bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Flood Forecasting Framework Coupling a High Resolution WRF Ensemble With an Urban Hydrologic Model
Authors: Davis Saimy , Pentakota Likhitha , Saptarishy Nikita , Mujumdar Pradeep. P.
Published: May 2022

Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models such as the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are increasingly used over the Indian region to forecast extreme rainfall events. However, studies which explore the application of high-resolution rainfall simulations obtained from the WRF model in urban hydrology are limited. In this paper, the utility of a model coupling framework to predict urban floods is explored through the case study of Bangalore city in India. This framework is used to simulate multiple extreme events that occurred over the city for the monsoons of years 2020 and 2021. To address the uncertainty from the WRF model, a 12-member convection permitting ensemble is used. Model configurations using Kain Fritsch and WSM6 parameterization schemes could simulate the spatial and temporal pattern of the selected event. The city is easily flooded with rainfall events above a threshold of 60 mm/day and to capture the response of the urban catchment, the Personal Computer Storm Water Management Model (PCSWMM) is used in this study. Flood forecasts are created using the outputs from the WRF ensemble and the Global Forecasting System (GFS). The high temporal and spatial resolution of the rainfall forecasts (<4 km at 15-min intervals), has proved critical in reproducing the urban flood event. The flood forecasts created using the WRF ensemble indicate that flooding and water levels are comparable to the observed whereas the GFS underestimates these to a large extent. Thus, the coupled WRF–PCSWMM modelling framework is found effective in forecasting flood events over an Indian city.
Tetrahedrite Thermoelectrics: From Fundamental Science to Facile Synthesis
Authors: Weller Daniel P. , Morelli Donald T.
Published: May 2022

Thermoelectric materials have a long and storied history in the research and development of semiconductor materials, being the first such class of materials to be investigated. Thermoelectrics may be used to convert heat to electricity or, alternatively, to liberate or absorb heat upon electrical excitation. They thus find application in thermoelectric generators for converting heat from a primary source or a waste stream to useful electrical power, and as solid state heating and cooling devices. In spite of their great potential in such important applications, thermoelectrics have suffered from a number of drawbacks that have hindered their utilization on a large scale. Chief among these is the fact that most high performance thermoelectric materials are comprised of elements that are in relatively low abundance. Additionally, their synthesis typically involves complex and multi-step processes, hindering manufacturability. Thermoelectric materials derived from Earth-abundant sources are thus of strong current interest, from both scientific and economic points of view. One of these, the family of semiconductors based on tetrahedrite compounds, has generated enormous interest over the last decade due to not only its potential low cost, but also for its fascinating science. In this review, we summarize the state of the art of tetrahedrite as a thermoelectric, with special emphasis on the relationship between crystal structure and bonding in the crystal and its unusually low lattice thermal conductivity; on its fascinating electronic structure; and on the wide array of compositions that have been synthesized and whose thermoelectric properties have been studied. We further highlight some rapid and facile synthesis techniques that have been developed for these compounds which, in combination with their potential low material cost, may open the door to widespread application of these fascinating materials.
The Nonlinear Correlation Between a Novel Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance and Subclinical Myocardial Injury in the General Population
Authors: Wang Zhenwei , Li Wei , Li Jingjie , Liu Naifeng
Published: May 2022

Background

Growing studies have shown that insulin resistance (IR) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), while the association between IR and subclinical myocardial injury (SC-MI) remains unclear. Hence we aimed to assess the association between IR and SC-MI.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 6043 individuals (age: 58.43 ± 13.08 years; 46.2% men) free from CVD from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A novel metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) was used as alternative markers of IR. Multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were performed to evaluate the associations between METS-IR and SC-MI.

Results

The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for cardiovascular metabolic risk factors, higher METS-IR was independently correlated with higher risk of SC-MI [as a quartile variable, Q4 vs Q1, OR (95% CI): 1.395 (1.147, 1.698), P = 0.001, P for trend < 0.001; as a continuous variable, per 10-unit increment, OR (95% CI): 1.869 (1.524, 2.292), P < 0.001]. Restricted cubic spline indicated that there was a J-curve connection between METS-IR and SC-MI. Threshold effect analysis ascertained an inflection point of 37 of METS-IR. The ORs (95% CIs) of per 10-unit increase of METS-IR for SC-MI were 0.707 (0.538, 0.928) and 1.327 (1.210, 1.456) on the left and right sides of the inflection point (P < 0.05), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the association between METS-IR and SC-MI was only statistically significant in participants without diabetes.

Conclusions

METS-IR was nonlinearly related to SC-MI in the general population without CVD.
Activin A and Sertoli Cells: Key to Fetal Testis Steroidogenesis
Authors: O’Donnell Liza , Whiley Penny A. F. , Loveland Kate L.
Published: May 2022

The long-standing knowledge that Sertoli cells determine fetal testosterone production levels is not widespread, despite being first reported over a decade ago in studies of mice. Hence any ongoing use of testosterone as a marker of Leydig cell function in fetal testes is inappropriate. By interrogating new scRNAseq data from human fetal testes, we demonstrate this situation is also likely to be true in humans. This has implications for understanding how disruptions to either or both Leydig and Sertoli cells during the in utero masculinization programming window may contribute to the increasing incidence of hypospadias, cryptorchidism, testicular germ cell tumours and adult infertility. We recently discovered that activin A levels directly govern androgen production in mouse Sertoli cells, because the enzymes that drive the conversion of the precursor androgen androstenedione to generate testosterone are produced exclusively in Sertoli cells in response to activin A. This minireview addresses the implications of this growing understanding of how in utero exposures affect fetal masculinization for future research on reproductive health, including during programming windows that may ultimately be relevant for organ development in males and females.
How Does Environmental Regulation Affect Green Innovation? A Perspective From the Heterogeneity in Environmental Regulations and Pollutants
Authors: Chen Zhenling , Niu Xiaoyan , Gao Xiaofang , Chen Huihui
Published: May 2022

Green (technical) innovation is expected to be an effective tool for addressing environmental crises. However, the effect of environmental regulations on green innovation may depend on the type of environmental regulation. To that end, this study utilizes panel data covering 30 Chinese provinces to explore the mechanism underlying the relationship between these two variables in light of the heterogeneity in environmental regulations and pollutants. The direct effects of three types of environmental regulations and four pollutants are verified, as are the thresholds in the effects of environmental regulations on green innovation. The results show that 1) both market-incentive and public participation-based environmental regulations have positive effects on green innovation, while command-and-control regulations do not. Unlike the effects of the market-incentive tool, which has a single threshold, the effect of public participation-based environmental regulations has two thresholds, which indicates that there is too little public participation for such regulations to be effective and too much for them to be sensitive to environmental protection. 2) Three of the four pollutants (industrial wastewater, waste gas, and carbon emissions) have a significantly positive impact on green innovation only when they exceed the first threshold value, whereas an increase in industrial solid waste has little effect on green innovation until it exceeds the second threshold value. 3) In the eastern region, all three kinds of environmental regulations play significant roles in promoting green innovation, and their effects are greater than those in the western region. However, the effect of environmental regulations in the central region is not different from that in the western region.
Prediction of Drag Reduction in Slickwater Fracturing by Two General Models
Authors: Chen Pengfei , Chang Honggang , Fu Yongqiang , Tang Yongfan , Huang Xuesong , Yu Weichu
Published: May 2022

Drag reduction (DR) is critical to the success of hydraulic fracturing operations with slickwater, and it is a challenge to accurately predict DR due to the problem of high injection rates. Although a practical pipe diameter model is frequently used to predict the field DR based on laboratory experimental data, there exist many limitations. This study, on account of dynamic similarity, shows two novel general models for the prediction of field DR, and such two models can give reliable predictions when the laboratory and field Reynolds numbers (Re) are the same. For general model 1, the DR can be predicted by using the laboratory volumetric flow rate, pipe diameter and pressure drop, and the field volumetric flow rate, with a deviation ranging from −10 to 10%. For general model 2, it is simpler than general model 1, and the DR can be predicted by using the laboratory pipe diameter and the field volumetric flow rate, with a deviation ranging from −6 to 6%. The two novel general models can be used for more scenarios than the existing reported ones.
Multi-Agent Schedule Optimization Method for Regional Energy Internet Considering the Improved Tiered Reward and Punishment Carbon Trading Model
Authors: Li Tianxiang , Xiao Qian , Jia Hongjie , Mu Yunfei , Wang Xinying , Lu Wenbiao , Pu Tianjiao
Published: May 2022

Regional energy internet (REI) contains massive market agents, whose interests and objectives vary from each other. In consequence, it is challenging to stimulate the energy conservation and emissions reduction participation of each agent by the conventional schedule optimization method. This paper proposes a multi-agent schedule optimization method for REI considering the improved tiered reward and punishment carbon trading model. Firstly, the energy flow constraints and device constraints of REI are established. Secondly, to tighten restrictions on carbon emissions, the relative carbon emission is used as the criterion to establish the improved tied reward and punishment carbon trading model. Next, to analyze the real multi-agent game situation in the market, different agents are classified, and the objective functions are defined based on their revenue. Finally, a two-layer algorithm is used to solve the above multi-agent model. Simulation results verify that the proposed method can effectively reduce carbon emissions and significantly enhance the revenue of the region.
A Multi-Angle Method for Simultaneous Retrieval of Aerosol Optical Depth and Bidirectional Reflectance Over Case II Waters
Authors: Han Zeying , Cheng Tianhai , Gu Xingfa , Shi Shuaiyi , Li Xiaoyang , Bi Kaiyi
Published: May 2022

Retrieval of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and bidirectional reflectance over Case II waters is a challenging task because of the optical complexity of water and the significant influence of atmospheric scattering. We present a simultaneous retrieval algorithm, coupled with a bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) model centered on the water’s Inherent Optical Property (IOP), to retrieve AOD and bidirectional reflectance based on multi-angle measurements from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) sensor. The algorithm was evaluated through retrievals performed in the proximity of four AERONET sites characterized by various water types. Consistency was observed between the results and in situ measurements. Accurate AODs can be retrieved, and atmospheric overcorrection can be avoided when obtaining remote sensing reflectance. Furthermore, the normalized remote sensing reflectance derived from our results showed a good correlation with the AERONET-OC products derived using the IOP-based correction approach. Our study provides theoretical support for future quantitative remote-sensing studies.
Connecting Biodiversity With Mental Health and Wellbeing — A Review of Methods and Disciplinary Perspectives
Authors: Hedin Madeleine , Hahs Amy K. , Mata Luis , Lee Kate
Published: May 2022

Biodiversity conservation and mental health and wellbeing are of increasing global concern, with growing relevance to planning and policy. A growing body of literature exploring the relationships between biodiversity and mental health and wellbeing—based on early research conducted largely from social science perspectives—suggests that particular qualities within natural environments confer particular benefits. Results so far have been inconclusive and inconsistent, contributing to an incohesive body of evidence. While past reviews have focused on reporting variations in results, the present study builds on early reviews by exploring variations from the perspective of author disciplines and the use of different guiding theories, and variables used to measure biodiversity, mental health and wellbeing. This aims to address a research gap in understanding whether research in this topic has become more interdisciplinary or has employed more consistent study designs, which were highlighted as priorities in past reviews, but the progress of which has not yet been explored in depth. We found that research connecting biodiversity and mental health and wellbeing has become only marginally more interdisciplinary in recent years, and there is still a large inconsistency in the use of guiding theories, variables and overall study designs. The variation in disciplinary perspectives and methods reflects a growing interest in this field and the variety of ways researchers are trying to understand and test the complex relationships between biodiversity and mental health and wellbeing. Our study shows that there are unique perspectives that different disciplines can contribute to this body of research and continuing to increase collaboration between disciplines with the use of consistent mixed methods approaches in future may contribute to a more cohesive body of evidence. We provide a framework to conceptualize recommendations for future research, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration at multiple scales, and importantly focusing on more specific, mechanistic studies to inform decision-making that provides co-benefits for biodiversity and mental health and wellbeing.
Poor hDNA-Derived NGS Data May Provide Sufficient Phylogenetic Information of Potentially Extinct Taxa
Authors: Clewing Catharina , Kehlmaier Christian , Stelbrink Björn , Albrecht Christian , Wilke Thomas
Published: May 2022

Museum material is an important source of metadata for past and recent biological events. With current sequencing technologies, it is possible to obtain historical DNA (hDNA) from older material and/or endangered species to answer taxonomic, systematic, and biogeographical questions. However, hDNA from museum collections is often highly degraded, making it difficult to assess relationships at or above the species level. We therefore studied two probably extinct gastropod species of the genus Laevicaspia, which were collected ∼140 years ago in the Caspian Sea, to map “standard” mitochondrial and nuclear markers and assess both the sequencing depth and the proportion of ambiguous sites as an indicator for the phylogenetic quality of the NGS data. Our study resulted in the first phylogenetically informative mitochondrial and nuclear markers for L. caspia. Assessment of both sequencing depth (mean coverage) and proportion of ambiguous sites suggests that our assembled consensus sequences are reliable for this species. In contrast, no informative gastropod-specific DNA was obtained for L. conus, likely due to a high degree of tissue digestion and contamination with non-gastropod DNA. Nevertheless, our results show that hDNA may in principle yield high-quality sequences for species-level phylogenetic analyses, which underlines the importance of museum collections as valuable archives of the biological past.
Effects of Extreme Salinity Stress on a Temperate Mangrove Ecosystem
Authors: Dittmann Sabine , Mosley Luke , Stangoulis James , Nguyen Van Lam , Beaumont Kieren , Dang Tan , Guan Huade , Gutierrez-Jurado Karina , Lam-Gordillo Orlando , McGrath Andrew
Published: May 2022

Mangrove forests provide essential ecosystem services, but are threatened by habitat loss, effects of climatic change and chemical pollutants. Hypersalinity can also lead to mangrove mortality, although mangroves are adapted to saline habitats. A recent dieback event of >9 ha of temperate mangrove (Avicennia marina) in South Australia allowed to evaluate the generality of anthropogenic impacts on mangrove ecosystems. We carried out multidisciplinary investigations, combining airborne remote sensing with on-ground measurements to detect the extent of the impact. The mangrove forest was differentiated into “healthy,” “stressed,” and “dead” zones using airborne LIDAR, RGB and hyperspectral imagery. Differences in characteristics of trees and soils were tested between these zones. Porewater salinities of >100 were measured in areas where mangrove dieback occurred, and hypersalinity persisted in soils a year after the event, making it one of the most extreme hypersalinity cases known in mangrove. Sediments in the dieback zone were anaerobic and contained higher concentrations of sulfate and chloride. CO2 efflux from sediment as well as carbon stocks in mangrove biomass and soil did not differ between the zones a year after the event. Mangrove photosynthetic traits and physiological characteristics indicated that mangrove health was impacted beyond the immediate dieback zone. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate as well as chlorophyll fluorescence were lower in the “stressed” than “healthy” mangrove zone. Leaves from mangrove in the “stressed” zone contained less nitrogen and phosphorous than leaves from the “healthy” zone, but had higher arsenic, sulfur and zinc concentrations. The response to extreme hypersalinity in the temperate semi-arid mangrove was similar to response from the sub-/tropical semi-arid mangrove. Mangrove in semi-arid climates are already at their physiological tolerance limit, which places them more at risk from extreme hypersalinity regardless of latitude. The findings have relevance for understanding the generality of disturbance effects on mangrove, with added significance as semi-arid climate regions could expand with global warming.
Pursuing Public Health Benefit Within National Genomic Initiatives: Learning From Different Policies
Authors: Onstwedder Suzanne M. , Jansen Marleen E. , Leonardo Alves Teresa , Cornel Martina C. , Rigter Tessel
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Population-based genomic research is expected to deliver substantial public health benefits. National genomics initiatives are widespread, with large-scale collection and research of human genomic data. To date, little is known about the actual public health benefit that is yielded from such initiatives. In this study, we explore how public health benefit is being pursued in a selection of national genomics initiatives.

Methods: A mixed-method study was carried out, consisting of a literature-based comparison of 11 purposively sampled national genomics initiatives (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, United Kingdom (UK), and United States (USA)), and five semi-structured interviews with experts (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, UK, USA). It was analyzed to what extent and how public health benefit was pursued and then operationalized in each phase of an adapted public health policy cycle: agenda setting, governance, (research) strategy towards health benefit, implementation, evaluation.

Results: Public health benefit within national genomics initiatives was pursued in all initiatives and also operationalized in all phases of the public health policy cycle. The inclusion of public health benefit in genomics initiatives seemed dependent on the outcomes of agenda setting, such as the aims and values, as well as design of governance, for example involved actors and funding. Some initiatives focus on a research-based strategy to contribute to public health, while others focus on research translation into healthcare, or a combination of both. Evaluation of public health benefits could be performed qualitatively, such as assessing improved public trust, and/or quantitatively, e.g. research output or number of new diagnoses. However, the created health benefit for the general public, both short- and long-term, appears to be difficult to determine.

Conclusion: Genomics initiatives hold the potential to deliver health promises of population-based genomics. Yet, universal tools to measure public health benefit and clarity in roles and responsibilities of collaborating stakeholders are lacking. Advancements in both aspects will help to facilitate and achieve the expected impact of genomics initiatives and enable effective research translation, implementation, and ultimately improved public health.
Distinct Immunological Profiles Help in the Maintenance of Salivary Secretory IgA Production in Mild Symptoms COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Santos Juliana de Melo Batista dos , Amaral Jonatas Bussador do , França Carolina Nunes , Monteiro Fernanda Rodrigues , Alvares-Saraiva Anuska Marcelino , Kalil Sandra , Durigon Edison Luiz , Oliveira Danielle Bruna Leal , Rodrigues Silvia Sanches , Heller Debora , Welter Eliane Aparecida Rosseto , Pinho João Renato Rebello , Vieira Rodolfo P. , Bachi André Luis Lacerda
Published: May 2022

Background

Relevant aspects regarding the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and the systemic immune response to this infection have been reported. However, the mucosal immune response of the upper airways two months after SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with mild/moderate symptoms is still not completely described. Therefore, we investigated the immune/inflammatory responses of the mucosa of the upper airways of mild/moderate symptom COVID-19 patients two months after the SARS-CoV-2 infection in comparison to a control group composed of non-COVID-19 healthy individuals.

Methods

A cohort of 80 volunteers (age 37.2 ± 8.2), including non-COVID-19 healthy individuals (n=24) and COVID-19 patients (n=56) who presented mild/moderate symptoms during a COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil in November and December of 2020. Saliva samples were obtained two months after the COVID-19 diagnosis to assess the levels of SIgA by ELISA and the cytokines by multiplex analysis.

Results

Salivary levels of SIgA were detected in 39 volunteers into the COVID-19 group and, unexpectedly, in 14 volunteers in the control group. Based on this observation, we distributed the volunteers of the control group into without SIgA or with SIgA sub-groups, and COVID-19 group into without SIgA or with SIgA sub-groups. Individuals with SIgA showed higher levels of IL-10, IL-17A, IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-13, and IFN-α than those without SIgA. In intergroup analysis, the COVID-19 groups showed higher salivary levels of IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, and IFN-α than the control group. No statistical differences were verified in the salivary levels of IL-6 and IFN-β. Lower IL-12p70/IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-10 ratios were found in the control group without SIgA than the control group with SIgA and the COVID-19 group with SIgA.

Conclusion

We were able to present, for the first time, that associations between distinct immunological profiles can help the mucosal immunity to maintain the salivary levels of SIgA in COVID-19 patients two months after the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Diverse Roles of NETosis in the Pathogenesis of Lupus
Authors: Wang Meiying , Ishikawa Tatsuya , Lai Yupeng , Nallapothula Dhiraj , Singh Ram Raj
Published: May 2022

NETosis is a form of neutrophil cell death during which extracellular fibrillary structures composed of cytosolic and granule proteins assembled on scaffolds of decondensed chromatin, called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), are released. NETs normally contribute to host immune defense. Accumulating evidence implicates aberrant NET production and/or reduced NET clearance, along with alterations of molecules involved in NETosis pathway, in humans and animals with lupus. The extruded nuclear antigens released by NET are a source of autoantigens, which can contribute to the breakdown of self-tolerance in lupus. Excessive NET can also promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon-α, elicit direct cytotoxic effect on various renal cells, and cause capillary necrosis and podocyte loss. Additionally, NET can induce endothelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiation, which can promote activated myofibroblasts leading to extracellular matrix production. Thus, aberrant NETosis can play diverse roles, including autoantibody production, inflammation, and tissue damage, at different stages of lupus pathogenesis. Evidence suggests that treatments currently used in lupus may reduce NETosis, suggesting a potential utility of targeting NETosis to treat lupus. In fact, several approaches are being experimented to therapeutically target pathways of NETosis. Future studies should precisely delineate distinct roles of NETosis at different stages of lupus pathogenesis in humans, which would offer a rational basis for NETosis-targeting treatments in the clinic.
Transcriptomic Signatures of Pearl Oyster Pinctada Maxima in Response to Acute Salinity Stress
Authors: Wei Haijun , Chen Mingqiang , Deng Zhenghua , Sun Jing , Yang Jingru , Zhao Wang , Li Youning , Ma Zhenhua , Wang Yu , Yu Gang
Published: May 2022

Acute salinity stress can impact many physiological processes of marine shellfish. The responses ofPinctada maximato salinity stress, especially the osmotic pressure regulation and immune response, are of great significance to health. To investigate the molecular changes in response to acute salinity stress, the pearl oysters were transferred from 30 ppt (C) to 40 ppt (HS) and 20 ppt (LS) for 12 h, and the transcriptome analysis was conducted on the gills. Compared to the control, there were 6613 (3253 up-regulated and 3360 down-regulated) differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 4395 (2180 up-regulated and 2215 down-regulated) DEGs observed in HS and LS, respectively. The related molecular biological processes and potential functions were explored from enrichment analysis. A total of 332 KEGG pathways (including 1514 genes) and 308 KEGG pathways (including 731 genes) were enriched in C vs. HS and C vs. LS, respectively. In addition, there are 1559 DEGs shared by C vs. HS group and C vs. LS group, and the results of the KEGG function annotation showed that 7 DEGs were involved in membrane transport, and 34 DEGs were involved in the immune system. The correlation network for expression of genes shows that the expression of 3 genes was significantly correlated with each other in membrane transport, and there were significant correlations between the expression of 27 genes in immune response. The results of this study will be of great value in understanding the molecular basis of salinity stress adaptation in the pearl oysterP. maxima.
Nanocellulose Extraction Using Ionic Liquids: Syntheses, Processes, and Properties
Authors: Shamsuri Ahmad Adlie , Md. Jamil Siti Nurul Ain , Abdan Khalina
Published: May 2022

Increased environmental awareness has encouraged researchers to seek alternatives to replace the use of hazardous chemicals in the extraction of nanocellulose for environmental conservation. Lately, ionic liquids have been used as a medium for processing cellulose and other biopolymers because they are recyclable and reusable. Recently, ionic liquids have been used to extract nanocellulose for a variety of applications. In this short review, examples of ionic liquids that are usually used for the extraction of nanocellulose are demonstrated. Additionally, sources of cellulose that are employed as raw materials for nanocellulose have also been shown. Moreover, the synthesis of ionic liquids and the process of nanocellulose extraction using ionic liquids are exhibited in this paper. In addition, the properties of nanocellulose extracted by different ionic liquids were also shortly reviewed. On top of that, the knowledge gained from this review provides a clearer comprehension of the process of nanocellulose extraction and the important properties of the extracted nanocellulose. In conclusion, this short review revealed that different mechanisms of nanocellulose extraction using ionic liquids give distinct properties to the extracted nanocellulose.
Single-Center Experience With Protocolized Treatment of Left Ventricular Assist Device Infections
Authors: Verkaik Nelianne J. , Yalcin Yunus C. , Bax Hannelore I. , Constantinescu Alina A. , Brugts Jasper J. , Manintveld Olivier C. , Birim Ozcan , Croughs Peter D. , Bogers Ad J. J. C. , Caliskan Kadir
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Because of the current lack of evidence-based antimicrobial treatment guidelines, Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) infections are often treated according to local insights. Here, we propose a flowchart for protocolized treatment, in order to improve outcome.

Methods

The flowchart was composed based on literature, consensus and expert opinion statements. It includes choice, dosage and duration of antibiotics, and indications for suppressive therapy, with particular focus on Staphylococcus aureus (SA) (Figure 1). The preliminary treatment results of 28 patients (2 from start cephalexin suppressive therapy) after implementation in July 2018 are described.

Results

Cumulative incidence for first episode of infection in a 3-year time period was 27% (26 of 96 patients with an LVAD). Twenty-one of 23 (91%) first episodes of driveline infection (10 superficial and 13 deep; nine of 13 caused by SA) were successfully treated with antibiotics according to flowchart with complete resolution of clinical signs and symptoms. For two patients with deep driveline infections, surgery was needed in addition. There were no relapses of deep driveline infections, and only 2 SA deep driveline re-infections after 6 months. Nine patients received cephalexin of whom four patients (44%) developed a breakthrough infection with cephalexin-resistant gram-negative bacteria.

Conclusions

The first results of this protocolized treatment approach of LVAD infections are promising. Yet, initiation of cephalexin suppressive therapy should be carefully considered given the occurrence of infections with resistant micro-organisms. The long-term outcome of this approach needs to be established in a larger number of patients, preferably in a multi-center setting.
Efficacy of Microneedling Combined With Local Application of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Conditioned Media in Skin Brightness and Rejuvenation: A Randomized Controlled Split-Face Study
Authors: Liang Xuelei , Li Jiaying , Yan Yan , Xu Yongsheng , Wang Xiujuan , Wu Haixuan , Liu Yi , Li Linfeng , Zhuo Fenglin
Published: May 2022

Background

Fighting skin aging signs is one of the major challenges of the 21st century, recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and microneedling (MN) have been applied for anti-aging. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of MN and human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioned media (hUC-MSCs-CM) in skin brightness and rejuvenation.

Methods

Thirty volunteers with facial skin aging were recruited for the randomized, controlled split-face study. The left and right sides of the face were randomly applied with saline via MN or hUC-MSCs-CM via MN. Five sessions were performed for each volunteer at 2-week intervals. Two dermatologists evaluated the clinical improvement, in terms of skin brightness and texture. A satisfaction score based on a self-evaluation questionnaire was recorded at 2 weeks after the last treatment. The objective evaluation was recorded before the first treatment, and at 2 weeks after the last treatment.

Results

Twenty-eight volunteers with a mean (SD) age of 41 (6.54) years old completed the trial. The investigator’s assessment for skin brightness and texture, and the self-satisfaction score revealed statistically better effects in hUC-MSCs-CM -plus-MN group than in MN alone (MN saline) group. No severe side effects were reported during the whole study period. Compared to MN alone group, the objective assessment revealed significant improvements in skin brightness (reduced melanin index, ultraviolet spots, and brown spots) and skin texture (reduced wrinkles and pores, and increased skin elasticity) in hUC-MSCs-CM-plus-MN group, while there were no obvious differences in skin hydration, trans-epidermal water loss, and the erythema index.

Conclusion

The combination of hUC-MSCs-CM and MN exhibite anti-aging efficacy, and this could be used for facial rejuvenation in the future.
Identification of an Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Long Non-coding RNA Prognostic Signature to Determine the Prognosis and Drug Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Huang Shenglan , Li Dan , Zhuang Lingling , Zhang Jian , Wu Jianbing
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with poor prognosis. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for cancer progression and metastasis. Thus, we aimed to construct an EMT-related lncRNA signature for predicting the prognosis of HCC patients.

Methods

Cox regression analysis and LASSO regression method were used to build an EMT-related lncRNAs risk signature based on TCGA database. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to compare the overall survival (OS) in different risk groups. ROC curves and Cox proportional-hazards analysis were performed to evaluate the performance of the risk signature. RT-qPCR was conducted in HCC cell lines and tissue samples to detect the expression of some lncRNAs in this risk model. Furthermore, a nomogram involving the risk score and clinicopathological features was built and validated with calibration curves and ROC curves. In addition, we explored the association between risk signature and tumor immunity, somatic mutations status, and drugs sensitivity.

Results

Twelve EMT-related lncRNAs were obtained to construct the prognostic risk signature for patients with HCC. The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that patients in the high-risk group had worse overall survival (OS) than those in low-risk group. ROC curves and Cox regression analysis suggested the risk signature could predict HCC survival exactly and independently. The prognostic value of the risk model was confirmed in the testing and entire groups. We also found AC099850.3 and AC092171.2 were highly expressed in HCC cells and HCC tissues. The nomogram could accurately predict survival probability of HCC patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that cancer-related pathways and cell division activity were enriched in high-risk group. The SNPs showed that the prevalence of TP53 mutations was significantly different between high- and low-risk groups; the TP53 mutations and the high TMB were both associated with a worse prognosis in patients with HCC. We also observed widely associations between risk signature and drugs sensitivity in HCC.

Conclusion

A novel EMT-related lncRNAs risk signature, including 12 lncRNAs, was established and identified in patients with HCC, which can accurately predict the prognosis of HCC patients and may be used to guide individualized treatment in the clinical practice.
Fertility Awareness-Based Methods for Women's Health and Family Planning
Authors: Duane Marguerite , Stanford Joseph B. , Porucznik Christina A. , Vigil Pilar
Published: May 2022

Background

Fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) educate about reproductive health and enable tracking and interpretation of physical signs, such as cervical fluid secretions and basal body temperature, which reflect the hormonal changes women experience on a cyclical basis during the years of ovarian activity. Some methods measure relevant hormone levels directly. Most FABMs allow women to identify ovulation and track this “vital sign” of the menstrual or female reproductive cycle, through daily observations recorded on cycle charts (paper or electronic).

Applications

Physicians can use the information from FABM charts to guide the diagnosis and management of medical conditions and to support or restore healthy function of the reproductive and endocrine systems, using a restorative reproductive medical (RRM) approach. FABMs can also be used by couples to achieve or avoid pregnancy and may be most effective when taught by a trained instructor.

Challenges

Information about individual FABMs is rarely provided in medical education. Outdated information is widespread both in training programs and in the public sphere. Obtaining accurate information about FABMs is further complicated by the numerous period tracking or fertility apps available, because very few of these apps have evidence to support their effectiveness for identifying the fertile window, for achieving or preventing pregnancy.

Conclusions

This article provides an overview of different types of FABMs with a published evidence base, apps and resources for learning and using FABMs, the role FABMs can play in medical evaluation and management, and the effectiveness of FABMs for family planning, both to achieve or to avoid pregnancy.
The Interpretation of the Role of a Polyketide Synthase ClPKS18 in the Pathogenicity of Curvularia lunata
Authors: Lu Zhixiang , Wang Shaoqing , Dou Kai , Ren Jianhong , Chen Jie
Published: May 2022

Plant pathogenic fungus Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn causes leaf spot diseases in several plants such as Oryza sativa, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, and Capsicum frutescens. It has been spread worldwide, specifically in maize-growing regions. The polyketide synthase (PKS) plays a significant role in secondary metabolite production and its effect on virulence. The Clpks18 of C. lunata strongly correlated with its pathogenicity. The role of Clpks18 gene on the pathogenic activity of C. lunata remains unclear. Hence, in this study, we analyzed the importance of Clpks18 gene on the hyphae and conidial melanization and on the sporulation and hyphal growth. The deletion of Clpks18 gene reduced the production of methyl 5-(hydroxymethyl)furan-2-carboxylate toxin. The virulence of ΔClpks18 mutant was significantly reduced compared with the wild type. The metabolomics data revealed that (R)-(-)-mellein was a vital factor in the virulence of C. lunata. The (R)-(-)-mellein and the toxin produced by C. lunata were detected in the maize leaves during its infestation. In addition, the metabolomic analysis showed that the Clpks18 gene influences glycerolipid, non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis, and its metabolism. This study demonstrates that the Clpks18 gene is important for the pathogenicity of C. lunata by influencing the complex metabolic network.
Altitudinal Distribution Patterns of Phyllosphere Microbial Communities and Their Contribution to Silage Fermentation of Kobresia pygmaea Along the Elevation Gradient on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yang Xin , Bao Yuhong , Shao Tao , Wang Wenkang , Ma Pengfei , Wang Wenbo , Gallo Antonio , Yuan Xianjun
Published: May 2022

The study aimed to reveal altitudinal distribution patterns of phyllosphere microbial communities and silage fermentation of Kobresia pygmaea along the elevation gradient on the Tibetan Plateau. The K. pygmaea was individually collected from 2,500, 3,000, 4,000, 4,500, and 5,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.) on the Tibetan Plateau and ensiled for 60 days, respectively. The phyllosphere bacterial diversity increased while fungal diversity decreased along the elevation gradient, and bacterial and fungal richness showed a unimodal distribution with peak abundance at 4,000 and 3,000 m a.s.l., respectively. After 60 days of ensiling, the bacterial and fungal community composition changed but did not exhibit clear altitudinal distribution patterns. All K. pygmaea underwent a weak fermentation indicated by pH above 5.0 and low ratio of lactic/acetic acid (LA/AA). The S5000 and S3000 showed the highest and lowest pH, respectively. Although Lactobacillus dominated S4000 after 60 days of ensiling, S4000 still exhibited poor fermentation quality as well as silages from the other four regions. The higher ammonia N concentrations in S3000 and S4000 than the other silages were consistent with the detectable butyric acid in S3000 and S4000. The silage fermentation of K. pygmaea collected from five regions exhibited poor fermentation quality, thereby inoculating lactic acid bacteria to K. pygmaea before ensiling is highly recommended to improve fermentation quality on the Tibetan Plateau.
The Impact of Chromate on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Molybdenum Homeostasis
Authors: Maunders Eve A. , Ngu Dalton H. Y. , Ganio Katherine , Hossain Sheikh I. , Lim Bryan Y. J. , Leeming Michael G. , Luo Zhenyao , Tan Aimee , Deplazes Evelyne , Kobe Boštjan , McDevitt Christopher A.
Published: May 2022

Acquisition of the trace-element molybdenum via the high-affinity ATP-binding cassette permease ModABC is essential for Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiration in anaerobic and microaerophilic environments. This study determined the X-ray crystal structures of the molybdenum-recruiting solute-binding protein ModA from P. aeruginosa PAO1 in the metal-free state and bound to the group 6 metal oxyanions molybdate, tungstate, and chromate. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 ModA has a non-contiguous dual-hinged bilobal structure with a single metal-binding site positioned between the two domains. Metal binding results in a 22° relative rotation of the two lobes with the oxyanions coordinated by four residues, that contribute six hydrogen bonds, distinct from ModA orthologues that feature an additional oxyanion-binding residue. Analysis of 485 Pseudomonas ModA sequences revealed conservation of the metal-binding residues and β-sheet structural elements, highlighting their contribution to protein structure and function. Despite the capacity of ModA to bind chromate, deletion of modA did not affect P. aeruginosa PAO1 sensitivity to chromate toxicity nor impact cellular accumulation of chromate. Exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of chromate broadly perturbed P. aeruginosa metal homeostasis and, unexpectedly, was associated with an increase in ModA-mediated molybdenum uptake. Elemental analyses of the proteome from anaerobically grown P. aeruginosa revealed that, despite the increase in cellular molybdenum upon chromate exposure, distribution of the metal within the proteome was substantially perturbed. This suggested that molybdoprotein cofactor acquisition may be disrupted, consistent with the potent toxicity of chromate under anaerobic conditions. Collectively, these data reveal a complex relationship between chromate toxicity, molybdenum homeostasis and anaerobic respiration.
Social Relationship as a Factor for the Development of Stress Incubation in Adult Mice
Authors: Lee Ray X. , Stephens Greg J. , Kuhn Bernd
Published: May 2022

While stress reactions can emerge long after the triggering event, it remains elusive how they emerge after a protracted, seemingly stress-free period during which stress incubates. Here, we study the behavioral development in mice isolated after observing an aggressive encounter inflicted upon their pair-housed partners. We developed a spatially resolved fine-scale behavioral analysis and applied it to standard behavioral tests. It reveals that the seemingly sudden behavioral changes developed gradually. These behavioral changes were not observed if the aggressive encounter happened to a stranger mouse, suggesting that social bonding is a prerequisite for stress incubation in this paradigm. This finding was corroborated by hemisphere-specific morphological changes in cortex regions centering at the anterior cingulate cortex, a cognitive and emotional center. Our non-invasive analytical methods to capture informative behavioral details may have applications beyond laboratory animals.
Continual Sequence Modeling With Predictive Coding
Authors: Annabi Louis , Pitti Alexandre , Quoy Mathias
Published: May 2022

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) have been proved very successful at modeling sequential data such as language or motions. However, these successes rely on the use of the backpropagation through time (BPTT) algorithm, batch training, and the hypothesis that all the training data are available at the same time. In contrast, the field of developmental robotics aims at uncovering lifelong learning mechanisms that could allow embodied machines to learn and stabilize knowledge in continuously evolving environments. In this article, we investigate different RNN designs and learning methods, that we evaluate in a continual learning setting. The generative modeling task consists in learning to generate 20 continuous trajectories that are presented sequentially to the learning algorithms. Each method is evaluated according to the average prediction error over the 20 trajectories obtained after complete training. This study focuses on learning algorithms with low memory requirements, that do not need to store past information to update their parameters. Our experiments identify two approaches especially fit for this task: conceptors and predictive coding. We suggest combining these two mechanisms into a new proposed model that we label PC-Conceptors that outperforms the other methods presented in this study.
MicroRNA-582-5p Contributes to the Maintenance of Neural Stem Cells Through Inhibiting Secretory Protein FAM19A1
Authors: Zhang Yu-Fei , Li Xin-Xin , Cao Xiu-Li , Ji Chen-Chen , Gao Xiang-Yu , Gao Dan , Han Hua , Yu Fei , Zheng Min-Hua
Published: May 2022

Epigenetic regulations on the maintenance of neural stem cells (NSCs) are complicated and far from been fully understood. Our previous findings have shown that after blocking Notch signaling in NSCs in vivo, the stemness of NSCs decreases, accompanied by the downregulated expression of miR-582-5p. In the current study, we further investigated the function and mechanism of miR-582-5p in the maintenance of NSCs in vitro and in vivo. After transfecting a mimic of miR-582-5p, the formation of neurospheres and proliferation of NSCs and intermediate progenitor cells (NS/PCs) were enhanced, and the expression of stemness markers such as Sox2, Nestin, and Pax6 also increased. The results were reversed after transfection of an inhibitor of miR-582-5p. We further generated miR-582 knock-out (KO) mice to investigate its function in vivo, and we found that the number of NSCs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) region decreased and the number of neuroblasts increased in miR-582 deficient mice, indicating reduced stemness and enhanced neurogenesis of NSCs. Moreover, RNA-sequencing and molecular biological analysis revealed that miR-582-5p regulates the stemness and proliferation of NSCs by inhibiting secretory protein FAM19A1. In summary, our research uncovered a new epigenetic mechanism that regulates the maintenance of NSCs, therefore providing novel targets to amplify NSCs in vitro and to promote neurogenesis in vivo during brain pathology and aging.