bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening for associated autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes mellitus with respect to diabetes control
Authors: Prázný M , Škrha J , Límanová Z , Vaníčková Z , Hilgertová J , Prázná J , Jarešová M , Stříž I
Published: May 2022

As an autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) can be associated with other autoimmune disorders. The aim of this study was to detect subclinically associated autoimmune thyroid disease, coeliac disease, and Addison's disease. The presence of autoantibodies was evaluated with special regard to the control of diabetes and to the clinical status of the patient. Fifty-one type 1 diabetic patients (22 men, 29 women, mean age 37+/-11 years, mean duration of diabetes 16+/-13 years) were included into this study. Specific antibodies to islet antigens--glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), protein thyrosine phosphatase IA-2alpha, and to thyroid autoantigens--thyroid microsomal peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (TG) and also thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by RIA. Autoantigens of the small intestine--tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (ATTG), IgA and IgG antibodies to gliadin (AGA-IgA, AGA-IgG) were evaluated by ELISA. Endomysial autoantibodies (EMA) and adrenal cortex antibodies (ACA) were detected by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Eleven new cases of thyreopathy (22 % of patients) were detected by the assessment of thyroid autoantibodies and TSH. Two new cases of thyreotoxicosis were diagnosed during the study. Coeliac disease was diagnosed in at least two cases. Addison's disease was not diagnosed, although the ACA were positive in two patients. No influence of single or combined autoantibody positivity on the control of diabetes was found if normal organ function was preserved. In both patients with thyreotoxicosis the control of diabetes was worsened and improved after treatment. The screening of autoantibodies in type 1 diabetic patients could reveal subclinical cases of AITD or coeliac disease. Subclinical forms of these disorders have no influence on diabetes control. However, impaired organ function may be associated with the worsened control of diabetes as we demonstrated on two newly diagnosed cases of thyreotoxicosis. We suggest the need for the follow-up of patients with positive autoantibodies because further deterioration of the respective organs can be expected.
Emerging role of Akt kinase/protein kinase B signaling in pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications
Authors: Ždychová J , Komers R
Published: May 2022

In addition to a number of deleterious effects on cellular integrity and functions, diabetic metabolic milieu has been implicated in a rapidly growing number of alterations in signal transduction. In this review we focus on Akt kinase physiology, its alterations in diabetes mellitus (DM), and on the emerging role of this signaling system in the pathophysiology of diabetic microvascular complications. Studies focusing on Akt in diabetes suggest both decrease and increase of Akt activity in DM. Alterations of Akt activity have been found in various tissues and cells in diabetes depending on experimental and clinical contexts. There is convincing evidence suggesting defective Akt signaling in the development of insulin resistance. Similar defects, as in insulin-sensitive tissues, have been reported in endothelia of DM Type 2 models, possibly contributing to the development of endothelial dysfunction under these conditions. In contrast, Akt activity is increased in some tissues and vascular beds affected by complications in DM Type 1. Identification of the role of this phenomenon in DM-induced growth and hemodynamic alterations in affected vascular beds remains one of the major challenges for future research in this area. Future studies should include the evaluation of therapeutical benefits of pharmacological modulators of Akt activity.
Short-term very low calory diet reduces oxidative stress in obese type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Škrha J , Kunešová M , Hilgertová J , Weiserová H , Křížová J , Kotrlíková E
Published: May 2022

Oxidative stress is higher in obese diabetic than in non-diabetic subjects. This pilot study evaluates oxidative stress during short-term administration of a very low calorie diet in obese persons. Nine obese Type 2 diabetic patients (age 55+/-5 years, BMI 35.9+/-1.9 kg/m2) and nine obese non-diabetic control subjects (age 52+/-6 years, BMI 37.3+/-2.1 kg/m2) were treated by a very low calorie diet (600 kcal daily) during 8 days stay in the hospital. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (B-HB), ascorbic acid (AA), alpha-tocopherol (AT), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in erythrocytes were measured before and on day 3 and 8 of very low calorie diet administration. A decrease of serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations on day 8 was associated with a significant increase of NEFA (0.30+/-0.13 vs. 0.47+/-0.11 micromol/l, p<0.001) and B-HB (0.36+/-.13 vs. 2.23+/-1.00 mmol/l, p<0.001) in controls but only of B-HB (1.11+/-0.72 vs. 3.02+/-1.95 mmol/l, p<0.001) in diabetic patients. A significant decrease of plasma MDA and serum AT together with an increase of SOD activity and AA concentration (p<0.01) was observed in control persons, whereas an increase of SOD activity (p<0.01) was only found in diabetic patients after one week of the very low calorie diet. There was a significant correlation between NEFA or B-HB and SOD activity (p<0.01). We conclude that one week of a very low calorie diet administration decreases oxidative stress in obese non-diabetic but only partly in diabetic persons. Diabetes mellitus causes a greater resistance to the effects of a low calorie diet on oxidative stress.
Effects of sodium restriction and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition on the course of hypertension, proteinuria and cardiac hypertrophy in Ren-2 transgenic rats
Authors: Vaněčková I , Škaroupková P , Dvořák P , Čertíková Chábová V , Tesař V , Bader M , Ganten D , Kramer HJ
Published: May 2022

The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of sodium intake and of chronic cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in heterozygous male transgenic rats harboring the mouse Ren-2 renin gene (TGR) and in transgene-negative normotensive Hannover Sprague-Dawley (HanSD). Twenty-eight days old TGR and HanSD were randomly assigned to groups fed either normal salt (NS) or low sodium (LS) diets. COX-2 blockade was achieved with NS-398 (1 mg x kg(-1).day(-1) in drinking water). During an experimental period of 26 days, SBP was repeatedly measured by tail plethysmography in conscious animals. We found that the LS diet prevented the development of hypertension in TGR and did not change SBP in HanSD. Low sodium intake also prevented proteinuria and cardiac hypertrophy in TGR. On the other hand, irrespective of sodium intake chronic COX-2 inhibition did not alter the course of SBP in either TGR or HanSD. The present data indicate that TGR exhibit an important salt-sensitive component in the developmental phase of hypertension. They also suggest that systemic COX-2-derived prostaglandins do not act as vasodilatory counterregulatory agents in TGR in which an exaggerated vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II is assumed as the pathophysiological mechanism in the development of hypertension.
Calcium dependence of uni-quantal release latencies and quantal content at mouse neuromuscular junction
Authors: Samigullin D , Bukharaeva EA , Vyskočil F , Nikolsky EE
Published: May 2022

Uni-quantal endplate currents (EPC) were recorded at mouse diaphragm neuromuscular synapse by extracellular microelectrode during motor nerve stimulation. The probability of release expressed as quantal content m(o), and variability of synaptic latencies expressed as P90 were estimated in the presence of extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) varying between 0.2 and 0.6 mM in the bathing solution. At 0.2 mM ([Ca2+]o), m(o) was low (0.10) and many of long-latency EPCs were present during the late phase of the release (P90 = 2.44 ms). No change in m(o) was found when ([Ca2+]o) was 0.3 mM, but P90 decreased by 39 %. For latency shortening, saturating concentration of ([Ca2+]o) was 0.4 mM, when P90 was 1.49 ms and latencies did not further change at 0.5 and 0.6 mM ([Ca2+]o). In the latter concentrations, however, an increase of m(o) was still observed. It can be concluded that the early phase of the secretion did not significantly change when ([Ca2+]o) was raised and that only the late phase of the release depends on extracellular calcium up to 0.4 mM.
FAST DISSOLVING ORAL DISINTEGRATING FILMS OF VALSARTAN
Authors:   MES’s College Of Pharmacy, Sonai, Afsar Patel Junaid , Ambadas B. Katarnaware
Published: May 2022

- Valsartan orodispersible tablets have been developed at 40-mg dose, with the intention of facilitating administration to patients experiencing problems with swallowing and hopefully, improving its poor oral bioavailability. Work started with selecting drug compatible excipients depending on differential scanning calorimetric analysis. A 33 full factorial design was adopted for the optimization of the tablets prepared by freeze-drying technique. The effects of the filler type, the binder type, and the binder concentration were studied. The different tablet formulas were characterized for their physical properties, weight variation, disintegration time, surface properties, wetting properties, and in vitro dissolution. Amongst the prepared 27 tablet formulas, formula number 6 (consisting of 4:6 valsartan:mannitol and 2% pectin) was selected to be tested in vivo. Oral bioavailability of two 40 mg valsartan orodispersible tablets was compared to the conventional commercial tablets after administration of a single dose to four healthy volunteers. Valsartan was monitored in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. The apparent rate of absorption of valsartan from the prepared tablets (Cmax = 2.879 μg/ml, tmax = 1.08 h) was significantly higher than that of the conventional tablets (Cmax = 1.471 μg/ml, tmax = 2.17 h), P ≤ 0.05. The relative bioavailability calculated as the ratio of mean total area under the plasma concentration–time curve for the orodispersible tablets relative to the conventional ones was 135%. The results of the in vivo study revealed that valsartan orodispersible tablets would be advantageous with regards to improved patient compliance, rapid onset of action, and increase in bioavailability.
Effect of Co3O4/Additive Interface and Crystallite Size on Co3O4 Li-ion Battery Capacity and Cycle Stability
Authors: Park Byoung-Nam
Published: May 2022

Due to its high theoretical capacity in the conversion reaction, Co3O4, a transition metal oxide, has been attracting attention as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Comparing conventional slurry method with the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method without additives (conductive agents and binders), we investigated the effect of the Co3O4/additive interface and thermal annealing-induced Co3O4 crystallite size on Li-ion battery capacity and cycle stability. The EPD deposition system based on Co3O4 active material without additives was not significantly affected by thermal annealing-induced crystallite size. However, the slurry deposition system in which Co3O4/binder and Co3O4/conductive agent interfaces are embedded showed significant differences in capacity and cycle stability. This result reveals that the Co3O4/additive interface in the slurry system works as a limiting step, depending on the Co3O4 crystallite size, for reversible electrochemical reactions associated with Li-ion battery charging/discharging processes. On the other hand, for the EPD system, the capacity was higher than that in the slurry system with superior cycle stability, indicating that the limiting step was eliminated by removing the Co3O4/additive interface. Moreover, the current collector/active material interface was demonstrated to be crucial in determining the intrinsic electrochemical properties of Co3O4 in the EPD system. Our findings contribute further understanding of the relationship between the battery electrode/additive interface and the electrochemical reaction resulting from the conversion reaction in transition metal oxide electrode materials.
Skinnerite Cu3SbS3: Solid-State Synthesis and Thermoelectric Properties
Authors: Lee Go-Eun , Kim Il-Ho
Published: May 2022

Skinnerite Cu3SbS3, which consists of non-toxic and low-cost elements, is a potential thermoelectric material, however, studies on its thermoelectric properties are limited. In this study, the optimal conditions of mechanical alloying (MA) and hot pressing (HP) for the synthesis of the Cu3SbS3 phase were investigated, and its thermoelectric properties were evaluated. The MA powder had a theoretically predicted cubic skinnerite phase, which remained even after HP. Thermal analyses revealed that the MA powders and HP specimens exhibited large endothermic peaks at approximately 880 K, corresponding to the melting point of Cu3SbS3. Compacts with high relative densities above 99% without cracks and pores were obtained at an HP temperature of 623 K and above. The lattice constants of the MA powder and HP specimens were in the range of 1.0343–1.0394 nm. As the HP temperature increased, the electrical conductivities of the specimens decreased because of changes in their carrier concentrations; however, their Seebeck coefficients increased. As a result, the power factor values of all the specimens were in the range of 0.58–0.61 mW m−1 K−2 at 623 K. The thermal conductivities were lower than 0.78 Wm−1K−1. The maximum dimensionless figure of merit, ZTmax of 0.57 was obtained at 623 K when the skinnerite was prepared under the optimal solid-state synthesis conditions (HP at 673 K for 2 h using MA powder at 350 rpm for 18 h).
Instagramda Kadın Etkileyiciler: Bir Etki Ekonomisinde Ticaretin Kadınsılaştırılması | Women Influencers on Instagram: The Feminization of Commerce in an Influence Economy
Authors: BALKIZ Özlem
Published: May 2022

Web 2.0’ın geliştirilmesiyle yaygınlaşan sosyal ağlarda, kullanıcıların kendi dijital içeriklerini oluşturmaları mümkün hale getirilerek ikinci kuşak internet hizmetleri hayata geçmiştir. 2014 yılından bu yana reklam endüstrisi ile bütünleşen bir sosyal medya platformu olarak Instagram, çeşitli markalarla işbirliği içinde çalışarak ürün/hizmet reklamı yapan etkileyicilerin doğuşuna da zemin hazırlamıştır. Oluşan etki temelli bir ekonomide etkileyici kişiler kendilerini markalaştırmış ve parasallaştırmışlardır. Bu çalışmanın amacı Instagram’da yükselen etki ekonomisinin ve ticaret ağının sosyo-ekonomik arka planını, işleyiş mekanizmalarını ve cinsiyetlendirilmiş yapısını eleştirel bir perspektifle analiz etmektir. Bunun için belirlenmiş bir katılımcı grubuyla nitel araştırma tekniklerine uygun şekilde derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmış, ek olarak da araştırmaya katılan etkileyicilerin ürettikleri dijital içerikler incelemeye tâbi tutulmuştur. Katılımcılar etkileyiciliği bir hobi olarak yaptıklarından ve daha fazla kitleye ulaşmanın, tanınır olmanın kendilerini mutlu ettiğinden bahsetseler de bu işi kazanca çevirmeyi önemsemektedirler. Katılımcıları “etkileyici kişi” olmaya yönelten saikler bir yandan özgürlük, otonomi, yaratıcılık ve “sevdiğin işi yap” tarzındaki baskın söylemleri, diğer yandan da geçici ve güvencesiz bir ekonominin bireylere dayattığı “kendi işini kendin yarat” mantığını yansıtmaktadır. Etkileyicilerin reklam veren markalarla iş birlikleri, zaman zaman nakit para üzerinden olsa da, ağırlıklı olarak ürün karşılığı çalışmaktadırlar. Kadınlar açısından etkileyicilik istikrarlı ve yüksek kazançlı bir modeli temsil etmemekte, buna karşın karşılığı ödenmeyen geleneksel kadın işi ile büyük benzerlikler arz etmektedir.
Note on the Odd Perfect Numbers
Authors: Vega Frank
Published: May 2022

The Riemann Hypothesis is a conjecture that the Riemann zeta function has its zeros only at the negative even integers and complex numbers with real part $\frac{1}{2}$. Under the assumption of the Riemann Hypothesis, we claim that there is not any odd perfect number at all.
Note on the Riemann Hypothesis
Authors: Vega Frank
Published: May 2022

The Riemann Hypothesis is a conjecture that the Riemann zeta function has its zeros only at the negative even integers and complex numbers with real part $\frac{1}{2}$. In 2011, Sol{\'e} and and Planat stated that the Riemann Hypothesis is true if and only if the Dedekind inequality $\prod_{q\leq q_{n}}\left(1+\frac{1}{q} \right)>\frac{e^{\gamma}}{\zeta(2)}\times\log\theta(q_{n})$ is satisfied for all primes $q_{n}>3$, where $\theta(x)$ is the Chebyshev function, $\gamma\approx 0.57721$ is the Euler-Mascheroni constant and $\zeta(x)$ is the Riemann zeta function. We can deduce from that paper, if the Riemann Hypothesis is false, then the Dedekind inequality is not satisfied for infinitely many prime numbers $q_{n}$. Using this result, we prove the Riemann Hypothesis is true when $(1-\frac{0.15}{\log^{3}x})^{\frac{1}{x}}\times x^{\frac{1}{x}}\geq 1+\frac{\log(1-\frac{0.15}{\log^{3}x})+\log x}{x}$ is always satisfied for every sufficiently large positive number $x$. However, we know that inequality is trivially satisfied for every sufficiently large positive number $x$. In this way, we show the Riemann Hypothesis is true.
Curcumin Blocks High Glucose-Induced Podocyte Injury via RIPK3-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Chung Hyunsoo , Lee Seong-Woo , Hyun Miri , Kim So Young , Cho Hyeon Gyu , Lee Eun Soo , Kang Jeong Suk , Chung Choon Hee , Lee Eun Young
Published: May 2022

Podocyte loss is well known to play a critical role in the early progression of diabetic nephropathy. A growing number of studies are paying attention to necroptosis, a programmed form of cell necrosis as a mechanism of podocyte loss. Although necroptosis is a recently established concept, the significance of receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3), a gene that encodes for the homonymous enzyme RIPK3 responsible for the progression of necroptosis, is well studied. Curcumin, a natural hydrophobic polyphenol compound responsible for the yellow color of Curcuma longa, has drawn attention due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on cells prone to necroptosis. Nonetheless, effects of curcumin on high glucose-induced podocyte necroptosis have not been reported yet. Therefore, this study investigated RIPK3 expression in high glucose-treated podocytes to identify the involvement of necroptosis via the RIPK3 pathway and the effects of curcumin treatment on RIPK3-dependent podocytopathy in a hyperglycemic environment. The study discovered that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in renal podocytes induced by high glucose was improved after curcumin treatment. Curcumin treatment also significantly restored the upregulated levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and CCL2 mRNAs and the downregulated level of nephrin mRNA in cultured podocytes exposed to a high glucose environment. High glucose-induced changes in protein expression of TGF-β, nephrin, and CCL2 were considerably reverted to their original levels after curcumin treatment. Increased expression of RIPK3 in high glucose-stimulated podocytes was alleviated by curcumin treatment as well as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC, an antioxidant) or GSK′872 (a RIPK3 inhibitor). Consistent with this, the increased necroptosis-associated molecules, such as RIPK3, pRIPK3, and pMLKL, were also restored by curcumin in high glucose-treated mesangial cells. DCF-DA assay confirmed that such a result was attributed to the reduction of RIPK3 through the antioxidant effect of curcumin. Further observations of DCF-DA-sensitive intracellular ROS in NAC-treated and GSK′872-treated podocyte groups showed a reciprocal regulatory relationship between ROS and RIPK3. The treatment of curcumin and GSK′872 in podocytes incubated with high glucose protected from excessive intracellular superoxide anion production. Taken together, these results indicate that curcumin treatment can protect against high glucose-induced podocyte injuries by suppressing the abnormal expression of ROS and RIPK3. Thus, curcumin might be a potential therapeutic agent for diabetic nephropathy as an inhibitor of RIPK3.
Nuclear βII-Tubulin and its Possible Utility in Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment
Authors: Ludueña Richard F. , Walss-Bass Consuelo , Portyanko Anna , Guo Jiayan , Yeh I-Tien
Published: May 2022

Microtubules are organelles that usually occur only in the cytosol.Walss et al. (1999)discovered the βII isotype of tubulin, complexed withα, in the nuclei of certain cultured cells, in non-microtubule form. When fluorescently labeled tubulins were microinjected into the cells, onlyαβII appeared in the nucleus, and only after one cycle of nuclear disassembly and reassembly. It appeared as ifαβII does not cross the nuclear envelope but is trapped in the nucleus by the re-forming nuclear envelope in whose reassemblyβII may be involved.βII is present in the cytoplasm and nuclei of many tumor cells. With some exceptions, normal tissues that expressed βII rarely had βII in their nuclei. It is possible that βII is involved in nuclear reassembly and then disappears from the nucleus.Ruksha et al. (2019)observed that patients whose colon cancer cells in the invasive front showed no βII had a median survival of about 5.5 years, which was more than halved if they had cytosolicβII and further lessened if they had nuclearβII, suggesting that the presence and location ofβII in biopsies could be a useful prognostic indicator and also thatβII may be involved in cancer progression.Yeh and Ludueña. (2004)observed that many tumors were surrounded by non-cancerous cells exhibiting cytosolic and nuclearβII, suggesting a signaling pathway that causesβII to be synthesized in nearby cells and localized to their nuclei.βII could be useful in cancer diagnosis, since the presence ofβII in non-cancerous cells could indicate a nearby tumor. Investigation of this pathway might reveal novel targets for chemotherapy. Another possibility would be to combineαβII with CRISPR-Cas9. This complex would likely enter the nucleus of a cancer cell and, if guided to the appropriate gene, might destroy the cancer cell or make it less aggressive; possible targets will be discussed here. The possibilities raised here about the utility ofβII in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, biology and therapy may repay further investigation.
Numerical Energy Storage Efficiency of MWCNTs-Propylene Glycol by Inducing Thermal Radiations and Combined Convection Effects in the Constitutive Model
Authors: Adnan  , Ashraf Waqas , Khan Ilyas , Shemseldin Mohamed A. , Mousa Abd Allah A.
Published: May 2022

This study examines MWCNTs-PG nanofluid with a uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in PG. It is assumed that both MWCNTs and PG exist thermally in equilibrium and no slip occurs between them. MWCNTs were suspended in PG uniformly and played a significant role. Firstly, the problem is formulated by utilizing empirical correlations, thermophysical attributes, and similarity equations. Then the model is treated numerically along with the coupling of a shooting algorithm. The results against the pertinent flow quantities were plotted and provide a basis for a comprehensive discussion, investigating whether MWCNTs-PG has high thermal storage characteristics under the effects of thermal radiation and combined convection effects. Due to their high energy storage capability, these fluids are reliable for industrial applications.
Why Terminology Matters for Successful Rollout of Carbon Dioxide Utilization Technologies
Authors: Olfe-Kräutlein Barbara , Armstrong Katy , Mutchek Michele , Cremonese Lorenzo , Sick Volker
Published: May 2022

To realize their full sustainability potential, carbon dioxide utilization technologies (carbon capture and utilization/CCU) presently require policy support. Consequently, they require acceptance among a variety of stakeholders in industry, policy making, and in the public sphere alike. While CO2 utilization is already a topic of discourse among these stakeholders, there is a lack of common terminology to describe such technologies. On the contrary: The present article shows that terminology in the field of CO2 utilization technologies is currently used inconsistently, and that different designations such as CCU, CCUS, or CDR convey different meanings and contexts. These ambiguities may cause communication problems with regard to policy making, funding proposals, and especially in public discourse. In order to initiate and accompany a goal-oriented and knowledge-based debate on CO2 utilization technologies in the future, actors in the field are asked to question their own choices of terminology and to assess its accuracy. Acronyms and technical abbreviations are the chief cause of potential misunderstandings, and so should be avoided whenever possible or else include a brief explanation. Consistent and precise use of terminology will facilitate transparent dialogue concerning CO2 utilization in the future.
Public Preferences for Renewable Energy Options: A Choice Experiment in Rwanda
Authors: Oluoch Sydney , Lal Pankaj , Susaeta Andres , Mugabo Rodrigue , Masozera Michel , Aridi Jackline
Published: May 2022

Rwanda has seen impressive economic growth in the past few years resulting from policy driven initiatives. However, one of the key challenges to economic development in Rwanda has been the provision of reliable and cost-effective energy. As a result, the country has planned to expand its renewable energy portfolio to meet its energy demand and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Meeting these goals requires a robust policy framework that considers the perspective of the public. Moreso, for women who have been disproportionately affected by climate change especially in developing countries. Gender equality is a key for the Rwanda strategy as gender gaps remain a barrier to equal benefits from energy access to all. Several challenges abound in providing access to electricity and reducing the dependency on wood fuel for cooking, hence deliberate effort needs to be made to ensure gender responsiveness in energy programs and policies. This study applied a choice experiment analysis to determine how renewable energy attributes (type of energy, ownership, impact on environment, distance and visibility, community job creation and renewable energy tax) impacts public willingness to pay for renewable energy development in Rwanda. A nationwide survey was conducted on 1,006 households from which 58.35% were women. We applied both the conditional logit (MNL) and random parameter logit (RPL) framework. We found that the Rwandan public has a high utility for the following issues: environmental impact, distance and visibility, and type of renewable energy, respectively. Further analysis focused on the gendered impacts of renewable energy revealed that women had the strongest preference for interventions with low impact on the environment. From a policy standpoint women's input should be incorporated in future decision-making processes through public participation to guide policymakers in developing beneficial renewable energy programs.
Single-Center Experience With the Thoraflex™ Hybrid Prosthesis: Indications, Implantation Technique and Results
Authors: Wisniewski Konrad , Motekallemi Arash , Dell'Aquila Angelo M. , Oberhuber Alexander , Schaefers Johannes F. , Ibrahim Abdulhakim , Martens Sven , Rukosujew Andreas
Published: May 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and mid-term results after the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure for the treatment of complex arch and proximal descending aortic disease in a single-center institution.

Methods

From April 2015 to July 2021, 72 patients (25 women, 60.4 ± 10.3 years) underwent Thoraflex™ Hybrid implantation at our institution. The indications were thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) (n = 16, 22.2%), post-dissection aneurysm (n = 21, 29.2%), and acute aortic dissection (AAD) (n = 35, 48.6%). Antegrade cerebral perfusion under moderate hypothermia (28°C) was employed in all cases. Eighteen patients (25%) have already been operated due to heart or aortic disease.

Results

Overall in-hospital mortality was 12.5% (9 patients). Rates of permanent neurological dysfunction and spinal cord injury were 9.7 and 5.5%, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate among patients operated on AAD, TAA, and post-dissection aneurysm were 8.6, 6.2, and 23.8%, respectively. At a mean follow-up of 26 ± 20 months, mortality was 9.7%. Furthermore, 23 patients (31.9%) required a subsequent procedure in distal aorta: endovascular stentgraft extension in 19 patients (26.4%) and open aortic surgery in 4 patients (5.5%). The mid-term survival of patients with type A aortic dissection was 97%.

Conclusions

Our experience with the Thoraflex Hybrid prosthesis demonstrates its surgical applicability for different types of aortic pathologies with promising outcomes during early and midterm follow-up. Our technique and perioperative management lead to comparable or even superior neurological outcomes and mortality in urgent cases considering other high-volume centers.
Was the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake in Japan Related to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)-CO2 Injection? Insights From Geomechanical Analysis
Authors: Lei Xinglin
Published: May 2022

In a recent paper [“Groundwater anomaly related to CCS-CO2 injection and the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake in Japan” by Sano et al. (Front. Earth Sci., 2020, 8)], the authors claimed that CO2-enriched fluid may have initially migrated through permeable channels, blocking the fluid flow from the source region, increasing pore pressure in the focal region and triggering a natural earthquake where the brittle crust was already critically stressed. The proposed model is very interesting, but the authors have not shown any quantitative evaluation supporting their conclusion. Here, through geomechanics model analysis, even under extreme conditions, which overestimate the impact of the injection, the impact of the CO2 injection on the Iburi earthquake fault, whether the deep section or shallow part of the fault, is much lower than that caused by Earth tides. In addition, no convincing mechanism exists that would allow fluid channels to heal within a short period of time and block the natural fluid flow along the fault. Therefore, the occurrence of earthquakes was not related to CO2 injection. Geological storage of CO2 is expected to become an effective option for global warming countermeasures, and the assessment of its environmental impact must be carefully conducted.
Reservoir Architecture in Tide-Dominated Estuary: A Case Study of McMurray Formation Oil Sand Reservoir in the Athabasca Block, Canada
Authors: Zhang Weixue , Huang Jixin , Feng Wenjie , Wang Lixin , Shang Haojie , Yin Yanshu
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a detailed description of the sedimentary characteristics and architecture model of the tidal-dominated estuary reservoir in the Lower Cretaceous McMurray formation. Based on a thorough study of the core data, 13 lithofacies were recognized. The lithofacies associations were divided into nine types of architecture elements, that is channel, salt marsh, fluvial point bar, tidal point bar, mud flat, mixed flat, sand flat, tidal bar and offshore. Through the combination of high resolution seismic data and well data, the architecture model was established. The boundary surfaces of each architecture elements are depicted and the logging characteristics is concluded. The cross-section is constructed to reveal the superimposition model of different architectural elements with the seismic profiles. The plane and vertical distribution of architectural elements are revealed and the sedimentary model is constructed. In the longitudinal section of estuary, the architecture elements is fluvial deposits (channel, fluvial point bar, and salt marsh), tidal flat (mud flat, mixed flat, and sand flat), tidal bar, tidal flat and offshore from land to sea. In the cross section, tidal bar, sand flat, mixed flat, mud flat, tidal point bar and salt marsh are distributed successively from the center to the sides. Tidal bars and sand flats are the best reservoirs in terms of physical properties. We focus on the analysis of their architecture and summarize their stacking patterns. We propose tidal bars as compounds are lateral accretion. Tidal bar has high-angle continued lateral accretion, with a dip angle of 6–12°. Sand flat also has lateral-migrated characteristics, but their dip angle is 2–6° which is smaller than tidal bars. As a result, the dimension and stack of a single tidal bar and sand flat are quantified. The tidal bar was lateral stacking or vertical stacking with lateral-migrated or forward-migrated sand flat and existed vertical and lateral erosion-filling phenomenon. Tidal bars have width of 100–550 m and length of 800–2,400 m, and sand flats are 300–2,500 m long. Tidal bars and sand flats made up the best reservoirs. The study provides some insights for future research of estuarine sedimentary patterns and reservoir architecture.
Pathological and Prognostic Characterization of Craniopharyngioma Based on the Expression of TrkA, β-Catenin, Cell Cycle Markers, and BRAF V600E Mutation
Authors: Xu Cheng , Ge Songhan , Cheng Juanxian , Gao Huabin , Zhang Fenfen , Han Anjia
Published: May 2022

We collected 61 craniopharyngioma (CP) specimens to investigate the expression of TrkA, β-catenin, BRAF gene mutation, and NTRK1 fusion in CP. There were 37 male and 24 female individuals with a median age of 34 years (range, 4–75 years). Histologically, there were 46 cases of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP), 14 cases of papillary craniopharyngioma (PCP), and 1 case with a mixed adamantinomatous and papillary pattern. By immunohistochemistry, we found that moderate/high TrkA expression was detected in 47% (28/60) CP and was significantly higher in adult patients (p = 0.018). Interestingly, TrkA is more expressed in “whorled epithelium” cells in ACP, similar to the localization of abnormal β-catenin. The abnormal expression rate of β-catenin was 70% (43/61), and the medium/high cyclin D1 expression rate was 73% (44/60), both of which were significantly higher in ACP than in PCP. Of the CP, 41% (21/51) had a moderate/strong P16-positive signal; 58% (34/59) showed a high Ki-67 expression, and there was a significant correlation between high Ki-67 L.I. and high tumor recurrence (p = 0.021). NTRK1 fusion was not found in CP by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). By PCR, 26% (15/58) CP showed BRAF V600E gene mutation, which mainly occurred in PCP (100%, 14/14) except one case of mixed CP. Moreover, TrkA expression was negatively correlated with Ki-67 index and positively correlated with P16 expression. There was a significantly negative correlation between BRAF V600E mutation and abnormal β-catenin expression. Our results demonstrate for the first time that TrkA expression might occur in CP, especially in adult CP patients, and suggest that cyclin D1 could be used for ACP histological classification in addition to β-catenin and BRAF V600E mutation, while Ki-67 could be used as a marker to predict CP recurrence.
LGR4, a G Protein-Coupled Receptor With a Systemic Role: From Development to Metabolic Regulation
Authors: Filipowska Joanna , Kondegowda Nagesha G. , Leon-Rivera Nancy , Dhawan Sangeeta , Vasavada Rupangi C.
Published: May 2022

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4/GPR48), a member of the GPCR (G protein-coupled receptors) superfamily, subfamily B, is a common intestinal crypt stem cell marker. It binds R-spondins/Norrin as classical ligands and plays a crucial role in Wnt signaling potentiation. Interaction between LGR4 and R-spondins initiates many Wnt-driven developmental processes, e.g., kidney, eye, or reproductive tract formation, as well as intestinal crypt (Paneth) stem cell pool maintenance. Besides the well-described role of LGR4 in development, several novel functions of this receptor have recently been discovered. In this context, LGR4 was indicated to participate in TGFβ and NFκB signaling regulation in hematopoietic precursors and intestinal cells, respectively, and found to be a new, alternative receptor for RANKL (Receptor Activator of NF kappa B Ligand) in bone cells. LGR4 inhibits the process of osteoclast differentiation, by antagonizing the interaction between RANK (Receptor Activator of NF kappa B) and its ligand-RANKL. It is also known to trigger anti-inflammatory responses in different tissues (liver, intestine, cardiac cells, and skin), serve as a sensor of the circadian clock in the liver, regulate adipogenesis and energy expenditure in adipose tissue and skeletal muscles, respectively. The extracellular domain of LGR4 (LGR4-ECD) has emerged as a potential new therapeutic for osteoporosis and cancer. LGR4 integrates different signaling pathways and regulates various cellular processes vital for maintaining whole-body homeostasis. Yet, the role of LGR4 in many cell types (e.g. pancreatic beta cells) and diseases (e.g., diabetes) remains to be elucidated. Considering the broad spectrum of LGR4 actions, this review aims to discuss both canonical and novel roles of LGR4, with emphasis on emerging research directions focused on this receptor.
Gaps of Medication Treatment Management Between Guidelines and Real-World for Inpatients With Type 2 Diabetes in China From Pharmacist’s Perspective
Authors: Song Zhi-Hui , Wang Xing-Long , Wang Xiao-Feng , Liu Jing , Luo Sang-Quzhen , Xu Shan-Shan , Cheng Xiao , Bai Jie , Dong Li-ming , Zhang Chao , Zhou Jian-Bo
Published: May 2022

Background

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus remains high in China, and more cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events due to diabetes mellitus are likely to occur in the future.

Objective

To analyze the gap between the current pharmacotherapy management and the guidelines for inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from the perspective of pharmacists so as to provide a reference for optimal pharmacotherapy management methods and models for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional observational study. The study was conducted by investigating and analyzing the use of glucose-lowering drugs, adjustment of blood pressure management strategy, lipid management, weight management, and application of antiplatelet drugs in type 2 diabetes inpatients.

Results

A total of 1086 patients with type 2 diabetes were included. Metformin, glycosidase inhibitors, and basal insulin were the most used among type 2 diabetes inpatients. The use of SGLT-2, GLP-1 RAs, DPP-4, and metformin all showed significant increase. SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) showed the fastest increase from 2020 to 2021 (14.5% vs. 39.6%); However, the application rate of SGLT-2i was low among patients with combined ASCVD, renal insufficiency, and diabetic nephropathy (46.4%, 40.9%, and 45.8% respectively). For patients with substandard blood pressure at admission, the average rate of intervention by endocrinologists for adjusting the antihypertensive regimen during hospitalization was 55.6%, and the application rate of ACEI/ARB drugs reached 64.4%. The application rate of statins among patients with type 2 diabetes was still relatively high, at 78.8%. However, the overall intervention rate for patients with suboptimal LDL-c was only 24.1%. The application rate of antiplatelet agents for patients with ASCVD was 77.6%, which was higher than that for patients without ASCVD.

Conclusion

There is still a gap between the practice of medication treatment management of Chinese inpatients with type 2 diabetes and the guidelines, especially in the application of GLP-1RAs and SGLT-2i in patients with concomitant ASCVD, diabetic nephropathy, and renal insufficiency. Meanwhile, physicians and pharmacists should pay more attention on achieving blood pressure and LDL-c standards in type 2 diabetic patients and provide timely interventions.
Sequential Detection of Microgrid Bad Data via a Data-Driven Approach Combining Online Machine Learning With Statistical Analysis
Authors: Huang Heming , Liu Fei , Ouyang Tinghui , Zha Xiaoming
Published: May 2022

Bad data is required to be detected and removed from the microgrid data stream because it misleads the decision-making of the Energy Management Systems (EMS) and puts the microgrid at risk of instability. In this paper, the authors propose a sequential detection method that combines three data mining algorithms, that is the Online Sequential Extreme Learning Machine (OSELM), statistical analysis within a sliding time window, and the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN). After sequential data training, OSELM is used to construct an online updated error-filtering map to extract the electrical feature of the microgrid data sequence. Meanwhile, the statistical features, i.e. the surge of the variance and the corresponding correlation coefficients under a sliding time window are first proposed as another two complementary feature dimensions. The three-dimensional features are finally analyzed by DBSCAN to discriminate the bad data. The detection performance of this approach is verified by the data sequence collected from a four-terminal ring-shaped DC microgrid prototype. Compared with bad data detection using a single electrical feature or only statistical features, this approach shows the best performance. Moreover, it can be further applied to the online detection of microgrid bad data in the future.
Abattoir Wastewater Treatment Plants in India: Understanding and Performance Evaluation
Authors: Rajpal Ankur , Ali Muntjeer , Choudhury Moharana , Almohana Abdulaziz Ibrahim , Alali Abdulrhman Fahmi , Munshi Faris Mohammad A. , Khursheed Anwar , Kazmi Absar Ahmad
Published: May 2022

Slaughterhouse plants, especially meat and poultry products (MPPs), generate significant quantities of wastewater during the slaughtering process and the cleaning of machinery. The handling and final disposal of wastewater from the slaughterhouse is a public and environmental health issue due to its pollution potential. The monitoring of three full-scale buffalo meat-based abattoir effluent treatment plants (ETPs) to remove organic matter and nutrients was conducted at three separate sites in India. Rotary and static screens, an equalization tank, a dissolved air flotation (DAF) system, aeration tanks, and clarifiers were the component unit operations/processes of the wastewater treatment systems. All the treatment plants were operating at an average flow rate of 254 m3/d Meem Agro (designed capacity 500 m3/d); 427 m3/d Al Noor (designed capacity 500 m3/d), and 353 m3/d International Agro Foods (IAF) plant (designed capacity 750 m3/d) for the treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater. The Al Noor and Meem Agro’s ETP consisted of a DAF unit working at the surface-loading rates of 5.7 and 1.48 m3/m2 h, respectively, applied during the analysis to the DAF system, resulting in 46.5 and 56.8% efficiencies of O&G and SS removal. The ETP of Al Noor and Meem Agro and IAF was loaded at an organic loading rate of 276 kg COD/day, 746 kg COD/day, and 629 kg COD/day, respectively. Performance of ETPs showed that the efficiency of total COD, total BOD, and TSS removal was 97, 98, and 99%; 94, 94, and 93%, and 95, 98, and 99% for Al Noor, Meem Agro, and IAF plants, respectively. The treatment plants’ efficiencies in all three plants for the removal of organic matter surpassed the effluent discharge level (as per Indian standards). Still, it is concluded that the ETPs need to be upgraded by incorporating the advanced wastewater treatment methods for the removal of nutrient concentration from treated effluents.
New Downstream Signaling Branches of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascades Identified in the Insect Pathogenic and Plant Symbiotic Fungus Metarhizium robertsii
Authors: Tang Dan , Tang Xingyuan , Fang Weiguo
Published: May 2022

Fungi rely on major signaling pathways such as the MAPK (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase) signaling pathways to regulate their responses to fluctuating environmental conditions, which is vital for fungi to persist in the environment. The cosmopolitan Metarhizium fungi have multiple lifestyles and remarkable stress tolerance. Some species, especially M. robertsii, are emerging models for investigating the mechanisms underlying ecological adaptation in fungi. Here we review recently identified new downstream branches of the MAPK cascades in M. robertsii, which controls asexual production (conidiation), insect infection and selection of carbon and nitrogen nutrients. The Myb transcription factor RNS1 appears to be a central regulator that channels information from the Fus3- and Slt2-MAPK cascade to activate insect infection and conidiation, respectively. Another hub regulator is the transcription factor AFTF1 that transduces signals from the Fus3-MAPK and the membrane protein Mr-OPY2 for optimal formation of the infection structures on the host cuticle. Homologs of these newly identified regulators are found in other Metarhizium species and many non-Metarhizium fungi, indicating that these new downstream signaling branches of the MAPK cascades could be widespread.
A Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Bone Metastasis in Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Real-World Data Retrospective Cohort Study From SEER Database
Authors: Huang Chao , He Jialin , Ding Zichuan , Li Hao , Zhou Zongke , Shi Xiaojun
Published: May 2022

Background: Bone metastasis (BM) is one of the typical metastatic types of head and neck cancer (HNC). The occurrence of BM prevents the HNC patients from obtaining a long survival period. Early assessment of the possibility of BM could bring more therapy options for HNC patients, as well as a longer overall survival time. This study aims to identify independent BM risk factors and develop a diagnostic nomogram to predict BM risk in HNC patients.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with HNC between 2010 and 2015 were retrospectively evaluated in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and then eligible patients were enrolled in our study. First, those patients were randomly assigned to training and validation sets in a 7:3 ratio. Second, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the HNC patients’ independent BM risk factors. Finally, the diagnostic nomogram’s risk prediction capacity and clinical application value were assessed using calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and decision curve analysis (DCA) curves.

Results: 39,561 HNC patients were enrolled in the study, and they were randomly divided into two sets: training (n = 27,693) and validation (n = 11,868). According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, race, primary site, tumor grade, T stage, N stage, and distant metastases (brain, liver, and lung) were all independent risk predictors of BM in HNC patients. The diagnostic nomogram was created using the above independent risk factors and had a high predictive capacity. The training and validation sets’ area under the curves (AUC) were 0.893 and 0.850, respectively. The AUC values of independent risk predictors were all smaller than that of the constructed diagnostic nomogram. Meanwhile, the calibration curve and DCA also proved the reliability and accuracy of the diagnostic nomogram.

Conclusion: The diagnostic nomogram can quickly assess the probability of BM in HNC patients, help doctors allocate medical resources more reasonably, and achieve personalized management, especially for HNC patients with a potentially high BM risk, thus acquiring better early education, early detection, and early diagnosis and treatment to maximize the benefits of patients.