bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Diagnostic Value of Gut Microbiota Analysis for Post-Stroke Sleep Disorders
Authors: Xie Huijia , Chen Jiaxin , Chen Qionglei , Zhao Yiting , Liu Jiaming , Sun Jing , Hu Xuezhen
Published: September 2023

Background: Gut microbiota have been associated with many psychiatric disorders. However, the changes in the composition of gut microbiota in patients with post-stroke sleep disorders (PSSDs) remain unclear. Here, we determined the gut microbial signature of PSSD patients. Methods: Fecal samples of 205 patients with ischemic stroke were collected within 24 h of admission and were further analyzed using 16 s RNA gene sequencing followed by bioinformatic analysis. The diversity, community composition, and differential microbes of gut microbiota were assessed. The outcome of sleep disorders was determined by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at 3 months after admission. The diagnostic performance of microbial characteristics in predicting PSSDs was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Our results showed that the composition and structure of microbiota in patients with PSSDs were different from those without sleep disorders (PSNSDs). Moreover, the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) showed significant differences in gut-associated bacteria, such as species of Streptococcus, Granulicatella, Dielma, Blautia, Paeniclostridium, and Sutterella. We further managed to identify the optimal microbiota signature and revealed that the predictive model with eight operational-taxonomic-unit-based biomarkers achieved a high accuracy in PSSD prediction (AUC = 0.768). Blautia and Streptococcus were considered to be the key microbiome signatures for patients with PSSD. Conclusions: These findings indicated that a specific gut microbial signature was an important predictor of PSSDs, which highlighted the potential of microbiota as a promising biomarker for detecting PSSD patients.
Diagnostic Performance of ACR TI-RADS and ATA Guidelines in the Prediction of Thyroid Malignancy: A Prospective Single Tertiary Center Study and Literature Review
Authors: Torshizian Ashkan , Hashemi Fatemeh , Khoshhal Nastaran , Ghodsi Alireza , Rastegar Houra , Mousavi Zohreh , Dadgar Moghadam Maliheh , Mohebbi Masoud
Published: September 2023

Aim: This study sought to compare two common risk stratification systems in terms of their diagnostic performance for the evaluation of thyroid malignancy. Methods: The American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and the American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines were compared among 571 thyroid nodules with definitive fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology or postoperative histopathology. Ultrasound characteristics such as composition, echogenicity, shape, margin, size, and vascularity were assessed for each thyroid nodule. Diagnostic performance measures were determined and compared through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: Of 571 nodules, 65 (11.4%) were malignant. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 0.691, 49.2%, 84.9%, 29.6%, and 92.8% for ATA guideline, and 0.776, 72.3%, 79.2%, 30.9%, and 95.7%, for ACR TI-RADS, respectively. ACR TI-RADS was more sensitive (p = 0.003), while the ATA guideline was more specific (p < 0.001). DCA demonstrated that the ACR TI-RADS provided a greater net benefit than the ATA guideline. In addition, the net reduction in unnecessary biopsies is higher for ACR TI-RADS than ATA guidelines. The total number of indicated biopsies and unnecessary FNA rates were lower in ACR TI-RADS compared to ATA guideline (293 vs. 527 and 80.2 vs. 87.8). ACR TI-RADS presented no biopsy indication in seven malignant nodules (all categorized as TR2), whereas ATA guideline missed one. Hypoechogenicity was the most significant predictor of malignancy (OR = 8.34, 95% CI: 3.75–19.45), followed by a taller-than-wide shape (OR = 6.73, 95% CI: 3.07–14.77). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that each system has particular advantages in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. ACR TI-RADS reduces unnecessary FNA rates, however, malignant nodules categorized as TR2 might be missed using this system. Further evaluation of this group of nodules using Doppler and other ultrasound modalities is recommended.
Molecular Diagnosis of COVID-19 Sudden and Unexplained Deaths: The Insidious Face of the Pandemic
Authors: Lisman Dagmara , Zielińska Grażyna , Drath Joanna , Łaszczewska Aleksandra , Savochka Ilona , Parafiniuk Mirosław , Ossowski Andrzej
Published: September 2023

The COVID-19 epidemic has led to a significant increase in the number of deaths. This has resulted in forensic autopsies focusing on additional diagnostic possibilities. The following article is a summary of 23 autopsies of sudden and unexplained deaths. Particularly noteworthy are the described cases of children whose deaths were originally classified as SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). All tests were performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Genetics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. Autopsy analyses were extended to include diagnostics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus using molecular methods and a detailed histopathological analysis of lung tissue. The material for molecular tests consisted of a nasopharyngeal swab taken postmortem and a lung tissue homogenate. In both cases, the RT-PCR method with CT cut-off point analysis was used for diagnosis. In all analyzed cases, the lungs showed massive congestion and increased fragility and cohesion. The tested material showed the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which indicated various stages of infection. It was observed that the higher the virus expression in the lungs, the lower or undetectable it was in the nasopharyngeal swab. This may explain false negative results during life in swabs. An interesting finding is that child deaths classified as SIDS also showed the presence of the virus. This may constitute a new direction of research.
Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis against COVID-19 for Multiple Myeloma Patients: A Prospective Study in the Omicron Era
Authors: Ntanasis-Stathopoulos Ioannis , Filippatos Charalampos , Gavriatopoulou Maria , Malandrakis Panagiotis , Eleutherakis-Papaiakovou Evangelos , Spiliopoulou Vassiliki , Syrigou Rodanthi-Eleni , Theodorakakou Foteini , Fotiou Despina , Migkou Magdalini , Roussou Maria , Kastritis Efstathios , Dimopoulos Meletios Athanasios , Terpos Evangelos
Published: September 2023

Background: tixagevimab/cilgavimab, distributed under the name “Evusheld”, was the first available pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 other than vaccination. It received an EUA from the FDA after sufficient trial data showed efficacy in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections and subsequent severe disease. Its potential benefits for high-risk immunocompromised patients generated a lot of interest. Individuals with multiple myeloma fall into this category, as they are characterized by attenuated immune responses and, in some cases, vaccines have limited efficacy. Methods: this single-center, prospective study included consecutive patients with multiple myeloma. All individuals were considered high-risk for COVID-19 due to their underlying disease. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as data regarding COVID-19 infection and antibodies, were collected. Patients were administered two intramuscular 150 mg doses of Evusheld and were monitored during the follow-up period. Results: one hundred and eleven multiple myeloma patients were included in this analysis, with a median age of 64 years (range 58–69) and fifty-three were females (47.7%). Fourteen patients (12.6%) had a prior history of COVID-19 and all patients were vaccinated with either three or four doses of mRNA-based vaccines. An increase was observed in the median neutralizing-antibody levels before and after tixagevimab/cilgavimab administration, from 92.6% to 97.3%. The high levels were sustainable, with a median neutralizing-antibody level of 95.4% at 3 months post Evusheld administration. Overall, nine patients (8.1%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the follow-up period, at a median of 31 days. There were no SARS-CoV-2- infection-related hospitalizations or deaths. The monoclonal antibody combination was well tolerated, with no infusion-related reactions or major adverse events, and pain at the injection site only was reported by 33 patients (30%). Conclusions: tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) seemed beneficial for patients with multiple myeloma, who presented high neutralizing-antibody levels and a low incidence of COVID-19 during the initial Omicron wave. No new safety concerns emerged. However, novel combinations of monoclonal antibodies against the new circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 are deemed necessary in view of the emergence of immune tolerance.
Challenges in Inter-UAV 60 GHz Wireless Communication Utilizing Instantaneous Proximity Opportunities in Flight
Authors: Isogai Ryosuke , Kondou Keitarou , Shan Lin , Matsuda Takashi , Miura Ryu , Yasuda Satoshi , Shiga Nobuyasu , Matsumura Takeshi , Shoji Yozo
Published: September 2023

Communication using millimeter wave (mmWave) and terahertz bands between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is a crucial technology for the realization of non-terrestrial networks envisioned for Beyond 5G. While these frequency bands offer remarkably high-speed transmission capabilities of tens of Gbps and above, they possess strong directivity and limited communication range due to the requirement of high-gain antennas to compensate for substantial propagation loss. When a UAV employs radio of such a high-frequency band, the available communication time can be less than one second, and the feasibility of leveraging this ultra-narrow zone, which is only accessible for a short duration in a confined space, has not been investigated. This paper presents the theory behind the ultra-narrow zone in frequencies beyond mmWave and explores the data transfer characteristics at 60 GHz between two UAVs. We demonstrate the transmission of 120 MB of data within approximately 500 milliseconds utilizing the instantaneous proximity opportunity created as the UAVs pass each other. Additionally, we evaluate data transfer while the UAVs maintain a fixed distance, to sustain the 60 GHz link, successfully transmitting over 10 GB of data in the air with a throughput of approximately 5 Gbps.
Scaling-Invariant Max-Filtering Enhancement Transformers for Efficient Visual Tracking
Authors: Chen Zhen , Xiong Xingzhong , Meng Fanqin , Xiao Xianbing , Liu Jun
Published: September 2023

Real-time tracking is one of the most challenging problems in computer vision. Most Transformer-based trackers usually require expensive computational and storage power, which leads to these robust trackers being unable to achieve satisfactory real-time performance in resource-constrained devices. In this work, we propose a lightweight tracker, AnteaTrack. To localize the target more accurately, this paper presents a scaling-invariant max-filtering operator. It uses local max-pooling to filter the suspected target portion in overlapping sliding windows for enhancement while suppressing the background. For a more compact target bounding-box, this paper presents an upsampling module based on Pixel-Shuffle to increase the fine-grained expression of target features. In addition, AnteaTrack can run in real time at 47 frames per second (FPS) on a CPU. We tested AnteaTrack on five datasets, and a large number of experiments showed that AnteaTrack provides the most efficient solution compared to the same type of CPU real-time trackers.
DBENet: Dual-Branch Brightness Enhancement Fusion Network for Low-Light Image Enhancement
Authors: Chen Yongqiang , Wen Chenglin , Liu Weifeng , He Wei
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we propose an end-to-end low-light image enhancement network based on the YCbCr color space to address the issues encountered by existing algorithms when dealing with brightness distortion and noise in the RGB color space. Traditional methods typically enhance the image first and then denoise, but this amplifies the noise hidden in the dark regions, leading to suboptimal enhancement results. To overcome these problems, we utilize the characteristics of the YCbCr color space to convert the low-light image from RGB to YCbCr and design a dual-branch enhancement network. The network consists of a CNN branch and a U-net branch, which are used to enhance the contrast of luminance and chrominance information, respectively. Additionally, a fusion module is introduced for feature extraction and information measurement. It automatically estimates the importance of corresponding feature maps and employs adaptive information preservation to enhance contrast and eliminate noise. Finally, through testing on multiple publicly available low-light image datasets and comparing with classical algorithms, the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method generates enhanced images with richer details, more realistic colors, and less noise.
Real Pseudo-Lidar Point Cloud Fusion for 3D Object Detection
Authors: Fan Xiangsuo , Xiao Dachuan , Cai Dengsheng , Ding Wentao
Published: September 2023

Three-dimensional object detection technology is an essential component of autonomous driving systems. Existing 3D object detection techniques heavily rely on expensive lidar sensors, leading to increased costs. Recently, the emergence of Pseudo-Lidar point cloud data has addressed this cost issue. However, the current methods for generating Pseudo-Lidar point clouds are relatively crude, resulting in suboptimal detection performance. This paper proposes an improved method to generate more accurate Pseudo-Lidar point clouds. The method first enhances the stereo-matching network to improve the accuracy of Pseudo-Lidar point cloud representation. Secondly, it fuses 16-Line real lidar point cloud data to obtain more precise Real Pseudo-Lidar point cloud data. Our method achieves impressive results in the popular KITTI benchmark. Our algorithm achieves an object detection accuracy of 85.5% within a range of 30 m. Additionally, the detection accuracies for pedestrians and cyclists reach 68.6% and 61.6%, respectively.
Long-Term Prediction Model for NOx Emission Based on LSTM–Transformer
Authors: Guo Youlin , Mao Zhizhong
Published: September 2023

Excessive nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions result in growing environmental problems and increasingly stringent emission standards. This requires a precise control for NOx emissions. A prerequisite for precise control is accurate NOx emission detection. However, the NOx measurement sensors currently in use have serious lag problems in measurement due to the harsh operating environment and other problems. To address this issue, we need to make long-term prediction for NOx emissions. In this paper, we propose a long-term prediction model based on LSTM–Transformer. First, the model uses self-attention to capture long-term trend. Second, long short-term memory network (LSTM) is used to capture short-term trends and as secondary position encoding to provide positional information. We construct them using a parallel structure. In long-term prediction, experimental results on two real datasets with different sampling intervals show that the proposed prediction model performs better than the currently popular methods, with 28.2% and 19.1% relative average improvements on the two datasets, respectively.
Controllable Multiple Active Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces Assisted Anti-Jamming Communication
Authors: Ni Li , Zhu Yonggang , Guo Wenlong
Published: September 2023

Traditional anti-jamming techniques such as frequency hopping (FH) and direction-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) are easily targeted by jammers. Inspired by the significant advantages of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), and in order to overcome “double fading”, controllable multiple active RISs are proposed to explore anti-jamming communication in this paper. To verify the feasibility of active RIS, the anti-jamming performance of active RIS is analyzed through theoretical derivation and simulation and compared with passive RIS. Furthermore, to solve the optimization problem of active RIS, a controllable multi-active RIS assisted anti-jamming algorithm based on BCD is proposed. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that in small-scale deployment scenarios of RIS, the anti-jamming performance of active RIS is better than that of passive RIS, and the complexity and optimization performance of the proposed algorithm are better than those of semidefinite relaxation (SDR) algorithms.
Enhancement of Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Pollution Using an Intercropping System in Moso Bamboo Forests: Characteristics of Soil Organic Matter and Bacterial Communities
Authors: Bian Fangyuan , Zhang Xiaoping , Li Qiaoling , Huang Zhiyuan , Zhong Zheke
Published: September 2023

Heavy metal pollution in soil is a major global issue, and one effective method for addressing it is phytoremediation through bamboo planting. Nevertheless, there is a notable gap in our knowledge as no studies have explored the characteristics of soil organic matter (SOM) and the bacterial communities in bamboo forests during the remediation process. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted research to investigate the impact of different bamboo planting patterns on the SOM characteristics and microbial communities in soils contaminated with heavy metals. The contents of SOM and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils differed significantly between monocropping and intercropping systems, with DOM accounting for only 1.7%–2.5% of SOM. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that the contents of SOM polysaccharides C-O, carbonate C-O, aliphatic methyl, and methylene increased, while the aromatic C=C abundance decreased in the intercropping rhizosphere soil. The differences between bamboo cultivation patterns in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were elucidated using the biomarkers, including MND1 and Nitrospira (non-rhizosphere), and Sphingomonas (rhizosphere). Heavy metals, DOM, SOM, and refined organic functional groups, especially C-O in polysaccharides and symmetric carboxylate, were the determining factors of soil bacterial communities. Compared to monocropping, intercropping increased the accumulation of Zn and Cd in bamboo shoots by 35% and 40%, respectively, and hence, intercropping soil, with a low toxicity, was suitable for bamboo shoot sprouting. Intercropping can alter the characteristics of SOM and bacterial communities and plays a vital role in phytoremediation and shoot growth in bamboo forests. Future studies on soil carbon dynamics and nutrient status during heavy metal remediation will improve our knowledge of soil transformation and its impact on soil ecosystem health and productivity.
Enteric Methane Emissions, Rumen Fermentation Characteristics, and Energetic Efficiency of Holstein Crossbred Bulls Fed Total Mixed Ration Silage with Cassava instead of Rice Straw
Authors: Binsulong Bhoowadol , Gunha Thidarat , Kongphitee Kanokwan , Maeda Koki , Sommart Kritapon
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the effects of substituting rice straw with cassava in total mixed ration silage on feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, ruminating activity, and energy balance. An energy balance experiment was conducted to determine nutrient and energy utilization in dairy bulls. Four Holstein Friesian (HF) crossbred young bulls (93.19% HF × 6.81% Native Thai; average age of 12.08 ± 0.22 months and body weight of 266 ± 9.80 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with four 28-d periods. The four dietary treatments included substituting cassava with rice straw on a 50, 150, 250, and 350 g/kg dry matter basis. Increasing the amount of cassava in the diet resulted in linearly decreased rumination behaviors and enteric methane emissions (p < 0.05) but a linear increase in feed intake and digestibility, total volatile fatty acid concentration, and propionic acid: acetic acid ratio in the rumen fluid (p < 0.05), thus leading to a greater energy balance status (p < 0.01). Our results indicated that replacing cassava with rice straw from 5% to 35% in the ration of Holstein bulls resulted in a substantial reduction in physically effective fiber and chewing time but improved nutrient and energy supply. The metabolizable energy requirement for the maintenance of crossbred dairy bulls was estimated to be 599.9 kJ/kg metabolic body weight and the efficiency of metabolizable energy used for growth was 0.88. We concluded that cassava is a good energy feed resource for Holstein crossbred bulls in the tropics.
Editorial for the Special Issue on “Software Engineering and Data Science”, Volume II
Authors: Tosi Davide
Published: September 2023

The Special Issue “Software Engineering and Data Science, Volume II” is the natural continuation of its greatly successful predecessor, Volume I [...]
Proof of Flow: A Design Pattern for the Green Energy Market
Authors: Mandarino Valerio , Pappalardo Giuseppe , Tramontana Emiliano
Published: September 2023

The increased penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in electricity markets has given rise to a new category of energy players, called Aggregators, whose role is to ensure fair remuneration for energy supplied by DERs, and support the smooth feeding of the intermittent energy produced into the distribution network. This paper presents a software solution, described as a design pattern, that governs the interaction between an Aggregator and DERs, leveraging blockchain technology to achieve a higher degree of decentralization, data integrity and security, through a properly designed, blockchain-based, smart contract. Thus, the proposed solution reduces the reliance on intermediaries acting as authorities, while affording transparency, efficiency and trust to the energy exchange process. Thanks to the underlying blockchain properties, generated events are easily observable and cannot be forged or altered. However, blockchain technology has inherent drawbacks, i.e., mainly the cost of storage and execution, hence our solution provides additional strategies for limiting blockchain usage, without undermining its strengths. Moreover, the design of our smart contract takes care of orchestrating the players, and copes with their potential mutual disagreements, which could arise from different measures of energy, providing an automatic decision process to resolve such disputes. The overall approach results in lower fees for running smart contacts supporting energy players and in a greater degree of fairness assurance.
Fermentation of Peanut Slurry with Lactococcus lactis Species, Leuconostoc and Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. globosum Enhanced Protein Digestibility
Authors: Saizen Ayana , Stipkovits Letitia , Muto Yukiyo , Serventi Luca
Published: September 2023

Peanuts contain nutritionally relevant levels of protein, yet are poorly digestible. Fermentation is a promising technique to boost legume protein quality, but its effect on the protein quality of raw peanuts has not been investigated. This study aimed to assess the impact of fermentation on the in vitro protein digestibility and free amino acid profile of cooked peanut slurry (peanut to water ratio 1:1). Cultures used were Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. globosum and a commercial fresh cheese culture that contained Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, lactis, lactis biovar diacetylactis, and Leuconostoc, fermenting at 38 °C for 48 h. Samples fermented with the combination of cultures showed higher protein digestibility, as well as softer texture. Significant increases were observed only in the sample fermented with the fresh cheese culture. While the fresh cheese culture improved the free amino acid profile after fermentation, the combination of the cultures decreased all free amino acid concentrations except for glutamine, alanine, and proline. The observed increases in in vitro protein digestibility and the free amino acid profile may be attributed to the proteolytic activities of the cultures.
Research Progress on Low Damage Grasping of Fruit, Vegetable and Meat Raw Materials
Authors: Xu Zeyu , Shi Wenbo , Zhao Dianbo , Li Ke , Li Junguang , Dong Junyi , Han Yu , Zhao Jiansheng , Bai Yanhong
Published: September 2023

The sorting and processing of food raw materials is an important step in the food production process, and the quality of the sorting operation can directly or indirectly affect the quality of the product. In order to improve production efficiency and reduce damage to food raw materials, some food production enterprises currently use robots for sorting operations of food raw materials. In the process of robot grasping, some food raw materials such as fruits, vegetables and meat have a soft appearance, complex and changeable shape, and are easily damaged by the robot gripper. Therefore, higher requirements have been put forward for robot grippers, and the research and development of robot grippers that can reduce damage to food raw materials and ensure stable grasping has been a major focus. In addition, in order to grasp food raw materials with various shapes and sizes with low damage, a variety of sensors and control strategies are required. Based on this, this paper summarizes the low damage grasp principle and characteristics of electric grippers, pneumatic grippers, vacuum grippers and magnetic grippers used in automated sorting production lines of fruit, vegetable and meat products, as well as gripper design methods to reduce grasp damage. Then, a grasping control strategy based on visual sensors and tactile sensors was introduced. Finally, the challenges and potential future trends faced by food robot grippers were summarized.
Innovative Plant-Based Burger Enriched with Tenebrio molitor Meal: Characterization and Shelf-Life
Authors: Ardila Paula , Honrado Adrián , Marquina Pedro , Beltrán José Antonio , Calanche Juan B.
Published: September 2023

Environmental concerns, among other causes, are leading to meat replacement in the diet by healthy, nutritious, and tasty foods. Alternative protein sources of plant origin can be an alternative to meat but their low biological value proteins can be a problem. Novel foods, such as insect meals, can meet current consumer’s demands. Therefore, this research has developed innovative prototypes of analog burgers with insect and vegetable proteins. Concerned about health and allergies, a prototype incorporating soya to satisfy coeliacs was developed. An iterative and heuristic process was carried out to test the product development feasibility. The main raw materials used were insect flour (Tenebrio molitor), seitan, and soya. In addition, oat and sodium alginate were used as binders. The shelf-life of the new product was evaluated by physicochemical (pH, aw, moisture, color, acidity, and peroxide index) and sensory analysis (quantitative analysis QDA). The production of the burger analogs was feasible. Product characterization showed significant differences (p < 0.05) among samples for organoleptic properties, highlighting texture changes. Using a multivariate model, it was established that the “best before date” occurs at seven days for all developed prototypes, conditioned by microbial growth. Finally, the spoilage model indicated an important contribution to bacterial growth with a notable modification to the pastiness and hardness of the burger analogs developed.
Stabilization of High Internal Phase Oil-in-Water Emulsions Using “Whole” Gracilaria lemaneiformis Slurry
Authors: Li Jinjin , Guo Xiaoming , Liu Zhengqi , Yang Zhihua , Ai Chunqing , Song Shuang , Zhu Beiwei
Published: September 2023

In this study, a Gracilaria lemaneiformis slurry (GLS) was prepared using low-energy mechanical shearing. The resulting GLS, which was rich in polysaccharides, was utilized as an effective stabilizer for oil-in-water emulsions. The microstructures and stability of the resulting emulsions were controlled by adjusting the emulsion formulations, including Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GL) mass concentration and oil volume fraction (φ). The optimized GL mass concentration and φ conditions yielded high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with gel-like textures. Moreover, the presence of exogenous Ca2+ resulted in bridging structures in the emulsions, enhancing their viscoelasticity and forming a robust physical barrier against droplet coalescence. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of the GLS as an emulsifier for stabilizing HIPEs. Notably, this method relies solely on physical processes, aligning with the desirability of avoiding chemical additives, particularly in the food industry.
Protective Effects of Mulberry (Morus atropurpurea Roxb.) Leaf Protein Hydrolysates and Their In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digests on AAPH-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Erythrocytes
Authors: Sun Chongzhen , Li Hongyan , Hui Xiaodan , Ma Yurong , Yin Zhina , Chen Qingsong , Chen Cong , Wu Hui , Wu Xiyang
Published: September 2023

Mulberry leaf protein hydrolysates (HMP), and their in vitro gastrointestinal digests (GHMP), have shown favorable chemical antioxidant activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential protective effects of HMP and GHMP against 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes. The inhibition rate of hemolysis, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), the reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSH), and the enzymatic activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and cellular glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were evaluated as the biomarkers of oxidative status in human erythrocytes. The results showed that HMP and GHMP effectively inhibit the occurrence of erythrocyte hemolysis in the range of 0.025–1.0 mg/mL, and the inhibition rates of HMP and GHMP reached 92% and 90% at concentrations of 0.4 mg/mL and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. HMP and GHMP reduced the AAPH-induced oxidative hemolysis damage via suppressing the generation of ROS by inhibiting the formation of MDA, maintaining the balance of GSH/GSSG, and preserving the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT. Our findings revealed that both HMP and GHMP could be used as natural antioxidants, and have the potential for further application in the development of functional foods.
A Two-Player Resource-Sharing Game with Asymmetric Information
Authors: Wijewardena Mevan , Neely Michael J.
Published: September 2023

This paper considers a two-player game where each player chooses a resource from a finite collection of options. Each resource brings a random reward. Both players have statistical information regarding the rewards of each resource. Additionally, there exists an information asymmetry where each player has knowledge of the reward realizations of different subsets of the resources. If both players choose the same resource, the reward is divided equally between them, whereas if they choose different resources, each player gains the full reward of the resource. We first implement the iterative best response algorithm to find an ϵ-approximate Nash equilibrium for this game. This method of finding a Nash equilibrium may not be desirable when players do not trust each other and place no assumptions on the incentives of the opponent. To handle this case, we solve the problem of maximizing the worst-case expected utility of the first player. The solution leads to counter-intuitive insights in certain special cases. To solve the general version of the problem, we develop an efficient algorithmic solution that combines online convex optimization and the drift-plus penalty technique.
The Application of Nanogels as Efficient Drug Delivery Platforms for Dermal/Transdermal Delivery
Authors: Siafaka Panoraia I. , Özcan Bülbül Ece , Okur Mehmet Evren , Karantas Ioannis D. , Üstündağ Okur Neslihan
Published: September 2023

The delivery of active molecules via the skin seems to be an efficient technology, given the various disadvantages of oral drug administration. Skin, which is the largest human organ of the body, has the important role of acting as a barrier for pathogens and other molecules including drugs; in fact, it serves as a primary defense system blocking any particle from entering the body. Therefore, to overcome the skin barriers and poor skin permeability, researchers implement novel carriers which can effectively carry out transdermal delivery of the molecules. Another significant issue which medical society tries to solve is the effective dermal delivery of molecules especially for topical wound delivery. The application of nanogels is only one of the available approaches offering promising results for both dermal and transdermal administration routes. Nanogels are polymer-based networks in nanoscale dimensions which have been explored as potent carriers of poorly soluble drugs, genes and vaccines. The nanogels present unique physicochemical properties, i.e., high surface area, biocompatibility, etc., and, importantly, can improve solubility. In this review, authors aimed to summarize the available applications of nanogels as possible vehicles for dermal and transdermal delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients and discuss their future in the pharmaceutical manufacturing field.
A Carboxyethylchitosan Gel Cross-Linked with Glutaraldehyde as a Candidate Carrier for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Korel Anastasia , Samokhin Alexander , Zemlyakova Ekaterina , Pestov Alexander , Blinova Elena , Zelikman Maxim , Tkachenko Vadim , Bets Viktoria , Kretien Svetlana , Arzhanova Elena , Litvinova Ekaterina
Published: September 2023

To date, few publications describe CEC’s properties and possible applications—thus, further evaluation of these properties is a point of interest. The present in vitro model study aimed to evaluate a carboxyethylchitosan (CEC) gel with a degree of substitution of 1, cross-linked with glutaraldehyde at a polymer:aldehyde molar ratio of 10:1, as a potential carrier for delivering bacteriophages to various pH-fixed media (acidic, alkaline), and including gastrointestinal tract (GIT) variable medium. A quantitative analysis of bacteriophages released from the gel was performed using photon correlation spectrophotometry, and phage activity after emission into medium was evaluated using the spot test. The results showed that the CEC gel’s maximum swelling ratios were at a nearly neutral alkaline pH. Increasing temperature enhances the swelling ratio of the gel independent from pH, up to 1127% at 37 °C and alkaline pH. The UV and photon correlation spectrophotometry showed equal gel release kinetics in both fixed media with acidic (pH = 2.2) and alkaline (pH = 7.4) pH environments at 37 °C, with the maximum release within two hours. However, phage lytic activity in the spot test during this simulation was absent. At the same time, we obtained an opaque phage lytic activity in the alkaline pH-fixed medium for at least three hours. Phages released from the tested CEC gel in different pHs suggest that this gel could be used for applications that require fast release at the treatment site both in acidic and alkaline pH. Such treatment sites could be a wound or even soil with mild acidic or alkaline pH. However, such CEC gel is not suitable as a delivery system to the GIT because of possible transported acid-sensitive agent (such as phages) release and destruction already in the stomach.
Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Hessian Fly Resistance in Soft Red Winter Wheat
Authors: Bagwell John W. , Subedi Madhav , Sapkota Suraj , Lopez Benjamin , Ghimire Bikash , Chen Zhenbang , Buntin G. David , Bahri Bochra A. , Mergoum Mohamed
Published: September 2023

The Hessian fly (HF) is an invasive insect that has caused millions of dollars in yield losses to southeastern US wheat farms. Genetic resistance is the most sustainable solution to control HF. However, emerging biotypes are quickly overcoming resistance genes in the southeast; therefore, identifying novel sources of resistance is critical. The resistant line “UGA 111729” and susceptible variety “AGS 2038” were crossbred to generate a population of 225 recombinant inbred lines. This population was phenotyped in the growth chamber (GC) during 2019 and 2021 and in field (F) trials in Georgia during the 2021–2022 growing seasons. Visual scoring was utilized in GC studies. The percentage of infested tillers and number of pupae/larvae per tiller, and infested tiller per sample were measured in studies from 2021 to 2022. Averaging across all traits, a major QTL on chromosome 3D explained 42.27% (GC) and 10.43% (F) phenotypic variance within 9.86 centimorgans (cM). SNP marker IWB65911 was associated with the quantitative trait locus (QTL) peak with logarithm of odds (LOD) values of 14.98 (F) and 62.22 (GC). IWB65911 colocalized with resistance gene H32. KASP marker validation verified that UGA 111729 and KS89WGRC06 express H32. IWB65911 may be used for marker-assisted selection.
Pearson Correlation Coefficient Applied to Petroleum System Characterization: The Case Study of Potiguar and Reconcavo Basins, Brazil
Authors: Morais Érica T. , Barberes Gabriel A. , Souza Igor Viegas A. F. , Leal Fabiano G. , Guzzo Jarbas V. P. , Spigolon André L. D.
Published: September 2023

This study applied the Pearson correlation coefficient and principal component analysis as tools for unsupervised qualitative petroleum system evaluation techniques. A total of 252 oil samples (32 features per sample) representative of two Brazilian sedimentary basins (Recôncavo and Potiguar) were used to classify them according to their respective degrees of maturation and origin. The large initial set of variables comprises data on δ13C composition, saturate, aromatic, polar compound fractions, and the techniques reduced biomarkers to the most important variables, maintaining the global pattern of variance. The results were efficient in discriminating different petroleum systems from lacustrine, marine, and mixing sources, as observed in the studied accumulations from the Lower Cretaceous sediments of the Recôncavo and Potiguar basins. The methodology proved to be very useful to vene better characterize the petroleum systems. This methodology can be applied to analyze a large amount of oil samples, using simple software and spending relatively less time.
Read with Me/While We Wait—A Community of Voices in Percival Everett’s Trout’s Lie
Authors: Tissut Anne-Laure
Published: September 2023

In Trout’s Lie, Percival Everett seems to be once more exploring pure form as part of a quest for abstraction. Yet the effect of the poems in the collection largely relies on the materiality of language characterizing all poetry—mostly a play on sounds and the visual dimension of the text. How to conciliate the quest for pure form and the unruliness of the bodily? It will be argued that Everett brings them together through a work on forms not only in space but also in time, focusing on endings in both the abstract and the concrete sense of the term.
Asthma Moderates the Association between the Big Five Personality Traits and Life Satisfaction
Authors: Kang Weixi , Malvaso Antonio , Whelan Edward
Published: September 2023

The current study aimed to examine whether asthma moderates the association between the Big Five personality traits and life satisfaction. By analyzing data from 3934 people with asthma (40.09% males) with a mean age of 49.2 (S.D. = 16.94) years old and 22,914 people without asthma (42.9% males) with a mean age of 45.62 (S.D. = 17.25) years old using a hierarchical regression and multiple regressions, the current study found that asthma significantly moderates the link between Neuroticism and life satisfaction and Openness and life satisfaction after controlling for other covariates. Specifically, Neuroticism was negatively related to life satisfaction whereas Agreeableness, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Extraversion were positively associated with life satisfaction in people with and without asthma. However, the negative association between Neuroticism and life satisfaction and the positive association between Openness and life satisfaction were stronger in people with asthma compared to people without asthma.
Bulgarian General Practitioners’ Communication Styles about Child Vaccinations, Mainly Focused on Parental Decision Making in the Context of a Mandatory Immunization Schedule
Authors: Dimitrova Veronika , Stoitsova Savina , Nenova Gergana , Martinova Maria , Yakimova Milena , Rangelova Vanya , Georgieva Irina , Georgiev Ivo , Krumova Stefka , Minkova Antoaneta , Vladimirova Nadezhda , Nikolaeva-Glomb Lubomira
Published: September 2023

The communication practices of general practitioners in relation with vaccines have not been a topic of wide scientific interest. In this article, we outline them in the context of Bulgaria. A representative, cross-sectional, quantitative, face-to-face survey was conducted among 358 Bulgarian general practitioners in 2022 using simple random sampling. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis using questions about the role of the GPs, which measure models of communication. Based on the factor analysis, we distinguished four communication styles. They were called: active communicator, restrictive communicator, informing communicator, and strained communicator. One-way ANOVA and the T-test were carried out to explore the connections between factor scores (communication styles) and other variables. One of the most important results in the study was that the informing physician (emphasizing the choice of the parents) was the most common model in Bulgaria. This is somewhat contradictory, because of the mandatory status of most vaccines. We found connections between the communication styles and other variables—such as the type of settlement, having a hesitant parent in the practice, recommendations of non-mandatory vaccines, and experience with vaccine-preventable diseases. On the basis of the factor analysis and analysis of relationships with other variables, we reached the conclusion that in Bulgaria, hesitant parents are not sufficiently involved in active, effective communication about vaccines by GPs.
The Moderating Role of Psychological Safety in the Relationship between Job Embeddedness, Organizational Commitment, and Retention Intention among Home Care Attendants in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Min-Yen , Fu Chih-Kuang , Huang Chi-Fu , Chen Han-Shen
Published: September 2023

As Taiwan’s population ages, the need for long-term care, such as home care, is increasing due to improved medical services and longer life expectancy; however, the current coverage rate for home care services is only 50%, highlighting the importance of retaining home care workers. This study applies job embeddedness, organizational commitment, and psychological safety as variables to explore the retention intention of Taiwan’s home care workers. A questionnaire survey was distributed among home care workers using convenience sampling, resulting in 547 collected questionnaires, of which 458 were valid. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0, and a structural equation model (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. Our findings suggest that job embeddedness has a positive impact on organizational commitment (γ = 0.649, γ = 0.607, and γ = 0.628; p < 0.001) and retention intention (γ = 0.253, γ = 0.242, γ = 0.271; p < 0.001), similar to organizational commitment (γ = 0.721, p < 0.001). Additionally, organizational commitment mediates job embeddedness and retention intention, while psychological safety moderated organizational commitment and retention intention (β = 0.639; p < 0.001). This study aims to provide information for the development of more effective human resource policies and contribute to practical advancements in the home care service environment and management structure of home care organizations. By analyzing and exploring the main factors contributing to home care workers’ retention intention, we hope to enhance the overall benefits of home service organizations and the industry.
Improving Purpose in Life in School Settings
Authors: Ruini Chiara , Albieri Elisa , Ottolini Fedra , Vescovelli Francesca
Published: September 2023

Background and aim: The dimension of purpose in life (PiL) is one of the core features of eudaimonia and plays a crucial role in developmental settings. However, few studies have examined purpose in life in younger generations and verified if it is amenable to improvements following a wellbeing-promoting intervention. The aim of the present investigation is to explore correlates and predictors of purpose in life in school children and to test if it can be ameliorated after school-based wellbeing interventions. Methods: A total of 614 students were recruited in various schools in Northern Italy. Of these, 456 belonged to junior high and high schools and were randomly assigned to receive a protocol of School Well-Being Therapy (WBT) or a psychoeducational intervention (controls). A total of 158 students were enrolled in elementary schools and received a positive narrative intervention based on fairytales or were randomly assigned to controlled conditions. All students were assessed pre- and post- intervention with Ryff scales of eudaimonic wellbeing (short version) and with other self-report measures of anxiety, depression and somatization. Additionally, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was administered to their schoolteachers as observed–rated evaluation. Results: In both elementary and high schools, purpose in life after the intervention was predicted by initial depressive symptoms and by group assignment (positive interventions vs. controls). In older students, PiL was predicted by female gender and anxiety levels, while no specific strengths identified by teachers were associated with PiL. Conclusions: PiL plays an important and strategic role in developmental settings, where students can develop skills and capacities to set meaningful goals in life. Depressive symptoms and anxiety can be obstacles to developing PiL in students, while positive school-based interventions can promote this core dimension of eudaimonia.
An Individual’s Lived Experiences of Taking Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products (CBMPs) to Treat Anxiety
Authors: Hurn Samantha
Published: September 2023

This report documents the case of a patient (the author) participating in a clinical trial of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)—the Sapphire Access Scheme, run by the Sapphire Medical Clinic as part of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry—to explore the impacts of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) on anxiety. For most of my life, I have experienced often very serious bouts of poor mental health arising, in part, from childhood abuse, and have been diagnosed with several mental health conditions which constitute disabilities. I have received various conventional treatments and multiple alternative therapies. However, none of these have enabled me to consistently manage my conditions long-term, and I often suffer relapses. As part of the Sapphire Access Scheme, I complete regular quantitative questionnaires regarding the impacts of the CBMPs on my anxiety and have also obtained the clinic’s permission to qualitatively document and write up the impacts of CBMPs on my mental health. Here, I present a preliminary autoethnographic exploration of my lived experiences of CBMP use over the first four months of the trial, which show that even within such a short space of time, CBMPs have had a positive impact on treating what had previously been treatment-refractive chronic anxiety.