bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mast Cell Desensitization in Allergen Immunotherapy
Authors: López-Sanz Celia , Jiménez-Saiz Rodrigo , Esteban Vanesa , Delgado-Dolset María Isabel , Perales-Chorda Carolina , Villaseñor Alma , Barber Domingo , Escribese María M.
Published: June 2022

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only treatment with disease-transforming potential for allergic disorders. The immunological mechanisms associated with AIT can be divided along time in two phases: short-term, involving mast cell (MC) desensitization; and long-term, with a regulatory T cell (Treg) response with significant reduction of eosinophilia. This regulatory response is induced in about 70% of patients and lasts up to 3 years after AIT cessation. MC desensitization is characteristic of the initial phase of AIT and it is often related to its success. Yet, the molecular mechanisms involved in allergen-specific MC desensitization, or the connection between MC desensitization and the development of a Treg arm, are poorly understood. The major AIT challenges are its long duration, the development of allergic reactions during AIT, and the lack of efficacy in a considerable proportion of patients. Therefore, reaching a better understanding of the immunology of AIT will help to tackle these short-comings and, particularly, to predict responder-patients. In this regard, omics strategies are empowering the identification of predictive and follow-up biomarkers in AIT. Here, we review the immunological mechanisms underlying AIT with a focus on MC desensitization and AIT-induced adverse reactions. Also, we discuss the identification of novel biomarkers with predictive potential that could improve the rational use of AIT.
Biomechanical Analysis of the Reasonable Cervical Range of Motion to Prevent Non-Fusion Segmental Degeneration After Single-Level ACDF
Authors: Liang Weishi , Han Bo , Hai Yong , Yang Jincai , Yin Peng
Published: June 2022

The compensatory increase in intervertebral range of motion (ROM) after cervical fusion can increase facet joint force (FJF) and intradiscal pressure (IDP) in non-fusion segments. Guiding the post-ACDF patient cervical exercise within a specific ROM (defined as reasonable ROM) to offset the increase in FJF and IDP may help prevent segmental degeneration. This study aimed to determine the reasonable total C0–C7 ROM without an increase in FJF and IDP in non-fusion segments after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). A three-dimensional intact finite element model of C0–C7 generated healthy cervical conditions. This was modified to the ACDF model by simulating the actual surgery at C5–C6. A 1.0 Nm moment and 73.6 N follower load were applied to the intact model to determine the ROMs. A displacement load was applied to the ACDF model under the same follower load, resulting in a total C0–C7 ROM similar to that of the intact model. The reasonable ROMs in the ACDF model were calculated using the fitting function. The results indicated that the intervertebral ROM of all non-fusion levels was increased in the ACDF model in all motion directions. The compensatory increase in ROM in adjacent segments (C4/5 and C6/7) was more significant than that in non-adjacent segments, except for C3/4 during lateral bending. The intervertebral FJF and IDP of C0–C7 increased with increasing ROM. The reasonable ROMs in the ACDF model were 42.4°, 52.6°, 28.4°, and 42.25° in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, respectively, with a decreased ROM of 4.4–7.2%. The postoperative increase in FJF and IDP in non-fusion segments can be canceled out by reducing the intervertebral ROM within reasonable ROMs. This study provided a new method to estimate the reasonable ROMs after ACDF from a biomechanical perspective, and further in vitro and clinical studies are needed to confirm this.
Paillier Cryptosystem Based ChainNode for Secure Electronic Voting
Authors: Umar Buhari Ugbede , Olaniyi Olayemi Mikail , Olajide Daniel Oluwaseun , Dogo Eustace Manayi
Published: June 2022

Blockchain is a distributed and decentralized ledger of transactions that are linked together cryptographically leading to immutability and tamper-resistance, thereby ensuring the integrity of data. Due to the ability of blockchain to guarantee the integrity of data, it has found wide-range adoption in electronic voting (e-voting) systems in recent years, this is in a bid to prevent manipulation of votes. However, due to the distributed nature of the blockchain, opportunities arise for privacy intrusion of the data being secured. The translation of this privacy flaw in blockchain to e-voting systems is the possibility of violation of the privacy of the electorates. Consequently, in a bid to achieve integrity and privacy of votes in e-voting, this study presents the use of an open-source blockchain system, coupled with a privacy-oriented cryptosystem known as the Paillier cryptosystem, towards addressing the privacy concerns of the blockchain. The performance of the system was evaluated and a transaction throughput of 1424 tps was obtained for ten thousand simulated ballot transactions. Further evaluation was carried out on the system, by increasing the number of system transactions. This showed that the mining time of the blockchain increased by an average factor of 0.18 s for every thousand increases in the number of transactions. Also, the response time of the system to a range of user actions was evaluated over an increasing number of voters. Results obtained showed that the response time of the system for vote casting operations increased by an average of 0.33 min per thousand voters while for vote tallying there was an increase in response time by an average of 0.848 min per thousand voters. The scientific value of this study is the development of an integrity and privacy-preserving e-voting system consisting of an open-source nodechain coupled with a privacy-oriented cryptosystem known as the Paillier cryptosystem following the security requirements of e-voting systems. The proposed system addresses the issue of integrity in e-voting while still maintaining the privacy of the electorates.
Delft3D as a Tool for Living Shoreline Design Selection by Coastal Managers
Authors: Huff Thomas P. , Feagin Rusty A. , Figlus Jens
Published: June 2022

Coastal risk reduction features are often built to protect infrastructure and ecosystems from damaging waves, sea level rise, and shoreline erosion. Engineers often use predictive numerical modeling tools, such as Delft3D to help design optimal intervention strategies. Still, their use by coastal managers for optimizing the design of living shorelines in complex geomorphic environments has been limited. In this study, the Delft3D modeling suite is used to help select the optimum living shoreline structure for a complex inlet and bay system at Carancahua Bay, Texas. To achieve this goal, an extensive array of sensors was deployed to collect hydrodynamic and geotechnical data in the field, and historical shoreline changes were assessed using image analysis. The measured data were then used to parameterize and validate the baseline Delft3D model. Using this validated model, the hydrodynamics resulting from a series of structural alternatives were simulated and compared. The results showed that the mouth of this complex inlet has widened greatly since the 1800s due to wave erosion and sea level rise. The analysis of the structural alternatives showed it was not advisable to attempt a return of the inlet to its historical extent, but rather to create a hybrid design that allowed for limited flow to continue through a secondary inlet. The numerical modeling effort helped to identify how to best reduce wave and flow energy. This study provides a template for the application of Delft3D as a tool for living shoreline design selection under complex shallow-estuary and inlet dynamics.
Long-Term Dominance of Carbapenem-Non-Susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST111 in Hematologic Malignancy Patients and Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients
Authors: Zhang Liyang , Tan Filemon C. , Strasfeld Lynne , Hakki Morgan , Kirienko Natalia V.
Published: June 2022

An epidemiological study uncovered that fluoroquinolone (FQ) neutropenic prophylaxis in hematopoietic cell transplant and hematologic malignancy (HCT/HM) patients was associated with breakthrough Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infections (BSIs) with isolates non-susceptible to both FQs and meropenem. The molecular epidemiology of the FQ/meropenem-non-susceptible P. aeruginosa isolates causing FQ-breakthrough BSIs in the HCT/HM patients remains unclear. Through whole genome sequencing on 57 P. aeruginosa isolates from 54 patients diagnosed with HM or receiving an HCT, we found that ST111 strains predominated, accounting for 22 (38.6%) of the isolates. 17 of 33 (51.5%) FQ-breakthrough BSIs were caused by ST111 strains, of which 15 (88.2%) were meropenem non-susceptible. ST111 strains, but not other oprD-deficient, meropenem-non-susceptible clinical strains, were found to have a colonization advantage over P. aeruginosa strain PA14 in C. elegans and to outcompete PA14 in in vitro co-culture assays. Together, we found that breakthrough P. aeruginosa BSIs during FQ prophylaxis in HCT/HM patients are dominated by clonally-related FQ/meropenem non-susceptible strains, predominantly ST111 type, and that the dominance of ST111 strains may be explained by a relative fitness advantage over other clinical strains. Additional work is necessary to better understand the factors driving the dominance and persistence of these ST111 strains.
Machine Learning Patient-Specific Prediction of Heart Failure Hospitalization Using Cardiac MRI-Based Phenotype and Electronic Health Information
Authors: Cornhill Aidan K. , Dykstra Steven , Satriano Alessandro , Labib Dina , Mikami Yoko , Flewitt Jacqueline , Prosio Easter , Rivest Sandra , Sandonato Rosa , Howarth Andrew G. , Lydell Carmen , Eastwood Cathy A. , Quan Hude , Fine Nowell , Lee Joon , White James A.
Published: June 2022

Background

Heart failure (HF) hospitalization is a dominant contributor of morbidity and healthcare expenditures in patients with systolic HF. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is increasingly employed for the evaluation of HF given capacity to provide highly reproducible phenotypic markers of disease. The combined value of CMR phenotypic markers and patient health information to deliver predictions of future HF events has not been explored. We sought to develop and validate a novel risk model for the patient-specific prediction of time to HF hospitalization using routinely reported CMR variables, patient-reported health status, and electronic health information.

Methods

Standardized data capture was performed for 1,775 consecutive patients with chronic systolic HF referred for CMR imaging. Patient demographics, symptoms, Health-related Quality of Life, pharmacy, and routinely reported CMR features were provided to both machine learning (ML) and competing risk Fine-Gray-based models (FGM) for the prediction of time to HF hospitalization.

Results

The mean age was 59 years with a mean LVEF of 36 ± 11%. The population was evenly distributed between ischemic (52%) and idiopathic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (48%). Over a median follow-up of 2.79 years (IQR: 1.59–4.04) 333 patients (19%) experienced HF related hospitalization. Both ML and competing risk FGM based models achieved robust performance for the prediction of time to HF hospitalization. Respective 90-day, 1 and 2-year AUC values were 0.87, 0.83, and 0.80 for the ML model, and 0.89, 0.84, and 0.80 for the competing risk FGM-based model in a holdout validation cohort. Patients classified as high-risk by the ML model experienced a 34-fold higher occurrence of HF hospitalization at 90 days vs. the low-risk group.

Conclusion

In this study we demonstrated capacity for routinely reported CMR phenotypic markers and patient health information to be combined for the delivery of patient-specific predictions of time to HF hospitalization. This work supports an evolving migration toward multi-domain data collection for the delivery of personalized risk prediction at time of diagnostic imaging.
Colchicine for Coronary Artery Disease: A Review
Authors: Chen Tao , Liu Guihong , Yu Bo
Published: June 2022

Coronary artery disease is a serious threat to human health. More and more evidences indicate chronic inflammatory plays a key role in the development of this disease. Inflammation markers are gradually used in the diagnosis and treatment. Although the treatment of coronary heart disease with colchicine is still controversial, more and more studies showed that patients can benefit from this medicine. In this review, we discuss and summarize colchicine on essential pharmacology, anti-inflammatory mechanism of action, and the most important and recent clinical studies. According to these literatures, colchicine possibly will possibly become a new valuable and cheap medicine for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
Clinical Characteristics and Management of Ovarian Vein Thrombosis: A Case Series
Authors: Alsheef Mohammed , Abuzied Yacoub , Alosaimi Muteb , Altamimi Amer , Alwazna Qusai , Almahmood Qusai , AlBulushi Noura Ali , Almutair Jehan , Zaidi Abdul Rehman Zia , Gray Jenny , Abu-Shaheen Amani
Published: June 2022

Background

Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is an uncommon condition, occurring in ~1 in every 600–2,000 pregnancies. It is associated with various conditions, including thrombophilia, malignancy, sepsis, intra-abdominal and pelvic inflammatory conditions, pregnancy, and the postpartum period, and specific surgical interventions, particularly gynecological surgeries. Thus, this study aims to identify the associated factors for OVT and elaborate on the standard treatment strategies for its management.

Methods

Retrospective data collection was used. Our study consists of 18 patients diagnosed with OVT between 2005 and 2016; the data was collected from the Health Information Management system at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia using a standard format.

Results

Our study found that OVT involves the right ovarian vein more often than the left and mainly occurs in women during their postpartum period. These patients other associated factor included hypertension, diabetes, and a higher body mass index (BMI) of above 25 kg/m2. The most frequently presenting complaints were abdominal pain and fever. The most common treatment was the administration of enoxaparin (a low molecular weight heparin) for an average duration of one to three months, which resulted in a low recurrence rate of OVT.

Conclusions

Physicians should be vigilant for suspicion of OVT in female patients presenting with lower abdominal pain and fever in their postpartum period. Additionally, it is suggested to use low molecular weight heparin as initial therapy for OVT for one to three months, resulting in a high remission rate.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Pathogenesis of Vascular Calcification
Authors: Rao Zhenqi , Zheng Yidan , Xu Li , Wang Zihao , Zhou Ying , Chen Ming , Dong Nianguo , Cai Zhejun , Li Fei
Published: June 2022

Vascular calcification (VC) is characterized by calcium phosphate deposition in blood vessel walls and is associated with many diseases, as well as increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying of VC development and pathogenesis are not fully understood, thus impeding the design of molecular-targeted therapy for VC. Recently, several studies have shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress can exacerbate VC. The ER is an intracellular membranous organelle involved in the synthesis, folding, maturation, and post-translational modification of secretory and transmembrane proteins. ER stress (ERS) occurs when unfolded/misfolded proteins accumulate after a disturbance in the ER environment. Therefore, downregulation of pathological ERS may attenuate VC. This review summarizes the relationship between ERS and VC, focusing on how ERS regulates the development of VC by promoting osteogenic transformation, inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis, with particular interest in the molecular mechanisms occurring in various vascular cells. We also discuss, the therapeutic effects of ERS inhibition on the progress of diseases associated with VC are detailed.
STEAM in Primary Education. Impact on Linguistic and Mathematical Competences in a Disadvantaged Context
Authors: Duo-Terron Pablo , Hinojo-Lucena Francisco-Javier , Moreno-Guerrero Antonio-José , López-Núñez Juan-Antonio
Published: June 2022

This research has studied the impact of the use of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) in education, specifically in the development of linguistic and mathematical skills. The instruments used to extract the learning results were the external evaluation tests carried out by the National Institute of Educational Evaluation INEE over a period of 4 years. The study included 242 third-level primary school students from an educational center in the city of Ceuta (Spain) located in a disadvantaged area. The objectives of the study were to describe the learning results obtained in the respective competencies according to the sex and the migratory history of the students’ parents, to compare the results obtained before and during the use of STEAM and to determine if there is a correlation between the understanding of writing and problem solving. The research method was quantitative descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational. The results of the study showed that the transversal and coordinated use of STEAM improves the learning outcomes of linguistic and mathematical competence of students of the third year of Primary Education, especially speaking, oral comprehension and calculation. The results were, in general, more positive in the case of girls and students whose parents were born in Spain. The study also revealed that there is a positive correlation between reading comprehension and problem solving.
Exploring Undergraduate Biology Students’ Science Communication About COVID-19
Authors: Couch Brock , Wybren Elizabeth , de Araujo Bryan Mariana , Niravong Thipphaphone , Jin Ying , Bowen Chloe , Barnes M. Elizabeth
Published: June 2022

Effective science communication is important for mitigating the spread of COVID-19, but little is known about how college science students, who are the future of science, have communicated about COVID-19. In this study, we surveyed 538 biology students in the Southeastern United States about how they communicated about COVID-19 with others and how prepared they felt to communicate. We found that many students were communicating frequently but did not feel prepared to communicate accurately, particularly about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Students also wrote about their communication strategies, and many students reported using potentially ineffective communication. Finally, we explored student misconceptions about COVID-19 and found differences among religious, political, and racial/ethnic groups that could impact their communication to their communities about COVID-19. These results indicate a need for science communication education about COVID-19 among undergraduate scientists in training.
Risk Factors Associated With Lower Bone Mineral Density in Primary Aldosteronism Patients
Authors: Lv Xiaomei , Hu Huijun , Shen Chuyu , Zhang Xiaoyun , Yan Li , Zhang Shaoling , Guo Ying
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The association between primary aldosteronism (PA) and lower bone mineral density (BMD) has raised a concern, but the contributing factors remain unclear. We aim to explore the risk factors for lower BMD in PA patients.

Methods

We analyzed and compared the data of 60 PA patients with 60 matched essential hypertension (EH) patients. BMD, bone metabolites, and several oxidative stress and inflammation indicators—including C-reactive protein (CRP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total bilirubin (TBIL), mean platelet volume (MPV), etc.—were assessed and compared in PA and EH patients. Bivariate correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis were performed to explore the factors associated with BMD in PA patients.

Results

The BMD measured by quantitative computed tomography in PA patients was lower than that in EH patients (141.9 ± 34.0 vs. 158.9 ± 55.9 g/cm3, p = 0.047), especially in patients less than 50 years old. BMD was independently negatively associated with age (standardized β = -0.581, p < 0.001), serum phosphorus (standardized β = -0.203, p = 0.008), urinary calcium excretion (standardized β = -0.185, p = 0.031), and MPV (standardized β = -0.172, p = 0.043) and positively associated with SOD (standardized β = 0.205, p = 0.011) and TBIL (standardized β = 0.212, p = 0.015).

Conclusions

The PA patients showed a lower BMD than the EH patients, which was associated with age, serum phosphorus, urinary calcium excretion, MPV, SOD, and TBIL. These variables might be potential markers for the assessment of bone loss and efficacy of treatments in PA patients.
Combined Use of Autofluorescence and Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging in the Identification and Evaluation of Parathyroid Glands During Total Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yin Supeng , Pan Bin , Yang Zeyu , Tang Mi , Mo Hongbiao , Li Yao , Yi Ziying , Yin Tingjie , Shao Cong , Yan Cunye , Mo Linlong , Yuan Yuquan , Sun Yiceng , Zhang Fan
Published: June 2022

Background and objectives

Accurate identification and evaluation of the parathyroid glands (PGs) intraoperatively is critical to reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIFI), including the autofluorescence (AF) and indocyanine green fluorescence (ICGF) imaging, is a promising technique to protect PGs. This study aimed to assess whether the combined use of AF and ICGF could reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism and improve the identification and evaluation of PGs during total thyroidectomy.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial enrolled 180 patients who were randomized into two groups and underwent total thyroidectomy with unilateral or bilateral central lymph node dissection. In the control group, the PGs were identified and evaluated by the naked eye. In the NIFI group, AF was used to identify the PGs and ICGF was applied to assess the blood perfusion of the PGs in situ. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism. The secondary outcomes included the number of identified PGs, autotransplanted PGs, and known preserved PGs in situ.

Results

The incidence of postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism was significantly lower in the NIFI group than in the control group (27.8% vs. 43.3%, P = 0.029). More PGs were identified in the NIFI group than in the control group (3.6 ± 0.5 vs. 3.2 ± 0.4, P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the number of autotransplanted PGs between the two groups (P = 0.134). Compared with the control group, a greater number of known PGs were preserved in situ in the NIFI group (1.3 ± 0.6 vs. 1.0 ± 0.5, P < 0.001). In the NIFI group, only 4.5% of the patients with at least one well-perfused PG (ICG score of 2) developed postoperative hypoparathyroidism, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (34.6%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Combined use of AF and ICGF during total thyroidectomy reduces the risk of transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism, enhances the ability to identify and preserve PGs, and improves the accuracy of evaluating the perfusion of PGs during surgery.

Clinical Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Register (www.chictr.org.cn), identifier ChiCTR2100045320. Registered on April 12, 2021.
Effects of Modified Electroconvulsive Therapy on Serum Cortisol, Nesfatin-1, and Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Levels in Elderly Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression
Authors: Dai Biao , Wu Xiaoping , Yan Fanfan , Chen Yang , Xu Yayun , Xia Qingrong , Zhang Xulai , Xie Xuefeng
Published: June 2022

Aim

Modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) is an effective strategy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD); however, the mechanism underlying effects of MECT remains unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests that TRD is closely associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, anorexigenic peptides, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, MECT effects on the HPA axis, anorexigenic peptides, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in elderly patients with TRD remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether the HPA axis (cortisol), anorexigenic peptides (nesfatin-1), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β) are involved in the mechanism underlying MECT effects in elderly patients with TRD.

Methods

Elderly patients with TRD were enrolled in this study between December 2019 and October 2021; all patients underwent MECT after physical examination. Serum cortisol, nesfatin-1, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were measured before and after the first, third, and sixth MECT sessions. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 (HAMD-24) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used to evaluate depression and cognitive impairment, respectively. We compared pre- and post-MECT serum cortisol, nesfatin-1, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels to confirm the short-term effects of MECT on these serum indices. We compared these serum indices across three time points (before the first, third, and sixth MECT sessions) to determine the long-term effects of MECT on serum cortisol, nesfatin-1, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.

Results

We observed no statistically significant changes in the pre- and post-MECT serum cortisol, nesfatin-1, or pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. No significant changes in serum cortisol, nesfatin-1, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were observed across the aforementioned time points. Moreover, there were no statistically significant sex-based differences in the aforementioned serum indices. Furthermore, the serum cortisol level was negatively correlated with the serum IL-6 level before and after the first MECT session in patients with high cortisol levels (> the 50th percentile value of all samples). Additionally, the post-MECT HAMD-24 and MMSE scores were significantly lower.

Conclusions

MECT reduced depressive symptoms despite an adverse effect on cognition and had no significant effect on the serum cortisol, nesfatin-1, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in elderly patients with TRD.
Real-Time Construction of Thermal Model Based on Multimodal Scene Data
Authors: Li Yunlong , Peng Qiaomeng , Lin Jianming , Peng Yimin , Mai Yingan , Liang Shufen
Published: June 2022

In commercial buildings, the total consumption of central air conditioning accounts for about 40%–50%. However, at present, the initial design value of building Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) is usually far greater than the actual refrigeration value of refrigeration demand, which will lead to great energy consumption waste. Moreover, the operation of HVAC affects the thermal comfort of users, so it is necessary to establish a thermal model for the scene to control. The thermal model describes the temperature of the scene in different environments. So it is very important to design a thermal model to calculate the scene in real time. Because the flow of people, the opening of windows, the ventilation of the scene and other parameters influence the change of thermal state in the scene environment, these parameters are complicated to model. Human disturbance will lead to the instability of the state of the scene environment. The inconsistency of its thermal model will lead to energy allocation tracking strategies in different regions. To solve this problem, We propose a thermal model for building thermal comfort using a multimodal analysis framework. This paper analyzes multiple temperature and humidity sensors and area image by multimodal combination and processes the image and sensor data by combining CNN and LSTM. Our results show that when the thermal model analyzed by this method is deployed in a building in the south of China, the MSE accuracy of the local effect of temperature field prediction reaches 99%, and its AMAX reaches 94%, so the running stability of the model in the scene is high. In addition, the research shows that the thermal model analysis framework can make the Internet of Things (IoT) in buildings more intelligent, and it can be combined with this thermal model to improve human comfort, make it easier to deploy in each hot zone, and have a better overall energy-saving effect.
Carbon 5–60 Years After Fire: Planting Trees Does Not Compensate for Losses in Dead Wood Stores
Authors: Clason Alana J. , Farnell Ingrid , Lilles Erica B.
Published: June 2022

Wildfire is a natural disturbance in many forested biomes, with the loss of carbon to the atmosphere and mortality of trees actively sequestering carbon of global concern as a contribution to climate change. Natural regeneration is often successful at reestablishing a forest in ecosystems adapted to fire, but there is increasing concern that the changing size, frequency and severity of wildfire is causing regeneration failures or inadequate densities of trees that sequester and store carbon following these disturbances. It remains unclear whether the action of planting trees accelerates carbon storage following fire compared to forests established through natural regeneration. The central interior of British Columbia recently experienced multiple years of record-breaking fire activity. Rehabilitation planting focused on reestablishing trees in the managed forest but was also prescribed in previously unmanaged forests to initiate carbon sequestration. Planting is often accompanied by other stand treatments such as salvage harvesting or snag removal and debris clearing to ensure planter safety. Here, we determine carbon recovery and stores in 21 wildfires across a chronosequence from the early 1960s to 2015. We measured above and belowground carbon pools to determine the effect of time since fire and planting treatments on carbon. Tree planting did not increase total ecosystem carbon over time, but rather decreased carbon through the loss of dead wood from site preparation. All carbon pools were affected by time since fire except the mineral soil pool, which was best predicted by soil clay content and coarse fragments positive effects. Live tree carbon increased over time, with more stored in planted stands over 60 years compared to stands that were not planted. Projecting growth to 100 years since fire suggests we may see increasing divergence in carbon stores in planted stands over a full fire-return interval, but these differences remain relatively small [mean (sd): 140.8 (19.6) Mg⋅ha–1 in planted compared to 136.9 (27.5) Mg⋅ha–1 in not-planted stands], with 1.4 Mg⋅ha–1 year–1 sequestered in not-planted compared to 1.5 Mg⋅ha–1 year–1 in planted stands. To meet carbon objectives, replanting trees on average sites in burned forests of BC’s central interior would require preserving the carbon legacy of fire, including dead wood.
Gene Edited T Cell Therapies for Inborn Errors of Immunity
Authors: Fox T. A. , Houghton B. C. , Booth C.
Published: June 2022

Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders of the immune system. Many IEIs have a severe clinical phenotype that results in progressive morbidity and premature mortality. Over 450 IEIs have been described and the incidence of all IEIs is 1/1,000–10,000 people. Current treatment options are unsatisfactory for many IEIs. Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is curative but requires the availability of a suitable donor and carries a risk of graft failure, graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Autologous gene therapy (GT) offers a cure whilst abrogating the immunological complications of alloHSCT. Gene editing (GE) technologies allow the precise modification of an organisms’ DNA at a base-pair level. In the context of genetic disease, this enables correction of genetic defects whilst preserving the endogenous gene control machinery. Gene editing technologies have the potential to transform the treatment landscape of IEIs. In contrast to gene addition techniques, gene editing using the CRISPR system repairs or replaces the mutation in the DNA. Many IEIs are limited to the lymphoid compartment and may be amenable to T cell correction alone (rather than haematopoietic stem cells). T cell Gene editing has the advantages of higher editing efficiencies, reduced risk of deleterious off-target edits in terminally differentiated cells and less toxic conditioning required for engraftment of lymphocytes. Although most T cells lack the self-renewing property of HSCs, a population of T cells, the T stem cell memory compartment has long-term multipotent and self-renewal capacity. Gene edited T cell therapies for IEIs are currently in development and may offer a less-toxic curative therapy to patients affected by certain IEIs. In this review, we discuss the history of T cell gene therapy, developments in T cell gene editing cellular therapies before detailing exciting pre-clinical studies that demonstrate gene editing T cell therapies as a proof-of-concept for several IEIs.
High Expression of FCRLB Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients With Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Xiaopeng , Lin Ruirong , Zeng Yi , Wang Yi , Wei Shenghong , Lin Zhitao , Chen Shu , Ye Zaisheng , Chen Luchuan
Published: June 2022

Background: Mining the prognostic biomarkers of colorectal cancer (CRC) has important clinical and scientific significance. The role of Fc receptor-like B (FCRLB) in solid tumors has never been reported or studied to our knowledge, and the prognostic role of FCRLB in CRC still awaits characterization.

Methods: The potential prognostic factor FCRLB was screened out through TCGA database analysis. Then, its expression and associations with clinicopathological variables were assessed in the TCGA CRC cohort. The prognostic value of FCRLB was examined with multiple methods, such as the Kaplan-Meier method, ROC curve, time-dependent ROC analysis, and prediction model nomograms. Then, functional enrichment and annotation among the high and low FCRLB groups were achieved utilizing GO and KEGG analyses and GSEA. Fresh CRC tissue samples obtained clinically were used for the preparation of the tissue microarray and for further validation.

Results: FCRLB was highly expressed in CRC tissues compared to normal tissues. Moreover, over-expression of FCRLB correlated with higher CEA levels, advanced T stage, N stage, M stage, AJCC stage, lymphatic invasion, perineural invasion, and incomplete resection (R1 and R2 resection). In addition, high expression of FCRLB was closely correlated to less favorable OS, DSS, and PFI. The analysis of CRC tissue microarray further confirmed the conclusion drawn from the TCGA data analysis.

Conclusion: FCRLB is notably up-regulated in CRC tissues and may serve as a potential biomarker of CRC.
Tumor-Specific CD4+ T Cells Restrain Established Metastatic Melanoma by Developing Into Cytotoxic CD4– T Cells
Authors: Liu Qiao , Wang Lisha , Lin Huayu , Wang Zhiming , Wu Jialin , Guo Junyi , Wen Shuqiong , Ran Ling , Yue Zhengliang , Su Xingxing , Wu Qing , Tang Jianfang , Li Zhirong , Hu Li , Xu Lifan , Ye Lilin , Huang Qizhao
Published: June 2022

Cytotoxic CD8+T cells are the main focus of efforts to understand anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy. The adoptive transfer of tumor-reactive cytotoxic CD8+T lymphocytes expanded and differentiatedin vitrohas long been considered the primary strategy in adaptive anti-tumor immunity, however, the majority of the transferred tumor antigen-specific CD8+T cells differentiated into CD39+CD69+exhausted progenies, limiting its effects in repressing tumor growth. Contrarily, less attention has been addressed to the role of CD4+T cells during tumorigenesis. Using a mouse model of metastatic melanoma, we found that transferring tumor-specific CD4+T cells into recipients induces substantial regression of the established metastatic tumors. Notably,in vitroactivated CD4+T cells developed into cytotoxic CD4-T cellsin vivoand get exhausted gradually. The blockade of PD-L1 signaling resulted in an expansion of tumor specific CD4+T cells, which could better control the established metastatic melanoma. Moreover, the tumor-specific memory CD4+T cell can prevent mice from tumor metastasis, and the tumor-specific effector CD4+T cells can also mitigate the established metastatic tumor. Overall, our findings suggest a novel mechanism of CD4+T cells in curtailing tumor metastasis and confirm their therapeutic role in combination with PD-L1 blockade in cancer immunotherapy. Hence, a better understanding of cytotoxic CD4-T cell-mediated tumor regression could provide an alternative choice for patients exhibiting suboptimal or no response to CD8+T cell-based immunotherapies.
Co-Inhibitory Molecules – Their Role in Health and Autoimmunity; Highlighted by Immune Related Adverse Events
Authors: Greisen Stinne R. , Aspari Maithri , Deleuran Bent
Published: June 2022

Immune checkpoint receptors are key players in regulating the immune response. They are responsible for both generating an immune response sufficient to kill invading pathogens, balancing the same response, and protecting against tissue destruction or the development of autoimmune events. The central role of the co-inhibitory receptors also referred to as inhibitory immune checkpoints, including PD-1 and CTLA-4 has become especially evident with the cancer treatments targeting these receptors. Blocking these pathways enhances the immune activity, resulting in both an increased chance of cancer clearance, at the same time induction of immune-related adverse events (irAE). Some of these irAE progress into actual autoimmune diseases with autoantibodies and symptoms, undistinguished from the naturally occurring diseases. This review will take advantage of the lessons learned from immune checkpoint blockade and relate this knowledge to our understanding of the same pathways in naturally occurring autoimmune diseases, mainly focusing on rheumatic diseases.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Candida albicans Infection
Authors: He Yufei , Liu Jia , Chen Yutong , Yan Lan , Wu Jianhua
Published: June 2022

Candida albicans is the most common pathogen causing clinical Candida infections. Neutrophils are a key member of the host innate immunity that plays an essential role in clearing invading C. albicans. In addition to the well-known defensive approaches such as phagocytosis, degranulation, and reactive oxygen species production, the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) has also become an important way for neutrophils to defend against various pathogens. C. albicans has been reported to be capable of activating neutrophils to release NETs that subsequently kill fungi. The induction of NETs is affected by both the morphology and virulence factors of C. albicans, which also develops specific strategies to respond to the attack by NETs. Our review specifically focuses on the mechanisms by which C. albicans triggers NET formation and their subsequent interactions, which might provide meaningful insight into the innate immunity against C. albicans infection.
CF Patients’ Airway Epithelium and Sex Contribute to Biosynthesis Defects of Pro-Resolving Lipids
Authors: Shum Mickael , London Charlie M. , Briottet Maelle , Sy Khadeeja Adam , Baillif Vincent , Philippe Reginald , Zare Abdolhossein , Ghorbani-Dalini Sadegh , Remus Natacha , Tarze Agathe , Escabasse Virginie , Epaud Ralph , Dubourdeau Marc , Urbach Valerie
Published: June 2022

Specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) as lipoxins (LX), resolvins (Rv), protectins (PD) and maresins (MaR) promote the resolution of inflammation. We and others previously reported reduced levels of LXA4 in bronchoalveolar lavages from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Here, we investigated the role of CF airway epithelium in SPMs biosynthesis, and we evaluated its sex specificity. Human nasal epithelial cells (hNEC) were obtained from women and men with or without CF. Lipids were quantified by mass spectrometry in the culture medium of hNEC grown at air-liquid interface and the expression level and localization of the main enzymes of SPMs biosynthesis were assessed. The 5-HETE, LXA4, LXB4, RvD2, RvD5, PD1 and RvE3 levels were significantly lower in samples derived from CF patients compared with non-CF subjects. Within CF samples, the 12-HETE, 15-HETE, RvD3, RvD4, 17-HODHE and PD1 were significantly lower in samples derived from females. While the mean expression levels of 15-LO, 5-LO and 12-LO do not significantly differ either between CF and non-CF or between female and male samples, the SPMs content correlates with the level of expression of several enzymes involved in SPMs metabolism. In addition, the 5-LO localization significantly differed from cytoplasmic in non-CF to nucleic (or nuclear envelope) in CF hNEC. Our studies provided evidence for lower abilities of airway epithelial cells derived from CF patients and more markedly, females to produce SPMs. These data are consistent with a contribution of CF airway epithelium in the abnormal resolution of inflammation and with worse pulmonary outcomes in women.
Immunological Effects of Recombinant Lactobacillus casei Expressing IHNV G Protein and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Chemokine CK6 as an Oral Vaccine
Authors: Sun Jinhui , Zhang Mengmeng , Zhao Dandan , Yang Jiawei , Shi Yanxue , Xu Baoxing , Liu Xuefei , Guan Xueting , Shi Wen , Liu Min
Published: June 2022

IHNV is a virus that infects salmonids and causes serious economic damage to the salmonid farming industry. There is no specific treatment for the disease caused by this pathogen and the main preventive measure is vaccination, but this is only possible for small groups of individuals. Therefore, it is important to investigate new oral vaccines to prevent IHNV. In this study, the CK6 chemokine protein of rainbow trout and the truncated G protein of IHNV were used to construct a secretory expression recombinant L.casei vaccine for rainbow trout. The results showed that the levels of IgM and IgT antibodies in rainbow trout reached the highest level on the 15th day after the secondary immunization, and the antibodies exhibited high inhibitory activity against viral infection. Furthermore, the expression of relevant cytokines in different tissues was detected and found to be significantly higher in the oral vaccine group than in the control group. It was also found that pPG-612-CK6-G/L.casei 393 could stimulate splenic lymphocyte proliferation and improve mucosal immunity with significant differences between the immunized and control groups. When infected with IHNV, the protection rate of pPG-612-CK6-G/L.casei 393 was 66.67% higher than that of the control group. We found that pPG-612-CK6-G/L.casei 393 expressed and secreted the rainbow trout chemokine CK6 protein and IHNV truncated G protein, retaining the original immunogenicity of rainbow trout while enhancing their survival rate. This indicates that recombinant L.casei provides a theoretical basis and rationale for the development of an oral vaccine against IHNV and has important practical implications for the protection of rainbow trout from IHNV infection.
Role of Marginal Seas in Deep Ocean Regeneration of Dissolved Silica: A Case Study in the Marginal Seas of the Western Pacific
Authors: Yu Xiaoqing , Zhuang Yanpei , Cai Xiaoxia , Qi Di
Published: June 2022

Deep ocean regeneration of dissolved silica (DSi) is an essential part of the ocean silica cycle and is driven by a complex series of biogeochemical processes. Here we compare the distributions of DSi and other environmental parameters in several western Pacific marginal seas to explore the role of marginal seas in deep ocean DSi regeneration. Results show that in oligotrophic marginal seas (such as the South China Sea), the DSi content in deep waters is similar to that of the adjacent Pacific waters. However, in productive marginal seas (such as the Bering Sea), the DSi content in deep waters is markedly higher than that in adjacent Pacific waters at the same depths. This is mainly due to deep ocean DSi regeneration in the marginal sea basin, which is fueled by the high biogenic particle flux from the productive surface waters. On a global scale, deep ocean DSi regeneration is accelerated in productive marginal seas, causing marginal seas such as the Bering Sea to have the highest DSi concentrations of all global waters.
Organic Enrichment Induces Shifts in the Trophic Position of Infauna in a Subtropical Benthic Food Web, Hong Kong
Authors: Xu Wenzhe , Shin Paul K. S. , Sun Jun
Published: June 2022

Anthropogenic nutrient input to coastal waters is one of the most common disturbances within inshore marine benthic communities. Organic enrichment in sediments leads to the reduction or disappearance of sensitive organisms, and influences the quality and quantity of primary producers which serve as food sources for the benthic fauna. Such changes, in turn, affect the energy flow and food-web interactions in benthic communities. To examine how organic enrichment may alter marine benthic trophic relationship, a stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) analysis of the potential food sources and a range of meiofauna and polychaetes from an organically polluted and a relatively unpolluted site was compared in subtropical waters of Hong Kong. Results indicated that some omnivorous infauna shifted from a mainly carnivorous diet at the unpolluted site to a largely herbivorous diet at the organically polluted site. This dietary shift is likely to be related to the oxygen stress, prey limitation and increased abundance and nutritional quality of primary producers in the eutrophic area, resulting in an increase in utilization of plant materials as the major food source. The present findings suggest that such changes in trophic position induced by organic enrichment can provide further insights into the structure and function of coastal benthic communities under pollution stress.
Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesis From Vermicomposting Leachate and its Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Arslan Hudaverdi , Gonca Serpil , Isik Zelal , Özdemir Sadin , Yalvac Mutlu , Dizge Nadir , Deepanraj Balakrishnan , Ashraf Ghulam Abbas
Published: June 2022

Currently, nanotechnology and nanoparticles have been quickly emerged and have gained the attention of scientists due to their massive applications in environmental sectors. Nanotechnology also encompasses the ability to design, characterize, manufacture, and implement nano-sized structures. Today, metal oxide nanoparticles stand out in industrial applications in various fields of applied nanotechnology. Among metal oxide nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO-NPs) are one of the widely used NPs. Green chemistry-based nanoparticles production is one of the most interesting topics in recent years. In the present study, we used vermicomposting leachate to synthesize FeO-NPs. First, vermicomposting leachate (VCL) was produced and then FeO-NPs was obtained from ferric chloride salt. FeO-NPs was characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, the antioxidant activities of FeO-NPs synthesized from vermicomposting leachate (VCL-FeO-NPs) were evaluated by DPPH scavenging activity. The highest DPPH activities of VCL-FeO-NPs at 200 mg/L concentration were 93.54%. In addition, the nanoparticles showed significant DNA nuclease activity. The antimicrobial activities of VCL-FeO-NPs were studied in micro dilution methods and it exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity through Gr +ve, Gr −ve, and fungi. The nanoparticles showed more effective microbial cell inhibition activity against E. coli. Also, biofilm inhibition results were detected against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were 66.05% and 67.29%, respectively.