bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of Systemic Steroids, Hormone Replacement Therapy, or Oral Contraceptives Is Associated with Decreased Implant Survival in Women
Authors: Zou Michelle Y. , Cohen Robert E. , Ursomanno Brendon L. , Yerke Lisa M.
Published: June 2023

Background: Systemic steroids, such as prednisone, hormonal replacement therapies, or oral contraceptives, are commonly prescribed to women who might also be receiving dental implant therapy. However, the effect of these medications on dental implant survival is unknown. Methods: The medical and dental records of individuals with dental implants (N = 1480 implants) who visited a postgraduate periodontics clinic between 2000 and 2017 were initially considered. Those younger than 21 years old, pregnant, or male were excluded according to the study’s exclusion criteria. The presence of systemic diseases and conditions was assessed. Implant failure rates among female patients using systemic steroids, hormone replacement therapy, or oral contraceptives were compared with failure rates among patients not taking those medications. Results: The implant failure rate for the 65 implants in patients taking steroid medications was 7.69%; the failure rate for the 712 implants in patients not taking steroids was 1.54% (p < 0.001). After adjusting for smoking and the presence of diabetes, that relationship persisted, with an 8.47% implant failure rate for the 59 implants in patients taking steroids (vs. 1.54% failure for the 585 implants in patients not taking steroids; p < 0.001). Regression analyses demonstrated that the odds of implant failure versus success were 5.31 times greater in patients taking systemic steroids, hormone replacement therapy, or oral contraceptives (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences in patient plaque control were found between the experimental and control groups. Conclusions: Among women, the use of systemic steroids is associated with a five-fold increase in the rate of dental implant failure, regardless of the presence of smoking or diabetes.
Multiple Self-Supervised Auxiliary Tasks for Target-Driven Visual Navigation Using Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Zhang Wenzhi , He Li , Wang Hongwei , Yuan Liang , Xiao Wendong
Published: June 2023

Visual navigation based on deep reinforcement learning requires a large amount of interaction with the environment, and due to the reward sparsity, it requires a large amount of training time and computational resources. In this paper, we focus on sample efficiency and navigation performance and propose a framework for visual navigation based on multiple self-supervised auxiliary tasks. Specifically, we present an LSTM-based dynamics model and an attention-based image-reconstruction model as auxiliary tasks. These self-supervised auxiliary tasks enable agents to learn navigation strategies directly from the original high-dimensional images without relying on ResNet features by constructing latent representation learning. Experimental results show that without manually designed features and prior demonstrations, our method significantly improves the training efficiency and outperforms the baseline algorithms on the simulator and real-world image datasets.
“Attentive Kindergarten”: A Small Group Intervention Boosting Attention among Kindergarten Children
Authors: Trinczer Inbar Lucia , Maayan Tom , Shalev Lilach
Published: June 2023

(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a small group intervention program named “Attentive Kindergarten” (AK), aimed at enhancing attention functioning among typically developing preschool-aged children. The program focuses on improving sustained attention, selective spatial attention, and response inhibition based on cognitive training principles. (2) Methods: The study’s sample included 51 children, 15 of whom received the AK intervention and 36 of whom served as a control group. Computerized cognitive tests were used for pre- and postintervention evaluations to assess sustained attention, response inhibition, and selective spatial attention. Quantitative analyses were conducted to examine the differences between the two groups as a result of the intervention program. (3) Results: The AK group demonstrated improvements in all attention functions that were measured. These improvements were larger than those obtained in the control group. (4) Conclusions: The results suggest that cognitive training programs, such as Attentive Kindergarten, can enhance attention functioning in young children. The present findings have important implications for early intervention programs aimed at improving young children’s cognitive skills, which, in turn, can decrease the likelihood of future attention problems and other related difficulties.
Self-Concept and Self-Esteem, Determinants of Greater Life Satisfaction in Mountain and Climbing Technicians and Athletes
Authors: Martín-Talavera Laura , Gavín-Chocano Óscar , Sanz-Junoy Guillermo , Molero David
Published: June 2023

In recent decades, the exponential growth that sports practice in mountain and climbing disciplines have experienced has led to trying to find an explanation for the predisposition of those socio-emotional factors of these athletes that are considered in the search for sensations and the achievement of greater satisfaction with life. In this study, 4818 people with a sports license in the Spanish Federation of Mountain and Climbing Sports (FEDME) participated; 67.1% were men and 32.9% women. The mean age of the participants was 49.42 years (±11.9), between a range of 18 to 76 years. The following instruments were used: the Self-concept scale (AF5), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Questionnaire and the Life satisfaction scale (SWLS). The objective of this research was to study the enhancing effect of self-esteem between self-concept (physical, emotional and social) and life satisfaction. A reflective model of structural equations (PLS-SEM) was applied based on the proposed theoretical framework from an explanatory–predictive perspective. The results show the self-esteem determination coefficients [(Q2 = 0.141); (R2 = 0.302)] and life satisfaction [(Q2 = 0.243); (R2 = 0.342)] in the estimation of the model, indicating an adequate fit. Mountaineering and climbing sports can be very rewarding, but they can also be challenging and frustrating. Having a good self-concept and good self-esteem allows the athlete to enjoy achieving greater life satisfaction.
Microwave Common-Frequency Absorption/Transmission Mode Conversion Based on Active Components
Authors: Luo Yisen , Wang Wenning , Han Chong-Zhi , Ding Tongyu
Published: June 2023

To overcome the limitations of traditional frequency selective surfaces in flexible state switching at the same frequency, this paper proposes a novel active frequency selective surface (AFSS) that simultaneously exhibits conversion between absorption and transmission modes at the same frequency band. By welding PIN diodes on the bottom structure of the AFSS, the conversion between band-pass (transmission) and band-stop (absorption) filters can be controlled electronically. In the common-frequency switch between absorption and transmission modes, the impedance matching of the AFSS is attained by altering the capacitance value of the varactors embedded on the top structure of the AFSS. The functionalities of the proposed AFSS design are investigated by full-wave simulations (in HFSS software) at 11.4 GHz. Furthermore, the operating principle is analyzed using an equivalent circuit model (in AWR software). To verify the concept, a prototype is manufactured, and the responses of mode switching are measured by adjusting the bias voltage. The measurement result is consistent with the simulation analysis. Owing to the tunability of the varactors, the structural asymmetry is compensated to achieve 80% absorptivity and transmissivity within a field of view of ±35°. The developed AFSS structure is highly valuable to be used in scenarios such as antenna domes, etc.
Oxide Electric Field-Induced Degradation of SiC MOSFET for Heavy-Ion Irradiation
Authors: Liang Xiaowen , Feng Haonan , Xiang Yutang , Sun Jing , Wei Ying , Zhang Dan , Li Yudong , Feng Jie , Yu Xuefeng , Guo Qi
Published: June 2023

This work presents an experimental study of heavy-ion irradiation with different particle linear energy transfer (LET), gate biases, and drain biases. The results reveal that when the irradiation biases are low, the SiC MOSFET does not experience single event effect (SEE) and the electrical properties remain unchanged (the devices are in the safe operating area (SOA)). However, the oxide breakdown voltage of the device is significantly decreased due to the latent damage generated by the irradiation. The experimental results, along with TCAD simulations, suggest that the latent damage induced by the irradiation in the gate oxide is closely related to the peak electric field in the gate oxide at the time of particle incidence. This peak electric field is determined by the potential difference between the two sides of the gate oxide, which is affected by the particle LET, gate biases, and drain biases together. The high potential is determined by the combined effect of the LET and the drain-source voltage. The impact ionization of the particle by the applied electric field causes the accumulation of holes in the JFET oxide, which leads to a decrease in the doping of the N− epitaxial layer and eventually causes a rise in the high potential near the JFET oxide. The low potential is determined by the gate bias, and the negative bias applied to the gate can further increase the potential difference between the two sides of the oxide, causing an increase in the peak electric field in the gate oxide and aggravating the gate oxide damage.
Designing the Optimal Configuration of a Small Power System for Autonomous Power Supply of Weather Station Equipment
Authors: Malozyomov Boris V. , Martyushev Nikita V. , Voitovich Elena V. , Kononenko Roman V. , Konyukhov Vladimir Yu. , Tynchenko Vadim , Kukartsev Viktor Alekseevich , Tynchenko Yadviga Aleksandrovna
Published: June 2023

Autonomous power systems serving remote areas with weather stations with small settlements are characterized by a fairly high cost of generating electricity and the purchase and delivery of fuel. In addition, diesel power plants require regular maintenance, have a relatively short service life during continuous operation and produce a large amount of emissions into the environment. This article discusses various methods of placing solar panels in the space for the autonomous power supply of weather station equipment. The principles of these methods are described and their advantages and disadvantages are outlined. The optimal algorithms of functioning for photomodules are described and their comparison regarding the main, significant parameters is carried out. The choice of the most effective algorithm for use at a weather station is made. The effective positioning of solar panels is also calculated, and positioning conditions are determined depending on the territorial location and various environmental conditions. Simulation of the power supply system of a weather station consisting of solar panels, batteries and inverters is performed. As a result, a practical example of the application of the method of selecting the optimal composition of equipment for a hybrid power system of a weather station territorially located in Siberia with different configurations of equipment is considered. In numerical terms, it was possible to reduce the cost of power equipment operation by more than 60% with a fairly low payback period of 5.5 years and an increased reliability of the power system, which is very important for autonomous power systems of northern weather stations.
The Statutory Model of Energy Performance Contracting as a Means of Improving Energy Efficiency in Public Sector Units as Seen in the Example of Polish Legal Policies
Authors: Wacinkiewicz Daniel , Słotwiński Szymon
Published: June 2023

The intensification of the EU’s institutional action to ensure an appropriate level of energy efficiency demonstrates the key role of pro-saving measures and energy efficiency measures to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050. Achieving this goal is therefore also possible through energy performance contracting (EPC), which enables specialised entities called energy service companies (ESCOs) to operate in the market. The creation of an appropriate and favourable framework at the EU level for the use of EPCs does not imply an identical approach by all individual member states. For this reason, the domestic policy of one member state, Poland, was contrasted with the EU framework. Under the influence of the EU guidelines and regulations, the EPC legislations in Poland was amended. This provided a reason to analyse the importance of legal factors (conditions) in implementing the EPC model, especially from the perspective of public institutions. In light of the above, it was attempted to show whether legal regulations would be sufficient to increase the number and level of ESCO projects in public sector units and whether they would remove the barriers to EPC development that are seen in public–private partnerships and the impact of obligations under an energy efficiency improvement agreement on the level of government debt or public finance sector deficit. This paper adopts research methods that are typical to studying EPC topics; however, the research conducted here is theoretical (descriptive analysis) and of dogmatic legal in nature.
Mixed Plantations Improve Soil Bacterial Similarity by Reducing Heterogeneous Environmental Selection
Authors: Dai Handan , Dong Biao , Yang Zhu , Yuan Yidan , Tan Yuhua , Huang Yongtao , Zhang Xiao
Published: June 2023

Monocultures and mixed plantations have long been applied in forestry and landscape restoration to maximize the benefits of plantations. These different plantations can have unpredictable effects on the forest ecosystem. Monocultures and mixed plantations may influence soil bacterial communities, yet the underlying mechanisms of the soil bacterial community similarity response to monocultures and mixed plantations are still unknown. This study aimed to unravel how the community assembly processes and their associated factors mediate soil bacterial community similarity among monocultures and mixed plantations. We present a conceptual model to understand the mechanisms controlling soil bacterial community similarity among monocultures and mixed plantations. We tested these conceptual model hypotheses and the underlying mechanisms by conducting experiments in three plantation forest regions in southern China. We found that different monocultures led to a highly dissimilar environment, which increased heterogeneous selection and resulted in a high dissimilarity of soil bacterial communities among monocultures. Compared with monocultures, mixed plantations afford more similar environmental conditions for soil bacterial communities and decrease the heterogeneous selection process, leading to a higher soil bacterial similarity among mixed plantations. In addition, we demonstrate that stochastic processes are also the dominant driver in determining the soil bacterial community similarity among mixed plantations. Overall, the conversion from monocultures to mixed plantations affects the community assembly process by altering environmental similarity and edaphic factors, subsequently determining the similarity of soil bacterial communities. Our study can provide scientific guidance for exploring the role of mixed plantations in forest management.
Effects of Drought and Flooding on Growth and Physiology of Cinnamomum camphora Seedlings
Authors: Zhao Yongju , Wang Defu , Duan Honglang
Published: June 2023

In the context of climate change, future patterns of precipitation are expected to increase the intensity and frequency of drought and flooding stress. This is also likely to result in more frequent flooding–drought alternation events. Drought and flooding stress can have negative effects on tree morphology, physiology, and biochemistry, which can potentially pose long-term threats to tree survival and further disrupt the stability of forest ecosystems. However, it remains unclear how trees would cope with these stressors and their alternations through growth and physiology responses. Potted seedlings of C. camphora were grown under a rainout shelter in the field with four water treatments for 40 days: well-watered (WW), drought stress (DS), flooding stress (FS) and flooding–drought alternation (FDF). Growth, leaf gas exchange, water potential, and biochemical traits were measured. Results show different seedling growth patterns under drought and flooding stress. Drought increased the root-to-shoot ratio (+25%) but flooding favored leaf growth (+33%). Decreases in photosynthesis under drought and flooding were mainly related to stomatal limitations, accompanied by abscisic acid accumulation under drought but not under flooding. Drought reduced water potential, and flooding–drought alternation only decreased water potential in its drought phase. Flooding treatment had no effect on water potential. Drought treatment increased the proline concentrations (+74%) and carbon isotopic composition (+3.7%), but all treatments had no effect on the concentrations of elements in leaves. Drought stress led to carbon depletion in both stem and root, whereas flooding stress primarily induced carbon depletion in the root. Flooding–drought alternation was accompanied by complex physiological responses, including physiological recovery when the stress (flood, drought) was relieved. Our results have shown the different effects of drought and flooding on the growth and physiology of C. camphora seedlings, emphasizing the need to consider specific water stress conditions in future studies and providing a theoretical basis for better management of this tree species in urban areas under variable rainfall patterns.
Effects of Plasma Treatment on the Surface Characteristics and Bonding Performance of Pinus massoniana Wood
Authors: Tu Yuan , Liang Jiankun , Yu Liping , Wu Zhigang , Xi Xuedong , Zhang Bengang , Tian Meifen , Li De , Xiao Guoming
Published: June 2023

Rosin has a great influence on the bonding of Pinus massoniana wood, and surface modification is an important way to solve this problem. In this study, Pinus massoniana wood was treated by plasma, and the effects of plasma treatment on the bonding performance and surface characteristics were investigated. The results showed the following: (1) After plasma treatment, the contact angle of Pinus massoniana wood was significantly reduced and the surface energy was significantly increased from 28.42 × 10−7 to 74.75 × 10−7 J·cm−2, and the surface wettability was also greatly improved. (2) Plasma high-energy particles experience simultaneous physical and chemical effects on the surface of Pinus massoniana wood. The former formed a micro-etched roughness on the wood surface and led to the increase in surface dispersion force, while the latter increased the aggregation and activity of polar groups on the wood surface and the degradation of some wood components and rosin, resulting in the increase in surface polar force and the enhancement of wettability. (3) After plasma treatment, the reactivity of wood was enhanced, and the cross-linking degree with adhesive and the heat release were increased. The bonding strength of Pinus massoniana wood could be improved: dry bonding from 5.08 to 5.38 MPa, boiling-water bonding strength from 4.12 to 4.53 MPa, cold-water bonding strength from 3.84 to 4.51 MPa, and the bonding stability and reliability of glued specimens were also improved.
Future Climate Effects on Basal Stem Rot of Conventional and Modified Oil Palm in Indonesia and Thailand
Authors: Paterson Robert Russell Monteith
Published: June 2023

Oil palms (OP) produce palm oil, a unique commodity without commercial alternatives. A serious disease of OP is basal stem rot (BSR) caused by Ganoderma boninense Pat. Climate change will likely increase BSR, thereby causing mortality of OP and reduced yields of palm oil. Work is being undertaken to produce modified OP (mOP) to resist BSR, although this will take decades for full development, if successfully produced at all. mOP will not be 100% effective, and it would be useful to know the effect of mOP on the key parameters of BSR incidence, OP mortality, and yield loss. The current paper employed CLIMEX modeling of suitable climates for OP and modeling narratives for Indonesia and Thailand. Indonesia is the largest producer of OP and Thailand is a much smaller manufacturer, and it was informative to compare these two countries. The gains from using mOP were substantial compared to the current production of some other continents and countries. The current paper, for the first time, assessed how climate change will affect BSR parameters for conventional and mOP. Greater consideration of the potential benefits of mOP is required to justify investing in the technology.
Response of C:N:P Stoichiometry to Phosphorus Addition and Homeostasis of Plant Tissues in a Subtropical Slash Pine Plantation
Authors: Jia Ting , Yi Min , Chen Fusheng , Lai Meng , Jin Cangfu , Nie Zixuan , Zhou Linjin , Xie Jinwen , Zhang Lu
Published: June 2023

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is commonly used in subtropical plantations to augment nutrients including carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and P to maintain plants engaged in metabolism. Stoichiometric homeostasis reflects the adaptation of plants to various environments (including P fertilizer supply rates). It is thus of great significance to understand C:N:P stoichiometry in the plant–litter–soil system under P addition and the stoichiometric homeostasis of plant tissues for the P fertilization management of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm) plantations. In subtropical China, we measured the C, N, and P contents in root, branch, needle, litter, and soil in slash pine plantations fertilized with four treatments, P1 (25 kg P ha1 yr1), P2 (50 kg P ha1 yr1), P3 (100 kg P ha1 yr1), and a control (CK), and calculated the stoichiometric homeostasis of plant tissues. The results show that P3 treatment increased the C, N, and P contents of the needle. P2 and P3 treatments increased the P content of the litter and the N:P ratio of the root while decreasing the C:N ratio of the root. P addition treatments increased C and P element accumulation in soil but had no effect on soil stoichiometry. The nutrient contents of needle and branch were higher than those of root and litter, indicating that slash pine was more inclined to allocate nutrients to the aboveground tissues. The stoichiometric homeostasis of C, N, and P among plant tissues was graded as follows: root > branch > needle. The needle’s nutritional homeostasis was C > N > P, with 1/H values of 0.08, 0.34, and 0.74, respectively. These findings demonstrate that during P addition, the C, N, and P stoichiometric homeostasis varied among plant tissues and element types. In conclusion, P application altered nutrient distribution in the plant–litter–soil system, alleviating P restriction in slash pine forests in southern China. P addition levels should be finely adjusted in the future for longer-term observation trials, and the trade-off between P addition rates and economic and ecological advantages should be properly examined.
Synonyms, Antonyms and Factual Knowledge in BERT Heads
Authors: Serina Lorenzo , Putelli Luca , Gerevini Alfonso , Serina Ivan
Published: June 2023

In recent years, many studies have been devoted to discovering the inner workings of Transformer-based models, such as BERT, for instance, attempting to identify what information is contained within them. However, little is known about how these models store this information in their millions of parameters and which parts of the architecture are the most important. In this work, we propose an approach to identify self-attention mechanisms, called heads, that contain semantic and real-world factual knowledge in BERT. Our approach includes a metric computed from attention weights and exploits a standard clustering algorithm for extracting the most relevant connections between tokens in a head. In our experimental analysis, we focus on how heads can connect synonyms, antonyms and several types of factual knowledge regarding subjects such as geography and medicine.
Mapping the Most Susceptible Regions to Fire in Portugal
Authors: Ermitão Tiago , Páscoa Patrícia , Trigo Isabel , Alonso Catarina , Gouveia Célia
Published: June 2023

Mediterranean European countries, including Portugal, are considered fire-prone regions, being affected by fire events every summer. Nonetheless, Portugal has been recording large burned areas over the last 20 years, which are not only strongly associated with hot and dry conditions, but also with high fuel availability in the ecosystems. Due to recent catastrophic fire seasons, Portugal has been implementing preventive policies during the pre-fire season, which, in turn, can optimize combat strategies during the fire season. In this context, our study contributes to fire prevention by identifying the regions with the highest potential to burn. The application of a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to a range of climatological, ecological, and biophysical variables, either provided by remote sensing or reanalysis products, and known to be linked with diverse fire-vulnerability factors, allows the objective identification of the regions with the highest susceptibility to burn. The central and southernmost areas of Portugal present a stronger signal in the PCA, suggesting a likely high exposure to future fire events. The fuel accumulation over several months, in conjunction with elevation and fire weather conditions, are the terms out of the retained PCs that can explain most of the variability. The quality assessment performed for the burned areas in 2022 showed that they occurred in highly susceptible areas, highlighting the usefulness of the proposed methodology.
A Prediction Model for Smoke Spread Path in High Rise Building Fires Based on Graph Theory
Authors: Zhao Haoyou , Yu Zhaoyang , Zhu Jinpeng
Published: June 2023

To satisfy the demand for rapid prediction of smoke transmission paths in high-rise building fires, a graph-based model was developed. The model represents a high-rise building as a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) grid model and employs computer simulation to determine the smoke transmission path and generate prediction results. The results were compared with those from similar simulations and were found to be consistent, indicating the feasibility and objective nature of the prediction results. Compared to other methods, this model has a shorter modeling time and can quickly provide prediction results. Furthermore, it can be applied to buildings of any structure, thus serving as a reference for smoke control design in high-rise building fire protection systems, particularly in cases involving complex internal structures.
A New Perspective on Hydrogen Chloride Scavenging at High Temperatures for Reducing the Smoke Acidity of PVC Cables in Fires, IV: The Impact of Acid Scavengers at High Temperatures on Flame Retardance and Smoke Emission
Authors: Bassi Iacopo , Delchiaro Francesca , Bandinelli Claudia , Mazzocchetti Laura , Salatelli Elisabetta , Sarti Gianluca
Published: June 2023

In PVC compounds, hydrogen chloride plays a fundamental role in ·H and ·OH radical trapping, lowering the flame energy during combustion. Furthermore, it yields actual Lewis acids promoting the cross-linking of the polyene sequences from PVC degradation and bringing a char layer, protecting PVC items from flames. Therefore, PVC is inherently flame-retarded. However, plasticized PVC requires flame retardants and smoke suppressants to enhance fire performance. Low-smoke acidity PVC compounds have been developed to reduce the HCl emission during combustion and, therefore, the acidity of the smoke. They contain potent acid scavengers capable of acting at high temperatures. They react with hydrogen chloride in the condensed phase, making it unavailable in the gas and even in the condensed phase, compromising the reaction to fire and enhancing the smoke produced during the combustion. The effect of the sequestration of hydrogen chloride in PVC compounds for cables by potent acid scavengers is studied in this paper through measurements of oxygen index, heat release, and smoke production. It is noteworthy that the potent acid scavengers strongly affect parameters such as the oxygen index, the fire growth rate in cone calorimetry, the specific (total) heat capacity, and the specific heat of combustion of fuel gases in micro combustion calorimetry. In some formulations, acid scavengers reduce the oxygen index below the values of the formulations without flame retardants and double their fire growth rate. In fact, they neutralize the action of antimony trioxide and Lewis acid precursors commonly used as flame retardants and smoke suppressants in PVC items, making them prone to ignite, release smoke, and spread flame. A new generation of flame retardants and smoke suppressants is needed to keep together the low-smoke acidity and the fire performance in PVC items.
Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Pressure Assessment: Insights from 4D-Flow Pressure Mapping
Authors: Ihsan Ali Safia , Patton David , Myers Kimberley A. , Garcia Julio
Published: June 2023

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most prevalent cyanotic congenital heart defect (CHD) that alters normal blood flow through the heart and accounts for 10% of all CHD. Pulmonary stenosis and regurgitation are common in adults who have undergone TOF repair (rTOF) and can impact the load on the right ventricle, blood flow pressure, and pulmonary hemodynamics. Pressure mapping, obtained through 4D-flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D-flow MRI), has been applied to identify abnormal heart hemodynamics in CHD. Hence, the aim of this research was to compare pressure drop and relative pressures between patients with repaired TOF (rTOF) and healthy volunteers. An in vitro validation was performed, followed by an in vivo validation. We hypothesized that pressure drop is a more stable pressure mapping method than relative pressures to detect altered hemodynamics. A total of 36 subjects, 18 rTOF patients and 18 controls underwent cardiac MRI scans and 4D-flow MRI. Pressure drops and relative pressures in the MPA were higher in rTOF patients compared to the controls (p < 0.05). Following the in vitro validation, pressure drops proved to be a more stable pressure mapping method than relative pressures, as the flow loses its laminarity and becomes more turbulent. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that flow hemodynamics in rTOF can exhibit altered pressure maps. Pressure mapping can help provide further insight into rTOF patients’ hemodynamics to improve patient care and clinical decisions.
A Mock Circulation Loop to Characterize In Vitro Hemodynamics in Human Systemic Arteries with Stenosis
Authors: Hong Weichen , Yu Huidan , Chen Jun , Talamantes John , Rollins Dave M. , Fang Xin , Long Jianyun , Xu Chenke , Sawchuk Alan P.
Published: June 2023

Vascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality and a major cause of disability for Americans, and arterial stenosis is its most common form in systemic arteries. Hemodynamic characterization in a stenosed arterial system plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of its lesion severity and the decision-making process for revascularization, but it is not readily available in the current clinical measurements. The newly emerged image-based computational hemodynamics (ICHD) technique provides great potential to characterize the hemodynamics with fine temporospatial resolutions in realistic human vessels, but medical data is rather limited for validation requirements. We present an image-based experimental hemodynamics (IEHD) technique through a mock circulation loop (MCL) to bridge this critical gap. The MCL mimics blood circulation in human stenosed systemic arterial systems that can be either 3D-printed silicone, artificial, or cadaver arteries and thus enables in vitro measurement of hemodynamics. In this work, we focus on the development and validation of the MCL for the in vitro measurement of blood pressure in stenosed silicone arteries anatomically extracted from medical imaging data. Five renal and six iliac patient cases are studied. The pressure data from IEHD were compared with those from ICHD and medical measurement. The good agreements demonstrate the reliability of IEHD. We also conducted two parametric studies to demonstrate the medical applicability of IEHD. One was the cardiovascular response to MCL parameters. We found that blood pressure has a linear correlation with stroke volume and heart rate. Another was the effect of arterial stenosis, characterized by the volumetric reduction (VR) of the arterial lumen, on the trans-stenotic pressure gradient (TSPG). We parametrically varied the stenosis degree and measured the corresponding TSPG. The TSPG-VR curve provides a critical VR that can be used to assess the true hemodynamic severity of the stenosis. Meanwhile, the TSPG at VR = 0 can predict the potential pressure improvement after revascularization. Unlike the majority of existing MCLs that are mainly used to test medical devices involving heart function, this MCL is unique in its specific focus on pressure measurement in stenosed human systemic arteries. Meanwhile, rigorous hemodynamic characterization through concurrent IEHD and ICHD will significantly enhance our current understanding of the pathophysiology of stenosis and contribute to advancements in the medical treatment of arterial stenosis.
Diet Quality and Its Association with Lifestyle and Dietary Behaviors among Croatian Students during Two COVID-19 Lockdowns
Authors: Pfeifer Danijela , Rešetar Josip , Šteković Martin , Czlapka-Matyasik Magdalena , Verbanac Donatella , Gajdoš Kljusurić Jasenka
Published: June 2023

The present study aims to assess the diet quality, the relationship between diet quality and lifestyle, and the association of diet quality with body mass index and students’ field of study during COVID-19 lockdown periods (spring and winter) in 2020. Datasets were collected via an anonymous online self-reported questionnaire distributed during two time periods using social media. A total of 1939 Croatian students (82.4% women and 17.6% men) completed the questionnaire. Diet quality was assessed using the pro-healthy diet index (pHDI) and non-healthy diet index (nHDI). An increase in diet quality was noted during both lockdown periods but was lower during the winter lockdown. Cooking for oneself was associated with a high level of pHDI, while ordering or buying ready-to-eat food was linked to a low level of pHDI. Additionally, a decrease in screen time and increased physical activity was associated with high pHDI values. Furthermore, during both lockdown periods, students with a BMI above 30 kg/m2 had the highest nHDI values compared to other students. Although positive changes were found during both lockdown periods, they were less pronounced throughout the winter lockdown. Further studies are needed to elucidate the real impact of these changes in the post-COVID period.
Preparation and Identification of Peptides with α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity from Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes) Protein
Authors: Zhang Yu , Chen Yu , Liu Xinyang , Wang Wei , Wang Junhong , Li Xue , Sun Suling
Published: June 2023

The shiitake mushroom is the most commonly cultivated edible mushroom in the world, and is rich in protein. This study aims to obtain the peptides with α-glucosidase inhibition activity from shiitake mushroom protein hydrolysate. The conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis of shiitake mushroom protein were optimized by response surface test. The results showed that the optimal conditions were as follows: the E/S was 3390 U/g, the solid–liquid ratio was 1:20, the hydrolysis temperature and time were 46 °C and 3.4 h, respectively, and the pH was 7. The active peptides were separated by gel filtration and identified by LC-MS/MS analysis and virtual screening. The results indicated that fourteen peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS. Among them, four new peptides (EGEPKLP, KDDLRSP, TPELKL, and LDYGKL) with the higher docking score were selected and chemically synthesized to verify their inhibition activity. The IC50 values of EGEPKLP, KDDLRSP, TPELKL, and LDYGKL for α-glucosidase inhibition activity ranged from 452 ± 36 μmol/L to 696 ± 39 μmol/L. The molecular docking results showed that the hydrogen bond and arene–cation bond were the two major interactions between four peptides and 2QMJ. The hydrogen bonds were crucial to the inhibition activity of α-glucosidase. The results indicate the potential of using the peptides from shiitake mushroom protein as functional food with α-glucosidase inhibition activity.
Rework Potential of Soy and Pea Protein Isolates in High-Moisture Extrusion
Authors: Snel Silvia J. E. , Amroussi Yasmine , van der Goot Atze Jan , Beyrer Michael
Published: June 2023

High-moisture extrusion (HME) is an effective process to make fibrous products that can be used as meat analogues. In this study, the effect of extrusion of already extruded products (i.e., re-extrusion) was tested with the aim to explore the potential of rework in HME. The rework of material is important because it is a route to reduce waste, which is always produced, for example during the start or at the end of a production run. Pea and soy protein isolates (PPI and SPI) were first extruded, then freeze-dried and ground, and extruded again. The visual and textural properties of the fibrous products were evaluated. Also, the rheological properties, solubility, and water-holding capacity (WHC) of the ingredients and the products after the first and second extrusion were quantified. The obtained freeze-dried powders after the first HME cycle had a reduction in solubility of 15% for PPI and 74% for SPI. Furthermore, WHC was reduced by 65% and 17% for PPI and SPI, respectively. After the second HME cycle, the reduction in solubility and WHC was augmented to 22% and 90% for PPI, and 79% and 63% for SPI. No effect on stock and loss moduli after heating and cooling were found, even after two HME cycles. SPI fibrous products did not differ in cutting strength, anisotropy index, or visual appearance after re-extrusion. Only, a decrease in hardness was detected, from 62.0 N to 51.1 N. For PPI, re-extrusion did reduce the cutting force and hardness but not the anisotropy index. It was concluded that even though HME induces a loss of solubility and WHC, this did not affect the fibrous texture formation of the protein. This means that the texture formed during HME does not depend on the process history and that rework is thus possible for fibrous products.
Flavor Characterization of Native Xinjiang Flat Peaches Based on Constructing Aroma Fingerprinting and Stoichiometry Analysis
Authors: Li Chunyan , Xu Youyou , Wu Huimin , Zhao Ruirui , Wang Xinwei , Wang Fangfang , Fu Qingquan , Tang Tiantian , Shi Xuewei , Wang Bin
Published: June 2023

The flat peach is a high economic value table fruit possessing excellent quality and a unique aroma. This article investigated the quality characteristics and aroma fingerprinting of flat peaches (Qingpan, QP; Ruipan 2, R2; Ruipan 4, R4; Wanpan, WP) from Xinjiang in terms of taste, antioxidant capacity, and volatile aroma compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HS-SPME-GC-MS. The results showed that the flat peaches had a good taste and high antioxidant capacity, mainly due to the high sugar–low acid property and high levels of phenolic compounds. This study found that sucrose (63.86~73.86%) was the main sugar, and malic acid (5.93~14.96%) and quinic acid (5.25~15.01%) were the main organic acids. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid (main phenolic compound), epicatechin, rutin, catechin, proanthocyanidin B1, and neochlorogenic acid were positively related to the antioxidant activity of flat peaches. All flat peaches had similar aroma characteristics and were rich in aromatic content. Aldehydes (especially benzaldehyde and 2-hexenal) and esters were the main volatile compounds. The aroma fingerprinting of flat peaches consisted of hexanal, 2-hexenal, nonanal, decanal, benzaldehyde, 2,4-decadienal, dihydro-β-ionone, 6-pentylpyran-2-one, 2-hexenyl acetate, ethyl caprylate, γ-decalactone, and theaspirane, with a “peach-like”, “fruit”, and “coconut-like” aroma. Among them, 2,4-decadienal, 2-hexenyl acetate, and theaspirane were the characteristic aroma compounds of flat peaches. The results provide a theoretical basis for the industrial application of the special aroma of flat peaches.
Quality Information Detection of Agaricus bisporus Based on a Portable Spectrum Acquisition Device
Authors: Ji Jiangtao , He Yongkang , Zhao Kaixuan , Zhang Mengke , Li Mengsong , Li Hongzhen
Published: June 2023

As one of the most popular edible fungi in the market, the quality of Agaricus bisporus will determine its sales volume. Therefore, to achieve rapid and nondestructive testing of the quality of Agaricus bisporus, this study first built a portable spectrum acquisition device for Agaricus bisporus. The Ocean Spectromeper was used to calibrate the spectral data of the device, and the linear regression analysis method was combined to analyze the two. The results showed that the Pearson correlation coefficient of significance between the two was 0.98. Then, the spectral data of Agaricus bisporus were collected, the spectral characteristic wavelength of Agaricus bisporus was extracted by the SPA and PCA algorithms, and the moisture content and whiteness prediction models based on a BP neural network and PLSR, respectively, were built. The parameters of the BP neural network model were optimized by SSA. The R2 values for the final moisture content and the predicted whiteness were 0.95 and 0.99, and the RMSE values were 5.04% and 0.60, respectively. The results show that the portable spectral acquisition and analysis device can be used for the accurate and rapid quality detection of Agaricus bisporus.
Effect of Geographical Location on the Phenolic and Mineral Composition of Chetoui Olive Leaves
Authors: Zakraoui Mariem , Hannachi Hédia , Pasković Igor , Vidović Nikolina , Polić Pasković Marija , Palčić Igor , Major Nikola , Goreta Ban Smiljana , Hamrouni Lamia
Published: June 2023

In this study, we investigated the influence of pedological parameters and variation of altitude on the mineral nutrients, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activities of olive leaves. Samples of the Chetoui cultivar were collected from eight geographical locations with different altitudes. Levels of phenolic compounds varied according to the altitude. Classification of the locations revealed that altitude 1 (>500 m) was characterized by high levels of secoiridoids and simple phenols, while altitude 2 (500–300 m) and altitude 3 (<300 m) were higher in flavonoids. Levels of Mn, Ca and B in the leaves and level of Zn in the soil were significantly correlated with the abundance of oleuropein and luteolin-7-O glucoside, the most important phenols in Chetoui olive leaves. The results suggest that, in addition to pedological criteria, environmental conditions also influence the formation of phenolic compounds.
Evasion Differential Game of Multiple Pursuers and a Single Evader with Geometric Constraints in ℓ2
Authors: Ibragimov Gafurjan , Ruziboev Marks , Zaynabiddinov Ibroximjon , Pansera Bruno Antonio
Published: June 2023

We investigate a differential evasion game with multiple pursuers and an evader for the infinite systems of differential equations in ℓ2. The control functions of the players are subject to geometric constraints. The pursuers’ goal is to bring the state of at least one of the controlled systems to the origin of ℓ2, while the evader’s goal is to prevent this from happening in a finite interval of time. We derive a sufficient condition for evasion from any initial state and construct an evasion strategy for the evader.
Therapeutic Targeting of RNA Splicing in Cancer
Authors: Bonner Elizabeth A. , Lee Stanley C.
Published: June 2023

RNA splicing is a key regulatory step in the proper control of gene expression. It is a highly dynamic process orchestrated by the spliceosome, a macro-molecular machinery that consists of protein and RNA components. The dysregulation of RNA splicing has been observed in many human pathologies ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to cancer. The recent identification of recurrent mutations in the core components of the spliceosome in hematologic malignancies has advanced our knowledge of how splicing alterations contribute to disease pathogenesis. This review article will discuss our current understanding of how aberrant RNA splicing regulation drives tumor initiation and progression. We will also review current therapeutic modalities and highlight emerging technologies designed to target RNA splicing for cancer treatment.
Socio-Demographic, Lifestyle, and Clinical Characteristics of Early and Later Weight Status in Older Adults: Secondary Analysis of the ASPREE Trial and ALSOP Sub-Study
Authors: Alharbi Tagrid A. , Owen Alice J. , Ryan Joanne , Gasevic Danijela , McNeil John J. , Woods Robyn L. , Nelson Mark R. , Freak-Poli Rosanne
Published: June 2023

Objective: To identify the socio-demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics associated with self-reported weight status in early (age 18 years) and late (age ≥ 70 years) adulthood. Methods: The number of participants was 11,288, who were relatively healthy community-dwelling Australian adults aged ≥70 years (mean age 75.1 ± 4.2 years) in the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) sub-study. Self-reported weight at the study baseline (age ≥ 70 years) and recalled weight at age 18 years were collected. Height measured at baseline was used to calculate the BMI at both time points. Individuals were categorised into one of five ‘lifetime’ weight status groups: healthy weight (at both age 18 year and ≥70 years), overweight (at either or both times), non-obese (age 18 year) to obesity (age ≥70 years), obesity (age 18 years) to non-obese (age ≥ 70 years), and early and later life obesity (at age 18 years and ≥70 years). Results: Participants who experienced obesity in early and/or late adulthood were at a higher risk of adverse clinical characteristics. Obesity in late adulthood (regardless of early adulthood weight status) was associated with high proportions of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia, whereas obesity in early adulthood (regardless of late adulthood weight status) was associated with lower cognitive scores (on all four measures). Discussion/Conclusion: Healthy or overweight weight status in early and later adulthood was associated with more favourable socioeconomic, lifestyle, and clinical measures. Obesity in early adulthood was associated with lower cognitive function in later adulthood, whereas obesity in later adulthood was associated with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia.