bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Novel Drug Candidate for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer via In Silico Investigation and In Vitro Validation
Authors: Zou Dan , Bai Jin , Lu Enting , Yang Chunjiao , Liu Jiaqing , Wen Zhenpeng , Liu Xuqin , Jin Zi , Xu Mengdan , Jiang Lei , Zhang Ye , Zhang Yi
Published: October 2021

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has a poor prognosis and high mortality rate; patients are easy to relapse with standard therapies. So, there is an urgent need to develop novel drugs. In this study, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of EOC were identified in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Enrichment and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses were performed. The drug candidate which has the possibility to treat EOC was predicted by Connectivity Map (CMAP) databases. Moreover, molecular docking was selected to calculate the binding affinity between drug candidate and hub genes. The cytotoxicity of drug candidates was assessed by MTT and colony formation analysis, the proteins coded by hub genes were detected by Western blots, and apoptosis analysis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Finally, 296 overlapping DEGs (|log 2 fold change|>1; q-value <0.05), which were principally involved in the cell cycle (p < 0.05), and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) were screened as the significant hub gene from the PPI network. Furthermore, the 21 drugs were extracted from CMAPs; among them, piperlongumine (PL) showed a lower CMAP score (-0.80, -62.92) and was regarded as the drug candidate. Furthermore, molecular docking results between PL and CDK1 with a docking score of –8.121 kcal/mol were close to the known CDK1 inhibitor (–8.24 kcal/mol). Additionally, in vitro experiments showed that PL inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis via targeting CDK1 in EOC SKOV3 cells. Our results reveal that PL may be a novel drug candidate for EOC by inhibiting cell cycle.
Biological Predictors of De Novo Tumors in Solid Organ Transplanted Patients During Oncological Surveillance: Potential Role of Circulating TERT mRNA
Authors: Cangemi Michela , Zanussi Stefania , Rampazzo Enrica , Bidoli Ettore , Giunco Silvia , Tedeschi Rosamaria , Pratesi Chiara , Martorelli Debora , Casarotto Mariateresa , Martellotta Ferdinando , Schioppa Ornella , Serraino Diego , Steffan Agostino , De Rossi Anita , Dolcetti Riccardo , Vaccher Emanuela
Published: October 2021

Background

De novo tumors are a major cause of morbidity and mortality after long-term solid organ transplantation. Chronic immunosuppression strongly affects solid organ transplanted (SOT) patients’ immune system by promoting immune evasion strategies and reactivations of viruses with oncogenic potential, ultimately leading to cancer onset. In this scenario, an oncological Surveillance Protocol integrated with biobanking of peripheral blood samples and evaluation of immunovirological and molecular parameters was activated for SOT patients at CRO-IRCCS Aviano, with the aim of identifying suitable biomarkers of cancer development.

Methods

An exploratory longitudinal study was designed based on two serial peripheral blood samples collected at least three months apart. Forty nine SOT patients were selected and stratified by tumor onset during follow-up. Spontaneous T-cell responses to EBV, CMV and tumor associated antigens, EBV-DNA and CMV-DNA loads, and circulating TERT mRNA levels were investigated.

Results

Significantly higher levels of circulating TERT mRNA were observed 3.5-23.5 months before and close to the diagnosis of cancer as compared to tumor-free patients. Plasmatic TERT mRNA levels >97.73 copies/mL at baseline were significantly associated with the risk of developing de novo tumors (HR=4.0, 95%C.I. = 1.4-11.5, p=0.01). In particular, the risk significantly increased by 4% with every ten-unit increment in TERT mRNA (HR=1.04, 95%C.I. = 1.01-1.07, p=0.01).

Conclusions

Although obtained in an exploratory study, our data support the importance of identifying early biomarkers of tumor onset in SOT patients useful to modulate the pace of surveillance visits.
Pre-hospital Prognostic Factors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: The Difference Between Pediatric and Adult
Authors: Cheng Fu-Jen , Wu Wei-Ting , Hung Shih-Chiang , Ho Yu-Ni , Tsai Ming-Ta , Chiu I-Min , Wu Kuan-Han
Published: October 2021

The prognosis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is very poor. Although several pre-hospital factors are associated with survival, the different association of pre-hospital factors with OHCA outcomes in pediatric and adult groups remain unclear. To assess the association of pre-hospital factors with OHCA outcomes among pediatric and adult groups, a retrospective observational study was conducted using the emergency medical service (EMS) database in Kaohsiung from January 2015 to December 2019. Pre-hospital factors, underlying diseases, and OHCA outcomes were collected for the pediatric (Age ≤ 20) and adult groups. Kaplan-Meier type plots and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the association between pre-hospital factors and outcomes. In total, 7,461 OHCAs were analyzed. After adjusting for EMS response time, bystander CPR, attended by EMT-P, witness, and pre-hospital defibrillation, we found that age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.877, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.764–0.990, p = 0.033], public location (OR = 7.681, 95% CI: 1.975–33.428, p = 0.003), and advanced airway management (AAM) (OR = 8.952; 95% CI, 1.414–66.081; p = 0.02) were significantly associated with survival till hospital discharge in pediatric OHCAs. The results of Kaplan-Meier type plots with log-rank test showed a significant difference between the pediatric and adult groups in survival for 2 h (p < 0.001), 24 h (p < 0.001), hospital discharge (p < 0.001), and favorable neurologic outcome (p < 0.001). AAM was associated with improved survival for 2 h (p = 0.015), 24 h (p = 0.023), and neurologic outcome (p = 0.018) only in the pediatric group. There were variations in prognostic factors between pediatric and adult patients with OHCA. The prognosis of the pediatric group was better than that of the adult group. Furthermore, AAM was independently associated with outcomes in pediatric patients, but not in adult patients. Age and public location of OHCA were independently associated with survival till hospital discharge in both pediatric and adult patients.
Ski Mountaineering: Perspectives on a Novel Sport to Be Introduced at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games
Authors: Bortolan Lorenzo , Savoldelli Aldo , Pellegrini Barbara , Modena Roberto , Sacchi Massimiliano , Holmberg Hans-Christer , Supej Matej
Published: October 2021

Ski mountaineering is a rapidly growing winter sport that involves alternately climbing and descending slopes and various racing formats that differ in length and total vertical gain, as well as their distribution of downhill and uphill sections. In recent years, both participation in and media coverage of this sport have increased dramatically, contributing, at least in part, to its inclusion in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. Here, our aim has been to briefly describe the major characteristics of ski mountaineering, its physiological and biomechanical demands, equipment, and training/testing, as well as to provide some future perspectives. Despite its popularity, research on this discipline is scarce, but some general characteristics are already emerging. Pronounced aerobic capacity is an important requirement for success, as demonstrated by positive correlations between racing time and maximal oxygen uptake and oxygen uptake at the second ventilatory threshold. Moreover, due to the considerable mechanical work against gravity on demanding uphill terrain, the combined weight of the athlete and equipment is inversely correlated with performance, prompting the development of both lighter and better equipment in recent decades. In ski mountaineering, velocity uphill is achieved primarily by more frequent (rather than longer) strides due primarily to high resistive forces. The use of wearable technologies, designed specifically for analysis in the field (including at elevated altitudes and cold temperatures) and more extensive collaboration between researchers, industrial actors, and coaches/athletes, could further improve the development of this sport.
Non-invasive Measurement of Pulmonary Gas Exchange Efficiency: The Oxygen Deficit
Authors: Prisk G. Kim , West John B.
Published: October 2021

The efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange has long been assessed using the alveolar-arterial difference in PO2, the A-aDO2, a construct developed by Richard Riley ~70years ago. However, this measurement is invasive (requiring an arterial blood sample), time consuming, expensive, uncomfortable for the patients, and as such not ideal for serial measurements. Recent advances in the technology now provide for portable and rapidly responding measurement of the PO2 and PCO2 in expired gas, which combined with the well-established measurement of arterial oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry (SpO2) make practical a non-invasive surrogate measurement of the A-aDO2, the oxygen deficit. The oxygen deficit is the difference between the end-tidal PO2 and the calculated arterial PO2 derived from the SpO2 and taking into account the PCO2, also measured from end-tidal gas. The oxygen deficit shares the underlying basis of the measurement of gas exchange efficiency that the A-aDO2 uses, and thus the two measurements are well-correlated (r2~0.72). Studies have shown that the new approach is sensitive and can detect the age-related decline in gas exchange efficiency associated with healthy aging. In patients with lung disease the oxygen deficit is greatly elevated compared to normal subjects. The portable and non-invasive nature of the approach suggests potential uses in first responders, in military applications, and in underserved areas. Further, the completely non-invasive and rapid nature of the measurement makes it ideally suited to serial measurements of acutely ill patients including those with COVID-19, allowing patients to be closely monitored if required.
Integrative Omics Analyses Reveal the Effects of Copper Ions on Salvianolic Acid Biosynthesis
Authors: Xiang Yaping , Wang Xiaoxiao , Song Wei , Du Jinfa , Yin Xiaojian
Published: October 2021

Salvianolic acids, a group of secondary metabolites produced by Salvia miltiorrhiza, are widely used for treating cerebrovascular diseases. Copper is recognized as a necessary microelement and plays an essential role in plant growth. At present, the effect of copper on the biosynthesis of SalAs is unknown. Here, an integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic approach, coupled with biochemical analyses, was employed to dissect the mechanisms by which copper ions induced the biosynthesis of SalAs. In this study, we identified that a low concentration (5 μM) of copper ions could promote growth of S. miltiorrhiza and the biosynthesis of SalAs. Results of the metabolomics analysis showed that 160 metabolites (90 increased and 70 decreased) were significantly changed in S. miltiorrhiza treated with low concentration of copper ions. The differential metabolites were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, and carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll were significantly increased in leaves of low concentration of copper-treated S. miltiorrhiza plants. Importantly, core SalA biosynthetic genes (laccases and rosmarinic acid synthase), SalA biosynthesis-related transcription factors (MYBs and zinc finger CCCH domain-containing protein 33), and chloroplast proteins-encoding genes (blue copper protein and chlorophyll-binding protein) were upregulated in the treated samples as indicated by a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis. Bioinformatics and enzyme activity analyses showed that laccase 20 contained copper-binding motifs, and its activity in low concentration of copper ions-treated S. miltiorrhiza was much higher than that in the control. Our results demonstrate that enhancement of copper ions of the accumulation of SalAs might be through regulating laccase 20, MYBs, and zinc finger transcription factors, and photosynthetic genes.
Connection in Youth Development Key to the Mental Health Continuum in Ghana: A Structural Equation Model of Thriving and Flourishing Indicators
Authors: Kabir Russell Sarwar , Doku David Teye , Wiium Nora
Published: October 2021

Practitioners from sub-Saharan Africa are working to provide evidence-based intervention programs to address the mental health of established adults in poor rural communities in Ghana. However, institutions in Ghana also pursue youth policy for training human capital that can contribute to national development as a strategy to leverage its heavy demographic makeup of adolescents and emerging adults. Positive Youth Development (PYD) is a framework for measuring indicators of thriving for such youthful populations. Studies have recently examined PYD in terms of developmental assets with mental illness, but less is known about their interaction with the continuum of mental health, which poses strength-based theoretical distinctions about the conditions of human flourishing. Investigating positive mental health in terms of well-being, along with developmental indicators from another conception of PYD with strong theoretical grounding known as the 5Cs, represents a salient cross-section of Ghana’s current trajectory along these policies and evaluations of culturally attuned well-being toward youth-focused efforts. Thus, the aim of this study was to clarify whether developmental constructs could predict positive mental health outcomes for indications of adaptive regulation processes and cultural concepts of well-being. We used structural equation modeling of the PYD domains (i.e., the 5Cs) to provide novel insights into individual differences in factors of thriving with flourishing-languishing indicators from the mental health continuum (MHC; i.e., factors ofEmotional,Social, andPsychological Well-being) for 710 youth and emerging adults (Mage=19.97,SD=1.93) attending a university in Ghana. The results showed supported paths forConnection, which was associated with all three MHC well-being domains (βs=0.34–0.41), andCaring, which was associated withPsychological Well-being(β=0.27), as factors to consider for youth who are expected to underwrite Ghana’s development under economically challenged conditions. These findings support evidence-based program outcomes and prior work that situates social relations as a key route to maintaining well-being, advancing research on the specificity of predictors for positive mental health factors among young people in an enterprising Ghana.
The Influence Mechanism of Supervisor Developmental Feedback on the Enactment of Employees’ Creative Ideas: A Moderated Chain Mediation Model Based on Psychological Empowerment
Authors: Liu Haiman , Long Jiancheng
Published: October 2021

Employees’ creative idea enactment is critical for organizational creativity assessment and innovation implementation. In the paper, we want to develop and verify a moderated chain mediation model to explore the impact of supervisor developmental feedback on the enactment of employees’ creative ideas, and to investigate the moderating role of psychological empowerment further. Hierarchical regression analyses of the multi-time data from 375 employees in China indicate that positive emotions and work engagement, respectively mediate the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and employees’ creative idea enactment. Simultaneously, positive emotions and work engagement form chain mediation between supervisor developmental feedback and creative idea enactment. Besides, we find that psychological empowerment negatively moderates the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and employees’ positive emotions, as well as moderates the chain mediating effect of this paper. The present study not only contributes to the literature on feedback and innovation, but also provides practical guidance on how to seek remedies to facilitate employees’ creative idea enactment from the perspective of human resource management.
Relating Cultural Distance to Self-Other Agreement of Leader–Observer Dyads: The Role of Hierarchical Position
Authors: Vriend Tim , Rook Caroline , Garretsen Harry , Stoker Janka I. , Kets de Vries Manfred
Published: October 2021

Multisource feedback is important for leadership development and effectiveness. An important asset of such feedback is that it provides information about the self-other agreement between leaders and observers. Self-other agreement relates to several positive individual, dyadic, and organizational outcomes. Given the increasingly intercultural context in organizations, it is imperative to understand whether and how cultural distance between leaders and observers relates to self-other agreement. We hypothesize that cultural distance within leader-observer dyads is negatively associated with self-other agreement. Moreover, we expect that this relationship is stronger for leader-superior than leader-subordinate dyads. We use a unique multi-cultural dataset of 7,778 leaders (52 nationalities) rated by 22,997 subordinates (56 nationalities) and 10,132 superiors (54 nationalities) to test our hypotheses. Results confirm that cultural distance is negatively associated with self-other agreement; we show that this relationship is driven by increased self-ratings and by reduced other-ratings. In addition, we find that these results are more pronounced for leader–superior than for leader–subordinate dyads. Implications for the theory and practice of self-other agreement and multisource feedback are discussed.
Institutional Design and Incentives for Migrant Workers to Participate in Social Insurance in China: Evidence From a Policy Experiment in Chengdu City
Authors: Tian Yihao , Chen Yuxiao , Zhou Mei , Zhao Shaoyang
Published: October 2021

Rural-to-urban migration has increased rapidly in China since the early 1980s, with the number of migrants has reached 376 million by 2020. Despite this sharp trend and the significant contributions that migrants have made to urban development, the migrant workers have had very limited access to the social insurance that the majority of urban workers enjoy. Against the background of the social insurance system adjustment in Chengdu in 2011, this study uses a difference-in-differences (DID) model to empirically test the impacts of changes in the social insurance policy contribution rates on the social insurance participation rates of migrant workers, using the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) data for 2009–2016. We find that the social insurance participation rate of migrant workers was significantly reduced after they were incorporated into the urban worker insurance system. There was no significant change in the wages of migrant workers, but the working hours were increased and their consumption level decreased. In other words, simply changing the social insurance model of migrant workers from “comprehensive social insurance” to “urban employee insurance” reduces the incentives for migrant workers to participate in insurance and harms the overall welfare of migrant workers. Our study indicates that the design of the social security policy is an important reason for the lower participation rate of migrants. It is necessary to solve the problem of insufficient incentives through the targeted social security policies; primarily, the formulation of a social security policy contribution rate suitable for the migrants, and the establishment of a comprehensive social security policy and the gradual integration of the social security system.
The Key Role of Cold Ionospheric Ions As a Source of Hot Magnetospheric Plasma and As a Driver of the Dynamics of Substorms and Storms
Authors: Chappell C. R. , Glocer A. , Giles B. L. , Moore T. E. , Huddleston M. M. , Gallagher D. L.
Published: October 2021

The solar wind has been seen as the major source of hot magnetospheric plasma since the early 1960’s. More recent theoretical and observational studies have shown that the cold (few eV) polar wind and warmer polar cusp plasma that flow continuously upward from the ionosphere can be a very significant source of ions in the magnetosphere and can become accelerated to the energies characteristic of the plasma sheet, ring current, and warm plasma cloak. Previous studies have also shown the presence of solar wind ions in these magnetospheric regions. These studies are based principally on proxy measurements of the ratios of He++/H+ and the high charge states of O+/H+. The resultant admixture of ionospheric ions and solar wind ions that results has been difficult to quantify, since the dominant H+ ions originating in the ionosphere and solar wind are indistinguishable. The ionospheric ions are already inside the magnetosphere and are filling it from the inside out with direct access from the ionosphere to the center of the magnetotail. The solar wind ions on the other hand must gain access through the outer boundaries of the magnetosphere, filling the magnetosphere from the outside in. These solar wind particles must then diffuse or drift from the flanks of the magnetosphere to the near-midnight reconnection region of the tail which takes more time to reach (hours) than the continuously large outflowing ionospheric polar wind (10’s of min). In this paper we examine the magnetospheric filling using the trajectories of the different ion sources to unravel the intermixing process rather than trying to interpret only the proxy ratios. We compare the timing of the access of the ionospheric and solar wind sources and we use new merged ionosphere-magnetosphere multi-fluid MHD modeling to separate and compare the ionospheric and solar wind H+ source strengths. The rapid access of the initially cold polar wind and warm polar cusp ions flowing down-tail in the lobes into the mid-plane of the magnetotail, suggests that, coupled with a southward turning of the IMF Bz, these ions can play a key triggering role in the onset of substorms and subsequent large storms.
Distributed Control for Coordinated Tracking of Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles under Model Uncertainty and Disturbances
Authors: Wang Qipeng , Zhao Shulong , Wang Xiangke
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we consider a control problem where a group of fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with uncertain dynamics tracks the target vehicle cooperatively in the case of external disturbance. Based on the Gaussian process regression, a data-driven model is established, whose uniform error is bounded with probability. Then a learning-based consensus protocol for multi-UAVs is designed. The stability of the system is proven via Lyapunov function, and the tracking error is guaranteed to be bounded with a high probability. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is shown in the numerical simulation.
Wine Consumption and Religions: A Research Note
Authors: Outreville Jean-François
Published: October 2021

The relationship between religions around the world and alcohol consumption is a well-known debated issue since many religions forbid it. However, the specific relationship with wine consumption has never been empirically investigated. For some religions, such as the Catholic religion, wine has a specific place. The purpose of this short communication is to analyze how the role of religions could determine the level of wine consumption in a representative panel of countries. A single equation analysis is based on a cross section of 52 countries for the period 2010–2013. The results give more support to the anticipated relationship between wine consumption and religions and demonstrate that wine consumption in a country is impacted by the dominant religion in the country.
A Rational Approach to Unilateral Neck RT for Head and Neck Cancers in the Era of Immunotherapy
Authors: Chin Re-I , Schiff Joshua P. , Brenneman Randall J. , Gay Hiram A. , Thorstad Wade L. , Lin Alexander J.
Published: October 2021

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the definitive and adjuvant treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, standard courses of radiation therapy may contribute to the depletion of circulating lymphocytes and potentially attenuate optimal tumor antigen presentation that may be detrimental to the efficacy of novel immunotherapeutic agents. This review explores the advantages of restricting radiation to the primary tumor/tumor bed and ipsilateral elective neck as it pertains to the evolving field of immunotherapy.
The Cancer-Associated Antigens Sialyl Lewisa/x and Sda: Two Opposite Faces of Terminal Glycosylation
Authors: Dall’Olio Fabio , Pucci Michela , Malagolini Nadia
Published: October 2021

Terminal carbohydrate structures are particularly relevant in oncology because they can serve as cancer markers and alter the phenotype of cancer cells. The Sda antigen and the sialyl Lewisx and sialyl Lewisa (sLex and sLea) antigens are terminal structures whose biosynthesis is mutually exclusive. In this review, we describe the main features of the Sda antigen in cancer and its relationship with sLex/a antigens. Information was obtained from an extensive literature search and from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) public database. The Sda biosynthetic enzyme B4GALNT2 undergoes downregulation in colorectal (CRC) and stomach cancer, while it is ectopically expressed by a minority of breast cancer (BRCA) patients. High expression of B4GALNT2 is associated with better prognosis and a less malignant gene expression profile in CRC, while the opposite occurs in BRCA. The regulation of B4GALNT2 expression in CRC is multifactorial, involving gene methylation and miRNA expression. Forced expression of B4GALNT2 inhibited sLea/sLex and reduced malignancy and stemness in cells constitutively expressing sLex/a antigens. However, consistent effects were observed upon B4GALNT2 forced expression and in cells not expressing sLex/a antigens. Thus, B4GALNT2 and the Sda antigen exert a tumor-restraining activity in CRC and probably other gastrointestinal cancers, independently of sLex/a antigens.
Comparison of 68Ga-Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography (PET-CT) and Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (WB-MRI) with Diffusion Sequences (DWI) in the Staging of Advanced Prostate Cancer
Authors: Van Damme Julien , Tombal Bertrand , Collette Laurence , Van Nieuwenhove Sandy , Pasoglou Vassiliki , Gérard Thomas , Jamar François , Lhommel Renaud , Lecouvet Frédéric E.
Published: October 2021

Background: Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) and whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) outperform standard imaging technology for the detection of metastasis in prostate cancer (PCa). There are few direct comparisons between both modalities. This paper compares the diagnostic accuracy of PSMA PET-CT and WB-MRI for the detection of metastasis in PCa. One hundred thirty-four patients with newly diagnosed PCa (n = 81) or biochemical recurrence after curative treatment (n = 53) with high-risk features prospectively underwent PSMA PET-CT and WB-MRI. The diagnostic accuracy of both techniques for lymph node, skeletal and visceral metastases was compared against a best valuable comparator (BVC). Overall, no significant difference was detected between PSMA PET-CT and WB-MRI to identify metastatic patients when considering lymph nodes, skeletal and visceral metastases together (AUC = 0.96 (0.92–0.99) vs. 0.90 (0.85–0.95); p = 0.09). PSMA PET-CT, however, outperformed WB-MRI in the subgroup of patients with newly diagnosed PCa for the detection of lymph node metastases (AUC = 0.96 (0.92–0.99) vs. 0.86 (0.79–0.92); p = 0.0096). In conclusion, PSMA PET-CT outperforms WB-MRI for the detection of nodal metastases in primary staging of PCa.
Neurologic Sequelae Associated with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
Authors: Scher Mark S.
Published: October 2021

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) contribute to adverse gene-environment interactions prior to conception and continue throughout pregnancy. Embryonic/fetal brain disorders occur from interactions between genetic susceptibilities interacting with acquired diseases or conditions affecting the maternal/placental fetal (MPF) triad. Trimester-specific pathophysiological mechanisms, such as maternal immune activation and ischemic placental syndrome, contribute to adverse peripartum, neonatal and childhood outcomes. Two diagnostic approaches provide timelier diagnoses over the first 1000 days from conception until two years of age. Horizontal analyses assess the maturation of the triad, neonate and child. Vertical analyses consider systems-biology from genetic, molecular, cellular, tissue through organ networks during each developmental niche. Disease expressions associated with HDP have cumulative adverse effects across the lifespan when subjected to subsequent adverse events. Critical/sensitive periods of developmental neuroplasticity over the first 1000 days are more likely to result in permanent sequelae. Novel diagnostic approaches, beginning during pre-conception, will facilitate the development of effective preventive, rescue and reparative neurotherapeutic strategies in response to HDP-related trimester-specific disease pathways. Public health policies require the inclusion of women’s health advocacy during and beyond their reproductive years to reduce sequelae experienced by mothers and their offspring. A lower global burden of neurologic disease from HDP will benefit future generations.
Deicing Property of Asphalt Mixture Containing Steel Wool Fiber by Electromagnetic Induction Heating
Authors: Xu Cunhong , Wang Kejin , Li Kehong , Zong Youjie
Published: October 2021

Snow and ice is one of the main problems affecting road safety in winter. In order to effectively remove the snow and ice of covering the pavement, the deicing property of asphalt mixture pavement containing steel wool fiber was introduced and investigated by electromagnetic induction heating. Based on the deicing mechanism of Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction and the Joule’s law, the influences factors affecting deicing efficiency, including length and content of steel wool fiber, ice thickness, output current and ambient temperature were analyzed. Meanwhile, the grey correlation entropy analysis and t-test between the average deicing rate and various influencing factors were explored. BP neural network prediction models of predicting change laws of average deicing rate under different influencing factors were established. The results indicate that the average deicing rate of asphalt mixture adding steel wool fiber increases with the increase of length and content of steel wool fiber. The influence degree of each factor for the average deicing rate is in order as follows: steel wool fiber content, steel wool fiber length, output current, ambient temperature and ice thickness. BP neural network has high accuracy in predicting average deicing rate under various influencing factors and the better simulation results. It is of significance to apply the technology of “electromagnetic induction heating & steel wool fiber” to the efficient deicing of asphalt pavement.
Shifts in Forest Species Composition and Abundance under Climate Change Scenarios in Southern Carpathian Romanian Temperate Forests
Authors: García-Duro Juan , Ciceu Albert , Chivulescu Serban , Badea Ovidiu , Tanase Mihai A. , Aponte Cristina
Published: October 2021

The structure and functioning of temperate forests are shifting due to changes in climate. Foreseeing the trajectory of such changes is critical to implementing adequate management practices and defining long-term strategies. This study investigated future shifts in temperate forest species composition and abundance expected to occur due to climate change. It also identified the ecological mechanisms underpinning such changes. Using an altitudinal gradient in the Romanian Carpathian temperate forests encompassing several vegetation types, we explored forest change using the Landis-II landscape model coupled with the PnET ecophysiological process model. We specifically assessed the change in biomass, forest production, species composition and natural disturbance impacts under three climate change scenarios, namely, RCP 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5. The results show that, over the short term (15 years), biomass across all forest types in the altitudinal gradient will increase, and species composition will remain unaltered. In contrast, over the medium and long terms (after 2040), changes in species composition will accelerate, with some species spreading (e.g., Abies alba Mill.) and others declining (e.g., Fagus sylvatica L.), particularly under the most extreme climate change scenario. Some forest types (e.g., Picea abies (L.) karst forests) in the Southern Carpathians will notably increase their standing biomass due to climate change, compared to other types, such as Quercus forests. Our findings suggest that climate change will alter the forest composition and species abundance, with some forests being particularly vulnerable to climate change, e.g., F. sylvatica forests. As far as productivity and forest composition changes are concerned, management practices should accommodate the new conditions in order to mitigate climate change impacts.
Silviculture for Deer and Timber: A Multiple-Use Policy Analysis Reveals Important Implementation Barriers
Authors: Bothwell Karin , Crandall Mindy S. , Roth Amber M.
Published: October 2021

Policies that attempt to balance timber production with non-market values that forests provide are common across the United States. Such is the case in northern Maine, USA, where management of critical areas of mature softwood-dominated forest are regulated through the State’s primary wildlife management agency. We use a case study approach with qualitative and quantitative analyses to understand the persistent difficulties encountered by both forest and wildlife managers when implementing this policy. Interviews with foresters and wildlife biologists established the management parameters, and simulated management scenarios compared forest management outcomes with respect to both financial and wildlife habitat provision goals. The model results indicated that there are opportunities for comparable revenues within regulated habitat areas as without, although the returns varied due to legacy of previous management and species composition. More importantly, the interviews revealed that differing habitat metrics used by foresters and biologists are a barrier to communication and management planning, and thus also a barrier to effective policy implementation. We close with thoughts on the applicability of both the methods and results to other situations where an understanding of multiple-use forest policy implementation is desired.
An Investigation into the Volumetric Flow Rate Requirement of Hydrogen Transportation in Existing Natural Gas Pipelines and Its Safety Implications
Authors: Abbas Abubakar Jibrin , Hassani Hossein , Burby Martin , John Idoko Job
Published: October 2021

As an alternative to the construction of new infrastructure, repurposing existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transportation has been identified as a low-cost strategy for substituting natural gas with hydrogen in the wake of the energy transition. In line with that, a 342 km, 36″ natural gas pipeline was used in this study to simulate some technical implications of delivering the same amount of energy with different blends of natural gas and hydrogen, and with 100% hydrogen. Preliminary findings from the study confirmed that a three-fold increase in volumetric flow rate would be required of hydrogen to deliver an equivalent amount of energy as natural gas. The effects of flowing hydrogen at this rate in an existing natural gas pipeline on two flow parameters (the compressibility factor and the velocity gradient) which are crucial to the safety of the pipeline were investigated. The compressibility factor behaviour revealed the presence of a wide range of values as the proportions of hydrogen and natural gas in the blends changed, signifying disparate flow behaviours and consequent varying flow challenges. The velocity profiles showed that hydrogen can be transported in natural gas pipelines via blending with natural gas by up to 40% of hydrogen in the blend without exceeding the erosional velocity limits of the pipeline. However, when the proportion of hydrogen reached 60%, the erosional velocity limit was reached at 290 km, so that beyond this distance, the pipeline would be subject to internal erosion. The use of compressor stations was shown to be effective in remedying this challenge. This study provides more insights into the volumetric and safety considerations of adopting existing natural gas pipelines for the transportation of hydrogen and blends of hydrogen and natural gas.
Exploring the Dependence and Influencing Factors of Carbon Emissions from the Perspective of Population Development
Authors: Zhao Kuokuo , Cui Xuezhu , Zhou Zhanhang , Huang Peixuan , Li Dongliang
Published: October 2021

Working towards sustainable population development is an important part of carbon mitigation efforts, and decoupling carbon emissions from population development has great significance for carbon mitigation. Based on the construction of a comprehensive population development index (PDI), this study adopts a decoupling model to explore the dependence between carbon emissions and PDI across 30 Chinese provinces from 2001 to 2017. Then, the stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology (STIRPAT) model is used to investigate the impact of population factors on carbon emissions. The results show that the decoupling relationship between carbon emissions and PDI has experienced a transformation from expansive negative coupling to expansive coupling and then to weak decoupling at the national level, while some provinces have experienced the same evolutionary process, but the decoupling state in most provinces is not ideal. Sending talent to western provinces and developing low-carbon supporting industries will accelerate carbon decoupling. At the national level, incorporating environmental protection into the existing education system as part of classroom teaching could contribute to carbon decoupling.
Prediction of Thermal Damage upon Ultrafast Laser Ablation of Metals
Authors: Cangueiro Liliana , Ramos-de-Campos José Antonio , Bruneel David
Published: October 2021

Ultrafast lasers micromachining results depend on both the processing parameters and the material properties. The obtained thermal effects are negligible if a good combination of processing parameters is chosen. However, optimizing the processing parameters leading to the required surface quality on a given material can be quite complex and time consuming. We developed a semi-empirical model to estimate the heat accumulation on a surface as a function of the laser fluence, scanning speed and repetition rate. The simulation results were correlated with experimental ones on different materials, and compared with the transient temperature distributions calculated using an analytical solution to the heat transfer equation. The predictions of the proposed model allow evaluating the heat distribution on the surface, as well as optimizing the ultrafast laser micromachining strategy, yielding negligible thermal damage.
Isothiourea-Catalyzed Enantioselective α-Alkylation of Esters via 1,6-Conjugate Addition to para-Quinone Methides
Authors: Arokianathar Jude N. , Hartley Will C. , McLaughlin Calum , Greenhalgh Mark D. , Stead Darren , Ng Sean , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Smith Andrew D.
Published: October 2021

The isothiourea-catalyzed enantioselective 1,6-conjugate addition of para-nitrophenyl esters to 2,6-disubstituted para-quinone methides is reported. para-Nitrophenoxide, generated in situ from initial N-acylation of the isothiourea by the para-nitrophenyl ester, is proposed to facilitate catalyst turnover in this transformation. A range of para-nitrophenyl ester products can be isolated, or derivatized in situ by addition of benzylamine to give amides at up to 99% yield. Although low diastereocontrol is observed, the diastereoisomeric ester products are separable and formed with high enantiocontrol (up to 94:6 er).
Extract of Triticum aestivum Sprouts Suppresses Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress
Authors: Lim Ji-Ye , Yun Dae-Ho , Lee Ji-Hyun , Kwon Young-Bae , Lee Young-Mi , Lee Dong-Hyun , Kim Dae-Ki
Published: October 2021

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the oldest known food crop, and many studies have reported that wheat shoots (i.e., wheatgrass) possess anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. However, the potentially ameliorative effect of wheat shoots on hepatotoxicity caused by high doses of N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (acetaminophen, APAP) has yet to be reported. C57BL/6 mice received daily oral TAE (100 or 200 mg/kg), positive control (silymarin 100 mg/kg), or negative control (saline vehicle) treatments for 7 days prior to intraperitoneal APAP injection. Histological, serum (ELISA), Western blotting, and quantitative PCR analyses of excised liver tissues were then performed. Pre-treatment with TAE (100 or 200 mg/kg) ameliorated APAP-induced pathological damage (i.e., hepatotoxic lesions), reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, and also ameliorated APAP-induced increases in oxidative stress, thereby inhibiting oxidative liver damage and reducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, TAE pre-treatment inhibited the expression of Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1), which is a key enzyme in the onset of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, suppressed the expression of the target proteins regulated by the antioxidant enzyme Nrf2, and suppressed hepatocyte apoptosis. These findings suggest that TAE is an attractive therapeutic candidate that exhibits potential hepatoprotective activity by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and liver damage.
Adapting (4,4) Networks through Substituent Effects and Conformationally Flexible 3,2’:6’,3”-Terpyridines
Authors: Rocco Dalila , Prescimone Alessandro , Constable Edwin C. , Housecroft Catherine E.
Published: October 2021

Coordination networks formed between Co(NCS)2 and 4’-substituted-[1,1’-biphenyl]-4-yl-3,2’:6’,3”-terpyridines in which the 4’-group is Me (1), H (2), F (3), Cl (4) or Br (5) are reported. [Co(1)2(NCS)2]n·4.5nCHCl3, [Co(2)2(NCS)2]n·4.3nCHCl3, [Co(3)2(NCS)2]n·4nCHCl3, [Co(4)2(NCS)2]n, and [Co(5)2(NCS)2]n·nCHCl3 are 2D-networks directed by 4-connecting cobalt nodes. Changes in the conformation of the 3,2’:6’,3”-tpy unit coupled with the different peripheral substituents lead to three structure types. In [Co(1)2(NCS)2]n·4.5nCHCl3, [Co(2)2(NCS)2]n·4.3nCHCl3, [Co(3)2(NCS)2]n·4nCHCl3, cone-like arrangements of [1,1’-biphenyl]-4-yl units pack through pyridine…arene π-stacking, whereas Cl…π interactions are dominant in the packing in [Co(4)2(NCS)2]n. The introduction of the Br substituent in ligand 5 switches off both face-to-face π-stacking and halogen…π-interactions, and the packing interactions are more subtly controlled. Assemblies with organic linkers 1–3 are structurally similar and the lattice accommodates CHCl3 molecules in distinct cavities; thermogravimetric analysis confirmed that half the solvent in [Co(3)2(NCS)2]n·4nCHCl3 can be reversibly removed.
Recent Advances and Perspectives in Lithium−Sulfur Pouch Cells
Authors: Zhang Weifeng , Li Shulian , Zhou Aijun , Song Huiyu , Cui Zhiming , Du Li
Published: October 2021

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered one of the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage owing to their large energy capacity. Tremendous effort has been devoted to overcoming the inherent problems of LSBs to facilitate their commercialization, such as polysulfide shuttling and dendritic lithium growth. Pouch cells present additional challenges for LSBs as they require greater electrode active material utilization, a lower electrolyte–sulfur ratio, and more mechanically robust electrode architectures to ensure long-term cycling stability. In this review, the critical challenges facing practical Li–S pouch cells that dictate their energy density and long-term cyclability are summarized. Strategies and perspectives for every major pouch cell component—cathode/anode active materials and electrode construction, separator design, and electrolyte—are discussed with emphasis placed on approaches aimed at improving the reversible electrochemical conversion of sulfur and lithium anode protection for high-energy Li–S pouch cells.
Defensive Mechanisms in Cucurbits against Melon Fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) Infestation through Excessive Production of Defensive Enzymes and Antioxidants
Authors: Somegowda Madhusudana , Raghavendra S. , Sridhara Shankarappa , Rajeshwara Achur. N. , N. Pramod Siddanakoppalu. , Shivashankar S. , Lin Feng , El-Abedin Tarek K Zin , Wani Shabir Hussain , Elansary Hosam O.
Published: October 2021

Melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) is the most common pest of cucurbits, and it directly causes damage to cucurbit fruits in the early developmental stage. The infection of fruit tissues induces oxidative damage through increased generation of cellular reactive oxygen species. The effects of melon fly infestation on the production of defensive enzymes and antioxidant capabilities in five cucurbit species, namely, bottle gourd, chayote, cucumber, snake gourd, and bitter gourd, were investigated in this study. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was considerably higher in melon fly infestation tissues compared to healthy and apparently healthy tissues. The chayote and bottle gourd tissues expressed almost 1.5- to 2-fold higher phenolic and flavonoid contents compared to the tissues of bitter gourd, snake gourd, and cucumber upon infestation. Defensive enzymes, such as peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and catalase (CAT), were high in healthy and infected tissues of chayote and bottle gourd compared to bitter gourd, snake gourd, and cucumber. The activity of POD (60–80%), SOD (30–35%), PPO (70–75%), and CAT (40–50%) were high in infected chayote and bottle gourd tissue, representing resistance against infestation, while bitter gourd, snake gourd, and cucumber exhibited comparatively lower activity suggesting susceptibility to melon fly infection. The antioxidant properties were also high in the resistant cucurbits compared to the susceptible cucurbits. The current research has enlightened the importance of redox-regulatory pathways involving ROS neutralization through infection-induced antioxidative enzymes in host cucurbit resistance. The melon fly infestation depicts the possible induction of pathways that upregulate the production of defensive enzymes and antioxidants as a defensive strategy against melon fly infestation in resistant cucurbits.