bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Periodontal Ligament Cells Are Involved in the Formation of Intracanal Cementum-Like Tissue After Regenerative Endodontic Procedures: A Mouse in situ Model
Authors: Komada Tomoaki , Mitomo Keisuke , Ikarashi Takatoshi , Shimono Masaki , Jung Han-Sung , Muramatsu Takashi
Published: May 2022

Regenerative endodontic cell-homing procedures are frequently performed on injured immature teeth diagnosed with pulp necrosis and/or apical periodontitis. The representative histological finding after those procedures is cementum-like tissues filling in the root canal but details of the healing process remain unknown. We investigated that healing process histologically using a mouse in situ model. Regenerative endodontic procedures were experimentally performed on noninfected maxillary first molars of 6-week-old male C57BL/6 mice, after which the healing process was investigated using histology and immunohistochemistry. Immediately after the regenerative endodontic cell-homing procedures, blood clots were seen in the root canals that disappeared over time. On day 7, the blot clot in the root canal was replaced by granulation tissue. From day 14 onward, cementum-like tissues were filled in the root canals, while the amount of fibrous tissue was reduced. Immunohistochemically, positive reactions for periostin were seen in the fibrous tissue in the root canal, the apex, and periodontal ligament cells. On the other hand, positive reactions for nestin were not detected in the root canal. CD31-positive cells with a luminal structure were also observed in the fibrous tissue around the apex and around the newly formed cementum-like tissues in the root canal. Thus, in this study, we have established an in situ mouse model of regenerative endodontic procedures. The results of this study suggest that periodontal ligament cells and vascular endothelial cells grow into the root canals from the apex, replace the blood clots, and participate in the formation of cementum-like tissues with angiogenesis during the healing process of regenerative endodontic procedures.
Experimental Insights Into the In Situ Formation and Dissociation of Gas Hydrate in Sediments of Shenhu, South China Sea
Authors: Zhang Qian , Qin Xuwen , Zhang Hong , Dong Yanhui , Lu Cheng , Li Shouding , Xiao Luokun , Ma Chao , Bian Hang
Published: May 2022

Natural gas hydrates as sustainable energy resources are inherently affected by mineral surfaces and confined spaces in reservoirs. However, the habits of hydrates in geological sediments are still an open question. In this work, we systemically studied the process of hydrate formation and dissociation in sediments from the Shenhu area of the South China Sea to examine the evolution of hydrate saturation and permeability in sediments and their relationship. Characterization of samples indicates that sediments of the Shenhu area are mainly composed of clay and fine sand grains and provide a large number of nanopores for hydrate accumulation. For in situ observations enabled by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance methods, the formation of hydrates shows a different kinetic behavior with an induction time compared to hydrate dissociation. Estimated by variations of hydrate saturation (%) over time, the rate of hydrate formation is around 12%/min, while the dissociation rate increases to 3%/min with the higher temperature. With the presence of hydrates, pore space and thus permeability of sediments decreased obviously by one and three orders of magnitude when the hydrate saturation is 20 and 45%, respectively. Compared to models with the assumption of grain-coating and pore-filling hydrates, the tendency of permeability evolution from NMR measurements is between fitted lines from models. It highlights that the existing models considering a single pattern of hydrate growth cannot precisely describe the relationship between permeability and hydrate saturation. Hybrid hydrate habits coexist in sediments resulting from heterogeneous pore structures and thus complex gas–water distributions.
Linguistic, Contextual, and Experiential Equivalence Issues in the Adaptation of a Performance-Based Assessment of Generic Skills in Higher Education
Authors: Ursin Jani , Hyytinen Heidi , Silvennoinen Kaisa , Toom Auli
Published: May 2022

This qualitative study investigated the various linguistic, contextual, and experiential equivalence issues embedded in a performance-based instrument aimed at assessing generic skills in higher education. A rigorous translation and adaptation process (American English to Finnish) was conducted on one instrument, namely Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+) International. The data were obtained from cognitive laboratories (n = 13), with think-alouds and follow-up interviews conducted among Finnish undergraduate students. Content logs were created, and the data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that linguistic and contextual equivalence issues were more prominent than experiential ones. The findings underline how important – and potentially problematic – it is for a test to measure the same construct in a different language and culture. To achieve adequate measurement equivalence, a detailed qualitative analysis of linguistic, contextual, and experiential equivalence should be conducted as part of test adaptation.
Arachidonic Acid in Follicular Fluid of PCOS Induces Oxidative Stress in a Human Ovarian Granulosa Tumor Cell Line (KGN) and Upregulates GDF15 Expression as a Response
Authors: Ma Yalan , Zheng Lianwen , Wang Yeling , Gao Yiyin , Xu Ying
Published: May 2022

Polycystic ovarian ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the main cause of ovulatory infertility and a common reproductive endocrine disease of women in reproductive age. In addition, nearly half of PCOS patients are associated with obesity, and their total free fatty acids tend to increase. Arachidonic acid (AA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Oxidation products of AA reacting with various enzymes[cyclooxygenases (COX), lipoxygenases (LOX), cytochrome P450s (CYP)] can change cellular mitochondrial distribution and calcium ion concentration, and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In this study, we analyzed the follicular fluid fatty acids and found higher levels of C20:4n6 (AA) in PCOS patients than in normal control subjects. Also, to determine whether AA induces oxidative stress (OS) in the human ovarian granulosa tumor cell line (KGN) and affects its function, we treated KGN cells with or without reduced glutathione (GSH) and then stimulated them with AA. The results showed that AA significantly reduced the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and activity of antioxidant enzymes and increased the malondialdehyde (MDA), ROS and superoxide anion(O2-)levels in KGN cells. In addition, AA was also found to impair the secretory and mitochondrial functions of KGN cells and induce their apoptosis. We further investigated the downstream genes affected by AA in KGN cells and its mechanism of action. We found that AA upregulated the expression of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), which had a protective effect on inflammation and tissue damage. Therefore, we investigated whether AA-induced OS in KGN cells upregulates GDF15 expression as an OS response.Through silencing of GDF15 and supplementation with recombinant GDF15 (rGDF15), we found that GDF15, expressed as an OS response, protected KGN cells against AA-induced OS effects, such as impairment of secretory and mitochondrial functions and apoptosis. Therefore, this study suggested that AA might induce OS in KGN cells and upregulate the expression of GDF15 as a response to OS.
A Solution Method for Many-Objective Security-Constrained Unit Commitment Considering Flexibility
Authors: Lin Shunjiang , Wu Hui , Liu Jie , Liu Wanbin , Liu Yanghua , Liu Mingbo
Published: May 2022

With the increasing penetration of wind power into power systems and the random fluctuation of the wind farm (WF) output, system flexibility must be considered in the optimal generation dispatch. Based on the extreme scenarios of the WF output, we proposed a flexibility risk index to evaluate the system flexibility of each time interval. We established a five-objective security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) model of a power system with WFs, thermal generation plants, battery energy storage stations, and pumped storage hydro stations. The objectives were to minimize the system flexibility risk, total network loss, operation cost, power purchase cost, and pollutant gas emissions. To obtain the Pareto optimal solutions of the model, based on the objective selection and ε-constraint methods, we proposed two methods to reduce the dimension of objectives and transformed the five-objective optimization model into a series of three-objective optimization models. Then, we used the normalized normal constraint method to solve the Pareto frontier surface of each three-objective optimization model. We used a color column to represent the value change of the two upper layer objectives and visualized the Pareto frontier of the five-objective SCUC model in the three-dimensional ordinate space. Case studies on the modified IEEE-9 bus system and an actual power grid demonstrated the effectiveness and high computational efficiency of the proposed method.
View Factors in Horizontal Plane Fixed-Mode Solar PV Fields
Authors: Nassar Yasser F. , El-Khozondar Hala J. , Belhaj Said O. , Alsadi Samer Y. , Abuhamoud Nassir M.
Published: May 2022

In solar PV fields, solar photovoltaic panels are typically arranged in parallel rows one after the other. This arrangement introduces variations in the distribution of solar irradiance over the entire field, compared to measurements recorded at meteorological weather stations and data obtained from climatic database platforms. This is due to the difference in the view factors between the rows of the solar PV field and a single surface, as well as the presence of shade on rear sides and in the space separating the rows. These phenomena combined will reduce the intensity of solar irradiance incident on the PV solar field; consequently will reduce the energy yields. Accurate estimation of solar radiation on solar fields requires knowledge of the sky, ground, and rear side of the preceding row view factors, and an estimation of the time and space occupied by the row’s shadow. Prior literature has addressed this issue using two-dimensional (2-D) techniques such as the crossed-strings method (CSM). This study developed a novel three-dimensional (3-D) analysis in addition to numerical analysis to determine the view factors associated with solar fields. The study uses both isotropic and anisotropic transposition analyses to determine solar irradiance incident on the solar field with varying tilt angles of solar panels and distance separating the rows (distance aspect ratio) for several latitudes. The present research also tested the validity of the CSM for wide ranges of distance separating rows and length aspect ratios, the obtained results show that the CSM shows good agreements in both sky and ground view factor in the range of length aspect ratio greater than one. But the CSM fails in rear-side view factor in the design ranges of PV solar fields, where the error rate was found about 11%, this result is important in the case of bifacial PV solar systems. Also, the present work compared the solar irradiance calculated for a single surface with that incident on a PV solar field for wide range of sky conditions and latitudes. The obtained results ensure the accuracy of using the solar irradiance incident on a single surface data for low latitudes and for most sky conditions for PV rooftop solar systems as well as PV solar fields. While it has remarked a large error in the case of cloudy skies, where the error rate exceeded 17% in the case of aspect ratio equals to 1.5 and about 15.5% in the aspect ratio of 2.0.
Climate Change Impact Assessment for Future Wind and Solar Energy Installations in India
Authors: Zakari Yasmine , Vuille François , Lehning Michael
Published: May 2022

Solar and wind assets are climate-dependent and changes in climate will result in variations in their generation and intermittency. Developers of solar and wind parks in India have observed changes in climate conditions and variability in solar irradiation and wind profiles at the seasonal and year-to-year timescales. Future climate change perturbations, including monsoon shifts, could lead to lower-than-predicted wind and solar energy production and affect the economics of solar and wind assets. Regional climate models (RCMs) are the basis of climate impact assessments and the most trusted source of information to extract knowledge about future trends in climate variables. However, RCM projections are tainted with variability and uncertainty about the future trends. For India as a case study, we use the RCMs generated by the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment West Asia project (CORDEX WAS) to calculate individual wind, radiation, and temperature trends at selected sites; estimate wind and solar PV energy time series; and embed them in portfolio methods to test the impact of combining wind and solar assets on the variability of the total production and the uncertainty about the predicted production. We include a comparison of CORDEX RCMs with the ERA5 reanalysis dataset and conclude that all available RCMs reasonably simulate the main annual and seasonality features of wind speed, surface solar radiation, and temperature in India. The analysis demonstrates that the uncertainty about the portfolio return can be reduced by optimizing the combination of wind and solar assets in a producer portfolio, thus mitigating the economic impact of climate change. We find that the reduction obtained with a mixed portfolio ranges from 33 to 50% compared to a wind only portfolio, and from 30 to 96% compared to a solar only portfolio.
Impact of Voluntary Environmental Regulation on Green Technological Innovation: Evidence From Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises
Authors: Nie Guo-Qing , Zhu Yi-Fei , Wu Wei-Ping , Xie Wen-Hua , Wu Ke-Xing
Published: May 2022

Can voluntary environmental regulation play a major role in the transformation of traditional environmental regulation; undertake the task of improving the flexibility, autonomy, and effectiveness of environmental regulation; and promote green technology innovation of enterprises? This study uses the propensity score matching and difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) model to analyze the net effect and heterogeneity of voluntary environmental regulation on green technology innovation, and further explores the impact mechanism of voluntary environmental regulation on green technology innovation from three perspectives: government subsidies, public support, and external enterprise cooperation. The results show that voluntary environmental regulation has a significant positive effect on green technology innovation regardless of time, industry, and regional factors. The implementation of voluntary environmental regulation promotes the green patent authorization of enterprises by 15.12–17.59%. In addition, voluntary environmental regulation also shows industry heterogeneity, scale heterogeneity, and ownership heterogeneity for green technology innovation, and it emphasizes the promotion effect on enterprises in mild pollution industries, large-scale enterprises, and private enterprises. Furthermore, the implementation of voluntary environmental regulation will have a positive impact on green technology innovation by curbing public support and expanding cooperation with external enterprises.
Density Measurement of Molten Drop With Aerodynamic Levitation and Laser Heating
Authors: Gong Yaopeng , Zhang Li , Yuan Yidan , Guo Qiang , Ma Weimin , Huang Shanfang
Published: May 2022

Thermophysical properties of molten core materials (corium) are necessary input parameters of models and computer codes which predict the severe accident progression in light water reactors. The corium contains the components of UO2, ZrO2, Zr and Fe. The measurement of molten corium properties is a very challenging task due to high melting points of corium which can reach 3000 K. This paper presents a density measurement system for a molten drop based on techniques of aerodynamic levitation, laser heating and image processing. A sphere of alumina was firstly levitated by argon gas flow above a conical converging-diverging nozzle. The sphere was then heated up and melted into a liquid drop by a laser beam. The shape of the drop was recorded by a high-speed camera, and the density was calculated from image processing.
Fe-Sensitized Zeolite Supported TiO2 for the Degradation of Tetracycline Using Blue LED Irradiation
Authors: Jalloul Ghadeer , Al-Mousawi Assi , Chocr Farah , Merhi Alaa , Awala Hussein , Boyadjian Cassia
Published: May 2022

In this study, we investigated the photocatalytic degradation as a potential treatment of tetracycline (TC) antibiotic contaminated water using TiO2 semiconductor. To expand the activity of TiO2 into the visible light region and to enhance its adsorption capacity for TC, we explored its modification via sensitization with Fe ions and via immobilization on beta (BEA) zeolite support. The nano-sized beta zeolite, synthesized using the seed-assisted procedure, was used to immobilize TiO2 initially prepared by the sol-gel method. The immobilized TiO2/BEA catalyst was further ion exchanged with Fe3+ ions using FeCl3 precursor. Fe3+ modified TiO2/BEA (Fe-TiO2/BEA) catalyst was characterized using SEM, XRD, BET, UV-VIS DRS, and FTIR. After the immobilization of TiO2 over BEA, the surface area of TiO2 increased from 90 to 530 m2/g and similarly its TC adsorption efficiency increased from 10% to 33%. The photocatalytic performance of the Fe-TiO2/BEA was evaluated under blue LED light for TC degradation. Fe-TiO2/BEA exhibited higher TC removal efficiency (100%) compared to TiO2 (80%) after 90 min of irradiation using 50 W blue LED light for a 250 mg/L initial catalyst concentration and 20 mg/L TC concentration. The enhanced performance of the final catalyst was a result of the expanded surface area due to the immobilization of the TiO2 on the BEA zeolite, which resulted in an improved TC adsorption. Moreover, the presence of Fe3+ ions reduced the band gap energy of the TiO2, hence led to a red shift in its absorption spectrum to the visible light region and minimized the extent of the recombination of the charge carriers.
Efficiency of Carbon-Based Electrodes on a Microbial Electrolysis System for the Treatment of Bilge Water
Authors: Gatidou Georgia , Constantinou Marios , Koutsokeras Loukas , Vyrides Ioannis , Constantinides Georgios
Published: May 2022

A coupled Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) – Anaerobic Granular Sludge (AGS) system was settled to investigate for the first time the ability of various carbon-based electrodes to enhance biodegradation of real bilge water (BW) and increase methane generation as an emerging technology for converting organic matter into value-added products. Results revealed that the performance of the three types of electrodes named carbon foam (CF), carbon cloth (CC) and three-dimensional graphene foam (3DG), was both time and organic load content dependent during the experimental cycles. Cumulative CH4 generation reached 235 mL in just 13 days after feeding the AGS with 50% of BW and application of 1.0 V at 3DG electrodes, followed by CC electrodes (148.3 mL). CF proved to be more resistant in higher BW concentration showing a sufficient performance of 1 month. However, in the third cycle, the performances of MECs containing 3DG and CC were higher compared to the CF and the control. Over the first cycle, the soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand (sCOD) removal was found to be around 70% to all MECs, and this value was around 10% higher than the control. Among the different Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs), acetic acid was identified in the highest concentration in the first cycle, whereas propionic acid was detected in the second and third cycles. Microbial profile analysis showed that Methanobacterium and Desulfovibrio had substantially higher abundances in the cathodes than in the suspended anaerobic sludge. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation of the used electrodes pointed out the formation of various crystalline compounds on their surface, which were different for the anode and cathode.
A Deep Learning–Based Approach for Moving Vehicle Counting and Short-Term Traffic Prediction From Video Images
Authors: Zheng Ye , Li Xiaoming , Xu LiuChang , Wen Nu
Published: May 2022

The intelligent transportation system (ITS) is one of the effective solutions to the problem of urban traffic congestion, and it is also one of the important topics of smart city construction. One particular application is the traffic monitoring and flow prediction. However, there are still challenges regarding both aspects. On the one hand, the current traffic monitoring relies heavily on the single object detection method that cannot achieve accurate statistics of moving target counting and, meanwhile, has limited speed advantage; on the other hand, the existing traffic flow prediction models rarely consider different weather conditions. Therefore, the present article attempts to propose a packaged solution, which combines a new target tracking and moving vehicle counting method and an improved long short-term memory (LSTM) network for traffic flow forecast with weather conditions. More specifically, the DCN V2 convolution kernel and MultiNetV3 framework are used to replace YOLOv4’s conventional convolution kernel and backbone network to realize multi-target tracking and counting, respectively. Subsequently, combined with the temporal characteristics of historical traffic flow, this article introduces weather conditions into the LSTM network and realizes the short-term prediction of traffic flow at the road junction level. This study carries out a series of experiments using the real traffic video data with a 2-month time span at a popular road junction in the downtown of Shenzhen, China. The results suggest that the proposed algorithms outperform the previous methods in terms of the 10% higher accuracy of target detection tracking and about a half reduction of traffic prediction error, when considering weather conditions.
Worldwide Distribution of Antagonistic-Mutualistic Relationships Between Parrots and Palms
Authors: Carrete Martina , Hiraldo Fernando , Romero-Vidal Pedro , Blanco Guillermo , Hernández-Brito Dailos , Sebastián-González Esther , Díaz-Luque José A. , Tella José L.
Published: May 2022

Palms, like all plants, show coevolutionary relationships with animals that have been traditionally categorized as mutualistic (seed dispersers and pollinators) or antagonistic (seed predators). This dual perspective, however, has prevented a full understanding of their true interactions with some animal groups, mainly those that do not ingest entire fruits. One clear example is parrots, which have been described to use palm species as feeding resources, while their role as seed dispersers has been largely neglected. Here, we combined fieldwork data with information from the literature and citizen science (i.e., naturalists and nature photographers) on parrot foraging ecology worldwide to evaluate the spatial and taxonomic extent of parrot-palm interactions and to identify the eco-evolutionary factors involved. We identified 1,189 interactions between 135 parrots and 107 palm species in more than 50 countries across the six realms where palms are present as natives or introduced. Combining this information, we identified 427 unique parrot-palm interacting pairs (i.e., a parrot species interacting with a palm species). Pure antagonistic interactions (i.e., parrots just preying on seeds or eating or destroying their non-reproductive parts) were less common (5%) than mutualistic ones (i.e., parrots benefiting by partially preying on the seed or fruit or consuming the pulp of the fruit or the flower but also contributing to seed dispersal and, potentially, pollination; 89%). After controlling for phylogeny, the size of consumed seeds and parrot body mass were positively related. Seed dispersal distances varied among palm species (range of estimated median dispersal distances: 9–250 m), with larger parrots dispersing seeds at greater distances, especially large fruits commonly categorized as megafauna anachronisms (>4 cm length). Although parrot-palm interactions are widespread, several factors (e.g., social behavior, predation fear, food availability, or seasonality) may affect the actual position of parrots on the antagonism-mutualism continuum for different palm species and regions, deserving further research. Meanwhile, the pervasiveness of parrot-palm mutualistic interactions, mainly involving seed dispersal and pollination, should not be overlooked in studies of palm ecology and evolution.
Dynamics of Soil CO2 Efflux and Vertical CO2 Production in a European Beech and a Scots Pine Forest
Authors: Jochheim Hubert , Wirth Stephan , Gartiser Valentin , Paulus Sinikka , Haas Christoph , Gerke Horst H. , Maier Martin
Published: May 2022

The conversion of coniferous forest to deciduous forest is accompanied by changes in the vertical distribution of fine roots and soil organic carbon (SOC) content. It is unclear how these changes affect soil CO2 efflux and vertical soil CO2 production, considering changing climate. Here, we present the results of a 6-year study on CO2 efflux, covering relatively warm-dry and cool-wet years. A combination of the flux-gradient method and closed chamber measurements was used to study the CO2 efflux and the vertical distribution of soil CO2 production in a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and a pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest in northeast Germany. We observed, on average, similar CO2 efflux with 517 (±126) and 559 (±78) g C m–2 a–1 for the beech site and the pine site, respectively. CO2 efflux at the beech site exceeded that at the pine site during the wet year 2017, whereas in dry years, the opposite was the case. Water availability as indicated by precipitation was the primary determining long-term factor of CO2 efflux, whereas seasonal variation was mainly affected by soil temperature, and—in the case of beech—additionally by soil water content. CO2 efflux decreased more dramatically (-43%) at the beech site than at the pine site (-22%) during the warm-dry year 2018 compared to the cool-wet year 2017. We assumed that drought reduces heterotrophic respiration (Rh) at both sites, but additionally decreases autotrophic respiration (Ra) at the beech stand. Soil CO2 production at the beech site ranged over a greater soil depth than at the pine site, attributed to different fine root distribution. The organic layer and the A horizon contributed 47 and 68% of total CO2 efflux at the beech site and the pine site, respectively. The seasonal patterns of different CO2 efflux between both sites were assumed to relate to different phases of tree physiological activity of deciduous compared to evergreen tree species.
Beyond a Focus on Fuel Reduction in the WUI: The Need for Regional Wildfire Mitigation to Address Multiple Risks
Authors: Moritz Max A. , Hazard Rob , Johnston Kelly , Mayes Marc , Mowery Molly , Oran Katie , Parkinson Anne-Marie , Schmidt David A. , Wesolowski Graham
Published: May 2022

There are thousands of communities and millions of homes in fire-prone wildland–urban interface (WUI) environments. Although future developments may be sited and designed to be more survivable and resistant to losses, an over-arching strategy is needed for those that are already at high risk. Traditionally, most plans for protecting WUI inhabitants focus on fuel reduction in strategic locations (e.g., defensible space around homes, fuel breaks around communities). While this approach can reduce fire hazard in specific locations and under certain weather conditions, there are a variety of vulnerabilities that are not directly addressed by fuel reduction. A more comprehensive approach is needed – one that facilitates climate change adaptation and future resilience – to mitigate multiple fire-related risks. A Regional Wildfire Mitigation Program (RWMP), expanding on traditional approaches to wildfire protection, is a key step in this direction. The goals of an RWMP include (1) retrofitting of the built environment (i.e., structural ignition vulnerabilities, water supply deficiencies, evacuation constraints); (2) buffering the landscape (i.e., a mosaic of less flammable land uses complementing traditional fuel breaks); and (3) training the community (i.e., education to become fire-adapted). We demonstrate here a consistent methodology for mapping hazards and vulnerabilities, assessing the risks of multiple negative impacts, prioritizing diverse mitigation activities, and implementing solutions that are effective and portable across many WUI environments.
Eating Time as a Genetic Indicator of Methane Emissions and Feed Efficiency in Australian Maternal Composite Sheep
Authors: Sepulveda Boris J. , Muir Stephanie K. , Bolormaa Sunduimijid , Knight Matthew I. , Behrendt Ralph , MacLeod Iona M. , Pryce Jennie E. , Daetwyler Hans D.
Published: May 2022

Previous studies have shown reduced enteric methane emissions (ME) and residual feed intake (RFI) through the application of genomic selection in ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate feeding behaviour traits as genetic indicators for ME and RFI in Australian Maternal Composite ewes using data from an automated feed intake facility. The feeding behaviour traits evaluated were the amount of time spent eating per day (eating time; ETD; min/day) and per visit (eating time per event; ETE; min/event), daily number of events (DNE), event feed intake (EFI; g/event) and eating rate (ER; g/min). Genotypes and phenotypes of 445 ewes at three different ages (post-weaning, hogget, and adult) were used to estimate the heritability of ME, RFI, and the feeding behaviour traits using univariate genomic best linear unbiased prediction models. Multivariate models were used to estimate the correlations between these traits and within each trait at different ages. The response to selection was evaluated for ME and RFI with direct selection models and indirect models with ETE as an indicator trait, as this behaviour trait was a promising indicator based on heritability and genetic correlations. Heritabilities were between 0.12 and 0.18 for ME and RFI, and between 0.29 and 0.47 for the eating behaviour traits. In our data, selecting for more efficient animals (low RFI) would lead to higher methane emissions per day and per kg of dry matter intake. Selecting for more ETE also improves feed efficiency but results in more methane per day and per kg dry matter intake. Based on our results, ETE could be evaluated as an indicator trait for ME and RFI under an index approach that allows simultaneous selection for improvement in emissions and feed efficiency. Selecting for ETE may have a tremendous impact on the industry, as it may be easier and cheaper to obtain than feed intake and ME data. As the data were collected using individual feeding units, the findings on this research should be validated under grazing conditions.
Whole-Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Long Noncoding RNAs Involved in Female Floral Development of Hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.)
Authors: Li Caiyun , Jin Hongmiao , Zhang Wei , Qin Tao , Zhang Xin , Pu Zhenyang , Yang Zhengfu , Lim Kean-Jin , Wang Zhengjia
Published: May 2022

Hickory, an endemic woody oil and fruit tree species in China, is of great economic value. However, hickory has a long juvenile period and an inconsistent flowering of males and females, thus influencing the bearing rates and further limiting fruits yield. Currently, it is reported that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in biological processes. However, the role of lncRNAs in the development of hickory female flowers remains unclear. In this study, a total of 6,862 putative lncRNAs were identified from the female flower transcriptomes in three different growth stages of hickory. We proposed that lncRNAs might play an important role in phytohormone signaling processes for flower formation, especially in the abscisic acid and jasmonic acid pathways, according to the results of our Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment. Moreover, we predicted the interactions among four microRNAs (miRNAs), three lncRNAs, and four genes. We proposed that facing the changing environment, LNC_002115 competes with PHOSPHATE2 (PHO2) for the binding sites on cca-miR399f, and protects PHO2 from suppression. In addition, cis-acting LNC_002115 regulates the expression of the SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) by influencing ABRE-binding factor (ABF). In brief, LNC_002115 regulates hickory female floral development by impacting both PHO2 and SVP. This study was the first to identify lncRNAs involved in hickory female floral development, and provided new insight to elucidate how lncRNAs and their targets play a role in female floral development in hickory, thus unfolding the opportunities for functional characterization of blossom-related lncRNAs in further studies.
Alcohol-Induced Glycolytic Shift in Alveolar Macrophages Is Mediated by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha
Authors: Morris Niya L. , Michael David N. , Crotty Kathryn M. , Chang Sarah S. , Yeligar Samantha M.
Published: May 2022

Excessive alcohol use increases the risk of developing respiratory infections partially due to impaired alveolar macrophage (AM) phagocytic capacity. Previously, we showed that chronic ethanol (EtOH) exposure led to mitochondrial derangements and diminished oxidative phosphorylation in AM. Since oxidative phosphorylation is needed to meet the energy demands of phagocytosis, EtOH mediated decreases in oxidative phosphorylation likely contribute to impaired AM phagocytosis. Treatment with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligand, pioglitazone (PIO), improved EtOH-mediated decreases in oxidative phosphorylation. In other models, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) has been shown to mediate the switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis; however, the role of HIF-1α in chronic EtOH mediated derangements in AM has not been explored. We hypothesize that AM undergo a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to a glycolytic phenotype in response to chronic EtOH exposure. Further, we speculate that HIF-1α is a critical mediator of this metabolic switch. To test these hypotheses, primary mouse AM (mAM) were isolated from a mouse model of chronic EtOH consumption and a mouse AM cell line (MH-S) were exposed to EtOH in vitro. Expression of HIF-1α, glucose transporters (Glut1 and 4), and components of the glycolytic pathway (Pfkfb3 and PKM2), were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot. Lactate levels (lactate assay), cell energy phenotype (extracellular flux analyzer), glycolysis stress tests (extracellular flux analyzer), and phagocytic function (fluorescent microscopy) were conducted. EtOH exposure increased expression of HIF-1α, Glut1, Glut4, Pfkfb3, and PKM2 and shifted AM to a glycolytic phenotype. Pharmacological stabilization of HIF-1α via cobalt chloride treatment in vitro mimicked EtOH-induced AM derangements (increased glycolysis and diminished phagocytic capacity). Further, PIO treatment diminished HIF-1α levels and reversed glycolytic shift following EtOH exposure. These studies support a critical role for HIF-1α in mediating the glycolytic shift in energy metabolism of AM during excessive alcohol use.
Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid1 (TRPV1) Channel Opens Sesame of T Cell Responses and T Cell-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Xiao Tengfei , Sun Mingzhong , Kang Jingjing , Zhao Chuanxiang
Published: May 2022

Transient receptor potential vanilloid1 (TRPV1) was primarily expressed in sensory neurons, and could be activated by various physical and chemical factors, resulting in the flow of extracellular Ca2+into cells. Accumulating data suggest that the TRPV1 is expressed in some immune cells and is a novel regulator of the immune system. In this review, we highlight the structure and biological features of TRPV1 channel. We also summarize recent findings on its role in modulating T cell activation and differentiation as well as its protective effect in T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases and potential mechanisms.
Immune Mechanisms Underlying Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seroclearance in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients With Viral Coinfection
Authors: Wu Shuling , Yi Wei , Gao Yuanjiao , Deng Wen , Bi Xiaoyue , Lin Yanjie , Yang Liu , Lu Yao , Liu Ruyu , Chang Min , Shen Ge , Hu Leiping , Zhang Lu , Li Minghui , Xie Yao
Published: May 2022

It is considered that chronic hepatitis B patients have obtained functional cure if they get hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance after treatment. Serum HBsAg is produced by cccDNA that is extremely difficult to clear and dslDNA that is integrated with host chromosome. High HBsAg serum level leads to failure of host immune system, which makes it unable to produce effective antiviral response required for HBsAg seroclerance. Therefore, it is very difficult to achieve functional cure, and fewer than 1% of chronic hepatitis B patients are cured with antiviral treatment annually. Some chronic hepatitis B patients are coinfected with other chronic viral infections, such as HIV, HCV and HDV, which makes more difficult to cure. However, it is found that the probability of obtaining HBsAg seroclearance in patients with coinfection is higher than that in patients with HBV monoinfection, especially in patients with HBV/HIV coinfection who have an up to 36% of HBsAg 5-year-seroclerance rate. The mechanism of this interesting phenomenon is related to the functional reconstruction of immune system after antiretroviral therapy (ART). The quantity increase and function recovery of HBV specific T cells and B cells, and the higher level of cytokines and chemokines such as IP-10, GM-CSF, promote HBsAg seroclearance. This review summarizes recent studies on the immune factors that have influence on HBsAg seroconversion in the chronic hepatitis B patients with viral coinfection, which might provide new insights for the development of therapeutic approaches to partially restore the specific immune response to HBV and other viruses.
Heartbreakers or Healers? Innate Lymphoid Cells in Cardiovascular Disease and Obesity
Authors: Roberts Luke B. , Lord Graham M. , Howard Jane K.
Published: May 2022

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for most pre-mature deaths worldwide, contributing significantly to the global burden of disease and its associated costs to individuals and healthcare systems. Obesity and associated metabolic inflammation underlie development of several major health conditions which act as direct risk factors for development of CVDs. Immune system responses contribute greatly to CVD development and progression, as well as disease resolution. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a family of helper-like and cytotoxic lymphocytes, typically enriched at barrier sites such as the skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tract. However, recent studies indicate that most solid organs and tissues are home to resident populations of ILCs - including those of the cardiovascular system. Despite their relative rarity, ILCs contribute to many important biological effects during health, whilst promoting inflammatory responses during tissue damage and disease. This mini review will discuss the evidence for pathological and protective roles of ILCs in CVD, and its associated risk factor, obesity.
In Vitro Study on the Influence of Silver Diamine Fluoride on the Adhesion Strength of Dental Restorative Materials
Authors: Fernández-Mafé Mónica , Armengol-Olivares Andrea , Miralles-Jordá Lucía , Vicente-Escuder Ángel , Pérez-Bermejo Marcelino , Narciso Javier , Pallarés-Sabater Antonio
Published: May 2022

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has demonstrated its clinical success for years in the arrest of caries lesions; however, the influence it could have on the success of restorations after its application still remains unknown. The purpose of this research was to study the relationship between the use of SDF and the adhesive strength of the materials used in restorations made with glass ionomers and composite resin, as well as with different adhesive systems. A sample consisting of 240 teeth divided into eight groups with 30 teeth in each of them (n = 30) was used. In these groups, the use of restoration with composite resin and glass ionomer was compared using different adhesive systems, with and without prior application of SDF. Notable differences in adherence were observed among the different groups depending on the filling material. There is also a significant effect of tooth type on adhesion. We can conclude that there is a relationship between the use of SDF and the adhesion between the tooth and the restorative materials analyzed.
Uncertainty Quantification for Microstructure-Sensitive Fatigue Nucleation and Application to Titanium Alloy, Ti6242
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Liu Yang , Oskay Caglar
Published: May 2022

Microstructure of polycrystalline materials has profound effects on fatigue crack initiation, and the inherent randomness in the material microstructure results in significant variability in fatigue life. This study investigates the effect of microstructural features on fatigue nucleation life of a polycrystalline material using an uncertainty quantification framework. Statistical volume elements (SVE) are constructed, where features are described as probability distributions and sampled using the Monte Carlo method. The concept of SVE serves as the tool for capturing the variability of microstructural features and consequent uncertainty in fatigue behavior. The response of each SVE under fatigue loading is predicted by the sparse dislocation density informed eigenstrain based reduced order homogenization model with high computational efficiency, and is further linked to the fatigue nucleation life through a fatigue indicator parameter (FIP). The aggregated FIP and its evolution are captured using a probabilistic description, and evolve as a function of time. The probability of fatigue nucleation is measured as the probability that the predicted FIP exceeds the local critical value which represents the ability of material to resist the fatigue load. The proposed framework is implemented and validated using the fatigue response of titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo (Ti-6242).
A New Random Forest Algorithm-Based Prediction Model of Post-operative Mortality in Geriatric Patients With Hip Fractures
Authors: Xing Fei , Luo Rong , Liu Ming , Zhou Zongke , Xiang Zhou , Duan Xin
Published: May 2022

Background

Post-operative mortality risk assessment for geriatric patients with hip fractures (HF) is a challenge for clinicians. Early identification of geriatric HF patients with a high risk of post-operative death is helpful for early intervention and improving clinical prognosis. However, a single significant risk factor of post-operative death cannot accurately predict the prognosis of geriatric HF patients. Therefore, our study aims to utilize a machine learning approach, random forest algorithm, to fabricate a prediction model for post-operative death of geriatric HF patients.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled consecutive geriatric HF patients who underwent treatment for surgery. The study cohort was divided into training and testing datasets at a 70:30 ratio. The random forest algorithm selected or excluded variables according to the feature importance. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) was utilized to compare feature selection results of random forest. The confirmed variables were used to create a simplified model instead of a full model with all variables. The prediction model was then verified in the training dataset and testing dataset. Additionally, a prediction model constructed by logistic regression was used as a control to evaluate the efficiency of the new prediction model.

Results

Feature selection by random forest algorithm and Lasso regression demonstrated that seven variables, including age, time from injury to surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), albumin, hemoglobin, history of malignancy, and perioperative blood transfusion, could be used to predict the 1-year post-operative mortality. The area under the curve (AUC) of the random forest algorithm-based prediction model in training and testing datasets were 1.000, and 0.813, respectively. While the prediction tool constructed by logistic regression in training and testing datasets were 0.895, and 0.797, respectively.

Conclusions

Compared with logistic regression, the random forest algorithm-based prediction model exhibits better predictive ability for geriatric HF patients with a high risk of death within post-operative 1 year.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a Patient With COVID-19 as a Result of Severe Hyperkalemia After Administration of Succinylcholine Chloride for Reintubation. A Case Report
Authors: Putowski Mateusz , Drygalski Tomasz , Morajda Andrzej , Woroń Jarosław , Sanak Tomasz , Wordliczek Jerzy
Published: May 2022

Background

We present a case study of a man with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who developed cardiac arrest as a result of hyperkalemia following administration of chlororsuccinylcholine during endotracheal intubation.

Case Summary

A patient with a severe course of COVID-19, hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit, underwent reintubation on day 16. The applied scheme was rapid sequence induction and intubation with administration of chlororsuccinylcholine. Immediately after intubation, there was a sudden cardiac arrest due to hyperkalemia (cK + 10.2 meq/L). Treatment was initiated as per guidelines, which resulted in a return to spontaneous circulation after 6 min.

Conclusion

Chlorsucynylcholine may cause life-threatening hyperkalemia. We recommend using rocuronium as a neuromuscular blocking agent in critically ill COVID-19 patients due to its more optimal safety profile.
Long Non-coding RNAs in Tuberculosis: From Immunity to Biomarkers
Authors: Zhang Xianyi , Chen Chan , Xu Yuzhong
Published: May 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the leading lethal infectious disease with 1.3 million deaths in 2020. Despite significant advances have been made in detection techniques and therapeutic approaches for tuberculosis, no suitable diagnostic tools are available for early and precise screening. Many studies have reported that Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a regulatory role in gene expression in the host immune response against Mtb. Dysregulation of lncRNAs expression patterns associated with immunoregulatory pathways arose in mycobacterial infection. Meanwhile, host-induced lncRNAs regulate antibacterial processes such as apoptosis and autophagy to limit bacterial proliferation. In this review, we try to summarize the latest reports on how dysregulated expressed lncRNAs influence host immune response in tuberculosis infection. We also discuss their potential clinical prospects for tuberculosis diagnosis and development as molecular biomarkers.