bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Place of Energy Security in the National Security Framework: An Assessment Approach
Authors: Mara Daniel , Nate Silviu , Stavytskyy Andriy , Kharlamova Ganna
Published: January 2022

The term “energy security” is used almost everywhere in economic and political discussions related to energy supply. However, different authors use different meanings to express the concept of energy security. Quite often, this term is used to give more importance or relevance to issues that are often not inherently related to energy security. Attempts to define the essence of the concept of “energy security” have hitherto not been systematic and are characterized by a variety of approaches, and some insufficient justification especially in the aspect of state national security is notable. Our contribution to the discourse development is the consideration of energy security as part of internationally recognized indices that are developed to assess the temperature of world security. A regression modeling approach to test the crucial factors of social-economic development that impact the energy security indicators is presented. The literature analysis and review of the world’s existing national security indices show that the link between energy security and national security is in fact hardly considered. Mostly, energy security is considered in the dichotomy concerning economic security at the international, as well as national levels. The calculative regression modeling revealed that the significant correlation of economic and energy security is just for the U.S.A., the rest of the analyzed countires display the weak or non-significant correlations of the indices of economic/energy/security threats. That pushes the discussion on whether energy security is indeed so impactful a factor for geo-policy and geo-economy, or whether it is mostly the well-rolled media-supported megatrend. However, the present study notes a great shortage of long-term cross-state indices to reflect energy, economic, and national security to allow for valuable modeling.
Analysis and Evaluation of the Photovoltaic Market in Poland and the Baltic States
Authors: Chomać-Pierzecka Ewa , Kokiel Andrzej , Rogozińska-Mitrut Joanna , Sobczak Anna , Soboń Dariusz , Stasiak Jacek
Published: January 2022

The household, industrial, and service sectors in Poland and the Baltic States have been facing ever-higher bills for their electricity consumption at a time when a number of them have been hit hard financially by the pandemic. Rising inflation, the border crisis—with its set of restrictions, or the spread of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, is causing strong concerns in the social and economic sphere, with significant increases in electricity prices. Many countries are implementing measures to reduce the adverse effects of rising electricity prices in response to this complex situation. The main orientation is towards obtaining energy from renewable sources, such as the sun. The current situation in the energy market determines the price per 1 KW. Among the countries under study, the price of electricity has increased the most in Poland. On the other hand, the development of the photovoltaic segment in Poland is undergoing a strong, upward trend. The above inspired the authors to explore the energy market situation in Poland and the Baltic States in the current economic conditions, along with an analysis of its development potential in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The main research problem of this study is an attempt to answer the question of what should be changed in the development of the renewable energy market in Poland, with particular emphasis on photovoltaics, to accelerate the process of reducing CO2 emissions, leading to a reduction in dramatically rising electricity prices. Which solutions implemented in the Baltic countries can inspire strengthening Poland’s energy market development?
Analysis of Available Conditions for InSAR Surface Deformation Monitoring in CCS Projects
Authors: Zhang Tian , Zhang Wanchang , Yang Ruizhao , Gao Huiran , Cao Dan
Published: January 2022

Carbon neutrality is a goal the world is striving to achieve in the context of global warming. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has received extensive attention as an effective method to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. What follows is the migration pathway and leakage monitoring after CO2 injection. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology, with its advantages of extensive coverage in surface deformation monitoring and all-weather traceability of the injection processes, has become one of the promising technologies frequently adopted in worldwide CCS projects. However, there is no mature evaluation system to determine whether InSAR technology is suitable for each CO2 sequestration area. In this study, a new evaluation model is proposed based on the eight factors that are selected from the principle of the InSAR technique and the unique characteristics of the CO2 sequestration area. According to the proposed model, the feasibility of InSAR monitoring is evaluated for the existing typical sequestration areas in the world. Finally, the challenges and prospects of InSAR in the CCS project are discussed.
A Comprehensive Review on Supercapacitor Applications and Developments
Authors: Şahin Mustafa , Blaabjerg Frede , Sangwongwanich Ariya
Published: January 2022

The storage of enormous energies is a significant challenge for electrical generation. Researchers have studied energy storage methods and increased efficiency for many years. In recent years, researchers have been exploring new materials and techniques to store more significant amounts of energy more efficiently. In particular, renewable energy sources and electric vehicle technologies are triggering these scientific studies. Scientists and manufacturers recently proposed the supercapacitor (SC) as an alternating or hybrid storage device. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of SC applications and their developments. Accordingly, a detailed literature review was first carried out. The historical results of SCs are revealed in this paper. The structure, working principle, and materials of SC are given in detail to be analysed more effectively. The advantages and disadvantages, market profile, and new technologies with manufacturer corporations are investigated to produce a techno-economic analysis of SCs. The electric vehicle, power systems, hybrid energy storage systems with integration of renewable energy sources, and other applications of SCs are investigated in this paper. Additionally, SC modelling design principles with charge and discharge tests are explored. Other components and their price to produce a compact module for high power density are also investigated.
Dimensionality Reduction Method of Dynamic Programming under Hourly Scale and Its Application in Optimal Scheduling of Reservoir Flood Control
Authors: Wang Suiling , Jiang Zhiqiang , Liu Yi
Published: January 2022

In flood control scheduling of reservoirs, the usual conventional scheduling fails to obtain the optimal solution to the problem. The dynamic programming method is applied to the field. However, the problem of ‘dimensional disaster’ restricts its application. To solve these problems, the improved DP is constructed according to the principle of period inflow and water balance, which includes a variable dispersion mechanism of the retraction space and a calculation method for the smallest discrete points of each discrete range. Taking Dongjiang Reservoir as the research object, based on the maximum peak clipping criterion and the maximum flood control safety guarantee criterion, the improved DP is used for optimization. The results find that when the former criterion is used for scheduling, the discharge flow processes of the two floods are more uniform than conventional scheduling. When the latter criterion is used for scheduling, the minimum water levels of the two floods are lower than the conventional scheduling. As such, it is found that in the two flood dispatches, the calculation time after the first flood DP dimensionality reduction processing is reduced by about 65%, and the second flood is reduced by about 59%, which greatly improves the calculation efficiency of the DP.
Development of a Hydraulic System for the Automatic Expansion of Powered Roof Support
Authors: Szurgacz Dawid , Borska Beata , Diederichs Ryszard , Zhironkin Sergey
Published: January 2022

A mechanical support in a longwall complex requires proper supervision and control of operating parameters because it is responsible for the safety of machines and workers. Its main functions are to protect the excavation against the adverse effects of rock mass and to move it along with the operational progress of the shearer and the scraper conveyor. In the era of Industry 4.0 as well as green economy and sustainable development, the development of machines and devices included in the longwall complex is an important area of invention. When it comes to the mechanical support included in the longwall complex, the authors propose changes to the hydraulic control system. The main purpose of the work was to develop a system that can automatically expand the legs of the powered support. Tests were carried out under real conditions while equipping the support section with a prototypical hydraulic system and with a system monitoring the correct operation of the prototype. This article presents the development of a prototypical installation under real conditions for testing on a longwall. The innovative solution proposed by the authors consisted of introducing a prototypical double valve block into the hydraulic system of the housing, which enables the function of automatic section expansion. The authors proposed a solution aimed at shortening the work time of the powered-support-section operator. The research results made it possible to evaluate the usefulness of the proposed solution. This type of solution can be considered technical support in the process of coal mining in an underground mine. Analysis presented in this paper, along with results from research conducted and its conclusions, can be of practical help to enclosure users to improve reliability and achieve optimal performance.
Decarbonizing Russia: Leapfrogging from Fossil Fuel to Hydrogen
Authors: Potashnikov Vladimir , Golub Alexander , Brody Michael , Lugovoy Oleg
Published: January 2022

We examine a different approach to complete the decarbonization of the Russian economy in a world where climate policy increasingly requires the radical reduction of emissions wherever possible. We propose an energy system that can supply solar and wind-generated electricity to fulfill demand and which accounts for intermittency problems. This is instead of the common approach of planning for expensive carbon capture and storage, and a massive increase in energy efficiency and, therefore, a drastic reduction in energy use per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Coupled with this massive increase in alternative energy, we also propose using excess electricity to generate green hydrogen. Hydrogen technology can function as storage for future electricity needs or for potential fuel use. Importantly, green hydrogen can potentially be used as a replacement export for Russia’s current fossil fuel exports. The analysis was carried out using the highly detailed modeling framework, the High-Resolution Renewable Energy System for Russia (HIRES-RUS) representative energy system. The modeling showed that there are a number of feasible combinations of wind and solar power generation coupled with green hydrogen production to achieve 100% decarbonization of the Russian economy.
Day-Ahead Optimal Scheduling of an Integrated Energy System Based on a Piecewise Self-Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Chen Jiming , Ning Ke , Xin Xingzhi , Shi Fuhao , Zhang Qing , Li Chaolin
Published: January 2022

The interdependency of electric and natural gas systems is becoming stronger. The challenge of how to meet various energy demands in an integrated energy system (IES) with minimal cost has drawn considerable attention. The optimal scheduling of IESs is an ideal method to solve this problem. In this study, a day-ahead optimal scheduling model for IES that included an electrical system, a natural gas system, and an energy hub (EH), was established. The proposed EH contained detailed models of the fuel cell (FC) and power to gas (P2G) system. Considering that the optimal scheduling of an IES is a non-convex complex optimal problem, a piecewise self-adaptive particle swarm optimization (PCAPSO) algorithm based on multistage chaotic mapping was proposed to solve it. The objective was to minimize the operating cost of the IES. Three operation scenarios were designed to analyze the operation characteristics of the system under different coupling conditions. The simulation results showed that the PCAPSO algorithm improved the convergence rate and stability compared to the original PSO. An analysis of the results demonstrated the economics of an IES with the proposed EHs and the advantage of cooperation between the FC and P2G system.
A New Approach to Fractional Kinetic Evolutions
Authors: Kolokoltsov Vassili N. , Troeva Marianna
Published: January 2022

Kinetic equations describe the limiting deterministic evolution of properly scaled systems of interacting particles. A rather universal extension of the classical evolutions, that aims to take into account the effects of memory, suggests the generalization of these evolutions obtained by changing the standard time derivative with a fractional one. In the present paper, extending some previous notes of the authors related to models with a finite state space, we develop systematically the idea of CTRW (continuous time random walk) modelling of the Markovian evolution of interacting particle systems, which leads to a more nontrivial class of fractional kinetic measure-valued evolutions, with the mixed fractional order derivatives varying with the change of the state of the particle system, and with variational derivatives with respect to the measure variable. We rigorously justify the limiting procedure, prove the well-posedness of the new equations, and present a probabilistic formula for their solutions. As the most basic examples we present the fractional versions of the Smoluchovski coagulation and Boltzmann collision models.
Dark Matter Effects on the Compact Star Properties
Authors: Das H. C. , Kumar Ankit , Kumar Bharat , Patra Suresh Kumar
Published: January 2022

The neutron star properties are generally determined by the equation of state of β-equilibrated dense matter. In this work, we consider the interaction of fermionic dark matter (DM) particles with nucleons via Higgs exchange and investigate the effect on the neutron star properties with the relativistic mean-field model equation of state coupled with DM. We deduce that DM significantly affects the neutron star properties, such as considerably reducing the maximum mass of the star, which depends on the percentage of the DM considered inside the neutron star. The tidal Love numbers both for electric and magnetic cases and surficial Love numbers are also studied for DM admixed NS. We observed that the magnitude of tidal and surficial Love numbers increases with a greater DM percentage. Further, we present post-Newtonian tidal corrections to gravitational waves decreased by increasing the DM percentage. The DM effect on the GW signal is significant during the late inspiral and merger stages of binary evolution for GW frequencies >500 Hz.
Translating Neutron Star Observations to Nuclear Symmetry Energy via Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Krastev Plamen G.
Published: January 2022

One of the most significant challenges involved in efforts to understand the equation of state of dense neutron-rich matter is the uncertain density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy. In particular, the nuclear symmetry energy is still rather poorly constrained, especially at high densities. On the other hand, detailed knowledge of the equation of state is critical for our understanding of many important phenomena in the nuclear terrestrial laboratories and the cosmos. Because of its broad impact, pinning down the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy has been a long-standing goal of both nuclear physics and astrophysics. Recent observations of neutron stars, in both electromagnetic and gravitational-wave spectra, have already constrained significantly the nuclear symmetry energy at high densities. The next generation of telescopes and gravitational-wave observatories will provide an unprecedented wealth of detailed observations of neutron stars, which will improve further our knowledge of the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy, and the underlying equation of state of dense neutron-rich matter. Training deep neural networks to learn a computationally efficient representation of the mapping between astrophysical observables of neutron stars, such as masses, radii, and tidal deformabilities, and the nuclear symmetry energy allows its density dependence to be determined reliably and accurately. In this work, we use a deep learning approach to determine the nuclear symmetry energy as a function of density directly from observational neutron star data. We show, for the first time, that artificial neural networks can precisely reconstruct the nuclear symmetry energy from a set of available neutron star observables, such as masses and radii as measured by, e.g., the NICER mission, or masses and tidal deformabilities as measured by the LIGO/VIRGO/KAGRA gravitational-wave detectors. These results demonstrate the potential of artificial neural networks to reconstruct the symmetry energy and the equation of state directly from neutron star observational data, and emphasize the importance of the deep learning approach in the era of multi-messenger astrophysics.
Geospatial Applications of Cave Resource Data to Better Understand Epikarst and Unsaturated Zone Groundwater Flow Path Development
Authors: Heimel Sierra M. , Tobin Benjamin W.
Published: January 2022

The unsaturated zone is a critical component of karstic groundwater systems and is shown to provide substantial storage capacities. Understanding the spatial patterns and controls on flow path activation is often a challenge. Previous research focused on remotely sensed data or inferential analyses to quantify these patterns. Here, we use two cave systems—one in Arizona, USA and a second in Kentucky, USA—to show the value of the cave survey and inventory data in the direct observation of speleogenesis and unsaturated zone processes. Using geospatial statistical analyses, we show that passage size varies with distance from some faults, indicating that these faults play a major role in transporting fluid into the limestone and creating increased permeability in the form of cave passages. Additionally, the close relationship between water, calcite resources and geology provide clear evidence for the activation of unsaturated zone flow paths through these cave systems. While both cave systems represent a large area of greatly increased permeability, only isolated sections of the caves show evidence of this active flow. In both cases, modern vadose zone flow occurs proximal to faults and contacts with overlying insoluble lithology. These results suggest that an expanded use of cave survey and inventory data may provide a greater insight into unsaturated zone processes.
Imaging Diagnostics Coupled with Non-Invasive and Micro-Invasive Analyses for the Restoration of Ethnographic Artifacts from French Polynesia
Authors: Colantonio Claudia , Lanteri Luca , Ciccola Alessandro , Serafini Ilaria , Postorino Paolo , Censorii Erminia , Rotari Doinita , Pelosi Claudia
Published: January 2022

In this paper, two different objects from the ethnographic collection of the museum of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Rome), a Polynesian barkcloth (tapa) and a Polynesian headdress in feathers (pa’e ku’a), were investigated to characterize the materials, to evaluate their state of conservation and address the restoration activities. Imaging methods such as multispectral imaging, 3D ultraviolet induced fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy have been integrated with analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Imaging investigations allowed us to differentiate constitutive materials and study their distribution, such as the yellow dye in the tapa used to trace the geometrical pattern and the psittacofulvins responsible for the feathers’ colors in the headdress. The combination of molecular spectroscopy, supported by observation under a scanning electron microscope, allowed us to propose a characterization of the organic painting materials (Morinda citrifolia, Curcuma longa) used for the tapa, and of the type of feathers (from Vini kuhlii bird) and vegetal fibers (Cocos nucifera L.) used to realize the headdress, as well as enabling the identification of degradation products and microorganisms affecting the artifacts before restoration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy detected the organic materials used as adhesives for the tapa and headdress: a polysaccharide, probably starch, for the tapa and a natural rubber from Cerbera manghas L. for the headdress. The results of the multi-analytic diagnostic campaign enabled the choice of proper restoration materials, compatible with the original ones, and helped us develop effective protocols for the artifacts’ conservation, such as laser cleaning of the feathers.
Catabolism of Hydroxyproline in Vertebrates: Physiology, Evolution, Genetic Diseases and New siRNA Approach for Treatment
Authors: Belostotsky Ruth , Frishberg Yaacov
Published: January 2022

Hydroxyproline is one of the most prevalent amino acids in animal proteins. It is not a genetically encoded amino acid, but, rather, it is produced by the post-translational modification of proline in collagen, and a few other proteins, by prolyl hydroxylase enzymes. Although this post-translational modification occurs in a limited number of proteins, its biological significance cannot be overestimated. Considering that hydroxyproline cannot be re-incorporated into pro-collagen during translation, it should be catabolized following protein degradation. A cascade of reactions leads to production of two deleterious intermediates: glyoxylate and hydrogen peroxide, which need to be immediately converted. As a result, the enzymes involved in hydroxyproline catabolism are located in specific compartments: mitochondria and peroxisomes. The particular distribution of catabolic enzymes in these compartments, in different species, depends on their dietary habits. Disturbances in hydroxyproline catabolism, due to genetic aberrations, may lead to a severe disease (primary hyperoxaluria), which often impairs kidney function. The basis of this condition is accumulation of glyoxylate and its conversion to oxalate. Since calcium oxalate is insoluble, children with this rare inherited disorder suffer from progressive kidney damage. This condition has been nearly incurable until recently, as significant advances in substrate reduction therapy using small interference RNA led to a breakthrough in primary hyperoxaluria type 1 treatment.
Biochemical and Expression Analyses Revealed the Involvement of Proanthocyanidins and/or Their Derivatives in Fiber Pigmentation of Gossypium stocksii
Authors: Sun Yujie , Zhang Diandian , Zheng Hongli , Wu Yuqing , Mei Jun , Ke Liping , Yu Dongliang , Sun Yuqiang
Published: January 2022

The wild cotton species Gossypium stocksii produces a brown fiber that provides a valuable resource for the color improvement of naturally colored cotton (NCC) fiber. However, the biochemical basis and molecular mechanism of its fiber pigmentation remain unclear. Herein, we analyzed the dynamics of proanthocyanidins (PAs) accumulation in developing the fiber of G. stocksii, which suggested a similar role of PAs and/or their derivatives in the fiber coloration of G. stocksii. In addition, comparative transcriptomics analyses revealed that the PA biosynthetic genes were expressed at higher levels and for a longer period in developing fibers of G. stocksii than G. arboreum (white fiber), and the transcription factors, such as TT8, possibly played crucial regulatory roles in regulating the PA branch genes. Moreover, we found that the anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) was expressed at a higher level than the leucoanthocyanidin reductases (LARs) and significantly upregulated during fiber elongation, suggesting a major role of ANR in PA synthesis in G. stocksii fiber. In summary, this work revealed the accumulation of PAs and the expression enhancement of PA biosynthetic genes in developing fibers of G. stocksii. We believe this work will help our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cotton fiber coloration and further promote the future breeding of novel NCCs.
Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell-Free Treatment for Periodontal Regeneration
Authors: Iwasaki Kengo , Peng Yihao , Kanda Ryuhei , Umeda Makoto , Ishikawa Isao
Published: January 2022

Increasing attention has been paid to cell-based medicines. Many in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated the efficacy of stem cell transplantation for the regeneration of periodontal tissues over the past 20 years. Although positive evidence has accumulated regarding periodontal regeneration using stem cells, the exact mechanism of tissue regeneration is still largely unknown. This review outlines the practicality and emerging problems of stem cell transplantation therapy for periodontal regeneration. In addition, possible solutions to these problems and cell-free treatment are discussed.
The Ubiquitin E3 Ligase Nedd4 Regulates the Expression and Amyloid-β Peptide Export Activity of P-Glycoprotein
Authors: Chai Amanda B. , Callaghan Richard , Gelissen Ingrid C.
Published: January 2022

The ATP-binding cassette transporter, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), has been demonstrated to facilitate the clearance of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, exporting the neurotoxic entity out of neurons and out of the brain via the blood–brain barrier. However, its expression and function diminish with age and in Alzheimer’s disease. P-gp is known to undergo ubiquitination, a post-translational modification that results in internalisation and/or degradation of the protein. NEDD4-1 is a ubiquitin E3 ligase that has previously been shown to ubiquitinate P-gp and reduce its cell surface expression. However, whether this effect translates into altered P-gp activity remains to be determined. siRNA was used to knockdown the expression of Nedd4 in CHO-APP cells. Western blot analysis confirmed that absence of Nedd4 was associated with increased P-gp protein expression. This was accompanied by increased transport activity, as shown by export of the P-gp substrate calcein-AM, as well as enhanced secretion of Aβ peptides, as shown by ELISA. These results implicate Nedd4 in the regulation of P-gp, and highlight a potential approach for restoring or augmenting P-gp expression and function to facilitate Aβ clearance from the brain.
Drosophila melanogaster Uncoupling Protein-4A (UCP4A) Catalyzes a Unidirectional Transport of Aspartate
Authors: Lunetti Paola , Gorgoglione Ruggiero , Curcio Rosita , Marra Federica , Pignataro Antonella , Vozza Angelo , Riley Christopher L. , Capobianco Loredana , Palmieri Luigi , Dolce Vincenza , Fiermonte Giuseppe
Published: January 2022

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) form a distinct subfamily of the mitochondrial carrier family (MCF) SLC25. Four UCPs, DmUCP4A-C and DmUCP5, have been identified in Drosophila melanogaster on the basis of their sequence homology with mammalian UCP4 and UCP5. In a Parkinson’s disease model, DmUCP4A showed a protective role against mitochondrial dysfunction, by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP synthesis. To date, DmUCP4A is still an orphan of a biochemical function, although its possible involvement in mitochondrial uncoupling has been ruled out. Here, we show that DmUCP4A expressed in bacteria and reconstituted in phospholipid vesicles catalyzes a unidirectional transport of aspartate, which is saturable and inhibited by mercurials and other mitochondrial carrier inhibitors to various degrees. Swelling experiments carried out in yeast mitochondria have demonstrated that the unidirectional transport of aspartate catalyzed by DmUCP4 is not proton-coupled. The biochemical function of DmUCP4A has been further confirmed in a yeast cell model, in which growth has required an efflux of aspartate from mitochondria. Notably, DmUCP4A is the first UCP4 homolog from any species to be biochemically characterized. In Drosophila melanogaster, DmUCP4A could be involved in the transport of aspartate from mitochondria to the cytosol, in which it could be used for protein and nucleotide synthesis, as well as in the biosynthesis of ß-alanine and N-acetylaspartate, which play key roles in signal transmission in the central nervous system.
ZIP8-Mediated Intestinal Dysbiosis Impairs Pulmonary Host Defense against Bacterial Pneumonia
Authors: Samuelson Derrick R. , Smith Deandra R. , Cunningham Kelly C. , Wyatt Todd A. , Hall Sannette C. , Murry Daryl J. , Chhonker Yashpal S. , Knoell Daren L.
Published: January 2022

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. An increased susceptibility is due, in part, to compromised immune function. Zinc is required for proper immune function, and an insufficient dietary intake increases the risk of pneumonia. Our group was the first to reveal that the Zn transporter, ZIP8, is required for host defense. Furthermore, the gut microbiota that is essential for lung immunity is adversely impacted by a commonly occurring defective ZIP8 allele in humans. Taken together, we hypothesized that loss of the ZIP8 function would lead to intestinal dysbiosis and impaired host defense against pneumonia. To test this, we utilized a novel myeloid-specific Zip8KO mouse model in our studies. The comparison of the cecal microbial composition of wild-type and Zip8KO mice revealed significant differences in microbial community structure. Most strikingly, upon a S. pneumoniae lung infection, mice recolonized with Zip8KO-derived microbiota exhibited an increase in weight loss, bacterial dissemination, and lung inflammation compared to mice recolonized with WT microbiota. For the first time, we reveal the critical role of myeloid-specific ZIP8 on the maintenance of the gut microbiome structure, and that loss of ZIP8 leads to intestinal dysbiosis and impaired host defense in the lung. Given the high incidence of dietary Zn deficiency and the ZIP8 variant allele in the human population, additional investigation is warranted to improve surveillance and treatment strategies.
Non-Invasive Assessment of Locally Overexpressed Human Adenosine 2A Receptors in the Heart of Transgenic Mice
Authors: Gündel Daniel , Lai Thu Hang , Dukic-Stefanovic Sladjana , Teodoro Rodrigo , Deuther-Conrad Winnie , Toussaint Magali , Kopka Klaus , Moldovan Rareş-Petru , Boknik Peter , Hofmann Britt , Gergs Ulrich , Neumann Joachim , Brust Peter
Published: January 2022

A2A adenosine receptors (A2A-AR) have a cardio-protective function upon ischemia and reperfusion, but on the other hand, their stimulation could lead to arrhythmias. Our aim was to investigate the potential use of the PET radiotracer [18F]FLUDA to non-invasively determine the A2A-AR availability for diagnosis of the A2AR status. Therefore, we compared mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of the human A2A-AR (A2A-AR TG) with the respective wild type (WT). We determined: (1) the functional impact of the selective A2AR ligand FLUDA on the contractile function of atrial mouse samples, (2) the binding parameters (Bmax and KD) of [18F]FLUDA on mouse and human atrial tissue samples by autoradiographic studies, and (3) investigated the in vivo uptake of the radiotracer by dynamic PET imaging in A2A-AR TG and WT. After A2A-AR stimulation by the A2A-AR agonist CGS 21680 in isolated atrial preparations, antagonistic effects of FLUDA were found in A2A-AR-TG animals but not in WT. Radiolabelled [18F]FLUDA exhibited a KD of 5.9 ± 1.6 nM and a Bmax of 455 ± 78 fmol/mg protein in cardiac samples of A2A-AR TG, whereas in WT, as well as in human atrial preparations, only low specific binding was found. Dynamic PET studies revealed a significantly higher initial uptake of [18F]FLUDA into the myocardium of A2A-AR TG compared to WT. The hA2A-AR-specific binding of [18F]FLUDA in vivo was verified by pre-administration of the highly affine A2AAR-specific antagonist istradefylline. Conclusion: [18F]FLUDA is a promising PET probe for the non-invasive assessment of the A2A-AR as a marker for pathologies linked to an increased A2A-AR density in the heart, as shown in patients with heart failure.
Hemosiderin Accumulation in Liver Decreases Iron Availability in Tachycardia-Induced Porcine Congestive Heart Failure Model
Authors: Kasztura Monika , Kiczak Liliana , Pasławska Urszula , Bania Jacek , Janiszewski Adrian , Tomaszek Alicja , Zacharski Maciej , Noszczyk-Nowak Agnieszka , Pasławski Robert , Tabiś Aleksandra , Kuropka Piotr , Dzięgiel Piotr , Ponikowski Piotr
Published: January 2022

Despite advances in the management of iron deficiency in heart failure (HF), the mechanisms underlying the effects of treatment remain to be established. Iron distribution and metabolism in HF pathogenesis need to be clarified. We used a porcine tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy model to find out how HF development influences hepatic and myocardial iron storing, focusing on ferritin, the main iron storage protein. We found that cumulative liver congestion (due to the decrease of heart function) overwhelms its capacity to recycle iron from erythrocytes. As a consequence, iron is trapped in the liver as poorly mobilized hemosiderin. What is more, the ferritin-bound Fe3+ (reflecting bioavailable iron stores), and assembled ferritin (reflecting ability to store iron) are decreased in HF progression in the liver. We demonstrate that while HF pigs show iron deficiency indices, erythropoiesis is enhanced. Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system activation and hepatic hepcidin suppression might indicate stress erythropoiesisinduced in HF. Furthermore, assembled ferritin increases but ferritin-bound Fe3+ is reduced in myocardium, indicating that a failing heart increases the iron storage reserve but iron deficiency leads to a drop in myocardial iron stores. Together, HF in pigs leads to down-regulated iron bioavailability and reduced hepatic iron storage making iron unavailable for systemic/cardiac needs.
Evidence for Effects of Extracellular Vesicles on Physical, Inflammatory, Transcriptome and Reward Behaviour Status in Mice
Authors: Cuomo-Haymour Nagiua , Sigrist Hannes , Ineichen Christian , Russo Giancarlo , Nüesch Ursina , Gantenbein Felix , Kulic Luka , Knuesel Irene , Bergamini Giorgio , Pryce Christopher
Published: January 2022

Immune-inflammatory activation impacts extracellular vesicles (EVs), including their miRNA cargo. There is evidence for changes in the EV miRNome in inflammation-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. This mouse study investigated: (1) effects of systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and chronic social stress (CSS) on plasma EV miRNome; and (2) physiological, transcriptional, and behavioural effects of peripheral or central delivered LPS-activated EVs in recipient mice. LPS or CSS effects on the plasma EV miRNome were assessed by using microRNA sequencing. Recipient mice received plasma EVs isolated from LPS-treated or SAL-treated donor mice or vehicle only, either intravenously or into the nucleus accumbens (NAc), on three consecutive days. Bodyweight, spleen or NAc transcriptome and reward (sucrose) motivation were assessed. LPS and CSS increased the expression of 122 and decreased expression of 20 plasma EV miRNAs, respectively. Peripheral LPS-EVs reduced bodyweight, and both LPS-EVs and SAL-EVs increased spleen expression of immune-relevant genes. NAc-infused LPS-EVs increased the expression of 10 immune-inflammatory genes. Whereas motivation increased similarly across test days in all groups, the effect of test days was more pronounced in mice that received peripheral or central LPS-EVs compared with other groups. This study provides causal evidence that increased EV levels impact physiological and behavioural processes and are of potential relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders.
GmLecRlk, a Lectin Receptor-like Protein Kinase, Contributes to Salt Stress Tolerance by Regulating Salt-Responsive Genes in Soybean
Authors: Zhang Yanzheng , Fang Qingwei , Zheng Jiqiang , Li Zeyang , Li Yue , Feng Yuan , Han Yingpeng , Li Yongguang
Published: January 2022

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important oil crop that provides valuable resources for human consumption, animal feed, and biofuel. Through the transcriptome analysis in our previous study, GmLecRlk (Glyma.07G005700) was identified as a salt-responsive candidate gene in soybean. In this study, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the GmLecRlk gene expression level was significantly induced by salt stress and highly expressed in soybean roots. The pCAMBIA3300-GmLecRlk construct was generated and introduced into the soybean genome by Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Compared with the wild type (WT), GmLecRlk overexpressing (GmLecRlk-ox) soybean lines had significantly enhanced fresh weight, proline (Pro) content, and catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 content under salt stress. These results show that GmLecRlk gene enhanced ROS scavenging ability in response to salt stress in soybean. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that GmLecRlk gene also conferred soybean salt tolerance when it was overexpressed alone in soybean hairy root. Furthermore, the combination of RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis was used to determine that GmLecRlk improves the salt tolerance of soybean by upregulating GmERF3, GmbHLH30, and GmDREB2 and downregulating GmGH3.6, GmPUB8, and GmLAMP1. Our research reveals a new mechanism of salt resistance in soybean, which exposes a novel avenue for the cultivation of salt-resistant varieties.
Formalising the R of Reduce in a Circular Economy Oriented Design Methodology for Pedestrian and Cycling Bridges
Authors: Anastasiades Kostas , Lambrechts Thijs , Mennes Jaan , Audenaert Amaryllis , Blom Johan
Published: January 2022

The construction industry consumes over 32% of the annually excavated natural resources worldwide. Additionally, it is responsible for 25% of the annually generated solid waste. To become a more sustainable industry, a circular economy is necessary: resources are kept in use as long as possible, aiming to reduce and recirculate natural resources. In this paper, the investigation focuses on pedestrian truss bridges of the types Warren and Howe. Many pedestrian bridges currently find themselves in their end-of-life phase and most commonly these bridges are demolished and rebuilt, thus needing a lot of new materials and energy. The aim is thus first and foremost to reduce the amount of necessary new materials. For this reason, a design tool will be created, using the software ‘Matlab’, in which truss bridges can be evaluated and compared in the conceptual design stage. The tool is based on the theory of morphological indicators: the volume indicator, displacement indicator, buckling indicator and first natural frequency indicator. These allow a designer to determine the most material efficient Warren or Howe truss bridge design with user-defined constraints concerning deflection, load frequency, buckling and overall dimension. Subsequently, the tool was tested and compared to calculations made in the finite element modelling software Diamonds. In total, 72 steel bridge structures were tested. From these it could be concluded that the manual calculations in Diamonds in general confirmed the results obtained with the automated design tool based on morphological indicators. As such, it allows a designer to converge more quickly towards the best performing structure, thus saving time, materials, and corresponding costs and energy.
Molecular Testing and Treatment Strategies in RET-Rearranged NSCLC Patients: Stay on Target to Look Forward
Authors: Reale Maria Lucia , Bertaglia Valentina , Listì Angela , Novello Silvia , Passiglia Francesco
Published: January 2022

RET alterations are recognized as key oncogenic drivers in different cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) with anti-RET activities resulted in variable efficacy with significant toxicities because of low target specificity. Selective RET kinase inhibitors, such as pralsetinib and selepercatinib, demonstrated high efficacy and favorable tolerability in advanced RET-rearranged NSCLC patients, leading to their introduction in the clinical setting. Among the different approaches available for the identification of RET rearrangements, next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays present substantial advantages in terms of turnaround time and diagnostic accuracy, even if potentially limited by accessibility issues. The recent advent of novel effective targeted therapies raises several questions regarding the emergence of resistance mechanisms and the potential ways to prevent/overcome them. In this review, we discuss molecular testing and treatment strategies to manage RET fusion positive NSCLC patients with a focus on resistance mechanisms and future perspectives in this rapidly evolving scenario.
Detecting Blastocyst Components by Artificial Intelligence for Human Embryological Analysis to Improve Success Rate of In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Arsalan Muhammad , Haider Adnan , Choi Jiho , Park Kang Ryoung
Published: January 2022

Morphological attributes of human blastocyst components and their characteristics are highly correlated with the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Blastocyst component analysis aims to choose the most viable embryos to improve the success rate of IVF. The embryologist evaluates blastocyst viability by manual microscopic assessment of its components, such as zona pellucida (ZP), trophectoderm (TE), blastocoel (BL), and inner cell mass (ICM). With the success of deep learning in the medical diagnosis domain, semantic segmentation has the potential to detect crucial components of human blastocysts for computerized analysis. In this study, a sprint semantic segmentation network (SSS-Net) is proposed to accurately detect blastocyst components for embryological analysis. The proposed method is based on a fully convolutional semantic segmentation scheme that provides the pixel-wise classification of important blastocyst components that help to automatically check the morphologies of these elements. The proposed SSS-Net uses the sprint convolutional block (SCB), which uses asymmetric kernel convolutions in combination with depth-wise separable convolutions to reduce the overall cost of the network. SSS-Net is a shallow architecture with dense feature aggregation, which helps in better segmentation. The proposed SSS-Net consumes a smaller number of trainable parameters (4.04 million) compared to state-of-the-art methods. The SSS-Net was evaluated using a publicly available human blastocyst image dataset for component segmentation. The experimental results confirm that our proposal provides promising segmentation performance with a Jaccard Index of 82.88%, 77.40%, 88.39%, 84.94%, and 96.03% for ZP, TE, BL, ICM, and background, with residual connectivity, respectively. It is also provides a Jaccard Index of 84.51%, 78.15%, 88.68%, 84.50%, and 95.82% for ZP, TE, BL, ICM, and background, with dense connectivity, respectively. The proposed SSS-Net is providing a mean Jaccard Index (Mean JI) of 85.93% and 86.34% with residual and dense connectivity, respectively; this shows effective segmentation of blastocyst components for embryological analysis.
Reappraising the Role of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Relapsed and Refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: Recent Advances and Outcomes
Authors: Al-Juhaishi Taha , Borogovac Azra , Ibrahimi Sami , Wieduwilt Matthew , Ahmed Sairah
Published: January 2022

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a rare yet highly curable disease in the majority of patients treated with modern chemotherapy regimens. For patients who fail to respond to or relapse after initial systemic therapies, treatment with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can provide a cure for many with chemotherapy-responsive lymphoma. Patients who relapse after autologous transplant or those with chemorefractory disease have poor prognosis and represent a high unmet need. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation provides a proven curative therapy for these patients and should be considered, especially in young and medically fit patients. The use of newer agents in this disease such as brentuximab vedotin and immune checkpoint inhibitors can help bring more patients to transplantation and should be considered as well.
Shopping Behavior in the Context of the Digital Economy
Authors: Stofkova Katarina Repkova , Laitkep Dominik , Stofkova Zuzana
Published: January 2022

Consumers shop to meet their needs. When buying, they always compare and evaluate the available alternatives to the goods. The purchasing process involves various factors. These factors can also be described as attributes that can affect consumers during the purchasing process. Identifying important attributes can be really challenging for the digital economy and global markets. Most retailers do not have accurate knowledge of the attitudes and characteristics of their customers, which greatly affects purchasing processes. Combining accurate knowledge of the combination of attributes can increase revenue and improve retailers’ market position. The aim of this paper is to present the results of primary research, processed by reducing the number of attributes influencing purchasing behavior using factor analysis. The target group of the primary research was women who bought mostly online. The most important factors influencing women’s shopping behavior are traditional influences such as online payment for orders, diversity of delivery options, nicely crafted sites, and store reviews, but also the influences of social networks. Another important factor is the possibility of in-store purchases and payments for cash purchases. The results of this research will complement the view of women’s consumer behavior, thus creating the conditions for retailers to react to this target group.
Directional Growth of cm-Long PLGA Nanofibers by a Simple and Fast Wet-Processing Method
Authors: Betz-Güttner Erik , Righi Martina , Micera Silvestro , Fraleoni-Morgera Alessandro
Published: January 2022

The development of aligned nanofibers as useful scaffolds for tissue engineering is an actively sought-for research objective. Here, we propose a novel improvement of an existing self-assembly-based nanofabrication technique (ASB-SANS). This improvement, which we termed Directional ASB-SANS, allows one to produce cm2-large domains of highly aligned poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers in a rapid, inexpensive, and easy way. The so-grown aligned PLGA nanofibers exhibited remarkable adhesion to different substrates (glass, polyimide, and Si/SiOx), even when immersed in PBS solution and kept at physiological temperature (37 °C) for up to two weeks. Finally, the Directional ASB-SANS technique allowed us to grow PLGA fibers also on highly heterogeneous substrates such as polyimide-based, gold-coated flexible electrodes. These results suggest the viability of Directional ASB-SANS method for realizing biocompatible/bioresorbable, nanostructured coatings, potentially suitable for neural interface systems.