bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Priming methods affected deterioration speed of primed rice seeds by regulating reactive oxygen species accumulation, seed respiration and starch degradation
Authors: Ren Muyao , Tan Biao , Xu Jiayi , Yang Zhengpeng , Zheng Huabin , Tang Qiyuan , Zhang Xiaoli , Wang Weiqin
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Seed priming is a pre-sowing seed treatment that is beneficial for rice seed germination and seedling growth, but the reduced seed longevity after seed priming greatly limited its adoption. The deterioration of primed seeds showed large differences among different studies, and the priming method might play an important role in regulating the deterioration speed of primed seeds. However, whether and how the priming method affected the deterioration of primed rice seeds during storage remains unknown.

Methods

In this study, two typical seed priming methods, namely hydropriming (HP) and osmopriming (PEG) were compared under artificially accelerated aging conditions, the changes in germination performance, starch metabolism, seed respiration and reactive oxygen species accumulation before and after accelerated aging were determined.

Results and discussion

Hydroprimed rice seeds exhibited significantly faster deterioration speed than that of PEG-primed seeds in terms of germination speed and percentage. Meanwhile, α-amylase activity and total soluble sugar content in hydroprimed seeds were reduced by 19.3% and 10.0% respectively after aging, as compared with PEG-primed seeds. Such effects were strongly associated with the increased reactive oxygen generation and lipid peroxidation, as the content of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde in hydroprimed seeds were 4.4%, 12.3% and 13.7% higher than those in PEG-primed seeds after aging, such effect could be attributed to the increased respiratory metabolism in hydroprimed seeds. In addition, the simultaneous use of N-acetylcysteine with HP and PEG priming greatly inhibited the deterioration of primed rice seeds, suggesting that the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species may be the key factor affecting the speed of deterioration in primed rice seeds during storage.
Energizing compassion: using music and community focus to stimulate compassion drive and sense of connectedness
Authors: Gilbert Paul , Basran Jaskaran Kaur , Plowright Ptarmigan , Gilbert Hannah
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The last 20 years have seen considerable research on the nature and biopsychosocial impacts of compassion training on self and others. This training is usually focused on calming and slowing the mind and body and on individual imagery practices and mantras. This study explored the effects of three variations: 1. The impact of using energizing music to generate activation and “drive” for compassion; 2. To focus on imagining “breathing in and breathing out a white light or mist of compassion” to bring compassion to the world; and 3. While listening to energizing music, participants were guided to imagining connecting to the compassion (Sangha) community, imagining oneself as linking with others as part of communities seeking to help the world.

Methods

From approximately 1,600 members of the Compassionate Mind discussion list, participants were invited to take part in a new energizing focused self-practice study. The study involved listening to recorded guidance on the evolutionary model of compassion and the need to address the potentially harmful side of our nature. This was followed by a 4 1/2-min tonglen-informed guided practice of breathing in and breathing out compassion accompanied by energizing music. Forty-three participants completed several self-report scales measuring compassion orientation, wellbeing, social safeness, and positive affect before and following 2 weeks of practice. Participant experiences were recorded from 6 open explorative questions.

Results

Self-report measures taken before and following 2 weeks of practice revealed significant increases in self-compassion, compassion to others, openness to compassion from others, activated positive affect, safe positive affect, social safeness, and wellbeing, with the largest effect size relating to compassion for the self (d = −0.76). In addition, qualitative data revealed that the participants had experienced the practice as energizing, inspiring, and felt socially connected and that it had significant impacts on other aspects of their lives. Some participants noted that engaging with suffering also stimulated sadness.

Conclusion

This study found that pairing energizing music with breathing practices and specific compassion visualizations, focusing on the desire to bring compassion to the world and be part of a compassionate community, was well-accepted and had a range of significant positive impacts. This study indicates the potential value of exploring energizing in comparison to the more standard soothing and settling practices as ways of stimulating the biopsychosocial processes of compassion.
Training in Open Dialogue and Dialogical Practice: creatively responding as trainers and writers
Authors: Thorley Catherine , Brown Judith M. , Kurtti Mia , Taylor Alita
Published: October 2023

This paper emerges from a series of conversations about training in Open Dialogue and dialogical practice. In our dialogue, we found ourselves moving away from seeking definitive answers about content (what to include) or process (how to include). We asked, “Why are we asking this question about training at all?” Maybe it is because many helpers and all kinds of professionals all over the world are truly asking, “How do we do, or how do we learn how to do ‘open dialogue’?.” That question starts with “How to train others in the practice?”

We moved toward responding to our own questions—what are we offering as trainers and what are the trainees seeking? We sought to explore what is required for a training space that accommodates the hopes of both trainers and trainees. Words arose during our talking, and we listened to them, let them sink in, and reflected on them. Some words resonated with us as trainers; some linked with observing trainees’ experiences (including our own); some showed a glimpse of the relationship between trainer and trainees. These emergent words point to a series of learnings, aspects of the training that we as trainers have come to believe are important. The following paper expands upon these words while also including actual portions of our dialogues and vignettes from training. As such, we illustrate our ongoing learning as trainers of Open Dialogue and dialogical practice as it occurs within the unique nature of each training we provide.
COVID-19 booster prioritization in the West Bank: a survey experiment among Bedouins, refugees, and the majority group
Authors: Carol Sarah , Amro Ahmad
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Our main aim is to understand to what extent Bedouins, internally displaced Palestinians (refugees) and majority-group members (non-refugees, non-Bedouins, settled) in the West Bank prioritize COVID-19 booster shots for their own group over other groups.

Methods

We conducted a survey experiment (face-to-face) among 678 Palestinians living in the West Bank. Participants randomly received a description of an older man (Bedouin, refugee, settled) and were asked to indicate to what extent this person should be prioritized for the booster shot. Respondents belonging to a minority saw the profile of an in-group member or a majority-group member, whereas majority-group members would see the profile of an in-group or one out-group member (Bedouin, Palestinian refugee).

Results

We found slightly higher in-group preferences for Palestinian refugees when it came to vaccination, whereas majority-group members were less inclined to support a prioritization of Palestinian refugees but equally prioritized their group and Bedouins. For Bedouins, we did not find strong in-group preferences.

Discussion

Our study reveals the salience of group boundaries during the COVID-19 pandemic with potentially adverse effects on the health care of minorities.
The incidence and risk factors of selected drug prescriptions and outpatient care after SARS-CoV-2 infection in low-risk subjects: a multicenter population-based cohort study
Authors: Gagliotti Carlo , Banchelli Federico , De Paoli Angela , Buttazzi Rossella , Narne Elena , Ricchizzi Enrico , Schievano Elena , Bellio Stefania , Pitter Gisella , Tonon Michele , Canziani Lorenzo Maria , Rolli Maurizia , Tacconelli Evelina , Berti Elena , Russo Francesca , Moro Maria Luisa
Published: October 2023

Background

Knowledge about the dynamics of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical aspects of COVID-19 has steadily increased over time, although evidence of the determinants of disease severity and duration is still limited and mainly focused on older adult and fragile populations.

Methods

The present study was conceived and carried out in the Emilia-Romagna (E-R) and Veneto Regions, Italy, within the context of the EU’s Horizon 2020 research project called ORCHESTRA (Connecting European Cohorts to increase common and effective response to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic) (www.orchestra-cohort.eu). The study has a multicenter retrospective population-based cohort design and aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of access to specific healthcare services (outpatient visits and diagnostics, drug prescriptions) during the post-acute phase from day-31 to day-365 after SARS-CoV-2 infection, in a healthy population at low risk of severe acute COVID-19. The study made use of previously recorded large-scale healthcare data available in the administrative databases of the two Italian Regions. The statistical analysis made use of methods for competing risks. Risk factors were assessed separately in the two Regions and results were pooled using random effects meta-analysis.

Results

There were 35,128 subjects in E-R and 88,881 in Veneto who were included in the data analysis. The outcome (access to selected health services) occurred in a high percentage of subjects in the post-acute phase (25% in E-R and 21% in Veneto). Outpatient care was observed more frequently than drug prescriptions (18% vs. 12% in E-R and 15% vs. 10% in Veneto). Risk factors associated with the outcome were female sex, age greater than 40 years, baseline risk of hospitalization and death, moderate to severe acute COVID-19, and acute extrapulmonary complications.

Conclusion

The outcome of interest may be considered as a proxy for long-term effects of COVID-19 needing clinical attention. Our data suggest that this outcome occurs in a substantial percentage of cases, even among a previously healthy population with low or mild severity of acute COVID-19. The study results provide useful insights into planning COVID-19-related services.
Health perception and restorative experience in the therapeutic landscape of urban wetland parks during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Li Jiang , Chang Yating , Cai Xiaoxi , Liu Shaobo , Peng You , Feng Tao , Qi Jialing , Ji Yifeng , Xia Yiting , Lai Wenbo
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The effects of restoration and inspiration in the therapeutic landscape of natural environments on visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic have been well-documented. However, less attention has been paid to the heterogeneity of visitor perceptions of health and the potential impacts of experiences in wetland parks with green and blue spaces on visitors’ overall perceived health. In this study, we investigate the impact of the restorative landscapes of wetland parks on visitors’ health perceptions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

In our survey, 582 respondents participated in an online questionnaire. We analyzed the respondents’ health perceptions in terms of latent class analysis, used multinomial logistic regression to determine the factors influencing the potential categorization of health perceptions, and used structural equation modeling to validate the relationships between health perceptions of different groups and landscape perceptions of wetland parks, restorative experiences, and personality optimistic tendencies.

Results

The results identified three latent classes of health perceptions. Gender, marital status, education, occupation, income, distance, frequency of activities, and intensity of activities were significant predictors of potential classes of perceived health impacts among wetland park visitors.

Discussion

This study revealed the nature and strength of the relationships between health perception and landscape perception, restorative experience, and dispositional optimism tendencies in wetland parks. These findings can be targeted not only to improve visitor health recovery but also to provide effective references and recommendations for wetland park design, planning, and management practices during and after an epidemic.
Exploring the potential of dietary factors and plant extracts as chemopreventive agents in oral squamous cell carcinoma treatment
Authors: Kumar Madhav , Jha Abhimanyu Kumar
Published: October 2023

Oral cancer, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is a prevalent malignancy having a significant fatality rate worldwide. Despite advancements in conventional treatment modalities, the overall survival rate for OSCC remains low. Therefore, there is a critical need to explore alternative therapeutic approaches that can improve patient outcomes. This review focuses on the potential of dietary factors and plant extracts as chemopreventive agents in treating oral cancer. These compounds possess diverse biological functions encompassing a range of attributes, such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer capabilities. By targeting multiple cellular pathways involved in carcinogenesis, they possess the capacity to hinder tumor growth and development, promote programmed cell death, and impede the progression of oral cancer. Signaling pathways targeted by natural compounds that have been included in this review include Akt/mTOR/NF-κB signaling, Hippo-Tafazzin signaling pathway, notch signaling pathway, mitochondrial pathway, and Sonic Hedgehog pathway.
A statistical analysis and comparison of the fine structures of the ion upflow associated with the double-peak subauroral ion drift
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Han De-Sheng , Teng Shang-Chun , Wang Zhi-Wei , Zhang Q.-H. , Xing Zan-Yang , Wang Yong , Ma Yu-Zhang
Published: October 2023

The ion upflow associated with the subauroral ion drift (SAID) is a crucial component in the exchange of particles between the ionosphere and the ring currents. The ion upflow associated with the double-peak subauroral ion drift (DSAID), which is a subclass of the SAID, is more complex compared to SAID. In this study, we conducted a statistical analysis of the ion upflow associated with DSAID using Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F16–F18 data spanning 11 years (2010–2020) in the Northern Hemisphere. Our findings revealed that ion upflow associated with DSAID can exhibit either a double-peak or a one-peak upflow. The statistical characteristics of these two types of events displayed significant differences. In DSAID with a double-peak upflow event, the velocity of DSAID around the high-latitude peak was greater than that around the low-latitude peak. However, in DSAID with a one-peak upflow event, the DSAID velocities around the two peaks were very similar. Based on the formation mechanism of DSAID and the process of frictional heating in the ionosphere, we proposed that the formation of DSAID with a double-peak upflow and DSAID with a one-peak upflow are likely related to the formation process of DSAID.
Use of pharmaceuticals amongst athletes tested by Anti-Doping Norway in a five-year period
Authors: Gjelstad Astrid , Herlofsen Tine Marie , Bjerke Anne-Linn , Lauritzen Fredrik , Björnsdottir Ingunn
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The aim of the study was to map the use of pharmaceuticals by Norwegian athletes registered on doping control forms (DCFs) in a five-year period to examine general and some class specific use of pharmaceuticals across sports and athlete levels.

Method

Anonymous data from DCFs collected in 2015-2019 were manually entered into a database using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) system for classification of the pharmaceuticals. Variables entered were year of control, gender, age group, athlete level, sport, test type, nationality, and pharmaceuticals (and dietary supplements) used.

Results

Pain killers in the ATC groups M01 A (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs) and N02 B (other analgesics), and anti-asthmatics in ATC groups R03 A and R03 B were the most frequently used pharmaceuticals. National level athletes reported more use of pharmaceuticals (1.4 ± 1.7 pharmaceuticals per form) than recreational level athletes (0.9 ± 1.2). The highest proportion of DCFs containing information about at least one pharmaceutical were found in speed skating (79.1%), alpine skiing (74.0%), rowing (72.4%) and cross-country skiing (71.7%). Painkillers were most frequently used in muscular endurance sports (30.4% and 21.2 % for M01A and N02 B, respectively) and ball and team sports (17.9% and 17.0%). Use of hypnotics was reported from ice-hockey players and alpine skiers in around 8% of the cases.

Coclusion

Use of anti-asthmatics was most often reported amongst athletes specially exposed to cold, chemicals and heavy endurance training. Athletes in specialized sports requiring high levels of strength and/or endurance reported a higher use of pharmaceuticals out-of-competition compared to in-competition, while there was no such difference in complex sports, such as team, gymnastic, aiming and combat sports.
Measuring household resilience to food insecurity among Iranian teachers in disasters and crises
Authors: Ladaninezhad Maryam , Mohammadi Hamed , Esmaillzadeh Ahmad , Pouraram Hamed , Mohaghegh Mostafa
Published: October 2023

Background

Food security is susceptible to disasters and crises. Iran has frequently encountered natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and droughts, with a significant portion of its budget allocated to these events. While humanitarian aid and support are beneficial in critical situations, they are temporary and do not reduce vulnerability to future crises. Thus, resilience to food insecurity is a multidimensional concept that enhances the capacity to withstand future shocks and stressors. This study aimed to identify the primary dimensions of household resilience to food insecurity among teachers and characterize them across five zones in Tehran.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 400 teacher households in Tehran using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and a resilience questionnaire. We analyzed data by using factor analysis in SPSS 16.0 according to the RIMA-I method proposed by FAO.

Results

The results revealed that only 45% of households across the five zones of Tehran were resilient at various levels. In Zone 1, 65% of households demonstrated resilience. The dietary diversity score was significantly higher in highly resilient households compared to vulnerable ones. Factor analysis indicated that assets were a crucial dimension of household resilience to food insecurity. A regression analysis was conducted to identify the impact of each latent variable on household resilience, revealing that dimensions such as income and food access, adaptive capacity, assets, stability, and access to essential services accounted for 56% of the resilience index.

Conclusion

Additional indicators are required for evaluating and enhancing resilience in food insecurity in urban areas. Consequently, policies and interventions are necessary to improve resilience to food insecurity in vulnerable households.
Drive on a Greener Way: A Case Study on Navigating Cross-Regional Traffic Networks in South China
Authors: Zhang Yuqi , Zhou Yingying , Wang Beilei , Song Jie
Published: October 2023

Green navigation presents a challenge to sustainable mobility. Carbon emissions are a key indicator for evaluating the sustainability of a route. Some methods of green navigation consider the fastest and shortest route to be the least carbon-emitting option, solely from the driver’s perspective. To address this issue, various studies have incorporated road factors into the sustainability evaluation model and designed static route planning algorithms to minimize carbon emissions. However, there has been no comprehensive analysis of carbon emissions from both the road and the driver perspectives, and the influence of a sustainability evaluation using dynamic traffic states has not been considered. In this paper, we propose a carbon emission evaluation model based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) and a dynamic route planning algorithm that focuses on near-real-time traffic states. First, we develop an evaluation model for carbon emissions from both the road and the driver perspectives using a carbon footprint measurement method. Next, we propose a route planning method with both a static calculation and near-real-time adjustment to minimize carbon emissions. Finally, we select three cases from South China with different characteristics to verify the effectiveness of our model and algorithm. This evaluation model calculates the carbon emissions caused by all parties involved, providing a comprehensive assessment of the total carbon emissions generated by traffic. This approach addresses the problem of traditional route planning, which often fails to account for the influences of variable traffic conditions on the greenest route. We verify the effectiveness of the greenest navigation algorithm and near-real-time green navigation and apply these two aspects to cases where the greenest route is compared with other common navigation results from different dimensions. We compare carbon emissions from vehicles and roads from electric vehicles and gasoline-powered vehicles. If an electric vehicle is equipped with a wind power generator, the proportion of the vehicle’s carbon emissions will be very small. For other vehicle types, the carbon emissions will be more than 1000 times the road emissions.
A New Gas Analysis Method Based on Single-Beam Excitation Stimulated Raman Scattering in Hollow Core Photonic Crystal Fiber Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Shirmohammad Maryam , Short Michael A. , Zeng Haishan
Published: October 2023

We previously developed a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) based Raman scattering enhancement technique for gas/human breath analysis. It enhances photon–gas molecule interactions significantly but is still based on CW laser excitation spontaneous Raman scattering, which is a low-probability phenomenon. In this work, we explored nanosecond/sub-nanosecond pulsed laser excitation in HCPCF based fiber enhanced Raman spectroscopy (FERS) and successfully induced stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) enhancement. Raman measurements of simple and complex gases were performed using the new system to assess its feasibility for gas analysis. We studied the gas Raman scattering characteristics, the relationship between Raman intensities and pump energies, and the energy threshold for the transition from spontaneous Raman scattering to SRS. H2, CO2, and propene (C3H6) were used as test gases. Our results demonstrated that a single-beam pulsed pump combined with FERS provides an effective Raman enhancement technique for gas analysis. Furthermore, an energy threshold for SRS initiation was experimentally observed. The SRS-capable FERS system, utilizing a single-beam pulsed pump, shows great potential for analyzing complex gases such as propene, which is a volatile organic compound (VOC) gas, serving as a biomarker in human breath for lung cancer and other human diseases. This work contributes to the advancement of gas analysis and opens alternative avenues for exploring novel Raman enhancement techniques.
Prediction of Gait Kinematics and Kinetics: A Systematic Review of EMG and EEG Signal Use and Their Contribution to Prediction Accuracy
Authors: Amrani El Yaakoubi Nissrin , McDonald Caitlin , Lennon Olive
Published: October 2023

Human-machine interfaces hold promise in enhancing rehabilitation by predicting and responding to subjects’ movement intent. In gait rehabilitation, neural network architectures utilize lower-limb muscle and brain activity to predict continuous kinematics and kinetics during stepping and walking. This systematic review, spanning five databases, assessed 16 papers meeting inclusion criteria. Studies predicted lower-limb kinematics and kinetics using electroencephalograms (EEGs), electromyograms (EMGs), or a combination with kinematic data and anthropological parameters. Long short-term memory (LSTM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) tools demonstrated highest accuracies. EEG focused on joint angles, while EMG predicted moments and torque joints. Useful EEG electrode locations included C3, C4, Cz, P3, F4, and F8. Vastus Lateralis, Rectus Femoris, and Gastrocnemius were the most commonly accessed muscles for kinematic and kinetic prediction using EMGs. No studies combining EEGs and EMGs to predict lower-limb kinematics and kinetics during stepping or walking were found, suggesting a potential avenue for future development in this technology.
Enzyme-Free Signal Amplification Strategy via Chaperone Copolymer-Accelerated Hybridization for Highly Sensitive Detection of Adenosine
Authors: Liao Yazhen , Yang Yuxing , Qing Yang , Du Jie
Published: October 2023

Adenosine is a vital biological small molecule that regulates various physiological processes in the human body. A high expression of adenosine in cells can facilitate tumor growth. Therefore, detecting adenosine is crucial for early disease diagnosis. In this paper, we designed a fluorescent biosensor for the sensitive detection of adenosine based on the cationic comb-type copolymer PLL-g-Dex for assisted rapid hybridization of nucleic acids at room temperature. In this strategy, adenosine preferentially binds to the aptamer immobilized on the surface of magnetic nanobeads, releasing free aDNA in solution as the primer strand, which rapidly forms DNA nanowires with auxiliary probes of bDNA with the assistance of PLL-g-Dex. SYBR Green I is embedded in DNA duplexes to generate strong fluorescence. The experimental results showed that PLL-g-Dex promotes DNA hybridization reactions at room temperature to form ultra-long DNA nanowires, thus achieving signal amplification and shortening the detection time. In addition, magnetic nanobeads can reduce the background signal during the reaction. Compared with several previous studies on the fluorescence detection of adenosine, this strategy has a lower detection limit of 2.32 nM. Furthermore, this novel system exhibited a good detection performance even under complex environments, such as serum, providing some reference for the quantitative detection of adenosine in early disease diagnosis.
Disrupted Balance of the Oxidant–Antioxidant System in the Pathophysiology of Female Reproduction: Oxidative Stress and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Joó József Gábor , Sulyok Endre , Bódis József , Kornya László
Published: October 2023

The significance of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of male reproductive processes has been closely studied in the last two decades. Recently, it has become clear that oxidative stress can lead to numerous pathological conditions during female reproductive processes as well, contributing to the development of endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and various forms of infertility. During pregnancy, physiological generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurs in association with several developmental processes including oocyte maturation and implantation. An overproduction of ROS can lead to disturbances in fetal development and increases the risk for missed abortion, intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, premature delivery and gestational diabetes. Our review focuses on the etiological role of the disrupted oxidant–antioxidant system during human gestation as it relates to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
The Adjugate Method: Reassignment with System Classification
Authors: El-Ghezawi Omar M. E.
Published: October 2023

Further elaborations on the adjugate method for eigenvalue–eigenvector assignment are discussed in this paper. Additional results concerning the admissible pair introduced recently are stated, verified, and commented on. Properties of the adjugate method concerning eigenvalue reassignment of controllable and uncontrollable systems are revealed and pursued further in this study A reformulation of how calculations should be carried out is investigated, pointing out merits, bounds, and limitations. It has been found that reassignment can involve a case where the closed-loop eigenvector companion zi is zi=0 and the associated eligible closed-loop eigenvectors wi are open-loop ones. This can be considered an advantage in the sense of knowing zi and wi beforehand. This also applies to the case of uncontrollable eigenvalue reassignment, where enlarged closed-loop eigenvector subspaces are uncovered, enabling more flexible designs. Assessments of the traditional method compared to the adjugate method are commented on whenever appropriate. Numerical issues are pointed out where Leverrier’s algorithm is adapted for efficient matrix null space and matrix adjugate determination. A feature of the adjugate method is a result where wU=0, indicating that the eigenvalue assigned is uncontrollable. Such a distinctive feature enables a classification procedure for systems regarding controllability and observability. The various concepts pointed out have been demonstrated and authenticated through carefully selected examples.
Recent Trends in Active Packaging Using Nanotechnology to Inhibit Oxidation and Microbiological Growth in Muscle Foods
Authors: Jacinto-Valderrama Rickyn A. , Andrade Cristina T. , Pateiro Mirian , Lorenzo José M. , Conte-Junior Carlos Adam
Published: October 2023

Muscle foods are highly perishable products that require the use of additives to inhibit lipid and protein oxidation and/or the growth of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. The reduction or replacement of additives used in the food industry is a current trend that requires the support of active-packaging technology to overcome novel challenges in muscle-food preservation. Several nano-sized active substances incorporated in the polymeric matrix of muscle-food packaging were discussed (nanocarriers and nanoparticles of essential oils, metal oxide, extracts, enzymes, bioactive peptides, surfactants, and bacteriophages). In addition, the extension of the shelf life and the inhibitory effects of oxidation and microbial growth obtained during storage were also extensively revised. The use of active packaging in muscle foods to inhibit oxidation and microbial growth is an alternative in the development of clean-label meat and meat products. Although the studies presented serve as a basis for future research, it is important to emphasize the importance of carrying out detailed studies of the possible migration of potentially toxic additives, incorporated in active packaging developed for muscle foods under different storage conditions.
Behavioral Biases and Investment Decisions of SMEs Managers: Empirical Analysis within the Moroccan Context
Authors: Benayad Khaoula , Aasri Mohammed Rachid
Published: October 2023

This article examines the impact of overconfidence, optimism, risk aversion, mimicry and intuition biases on the investment decisions of Moroccan SMEs managers. The study was based on a sample of 133 SMEs managers, who were randomly selected to ensure the representativeness of the results. Analysis showed that optimistic managers tend to make investment decisions more frequently, while those who are more risk-averse adopt a more cautious approach. Mimicry was also identified as an influential factor in investment decisions, with executives likely to be influenced by the choices of their peers. Furthermore, intuition bias was also identified as a positive factor in the investment decision-making process, enabling managers to capitalize on their experience and tacit knowledge for more appropriate and timely choices. However, overconfidence showed no significant effect on investment decisions. These findings have important implications for the managers of Moroccan SMEs, enabling them to better understand the factors influencing their investment decisions, and to optimize the allocation of their financial resources for the sustainable growth of their businesses.
Instructors’ Gestural Accuracy Affects Geology Learning in Interaction with Students’ Spatial Skills
Authors: Bower Corinne A. , Liben Lynn S.
Published: October 2023

Complex and often unobservable STEM constructs and processes are represented using a variety of representations, including iconic gestures in which the body is configured or moved to resemble a referent’s spatial properties or actions. Earlier researchers have suggested links between gesturing and expertise, leading some to recommend instructional gestures. Earlier research, however, has been largely correlational; furthermore, some gestures may be made with misleading positions or movements. Using the illustrative topic of strike in structural geology, we investigated the existence and impact of inaccurate instructional gestures. In Study 1, we examined videotapes of participants who had been asked to explain strikes to another person. We observed inaccurate (non-horizontal) strike gestures not only among novices (first introduced to strike during the study itself, n = 68) but also among participants who had greater expertise in geology (n = 21). In Study 2, we randomly assigned novices (N = 167) to watch video lessons in which the instructor accompanied verbal explanations of strikes with accurate, inaccurate, or no iconic gestures and tested students’ learning on a strike-mapping task. Students with low spatial-perception skills showed no impact of their gestural condition on performance. Students with high spatial-perception skills showed no advantage from accurate gestures but performed significantly worse in the inaccurate-gesture condition. Findings suggest that recommendations to use gestures during instruction should include professional development programs that reduce the occurrence of inaccurate gestures.
Optimization of Guide Vane Centrifugal Pumps Based on Response Surface Methodology and Study of Internal Flow Characteristics
Authors: Cao Weidong , Wang He , Yang Xinyu , Leng Xinyi
Published: October 2023

The methodologies of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and response surface method (RSM) were integrated to uncover the optimal correlational framework for intricate hydraulic geometric parameters of guide vane centrifugal pumps. Parameters such as blade number, blade wrap angle, blade outlet angle, and relative axial distance between the guide vane and impeller, as well as radial distance, are embraced as optimization design variables. Meanwhile, pump head and efficiency were chosen as responsive variables. An analysis of 46 sets of hydraulic performance data was carried out by using the Box–Behnken experimental design method. Subsequently, response surface approximation models were established between hydraulic parameters and the efficiency, as well as the head. The optimal design point was predicted and a simulation of the hydraulic characteristics for the optimal scheme was conducted; the errors were 0.846% for head and 0.256% for efficiency between the simulation results with predicted results from RSM. The optimized model demonstrates noteworthy enhancements in hydraulic performance in comparison to the original model. By analyzing the internal flow of the optimized model under transient conditions, it was found that, as the internal flow of the flow passage components is relatively disordered at small flow rates, the amplitude of pressure pulsation is affected a lot. At other flow rates, the inside pressure pulsation waveform exhibits pronounced periodicity, and the primary causes of pressure pulsation in various flow components are not the same. Wall dissipation and turbulent dissipation emerge as significant contributors to the entropy generation in this centrifugal pump. The magnitude of entropy generation is correlated with the flow rate and the structural configuration of the pump’s components. High-entropy regions concentrate around the leading and trailing edges of the blades.
Monilinia fructicola Response to White Light
Authors: Astacio Juan Diego , Espeso Eduardo Antonio , Melgarejo Paloma , De Cal Antonieta
Published: October 2023

Light represents a powerful signal for the regulation of virulence in many microbial pathogens. Monilinia fructicola is the most virulent species causing brown rot in stone fruit crops. To understand the influence of light on M. fructicola, we measured the effect of white light and photoperiods on the colonial growth and sporulation of the model M. fructicola strain 38C on solid cultures. Searches in the M. fructicola 38C genome predicted a complete set of genes coding for photoreceptors possibly involved in the perception of all ranges of wavelengths. Since white light had an obvious negative effect on vegetative growth and the asexual development of M. fructicola 38C on potato dextrose agar, we studied how light influences photoresponse genes in M. fructicola during early peach infection and in liquid culture. The transcriptomes were analyzed in “Red Jim” nectarines infected by M. fructicola 38C and subjected to light pulses for 5 min and 14 h after 24 h of incubation in darkness. Specific light-induced genes were identified. Among these, we confirmed in samples from infected fruit or synthetic media that blue light photoreceptor vvd1 was among the highest expressed genes. An unknown gene, far1, coding for a small protein conserved in many families of Ascomycota phylum, was also highly induced by light. In contrast, a range of well-known photoreceptors displayed a low transcriptional response to light in M. fructicola from nectarines but not on the pathogen mycelium growing in liquid culture media for 6 days.
Evolution and Prediction of Urban Fringe Areas Based on Logistic–CA–Markov Models: The Case of Wuhan City
Authors: Long Yan , Liu Xi , Luo Shiqi , Luo Tianyue , Hu Siyu , Zheng Yuqiao , Shao Jingmei , Liu Xuejun
Published: October 2023

The urban fringe is the transitional area from rural form to urban form, and it is also the urban space reserve land in the Territorial Spatial Plan. However, few researchers predict its overall evolution and guide the implementation of the Territorial Spatial Plan. This study attempts to explore the dynamic evolution law of urban fringe, analyze its driving factors, predict its future development, and put forward management suggestions for the implementation of the Territorial Spatial Plan. In this paper, the land use data of Wuhan in 2000, 2010 and 2020 are applied to delimit the urban fringe area of Wuhan by means of a sliding t-test. Fifteen driving factors are selected from three dimensions, natural factors, socio-economic factors and traffic accessibility, and brought into the Logistic model to explore the driving factors of its spatial evolution. The CA–Markov model is used to predict the fringe area of Wuhan in 2035. The results show that the transformation of rural hinterland into urban fringe is obviously affected by the distance from railway stations, highways, commercial centers and urban main roads. It is predicted that the outer boundary of Wuhan’s fringe area in 2035 will be basically the same as the planned urban development boundary. In order to realize the intention of land space planning, the development and construction of the northwest of the Huangpi District, the East Lake Scenic Area, and the west side of the Jiangxia District should be restricted. From the perspective of the evolution of the fringe area, this paper puts forward some management suggestions for the implementation of the Territorial Spatial Plan and makes a beneficial attempt in theory and method to understand the development characteristics of the fringe area and promote the implementation of the Territorial Spatial Plan.
A Contribution to Experimental Identification of Frequency-Dependent Dynamic Coefficients of Tilting-Pad Journal Bearings with Centered and Off-Centered Pivot
Authors: Zemella Philipp , Vetter Daniel , Hagemann Thomas , Schwarze Hubert
Published: October 2023

Linearized dynamic bearing parameters and models are of essential interest for rotordynamic analyses in machine design. This paper experimentally studies the impact of pad preload and pivot offset on the frequency-dependent characteristics of dynamic stiffness (K) and damping coefficients (C) of a KC-model for tilting-pad journal bearings. For this purpose, two four-pad test bearing configurations (preload m=0.17, pivot offset 0.5 and preload m=0.47, pivot offset 0.6) that differ highly with respect to the pad design parameters are investigated. Contributing effects on the results due to geometric differences are excluded as far as possible, as only one aligning ring and one pivot support design is used. The tests are conducted on a high-performance test rig for surface speeds up to 140 m/s and excitation frequencies of 500 Hz. Significant deviations between the two bearings are identified that generally match theoretically predicted differences and, therefore, contribute to the validation of dynamic bearing modeling.
Industrial Hemp as a Potential Nonwood Source of Fibres for European Industrial-Scale Papermaking—A Review
Authors: Danielewicz Dariusz
Published: October 2023

The suitability of industrial hemp (IH) as a source of fibres for European industrial-scale papermaking, including, in particular, European kraft pulp mills (EKMPs) (i.e., plants producing the predominant amount of virgin pulps in Europe), was discussed, considering the causal, cultivation, technological, and application aspects of this issue. The work showed that there are generally premises for using straw from nonwood crops in European papermaking. As for the IH, it was found that IH stalks are the best IH fibrous raw material for EKMPs. There are a few cultivation factors favouring the use of IH stalks in them and a few, though important (e.g., small cultivation areas), factors not conducive to this use. Most technological factors favour the use of IH stalks in EKPMs, apart from the large differences in the length of the IH bast and woody-core fibres. The analysis of application factors indicates lower usefulness of IH stalks than wheat, rye or triticale straws, stalks of Miscanthus × giganteus, Virginia mallow, and kenaf. This is due to the much greater availability of these cereal straws than IH and less variation in the fibre length of cereal straws, Miscanthus × giganteus, Virginia mallow, and kenaf than in IH stalks. The main conclusion from the conducted query is the statement that the presence of IH varieties with fibre lengths more similar to wood would reduce the number of technological and application factors unfavourable to their use in EKPMs and increase the competitiveness of hemp straw vs. wood as a raw material for European large-scale papermaking.
LRFID-Net: A Local-Region-Based Fake-Iris Detection Network for Fake Iris Images Synthesized by a Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Kim Jung Soo , Lee Young Won , Hong Jin Seong , Kim Seung Gu , Batchuluun Ganbayar , Park Kang Ryoung
Published: October 2023

Iris recognition is a biometric method using the pattern of the iris seated between the pupil and the sclera for recognizing people. It is widely applied in various fields owing to its high accuracy in recognition and high security. A spoof detection method for discriminating a spoof attack is essential in biometric recognition systems that include iris recognition. However, previous studies have mainly investigated spoofing attack detection methods based on printed or photographed images, video replaying, artificial eyes, and patterned contact lenses fabricated using iris images from information leakage. On the other hand, there have only been a few studies on spoof attack detection using iris images generated through a generative adversarial network (GAN), which is a method that has drawn considerable research interest with the recent development of deep learning, and the enhancement of spoof detection accuracy by the methods proposed in previous research is limited. To address this problem, the possibility of an attack on a conventional iris recognition system with spoofed iris images generated using cycle-consistent adversarial networks (CycleGAN), which was the motivation of this study, was investigated. In addition, a local region-based fake-iris detection network (LRFID-Net) was developed. It provides a novel method for discriminating fake iris images by segmenting the iris image into three regions based on the iris region. Experimental results using two open databases, the Warsaw LiveDet-Iris-2017 and the Notre Dame Contact Lens Detection LiveDet-Iris-2017 datasets, showed that the average classification error rate of spoof detection by the proposed method was 0.03% for the Warsaw dataset and 0.11% for the Notre Dame Contact Lens Detection dataset. The results confirmed that the proposed method outperformed the state-of-the-art methods.
A Parametric Bootstrap Approach for a One-Way Error Component Regression Model with Measurement Errors
Authors: Yue Lili , Shi Jianhong , Luo Jingxuan , Lin Jinguan
Published: October 2023

In this paper, a one-way error component regression model with measurement errors is considered. The unknown parameter vector is estimated by using the bias-corrected method, and its corresponding asymptotic properties are also developed. For the hypothesis testing problem of the vector of the coefficient parameter in the model, a parametric bootstrap (PB) method is proposed. Under various sample sizes and parameter configurations, the effectiveness of our proposed PB test method is discussed by using some numerical simulations and a real data analysis.
Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Acute Q Fever in Reunion Island over Fourteen Years: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Aubin Alexandra , Eldin Carole , Zemali Naël , Jaubert Julien , Koumar Yatrika , Moiton Marie-Pierre , Poubeau Patrice , Braunberger Eric , Gérardin Patrick , Bertolotti Antoine
Published: October 2023

The clinical characteristics and epidemiology of Q fever in the Tropics are poorly described. We performed a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized cases between 2004 and 2017 in Reunion Island. Acute Q fever was defined in presence of a positive serology (phase II IgG ≥ 200 and phase II IgM ≥ 50), or a seroconversion (4-fold increase in phase II IgG between paired samples), or a positive PCR (blood or serum). Forty-two cases matched the diagnostic criteria. The most common clinical manifestations were fever (85.7%) and pulmonary symptoms (61.9%), including pneumonia (45.2%). Ninety percent of the patients were living in a farming area. Cumulative incidence was estimated at 9.3 per 100,000 inhabitants (95%CI: 6.4–12.1) with cases diagnosed yearly all throughout the study period except in 2006. Together with the seroprevalence figures, these data suggest that Q fever reaches low to moderate endemic levels on Reunion Island. As previously reported, pulmonary symptoms are in the foreground.