bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal Ablation of Liver Tumours: How the Scenario Has Changed in the Last Decade
Authors: Tombesi Paola , Di Vece Francesca , Bianchi Lara , Sartori Sergio
Published: November 2022

Surgical resection has long been considered the gold standard for the local treatment of primary and secondary liver tumours. Until recent years, percutaneous thermal ablation (PTA), in particular radiofrequency ablation (RFA), was not accepted as a first-line option for the treatment of liver tumours and was reserved for patients who were unsuitable for surgery. However, in the last decade the scenario has changed: interesting technical developments and innovations have improved the performance of RFA and broadened the availability of other ablative technologies, such as microwave ablation (MWA) and laser ablation (LA). The latest generation of MWA systems can achieve larger ablation areas than RFA and LA, with a multifibre technique that uses very thin needles, allowing physicians to treat nodules in at-risk locations with high flexibility and a very low risk ofcomplications. Nowadays, there is an increasingly accepted consensus on the role of PTA as a first-line option for the treatment of liver tumours <2 cm in size, as well as in patients potentially eligible for surgery, and it is likely that in the near future the 2 cm barrier could also be surpassed and extended to at least 3 cm. PTA is becoming more effective and important in the treatment of primary and secondary liver tumours, and, in the well-established scenario of a multimodal tailoredtreatment, it plays and will continue to play a central role. The aim of this paper is to examine the current role of PTA in such a scenario, focussing on advantages and limitations of the three available ablative techniques: RFA, MWA, and LA.
ANALYSIS OF INFILTRATION WELLS AS PRO-CONSERVATION DRAINAGE (Case Study of Kalongan, Maguwoharjo, Depok, Sleman, Yogyakarta)
Authors: Widaryanto Lilik Hendro
Published: November 2022

Indonesia has two seasons, namely the dry season and the rainy season where the rainfall in the two seasons has a very large difference. Rainfall in the rainy season will be a source of groundwater reserves, because in the dry season there tends to be no rain. Efforts to increase groundwater reserves are carried out, among others, to use environmentally friendly drainage, namely by using infiltration wells and water will be infiltrated so as to reduce runoff.This research will begin by mapping the land covered by buildings in Kalongan and then calculating the area of land covered by the buildings. Rainfall data used is data at the Maguwoharjo rain station which is close to Kalongan with a span of 10 years. The number of infiltration wells currently available is 8 and by analyzing the needs of infiltration wells it will be known how many infiltration wells are needed so that as much water can be infiltrated to reduce runoff and increase groundwater reserves.The results of the frequency analysis for rainfall with a maximum return period of 5 years as a basis for planning infiltration wells. This large runoff during the rainy season can be reduced by having sufficient infiltration wells, so that rainwater entering the infiltration well will become a source of groundwater reserves. The total requirement for infiltration wells is 464 pieces with a diameter of 80 cm and a depth of 3 m. There are 8 infiltration wells so it is necessary to make 456 infiltration wells to reduce runoff.Keyword: groundwater, infiltration, runoff
Examining the Healthy Living Behaviors and Health Anxiety Level of Elite Female Volleyball Players During the Covid-19 Process
Authors: Kasap Mehmet Can , Bavli Özhan
Published: November 2022

Background. The results of the effects of the physiological and psychological effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on volleyball players at elite level are needed. Therefore, such a study was planned.
Methods. A total of 144 female volleyball players, whose average age is 28.5 ± 5.1 years and who play in the Turkish Volleyball Women’s Super League teams, voluntarily participated in the study. The data in the study were obtained by applying the Healthy Living Behavior scale and the Health Anxiety scale by filling in an online questionnaire. Data were evaluated in SPSS.
Results. As a result of the analysis; The mean scores of the sub-dimensions of the Healthy Life Behavior Scale of the participants were respectively: Health responsibility average 21.2±3.6; Physical activity average 21.2±4.4; Nutrition average 24.4±5.6; Spiritual Development average 26.5±4.4; Interpersonal Relations average 25.6±. The mean of Stress Management was found to be 4.4 and 20.8±3.5. In the Health Anxiety Scale, the mean total anxiety score was found to be 32.3±6.4. It was determined that the sub-dimensions of the Healthy Living Behavior Scale differed significantly among the participants according to monthly income and education level, while the Health Anxiety Scale did not create a significant difference in both variables.
Conclusions. According to the study findings, since the findings of the scale are positive, it may be possible to leave more reliable information for future studies if similar study findings are increased and compared.
Keywords: volleyball, Covid-19, health, anxiety.
BOT-2 Evaluation of Gender Differences in Upper Limb Coordination among Children 7 to 9 Years Old
Authors: Prvulović Nikola , Katanić Borko , Banjević Boris
Published: November 2022

Numerous recent studies indicate the significant impact of fundamental motor skills on the psychological and social development of young boys and girls. However, it is not well-known if there are differences between boys and girls aged 7 to 9 in terms of the fundamental development of motor skills.
Purpose: The aim of this study is to address the question of the fundamental issues between boys and girls using upper limb coordination evaluated by the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (BOT-2), including seven sub-scales of measurement.
Method: The participants (n=79) were 41 boys and 38 girls aged 7 to 9 years old. BOT-2 test scores were used for upper limb coordination (ULC) differences by gender.
Results: The BOT-2 measurements of upper limb coordination show a significant difference in favor of the boys only for 6ULC=7±2.77 relative to 5.66±2.66, (d=.49, ES=.24, p=.03) and 7ULC=2±1.45, relative to 1.32±1.21, (d=.51, ES=.25 p=.02), while for the other tests there are no significant differences. The magnitude of the impact was on the values of the alternate hand dribble, p=.23, while the little effect was achieved for throwing a ball at a target, p=.25. Conclusion: Our results showed that there are no significant differences between boys and girls in terms of the fundamental development of motor skills, indicating a strong biological determinant of homogenous development.
Keywords: upper limb coordination, motor skills, sex differences, school children, motor development.
Return to ‘the poor man’s country’: Crofting and Empire in Rayne, Aberdeenshire
Authors: Mutch Alistair
Published: November 2022

An examination of the available evidence for the parish of Rayne, Aberdeenshire, in the nineteenth century indicates the enduring place of crofting in the agriculture of northeast Scotland. The continuing existence of the crofts emerging from pre-improvement fermtouns is linked to estate policy, which in turn was, in the case of the two major estates in the parish, based on resources drawn from participation in British imperial enterprise. The account complements and extends that provided by Carter, stressing the importance of cultural political economy.
A Conflict of Interest at the Tay Bridge Disaster Inquiry
Authors: Shiels Robert S.
Published: November 2022

The collapse of the Tay Bridge on the evening of Sunday 28 December 1879 was an event of global interest, partly no doubt because of the pathos of the loss of life on a structure that represented the best of engineering triumphs at that time. Many aspects of the disaster have either remained unexamined or have been subject to little sustained or critical research. The legal considerations of all the relevant events of 1879 have not been reviewed in much detail. The crucial engineering lessons for the Empire and the industrial world beyond British limits were such that an inquiry was convened and heard crucial evidence in London. The inherent unfairness in that procedure seems to have been hinted at in the past and is examined closely here.
Modelling and Optimal Design of Gas Engine CCHP System in Hospital
Authors: Qian Zheng , Zhang Xuemei , Li Zhiang
Published: November 2022

The combined heating and power (CHP) system and the combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system have attracted great attention during the last decade. However, many CHP systems don’t perform well in the actual operation. This paper presents a complete hierarchical modeling tool of the gas engine CHP/CCHP system which is built on the software Dymola. Meanwhile, a gas-engine CHP hybrid energy system serving a hospital in Shanghai is studied as a case. To validate the accuracy of newly-built models, the operating data of the CHP part of the system in 2017 is compared with the simulation results, it is found that the minimum error is 2.1%, and the maximum error is 7.0%. Then, the original gas engine CHP hybrid energy system is reconstructed to a gas engine CCHP system. To analyze the feasibility of the optimal design, the conventional energy supply system which was used in the hospital before 2013, the original gas engine CHP hybrid energy system and the optimized gas engine CCHP system are modeled and simulated. From the simulation results, it is found that the primary energy ratio is increased from 72.55% to 133.37%, the payback period of investment is decreased from nearly 11.8 years to 3.9 years, and the CO2 emissions reduction rate is increased from 4.83% to 93.72%. Therefore, the optimization scheme is feasible.
Importing FMU-3.0: challenges in proper handling of clocks
Authors: Najafi Masoud , Nikoukhah Ramine
Published: November 2022

Compared to FMI-2.0, FMI-3.0 provides support for events and clocks. The behavior of the FMU in the presence of events and clocks introduces new challenges for importing FMUs in block diagram environments such as Altair Activate and Scicos. This paper discusses some of these challenges and proposes implementation strategies for supporting the import of FMI-3.0 in Activate.
[Industrial Paper] Performance Measurement and Finding Challenges in Using FMUs to Perform Scenario-Based Testing in a Cloud Environment
Authors: Tsuzuki Katsuya , Yamada Takashi , Araki Kensuke
Published: November 2022

This paper describes the implementation of the scenario-based testing, a test method for autonomous driving software, by coupling a plant model described using MATLAB/Simulink with another plant model provided as functional mock-up unit (FMU) on a cloud platform. During the implementation of plant models into the cloud environment using the functional mock-up interface (FMI), there are problems and countermeasure challenges were identified. In addition, the impacts of integrating multiple models on simulation time by parallelizing test cases are measured.
Simulation Scheduling of Variable-Structure Systems in OpenModelica
Authors: Paknikar Rahul , Sharma Nikhil , Nayak Priyam , Moudgalya Kannan , Raman Bhaskaran
Published: November 2022

We propose and implement a generic scheduling frame-work for OpenModelica to eliminate the simulation code corresponding to inactive components in a system-level model. This framework allows the model developer to auto-generate models corresponding to the discrete behavior of the underlying system, and then schedule their simulations. It also provides a Scheduler library in the Modelica language to help the model developer easily generate the schedule. The benefit of this approach is demonstrated with and without real-time simulations of a batch distillation system. The proposed approach also helps implement a sequential modular simulation to arrive at initial guesses for flowsheets, whose equations can then be solved simultaneously using the standard, equationoriented, approach of Modelica.
Dynamic Simulation of an Oxygen-Hydrogen Combustion Turbine System Using Modelica
Authors: Watanabe Yutaka , Takahashi Toru , Suzuki Kojun
Published: November 2022

Introducing hydrogen power generation in the power industry may contribute to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Hydrogen mixed-fuel gas turbines are available, and pure hydrogen-fueled gas turbines are being developed. Meanwhile, power generation systems based on oxygen–hydrogen combustion turbines have been devised. Such system uses hydrogen as fuel and oxygen as oxidizer, yielding only water vapor as the byproduct of combustion. In addition, as the system performs a semi-closed cycle involving the Brayton and Rankine cycles, high efficient zero-emission power generation is expected with higher thermal efficiency than that of the combined cycle in conventional gas turbines. Basic technologies for oxygen-hydrogen combustion turbines in power generation systems are being developed in Japan as part of the research and development at NEDO for hydrogen utilization. In this study, a dynamic model of the entire system for a 1400 °C-class rationalization system was constructed using a Modelica-based tool developed by the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan. The dynamic behavior considering preliminary load following control was then characterized based on simulation results.
Hybrid physical-AI based system modeling and simulation approach demonstrated on an automotive fuel cell
Authors: Hübel Moritz , Nirmala Nirmala , Deligant Michael , Li Lixiang
Published: November 2022

This paper presents an approach on how to train a Neural Network model based on a detailed physical Modelica model. The necessary steps to generate training data from simulation will be explained as well as the generation process of a surrogate model. It will be shown, how the surrogate will be re-integrated into the Modelica system model. A benchmark based on accuracy and simulation performance will be performed. The tools used are Modelon Impact, an online modeling and simulation platform, the TensorFlow/Keras toolbox in a Jupyter Notebook which provides a Python-based interface for generating Neural Networks, and the Modelica Neural Network Library that provides functions for constructing Neural Networks within Modelica. The approach is demonstrated on an automotive fuel cell model which is part of an overall vehicle system model. One possible application is to train the neural network via repeated simulations and then to reuse it as an embedded software component for efficiently estimating fuel use and range for various driving cycles and ambient conditions.
Techno-economic assessment of an industrial project towards carbon neutrality
Authors: Köppen Arne , Magnusson Fredrik , Velut Stéphane , Gao Rui , Moriyama Koji , Uyeki Robert
Published: November 2022

This paper describes the application of the system simulation platform Modelon Impact for techno-economical assessment of energy projects towards carbon neutrality. The control co-design approach applied in the work allows for rapid assessment of various technology options without the need for deriving complex control laws for the considered assets. The approach is here applied on an industrial use case where the goal is to identify the technology options that minimize the total cost of ownership while achieving carbon neutrality.
Brain organoids: Establishment and application
Authors: Chen Hao , Jin Xin , Li Tie , Ye Zhuang
Published: November 2022

Brain organoids are produced by the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells under three-dimensional culture conditions by adding neurodevelopment-related regulatory signals. They are similar to the cell composition and anatomical structure of the brain, and can reflect the developmental process of the brain, as well as their physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Brain organoids are good models to study human brain development and brain-related diseases in vitro. Here, we mainly focus on the construction of brain organoids and review the application of brain organoids in disease modelingand drug screening.
Differentiation of pluripotent stem cells for modeling human skin development and potential applications
Authors: Oceguera-Yanez Fabian , Avila-Robinson Alfonso , Woltjen Knut
Published: November 2022

The skin of mammals is a multilayered and multicellular tissue that forms an environmental barrier with key functions in protection, regulation, and sensation. While animal models have long served to study the basic functions of the skin in vivo, new insights are expected from in vitro models of human skin development. Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have proven to be invaluable tools for studying human development in vitro. To understand the mechanisms regulating human skin homeostasis and injury repair at the molecular level, recent efforts aim to differentiate PSCs towards skin epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and skin appendages such as hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Here, we present an overview of the literature describing strategies for human PSC differentiation towards the components of skin, with a particular focus on keratinocytes. We highlight fundamental advances in the field employing patient-derived human induced PSCs (iPSCs) and skin organoid generation. Importantly, PSCs allow researchers to model inherited skin diseases in the search for potential treatments. Skin differentiation from human PSCs holds the potential to clarify human skin biology.
Acorane sesquiterpenes from the deep-sea derived Penicillium bilaiae fungus with anti-neuroinflammatory effects
Authors: Zhang Wenfang , Meng Qingyu , Wu Jingshuai , Cheng Wei , Liu Dong , Huang Jian , Fan Aili , Xu Jing , Lin Wenhan
Published: November 2022

Acorane-type sesquiterpenes comprise a unique class of natural products with a range of pharmaceutical effects. Genome sequencing and gene annotation, along with qRT-PCR detection, demonstrate that the deep-sea derived Penicillium bilaiae F-28 fungus shows potential to produce acorane sesquiterpenes. Chromatographic manipulation resulted in the isolation of 20 acorane sesquiterpenes from the large-scale fermented fungal strain. Their structures were established by the interpretation of spectroscopic data, together with X-ray diffraction, chemical conversion, and ECD data for configurational assignments. A total of 18 new sesquiterpenes, namely, bilaiaeacorenols A–R (1–18), were identified. Bilaiaeacorenols A and B represent structurally unique tricyclic acoranes. Compound 18 exhibited efficient reduction against NO production in LPS-induced BV-2 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner, and it abolished LPS-induced NF-κB in the nucleus of BV-2 microglial cells. In addition, marked reductions of iNOS and COX-2 in protein and mRNA levels were observed. This study extends the chemical diversity of acorane-type sesquiterpenoids and suggests that compound 18 is a promising lead for anti-neuroinflammation.
Case report: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a large bicuspid anatomy using the XL-Myval 32 mm
Authors: Elkoumy Ahmed , Terkelsen Christian J. , Abdelshafy Mahmoud , Ellert-Gregersen Julia , Elzomor Hesham , Thim Troels , Serruys Patrick W. , Soliman Osama , Nissen Henrik
Published: November 2022

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a recommended intervention for selected population with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) anatomy has been categorized as an unfavorable anatomy for TAVR due to multiple considerations as exclusion from randomized trials in addition to the challenging and unpredictable anatomy. The anatomical constraints of BAV include the large anatomy of the annulus, sinus of Valsalva, and aorta (aortopathy), in addition to significant calcifications of the device landing zone. Most commercial transcatheter heart valves (THV) have upper dimension limits of the annulus and area in which the device can be implanted safely without significant oversizing. Myval-XL THVs (Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., India) are balloon-expandable valves (BEV) that have been developed with two new sizes, 30.5 and 32 mm, aiming to treat patients with large annulus dimensions and that exceed the upper limit of an ordinary device’s sizing matrix. This case series report describes TAVR using the XL-Myval 32 mm THV in three European patients with symptomatic severe bicuspid aortic stenosis with significant calcifications and large annular dimensions exceeding the limits of the other THVs.
A new machine learning-based prediction model for subtype diagnosis in primary aldosteronism
Authors: Shi Shaomin , Tian Yuan , Ren Yong , Li Qing’an , Li Luhong , Yu Ming , Wang Jingzhong , Gao Ling , Xu Shaoyong
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Unilateral primary aldosteronism (UPA) and bilateral primary aldosteronism (BPA) are the two subtypes of PA. Discriminating UPA from BPA is of great significance. Although adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the gold standard for diagnosis, it has shortcomings. Thus, improved methods are needed.

Methods

The original data were extracted from the public database “Dryad”. Ten parameters were included to develop prediction models for PA subtype diagnosis using machine learning technology. Moreover, the optimal model was chose and validated in an external dataset.

Results

In the modeling dataset, 165 patients (71 UPA, 94 BPA) were included, while in the external dataset, 43 consecutive patients (20 UPA, 23 BPA) were included. The ten parameters utilized in the prediction model include age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR), serum potassium, ARR after 50 mg captopril challenge test (CCT), primary aldosterone concentration (PAC) after saline infusion test (SIT), PAC reduction rate after SIT, and number of types of antihypertensive agents at diagnosis. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and AUC for the optimal model using the random forest classifier were 90.0%, 81.8%, 96.4%, 0.878, and 0.938, respectively, in the testing dataset and 81.4%, 90.0%, 73.9%, 0.818 and 0.887, respectively, in the validating external dataset. The most important variables contributing to the prediction model were PAC after SIT, ARR, and ARR after CCT.

Discussion

We developed a machine learning-based predictive model for PA subtype diagnosis based on ten clinical parameters without CT imaging. In the future, artificial intelligence-based prediction models might become a robust prediction tool for PA subtype diagnosis, thereby, might reducing at least some of the requests for CT or AVS and assisting clinical decision-making.
Differences in bacterial diversity, composition, and community networks in lake water across three distinct regions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Wang Dandan , Huang Yuefei , Zhang Shuo , Liu Shufeng , Wang Ting , Yang Haijiao
Published: November 2022

We analyze bacterial composition, diversity, geographical distribution, and their community networks in lake water in three adjacent regions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Results show that bacterial alpha-diversity indices are much lower in the Hoh Xil (HX) than that in the Yellow River Headwater (YRH) regions and the Qaidam (QD) region. The dominant phyla in QD and YRH are Proteobacteria which account for 42.45 % and 43.64 % of all detected phyla, while Bacteroidetes is the dominant bacterial taxa in HX (46.07 %). Redundancy analysis results suggest that the most important factors in driving bacterial community composition in the three regions are altitude (QD), total nitrogen (YRH), and pH (HX), respectively. Both environmental factors and spatial factors significantly affect the bacterial community composition in QD and HX, while only environmental factors are the major drivers in YRH. Finally, network analyses reveal that the bacterial network structure in QD is more complex than those in YRH and HX, whereas the bacterial network in HX is the most stable, followed by those in QD and YRH.
Understanding of groundwater evolution through chemical and age dating information in the Yongding River alluvial fan in Beijing
Authors: Liu Kai , Qiao Xiaojuan , Wang Shanshan , Sun Ying
Published: November 2022

Groundwater plays important roles in human community development and the urbanization process as the results of global environmental change and rapid population growth. A clear understanding of the vertical and horizontal spatial distribution characteristics of groundwater and sediment is the premise of efficient groundwater resource management and utilization in alluvial plains. To explore the evolution process of groundwater and the distribution of sediment in the Yongding River (YDR) alluvial fan, a typical profile from Mentougou to Fengheying was chosen to conduct an extensive hydrogeological investigation with multiple hydrochemical, isotopic, and age dating analyses, which represents one of the most typical hydrogeological units in the YDR alluvial fan. The analysis results show that (i) along the profile, the water’s chemistry type gradually changes from HCO3-Ca·Mg to HCO3-Na. The contents of coarse grain gradually decrease while fine particles regularly increase. Also, a similar evolution trend is found in the vertical direction. (ii) The annual renewable rate of groundwater is > 10% in the upper fan, 2%–8% nearby Daxing, and < 2% in Fengheying. (iii) In the proximal fan area, the average flow velocity of the single and double layer is about 65 m yr−1 and of approximately 18.9 m yr−1. From the mid fan to distal fan, the value of velocity and hydraulic conductivity decreases from 12.4 m yr−1 to 3.75 m yr−1 and from 8.54 m yr−1 to 0.64 m yr−1, respectively. (iv) The 14C analysis results indicate that the age of shallow and deep groundwater ranges from 5a to 60a and from 4000a to 12000a, respectively. The groundwater age increases with depth in the vertical direction and increases from northwest to southeast along in the alluvial fan in the horizontal direction. Understanding the evolution process of sediment and hydrochemistry in the YDR alluvial fan provides a valuable reference for groundwater resource development, utilization, and pollution prevention in the alluvial fan.
The asymmetric effect of technological innovation on CO2 emissions in South Africa: New evidence from the QARDL approach
Authors: Udeagha Maxwell Chukwudi , Ngepah Nicholas
Published: November 2022

The asymmetric impact of technological innovation on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in South Africa from 1960 to 2020 is evaluated in this study. We apply the newly established quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) methodology to deal with distributional asymmetry based on the location of CO2 emissions within its own distribution. This distinguishes our analysis from earlier studies in the following way. In contrast to other studies, this research uses the QARDL technique to assess the long-term stability across the quantiles, resulting in a more adaptable econometric analysis than the traditional frameworks. In order to capture the trade share in South Africa’s GDP and the quantity of trade compared to world trade, we employ a novel measure of trade openness. We find that 1) technological innovation helps reduce CO2 emissions in the short term and over the long term; 2) the scale effect worsens CO2 emissions, whereas the technique effect enhances it, supporting the existence of an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis; 3) energy consumption, foreign direct investment (FDI), and industrial added value degrade environmental quality; and 4) increasing trade openness is glaringly harmful to the environment over the long term, despite being beneficial in the short term; 5) there are long-term, asymmetric linkages between CO2 emissions, scale effect, technique effect, technological innovation, energy use, FDI, and trade openness; 6) industrial value-added, scale effect, technique effect, technical innovation, energy usage, FDI, and trade openness Granger-cause CO2 emissions over the medium, long, and short terms indicate the significance of these variables in determining CO2 emissions. Based on our empirical findings, this study makes the case that South Africa’s government and policymakers should consider the importance of innovative technologies as a sustainable source of advancements in attaining energy security and promoting ecological integrity in the nation.
Back to the surface – Daylighting urban streams in a Global North–South comparison
Authors: Wantzen Karl M. , Piednoir Téa , Cao Yixin , Vazhayil Alvin M. , Tan Chaozhong , Kari Franz Günter , Lagerström Mirja , Gerner Nadine V. , Sommerhäuser Mario M.
Published: November 2022

Many urban streams have vanished from the surface as a collateral effect of urban growth. Often, these buried streams have been forgotten, and only street names remind us of their existence. Reasons for stream burial include the gain of space for road or house construction or the use of stream water to transport wastewater. Today, restoration efforts to bring back fully canalized streams to the surface and to restore their stream bed (so-called daylighting) are being increasingly integrated into urban blue-green space planning, recognizing the high ecological and social value of urban streams, especially to support resilience against climate change impacts in cities. In this paper, we briefly revise the impacts of stream burial, present a series of case studies of daylighting from Europe (France, Switzerland, and Germany), and compare them with case studies from Asia (China, India, Taiwan). We found that high real estate prices, limited buffer riparian zone and resistance by the inhabitants were the greatest obstacles to stream daylighting projects. In contrast, economic gains from separating wastewater from rainwater and revival of cultural linkages with water were the strongest drivers to restore these streams. We then present methods on how to identify buried streams as candidates for daylighting and deliver criteria to select the most promising candidates. Acknowledging that each restoration project requires to be adapted to the local biophysical and local setting, we deliver a preliminary decision support system and a guideline for identifying the best candidate streams for daylighting projects, including the arguments in favor of restoration, the caveats, the social processes of decision-making, and perspectives for the integration of stream daylighting into urban climate change mitigation and adaptation concepts, in a Global North-South comparison.
Construction of cuproptosis-related gene signature to predict the prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy of patients with bladder cancer through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation
Authors: Liu Zijian , Zhu Fubin , Zhang Pu , Qian Bei , Liu Weihui , Xiao Yajun , Chen Nianyong , He Qingliu , Xiao Jianghong
Published: November 2022

Background: A new form of cell death, copper-dependent cell death (termed cuproptosis), was illustrated in a recent scientific study. However, the biological function or prognostic value of cuproptosis regulators in bladder cancer (BLCA) remains unknown.

Materials and Methods: Sequencing data obtained from BLCA samples in TCGA and GEO databases were preprocessed for analysis. Biological function and immune cell infiltration levels evaluated by gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were employed to calculate enrichment scores. Iteration least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and COX regression model were employed to select feature genes and construct a novel cuproptosis-related (CR) score signature. The genomics of drug sensitivity in cancer (GDSC) and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) analysis were used to predict the chemotherapy and immunotherapy efficacy for BLCA patients. The relative expression of the genes involved in the signature was also verified by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in cell lines and tissues.

Results: Expression abundance and the prognostic value of cuproptosis regulators proved that cuproptosis might play a vital part in the carcinogenesis of BLCA. GSVA revealed that cuproptosis regulators might be associated with metabolism and metastasis-related pathways such as TGF-β, protein secretion, oxidative Phosphorylation, MYC targets, MTORC1, and adipogenesis pathways. CR scores could predict the prognosis and evaluate the chemotherapy and immunotherapy efficacies of BLCA. CR scores were positively correlated with EMT, MYC, MTORC1, HEDGEHOG, and E2F signaling pathways; meanwhile, they were negatively correlated with several immune cell infiltration levels such as CD8+ T cells, γδT cells, and activated dendritic cells. Several GEO datasets were used to validate the power of prognostic prediction, and a nomogram was also established for clinical use. The expressions of DDX10, RBM34, and RPL17 were significantly higher in BLCA cell lines and tissues in comparison with those in the corresponding normal controls.

Conclusion: Cuproptosis might play an essential role in the progression of BLCA. CR scores could be helpful in the investigation of prognostic prediction and therapeutic efficacy and could make contributions to further studies in BLCA.
A GHKNN model based on the physicochemical property extraction method to identify SNARE proteins
Authors: Gu Xingyue , Ding Yijie , Xiao Pengfeng , He Tao
Published: November 2022

There is a great deal of importance to SNARE proteins, and their absence from function can lead to a variety of diseases. The SNARE protein is known as a membrane fusion protein, and it is crucial for mediating vesicle fusion. The identification of SNARE proteins must therefore be conducted with an accurate method. Through extensive experiments, we have developed a model based on graph-regularized k-local hyperplane distance nearest neighbor model (GHKNN) binary classification. In this, the model uses the physicochemical property extraction method to extract protein sequence features and the SMOTE method to upsample protein sequence features. The combination achieves the most accurate performance for identifying all protein sequences. Finally, we compare the model based on GHKNN binary classification with other classifiers and measure them using four different metrics: SN, SP, ACC, and MCC. In experiments, the model performs significantly better than other classifiers.
Fluorescently tagged nanobodies and NanoBRET to study ligand-binding and agonist-induced conformational changes of full-length EGFR expressed in living cells
Authors: Comez Dehan , Glenn Jacqueline , Anbuhl Stephanie M. , Heukers Raimond , Smit Martine J. , Hill Stephen J. , Kilpatrick Laura E.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor is a member of the Erb receptor tyrosine kinase family. It binds several ligands including EGF, betacellulin (BTC) and TGF-α, controls cellular proliferation and invasion and is overexpressed in various cancer types. Nanobodies (VHHs) are the antigen binding fragments of heavy chain only camelid antibodies. In this paper we used NanoBRET to compare the binding characteristics of fluorescent EGF or two distinct fluorescently labelled EGFR directed nanobodies (Q44c and Q86c) to full length EGFR.

Methods

Living HEK293T cells were stably transfected with N terminal NLuc tagged EGFR. NanoBRET saturation, displacement or kinetics experiments were then performed using fluorescently labelled EGF ligands (EGF-AF488 or EGF-AF647) or fluorescently labelled EGFR targeting nanobodies (Q44c-HL488 and Q86c-HL488).

Results

These data revealed that the EGFR nanobody Q44c was able to inhibit EGF binding to full length EGFR, while Q86c was able to recognise agonist bound EGFR and act as a conformational sensor. The specific binding of fluorescent Q44c-HL488 and EGF-AF488 was inhibited by a range of EGFR ligands (EGF> BTC>TGF-α).

Discussion

EGFR targeting nanobodies are powerful tools for studying the role of the EGFR in health and disease and allow real time quantification of ligand binding and distinct ligand induced conformational changes.
Nomogram established on account of Lasso-Cox regression for predicting recurrence in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Qi , Qiao Wenying , Zhang Honghai , Liu Biyu , Li Jianjun , Zang Chaoran , Mei Tingting , Zheng Jiasheng , Zhang Yonghong
Published: November 2022

Purpose

To investigate the risk factors for recurrence in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after minimally invasive treatment with curative intent, then to construct a prediction model based on Lasso-Cox regression and visualize the model built.

Methods

Clinical data were collected from 547 patients that received minimally invasive treatment in our hospital from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016. Lasso regression was used to screen risk factors for recurrence. Then we established Cox proportional hazard regression model and random survival forest model including several parameters screened by Lasso regression. An optimal model was selected by comparing the values of C-index, then the model was visualized and the nomogram was finally plotted.

Results

The variables screened by Lasso regression including age, gender, cirrhosis, tumor number, tumor size, platelet-albumin-bilirubin index (PALBI), and viral load were incorporated in the Cox model and random survival forest model (P<0.05). The C-index of these two models in the training sets was 0.729 and 0.708, and was 0.726 and 0.700 in the validation sets, respectively. So we finally chose Lasso-Cox regression model, and the calibration curve in the validation set performed well, indicating that the model built has a better predictive ability. And then a nomogram was plotted based on the model chosen to visualize the results.

Conclusions

The present study established a nomogram for predicting recurrence in patients with early-stage HCC based on the Lasso-Cox regression model. This nomogram was of some guiding significance for screening populations at high risk of recurrence after treatment, by which doctors can formulate individualized follow-up strategies or treatment protocols according to the predicted risk of relapse for patients to improve the long-term prognosis.
Role of endothelial cells in graft-versus-host disease
Authors: Neidemire-Colley Lotus , Robert Jérémy , Ackaoui Antoine , Dorrance Adrienne M. , Guimond Martin , Ranganathan Parvathi
Published: November 2022

To date, the only curative treatment for high-risk or refractory hematologic malignancies non-responsive to standard chemotherapy is allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation (allo-HCT). Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a donor T cell-mediated immunological disorder that is frequently fatal and the leading cause of non-relapse mortality (NRM) in patients post allo-HCT. The pathogenesis of acute GVHD involves recognition of minor and/or major HLA mismatched host antigens by donor T cells followed by expansion, migration and finally end-organ damage due to combination of inflammatory cytokine secretion and direct cytotoxic effects. The endothelium is a thin layer of endothelial cells (EC) that line the innermost portion of the blood vessels and a key regulator in vascular homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Endothelial cells are activated by a wide range of inflammatory mediators including bacterial products, contents released from dying/apoptotic cells and cytokines and respond by secreting cytokines/chemokines that facilitate the recruitment of innate and adaptive immune cells to the site of inflammation. Endothelial cells can also be damaged prior to transplant as well as by alloreactive donor T cells. Prolonged EC activation results in dysfunction that plays a role in multiple post-transplant complications including but not limited to veno-occlusive disease (VOD), transplant associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA), and idiopathic pneumonia syndrome. In this mini review, we summarize the biology of endothelial cells, factors regulating EC activation and the role of ECs in inflammation and GVHD pathogenesis.
Human endogenous retroviruses and the inflammatory response: A vicious circle associated with health and illness
Authors: Rangel Sara Coelho , da Silva Michelly Damasceno , da Silva Amanda Lopes , dos Santos Juliana de Melo Batista , Neves Lucas Melo , Pedrosa Ana , Rodrigues Fernanda Monteiro , Trettel Caio dos Santos , Furtado Guilherme Eustáquio , de Barros Marcelo Paes , Bachi André Luis Lacerda , Romano Camila Malta , Nali Luiz Henrique Da Silva
Published: November 2022

Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) are derived from ancient exogenous retroviral infections that have infected our ancestors’ germline cells, underwent endogenization process, and were passed throughout the generations by retrotransposition and hereditary transmission. HERVs comprise 8% of the human genome and are critical for several physiological activities. Yet, HERVs reactivation is involved in pathological process as cancer and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarize the multiple aspects of HERVs’ role within the human genome, as well as virological and molecular aspects, and their fusogenic property. We also discuss possibilities of how the HERVs are possibly transactivated and participate in modulating the inflammatory response in health conditions. An update on their role in several autoimmune, inflammatory, and aging-related diseases is also presented.
Global blue economy governance – A methodological approach to investigating blue economy implementation
Authors: Wuwung Lucky , Croft Freya , Benzaken Dominique , Azmi Kamal , Goodman Camille , Rambourg Constance , Voyer Michelle
Published: November 2022

The proliferation of the blue economy in political discourse has gained traction in recent years, however, there remains no standardized definition. The triple bottom line goals of economic development, social equity, and environmental conservation are at the center of the blue economy vision. Yet the ambiguities surrounding the term have resulted in considerable variation in how the blue economy is implemented and what is prioritized. This paper takes a global snapshot of current approaches to national level blue economy governance. In doing so this paper provides the first global assessment of blue economy implementation approaches, through the development of a global blue economy database. Using the best available information from policy documents, media releases and other publicly available online information, we comparatively analyzed each country’s governance strategy to assess the level of blue economy development in coastal states around the world. Throughout this paper we outline the novel methodological approach we took in order to develop a tool for analyzing national level blue economy implementation on the global scale. This approach will allow for ongoing and continued analysis of blue economy operationalization as the concept continues to evolve.
Assessment and projections of sediment budget resilience in Marbella, Spain
Authors: Malvarez Gonzalo , Navas Fatima , del Rio José Luis
Published: November 2022

This paper discusses how the beaches of Marbella, on the southwestern Mediterranean coast of Spain, may no longer stay in their natural resilience envelope due to a critically delicate natural sediment transport balance and a degree of artificialization that has entered the whole sedimentary system into a new resilience state. The combination of vigorous terrain and millenary human action and disruptions across and alongshore on the coastline have increased stress on sediment availability. Although sediment circulation in the coastal cell has often been studied, the investigation of the connection between soil loss and river sediment transport and retention at a major dam remains a challenge. In this article, a first-order sediment yield prediction was established by using a GIS-based model applied to the area’s main river basin, and validation of model results is provided by empirical measurements of sedimentation in the main reservoir lake of La Concepción using Differential Global Positioning System (D_GPS)/Echo-sounder combination and measurements from remotely piloted aircraft compared with preconstruction blueprint topography documenting spot heights where sediments accumulated or eroded over 50 years. The marine circulation is interpreted from previous research by the authors that established a source-sink pattern similar to the Atlantic platform-fed marine system that originated the significant Cabopino dunes. The significant erodibility that we have estimated seems matched by potentially high sediment accumulation rates along selected profiles and spot heights across the bottom of the reservoir lake, and, in combination with the marine circulation model, our results identify that sediment budget key elements in Mediterranean settings, such as soil loss, sediment entrapment in reservoirs, and the coastal marine circulation, are in a state of deficit that suggests that the resilience envelope is surpassed and the system as a whole is entering a new resilience state in which the engineering factor is key. Some ecosystem services, such as the protection offered by the natural resilience of the beach and dune system of Cabopino, are no longer recoverable in the current artificialization state of the system as a whole.
Scale-up of biomass production by Methanococcus maripaludis
Authors: Palabikyan Hayk , Ruddyard Aquilla , Pomper Lara , Novak David , Reischl Barbara , Rittmann Simon K.-M. R.
Published: November 2022

The development of a sustainable energy economy is one of the great challenges in the current times of climate crisis and growing energy demands. Industrial production of the fifth-generation biofuel methane by microorganisms has the potential to become a crucial biotechnological milestone of the post fossil fuel era. Therefore, reproducible cultivation and scale-up of methanogenic archaea (methanogens) is essential for enabling biomass generation for fundamental studies and for defining peak performance conditions for bioprocess development. This study provides a comprehensive revision of established and optimization of novel methods for the cultivation of the model organism Methanococcus maripaludis S0001. In closed batch mode, 0.05 L serum bottles cultures were gradually replaced by 0.4 L Schott bottle cultures for regular biomass generation, and the time for reaching peak optical density (OD578) values was reduced in half. In 1.5 L reactor cultures, various agitation, harvesting and transfer methods were compared resulting in a specific growth rate of 0.16 h−1 and the highest recorded OD578 of 3.4. Finally, a 300-fold scale-up from serum bottles was achieved by growing M. maripaludis for the first time in a 22 L stainless steel bioreactor with 15 L working volume. Altogether, the experimental approaches described in this study contribute to establishing methanogens as essential organisms in large-scale biotechnology applications, a crucial stage of an urgently needed industrial evolution toward sustainable biosynthesis of energy and high value products.