Reduced Energy Supply Research Articles

Genetically Engineered Clostridium Prevents Perivascular Adipose Tissue and Endothelial Senescence and Dysfunction in Aging

Abstract Introduction (Peri)vascular senescence is a bona fide risk for several aging-associated diseases that threatens healthspan. Gut microbiome may be one of triggers that promotes vascular diseases as host ages. However, the interplay between vascular senescence and gut microbiome is largely unknown. Our recent studies revealed an increase in gut-derived phenylacetic acid (PAA) in the aging population (TwinsUK Aging Cohort, n=7,303) and aged mice. Our preliminary shotgun metagenomics also showed that ppfor-harboring Clostridium sp. ASF356 age-dependently generates PAA, which induces perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and endothelial cell (EC) senescence and dysfunction in old mice. Yet, it remains unclear whether and how genetic engineering of Clostridium sp. ASF356 (by depleting ppfor gene) can prevent aortic PVAT-EC senescence and restore vascular function in aging. Methods For bacterial genetic engineering, we depleted ppfor gene in Clostridium ASF356 by ClosTron technique and further mono-colonized aged mice (24-months old) and germ-free mice, as control, to reduce plasma PAA and thereby prevent aortic PVAT-EC senescence and improve endothelial dysfunction. Results As a proof of the concept, our studies exhibited that mono-colonization of germ-free mice with wild-type Clostridium sp. ASF356 markedly elevates plasma PAA levels. It was accompanied by hallmarks of aortic PVAT-EC senescence, including increased DNA damage (↑ γ-H2A.X phosphorylation), heightened SASP (↑ IL-6 and VCAM1), and proliferative arrest (↑ p16INK4a and p21WAF1/Cip1). Additionally, our findings revealed upreglation of Notch1 in PVAT, contributing to reduced energy supply (↓ UCP1) and augmented senescence-messaging secretome (↑ IL-6) towards ECs. Our further studies revealed that mono-colonization of aged mice (pre-treated with antibiotics) with Δppfor Clostridium ASF356 mutants intriguingly resulted in decreased plasma PAA levels. This intervention led to the rescues of cellular senescence in both aortic PVAT and ECs, consequently improving vascular function. Specifically, mice subjected to this treatment exhibited a significant reduction in SA-β-galactosidase+ cells, as well as decreased levels of γ-H2A.X phosphorylation, p16INK4a, p21WAF1/Cip1, and IL-6 in their aortic PVAT and ECs compared to wild-type aged mice. Conclusions The current study suggests that genetically engineered Δppfor Clostridium ASF356 mutants reverse cellular senescence and restore function in aortic PVAT and endothelial cells, highlighting the potential for targeted gut microbiome manipulation as an innovative senotherapy to combat vascular aging.

Dietary starch structure modulates nitrogen metabolism in laying hens via modifying glucose release rate

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of starch structure (Amylopectin/Amylose, AP/AM) in a low-protein diet on production performance, nitrogen utilization efficiency, and cecal flora in laying hens. Four hundred eighty 45-wk-age Hy-Line Gray laying hens were randomly allocated to five dietary groups and subjected to a 12-wk feeding trial. The AP/AM ratios of the five experiment diets were 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0. The results indicated that compared to other groups, laying hens fed with AP/AM 4.0 diets showed significantly improved average egg weight and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Furthermore, as the AP/AM ratio increased, there was a significant linear enhancement in intestinal amino acids apparent digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy, and villus area (P < 0.05). Compared to the high AP groups, high-AM diets significantly increased eggshell thickness, crude protein digestibility, and reduced energy supply from amino acid oxidation in ileum (P < 0.05). Additionally, moderate-AM diets enriched with short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria in the cecum, such as Lactobacillus, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, which are associated with the promoting nitrogen utilization. These findings may offer useful information on optimizing starch structure for the design of food products and relevant therapies due to the potential effects on nutrient metabolism and gut homeostasis.

Phillyrin and its metabolites exert antipyretic effects by targeting the NAD+ binding domain of GAPDH, MDH2 and IDH2

BackgroundFever is one of the main pathophysiological reactions that occurs during the acute phase of various diseases. Excessive body temperature can lead to various adverse consequences such as brain tissue damage and abnormal immune responses. Phillyrin (Phr) is the main active ingredient in Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl (Lian Qiao) and has antipyretic effects; however, its antipyretic mechanism of action remains unclear. PurposeThis study aimed to explore the antipyretic mechanisms of Phr and provide a new treatment plan for fever. MethodsThe antipyretic effects of Phr were evaluated using a mouse model of pneumonia fever. The main metabolites of Phr involved in its antipyretic function were identified using a mitochondrial temperature-sensitive probe. Further synthesis of the main metabolite, phillygenin (Phg), an alkynylated probe, was performed, and chemical proteomics was used to capture and analyze its direct target for antipyretic effects. The mechanism of action of Phg and its antipyretic targets was explored using metabolomics and various molecular biology methods. ResultsPhr showed significant antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide-induced fever. Phg reversibly targeted the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) binding domain of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2), and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) to inhibit their enzymatic activity. In-depth analysis of cellular metabolomics and mitochondrial stress testing indicated that inhibition of GAPDH, MDH2, and IDH2 enzyme activity by Phg led to a decrease in cellular energy supply and heat production regulated by glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation signaling pathways. Phg specifically targeted macrophages and inhibited LPS-induced macrophage activation by downregulating GAPDH enzyme activity, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects. In vivo experiments also confirmed that the antipyretic effect of Phr in LPS-induced fever model mice was related to its main metabolites, Phg and Phg-sulfonate (Phg-S), which directly targeted the NAD+ binding domain of GAPDH, IDH2, and MDH2, inhibiting the activity of these enzymes, thereby reducing energy supply and regulating febrile-related inflammatory factors. ConclusionThis study reported for the first time that the antipyretic effect of Phr is produced by targeting GAPDH, IDH2, and MDH2 to regulate energy supply and febrile-related inflammatory factors through its main metabolites Phg and Phg-S. This study not only provides potential drugs for fever treatment but also provides new ideas for improving clinical fever treatment plans.

Adenosine signalling to astrocytes coordinates brain metabolism and function

Brain computation performed by billions of nerve cells relies on a sufficient and uninterrupted nutrient and oxygen supply1,2. Astrocytes, the ubiquitous glial neighbours of neurons, govern brain glucose uptake and metabolism3,4, but the exact mechanisms of metabolic coupling between neurons and astrocytes that ensure on-demand support of neuronal energy needs are not fully understood5,6. Here we show, using experimental in vitro and in vivo animal models, that neuronal activity-dependent metabolic activation of astrocytes is mediated by neuromodulator adenosine acting on astrocytic A2B receptors. Stimulation of A2B receptors recruits the canonical cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate–protein kinase A signalling pathway, leading to rapid activation of astrocyte glucose metabolism and the release of lactate, which supplements the extracellular pool of readily available energy substrates. Experimental mouse models involving conditional deletion of the gene encoding A2B receptors in astrocytes showed that adenosine-mediated metabolic signalling is essential for maintaining synaptic function, especially under conditions of high energy demand or reduced energy supply. Knockdown of A2B receptor expression in astrocytes led to a major reprogramming of brain energy metabolism, prevented synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, severely impaired recognition memory and disrupted sleep. These data identify the adenosine A2B receptor as an astrocytic sensor of neuronal activity and show that cAMP signalling in astrocytes tunes brain energy metabolism to support its fundamental functions such as sleep and memory.

The therapeutic effect of a novel GAPDH inhibitor in mouse model of breast cancer and efficacy monitoring by molecular imaging

BackgroundBreast cancer is a serious threat to women’s health with high morbidity and mortality. The development of more effective therapies for the treatment of breast cancer is strongly warranted. Growing evidence suggests that targeting glucose metabolism may be a promising cancer treatment strategy. We previously identified a new glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) inhibitor, DC-5163, which shows great potential in inhibiting tumor growth. Here, we evaluated the anticancer potential of DC-5163 in breast cancer cells.MethodsThe effects of DC-5163 on breast cancer cells were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Seahorse, glucose uptake, lactate production, and cellular ATP content assays were performed to examine the impact of DC-5163 on cellular glycolysis. Cell viability, colony-forming ability, cell cycle, and apoptosis were assessed by CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and immunoblotting respectively. The anticancer activity of DC-5163 in vivo was evaluated in a mouse breast cancer xenograft model.ResultsDC-5163 suppressed aerobic glycolysis and reduced energy supply of breast cancer cells, thereby inhibiting breast cancer cell growth, inducing cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, and increasing apoptosis. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed using a breast cancer xenograft mouse model. DC-5163 treatment markedly suppressed tumor growth in vivo without inducing evident systemic toxicity. Micro-PET/CT scans revealed a notable reduction in tumor 18F-FDG and 18F-FLT uptake in the DC-5163 treatment group compared to the DMSO control group.ConclusionsOur results suggest that DC-5163 is a promising GAPDH inhibitor for suppressing breast cancer growth without obvious side effects. 18F-FDG and 18F-FLT PET/CT can noninvasively assess the levels of glycolysis and proliferation in tumors following treatment with DC-5163.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE CREATION OF AUTONOMOUS ENERGY REGIONS IN UKRAINE

The transition to energy generation from renewable sources is a strategic imperative for many countries around the world. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made the transition to renewable energy more urgent, as countries want to reduce their dependence on fossil fuel imports from Russia. One of the options for increasing energy security, independence, and environmental friendliness of energy production in Ukraine is the creation of autonomous energy regions. The deployment of decentralized infrastructure for the production of green energy is not an easy task, from an economic point of view it is associated with great prospects and problems. Therefore, the analysis of the socio-economic aspects of the full or partial transition to autonomous systems of renewable energy in the regions of Ukraine is relevant.&#x0D; The purpose of the article is to study the economic and social prospects and problems to the creation of autonomous energy regions in Ukraine based on world experience. The study identified the main problems of the energy system of Ukraine, analyzed the trends of the renewable energy production market, and considered cases of successful creation of autonomous energy regions in different countries of the world. The article formulates the main social and economic perspectives and problems to the creation of autonomous energy regions in Ukraine. &#x0D; Based on the analyzed examples, the authors singled out the main success factors for the implementation of projects of autonomous energy regions, in particular, the involvement of the local population and business in the development of a new energy network, the creation of an "ecological brand", the possibility of exporting the generated electricity, support for ecological startups, increasing the energy efficiency of housing. The main socio-economic prospects for Ukrainian communities on this path are energy independence, reducing energy supply costs, creating jobs, developing local businesses, building an "ecological brand" increasing the investment attractiveness of the region, improving the quality of life and health of the population. The most critical problems to the successful implementation of the project of autonomous energy regions in Ukraine are the lack of a consistent policy of the central government in the field of green energy, the lack of initiatives of local authorities and communities in this area, difficulties in attracting long-term investments for the implementation of the project.&#x0D; As the majority of developed countries are still on the path to decarbonization, the need for a global recovery of Ukraine's energy infrastructure can be a chance to significantly modernize the energy system and join the leading players in the market of renewable energy and sustainable development technologies. The study is practically significant because it offers a perspective vision of the development of the energy system of Ukraine's regions to reduce the state's dependence on fossil fuel imports, increase energy efficiency and safety, and economic and social development of Ukraine's regions. Further implementation of this idea requires a study of the volumes of reserves of renewable energy sources in certain regions of Ukraine, an analysis of the means of stimulating the green energy market (for example, "green" auctions or corporate PPAs), the creation of projects of regional strategies for the transition to renewable energy, etc.

Abstract 13364: Transplantation of Mutant Clostridium_ASF356 Rescues Aging Gut-Derived Phenylacetate-Mediated Perivascular Adipose Tissue and Endothelial Senescence

Introduction: Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) may contribute to atherosclerosis by promoting endothelial dysfunction in aging. Gut microbiota can induce PVAT dysfunction; yet, whether it leads to endothelial cell (EC) senescence requires further investigation. Our studies revealed that gut-derived phenylacetate (PAA) and its derivative PAGln age-dependently increase ( TwinsUK Aging Cohort ). Yet, it remains unclear whether and how it contributes to PVAT-EC senescence. Methods: To circumvent our limited knowledge of PAA-(peri)vasculature pathway in aging, we performed multi-omics (fecal shotgun metagenomics and targeted metabolomics), and cell-cell (co-culture) interaction and senescence analyses. Results: Our human ( TwinsUK , n=7,303) and mouse (24 vs. 3 months, n=6) studies identified a positive association of plasma PAA and PAGln with higher abundance of VOR - and PPFOR -harboring bacteria (metabolizing dietary phenylalanine to PAA), particularly Clostridium_ASF356, in gut of old humans and mice that exhibited PVAT and vascular dysfunction. PAA aggravated PVAT dysfunction (reduced UCP1 and Prdm16) by generating excess mitochondrial H 2 O 2 and upregulating Notch1 , leading to reduced energy supply and increased senescence-messaging secretome from PVAT. It induced senescence (increased SA-β-galactosidase, telomere attrition, cell-cycle arrest ( p16 INK4a and p21 WAF1/Cip1 ), and SASP (IL6 and VCAM1)) in co-cultured aortic ECs and reduced angiogenesis (tube formation). We also showed that transplantation of genetically-engineered Δvor, Δppfor C. ASF356 double mutants to old mice (reduces plasma PAA) decreases VCAM1 secretion from PVAT and thereby inhibits senescence in aortic ECs that exhibited eNOS uncoupling. Conclusions: We conclude that age-related increase in microbiota-driven PAA regulates PVAT-mediated EC senescence via Notch1 signaling. Our bacterial engineering approach may represent a novel (peri)vascular senotherapy.

Biomimetic nanoplatform with H2O2 homeostasis disruption and oxidative stress amplification for enhanced chemodynamic therapy.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is a powerful cancer treatment strategy by producing excessive amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill cancer cells. However, the inadequate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) supply and antioxidant defense systems in tumor tissue significantly impair the therapeutic effect of CDT, hindering its further applications. Herein, we present an intelligent nanoplatform with H2O2 homeostasis disruption and oxidative stress amplification properties for enhanced CDT. This nanoplatform is obtained by encapsulating glucose oxidase (GOx) in a pH- and glutathione (GSH)-responsive degradable copper doped-zeolitic imidazolate framework (Cu-ZIF8), followed by loading of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3AT) and modification of hyaluronic acid (HA) for tumor targeting delivery. The GOx@Cu-ZIF8-3AT@HA not only reduces energy supply and increases H2O2 level by exhausting intratumoral glucose, but also disturbs tumor antioxidant defense systems by inhibiting the activity of catalase (CAT) and depleting intracellular GSH, resulting in disrupted H2O2 homeostasis in tumor. Moreover, the elevated H2O2 will transform into highly toxic hydroxyl radical (·OH) by Cu+ that generated from redox reaction between Cu2+ and GSH, amplifying the oxidative stress to enhance the CDT efficacy. Consequently, GOx@Cu-ZIF8-3AT@HA has significantly inhibited the 4T1 xenograft tumor growth without discernible side effects, which provides a promising strategy for cancer management. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The inadequate H2O2 level and antioxidant defense system in tumor tissues significantly impair the therapeutic effect of CDT. Herein, we developed an intelligent nanoplatform with H2O2 homeostasis disruption and oxidative stress amplification properties for enhanced CDT. In this nanoplatform, GOx could exhaust intratumoral glucose to reduce energy supply accompanied with production of H2O2, while the suppression of CAT activity by 3AT and depletion of GSH by Cu2+ would weaken the antioxidant defense system of tumors. Ultimately, the raised H2O2 level would convert to highly toxic •OH by Fenton-like reaction, amplifying the CDT efficacy. This work provides a promising strategy for cancer management.

Effects of possible changes in natural gas, nuclear, and coal energy consumption on CO2 emissions: Evidence from France under Russia’s gas supply cuts by dynamic ARDL simulations approach

The study explores the influences of potential changes in energy consumption on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, focusing on disaggregated energy consumption sources. In this manner, the study considers France as the leading nuclear energy-consuming country in Europe, includes yearly data between 1970 and 2021, and performs the dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (DYNARDL) model. In addition, the Kernel-based regularized least squares (KRLS) is used for robustness check. The results reveal that (i) cointegration exists between the disaggregated energy consumption indicators and CO2 emissions; (ii) nuclear, natural gas, oil, and coal energy have a statistically significant effect on CO2 emissions, while renewable energy is not statistically significant; (iii) nuclear power has a decreasing effect on CO2 emissions; (iv) positive (i.e., increasing) shocks to nuclear reduce CO2 emissions, even if they are 300 % in the case of counterfactual shocks; (v) any positive (i.e., increasing) shocks to coal have a drastically increasing effect on CO2 emissions, even if they are 25 % in the case of counterfactual shocks; (vi) the KRLS approach confirms the robustness of the results. Thus, this study suggests that France should continue to rely on nuclear power for electricity generation and that French policymakers should reduce electricity exports to European Union countries to provide an alternative against the Russian natural gas shock by preventing a reduction in energy supply.

Energy shortages and aggregate demand: Output loss and unequal burden from HANK

I study the effects of a reduction in energy supply using a quantitative Heterogeneous Agents New Keynesian (HANK) model with energy consumption by households and firms. I find that changes in aggregate demand due to an increase in energy prices and labor market adjustments amplify the macroeconomic effects of the energy shock, but these effects remain manageable. In the model a 10% reduction in the energy supply leads to a Gross National Income (GNI) loss in range between 0.8% and 2%. The economic burden is highly nonlinear across the income distribution: most households face similar and relatively contained costs, while low-income households bear the heaviest burden. I show that monetary and fiscal policy can mitigate the economic costs and the unequal effects of energy shortages.

Optimal planning for industrial park-integrated energy system with hydrogen energy industry chain

Establishing an industrial park-integrated energy system (IN-IES) is an effective way to reduce carbon emission, reduce energy supply cost and improve system flexibility. However, the modeling of hydrogen storage in traditional IN-IES is relatively rough. In order to solve this problem, an IN-IES with hydrogen energy industry chain (HEIC) is proposed in this paper. Hydrogen production, transportation, and storage technologies are applied in HEIC. Firstly, a novel long-term hydrogen storage model considering different time steps is presented. Secondly, hydrogen compressor models considering different pressure ratios are further employed. On this basis, the impact of the HEIC on the planning and operation results of IN-IES is studied. Finally, the superiority and the effectiveness of the proposed model and planning method are verified by simulation cases.

Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion-Induced Disturbed Proteostasis of Mitochondria and MAM Is Reflected in the CSF of Rats by Proteomic Analysis

Declining cerebral blood flow leads to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion which can induce neurodegenerative disorders, such as vascular dementia. The reduced energy supply of the brain impairs mitochondrial functions that could trigger further damaging cellular processes. We carried out stepwise bilateral common carotid occlusions on rats and investigated long-term mitochondrial, mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome changes. Samples were studied by gel-based and mass spectrometry-based proteomic analyses. We found 19, 35, and 12 significantly altered proteins in the mitochondria, MAM, and CSF, respectively. Most of the changed proteins were involved in protein turnover and import in all three sample types. We confirmed decreased levels of proteins involved in protein folding and amino acid catabolism, such as P4hb and Hibadh in the mitochondria by western blot. We detected reduced levels of several components of protein synthesis and degradation in the CSF as well as in the subcellular fractions, implying that hypoperfusion-induced altered protein turnover of brain tissue can be detected in the CSF by proteomic analysis.

Effects of feeding level and milking frequency on behavior of dairy cows before dry-off

Drying-off may challenge the welfare of especially high-yielding dairy cows. In this study, 119 loose-housed Holstein cows yielding ≥20 kg milk/d were enrolled in a 2 × 2 factorial design aiming to investigate effects of changes in diet energy density and daily milking frequency on behavior. The last 7 d before the dry-off day, cows were milked either twice or once daily, and were fed either a lactation diet or the same diet diluted with 30% barley straw, both offered in individual bins for ad libitum intake. All cows were fitted with sensors to record lying time and activity, and data from 109 of these cows were used together with behavioral observations obtained from video recordings of 52 of the cows. Data from activity sensors and video recordings were obtained during 24 h on d -6, -3, and -1 relative to the dry-off day (i.e., the day of the last milking). Across all days of observation, cows milked once daily spent more time feeding (149 vs. 130 min/d) than cows milked twice daily. Cows on the reduced diet and milked twice daily had a shorter lying time compared with cows on the normal diet and milked twice (759 vs. 837 min/d), whereas lying times of cows on the remaining 2 treatments were intermediate. Among cows on the lactation diet, reduced milking frequency increased time spent perching (from 11.1 to 28.7 min/d). Cows fed the energy-reduced diet spent more time feeding (154 vs. 124 min/d), showed more attempts to feed from unassigned feed bins (31.7 vs. 15.4 attempts daily), and spent less time using a mechanical brush (6.5 vs. 9.2 min/d) than cows fed the lactation diet. These results show that several aspects of cows' behavior, including main activities such as lying and feeding, but also behaviors of low resilience such as brush use, and to some extent more subtle and complex behaviors such as perching and attempts to feed from unassigned feed bins, are sensitive to management changes typically applied during the days before dry-off. The behavioral effects of the reduced feed energy level support earlier findings suggesting that qualitative feed restriction renders cows hungry. The effects of the reduced milking frequency on behavior were generally less pronounced, but 2 noteworthy interactions between milking frequency and diet were seen. First, cows milked twice daily and fed the energy-reduced diet spent less time lying, which is possibly related to increased energy demand and hunger. Second, cows milked once daily and fed the lactation diet spent more time perching, which may be related to udder discomfort. However, these more complex findings warrant further study. Taken together, the results of this study show that a dry-off procedure involving reduced energy supply induces behavioral changes indicating a higher degree of compromised welfare compared with reduced milking frequency.

An Integrated Methodology for Scenarios Analysis of Low Carbon Technologies Uptake towards a Circular Economy: The Case of Orkney

This study aims to create a comprehensive, holistic approach to evaluate the environmental, energy, and economic impacts of air source heat pump deployment scenarios through: (i) a life cycle assessment of air source heat pumps in Orkney houses, (ii) energy systems optimisation modelling to optimise the performance of an air source heat pump coupled with thermal energy storage tank to reduce use phase related impacts in Orkney, (iii) modelling of Orkney’s domestic building stock to understand the housing condition, and (iv) economic modelling to analyse the life cycle cost of an air source heat pump and potential savings when replacing conventional heating systems. The results show that an 82% reduction in energy supply could be achieved when ambitious energy efficiency improvement measures are adopted in the circular economy scenario. The use phase related emissions could be reduced by 98% when the air source heat pump becomes the only heating technology in Orkney. However, the life cycle-wide approach suggests that strong commitments are required in the manufacturing stage of these technologies through implementing circular principles, such as including the use of secondary materials, eco-design, and reusability of all components. Moreover, total heating costs paid by consumers in Orkney could be reduced by 84% in the circular economy scenario when air source heat pump uptake is coupled with energy efficiency improvement measures, but it requires a £130 million investment to insulate the whole housing stock of Orkney. Future scenarios indicate that decision-making has significant importance on overall results. Therefore, circular economy standards for air source heat pump manufacturing and deployment are crucial to reduce the negative impacts of fuel poverty and reach the net zero target.

The impact of the Russia-Ukrainian war on green energy financing in Europe

The energy crisis started because of the war between Russia and Ukraine and European countries’ imposition of economic sanctions. Russia supplies 40% of gas and 25% of crude oil to most European countries. In retaliation for the sanctions, Russia required the purchase of its gas and oil in its ruble. However, this policy was rejected by European countries, resulting in reduced energy supply as the price of gas and oil rose. European countries are trying to reduce Russia’s energy dependence by looking for environmentally friendly energy alternatives. As the first step, European countries increase the budget for developing environmentally friendly energy. This paper use data from the European Commission (EC), Eurostat, Greenmatch, and the World Bank. The author finds that European countries have increased the budget for developing and using environmentally friendly energy to remove the dependence on gas and oil energy from Russia. European countries believe that environmentally friendly energy can become the primary energy resource in the future.

Resilience assessment of centralized and distributed food systems.

Resilience, defined as the ability of a system to adapt in the presence of a disruptive event, has been of great interest with food systems for some time now. The goal of this research was to build understanding about resilient food systems that will withstand and recover from disruptions in a way that ensures a sufficient supply of food for all. In large, developed countries such as the USA and Canada, the food supply chain relies on a complex web of interconnected systems, such as water and energy systems, and food production and distribution are still very labor-intensive. Thanks to economies of scale and effective use of limited resources, potential cost savings support a push towards a more centralized system. However, distributed systems tend to be more resilient. Although distributed production systems may not be economically justifiable than centralized ones, they may provide a more resilient alternative. This study focused on the supply-side aspects of the food system and the food system's water, energy, and workforce disruptions to be considered for the resilience assessment for the USA, with an example for the state of Texas. After the degree of centralization (DoC) was calculated, the resilience of a food system was measured. Next, the relationship between labor intensity and production of six major food groups was formulated. The example for Texas showed that the decentralization of food systems will improve their resilience in responding to energy and water disruptions. A 40 percent reduction in water supply could decrease the food system performance by 28%. A negative correlation was found between the resilience and DoC for energy disruption scenarios. A 40 percent reduction in energy supply could decrease the food system performance by 34%. In contrast, achieving a more resilient food system in responding to labor shortage supports a push towards a more centralized system the decentralization of food systems can in fact, improve their resilience in responding to disruptions in the energy and water inputs. In contrast, achieving a more resilient food system in responding to labor shortage supports a push towards a more centralized system.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12571-022-01321-9.

Correction to Ultrasmall Nanozymes Isolated within Porous Carbonaceous Frameworks for Synergistic Cancer Therapy: Enhanced Oxidative Damage and Reduced Energy Supply

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVAddition/CorrectionNEXTORIGINAL ARTICLEThis notice is a correctionCorrection to Ultrasmall Nanozymes Isolated within Porous Carbonaceous Frameworks for Synergistic Cancer Therapy: Enhanced Oxidative Damage and Reduced Energy SupplyFangfang CaoFangfang CaoMore by Fangfang Cao, Yan ZhangYan ZhangMore by Yan Zhang, Yuhuan SunYuhuan SunMore by Yuhuan Sun, Zhenzhen WangZhenzhen WangMore by Zhenzhen Wang, Lu ZhangLu ZhangMore by Lu Zhang, Yanyan HuangYanyan HuangMore by Yanyan Huang, Chaoqun LiuChaoqun LiuMore by Chaoqun Liu, Zhen LiuZhen LiuMore by Zhen Liu, Jinsong Ren*Jinsong RenMore by Jinsong Renhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7506-627X, and Xiaogang Qu*Xiaogang QuMore by Xiaogang Quhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2868-3205Cite this: Chem. Mater. 2022, 34, 17, 8087–8088Publication Date (Web):August 19, 2022Publication History Received10 August 2022Published online19 August 2022Published inissue 13 September 2022https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c02461Copyright © 2022 American Chemical SocietyRIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views387Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (3 MB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

Myopathy as a cause of fatigue in long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms: Evidence of skeletal muscle histopathology.

Background and purposeAmong post‐COVID‐19 symptoms, fatigue is reported as one of the most common, even after mild acute infection, and as the cause of fatigue, myopathy diagnosed by electromyography has been proposed in previous reports. This study aimed to explore the histopathological changes in patients with post‐COVID‐19 fatigue.MethodsSixteen patients (mean age = 46 years) with post‐COVID‐19 complaints of fatigue, myalgia, or weakness persisting for up to 14 months were included. In all patients, quantitative electromyography and muscle biopsies analyzed with light and electron microscopy were taken.ResultsMuscle weakness was present in 50% and myopathic electromyography in 75%, and in all patients there were histological changes. Muscle fiber atrophy was found in 38%, and 56% showed indications of fiber regeneration. Mitochondrial changes, comprising loss of cytochrome c oxidase activity, subsarcollemmal accumulation, and/or abnormal cristae, were present in 62%. Inflammation was found in 62%, seen as T lymphocytes and/or muscle fiber human leukocyte antigen ABC expression. In 75%, capillaries were affected, involving basal lamina and cells. In two patients, uncommon amounts of basal lamina were found, not only surrounding muscle fibers but also around nerves and capillaries.ConclusionsThe wide variety of histological changes in this study suggests that skeletal muscles may be a major target of SARS‐CoV‐2, causing muscular post‐COVID‐19 symptoms. The mitochondrial changes, inflammation, and capillary injury in muscle biopsies can cause fatigue in part due to reduced energy supply. Because most patients had mild–moderate acute affection, the new variants that might cause less severe acute disease could still have the ability to cause long‐term myopathy.

Energy absorption and vibration of smart auxetic FG porous curved conical panels resting on the frictional viscoelastic torsional substrate

In recent years, the utilization of various methods to absorb vibration in widely-used structures has gained significant attention to control and reduce the destructive effect of the resonance phenomenon. The increased useful lifetime and reduced maintenance and repair costs are the advantages of vibration absorption. Besides, utilization of energy absorbers is one of the most effective strategies for reducing energy supply costs for different parts of the structure, such as sensors. In this regard, a numerical study is performed in this research to evaluate the energy absorption by vibrations' absorption in a conical three-layered panel located on a viscoelastic substrate. This three-layered panel is composed of three parts: piezoelectric upper layer reinforced with Graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs), auxetic core, and functionally graded material (FGM) porous lower layer. The substrate includes spring element, shear, torsion, and substrate-structure friction factor. Hamilton's principle and energy method have been used to extract the governing equations to model the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) for the presented structure. The Differential Cubature Method (DCM) and the Newmark method have been used to solve the governing equations. Results show that by applying the negative voltage to the sandwich conical panel, the in-plane compression forces and natural frequency are increased, while the maximum dynamic deflection is decreased. Furthermore, increasing the inherent damping coefficient increases the damping decrement. Meanwhile, the nonlinear scattering and increased dispersion concentration of GPLs near the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric layer will increase the frequency and energy absorption. Besides, the increased friction factor of the viscoelastic substrate and sandwich cone leads to more absorption energy.

Optimal Planning of Integrated Energy System Considering Convertibility Index

Nowadays, developing an integrated energy system (IES) is considered as an effective pattern to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy supply costs. This study proposes a new index—convertibility index (CI)—to quantitatively assess the flexibility of the IES regarding the energy conversion processes between different energy flow types. Based on the CI constraint, a planning problem is modeled as a bi-level optimization problem. To solve the proposed bi-level problem, a hybrid genetic algorithm (GA)—MILP algorithm—is developed. A case study is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the total cost of the IES will increase with the CI constraint. For a given case study, the total cost increases by 26.2% when the CI decreases to 0.7 and increases by 3.7% when the CI increases to 1.6. Sensitivity analysis shows that the total numbers and capacities of conversion devices show an overall increasing trend with the increase in the CIs. Meanwhile, the total cost decreases quickly at first and then slightly increases, which, in a whole, shows a “Nike” shape. With different CI constraints, the IES MW per CI ranges from 31.8 to 37.5 MW, and the average cost increase is 2.229 million yuan (2.1%/0.1 CI).