bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interference effects in harmonic ellipticity from H
2+
molecules in an orthogonally polarized two-color laser field
Authors: Zhang Si-Qi , Zhang Bing , Jiang Xiang-Qian , Sun Xiu-Dong
Published: March 2023

We theoretically investigate the elliptically polarized harmonics from aligned molecular ion H

2

+

in orthogonally polarized two-color laser pulses. Our results show that a striking peak appears in the ellipticity curve of odd-order harmonics, and this peak shows obvious alignment dependence and shifts toward higher energy as the amplitude ratio of the two colors increases. The location of the peak is close to that of the interference minimum predicted by using a modified dipole model, indicating strong two-center interference effects in ellipticity. Through adjusting the frequency ratio of the two colors, large ellipticity is obtained for both odd and even harmonics in a wide energy region. As a result, we synthesize a bright, elliptically polarized, isolated attosecond pulse with an ellipticity up to 0.63.
High-pressure single crystal growth and magnetoelectric properties of CdMn7O12
Authors: Zhou Long , Wang Xiao , Liu Zhehong , Ye Xubin , Zhang Jie , Zhao Haoting , Lu Dabiao , Pi Maocai , Pan Zhao , Zhang Xueqiang , Long Youwen
Published: March 2023

The concurrent presence of large electric polarization and strong magnetoelectric coupling is quite desirable for potential applications of multiferroics. In this paper, we report the growth of CdMn7O12 single crystals by flux method under a high pressure of 8 GPa for the first time. An antiferromagnetic (AFM) order with a polar magnetic point group is found to occur at the onset temperature of T
N1 = 88 K (AFM1 phase). As a consequence, the pyroelectric current emerges at T
N1 and gradually increases and reaches its maximum at T
set = 63 K, at which the AFM1 phase finally settles down. Below T
set, CdMn7O12 single crystal exhibits a large ferroelectric polarization up to 2640 µC m−2. Moreover, the spin-induced electric polarization can be readily tuned by applying magnetic fields, giving rise to considerable magnetoelectric coupling effects. Thus, the current CdMn7O12 single crystal acts as a rare multiferroic system where both large polarization and strong magnetoelectric coupling merge concurrently.
Regional perception and multi-scale feature fusion network for cardiac segmentation
Authors: Lu Chenggang , Yuan Jinli , Xia Kewen , Guo Zhitao , Chen Muxuan , Yu Hengyong
Published: March 2023

Objective. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of diseases affecting cardiac and blood vessels, and short-axis cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images are considered the gold standard for the diagnosis and assessment of CVD. In CMR images, accurate segmentation of cardiac structures (e.g. left ventricle) assists in the parametric quantification of cardiac function. However, the dynamic beating of the heart renders the location of the heart with respect to other tissues difficult to resolve, and the myocardium and its surrounding tissues are similar in grayscale. This makes it challenging to accurately segment the cardiac images. Our goal is to develop a more accurate CMR image segmentation approach. Approach. In this study, we propose a regional perception and multi-scale feature fusion network (RMFNet) for CMR image segmentation. We design two regional perception modules, a window selection transformer (WST) module and a grid extraction transformer (GET) module. The WST module introduces a window selection block to adaptively select the window of interest to perceive information, and a windowed transformer block to enhance global information extraction within each feature window. The WST module enhances the network performance by improving the window of interest. The GET module grids the feature maps to decrease the redundant information in the feature maps and enhances the extraction of latent feature information of the network. The RMFNet further introduces a novel multi-scale feature extraction module to improve the ability to retain detailed information. Main results. The RMFNet is validated with experiments on three cardiac data sets. The results show that the RMFNet outperforms other advanced methods in overall performance. The RMFNet is further validated for generalizability on a multi-organ data set. The results also show that the RMFNet surpasses other comparison methods. Significance. Accurate medical image segmentation can reduce the stress of radiologists and play an important role in image-guided clinical procedures.
Modelling oxygen effects on the in- and out-of-field radiosensitivity of cells exposed to intensity-modulated radiation fields
Authors: Matsuya Yusuke , McMahon Stephen J , Butterworth Karl T , Yachi Yoshie , Saga Ryo , Sato Tatsuhiko , Prise Kevin M
Published: March 2023

Objective. The delivery of intensity-modulated radiation fields has improved the conformity of dose to tumour targets during radiotherapy (RT). Previously, it has been shown that intercellular communication between cells positioned in- and outside of the radiation field impacts cellular radiosensitivity under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. However, the mechanism of intercellular communication in hypoxia remains to be fully understood. In this study, the cell-killing effects of intercellular communication in hypoxia were modelled in an effort to better understand the underlying mechanisms of response. Approach. By irradiating a 50% area of the culture dish (half-field exposure), experimental dose-response curves for cell survival and residual DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were generated in prostate (DU145) and non-small cell lung cancer (H1299) cells. The oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) was determined from early DSB yields (corresponding to relative direct damage) and used to model the in- and out-of-field radiosensitivity. Main results. The developed integrated microdosimetric-kinetic (IMK) model successfully predicted the experimental dose responses for survival and lethal lesions, and provides a mechanistic interpretation that the probability of hits for releasing cell-killing signals is dependent on oxygen. This experimental and modelling study also suggests that residual DSBs correspond to logarithmic survival fraction (meaning lethal lesions) for in- and out-of-field cells. Our data suggest that the OER value determined using uniform-field exposure can be applied to predict the in- and out-of-field radiosensitivity of cells following exposure to intensity modulated beams. Significance. The developed IMK model facilitates a more precise understanding of intercellular signalling following exposure to intensity-modulated radiation fields.
Photoplethysmography wave morphology in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Basza Mikołaj , Waląg Damian , Kowalczyk Weronika , Bożym Aleksandra , Ciurla Michalina , Krzyżanowska Małgorzata , Maciejewski Cezary , Bojanowicz Wojciech , Soliński Mateusz , Kołtowski Łukasz
Published: March 2023

Objective. Most current algorithms for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) rely on heart rate variability (HRV), and only a few studies analyse the variability of photopletysmography (PPG) waveform. This study aimed to compare morphological features of the PPG curve in patients with AF to those presenting a normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and evaluate their usefulness in AF detection. Approach. 10 min PPG signals were obtained from patients with persistent/paroxysmal AF and NSR. Nine morphological parameters (1/ΔT), Pulse Width [PW], augmentation index [AI], b/a, e/a, [b-e]/a, crest time [CT], inflection point area [IPA], Area and five HRV parameters (heart rate [HR], Shannon entropy [ShE], root mean square of the successive differences [RMSSD], number of pairs of consecutive systolic peaks [R–R] that differ by more than 50 ms [NN50], standard deviation of the R–R intervals [SDNN]) were calculated. Main results. Eighty subjects, including 33 with AF and 47 with NSR were recruited. In univariate analysis five morphological features (1/ΔT, p < 0.001; b/a, p < 0.001; [b-e]/a, p < 0.001; CT, p = 0.011 and Area, p < 0.001) and all HRV parameters (p = 0.01 for HR and p < 0.001 for others) were significantly different between the study groups. In the stepwise multivariate model (Area under the curve [AUC] = 0.988 [0.974–1.000]), three morphological parameters (PW, p < 0.001; e/a, p = 0.011; (b-e)/a, p < 0.001) and three of HRV parameters (ShE, p = 0.01; NN50, p < 0.001, HR, p = 0.01) were significant. Significance. There are significant differences between AF and NSR, PPG waveform, which are useful in AF detection algorithm. Moreover adding those features to HRV-based algorithms may improve their specificity and sensitivity.
PT

symmetry-protected exceptional cones and analogue Hawking radiation
Authors: Stålhammar Marcus , Larana-Aragon Jorge , Rødland Lukas , Kunst Flore K
Published: March 2023

Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, which effectively describe dissipative systems, and analogue gravity models, which simulate properties of gravitational objects, comprise seemingly different areas of current research. Here, we investigate the interplay between the two by relating parity-time-symmetric dissipative Weyl-type Hamiltonians to analogue Schwarzschild black holes emitting Hawking radiation. We show that the exceptional points of these Hamiltonians form tilted cones mimicking the behavior of the light cone of a radially infalling observer approaching a black hole horizon. We further investigate the presence of tunneling processes, reminiscent of those happening in black holes, in a concrete example model. We interpret the non-trivial result as the purely thermal contribution to analogue Hawking radiation in a Schwarzschild black hole. Assuming that our particular Hamiltonian models a photonic crystal, we discuss the concrete nature of the analogue Hawking radiation in this particular setup.
Non-Hermiticity induced topological edge states with unique transport
Authors: Gong Ping , Bo Fan , Fang Yun-Tuan
Published: March 2023

We demonstrate that non-Hermiticity solely induced Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) lattice can result in two unique topological edge state (TES) bands: One is within the band gap, the other is embedded in the bulky bands. The latter are the topological bound states in the continuum (BIC). Different from general TESs, both the TES bands have the unidirectional transport with the direction under two-fold modulation: source spin direction and source position. The TESs with BIC have additional amplifying transport property. All the results have developed the concept of BICs and TESs, and provided a new freedom in the controlling of light transport.
Composition-driven normal ferroelectric to relaxor ferroelectric transition with enhanced electrostriction in ternary NBT-BZ-LT ceramics
Authors: Rashid A , Pappachan Seethal , Giri Abhijeet M , Saravanan Silambarasan , Arockiarajan A , Giridharan N V
Published: March 2023

The NBT based perovskite ferroelectric oxides with high electrostrictive coefficient (Q

33
) is gaining attention due to their application in high-precision displacement actuators. Herein, (1 −2x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–xBaZrO3–xLaTiO3 (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) ceramics are produced through a solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction is used for the structural analysis of the prepared ceramic materials. The influences of BaZrO3 and LaTiO3 on the piezoelectric and electrostrictive properties in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 solid solutions is thoroughly investigated using the dielectric spectra, ferroelectric hysteresis loops, and bipolar strain curves. An electrostrictive coefficient Q

33
of 0.0557 m

4

/C

2
is obtained at x = 0.05, with a moderate S–E hysteresis of 26% at an electric field of 60 kV cm−1. These results indicate that (1 −2x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–xBaZrO3–xLaTiO3 ferroelectric ceramics at x = 0.05 could be a promising material for high-precision displacement actuator applications.
The effect of parabolic potential on the generation of higher harmonics of nematicons
Authors: Sajitha N M , Suneera T P
Published: March 2023

We investigate the behavior of nonlocal spatial optical solitons in a uniaxial nematic liquid crystal with a parabolic potential. The equations governing the system are solved using semi-analytic and numerical methods. We found that nematicons exist in the parabolic potential. These nematicons exhibit periodic oscillations in the presence of the parabolic potential. The wavelength of periodic oscillations was found to decrease linearly with increasing potential strength. Higher harmonics of nematicons can be generated by varying the strength of the parabolic potential. Using Bogoliobov-De-Genes equations, the stability of the stationary solution against small perturbation has been investigated.
First-principles based plasma profile predictions for optimized stellarators
Authors: Bañón Navarro A. , Di Siena A. , Velasco J.L. , Wilms F. , Merlo G. , Windisch T. , LoDestro L.L. , Parker J.B. , Jenko F.
Published: March 2023

In the present Letter, first-of-its-kind computer simulations predicting plasma profiles for modern optimized stellarators—while self-consistently retaining neoclassical transport, turbulent transport with 3D effects, and external physical sources—are presented. These simulations exploit a newly developed coupling framework involving the global gyrokinetic turbulence code GENE-3D, the neoclassical transport code KNOSOS, and the 1D transport solver TANGO. This framework is used to analyze the recently observed degradation of energy confinement in electron-heated plasmas in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, where the central ion temperature was ‘clamped’ to

T

i

≈
1.5

keV regardless of the external heating power. By performing first-principles based simulations, we provide key evidence to understand this effect, namely the inefficient thermal coupling between electrons and ions in a turbulence-dominated regime, which is exacerbated by the large

T

e

/

T

i

ratios, and show that a more efficient ion heat source, such as direct ion heating, will increase the on-axis ion temperature. This work paves the way towards the use of high-fidelity models for the development of the next generation of stellarators, in which neoclassical and turbulent transport are optimized simultaneously.
Biological hypercrystals
Authors: Maciá Enrique
Published: March 2023

The notion of biological hypercrystal may be regarded as a step toward a broader crystal notion. In this contribution I consider the geometry of cell patterns in tissues, described in terms of Voronoi tessellations and cut-and-project techniques. In this way, we realize that (1) Voronoi tessellations, early used in the description of atomic and molecular building blocks distributions in QCs, can be extended to describe the geometry of cell arrangements in tissues of biological interest, and (2) the recourse to higher dimensional spaces can be fruitfully exploited to describe complex ordered designs in biological systems.
Magnetism and topological property in icosahedral quasicrystal
Authors: Watanabe Shinji
Published: March 2023

Quasicrystal (QC) has no periodicity but has a unique rotational symmetry forbidden in periodic crystals. Lack of microscopic theory of the crystalline electric field (CEF) in the QC and approximant crystal (AC) has prevented us from understanding the electric property, especially the magnetism. By developing the general formulation of the CEF in the rare-earth based QC and AC, we have analyzed the CEF in the QC Au-SM-Tb and AC (SM=Si, Ge, and Ga). The magnetic anisotropy arising from the CEF plays an important role in realizing unique magnetic states on the icosahedron (IC). By constructing the minimal model with the magnetic anisotropy, we have analyzed the ground-state properties of the IC, 1/1 AC, and QC. The hedgehog state is characterized by the topological charge of one and the whirling-moment state is characterized by the topological charge of three. The uniform arrangement of the ferrimagnetic state is stabilized in the QC with the ferromagnetic (FM) interaction, which is a candidate for the magnetic structure recently observed FM long-range order in the QC Au-Ga-Tb. The uniform arrangement of the hedgehog state is stabilized in the QC with the antiferromagnetic interaction, which suggests the possibility of the topological magnetic long-range order.
Supercurrent Distribution on Ammann-Beenker Structure
Authors: Fukushima Takumi , Takemori Nayuta , Sakai Shiro , Ichioka Masanori , Jagannathan Anuradha
Published: March 2023

We study the distribution of supercurrent in the attractive Hubbard model on a periodic approximant of the Ammann-Beenker structure by means of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) mean-field theory. We first investigate the spatial distributions of the electron density and superconducting order parameter and find a crossover between superconducting states with (i) extended, (ii) localized, and (iii) short-ranged Cooper pairs, similar to the previous results on the Penrose tiling. Furthermore, we formulate the expression of the supercurrent for the periodic approximant in terms of the eigenenergies and the wave functions of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes Hamiltonian and numerically investigate how the local supercurrent distribution varies by changing the direction of the applied phase gradient.
Single-crystal neutron diffraction study on the quasicrystal approximant Au70Al16Tb14
Authors: Nawa Kazuhiro , Okuyama Daisuke , Ebina Akihito , Sato Taku J , Ishikawa Asuka , Tamura Ryuji
Published: March 2023

A magnetic order of the quasicrystal approximant Au70Al16Tb14 was investigated via single crystalline neutron diffraction experiments. In spite of some differences in the macroscopic magnetic properties compared with Au72Al14Tb14, the whirling antiferromagnetic structure similar to Au72Al14Tb14 was found. The robustness of the magnetic structure suggests the orientation of the magnetic moment dominated by easy-axis anisotropy of Tb. In addition, the critical exponent β indicates a mean field nature of the magnetic transition.
Pulse shape simulation and discrimination using machine learning techniques
Authors: Dutta S. , Ghosh S. , Bhattacharya S. , Saha S.
Published: March 2023

An essential metric for the quality of a
particle-identification experiment is its statistical power to
discriminate between signal and background. Pulse shape
discrimination (PSD) is a basic method for this purpose in many
nuclear, high-energy and rare-event search experiments where
scintillation detectors are used. Conventional techniques exploit
the difference between decay-times of the pulses from signal and
background events or pulse signals caused by different types of
radiation quanta to achieve good discrimination. However, such
techniques are efficient only when the total light-emission is
sufficient to get a proper pulse profile. This is only possible when
adequate amount of energy is deposited from recoil of the electrons
or the nuclei of the scintillator materials caused by the incident
particle on the detector. But, rare-event search experiments like
direct search for dark matter do not always satisfy these
conditions. Hence, it becomes imperative to have a method that can
deliver a very efficient discrimination in these scenarios. Neural
network based machine-learning algorithms have been used for
classification problems in many areas of physics especially in
high-energy experiments and have given better results compared to
conventional techniques. We present the results of our
investigations of two network based methods viz. Dense Neural
Network and Recurrent Neural Network, for pulse shape discrimination
and compare the same with conventional methods.
Interannual variability and trends of summertime PM2.5-based air quality in the Intermountain West
Authors: Chikamoto Yoshimitsu , Zhang Wei , Hipps Lawrence , Wang S-Y Simon , Gillies Robert R , Bigalke Siiri
Published: March 2023

Summertime air quality is a growing public health concern in the populated region of Northern Utah. Whereas winter air pollution is highly linked with local atmospheric temperature inversions associated with upper atmospheric high-pressure and radiational cooling in valleys, the relationship between climate factors and the frequency of poor air quality during summer is still unknown. Analyzing the last 20 years of data, we demonstrated that summertime unhealthy days (as defined by PM2.5 air quality index level) in Northern Utah highly correlate with the number of dry-hot days, wildfire size, and an upper atmospheric ridge over the Northwestern United States. The persistent atmospheric ridge enhances lightning-caused fire burned areas in northwestern states and then transports the wildfire smoke toward Northern Utah. Similarly, climate model simulations confirm observational findings, such as an increasing trend of the upper atmospheric ridge and summertime dry days in the northwestern states. Such metrics developed in this study could be used to establish longer-term monitoring and seasonal forecasting for air quality and its compounding factors, which is currently limited to forecasting products for only several days.
Poly-scale principle of urban environment geoinformation monitoring
Authors: Karpinskyi Yu , Lyashchenko A , Patrakeyev I , Ziborov V
Published: March 2023

The article discusses general approaches for monitoring the urban environment based on geoinformation technologies. The purpose of these studies is to use the properties of poly-scale geoinformation monitoring in modeling and forecasting the state of the urban environment. The urgency of identifying the spatio-temporal features of the development of the urban environment at different territorial levels is shown. Each territorial level carries its own level of detail. These levels are the global level, regional, local, macro, meso level and primary level. The set-theoretic representation of the principle of poly-scale modelling of objects of the urban environment is considered. Based on this approach, models and methods of geoinformation monitoring at each scale level can be represented as a composition of ordered pairs of different structural types. An example of a hierarchy of methods and models used in studies of the urban environment is given. The concept of basic composition models is introduced. On the basis of such models, a technology for constructing poly-scale compositions is presented. Such compositions make it possible to convey the computational essence of the corresponding mathematical models at each level of the poly-scale approach in the study of the urban environment. A generalized scheme for applying the principle of poly-scale decomposition of a geoinformation monitoring object has been developed. At the same time, at each level of the information space, the construction of the corresponding models of the monitoring object is provided.
Solid waste market: cross-country analysis
Authors: Hayda Y , Dluhopolskyi O , Zatonatska T , Haida T , Lavrentiev M , Smyk A
Published: March 2023

Intensive consumption of natural resources causes man-made changes in the environment, which result in deteriorating living conditions and threaten the existence of human civilization. Today, the problem of environmental pollution is an environmental catastrophe of a global nature that needs to be urgently addressed. To identify the factors influencing the state of solid waste management in different countries, several indicators were selected that describe the environmental situation, its level of economic development, education, and comprehensive development of society. The built regression models and the interpretation of their parameters indicate the need to consider three elements of the strategy to improve the management of solid waste: 1) promoting economic development, including innovative waste processing technologies; 2) improving the legal framework for the industry; 3) raising the educational level and environmental awareness of the country’s population.
Methodology for assessing the sustainable development of administrative-territorial units
Authors: Koshkalda I , Hoptsii D , Morozova H , Scoromna O , Gurskienė V
Published: March 2023

The article considers the existing approaches to understanding the term “sustainable development” and the methodology for assessing sustainable development processes. The problem of lack of a unified methodology for assessing the sustainable development of administrative-territorial units has been identified, which prompted its development. Based on the analysis, a method of assessing the sustainable development of administrative-territorial units has been proposed. The methodology is based on metrics for measuring sustainable development processes, developed by the Institute for Applied System Analysis of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Improving the existing methodology was to simplify it by developing a single system of parameters based on official statistics. Instead, it was suggested not to use the original data obtained by experts, due to the impossibility of verifying their reliability. For the same reason, it was proposed to abandon the use of weights when calculating the values of indicators and policy categories. Approbation of the improved methodology was carried out on the example of Poltava, Sumy and Kharkiv regions, which are part of the North-Eastern economic region of Ukraine. The calculations confirmed the comparability of the results with the results of other authors in previous studies. The improved methodology, in contrast to existing ones, is different due to its simplicity, versatility and suitability for assessing the sustainable development of any comparable administrative-territorial units. At the same time, further research is needed on the system of baseline parameters for administrative-territorial units for which there are insufficient official statistics, as well as the feasibility of applying weights, provided they are properly justified.
Effects of water use efficiency on plant dry matter in NERICA and Japanese rice cultivars under drought conditions
Authors: Hien N T T H , Yamanaka H , Kobata T , Hirai Y , Saitoh K
Published: March 2023

NERICA (New Rice for Africa) was produced by crossing Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) and African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.) and recorded to be drought tolerance. This study aimed to examine the transpiration and water use efficiency affected plant aboveground dry matter in total 29 cultivars including 23 NERICA, 1 indica-type and 5 japonica-type cultivars. Seedlings were transplanted 2 plants per pot (1/5000 a Wagner pot) on June 14, 2021. When the flag leaf appeared, three water treatments with three replications were imposed for 14 days. The control plot (C) was watered daily to maintain the water content per pot at field capacity (SW). The water content of medium dry pots (MD) and hard dry pots (HD) were maintained at 40% and 10% of SW, respectively. Surface of the pots was covered to eliminate the evaporation. Samples for dry matter measurement were collected on the same day starting and ending water treatment. Water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly different among cultivars when soil moisture treatments were included, and the same observation on soil moisture treatments when included cultivars. NERICA 4 showed the lowest WUE while NERICA 9 and Hokuriku 193 had the highest WUE. Cultivars with higher transpiration rate (Tr) had higher dry matter production (ΔDW). Under high vapor pressure deficit, ΔDW was more correlated with transpiration corrected by vapor pressure deficit (Tr/VD) than with WUE.
Population Structure of Parasesarma brevicristatum and Parasesarma semperi as an Indicator of Mangrove Replanted Forest Condition in Bintuni Bay, Indonesia
Authors: Falah F N , Sastranegara M H , Ardli E R
Published: March 2023

The mangrove forest at Bintuni Bay is one of the largest in Indonesia, and a portion of it is being used as production forest to produce woodchips. Replanting in the production forest results in various ecosystem conditions through ages. Since the Sesarmidae crab is an important component of the mangrove ecosystem and contributes significantly to its energy cycle, it is frequently used as a bioindicator to evaluate the ecosystem’s health. In the production mangrove area of Perseroan Terbatas Bintuni Utama Pure Wood Industries, sampling was done using the purposive sample method with circular plots in natural mangrove forests, replanted trees aged 25 and 5 years, and forests that had just been harvested. According to the survey, station 3′s five-year-old replanting of P. brevicristatum and P. semperi crabs had a population density of 139,455 Ind.ha−1 while station 4′s damaged forest had a population density of 119,047 Ind.ha−1. Both varieties of crabs have a higher male to female sex ratio. It was discovered that young individuals dominated the two species of crabs’ size distribution. Both species of crabs’ length weight relationships displayed a positive allometric tendency. The density of the saplings was the element of the mangrove vegetation that had the greatest impact on the population structure of both crabs.
Effects of heat treatment on the physicochemical parameters of acerola fruit (Malpighia emarginata DC.) juice over maturity indexes
Authors: Duong T N D , Pham N T , Hoang Q B
Published: March 2023

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) is a tropical fruit characterized by its high content of ascorbic acid and other micronutrients. Since thermal processing is approached to increase the shelf existence of foods and beverages by inactivating microorganisms and enzymes, this research was to investigate the physicochemical changes of acerola fruit juice under heat treatments. On behalf of ripeness, three stages of unripe, semi-ripe, and fully ripe acerola fruits were investigated. Under the heat treatment of 80°C for 20 minutes, the unripe fruits resulted in a juice with high bioactive contents including ascorbic acid of 1609.67 (mg/100g) and total phenolic content of 1697.87 (mg/100g) but with unattractive color, aroma and taste. Meanwhile, the semi-ripe and fully ripe fruits gave the juices with slightly lower content of biological compounds, however, with better sensorial characteristics. On behalf of the effect of heating regime, the fully ripe one, with remaining vitamin C content of 1109.68 (mg/100g) upwards after the thermal treatments of 70 to 90°C for 10 to 30 minutes, revealed extensive application of acerola fruit in food processing. Kinetic degradation study showed lower retention of vitamin C content (AAC) in the juices compared to that of phenolic components (TPC). The study also confirmed the higher activation energy of TPC than that of AAC in acerola fruit. In conclusion, comprehension of the change of acerola fruit juice under thermal treatments is crucial for optimizing quality of the product during processing.
Consumer acceptability of alternative foods: a study of processed cricket-based foods in Vietnam
Authors: Hoang H A
Published: March 2023

As the population is overgrowing, the pressure on food security is also increasing globally. Many countries worldwide have considered insects as an alternative to traditional food sources. This study used data from 110 Vietnamese consumers and the Continent Valuation Method to assess consumers’ acceptability and willingness to pay for cricket-based food products: cricket protein powders, sausages, and burgers. The survey results showed that 75% of the respondents knew cricket-based food as street foods or regional specialties. However, processed cricket-based are quite new in the Vietnamese market as 68.2%, 63.6%, and 62.7% of the surveyed consumers were unaware of cricket protein powders, sausages, and burgers, respectively. Furthermore, this paper identified that the acceptability of using cricket protein powder, cricket sausage, cricket burger, and cricket mayonnaise was 71%, 65%, 60%, and 58%, respectively. The positive impacts of consumer understanding and attitudes on the acceptability of cricket-based products were confirmed as they were consistently significant in all four logistic regression models in this study. Finally, the calculated willingness to pay for these cricket-based products was 471,999 VND/kg (protein powders), 44,153 VND/250gr (cricket sausages), 44,153 VND/portion (cricket burgers). These results imply that cricket-based foods have the potential to become a practical business, but firms need to invest in promotion and pricing to be successful in the Vietnamese market. Besides, this study’s limitations were that respondents were unfamiliar with the asked cricket products and did not have an adequate basis for articulating their true value.
Antibacterial properties of Allium sativum against Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and Phyllanthus amarus extracts against Escherichia coli
Authors: Pham T H , Vo T T A
Published: March 2023

Antibacterial activity of garlic extracts (Allium sativum) against Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) and Phyllanthus amarus extracts against Escherichia coli (E. coli) were evaluated by agar diffusion assay. The results showed that ORT were sensitive to pure garlic extract and garlic extract from alcohol. The diluted extract inhibited ORT at moderate levels. Relating to E. coli, 250 mg/mL of Phyllanthus extract destroy the bacteria while minimal bactericidal concentration of doxycycline and amoxicillin against Escherichia coli were 16 μg/mL and 64 μg/mL, respectively. The results contribute to evaluate garlic extract and Phyllanthus extract as antibiotic alternatives in animal production.
Church and world
Authors: Blanchard Shaun , Bullivant Stephen
Published: March 2023

Given the tumultuous world in which Vatican II took place, the Council’s document on social and moral issues was among its most hotly debated. It was also the one with the most far-reaching impact beyond the Church itself, inspiring Catholics and others to respond in diverse ways to ‘the signs of the times’. It is important to realize, however, that Gaudium et Spes is explicitly addressed to the world ‘of this Time’ (Huius Temporis)—that is, it is primarily intended as a response to contemporary issues in the mid-1960s, and not as a for-all-the-ages pronouncement. This recognition means the kind of wider sociological and historical contextualization, employed throughout this VSI, become all the more important for understanding the Council’s teachings in both GS and other ‘outward-looking’ documents. Since these are eclectic and wide ranging, the chapter focuses principally on three case studies: the Council’s teaching on the media (Inter Mirifica); the historic statement on the Jews (Nostra Aetate); and Gaudium et Spes’s final chapter on war and peace, and the debates surrounding it.
Deferoxamine Mesylate Improves the Survival Rate of Transplanted Fat by Promoting Angiogenesis
Authors: Lin Yan , Zhang Xiaoyu , Li Haoran , Mu Dali
Published: March 2023

Background

The volume retention rate after autologous fat transplantation is unpredictable and unstable. Deferoxamine mesylate (DFO) is a drug approved by the FDA that is safe, has antioxidant effects, and can promote angiogenesis.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to transplant DFO-pretreated fat granules into nude mice to observe the proangiogenic effect of DFO and to evaluate whether this treatment could also improve the retention rate of fat transplantation.

Methods

A total of 24 nude mice were transplanted with human adipose tissue that had been pretreated with different concentrations of DFO (0.5, 1, and 4 mM). Samples were collected at 1 and 3 months. After sampling, weight/volume retention rate, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction were analyzed. The effects and mechanisms of DFO-pretreated fat grafts were evaluated.

Results

The in vivo experimental results showed that DFO-pretreated adipose fat significantly improved the postoperative weight/volume retention rate. The results of the immunohistochemical staining indicated that the integrity and activity of the adipocytes in the DFO-pretreated groups were better than in the control group. The polymerase chain reaction results were consistent with the immunohistochemistry results (CD31), suggesting that DFO promoted angiogenesis in the grafts.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that preconditioning fat grafts with DFO can improve the effect of fat transplantation by promoting vascular regeneration.
A Retrospective Self-Controlled Study Evaluating the Prophylactic Effects of CACIPLIQ20 on Postsurgical Scars
Authors: Zakine Gilbert , Perruisseau-Carrier Anne , Becker Corinne , Sedel Frédéric , Téot Luc , Barritault Denis
Published: March 2023

Background

CACIPLIQ20 (OTR3, Paris, France) is a medical device used for the treatment of chronic skin ulcers. It contains a heparan sulfate mimetic that accelerates tissue healing by stabilizing matrix proteins and protecting heparin-binding growth factors. In humans, an open self-controlled study suggested that the topical application of CACIPLIQ20 optimizes skin healing following surgery.

Objectives

To expand previous findings using a different CACIPLIQ20 administration regimen.

Methods

Twenty-four females were referred for breast-reduction surgery. Each patient had their own control with 1 CACIPLIQ20-treated and 1 saline-treated control breast. The treated side (right or left) was randomly assigned by the operating surgeon. Scar appearance was assessed by 6 independent raters using a global visual scar comparison scale based on scar photographs. All raters were blinded toward the CACIPLIQ20-treated side.

Results

The follow-up period following surgery ranged from 1 to 12 months with a median follow-up of 6 months. Overall, there was a mean improvement of 15.2% (SD = 26.7) in favor of CACIPLIQ20 (P = .016). On the CACIPLIQ20-treated side, the mean score per patient was above 20% in 11 patients and above 30% improvement in 8 cases. In contrast, only 3 patients were considered improved by at least 20% on the control side and only 1 above 30%. A comparison of different application regimens suggested that the best trend was obtained with a single administration of CACIPLIQ20 at Day 0.

Conclusions

In conclusion, CACIPLIQ20 could represent an interesting scar prophylactic therapy, based on a single administration at the time of surgery, and without any known adverse effects.

Level of Evidence: 3
From Enrico Sertoli to freemartinism: the many phases of the master testis-determining cell
Authors: Yao Humphrey Hung-Chang , Rodriguez Karina F
Published: March 2023

Sertoli cells, first identified in the adult testis by Enrico Sertoli in the mid-nineteenth century, are known for their role in fostering male germ cell differentiation and production of mature sperm. It was not until the late twentieth century with the discovery of the testis-determining gene SRY that Sertoli cells’ new function as the master regulator of testis formation and maleness was unveiled. Fetal Sertoli cells facilitate the establishment of seminiferous cords, induce appearance of androgen-producing Leydig cells, and cause regression of the female reproductive tracts. Originally thought be a terminally differentiated cell type, adult Sertoli cells, at least in the mouse, retain their plasticity and ability to transdifferentiate into the ovarian counterpart, granulosa cells. In this review, we capture the many phases of Sertoli cell differentiation from their fate specification in fetal life to fate maintenance in adulthood. We also introduce the discovery of a new phase of fetal Sertoli cell differentiation via autocrine/paracrine factors with the freemartin characteristics. There remains much to learn about this intriguing cell type that lay the foundation for the maleness.
Metastatic Crohn disease improving with vedolizumab
Authors: Costa Blasco Marta , McFeely Orla , Doyle Claire  , Wolinska Anna , Andrawis Madonna  , Murphy Lisa  , Beatty Paula , O’Mahony Sarah , Hackett Caitriona 
Published: March 2023

Metastatic Crohn disease responding to vedolizumab.
Brain networks subserving functional core processes of emotions identified with componential modeling
Authors: Mohammadi Gelareh , Van De Ville Dimitri , Vuilleumier Patrik
Published: March 2023

Despite a lack of scientific consensus on the definition of emotions, they are generally considered to involve several modifications in the mind, body, and behavior. Although psychology theories emphasized multi-componential characteristics of emotions, little is known about the nature and neural architecture of such components in the brain. We used a multivariate data-driven approach to decompose a wide range of emotions into functional core processes and identify their neural organization. Twenty participants watched 40 emotional clips and rated 119 emotional moments in terms of 32 component features defined by a previously validated componential model. Results show how different emotions emerge from coordinated activity across a set of brain networks coding for component processes associated with valuation appraisal, hedonic experience, novelty, goal-relevance, approach/avoidance tendencies, and social concerns. Our study goes beyond previous research that focused on categorical or dimensional emotions, by highlighting how novel methodology combined with theory-driven modeling may provide new foundations for emotion neuroscience and unveil the functional architecture of human affective experiences.
Extensive aortic root endocarditis with extension into the intervalvular fibrous body: an updated report of a mitral valve sparing approach
Authors: Tomšič Anton , Palmen Meindert , de Jong Mylene Loncq , Hjortnaes Jesper , Driessen Antoine G H , Braun Jerry , Marsan Nina Ajmone , Klautz Robert J M
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVES

Aortic root abscess can spread to include adjacent cardiac structures, including the central or intervalvular fibrous body and mitral valve. After radical debridement, complex surgical correction is needed. We describe the results of our mitral valve sparing approach.

METHODS

Between January 2004 and December 2020, 60 patients underwent operation for infective endocarditis of the aortic root with extension towards the mitral valve at 2 centres in the Netherlands. Early and late clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were studied.

RESULTS

Prosthetic valve endocarditis was present in 42 (70%) patients and emergent or salvage surgery was performed in 8 (13%) patients. After radical debridement of all infected tissue, mitral valve repair was feasible in 48 (80%) patients. Early mortality occurred in 11 (18%) patients while mechanical circulatory support was needed in 8 (13%) patients. At 10 years after surgery, the estimated reintervention-free survival rate was 51.9% (95% confidence interval 37.0–66.8%). Eight patients underwent reintervention; this was more common in patients who underwent aortic valve rather than root replacement and in patients in whom mitral valve repair was performed without ring annuloplasty. For 48 patients who underwent mitral valve repair, the estimated freedom from recurrent mitral regurgitation rate was 64.4% (95% confidence interval 40.1–88.7%) at 10 years after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical intervention for extensive infective endocarditis of the aortic root is related to reasonable perioperative morbidity and mortality. Optimal surgical technique is crucial to lower the risk of late reintervention. Mitral valve repair is feasible in the majority of patients with satisfactory durability.
Low-grade inflammation during the glucocorticoid withdrawal phase in patients with Cushing's syndrome
Authors: Vogel Frederick , Braun Leah , Zopp Stephanie , Nowak Elisabeth , Schreiner Jochen , Benz Irina , Rubinstein German , Künzel Heike , Ritzel Katrin , Kroiss Matthias , Honegger Jürgen , Beuschlein Felix , Schilbach Katharina , Teupser Daniel , Bidlingmaier Martin , Reincke Martin
Published: March 2023

Importance

Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) leads to profound immunosuppression. Successful surgery induces biochemical remission and reversal of immunosuppression, which is characterized by clinical signs of glucocorticoid withdrawal and associated with increased susceptibility to infections and thromboembolic complications.

Objective

We hypothesized that the glucocorticoid withdrawal phase is characterized by low-grade inflammation that may be related to patient-relevant outcomes.

Setting

In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed longitudinal data from 80 patients with CS prospectively enrolled in the German Cushing's registry between 2012 and 2021. All enrolled patients underwent successful surgery. In a second step, a case–control study was performed in 25 of the patients with age-, gender-, and body mass index–matched control patients in whom hypercortisolism was excluded. Analyses included the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, as well as body composition, muscle function testing, and quality-of-life questionnaires. The patients were studied during active CS and in the postoperative remission phase 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.

Results

Compared with the preoperative phase and matched controls, patients with CS had increased systemic inflammatory markers in the early remission phase. One month following surgery, median (interquartile range) C-reactive protein was 0.48 mg dL−1 (0.14-0.90) vs 0.10 mg dL−1 (0.06-0.39) during active CS (P ≤ .001). Similarly, interleukin-6 1 month after surgery was 7.2 pg mL−1 (3.3-11.7) vs 1.7 pg mL−1 (1.5-2.5) during active CS (P ≤ .001). Obesity and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were associated with increased inflammation levels. This proinflammatory state lasted until 1 year following surgery. Moreover, inflammatory markers during early remission showed an inverse correlation with long-term muscle function.

Conclusions

The glucocorticoid withdrawal phase is associated with a low-grade inflammatory state, which is particularly pronounced in obese and hyperglycemic patients and related to lower muscle function.
Not all wealth is the same: types and levels of wealth and children’s university enrolment
Authors: Pietrolucci Andrea , Albertini Marco
Published: March 2023

A number of studies suggest that parental wealth has both primary and secondary effects on offspring’s educational decisions, net of other measures family’s socio-economic status. The article documents that there is a positive association between parental wealth and children’s university enrolment in Italy, a country characterized by comparatively low levels of wealth inequality and a low enrolment rate in tertiary education. The positive association is confirmed when controlling for children’s performance in secondary school, too. Moreover, complementing previous studies, the analyses explore the extent to which different types of wealth have a different effect on children’s university enrolment, and on how this effect varies along the wealth distribution and depending on parents’ educational level. A positive effect is found only for families with non-negative net wealth and up to the 35th percentile of the wealth distribution. A threshold effect is found for financial wealth as well, being the association positive and significant up to the median of the financial wealth distribution. Real assets show a positive, albeit weaker, association up to the 30th percentile. Next, parental wealth is found to be positively associated with a higher likelihood of enrolment at university only for children of parents with a lower secondary degree or less, whereas the effect is not statistically significant for children of parents with at least an upper secondary degree.