bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Progenitor-Based Cell Biological Aspects of Neocortex Development and Evolution
Authors: Vaid Samir , Huttner Wieland B.
Published: May 2022

During development, the decision of stem and progenitor cells to switch from proliferation to differentiation is of critical importance for the overall size of an organ. Too early a switch will deplete the stem/progenitor cell pool, and too late a switch will not generate the required differentiated cell types. With a focus on the developing neocortex, a six-layered structure constituting the major part of the cerebral cortex in mammals, we discuss here the cell biological features that are crucial to ensure the appropriate proliferation vs. differentiation decision in the neural progenitor cells. In the last two decades, the neural progenitor cells giving rise to the diverse types of neurons that function in the neocortex have been intensely investigated for their role in cortical expansion and gyrification. In this review, we will first describe these different progenitor types and their diversity. We will then review the various cell biological features associated with the cell fate decisions of these progenitor cells, with emphasis on the role of the radial processes emanating from these progenitor cells. We will also discuss the species-specific differences in these cell biological features that have allowed for the evolutionary expansion of the neocortex in humans. Finally, we will discuss the emerging role of cell cycle parameters in neocortical expansion.
Titania Nanotubes-Bonded Sulfamic Acid as an Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of n-Butyl Levulinate
Authors: Zhou Shuolin , Lei Min , Bai Junzhuo , Liu Xianxiang , Wu Lu , Long Min , Huang Keying , Yin Dulin
Published: May 2022

The titania nanotubes-bonded sulfamic acid (TNTs-NHSO3H) catalyst was designed and successfully fabricated by the post-synthesis modification method. The as-prepared catalyst was characterized by a variety of characterization techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and thermogravimetry-differential thermal gravimetry (TG-DTG). The crystal structure of the TNTs still maintained during the modification process. Although the BET surface area was decreased, the amount of Brønsted acid sites can be efficiently fabricated on the TNTs. The catalytic activity of TNTs-NHSO3H was examined for the synthesis of n-butyl levulinate (BL) from levulinic acid (LA) and furfuryl alcohol (FA). A relatively high selectivity (99.6%) at 99.3% LA conversion was achieved for esterification of levulinic acid owing to the strong Brønsted acidity sites. And also, the TNTs-NHSO3H catalyst exhibited a higher reactivity for alcoholysis of FA and the yield of BL reached 90.4% with 100% FA conversion was obtained under the mild conditions.
Exploring Key Genes and Mechanisms in Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Infected BALB/c Mice via Multi-Organ Expression Profiles
Authors: He Yu , Wang Zhili , Wei Jianhua , Yang Zhongying , Ren Luo , Deng Yu , Chen Shiyi , Zang Na , Liu Enmei
Published: May 2022

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) a leading cause of pediatric and adult morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can cause complications in multiple organs, thus increasing hospital stays and costs. However, RSV-based studies have primarily focused on effects in the lungs and blood, thereby potentially neglecting critical genes and pathways. Hence, studying RSV infection via a novel multi-organ approach is important. In this study, lung, intestine, brain, and spleen tissues from six BALB/c mice (6–8 weeks old; three in control group and three in RSV-infected group) were subjected to RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in each organ were obtained and functional enrichment analysis was performed. We first used CIBERSORT to evaluate the immune-infiltration landscape. Subsequently, common DEGs (co-DEGs) among the four organs were analyzed to identify key genes and pathways. After quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and external validation analysis of key hub genes, their correlation with immune cells and potential functions were explored. We found that the host response to RSV infection varied among the four organs regarding gene expression profiles and immune cell infiltration. Analysis of the 16 co-DEGs indicated enrichment in the platelet and neutrophil degranulation pathways. Importantly, the key gene hemopexin (Hpx) was strongly correlated with the immune cell fraction in the lungs and may participate in the regulation of platelet activation and immune response.
Potential Regulatory Role in Mammalian Host Adaptation for a Small Intergenic Region of Lp17 in the Lyme Disease Spirochete
Authors: Crowley Michael A. , Bankhead Troy
Published: May 2022

The bacterial agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, relies on an intricate gene regulatory network to transit between the disparate Ixodes tick vector and mammalian host environments. We recently reported that a B. burgdorferi mutant lacking a transcriptionally active intergenic region of lp17 displayed attenuated murine tissue colonization and pathogenesis due to altered expression of multiple antigens. In this study, a more detailed characterization of the putative regulatory factor encoded by the intergenic region was pursued. In cis complemented strains featuring mutations aimed at eliminating potential protein translation were capable of full tissue colonization, suggesting that the functional product encoded by the intergenic region is not a protein as previously predicted. In trans complementation of the intergenic region resulted in elevated transcription of the sequence compared to wild type and was found to completely abolish infectivity in both immunocompetent "and immunodeficient mice. Quantitative analysis of transcription of the intergenic region by wild-type B. burgdorferi showed it to be highly induced during murine infection relative to in vitro culture. Lastly, targeted deletion of this intergenic region resulted in significant changes to the transcriptome, including genes with potential roles in transmission and host adaptation. The findings reported herein strongly suggest that this segment of lp17 serves a potentially critical role in the regulation of genes required for adaptation and persistence of the pathogen in a mammalian host.
Framework for Assessing the Feasibility of Carbon Dioxide Removal Options Within the National Context of Germany
Authors: Förster Johannes , Beck Silke , Borchers Malgorzata , Gawel Erik , Korte Klaas , Markus Till , Mengis Nadine , Oschlies Andreas , Schaller Romina , Stevenson Angela , Thoni Terese , Thrän Daniela
Published: May 2022

Removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will be required over the next decades to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C aiming at not exceeding 1.5°C. Technological and ecosystem-based options are considered for generating negative emissions through carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and several nations have already included these in their Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies. However, strategies for development, implementation, and upscaling of CDR options often remain vague. Considering the scale at which CDR deployment is envisioned in emission pathways for limiting global warming to 1.5°C, significant environmental, social, and institutional implications are to be expected and need to be included in national feasibility assessments of CDR options. Following a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach, we created a framework that considers the environmental, technological, economic, social, institutional, and systemic implications of upscaling CDR options. We propose the framework as a tool to help guide decision-relevant feasibility assessments of CDR options, as well as identify challenges and opportunities within the national context. As such, the framework can serve as a means to inform and support decision makers and stakeholders in the iterative science-policy process of determining the role of CDR options in national strategies of achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
Development and Validation of a Prognostic Model to Predict the Risk of In-hospital Death in Patients With Acute Kidney Injury Undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy After Acute Type a Aortic Dissection
Authors: Jiao Rui , Liu Maomao , Lu Xuran , Zhu Junming , Sun Lizhong , Liu Nan
Published: May 2022

Background

This study aimed to construct a model to predict the risk of in-hospital death in patients with acute renal injury (AKI) receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) after acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery.

Methods

We reviewed the data of patients with AKI undergoing CRRT after ATAAD surgery. The patients were divided into survival and nonsurvival groups based on their vital status at hospital discharge. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Establish a risk prediction model using a nomogram and its discriminative ability was validated using C statistic and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Its calibration ability was tested using a calibration curve, 10-fold cross-validation and Hosmer–Lemeshow test.

Results

Among 175 patients, in-hospital death occurred in 61 (34.9%) patients. The following variables were incorporated in predicting in-hospital death: age > 65 years, lactic acid 12 h after CRRT, liver dysfunction, and permanent neurological dysfunction. The risk model revealed good discrimination (C statistic = 0.868, 95% CI: 0.806–0.930; a bootstrap-corrected C statistic of 0.859, the area under the ROC = 0.868). The calibration curve showed good consistency between predicted and actual probabilities (via 1,000 bootstrap samples, mean absolute error = 2.2%; Hosmer–Lemeshow test, P = 0.846). The 10-fold cross validation of the nomogram showed that the average misdiagnosis rate was 16.64%.

Conclusion

The proposed model could be used to predict the probability of in-hospital death in patients undergoing CRRT for AKI after ATAAD surgery. It had the potential to assist doctors to identify the gravity of the situation and make the targeted therapeutic measures.
Analysis of Climatic Basis for the Change of Cultivated Land Area in Sanjiang Plain of China
Authors: Zhang Luyang , Wang Zhaolin , E Shixuan , Du Guoming , Chen Zhushu
Published: May 2022

As the research area of this study, Sanjiang Plain is an important grain-producing area and commodity grain base in China, which plays an important role in China’s food security and stability. From 2000 to 2015, the climatic conditions and cultivated land use in this region changed significantly. The climatic basis for the changes occurring to the regional cultivated land-use area was revealed using several analytical methods such as correlation coefficient and geographic detector. The findings are as follows: (1) The internal changes of cultivated land use were mainly from dry land changed to paddy field, and the area ratio of dry land to paddy field gradually decreased from 3.80:1 to 1.19:1. (2) The average air temperature and precipitation during the tillage period were 18.05 °C and 428.25 mm, respectively. (3) The long-term increasing temperature trend promotes the transformation from dry land to paddy fields, but the increase in June precipitation inhibits it. (4) Regional hydrothermal climatic factors can go some way toward explaining the cultivated land-use spatial distribution. The trends of two factors are interlinked, and together explain the changes more effectively than when just considering individual factors.
Characteristics of the Sediment Gravity Flow Triggered by Wave-Induced Liquefaction on a Sloping Silty Seabed: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Yu Heyu , Liu Xiaolei , Lu Yang , Li Weijia , Gao Han , Wu Ruoyu , Li Xingyu
Published: May 2022

The sloping silty sediments in estuarine deltas are frequently affected by extreme storms, and they are prone to liquefaction instability. The unstable liquefied sediments of the slopes can subsequently form a sediment gravity flow (SGF), which can seriously endanger offshore engineering facilities. To better understand the characteristics and mechanism of wave-induced liquefied sediment gravity flow (WILSGF), a flume experiment was conducted to reproduce the formation, movement, and deposition processes of the WILSGF and analyze their controlling factors using natural silty sediment samples collected from the Yellow River Delta in China. The results show that the mass of the WILSGF comes from the sediment in the liquefied layer, and the movement of the WILSGF in these experiments was significantly affected by the wave orbital velocity and the relative outflow position. At the initial stage of the formation of the WILSGF, the phase and amplitude of the WILSGF were the same as those of waves, and the maximum velocity of the WILSGF reached 2.39 cm/s. The velocity of the WILSGF decreased continuously with the downward evolution of the liquefaction interface. When the liquefaction depth reached its maximum value, there was no WILSGF. We also found that the median particle size of the WILSGF was greater than that of the original seabed due to wave-induced seabed coarsening and the intrusion of ambient water. This study has guiding significance for in-depth understanding and prediction of the geological hazards caused by WILSGF.
Mechanical Activation of the β2-Adrenergic Receptor by Meningococcus: A Historical and Future Perspective Analysis of How a Bacterial Probe Can Reveal Signalling Pathways in Endothelial Cells, and a Unique Mode of Receptor Activation Involving Its N-Terminal Glycan Chains
Authors: Marullo Stefano , Scott Mark G. H. , Enslen Hervé , Coureuil Mathieu
Published: May 2022

More than 12 years have passed since the seminal observation that meningococcus, a pathogen causing epidemic meningitis in humans, occasionally associated with infectious vasculitis and septic shock, can promote the translocation of β-arrestins to the cell surface beneath bacterial colonies. The cellular receptor used by the pathogen to induce signalling in host cells and allowing it to open endothelial cell junctions and reach meninges was unknown. The involvement of β-arrestins, which are scaffolding proteins regulating G protein coupled receptor signalling and function, incited us to specifically investigate this class of receptors. In this perspective article we will summarize the events leading to the discovery that the β2-adrenergic receptor is the receptor that initiates the signalling cascades induced by meningococcus in host cells. This receptor, however, cannot mediate cell infection on its own. It needs to be pre-associated with an “early” adhesion receptor, CD147, within a hetero-oligomeric complex, stabilized by the cytoskeletal protein α-actinin 4. It then required several years to understand how the pathogen actually activates the signalling receptor. Once bound to the N-terminal glycans of the β2-adrenergic receptor, meningococcus provides a mechanical stimulation that induces the biased activation of β-arrestin-mediated signalling pathways. This activating mechanical stimulus can be reproduced in the absence of any pathogen by applying equivalent forces on receptor glycans. Mechanical activation of the β2-adrenergic receptor might have a physiological role in signalling events promoted in the context of cell-to-cell interaction.
Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Are Associated With Hyperandrogenemia in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Shan Chang , Zhu Yu-chen , Yu Jie , Zhang Yi , Wang Yu-ying , Lu Nan , Cai Jie , Liu Wei , Tao Tao
Published: May 2022

Background

Increasing evidence suggests a link between vitamin D and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, whether vitamin D is related to hyperandrogenemia in PCOS is still inconclusive. The aim of our study is to elucidate the relationship between vitamin D and hyperandrogenemia in women with PCOS in China.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study including 625 Chinese women with PCOS and 217 controls from January 2016 to June 2020. The anthropometric and biochemical parameters related to 25(OH)D, sex steroids, glucose and lipid profiles were measured.

Results

Serum 25(OH)D levels were lower in women with PCOS than controls (33.99 ± 15.05 vs 36.58 ± 16.49 nmol/L, P = 0.034), especially lower in hyperandrogenic women with PCOS (32.79 ± 14.24 vs 36.21 ± 16.27 nmol/L, P = 0.007). Higher 25(OH)D levels were independently associated with lower risks of hyperandrogenemia after adjusting demographic, metabolic and hormonal confounders (OR = 0.982, 95% CI: 0.969 - 0.995, P = 0.006). Consistent results were observed in subgroup analyses. Among PCOS women with vitamin D deficiency, females with age ≥ 26 years had lower risks of hyperandrogenemia (OR = 0.611, 95% CI = 0.389 - 0.958, P = 0.032), while overweight patients had higher risks of hyperandrogenemia (OR = 2.202, 95% CI = 1.130 - 4.293, P = 0.020) after adjusting multiple confounders.

Conclusions

Our study reported lower vitamin D levels in Chinese women with PCOS, especially in those with hyperandrogenemia. An independent negative correlation between 25(OH)D and hyperandrogenemia was noted in PCOS. For PCOS women with vitamin D deficiency, females that have higher BMI with age < 26 years may be prioritized for hyperandrogenemia assessment.
A High-Resolution Remote-Sensing-Based Method for Urban Ecological Quality Evaluation
Authors: Huang Huiping , Li Qiangzi , Zhang Yuan
Published: May 2022

Urban ecological quality evaluation attracts more and more attention in urban land use and ecosystem planning optimization due to continuity problems from rapid urbanization and population growth. Remote sensing was always considering contribute to the evaluation. However, accurate and efficient evaluation of urban ecological quality is being challenged, as traditional remote-sensing-based methods were mainly based on low spatial resolution data, pixel-based land cover classification, and vegetation condition factors, and ignored object-oriented high spatial resolution classification and urban landscape pattern. Thus, method for urban ecological quality evaluation based on high-resolution remote sensing is greatly needed to support spatially explicit decision-making in urban planning. In this study, a novel high-resolution remote-sensing-based method based on six ecological indicators from vegetation conditions and landscape patterns was proposed to evaluate urban ecological quality. The six ecological indicators were derived from high-resolution remote sensing data using an object-oriented land cover classification. Factor analysis indicated that the sensitivity of landscape patterns to ecological quality is relatively weaken. Therefore, vegetation conditions and landscape patterns were used as two respective variables to generate a linear evaluation model, with their weights calculated from the loadings of factor analysis, to evaluation urban ecological quality. The results showed that the proposed linear model, considering both vegetation conditions and landscape patterns, is effective and trustworthy, and can provide more suitable support to urban land use and ecological planning.
Forecasting New COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Based on an Intelligent Point and Interval System Coupled With Environmental Variables
Authors: Qu Zongxi , Sha Yongzhong , Xu Qian , Li Yutong
Published: May 2022

The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global public health event. Effective forecasting of COVID-19 outbreak trends is still a complex and challenging issue due to the significant fluctuations and non-stationarity inherent in new COVID-19 cases and deaths. Most previous studies mainly focused on univariate prediction and ignored the uncertainty prediction of COVID-19 pandemic trends, which may lead to insufficient results. Therefore, this study utilized a novel intelligent point and interval multivariate forecasting system that consists of a distribution function analysis module, an intelligent point prediction module, and an interval forecasting module. Aimed at the characteristics of the COVID-19 series, eight hybrid models composed of various distribution functions (DFs) and optimization algorithms were effectively designed in the analysis module to determine the exact distribution of the COVID-19 series. Then, the point prediction module presents a hybrid multivariate model with environmental variables. Finally, interval forecasting was calculated based on DFs and point prediction results to obtain uncertainty information for decision-making. The new cases and new deaths of COVID-19 were collected from three highly-affected countries to conduct an empirical study. Empirical results demonstrated that the proposed system achieved better prediction results than other comparable models and enables the informative and practical quantification of future COVID-19 pandemic trends, which offers more constructive suggestions for governmental administrators and the general public.
Immune Infiltration Characteristics and a Gene Prognostic Signature Associated With the Immune Infiltration in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Chunmei , Wu Qiuji , Yang Ningning , Zheng Zhewen , Zhou Fuxiang , Zhou Yunfeng
Published: May 2022

Background: Immunotherapy has become the new standard of care for recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and PD-L1 is a widely used biomarker for immunotherapeutic response. However, PD-L1 expression in most cancer patients is low, and alternative biomarkers used to screen the population benefiting from immunotherapy are still being explored. Tumor microenvironment (TME), especially tumor immune-infiltrating cells, regulates the body’s immunity, affects the tumor growth, and is expected to be a promising biomarker for immunotherapy.

Purpose: This article mainly discussed how the immune-infiltrating cell patterns impacted immunity, thereby affecting HNSCC patients’ prognosis.

Method: The immune-infiltrating cell profile was generated by the CIBERSORT algorithm based on the transcriptomic data of HNSCC. Consensus clustering was used to divide groups with different immune cell infiltration patterns. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) obtained from the high and low immune cell infiltration (ICI) groups were subjected to Kaplan–Meier and univariate Cox analysis. Significant prognosis-related DEGs were involved in the construction of a prognostic signature using multivariate Cox analysis.

Results: In our study, 408 DEGs were obtained from high- and low-ICI groups, and 59 of them were significantly associated with overall survival (OS). Stepwise multivariate Cox analysis developed a 16-gene prognostic signature, which could distinguish favorable and poor prognosis of HNSCC patients. An ROC curve and nomogram verified the sensitivity and accuracy of the prognostic signature. The AUC values for 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years were 0.712, 0.703, and 0.700, respectively. TCGA-HNSCC cohort, GSE65858 cohort, and an independent GSE41613 cohort proved a similar prognostic significance. Notably, the prognostic signature distinguished the expression of promising immune inhibitory receptors (IRs) well and could predict the response to immunotherapy.

Conclusion: We established a tumor immune cell infiltration (TICI)-based 16-gene signature, which could distinguish patients with different prognosis and help predict the response to immunotherapy.
Pan-Cancer Analyses Reveal Oncogenic and Immunological Role of PLOD2
Authors: Xu Qiqi , Kong Na , Zhao Yiguo , Wu Quan , Wang Xin , Xun Xiaodong , Gao Pengji
Published: May 2022

Some previous studies have shown that PLOD2 has some value in tumorigenesis. However, the broad significance of PLOD2 has not been discussed in depth. This study was aimed at elaborated and summarized the value of PLOD2 in various tumors. First, we integrated GTEx, The Cancer Genome Atlas and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia databases to analyze the expression of PLOD2, and found that it was expressed differently in normal tissues and significantly highly expressed in most tumors compared with normal tissues. Second, our analysis revealed that PLOD2 expression was negatively correlated with the prognosis of several tumors. For gastric cancer, the median overall survival time was significantly higher in the PLOD2 low expression group [HR 0.616 (95%CI 0.442–0.858), p = 0.004]. Third, for tumor immunity, PLOD2 was significantly associated with tumor infiltration, including immune infiltrating cells; immune checkpoint expression; immune microenvironment scores (immune score, stromal score and estimate scores); immunotherapy-related scores (tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, tumor neoantigen burden); expression of DNA repair genes Mismatch Repairs and methyltransferase; and enrichment analyses identified PLOD2-associated terms and pathways. Lastly, twenty pairs of gastric cancer and adjacent immunohistochemistry showed that PLOD2 was significantly overexpressed in gastric cancer (p < 0.001). Collectively, PLOD2 played a significant role in tumorigenesis and maybe serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in cancers.
β-1,6-Glucan From Pleurotus eryngii Modulates the Immunity and Gut Microbiota
Authors: Wang Xue , Qu Yunhe , Wang Yuan , Wang Xiang , Xu Jialei , Zhao Hailing , Zheng Donglin , Sun Lin , Tai Guihua , Zhou Yifa , Cheng Hairong
Published: May 2022

Polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii exhibit a variety of biological activities. Here, we obtained a homogeneous branched β-1,6-glucan (APEP-A-b) from the fruiting bodies of P. eryngii and investigated its effect on immunity and gut microbiota. Our results showed that APEP-A-b significantly increases splenic lymphocyte proliferation, NK cell activity and phagocytic capacity of peritoneal cavity phagocytes. Furthermore, we found that the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lamina propria are significantly increased upon APEP-A-b treatment. Additionally, APEP-A-b supplementation demonstrated pronounced changes in microbiota reflected in promotion of relative abundances of species in the Lachnospiraceae and Rikenellaceae families. Consistently, APEP-A-b significantly increased the concentration of acetic and butyric acid in cecum contents. Overall, our results suggest that β-1,6-glucan from P. eryngii might enhance immunity by modulating microbiota. These results are important for the processing and product development of P. eryngii derived polysaccharides.
Climate-Induced Expansion of Consumers in Seagrass Ecosystems: Lessons From Invasion Ecology
Authors: Martin Charles W. , Valentine John F.
Published: May 2022

A warming climate is driving the poleward expansion of tropical, subtropical, and temperate plant and animal distributions. These changes have and continue to lead to the colonization of novel organisms into areas beyond their historical ranges. While the full scope of ecological impacts remains unclear, these expansions could alter density-dependent interactions, habitat occupancy patterns, and food web dynamics– similar to exotic species impacts in invaded ecosystems. Seagrasses are habitats of particular interest, given their widespread distribution and ecosystem services. While multiple recent studies report on the effects of the return of larger tropical herbivores in seagrass beds in warming subtropical waters, less is known about the addition of mid-trophic level consumers. These consumers are often key determinants of energy and nutrient transfers from basal resources to higher order predators. Here, we discuss the potential impacts of these distribution changes on temperate and subtropical seagrass communities using information derived from invasive species studies. Notably, we outline several scenarios and generate predictions about how their establishment might occur and speculate on impacts of warmer water consumers as they move poleward. We also discuss potential confounding factors of detecting changes in these consumer distributions. Following the invasive species literature, we offer a framework for generating hypotheses and predicting effects from these range-expanding organisms. Given that climates are predicted to continue to warm into the future, thus facilitating additional species expansions, our goal is to guide future research efforts and provide information for rapid dissemination and utility for this growing subdiscipline of marine ecology.
A Thermo-Electrochemical Model of 18.5 V/50 Ah Battery Module for Railway Vehicles
Authors: Song Jihun , Lee Hyobin , Kim Suhwan , Kang Dongyoon , Jung Seungwon , Lee Hongkyung , Kwon Tae-Soon , Lee Yong Min
Published: May 2022

We developed a thermo-electrochemical model of a 50 Ah pouch-type lithium-ion cell and utilized a cell model to build an 18.5 V/50 Ah module to analyze the thermal behavior under various operating conditions and design cooling systems for optimal operating temperature ranges. Specifically, the heat generated by electrochemical reactions was simulated through an electrochemical cell model, and then the calculated heat was coupled with a heat transfer model reflecting the actual 3D structure of the cell. By fitting two temperature-dependent parameters, i.e., the chemical diffusion coefficient and exchange current density, the model accurately estimated the electrochemical and thermal properties with errors less than 3%, even under wide temperature (25°C, 35°C, and 45°C) and C-rate (0.5, 1, 2, and 5C) conditions. Based on this reliable cell model, we built an 18.5 V/50 Ah module model with five cells in series to simulate both the amount of heat generated and the required heat sink. Finally, both the cell and module models were used to predict the electrochemical and thermal behaviors under actual wireless tram operations in Turkey. The model results were compared with experimental results to confirm their reliability.
Excellent Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells Encapsulated With Paraffin/Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate/Paraffin Composite Layer
Authors: Long Biyu , Zhou Xianzi , Cao Huafeng , Chen Renjie , He Nannan , Chi Lina , Fan Penghui , Chen Xiaohong
Published: May 2022

Superior encapsulation technology is important for PSCs to prolong their lifetime and realize their commercial application. Paraffin/EVA/paraffin composite encapsulated layers were fabricated with the ambient environment under the thermal temperature of 80°C, which has advantages for simple procedures and low cost. PSCs encapsulated with paraffin/EVA/paraffin and pure EVA layers maintained 95 and 45% of the initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) aged for 1000 h at RH 75%, respectively. Paraffin/EVA/paraffin-encapsulated PSCs were immersed in water for 5 h, which remained 98% of the original PCE, which is far superior to EVA-encapsulated PSCs. High melting point paraffin at 68°C shows better encapsulation than low melting point (60 and 55°C) paraffin, indicating that the high molecular weight of paraffin helps improve the encapsulation performance of PSCs. PSCs encapsulated with paraffin/EVA/paraffin showed better stability of Voc than pure EVA layer because paraffin can inhibit defects, voids, and edges of metal electrodes that quickly expand, and decay. Therefore, paraffin/EVA/paraffin combination encapsulation is an effective strategy, which can form continuous and dense hydrophobic composite encapsulation films with a friendly metal electrode.
Atomic Stress State Inside fcc and bcc Random Alloys: A First-Principles Approach
Authors: Shiihara Yoshinori , Itai Yuki , Lobzenko Ivan , Tsuru Tomohito
Published: May 2022

The stress state at an atomic level and its governing physics inside a random alloy are essential elements in developing a model for solid solution strengthening in random alloys, which is one of the primary strengthening mechanisms of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Through first-principles calculation, we investigated the atomic stress in fcc and bcc random alloys that were subsets of CrMnFeCoNi and VNbMoTaW HEAs, respectively. The results showed a correlation between the atomic pressure dispersion and the experimental yield stress for the bcc random alloys, as observed in a previous study on fcc alloys. By focusing on the charge transfer and volume change with respect to a bulk crystal, we examined whether the internal stress fields in the fcc and bcc alloys could be interpreted from a unified viewpoint in terms of these physical quantities. Regression analyses using the random forest method revealed that the charge transfer and volume change simultaneously govern the stress state inside an alloy, albeit with varying degrees of intensity.
The Expression of Tax and HBZ Genes in Serum-Derived Extracellular Vesicles From HTLV-1 Carriers Correlates to Proviral Load and Inflammatory Markers
Authors: de La-Roque Debora Glenda Lima , Santos Elaine Vieira , Rodrigues Evandra Strazza , da Costa Péricles Natan Mendes , Brauer Verônica Soares , Almeida Fausto , de Haes Tissiana Marques , Takayanagui Osvaldo Massaiti , Covas Dimas Tadeu , Kashima Simone
Published: May 2022

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiologic agent of adult cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). One of the major questions in HTLV-1 studies is related to the understanding of causes that lead to different clinical manifestations. However, it is well known that the viral genes tax and HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) are related to viral infectivity and the development of neurological and hematological diseases. Currently, there is evidence that HTLV-1 infected cells can release small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) involved in the mechanisms of viral particles spreading. Therefore, we evaluated the expression levels of tax and HBZ viral transcripts in serum-derived sEVs from HTLV-1 carriers, as well as the role of these vesicles in the modulation of the immune response. Three HAM/TSP carriers presented detectable levels of tax and HBZ transcripts in sEVs and were positively correlated to the proviral load (PVL) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The viral transcripts were only detectable in individuals with a PVL higher than 6,000/105 PBMCs. Additionally, it was observed that HBZ presented a 2–12-folds increase over tax expression units. Gene expression and secretory protein analysis indicated that PBMCs from blood donors and HTLV-1 carriers exposed to increasing doses of tax+ HBZ+ sEVs showed a dose-dependent increase in interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-8 transcripts and proteins. Interestingly, the increase in IL-8 levels was close to those seen in HTLV-1-infected PBMCs with high PVL. Taken together, these findings indicate that the expression of viral transcripts in serum-derived sEVs of HTLV-1 carriers is related to the PVL presented by the infected individual. Additionally, tax+ HBZ+ sEVs can induce the production of inflammatory cytokines in patients with low PVL, which may be related to the development of symptoms in HTLV-1 infection.
Gene Mining and Flavour Metabolism Analyses of Wickerhamomyces anomalus Y-1 Isolated From a Chinese Liquor Fermentation Starter
Authors: Shi Xin , Wang Xin , Hou Xiaoge , Tian Qing , Hui Ming
Published: May 2022

Luzhou-flavoured liquor is one of Chinese most popular distilled liquors. Hundreds of flavoured components have been detected from this liquor, with esters as its primary flavouring substance. Among these esters, ethyl hexanoate was the main component. As an essential functional microbe that produces ethyl hexanoate, yeast is an important functional microorganism that produces ethyl hexanoate. The synthesis of ethyl hexanoate in yeast mainly involves the lipase/esterase synthesis pathway, alcohol transferase pathway and alcohol dehydrogenase pathway. In this study, whole-genome sequencing of W. anomalus Y-1 isolated from a Chinese liquor fermentation starter, a fermented wheat starter containing brewing microorganisms, was carried out using the Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform. The sequence had a length of 15,127,803 bp with 34.56% GC content, encoding 7,024 CDS sequences, 69 tRNAs and 1 rRNA. Then, genome annotation was performed using three high-quality databases, namely, COG, KEGG and GO databases. The annotation results showed that the ko7019 pathway of gene 6,340 contained the Eht1p enzyme, which was considered a putative acyltransferase similar to Eeb1p and had 51.57% homology with two known medium-chain fatty acid ethyl ester synthases, namely, Eht1 and Eeb1. Ethyl hexanoate in W. anomalus was found to be synthesised through the alcohol acyltransferase pathway, while acyl-coenzyme A and alcohol were synthesised under the catalytic action of Eht1p. The results of this study are beneficial to the exploration of key genes of ester synthesis and provide reference for the improvement of liquor flavoured.
Comparative Structural Dynamics of Isoforms of Helicobacter pylori Adhesin BabA Bound to Lewis b Hexasaccharide via Multiple Replica Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Roy Rajarshi , Jonniya Nisha Amarnath , Sk Md Fulbabu , Kar Parimal
Published: May 2022

BabA of Helicobacter pylori is the ABO blood group antigen-binding adhesin. Despite considerable diversity in the BabA sequence, it shows an extraordinary adaptation in attachment to mucosal layers. In the current study, multiple replica molecular dynamics simulations were conducted in a neutral aqueous solution to elucidate the conformational landscape of isoforms of BabA bound to Lewis b (Leb) hexasaccharide. In addition, we also investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of the BabA-glycan complexation using the MM/GBSA scheme. The conformational dynamics of Leb in the free and protein-bound states were also studied. The carbohydrate-binding site across the four isoforms was examined, and the conformational variability of several vital loops was observed. The cysteine–cysteine loops and the two diversity loops (DL1 and DL2) were identified to play an essential role in recognizing the glycan molecule. The flexible crown region of BabA was stabilized after association with Leb. The outward movement of the DL2 loop vanished upon ligand binding for the Spanish specialist strain (S381). Our study revealed that the S831 strain shows a stronger affinity to Leb than other strains due to an increased favorable intermolecular electrostatic contribution. Furthermore, we showed that the α1-2-linked fucose contributed most to the binding by forming several hydrogen bonds with key amino acids. Finally, we studied the effect of the acidic environment on the BabA-glycan complexation via constant pH MD simulations, which showed a reduction in the binding free energy in the acidic environment. Overall, our study provides a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanism of Leb recognition by four isoforms of H. pylori that may help the development of therapeutics targeted at inhibiting H. pylori adherence to the gastric mucosa.
Natura Non Facit Saltus: The Adaptive Significance of Arginine Vasopressin in Human Affect, Cognition, and Behavior
Authors: Crespi Bernard , Procyshyn Tanya , Mokkonen Mika
Published: May 2022

Hormones coordinate internal bodily systems with cognition, affect, and behavior, and thereby influence aspects of social interactions including cooperation, competition, isolation, and loneliness. The adaptive significance and contextuality of oxytocin (OXT) and testosterone (T) have been well-studied, but a unified theory and evolutionary framework for understanding the adaptive functions of arginine vasopressin (AVP) remain undeveloped. We propose and evaluate the hypothesis that AVP mediates adaptive variation in the presence and strength of social and sociosexual salience, attention and behavior specifically in situations that involve combinations of cooperation with conflict or competition. This hypothesis can help to explain the ancestral, original functions of AVP-like peptides, and their continuity with the current roles of AVP, for humans, in male-male competition, male-male reciprocity, male-to-female pair bonding, female-female interactions, social integration, and social attention and anxiety. In this context, social isolation and loneliness may be mediated by reduced abilities or interests in navigation of social opportunities and situations, due in part to low AVP levels or reactivity, and in part to reductions in levels of OXT-mediated social reward.
Abnormal Dynamic Functional Networks in Subjective Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Wang Jue , Wang Kexin , Liu Tiantian , Wang Li , Suo Dingjie , Xie Yunyan , Funahashi Shintaro , Wu Jinglong , Pei Guangying
Published: May 2022

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is considered to be the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has the potential for the early diagnosis and intervention of AD. It was implicated that CSF-tau, which increases very early in the disease process in AD, has a high sensitivity and specificity to differentiate AD from normal aging, and the highly connected brain regions behaved more tau burden in patients with AD. Thus, a highly connected state measured by dynamic functional connectivity may serve as the early changes of AD. In this study, forty-five normal controls (NC), thirty-six individuals with SCD, and thirty-five patients with AD were enrolled to obtain the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Sliding windows, Pearson correlation, and clustering analysis were combined to investigate the different levels of information transformation states. Three states, namely, the low state, the middle state, and the high state, were characterized based on the strength of functional connectivity between each pair of brain regions. For the global dynamic functional connectivity analysis, statistically significant differences were found among groups in the three states, and the functional connectivity in the middle state was positively correlated with cognitive scales. Furthermore, the whole brain was parcellated into four networks, namely, default mode network (DMN), cognitive control network (CCN), sensorimotor network (SMN), and occipital-cerebellum network (OCN). For the local network analysis, statistically significant differences in CCN for low state and SMN for middle state and high state were found in normal controls and patients with AD. Meanwhile, the differences were also found in normal controls and individuals with SCD. In addition, the functional connectivity in SMN for high state was positively correlated with cognitive scales. Converging results showed the changes in dynamic functional states in individuals with SCD and patients with AD. In addition, the changes were mainly in the high strength of the functional connectivity state.
Sleep, Pain, and Neurodegeneration: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Grover Sandeep , Sharma Manu ,   International Age-related Macular Degeneration Genomics Consortium (IAMDGC)
Published: May 2022

Our aim was to determine whether the genetic liability to sleep and pain-related traits have a causal effect on risk of neurodegeneration in individuals of predominantly European ancestry. We selected five neurodegenerative disorders, namely, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Sleep duration (SD), short sleep (SS), long sleep (LS), chronotype (CHR), morning person (MP), insomnia (INS), and multisite chronic pain (MCP) were considered as exposures. We conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) using an inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method to compute causal effect estimates using latest available GWAS data sets. The MP phenotype was observed as the strongest risk factor for genetic liability to AMD (ORIVW = 1.192; 95% CI 1.078, 1.318, P = 0.0007). We observed suggestive evidence of risky effects of CHR on AMD (P = 0.0034), SS on AD (P = 0.0044), and INS on ALS (P = 0.0123). However, we failed to observe any role of pain. The results were robust on sensitivity analyses. Our study highlighted the role of MP as a risk factor for AMD.
Minimally Invasive Surgery for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hematoma. Real-Life Implementation Model and Economic Estimation
Authors: Mosteiro Alejandra , Amaro Sergi , Torné Ramon , Pedrosa Leire , Hoyos Jhon , Llull Laura , Reyes Luis , Ferrés Abel , de Riva Nicolás , Mellado Ricard , Enseñat Joaquim
Published: May 2022

Objective

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is characterized by high fatality outcomes, even under best medical treatment. Recently, minimally invasive surgical (MIS) evacuation of the hematoma has shown promising results and may soon be implemented in the clinical practice. Hereby, we intended to foresee the logistic requirements for an early hematoma evacuation protocol, as well as to evaluate in a real-life implementation model the cost-utility of the two main MIS techniques for hemorrhagic stroke (catheter evacuation plus thrombolysis and neuroendoscopic aspiration).

Methods

Data were obtained from the pool of hemorrhagic-stroke patients admitted to our institution during an annual period (2020–2021) and contrasted to the reported results in published trials of MIS techniques. Potential candidates for surgical treatment were identified according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria established in these trials. Then, a cost-utility analysis was performed, which explored the incremental cost per unit of health gained with a given treatment. The treatment effect was measured by differences in modified Rankin Score, and subsequently converted to quality-adjusted life years (QALY).

Results

Of the 137 patients admitted to our center with supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in a 1-year period, 17 (12.4%) were potential candidates for the catheter evacuation plus thrombolysis technique (Minimally Invasive Surgery with Thrombolysis in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation trial, MISTIE III criteria) and 59 (43.0%) for the neuroendoscopic aspiration technique (Dutch Intracerebral Hemorrhage Surgery Trial Pilot Study, DIST criteria). The incremental cost-utility ratio was € 76,533.13 per QALY for the catheter-based evacuation and € 60,703.89 per QALY for the endoscopic-based technique.

Conclusion

Around 12–43% of patients admitted to hospital with spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke could be potential candidates to MIS early evacuation of the cerebral hematoma. In our real-life implementation model, the cost-utility analysis favored the neuroendoscopic evacuation over the catheter aspiration technique. Further studies are advisable as new data from the ongoing randomized trials becomes available.