bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crucial textural properties of braised pork to evaluate the oral mastication behavior and its water distribution to influence tenderness
Authors: Wang Xiaomin , Huang Meigui , Yao Yishun , Yu Jingyang , Cui Heping , Hayat Khizar , Zhang Xiaoming , Ho Chi‐Tang
Published: August 2024

The complex composition of braised pork, including lean meat, pigskin, and fat, makes it difficult for sensory evaluation of its texture properties. This study investigated the correlation between sensory texture attributes and physicochemical properties to achieve an objective and comprehensive evaluation of the texture of braised pork. Sensory analysis demonstrated that the overall texture acceptability of braised pork was significantly and negatively influenced by sensory texture attributes (including sensory hardness, chewiness, and toughness), while it was positively impacted by sensory adhesiveness, softness, and juiciness. Shear force and texture profile analysis (TPA) variables, reflecting mastication behavior, were used to characterize the textural properties of braised pork. They were closely related to water distribution, with a higher proportion of immobilized water (P21), indicating a higher water holding capacity and a more tender texture. Correlation analysis between sensory texture attributes and physicochemical properties through partial least squares regression further revealed significant associations between shear force, TPA variables, and sensory texture attributes. Moreover, the proportion of immobilized water (P21) significantly and negatively affected sensory hardness and chewiness, whereas the proportion of free water (P22) significantly influenced sensory toughness. Sensory texture attributes could be well predicted by the physicochemical properties by projecting test samples onto calibration models established by known samples. Therefore, a combination of sensory and instrumental measures can reliably reflect the texture properties of braised pork.

Practical Application

The combination of sensory and instrumental methods is an effective strategy to accurately and objectively evaluate the texture properties of braised pork, which overcomes the limitations caused by the complexity of the composition and texture traits of braised pork. The accurate evaluation and standardization of texture properties is an important premise for the repeatable and stable cooking of traditional braised pork. Furthermore, this research method and findings can also be applied to guide the procedural optimization of smart appliances (e.g., induction cookers) for cooking braised pork.
Knockdown of NFIL3 modulates the AMPK pathway to suppress excessive cell proliferation, inflammation, and migration in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Qiang Fuyong , Xuan Dan , Liu Jinghua , Sheng Jun
Published: August 2024

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one autoimmune disease that badly influences the lives of humans. Nuclear factor interleukin 3 (NFIL3) has been elucidated to join into the progression of diversiform diseases. According to a recent report, NFIL3 expression levels are increased in the peripheral blood and synovial tissues of individuals with RA. However, the detailed regulatory impacts of NFIL3 and associated pathways in RA progression need more investigations.

Methods

The mRNA and protein expressions were tested through RT‐qPCR and western blot. The cell proliferation was evaluated through CCK‐8 and EdU assay. The cell apoptosis was measured through flow cytometry. The levels of TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐8 were assessed through ELISA. The cell migration and invasion were tested through Transwell assay.

Results

In this study, NFIL3 exhibited higher expression in RA fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (interleukin‐1β [IL‐1β]‐triggered MH7A cell model). In addition, knockdown of NFIL3 repressed the growth of IL‐1β‐mediated MH7A cells. It was also demonstrated that suppressing NFIL3 resulted in reduced inflammatory reactions in IL‐1β‐mediated MH7A cells. Suppression of NFIL3 alleviated cell migration and invasion in the RA cell model. Ultimately, it was demonstrated that NFIL3 retarded the AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the inhibition of NFIL3 effectively controlled the AMPK/mTOR pathway, thereby suppressing the overactive proliferation, inflammation, and migration of fibroblast‐like synoviocytes in human RA. This discovery implied that NFIL3 can be a serviceable biomarker for RA therapy.
Left ventricular stroke volume decreases due to surgical procedures of anatomical lung resection
Authors: Koike Sachie , Shiina Takayuki , Takasuna Keiichirou
Published: August 2024

Objectives

The influence of lung resection on cardiac function has been reported, and previous studies have mainly focused on right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. As few studies have analyzed changes in left ventricular hemodynamic variables caused by lung resection, we aimed to investigate the perioperative changes in left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV) caused by anatomical lung resection.

Methods

We enrolled 61 patients who underwent anatomical lung resection and perioperative LVSV monitoring. The Flo Trac system was used for dynamic monitoring. We investigated changes in LVSV after lung resection and the factors that affected these changes. The operative procedures that contributed to these changes were also investigated.

Results

LVSV decreased after anatomical lung resection in the majority of patients (n = 38, 62.2%). Operative procedures affecting this change were (a) taping the superior pulmonary vein (SPV; right: V1‐3) before dorsal part procedure (e.g., major fissure division of right upper lobectomy, A1 + 2c, and A4 + 5 division of left upper lobectomy); (b) division of the SPV (right: V1‐3, V4 + 5); (c) division of A6‐10 (in lower lobectomy); and (d) finish division of all vessels.

Conclusions

LVSV decrease was caused by anatomical lung resection in the majority of patients owing to the intraoperative procedures described above.
Planting date impact on flowering, pollinator visitation and yield of mass flowering oilseed crops in the Northern Corn Belt
Authors: Eberle Carrie , Scott Drew A. , Forcella Frank , Gesch Russ W. , Weyers Sharon , Johnson Jane M. F. , Schneider Sharon
Published: August 2024

Declining natural pollinator populations are a potential threat to global food supplies. Mass flowering summer annual oilseeds can provide much needed crop diversity and floral resources to support pollinator communities.

We evaluated how managing planting date affects floral phenology, floral accumulation (flower coverage time × flower area), pollinator visitation, pollinator diversity and yield of nine oilseed crops.

Borage (Borago officinalis L.), calendula (Calendula officinalis L.), crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst), cuphea (Cuphea viscosissima Jacq. × Cuphea lanceolata W. T. Aiton), echium (Echium plantagineum L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), spring camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz), spring canola (Brassica napus L.) and sunflower [Helianthus annuus L.] were grown in Morris, Minnesota during the summers of 2013 and 2014. Each crop was planted on a “standard” planting date of mid‐May and additional planting dates of early May, early June and early July.

Shifting planting dates affected flowering phenology, floral accumulation, pollinator visitation and crop yield. Later planting dates led to later onset of flowering for all crops and affected total floral accumulation for crambe, cuphea and echium. Pollinator visitations changed with planting date and were generally greater with the later planting dates. At least two of the four planting dates supported high yield for each crop.

The ability to maintain high crop yield across a window of planting dates affords growers management options for their fields and can be used to design complementary resource pairing and improve pollinator health through crop diversification and management.
Understanding insect predator–prey interactions using camera trapping: A review of current research and perspectives
Authors: Seimandi‐Corda Gaëtan , Hood Thomas , Cook Samantha M.
Published: August 2024

Cameras are increasingly used by ecologists to study species distribution and interactions. They are mainly used to study large animals such as mammals but can also be used to record small invertebrates, including insects.

Camera traps, capturing images within a specified field of view, can be used for biomonitoring and investigating insect‐related interactions, such as predation. Understanding predation on insect prey has direct implications for agriculture and conservation biology, enabling predator species identification and quantification of biological control.

This review examines 28 studies published between 1988 and March 2024 focusing on the use of cameras to monitor insect predator–prey interactions, predominantly targeting agricultural pests. Studies varied in recording equipment used and tended to be spatially and temporally limited, making results difficult to generalise at larger scale.

We provide an overview of equipment options, camera settings, the merits of video versus picture recording, night‐time imaging strategies, trigger mechanisms, equipment costs, and strategies for managing theft and vandalism. Additionally, we discuss avenues for improving image processing efficiency, including enhancing predator identification through artificial intelligence methods. Challenges related to limitations in the taxonomic levels of predator identification are also addressed.

Finally, we offer guidelines for researchers interested in using camera technology and propose future perspectives on their use in insect conservation and biocontrol efforts.
Spatial Activation of Autophagy in Human Placenta‐Related Tissue During Labor: A Possible Mechanism for Labor Onset
Authors: Shang Jing , Wang Zhijian , Huang Yingying , Wu Yuyu , Jin Jin
Published: August 2024

Introduction

To explore the mechanisms of labor by investigating the autophagy of placental and fetal membranes tissue in normal pregnant women.

Methods

Placenta and fetal membranes were collected from women with singleton pregnancies without any medical complications and from women who delivered vaginally (labor‐initiated group; L group) or by caesarean section (labor‐noninitiated group; NL group). Autophagosomes were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Immunofluorescence and western blotting (WB) were used to detect protein levels of the autophagy markers LC3A and LC3B. TEM, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and WB were used to compare autophagy in different parts of the placenta and fetal membranes in the L and NL groups. The expression of LC3B/LC3A, ROCK1, and ROCK2 in the placenta of nonpregnant and pregnant rats was detected by WB and IHC.

Results

TEM and IHC results showed an increase in the number of autophagosomes and autophagic lysosomes in the L group, and WB results indicated an increase in the LC3B/A ratio between the placenta and fetal membranes in the L group. Autophagy was significantly increased on the maternal side of the placenta in the L group, and the level of autophagy became higher near rupture in the fetal membranes and near the point where the umbilical cord joins the placenta in the L group. The LC3B/A ratio increased and ROCK1 and ROCK2 levels decreased in postnatal rats.

Discussion

Autophagy can occur in the placenta and fetal membranes and its activity is higher at the onset of labor, suggesting a role in labor.
Evolutionary Analysis of the Mammalian IL‐17 Cytokine Family Suggests Conserved Roles in Female Fertility
Authors: Giangrazi Federica , Buffa Dafne , Lloyd Andrew T. , Redmond Anthony K. , Glover Louise E. , O'Farrelly Cliona
Published: August 2024

Problem

The interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) family includes pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐17A‐F with important roles in mucosal defence, barrier integrity and tissue regeneration. IL‐17A can be dysregulated in fertility complications, including pre‐eclampsia, endometriosis and miscarriage. Because mammalian subclasses (eutherian, metatherian, and prototherian) have different related reproductive strategies, IL‐17 genes and proteins were investigated in the three mammalian classes to explore their involvement in female fertility.

Method of Study

Gene and protein sequences for IL‐17s are found in eutherian, metatherian and prototherian mammals. Through synteny and multiple sequence protein alignment, the relationships among mammalian IL‐17s were inferred. Publicly available datasets of early pregnancy stages and female fertility in therian mammals were collected and analysed to retrieve information on IL‐17 expression.

Results

Synteny mapping and phylogenetic analyses allowed the classification of mammalian IL‐17 family orthologs of human IL‐17. Despite differences in their primary amino acid sequence, metatherian and prototherian IL‐17s share the same tertiary structure as human IL‐17s, suggesting similar functions. The analysis of available datasets for female fertility in therian mammals shows up‐regulation of IL‐17A and IL‐17D during placentation. IL‐17B and IL‐17D are also found to be over‐expressed in human fertility complication datasets, such as endometriosis or recurrent implantation failure.

Conclusions

The conservation of the IL‐17 gene and protein across mammals suggests similar functions in all the analysed species. Despite significant differences, the upregulation of IL‐17 expression is associated with the establishment of pregnancy in eutherian and metatherian mammals. The dysregulation of IL‐17s in human reproductive disorders suggests them as a potential therapeutic target.
Comparison of hemodialysis urea clearance using spent dialysate and Kt/Vurea equations
Authors: Khatri Priyanka , Davenport Andrew
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Dialysis adequacy is traditionally calculated from pre‐ and post‐hemodialysis session serum urea concentrations and expressed as the urea reduction ratio, or Kt/Vurea. However, with increasing hemodiafiltration usage, we wished to determine whether there were any differences between standard Kt/Vurea equations and directly measured spent dialysate urea clearance.

Methods

Urea clearance was measured from collected effluent dialysate and compared with various other methods of Kt/Vurea calculation, including change in total body urea from measuring pre‐ and post‐total body water with bioimpedance and the Watson equation, by standard Kt/V equations, and online clearance measurements using effective ionic dialysance (OLC).

Results

We compared urea clearance in 41 patients, 56.1% male, mean age 69.3 ± 12.6 years with 87.8% treated by hemodiafiltration. Reduction in total body urea was greater when estimating changes in total body urea, compared to measured dialysate losses of 58.4% (48.5–67.6) vs 71.6% (62.1–78), p < 0.01. Sessional urea clearance (Kt/Vurea) was greater using the online Solute‐Solver program compared to OLC, median 1.45(1.13–1.75) vs 1.2 (0.93–1.4), and 2nd generation Kt/V equations 1.3 (1.02–1.66), p < 0.01, but not different from estimated total body urea clearance 1.36 (1.15–1.73) and dialysate clearance 1.36 (1.07–1.76). The mean bias compared to the Solute‐Solver program was greatest with OLC (−0.25), compared to second‐generation equations (−0.02), estimated total body clearance (−0.02) and measured dialysate clearance (−0.01).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the result from equations estimating urea clearance indirectly from pre‐ and postblood samples from hemo‐ and hemodiafiltration treatments was highly correlated with direct measurements of dialysate urea clearance.
Hyperautofluorescent material inside areas of macular atrophy may reveal non‐lipofuscin fluorophores in late stage AMD
Authors: Tarhan Melih , Meller Daniel , Hammer Martin
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To characterize fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in complete (cRORA) and incomplete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy (iRORA) by fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmology (FLIO).

Methods

Overall, 98 macular atrophy (MA) lesions in 42 eyes of 37 age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) patients (mean age: 80.9 ± 5.8 years), 25 of them classified as iRORA and 73 as cRORA by OCT, were investigated by FLIO in a short (SSC: 498–560 nm) and a long wavelength channel (LSC: 560–720 nm). Differences of FAF lifetimes and peak emission wavelength (PEW) between atrophic lesions and intact retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the outer ring of the ETDRS grid were considered.

Results

FAF lifetimes in MA were longer and PEW were significantly (p < 0.001) shorter than in intact RPE by 112 ± 78 ps (SSC), 91 ± 64 ps (LSC), 27 ± 18 nm (PEW) in iRORA and by 227 ± 112 ps (SSC), 167 ± 81 ps (LSC), and 54 ± 17 nm (PEW) in cRORA. 37% of iRORA and 24% of cRORA were hyperautofluorescent in SSC. Persistent sub‐RPE‐BL material in MA was newly found as a hyperautofluorescent entity with lifetimes considerably longer than that of drusen and RPE.

Conclusions

Despite RPE and, thus, lipofuscin are greatly absent in MA, considerable FAF, preferably at short wavelengths, was found in those lesions. Drusen, persistent sub‐RPE‐BL material, basal laminar deposits, persistent activated RPE, and sclera were identified as putative sources of this fluorescence. FLIO can help to characterize respective fluorophores.
Influence of a robotic companion on women's food choices: Evidence from an imaginary task
Authors: Guo Xiyu , Wang Chujun , Wan Xiaoang
Published: August 2024

Previous research has demonstrated the influence of commensal dining between humans on food choices, whereas we conducted two studies to examine how the presence of a robot might influence people's choices between meat‐heavy and vegetable‐forward meals in imaginary scenarios. In Study 1, participants were instructed to choose three desirable dishes from a set of two meat and two vegetable dishes while they imagined eating alone, with a human, or with a robot. Although the meat dishes were rated as more palatable and pleasant, the female participants chose fewer meat‐heavy meals when eating alone or with a robot than when eating with a human, whereas no such effect was observed for the male participants. We also replicated these patterns in Study 2, as the female participants chose fewer meat‐heavy meals when eating with a robot and a human than when eating with two humans. Collectively, these findings provide empirical evidence regarding how the presence of a certain robot can influence female consumers' food choices in imaginary scenarios, which has direct implications for the practice of promoting sustainable food choices.
The contribution of dietary advanced glycation end‐products and genetic risk in the development of inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Jiang Fangyuan , Yang Wenjing , Cao Yushu , Cao Xianghan , Zhang Yu , Yao Lingya , Cao Qian
Published: August 2024

Background

Dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may promote oxidative stress and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Aims

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between dietary AGE intake and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

We included 121,978 participants without IBD at baseline from the UK Biobank. We estimated consumption of three common AGEs (Nε‐(carboxymethyl)‐lysine (CML), Nε‐(1‐carboxyethyl)‐lysine (CEL), and Nδ‐(5‐hydro‐5‐methyl‐4‐imidazolon‐2‐yl)‐ornithine (MG‐H1)) by matching 24‐h dietary questionnaires to a validated dietary AGE database. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI of the association between dietary AGEs and IBD risk.

Results

During a median follow‐up of 13.72 years, 671 participants developed IBD (192 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 478 with ulcerative colitis (UC)). Among the assessed dietary AGEs, only CEL was associated with an increased risk of IBD (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01–1.18, p = 0.020) and CD (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03–1.36, p = 0.014), particularly for participants who were overweight, physically inactive, and non‐smokers. Among participants at a high genetic risk of CD, HRs (95% CI) of CD were 1.26 (1.00–1.57) for CML, 1.41 (1.12–1.77) for CEL, and 1.28 (1.01–1.62) for MG‐H1 (p < 0.05 for each). However, none of the dietary AGEs was significantly associated with UC risk, irrespective of genetic predisposition.

Conclusions

Dietary CEL was associated with an increased risk of IBD and CD, but not UC. Further interventional studies are required to support the potential benefit of AGE restriction, especially for individuals at a high genetic risk of CD.
Autonomous Responses to the Russia–Ukraine Conflict? Evidence from the Feminist Foreign Policy in Latin America
Authors: Jima‐González Alexandra , Alcántara‐Lizárraga José Ángel , Carrión‐Vivar Kendra D.
Published: August 2024

Given the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) institutionalisation by Mexico (2020) and Chile (2023), this study analyses their differentiated responses to empirically assess FFP's promised potential to achieve autonomy in foreign policymaking. Through a thematic analysis, we examined the official stances towards the war, diplomatic interactions, and specific cooperation policies proposed or supported by the two countries. The results are twofold: (1) theoretically, FFP challenges conventional theories on international relations and foreign policymaking by fostering a nuanced understanding of the war thus creating conditions for developing autonomous discourses and policies, and (2) empirically, FFP has practical limitations evidenced in Mexico and Chile's heterogeneous – and sometimes unexpected – responses.
‘I like to dance with the flowers!’: Exploring the possibilities for biodiverse futures in an urban forest school
Authors: Hogarth Hannah
Published: August 2024

This article explores the ways in which ‘forest school’, an educational approach where children engage in creative and play based activities in a ‘natural’ environment, can contribute towards Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) by promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and by helping address biodiversity loss. Drawing on data from an inquiry that explored childhoodnature play in an inner‐city forest school in London, England, this article discusses the ways in which nature relations emerged over weekly visits to an urban park over the course of one school year. We, the adult and young child researchers and more‐than‐human nature, enacted ‘shared play’ as part of a post‐qualitative approach that involved playing together as a form of data creation. Co‐created ‘play tales’ from the inquiry foreground encounters between children, grass, flowers, soil, trees, fruits and insects and illuminate the ways in which nature relations ignited small, yet powerful, acts to protect and restore the flora and fauna in the urban park. This article asserts that post‐anthropocentric, postdevelopmental educational approaches create opportunities for multi‐species relations to slowly emerge and flourish. These stories illuminate the ways these ethico‐political relations and onto‐epistemological transformations can prevent the continuation of terrestrial ecosystem degradation and contribute towards biodiverse futures in urban areas.
Decentralization as spectacle: An empirical reflection from Pakistan
Authors: Ali Aijaz , Analoui Farhad , Sage Nick
Published: August 2024

Motivation

Local government can develop democracy and community participation if institutions support it. But when a military regime takes over following a coup d'état, it may use familiar methods of patronage, corruption, and exploitation of kinship ties to render decentralization a spectacle—that is, done for show, but without substantial change. Local elites may then capture local administration and extract public resources.

Purpose

Does decentralization as spectacle bring positive change — when the military hold power and the state is laden with corruption, patronage, and kinship ties?

Methods and approaches

We analyse how respondents experienced two periods of local government, including post‐election public interactions between representatives and their constituents.

Data comes from responses to qualitative interviews with 70 key informants from the Qambar Shahdadkot and Larkana districts of Sindh, Pakistan. We analysed the themes generated by responses to questions.

Findings

Some 40% of respondents reported those who came into local government power aimed first and foremost to promote the interests of their own class. Some 29% of respondents reported local government made empty promises to provide services with public participation.

Pakistan's decentralization has been a spectacle, to serve powerful elites. Local government has been captured by local elites.

Policy implications

Decentralization, muzzled by the military, is mere spectacle, and predatory to boot. Donor agencies should explore possibilities for change at the local level; for example, where local networks and informal governmentality can build up trust amongst hyper‐local communities.
Effects of longitudinal profile shape on scour and flow resistance in rills
Authors: Nicosia Alessio , Palmeri Vincenzo , Di Stefano Costanza , Pampalone Vincenzo , Guida Gaetano , Ferro Vito
Published: August 2024

The literature regarding how rill longitudinal profile (concave and convex) affects soil loss and flow resistance is still lacking. The only analysis available in the literature for rills is limited by the fact that measurements were performed for a unique mean slope value sp (18%). In this article, further rill measurements were conducted on a plot with sp = 15% and complex profile shapes and were used to widen the knowledge about the influence of longitudinal profile shape on rill scour, eroded volume, and flow resistance. The findings highlighted that the concave profile has a homogeneous spatial distribution of moderate scours, whereas the scours in the convex one are deeper and more confined, but they are not placed after the slope change as found for sp = 18%. The mean scour depth, which accounts for the discharge and profile shape effects, is not (concave) or is weakly (convex) related to the flow discharge. The concave profile determined a reduction of approximately 57% of the total eroded volume when compared with the convex profile shape, confirming that a concave hillslope limits erosive phenomena. Finally, the flow resistance equation guaranteed a precise estimation of the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor.
Potential for carbon dioxide removal of carbon capture and storage on biomass‐fired combined heat and power production
Authors: Weimann Gertrud Græsbøll , Bentsen Niclas Scott
Published: August 2024

Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) have received a lot of attention as a tool to mitigate climate change and reach climate neutrality. Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is seen as one of the more promising CDRs, and from 2026, the Danish utility Ørsted is establishing the first BECCS plants in Denmark. We present a case study of BECCS by installing CCS at a biomass‐fired CHP plant and the aim is to quantify the CDR potential and carbon dynamics of the BECCS system. Moreover, the study aims to quantify the emissions related to capturing and store CO2. The GHG emissions from CCS including heat, electricity, transport and storage are approximately 100 kgCO2/t stored CO2and the carbon payback time of the BECCS system is 3–4 years relative to leaving the wood in the forest or at processing industries. The main driver of the payback time is the additional use of biomass to operate CCS which shifts the timing of CO2emissions more towards the present. The additional biomass use also increases supply chain emissions, and on top of that, only 90% of the direct CO2emissions from the CHP plant are captured. The study illustrates the importance of temporal scope in assessing the CDR potential of BECCS. With continuous use of biomass, GHG emissions are 207 kgCO2/t stored CO2in year 1 and −742 kgCO2/t stored CO2in year 99. This study reveals inconsistencies in the assessment of the CDR potential of BECCS in the literature. There is a considerable need for further research within this field to assess how BECCS can contribute to mitigating climate change and on the appropriate scale of BECCS deployment.
Does a relationship exist between hardness and compression strength for advanced ceramics?
Authors: Swab Jeffrey J.
Published: August 2024

The Knoop hardness (HK) and compression strength (σc) of 23 advanced ceramics were measured to determine if an overarching HK/σc relationship could be identified for ceramics, or if one exists for a specific class of ceramics, similar to the hardness/yield strength relationship (H/Y ≈ 3) identified by Tabor for metals. Compression strength was determined using a dumbbell‐shaped specimen that virtually eliminates the end splitting that occurs when cylinders or cuboids are tested and provides a more representative compression strength value. HK values were obtained over a range of indentation loads between 0.98 and 98N. Four HK values, HK2, load‐independent HK, the hardness from the proportional specimen resistance model, and a brittleness parameter, were obtained and plotted against compression strength. An overarching relationship could not be identified for ceramics in general and the only class of ceramics that had a consistent relationship was tungsten carbide/cobalt that had a HK/σc of approximately 2.5. The consistent relationship for the WC/Co materials is due to the cobalt plastically deforming during the loading processes, something that does not occur in the other ceramics evaluated.
Novel method of fabricating lightweight thermally insulation fibrous composites for energy saving
Authors: Qiu Danyang , Li Shujing , Li Yuanbing , Cai Zhen , Fu Chengzhen , Wei ChangDong
Published: August 2024

Fiberboard (FB) is extensively utilized in heat‐insulating refractory materials owing to its lightweight nature and excellent resistance to high temperatures. Nevertheless, the inadequate mechanical properties and limited dimensional stability of FB hinder its further application. The vacuum filtration was utilized in this study to manufacture inorganically modified insulation FB, incorporating plus fiber/1260 fiber and silica sol as the primary constituents and sepiolite powder (HS) as the modifier. The experimental results show that the fabricated samples exhibited extremely high porosity (75.3%–90.2%) and low thermal conductivity (.063–.15 W m−1 K−1, 200–800°C). The fibers were arranged in a three‐dimensional structure, overlapping with each other, and the silica sol adhered to the fibers, forming a spatial mesh structure through cross‐linking. Importantly, the incorporation of HS was effective in controlling the agglomeration of the silica sol, leading to a more uniform distribution within the fibers. Additionally, the study found that the mechanical properties (high hardness (64–72 HA)) and high‐temperature durability of the FBs were enhanced due to the flocculant modification. This study highlights promising prospects for industrial applications and offers a cost‐effective admixture for modifying and preparing high‐performance FBs, which is expected to see broad adoption in thermal insulation and energy conservation applications.
Changes in bumblebee queen gut microbiotas during and after overwintering diapause
Authors: Hotchkiss Michelle Z. , Forrest Jessica R. K. , Poulain Alexandre J.
Published: August 2024

Bumblebees are key pollinators with gut microbiotas that support host health. After bumblebee queens undergo winter diapause, which occurs before spring colony establishment, their gut microbiotas are disturbed, but little is known about community dynamics during diapause itself. Queen gut microbiotas also help seed worker microbiotas, so it is important that they recover post‐diapause to a typical community structure, a process that may be impeded by pesticide exposure. We examined how bumblebee queen gut microbiota community structure and metabolic potential shift during and after winter diapause, and whether post‐diapause recovery is affected by pesticide exposure. To do so, we placed commercial Bombus impatiens queens into diapause, euthanizing them at 0, 2 and 4 months of diapause. Additionally, we allowed some queens to recover from diapause for 1 week before euthanasia, exposing half to the common herbicide glyphosate. Using whole‐community, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we found that core bee gut phylotypes dominated queen gut microbiotas before, during and after diapause, but that two phylotypes, Schmidhempelia and Snodgrassella, ceased to be detected during late diapause and recovery. Despite fluctuations in taxonomic community structure, metabolic potential remained constant through diapause and recovery. Also, glyphosate exposure did not affect post‐diapause microbiota recovery. However, metagenomic assembly quality and our ability to detect microbial taxa and metabolic pathways declined alongside microbial abundance, which was substantially reduced during diapause. Our study offers new insights into how bumblebee queen gut microbiotas change taxonomically and functionally during a key life stage and provides guidance for future microbiota studies in diapausing bumblebees.
The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on network dynamics among Chinese immigrants in the United States
Authors: Mouw Ted , Merli M. Giovanna , Xu Yingzhi , Le Barbenchon Claire , Stolte Allison
Published: August 2024

We use longitudinal data on the social networks of Chinese immigrants in the United States from 2018 to 2020 to study the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on communication frequency and friendship formation. Understanding the pandemic's effect on social networks is important because, while individual social networks are always in flux (Schaefer & Marcum, The Oxford handbook of social networks, 2017 and 254; Sekara et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113, 2016 and 9977), they tend to change slowly over time in periods of social stability (Wrzus et al., Psychological Bulletin, 139, 2013 and 53). In contrast, the COVID‐19 pandemic was a massive disturbance in the social environment, similar to the effect of a natural disaster such as a hurricane on social networks, but on a much broader scale (Bertogg & Koos, Frontiers in Sociology, 74, 2021). For Chinese immigrants in the United States, the social disruption of the COVID‐19 pandemic was magnified because, in addition to the social isolation caused by lockdowns and social distancing, there was a dramatic rise in anti‐Chinese discrimination and hate crimes in the United States which affected migrants' sense of inclusion and collective identity in their host society (Li et al., PLoS One, 16, 2021 and e0259866; Stolte et al., Social Science and Medicine – Mental Health, 2, 2022 and 100159). By examining how migrant networks changed and adapted to this altered macro‐level social environment, we can better understand how micro and macro‐level factors interact to affect network changes in general. The findings indicate that while stress during the pandemic affected the level of social network communication, the process of new tie formation to natives appears to be relatively unaffected.
Insights Towards Trauma‐Informed Nursing Supervision: An Integrative Literature Review and Thematic Analysis
Authors: McGarva Keri , Butler Helen , Newcombe David
Published: August 2024

Trauma‐informed care (TIC) is an approach to healthcare practice that recognises the pervasiveness of trauma, and the deep and life‐shaping impact this has on a person. The literature recognises the negative consequences of trauma both to the people who experience it, and the nurses who provide care for them. Professional supervision is an integral element of workforce wellbeing and practice development, and a largely unexplored avenue of support for those who deliver TIC. Strategies for delivery of TIC were clearly articulated in the background literature, however how professional supervision can support nurses who provide this was less obvious. The research aim was to explore the literature related to trauma‐informed supervision in nursing to answer the question ‘what skills and strategies can a supervisor use to support nurses who provide TIC in adult populations?’. An integrative review method was used and identified fifteen published articles for inclusion. These were then analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Literature all came from the allied health field, due to paucity of literature related to nursing. Analysis revealed three themes that were developed into an emotion–cognition–action sequence; create a safe supervisory relationship; facilitate TIC learning; and build resilience. Discussion noted the intersection of review findings with the Supervision Alliance Model and TIC framework, and where other skills may be integrated to inform a trauma‐informed supervisor.
Shades of incivility in Reddit: A comparison between echo chambers and plural spaces
Authors: Salgado Susana , Fernández‐García Belén , Biscaia Afonso
Published: August 2024

This research relies on a two‐stage content analysis of Reddit to test the assumption that by emphasizing othering and polarizing opinions, homogeneous ideological spaces trigger impolite and uncivil comments towards others, as opposed to spaces that enable cross partisan‐ideological exposure, which overall are seen as positive for democracy. It examines subreddits with varying probability of occurrence of echo chamber effects to measure the prevalence and the targets of incivility and studies the interactions in which these comments emerge in discussions about immigration. Findings show that incivility is higher in subreddits that bring together users with the same ideological and political profile, in which echo chamber effects are more likely to occur, but the redditors’ reactions are similar in both types of environments. The targets of incivility vary according to the political orientation of the comments and the political context of the country.
Acoustic emission accuracy from a tensile test of a ceramic matrix composite
Authors: Morscher Gregory N. , Ferguson Christopher , Pratt Sarah , Clawson Jonathan B. , Razavi Seyed Mostafa , Subramanian Suresh
Published: August 2024

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) on one level are excellent materials for acoustic emission (AE) analysis. They are excellent waveguides for AE waveform transmission due to the high modulus to density ratio. CMC inelastic behavior is due to micro‐ and macrocrack formation from matrix crack interaction with the fibers via a relatively weak fiber/matrix interface which create ideal stress waves. Because of this, AE is an excellent detector of microcracks in general, and most importantly in the case of CMCs, the initial or lowest stress crack formation. This property can be related to long time stressed‐oxidation degradation of nonoxide composites, in particular. In addition, AE has been used to effectively determine the stress distribution for matrix cracks which cause the nonlinear stress–strain behavior. However, a key to quantitatively correlating AE with sources is first and foremost to locate where the AE originated. For a tensile test, most AE comes from the near‐grip region and the radius region outside the gage area of interest. Outside the gage region AE would not be considered useful data pertaining to stress/strain behavior and must be sorted out from the AE dataset. Location is determined by the difference in time of arrivals (TOAs) of waveforms received on each sensor from a given AE source. Automated TOA techniques such as threshold voltage crossing or Akaike information criteria (AIC) have limitations in overall accuracy of differences in TOA (Δt) of two different sensors required for location analysis. This study has incorporated several signal filter and enhancement techniques and an approach toward increasing the accuracy of the classic TOA techniques. First TOA was determined for the two sensors of the AE tests “manually” based on first extensional peak of the waveform, this served as the “exact” difference in TOA. Δt’s were then determined for the various filter/TOA techniques and compared to those from the manual determined Δt. The best filter/TOA techniques resulted in more than two times better accuracy (defined as percentage of events within 0.1 µs of the exact Δt) than the conventional threshold crossing or AIC technique.
Up‐conversion luminescence of Er3+/Yb3+ co‐doped Gd2Te6O15 tellurite glass‐ceramics for optical thermometry
Authors: Liang Haozhang , Lin Xiangtao , Ma Nanshan , He Longqing , Tong Juxia , Luo Zhiwei , Ye Lingying , Lu Anxian
Published: August 2024

The Er3+/Yb3+ co‐doped tellurite glasses and glass‐ceramics (GCs) containing the Gd2Te6O15 phase were successfully fabricated via the conventional melting‐quenching technique followed by a crystallization regime. The Er3+/Yb3+ co‐doped tellurite glasses generated intense up‐conversion green (524 and 546 nm) and red (658 nm) emissions when stimulated by a 980 nm laser. The up‐conversion green emission intensity increased by 68 and 46 times with the increase of the Yb3+/Er3+ ratio, and the optimal Yb3+/Er3+ ratio was found to be 8:1. The surface crystallization process of the Gd2Te6O15 GCs was confirmed through analysis of crystallization kinetics and microscopic morphology. The up‐conversion luminescence and lifetime of Er3+ ions were enhanced by the precipitation of low‐phonon‐energy Gd2Te6O15 crystals. The GC sample crystallized at 480°C for 4 h showed the highest luminescence intensity. The optical thermometry properties of Er3+ ions at thermally coupled energy levels (2H11/2/4S3/2→4I15/2) were explored. The Gd2Te6O15 GCs co‐doped with 0.25 mol% Er2O3 and 2.0 mol% Yb2O3 exhibited an excellent temperature relative sensitivity (Sr) of 1.22% K−1 at 293 K and a great repeatability of 98.07%. These results suggest that the Er3+/Yb3+ co‐doped Gd2Te6O15 GCs show promise for optical thermometry.
A preliminary study on the effects of substituting fishmeal with defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larval meal on Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) juveniles: Growth performance, feed efficiency, nutrient composition, disease resistance, and economic returns
Authors: Liu Yun , Andin Victor Charlie , Chor Wei‐Kang , Gunasekaran Baskaran , Chong Chou‐Min , Lee Po‐Tsang , Loh Jiun‐Yan
Published: August 2024

This study aims to develop an alternative aquafeed derived from insect meal for Lates calcarifer juveniles, with the objectives of exploring the physiological performance, biological parameters, and economic analysis of substituting fishmeal (FM) with defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) as part of the diet of L. calcarifer juveniles. Five practical diets were formulated to include 0% (BSFL0, serves as control group), 5% (BSFL5), 10% (BSFL10), 15% (BSFL15), and 20% (BSFL20) of BSFL meal, partially or fully replacing FM, respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 fish (10.70 ± 0.07 g) per tank (300 L). The fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation. A 56‐day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the impacts of defatted BSFL meal replacing FM on the growth performance, feed efficiency, composition analysis of fish muscle, cumulative mortality rate challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and economic returns of L. calcarifer. These results show that differences in weight gain and specific growth rate among the different treatments were statistically significant (p < 0.05), except for the absence of significant variation (p < 0.05) between BSFL0 and BSFL5, and followed by BSFL10 > BSFL0 > BSFL5 > BSFL15 > BSFL20. However, the feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio showed the opposite trend as above. Although the diets experienced a decline in crude protein content and an increase in crude fat content with the increasing proportion of BSFL substituting FM, the crude protein and fat content of fish muscle were only slightly influenced. It is worth mentioning that levels of nonessential amino acids, delicious amino acids, saturated fatty acids, omega‐6, omega‐9 in BSFL10 group all showed an increase compared with the control group. After a 7‐day challenge test with V. parahaemolyticus, the cumulative mortality rates of the BSFL5 and BSFL10 groups, respectively, dropped to 5.20%, 5.28% compared to the control group's 16.88%; however, the mortality rates of BSFL15 (34.67%) and BSFL20 (41.77%) groups were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) increased. From an economic perspective, the incidence cost for each experimental group showed a trend as BSFL10 < BSFL0 < BSFL5 < BSFL15 < BSFL20, whereas the profit index in each treatment exhibited the opposite trend as above. It was concluded that low (5%) or moderate (10%) levels of BSFL substituting FM in aquaculture feed could improve the physiological performances, disease resistance, and economic returns of L. calcarifer. However, excessive substitution (>15%) leads to a negative effect. From an economic point of view, 10% inclusion of BSFL in practical diets is recommended for L. calcarifer juveniles.
Time‐Series Factor Modeling and Selection
Authors: Michaelides Michael
Published: August 2024

The article proposes a statistical time‐series factor model that incorporates deterministic orthogonal trend polynomials. Such polynomials allow capturing variation in returns without initially identifying a set of robust time‐series factors. This modeling approach can serve as a coherent basis for testing and selecting the most relevant factors among a set of possible ones. Additionally, it can help identify whether any factors are missing from a time‐series asset pricing model. The use of the proposed model and empirical strategy is illustrated by two empirical applications from the literature, yielding results related to the Fama‐French five‐factor model and the factor zoo.
Closure methods for large defects after gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Gong Rui , Wang Simiao , Song Jiugang , He Zhen , Li Peng , Zhang Shutian , Sun Xiujing
Published: August 2024

Nowadays, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is commonly performed for the removal of large gastrointestinal lesions. Endoscopic mucosal defect closure after ESD is vital to avoid adverse events. In recent years, many innovative instruments have emerged and proved to be beneficial. In this paper, we conducted a thorough literature review and summarized the closure methods for large‐size post‐ESD mucosal defects over decades. We separated these methods into five categories based on the operational principle: “side closure” method, “ring closure” method, “layered closure” method, “hand suturing closure” method, and “specially designed device closure” method. Side closure with clips assisted by instruments such as threads or loops is applicable for each segment of the gastrointestinal tract to prevent postoperative bleeding. If the defect tension is too large to close with the traditional side closure methods, zigzag closure and ring closure could be applied to gather the bilateral defect edges together and achieve continuous closure. In the stomach and rectum with a high risk of submucosal dead space between the submucosa and muscular layers, side closure methods with muscle layer grasping clip or layered closure methods could enable the involvement of the deep submucosa and muscle layers. The ring closure method and specially designed devices including over‐the‐scope clip, Overstitch, and X‐tack could resolve perforation effectively. Individual closure method requires endoscope reinsertion or sophisticated operation, which may be limited by the deep location and the narrow lumen, respectively. Although specially designed devices are expected to offer promising prospectives, the cost‐effectiveness remains to be a problem.