebekka Johanna
Published: September 2022

Narratives and media entertainment are central sources of meaningful experiences in everyday life and provide role models and learning opportunities for coping with adversity and life challenges. Though a growing body of research demonstrates beneficial short-term effects of entertainment use on recovery and stress coping, a test of longitudinal effects on positive adaptation to adversity is largely missing. The present study aims at providing a salutogenic perspective on the mental health effects of entertainment use by addressing the longitudinal relationship between hedonic and eudaimonic entertainment preferences (i.e., the individual entertainment diet) and three indicators of psychological resilience: hope, meaning in life, and trait resilience. Pre-registered hypotheses and research questions were tested based on data from a longitudinal panel study with two waves over a 6-month time period andN= 2,561 participants from Germany. The findings demonstrate that only meaning in life at T2 was significantly albeit weakly predicted by eudaimonic entertainment preferences at T1, providing limited support for prospective effects of entertainment use on resilience. In contrast, the data demonstrate selective exposure effects of hope and trait resilience at T1 on eudaimonic and hedonic entertainment preferences at T2. All three resilience indicators were significant predictors of mental health and psychological wellbeing. We discuss implications of our findings for future research on salutary mental health effects of narratives and media entertainment.
Future tense—Reorienting higher education toward an unknown future
Authors: Cruz Laura , Morkel Jolanda , Gachago Daniela
Published: September 2022

In view of the recent pandemic and growing wicked problems associated with an uncertain, complex and unknown future, this paper explores academics' conceptualizations of the future. Inspired by Kuhn, we chose the academic conference as a public sphere where members of small networks of trusted peers and other such micro-communities gather, creating and recreating the past, present, and future through conversation and collaboration as the site of this paper. We thematically analyzed 83 calls from 39 conferences covering four English speaking regions: North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia/International and five different conference foci, including Teaching and Learning, SOTL, academic staff/faculty development, educational technology and Future Conferences, from 2019 to 2022. Applying thematic analysis, two main themes emerged in relation to the future: responsiveness and temporality. Responsiveness is reflective of the currently dominant neo-liberal paradigm, which seeks to foster incremental adaptations to changing conditions whereas temporality is indicative of more fundamental shifts in thinking. The findings reflect not just what the future may hold, but potentially deeper changes in the relationship between universities and their past, present, and future.
How continuing mortality affects recovery potential for prohibited sharks: The case of white sharks in South Africa
Authors: Bowlby Heather D. , Hammerschlag Neil , Irion Dylan T. , Gennari Enrico
Published: September 2022

It can be difficult to determine whether a prohibition to exploitation ensures effective conservation or recovery for species that remain exposed to fishing effort and other sources of mortality throughout their range. Here we used simulation modeling of four life history scenarios (different productivity and population size) to contextualize potential population response to multiple levels of mortality, using white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in South Africa as a case study. The species has been protected since 1991, yet substantial uncertainty about population dynamics persists and recent declines at two aggregation sites have renewed conservation concern. All scenarios indicated that annual removals in the 10s of individuals would substantially limit the potential for and magnitude of any abundance increase following prohibition. Because average known removals from the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board’s Bather Protection Program have typically remained higher than these thresholds, they likely eliminated much of the conservation benefit derived from prohibition. The only life history scenario to achieve appreciable increase when simulated removals were similar to published averages assumed maturation occurred at a much younger age than currently understood. Our results demonstrate why general application of life history-based simulations can provide a useful mechanism to evaluate the biological plausibility of life history information and abundance trends, and to explore the scope for population response to recovery actions. For South Africa, our results suggest that even known levels of white shark removals, which likely underestimate total removals within their range, may be sufficient to drive abundance decline and new mitigation measures may be required to ensure population recovery.
Case report: Personalized computational model guided ablation for left atrial flutter
Authors: Lange Matthias , Kwan Eugene , Dosdall Derek J. , MacLeod Rob S. , Bunch T. Jared , Ranjan Ravi
Published: September 2022

Atypical atrial flutter is seen post-ablation in patients, and it can be challenging to map. These flutters are typically set up around areas of scar in the left atrium. MRI can reliably identify left atrial scar. We propose a personalized computational model using patient specific scar information, to generate a monodomain model. In the model conductivities are adjusted for different tissue regions and flutter was induced with a premature pacing protocol. The model was tested prospectively in patients undergoing atypical flutter ablation. The simulation-predicted flutters were visualized and presented to clinicians. Validation of the computational model was motivated by recording from electroanatomical mapping. These personalized models successfully predicted clinically observed atypical flutter circuits and at times even better than invasive maps leading to flutter termination at isthmus sites predicted by the model.
Diagnostic value of dual-energy CT and clinicopathological and imaging feature analysis of mixed endometrial stromal and smooth muscle tumors with intracardiac extension
Authors: Liu Yi-yang , Yu Zhan , Wang Rui , Chen Kui-sheng , Yue Song-wei , Li Jun , Gao Xue-mei , Ding Chang-mao , Wu Zi-xin , Zhao Xi , Gao Jian-bo
Published: September 2022

Objective

To describe the clinicopathological and imaging features of mixed endometrial stromal and smooth muscle tumors with intracardiac extension and to explore the diagnostic value of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) for this rare entity.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study analyzed the clinicopathological data and images of a 41-year-old female patient with pathologically documented mixed endometrial stromal and smooth muscle tumors with intracardiac extension who had undergone DECT examination. Seven virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) in 10-kiloelectron volt (keV) intervals (range = 40–100 keV), iodine density (ID) maps, and Z effective (Zeff) maps were reconstructed, and lesion conspicuity was assessed. Tumor homology was analyzed using quantitative DECT parameters and energy spectrum attenuation curve.

Results

The patient complained of a 10-day history of bilateral lower extremity edema. Computed tomography showed a hypoattenuating filling defect located within the paracervical vein that extended into the right atrium to the ventricle through the right iliac veins and inferior vena cava (IVC). Intracardiac and intravenous lesions mainly demonstrated moderate progressive enhancement, with localized non-enhancing necrotic areas on contrast-enhanced CT. Multiple nodules showing progressive enhancement (long-T1 signal, long-T2 signal) were observed at the fundus of the uterus on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which were deemed the primary lesions of the tumor. Overall, the tumor was characterized by a small primary lesion with extensive vascular extension. In addition, the 40 keV VMIs reconstructions were found to provide best visualization for the early detection of tumors.

Conclusion

Although a definitive diagnosis of MESSMT with intracardiac extension requires confirmation by histopathological examination, imaging examination can be used to characterize the extent of the lesion. The dual-energy dataset facilitates tumor visualization and homology evaluation.
IntraCoronary Artery Retrograde Thrombolysis vs. Thrombus Aspiration in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Shen Mingzhi , Wang Jihang , Li Dongyun , Zhou Xinger , Guo Yuting , Zhang Wei , Guo Yi , Wang Jian , Liu Jie , Zhao Guang , Zhao Shihao , Tian Jinwen
Published: September 2022

Background

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a major risk factor for myocardial infarction. Thrombus aspiration was considered a good way to deal with coronary thrombus in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. However, recent studies have found that routine thrombus aspiration is not beneficial. This study is designed to investigate whether intracoronary artery retrograde thrombolysis (ICART) is more effective than thrombus aspiration or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in improving myocardial perfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods/Design

IntraCoronary Artery Retrograde Thrombolysis (ICART) vs. thrombus aspiration or PTCA in STEMI trial is a single-center, prospective, randomized open-label trial with blinded evaluation of endpoints. A total of 286 patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI are randomly assigned to two groups: ICART and thrombus aspiration or PTCA. The primary endpoint is the incidence of >70% ST-segment elevation resolution. Secondary outcomes include distal embolization, myocardial blush grade, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade, and in-hospital bleeding.

Discussion

The ICART trial is the first randomized clinical trial (RCT) to date to verify the effect of ICART vs. thrombus aspiration or PTCA on myocardial perfusion in patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI.

Clinical Trial Registration

[https://www.chictr.org.cn/], identifier [ChiCTR1900023849].
The rationale for the treatment of long-Covid symptoms – A cardiologist's view
Authors: Schieffer Elisabeth , Schieffer Bernhard
Published: September 2022

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic left us with thousands of patients suffering from neurological, cardiovascular, and psychiatric disorders named post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 or just long-Covid. In parallel, the vaccination campaigns against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein saved millions of lives worldwide but long-Covid symptoms also appeared rarely following vaccination with a strong overlap to the “canonical” long-Covid symptoms. A therapeutic strategy targeting both, post-VAC and post-SARS-CoV-2 long-Covid symptoms is warranted since exposure to the S-protein either by vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger identical immuno-inflammatory cascades resulting in long-Covid symptoms.
Bar load-displacement curve model based on statistical damage mechanics
Authors: Yang Zhao , Chen Song , Sun Jinglai , Zheng Yibo , Li Liufang , Yuan Ying
Published: September 2022

The load displacement curve model of bolt is of great significance to estimate the ultimate uplift bearing capacity of bolt and analyze the force transmission of bolt. Therefore, it is particularly necessary to establish a high-precision load displacement curve model of bolt. In this paper, the statistical damage theory is introduced to establish a new stiffness degradation model of bolt load displacement curve, and a model which is more consistent with the test data and has higher accuracy in predicting the ultimate uplift capacity is proposed. The influence of model parameters on the model curve is analyzed. It can be concluded that the key to the load displacement curve of the anchor and the prediction of the uplift bearing capacity of the anchor is to determine the statistical random distribution characteristics of the micro element strength of the anchor interface.
Emergency remote instruction in 2020: Differential impacts on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students’ confidence and belonging, by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status
Authors: Brown Nathanial , Zipf Sarah , Pagoto Sherry , Waring Molly E. , Hatfield Neil , Palmer Lindsay , Lewis Katherine A. , Workman Deja
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic forced higher education into emergency remote instruction in 2020. Impacts of this modality shift on undergraduates of different identities are important to document, for both current students who need support now and future students who may face other crises. A large survey in the United States asked students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to report the impact of emergency remote instruction on their confidence to succeed and sense of belonging in STEM. Using those data, we find that the impact varies by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). For instance, 63.3% of lower SES women identifying as underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities (URM) reported a decrease in their confidence to succeed, compared to 38.9% of non-URM, higher SES men who reported a decrease. On the other hand, 35.3% of URM, lower SES men reported that emergency remote instruction increased their sense of belonging, compared to 15.9% of non-URM, higher SES women. The large percentage reporting increased belonging was unexpected and adds to calls for more research into the experiences of URM men. Our results suggest researchers, instructors, and administrators working to mitigate shocks to higher education must consider multiple identities and take an intersectional view, because impacts of these crises are not neutral with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, and SES.
Case report: A particularly rare case of endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia complicated with pregnancy treated with short-acting somatostatin analog injections
Authors: Barsi Ádám , Beke Artúr , Sármán Beatrix
Published: September 2022

Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is a rare disease, and only two cases complicated with pregnancy were published previously when our patient became pregnant. We introduce a successful management of a pregnancy in a patient with endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, a condition also known as non-insulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia syndrome or formerly as nesidioblastosis. A 29-year-old female patient was treated with endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia since the age of 4 months, taking daily 3 × 75 mg diazoxide, which adds up to 225 mg per day. Adequate glycemic control could be achieved with this therapy. Genetic testing and various imaging examinations were carried out earlier to specify the disease and to exclude focal forms. The patient came to the clinic with a positive pregnancy test and consequential hypoglycemic episodes. Hospital admission was needed to correct the metabolic condition. Although the patient was informed about the potential risks, she decided to carry out the pregnancy. According to the quite limited literature, somatostatin analogs are the only therapy used previously during pregnancy in hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic patients. One publication reported normal pregnancy outcomes, but in another case, restricted fetal growth was observed. In our case, we stopped diazoxide and parallelly introduced short-acting somatostatin analog octreotide in the therapy, and further dietetic changes were proposed. In addition to daily regular self-blood glucose monitoring, regular gynecological controls were carried out monthly, and healthy fetal development was confirmed. The patient gave birth to her first child, a well-developed female neonate, in the 38th week, by a cesarean section.
Response of tear cytokines following intense pulsed light combined with meibomian gland expression for treating meibomian gland dysfunction-related dry eye
Authors: Yu Haozhe , Zeng Weizhen , Zhao Gezheng , Hong Jing , Feng Yun
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study compared the changes in tear inflammatory cytokine levels after intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with meibomian gland expression (MGX) (IPL group) and instant warm compresses combined with MGX (physiotherapy group) as treatments for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-related dry eye disease (DED) to explore their similarities and differences in therapeutic mechanisms.

Methods

This study was a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Thirteen patients with MGD-related DED were enrolled in each group and received three treatments correspondingly with 3-week intervals. The levels of 20 tear cytokines, namely, TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-9, CXCL8/IL-8, CXCL10/IP-10, IL-10, EGF, IL-6R, IL-1β, IFN-γ, lactoferrin, Fas ligand, IL-17A, LT-α, S100A9, LCN2/NGAL, IL-13, IL-12/IL-23p40, Fas, and CCL11/Eotaxin, were measured at baseline, before the second and third treatments, and 3 weeks after the third treatment. The primary outcome was the difference in cytokine levels between baseline and the last measurement, and the trends were analyzed at each measurement point.

Results

At the last measurement, a significant decrease was observed in all tear cytokines for both IPL and physiotherapy groups compared with baseline. The IPL group showed greater reductions in IL-6, IL-6R, IL-1β, IL-13, and CCL11/Eotaxin than the physiotherapy group. TNF-α, CXCL8/IL-8, CXCL10/IP-10, IL-10, EGF, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and Lipocalin-2/NGAL levels continued to decrease with treatment time. Important interactions were found in the changes of IL-6 and IL-13 levels, where the levels first decreased and then slightly increased in the physiotherapy group after treatment, while they continued to decrease in the IPL group.

Conclusions

The mechanisms of IPL and physiotherapy in treating MGD-related DED were both associated with reducing inflammation, and the superiority of IPL could be attributed to its better inhibitory effect on inflammatory cytokines like IL-6. In addition, several cytokines were on a downward trend during treatment, suggesting that the vicious cycle of DED was suppressed.
A reinforcement learning-based demand response strategy designed from the Aggregator’s perspective
Authors: Oh Seongmun , Jung Jaesung , Onen Ahmet , Lee Chul-Ho
Published: September 2022

The demand response (DR) program is a promising way to increase the ability to balance both supply and demand, optimizing the economic efficiency of the overall system. This study focuses on the DR participation strategy in terms of aggregators who offer appropriate DR programs to customers with flexible loads. DR aggregators engage in the electricity market according to customer behavior and must make decisions that increase the profits of both DR aggregators and customers. Customers use the DR program model, which sends its demand reduction capabilities to a DR aggregator that bids aggregate demand reduction to the electricity market. DR aggregators not only determine the optimal rate of incentives to present to the customers but can also serve customers and formulate an optimal energy storage system (ESS) operation to reduce their demands. This study formalized the problem as a Markov decision process (MDP) and used the reinforcement learning (RL) framework. In the RL framework, the DR aggregator and each customer are allocated to each agent, and the agents interact with the environment and are trained to make an optimal decision. The proposed method was validated using actual industrial and commercial customer demand profiles and market price profiles in South Korea. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed method could optimize decisions from the perspective of the DR aggregator.
Investigation on vibration response characteristics and influencing factors of the fuel rods of EPR
Authors: Jiang Naibin , Min Guangyun , Fang Zhengyan , Qi Huanhuan
Published: September 2022

First, the theory of wet modal analysis and vibration response analysis are introduced, and the semi-empirical vibration equation is derived in this article. Then, the structural models of the fuel rod of M310 and EPR are introduced, and the fuel rod is simplified to a multi-span continuous simply supported beam model subject to multi-point constraints. The fuel rod is simplified as a simply supported beam, and the springs and dimples are equivalent to elastic constraints. In addition, based on ANSYS-APDL, the wet modal analysis and response analysis of fuel rods are carried out. The modal information and transverse vibration response of the fuel rod of M310 and EPR are compared. In addition, combined with the actual operating conditions of EPR, the effects of different transverse and axial flow velocities on the transverse vibration response are discussed. Finally, different failure conditions are designed to explore the impact of clamping failure on the vibration characteristics of the fuel rod of EPR. The results have shown that compared with the fuel rod of M310, the fuel rod of EPR has a lower natural frequency and larger amplitude; the transverse flow velocity has a greater impact on the transverse vibration response; grid failure would reduce the natural frequency of fuel rods, and different positions of failure have different effects on the different-order natural frequencies of fuel rods.
An online decision-making method based on multi-agent interaction for coordinated load restoration
Authors: Fan Rui , Sun Runjia , Liu Yutian , Hassan Rizwan ul
Published: September 2022

Load restoration coordinating transmission grid, distribution grid, and microgrids is an effective measure that is taken into consideration while improving the power system resilience in extreme weather conditions. An online decision-making method is proposed to deal with the unexpected nature of power supply issues regarding the re-energization of microgrids and transmission grids. In this research work, an online multi-agent interaction technique is used for coordinated load restoration. The main algorithm comprises of two subsections, namely, a resilience index and a multi-agent-based decision-making system which are used to administer the coordination among the transmission grid, distribution grid, and microgrids. A distributionally robust optimization model is used to evaluate the power supply capability of microgrids on the basis of load restoration parameters. Finally, a step-by-step decision-making method, based on a deep Q-network, is proposed for distribution network reconfiguration considering the uncertainty of power supply capabilities of transmission grid and microgrids. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed method can perform the online decision-making of substation load restoration, which significantly improves the load restoration efficiency.
How green credit policy shapes financial performance: Evidence from Chinese listed construction energy-saving enterprise
Authors: Li Xiaoqiu , Lu Yiling
Published: September 2022

This study uses the introduction of the Green Credit Guidelines in 2012 as a quasi-natural experiment. We selected Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2004 to 2020 as the sample and applied PSM-DID to examine the impact of green credit policy on the performance of construction energy-saving enterprises. The study revealed that: 1) green credit policy has a significant contribution to the performance of construction energy-saving enterprises. In addition, it still holds after the robustness tests (replacing the PSM matching method and adding or subtracting the two methods of control variables) and the placebo test. 2) A positive correlation between the performance of construction energy-saving enterprises and short-term debt. Meanwhile, short-term debt is a mediating variable between green credit policy and the performance of construction energy-saving enterprises. 3) The impact of green credit policy on the performance of non-state-owned (non-SOEs) is more pronounced compared to state-owned (SOEs). This study reveals the micro effects of green credit policy from the perspective of the performance of construction energy-saving enterprises. It not only helps to understand the economic effects of green credit policy, but also provides corresponding insights for the subsequent promotion of green credit policy and construction energy-saving enterprise development systems.
Performance of ozonation on bisphenol a degradation: Efficiency, mechanism and toxicity control
Authors: Han Qi , Dong Wenyi , Wang Hongjie , Yu Boping , Dong Zijun , Li Mu , Xie Linshen , Dai Zhiguang
Published: September 2022

In this study, the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) by ozonation was studied systematically by investigating the effects of different factors, including ozone dosages (0.25–1.50 mg/L), temperatures (10–50°C), initial solution pH (3.0–11.0) and interfering ions. The reaction kinetics were analyzed at the same time. In addition, the generation of intermediates was analyzed and the possible mechanism was proposed by combining with the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. At last, the variation and controlling effect of toxicity was also evaluated. The results showed that ozonation had a stronger degrading ability of BPA (1.0 mg/L). A complete removal efficiency was obtained within 10 min when dosing only 1.0 mg/L ozone. The BPA degradation reactions were well fitted with pseudo-second-order kinetics and could well adapt with the wide range of pH (3.0–9.0), during which over 91% removal of BPA was achieved. The indirect pathway by •OH oxidation was proved mainly responsible for BPA degradation by the scavenging and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments. HCO3−, NH4+ and humic acid showed a certain inhibiting effect. Fe3+ and Cu2+ played a catalytic role on BPA degradation. The DFT calculation has identified that the active regions of BPA was focused at C6, C4, C5 and C1 in terms of radical and electrophilic attack. Thus, combining the results of DFT with GC/MS-MS detection, two degradation pathways of BPA were proposed. Toxicity evaluation showed that, due to the generation and accumulation of more toxic intermediates, values of T% had a sharp increase at initial stage. However, with ozone dosage increasing to 1.50 mg/L, the toxicity could be effectively controlled much lower (5%) than BPA itself (49%).
Carbon emissions trading policy and green transformation of China’s manufacturing industry: Mechanism assessment and policy implications
Authors: Zhou Zheng , Ma Zichu , Lin Xinwen
Published: September 2022

Accelerating the green transformation of manufacturing industry is the way to the sustainable development of China’s economy and an inevitable requirement for realizing the great vision of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This paper employs the global Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index based on the SBM-DEA method to calculate the green total factor productivity covering manufacturing industry of 30 Chinese provinces between 2006 and 2019. A difference-in-difference model is constructed to empirically study the direct impact and mechanism assessment of carbon emission trading policy on the green total factor productivity. The results show that the green total factor productivity of China’s manufacturing industry generally showed a dynamic trend of rising during this period. Critically, the implementation of the carbon emissions trading policy has a significant effect on promoting the green total factor productivity of China’s manufacturing industry. Interestingly, this promoting effect will be enhanced by higher technical levels, a cleaner energy structure, and a greener industrial structure. Additionally, our evidence also shows that the positive impact of carbon emission trading policies on green total factor productivity will be improved by higher carbon emission trading prices and a more active carbon emission trading market, thereby accelerating the green transformation process of manufacturing industry. Therefore, taking carbon emissions trading policy as a long-term strategy and improving its effectiveness is crucial to ensuring the green and sustainable development of China’s manufacturing industry.
Research on energy policies of Jiangxi province under the dual-carbon constraints
Authors: Xinfa Tang , Xue Luo
Published: September 2022

As a region with a good ecological foundation and a strong carrying capacity of resources and environment, Jiangxi Province of China was included in the first batch of unified and standardized national ecological civilization experimental zones as early as 2016. How to realize carbon neutrality and carbon peak was the long-term key task of Jiangxi Province and the energy policy was the main effective means for Jiangxi Province to achieve high-quality economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Therefore, based on Bayesian Nash equilibrium theory, a carbon game analysis between enterprises and government under double carbon constraints was established. Besides, by relying on the current situation of energy consumption and carbon emission in Jiangxi Province of China, the goal path of achieving carbon neutrality and carbon peak in Jiangxi Province was tested. According to the research, with lack of natural resources and energetic development of low-carbon economy, enterprises and governments should make transpositional consideration to balance interests and realize common development amid cooperation, thus achieving the harmonious development of society. It is necessary to deepen the understanding of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality, analyze how Jiangxi Province solves the challenges and realization pathways under the goal of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality and discuss policy demands, which are of vital significance for the realization of low-carbon transformation and upgrading of China’s economy and society.
Quantifying population and clone-specific non-linear reaction norms to food gradients in Daphnia magna
Authors: Plaistow Stewart J. , Brunner Franziska S. , O’Connor Michael
Published: September 2022

Phenotypic plasticity is normally quantified as a reaction norm which details how trait expression changes across an environmental gradient. Sometime reaction norms are linear, but often reaction norms are assumed to be linear because plasticity is typically quantified as the difference in trait expression measured in two environments. This simplification limits how plastic responses vary between genotypes and may also bias the predictions of models investigating how plasticity influences a population’s ability to adapt to a changing environment. Consequently, there is a pressing need to characterize the real shape of reaction norms and their genetic variability across ecologically relevant environmental gradients. To address this knowledge gap we measured the multi-trait plastic response of 7 Daphnia magna clones from the same population across a broad resource gradient. We used a Random Regression Mixed Model approach to characterize and quantify average and clone-specific responses to resource variation. Our results demonstrate that non-linear models outperformed a linear model for all 4 of the life-history traits we measured. The plastic reaction norms of all 4 traits were similar in shape and were often best described by a non-linear asymptotic model. Clonal variation in non-linear plastic responses was detectable for 3 out of the 4 traits that we measured although the nature and magnitude of variation across the resource gradient was trait-specific. We interpret our findings with respect to the impact that plasticity has on the evolutionary potential of a population in different resource environments.
Prioritizing potential circRNA biomarkers for bladder cancer and bladder urothelial cancer based on an ensemble model
Authors: Su Qiongli , Tan Qiuhong , Liu Xin , Wu Ling
Published: September 2022

Bladder cancer is the most common cancer of the urinary system. Bladder urothelial cancer accounts for 90% of bladder cancer. These two cancers have high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The identification of biomarkers for bladder cancer and bladder urothelial cancer helps in their diagnosis and treatment. circRNAs are considered oncogenes or tumor suppressors in cancers, and they play important roles in the occurrence and development of cancers. In this manuscript, we developed an Ensemble model, CDA-EnRWLRLS, to predict circRNA-Disease Associations (CDA) combining Random Walk with restart and Laplacian Regularized Least Squares, and further screen potential biomarkers for bladder cancer and bladder urothelial cancer. First, we compute disease similarity by combining the semantic similarity and association profile similarity of diseases and circRNA similarity by combining the functional similarity and association profile similarity of circRNAs. Second, we score each circRNA-disease pair by random walk with restart and Laplacian regularized least squares, respectively. Third, circRNA-disease association scores from these models are integrated to obtain the final CDAs by the soft voting approach. Finally, we use CDA-EnRWLRLS to screen potential circRNA biomarkers for bladder cancer and bladder urothelial cancer. CDA-EnRWLRLS is compared to three classical CDA prediction methods (CD-LNLP, DWNN-RLS, and KATZHCDA) and two individual models (CDA-RWR and CDA-LRLS), and obtains better AUC of 0.8654. We predict that circHIPK3 has the highest association with bladder cancer and may be its potential biomarker. In addition, circSMARCA5 has the highest association with bladder urothelial cancer and may be its possible biomarker.
First report of paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 8 with SLC52A2 mutation in Brown-vialetto-van laere syndrome type 2 and an analysis of genotype-phenotype correlations
Authors: Zhao Siyu , Che Fengyu , Yang Le , Zheng Yanyan , Wang Dong , Yang Ying , Wang Yan
Published: September 2022

Purpose: This study reports the clinical and genetic features of Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome (BVVL) type 2 in a case of uniparental disomy of chromosome 8 in mainland China and analyzes the genotype-phenotype correlation through a review of the literature of BVVL type 2 cases.

Methods: The clinical characteristics, treatment, and follow-up data of the patient were summarized, and the etiology was identified by whole-exome sequencing and gene chip analysis. Correlations between the genotype and phenotype were analyzed by collecting clinical and genetic data of published cases and our patient.

Results: We identified a homozygous mutation in SLC52A2 (NM_001253815.2 c.1255G>A) by trio-WES. Sanger sequencing confirmed that his father was heterozygous and his mother was wild type. Subsequently, paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 8 [UPD (8)pat] was confirmed by chromosomal microarray analysis.The patient received long-term oral riboflavin treatment (7 mg/kg.d) and was followed up for 40 months by which time the child’s bulbar palsy, ataxia, and motor function had improved. A review of the literature and statistical analysis found that the symptoms of BVVL type 2 appear at the earliest shortly after birth and at the latest at 10 years of age. The median age of onset was 2.5 years, but the overall delay in diagnosis was a median of 5.6 years. The most common symptoms were hearing loss (83.9%), followed by muscle weakness (80.6%), visual impairment (64.5%), and ataxia (61.3%). To date, a total of 32 mutations in the SLC52A2 gene have been reported, with the most common being a missense mutation. Mutations occur throughout the length of the gene apart from at the N-terminus. In patients with missense mutations, homozygous pattern was more likely to present with ataxia as the first symptom (p < 0.05), while compound heterozygous pattern was more likely to develop respiratory insufficiency during the course of disease (p < 0.001). Moreover, patients with one missense mutation located in inside the transmembrane domain were more likely to have respiratory insufficiency than those with mutations both inside and outside the domain (p < 0.05). Riboflavin supplementation was an important factor in determining prognosis (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: We report the first UPD(8)pat with SLC52A2 homozygous pathogenic mutation case in BVVL type 2, which expand the mutation spectrum of gene.
QTL mapping and identification of candidate genes using a genome-wide association study for heat tolerance at anthesis in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Hu Changmin , Jiang Jianhua , Li Yulong , Song Shaojie , Zou Yu , Jing Chunyu , Zhang Ying , Wang Dezheng , He Qiang , Dang Xiaojing
Published: September 2022

Heat tolerance (HT) of rice at anthesis is a key trait that ensures high and stable yields under heat stress. Finding the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and gene loci controlling HT is crucial. We used relative spikelet fertility (RSF) as a measure of HT. The phenotypic values of RSF in 173 rice accessions were investigated in two environments and showed abundant variations. We performed a genome-wide association study on RSF using 1.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Five QTLs were significantly associated with RSF were identified, four were found in previously reported QTLs/genes, and one was novel. The novel QTL qRSF9.2 was mapped into the 22,059,984-22,259,984 bp region, which had 38 positional candidate genes. By combining the linkage disequilibrium analysis, the QTL region was narrowed to 22,110,508–22,187,677 bp, which contained 16 candidate genes. Among them, only gene LOC_Os09g38500 contained nonsynonymous SNPs that were significantly associated with RSF. In addition, accessions with large and small RSF values had corresponding respective high and low gene expression levels. Furthermore, the RSF of the CC allele was significantly higher than that of the TT allele. Hap 2 and Hap 3 can increase heat tolerance by 7.9 and 11.3%, respectively. Our results provide useful information that recommends further cloning of qRSF9.2 and breeding heat-tolerant rice varieties by marker-assisted selection.