New analytical approach revolutionizes reliability evaluation of power systems with renewable energy

Higher Education Press

 

image: 

s1, s2, …, s2N: contingencies; fLS(s1), fLS(s2), …, fLS(s2N): the load shedding of contingencies s1, s2, …, s2N; fLS(s): the load shedding of the contingency s; CT: the weight of the load at each node; Pd: the load demand; LOLP: the loss of load probability; EDNS: expected demand not supplied.

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Credit: Longxun Xu et al.

In a recent study published in Engineering, a team of researchers led by Bo Hu and Changzheng Shao from Chongqing University in China has introduced a novel method for evaluating the real-time dynamic reliability of composite power systems integrated with renewable energy sources (RES). The research addresses the challenges posed by the uncertainties associated with RES, which have been a significant obstacle in ensuring the stable and reliable operation of power grids.

The increasing integration of RES, such as wind and solar power, into the power grid has brought about concerns regarding power imbalance and load shedding due to their inherent uncertainties. The new approach aims to provide a more accurate and timely assessment of the operational reliability of power systems, thereby guiding economic dispatch and reducing risks.

The proposed method consists of two key components: a uniform design (UD)-based contingency screening and a modified stochastic response surface method (mSRSM). The contingency screening technique is designed to identify critical contingencies while considering the uncertainties associated with RES and load variations. By reducing the number of contingencies that need to be analyzed, the computational complexity of the reliability evaluation is significantly decreased.

The mSRSM, on the other hand, is used to construct analytical functions that map the load shedding to the load and RES generation for the selected contingencies. This allows for a more efficient assessment of reliability when the load and RES change, eliminating the need for laborious optimal power flow (OPF) calculations.

The research team validated their approach through case studies on three power systems: the Roy Billinton Test System (RBTS), the Reliability Test System (RTS)-79, and the RST-96. The results demonstrated that the proposed method not only exhibited high accuracy in predicting reliability indices such as the loss of load probability (LOLP) and the expected demand not supplied (EDNS), but also significantly reduced the computational time compared to traditional methods.

This research represents a significant step forward in the field of power system reliability evaluation. By providing a more accurate and efficient means of assessing the reliability of power systems with RES, the new approach could have far-reaching implications for the future development and operation of sustainable power grids. It offers a practical solution for power system operators to better manage the uncertainties associated with renewable energy integration and ensure the reliable supply of electricity to consumers.

The paper “A Fully Analytical Approach for the Real-Time Dynamic Reliability Evaluation of Composite Power Systems with Renewable Energy Sources,” authored by Longxun Xu, Bo Hu, Changzheng Shao, Kaigui Xie, Congcong Pan, Heng-Ming Tai, Wenyuan Li. Full text of the open access paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2024.09.023. For more information about the Engineering, follow us on X (https://twitter.com/EngineeringJrnl) & like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EngineeringJrnl).

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Journal

Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.eng.2024.09.023 

Article Title

A Fully Analytical Approach for the Real-Time Dynamic Reliability Evaluation of Composite Power Systems with Renewable Energy Sources

New advances in optimization scheduling of industrial park energy systems with hybrid energy storage

Higher Education Press

 

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(a) IPES-HES; (b) reference system. Egrid: electricity of purchase or sales in a IPES-HES; PPV: power generation of PVs; Pbat: power of lithium batteries; PP2C: electricity power of P2Cs; PDPC: electric power for the DPC; PP2H: electricity power of P2Hs; CCWS,ch: charging power of CWSs; CCWS,dis: discharging power of CWSs; CDPC: cooling supply of the DPC; Cuser: cooling load of industrial park users; Euser: electric load of industrial park; Quser: heating load of industrial park users; QDPC: heating supply of the DPC; QTST,dis: discharging thermal power of TSTs; QTST,ch: charging thermal power of TSTs.

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Credit: Jiacheng Guo et al.

Industrial parks play a crucial role in China’s pursuit of carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. However, their current energy systems face issues such as high energy consumption and large carbon emissions. A recent study published in Engineering focuses on optimizing the energy systems of industrial parks with hybrid energy storage to enhance economic performance, reliability, and carbon reduction.

The study points out that while renewable energy is a key to low-carbon operations in industrial parks, its intermittency and the unpredictable load demands pose challenges. Existing energy storage technologies have limitations, and most optimization research on hybrid energy storage has relied on rule-based passive-control principles.

To address these gaps, the research team developed a detailed model for the industrial park energy system with hybrid energy storage (IPES-HES), considering the operational characteristics of various energy devices. They proposed an active operation strategy that uses the hourly power output of energy storage for the next day as decision variables. An optimization configuration model was formulated with the goals of cost reduction and carbon emission lowering, solved using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). A day-ahead nonlinear optimization scheduling method was also developed based on configuration optimization.

The findings are significant. On a typical summer day, the system energy bill and peak power of the IPES-HES under the optimization-based operational strategy were reduced by 181.4 USD (5.5%) and 1600.3 kW (43.7%) respectively, compared to an operation strategy based on proportional electricity storage.

The researchers plan to further investigate integrating load flexibility into the IPES-HES to improve renewable energy utilization. This study provides important theoretical support and practical guidance for optimizing the energy systems of industrial parks and is expected to have broad applications in the field.

The paper “Day-Ahead Nonlinear Optimization Scheduling for Industrial Park Energy Systems with Hybrid Energy Storage,” authored by Jiacheng Guo, Yimo Luo, Bin Zou, Jinqing Peng. Full text of the open access paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2024.10.006. For more information about the Engineering, follow us on X (https://twitter.com/EngineeringJrnl) & like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EngineeringJrnl).

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Journal

Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.eng.2024.10.006 

Article Title

Day-Ahead Nonlinear Optimization Scheduling for Industrial Park Energy Systems with Hybrid Energy Storage

 

Mapping carbon emissions: The role of territorial dynamics in China

IGSNRR CAS

 

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Theoretical framework of research on the impact of MFOZ on CO2 emissions.

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Credit: Journal of Geographical Sciences

In a pivotal study, scientists have unveiled the intricate relationship between China's territorial functions and its CO2 emissions, offering a fresh perspective on the environmental implications of regional development. This research provides critical insights into the spatial distribution of carbon emissions, essential for crafting sustainable environmental policies and achieving China's ambitious climate goals.

China's meteoric economic rise has been accompanied by a significant increase in CO2 emissions. However, the spatial dynamics of these emissions and their connection to the country's territorial functions have remained largely uncharted. This gap in our understanding hampers the development of effective, geographically tailored emission reduction strategies. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to delve into how territorial functions determines the patterns of CO2 emissions within China.

Researchers from the Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, in conjunction with the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, have published a pivotal paper (DOI: 10.1007/s11442-024-2266-3) in the Journal of Geographical Sciences. Released on September 17, 2024, the study scrutinizes the effects of three fundamental functional territories on CO2 emission patterns in China from 2000 to 2017, introducing a spatial dimension-based analysis that could revolutionize our approach to emissions management.

This research meticulously analyzes China's CO2 emissions, revealing a stable and significant correlation between emission patterns and the designated roles of urbanization, food security, and ecological zones. The study discovered that these zones maintained a consistent CO2 emission ratio over the years, underlining their distinct contributions to the country's total carbon footprint. A remarkable finding is the higher-than-average CO2 emissions in food and ecological security zones adjacent to urban areas, indicating a spatial spillover effect where emissions from more regulated zones migrate to less regulated ones. This insight is crucial for understanding the broader implications of localized emission control policies and suggests that a more integrated, spatially aware approach is necessary to address China's carbon emissions effectively.

Dr. Fan Jie, lead author and professor specialized in regional development and planning, states, "Our research provides a novel spatial perspective on CO2 emissions, which is vital for formulating targeted and effective carbon reduction policies. Understanding the spatial dimension of emissions is key to achieving China's carbon neutrality goals."

The study's findings have profound implications for policy-making, offering a scientific basis for inter-zone cooperation and classified management of carbon emissions. This Study supports the development of long-term prediction models for CO2 emissions from a spatial dimension, aiding in the achievement of carbon peaking and neutrality objectives in China. This research paves the way for more nuanced climate policies that consider the unique roles of different territorial functions in the country's emission landscape, potentially influencing global strategies for combating climate change.

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References

DOI

10.1007/s11442-024-2266-3

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-024-2266-3

Funding information

National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.42230510.

About Journal of Geographical Sciences

Journal of Geographical Sciences is an international and multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal focusing on human-nature relationships. It publishes papers on physical geography, natural resources, environmental sciences, geographic information, remote sensing and cartography. Manuscripts come from different parts of the world.

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Journal

Journal of Geographical Sciences

DOI

10.1007/s11442-024-2266-3 

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

How territorial function determines CO2 emissions in China: An approach of spatial dimension

 U$A

New grant to UMD School of Public Health will uncover “ghost networks” in Medicare plans

Study will root out disparities between provider networks advertised in Medicare Advantage plans and the difficulty of accessing providers in reality

University of Maryland

 

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Dr. Mika Hamer is a health services researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management. 

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Credit: UMD

COLLEGE PARK, Md. –  Dr. Mika Hamer is about to go ghost hunting. Thanks to a $100K grant from the Robert Johnson Wood Foundation (RWJF), the University of Maryland School of Public Health researcher aims to uncover the extent of so-called “ghost networks” in Medicare Advantage health insurance plans. 

A “ghost network” describes the difference between advertised in-network healthcare providers for a given insurance plan and the providers who are in fact available to deliver care to patients enrolled in those plans – meaning a patient has more options on paper than in reality. In 2024, Medicare Advantage provided health insurance for upwards of 33 million Americans over 64 years old, over half of all Medicare clients in the country, according to KFF.  

“We want patients on Medicare Advantage plans to know their true options. By learning how big these ghost networks are, why they exist and who they affect most, we will then be able to offer practical policy solutions to help,” said Hamer, an assistant professor in the SPH Department of Health Policy and Management. “We already know that accessing healthcare and finding doctors who are accepting new patients is a problem. This study will pinpoint exactly where and how many ghost networks exist in Medicare Advantage, and who is most affected by larger ghost networks.”

 

Hamer’s research will focus on patients’ healthcare access, quality and equity with regard to Medicare Advantage plans, and will examine nationwide Medicare Advantage enrollment and visit data and provider network data from 2017 to 2021. Her funding, RWJF’s Health Data for Action program, has enabled researchers access to health data that is often otherwise cost prohibitive. Beyond identifying the ghost networks, the study will also examine geographic locations, race, sex, ethnicity, age and other factors of people participating in plans with ghost networks. 

“We are thrilled to be working with Dr. Hamer and UMD School of Public Health to make valuable data available to this important research around ghost networks in Medicare Advantage. This study is poised to contribute actionable evidence to advance quality and access to care for Medicare Advantage enrollees,” said Megan Collado, senior director at AcademyHealth, the organization that manages the RWJF Health Data for Action program. 

This work was supported by a grant (#82516) from the Robert Johnson Wood Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation. To request an interview with Dr. Hamer, please reach out to sph-comm@umd.edu. 

***

The University of Maryland School of Public Health empowers  the next generation of public health professionals to lead in achieving optimal and equitable physical, social, and mental health and well-being for all. Established in 2007 at one of the nation’s leading research institutions, our School has more than 30 academic programs —including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs, in-person and online options – and specialties from global health to family health, kinesiology to epidemiology to health policy, and so much more. At the UMD School of Public Health, we cultivate  an educational experience that prepares students to make a positive difference in the world.

 

Too much screen time can reduce sleep quality in preschool-age children, making behavioral problems worse

Taylor & Francis Group

Excessive screen use by preschool-age children can lead to reduced sleep quality, exacerbating problems such as poor attention, hyperactivity and unstable mood, a new study suggests.

Peer-reviewed findings published in Early Child Development and Care show how screen time is “significantly” correlated with increased hyperactive attention problems and emotional symptoms, and with decreased sleep quality.

Additionally, the research – carried out by experts in China and Canada – demonstrates how sleep quality is also extensively correlated with decreased hyperactive attention problems, emotional symptoms and peer problems.

The findings suggest that sleep quality partially mediates the associations between screen time and hyperactive attention problems, and between screen time and emotional symptoms.

“Our results indicate that excessive screen time can leave the brains of preschool children in an excited state, leading to poor sleep quality and duration,” says corresponding author Professor Yan Li, an expert in preschool education from Shanghai Normal University.

“This poor sleep may be due to postponed bedtimes caused by screen viewing and the disruption of sleep patterns due to overstimulation and blue-light exposure. Screen use might also displace time that could have been spent sleeping and increase levels of physiological and psychological arousal, leading to difficulties in falling asleep,” adds lead author Shujin Zhou, a doctor of psychology, from Shanghai Normal University.

In generating the results, Dr Zhou and colleagues surveyed the mothers of 571 preschool children, aged between three and six years old, in seven public kindergartens in Shanghai, China.

The mothers reported the amount of time their child spent watching electronic screens (TV, smartphones, computers or other devices) each day during the previous week. They then answered questions to assess any behavioural problems their child might have, including: hyperactive attention difficulties, emotional symptoms such as frequent complaints of feeling unwell, and peer problems such as being lonely or preferring to play alone. Finally, the mothers responded to questions assessing their child’s sleep quality and duration.

“Our results suggest the presence of a positive feedback loop, wherein increased screen time and sleep disturbances exacerbate each other through cyclic reinforcement, heightening the risk of hyperactive attention problems, anxiety and depression,” adds co-author Dr Bowen Xiao, an expert in children’s socio-emotional functioning and developmental psychopathology, at the Department of Psychology, Carleton University in Canada.

The author team, which also includes professionals from Shenzhen Xili Kindergarten, suggest their findings could help toward future treatments and interventions.

“Understanding the role of screen use in the lived experiences of preschool-age children and its link to behavioural problems during the Covid-19 pandemic is crucial,” says Dr Zhou.

“The implications of our study are two-fold: first, controlling screen use in preschool-age children can help alleviate behavioural problems and poor sleep quality, and second, sleep interventions and treatments can be effective in mitigating the adverse effects of screen time on behavioural issues.”

However, the study does have several limitations – these include the fact that all data from the mothers “cannot exclude the biases from subjective perspective”.

The researchers suggest, to mitigate this, future studies should monitor sleep quality via scientific instruments.

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Journal

Early Child Development and Care

DOI

10.1080/03004430.2024.2393413 

Article Title

Screen time and behavioral problems among preschool children: unveiling the mediating effect of sleep quality

 

Screen time is a poor predictor of suicide risk, Rutgers researchers find

Encouraging positive social media interactions would be a more effective strategy for promoting emotional well-being and reducing suicidal ideation

Rutgers University

For parents trying to shield their children from online threats, limiting screen time is a common tactic. Less time scrolling, the rationale goes, means less exposure to the psychological dangers posed by social media. 

But research from Rutgers University-New Brunswick upends this assumption. Writing in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Jessica L. Hamilton, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the School of Arts and Sciences, reports that screen time has no effect on whether adolescents contemplated suicidal thoughts.   

Instead, it’s the content they engage with and the experiences they have that makes all the difference. 

“The amount of time a teenager spends on social media appears to be a poor predictor of suicidal ideation,” Hamilton said. “Given that, we should be paying more attention to how social media makes users feel.” 

Hamilton said that given these findings, parents, policymakers and technology companies should rethink their approaches to keeping kids safe online. For instance, parents can have conversations about how their teenager experiences social media, while lawmakers and policymakers should work to enhance features that promote connectedness. 

“Social media is how teens socialize, and being without social media can mean missing out on positive experiences, like connecting with friends and peers, which actually protected against having suicidal thoughts” she said. 

To assess how positive and negative social media experiences affect suicidal thoughts, Hamilton and colleagues developed a study to capture individual use patterns and emotional responses.  

Sixty high schoolers 14 to 17 years of age were recruited nationwide. Over an eight-week period, participants completed surveys three times a day about their emotional responses to content and whether they had suicidal thoughts, and weekly surveys of how much time they spent on social media. 

Examples of positive social media experiences included content that left respondents feeling supported, inspired and encouraged – such as an uplifting message or comment to a post. Conversely, negative content – cyberbullying, for instance – generated feelings of sadness, exclusion or inadequacy.  

On days when teens reported more frequent negative social media experiences, they were more likely to report suicidal ideation, while more positive social media experiences were associated with a lower likelihood of having suicidal ideation. There were no measurable effects of screen time on suicidal thoughts. 

“Our results highlight that targeting negative social media experiences and augmenting the positive experiences on social media may be critical targets to improve teens’ mental health and prevent suicide, rather than focusing on limiting social media screen time,” the researchers wrote.  

The findings are important for several reasons. First, the study model collected data at the individual level, which enabled mapping of personal social media habits and sentiment. Most research into social media as a risk factor for suicidal ideation tends to focus on large datasets that can only capture macro trends at the population level. 

Second, the findings highlight the less-discussed role that positive social media experiences have on teen well-being. 

“We need to move beyond social media screen time as the answer if we want to reduce teen suicide risk and promote their mental health,” Hamilton said.  

The research is part of a larger study, the PLUS-2 project – Pathways Linking Use of Social Media to Teen Outcomes – which is studying the relationship between social media, sleep and suicide risk. PLUS-2 began at Rutgers in 2022 with a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. Other studies in the series include an analysis of smartphone use tracking apps, and suicide risks for teens of color following exposure to racism, bullying or harassment on social media. 

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Journal

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

DOI

10.1111/jcpp.13996 

U-M study of COVID-19 deaths challenges claims, understanding of pandemic-era suicides

Narratives behind numbers point to need for better coordination, support by employers, communities, public health leaders in future crises, especially mental health

University of Michigan

In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, University of Michigan researchers dug deeper into the numbers-only data of COVID-19-era suicides and evaluated the narratives contained in reports from coroners, medical examiners, police and vital statistics.

 

The researchers sought to understand how the crisis influenced suicide deaths in the first year of the pandemic, how the response by governments, employers and others influenced individuals, and if their handling could inform future public health responses.

 

"Our study adds much-needed context and meaning to the data that have assumed the deaths are linked to the pandemic strictly because of when they occurred," said Briana Mezuk, professor of epidemiology at U-M's School of Public Health and its Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health. 

 

"We felt it was important to delve into the narratives of these deaths, rather than using numbers alone, to learn what roles the pandemic and the public health response to the pandemic might have played in these lost lives."

 

In looking at the deaths of individuals 10 years old and above, the researchers found that 6.8% of suicide deaths in 2020, representing 2,502 cases, described an aspect of the pandemic, and 20% had no known circumstances described in death reports.

 

"Although many individuals experienced heightened emotional distress during that time, and some had feared this would lead to greater suicide mortality in 2020, no overall increase materialized in most countries, including the U.S.," said Kara Zivin, professor of psychiatry at Michigan Medicine and professor of health management and policy at the School of Public Health. 

 

The study appeared in the PLoS One, Public Library for Science One, and was a collaboration between the School of Public Health, Department of Psychiatry in U-M's Medical School, School of Information and Institute for Social Research Population Studies Center.

 

"Scientific studies have just begun to explore this data and the consequences of the pandemic using rigorous scientific studies, including population mental health," said Mezuk, who is also co-director of Eisenberg Family Depression Center Data and Design Core. 

 

"These narratives often contain information regarding circumstances in the decedent's life that are salient to their death, including psychosocial factors such as recent difficulties in relationships, work or school, as well as mental and physical problems."

 

In looking at the narratives, the researchers found that the reasons behind the suicides are complex and that mental health may have been overlooked as the crisis unfolded.

 

"We were able to describe a variety of pandemic-related circumstances that were present in the lives of suicide decedents at the time of their deaths," Zivin said. "Although our study confirms prior work that the COVID-19 pandemic did not lead to an excess in suicide mortality in 2020, that does not mean that the pandemic wasn't related, in some way, to the deaths that did occur that year."

 

To unwind stories behind the deaths, the researchers used the CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System, which compiles death reports and vital statistics and uses that information to write text narratives that describe the circumstances in the person's life at the time of their death. 

 

The registry fills an information gap in suicide mortality research, which typically has little access to information behind the numbers. The registry does not identify individuals by name or include details that would reveal identities. A time-series analyses examine how the timing of suicide deaths, over the calendar year, differed in 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic period.

 

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.

 

As the fifth anniversary of the official beginning of the pandemic in the U.S. approaches, Mezuk said she realizes that COVID fatigue may have caused the public to tune out.

 

"Maybe everyone has moved past COVID in some ways, myself included, but we still have much more to learn, especially to know what to do differently in times of future public health crises," she said. "What we learned signals a need for empathetic public health.

 

"What happened in 2020, people being told you can't go outside, you can't see people outside your home, you can't work for some. We have no precedent in living memory for this situation and how it affected people. What we do with that now and going forward is important. I hope our study can help contextualize suicide mortality during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and inform mental health promotion efforts during future public health emergencies."

Study: Psychosocial and pandemic-related circumstances of suicide deaths in 2020: Evidence from the National Violent Death Reporting System

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Journal

PLOS ONE

 

New insights into brain mechanisms underlying empathy

A research team from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia has uncovered a key brain mechanism that modulates how animals react to others’ emotions

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT

 

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CRF-producing neurons in the prefrontal cortex observed under a fluorescence microscope.

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Credit: IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia

Genova (Italy), 12th December 2024 – A specific brain mechanism modulates how animals respond empathetically to others’ emotions. This is the latest finding from the research unit Genetics of Cognition, led by Francesco Papaleo, Principal Investigator at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT - Italian Institute of Technology) and affiliated with IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino in Genova. The study, recently published in Nature Neuroscience, provides new insights into psychiatric conditions where this socio-cognitive skill is impaired, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, and schizophrenia.

Psychological studies have shown that the way humans respond to others’ emotions is strongly influenced by their own past emotional experiences. When a similar emotional situation—such as a past stressful event—is observed in another person, we can react in two different ways. On one hand, it may generate empathy, enhancing the ability to understand others’ problems and increasing sensitivity to others altered emotions. On the other hand, it may induce self-distress resulting into an avoidance towards others.

The research group at IIT has demonstrated that a similar phenomenon also occurs in animals: recalling a negative experience strongly influences how an individual responds to another who is experiencing that same altered emotional state. More specifically, animals exhibit different reactions only if the negative event they experienced in the past is identical to the one they observe in others. This indicates that even animals can specifically recognize an emotional state and react accordingly even without directly seeing the triggering stimuli.

Although the ability to respond to others’ emotions has profound impact in our everyday life and this is evolutionary conserved between humans and animals, the brain mechanisms that modulate its expression remain unclear.

Papaleo’s group has identified the crucial role of the prefrontal cortex in these socio-cognitive processes. They conducted preclinical tests and employed advanced techniques to study the brain mechanisms underlying emphatic-related behaviors. Their findings reveal that a specific group of cells is a key modulator of emotional reactions to others based on emotional self-experience. These neurons produce corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a molecule involved in the stress-response mechanism, and according to IIT researchers, they function as a sort of emotional memory, influencing reactions to socio-emotional stimuli.

“Understanding these brain mechanisms with such precision could help clarify many aspects of human reactions to others' emotions," said Francesco Papaleo, coordinator of the Genetics of Cognition unit at IIT. "For example, why, based on past emotional experience, some people tend to avoid others in stress, while others are more prone to help."

"Moreover, identifying the specific brain mechanisms involved in modulating empathetic responses," added Federica Maltese, first author of the study and currently a researcher at National Research Center (CNR) in Milan, "could aid clinical research in developing new targeted therapies aimed at improving the altered emotional responses observed in various psychiatric conditions.”

 

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Journal

Nature Neuroscience

DOI

10.1038/s41593-024-01816-y 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Self-experience of a negative event alters responses to others in similar states through prefrontal cortex CRF mechanisms

Article Publication Date

 

Long-term exposure to air pollution linked to blood clots in veins that bring blood to the heart

An observational study of more than 6,500 adults is one of the most detailed in the U.S.

NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

WHAT: A large study found that greater exposure to long-term air pollution was linked with increased risks for blood clots that can occur in deep veins, which, if untreated, can block blood flow and cause serious complications, even death.

 

These findings came from a longitudinal study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that included 6,651 U.S. adults who were followed for an average of 17 years between 2000 and 2018. Participants lived in or near one of six major metropolitan areas: New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Throughout the study, 248 adults, 3.7% of the study sample, developed blood clots in deep veins that required hospital care. The likelihood of this outcome was linked to anywhere from a 39% to a more than two-fold increased risk based on long-term exposure to three different types of air pollutants.

 

Blood clots in deep veins, collectively known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), include deep vein thrombosis, which occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the legs, arms, or an internal organ, and pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a blood clot breaks off from a deep vein and travels to the lungs.

 

Exposure to air pollution, which can set the stage for inflammation and contribute to blood clotting, has long been associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. While previous research has also suggested a link to VTE, this is the largest, most comprehensive U.S. study to report that association with three different types of air pollutants.

 

This included exposure to tiny air pollution particles equal to or less than 2.5 micrometers, which can be inhaled from a variety of sources, including smoke from coal-burning power plants, forest fires, and motor vehicle exhaust. Participants with greater overall exposure to this type of air pollution had a 39% increased associated risk for VTE compared to people exposed to lower levels. People with increased exposure to oxides of nitrogen and nitrogen dioxide, pollutants most often found from vehicle exhaust, had a respective 121% to 174% increased risk.

To reach these findings, the researchers analyzed the relationship between patients hospitalized for VTE and levels of air pollution collected through extensive biweekly community-level monitoring — including samples taken from the homes of participants. They then compared those with the highest exposure levels — the top 75% — to those with the lowest exposure — the bottom 25%. They also conducted multiple analyses to control for variables associated with VTE, such as age, exposure to tobacco, and underlying respiratory and other health conditions.

 

VTE affects up to 900,000 Americans each year. Many cases occur after surgery, but other factors, including age, long periods of inactivity, heart disease, pregnancy, and genetics, can increase risks.

The research, which is part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), was funded by contracts and grants from NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

 

WHO: Courtney Thornburg, M.D., a chief medical research officer at NHLBI, and the researchers are available to discuss these study findings.

Study: Lutsey P, Misialek J, Young M, et al. Air pollution is associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Blood. 2024; doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2024026399. 
 

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About the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): NHLBI is the global leader in conducting and supporting research in heart, lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders that advances scientific knowledge, improves public health, and saves lives. For more information, visit https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.            
                

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit https://www.nih.gov/.                

 

                                                    NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health

 

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Journal

Blood

Article Title

Air pollution is associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Article Publication Date

12-Dec-2024