bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Corporates in Governing Carbon Dioxide Removal: Outlining a Research Agenda
Authors: Battersby Francesca , Heap Richard J. , Gray Adam C. , Workman Mark , Strivens Finn
Published: February 2022

With 1,500 companies now estimated to have set net zero targets, corporate engagement with carbon dioxide removal (CDR) has gained substantial momentum. Yet despite the corporate sector becoming a key domain of CDR decision-making, corporates have not received research attention as influential actors in the governance of CDR. This paper provides a perspective on how corporates influence and enact de facto governance of CDR. We collate a preliminary evidence base regarding possible modes of CDR governance by corporates. Focusing on voluntary corporate engagement with CDR, we examine how and why firm-level decision-making takes place, and interrogate the implications of such activity. We find that the current literature focuses on techno-economic attributes of CDR solutions as drivers of corporate engagement; however, the ability for corporates to formulate a (business) case for engaging with CDR is potentially shaped by a broader array of financial and non-financial factors that are currently overlooked. This gives corporates the influence to define what and how to govern, an inherently “political act.” We finally highlight possible lenses for future research, noting lessons to be drawn from climate justice, anticipatory governance, responsible innovation, and futures literatures. These could provide a deepened understanding of the dynamics and implications of current de facto CDR governance, and allow this to be challenged where appropriate. Ultimately, without awareness and oversight of how CDR is being governed in the real world, policy and governance research may not be successful in driving us toward desired net zero futures.
“Alchemizing Sorrow Into Deep Determination”: Emotional Reflexivity and Climate Change Engagement
Authors: Hamilton Jo
Published: February 2022

There are a range of emotions and affects related to climate change, which are experienced by different publics at different times. These include grief, fear, hope, hopelessness, guilt, anxiety and anger. When unacknowledged or unprocessed, these emotions and affects can contribute to emotional paralysis and systems of socially organized denial, which can inhibit climate change engagement at individual and collective scales. Emotional reflexivity describes an awareness of the ways that people engage with and feel about issues, how this influences the actions they take and their perceptions of possible change. Emotional reflexivity could be developed through approaches that incorporate psychological and social engagements with climate change. In this paper I highlight knowledge gaps concerning how practices of emotional reflexivity relate to people becoming and remaining engaged with climate change and how emotions move and change through the questions of: what is the role of emotional reflexivity in engaging with climate change? and how do emotions associated with climate move and change?, responding to the gap, and associated question of what approaches could help develop emotional reflexivity around climate change?, in this paper I present a summary of research conducted in the UK during 2018–2020 with participants of two such approaches: the “Work That Reconnects”/“Active Hope” and the “Carbon Literacy Project”. I demonstrate how emotional reflexivity was developed through: 1. Awareness and acknowledgment of emotions, which helped to facilitate feedback between the dimensions of engagement and contributed to becoming engaged with climate change, and 2. Expression and movement of emotions, which enabled a changed relationship to, or transformation of emotions, which contributed to a more balanced and sustained engagement. Key findings included the relationship between ongoing practices of emotional reflexivity and engaging and sustaining engagement with climate change, and that some approaches helped to cultivate an emotional reflexivity which contributed to a “deep determination” and ongoing resource to act for environmental and social justice, and to live the future worth fighting for in the present. However, without ongoing practices, my research evidenced forms of defensive coping, ambivalence and vacillation, which impeded active engagement over time. These findings attest to the importance of attention to the dynamics and movement of emotions and affects relating to climate change.
Small, Dense Low-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis: Relationship and Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Jin Xiao , Yang Shengjie , Lu Jing , Wu Min
Published: February 2022

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plays an important role in the formation, incidence, and development of atherosclerosis (AS). Low-density lipoproteins can be divided into two categories: large and light LDL-C and small, dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C). In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that sdLDL-C has a strong ability to cause AS because of its unique characteristics, such as having small-sized particles and low density. Therefore, this has become the focus of further research. However, the specific mechanisms regarding the involvement of sdLDL-C in AS have not been fully explained. This paper reviews the possible mechanisms of sdLDL-C in AS by reviewing relevant literature in recent years. It was found that sdLDL-C can increase the atherogenic effect by regulating the activity of gene networks, monocytes, and enzymes. This article also reviews the research progress on the effects of sdLDL-C on endothelial function, lipid metabolism, and inflammation; it also discusses its intervention effect. Diet, exercise, and other non-drug interventions can improve sdLDL-C levels. Further, drug interventions such as statins, fibrates, ezetimibe, and niacin have also been found to improve sdLDL-C levels.
Prognostic Value of β1 Adrenergic Receptor Autoantibody and Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 in Patients With Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Sun Yanxiang , Feng Li , Hu Bing , Dong Jianting , Zhang Liting , Huang Xuansheng , Yuan Yong
Published: February 2022

Background

Both β1 adrenergic receptor autoantibody (β1-AA) and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) take a role in the pathological remodeling of heart failure. However, limited studies investigated the correlation between the expression of β1-AA and sST2 in patients with acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Objective

To explore the correlation between β1-AA and sST2, and evaluate their prognostic value in patients with ADHF.

Methods

Patients who were admitted for ADHF were included. The N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), sST2, and β1-AA in blood samples were tested at hospital admission and then followed up for assessing the outcomes. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between β1-AA and sST2. The effects of β1-AA, sST2, or the combination of them on the all-cause mortality of patients with ADHF were assessed by Multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Results

There were 96 patients with ADHF and 96 control populations enrolled. The β1-AA was significantly higher in ADHF than in the control group (0.321 ± 0.06 vs. 0.229 ± 0.04, P = 0.000). Pearson correlation analysis showed that β1-AA was positively correlated with sST2 (r = 0.593), NT-proBNP (r = 0.557), Procalcitonin (r = 0.176), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (r = 0.315), but negatively correlated with triglycerides (r = −0.323), and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = −0.430) (all P < 0.05) in ADHF. Patients with ADHF, complicated with both high β1-AA and sST2, showed the highest all-cause mortality during an average of 25.5 months of follow-up. Multivariate Cox regression showed the combination of both high β1-AA and sST2 independently correlated with the all-cause mortality after adjustment for other risk factors (hazard ratio 3.348, 95% CI 1.440 to 7.784, P = 0.005). After adding with β1-AA and sST2, the area under the curves for the prognostic all-cause mortality could increase from 0.642 to 0.748 (P = 0.011).

Conclusion

The β1-AA is positively correlated with sST2 in patients with ADHF. Elevated plasma β1-AA and sST2 level in patients with ADHF are associated with poorer prognoses.
A Novel Three-Dimensional and Tissue Doppler Echocardiographic Index for Diagnosing and Prognosticating Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Wang Weiding , Mu Guanyu , Liu Changle , Xie Juan , Zhang Hao , Zhang Xiaowei , Che Jingjin , Tse Gary , Liu Tong , Li Guangping , Fu Huaying
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains challenging. In this study, a novel echocardiography index based on three-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiography for diagnosing and estimating prognosis in HFpEF.

Materials and Methods

Patients with symptoms and/or signs of heart failure and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≥50%) who underwent right heart catheterization were screened. Patients were divided based on pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) of ≥15 mmHg and PCWP <15 mmHg. A diagnosis of HFpEF was confirmed by PCWP of ≥15 mmHg according to ESC guidelines. A novel index was calculated by the ratio between stroke volume standardized to body surface area (SVI) and tissue Doppler mitral annulus systolic peak velocity S' (SVI/S'). Its diagnostic and prognostic values were determined.

Results

A total of 104 patients (mean age 64 ± 12 years) were included. Of these, 63 had PCWP ≥15 mmHg and 41 patients had PCWP <15 mmHg. Compared to the PCWP <15 mmHg group, the ≥15 mmHg group had a significantly lower SVI/S' (P < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that SVI/S' was associated with high PCWP measured invasively. The SVI/S' had an area under the curve of 0.761 for diagnosing classifying between PCWP ≥15 mmHg and <15 mmHg. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the lower SVI/S' group showed a poorer prognosis.

Conclusions

SVI/S' is a non-invasive index calculated by three-dimensional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. It is a surrogate measure of PCWP and can be used to diagnose and determine prognosis in HFpEF.
Untangling Peripheral Sympathetic Neurocircuits
Authors: Clyburn Courtney , Andresen Michael C. , Ingram Susan L. , Habecker Beth A.
Published: February 2022

The sympathetic nervous system plays a critical role in regulating many autonomic functions, including cardiac rhythm. The postganglionic neurons in the sympathetic chain ganglia are essential components that relay sympathetic signals to target tissues and disruption of their activity leads to poor health outcomes. Despite this importance, the neurocircuitry within sympathetic ganglia is poorly understood. Canonically, postganglionic sympathetic neurons are thought to simply be activated by monosynaptic inputs from preganglionic cholinergic neurons of the intermediolateral cell columns of the spinal cord. Early electrophysiological studies of sympathetic ganglia where the peripheral nerve trunks were electrically stimulated identified excitatory cholinergic synaptic events in addition to retrograde action potentials, leading some to speculate that excitatory collateral projections are present. However, this seemed unlikely since sympathetic postganglionic neurons were known to synthesize and release norepinephrine and expression of dual neurochemical phenotypes had not been well recognized. In vitro studies clearly established the capacity of cultured sympathetic neurons to express and release acetylcholine and norepinephrine throughout development and even in pathophysiological conditions. Given this insight, we believe that the canonical view of ganglionic transmission needs to be reevaluated and may provide a mechanistic understanding of autonomic imbalance in disease. Further studies likely will require genetic models manipulating neurochemical phenotypes within sympathetic ganglia to resolve the function of cholinergic collateral projections between postganglionic neurons. In this perspective article, we will discuss the evidence for collateral projections in sympathetic ganglia, determine if current laboratory techniques could address these questions, and discuss potential obstacles and caveats.
Vascular Stem/Progenitor Cells in Vessel Injury and Repair
Authors: Tao Jiaping , Cao Xuejie , Yu Baoqi , Qu Aijuan
Published: February 2022

Vascular repair upon vessel injury is essential for the maintenance of arterial homeostasis and function. Stem/progenitor cells were demonstrated to play a crucial role in regeneration and replenishment of damaged vascular cells during vascular repair. Previous studies revealed that myeloid stem/progenitor cells were the main sources of tissue regeneration after vascular injury. However, accumulating evidences from developing lineage tracing studies indicate that various populations of vessel-resident stem/progenitor cells play specific roles in different process of vessel injury and repair. In response to shear stress, inflammation, or other risk factors-induced vascular injury, these vascular stem/progenitor cells can be activated and consequently differentiate into different types of vascular wall cells to participate in vascular repair. In this review, mechanisms that contribute to stem/progenitor cell differentiation and vascular repair are described. Targeting these mechanisms has potential to improve outcome of diseases that are characterized by vascular injury, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, restenosis, and aortic aneurysm/dissection. Future studies on potential stem cell-based therapy are also highlighted.
Application of Proteomics in Apical Periodontitis
Authors: Hussein Hebatullah , Kishen Anil
Published: February 2022

Apical periodontitis is an inflammatory reaction of the periradicular tissues as a consequence of multispecies microbial communities organized as biofilms within the root canal system. Periradicular tissue changes at the molecular level initiate and orchestrate the inflammatory process and precede the presentation of clinical symptoms. Inflammatory mediators have been studied at either the proteomic, metabolomic, or transcriptomic levels. Analysis at the protein level is the most common approach used to identify and quantify analytes from diseased periradicular tissues during root canal treatment, since it is more representative of definitive and active periradicular inflammatory mediator than its transcript expression level. In disease, proteins expressed in an altered manner could be utilized as biomarkers. Biomarker proteins in periradicular tissues have been qualitatively and quantitatively assessed using antibodies (immunoassays and immunostaining) or mass spectrometry-based approaches. Herein, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of biomarker proteins identified in clinical studies investigating periradicular lesions and pulp tissue associated with apical periodontitis using proteomics. The high throughput mass spectrometry-based proteomics has the potential to improve the current methods of monitoring inflammation while distinguishing between progressive, stable, and healing lesions for the identification of new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. This method would provide more objective tools to (a) discover biomarkers related to biological processes for better clinical case selection, and (b) determine tissue response to novel therapeutic interventions for more predictable outcomes in endodontic treatment.
Hydrocarbon Generation Potential of Microbial Carbonate in the Western Qaidam Basin, China: Implication From Thermocompression Experiment
Authors: She Min , Hu Anping , Lv Yuzhen , Chen Wei , Liang Jintong , Zheng Lunju
Published: February 2022

The potential of microbial carbonate rocks as hydrocarbon source rocks still remains uncertain. To evaluate the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion capability of microbial carbonate rocks, stromatolite obtained from the Xiaganchaigou formation of the western Qaidam Basin has been used for thermocompression experiments to simulate hydrocarbon generation and expulsion at temperature of 280 to 380°C. The results show that the generation potentials of total oil, residual oil, expelled oil, and hydrocarbon gases for stromatolite are 143.39 to 379.99 mg/g total organic carbon (TOC), 47.08 to 223.92 mg/gTOC, 71.12 to 170.81 mg/gTOC, and 6.60 to 101.74 mg/gTOC, respectively. A three-stage model of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion evolution has been constructed for stromatolite. The results show that the first stage is characterized by relatively slow oil generation with associated hydrocarbon gases, having limited capability of oil expulsion in the temperature range of 280 to 360°C (0.50% ≤ Ro ≤ 0.70%). The second stage is characterized by rapid oil generation with associated hydrocarbon gases, having incremental capability of oil expulsion in the temperature range of 320 to 360°C (0.70% ≤ Ro ≤ 1.15%). The third stage is characterized by hydrocarbon gas generation with associated oil, having efficient oil expulsion capability in the temperature range of 360 to 380°C (1.15% ≤ Ro ≤ 1.45%). The experimental data of argillaceous dolostone, gray mudstone, and marlstone, which were reported with the same hydrocarbon generation experimental method, was compared with the data for stromatolite. Compared with traditional source rocks, the oil generation potential of stromatolite is less than that of argillaceous dolostone and gray mudstone but greater than that that of marlstone in the same amount of organic carbon. Especially, the hydrocarbon gas generation potential of stromatolite is approximately double than that of traditional source rocks. Therefore, the experiments indicate that the microbial carbonate rocks in the western Qaidam Basin could be effective source rocks.
Constraining Arctic Climate Projections of Wintertime Warming With Surface Turbulent Flux Observations and Representation of Surface-Atmosphere Coupling
Authors: Boisvert Linette N. , Boeke Robyn C. , Taylor Patrick C. , Parker Chelsea L.
Published: February 2022

The drivers of rapid Arctic climate change—record sea ice loss, warming SSTs, and a lengthening of the sea ice melt season—compel us to understand how this complex system operates and use this knowledge to enhance Arctic predictability. Changing energy flows sparked by sea ice decline, spotlight atmosphere-surface coupling processes as central to Arctic system function and its climate change response. Despite this, the representation of surface turbulent flux parameterizations in models has not kept pace with our understanding. The large uncertainty in Arctic climate change projections, the central role of atmosphere-surface coupling, and the large discrepancy in model representation of surface turbulent fluxes indicates that these processes may serve as useful observational constraints on projected Arctic climate change. This possibility requires an evaluation of surface turbulent fluxes and their sensitivity to controlling factors (surface-air temperature and moisture differences, sea ice, and winds) within contemporary climate models (here Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6). The influence of individual controlling factors and their interactions is diagnosed using a multi-linear regression approach. This evaluation is done for four sea ice loss regimes, determined from observational sea ice loss trends, to control for the confounding effects of natural variability between models and observations. The comparisons between satellite- and model-derived surface turbulent fluxes illustrate that while models capture the general sensitivity of surface turbulent fluxes to declining sea ice and to surface-air gradients of temperature and moisture, substantial mean state biases exist. Specifically, the central Arctic is too weak of a heat sink to the winter atmosphere compared to observations, with implications to the simulated atmospheric circulation variability and thermodynamic profiles. Models were found to be about 50% more efficient at turning an air-sea temperature gradient anomaly into a sensible heat flux anomaly relative to observations. Further, the influence of sea ice concentration on the sensible heat flux is underestimated in models compared to observations. The opposite is found for the latent heat flux variability in models; where the latent heat flux is too sensitive to a sea ice concentration anomaly. Lastly, the results suggest that present-day trends in sea ice retreat regions may serve as suitable observational constraints of projected Arctic warming.
Experimental Research on the Bearing Properties of Red Mud Geopolymer Foundations
Authors: Zhang Haiqing , Qin Lusheng , Nie Qingke , Wang Yinghui , Jia Xiangxin
Published: February 2022

In this study, the mechanical properties of composite foundations in red mud ground were examined, and the reinforcement effect of composite foundation dams with mixed geopolymer piles of fly ash and red mud were determined. The feasibility of red mud geopolymers as pile materials for composite foundations was verified by laboratory and field tests. The static load test of the red mud geopolymer foundation showed that the effective length of the pile body in the red mud foundation is approximately 8 m, and the stress of the soil layer is generally limited within 2 m below the ground surface. The results also showed that the principal load is supported by the pile body, while the bearing capacity of this kind of foundation is mainly provided by the side friction of the pile. The bearing mechanism of the new foundation is similar to that of conventional mixed composite ground. This is of great significance to optimize the red mud geopolymer foundation design and maximize the use of the pile bearing properties. Overall, there is a positive role in promoting the development of red mud dam reinforcement technology.
Efficient Allocation of Labor Maximizes Brood Development and Explains Why Intermediate-Sized Groups Perform Best During Colony-Founding in the Ant, Pogonomyrmex californicus
Authors: Shaffer Zachary J. , Dreyer Sara , Clark Rebecca M. , Pratt Stephen C. , Fewell Jennifer H.
Published: February 2022

Cooperation in nature is usually between relatives, but unrelated individuals can also cooperate, requiring significant benefits to outweigh the costs of helping non-kin. Unrelated queens of the ant, Pogonomyrmex californicus, work together to found a new colony, a phenomenon known as pleometrosis. While previous studies have shown that pleometrosis improves queen survival and worker production, little is known of the behavioral interactions within nests that explain these advantages. We aimed to determine how the optimal group size for a small, simple social group is related to group productivity and the organization of work. Collecting queens from a known pleometrotic population, we established nests with either one, three, six, or nine foundresses and observed the resulting nascent colonies for 50 days. We found that queens in social founding groups survived longer and had higher productivity. While all social groups were equally successful in producing workers, intermediate-sized groups were most successful in terms of per capita production. Inactivity increased with group size. In addition, the proportion of essential colony growth tasks performed (such as foraging and brood care) was lowest in both solitary-founded groups and in groups of nine queens. As a result, intermediate sized groups outperformed both solitary queens and groups of nine in the efficiency with which they converted eggs into workers. These results emphasize the benefits of cooperation and the ways in which group size can influence fitness and the allocation of labor in social groups.
Case Report: A Novel Mutation in the CRYGD Gene Causing Congenital Cataract Associated with Nystagmus in a Chinese Family
Authors: Gao Yunxia , Ren Xiang , Fu Xiangyu , Lin Yu , Xiao Lirong , Wang Xiaoyue , Yan Naihong , Zhang Ming
Published: February 2022

Purpose: Congenital cataract (CC) is a common disease resulting in leukocoria and the leading cause of blindness in children worldwide. Approximately 50% of congenital cataract is inherited. Our aim is to identify mutations in a Chinese family with congenital cataract.

Methods: A four-generation Chinese family diagnosed with congenital cataract was recruited in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of these participants. All coding exons and flanking regions were amplified and sequenced, and the variants were validated using Sanger sequencing. AlphaFold2 was used to predict possible protein structural changes in this variant.

Results: The proband had congenital nuclear cataract with nystagmus. A heterozygous variant c.233C > T was identified in exon 2 of the CRYGD gene in chromosome 2. This mutation resulted in a substitution of serine with phenylalanine at amino acid residue 78 (p.S78F). The variant might result in a less stable structure with a looser loop and broken hydrogen bond predicted by AlphaFold2, and this mutation was co-segregated with the disease phenotype in this family.

Conclusion: We described cases of human congenital cataract caused by a novel mutation in the CRYGD gene and provided evidence of further phenotypic heterogeneity associated with this variant. Our study further extends the mutation spectrum of the CRYGD gene in congenital cataract.
Method Matters: Effect of Purification Technology on Neutrophil Phenotype and Function
Authors: Blanter Marfa , Cambier Seppe , De Bondt Mirre , Vanbrabant Lotte , Pörtner Noëmie , Abouelasrar Salama Sara , Metzemaekers Mieke , Marques Pedro Elias , Struyf Sofie , Proost Paul , Gouwy Mieke
Published: February 2022

Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in human blood and the first cells responding to infection and injury. Due to their limitedex vivolifespan and the impossibility to cryopreserve or expand themin vitro, neutrophils need to be purified from fresh blood for immediate use in experiments. Importantly, neutrophil purification methods may artificially modify the phenotype and functional characteristics of the isolated cells. The aim of this study was to expose the effects of ‘classical’ density-gradient purificationversusthe more expensive but faster immunomagnetic isolation on neutrophil phenotype and functionality. We found that in the absence of inflammatory stimuli, density-gradient-derived neutrophils showed increased polarization responses as well as enhanced release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and granular proteins compared to cells derived from immunomagnetic isolation, which yields mostly quiescent neutrophils. Upon exposure to pro-inflammatory mediators, immunomagnetic isolation-derived neutrophils were significantly more responsive in polarization, ROS production, phagocytosis, NETosis and degranulation assays, in comparison to density-gradient-derived cells. We found no difference in chemotactic response in Multiscreen and under-agarose migration assays, but Boyden assays showed reduced chemotaxis of immunomagnetic isolation-derived neutrophils. Finally, we confirmed that density-gradient purification induces artificial activation of neutrophils, evidenced bye.g.higher expression of CD66b, formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) and CD35, and the appearance of a separate neutrophil population expressing surface molecules atypical for neutrophils (e.g.CXCR3, MHC-II and CD14). Based on these results, we recommend using immunomagnetic separation of neutrophils for studying neutrophil polarization, phagocytosis, ROS production, degranulation and NETosis, whereas for Boyden chemotaxis assays, the density-gradient purification is more suitable.
Cohesin-Mediated Chromatin Interactions and Autoimmunity
Authors: Chandrasekaran Venkataragavan , Oparina Nina , Garcia-Bonete Maria-Jose , Wasén Caroline , Erlandsson Malin C. , Malmhäll-Bah Eric , Andersson Karin M. E. , Jensen Maja , Silfverswärd Sofia T. , Katona Gergely , Bokarewa Maria I.
Published: February 2022

Proper physiological functioning of any cell type requires ordered chromatin organization. In this context, cohesin complex performs important functions preventing premature separation of sister chromatids after DNA replication. In partnership with CCCTC-binding factor, it ensures insulator activity to organize enhancers and promoters within regulatory chromatin. Homozygous mutations and dysfunction of individual cohesin proteins are embryonically lethal in humans and mice, which limits in vivo research work to embryonic stem cells and progenitors. Conditional alleles of cohesin complex proteins have been generated to investigate their functional roles in greater detail at later developmental stages. Thus, genome regulation enabled by action of cohesin proteins is potentially crucial in lineage cell development, including immune homeostasis. In this review, we provide current knowledge on the role of cohesin complex in leukocyte maturation and adaptive immunity. Conditional knockout and shRNA-mediated inhibition of individual cohesin proteins in mice demonstrated their importance in haematopoiesis, adipogenesis and inflammation. Notably, these effects occur rather through changes in transcriptional gene regulation than through expected cell cycle defects. This positions cohesin at the crossroad of immune pathways including NF-kB, IL-6, and IFNγ signaling. Cohesin proteins emerged as vital regulators at early developmental stages of thymocytes and B cells and after antigen challenge. Human genome-wide association studies are remarkably concordant with these findings and present associations between cohesin and rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and HLA-B27 related chronic inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, bioinformatic prediction based on protein-protein interactions reveal a tight connection between the cohesin complex and immune relevant processes supporting the notion that cohesin will unearth new clues in regulation of autoimmunity.
Future Mangrove Carbon Storage Under Climate Change and Deforestation
Authors: Chatting Mark , Al-Maslamani Ibrahim , Walton Mark , Skov Martin W. , Kennedy Hilary , Husrevoglu Y. Sinan , Le Vay Lewis
Published: February 2022

Mangroves are important sinks of organic carbon (C) and there is significant interest in their use for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. Adverse impacts on organic carbon storage potential from future climate change and deforestation would devalue such ambitions, thus global projections of future change remains a priority research area. We modeled the effects of climate change on future C stocks and soil sequestration rates (CSR) under two climate scenarios (“business as usual”: SSP245 and high-emissions: SSP585). Model results were contrasted with CO2 equivalents (CO2e) emissions from past, present and future rates of deforestation on a country specific scale. For C stocks, we found climate change will increase global stocks by ∼7% under both climate scenarios and that this gain will exceed losses from deforestation by the end of the twenty-first century, largely due to shifts in rainfall. Major mangrove-holding countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Cuba, and Nigeria will increase national C stocks by > 10%. Under the high-end scenario, while a net global increase is still expected, elevated temperatures and wider temperature ranges are likely increase the risk of countries’ C stocks diminishing. For CSR, there will likely be a global reduction under both climate change scenarios: 12 of the top 20 mangrove-rich countries will see a drop in CSR. Modeling of published country level mangrove deforestation rates showed emissions have decreased from 141.4 to 6.4% of annual CSR since the 1980’s. Projecting current mangrove deforestation rates into the future resulted in a total of 678.50 ± 151.32 Tg CO2e emitted from 2012 to 2095. Reducing mangrove deforestation rates further would elevate the carbon benefit from climate change by 55–61%, to make the proposition of offsetting emissions through mangrove protection and restoration more attractive. These results demonstrate the positive benefits of mangrove conservation on national carbon budgets, and we identify the nations where incorporating mangrove conservation into their Nationally Defined Contributions offers a particularly rewarding route toward meeting their Glasgow Agreement commitments.
Capillary Effects in Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Processing: A Review
Authors: Teixidó Helena , Staal Jeroen , Caglar Baris , Michaud Véronique
Published: February 2022

Capillarity plays a crucial role in many natural and engineered systems, ranging from nutrient delivery in plants to functional textiles for wear comfort or thermal heat pipes for heat dissipation. Unlike nano- or microfluidic systems with well-defined pore network geometries and well-understood capillary flow, fiber textiles or preforms used in composite structures exhibit highly anisotropic pore networks that span from micron scale pores between fibers to millimeter scale pores between fiber yarns that are woven or stitched into a textile preform. Owing to the nature of the composite manufacturing processes, capillary action taking place in the complex network is usually coupled with hydrodynamics as well as the (chemo) rheology of the polymer matrices; these phenomena are known to play a crucial role in producing high quality composites. Despite its importance, the role of capillary effects in composite processing largely remained overlooked. Their magnitude is indeed rather low as compared to hydrodynamic effects, and it is difficult to characterize them due to a lack of adequate monitoring techniques to capture the time and spatial scale on which the capillary effects take place. There is a renewed interest in this topic, due to a combination of increasing demand for high performance composites and recent advances in experimental techniques as well as numerical modeling methods. The present review covers the developments in the identification, measurement and exploitation of capillary effects in composite manufacturing. A special focus is placed on Liquid Composite Molding processes, where a dry stack is impregnated with a low viscosity thermoset resin mainly via in-plane flow, thus exacerbating the capillary effects within the anisotropic pore network of the reinforcements. Experimental techniques to investigate the capillary effects and their evolution from post-mortem analyses to in-situ/rapid techniques compatible with both translucent and non-translucent reinforcements are reviewed. Approaches to control and enhance the capillary effects for improving composite quality are then introduced. This is complemented by a survey of numerical techniques to incorporate capillary effects in process simulation, material characterization and by the remaining challenges in the study of capillary effects in composite manufacturing.
Enhanced Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Nanocomposites Composed of Functionalized Plant-Derived Biopolymers and Calcium-Deficient Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles
Authors: Mondal Dibakar , Diederichs Elizabeth , Willett Thomas L.
Published: February 2022

The combination of plant-derived polymer resins and mineral-based nanoparticles into three dimensional (3D) printable, high-performance nanocomposites suggests a means to improve the sustainability profile of rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing. In this work, our previously published nanocomposite biomaterial system of acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) and polyethylene glycol (PEGDA) diluent composited with calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (nHA) nanorods was improved by the substitution of AESO with methacrylated AESO (mAESO) and the partial substitution of PEGDA with isosorbide methacrylate (IM). mAESO was used to increase the degree of crosslinking and reduce the ink viscosity. IM was synthesized by reacting the hydroxyl groups on isosorbide with methacrylic anhydride. The effects of partially replacing PEGDA with IM on the rheology and printability of the nanocomposite inks and the mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposite materials were quantified. These masked stereolithography (mSLA) printed nanocomposites have greatly improved mechanical properties (tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and Mode-I fracture toughness) due to the shift to mAESO and IM. IM greatly improved the tensile fracture strength and Young’s modulus of the nanocomposites by acting as a reactive diluent and as a stiff segment in the polymer system. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposite increased due to the addition of IM. However, IM decreased the strain-at–fracture, making the nanocomposites more brittle. This study demonstrates the development of high-performance mAESO-IM-nHA-based novel nanocomposites that can be easily 3D printed using desktop mSLA, suggesting a facile path forward to improved sustainability in rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing using nanocomposites for a broad range of applications.
A Nomogram for Predicting BK Virus Activation in Kidney Transplantation Recipients Using Clinical Risk Factors
Authors: Wang Jiyan , Li Jiawei , Chen Zhongli , Xu Ming , Yang Cheng , Rong Ruiming , Zhu Tongyu
Published: February 2022

BK virus is a common opportunistic viral infection that could cause BK virus-associated nephropathy in renal transplant recipients. Thus, we retrospectively analyzed clinical and laboratory data associated with a higher risk of BK virus activation from 195 renal transplant recipients by the multivariate logistic regression analysis and performed the external validation. Results showed that patients with BK virus active infection were associated with a deceased donor, had lower direct bilirubin levels, a higher proportion of albumin in serum protein electrophoresis, and lower red blood cells and neutrophil counts. The multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the living donor, direct bilirubin, and neutrophil counts were significantly associated with BK virus activation. The logistic regression model displayed a modest discriminability with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.689 (95% CI: 0.607–0.771; P < 0.01) and also demonstrated a good performance in the external validation dataset (the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.699, 95% CI: 0.5899–0.8081). The novel predictive nomogram achieved a good prediction of BK virus activation in kidney transplant recipients.
Expression of the Immune Checkpoint Protein VISTA Is Differentially Regulated by the TGF-β1 – Smad3 Signaling Pathway in Rapidly Proliferating Human Cells and T Lymphocytes
Authors: Schlichtner Stephanie , Yasinska Inna M. , Ruggiero Sabrina , Berger Steffen M. , Aliu Nijas , Prunk Mateja , Kos Janko , Meyer N. Helge , Gibbs Bernhard F. , Fasler-Kan Elizaveta , Sumbayev Vadim V.
Published: February 2022

Immune checkpoint proteins play crucial roles in human embryonic development but are also used by cancer cells to escape immune surveillance. These proteins and biochemical pathways associated with them form a complex machinery capable of blocking the ability of cytotoxic immune lymphoid cells to attack cancer cells and, ultimately, to fully suppress anti-tumor immunity. One of the more recently discovered immune checkpoint proteins is V-domain Ig-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), which plays a crucial role in anti-cancer immune evasion pathways. The biochemical mechanisms underlying regulation of VISTA expression remain unknown. Here, we report for the first time that VISTA expression is controlled by the transforming growth factor beta type 1 (TGF-β)-Smad3 signaling pathway. However, in T lymphocytes, we found that VISTA expression was differentially regulated by TGF-β depending on their immune profile. Taken together, our results demonstrate the differential biochemical control of VISTA expression in human T cells and various types of rapidly proliferating cells, including cancer cells, fetal cells and keratinocytes.
Redescription of Bakuella (Bakuella) marina Agamaliev and Alekperov, 1976 (Protozoa, Hypotrichia), With Notes on Its Morphology, Morphogenesis, and Molecular Phylogeny
Authors: Zhu Rong , Zhang Qi , Tang Lan , Zhao Yan , Li Jingbao , Li Fengchao
Published: February 2022

Because the original description of Bakuella (Bakuella) marina, type of the genus, is only based on protargol-impregnated specimens, one of the important living features, namely, the presence/absence of cortical granules, remains unknown so far. In the present work, a detailed investigation of a Chinese population of B. (Bakuella) marina is carried out using the integrated approaches, and the live morphology, ontogenesis, and molecular information of B. (Bakuella) marina are presented for the first time. The infraciliature of this population corresponds perfectly with that of the original description. The in vivo observation indicates that B. (Bakuella) marina possesses colorless cortical granules. The most prominent morphogenetic feature of B. (Bakuella) marina is that the parental adoral zone of membranelles is completely replaced by the newly formed one of the proters. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on a small subunit ribosomal gene (SSU rDNA) shows that five Bakuella species are clustered with the species from other six Urostylid genera, namely, Anteholosticha, Apobakuella, Diaxonella, Holosticha, Neobakuella, and Urostyla. The monophyletic probabilities of the family Bakuellidae, genus Bakuella, subgenus B. (Bakuella), and subgenus B. (Pseudobakuella) are rejected by the approximately unbiased test. This study further shows that the family Bakuellidae, genus Bakuella, and subgenus B. (Bakuella) are all nonmonophyletic groups. In order to establish a reasonable classification system, information on molecular and morphogenesis of more Bakuellids and its related species is urgently needed.
The Role of Sulfation in Nematode Development and Phenotypic Plasticity
Authors: Igreja Catia , Sommer Ralf J.
Published: February 2022

Sulfation is poorly understood in most invertebrates and a potential role of sulfation in the regulation of developmental and physiological processes of these organisms remains unclear. Also, animal model system approaches did not identify many sulfation-associated mechanisms, whereas phosphorylation and ubiquitination are regularly found in unbiased genetic and pharmacological studies. However, recent work in the two nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and Pristionchus pacificus found a role of sulfatases and sulfotransferases in the regulation of development and phenotypic plasticity. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about the role of sulfation in nematodes and highlight future research opportunities made possible by the advanced experimental toolkit available in these organisms.
Fabrication of Nanodevices Through Block Copolymer Self-Assembly
Authors: Hu Xiao-Hua , Xiong Shisheng
Published: February 2022

Block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly, as a novel bottom-up patterning technique, has received increasing attention in the manufacture of nanodevices because of its significant advantages of high resolution, high throughput, low cost, and simple processing. BCP self-assembly provides a very powerful approach to constructing diverse nanoscale templates and patterns that meet large-scale manufacturing practices. For the past 20 years, the self-assembly of BCPs has been extensively employed to produce a range of nanodevices, such as nonvolatile memory, bit-patterned media (BPM), fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs), photonic nanodevices, solar cells, biological and chemical sensors, and ultrafiltration membranes, providing a variety of configurations for high-density integration and cost-efficient manufacturing. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the fabrication of nanodevices using the templates of BCP self-assembly, and present current challenges and future opportunities.
The Use and Outcomes of Motor Rehabilitation Services Among People With Cerebral Palsy Change Across the Lifespan
Authors: Cornec Gwenaël , Brochard Sylvain , Drewnowski Gaelle , Desguerre Isabelle , Toullet Philippe , Fontaine Audrey , Le Lay Yann , Boivin Julia , Bérard Eric , Bodoria Maria , Gautheron Vincent , De la Cruz Javier
Published: February 2022

Background and Aims

The provision of coordinated and multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs that adapt to the individual with cerebral palsy (CP) evolving rehabilitation needs throughout the different phases of life is highly challenging for healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to report the changes in motor rehabilitation (MR) environmental factors, service use and patient outcomes between children and adults with cerebral palsy and to identify if changes took place earlier or later than the standard division between pediatric and adult healthcare systems at 18 years.

Methods

We used data from the French ESPaCe survey to select a set of indicators for MR environmental factors, service use and patient outcomes, highlighted by patients and families in previous studies. We then compared the distribution of the indicator data between children and adults, as well as between four transition age groups: children under 12, adolescents up to 17 years, young adults, and adults over 25 years of age. We estimated odds ratios adjusted for motor involvement, associated impairments and informant type.

Results

A total of 997 respondents over 2 years of age were included in this study (484 children and 513 adults). Finding an available physiotherapist was very difficult for almost half of the children, and a greater proportion of adolescents and adults. Physiotherapy was provided in a private outpatient practice for twice as many adults over 25 years as children and adolescents. The weekly amount of physical therapy decreased as outpatient practice increased. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation decreased sharply from adolescence and was halved at adulthood. Satisfaction with the MR program decreased from childhood into adolescence and adulthood. Perceived impact of physiotherapy on people with CP and their main carers were less positive in adolescents.

Conclusions

Healthcare policies should focus on accessibility issues at all ages, consider adolescents as a specific population, consider a wide transition phase (12–25 yo) and maintain a multidisciplinary approach at adulthood. There is a strong need for national rehabilitation strategies for individuals with CP.