bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of self-praise on English and Chinese social media: strategies, themes, and motivations
Authors: Wu Hanwei , Zhang Lehua , Ren Shuai
Published: December 2023

The act of self-praise, a novel and prevalent discourse pattern on social media across different cultures, is still understudied. As such, this study delves into self-praise from linguistic and psychological perspectives by examining and comparing the strategies, themes, and motivations of self-praise on English and Chinese social media. A discourse-based analysis of the data comprising 200 posts from Twitter (English) users and 200 posts from Weibo (Chinese) users revealed that Twitter users favored more unmodified explicit self-praise strategies, while Weibo users opted for more implicit self-praise strategies. Both groups employed explicit self-praise equally, but with different sub-strategies. The most prevalent themes were appearance, competence/performance, skills, virtues, and self-encouragement. Appearance was more dominant among Twitter users, whereas skills and self-encouragement were more popular among Weibo users. Both groups valued competence/performance and virtues, but with different virtues. Twitter users valued cherishing friendship, bravery, and maturity, whereas Weibo users stressed kindness, cherishing kinship, and thoughtfulness. Two semi-structured interviews conducted with six Twitter participants and six Weibo participants indicated that the motivations for online self-praise in both groups were psychological needs such as self-flattery, self-presentation, and self-encouragement, while commercial profit was a motivation only for Weibo participants. This study also discusses the social and cultural factors that may account for these differences and provides implications for future research on online self-praise.
Inactivated vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 in Fujian, China during the Omicron BA.2 outbreak
Authors: Ye Wenjing , Li Kangguo , Zhao Zeyu , Wu Shenggen , Qu Huimin , Guo Yichao , Abudunaibi Buasiyamu , Chen Wu , Cai Shaojian , Chen Cailin , Lin Jiawei , Xie Zhonghang , Zhan Meirong , Ou Jianming , Deng Yanqin , Chen Tianmu , Zheng Kuicheng
Published: December 2023

Objective

More than 90% of the Chinese population have completed 2 doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in Mainland China. However, after China government abandoned strict control measures, many breakthrough infections appeared, and vaccine effectiveness against Omicron BA.2 infection was uncertain. This study aims to investigate the real-world effectiveness of widely used inactivated vaccines during the wave of Omicron variants.

Methods

Test-negative case-control study was conducted in this study to analyze the vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease caused by the Omicron variant (BA.2) in Fujian, China. Conditional logistic regression was selected to estimate the vaccine effectiveness.

Results

The study found the vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 is 32.46% (95% CI, 8.08% to 50.37%) at 2 to 8 weeks, and 27.05% (95% CI, 1.23% to 46.12%) at 12 to 24 weeks after receiving booster doses of the inactivated vaccine. Notably, the 3–17 years group had higher vaccine effectiveness after 2 doses than the 18–64 years and over 65 years groups who received booster doses.

Conclusion

Inactivated vaccines alone may not offer sufficient protection for all age groups before the summer of 2022. To enhance protection, other types of vaccines or bivalent vaccines should be considered.
The structural characteristics of the lifestyle among older adults and its impact on the health in China
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Miao Haimin , Jin Qiaosen
Published: December 2023

Objective

Enhancing overall health remains a primary global objective, with lifestyle being a crucial factor impacting the health status among older adults. This study focuses on the lifestyle of Chinese older adults, systematically exploring the evolution and characteristics of their lifestyle and investigating its impact on their health.

Methods

Utilizing panel data from the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS) from 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018, we adopted 15 indicators reflecting older adults’ lifestyle. Latent class analysis and ordinary least square regression were used to uncover the structural nuances of the Chinese older adults’ lifestyle and its effects on health.

Results

The study identifies three distinct lifestyle categories for the older adults: relatively positive, mixed, and relatively negative. It reveals that the Chinese older adults do not predominantly adopt a positive lifestyle, and this trend persisted from 2008 to 2018. Each improvement in lifestyle category significantly boosts the older adults’ physical health, mental health, and self-assessed health by 11.2%, 3.6%, and 17.1%, respectively.

Conclusion

To attain the strategic aim of healthy aging, efforts should prioritize encouraging the older adults to adopt a positive lifestyle, enhance the geriatric health service system, and promote an intelligent lifestyle management model.
Effectiveness of hospital-to-home transitional care interventions and consultation for implementation in Sudan: a scoping review of systematic reviews
Authors: Mohamedsharif Asma , Elfeaki Mohammed , Bushra Rayan , Gemperli Armin
Published: December 2023

Background

Hospital discharge is often associated with a lack of continuity resulting in fragmented care, particularly in low-income countries. As there is limited information about interventions in these countries and no study evaluating the effectiveness of hospital discharge interventions, we conducted a scoping review to identify effective hospital-to-home transitional care interventions and explore their applicability in a low-income country (Sudan).

Methods

Our scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses classed interventions as effective, ineffective, undesirable, or uncertain, based on the quality of their evidence and their estimated effects on the following outcomes: readmission rates, mortality, costs, quality of life, and adverse outcomes) and certainty of evidence. Our authors from Sudan used the SUPPORT summary tool to determine if three effective interventions could be implemented in Sudan.

Results

Out of 3,276 articles that were identified, and 72 articles were reviewed, 10 articles has been included in the review. Seven interventions were classified as effective, one as ineffective, and none with undesirable effects. Eight interventions were classified as having an uncertain effect. The effective interventions were composed of home visits, information and communication technology (ICT), case manager models, multidisciplinary teams, and self-management support.

Conclusions

The finding of this study suggested that a combining two to four interventions can improve enhance hospital-to-home transitional care. Effective interventions are composed of home visits, ICT, case manager models, multidisciplinary teams, and self-management support. The implementation of these interventions in Sudan was found to be undermined by contextual factors such as inadequate human resources, telecommunication instability, and inequality in accessibility. These interventions could be tailored based on an in-depth understanding of the contextual factors in low-income countries that influence implementation.

Systematic Review Registration

https://osf.io/9eqvr/, doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/9EQVR
A design space for automated material handling vehicles
Authors: Mirnig Alexander G. , Fröhlich Peter , Zafari Setareh , Gafert Michael , Kröninger Lukas , Tscheligi Manfred
Published: December 2023

Material Handling Vehicles (loaders, excavators, forklifts, harvesters, etc.) have seen a strong increase in automation efforts in recent years. The contexts such vehicles operate in are frequently complex and due to the often very specific nature of industrial material handling scenarios, know-how is fragmented and literature is not as numerous as, for example, for passenger vehicle automation. In this paper, we present a contextual design space for automated material handling vehicles (AMHV), that is intended to inform context analysis and design activities across a wide spectrum of material handling use cases. It was developed on the basis of existing context and design spaces for vehicle and machine automation and extended via expert knowledge. The design space consists of separate context and interaction subspaces, that separately capture the situation and each individual point of interaction, respectively. Implications, opportunities, and limitations for the investigation and design of AMHV are discussed.
Job relevance or perceived usefulness? What features of immersive virtual reality software predict intention to use in a future project-based-learning scenario: a mixed method approach
Authors: Travaglini Alessio , Brand Esther , Meier Pascal , Christ Oliver
Published: December 2023

Not only since COVID-19, the topic of decentralized working and learning methods is becoming increasingly important for various reasons. New virtual reality technologies enable learning in immersive scenarios, which is good when learning from home is advised. However, not all immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) training incorporates learning systems that support complex, realistic, practical tasks that lead to a product or enable acquiring knowledge and life-enhancing skills like project-based learning. Although there are many iVR applications available that support project management, the specific features of these applications that lead to the intention to use (and therefore life-enhancing skills) have yet to be discovered. In this exploratory mixed-method study, we investigated the question of the importance of perceived usefulness (PU) and job relevance (JR) as predictors of intention to use (ItU) in a selection of immersive iVR application features. We started with market research and aggregated 88 software features in 13 categories of 34 professional iVR applications. After an expert selection and ranking procedure, a survey was developed. After deriving from the TAM 2 model and with a sample n = 103, we computed the relationship of JR, PU, and ItU. Although high values were generally observed, we found that the importance of PU is higher than JR when it comes to ItU. Limitations of the study are discussed, and suggestions for further research are given.
Self-reported visual symptoms and high visual demand activities in professional football players: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Jorge Jorge , Teixeira José , Pinhão Tiago , Delgado Frederico , Salem Alshaarawi , Martino Francesco , Plainis Sotiris
Published: December 2023

Background

Vision is crucial for football players, impacting decision-making and athletic performance. Despite its global popularity, football lacks comprehensive evaluations of the impact of digital device use on ocular symptoms during high-demand activities.

Purpose

To gain knowledge about the time spent by football players in high visual demand activities, the symptoms associated with binocular vision dysfunction, and their relationship with sports performance.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 2020 using an online survey targeting football players from Portugal, England, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. The survey, distributed over 5 weeks, aimed to collect data from approximately 5,000 football players. Information on player profiles, competitive levels, vision habits, and symptoms related to binocular vision dysfunctions was collected. The Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) employed a 5-point Likert scale to indicate the average frequency of each symptom. Due to non-normality, non-parametric tests were used (p < 0.05). Specifically, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square, and Spearman's rank correlation tests were used as appropriate.

Results

Analyzing male professional football players (mean age: 27.4 ± 5.0 years, 95% CI, 26.7–28.1), it was found that 38.1% of the players had been called up to the national team and 6.9% had played over 50 games. Self-rated last season's performance had a mean score of 6.5 ± 2.1 (95% CI, 6.2–6.8)(on a scale of 1 to 10). Smartphone use exceeded 1 h daily for all players, with 36.0% surpassing 4 h. Visual symptoms, notably associated with smartphone use (35.5%), were observed. Regarding the CISS score, the mean was 7.1 ± 7.7 (IC95%: 6.6 to 8.8). A weak negative correlation (rho = −0.215, p = 0.003) emerged between CISS scores and self-perceived sports performance. Football players using prescription lenses had significantly higher CISS scores (11.9 ± 10.4, 95% CI, 12.3–7.7) compared to non-users (6.2 ± 6.8, 95% CI, 7.8–5.7) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study reveals that professional football players engage in high visual demand tasks, notably on smartphones. One-third of the players link smartphone use to ocular symptoms. The Convergence Insufficiency Symptoms Survey indicates that 6.3% exhibit binocular vision dysfunction symptoms. Those with fewer ocular symptoms perceive that they have better sports performance than their counterparts.
Isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of the bacteria isolated from Hyalomma dromedarii infesting camels in Al-Jouf province, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aljasham Alanoud T. , Damra Eman M. , Alkahtani Nora S. , Alouffi Abdulaziz , Al Salem Waleed S. , Alshabanah Aljoharah O. , Alotaibi Moureq , Tanaka Tetsuya , Ali Abid , Almutairi Mashal M.
Published: December 2023

Ticks are important ectoparasites that transmit various pathogens causing morbidity and mortality in humans and animals. Saudi Arabia faces several challenges that can contribute to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacteria. These challenges require collaborative efforts to successfully achieve significant control of AMR in the country. The present study aims to isolate bacteria from camels' tick Hyalomma dromedarii in Al-Jouf province to identify and determine these isolates' antimicrobial susceptibilities. Forty-nine ticks were collected from dromedary camels and morphologically classified as H. dromedarii. Ticks were then homogenized and plated individually, which resulted in the isolation of 55 bacteria. The results showed that the bacterial isolates belong to 20 different species. About 71% (n = 39) of the total isolates were identified as Gram-positive bacteria comprised of 11 different species, while 29% (n = 16) of the total isolates were Gram-negative bacteria comprised of 9 different species. The most prevalent isolate within the total samples was Staphylococcus lentus (22.45%, 11/49), followed by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (18.37%, 9/49) and Sphingomonas paucimobilis (16.33% 8/49). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Gram-positive bacteria showed that 100% (n = 31) were resistant to benzylpenicillin; 90.3% (n = 28) were resistant to oxacillin; 58.1% (n = 18) were resistant to clindamycin; 48.4% (n = 15) were resistant to vancomycin. In addition, 32.3% (n = 10) were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and rifampicin; 25.8% (n = 8) were resistant to erythromycin; 16.1% (n = 5) were resistant to teicoplanin; 6.5% (n = 2) were resistant to tetracycline. All Gram-positive bacteria were 100% susceptible to linezolid, gentamicin, tobramycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, tigecycline, and nitrofurantoin. In antimicrobial susceptibility tests for the Gram-negative bacteria, 57.14% (n = 8) of the identified bacteria were resistant to ampicillin, whereas 50% (n = 7) were resistant to cefoxitin and ceftazidime. About 28.57% (n = 4) of the Gram-negative bacteria were resistant to ceftriaxone, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. In addition, 21.43% (n = 3) were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cephalothin; 14.29% (n = 2) were resistant to cefepime and nitrofurantoin; 7.14% (n = 1) were resistant to piperacillin/tazobactam and tigecycline. However, all Gram-negative bacteria were susceptible to other examined antimicrobials. This is the first study that investigates the role of the hard tick as a potential reservoir for AMR pathogens within our region.
Case report: Corpectomy and iliac crest bone autograft as treatment for a vertebral plasma cell tumor in a dachshund dog
Authors: Yoder Hannah R. , MacRae Megan R. , Snead Olivia M. , Kraus Karl H.
Published: December 2023

A 7-year-old, 7.5 kg, female spayed dachshund dog presented to a veterinary teaching hospital after being referred for lameness and the inability to urinate. The dog presented as weakly ambulatory paraparetic with intact pain perception. Computed tomographic (CT) imaging showed ventral bony lysis and periosteal proliferation of the L3 vertebra, consistent with a plasma cell tumor. A corpectomy of the L3 vertebra was performed and subsequently stabilized with autogenous cortico-cancellous iliac crest bone staves, autogenous cancellous bone, and bilaterally placed locking plates [String of Pearls (SOP®), Orthomed]. The dog recovered well, with no decrease in neurologic status overnight, and continued to improve until discharge. Upon a recheck exam at 4 weeks postoperatively, the dog appeared neurologically improved with only mild ambulatory proprioceptive ataxia of the hind limbs. This case demonstrates that the transposition of a non-vascularized iliac crest autogenous bone graft with stabilization via SOP® plates and screws can be used in the management of dogs with vertebral plasma cell tumors and should be considered as a surgical option in similarly affected cases.
Thai veterinarians' perceptions of cannabidiol products for dogs with osteoarthritis: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Nerapusee Osot , Soontornvipart Kumpanart , Pettong Thanakrit , Phongsuchat Nutkritta , Lunsucheep Doungkamol , Patikorn Chanthawat , Vimolmangkang Sornkanok , Anantachoti Puree
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The global popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) led to its approval for human use in Thailand and potential use in animals. Many studies revealed CBD's efficacy in treating chronic osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs. To facilitate tailored CBD product development for canine OA and ensure market success, this study explores Thai veterinarians' perception of CBD for canine OA.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted with experienced veterinarians who treated OA in ≥25% of their canine patients. Interview questions covered treatment, CBD perception, and adoption. Interviews were held from January to March 2023.

Results

Eleven out of twenty invited veterinarians participated in the study. Though all favored non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for OA in dogs, concerns about adverse reactions, including ulcers and renal failure, emerged. CBD was widely known and was perceived positively for pain, inflammation, cancer, and epilepsy. However, half distinguished CBD from marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Ten expressed willingness to prescribe CBD for OA upon robust clinical evidence. Worries centered on product consistency and impurities. Many suggested CBD should be under veterinarians' supervision at first, but this can be relaxing once safety and efficacy are established. CBD products should be chewable tablets, oils, or gelatin capsules with flavors like beef, liver, pork, fish, or seafood.

Conclusion

Though CBD benefits were recognized, knowledge gaps among the participants persisted, warranting robust CBD safety, efficacy, and quality evidence to ensure Thai market success. Comprehensive education, including continuing education for those in practice and incorporating CBD-related topics into the Schools of Veterinary's curriculum, is recommended.
Efficacy of Four Insecticides Applied to Fortified Rice with Basil against Major Stored-Product Insect Species
Authors: Agrafioti Paraskevi , Vrontaki Mariastela , Lampiri Evagelia , Rumbos Christos I. , Athanassiou Christos G.
Published: December 2023

Rice is one of the most important foods since it is grown in many countries and consumed by the majority of the population. Ensuring food security through the protection of stored-product commodities has become one of the most important priorities worldwide. In this study, the effects of three insecticidal formulations and an available diatomaceous earth formulation on basil-fortified rice against the major stored-product insects were evaluated. The label dose of each insecticidal formulation was used. Insect mortality was determined after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days for each species. The entire experiment was repeated three times by preparing different lots of treated and untreated rice for each treatment. The results of the diatomaceous earth treatments showed that the most susceptible individuals were Sitophilus oryzae adults and Oryzaephilus surinamensis larvae, while the least susceptible individuals were Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum adults. The tested insecticides were effective against S. oryzae, as mortality was 100%. Between the two pyrethroids, deltamethrin was more effective than cypermethrin in the tested insecticides. Our findings indicate that there are available insecticides on the market which can be obtained successfully for the durable protection of agricultural commodities after the harvest stage.
Oleocanthal, an Antioxidant Phenolic Compound in Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO): A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Its Potential in Inflammation and Cancer
Authors: González-Rodríguez María , Ait Edjoudi Djedjiga , Cordero-Barreal Alfonso , Farrag Mariam , Varela-García María , Torrijos-Pulpón Carlos , Ruiz-Fernández Clara , Capuozzo Maurizio , Ottaiano Alessandro , Lago Francisca , Pino Jesús , Farrag Yousof , Gualillo Oreste
Published: December 2023

Background: The Mediterranean diet is linked to various health benefits, especially the consumption of olive oil as a key component. Multiple studies highlight its advantages, particularly due to its fatty acid composition and additional components like phenolic compounds. A significant antioxidant compound, oleocanthal, known for its antioxidant properties, has gained attention in the pharmaceutical industry for its anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects. It shows promise in addressing cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and neuroprotection. This systematic review aims to evaluate the existing literature on oleocanthal, examining its role in biological processes and potential impact on conditions like inflammation and cancer. Methods: We performed several searches in PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science (WOS), and Cochrane based on the terms “Oleocanthal”, “Cancer”, and “Inflammation”. The inclusion criteria were as follows: studies whose main topics were oleocanthal and cancer or inflammation. On the other hand, the exclusion criteria were studies that were not focused on oleocanthal, reviews, or editorial material. Given that these findings are explanatory rather than derived from clinical trials, we refrained from employing methods to assess potential bias. This systematic review did not receive any external funding. Results: We found 174 records from these searches, where we discarded reviews and editorial material, duplicated articles, and 1 retracted article. Finally, we had 53 reports assessed for eligibility that were included in this review. Discussion: OC exhibits promising therapeutic potential against both inflammation and cancer. We addressed its ability to target inflammatory genes and pathways, offering potential treatments for conditions like rheumatic diseases by regulating pathways such as NF-kB and MAPK. Additionally, OC’s anticancer properties, particularly its notable inhibition of c-Met signaling across various cancers, highlight its efficacy, showcasing promise as a potential treatment.
Chemical Composition and Biological Evaluation of Natural Products with Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Peron Gregorio
Published: December 2023

An abnormal oxidative status is linked to the development of several diseases [...]
Evaluation of Alveolar Bones in the Context of Orthodontic Single-Tooth Space Closure: A Retrospective Cone Beam Computed Tomography-Based Analysis
Authors: Çınarsoy Ciğerim Saadet , Öner Talmaç Ayşe Gül , Orhan Zeynep Dilan , Ciğerim Levent
Published: December 2023

In the literature, there are no studies evaluating alveolar bone width in areas with a single missing tooth in terms of orthodontic tooth movement. This study was meant to determine whether residual alveolar bone width in edentulous crests is a risk factor for orthodontic tooth movement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in the residual alveolar bone width in the edentulous region compared to the alveolar bone width on the symmetrical toothed side using CBCT in individuals with a single missing tooth in whom orthodontic tooth movement was planned. This retrospective radiographic study was performed using CBCT images that were taken before orthodontic treatment for the evaluation of the edentulous area between January 2010 and January 2022. Individuals without any systemic disease aged 18 years or older whose edentulous area was restricted to one tooth were included in this study. Bone measurements were made on cross-sectional CBCT images. Of the 265 individuals participating in this study, 129 were male and 136 were female, with a mean age of 32.67 ± 6.50 years. The distribution of 265 edentulous regions (caused by 265 tooth extractions) was as follows: 23 were in the incisor region, 54 were in the premolar region, and 188 were in the molar region. The molar region had the highest bone width among the edentulous regions (p < 0.01). Bone widths were smaller in the edentulous crests for all regions (p < 0.01). In this study, it was determined that the bone width in the areas with a single missing tooth was insufficient, and this is a risk factor for orthodontic treatment.
Analyzing Parking Demand Characteristics Using a Bayesian Model Averaging
Authors: Liu Bo , Zhang Peng , Wu Shubo , Zou Yajie , Li Linbo , Tang Shuning
Published: December 2023

Parking duration analysis is an important aspect of evaluating parking demand. Identifying accurate distribution characteristics of parking duration can not only enhance parking efficiency and parking facility planning, but also provide essential support for parking delicacy management. Previous studies have proposed various statistical distributions to depict parking duration data. However, it is difficult to find a certain type of distribution to describe the characteristics of parking duration in diverse parking facilities, since model uncertainty is caused by stochastic parking behaviors and diverse parking environments. To address the model uncertainty, a Bayesian model averaging (BMA) was applied to integrate the advantages of different statistical distributions to depict parking duration characteristics. The parking dataset was collected from a commercial parking lot in Chengdu, China, and the dataset was categorized into two groups (i.e., temporary users and long-term users) to analyze. A set of statistical distributions was chosen as candidate models, and their corresponding unknown parameters were estimated. The posterior model probability for each candidate model was calculated according to the goodness-of-fit (GOF) metric. The findings of the study illustrate that there is no universally applicable distribution form (e.g., log-normal distribution) to depict the parking duration distribution for both user types, whereas the BMA approach assigns weights to candidate models and always provides an accurate description of the parking duration characteristics. The parking duration analysis is useful for improving parking management strategies and optimizing parking pricing policies.
On the Persistence of the Organic: The Material Lives of the Robinia pseudoacacia
Authors: Cannady Lauren R.
Published: December 2023

Just as plants confiscated from one part of the world and introduced to another may become naturalized over time, so too may the stories humankind tells about the natural world. Both can have consequences for local and global biocultures. The North American black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) offers a case study through which to consider the transmission of early modern environmental and cultural histories. The persistence of a singular specimen planted in Paris in the early seventeenth century stands in contrast to the mutability of histories over time and the divergent modality of narratives about the natural world in different cultures. The many material lives of the plant species—from its propagation and first publication by Europeans to accounts by European colonizers in North America to the tree’s historic and continued use in Indigenous craft practices—can be read through intertwined histories of botany, bioprospecting, settler colonialism, and the Atlantic slave trade. Expanding the profundity of the black locust’s history by connecting its prehistories to written narratives reveals the tree to be an entangled organic object whose histories are integral to its materiality.
Application of the Euler–Lagrange Approach and Immersed Boundary Method to Investigate the Behavior of Rigid Particles in a Confined Flow
Authors: Borges Jonatas Emmanuel , Puelles Sammy Cristopher Paredes , Demicoli Marija , Padilla Elie Luis Martínez
Published: December 2023

The presence of particles with a small but finite size, suspended in viscous fluids with low volumetric concentrations, is observed in many applications. The present study focuses on the tridimensional and incompressible lid-driven flow of Newtonian fluids through the application of the immersed boundary method and the Euler–Lagrange approach. These methods are used to numerically predict three-dimensional particle motion by considering nearly neutrally buoyant conditions as well as all relevant elementary processes (drag and lift forces, particle rotation, particle–wall interactions, and coupling between phases). Considering the current stage of the numerical platform, two coupling approaches between phases are considered: one-way and two-way coupling. A single particle is inserted in the cavity after steady-state conditions are achieved. Its three-dimensional motion is obtained from numerical simulations and compared with research data, considering the same conditions, evidently showing that the particle trajectory follows the experimental data until the first collision with a solid surface. After this first contact, there is a deviation between the results, with the two-way coupling results better representing the experimental data than the one-way coupling results. The dimensionless forces’ peaks acting on the particles are associated with the relative velocity of the particle near the wall–particle collision position. In terms of magnitude, in general, the drag force has shown greater influence on the particle’s motion, followed by the rotation-induced and shear-induced lift forces. Finally, a special application is presented, in which 4225 particles are released into the domain and their dynamic is evaluated throughout dimensionless time, showing similar behavior for both couplings between phases, with variations in local concentrations observed in certain regions. The mean square displacement used to quantify the dispersion evolution of the particles showed that the particulate flow reaches an approximately homogeneous distribution from the moment of dimensionless time tU/S = 130.
Do Social Exchange Relationships Influence Total-Quality-Management Involvement? Evidence from Frontline Employees of International Hotels
Authors: Wang Chung-Jen
Published: December 2023

This study delves into the assessment of the quality of social exchange relationships in the workplace, specifically focusing on leader–member exchange (LMX) and team–member exchange (TMX), to forecast employee Total Quality Management (TQM) involvement within the hospitality industry. Employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study evaluates multiple hypotheses, utilizing data collected from 811 frontline employees in international tourist hotels located in Taiwan. The findings demonstrate that both LMX and TMX exhibit direct positive influences on employee TQM involvement. Moreover, through mediated path analyses, it is evident that both LMX and TMX exert indirect positive impacts on employee TQM involvement, by means of self-efficacy and job satisfaction. These results elucidate a clear causal chain mechanism underlying the behavior of employee TQM involvement within such social relationships. The study’s revelations carry significant implications for the hospitality industry, shedding light on the nuanced dynamics of these social relationships and their impact on employee behavior concerning TQM involvement. The discussions encompassing the implications of these findings in the realm of hospitality are thoroughly explored and detailed.
FcRn Expression in Endometrial Cancer and Its Association with Clinicopathologic Features
Authors: Song Dae Hyun , Yang Juseok , Kim Cho Hee , Kim Min Hye , Jo Jae Yoon , Baek Jong Chul
Published: December 2023

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) has robust molecular diagnostic evidence that correlates well with prognosis. In various types of cancers, FcRn has been identified as an early marker for prognosis. This study aims to assess FcRn expression and its association with clinicopathological features in endometrial cancer. Materials and Methods: We employed a tissue microarray (TMA) from a retrospective cohort of 41 patients diagnosed with endometrioid endometrial cancer post hysterectomy between January 2002 and December 2009 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Relevant clinical data collection for the cohort involved reviewing patients’ electronic medical charts. FcRn expression in microarrays of patient EC tissue was examined in conjunction with clinicopathologic data. Experiments, including siRNA knock-down, PCR mRNA semiquantification, Western blot, and confluence change tests, were conducted on the Ishikawa cell line. Results: The overall FcRn expression rate in EC patients was 41.8%. FIGO stage showed a statistically significant relationship with FcRn expression, while age, lymphovascular invasion, myometrial invasion, and tumor size had no effect. In endometrioid cancer cells of FIGO stage IA, FcRn was less frequently expressed than in other high-staged EC patients (p = 0.021). In experiments on the Ishikawa cell line, the siRNA knock-down group exhibited quantitatively lower FCGRT mRNA expression and lower FcRn protein signal compared to the scrambled RNA control group. The change in confluence over time measured at three hotspots did not show a significant difference between groups. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the initial assessment of FcRn expression in endometrioid EC samples. FcRn expression was significantly associated with the FIGO stage. Ishikawa cell line proliferation did not significantly change in response to decreased FcRn expression. Further studies are needed to elucidate FcRn expression in EC as a potential molecular parameter.
Oversea Cross-Lingual Summarization Service in Multilanguage Pre-Trained Model through Knowledge Distillation
Authors: Yang Xiwei , Yun Jing , Zheng Bofei , Liu Limin , Ban Qi
Published: December 2023

Cross-lingual text summarization is a highly desired service for overseas report editing tasks and is formulated in a distributed application to facilitate the cooperation of editors. The multilanguage pre-trained language model (MPLM) can generate high-quality cross-lingual text summaries with simple fine-tuning. However, the MPLM does not adapt to complex variations, like the word order and tense in different languages. When the model performs on these languages with separate syntactic structures and vocabulary morphologies, it will lead to the low-level quality of the cross-lingual summary. The matter worsens when the cross-lingual summarization datasets are low-resource. We use a knowledge distillation framework for the cross-lingual summarization task to address the above issues. By learning the monolingual teacher model, the cross-lingual student model can effectively capture the differences between languages. Since the teacher and student models generate summaries in two languages, their representations lie on different vector spaces. In order to construct representation relationships across languages, we further propose a similarity metric, which is based on bidirectional semantic alignment, to map different language representations to the same space. In order to improve the quality of cross-lingual summaries further, we use contrastive learning to make the student model focus on the differentials among languages. Contrastive learning can enhance the ability of the similarity metric for bidirectional semantic alignment. Our experiments show that our approach is competitive in low-resource scenarios on cross-language summarization datasets in pairs of distant languages.
Dynamic Changes in Egg Quality, Heritability and Correlation of These Traits and Yolk Nutrient throughout the Entire Laying Cycle
Authors: Zhang Junnan , Gao Xiang , Zheng Weijie , Wang Pengpeng , Duan Zhongyi , Xu Guiyun
Published: December 2023

Egg quality and nutritional value are becoming increasingly important to consumers, offering a new direction for the development of high-quality eggs. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of egg quality and nutrient profiles in native breeds at different ages, integrating pedigree data. Our results reveal dynamic changes in egg qualities, stronger associations among eggshell-related traits, and the effect of onset production and body weight on egg qualities. The heritability of different traits was estimated, ranging from 0.05 to 0.62. Subsequently, we elucidated that the moisture and nutritional content in the egg yolk were not influenced by the percentage of yolk but were indeed subject to age regulation. There was a notable decrease in moisture, an elevation in crude fat, and an increase in the diversity of fatty acids of yolk with advancing age. In summary, investigating the trends and interrelationships in egg quality, nutrient content, and heritability across the whole laying cycle offers valuable insights for breeders to optimize feeding management strategies and aids consumers in meeting their expectations of egg quality.
Characterization of Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Cheeses Added with Bovine Colostrum
Authors: Barbosa Idiana de Macêdo , Anaya Katya , Macêdo Cláudia Souza , Coelho Robson Rogério Pessoa , Cipolat-Gotet Claudio , Silva Emerson Gabriel dos Santos Oliveira , Araújo Nkarthe Guerra , Chagas Bruna Maria Emerenciano das , Oliveira Juliana Paula Felipe de , Boari Cleube Andrade , Sales Danielle Cavalcanti , Araújo Emmanuella de Oliveira Moura , Neves Josemir Araújo , Rangel Adriano Henrique do Nascimento
Published: December 2023

The objective of this study was to develop fresh and matured cheeses with different bovine colostrum levels, aiming to promote the consumption of dairy products with the addition of colostrum. Four different cheese formulations were produced with a mixture of 0:100, 15:85, 20:80, and 25:75, bovine colostrum:milk (v:v), and aged for 0, 10, 20, and 40 days. Milk, colostrum, and fresh and matured cheeses were submitted to physicochemical characterization. Moreover, microbiological quality, yield, texture profile, color, and sensory acceptance of cheese samples were evaluated. Colostrum supplementation favored low acidity, high moisture, a pH range of 5.0–6.2, and water activity of 0.94–99. Sensory attributes and overall evaluation of all cheese formulations achieved an Acceptability Index above 70, indicating good acceptability. Since cheese with colostrum presented the potential to be used as human food, assessing the presence of colostrum bioactive components in those dairy products is a promising goal for further research.
Interaction between a Sulfated Polysaccharide from Sea Cucumber and Gut Microbiota Influences the Fat Metabolism in Rats
Authors: Zhang Yujiao , Song Haoran , Liu Zhengqi , Ai Chunqing , Yan Chunhong , Dong Xiuping , Song Shuang
Published: December 2023

Due to its significant physiological effects, a sulfated polysaccharide has been considered an important nutrient of sea cucumber, but its metabolism in vivo is still unclear. The present study investigated the metabolism of a sea cucumber sulfated polysaccharide (SCSP) in rats and its influence on the metabolite profiles. The quantification by HPLC-MS/MS revealed that the blood level of SCSP achieved a maximum of 54.0 ± 4.8 μg/mL at 2 h after gavage, almost no SCSP was excreted through urine, and 55.4 ± 29.8% of SCSP was eliminated through feces within 24 h. These results prove the utilization of SCSP by gut microbiota, and a further microbiota sequencing analysis indicated that the SCSP utilization in the gut was positively correlated with Muribaculaceae and Clostridia_UCG-014. In addition, the non-targeted metabolomic analysis demonstrated the significant effects of SCSP administration on the metabolite profiles of blood, urine, and feces. It is worth noting that the SCSP supplement decreased palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid in blood and urine while increasing stearic acid, linoleic acid, and γ-linolenic acid in feces, suggesting the inhibition of fat absorption and the enhancement of fat excretion by SCSP, respectively. The present study shed light on the metabolism in vivo and the influence on the fat metabolism of SCSP.
Treatment of Esophago–Airway Fistula after Esophageal Resection
Authors: Włodarczyk Janusz , Smęder Tomasz , Obarski Piotr , Ziętkiewicz Mirosław
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: Esophago–airway fistula after esophageal resection is a rare, life-threatening complication associated with a high postoperative mortality rate. Managing this condition is challenging, and the prognosis for patients is uncertain. The results and our own approach to treatment are presented. (2) Material and Methods: We present a retrospective analysis of a group of 22 patients treated for an esophago–airway fistula between 2012 and 2022, with 21 cases after esophageal resection and one during the course of Hodgkin’s disease. (3) Results: Twenty-two patients were treated for an esophago–airway fistula. Among them, a tracheobronchial fistula occurred in 21 (95.4%) patients during the postoperative period, while 1 (4.5%) was treated for Hodgkin’s disease. Of these cases, 17 (70.7%) patients underwent esophageal diversion with various treatments, including intercostal flap in most cases, greater omentum in one (4.5%), latissimus dorsi muscle in two (9%), and greater pectoral muscle in one (4.5%). Esophageal stenting was performed in two patients (9.0%), and one (4.5%) was treated conservatively. Unfortunately, one patient (4.5%) died after being treated with bronchial stenting, and two (9.5%) experienced a recurrence of the fistula. (4) Conclusions: The occurrence of an esophago–airway fistula after esophagectomy is a rare but life-threatening complication with an uncertain prognosis that results in several serious perioperative sequelae.
Cochlear Implantation in Patients with Bilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss after COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Arsović Nenad , Jovanović Marija , Babac Snežana , Čvorović Ljiljana , Radivojević Nemanja , Arsović Konstantin
Published: December 2023

COVID-19 infection is associated with a variety of neurological manifestations. Since the inner ear is vulnerable to viruses, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has been reported to occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We present here two cases of profound SNHL following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pure-tone audiograms confirmed profound SNHL. The tympanogram and Auditory Brainstem Responses showed no abnormal symptoms. MRIs and CTs identified some changes but no significant anatomical nor physiological manifestations explaining the obvious cause for hearing loss. High doses of oral corticosteroids with additional conservative therapy were given with no therapeutic response, and therefore, cochlear implant surgery was performed. One case was bilaterally treated, and the other one received an implantation on one side. Both surgeries were carried out without intra- nor postoperative complications. Interestingly, in both cases, advanced fibrotic tissue was found during surgery. Both cases reported successful rehabilitation and are satisfied with their new sound perception following cochlear implantation.
Effects of Erucamide and N-phenyl-α-naphthylamine on the Friction and Torque Behaviors of Grease on Roller Bearings
Authors: Liu Qingchun , Mo Yimin , Lv Juncheng , Zhang Hong
Published: December 2023

To evaluate the impact of various proportions of erucamide and N-phenyl-α-naphthylamine on grease’s tribological performance for roller bearings, lithium complex grease (LCG) and polyurea grease (PG) were prepared with erucamide and N-phenyl-α-naphthylamine proportions of (0,0), (0,3), (1,2), (2,1), and (3,0). An investigation was conducted into the microscopic structures of the ten greases and their effects on the friction coefficients and wear scars of GCr15 steel. These findings were validated through bearing friction torque tests. The results indicate that the addition of 2 wt. % erucamide and 1 wt. % N-phenyl-α-naphthylamine to PG/LCG significantly enhances their tribological properties and reduces friction torque, with PG exhibiting superior performance. This enhancement was attributed to the synergistic interaction of erucamide and N-phenyl-α-naphthylamine with the lamellar thickener within PG. Erucamide contributed to friction reduction, while N acted as an antioxidant.
Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Adzuki Beans (Vigna angularis): Insights into Environmental Adaptation and Early Breeding Strategies for Yield Improvement
Authors: Wang Xiaohan , Choi Yu-Mi , Jeon Young-ah , Yi JungYoon , Shin Myoung-Jae , Desta Kebede Taye , Yoon Hyemyeong
Published: December 2023

Adzuki beans are widely cultivated in East Asia and are one of the earliest domesticated crops. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the genetic diversity and domestication history of adzuki beans, we conducted Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) analysis on 366 landraces originating from Korea, China, and Japan, resulting in 6586 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Population structure analysis divided these 366 landraces into three subpopulations. These three subpopulations exhibited distinctive distributions, suggesting that they underwent extended domestication processes in their respective regions of origin. Phenotypic variance analysis of the three subpopulations indicated that the Korean-domesticated subpopulation exhibited significantly higher 100-seed weights, the Japanese-domesticated subpopulation showed significantly higher numbers of grains per pod, and the Chinese-domesticated subpopulation displayed significantly higher numbers of pods per plant. We speculate that these differences in yield-related traits may be attributed to varying emphases placed by early breeders in these regions on the selection of traits related to yield. A large number of genes related to biotic/abiotic stress resistance and defense were found in most quantitative trait locus (QTL) for yield-related traits using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Genomic sliding window analysis of Tajima’s D and a genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) revealed distinct domestication selection signatures and genotype variations on these QTLs within each subpopulation. These findings indicate that each subpopulation would have been subjected to varied biotic/abiotic stress events in different origins, of which these stress events have caused balancing selection differences in the QTL of each subpopulation. In these balancing selections, plants tend to select genotypes with strong resistance under biotic/abiotic stress, but reduce the frequency of high-yield genotypes to varying degrees. These biotic/abiotic stressors impact crop yield and may even lead to selection purging, resulting in the loss of several high-yielding genotypes among landraces. However, this also fuels the flow of crop germplasms. Overall, balancing selection appears to have a more significant impact on the three yield-related traits compared to breeder-driven domestication selection. These findings are crucial for understanding the impact of domestication selection history on landraces and yield-related traits, aiding in the improvement of adzuki bean varieties.