bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incorporation of Different Metal Ion for Tuning Color and Enhancing Antioxidant Activity of Curcumin/Palygorskite Hybrid Materials
Authors: Li Shue , Mu Bin , Yan Penji , Kang Yuru , Wang Qin , Wang Aiqin
Published: December 2021

Curcumin is one of the dietary dyes extracted from turmeric and used for prevention and treatment of various illnesses. However, the low bioavailability and poor stability of curcumin limits its relevant applications. Therefore, different metal ions including Cu2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Al3+, or Fe3+ were incorporated to tune the color, enhance the environmental stability and antioxidant activity of curcumin in the presence of palygorskite in this study. The as-prepared samples were studied using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the density functional theory calculation was also performed to explore the possible interaction among metal ions, curcumin and palygorskite. It was found that the color changing and stability enhancing were ascribed to the curcumin-metal ions coordination as well as chemical interactions between curcumin-metal complex and palygorskite. Moreover, the as-prepared composites showed more excellent color, thermal stability, antioxidant activity, and fluorescence properties than that of the curcumin/palygorskite composites due to the presence of metal ions. The finding of this investigation may contribute to developing the multifunctional composites with different colors and good antioxidant activity for relevant applications based on curcumin and palygorskite.
Self-Assembly of [3]Catenane and [4]Catenane Based on Neutral Organometallic Scaffolds
Authors: Wu Gui-Yuan , Zhu Hong-Juan , Pan Fang-Fang , Sheng Xiao-Wei , Zhang Ming-Rui , Zhang Xianyi , Yao Guangxin , Qu Hang , Lu Zhou
Published: December 2021

Transition metal-mediated templating and self-assembly have shown great potential to construct mechanically interlocked molecules. Herein, we describe the formation of the bimetallic [3]catenane and [4]catenane based on neutral organometallic scaffolds via the orthogonality of platinum-to-oxygen coordination-driven self-assembly and copper(I) template–directed strategy of a [2]pseudorotaxane. The structures of these bimetallic [3]catenane and [4]catenane were characterized by multinuclear NMR {1H and 31P} spectroscopy, electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), and PM6 semiempirical molecular orbital theoretical calculations. In addition, single-crystal X-ray analyses of the [3]catenane revealed two asymmetric [2]pseudorotaxane units inside the metallacycle. It was discovered that tubular structures were formed through the stacking of individual [3]catenane molecules driven by the strong π–π interactions.
Gut Dysbiosis and Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction: Potential Explanation for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Ahmad Kendong Siti Maryam , Raja Ali Raja Affendi , Nawawi Khairul Najmi Muhammad , Ahmad Hajar Fauzan , Mokhtar Norfilza Mohd
Published: December 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease that commonly affects individuals aged more than 50 years old globally. Regular colorectal screening, which is recommended for individuals aged 50 and above, has decreased the number of cancer death toll over the years. However, CRC incidence has increased among younger population (below 50 years old). Environmental factors, such as smoking, dietary factor, urbanization, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity, may contribute to the rising trend of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) because of the lack of genetic susceptibility. Research has focused on the role of gut microbiota and its interaction with epithelial barrier genes in sporadic CRC. Population with increased consumption of grain and vegetables showed high abundance of Prevotella, which reduces the risk of CRC. Microbes, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli deteriorate in the intestinal barrier, which leads to the infiltration of inflammatory mediators and chemokines. Gut dysbiosis may also occur following inflammation as clearly observed in animal model. Both gut dysbiosis pre- or post-inflammatory process may cause major alteration in the morphology and functional properties of the gut tissue and explain the pathological outcome of EOCRC. The precise mechanism of disease progression from an early stage until cancer establishment is not fully understood. We hypothesized that gut dysbiosis, which may be influenced by environmental factors, may induce changes in the genome, metabolome, and immunome that could destruct the intestinal barrier function. Also, the possible underlying inflammation may give impact microbial community leading to disruption of physical and functional role of intestinal barrier. This review explains the potential role of the interaction among host factors, gut microenvironment, and gut microbiota, which may provide an answer to EOCRC.
ADS Score as a Novel Predictor of Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Zhang Wen-Jing , Liu Gang-Qiong , Shangguan Jia-Hong , Zhu Xiao-Dan , Wang Wei , Guo Qian-Qian , Zhang Jian-Chao , Wang Kai , Liu Zhi-Yu , Song Feng-Hua , Fan Lei , Li Ling , Zheng Ying-Ying , Zhang Jin-Ying
Published: December 2021

Objectives: A novel AFR– albumin-derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) score (ADS) were reported to associate with clinical outcome in various malignancies, However, the relation between the ADS score and outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been investigated.

Methods: Three thousand five hundred and sixty-one patients were divided into two groups according to ADS score: low group (ADS score <2; n = 2,682) and high group (ADS score ≥ 2; n = 879). Overall, there were 133 all-cause mortality (ACM) during the following up. The incidence of ACM in the low group is 2.7% (72/2,682) and high group is 6.9% (61/879). The ACM incidence was significantly higher in high group compared to that in the low group (P < 0.001). Cardiac mortality (CM) occurred in 82 patients: 44(1.6%) in the low group and 38 (4.3%) in the high group. There was significant difference in the CM incidence between the low group and high group (P < 0.001). Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) occurred in 520 patients: 366 (13.6%) in the low group and 154 (17.5%) in the high group. There was significant difference in the MACCE incidence between the low group and high group (P = 0.005). Major adverse cardiac and events (MACE) occurred in 395 patients: 281(10.5%) in the low group and 114 (13.0%) in the high group. There was significant difference in the MACE incidence between the low group and high group (P = 0.041). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that ADS score was independently correlated with the ACM [adjusted HR = 2.031 (1.357–3.039), P = 0.001]; CM [adjusted HR = 1.883 (1.127–3.147), P = 0.016]; MACCE [adjusted HR = 1.352 (1.096–1.668), P = 0.005], and MACE [adjusted HR = 1.260 (0.987–1.608), P = 0.063].

Conclusion: The present study indicated that the ADS score was associated with long-term mortality, the MACCE, and the MACE in CAD patients underwent PCI.
Cholesterol Efflux Capacity and Its Association With Adverse Cardiovascular Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lee Jane J. , Chi Gerald , Fitzgerald Clara , Kazmi Syed Hassan A. , Kalayci Arzu , Korjian Serge , Duffy Danielle , Shaunik Alka , Kingwell Bronwyn , Yeh Robert W. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Gibson C. Michael
Published: December 2021

Background: Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease events. Yet, emerging evidence suggests that it is the functional properties of HDL, in particular, reverse cholesterol transport, which is a key protective mechanism mediating cholesterol removal from macrophage cells and reducing plaque lipid content. Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) measures the capacity of HDL to perform this function. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to explore the association of CEC and adverse cardiovascular events.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review of Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science Core Collection from inception to September 2019 was performed for all studies that examined the association between CEC and cardiovascular outcomes. The primary outcome was adverse cardiovascular events, which were inclusive of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or mortality.

Results: A total of 20 trials were included. Compared with low CEC levels, high CEC levels were associated with a 37% lower risk of adverse cardiovascular events (crude RR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.52–0.76; P < 0.00001). Every SD increase of CEC was associated with a 20% lower risk of adverse cardiovascular events (HR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66–0.97; P = 0.02). The association remained significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, medications, and HDL-C levels (HR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63–0.91; P = 0.004). A significant CEC-endpoint relationship was observed (P = 0.024) such that for every 0.1 unit increase in CEC, there was a 5% reduced risk for adverse cardiovascular events (RR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91–0.99).

Conclusions: Higher CEC is associated with lower adverse cardiovascular outcomes. These findings warrant further research on whether CEC is merely a biomarker or a mechanism that could be targeted as a pharmacologic intervention for improving clinical outcomes.

PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42020146681; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.
Anatomical Assessment vs. Pullback REsting full-cycle rAtio (RFR) Measurement for Evaluation of Focal and Diffuse CoronarY Disease: Rationale and Design of the “READY Register”
Authors: Kőszegi Zsolt , Berta Balázs , Tóth Gábor G. , Tar Balázs , Üveges Áron , Ágoston András , Szücs Attila , Szabó Gábor Tamás , Barta Judit , Szük Tibor , Czuriga Dániel , Komócsi András , Ruzsa Zoltán
Published: December 2021

Background: The morphology and functional severity of coronary stenosis show poor correlation. However, in clinical practice, the visual assessment of the invasive coronary angiography is still the most common means for evaluating coronary disease. The fractional flow reserve (FFR), the coronary flow reserve (CFR), and the resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) are established indices to determine the hemodynamic significance of a coronary stenosis.

Design/Methods: The READY register (NCT04857762) is a prospective, multicentre register of patients who underwent invasive intracoronary FFR and RFR measurement. The main aim of the registry is to compare the visual estimate of coronary lesions and the functional severity of the stenosis assessed by FFR, as well as the RFR pullback. Characterizations of the coronary vessel for predominantly focal, diffuse, or mixed type disease according to visual vs. RFR pullback determination will be compared. The secondary endpoint of the study is a composite of major adverse cardiac events, including death, myocardial infarction, and repeat coronary revascularization at 1 year. These endpoints will be compared in patients with non-ischemic FFR in the subgroup of cases where the local pressure drop indicates a focal lesion according to the definition of ΔRFR > 0.05 (for <25 mm segment length) and in the subgroup without significant ΔRFR. In case of an FFR value above 0.80, an extended physiological analysis is planned to diagnose or exclude microvascular disease using the CFR/FFR index. This includes novel flow dynamic modeling for CFR calculation (CFRp−3D).

Conclusion: The READY register will define the effect of RFR measurement on visual estimation-based clinical decision-making. It can identify a prognostic value of ΔRFR during RFR pullback, and it would also explore the frequency of microvascular disease in the patient population with FFR > 0.80.

Clinical Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04857762).
Atmospheric CO2 Consumption by Chemical Weathering in the Main Tributaries of the Yellow River: Tao He, Huang Shui, and Datong He, Originating From the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Yongji Zhuoma , Zhao Liuqian , Li Yunxiao , Zhang Longjun
Published: December 2021

The Tao He, Huang Shui, and Datong He originate from the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and flow into the Yellow River on the Loess Plateau (LP), all with a basin area exceeding 15,000 km2, and are the three largest tributaries of the Yellow River QTP sub-basin. Water samples were collected at the river outlets, the QTP section, the transition zone between the QTP and the LP, and the LP section of each river. These water samples were used to explore CO2 consumption by chemical weathering and its control mechanisms. Runoff and physical erosion are the main factors controlling chemical weathering in the three rivers. The increase of relief ratio in the transition zone between the QTP and the LP makes the chemical weathering particularly intense in this area. The total CO2 consumption rates by chemical weathering in the Tao He and Huang Shui transition zones are 1.4 times and 1.7 times greater than in their QTP sections, and 1.7 times and 2.3 times greater than in their LP sections, respectively. In contrast, due to the high relief ratio of 8‰ in the Datong He transition zone, the residence time of the water is extremely short, and unweathered fine-grained materials are delivered downstream to continue weathering. The influence of differential lithology distribution on chemical weathering includes that the Datong He QTP section with carbonate exposure presents the most intense carbonate weathering in that basin, and the Tao He transition zone has low silicate weathering resulting from the distribution of early Permian strata. In addition, groundwater recharge most likely influenced the silicate weathering of Huang Shui significantly. The total area of the three rivers accounts for 25% of the Yellow River QTP sub-basin, while their contribution to the total CO2 consumption flux by chemical weathering approximates 36%. The silicate weathering of the northern QTP rivers is lower than the global average and significantly lower than those of the southern QTP rivers. However, carbonate weathering of the QTP rivers exhibit no north-south regional differences.
Exploration Process and Genesis Mechanism of Deep Geothermal Resources in the North Jiangsu Basin, East China: From Nothing to Something
Authors: Wang Yibo , Bai Yang , Wang Lijuan , Guan Junpeng , Wang Yaqi , Wang Zhuting , Hu Jie , Hu Shengbiao
Published: December 2021

Geothermal resources, as an important member of clean renewable energy, of which the exploration, development, and utilization of geothermal resources, especially deep geothermal resources, are of great significance for achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Taking the North Jiangsu Basin (NJB) as an example, this paper reviews the exploration process of deep geothermal resources in the basin and presents the latest results. The study shows that the NJB is a typical “hot basin” with an average heat flow value of 68 mW/m2. In this region, the deep geothermal resource favorable areas in the NJB are mainly distributed in the depressions, in particular those near the Jianhu uplift, i.e., the Yanfu depression and the Dongtai depression. In addition, the genesis mechanism of the deep geothermal resource favorable area in the NJB is best explained by the “two stages, two sources” thermal concentration, that is, “two stages” means that the transformation of the lithospheric thermal regime are caused by the late Mesozoic craton destruction in East China, and the Cenozoic lithospheric extension; these two tectono-thermal events together lead to the deep anomalous mantle-source heat (the first source), and the upper crustal-scale heat control is mainly caused by thermal refraction (the second source). Overall, this case study underlines new ideas of understanding the geothermal genesis mechanism in East China, which can guide for the exploration and development of deep geothermal resources at the basin scale.
Six Air Pollutants Associated With Increased Risk of Thyroid Nodules: A Study of 4.9 Million Chinese Adults
Authors: Zhang Yunjing , Wang Kai , Qin Wei , Jin Cheng , Song Yiqing , Jia Peng , Wang Shengfeng , Song Yongfeng , Ning Yi , Li Liming
Published: December 2021

Background

Thyroid nodules has become a significant public health issue worldwide with a rapidly increasing prevalence. However, its association with outdoor air pollution remains poorly understood. We aim to investigate the relationship between six outdoor air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3) and the risk of thyroid nodules.

Methods

We utilized a database including 4,920,536 participants who attended the annual physical examinations in the Meinian HealthCare Screening Center in 157 Chinese cities in 2017. City-specific concentrations of six pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3) from 2015 to 2017 were estimated based on the China’s National Urban Air Quality Real Time Publishing Platform. Thyroid nodule was measured with ultrasound. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between air pollutants and thyroid nodules with adjustment for age, sex, education, smoking, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, urine iodine, gross domestic product, and thyroid stimulating hormone. We conducted stratified analyses to investigate potential effect modification by sex, age, and urine iodine groups.

Results

Approximately 38% of the participants (1,869,742) were diagnosed with thyroid nodules. Each of the six air pollutants was significantly and linearly associated with the risk for thyroid nodules. The adjusted odds ratios [95% CI] for every increase of 10 μg/m3 for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3 were 1.062 [1.061, 1.064], 1.04 [1.03, 1.04], 1.10 [1.09, 1.10], 1.11 [1.11, 1.12], and 1.151 [1.149, 1.154], respectively; The odds ratio for each increase of 1 mg/m3 for CO was 1.50 [1.49 to 1.52]. Furthermore, these associations were significantly higher in the participants who were men, younger, or having lower urine iodine level (p <0.001).

Conclusion

The six air pollutants may contribute to the high prevalence of thyroid nodules in China.
Biofuels Analysis Based on the THDI Indicator of Sustainability
Authors: Lucia Umberto , Grisolia Giulia
Published: December 2021

Energy resources, and their management, represent an open ongoing problem of our present days. An increasing interest in the analysis of the limits of fossil fuels’ use, and their availability, is growing in order to find solutions to the undesired impact of some anthropic activities to the environment. So, nowadays, aThe current shift to renewable energy resources has become a fundamental requirement. In this context, biofuels from micro-organisms can represent a response to the requirement of reducing the environmental impact, but also to generatinge new jobs. In this paper, the analysis of the biofuels from micro-organisms is developed by introducing the Thermodynamic Human Development Index (THDI). In particular, we show how its performance can be improved by using the third-generation biofuels in the road transport sector, and how it increases by exploiting biofuels derived from mutualistic species of some micro-organisms. The result consists inis affected by the fundamental role of the mutualistic behaviour of these species in order to increase the overall sustainability.
Statistical Machine Learning Model for Uncertainty Planning of Distributed Renewable Energy Sources in Distribution Networks
Authors: Fu Xueqian , Wu Xianping , Liu Nian
Published: December 2021

New energy power systems with high-permeability photovoltaic and wind power are high-dimensional dynamic large-scale systems with nonlinear, uncertain and complex operating characteristics. The uncertainty of new energies creates challenges in detailed analyses of operating conditions and the efficient planning of distribution networks. Probabilistic power flows (PPFs) are effective tools for uncertainty analyses of distribution networks, and they can be applied in stochastic programming, risk assessment and other fields. We propose different forms of PPFs, which are origin moments rather than means and variances, based on point estimation. We design a stochastic programming model suitable for new energy planning in practice, and the PPF results can be used to improve energy stochastic programming methods by considering the principle of maximum entropy (POME) and quadratic fourth-order moment (QFM) estimation. The origin moments of PPFs are transformed into central moments as inputs of QFM based on probability theory. QFM can efficiently estimate the constraint probability levels of stochastic optimal planning models, and the proposed method is verified based on an IEEE 33-node distribution network.
Stakeholder Perceptions of Nature-Based Solutions and Their Collaborative Co-Design and Implementation Processes in Rural Mountain Areas—A Case Study From PHUSICOS
Authors: Lupp Gerd , Huang Joshua J. , Zingraff-Hamed Aude , Oen Amy , Del Sepia Nicola , Martinelli Alberto , Lucchesi Massimo , Wulff Knutsen Turid , Olsen Mari , Fjøsne Trine Frisli , Balaguer Eva-Maria , Arauzo Idoia , Solheim Anders , Kalsnes Bjørn , Pauleit Stephan
Published: December 2021

Planners and engineers increasingly discovered nature as a source of inspiration to mitigate hydro-meteorological risks resulting from extreme weather events. Actors are realizing advantages of such solutions known as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to rapidly adapt to changing climate patterns and related impacts such as flooding, landslides, mudflows or rockfalls. NBS also provide multiple co-benefits such as an increased landscape value for society and biodiversity. Because of their inherent characteristics, NBS implementation are more efficient when supported by participative approaches. At the same time, strengthening democratic and collaborative planning into Living Labs approaches generates an increase in interest. This helps to overcome bottlenecks when implementing measures and provide common ground to provide space for new ideas, to promote innovation and to develop solutions with high acceptance. While co-design and implementing NBS has already been applied and well documented for urban areas, there are few publications on collaborative planning, stakeholder perception and NBS co-implementation in rural mountain areas. In our case study analysis from the EU-funded H2020 project PUSICOS, we present stakeholder views on NBS, their possibility to reduce natural hazards in different mountainous case study areas, different discussed measures, NBS types and stages of implementation. We analyze expectations on Living Lab processes to co-design NBS and important topics to be addressed in these processes from the view, perspective and perception of local stakeholders. Despite the importance of NBS on political and research agenda, in both the literature and the interviews, the concept and ideas are less familiar to stakeholders. NBS are mainly encountered within river restoration measures. The main interest was to reduce risks and to find solutions that were attractive and interesting also from an economical point of view e.g. business models for farmers and landowners and less of the multiple benefits that are most important for stakeholders in urban areas. The collaborative planning approach was seen as important for engaging stakeholders and creating knowledge about NBS. These insights will contribute to the understanding and address the management of intense stakeholder involvement processes, identify barriers that arise, and support in-depth participatory processes.
Climate Change is Likely to Alter Sheep and Goat Distributions in Mainland China
Authors: Zhang Yongxiang , Wang Guogang , Zhang Yu , Zhao Sicheng , Han Chengji
Published: December 2021

Climate change endangers food security worldwide, especially in developing countries. Livestock husbandry is one of the essential livelihoods for farmers and herders in remote arid and semiarid regions. However, it remains unclear how climate change will impact livestock husbandry in the future. This study collected sheep and goat distributions from the “gridded livestock of the world” (GLW) dataset for 1943 counties in Mainland China. Current climate data include precipitation and temperature from the National Meteorological Information Center (NMIC). We disentangled the effects of precipitation and temperature on current distributions of sheep and goats with the Bayesian Hierarchical Model by Integrated Nest Laplace Approximation (INLA). Further, we forecasted the potential sheep and goat distributions in 2030 and 2050 under Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) scenarios. Our result showed that sheep distribution is significantly correlated with elevation, slope, market density, and highway distance, with absolute correlation coefficients ranging from 0.019 to 0.411. In addition to elevation, slope, and market density, goat distribution is also affected by gain production, with a correlation coefficient of 0.055. There is a dynamic correlation of temperature and precipitation with sheep and goat density. The sheep density distribution is predicted to increase in Northwest China, while the goat density distribution might increase in farming areas under climate change. Finally, this study suggests for the sheep and goat breeding industry to respond to climate change.
A Decoupling Analysis of the Crop Water Footprint Versus Economic Growth in Beijing, China
Authors: Huang Kai , Wang Mengqi , Zhou Zhongren , Yu Yajuan , Bi Yixing
Published: December 2021

Beijing, the capital of China, is experiencing a serious lack of water, which is becoming a main factor in the restriction of the development of the social economy. Due to the low economic efficiency and high consumption proportion of agricultural water use, the relationship between economic growth and agricultural water use is worth investigating. The “decoupling” index is becoming increasingly popular for identifying the degree of non-synchronous variation between resource consumption and economic growth. However, few studies address the decoupling between the crop water consumption and agricultural economic growth. This paper involves the water footprint (WF) to assess the water consumption in the crop production process. After an evaluation of the crop WF in Beijing, this paper applies the decoupling indicators to examine the occurrence of non-synchronous variation between the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and crop WF in Beijing from 1981 to 2013. The results show that the WF of crop production in 2013 reduced by 62.1% compared to that in 1980 — in total, 1.81 × 109 m3. According to the decoupling states, the entire study period is divided into three periods. From 1981 to 2013, the decoupling states represented seventy-five percent of the years from 1981 to 1992 (Period I) with a moderate decoupling degree, more than ninety percent from 1993 to 2003 (Period II) with a very strong decoupling degree and moved from non-decoupling to strong decoupling from 2004 to 2013 (Period III). Adjusting plantation structure, technology innovation and raising awareness of water-saving, may promote the decoupling degree between WF and agricultural GDP in Beijing.
Formal Tests for Resistance-Resilience in Archaeological Time Series
Authors: Riris Philip , de Souza Jonas Gregorio
Published: December 2021

The study of resilience is a common pathway for scientific data to inform policy and practice towards impending climate change. Consequently, understanding the mechanisms and features that contribute towards building resilience is a key goal of much research on coupled socio-environmental systems. In parallel, archaeology has developed the ambition to contribute to this agenda through its unique focus on cultural dynamics that occur over the very long term. This paper argues that archaeological studies of resilience are limited in scope and potential impact by incomplete operational definitions of resilience, itself a multifaceted and contested concept. This lack of interdisciplinary engagement fundamentally limits archaeology’s ability to contribute meaningfully to understanding factors behind the emergence and maintenance of long-term societal resilience, a topic of significant interest that the field is in theory ideally positioned to address. Here, we introduce resilience metrics drawn from ecology and develop case studies to illustrate their potential utility for archaeological studies. We achieve this by extending methods for formally measuring resistance, the capacity of a system to absorb disturbances; and resilience, its capacity to recover from disturbances, with a novel significance test for palaeodemographic data. Building on statistical permutation and post-hoc tests available in the rcarbon package in the R statistical environment, we apply our adapted resilience-resistance framework to summed probability distributions of calibrated radiocarbon dates drawn from the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. We deploy these methods to investigate cross-sectional trends across three recognised biogeographical zones of the Atlantic Forest domain, against the backdrop of prehistoric phases of heightened hydroclimatic variability. Our analysis uncovers novel centennial-scale spatial structure in the resilience of palaeodemographic growth rates. In addition to the case-specific findings, we suggest that adapting formal metrics can help archaeology create impact and engagement beyond relatively narrow disciplinary concerns. To this end, we supply code and data to replicate our palaeodemographic analyses to enable their use and adaptation to other archaeological problems.
Sex-Biased Habitat Use by Phyllostomid Bats on Riparian Corridors in a Human Dominated Tropical Landscape
Authors: de la Peña-Cuéllar Erika , Benítez-Malvido Julieta
Published: December 2021

Some animal species exhibit sex-specific patterns as an adaptation to their habitats, however, adaptability to a human-dominated landscape is commonly explored without considering intraspecific sexual differences. Differences between males and females lead to a sexual segregation in habitat use. In southern Mexico, we explored sex-specific responses to landscape modification of six common species of phyllostomid bats:Artibeus jamaicensis,A. lituratus,Sturnira lilium,Carollia perspicillata,Glossophaga soricina, andPlatyrrhinus helleriusing riparian corridors within continuous forest and cattle pastures. Furthermore, we explored sex related responses to vegetation attributes (i.e., tree height and basal area) and seasonality (i.e., wet and dry seasons). Overall, capture rates were significantly skewed toward females and riparian corridors in pastures. Females ofG. soricinaexhibited a strong positive relationship with greater tree height and basal area. Seasonality was important forA. lituratusandS. liliumfemales, only. The results indicate a sexual driven response of bats to habitat modification. The high energetic demands of females associated to reproduction could lead to foraging into riparian corridors in pastures. The presence of large trees along riparian corridors in pastures may help maintaining a diverse and dynamic bat community in modified tropical landscapes.
Extension of Mitogenome Enrichment Based on Single Long-Range PCR: mtDNAs and Putative Mitochondrial-Derived Peptides of Five Rodent Hibernators
Authors: Emser Sarah V. , Schaschl Helmut , Millesi Eva , Steinborn Ralf
Published: December 2021

Enriching mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for sequencing entire mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) can be achieved by single long-range PCR. This avoids interference from the omnipresent nuclear mtDNA sequences (NUMTs). The approach is currently restricted to the use of samples collected from humans and ray-finned fishes. Here, we extended the use of single long-range PCR by introducing back-to-back oligonucleotides that target a sequence of extraordinary homology across vertebrates. The assay was applied to five hibernating rodents, namely alpine marmot, Arctic and European ground squirrels, and common and garden dormice, four of which have not been fully sequenced before. Analysis of the novel mitogenomes focussed on the prediction of mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) providing another level of information encoded by mtDNA. The comparison of MOTS-c, SHLP4 and SHLP6 sequences across vertebrate species identified segments of high homology that argue for future experimentation. In addition, we evaluated four candidate polymorphisms replacing an amino acid in mitochondrially encoded subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system that were reported in relation to cold-adaptation. No obvious pattern was found for the diverse sets of mammalian species that either apply daily or multiday torpor or otherwise cope with cold. In summary, our single long-range PCR assay applying a pair of back-to-back primers that target a consensus sequence motif of Vertebrata has potential to amplify (intact) mitochondrial rings present in templates from a taxonomically diverse range of vertebrates. It could be promising for studying novel mitogenomes, mitotypes of a population and mitochondrial heteroplasmy in a sensitive, straightforward and flexible manner.
High Expression of CEMIP Correlates Poor Prognosis and the Tumur Microenvironment in Breast Cancer as a Promisingly Prognostic Biomarker
Authors: Dong Xingxing , Yang Yalong , Yuan Qianqian , Hou Jinxuan , Wu Gaosong
Published: December 2021

Cell migration-inducing hyaluronidase 1 (CEMIP), a Wnt-related protein and also known as KIAA1199, is implicated in the process of metastatic colonization in a variety of malignant tumors, including breast cancer (BC), which is one of the most frequently diagnosed tumors in women worldwide. In this study, multiple public databases, online analytical tools, and bioinformatics approaches were applied to explore the expression levels, regulatory mechanisms, and biological functions of CEMIP in BC. We illustrated that CEMIP was highly expressed in various kinds of carcinomas, including BC, especially advanced subtypes, and predicted less favorable prognosis (negatively associated with overall survival) in BC patients, which might be an independent prognostic factor. Then, we revealed that the mutation and high expression of CEMIP might lead to it as an oncogene. We also demonstrated that TP53 mutation, DNA hypo-methylation, and the expression changes of three potential upstream transcription factors (EZH2, EGR1, and JUN) of CEMIP were likely to cause the hyperexpression of CEMIP in BC. Moreover, our findings suggested that CEMIP might exert its carcinogenic roles in the tumor microenvironment via participation in the extracellular matrix formation, increasing cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF), M2 macrophage, and neutrophil infiltration and decreasing CD8+ T cell infiltration. In summary, our study provided more solid evidence for CEMIP as a prognostic and metastatic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in BC. Of course, these findings also need more confirmations of basic experiments and further clinical trials in the future.
Role of the CBX Molecular Family in Lung Adenocarcinoma Tumorigenesis and Immune Infiltration
Authors: Zhang Chun , Chang Lisha , Yao Yizhen , Chao Ce , Ge Zhongchun , Fan Chengfeng , Yu Hualin , Wang Bin , Yang Jingsong
Published: December 2021

Background: The members of the Chromobox (CBX) family are important epigenetic regulatory molecules with critical biological roles in many tumors. However, no study has analyzed or verified their role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods: UALCAN and Oncomine databases were used to analyze CBX expression in LUAD, and the cBioPortal database was used to analyze CBX genetic variations. The Kaplan-Meier plotter and UALCAN databases were used to identify molecules with prognostic value. Gene Ontology pathway, receiver operating characteristic curves, and tumor-infiltrating immune cell analyses were used to clarify the biological function of the CBX hub molecules. Paired tumor samples and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines were collected for molecular functional assays to validate the results of the bioinformatics analysis.

Results: CBX3/5 may have a cancer-promoting effect and its expression is associated with a poor patient prognosis, while CBX7 shows an opposite trend. CBX3/5/7 can regulate signaling pathways, regulate tumor immune cell infiltration, and has diagnostic value. Molecular biology experiments show that CBX3/5 is highly expressed in LUAD patients; in vitro it promotes the proliferation and migration of the LUAD cell line and can regulate the expression of the corresponding cytokines. CBX7 has opposite effects.

Conclusion: Our bioinformatics analysis and subsequent experimental verification confirmed the CBX family members acted as hub signaling molecules in LUAD. The results provide new potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of this cancer.
The Impact of Age Difference on the Efficacy and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Jiting , Tong Yue , Li Duo , Li Jun , Li Yaling
Published: December 2021

Objective

This meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of five kinds of COVID-19 vaccines in different age groups (young adults and older adults), aiming to analyze the difference of adverse events (AEs) rate and virus geometric mean titer (GMT) values between young and older people, in order to find a specific trend, and explore the causes of this trend through meta-analysis.

Method

Meta-analysis was used to analyze the five eligible articles. The modified Jadad scoring scale was used to evaluate the quality of eligible literature with a scoring system of 1 to 7. The primary endpoint of the effectiveness index was GMT. The primary endpoints of the safety index were the incidence of local AEs and systemic AEs. Stata 12.0 software was used for meta-analysis. Revman 5.0 software was used to map the risk of publication bias, and Egger’s test was used to analyze publication bias.

Results

The GMT values of young adults were higher than older adults (SMD = 1.40, 95% CI (0.79, 2.02), P<0.01). There was a higher incidence of local and systemic AEs in young people than in the elderly (OR = 1.10, 95% CI (1.08, 1.12), P<0.01; OR = 1.18, 95% CI (1.14, 1.22), P<0.01).

Conclusion

The immune effect of young people after being vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines was better than that of the elderly, but the safety was worse than that of old people, the most common AEs were fever, rash, and local muscle pain, which were tolerable for young people. As the AEs of the elderly were lower, they can also be vaccinated safely; the reason for the low level of GMT in the elderly was related to Immunosenescence. The vaccine tolerance of people of different ages needs to be studied continuously.
The Lesser Pacific Striped Octopus, Octopus chierchiae: An Emerging Laboratory Model
Authors: Grearson Anik G. , Dugan Alison , Sakmar Taylor , Sivitilli Dominic M. , Gire David H. , Caldwell Roy L. , Niell Cristopher M. , Dölen Gül , Wang Z. Yan , Grasse Bret
Published: December 2021

Cephalopods have the potential to become useful experimental models in various fields of science, particularly in neuroscience, physiology, and behavior. Their complex nervous systems, intricate color- and texture-changing body patterns, and problem-solving abilities have attracted the attention of the biological research community, while the high growth rates and short life cycles of some species render them suitable for laboratory culture. Octopus chierchiae is a small octopus native to the central Pacific coast of North America whose predictable reproduction, short time to maturity, small adult size, and ability to lay multiple egg clutches (iteroparity) make this species ideally suited to laboratory culture. Here we describe novel methods for multigenerational culture of O. chierchiae, with emphasis on enclosure designs, feeding regimes, and breeding management. O. chierchiae bred in the laboratory grow from a 3.5 mm mantle length at hatching to an adult mantle length of approximately 20–30 mm in 250–300 days, with 15 and 14% survivorship to over 400 days of age in first and second generations, respectively. O. chierchiae sexually matures at around 6 months of age and, unlike most octopus species, can lay multiple clutches of large, direct-developing eggs every ∼30–90 days. Based on these results, we propose that O. chierchiae possesses both the practical and biological features needed for a model octopus that can be cultured repeatedly to address a wide range of biological questions.
Social and Economic Outcomes of Fisheries Certification: Characterizing Pathways of Change in Canned Fish Markets
Authors: Anderson Christopher M. , Himes-Cornell Amber , Pita Cristina , Arton Ashleigh , Favret Margaux , Averill Dan , Stohs Stephen , Longo Catherine Sarah
Published: December 2021

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-labeling program provides fisheries a pathway to demonstrate their sustainability by undergoing an environmental certification. Like other standard-setters, the MSC’s ‘theory of change’ presumes that markets use this information to select for sustainable products, providing an incentive for producers to improve their practices and become certified. However, the underlying mechanisms which actually work to link market behavior and participation in the program in different contexts have not been systematically identified. We draw on broad MSC field experience to identify processes that have supported the theory of change in individual fisheries. Then, we develop a broadly applicable rapid assessment protocol, relying on a semi-structured interviews of key informants, to gather systematic evidence for key dynamics within the theory of change: the effects of going through MSC certification on market processes, partnerships in the fishery, and governance. In a pilot test of the protocol, we identify important common and idiosyncratic processes in three canned product fisheries: United States west coast albacore tuna, Brittany sardines, and Portuguese sardines. We find that the harvesters and buyers/processors in these fisheries sought certification primarily to expand or maintain their market share, and that certification was synergistic with stakeholder cooperation. The cases demonstrate how our rapid assessment interviews allow program participants to relate their experience in their own words yet facilitate systematic comparison to identify common mechanisms within the theory of change. We propose its wider application to systematically advance our understanding of social and economic processes that drive of eco-label interventions in different geographies and supply chains around the world.
Pure Red Cell Aplasia and Other Haematological Diseases Associated With Thymoma: A Case Series and Systematic Review
Authors: Yen Chih-Chieh , Huang Wei-Li , Li Sin-Syue , Chen Ya-Ping , Tseng Yau-Lin , Yen Yi-Ting , Chu Chang-Yao , Hsu Ya-Ting , Chen Tsai-Yun
Published: December 2021

Background: Thymoma-associated haematological diseases (HDs), such as pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and Good's syndrome, are extremely rare, and due to the paucity of large-scale studies, the characteristics, remission after thymectomy, and long-term evaluation remain undetermined.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients with thymoma and associated HDs from Jan 2005 to Dec 2020. All patients received thymectomy and/or additional treatments for HDs. A comparison with thymoma-associated myasthenic gravis (MG), and a systematic review from PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase were conducted.

Results: In the median follow-up of 56 months, 130 patients were enrolled. Patients with thymoma-associated MG (n = 46) and HDs [n = 8; PRCA (n = 5), PRCA and Good's syndrome (n = 2) and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (n = 1)] were evaluated. Patients with MG had a significantly higher remission rate after thymectomy (50 vs. 17%; p = 0.0378) as compared to those with other autoimmune diseases. Two of seven patients with PRCA experienced remission with thymectomy alone, and an additional two patients achieved remission with thymectomy plus immunosuppressive therapy (IST). In the systematic review, 60 studies (case reports, n = 46; case series including the present study, n = 14) were evaluated. Forty-four percent of patients were diagnosed with PRCA after thymoma, and 61% achieved remission with thymectomy plus IST; however, Good's syndrome was unaffected.

Conclusions: Our study indicates that patients with thymoma-associated autoimmune diseases other than MG have a lower remission rate than those with MG. Remission of thymoma-associated PRCA can be achieved by thymectomy and IST. This study provides insight into extremely rare but puzzling autoimmune manifestations.
Global Burden and Changing Trend of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative MSM: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zheng Yang , Ying Meike , Zhou Yuqing , Lin Yushi , Ren Jingjing , Wu Jie
Published: December 2021

Background: The disease burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) is changing. We aim to provide an updated comprehensive estimate of HCV prevalence and incidence among the HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM population at the country, regional, and global levels and their changing trends over time.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and conference databases were searched and eligible records on the prevalence and incidence of HCV antibodies were selected and pooled via a random-effects model. Meta-regression was performed to demonstrate the association between the pooled rates and study year.

Results: A total of 230 articles reporting 245 records from 51 countries with 445,883 participants and 704,249 follow-up person-years were included. The pooled prevalence of HCV in MSM was 5.9% (95% CI: 5.1–6.8), with substantial differences between countries and regions. Low- and lower-middle-income countries (12.3 and 7.0%) manifested a larger disease burden than high- and upper-middle-income countries (5.8 and 3.8%). HCV prevalence in HIV-positive MSM was substantially higher than in HIV-negative MSM (8.1 vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). The pooled incidence of HCV was 8.6 (95% CI: 7.2–10.0) per 1,000 person-years, with an increasing trend over time, according to meta-regression (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Global HCV prevalence in MSM varies by region and HIV status. Behavior counseling and regular HCV monitoring are needed in HIV-positive subgroups and high-risk regions. Given the upward trend of HCV incidence and sexual risk behaviors, there is also a continued need to reinforce risk-reduction intervention.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020211028; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.