bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Efficient Prediction Method for Microscopic Stresses of Periodic Beam-like Structures
Authors: Xing Yufeng , Meng Lingyu , Huang Zhiwei , Gao Yahe
Published: September 2022

This paper presents a novel superposition method for effectively predicting the microscopic stresses of heterogeneous periodic beam-like structures. The efficiency is attributed to using the microscopic stresses of the unit cell problem under six generalized strain states to construct the structural microscopic stresses. The six generalized strain states include one unit tension strain, two unit bending strains, one unit torsion strain, and two linear curvature strains of a Timoshenko beam. The six microscopic stress solutions of the unit cell problem under these six strain states have previously been used for the homogenization of composite beams to equivalent Timoshenko beams (Acta. Mech. Sin. 2022, 38, 421520), and they are employed in this work. In the first step of achieving structural stresses, two stress solutions concerning linear curvatures are transformed into two stress solutions concerning unit shear strains by linearly combining the stresses under two unit bending strains. Then, the six stress solutions corresponding to six generalized unit beam strains are combined together to predict the structural microscopic stresses, in which the six stress solutions serve as basic stresses. The last step is to determine the coefficients of these six basic stress solutions by the principle of the internal work equivalence. It is found that the six coefficients, in terms of the product of the inverse of the effective stiffness matrix and the macroscopic internal force column vector, are the actual generalized strains of the equivalent beam under real loads. The obtained coefficients are physically reasonable because the basic stress solutions are produced by the generalized unit strains. Several numerical examples show that the present method, combining the solutions of the microscopic unit cell problem with the solutions of the macroscopic equivalent beam problem, can accurately and effectively predict the microscopic stresses of whole composite beams. The present method is applicable to composite beams with arbitrary periodic microstructures and load conditions.
Application of Deep Reinforcement Learning in Reconfiguration Control of Aircraft Anti-Skid Braking System
Authors: Liu Shuchang , Yang Zhong , Zhang Zhao , Jiang Runqiang , Ren Tongyang , Jiang Yuan , Chen Shuang , Zhang Xiaokai
Published: September 2022

The aircraft anti-skid braking system (AABS) plays an important role in aircraft taking off, taxiing, and safe landing. In addition to the disturbances from the complex runway environment, potential component faults, such as actuators faults, can also reduce the safety and reliability of AABS. To meet the increasing performance requirements of AABS under fault and disturbance conditions, a novel reconfiguration controller based on linear active disturbance rejection control combined with deep reinforcement learning was proposed in this paper. The proposed controller treated component faults, external perturbations, and measurement noise as the total disturbances. The twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm (TD3) was introduced to realize the parameter self-adjustments of both the extended state observer and the state error feedback law. The action space, state space, reward function, and network structure for the algorithm training were properly designed, so that the total disturbances could be estimated and compensated for more accurately. The simulation results validated the environmental adaptability and robustness of the proposed reconfiguration controller.
Research into a Consistency Cooperative Control Method for Attitude Orbit Coupling of SAR Satellite Formations under Communication Constraints
Authors: Hua Bing , Zhong Shengjun , Wu Yunhua , Chen Zhiming
Published: September 2022

To solve the problem of communication delays and topology changes and achieve a high-precision formation configuration control index in the flight control of SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite formations, this paper studies the consistency cooperative control of attitude orbit coupling for SAR satellite formations under communication constraints. First, this paper establishes the relative motion state error equation for satellite formations. Considering the capacity constraints for communication and actuators, this paper designs a hierarchical saturated consistency cooperative controller for attitude orbit coupling. Second, this paper uses the Lyapunov direct method to prove the stability of the designed consistent cooperative controller under uncertain space disturbances. Finally, this paper simulates and verifies the designed controller. The results show that the hierarchical saturation consistency cooperative controller designed in this paper can meet the requirements of configuration maintenance accuracy for SAR satellite formation for Earth target observation missions.
Health Benefits and Pharmacological Properties of Stigmasterol
Authors: Bakrim Saad , Benkhaira Nesrine , Bourais Ilhame , Benali Taoufiq , Lee Learn-Han , El Omari Nasreddine , Sheikh Ryan A. , Goh Khang Wen , Ming Long Chiau , Bouyahya Abdelhakim
Published: September 2022

Stigmasterol is an unsaturated phytosterol belonging to the class of tetracyclic triterpenes. It is one of the most common plant sterols, found in a variety of natural sources, including vegetable fats or oils from many plants. Currently, stigmasterol has been examined via in vitro and in vivo assays and molecular docking for its various biological activities on different metabolic disorders. The findings indicate potent pharmacological effects such as anticancer, anti-osteoarthritis, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, antiparasitic, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Indeed, stigmasterol from plants and algae is a promising molecule in the development of drugs for cancer therapy by triggering intracellular signaling pathways in numerous cancers. It acts on the Akt/mTOR and JAK/STAT pathways in ovarian and gastric cancers. In addition, stigmasterol markedly disrupted angiogenesis in human cholangiocarcinoma by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) signaling down-regulation. The association of stigmasterol and sorafenib promoted caspase-3 activity and down-regulated levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in breast cancer. Antioxidant activities ensuring lipid peroxidation and DNA damage lowering conferred to stigmasterol chemoprotective activities in skin cancer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation also contributes to the neuroprotective effects of stigmasterol, as well as dopamine depletion and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The anti-inflammatory properties of phytosterols involve the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, the decrease in inflammatory mediator release, and the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Stigmasterol exerts anti-diabetic effects by reducing fasting glucose, serum insulin levels, and oral glucose tolerance. Other findings showed the antiparasitic activities of this molecule against certain strains of parasites such as Trypanosoma congolense (in vivo) and on promastigotes and amastigotes of the Leishmania major (in vitro). Some stigmasterol-rich plants were able to inhibit Candida albicans, virusei, and tropicalis at low doses. Accordingly, this review outlines key insights into the pharmacological abilities of stigmasterol and the specific mechanisms of action underlying some of these effects. Additionally, further investigation regarding pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology is recommended.
UV Sterilization Effects and Osteoblast Proliferation on Amorphous Carbon Films Classified Based on Optical Constants
Authors: Kanasugi Kazuya , Arimura Keita , Alanazi Ali , Ohgoe Yasuharu , Manome Yoshinobu , Hiratsuka Masanori , Hirakuri Kenji
Published: September 2022

Optical classification methods that distinguish amorphous carbon films into six types based on refractive index and extinction coefficient have garnered increasing attention. In this study, five types of amorphous carbon films were prepared on Si substrates using different plasma processes, including physical and chemical vapor deposition. The refractive index and extinction coefficient of the amorphous carbon films were measured using spectroscopic ellipsometry, and the samples were classified into five amorphous carbon types—amorphous, hydrogenated amorphous, tetrahedral amorphous, polymer-like, and graphite-like carbon—based on optical constants. Each amorphous carbon type was irradiated with 253.7 nm UV treatment; the structure and surface properties of each were investigated before and after UV treatment. No significant changes were observed in film structure nor surface oxidation after UV sterilization progressed at approximately the same level for all amorphous carbon types. Osteoblast proliferation associated with amorphous carbon types was evaluated in vitro. Graphite-like carbon, which has relatively high surface oxidation levels, was associated with higher osteoblast proliferation levels than the other carbon types. Our findings inform the selection of suitable amorphous carbon types based on optical constants for use in specific medical devices related to osteoblasts, such as artificial joints and dental implants.
Unravelling Alveolar Bone Regeneration Ability of Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Authors: Anitua Eduardo , Allende Mikel , Alkhraisat Mohammad
Published: September 2022

Background: This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of the available platelet-rich plasma (PRP) products and composition to regenerate alveolar bone after tooth extraction. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EBSCO databases were searched up to 2 July 2021. Only randomized clinical trials using leukocyte-rich plasma (L-PRP) or pure-platelet rich plasma (P-PRP) for bone regeneration in alveolar ridge preservation were selected. The following outcomes were considered: (1) new bone formation (primary outcome) and (2) bone density (secondary outcome). A meta-analysis for PRP, P-PRP, and L-PRP using a fixed effect model was performed with Review Manager 5.4 software. Overall evidence was qualified using GRADE. Results: Six randomized clinical trials from 2639 unique articles initially identified met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed a significant effect of the P-PRP on the outcome of new bone formation (SMD, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.84 to 2.03) for P-PRP treatment. No information was retrieved for L-PRP. A statistically significant difference was also observed in the P-PRP group for bone density outcome (SMD, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.68). The L-PRP treated sockets also showed higher bone density (SMD, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.31 to 1.45) in comparison to control sockets. The quality of evidence was moderate for both outcomes in the P-PRP group and low for the L-PRP group. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of the included studies, our data suggest that P-PRP, in comparison to unassisted healing, can improve alveolar bone regenerative potential. However, more high-quality clinical studies are needed.
Potential of Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs to Limit Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth
Authors: Thanigaimani Shivshankar , Ibrahim Muhammad , Golledge Jonathan
Published: September 2022

Inflammation is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This review examined the potential role of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) as repurposed drugs for treating AAA. Published evidence from clinical and preclinical studies was examined. Findings from animal models suggested that a deficiency or inhibition of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (standard mean difference (SMD): −8.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): −9.92, −6.82), interleukin (IL)-6 (SMD: −1.44, 95% CI: −2.85, −0.04) and IL-17 (SMD: −3.36, 95% CI: −4.21, −2.50) led to a significantly smaller AAA diameter compared to controls. Human AAA tissue samples had significantly increased TNF-α (SMD: 1.68, 95% CI: 0.87, 2.49), IL-1β (SMD: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.79), IL-6 (SMD: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.79, 3.33) and IL-17 (SMD: 6.28, 95% CI: 3.57, 8.99) levels compared to non-AAA controls. In human serum, TNF-α (SMD: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.25, 1.97) and IL-6 (SMD: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.92) levels were significantly elevated compared to non-AAA controls. These findings implicate TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-6 in AAA pathogenesis. Randomised controlled trials testing the value of bDMARDs in limiting AAA growth may be warranted.
Predicting In-Hospital Mortality in Severe COVID-19: A Systematic Review and External Validation of Clinical Prediction Rules
Authors: Maestre-Muñiz Modesto M. , Arias Ángel , Lucendo Alfredo J.
Published: September 2022

Multiple prediction models for risk of in-hospital mortality from COVID-19 have been developed, but not applied, to patient cohorts different to those from which they were derived. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) databases were searched. Risk of bias and applicability were assessed with PROBAST. Nomograms, whose variables were available in a well-defined cohort of 444 patients from our site, were externally validated. Overall, 71 studies, which derived a clinical prediction rule for mortality outcome from COVID-19, were identified. Predictive variables consisted of combinations of patients′ age, chronic conditions, dyspnea/taquipnea, radiographic chest alteration, and analytical values (LDH, CRP, lymphocytes, D-dimer); and markers of respiratory, renal, liver, and myocardial damage, which were mayor predictors in several nomograms. Twenty-five models could be externally validated. Areas under receiver operator curve (AUROC) in predicting mortality ranged from 0.71 to 1 in derivation cohorts; C-index values ranged from 0.823 to 0.970. Overall, 37/71 models provided very-good-to-outstanding test performance. Externally validated nomograms provided lower predictive performances for mortality in their respective derivation cohorts, with the AUROC being 0.654 to 0.806 (poor to acceptable performance). We can conclude that available nomograms were limited in predicting mortality when applied to different populations from which they were derived.
Adapter CAR T Cell Therapy for the Treatment of B-Lineage Lymphomas
Authors: Atar Daniel , Mast Anna-Sophia , Scheuermann Sophia , Ruoff Lara , Seitz Christian Martin , Schlegel Patrick
Published: September 2022

CD19CAR T cells facilitate a transformational treatment in various relapsed and refractory aggressive B-lineage cancers. In general, encouraging response rates have been observed in B-lineage-derived non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas treated with CD19CAR T cells. The major cause of death in heavily pretreated NHL patients is lymphoma progression and lymphoma recurrence. Inefficient CAR T cell therapy is the result of the limited potency of the CAR T cell product or is due to loss of the targeted antigen. Target antigen loss has been identified as the key factor that can be addressed stringently by dual- or multitargeted CAR T cell approaches. We have developed a versatile adapter CAR T cell technology (AdCAR) that allows multitargeting. Screening of three different B-lineage lymphoma cell lines has revealed distinct immune target profiles. Cancer-specific adapter molecule combinations may be utilized to prevent antigen immune escape. In general, CD19CAR T cells become non-functional in CD19 negative lymphoma subsets; however, AdCAR T cells can be redirected to alternative target antigens beyond CD19, such as CD20, CD22, CD79B, and ROR-1. The capability to flexibly shift CAR specificity by exchanging the adapter molecule’s specificity broadens the application and significantly increases the anti-leukemic and anti-lymphoma activity. The clinical evaluation of AdCAR T cells in lymphoma as a new concept of CAR T cell immunotherapy may overcome treatment failure due to antigen immune escape in monotargeted conventional CAR T cell therapies.
From Prescription Drugs to Natural Health Products: Medication Use in Canadian Infants
Authors: Bedard Pascal , Winsor Geoffrey L. , Garlock Emma S. , Azad Meghan B. , Becker Allan B. , Mandhane Piush J. , Moraes Theo J. , Sears Malcolm R. , Turvey Stuart E. , Subbarao Padmaja , Brinkman Fiona S. L. , Kozyrskyj Anita L.
Published: September 2022

Limited data exist on pharmaceutical product use by infants, although available data suggests higher prevalence of use among children under 12 months of age. We conducted a descriptive study of 3050 infants recruited in the CHILD Cohort Study, a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal cohort following children from pregnancy through childhood. Parents were surveyed for use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and natural health products (NHPs, including homeopathic products and vitamins) at 3, 6, and 12 months after delivery. By one year of age, 96.0% of children had taken at least one pharmaceutical product. Among 307 reported products, 32 were given to at least 1% of cohort infants. Vitamin D, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, topical hydrocortisone, amoxicillin, and nystatin were the most common medications and natural health products (NHPs) received, with 8/32 of the most frequently used products being NHPs. Overall, 14.7% of pharmaceutical products administered to children were off-label and 35.8% were NHPs or products without a Drug Identification Number (DIN). The use of over-the-counter medications and NHPs is common and off-label use of drugs is frequent, even in the first year of life. This study highlights the importance of conducting studies on medication use in infants, and of infant medication use monitoring by healthcare providers.
Motivation by, Perceived Quality of and Satisfaction with Sports Services among Young Athletes: A Psychological Approach
Authors: Aznar-Ballesta Antonio , Peláez-Barrios Eva María , Salas-Morillas Alicia , Vernetta Mercedes
Published: September 2022

The aim was to assess the psychological approach of young athletes to sports services in terms of motivation, perceived quality and satisfaction. A total of 307 adolescents (55.7% male and 44.3% female) between 12 and 18 years old participated. Three questionnaires were applied: an ad hoc questionnaire, the Self-Report of Motivation to Practice Physical Exercise (AMPEF) and the Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Sports Services (EPOD2). A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted, applying regression analysis to determine the predictive nature of the factors in the questionnaires. Individual sports players and non-competitors rated the motivational factors lower than those who practised collective sports and competed, and the results were reversed with regard to the perceived quality of, satisfaction with and value of the service. They valued human and personal treatment more highly, correlating it moderately and positively with service value (r = 0.422 for the monitor and r = 0.442 for the organisation’s staff) and satisfaction (r = 0.43 for the monitor and r = 0.552 for the organisation’s staff). Satisfaction was a negative predictor of extrinsic motivation, and vice versa (β = −0.207 and β = −0.143). Young athletes, in general, have an orientation towards intrinsic motivation and therefore a low tendency towards sports dropout.
Comprehensive Genome-Wide Analysis of Wnt Gene Family and Expression Profiling during Limb Regeneration in Portunus trituberculatus
Authors: Fu Yuanyuan , He Jie , Liu Lei , Huang Xinlian , Xu Yuankai , Wang Chunlin
Published: September 2022

Wnt genes encode a family of secretory glycoproteins that are involved in various stages of organ development through regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. Recently, Wnt genes have been shown to play an important role in regeneration processes. However, there have been no previous genome-wide analyses of the Wnt gene family members in crab species. In this study, a total of 13 Wnt family genes were identified from the genome of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus and classified into three main groups based on the conserved domain, protein sequence, and motifs. Chromosome location analysis showed that tandem duplication may have resulted in the expansion of the PtWnt gene family. RNA-seq results indicated that most PtWnt genes had a higher Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript sequences per Million base pairs (FPKM) value in the regenerating limb bud muscle than in the normal limb muscle, and the genes were enriched in a number of pathways that had biological functions underlying limb regeneration such as the cell surface receptor signaling pathway, the hippo signaling pathway, receptor binding, and basal cell carcinoma. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis confirmed that the expression levels of nine PtWnts except for PtWnt1, PtWnt2, and PtWnt6 had a consistently increasing trend during limb regeneration. PtWnt1, PtWnt2, and PtWnt6 exhibited significantly up- or down-regulated expression at different limb regeneration stages. These results provide valuable information for further evolutionary and functional characterization of PtWnt genes and indicate the complexity and specialized mechanism of the Wnt signaling pathway regulating regeneration in crustaceans.
Identification of Lipopeptide Iturin A Produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NCPSJ7 and Its Antifungal Activities against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum
Authors: Wang Junhua , Qiu Jiying , Yang Xiaoyu , Yang Jinyu , Zhao Shuangzhi , Zhou Qingxin , Chen Leilei
Published: September 2022

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NCPSJ7 showed potential fungicidal activities for the effective control of fungal infection. From the PCR test, the key genes (srfAA, sfp, fenD, bmyB, ituD, and ituC) were detected in B. amyloliquefaciens NCPSJ7. These genes were closely related to the lipopeptides (LPs) synthesis. Next, three LPs families were identified with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS), including iturin A, fengycin A, and surfactin. After purification with C18, the main active antifungal compound was proven to be C14-iturin A by ESI-HRMS, which has significant activities against fungi. These results proved that C14-iturin A played an important role in inhibiting the growth of fungi for B. amyloliquefaciens NCPSJ7. Furthermore, the isolated LP could inhibit mycelial growth and conidia germination at 30 μg/mL. SEM allowed us to observe that mycelial morphology and conidia germination were also affected. The mycelial ultrastructure TEM observations showed that the external electron-dense outer layer cell wall, which mainly consisted of glycoproteins, was affected. Furthermore, swollen mitochondria, enriched glycogen, and increased vacuoles were also found. LP also affected the intact wall and membranes, leading to their increased permeability, which was proved by propidium iodide (PI) staining and conductivity measurements. Meanwhile, the ergosterol, which has an affinity for iturin A, also increased. These results indicated that LP caused fungal dysfunction and membrane permeability increase, leading to fungal inhibition. Identifying and studying LPs is important in exploring the fungicidal activities of B. amyloliquefaciens, which promotes the use of B. amyloliquefaciens NCPSJ7 as a potential candidate for biocontrol.
Evaluation of Flour Safety Messages on Commercially Available Packages: An Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Thomas Merlyn S. , Berglund Zachary R. , Low Megan , Bryan Isabella M. , Soewardjono Reyhan , Feng Yaohua
Published: September 2022

Wheat flour and baking mix have been associated with foodborne outbreaks and recalls, yet many consumers are unaware of the repercussions of consuming raw flour products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accessibility of flour safety messages on commercially available packages and to identify consumer barriers to processing these messages. Eye-tracking technology was used to track the eye movements of 47 participants to assess their time to fixation (TTF) on the flour safety messages on 10 commercial packages. Notifications that were longer than one sentence were considered “long” messages, while notifications that consisted of only one sentence were considered short (S1–S5 and L1–L5). Only two participants (4.3%) found messages on all 10 packages. Highly accessible messages did not result in a high preference of presentation among participants. Most of the participants (98%) found the message on the S4 package, which correlated with the lowest TTF of 7.08 s. However, only 15% of those who found the S4 message chose it as their preferred message. Many participants who were interviewed said that they preferred messages that identified the reasoning for the warnings. They also preferred the messages that were well separated from other content on the package. Flour safety messages on the current packages are not effective to convey information and change consumer behavior. More science-based messaging strategies need to be developed to provide guidance for flour safety communication.
Encapsulation of Nutraceuticals in Yoghurt and Beverage Products Using the Ultrasound and High-Pressure Processing Technologies
Authors: Silva Mayumi , Kadam Mayur Raghunath , Munasinghe Dilusha , Shanmugam Akalya , Chandrapala Jayani
Published: September 2022

Dairy and beverage products are considered highly nutritious. The increase demand for added nutritional benefits within the food systems consumed by the consumers paves the pathway towards fortifying nutraceuticals into these products. However, nutraceuticals are highly unstable towards harsh processing conditions. In addition, the safety of dairy and beverage products plays a very important role. Therefore, various heat treatments are in practice. As the heat-treated dairy and beverage products tends to illustrate several alterations in their organoleptic characteristics and nutritional properties, the demand for alternative non-thermal processing technologies has increased extensively within the food industry. Ultrasound and high-pressure processing technologies are desirable for this purpose as well as a safe and non-destructive technology towards encapsulation of nutraceuticals into food systems. There are benefits in implementing these two technologies in the production of dairy and beverage products with encapsulants, such as manufacturing high-quality products with improved nutritional value while simultaneously enhancing the sensory characteristics such as flavour, taste, texture, and colour and attaining the microbial quality. The primary objective of this review is to provide detailed information on the encapsulation of nutraceuticals and mechanisms involved with using US and HPP technologies on producing encapsulated yoghurt and beverage products.
The Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Ethanol-Fixed Tissues to Detect Illicit Treatments with Glucocorticoids in Bulls
Authors: Barbera Salvatore , Masoero Giorgio , Nebbia Carlo
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to set up indirect, rapid methods involving near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy analysis, to detect illicit treatments with glucocorticoids in bull. The ethanol fixation method (EtOH) was applied to 7 different tissues obtained from 20 Friesian bulls, 12 of which were experimentally administered with dexamethasone as part of a growth-promoting protocol for 60 days and slaughtered 26 days after the end of the treatment. A perfect discrimination was obtained for the 7 sampled tissues, considering a full UV-Vis-NIR range (350 ÷ 2500 nm), for both false positive and negative animals. The validated true positive and negative errors were zero for the longissimus thoracis muscle, 10% for the skin-dermis, 15% for the fat, 25% for the thymus gland and the semitendinosus muscle, 30% for the sternomandibularis muscle and 35% for the skin-hair. A multiple test on the most accessible tissues, that is, the thymus gland, the sternomandibularis muscle and fat, can be used as an alternative to provide indications about animals that have been subjected to illicit treatments. In the short space of three days from the slaughter, NIR spectroscopy of ETOH fixed tissues, would allow at least cost the detection of a probable illicit which could eventually be reported to health authorities for specific investigation in the frame of official controls.
Prevalence of Essential Nutrient Supplement Use and Assessment of the Knowledge and Attitudes of Lebanese Mothers towards Dietary Supplement Practices in Maternal, Infancy and Preschool Ages: Findings of a National Representative Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Mohsen Hala , Ibrahim Carla , Bookari Khlood , Saadeh Danielle , Al-Jawaldeh Ayoub , Sacre Yonna , Hanna-Wakim Lara , Al-Jaafari Marwa , Atwi Marwa , AlAsmar Sabine , Najem Jessica , Hoteit Maha
Published: September 2022

Mothers are understandably concerned about protecting the well-being of their offspring in every way possible, including providing oral dietary supplements (DSs). Up to now, there has been limited data on maternal knowledge and attitudes toward concomitant maternal–child DSs practices in Lebanon. This study evaluated the maternal knowledge and attitudes toward DSs and documented the DS-related practices in mothers and their under-5 children with their correlates. This cross-sectional study involved a representative stratified cluster random sample of 511 mother–child dyads (mothers: mean age ± SD = 30.25 ± 4.98 years; children: mean age ± SD = 18.7 ± 15.5 months, girls: 55.0%). A self-administered questionnaire was used to meet study aims. Most mothers lack awareness and hold unfavorable attitudes regarding DS use. Among all mothers, 47% were DS users, with the majority using vitamin D (82%). Almost 64% of mothers provide DSs for their children, with a predominant use of multivitamin drops (61.0%). “To keep the child healthy” was the reported reason by 60.0% of mothers to provide DSs for their children. Physicians were the primary information source about DSs for most mothers (64.0%). The usage of DSs among mothers was influenced by their pregnancy status, child’s age, number of children per household, and their awareness and attitudes towards DSs. DS usage among children was correlated with maternal DS use and their mothers’ attitudes towards DSs. DS usage among Lebanese mother–child dyads is common. Mothers should be the focus of education sessions regarding DS use.
Variable Effects of Twenty Sugars and Sugar Alcohols on the Retrogradation of Wheat Starch Gels
Authors: Allan Matthew C. , Mauer Lisa J.
Published: September 2022

Starch retrogradation is desirable for some food textures and nutritional traits but detrimental to sensory and storage qualities of other foods. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of sweetener structure and concentration on the retrogradation of wheat starch gels. The effects of 20 sweeteners selected based on common food usage and stereochemical structures of interest, and ranging in concentration from 10 to 50%w/w, on the retrogradation of wheat starch gels were monitored spectrophotometrically over time. The sweeteners were sucrose, xylose, ribose, glucose, galactose, fructose, mannose, mannitol, L-sorbose, xylitol, tagatose, allulose, maltose, lactose, isomaltulose, isomalt, sorbitol, maltitol, and raffinose. Retrogradation rates and amounts were compared by Avrami equation rate constants (k = 0.1–0.7) and absorbance values measured on day 28 (Abs = 0.1–1.0), respectively. Both sweetener concentration and type significantly affected retrogradation. Gels made with sugar alcohols and high sweetener concentrations (≈≥40%) tended to retrograde more and faster, whereas gels made with sugars and low sweetener concentrations tended to have lower retrogradation rates and amounts. Sweeteners with more equatorial and exocyclic hydroxyl groups (e.g., glucose and maltitol) and those with larger molar volumes (e.g., isomaltulose and raffinose) tended to increase the rate and amount of retrogradation, particularly at higher concentrations. The impact of sweeteners on retrogradation was a balance of factors that promoted retrogradation (intermolecular interactions and residual short-range molecular order) and inhibiting behaviors (interference at crystallization sites), which are influenced by sweetener concentration and structure. Understanding which sweeteners at which concentrations can be used to promote or inhibit retrogradation is useful for product formulation strategies.
Biological Activity of Extracts from Differently Produced Blueberry Fruits in Inhibiting Proliferation and Inducing Apoptosis of HT-29 Cells
Authors: Kiernozek Ewelina , Maslak Piotr , Kozlowska Ewa , Jarzyna Ingeborga , Średnicka-Tober Dominika , Hallmann Ewelina , Kazimierczak Renata , Drela Nadzieja , Rembiałkowska Ewa
Published: September 2022

For several decades, people have been searching for natural substances of plant origin that, when introduced into the diet, could strengthen immunity, have anticancer properties, and support conventional therapy. The development of agriculture with the implementation of various plant cultivation systems, apart from the economic aspect, results in the search for such cultivation conditions that would contribute to obtaining the most beneficial product for health. Therefore, the aim of our research is as follows: (a) to compare the antiproliferative activity and the ability to induce apoptosis of HT-29 cells by extracts from blueberry fruits deriving from different types of cultivation systems (conventional, organic, and biodynamic); (b) to examine whether the interaction of extracts with anticancer drugs used in the treatment of colorectal cancer is influenced by the type of cultivation, and (c) to investigate whether extracts obtained from fruits from subsequent years of cultivation retain the same biological activity. The results of our study are promising but inconclusive. A statistically significant difference occurred in only one of the two years of the study. The greatest inhibition of proliferation is observed for biodynamic cultivation compared to organic cultivation, while the highest levels of apoptosis and necrosis of HT-29 cells are induced by blueberry fruit extracts obtained from organic cultivation. The complementary effect of the extracts on the inhibition of HT-29 cell proliferation by anticancer drugs (5-FU and Erbitux) is not demonstrated. The induction of apoptosis by 5-FU is not enhanced by blueberry extracts, in contrast to necrosis. The level of apoptosis and necrosis induced by Erbitux is potentiated, but no dependence on crop type is shown. Blueberry fruit extracts from two consecutive years of cultivation did not maintain the same activity. A plausible reason for the variability in the composition and biological activity of fruit extracts obtained from two years of cultivation is the varying environmental conditions.
Features of Luminescent Properties of Alginate Aerogels with Rare Earth Elements as Photoactive Cross-Linking Agents
Authors: Kaplin Vladislav , Kopylov Aleksandr , Koryakovtseva Anastasiia , Minaev Nikita , Epifanov Evgenii , Gulin Aleksandr , Aksenova Nadejda , Timashev Peter , Kuryanova Anastasiia , Shershnev Ilya , Solovieva Anna
Published: September 2022

Luminescent aerogels based on sodium alginate cross-linked with ions of rare earth elements (Eu3+, Tb3+, Sm3+) and containing phenanthroline, thenoyltrifluoroacetone, dibenzoylmethane, and acetylacetone as ligands introduced into the matrix during the impregnation of alginate aerogels (AEG), were obtained for the first time in a supercritical carbon dioxide medium. The impregnation method used made it possible to introduce organically soluble sensitizing ligands into polysaccharide matrices over the entire thickness of the sample while maintaining the porous structure of the aerogel. It is shown that the pore size and their specific area are 150 nm and 270 m2/g, respectively. Moreover, metal ions with content of about 23 wt.%, acting as cross-linking agents, are uniformly distributed over the thickness of the sample. In addition, the effect of sensitizing ligands on the luminescence intensity of cross-linked aerogel matrices is considered. The interaction in the resulting metal/ligand systems is unique for each pair, which is confirmed by the detection of broad bands with individual positions in the luminescence excitation spectra of photoactive aerogels.
The Association between Social Vulnerability and Frailty in Community Dwelling Older People: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ayeni Ayodele , Sharples Adrienne , Hewson David
Published: September 2022

The aim of this systematic literature review was to determine whether social vulnerability is associated with frailty in older people. Databases were searched for literature from January 2001 to March 2022. Hand searches of reference lists of the selected articles were also used to identify other relevant studies. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Two independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality using an established tool. Eleven eligible studies from Canada, Europe, USA, Tanzania, Mexico, and China were selected. The level of social vulnerability measured by the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) from a meta-analysis was 0.300 (95% CI: 0.242, 0.358), with the highest SVI in Tanzania (0.49), while the lowest level of SVI was reported in China (0.15). The highest frailty level of 0.32 was observed in both Tanzania and Europe, with the lowest frailty reported in a USA study from Hawaii (0.15). In all studies, social vulnerability was a significant predictor of mortality for both sexes at subsequent data collection points. The association between SVI and frailty was high in Tanzania (r = 0.81), with other studies reporting stronger correlations for females compared to males, but at small to moderate levels. In one study, an increase of 1SD in SVI was linked to a 20% increase in frailty score at a subsequent evaluation. Additional study is warranted to determine a potential causality between social vulnerability and frailty.
Development and Evaluation: A Behavioral Activation Mobile Application for Self-Management of Stress for College Students
Authors: Na Hyunjoo , Jo Minjeong , Lee Chaerin , Kim Doyoon
Published: September 2022

College students are at a high risk of mental health problems due to continuous exposure to considerable stress as they transition into adulthood. It is necessary to reflect on young people’s needs and provide brief, personalized support interventions via mobile applications. This study aimed to (1) describe the co-design development process of a behavioral activation (BA) mobile health application called MEndorphins to help youth manage stress; and (2) evaluate the ease of use and quality of the application and its effects on psychological distress. College students aged 18–25 in South Korea participated as co-designers throughout the MEndorphins development process, which involved prototyping workshops. Thirty-five students also evaluated the application’s ease of use and quality, as well as its effects on psychological distress, using a self-reported online questionnaire. In the pilot evaluation, ease of use scored 74.21 out of 100 and quality 3.72 out of 5. There were statistically significant decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress after using MEndorphins (p ≤ 0.001 for depression and anxiety, p = 0.001 for stress) for 7 days. In this developed BA based mobile application, participants could monitor their mood, plan stress self-management strategies, and gain motivation by sharing experiences.
Analysis of Deep Learning Techniques for Dental Informatics: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: AbuSalim Samah , Zakaria Nordin , Islam Md Rafiqul , Kumar Ganesh , Mokhtar Norehan , Abdulkadir Said Jadid
Published: September 2022

Within the ever-growing healthcare industry, dental informatics is a burgeoning field of study. One of the major obstacles to the health care system’s transformation is obtaining knowledge and insightful data from complex, high-dimensional, and diverse sources. Modern biomedical research, for instance, has seen an increase in the use of complex, heterogeneous, poorly documented, and generally unstructured electronic health records, imaging, sensor data, and text. There were still certain restrictions even after many current techniques were used to extract more robust and useful elements from the data for analysis. New effective paradigms for building end-to-end learning models from complex data are provided by the most recent deep learning technology breakthroughs. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the most recent research on the use of deep learning techniques for dental informatics problems and recommend creating comprehensive and meaningful interpretable structures that might benefit the healthcare industry. We also draw attention to some drawbacks and the need for better technique development and provide new perspectives about this exciting new development in the field.
Selection of Garden Roses to Improve the Ecosystem Services They Provide
Authors: Božanić Tanjga Biljana , Ljubojević Mirjana , Đukić Aleksandar , Vukosavljev Mirjana , Ilić Olivera , Narandžić Tijana
Published: September 2022

With pronounced morphological and phenological diversity, garden roses have always been part of urban plantings. The significance of roses in ornamental and utilitarian (edible) horticulture can significantly be amended with novel ecosystem services, by shifting their breeding targets towards more than aesthetic and nutritional value. Thus the aim of this paper was to investigate the possibilities of newly bred (within the past decade) garden roses from the ‘Mella’ series as a possible ornamental, disease tolerant and bee attracting cultivars to be recommended in urban ecosystems, adding values to their current ecosystem services. Research goals were to determine the morphological characteristics; honey and wild bees’ abundance and its correlation with rose morphological and floral characteristics; disease resistance/tolerance to main rose fungal diseases; and suitability of ‘Mella’ roses in urban greenery providing multiple ecosystem services. Plant material included seven garden rose cultivars from the ‘Mella’ series. Analyses included complete morphological—qualitative and quantitative characterization of plant and flower traits, fragrance panel scoring and volatile components analyses, counts of honey bees visiting flowers and counts of different wild bee species as potential pollinators. Based on the obtained results significant variability in vegetative and generative plant characteristics was noted in investigated ‘Mella’ roses. With their ‘naturalistic’ overall appearance, comparable with wild roses, ‘Mella’ cultivars differed in plant height and habitus, number and type of flowers, leaf coloration and glossiness, but ‘Barbie Mella’ and ‘Ruby Mella’ positioned as the most decorative ones. ‘Barbie Mella’ was highly scored for overall fragrance, with the most divergent panel records for fragrance components and mixed volatile compounds, characterized by the balanced ratio (almost 1:1:1) between aromatic alcohol + terpenoids, straight-chain alkanes and long-chain alkanes. In relation to the honey bee’s attraction, a combination of plant height, fragrance, flower type (single, simple), flower diameter and accessibility seems to be crucial, rather than any characteristic solely. As an outstanding bee-attractor ‘Barbie Mella’ should be promoted as an ornamental disease-tolerant rose cultivar. Due to their aesthetic values, disease tolerance and bees visitations, ‘Mella’ roses ‘Barbie’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Ducat’ and ‘Exotic’ should be planted as a part of urban semi-natural gardens/landscapes, concomitantly contributing to the multiple ecosystem services—provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting. Until their worldwide availability, other ‘Mella’-like wild and cultivated roses should be investigated and promoted likewise.
Fluid-Structure Interaction Analyses for Hydro-Elastic Tailoring of a Windsurfer Fin
Authors: Cardoso de Brito Miguel , Sutherland Leigh Stuart , Pereira José Manuel C. , Arruda Mário Rui
Published: September 2022

A fully iterative ‘two-way’ fluid-structure interaction (FSI) tool of a commercially available composite windsurfer fin was developed, which was then used to investigate the normally hidden fin behaviour for a range of typical sailing conditions. The ‘two-way’ FSI analysis gave significantly better insights into the fin behaviour than the simpler ‘one-way’ non-iterative analysis. The tool also indicated that hydro-elastic tailoring, via simple reinforcement ply rotations, can produce large changes in tip twist. This gives an opportunity for both improved passive control and higher speeds, without deviating from a hydrodynamically optimal plan form. Inexpensive cantilever tests appear to be sufficient to make qualitative comparisons between the sailing responses of fins with different layups.
PWPNet: A Deep Learning Framework for Real-Time Prediction of Significant Wave Height Distribution in a Port
Authors: Xie Cui , Liu Xiudong , Man Tenghao , Xie Tianbao , Dong Junyu , Ma Xiaozhou , Zhao Yang , Dong Guohai
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a 2-stage cascaded deep learning framework, Port Wave Prediction Network (PWPNet), is proposed for real-time prediction of significant wave height (SWH) distribution in a port. The PWP-out model of the first stage, predicting port-entrance wave parameters, utilizes three branches, the first branch using a Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) module to learn the temporal dependencies of time sequences of port-entrance wave parameters, the second branch using Wave and Wind field Feature Extraction (WWFE) modules, composed of a residual network with spatial and channel attention, to capture spatiotemporal characteristics of outside-port 2D wave and wind field data, the third branch using multi-scale time encoding to capture the periodic characteristics of waves and wind. The PWP-in model of the second stage, estimating the in-port SWH distribution, uses port-entrance wave parameters based on a customized Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and takes PWP-out’s output as its input. A comparison of the performance of PWP-out and mainstream machine learning models including LSTM, GRU, BPNN, SVR, ELM, and RF at Hambantota Port shows that PWP-out outperforms all other models regarding medium-term (25–48 h), med–long-term (49–72 h), and long-term (73–96 h) predictions, and ablation experiments proved the effectiveness of the three branches. Furthermore, the performance comparison of our PWPNet and other 2-stage models of LSTM, GRU, BPNN, SVR, ELM, and RF cascaded with PWP-in shows that PWPNet outperforms those cascaded models for medium-term to long-term predictions of SWH distribution in a port.
Field Campaign on Pressure on the Crown Wall at the Outer Port of Punta Langosteira Breakwater
Authors: Sande José , Neves Maria Graça , López-Gutiérrez José-Santos , Esteban M. Dolores , Figuero Andrés , Negro Vicente
Published: September 2022

Punta Langosteira port, located in A Coruña (Spain), was monitored during the winters of 2017 and 2018, measuring wave pressure in the crown wall structure. Furthermore, the metocean variables were measured on a buoy located very close to the breakwater. This paper presents the real pressures measured at the crown wall of the breakwater during different storm events. These values are compared with the results of the application of state-of-the-art equations for the calculation of pressures on crown walls. The results obtained show the behaviour of the pressures with a crown wall fully protected by the armour, as is the case of Langosteira breakwater. Finally, several conclusions are made on the methodology for measuring the pressures using physical models and the relevance of the armour roughness.