Towards the International Standardization of Carbon Dioxide Capture, Transportation, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Technologies : Current Challenges and Future Directions

We gratefully acknowledge support of the RCGI – Research Centre for Gas Innovation, hosted by the University of São Paulo (USP) and sponsored by FAPESP – São Paulo Research Foundation (2014/50279-4 and 2020/15230-5) and Shell Brasil, and the strategic importance of the support given by ANP (Brazil’s National Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency) through the R&D levy regulation. The present work has been realized with support of CNPq, Conselho Nacional de DesenvolvimentoCientífico e Tecnológico, Brazil.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Impact of fatigue as the primary determinant of functional limitations among patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome: a cross-sectional observational study

OBJECTIVES: To describe self-reported characteristics and symptoms of treatment-seeking patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). To assess the impact of symptoms on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patients' ability to work and undertake activities of daily living. DESIGN: Cross-sectional single-arm service evaluation of real-time user data. SETTING: 31 post-COVID-19 clinics in the UK. PARTICIPANTS: 3754 adults diagnosed with PCS in primary or secondary care deemed suitable for rehabilitation. INTERVENTION: Patients using the Living With Covid Recovery digital health intervention registered between 30 November 2020 and 23 March 2022. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the baseline Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). WSAS measures the functional limitations of the patient; scores of ≥20 indicate moderately severe limitations. Other symptoms explored included fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-Eight Item Depression Scale), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale, Seven-Item), breathlessness (Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale and Dyspnoea-12), cognitive impairment (Perceived Deficits Questionnaire, Five-Item Version) and HRQoL (EQ-5D). Symptoms and demographic characteristics associated with more severe functional limitations were identified using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 3541 (94%) patients were of working age (18-65); mean age (SD) 48 (12) years; 1282 (71%) were female and 89% were white. 51% reported losing ≥1 days from work in the previous 4 weeks; 20% reported being unable to work at all. Mean WSAS score at baseline was 21 (SD 10) with 53% scoring ≥20. Factors associated with WSAS scores of ≥20 were high levels of fatigue, depression and cognitive impairment. Fatigue was found to be the main symptom contributing to a high WSAS score. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of this PCS treatment-seeking population was of working age with over half reporting moderately severe or worse functional limitation. There were substantial impacts on ability to work and activities of daily living in people with PCS. Clinical care and rehabilitation should address the management of fatigue as the dominant symptom explaining variation in functionality

Diurnal Changes in the Transcriptome Encoding Enzymes of Starch Metabolism Provide Evidence for Both Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Regulation of Starch Metabolism in Arabidopsis Leaves

To gain insight into the synthesis and functions of enzymes of starch metabolism in leaves of Arabidopsis L. Heynth, Affymetrix microarrays were used to analyze the transcriptome throughout the diurnal cycle. Under the conditions employed, transitory leaf starch is degraded progressively during a 12-h dark period, and then accumulates during the following 12-h light period. Transcripts encoding enzymes of starch synthesis changed relatively little in amount over 24 h except for two starch synthases, granule bound starch synthase and starch synthase II, which increased appreciably during the transition from dark to light. The increase in RNA encoding granule-bound starch synthase may reflect the extensive destruction of starch granules in the dark. Transcripts encoding several enzymes putatively involved in starch breakdown showed a coordinated decline in the dark followed by rapid accumulation in the light. Despite marked changes in their transcript levels, the amounts of some enzymes of starch metabolism do not change appreciably through the diurnal cycle. Posttranscriptional regulation is essential in the maintenance of amounts of enzymes and the control of their activities in vivo. Even though the relationships between transcript levels, enzyme activity, and diurnal metabolism of starch metabolism are complex, the presence of some distinctive diurnal patterns of transcripts for enzymes known to be involved in starch metabolism facilitates the identification of other proteins that may participate in this process

Abstract TP49: State of the Florida Stroke Coordinator: Hospital Inventory Survey Insights

Abstract only Background: Stroke coordinators (SC’s) are essential leaders of certified stroke centers which facilitate evidence-based stroke care, improving patient outcomes. Although this role has existed since the 1970’s, significant variability of responsibilities and staffing exists. Evidence based recommendations for SC staffing are scarce. Purpose: Utilizing the 2023 Florida Stroke Registry Hospital Inventory Survey (HIS), we describe current SC roles, responsibilities, and challenges in Florida. Methods: The Florida Stroke Registry (FSR), with state funding, tracks and measures Florida’s stroke center performance. FSR recently deployed the FSR HIS, a ten-part questionnaire examining various aspects of stroke program infrastructure. The survey was disseminated to 171 sites with 38 responses in the first wave. This is preliminary data from an HIS section focusing on SC staffing, workload, resources, and perceived challenges. Results: Responding sites all report a designated SC. Figure 1 describes SC’s Status (full vs. part-time), onboarding, and resources. Of note, only 35% of SC’s manage stroke full-time at a single site, SC turnover rate is high with 63% in the role <4 yrs. Stroke coordinators abstract for multiple databases, even with data abstractor support. In free-text responses, 58% (19/33) of SC’s cited lack of time and/or corporate structure for adequate program management as the biggest challenges in their role. Discussion: The preliminary study highlights significant challenges with high SC turnover, heavy workloads, and insufficient support. Stroke programs lack clear recommendations from certifying bodies for program personnel based on program volume. Future directions of FSR HIS include conducting additional dissemination waves, and an analysis of optimal stroke program staffing by cross-referencing certification level, patient volume and SC resources

Supplemental Figure 1 from SIX4 Controls Anti-PD-1 Efficacy by Regulating STING Expression

Supplemental Figure 1 shows the quantification of western blots shown in Figure 1A and 1B.</p

Supplemental Figure 2 from SIX4 Controls Anti-PD-1 Efficacy by Regulating STING Expression

Supplemental Figure 2 shows the quantification of western blots shown in Figure 2A and 2B.</p

FIGURE 2 from SIX4 Controls Anti-PD-1 Efficacy by Regulating STING Expression

SIX4 modulates STING activation in colon cancer cells. A, MC38 SIX4 knockout cells and those with SIX4- or STING-reexpressing cells were treated with 10 µg/mL of DMXAA for 6 hours. Western blot analysis was performed to examine expression and phosphorylation of STING and TBK1 and ISG15 expression (left). IFNβ and CXCL10 mRNA expression was determined by Q-PCR analysis (right). B, CT26 control and SIX-overexpressing cells were treated with 10 µg/mL of DMXAA for 6 hours. Western blot analysis was performed to examine expression and phosphorylation of STING and TBK1 and ISG15 expression (left). IFNβ and CXCL10 mRNA expression was determined by Q-PCR analysis (right). The control and SIX4-overexpressing HT29 (C) and TENN (D) cells were transfected with 10 µg/mL of cGAMP. Cells were harvested for protein and RNA isolation. Western blot analysis was performed to examine expression and phosphorylation of STING, TBK1 and STAT1 and ISG15 expression (left). IFNβ and CXCL10 mRNA expression was determined by Q-PCR analysis (right). Results are shown as mean ± SD. *, P P P P < 0.0001.</p

FIGURE 1 from SIX4 Controls Anti-PD-1 Efficacy by Regulating STING Expression

SIX4 regulates expression of STING mRNA and protein. A, SIX4 expression was knocked out in MC38 cells by two gRNAs (gRNA2 and gRNA3). An empty vector (V) or SIX4-expressing vector (SIX4) was introduced into SIX4 knockout cells. Depletion of SIX4 significantly reduced STING expression and reexpression of SIX4 rescued STING expression at mRNA and protein levels determined by Western blot (top) and Q-PCR (bottom) analysis, respectively. B, SIX4 was ectopically expressed in CT26, HT29, and TENN cells, which led to increased expression of STING mRNA and protein. Results are shown as mean ± SD. *, P P P < 0.001.</p

FIGURE 4 from SIX4 Controls Anti-PD-1 Efficacy by Regulating STING Expression

SIX4 expression is positively associated with inflammatory response in colon cancer patient specimens. A, GSEA plots of enrichment in the Inflammatory Response signatures from MsigDB in colon cancer patient samples from TCGA stratified by SIX4 expression. B, Correlation between SIX4 and STING or IFN marker gene expression in colon cancer patient samples from TCGA. C, Correlation between SIX4 and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine expression in colon cancer patient samples from TCGA. D, Correlation between SIX4 and CD8A expression in colon cancer patient samples from TCGA.</p

Supplemental Figure 4 from SIX4 Controls Anti-PD-1 Efficacy by Regulating STING Expression

Supplemental Figure 4 shows the quantification of western blots shown in Figure 2D.</p