bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination and Mitigation of Urban Heat Island (UHI) In Lahore (A comparative Study of Landsat 8&9)
Authors: ISLAM SABA , Mayo Prof.Dr. Shaker Mahmood , Rahman Prof.Dr.M. Atiq Ur , Afzal Urooj , Ali Maria
Published: October 2022

The term "Urban Heat Island" (UHI) refers to a city or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surroundings. Heatwaves are one of the most visible hazards associated with UHI, that intensified exponentially over the last two decades. The overall approach of the study is initially based on a review of the literature and qualitative studies. The findings were applied to the case study to obtain empirical shreds of evidence. The study investigated the spatiotemporal urbanization trends and their impacts on UHI in Lahore, Pakistan, using multiple datasets. By identifying thermal drivers and simulating the spatial pattern, the direct relationship between development patterns and thermal properties can be visualized. To identify hot spots multi-temporal Landsat TM/OLI satellite images were processed using GIS and remote sensing techniques. It also investigates urban green spaces using spectral indices like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The findings indicate that Lahore's urbanization trend is intensifying in both existing and newly proposed zones which increases the pressure on land use planning. The negative correlation between Land Surface Temperature (LST) and NDVI confirms urban sprawl at the expense of green spaces, reshaping and aggregating the UHI profile of Lahore. These methodologies were combined to create UHI mitigation strategies that may aid communication among various stakeholders, including those in academia, development authorities, planners, and practitioners of the built environment. LST calculation by Landsat 9 proved efficient in comparison to Landsat 8 which may be due to improvement in spatial and spectral domain in architectural design Landsat series.
Personality Construct Among Patients With Substance Use Disorder: An Explanatory Study In Pakistan
Authors: Rasheed Maham , Butt Dr. Mirrat Gul , Izhar Quratulain , Rasheed Masooma
Published: October 2022

Objective: Many researches defined the critical predictors and significant risk factors associated with various substance use behaviors, revealing the personality traits as important determinants. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the personality constructs of individuals with a history of substance use disorder in Pakistan.
Method: The Qualitative Study was conducted through purposive sampling by selecting the professionals (psychiatrists=9, clinical psychologists=4, patients with SUD = 5) with having a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 29 years of experience working with substance use disorder patients and participants with the history of at least three years of diagnosis. A total of 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine (N=13) mental health professionals and five (N=05) patients with substance use disorder. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed by independent researchers. The transcripts were analyzed using a systematic approach that incorporates inductive thematic analysis.
Results: The themes that emerged after analyses were combined under the main three headings: Social, Cultural and Psychological/individual factors. The main results indicated that authoritative parenting style, family lifestyles, pleasure-seeking, enhanced energy, dependent personality traits, emotional instability and conflicting interpersonal relationship lead to substance use which can be addressed through early intervention.
Leucism: the prevalent congenital malformation in the olive ridley sea turtle of northwestern Mexico
Authors: Sosa-Cornejo I , Martín-del-Campo R , González-Flores JA , González-Camacho ZB , Cabrera-Cuellar BA , Bielli A , Valdes-Flores JE , Olimón-Andalón V
Published: October 2022

Despite being the most abundant sea turtle in the world, the olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. There is evidence of congenital malformations in hatchlings, and the associated causes are multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental sources. Santuario Playa Ceuta (SPC) is a sanctuary for the olive ridley, located at the northernmost region of its nesting range in the Mexican Pacific. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify the prevalence and severity of congenital malformations in olive ridley embryos/hatchlings in SPC during the 2017 nesting season. We collected 62907 eggs from 643 relocated nests that were moved to a hatchery, of which 4242 eggs with obvious development did not hatch and were analyzed for this study. Hatching success was 53.9%, with 22.5% of nests (n = 145) and 0.54% of eggs (n = 344) showing embryos or hatchlings with malformations. The nest severity index was 2.4 (range: 1-10) malformed embryos or hatchlings per nest, and the organism severity index was 1.4 (range: 1-7) malformations per malformed embryo or hatchling. Leucism was the most prevalent malformation (34.4%; 170/494 total observed), with the craniofacial region showing the greatest diversity of malformations (17/35 types). Given the geographical position of SPC, extreme environmental conditions (e.g. cold, heat, and dryness) could be one of the main causes of teratogenesis in this species. However, more studies are needed regarding the presence of contaminants, genetic factors, health assessments of nesting females, and malformation rates of nests that remain in situ versus those that are relocated.
Frecuencia de hábitos orales y alteraciones dentoalveolares en niños de 7 a 12 años de edad en un centro dental docente de Lima- Perú. Estudio Retrospectivo
Authors: Vicente Ramos Nadia Paola , Silva-Esteves Raffo José Fernando , León-Manco Roberto Antonio
Published: October 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of oral habits and dentoalveolar alterations in children from 7 to 12 years. Materials and methods: The study is descriptive, cross-sectional and a retrospective study. Children’s orthodontic medical records between 7 to 12 years were revised at the pediatric dentistry service of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia during the period 2015-2020. Results: 149 dental records were reviewed, 55.7% (n = 83) female and 44.3% (n = 66) were male. The prevalence of oral habits was 38.93%, the most frequent habits were tongue thrusting (21.48%), lip sucking (10.07%) and mouth breathing (8.72%). Transverse anomalies such as anterior crossbite (30.20%), vertical anomalies like deep bite (24.16%) and sagittal anomalies, such as class I malocclusion (57.72%), class II malocclusion (23.49%) and class III malocclusion (18.79%) were found. The congenital dentoalveolar alterations found was, absent permanent tooth (17.45%); and in other acquired alterations, midline deviation (79.87%), and dental crowding (77.86%). Conclusions: Tongue thrust is the most frequent oral habit. Other usual dentoalveolar anomalies are midline deviation, dental crowding and class I malocclusion.
Evaluating spatial and temporal variations in sub-field level crop water demands
Authors: Wiederstein Travis , Sharda Vaishali , Aguilar Jonathan , Hefley Trevor , Ciampitti Ignacio Antonio , Sharda Ajay , Igwe Kelechi
Published: October 2022

Variable rate irrigation (VRI) requires accurate knowledge of crop water demands at the sub-field level. Existing VRI practices commonly use one or more variables like soil electrical conductivity, historical yields, and topographic maps to delineate variable rate zones. However, these data sets do not quantify within season variability in crop water demands. Crop coefficients are widely used to help estimate evapotranspiration (ET) at different stages of a crop’s growth cycle, and past research has shown how remotely sensed data can identify differences in crop coefficients at regional and field levels. However, the amount of spatial and temporal variation in crop coefficients at the sub-field level (i.e. within a single center pivot system) has not been widely researched. This study aims to compare sub-field ET estimates from two remote sensing platforms and quantify spatial and temporal variations in aggregated sub-field level ET. Vegetation indices and reference ET data were collected at Kansas State University’s Southwest Research Extension Center (SWREC) and two Water Technology Farms during the 2020 corn growing season. Weekly maps of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) from aerial imagery are combined with empirical equations from existing literature to estimate both basal and combined crop coefficients at a 1-meter resolution. These ET estimates are aggregated to a 30 m resolution and compared to the Landsat Provisional Actual ET dataset. Finally, actual ET estimates from aerial images were aggregated using k-means clustering and stationary variable speed zones to determine if there is enough variation in actual ET at the sub-field level to build variable rate irrigation schedules. An equivalence test demonstrated that the aerial imagery and Landsat data sources produce significantly different crop coefficient estimates. However, the two datasets were moderately correlated with Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients ranging from -0.95 to 0.86. Both the aerial imaging and Landsat datasets showed high variability in crop coefficients during the first 5-6 weeks after emergence, with these coefficients becoming more spatially uniform later in the growing season. These crop coefficients may help irrigators make more informed irrigation management decisions during the growing season. However, more research is needed to validate these remotely sensed ET estimates and integrate them into an irrigation decision support system.
Astragalus polysaccharide protects sepsis model rats after cecum ligation and puncture
Authors: Li Jun , Zhao Jie , Chai Yihui , Li Wen , Liu Xiaoqing , Chen Yunzhi
Published: October 2022

To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on septic rats, the present project applied APS at concentrations of 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg/d to rats for prophylactic administration for 7 d, and a rat sepsis model was constructed by the cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) method. Forty-eight rats were divided into six groups of eight each. Each experiment was repeated at least three times. Rat serum levels of VD3, 25(OH)D3, 1,25(OH)2D3, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, sICAM-1, corticosterone (CORT), and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in each group were detected, and renal damage was observed by H&E. We also determined the protein expression of CYP27B1, CYP24A1, vitamin D receptor (VDR), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), CYP21A2, CYP17A1, and CYP11B1. An operational taxonomic unit (OTU) was used to determine the gut microbiota diversity of septic rats after prophylactic administration and before modeling. Results revealed that APS markedly increased the contents of 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 but greatly decreased those of TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, sICAM-1, and CORT. APS alleviated renal tubular dilation and vascular congestion in rat kidneys and substantially reduced renal cell apoptosis. Moreover, the expression of CYP24A1, VDR, CYP11B1, CYP21A2, CYP17A1, STAR, and 3β-HSD in the kidneys of the H-APS group was substantially decreased compared to that of the model group, whereas CYP27B1 was markedly increased. GC-MS detection indicated a substantial increase in SCFAs and acetic acid content in the H-APS group versus model group. Through 16S sequencing, the abundance of genus and gut microbiota species increased in the APS groups compared to that of the control group. Taken together, APS increased the activity of the vitamin D axis, inhibited the production of inflammatory factors in the body, altered the structure of rat intestinal flora, and increased the amount of acetic acid and SCFAs in rats, thereby effectively hindering inflammation and organ damage in septic rats.
Hydration monitoring and rehydration guidance system for athletes based on urine color’s L*a*b* parameters
Authors: Feng Yiwei , Fang Guoliang , Li Minghai , Cui Shuqiang , Geng Xue , Qu Chaoyi , Zhao Jiexiu
Published: October 2022

Maintaining proper hydration is essential for athletes to sustain optimal performance and preserve their physical health. Existing studies have confirmed that urine color is one of the effective indicators for the subjective evaluation of athletes’ hydration through the urine color chart. However, the use of urine color charts to evaluate hydration is easily affected by the test environment, urine container and subjective feeling. At present, there are few hydration monitoring instruments based on quantitative analysis of urine color. In recent years, the L*a*b* color model has been widely used in the objective quantitative analysis of color. The L* value represents the luminance change from black to white, the a* value represents the chromaticity change from green to red, and the b* value represents the chromaticity change from blue to yellow. Our previous research has confirmed that the urine color b ∗ value is an effective new indicator to evaluate the hydration of athletes. The research team developed a urine hydration monitoring and rehydration guidance system based on the urine color’s L*a*b* parameters via wireless network technology and digital image technology. The hardware structure of the system is composed of a cuvette, a standard light source, a camera, an image collector, a host system, and a touch screen system. The system software is composed of functional modules, such as user information, image acquisition, image processing, and image recognition. The system operation process includes starting the system, filling in basic information, putting the sample, testing the sample, local data review, local data upload, and cloud data review. The system exhibits stable performance, a friendly operation interface, and simple and fast testing. It can objectively and accurately evaluate the hydration of athletes and provide personalized rehydration guidance. The system offers a new method for solving practical problems in sports training, and it has broad application prospects.
The intracellular cation channel TMEM176B as a dual immunoregulator
Authors: Hill Marcelo , Russo Sofía , Olivera Daniela , Malcuori Mateo , Galliussi Germán , Segovia Mercedes
Published: October 2022

Characterizing immune regulatory pathways is critical to understand physiological and pathophysiological processes as well as to identify novel immunotherapeutic targets. The cation channel TMEM176B has emerged in the last years as a potential new immunoregulatory player and pharmacological target. Here, we review how expression data, clinical associations of genetic variants and functional studies support a dual role for TMEM176B in regulating immune responses. Thus, TMEM176B can inhibit effector immune responses in some settings whereas it may also promote immunity by supporting antigen presentation in others. We also discuss a potential role for TMEM176B in regulating type 2 and 3 immunity and comment recent data on modulation of DC biology and inflammasome activation as well as CD8+ T cell responses. Understanding the role of TMEM176B in immunity is critical to propose rational pharmacological approaches targeting this channel.
Committed to implementing CCU? A comparison of the policy mix in the US and the EU
Authors: Thielges Sonja , Olfe-Kräutlein Barbara , Rees Alexander , Jahn Joschka , Sick Volker , Quitzow Rainer
Published: October 2022

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies aim to use carbon dioxide (CO2), either captured from industrial point sources or from the atmosphere, instead of fossil carbon in the production of a variety of valuable goods. CCU has the potential to contribute to emission reductions and to lower raw material consumption as well to foster transitional processes toward a circular economy. To enable societies to take full advantage of this potential, policy support is needed in overcoming current barriers and fostering CCU implementation as a feasible option for the industry. Based on a literature and online investigation, this paper identifies and compares the current policy mixes for CCU in the US and the EU, focusing on policy strategies and existing and proposed policy instruments. The analysis shows that US strategy documents, with very few exceptions, do not mention CCU specifically in the context of the country's 2030 or 2050 climate targets. In the EU, in contrast, the future role of CCU is clearly linked to achieving climate-neutrality by 2050. The main policy instruments to incentivize the implementation of CCU in the US are tax credits (45Q). Moreover, funding exists for research and development efforts. In the EU, many reform proposals are currently underway that could benefit CCU technologies. At present, policy support, for instance through the Renewable Energy Directive, mainly aims at renewable fuels of non-biological origin while in other areas CCU support remains at odds with principles such as “energy efficiency first”. The EU does, however, have a broad range of funding opportunities available for research, development and demonstration projects. The paper uses the cross-regional comparison of policy mixes to formulate policy recommendations to improve policy mixes for CCU. A clearer strategic commitment to CCU, its incorporation into green public procurement guidelines, incorporating CCU across different funding schemes for sustainable energy transition, and ambitious new targets for renewable electricity and green hydrogen, for instance, could help develop the policy mixes further to provide a supportive framework for CCU.
Seasonal variability of future extreme precipitation and associated trends across the Contiguous U.S.
Authors: Dollan Ishrat Jahan , Maggioni Viviana , Johnston Jeremy , Coelho Gustavo de A. , Kinter James L.
Published: October 2022

Global climate models and long-term observational records point to the intensification of extreme precipitation due to global warming. Such intensification has direct implications for worsening floods and damage to life and property. This study investigates the projected trends (2015–2100) in precipitation climatology and daily extremes using Community Earth System Model Version 2 large ensemble (CESM2-LE) simulations at regional and seasonal scales. Specifically, future extreme precipitation is examined in National Climate Assessment (NCA) regions over the Contiguous United States using SSP3-7.0 (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway). Extreme precipitation is analyzed in terms of daily maximum precipitation and simple daily intensity index (SDII) using Mann-Kendall (5% significance level) and Theil-Sen (TS) regression. The most substantial increases occur in the highest precipitation values (95th) during summer and winter clustered in the Midwest and Northeast, respectively, according to long-term extreme trends evaluated in quantiles (i.e., 25, 50, 75, and 95th). Seasonal climatology projections suggest wetting and drying patterns, with wetting in spring and winter in the eastern areas and drying during summer in the Midwest. Lower quantiles in the central U.S. are expected to remain unchanged, transitioning to wetting patterns in the fall due to heavier precipitation. Winter positive trends (at a 5% significance level) are most prevalent in the Northeast and Southeast, with an overall ensemble agreement on such trends. In spring, these trends are predominantly found in the Midwest. In the Northeast and Northern Great Plains, the intensity index shows a consistent wetting pattern in spring, winter, and summer, whereas a drying pattern is projected in the Midwest during summer. Normalized regional changes are a function of indices, quantiles, and seasons. Specifically, seasonal accumulations present larger changes (~30% and above) in summer and lower changes (< ~20%) in winter in the Southern Great Plains and the Southwestern U.S. Examining projections of extreme precipitation change across distinct quantiles provides insights into the projected variability of regional precipitation regimes over the coming decades.
Knowledge gaps and future directions in cognitive functions in children and adolescents with primary arterial hypertension: A systematic review
Authors: Lucas Ignacio , Puteikis Kristijonas , Sinha Manish D. , Litwin Mieczysław , Merkevicius Kajus , Azukaitis Karolis , Rus Rina , Pac Michał , Obrycki Lukasz , Bårdsen Tonje , Śladowska-Kozłowska Joanna , Sagsak Elif , Lurbe Empar , Jiménez-Murcia Susana , Jankauskiene Augustina , Fernández-Aranda Fernando
Published: October 2022

Arterial hypertension (AH) among adults is known to be associated with worse cognitive outcomes. Similarly, children and adolescents with AH could be expected to underperform during neuropsychological evaluations when compared with healthy peers. Our aims were to review the existing literature on cognitive functioning among children and adolescents with primary AH and to identify what additional evidence may be needed to substantiate the impact of hypertension on poor cognitive outcomes in this population. We conducted a systematic review of articles in PubMed and Web of Science published before 17 January 2022, reporting on cognitive testing among children and adolescents with primary AH. From 1,316 records, 13 were included in the review—7 used battery-testing while other employed indirect measures of cognitive functions. Most of the studies reported worse results among individuals with AH. Results of two prospective trials suggested that cognitive functioning may improve after starting antihypertensive treatment. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was shown to be more strongly related to cognitive testing results than office measures of blood pressure. Significant confounders, namely obesity and sleep apnea, were identified throughout the studies. Our review indicates that evidence relating AH with poor cognitive functioning among youth is usually based on indirect measures of executive functions (e.g., questionnaires) rather than objective neuropsychological tests. Future prospective trials set to test different cognitive domains in children and adolescents undergoing treatment for AH are endorsed and should consider using standardized neuropsychological batteries as well as adjust the assessing results for obesity and sleep disorders.
Surgical management of the aortic arch in patients with inherited aortopathy
Authors: Lucchese Gianluca , Bilkhu Rajdeep
Published: October 2022

Surgical management of the aortic root and ascending aorta has seen an evolution over the past 50 years. Despite the widely available guidelines for management of the aortic root and ascending aorta, including in those with connective tissue disease and inherited aortopathies, there are generally no clear guideline indications for when to intervene on the aortic arch in these patients. This perhaps may be related to the fact that whilst the majority of acquired aortopathies, and also in non-syndromic aortopathies such as in bicuspid aortic valve, size criteria are utilized to decide on when to intervene, the use of size criteria may not be appropriate in those with syndromic inherited aortopathies. The aim of the present mini review is to provide a general overview and guidance for the surgical management of patients with inherited aortopathies.
Transit time flow measurement guiding the surgical treatment for anomalous origin of the right coronary artery: A case report
Authors: Jiritano Federica , Leone Angelo , Greco Francesco , Leporace Mario , Bova Carlo , Aiello Vincenzo , Serraino Giuseppe Filiberto , Mastroroberto Pasquale
Published: October 2022

Anomalous origin of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus of Valsalva (ACAOS) in symptomatic patients is a rare but serious finding whose treatment consists of a surgical correction. The surgical treatment has a level of complexity that could vary from unroofing and ostioplasty to coronary artery bypass grafting. We present our management of a 59-year-old woman presenting with chest pain and dyspnea for right ACAOS with an interarterial route. The right coronary artery (RCA) was bypassed with the right internal thoracic artery. An intraoperative transit time flowmetry (TTFM) showed a competitive flow from the native RCA. RCA proximal ligation site was identified intraoperatively, considering the best mean graft flow (MGF) and the absence of ischemic events. The patient was discharged after a week without adverse events. The 1-year follow-up was uneventful. The intraoperative use of TTFM could guide the surgeon’s hand making straightforward the surgical treatment for ACAOS.
The evolution of arch surgery: Frozen elephant trunk or conventional elephant trunk?
Authors: Moula Amalia I. , Romeo Jamie L. R. , Parise Gianmarco , Parise Orlando , Maessen Jos G. , Natour Ehsan , Bidar Elham , Gelsomino Sandro
Published: October 2022

Treatment of aortic arch aneurysms and dissections require highly complex surgical procedures with devastating complications and mortality rates. Currently, repair of the complete arch until the proximal descending thoracic aorta consists of a two-stage procedure, called elephant trunk (ET) technique, or a single stage a single-stage technique referred to as frozen elephant trunk (FET). There is conflicting evidence about the perioperative results of ET in comparison with FET. We carried out a meta-analysis to investigate possible differences in perioperative and early (up to 30 days) outcomes of ET vs. FET, particularly for mortality, spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, and renal failure. We also performed a meta-regression to explore the effects of age and sex as possible cofactors. Twenty-one studies containing data from interventions conducted between 1997 and 2019 and published between 2008 and 2021 with 3153 patients (68.5% male) were included. ET was applied to 1,693 patients (53.7%) and FET to 1460 (46.3%). Overall mortality after ET was 250/1693 (14.8%) and after FET 116/1460 (7.9%). Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.37 [1.04 to 1.81],p= 0.027. There was no significant effect of age and sex. SCI occurrence after the second stage of ET was 45/1693 (2.7%) and after FET 70/1,460 patients (4.8%) RR 0.53 [0.35 to 0.81],p= 0.004. Age and sex were not associated with the risk of SCI. No significant differences were observed between ET and FET in the incidence of stroke and renal failure. Our results indicate that ET is associated with higher early mortality but lower incidence of SCI compared to FET. When studies published in the last 5 years were analyzed, no significant differences in mortality or SCI were found between ET and FET. This difference is attributed to a decrease in mortality after ET, as the mortality after FET did not change significantly over time.
Comparison of insulin requirements across gestation in women with hyperglycemia in pregnancy: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Rao Chong , Ping Fan
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The aim of this study is to explore the daily insulin dose and the percentage change in preprandial and basal insulin dosage of women with different types of hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) during the whole gestation and postpartum period.

Methods

A total of 121 subjects with HIP requiring insulin therapy were enrolled from a prospective cohort consisted of 436 pregnant women with hyperglycemia. The subjects were divided into three groups: Group 1 [type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)], Group 2 [type 1 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)], and Group 3 [gestation diabetes mellitus (GDM)]. The primary study measurements included daily dose and percentage of different types of exogenous insulin requirements across gestation in different groups.

Results

Insulin total daily dosage of Group 1 was highest among the three groups and increased significantly from the first to the second/third trimester. Percentage of preprandial insulin increased from 53.8% (46.7, 60.0) and 54.5% (42.3, 62.9) in the first trimester to 63.6% (54.9, 75.0) and 67.2% (51.8, 73.7) in the second/third trimester in Group 1 and Group 2. All subjects with T1DM and 18.6% of subjects with T2DM still required insulin administration after delivery, with a 26.9% (19.0, 46.0) and 36.7% (26.9, 52.6) decrease in total insulin dose, respectively, whereas subjects with GDM and MODY weaned off insulin completely.

Conclusion

The insulin requirements for pregnancy complicated with T1DM and MODY were higher than those for T2DM and GDM. In the subjects with PGDM, the insulin requirement and percentage of preprandial insulin increased gradually from early to mid- and late pregnancy.
Ultrastructure and regulation of color change in blue spots of leopard coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
Authors: Zhao Nannan , Ge Xiaoyu , Jiang Ke , Huang Jing , Wei Ke , Sun Chao , Chen Shi Xi
Published: October 2022

The leopard coral trout generally exhibited numerous round, minute blue spots covering its head (about the size of nostril) and body (except ventral side). This is a characteristic that distinguishes them from similar species. Recently, however, we found the leopard coral trout with black spots. Here, the distribution and ultrastructure of chromatophores in the blue and black spots were investigated with light and transmission electron microscopies. The results showed that in the blue spots, two types of chromatophores are present in the dermis, with the light-reflecting iridophores located in the upper layer and the aggregated light-absorbing melanophores in the lower layer. Black spots have a similar chromatophore composition, except that the melanosomes within the melanophores disperse their dendritic processes to encircle the iridophores. Interestingly, after the treatment of forskolin, a potent adenylate cyclase activator, the blue spots on the body surface turned black. On the other hand, using the skin preparations in vitro, the electrical stimulation and norepinephrine treatment returned the spots to blue color again, indicating the sympathetic nerves were involved in regulating the coloration of blue spots. Taken together, our results revealed that the blue spots of the leopard coral trout can change color to black and vice versa, resulting from the differences in the distribution of melanosomes, which enriches our understanding of the body color and color changes of fishes.
High levels of oxidized fatty acids in HDL impair the antioxidant function of HDL in patients with diabetes
Authors: Feng Juan , Wang Yunfeng , Li Weixi , Zhao Yue , Liu Yi , Yao Xingang , Liu Shuwen , Yu Ping , Li Rongsong
Published: October 2022

Aims

Previous studies demonstrate that the antioxidant functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are impaired in diabetic patients. The composition of HDL plays an important role in maintaining the normal functionality of HDL. In this study, we compared the levels of oxidized fatty acids in HDL from diabetic subjects and non-diabetic healthy controls, aiming to investigate the role of oxidized fatty acids in the antioxidant property of HDL.

Methods

HDL was isolated from healthy subjects (n=6) and patients with diabetes (n=6, hemoglobin A1c ≥ 9%, fasting glucose ≥ 7 mmol/L) using a dextran sulfate precipitation method. Cholesterol efflux capacity mediated by HDL was measured on THP-1 derived macrophages. The antioxidant capacity of HDL was evaluated with dichlorofluorescein-based cellular assay in human aortic endothelial cells. Oxidized fatty acids in HDL were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The correlations between the levels of oxidized fatty acids in HDL and the endothelial oxidant index in cells treated with HDLs were analyzed through Pearson’s correlation analyses, and the effects of oxidized fatty acids on the antioxidant function of HDL were verified in vitro.

Results

The cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL and the circulating HDL-cholesterol were similar in diabetic patients and healthy controls, whereas the antioxidant capacity of HDL was significantly decreased in diabetic patients. There were higher levels of oxidized fatty acids in HDL isolated from diabetic patients, which were strongly positively correlated with the oxidant index of cells treated with HDLs. The addition of a mixture of oxidized fatty acids significantly disturbed the antioxidant activity of HDL from healthy controls, while the apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide D-4F could restore the antioxidant function of HDL from diabetic patients.

Conclusion

HDL from diabetic patients displayed substantially impaired antioxidant activity compared to HDL from healthy subjects, which is highly correlated with the increased oxidized fatty acids levels in HDL.
Free, bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and their association with diabetic ketoacidosis in children with type 1 diabetes at diagnosis
Authors: Choe Yunsoo , Lee Yun Jeong , Kim Jae Hyun , Lee Kyunghoon , Shin Choong Ho , Lee Young Ah , Song Junghan
Published: October 2022

Background

Considering the roles of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in glucose homeostasis and immune modulation, vitamin D deficiency may be related to the development of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). We evaluated the total, free, bioavailable 25OHD levels and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) levels and genotypes between T1DM patients and controls.

Methods

This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 84 children with T1DM (38 boys and 46 girls, 8.0 ± 3.6 years) and 1:1 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. A multiplex liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based assay was used to simultaneously measure vitamin D metabolites.

Results

Patients with T1DM had lower levels of total 25OHD (16.3 ± 5.1 vs. 19.9 ± 6.5 ng/mL, P< 0.001) and VDBP (146.0 ± 27.8 vs. 224.9 ± 36.1 µg/mL, P = 0.001), but higher free 25OHD (8.0 ± 2.5 vs. 6.5 ± 2.3 pg/mL, P< 0.001) than controls. Patients who presented with DKA had lower levels of 25OHD in the total (15.0 ± 4.6 vs. 17.6 ± 5.2 ng/mL, P = 0.020), free (7.5 ± 2.6 vs. 8.4 ± 2.4 pg/mL, P = 0.059), and bioavailable (2.3 ± 0.9 vs. 2.8 ± 0.8 ng/mL, P = 0.014) forms than those without DKA at the T1DM diagnosis. The lower the total, free, and bioavailable 25OHD levels at diagnosis, the lower the pH and HCO3-. The proportions of the VDBP genotypes did not differ between the patients and controls.

Conclusion

Patients with T1DM had higher levels of free 25OHD than healthy children, despite lower levels of total 25OHD. However, patients with DKA exhibited lower levels of bioavailable 25OHD than those without DKA at the T1DM diagnosis. The lower the concentrations of free and bioavailable 25OHD, the more severe the acidosis at the initial T1DM presentation.
The effect of microwave hydrothermal treatment on the combustion behavior of sewage sludge
Authors: Jin Zechen , Zhang Qian , Qiu Fengxiang , Hu Weijie , Feng Yuheng , Zhang Shuping
Published: October 2022

In this study, the thermal behavior of microwave hydrothermal char of sewage sludge (MTC) was compared with dried sludge (DS) and char produced by electric hydrothermal treatment (ETC). The retention ratio of volatile matter in MTC was raised by 51.2% compared with in HTS, while their dewaterability by centrifugation were very close. The kinetic parameters of thermal disposal process of the DS and hydrochars were determined from TG analysis. It was found that the activation energy of combustion was reduced from 44.20 kJ/mol of DS to 47.29 kJ/mol for ETC. For MTC, the activation energy was slightly decreased (43.22 kJ/mol). In addition, the highest weight loss rate (0.49%/min) in combustion was also found for MTC. The evolution of gaseous nitrogen compounds was obtained by FTIR analyzer combined with TG. The results indicated that in devolatilization process, the emission of NH3, the main precursor of NOx in combustion, was postulated to higher temperature for MTC. In conclusion, MTC has a better combustion performance and a close dewaterability compared with to ETC. This study provided a new choice for the pre-treatment method of sewage sludge before combustion.
Assessing the changes of the monetary value of mangrove ecosystem services in China and its application
Authors: Lin Chun-Yu , Fu Chen-Yang , Liu Ying , Zhang Meng-Qi , Liu Yang , Wu Wan-Yu , Wang Li-Xia , Lin Xiang-Hong , Fu Xiu-Mei
Published: October 2022

With the development of marine economy and climate changing, the ecological value of mangrove ecosystem has become increasingly prominent. In this study, the ecological values of China’s mangrove ecosystem services was evaluated based on the four services and nine functions of mangrove ecosystem. On this basis, the dynamic changing characteristics of the nine mangrove ecological values from 2001 to 2019 were analyzed. The results indicated that the top four service values were that of preventing coastal erosion, raw material supply, regulating water resources, and regulating climate and maintaining air quality. Significant changes were found in China’s mangrove areas which increased during 2001–2013 and decreased during 2013–2019, while the unit area value of mangrove ecosystem services generally showed an upward trend. Subsequently, the evaluation results were applied to mangrove asset management with balance sheets, ecological compensation standard determination, and carbon trading in blue carbon sink. Based on the above analysis, the corresponding countermeasures and suggestions were proposed for mangrove protection and value application to guide effective management on mangroves and further to realize a higher ecological value of mangrove ecosystem.
Effects of oil characteristics on the performance of shoreline response operations: A review
Authors: Chen Xinya , Bi Huifang , Yue Rengyu , Chen Zhikun , An Chunjiang
Published: October 2022

Marine oil spills are serious ecological disasters that have massive adverse impacts on the environment. The impacts are even worse once the spilled oil is stranded on a shoreline. A series of shoreline cleanup methods are deployed to remove spilled oil, but their performance can be affected by the stranded oil. This review therefore comprehensively investigates the characteristics of spilled oil on the shoreline and explores their effects on the effectiveness of shoreline response operations. First, the five basic groups of spilled oil (i.e., non-persistent light oils, persistent light oils, medium oils, heavy oils, and sinking oils) are discussed and each oil fraction is introduced. Three distribution scenarios of adhered oil on shorelines are also analyzed. The effects of oil characteristics, such as oil type, viscosity, evaporation, and composition, on the performance of chemical treatments, physical methods, and biodegradation are then discussed and analyzed. Finally, the article provides recommendations for future research on aspects of shoreline oiling prevention, quick responses, response tool sets, and other considerations, which may have significant implications for future decision-making and the implementation of shoreline cleanup to effectively remove stranded oil.
Quantifying resilience of socio-ecological systems through dynamic Bayesian networks
Authors: Franco-Gaviria Felipe , Amador-Jiménez Mónica , Millner Naomi , Durden Charlotte , Urrego Dunia H.
Published: October 2022

Quantifying resilience of socio-ecological systems (SES) can be invaluable to delineate management strategies of natural resources and aid the resolution of socio-environmental conflicts. However, resilience is difficult to quantify and the factors contributing to it are often unknown. We provide a theoretical and conceptual framework to quantify resilience in a long-term context. Our approach uses elements from interdisciplinarity and network perspectives to establish links and causalities between social and ecological variables and resilience attributes. The evaluation and modeling of SES structure and function are established from the analysis of dynamic Bayesian networks (DBN). DBN models allow quantifying resilience through probabilities and offer a platform of interdisciplinary dialogue and an adaptive framework to address questions on ecosystem monitoring and management. The proposed DBN is tested in Monquentiva, a SES located in the high Andes of Colombia. We determined historical socio-ecological resilience from paleoecological evidence (palynological diversity, forest cover, fires, and precipitation) and social-economic factors (governance, social organization, and connectivity) between 1920 and 2019. We find that transformation processes in Monquentiva are mainly related to social change (e.g., social organization) and increased ecological diversity that in turn have fostered SES resilience between 1980 and 2019. The ability to predict the SES response over time and under cumulative, non-linear interactions across a complex ecosystem highlights the utility of DBNs for decision support and environmental management. We conclude with a series of management and policy-relevant applications of the DBN approach for SES resilience assessment.
An immunogenic cell death-associated classification predictions are important for breast invasive carcinoma prognosis and immunotherapy
Authors: Liao Xinghe , Liu Hui , Zhang Zhe , Zhang Jing , Zhang Chenyue , Zhao Weiwei
Published: October 2022

As a type of regulated cell death (RCD), immunogenic cell death (ICD) can initiate the adaptive immune responses. Numerous reports highlight the capacity of ICD to alter the tumor immune microenvironment by releasing Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMP) or danger signals to boost the efficacy of immunotherapy. Therefore, identification of the ICD-associated biomarkers is crucial for the prediction of ICD-induced immune responses. In this report, the consensus clustering technique was used to identify two subcategories (subtypes) linked to ICD. In comparison to the ICD-low subcategory, the ICD-high subcategory showed longer survival and more immune cell infiltration. Then, a novel ICD-associated prognostic model was developed and validated for predicting the survival of patients with breast invasive carcinomas (BRCA) and is linked to the tumor immune microenvironment. To conclude, a novel ICD-based BRCA classification scheme was designed. For individuals with BRCA, this categorization will be crucial for directing the assessment of prognosis and treatment.
Exosome-encapsulated ncRNAs: Emerging yin and yang of tumor hallmarks
Authors: Khan Nazoora , Umar Mohd Saad , Haq Mohamed , Rauf Talha , Zubair Swaleha , Owais Mohammad
Published: October 2022

Tumorigenesis is a multifaceted process, where multiple physiological traits serving as cancer’s distinctive characteristics are acquired. “Hallmarks of cancer” is a set of cognitive abilities acquired by human cells that are pivotal to their tumor-forming potential. With limited or no protein-coding ability, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) interact with their target molecules and yield significant regulatory effects on several cell cycle processes. They play a “yin” and “yang” role, thereby functioning both as oncogenic and tumor suppressor and considered important in the management of various types of cancer entities. ncRNAs serve as important post-transcriptional and translational regulators of not only unrestricted expansion and metastasis of tumor cells but also of various biological processes, such as genomic mutation, DNA damage, immune escape, and metabolic disorder. Dynamical attributes such as increased proliferative signaling, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition are considered to be significant determinants of tumor malignancy, metastatic dissemination, and therapeutic resistance. Furthermore, these biological attributes engage tumor cells with immune cells within the tumor microenvironment to promote tumor formation. We elaborate the interaction of ncRNAs with various factors in order to regulate cancer intra/intercellular signaling in a specific tumor microenvironment, which facilitates the cancer cells in acquiring malignant hallmarks. Exosomes represent a means of intercellular communication and participate in the maintenance of the tumor hallmarks, adding depth to the intricate, multifactorial character of malignant neoplasia. To summarize, ncRNAs have a profound impact on tumors, affecting their microcirculation, invasiveness, altered metabolism, microenvironment, and the capacity to modify the host immunological environment. Though the significance of ncRNAs in crosstalk between the tumor and its microenvironment is being extensively explored, we intend to review the hallmarks in the light of exosome-derived non-coding RNAs and their impact on the tumor microenvironment.
Transcriptome analysis reveals pathogenesis-related gene 1 pathway against salicylic acid treatment in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L)
Authors: Rahman Faiz Ur , Khan Irshad Ahmad , Aslam Ali , Liu Ruitao , Sun Lei , Wu Yandi , Aslam Muhammad Muzammal , Khan Asad Ullah , Li Peng , Jiang Jianfu , Fan Xiucai , Liu Chonghuai , Zhang Ying
Published: October 2022

Salicylic acid (SA) is a well-studied phenolic plant hormone that plays an important role in plant defense against the hemi-biothrophic and biothrophic pathogens and depends on the living cells of host for the successful infection. In this study, a pathogenesis test was performed betweenVitis davidiiandV. viniferacultivars against grape white rot disease (Coniella diplodiella).V. davidiiwas found to be resistant against this disease. SA contents were found to be higher in the resistant grape cultivar after different time points. RNA-seq analysis was conducted on susceptible grapevine cultivars after 12, 24, and 48 h of SA application with the hypothesis that SA may induce defense genes in susceptible cultivars. A total of 511 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the RNA-seq data, including some important genes,VvWRKY1/2, VvNPR1,VvTGA2, andVvPR1,for the SA defense pathway. DEGs related to phytohormone signal transduction and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways were also upregulated. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results of the significantly expressed transcripts were found to be consistent with the transcriptome data, with a high correlation between the two analyses. The pathogenesis-related gene 1 (VvPR1), which is an important marker gene for plant defense, was selected for further promoter analysis. The promoter sequence showed that it contains some important cis-elements (W-box, LS7, as-1, and TCA-element) to recruit the transcription factorsVvWRKY, VvNPR1, andVvTGA2to express theVvPR1gene in response to SA treatment. Furthermore, theVvPR1promoter was serially deleted into different fragments (−1,837, −1,443, −1,119, −864, −558, −436, and −192 ) bp and constructed vectors with the GUS reporter gene. Deletion analysis revealed that theVvPR1promoter between −1837 bp to −558 bp induced significant GUS expression with respect to the control. On the basis of these results, the −558 bp region was assumed to be an important part of theVvPR1promoter, and this region contained the important cis-elements related to SA, such as TCA-element (−1,472 bp), LS7 (−1,428 bp), andas-1(−520 bp), that recruit the TFs and induce the expression of theVvPR1gene. This study expanded the available information regarding SA-induced defense in susceptible grapes and recognized the molecular mechanisms through which this defense might be mediated.