bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the STATCOM Mathematical Model of Battery Storage in HVDC Transmission System
Authors: Xing Chao , Chen Junhao , Xi Xinze , Xu Zhi , He Xin , Li Shengnan , Chen Shilong
Published: June 2022

When traditional STATCOM (Static Synchronous Compensator) performs large-capacity reactive power compensation, the control accuracy of the DC side voltage will be affected and the DC side voltage will fluctuate greatly. Therefore, this study proposes to use battery energy storage STATCOM (STATCOM/BESS) and gives the main circuit topology of STATCOM/BESS. By analyzing the working principle of STATCOM/BESS, the mathematical model and control method are derived and modeled, in which the Shepherd model is used as the energy storage battery in STATCOM/BESS. Aiming at the possible imbalance of the battery state of charge (SOC) in STATCOM/BESS, the phase-to-phase SOC balance control and phase control are proposed. At last, in PSCAD/EMTDC simulation software, STATCOM/BESS is tested for dynamic response and steady-state response performance of active power control, reactive power control, and transformation failure suppression test, which verifies the effectiveness and superiority of STATCOM/BESS commutation failure.
Real-Time Optimal Scheduling of Multi-Microgrids Considering Renewable Energy Intermittency
Authors: Fu Zongqiang , Li Bin , Wang Honglei
Published: June 2022

Accelerating the penetration of renewable energy (RE) in energy consumption is an important method to realize the promotion of CO2 emission peaking and carbon neutrality. The energy transaction between two microgrids (MGs) makes up for the limitations that a single MG cannot deal well with the intermittence and fluctuation of RE in the real-time scheduling of the system. Multi-microgrids (MMGs) composed of multiple MGs have become an effective supplement to China’s power system. However, extreme weather and natural disasters can easily cause fault shutdown of wind turbines (WTs) and photovoltaics (PVs) in the microgrid (MG). To better balance the flexible load curtailment and satisfaction of MMGs, this paper proposes a coordinated scheduling model for MMGs. This model covers the WT, the PV, the fuel cell (FC), the energy storage system (ESS), and flexible load curtailment. First, the energy management system (EMS) of MMGs collects information on all the distributed generators’ output and three types of loads. The contribution bargaining game is applied to realize the energy transaction between each two MGs. Second, balancing multi-microgrid satisfaction and the profit of each MG is taken as the objective function, and the scheduling strategy of each MG is formulated. Also, an improved optimization method is applied to solve the amount of flexible load curtailment of each MG and realize the reasonable scheduling of MMG in the fault state. In the case study, the superiority of the model and the proposed method has been verified.
Performance Assessment of Open-Loop and Closed-Loop Generation Rate Constraint Models for Optimal LFC of the Three-Area Reheat Thermal System
Authors: Sai Kalyan CH. Naga , Goud B. Srikanth , Reddy Ch. Rami , Kumar M. Kiran , Bajaj Mohit , El-Naggar Mohamed F. , Kamel Salah
Published: June 2022

In this article, a novel investigation is performed to showcase the best suitable structure of the generation rate constraint (GRC) for the three-area reheat thermal power system (RTPS) to obtain load frequency control (LFC) optimally. For investigation purposes, two GRC models which are widely implemented in the literature without providing any discussion of their selection and suitability are confiscated in this article. The two GRC structures deliberated in the present article are termed as open-loop and closed-loop models. The performance of the three-area reheat thermal unit is examined with these two GRC structures for a perturbation of 10% step load (10% SLP) on area-1. An investigation is performed under the governance of a three-degree-of-freedom PID (3DOFPID) controller, fine-tuned using a water cycle algorithm (WCA) subjected to index integral square error (ISE) minimization. However, the efficacy of the proposed WCA-tuned 3DOFPID controller is revealed with other control approaches available in the literature upon implementation of a widely accepted model of a two-area hydrothermal system. Finally, the simulation results and sensitivity analysis showed the suitable GRC structure for a three-area reheat thermal unit to obtain LFC optimally with high performance.
Can High-Speed Rail Help Achieve Urban Green Development? From a Spatial Perspective
Authors: Liu Shuai , Zhang Yumeng , Cao Jianhua
Published: June 2022

As a convenient means of transportation, high-speed rail (HSR) plays an important role in green development. In the context of the rapid development of China’s HSR, this study selects the SBM-DDF-SML model to construct the green total factor productivity (GTFP) index to measure urban green development; moreover, it empirically tests the impact of the opening of the HSR on GTFP using the spatial difference-in-differences (SDID) model. The results show that the opening of the HSR could significantly promote GTFP for HSR-served cities. In addition, the opening of HSR has a positive effect on the GTFP for neighboring HSR-served cities but a negative impact on that for neighboring non-HSR-served cities. The mechanism test shows that HSR can influence GTFP by promoting urban green innovation and entrepreneurial vitality. This study is a supplement to the research on the impact of HSR on the GTFP, in order to provide corresponding policy advice. The government should optimize the layout of HSR and help cities achieve green and sustainable development.
The Role of Zombie Firms in Industrial Sustainable Development: Evidence From Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations
Authors: Wang Haijing , Kong Yusheng , Shi Junguo
Published: June 2022

The development of the regional economy is of major concern against the backdrop of the “new normal.” As a problem that has persisted in China for decades, zombie firms have a negative impact on regional and industrial sustainable development. This study first presents a novel method for identifying zombie firms and then analyzes the characteristics of zombie firms in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations during a specified period. A fixed-effect model is used to examine the impact of firm zombification on normal enterprise investment. Despite the low level of zombification of industrial enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, the results of the study indicate that it has a considerable negative influence on enterprise investment. After applying multiple methods for robustness testing and constructing instrumental variables to solve the endogeneity problem, our results have remained stable. The carbon intensity effect and the competitive weakening effect are also examined as two impact mechanisms. Our findings have significant theoretical and practical ramifications: 1) It introduces a novel concept for defining zombie firms, which will aid in the improvement of the technique of identifying zombie firms based on the Chinese Industrial Enterprise Database; 2) It proposes a novel approach to zombie firm research, and it is critical to better understand the harmful effects of zombie firms on industrial sustainable development and to make specific efforts to address them; 3) It makes recommendations to the government on how to establish industrial policy. The policy tilt towards state-owned enterprises should be adjusted, while regional economic characteristics should be fully considered to ensure the sustainable development of the industry and the region.
Effects of Climate Changes on the Pasture Productivity From 1961 to 2016 in Sichuan Yellow River Source, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Zhang Lv , Xiao Pengfei , Yu Hui , Zhao Tao , Liu SiYuan , Yang Li , He Yu , Luo Yong , Wang Xiao , Dong Wei , He Hui , Wang Duyang , Liu Keli , Lu Yi
Published: June 2022

Meteorological station data from 1961 to 2016 in the Sichuan Yellow River Source (SYRS) was used to analyze the trends in precipitation and temperature. The Thornthwaite Memorial model and GIS technology were used to calculate the response of pasture productivity to climate change. A climate prediction model of pasture productivity was established to predict its response to precipitation and temperature. The results showed that: (1) the annual precipitation presents a slight downward trend, at a rate of −10.16 mm⋅(10a)–1. The average annual temperature exhibited an upward trend, at (10a)–1, and the productivity of herbage exhibited a linearly increasing trend, with a rate of increase of 80.07 g⋅m–2⋅(10a)–1. (2) In terms of spatial distribution, the pasture productivity decreased from southwest to northeast. The influence of temperature on pasture productivity was greater than that of precipitation in the SYRS. (3) The “warm-wet” climate was conducive to increasing pasture productivity. The annual average temperature was predicted to increase by 1 or 2°C, and the annual average precipitation was predicted to increase by 10 or 20% with an average increase between 7.15 and 14.30%. (4) Grassland degradation continues to occur and ecological restoration measures should be implemented to control grassland degradation.
The Role of P4HA1 in Multiple Cancer Types and its Potential as a Target in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Li Yang , Ge Yu-Zheng , Qian Yiguan , Chen Ke , Zhao Feng , Qin Zhiqiang , Zhou Liuhua , Xu Luwei , Xu Zheng , Dou Quanliang , Jia Ruipeng
Published: June 2022

Background: Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) provides the majority of the catalytic site of the active P4H enzyme. Emerging evidence has revealed that P4HA1 participates in the initiation and development of several malignant tumors. However, a pan-cancer analysis of P4HA1 has not been performed.

Methods: In this study, we carried out an in-depth analysis of the expression patterns and prognostic value of P4HA1 using the datasets of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Kaplan–Meier Plotter. Genomic and epigenetic alterations of P4HA1 and the correlation of P4HA1 with DNA methylation in different cancers were also analyzed across multiple databases. In addition, the purity-adjusted partial Spearman’s correlation test was utilized to evaluate the correlation between P4HA1 expression and immune cell infiltration. We also further explored the biological function and mechanism of P4HA1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Results: We characterized the expression profiles and prognostic values of P4HA1 in multiple cancer types. P4HA1 expression was increased in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) compared to adjacent normal tissues, and P4HA1 positively correlated with the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in papillary RCC. In addition, a positive correlation between P4HA1 expression and immune cell infiltration was observed in clear cell RCC. We also identified a strong correlation between P4HA1 expression and immune checkpoint gene expression, microsatellite instability, and tumor mutation burden in chromophobe RCC. Finally, the results of in vitro experiments verified that overexpression of P4HA1 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of RCC cells.

Conclusion: Overall, our study has suggested that P4HA1 might play a significant role in tumorigenesis in RCC and may be a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for several malignant tumors, including RCC.
m6A Regulator-Mediated RNA Methylation Modification Patterns Regulate the Immune Microenvironment in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Duan Yang , Yu Cheng , Yan Meiping , Ouyang Yuzhen , Ni Songjia
Published: June 2022

Epigenetic regulation, particularly RNA n6 methyl adenosine (m6A) modification, plays an important role in the immune response. However, the regulatory role of m6A in the immune microenvironment in osteoarthritis (OA) remains unclear. Accordingly, we systematically studied RNA modification patterns mediated by 23 m6A regulators in 38 samples and discussed the characteristics of the immune microenvironment modified by m6A. Next, we constructed a novel OA m6A nomogram, an m6A-transcription factor-miRNA network, and a drug network. Healthy and OA samples showed distinct m6A regulatory factor expression patterns. YTHDF3 expression was upregulated in OA samples and positively correlated with type II helper cells and TGFb family member receptors. Furthermore, three different RNA modification patterns were mediated by 23 m6A regulatory factors; in Mode 3, the expression levels of YTHDF3, type II T helper cells, and TGFb family member receptors were upregulated. Pathways related to endoplasmic reticulum oxidative stress and mitochondrial autophagy showed a strong correlation with the regulatory factors associated with Mode 3 and 23 m6A regulatory factors. Through RT-qPCR we validated that SREBF2 and EGR1 as transcription factors of YTHDF3 and IGF2BP3 are closely associated with the development of OA, hsa-miR-340 as a miRNA for YTHDF3 and IGF2BP3 was involved in the development of OA, we also detected the protein expression levels of IGF2BP3, YTHDF3, EGR1 and SREBF2 by western blotting, and the results were consistent with PCR. Overall, the constructed nomogram can facilitate the prediction of OA risk.
Case Report: A Novel Splice-Site Mutation in DNAJB6 Associated With Juvenile-Onset Proximal–Distal Myopathy in a Chinese Patient
Authors: Ji Guang , Wang Ning , Han Xu , Wang Yaye , Zhang Jinru , Wu Yue , Wu Hongran , Ma Shaojuan , Song Xueqin
Published: June 2022

DNAJB6 was identified as the causative gene of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1D. In recent years, the phenotypic and molecular spectrum of DNAJB6-myopathy has been expanded, and several mutations of DNAJB6 have been identified in Europe, North America, and Asia. Interestingly, almost all identified mutations in previous reports were point mutations, and most of them were clustered in exon 5, which encodes the G/F domain of DNAJB6. The so-far unique splice site mutation eliminating the entire G/F domain was reported to cause a severe, early-onset phenotype. Here, we report a juvenile-onset Chinese patient who presented with proximal–distal myopathy as well as esotropia and facial weakness. Muscle pathology showed rimmed vacuolation and myofibrillar disarrangement. A novel splice-site mutation NM_058246:c.236-1_240delGGTGGA of the DNAJB6 gene was identified by targeted exome sequencing, which results in a severe defect of the G/F domain. This rare mutation type expands the molecular spectrum of DNAJB6-myopathy and further underlines the importance of the G/F region.
Computational Recognition of a Regulatory T-cell-specific Signature With Potential Implications in Prognosis, Immunotherapy, and Therapeutic Resistance of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ju Mingyi , Fan Jingyi , Zou Yuanjiang , Yu Mingjie , Jiang Longyang , Wei Qian , Bi Jia , Hu Baohui , Guan Qiutong , Song Xinyue , Dong Mingyan , Wang Lin , Yu Lifeng , Wang Yan , Kang Hui , Xin Wei , Zhao Lin
Published: June 2022

Prostate cancer, recognized as a “cold” tumor, has an immunosuppressive microenvironment in which regulatory T cells (Tregs) usually play a major role. Therefore, identifying a prognostic signature of Tregs has promising benefits of improving survival of prostate cancer patients. However, the traditional methods of Treg quantification usually suffer from bias and variability. Transcriptional characteristics have recently been found to have a predictive power for the infiltration of Tregs. Thus, a novel machine learning-based computational framework has been presented using Tregs and 19 other immune cell types using 42 purified immune cell datasets from GEO to identify Treg-specific mRNAs, and a prognostic signature of Tregs (named “TILTregSig”) consisting of five mRNAs (SOCS2, EGR1, RRM2, TPP1, and C11orf54) was developed and validated to monitor the prognosis of prostate cancer using the TCGA and ICGC datasets. The TILTregSig showed a stronger predictive power for tumor immunity compared with tumor mutation burden and glycolytic activity, which have been reported as immune predictors. Further analyses indicate that the TILTregSig might influence tumor immunity mainly by mediating tumor-infiltrating Tregs and could be a powerful predictor for Tregs in prostate cancer. Moreover, the TILTregSig showed a promising potential for predicting cancer immunotherapy (CIT) response in five CIT response datasets and therapeutic resistance in the GSCALite dataset in multiple cancers. Our TILTregSig derived from PBMCs makes it possible to achieve a straightforward, noninvasive, and inexpensive detection assay for prostate cancer compared with the current histopathological examination that requires invasive tissue puncture, which lays the foundation for the future development of a panel of different molecules in peripheral blood comprising a biomarker of prostate cancer.
Individuals With Weaker Antibody Responses After Booster Immunization Are Prone to Omicron Breakthrough Infections
Authors: Möhlendick Birte , Čiučiulkaitė Ieva , Elsner Carina , Anastasiou Olympia E. , Trilling Mirko , Wagner Bernd , Zwanziger Denise , Jöckel Karl-Heinz , Dittmer Ulf , Siffert Winfried
Published: June 2022

Background

Despite the high level of protection against severe COVID-19 provided by the currently available vaccines some breakthrough infections occur. Until now, there is no information whether a potential risk of a breakthrough infection can be inferred from the level of antibodies after booster vaccination.

Methods

Levels of binding antibodies and neutralization capacity after the first, one and six month after the second, and one month after the third (booster) vaccination against COVID-19 were measured in serum samples from 1391 healthcare workers at the University Hospital Essen. Demographics, vaccination scheme, pre-infection antibody titers and neutralization capacity were compared between individuals with and without breakthrough infections.

Results

The risk of developing an Omicron breakthrough infection was independent of vaccination scheme, sex, body mass index, smoking status or pre-existing conditions. In participants with low pre-infection anti-spike antibodies (≤ 2641.0 BAU/ml) and weaker neutralization capacity (≤ 65.9%) against Omicron one month after the booster vaccination the risk for developing an Omicron infection was 10-fold increased (P = 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 2.36 - 47.55).

Conclusion

Routine testing of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and surrogate virus neutralization can quantify vaccine-induced humoral immune response and may help to identify subjects who are at risk for a breakthrough infection. The establishment of thresholds for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels identifying “non”-, “low” and “high”-responders may be used as an indication for re-vaccination.
Modulation of T Cell Responses by Fucoidan to Inhibit Osteogenesis
Authors: Huang Hailin , Guo Fangze , Deng Xuyang , Yan Mingzhe , Wang Danyang , Sun Zhanyi , Yuan Changqing , Zhou Qihui
Published: June 2022

Fucoidan has sparked considerable interest in biomedical applications because of its inherent (bio)physicochemical characteristics, particularly immunomodulatory effects on macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells. However, the effect of fucoidan on T cells and the following regulatory interaction on cellular function has not been reported. In this work, the effect of sterile fucoidan on the T-cell response and the subsequent modulation of osteogenesis is investigated. The physicochemical features of fucoidan treated by high-temperature autoclave sterilization are characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. It is demonstrated that high-temperature autoclave treatment resulted in fucoidan depolymerization, with no change in its key bioactive groups. Further, sterile fucoidan promotes T cells proliferation and the proportion of differentiated T cells decreases with increasing concentration of fucoidan. In addition, the supernatant of T cells co-cultured with fucoidan greatly suppresses the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 by downregulating the formation of alkaline phosphatase and calcium nodule compared with fucoidan. Therefore, our work offers new insight into the fucoidan-mediated T cell and osteoblast interplay.
Impact of Chronic Inflammation in Psoriasis on Bone Metabolism
Authors: Saalbach Anja , Kunz Manfred
Published: June 2022

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and joints associated with several comorbidities such as arthritis, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, Crohn’s disease, uveitis and psychiatric and psychological diseases. Psoriasis has been described as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and thus patients with psoriasis should be monitored for the development of cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome. However, there is mounting evidence that psoriasis also affects the development of osteoporosis, an important metabolic disease with enormous clinical and socioeconomic impact. At present, there are still controversial opinions about the role of psoriasis in osteoporosis. A more in depth analysis of this phenomenon is of great importance for affected patients since, until now, bone metabolism is not routinely examined in psoriatic patients, which might have important long-term consequences for patients and the health system. In the present review, we summarize current knowledge on the impact of psoriatic inflammation on bone metabolism and osteoporosis.
Understanding the Implications of Hydrographic Processes on the Dynamics of the Carbonate System in a Sub-Antarctic Marine-Terminating Glacier-Fjord (53°S)
Authors: Vellojin Jurleys P. , Saldías Gonzalo S. , Allen Susan E. , Torres Rodrigo , Vergara-Jara Maximiliano , Sobarzo Marcus , DeGrandpre Michael D. , Iriarte José Luis
Published: June 2022

The biogeochemical dynamics of fjords in the southeastern Pacific Ocean are strongly influenced by hydrological and oceanographic processes occurring at a seasonal scale. In this study, we describe the role of hydrographic forcing on the seasonal variability of the carbonate system of the Sub-Antarctic glacial fjord, Seno Ballena, in the Strait of Magellan (53°S). Biogeochemical variables were measured in 2018 during three seasonal hydrographic cruises (fall, winter and spring) and from a high-frequency pCO2-pH mooring for 10 months at 10 ± 1 m depth in the fjord. The hydrographic data showed that freshwater input from the glacier influenced the adjacent surface layer of the fjord and forced the development of undersaturated CO2 (< 400 μatm) and low aragonite saturation state (ΩAr < 1) water. During spring, the surface water had relatively low pCO2 (mean = 365, range: 167 - 471 μatm), high pH (mean = 8.1 on the total proton concentration scale, range: 8.0 - 8.3), and high ΩAr (mean = 1.6, range: 1.3 - 4.0). Concurrent measurements of phytoplankton biomass and nutrient conditions during spring indicated that the periods of lower pCO2 values corresponded to higher phytoplankton photosynthesis rates, resulting from autochthonous nutrient input and vertical mixing. In contrast, higher values of pCO2 (range: 365 – 433 μatm) and relatively lower values of pHT (range: 8.0 – 8.1) and ΩAr (range: 0.9 – 2.0) were recorded in cold surface waters during winter and fall. The naturally low freshwater carbonate ion concentrations diluted the carbonate ion concentrations in seawater and decreased the calcium carbonate saturation of the fjord. In spring, at 10 m depth, higher primary productivity caused a relative increase in ΩAr and pHT. Assuming global climate change will bring further glacier retreat and ocean acidification, this study represents important advances in our understanding of glacier meltwater processes on CO2 dynamics in glacier–fjord systems.
Changes of Oceanic Conditions Drive Chagos Whale Migration Patterns in the Central Indian Ocean
Authors: Huang Junlin Lyra , Leroy Emmanuelle C. , Truong Gary , Rogers Tracey L.
Published: June 2022

Marine ecosystems are experiencing rapid shifts under climate change scenarios and baleen whales are vulnerable to environmental change, although not all impacts are yet clear. We identify how the migration behaviour of the Chagos whale, likely a pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda), has changed in association with shifts in environmental factors. We used up to 18 years of continuous underwater acoustic recordings to analyse the relationships between whale acoustic presence and sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a concentration, El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). We compared these relationships between two independent sites Diego Garcia southeast (DGS) and Diego Garcia northwest (DGN) where Chagos whales are detected and are suspected to move interannually across the Chagos-Laccadive ridge. We showed that the number of whale songs detected increased on average by 7.7% and 12.6% annually at DGS and DGN respectively. At the DGS site, Chagos whales shifted their arrival time earlier by 4.2 ± 2.0 days/year ± SE and were detected for a longer period by 7.3 ± 1.2 days/year ± SE across 18 years. A larger number of songs were detected during periods of higher chlorophyll-a concentration, and with positive IOD phases. At the DGN site, we did not see an earlier shift in arrival and songs were not detected for a longer period across the 13 years. Whale presence at DGN had a weaker but opposite relationship with chlorophyll-a and IOD. The oceanic conditions in the Indian Ocean are predicted to change under future climate scenarios and this will likely influence Chagos whale migratory behaviour. Understanding how environmental factors influence whale movement patterns can help predict how whales may respond to future environmental change. We demonstrate the value of long-term acoustic monitoring of marine fauna to determine how they may be affected by changing environmental conditions.
Impact of the Construction of New Port Facilities on Primary Production of Plankton in the Neva Estuary (Baltic Sea)
Authors: Golubkov Mikhail , Golubkov Sergey
Published: June 2022

A significant increase in the human population on marine coast and steady growth of maritime water transport causes the construction of port infrastructure and the creation of new lands, which affects the ecosystems of coastal waters. Despite the widespread occurrence of such large-scale engineering projects in coastal areas, their impact on various components of aquatic ecosystems, including phytoplankton, is still poorly understood. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the construction of ports and the alluvium of new lands in the Neva Estuary in 2000s on the productivity of phytoplankton. Digging and dredging of bottom sediments results in one order of magnitude elevation of suspended particulate matter (SM), which mostly consisted of sand and clayed deposits and in significant decrease water transparency, as compared to the average long-term values. Concentrations of total phosphorus in the estuarine waters during the works significantly positively correlated with the concentrations of SM. However, the multiple increase in nutrients was less important for phytoplankton development than expected. Analysis of variance and stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that the main predictor of the primary production of plankton in the periods of construction was water transparency. Gross primary production decreased significantly. In contrast to short-term effects caused by wind-induced events, which often stimulated phytoplankton development, long-term construction works of new port facilities negatively influenced phytoplankton productivity. Apart from pristine conditions when the phosphorus concentration was the main factor limiting the primary production in the estuary, the main limiting factor during long-term engineering projects became water transparency. Taking into account plans for further development of ports in coastal areas around the world, the influence of the large-scale engineering projects on the conditions for the development of phytoplankton may provide a new aspect of long-term regulation of algal blooms and ecosystem functioning in the coastal and estuarine zones.
Some Like it Hot: The Ecology, Ecosystem Benefits and Restoration Potential of Oyster Reefs in Tropical Waters
Authors: Richardson Marina A. , Zhang Ya , Connolly Rod M. , Gillies Chris L. , McDougall Carmel
Published: June 2022

Oysters are ecosystem engineers that form biogenic reef habitats in shallow coastal and estuarine waters and provide important ecosystem services. Widespread global declines have triggered a world-wide restoration movement, however a paucity of information on tropical oyster reefs has resulted in their exclusion from existing global assessments and, consequently, restoration. In this review we quantified the known global diversity of native reef-building oysters to compare diversity between temperate and tropical regions and assessed historic oyster reef presence and declines using two tropical case studies. We then summarised the biology, ecology, and benefits of tropical oyster reefs, which have four functional differences to temperate reefs: 1) the diversity of reef-building oysters is over four times higher in tropical than in temperate regions; 2) tropical reef-building oysters can have continuous spatfall throughout the year whereas temperate species have a defined season; 3) tropical reef-building oysters are generally faster growing than temperate reef-building oysters; and 4) tropical oysters commonly create mixed-species oyster reefs whereas temperate oyster reefs are generally formed by a single oyster species. There is evidence of unsustainable and destructive harvesting that has resulted in the decline of tropical oyster reefs, and these reefs should therefore be included in restoration efforts. We highlight knowledge gaps that can guide future research to develop important foundational information that will remove barriers to tropical oyster reef restoration.
A Tropical Macroalga (Halimeda incrassata) Enhances Diversity and Abundance of Epifaunal Assemblages in Mediterranean Seagrass Meadows
Authors: Mateo-Ramírez Ángel , Máñez-Crespo Julia , Royo Laura , Tuya Fernando , Castejón-Silvo Inés , Hernan Gema , Pereda-Briones Laura , Terrados Jorge , Tomas Fiona
Published: June 2022

The introduction and successful expansion of tropical species into temperate systems is being exacerbated by climate change, and it is particularly important to identify the impacts that those species may have, especially when habitat-forming species are involved. Seagrass meadows are key shallow coastal habitats that provide critical ecosystem services worldwide, and they are threatened by the arrival of non-native macroalgae. Here, we examined the effects of Halimeda incrassata, a tropical alga that has recently colonized the Mediterranean Sea, on epifaunal assemblages associated with Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows of Mallorca Island (Western Mediterranean Sea). This invasive macroalga is an ecological engineer and thus has a high potential of modifying native habitats. A seagrass meadow colonized by H. incrassata exhibited important changes on associated epifaunal assemblages, with an increase in abundance and diversity, particularly driven by higher abundances of Gammaridae, Polychaeta, Copepoda and Caprellidae. Given the key ecological contribution of epifauna to food webs, these alterations will likely have important implications for overall food web structure and ecosystem functioning of native ecosystems.
Changes in Distribution Patterns for Larimichthys polyactis in Response to Multiple Pressures in the Bohai Sea Over the Past Four Decades
Authors: Han Qingpeng , Shan Xiujuan , Jin Xianshi , Gorfine Harry , Chen Yunlong , Su Chengcheng
Published: June 2022

Understanding patterns of change in the distribution of species among their critical habitats is important for analyzing population dynamics and adaptive responses to environmental shifts. We investigated spatio-temporal changes in small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) using eight alternative models fitted to data from bottom trawl surveys conducted in the Bohai Sea each spring (spawning period) and summer during 1982–2018. These models included different combinations of local sea temperature, fishing pressure, and individual climate index (i.e., North Pacific index, NPI, and West Pacific index, WPI) as explanatory variables. Selection of the most parsimonious model for each season was based on Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC). The model with NPI as its only explanatory variable was used as a base case for pre-analysis. In spring, a spatio-temporal model with sea temperature as a quadratic effect, plus the spatially varying effects of a climate index and fishing pressure was selected, as the AIC value of this model was reduced by 41.491 compared to the base case model without these effects. In the summer after spawning, the spatio-temporal model with WPI as a climate index covariate lagged by 1-year best explained the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of the stock. The results suggested that small yellow croaker populations significantly decreased in biomass in the Bohai Sea over the study period. A statistically significant northeastward shift in the center of gravity (COG) and a contraction in the distribution range occurred in summer throughout the study period (p<0.05). During the spring sequence (1993–2018), a statistically significant northeastward shift in the COG was also found (p<0.05). Our results showed that biomass-density hotspots of small yellow croaker in both seasons have shrunk or disappeared in recent years. Overall, these findings suggest that the spatio-temporal patterns of the populations in their spawning, feeding and nursery grounds have been influenced over the past 40 years by multiple pressures, and population density in the southwestern areas of the Bohai Sea declined faster and more drastically than in the northeastern areas. This study has important implications for developing targeted spatial conservation measures for small yellow croaker at various stages of its life history under different levels of stress.
Radiomics and Its Applications and Progress in Pancreatitis: A Current State of the Art Review
Authors: Yan Gaowu , Yan Gaowen , Li Hongwei , Liang Hongwei , Peng Chen , Bhetuwal Anup , McClure Morgan A. , Li Yongmei , Yang Guoqing , Li Yong , Zhao Linwei , Fan Xiaoping
Published: June 2022

Radiomics involves high-throughput extraction and analysis of quantitative information from medical images. Since it was proposed in 2012, there are some publications on the application of radiomics for (1) predicting recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP), clinical severity of acute pancreatitis (AP), and extrapancreatic necrosis in AP; (2) differentiating mass-forming chronic pancreatitis (MFCP) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), focal autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from PDAC, and functional abdominal pain (functional gastrointestinal diseases) from RAP and chronic pancreatitis (CP); and (3) identifying CP and normal pancreas, and CP risk factors and complications. In this review, we aim to systematically summarize the applications and progress of radiomics in pancreatitis and it associated situations, so as to provide reference for related research.
Highly Synergistic Effects of Melittin With Vancomycin and Rifampin Against Vancomycin and Rifampin Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis
Authors: Mirzaei Rasoul , Alikhani Mohammad Yousef , Arciola Carla Renata , Sedighi Iraj , Irajian GholamReza , Jamasbi Elaheh , Yousefimashouf Rasoul , Bagheri Kamran Pooshang
Published: June 2022

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) strains are increasingly emerging as serious pathogens because they can be resistant to many antibiotics called multidrug resistance (MDR) that limit the therapeutic options. In the case of vancomycin- and rifampin-resistant MDR-MRSE, the physicians are not allowed to increase the doses of antibiotics because of severe toxicity. Accordingly, we investigated the synergistic activity of melittin antimicrobial peptide with vancomycin and rifampin against vancomycin-resistant, and rifampin-resistant MDR-MRSE isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi), and fractional bactericidal concentration index (FBCi) of antimicrobial agents against isolates were determined. Coagulate activities and serum and salt stability as well as melittin cytotoxicity on the human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and human red blood cells (RBCs) at their synergistic concentrations. MIC and MBC values for melittin were in the range of 0.312–2.5 and 0.312–5, respectively. Results also showed that the interaction of melittin with drugs was highly synergistic in which the geometric means of FICi and FBCi were < 0.5. Induced synergism led to a decrease in melittin, rifampin, and vancomycin concentrations by 8–1,020, 2–16, and 4–16-folds, respectively. This phenomenon caused a reduction in melittin toxicity by which the synergistic concentration of melittin needed to kill bacteria did not show cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity. Besides, no coagulation activity was found for the synergistic and alone concentrations of melittin in both Prothrombin Time (PT) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT). Interestingly, the antibacterial activity of melittin in Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) containing human serum did no significant differences between MIC and MBC values of melittin in MHB and MHB containing 10% human serum. The present findings showed that the therapeutic index of melittin was improved by 32.08- and 12.82-folds when combined with vancomycin and rifampin, respectively. Taken together, the obtained data show that melittin alone was effective against MDR-MRSE isolates and this antimicrobial peptide showed highly synergistic effects with vancomycin and rifampin without causing toxicity. Therefore, the combination of melittin and traditional antibiotics could be a promising strategy for the treatment of infections caused by MDR-MRSE.
Microbial Antagonism in Food-Enrichment Culture: Inhibition of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli and Shigella Species
Authors: McMahon Tanis C. , Kingombe Cesar Bin , Mathews Amit , Seyer Karine , Wong Alex , Blais Burton W. , Carrillo Catherine D.
Published: June 2022

Bacterial pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) andShigellaspp., are important causes of foodborne illness internationally. Recovery of these organisms from foods is critical for food safety investigations to support attribution of illnesses to specific food commodities; however, isolation of bacterial cultures can be challenging. Methods for the isolation of STEC andShigellaspp. from foods typically require enrichment to amplify target organisms to detectable levels. Yet, during enrichment, target organisms can be outcompeted by other bacteria in food matrices due to faster growth rates, or through production of antimicrobial agents such as bacteriocins or bacteriophages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence ofShigellaand STEC inhibitors produced by food microbiota. The production of antimicrobial compounds in cell-free extracts from 200 bacterial strains and 332 food-enrichment broths was assessed. Cell-free extracts produced by 23 (11.5%) of the strains tested inhibited growth of at least one of the fiveShigellaand seven STEC indicator strains used in this study. Of the 332 enrichment broths tested, cell-free extracts from 25 (7.5%) samples inhibited growth of at least one of the indicator strains tested. Inhibition was most commonly associated withE. colirecovered from meat products. Most of the inhibiting compounds were determined to be proteinaceous (34 of the 48 positive samples, 71%; including 17 strains, 17 foods) based on inactivation by proteolytic enzymes, indicating presence of bacteriocins. The cell-free extracts from 13 samples (27%, eight strains, five foods) were determined to contain bacteriophages based on the observation of plaques in diluted extracts and/or resistance to proteolytic enzymes. These results indicate that the production of inhibitors by food microbiota may be an important challenge for the recovery of foodborne pathogens, particularly forShigella sonnei. The performance of enrichment media for recovery ofShigellaand STEC could be improved by mitigating the impact of inhibitors produced by food microbiota during the enrichment process.
Temperature Acclimation Alters the Thermal Tolerance and Intestinal Heat Stress Response in a Tibetan Fish Oxygymnocypris stewarti
Authors: Zhu Tingbing , Li Xuemei , Wu Xingbing , Yang Deguo
Published: June 2022

Numerous studies have shown that thermal tolerance and intestinal heat resistance are strongly associated with temperature acclimation. However, few reports have successfully conducted similar research on fishes from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, an area that is facing the threat of climate warming. Therefore, the present study determined the growth, thermal tolerance, and intestinal heat stress (exposure to 30°C) responses in juveniles of a Tibetan fish, Oxygymnocypris stewarti, acclimated to three temperature levels (10°C, 15°C, and 20°C, named as T10, T15, and T20, respectively) for 30 days. The fastest growth was recorded in the T15 group. At 1°C/30 min heating rate, the critical thermal maximum (CTMax) ranged from 31.3°C to 32.3°C, and the lethal thermal maximum (LTMax) ranged from 31.8°C to 32.6°C among the three acclimation temperatures. According to the results of thermal tolerance tests, the heat stress temperature was set to 30°C. When the water temperature reached 30°C, the expression of the intestinal heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene as well as the intestinal microbiome and histology of experimental fish were monitored at 0, 2, 6, and 12 h. The expression of HSP70 reached the highest level at 2 h in all three temperature treatments. The histological analysis showed damage to intestinal cells, including diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes, villi epithelial cell swelling, decrease of intestinal villi length, and cytoplasmic light staining at 2 h in all three temperature treatments. In terms of the intestinal microbiome, phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated the treatments at each monitored time in the T10 and T15 groups and at 0 h in T20 group, while phyla Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Cyanobacteria were dominant in treatments at 2, 6, and 12 h in the T20 group. The overall results indicated that acclimation temperature could affect the growth, thermal tolerance, and intestinal heat stress response of O. stewarti juveniles. As the first report on intestinal heat stress response associated with temperature acclimation in a Tibetan fish, this study will help to understand the potential effects of climate change on highland fishes.
HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Its Impact on the Gut Microbiome in Men Having Sex With Men
Authors: Bragazzi Nicola Luigi , Khamisy-Farah Rola , Tsigalou Christina , Mahroum Naim
Published: June 2022

HIV/AIDS still imposes a high epidemiological and societal burden. Together with antiretroviral therapy, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) represents a fundamental tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS. PrEP is considered effective and safe, even though it may affect organs like the kidney, bone, and liver, as shown by randomized clinical trials (RCTs). These side effects may be mediated by alterations of the gut microbiome. Whilst the impact of the human rectal and vaginal microbiome on HIV prevention has been highly investigated among women, less is known about its effect among men having sex with men (MSM), a vulnerable population at high risk for HIV and disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. In the present paper, we will overview the effects of PrEP on the gut microbiota in MSM. Mining PubMed/MEDLINE, we identified three studies that have found significant changes affecting the gut microbiota. However, these shifts in the gut microbiome composition are variable, probably due to methodological differences, even though all studies reviewed in the present overview consistently report aberrations at the level of the gut microbiota. More data are needed, especially concerning the long-term side effects of PrEP: despite the studies included being a high-quality RCT, and two well-designed cross-sectional studies, evidence related to the impact of HIV PrEP on the gut microbiome in MSM is scarce and based on small populations. A better understanding of the interactions between the gut microbiota, sexual orientation/identity, and HIV prevention is expected to improve PrEP adherence and devise strategies to counteract PrEP-related side effects.
Pulmonary Microbial Composition in Sepsis-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Zhang Peng , Liu Baoyi , Zheng Weihao , Chen Yantang , Wu Zhentao , Lu Yuting , Ma Jie , Lu Wenjie , Zheng Mingzhu , Wu Wanting , Meng Zijie , Wu Jinhua , Zheng Yan , Zhang Xin , Zhang Shuang , Huang Yanming
Published: June 2022

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an unresolved challenge in the field of respiratory and critical care, and the changes in the lung microbiome during the development of ARDS and their clinical diagnostic value remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of the lung microbiome in disease progression in patients with sepsis-induced ARDS and potential therapeutic targets.

Methods: Patients with ARDS were divided into two groups according to the initial site of infection, intrapulmonary infection (ARDSp, 111 cases) and extrapulmonary infection (ARDSexp, 45 cases), and a total of 28 patients with mild pulmonary infections were enrolled as the control group. In this study, we sequenced the DNA in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from patients using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to analyze the changes in the lung microbiome in patients with different infectious site and prognosis and before and after antibiotic treatment.

Results: The Shannon–Wiener index indicated a statistically significant reduction in microbial diversity in the ARDSp group compared with the ARDSexp and control groups. The ARDSp group was characterized by a reduction in microbiome diversity, mainly in the normal microbes of the lung, whereas the ARDSexp group was characterized by an increase in microbiome diversity, mainly in conditionally pathogenic bacteria and intestinal microbes. Further analysis showed that an increase in Bilophila is a potential risk factor for death in ARDSexp. An increase in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, enteric microbes, or conditional pathogens may be risk factors for death in ARDSp. In contrast, Hydrobacter may be a protective factor in ARDSp.

Conclusion: Different initial sites of infection and prognoses are likely to affect the composition and diversity of the pulmonary microbiome in patients with septic ARDS. This study provides insights into disease development and exploration of potential therapeutic targets.