bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SSI‐induced seismic earth pressures on an integral abutment bridge model: Experimental measurements versus numerical simulations and code provisions
Authors: Fiorentino Gabriele , De Risi Raffaele , De Luca Flavia , Mylonakis George , Briseghella Bruno , Nuti Camillo , Sextos Anastasios
Published: October 2024

Integral abutment bridges (IABs) generate strong soil–structure interaction (SSI) effects due to their high structural stiffness and transmission of inertial and thermal loads generated at the deck directly to the abutments. Despite an increasing number of experimental and numerical studies available in the literature, there is a lack of consolidated methodologies to model dynamic SSI phenomena for IABs, particularly in seismic regions where uncertainties associated with the induced ground motions render the problem harder to tackle. This study proposes an advanced strategy to model the seismic response of IABs, accounting for dynamic interaction between the structure, the abutment and the foundation, including piles and earth retaining walls. To this end, detailed finite‐element studies were carried out employing OpenSees to simulate a recent experimental campaign on a scaled IAB model in a soil container (SERENA) carried out at EQUALS Lab, University of Bristol, in the framework of SERA/H2020 project. An extensive dataset in terms of recorded accelerations, displacements, strains and settlements are available from these tests, including earth pressures which are back‐calculated from bending strain measurements. The objectives of this paper are threefold: firstly, the model parameters are explored and assessed critically by comparing the results from the numerical simulations against the experimental data; secondly, once the model is deemed sufficiently representative of the experiments, earth pressures are obtained numerically, as these are not directly measured in the tests; thirdly, the estimated static and dynamic earth pressures on the abutment wall are compared with the predictions of two simplified analytical procedures currently under consideration for inclusion in the new Eurocode 8. The results indicate that records and predictions match well for frequencies of up to 40 Hz at model scale (about 8 Hz in prototype scale) and confirm that the proposed modelling strategy can be used in practical applications. The quasi‐elastic model proposed in this study is shown to provide dependable predictions for cases involving moderate strains in real‐life applications.
A practical vehicular‐fog‐based privacy‐preserving attribute‐based keyword search system using potential games
Authors: Seyedi Zahra , Rahmati Farhad , Ali Mohammad
Published: October 2024

The growth of fog computing drives Internet of Things users to outsource data for services like storage and sharing. To ensure secure and efficient data search, extensive research has been conducted on searchable encryption, specifically attribute‐based keyword search (ABKS). ABKS facilitates precise access control over encrypted data while maintaining search functionality. However, delegating complex search operations to fog nodes introduces challenges like latency limitations, compromised search results, and unauthorized occupation of server resources. In this manuscript, we propose a Time‐Efficient Data Retrieval (TEDR) scheme to address these challenges. Our scheme incorporates two access policies, allowing data owners (DOs) and data users (DUs) to control data access and search queries. TEDR enables fog nodes to verify search queries before decryption, avoiding unnecessary decryption for invalid queries. We introduce a decentralized query submitting framework to allocate search queries among fog nodes, addressing redundancy concerns and latency issues. We analyze the decentralized query submitting game and classify it as a potential game, making it suitable for decentralized decision‐making. We evaluate TEDR performance on real‐world datasets, demonstrating practicality and efficiency. Our scheme reduces computational and communication costs by approximately 30% compared to existing methods.
Fine‐Mapping the Results From Genome‐Wide Association Studies of Primary Biliary Cholangitis Using SuSiE and h2‐D2
Authors: Gjoka Aida , Cordell Heather J.
Published: October 2024

The main goal of fine‐mapping is the identification of relevant genetic variants that have a causal effect on some trait of interest, such as the presence of a disease. From a statistical point of view, fine mapping can be seen as a variable selection problem. Fine‐mapping methods are often challenging to apply because of the presence of linkage disequilibrium (LD), that is, regions of the genome where the variants interrogated have high correlation. Several methods have been proposed to address this issue. Here we explore the ‘Sum of Single Effects’ (SuSiE) method, applied to real data (summary statistics) from a genome‐wide meta‐analysis of the autoimmune liver disease primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Fine‐mapping in this data set was previously performed using the FINEMAP program; we compare these previous results with those obtained from SuSiE, which provides an arguably more convenient and principled way of generating ‘credible sets’, that is set of predictors that are correlated with the response variable. This allows us to appropriately acknowledge the uncertainty when selecting the causal effects for the trait. We focus on the results from SuSiE‐RSS, which fits the SuSiE model to summary statistics, such as z‐scores, along with a correlation matrix. We also compare the SuSiE results to those obtained using a more recently developed method, h2‐D2, which uses the same inputs. Overall, we find the results from SuSiE‐RSS and, to a lesser extent, h2‐D2, to be quite concordant with those previously obtained using FINEMAP. The resulting genes and biological pathways implicated are therefore also similar to those previously obtained, providing valuable confirmation of these previously reported results. Detailed examination of the credible sets identified suggests that, although for the majority of the loci (33 out of 56) the results from SuSiE‐RSS seem most plausible, there are some loci (5 out of 56 loci) where the results from h2‐D2 seem more compelling. Computer simulations suggest that, overall, SuSiE‐RSS generally has slightly higher power, better precision, and better ability to identify the true number of causal variants in a region than h2‐D2, although there are some scenarios where the power of h2‐D2 is higher. Thus, in real data analysis, the use of complementary approaches such as both SuSiE and h2‐D2 is potentially warranted.
Geochemistry of Mafic Rocks From the Nagrota–Kathindi Section, Himachal Pradesh, Northwestern Himalaya: A Probable Example of Plume–Lithosphere Interaction
Authors: Singh M. Rajanikanta , Singh Paramjeet , Sethy Pratap C. , Singh A. Krishnakanta
Published: October 2024

The Northwest Himalayan region has a record of several phases of mafic magmatic activity spanning from Precambrian to Cenozoic in a dynamic tectonic setting. Here, we studied detailed petrography and new whole‐rock geochemistry of mafic volcanic and dykes from the Nagrota–Kathindi Section (NKS), Himachal region of the NW Himalaya, to understand the petrogenesis and possible tectonic setting. Both rock types have comparable mineralogical compositions (clinopyroxene + plagioclase + actinolite‐tremolite + chlorite + iron oxides ± hornblende ± epidote ± quartz ± carbonates) overprinted by greenschist to lower amphibolite facies metamorphism. The mafic volcanic and dykes of NKS exhibit subalkaline basalts to basaltic andesites and a typical tholeiite compositional character. The chondrite‐normalized rare earth element pattern exhibits similar LREE‐enrichment and strong HREE‐fractionation, whereas primitive mantle‐normalized multi‐element patterns show pronounced LILE‐enrichment of Rb, Ba, Th, LREE, and HFSE depletion of Nb, K, P, and Ti. The Zr–Y–Nb–Th relationships indicate that both rock types were derived from the plume source, whereas low Nb/La (< 1), similar high large‐ion lithophile element concentrations, and pronounced negative Nb, Zr, P, and Ti anomalies suggest that components other than mantle plume must have been involved in the generation and evolution of both rock types, that is, most likely plume and subcontinental lithosphere mantle (SCLM) interaction. The genesis of parent magma for the NKS volcanic and dykes was derived by 4%–6% and 10%–20% partial melting from the spinel + garnet lherzolite stability field. The majority of the studied samples correspond to spinel + garnet peridotite melting on (Gd/Yb)
N
versus CaO/Al2O3 diagram, thereby corroborating residual garnet in the mantle restite. All the basalts and dykes from the NK section did erupt/intrude in an intracontinental rift setting based on geochemical discrimination. The key petro‐tectonic processes attributed to the formation of these rocks are as follows: (i) the melting of the ascending plume by adiabatic decompression; (ii) the partial melting of this plume–SCLM source in the melting regime, which produces basaltic magma with a tholeiitic composition; and (iii) the release of heat that provides the thermal condition for melting of SCLM and interaction between upwelling mantle plume and subduction metasomatized SCLM.
The Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on Suicidal Ideation and Depression in Community‐Dwelling Elderly
Authors: Kim Kyungmin , Yoon Bo‐Hyun , Sea Young‐Hwa , Park Suhee , Jung Haran , Jung Yuran , Song Je‐Heon , Yun Hyunju , Kang Hangoeunbi
Published: October 2024

Introduction

This study examined the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on depression and suicidal ideation in community‐dwelling elderly in Korea.

Methods

Data were employed from a survey on elderly mental health in Jeollanam‐do (southwest province in Korea), conducted by the Jeollanam‐do Provincial Mental Health and Welfare Center. A total of 2423 people were recruited from all 22 cities in Jeollanam‐do from April to October, 2021. We used self‐reported questionnaires including sociodemographic factors, COVID‐19‐related stress, the Geriatric Depression Scale‐Short Form Korean Version, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Satisfaction With Life Scale and the Brief Resilience Scale. Logistic regression was performed to examine the factors of depression and suicidal ideation.

Results

Of the 2423 subjects, 622 (25.7%) reported depressive symptoms and 518 (21.4%) reported suicidal ideation. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that living alone, poor perceived health status, worry of COVID‐19 infection, and restriction of daily activities due to COVID‐19 pandemic are significantly associated with depression. Female gender, poor perceived health status, inability to perform household chores, and depressive symptom are risk factors of suicidal ideation.

Conclusion

These findings show that old age, negative perception of health, and restriction of daily activities due to COVID‐19 are risk factors of depression in community‐dwelling elderly in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Female gender, poor self‐perceived health status, and depression increase the risk of suicidal ideation among the elderly. Social support and life satisfaction are protecting factors of both depression and suicidal ideation. Resilience decreased risk of depression but not in suicidal ideation.
Managing Thyroid Nodules in Brain‐Dead Donors: Our Experience and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Locatello Luca Giovanni , Caiazza Nicole , Cavallo Ronchi Federico , Bergamin‐Bracale Anna Maria , Miani Cesare
Published: October 2024

Background

Thyroid nodules are common findings during the diagnostic work‐up in potential organ donors. A fast yet thorough assessment to rule out cancer is mandatory but their management remains heterogeneous among hospitals and the evidence in this field is scarce. We present our institutional experience and review the most recent literature on this topic.

Methods

Retrospective case series and systematic review of the literature.

Results

In the years 2000–2023, 47 total thyroidectomies were performed on potential brain‐dead donors. Intraoperative frozen section (FS) revealed 6 cases (13.9%) of papillary carcinoma that led to organ discarding in 3 cases (6.9%). The mean operative time of the procedures was 42.75 min and no procurement‐delaying complications were registered.

Conclusion

Total thyroidectomy with an intraoperative FS is a sound method for assessing suspicious nodules before organ harvesting. Future randomized studies comparing its performance against fine needle aspiration biopsy are needed to define the most cost‐effective and time‐saving strategy.
Numerical analysis of the combined influence of fin shape and location on constrained melting of phase change materials in a spherical capsule with double fins
Authors: Sharma Akhalesh , Kothari Rohit , Saxena Vivek , Sahu Santosh Kumar
Published: October 2024

This study presents a novel approach to investigating the combined influence of fin position and shape on the constrained melting behavior of phase change material (PCM) within a spherical capsule (S.C.) through numerical analysis. Unlike previous research, which predominantly focused on single fin shapes or positions, this work uniquely explores the impact of double, simple, and easily manufacturable fin shapes. A two‐dimensional computational model employing the enthalpy–porosity method assesses melting behavior, temperature distribution, and PCM flow. Numerous fin shapes, namely rectangular, trapezoidal converging, trapezoidal diverging stepped, inverse stepped, and triangular, are considered in the analysis. The study reports the influence of the location of two identically shaped fins on the thermal performance. The fins' cross‐sectional area and base thickness are kept equal in all cases. The thermal performance of an S.C.‐integrated fin system is evaluated by analyzing various attributes such as total saving in the duration of melting, enhancement ratio, and Nusselt number. The results indicate that the position of the fins has a more significant impact on melting performance than the fin shape. The best performance is achieved when fins are placed in the lower half of the capsule, followed by the center and upper halves, regardless of fin shape. For rectangular fins, shifting the position of the fin from the bottom half to the center increases the melting time by 24.7% and the top half by 68.3%. The shortest melting time of 93 min is observed for lower‐half rectangular fins, followed by center‐placed triangular fins (94 min). This study offers a theoretical foundation for optimizing the performance of different technologies using latent heat thermal energy storage systems such as packed‐bed, cascaded thermal energy storage systems.
Feature Pyramid Network Based Spatial Attention and Cross‐Level Semantic Similarity for Diseases Segmentation From Capsule Endoscopy Images
Authors: Charfi Said , EL Ansari Mohamed , Koutti Lahcen , ELjaafari Ilyas , ELLahyani Ayoub
Published: October 2024

As an emerging technology that uses a pill‐sized camera to visualize images of the digestive tract. Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) presents several advantages, since it is far less invasive, does not need sedation and has less possible complications compared to standard endoscopy. Hence, it might be exploited as alternative to the standard procedure. WCE is used to diagnosis a variety of gastro‐intestinal diseases such as polyps, ulcers, crohns disease, and hemorrhages. Nevertheless, WCE videos produced after a test may consist of thousands of frames per patient that must be viewed by medical specialists, besides, the capsule free mobility and technological limits cause production of a low quality images. Hence, development of an automatic tool based on artificial intelligence might be very helpful. Moreover, most state‐of‐the‐art works aim at images classification (normal/abnormal) while ignoring diseases segmentation. Therefore, in this work a novel method based on Feature Pyramid Network model is presented. This approach aims at diseases segmentation from WCE images. In this model, modules to optimize and combine features were employed. Specifically, semantic and spatial features were mutually compensated by spatial attention and cross‐level global feature fusion modules. The proposed method testing F1‐score and mean intersection over union are 94.149% and 89.414%, respectively, in the MICCAI 2017 dataset. In the KID Atlas dataset, the method achieved a testing F1‐score and mean intersection over union of 94.557% and 90.416%, respectively. Through the performance analysis, the mean intersection over union in the MICCAI 2017 dataset is 20.414%, 18.484%, 11.444%, 8.794% more than existing approaches. Moreover, the proposed scheme surpassed the methods used for comparison by 29.986% and 9.416% in terms of mean intersection over union in KID Atlas dataset. These results indicate that the proposed approach is promising in diseases segmentation from WCE images.
Lnc‐Pim1 Promotes Neurite Outgrowth and Regeneration of Neuron‐Like Cells Following ACR‐Induced Neuronal Injury
Authors: Li He , Jiang Ruo yu , Tang Ya jie , Ling Cong , Liu Fang , Xu Jia jun
Published: October 2024

Decreased regenerative capacity of central nervous system neurons is the main cause for failure of damaged neuron regeneration and functional recovery. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abundant in mammalian transcriptomes, and many time‐ and tissue‐specific lncRNAs are thought to be closely related to specific biological functions. The promoting effect of Pim‐1 gene on neural differentiation and regeneration has been documented, but the effect and mechanism of its neighbor gene Lnc‐Pim1 in regulating the response of central neurons to injury remain unclear. RT‐PCR in this study demonstrated that the expression of Lnc‐Pim1 was upregulated in acrylamide (ACR)‐induced neuronal injury. FISH and nucleus‐cytoplasmic assay demonstrated that Lnc‐Pim1 was mainly expressed in the neuron cytoplasm, with a small amount in the nucleus. Western blot analysis proved that Lnc‐Pim1 overexpression induced by the lentivirus vector could promote neurite outgrowth in Neuro‐2a cells by activating the Erk1/2 signal pathway, and improve neurite regeneration of injured neurons by upregulating GAP‐43 and β‐Ⅲ tubulin protein expression. However, silencing Lnc‐Pim1 expression by interfering RNA could effectively downregulate the GAP‐43 and β‐Ⅲ tubulin protein expression, and inhibit neurite growth of neurons. In addition, CHIRP‐MS was performed to identify several potential targets of Lnc‐Pim1 involved in the regulation of neurite regeneration of injured neurons. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that Lnc‐Pim1 is a potential lnc‐RNA, playing an important role in regulating central nerve regeneration.
Examining dimensions of help‐seeking intentions and associations with personal mental illness stigma among racial and ethnic minority immigrants
Authors: Deng Yali , Rose Theda
Published: October 2024

This study examined the factor structure of the General Help‐seeking Questionnaire and how personal mental illness stigma was associated with different types of help‐seeking intentions among racial and ethnic minority immigrants in the United States. A sample of 202 immigrants aged 18−39 were recruited from a Qualtrics panel and completed the online survey. Confirmatory factor analysis and multiple linear regression were conducted. Results confirmed four dimensions of help‐seeking intentions: informal, formal, semi‐formal, and traditional sources. Immigrants with higher levels of mental illness stigma are more likely to seek help from traditional sources (e.g., religious leader or other community‐based nonfaith resources) and semi‐formal sources (e.g., web‐based resources). Lack of awareness of service options is a key barrier to formal help‐seeking. Results signal the importance of collaboration between mental health service providers. Adopting culturally sensitive care and web‐based delivery formats may help address immigrants' concerns about mental health stigma.
Ethionine‐induced S‐adenosylmethionine deficiency suppressed H3K27me3 and cell differentiation during neural tube development in mice
Authors: Zhang Li , Zhang Xiaona , Liu Yurong , Wei Kaixin , Ma Huijing , Xia Li , Cao Rui , Sun Yuqing , Zheng Ronghua , Wang Xiuwei , Chang Bingmei
Published: October 2024

S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) as a major methyl donor plays a key role in methylation modification in vivo, and its disorder was closely related to neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the exact mechanism between SAM deficiency and NTDs remained unclearly. Hence, we investigated the association between histone methylation modification and cell differentiation in NTDs mice induced by SAM deficiency. The levels of SAM and SAH (S‐adenosylhomocysteine) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of histone methylation, β‐catenin were analyzed by Western blot, reversing transcription and quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) and immunofluorescence. The results showed that the incidence rate of NTDs induced by ethionine were 46.2%. Post treatment of ethionine combined with SAM, the incidence rate of NTDs was reduced to 26.2%. The level of SAM was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and a reduction in the SAM/SAH ratio was observed after entionine treatment. The SAM deficiency caused the reduction of H3K27me3 modifications and the elevated UTX activity (p < 0.05), and inhibited the expressions of β‐catenin. The differentiations of NSCs into neurons and oligodendrocytes were inhibited under SAM deficiency (p < 0.05). These results indicated that the SAM deficiency led to reduce H3K27me3 modifications, prevented the β‐catenin signaling pathway and NSCs differentiation, which provided an understanding of the novel function of epigenetic regulation in NTDs.
Fetal Diagnosis of a Ductus Arteriosus Aneurysm: A Case Report
Authors: Molina‐Giraldo Saulo , Galindez‐Guerrero Christian Camilo , Estupiñan‐Rincon Wilber , Sterling‐Castaño Diana , Acuña‐Osorio Edgar Mariano , Salazar Gustavo , Rojas‐Arias José Luis
Published: October 2024

The ductus arteriosus aneurysm (DAA) is considered a rare anatomical alteration that consists of a dilation of this vascular structure. It has been reported that the DAA can resolve in the immediate postnatal stage and do not generate any consequences for the neonate. However, have been described some cases in which the DAA is complicated due to thromboembolic events, rupture of the lesion, respiratory symptoms, and even death. We present a case report of aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus diagnosed at 24 weeks of gestation with detailed imaging study. Also, we highlight the importance of the use of fundamental tools in the diagnosis: 3D ultrasound, multiplanar reconstruction, spatio‐temporal image correlation (STIC), and omniview.
Efficacy of Administration Routes in Crayfish: Comparative Analysis of Intracoelomic and Intrapericardial Techniques Using Fluorescein Dye
Authors: Kaur Davinder , Khan Areeba , Kubec Jan , Breithaupt Thomas , Buřič Miloš
Published: October 2024

Crayfish are emerging as model organisms for various disciplines. Moreover, decapod crustaceans also exhibit pain‐like reactions and heightened anxiety when exposed to harmful stimuli, leading to short‐term or persistent behavioral shifts. Awareness of decapod crustacean sentience and thus, suffering calls for refinement of current laboratory protocols. This study aims to enhance the standard methodology for injecting substances into crayfish by minimizing stress‐inducing manipulation. We examined the impacts of various administration routes on the persistence of injected chemicals in marbled crayfish, its excretion, and animal survival. Fluorescein dye was used as a visual marker. It was administered via three alternative injection routes—intracoelomic (IC), intrapericardial administration through areola (IP‐A), and intrapericardial administration through arthrodial membrane (IP‐AM). Continuous video observations were made for a 4‐h period under UV light, followed by intermittent observations at 12‐h intervals over 48 h. The highest mortality (20%) was observed in IP‐A administration. The IP‐A method also provided the fastest systemic distribution of the dye in the body. Results indicated visibly higher urination frequency in IP‐AM compared to IP‐A. IC mirrored IP‐AM outcomes without any observed mortality. We conclude that IC administration proved superior to intrapericardial methods, offering the least harmful but effective approach for crayfish injections.
The complexity of the perfect matching‐cut problem
Authors: Bouquet Valentin , Picouleau Christophe
Published: October 2024

PERFECT MATCHING‐CUT is the problem of deciding whether a graph has a perfect matching that contains an edge‐cut. We show that this problem is NP‐complete for planar graphs with maximum degree four, for planar graphs with girth five, for bipartite five‐regular graphs, for graphs of diameter three, and for bipartite graphs of diameter four. We show that there exist polynomial‐time algorithms for the following classes of graphs: claw‐free, ‐free, diameter two, bipartite with diameter three, and graphs with bounded treewidth.
Inhibiting KSHV replication by targeting the essential activities of KSHV processivity protein, PF‐8
Authors: Travis Jennifer Kneas , Costantini Lindsey M.
Published: October 2024

Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent of several human diseases. There are no cures for KSHV infection. KSHV establishes biphasic lifelong infections. During the lytic phase, new genomes are replicated by seven viral DNA replication proteins. The processivity factor's (PF‐8) functions to tether DNA polymerase to DNA, so new viral genomes are efficiently synthesized. PF‐8 self‐associates, interacts with KSHV DNA replication proteins and the viral DNA. Inhibition of viral DNA replication would diminish the infection within a host and reduce transmission to new individuals. In this review we summarize PF‐8 molecular and structural studies, detail the essential protein‐protein and nucleic acid interactions needed for efficient lytic DNA replication, identify future areas for investigation and propose PF‐8 as a promising antiviral target. Additionally, we discuss similarities that the processivity factor from Epstein‐Barr virus shares with PF‐8, which could promote a pan‐herpesvirus antiviral therapeutic targeting strategy.
Maximum Bandwidth Analysis With a UniversalAWLR‐Based Filter Structure
Authors: Tang Xianli , Jia Yonghao , Yang Taojun , Hu Junyuan , Lu Wei‐Bing
Published: October 2024

The bandwidth enhancement of the acoustic‐wave‐lumped‐element resonator (AWLR)‐based filter has been investigated for a long time. However, few researches are focused on the maximum bandwidth analysis. Based on a universal circuit structure of the AWLR‐based filter, we proposed the maximum bandwidth analysis of the hybrid filter. In the analysis process, the universal filter structure can be transformed into a novel AWLR‐based filter structure by incidentally excluding most of the other structures (including the reported hybrid filter structures) under the defined electrical characteristics. The novel hybrid filter obtains the maximum fractional bandwidth (FBW). Moreover, the proposed calculation results are better than the simulation results without artificial intervention. They are 2.12kt2and 1.63kt2, respectively.kt2is the electromechanical coupling coefficient of the acoustic wave resonator (AWR). Third‐order AWLR‐based bandpass filters with five‐type circuit structures have been manufactured and measured. They include the proposed novel AWLR‐based filter and the hybrid filter with the reported structure based on the universal AWLR‐based filter structure. The experimental results indicate that the proposed novel AWLR‐based filter has the maximum FBW.
Structure–property relationship of pea protein microgels as fat analogues in Pickering oil‐in‐water emulsions: effect of salt addition
Authors: Du Liyang , Li Shaoyang , Lan Yaqi , Meng Zong
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

The design of plant‐based microgels provides a platform for food ingredients to enhance palatability and functionality. This work aimed to explore the modifying effect of salt addition (KCl) on the structure of pea protein microgel particles (PPI MPs), on the interfacial adsorption and characteristics of formed emulsions as fat analogues.

RESULTS

Salt addition (0–200 mmol L−1) promoted a structural transformation from α‐helix to β‐sheet, increased the surface hydrophobicity (from 1160.8 to 2280.7), and increased the contact angle (from 56.73° to 96.47°) of PPI MPs. The electrostatic shielding effect led to the tighter packing of MPs with irregular structures and lowered the adsorption energy barrier. Notably, salt‐treated PPI MPs could adjust their adsorption state at the interface. The discernible adsorption of PPI MPs with 200 mmol L−1 salt addition that possessed enhanced anti‐deformation ability dominated the interfacial stabilization, whereas a relatively rougher stretched continuous interfacial film formed after spreading and deformation of 0 mmol L−1 MPs. A tribological test suggested that emulsion stabilized by MPs at 0 (0.0053) and 80 mmol L−1 (0.0068) had similar friction coefficients to commercial mayonnaise (0.0058), whereas a higher salt concentration (200 mmol L−1) lowered its oral sensation due to the adsorption layer and enhanced the resistance to droplet coalescence during oral processing.

CONCLUSION

Salt could be a modifier to tune the structure of microgels, and further promote the formation and attributes of emulsions. This study would improve application attributes of PPI MPs in the design of realistic fat analogues. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Thermal stability of γ‐PGA modified fish gelatin emulsion
Authors: Xie Huan , Sha Xiao‐Mei , Shan Shan , Hu Zi‐Zi , Tu Zong‐Cai
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Emulsions are thermally unstable systems. This research aimed to investigate the thermal stability of fish gelatin (FG) oil‐in‐water emulsions in the presence of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (γ‐PGA) as an additive after heat treatment. The study assessed how γ‐PGA influences the thermal stability of FG emulsions over time, focusing on their properties, structure, and food application potential.

RESULTS

The incorporation of γ‐PGA significantly enhanced the thermal stability of FG emulsions, preserving their morphology after heating. Emulsions containing 0.1% γ‐PGA showed no significant changes after 24 h at 90 °C, while emulsions without γ‐PGA experienced noticeable delamination. Rheological evaluations revealed that the energy storage modulus and loss modulus of FG–γ‐PGA emulsions remained consistently higher than those of FG emulsions, regardless of heating duration. Particle size analysis indicated minimal changes for FG–γ‐PGA emulsions (413 nm after 24 h) compared to a substantial increase for FG emulsions (1598 nm). After heating, FG–γ‐PGA emulsions demonstrated significantly higher emulsifying activity index (EAI) (74 m2 g−1 versus 22.7 m2 g−1) and emulsifying stability index (ESI) (97% versus 76%). Additionally, the texture properties of meat mince formulated with FG‐γ‐PGA emulsions were comparable to those containing fat, showcasing their potential as a fat replacement.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that γ‐PGA enhances the thermal stability of FG emulsions, maintaining their integrity and improving functional properties under heat treatment. These findings offer valuable insights for the formulation of thermally stable emulsions, presenting promising opportunities for innovative applications in the food industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Beyond Convenience: Exploring the Hidden Impact of Algorithmic Pricing on Consumer Trust and Loyalty in Chinese Online Travel Agencies
Authors: Wang Kuo‐Yan , Yu Jing , Chen Wei , Chen Jinchao
Published: October 2024

The emergence of online travel agencies (OTAs) provides travelers with “one‐stop” convenience, but also faces issues of price discrimination. This mixed‐methods study began with semi‐structured interviews of 30 participants to explore initial perceptions, followed by a survey of 307 Chinese consumers. The study examined attitudes toward OTA overreliance on algorithmic pricing and unclear information, and their impact on trust and loyalty. Findings reveal that during peak seasons, regular customers without value‐added membership services paid higher room rates than new customers. The results indicate that once trust is established through clear information quality and reliable service, consumers are less wary of pricing quotes. The conclusion summarizes the findings and suggests further research to promote transparent and fair pricing practices, enhancing consumer trust and loyalty.
Understanding of Nationwide Camping Behavior in Korea: The Influence of Camping Regions and Type of Accommodation on the Costs Incurred
Authors: Kim Hak‐Jun , Kim Joonhyeong Joseph , Yoon Tae‐Hwan
Published: October 2024

This study aims to investigate the main effect, and interaction effect of, camping regions and type of accommodation (i.e., general tent; glamping; camping car, caravan, trailer; car including general/modified vehicle) on campers' spending in terms of total, transportation, and accommodation costs. This study recruited a total of 3087 respondents based on the online panel who experienced camping between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, in order to conduct two‐way ANOVA. Based on the analyses, the current study found a significant effect of the type of accommodation and camping regions on total, transportation, and accommodation costs. The significant interaction effect of camping regions and total, transportation, and accommodation costs suggests that a comprehensive understanding of campers' different needs for the type of accommodation in a diverse range of regions, specifically in Korea, is needed. As a result of the study, the practical implications for the operators of campsites were provided.
Brown Adipose Tissue Mimicking Head and Neck Cancer on PET Scan in a Patient on GLP‐1 Drug
Authors: Harrison Daron B. , Phillips Alisa L. , Tansey James B. , Clarke Travis J. , Wood C.B. , Nedzi Lucien , Schwartz David L. , Makowski Liza , Hayes D.N. , Newman Grace , Gleysteen John P.
Published: October 2024

To report a case of a patient undergoing GLP‐1 receptor agonist therapy in which increased FDG uptake in brown adipose tissue (BAT) mimicked metastatic head and neck cancer on PET/CT imaging. A 61‐year‐old female with Class III obesity presented with a right‐sided neck mass after significant weight loss following the use of the GLP‐1 receptor agonist, Semaglutide. PET/CT revealed FDG uptake in the right level II lymph node and extensive BAT uptake throughout the neck and mediastinum, complicating the diagnosis. Increased FDG uptake in the cervical and supraclavicular BAT regions led to diagnostic confusion, mimicking diffuse regional metastasis. Careful interpretation of PET/CT imaging, with fusion of anatomical and functional data, was essential to differentiate hypermetabolic BAT from malignant disease. Increased BAT FDG uptake, particularly in patients using GLP‐1 receptor agonists, can complicate the evaluation of head and neck cancer. Awareness of this interaction is critical to avoid misdiagnosis and overtreatment. Laryngoscope, 135:741–743, 2025
Insight into Structure, Regulatable Photoluminescence of Stably Self and Codoped Phosphor Ba3Y2B6O15: Dy/Eu for nUV wLEDs
Authors: Wang Chang , Yue Li , Li Wanyuan , Lei Yifeng , Xu Man , Dai Wubin
Published: October 2024

The exploitation of borate‐based phosphors is garnered tremendous attention in wLEDs. Although previous research provided some insights into borates from the viewpoints of synthesis, structure, and defect evolutions, their photoluminescence (PL) with dopants is still insufficient for actual application, especially on aspects of efficiency/stability. Herein, to alleviate the above issues, a new type of lesser‐known high symmetry Ba3Y2B6O15 (BYB) codoped with Dy3+/Eu3+ phosphors are synthesized via multistep solid‐state reaction and possessed controllable PL based on nUV excitation, defect‐induced (self‐) PL, and energy transfer (ET) from Dy3+ to Eu3+. The origin of blue self‐PL is clarified based on oxygen‐related defects and optimized via adjusting synthetic atmosphere (air/Ar) and (co)doping dopants to control the defect content. Thanks to dense connectivity, and highly symmetric structure with perfectly ordered octahedral sites of Y3+ for accommodation of Dy/Eu and ET, “cool” white and red PL from Dy3+ and Eu3+, respectively, show high PL efficiency with narrow full width at half the maximum (fwhm). The phosphor also exhibits excellent thermal stability because of high bandgap and low electron‐phonon coupling. Finally, a high‐quality phosphor‐converted wLED (pc‐wLED) device is assembled via remote “capping” packaging by adopting the BYB: Dy/Eu and a 350 nm nUV LED chip.
Simultaneous Probing of Electron Density and Temperature Dynamics Inside Air Plasma with Intense Terahertz Pulses
Authors: Zhang Minghao , Wang Guoyang , Zhang Yizhuo , Xiao Wen , Zhang Cunlin , Liu Yi , Tikhonchuk Vladimir , Zhang Liangliang
Published: October 2024

Air plasma induced by ultrafast laser pulses is an extraordinary source of electromagnetic waves, emitting microwave, terahertz (THz) radiation, and cavityless lasing in the near‐infrared and visible ranges. The temporal dynamics of the electron density have been revealed by optical pump‐probe techniques, while the evolution of the electron temperature remains elusive due to a lack of suitable methods. Here, it is demonstrated that the intense THz‐field‐enhanced fluorescence emission from the excited molecules of nitrogen is a novel tool that allows to explore the complex dynamics of the plasma density and electron temperature simultaneously. Two relaxation times of electrons in air plasma are observed and interpreted as a competition between the excitation of a triplet state by laser or THz‐field‐heated electrons and the dissociative recombination of nitrogen molecular ions. Based on the theoretical simulations, the tens of picoseconds relaxation process is attributed to the ultrafast temperature decrease, while the longer relaxation in the range of hundreds of picoseconds is ascribed to the decay of electron density. The temporal relaxation of both the electron density and temperature revealed by applying an intense THz field provides further insights into the laser‐air plasma interaction and will benefit the engineering of this exceptional source.
Understanding the Effect of Corrosion Resistance in Welded AA2198‐T8 Alloy: Microstructural‐Electrochemical Insights
Authors: Machado Caruline de Souza C. , Araujo João V. S. , Hernández José W. C. , Milagre Mariana X. , Ramirez Oscar M. P. , de Melo Hercílio G. , Farooq Sajid , Costa Isolda
Published: October 2024

In this study, we explore the corrosion resistance of AA2198‐T8 alloy in friction stir‐welded zones, focusing on microstructure changes and resulting corrosion susceptibility. Macrogalvanic coupling effects are observed in weldment under corrosive conditions, particularly in the welding joint (WJ), heat‐affected zones, and base metal (BM). Severe localized corrosion is prevalent in anodic zones, revealing intricate trenching patterns around micrometric particles in cathodic domains. Investigating isolated zones exposes SLC across all welding‐affected regions and BM, underscoring the involvement of microgalvanic cells in corrosion. The novel utilization of a syringe cell as an electrochemical tool proves to be instrumental in delineating the electrochemical characteristics of welding testing zones. Notably, stir zone within WJ emerges as the region depicting the lowest corrosion resistance, a critical finding substantiated by localized electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These insights into the interplay of electrochemical phenomena and microstructural attributes have implications for advancing corrosion mitigation strategies and alloy engineering in materials science.
Empathy at the heart of customer experience: A holistic framework for understanding and enhancing consumer empathy through the lens of customer experience
Authors: Lehnert Leon , Kuehnl Christina
Published: October 2024

Serving as a social glue in interactions, consumer empathy takes center stage in shaping a pleasant customer experience. Our holistic framework of an empathic customer experience, rooted in the perception–action model of empathy and established customer experience conceptualizations, unveils the close interrelationship between consumer empathy and customer experiences. Grounded in a systematic literature review and a conceptual synthesis, our study contributes to customer experience research by conceptualizing consumer empathy as a cognitive and affective customer experience response, potentially accompanied by supplementary customer experience responses, which we refer to as an empathic customer experience. This study advances empathy literature by offering a systematic overview of an empathic customer experience, covering stimuli at touchpoints that induce an empathic customer experience during consumer interactions, potential contextual factors, and evaluative outcomes of an empathic customer experience. From our results, we derive an agenda with several research directions for the joint investigation of consumer empathy and customer experience to contribute to both research fields. In addition, our framework provides insights for managers, including recommendations for designing stimuli to evoke an empathic customer experience.
Investigation on Polyether Sulfone Toughening Epoxy Vitrimer: Curing and Dynamic Properties
Authors: Liu Xiang , Fang Mei , Feng Yuezhan , Huang Ming , Liu Chuntai , Shen Changyu
Published: October 2024

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A crosslinking with glutaric anhydride is used to form the conventional “covalent adaptive network”, polyether sulfone (PES) by coiling and aggregating on the adaptive network is used to significantly increase the uncured resin viscosity for improving the processability of epoxy resin, but inevitably affecting the curing reaction and dynamic transesterification reaction. This study investigates the crucial roles of PES in curing dynamics and stress relaxation behavior. The results indicate that although PES does not directly participate in the crosslinking reaction of polyester‐based epoxy vitrimers. Moreover, the isothermal curing studies reveal that the addition of PES can greatly bring forward the reaction rate peak from conversion α = 0.6 to α = 0.2, meaning that the curing mechanism transfers from chemical control to diffusion control. Dynamic property analysis shows that the addition of PES significantly accelerates stress relaxation, especially at lower temperatures, leading to low viscous flow activation energy Eτ and relatively insensitive stress relaxation behavior to temperature. Introducing PES into vitrimer resin greatly improves crosslinking density (2.31 × 10⁴ mol m−3), enhancing glass transition temperature (82.68 °C), tensile strength (68.66 MPa), and fracture toughness (6.25%). Additionally, the modified vitrimer resin exhibits satisfying shape memory performance and reprocessing capability.
C–H Functionalization of Poly(ethylene oxide) – Embracing Functionality, Degradability, and Molecular Delivery
Authors: Kim Se Jong , Hong Eun Ji , Kim Nuri , Kim Nuri , Kim Minseong , Shin Aram , Kim Byeong‐Su , Lee Dong Won , Kim Jeung Gon
Published: October 2024

This study presents an organocatalytic C−H functionalization approach for postpolymerization modification (PPM) of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Most of PEO PPM is previously processed at the end hydroxy group, but recent advances in C‐H functionalization open a way to modify the backbone position. Structurally diverse carboxylic acids are attached to PEO through a cascade process of radical generation by peroxide and oxidation to oxocarbenium by tertiary butylammonium iodide. Attaching carboxylic acids yields a series of functionalize PEO with acetal units (2−5 mol%) in a backbone, which is not accessible via conventional copolymerization of epoxides. The optimized conditions minimizes the uncontrolled degradation or crosslinking from the highly reactive radical and oxocarbenium intermediate. The newly introduced acetal units bring degradability of PEO as well as delivery of carboxylic acid molecules. Hydrolysis studies with high molecular weight functionalization PEO (Mn = 13.0 kg mol−1) confirm the steady release of fragmented PEO (Mn ∼ 2.0 kg mol−1) and carboxylic acid over days and the process rate is not sensitive to pH variation between pH 5 and 9. The presented method offers a versatile and efficient way to modify PEO with potential energy and medical applications.
Molecular Pathology of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 in Iceland
Authors: Hallgrímsdóttir E. G. , Svansson H. , Stefánsdóttir V. F. , Sveinsson Ó. Á. , Ólafsdóttir H. , Briem E. , Sveinbjörnsdóttir S. , Jónsson J. J.
Published: October 2024

Background

Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant disease with anticipation due to increased number of CTG repeats in the DMPK gene.

Methods

This retrospective, cohort study in Iceland assessed prevalence of DM1, molecular pathology, and patient ascertainment. Data was collected from all major hospitals in Iceland, Medical Director of Health, and independent clinics. Cohort criteria were diagnosis of DM1 on January 1, 2021, or time of death. Population‐based Icelandic Genealogy Database of the Genetical Committee at the University of Iceland was used for genealogy.

Results

In Iceland, 221 individuals, including 19 obligate carriers, had been diagnosed with DM1 of which 144 were alive giving a point prevalence of 39 per 100,000 (four times the world average of 9.3). Genealogy analysis identified 45 first‐degree families. Age‐adjusted prevalence ranged between 11 and 66 per 100,000. Average potential years of life lost were 20.5 per person. Where information was available, 63% of ascertainment was based on family history in cascade testing.

Conclusion

The differences in age‐adjusted prevalence suggest that the overall point prevalence is an underestimation due to underdiagnosis in younger age groups and lethality in oldest age group. Our data supports use of cascade testing to improve DM1 ascertainment.
UNet‐based multi‐organ segmentation in photon counting CT using virtual monoenergetic images
Authors: Baek Sumin , Ye Dong Hye , Lee Okkyun
Published: October 2024

Background

Multi‐organ segmentation aids in disease diagnosis, treatment, and radiotherapy. The recently emerged photon counting detector‐based CT (PCCT) provides spectral information of the organs and the background tissue and may improve segmentation performance.

Purpose

We propose UNet‐based multi‐organ segmentation in PCCT using virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) to exploit spectral information effectively.

Methods

The proposed method consists of the following steps: Noise reduction in bin‐wise images, image‐based material decomposition, generating VMIs, and deep learning‐based segmentation. VMIs are synthesized for various x‐ray energies using basis images. The UNet‐based networks (3D UNet, Swin UNETR) were used for segmentation, and dice similarity coefficients (DSC) and 3D visualization of the segmented result were evaluation indicators. We validated the proposed method for the liver, pancreas, and spleen segmentation using abdominal phantoms from 55 subjects for dual‐ and quad‐energy bins. We compared it to the conventional PCCT‐based segmentation, which uses only the (noise‐reduced) bin‐wise images. The experiments were conducted on two cases by adjusting the dose levels.

Results

The proposed method improved the training stability for most cases. With the proposed method, the average DSC for the three organs slightly increased from 0.933 to 0.95, and the standard deviation decreased from 0.066 to 0.047, for example, in the low dose case (using VMIs v.s. bin‐wise images from dual‐energy bins; 3D UNet).

Conclusions

The proposed method using VMIs improves training stability for multi‐organ segmentation in PCCT, particularly when the number of energy bins is small.