bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of temperatures on anaerobic granulated biofilm modelling
Authors: Safitri Anissa Sukma , Kommedal Roald
Published: October 2022

Anaerobic granulated biomass-based treatment is a sustainable alternative for municipal wastewater treatment. Each granule in the system is comprised of a complex community of anaerobic microorganisms embedded in a biofilm matrix. The aim of this work was to implement a biofilm model for simulation of biogas production and COD removal as observed in an experimental up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor system. Additionally, selected scenario simulations were carried out to assess the effect of temperatures (25, 16, and 12 °C) on granulated anaerobic reactor performance at different organic loading rates. The two main model components used are: Dynamic biochemical and physicochemical conversion processes (Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1) and diffusive mass transfer within the granule (biofilm). The model was implemented in AQUASIM 2.1. Simulations gave insight into non-observables, especially intragranular biomass distribution and substrate profiles, which help our understanding of granule formation and evolution. Results reflected observed effluent COD concentrations and methane production rates at variable temperatures and reactor loadings. Simulations also confirmed observed steady-state reductions in COD removal efficiencies and methane fraction in biogas at increasing organic loading rate. Model simulations also showed intra-granular alkaline pH depth profiles with increasing organic loading rate which may explain calcium-based mineral core formation. The biomass composition and active regions in granules were not significantly affected by organic loading rate. At steady state, organic substrates especially monosaccharides and volatile fatty acids were predicted to degrade approximately within the outer 100 μm. In general, the model can be used as a tool to predict and simulate anaerobic granulated biofilm system performances in UASB reactor.
Part load performance of PEM fuel cell and electrolyser stacks in hybrid energy system for offshore application
Authors: Pilarczyk Marcin , Riboldi Luca , Nord Lars O.
Published: October 2022

Global warming and associated climate change are ongoing processes worldwide, behind which anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions play the main role. Renewable energy sources integrated in hybrid energy systems (HES) are fundamental solutions to meet energy demands in a sustainable manner. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers and fuel cell stacks can be used as integral components of HES in several applications, for instance supplying energy offshore. Due to the integration with irregular renewable energy sources and the variability of energy demands, those stacks will be frequently operated at part-load conditions. The novelty of this work lies in the incorporation of part-load performance in the models of high-capacity fuel cell and electrolysers stacks. A zero-dimensional approach for steady-state behavior was applied to calculate the polarisation and performance curves of the system. The determined curves were implemented in an already developed online tool for analyzing HES. The computational results from the tool show a great ability of the PEM systems for decreasing the carbon intensity of an offshore facility and increase the wind energy integration within the HES.
Steam reforming of methane over a nickel-based catalyst
Authors: Rakhi Rakhi , Günther Vivien , Richter Jana , Mauss Fabian
Published: October 2022

Steam reforming is a promising route to convert natural gas into syngas - a mixture of H2 and CO, used as a feed stock e.g. for ammonia, methanol and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis processes. For the industrial application of steam reforming, a detailed understanding of the process is a prerequisite. Models that capture the detailed homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction kinetics and the comprehensive transport processes as well as their interaction have the potential to optimize the catalytic process without expensive experimental campaigns. In the present work, a one-dimensional model, LOGEcat is used to carry out a detailed investigation considering a multi-step reaction mechanism for modeling steam reforming of methane over nickel-based catalyst. The model is computationally cost effective due to the reduction in dimensionality, in contrast to experimental investigations which are not always feasible or 2D/3D simulations which are computationally expensive. The 1D tool is based on a series of perfectly stirred reactors (PSR) and is applicable to the simulation of all standard after-treatment catalytic processes of combustion exhaust gas as well as other chemical processes involving heterogeneous catalysis such as the Sabatier process. We have applied the model to perform the simulations for various reactor conditions in terms of parameters such as temperature, pressure, velocity and steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio. Several chemical reaction terms have been analyzed and the results are compared with 2D simulation and experimental reference data. We note a very good agreement of the various profiles produced with the cost-effective reduced order model in comparison to the reference data.
CFD modeling of the transport of human respiratory droplets in an indoor environment
Authors: Norbeck Ole Martinius Harket , Sundsdal Oda Martine , Nambully Suresh Kumar , Chaudhuri Arnab
Published: October 2022

For the last couple of years, the world has faced the global pandemic COVID-19. The viral transmission could occur via different modes like large respiratory droplets, direct contact with contaminated surfaces and airborne microdroplets or aerosol. This work revisits and focuses on human cough, and breathing sequence together with cough in confined spaces. We consider the Eulerian dispersion medium as a multicomponent ideal gas mixture consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and water vapor and the Lagrangian dispersed phase of human cough/breathe is modeled as pure liquid water. The unsteady complex flow is resolved with an advanced three-dimensional multiphase flow solver utilizing adaptive mesh refinement (AMR). A simplified rectangular block with a rectangular mouth area is considered to mimic human beings to inject exhaled gas and liquid droplets associated with cough and or breathing instances. The evaporation model is switched off for the particles of diameter less than 5 μm to resolve the dynamics of the airborne particles. The results clearly demonstrate the efficacy of the novel approach toward gaining more knowledge about viral transmission in indoor environments.
Checking data informativity as the first step in data-driven modeling – case study
Authors: Farzin Amir , Rabchuk Kateryna , Lie Bernt , Skeie Nils-Olav
Published: October 2022

This paper reviews and introduces the strategies for testing a given dataset sampled from an unknown dynamic process to determine if it is sufficiently informative to model the system’s behavior. The presented tests should be done as the first step in data-driven modeling to avoid an endless search for a proper model which may not exist based on the available data. It is unrealistic that available data holds complete information about the system at hand. The tests also allow us to estimate how good the established model can be. Finally, the presented methodologies are applied to an actual process as the case study: modeling the decarbonization section in an ammonia plant.
Oil Production Forecasting with Uncertainty Description Using Data Driven Proxy Model
Authors: Tavakolifaradonbe Javad , Moradi Ali , Moldestad Britt M. E.
Published: October 2022

The petroleum industry operates under great uncertainty. Achieving an efficient approach to quantify uncertainty in oil production models is of key importance in supporting decision-makers to find suitable strategies for mitigating risks and maximizing profit. Uncertainty quantification is commonly performed based on the Monte Carlo approach and this is a very time-consuming process by using the physics-based models developed by reservoir simulators. To solve this challenge, data-driven proxy models which are less complex and computationally efficient can be used as an alternative. This paper aims to investigate the functionality of the ANN method in developing proxy models for uncertainty quantification of oil production from advanced wells. The investigation is conducted through a case study for uncertainty assessment of cumulative oil and water productions from a long horizontal well with ICD completion and zonal isolation in a synthetic reservoir for 10 years. In this study, the Eclipse® reservoir simulator is used for developing the base case model and it is coupled with MATLAB® for generating the required data sets to train and test the ANN proxy model. According to the obtained results, the trained and developed ANN proxy model can predict the production of oil and water from advanced wells accurately with a mean error of less than 4%. Besides, the proxy model is 150 times faster than the Eclipse model and can solve the challenge of the time-consuming process of uncertainty quantification.
Simulation of adsorption and desorption of VOC on activated carbon
Authors: Eroshkin Sviatoslav , Johannesen Eivind , Solbraa Even
Published: October 2022

The study's primary purpose is to simulate the adsorption and desorption of volatile organic components on activated carbon bed using python. The model was verified with experiments for the separation of methane (55 mol %) - carbon dioxide (45 mol %) mixture using vacuum pressure swing adsorption on an activated carbon molecular sieve. For a six-component mixture (methane, ethane, propane, butane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen), the model was verified using Aspen Adsorption flowsheet simulator and experimental results of vacuum pressure swing adsorption on activated carbon. Even though the model showed a relatively low error in comparison with provided experiments, some experimental cases need to be investigated more to get a better model prediction.
Development of central-upwind-WENO scheme for two-phase 1-D drift-flux model
Authors: Welahettige Prasanna , Berg Chiristian , Lie Bernt
Published: October 2022

The two-phase drift flux model is extensively used in multiphase flow applications. In this study, we focus on possible numerical schemes for solving the drift flux model. Due to the complexity of the primitive equations and empirical parameters, it is challenging to achieve stability of the numerical scheme used for the drift flux model. The high resolution second order central scheme, the high resolution second order central-upwind scheme, and the high resolution third order and fifth order weighted essentially non-oscillatory schemes (WENO) were successfully implemented for the drift flux model. The schemes were tested with the shock tube discontinuity problem. The central-upwind-WENO scheme was developed and applied to the drift flux model. In the central-upwind-WENO scheme, the cell interface values were taken from the WENO reconstruction, and the monotone flux is calculated from the central-upwind flux. The central-upwind-WENO scheme can achieve higher order accuracy than the central-upwind scheme by using the same stencils which are used for the central-upwind scheme. The central-upwind-WENO scheme gives more accurate results than the central scheme, central-upwind scheme and the WENO scheme. Especially at the rarefaction and shock wave fronts, the central-upwind-WENO scheme gives sharper gradients compared to the other schemes. Instead of a limiter function, the central-upwind-WENO scheme uses a smoothness indicator. All the schemes used in the study are suitable for two-phase drift flux model simulation.
An improved delay and state observer for SISO LTI systems with known delay lower bound
Authors: Ingebretsen Jonas , Rotondo Damiano
Published: October 2022

It is known that the presence of delays hinders the performance achievable by a feedback control system, and it can even lead to closed-loop instability if not considered during the design. For this reason, predictors are often included in the loop, although they typically require the knowledge of the exact value of the delay, which in some applications is hard to obtain in practice. This paper presents a method to design an observer that simultaneously estimates the unknown state and the time-varying input delay of a plant based on an available model and the measurements coming from the sensors. In particular, the main contribution of this paper is to show that by accounting for a known lower bound of the input delay, it is possible to improve the observer’s performance when compared to state-of-the-art approaches encountered in the literature. Simulations are used to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed design method.
Mesh Sensitivity Analysis of an Entrained Flow Biomass Gasifier: A CPFD Study
Authors: Timsina Ramesh , Barahmand Zahir
Published: October 2022

Biomass such as agricultural waste, forestry waste, municipal solid waste, and industrial waste, are renewable energy sources that may be used to produce biofuels. Biomass gasification is an effective and promising technology for converting any biomass into valuable products that can contribute considerably to renewable energy generation. In the manufacturing industry, computer-based simulations, improving production processes while incorporating sustainable industrial strategies, are rising. In the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) scientific community, the reliability of computational prediction of findings is a rising problem. Mesh independence is crucial since it may determine if the solution obtained is independent of the mesh resolution. In CFD models, there are a variety of strategies for discovering a mesh independence test such as the grid resolution, general Richardson extrapolation, and Grid Convergence Index (GCI). In the grid resolution technique, the mesh size gradually increases until no meaningful performance improvement can be seen due to the larger mesh size. The present study aims to analyze the mesh independence test using the grid resolution method on an entrained flow biomass gasifier and investigate the model's sensitivity to parameters such as reactants’ inlet temperature, product gas compositions and flow rate. To achieve this goal, four different scenarios were defined employing a series of Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics (CPFD) simulations using Barracuda® v21.0.1. The results confirmed that within the range of 25000 and 200000 cells, synthesis gas production decreased by almost 2 percent, which is not significant.
Method for mean-line design and performance prediction of one-stage axial turbines
Authors: Anderson Lasse B. , Agromayor Roberto , Nord Lars O.
Published: October 2022

Today, expanders for Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC) are either inefficient or expensive. One reason for this is that expanders of power conversion systems usually operate under different conditions over an annual perspective. Still, they are designed to perform best at a single operating point. In view of this limitation, it is suggested that the overall expander performance can be improved by taking into account off-design operation in the design process. As the first step in this direction, this paper presents a two-fold method for design optimization and performance analysis of one-stage axial turbines. The method utilizes the same mean-line model for performance analysis and design optimization, ensuring consistency between the two modes. In addition, the proposed method evaluates the turbine performance at three stations for each blade row: inlet, throat and exit, and employs a novel numerical treatment of flow choking that automatically determines which blade rows are choked as part of the solution. Furthermore, the method was validated against cold-air experimental data from three different one-stage axial turbines, at both on- and off-design conditions. The model predicts design point efficiencies between 1.1 and 4.5 percentage points off the experimental values. The model was also able to capture the trend of mass flow rate as a function of total-to-static pressure ratio and angular speed. However, an unphysical behavior was observed as the pressure ratio approaches the critical value, and further developments of the model are required. It is envisioned that the proposed method will serve as foundation for a robust design methodology that will enable higher expander performance over a range of operating conditions.
Antimicrobial monoglycerides for swine and poultry applications
Authors: Jackman Joshua A. , Lavergne Theresia A. , Elrod Charles C.
Published: October 2022

The development of natural, broadly acting antimicrobial solutions to combat viral and bacterial pathogens is a high priority for the livestock industry. Herein, we cover the latest progress in utilizing lipid-based monoglycerides as feed additives to address some of the biggest challenges in animal agriculture. The current industry needs for effective antimicrobial strategies are introduced before discussing why medium-chain monoglycerides are a promising solution due to attractive molecular features and biological functions. We then critically analyze recent application examples in which case monoglycerides demonstrated superior activity to prevent feed transmission of viruses in swine and to mitigate bacterial infections in poultry along with gut microbiome modulation capabilities. Future innovation strategies are also suggested to expand the range of application possibilities and to enable new monoglyceride delivery options.
Integrated proteomics and phosphoproteomics revealed druggable kinases in neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistant tongue cancer
Authors: George Irene A. , Sathe Gajanan , Ghose Vivek , Chougule Anuradha , Chandrani Pratik , Patil Vijay , Noronha Vanita , Venkataramanan R. , Limaye Sewanti , Pandey Akhilesh , Prabhash Kumar , Kumar Prashant
Published: October 2022

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive oral cancer with a high incidence of metastasis and poor prognosis. Most of the oral cavity cancer patients present in clinics with locally advanced unresectable tumors. Neoadjuvant treatment is beneficial for these individuals as it reduces the tumor size aiding complete resection. However, patients develop therapy resistance to the drug regimen. In this study, we explored the differential expression of proteins and altered phosphorylation in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistant tongue cancer patients. We integrated the proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiles of resistant (n = 4) and sensitive cohorts (n = 4) and demonstrated the differential expression and phosphorylation of proteins in the primary tissue of the respective subject groups. We observed differential and extensive phosphorylation of keratins such as KRT10 and KRT1 between the two cohorts. Furthermore, our study revealed a kinase signature associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistance. Kinases such as MAPK1, AKT1, and MAPK3 are predicted to regulate the resistance in non-responders. Pathway analysis showed enrichment of Rho GTPase signaling and hyperphosphosphorylation of proteins involved in cell motility, invasion, and drug resistance. Targeting the kinases could help with the clinical management of neoadjuvant chemotherapy-resistant tongue cancer.
COG4 mutation in Saul-Wilson syndrome selectively affects secretion of proteins involved in chondrogenesis in chondrocyte-like cells
Authors: Xia Zhi-Jie , Mahajan Sonal , Paul Daniel Earnest James , Ng Bobby G. , Saraswat Mayank , Campos Alexandre Rosa , Murad Rabi , He Miao , Freeze Hudson H.
Published: October 2022

Saul-Wilson syndrome is a rare skeletal dysplasia caused by a heterozygous mutation in COG4 (p.G516R). Our previous study showed that this mutation affected glycosylation of proteoglycans and disturbed chondrocyte elongation and intercalation in zebrafish embryos expressing the COG4p.G516R variant. How this mutation causes chondrocyte deficiencies remain unsolved. To analyze a disease-relevant cell type, COG4p.G516R variant was generated by CRISPR knock-in technique in the chondrosarcoma cell line SW1353 to study chondrocyte differentiation and protein secretion. COG4p.G516R cells display impaired protein trafficking and altered COG complex size, similar to SWS-derived fibroblasts. Both SW1353 and HEK293T cells carrying COG4p.G516R showed very modest, cell-type dependent changes in N-glycans. Using 3D culture methods, we found that cells carrying the COG4p.G516R variant made smaller spheroids and had increased apoptosis, indicating impaired in vitro chondrogenesis. Adding WT cells or their conditioned medium reduced cell death and increased spheroid sizes of COG4p.G516R mutant cells, suggesting a deficiency in secreted matrix components. Mass spectrometry-based secretome analysis showed selectively impaired protein secretion, including MMP13 and IGFBP7 which are involved in chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. We verified reduced expression of chondrogenic differentiation markers, MMP13 and COL10A1 and delayed response to BMP2 in COG4p.G516R mutant cells. Collectively, our results show that the Saul-Wilson syndrome COG4p.G516R variant selectively affects the secretion of multiple proteins, especially in chondrocyte-like cells which could further cause pleiotropic defects including hampering long bone growth in SWS individuals.
Recent progresses on single-atom catalysts for the removal of air pollutants
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Min
Published: October 2022

The booming industrialization has aggravated emission of air pollutants, inflicting serious harm on environment and human health. Supported noble-metals are one of the most popular catalysts for the oxidation removal of air pollutants. Unfortunately, the high price and large consumption restrict their development and practical application. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) emerge and offer an optimizing approach to address this issue. Due to maximal atom utilization, tunable coordination and electron environment and strong metal-support interaction, SACs have shown remarkable catalytic performance on many reactions. Over the last decade, great potential of SACs has been witnessed in the elimination of air pollutants. In this review, we first briefly summarize the synthesis methods and modulation strategies together with the characterization techniques of SACs. Next, we highlight the application of SACs in the abatement of air pollutants including CO, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx, unveiling the related catalytic mechanism of SACs. Finally, we propose the remaining challenges and future perspectives of SACs in fundamental research and practical application in the field of air pollutant removal.
Poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4 nanocatalyst for the synthesis of 4,4′-(arylmethylene) bis (1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives, and 1,4- dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles and evaluation of their antioxidant, and anticancer activities
Authors: Mirani Nezhad Shefa , Pourmousavi Seied Ali , Nazarzadeh Zare Ehsan , Heidari Golnaz , Manoochehri Hamed , Sharifi Esmaeel
Published: October 2022

In this work, magnetic poly(aniline-co-melamine) nanocomposite as an efficient heterogeneous polymer-based nanocatalyst was fabricated in two steps. First, poly(aniline-co-melamine) was synthesized through the chemical oxidation by ammonium persulfate, then the magnetic nanocatalyst was successfully prepared from thein-situcoprecipitation method in the presence of poly(aniline-co-melamine). The resulting poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4was characterized by FTIR, FESEM, XRD, VSM, EDX, TGA, and UV-vis analyses. The catalytic activity of poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4was investigated in the synthesis of 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives, and new alkylene bridging bis 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives in excellent yields. The yield of 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles, 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazol-5-ol), yields, and new alkylene bridging bis 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazol-5-ol) derivatives were obtained 89%–96%, 90%–96%, and 92%–96%, respectively. The poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4nanocatalyst can be recycled without pre-activation and reloaded up to five consecutive runs without a significant decrease in its efficiency. In addition, the antioxidant activity of some derivatives was evaluated by DPPH assay. Results showed that the maximum antioxidant activity of 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives and 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles were 75% and 90%, respectively. Furthermore, 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives and 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles showed good potential for destroying colon cancer cell lines. Consequently, the poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4nanocomposite is an excellent catalyst for green chemical processes owing to its high catalytic activity, stability, and reusability.
Multi-omics association analysis reveals interactions between the oropharyngeal microbiome and the metabolome in pediatric patients with influenza A virus pneumonia
Authors: Hu Qian , Liu Baiming , Fan Yanqun , Zheng Yuejie , Wen Feiqiu , Yu Uet , Wang Wenjian
Published: October 2022

Children are at high risk for influenza A virus (IAV) infections, which can develop into severe illnesses. However, little is known about interactions between the microbiome and respiratory tract metabolites and their impact on the development of IAV pneumonia in children. Using a combination of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed the composition and metabolic profile of the oropharyngeal microbiota in 49 pediatric patients with IAV pneumonia and 42 age-matched healthy children. The results indicate that compared to healthy children, children with IAV pneumonia exhibited significant changes in the oropharyngeal macrobiotic structure (p = 0.001), and significantly lower microbial abundance and diversity (p < 0.05). These changes came with significant disturbances in the levels of oropharyngeal metabolites. Intergroup differences were observed in 204 metabolites mapped to 36 metabolic pathways. Significantly higher levels of sphingolipid (sphinganine and phytosphingosine) and propanoate (propionic acid and succinic acid) metabolism were observed in patients with IAV pneumonia than in healthy controls. Using Spearman’s rank-correlation analysis, correlations between IAV pneumonia-associated discriminatory microbial genera and metabolites were evaluated. The results indicate significant correlations and consistency in variation trends between Streptococcus and three sphingolipid metabolites (phytosphingosine, sphinganine, and sphingosine). Besides these three sphingolipid metabolites, the sphinganine-to-sphingosine ratio and the joint analysis of the three metabolites indicated remarkable diagnostic efficacy in children with IAV pneumonia. This study confirmed significant changes in the characteristics and metabolic profile of the oropharyngeal microbiome in pediatric patients with IAV pneumonia, with high synergy between the two factors. Oropharyngeal sphingolipid metabolites may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers of IAV pneumonia in children.
Male zooid extracts of Antheraea pernyi ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and intestinal dysbacteriosis in mice induced by a high-fat diet
Authors: Zhu Lin , Wang Na , Guo Guang , Fan ZuoQing , Shi XinQin , Ji XianLing
Published: October 2022

The male zooid of Antheraea pernyi (A. pernyi) accumulates several nutrients and physiological activity-related substances for reproduction. Some components in the extracts of the male zooid of A. pernyi (EMZAP) have several functions, such as protecting the liver, enhancing immunity, antiatheroscloresis, anti-aging, and antitumor effects. In this study, we investigated the ameliorating effects on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The EMZAP treatment could ameliorate NAFLD and effectively decrease the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels and a significant increase in serum high-density lipoprotein levels was observed. Additionally, the EMZAP treatment reduced the levels of liver-function enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, TGF-β1) and also the oxidative stress indices and regulated the expression of genes associated with fatty acid metabolism (SREBP-1c, PPARα, ACOX-1, CPT-1) in the liver to prevent the development of NAFLD. Furthermore, EMZAP enhanced the diversity and richness of the beneficial intestinal microbes, suggesting its potential as a dietary supplement and functional food to combat NAFLD induced by HFD.
Unmasking of Brugada syndrome by lamotrigine in a patient with pre-existing epilepsy: A case report with review of the literature
Authors: Omer Hafiz , Omer Mohamed H. , Alyousef Abdulmohsen R. , Alzammam Ali M. , Ahmad Omar , Alanazi Haitham A.
Published: October 2022

Brugada syndrome is an inherited cardiac channelopathy arising from mutations in voltage-gated cardiac sodium channels. Idiopathic epilepsy portrays a coalescent underlying pathophysiological mechanism pertaining to the premature excitation of neuronal voltage-gated ion channels resulting in the disruption of presynaptic neurons and the unregulated release of excitatory neurotransmitters. The coexistence of epilepsy and Brugada syndrome may be explained by mutations in voltage-gated ion channels, which are coexpressed in cardiac and neural tissue. Moreover, the incidence of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy has been associated with malignant cardiac arrhythmias in the presence of mutations in voltage-gated ion channels. Lamotrigine is an antiepileptic drug that inhibits neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels, thus stabilizing neural impulse propagation and controlling seizure activity in the brain. However, lamotrigine has been shown to inhibit cardiac voltage-gated sodium channels resulting in a potential arrhythmogenic effect and the ability to unmask Brugada syndrome in genetically susceptible individuals. We are reporting a case of a 27-year-old male patient with a background of presumed idiopathic epilepsy who was initiated on lamotrigine therapy resulting in the unmasking of Brugada syndrome and the onset of syncopal episodes. This case provides further evidence for the arrhythmogenic capacity of lamotrigine and highlights the relationship between epilepsy and Brugada syndrome. In this report, we aim to review the current literature regarding the associations between epilepsy and Brugada syndrome and the impact of lamotrigine therapy on such patients.
Decisive diagnostic clue for infectious abdominal aortic aneurysm caused by Arthrobacter russicus in a diabetic elderly woman with renal dysfunction: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Fukushima Yasuto , Ikeda Yoshihiko , Suda Tomoyuki , Goto Mieko , Isogai Jun , Hashimoto Toru , Takahashi Takashi , Ogino Hidemitsu
Published: October 2022

Infectious aortic aneurysm (IAA) can be a rare but potentially fatal sequela of infectious inflammatory disease of the aortic wall with a high incidence of rupture. The definitive diagnosis is based on vascular imaging of the aneurysm using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) and identification of the causative microorganism from positive blood cultures (BCs). However, IAA remains extremely difficult to diagnose and treat in patients with prior antimicrobial treatment or with renal dysfunction. Here we describe a case of an 85-year-old woman with IAA caused by Arthrobacter russicus presenting with abdominal pain and fever that was initially diagnosed as a presumptive urinary tract infection and treated with empiric antimicrobial therapy. However, persistent abdominal pain with increased serological inflammation necessitated further evaluation. Unenhanced multimodality imaging considering the renal dysfunction revealed infectious aortitis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta, together with the initial culture results, leading to the tentative diagnosis of Klebsiella pneumoniae aortitis. Thereafter, serial monitoring with unenhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using thin-slab maximum intensity projection (TS-MIP) revealed acute aortic expansion strongly suggestive of a pseudoaneurysm that was successfully treated with early surgical repair under adequate infection control. Despite negative Gram staining and tissue culture results for the excised aortic wall, a definitive diagnosis of IAA secondary to A. russicus rather than K. pneumoniae was finally made by confirming the histologic findings consistent with IAA and the identification of A. russicus 16S rRNA on the resected aortic wall. The patient also developed a vascular graft infection during the postoperative course that required long-term systemic antimicrobial therapy. This case highlights the value of unenhanced MRA in the early detection of IAA in patients with renal dysfunction and the importance of a molecular diagnosis for identifying the causative microorganism in cases of culture- or tissue-negative IAA.
Impact of glucagon-like peptide 1 analogs on cognitive function among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta−analysis
Authors: Luan Sisi , Cheng Wenke , Wang Chenglong , Gong Jianhong , Zhou Jianbo
Published: October 2022

Background

Diabetes is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment. However, little is known about the neuroprotective effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogs on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Herein, we assessed the impact of GLP-1 analogs on the general cognitive functioning among patients with T2DM.

Methods

Relevant studies were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from their inception till June 30, 2022, without any language restrictions. For continuous variables, the mean and standard deviation (SD) were extracted. Considering the heterogeneity in general cognitive functioning assessments among the pooled studies, the standardized mean differences (SMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated.

Results

Five studies including 7,732 individuals with T2DM were selected for the meta-analysis. The use of GLP-1 analogs exerted no significant effects on the general cognitive functioning in self-controlled studies (SMD 0.33, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.69). Subgroup analyses among the self-controlled studies based on age and history of cardio-cerebrovascular disease showed that GLP-1 analogs significantly improved the general cognitive functioning in T2DM patients younger than 65 years (SMD 0.69, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.08) or those without cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (SMD 0.69, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.08). Similarly, differences in the general cognitive functioning for GLP-1 analogs between treated and non-treated patients with T2DM were significant in subgroups with patients younger than 65 years (SMD 1.04, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.47) or those with no history of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (SMD 1.04, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.47).

Conclusion

Limited evidence suggests that the use of GLP-1 analogs exerts no significant effects on general cognitive functioning but may be beneficial for patients with T2DM younger than 65 years or those without a history of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Further prospective clinical studies with large sample sizes are needed to validate these findings.

Systematic Review Registration

www.inplasy.com, identifier 202260015.
Lolium multiflorum germination and growth affected by virgin, naturally, and artificially aged high-density polyethylene microplastic and leachates
Authors: Esterhuizen Maranda , Vikfors Sofia , Penttinen Olli-Pekka , Kim Young Jun , Pflugmacher Stephan
Published: October 2022

With the detection of microplastics in soil, coupled with the various sources continuously contributing to its delivery to and distribution in soils, understanding the effects of microplastics on plants are necessary. Plastics discarded in the environment continually degrade into micro- and nano-sizes, subsequently leaching hazardous chemicals with time. Not only time but also environmental factors related to the climate of the area where the plastic is degrading will contribute to the breakdown process. Thus, this study aimed to understand the phytotoxic effects of microplastic derived from a frequently discarded plastic item, i.e., high-density polyethylene soda bottle caps. The commonly occurring perennialLolium multiflorum(Italian ryegrass) was exposed to microplastic derived from new and artificially aged bottle caps as well as bottle caps collected from the cities of Lahti, Finland and Gqeberha, South Africa. Additionally, leachates were prepared from these samples and used for exposure. Germination, root and shoot growth, and fresh weight were measured as indicators of adverse effects, and various growth parameters were calculated. Microplastic and leachates from new and Lahti collected bottle caps adversely affected the germination and growth of the plant, indicating that aging and environmental factors affect the phytotoxicity of plastics as environmental pollutants in soil.
Investigating a key structural determinant of health, racism, and related social determinants of health in Massachusetts during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mortimer Arvis E. , Sabatino Meagan J. , Boama-Nyarko Esther , Castañeda-Avila Maira , Goulding Melissa , Julce Clevanne , Labossiere Stephane , Mabry Guadalupe , McCullers Asli , McNicholas Eileen , Moormann Ann , Schieber Elizabeth , Walubita Tubanji , Forrester Sarah
Published: October 2022

A disproportionate burden of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is being shouldered by members of racial and ethnic minorities and socially disadvantaged communities. Structural and social determinants of health have been recognized as key contributors to the inequalities observed. Racism, a major structural determinant of health that patterns related social determinants of health, in the USA, warrants further investigation. In this perspective piece we provide an overview of the historical context of racism, followed by preliminary findings from the ongoing COVIDStory study—a cross-sectional study addressing perceptions of COVID-19 and COVID-19 research—that highlights the experiences of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic identifying adult participants, residing in Worcester Massachusetts, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We then discuss these findings in the context of current and past research considering racism and relevant social determinants of health. Our study results suggest that racism and its residuals (residential segregation, economic insecurity, discrimination, bias, and vigilance) are modern challenges for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic participants, and these findings are supported by the existing literature. It is our hope that this perspective piece provides additional evidence for action on structural and social determinants affecting the health of minoritized people, especially those living in Massachusetts.
Soil moisture and micrometeorological differences across reference and thinned stands during extremes of precipitation, southern Cascade Range
Authors: Hardage Kyle , Wheelock Shawn J. , Gaffney Rowan , O’Halloran Theresa , Serpa Benjamin , Grant Gordon , Coppoletta Michelle , Csank Adam , Tague Christina , Staudacher Matthew , Tyler Scott
Published: October 2022

Modern forest management generally relies on thinning treatments to reduce fuels and mitigate the threat of catastrophic wildfire. They have also been proposed as a tool to augment downstream flows by reducing evapotranspiration. Warming climates are causing many forests to transition from snow-dominated to rain-dominated precipitation regimes—in which water stores are depleted earlier in the summer. However, there are relatively few studies of these systems that directly measure the hydrologic impacts of such treatments during and following snow-free winters. This work compares the below-canopy meteorological and subsurface hydrologic differences between two thinning prescriptions and an unaltered Control during periods of extreme drought and near-record precipitation (with little snow). The field site was within a coniferous forest in the rain-snow transition zone of the southern Cascades, near the Sierra Nevada Range of California. Both thinning-prescriptions had a modest and predictable impact on below-canopy meteorology, which included their causing lower nighttime minimum temperatures in the critical summer months and higher wind speeds. Relative to the Control, both treatments affected soil moisture storage by delaying its annual decline and increasing its minimum value by the end of the season. The onset of soil moisture depletion was strongly tied to the magnitude of winter precipitation. In dry years, it began much earlier within the dense Control stand than in the treated ones, and, without snow, soil moisture was not replenished in the late spring. During high precipitation years, the storage capacity was topped off for all three stands, which resulted in similar timing of moisture decline across them, later in the season. The two thinning prescriptions increased stores through the height of summer (in wet and drought years). Finally, the basal area increment (BAI) of the remaining trees rose in both, suggesting they used the excess moisture to support rapid growth.
Impact of Epstein–Barr virus infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zhao Shuliang , Cao Zhijun
Published: October 2022

A high prevalence of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported in many case reports and studies; thus, the association between EBV and IBD has gained increasing attention. Patients with IBD are at an increased risk of opportunistic EBV infection owing to the common use of immunomodulators. EBV infection in IBD patients can cause various complications, including superimposed viral colitis, which is associated with chronicity, exacerbation, and poor prognosis of refractory IBD, and can induce progression to lymphoproliferative disorders, such as EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU), lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG), hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It has been suggested to screen for EBV before initiating immunosuppressive therapy and monitor the status of EBV infection in patients with IBD, especially those who are EBV-seronegative and have a risk of primary EBV infection. Clinicians should also be careful of misdiagnosing IBD and EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases due to similarities in both clinical symptoms and endoscopic manifestations. Withdrawal of immunosuppressants has been shown to be an effective strategy to achieve remission of disease at the time of EBV diagnosis, but antiviral therapy remains controversial. The present review aims to describe the characteristics of the complications caused by EBV infection and generalize the recent research progress on and challenges caused by EBV infection in IBD patients. The literature for writing this review was collected from ‘PubMed’ research engine. The keywords ‘inflammatory bowel disease and Epstein–Barr virus’ or ‘ulcerative colitis and Epstein–Barr virus’ or ‘Crohn’s disease and Epstein–Barr virus’ were used to collect the literature and relevant papers were collected to help writing this review.
Snowflake epitope matching correlates with child-specific antibodies during pregnancy and donor-specific antibodies after kidney transplantation
Authors: Niemann Matthias , Strehler Yara , Lachmann Nils , Halleck Fabian , Budde Klemens , Hönger Gideon , Schaub Stefan , Matern Benedict M. , Spierings Eric
Published: October 2022

Development of donor-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (DSA) remains a major risk factor for graft loss following organ transplantation, where DSA are directed towards patches on the three-dimensional structure of the respective organ donor’s HLA proteins. Matching donors and recipients based on HLA epitopes appears beneficial for the avoidance of DSA. Defining surface epitopes however remains challenging and the concepts underlying their characterization are not fully understood. Based on our recently implemented computational deep learning pipeline to define HLA Class I protein-specific surface residues, we hypothesized a correlation between the number of HLA protein-specific solvent-accessible interlocus amino acid mismatches (arbitrarily called Snowflake) and the incidence of DSA. To validate our hypothesis, we considered two cohorts simultaneously. The kidney transplant cohort (KTC) considers 305 kidney-transplanted patients without DSA prior to transplantation. During the follow-up, HLA antibody screening was performed regularly to identify DSA. The pregnancy cohort (PC) considers 231 women without major sensitization events prior to pregnancy who gave live birth. Post-delivery serum was screened for HLA antibodies directed against the child’s inherited paternal haplotype (CSA). Based on the involved individuals’ HLA typings, the numbers of interlocus-mismatched antibody-verified eplets (AbvEPS), the T cell epitope PIRCHE-II model and Snowflake were calculated locus-specific (HLA-A, -B and -C), normalized and pooled. In both cohorts, Snowflake numbers were significantly elevated in recipients/mothers that developed DSA/CSA. Univariable regression revealed significant positive correlation between DSA/CSA and AbvEPS, PIRCHE-II and Snowflake. Snowflake numbers showed stronger correlation with numbers of AbvEPS compared to Snowflake numbers with PIRCHE-II. Our data shows correlation between Snowflake scores and the incidence of DSA after allo-immunization. Given both AbvEPS and Snowflake are B cell epitope models, their stronger correlation compared to PIRCHE-II and Snowflake appears plausible. Our data confirms that exploring solvent accessibility is a valuable approach for refining B cell epitope definitions.
Genomic landscape of the immunogenicity regulation in skin melanomas with diverse tumor mutation burden
Authors: Georgoulias George , Zaravinos Apostolos
Published: October 2022

Skin melanoma cells are tightly interconnected with their tumor microenvironment (TME), which influences their initiation, progression, and sensitivity/resistance to therapeutic interventions. An immune-active TME favors patient response to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), but not all patients respond to therapy. Here, we assessed differential gene expression in primary and metastatic tumors from the TCGA-SKCM dataset, compared to normal skin samples from the GTEx project and validated key findings across 4 independent GEO datasets, as well as using immunohistochemistry in independent patient cohorts. We focused our attention on examining the expression of various immune receptors, immune-cell fractions, immune-related signatures and mutational signatures across cutaneous melanomas with diverse tumor mutation burdens (TMB). Globally, the expression of most immunoreceptors correlated with patient survival, but did not differ between TMBhigh and TMBlow tumors. Melanomas were enriched in “naive T-cell”, “effector memory T-cell”, “exhausted T-cell”, “resting Treg T-cell” and “Th1-like” signatures, irrespective of their BRAF, NF1 or RAS mutational status. Somatic mutations in IDO1 and HLA-DRA were frequent and could be involved in hindering patient response to ICI therapies. We finally analyzed transcriptome profiles of ICI-treated patients and associated their response with high levels of IFNγ, Merck18, CD274, CD8, and low levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and M2 macrophages, irrespective of their TMB status. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of pre-existing T-cell immunity in ICI therapeutic outcomes in skin melanoma and suggest that TMBlow patients could also benefit from such therapies.