bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised learning of perceptual feature combinations
Authors: Tamosiunaite Minija , Tetzlaff Christian , Wörgötter Florentin
Published: April 2023

In many situations it is behaviorally relevant for an animal to respond to co-occurrences of perceptual, possibly polymodal features, while these features alone may have no importance. Thus, it is crucial for animals to learn such feature combinations in spite of the fact that they may occur with variable intensity and occurrence frequency. Here, we present a novel unsupervised learning mechanism that is largely independent of these contingencies and allows neurons in a network to achieve specificity for different feature combinations. This is achieved by a novel correlation-based (Hebbian) learning rule which allows for linear weight growth and which is combined with a mechanism for gradually reducing the learning rate as soon as the neuron’s response becomes feature combination specific. In a set of control experiments, we show that other existing advanced learning rules cannot satisfactorily form such multi-feature representations. In addition, we show that networks, which use this type of learning always stabilize and converge to subsets of neurons with different feature-combination specificity. Neurons with this property may, thus, serve as an initial stage for the processing of ecologically relevant real world situations for an animal.
The impact of a social-media-based weight management program: insights from the community campaign “obesity does not suit me”
Authors: Alsaad Areej , Aleid Kawthar , Almadani Layla , Alhaj Omar , Jahrami Haitham , Janahi Abdulrahman
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the influence of the community-based campaign on weight loss and healthy lifestyle adoption among Bahrain's adult population.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross -sectional self-reported online questionnaire completed in February 2021. The survey evaluated the impact of the community-based campaign health program which includes (exercise, diet plan and psychological eating behavior) weight reduction using social media platforms. The authors employed data from young and middle-aged healthy adults (n = 842) between the ages of 18-55 years, of both sexes. The intervention group (n = 842) was made up of the supporters of the voluntary community initiative called Obesity does not Suit Me (n = 194), and the control group (n = 648) was made up of non-followers of the campaign.

Findings

The study showed a statistically significant difference among the followers of the community-based campaign health program in the following parameters: 3.90-4.23 kg less, 1.46-1.59 difference in BMI and 0.05-0.06 WHR. All changes were of low effect size.

Originality/value

Diet and exercise had significant impact on weight, BMI and WHR among the followers of the community campaign. However, more research is required for sponsorship to increase the motivation and rewards for the community campaign.
Exploring the determinants of ice cream purchase intention: a case of emerging economy
Authors: Gao Yue , Tarkar Preeti , Khan Waseem , Haseeb Mohammad
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine and discuss the factors affecting consumers' purchase intentions for ice cream in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a primary survey of 340 respondents from India, collected through a well-structured questionnaire. The data has been analysed using partial least square-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The theory of planned behaviour (TBP) has been used to identify the determinants of the purchase intention of ice cream.

Findings

The measurement model shows that the constructs of the model have adequate convergent and discriminant validity. The findings of the structural model show the positive and significant impact of subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and trustworthiness on attitudes and purchase intentions for ice cream. In addition, estimates also revealed that attitude has significant implications on purchase intention.

Practical implications

The study provides insight into the factors that influence ice cream purchase intentions in India. Corporate strategy makers and advertising managers who work for ice cream brands can look at the study to figure out how to market their products to get more customers.

Originality/value

The novelty and value of this study lie in choosing an unexplored product (ice cream) whose demand is continuously increasing. Perhaps this is the first study in an emerging economy like India to consider an extended version of the TPB by including health consciousness and trustworthiness to establish the relationship between ice cream purchase intention and health consciousness.
News recommendations based on collaborative topic modeling and collaborative filtering with generative adversarial networks
Authors: Liu Duen-Ren , Huang Yang , Jhao Jhen-Jie , Lee Shin-Jye
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Online news websites provide huge amounts of timely news, bringing the challenge of recommending personalized news articles. Generative adversarial networks (GAN) based on collaborative filtering (CFGAN) can achieve effective recommendation quality. However, CFGAN ignores item contents, which contain more latent preference features than just user ratings. It is important to consider both ratings and item contents in making preference predictions. This study aims to improve news recommendation by proposing a GAN-based news recommendation model considering both ratings (implicit feedback) and the latent features of news content.

Design/methodology/approach

The collaborative topic modeling (CTM) can improve user preference prediction by combining matrix factorization (MF) with latent topics of item content derived from latent topic modeling. This study proposes a novel hybrid news recommendation model, Hybrid-CFGAN, which modifies the architecture of the CFGAN model with enhanced preference learning from the CTM. The proposed Hybrid-CFGAN model contains parallel neural networks – original rating-based preference learning and CTM-based preference learning, which consider both ratings and news content with user preferences derived from the CTM model. A tunable parameter is used to adjust the weights of the two preference learnings, while concatenating the preference outputs of the two parallel neural networks.

Findings

This study uses the dataset collected from an online news website, NiusNews, to conduct an experimental evaluation. The results show that the proposed Hybrid-CFGAN model can achieve better performance than the state-of-the-art GAN-based recommendation methods. The proposed novel Hybrid-CFGAN model can enhance existing GAN-based recommendation and increase the performance of preference predictions on textual content such as news articles.

Originality/value

As the existing CFGAN model does not consider content information and solely relies on history logs, it may not be effective in recommending news articles. Our proposed Hybrid-CFGAN model modified the architecture of the CFGAN generator by adding a parallel neural network to gain the relevant information from news content and user preferences derived from the CTM model. The novel idea of adjusting the preference learning from two parallel neural networks – original rating-based preference learning and CTM-based preference learning – contributes to improve the recommendation quality of the proposed model by considering both ratings and latent preferences derived from item contents. The proposed novel recommendation model can improve news recommendation, thereby increasing the commercial value of news media platforms.
Effects of religiosity, halal knowledge and halal certification on the intention of Muslims to use the halal vaccine during Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Sudarsono Heri , Ikawati Retty , Kurnia Agus , Azizah Siti Nur , Kholid Muamar Nur
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the effect of religiosity (RE), halal knowledge (HK) and halal certification (HC), attitudes, subjective norms and vaccine quality on the Muslim community’s intention to use halal vaccines in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved 725 Muslim respondents in 32 Indonesian provinces. The model used was based on the theory of reasoned action development with the partial least squares structural equation modeling as the data processing tool.

Findings

The study discovered that RE, HK and HC did not affect the intention of Muslims to use halal vaccines. In addition, the MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia – Indonesia Council of Ulama) fatwa permitting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine despite the haram ingredients was considered an excuse for Muslims to administer non-halal vaccines. However, several parties disagreed on the fatwa because the emergency legal standing for its permissibility did not apply to all regions. The reason was that each had different rates of confirmed cases, ranging from high-risk areas to those with zero confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Originality/value

This study examines the Muslim community’s intention toward using halal vaccines in several regions in Indonesia. In addition, this study conducted in-depth interviews as samples in several regions. This study also conducted interviews to determine the public’s views on government obligation about the Covid-19 vaccine. Finally, this study proposes a vaccine to avoid the possibility of controversy over the use of non-halal vaccines.
Exploring the limits of mindfulness during the COVID-19 pandemic: qualitative evidence from African context
Authors: Alo Obinna , Arslan Ahmad , Tian Anna Yumiao , Pereira Vijay
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper is one of the first studies to examine specificities, including limits of mindfulness at work in an African organisational context, whilst dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It specifically addresses the role of organisational and managerial support systems in restoring employee wellbeing, social connectedness and attachment to their organisations, in order to overcome the exclusion caused by the ongoing pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative research methodology that includes interviews as the main data source. The sample comprises of 20 entrepreneurs (organisational leaders) from Ghana and Nigeria.

Findings

The authors found that COVID-19-induced worries restricted the practice of mindfulness, and this was prevalent at the peak of the pandemic, particularly due to very tough economic conditions caused by reduction in salaries, and intensified by pre-existing general economic and social insecurities, and institutional voids in Africa. This aspect further resulted in lack of engagement and lack of commitment, which affected overall team performance and restricted employees’ mindfulness at work. Hence, quietness by employees even though can be linked to mindfulness was linked to larger psychological stress that they were facing. The authors also found leaders/manager’s emotional intelligence, social skills and organisational support systems to be helpful in such circumstances. However, their effectiveness varied among the cases.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first studies to establish a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and mindfulness limitations. Moreover, it is a pioneering study specifically highlighting the damaging impact of COVID-19-induced concerns on leader–member exchange (LMX) and team–member exchange (TMX) relationships, particularly in the African context. It further brings in a unique discussion on the mitigating mechanisms of such COVID-19-induced concerns in organisations and highlights the roles of manager’s/leader’s emotional intelligence, social skills and supportive intervention patterns. Finally, the authors offer an in-depth assessment of the effectiveness of organisational interventions and supportive relational systems in restoring social connectedness following a social exclusion caused by COVID-19-induced worries.
The four studio structures and deep learning
Authors: Barnett Sarah , Francis Heather Drew
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper describes how a pre-service teacher’s knowledge and pedagogy changed as she documented her reflective practice while teaching arts-integrated lessons in a fifth-grade classroom during her pre-service teacher preparation program. The pre-service teacher spent three-months conducting an action research project in collaboration with a university mentor.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores what she and her mentor learned as she prepared arts-integrated lesson plans based on the four studio structures for learning and analyzed them along with identifying and documenting evidence of deep learning through field notes and video recordings.

Findings

Analysis of field notes, video recordings and lesson plans led the authors to take a deeper look at where the four studio structures for learning overlapped in the teaching event. In the data the intersections of the four studio structures shared a pattern of increased evidence of deep learning for the students. This paper describes the phenomenon in the classroom at various points of intersection.

Research limitations/implications

This action research study is preliminary, and the findings are suggestive of further research that would require indexing what deep learning looks like and gathering and analyzing student data.

Practical implications

It is recommended that teachers use the four studio structures to integrate the arts in their classrooms and to enhance and encourage creativity, communication, critical thinking, collaboration, character and culture and as teachers work toward deep learning for students.

Originality/value

This case shows how a university partnership provides fertile ground for educators of all skills and experience to participate in the expansion of the field of education as well as personal and professional development.
Sustainable luxury: from an oxymoron to a tautology – the case of the Indian luxury hospitality industry
Authors: Bharwani Sonia , Mathews David
Published: April 2023

Purpose

In the context of heightened awareness and understanding of responsible tourism, it has become increasingly imperative for luxury hotels to introspect on the impact of their operations on environmental and social sustainability. This study aims at examining the prevalence and growth of sustainability practices in the Indian luxury hotel segment as it increasingly competes on a global platform.

Design/methodology/approach

The research approach adopted in this paper is qualitative and emic. Primary data is gathered for the study through semi-structured interviews with select luxury hotel general managers from four hotel chains of Indian origin – ITC Luxury Hotels, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Taj Hotels and Palaces and The Leela – to gain an insight into sustainability initiatives adopted in the Indian hospitality industry. Secondary research data regarding the eco-friendly, green measures implemented in these hotels is collected primarily from the websites of the respective hotel chains and supplemented by review of academic literature, media articles, industry reports and company press releases.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that Indian luxury hotel brands are increasingly adopting green products and integrating innovative sustainability practices in their day-to-day operations. However, several of these initiatives are in the non-customer-facing domains such as the engineering and back-of-the-house operations. Very few Indian hotel chains are building these sustainability initiatives into their core philosophy and embedding it in the front-line customer service experience at their properties to reinforce the green image of the hotels.

Originality/value

The paper also proposes the 6Cs Framework of Sustainability that can be utilised to categorise the green sustainable practices adopted in responsible hotels in a simplistic manner under six broad verticals. Practitioners, researchers and educationists in the hospitality industry would find the implications of this study useful in the context of a post-pandemic world where sustainability is influencing consumer choices across industries in today’s eco-conscious and enlightened business and marketing environment.
Concept development, design and validation of a novel continuous casting equipment
Authors: Biswas Prasenjit , Patel Deepak , Mallik Archana , Das Sanjeev
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a concept and design to cast Al alloys/metal matrix composites (MMCs) by continuous casting process. The various steps involved in the evolution of the design have been reported and discussed in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of developed design concept, initial prototype design has been prepared in this study. The casting process's melt flow pattern was studied via computer simulation, and the resulting changes were implemented in the original design. The single-phase fluid flow pattern through bottom feeding technique is studied. The equipment was fabricated based on computer simulation and water modelling studies. Finally, validation was performed for the preparation of Al alloys/ MMCs after parameter optimisation. The results were observed in the optical metallography to confirm the alloying and Al MMC preparation.

Findings

The developed continuous casting process with bottom feeding technique for the addition of constituent particles shows more efficiency in comparison to the existing batch processes. The final manufactured setup demonstrates effective Al alloy/MMC production as the basis for final fabrication has been accomplished by both computer simulation and water model test. In addition, the microstructure exhibits homogeneous distribution, validating the reliability of the setup.

Originality/value

Integrating continuous casting with continuous reinforcement or master alloy addition is novel in this area. The constraints that batch production had that have been rectified will also lower the contemporary cost of production.
Uniform selective pressures within redox zones drive gradual changes in microbial community composition in hadal sediments
Authors: Schauberger Clemens , Seki David , Cutts Elise M. , Glud Ronnie N. , Thamdrup Bo
Published: March 2023

Microbial communities in marine sediments are highly diverse, yet the processes that give rise to this complexity are unclear. It has been proposed that benthic microbial communities must be continuously re‐seeded from the water column because dispersal within the sediment is severely limited. Previous studies consistently report that the composition of the microbial community gradually changes with sediment depth. However, the relative contributions of the processes that underlie these compositional gradients have not been determined, and it is unknown whether microbial dispersal is indeed too slow to outpace burial. Here, we applied ecological statistical frameworks to 16S rRNA gene amplicon‐based community composition data from Atacama Trench sediments to investigate the links between biogeochemistry, burial, and microbial community assembly processes. We confirm that dispersal limitation affects microbial communities and find that gradual changes in community composition are driven by selective pressures that change abruptly across the discrete boundaries between redox zones rather than along continuous biogeochemical gradients, while selective pressures are uniform within each zone. The gradual changes in community composition over centimetres of depth within a zone hence reflects a decades‐long response to the abruptly changing selective pressures.
Time to dread
Authors: Jašarević Larisa
Published: April 2023

This article examines ecological thought and eschatology, an interpretation of the end of the world. It draws upon the teachings of the Quran and the knowledge of Bosnian Muslim beekeepers to explore how climate disasters and global bee colony collapses affect people's lives and the environment. The article examines how these changes alter the relationships between plants, animals and humans and suggests that eco‐eschatology can help us better understand and address the crisis. It also suggests that, instead of despairing or giving up, we should seek insight and advice on what we can do in the face of ‘the End’ and take solace in the generosity of God.
Encountering future uncertainties through scenario technology
Authors: SAMIMIAN‐DARASH LIMOR
Published: April 2023

As a social technology, the scenario differs from other techniques usually associated with managing future uncertainties. These draw mainly on the construct of risk and the related notion of risk management – that is, calculation and evaluation based on knowledge of past events, leading to possible control, prevention or prediction of unknowable futures. Scenarios create stories of the future neither to translate them into assessed possibilities nor to predict it in advance, but rather to destabilize perceived futures and to mitigate overreliance on existing knowledge and models when addressing the unknown future. This article addresses three questions through ethnographic insights: firstly, why do organizations create scenarios and use this technology? Secondly, does deliberately creating crisis events and tracking their cascades and responses help organizations encounter the future? Thirdly, can organizations prepare for extreme uncertainty or polycrisis, and could scenarios help resolve such complexity?
Modified Rapid Emergency Medicine Score‐Lactate (mREMS‐L) performance to screen non‐anticipated 30‐day‐related‐mortality in emergency department
Authors: Donoso Calero M. Isabel , Mordillo‐Mateos Laura , Martín‐Conty José L. , Polonio‐López Begoña , López‐González Ángel , Durantez‐Fernández Carlos , Viñuela Antonio , Rodríguez Hernández Marta , Mohedano‐Moriano Alicia , López‐Izquierdo Raúl , Jorge Soto Cristina , Martín‐Rodríguez Francisco
Published: March 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the ability to predict 30‐day in‐hospital mortality of lactate versus the modified Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (mREMS) versus the arithmetic sum of the mREMS plus the numerical value of lactate (mREMS‐L).

Methods

A prospective, multicentric, emergency department delivery, pragmatic study was conducted. To determine the predictive capacity of the scales, lactate was measured and the mREMS and mREMS‐L were calculated in adult patients (aged>18 years) transferred with high priority by ambulance to the emergency department in five hospitals of Castilla y Leon between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of each of the scales was calculated in terms of mortality for 30 days.

Results

A total of 5371 participants were included, and the in‐hospital mortality rate at 30 days was of 11.4% (615 cases). The best cut‐off point determined in the mREMS was 7.0 points (sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 84%), and for lactate, the cut‐off point was 1.4 mmol/L (sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 67%). Finally, the combined mREMS‐L showed a cut‐off point of 7.9 (sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 83%). The area under the ROC curve of the mREMS, lactate and mREMS‐L for 30‐day mortality was 0.851, 0.853, and 0.903, respectively (p < 0.001 in all cases).

Conclusions

The new score generated, mREMS‐L, obtained better statistical results than its components (mREMS and lactate) separately.
Sex‐specific risk factors for early‐onset ischaemic stroke
Authors: Yang Jing , Wu Shouling , Wang Anxin , Chen Shuohua , Yang Chenlu , Zhang Qi
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study is to investigate sex‐specific risk factors for early‐onset ischaemic stroke (men <55 and women <65 years old) in the Chinese population. We included 1,270 participants with their first early‐onset ischaemic stroke after the baseline survey and 5,080 age‐matched (±2 years) and sex‐matched participants, which was an ongoing prospective cohort study conducted in the Kailuan community in Tanshan City, China. A conditional multivariate logistic regression model (backward) was used to analyse the sex‐specific risk factors for early‐onset ischaemic stroke. The effects of the risk factors were assessed by calculating standardized regression coefficients. The modifying effect of sex was explored using multiplicative interaction terms of sex with each of the risk factors, and sex‐specific risk factors were identified by stratifying the main regression analysis by sex. There were 1,270 early‐onset ischaemic strokes, 71% occurred in men and 29% in women. The control group included 5,080 participants. The top three risk factors for early‐onset ischaemic stroke were hypertension (beta = .21), diabetes mellitus (beta = .21) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (beta = .14) in women and hypertension (beta = .26), increased hs‐CRP (beta = .14) and diabetes mellitus (beta = .09) in men. There were significant interactions of sex with diabetes mellitus and systolic blood pressure (SBP). The effect of diabetes on early‐onset ischaemic stroke was stronger in women (odds ratio [OR] = 2.69) than in men (OR = 1.61), but the effect weakened with each standard deviation increase in SBP (OR: 1.30 vs. 1.68). Our study found that the effects of risk factors for early‐onset ischaemic stroke, especially diabetes mellitus and SBP, varied by sex.
Faking resistance of a quasi‐ipsative RIASEC occupational interest measure
Authors: Rasheed Sabah , Robie Chet
Published: April 2023

Quasi‐ipsative (QI) forced‐choice response formats are often recommended over single‐stimulus (SS) as a method to reduce applicant faking. Across three studies we developed and tested a QI version of the RIASEC occupational interests scale. The first study established acceptable reliability and validity of the QI version. The second and third studies tested the efficacy of the QI version for faking prevention in simulated job applicant scenarios. The results revealed that although the QI and SS formats were similarly fakable for the primary targeted interest, faking was limited for the secondary target on the QI version. Future research should identify the specific contexts in which QI prevents faking on various individual differences measures to allow for accurate recommendations in applied settings.
Insights into circular RNAs: Biogenesis, function and their regulatory roles in cardiovascular disease
Authors: Ding Chen , Zhou Yafeng
Published: April 2023

As a distinctive member of the noncoding RNA family, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are generated from single‐stranded, covalently closed structures and are ubiquitous in mammalian cells and tissues. Due to its atypical circular architecture, it was conventionally deemed insignificant dark matter for a prolonged duration. Nevertheless, studies conducted over the last decade have demonstrated that this abundant, structurally stable and tissue‐specific RNA has been increasingly relevant in diverse diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Therefore, regulatory pathways controlled by circRNAs are widely involved in the occurrence and pathological processes of CVDs through their function as miRNA sponges, protein sponges and protein scaffolds. To better understand the role of circRNAs and their complex regulatory networks in CVDs, we summarize current knowledge of their biogenesis and function and the latest research on circRNAs in CVDs, with the hope of paving the way for the identification of promising biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for CVDs.
Up‐regulation ofPRKDCwas associated with poor renal dysfunction after renal transplantation: A multi‐centre analysis
Authors: Cao Zhijun , Jiang Hao , Zhao Chunchun , Zhou Huifeng , Ma Zheng , Xu Chen , Zhang Jianglei , Jiang Minjun , Wang Zhenfan
Published: April 2023

Renal transplantation is the only efficacious treatment for end‐stage kidney disease. However, some people have developed renal insufficiency after transplantation, the mechanisms of which have not been well clarified. Previous studies have focused on patient factors, while the effect of gene expression in the donor kidney on post‐transplant renal function has been less studied. Donor kidney clinical data and mRNA expression status were extracted from the GEO database (GSE147451). Weight gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential gene enrichment analysis were performed. For external validation, we collected data from 122 patients who accepted renal transplantation at several hospitals and measured the level of target genes by qPCR. This study included 192 patients from the GEO data set, and 13 co‐expressed genes were confirmed by WGCNA and differential gene enrichment analysis. Then, the PPI network contained 17 edges as well as 12 nodes, and four central genes (PRKDC, RFC5, RFC3 and RBM14) were identified. We found by collecting data from 122 patients who underwent renal transplantation in several hospitals and by multivariate logistic regression that acute graft‐versus‐host disease postoperative infection, PRKDC [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 4.44; 95% CI = [1.60, 13.68];p = 0.006] mRNA level correlated with the renal function after transplantation. The prediction model constructed had good predictive accuracy (C‐index = 0.886). Elevated levels of donor kidney PRKDC are associated with renal dysfunction after transplantation. The prediction model of renal function status for post‐transplant recipients based on PRKDC has good predictive accuracy and clinical application.
Critical storage conditions of pequi pulp microparticles and kinetics of degradation of nutritional properties
Authors: Santana Audirene Amorim , Zanin Rodolfo Campos , de Oliveira Rafael Augustus , Kurozawa Louise Emy , Park Kil Jin
Published: April 2023

The understanding of water sorption behavior and the determination of glass transition temperature (Tg) is essential in stability studies of dried foods, to determine their best storage or processing condition. Water sorption isotherm and glass transition temperature of spray‐dried pequi pulp microparticles were evaluated to obtain storage critical condition of spray dried pequi pulp, which was 25 °C and 62% of relative humidity (RH). Water sorption isotherm at 25 °C was determined by static gravimetric method, using saturated salt solutions, while Tg by differential scanning calorimetry. Total carotenoids, antioxidant capacity, lipid oxidation, and color parameters were evaluated throughout 120 days at 25 and 35 °C and RH of 23 and 43% to determine the powder kinetic degradation. All quality parameters presented decay during storage. Total carotenoids and antioxidant capacity by ferric reduction antioxidant power method exhibited a second‐order kinetic, while antioxidant capacity by DPPH assay and lipid oxidation a first and zero‐order kinetics, respectively. Both temperature and RH negatively affected nutritional properties. The storage condition that better preserved the desirable characteristics of spray‐dried pequi pulp microparticles was 25 °C and RH of 23%.

Practical Applications

One of the greatest challenges for the food industry is to extend food stability against environmental factors. Especially for those food components very unstable such as pigments, antioxidant components, flavor, and so forth. The sample we used for this study was pequi fruit which has high potential in the food industry because of its sensory and nutritional qualities due to the phytochemicals present in the fruit, such as carotenoids and vitamins A and C. However, pequi is highly perishable and generally susceptible to degradation reactions. We successfully applied microencapsulation for pequi pulp protection and showed the environmental conditions that will preserve its functional properties for longer periods. Our results are relevant to extending the bioactive properties of food components.
Riverine flood potential assessment using metaheuristic hybrid machine learning algorithms
Authors: Vojtek Matej , Janizadeh Saeid , Vojteková Jana
Published: April 2023

This study presents the performance of stand‐alone and novel hybrid models combining the feed‐forward neural network (FFNN) and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) with the genetic algorithm (GA) optimization to determine the riverine flood potential at a local spatial scale, which is represented by the Gidra river basin, Slovakia. Eleven flood factors and a robust flood inventory database, consisting of 10,000 flood and non‐flood locations, were used. Using the FFNN, XGB, GA‐FFNN and GA‐XGB models, 16.5%, 11.0%, 17.1%, and 12.3% of the studied basin, respectively, is characterized with high to very high riverine flood potential. The applied models resulted in very high accuracy, that is, AUC = 0.93 in case of the FFNN stand‐alone model and AUC = 0.96 in case of the XGB stand‐alone model. The GA algorithm was able to raise the value of AUC for the hybrid GA‐FFNN and GA‐XGB models to 0.94 and 0.97, respectively. The results of this study can be useful, especially, for the identification of the areas with the highest potential for riverine floods within the next updating of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, which is being carried out based on the EU Floods Directive.
Associated substitution and complementation patterns of processed discretionary foods and drinks on total energy and added sugar intake
Authors: Batis Carolina , Barrientos‐Gutierrez Tonatiuh , Basto‐Abreu Ana
Published: April 2023

Background

Processed discretionary foods and drinks (industrialised sugary drinks, sweet and savoury snacks, and grain‐based sweets) are often target of policies aimed at regulating the food environment. We aimed to understand if a lower intake of processed foods or drinks is associated with substitution or complementation patterns and overall intake.

Methods

We analysed a subsample with two 24‐h dietary recalls of the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (358 children, 253 adolescents and 278 adults). We compared within‐person, energy and added sugar intakes between days with and without consumption of each food group with fixed‐effects regressions. We estimated the relative change (change in intake when not consumed/average intake when consumed × 100).

Results

Processed discretionary foods were not fully substituted, as total energy was 200–400 kcal/day lower when these foods were not consumed. The change in total intake was larger than the intake when consumed (i.e., complemented) for industrialised sugary drinks in adolescents (−136%) and adults (−215%), and sweet, savoury snacks for children (−141%). The change was lower (i.e., partially substituted) for grain‐based sweets among children (−78%) and adolescents (−73%). For added sugars, most processed discretionary groups were complemented.

Conclusions

Days without intake of processed discretionary foods were associated with lower total energy and lower added sugar intake compared to days when those foods were consumed. This suggests that regulatory policies to reduce the intake of processed foods could have a meaningful impact on improving the overall diet.
BPS‐induced ovarian dysfunction: Protective actions of melatonin via modulation of SIRT‐1/Nrf2/NFĸB and IR/PI3K/pAkt/GLUT‐4 expressions in adult golden hamster
Authors: Pal Sriparna , Sahu Aishwarya , Verma Rakesh , Haldar Chandana
Published: April 2023

Ever‐increasing occurrence of plastic‐manufacturing industries leads to environmental pollution that has been associated with declined human health and increased incidence of compromised reproductive health. Female subfertility/infertility is a complex phenomenon and environmental toxicants as well as lifestyle factors have a crucial role to play. Bisphenol S (BPS) was believed to be a “safer” replacement of bisphenol A (BPA) but recent data documented its neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, and reprotoxic attributes. Hence based on the scarcity of reports, we investigated molecular insights into BPS‐induced ovarian dysfunction and protective actions of melatonin against it in adult golden hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus. Hamsters were administered with melatonin (3 mg/kg BW i.p. alternate days) and BPS (150 mg/kg BW orally every day) for 28 days. BPS treatment disrupted hypothalamo–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis as evident by reduced gonadotropins such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), ovarian steroids such as estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), thyroid hormones namely triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) and melatonin levels along with their respective receptors (ERα, TRα, and MT‐1) thereby reducing ovarian folliculogenesis. BPS exposure also led to ovarian oxidative stress/inflammation by increasing reactive oxygen species and metabolic disturbances. However, melatonin supplementation to BPS restored ovarian folliculogenesis/steroidogenesis as indicated by increased number of growing follicles/corpora lutea and E2/P4 levels. Further, melatonin also stimulated key redox/survival markers such as silent information regulator of transcript‐1 (SIRT‐1), forkhead box O‐1 (FOXO‐1), nuclear factor E2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2), and phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/pAkt) expressions along with enhanced ovarian antioxidant capacity. Moreover, melatonin treatment reduced inflammatory load including ovarian nuclear factor kappa‐B (NFĸB), cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions, serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), C‐reactive protein (CRP) and nitrite–nitrate levels as well as upregulated ovarian insulin receptor (IR), glucose uptake transporter‐4 (GLUT‐4), connexin‐43, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expressions in ovary thereby ameliorating inflammatory and metabolic alterations due to BPS. In conclusion, we found severe deleterious impact of BPS on ovary while melatonin treatment protected ovarian physiology from these detrimental changes suggesting it to be a potential preemptive candidate against environmental toxicant‐compromised female reproductive health.
In vitro deacetylation of N‐acetylserotonin by arylacetamide deacetylase
Authors: Huang Zheping , Li Yu , Konishi Keigo , Sakai Yoshiyuki , Tashiro Kiyomichi , Fukami Tatsuki , Borjigin Jimo
Published: April 2023

Arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC) is a deacetylation enzyme present in the mammalian liver, gastrointestinal tract, and brain. During our search for mammalian enzymes capable of metabolizing N‐acetylserotonin (NAS), AADAC was identified as having the ability to convert NAS to serotonin. Both human and rodent recombinant AADAC proteins can deacetylate NAS in vitro, although the human AADAC shows markedly higher activity compared with rodent enzyme. The AADAC‐mediated deacetylation reaction can be potently inhibited by eserine in vitro. In addition to NAS, recombinant hAADAC can deacetylate melatonin (to form 5‐methoxytryptamine) and N‐acetyltryptamine (NAT) (to form tryptamine). In addition to the in vitro deacetylation of NAS by the recombinant AADAC proteins, liver (mouse and human) and brain (human) extracts were able to deacetylate NAS; these activities were sensitive to eserine. Taken together, these results demonstrate a new role for AADAC and suggest a novel pathway for the AADAC‐mediated metabolism of pineal indoles in mammals.
Can gender‐responsive budgeting change how governments budget?: Lessons from the case of Ecuador
Authors: Martínez Guzmán Juan Pablo
Published: April 2023

Gender‐responsive budgeting (GRB) has been introduced in over 80 countries to mitigate gender inequities. We evaluate if these reforms can influence policy making and enhance gender‐oriented accountability. Our analysis follows the process‐tracing methodology and includes over 20 in‐depth interviews. Our findings show significant public administration obstacles to GRB, but success is possible in institutions with proper leadership, human, and technological resources. This study advances our understanding of the operational limits of GRB, highlights areas for future research on equity‐oriented reforms, and sheds light on issues that practitioners need to account for as they strive to further gender equity.
Polyamines inhibit abscisic acid‐induced stomatal closure by scavenging hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Liu Xu‐Dong , Zeng Yuan‐Yuan , Zhang Xia‐Yi , Tian Xue‐Qian , Hasan Md. Mahadi , Yao Guang‐Qian , Fang Xiang‐Wen
Published: April 2023

Stomatal closure is regulated by plant hormones and some small molecules to reduce water loss under stress conditions. Both abscisic acid (ABA) and polyamines alone induce stomatal closure; however, whether the physiological functions of ABA and polyamines are synergistic or antagonistic with respect to inducing stomatal closure is still unknown. Here, stomatal movement in response to ABA and/or polyamines was tested in Vicia faba and Arabidopsis thaliana, and the change in the signaling components under stomatal closure was analyzed. We found that both polyamines and ABA could induce stomatal closure through similar signaling components, including the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) and the accumulation of Ca2+. However, polyamines partially inhibited ABA‐induced stomatal closure both in epidermal peels and in planta by activating antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), to eliminate the ABA‐induced increase in H2O2. These results strongly indicate that polyamines inhibit abscisic acid‐induced stomatal closure, suggesting that polyamines could be used as potential plant growth regulators to increase photosynthesis under mild drought stress.
Beyond binary: K‐12 student use of gender‐inclusive language in a scientific context
Authors: Miller Jocelyn , Olson Missie , Bryant Connor , Hite Rebecca , Childers Gina
Published: March 2023

Studies suggest that the lack of diversity in the science workforce may be partially attributed to implicit bias. Collectively, implicit biases are ingrained among youth from their upbringing, culture, and media, which are subsequently reflected in their language choices. Reform efforts made in post‐secondary science education have targeted implicit bias by challenging the use of gendered language (he, she) and modeling gender inclusive language. However, the impact of such reforms are unexplored among K‐12 aged learners. Utilizing the theoretical lens of implicit cognition, student‐produced text within 288 primary (n = 47) and secondary (n = 241) Draw a Scientist Tests (DASTs) were analyzed using critical discourse analysis to explore how gender‐exclusive language (GEL) and gender‐inclusive language (GIL) was used by students when describing scientists. Findings suggest that middle school boys were most likely to use GIL, whereas high school girls were the least likely to use GIL. However, when specifying gender, elementary boys were most likely to use male‐exclusive language, and high school girls were the most likely to use female‐exclusive language. Further analyses suggest that students' implicit perceptions of scientists (character traits, academic behaviors, the field of study) were influenced by their gender, grade level, and the scientist's perceived gender or gender neutrality.
The bZIP transcription factor SlAREB1 regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in response to low temperature in tomato
Authors: Xu Zijian , Wang Jiachun , Ma Yongbo , Wang Fan , Wang Jingrong , Zhang Yong , Hu Xiaohui
Published: March 2023

Low temperature and abscisic acid (ABA) are the two main factors that induce anthocyanin synthesis; however, their potential relationships in governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) seedlings remains unclear. Our study revealed the involvement of the transcription factor SlAREB1 in the low‐temperature response of tomato seedlings via the ABA‐dependent pathway, for a specific temperature range. The overexpression of SlAREB1 enhanced the expression of anthocyanin‐related genes and the accumulation of anthocyanins, especially under low‐temperature conditions, whereas silencing SlAREB1 dramatically reduced gene expression and anthocyanin accumulation. There is a direct interaction between SlAREB1 and the promoters of SlDFR and SlF3′5′H, which are structural genes that impact anthocyanin biosynthesis. SlAREB1 can regulate anthocyanins through controlling SlDFR and SlF3′5′H expression. Accordingly, SlAREB1 takes charge of regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in tomato seedlings via the ABA‐dependent pathway at low temperatures.
Removal of Hexavalent Chromium using a PVDF-based Polymer Inclusion Membrane with a phosphonium-based ionic liquid
Authors: Firmansyah Mochamad Lutfi , Salsabila Zahra , Andika Nuzula Tarisa Salsabil , Prasetyo Vania Griselda , Ardian Yonathan Surya , Yahya Muhammad Harfi
Published: April 2023

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is widely used in industrial processes and products while it possess a severe health effect to living being and environmental hazard. Removing Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater and other contaminated sources is important for human health and the ecosystem. Various treatment technologies have been developed to remove it, but further research is needed to improve their effectiveness. This report discusses the adsorption of Cr(IV) using a phosphonium-based ionic liquid, trioctyldodecylphosphonium chloride, in a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) matrix. The PIM's chemical structure was also examined by FTIR spectroscopy, and a cross-sectional SEM image was taken. The adsorption efficiency of PIM increase as the IL content increase, and experiencing a significant jump in over 30% of IL content. The maximum adsorption capacity corresponds to PIM40 and PIM50, which shown a 90% adsorption in 24 hours. However, PIM50 was difficult to regenerate and reuse due to membrane stability. Cr(VI) adsorption by PIM40 followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model with adsorption capacity of 74.1 mg g-1. Following the isotherm model, the adsorption of Cr(VI) probably through an anionic exchange between IL in the PIM and Cr(VI) complex. Cr(VI) desorption from PIM40 was carried out by using a 0.5 mol L-1 NaNO3.The PIM40 was able to be reused for five times without a significant change in the performance. This study has shown that PIM can effectively remove heavy metals from water and selectively remove specific contaminants. PIM are also relatively easy to regenerate or replace, making them a potentially cost-effective method for removing heavy metals from water.
C
4
gene induction during de-etiolation evolved through changes in cis to allow integration with ancestral C
3
gene regulatory networks
Authors: Singh Pallavi , Stevenson Sean R. , Dickinson Patrick J. , Reyna-Llorens Ivan , Tripathi Anoop , Reeves Gregory , Schreier Tina B. , Hibberd Julian M.
Published: March 2023

C
4
photosynthesis has evolved by repurposing enzymes found in C
3
plants. Compared with the ancestral C
3
state, accumulation of C
4
cycle proteins is enhanced. We used de-etiolation of C
4
Gynandropsis gynandra
and C
3
Arabidopsis thaliana
to understand this process. C
4
gene expression and chloroplast biogenesis in
G. gynandra
were tightly coordinated. Although C
3
and C
4
photosynthesis genes showed similar induction patterns, in
G. gynandra
, C
4
genes were more strongly induced than orthologs from
A. thaliana
. In vivo binding of TGA and homeodomain as well as light-responsive elements such as G- and I-box motifs were associated with the rapid increase in transcripts of C
4
genes. Deletion analysis confirmed that regions containing G- and I-boxes were necessary for high expression. The data support a model in which accumulation of transcripts derived from C
4
photosynthesis genes in C
4
leaves is enhanced because modifications in cis allowed integration into ancestral transcriptional networks.