bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does endovascular duration impact clinical outcomes in aortic arch repair? The RELAY™ branched international stance
Authors: Tan Sven Z. C. P. , Surkhi Abedalaziz O. , Jubouri Matti , Bailey Damian M. , Williams Ian M. , Bashir Mohamad
Published: July 2022

Background

The high mortality and morbidity rates in surgical aortic arch repair are a barrier to therapy for a considerable proportion of patients with aortic arch aneurysm or dissection. There is hence a demand for the development and adoption of a minimally invasive alternative to aortic arch repair, such as thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Procedural duration is a key factor in the pathogenesis of complications in surgical aortic arch repair. Herein, we evaluate whether endovascular duration impacts neurological outcomes, target vessel patency, and reintervention rates in aortic arch TEVAR with RELAY™ Branched (Terumo Aortic, Inchinnan, UK), which is specifically developed for on-label use within the aortic arch.

Methods

Prospective data was collected between January 2019 and January 2022 on the clinical outcomes of TEVAR for aortic arch dissection and aneurysm with RELAY™ single-, double-, and triple branched endoprostheses from centers across Europe. They were then retrospectively analyzed with descriptive and distributive analysis. Follow-up data on the incidence of disabling stroke (DS), target vessel patency, and reintervention from 30 days and 6-, 12-, and 24 months postoperative was included in the analysis.

Results

147 (99.3%) of all 148 cases were successful. Over the 24 month follow-up period, in total 6 (4.1%) patients suffered DS, 24 (16.3%) required reintervention, and target vessel patency was exhibited in 118 (80.2%) patients. The modal endovascular duration was 100–150 min (in 64.6%, n = 95 cases). Analysis revealed that endovascular duration was associated with a lower likelihood of reintervention at 30 days, 6-, and 12 months (P = 0.011, P = 0.019, P = 0.037), a greater likelihood of target vessel patency at 6- and 24 months (P = 0.032, P = 0.035). No relationship between endovascular duration and DS was revealed.

Discussion

The data demonstrates that RELAY™ Branched is associated with promising clinical outcomes for on-label aortic arch TEVAR. The underlying mechanism linking endovascular duration and reintervention rates, or target vessel patency is likely multifactorial and complex. Given that TEVAR is carried out under general anesthetic only, it is unlikely that prolonged procedural duration has any major effect over neurological outcomes for arch TEVAR.
Identifying and addressing data asymmetries so as to enable (better) science
Authors: Verhulst Stefaan , Young Andrew
Published: July 2022

As a society, we need to become more sophisticated in assessing and addressing data asymmetries—and their resulting political and economic power inequalities—particularly in the realm of open science, research, and development. This article seeks to start filling the analytical gap regarding data asymmetries globally, with a specific focus on the asymmetrical availability of privately-held data for open science, and a look at current efforts to address these data asymmetries. It provides a taxonomy of asymmetries, as well as both their societal and institutional impacts. Moreover, this contribution outlines a set of solutions that could provide a toolbox for open science practitioners and data demand-side actors that stand to benefit from increased access to data. The concept of data liquidity (and portability) is explored at length in connection with efforts to generate an ecosystem of responsible data exchanges. We also examine how data holders and demand-side actors are experimenting with new and emerging operational models and governance frameworks for purpose-driven, cross-sector data collaboratives that connect previously siloed datasets. Key solutions discussed include professionalizing and re-imagining data steward roles and functions (i.e., individuals or groups who are tasked with managing data and their ethical and responsible reuse within organizations). We present these solutions through case studies on notable efforts to address science data asymmetries. We examine these cases using a repurposable analytical framework that could inform future research. We conclude with recommended actions that could support the creation of an evidence base on work to address data asymmetries and unlock the public value of greater science data liquidity and responsible reuse.
A record of Holocene climate changes in central Asia derived from diatom-inferred water-level variations in Lake Kalakuli (Eastern Pamirs, western China)
Authors: Peng Yumei , Rioual Patrick , Jin Zhangdong
Published: July 2022

The unique geographical and climatic settings of the eastern Pamirs make this region sensitive to the Westerlies and global climate change. Holocene fluctuations in water-level of Lake Kalakuli, a proglacial lake located to the northwest of the Muztag Ata glacier, were reconstructed based on diatoms from a ∼15 m long sediment core spanning the last ∼9,900 years. To establish how diatom species distribute in relation to water depth in Lake Kalakuli, a dataset of 45 surface sediment samples was retrieved from different water depth. Statistical analyses such as cluster analysis (TWINSPAN) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to demonstrate that the water depth gradient is the main environmental gradient driving the distribution of these diatom assemblages. A diatom-water depth transfer function, was then developed using a weighted averaging partial least squares component 2 model (R2 = 0.89, RMSEP = 1.85 m) and applied to the Holocene diatom sequence from Lake Kalakuli. Due to the large residual errors in the model only the general trends in water level are proposed. Effective moisture increased rapidly during the early Holocene, as the water depth reached a high level from the lowest level within about two thousand years. Only small amplitude fluctuations were recorded during the mid- and late Holocene until the last few hundred years when a marked increase occurred. Changes in summer insolation over the northern hemisphere drove the advances and retreats of the Muztag Ata glacier, which in turn controlled the fluctuations of water level in this lake. The diatom-derived paleoclimatic trend from Lake Kalakuli is consistent with the Holocene climate evolution in the Westerlies-dominated area of Central Asia.
Numerical Investigation of the Combined Influence of Shield Tunneling and Pile Cutting on Underpinning Piles
Authors: Wang Ning , Jiang Yalong , Geng Daxin , Huang Zhanjun , Ding Haibin
Published: July 2022

In this study, the combined influence of shield tunneling and the old pile cutting process on underpinning piles is investigated through finite element method (FEM) modeling based on a shield tunnel project in Nanchang Metro Line 2, China. Numerical models have been developed to analyze the influence of intersection angles and the vertical distance between the underpinning foundation and tunnels on the mechanical responses of underpinning piles during tunnel excavation. Simulation results show that the bending moment of the underpinning piles decreases with increasing vertical distance between the pile and tunnel, and is inversely proportional to the intersection angle between the underpinning beam and tunnel. In addition, the maximum pile bending moment occurs in the buried depth of the tunnel axis, indicating a high risk of damage in this part. According to the simulation results, more attention should be given to the underpinning piles in case a small vertical distance and intersection angle are encountered.
Characterization and Control of Pore Structural Heterogeneity for Low-Thermal-Maturity Shale: A Case Study of the Shanxi Formation in the Northeast Zhoukou Depression, Southern North China Basin
Authors: Liu Enran , Liu Chenglin , Shi Dishi , Zhu Disi , Xu Qiuchen , Wang Yanhong
Published: July 2022

The Shanxi Formation layers in the northeast of the Zhoukou Depression, Southern North China Basin, mainly consist of dark mudstone interbed with tight stone and widely developed coal seam, which is a promising target for unconventional oil and gas exploration. A series of geochemical and geological methods were used to analyze the characterization and controls of the pores structural heterogeneity in low-thermal-maturity shale. These methods include the Rock-Eval analysis, total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, scanning electron microscope observation with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction, and low-pressure N2 adsorption. Based on these measurements, the pore diameter, specific surface area (SSA), and fractal dimension (D) were calculated, and then, the pore structure heterogeneity was analyzed. The result shows the pores of Shanxi Formation shale are mainly interparticle pores with low porosity and low permeability, and the pore structure is highly complex. The average fractal dimension of the micropore and the macropore are both 2.77, but that of the mesopore is 2.65, indicating a less-complex mesopore structure than the micropore and macropore. The S2, S1, and TOC exhibit no clear correlation with SSA and fractal dimension of pores, which proved the little impact of organic matter on the heterogeneity of pore structure in the low-maturity shale of the research area. The illite has a strong effect on the pore structural heterogeneity of Shanxi Formation shale. The samples with high content of illite show higher SSA, better physical properties, and low fractal dimension, reflecting low pore structural heterogeneity. However, the quartz and clay minerals show a slight correlation with SSA and no obvious relationship with the fractal dimension, indicating a little effect of them on the pore structure heterogeneity. The pore structural heterogeneity decreases along with the increase in porosity, while the permeability influenced by a variety of reasons under the compaction shows a poor relationship with SSA and fractal dimension. On the whole, the pore structural heterogeneity decreases for low-thermal-maturity shale with high content of illite and high porosity, which should be considered to be the better unconventional oil and gas reservoir in the research area.
Education Equality and Its Influencing Factors for Migrant Children in the Compulsory Education Stage Based on Multi-Source Data: A Case Study of Dalian, China
Authors: Zhang Zhenchao , Luan Weixin , Tian Chuang , Su Min , Li Zeyang
Published: July 2022

Inequality in the admission of migrant children is an important manifestation of inequities at the compulsory education stage in China. Spatial differences in the allocation of educational resources and the factors affecting the number of enrolled migrant children led to the following conclusions: 1) the total number of migrant children in Dalian is growing situationally, with a total increase of 29,223 from 2008 to 2020. 2) The migrant children in Dalian in 2020 are distributed in a spatially uneven manner, with most of them concentrated in the periphery of the Ganjingzi District, south of the Jinzhou area (suburban areas), where very few of them were enrolled in high-quality junior high and primary schools. 3) The distribution of educational resources differed significantly between the central urban areas and suburban areas. 4) The internal factor of schools constraining the admission of migrant children is the teacher–student ratio. For every 1% increase in the teacher–student ratio, the number of migrant children decreases by 4.12%. The main external factors affecting the admission of migrant children were rental prices and the area occupied by construction, which increased by 1% for each 2,000 m buffer range of school and 0.25% for the number of migrant children and decreased by 0.29% for each 2,000 m buffer range of the school.
Association Between Maternal Weight Gain in Different Periods of Pregnancy and the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Case–Control Study
Authors: Wu Yuelin , Pei Jindan , Dong Lingling , Zhou Zheying , Zhou Tianfan , Zhao Xiaobo , Che Ronghua , Han Zhimin , Hua Xiaolin
Published: July 2022

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains an important cause of maternal deaths. Little is known about the associations of specific periods of gestational weight gain (GWG) with the category of VTE, pulmonary embolism (PE), or deep venous thrombosis (DVT) with or without PE.

Methods

In a retrospective case–control study conducted in Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital from January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2021, cases of VTE within pregnancy or the first 6 postnatal weeks were identified. Controls without VTE were randomly selected from women giving birth on the same day as the cases, with 10 controls matched to each case. Total GWG and rates of early, mid, and late GWG values were standardized into z-scores, stratified by pre-pregnant body mass index (BMI). The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

There were 196 cases (14.4 per 10,000) of VTE within pregnancy or the first 6 postnatal weeks were identified. Higher total weight gain was associated with increased risks of PE (aOR, 13.22; 95% CI, 2.03–85.99) and VTE (OR, 10.49; 95% CI, 1.82–60.45) among women with underweight. In addition, higher total weight gain was associated with increased risk of PE (aOR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.14–3.72) among women with healthy weight. Similarly, rate of higher early weight gain was associated with significantly increased risk for PE (aOR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.05–4.42) among women with healthy BMI. The lower rate of late weight gain was associated with increased risks of PE (aOR, 7.30; 95% CI, 1.14–46.55) and VTE (OR, 7.54; 95% CI, 1.20–47.57) among women with underweight. No significant associations between maternal rate of mid GWG and increased risk for any category of VTE, PE, or DVT with or without PE were present, regardless of maternal pre-pregnant BMI.

Conclusion

The GWG associations with the category of VTE, PE, or DVT with or without PE differ at different periods of pregnancy. In order to effectively improve maternal and child outcomes, intensive weight management that continues through pregnancy may be indispensable.
Pretracheal Lymph Node Subdivision in Predicting Contralateral Central Lymph Node Metastasis for Unilateral Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Preliminary Results
Authors: Chen Qiang , Liu Yang , Lu Wei , Zhang Lingyun , Su Anping , Liu Feng , Zhu Jingqiang
Published: July 2022

Background

The aims of this study were to assess the clinical value of pretracheal lymph node subdivision in identifying patients with contralateral central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) and risk factors for occult contralateral CLNM in unilateral PTC.

Methods

A total of 139 unilateral PTC patients with a clinically node-negative neck (cN0) who underwent bilateral central neck dissection (CND) were prospectively enrolled. Intraoperatively, the pretracheal region was further divided into ipsilateral and contralateral subregions. Ipsilateral and contralateral pretracheal lymph nodes (LNs) as well as other CLNs (prelaryngeal, ipsilateral paratracheal and contralateral paratracheal) were labeled separately and sent for pathological examination. Demographic and clinicopathologic variables were analyzed to identify factors predictive of contralateral CLNM.

Results

Of 139 patients, bilateral CLNM was present in 37 (26.6%) patients. Contralateral pretracheal LNM was significantly associated with contralateral CLNM. In multivariate analysis, prelaryngeal LNM (P = 0.004, odds ratio = 3.457) and contralateral pretracheal LNM (P = 0.006, odds ratio = 3.362) were identified as risk factors for contralateral CLNM. Neither neck recurrence nor distant metastasis was observed within the mean follow-up duration of 9.1 ± 1.8 months.

Conclusions

In most unilateral cN0 PTCs, performing ipsilateral CND is appropriate, while patients presenting with evident nodal disease intraoperatively or preoperatively in the contralateral central neck should undergo bilateral CND. Intraoperative re-evaluation of prelaryngeal and contralateral pretracheal LNs may be helpful in determining the extent of CND.
End-to-End Insulator String Defect Detection in a Complex Background Based on a Deep Learning Model
Authors: Xu Weifeng , Zhong Xiaohong , Luo Man , Weng Liguo , Zhou Guohua
Published: July 2022

Normal power line insulators ensure the safe transmission of electricity. The defects of the insulator reduce the insulation, which may lead to the failure of power transmission systems. As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have developed rapidly, it is possible for workers to take and upload aerial images of insulators. Proposing a technology to detect insulator defects with high accuracy in a short time can be of great value. The existing methods suffer from complex backgrounds so that they have to locate and extract the insulators at first. Some of them make detection relative to some specific conditions such as angle, brightness, and object scale. This study aims to make end-to-end detections using aerial images of insulators, giving the locations of insulators and defects at the same time while overcoming the disadvantages mentioned above. A DEtection TRansformer (DETR) having an encoder–decoder architecture adopts convolutional neural network (CNN) as the backbone network, applies a self-attention mechanism for computing, and utilizes object queries instead of a hand-crafted process to give the direct predictions. We modified this for insulator detection in complex aerial images. Based on the dataset we constructed, our model can get 97.97 in mean average precision when setting the threshold of intersection over union at 0.5, which is better than Cascade R-CNN and YOLOv5. The inference speed of our model can reach 25 frames per second, which is qualified for actual use. Experimental results demonstrate that our model meets the robustness and accuracy requirements for insulator defect detection.
Probabilistic Prediction Intervals of Wind Speed Based on Explainable Neural Network
Authors: Huang Haoqi , Hong Yue , Wang Huaizhi
Published: July 2022

With the rapid growth of wind power penetration into modern power grids, wind speed forecasting plays an increasingly significant role in the planning and operation of electric power and energy systems. However, the existing wind speed forecasting methods are modeled as black boxes, which are very complicated and cannot be written down explicitly due to the complex fluctuation characteristics of wind speed series. To this end, this study proposes a novel direct method based on an explainable neural network (xNN) for deterministic and probabilistic wind speed forecasting. It can theoretically extract the nonlinear mapping features in wind speed, thereby providing a clear explanation of the relationship between the input and the output of the forecasting model. Then, the uncertainties in wind speed are statistically synthesized via the kernel density estimation method. Finally, we use wind speed data from real wind farms in Belgium to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The simulation results demonstrate that it is not only able to accurately extract the non-stationary feature in the wind speed series but also superior to other benchmark algorithms in prediction accuracy. Therefore, the proposed method has a high potential for practical applications in real electric power and energy systems.
Fitness Culture and Green Space Equity: Accessibility Evaluation of Shanghai Communities
Authors: Qiu Tingting , Zhou Daliang , Li Wen
Published: July 2022

In China, sports parks, and green spaces are often spatially integrated to realize the multiple functions of shared green spaces and play an important role in the production and living services of its residents. In this article, it is collectively referred to as green sport space (GSS). Whether the distribution of GSS is equal has an important impact on the sustainable lifestyle and the rehabilitation under the pandemic. Based on the POI data of the Shanghai urban area, it is preliminarily found that the areas with extremely high and high production and living densities are mainly distributed in downtown Shanghai. Polarization of the GSS distribution area and the high heat of points of interest can be seen. When the service radius of the GSS in Shanghai is 500, 750, and 1,000 m, the green space ecological service area can reach 2089.08, 3164.62, and 4469.75 km2, covering 26.17, 39.64, and 55.99% of the total area, respectively. The coverage for walking accessibility of GSSs in Shanghai is extremely uneven. Based on network analysis, the overall accessibility of GSS under the walking mode in each residential district fails to meet the standard of a 15-min living circle, with an average of 15.37 min. The evaluation results of this plan demonstrate that Shanghai needs to further provide GSS space for the public in future to improve public wellbeing and diversify sports spaces.
Don't stop me now: Managed fence gaps could allow migratory ungulates to track dynamic resources and reduce fence related energy loss
Authors: Hering Robert , Hauptfleisch Morgan , Jago Mark , Smith Taylor , Kramer-Schadt Stephanie , Stiegler Jonas , Blaum Niels
Published: July 2022

In semi-arid environments characterized by erratic rainfall and scattered primary production, migratory movements are a key survival strategy of large herbivores to track resources over vast areas. Veterinary Cordon Fences (VCFs), intended to reduce wildlife-livestock disease transmission, fragment large parts of southern Africa and have limited the movements of large wild mammals for over 60 years. Consequently, wildlife-fence interactions are frequent and often result in perforations of the fence, mainly caused by elephants. Yet, we lack knowledge about at which times fences act as barriers, how fences directly alter the energy expenditure of native herbivores, and what the consequences of impermeability are. We studied 2-year ungulate movements in three common antelopes (springbok, kudu, eland) across a perforated part of Namibia's VCF separating a wildlife reserve and Etosha National Park using GPS telemetry, accelerometer measurements, and satellite imagery. We identified 2905 fence interaction events which we used to evaluate critical times of encounters and direct fence effects on energy expenditure. Using vegetation type-specific greenness dynamics, we quantified what animals gained in terms of high quality food resources from crossing the VCF. Our results show that the perforation of the VCF sustains herbivore-vegetation interactions in the savanna with its scattered resources. Fence permeability led to peaks in crossing numbers during the first flush of woody plants before the rain started. Kudu and eland often showed increased energy expenditure when crossing the fence. Energy expenditure was lowered during the frequent interactions of ungulates standing at the fence. We found no alteration of energy expenditure when springbok immediately found and crossed fence breaches. Our results indicate that constantly open gaps did not affect energy expenditure, while gaps with obstacles increased motion. Closing gaps may have confused ungulates and modified their intended movements. While browsing, sedentary kudu's use of space was less affected by the VCF; migratory, mixed-feeding springbok, and eland benefited from gaps by gaining forage quality and quantity after crossing. This highlights the importance of access to vast areas to allow ungulates to track vital vegetation patches.
Molecular Genetic Screening in Patients With ACE Inhibitor/Angiotensin Receptor Blocker-Induced Angioedema to Explore the Role of Hereditary Angioedema Genes
Authors: Mathey Carina M. , Maj Carlo , Scheer Annika B. , Fazaal Julia , Wedi Bettina , Wieczorek Dorothea , Amann Philipp M. , Löffler Harald , Koch Lukas , Schöffl Clemens , Dickel Heinrich , Ganjuur Nomun , Hornung Thorsten , Forkel Susann , Greve Jens , Wurpts Gerda , Hallberg Pär , Bygum Anette , Von Buchwald Christian , Karawajczyk Malgorzata , Steffens Michael , Stingl Julia , Hoffmann Per , Heilmann-Heimbach Stefanie , Mangold Elisabeth , Ludwig Kerstin U. , Rasmussen Eva R. , Wadelius Mia , Sachs Bernhardt , Nöthen Markus M. , Forstner Andreas J.
Published: July 2022

Angioedema is a relatively rare but potentially life-threatening adverse reaction to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). As with hereditary forms of angioedema (HAE), this adverse reaction is mediated by bradykinin. Research suggests that ACEi/ARB-induced angioedema has a multifactorial etiology. In addition, recent case reports suggest that some ACEi/ARB-induced angioedema patients may carry pathogenic HAE variants. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association between ACEi/ARB-induced angioedema and HAE genes via systematic molecular genetic screening in a large cohort of ACEi/ARB-induced angioedema cases. Targeted re-sequencing of five HAE-associated genes (SERPING1, F12, PLG, ANGPT1, and KNG1) was performed in 212 ACEi/ARB-induced angioedema patients recruited in Germany/Austria, Sweden, and Denmark, and in 352 controls from a German cohort. Among patients, none of the identified variants represented a known pathogenic variant for HAE. Moreover, no significant association with ACEi/ARB-induced angioedema was found for any of the identified common [minor allele frequency (MAF) >5%] or rare (MAF < 5%) variants. However, several non-significant trends suggestive of possible protective effects were observed. The lowest p-value for an individual variant was found in PLG (rs4252129, p.R523W, p = 0.057, p.adjust > 0.999, Fisher’s exact test). Variant p.R523W was found exclusively in controls and has previously been associated with decreased levels of plasminogen, a precursor of plasmin which is part of a pathway directly involved in bradykinin production. In addition, rare, potentially functional variants (MAF < 5%, Phred-scaled combined annotation dependent depletion score >10) showed a nominally significant enrichment in controls both: 1) across all five genes; and 2) in the F12 gene alone. However, these results did not withstand correction for multiple testing. In conclusion, our results suggest that HAE-associated mutations are, at best, a rare cause of ACEi/ARB-induced angioedema. Furthermore, we were unable to identify a significant association between ACEi/ARB-induced angioedema and other variants in the investigated genes. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to draw more definite conclusions concerning variants with limited effect sizes, including protective variants.
Development of Microsatellite Markers Based on Transcriptome Sequencing and Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Swimming Crab (Portunus trituberculatus)
Authors: Duan Baohua , Mu Shumei , Guan Yueqiang , Liu Weibiao , Kang Tongxu , Cheng Yana , Li Zejian , Tian Yang , Kang Xianjiang
Published: July 2022

P. trituberculatus is an economically important mariculture species in China. Evaluating its genetic diversity and population structure can contribute to the exploration of germplasm resources and promote sustainable aquaculture production. In this study, a total of 246,243 SSRs were generated by transcriptome sequencing of P. trituberculatus. Among the examined 254,746 unigenes, 66,331 had more than one SSR. Among the different SSR motif types, dinucleotide repeats (110,758, 44.98%) were the most abundant. In 173 different base repeats, A/T (96.86%), AC/GT (51.46%), and ACC/GGT (26.20%) were dominant in mono-, di-, and trinucleotide, respectively. GO annotations showed 87,079 unigenes in 57 GO terms. Cellular process, cell, and binding were the most abundant terms in biological process, cellular component, and molecular function categories separately. A total of 34,406 annotated unigenes were classified into 26 functional categories according to the functional annotation analysis of KOG, of which “general function prediction only” was the biggest category (6,028 unigenes, 17.52%). KEGG pathway annotations revealed the clustering of 34,715 unigenes into 32 different pathways. Nineteen SSRs were identified as polymorphic and, thus, used to assess the genetic diversity and structure of 240 P. trituberculatus individuals from four populations in the Bohai Sea. Genetic parameter analysis showed a similar level of genetic diversity within wild populations, and the cultured population indicated a reduction in genetic diversity compared with wild populations. The pairwise FST values were between 0.001 and 0.04 with an average of 0.0205 (p < 0.05), suggesting a low but significant level of genetic differentiation among the four populations. Structure analysis demonstrated that the four populations were classified into two groups including the cultured group and other populations. The phylogenetic tree and PCA revealed that a vast number of samples were clustered together and that cultivated individuals were distributed more centrally than wild individuals. The findings contribute to the further assessment of germplasm resources and assist to provide valuable SSRs for marker-assisted breeding of P. trituberculatus in the future.
Integrated analysis of the functions and clinical implications of exosome circRNAs in colorectal cancer
Authors: Lei Tianxiang , Zhang Yongxin , Wang Xiaofeng , Liu Wenwei , Feng Wei , Song Wu
Published: July 2022

Background

Exosome circRNAs (Exo-circRNAs) regulate cancer progression and intercellular crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment. However, their biological functions and potential clinical importance in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unknown.

Methods

We used exoRBase 2.0 data to identify significant differentially expressed Exo-circRNAs (Exo-DEcircRNAs) in CRC patients and healthy individuals. The least absolute shrinkage and selector operation algorithm, support vector machine-recursive feature elimination, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to select candidate Exo-circRNAs and constructed a diagnostic model. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to confirm the expression of Exo-circRNAs in the serum samples of patients. Furthermore, we constructed an exosome circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network for CRC. Upregulated target mRNAs in the exosome competing endogenous RNA (Exo-ceRNA) network were used for functional and pathway enrichment analyses. We identified 22 immune cell types in CRC patients using CIBERSORT. Correlation analysis revealed the relationship between Exo-ceRNA networks and immune-infiltrating cells. The relationship between target mRNAs and immunotherapeutic response was also explored. Finally, using the Kaplan–Meier survival curve, a prognostic upregulated target mRNA was screened. We constructed a survival-related Exo-ceRNA subnetwork and explored the correlation between the Exo-ceRNA subnetwork and immune-infiltrating cells.

Results

The constructed diagnostic model had a high area under the curve (AUC) value in both the training and validation sets (AUC = 0.744 and AUC = 0.741, respectively). qRT-PCR confirmed that the Exo-circRNAs were differentially expressed in CRC serum samples. We constructed Exo-ceRNA networks based on the interactions among seven upregulated Exo-DEcircRNAs, eight differentially expressed miRNAs, and twenty-two differentially expressed mRNAs in CRC. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the upregulated target mRNAs were significantly enriched in cytoskeletal motor activity and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Co-expression analysis showed a significant correlation between the Exo-ceRNA networks and immune cells. The significant correlation was observed between target mRNAs and the immunotherapeutic response. Additionally, based on the prognostic upregulated target gene (RGS2), we constructed a survival-related Exo-ceRNA subnetwork (Exosome hsa_circ_0050334-hsa_miR_182_5p-RGS2). CIBERSORT results revealed that the Exo-ceRNA subnetwork correlated with M2 macrophages (P = 4.6e-07, R = 0.31).

Conclusions

Our study identified an Exo-diagnostic model, established Exo-ceRNA networks, and explored the correlation between Exo-ceRNA networks and immune cell infiltration in CRC. These findings elucidated the biological functions of Exo-circRNAs and their potential clinical implications.
Naringenin suppresses BEAS-2B-derived extracellular vesicular cargoes disorder caused by cigarette smoke extract thereby inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization
Authors: Chen Zhen , Wu Hao , Fan Weiyang , Zhang Jiashuo , Yao Yue , Su Weiwei , Wang Yonggang , Li Peibo
Published: July 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs)-mediated epithelium-macrophage crosstalk has been proved to maintain lung homeostasis in cigarette smoke-induced lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In our previous study, we found that EVs derived from cigarette smoke extract (CSE) treated BEAS-2B promoted M1 macrophage polarization, which probably accelerated the development of inflammatory responses. Naringenin has been proved to suppress M1 macrophage polarization, but whether naringenin regulates macrophage polarization mediated by EVs has not been reported. In this study, we firstly found that EVs derived from naringenin and CSE co-treated BEAS-2B significantly inhibited the expression of CD86 and CD80 and the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and IL-12 in macrophage induced by EVs derived from CSE-treated BEAS-2B. Further research revealed that naringenin downregulated BEAS-2B-derived EVs miR-21-3p which targeted phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten/protein kinase B (PTEN/AKT) cascade in macrophages and then suppressed M1 macrophage polarization. Subsequent proteomics suggested that naringenin decreased BEAS-2B-derived EVs poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP)1 expression thereby suppressing M1 macrophage polarization probably. Our study provides novel pharmacological references for the mechanism of naringenin in the treatment of cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammatory diseases.
The acquisition of humoral immune responses targeting Plasmodium falciparum sexual stages in controlled human malaria infections
Authors: de Jong Roos M. , Alkema Manon , Oulton Tate , Dumont Elin , Teelen Karina , Nakajima Rie , de Assis Rafael Ramiro , Press Kathleen W. Dantzler , Ngotho Priscilla , Tetteh Kevin K.A. , Felgner Phil , Marti Matthias , Collins Katharine A. , Drakeley Chris , Bousema Teun , Stone Will J.R.
Published: July 2022

Individuals infected with P. falciparum develop antibody responses to intra-erythrocytic gametocyte proteins and exported gametocyte proteins present on the surface of infected erythrocytes. However, there is currently limited knowledge on the immunogenicity of gametocyte antigens and the specificity of gametocyte-induced antibody responses. In this study, we assessed antibody responses in participants of two controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) studies by ELISA, multiplexed bead-based antibody assays and protein microarray. By comparing antibody responses in participants with and without gametocyte exposure, we aimed to disentangle the antibody response induced by asexual and sexual stage parasites. We showed that after a single malaria infection, a significant anti-sexual stage humoral response is induced in malaria-naïve individuals, even after exposure to relatively low gametocyte densities (up to ~1,600 gametocytes/mL). In contrast to antibody responses to well-characterised asexual blood stage antigens that were detectable by day 21 after infection, responses to sexual stage antigens (including transmission blocking vaccine candidates Pfs48/45 and Pfs230) were only apparent at 51 days after infection. We found antigens previously associated with early gametocyte or anti-gamete immunity were highly represented among responses linked with gametocyte exposure. Our data provide detailed insights on the induction and kinetics of antibody responses to gametocytes and identify novel antigens that elicit antibody responses exclusively in individuals with gametocyte exposure. Our findings provide target identification for serological assays for surveillance of the malaria infectious reservoir, and support vaccine development by describing the antibody response to leading vaccine antigens after primary infection.
Spotlighting Women-Led Fisheries Livelihoods Toward Sustainable Coastal Governance: The Estuarine and Mangrove Ecosystem Shellfisheries of West Africa
Authors: Chuku Ernest Obeng , Effah Elizabeth , Adotey Joshua , Abrokwah Sika , Adade Richard , Okyere Isaac , Aheto Denis Worlanyo , Kent Karen , Osei Isaac Kofi , Omogbemi Emmanuel Dami , Adité Alphonse , Ahoedo Kossi , Sankoh Salieu Kabba , Soro Yaya , Wélé Moussa , Saine Dawda Foday , Crawford Brian
Published: July 2022

The governance of coastal and marine resources remains a complex socio-ecological endeavor in many African countries, but women are leading the way and demonstrating a pathway for food fish security through rights-based co-management of shellfisheries in estuarine and mangrove ecosystems in West Africa. We report comprehensively, for the first time, the scale of estuarine and mangrove ecosystem-based shellfisheries across the West African coast (Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria), the gender dynamics, and implications for the sustainable management of this small-scale fishery. We find an extensive geographical coverage of active shellfisheries within these ecosystems with close to 571,000 household beneficiaries and over 50,000 harvesters, mainly women, being the primary resource users. An annual shellfish harvest of over 300,000 MT valued at USD 336 million is potentially undocumented across the region. Harvested shellfish species of economic importance comprised 18 species of mollusks, 11 species of crustaceans, and a few unidentified groups of gastropods, crustaceans, and cephalopods. The West African mangrove oyster, periwinkle, bloody cockle, whelk, and razor clam were, in that order, the most harvested estuarine shellfish. The bivalve and gastropod value chains are dominated by women harvesters at all nodes whereas women play significant roles in the processing and marketing of crustacean and cephalopod fisheries. Formal laws specific to the regulation of estuarine shellfisheries are generally nonexistent, however, the organized women shellfish harvester groups of the Tanbi wetlands (The Gambia) and Densu Delta (Ghana) have championed sustainable governance actions resulting in successful women resource user-led fisheries co-management. The elements of success and opportunities for scaling up these examples are discussed. The presence of such groups in several locations offers an entry point for replicating a similar co-management approach across the West African coast.
A Unique 100 Meter Underwater Survey Method Documents Changes in Abundance, Richness, and Community Structure of Hawaiʹi Reef Fishes
Authors: Larson Shawn , Christiansen Jeff , Olsen Amy Y. , Walsh William J. , Teague Christopher H. , Tissot Brian , Randell Zachary
Published: July 2022

Hawai′i coral reefs are essential ecosystems providing resources in the form of food and recreation as well as stabilizing nearshore biodiversity. The Seattle Aquarium has exhibited Hawai′i reef fishes and corals since the mid-1980s to educate guests about these critical ecosystems. In 2009, and in collaboration with Hawai′i’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Washington State University, the aquarium expanded its conservation work in Hawai′i through annual surveying of eight reefs along the west coast of Hawai′i via SCUBA-based diver operated video (DOV). Five of the sites are in areas partially closed to most fishing while three sites are in areas partially open to most fishing. 100-meter DOV surveys took place a meter above a horizontal or vertical reef, and survey locations were marked with GPS and fixed underwater markings to enable annual surveys to occur in the same locations. Counts of fish species were subsequently made from the archived video. Over the 11 year dataset we documented increased total abundance at all sites and periods of increasing and decreasing species richness. Multivariate analyses comparing fish community structure before (2009-2012) and after an anomalous warm-water event (2013-2019) documented a persistent shift in community structure. This coincides with a documented marine heat wave in Hawai′i and associated coral bleaching events between 2013-2016. These results suggest that our long-term monitoring program captured a phase shift in community structure associated with changing environmental conditions. These persistent shifts may thus indicate hysteresis at relatively short temporal scales, and ongoing monitoring is required to observe whether the systems shift back to the pre-2013 community structure. As coral reef ecosystems face a multitude of stressors from warming waters to marine pollution, long-term monitoring programs are essential to illuminate trends that may inform conservation and management strategies to preserve these imperiled ecosystems.
The Effects of Trans-Basin Climate Variability on Skipjack Tuna in the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Causal and Nonstationary
Authors: Hou Xiangyun , Ma Shuyang , Tian Yongjun , Zhang Shaoqing
Published: July 2022

Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis, SKJ), a widely distributed and highly migratory pelagic fish, dominates the global tuna catch, especially in the Pacific Ocean, with nearly 70% of world catch. Studies have reported that SKJ in the tropical Pacific was strongly associated with Niño-Southern Oscillations, while the relationship between SKJ in the Northwest Pacific (NWP, the second-contributed statistical area of SKJ Pacific catch) and climate variability has not yet been well understood. Considering the teleconnection between western Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, this study investigates the potential relationship between the relative abundance CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) of SKJ and climate indices including trans-basin and basin signals at different spatial-temporal scales in the NWP during 1972–2019 using Convergent Cross Mapping (CCM) and Threshold Generalized Additive Model (TGAM) techniques. Results show the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) plays a causal role in the temporal SKJ variations with an optimal lag at 15 months, while further analysis preliminarily reveals sea surface temperature acts as a vital medium in the relationship through teleconnection. The AMO effected SKJ processes are nonstationary over the study time, of which the transition years occurred in the early 1990s (around 1991/92). Providing an unprecedented insight into climate variability effect on SKJ in the NWP, this study has essential implications and reference for predicting and managing SKJ fishery through incorporating the climate index in estimating the SKJ abundance in advance, and for the connection between large-migrating species and tans-basin climatic variation.
Compound Effects of Flood Drivers, Sea Level Rise, and Dredging Protocols on Vessel Navigability and Wetland Inundation Dynamics
Authors: Muñoz David F. , Moftakhari Hamed , Kumar Mukesh , Moradkhani Hamid
Published: July 2022

Maritime transportation is crucial to national economic development as it offers a low-cost, safe, and efficient alternative for movement of freight compared to its land or air counterparts. River and channel dredging protocols are often adopted in many ports and harbors of the world to meet the increasing demand for freight and ensure safe passage of larger vessels. However, such protocols may have unintended adverse consequences on flood risks and functioning of coastal ecosystems and thereby compromising the valuable services they provide to society and the environment. This study analyzes the compound effects of dredging protocols under a range of terrestrial and coastal flood drivers, including the effects of sea level rise (SLR) on compound flood risk, vessel navigability, and coastal wetland inundation dynamics in Mobile Bay (MB), Alabama. We develop a set of hydrodynamic simulation scenarios for a range of river flow and coastal water level regimes, SLR projections, and dredging protocols designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We show that channel dredging helps increase bottom (‘underkeel’) clearances by a factor of 3.33 under current mean sea level and from 4.20 to 4.60 under SLR projections. We find that both low and high water surface elevations (WSEs) could be detrimental, with low WSE (< -1.22 m) hindering safe navigation whereas high WSE (> 0.87 m) triggering minor to major flooding in the surrounding urban and wetland areas. Likewise, we identify complex inundation patterns emerging from nonlinear interactions of SLR, flood drivers, and dredging protocols, and additionally estimate probability density functions (PDFs) of wetland inundation. We show that changes in mean sea level due to SLR diminish any effects of channel dredging on wetland inundation dynamics and shift the PDFs beyond pre-established thresholds for moderate and major flooding. In light of our results, we recommend the need for integrated analyses that account for compound effects on vessel navigation and wetland inundation, and provide insights into environmental-friendly solutions for increasing cargo transportation.
Flexible Beam Manipulations by Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface With Independent Control of Amplitude and Phase
Authors: Liang Jing Cheng , Zhang Lei , Cheng Zhang Wen , Zhang Peng , Cui Tie Jun
Published: July 2022

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have attracted extensive attention in recent years due to their strong ability to improve and customize electromagnetic wave propagation channels in wireless communications. In this article, we propose a design procedure for an RIS and its programmable element, whose reflection phase and amplitude can be jointly controlled by adjusting the states of the varactor and PIN-diode. In addition, by introducing metallic vias in the RIS element, the programmable element can maintain the stable reflection amplitude and phase responses under the illumination of transverse magnetic (TM) wave with the incident angle of 0–60°. In order to verify the beam steering performance of the RIS, theoretical calculations and full-wave simulations of single beam and dual beams are carried out according to the addition theorem of the complex reflection coefficient. The amplitude- and phase-coding patterns on the RIS array are well designed so that the deflection angles and power intensities of the scattered beams can be manipulated independently.