bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hematopoietic Stem Cell-Derived Adipocytes Modulate Adipose Tissue Cellularity, Leptin Production and Insulin Responsiveness in Female Mice
Authors: Gavin Kathleen M. , Sullivan Timothy M. , Maltzahn Joanne K. , Jackman Matthew R. , Libby Andrew E. , MacLean Paul S. , Kohrt Wendy M. , Majka Susan M. , Klemm Dwight J.
Published: June 2022

A subpopulation of adipocytes in the major adipose depots of mice is produced from hematopoietic stem cells rather than mesenchymal progenitors that are the source of conventional white and brown/beige adipocytes. To analyze the impact of hematopoietic stem cell-derived adipocytes (HSCDAs) in the adipose niche we transplanted HSCs in which expression of a diphtheria toxin gene was under the control of the adipocyte-specific adiponectin gene promoter into irradiated wild type recipients. Thus, only adipocytes produced from HSC would be ablated while conventional white and brown adipocytes produced from mesenchymal progenitor cells would be spared. Wild type mice transplanted with HSCs from mice containing a reporter gene, but not the diphtheria toxin gene, regulated by the adiponectin gene promoter served as controls. In mice in which HSCDA production was suppressed, adipocyte size declined while adipose depot weights were unchanged and the number of conventional adipocyte progenitors significantly increased. We also measured a paradoxical increase in circulating leptin levels while physical activity was significantly decreased in the HSCDA depleted mice. Finally, insulin sensitivity was significantly reduced in HSCDA depleted mice. In contrast, loss of HSCDA production had no effect on body weight, components of energy balance, or levels of several circulating adipokines and tissue-resident inflammatory cells. These data indicate that ablation of this low-abundance subpopulation of adipocytes is associated with changes in circulating leptin levels and leptin-regulated endpoints associated with adipose tissue function. How they do so remains a mystery, but our results highlight the need for additional studies to explore the role of HSCDAs in other physiologic contexts such as obesity, metabolic dysfunction or loss of sex hormone production.
Novel Pharmacology Following Heteromerization of the Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor and the Bradykinin Type 2 Receptor
Authors: Johnstone Elizabeth K. M. , Ayoub Mohammed Akli , Hertzman Rebecca J. , See Heng B. , Abhayawardana Rekhati S. , Seeber Ruth M. , Pfleger Kevin D. G.
Published: June 2022

The angiotensin type 2 (AT2) receptor and the bradykinin type 2 (B2) receptor are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that have major roles in the cardiovascular system. The two receptors are known to functionally interact at various levels, and there is some evidence that the observed crosstalk may occur as a result of heteromerization. We investigated evidence for heteromerization of the AT2 receptor and the B2 receptor in HEK293FT cells using various bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-proximity based assays, including the Receptor Heteromer Investigation Technology (Receptor-HIT) and the NanoBRET ligand-binding assay. The Receptor-HIT assay showed that Gαq, GRK2 and β-arrestin2 recruitment proximal to AT2 receptors only occurred upon B2 receptor coexpression and activation, all of which is indicative of AT2-B2 receptor heteromerization. Additionally, we also observed specific coupling of the B2 receptor with the Gαz protein, and this was found only in cells coexpressing both receptors and stimulated with bradykinin. The recruitment of Gαz, Gαq, GRK2 and β-arrestin2 was inhibited by B2 receptor but not AT2 receptor antagonism, indicating the importance of B2 receptor activation within AT2-B2 heteromers. The close proximity between the AT2 receptor and B2 receptor at the cell surface was also demonstrated with the NanoBRET ligand-binding assay. Together, our data demonstrate functional interaction between the AT2 receptor and B2 receptor in HEK293FT cells, resulting in novel pharmacology for both receptors with regard to Gαq/GRK2/β-arrestin2 recruitment (AT2 receptor) and Gαz protein coupling (B2 receptor). Our study has revealed a new mechanism for the enigmatic and poorly characterized AT2 receptor to be functionally active within cells, further illustrating the role of heteromerization in the diversity of GPCR pharmacology and signaling.
Absence of P2Y2 Receptor Does Not Prevent Bone Destruction in a Murine Model of Muscle Paralysis-Induced Bone Loss
Authors: Agrawal Ankita , Ellegaard Maria , Haanes Kristian Agmund , Wang Ning , Gartland Alison , Ding Ming , Praetorius Helle , Jørgensen Niklas Rye
Published: June 2022

Increased incidence of bone fractures in the elderly is associated with gradual sarcopenia. Similar deterioration of bone quality is seen with prolonged bed rest, spinal cord injuries or in astronauts exposed to microgravity and, preceded by loss of muscle mass. Signaling mechanisms involving uridine-5′-triphosphate (UTP) regulate bone homeostasis via P2Y2 receptors on osteoblasts and osteoclasts, whilst dictating the bone cells’ response to mechanical loading. We hypothesized that muscle paralysis-induced loss of bone quality would be prevented in P2Y2 receptor knockout (KO) mice. Female mice injected with botulinum toxin (BTX) in the hind limb developed muscle paralysis and femoral DXA analysis showed reduction in bone mineral density (<10%), bone mineral content (<16%) and bone area (<6%) in wildtype (WT) compared to KO littermates (with <13%, <21%, <9% respectively). The femoral metaphyseal strength was reduced equally in both WT and KO (<37%) and <11% in diaphysis region of KO, compared to the saline injected controls. Tibial micro-CT showed reduced cortical thickness (12% in WT vs. 9% in KO), trabecular bone volume (38% in both WT and KO), trabecular thickness (22% in WT vs. 27% in KO) and increased SMI (26% in WT vs. 19% in KO) after BTX. Tibial histomorphometry showed reduced formation in KO (16%) but unchanged resorption in both WT and KO. Furthermore, analyses of DXA and bone strength after regaining the muscle function showed partial bone recovery in the KO but no difference in the bone recovery in WT mice. Primary osteoblasts from KO mice displayed increased viability and alkaline phosphatase activity but, impaired bone nodule formation. Significantly more TRAP-positive osteoclasts were generated from KO mice but displayed reduced resorptive function. Our data showed that hind limb paralysis with a single dose of BTX caused profound bone loss after 3 weeks, and an incomplete reversal of bone loss by week 19. Our findings indicate no role of the P2Y2 receptor in the bone loss after a period of skeletal unloading in mice or, in the bone recovery after restoration of muscle function.
FTO Prevents Thyroid Cancer Progression by SLC7A11 m6A Methylation in a Ferroptosis-Dependent Manner
Authors: Ji Fei-Hong , Fu Xing-Hao , Li Guo-Quan , He Qi , Qiu Xin-Guang
Published: June 2022

N6 methyladenosine (m6A) modification serves as a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism that is heavily implicated in the heredity of tumors. Meanwhile, fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) has the potential to affect the regulation of m6A modification in the mRNA of key oncogenes as well as tumor suppressor genes that facilitate tumor progression. In our study, FTO was downregulated in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues. The role of FTO in PTC was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 analysis, cell scratch, migration, invasion experiment, flow cytometry apoptosis analysis, and nude mouse experiment. In addition to RNA-Seq and meRIP-Seq, luciferase reporting and mutation analysis have also identified SLC7A11 as the potential FTO regulatory gene. Moreover, X-ray electron microscopy, glutathione (GSH)/oxidized GSH, GPX, malondialdehyde determination, and western blot helped confirmed that FTO inhibited the development of PTC by downregulating the expression of SLC7A11 through ferroptosis. Finally, a rescue experiment was employed to clarify the relationship between FTO and its specific target gene SLC7A11. FTO is able to inhibit the occurrence of PTC by downregulating SLC7A11 in m6A independently, and it functions as a tumor suppressor gene in PTC. These findings could contribute to our understanding of the tumor malignancy regulated by m6A and might lead to new insights for potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of thyroid papillary carcinoma.
Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded BILF1 Orthologues From Porcine Lymphotropic Herpesviruses Display Common Molecular Functionality
Authors: Mavri Maša , Kubale Valentina , Depledge Daniel P. , Zuo Jianmin , Huang Christene A. , Breuer Judith , Vrecl Milka , Jarvis Michael A. , Jovičić Eva Jarc , Petan Toni , Ehlers Bernhard , Rosenkilde Mette M. , Spiess Katja
Published: June 2022

Infection of immunosuppressed transplant patients with the human γ-herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), an often fatal complication. Immunosuppressed miniature pigs infected with γ-herpesvirus porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus 1 (PLHV1) develop a similar disease, identifying pigs as a potential preclinical model for PTLD in humans. BILF1 is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) encoded by EBV with constitutive activity linked to tumorigenesis and immunoevasive function downregulating MHC-I. In the present study, we compared BILF1-orthologues encoded by the three known PLHVs (PLHV1-3) with EBV-BILF1 to determine pharmacological suitability of BILF1 orthologues as model system to study EBV-BILF1 druggability. Cell surface localization, constitutive internalization, and MHC-I downregulation as well as membrane proximal constitutive Gαi signaling patterns were conserved across all BILFs. Only subtle differences between the individual BILFs were observed in downstream transcription factor activation. Using Illumina sequencing, PLHV1 was observed in lymphatic tissue from PTLD-diseased, but not non-diseased pigs. Importantly, these tissues showed enhanced expression of PLHV1-BILF1 supporting its involvement in PTLD infection.
The Association Between FT3 With the Outcome and Inflammation/Coagulopathy/Fibrinolysis of COVID-19
Authors: Deng Jiayi , Zhang Siye , Peng Fei , Zhang Quan , Li Yi , Zhong Yanjun
Published: June 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused substantial threats to people’s physical health and lives, claiming the lives of over 5 million people worldwide. It is imperative to identify the disease severity and intervene with effective therapy as early as possible. Previous studies have shown that low free triiodothyronine (FT3) may possess the predictive value on COVID-19 prognosis.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 15-day clinical and laboratory data of 186 hospitalized patients of COVID-19 after admission were analyzed. Groups were based on the disease severity of COVID-19, survival or non-survival, and presence or absence of euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS). Categorical variables were compared with the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Continuous variables were tested by Wilcoxon rank-sum test for the non-normal distribution. Spearman correlations were used to assess the correlations between FT3 with clinic parameters of multiple time points.

Results

The non-survival patients had significant lower levels of FT3 (3.24 ± 0.42 vs. 4.19 ± 0.08 pmol/L, p < 0.05) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (0.69 ± 0.19 vs. 2.32 ± 0.2 uIU/ml, p < 0.05), and the FT3 of severe patients was significantly lower than that of non-severe patients (3.67 ± 0.14 vs. 4.33 ± 0.09 pmol/L, p < 0.05). Fifty-nine cases of COVID-19 patients were diagnosed with ESS. Compared with non-ESS patients, those with ESS were older and had higher proportions of fever, shortness of breath, hypertension, diabetes, severe disease, and mortality. In addition, the correlation analysis between FT3 and clinical parameters showed that FT3 were positively related to the lymphocyte count and albumin and negatively correlated with C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and D-dimer at all time points in the first 15 days after admission.

Conclusion

Low FT3 had a significant predictive value on the prognosis of COVID-19 patients, and FT3 was significantly related with clinic parameters of inflammation/coagulopathy/fibrinolysis.
Screening and Identification of Hub Genes in the Development of Early Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis
Authors: Wei Ran , Qiao Jingtao , Cui Di , Pan Qi , Guo Lixin
Published: June 2022

Objective

The study aimed to screen key genes in early diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and predict their biological functions and signaling pathways using bioinformatics analysis of gene chips interrelated to early DKD in the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Methods

Gene chip data for early DKD was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus expression profile database. We analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between patients with early DKD and healthy controls using the R language. For the screened DEGs, we predicted the biological functions and relevant signaling pathways by enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) biological functions and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways. Using the STRING database and Cytoscape software, we constructed a protein interaction network to screen hub pathogenic genes. Finally, we performed immunohistochemistry on kidney specimens from the Beijing Hospital to verify the above findings.

Results

A total of 267 differential genes were obtained using GSE142025, namely, 176 upregulated and 91 downregulated genes. GO functional annotation enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs were mainly involved in immune inflammatory response and cytokine effects. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that C-C receptor interactions and the IL-17 signaling pathway are essential for early DKD. We identified FOS, EGR1, ATF3, and JUN as hub sites of protein interactions using a protein–protein interaction network and module analysis. We performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) on five samples of early DKD and three normal samples from the Beijing Hospital to label the proteins. This demonstrated that FOS, EGR1, ATF3, and JUN in the early DKD group were significantly downregulated.

Conclusion

The four hub genes FOS, EGR1, ATF3, and JUN were strongly associated with the infiltration of monocytes, M2 macrophages, and T regulatory cells in early DKD samples. We revealed that the expression of immune response or inflammatory genes was suppressed in early DKD. Meanwhile, the FOS group of low-expression genes showed that the activated biological functions included mRNA methylation, insulin receptor binding, and protein kinase A binding. These genes and pathways may serve as potential targets for treating early DKD.
TangShenWeiNing Formula Prevents Diabetic Nephropathy by Protecting Podocytes Through the SIRT1/HIF-1α Pathway
Authors: Chang Jing , Zheng Jinsu , Gao Xia , Dong Hengbei , Yu Haitian , Huang Mengxiu , Sun Zhencheng , Feng Xiaomeng
Published: June 2022

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents a major complication of diabetes, and podocyte injury has a critical function in DN development. TangShenWeiNing formula (TSWN) has been demonstrated to efficiently decrease proteinuria and protect podocytes in DN. This work aimed to explore the mechanism by which TSWN alleviates DN and protects podocytes.

Methods

The major bioactive components of TSWN were detected by mass spectrometry (MS) and pharmacological databases. Eight-week-old male C57BLKS/J db/m and db/db mice were provided pure water, valsartan, low dose TSWN, middle dose TSWN and high dose TSWN by gavage for 12 weeks, respectively.

Results

MS and network pharmacology analyses suggested that TSWN might prevent DN through the sirtuin (SIRT)1/hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α pathway. Diabetic mice showed elevated urinary albumin in comparison with non-diabetic mice, and TSWN decreased urinary albumin in diabetic mice. Histological injury increased in the kidney in diabetic mice, which could be improved by TSWN. Fibrosis and collagen I expression were induced in the diabetic mouse kidney in comparison with the non-diabetic mouse kidney; TSWN alleviated these effects. Apoptosis and cleaved caspase-3 were induced in the diabetic mouse kidney in comparison with the non-diabetic mouse kidney, and TSWN blunted these effects. Podocytes were damaged in the diabetic mouse kidney, which was improved by TSWN. Podocin and nephrin amounts were decreased in the diabetic mouse kidney in comparison with the non-diabetic mouse kidney, and podocalyxin was increased in urine of diabetic animals in comparison with non-diabetic counterparts. After TSWN treatment, podocin and nephrin were raised in the diabetic mouse kidney, and urinary podocalyxin was depressed in diabetic animals. Diabetic mice had lower SIRT1 and higher HIF-1α amounts in kidney specimens in comparison with non-diabetic mice, and TSWN promoted SIRT1 and inhibited HIF-1α in the diabetic mouse kidney. Moreover, co-staining of SIRT1 and podocin revealed that SIRT1 decreased in podocytes from diabetic mice in comparison with those from non-diabetic mice, and TSWN elevated SIRT1 in podocytes.

Conclusions

This study indicated that TSWN alleviates DN by improving podocyte injury through the SIRT1/HIF-1α pathway in diabetic mouse kidneys.
Exposure–Response Analysis of Cardiovascular Outcome Trials With Incretin-Based Therapies
Authors: Pan Qi , Yuan Mingxia , Guo Lixin
Published: June 2022

Our study aimed to evaluate the exposure–response relationship between incretin-based medications and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) using cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs). Eleven CVOTs with incretin-based medications were included. The median follow-up time, percentage of time exposure, and hazard ratio (HR) of MACE were obtained from each CVOT. The pharmacokinetic parameters of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4) were obtained from published studies. Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between drug exposure and MACE HR. Cutoff values were determined from the ROC curves. The linear regression results indicated that log Cmax, log AUC0–24h, and log AUCCVOT are negatively correlated with MACE HR (R2 = 0.8494, R2 = 0.8728, and R2 = 0.8372, respectively; all p < 0.0001). The relationship between drug exposure (log Cmax, log AUC0–24h, and log AUCCVOT) and MACE HR strongly corresponded with the log (inhibitor) vs. response curve (R2 = 0.8383, R2 = 0.8430, and R2 = 0.8229, respectively). The cutoff values in the ROC curves for log Cmax, log AUC0–24h, and log AUCCVOT, were 2.556, 3.868, and 6.947, respectively (all p = 0.007). A Fisher’s exact test revealed that these cutoff values were significantly related to cardiovascular benefits (all p < 0.05). Our study revealed a linear exposure–response relationship between drug exposure and MACE HR. We conclude that the cardiovascular benefits of incretin-based therapies may occur with higher doses of GLP-1 RAs and with increased exposure.
The Regulation of Spermatogonial Stem Cells in an Adult Testis by Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Authors: Wright William W.
Published: June 2022

This review focuses on the in vivo regulation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in adult testes by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). To study adult mouse testes, we reversibly inhibited GDNF stimulation of SSCs via a chemical-genetic approach. This inhibition diminishes replication and increases differentiation of SSCs, and inhibition for 9 days reduces transplantable SSC numbers by 90%. With more sustained inhibition, all SSCs are lost, and testes eventually resemble human testes with Sertoli cell-only (SCO) syndrome. This resemblance prompted us to ask if GDNF expression is abnormally low in these infertile human testes. It is. Expression of FGF2 and FGF8 is also reduced, but some SCO testes contain SSCs. To evaluate the possible rebuilding of an SSC pool depleted due to inadequate GDNF signaling, we inhibited and then restored signaling to mouse SSCs. Partial rebuilding occurred, suggesting GDNF as therapy for men with SCO syndrome.
Comparing Calibration Algorithms for the Rapid Characterization of Pretreated Corn Stover Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Tillman Zofia , Wolfrum Edward J.
Published: June 2022

Rapid characterization of biomass composition is a key enabling technology for biorefineries—the ability to measure the chemical composition of biomass materials entering the biorefinery as well as the composition of key process intermediate streams would allow real-time process control and the development of robust models to predict process performance. The utility of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for rapid characterization requires multivariate algorithms for building calibration models. The most prevalent algorithm used for building calibration models using NIR spectra is the linear modeling algorithm Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS). Nonlinear regression algorithms (which are typically more computationally intensive than linear modeling approaches) have gained popularity in recent years due to their ability to solve a wide variety of classification and regression problems and the dramatic increase in available computational resources. In this work, we demonstrate that a calibration model can predict the composition of corn stover process intermediate samples pretreated with three different treatments—hot water (HW), dilute acid (DA), and deacetylation followed by dilute acid (DDA). We quantitatively compare three different algorithms for building prediction models based on near-infrared spectroscopy—partial least squares (PLS), support vector machines (SVM), and random forests (RF). We demonstrate the utility of improving model performance by accounting for instrument performance variability using repeated measurements of standard materials (e.g., the “repeatability file” strategy) and investigate its performance with nonlinear regression techniques, and we discuss methods for quantifying the uncertainties of specific predictions among the three methods.
Understanding the Formation Process of Perovskite Layers Grown by Chemical Vapour Deposition
Authors: Moser T. , Kothandaraman R. , Yang S. , Walter A. , Siegrist S. , Lai H. , Gilshtein E. , Tiwari A. N. , Fu F.
Published: June 2022

This work aims at extending the understanding of the formation processes of (Cs0.07FA0.93)PbI3 perovskite layers deposited by a two-step vapour method. In a first step, an inorganic CsI/PbI2 precursor stack is deposited by thermal evaporation (TE). A chemical vapour deposition (CVD) is then used to convert the precursor into the perovskite layer by reaction with a chemical vapour of formamidinium iodide (FAI). Here we show how crystallinity and morphology of the TE precursor layer are both influenced not only by the substrate surface properties but also by the thermal treatment in the initial phase of the CVD process. Furthermore, we provide insights on the evolution of perovskite film formation and show how a uniform elemental composition is achieved by the diffusion of cesium through PbI2 during the CVD conversion reaction.
Wind Tunnel Testing of Yaw by Individual Pitch Control Applied to Wake Steering
Authors: Campagnolo Filippo , Castellani Francesco , Natili Francesco , Astolfi Davide , Mühle Franz
Published: June 2022

The yaw control of horizontal-axis wind turbines is the key point for wake redirection, which is expected to provide an improvement in the balance between wind farm production and loads. For multi-MW upwind wind turbines, there are substantially two possibilities for obtaining a desired demanded yaw angle: using yaw actuators or Individual Pitch Control (IPC). A detailed balance of the pros and cons of both approaches requires in-depth studies. On these grounds, this work is a comprehensive experimental characterization of the yaw by individual pitch control (yaw-by-IPC). The experiments are conducted at the R. Balli wind tunnel of the University of Perugia on a fully instrumented wind turbine scaled model, named G1, developed by the Technical University of Munich. The objective of the study is twofold: assessment of the performance of the yaw-by-IPC in terms of yaw tracking capabilities and impact on power, loads, and actuators usage; analysis of its impact on the shed wake. The wake has been characterized on a plane parallel to the rotor at a distance of 1.82 diameters by imposing several steady yaw references, while wind intensity measurements have been performed through a traversing system hosting a hot wire anemometer. Each target of the analysis has been characterized for the yaw-by-IPC and for the control based on yaw actuation, in order to perform a comparison. With laminar inflow, it results that the yaw-by-IPC follows very well the demanded reference, even with a slight improvement in the case of dynamic yaw reference, and no power losses are visible. Concerning the wake shed by a yawed G1 with yaw-by-IPC, a higher flow speed is observed immediately behind the windward side of the rotor than with geared yaw actuation. It results, therefore, that yaw-by-IPC applied to a yawed wind turbine may increase the available wind power at a downstream machine.
High-Temperature Characterization of Melted Nuclear Core Materials: Investigating Corium Properties Through the Case Studies of In-Vessel and Ex-Vessel Retention
Authors: Delacroix Jules , Journeau Christophe , Piluso Pascal
Published: June 2022

During a severe accident in a nuclear reactor, the molten core—or corium—may be relocated into the reactor vessel’s lower plenum in case of core support plate failure. The severe accident management strategy for In-Vessel Retention—or IVR—consists in stabilizing the corium within the reactor pressure vessel by external cooling of the vessel’s lower head. If now, the vessel fails due to excessive thermal loading on its walls, the Ex-Vessel Retention—or EVR—strategy is adopted. In this case, the core melt stabilization can be achieved by effective corium spreading, either in the reactor vessel cavity or in a dedicated “core-catcher”, and cooling by water. The success of both strategies highly depends on the corium behavior at high temperatures, conditioning vessel’s integrity for IVR, and promotion for the spreading of the EVR. This involves a variety of fundamental mechanisms closely related to heat and mass transfer regimes prevailing at the system scale, which requires further analytical and experimental insight to determine the primary mechanisms and feed the modeling tools, allowing the numerical simulations of severe accident scenarios.

Within the framework of corium characterization at high temperatures, the present study aims at filling the lack of such fundamental data as density, surface tension, liquidus and solidus temperatures, and viscosity. In order to accurately measure these properties at high temperatures, the VITI facility is designed with various configurations. Concerning IVR, the influence of density and surface tension is particularly highlighted through VITI-SD and VITI-MBP configurations, and practical applications of experimental results are finally discussed, in link with the focusing effect issue at the thin upper metallic layer of the corium pool. Concerning EVR, the properties of interest are solidus/liquidus temperature and dynamic viscosity, and typical experimental results obtained through VITI-VPA and VITI-GFL configurations are discussed in view of characterizing corium spreading.
Resistance Performance of a Ship in Model-Scaled Brash Ice Fields Using CFD and DEM Coupling Model
Authors: Xie Chang , Zhou Li , Wu Tiecheng , Liu Renwei , Zheng Sijie , Tsuprik Vladimir G. , Bekker Alexander
Published: June 2022

The brash ice channel formed with icebreaker navigation is a normal working scenario for ice-going vessels. Therefore, it is necessary to study brash ice resistance in this condition. In this study, CFD and DEM coupling methods were adopted to investigate the resistance performance of a ship sailing in model-scaled brash ice fields, considering the collision force and friction resistance, among the brash ice, and the water resistance and hydrodynamic force of brash ice, which make up physical scenarios of navigation in the brash ice channel. To study the effect of aforementioned parameters on the average total resistance, the time step, iteration, and brash ice stiffness were analyzed; we found that a time step of 0.02 s, iteration of 10, and brash ice stiffness of 1000 N/m that showed better repeatability of the physical phenomenon, and it was used to reproduce working conditions created in the HSVA ice tank test. The error between the numerical simulation results and the test results is less than 5%, which shows the robustness of the present coupling strategy. Finally, the effects of ship–ice friction coefficient, ice thickness, ice shape, brash ice channel width, and ice concentration on the resistance of the ship were investigated and verified with the published results.
Simulation Analysis of Supply Crisis Propagation Based on Global Nickel Industry Chain
Authors: Wang Xingxing , Wang Anjian , Zhu Depeng
Published: June 2022

Nickel is a key metal in the low-carbon transition. The industrial chain is a chain network organization system composed of various layers from the initial production of raw materials to the final product sales. The intensified contradiction between supply and demand can easily lead to the problem of resource supply security, and the occurrence of supply shortages will endanger the healthy and orderly development of the whole industrial chain. Therefore, from the perspective of the industrial chain and based on the trade data related to the nickel industrial chain, this study first constructs a multi-layer network model of the nickel industrial chain, and analyzes its trade structure characteristics and the correlation between different layers. It is found that the export policies of resource exporting countries may influence trade structure characteristics. On this basis, a multi-layer network crisis propagation model of the nickel industrial chain is constructed to simulate the impact and its propagation path of Indonesia supply shock on the entire industrial chain. With the increase of supply shock in Indonesia, the impact of crisis gradually concentrates to the downstream. Along the industrial chain, the number of affected countries gradually increases, but the difference in the impact degree gradually decreases. In addition, there are certain differences in countries affected by crisis at different layers of the industrial chain, and the crisis spreads mainly from China and Japan to the countries in midstream and downstream. The research results can provide corresponding policy suggestions for countries involved in the nickel trade.
Bioremediation Potential of Plant-Bacterial Consortia for Chlorpyrifos Removal Using Constructed Wetland
Authors: Aziz Tahira , Rasheed Sajida , Shah Asad Hussain , Nasir Habib , Fariq Anila , Jamil Asma , Jannat Sammyia
Published: June 2022

The extensive and unchecked application of chlorpyrifos against crop insects has caused contamination of various ecosystems, such as soil, sediments, and water, posing harm to plants, animals, useful arthropods, and humans. The present study aimed at evaluating the ability of proto-type constructed wetland to biodegrade chlorpyrifos and its major metabolites especially 2-hydroxy-3, 5, 6-trichloropyridine/ol (TCP) using chlorpyrifos-degrading indigenous bacterial strains, namely, Acinetobacter baumanni and Bacillus cibi with Canna spps. and indigenous Mentha spps. as a bacterial–plant consortium. Soil and plant samples were collected at regular time intervals for 12 weeks; analytes were extracted using the toluene method and evaluated through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In case of wetland vegetation with Canna and Mentha, 2-hydroxy-3, 5, 6-trichloropyridine (TCP, m/z = 198) and 2- hydroxypyridine (m/z = 97) with deprotonated molecular ions at m/z = 69 (M-H)−were detected as the intermediate metabolites, while in the bacterial–plant consortium, instead of TCP, 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-methoxypyridine (TMP, m/z = 212) was formed along with di-ethylthiophosphate (DETP, m/z = 169). Based on the metabolite analysis using GC-MS, the biodegradation pathway for chlorpyrifos degradation through bacterial–plant consortia is predicted. The constructed wetland with the bacterial–plant consortium showed its potential to either bypass TCP generation, or TCP may have been immediately biodegraded by the plant part of the consortium. The designed constructed wetland provided a novel remedial measure to biodegrade chlorpyrifos without producing harmful metabolites.
HT-ARGfinder: A Comprehensive Pipeline for Identifying Horizontally Transferred Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Directionality in Metagenomic Sequencing Data
Authors: Das Badhan , Emon Muhit Islam , Moumi Nazifa Ahmed , Sein Justin , Pruden Amy , Heath Lenwood S. , Zhang Liqing
Published: June 2022

Antibiotic resistance is a continually rising threat to global health. A primary driver of the evolution of new strains of resistant pathogens is the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, identifying and quantifying ARGs subject to HGT remains a significant challenge. Here, we introduce HT-ARGfinder (horizontally transferred ARG finder), a pipeline that detects and enumerates horizontally transferred ARGs in metagenomic data while also estimating the directionality of transfer. To demonstrate the pipeline, we applied it to an array of publicly-available wastewater metagenomes, including hospital sewage. We compare the horizontally transferred ARGs detected across various sample types and estimate their directionality of transfer among donors and recipients. This study introduces a comprehensive tool to track mobile ARGs in wastewater and other aquatic environments.
A Study on the Impact of Natural Disasters on Farmers’ Relative Poverty
Authors: Li XiJian , Zheng JiaXi , Lu Honggang
Published: June 2022

In 2020, China announced the successful completion of its poverty alleviation mission, noting that the focus of China’s poverty alleviation mission has shifted from eliminating absolute poverty to alleviating relative poverty. Due to global warming and frequent natural disasters, natural disaster shocks have seriously affected farmers’ livelihoods and aggravated relative poverty. Based on 5,804 rural household samples from the China Family Panel Studies, the impact of natural disasters on farmers’ relative poverty was investigated using the logit model. In addition, the interaction terms between the impact and intensity of natural disasters, non-agricultural employment and productive investment were included in the model. The results show that: 1) Natural disaster shocks and natural disaster intensities had a significant positive impact on farmers’ relative poverty. 2) Migrating for work and stable employment effectively alleviated the positive impact of natural disaster shocks and natural disaster intensities on farmers’ relative poverty, respectively. 3) Productive investment weakened the positive impact of natural disaster shocks on farmers’ relative poverty. 4) Scale management effectively alleviated the positive impact of natural disaster shocks on farmers’ relative poverty, but the moderating effect of scale management was not significant in areas with high disaster intensities.
RETRACTED: Efficiency Measurement and Spatial Spillover Effect of Green Agricultural Development in China
Authors: Xu Pei , Jin Zehu , Ye Xixi , Wang Chen
Published: June 2022

Green agriculture is mainstream for the sustainable development of agriculture. Based on the Chinese provincial agriculture panel data from 2010 to 2019, we adopted the slack-based measure (SBM) super-efficiency model, sales force automation (SFA) model, and global malmquist–luenberger (GML) production index to measure the efficiency of agricultural green development (AGD). Moreover, Moran’s I and spatial econometric model were applied to analyze factors influencing AGD. The threshold model was used to analyze the relationship between the scale of AGD and gross domestic product (GDP). The results show that 1) Chinese green agricultural development efficiency is on a rising trend, reducing the impact of environmental factors and random interference on the AGD. 2) The analysis of AGD in the spatial effect showed a direct positive effect from agricultural mechanization, science and technology innovation, industrial agglomeration, income level, and environmental rule and a direct negative effect from agricultural yield structure, farmland pollution, and agricultural disasters. Furthermore, industrial structure optimization and environmental rule evoke a demonstration effect, but technical innovation, income level, and agricultural industrial agglomeration triggered a siphonic effect. 3) The threshold model was used to analyze the scale of AGD to realize sustainable development between agriculture and economy.
Investigating the Impact of Transport Services and Renewable Energy on Macro-Economic and Environmental Indicators
Authors: Liu Jinghua , Quddoos Muhammad Umer , Akhtar Muhammad Hanif , Amin Muhammad Sajid , Yu Zhang , Janjua Laeeq Razzak
Published: June 2022

A global shift toward renewable energy has proved to be a major constituent in drifting toward climate change. Given the context, the present research study focuses on the nexus between renewable energy, transport services, and performance on economic and environmental fronts. The study has employed an ARDL time series approach to test the effects of hypothesized relationships for the period from 1989 to 2020. The results of the study divulge that the consumption of RE is inversely and significantly coupled with the economic and environmental performance indicators, validating the notion that Romania has emerged as a leading renewable energy user. Foreign direct investment inflows in Romania are significantly and positively associated with the economic and environmental performance indicators. However, the impact of foreign direct investment inflows tends to be smaller than that of the forest area and renewable energy. All the exogenous variables appear to affect the economic and environmental performance indicators significantly in the short run. Furthermore, the forest area is negatively linked with the economic and environmental performance indicators in the Romanian economy. Based on the outcomes of the research, policy prescriptions are suggested to safeguard against environmental degradation and support growth in the much-needed forest resources.
Household Food Waste Research: The Current State of the Art and a Guided Tour for Further Development
Authors: Oláh Judit , Kasza Gyula , Szabó-Bódi Barbara , Szakos Dávid , Popp József , Lakner Zoltán
Published: June 2022

Decreasing food waste is an important contribution to the practical achievement of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The last decades witnessed a dynamic expansion of food waste-related publications, parallel with this studies, systematic reviews and bibliometric analyses had been published on this topic. The novelty of the current publication is threefold: 1) it summarizes recent publications, and puts their results into development context; 2) applies the triangulation method by analyzing the food waste-based literature from the aspect of epistemological development, structural composition and scientometric mapping, 3) based on in-depth research of the literature and the determination of the most important ways of its development, the key steps of a modern waste research project as a function of research goals as well as available financial resources are outlined. The bibliometric research based on nearly three thousand resources has shown a considerable geographic disparity in food waste research: these topics are investigated mainly in developed and emerging countries. Bibliometric mapping highlights the importance of the application of qualitative methods for exploring motivational drivers and actual behaviour of households. A general workflow for food waste research is suggested by the authors based on a study carried out in developed countries. This method can be considered as a general, flexible framework, which could serve as a common platform for experts. The framework can be used independently from the of economic development level of the countries but it is especially useful for researchers in the global South because experiences gained by developed countries opens a favourable possibility to conceptualise, plan, realise and publish their food-waste related research.
Spatial Correlation Network of Water Use in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, China
Authors: Zhi Yanling , Chen Junfei , Qin Teng , Wang Ting , Wang Zhiqiang , Kang Jinle
Published: June 2022

The increasingly severe water crisis is restricting sustainable development of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA), highlighting the importance of collaborative water resources management. Based on the dataset from 26 cities between 2001 and 2020 in the YRDUA, this study applies Social Network Analysis to research the spatial correlation of urban water utilization, which helps identify the interaction of water use behaviors among different cities. Results show that the close relationships among urban water consumption in the YRDUA have formed a network, and there is no isolated city in the water use correlation network. During the research period, the water network affinity and network density showed an overall upward trend, meaning the number of actual connections in the network was increasing. However, the network hierarchy first decreased and then raised, and the network efficiency first increased and then decreased, indicating the structural evolution of the water network was gradually detrimental to the effective dissemination of water use information. The urban water consumption correlation network also shows a core-peripheral structure. Shanghai, Wuxi, Suzhou, and Hangzhou have higher coreness and centralities, dominating the water network and controlling major information spillover channels. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the overflow effects of urban water consumption and management among different regions, optimize the structure of the water consumption correlation network, exploit the core cities’ radiation effects, and realize collaborative management for regional water resources.
Breathing in the Cold: Seasonal Changes in the Ventilatory Pattern in a Small Boreal Passerine Bird
Authors: Bech Claus , Mariussen Carita
Published: June 2022

Small passerine birds in the north need to take advantage of several behavioral and physiological mechanisms to maintain energy balance during the winter characterized by low food supply, low ambient temperatures, and short days. Here we test if the breathing pattern of a non-migratory species, the great tit (Parus major), show seasonal variation that could help the species keeping a positive energy balance in the winter. To this aim, we measured oxygen consumption and ventilatory variables (tidal volume and respiratory frequency) in summer- and winter-acclimatized great tits exposed to ambient temperatures between –15 and 30°C. Winter-acclimatized great tits had a higher resting metabolic rate and a different breathing pattern compared to the summer-acclimatized birds. During the winter the great tits utilized a breathing pattern, consisting of an increased respiratory frequency to tidal volume ratio compared to summer-acclimatized birds at all temperatures. The higher oxygen uptake and the altered breathing pattern in the winter-acclimatized tits resulted in a higher lung oxygen extraction. However, during acute cold exposure neither the winter- nor summer-acclimatized great tits increased the oxygen extraction at low ambient temperature. The higher lung oxygen extraction in the winter-acclimatized tits implies that the birds will save on the minute ventilation, which reduces the evaporative water loss through respiration. The daily water loss saved can be more than 1 g of water per day. This is a substantial saving corresponding to a saving in evaporative heat loss corresponding to between 4 and 8% of the resting metabolic rate. This might be significant in keeping an energy balance, and the altered breathing pattern in the winter, ensuring an increased oxygen extraction, may therefore represents an additional physiological mechanism making it possible for small passerine birds to survive the northern winter.
Estimating Carbon Stocks and Sequestration With Their Valuation Under a Changing Land Use Scenario: A Multi-Temporal Research in Abha City, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mallick Javed , Almesfer Mohammed K. , Alsubih Majed , Ahmed Mohd , Ben Kahla Nabil
Published: June 2022

Urbanization and land-use change are significant contributors to cumulative greenhouse gas emissions, causing climate change and environmental damage. Research on land-use-derived carbon storage and sequestration capability is crucial for emission reduction strategy and sustainable development. Because cities are becoming significant sources of carbon emissions, an accurate assessment of city-level carbon storage and sequestration is now required. This study intended to estimate the carbon storage and sequestration capabilities using the InVEST model under different land use land cover (LULC) classes in Abha, Saudi Arabia. We used a support vector machine (SVM) for LULC mapping. For the future forecasting of the LULC map, we employed cellular automata (ANN-CA). Expansion of built-up land is the primary source of CO2. From 1990 to 2040, agriculture lost 145 megagram of carbon per hectare (Mg C/ha), whereas vegetation lost 34,948.15 Mg C/ha. Vegetation would get 17,363.7 Mg C/ha during the same period, whereas urban areas would receive 3924.1 Mg C/ha. Approximately 17,000 Mg C/ha would be lost from the vegetation area in future periods. The approaches outlined in this paper may add a new dimension to carbon emission analyses and provide helpful information for low-carbon city.