bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting Changes in Perceptions towards Smart City on Chinese Social Media: A Text Mining and Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Yue Aobo , Mao Chao , Chen Linyan , Liu Zebang , Zhang Chaojun , Li Zhiqiang
Published: August 2022

Examining the public’s attention and comments on smart city topics in social media can help enable a full understanding of the development characteristics of smart cities, and provide a realistic reference for improving the level of public participation and citizens’ sense of acquisition in smart city construction. Based on Sina Weibo, a well-known social media platform in China, over 230,000 public comments related to smart cities were extracted to analyze. Using LDA (Latent Dirichlet Assignment) and CNN-BiLSTM (Convolutional Neural Network and Bi-directional long and short memory) models, a topic mining and sentiment analysis model for user comments was constructed to study the current state of public perception of smart city concepts. The results demonstrate that public discussions on smart cities were macro-oriented, focusing on strategic layout and technical applications. As public awareness of smart cities deepens, topics about application scenarios and social services are gradually emphasized. The public’s positive sentiment toward smart cities dominates and varies in sentiment intensity across years; the positive sentiment intensity of individual users on smart city ideas is significantly lower than that of official certified Weibo users, such as government departments and corporate organizations, which reveals the identity and temporal characteristics of public participation in cyberspace.
Evaluation of Expanded Metal Mesh Applied on Building Facades with Regard to Daylight and Energy Consumption: A Case Study of an Office Building in Taiwan
Authors: Tsay Yaw-Shyan , Yang Chih-Hung , Yeh Chiu-Yu
Published: August 2022

Recently, expanded metal mesh has been used on the facades of many buildings in Taiwan. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the impact of expanded metal mesh on natural lighting and energy consumption in office buildings. First, the compatibility of EnergyPlus and DIVA simulation software with expanded metal mesh was verified using field measurements. The results show a high correlation between simulation and measurement, except for some periods of direct sunlight. Then, we evaluated the effects of window-to-wall ratio (WWR), glass, and expanded metal mesh on energy consumption and lighting. The results show that WWR has a significant influence on both lighting and energy consumption. The greater the WWR, the greater the energy saving potential of the expanded metal mesh and glass. If the SHGC of the glass is lower, the potential of the expanded metal mesh to save air conditioning energy consumption is smaller, and, as a result, the expanded metal mesh may increase the total energy consumption. Of the 36 simulation cases performed, three cases met the LEED lighting standard. The case with minimum energy consumption is achieved when SHGC = 50%, using laminated clear glass and expanded metal mesh with a 21% perforated ratio.
Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tonsil versus Base of Tongue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Poupore Nicolas S. , Chen Tiffany , Nguyen Shaun A. , Nathan Cherie-Ann O. , Newman Jason G.
Published: August 2022

Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) has become widely adopted for the surgical removal of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), with the most common locations being in the tonsil and base of tongue (BOT). However, it is currently unknown if TORS has equal efficacy and outcomes in patients with tonsillar or BOT OPSCC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the margin status and recurrence rates of tonsillar and BOT OPSCC after TORS. Per PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL were systematically searched from inception to 2/28/2022. Articles including the surgical management of OPSCC with TORS that compared margin status, complications, and recurrence between tonsil and BOT were included. Meta-analyses of proportions and odds ratios were performed. A total of 28 studies were included, comprising 1769 patients with tonsillar OPSCC and 1139 patients with BOT OPSCC. HPV positivity was seen in 92.3% of tumors. BOT OPSCC had a higher rate of positive margins compared to tonsillar OPSCC (28.1% [95%CI 15.1–43.3] vs. 7.5% [95%CI 3.3–13.3]). No differences were seen in recurrence between BOT and tonsillar OPSCC (OR 1.1 [95%CI 0.8–1.5], p = 0.480). In addition, no differences in postoperative hemorrhage were seen between tonsillar and BOT OPSCC (10.7% [95%CI 6.1–16.5] vs. 8.8% [95% CI 1.5–21.3]). While a higher rate of positive margins was seen in BOT OPSCC when compared to tonsil OPSCC, this did not translate to a higher recurrence rate in the BOT group. Future research on which subset of patients with BOT is more likely to have positive margins is warranted to improve the utility of TORS further.
Static Magnetic Fields Regulate T-Type Calcium Ion Channels and Mediate Mesenchymal Stem Cells Proliferation
Authors: Wu Haokaifeng , Li Chuang , Masood Muqaddas , Zhang Zhen , González-Almela Esther , Castells-Garcia Alvaro , Zou Gaoyang , Xu Xiaoduo , Wang Luqin , Zhao Guoqing , Yu Shengyong , Zhu Ping , Wang Bo , Qin Dajiang , Liu Jing
Published: August 2022

The static magnetic fields (SMFs) impact on biological systems, induce a variety of biological responses, and have been applied to the clinical treatment of diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this report, by using human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a model, we investigated the biological effect of SMFs at a molecular and cellular level. We showed that SMF exposure promotes MSC proliferation and activates the expression of transcriptional factors such as FOS (Fos Proto-Oncogene, AP-1 Transcription Factor Subunit) and EGR1 (Early Growth Response 1). In addition, the expression of signal-transduction proteins p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK oscillate periodically with SMF exposure time. Furthermore, we found that the inhibition of the T-type calcium ion channels negates the biological effects of SMFs on MSCs. Together, we revealed that the SMFs regulate T-type calcium ion channels and mediate MSC proliferation via the MAPK signaling pathways.
Crystallization and Composition of Ni-C/Ti Multilayer with Varied Ni-C Thickness
Authors: Zhang Qiya , Zhang Zhong , Liu Yang , Wang Zhanshan
Published: August 2022

Ni-C/Ti are suitable for the components of neutron supermirrors with high reflectivity because of their excellent optical constant and smoother interfaces compared to Ni/Ti. In this paper, to investigate the mechanism of C doping to the interface, crystallization, and composition of a Ni-C/Ti multilayer with variable Ni-C thickness, four Ni-C/Ti multilayers were prepared by direct current magnetron sputtering, in which the thickness of the Ni-C layers was 1.5 nm, 2.5 nm, 3.5 nm, and 4.5 nm, respectively, and the thickness of the Ti layers was kept at 5 nm. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, HRTEM, EDX, and SAED. The XRD and HRTEM results show that Ni-C layers in Ni-C/Ti multilayers translate from amorphous to polycrystal form, with their thickness increasing from 1.5 to 4.5 nm, and the crystallite size in Ni-C layers is equivalent to the layer thickness, respectively. The XPS, SAED, and EDX results illustrate that the enrichment position of C in Ni-C/Ti multilayers evolves from the Ni-C layers to the Ti layers as the respective Ni-C layer thickness increases from 2.5 to 4.5 nm. The enrichment position evolution of C in Ni-C/Ti multilayers could be due to the lower standard Gibbs free energy of TiC (−180.1 KJ/mol) compared with NiTi (−37.3 KJ/mol) and Ni3Ti (−35.9 KJ/mol) at 298 K.
Effect of Storage of Skim Milk Powder, Nonfat Dry Milk and Milk Protein Concentrate on Functional Properties
Authors: Shah Kartik , Salunke Prafulla , Metzger Lloyd
Published: August 2022

The physicochemical changes during the storage of high protein powders, such as skim milk powder (SMP), nonfat dry milk (NDM), and milk protein concentrates (MPC), can result in a variation in the functional properties of the powders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the storage of various milk powders (SMP, NDM, MPC40, and MPC70) on their functional properties. Three different lots of the powders were collected from US manufacturers and were analyzed for functional properties after 3, 9, and 15 months of storage at 25 °C. Additionally, this study also evaluated the effects of seasonal variation on the functionality of SMP and NDM. Functional properties, such as solubility, emulsification ability index (EAI), foaming, and surface hydrophobicity index (SHI), were evaluated at each storage time point. The solubility of MPC70 and the foam overrun of SMP, MPC40, and MPC70 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with an increase in the storage time. The emulsification properties of MPC70 were significantly higher than other powders. Except for foam drainage, there was no effect of the season on the SMP and NDM functional properties. The storage of milk powders has an impact on some functional properties, and a proper selection of powders based on end-use is recommended.
Significance of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking of the Right Ventricle in Predicting Subclinical Dysfunction in Patients with Thalassemia Major
Authors: Das Karuna M. , Baskaki Usama M. A. , Pulinchani Anisha , Ali Huthaifa M. , Almanssori Taleb M. , Gorkom Klaus Van , Das Amrita , Dewedar Hany , Sharma Sanjiv
Published: August 2022

In patients with thalassemia major (TM), cardiac magnetic resonance feature-tracking (CMR-FT) has been shown to be an effective method for diagnosing subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. This study aimed to determine whether CMR-FT could detect abnormal RV dysfunction in patients with a normal right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). We performed a retrospective analysis of TM patients admitted to Dubai’s Rashid Hospital between July 2019 and March 2021. The inclusion criteria were TM patients with SSFP cine with T2* (T2*-weighted imaging), while exclusion criteria included any other cardiovascular disease. When there was no myocardial iron overload (MIO) (T2* ≥ 20 ms) and when there was significant MIO (T2* < 20 ms), the CMR-FT was used to correlate with EF. Among the 89 participants, there were 46 men (51.7%) and 43 women (48.3%), with a mean age of 26.14 ± 7.4 years (range from 10 to 48 years). Forty-six patients (51.69%) did not have MIO, while 43 individuals did (48.31%). Thirty-nine patients (32.6%) were diagnosed with severe MIO, while seventeen (19.1%) were diagnosed with mild to moderate MIO. A significant correlation existed between RVEF and T2* values (r = 0.274, p = 0.014) and between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and T2* values (r = 0.256, p = 0.022). Using a multiple logistic regression model with predictors such as right ventricular longitudinal strain (RVGLS), LV ejection fraction (LV EF), and hemoglobin, abnormal myocardial iron overload can be predicted. This model demonstrates an AUC of 78.3%, a sensitivity of 72%, and a specificity of 76%. In the group with preserved RVEF > 53%, the left ventricular radial strain (LVGRS) (p = 0.001), right ventricular radial strain (RVGRS) (p = 0.000), and right ventricular basal circumferential strain (RVGCS-basal) (p = 0.000) CMR-FT strain values are significantly lower than those of the control group (p > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the LVGLS and T2*. RVGLS was ranked among the most accurate predictors of abnormal myocardial iron overload. The LVGRS, RVGRS, and RVGCS-basal CMR-FT strain values were the best predictors of subclinical RV dysfunction in the group with preserved RVEF. The most accurate way to diagnose MIO is still T2*, but FT-strain can help us figure out how MIO affects the myocardium from a pathophysiological point of view.
Effective Combination Immunotherapy with Oncolytic Adenovirus and Anti-PD-1 for Treatment of Human and Murine Ovarian Cancers
Authors: Heiniö Camilla , Clubb James , Kudling Tatiana , Quixabeira Dafne , Cervera-Carrascon Victor , Havunen Riikka , Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela Susanna , Santos João Manuel , Tapper Johanna , Kanerva Anna , Hemminki Akseli
Published: August 2022

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is one of the most common gynecological cancers and has the highest mortality in this category. Tumors are often detected late, and unfortunately over 70% of OvCa patients experience relapse after first-line treatments. OvCa has shown low response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments, thus leaving room for improvement. We have shown that oncolytic adenoviral therapy with Ad5/3-E2F-d24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL2 (aka. TILT-123) is promising for single-agent treatment of cancer, but also for sensitizing tumors for T-cell dependent immunotherapy approaches, such as ICI treatments. Therefore, this study set out to determine the effect of inhibition of the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), in the context of TILT-123 therapy of OvCa. We show that simultaneous treatment of patient derived samples with TILT-123 and ICIs anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 efficiently reduced overall viability. The combinations induced T cell activation, T cells expressed activation markers more often, and the treatment caused positive microenvironment changes, measured by flow cytometric assays. Furthermore, in an immunocompetent in vivo C57BL/6NHsda mouse model, tumor growth was hindered, when treated with TILT-123, ICI or both. Taken together, this study provides a rationale for using TILT-123 virotherapy in combination with TILT-123 and immune checkpoint inhibitors together in an ovarian cancer OvCa clinical trial.
A Systematic Literature Review of the Impact of Complexity Theory on Applied Economics
Authors: Haynes Philip , Alemna David
Published: August 2022

A systematic literature review is used to explore the relationship between complexity theory and economics. Broad search terms identify an unmanageable large number of hits. A more focused search strategy follows the PRISMA protocol and screens for Economics branded publications, and with key words for different applications of economics occurring in the abstract. This results in a distinct group of 247 publications. One hundred and twenty-two publications are excluded due to inclusion criteria or a lack of relevance. The remaining 113 are analysed for (1) use of complexity theory concepts, (2) types of methodology and methods, and (3) the applications for macro, meso, and micro issues. The publication with the greatest frequency of resulting articles is Complexity, closely followed by Ecological Economics. The highest annual citation ratio for a single article was 33.88. Complexity theory concepts included: non-linearity, system interactions, adaption, and resilience. Many developed a meso application, rather than solely focusing on macro or micro designs. Agent Based Models (ABMs) were popular, as were general systems models following the practice of the late system theorist, Donella Meadows. Applications were interdisciplinary and diverse, including world system models that linked macroeconomics to climate and sustainability, as contrast with micro and meso models trying to explain the complexity of agent-based behaviour on specific organisations or higher-level processes.
Classification and Identification Method of Radio Fuze Target and Sweep Jamming Signals Based on Third-Order Spectrum Features
Authors: Liu Bing , Hao Xinhong , Qian Pengfei , Cai Xin , Zhou Wen
Published: August 2022

To overcome the problem of insufficiency of linear frequency modulation (LFM) radio fuzes against sweep-type jamming, a method is proposed to classify and identify radio fuze targets and interfering signals based on third-order spectrum features. Using the measured data of an LFM radio fuze, the third-order spectral transform is applied to the output signals of the detector end under the action of the target and several amplitude modulated sweeping interfering signals, and the amplitude mean value, third-order spectral amplitude entropy, and third-order spectral singular value entropy based on the third-order spectrum are extracted as three-dimensional features. The experimental results show that the classification and identification of targets and AM sweep-type interference using the third-order spectral features of the signal at the detector end has a high success rate, with a comprehensive identification accuracy of 98.33%.
The Transition Phenomenon of (1,0)-d-Regular (k, s)-SAT
Authors: Fu Zufeng , Wang Haiying , Liu Jinjiang , Zhou Jincheng , Xu Daoyun , Pi Yihai
Published: August 2022

For a d-regular (k,s)-CNF formula, a problem is to determine whether it has a (1,0)-super solution. If so, it is called (1,0)-d-regular (k,s)-SAT. A (1,0)-super solution is an assignment that satisfies at least two literals of each clause. When the value of any one of the variables is flipped, the (1,0)-super solution is still a solution. Super solutions have gained significant attention for their robustness. Here, a d-regular (k,s)-CNF formula is a special CNF formula with clauses of size exactly k, in which each variable appears exactly s-times, and the absolute frequency difference between positive and negative occurrences of each variable is at most a nonnegative integer d. Obviously, the structure of a d-regular (k,s)-CNF formula is much more regular than other formulas. In this paper, we certify that, for k≥5, there is a critical function φ(k,d) such that, if s≤φ(k,d), all d-regular (k,s)-CNF formulas have a (1,0)-super solution; otherwise (1,0)-d-regular (k,s)-SAT is NP-complete. By the Lopsided Local Lemma, we get an existence condition of (1,0)-super solutions and propose an algorithm to find the lower bound of φ(k,d).
The Role of Gut Microbiota Modulation Strategies in Obesity: The Applications and Mechanisms
Authors: Shan Lingyue , Tyagi Akanksha , Shabbir Umair , Chen Xiuqin , Vijayalakshmi Selvakumar , Yan Pianpian , Oh Deog-Hwan
Published: August 2022

Nowadays, obesity is a leading public health problem worldwide. The growing prevalence of obesity significantly accounts for other cardio-metabolic diseases, including hypertension and diabetes. Several studies have shown that obesity is strongly associated with genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and dietary factors, especially the disordered profiles of gut microbiota (GM). The present review concluded mechanistic studies and potential correspondent treatments for obesity. Specifically, the anti-obesity effects of food-derived compounds manipulating GM were highlighted. The potential limitations of bioactive compounds on absorption in the intestinal tract were also discussed. Thus, the future direction of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as an approach to support modulating host GM (considered to be a potential therapeutic target for obesity) was discussed. This review shed light on the role of GM modulation strategies for the prevention/treatment of obesity.
Chemical Composition and In Situ Degradability of Desmanthus spp. Forage Harvested at Different Maturity Stages
Authors: Mwangi Felista W. , Charmley Edward , Adegboye Oyelola A. , Gardiner Christopher P. , Malau-Aduli Bunmi S. , Kinobe Robert T. , Malau-Aduli Aduli E. O.
Published: August 2022

This study evaluated the change in nutritive value and in situ degradability of Desmanthus spp. (desmanthus) cultivars JCU2; D. virgatus, JCU4; D. bicornutus and JCU7; D. leptophyllus harvested at varying maturity stages to test the hypothesis that the nutritive value and in situ degradability of desmanthus differ between cultivars and with maturity stage at harvest. In Experiment 1, desmanthus was harvested at 11, 38, 72 and 103 days of regrowth (maturity), separated into the leaf and stem portion, dried and analysed for dry matter (DM) and chemical composition. In Experiment 2, desmanthus was harvested 78, 122 and 168 days after planting (maturity). Samples were dried, and DM, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) degradation were determined using the in situ technique with three fistulated Droughtmaster steers. The results showed an interaction between cultivar and maturity on the leaf to stem mass ratio, leaf CP, stem NDF and the leaf ADF (p ≤ 0.04). The leaf-to-stem mass ratio declined more steeply with maturity in JCU7 compared to JCU2 and JCU4 (p = 0.04), while there was a higher decline in leaf CP of JCU4 than JCU2 and JCU7 (p < 0.01). The total potentially degradable fraction of DM and CP did not differ between cultivars (p ≥ 0.30) but declined with maturity (p ≤ 0.04). However, the effective DM degradability at a high particle outflow rate was higher in JCU4 than in JCU7. Taken together, these results indicate that differences exist between cultivars, and higher livestock production may be achieved by utilising the different cultivars in a blend and at earlier maturity stages. Therefore, the hypothesis that nutritive value and in situ degradability of desmanthus differ between cultivars and with maturity stage at harvest was accepted.
Designing a Multi-Parameter Method to Assess the Adaptation Period of Crucian Carp under Stress Conditions of the Bionic Robot Fish
Authors: Wang Bin , Mao Hanping , Zhao Jian , Liu Yong , Wang Yafei , Du Xiaoxue
Published: August 2022

Changes in the physiological and behavioral states of fish are affected by foreign substances. Therefore, fish need a certain adaptation period to eliminate the stress response. Herein, in order to determine the adaptation period, the bionic robot fish was used to obtain behavioral information about crucian carp, which was tested at five time points (1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day) within 28 days. First, the fear response and exploratory behavior of crucian carp affected by three-color bionic robot fish were explored. Then, according to the measurement results of the behavior, morphology, and feeding, and the physiological and biochemical properties of the crucian carp, a multi-parameter evaluation method was proposed to determine the adaptation period of the crucian carp under this monitoring mode. The results showed that more than 4 areas were occupied by crucian carp from the 21st day. From the 16th day, the number of crucian carp swimming with clear outlines gradually increased. The number of abnormal swimming occurrences decreased on day 13. More than 80% of the crucian carp body color returned to dark on the 23rd day. The crucian carp did not respond to food until day 19, when most of the crucian carp began to scramble for food. Food consumption reached more than two thirds on day 22. In addition, glucose and total protein leveled off after day 21, when mean hemoglobin levels were highest. Triglycerides showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. The pigmented area of the skin section gradually decreases and eventually stabilizes. In summary, it takes at least 23 days for the crucian carp to adapt to the influence of the bionic robot fish.
Taichi-LBM3D: A Single-Phase and Multiphase Lattice Boltzmann Solver on Cross-Platform Multicore CPU/GPUs
Authors: Yang Jianhui , Xu Yi , Yang Liang
Published: August 2022

The success of the lattice Boltzmann method requires efficient parallel programming and computing power. Here, we present a new lattice Boltzmann solver implemented in Taichi programming language, named Taichi-LBM3D. It can be employed on cross-platform shared-memory many-core CPUs or massively parallel GPUs (OpenGL and CUDA). Taichi-LBM3D includes the single- and two-phase porous medium flow simulation with a D3Q19 lattice model, Multi-Relaxation-Time (MRT) collision scheme and sparse data storage. It is open source, intuitive to understand, and easily extensible for scientists and researchers.
Comparison of FLACS and BASiL Model for Ro-Pax Ferry LNG Bunkering Leak Analysis
Authors: Lim Boon How , Ng Eddie Y. K.
Published: August 2022

Performing liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering involves the risk of accidental leakage. When released from containment, LNG rapidly vaporizes into flammable natural gas and could lead to flash fire and explosion. Hence, LNG bunkering needs to take place in an area without an ignition source called a safety zone. This study compares the safety zone estimated by the Bunkering Area Safety Information for LNG (BASiL) model with that of the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software FLACS, for Ro-Pax ferry bunkering. Horizontal leaks covering different wind speeds in eight wind directions were compared between the two models. Additionally, a grid refinement study was performed systematically to quantify the discretization error uncertainty in the CFD. Of 24 leak cases, FLACS and the BASiL model results agreed on 18 cases. In three cases validation was inconclusive due to the CFD error uncertainty. The BASiL model underestimated the safety zone distance in three cases compared with FLACS. Future work would be to perform a higher grid refinement study to confirm inconclusive comparison and examine ways to reduce gas dispersion spread for the worst result.
A Novel Gas Sensor for Detecting Pork Freshness Based on PANI/AgNWs/Silk
Authors: Li Yahui , Li Yanxiao , Shi Jiyong , Li Zhihua , Wang Xin , Hu Xuetao , Gong Yunyun , Zou Xiaobo
Published: August 2022

A novel, operational, reliable, flexible gas sensor based on silk fibroin fibers (SFFs) as a substrate was proposed for detecting the freshness of pork. Silk is one of the earliest animal fibers utilized by humans, and SFFs exposed many biological micromolecules on the surface. Thus, the gas sensor was fabricated through polyaniline (PANI) and silver nanowires (AgNWs) and deposited on SFFs by in-suit polymerization. With trimethylamine (TMA) as a model gas, the sensing properties of the PANI/AgNWs/silk composites were examined at room temperature, and the linear correlativity was very prominent between these sensing measures and the TMA measures in the range of 3.33 μg/L–1200 μg/L. When the pork sample is detected by the sensor, it can be classified into fresh or stale pork with the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) as an index. The result indicated that the gas sensor was effective and showed great potential for applications to detect the freshness of pork.
The Mutual Influence of Predominant Microbes in Sourdough Fermentation: Focusing on Flavor Formation and Gene Transcription
Authors: Liu Tongjie , Shi Yixin , Li Yang , Yi Huaxi , Gong Pimin , Lin Kai , Zhang Zhe , Zhang Lanwei
Published: August 2022

The interplay between microorganisms generally plays a vital role in food fermentation. In this study, the mutual influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis, the two predominant microbes in the sourdough ecosystem, were investigated in situ during fermentation. Doughs fermented with S. cerevisiae, F. sanfranciscensis, or their combination were compared regarding acid production, microbial density, and volatiles. Furthermore, in situ gene expressions were investigated using RNA-sequencing. The results showed that the presence of S. cerevisiae had no visible influence on F. sanfranciscensis, whereas F. sanfranciscensis facilitated the growth of S. cerevisiae but affected its volatile production since metabolites such as 3-methyl-1-butanol decreased. The RNA-sequencing demonstrated that S. cerevisiae significantly changed the gene transcripts implicated in amino acid metabolism in F. sanfranciscensis and may stimulate its growth suggested by the enrichment of the KEGG pathway of peptidoglycan biosynthesis.
Comparison of Maillard-Type Glycated Collagen with Alginate Oligosaccharide and Glucose: Its Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytoprotective Activity on H2O2-Induced Cell Oxidative Damage
Authors: Yang Boxue , Joe Ga-Hyun , Li Wenzhao , Shimizu Yutaka , Saeki Hiroki
Published: August 2022

To improve the antioxidant activity of collagen molecules using Maillard-type glycation, the relation between antioxidant activity and progress indexes for the Maillard reaction must be understood. In this study, lyophilized tilapia scale collagen was mixed with a half weight of alginate oligosaccharide (AO) or glucose and incubated at 60 °C and 35% relative humidity for up to 18 h to produce the Maillard-type glycated collagen (C-AO and C-Glu, respectively). As glycation progressed, the amount of conjugated sugar coupled with UV-vis absorbance at 294 nm and 420 nm increased more rapidly in C-Glu than in C-AO, and the available lysine decreased rapidly in C-Glu compared with C-AO. The early-to-middle- and late-stage products of the Maillard reaction were involved in enhanced antioxidant activity of digested C-AO and digested C-Glu, respectively. Additionally, C-AO acquired the antioxidant activity without marked available lysine loss. The cytoprotective effect of collagen in H2O2-induced damage was enhanced by glycation, achieved by reducing malondialdehyde content and increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. These results indicate that AO is an excellent reducing sugar that enhances the health benefits of collagen without excessive loss of lysine, which is a nutritional problem of the Maillard-type glycation.
Lipogenic Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphic DNA Markers Associated with Intramuscular Fat, Fat Melting Point, and Health-Beneficial Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Australian Pasture-Based Bowen Genetics Forest Pastoral Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu Beef Cattle
Authors: Otto John R. , Mwangi Felista W. , Pewan Shedrach B. , Adegboye Oyelola A. , Malau-Aduli Aduli E. O.
Published: August 2022

This study used targeted sequencing aimed at identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in lipogenic genes and their associations with health-beneficial omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA), intramuscular fat (IMF), and fat melting point (FMP) of the M. longissimus dorsi muscle in Australian pasture-based Bowen Genetics Forest Pastoral Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu cattle. It was hypothesized that SNP encoding for the fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), and fatty acid synthase (FASN) genes will be significantly associated with health-beneficial n-3 LC-PUFA and the meat eating quality traits of IMF and FMP in an Australian pasture-based beef production system. Two SNP mutations, g.21267406 T>C and g.21271264 C>A, in the SCD gene were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with IMF, FMP, oleic acid (18:1n-9), linoleic acid (LA) 18:2n-6, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) 18:3n-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 20:5n-3, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 22:6-n-3, and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) 22:5n-3. Significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) between FASN SNP g. 50787138 A>G and FMP, 18:1n-9, ALA, EPA, DHA, DPA, and total n-3 LC-PUFA were also detected. An SNP (g.44678794 G>A) in the FABP4 gene was associated with FMP. These results provide significant insights into the contributions of lipogenic genes to intramuscular fat deposition and the biosynthesis of health-beneficial n-3 LC-PUFA. The findings also unravel the potential use of lipogenic gene polymorphisms in marker-assisted selection to improve the content of health-promoting n-3 LC-PUFA and meat eating quality traits in Australian pasture-based Bowen Genetics Forest Pastoral Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu beef cattle.
Healthcare-Associated Adverse Events in Alternate Level of Care Patients Awaiting Long-Term Care in Hospital
Authors: Lim Fat Guillaume J. , Gopaul Aquila , Pananos A. Demetri , Taabazuing Mary-Margaret
Published: August 2022

Introduction: A growing number of Canadian older adults are designated alternate level of care (ALC) and await placement into long-term care (LTC) while admitted to hospital. This creates infrastructural challenges by using resources allocated for acute care during disproportionately long hospital stays. For ALC patients, hospital environments maladapted to their needs impart risk of healthcare-associated adverse events. Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, we examined healthcare-associated adverse events in 156 ALC patients, 65 years old and older, awaiting long-term care while admitted to two hospitals in London, Ontario in 2015–2018. We recorded incidence of infections and antimicrobial days prescribed. We recorded incidence of non-infectious adverse events including delirium, falls, venothrombotic events, and pressure ulcers. We used a restricted cubic spline model to characterize adverse events as a function of length of stay. Results: Patients waited an average of 56 ALC days (ranging from 6 to 333 days) before LTC placement, with seven deaths occurring prior to placement. We recorded 362 total adverse events accrued over 8668 ALC days: 94 infections and 268 non-infectious adverse events. The most common hospital-acquired infections were urinary-tract infections and respiratory infections. The most common non-infectious adverse events were delirium and falls. A total of 620 antimicrobial days were prescribed for infections. Conclusions: ALC patients incur a meaningful and predictable number of adverse events during their stay in acute care. The incidence of these adverse events should be used to educate stakeholders on risks of ALC stay and to advocate for strategies to minimize ALC days.
Toxicological Analysis of Illicit Drugs Seized in Naples (Italy) and First Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoids during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Carfora Anna , Petrella Raffaella , Ambrosio Giusy , Fracassi Ilaria , Festinese Stefano , Feola Alessandro , Campobasso Carlo Pietro
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has consistently raised the number of drug seizures, in United States as in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic has also changed the typology of seizures from “more traditional” drugs to New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs), depending on geographical area. In Europe, the most frequent NPSs are synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) and cathinones, nonetheless synthetic opioids and phenethylamines are widely used. The aim of the study is the detection of NPS and other substances of abuse available in the black market, by quali/quantitative methods in LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. From 2018 to 2021, 268 seizures occurred in total and were analyzed by the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory (FTL) of Naples (Italy). The distribution of analyzed seizures over the years is the following: 53 in 2018, 61 in 2019, 89 in 2020 and 65 during the first semester of 2021. Cannabis was the most detected drug both in hashish and marijuana seizures, followed by cocaine > heroine > prescribed drugs > ketamine–amphetamine MDMA. No NPSs were seized until June 2021, when NPSs were found in two different seizures: Case #1 showed a bar of Cannabis resin containing a low level of Δ9THC = 0.57% associated to SC AB-FUBINACA in 4.5%; Case #2 showed a vegetal resinous substance (Δ9THC = 0.27%) with SC 5F-APINACA (4.1%) associated with methadone (1.0%). The detection of NPSs is alarming evidence that can lead to an increase in the risk of overdose or other negative and unpredictable consequences, such as violent or self-harming behavior in unaware users of cannabis derivatives considered of “natural” origin.
Antigenicity Preservation Is Related to Tissue Characteristics and the Post-Mortem Interval: Immunohistochemical Study and Literature Review
Authors: Mauriello Silvestro , Treglia Michele , Pallocci Margherita , Bonfiglio Rita , Giacobbi Erica , Passalacqua Pierluigi , Cammarano Andrea , D’Ovidio Cristian , Marsella Luigi Tonino , Scimeca Manuel
Published: August 2022

The main aim of this study was to investigate the post-mortem proteolytic degradation process of selected tissue antigens and correlate it to the post-mortem interval. During the autopsy of 12 cadavers (time interval ranging 1 day–2 years after death) samples of skin, liver, kidney, and spleen were collected. All samples were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. Four µm paraffin sections were used for hematoxylin–eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis (Ki67, Vimentin, Pan cytokeratin, and CD20). Data reported here show that immunohistochemical reactivity preservation was related to the characteristics of the tissues. In particular, the most resistant tissue was the skin, where the autolysis phenomena were not appreciable before 5 days. On the contrary, the liver and the spleen underwent early autolysis, while the kidney displayed an early autolysis of the tubules and a late one of the glomeruli. As concerns specific antigens, immunoreactivity was lost earliest for nuclear antigens as compared to cytoplasmic ones. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that immunohistochemical detection of specific antigens may be useful in estimating the post-mortem interval, especially when we need to know whether the post-mortem interval is a few days or more than 7–10 days.
The Occurrence of Clubroot in Colombia and Its Relationship with Climate and Agronomic Practices
Authors: Botero-Ramírez Andrea , Padilla-Huertas Fabián Leonardo , Strelkov Stephen E. , García-Dominguez Celsa
Published: August 2022

Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a major disease of cruciferous crops in Colombia. Limited information is available, however, regarding its distribution or epidemiology in this country. The objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence of clubroot in the main regions of Colombia where cruciferous crops are grown, and to examine the relationship between pathogen inoculum density and the likelihood of field infestation with crop management practices and climatic information. In total, 127 fields were surveyed across eight departments, the pathogen inoculum density was estimated, climatic information was obtained, and farmers were surveyed on their crop management practices. More than half (53.7%) of the fields visited were found to be clubroot-infested and pathogen DNA was detected in 91.3% of the surveyed fields. The only department where clubroot symptoms were not observed was Nariño. In infested fields, P. brassicae inoculum density varied between 3 × 102 and 1 × 106 resting spores per gram of soil, with the highest inoculum density observed in Norte de Santander. All other departments had comparable spore loads. Inoculum density positively affected the likelihood of infestation of a field, and both spore loads and infestations were positively affected by the average temperature.
The Use of Fluorides in Public Health: 65 Years of History and Challenges from Brazil
Authors: Frazão Paulo
Published: August 2022

Untreated dental caries is the most common disease globally and fluoride use at the population level is crucial for its control. To investigate the economic and political conditions under which the trajectory of population-based fluoride use has occurred is key for a more comprehensive view on its current and future challenges. The objective was to give a brief history and summarize the information on the use of fluorides at the population level in Brazil from 1952 to 2017 and to point to current and future challenges. A critical overview was undertaken based on country-level analyses comprising political and economic conditions. The analytical approach adopted a set of premises applicable to the study of capitalist democracies. Fluoride methods of systemic and topic use began to be employed in Brazilian public health programs in the 1950s and in a combined way from 1974. Differences in political and economic contexts were highlighted for four periods: the first interventions from 1952 to 1974, when the fluoridated water law was approved; the expansion after 1974 until 1988, when a new constitution was enacted; the following time until 2010; and the final period. From the 1980s to 2008, water fluoridation coverage increased progressively, consolidating as a major strategy of systemic use in spite of inequalities among territories. Activities aimed to promote access to topical fluoride use increased and maintained stability until 2014, when they dropped sharply. Regulation of fluoride dentifrice’s quality remained insufficient. It was hypothesized that the strengthening of conservative liberalism and the increase in fiscal austerity observed in recent years might produce serious constraints on public investment and limit access to fluorides. To reduce inequities and promote benefits for all, including the most vulnerable groups, policies based on egalitarian and social justice theoretical perspectives are needed more than ever.
An Improved Genetic Algorithm for Location Allocation Problem with Grey Theory in Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Wang Shaoren , Wu Yenchun Jim , Li Ruiting
Published: August 2022

The demand for emergency medical facilities (EMFs) has witnessed an explosive growth recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid spread of the virus. To expedite the location of EMFs and the allocation of patients to these facilities at times of disaster, a location-allocation problem (LAP) model that can help EMFs cope with major public health emergencies was proposed in this study. Given the influence of the number of COVID-19-infected persons on the demand for EMFs, a grey forecasting model was also utilized to predict the accumulative COVID-19 cases during the pandemic and to calculate the demand for EMFs. A serial-number-coded genetic algorithm (SNCGA) was proposed, and dynamic variation was used to accelerate the convergence. This algorithm was programmed using MATLAB, and the emergency medical facility LAP (EMFLAP) model was solved using the simple (standard) genetic algorithm (SGA) and SNCGA. Results show that the EMFLAP plan based on SNCGA consumes 8.34% less time than that based on SGA, and the calculation time of SNCGA is 20.25% shorter than that of SGA. Therefore, SNCGA is proven convenient for processing the model constraint conditions, for naturally describing the available solutions to a problem, for improving the complexity of algorithms, and for reducing the total time consumed by EMFLAP plans. The proposed method can guide emergency management personnel in designing an EMFLAP decision scheme.
Does Clean Energy Use Have Threshold Effects on Economic Development? A Case of Theoretical and Empirical Analyses from China
Authors: Wang Minglin , Zeng Shaolong , Wang Yunzhe , He Zhengxia
Published: August 2022

Increasingly serious energy security and environmental problems have become the main constraints to China’s economic development. Therefore, it is critical to explore the threshold effect of clean energy use on China’s economic growth. Based on the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2019 and using energy intensity (EI) as the threshold variable, this study adopts a panel threshold model to explore the threshold effect of clean energy development on the economy. Empirical results indicate that clean energy has a significant threshold effect on economic development, with the threshold value of EI being 0.7655. When EI is less than 0.7655, clean energy development has a more positive effect on economic growth. When the EI exceeds 0.7655, the impact is significantly positive but with a smaller coefficient. EI weakens the role of clean energy development in promoting economic growth. After 2015, the EI of most provinces in the sample was below the threshold value, which indicates that in recent years, with the economic cost of developing clean energy decreasing, the role of clean energy development in promoting the economy has become more significant. Therefore, we propose policy implications to better promote the effect of clean energy development in promoting economic growth.
Functioning of Children and Adolescents with Cancer
Authors: Lopes Olívia , Frônio Jaqueline , Bergmann Anke , Lemos Rayla , Defilipo Érica , Chagas Paula
Published: August 2022

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the functioning of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer. This was a cross-sectional, observational study, with children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer, from 2 to 18 years of age, of both sexes, invited to participate in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) questionnaire was applied to the caregivers to assess the functioning of the participants, in four domains: daily activities, mobility, social/cognitive, and responsibility. In total, 33 children and adolescents participated, of both sexes, with a mean age of 9.23 years. The results showed that in the mobility category, participants older than 8 years presented worse functioning (OR = 22.000, 95% CI = 3.415–141.733, p = 0.0001). Children older than 8 years of age and adolescents with different types of cancer showed a higher chance of presenting lower mobility than their normal peers of the same age and compared with children under 8 years of age. Understanding the impact of childhood cancer is important for the physiotherapist to determine treatment strategies for this population who live with dysfunctions left by the cancer treatment.
The Social, Behavioral, and Ethical Modalities of COVID-19 on HIV Care in South Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Roy Khushali , Himelfarb Aliayah , Karrah Kapil , Porterfield Laura , Paremoer Lauren , Serag Hani , Lee Wei-Chen
Published: August 2022

The profound public health impact of the novel outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 2019 has been unparalleled in the last century. Rapid spread of the disease and a high death toll fueled the development and global rollout of effective vaccines regardless of the massive inequitable access. However, some public health measures intended to control COVID-19 have had collateral effects on the control of other infectious diseases. In this systematic review, we analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on efforts to control HIV in South Africa, emphasizing the social, ethical, and behavioral ramifications. The SCOPUS, PubMed, Ovid, PsychINFO, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for publications between March 2020 and January 2022. Of the 854 articles identified, 245 were found duplicated, and 609 were screened, 241 of which were potentially eligible, and 15 of which were ultimately included. Although no studies on the ethical implications were eligible for our study criteria due to insufficient primary data to perform an analysis on, we explored this topic in the Discussion section of this paper. We confirm declines in ART, PrEP, and HIV testing during the initial lockdown period, with slight variations across the South African provinces. Protecting routine services and reducing the disease burden on high-risk nations such as South Africa is imperative moving forward with the pandemic.
Effectiveness of Smoking Prevention Programs on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Anti-Smoking Exposure Self-Efficacy among Non-Smoking Rural Seventh-Grade Students in Taiwan
Authors: Guo Su-Er , Chen Mei-Yen , Okoli Chizimuzo , Chiang Yi-Fan
Published: August 2022

The disproportionate smoking prevalence among adolescents in rural Taiwan may be attributed to insufficient anti-smoking education. Increasing access to such education may help reduce initiation and promote smoking cessation in adolescents, particularly in rural areas. However, effects of these programs require verification. This study determined the effectiveness of a school-based prevention program in enhancing knowledge, attitudes, and anti-smoking exposure self-efficacy among seventh-grade non-smoking students. A quasi-experimental design with convenience sampling was employed, where participants included seventh graders from two junior high schools who completed a questionnaire 1–2 weeks before and after the intervention. Furthermore, the intervention group received four smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) prevention classes, whereas the control group engaged in scheduled school activities. Knowledge on smoking (B = 4.38, p < 0.001) and SHS (B = 2.35, p < 0.001) were significantly greater in the intervention group. Moreover, the groups differed significantly in avoiding SHS exposure (B = 3.03, p = 0.031). Intervention modifications may be necessary to enhance the program’s effect on smoking exposure-related attitudes and self-efficacy. Additionally, cultural and other aspects (or “urban-rural gap”) might influence these results. Future randomized controlled trials should compare urban to rural adolescents, use longitudinal designs, and assess smoking initiation or cessation.