bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time to Effective Ventilation in Neonatal Manikins with a Supraglottic Airway vs. a Facemask: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sivakumar Nithya , Newman-Lindsay Shoshana , Sankaran Deepika , Lakshminrusimha Satyan , Donohue Lee
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Timely and effective positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is the most important component of neonatal resuscitation. Emerging data supports the use of supraglottic airways such as the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as a first-line interface for PPV during neonatal resuscitation. LMA use reduces the need for intubation compared to facemask use in systematic reviews, but there is no difference in the incidence of death or moderate-to-severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Time to effective ventilation during simulation with manikin models by providers with limited neonatal airway experience may add to the current evidence that compares the LMA to the neonatal facemask as the first-line ventilation interface during neonatal resuscitation.; (2) Methods: Thirty-two pre-clinical medical students were recruited and randomized to learning and performing ventilation with either the LMA or neonatal facemask on a neonatal manikin. Tidal volume was measured by breath-by-breath analysis to assess adequacy and consistency of PPV in 10 consecutive breaths. Perceived confidence was measured by pre- and post-intervention surveys that utilized a Likert scale from 1 to 5.; (3) Results: Median time to achieve effective ventilation was shorter with a neonatal facemask compared to the LMA (43 (30, 112) seconds vs. 82 (61, 264) seconds, p < 0.01). Participants reported higher perceived confidence post-intervention with use of a facemask when compared to use of the LMA (5 (4, 5) vs. 4 (4, 4), p = 0.03).; (4) Conclusions: Pre-clinical medical students demonstrated a shorter time to effective ventilation and reported higher confidence scores after learning and demonstrating PPV using the facemask when compared to LMA in a neonatal manikin. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the use of supraglottic airways in providers with limited experience with airway management of neonates, as well as in ways to better promote proficiency and confidence in the use of the LMA.
Long-Term In Situ Performance Evaluation of Epoxy Asphalt Concrete for Long-Span Steel Bridge Deck Pavement
Authors: Han Yajin , Zhang Zhu , Tian Jiahao , Ni Fujian , Gu Xingyu
Published: March 2023

Suitable evaluation of distress is beneficial to understanding the in situ performance of deck pavement. This study attempts to evaluate the long-term in situ performance of American ChemCo epoxy asphalt concrete on the Xihoumen Bridge (XHMB) after 12 years of service. The traditional performance indexes were adopted to reveal the performance of XHMB. Then, based on the typical distresses, a new pavement performance index (PPI) was proposed to characterize the authentic distress condition. Finally, the performance evaluation and evolution were conducted. According to the results, the rutting depth indexes and riding quality indexes of all lanes are higher than 97 and 94, respectively. The pavement condition indexes of the pass lanes and drive lanes in 2021 are greater than 94 and 86, respectively, which is contradictory to the distribution of numerous distresses on the pavement. According to the PPI results, the PPIs of the down direction pass lane are mostly 100. However, for the down direction drive lane, the PPIs of about 30% of segments are below 80 or 60. Finally, based on the limited data, the distress of American ChemCo epoxy asphalt concrete may initiate after serving for 4–5 years and then escalate after about 10 years.
An Algebraic-Based Primal–Dual Interior-Point Algorithm for Rotated Quadratic Cone Optimization
Authors: Tamsaouete Karima , Alzalg Baha
Published: March 2023

In rotated quadratic cone programming problems, we minimize a linear objective function over the intersection of an affine linear manifold with the Cartesian product of rotated quadratic cones. In this paper, we introduce the rotated quadratic cone programming problems as a “self-made” class of optimization problems. Based on our own Euclidean Jordan algebra, we present a glimpse of the duality theory associated with these problems and develop a special-purpose primal–dual interior-point algorithm for solving them. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm is shown by providing some numerical examples.
Diabetes Management in Danish Primary School: A Survey of Experiences of Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Iken Mia K. , Mateu Nuri C. , Johansen Lise B. , Pilgaard Kasper A. , Mouritsen Annette K. , Schou Anders J. , Høst Line S. , Nannsen Anne Ø. , Kristensen Kurt , Hangaard Stine , Madsen Mette , Grabowski Dan
Published: March 2023

Supporting diabetes self-care in school is important for optimal glycemic control and mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate parental experiences of diabetes management in Danish schools, with an emphasis on the importance of school staff support in self-care. This cross-sectional study surveyed parents of schoolchildren with type 1 diabetes aged 6 to 16 years in Denmark. The parents were identified among members of the Danish Diabetes Association and were invited to complete an online questionnaire. A total of 252 parents of schoolchildren with type 1 diabetes answered the questionnaire. Only 28% of the children had a designated staff member responsible for support in diabetes self-care during school hours. Having a designated staff member responsible for support in self-care was positively associated with parental experiences of better school–parent cooperation (p < 0.001), better experience of diabetes management in school (p < 0.001), and larger proportions of children and parents feeling comfortable in school (p = 0.022 and p = 0.049, respectively). School staff support was positively associated with better parental experience of diabetes management and with some parameters of mental health in schoolchildren with type 1 diabetes and their parents in Denmark.
Quantitative Ultrasound Techniques Used for Peripheral Nerve Assessment
Authors: Jerban Saeed , Barrère Victor , Andre Michael , Chang Eric Y. , Shah Sameer B.
Published: March 2023

Aim: This review article describes quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques and summarizes their strengths and limitations when applied to peripheral nerves. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on publications after 1990 in Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases. The search terms “peripheral nerve”, “quantitative ultrasound”, and “elastography ultrasound” were used to identify studies related to this investigation. Results: Based on this literature review, QUS investigations performed on peripheral nerves can be categorized into three main groups: (1) B-mode echogenicity measurements, which are affected by a variety of post-processing algorithms applied during image formation and in subsequent B-mode images; (2) ultrasound (US) elastography, which examines tissue stiffness or elasticity through modalities such as strain ultrasonography or shear wave elastography (SWE). With strain ultrasonography, induced tissue strain, caused by internal or external compression stimuli that distort the tissue, is measured by tracking detectable speckles in the B-mode images. In SWE, the propagation speed of shear waves, generated by externally applied mechanical vibrations or internal US “push pulse” stimuli, is measured to estimate tissue elasticity; (3) the characterization of raw backscattered ultrasound radiofrequency (RF) signals, which provide fundamental ultrasonic tissue parameters, such as the acoustic attenuation and backscattered coefficients, that reflect tissue composition and microstructural properties. Conclusions: QUS techniques allow the objective evaluation of peripheral nerves and reduce operator- or system-associated biases that can influence qualitative B-mode imaging. The application of QUS techniques to peripheral nerves, including their strengths and limitations, were described and discussed in this review to enhance clinical translation.
Sphenoidal Foramen Ovale in the Slovenian Population: An Anatomical Evaluation with Clinical Correlations
Authors: Šink Žiga , Umek Nejc , Alibegović Armin , Cvetko Erika
Published: March 2023

The foramen ovale (FO) is a crucial feature of the skull base, serving as a passage for clinically important neurovascular structures. The present study aimed to provide a comprehensive morphometric and morphologic analysis of the FO and highlight the clinical significance of the anatomical characterization. A total of 267 FO were analyzed in skulls obtained from deceased inhabitants of the Slovenian territory. The anteroposterior (length) and the transverse (width) diameters were measured using a digital sliding vernier caliper. Dimensions, shape, and anatomical variations of FO were analyzed. The mean length and width of the FO were 7.13 and 3.71 mm on the right side and 7.20 and 3.88 mm on the left side. The most frequently observed shape was oval (37.1%), followed by almond (28.1%), irregular (21.0%), D-shaped (4.5%), round (3.0%), pear-shaped (1.9%), kidney-shaped (1.5%), elongated (1.5%), triangular (0.7%), and slit-like (0.7%). In addition, marginal outgrowths (16.6%) and several anatomical variations were noted, including duplications, confluences, and obstruction due to a complete (5.6%) or incomplete (8.2%) pterygospinous bar. Our observations revealed substantial interindividual variation in the anatomical characteristics of the FO in the studied population, which could potentially impact the feasibility and safety of neurosurgical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Educating Future Agricultural Engineers at the University of Burgos, Spain, through a Service-Learning Project on Rural Depopulation and Its Social Consequences
Authors: Revilla-Cuesta Víctor , Skaf Marta , Manso-Morato Javier , San-José José T. , Ortega-López Vanesa
Published: March 2023

A Service-Learning Project (S-LP) is a teaching experience through which the concepts covered during an educational course can practically be applied to address a given social problem. It is therefore a useful teaching methodology to bring courses closer to the real world. An S-LP experience is reported in this paper that was conducted with students of agricultural engineering to address the problem of rural depopulation, through the design of agri-food buildings for industries, and economic activities that help to maintain a stable population. After the S-LP, a survey was administered to both students and teachers, to assess the success of this teaching experience. The responses of the students showed not only an awareness of the social problem that was addressed, but also a critical spirit that led them to seek the best possible answer, and a global vision of the issue. It helped them to reflect on all of its facets to arrive at a way of engaging with the social problem. Importantly, the students were able to reflect upon how engineers can also serve society through their technical knowledge. The teachers indicated that the S-LP motivated the students on the course, while enabling them to successfully learn the concepts, and to develop independent study skills searching for information. In general, an S-LP is an experience that the teachers in this study would recommend and that could be especially relevant for universities assuming a role as a social entity to heighten the visibility of social problems and needs.
Good Practices of Educational Inclusion: Criteria and Strategies for Teachers’ Professional Development
Authors: Parada-Gañete Ana , Trillo-Alonso Felipe
Published: March 2023

This paper provides evidence on how a school is able to offer a quality education to all students, while taking into account the diversity of their personal and contextual characteristics. From the analysis of the processes, it can be concluded that the key factor for the achievement of inclusive education lies in the good practices of teachers, and that the study of these practices should be implemented as a professional development project. The data presented here are part of a broader research project, and show the perceptions of teachers and families from four selected schools, focusing on the characteristics of good practices of coordination between the family and the school. These findings can contribute to greater educational attention being paid to students with Specific Needs of Educational Support (SENS). Within the framework of qualitative research, a multiple case study was carried out, using interviews as the main instrument for data collection. After an in-depth analysis of the data, some conclusions are drawn to show the educational community the educational actions that define professional and institutional development, which would be capable of effectively serving diverse students, therefore making the inclusive school a reality.
Achieving Optimal Reactive Power Compensation in Distribution Grids by Using Industrial Compensation Systems
Authors: Rauch Johannes , Brückl Oliver
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a method for integrating industrial consumers owning compensation systems as alternative reactive power sources into grid operating processes. In remuneration, they receive a market-based provision of reactive power. The aim is to analyze the potential of reactive power compensation systems of industrial companies connected to medium-voltage (10 kV–30 kV) AC grids in order to increase the reactive power ability of distribution grids. Measurement methods and reactive power potential results of six industrial companies are presented to characterize the amount and temporal availability of their reactive power potential. The presented approach for using the decentralized reactive power potential is a centralized reactive power control method and is based on optimal power flow (OPF) calculations. An optimization algorithm based on linear programming is used to coordinate a reactive power retrieval tuned to the actual demand. The influencing quantities are the current grid status (voltage and load flow capacity reserves at grid nodes and power lines) and the current reactive power potential of the reactive power sources. The compensation impact of six measured industrial companies on an exemplary medium-voltage grid is shown by an application example.
High-Performance QC-LDPC Code Co-Processing Approach and VLSI Architecture for Wi-Fi 6
Authors: Wu Yujun , Wu Bin , Zhou Xiaoping
Published: March 2023

The QC-LDPC code, with its excellent error correction performance and hardware friendliness, has been identified as one of the channel encoding schemes by Wi-Fi 6. Shorting, puncturing, or repeating operations are needed to ensure that user data can be sent with integer symbols and complete rate matching. Due to the uncertainty of the user data size, the modulation’s selectivity, and the difference in the number of spatial streams, the receiver must deal with more than 106 situations. At the same time, other computationally intensive tasks occupy the time slot budget of the receiver. Typical are demodulation and decoding. Hence, the receiver needs to quickly reverse the demodulated data process. This paper first proposes a co-processing method and VLSI architecture compatible with all code lengths, code rates, and processing parameters. The co-processor separates field and block splicing, simplifying the control logic. There is no throughput rate bottleneck, and the maximum delay is less than 1 us.
Single- and Multi-Objective Optimization Frameworks of Shape Design of Tubular Linear Synchronous Motor
Authors: Mahdy Araby , Shaheen Abdullah , El-Sehiemy Ragab , Ginidi Ahmed , Al-Gahtani Saad F.
Published: March 2023

The shape design of the Tubular Linear Synchronous Motor (TLSM) is a critical engineeri ng optimization problem which was handled as single- and multi-objective optimization frameworks. However, the different practical constraints for the TLSM design must be efficiently guaranteed. This paper proposes a developed multi-objective shape design of the TLSM to maximize the operating force and minimize the flux saturation. In this regard, a Multi-objective Grey Wolf Optimizer (MGWO) is developed, including an outside archive with a predetermined size that is integrated for storing and retrieving Pareto optimal solutions. Using this knowledge, the grey wolf social structure would then be established, and, in the multi-objective searching environments, grey wolf hunting behavior would then be replicated. The superiority and effectiveness of the developed MGWO is assessed in comparison to the Multi-objective Flower Pollination Algorithm (MFPA), Multi-objective Lichtenberg Algorithm (MOLA), and Multi-objective Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (MGOA). The outcomes illustrate that the developed MGWO provides an average improvement of 73.46%, 19.07%, and 15.15% compared to MFPA, MOLA, and MGOA, respectively. The validation of the developed MGWO is extended for a multi-objective form of welded beam design (WBD) by simultaneously minimizing the deflection and the manufacturing costs. Similar findings are obtained with different reference points, the developed MGWO provides an average improvement of 2.8%, 0.7%, and 3.04% compared to MFPA, MOLA, and MGOA, respectively.
Application of Spent Coffee Grounds (SCGs) as a Fuel and Alternative Reducer of Slags from the Copper Industry
Authors: Matula Tomasz , Labaj Jerzy , Nowacki Krzysztof , Blacha Leszek , Kortyka Lukasz , Mycka Lukasz , Madej Piotr , Jaworek Lukasz , Wojtal Tomasz
Published: March 2023

This article presents the results of a study on metallurgical slag reduction using biomass such as Spent Coffee Grounds (SCGs). The proposed solution is a new aspect of searching for alternatives to standard reducers used in pyrometallurgical processes of metal production. Its gasification yields significant amounts of hydrocarbons, which are excellent reducing agents in such processes. The research results of copper slag reduction with the use of SCG biomass indicate this process is characterised by lower carbon dioxide emissions compared with the process using solid fuels such as coke and coke breeze. The addition of SCG as the reducer ensures the decrease in copper content in the slag to 0.32 wt.%, which corresponds to the increase of so-called relative decopperisation degree even up to 96.9%. As the decopperisation degree of slag increases, significantly more intense reduction in lead oxides during the reduction process is observed. The smallest lead content in waste slag of 0.91 wt.% was obtained for the slag reduction process with 7.56 wt.% of SCG as the reducer and the process duration of 1.5 h.
Effects of Earth–Rock Dam Heterogeneity on Seismic Wavefield Characteristics
Authors: Xu Hao , Yu Xinjiang , Cheng Fei , Ma Yuxi , Li Jialiang , Jiang Xiaohuan
Published: March 2023

Earth–rock dams are typical soil–rock mixtures with high heterogeneity. Mastering the effect of dam heterogeneity on seismic wavefields is the premise of accurately detecting hidden risks in dams. In this paper, based on the soil–rock mixture characteristics of actual dams, a soil–rock mixture model that can reflect the heterogeneity of dams is established through local segmentation and reassignment of random disturbances. The influence of local area size on model heterogeneity is described. The seismic wavefield in a soil–rock mixture dam is numerically simulated through a staggered-grid finite-difference algorithm with second-order accuracy in time and sixth-order accuracy in space. Then, the effect of dam heterogeneity on effective wavefields is analyzed. The results show that the heterogeneity of the earth–rock dam can lead to scattered waves in the seismic wavefield, and the scattered waves are mainly generated by Rayleigh surface waves. In the seismic record, scattered waves with strong energy appear in the region below the surface waves. The scattered wave energy is weak and close to that in the homogeneous media in the region above the surface waves. As the rock content in the dam increases, the scattering of seismic wavefields and the energy of scattered waves weaken gradually. The scattered waves generated by the heterogeneity of the dam significantly impact the reflected longitudinal wave and converted wave but, affect the reflected shear wave less. The numerical simulation results are consistent with the acquired seismic wavefield from the field test, proving the effectiveness of the numerical simulation for the seismic wavefield propagation characteristics of the earth–rock dam.
Improving the Efficiency of Renewable Energy Assets by Optimizing the Matching of Supply and Demand Using a Smart Battery Scheduling Algorithm
Authors: de Bekker Philippe , Cremers Sho , Norbu Sonam , Flynn David , Robu Valentin
Published: March 2023

Given the fundamental role of renewable energy assets in achieving global temperature control targets, new energy management methods are required to efficiently match intermittent renewable generation and demand. Based on analysing various designed cases, this paper explores a number of heuristics for a smart battery scheduling algorithm that efficiently matches available power supply and demand. The core of improvement of the proposed smart battery scheduling algorithm is exploiting future knowledge, which can be realized by current state-of-the-art forecasting techniques, to effectively store and trade energy. The performance of the developed heuristic battery scheduling algorithm using forecast data of demands, generation, and energy prices is compared to a heuristic baseline algorithm, where decisions are made solely on the current state of the battery, demand, and generation. The battery scheduling algorithms are tested using real data from two large-scale smart energy trials in the UK, in addition to various types and levels of simulated uncertainty in forecasts. The results show that when using a battery to store generated energy, on average, the newly proposed algorithm outperforms the baseline algorithm, obtaining up to 20–60% more profit for the prosumer from their energy assets, in cases where the battery is optimally sized and high-quality forecasts are available. Crucially, the proposed algorithm generates greater profit than the baseline method even with large uncertainty on the forecast, showing the robustness of the proposed solution. On average, only 2–12% of profit is lost on generation and demand uncertainty compared to perfect forecasts. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed algorithm increases as the uncertainty decreases, showing great promise for the algorithm as the quality of forecasting keeps improving.
Acclimatisation of White Laran (Neolamarckia cadamba Roxb. Bosser) and Binuang (Octomeles sumatrana Miq.) Seedlings to Water-Logged and Water-Stress Conditions
Authors: M Khatta Aida Nabihah , Mekai Mariano Hodgson Anak , Kadir Abdul Maahli , Suhinin Ozzen Alfiq , Suhaidi Hisyamuddin , Abdullah Nurfiani , Nyen Kelvin Pang Ket , Kimjus Kuina , Terhem Razak , Hassan Affendy
Published: March 2023

Although practices that employ native species in plantation systems are common, the study of Neolamarckia cadamba Roxb. Bosser (White Laran) and Octomeles sumatrana Miq. (Binuang) in below-ground parameters is limited. The present study was conducted to compare the initial growth performance and below-ground parameters between these two native trees under water-logged and water-stress conditions. The study was conducted near the greenhouse of the Faculty of Tropical Forestry (Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia) for three months. Fifty seedlings of each species were grown in one-meter rhizotrons under Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three different treatments: water stress (T1), water-logged (T2), and control (T3). Height and root collar diameter (RCD) increments, leaf area index (LAI), dried shoot biomass (DSB), root depth (RD), root intensity (RI), root biomass (RB), specific root length (SRL), and root length density (RLD) were recorded. The outcome plainly demonstrated that N. cadamba seedlings were adaptive to both treatments, but O. sumatrana seedlings were more sensitive to water-logged than water-stress conditions. No significant difference was observed between aboveground and below-ground parameters. In conclusion, N. cadamba and O. sumatrana can potentially survive in these conditions in plantations.
A Review of Biohydrogen Production from Saccharina japonica
Authors: Tran Quang Nhat , Kim Il Tae
Published: March 2023

Saccharina japonica (known as Laminaria japonica or Phaeophyta japonica), one of the largest macroalgae, has been recognized as food and medicine for a long time in some Asian countries, such as China, South Korea, Japan, etc. In recent years, S. japonica has also been considered the most promising third-generation biofuel feedstock to replace fossil fuels, contributing to solving the challenges people face regarding energy and the environment. In particular, S. japonica-derived biohydrogen (H2) is expected to be a major fuel source in the future because of its clean, high-yield, and sustainable properties. Therefore, this review focuses on recent advances in bio-H2 production from S. japonica. The cutting-edge biological technologies with suitable operating parameters to enhance S. japonica’s bio-H2 production efficiency are reviewed based on the Scopus database. In addition, guidelines for future developments in this field are discussed.
Effect of a Combination of Ultrasonic Germination and Fermentation Processes on the Antioxidant Activity and γ-Aminobutyric Acid Content of Food Ingredients
Authors: Naumenko Natalya , Fatkullin Rinat , Popova Natalia , Ruskina Alena , Kalinina Irina , Morozov Roman , Avdin Vyacheslav V. , Antonova Anastasia , Vasileva Elizaveta
Published: March 2023

Whole-grain food ingredients enable the most balanced food products to be obtained, thus forming an important part of a healthy and sustainable diet. Wheat and barley grains are a traditional source of food ingredients for breads, breakfasts, drinks, and snacks in Russia. Such foods are suitable for all ages with many health benefits. However, the modern metropolitan citizen consumes large quantities of refined cereal products, thus impoverishing their diet. An alternative in dietary fortification could be sprouted and fermented food ingredients with an increased nutritional value. The present work was carried out to study the effect of a combination of germination with ultrasound treatment and fermentation with a complex starter of cereal crops on antioxidant activity and γ-aminobutyric acid content of food ingredients with the possibility of using them in the matrix of food products. In order to obtain germinated food ingredients, we used crops with the highest yield in the Ural region (Russia): two samples of soft spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and a sample of spring barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.). Obtaining food ingredients was divided into successive stages: ultrasonic treatment (22 ± 1.25 kHz) was performed by means of changing power and length of time (245 W/L, intensity for 5 min); germination and fermentation used complex starter “Vivo Probio”. The proposed technology of germination with haunting fermentation of cereal crops resulted in food ingredients with a more uniform distribution of granulometric composition, a low proportion of fine particles (4.62–104.60 µm) (p < 0.05) and large particles (418.60–592.00 µm) (p < 0.05). The particle size range (31.11–248.90 μm) (p < 0.05) was predominant. The germination and fermentation process resulted in 26 to 57% (p < 0.05) lower phytic acid content, 35 to 68% (p < 0.05) higher flavonoid content, 31 to 51% (p < 0.05) higher total antioxidant activity, 42.4 to 93.9% (p < 0.05) higher assimilability, and 3.1 to 4.7 times (p < 0.05) higher γ-aminobutyric acid content, which will allow production of food products with pronounced preventive action. The data was analyzed via one-way ANOVA analysis of variance using the free web-based software. The combination of the germination process with ultrasound treatment and subsequent fermentation with a complex starter can be used to support the development of healthful food products with increased GABA and antioxidant activity.
Intense Wildfires in Russia over a 22-Year Period According to Satellite Data
Authors: Bondur Valery G. , Gordo Kristina A. , Voronova Olga S. , Zima Alla L. , Feoktistova Natalya V.
Published: March 2023

The spatiotemporal distributions of wildfire areas and FRP values for the territory of Russia and its large regions (the European part of Russia, as well as the Ural, Siberian, and Far Eastern Federal Districts) during 2001–2022 were analyzed using satellite data. For the territory of Russia, there was a decreasing trend in annual burned areas and a small increase in average hotspot FRP. At the same time, the largest annual burned areas in the territory of Russia were recorded in 2008 (295.2 thous. km2), 2002 (272.4 thous. km2), 2006 (261.2 thous. km2), and in 2012 (258.4 thous. km2). It was found that during the studied period, 90% of fire hotspots in Russia had a maximum FRP < 100 MW. The most intense wildfires (FRP > 1500 MW) amounted to only 0.1% and were detected mainly in the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts. Interconnections between large wildfires and meteorological factors, including blocking activity in the atmosphere, were revealed.
Beneficial Effects of Graded Levels of Fish Protein Hydrolysate (FPH) on the Growth Performance, Blood Biochemistry, Liver and Intestinal Health, Economics Efficiency, and Disease Resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila of Pabda (Ompok pabda) Fingerling
Authors: Suma Afrina Yeasmin , Nandi Shishir Kumar , Abdul Kari Zulhisyam , Goh Khang Wen , Wei Lee Seong , Tahiluddin Albaris B. , Seguin Paul , Herault Mikael , Al Mamun Abdullah , Téllez-Isaías Guillermo , Anamul Kabir Muhammad
Published: March 2023

Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) is the enzymatic hydrolysis of protein into smaller peptide and free amino acids, which has recently captured considerable attention as a supplementary ingredient in the aqua-feed industry sector. The present research aimed to observe the physiological, biochemical, and bacteriological study of FPH-treated diets and its effects on growth, hematology, plasma biochemistry, liver and gut histopathology, and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Pabda (Ompok pabda). Four experimental diets (35% crude protein) were formulated with graded FPH supplementation (0, 0.5, 1, and 2%). The feed physiological parameters such as expansion ratio, bulk density, water stability, and floatability were not significantly affected by dietary FPH levels (p > 0.05), except for the pellet durability index (PDI). Furthermore, the diets with 1% and 2% FPH were more palatable to fish than other treatment diets. The total bacteria (TB) in fish diets and guts followed an increasing trend with the increase in various levels of FPH in diets. The significantly highest body weight, specific growth rate (SGR), total biomass (TB), survival rate (SR), condition factor (CF), and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were noted in 2% FPH-fed fish when compared with other treatment groups (p < 0.05). The feed intake of fish was significantly increased when increasing the FPH in diets (p < 0.05). The fish fed with a 2% FPH diet had significantly higher neutrophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, red blood cell, and platelet levels (p < 0.05). The blood glucose, creatinine, total protein, and globulin were significantly lower in control fish compared to other treatment groups (p < 0.05). The histopathological observation of mid intestine tissues displayed that 2% of FPH-diet-fed fish had a well-anchored epithelial wall with well-arranged goblet cells, a long villus structure, stratum compactum, and tunica muscularis compared to other treatments of FPH. The inclusion of FPH in diets up to 2% significantly improved the liver health of fish. The fish fed with 2% FPH had a significantly lower cumulative percent mortality (16.67%) against A. hydrophila infection in the bacterial challenge test (p < 0.05). Therefore, the present results suggested that using 2% FPH in the aqua-feed industry improves the growth performance, health status, and disease resistance of Pabda fingerlings in captivity.
Peptidomics Study of Plant-Based Meat Analogs as a Source of Bioactive Peptides
Authors: Wang Shuguang , Zhao Mouming , Fan Hongbing , Wu Jianping
Published: March 2023

The demand for plant-based meat analogs (PBMA) is on the rise as a strategy to sustain the food protein supply while mitigating environmental change. In addition to supplying essential amino acids and energy, food proteins are known sources of bioactive peptides. Whether protein in PBMA affords similar peptide profiles and bioactivities as real meat remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gastrointestinal digestion fate of beef and PBMA proteins with a special focus on their potential as precursors of bioactive peptides. Results showed that PBMA protein showed inferior digestibility than that in beef. However, PBMA hydrolysates possessed a comparable amino acid profile to that of beef. A total of 37, 2420 and 2021 peptides were identified in the gastrointestinal digests of beef, Beyond Meat and Impossible Meat, respectively. The astonishingly fewer peptides identified from beef digest is probably due to the near-full digestion of beef proteins. Almost all peptides in Impossible Meat digest were from soy, whereas 81%, 14% and 5% of peptides in Beyond Meat digest were derived from pea, rice and mung proteins, respectively. Peptides in PBMA digests were predicted to exert a wide range of regulatory roles and were shown to have ACE inhibitory, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, supporting the potential of PBMA as a source of bioactive peptides.
Yeast Strain Influences the Hop-Derived Sensory Properties and Volatile Composition of Beer
Authors: Kumar Ashly , Warburton Andrea , Silcock Patrick , Bremer Phil J. , Eyres Graham T.
Published: March 2023

The perception of hop-derived flavour in beer is not well understood, particularly regarding the effect that different yeast strains and fermentation parameters have on perceived hop aroma and the mechanisms responsible for these changes. To evaluate the influence of yeast strain on the sensory properties and volatile composition of beer, a standard wort, late-hopped with New Zealand Motueka hops (5 g·L−1), was fermented with one of twelve yeast strains under constant conditions (temperature and yeast inoculation rate). The bottled beers were evaluated using a free sorting sensory methodology, and their volatile organic compounds (VOC) were assessed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sampling. Beer fermented with SafLager W-34/70 yeast was associated with a hoppy flavour attribute, whereas WY1272 and OTA79 beers were sulfury, and WY1272 was also metallic. WB06 and WLP730 beers were perceived to be spicy, with WB06 beer also perceived as estery, whereas VIN13 beer was sour, and the WLP001 beer was astringent. Beers fermented using the twelve yeast strains had clearly distinct VOC profiles. Beer made with WLP730, OTA29, SPH, and WB06 yeasts had the highest 4-vinylguaiacol levels, which contributed to their spicy attribute. Beer made with W3470 had high levels of nerol, geraniol, and citronellol, which supported its sensory characterisation as being ‘hoppy’. This research has illustrated the important role that yeast strain has on modulating hop flavour in beer.
Food Production and Consumption in Ordos of Inner Mongolia
Authors: Liu Yexuan , Zhen Lin , Hu Yunfeng
Published: March 2023

Ordos is an ecological fragile area in the upstream and midstream of the Yellow River and a component of the ecological security barrier on the northern frontier of China. With population growth in recent years, the contradiction between human beings and land resources has become increasingly prominent, leading to increased food security risks. Since 2000, the local government has implemented a series of ecological projects to guide farmers and herdsmen to transform from extensive production to intensive production, which has optimized the pattern of food production and consumption. It is necessary to study the balance between food supply and demand to evaluate food self-sufficiency. Here, we used the panel data from 2000 to 2020 collected based on random sampling surveys to reveal the characteristics of food production and consumption, the changes in food self-sufficiency rate and the dependence of food consumption on local production in Ordos. The results showed that food production and consumption dominated by grains have been increasing. The residents’ diets were characterized by excessive consumption of grains and meat, and insufficient consumption of vegetables, fruits, and dairy foods. On the whole, the locality has achieved self-sufficiency, because the food supply exceeded the demand during the two decades. However, the self-sufficiency of different food types varied greatly, as some foods, such as wheat, rice, pork, poultry, and eggs, have not been self-sufficient. Due to the increased and diversified food demand of residents, food consumption became less dependent on local production and more dependent on food imported from the central and eastern China, which threatened local food security. The study can provide a scientific basis for decision-makers for the structural adjustment of agricultural and animal husbandry and the structural adjustment of food consumption, to ensure food security and sustainable utilization of land resources.
Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in Milk during Heat Treatment Based on E-Nose, E-Tongue and HS-SPME-GC-MS
Authors: Yuan Ning , Chi Xuelu , Ye Qiaoyan , Liu Huimin , Zheng Nan
Published: March 2023

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) make up milk flavor and are essential attributes for consumers to evaluate milk quality. In order to investigate the influence of heat treatment on the VOCs of milk, electronic nose (E-nose), electronic tongue (E-tongue) and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME)–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technology were used to evaluate the changes in VOCs in milk during 65 °C heat treatment and 135 °C heat treatment. The E-nose revealed differences in the overall flavor of milk, and the overall flavor performance of milk after heat treatment at 65 °C for 30 min is similar to that of raw milk, which can maximize the preservation of the original taste of milk. However, both were significantly different to the 135 °C-treated milk. The E-tongue results showed that the different processing techniques significantly affected taste presentation. In terms of taste performance, the sweetness of raw milk was more prominent, the saltiness of milk treated at 65 °C was more prominent, and the bitterness of milk treated at 135 °C was more prominent. The results of HS-SPME-GC-MS showed that a total of 43 VOCs were identified in the three types of milk—5 aldehydes, 8 alcohols, 4 ketones, 3 esters, 13 acids, 8 hydrocarbons, 1 nitrogenous compound, and 1 phenol. The amount of acid compounds was dramatically reduced as the heat treatment temperature rose, while ketones, esters, and hydrocarbons were encouraged to accumulate instead. Furfural, 2-heptanone, 2-undecanone, 2-furanmethanol, pentanoic acid ethyl ester, 5-octanolide, and 4,7-dimethyl-undecane can be used as the characteristic VOCs of milk treated at 135 °C. Our study provides new evidence for differences in VOCs produced during milk processing and insights into quality control during milk production.
Influence of Brewing Method on the Content of Selected Elements in Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguarensis) Infusions
Authors: Proch Jędrzej , Różewska Anna , Orłowska Aleksandra , Niedzielski Przemysław
Published: March 2023

In this paper, the effect of the extraction method on the concentrations of selected elements in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) infusions is presented. Seven pure yerba mate samples (without additives) were selected, representing various types and countries of origin. An extensive sample preparation procedure was proposed: ultrasound-assisted extraction using two types of extractants (deionized and tap water) at two different temperatures (room and 80 °C). In parallel, the above extractants and temperatures were carried out for all samples by the classical brewing method (without ultrasound). In addition, microwave-assisted acid mineralization was carried out to determine the total content. All the proposed procedures were thoroughly investigated with certified reference material (tea leaves, INCT–TL–1). For the total content of all the determined elements, acceptable recoveries (80–116%) were obtained. All digests and extracts were analyzed by simultaneous ICP OES. For the first time, it was assessed how tap water extraction affects the percentage of extracted element concentrations.
Ginsenoside Rg2 Promotes the Proliferation and Stemness Maintenance of Porcine Mesenchymal Stem Cells through Autophagy Induction
Authors: Che Lina , Zhu Caixia , Huang Lei , Xu Hui , Ma Xinmiao , Luo Xuegang , He Hongpeng , Zhang Tongcun , Wang Nan
Published: March 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used as a cell source for cultivated meat production due to their adipose differentiation potential, but MSCs lose their stemness and undergo replicative senescence during expansion in vitro. Autophagy is an important mechanism for senescent cells to remove toxic substances. However, the role of autophagy in the replicative senescence of MSCs is controversial. Here, we evaluated the changes in autophagy in porcine MSCs (pMSCs) during long-term culture in vitro and identified a natural phytochemical, ginsenoside Rg2, that could stimulate pMSC proliferation. First, some typical senescence characteristics were observed in aged pMSCs, including decreased EdU-positive cells, increased senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, declined stemness-associated marker OCT4 expression, and enhanced P53 expression. Importantly, autophagic flux was impaired in aged pMSCs, suggesting deficient substrate clearance in aged pMSCs. Rg2 was found to promote the proliferation of pMSCs using MTT assay and EdU staining. In addition, Rg2 inhibited D-galactose-induced senescence and oxidative stress in pMSCs. Rg2 increased autophagic activity via the AMPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, long-term culture with Rg2 promoted the proliferation, inhibited the replicative senescence, and maintained the stemness of pMSCs. These results provide a potential strategy for porcine MSC expansion in vitro.
New Method to Investigate the Impact of Independent Quadratic α-Stable Poisson Jumps on the Dynamics of a Disease under Vaccination Strategy
Authors: Sabbar Yassine , Khan Asad , Din Anwarud , Tilioua Mouhcine
Published: March 2023

Long-run bifurcation analysis aims to describe the asymptotic behavior of a dynamical system. One of the main objectives of mathematical epidemiology is to determine the acute threshold between an infection’s persistence and its elimination. In this study, we use a more comprehensive SVIR epidemic model with large jumps to tackle this and related challenging problems in epidemiology. The huge discontinuities arising from the complexity of the problem are modelled by four independent, tempered, α-stable quadratic Lévy processes. A new analytical method is used and for the proposed stochastic model, the critical value R0🟉 is calculated. For strictly positive value of R0🟉, the stationary and ergodic properties of the perturbed model are verified (continuation scenario). However, for a strictly negative value of R0🟉, the model predicts that the infection will vanish exponentially (disappearance scenario). The current study incorporates a large number of earlier works and provides a novel analytical method that can successfully handle numerous stochastic models. This innovative approach can successfully handle a variety of stochastic models in a wide range of applications. For the tempered α-stable processes, the Rosinski (2007) algorithm with a specific Lévy measure is implemented as a numerical application. It is concluded that both noise intensities and parameter α have a great influence on the dynamical transition of the model as well as on the shape of its associated probability density function.
Genomics of Dwarfism in Italian Local Chicken Breeds
Authors: Perini Francesco , Cendron Filippo , Wu Zhou , Sevane Natalia , Li Zhiqiang , Huang Chunhua , Smith Jacqueline , Lasagna Emiliano , Cassandro Martino , Penasa Mauro
Published: March 2023

The identification of the dwarf phenotype in chicken is based on body weight, height, and shank length, leaving the differentiation between dwarf and small breeds ambiguous. The aims of the present study were to characterize the sequence variations associated with the dwarf phenotype in three Italian chicken breeds and to investigate the genes associated with their phenotype. Five hundred and forty-one chickens from 23 local breeds (from 20 to 24 animals per breed) were sampled. All animals were genotyped with the 600 K chicken SNP array. Three breeds were described as “dwarf”, namely, Mericanel della Brianza (MERI), Mugellese (MUG), and Pepoi (PPP). We compared MERI, MUG, and PPP with the four heaviest breeds in the dataset by performing genome-wide association studies. Results showed significant SNPs associated with dwarfism in the MERI and MUG breeds, which shared a candidate genomic region on chromosome 1. Due to this similarity, MERI and MUG were analyzed together as a meta-population, observing significant SNPs in the LEMD3 and HMGA2 genes, which were previously reported as being responsible for dwarfism in different species. In conclusion, MERI and MUG breeds seem to share a genetic basis of dwarfism, which differentiates them from the small PPP breed.
A Method of Estimating Time-to-Recovery for a Disease Caused by a Contagious Pathogen Such as SARS-CoV-2 Using a Time Series of Aggregated Case Reports
Authors: Koutsouris Dimitrios-Dionysios , Pitoglou Stavros , Anastasiou Athanasios , Koumpouros Yiannis
Published: March 2023

During the outbreak of a disease caused by a pathogen with unknown characteristics, the uncertainty of its progression parameters can be reduced by devising methods that, based on rational assumptions, exploit available information to provide actionable insights. In this study, performed a few (~6) weeks into the outbreak of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2), one of the most important disease parameters, the average time-to-recovery, was calculated using data publicly available on the internet (daily reported cases of confirmed infections, deaths, and recoveries), and fed into an algorithm that matches confirmed cases with deaths and recoveries. Unmatched cases were adjusted based on the matched cases calculation. The mean time-to-recovery, calculated from all globally reported cases, was found to be 18.01 days (SD 3.31 days) for the matched cases and 18.29 days (SD 2.73 days) taking into consideration the adjusted unmatched cases as well. The proposed method used limited data and provided experimental results in the same region as clinical studies published several months later. This indicates that the proposed method, combined with expert knowledge and informed calculated assumptions, could provide a meaningful calculated average time-to-recovery figure, which can be used as an evidence-based estimation to support containment and mitigation policy decisions, even at the very early stages of an outbreak.