bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential of finite element method to optimize the olive harvester machine (hand‐held rotary harvester)
Authors: Rashvand Mahdi , Altieri Giuseppe , Genovese Francesco , Matera Attilio , Mammadov Orkhan , li Zhiguo , Di Renzo Giovanni Carlo
Published: December 2022

The mechanical damage of olive caused by harvesting machines is one of the main reasons for the quality reduction of produced olive oil. The hand‐held rotary harvester (RH) is a machine that is used in small orchards extensively. The present paper focuses on utilizing the finite element method (FEM) to define the percentage of bruising damage by RH with two different materials of the head component (Ethylene Propylene Rubber and Neoprene). Three cultivars, ripening stage, and rotational speeds of RH head components were considered for experimental and simulation methods. The controlled impactor device was developed to validate the simulation process. The simulation and experimental results showed the Ethylene Propylene Rubber head produced less stress and bruise volume than the Neoprene head. Moreover, the quality characteristics of extracted olive oil, including free fatty acid, peroxide value, K232 and K270 coefficients, total chlorophyll, total carotenoid, total phenol, and total flavonoid were measured. Finally, the correlation of quality characteristics of olive oil, measured bruise volume and simulated was investigated using linear model and principal components analysis.

Practical applications

Despite the advancement of horticulture industries, the demand for optimization of agricultural machinery to decrease mechanical damage during the harvest process exists. The hand‐held olive harvester causes the bruise phenomenon reduction, leading to decrease quality of extracted olive oil. In this research, the time‐dependent finite element method based on dynamic‐explicit was utilized to simulate the harvest process. The results show that using the numerical and statistical methods, the producer factories of olive harvester machines can optimize the devices to enhance the quality of harvested olive and extracted olive oil.
Dual impacts of Medicare payment reform and the COVID‐19 pandemic on therapy staffing in skilled nursing facilities
Authors: Prusynski Rachel A. , Humbert Andrew , Leland Natalie E. , Frogner Bianca K. , Saliba Debra , Mroz Tracy M.
Published: December 2022

Background

Implementation of new skilled nursing facility (SNF) Medicare payment policy, the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), resulted in immediate declines in physical and occupational therapy staffing. This study characterizes continuing impacts of PDPM in conjunction with COVID‐19 on SNF therapy staffing and examines variability in staffing changes based on SNF organizational characteristics.

Methods

We analyzed Medicare administrative data from a national cohort of SNFs between January 2019 and March 2022. Interrupted time series mixed effects regression examined changes in level and trend of total therapy staffing minutes/patient‐day during PDPM and COVID‐19 and by type of staff (therapists, assistants, contractors, and in‐house staff). Secondary analyses examined the variability in staffing by organizational characteristics.

Results

PDPM resulted in a −6.54% level change in total therapy staffing, with larger declines for assistants and contractors. Per‐patient staffing fluctuated during COVID‐19 as the census changed. PDPM‐related staffing declines were larger in SNFs that were: Rural, for‐profit, chain‐affiliated, provided more intensive therapy, employed more therapy assistants, and admitted more Medicare patients before PDPM. COVID‐19 resulted in larger staffing declines in rural SNFs but smaller early declines in SNFs that were hospital‐based, for‐profit, or received more relief funding.

Conclusions

SNFs that historically engaged in profit‐maximizing behaviors (e.g., providing more therapy via lower‐paid assistants) had larger staffing declines during PDPM compared to other SNFs. Therapy staffing fluctuated during COVID‐19, but PDPM‐related reductions persisted 2 years into the pandemic, especially in rural SNFs. Results suggest specific organizational characteristics that should be targeted for staffing and quality improvement initiatives.
“Been there, done that:” A grounded theory of future caregiver preparedness in former caregivers of parents living with dementia
Authors: Mroz Emily L. , Piechota Amanda , Ali Talha , Matta‐Singh Tara D. , Abboud Anissa , Sharma Shubam , White Marney A. , Fried Terri R. , Monin Joan K.
Published: December 2022

Background

Family caregivers offer essential support to persons living with dementia (PLWD). Providing care for more than one family member or close other across adulthood is becoming increasingly common, yet little is known about the ways that caregiving experiences shape caregiver preparedness. The current study presents a grounded theory offuture caregiver preparednessin former caregivers of PLWD.

Method

A coding team (five coders and two auditors) used Consensual Qualitative Research and grounded theory techniques to analyze transcripts from 32 semi‐structured interviews with midlife former caregivers of parents who died following advanced Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Results

Qualitative analysis revealed two dimensions of future caregiver preparedness: caregiving confidenceandcaregiving insights. Narratives from caregiving experiences informed participants' descriptions of their future caregiver preparedness. Though some former caregivers described a positive (i.e.,boostedorsustained) sense of caregiving confidencefollowing care for their parents, others described a diminished (i.e.,restrictedorimpeded) sense of confidence. Regardless of their confidence, all caregivers described specificcaregiving insightsrelated to one or more categories (i.e.,caregiving self‐conduct, care systems and resources, andrelating with a care partner).

Conclusions

Preparedness for future caregiving following recent care for a PLWD varies: For some, past experiences appear to offer cumulative advantages in anticipating future care roles, whereas for others, past experiences may contribute to apprehension towards, or rejection of, future care roles. Entering new caregiving roles with diminished confidence may have negative consequences for caregivers' and care partners' wellbeing. Multidimensional assessment of future caregiver preparedness in former caregivers of PLWD may support development of resources for former caregivers entering new caregiving roles.
Influence of scan technology on the accuracy and speed of intraoral scanning systems for the edentulous maxilla: An in vitro study
Authors: Osman Reham Bassuni , Alharbi Nawal Murshed
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To compare the accuracy of three intraoral scanners in terms of trueness and precision relative to the scanner acquisition technology and scan capture mode. Scan speed of each scanner was also evaluated.

Materials and methods

An edentulous maxillary arch was digitized (reference model) and 3D‐printed using an SLA‐based 3D‐printer (XFAB; DWS, Italy) (n = 10). Each model was scanned using three intraoral scanners, each with different scan technologies: confocal (Trios 3; 3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark), parallel confocal (iTero; Align Technology), and triangulation (Medit i700). Scan time and scanning accuracy (trueness and precision) were calculated using digital subtraction technique (Geomagic Control X v2020, 3DSystems, USA). One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to detect differences in trueness, precision, and scanning time between the tested groups (p < 0.05).

Results

ANOVA results showed statistically significant differences in trueness, precision, and scan time among the tested groups. Confocal scanning technique (Trios 3) showed the highest trueness and precision (root mean square estimate [RMSE] 0.094 and 0.096, respectively) followed by iTero displaying parallel confocal technique (RMSE 0.113 and 0.133, respectively); the difference was not significant (p = 0.849, p = 0.488). Further, Trios showed the longest scanning time (100 s) compared to iTero and Medit i700 (p = 0.011 and 0.002, respectively). Medit i700 presenting triangulation scan technology revealed lowest trueness and precision (RMSE 0.268) (p = 0.000, p = 0.001) and fastest scan time (59 s) close to iTero (66 s) (p = 0.802).

Conclusions

Scanner technology had an influence on the accuracy and scan speed of the acquired intraoral scans. The Trios 3 scanner featuring the confocal acquisition technology displayed the highest trueness, precision, and longest scan time. Medit i700 IOS with triangulation acquisition concept featured the lowest trueness, precision, and fastest scan speed. There is no ideal scanner with the best combination of accuracy and scan speed.
Periodontal ligament cells from patients with treated stable periodontitis: Characterization and osteogenic differentiation potential
Authors: Lin Yifan , Jin Lijian , Yang Yanqi
Published: December 2022

Background and Objective

Periodontal ligament progenitor cells (PDL cells) isolated from patients with inflammatory periodontitis have impaired regenerative capacity, but it is unknown whether this capacity can be recovered upon treatment and stabilization of the periodontal condition. The study aimed to investigate the expression of surface markers and the proliferation and osteogenic potential of PDL cells isolated from patients with treated stable periodontitis (S‐PDL cells), periodontally healthy individuals (H‐PDL cells), and patients with inflammatory periodontitis (I‐PDL cells).

Methods

H‐PDL, I‐PDL, and S‐PDL cells were isolated from the extracted teeth of individuals who (1) were periodontally healthy, (2) had inflammatory periodontitis, and (3) had treated stable periodontitis, respectively. The expression levels of surface markers and the proliferative and osteogenic capacities of the PDL cells were assessed.

Results

PDL cells derived from all three sources exhibited mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characteristics. They were positive for MSC‐related markers and negative for a hematopoiesis‐related marker. However, S‐PDL cells had higher proliferation rates, higher expression levels of osteogenic markers, higher alkaline phosphatase activity, and more calcium nodules than I‐PDL cells. But all of these parameters remained lower in S‐PDL cells than in H‐PDL cells.

Conclusions

S‐PDL cells proliferated faster and had greater osteogenic potential than I‐PDL cells, although these values remained lower than those in H‐PDL cells.
Signal timing at an isolated intersection under mixed traffic environment with self‐organizing connected and automated vehicles
Authors: Ma Chengyuan , Yu Chunhui , Zhang Cheng , Yang Xiaoguang
Published: December 2022

This study provides a signal timing model for isolated intersections under the mixed traffic environment consisting of connected and human‐driven vehicles (CHVs) and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). Different from existing studies, CAVs are not controlled by traffic controllers and conduct trajectory planning themselves, which are called self‐organizing CAVs (SOCAVs). The specific trajectory planning strategies of SOCAVs are not accessible to traffic controllers either. The signal optimization problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model for total vehicle delay minimization. The states of SOCAVs and CHVs passing the stop bar are predicted without prior information of the trajectory planning strategies of SOCAVs. SOCAVs can lead approaching platoons to pass the intersection effectively, and such “leading effects” of SOCAVs are utilized. Phase sequence and duration are optimized with the “structure‐free” phasing scheme. A parallel particle swarm optimization algorithm with a grouping strategy is designed to solve the optimization model at a reduced scale for computational efficiency. Numerical studies validate that (1) the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms the benchmark method, which directly solves the proposed MILP model using the solver Gurobi 9.0, under medium and high traffic demand; and (2) the proposed model significantly outperforms fixed‐time and vehicle‐actuated signal control in terms of vehicle delay and throughput. Sensitivity analysis shows that the SOCAV penetration rate of 30% is sufficient to guarantee satisfactory performance of the proposed signal timing model.
Displacement measurement of large structures using nonoverlapping field of view multi‐camera systems under six degrees of freedom ego‐motion
Authors: Yu Qifeng , Yin Yihe , Zhang Yueqiang , Chen Wenjun , Hu Biao , Liu Xiaolin
Published: December 2022

In this work, a non‐overlapping field of view (FOV) multi‐camera system (MCS) has been proposed to realize the motion self‐compensation, which can be flexibly arranged according to the field situation. The challenges of ensuring a complete fixed measurement platform owing to the self‐weight, unexpected collisions, and adjacent engineering constructions have been addressed in this study. MCS can be fixed on an unstable platform and employ two or more correcting cameras, without an overlapping FOV, to measure and compensate the six degrees of freedom (6‐DOF) ego‐motion of the platform, with high accuracy. The numerical simulation results show that, under the same configuration conditions, the 6‐DOF motion estimation accuracy of the proposed method is better than that of the Perspective‐n‐Points methods, especially for the estimation accuracy of the out‐of‐plane motion and the roll motion of the camera. The field demonstration has been performed on a suspension bridge, and the results demonstrate that the deflection measurements provided by the proposed MCS are consistent with those provided by the Robotic Total Station. The proposed MCS, which is not restrained by a strictly stable platform, proves to be an effective method to compensate for the errors induced by the platform ego‐motion, and it can meet the requirements of the displacement measurement of large structures needing high precision.
High ambient temperature impacts on flowering time in Brassica napus through both H2A.Z‐dependent and independent mechanisms
Authors: Abelenda José A. , Trabanco Noemí , del Olmo Iván , Pozas Jenifer , Martín‐Trillo María del Mar , Gómez‐Garrido Jessica , Esteve‐Codina Anna , Pernas Mónica , Jarillo José A. , Piñeiro Manuel
Published: December 2022

Knowledge concerning the integration of genetic pathways mediating the responses to environmental cues controlling flowering initiation in crops is scarce. Here, we reveal the diversity in oilseed rape (OSR) flowering response to high ambient temperature. Using a set of different spring OSR varieties, we found a consistent flowering delay at elevated temperatures. Remarkably, one of the varieties assayed exhibited the opposite behaviour. Several FT‐like paralogs are plausible candidates to be part of the florigen in OSR. We revealed that BnaFTA2 plays a major role in temperature‐dependent flowering initiation. Analysis of the H2A.Z histone variant occupancy at this locus in different Brassica napus varieties produced contrasting results, suggesting the involvement of additional molecular mechanisms in BnaFTA2 repression at high ambient temperature. Moreover, BnARP6 RNAi plants showed little accumulation of H2A.Z at high temperature while maintaining temperature sensitivity and delayed flowering. Furthermore, we found that H3K4me3 present in BnaFTA2 under inductive flowering conditions is reduced at high temperature, suggesting a role for this hallmark of transcriptionally active chromatin in the OSR flowering response to warming. Our work emphasises the plasticity of flowering responses in B. napus and offers venues to optimise this process in crop species grown under suboptimal environmental conditions.
Effects of motor pacing on frontal‐hemodynamic responses during continuous upper‐limb and whole‐body movements
Authors: Guérin Ségolène M. R. , Vincent Marion A. , Delevoye‐Turrell Yvonne N.
Published: December 2022

Advances in timing research advocate for the existence of two timing mechanisms (automatic vs. controlled) that are related to the level of cognitive control intervening for motor behavior regulation. In the present study, we used the functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) cutting‐edge technique to examine the hypothesis that prefrontal inhibitory control is needed to perform slow motor activities. Participants were asked to perform a sensorimotor‐synchronization task at various paces (i.e., slow, close‐to‐spontaneous, fast). We contrasted upper‐limb circle drawing to a more naturalistic behavior that required whole‐body movements (i.e., steady‐state walking). Results indicated that whole‐body movements led to greater brain oxygenation over the motor regions when compared with upper‐limb activities. The effect of motor pace was found in the walking task only, with more bilateral orbitofrontal and left dorsolateral activation at slow versus fast pace. Exploratory analyses revealed a positive correlation between the activation of the orbitofrontal and motor areas for the close‐to‐spontaneous pace in both tasks. Overall, results support the key role of prefrontal cognitive control in the production of slow whole‐body movements. In addition, our findings confirm that upper‐limb (laboratory‐based) tasks might not be representative of those engaged during everyday‐life motor behaviors. The fNIRS technique may be a valuable tool to decipher the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying naturalistic, adaptive motor behaviors.
No detrimental effects of soil disturbance resulting from grassland restoration operations on aboveground‐dwelling invertebrate communities
Authors: Slodowicz Daniel , Auberson Cécile , de Carvalho Elizabete Ferreira , Angeleri Romain , Stańska Marzena , Hajdamowicz Izabela , Kurtogullari Yasemin , Roth Roman , Rossier Lucas , Enz Gino , Humbert Jean‐Yves , Arlettaz Raphaël
Published: December 2022

Active grassland restoration requires soil disturbance by harrowing or plowing prior to seeding to create favorable conditions for plant germination. Yet, it is still unknown if these soil interventions are detrimental to the local ground‐dwelling invertebrate fauna. We evaluated how ground beetle (Carabidae) and spider (Araneae) communities, two important grassland bioindicators, respond to three common grassland restoration methods, differing in soil disturbance intensity and seed application method. The study was carried out in 47 extensively managed mesic meadows using a before‐after‐control‐intervention design. It was applied at the field scale and replicated 12 times across selected Swiss lowland sites. We did not detect any significant differences in abundance and species richness of ground beetles and spiders between restored and control meadows 1 year after restoration. At the community level we observed a slight shift towards a preference for wetter habitat (for both invertebrate groups), and restored meadows harbored a smaller weighted mean body size of spiders than control meadows. The latter was mainly driven by a higher abundance of some small pioneer species typically found in frequently disturbed habitats, notably in arable fields. Our results suggest that 1 year after restoration action, the ground‐beetle and spider communities recovered almost entirely to their predisturbance state, indicating that, with respect to above ground‐dwelling invertebrates, harrowing or plowing can be applied when restoring plant species‐poor grasslands.
Effects of high‐carbon wood ash biochar on volunteer vegetation establishment and community composition on metal mine tailings
Authors: Williams Jasmine M. , Thomas Sean C.
Published: December 2022

Pyrolyzed organic waste, also known as biochar, is commonly used as a soil amendment and has recently been promoted to remediate metal mine tailings by increasing substrate pH, enhancing water and nutrient retention, and reducing bioavailability of toxic metals. Bottom ash from bioenergy facilities can contain high levels of charcoal residue, and thus qualify as a type of biochar according to international standards; the availability of this material at low costs makes it of particular interest in the context of tailings remediation. Naturally recruiting vegetation is critical in areas of primary succession such as mine tailings, and thus understanding vegetation responses on these substrates is essential. We examined responses of naturally regenerated “volunteer” vegetation to additions of high‐carbon wood ash biochar at a range of application rates (from 0 to 30 metric tons [t]/ha) at two gold mine tailings sites in northern Ontario, Canada over a 2‐year period. Volunteer vegetation cover increased with biochar dosage, peaking at 10–20 t/ha. Wood ash biochar amendments altered substrate physical properties (pH, electrical conductivity [EC], bulk density, total carbon [TC], and nitrogen [TN]), but effects varied by site and with dosage. Substrate TC and EC increased significantly with dosage at both sites with highest measures detected in the 10–20 t/ha amendment range. Species composition showed site‐ and dosage‐specific responses to biochar additions; however, species accumulation curves consistently showed peak species richness at intermediate dosages in both sites and both years of growth. Observed changes in volunteer vegetation suggest that low to moderate dosage applications of high‐carbon wood ash biochar can be highly beneficial for revegetation of mine tailings, but that wood ash impurities can result in deleterious effects at high dosages. Results from these field experiments demonstrate the potential of wood ash in tailings restoration and incentivizes additional in situ experiments to further discern site‐specific mechanisms.
MUC5B rs35705950 minor allele associates with older age and better survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: van der Vis Joanne J. , Prasse Antje , Renzoni Elisabetta A. , Stock Carmel J. W. , Caliskan Canay , Maher Toby M. , Bonella Francesco , Borie Raphael , Crestani Bruno , Petrek Martin , Wuyts Wim A. , Wind Anne E. , Molyneaux Philip L. , Grutters Jan C. , van Moorsel Coline H. M.
Published: December 2022

Background and Objective

The minor T‐allele of the MUC5B promoter polymorphism rs35705950 is strongly associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, conflicting results have been reported on the relationship between the MUC5B minor allele and survival and it is unknown whether a specific subgroup of IPF patients might benefit from MUC5B minor allele carriage. We investigated the association between MUC5B rs35705950, survival and patient characteristics in a real‐world population of European IPF patients.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 1751 patients with IPF from 8 European centres were included. MUC5B rs35705950 genotype, demographics, clinical characteristics at diagnosis and survival data were analysed.

Results

In a multi‐variate Cox proportional hazard model the MUC5B minor allele was a significant independent predictor of survival when adjusted for age, sex, high resolution computed tomography pattern, smoking behaviour and pulmonary function tests in IPF. MUC5B minor allele carriers were significantly older at diagnosis (p = 0.001). The percentage of MUC5B minor allele carriers increased significantly with age from 44% in patients aged <56 year, to 63% in patients aged >75. In IPF patients aged <56, the MUC5B minor allele was not associated with survival. In IPF patients aged ≥56, survival was significantly better for MUC5B minor allele carriers (45 months [CI: 42–49]) compared to non‐carriers (29 months [CI: 26–33]; p = 4 × 10−12).

Conclusion

MUC5B minor allele carriage associates with a better median transplant‐free survival of 16 months in the European IPF population aged over 56 years. MUC5B genotype status might aid disease prognostication in clinical management of IPF patients.
Smartphone use, off‐farm employment, and women's decision‐making power: Evidence from rural China
Authors: Zheng Hongyun , Zhou Yuwen , Rahut Dil Bahadur
Published: December 2022

Empowering women is an important goal of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and studies have proposed various strategies to achieve this goal. However, few have examined the role of smartphone use in empowering women in decision‐making and its mechanism. Therefore, this study analyzes how smartphone use affects women's decision‐making power and explores whether this influence is due to women's off‐farm employment mechanisms. For this purpose, the study uses the survey data of 1110 households in rural China and the endogenous treatment regression model for analysis. The control function approach addresses the selection bias of off‐farm employment. The results show that smartphone use significantly increases women's decision‐making power, partially channeled through increasing women's off‐farm employment. The mechanism effect is robust to using both binary and intensive measurements of off‐farm employment. Therefore, a policy to improve access to internet facilities and smartphone use could improve women's decision‐making power through employment in the off‐farm sector.
Novel cell culture system for monitoring cells during continuous and variable negative‐pressure wound therapy
Authors: Yamashiro Toshifumi , Kushibiki Toshihiro , Mayumi Yoshine , Tsuchiya Masato , Ishihara Miya , Azuma Ryuichi
Published: December 2022

Background

Although the clinical efficacy of negative‐pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is well known, many of its molecular biological mechanisms remain unresolved, mainly due to the difficulty and paucity of relevant in vitro studies. We attempted to develop an in vitro cell culture system capable of real‐time monitoring of cells during NPWT treatment.

Materials and methods

A novel negative‐pressure cell culture system was developed by combining an inverted microscope, a stage‐top incubator, a sealed metal chamber for cell culture, and an NPWT treatment device. Human keratinocytes, PSVK‐1, were divided into ambient pressure (AP), continuous negative‐pressure (NPc), and intermittent negative‐pressure (NPi) groups and cultured for 24 h with scratch assay using our real‐time monitoring system and device. Pressure inside the device, medium evaporation rate, and the residual wound area were compared across the groups.

Results

Pressure in the device was maintained at almost the same value as set in all groups. Medium evaporation rate was significantly higher in the NPi group than in the other two groups; however, it had negligible effect on cell culture. Residual wound area after 9 h evaluated by the scratch assay was significantly smaller in the NPc and NPi groups than in the AP group.

Conclusion

We developed a negative‐pressure cell culture device that enables negative‐pressure cell culture under conditions similar to those used in clinical practice and is able to monitor cells under NPWT. Further experiments using this device would provide high‐quality molecular biological evidence for NPWT.
Identification of the novel HLA‐A*11:423 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Yang John Jeongseok , Oh Heung‐Bum
Published: December 2022

HLA‐A*11:423 differs from HLA‐A*11:01:01:01 by a non‐synonymous nucleotide substitution in codon 170, changing Arginine to Lysine.
Mapping the food environment: The reliability of volunteered geographical information and institutional data sources in France
Authors: Vonthron Simon , Perrin Coline , Soulard Christophe‐Toussaint
Published: December 2022

The obesity epidemic and inequalities in access to food are prompting increasing numbers of food environment studies, which rely on secondary data sources for mapping. This article assesses the reliability of the two main food outlet data sources in France: the volunteered geographical information (VGI) collaborative map OpenStreetMap (OSM) and the national business register Sirene. Their information on food outlets was assessed through ground‐truthing in the city‐region of Montpellier. Sensitivity, positive predictive value, and concordance were computed for each database. We analyzed the socio‐spatial variability of these measures according to households' income level. The sensitivity of Sirene is good and that of OSM moderate, while the opposite holds for positive predictive value, and the concordance of both OSM and Sirene is fair. Sirene provides more reliable data on deprived neighborhoods and OSM on wealthy neighborhoods. Caution is recommended regarding the classifications on which they are based, the time required to update the institutional database, and socially influenced contributions to VGI.
Transcriptional changes in human palate and skin healing
Authors: Leonardo Trevor R. , Chen Lin , Schrementi Megan E. , Shi Junhe , Marucha Phillip T. , Glass Kimberly , DiPietro Luisa A.
Published: December 2022

Most human tissue injuries lead to the formation of a fibrous scar and result in the loss of functional tissue. One adult tissue that exhibits a more regenerative response to injury with minimal scarring is the oral mucosa. We generated a microarray gene expression dataset to examine the response to injury in human palate and skin excisional biopsies spanning the first 7 days after wounding. Differential expression analyses were performed in each tissue to identify genes overexpressed or underexpressed over time when compared to baseline unwounded tissue gene expression levels. To attribute biological processes of interest to these gene expression changes, gene set enrichment analysis was used to identify core gene sets that are enriched over the time‐course of the wound healing process with respect to unwounded tissue. This analysis identified gene sets uniquely enriched in either palate or skin wounds and gene sets that are enriched in both tissues in at least one time point after injury. Finally, a cell type enrichment analysis was performed to better understand the cell type distribution in these tissues and how it changes over the time course of wound healing. This work provides a source of human wound gene expression data that includes two tissue types with distinct regenerative and scarring phenotypes.
EFFECT OF AUTOCLAVING-COOLING ON RESISTANT STARCH CONTENT AND PREBIOTIC PROPERTIES OF HIGH CARBOHYDRATE FOODS: META-ANALYSIS STUDY
Authors: Isra Muhammad , Andrianto Dimas , Setiarto R. Haryo Bimo
Published: December 2022

Autoclaving-cooling is a starch physical modification technique widely used to analyze the increase in resistant starch levels in foodstuffs. However, this technique has a different effect on each high-carbohydrate diet. This study investigates the type of carbohydrate food to increase the levels of resistant starch through the autoclaving-cooling process. This study used 31 articles using the PRISMA method. Data were analyzed with Effect Size Hedges'd (standardized mean difference/SMD) and confidence interval (CI) using OpenMEE software. The results showed that the autoclaving-cooling method had a significant effect on increasing levels of resistant starch and prebiotic properties (SMD 6.633; 95% CI: 5.286 to 7.980; p<0.001). In conclusion, this study confirmed that the autoclaving-cooling method had a significant effect with a 95% confidence level in increasing the levels of resistant starch and prebiotic properties of high-carbohydrate foods.
MITRAGYNA SPECIOSA DYE SENSITISER AS THE LIGHT-HARVESTING MOLECULES FOR DYE-SENSITISED SOLAR CELLS
Authors: A. K. Azlina , Mamat M. H. , Z. H. Che Soh, , Rahman M. F. A. , Othman N. A. , M. Marina , M. Y. Syarifah Adilah , Abdullah M. H.
Published: December 2022

In this study, natural dye sensitisers derived from ketum (Mitragyna speciosa-MS), spinach (Spinacia oleracea-SO), curry (Murraya koenigii-MK), papaya (Carica papaya-CP), and henna (Lawsonia inermis-LI) were investigated for dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Open-Circuit Voltage Decay (OCVD) and Current to Voltage (I-V) were used to analyse the natural dye and the fabricated DSSC. It was observed that all dye solutions contain the majority of important functional groups of chlorophyll-based sensitisers, which is crucial for the dye-to-TiO2 (Titanium (II) Oxide) attachment, making them suitable sources of energy harvesting pigments. In this regard, the dye pH and chemical bonding of the respective dyes play a significant role that contribute to the overall performance of the DSSCs. It was discovered that a dye based on MK provided the best DSSC performance. This is because MK-based dye has higher content of functional groups, an optimal pH, and the slowest properties of back electron recombination among the OCVD measurements. Because of the combination of these properties, the open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current density (JSC), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) values have been determined to be 0.58 V, 2.48 mA/cm2, and 0.47%, respectively.
NATURAL DYE’S PHOTODEGRADATION EFFECT TOWARDS OPTICAL PROPERTIES FOR SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS
Authors: Kamarulzaman Nurul Huda , Salleh Hasiah , Dagang Ahmad Nazri , Mohd Ghazali Mohd Sabri , Ishak Nurhayati , Wan Kamarudin Wan Farahiyah
Published: December 2022

Photodegradation effect to natural plant waste under solar irradiation was investigated. Five plants waste namely, Averrhoe Bilimbi, Eugenia Clavifora, Elaies Guineensis, Terminalia cattapa and Clidemia hirta were selected from all over the states. Main purpose of this research was to study the stability of natural dye in presence of sunlight radiation for future solar cell applications. FTIR and UV-Vis absorption were used to investigate the optical properties of dye. Eugenia Clavifora was clearly revealed that it took more than 10 weeks to degrade and required 64% of degradation percentage. Optical energy gap was observed at 2.04 eV before exposure, while 2.15 eV after exposure of sunlight. Efficiency of Eugenia Clavifora hybrid solar cells was leading at the highest performance of 1.33%. This clearly shows that Eugenia Clavifora can be used as a natural photosensitizer thus enhancing the efficiency of any solar cell applications.
Numerical Investigation on Natural Convection in Inclined Channels Partially Filled With Asymmetrically Heated Metal Foam
Authors: Andreozzi Assunta , Buonomo Bernardo , Jaluria Yogesh , Manca Oronzio
Published: December 2022

A numerical study on natural convection in an inclined channel partially filled with open metal foam is investigated in two-dimensional laminar and incompressible and steady-state condition. The upper wall is heated at uniform heat flux, and the lower wall is adiabatic. The governing equations for the metal foam are written assuming the Brinkman–Forchheimer-extended Darcy model and the local thermal equilibrium (LTE) hypothesis. The inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction ranges between 0 deg and 90 deg. The metal foam structure is homogenous and isotropic and the thermophysical properties are assumed constant with the temperature. The main aim of the present study is to analyze the effect of inclination angle, pore density, and porosity to improve the knowledge on the thermal behaviors of natural convection in partially filled channel with metal foam. Moreover, this study aims to evaluate the possible improvement with respect to the clean inclined channel. Results are presented in terms of velocity and temperature fields, and both temperature and velocity profiles at different significant sections are shown, to obtain a description of the natural convection inside the inclined channel. Finally, average Nusselt number values are evaluated. The presence of metal foam affects the fluid flow in the channel with different motion behaviors. The heat transfer rate increases with the increase in inclination angle, and the average Nusselt number shows different trends for lower and higher Rayleigh numbers, Ra. A significant enhancement is detected for the higher Ra and it depends on the porosity and pore density.
Fasted Sprint Interval Training Results in Some Beneficial Skeletal Muscle Metabolic, but Similar Metabolomic and Performance Adaptations Compared With Carbohydrate-Fed Training in Recreationally Active Male
Authors: Aird Tom P. , Farquharson Andrew J. , Bermingham Kate M. , O’Sullivan Aifric , Drew Janice E. , Carson Brian P.
Published: December 2022

Endurance training in fasted conditions (FAST) induces favorable skeletal muscle metabolic adaptations compared with carbohydrate feeding (CHO), manifesting in improved exercise performance over time. Sprint interval training (SIT) is a potent metabolic stimulus, however nutritional strategies to optimize adaptations to SIT are poorly characterized. Here we investigated the efficacy of FAST versus CHO SIT (4–6 × 30-s Wingate sprints interspersed with 4-min rest) on muscle metabolic, serum metabolome and exercise performance adaptations in a double-blind parallel group design in recreationally active males. Following acute SIT, we observed exercise-induced increases in pan-acetylation and several genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and NAD+-biosynthesis, along with favorable regulation of PDK4 (p = .004), NAMPT (p = .0013), and NNMT (p = .001) in FAST. Following 3 weeks of SIT, NRF2 (p = .029) was favorably regulated in FAST, with augmented pan-acetylation in CHO but not FAST (p = .033). SIT induced increases in maximal citrate synthase activity were evident with no effect of nutrition, while 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity did not change. Despite no difference in the overall serum metabolome, training-induced changes in C3:1 (p = .013) and C4:1 (p = .010) which increased in FAST, and C16:1 (p = .046) and glutamine (p = .021) which increased in CHO, were different between groups. Training-induced increases in anaerobic (p = .898) and aerobic power (p = .249) were not influenced by nutrition. These findings suggest some beneficial muscle metabolic adaptations are evident in FAST versus CHO SIT following acute exercise and 3 weeks of SIT. However, this stimulus did not manifest in differential exercise performance adaptations.
Electronic Structure of InCo2As2 and KInCo4As4: LDA + DMFT
Authors: Pavlov N. S. , Shein I. R. , Pervakov K. S. , Nekrasov I. A.
Published: December 2022

A comparative analysis of the electronic structure obtained in the DFT/LDA and LDA + DMFT approaches of the possible isostructural analogues of iron superconductors InCo2As2 and KInCo4As4 with the electronic structure of the parent high-temperature superconductor system BaFe2As2 is carried out. It is established that in spite of the rather large value of the electron-electron correlations (local Coulomb interaction on the Co-$$3d$$ shell $$U = 4.0$$ eV, the Hund exchange interaction $$J = 0.85$$ eV), in the considered systems a relatively small quasiparticle mass renormalization 1.2–1.35 at the Fermi level is observed. The correlation effects lead to the remarkable shift and compression of the spectrum below –0.8 eV. The band structure of InCo2As2 near the Fermi level is qualitatively similar to the previously studied BaCo2As2, and differs significantly from the band structure of BaFe2As2. In the KInCo4As4 system, the bands near the Fermi level resemble the band structure of BaFe2As2, and the Fermi surfaces have a similar topology. This indirectly points to the possibility of superconductivity in KInCo4As4. Also according to the results of LDA + DMFT calculations it is seen that with a rather small hole or electron doping in the KInCo4As4 system will experience topological Lifshitz transitions. We believe that the synthesis of the InCo2As2 and KInCo4As4 compounds considered in this paper is important for the study of superconductivity in this class of materials.
The Role of Integrated Approach in the Determination of Nanoparticle Sizes in Dispersions
Authors: Kuznetsova E. V. , Kuznetsov N. M. , Kalinin K. T. , Lebedev-Stepanov P. V. , Novikov A. A. , Chvalun S. N.
Published: December 2022

Aqueous dispersions of gold and silver nanoparticles (NPs) stabilized with sodium citrate, as well as polymeric NPs based on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (70 : 30 mol %) stabilized with poly(vinyl alcohol) have been obtained. The sizes of NPs have been determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC). It has been shown that the diameter of both metallic and polymeric particles measured by TEM is significantly lower than their hydrodynamic diameter Dh determined by DLS. Moreover, it has been found that the Dh value obtained for the studied particles from DLS distributions is overestimated compared to that determined by AUC, because the AUC method is less sensitive to the particle size polydispersity and the presence of large objects in a dispersion.
Prenatal diagnosis and delivery of megalencephaly–capillary malformation syndrome
Authors: Porwal Mokshal , Anderson Danyon , Razzak Abrahim Nagayoshi , Fitzgerald Garrett
Published: December 2022

Hemimegalencephaly (HME) is a rare neurological diagnosis defined as hamartomatous overgrowth of one cerebral hemisphere. The hypothesised pathogenesis is due to an increased number or size of neural cells; however, the exact mechanism can vary widely, depending on the underlying aetiology. We report a case outlining the prenatal diagnostic process and obstetric considerations for delivering an infant with HME secondary to megalencephaly–capillary malformation syndrome. After diagnosis, our patient was induced and delivered at 37 weeks of gestation via operative vaginal delivery. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the course from prenatal diagnosis through delivery of a fetus with HME.
Status of cognitive frailty in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease and construction of a risk prediction model: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Luo Baolin , Luo Zebing , Zhang Xiaoyun , Xu Meiwan , Shi Chujun
Published: December 2022

Objective

To investigate the risk factors of cognitive frailty in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and to establish an artificial neural network (ANN) model.

Design

A cross-sectional design.

Setting

Two tertiary hospitals in southern China.

Participants

425 elderly patients aged ≥60 years with CKD.

Methods

Data were collected via questionnaire investigation, anthropometric measurements, laboratory tests and electronic medical records. The 425 samples were randomly divided into a training set, test set and validation set at a ratio of 5:3:2. Variables were screened by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, then an ANN model was constructed. The accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the predictive power of the model.

Results

Barthel Index (BI) score, albumin, education level, 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale score and Social Support Rating Scale score were the factors influencing the occurrence of cognitive frailty (p<0.05). Among them, BI score was the most important factor determining cognitive frailty, with an importance index of 0.30. The accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of the ANN model were 86.36%, 88.61% and 80.65%, respectively, and the AUC of the constructed ANN model was 0.913.

Conclusion

The ANN model constructed in this study has good predictive ability, and can provide a reference tool for clinical nursing staff in the early prediction of cognitive frailty in a high-risk population.
Therapist-guided and self-guided internet-delivered behavioural activation for adolescents with depression: a randomised feasibility trial
Authors: Andersson Rebecca , Ahlen Johan , Mataix-Cols David , Lenhard Fabian , Henje Eva , Månsson Cecilia , Sahlin Hanna , Beckman Maria , Serlachius Eva , Vigerland Sarah
Published: December 2022

Objective

Access to effective treatments for adolescents with depression needs to improve. Few studies have evaluated behavioural activation (BA) for adolescent depression, and none remotely delivered BA. This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of therapist-guided and self-guided internet-delivered BA (I-BA) in preparation for a future randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Design

A single-blinded randomised controlled feasibility trial.

Setting

A specialist outpatient clinic in Sweden.

Participants

Thirty-two adolescents with mild-to-moderate major depression, aged 13–17 years.

Interventions

Ten weeks of therapist-guided I-BA or self-guided I-BA, or treatment as usual (TAU). Both versions of I-BA included parental support. TAU included referral to usual care within child and youth psychiatry or primary care.

Outcomes

Feasibility measures included study take-up, participant retention, acceptability, safety and satisfaction. The primary outcome measure was the blinded assessor-rated Children’s Depression Rating Scale, Revised. The primary endpoint was the 3-month follow-up.

Results

154 adolescents were screened and 32 were randomised to therapist-guided I-BA (n=11), self-guided I-BA (n=10) or TAU (n=11). Participant retention was acceptable, with two drop-outs in TAU. Most participants in TAU had been offered interventions by the primary endpoint. The mean number of completed chapters (total of 8) for adolescents was 7.5 in therapist-guided I-BA and 5.4 in self-guided I-BA. No serious adverse events were recorded. Satisfaction was acceptable in both I-BA groups. Following an intent-to-treat approach, the linear mixed-effects model revealed that both therapist-guided and self-guided I-BA (Cohen’s d=2.43 and 2.23, respectively), but not TAU (Cohen’s d=0.95), showed statistically significant changes on the primary outcome measure with large within-group effect sizes.

Conclusions

Both therapist-guided and self-guided I-BA are acceptable and potentially efficacious treatments for adolescents with depression. It is feasible to conduct a large-scale RCT to establish the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of I-BA versus TAU.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04117789).
Brain activity measured by functional brain imaging predicts breathlessness improvement during pulmonary rehabilitation
Authors: Finnegan Sarah L , Browning Michael , Duff Eugene , Harmer Catherine J , Reinecke Andrea , Rahman Najib M , Pattinson Kyle T S
Published: December 2022

Background

Chronic breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is effectively treated with pulmonary rehabilitation. However, baseline patient characteristics predicting improvements in breathlessness are unknown. This knowledge may provide better understanding of the mechanisms engaged in treating breathlessness and help to individualise therapy. Increasing evidence supports the role of expectation (ie, placebo and nocebo effects) in breathlessness perception. In this study, we tested functional brain imaging markers of breathlessness expectation as predictors of therapeutic response to pulmonary rehabilitation, and asked whether D-cycloserine, a brain-active drug known to influence expectation mechanisms, modulated any predictive model.

Methods

Data from 71 participants with mild-to-moderate COPD recruited to a randomised double-blind controlled experimental medicine study of D-cycloserine given during pulmonary rehabilitation were analysed (ID:NCT01985750). Baseline variables, including brain-activity, self-report questionnaires responses, clinical measures of respiratory function and drug allocation were used to train machine-learning models to predict the outcome, a minimally clinically relevant change in the Dyspnoea-12 score.

Results

Only models that included brain imaging markers of breathlessness-expectation successfully predicted improvements in Dyspnoea-12 score (sensitivity 0.88, specificity 0.77). D-cycloserine was independently associated with breathlessness improvement. Models that included only questionnaires and clinical measures did not predict outcome (sensitivity 0.68, specificity 0.2).

Conclusions

Brain activity to breathlessness related cues is a strong predictor of clinical improvement in breathlessness over pulmonary rehabilitation. This implies that expectation is key in breathlessness perception. Manipulation of the brain’s expectation pathways (either pharmacological or non-pharmacological) therefore merits further testing in the treatment of chronic breathlessness.