bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observational Analysis of Point-of-Care Lactate Plus™ Meter in Preclinical Trauma Models
Authors: Gaeth Catharina , Duarte Jamila , Rodriguez Alvaro , Powers Amber , Stone Randolph
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Blood lactate concentration is often used to assess systemic hypoperfusion, tissue hypoxia, and sepsis in trauma patients and serves as a prognostic indicator and marker of response to therapy. Point-of-care (POC) devices provide rapid lactate measurements with a single drop of blood. In this study, lactate values from whole blood, measured with two POC devices, Abbott i-STAT® and the Nova Biomedical Lactate (LA) Plus™ meter, are compared. Methods: An observational analysis of 760 blood samples from four preclinical trauma animal models was performed. Lactate was measured simultaneously with two POC devices (i-STAT® and the Lactate Plus™ meter). The evaluation in the form of a Bland–Altman diagram showed the agreement of the tests. Results: The Spearman correlation was 0.9180 (95% CI 0.9056 to 0.9288) for i-STAT® vs. the LA Plus™ meter. Both tests showed a significant increase in lactate after injury (p < 0.05). The i-STAT® showed a small bias compared to the LA Plus™ meter (−0.0227 ± 0.4542 with 95% limits of agreement from −0.09129 to 0.8675). The LA Plus™ meter showed slightly higher values overall (0.0227 mmol/L), but the i-STAT® showed higher results at lactate levels above 2.5 mmol/L. Conclusions: The observed similarity in performance between the two devices suggests that both are capable of reliably measuring lactate levels in a trauma situation. The LA Plus™ meter provides fast results with only one drop of blood. This study supports the prehospital use of POC devices.
Constrictive Pericarditis: There Is Nothing More Deceptive than an Obvious Fact
Authors: Masarone Daniele , Catapano Dario , Falco Luigi , Siniscalchi Sabrina , di Lorenzo Emilio
Published: November 2024

Introduction: we discuss the clinical case of a patient referred to our cardiology unit to evaluate the need for a pericardiectomy due to constrictive pericarditis. Imaging: the echocardiographic assessment confirmed all diagnostic criteria for constrictive pericarditis; however, we conducted a cardiac MRI before referring the patient to the cardiac surgeon. This imaging technique not only confirmed the constrictive pathophysiology but also indicated extensive pericardial inflammation, consistent with transient constriction. Clinical implications: this finding enabled us to initiate appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment, resulting in gradual clinical and instrumental improvements. Through this case, we aim to highlight the necessity of assessing the chronicity of the condition in all patients with constrictive pericarditis to determine the suitable treatment: surgical intervention for chronic cases and medical therapy for transient ones.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction: A Comprehensive Review on Technical Tips and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Mazza Stefano , Masciangelo Graziella , Mauro Aurelio , Scalvini Davide , Torello Viera Francesca , Bardone Marco , Veronese Letizia , Rovedatti Laura , Agazzi Simona , Strada Elena , Pozzi Lodovica , Barteselli Chiara , Sgarlata Carmelo , Ravetta Valentina , Fusaroli Pietro , Anderloni Andrea
Published: November 2024

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has dramatically spread and improved in the last two decades and is changing the paradigm of drainage in case of malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). EUS-BD can be achieved from different routes, including the common bile duct (choledochoduodenostomy), intrahepatic bile ducts (hepaticogastrostomy), and gallbladder as a rescue (cholecystogastrostomy/cholecystoduodenostomy). EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is a valuable option for biliary drainage in MBO when ERCP fails or is not feasible. EUS-HGS has demonstrated high efficacy with a good rate of technical and clinical success. The safety profile is also overall favorable, although severe adverse events may occur in a significant proportion of patients. From a technical perspective, EUS-HGS is considered one of the most demanding procedures in biliopancreatic endoscopy, requiring multiple steps and high technical skills and experience. In this comprehensive review, technical tips and clinical outcomes of EUS-HGS are reviewed according to the latest evidence in the literature.
Channel and Spatial Attention in Chest X-Ray Radiographs: Advancing Person Identification and Verification with Self-Residual Attention Network
Authors: Farah Hazem , Bennour Akram , Kurdi Neesrin Ali , Hammami Samir , Al-Sarem Mohammed
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: In contrast to traditional biometric modalities, such as facial recognition, fingerprints, and iris scans or even DNA, the research orientation towards chest X-ray recognition has been spurred by its remarkable recognition rates. Capturing the intricate anatomical nuances of an individual’s skeletal structure, the ribcage of the chest, lungs, and heart, chest X-rays have emerged as a focal point for identification and verification, especially in the forensic field, even in scenarios where the human body damaged or disfigured. Discriminative feature embedding is essential for large-scale image verification, especially in applying chest X-ray radiographs for identity identification and verification. This study introduced a self-residual attention-based convolutional neural network (SRAN) aimed at effective feature embedding, capturing long-range dependencies and emphasizing critical spatial features in chest X-rays. This method offers a novel approach to person identification and verification through chest X-ray categorization, relevant for biometric applications and patient care, particularly when traditional biometric modalities are ineffective. Method: The SRAN architecture integrated a self-channel and self-spatial attention module to minimize channel redundancy and enhance significant spatial elements. The attention modules worked by dynamically aggregating feature maps across channel and spatial dimensions to enhance feature differentiation. For the network backbone, a self-residual attention block (SRAB) was implemented within a ResNet50 framework, forming a Siamese network trained with triplet loss to improve feature embedding for identity identification and verification. Results: By leveraging the NIH ChestX-ray14 and CheXpert datasets, our method demonstrated notable improvements in accuracy for identity verification and identification based on chest X-ray images. This approach effectively captured the detailed anatomical characteristics of individuals, including skeletal structure, ribcage, lungs, and heart, highlighting chest X-rays as a viable biometric tool even in cases of body damage or disfigurement. Conclusions: The proposed SRAN with self-residual attention provided a promising solution for biometric identification through chest X-ray imaging, showcasing its potential for accurate and reliable identity verification where traditional biometric approaches may fall short, especially in postmortem cases or forensic investigations. This methodology could play a transformative role in both biometric security and healthcare applications, offering a robust alternative modality for identity verification.
Corticosteroid-Induced Psychiatric Disorders: Mechanisms, Outcomes, and Clinical Implications
Authors: Nasereddin Lara , Alnajjar Omar , Bashar Homam , Abuarab Sara Feras , Al-Adwan Rahma , Chellappan Dinesh Kumar , Barakat Muna
Published: November 2024

Corticosteroids are extensively used in medicine for their powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. However, their psychiatric side effects—such as mood disturbances, anxiety, and psychosis—are significant yet often underappreciated. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of corticosteroid-induced psychiatric disorders, with a focus on their underlying mechanisms and clinical implications. We examine how corticosteroids influence the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to the dysregulation of stress responses and alterations in neurotransmitter levels, particularly dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate. These changes are linked to structural abnormalities in key brain areas such as the hippocampus and amygdala, which are implicated in mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, and conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders. This review highlights the need for healthcare providers to be vigilant in recognizing and managing corticosteroid-induced psychiatric symptoms, especially in vulnerable populations with pre-existing mental health conditions. The complex relationship between corticosteroid type, dose, duration, and mental health outcomes is explored, emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment approaches to mitigate psychiatric risks. Given the widespread use of corticosteroids, there is an urgent need for more focused research on their psychiatric side effects. This review underscores the importance of patient education and careful monitoring to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes while minimizing mental health risks associated with corticosteroid therapy.
Prevalence of Surgical Site Infections Following Coronectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kostares Evangelos , Kostare Georgia , Kostares Michael , Tsakris Athanasios , Kantzanou Maria
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prevalence of surgical site infections (SSIs) following coronectomy of mandibular third molars. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases up to 30 July 2024. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Observational studies assessing SSI prevalence following coronectomy were included. The pooled prevalence of SSI with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic, and meta-regression was conducted to explore the influence of continuous variables. Results: A total of 22 studies involving 2173 coronectomy procedures were included. The overall pooled prevalence of SSI was 2.4% (95% CI: 1–4.3%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 81%). Meta-regression showed no significant effect of the examined variables on SSI prevalence. No study was identified as a significant outlier. Quality assessments revealed that all studies had moderate methodological quality. Conclusions: Considerable heterogeneity was observed, likely due to variations in study settings, geographical regions, and timeframes, among other factors. Therefore, this study underscores the need for further rigorous research to better understand SSI risk factors and enhance management strategies for this postoperative complication.
Dental Implants and Orthodontic Mini-Screws in a Patient with Undiagnosed Von Willebrand’s Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Bruni Alessandro , Serra Francesca Giulia , Abate Andrea , Ugolini Alessandro , Maspero Cinzia , Silvestrini Biavati Francesca , Lanteri Valentina
Published: November 2024

Background: Dental implants are commonly employed to address edentulism, while orthodontic treatments often incorporate mini-screws to enhance tooth movement and provide stable anchorage. Both procedures are integral to modern dental practice and frequently interact in comprehensive care scenarios. While oral health professionals routinely assess patients’ medical histories before procedures, undiagnosed coagulopathies, such as Von Willebrand Disease (VWD), can present significant challenges when invasive procedures are carried out, such as the insertion of implants or mini-implants. Case description: This case report discusses the surgical placement of dental implants and orthodontic mini-screws in a patient with previously undiagnosed VWD, underscoring the potential complications and the importance of recognizing bleeding disorders in clinical practice, and provides some advice on the management of patients with previously undiagnosed VWD after/during surgical procedures. Conclusions: To prevent the risk of excessive bleeding, before surgery, all patients should be screened through precise questions on bleeding history.
It Is Better to Be Semi-Regular When You Have a Low Degree
Authors: Kolokolnikov Theodore
Published: November 2024

We study the algebraic connectivity for several classes of random semi-regular graphs. For large random semi-regular bipartite graphs, we explicitly compute both their algebraic connectivity as well as the full spectrum distribution. For an integer d∈3,7, we find families of random semi-regular graphs that have higher algebraic connectivity than random d-regular graphs with the same number of vertices and edges. On the other hand, we show that regular graphs beat semi-regular graphs when d≥8. More generally, we study random semi-regular graphs whose average degree is d, not necessarily an integer. This provides a natural generalization of a d-regular graph in the case of a non-integer d. We characterize their algebraic connectivity in terms of a root of a certain sixth-degree polynomial. Finally, we construct a small-world-type network of an average degree of 2.5 with relatively high algebraic connectivity. We also propose some related open problems and conjectures.
Integrating Water Evaluation and Planning Modeling into Integrated Water Resource Management: Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Future Surface Water Supply in the Irawan Watershed of Puerto Princesa, Philippines
Authors: Cacal Jennifer Collado , Mehboob Muhammad Shafqat , Bañares Ernie Nograles
Published: November 2024

The Irawan Watershed in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, is an important resource that supports domestic, agricultural, and industrial water needs. This study applies the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model to project the impacts of climate change on future surface water availability, integrating the findings into an Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) framework. Using bias-corrected General Circulation Models (GCMs) under four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), this study examines scenarios from low to high emissions (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585) for the assessment of potential variations in water supply. The results indicate a significant vulnerability to water availability, especially under SSP370 and SSP585, where climate warming is pronounced, leading to significant reductions in streamflow. Conversely, SSP126 suggests relatively stable conditions with less pronounced hydrological changes. The study also explores the socioeconomic drivers that affect water demand, including population growth and land use changes that influence agricultural water needs. The findings underscore the urgency of using adaptive management strategies to conserve water resources in the face of these anticipated challenges. Key recommendations include optimizing water use efficiency in all sectors, establishing protective zones around natural ecosystems, implementing climate-resilient infrastructure, and promoting community engagement in water management. These measures are critical for enhancing water security and promoting sustainable development within the watershed, contributing to the broader goals of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. This study offers decision-makers and resource managers an evidence-based framework for integrating hydrological modeling into IWRM, providing valuable insights to navigate the complexities of climate change and ensure the long- term sustainability of water resources in the Philippines.
The Successful Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Newly Diagnosed HIV Patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Complicated by Pneumocystis and Cytomegalovirus Pneumonia: A Case Report
Authors: Kang Jin Kook , Acton Matthew , Kim Bo Soo
Published: November 2024

Background: We report a case of an adult patient with newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to pneumocystis and cytomegalovirus pneumonia that were present on presentation, which were successfully managed with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). Case Presentation: A 40-year-old patient with a past medical history of asthma was admitted to a local hospital due to dyspnea, cough, and wheezing, where the patient was diagnosed with HIV infection, ARDS, and combined pneumocystis and cytomegalovirus pneumonia. Their pulmonary function quickly declined, necessitating mechanical ventilation (MV). After all conventional therapies failed, the patient was transferred to a tertiary medical center for VV-ECMO therapy. The patient was successfully treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), antibiotics, antivirals, steroids, and 48 days of VV-ECMO support, with complete resolution of their respiratory symptoms. The patient was discharged on hospital day 82. Conclusions: HIV-positive patients with ARDS that is complicated by opportunistic pulmonary infections can be successfully managed with ART, appropriate anti-infective therapies, and VV-ECMO.
Using the ICF to Guide Inclusion in the African Educational Context: A Scoping Review
Authors: Naude Alida , Kang Lin-Ju , Moretti Marta , Rocha André de Souza , Maxwell Gregor Ross Dørum , Bornman Juan
Published: November 2024

While the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) has significantly contributed to educational research supporting inclusive initiatives worldwide, its application in special education contexts across the African continent remains unclear. This study aims to explore how the ICF is currently used in the field of education in Africa, with an emphasis on children with disabilities, although not restricted to this group. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) diagram shows that the 11 African-specific databases that were searched yielded 256 records. These records were uploaded to Rayyan, an online collaborative review platform. First, 158 duplicates were removed. Following title and abstract level screening, six records were eligible at full-text level, of which four were excluded, as they focused on the health context. The findings from the remaining two studies were compared and discussed in terms of similarities and differences. Both articles addressed the interactive nature between an individual’s activities and participation and environmental factors, agreeing on the importance of addressing societal barriers to inclusion. The use of the ICF in educational settings across Africa is still scarce, thus requiring strategies that could drive inclusive education for children with disabilities on the African continent.
The RedFish API and vSphere Hypervisor API: A Unified Framework for Policy-Based Server Monitoring
Authors: Dakić Vedran , Bertina Karlo , Redžepagić Jasmin , Regvart Damir
Published: November 2024

Integrating remote monitoring systems is crucial in the ever-changing field of data center management to enhance performance and guarantee reliability. This paper outlines a comprehensive strategy for monitoring remote servers by utilizing agents that establish connections to the RedFish API (Application Programming Interface) and vSphere hypervisor API. Our solution uses the RedFish standard to provide secure and standardized management of hardware components in diverse server environments. This improves interoperability and scalability. Simultaneously, the vSphere agent enables monitoring and hardware administration in vSphere-based virtualized environments, offering crucial insights into the state of the underlying hardware. This system, which employs two agents, simplifies the management of servers and seamlessly integrates with current data center infrastructures, enhancing efficiency. The policy-based alerting system built on top of these agents offers many capabilities based on both agents leveraging their alerting systems. This, in turn, can improve the capabilities of next-generation data centers.
Research on Irrigation Grade Discrimination Method Based on Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Wu Xibao , Chen Wentao , Yang Kexin , Zhao Xin , Wang Yiqun , Chen Wenbai
Published: November 2024

As one of China’s major grain crops, wheat has a high demand for water resources, making it susceptible to drought stress. Traditional irrigation evaluation methods are often based on experience and rule-based calculations, which struggle to cope with complex environmental factors and dynamic changes in crop needs. With technological advancements, deep learning-based research methods, characterized by their strong data-driven analytical capabilities, are expected to improve the accuracy of evaluation results. This paper focuses on the irrigation demand assessment of winter wheat farmland, aiming to explore a new regional-scale irrigation demand assessment method based on deep learning. By establishing samples of different irrigation evaluation levels, this study seeks to better meet the requirements of irrigation demand assessment. For the problem of regional-scale irrigation-level discrimination, the Convolutional Network Attention(CONAT) module was proposed to optimize the backbone network structure of the Mask2Former model. To tackle issues related to data imbalance and underfitting across certain categories, a loss function tailored for imbalanced sample distributions was implemented, accompanied by enhancements to the training scheme. By contrasting this refined model with alternative methods for discriminating irrigation levels, the viability of this approach was showcased.
CTDNets: A High-Precision Hybrid Deep Learning Model for Modulation Recognition with Early-Stage Layer Fusion
Authors: Zhao Zhiyuan , Qu Yi , Zhou Xin , Zhu Yiyong , Zhang Li , Lin Jirui , Jiang Haohui
Published: November 2024

To further enhance the recognition accuracy of automatic modulation recognition, improve communication efficiency, strengthen security, and optimize resource management, this paper designs a high-precision hybrid deep learning model featuring early-stage layer fusion. This model combines with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Transformers, and Deep Neural Networks (DNN) to enhance the model’s feature extraction capabilities, thereby improving modulation recognition accuracy. Experiments are performed on RadioML2016.10a and RadioML2018.01a, and the results show that this architecture can effectively combine the advantages of different types of models, making the overall performance more robust and suitable for complex automatic modulation recognition problems.
Watermarking Tiny MLCommons Image Applications Without Extra Deployability Costs
Authors: Carra Alessandro , Durmuskaya Dilan Ece , Giulio Beatrice Di , Falaschetti Laura , Turchetti Claudio , Pau Danilo Pietro
Published: November 2024

The tasks assigned to neural network (NN) models are increasingly challenging due to the growing demand for their applicability across domains. Advanced machine learning programming skills, development time, and expensive assets are required to achieve accurate models, and they represent important assets, particularly for small and medium enterprises. Whether they are deployed in the Cloud or on Edge devices, i.e., resource-constrained devices that require the design of tiny NNs, it is of paramount importance to protect the associated intellectual properties (IP). Neural networks watermarking (NNW) can help the owner to claim the origin of an NN model that is suspected to have been attacked or copied, thus illegally infringing the IP. Adapting two state-of-the-art NNW methods, this paper aims to define watermarking procedures to securely protect tiny NNs’ IP in order to prevent unauthorized copies of these networks; specifically, embedded applications running on low-power devices, such as the image classification use cases developed for MLCommons benchmarks. These methodologies inject into a model a unique and secret parameter pattern or force an incoherent behavior when trigger inputs are used, helping the owner to prove the origin of the tested NN model. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of these techniques using AI frameworks both on computers and MCUs, showing that the watermark was successfully recognized in both cases, even if adversarial attacks were simulated, and, in the second case, if accuracy values, required resources, and inference times remained unchanged.
Optimized Profit Allocation Model for Service Alliance Transactions Considering Risk
Authors: Liu Wei , Huang Mengxing , Feng Wenlong
Published: November 2024

In service alliances, where multiple service providers collaborate to complete service transactions, the equitable allocation of profits based on their respective contributions and risk-bearing capacities is paramount. This paper introduces an optimized profit allocation game model that integrates risk considerations into the Nash bargaining framework. Initially, the study established a service alliance transaction model that considered the interactions among multiple participants, providing a robust theoretical foundation for cooperation. Subsequently, the concept of marginal risk was introduced, and a unique calculation method based on the Shapley value was devised to quantify risk contributions. Finally, an improved Nash bargaining model was proposed, which introduced a risk adjustment factor, explicitly addressing the impact of each participant’s risk on profit allocation. Through computational cases and result analyses, this model demonstrated its ability to balance profit and risk and to optimize outcomes for all participants, and it validated the fairness and rationality of the proposed allocation method.
Dynamic Characteristic Analysis of Multi-Virtual Synchronous Generator Systems Considering Line Impedance in Multi-Node Microgrid
Authors: Xie Wei , Li Liangzi , Kong Weihao , Peng Zheng , Li Xiaogang , Jiao Dandan , Xu Chenyi , Yang Zebin
Published: November 2024

With the increasing integration of distributed energy resources into modern power systems, virtual synchronous generators (VSGs) have been a promising approach to imitate the inertial response of synchronous generators, thereby enhancing microgrid stability in a dynamic state. When many VSGs are integrated into microgrids, the dynamic characteristics of the system become increasingly complex. Current studies typically assume that different VSGs are connected to a common coupling point, focusing on analyzing the interaction characteristics, which may overlook the widely distributed line impedances in microgrids with distance between different facilities. This may lead to incomplete understanding of the interaction dynamics when VSGs are distributed over long feeder lines. Therefore, this paper proposes and investigates a multi-node, multi-VSG model incorporating line impedances among different nodes, establishing transfer function models for multi-node load disturbances and the frequency responses of individual VSGs. The study explores the dynamic response characteristics of VSGs under varying parameter influences and proposes principles for designing VSG port impedance and inertia parameters to optimize system dynamic frequency characteristics. The findings, validated through simulations in PSCAD v46, provide insights for enhancing the flexibility and reliability of grids incorporating VSGs.
Spatial Pattern Assessment and Prediction of Water and Sedimentary Mud Quality Changes in Lake Maurepas
Authors: Gunawardhana Thilini , Rahman Md. Alinur , LaCour Zachary , Erwin Erin , Emami Fereshteh
Published: November 2024

Lake Maurepas, Louisiana, holds ecological, recreational, and economic significance, but recent concerns have arisen over its water quality due to industrial activities. From June to November 2023, we investigated water and sediment quality at nine sites and three depths. Results showed that NH3-N levels were within safety limits (0.11 ± 0.10 mg/L), while Total Nitrogen (TN, 0.83 ± 0.65 mg/L), Total Phosphorus (TP, 0.32 ± 0.13 mg/L), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD, 25.94 ± 11.37 mg/L), Arsenic (As, 0.26 ± 0.17 mg/L), and Lead (Pb, 0.23 ± 0.002 mg/L) exceeded acceptable thresholds. Spatial-temporal analysis revealed significant variations across sites, depths, and sampling dates. Major contaminant sources included discharges from the Tickfaw, Amite, and Blind rivers, as well as a vehicle accident on Pass Manchac. Seismic and drilling activities by Air Products and Chemicals had little to no observed impact. Four AI algorithms were also evaluated using different physical parameter inputs to predict December’s chemical pollutant levels, which were missing due to adverse weather. The LSTM model outperformed the others, achieving R2 values of 0.852 for COD, 0.869 for TN, 0.842 for As, and 0.921 for TP and Pb. Predictions indicated decreasing pollutant levels in December, which matched salinity and specific conductance measurements, and reverted to those observed in September and October. This pattern is attributed to the settling of contaminants from the Pass Manchac accident and ongoing pollutant sources from September and October.
Phenotypic Differentiation of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus Isolates Found in Yogurt Starter Cultures
Authors: Siddiqi Myra , Tarrah Armin , Chen Zheng-Hao , LaPointe Gisèle
Published: November 2024

The mutualistic relationship between Streptococcus thermophilus (S. thermophilus) and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus) is responsible for milk coagulation, gel formation, and the flavour of yogurt. Under set-style yogurt processing conditions, the performance of a mixed culture composed of these species depends on key technological parameters such as the capacity for acidification and proteolytic activity. This study aimed to determine the extent of phenotypic diversity by comparing the key traits of acidification and proteolytic activity among isolates found in yogurt starter cultures. Seventy-two isolates from three industrial starter cultures were ranked by either their fast or slow acidification activity (time to reach pH 4.6, 16 h), proteolytic activity, cell envelope proteinase (CEP) activity, redox potential and titratable acidity. The integration of multiple phenotype measures by hierarchical clustering and non-metric dimensional scaling (NMDS) clustered groups of isolates by multifactor similarity. A significant difference (p-value < 0.05) was observed between the clusters regarding redox potential and the proteolytic activity of both S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus. The integration of multiple phenotypes points to the diversification that may have occurred over repeated culturing of yogurt starter bacteria. The phenotypic diversity may explain the divergence in starter performance and be used to refine the formulation of new starter cultures. Future work will investigate the correlation between the activity of specific enzymes based on the phenotype to explain the separation between the fast and slow acidification of isolates.
TasksZE: A Task-Based and Challenge-Based Math Serious Game Using Facial Emotion Recognition
Authors: Marín-Vega Humberto , Alor-Hernández Giner , Bustos-López Maritza , Hernández-Capistran Jonathan , Hernández-Chaparro Norma Leticia , Ixmatlahua-Diaz Sergio David
Published: November 2024

Serious games play a significant role in the teaching and learning process by focusing on educational objectives rather than purely on entertainment. By addressing specific educational needs, these games provide targeted learning experiences. The integration of emotion recognition technology into serious games can further enhance teaching and learning by identifying areas where students may need additional support, The integration of emotion recognition into a serious game facilitates the learning of mathematics by allowing the identification of emotional impact on learning and the creation of a tailored learning experience for the student. This study proposes a challenge-based and task-based math serious game that integrates facial emotion recognition named TasksZE. TasksZE introduces a novel approach by adjusting gameplay based on detected emotions, which includes real-time emotion analysis and the cross-validation of emotions. We conducted a usability evaluation of the game using the System Usability Scale (SUS) as a reference, and the results indicate that the students feel that TasksZE is easy to use, the functions are well integrated, and most people can learn to use it very quickly. The students answered that they would use this system frequently since they felt motivated by game attributes, rewards, and level progression. These elements contributed to a more engaging and effective learning experience.
Investigation of Nonlinear Relations Among Flow Profiles Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Yuan Shiming , Chen Caixia , Yang Yong , Yan Yonghua
Published: November 2024

This study investigated the ability of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to resolve the nonlinear dynamics inherent in the behavior of complex fluid flows, which often exhibit multifaceted characteristics that challenge traditional analytical or numerical methods. By employing flow profile pairs that are generated through high-fidelity numerical simulations, encompassing both the one-dimensional benchmark problems and the more intricate three-dimensional boundary layer transition problem, this research convincingly demonstrates that neural networks possess a remarkable capacity to effectively capture the discontinuities and the subtle wave characteristics that occur at small scales within complex fluid flows, thereby showcasing their robustness in handling intricate fluid dynamics phenomena. Furthermore, even in the context of challenging three-dimensional problems, this study reveals that the average velocity profiles can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy, utilizing a limited number of input profiles during the training phase, which underscores the efficiency and efficacy of the model in understanding complex systems. The findings of this study significantly underscore the immense potential that artificial neural networks, along with deep learning methodologies, hold in advancing our comprehension of the fundamental physics that govern complex fluid dynamics systems, while concurrently demonstrating their applicability across a variety of flow scenarios and their capacity to yield insightful revelations regarding the nonlinear relationships that exist among diverse flow parameters, thus paving the way for future research in this critical area of study.
Comparative Study on the Nutritional Quality of Peanut in Saline and Non-Saline Land
Authors: Zhang Yimin , Li Yanmi , Ren Xiao , Gao Jieying , Wang Yuchen , Zhu Dazhou
Published: November 2024

Saline soils, as a special class of soil types, have unique physicochemical properties that have far-reaching effects on crop growth and quality characteristics. In order to better develop saline soils as a reserve resource, it is particularly important to exploit the potential of saline crops. Peanut, as one of the important crops in saline soils, can have different quality characteristics depending on the differences in soil salinity and alkalinity, as well as growing conditions. In this study, we compared the nutritional quality and functional composition of five peanut varieties grown in coastal saline soils, with the same varieties grown in non-saline soils in similar areas. The results showed significant differences (p<0.05) between saline and non-saline peanuts in the contents of ash, zinc, phosphorus, β-VE, Cis-11-eicosatetraenoic acid, palmitoleic acid, linolenic acid, and total antioxidant removal capacity, whereby the former was higher than the latter by 0.12 g/100 g, 4.1 mg/kg, 321 mg/kg, 8.98 μg/g, 0.36%, 0.01%, and 0.01%, respectively, and the total antioxidant capacity was lower than that of the latter by 9.18 μg Trolxo/g of fresh weight. Sodium element and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity contents were extremely significantly (p<0.01) different in peanuts grown in both land types, where the former was higher than the latter by 261.9 mg/kg and 285 U/g, respectively. Water, fat, protein, calcium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, Vc, α-VE, total VE, VB3, 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate, 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate, total phenols, total flavonoids, ABTS free radical scavenging capacity, DPPH free radical scavenging capacity, fatty acids (except for Cis-11-eicosapentaenoic acid, palmitoleic acid, and linolenic acid), phytosterols, and guanines showed no significant differences (p<0.01). To sum up, the origin and soil environment have an effect on the quality of peanuts. These results also provide a scientific basis for the quality assessment of peanuts in saline soil.
Prediction of Temporal Liking from Temporal Dominance of Sensations by Using Reservoir Computing and Its Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Natsume Hiroharu , Okamoto Shogo
Published: November 2024

The temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) method has received particular attention in the food science industry due to its ability to capture the time–series evolution of multiple sensations during food tasting. Similarly, the temporal liking method is used to record changes in consumer preferences over time. The conjunctive use of these methods provides an effective framework for analyzing food taste and preference, making them valuable tools for product development, quality control, and consumer research. We employed the TDS and temporal liking data of strawberries that were recorded in our earlier study to estimate the temporal liking values from sensory changes. For this purpose, we used a reservoir network, a type of recurrent neural network suitable for time–series data. The trained models exhibited prediction accuracy of the determination coefficient as high as 0.676–0.993, with the median being 0.951. Further, we proposed two types of sensitivities of each sensory attribute toward the change in the temporal liking value. Elemental sensitivity indicates the degree that each sensory attribute influences the temporal liking. In the case of strawberries, the sweet attribute was the greatest contributor, followed by the attribute of fruity. The two least-contributing attributes were light and green. Interactive sensitivity indicates how each attribute affects the temporal liking in conjunction with other attributes. This sensitivity analysis revealed that the sweet attribute positively influenced the liking, whereas the green and light attributes impacted it negatively. The proposed methods offer a new approach to comprehensively analyze how the results of TDS are linked to those of the temporal liking method, serving as a step toward developing an alternative system to human panels.
Metabolomic Profiling of Tenebrio molitor Reared on Chestnut Shell-Enriched Substrate Using NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Ferri Irene , Spano Mattia , Dell’Anno Matteo , Mannina Luisa , Rossi Luciana
Published: November 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolomic profile of T. molitor larvae reared on the following innovative growth substrates: wheat bran (control, CTRL); wheat bran supplemented with 12.5% w/w chestnut shell (TRT1); and wheat bran supplemented with 25% w/w chestnut shell (TRT2) for 14 days of trial. At the end of this experiment, larvae were transformed into insect meals for nutritional characterization. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was carried out to evaluate the metabolomic profile of organic acids, sugars, nitrogen bases and derivates, fatty acids, and other compounds. Chemical analysis showed an increased level of crude protein in TRT1 compared to CTRL and TRT2 (p = 0.0391). The metabolite profiles of TRT1 and TRT2 were similar to each other but distinct from those of the CTRL group. Notably, larvae enriched with chestnut shells revealed the presence of uracil, uridine, and glucose, while fumarate was absent. The enrichment analysis showed that in TRT1 and TRT2, the glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism was more relevant compared to CTRL. These findings indicate that chestnut shell inclusion affects the larvae metabolism of T. molitor and demonstrates the effectiveness of NMR spectroscopy in revealing a relation between insect metabolism and growth substrate.
Antibiotic Residues in Raw Cow’s Milk: A Systematic Review of the Last Decade
Authors: Costa Lucyana Vieira , Gebara Clarice , Zacaroni Ozana de Fátima , Freitas Natylane Eufransino , Silva Adriele Nascimento da , Prado Cristiano Sales , Nunes Iolanda Aparecida , Cavicchioli Valéria Quintana , Duarte Francine Oliveira Souza , Lage Moacir Evandro , Alencar Fabiane Rodrigues de , Machado Bruna Aparecida Souza , Hodel Katharine Valéria Saraiva , Minafra Cíntia
Published: November 2024

The inappropriate use of antimicrobials in dairy animals can lead to residues in raw milk and in dairy products. Foods containing residues of this nature, whether in the short, medium, or long term, cause serious health harm. Absence of these compounds in foods should be a premise for declaring safety. This systematic review aimed to identify the antibiotic residues most frequently found in raw bovine milk and the methodologies used to detect such residues over the ten years from 2013 to 2023. PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were followed, by searching the Web of Science, PubMed Central, Scopus, and Springer databases. The search strategy identified 248 articles, and after applying the selection and quality assessment criteria, 16 studies were selected. The number of samples analyzed was 411,530, of which 0.21% tested positive for some type of antibiotic. Eight classes and 38 different types of antibiotics were identified. The most common class was tetracycline, with emphasis on sulfonamides and quinolones, which have shown increasing prevalence among residues in milk in recent years. A total of 56.25% of the studies employed rapid kits to detect residues, 18.75% chromatography, and 25% both techniques. Antibiotic residues in bovine raw milk should be a great concern for animal, environmental, and human health.
Impact of Frozen Storage on Sensory, Physicochemical, and Volatile Compounds Parameters of Different Extra Virgin Olive Oils
Authors: Díaz-Montaña Enrique J. , Barbero-López María , Aparicio-Ruiz Ramón , García-González Diego L. , Morales María T.
Published: November 2024

Storage is important for virgin olive oil, a product obtained only during the harvest period, which requires a year-round storage until its best-before date. Low temperatures slow undesirable reactions, though this method is not widely applied. The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of frozen storage on the volatile composition and sensory properties of virgin olive oils. The quality parameters, volatile composition, and sensory profiles were analyzed for samples stored under different conditions (time 0, sixth month supermarket and frozen storage, and long-term-frozen). The physicochemical parameters of the samples stored under supermarket conditions showed significant differences (p < 0.05), with the frozen-storage sample after three months of storage. Additionally, the samples stored under supermarket conditions showed higher volatile concentrations than frozen ones, with increased concentrations of aldehydes and acids producing sensory defects. Thirty-two samples, considered as the long-term-frozen, were divided into three groups depending on the frozen-storage time (1, 6 or 10 years). These long-term-frozen storage samples confirmed the suitability of the proposed oxidation markers (pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, nonanal, acetic, propanoic, butanoic, and hexanoic acids) for differentiating storage conditions and times. This work highlights the oxidation process under different storage conditions and suggests oxidation markers.
Stress-Easing Effect of Diacyl Glyceryl Ethers on Anxiety-Related Behavior in Mice
Authors: Jiang Rong , Ohkubo Takeshi , Sato Toshihiko , Sakai Nobuyuki
Published: November 2024

Stress and anxiety are significant psychological challenges in modern society, which have led to a rapidly growing market for functional foods, including those reported to relieve stress, as alternatives to psychoactive drugs. Among these, diacyl glyceryl ethers (DAGE) derived from deep-sea shark liver oil have gained attention for their strong antioxidant properties and potential mental health benefits. Building on preliminary evidence suggesting DAGE’s efficacy in enhancing stress resilience and modulating biochemical pathways associated with reduced oxidative stress, the present study aimed to examine their effects on stress responses in two specific mouse strains. Each mouse was fed either a DAGE-infused diet or a control diet for three weeks. Their stress responses were evaluated using three behavioral tests: the elevated plus maze, open-field, and forced swimming tests. The DAGE-fed mice displayed lower stress responses than the control mice in the initial trial of each test. Specifically, DAGE-fed mice demonstrated increased time spent in the open arms in the elevated plus maze and more time spent in the center of the open field, suggesting reduced anxiety. Additionally, in the forced swimming test, DAGE-treated mice displayed reduced immobility times, indicating potential antidepressant effects on the mice. These findings suggest the potential of DAGE to bolster stress resilience in mice, emphasizing their promise for further studies in human stress management.
Effects of Three Modification Methods on the In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion and Colonic Fermentation of Dietary Fiber from Lotus Leaves
Authors: Zheng Hui , Xu Yao , Wu Yuhang , Huangfu Xuantong , Chen Wenxiu , He Kai , Yang Yong
Published: November 2024

Shear emulsifying (SE), ball milling (BM), and autoclave treatment (AT) were utilized for the modification of lotus leaves, and the effects on in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) from lotus leaves were compared. Compared with SEIDF and ATIDF, BMIDF released more polyphenols and exhibited better antioxidant capacity during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The IDF of lotus leaves changed the gut microbiota composition during in vitro colonic fermentation. SEIDF was beneficial to the diversity of gut microbiota compared with BMIDF and ATIDF. Among the three IDF groups of lotus leaves, six significant differences of OTUs were all in ATIDF; however there was the highest relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella in ATIDF. In addition, the concentrations of butyric acid and valeric acid produced by SEIDF were significantly higher than that of BMIDF and ATIDF. Overall, SE modification improved the colonic fermentation characteristics of IDFs in lotus leaves more effectively; while BM modification helped to promote the release of polyphenols from IDFs in lotus leaves during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The research lays the foundation for the application of the dietary fiber of lotus leaves as a premium fiber additive in functional food.