bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Helical Structure in MBP Immunodominant Peptides for Efficient IgM Antibody Recognition in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Staśkiewicz Agnieszka , Quagliata Michael , Real-Fernandez Feliciana , Nuti Francesca , Lanzillo Roberta , Brescia-Morra Vincenzo , Rusche Hendrik , Jewginski Michal , Carotenuto Alfonso , Brancaccio Diego , Aharoni Rina , Arnon Ruth , Rovero Paolo , Latajka Rafal , Papini Anna Maria
Published: June 2022

The involvement of Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been widely discussed in the literature. This intrinsically disordered protein has an interesting α-helix motif, which can be considered as a conformational epitope. In this work we investigate the importance of the helical structure in antibody recognition by MBP peptides of different lengths. Firstly, we synthesized the peptide MBP (81–106) (1) and observed that its elongation at both N- and C-termini, to obtain the peptide MBP (76–116) (2) improves IgM antibody recognition in SP-ELISA, but destabilizes the helical structure. Conversely, in competitive ELISA, MBP (81–106) (1) is recognized more efficiently by IgM antibodies than MBP (76–116) (2), possibly thanks to its more stable helical structure observed in CD and NMR conformational experiments. These results are discussed in terms of different performances of peptide antigens in the two ELISA formats tested.
Administration of Phosphonate Inhibitors of Dehydrogenases of 2-Oxoglutarate and 2-Oxoadipate to Rats Elicits Target-Specific Metabolic and Physiological Responses
Authors: Bunik Victoria I. , Artiukhov Artem V. , Kazantsev Alexey V. , Aleshin Vasily A. , Boyko Alexandra I. , Ksenofontov Alexander L. , Lukashev Nikolay V. , Graf Anastasia V.
Published: June 2022

In vitro and in cell cultures, succinyl phosphonate (SP) and adipoyl phosphonate (AP) selectively target dehydrogenases of 2-oxoglutarate (OGDH, encoded by OGDH/OGDHL) and 2-oxoadipate (OADH, encoded by DHTKD1), respectively. To assess the selectivity in animals, the effects of SP, AP, and their membrane-penetrating triethyl esters (TESP and TEAP) on the rat brain metabolism and animal physiology are compared. Opposite effects of the OGDH and OADH inhibitors on activities of OGDH, malate dehydrogenase, glutamine synthetase, and levels of glutamate, lysine, citrulline, and carnosine are shown to result in distinct physiological responses. ECG is changed by AP/TEAP, whereas anxiety is increased by SP/TESP. The potential role of the ester moiety in the uncharged precursors of the 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase inhibitors is estimated. TMAP is shown to be less efficient than TEAP, in agreement with lower lipophilicity of TMAP vs. TEAP. Non-monotonous metabolic and physiological impacts of increasing OADH inhibition are revealed. Compared to the non-treated animals, strong inhibition of OADH decreases levels of tryptophan and beta-aminoisobutyrate and activities of malate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase, increasing the R–R interval of ECG. Thus, both metabolic and physiological actions of the OADH-directed inhibitors AP/TEAP are different from those of the OGDH-directed inhibitors SP/TESP, with the ethyl ester being more efficient than methyl ester.
Metal-Free Synthesis of N-Heterocycles via Intramolecular Electrochemical C-H Aminations
Authors: Wang Huiqiao , Zheng Yongjun , Xu Hucheng , Zou Jiaru , Jin Congrui
Published: June 2022

N-heterocycles are key structural units in many drugs, biologically interesting molecules and functional materials. To avoid the residues of metal catalysts, the construction of N-heterocycles under metal-free conditions has attracted much research attention in academia and industry. Among them, the intramolecular electrochemical C-H aminations arguably constitute environmentally friendly methodologies for the metal-free construction of N-heterocycles, mainly due to the direct use of clean electricity as the redox agents. With the recent renaissance of organic electrosynthesis, the intramolecular electrochemical C-H aminations have undergone much progress in recent years. In this article, we would like to summarize the advances in this research field since 2019. The emphasis is placed on the reaction design and mechanistic insight. The challenges and future developments in the intramolecular electrochemical C-H aminations are also discussed.
Trypanosomatid Richness Among Rats, Opossums, and Dogs in the Caatinga Biome, Northeast Brazil, a Former Endemic Area of Chagas Disease
Authors: Dario Maria Augusta , Furtado Carolina , Lisboa Cristiane Varella , de Oliveira Felipe , Santos Filipe Martins , D’Andrea Paulo Sérgio , Roque André Luiz Rodrigues , Xavier Samanta Cristina das Chagas , Jansen Ana Maria
Published: June 2022

Parasites are important components of the immense n-dimensional trophic network that connects all living beings because they, among others, forge biodiversity and deeply influence ecological evolution and host behavior. In this sense, the influence of Trypanosomatidae remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine trypanosomatid infection and richness in rats, opossums, and dogs in the semiarid Caatinga biome. We submitted DNA samples from trypanosomatids obtained through axenic cultures of the blood of these mammals to mini exon multiplex-PCR, Sanger, and next-generation sequencing targeting the 18S rDNA gene. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to identify genetic diversity in the Trypanosomatidae family. Shannon, Simpson, equability, and beta-diversity indices were calculated per location and per mammalian host. Dogs were surveyed for trypanosomatid infection through hemocultures and serological assays. The examined mammal species of this area of the Caatinga biome exhibited an enormous trypanosomatid species/genotypes richness. Ten denoised Operational Taxonomic Units (ZOTUs), including three species (Trypanosoma cruzi,Trypanosoma rangeliandCrithidia mellificae) and oneTrypanosomasp. five genotypes/lineages (T. cruziDTU TcI, TcII, and TcIV;T. rangeliA and B) and four DTU TcI haplotypes (ZOTU1, ZOTU2, ZOTU5, and ZOTU10 merged), as well as 13 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs), including five species (T. cruzi,T. rangeli,C. mellificae,Trypanosoma dionisii, andTrypanosoma lainsoni), five genotypes/lineages (same as the ZOTUs) and six DTU TcI haplotypes (ASV, ASV1, ASV2, ASV3, ASV5 and ASV13), were identified in single and mixed infections. We observed that trypanosomatids present a broad host spectrum given that species related to a single host are found in other mammals from different taxa. Concomitant infections between trypanosomatids and new host-parasite relationships have been reported, and this immense diversity in mammals raised questions, such as how this can influence the course of the infection in these animals and its transmissibility. Dogs demonstrated a high infection rate byT. cruzias observed by positive serological results (92% in 2005 and 76% in 2007). The absence of positive parasitological tests confirmed their poor infectivity potential but their importance as sentinel hosts ofT. cruzitransmission.
Towards the Antiviral Agents and Nanotechnology-Enabled Approaches Against Parvovirus B19
Authors: Hu Xi , Jia Chen , Wu Jianyong , Zhang Jian , Jiang Zhijie , Ma Kuifen
Published: June 2022

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) as a human pathogenic virus, would cause a wide range of clinical manifestations. Besides the supportive and symptomatic treatments, the only FDA-approved antiviral drug for the treatment of B19V is intravenous immunoglobulins, which however, have limited efficacy and high cost. By far, there are still no virus-specific therapeutics clinically available to treat B19V infection. Therefore, exploiting the potential targets with a deep understanding of the life cycle of B19V, are pivotal to the development of B19V-tailored effective antiviral approaches. This review will introduce antiviral agents via blocking viral invasion, inhibiting the enzymes or regulatory proteins involved in DNA synthesis, and so on. Moreover, nanotechnology-enabled approaches against B19V will also be outlined and discussed through a multidisciplinary perspective involving virology, nanotechnology, medicine, pharmaceutics, chemistry, materials science, and other fields. Lastly, the prospects of the antiviral agents and nanosystems in terms of fabrication, clinical translation and potential breakthroughs will be briefly discussed.
Melatonin Inhibits NF-κB/CREB/Runx2 Signaling and Alleviates Aortic Valve Calcification
Authors: Li Shao-Jung , Cheng Wan-Li , Kao Yu-Hsun , Chung Cheng-Chih , Trang Nguyen Ngoc , Chen Yi-Jen
Published: June 2022

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is linked to high mortality. Melatonin inhibits nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), contributing to CAVD progression. This study determined the role of melatonin/MT1/MT2 signaling in valvular interstitial cell (VIC) calcification. Western blotting and Alizarin red staining were used to analyze NF-κB/CREB/runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) signaling in porcine VICs treated with an osteogenic (OST) medium without (control) or with melatonin for 5 days. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was used to analyze NF-κB's transcription regulation of NF-κB on the Runx2 promoter. OST medium-treated VICs exhibited a greater expression of NF-κB, CREB, and Runx2 than control VICs. Melatonin treatment downregulated the effects of the OST medium and reduced VIC calcification. The MT1/MT2 antagonist (Luzindole) and MT1 receptor neutralized antibody blocked the anticalcification effect of melatonin, but an MT2-specific inhibitor (4-P-PDOT) did not. Besides, the NF-κB inhibitor (SC75741) reduced OST medium-induced VIC calcification to a similar extent to melatonin at 10 nmol/L. The ChIP assay demonstrated that melatonin attenuated OST media increased NF-κB binding activity to the promoter region of Runx2. Activation of the melatonin/MT1-axis significantly reduced VIC calcification by targeting the NF-κB/CREB/Runx2 pathway. Targeting melatonin/MT1 signaling may be a potential therapeutic strategy for CAVD.
Associations Between Serum Soluble α-Klotho and the Prevalence of Specific Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Xu Jun-Peng , Zeng Rui-Xiang , He Mu-Hua , Lin Shan-Shan , Guo Li-Heng , Zhang Min-Zhou
Published: June 2022

Objective

Accumulating experimental evidence has identified the beneficial effects of the anti-aging protein, serum soluble α-Klotho, on longevity, and the cardiovascular system. Although a previous study has revealed the predictive value of α-Klotho on total cardiovascular disease (CVD), the associations between α-Klotho and specific CVDs, including congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke, remains to be fully elucidated in humans.

Methods

For 8,615 adults in the 2007 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, stratified multivariable logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline curves, and subgroup analyses were used to evaluate the associations between α-Klotho and the four specific CVDs.

Results

In the quartile analyses, compared to those in the highest quartile, participants in the lowest level of α-Klotho were significantly associated with CHF [odds ratio (OR) = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.09–1.97] and MI (1.33, 1.02–1.74), which was not the case for CHD (1.12, 0.91–1.38) or stroke (0.96, 0.73–1.25). Each unit increment in the ln-transformed α-Klotho concentrations was only positively associated with a 38 and 24% reduction in the prevalence of CHF and MI, respectively. Restricted cubic spline curves indicated that the α-Klotho was correlated with CHF and MI in linear-inverse relationships.

Conclusion

The present findings suggested that the serum soluble α-Klotho is significantly associated with the prevalence of CHF and MI. To better determine whether α-Klotho is a specific biomarker of CVD, particularly for CHD and stroke, further research in humans is needed.
Predictive Value of Non-high-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio for Coronary Artery Vulnerable Plaques in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Huang Xiyi , Yang Shaomin , Zhao Qiang , Chen Xinjie , Pan Jialing , Lai Shaofen , Ouyang Fusheng , Deng Lingda , Du Yongxing , Li Xiaohong , Hu Qiugen , Guo Baoliang , Liu Jiemei
Published: June 2022

Background

Patients with diabetes have an increased risk of developing vulnerable plaques (VPs), in which dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation play important roles. Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have emerged as potential markers of both coronary artery VPs and cardiovascular prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of non-HDL-C and NLR for coronary artery VPs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 204 patients with T2DM who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography between January 2018 and June 2020. Clinical data including age, sex, hypertension, smoking, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C, triglyceride, non-HDL-C, glycated hemoglobin, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, NLR, and platelet count were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association between non-HDL-C, NLR, and coronary artery VPs. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed to evaluate the value of non-HDL-C, NLR, and their combination in predicting coronary artery VPs.

Results

In our study, 67 patients (32.84%) were diagnosed with VPs, 75 (36.77%) with non-VP, and 62 (30.39%) with no plaque. Non-HDL-C and NLR were independent risk factors for coronary artery VPs in patients with T2DM. The areas under the ROC curve of non-HDL-C, NLR, and their combination were 0.748 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.676–0.818], 0.729 (95% CI: 0.650–0.800), and 0.825 (95% CI: 0.757–0.887), respectively.

Conclusion

Either non-HDL-C or NLR could be used as a predictor of coronary artery VPs in patients with T2DM, but the predictive efficiency and sensitivity of their combination would be better.
Ultrasonic Characteristics Improve Prediction of Central Lymph Node Metastasis in cN0 Unifocal Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Liu Yongchen , Huang Jianhao , Zhang Zhiyuan , Huang Yijie , Du Jialin , Wang Sanming , Wu Zeyu
Published: June 2022

Background

Prediction of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is vital for clinical decision-making processes in clinically N0 (cN0) unifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), but the sensitivity of preoperative detection of CLNM is limited. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there are ultrasonic (US) characteristics associated with CLNM.

Methods

In total, 1657 PTC patients (514 men and 1143 women) were enrolled in the present study between January 2018 and May 2021. The patients met the following inclusion criteria based on preoperative detection: suspected nodule confirmed as PTC by biopsy; the nodule was unifocal and less than 4 cm in diameter; no prior neck radiation exposure; no extrathyroidal extension; and no CLNM or distant metastases on imaging. All the enrolled patients underwent total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND). A postoperative pathological diagnosis was made.

Results

CLNM was found in 58.4% of male patients and 36.9% of female patients. In univariate analysis, size, adjacent anterior capsule, distance to the lower pole and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) were considered risk factors for the male and female groups (p < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, size, adjacent anterior capsule, distance to the lower pole and CDFI were independent risk factors for male patients. For females, the independent risk factors included size, adjacent anterior capsule, distance to the lower pole and CDFI.

Conclusion

In the present cohort, US imaging characteristics, including size, adjacent anterior capsule, distance to the lower pole and CDFI, were identified to be potentially beneficial in preoperative clinical decision-making processes for cN0 unifocal PTC patients.
Basal and Stress-Induced Network Activity in the Adrenal Medulla In Vivo
Authors: Lopez Ruiz Jose R. , Ernst Stephen A. , Holz Ronald W. , Stuenkel Edward L.
Published: June 2022

The adrenal medulla plays a critical role in mammalian homeostasis and the stress response. It is populated by clustered chromaffin cells that secrete epinephrine or norepinephrine along with peptides into the bloodstream affecting distant target organs. Despite been heavily studied, the central control of adrenal medulla and in-situ spatiotemporal responsiveness remains poorly understood. For this work, we continuously monitored the electrical activity of individual adrenomedullary chromaffin cells in the living anesthetized rat using multielectrode arrays. We measured the chromaffin cell activity under basal and physiological stress conditions and characterized the functional micro-architecture of the adrenal medulla. Under basal conditions, chromaffin cells fired action potentials with frequencies between ~0.2 and 4 Hz. Activity was almost completely driven by sympathetic inputs coming through the splanchnic nerve. Chromaffin cells were organized into independent local networks in which cells fired in a specific order, with latencies from hundreds of microseconds to a few milliseconds. Electrical stimulation of the splanchnic nerve evoked almost exactly the same spatiotemporal firing patterns that occurred spontaneously. Hypoglycemic stress, induced by insulin administration resulted in increased activity of a subset of the chromaffin cells. In contrast, respiratory arrest induced by lethal anesthesia resulted in an increase in the activity of virtually all chromaffin cells before cessation of all activity. These results suggest a stressor-specific activation of adrenomedullary chromaffin cell networks and revealed a surprisingly complex electrical organization that likely reflects the dynamic nature of the adrenal medulla’s neuroendocrine output during basal conditions and during different types of physiological stress.
Genetically Predicted Milk Intake Increased Femoral Neck Bone Mineral Density in Women But Not in Men
Authors: Chen Song , Zheng Changhua , Chen Tianlai , Chen Jinchen , Pan Yuancheng , Chen Shunyou
Published: June 2022

Background

Cow milk contains more calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus minerals. For a long time, people have believed that increasing milk intake is beneficial to increasing bone density. Many confounding factors can affect milk consumption, and thus the association described to date may not be causal. We explored the causal relationship between genetically predicted milk consumption and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) of the femoral neck and lumbar spine based on 53,236 individuals from 27 studies of European ancestry using the Mendelian randomization (MR) study. 32,961 individuals of European and East Asian ancestry were used for sensitivity analysis.

Methods

A genetic instrument used for evaluating milk consumption is rs4988235, a locus located at 13,910 base pairs upstream of the LCT gene. A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to study the effect of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and BMD. The summary-level data for BMD of the femoral neck and lumbar spine were obtained from two GWAS meta-analyses [‘Data Release 2012’ and ‘Data Release 2015’ in the GEnetic Factors for OSteoporosis Consortium (GEFOS)].

Results

we found that genetically predicted milk consumption was not associated with FN-BMD(OR 1.007; 95% CI 0.991–1.023; P = 0.385), LS-BMD(OR 1.003; 95% CI 0.983–1.024; P = 0.743) by performing a meta-analysis of several different cohort studies. High levels of genetically predicted milk intake were positively associated with increased FN-BMD in Women. The OR for each additional milk intake increasing allele was 1.032 (95%CI 1.005–1.059; P = 0.014). However, no causal relationship was found between milk consumption and FN-BMD in men (OR 0.996; 95% CI 0.964–1.029; P = 0.839). Genetically predicted milk consumption was not significantly associated with LS-BMD in women (OR 1.017; 95% CI 0.991–1.043; P = 0.198) and men (OR 1.011; 95% CI 0.978–1.045; P = 0.523).

Conclusion

Our study found that women who consume more milk have a higher FN-BMD. When studying the effect of milk consumption on bone density in further studies, we need to pay more attention to women.
Clinical Characteristics of Patients With HNF1-alpha MODY: A Literature Review and Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Zhao Qinying , Ding Li , Yang Ying , Sun Jinhong , Wang Min , Li Xin , Liu Ming
Published: June 2022

The clinical manifestation of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1-alpha (HNF1-alpha) maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is highly variable. This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with HNF1-alpha MODY in general, by geographical regions (Asian or non-Asian), HNF1-alpha mutations, and islet autoantibody status. A literature review and a chart review of patients with HNF1-alpha MODY were performed. The means and proportions from studies were pooled using the inverse variance method for pooling, and subgroup analyses were performed. A total of 109 studies involving 1,325 patients [41.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 35.2, 48.1; male] were identified. The mean age of diagnosis was 20.3 years (95% CI: 18.3–22.2), and the mean glycated hemoglobin was 7.3% (95% CI: 7.2–7.5). In comparison, Asian patients exhibited significantly higher HbA1c (p = 0.007) and 2-h post-load C-peptide (p = 0.012) levels and lower levels of triglyceride (TG) (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (p < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (p < 0.001) and less often had macrovascular complications (p = 0.014). The age of diagnosis was oldest in patients with mutations in the transactivation domain (p < 0.001). The levels of 2-h post-load C-peptide (p < 0.001), TG (p = 0.007), TC (p = 0.017), and HDL-c (p = 0.001) were highest and the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy was lowest (p = 0.024) in patients with DNA-binding domain mutations. The fasting (p = 0.004) and 2-h post-load glucose (p = 0.003) levels and the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy (p = 0.010) were higher among patients with positive islet autoantibodies. The study demonstrated that the clinical manifestations of HNF1-alpha MODY differed by geographical regions, HNF1-alpha mutations, and islet autoantibody status.
Sirtuin 1 in Chronic Kidney Disease and Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Sirtuin 1
Authors: Yan Jiayi , Wang Jue , He John Cijiang , Zhong Yifei
Published: June 2022

The incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) continue to increase worldwide remaining as a major public health burden. CKD eventually progresses to end-stage kidney failure and patients with CKD have high morbidity and mortality. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a NAD+-dependent deacetylases, has significant renal protective effects through its regulation of fibrosis, apoptosis, and senescence, oxidative stress, inflammation and aging process. The renal protective effects of Sirt1 have been described in many kidney diseases such as diabetic kidney disease and HIV-related kidney disease. SIRT1 also has protective effects against vascular calcification and therefore could be developed as a therapy for both CKD and CKD complications. In this narrative review, we will give an overview of the recent progress on the role of SIRT1 and its downstream pathways in CKD. We will also discuss potential therapeutic approach by activating SIRT1-related pathway in patients with CKD. The purpose is to hope to provide some insights on the future direction of the research in the field of SIRT1 for CKD.
Bone Perspectives in Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea: An Update and Future Avenues
Authors: Behary Preeshila , Comninos Alexander N.
Published: June 2022

One of the most important and potentially long-lasting detrimental consequences of Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea (FHA) is on skeletal homeostasis. Beyond oestrogen deficiency, FHA is associated with a cascade of additional neuro-endocrine and metabolic alterations, some adaptive, but which combine to disrupt skeletal homeostasis. Ultimately, this leads to a two-fold increased risk of fractures in women with FHA compared to healthy eumenorrhoeic women. Although the cornerstone of management of FHA-related bone loss remains recovery of menses via restoration of metabolic/psychological balance, there is rapidly developing evidence for hormonal manipulations (with a particular emphasis on route of administration) and other pharmacological treatments that can protect or improve skeletal homeostasis in FHA. In this mini-review, we provide an update on the pathophysiology, clinical management and future avenues in the field from a bone perspective.
Double Yields and Negative Emissions? Resource, Climate and Cost Efficiencies in Biofuels With Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilization
Authors: Jafri Yawer , Ahlström Johan M. , Furusjö Erik , Harvey Simon , Pettersson Karin , Svensson Elin , Wetterlund Elisabeth
Published: June 2022

As fossil-reliant industries turn to sustainable biomass for energy and material supply, the competition for biogenic carbon is expected to intensify. Using process level carbon and energy balance models, this paper shows how the capture of residual CO2 in conjunction with either permanent storage (CCS) or biofuel production (CCU) benefits fourteen largely residue-based biofuel production pathways. With a few noteworthy exceptions, most pathways have low carbon utilization efficiencies (30–40%) without CCS/U. CCS can double these numbers and deliver negative emission biofuels with GHG footprints below −50 g CO2 eq./MJ for several pathways. Compared to CCS with no revenue from CO2 sequestration, CCU can offer the same efficiency gains at roughly two-third the biofuel production cost (e.g., 99 EUR/MWh vs. 162 EUR/MWh) but the GHG reduction relative to fossil fuels is significantly smaller (18 g CO2 eq./MJ vs. −99 g CO2 eq./MJ). From a combined carbon, cost and climate perspective, although commercial pathways deliver the cheapest biofuels, it is the emerging pathways that provide large-scale carbon-efficient GHG reductions. There is thus some tension between alternatives that are societally best and those that are economically most interesting for investors. Biofuel pathways vent CO2 in both concentrated and dilute streams Capturing both provides the best environomic outcomes. Existing pathways that can deliver low-cost GHG reductions but generate relatively small quantities of CO2 are unlikely to be able to finance the transport infrastructure required for transformative bio-CCS deployment. CCS and CCU are accordingly important tools for simultaneously reducing biogenic carbon wastage and GHG emissions, but to unlock their full benefits in a cost-effective manner, emerging biofuel technology based on the gasification and hydrotreatment of forest residues need to be commercially deployed imminently.
Review: High-Entropy Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes
Authors: Sturman James W. , Baranova Elena A. , Abu-Lebdeh Yaser
Published: June 2022

The lithium-ion battery is a type of rechargeable power source with applications in portable electronics and electric vehicles. There is a thrust in the industry to increase the capacity of electrode materials and hence the energy density of the battery. The high-entropy (HE) concept is one strategy that may allow for the compositional variability needed to design new materials for next-generation batteries. Inspired by HE-alloys, HE-oxides are an emerging class of multicomponent ceramics with promising electrochemical properties. This review will focus on the application of these materials to the development of new battery electrodes with insight into the materials’ structure/property relationship and battery performance. We highlight recent results on HE-oxides for the cathode and anode. In addition, we discuss some emerging results on HE-solid electrolytes and HE-alloy anodes.
Exploring Technological Solutions for Onboard Hydrogen Storage Systems Through a Heterogeneous Knowledge Network: From Current State to Future Research Opportunities
Authors: Shi Xuan , Cai Lingfei , Li Zhouping , Cui Yiqian
Published: June 2022

With the imminent threat of the energy crises, innovation in energy technologies is happening world-wide. The aim is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Electric vehicles with fuel-cells that use hydrogen as an energy carrier are touted to be one of the most important potential replacements of the gasoline vehicle in both future transportation scenarios and emerging smart energy grids. However, hydrogen storage is a major technical barrier that lies between where we are now and the mass application of hydrogen energy. Further exploration of onboard hydrogen storage systems (OHSS) is urgently needed and, in this regard, a comprehensive technology opportunity analysis will help. Hence, with this research, we drew on scientific papers and patents related to OHSS and developed a novel methodology for investigating the past, present, and future development trends in OHSS. Specifically, we constructed a heterogeneous knowledge network using a unique multi-component structure with three core components: hydrogen carriers, hydrogen storage materials, and fuel cells. From this network, we extracted both the developed and underdeveloped technological solutions in the field and applied a well-designed evaluation system and prediction model to score the future development potential of these technological solutions. What emerged was the most promising directions of research in the short, medium, and long term. The results show that our methodology can effectively identify technology opportunities in OHSS, along with providing valuable decision support to researchers and enterprise managers associated with the development and application of OHSS.
Combinatorial Techniques for Fault Diagnosis in Nuclear Power Plants Based on Bayesian Neural Network and Simplified Bayesian Network-Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Qi Ben , Zhang Liguo , Liang Jingang , Tong Jiejuan
Published: June 2022

Knowledge-driven and data-driven methods are the two representative categories of intelligent technologies used in fault diagnosis in nuclear power plants. Knowledge-driven methods have advantages in interpretability and robustness, while data-driven methods have better performance in ease of modeling and inference efficiency. Given the complementarity of the two methods, a combination of them is a worthwhile investigation. In this work, we introduce two new techniques based on Bayesian theory (knowledge-driven) and artificial neural network (data-driven) for fault diagnosis in nuclear power plants. The first approach exploits an integrated technique, Bayesian Neural Network (BNN), which introduces Bayesian theory into the neural network to provide confidence in diagnosis. The second approach, denoted as Simplified Bayesian Network-Artificial Neural Network (SBN-ANN), adopts a hierarchical diagnosis idea, which firstly uses a simplified Bayesian network to diagnose fault types and then a neural network to diagnose the severity of faults. The two new techniques are implemented and verified with simulated faults data of a typical pressurized water reactor. Compared with single-algorithmic diagnostic approaches such as Bayesian network and neural network, the new combinatorial techniques show better performance in diagnostic precision. The results suggest the feasibility to develop the data and knowledge dual-drive technologies for fault diagnosis.
Numerical Study of Low Pr Flow in a Bare 19-Rod Bundle Based on an Advanced Turbulent Heat Transfer Model
Authors: Li Xianwen , Su Xingkang , Gu Long , Zhang Lu , Sheng Xin
Published: June 2022

Compared to assuming a constant turbulent Prandtl number model, an advanced four-equation model has the potential to improve the numerical heat transfer calculation accuracy of low–Prandtl number (Pr) fluids. Generally, a four-equation model consists of a two-equation k−ε turbulence model and a two-equation kθ−εθ heat transfer model. It is essential to analyze the influence of dissimilar turbulence models on the overall calculation accuracy of the four-equation model. The present study aims to study the effect of using different turbulence models on the same kθ−εθ heat transfer model. First, based on the open-source computational fluid dynamics software OpenFOAM, an advanced two-equation kθ−εθ heat transfer model was introduced into the solver buoyant2eqnFoam, which was developed based on the self-solver buoyantSimpleFoam of OpenFOAM. In the solver buoyant2eqnFoam, various turbulence models built into OpenFOAM can be conveniently called to close the Reynolds stress and an advanced two-equation heat transfer model can be utilized to calculate the Reynolds heat flux of low-Pr fluids. Subsequently, the solver buoyant2eqnFoam was employed to study the fully developed flow heat transfer of low-Pr fluids in a bare 19-rod bundle. The numerical results were compared and analyzed with the experimental correlations and other simulation results to validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the solver buoyant2eqnFoam. Furthermore, the influence of combining different turbulence models with the same two-equation kθ−εθ heat transfer model was also presented in this study. The results show that the turbulence model has a considerable influence on the prediction of turbulent heat transfer in the high Peclet number range, suggesting that it should be prudent when picking a turbulence model in the simulations of low-Pr fluids.
Statistical Analysis of the Weather Impact on Robusta Coffee Yield in Vietnam
Authors: Dinh Thi Lan Anh , Aires Filipe , Rahn Eric
Published: June 2022

Weather and climate strongly impact coffee; however, few studies have measured this impact on robusta coffee yield. This is because the yield record is not long enough, and/or the data are only available at a local farm level. A data-driven approach is developed here to 1) identify how sensitive Vietnamese robusta coffee is to weather on district and provincial levels, 2) during which key moments weather is most influential for yield, and 3) how long before harvest, yield could potentially be forecasted. Robusta coffee yield time series were available from 2000 to 2018 for the Central Highlands, where 40% of global robusta coffee is produced. Multiple linear regression has been used to assess the effect of weather on coffee yield, with regularization techniques such as PCA and leave-one-out to avoid over-fitting the regression models. The data suggest that robusta coffee in Vietnam is most sensitive to two key moments: a prolonged rainy season of the previous year favoring vegetative growth, thereby increasing the potential yield (i.e., number of fruiting nodes), while low rainfall during bean formation decreases yield. Depending on location, these moments could be used to forecast the yield anomaly with 3–6 months’ anticipation. The sensitivity of yield anomalies to weather varied substantially between provinces and even districts. In Dak Lak and some Lam Dong districts, weather explained up to 36% of the robusta coffee yield anomalies variation, while low sensitivities were identified in Dak Nong and Gia Lai districts. Our statistical model can be used as a seasonal forecasting tool for the management of coffee production. It can also be applied to climate change studies, i.e., using this statistical model in climate simulations to see the tendency of coffee in the following decades.
Whether the Directed Technical Change Promotes the Improvement of the Energy Structure in China
Authors: Hou Guisheng , Song Hongyu
Published: June 2022

Optimizing energy structure is necessary to achieve full decarbonization. In this study, we introduced thermal power, clean energy, and traditional fossil energy as three different input factors into the translog production function. We considered three improvement paths of the energy structure, including replacing fossil energy with electricity and using thermal power to substitute for clean energy and then analyzed whether the directed technological change promotes the optimization of the energy structure in China. The results show that there is a substitution relationship between thermal power and clean energy during the internal transition process, and the biased technical change is thermal power-using, which suggests that technological change is not conducive to the improvement of electricity structure from thermal power to clean energy. In external transition, the biased technical change is fossil energy-using instead of thermal power-using or clean power-using, and there is a substitution relationship among three factors, which shows that technical change goes against the improvement of energy structure from fossil energy to electricity. We propose that the Chinese governments adopt energy price or carbon tax measures to adjust the directed technical change and thus optimize the energy structure. In addition, according to the results from China, different countries can improve the energy structure based on their characteristic production mode.
Cross Analysis of Genomic-Pathologic Features on Multiple Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Ren Fei , Wang Depin , Zhang Xueyuan , Zhao Na , Wang Xiaowen , Zhang Yu , Li Li
Published: June 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignancy cancer worldwide with a poor prognosis. Hepatic resection is indicated as a potentially curative option for HCC patients in the early stage. However, due to multiple nodules, it leads to clinical challenges for surgical management. Approximately 41%–75% of HCC cases are multifocal at initial diagnosis, which may arise from multicentric occurrence (MO-HCC) or intrahepatic metastasis (IM-HCC) pattern with significantly different clinical outcomes. Effectively differentiating the two mechanisms is crucial to prioritize the allocation of surgery for multifocal HCC. In this study, we collected a multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma cohort of 17 patients with a total of 34 samples. We performed whole-exome sequencing and staining of pathological HE sections for each lesion. Reconstruction of the clonal evolutionary pattern using genome mutations showed that the intrahepatic metastogenesis pattern had a poorer survival performance than independent origins, with variants in the TP53, ARID1A, and higher CNV variants occurring more significantly in the metastatic pattern. Cross-modality analysis with pathology showed that molecular classification results were consistent with pathology results in 70.6% of patients, and we found that pathology results could further complement the classification for undefined patterns of occurrence. Based on these results, we propose a model to differentiate the pattern of multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma based on the pathological results and genome mutations information, which can provide guidelines for diagnosing and treating multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma.
Sharing and Safeguarding Pediatric Data
Authors: Patrinos Dimitri , Knoppers Bartha Maria , Laplante David P. , Rahbari Noriyeh , Wazana Ashley
Published: June 2022

Data sharing is key to advancing our understanding of human health and well-being. While issues related to pediatric research warrant strong ethical protections, overly protectionist policies may serve to exclude minors from data sharing initiatives. Pediatric data sharing is critical to scientific research concerning health and well-being, to say nothing of understanding human development generally. For example, large-scale pediatric longitudinal studies, such as those in the DREAM-BIG Consortium, on the influence of prenatal adversity factors on child psychopathology, will provide prevention data and generate future health benefits. Recent initiatives have formulated sound policy to help enable and foster data sharing practices for pediatric research. To help translate these policy initiatives into practice, we discuss how model consent clauses for pediatric research can help address some of the issues and challenges of pediatric data sharing, while enabling data sharing.
Cytokinin and Its Key Role to Enrich the Plant Nutrients and Growth Under Adverse Conditions-An Update
Authors: Prasad Ravindra
Published: June 2022

Among the field crops, wheat is regarded as one of the most paramount cereal crops because it is widely grown, consumed as food across the world, and also known as the staple food for nearly 35 per cent of the world population. However, it is threatened by spot blotch disease causing considerable yield loss, with existing genotypes lacking the resistance and the necessary nutrients. Cytokinins (CKs) are key phytohormones that not only regulate the plant growth/development but also play an important role during stress and in the nutrient metabolic pathway of crop plants. Deficiency of important nutrients like zinc, iron, and vitamin A causes irreparable damage to the body, pressing the need to increase the accumulation of such micronutrients in the edible parts of the plant. Crop bio-fortification is one of the emerging approaches through which the quantities of these nutrients could be increased to an advisable amount. Cytokinin is observed to have a pivotal role in managing environmental stress/climate change and defense systems of plants, and apart from this, it is also found that it has an impact over Zn accumulation in cereal crops. Manipulation of the cytokine dehydrogenase (CKX) enzyme that degrades cytokinin could affect the yield, root growth, and important nutrients. Several instances revealed that an increment in the contents of Zn, S, Fe, and Mn in the seeds of cereals is a reflection of increasing the activity of CKX enzyme resulting the enhancement of the root system which not only helps in the absorption of water in a drought prone area but is also beneficial for scavenging nutrients to the deeper ends of the soil. Exploring micronutrients from the lithosphere via the root system helps in the uptake of the micronutrients and transporting them via the vascular system to the sink of crop plants, therefore, identification and incorporation of CKs/CKX linked gene(s) into targeted crop plants, exploring a bio-fortification approach including CRISPR-Cas9 through conventional and molecular breeding approaches could be the most paramount job for improving the important traits and stress management in order to enhance the plant growth, productivity, and nutritional value of the wheat crops, which would be useful for mankind.
Case Report: A Chinese Family of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Caused by a Novel Splicing Mutation in the FLNC Gene
Authors: Huang Chunhui , Zheng Yonghong , Zhang Wei , Chen Zhigang , Huang Zhixin , Fang Yuan
Published: June 2022

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a type of primary cardiomyopathy with genetic etiology, and it carries a high risk of diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, and malignant arrhythmias. We reported the first familial HCM in China, caused by a novel FLNC splicing mutation. We performed duo exome sequencing (ES) to examine the genome of the proband and his mother. For 10 days, a 15-year-old boy was presented to our hospital due to non–exercise-associated chest tightness and asthma. He was diagnosed with HCM [end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness was about 18 mm by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)]. His mother and sister performed TTE to screen familial cardiomyopathy, which revealed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy only in the proband’s mother. In ES of the mother–son duo, we identified a novel heterozygous mutation of the FLNC gene (chr7:128492808, NM_001127487, c.5905+2T>C, rs1808874360) as the candidate cause of autosomal dominant HCM. Sanger sequencing confirmed this novel mutation in the proband and his mother but absent in the proband’s sister. The potential impact of the novel mutation was predicted by MutationTaster, dbscSNV_ADA_SCORE, dbscSNV_RF_SCORE, CADD_phred, PhyloP20way_mammalian, PhyloP100way_vertebrate, SiPhy_29way_logOdds, and GERP++_RS software. After the administration of furosemide, spironolactone, and metoprolol, the proband’s heart function was improved, and symptoms were alleviated. We presented the first familial HCM caused by a novel FLNC splicing mutation via exome sequencing in China. Therefore, it is necessary that familial screening for patients with HCM should be performed for the early detection of HCM intervention in malignant cardiac events in advance and block genes.
A Novel Ferroptosis-Related LncRNA Pair Prognostic Signature Predicts Immune Landscapes and Treatment Responses for Gastric Cancer Patients
Authors: Li Jiazheng , Xiang Renshen , Song Wei , Wu Jing , Kong Can , Fu Tao
Published: June 2022

Background: The construction of ferroptosis-related lncRNA prognostic models in malignancies has been an intense area of research recently. However, most of the studies focused on the exact expression of lncRNAs and had limited application values. Herein, we aim to establish a novel prognostic model for gastric cancer (GC) patients and discuss its correlation with immune landscapes and treatment responses.

Methods: The present study retrieved transcriptional data of GC patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We identified differentially expressed ferroptosis-related lncRNAs between tumor and normal controls of GC samples. Based on a new method of cyclically single pairing, we constructed a 0 or 1 matrix of ferroptosis-related lncRNA pairs (FRLPs). A risk score signature consisting of 10 FRLPs was established using multi-step Cox regression analysis. Next, we performed a series of systematic analyses to investigate the association of the FRLP model and tumor microenvironment, biological function, and treatment responses. An alternative model to the FRLP risk score signature, the gene set score (GS) model was also constructed, which could represent the former when lncRNA expression was not available.

Results: We established a novel prognostic signature of 10 ferroptosis-related lncRNA pairs. High-risk patients in our risk score model were characterized by high infiltration of immune cells, upregulated carcinogenic and stromal activities, and heightened sensitivity to a wide range of anti-tumor drugs, whereas low-risk patients were associated with better responses to methotrexate treatment and elevated immunotherapeutic sensitivity. The practicability of the FRLP risk score model was also validated in two independent microarray datasets downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) using the GS model. Finally, two online dynamic nomograms were built to enhance the clinical utility of the study.

Conclusion: In this study, we developed a ferroptosis-related lncRNA pair-based risk score model that did not rely on the exact lncRNA expression level. This novel model might provide insights for the accurate prediction and comprehensive management for GC patients.