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100 | Management of traumatic brain injury: a narrative review of current evidence | Globally, approximately 70 million people sustain traumatic brain injury each year and this can have significant physical, psychosocial and economic consequences for patients, their families and society. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with a summary of recent studies of direct relevance to the management of traumatic brain injury in order to promote best clinical practice. The use of tranexamic acid in the management of traumatic brain injury has been the focus of several studies, with one large randomised controlled trial suggesting a reduction in all-cause mortality within 24 h of injury. The use of therapeutic hypothermia does not improve neurological outcomes and maintenance of normothermia remains the optimal management strategy. For seizure management, levetiracetam appears to be as effective as phenytoin, but the optimal dose remains unclear. There has been a lack of clear outcome benefit for any individual osmotherapy agent, with no difference in mortality or neurological recovery. Early tracheostomy (< 7 days from injury) for patients with traumatic brain injury is associated with a reduction in the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and duration of mechanical ventilation, critical care and hospital stay. Further research is needed in order to determine the optimal package of care and interventions. There is a need for research studies to focus on patient-centred outcome measures such as long-term neurological recovery and quality of life. |
101 | Two new eudesmane sesquiterpene glucosides from the aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris | Using combined chromatographic methods, two new sesquiterpene glucosides, vulgarosides A (1) and B (2), and two known analogs ainsliaside E (3) and pumilaside A (4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris. Their chemical structures were established by spectroscopic methods, including one and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1 D and 2 D-NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS). In addition, their cytotoxicity on five human cancer cell lines, including KB (epidermoid carcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocarcinoma), MCF7 (breast carcinoma), SK-Mel-2 (melanoma), and LNCaP (prostate cancer) was also evaluated by the SRB assay. However, none of the tested eudesmane sesquiterpene glycosides showed significant cytotoxicity (IC50>100 µM). |
102 | Social Safety of Society for Developing Countries to Meet Sustainable Development Standards: Indicators, Level, Strategic Benchmarks (with Calculations Based on the Case Study of Ukraine) | The paper is devoted to identifying the level of social safety of society, taking into account the indicators of shadow economy, and developing its strategic scenarios as a component of sustainable development of Ukraine by 2030. The authors used the modern methods of normalisation, threshold vector determination, and dynamic weight coefficients in order to identify the level of social safety of society. The authors developed the structure and a list of indicators considering three components of social safety: The standard of living, the demographic component, and the quality of life. This method allows determining the list and severity of threats, comparing the dynamics of integral indices with integral thresholds in one scale, identifying the state of security, and defining strategic goals and strategies. The suggested approach is universal and can be used by any country, region, economic activity, or business to develop evidence-based medium-to-long-term sustainable development scenarios. |
103 | Physiology and pathophysiology of human airway mucus | The mucus clearance system is the dominant mechanical host defense system of the human lung. Mucus is cleared from the lung by cilia and airflow, including both two-phase gas-liquid pumping and cough-dependent mechanisms, and mucus transport rates are heavily dependent on mucus concentration. Importantly, mucus transport rates are accurately predicted by the gel-on-brush model of the mucociliary apparatus from the relative osmotic moduli of the mucus and periciliary-glycocalyceal (PCL-G) layers. The fluid available to hydrate mucus is generated by transepithelial fluid transport. Feedback interactions between mucus concentrations and cilia beating, via purinergic signaling, coordinate Na+ absorptive vs Cl- secretory rates to maintain mucus hydration in health. In disease, mucus becomes hyperconcentrated (dehydrated). Multiple mechanisms derange the ion transport pathways that normally hydrate mucus in muco-obstructive lung diseases, e.g., cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB), and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). A key step in muco-obstructive disease pathogenesis is the osmotic compression of the mucus layer onto the airway surface with the formation of adherent mucus plaques and plugs, particularly in distal airways. Mucus plaques create locally hypoxic conditions and produce airflow obstruction, inflammation, infection, and, ultimately, airway wall damage. Therapies to clear adherent mucus with hydrating and mucolytic agents are rational, and strategies to develop these agents are reviewed. |
104 | A population structure-sensitive mathematical model assessing the effects of vaccination during the third surge of COVID-19 in Italy | We provide a non-autonomous mathematical model to describe some of the most relevant parameters associated to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as daily and cumulative deaths, active cases, and cumulative incidence, among others. We will take into consideration the ways in which people from four different age ranges react to the virus. Using an appropriate transmission function, we estimate the impact of the third surge of COVID-19 in Italy. Also, we assess two different vaccination programmes. In one of them, a single shot is administered to all citizens over 16 years old before second shots are available. In the second model, first and second shots are administered to each citizen within, approximately, 20 days of time-gap. |
105 | Hymen and virginity: What every paediatrician should know | Paediatricians may face the notion of 'virginity' in various situations while caring for children and adolescents, but are often poorly prepared to address this sensitive topic. Virginity is a social construct. Despite medical evidence that there is no scientifically reliable way to determine virginity, misconceptions about the hymen and its supposed association with sexual history persist and lead to unethical practices like virginity testing, certificate of virginity or hymenoplasty, which can be detrimental to the health and well-being of females of all ages. The paediatrician has a crucial role in providing evidence-based information and promoting positive sexual education to children, adolescents and parents. Improving knowledge can help counter misconceptions and reduce harms to girls and women. |
106 | Asymmetric Hydroaminoalkylation of Alkenylazaarenes via Cooperative Photoredox and Chiral Hydrogen-Bonding Catalysis | Chiral hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition to activated olefins has been widely used to access enantioenriched molecules containing stereocenters at the β-position of the olefin activating groups. Herein, we report the first highly enantioselective radical-based manifold. Under a dual organocatalyst system involving a chiral phosphoric acid and DPZ as the photoredox sensitizer, transformations of N-arylglycines, in which aryls with CF3 substituents are introduced, with alkenyl azaarenes afforded valuable hydroaminoalkylation adducts with satisfactory results. In addition to the diversity of azaarenes, the method can be used to construct aryl-, alkyl- and silyl-substituted stereocenter. Control experiments and density functional theory calculations were performed to elucidate a plausible reaction mechanism and the origin of stereoselectivity, wherein nonclassical H-bonding interactions were found to assist chiral catalysts in offering sufficient enantiocontrol. |
107 | Assessment of tumor burden and response to therapy in patients with colorectal cancer using a quantitative ctDNA test for methylated BCAT1/IKZF1 | Failure of colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment is due to residual disease, and its timely identification is critical for patient survival. Detecting CRC-associated mutations in patient circulating cell-free DNA is confounded by tumor mutation heterogeneity, requiring primary tumor sequencing to identify relevant mutations. In this study, we assessed BCAT1 and IKZF1 methylation levels to quantify circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and investigated whether this method can be used to assess tumor burden and efficacy of therapy. In 175 patients with CRC who were ctDNA-positive pretreatment, ctDNA levels were higher with advancing stage (P < 0.05) and correlated with tumor diameter (r = 0.35, P < 0.001) and volume (r = 0.58, P < 0.01). After completion of treatment (median of 70 days [IQR 49-109] after surgery, +/- radiotherapy, +/- chemotherapy), ctDNA levels were reduced in 98% (47/48) and were undetectable in 88% (42/48) of patients tested. For those with incomplete adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery, roughly half remained ctDNA-positive (11/21, 52.4%). The presence of ctDNA after treatment was associated with disease progression (HR 9.7, 95%CI 2.5-37.6) compared to no ctDNA. Assaying blood for ctDNA methylated in BCAT1/IKZF1 has the potential for identifying residual disease due to treatment failure, informing a potential need for therapy adjustment in advanced disease. |
108 | Medullary bone in male budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus) with testicular neoplasms | Medullary bone is a calcium-rich, labile bone normally occurring in female birds with each egg-laying cycle. The stimulus for formation of medullary bone is, in part, the cyclic increase in serum estrogens produced by preovulatory ovarian follicles. Increased bone density due to formation of medullary bone, particularly in pneumatic bones, has been termed polyostotic hyperostosis, even if physiologic. This study investigated the formation of medullary bone in nonpneumatic (femur) and pneumatic (humerus) bones in sexually mature male budgerigars submitted for autopsy. Of the 21 sexually mature male budgerigars submitted for autopsy, 7 (33%) had medullary bone in 1 or more bones examined. All 7 male budgerigars with medullary bone had a testicular neoplasm, which was morphologically consistent with a testicular sustentacular cell tumor, seminoma, or interstitial cell tumor. Medullary bone was not present in the 14 cases with other diseases. Medullary bone formation in pneumatic and nonpneumatic bones can occur in male budgerigars with testicular neoplasms. Radiographic increases in medullary bone density, particularly in the humerus, could provide antemortem indication of testicular neoplasia in male budgerigars. |
109 | Removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from a textile dyeing wastewater treatment plant and the attenuation of respiratory health risks using a pilot-scale biofilter | The textile dyeing is a significant worldwide economic pillar of the industry mainstay of the region's industrial economy. Therefore, significant attention should be paid to its emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) regarding their potential adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. In this study, a spray tower (ST) (preferential elimination of hydrosoluble VOCs) and biofilter (primary removal of particle-free VOCs) were used in combination. Three techniques, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), e-nose, and Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS) were used to accurately identify the associated VOCs profile. In total, 50 types of VOCs, with total concentrations ranging from 1.26 to 2.79 mg M-3, were detected from the outlet of the TDWTP over a 90-day treatment period. The highest level occurred for nitrogen- and oxygen-containing compounds (NAOCCs), followed by aliphatic hydrocarbons (AIHs), aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs), and halogenated hydrocarbons (HHs). Average removal efficiencies (REs) of the four studied VOC groups (NAOCCs, AIHs, AHs, and HHs) were 66.7%, 67.9%, 11.7%, and 52.1%, respectively. Proteobacteria dominated the biofilter, followed by Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. A positive correlation was observed between the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and the RE of NAOCCs, with RE significantly increased from 38.1% (day 1) to 83.2% (day 90). The degradation of these organic pollutants, such as NAOCCs, may be mainly performed by the dominant genus, such as Acidithiobacillus and Metallibacterium, as predicted by PICRUSt. A respiratory health risk evaluation demonstrated that the cancer and non-cancer risks of typical VOCs were dramatically reduced after the above-mentioned purification. The combined results indicate that the ST-biofilter is an efficient approach for the end-of-pipe treatment of exhausted gas in TDWTP and helps attenuate human health risk. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
110 | Estimating health burden and economic loss attributable to short-term exposure to multiple air pollutants in China | Existing studies focused on the evaluation of health burden of long-term exposure to air pollutants, whereas limited information is available on short-term exposure, particularly in China. Air pollutant concentrations in 338 Chinese cities in 2017 were used to estimate the air pollutants related health burden which was defined as premature mortalities from all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Log-linear model was used as the exposure-response function to estimate the health burden attributable to each air pollutant. The value of statistical life and cost of illness methods were used to estimate economic loss of the premature mortalities and hospital admissions, respectively. The national all-cause premature mortalities attributable to all air pollutants was 1.35 million, accounting for 17.2% of reported deaths in China in 2017. Among all-cause premature mortality, contributions of PM2.5, PM2.5-10, NO2, SO2, O-3 and CO werel 11.1%, 5.2%, 28.9%, 9.6%, 23.0%, and 22.2%, respectively. The national cardiovascular and respiratory premature mortalities were 0.77 and 0.21 million, respectively. About 7.8 million cardiovascular and respiratory disease hospital admissions were attributed to short-term exposure to all air pollutants. The economic loss of the overall health burden (premature mortality and hospital admissions) was 2065.54 billion Yuan, which was equivalent to 2.5% of the national GDP in 2017. The health burden and economic loss attributable to short-term exposure to ambient air pollutant are substantial in China. It suggested that the adverse health effects attributable to short-term exposure to air pollutant should not be neglected in China. In order to reduce the health impact of air pollution, each city should develop air pollution prevention and control measures based on existing scientific evidence. |
111 | Techno-economic optimization analysis of stand-alone renewable energy system for remote areas | Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) are becoming popular as stand-alone power systems for providing electricity in remote areas due to the advancement in renewable energy technologies and subsequent rise in the prices of conventional fuels. A hybrid energy system, or hybrid power, usually consists of two or more renewable energy sources used together to provide increased system efficiency as well as greater balance in energy supply. Therefore, this paper aims at the design optimization of the hybrid renewable energy systems to meet the specific daily residential load profile for remote areas. The optimization problem regarding the design of a hybrid renewable energy system has been solved using Homer Pro Software depending on demand-side management during peak and off-peak hours. Four cases are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed design scheme. The simulation results have shown that the proposed design scheme is suitable for remote areas in comparison to the earlier proposed systems depicted in four cases. In addition, a properly planned hybrid system with demand-side management will reduce the overall system cost and increase the system efficiency by reducing carbon emissions, balancing power system by managing overloading and reduction in load shedding as well as less complex design and easy implementation in remote areas. |
112 | Efficient irrigation water allocation and its impact on agricultural sustainability and water scarcity under uncertainty | Agriculture is a key economic sector in developing countries that are facing challenges of low efficiency of water resources utilization and of shrinking water supply. This study develops an optimization model for the allocation of agricultural irrigation water to improve irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), considering uncertainties of fluctuating water supply. Then, it assesses the impact of efficient water allocation on the sustainability and water scarcity under different levels of water supply. This study can help answer questions as to how to optimal allocate limited water supplies to different crops and different subareas under uncertainty to improve IWUE, how water shortage affects economic, social, and environmental aspects, and what the relationship between system sustainability and water shortage is. To demonstrate its feasibility, the proposed models are applied to an irrigation district in northeastern China. These models can also be applied to other regions that suffer from water scarcity. Results of application are found to be satisfactory for explaining the impact of agricultural irrigation water allocation on net economic benefit, water resources allocation equity, total greenhouse gas emissions, and water scarcity footprint under different water supply conditions. This study provides insights into tradeoffs amongst resources, economy, society, and environment in irrigated agricultural systems under uncertainty. |
113 | Soybean Meal Extract Preserves Memory Ability by Increasing Presynaptic Function and Modulating Gut Microbiota in Rats | Age-related degenerative brain diseases frequently manifest as memory deficits. Dietary interventions or nutraceuticals may provide efficacious treatments through prevention and cure. Soybean meal, a byproduct of soy oil refining, has health benefits, but its effect on memory function is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of the oral administration of soybean meal extract (SME) for 2 weeks on memory function using the Morris water maze (MWM) test in healthy rats and investigated the possible underlying mechanisms. First, analysis of the composition revealed that SME is rich in isoflavones; SME did not exhibit hepatotoxicity or renal toxicity at the different doses tested. The MWM results revealed that the escape latency and movement distance of rats were significantly shorter in the SME group than in the control group, indicating that SME can help in memory preservation. In addition, SME increased the levels of presynaptic proteins such as synaptophysin, synaptobrevin, synaptotagmin, syntaxin, synapsin I, and 25-kDa synaptosome-associated protein as well as protein kinases and their phosphorylated expression, including extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), protein kinase C (PKC), and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the hippocampal nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Transmission electron microscopy also indicated that SME increased the number of synaptic vesicles in hippocampal synaptosomes. Furthermore, SME rats exhibited altered microbiota composition compared with control rats. Therefore, our data suggest that SME can increase presynaptic function and modulate gut microbiota, thus aiding in memory preservation in rats. |
114 | Assessment of drug-drug interactions of CC-90001, a potent and selective inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase | CC-90001 is predominantly metabolised via glucuronidation, while oxidative metabolism is a minor pathway in human hepatocytes and liver microsomes. In vitro, CC-90001 glucuronidation was catalysed by UGT1A9, UGT1A4, and UGT1A1, while oxidative metabolism was primarily mediated by CYP3A4/5 with minor contributions from CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2B6, and CYP2D6.CC-90001 in vitro inhibits CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 ≤ 55% at 100 μM, and the inhibition was negligible at ≤30 μM. CC-90001 is not a time-dependent CYP inhibitor.In human hepatocytes CC-90001 is an inducer of CYP2B6 and CYP3A, with mRNA levels increased 34.4% to 52.8% relative to positive controls.In vitro CC-90001 is a substrate of P-gp, and an inhibitor of P-gp, BCRP, OAT3, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OCT2, MATE1, and MATE2k with IC50 values of 30.3, 25.8, 17.7, 0.417, 19.9, 0.605, 4.17, and 20 μM, respectively.A clinical study demonstrated that CC-90001 has no or little impact on the exposure of warfarin (CYP2C9), omeprazole (CYP2C19), midazolam (CYP3A) or metformin (OCT2, MATE1/2k). CC-90001 co-administration increases the AUCt and Cmax 176% and 339% for rosuvastatin (BCRP/OATP1B1/3), 116% and 171% for digoxin (P-gp), and 266% and 321% for nintedanib (CYP3A & P-gp), respectively.In conclusion, CC-90001 in unlikely to be a victim or perpetrator of clinically relevant interactions involving CYPs or UGTs. Weak to moderate interactions are expected in clinic with substrates of P-gp and OATP1B1 due to CC-90001 inhibition of these transporters. |
115 | Globalization and CO(2)emissions nexus: evidence from the EKC hypothesis in South Asian countries | In the last few decades, developing countries continued to increase their manufacturing industries' phenomenal growth rate. Due to the emergence of globalization, these developing countries are getting economic growth at the cost of environmental pollution. In this context, the extent of linkages between globalization and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has been investigated over the time period of 1972-2013 in South Asian countries. The econometric and graphical analyses are found U-shape association between globalization and CO(2)emissions in Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and an inverted U-shape relationship is observed in Pakistan and Bhutan. Moreover, results have shown that there exists a bi-directional causality between globalization and CO(2)emissions in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. This indicates that globalization is increasing CO(2)emissions and CO(2)emissions impact globalization by economic growth. However, after some threshold level, globalization is responsible for decreasing CO(2)emissions in Pakistan and Bhutan. For the first time, globalization is incorporated in the economic analysis, showing the U-shape and inverted U-shape associations between globalization and CO(2)emissions. This study suggests some strong policy recommendations to consider globalization as cost-effective tool to achieve sustainable economic growth in South Asian countries. |
116 | Techno-economic assessment of coal- or biomass-fired oxy-combustion power plants with supercritical carbon dioxide cycle | Oxy-fuel combustion is regarded as a feasible technology that can contribute towards decarbonisation of the power industry. Although it has been shown that oxy-fuel combustion results in lower carbon dioxide emissions at a lower cost of carbon dioxide captured compared to the mature amine scrubbing process, its implementation still results in high economic penalties. This study proposes to replace the conventional steam cycle in the state-of-the-art oxy-combustion coal-fired power plants with the supercritical carbon dioxide cycle to reduce both economic and efficiency penalties. In addition, in order to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions, biomass is considered as a replacement fuel for coal in the oxy-fuel combustion power plant and the proposed process becomes a type of bio-energy with carbon capture and storage. The process models were developed in Aspen Plus (TM) to assess techno-economic feasibility of the considered processes. The results showed that on replacement of the conventional steam cycle with the supercritical carbon dioxide cycle, the efficiency penalties were reduced by up to 2% points and the levelised cost of electricity was reduced up to 4.6% (4.1 (sic)/MWh). Moreover, when biomass was used as a fuel, the net efficiency penalties increased by 0.5% points and the levelised cost of electricity increased by 24.4 (sic)/MWh. Although techno-economic performance in this case was less favourable under no carbon tax conditions, using biomass resulted in significant negative carbon dioxide emissions (-3.70 megatonnes of carbon dioxide per annum). Such negative emissions can offset carbon dioxide emissions from other sources that are relatively difficult to decarbonise. If the carbon tax is above 24 (sic) per tonne of carbon dioxide, bio-energy with carbon capture and storage became more economically feasible than fossil fuel with carbon capture and storage. |
117 | Empagliflozin protects glomerular endothelial cell architecture in experimental diabetes through the VEGF-A/caveolin-1/PV-1 signaling pathway | In addition to having blood glucose-lowering effects, inhibitors of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) afford renoprotection in diabetes. We sought to investigate which components of the glomerular filtration barrier could be involved in the antiproteinuric and renoprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibition in diabetes. BTBR (black and tan, brachyuric) ob/ob mice that develop a type 2 diabetic nephropathy received a standard diet with or without empagliflozin for 10 weeks, starting at 8 weeks of age, when animals had developed albuminuria. Empagliflozin caused marked decreases in blood glucose levels and albuminuria but did not correct glomerular hyperfiltration. The protective effect of empagliflozin against albuminuria was not due to a reduction in podocyte damage as empagliflozin did not affect the larger podocyte filtration slit pore size nor the defective expression of nephrin and nestin. Empagliflozin did not reduce the thickening of the glomerular basement membrane. In BTBR ob/ob mice, the most profound abnormality seen using electron microscopy was in the endothelial aspect of the glomerular capillary, with significant loss of endothelial fenestrations. Remarkably, empagliflozin ameliorated the subverted microvascular endothelial ultrastructure. Caveolae and bridging diaphragms between adjacent endothelial fenestrae were seen in diabetic mice and associated with increased expression of caveolin-1 and the appearance of PV-1. These endothelial abnormalities were limited by the SGLT2 inhibitor. Although no expression of SGLT2 was found in glomerular endothelial cells, SGLT2 was expressed in the podocytes of diabetic mice. VEGF-A, which is a known stimulus for endothelial caveolin-1 and PV-1, was increased in podocytes of BTBR ob/ob mice and normalized by SGLT2 inhibitor treatment. Thus, empagliflozin's protective effect on the glomerular endothelium of diabetic mice could be due to a limitation of the paracrine signaling of podocyte-derived VEGF-A that resulted in a reduction of the abnormal endothelial caveolin-1 and PV-1, with the consequent preservation of glomerular endothelial function and permeability. © 2022 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. |
118 | CO2 utilization: Turning greenhouse gas into fuels and valuable products | This study critically reviews the recent developments and future opportunities pertinent to the conversion of CO2 as a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) to fuels and valuable products. CO2 emissions have reached an alarming level of around 410 ppm and have become the primary driver of global warming and climate change leading to devastating events such as droughts, hurricanes, torrential rains, floods, tornados and wildfires across the world. These events are responsible for thousands of deaths and have adversely affected the economic development of many countries, loss of billions of dollars, across the globe. One of the promising choices to tackle this issue is carbon sequestration by pre- and post-combustion processes and oxyfuel combustion. The captured CO2 can be converted into fuels and valuable products, including methanol, dirnethyl ether (DINE), and methane (CH4). The efficient use of the sequestered CO2 for the desalinization might be critical in overcoming water scarcity and energy issues in developing countries. Using the sequestered CO2 to produce algae in combination with waste-water, and producing biofuels is among the promising strategies. Many methods, like direct combustion, fermentation, transesterification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion (AD), and gasification, can be used for the conversion of algae into biofuel. Direct air capturing (DAC) is another productive technique for absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and converting it into various useful energy resources like CH4. These methods can effectively tackle the issues of climate change, water security, and energy crises. However, future research is required to make these conversion methods cost-effective and commercially applicable. |
119 | Aspirin prescribing pattern and guidelines-adherence evaluation for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases at a teaching hospital | The present study investigates the aspirin prescribing pattern and guidelines-adherence evaluation for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases at a teaching hospital. A total of 816 patients were included in the study, the patients who received aspirin aged 60-69 (29.65%), followed by patients aged 50-59 years old (29.53%) and 70-79 years old (22.91%). Demographic information shown that the majority of the patients were males (58.55%). The BMI revealed that 85.78% of patients were obese. The majority of the patients have diabetes 78.67%, hypertension 74.38%, and dyslipidemia 65.68%. The mean systolic blood pressure was 136 ± 7.4 and diastolic blood pressure was 74.9 ± 5.2. After applying aspirin candidacy calculation, only 6% patients were highly recommended to be on aspirin, 49% patients had reasonable recommendation of aspirin, 27% patients use aspirin based on "may be considered" recommendation, and 23% patients were on aspirin with no indication or recommendation. The study highlights the importance of following the international recommendations in aspirin prescribing, and flags the inappropriate use and prescribing by our healthcare providers. The current study encourages further investigation to be carried out which should include patient and clinician education, to well understand and alleviate the inequalities in aspirin use and adherence. Further studies are also warranted to understand of the prescribing pattern and to provide solutions to avoid aspirin associated complications. |
120 | Effects of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy on the Growth of Subcutaneous Xenografts of Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma SW-620 in Immunodeficient Mice | Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) can become an instrument for patients with malignant neoplasms of the rectum and colon. Here we evaluate the effectiveness of BNCT performed at the accelerator based epithermal neutron source at G. I. Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, in relation to subcutaneous xenografts of human colon adenocarcinoma SW-620 in SCID mice. Utilization of BNCT with boronоphenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (BSH), which were injected intravenously into the retroorbital sinus, resulted in a significant decrease in tumor volumes compared to the control group (no radiation). |
121 | 4E analyses of an innovative polygeneration system based on SOFC | An innovative multigeneration plant driven by a solid oxide fuel cell unit is regarded in this meticulous examination. The plausibility of the expressed plant is substantiated with regarding economic, thermodynamic and environmental concepts as the utmost efficacious equipment for operating evaluation of the thermal systems. An ejector refrigeration system beside a PEM electrolyzer are employed for cooling and hydrogen production. Furthermore, a heat recovery heat exchanger is employed for heating purposes. All subsystems are cautiously investigated and validated considering the reliable reports. The findings portrayed that the introduced multigeneration system can generate cooling load, heating capacity, net output power, and H-21 rate of 84.421kW, 2771kW, 184.21kW, and 1.4331kg/h, respectively. In this occasion, the first-law efficiency, exergetic efficiency, product overall cost, and environmental penalty cost are calculated 79.57%, 33.92%, 897.7 $/GJ, and 0.3527 $/h, respectively. Also, among all constituents, the superior portion of exergy destruction attributed to the solid oxide fuel cell module by 783.31kW, approximately 35.6% of the overall exergy destruction rate. Meantime, a thoroughgoing parametric evaluation of the set-up is established and it is illustrated that the suggested multigeneration plant's exergetic efficiency can be maximized according to the inlet temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell unit, compression ratio, and solid oxide fuel cell current density. Moreover, the product cost rate of the plant can be minimized with ejector motive fluid pressure, solid oxide fuel cell inlet temperature, and gas turbine outlet pressure. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
122 | Promising antiparasitic agents from marine sponges | Parasitic diseases especially those prevail in tropical and subtropical regions severely threaten the lives of people due to available drugs found to be ineffective as several resistant strains have been emerged. Due to the complexity of the marine environment, researchers considered it as a new field to search for compounds with therapeutic efficacy, marine sponges represents the milestone in the discovery of unique compounds of potent activities against parasitic infections. In the present article, literatures published from 2010 until March 2021 were screened to review antiparasitic potency of bioactive compounds extracted from marine sponges. 45 different genera of sponges have been studied for their antiparasitic activities. The antiparasitic activity of the crude extract or the compounds that have been isolated from marine sponges were assayed in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum, P. berghei, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, T. b. brucei, T. cruzi, Leishmania donovani, L. tropica, L. infantum, L. amazonesis, L. major, L. panamesis, Haemonchus contortus and Schistosoma mansoni. The majority of antiparastic compounds extracted from marine sponges were related to alkaloids and peroxides represent the second important group of antiparasitic compounds extracted from sponges followed by terpenoids. Some substances have been extracted and used as antiparasitic agents to a lesser extent like steroids, amino acids, lipids, polysaccharides and isonitriles. The activities of these isolated compounds against parasites were screened using in vitro techniques. Compounds' potent activity in screened papers was classified in three categories according to IC50: low active or inactive, moderately active and good potent active. |
123 | Plastoquinone homeostasis in plant acclimation to light intensity | Arabidopsis plants were grown from seeds at different photon flux densities (PFDs) of white light ranging from 65 to 800 µmol photons m-2 s-1. Increasing PFD brought about a marked accumulation of plastoquinone (PQ) in leaves. However, the thylakoid photoactive PQ pool, estimated to about 700 pmol mg-1 leaf dry weight, was independent of PFD; PQ accumulation in high light mostly occurred in the photochemically non-active pool (plastoglobules, chloroplast envelopes) which represented up to 75% of total PQ. The amounts of PSII reaction center (on a leaf dry weight basis) also were little affected by PFD during growth, leading to a constant PQ/PSII ratio at all PFDs. Boosting PQ biosynthesis by overexpression of a solanesyl diphosphate-synthesizing enzyme strongly enhanced the PQ levels, particularly at high PFDs. Again, this accumulation occurred exclusively in the non-photoactive PQ pool. Mutational suppression of the plastoglobular ABC1K1 kinase led to a selective reduction of the thylakoid PQ pool size to ca. 400 pmol mg-1 in a large range of PFDs, which was associated with a restriction of the photosynthetic electron flow. Our results show that photosynthetic acclimation to light intensity does not involve modulation of the thylakoid PQ pool size or the amounts of PSII reaction centers. There appears to be a fixed amount of PQ molecules for optimal interaction with PSII and efficient photosynthesis, with the extra PQ molecules being stored outside the thylakoid membranes, implying a tight regulation of PQ distribution within the chloroplasts. |
124 | Enhancement of early-age strength of the high content fly ash blended cement paste by sodium sulfate and C-S-H seeds towards a greener binder | Due to the economic and environmental benefits, the industry by-products like fly ash have been intensively employed to partially substitute cement in concrete and other cementitious materials. However, with the increased substitution level of cement by fly ash, the major drawback is the low early-age strength of cement paste owing to the slow pozzolanic reaction of fly ash. This study aims to accelerate the early-age strength of high content fly ash blended cement paste using sodium sulfate and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) seeds. The results show that sodium sulfate and C-S-H seeds exhibit a synergistic enhancement effect on the early-age strength of high content fly ash blended cement paste, which is much higher than the sum of individual effects of sodium sulfate and C-S-H seeds. Therefore, the high replacement of cement by fly ash towards a greener binder can be achieved by the application of sodium sulfate and C-S-H seeds. Moreover, the underlying mechanism of the synergistic effect is revealed through this study. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
125 | Challenging Behaviors Online Modules for Parents of Young Children with Disabilities: A Pilot Feasibility Study | Challenging behaviors exhibited by young children negatively affect development and may also prevent children from receiving appropriate education. These behaviors may also hinder positive family interactions and have a significant impact on parents and other family members. Although various parent training approaches exist to increase parents' capacity to address these challenging behaviors, many parents are reportedly not able to access training due to time and resource constraints. To address inequitable dissemination of information, we developed and piloted the use of the Challenging Behavior Online Modules with 10 parents of children with disabilities. In particular, we examined the feasibility of the Challenging Behavior Online Modules for increasing parents' knowledge and use of positive parenting practices with their young children. Parents reported satisfaction with the contents and delivery method of the intervention. Implications and directions for future research are also suggested. |
126 | Optimisation of cascade reservoir operation considering environmental flows for different environmental management classes | Most commonly, hydropower operation focused on the economic and social benefits of the humankind, whereas neglecting the riverine ecosystem conservation. This conventional approach of operation led to the degradation of the riverine ecosystem. As research progressed, adoption of natural flow variability in the operation of reservoir gained momentum. Flow variability is a major driver of the healthy river ecosystem, whereby discharging a certain amount of water could potentially reduce the adverse effect of reservoirs and dams on the riverine ecosystem. On this preface, the study presented here constitutes a multi-objective optimisation model of cascade reservoirs to maximise the power generation while minimising the shortage of environmental flows considering five environmental management classes. This paper analyses the case studies for Liujiaping-Yumitan cascade reservoirs. The environmental flows regarding each environmental management classes were calculated using "Global Environmental Flow Calculator", the model was solved using an anon-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The NSGA-II helps to find Pareto optimal sets of solutions, NSGA-II, however, cannot be used solely for taking a comprehensive decision. Therefore, the Projection Pursuit Cluster (PPC) model has been used additionally for the optimal sequencing of the compromised optimal solutions. The maximum annual power production considering five environmental management classes were respectively: 1.121, 1.109, 1.103, 1.109, and 1.117 (x10(8) kWh) with environmental flows shortage of 2060.82, 616.497, 200.52, 28.88, and 0.004 (x10(4) m(3)) respectively. Findings resulted from this study, highlight the necessity for power production compromise for a better degree of environmental protection. In contrast, the environmental benefit is more important not only for the sustainable operation of the hydropower but also for fulfilling the universal needs of the riverine ecosystem. Therefore, the outcomes of this study can be a guideline for decision-makers to improve the comprehensive benefits of the Liujiaping-Yumitan cascade hydropower station along with the conservation of the environmental health of the river. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
127 | Mitochondrial respiration in rats during hypothermia resulting from central drug administration | The ability to induce a hypothermia resembling that of natural torpor would be greatly beneficial in medical and non-medical fields. At present, two procedures based on central nervous pharmacological manipulation have been shown to be effective in bringing core body temperature well below 30 °C in the rat, a non-hibernator: the first, based on the inhibition of a key relay in the central thermoregulatory pathway, the other, based on the activation of central adenosine A1 receptors. Although the role of mitochondria in the activation and maintenance of torpor has been extensively studied, no data are available for centrally induced hypothermia in non-hibernators. Thus, in the present work the respiration rate of mitochondria in the liver and in the kidney of rats following the aforementioned hypothermia-inducing treatments was studied. Moreover, to have an internal control, the same parameters were assessed in a well-consolidated model, i.e., mice during fasting-induced torpor. Our results show that state 3 respiration rate, which significantly decreased in the liver of mice, was unchanged in rats. An increase of state 4 respiration rate was observed in both species, although it was not statistically significant in rats under central adenosine stimulation. Also, a significant decrease of the respiratory control ratio was detected in both species. Finally, no effects were detected in kidney mitochondria in both species. Overall, in these hypothermic conditions liver mitochondria of rats remained active and apparently ready to be re-activated to produce energy and warm up the cells. These findings can be interpreted as encouraging in view of the finalization of a translational approach to humans. |
128 | Asymmetric effect of structural change and renewable energy consumption on carbon emissions: designing an SDG framework for Turkey | A plethora of studies have shown that structural change helps nations achieve socioeconomic growth. The influence of structural change on environmental quality, on the other hand, has yet to be thoroughly investigated. As a result, the current study assesses the asymmetric impact of structural change on CO2 emissions while controlling for the effects of economic progress, renewable energy utilization, and nonrenewable energy in Turkey. To this end, this research used yearly data stretching from 1965 to 2019. The study applied several econometric approaches including nonlinear auto-regressive distributed lag (NARDL) and spectral causality to assess these associations. The outcomes from the NARDL reveal that variations in the regressors have a nonlinear influence on CO2 in Turkey. Moreover, the transition in the economy's structure helps to boost ecological quality, while the findings also show that Turkey's current economic progress trajectory is unsustainable due to the country's reliance on fossil fuel-based energy consumption. The outcomes of the spectral causality test also show that structural change can predict CO2 emissions in Turkey at different frequencies. Based on the study findings, the government should encourage investment in the service sector in order to maintain a suitable level of environmental sustainability. |
129 | Evaluating the impact of clean energy consumption and factor allocation on China's air pollution: A spatial econometric approach | China's air pollution has become a widespread concern in the academic world, but there are few studies based on spatial measurement methods to quantify the impact of clean energy consumption and factor allocation on a variety of pollutants. Based on an exploratory spatial data analysis, a spatial Durbin model and extended Cobb-Douglas production function (C-D production function) are used to study the direct, indirect and total effects of clean energy consumption and element allocation on China's air pollution emissions. The exploratory spatial data analysis results showed that the three emissions had significant agglomeration effects, and the spatial aggregation patterns of the emissions were similar to the patterns of fossil energy consumption spatial aggregation. The spatial Durbin model estimation results showed that the clean energy consumption proportion and factor allocation of energy and labour inhibited air pollution emissions. The spatial spillover effect was greater than the direct effect. The fossil energy structure and factor allocation of energy and capital stock were positively related to air pollution emissions. These findings help to formulate regional industrial policies and energy policies and contribute to the governance of air pollution and the sustainable development of economic, environmental and energy resources. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
130 | FDI and environmental degradation: the role of political institutions in South Asian countries | This study examines the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on environmental degradation by keeping in view the role of institutional quality (IQ) in the South Asian region. Second-generational unit root test is used to address the issue of cross-sectional dependency. Mixed order of integration enabled us to use panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method to investigate short-run and long-run association. Moreover, this study also employs Granger causality test to explore causalities among the selected variables. Empirical results reveal that FDI has a positive and statistically significant effect on environmental degradation. Institutional quality is measured as rule of law has insignificant impact on ecological footprint both in short run as well as long run. However, government stability decreases environmental degradation while corruption enhances environmental hazards tremendously. This study also supports environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for the South Asian countries. This study emphasized the role of political institutions in environmental degradation. South Asian countries must focus on the implementation of environmental laws and regulations by improving the quality of institutions to achieve the goal of sustainable development. |
131 | Can "new infrastructure" reverse the "growth with pollution" profit growth pattern? An empirical analysis based on listed companies in China | With the increasing severity of environmental regulations, Chinese enterprises are gradually transforming from the profit growth pattern of "growth with pollution" to green development. However, this paper finds that this transformation is not complete. While catering to the national environmental protection governance requirements, some enterprises still persist the profit growth pattern of "growth with pollution." How to solve this problem? By attracting government subsidies, reducing tax burdens, and increasing the proportion of technical personnel employed, we theoretically and empirically demonstrate that the positive effect of "new infrastructure" in accelerating enterprises' transformation away from the profit growth pattern of "growth with pollution" to sustainable development. In the heterogeneity analysis section, we found that in enterprises with higher political correlation, more technical personnel, and lower labor cost, the "new infrastructure" has a stronger restraining effect on the "growth with pollution" pattern. |
132 | An overview on Hebephrenia, a diagnostic cornerstone in the neurodevelopmental model of Schizophrenia | Pre-Kraepelinian observations converged in Kahlbaum's and Hecker's description of Hebephrenia. For Kraepelin, Hebephrenia was an 'idiopathic incurable dementia whose onset is in adolescence'. It became the core of 'Dementia Praecox', and then Bleulerian 'Schizophrenia'. In recent decades, the resurgence of the 'late neurodevelopment' hypothesis of schizophrenia has brought into focus Hecker's clinical reports of adolescents who, as a result of a putative loss of psychic energy, showed a rapidly progressive cognitive impairment leading to functional and behavioural disorganization. This paper summarizes the nineteenth-century conceptualization of Hebephrenia as a developmental illness. |
133 | Test box experiment and simulations of a green-roof: Thermal and energy performance of a residential building standard for Mexico | A thermal, environmental, and economic behavior study was performed for social housing in Mexico. This research focuses on the comparison between a traditional roof (TR) and a green roof (GR) under the weather conditions of eight cities in Mexico. The study was carried out by means of thermal simulations using the EnergyPlus software, which were validated with experimental data from two test boxes (TR and GR). For the validation of the simulations, the interior surface temperature and the heat flow of the roof of the test boxes were measured, and a maximum error of 3.55% and 2.17% was found for the interior surface temperature for the traditional and green roof, respectively. The results of the simulation showed that in locations with warm weather the GR reduced the indoor temperature of the house up to 4.7 degrees C. In locations with temperate weather, the GR reduced the cooling energy demand by up to 99%, and at the same time increased the heating energy demand by 25%. From the environmental study, it was found that the GR also reduced the CO2 by 45.7%. In the economic part, the GR had a payback period of 8.8 years, which makes the implementation of the green roof viable. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
134 | Synergetic PtNP@Co3O4 hollow nanopolyhedrals as peroxidase-like nanozymes for the dual-channel homogeneous biosensing of prostate-specific antigen | In this paper, novel synergetic PtNP@Co3O4 hollow nanopolyhedrals with peroxidase-like activities are designed and prepared, which can be used as electrochemical and colorimetric signal labels for the enzyme-free dual-channel homogeneous sensing of prostate-specific antigen. When prostate-specific antigens are present, the aptamer-modified PtNP@Co3O4 hollow nanopolyhedrals and magnetic beads form sandwich structures, which have excellent peroxidase-like activities, because of the synergetic effect of PtNP@Co3O4 hollow nanopolyhedrals. The sandwich structures can be separated from the mixture by the magnetic effect of the magnetic beads and catalyze the redox reactions between H2O2 and TMB, generating quantitative electrochemical and colorimetric responses in homogeneous solution simultaneously. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range of both electrochemical (0.01 to 10 ng/ml) and colorimetric (0.01-15 ng/ml) channels can satisfy the demand of prostate-specific antigen detection in clinic (4 ng/ml), and the electrochemical and colorimetric channels have a low detection limit of 0.0079 ng/ml and 0.01 ng/ml respectively without using natural enzymes. The strategy by using synergetic PtNP@Co3O4 hollow nanopolyhedrals as signal probes provides a promising scheme for developing simple, rapid, reliable, and ultrasensitive dual-channel homogeneous biosensors, which has a great potential as a powerful tool in prostate cancer diagnosis. |
135 | Study the Differences between the Parameters of Learning and Exploratory Activities in Adult Male Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and Baboon Hamadryas (Papio hamadryas) | We studied exploratory activity and learning ability in sexually mature male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas). The interspecies differences were analyzed by the following parameters: the level of exploratory activity, diversity of exploratory activity, concentration on the object, learning ability, training levels, and dynamics of learning. The studied group of hamadryas baboons showed higher levels of exploratory activity and learning ability than the group of rhesus monkeys. |
136 | Economic benefits of fourth generation district heating | The main impetus for lower distribution temperatures in district heating systems is the lower heat supply costs obtained by these lower temperatures. In this paper, the differences in heat supply costs for two different temperature levels have been estimated for various future heat supply options. The estimations were obtained by modelling a district heating system characterised by typical climate conditions for Central Europe. High sensitivity to lower supply costs from lower temperatures was found for geothermal heat, industrial excess heat, and heat pumps, whereas low cost sensitivity was estimated for combined heat and power plants using waste or biomass. Lower heat distribution loss constitutes a minor component of the total cost reductions. The current use of high heat distribution temperatures was identified as an important barrier for the transition to renewable and recycled heat supply in district heating systems. Hence, lower distribution temperatures would facilitate this required transition because lower distribution temperatures provide higher profitability for these renewable and recycled heat sources. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. |
137 | Experimental evaluation of the thermal performance of cool pavement materials in cold regions of China | The local thermal property evaluation of pavement materials has not received enough attention, making the implementation of cool material measures to alleviate the urban heat island difficult. This study aims to conduct a control experiment on cool pavement bricks selection from the local market. The surface temperature difference and change characteristics of 28 bricks with different physical properties (i.e. colour, thickness, size and internal structure) were recorded by an infrared thermal imager and thermometers. Comparative analysis shows that the maximum surface temperature of the light-yellow brick is 7.3 °C lower than that of the ash black one, and the maximum surface temperature of hollow bricks is 5.6 °C lower than that of solid bricks. Thick bricks have a slightly low mean and maximum surface temperatures, and large bricks also have a low maximum surface temperature, but only deep coloured bricks. The analysis of variance revealed that for the maximum surface temperature, the three factors (i.e. colour, thickness and internal structure) have an interactive effect; for the mean surface temperature, only the colour and internal structure factors have a significant independent effect. This paper provides a feasible bottom-up cooling scheme for urban underlying surface. |
138 | Distance that the catheter covers from skin to the vein using the US-guided in-plane technique: The impact of footprint of the probe and depth of the vein | Employing the in-plane technique in infants the footprint of the ultrasound probe should be considered along with the depth of the vein, and the angle between the needle and the face of the probe, which is crucial in optimization of the visibility of the needle in the beam. Three different ultrasound probes are evaluated for different depths of vein. The hockey-stick probe provided a shorter minimum distance while maintaining the angle between the needle and the face of the probe within an optimal range for visualization of the needle in the beam, supporting its recommendation for infants with regard to its frequency and physical size. |
139 | Social Support and Subjective Health in Fibromyalgia: Self-Compassion as a Mediator | Individuals with fibromyalgia report lower levels of health-related quality of life (HRQL) compared to other chronically ill populations and interpersonal factors (i.e., social support) may influence risk. What is less understood is how intrapersonal factors (i.e., self-compassion) may impact the social support-HRQL linkage. We examined the association between social support and HRQL in a sample of persons with fibromyalgia and tested the potential mediating role of self-compassion. Self-identified adults in the United States with fibromyalgia (N = 508) were recruited from state, regional, and national organizations and support groups and completed an online battery of self-report questionnaires including: Multidimensional Health Profile-Psychosocial Functioning Index, Short-Form 36 Health Survey, and Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form. Individuals with greater subjective social support reported higher levels of self-compassion and, in turn, higher mental HRQL. These findings provide greater information about psychosocial constructs and HRQL and extend our understanding of self-compassion among individuals living with fibromyalgia. |
140 | Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z1 inhibits the cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer by regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway | Most patients with ovarian cancer (OC) get remission after undergoing cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based standard chemotherapy, but more than 50% of patients with advanced OC relapse within the first 5 years after treatment and develop resistance to standard chemotherapy. The production of medicinal properties is the main reason for the poor prognosis and high mortality of OC patients. Cisplatin (DDP) resistance is a major cause for poor prognosis of OC patients. PTPRZ1 can regulate the growth and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells, while the molecular mechanism remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the roles of PTPRZ1 in DDP-resistant OC cells and possible mechanism. PTPRZ1 expression in OC tissues and normal tissues was analyzed by GEPIA database and verified by Real-time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assay. PTPRZ1 expression in normal ovarian cancer cells and DDP-resistant OC cells was also analyzed. Subsequently, RT-PCR, Western blot, MTT experiment and flow cytometry were used to assess the effects of PTPRZ1-PI3K/AKT/mTOR regulating axis on DDP resistance of OC. PTPRZ1 expression was abnormally low in OC tissues, and notably reduced in DDP-resistant OC cells. MTT experiment and flow cytometer indicated that overexpression of PTPRZ1 enhanced the DDP sensitivity of OC cells and promoted the cell apoptosis. Moreover, the results of our research showed that PTPRZ1 might exert its biological effects through blocking PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. PTPRZ1 overexpression inhibitied OC tumor growth and resistance to DDP in vivo. Overall, PTPRZ1 might suppress the DDP resistance of OC and induce the cytotoxicity by blocking PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. |
141 | Impact of irrigation and fertilization regimes on greenhouse gas emissions from soil of mulching cultivated maize (Zea mays L.) field in the upper reaches of Yellow River, China | Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soil are strongly affected by the field practices including fertilization, irrigation and cultivation model. Understanding the mechanism of greenhouse gas emissions from soil and their impact factors is essential for cleaner agricultural production and global greenhouse gas mitigation. This paper investigated greenhouse gas emissions from soil of mulching cultivated maize (Zea mays L.) field under different irrigation and fertilization regimes. Border and drip irrigation with different schedules were implemented in the upper reaches of Yellow River, China. Border irrigation included three different irrigation depths (180, 315 and 450 mm), and drip irrigation was controlled by a tensiometer and triggered by three different matric potentials (similar to 15, similar to 25 and similar to 35 kPa). Three nitrogen fertilizer levels (350, 250 and 150 kg ha(-1)) were applied for the drip irrigation triggered by the matric potential of -25 kPa. Soil acted as a sink of CH4 in the semiarid site regardless of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization regimes. Irrigation scheduling had no significant influence on CO2 emissions, but the irrigation method did have. Cumulative CO2 emissions increased by 24.7% for drip irrigation compared with border irrigation at the same water and nitrogen fertilizer levels. Cumulative CO2 emissions for the high nitrogen fertilizer treatment (350 kg ha(-1)) increased by 19.3% in comparison with the medium and low levels under drip irrigation. N2O emissions were positively related to the irrigation depth under both drip and border irrigation. Cumulative N2O emissions reduced by 23.5% for drip irrigation compared with border irrigation at the same water and nitrogen fertilizer levels. N2O emissions increased with the increase in nitrogen fertilizer application under drip irrigation. Drip irrigation with high frequency (- 15 kPa) and medium nitrogen fertilization (250 kg ha(-1)) obtained the best economic and environmental performance through comprehensive evaluation of the yield, water and fertilizer productivity, global warming potential, greenhouse gas intensity and net ecosystem economic budget. The findings can provide an opportunity for greenhouse gas mitigation without crop yield reduction following the proper irrigation and fertilization regimes in the semiarid region. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
142 | New challenges of food security in Northwest China: Water footprint and virtual water perspective | In this study, the water footprint (blue, green and grey WF) and virtual water theory were used to uniform measure the new challenges (population growth, population urbanization, dietary structure change, energy industry development, grain trade and climate change) of food security in Northwest China. Moreover, this study quantified the demand for new challenges to water resources from 2000 to 2016, and then evaluated their impact on water resources and food security in Northwest China. The results showed that in 2000-2016, population growth caused the food consumption WF to increase from 153.8 Gm ( )to 159.6 Gm(3), with an average annual growth rate of 0.4%. The ratio of per capita consumption of WF of urban residents to rural areas has increased from 80.3% to 120%. The per capita food consumption in the region increased by 1.3% annually due to changes in dietary structure. However, with the increase of water use efficiency, the WF decreased by 0.3% per year. Among them, the total consumption WF of food rations decreased by 51.9%, with an average annual decrease of 4.4%, and that of meat, dairy products and aquatic products increased by 2.4%, 10.8% and 3.0% per year, respectively. From the economic point of view, the development of the energy industry has increased the competition index of energy-grain to water resources from 0.22 to 0.49. Due to climate change, although the precipitation increased at a rate of 3.2 mm/yr, the increase in ET 0 was 3.3 mm/yr, and thus the demand for water resources in agricultural production increased. Based on the results, this paper suggests to carry out measures such as optimizes crop planting structure, adopts effective biological, agricultural technologies, guides healthy food consumption structure, strengthens international food trade and biofuel use and so on to reduce the WF of grain crops and energy industry. Ultimately, the goal of reducing regional water stress and ensuring food security is achieved. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
143 | Techno-economic analysis of grid-integrated PV/wind systems for electricity reliability enhancement in Ethiopian industrial park | In most developing countries, the electricity supply system is highly unreliable. Ethiopia is one of the least developed country in the world, and the existing distribution system of the country has encountered frequent power interruptions. During this interruption, diesel generator supplied the critical load of most industries in the country. This paper examines the feasibility of integrating PV/wind power systems into existing unreliable grid/diesel generator systems for supplying the critical loads of industrial parks in three different regions of Ethiopia. The study focused on how to provide a reliable supply with cost-effective and environment-friendly resources. Based on load variation, grid interruption, and meteorological data of the study areas, modeling and techno-economic analysis of grid-connected PV/wind/diesel systems were carried out using HOMER Pro software by exploring four different scenarios involving the consideration of unscheduled outages. Results showed that grid//diesel/PV/battery systems are technically, economically, and environmentally feasible for all three climate regions with the cost of energy at 0.044, 0.049, and 0.048 $/kWh, respectively. Also found that excess electricity, cost of energy, and the net present cost is slightly increased with PV penetration, whereas the CO2 emissions for these locations decreased by 45%, 44%, and 42% compared to the existing systems. |
144 | Analyzing the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis: The role of disaggregated transport infrastructure investments | The provision of affordable and sustainable transport systems is a crucial issue for both the establishment of sustainable cities and the development of society. It is a significant part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this paper, we aimed to unveil interactions between infrastructure investments in transport systems and environmental degradation in 21 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The empirical findings can be summed up as follows: (a) there is a long-run relationship between variables; (b) gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has a positive and statistically significant coefficient, while GDP per capita square has a negative statistically significant coefficient, and therefore, the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis is valid (c) additionally, rail infrastructure investment has a negative and statistically significant parameter sign, whereas road and air infrastructure investments have a positive and statistically significant parameter sign; and (d) trade openness has a positive and statistically significant coefficient. Hence, rail investment helps achieve the establishment of sustainable transport systems and low-environmental pollution targets of SDGs, whereas road and air investments hamper their establishment. |
145 | Institutional ethnography - a primer | This review introduces a qualitative methodology called institutional ethnography (IE) to healthcare professionals interested in studying complex social healthcare systems. We provide the historical context in which IE was developed, and explain the principles and terminology in IE for the novice researcher. Through the use of worked examples, the reader will be able to appreciate how IE can be used to approach research questions in the healthcare system that other methods would be unable to answer. We show how IE and qualitative research methods maintain quality and rigour in research findings. We hope to demonstrate to healthcare professionals and researchers that healthcare systems can be analysed as social organisations, and IE may be used to identify and understand how higher-level processes and policies affect day-to-day clinical work. This understanding may allow the formulation and implementation of actionable improvements to solve problems on the ground. |
146 | Impact of income inequality on CO2 emissions in G20 countries | Over the past three decades, the G20 countries have experienced rapid economic growth but also a widening income disparity and deteriorating environment. We examined whether and how income distribution affects CO2 emissions during economic growth under the extended EKC framework. Using simultaneous quantile regression analysis, we show that, for developing countries, a more equal income distribution favors reductions to the CO2 emissions per capita, whereas, in most developed countries, income inequality hardly affects CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, the EKC hypothesis is valid in G20. Based on the empirical results, we particularly emphasize the importance of reducing income inequality in developing countries and that the entire G20 takes the path of sustainable development. |
147 | The analysis and probabilistic health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cereal products | The analysis and probabilistic health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cereal products were done by using magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) method and gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS). The results of method showed LOQ and LOD of PAHs compounds were 0.105-0.180 and 0.035-0.060 µg/kg, and the recorded values were 4.3-12.1 and 6.1-20.3% for repeatability and reproducibility with an estimated recovery of 94.4-103.4%. In this study, we analyzed kind of bread (Barbari, Sangak, Baguette, Taftoon, Lavash), macaroni, lasagna, and cooked rice that mean of total PAHs were 98.2, 121.7, 134.9, 166.3, 176.3, 176.2, 130.1, and 248.3 μg/kg, respectively. Further, the correlation between the type and amount of 16 PAHs with cereal products samples evaluated with multivariate principal component analysis and heat map visualization. The highest incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was found in cooked rice (7.80E-6), while the lowest ILCR was found in Lasagna (2.35E-07). In conclusion, the PAHs content in the tested products were in low health risk ranges (1 × 10-6 < ILCR < 1 × 10-4), and all of the cereal products sold in Tehran are considered safe for consumers. Therefore, cereal products should be regularly evaluated and monitored by regulatory agencies to reduce contaminants in these high-consumption products. |
148 | Impact of Trade Openness and Human Capital on Economic Growth: A Comparative Investigation of Asian Countries | The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of trade openness and human capital on economic growth in 19 Asian countries from 1985 to 2017. We selected two geographically distributed regions (Western and Southern Asia) based on difference in their GDP per capita. We applied the unit root tests to examine the level of stationarity and found that all variables were integrated at first difference. Kao and Fisher cointegration tests were employed and the results revealed the presence of a long-run relationship. We applied fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) models to check the magnitude of the long-run coefficients among trade openness, human capital and economic growth. To investigate the direction of causality, we used a Dumitrescu and Hurlin (DH) causality test. The results indicated that trade openness and human capital have a significant and positive relationship while labor force participation has a negative effect on economic growth in Southern Asia, and in the case of Western Asia, the impact is positive. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has a negative and significant impact on GDP per capita (GDPPC) in Western Asia while it is positive and significant in Southern Asia; Total population (TPOP) has a negative impact on GDPPC in both regions. Furthermore, human capital has a positive and significant impact on trade openness in both panels. Meanwhile, labor force participation (LFP) has a positive and significant impact on trade openness in Southern Asia and a negative impact in the case of Western Asia. Trade openness and economic growth have bidirectional causality in Western Asia and unidirectional causality in Southern Asia. It also shows that human capital and economic growth have unidirectional causality in both regions. |
149 | Environmental sustainable value in agriculture revisited: How does Common Agricultural Policy contribute to eco-efficiency? | The conflict between capital-intensive agriculture, often called industrial agriculture, and sustainable farming is ongoing, and not because of Western European countries, where intensification is increasingly sustainable. It is caused by several million small farms in Central and Eastern Europe that must choose a long-term development path. This is also a dilemma for agricultural policy: Are small farms so environmentally friendly that they should play the role of 'landscape guardians' at the expense of public support and economic vegetation, or should they strive to improve productivity through investments? This study offers a methodological contribution to the value-based sustainability approach by computing indicators of environmental sustainable value (ESV). The authors have attempted to combine the value-oriented approach with frontier benchmarking. They then tested how the European Union Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes contribute to ESV using a long-term panel of regionally representative farms from Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) with regard to factor endowments, for the years 2004-2017. The seminal within-between specification was employed to control the time variant and time invariant space heterogeneity of European regions. The main finding is that higher investment support is beneficial to ESV. Regarding factor endowment influence, there was a positive impact of the capital-labour ratio. Except the cross-sectional impact of environmental subsidies, the payments exert a negative effect on ESV. |
150 | How is COVID-19 affecting environmental pollution in US cities? Evidence from asymmetric Fourier causality test | This paper aims to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on PM(2.5)emissions in eight selected US cities with populations of more than 1 million. To this end, the study employs an asymmetric Fourier causality test for the period of January 15, 2020 to May 4, 2020. The outcomes indicate that positive shocks in COVID-19 deaths cause negative shocks in PM(2.5)emissions for New York, San Diego, and San Jose. Moreover, in terms of cases, positive shocks in COVID-19 cause negative shocks in PM(2.5)emissions for Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, and San Jose. Overall, the findings of the study highlight that the pandemic reduces environmental pressure in the largest cities of the USA. This implies that one of the rare positive effects of the virus is to reduce air pollution. Therefore, for a better environment, US citizens should review the impact of current production and consumption activities on anthropogenic environmental problems. |
151 | Causal interactions between trade openness, renewable electricity consumption, and economic growth in Asia-Pacific countries: Fresh evidence from a bootstrap ARDL approach | This paper applies a new bootstrap Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to examine the nexus between trade openness, renewable electricity consumption, and economic growth for seven countries in the Asia-Pacific region during 1980-2017 period. In fact, there is no evidence of cointegration among real trade openness, electricity consumption, and real GDP per capita in countries, with the exception of Malaysia, where real GDP serves as dependent variable. However, cointegration does manifest in the cases of Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand when trade openness is used as the dependent variable. A similar outcome is observed for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand when renewable electricity consumption is used as the dependent variable. A short-run analysis reveals mixed results in term of the direction of the causality among different variables for various countries. Such results have implications for trade, energy, and environmental policies. One implication is that any environmental policy aiming to reduce the use of non-renewable energy and carbon dioxide emissions will inevitably lead to greater renewable energy consumption, which in turn may enhance trade openness and ultimately accelerate economic growth. |
152 | Use of waste marble dust and recycled glass for sustainable concrete production | Commitments on reducing embodied CO2 emissions and declining available natural resources puts pressure on the concrete sector to produce more sustainable approaches. Waste materials are widely being used in concrete production. Feasibility and practicality of waste materials on concrete properties are mainly associated with fresh and hardened properties. The use of waste materials can be feasible only under the condition of successful satisfaction of environmental and economic sustainability. In this respect, this research aimed to investigate fresh and hardened properties of equal 28 d design strength (45 MPa) concretes made with natural aggregates and 5% and 10% marble dust as a replacement of Portland cement and Portland cement mix containing 20% recycled glass sand as a replacement to natural sand. Then, a further detailed investigation was carried out to assess the environmental and economic sustainability of laboratory mixes. The results showed that the use of waste materials provided similar fresh properties as control mix. The 28 d compressive cube strength decreased by 10%-19% for recycled glass sand and marble dust added mixes. Studies assessing other engineering properties, including sound permeability, thermal conductivity and water permeability showed enhanced performances for waste incorporated mixes. Regarding sustainability performance, marble dust and recycled glass sand mixes had a lower environmental footprint and higher cost compared to conventional concrete. Considering overall performance analysis, marble dust and recycled glass sand showed 17% and 8% improvement, respectively, revealing a promising solution for sustainable concrete production. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
153 | From the COVID-19 pandemic to corrupt practices: a tale of two evils | Emergencies and corruption go hand in hand in times of crisis. We are currently living in a pandemic phase, and corruption is even more damaging during these times of crisis that the world is experiencing with COVID-19. Vaccination is the only survival option that we have. The development of a nation will soon be measured by the criteria of who owns more vaccines. This study has four objectives. The first is to explore the most recent relevant literature. Moreover, we also investigate the unique trilogy of corruption, the environment, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The second is to identify adequate channels for distributing the COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines should be dispersed based on the categories of age, gender, ethnicity, profession, and health conditions. Third, we explored the factors that are causing corruption in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines. Our findings show that unequal distribution, theft and black markets, weaponization of vaccines, logistical challenges, and substandard and falsified vaccines are the factors that potentially lead to corruption. The fourth objective is to investigate solutions for mitigating corruption. We revealed that blockchain, awareness, well-planned distribution channels, and prioritization of vulnerable groups are the steps that could effectively reduce corruption. |
154 | Medical abortion in primary care | Early medical abortion is a safe, cost effective and acceptable alternative to surgical abortion. It offers privacy and autonomy and can be provided by general practitioners who have completed an online training module. Abortion can be induced with mifepristone and misoprostol up to nine weeks of gestation. Apart from anticoagulation and severe anaemia, there are few contraindications and precautions for medical abortion. Obtaining informed consent requires the provision of information on expected effects, adverse effects and complications. The woman must know when to present to an emergency department. Follow-up must be arranged to ensure the abortion is complete. A serum human chorionic gonadotropin concentration or a low-sensitivity urine pregnancy test is used to confirm completion. Most contraceptive methods can be started immediately following medical abortion. If an intrauterine device is preferred, it should be inserted after confirming the abortion is complete. |
155 | Are smart cities more ecologically efficient? Evidence from China | As a new mode of urbanization, smart city both influences the environmental load and economic performance of cities through technology effect, resource allocation effect and industrial structure upgrade effect. So comes the natural question: has smart city construction improved the eco-efficiency of cities In China? How does the impact change over time? Is the impact heterogeneous across cities? Based on Green Solow model, this paper adopts the Super-efficiency SBM model to measure the eco-efficiency of 152 prefecture-level cities in China covering the period 2003-2016, and then DID model is applied to investigate the impact of smart city pilot policy on eco-efficiency. On the whole, the smart city construction significantly improves the eco-efficiency, and the multi-stage DID results reveal that the promotion effect is increasing over time due to the annual superposition. Furthermore, the impact is heterogeneous across cities. Although the promotion effect on medium-sized cities is less than that of large cities, the promotion effect has actually weakened when the urban population size exceeds 5 million. Moreover, the lower the level of city's economic development, the greater the role of smart city construction in promoting eco-efficiency. The research conclusion is of great practical significance for the reform of urban governance model and the realization of high-quality urban development. |
156 | Desmoglein-3 induces YAP phosphorylation and inactivation during collective migration of oral carcinoma cells | Alterations of the Hippo-YAP pathway are potential targets for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) therapy, but heterogeneity in this pathway could be responsible for therapeutic resistance. We analysed the Hippo-YAP signatures in a cohort of characterised keratinocyte cell lines derived from the mouth floor and buccal mucosa from different stages of OSCC tumour progression and focused on the specific role of YAP on invasive and metastatic potential. We confirmed heterogeneity in the Hippo-YAP pathway in OSCC lines, including overexpression of YAP1, WWTR1 (often referred to as TAZ) and the major Hippo signalling components, as well as the variations in the genes encoding the intercellular anchoring junctional proteins, which could potentially regulate the Hippo pathway. Specifically, desmoglein-3 (DSG3) exhibited a unique and mutually exclusive regulation of YAP via YAP phosphorylation during the collective migration of OSCC cells. Mechanistically, such regulation was associated with inhibition of phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (S695/Y1086) and its downstream effectors heat shock protein beta-1 (Hsp27) (S78/S82) and transcription factor AP-1 (c-Jun) (S63), leading to YAP phosphorylation coupled with its cytoplasmic translocation and inactivation. Additionally, OSCC lines displayed distinct phenotypes of YAP dependency or a mixed YAP and TAZ dependency for cell migration and present distinct patterns in YAP abundance and activity, with the latter being associated with YAP nuclear localisation. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for a newly identified paradigm in the Hippo-YAP pathway and suggests a new regulation mechanism involved in the control of collective migration in OSCC cells. |
157 | Green Brand of Companies and Greenwashing under Sustainable Development Goals | Implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and increasing environmental issues provokes changes in consumers' and stakeholders' behavior. Thus, stakeholders try to invest in green companies and projects; consumers prefer to buy eco-friendly products instead of traditional ones; and consumers and investors refuse to deal with unfair green companies. In this case, the companies should quickly adapt their strategy corresponding to the new trend of transformation from overconsumption to green consumption. This process leads to increasing the frequency of using greenwashing as an unfair marketing instrument to promote the company's green achievements. Such companies' behavior leads to a decrease in trust in the company's green brand from the green investors. Thus, the aim of the study is to check the impact of greenwashing on companies' green brand. For that purpose, the partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-PM), content analysis and Fishbourne methods were used. The dataset for analysis was obtained from the companies' websites and financial and non-financial reports. The objects of analysis were Ukrainian large industrial companies, which work not only in the local market but also in the international one. The findings proved that a one point increase in greenwashing leads to a 0.56 point decline in the company's green brand with a load factor of 0.78. The most significant variable (loading factor 0.34) influencing greenwashing was the information at official websites masking the company's real economic goals. Thus, a recommendation for companies is to eliminate greenwashing through the publishing of detailed official reports of the companies' green policy and achievements. |
158 | The complex web of canonical and non-canonical Hedgehog signaling | Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is a widely studied signaling pathway because of its critical roles during development and in cell homeostasis. Vertebrate canonical and non-canonical Hh signaling are typically assumed to be distinct and occur in different cellular compartments. While research has primarily focused on the canonical form of Hh signaling and its dependency on primary cilia - microtubule-based signaling hubs - an extensive list of crucial functions mediated by non-canonical Hh signaling has emerged. Moreover, amounting evidence indicates that canonical and non-canonical modes of Hh signaling are interlinked, and that they can overlap spatially, and in many cases interact functionally. Here, we discuss some of the many cellular effects of non-canonical signaling and discuss new evidence indicating inter-relationships with canonical signaling. We discuss how Smoothened (Smo), a key component of the Hh pathway, might coordinate such diverse downstream effects. Collectively, pursuit of questions such as those proposed here will aid in elucidating the full extent of Smo function in development and advance its use as a target for cancer therapeutics. |
159 | Struvite pyrolysate cycling technology assisted by thermal hydrolysis pretreatment to recover ammonium nitrogen from composting leachate | Composting leachate containing high concentrations of nitrogen imposes a significant burden on aquatic environment. Struvite crystallization to recover ammonium nitrogen from composting leachate is limited by the inefficient capture of organic nitrogen and excessive magnesium and phosphate input. To cope with these challenges, struvite pyrolysate cycling technology coupled with a thermal hydrolysis pretreatment was investigated to recover ammonium nitrogen from composting leachate. Struvite and its pyrolysate were characterized by SEM-EDX, FTIR, and particle size analyzer. The optimal conversion rate of nitrogen in composting leachate with thermal hydrolysis-assisted was obtained at 180 degrees C for 75 min, achieving an NH4+-N to total nitrogen proportion of 82.2%. The optimal parameters for struvite pyrolysate generation were found to be: molar ratio of hydroxyl to NH4+-N of 1:1, heating temperature of 110 degrees C, and holding time of 3 h. SEM-EDX analysis revealed that the principal struvite pyrolysate was MgNa-PO4 center dot 7H(2)O. When the struvite pyrolysate was reprocessed as novel magnesium and phosphate sources, the removal efficiency of NH4+-N decreased from 98.3 +/- 1.3% in the first cycle to 78.1 +/- 1.0% in the fifth cycle. FTIR analysis indicated the increase in the impurities content of struvite pyrolysate and the decrease in active phosphorus and magnesium sources. Particle size analysis suggested ammonium precipitation was restricted by the crystal growth size. An economic analysis demonstrated that 59.0% of processing costs could be saved by cycling struvite pyrolysate compared with a non-cycling process. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
160 | Functional CDKN2A assay identifies frequent deleterious alleles misclassified as variants of uncertain significance | Pathogenic germline CDKN2A variants are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). CDKN2A variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) are reported in up to 4.3% of patients with PDAC and result in significant uncertainty for patients and their family members as an unknown fraction are functionally deleterious, and therefore, likely pathogenic. Functional characterization of CDKN2A VUSs is needed to reclassify variants and inform clinical management. Twenty-nine germline CDKN2A VUSs previously reported in patients with PDAC or in ClinVar were evaluated using a validated in vitro cell proliferation assay. Twelve of the 29 CDKN2A VUSs were functionally deleterious (11 VUSs) or potentially functionally deleterious (1 VUS) and were reclassified as likely pathogenic variants. Thus, over 40% of CDKN2A VUSs identified in patients with PDAC are functionally deleterious and likely pathogenic. When incorporating VUSs found to be functionally deleterious, and reclassified as likely pathogenic, the prevalence of pathogenic/likely pathogenic CDKN2A in patients with PDAC reported in the published literature is increased to up to 4.1% of patients, depending on family history. Therefore, CDKN2A VUSs may play a significant, unappreciated role in risk of pancreatic cancer. These findings have significant implications for the counselling and care of patients and their relatives. |
161 | Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs and Adherence to Responsible Gambling Practices: The Mediating Role of Flourishing | Responsible gambling (RG) is a practical approach to contain potential gambling-associated harms to an acceptable level. However, few studies have proposed a theoretical framework to account for significant individual differences in RG adherence, which hinders an effective RG promotion in public. To address this missing link, the current study aims to identify psychological need factors associated with adherence to RG practices. We applied the self-determination theory (SDT) to explore the association between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (i.e., relatedness, competency, and autonomy) and RG adherence in a probability Chinese community adult sample (N = 1002; 55.7% women and M age = 44.28 years), acquired from a telephone survey conducted in the 2018 fall with a two-stage cluster random sampling method. We found that the three types of basic needs satisfaction were significantly and positively related to RG adherence via a full mediation of flourishing. The findings provide practical insights to understanding individual differences in RG adherence and designing corresponding SDT-based interventions for gambling communities globally. |
162 | Reliability and validity of the polish version of the vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale (VASS) | Our aim was to assess the psychometric properties and reliability of a Polish version of the VASS. This cross-sectional validation study involved 228 patients above 65 years of age. Authors-Designed Questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Activities of Daily Living Scale were used to assess construct validity. Psychometric properties, reliability and repeatability were assessed. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the VASS scale was 0.89. Almost all items showed a high correlation value in relation to the others (R > 0.45). A high coefficient of repeatability and narrow limits of agreement were observed in the Bland-Altman analysis. All items analyzed had excellent intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC>0.9) and weighted kappa (κ > 0.9) scores. Very strong, significant correlations with other tools confirm the accuracy of the VASS scale. Our research shows promising validity and reliability Polish version of the VASS scale to assess the risk of elder abuse and neglect. |
163 | Numerical analysis of photovoltaic solar panel cooling by a flat plate closed-loop pulsating heat pipe | Photovoltaic (PV) panels provide a suitable way for the direct conversion of solar energy into electricity. The electrical output and efficiency of PV modules are dependent on working temperature. The present study contributes to investigate the efficiency of utilizing a flat plate closed-loop pulsating heat pipe (CLPHP) to cool down a PV panel in both thermal and economic aspects. Accordingly, a numerical investigation is employed to obtain the surface temperature and electrical gain of the PV panel through four scenarios, including natural cooling without additional equipment, CLPHP-based passive cooling, CLPHP-based active cooling, and a conventional flat plate cooling methods. The efficiency of the cooling approaches is investigated in three different solar radiations and ambient temperatures according to the climatic condition of the considered location, Kerman, Iran. The improvement rate function is established to elaborate on the electrical gain efficiency of each scenario. Furthermore, each scenario is economically compared in terms of the payback period of the different cooling approaches. It is concluded that applying CLPHP-based passive, and active cooling approaches increase the improvement rate by 23% and 35% at the solar radiation of 1235 W/m(2), respectively. In addition, the results demonstrated that while the 4th scenario, conventional approach, induces higher improvement rate, it requires more operational cost, so increases the payback period by about 10% compared to the 3rd scenario. Accordingly, it is concluded that utilizing CLPHP for cooling the PV panel is an appropriate and cost-effective approach to increase the efficiency of the PV panel. |
164 | Quantitative structure-activity relationship(QSAR) models for color and COD removal for some dyes subjected to electrochemical oxidation | Electrochemical oxidation is an efficient method for the destruction of dyes in wastewater streams. The experimental conditions during electrochemical oxidation (EO) and molecular structure of a dye greatly influence the extent of degradation. The extent of degradation for a variety of dyes by EO can be predicted conveniently by the use of Quantitative structure-activity Relationship (QSAR) models. An abundant amount of published data on dye degradation by EO using highly variable experimental conditions lies unutilized to prepare QSAR models. In this study, an effort is made to use published experimental data on EO of aqueous dyes after applying an easy method of normalization, to prepare QSAR models for percent color and COD removal. Normalized color and COD removal were obtained by multiplying the reported removal by volume of reactor and concentration of dye; and divided by total current passed and the time of electrolysis. More than 15 molecular descriptors were computed using Schrodinger-suit 2018-3. The multiple linear regression (MLR) approach was used to develop normalized color and COD removal models. The quantum chemical descriptors: highest occupied molecular orbital energy (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (LUMO), polar surface area (PSA), hydrogen bond donor count (HBD), and number of atoms were found significant. The statistical indices: goodness-of-fit, R2 > 0.75, and internal and external validations, Q2LOOCV and Q2ext, > 0.5, satisfied the criteria for predictive models and indicated that the method of normalization used in this study is adequate. Developed QSAR models are quite simple, interpretable, and transparent. |
165 | Techno-economic assessment of biomass gasification-based mini-grids for productive energy applications: The case of rural India | As the costs of solar PV continuously decrease and pollution legislation imposes less burning of agricultural residues, decentralized renewable energy is increasingly affordable for providing electricity to one billion people lacking access to a power grid. This paper presents a techno-economic feasibility case study of biomass gasification in off-grid and grid-connected mini-grids for community-scale energy application in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. Energy demand data was collected through surveys in a village with irrigation and agro-processing loads and off-grid households and used to construct a seasonal load profile based on statistical methods. This was used to simulate single-source and hybrid mini-grids based on solar PV, biomass gasification and diesel generation using HOMER Pro. Hybrid PV-biomass or PV-diesel systems were found to offer the highest reliability for off-grid power at the lowest cost. Single-source PV was cheaper than biomass gasification, though the cost of electricity is highly sensitive to biomass supply and gasifier maintenance. Both renewable options were around half the cost of diesel generation. The findings held across grid-connected systems with weak, moderate and strong reliability of grid supply. This suggests that biomass gasification-based mini-grids are not cost-competitive with PV unless the two generation sources are combined in a hybrid system, though they require operational testing prior to implementation. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
166 | Linking biomass energy and CO2 emissions in China using dynamic Autoregressive-Distributed Lag simulations | Can biomass energy mitigate CO2 emissions in China? Given increasing environmental pollution and global warming, countries are switching to alternate energy sources that might help pollution reduction and mitigate climate change. In this scenario, biomass energy has received the attention of academic scholars and policy analyst alike. What role biomass energy can play in environmental pollution remains uncertain, so further investigation is necessary. To this end, this study explores the relationships of biomass energy and real income with CO2 emissions for China. Empirical evidence is based on the use of Jordan and Philips' (2018) econometric tool, dynamic Autoregressive-Distributed Lag (DARDL) simulations, on data from 1982 to 2017. The results reveal a negative relationship between China's biomass energy consumption and CO2 emissions, suggesting that biomass energy consumption is helpful in reducing pollution. Likewise, biomass energy production reduces carbon emissions and might be the best alternative to fossil fuels. Useful policy implications can be drawn related to biomass energy, especially in attaining sustainable development goals. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
167 | Economic and environmental life cycle assessment of organic waste treatment by means of incineration and biogasi fication. Is source segregation of biowaste justi fied in Germany? | In the realm of the German scope, four different waste treatment options for the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) were evaluated against the environmental and economic background: (i) anaerobic digestion followed by composting, (ii) incineration of OFMSW, (iii) incineration of separately pre-dried OFMSW and (iv) a cascaded treatment system, which couples anaerobic digestion with incineration (i.e. incineration of digestate). Environmental life cycle assessment (eLCA) and a calculation of the levelized costs of exergy (LCOE) were performed to map the sustainability aspects of the different product systems. Within a hybrid approach, consisting of literature data evaluation, theoretical modelling, the conduct of lab-scaled experiments and a substrate analysis, a comprehensive assessment was compiled. Within the eLCA, the main drivers of the total environmental impact were the categories global warming potential (GWP) and the fossil depletion potential (FDP). (i) Anaerobic digestion followed by composting and (ii) incineration were hereby characterized by the fewest environmental impacts. With regards to the base case, the GWP was calculated to similar to 500 g CO2-Eq/kWh exergy for these options. The FDP was <0.05 kg oil-Eq/kWh exergy for anaerobic digestion and -0.075 kg oil-Eq/kWh exergy for incineration. The other examined treatment options were characterized by a significantly higher GWP and FDP. The economic assessment showed median LCOE of 27 ct/kWh exergy for anaerobic digestion followed by composting and thus outcompeted incineration (median: 55 ct/kWh Exergy). Separate pre-drying prior to incineration increased the economic burdens marginally. Anaerobic digestion followed by incineration showed the highest economic expenses (89 ct/kWh exergy). In conclusion, anaerobic digestion followed by composting was marked by an overall preferential environmental and economic constellation and source segregation is thereof justified and should further be maintained. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
168 | Multiple large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas in the rectum and descending colon presented with liver metastasis: A case report | Colorectal large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is rare and multiple LCNECs have not been previously reported. We encountered a case of multiple LCNECs in the rectum and the descending colon. A 66-year-old man presented with anal pain. Colonoscopy showed an ulcerated infiltrating tumor in the rectum, and 0.5 cm of erosion in the descending colon. A biopsy revealed LCNEC in both regions. Abdominal computed tomography revealed irregularly enhanced wall thickening at the rectum and hepatic metastases. Due to the diagnosis of LCNEC, laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection of the rectum was performed. Histopathological examination showed a poorly differentiated, LCNEC in both regions. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated that the tumor cells were positive for chromogranin and synaptophysin. LCNEC was confirmed, and systemic chemotherapy with cisplatin/irinotecan was initiated. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that describes multiple LCNECs in the rectum and descending colon. |
169 | Acid-base effects of combined renal deletion of NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B | The molecular mechanisms regulating ammonia metabolism are fundamental to acid-base homeostasis. Deletion of the A splice variant of Na+-bicarbonate cotransporter, electrogenic, isoform 1 (NBCe1-A) partially blocks the effect of acidosis to increase urinary ammonia excretion, and this appears to involve the dysregulated expression of ammoniagenic enzymes in the proximal tubule (PT) in the cortex but not in the outer medulla (OM). A second NBCe1 splice variant, NBCe1-B, is present throughout the PT, including the OM, where NBCe1-A is not present. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of combined renal deletion of NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B on systemic and PT ammonia metabolism. We generated NBCe1-A/B deletion using Cre-loxP techniques and used Cre-negative mice as controls. As renal NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B expression is limited to the PT, Cre-positive mice had PT NBCe1-A/B deletion [PT-NBCe1-A/B knockout (KO)]. Although on a basal diet, PT-NBCe1-A/B KO mice had severe metabolic acidosis, yet urinary ammonia excretion was not changed significantly. PT-NBCe1-A/B KO decreased the expression of phosphate-dependent glutaminase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and increased the expression of glutamine synthetase, an ammonia-recycling enzyme, in PTs in both the cortex and OM. Exogenous acid loading increased ammonia excretion in control mice, but PT-NBCe1-A/B KO prevented any increase. PT-NBCe1-A/B KO significantly blunted acid loading-induced changes in phosphate-dependent glutaminase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and glutamine synthetase expression in PTs in both the cortex and OM. We conclude that NBCe1-B, at least in the presence of NBCe1-A deletion, contributes to PT ammonia metabolism in the OM and thereby to systemic acid-base regulation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The results of the present study show that combined deletion of both A and B splice variants of electrogenic Na+-bicarbonate cotransporter 1 from the proximal tubule impairs acid-base homeostasis and completely blocks changes in ammonia excretion in response to acidosis, indicating that both proteins are critical to acid-base homeostasis. |
170 | Role of Inflammatory Niche and Adult Cardiomyocyte Coculture on Differentiation, Matrix Synthesis, and Secretome Release by Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells | Myocardial infarction (MI) causes cardiomyocyte death, provokes innate immune response, and initiates tissue remodeling. The intrinsic healing process is insufficient to replace the lost cells, or regenerate and restore the functional features of the native myocardium. Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) transplantation is being explored to offer therapeutic potential after MI. Here, we cultured human BM-MSC spheroids in three-dimensional collagenous gels for 28 days under exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (+ TNFα), and coculture with adult human cardiomyocytes, or with conditioned media (CM) pooled from TNFα-stimulated adult cardiomyocytes. MSC differentiation marker (CD90, GATA4, cTnI, cTnT, Cx43, MHC, α-actin) expression, matrix protein (elastin, hyaluonic acid, sulfated glycosaminoglycans, laminin, fibrillin, nitric oxide synthase) synthesis, and secretome (cytokines, chemokines, growth factors) release at days 12 and 28 were assessed. MSC density decreased with duration in all culture conditions, except in controls. GATA4 expression was higher in cocultures but lower in + TNFα cultures. Synthesis and deposition of various extracellular matrix proteins and lysyl oxidase within MSC cultures, as well as secretome composition, were strongly dependent on the culture condition and duration. Results suggest that TNFα-induced inflammation suppresses BM-MSC survival and differentiation into mature cardiomyocytes by day 28, while promoting matrix protein synthesis and cytokine release conducive to MI remodeling. These findings could have implications in developing tissue engienering and cell transplantation strategies targeting MI, as well as to develop therapuetics to target inflammation-induced matrix remodeling post-MI. |
171 | Antithrombotic Activity of the Antiplatelet Agent Angipur on the Model of Arterial Thrombosis in Rats with Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction | We studied the effect of Angipur on the process of experimental thrombosis induced by damage to the carotid artery wall by surface application of 50% ferric chloride (III) solution in rats without comorbidities and with isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. In animals without comorbidities, Angipur administered intravenously was 1.2 times less effective, in terms of ED50, than the well-known inhibitor of GPIIb/IIIa platelet receptors tirofiban. However, under conditions of non-coronary myocardial infarction, Angipur significantly prolonged the time of thrombus formation and exhibited 1.4-fold higher activity than the reference drug tirofiban. |
172 | Drought Risk to Agricultural Systems in Zimbabwe: A Spatial Analysis of Hazard, Exposure, and Vulnerability | The devastating impacts of drought are fast becoming a global concern. Zimbabwe is among the countries more severely affected, where drought impacts have led to water shortages, declining yields, and periods of food insecurity, accompanied by economic downturns. In particular, the country's agricultural sector, mostly comprised of smallholder rainfed systems, is at great risk of drought. In this study, a multimethod approach is applied, including a remote sensing-based analysis of vegetation health data from 1989-2019 to assess the drought hazard, as well as a spatial analysis combined with expert consultations to determine drought vulnerability and exposure of agricultural systems. The results show that droughts frequently occur with changing patterns across Zimbabwe. Every district has been affected by drought during the past thirty years, with varying levels of severity and frequency. Severe drought episodes have been observed in 1991-1992, 1994-1995, 2002-2003, 2015-2016, and 2018-2019. Drought vulnerability and exposure vary substantially in the country, with the south-western provinces of Matabeleland North and South showing particularly high levels. Assessments of high-risk areas, combined with an analysis of the drivers of risk, set the path towards tailor-made adaptation strategies that consider drought frequency and severity, exposure, and vulnerability. |
173 | Urban Digital Twins for Smart Cities and Citizens: The Case Study of Herrenberg, Germany | Cities are complex systems connected to economic, ecological, and demographic conditions and change. They are also characterized by diverging perceptions and interests of citizens and stakeholders. Thus, in the arena of urban planning, we are in need of approaches that are able to cope not only with urban complexity but also allow for participatory and collaborative processes to empower citizens. This to create democratic cities. Connected to the field of smart cities and citizens, we present in this paper, the prototype of an urban digital twin for the 30,000-people town of Herrenberg in Germany. Urban digital twins are sophisticated data models allowing for collaborative processes. The herein presented prototype comprises (1) a 3D model of the built environment, (2) a street network model using the theory and method of space syntax, (3) an urban mobility simulation, (4) a wind flow simulation, and (5) a number of empirical quantitative and qualitative data using volunteered geographic information (VGI). In addition, the urban digital twin was implemented in a visualization platform for virtual reality and was presented to the general public during diverse public participatory processes, as well as in the framework of the "Morgenstadt Werkstatt" (Tomorrow's Cities Workshop). The results of a survey indicated that this method and technology could significantly aid in participatory and collaborative processes. Further understanding of how urban digital twins support urban planners, urban designers, and the general public as a collaboration and communication tool and for decision support allows us to be more intentional when creating smart cities and sustainable cities with the help of digital twins. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the presented results and further research directions. |
174 | Classification and Radiological Diagnosis of Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations | The aim of this review to determine recommendations for classification and radiological diagnosis of thoracolumbar spine fractures. Recommendation was made through a literature review of the last 10 years. The statements created by the authors were discussed and voted on during 2 consensus meetings organized by the WFNS (World Federation Neurosurgical Societies) Spine Committee. The literature review was yielded 256 abstracts, of which 32 were chosen for full-text analysis. Thirteen papers evaluated the reliability of a classification system by our expert members and were also chosen in this guideline analysis. This literature review-based recommendation provides the classification and radiologic diagnosis in thoracolumbar spine fractures that can elucidate the management decision-making in clinical practice. |
175 | Elaboration of geopolymers based on clays by-products from phosphate mines for construction applications | Yellow clays from Moroccan phosphate mines are extracted with other waste rocks lithologies and stored in large dumps within the mine site. The present paper investigates the use of this by-product as a new aluminosilicate source for geopolymers elaboration at the laboratory scale. Yellow clays studied are mainly composed of montmorillonite, dolomite and quartz as major phases. The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) showed no existence of contaminant. In order to reach thermal activation, the raw clays were first calcined at different temperatures between 500 and 900 degrees C. Raw and calcined clays were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. For the synthesis of geopolymers, calcined powder was mixed with an alkaline solution presenting different NaOH/Na2SiO3 ratios. The compressive strength was measured at 7, 14 and 28 days and material porosity was determined using Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry method in order to explain the mechanical behavior. XRD, 27Al and 29Si Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared and TGA have been used to investigate the gel structure. The thermal treatment at 900 degrees C allowed the destruction of crystalline structure of montmorillonite clays, as well as the formation of new phases such as periclase (MgO) and gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7). Furthermore, the Al-27 - Si-29 MAS-NMR and the XRD analysis of the elaborated materials confirmed the formation of two cementitious gels C-A-S-H (Calcium aluminum silicate hydrate) and N-A-S-H (Sodium aluminum silicate hydrate). The compressive strength was around 25 MPa at 28 days. The obtained results are promising; they have shown that elaborated materials can be adapted for construction applications. In this case, it is recommended that economic and commercial study be developed. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
176 | Clinical impact of subcutaneous treprostinil in trisomy 21 patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with CHD | Subcutaneous treprostinil is commonly used to improve idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension in children. However, its effectiveness has not been reported in trisomy 21. We report the case of 9-year-old boy in trisomy 21 with CHD-pulmonary artery hypertension after surgical correction of CHD. Haemodynamics and exercise capacity dramatically improved with a transition from oral selexipag to subcutaneous treprostinil. |
177 | Pollution, economic growth, and COVID-19 deaths in India: a machine learning evidence | This study uses two different approaches to explore the relationship between pollution emissions, economic growth, and COVID-19 deaths in India. Using a time series approach and annual data for the years from 1980 to 2018, stationarity and Toda-Yamamoto causality tests were performed. The results highlight unidirectional causality between economic growth and pollution. Then, a D2C algorithm on proportion-based causality is applied, implementing the Oryx 2.0.8 protocol in Apache. The underlying hypothesis is that a predetermined pollution concentration, caused by economic growth, could foster COVID-19 by making the respiratory system more susceptible to infection. We use data (from January 29 to May 18, 2020) on confirmed deaths (total and daily) and air pollution concentration levels for 25 major Indian cities. We verify a ML causal link between PM2.5, CO2, NO2, and COVID-19 deaths. The implications require careful policy design. |
178 | Decoding genome recombination and sex reversal | Over the past 440 years since the discovery of the medicinal value of swamp eels, much progress has been made in the study of their biology. The fish is emerging as an important model animal in sexual development, in addition to economic and pharmaceutical implications. Tracing genomic history that shapes speciation of the fish has led to discovery of the whole genome-wide chromosome fission/fusion events. Natural intersex differentiation is a compelling feature for sexual development research. Notably, identification of progenitors of germline stem cells that have bipotential to differentiate into either male or female germline stem cells provides new insight into sex reversal. Here, we review these advances that have propelled the field forwards and present unsolved issues that will guide future investigations to finally elucidate vertebrate sexual development using the new model. |
179 | Circular economy strategies for adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings to reduce environmental impacts | Circular economy strategies seek to reduce the total resources extracted from the environment and reduce the wastes that human activities generate in pursuit of human wellbeing. Circular Economy concepts are well suited to the building and construction sector in cities. For example, refurbishing and adaptively reusing underutilized or abandoned buildings can revitalize neighborhoods whilst achieving environmental benefits. Cultural heritage buildings hold a unique niche in the urban landscape. In addition to shelter, they embody the local cultural and historic characteristics that define communities. Therefore, extending their useful lifespan has multiple benefits that extend beyond the project itself to the surrounding area, contributing to economic and social development. To explore this complex issue, the research applies systematic literature review and synthesis methods. Decision makers lack knowledge of the environmental benefits of adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings and lack tools to implement these projects. A new comprehensive circular economy framework for the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings to reduce environmental impacts intends to meet these needs. The framework integrates methods and techniques from the building and construction literature that aim to reduce lifecycle environmental impact of buildings with a circular product supply chain approach. |
180 | Reproducibility and flexibility of monoclonal antibody production with Nicotiana benthamiana | The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic of 2020-2021 underscores the need for manufacturing platforms that can rapidly produce monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies. As reported here, a platform based on Nicotiana benthamiana produced mAb therapeutics with high batch-to-batch reproducibility and flexibility, enabling production of 19 different mAbs of sufficient purity and safety for clinical application(s). With a single manufacturing run, impurities were effectively removed for a representative mAb product (the ZMapp component c4G7). Our results show for the first time the reproducibility of the platform for production of multiple batches of clinical-grade mAb, manufactured under current Good Manufacturing Practices, from Nicotiana benthamiana. The flexibility of the system was confirmed by the results of release testing of 19 different mAbs generated with the platform. The process from plant infection to product can be completed within 10 days. Therefore, with a constant supply of plants, response to the outbreak of an infectious disease could be initiated within a matter of weeks. Thus, these data demonstrated that this platform represents a reproducible, flexible system for rapid production of mAb therapeutics to support clinical development. |
181 | The application of ecological footprint and biocapacity for environmental carrying capacity assessment: A new approach for European cities | Contemporary socio-environmental problems such as the reduced availability of natural resources, the loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, pollution, an unprecedented population growth, the mass migration of people to cities, and urban sprawl may be associated with the consequences of an economic infinite growth paradigm on a finite planet. Despite international goals for improving the spatial and environmental management, current and future developments are continuously planned without the consideration of the biophysical limits to growth. This could be equated with the environmental carrying capacity (ECC), a concept and a tool for the sustainable development of human settlements. This research use the environmental indicators such as Ecological Footprint (EF) and biocapacity (BC) for ECC quantification. Despite EF and BC accounting is well-developed at the global, national and regional levels, there is still lack of local - urban standard for EF assessment. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to present the local approach for EF assessment and its potential to use for ECC assessment at local (i.e., city) level. The study compares the hybrid EF, which joined the bottom-up CF with the remaining EF's components from a top-down approach, with the standard top-down EF approach. In this study, the assessment focused mainly on household consumption which could be equated as main driver responsible for Ecological Footprint. Thus, the impact of household consumption was quantified according to four categories reflecting resources' use and waste generation as: Food, Housing, Mobility, Services and Goods. The analysis of ECC was conducted for the Polish city of Wroclaw in Central Eastern Europe for the year 2016. The results showed, that the city of Wroclaw exceeds its ECC. Both calculations were affected by data limitations, and likely represent overestimation of the EF. The proposed approach could be important for ECC assessment, quantification of the EF of human activities, and more sustainable spatial management of the city. |
182 | Consolidated bioprocessing of corn cob-derived hemicellulose: engineered industrialSaccharomyces cerevisiaeas efficient whole cell biocatalysts | Background Consolidated bioprocessing, which combines saccharolytic and fermentative abilities in a single microorganism, is receiving increased attention to decrease environmental and economic costs in lignocellulosic biorefineries. Nevertheless, the economic viability of lignocellulosic ethanol is also dependent of an efficient utilization of the hemicellulosic fraction, which contains xylose as a major component in concentrations that can reach up to 40% of the total biomass in hardwoods and agricultural residues. This major bottleneck is mainly due to the necessity of chemical/enzymatic treatments to hydrolyze hemicellulose into fermentable sugars and to the fact that xylose is not readily consumed bySaccharomyces cerevisiae-the most used organism for large-scale ethanol production. In this work, industrialS. cerevisiaestrains, presenting robust traits such as thermotolerance and improved resistance to inhibitors, were evaluated as hosts for the cell-surface display of hemicellulolytic enzymes and optimized xylose assimilation, aiming at the development of whole-cell biocatalysts for consolidated bioprocessing of corn cob-derived hemicellulose. Results These modifications allowed the direct production of ethanol from non-detoxified hemicellulosic liquor obtained by hydrothermal pretreatment of corn cob, reaching an ethanol titer of 11.1 g/L corresponding to a yield of 0.328 g/g of potential xylose and glucose, without the need for external hydrolytic catalysts. Also, consolidated bioprocessing of pretreated corn cob was found to be more efficient for hemicellulosic ethanol production than simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with addition of commercial hemicellulases. Conclusions These results show the potential of industrialS. cerevisiaestrains for the design of whole-cell biocatalysts and paves the way for the development of more efficient consolidated bioprocesses for lignocellulosic biomass valorization, further decreasing environmental and economic costs. |
183 | Genomic sequencing of a pregnancy associated symptomatic meningioma of the diaphragma sellae: a case report | Pregnancy-associated meningiomas have unique considerations and features regarding their pathophysiology, location, genetic profile, and neurosurgical management. These tumours have been reported to undergo rapid growth during gestation and regression post-partum, implicating a role for female sex hormones in tumour physiology. In addition, these tumours occur at a higher incidence in the skull base compared to sporadic meningiomas in the general population, often impinging neurovascular structures and requiring emergent resection. While the genomics of sporadic meningiomas have been described, there are no reports characterizing the genetic features of those associated with pregnancy. Here we describe a patient diagnosed with a diphragma sellae meningioma early in the third trimester after presenting with rapidly deteriorating vision. At 32 weeks gestation the baby was delivered by caesarean section and the tumour subsequently removed. Genomic profiling of the tumour sample revealed variants of unknown significant (VUS) in six genes, none of which were in canonical meningioma drivers. We describe our surgical approach and discuss the relevant pathology and genomics, as well as medical and surgical management considerations of meningiomas in pregnancy. |
184 | A photoelicitation exploration on formally homeless people experience with Universal Credit: System error and 'the government don't care' | This article explores the impact of Universal Credit (UC) on a group of formerly homeless people who were forcibly made to experience a system of full of errors and government that, in their view, did not care. The experience of a marginalised and vulnerable group with complex needs allows one to consider the impacts of welfare reforms on vulnerable people. The research was conducted with formerly homeless contacted via organisations that support people who experienced homelessness in Brighton, Southeast of the UK. Five people (32 years and older) participated. Qualitative data were obtained in photo-elicitation interviews and were thematically analysed. Findings were that they faced a system of error as well as experiencing a sense the government did not care about their situation. The participants expressed their views on how the UC process made them 'struggle' and caused them to have to 'use food banks', and argued that the staff did not know the policy. The system is singled out as the cause of UC claimants' destitution. For the participants, policymakers' negligence, contempt, and detachment were not hard to understand. The article provides implications for practice and research. |
185 | Effects of technological innovation on energy efficiency in China: Evidence from dynamic panel of 284 cities | Technological innovation and energy efficiency are important indicators used to measure the success of the sustainable development strategy in China. This paper aims to explore the total factor energy efficiency (TFEE) at the city level in China and to evaluate the impact of technological innovation on TFEE. Therefore, a two-stage analysis was conducted for the period from 2001 to 2013. The first stage includes an estimation of TFEE scores using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology and Malmquist-Luenberger index, while the second stage includes an exploration of the impact of technological innovation on the TFEE scores obtained in the first stage using a system Generalised Method of Moment (GMM) regression analysis. Based on the results of the Malmquist-DEA, the TFEE of cities in China shows an upward trend overall, but obvious differences in the TFEE are observed among the four regions, with the highest TFEE observed in the eastern region, the second highest TFEE in the central region, a lower TFEE in the northeastern region and the lowest TFEE in the western region. The system GMM regression results reveal a significant positive impact of technological innovation on TFEE at the national level. According to the regional characteristics, the technological innovation in the eastern, western and northeastern regions is particularly important for improving TFEE, but technological innovation in the central region has inhibited the improvement of the TFEE. A logical response to these findings would be to develop different policies for different regions. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
186 | An assessment of environmental sustainability corridor: The role of economic expansion and research and development in EU countries | Given that the European Union-28 countries proposed a target of 3% of the Gross Domestic Product on research and development (R&D) expenditure by 2020, the current study attempts to examine the role of R&D on environmental sustainability. In addition, the study further investigates the long-run and causal interaction between, renewable energy consumption, nonrenewable energy consumption, and economic growth in an ecological footprint-income function. Notably, the study incorporates research and development (R&D) expenditure to the model as an additional variable, and measures impact of each variable on ecological footprint. Empirical evidence is based on a balanced panel data between annual periods of 1997-2014 for selected EU-16 countries. The Pedroni, Johansen Multivariate and Kao tests all reveal a cointegration between ecological footprint, economic growth, research and development expenditure, renewable, and nonrenewable energy consumption. The Fully Modified and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares models (FMOLS and DOLS) both suggest a negative significant relationship between the countries' research and development expenditure and ecological footprint in the long-run. This implies that spending on R&D significantly impacts on environmental sustainability of the panel countries. Our study affirms that nonrenewable energy consumption and economic growth increase carbon emission flaring while renewable energy consumption declines ecological footprint. The panel causality analysis reveals a feedback mechanism between ecological footprint. R&D expenditure, renewable, and nonrenewable energy consumption. We further observed a one-way causality between ecological footprint and economic growth. The current further validates that the Environmental Kuznet Curve Hypothesis (EKC) holds for this panel of EU countries examined. Effective policy implications could be drawn toward modern and environmentally friendly energy sources, especially in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals via spending on R&D. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
187 | Global prevalence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training among the general public: a scoping review | A scoping review was conducted to identify, map, and analyze international evidence from studies investigating the prevalence of community cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. We searched major bibliographic databases and grey literature for original studies evaluating the prevalence of CPR training in the general population. Studies published from January 2000 to October 2020 were included without language or publication type restrictions. Seventy-three eligible papers reported a total of 61 population-based surveys conducted in 29 countries. More than three-fourths of the surveys were conducted in countries with high-income economies, and none in low-income countries. Over half of the surveys were at a subnational level. Globally, the proportion of laypeople trained in CPR varied greatly (median, 40%). For high-income countries, the median percentage was twice as high as that of upper middle-income countries (50% vs. 23%). The studies used heterogeneous survey methods and reporting patterns. Key methodological aspects were frequently not described. In summary, few studies have assessed CPR training prevalence among the general public. The rates of resuscitation training for the vast majority of countries remain unknown. High heterogeneity of studies precludes a reliable interpretation of the research. International Utstein-style consensus guidelines are needed to inform future research and reporting of public resuscitation training worldwide. |
188 | The impact of diet on wastewater treatment works phosphorus loading | Phosphorus (P) is a building block for life in which the human body requires 0.55 g of per day. In some cases, this requirement is exceeded by 2 g per day, with P additives contributing to half of this exceedance. The use of P has become prominent as demand for processed convenience foods has increased. P can cause significant eutrophication once discharged to the environment. As of October 2019, 55% of assessed rivers and 73% of assessed lakes in England failed the current water quality standards. A survey was conducted to calculate the average P consumption of individuals who identify as meat eaters, flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans based on stated eating habits and reported P levels in foods, revealing an estimated P consumption of 1715, 1664, 1244, 1125 mg P/day respectively. It was estimated that current diets contribute 45% of the P load to UK wastewater treatment works (WwTW). If the UK population were to all convert to veganism this would decrease by 54% reducing the load to WwTW by over 15,000 tonnes of P per year, or 9000 tonnes of P per year if there was a move towards a 50% vegetarian or vegan population. Finally, the population needs to be better informed on what is in their food and the associated environmental impacts. |
189 | Using different multivariate approaches to assess water quality of qanats in arid zones of Southern Central Mexico | Qanats in the aquifer of the Tehuacán Valley (Mexico) represent an ancient way of using groundwater that is still practiced today. They are used mainly for agricultural irrigation. However, anthropogenic activities have jeopardized the use of these aquifers. We analyzed 24 qanats in the Tehuacán Valley to assess water quality. Based on 24 physicochemical variables, a water quality index (WQI) was constructed on a zero-to-100 scale, divided into five water quality classes. A decision-tree analysis was applied to identify the parameters with the highest influence on the WQI, considering the water quality classes as categorical responses and the values of physicochemical variables as drivers of these categories. We produced interpolation maps to identify trends. The relationship between the WQI and the normalized difference indices of vegetation and salinity (NDVI and NDSI, respectively) was analyzed using a ternary diagram. WQI scores showed that 12.5% of the qanats have very good quality; 25%, good quality; and the remaining (62.5%) range from moderate to unacceptable quality. The CHAID classification-tree method correctly explained 83.3% of the categories, with sulfates, alkalinity, conductivity, and nitrates as the main parameters that explain water quality. WQI was inversely related to NDVI and NDSI, showing seasonal differences. Interpolation maps suggest a better water quality in the northern zone of the aquifer. |
190 | Assessing alternative crop establishment methods with a sustainability lens in rice production systems of Eastern India | Sustainability of rice production systems is a prime concern for Asia to maintain food security and to support economic growth. This gain in productivity not only depends on agricultural inputs but also depends on social and environmental factors. To address these emerging issues, new resource- and capital-efficient and profitable technologies have been introduced. The conventional method of rice production (puddling and manual transplanting, PTR) is considered as highly input intensive. As an alternative, dry direct seeded rice (DSR) using seed drill has been promoted to save labor and production costs compared with PTR. Similarly, machine transplanted rice (MTR) has been also considered and promoted in many rice growing countries of South and East Asia. Economic, environmental, and social performances of DSR and MTR (alternative rice establishment technologies) were compared to the PTR using Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) defined 12 Performance Indicators (PIs) (version 1.0) as a gauge to measure their sustainability. For that, a household survey was conducted on 652 households in Odisha India during 2016. The gaps, i.e., the target to achieve better sustainability, were computed for most of the indicators from the difference between top 10th percentile and the population mean value of the indicator. The results indicated a yield gap of 1.35 t ha(-1) , a profit gap of $273 ha(-1), labor productivity gap of 21 kg day(-1), nitrogen (N) use efficiency gap of 22 kg grain kg(-1) N, phosphorus (P) use efficiency gap of 105 kg grain kg(-1) P, and water productivity gap of 0.00010 kg grain L-1 water in rice production systems in Odisha. Among the compared technologies, MTR results in the highest yield, profit, labor productivity, nitrogen-, phosphorus-use efficiency, and water productivity (at par), and is positive for children's welfare and the overall energy productivity, indicating better sustainability and has the potential to replace PTR. Direct seeded rice has the highest yield gap (1.57 t ha(-1); 38%) but has the lowest production cost (can reduce the cost of production by $130 ha(-1)), and the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential. SRP PIs are capable for assessing the sustainability of rice establishment technologies except for a few indicators, for example food safety and workers health and safety, which are more applicable to watershed and household level indicators, respectively. The SRP PIs provide scientific evidence and practical impetus for the selection and promotion of sustainable rice production technologies. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. |
191 | Circulating Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA in Pregnancy | Circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA) released upon cell injury or death stimulates diverse pattern recognition receptors to activate innate immune responses and initiate systemic inflammation. In this review, we discuss the temporal changes of ccf-mtDNA during pregnancy and its potential contribution to adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnancy complications. |
192 | Complete mitochondrial genome of Manispentadactylapentadactyla (Mammalia: Pholidota), an endemic subspecies of Chinese pangolin: mitogenome characterisation and phylogenetic implications | The Chinese pangolin Manispentadactyla is critically endangered because of over-exploitation and illegal trafficking and includes three subspecies. However, the taxonomic status of the three subspecies of the Chinese pangolin has not been well resolved, which impedes regional conservation and illegal trade traces. In this study, the complete mitogenome sequence of M.p.pentadactyla, an endemic subspecies of the Chinese pangolin in Taiwan, was determined. The complete mitogenome of M.p.pentadactyla is 16,570 base pairs (bp) in length with 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), 23 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs and a 1164 bp control region. The overall base composition of the genome showed a slight A + T bias (59.9%), positive AT skew (0.1515) and negative GC skew (-0.3406), which is similar to that of other pangolins. All PCGs started with a typical ATN codon and all tRNAs were typical cloverleaf-shaped secondary structures, except for tRNA-Ser(GCU). Phylogenetic analysis indicated a monophyletic relationship for M.p.pentadactyla and M.p.aurita and was monophyletic for M.p.pentadactyla, but paraphyletic for M.p.aurita. The paraphyly of M.p.aurita resulted from an incomplete lineage sorting. This study enriched the mitogenome database of the Chinese pangolin and the molecular information obtained should be very useful for future research on mitogenome evolution and genetic diversification in M.pentadactyla. |
193 | Personal willingness to receive a Covid-19 vaccine and its relationship with intergroup psychology: Evidence from the Philippines and Pakistan | High levels of vaccine hesitancy are an obstacle to the successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this research, we identify psychological correlates of reluctance to personally receive a Covid-19 vaccine, with a focus on intergroup relations. Insights are based on two survey studies conducted in traditionally underresearched settings, the Philippines (N = 289) and Pakistan (N = 275). Results show that trust in vaccines, concerning both the vaccine's efficacy and the vaccine's safety, was associated with willingness to use the vaccine. Perceptions of trust were related to intergroup psychology, such that vaccine donations from political opponents rather than allies were trusted less. This meant that in the Philippines, there was a preference to use vaccines from the United States over those from China, although the pattern was less clear in Pakistan. Having said this, the highest levels of trust and willingness to use vaccines in both countries were for vaccines offered by the World Health Organization (WHO). Last but not least, a perception of global common fate of all humans in the face of the pandemic was positively associated with willingness to get vaccinated, even when controlling for concerns about the vaccine's efficacy and safety. Implications are discussed in relation to intergroup psychology and public health management. |
194 | Comparative study of municipal solid waste disposal in three Chinese representative cities | China is facing severe environmental problems, the total municipal solid waste (MSW) generation has dramatically increased and presented great challenges all over the country. Cities have different characteristics in MSW components, generation quantity, influencing factors and disposal ways. Beijing, Guangzhou and Lhasa of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic circle, Pearl River Delta economic zone, and Qinghai-Tibet plateau regions were selected as representative cities, to compare and analyze the features, influencing factors to the MSW generation quantities, and its components by grey correlation analysis. Predictions of MSW generation quantities for Beijing, Guangzhou and Lhasa in 2025 would be 1251.22, 704.71 and 71.040 million tons, respectively, made by BP (back propagation) nerve work using MATLAB software. Results showed that the main indicators of influencing factors to MSW in three cities were all of economic development levels, population and investments of government input. Based on the analysis of internal relationship and characteristics of MSW, some barriers of MSW management were analyzed, and recommendations were given. Our study analyzed the influencing factors and forecasted quantities of MSW generation in representative cities in China, providing valuable evidences for the severe MSW disposal situation of different economic zones in China. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd. |
195 | Modeling the nexus between coal consumption, FDI inflow and economic expansion: does industrialization matter in South Africa? | This study examines the role of industrialization in the energy-growth-FDI nexus for the case of South Africa using data over the period 1970 to 2018. The empirical exercise was conducted using Pesaran Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach. To accomplish our study objective, we analyze stationarity properties of the series using the unit root test after which we applied Bayer-Hanck (B-H) combined technique to cointegration to assess whether a long-run relationship exists among the series. Empirical results show that a 1% change in FDI account for 0.002% and 0.013% increase in economic expansion in the short- and long- run respectively. Also, a 1% increase in coal consumption influence GDP negatively by 0.083% and 0.207% in the short and long run respectively. Furthermore, a 1% increase in total natural resource rent positively affects GDP by 0.02% and 0.05% respectively in the short and long run. Industrialization, on the other hand, demonstrates a positive and significant impact on the economic growth process both in the short and long run. Industrialization contributes 0.506% and 1.274% to economic expansion both in the short and long run respectively. The causality tests suggest that a one-way causal link running from FDI to industrialization and from industrialization to coal consumption exists. Finally, FDI inflow drives total natural resource rents in South Africa. This study also gives reliable growth and energy policy proposals to policymakers applicable to countries around the globe. |
196 | The potential for integration of hydrogen for complete energy self-sufficiency in residential buildings with photovoltaic and battery storage systems | This paper presents an analysis of energy production in a pilot building located in Slovenia, which is a typical residential house with an installed photovoltaic (PV) system and pilot battery storage system. Energy management system gathers data from smart meters every 15 min. As the pilot building location is in central Europe, complete energy self-sufficiency cannot be provided. The most problematic period of energy production with photovoltaic systems is winter. Solar radiation during the winter is much lower than in the summer and sometimes snow covers photovoltaic panels and disables energy production. Energy production and energy consumption are analyzed for one year. This study shows that complete self-sufficiency can be achieved by supplementing photovoltaic systems with hydrogen fuel cells. The amount of hydrogen, which would suffice for complete self-sufficiency for the whole period, is calculated according to the analyzed data. A synergy between photovoltaic system and hydrogen fuel cells is a step forward to complete self-sufficiency with renewable energy sources. The share of self-sufficiency of a hybrid PV fuel cell system would be 62.13%, meaning that there is no possibility for complete self-sufficiency from the pilot system. The shortage of hydrogen is 144.24 kg for one year and for achieving complete energy self-sufficiency, PV system should be bigger. A hybrid system with photovoltaic system, battery storage system and hydrogen fuel cells can be a solution for complete self-sufficiency. From an economic point of view, such systems are accessible for commercial use. The initial investment is relatively high, because of the high cost of the hydrogen storage tank. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
197 | The effect of the low stromal ratio induced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy on recurrence patterns in borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma | The optimal regimens of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and its biological and physiological modification of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BR PDAC) remain unknown. A deeper understanding of the complex stromal biology of the TME will identify new avenues to establish treatment strategies for PDAC patients. Herein, we sought to clarify whether stromal remodeling by NAC affects recurrence patterns and prognosis in BR PDAC patients. We retrospectively analyzed data from 104 BR PDAC patients who underwent pancreatectomy with or without NAC (upfront surgery [UpS], n = 44; gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel [GnP], n = 28; and gemcitabine + S-1 [GS], n = 32) to assess the correlations of treatment with early recurrence, the stromal ratio, and Ki-67 levels. Eighty-six patients experienced recurrence, and those with liver metastasis had significantly shorter recurrence-free survival than those with other recurrence patterns. The frequency of liver metastasis was significantly higher in patients with a low stromal ratio than in those with a high stromal ratio in the NAC group but not in the UpS group. Patients in the GnP group had significantly higher Ki-67 than those in the GS and UpS groups. A low stromal ratio was positively correlated with high Ki-67 in the NAC group but not in the UpS group. The low stromal ratio induced by NAC promoted early liver metastasis in patients with BR PDAC. Our findings provide new insights into the complexity of stromal biology, leading to consideration of the optimal NAC regimen. |
198 | The influence of multiple environmental regulations on haze pollution: Evidence from China | Air quality in China has deteriorated continuously within the last ten years, the Chinese central government has developed numerous environmental regulations (ERs) to improve the air condition. This paper adopts three different standards to measure the ERs for studying the impacts of ERs on haze pollution. According to previous studies, the mechanism of environmental regulations on air quality of this paper are developed and empirically analyzed by system GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) method using provincial panel data from 2006 to 2016 from China. Our empirical results conclude that (i) command-controlled regulations (ER1) and economic-incentive regulations (ER2) have nonlinear relationships with haze pollution, but the linear regression results of voluntary-consciousness environmental regulation (ER3) are not statistical significant; (ii) the effectiveness of the ERs is varied at different significance levels and most coefficients of western region are not statistical significant; (iii) the coefficients of foreign direct investment (FDI) are positive and statistical significant. However, FDI can also have a negative impact on haze pollution when ERs are fully carried out. The empirical analysis of the whole country is basically consistent with the ones of four different regions in China. |
199 | The impacts of different proxies for financialization on carbon emissions in top-ten emitter countries | The nexus of financialization and carbon emissions has been widely discussed in the literature. A vast body of literature that estimates the impact of financialization on carbon emissions proxies financialization with either domestic credit or market capitalization. However, these representatives do not fully respond to the complicated nature of financial development. To till the gaps in the existing literature, nine different proxies for financial development are used in the links with carbon emissions in the framework of EKC theory for the years 1980-2014. This study exposes reliable and robust empirical results due to the use of a number of proxies for financialization and second-generation econometric approaches in the empirical analysis. The quantile regression approach deals with unobserved heterogeneity for each cross-section and estimates different slope parameters at varying quantiles. Because non-normality and heterogeneity are detected in datasek quantile regression provides more robust and reliable estimates than conventional econometric techniques. Results from quantile regression estimator support mixed effects of financial development on carbon emissions over quantiles: in addition, the impact of financial development on carbon emissions is varying not only for each quantile but also for different proxies of financial development. The EKC hypothesis is validated for the top-ten emitter economies. Interpretations and policy suggestions are further discussed in the present study. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
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