bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood Pressure Control: A Marathon or a Sprint?
Authors: Sutherland Katherine
Published: October 2022

This symposium discussed several recent initiatives used around the world to improve the management of hypertensive patients and achieve better blood pressure (BP) control. The key objectives of the symposium were to review the current position with regards to BP control in Europe, to discuss the initiatives used in Italy, France, and Canada to improve hypertension management and their outcomes, and to assess how single-pill fixed-dose combinations of antihypertensive drugs have improved adherence. Some of the key barriers to BP control were discussed and measures to overcome these presented, so that further improvements in hypertension management can be achieved going forward.

Prof Anthony Heagerty opened the meeting by discussing the key causes of suboptimal BP control and the results of the SPRINT study. Prof Massimo Volpe presented the initiative to achieve 70% BP control and assessed its success to date in Italy. Prof Jean-Jacques Mourad discussed the results of the PAssAGE 2014 study and French League Against Hypertension Survey (FLAHS) in 2015, following the initiative to achieve 70% BP control in France by the end of 2015. Prof Raj Padwal presented the Canadian hypertension Education Program (CHEP) and the improvements in the management of hypertensive patients in Canada. Finally, Dr Julian Segura bought the meeting to a close by discussing how fixed-dose combinations have improved adherence in clinical practice.
Secukinumab in Moderate-to-Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Primary Endpoint Analysis from the SUNSHINE and SUNRISE Phase III Trials
Authors: Alavi Afsaneh , Jemec Gregor , Gottlieb Alice , Wei Xiaoling , Wozniak Magdalena , Uhlmann Lorenz , Llobet Martinez Angela , Keefe Deborah , Martin Ruvie , Chen Li , Muscianisi Elisa , Boreham Helen
Published: October 2022

The primary endpoint analyses from the SUNSHINE and SUNRISE Phase III trials of secukinumab in moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) were featured in an oral presentation as part of the late-breaking news session at the 31st annual European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) congress. Known collectively as the SUNNY trials, the SUNSHINE and SUNRISE studies represent the largest Phase III trials conducted in HS to date. The primary endpoint was met in both studies for the every 2 weeks (Q2W) regimen, and in one for the every 4 weeks (Q4W) regimen, demonstrating the superiority of secukinumab over placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe HS. Secukinumab delivered rapid symptom relief and showed a favourable safety profile consistent with its use in other indications. Available data on file from the Week 52 database lock support the sustained efficacy beyond Week 16 with no new safety findings. Based on the positive outcomes of these milestone clinical trials, secukinumab is expected to be a new, safe, and effective biologic treatment option with a novel mode of action, targeting IL-17A, for moderate-to-severe HS.
Alternative in strengthening bureaucratic neutrality through political culture in the 2019 election in Boalemo Regency
Authors: Mahmud Ramli Mahmud Ramli
Published: October 2022

Artikel ini bertujuan menelaah dan menganalisis persoalan netralitas birokrasi dalam perspektif budaya politik pada Pemilu 2019 di Kabupaten Boalemo. Permasalahan mengenai ketidaknetralan birokrasi dalam pemilu disebabkan oleh budaya politik kaula. Untuk menjawab masalah dimaksud, penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan fenomenologis dimana peneliti sebagai informan kunci dalam pengumpulan data melalui wawancara dan dokumentasi khususnya literatur yang berhubungan dengan objek yang sama. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa ASN yang berada di jajaran struktural dan fungsional guru cenderung tidak netral disebabkan dari Bupati sebagai kepala daerah, sikap dan pilihan politik cenderung pada budaya politik kaula. Sementara itu birokrasi yang berada dalam jajaran fungsional Kesehatan cenderung netral dan lebih mengedepankan nilai rasionalitas berdasarkan pada budaya politik partisipan. Atas temuan tersebut, perlu adanya penguatan budaya politik partisipan bagi birokrasi di daerah melalui sosialisasi dan pendidikan politik.

 

                        Kata kunci: Budaya Politik, Birokrasi, Pemilu 2019
Functional Hazard Assessment of the Propulsion Control System Designed for a Small Hybrid Electric Aircraft
Authors:   AES Aerospace Embedded Solutions GmbH, Motte Christian , Niehuis Martin ,   Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery, RWTH Aachen University, Fischer Sophie-Cathrin ,   AES Aerospace Embedded Solutions GmbH, Stastny Karel ,   AES Aerospace Embedded Solutions GmbH, Jeschke Peter ,   Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery, RWTH Aachen University
Published: October 2022

This paper presents the Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA) of a Propulsion Control System (PCS) designed for a hybrid electric aircraft considering the Failure Conditions (FCs) that are novel due to the electrification of the propulsion system. It will be worked out whether these FCs are covered by current certification regulations. After defining the functionality, the FCs for a hybrid electric propulsion system are established, based on current standards and also the Working Group 113 (WG-113) recommendations. The FHA and Preliminary System Safety Assessment (PSSA) approaches are used to evaluate and improve the architecture of the control system. The system functions on propulsion level are defined and allocated to different subsystems. Their FCs and effects are then established. Based on the applicable standards and recommendations of WG-113, these effects are classified, and the Safety Requirements (SRs) are then defined. The FHA results include 23 FCs related to the hybrid system, some of which are not addressed by the current regulatory framework. In summary, this paper outlines how electrified powertrain systems will affect new propulsion architectures from a safety perspective and how the current regulatory framework and the work of the WG-113 could be improved by addressing new FCs resulting from the FHA. By suggesting SRs derived from the FHA, this paper also discusses what system/safety activities need to be undertaken in order to design a propulsion architecture that is compliant with the applicable certification documents.
ULTRA-COMPACT TRAVERSE SYSTEM FOR TRANSONIC ANNULAR CASCADE
Authors:   Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Amend Jonas Elias , Povey* Thomas ,   Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
Published: October 2022

This paper describes the design and commissioning of an ultra-compact traverse system for the Engine Component Aerothermal (ECAT) facility at the University of Oxford, an engine-parts facility operating at engine-representative Mach and Reynolds numbers. The traverse system was required to be unusually compact to integrate within an existing upstream cassette system. The system has been used to perform detailed surveys of inlet total pressure, temperature, flow angles, velocity, and turbulence. The design and commissioning are described in detail. Example data is also provided. It is hoped that the novel design will be useful for other engineers involved in facility design.
Investigation of the Flutter Stability of a Transonic Fan with Inlet Distortion
Authors:   1 Key Laboratory of Light-duty Gas-turbine, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences  + 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhang Yanfeng , Pan Jieyun ,   School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, Zhu Yalu ,   School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, Dong Xu ,   1 Key Laboratory of Light-duty Gas-turbine, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences + 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Luo Jiaqi ,   School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University
Published: October 2022

Flutter is a self-excited aeroelastic instability phenomenon which can cause material fatigue and, even worse leads to blade failure. The risk of flutter has to be avoided over the whole operating range especially near operating limits. This paper looks at the prediction of flutter instability of the transonic fan under inlet distortion. The flutter stability analysis with an inhouse unsteady Reynolds-average Navier-Stokes (URANS) solver is performed by applying the so-called energy method. The phase-shifted boundary condition based on direct-store method is used, which enables reducing the computational domain to a one/two passages for all inter-blade phase angles (IBPAs), thus providing considerable saving in computing time. The more efficient double passage method is also adopted in our solver. The solver based on phase-shift boundary condition is first validated by the unsteady aerodynamic force prediction of standard configuration 4 (STCF4) turbine. The results are compared with that by multi-passage solver. Then the flutter boundary of NASA Rotor 67 vibrating in its first natural mode is calculated and the influence of inlet distortion on flutter instability is investigated.
INFLUENCE OF AXIAL AIR INJECTION ON THE FLAME STABILITY OF A TECHNICALLY PREMIXED HYDROGEN FLAME
Authors:   Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Mira Daniel , Both Ambrus ,   Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Surapaneni Anurag ,   Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC)
Published: October 2022

This work is a numerical investigation on the stability of a hydrogen flame in a swirl-stabilized burner configuration using large-eddy simulation with tabulated chemistry. Experimental results from this combustor showed that the axial injection influences the vortex breakdown (VB) position and therefore, the propensity of the burner to produce flashback. It is found that depending on the combination of primary swirl flow and amount of axial air injection, the flow can exhibit self-excited oscillations, and more importantly, it can control the flashback safety. Numerical simulations are used here to investigate different combinations of axial air injection and evaluate its impact on flame stability and flashback resistance. It is found that the axial air injection influences the flame stabilization and the position of the central recirculation zone. The penetration of the flame in the mixing tube introduces a strong expansion and acceleration of the flow, which results in a reduction of the spreading angle and eventually a flashback event.
Comparison of LDA and Hot-Wire Measurements at Moderate Subsonic Mach Numbers
Authors:   Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery RWTH Aachen University, Lang Henning Markus , Jilke Lukas ,   Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery RWTH Aachen University, Reymond Loïc Marc ,   Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery RWTH Aachen University, Jeschke Peter ,   Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery RWTH Aachen University, Wunderer Roland ,   MTU Aero Engines AG
Published: October 2022

A detailed comparison of Hot-Wire-Anemometry (HWA) and Laser-Doppler-Anemometry (LDA) measurements in the wake of an airfoil is presented. An evaluation of the capabilities of both techniques in measuring three-dimensional turbulence in turbomachinery applications is made and potential application pitfalls are highlighted. It is shown that the HWA tends to underestimate the turbulence intensity due to damping effects, while the LDA tends to overestimate the turbulence intensity due to the optical setup. The wake flow of a single airfoil at inflow Mach numbers of 0.35 and 0.45 and corresponding Reynolds numbers of 480,000 and 630,000 are used as a reference case. Different HWA probe head designs and various wire diameter are considered, as well as different setups for the LDA measurement device. In a comparison of the two techniques, the turbulence intensity measured differs by up to 1:3 percentage points (pp) in the freestream region and 4:0pp within the wake. This is primarily due to the resolution of high-frequency fluctuations. For both measuring techniques, potential sources of errors are highlighted, especially regarding the application to turbomachinery flows.
Early detection of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest for experimental evaluation
Authors: Wallace Zachary S. , Davis James , Niewiadomska Anna Maria , Olson Robert D. , Shukla Maulik , Stevens Rick , Zhang Yun , Zmasek Christian M. , Scheuermann Richard H.
Published: October 2022

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated its ability to rapidly and continuously evolve, leading to the emergence of thousands of different sequence variants, many with distinctive phenotypic properties. Fortunately, the broad application of next generation sequencing (NGS) across the globe has produced a wealth of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences, offering a comprehensive picture of how this virus is evolving so that accurate diagnostics, reliable therapeutics, and prophylactic vaccines against COVID-19 can be developed and maintained. The millions of SARS-CoV-2 sequences deposited into genomic sequencing databases, including GenBank, BV-BRC, and GISAID, are annotated with the dates and geographic locations of sample collection, and can be aligned to and compared with the Wuhan-Hu-1 reference genome to extract their constellation of nucleotide and amino acid substitutions. By aggregating these data into concise datasets, the spread of variants through space and time can be assessed. Variant tracking efforts have initially focused on the Spike protein due to its critical role in viral tropism and antibody neutralization. To identify emerging variants of concern as early as possible, we developed a computational pipeline to process the genomic data and assign risk scores based on both epidemiological and functional parameters. Epidemiological dynamics are used to identify variants exhibiting substantial growth over time and spread across geographical regions. Experimental data that quantify Spike protein regions targeted by adaptive immunity and critical for other virus characteristics are used to predict variants with consequential immunogenic and pathogenic impacts. The growth assessment and functional impact scores are combined to produce a Composite Score for any set of Spike substitutions detected. With this systematic method to routinely score and rank emerging variants, we have established an approach to identify threatening variants early and prioritize them for experimental evaluation.
Redox-responsive hyaluronan-conjugated polypyrrole nanoparticles targeting chemo-photothermal therapy for breast cancer
Authors: Sun Jingjun , Zhu Shuangjiu , Xu Weixuan , Jiang Guoqin
Published: October 2022

The combination of chemo-photothermal therapy has a wide application prospect in the intensive treatment of cancer. In this study, we developed a complex nanoparticle consist of polypyrrole, cystine dihydrochloride and hyaluronan. The polypyrrole nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel exhibited good photothermal effects, and the drug release can be triggered by combined response of temperature and redox. In vitro biological studies indicated the nanoparticles could effectively induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells involved in the potential mechanism of inhibition of biological expression of heat shock proteins and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. In addition, the nanoparticles have a significant inhibitory effect on cancer growth in breast tumor-bearing mice model, indicating that they have great potential for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy.
Electronic waste bank model as a solution for implementing circular economy: Case study DKI Jakarta-Indonesia
Authors: Rimantho Dino , Syaiful Syaiful , Nurfaida  , Sulandari Uci
Published: October 2022

Indonesia currently does not use a systematic method of managing electronic waste (e-waste). The informal sector handles e-waste mostly without regard to the environment or public health. Establishing a national collection system favored by the community is the most challenging problem. Even though the waste bank system (WB) does not collect e-waste, it can provide a solution because it is well known as a recycling program by Indonesian citizens. This study proposes a WB system model for e-waste collection to interact with other stakeholders in DKI Jakarta, Field research and interviews with several essential informants were conducted. E-waste samples were identified to determine the composition of the current management and proposed an e-waste bank model as a sustainable circular economy implementation. E-waste has enormous potential for recycling, but it also has hazardous materials if not recycled properly. The government must make national regulations on e-waste management and develop cooperation between local governments, industry/producers, recycling industries, and the community to build a WB-based e-waste collection system.
Structural similarities between SARS-CoV2 3CLpro and other viral proteases suggest potential lead molecules for developing broad spectrum antivirals
Authors: Bafna Khushboo , Cioffi Christopher L. , Krug Robert M. , Montelione Gaetano T.
Published: October 2022

Considering the significant impact of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, development of broad-spectrum antivirals is a high priority goal to prevent future global pandemics. Antiviral development processes generally emphasize targeting a specific protein from a particular virus. However, some antiviral agents developed for specific viral protein targets may exhibit broad spectrum antiviral activity, or at least provide useful lead molecules for broad spectrum drug development. There is significant potential for repurposing a wide range of existing viral protease inhibitors to inhibit the SARS-CoV2 3C-like protease (3CLpro). If effective even as relatively weak inhibitors of 3CLpro, these molecules can provide a diverse and novel set of scaffolds for new drug discovery campaigns. In this study, we compared the sequence- and structure-based similarity of SARS-CoV2 3CLpro with proteases from other viruses, and identified 22 proteases with similar active-site structures. This structural similarity, characterized by secondary-structure topology diagrams, is evolutionarily divergent within taxonomically related viruses, but appears to result from evolutionary convergence of protease enzymes between virus families. Inhibitors of these proteases that are structurally similar to the SARS-CoV2 3CLpro protease were identified and assessed as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV2 3CLpro protease by virtual docking. Several of these molecules have docking scores that are significantly better than known SARS-CoV2 3CLpro inhibitors, suggesting that these molecules are also potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV2 3CLpro protease. Some have been previously reported to inhibit SARS-CoV2 3CLpro. The results also suggest that established inhibitors of SARS-CoV2 3CLpro may be considered as potential inhibitors of other viral 3C-like proteases.
Successful radiofrequency catheter ablation of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in a patient with dextrocardia: A case report
Authors: Zhao Lei , Li Ruibin , Bai Long , Wang Dong , Zhang Jidong , Yang Xiaohong
Published: October 2022

Background

Dextrocardia is a congenital heart malformation with a low incidence that occurs in only 1 in 10,000–12,000 people. Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a congenital condition with additional accessory pathways between the atria and the ventricle, which affects up to three in 1,000 people worldwide. Experience of radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with WPW syndrome and dextrocardia is scarce due to its rare incidence.

Case presentation

A 39-year-old female was hospitalized due to two episodes of palpitations in the latest 2 months. The morphology of the P-QRS-T complex of lead aVR and aVL, II, and III were presented invertedly as common conditions, and shortened P-R interval and a characteristic “delta” wave were shown on the electrocardiogram (EGM). The patient with dextrocardia and situs invertus malposition was confirmed by chest-X ray, cardiac color Doppler echocardiography. The patient was diagnosed with WPW syndrome with dextrocardia and underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) successfully. In this case, the key to the success of RFCA is to understand the anatomical structure of the heart and the great vessels before the operation and make a personalized operative plan.

Conclusion

Catheter ablation for tachycardia patients with dextrocardia is efficient and safe. For patients with dextrocardia, the key to successful ablation was adjusting for projection angulation and different catheter manipulation compared with a standard case because of the mirror image of a normal heart.
Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia: Updates in pathobiology and diagnosis
Authors: Jevtic Stefan D. , Arnold Donald M. , Modi Dimpy , Ivetic Nikola , Bissola Anna-Lise , Nazy Ishac
Published: October 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2). Vaccines that protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection have been widely employed to reduce the incidence of symptomatic and severe disease. However, adenovirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can cause a rare, thrombotic disorder termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). VITT often develops in the first 5 to 30 days following vaccination and is characterized by thrombocytopenia and thrombosis in unusual locations (e.g., cerebral venous sinus thrombosis). The diagnosis is confirmed by testing for anti-PF4 antibodies, as these antibodies are capable of platelet activation without any cofactor. It can be clinically challenging to differentiate VITT from a similar disorder called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), since heparin is commonly used in hospitalized patients. VITT and HIT have similar pathobiology and clinical manifestations but important differences in testing including the need for PF4-enhanced functional assays and the poor reliability of rapid immunoassays for the detection of anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies. In this review we summarize the epidemiology of VITT; highlight similarities and differences between HIT and VITT; and provide an update on the clinical diagnosis of VITT.
Characterization of the CpG island methylator phenotype subclass in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Gu Pengfei , Zeng Yu , Ma Weike , Zhang Wei , Liu Yu , Guo Fengli , Ruan Xianhui , Chi Jiadong , Zheng Xiangqian , Gao Ming
Published: October 2022

CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), characterized by the concurrent and widespread hypermethylation of a cluster of CpGs, has been reported to play an important role in carcinogenesis. Limited studies have explored the role of CIMP in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). Here, in genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of 350 primary PTCs from the Cancer Genome Atlas database that were assessed using the Illumina HumanMethylation450K platform, our study helps to identify two subtypes displayed markedly distinct DNA methylation levels, termed CIMP (high levels of DNA methylation) and nCIMP subgroup (low levels of DNA methylation). Interestingly, PTCs with CIMP tend to have a higher degree of malignancy, since this subtype was tightly associated with older age, advanced pathological stage, and lymph node metastasis (all P < 0.05). Differential methylation analysis showed a broad methylation gain in CIMP and subsequent generalized gene set testing analysis based on the significantly methylated probes in CIMP showed remarkable enrichment in epithelial mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis hallmark pathways, confirming that the CIMP phenotype may promote the tumor progression from another perspective. Analysis of tumor microenvironment showed that CIMP PTCs are in an immune-depletion status, which may affect the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Genetically, the significantly higher tumor mutation burden and copy number alteration both at the genome and focal level confirmed the genomic heterogeneity and chromosomal instability of CIMP. tumor Corresponding to the above findings, PTC patients with CIMP showed remarkable poor clinical outcome as compared to nCIMP regarding overall survival and progression-free survival. More importantly, CIMP was associated with worse survival independent of known prognostic factors.
Identification and validation of a novel cuproptosis-related signature as a prognostic model for lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Yuqiao , Tang Lu , Huang Wentao , Zhang Youyu , Abisola Fakolade Hannah , Li Linfeng
Published: October 2022

Background

Cuproptosis is a novel form of copper-induced cell death that targets lipoylated tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle proteins. However, its prognostic role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. This study aimed to establish a cuproptosis-related prognostic signature for patients with LUAD.

Methods

Transcriptome data of LUAD samples were extracted from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. The prognostic value of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) was investigated using Cox regression analysis to develop a cuproptosis-related prognostic model. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene ontology (GO) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were conducted to characterize different biological activities or pathways between high- or low-CRG groups. The expression pattern and prognostic values of CRGs were validated in 37 paired tumor–normal samples using quantitative PCR. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the relationship between cuproptosis and CRG expression and to explore the function of target genes in cuproptosis.

Results

Among the 36 CRGs, 17 genes were upregulated, and 3 genes were downregulated in LUAD. A total of 385 CRGs were identified using Pearson correlation analysis. A cuproptosis-related signature was constructed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. The prognostic value of the cuproptosis-related signature was validated in six external validation cohorts and in LUAD specimens from our facility. Patients in the high-risk group based on the CRG signature score had shorter overall survival than those in the low-risk group in both the datasets and clinical specimens. In vitro experiments revealed that the expression of BARX1, GFRA3, and KHDRBS2 was upregulated after cuproptosis was induced by elesclomol–CuCL2, whereas the upregulation was suppressed on pretreatment with tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), a chelator of copper. Further, the cell proliferation assay revealed that the BARX1 and GFRA3 deficiency facilities the cuproptosis induced by elesclomol–CuCL2.

Conclusion

This study established a new CRG signature that can be used to predict the OS of LUAD patients. Moreover, the knockdown of BARX1 and GFRA3 could increase the sensitivity of LUAD cells to the cuproptosis.
Species distribution modeling of Aedes aegypti in Maricopa County, Arizona from 2014 to 2020
Authors: Holeva-Eklund Whitney M. , Young Steven J. , Will James , Busser Nicole , Townsend John , Hepp Crystal M.
Published: October 2022

Background:Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. Their range has recently been expanding throughout the world, including into desert regions such as Arizona in the southwestern United States. Little is understood about how these mosquitoes are surviving and behaving in arid environments, habitat that was previously considered inhospitable for the vector. The goal of this study is to create quarterly species distribution models based on satellite imagery and socioeconomic indicators for Ae. aegypti in Maricopa County, Arizona from 2014 to 2020.

Methods: Trapping records for Ae. aegypti in Maricopa County, Arizona from 2014 to 2020 were split into 25 quarterly time periods. Quarterly species distribution models (Maxent) were created using satellite imagery-derived vegetation and moisture indices, elevation, and socioeconomic factors (population density, median income) as predictors. Maps of predicted habitat suitability were converted to binary presence/absence maps, and consensus maps were created that represent “core” habitat for the mosquito over 6 years of time. Results were summarized over census-defined zip code tabulation areas with the goal of producing more actionable maps for vector control.

Results: Population density was generally the most important predictor in the models while median income and elevation were the least important. All of the 25 quarterly models had high test area under the curve values (>0.90) indicating good model performance. Multiple suburban areas surrounding the Phoenix metropolitan core area were identified as consistent highly suitable habitat.

Conclusion: We identified long term “core” habitat for adult female Ae. aegypti over the course of 6 years, as well as “hotspot” locations with greater than average suitability. Binary maps of habitat suitability may be useful for vector control and public health purposes. Future studies should examine the movement of the mosquito in this region over time which would provide another clue as to how the mosquito is surviving and behaving in a desert region.
Improving the benefits and cost of using emerging technologies for sustainable recovery from COVID-19 in manufacturing industries
Authors: Nur S. M. Shafaat Akhter , Salman Sheak , Habib A. K. M. Ahasun , Ali Syed Mithun , AlArjani Ali , Taqi Hasin Md. Muhtasim
Published: October 2022

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has manifold disastrous effect on different service and production sectors, and manufacturing industries are no exception. Emerging technologies (ETs) can play a pivotal role in reviving these ailing manufacturing industries. However, the cost of implementing and operating ETs is a prime concern. Nonetheless, the important attributes that will minimize the cost and harness the advantages of the technology are still to be explored. To address this gap, this research seeks to examine the critical attributes required for the effective and efficient deployment of ETs. At first, a detailed literature review was conducted to identify and sort the attributes influencing the effective use of ETs in manufacturing industries. After that, Fuzzy-TODIM (Portuguese abbreviation of “Interactive and Multi-Criteria Decision Making”) method was used to rate the importance of the attributes. The result reveals that, “Inventory and Resource Management” tops the attribute list responsible for exploiting the optimal usage ETs, followed by “Development of Skilled Workforce” and “Supplier and Service Management Capability,” respectively. This paper will assist industry professionals not only in using ETs but also getting the best yield from them strategically and practically.
Biomass energy consumption and carbon neutrality in OECD countries: Testing pollution haven hypothesis and environmental Kuznets curve
Authors: Wang Yujing , Guan Weimin , Liu Ling , Ma Xinyuan
Published: October 2022

Rising pollution enhances the need for eco-friendly measures such as technological development and the enhancement of nonrenewable energy resources to achieve sustainable economic progress. Biomass energy consumption is an innovative form of renewable energy source which influences the environment positively. The current study explores the impact of biomass energy consumption and foreign direct investment on the environmental degradation of 32 OECD countries under the framework of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis from 1990 to 2018. The cross-sectional ARDL estimation method has been deployed to address slope heterogeneity and cross-section dependency. The long-run result shows that biomass energy consumption reduces environmental pollution, while foreign direct investment exerts pressure on environmental quality, endorsing the pollution heaven hypothesis. Moreover, the findings validate the EKC hypothesis in the long run. The error correction term is significantly negative, confirming the convergence towards long-run equilibrium with a 46% adjustment rate. The robustness of the estimated model is also verified using alternative estimators. The study’s outcome is encouraging the policymakers to devise policies for using biomass energy sources as an alternative clean energy source to ensure a sustainable environment.
A novel m7G methylation–related signature associated with chromosome homeostasis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Tao Xiaoying , Huang Run , Xu Rujun , Zheng Shuang , Yue Juanqing
Published: October 2022

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a malignant tumor of the respiratory system with poor prognosis. Recent studies have revealed that N7-methylguanosine (m7G) methylation is a widespread modification occurring in RNA. But the expression of m7G methylation–related genes in LUAD and their correlations with prognosis are still unclear. In this study, we found 12 m7G methylation–related regulators with differential expression between LUAD and normal lung tissues. According to differentially expressed genes (DEGs), all LUAD cases were separated into two subtypes. The prognostic value of each m7G methylation–related gene for survival was evaluated to construct a multigene signature using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. Finally, an m7G methylation–related prognostic signature based on three genes was built to classify LUAD patients into two risk groups. Patients in the high-risk group showed significantly reduced overall survival (OS) when compared with patients in the low-risk group (p < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed the predictive capacity of the signature. The Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation analysis disclosed that chromosome homeostasis plays an important role in this process. The gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) implied that the immune status was decreased in the high-risk group. To sum up, m7G methylation–related genes play a vital role in tumor immunity and the related signature is a reliable predictor for LUAD prognosis.
The mapping of mRNA alterations elucidates the etiology of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Yuan Meng , Zhao Maoyuan , Sun Xin , Hui Zhouguang
Published: October 2022

The etiology of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis is not clearly understood yet, and effective interventions are still lacking. This study aimed to identify genes responsive to irradiation and compare the genome expression between the normal lung tissues and irradiated ones, using a radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model. We also aimed to map the mRNA alterations as a predictive model and a potential mode of intervention for radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Thirty C57BL/6 mice were exposed to a single dose of 16 Gy or 20 Gy thoracic irradiation, to establish a mouse model of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Lung tissues were harvested at 3 and 6 months after irradiation, for histological identification. Global gene expression in lung tissues was assessed by RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes were identified and subjected to functional and pathway enrichment analysis. Immune cell infiltration was evaluated using the CIBERSORT software. Three months after irradiation, 317 mRNAs were upregulated and 254 mRNAs were downregulated significantly in the low-dose irradiation (16 Gy) group. In total, 203 mRNAs were upregulated and 149 were downregulated significantly in the high-dose irradiation (20 Gy) group. Six months after radiation, 651 mRNAs were upregulated and 131 were downregulated significantly in the low-dose irradiation group. A total of 106 mRNAs were upregulated and 4 downregulated significantly in the high-dose irradiation group. Several functions and pathways, including angiogenesis, epithelial cell proliferation, extracellular matrix, complement and coagulation cascades, cellular senescence, myeloid leukocyte activation, regulation of lymphocyte activation, mononuclear cell proliferation, immunoglobulin binding, and the TNF, NOD-like receptor, and HIF-1 signaling pathways were significantly enriched in the irradiation groups, based on the differentially expressed genes. Irradiation-responsive genes were identified. The differentially expressed genes were mainly associated with cellular metabolism, epithelial cell proliferation, cell injury, and immune cell activation and regulation.
An association study on PSCA rs2294008 polymorphism and gastric cancer: A meta-analysis
Authors: Li HangLong , Zhao Qiang , Si ShuHan , Wu DongKai
Published: October 2022

Studies have confirmed that prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) rs2294008 C>T polymorphism is related to gastric cancer susceptibility, but some studies have reached the opposite conclusion. In this meta-analysis, we attempted to clear up these differences and explore the relationship between the different factors that influence susceptibility to gastric cancer. Studies with publication dates that preceded 16 April 2022 were selected from PubMed, Springer, EMBASE, and Web of Science, and the relationship between risk models and gastric cancer was analyzed by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. Consequently, it was confirmed that PSCA rs2294008 polymorphism leads to an increased risk of gastric cancer. Subgroup analysis found that individuals with diffuse gastric cancer, non-cardia gastric cancer, Helicobacter pylori (HP)-positive or who are from the white or Asian population faced an increased susceptibility to gastric cancer. Those from the white populations faced significantly higher risks than Asians, and the association of PSCA with gastric cancer could be significantly increased by genome-wide association analysis. However, the conclusion that smoking reduces susceptibility to gastric cancer appears to be abnormal. Further prospective investigations that involve smoking and have a larger sample size are required.
Beneficial effects of natural flavonoids on neuroinflammation
Authors: Chen Yu , Peng Fu , Xing Ziwei , Chen Junren , Peng Cheng , Li Dan
Published: October 2022

Neuroinflammation is the fundamental immune response against multiple factors in the central nervous system and is characterized by the production of inflammatory mediators, activated microglia and astrocytes, and the recruitment of innate and adaptive immune cells to inflammatory sites, that contributes to the pathological process of related brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and stroke. Flavonoids, as a species of important natural compounds, have been widely revealed to alleviate neuroinflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, elevating the secretion of anti-inflammatory factors, and modulating the polarization of microglia and astrocyte, mainly via suppressing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, as well as NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK/STAT pathways, promoting Nrf2, AMPK, BDNF/CREB, Wnt/β-Catenin, PI3k/Akt signals and SIRT1-mediated HMGB1 deacetylation. This review will provide the latest and comprehensive knowledge on the therapeutic benefits and mechanisms of natural flavonoids in neuroinflammation, and the natural flavonoids might be developed into food supplements or lead compounds for neuroinflammation-associated brain disorders.
Extracellular vesicles from pristane-treated CD38-deficient mice express an anti-inflammatory neutrophil protein signature, which reflects the mild lupus severity elicited in these mice
Authors: Carrillo-Rodríguez Paula , Robles-Guirado José-Ángel , Cruz-Palomares Adrián , Palacios-Pedrero Miguel Ángel , González-Paredes Elena , Más-Ciurana Alex , Franco-Herrera Carolina , Ruiz-de-Castroviejo-Teba Paloma A. , Lario Antonio , Longobardo Victoria , Montosa-Hidalgo Laura , Pérez-Sánchez-Cañete María M. , Corzo-Corbera María-Mercedes , Redondo-Sánchez Sandra , Jodar Ana-Belén , Blanco Francisco J. , Zumaquero Esther , Merino Ramón , Sancho Jaime , Zubiaur Mercedes
Published: October 2022

In CD38-deficient (Cd38-/-)mice intraperitoneal injection of pristane induces a lupus-like disease, which is milder than that induced in WT mice, showing significant differences in the inflammatory and autoimmune processes triggered by pristane. Extracellular vesicles (EV) are present in all body fluids. Shed by cells, their molecular make-up reflects that of their cell of origin and/or tissue pathological situation. The aim of this study was to analyze the protein composition, protein abundance, and functional clustering of EV released by peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) in the pristane experimental lupus model, to identify predictive or diagnostic biomarkers that might discriminate the autoimmune process in lupus from inflammatory reactions and/or normal physiological processes. In this study, thanks to an extensive proteomic analysis and powerful bioinformatics software, distinct EV subtypes were identified in the peritoneal exudates of pristane-treated mice: 1) small EV enriched in the tetraspanin CD63 and CD9, which are likely of exosomal origin; 2) small EV enriched in CD47 and CD9, which are also enriched in plasma-membrane, membrane-associated proteins, with an ectosomal origin; 3) small EV enriched in keratins, ECM proteins, complement/coagulation proteins, fibrin clot formation proteins, and endopetidase inhibitor proteins. This enrichment may have an inflammation-mediated mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition origin, representing a protein corona on the surface of peritoneal exudate EV; 4) HDL-enriched lipoprotein particles. Quantitative proteomic analysis allowed us to identify an anti-inflammatory, Annexin A1-enriched pro-resolving, neutrophil protein signature, which was more prominent in EV from pristane-treatedCd38-/-mice, and quantitative differences in the protein cargo of the ECM-enriched EV fromCd38-/-vs WT mice. These differences are likely to be related with the distinct inflammatory outcome shown byCd38-/-vs WT mice in response to pristane treatment. Our results demonstrate the power of a hypothesis-free and data-driven approach to transform the heterogeneity of the peritoneal exudate EV from pristane-treated mice in valuable information about the relative proportion of different EV in a given sample and to identify potential protein markers specific for the different small EV subtypes, in particular those proteins defining EV involved in the resolution phase of chronic inflammation.
Unique CLR expression patterns on circulating and tumor-infiltrating DC subsets correlated with clinical outcome in melanoma patients
Authors: Sosa Cuevas Eleonora , Valladeau-Guilemond Jenny , Mouret Stephane , Roubinet Benoît , de Fraipont Florence , Landemarre Ludovic , Charles Julie , Bendriss-Vermare Nathalie , Chaperot Laurence , Aspord Caroline
Published: October 2022

Subversion of immunity by tumors is a crucial step for their development. Dendritic cells (DCs) are strategic immune cells that orchestrate anti-tumor immune responses but display altered functions in cancer. The bases for such DCs’ hijacking are not fully understood. Tumor cells harbor unusual glycosylation patterns of surface glycoproteins and glycolipids. DCs express glycan-binding receptors, named C-type lectin receptors (CLR), allowing them to sense changes in glycan signature of their environment, and subsequently trigger a response. Recognition of tumor glycans by CLRs is crucial for DCs to shape antitumor immunity, and decisive in the orientation of the response. Yet the status of the CLR machinery on DCs in cancer, especially melanoma, remained largely unknown. We explored CLR expression patterns on circulating and tumor-infiltrating cDC1s, cDC2s, and pDCs of melanoma patients, assessed their clinical relevance, and further depicted the correlations between CLR expression profiles and DCs’ features. For the first time, we highlighted that the CLR repertoire of circulating and tumor-infiltrating cDC1s, cDC2s, and pDCs was strongly perturbed in melanoma patients, with modulation of DCIR, CLEC-12α and NKp44 on circulating DCs, and perturbation of Dectin-1, CD206, DEC205, DC-SIGN and CLEC-9α on tumor-infiltrating DCs. Furthermore, melanoma tumor cells directly altered CLR expression profiles of healthy DC subsets, and this was associated with specific glycan patterns (Man, Fuc, GlcNAc) that may interact with DCs through CLR molecules. Notably, specific CLR expression profiles on DC subsets correlated with unique DCs’ activation status and functionality and were associated with clinical outcome of melanoma patients. Higher proportions of DCIR-, DEC205-, CLEC-12α-expressing cDCs were linked with a better survival, whereas elevated proportions of CD206-, Dectin1-expressing cDCs and NKp44-expressing pDCs were associated with a poor outcome. Thus, melanoma tumor may shape DCs’ features by exploiting the plasticity of the CLR machinery. Our study revealed that melanoma manipulates CLR pathways to hijack DC subsets and escape from immune control. It further paved the way to exploit glycan-lectin interactions for the design of innovative therapeutic strategies, which exploit DCs’ potentialities while avoiding hijacking by tumor, to properly reshape anti-tumor immunity by manipulating the CLR machinery.
Single-cell transcriptomics of human gut T cells identifies cytotoxic CD4+CD8A+ T cells related to mouse CD4 cytotoxic T cells
Authors: Tanemoto Shun , Sujino Tomohisa , Miyamoto Kentaro , Moody Jonathan , Yoshimatsu Yusuke , Ando Yoshinari , Koya Ikuko , Harada Yosuke , Tojo Anna Okuzawa , Ono Keiko , Hayashi Yukie , Takabayashi Kaoru , Okabayashi Koji , Teratani Toshiaki , Mikami Yohei , Nakamoto Nobuhiro , Hosoe Naoki , Ogata Haruhiko , Hon Chung-Chau , Shin Jay W. , Kanai Takanori
Published: October 2022

Cytotoxic CD4+ T cells (CD4-CTLs) show the presence of cytolytic granules, which include the enzymes granzyme and perforin. The cells have a pathogenic and protective role in various diseases, including cancer, viral infection, and autoimmune disease. In mice, cytotoxic CD4+ T cells express CD8αα+ and reside in the intestine (mouse CD4+CTLs; mCD4-CTLs). The population of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells in the human intestine is currently unknown. Moreover, it is unclear how cytotoxic CD4 T cells change in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, we aimed to identify cytotoxic CD4+ T cells in the human intestine and analyze the characteristics of the population in patients with IBD using single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq). In CD4+ T cells, granzyme and perforin expression was high in humanMAIT (hMAIT) cells and hCD4+CD8A+ T cell cluster. Both CD4 and CD8A were expressed in hTreg, hMAIT, and hCD4+CD8A+ T cell clusters. Next we performed fast gene set enrichment analysis to identify cell populations that showed homology to mCD4CTLs. The analysis identified the hCD4+CD8A+ T cell cluster (hCTL-like population; hCD4-CTL) similar to mouse CTLs. The percentage of CD4+CD8A+ T cells among the total CD4+ T cells in the inflamed intestine of the patients with Crohn’s disease was significantly reduced compared with that in the noninflamed intestine of the patients. In summary, we identified cytotoxic CD4+CD8+ T cells in the small intestine of humans. The integration of the mouse and human sc-RNA-seq data analysis highlight an approach to identify human cell populations related to mouse cell populations, which may help determine the functional properties of several human cell populations in mice.