bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SGLT-2 inhibitors on prognosis and health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Danning , Zhang Yu , Yan Jie , Liu Ming , An Fengshuang
Published: September 2022

Background

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming the main subtype of heart failure, but lacks proven effective therapies. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, a new kind of oral glucose-lowering agent, shows a great effect on improving cardiovascular outcomes. Based on the results of current RCTs, we perform this meta-analysis to illustrate the therapeutic impact of SGLT2i in HFpEF patients.

Methods

We systematically searched the online database and 10 RCTs were involved. The primary outcome was the prognosis outcome of HFpEF patients, including a composite outcome of cardiovascular (CV) death and hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), CV mortality, HHF, and all-cause mortality. Main secondary outcomes included improvement of KCCQ-TSS (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire and total symptom score) and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). All pooled results were calculated by the random-effects model. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the chi-squared test and was quantified using the I-squared statistic.

Results

Ten RCTs comprising 10,334 patients were involved in. Incidence of composite outcome was reduced in SGLT-2 inhibitor group compared with placebo (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69–0.88, p = 0.00). Improvement of KCCQ-TSS was also more pronounced in the SGLT-2 inhibitor group (MD: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.30–4.18, p = 0.00). No statistical difference was observed in 6MWT.

Conclusion

Treating HFpEF patients with SGLT-2 inhibitors is associated with reducing the composite outcome of CV death and HHF and improving health-related quality of life. Further studies with more evidence are in need to confirm this conclusion.
Clinical evaluation of the Multimapping technique for simultaneous myocardial T1 and T2 mapping
Authors: Jarkman Charlotta , Carlhäll Carl-Johan , Henningsson Markus
Published: September 2022

The Multimapping technique was recently proposed for simultaneous myocardial T1 and T2 mapping. In this study, we evaluate its correlation with clinical reference mapping techniques in patients with a range of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and compare image quality and inter- and intra-observer repeatability. Multimapping consists of an ECG-triggered, 2D single-shot bSSFP readout with inversion recovery and T2 preparation modules, acquired across 10 cardiac cycles. The sequence was implemented at 1.5T and compared to clinical reference mapping techniques, modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) and T2 prepared bSSFP with four echo times (T2bSSFP), and compared in 47 patients with CVD (of which 44 were analyzed). In diseased myocardial segments (defined as the presence of late gadolinium enhancement), there was a high correlation between Multimapping and MOLLI for native myocardium T1 (r2 = 0.73), ECV (r2 = 0.91), and blood T1 (r2 = 0.88), and Multimapping and T2bSSFP for native myocardial T2 (r2 = 0.80). In healthy myocardial segments, a bias for native T1 (Multimapping = 1,116 ± 21 ms, MOLLI = 1,002 ± 21, P < 0.001), post-contrast T1 (Multimapping = 479 ± 31 ms, MOLLI = 426 ± 27 ms, 0.001), ECV (Multimapping = 21.5 ± 1.9%, MOLLI = 23.7 ± 2.3%, P = 0.001), and native T2 (Multimapping = 48.0 ± 3.0 ms, T2bSSFP = 53.9 ± 3.5 ms, P < 0.001) was observed. The image quality for Multimapping was scored as higher for all mapping techniques (native T1, post-contrast T1, ECV, and T2bSSFP) compared to the clinical reference techniques. The inter- and intra-observer agreements were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC > 0.9) for most measurements, except for inter-observer repeatability of Multimapping native T1 (ICC = 0.87), post-contrast T1 (ICC = 0.73), and T2bSSFP native T2 (ICC = 0.88). Multimapping shows high correlations with clinical reference mapping techniques for T1, T2, and ECV in a diverse cohort of patients with different cardiovascular diseases. Multimapping enables simultaneous T1 and T2 mapping and can be performed in a short breath-hold, with image quality superior to that of the clinical reference techniques.
Association between coronary plaque volume and myocardial ischemia detected by dynamic perfusion CT imaging
Authors: Vattay Borbála , Borzsák Sarolta , Boussoussou Melinda , Vecsey-Nagy Milán , Jermendy Ádám L. , Suhai Ferenc I. , Maurovich-Horvat Pál , Merkely Béla , Kolossváry Márton , Szilveszter Bálint
Published: September 2022

Introduction

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between quantitative plaque metrics derived from coronary CT angiography (CTA) and segmental myocardial ischemia using dynamic perfusion CT (DPCT).

Methods

In a prospective single-center study, patients with > 30% stenosis on rest CTA underwent regadenoson stress DPCT. 480 myocardium segments of 30 patients were analyzed. Quantitative plaque assessment included total plaque volume (PV), area stenosis, and remodeling index (RI). High-risk plaque (HRP) was defined as low-attenuation plaque burden > 4% or RI > 1.1. Absolute myocardial blood flow (MBF) and relative MBF (MBFi: MBF/75th percentile of all MBF values) were quantified. Linear and logistic mixed models correcting for intra-patient clustering and clinical factors were used to evaluate the association between total PV, area stenosis, HRP and MBF or myocardial ischemia (MBF < 101 ml/100 g/min).

Results

Median MBF and MBFi were 111 ml/100 g/min and 0.94, respectively. The number of ischemic segments were 164/480 (34.2%). Total PV of all feeding vessels of a given myocardial territory differed significantly between ischemic and non-ischemic myocardial segments (p = 0.001). Area stenosis and HRP features were not linked to MBF or MBFi (all p > 0.05). Increase in PV led to reduced MBF and MBFi after adjusting for risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, and statin use (per 10 mm3; β = −0.035, p < 0.01 for MBF; β = −0.0002, p < 0.01 for MBFi). Similarly, using multivariate logistic regression total PV was associated with ischemia (OR = 1.01, p = 0.033; per 10 mm3) after adjustments for clinical risk factors, area stenosis and HRP.

Conclusion

Total PV was independently associated with myocardial ischemia based on MBF, while area stenosis and HRP were not.
Revisiting education and training programs: Geoarchaeology as a driver of interdisciplinary reasoning
Authors: Oosterbeek Luiz , Adewumi Opeyemi L. , Rosina Pierluigi , Gomes Hugo , Cura Pedro , Garcês Sara
Published: September 2022

A core problem of contemporary society is rooted in the educational system and the divides created between the humanities and sciences that have prevented integrated reasoning. This problem affects society at large and has severely impacted the mindset of leadership, precluding in-depth debates involving citizens that lack an understanding of the basic notions and concepts that drive other agencies. Thus, the Lisbon Declaration, approved at the European Humanities Conference based on proposals by UNESCO, CIPSH, and FCT, calls for the integrated teaching of humanities and sciences units at all levels of education, including the doctoral level. This chapter discusses the potential contribution of geoarchaeology towards that aim, as this discipline sits at the heart of the humanities-sciences interaction, thus bridging science methods with human behavior. Geoarchaeology is one of the most important archaeological research methods that offers unprecedented levels of integration between disciplines and geoarchaeological research. It is a good example of how geosciences can contribute towards re-thinking education, in terms of research-based education: learning to research, learning that research on the earth and humans is by nature interdisciplinary, learning to design answerable questions, learning to frame scientific analysis within wider meanings and prospects, and fostering an understanding of the truth and the criteria for truth. This topic is a unique bridge between both human and earth sciences and between science and human behavior, which play pivotal roles in communicating and educating about sustainability. The multidisciplinary dimensions of geoarchaeological approaches have encouraged continuous development and innovation of methods and approaches that have provided new possibilities for explorations in geosciences, research on earth and humans, learning to design answerable questions, and fostering an understanding of truth and the criteria for truth. This text discusses two examples: pigment analysis and micromorphology. Pigment analysis relates scientific methods with rock and mobile art, and also involves experimentation in the making of the art itself, which is a powerful didactic tool, thus linking science with daily observed realities and related cultural traits. Micromorphology is a geoarchaeological methodology currently applied to research, which provides a unique insight into the interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinary relationships associated with humans and society. Despite the complexity of this approach, it provides easily understood information on various segments of society; e.g., soil formation, thus making it one of the most effective tools in the Earth Sciences sector contributing to sustainability and related to daily behavior practices.
Human-environmental interactions and seismic activity in a Late Bronze to Early Iron Age settlement center in the southeastern Caucasus
Authors: Von Suchodoletz Hans , Kirkitadze Giorgi , Koff Tiiu , Fischer Markus L. , Poch Rosa M. , Khosravichenar Azra , Schneider Birgit , Glaser Bruno , Lindauer Susanne , Hoth Silvan , Skokan Anna , Navrozashvili Levan , Lobjanidze Mikheil , Akhalaia Mate , Losaberidze Levan , Elashvili Mikheil
Published: September 2022

Long-term human-environmental interactions in naturally fragile drylands are a focus of geomorphological and geoarchaeological research. Furthermore, many dryland societies were also affected by seismic activity. The semi-arid Shiraki Plain in the tectonically active southeastern Caucasus is currently covered by steppe and largely devoid of settlements. However, numerous Late Bronze to Early Iron Age city-type settlements suggest early state formation between ca. 3.2-2.5 ka that abruptly ended after that time. A paleolake was postulated for the lowest plain, and nearby pollen records suggest forest clearcutting of the upper altitudes under a more humid climate during the Late Bronze/Early Iron Ages. Furthermore, also an impact of earthquakes on regional Early Iron Age settlements was suggested. However, regional paleoenvironmental changes and paleoseismicity were not systematically studied so far. We combined geomorphological, sedimentological, chronological and paleoecological data with hydrological modelling to reconstruct regional Holocene paleoenvironmental changes, to identify natural and human causes and to study possible seismic events during the Late Bronze/Early Iron Ages. Our results show a balanced to negative Early to Mid-Holocene water balance probably caused by forested upper slopes. Hence, no lake but a pellic Vertisol developed in the lowest plain. Following, Late Bronze/Early Iron Age forest clear-cutting caused lake formation and the deposition of lacustrine sediments derived from soil erosion. Subsequently, regional aridification caused slow lake desiccation. Remains of freshwater fishes indicate that the lake potentially offered valuable ecosystem services for regional prehistoric societies even during the desiccation period. Finally, colluvial coverage of the lake sediments during the last centuries could have been linked with hydrological extremes during the Little Ice Age. Our study demonstrates that the Holocene hydrological balance of the Shiraki Plain was and is situated near a major hydrological threshold, making the landscape very sensitive to small-scale human or natural influences with severe consequences for local societies. Furthermore, seismites in the studied sediments do not indicate an influence of earthquakes on the main and late phases of Late Bronze/Early Iron Age settlement. Altogether, our study underlines the high value of multi-disciplinary approaches to investigate human-environmental interactions and paleoseismicity in drylands on millennial to centennial time scales.
Insight into differentiation in alkalic systems: Nephelinite-carbonate-water experiments aimed at Ol Doinyo Lengai carbonatite genesis
Authors: Lundstrom Craig C. , Hervig Rick , Fischer Tobias P. , Sivaguru Mayandi , Yin Leilei , Zhou Zhenhao , Lin Xiaobao , Grossi-Diniz Rodrigo
Published: September 2022

Ol Doinyo Lengai (ODL, Tanzania, East African Rift) is the only known volcano currently erupting carbonatite on Earth with 30 yr. cycles alternating between quiescent carbonatite effusion and explosive, compositionally-zoned silicate eruptions. We performed isothermal crystallization and thermal gradient experiments involving ODL nephelinite, Na2CO3 and H2O to understand magmatic differentiation in this system using SEM-EDS x-ray analysis, x-ray tomography, SIMS and LA-ICPMS to characterize samples. Isothermal crystallization experiments document that hydrous liquids coexist with nepheline+feldspar; as peralkalinity increases, temperatures decrease. Presence of Na2CO3 increases the solubility of water in the liquid. Experiments placing nephelinite with H2O+ Na2CO3 in a 1,000–350°C thermal gradient show that rapid reaction occurs, resulting in virtually melt-free mineral aggregates having mineral layering reflecting systematic differentiation throughout the capsule. Both types of experiments argue that a continuous interconnected melt exists over a large temperature range in alkalic magmatic systems allowing for differentiation in a reactive mush zone process. Liquid compositions change from carbonate-water bearing nephelinites at high temperature down to hydrous carbonate silicate liquids at <400°C. We propose a model for ODL eruption behavior: 1) nephelinite magmas pond and build a sill complex downward with time; 2) hydrous carbonate melts form in the mush and buoyantly rise, ultimately erupting as natrocarbonatites observed; 3) H2O contents build up in melt at the bottom of the sill complex, eventually leading to water vapor saturation and explosive silicate eruptions. The model accounts for eruption cycling and the unusual compositional zoning of ODL silicate tephras.
Study on structure optimization and applicability of hydrocyclone in natural gas hydrate exploitation
Authors: Wei Na , Qiao Yi , Liu Anqi , Zhao Jinzhou , Zhang Liehui , Xue Jin
Published: September 2022

With the development of economy and industry, the consumption of fossil energy is gradually increasing. Currently, natural gas hydrates (NGH) are considered to be an ideal alternative energy due to its large reserve and high energy density. However, the separation of hydrate slurry is a critical step in the exploitation of NGH. In this study, the optimization of the structural parameters based on the conventional three-phase hydrocyclone was carried out using numerical simulation and orthogonal design. At the same time, the separation efficiency criterion E was defined to evaluate the separation efficiency by calculating the sum of the discharge efficiency of water and gas. Analysis of the effect of individual structural factors on the flow field distribution characteristics inside the hydrocyclone using the single factor analysis method. The results showed that: with the combination of structural parameters of s was 2 mm2 × 12 mm2, dz was 28 mm, h was 20 mm, and li was 28 mm, the maximum E of the three-phase hydrocyclone was 1.46. The effect significance of each structural parameter on the separation efficiency from the highest to the lowest was the s, dz, h, and li. In the single-factor analysis, when the s was 2 mm2 × 12 mm2, the tangential velocity, axial velocity, and CH4 volume fraction in the flow field reached the maximum of 13.65 m/s, 4.35 m/s, and 12.4%, respectively. But the minimum water phase volume fraction was 69.9% under this structural parameter condition. When the dz was 36 mm, the maximum decrease value of axial velocity in the flow field was 3.57 m/s, the maximum CH4 volume fraction was 12.4%, and the water volume fraction reached a minimum of 66.3%. The li and the h only had significant effects on the axial velocity and the water volume fraction, respectively. The axial velocity reached a maximum of 4.75 m/s when the li was 32 mm, and the water phase volume fraction reached a maximum of 77.9% when the h was 10 mm. The study of the structural parameters and flow field characteristics of this three-phase hydrocyclone applicable to the solid fluidization exploitation of NGH provides some guidance and suggestions for the separation of hydrate slurry after solid fluidization exploitation of NGH.
The role of endometrial thickness in predicting ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and the establishment of a prediction model
Authors: Liu Jing , Kong Hongjiao , Yu Xiaona , Zhou Mengge , Liu Xiaoyang , Liu Xinmi , Zhang Jianrui , Liu Yanli , Wu Shanshan , Guan Yichun
Published: September 2022

Objective

To explore the risk factors of ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Reproductive Medical Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to April 2020. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to analyze the related factors affecting the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) and to construct a nomographic prediction model for the incidence of ectopic pregnancy.

Results

A total of 12,766 cycles of 10109 patients were included, comprising 214 cases of EP and 12,552 cases of intrauterine pregnancy (IUP). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the tubal factor was associated with a 2-fold increased risk for EP (aOR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.69-4.39, P < 0.0001). A stratified analysis showed that women with an endometrial thickness (EMT) between 7.6 to 12.1mm (aOR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.36-0.90, P = 0.0153) and >12.1mm (aOR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.24-0.74, P = 0.0026) had a significant reduction of the risk of EP compared to women with an EMT of <7.6mm. Compared to cleavage stage transfer, blastocyst transfer can reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy (aOR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.26-0.50, P < 0.0001). The saturation model (full mode) establishes a nomographic prediction model with an AUC = 0.68 and a sensitivity and specificity of 0.67and 0.64, respectively. The nomination model was internally verified by self-sampling method (bootstrap sampling resampling times = 500). The resulting AUC = 0.68 (sensitivity: 0.65; specificity: 0.65) showed that the model was relatively stable.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that EMT is inversely proportional to the risk of EP. Embryo stage, number of embryos transferred were also significantly associated with EP rate. A simple nomogram for the predicting the risk of EP was established in order to reduce the occurrence of EP.
Exercise inhibits JNK pathway activation and lipotoxicity via macrophage migration inhibitory factor in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Cui Ni , Li Hui , Dun Yaoshan , Ripley-Gonzalez Jeffrey W. , You Baiyang , Li Dezhao , Liu Yuan , Qiu Ling , Li Cui , Liu Suixin
Published: September 2022

The macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) expressed in hepatocytes can limit steatosis during obesity. Lipotoxicity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is mediated in part by the activation of the stress kinase JNK, but whether MIF modulates JNK in lipotoxicity is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of MIF in regulating JNK activation and high-fat fostered liver lipotoxicity during simultaneous exercise treatment. Fifteen mice were equally divided into three groups: normal diet, high-fat diet, and high-fat and exercise groups. High-fat feeding for extended periods elicited evident hyperlipemia, liver steatosis, and cell apoptosis in mice, with inhibited MIF and activated downstream MAPK kinase 4 phosphorylation and JNK. These effects were then reversed following prescribed swimming exercise, indicating that the advent of exercise could prevent liver lipotoxicity induced by lipid overload and might correlate to the action of modulating MIF and its downstream JNK pathway. Similar detrimental effects of lipotoxicity were observed in in vitro HepG2 cells palmitic acid treatment. Suppressed JNK reduced the hepatocyte lipotoxicity by regulating the BCL family, and the excess JNK activation could also be attenuated through MIF supplementation or exacerbated by MIF siRNA administration. The results found suggest that exercise reduces lipotoxicity and inhibits JNK activation by modulating endogenous hepatic MIF in NAFLD. These findings have clinical implications for the prevention and intervention of patients with immoderate diet evoked NAFLD.
An improved convolutional neural network for convenient rail damage detection
Authors: Zhang Zhongzhou , Che Xinhao , Song Yan
Published: September 2022

The long-term operation of a railroad usually leads to defects in its rails, axles, fasteners, etc. These problems directly affect the safety of the rail system. Therefore, it is important to ensure the health of key railroad structures. In this paper, a deep learning-based rail damage identification method is established by analyzing the rail vibration signals collected with piezoelectric ceramic pads. The multiple features of vibration signals are combined and then reconstructed into grayscale maps as the inputs of the model. The key information of the grayscale maps is extracted using neural networks. The idea of pre-convolution is used to solve the problem that the model pays more attention to certain features due to the different input sizes and the implied weights of the features. Finally, the performance of the three convolutional neural networks (CNN) in rail damage detection is evaluated and compared. The results show that the CNN with pre-convolution and Residual structure has better recognition for the presence of rail damage than other methods.
The effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the temperature-dependent electrical and dielectric properties of polypropylene
Authors: Zhang Hao , Duan Yubing , Xie Maojie , Ma Guoqing , Li Pengfei , Qin Jiafeng
Published: September 2022

Nanoparticles are found to have the capacity to improve the specific properties of polypropylene (PP) for recyclable cable insulation material. However, previous studies have focused on the modification effect at room temperature, and few studies, on the nano-modification effect under high temperature environments. This article aims to study the effects of nanoparticles on the electrical and dielectric properties of PP at different high temperatures. Both TiO2 nanoparticles and PP/TiO2 nanocomposite samples are prepared in the laboratory by the wet chemical method and surface modification. Then, the AC and DC breakdown strength, conductivity, permittivity, and dielectric loss of the PP/TiO2 nanocomposite are measured at different temperatures. The results show that TiO2 nanoparticles introduce a small amount of charge traps into PP to restrain the conductivity and improve the breakdown strength of PP. But due to the additional interfacial polarization between TiO2 nanoparticles and the PP matrix, the permittivity and dielectric loss of the PP/TiO2 nanocomposite are enhanced, especially at low frequency.
Recovery of soil microbial diversity and functions along a tropical montane forest disturbance gradient
Authors: Sniegocki Renee , Moon Jessica B. , Rutrough Abigail L. , Gireneus Jude , Seelan Jaya Seelan Sathiya , Farmer Michael C. , Weindorf David C. , Naithani Kusum
Published: September 2022

Logging and forest conversion are occurring at alarming rates in tropical forests. These disturbances alter soil microbial community structure and functions. While direct links between changes in soil properties, such as pH and microbial community structure are well established, the indirect effects of logging and forest conversion on soil microbial community structure and functions are poorly understood. We used a space-for-time substitution to investigate the changes in soil microbial diversity and functions across a forest recovery gradient in the tropical montane forests of northern Borneo. We used surface (top 5 cm) soil to assess soil physicochemical and microbial (next-generation DNA sequencing) properties, and standardized litterbags (Tea Bag Index) to assess litter decomposition and stabilization. Our results show that bacterial and fungal diversity increases with recovery time and reaches pre-disturbance levels between 60- and 80-years post-disturbance. Litter decomposition rate constants increased linearly with increasing bacterial and fungal diversity. Litter stabilization also increased linearly with fungal diversity, but was highest at intermediate levels of bacterial diversity. Our results provide insights on the effects of forest logging and conversion on soils and highlight the tight coupling between soil microbial diversity and soil functions in tropical montane forests.
Urban stream rehabilitation in a densely populated Brazilian metropolis
Authors: Macedo Diego R. , Callisto Marcos , Linares Marden S. , Hughes Robert M. , Romano Bruna M. L. , Rothe-Neves Moana , Silveira Juliana S.
Published: September 2022

Environmental rehabilitation of urban streams has been widely applied in Global North countries, at least since the 1970s, but it is a recent approach in Global South countries. The objective of this paper is to evaluate whether the rehabilitation experience carried out since 2006 in three urban stream sites in the third-largest Brazilian metropolis (c. 5.5 million inhabitants) was and continues to be effective in terms of socio-environmental improvement after 10 years of interventions. These interventions included the rehabilitation of watercourses (e.g., improvement of water quality through the management of sewage and garbage, stabilization of riverbanks, revegetation of riparian zones, riverbed naturalization, removal of riverbank housing). We evaluated water quality, physical habitat structure, and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in three test sites in three sampling periods: pre-intervention (2004–2005), early post-intervention (2008–2011) and late post-intervention (2018–2019). Additionally, three reference-stream sites (2018–2019) were assessed to compare the conditions of the three tested sites versus the reference sites. We also assessed citizen perceptions concerning the interventions through questionnaires given to urban stream residents at the three tested sites in early and late post-rehabilitation (215 in 2008, 180 in 2019). The results of water quality monitoring showed a significant improvement in most parameters used to calculate the Water Quality Index (WQI) in the early intervention phase, and WQI scores have improved since. The physical habitat and macroinvertebrate indicators indicated moderate improvements. The residents indicated increased appreciation of the environmental improvements over 10 years. Given the results in Belo Horizonte, we believe that implementation and evaluation of similar projects and programs aimed at rehabilitating urban streams are technically viable using our approaches throughout the Global South.
Planning for fauna-sensitive road design: A review
Authors: Johnson Christopher D. , Matthews Tony , Burke Matthew , Jones Darryl
Published: September 2022

Roads can have significant negative impacts on wildlife. Fauna-sensitive road design (FSRD) can alleviate adverse impacts on several species by installing specialised structures, such as wildlife crossing structures. This developing subfield has generally, however, had a limited impact on transportation planning and management. Indeed, most research is focused narrowly on technological solutions, instead of broader policy learnings. This systematic quantitative literature review (SQLR) of international literature sought to identify the biodiversity concerns acknowledged in transport planning policy, as well as the barriers to the adoption of environmental policies within transport planning. Despite considerable literature available on the impacts of roads on wildlife elsewhere, acknowledgement and consideration of both fauna movement and fauna-sensitive road design were limited in road transportation planning research. More broadly, failure to achieve environmental objectives within transport planning occurred primarily as a result of competing sector interests (conflicted knowledge), different political objectives (political interest), and incorrect interpretation of policies. In essence, the results add new layers of understanding to the field of transportation planning and policy, in particular, the gaps in acknowledgement of wildlife movements and the limitations of current fauna-sensitive road design considered. Importantly, the review identified multiple ecological support tools available to transport policy- and decision-makers. Integration of these in road transportation projects could facilitate enhanced uptake and adoption of FSRD measures and thus foster improved sustainability of the transport network.
Does phosphogypsum application affect salts, nutrients, and trace elements displacement from saline soils?
Authors: Outbakat M Barka , Choukr-Allah Redouane , EL Gharous Mohamed , EL Omari Kamal , Soulaimani Aziz , EL Mejahed Khalil
Published: September 2022

Salinity and sodicity are the most agricultural challenges in arid and semi-arid regions. A pot experiment was undertaken, to evaluate the effect of Phosphogypsum (PG) and Gypsum (G), to remove salts, nutrients and trace elements in leached water from saline and saline-sodic soils. In order to determine the efficiency and safety of these amendments, as an affordable strategy, for overcoming salinity and sodicity stress. The PG at 0, 15, 30 and 45 t/ha and G at 15 t/ha were mixed with the upper 9 cm soil in the pot before being leached. The soils were collected from Sed El Masjoune and Sidi El Mokhtar areas of morocco with ECe of 140.6 mS/cm and 11.7 mS/cm respectively. The highest doses of PG (≥30 t/ha) removed significant amount of salts and nutrients. Calcium sulfate supplies calcium ions to replace salt ions (sodium, especially). The replaced salts are leached from the soil. The PG was more efficient compared to G in terms of salts leaching. Quantities of trace elements in the leachate, for most analyzed elements, were below the recommended limits of drinking and irrigation water. Because the experiment’s alkaline conditions (basic water and soil) reduce the solubility and mobility of trace elements. The amendment application did not affect saturation index (SI) of the main minerals. However, water passing through the soil increased the SI. which could result in groundwater mineral precipitation.
Assessing the performance of historical skins and bones for museomics using wolf specimens as a case study
Authors: Pacheco Carolina , Lobo Diana , Silva Pedro , Álvares Francisco , García Emilio J. , Castro Diana , Layna Jorge F. , López-Bao José Vicente , Godinho Raquel
Published: September 2022

Advances in the field of museomics have promoted a high sampling demand for natural history collections (NHCs), eventually resulting in damage to invaluable resources to understand historical biodiversity. It is thus essential to achieve a consensus about which historical tissues present the best sources of DNA. In this study, we evaluated the performance of different historical tissues from Iberian wolf NHCs in genome-wide assessments. We targeted three tissues—bone (jaw and femur), maxilloturbinal bone, and skin—that have been favored by traditional taxidermy practices for mammalian carnivores. Specifically, we performed shotgun sequencing and target capture enrichment for 100,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) selected from the commercial Canine HD BeadChip across 103 specimens from 1912 to 2005. The performance of the different tissues was assessed using metrics based on endogenous DNA content, uniquely high-quality mapped reads after capture, and enrichment proportions. All samples succeeded as DNA sources, regardless of their collection year or sample type. Skin samples yielded significantly higher amounts of endogenous DNA compared to both bone types, which yielded equivalent amounts. There was no evidence for a direct effect of tissue type on capture efficiency; however, the number of genotyped SNPs was strictly associated with the starting amount of endogenous DNA. Evaluation of genotyping accuracy for distinct minimum read depths across tissue types showed a consistent overall low genotyping error rate (<7%), even at low (3x) coverage. We recommend the use of skins as reliable and minimally destructive sources of endogenous DNA for whole-genome and target enrichment approaches in mammalian carnivores. In addition, we provide a new 100,000 SNP capture array validated for historical DNA (hDNA) compatible to the Canine HD BeadChip for high-quality DNA. The increasing demand for NHCs as DNA sources should encourage the generation of genomic datasets comparable among studies.
Increased availability of preferred food and decreased foraging costs from degraded grasslands lead to rodent pests in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Zhang Caijun , Kang Yukun , Yao Baohui , An Kang , Pu Qiangsheng , Wang Zhicheng , Sun Xiaomei , Su Junhu
Published: September 2022

The increased population density of rodent species during ongoing grassland degradation further deteriorates its conditions. Understanding the effects of grassland degradation on rodent feeding habits is of great value for optimizing grassland management strategies. In this study, lightly degraded (LD), moderately degraded (MD), severely degraded (SD), and reseeded grassland (RG) were selected and their plant resources and soil physical properties were investigated. In addition, the study usedITS2barcode combined with the Illumina MiSeq sequencing method to analyze the food composition and proportion of plateau zokors in different grassland conditions. The results showed that, with grassland degradation, plant biomass decreased, but the relative proportion of forbs increased (LD: 32.05 ± 3.89%; MD: 28.97 ± 2.78%; SD: 49.16 ± 4.67% and RG: 10.93 ± 1.53%). Forbs were the main food of the plateau zokor, accounting for more than 90% of their diet, and the animal had a clear preference forPotentillaspecies; the soil compaction of feeding habits showed a decreasing trend in the 10–25 cm soil layer, suggesting a decreased foraging cost. Nutritional analysis showed that the stomach content of crude protein in zokors feeding on MD grassland was significantly higher than that of animals feeding on the other grassland types. Structural equation modeling showed that soil physical properties and the relative biomass of forbs had significant (P< 0.05) and extremely significant (P< 0.001) impacts on the population density of plateau zokors, with direct impact contribution rates of 0.20 and 0.63. As the severity of grassland degradation increased, although the aboveground and underground biomass of the plants decreased, the proportion of food preferred by the plateau zokor increased, and the corresponding changes in the feeding environment resulted in decreased foraging energy expenditure, thereby increasing the suitability of the degraded grassland for the plateau zokor. Compared with degraded grassland, the food diversity and evenness of zokors increased, the food niche width enlarged, and the proportion of weeds decreased in RG, which increased the difficulty of obtaining food. Reseeding in grassland management is therefore an effective way to control plateau zokors.
Conservation actions for restoring the coastal lagoon habitats: Strategy and multidisciplinary approach of LIFE Lagoon Refresh
Authors: Boscolo Brusà Rossella , Feola Alessandra , Cacciatore Federica , Ponis Emanuele , Sfriso Adriano , Franzoi Piero , Lizier Matteo , Peretti Paolo , Matticchio Bruno , Baccetti Nicola , Volpe Valerio , Maniero Luigi , Bonometto Andrea
Published: September 2022

The Habitat Directive of European Union lists Costal Lagoons (habitat code 1150*) among priority habitats because they are in danger of disappearance. Natural ecosystems may recover from anthropogenic perturbations; however, the recovery can follow natural restoration or it can be redirected through ecological restoration by anthropogenic intervention. Accordingly, by collecting the available theoretical indications for restoration of estuarine and coastal areas, a methodological approach was detailed andit can be summarised into five issues: (i) Environmental context from which it began; (ii) Desired state to be achieved; (iii) Policies and socio-economic context; (iv) Typology of recovery and/or improvement of habitats and ecosystems; and (v) Methods for monitoring the impact of the project. The project strategy, management and measures of LIFE Lagoon Refresh were also presented and discussed, as a case study for the implementation of the multidisciplinary approach for restoration ecology in transitional waters. The project takes place in the northern Venice Lagoon (Italy), started in 2017 and it lasts 5 years. In the Venice Lagoon, since the 20th century, strong reductions of the typical salinity gradient of buffer areas between lagoon and mainland, and of reedbed extensions have occurred due to historic human interventions, with negative consequences on coastal lagoon habitats. To improve the conservation status of habitats and biodiversity of the area, the LIFE Lagoon Refresh project included several conservative actions, which are (i) the diversion of a freshwater flow from the Sile River into the lagoon; (ii) the restoration of intertidal morphology, through biodegradable structures; (iii) the reed and aquatic angiosperm transplantations with the involvement of local fishermen and hunters, and (iv) the reduction of hunting and fishing pressures in the intervention area. To achieve the restoration of the lagoon environment, the strategy of the project covered a combination of different aspects and tools, such as planning activities, through the involvement of local Institutions and communities; stakeholder’s involvement to increase awareness of environment conservation and socioeconomic value improvement; an ecological engineering approach; numerical models as supporting tool for planning and managing of conservation actions; environmental monitoring performed before and after the conservation actions.
Strategies for spatial analysis of carbon emissions from human-social systems: A framework based on energy consumption and land use
Authors: Wang Chenxing , Wang Zetong , Zheng Lifu , Lu Shifang , Li Xiaoyun , Rong Yuejing , Shang Xu , Song Wentao , Zhang Jing , Yan Yan
Published: September 2022

As cities are the main source of carbon emissions for human-social systems, clarifying the characteristics of carbon emission structure and distribution in urban areas is an important foundation for achieving carbon neutrality of cities and also an important challenge for human-social systems to achieve global carbon balance goals. The spatial utilization of cities is often characterized by the agglomeration of construction land, population concentration, and industrial production, with high carbon emission intensity and large total amount. The current research on the quantification of regional carbon emissions is mainly in two categories, namely, bottom-up calculation method system based on emission inventory and top-down method system based on energy balance and input-output model. However, how to clarify both the total regional carbon emissions and their spatial distribution has been a difficult problem in the field of carbon emission quantification. Based on the comprehensive consideration of these two aspects, this study tries to construct an approach that combines the top-down carbon emission measurement method with the bottom-up spatialization process. The total carbon emissions of the human-society system are specified to each land patch and, thereby, the carbon emission pattern of each emission sector in the city could be determined. In this study, we quantified the carbon emissions of Nanjing in 2020 and obtained the spatial pattern of carbon emissions in this city based on land use. The results showed that the carbon emission intensity of the main urban area of Nanjing was much higher than that of other districts, while energy consumption of the industrial production system was the main source of carbon emissions in the human-social system there. The method of this study has a relatively wide applicability and can help researchers and governments to clarify the quantity and location of their carbon emissions clearly, which is meaningful for the implementation of urban carbon reduction strategies.
Ectodermal dysplasias: New perspectives on the treatment of so far immedicable genetic disorders
Authors: Schneider Holm
Published: September 2022

The past decade has witnessed an expansion of molecular approaches facilitating the differential diagnosis of ectodermal dysplasias, a group of genetic diseases characterized by the lack or malformation of hair, teeth, nails, and certain eccrine glands. Moreover, advances in translational research have increased the therapeutic opportunities for such rare diseases, and new dental, surgical, and ophthalmic treatment options are likely to offer relief to many individuals affected by ectodermal dysplasias. In X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED), the genetic deficiency of the signaling molecule ectodysplasin A1 (EDA1) may even be overcome before birth by administration of a recombinant replacement protein. This has been shown at least for the key problem of male subjects with XLHED, the nearly complete absence of sweat glands and perspiration which can lead to life-threatening hyperthermia. Prenatal treatment of six boys by injection of an EDA1 replacement protein into the amniotic fluid consistently induced the development of functional sweat glands. Normal ability to sweat has so far persisted for >5 years in the two oldest boys treated in utero. Thus, timely replacement of a missing protein appears to be a promising therapeutic strategy for the most frequent ectodermal dysplasia and possibly additional congenital disorders.
Comprehensive analysis and validation of novel immune and vascular remodeling related genes signature associated with drug interactions in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Wang Jie , Uddin Md. Nazim , Wang Rui , Gong Yue-hong , Wu Yun
Published: September 2022

Background: Previous studies revealed that the gene signatures are associated with the modulation and pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, identifying critical transcriptional signatures in the blood of PAH patients remains lacking.

Methods: The differentially expressed transcriptional signatures in the blood of PAH patients were identified by a meta-analysis from four microarray datasets. Then we investigated the enrichment of gene ontology and KEGG pathways and identified top hub genes. Besides, we investigated the correlation of crucial hub genes with immune infiltrations, hallmark gene sets, and blood vessel remodeling genes. Furthermore, we investigated the diagnostic efficacy of essential hub genes and their expression validation in an independent cohort of PAH, and we validate the expression level of hub genes in monocrotaline (MCT) induced PAH rats’ model. Finally, we have identified the FDA-approved drugs that target the hub genes and their molecular docking.

Results: We found 1,216 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 521 up-regulated and 695 down-regulated genes, in the blood of the PAH patients. The up-regulated DEGs are significantly associated with the enrichment of KEGG pathways mainly involved with immune regulation, cellular signaling, and metabolisms. We identified 13 master transcriptional regulators targeting the dysregulated genes in PAH. The STRING-based investigation identified the function of hub genes associated with multiple immune-related pathways in PAH. The expression levels of RPS27A, MAPK1, STAT1, RPS6, FBL, RPS3, RPS2, and GART are positively correlated with ssGSEA scores of various immune cells as positively correlated with the hallmark of oxidative stress. Besides, we found that these hub genes also regulate the vascular remodeling in PAH. Furthermore, the expression levels of identified hub genes showed good diagnostic efficacy in the blood of PAH, and we validated most of the hub genes are consistently dysregulated in an independent PAH cohort. Validation of hub genes expression level in the monocrotaline (MCT)-induced lung tissue of rats with PAH revealed that 5 screened hub genes (MAPK1, STAT1, TLR4, TLR2, GART) are significantly highly expressed in PAH rats, and 4 screened hub genes (RPS6, FBL, RPS3, and RPS2) are substantially lowly expressed in rats with PAH. Finally, we analyzed the interaction of hub proteins and FDA-approved drugs and revealed their molecular docking, and the results showed that MAPK1, TLR4, and GART interact with various drugs with appropriate binding affinity.

Conclusion: The identified blood-derived key transcriptional signatures significantly correlate with immune infiltrations, hypoxia, glycolysis, and blood vessel remodeling genes. These findings may provide new insight into the diagnosis and treatment of PAH patients.
Development and validation of a novel cellular senescence-related prognostic signature for predicting the survival and immune landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sun Rui , Wang Xu , Chen Jiajie , Teng Da , Chan Shixin , Tu Xucan , Wang Zhenglin , Zuo Xiaomin , Wei Xiang , Lin Li , Zhang Qing , Zhang Xiaomin , Tang Kechao , Zhang Huabing , Chen Wei
Published: September 2022

Background: Cellular senescence is a typical irreversible form of life stagnation, and recent studies have suggested that long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNA) regulate the occurrence and development of various tumors. In the present study, we attempted to construct a novel signature for predicting the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the associated immune landscape based on senescence-related (sr) lncRNAs.

Method: Expression profiles of srlncRNAs in 424 patients with HCC were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Lasso and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs related to senescence. The prediction efficiency of the signature was checked using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Kaplan–Meier analysis, Cox regression analyses, nomogram, and calibration. The risk groups of the gene set enrichment analysis, immune analysis, and prediction of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) were also analyzed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to confirm the levels of AC026412.3, AL451069.3, and AL031985.3 in normal hepatic and HCC cell lines.

Results: We identified 3 srlncRNAs (AC026412.3, AL451069.3, and AL031985.3) and constructed a new risk model. The results of the ROC curve and Kaplan–Meier analysis suggested that it was concordant with the prediction. Furthermore, a nomogram model was constructed to accurately predict patient prognosis. The risk score also correlated with immune cell infiltration status, immune checkpoint expression, and chemosensitivity. The results of qPCR revealed that AC026412.3 and AL451069.3 were significantly upregulated in hepatoma cell lines.

Conclusion: The novel srlncRNA (AC026412.3, AL451069.3, and AL031985.3) signatures may provide insights into new therapies and prognosis predictions for patients with HCC.