bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical and Electronic Properties of DNTF Crystals under Different Pressure
Authors: Nan Hai , Jia Xianzhen , Wang Xuanjun , Liu Heping , Jiang Fan , Zhang Peng
Published: September 2021

In the present study, the effects of pressure on the structure, elastic properties and electronic structure of DNTF compounds are studied using the first principles method. It is found that pressure has a great influence on lattice constants. When the pressure reaches 80 GPa, the structure of DNTF changes suddenly. The variation trend of C11, C22 and C33 values is consistent with that of pressure. In addition, pressure can improve the compressibility and shear resistance of the DNTF compound. The pressure can reduce the bandgap and further increases the charge density, causing DNTF to decompose and explode.
The Use of Membrane Filtration to Increase Native Whey Proteins in Infant Formula
Authors: Chen Yihong , Callanan Michael , Shanahan Colm , Tobin John , Gamon Luke F. , Davies Michael J. , Giblin Linda , Brodkorb André
Published: September 2021

The introduction of membrane filtration during infant milk formula (IMF) processing represents an innovative approach to increasing native protein content compared to standard IMF. The objective of this study was to compare IMF powder produced using a standard process and IMF produced from raw bovine skim milk with added whey protein isolate using a split-stream process incorporating a ceramic 1.4 μm filter followed by a polyvinylidene difluoride polymeric 0.2 μm filter. Retentates from 0.2 μm microfiltration (MF) were blended with fat, lactose, and minerals and subsequently high-temperature treated (125 °C × 5 s). The heat-treated retentate was merged with the permeate from the 0.2 μm MF, homogenised, and spray-dried (referred to as membrane-filtered IMF or MEM-IMF). A control IMF was also produced using standard treatment (referred to as high-temperature IMF or HT-IMF) without membrane filtration. Both IMF products were characterised by high-performance liquid chromatography, particle size, and enzyme activity assays. MEM-IMF powder had significantly higher amounts of native (1.1 g per 100 g powder) and monomeric (1.48 g per 100 g powder) whey proteins when compared to 0.18 and 0.46 g per 100 g powder in HT-IMF, respectively. MEM-IMF also exhibited a lower degree of protein aggregation compared to HT-IMF. Comparison of microbial and Maillard by-products markers demonstrated that a safe IMF product could be produced at scale, although levels of the Maillard by-product marker, carboxymethyl-lysine, were not significantly reduced in MEM-IMF. This study demonstrates how membrane filtration can be used to retain native proteins during IMF manufacture.
Multiple Image Splicing Dataset (MISD): A Dataset for Multiple Splicing
Authors: Kadam Kalyani Dhananjay , Ahirrao Swati , Kotecha Ketan
Published: September 2021

Image forgery has grown in popularity due to easy access to abundant image editing software. These forged images are so devious that it is impossible to predict with the naked eye. Such images are used to spread misleading information in society with the help of various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Hence, there is an urgent need for effective forgery detection techniques. In order to validate the credibility of these techniques, publically available and more credible standard datasets are required. A few datasets are available for image splicing, such as Columbia, Carvalho, and CASIA V1.0. However, these datasets are employed for the detection of image splicing. There are also a few custom datasets available such as Modified CASIA, AbhAS, which are also employed for the detection of image splicing forgeries. A study of existing datasets used for the detection of image splicing reveals that they are limited to only image splicing and do not contain multiple spliced images. This research work presents a Multiple Image Splicing Dataset, which consists of a total of 300 multiple spliced images. We are the pioneer in developing the first publicly available Multiple Image Splicing Dataset containing high-quality, annotated, realistic multiple spliced images. In addition, we are providing a ground truth mask for these images. This dataset will open up opportunities for researchers working in this significant area.
Sudden Cardiac Death in Systemic Sclerosis: Diagnostics to Assess Risk and Inform Management
Authors: Ross Laura , Paratz Elizabeth , Baron Murray , La Gerche André , Nikpour Mandana
Published: September 2021

Cardiac disease is a leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) is thought to occur more commonly in SSc than in the general population. Diffuse myocardial fibrosis, myocarditis and ischaemic heart disease are all prevalent in SSc and can be reasonably hypothesised to contribute to an increased risk of SCD. Despite this, SCD remains a relatively understudied area of SSc with little understood about SSc-specific risk factors and opportunities for primary prevention. In this review, we present an overview of the possible mechanisms of SCD in SSc and our current understanding of how each of these mechanisms may contribute to cardiac death. This review highlights the need for a future research agenda that addresses the underlying epidemiology of SCD in SSc and identifies opportunities for intervention to modify the disease course of heart disease in SSc.
Prediction of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Thoracoscopic Surgical Ablation Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Baalman Sarah W. E. , Lopes Ricardo R. , Ramos Lucas A. , Neefs Jolien , Driessen Antoine H. G. , van Boven WimJan P. , de Mol Bas A. J. M. , Marquering Henk A. , de Groot Joris R.
Published: September 2021

Thoracoscopic surgical ablation (SA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) has shown to be an effective treatment to restore sinus rhythm in patients with advanced AF. Identifying patients who will not benefit from this procedure would be valuable to improve personalized AF therapy. Machine learning (ML) techniques may assist in the improvement of clinical prediction models for patient selection. The aim of this study is to investigate how available baseline characteristics predict AF recurrence after SA using ML techniques. One-hundred-sixty clinical baseline variables were collected from 446 AF patients undergoing SA in our tertiary referral center. Multiple ML models were trained on five outcome measurements, including either all or a number of key variables selected by using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). There was no difference in model performance between different ML techniques or outcome measurements. Variable selection significantly improved model performance (AUC: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.68–0.77). Subgroup analysis showed a higher model performance in younger patients (<55 years, AUC: 0.82 vs. >55 years, AUC 0.66). Recurrences of AF after SA can be predicted best when using a selection of baseline characteristics, particularly in young patients.
The Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Gallbladder Lesions
Authors: Hashimoto Senju , Nakaoka Kazunori , Kawabe Naoto , Kuzuya Teiji , Funasaka Kohei , Nagasaka Mitsuo , Nakagawa Yoshihito , Miyahara Ryoji , Shibata Tomoyuki , Hirooka Yoshiki
Published: September 2021

Gallbladder (GB) diseases represent various lesions including gallstones, cholesterol polyps, adenomyomatosis, and GB carcinoma. This review aims to summarize the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the diagnosis of GB lesions. EUS provides high-resolution images that can improve the diagnosis of GB polypoid lesions, GB wall thickness, and GB carcinoma staging. Contrast-enhancing agents may be useful for the differential diagnosis of GB lesions, but the evidence of their effectiveness is still limited. Thus, further studies are required in this area to establish its usefulness. EUS combined with fine-needle aspiration has played an increasing role in providing a histological diagnosis of GB tumors in addition to GB wall thickness.
Micro- and Macroscale Assessment of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Functionality Based on Advanced MRI Techniques
Authors: Wilms Lena Marie , Radke Karl Ludger , Abrar Daniel Benjamin , Latz David , Schock Justus , Frenken Miriam , Windolf Joachim , Antoch Gerald , Filler Timm Joachim , Nebelung Sven
Published: September 2021

T2 mapping assesses tissue ultrastructure and composition, yet the association of imaging features and tissue functionality is oftentimes unclear. This study aimed to elucidate this association for the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) across the micro- and macroscale and as a function of loading. Ten human cadaveric knee joints were imaged using a clinical 3.0T scanner and high-resolution morphologic and T2 mapping sequences. Emulating the posterior drawer test, the joints were imaged in the unloaded (δ0) and loaded (δ1) configurations. For the entire PCL, its subregions, and its osseous insertion sites, loading-induced changes were parameterized as summary statistics and texture variables, i.e., entropy, homogeneity, contrast, and variance. Histology confirmed structural integrity. Statistical analysis was based on parametric and non-parametric tests. Mean PCL length (37.8 ± 1.8 mm [δ0]; 44.0 ± 1.6 mm [δ1] [p < 0.01]), mean T2 (35.5 ± 2.0 ms [δ0]; 37.9 ± 1.3 ms [δ1] [p = 0.01]), and mean contrast values (4.0 ± 0.6 [δ0]; 4.9 ± 0.9 [δ1] [p = 0.01]) increased significantly under loading. Other texture features or ligamentous, osseous, and meniscal structures remained unaltered. Beyond providing normative T2 values across various scales and configurations, this study suggests that ligaments can be imaged morphologically and functionally based on joint loading and advanced MRI acquisition and post-processing techniques to assess ligament integrity and functionality in variable diagnostic contexts.
A Hands-On Exercise on Caries Diagnostics among Dental Students—A Qualitative Study
Authors: Kangas Heidi , Karki Saujanya , Tanner Tarja , Laajala Anne , Kyngäs Helvi , Anttonen Vuokko
Published: September 2021

According to current care practices, the aim is to prevent the onset of caries lesions and to stop the progression of incipient lesions. A visual lesion assessment system, International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS), has been developed to promote reliability and repeatability of assessment of different stage caries lesions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the experiences of a hands-on exercise with authentic teeth as an adjunct to lecturing among third-year dental students and to evaluate the learning process during the hands-on exercise measured by qualitative (inductive content) analysis of the given feedback. In 2018, 51 third-year dental students at the University of Oulu, Finland, participated in a hands-on exercise on caries detection, where they assessed the depth and activity of lesions in extracted teeth using the ICDAS classification. After the lecture, students evaluated the exercise, giving feedback according to five given topics, three of which were analyzed using inductive content analysis. The exercise was considered useful and necessary but, overall, also challenging. The diverse activities and materials, as well as observational methods, promoted learning. The classification of lesions, the diagnostic methods, and the fact that there was not enough time to adopt things during the exercise were found to be challenging. For developing the exercise, the students suggested that more time should be scheduled for it and there should be more individual teaching. This qualitative study showed that, despite the challenge in caries diagnostics, dental students perceive the hands-on exercise as both a communal and individual learning experience.
Precision Landing for Low-Maintenance Remote Operations with UAVs
Authors: Moreira Miguel , Azevedo Fábio , Ferreira André , Pedro Dário , Matos-Carvalho João , Ramos Álvaro , Loureiro Rui , Campos Luís
Published: September 2021

This work proposes a fully integrated ecosystem composed of three main components with a complex goal: to implement an autonomous system with a UAV requiring little to no maintenance and capable of flying autonomously. For this goal, was developed an autonomous UAV, an online platform capable of its management and a landing platform to enclose and charge the UAV after flights. Furthermore, a precision landing algorithm ensures no need for human intervention for long-term operations.
Land Cover Change and Soil Carbon Regulating Ecosystem Services in the State of South Carolina, USA
Authors: Mikhailova Elena A. , Lin Lili , Hao Zhenbang , Zurqani Hamdi A. , Post Christopher J. , Schlautman Mark A. , Post Gregory C.
Published: September 2021

Integration of land cover change with soil information is important for valuation of soil carbon (C) regulating ecosystem services (ES) and disservices (ED) and for site-specific land management. The objective of this study was to assess the change in value of regulating ES from soil organic carbon (SOC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC), and total soil carbon (TSC) stocks, based on the concept of the avoided social cost of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for the state of South Carolina (SC) in the United States of America (U.S.A.) by soil order (Soil Taxonomy), land cover, and land cover change (National Land Cover Database, NLCD) using information from the State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) and Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) databases. Classified land cover data for 2001 and 2016 were downloaded from the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC) website. The total estimated monetary mid-point value for TSC in the state of South Carolina was $124.42B (i.e., $124.42 billion U.S. dollars, where B = billion = 109) with the following monetary distribution in 2016 and percent change in value between 2001 and 2016: barren land ($259.7M, −9%) (i.e., $259.7 million U.S. dollars, where M = million = 106), woody wetlands ($33.8B, −1%), shrub/scrub ($3.9B, +9%), mixed forest ($6.9B, +5%), deciduous forest ($10.6B, −7%), herbaceous ($4.8B, −5%), evergreen forest ($28.6B, +1%), emergent herbaceous wetlands ($6.9B, −3%), hay/pasture ($7.3B, −10%), cultivated crops ($9.9B, 0%), developed, open space ($7.0B, +5%), developed, medium intensity ($978M, +46%), developed, low intensity ($2.9B, +15%), and developed, high intensity ($318M, +39%). The percent change in monetary values was different from percent change in areas because different soil orders have different TSC contents. The percent changes (between 2001 and 2016) both in areas and monetary values varied by soil order and land cover with $1.1B in likely “realized” social cost of C mostly associated with Ultisols ($658.8M). The Midlands region of the state experienced the highest gains in the “high disturbance” classes and corresponding SC-CO2 with over $421M for TSC, $354.6M for SOC, and $66.4M for SIC. Among counties, Horry County ranked first with over $142.2M in SC-CO2 for TSC, followed by Lexington ($103.7M), Richland ($95.3M), Greenville ($81.4M), York ($77.5M), Charleston ($70.7M), Beaufort ($64.1M), Berkeley ($50.9M), Spartanburg ($50.0M), and Aiken ($43.0M) counties. Spatial and temporal analyses of land cover can identify critical locations of soil carbon regulating ecosystem services at risk.
China’s Effect on World Energy-Growth Nexus: Spillovers Evidence from Financial Development and CO2 Emissions
Authors: Marques Luís Miguel , Fuinhas José Alberto , Marques António Cardoso
Published: September 2021

This paper aims to extend the literature on the impacts of China’s policies on the world energy-growth nexus by analyzing the spillover effects of financial development and CO2 emissions. An autoregressive distributed lag approach was applied to annual series data from 1977 to 2016. Models for four world regions were developed, as well as a global model. The results reveal the traditional feedback hypothesis on the whole, both in the short- and long-run. Additionally, the results support that China’s CO2 emission and financial development promote world energy consumption. In regard to the four world regions, heterogeneous results were observed. Overall, China’s financial development and CO2 emissions also have heterogenous worldwide impacts with distinct magnitudes. Accordingly, no country should be indifferent to China’s policies, and independence should be promoted for Europe, Central Asia and Asia Pacific aggregates.
Smart Specialisation Strategies and Regional Convergence: Spanish Extremadura after a Period of Divergence
Authors: Madeira Paulo Miguel , Vale Mário , Mora-Aliseda Julián
Published: September 2021

Smart specialization strategies are a new EU approach to cohesion policy, meant to deliver growth and development at EU national and regional level. Bearing in mind its focus on place-based development strategies, this paper intends to shed some light on its appropriateness to tackle uneven development and regional growth divergence. The paper showcases Spanish Extremadura growth trajectory. Extremadura is a poor region in the European context that between 2008 and 2014 diverged from the EU average, despite being eligible for EU funding as a convergence region by cohesion policy. In the 2014–2020 programming period, there was a positive dynamic at the beginning, but from 2017 onwards convergence stopped, which indicates that thematic and regional programmes have not delivered results or have not compensated for higher growth level of other Spanish regions. Moreover, research and innovation strategies for smart specialization (RIS3) seem to have limited impacts on place-based economic transformation in less developed regions. From this example, the suitability of the smart specialisation strategy as the core of cohesion policy in the programming period is discussed. It concludes that this strategy is interesting for intermediate development regions with some industrial base but does not seem appropriate as a convergence driver for poorer regions.
The Comparison of Students’ Self-Assessment, Gender, and Programming-Oriented Spreadsheet Skills
Authors: Nagy Tímea , Csernoch Mária , Biró Piroska
Published: September 2021

Previous research proved that teaching spreadsheeting from a programming perspective is much more effective than the widely accepted tool-centered surface approach methods. Spreadsheeting as an introductory programming approach allows students to build up schemata leading to contextualized, concept-based problem-solving. Furthermore, it provides tools for real-world problem-solving in other disciplines, and supports knowledge-transfer to database management and “serious” programming. The present study provides the details of a nationwide testing of Grades 7–10 students on how they evaluate their spreadsheet knowledge, which classroom activities form their self-assessment values, and the results of three spreadsheet tasks evaluated by the SOLO categories of understanding. The comparison reveals that most students’ spreadsheet knowledge is pre-structural. On the other hand, they assess themselves much higher, which is primarily based on the number of activities carried out in classes. Traces of conscious problem-solving and knowledge-transfer within the scope of spreadsheeting are hardly detectable, while knowledge brought from mathematics is recognizable. In general, we found proof that the pieces of knowledge remain unconnected, not allowing students to reach the relational level of understanding and build up long-lasting knowledge.
Least-Cost Non-RES Thermal Power Plants Mix in Power Systems with Majority Penetrations of Renewable Energy
Authors: Algarvio Hugo
Published: September 2021

The ambitious targets of the European Union (EU) for a greater penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) in all areas of activity have led to power systems with growing levels of variable RES (VRES) all over the EU. Considering these targets, the EU countries presented their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) with their expected capacity until 2030. The NECPs considered a relevant increase in the VRES capacity and in some cases a decrease in the capacity of dispatchable power plants. VRES have near-zero marginal costs and increase the volatility of the net-load due to the stochastic profile of their production. These characteristics increase the need to maintain fast-response dispatchable power plants to guarantee the security of supply and also decrease market prices. Thus, governments promote externalities, as capacity mechanisms and other incentives to these players, guaranteeing their economic sustainability. This study presents the optimization of the non-RES thermal capacity of the Iberian power system by 2030, considering the least-cost algorithm. Considering a cooperative scenario between Portugal and Spain, it is possible to reduce the system costs by 17.40%, the curtailments quantity by 21.93%, the number of market-splitting hours by 43.26% and the dioxide carbon emissions by 4.76%.
Artificial Intelligence-Based Methods for Decision Support to Avoid Collisions at Sea
Authors: Mohamed-Seghir Mostefa , Kula Krzysztof , Kouzou Abdellah
Published: September 2021

Ship collisions cause major losses in terms of property, equipment, and human lives. Therefore, more investigations should be focused on this problem, which mainly results from human error during ship control. Indeed, to reduce human error and considerably improve the safe traffic of ships, an intelligent tool based on fuzzy set theory is proposed in this paper that helps navigators make fast and competent decisions in eventual collision situations. Moreover, as a result of selecting the shortest collision avoidance trajectory, our tool minimizes energy consumption. The main aim of this paper was the development of a decision-support system based on an artificial intelligence technique for safe ship trajectory determination in collision situations. The ship’s trajectory optimization is ensured by multistage decision making in collision situations in a fuzzy environment. Furthermore, the navigator’s subjective evaluation in decision making is taken into account in the process model and is included in the modified membership function of constraints. A comparative analysis of two methods, i.e., a method based on neural networks and a method based on the evolutionary algorithm, is presented. The proposed technique is a promising solution for use in real time in onboard decision-support systems. It demonstrated a high accuracy in finding the optimal collision avoidance trajectory, thus ensuring the safety of the crew, property, and equipment, while minimizing energy consumption.
Polystyrene Nanoplastic Behavior and Toxicity on Crustacean Daphnia magna: Media Composition, Size, and Surface Charge Effects
Authors: Pochelon Alexis , Stoll Serge , Slaveykova Vera I.
Published: September 2021

Concerns about the possible ecotoxicological implications of nano-sized plastic materials in the freshwater environment are growing with the increasing use of plastic materials. The present study focuses on the behavior and effects of amidine-functionalized polystyrene (NPLs) of 20, 40, 60, and 100-nm-size in freshwaters and different synthetic media. Daphnia magna was exposed to increasing concentrations from 0.5 to 30 mg/L (and from 0.5 to 100 mg/L for 100-nm-sized NPLs). The results revealed no significant aggregation in ultra-pure water, culture media, and synthetic water. In the presence of natural organic matter, NPLs of 20 and 40 nm displayed better stability in both freshwater and synthetic media, whereas a significant aggregation of 60 and 100 nm PS NPLs was found. All the studied PS NPLs with size between 20 and 100 nm exhibited acute toxicity to D. magna. The observed 48-h immobilization strongly depended on the primary size of PS NPLs, with 20 and 40-nm-size PS NPLs inducing a stronger effect in both freshwaters and synthetic media. Water quality variables such as pH, cation and anion composition, and DOC were of secondary importance. The results of the present study confirmed the toxicity of NPLs of different sizes to crustaceans in natural freshwater and synthetic media and demonstrated the importance of the primary size of NPLs in the behavior and effects of NPLs.
Clinical Utility of Epigenetic Changes in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Thompson Joyce K. , Bednar Filip
Published: September 2021

Pancreatic cancer is a molecularly heterogeneous disease. Epigenetic changes and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlie at least some of this heterogeneity and contribute to the evolution of aggressive tumor biology in patients and the tumor’s intrinsic resistance to therapy. Here we review our current understanding of epigenetic dysregulation in pancreatic cancer and how it is contributing to our efforts in early diagnosis, predictive and prognostic biomarker development and new therapeutic approaches in this deadly cancer.
Elevation Alone Alters Leaf N and Leaf C to N Ratio of Picea crassifolia Kom. in China’s Qilian Mountains
Authors: Niu Yalin , Kang Jianfang , Su Haohai , Adamowski Jan F. , Biswas Asim , Liu Chunfang , Cao Jianjun
Published: September 2021

Leaf stoichiometry of plants can respond to variation in environments such as elevation ranging from low to high and success in establishing itself in a given montane ecosystem. An evaluation of the leaf stoichiometry of Qinghai Spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) growing at different elevations (2400 m, 2600 m, 2800 m, 3000 m, and 3200 m) in eastern China’s Qilian Mountains, showed that leaf carbon (LC) and leaf phosphorus (LP) were similar among elevations, with ranges of 502.76–518.02 g·kg−1, and 1.00–1.43 g·kg−1, respectively. Leaf nitrogen (LN) varied with changes of elevation, with a maxima of 12.82 g·kg−1 at 2600 m and a minima of 10.74 g·kg−1 at 2800 m. The LC:LN under 2400 m and 2600 m was lower than that under other elevations, while LC:LP and LN:LP were not different among these elevations. Except for LN and LC:LN, P. crassifolia’s other leaf stoichiometries remained relatively stable across elevations, partly supporting the homeostasis hypothesis. Variations in leaf stoichiometry across elevations were mainly linked to mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, soil pH, and the soil organic C to soil total N ratio. P. crassifolia growth within the study area was more susceptible to P limitation.
Effect of Temperature and Time on Oxygen Consumption by Olive Fruit: Empirical Study and Simulation in a Non-Ventilated Container
Authors: Plasquy Eddy , Florido María C. , Sola-Guirado Rafael Rubén , García Martos José María , García Martín Juan Francisco
Published: September 2021

Fermentation processes within olive fruit jeopardize the quality of the extracted oil. Aeration, temperature, and time play a crucial role in attaining the critical threshold at which an aerobic respiration shifts towards anaerobic. In this work, the O2 consumption and CO2 production of olive fruit kept in a closed container at different temperatures (5–45 °C) were measured over 7 h. The data allowed us to describe the relationship between the temperature and the respiration rate as an Arrhenius function and simulate the oxygen consumption in the inner part of a container full of fruit with low aeration, considering the generated respiration heat over time. The simulation revealed that olives risk shifting to anaerobic respiration after 3 h at 25 °C and less than 2 h at 35 °C when kept in a non-ventilated environment. The results underline the irreversible damage that high day temperatures can produce during the time before fruit processing, especially during transport. Lowering, as soon as possible, the field temperature thus comes to the fore as a necessary strategy to guarantee the quality of the olives before their processing, like most of the fruit that is harvested at excessive temperatures.
Bio-Based Polyisoprene Can Mitigate Climate Change and Deforestation in Expanding Rubber Production
Authors: Batten Rahamim , Karanjikar Mukund , Spatari Sabrina
Published: September 2021

Biomass is a promising renewable feedstock to produce polyisoprene for the rubber industry. Through metabolic engineering, sugars derived from pretreated and hydrolyzed cellulose and hemicellulose can be directly fermented to isoprene to produce rubber. Here we investigate the life cycle environmental impact of isoprene fermentation to produce bio-polyisoprene from agricultural residues (of Zea mays L.). Results show that the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of bio-polyisoprene (−4.59 kg CO2e kg−1) is significantly lower than that of natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and synthetic rubber (−0.79 and 2.41 kg CO2e kg−1, respectively), while supporting a circular biogenic carbon economy. We found the land use intensity of bio-polyisoprene to be 0.25 ha metric ton−1, which is 84% lower than that from rubber tree plantations. We compare the direct fermentation to isoprene results with indirect fermentation to isoprene through the intermediate, methyl butyl ether, where dehydration to isoprene is required. The direct fermentation of isoprene reduces reaction steps and unit operations, an expected outcome when employing process intensification, but our results show additional energy conservation and reduced contribution to climate change. Among the ReCiPe life cycle environmental impact metrics evaluated, air emission related impacts are high for bio-polyisoprene compared to those for natural and synthetic rubber. Those impacts can be reduced with air emission controls during production. All other metrics showed an improvement for bio-polyisoprene compared to natural and synthetic rubber.
‘TeeBot’: A High Throughput Robotic Fermentation and Sampling System
Authors: van Holst Pellekaan Nicholas , Walker Michelle E. , Watson Tommaso L. , Jiranek Vladimir
Published: September 2021

When fermentation research requires the comparison of many strains or conditions, the major bottleneck is a technical one. Microplate approaches are not able to produce representative fermentative performance due to their inability to truly operate anaerobically, whilst more traditional methods do not facilitate sample density sufficient to assess enough candidates to be considered even medium throughput. Two robotic platforms have been developed that address these technological shortfalls. Both are built on commercially available liquid handling platforms fitted with custom labware. Results are presented detailing fermentation performance as compared to current best practice, i.e., shake flasks fitted with airlocks and sideports. The ‘TeeBot’ is capable sampling from 96 or 384 fermentations in 100 mL or 30 mL volumes, respectively, with airlock sealing and minimal headspace. Sampling and downstream analysis are facilitated by automated liquid handling, use of 96-well sample plate format and temporary cryo-storage (<0 °C).
Effect of Duration of Olive Storage on Chemical and Sensory Quality of Extra Virgin Olive Oils
Authors: Rotondi Annalisa , Morrone Lucia , Bertazza Gianpaolo , Neri Luisa
Published: September 2021

This work considered the influence of the duration of olive storage on the chemical and sensory properties of extra virgin olive oil. In total, 228 batches of olives collected during three successive crop seasons were sampled in seven industrial mills; information about olive batches (variety, harvest date) was collected, together with the produced oils. Four classes of storage times were considered: ≤24 h, 2–3 days, 4–6 days, ≥7 days. The oils’ quality parameters free acidity, peroxide number and K232 increased significantly as storage duration increased, while phenolic content decreased significantly, with a resulting effect on oil stability. The fatty acid composition was not affected by the olive storage period, while α-tocopherol, lutein and β-carotene content decreased as storage duration lengthened. Finally, the main positive sensory attributes (olive fruity, green notes, bitter and pungency) underwent a statistically significant reduction with the increase in storage duration, while the intensity of defects increased, suggesting that the duration of olive storage has an important effect on the quality of the final oil.
Nutrient-Dense Shelf-Stable Vegetable Powders and Extruded Snacks Made from Carrots and Broccoli
Authors: Ying Danyang , Sanguansri Luz , Cheng Lijiang , Augustin Mary Ann
Published: September 2021

Perishable fresh vegetables that do not meet cosmetic standards and by-products of processing are currently wasted. Broccoli and carrots were selected as model vegetables to demonstrate that they can be converted into nutrient-dense and shelf-stable food ingredients and formulated into convenient ready-to-eat snacks. Broccoli powder was a rich source of protein (30%) and dietary fibre (28%). Carrot powder had lower protein (6.5%) and dietary fibre content (24%) and was higher in sugar (47%) compared to broccoli powder (21%). Compared to the whole-vegetable powders, pomace powders were richer in fibre but had lower levels of total carbohydrates. There was a reduced expansion of extruded snacks with increasing levels of the vegetable component in the formulation. Processing and storage for 12 months at 25 °C or 40 °C resulted in changes in the measured soluble phenolic content. Changes during storage were dependent on the temperature and time. The changes may be in part due to the changes in the material properties of the matrix as a consequence of processing and storage, which affect extractability. The conversion of perishable vegetables and pomace into shelf-stable nutrient-dense food ingredients and products will reduce food loss and waste in the vegetable industry.
Effect of a Novel Microwave-Assisted Induction Heating (MAIH) Technology on the Quality of Prepackaged Asian Hard Clam (Meretrix lusoria)
Authors: Lee Yi-Chen , Lin Chung-Saint , Zeng Wei-Han , Hwang Chiu-Chu , Chiu Kuohsun , Ou Tsung-Yin , Chang Tien-Hsiang , Tsai Yung-Hsiang
Published: September 2021

The microwave-assisted induction heating (MAIH) method—an emerging thermal technique—was studied to heat the prepackaged raw hard clam (Meretrix lusoria). The cooking effects on microbial and physiochemical qualities of clam were investigated. After the heating of the clam meat samples, the aerobic plate count (APC), psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC), and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) levels decreased with increasing heating time, but the shucking ratio, area shrinkage, and texture (hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness) increased. In addition, the L* (lightness) and W (whiteness) of the clam meat samples increased significantly at the beginning of the heating period, whereas they decreased significantly with extended heating time. However, a* (redness) had the opposite trend. This study found that when clams were heated for more than 120 s at 130 °C or 150 s at 90 °C, they displayed obvious shrinking and a yellow-brown appearance, indicating that they are overcooked. After heating by MAIH for at least 110 s at 130 °C or 130 s at 90 °C, the samples were cooked well and gains a completely shucking, along with no microbial count detected. Therefore, the results indicated that the optimum heating conditions for prepackaged hard clams subjected to an MAIH machine were 130 °C for 110 s or 90 °C for 130 s.
Chemical-Based Methodologies to Extend the Shelf Life of Fresh Fish—A Review
Authors: Amaral Renata A. , Pinto Carlos A. , Lima Vasco , Tavares Jéssica , Martins Ana P. , Fidalgo Liliana G. , Silva Ana M. , Gil Maria M. , Teixeira Paula , Barbosa Joana , Barba Francisco J. , Saraiva Jorge A.
Published: September 2021

Due to its characteristics, fresh fish is a highly perishable food with a very short shelf-life under refrigeration. Several methods have been introduced to slow down its deterioration, such as by means of oxygen depletion of the food package (vacuum packaging), or by changing the natural atmosphere that is in contact with the fresh fish (modified atmosphere packaging), or by the use of chemicals generally recognized as safe: such compounds can be directly applied (by dipping or spraying) or incorporated into packaging materials and slowly migrate to the product, exerting a hurdle effect against microbial development and lipid oxidation (active packaging). This review aims to cover the most recent advances in chemical-based approaches for fresh fish preservation, applied either singly or in combination. Vacuum packaging, modified atmosphere, and active packaging preservation methodologies are presented, along with the inclusion of chemical additives, such as organic acids and natural extracts, and their combination with icing systems. Advantages and disadvantages of these methodologies and their impact on fresh fish quality and shelf-life are discussed, reaching the conclusion that both are positively influenced overall. Indeed, the contribution of chemical-based strategies for fresh fish preservation is undeniable, and is expected to be a research topic of increasing interest in the future.
Chemical Constituents of the Essential Oil Extracted from Elsholtzia densa and Their Insecticidal Activity against Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne
Authors: Liang Junyu , Shao Yazhou , Wu Haoshu , An Yue , Wang Junlong , Zhang Ji , Kong Weibao
Published: September 2021

Storage pests pose a great threat to global food security. Here, we found that the essential oil (EO) extracted from E. densa possesses obvious effects against the insects that threaten stored-products. In this work, we investigated the chemical constituents of the essential oil extracted from Elsholtzia densa, and their insecticidal (contact and fumigant) toxicity against Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne. A total of 45 compounds were identified by GC-MS, accounting for 98.74% of the total EO. Meanwhile, 11 compounds were isolated from the EO, including limonene, β-caryophyllene, ρ-cymene, trans-phytol, α-terpineol, linalool, acetophenone, 1,8-cineole, ρ-cymen-7-ol, 1-O-cerotoylgly-cerol, and palmitic acid. Furthermore, acetophenone, ρ-cymen-7-ol, and 1-O-cerotoylgly-cerol were isolated for the first time from Elsholtzia spp. The results of the bioassays indicated that the EO had the property of insecticidal toxicity against T. castaneum and L. serricorne. All of the compounds showed different levels of insecticidal toxicity against the two species of insects. Among them, 2-ethyl-1H-imidazole had no insecticidal toxicity against T. castaneum, but possessed fumigant and obvious contact toxicity against L. serricorne. ρ-Cymen-7-ol had beneficial insecticidal toxicity against the two species of insects, and fumigant toxicity against L. serricorne. ρ-Cymen-7-ol (LD50 = 13.30 μg/adult), 1-octen-3-ol (LD50 = 13.52 μg/adult), and 3-octanol (LD50 = 17.45 μg/adult) showed significant contact toxicity against T. castaneum. Acetophenone (LD50 = 7.07 μg/adult) and ρ-cymen-7-ol (LD50 = 8.42 μg/adult) showed strong contact toxicity against L. serricorne. ρ-Cymene (LC50 = 10.91 mg/L air) and ρ-cymen-7-ol (LC50 = 10.47 mg/L air) showed powerful fumigant toxicity to T. castaneum. Limonene (LC50 = 5.56 mg/L air), acetophenone (LC50 = 5.47 mg/L air), and 3-octanol (LC50 = 5.05 mg/L air) showed obvious fumigant toxicity against L. serricorne. In addition, the EO and its chemical compounds possessed different levels of repellent activity. This work provides some evidence of the value of exploring these materials for insecticidal activity, for human health purposes. We suggest that the EO extracted from E. densa may have the potential to be developed as an insecticidal agent against stored product insect pests.
New Insights on the Effects of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Impaired Skin Healing in Diabetes and Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers
Authors: Serini Simona , Calviello Gabriella
Published: September 2021

Long-chain Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 PUFAs) are widely recognized as powerful negative regulators of acute inflammation. However, the precise role exerted by these dietary compounds during the healing process is still largely unknown, and there is increasing interest in understanding their specific effects on the implicated cells/molecular factors. Particular attention is being focused also on their potential clinical application in chronic pathologies characterized by delayed and impaired healing, such as diabetes and vascular diseases in lower limbs. On these bases, we firstly summarized the current knowledge on wound healing (WH) in skin, both in normal conditions and in the setting of these two pathologies, with particular attention to the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. Then, we critically reviewed the outcomes of recent research papers investigating the activity exerted by Omega-3 PUFAs and their bioactive metabolites in the regulation of WH in patients with diabetes or venous insufficiency and showing chronic recalcitrant ulcers. We especially focused on recent studies investigating the mechanisms through which these compounds may act. Considerations on the optimal dietary doses are also reported, and, finally, possible future perspectives in this area are suggested.
An Existence Result for ψ-Hilfer Fractional Integro-Differential Hybrid Three-Point Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Kiataramkul Chanakarn , Ntouyas Sotiris K. , Tariboon Jessada
Published: September 2021

In this research work, we study a new class of ψ-Hilfer hybrid fractional integro-differential boundary value problems with three-point boundary conditions. An existence result is established by using a generalization of Krasnosel’skiĭ’s fixed point theorem. An example illustrating the main result is also constructed.
Effect of Micro-/Nanoparticle Hybrid Hydrogel Platform on the Treatment of Articular Cartilage-Related Diseases
Authors: Han Xu , Wu Yongzhi , Shan Yue , Zhang Xu , Liao Jinfeng
Published: September 2021

Joint diseases that mainly lead to articular cartilage injury with prolonged severe pain as well as dysfunction have remained unexplained for many years. One of the main reasons is that damaged articular cartilage is unable to repair and regenerate by itself. Furthermore, current therapy, including drug therapy and operative treatment, cannot solve the problem. Fortunately, the micro-/nanoparticle hybrid hydrogel platform provides a new strategy for the treatment of articular cartilage-related diseases, owing to its outstanding biocompatibility, high loading capability, and controlled release effect. The hybrid platform is effective for controlling symptoms of pain, inflammation and dysfunction, and cartilage repair and regeneration. In this review, we attempt to summarize recent studies on the latest development of micro-/nanoparticle hybrid hydrogel for the treatment of articular cartilage-related diseases. Furthermore, some prospects are proposed, aiming to improve the properties of the micro-/nanoparticle hybrid hydrogel platform so as to offer useful new ideas for the effective and accurate treatment of articular cartilage-related diseases.
Metaphysics, Universal Irony, and Richard Rorty’s “We Ironists”
Authors: Airaksinen Timo
Published: September 2021

Richard Rorty speaks of “we ironists” who use irony as the primary tool in their scholarly work and life. We cannot approach irony in terms of truth, simply because, due to its ironies, the context no longer is metaphysical. This is Rorty’s challenge. Rorty’s promise focuses on top English Departments: they are hegemonic, they rule over the humanities, philosophy, and some social sciences using their superior method of ironizing dialectic. I refer to Hegel, Gerald Doherty’s “pornographic” writings, and Gore Vidal’s non-academic critique of academic literary criticism. My conclusion is that extensive use of irony is costly; an ironist must regulate her relevant ideas and speech acts—Hegel makes this clear. Irony is essentially confusing and contestable. Why would we want to use irony in a way that trumps metaphysics? Metaphysics, as defined by Rorty, is a problematic field, but irony can hardly replace it. At the same time, I admit that universal irony is possible, that is, everything can be seen in ironic light, or ironized. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and criticize Rorty’s idea of irony by using his own methodology, that is, ironic redescription. We can see the shallowness of his approach to irony by contextualizing it. This also dictates the style of the essay.
Quantitative Ultrasound Changes in Echotexture and Functional Parameters after a Multicomponent Training Program in Pre-Frailty Individuals: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: López-López Sergio , Pareja-Galeano Helios , Almazán-Polo Jaime , Cotteret Charles , Téllez-González Patricia , Calvo-Lobo César , Perea-Unceta Luis , Romero-Morales Carlos
Published: September 2021

Objective: Currently, ultrasound imaging (USI) is considered a feasible tool in the evaluation of structural and textural muscle differences due to aging. The main aim of this study was to evaluate sonographic changes in muscular structure and function after a 12-week multicomponent training program in pre-frailty individuals. Design: A prospective, randomized, clinical trial was carried out. Participants: Thirty-two pre-frailty subjects were recruited and randomly divided into a multicomponent training program group (n = 16; Multicomponent group) and a conventional care group (n = 14; Control group) with a 12-week follow up. Main outcome measures: Rectus femoris thickness, cross-sectional area (CSA), echointensity, echovariation and vastus lateralis pennation angle tests were carried out to assess the structure and echotexture, and the force–velocity (F-V) profile for muscle power and muscle strength was employed to assess the functional parameters. Results: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were shown for the left rectus femoris echointensity and in the functional parameter of muscle power after a 12-week program for the multicomponent training group compared to the conventional care group. Conclusions: Pre-frailty elderly subjects showed a decrease in rectus femoris echointensity (RF-EI) and an increase in the functional parameter of muscle power after a 12-week multicomponent training program compared to the control group.
Community Pharmacists’ Perceptions towards the Misuse and Abuse of Pregabalin: A Cross-Sectional Study from Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshahrani Sultan M. , Orayj Khalid , Alqahtani Ali M. , Algahtany Mubarak A.
Published: September 2021

Pregabalin is a first-line therapy for neuropathic pain and for chronic pain. It has abuse potential. This study was conducted to assess community pharmacists’ perceptions towards pregabalin abuse and misuse in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, and identify predictors and associated factors. A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire following a self-administrative study was conducted across community pharmacies in the Aseer region (Abha, Khamis Mushait, Mahayel, Sarat Abeeda, Ahad-Rufaida, and Bishah). A total of 206 respondents from community pharmacists participated in the study. Over the last six months, 136 respondents (66.0%) suspected pregabalin abuse in community pharmacies; male dominance in pregabalin abusers was also recorded (n = 165, 80.1%). Additionally, 40 (19.4%) respondents stated that a prescription was not issued for pregabalin demands. Over half (61.7%) of community pharmacists recorded an increased change in pregabalin abuse compared to the previous year. This is the first study to explore pharmacists’ perceptions in the community of the Aseer region towards customers’ misuse and abuse of pregabalin. Further monitoring and regulations on the prescribing and procurement of pregabalin are needed to avoid abuse.