bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Test Study on the Influence of Foundation Pit Excavation on the Surface Settlement of Sandy Soil Natural Foundation of Adjacent Buildings
Authors: Dong Jiachao , Bai Qian , Zhao Wen , Wang Baodong
Published: May 2023

The excavation of a foundation pit will break the original stress balance and affect the surface settlement of the natural foundation of adjacent buildings, so deformation control is very important. In this paper, numerical simulation results of the additional stress of a natural foundation caused by a foundation pit excavation were compared with experimental results to verify the accuracy of the numerical model of a foundation pit excavation and obtain a reliable ratio of building width to the average particle size of the sand that was not affected by the particle size effect. Then, the distribution and variation law of the surface settlement of a natural foundation caused by excavation was studied by a model test, and the relationship between the deformation of a natural foundation and the depth of a foundation pit excavation and the additional load of building was obtained.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Breast Density among Women of African Ancestry
Authors: Verma Shefali Setia , Guare Lindsay , Ehsan Sarah , Gastounioti Aimilia , Scales Gabrielle , Ritchie Marylyn D. , Kontos Despina , McCarthy Anne Marie ,   Penn Medicine Biobank
Published: May 2023

Breast density, the amount of fibroglandular versus fatty tissue in the breast, is a strong breast cancer risk factor. Understanding genetic factors associated with breast density may help in clarifying mechanisms by which breast density increases cancer risk. To date, 50 genetic loci have been associated with breast density, however, these studies were performed among predominantly European ancestry populations. We utilized a cohort of women aged 40–85 years who underwent screening mammography and had genetic information available from the Penn Medicine BioBank to conduct a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) of breast density among 1323 women of African ancestry. For each mammogram, the publicly available “LIBRA” software was used to quantify dense area and area percent density. We identified 34 significant loci associated with dense area and area percent density, with the strongest signals in GACAT3, CTNNA3, HSD17B6, UGDH, TAAR8, ARHGAP10, BOD1L2, and NR3C2. There was significant overlap between previously identified breast cancer SNPs and SNPs identified as associated with breast density. Our results highlight the importance of breast density GWAS among diverse populations, including African ancestry populations. They may provide novel insights into genetic factors associated with breast density and help in elucidating mechanisms by which density increases breast cancer risk.
Re-Shaping the Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Microenvironment: A New Role for the Metastasis Suppressor NDRG1
Authors: Chang Jiawei , Lo Zoe H. Y. , Alenizi Shafi , Kovacevic Zaklina
Published: May 2023

Pancreatic cancer (PaC) is a highly aggressive disease, with poor response to current treatments and 5-year survival rates of 10–15%. PaC progression is facilitated by its interaction with the complex and multifaceted tumor microenvironment (TME). In the TME, cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells constantly communicate with each other via the secretion and uptake of factors including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, metabolites, and extracellular vesicles (EVs), reshaping the landscape of PaC. Recent studies demonstrated that the metastasis suppressor N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) not only inhibits oncogenic signaling pathways in PaC cells but also alters the communication between PaC cells and the surrounding stroma. In fact, NDRG1 was found to influence the secretome of PaC cells, alter cancer cell metabolism, and interfere with intracellular trafficking and intercellular communication between PaC cells and surrounding fibroblasts. This review will present recent advancements in understanding the role of NDRG1 in PaC progression, with a focus on how this molecule influences PaC-stroma communication and its potential for re-shaping the PaC TME.
LASP1, CERS6, and Actin Form a Ternary Complex That Promotes Cancer Cell Migration
Authors: Niimi Atsuko , Limsirichaikul Siripan , Kano Keiko , Mizutani Yasuyoshi , Takeuchi Toshiyuki , Sawangsri Patinya , Tran Dat Quoc , Kawamoto Yoshiyuki , Suzuki Motoshi
Published: May 2023

CERS6 is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients through d18:1/C16:0 ceramide (C16 ceramide)-mediated cell migration, though the detailed mechanism has not been elucidated. In the present study, examinations including co-immunoprecipitation, liquid chromatography, and tandem mass spectrometry analysis were performed to identify a novel binding partner of CERS6. Among the examined candidates, LASP1 was a top-ranked binding partner, with the LIM domain possibly required for direct interaction. In accord with those findings, CERS6 and LASP1 were found to co-localize on lamellipodia in several lung cancer cell lines. Furthermore, silencing of CERS6 and/or LASP1 significantly suppressed cell migration and lamellipodia formation, whereas ectopic addition of C16 ceramide partially rescued those phenotypes. Both LASP1 and CERS6 showed co-immunoprecipitation with actin, with those interactions markedly reduced when the LASP1–CERS6 complex was abolished. Based on these findings, it is proposed that LASP1–CERS6 interaction promotes cancer cell migration.
Assessing Therapeutic Response to Radium-223 with an Automated Bone Scan Index among Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients: Data from Patients in the J-RAP-BSI Trial
Authors: Kitajima Kazuhiro , Kuyama Junpei , Kawahara Takashi , Suga Tsuyoshi , Otani Tomoaki , Sugawara Shigeyasu , Kono Yumiko , Tamaki Yukihisa , Seko-Nitta Ayumi , Ishiwata Yoshinobu , Ito Kimiteru , Toriihara Akira , Watanabe Shiro , Hosono Makoto , Miyake Hideaki , Yamamoto Shingo , Sasaki Ryohei , Narita Mitsuhiro , Yamakado Koichiro
Published: May 2023

To evaluate the usefulness of change in the automated bone scan index (aBSI) value derived from bone scintigraphy findings as an imaging biomarker for the assessment of treatment response and survival prediction in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with Ra-223. This study was a retrospective investigation of a Japanese cohort of 205 mCRPC patients who received Ra-223 in 14 hospitals between July 2016 and August 2020 and for whom bone scintigraphy before and after radium-223 treatment was available. Correlations of aBSI change, with changes in the serum markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were evaluated. Additionally, the association of those changes with overall survival (OS) was assessed using the Cox proportional-hazards model and Kaplan–Meier curve results. Of the 205 patients enrolled, 165 (80.5%) completed six cycles of Ra-223. Following treatment, ALP decline (%ALP < 0%) was noted in 72.2% (148/205), aBSI decline (%aBSI < 0%) in 52.7% (108/205), and PSA decline (%PSA < 0%) in 27.8% (57/205). Furthermore, a reduction in both aBSI and ALP was seen in 87 (42.4%), a reduction in only ALP was seen in 61 (29.8%), a reduction in only aBSI was seen in 21 (10.2%), and in both aBSI and ALP increasing/stable (≥0%) was seen in 36 (17.6%) patients. Multiparametric analysis showed changes in PSA [hazard ratio (HR) 4.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.32–8.77, p < 0.0001], aBSI (HR 2.22, 95%CI 1.43–3.59, p = 0.0003), and ALP (HR 2.06, 95%CI 1.35–3.14, p = 0.0008) as significant prognostic factors for OS. For mCRPC patients treated with Ra-223, aBSI change is useful as an imaging biomarker for treatment response assessment and survival prediction.
Evaluation of Selected Amateur Rain Gauges with Hellmann Rain Gauge Measurements
Authors: Droździoł Radosław , Absalon Damian
Published: May 2023

The paper compares precipitation measurements from the Stratus manual rain gauge from the CoCoRaHS network and two Davis Vantage Vue and Davis Vantage Pro 2A rain gauges with the Hellmann rain gauge. Comparative measurements were made on a specially prepared experimental plot. The statistical calculations took into account 15 full months in the period from 1 October 2019, to 31 December 2020. In order to estimate the differences in measurements between amateur rain gauges and the Hellmann rain gauge, two statistics were calculated: the mean square error (MSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE). In order to present formal and more detailed differences in measurements between amateur rain gauges and the Hellmann rain gauge, analyses were performed using a linear regression model. The general form of the tested models was presented. The procedure for estimating the parameters of the models and the method of comparing the fit of the models to the data were described, and the rain gauge whose measurements were most closely related to the measurements of the Hellmann rain gauge was indicated. The study showed that the higher price of amateur rain gauges does not mean higher quality. The study showed that the Stratus rain gauge was the best at recording daily precipitation totals. The Davis Vantage Pro 2A rain gauge recorded daily precipitation sums with less accuracy. The Davis Vantage Vue rain gauge, despite being located on the roof, recorded similar rainfall totals as the Hellmann rain gauge. It was found that, despite the different construction and measurement methods, the precipitation measurement data from the Stratus rain gauge and the Davis Vantage Vue rain gauge are suitable both for climate monitoring and for use, after applying quality control, in NMHS networks.
Detecting COVID-19 from Chest X-rays Using Convolutional Neural Network Ensembles
Authors: El Lel Tarik , Ahsan Mominul , Haider Julfikar
Published: May 2023

Starting in late 2019, the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 began spreading around the world and causing disruption in both daily life and healthcare systems. The disease is estimated to have caused more than 6 million deaths worldwide [WHO]. The pandemic and the global reaction to it severely affected the world economy, causing a significant increase in global inflation rates, unemployment, and the cost of energy commodities. To stop the spread of the virus and dampen its global effect, it is imperative to detect infected patients early on. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can effectively diagnose a patient’s chest X-ray (CXR) to assess whether they have been infected. Previous medical image classification studies have shown exceptional accuracies, and the trained algorithms can be shared and deployed using a computer or a mobile device. CNN-based COVID-19 detection can be employed as a supplement to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In this research work, 11 ensemble networks consisting of 6 CNN architectures and a classifier layer are evaluated on their ability to differentiate the CXRs of patients with COVID-19 from those of patients that have not been infected. The performance of ensemble models is then compared to the performance of individual CNN architectures. The best ensemble model COVID-19 detection accuracy was achieved using the logistic regression ensemble model, with an accuracy of 96.29%, which is 1.13% higher than the top-performing individual model. The highest F1-score was achieved by the standard vector classifier ensemble model, with a value of 88.6%, which was 2.06% better than the score achieved by the best-performing individual model. This work demonstrates that combining a set of top-performing COVID-19 detection models could lead to better results if the models are integrated together into an ensemble. The model can be deployed in overworked or remote health centers as an accurate and rapid supplement or back-up method for detecting COVID-19.
Timing of Ice Retreat Determines Summer State of Zooplankton Community in the Ob Estuary (the Kara Sea, Siberian Arctic)
Authors: Drits Alexander , Pasternak Anna , Arashkevich Elena , Amelina Anastasia , Flint Mikhail
Published: May 2023

In the estuaries of large Siberian rivers, ice coverage and the timing of ice retreat have varied in recent decades under the ongoing climate change. The seasonal development and functioning of the mesozooplankton community depend to a great extent on the timing of ice retreat. In the Arctic estuaries, the response of zooplankton to the timing of ice melt remains unclear. An earlier ice retreat was suggested to result in an advanced seasonal development of zooplankton, and higher biomass and feeding rates. Zooplankton composition, biomass, demography and grazing (assessed with the gut fluorescent approach) were studied in the Ob Estuary in July 2019 (“typical” ice retreat time). The obtained results were compared with the published data for July 2016 (ice retreat three weeks earlier). Zooplankton biomass in 2019 was considerably lower than in 2016, while species composition was similar; dominant populations were at an earlier stage of development. Herbivorous feeding of the dominant copepod, Limnocalanus macrurus, was also lower in 2019. The consequences of an earlier ice melt and increased temperature on seasonal population dynamics of the dominant brackish-water species are discussed. Our findings demonstrate that zooplankton communities in the Arctic estuaries are highly sensitive to the environmental changes associated with early sea-ice reduction.
Analyzing Histological Images Using Hybrid Techniques for Early Detection of Multi-Class Breast Cancer Based on Fusion Features of CNN and Handcrafted
Authors: Al-Jabbar Mohammed , Alshahrani Mohammed , Senan Ebrahim Mohammed , Ahmed Ibrahim Abdulrab
Published: May 2023

Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women, and it can threaten women’s lives if it is not diagnosed early. There are many methods for detecting breast cancer, but they cannot distinguish between benign and malignant tumors. Therefore, a biopsy taken from the patient’s abnormal tissue is an effective way to distinguish between malignant and benign breast cancer tumors. There are many challenges facing pathologists and experts in diagnosing breast cancer, including the addition of some medical fluids of various colors, the direction of the sample, the small number of doctors and their differing opinions. Thus, artificial intelligence techniques solve these challenges and help clinicians resolve their diagnostic differences. In this study, three techniques, each with three systems, were developed to diagnose multi and binary classes of breast cancer datasets and distinguish between benign and malignant types with 40× and 400× factors. The first technique for diagnosing a breast cancer dataset is using an artificial neural network (ANN) with selected features from VGG-19 and ResNet-18. The second technique for diagnosing breast cancer dataset is by ANN with combined features for VGG-19 and ResNet-18 before and after principal component analysis (PCA). The third technique for analyzing breast cancer dataset is by ANN with hybrid features. The hybrid features are a hybrid between VGG-19 and handcrafted; and a hybrid between ResNet-18 and handcrafted. The handcrafted features are mixed features extracted using Fuzzy color histogram (FCH), local binary pattern (LBP), discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) methods. With the multi classes data set, ANN with the hybrid features of the VGG-19 and handcrafted reached a precision of 95.86%, an accuracy of 97.3%, sensitivity of 96.75%, AUC of 99.37%, and specificity of 99.81% with images at magnification factor 400×. Whereas with the binary classes data set, ANN with the hybrid features of the VGG-19 and handcrafted reached a precision of 99.74%, an accuracy of 99.7%, sensitivity of 100%, AUC of 99.85%, and specificity of 100% with images at a magnification factor 400×.
Causality Analysis with Information Geometry: A Comparison
Authors: Choong Heng Jie , Kim Eun-jin , He Fei
Published: May 2023

The quantification of causality is vital for understanding various important phenomena in nature and laboratories, such as brain networks, environmental dynamics, and pathologies. The two most widely used methods for measuring causality are Granger Causality (GC) and Transfer Entropy (TE), which rely on measuring the improvement in the prediction of one process based on the knowledge of another process at an earlier time. However, they have their own limitations, e.g., in applications to nonlinear, non-stationary data, or non-parametric models. In this study, we propose an alternative approach to quantify causality through information geometry that overcomes such limitations. Specifically, based on the information rate that measures the rate of change of the time-dependent distribution, we develop a model-free approach called information rate causality that captures the occurrence of the causality based on the change in the distribution of one process caused by another. This measurement is suitable for analyzing numerically generated non-stationary, nonlinear data. The latter are generated by simulating different types of discrete autoregressive models which contain linear and nonlinear interactions in unidirectional and bidirectional time-series signals. Our results show that information rate causalitycan capture the coupling of both linear and nonlinear data better than GC and TE in the several examples explored in the paper.
Cost Analysis in Online Teaching Using an Activity Map
Authors: Segovia-García Nuria , Martín-Caro Ester
Published: May 2023

Virtual education has been associated, on some occasions, with economic models of scale that strengthen the mercantilist vision of teaching, thereby raising questions on the quality of the service. Some studies on educational costs associated with this modality simplify the analysis based on individual elements, such as the production of courses or the technological infrastructure, offering an incomplete and biased perspective. This study proposes to carry out a complete analysis of the costs of a virtual university using an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) model to determine the percentage of the budget consumed by each of the activities involved in the training process. The results show the significant influence that instructional design and teaching activities have on virtual modalities (62.5% of the set of activities), thus highlighting the importance of human resources in maintaining educational modalities mediated by technology. Understanding the importance of human capital and its contribution to offering a quality and innovative educational service is fundamental to consolidate a model that can improve access to education for populations with major difficulties.
A Novel Hybrid Artificial Bee Colony-Based Deep Convolutional Neural Network to Improve the Detection Performance of Backscatter Communication Systems
Authors: Aghakhani Sina , Larijani Ata , Sadeghi Fatemeh , Martín Diego , Shahrakht Ali Ahmadi
Published: May 2023

Backscatter communication (BC) is a promising technology for low-power and low-data-rate applications, though the signal detection performance is limited since the backscattered signal is usually much weaker than the original signal. When the detection performance is poor, the backscatter device (BD) may not be able to accurately detect and interpret the incoming signal, leading to errors and degraded communication quality. This can result in data loss, slow data transfer rates, and reduced reliability of the communication link. This paper proposes a novel approach to improve the detection performance of backscatter communication systems using evolutionary deep learning. In particular, we focus on training deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) to improve the detection performance of BC. We first develop a novel hybrid algorithm based on artificial bee colony (ABC), biogeography-based optimization (BBO), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the architecture of the DCNN, followed by training using a large set of benchmark datasets. To develop the hybrid ABC, the migration operator of the BBO is used to improve the exploitation. Moving towards the global best of PSO is also proposed to improve the exploration of the ABC. Then, we take advantage of the proposed deep architecture to improve the bit-error rate (BER) performance of the studied BC system. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has the best performance in training the benchmark datasets. The results also show that the proposed approach significantly improves the detection performance of backscattered signals compared to existing works.
Exploring Dynamic P-Q Capability and Abnormal Operations Associated with PMSG Wind Turbines
Authors: Rahman Shahinur , Li Shuhui , Das Himadry Shekhar , Fu Xingang , Won Hoyun , Hong Yang-Ki
Published: May 2023

With the proliferation of large-scale grid-connected wind farms, subsynchronous oscillation (SSO) incidents associated with Type-4 wind turbines (WTs) with a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) have occurred frequently. These incidents have caused severe reliability risks to the power grid. Conventionally, P-Q capability charts are utilized to ensure the safety operating region of a synchronous generator. However, a PMSG WT exhibits completely different and dynamic P-Q capability characteristics due to the difference in energy conversion technique and several critical factors related to the WT power converters. This paper presents a comprehensive dynamic P-Q capability study of a PMSG WT with sufficient and accurate considerations of the WT control and operation in the dq reference frame, its power converter constraints, and grid dynamics. Models of a PMSG WT are first developed based on its control principle in the dq reference frame. Then, algorithms for obtaining the P-Q capability charts of the WT are developed with the considerations of complete WT constraints in different aspects. The study analyzes the root cause of many abnormal operations of grid-connected PMSG WTs, reported in the literature, from the dynamic P-Q capability perspectives. The proposed study is verified via an electromagnetic transient (EMT) model of a grid-connected Type-4 WT.
An Early Fault Detection Method for Wind Turbine Main Bearings Based on Self-Attention GRU Network and Binary Segmentation Changepoint Detection Algorithm
Authors: Yan Junshuai , Liu Yongqian , Ren Xiaoying
Published: May 2023

The condition monitoring and potential anomaly detection of wind turbines have gained significant attention because of the benefits of reducing the operating and maintenance costs and enhancing the reliability of wind turbines. However, the complex and dynamic operation states of wind turbines still pose tremendous challenges for reliable and timely fault detection. To address such challenges, in this study, a condition monitoring approach was designed to detect early faults of wind turbines. Specifically, based on a GRU network with a self-attention mechanism, a SAGRU normal behavior model for wind turbines was constructed, which can learn temporal features and mine complicated nonlinear correlations within different status parameters. Additionally, based on the residual sequence obtained using a well-trained SAGRU, a binary segmentation changepoint detection algorithm (BinSegCPD) was introduced to automatically identify deterioration conditions in a wind turbine. A case study of a main bearing fault collected from a 50 MW windfarm in southern China was employed to evaluate the proposed method, which validated its effectiveness and superiority. The results showed that the introduction of a self-attention mechanism significantly enhanced the model performance, and the adoption of a changepoint detection algorithm improved detection accuracy. Compared to the actual fault time, the proposed approach could automatically identify the deterioration conditions of main bearings 72.47 h in advance.
Experimental Studies on the Influence of Spatial Orientation of a Passive Air Solar Collector on Its Efficiency
Authors: Dutkowski Krzysztof , Kruzel Marcin , Fiuk Jacek , Rokosz Krzysztof , Michalska-Pożoga Iwona , Szczepanek Marcin
Published: May 2023

The solar collector is used to convert solar energy into thermal energy. First, the internal energy of the absorber increases, which is reflected in the increase in its temperature. This energy is transferred to the working fluid in direct contact with the absorber. Depending on the type of fluid, liquid or air solar collectors are distinguished. When the flow of the working medium takes place naturally, without the support of pumps or fans, the solar collector is treated as a passive device. The gravitational movement of air in the inner space of an air solar collector depends on its construction and its spatial orientation in relation to both the source of radiation and the direction of the force of gravity. This paper describes the results of laboratory experimental tests of a prototype passive air solar collector, including: the influence of radiation intensity and the deflection of the solar collector from the vertical on the increase in the temperature of the air flowing through the collector, the mass flow rate of the air and the efficiency of the device. The tests were carried out using an air solar collector with the dimensions 2080 × 1040 × 180 (height × width × thickness) and radiation intensity in the range of I = 0 ÷ 550 W/m2. It was found that the vertical arrangement of the collector does not ensure maximum efficiency of the device.
Factors Affecting Cambial Growth Periodicity and Wood Formation in Tropical Forest Trees: A Review
Authors: Pumijumnong Nathsuda , Muangsong Chotika , Buajan Supaporn , Songtrirat Piyarat , Chatwatthana Rattanakorn , Chareonwong Uthai
Published: May 2023

A review of papers related to cambium activity and wood formation in tropical and subtropical trees and their response to climate in South America, tropical Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Asia reveals a complex picture of the factors that influence tree growth and wood formation. One key finding is that while temperature and rainfall are essential drivers of tree growth in tropical regions, the specific effects of these factors can vary widely depending on local conditions. For example, in some areas, increased rainfall may lead to higher rates of wood formation, while in others, it may have little effect or even be detrimental to tree growth. Another key finding is that tree species can exhibit different cambium activity and wood formation patterns, even within the same region. These observations highlight the need for careful species-level studies to understand the factors influencing tree growth in tropical regions fully. Some studies have also found that extreme events, such as droughts and floods, can significantly impact tree growth and wood formation in tropical regions. These events can lead to cambium activity and wood density changes and may have long-term effects on forest structure and composition. Overall, this review suggests that much is still to be learned about the complex interactions between climate, soil, and other environmental factors that influence tree growth and wood formation in tropical and subtropical regions. Continued research and monitoring efforts will be essential for understanding these important ecosystems and developing effective conservation and management strategies.
Modulation of the Gut Microbiota with Prebiotics and Antimicrobial Agents from Pleurotus ostreatus Mushroom
Authors: Törős Gréta , El-Ramady Hassan , Prokisch József , Velasco Fernando , Llanaj Xhensila , Nguyen Duyen H. H. , Peles Ferenc
Published: May 2023

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm mushroom contains bioactive compounds with both antimicrobial and prebiotic properties, which are distributed in the mushroom mycelium, fruiting body, and spent substrate. The mushroom is rich in nondigestible carbohydrates like chitin and glucan, which act as prebiotics and support the growth and activity of beneficial gut bacteria, thereby maintaining a healthy balance of gut microbiota and reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. The bioactive compounds in P. ostreatus mushrooms, including polysaccharides (glucans, chitin) and secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and lectins), exhibit antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. When mushrooms are consumed, these compounds can help preventing the growth and spread of harmful bacteria in the gut, reducing the risk of infections and the development of antibiotic resistance. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to determine the efficacy of P. ostreatus against different pathogens and to fully comprehend its prebiotic and antimicrobial properties. Overall, consuming a diet rich in mushroom-based foods can have a positive impact on human digestion health. A mushroom-based diet can support a healthy gut microbiome and reduce the need for antibiotics.
Changes in the Texture and Flavor of Lotus Root after Different Cooking Methods
Authors: Qian Chunlu , Jiang Yaying , Sun Yan , Yin Xiaodong , Zhang Man , Kan Juan , Liu Jun , Xiao Lixia , Jin Changhai , Qi Xiaohua , Yang Wenfei
Published: May 2023

The changes in the texture and flavor of lotus root were determined before and after boiling, steaming and frying. Compared to fresh lotus root, all three kinds of cooking decreased the hardness and springiness, and frying significantly enhanced the gumminess, chewiness and cohesiveness. The flavor components, such as flavor amino acids, nucleotides and their taste character in lotus roots, were determined by liquid chromatography and electronic tongue. The amino acids and nucleotide contents of fresh lotus root were 20.9 and 0.07 μg/kg, respectively. The content of flavor substances in lotus roots decreased obviously, and the texture characteristics decreased after boiling and steaming. After deep-frying for 2 min, the free amino acids and nucleotide contents of lotus root were 32.09 and 0.85 μg/kg, respectively, which were the highest in all cooking methods. The contents of volatile flavor components and their smell character in lotus roots were determined by GC-MS and electronic nose. There were 58 kinds of flavor compounds identified in fresh lotus root, mainly alcohols, esters and olefins. The total amount of volatile flavor compounds decreased, and new compounds, such as benzene derivatives, were produced in lotus roots after boiling and steaming. After deep-frying, the content of volatile flavor compounds in lotus root increased significantly, especially the aldehyde volatile flavor compounds. The production of pyran, pyrazine and pyridine volatile flavor compounds made the lotus root flavor unique and delicious. The taste and smell character of lotus roots before and after cooking were effectively separated by an electronic tongue, nose and PCA analysis; the results suggested the boiled lotus root exhibited the most natural and characteristic taste and smell among the four groups.
Functional Foods Acceptability: A Consumers’ Survey on Bread Enriched with Oenological By-Products
Authors: Miolla Roberta , Ottomano Palmisano Giovanni , Roma Rocco , Caponio Francesco , Difonzo Graziana , De Boni Annalisa
Published: May 2023

In recent years, consumers have shown considerable attention to functional foods that can provide various benefits. At the same time, the awareness of the problem of waste generation from the agri-food supply chains has increased; thus, scholars and practitioners are devoting great attention to sustainable food waste management. Within the wine processing, the production phase generates by-products such as marc, grape seeds, stems, and wine lees. In most cases, these by-products are treated as waste rather than as a resource, creating environmental, economic, and social impacts related to their disposal. By contrast, the reuse of oenological by-products in food production can have several health benefits, since they are rich in functional molecules such as fibres, polyphenols, and vitamin E, and can also trigger a circular economy model. The aim of this research is to investigate the acceptance of consumers towards bread enriched with oenological by-products through the application of k-means clustering, providing insights on the characterisation of groups of consumers based on their specific features and declared attitudes. The results showed three different consumers’ clusters, highlighting that the acceptance of this enriched bread is not influenced by the consumers’ socio-economic features, but it is related to consumers’ sensitivity. Therefore, target strategies should be put in place to inform consumers about the benefits associated with the consumption of bread enriched with oenological by-products.
Effects of Different Probiotics on the Volatile Components of Fermented Coffee Were Analyzed Based on Headspace-Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Authors: Zhao Linfen , Wang Yanhua , Wang Dongyu , He Zejuan , Gong Jiashun , Tan Chao
Published: May 2023

Headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) was used to study the effects of four kinds of probiotics on the volatile components of fermented coffee. The fingerprints showed that 51 compounds were confirmed and quantified, including 13 esters, 11 aldehydes, 9 alcohols, 6 ketones, 3 furans, 5 terpenes (hydrocarbons), 2 organic acids, 1 pyrazine, and 1 sulfur-containing compound. After fermenting, the aroma of the green beans increases while that of the roasted beans decreases. After roasting, the total amount of aroma components in coffee beans increased by 4.48–5.49 times. The aroma differences between fermented and untreated roasted beans were more significant than those between fermented and untreated green beans. HS-GC-IMS can distinguish the difference in coffee aroma, and each probiotic has a unique influence on the coffee aroma. Using probiotics to ferment coffee can significantly improve the aroma of coffee and provide certain application prospects for improving the quality of commercial coffee beans.
Flavor Profile Evaluation of Soaked Greengage Wine with Different Base Liquor Treatments Using Principal Component Analysis and Heatmap Analysis
Authors: Zhao Peipei , Liu Chang , Qiu Shuang , Chen Kai , Wang Yingxiang , Hou Caiyun , Huang Rui , Li Jingming
Published: May 2023

The selection of base liquor plays a crucial role in the flavor of soaked greengage wine. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different base liquor treatments on the physicochemical characteristics and aroma composition of greengage wine. We carried out a comprehensive analysis using HPLC for the determination of organic acids and GC-MS for the determination of volatile aroma compounds, combined with sensory evaluation. The results showed that the red and yellow colors were the darkest in the high-alcohol group, while the citric acid content was the highest in the sake group (21.95 ± 2.19 g/L). In addition, the greengage wine steeped in 50% edible alcohol had more terpenes, a significantly higher concentration of acid–lipid compounds, and a more intense aroma compared to that of the low-alcohol group, whose typical aroma compounds were greatly reduced. The sensory results showed that the greengage wine treated with baijiu had a distinct alcoholic flavor, while almond flavors were more intense in the greengage wine treated with 15% edible alcohol. In this study, base liquor was used as the main influencing factor to provide new research ideas for the flavor optimization of soaked greengage wine.
Transcription of WNT Genes in Hematopoietic Niche’s Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Multiple Myeloma Patients with Different Responses to Treatment
Authors: Enukashvily Natella I. , Belik Liubov. A. , Semenova Natalia Yu. , Kostroma Ivan I. , Motyko Ekaterina V. , Gritsaev Sergey V. , Bessmeltsev Stanislav S. , Sidorkevich Sergey V. , Martynkevich Irina S.
Published: May 2023

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are involved in bone tissue remodeling due to their ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and to influence osteoclasts’ activity. Multiple myeloma (MM) is associated with bone resorption. During disease progression, MSCs acquire a tumor-associated phenotype, losing their osteogenic potential. The process is associated with impaired osteoblasts/osteoclasts balance. The WNT signaling pathway plays a major role in maintaining the balance. In MM, it functions in an aberrant way. It is not known yet whether the WNT pathway is restored in patients’ bone narrow after treatment. The aim of the study was to compare the level of WNT family gene transcription in the bone marrow MSCs of healthy donors and MM patients before and after therapy. The study included healthy donors (n = 3), primary patients (n = 3) and patients with different response status to therapy (bortezomib-containing induction regimens) (n = 12). The transcription of the WNT and CTNNB1 (encoding β-catenin) genes was accessed using qPCR. The mRNA quantity of ten WNT genes, as well as CTNNB1 mRNA encoding β-catenin, a key mediator in canonical signaling, was evaluated. The observed differences between the groups of patients indicated that aberrant functioning of the WNT pathway was retained after treatment. The differences that we detected for WNT2B, WNT9B and CTNNB1 suggested their possible application as prognostic molecular markers.
Composting Ecofeminism: Caring for Plants, Animals, and Multispecies Flourishing in Molly Chester’s Dream Farm
Authors: Chang Kathryn Yalan
Published: May 2023

Using the documentary The Biggest Little Farm (2019) and its follow-up sequel The Biggest Little Farm: The Return (2022), this article examines how American filmmaker and farmer John Chester and his wife Molly transformed previously dead land lacking biodiversity into Molly’s dream farm over the past decade. My article argues that the way the films illustrate the Chesters’ intricate relationships with plants, animals, and multispecies players is a way of showing how ecofeminism’s concerns and insights can best be integrated into organic food/farming, which do not foreground gender in their analyses and activism. The article consists of four parts. The first describes the challenges Apricot Lane Farms faced before and after the Chesters’ arrival. The second part explores the Chesters’ “thinking with the soil” and de la Bellacasa’s commitment to soil care in Matters of Care (2017), showing how this can serve as a refuge in a sense, as defined by Donna Haraway and Anna Tsing. The third part examines the Chesters’ approach to conflicts, setbacks, and loss of life by emphasizing the potential for “staying with the trouble.” Finally, the article concludes by demonstrating how the Chesters present Apricot Lane Farms as an attachment site of co-flourishment by caring for the plants, animals, and microorganisms essential to supporting all life’s ecosystems.
“Buy High, Sell Low”: A Qualitative Study of Cryptocurrency Traders Who Experience Harm
Authors: Johnson Benjamin , Sun Tianze , Stjepanović Daniel , Vu Giang , Chan Gary C. K.
Published: May 2023

The constant, substantial price fluctuations of cryptocurrency allow traders to engage in highly speculative trading that closely resembles gambling. With significant financial loss associated with adverse mental health outcomes, it is important to investigate the impact that market participation has on mental health. Therefore, we conducted interviews with 17 participants who self-reported problems due to trading. Thematic analysis was conducted revealing themes: (1) factors in engagement, (2) impacts of trading and (3) harm reduction. Factors in engagement captured factors that motivated and sustained cryptocurrency trading. Impacts of trading outlined how cryptocurrency trading positively and negatively impacted participants. Harm reduction described methods participants employed to reduce mental distress from trading. Our study provides novel insights into the adverse impacts of cryptocurrency trading across multiple domains, especially mental health, relationships and finances. They also indicate the importance of further research on effective coping strategies for distress caused by financial loss from trading. Additionally, our study reveals the significant role social environments play on participants’ expectations and intentions regarding cryptocurrency trading. These social networks extend beyond real-life relationship to include celebrity and influencer endorsement. This encourages investigation into the content of cryptocurrency promotions and the influence they have on individuals’ decision to trade.
Financial Behavioral Health and Investment Risk Willingness: Implications for the Racial Wealth Gap
Authors: Anvari-Clark Jeffrey , Rose Theda
Published: May 2023

Financial behavioral health (FBH) influences numerous socio-ecological domains, affecting investment risk willingness and consequent wealth levels. The experience of FBH by racial group is unknown, and findings of differences between Black and White investors’ risk willingness are mixed. The study’s aims are to establish an FBH measure and explore its application to risk willingness by racial group. The study used a subset of data from FINRA’s 2018 National Financial Capability Study, including Black (n = 2835) and White (n = 21,289) respondents. Through factor analysis, 19 items were confirmed for the FBH measure; the measure was then applied to investment risk willingness using structural equation modeling (SEM). Invariance analyses showed that the FBH model had an excellent fit for White respondents but not Black respondents. The SEM analysis determined that FBH accounted for 37% of the variance in risk willingness (R2 = 0.368; β = 0.256, p < 0.001). Racial group affiliation was a negligible predictor of risk willingness (β = −0.084, p < 0.001). This project contributes an empirical basis for FBH, emphasizes the importance of FBH for investment risk willingness, and elucidates that racial group differences in risk willingness could be an unlikely contributor to the wealth gap.
Estimating Prevalence of Bereavement, Its Contribution to Risk for Binge Drinking, and Other High-Risk Health States in a State Population Survey, 2019 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey
Authors: Miles Toni P. , Li Changle , Khan M. Mahmud , Bayakly Rana , Carr Deborah
Published: May 2023

Background: Binge drinking is a pattern of alcohol abuse. Its prevalence and associated risk factors are not well documented. Heavy drinking, on the other hand, has a well-documented association with bereavement. This report uses a cross-sectional, population-based survey to estimate prevalence of bingeing and its association with new bereavement. Bingeing is defined as 4 or more drinks (women) or 5 or more drinks (men) in a 2–4-h setting. For the first time in 2019, the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) included a bereavement item: ‘Have you experienced the death of a family member or close friend in the years 2018 or 2019?’ Methods: Georgia BRFSS is a complex sampling survey administered annually. It is designed to represent the 8.1 million people aged 18 years and older in the U.S. state of Georgia. Alcohol consumption patterns are routinely measured in the common core. In 2019, the state added a new item probing for bereavement in the prior 24 months predating the COVID-19 pandemic. Imputation and weighting techniques were applied to yield the population prevalence rates of new bereavement, bingeing, and their co-occurrence with other high-risk health behaviors and outcomes. Multivariate models, adjusted for age, gender, and race, were used to estimate the risk for other unhealthy behaviors posed by the co-occurrence of bereavement and bingeing. Results: In Georgia, bereavement (45.8%), and alcohol consumption (48.8%) are common. Bereavement and alcohol use co-occurred among 1,796,817 people (45% of all drinkers) with a subset of 608,282 persons reporting bereavement combined with bingeing. The most common types of bereavement were death of a friend/neighbor (30.7%) or three plus deaths (31.8%). Conclusions: While bingeing is a known risk to public health, its co-occurrence with recent bereavement is a new observation. Public health surveillance systems need to monitor this co-occurrence to protect both individual and societal health. In a time of global bereavement, documenting its influence on binge drinking can support the work towards Sustainable Development Goal #3—Good health and Well-Being.
A Novel Mutation in the ADAMTS10 Associated with Weil–Marchesani Syndrome with a Unique Presentation of Developed Membranes Causing Severe Stenosis of the Supra Pulmonic, Supramitral, and Subaortic Areas in the Heart
Authors: Levitas Aviva , Aspit Liam , Lowenthal Neta , Shaki David , Krymko Hanna , Slanovic Leonel , Yagev Ronit , Parvari Ruti
Published: May 2023

Weill–Marchesani syndrome (WMS) is a rare genetic inherited disorder with autosomal recessive and dominant modes of inheritance. WMS is characterized by the association of short stature, brachydactyly, joint stiffness, eye anomalies, including microspherophakia and ectopia of the lenses, and, occasionally, heart defects. We investigated the genetic cause of a unique and novel presentation of heart-developed membranes in the supra-pulmonic, supramitral, and subaortic areas, creating stenosis that recurred after their surgical resection in four patients from one extended consanguineous family. The patients also presented ocular findings consistent with Weill–Marchesani syndrome (WMS). We used whole exome sequencing (WES) to identify the causative mutation and report it as a homozygous nucleotide change c. 232T>C causing p. Tyr78His in ADAMTS10. ADAMTS10 (ADAM Metallopeptidase with Thrombospondin Type 1 Motif 10) is a member of a family of zinc-dependent extracellular matrix protease family. This is the first report of a mutation in the pro-domain of ADAMTS10. The novel variation replaces a highly evolutionary conserved tyrosine with histidine. This change may affect the secretion or function of ADAMTS10 in the extracellular matrix. The compromise in protease activity may thus cause the unique presentation of the developed membranes in the heart and their recurrence after surgery.
Ring Finger 149-Related Is an FGF/MAPK-Independent Regulator of Pharyngeal Muscle Fate Specification
Authors: Vitrinel Burcu , Vogel Christine , Christiaen Lionel
Published: May 2023

During embryonic development, cell-fate specification gives rise to dedicated lineages that underlie tissue formation. In olfactores, which comprise tunicates and vertebrates, the cardiopharyngeal field is formed by multipotent progenitors of both cardiac and branchiomeric muscles. The ascidian Ciona is a powerful model to study cardiopharyngeal fate specification with cellular resolution, as only two bilateral pairs of multipotent cardiopharyngeal progenitors give rise to the heart and to the pharyngeal muscles (also known as atrial siphon muscles, ASM). These progenitors are multilineage primed, in as much as they express a combination of early ASM- and heart-specific transcripts that become restricted to their corresponding precursors, following oriented and asymmetric divisions. Here, we identify the primed gene ring finger 149 related (Rnf149-r), which later becomes restricted to the heart progenitors, but appears to regulate pharyngeal muscle fate specification in the cardiopharyngeal lineage. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss of Rnf149-r function impairs atrial siphon muscle morphogenesis, and downregulates Tbx1/10 and Ebf, two key determinants of pharyngeal muscle fate, while upregulating heart-specific gene expression. These phenotypes are reminiscent of the loss of FGF/MAPK signaling in the cardiopharyngeal lineage, and an integrated analysis of lineage-specific bulk RNA-seq profiling of loss-of-function perturbations has identified a significant overlap between candidate FGF/MAPK and Rnf149-r target genes. However, functional interaction assays suggest that Rnf149-r does not directly modulate the activity of the FGF/MAPK/Ets1/2 pathway. Instead, we propose that Rnf149-r acts both in parallel to the FGF/MAPK signaling on shared targets, as well as on FGF/MAPK-independent targets through (a) separate pathway(s).