bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Butterfly Diversity in a Rapidly Developing Urban Area: A Case Study on a University Campus
Authors: Fang Sheng-Quan , Li Yong-Ping , Pan Yue , Wang Chong-Yun , Peng Ming-Chun , Hu Shao-Ji
Published: December 2023

University campuses, as small and isolated areas of rapidly growing urban areas, can provide a unique opportunity for urban biodiversity research, conservation, education, and citizen science by monitoring assemblages of butterflies within their areas. We surveyed butterfly biodiversity in a rapidly developing urban area represented by the Chenggong Campus of Yunnan University in southwestern China using the Pollard walk method. In total, 3625 butterfly individuals belonging to 50 species, 35 genera, and six families were recorded in this survey. The results showed that the families Pieridae and Nymphalidae are the families with the highest species richness on the campus, and that the family Riodinidae contained the fewest species. Pieris rapae was the most common species, and seven species assessed by the IUCN Red List were recorded. Butterfly community structure varied across habitats and seasons on campus, and butterfly diversity was higher in spring and autumn than it was in summer and winter, as well as being higher in road habitats than in scenic habitats. Unavoidable urbanisation activities (construction, green space planning, etc.) may have influenced the composition and diversity of butterflies, and conserving urban butterfly diversity requires a balance between urban planning and habitat diversity. Finally, we encourage universities and research institutions to develop butterfly monitoring platforms for citizen scientists to participate in.
The Effectiveness of Commercially Available Double-Crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritus) Deterrent Methods in Reducing Loafing Time on Floating Oyster Cages
Authors: Cunningham Fred L. , Burr Paul , Glover Jason , Tappa Jason , Redd Madeline , Wang Guiming
Published: December 2023

The Wildlife Services—National Wildlife Research Center Mississippi Field Station, working in conjunction with Mississippi State University, conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of several non-lethal, commercial, physical bird deterrents. Deterrents were available on the open market to reduce double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritus) (DCCO) roosting time on floating oyster cages. We hypothesized that reducing bird loafing time on floating oyster cages would reduce the potential for bird defecation. Double-crested cormorant defecation can increase coliform counts in both the water and oysters, which could result in oyster farm closure. Shellfish farms often differ from one another due to environmental factors and farm locations. Six deterrent devices were selected as options for farmers, and the amount of time DCCOs occupied floats with deterrents was compared to the time they occupied those without deterrents (i.e., on a control pond). All deterrents except the Scarem Kite significantly reduced or halted DCCO use of floats compared to the control. Of note, the Scarem Kite is the only deterrent that requires consistent wind to operate effectively. The research facility is open-air, but we did not have sufficient wind for proper Scarem Kite function. Thus, it is possible that all deterrents would have produced significant reductions in DCCO use. Our results are encouraging and show that minimal deterrent applications to oyster cage floats can help farms achieve their operational plans’ goals and reduce the potential for pathogen transfer by birds. The data presented here should be considered a starting point for developing an efficient deterrent plan that meets state and federal standards.
Medical Opinions Analysis about the Decrease of Autopsies Using Emerging Pattern Mining
Authors: Machorro-Cano Isaac , Ríos-Méndez Ingrid Aylin , Palet-Guzmán José Antonio , Rodríguez-Mazahua Nidia , Rodríguez-Mazahua Lisbeth , Alor-Hernández Giner , Olmedo-Aguirre José Oscar
Published: December 2023

An autopsy is a widely recognized procedure to guarantee ongoing enhancements in medicine. It finds extensive application in legal, scientific, medical, and research domains. However, declining autopsy rates in hospitals constitute a worldwide concern. For example, the Regional Hospital of Rio Blanco in Veracruz, Mexico, has substantially reduced the number of autopsies at hospitals in recent years. Since there are no documented historical records of a decrease in the frequency of autopsy cases, it is crucial to establish a methodological framework to substantiate any actual trends in the data. Emerging pattern mining (EPM) allows for finding differences between classes or data sets because it builds a descriptive data model concerning some given remarkable property. Data set description has become a significant application area in various contexts in recent years. In this research study, various EPM (emerging pattern mining) algorithms were used to extract emergent patterns from a data set collected based on medical experts’ perspectives on reducing hospital autopsies. Notably, the top-performing EPM algorithms were iEPMiner, LCMine, SJEP-C, Top-k minimal SJEPs, and Tree-based JEP-C. Among these, iEPMiner and LCMine demonstrated faster performance and produced superior emergent patterns when considering metrics such as Confidence, Weighted Relative Accuracy Criteria (WRACC), False Positive Rate (FPR), and True Positive Rate (TPR).
Unlocking Insights: Analysing COVID-19 Lockdown Policies and Mobility Data in Victoria, Australia, through a Data-Driven Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Lyu Shiyang , Adegboye Oyelola , Adhinugraha Kiki , Emeto Theophilus I. , Taniar David
Published: December 2023

The state of Victoria, Australia, implemented one of the world’s most prolonged cumulative lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Although lockdowns have proven effective in managing COVID-19 worldwide, this approach faced challenges in containing the rising infection in Victoria. This study evaluates the effects of short-term (less than 60 days) and long-term (more than 60 days) lockdowns on public mobility and the effectiveness of various social restriction measures within these periods. The aim is to understand the complexities of pandemic management by examining various measures over different lockdown durations, thereby contributing to more effective COVID-19 containment methods. Using restriction policy, community mobility, and COVID-19 data, a machine-learning-based simulation model was proposed, incorporating analysis of correlation, infection doubling time, and effective lockdown date. The model result highlights the significant impact of public event cancellations in preventing COVID-19 infection during short- and long-term lockdowns and the importance of international travel controls in long-term lockdowns. The effectiveness of social restriction was found to decrease significantly with the transition from short to long lockdowns, characterised by increased visits to public places and increased use of public transport, which may be associated with an increase in the effective reproduction number (Rt) and infected cases.
Trends in Gastrointestinal Infections during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Concerns of Post-Pandemic Resurgence in Japan
Authors: Higurashi Takuma , Tamura Shigeki , Misawa Noboru , Horita Nobuyuki
Published: December 2023

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was very broad and substantial, affecting a variety of fields worldwide. In Japan, the infection began spreading in March 2020. At that time, the government alerted people to cancel overseas travel, and encouraged wearing of masks, handwashing, sanitizing and keeping social distance. We sought to determine how COVID-19 infections affected other infectious diseases by investigating the trends in seven gastrointestinal infections that are listed among the 77 important infectious diseases designated by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. We compared seven gastrointestinal infectious diseases, namely cholera, bacterial dysentery, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, amoebic dysentery, and giardiasis, in terms of numbers of new cases before the COVID-19 pandemic (2012–2019) and during the pandemic (2020–2022). During the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2022), the incidence of the seven infections decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with before the pandemic (2012–2019). The sharp and significant decline in incidence of these seven infections in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2022) appears to be due to restrictions on overseas travel and strict anti-infection measures, such as self-quarantine and encouragement of handwashing and sanitizing. The number of new cases of gastrointestinal infections in Japan is expected to increase in 2024 as these measures lapse. It is important for physicians to continue to monitor trends in gastrointestinal infections and educate people about proper infection prevention.
The Role of Gossiping in Information Dissemination over a Network of Agents
Authors: Bastopcu Melih , Etesami Seyed Rasoul , Başar Tamer
Published: December 2023

We consider information dissemination over a network of gossiping agents. In this model, a source keeps the most up-to-date information about a time-varying binary state of the world, and n receiver nodes want to follow the information at the source as accurately as possible. When the information at the source changes, the source first sends updates to a subset of m≤n nodes. Then, the nodes share their local information during the gossiping period, to disseminate the information further. The nodes then estimate the information at the source, using the majority rule at the end of the gossiping period. To analyze the information dissemination, we introduce a new error metric to find the average percentage of nodes that can accurately obtain the most up-to-date information at the source. We characterize the equations necessary to obtain the steady-state distribution for the average error and then analyze the system behavior under both high and low gossip rates. We develop an adaptive policy that the source can use to determine its current transmission capacity m based on its past transmission rates and the accuracy of the information at the nodes. Finally, we implement a clustered gossiping network model, to further improve the information dissemination.
Weak versus Deterministic Macroscopic Realism, and Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen’s Elements of Reality
Authors: Fulton Jesse , Thenabadu Manushan , Teh Run Yan , Reid Margaret D.
Published: December 2023

The violation of a Leggett–Garg inequality confirms the incompatibility between quantum mechanics and the combined premises (called macro-realism) of macroscopic realism (MR) and noninvasive measurability (NIM). Arguments can be given that the incompatibility arises because MR fails for systems in a superposition of macroscopically distinct states—or else, that NIM fails. In this paper, we consider a strong negation of macro-realism, involving superpositions of coherent states, where the NIM premise is replaced by Bell’s locality premise. We follow recent work and propose the validity of a subset of Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) and Leggett–Garg premises, referred to as weak macroscopic realism (wMR). In finding consistency with wMR, we identify that the Leggett–Garg inequalities are violated because of failure of both MR and NIM, but also that both are valid in a weaker (less restrictive) sense. Weak MR is distinguished from deterministic macroscopic realism (dMR) by recognizing that a measurement involves a reversible unitary interaction that establishes the measurement setting. Weak MR posits that a predetermined value for the outcome of a measurement can be attributed to the system after the interaction, when the measurement setting is experimentally specified. An extended definition of wMR considers the “element of reality” defined by EPR for system A, where one can predict with certainty the outcome of a measurement on A by performing a measurement on system B. Weak MR posits that this element of reality exists once the unitary interaction determining the measurement setting at B has occurred. We demonstrate compatibility of systems violating Leggett–Garg inequalities with wMR but point out that dMR has been shown to be falsifiable. Other tests of wMR are proposed, the predictions of wMR agreeing with quantum mechanics. Finally, we compare wMR with macro-realism models discussed elsewhere. An argument in favour of wMR is presented: wMR resolves a potential contradiction pointed out by Leggett and Garg between failure of macro-realism and assumptions intrinsic to quantum measurement theory.
Quantitative Assessment of the Impact of Extreme Events on Electricity Consumption
Authors: Xiong Dan , Yan Yiming , Qin Mengjiao , Wu Sensen , Liu Renyi
Published: December 2023

Global energy consumption is growing rapidly, with the frequency and intensity of extreme events constantly increasing, posing a long-term threat to power supply and consumption. Therefore, analyzing the spatiotemporal characteristics of electricity consumption and quantitatively assessing the impact of extreme events on electricity consumption are of great significance. Based on fine-grained electricity consumption data from Europe for the years 2019–2022, this paper employs a data mining perspective and four methods including Z-score, Isolation Forest, Local Outlier Factor, and Autoencoder to detect abnormal electricity consumption during extreme events. Additionally, it combines indicators such as elastic loss, vulnerability, and duration to measure the impact of extreme events on electricity consumption. It is found that low temperatures could lead to abrupt changes in electricity consumption, with Northern Europe being more significantly affected by low temperatures. The COVID-19 pandemic had the most significant impact on electricity consumption in Europe, with the middle part of Europe being the hardest hit during the first wave of the pandemic. Electricity anomalies during the pandemic period were related to national pandemic control policies and exhibited some lag. High temperatures persisted for a longer duration in the middle part of Europe.
Production of Alternative Fuels Based on Sewage Sludge
Authors: Rećko Krzysztof
Published: December 2023

Due to the growing demand for energy, conventional fossil fuels are being depleted. Reducing dependence on energy sources based on fossil fuels is possible by using the energy potential of biomass. Sewage sludge deserves special attention. The increase in the amount of sewage sludge produced around the world poses a serious problem with its management. The use of sewage sludge to produce fuel with the possibility of energy recovery seems to be an excellent solution. The article presents the results of laboratory tests on the production of fuel in the form of granulates from mixed sewage sludge, rubber waste, and wood waste in the form of sawdust. Fuel mixtures were tested, and fuel parameters were determined. The calorific value of the tested fuel ranged from 13.92 MJ/kg to 22.15 MJ/kg, and the moisture content from 41.57% to 18.36%, depending on the percentage composition of the mixtures used to produce the granules. The ash content ranged from 14.82% to 17.40%. The composition of granulated fuel mixtures has been designed to avoid additional drying or pre-drying of sewage sludge. In this way, fuel was obtained without additional energy consumption associated with drying sewage sludge. Moreover, it should be stated that the share of sewage sludge in granulated fuel should not exceed 25%. Nowadays, such fuel can be an alternative to fossil fuels used in the cement or energy industry.
Self-Unit Commitment of Combined-Cycle Units with Real Operational Constraints
Authors: González-Sierra Mauro , Wogrin Sonja
Published: December 2023

This paper highlights the importance of accurately modeling the operational constraints of Combined-Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGTs) within a unit-commitment framework. In practice, in Colombia, when given an initial dispatch by the Independent System Operator, CCGT plants are operated according to the results of heuristic simulation codes. Such heuristics often omit technical operating constraints, including hot, warm, or cold startup ramps; the minimum operation hours required for a gas turbine to start a steam turbine; the relationship between the dispatched number of steam and gas turbines; the load distribution among gas turbines; and supplementary fires. Most unit-commitment models in the literature represent standard technical constraints like startup, shutdown, up/down ramps, and in some cases, supplementary fires. However, they typically overlook other real-life CCGT operating constraints, which were considered in this work. These constraints are crucial in integrated energy systems to avoid equipment damage, which can potentially put CCGT plants out of service and ultimately lead to lower operating costs.
PrOuD: Probabilistic Outlier Detection Solution for Time-Series Analysis of Real-World Photovoltaic Inverters
Authors: He Yujiang , Huang Zhixin , Vogt Stephan , Sick Bernhard
Published: December 2023

Anomaly detection methods applied to time series are mostly viewed as black boxes that solely provide a deterministic answer for the detected target. Without a convincing explanation, domain experts can hardly trust the detection results and must conduct further time-series diagnoses in real-world applications. To overcome this challenge, we mathematically analyzed the sources of anomalies and novelties in multivariate time series as well as their relationships from the perspective of Gaussian-distributed non-stationary noise. Furthermore, we proposed mathematical methods to generate artificial time series and synthetic anomalies, with the goal of solving the problem of it being difficult to train and evaluate models for real-world applications due to the lack of sufficient data. In addition, we designed Probabilistic Outlier Detection (PrOuD), which is a general solution to provide interpretable detection results to assist domain experts with time-series analysis. PrOuD can convert the predictive uncertainty of a time-series value from a trained model into the estimated uncertainty of the detected outlier through Monte Carlo estimation. The experimental results obtained on both artificial time series and real-world photovoltaic inverter data demonstrated that the proposed solution can detect emerging anomalies accurately and quickly. The implemented PrOuD demo case shows its potential to make the detection results of existing detection methods more convincing so that domain experts can more efficiently complete their tasks, such as time-series diagnosis and anomalous pattern clustering.
Potential of Offshore Wind Energy in Malaysia: An Investigation into Wind and Bathymetry Conditions and Site Selection
Authors: Li Mingxin , Carroll James , Ahmad Ahmad Sukri , Hasan Nor Shahida , Zolkiffly M. Zaid B. , Falope Gboyega Bishop , Sabil Khalik Mohamad
Published: December 2023

The government has set an ambitious target of renewable energy development in Malaysia. As a promising renewable energy source, wind energy plays an important role in the Malaysia renewable energy roadmap. Compared to onshore wind energy, offshore wind resources with better quality can be provided in the areas away from the coast, which has greater potential to contribute to electricity generation. Wind and bathymetry conditions are two important factors that determine the feasibility and economics of offshore wind turbines. In this paper, an investigation is conducted on wind and bathymetry conditions around Malaysia. The data source mainly originates from the Global Wind Atlas. The conditions of the coastal areas in different states and federal territories of both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia are analysed, with a specific focus on wind speed, wind energy density, and bathymetry conditions in high-wind-speed regions. The data and survey are verified and compared with the past published literature. This paper aims to investigate the wind and bathymetry conditions around Malaysia, assess the potential of offshore wind energy, discuss the feasibility of offshore wind turbines, and provide references for offshore wind development in Malaysia.
Impact of Spatial Rainfall Scenarios on River Basin Runoff Simulation a Nan River Basin Study Using the Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation Model
Authors: Pakoksung Kwanchai
Published: December 2023

This study aims to investigate the impact of spatial rainfall distribution scenarios from ground observation stations on runoff simulation using hydrological modeling specific to the Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation (RRI) model. The RRI model was applied with six different spatial distribution scenarios of input rainfall, including Inverse Distance Weight (IDW), Thiessen polygon (TSP), Surface Polynomial (SPL), Simple kriging (SKG), and Ordinary kriging (OKG), to simulate the runoff of a 13,000 km2 watershed, namely the Nan River Basin in Thailand. This study utilized data from the 2014 storm event, incorporating temporal information from 28 rainfall stations to estimate rainfall in the spatial distribution scenarios. The six statistics, Volume Bias, Peak Bias, Root Mean Square Error, Correlation, and Mean Bias, were used to determine the accuracy of the estimated rainfall and runoff. Overall, the Simple kriging (SKG) method outperformed the other scenarios based on the statistical values to validate with measured rainfall data. Similarly, SKG demonstrated the closest match between simulated and observed runoff, achieving the highest correlation (0.803), the lowest Root Mean Square Error (164.48 cms), and high Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency coefficient (0.499) values. This research underscores the practical significance of spatial interpolation methods, such as SKG, in combination with digital elevation models (DEMs) and landuse/soil type datasets, in delivering reliable runoff simulations considering the RRI model on the river basin scale.
Research History of Forest Gap as Small-Scale Disturbances in Forest Ecosystems
Authors: Tian Aolei , Halik Ümüt , Fu Wentao , Sawirdin Subinur , Cheng Shengyuan , Lei Jiaqiang
Published: December 2023

Forest gaps, which are formed by small-scale disturbances that often occur in forest communities, are the most dominant form of disturbance in many types of forests around the world and play an essential role in the dynamics of forest regeneration, plant diversity conservation, nutrient cycling, and forest succession. Forest gaps are one of the vital directions in forest research. Dynamic disturbance and vegetation regeneration are important elements of forest gap research. The research on forest gaps has a history spanning over 70 years, but there is a lack of a systematic overview of the process. Therefore, this review outlines the spatial changes in the whole process of forest gap development by systematically analyzing the occurrence, basic characteristics, micro-environmental changes, and the effects of forest gap disturbance processes on understory animals, plants, soil microorganisms, and forest regeneration and succession. The results contribute to a better understanding of forest gaps and their impacts on forest regeneration and management. Based on this, we remapped the forest gap process during forest succession. We suggest directions and recommendations for improvements in response to the dilemmas and challenges facing the future of forest gaps.
Hydrochar-Promoted Methane Production in Mesophilic and Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Hydrothermal Pre-Treated Sludge
Authors: Jing Chaosen , Zhang Chao , Luo Xingzhang , Zheng Zheng
Published: December 2023

Hydrochar produced during the hydrothermal conversion of organic solid waste could enhance the anaerobic digestion (AD) efficiency of hydrothermal pre-treated sludge. However, there was still a lack of systematic research on the effect of hydrochar on improving the methane production and microbial communities of the AD of hydrothermal pre-treated sludge under different temperature conditions. This study explored the effect of hydrochar on methane production from the mesophilic and thermophilic AD of hydrothermal pre-treated sludge and the mechanism of microbial action based on metagenomics analysis. Hydrochar could improve the methane production efficiency of mesophilic and thermophilic AD at different initial concentrations of hydrothermal pre-treated sludge. However, the effect of hydrochar in promoting AD varied under different AD temperatures. Both temperature and hydrochar were crucial factors that could influence the microbial community. Moreover, hydrochar increased the relative abundance of archaea in the AD system, resulting in an increment of 4.99% to 15.30% compared to the control group. Mesophilic reactors exhibit greater microbial diversity. Hydrochar resulted in the significant enrichment of Synergistota in the thermophilic AD system and the enrichment of Firmicutes in the mesophilic AD system, thereby promoting the hydrolysis of proteins and polysaccharides during AD. This study has practical significance for the resource treatment of excess activated sludge.
Obtaining an Oily Ingredient Rich in PUFAS and Tocopherols and a High-Nutritional-Value Flour from Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by Supercritical CO2 Extraction
Authors: Benites-Mena Jesus , Vargas-De-La-Cruz Celia , Vergara-Valdés Claudia , Jave-Nakayo Jorge , Ortiz-Viedma Jaime , Char Cielo , Inga-Guevara Marianela , Flores Marcos , Cepeda Alberto
Published: December 2023

The objective of this work was to carry out a preliminary study of the fractionation by supercritical CO2 (sc-CO2) extraction of two varieties of Peruvian beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), white (WB) and red (RB), to obtain two novel products: an oil rich in essential fatty acids and tocopherols and a defatted flour with high nutritional value and amino acids. The extraction temperature and pressure were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM) and the extraction kinetics were optimized using the Spline equation. The results revealed that the best extraction conditions for WB and RB were 396.36 Bar, 40.46 °C, with an efficiency of 1.65%; and 391.995 Bar, 44.00 °C, with an efficiency of 1.12%, respectively. The WB and RB oils presented a high degree of polyunsaturation (63.2 and 52.8%, respectively), with oleic, linoleic, and linolenic fatty acids prevailing. Gamma-tocopherol was the predominant antioxidant in both oils. The residual flours (WB and RB) obtained after extraction with sc-CO2 had a high average content of proteins (23%), carbohydrates (61%), and minerals (3%). The limiting amino acids of WB were: Fen + Tyr, Leu, Lys, and in RB, only Leu was limiting. The viscosity of the solutions (20%) of the WB and RB flours mainly adjusted to the Waele’s Ostwald model (r = 0.988). It is concluded that both products (oil and bean flour) obtained in an optimized manner using an eco-friendly technology with sc-CO2 have high nutrient and bioactive component content and can be used in the development of new ingredients and healthy foods of plant origin.
Beef Toughness and the Amount of Greenhouse Gas Emissions as a Function of Localized Electrical Stimulation
Authors: Jeong Dawoon , Kim Young Soon , Kim Hong-Gun , Hwang Inho
Published: December 2023

This study investigated the effect of localized electrical stimulation on Hanwoo beef quality. It focused on the chemical and physical properties of the Longissimus thoracis (LT) and Biceps femoris (BF) muscles, and it explored the implications of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction achieved by accelerating tenderization via localized electrical stimulation. The results show that the application of localized electrical stimulation (45 V) had no significant impact on the TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) of either the LT muscle or the BF muscle. Localized electrical stimulation and aging treatments had a significant effect on meat tenderness in the LT and BF muscles, but there was no interactive effect. In particular, the WBsf (Warnar–Bratzler shear force) at 2 days of aging of the electrically stimulated BF muscle was 5.35 kg, which was lower than that of the control group (5.58 kg) after 14 days of aging; however, the effect of WBsf reduction due to aging in the LT muscle was higher than the localized electrical stimulation effect. Estimating CO2 mitigation from a shorter feeding period for Hanwoo steers from 31 months to 26 months may reduce 1.04 kg of CO2-eq emissions associated with the production of a single kilogram of trimmed beef. In conclusion, localized electrical stimulation improved the tenderness of Hanwoo beef and reduced CO2 emissions.
Fermented Vegetables: Health Benefits, Defects, and Current Technological Solutions
Authors: Tan Xiqian , Cui Fangchao , Wang Dangfeng , Lv Xinran , Li Xuepeng , Li Jianrong
Published: December 2023

This review summarizes current studies on fermented vegetables, analyzing the changes in nutritional components during pickling, the health benefits of fermented vegetables, and their safety concerns. Additionally, the review provides an overview of the applications of emergent non-thermal technologies for addressing these safety concerns during the production and processing of fermented vegetables. It was found that vitamin C would commonly be lost, the soluble protein would degrade into free amino acids, new nutrient compositions would be produced, and the flavor correlated with the chemical changes. These changes would be influenced by the variety/location of raw materials, the original bacterial population, starter cultures, fermentation conditions, seasoning additions, and post-fermentation processing. Consuming fermented vegetables benefits human health, including antibacterial effects, regulating intestinal bacterial populations, and promoting health (anti-cancer effects, anti-diabetes effects, and immune regulation). However, fermented vegetables have chemical and biological safety concerns, such as biogenic amines and the formation of nitrites, as well as the existence of pathogenic microorganisms. To reduce hazardous components and control the quality of fermented vegetables, unique starter cultures, high pressure, ultrasound, cold plasma, photodynamic, and other technologies can be used to solve these problems.
Isolation and Characterization of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Enteromorpha prolifera Lipids and Their Preventive Effects on Ulcerative Colitis in C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Wen Haichao , Leong Pooi Mun , Wang Xincen , Li Duo
Published: December 2023

Enteromorpha prolifera (EP) is a green alga that causes green bloom worldwide. This study aimed to isolate and identify n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from EP oil obtained via supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and to explore its preventive effects against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6J mice. In EP oil, we found the novel n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid C16:4n-3 and two unusual fatty acids C18:4n-3 and C16:3n-3, using GC-MS. The administration of EP oil reduced histopathological of symptoms colitis and the shortening of the colon length. Pro-inflammatory cytokines of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum of EP oil treatment were lower than DSS treatment (by 37.63% and 83.52%), and IL-6 gene expression in the colon was lower in than DSS group by 48.28%, and IL-10 in serum was higher than DSS group by 2.88-fold. Furthermore, the protein expression of p-STAT3 by the EP oil treatment was significantly reduced compared with DSS treatment group by 73.61%. Lipidomics study suggested that phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were positively associated with the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, while cholesteryl ester and sphingomyelin were negatively related to inflammation cytokines in the EP oil group. The present results indicated that EP oil rich in n-3 PUFA contains a novel fatty acid C16:4n-3, as well as two uncommon fatty acids C18:4n-3 and C16:3n-3. EP oil could prevent DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by regulating the JAK/STAT pathway and lipid metabolism.
Amphiphilic Low-Molecular-Weight Gelators Bearing β-S-N-Acetylglucosamine Linked to a Tartaric Acid Scaffold: Synthesis, Self-Assembly and Wheat Germ Agglutinin Binding
Authors: Peña García Vicente Leafar , Di Chenna Pablo Héctor , Uhrig María Laura
Published: December 2023

The self-assembly of carbohydrate-based amphiphiles can lead to colloidal soft materials such as supramolecular gels featuring highly desirable characteristics like biodegradability and biocompatibility. The report herein presents the synthesis, characterization and supramolecular self-assembly, physical gelation and wheat lectin binding of two structurally related amphiphilic compounds having β-S-N-acetylglucosamine residues linked to a 2,3-diacyl-N,N′-dipropargylated-l-tartaric diamide. A 1-thio-β-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine precursor attached to a conveniently functionalized linker with an azido group was synthesized by means of a one-pot procedure followed by deprotection. A click reaction successfully led to the two amphiphiles, which differed in length of the fatty acid attached to the tartaric acid scaffold. Although both compounds are poorly soluble in water and organic solvents, the difference in terms of hydrophilic moieties provided them with distinct supramolecular gelation properties. While the presence of an octadecyl chain produced a hydrogelator, the dodecadecyl homologue would only form weak gels in DMSO. SEM and rheology experiments confirmed the characteristic fibrillar morphology and viscoelastic properties, in agreement with the presence of physical gels. Both amphiphiles were able to interact reversibly with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), a lectin that specifically recognizes GlcNAc residues, indicating a potential use in the food industry, as a gluten sensitivity manager, as well as in health-related industries, for example, for drug delivery systems.
Healthy Live Births after the Transfer of Mosaic Embryos: Self-Correction or PGT-A Overestimation?
Authors: Campos Gerard , Sciorio Romualdo , Fleming Steven
Published: December 2023

The implementation of next generation sequencing (NGS) in preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) has led to a higher prevalence of mosaic diagnosis within the trophectoderm (TE) sample. Regardless, mosaicism could potentially increase the rate of live-born children with chromosomic syndromes, though available data from the transfer of embryos with putative PGT-A mosaicism are scarce but reassuring. Even with lower implantation and higher miscarriage rates, mosaic embryos can develop into healthy live births. Therefore, this urges an explanation for the disappearance of aneuploid cells throughout development, to provide guidance in the management of mosaicism in clinical practice. Technical overestimation of mosaicism, together with some sort of “self-correction” mechanisms during the early post-implantation stages, emerged as potential explanations. Unlike the animal model, in which the elimination of genetically abnormal cells from the future fetal lineage has been demonstrated, in human embryos this capability remains unverified even though the germ layer displays an aneuploidy-induced cell death lineage preference with higher rates of apoptosis in the inner cell mass (ICM) than in the TE cells. Moreover, the reported differential dynamics of cell proliferation and apoptosis between euploid, mosaic, and aneuploid embryos, together with pro-apoptosis gene products (cfDNA and mRNA) and extracellular vesicles identified in the blastocoel fluid, may support the hypothesis of apoptosis as a mechanism to purge the preimplantation embryo of aneuploid cells. Alternative hypotheses, like correction of aneuploidy by extrusion of a trisomy chromosome or by monosomic chromosome duplication, are even, though they represent an extremely rare phenomenon. On the other hand, the technical limitations of PGT-A analysis may lead to inaccuracy in embryo diagnoses, identifying as “mosaic” those embryos that are uniformly euploid or aneuploid. NGS assumption of “intermediate copy number profiles” as evidence of a mixture of euploid and aneuploid cells in a single biopsy has been reported to be poorly predictive in cases of mosaicism diagnosis. Additionally, the concordance found between the TE and the ICM in cases of TE biopsies displaying mosaicism is lower than expected, and it correlates differently depending on the type (whole chromosome versus segmental) and the level of mosaicism reported. Thus, in cases of low-/medium-level mosaicism (<50%), aneuploid cells would rarely involve the ICM and other regions. However, in high-level mosaics (≥50%), abnormal cells in the ICM should display higher prevalence, revealing more uniform aneuploidy in most embryos, representing a technical variation in the uniform aneuploidy range, and therefore might impair the live birth rate.
The Inflow, Throughput and Outflow of COVID-19 Patients in Dutch Hospitals: Experiences from Experts and Middle Managers
Authors: Okkerman Lidy , Moeke Dennis , Janssen Stan , van Andel Jeroen
Published: December 2023

At the beginning of 2020, the large and unforeseen inflow of COVID-19 patients had a deep impact on the healthcare operations of Dutch hospitals. From a patient flow logistics perspective, each hospital handled the situation largely in its own particular and improvised way. Nevertheless, some hospitals appeared to be more effective in their dealing with this sudden demand for extra care than others. This prompted a study into the factors which hindered and facilitated effective operations during this period. We provide an overview of actions and measures for organizing and managing the inflow, throughput and outflow of COVID-19 patients within Dutch hospitals from various types of departments in a large number of hospitals in The Netherlands, based on interviews with nine experts and twelve hospital managers. Ten actions or measures have been identified, which have been divided into the following three dimensions: Streamlining of the underlying in- and external processes, reducing unnecessary or undesirable inflow of patients and increasing or making more adequate use of the available (human) capacity. The main lessons learned are the importance of integral tuning in the care process, giving up habits and self-interest, good information provision and the middle manager as a linking pin.
Specific Neurodynamic Exercises on Pain and Disability in Old Women with Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Polo-Ferrero Luis , Canchal-Crespo David , Sáez-Gutiérrez Susana , Dávila-Marcos Arturo , Puente-González Ana Silvia , Méndez-Sánchez Roberto
Published: December 2023

Neurodynamic exercise is a specific type of exercise used as a neural treatment that focuses on restoring altered homeostasis in the neuroimmune system by mobilising the nervous system and other structures. A prospective, randomized clinical trial was performed to evaluate the effect of neurodynamic exercises on disability and neck pain in elderly women over four weeks. Participants were randomized into two groups: a neurodynamic (NM) group (n = 28) and a non-specific exercise (NSE) group (n = 28). Inclusion criteria were women over 65 years of age who subjectively admitted to having mechanical neck pain for more than six months. Results showed that specific neurodynamic exercises can improve pain and disability in older women with chronic mechanical neck pain. Improvements were observed in all variables (p < 0.05). Significant between-group differences in favour of the NM group were only found for neck pressure pain thresholds and both tibialis anterior muscles. Larger effect sizes were obtained in favour of the NM group, especially for pain, disability, neck extension and inclination and pressure pain thresholds. Neurodynamic exercises have been shown to be more clinically relevant in disability and neck pain in older women.
Factors Associated with Controlled Glycemic Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: Study from a Large Medical Center and Its Satellite Clinics in Southeast Region in the USA
Authors: Nguyen Tran Ha , De Leo Gianluca , Barefield Amanda
Published: December 2023

Diabetes, including type 1, type 2, and gestational, is a significant public health issue responsible for various clinical, economic, and societal issues. Most of the consequences, if uncontrolled, can result in serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Approximately 37.3 million Americans have diabetes, including 37.1 million adults 18 years or older, with 90–95% type 2 diabetes (T2D). The purpose of this study is (1) to explore the profile of patients with T2D and (2) to identify the associated factors of diabetic status. Examined factors included sociodemographic characteristics, social factors, and comorbidities. The study analyzed a primary dataset from a retrospective chart review of adult patients with T2D who were seen at a large medical center and its satellite clinics in the southeast region of the United States in 2019. Sex, dyslipidemia, and the number of concordant comorbidities were found to be significant associated factors of diabetic status. In the era of intertwined patient-centered approach and public health, the study’s findings can guide treatment plans and interventions targeting individuals and communities.
Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Downstream Genes of CLAVATA3 in Tomato
Authors: Zhang Yaofeng , Sun Huixian , Tian Linlin , Miao Yanxiu , Hou Leiping , Sun Meihua , Qi Mingfang , Li Tianlai
Published: December 2023

Fruit locule number is an important agronomic trait that affects fruit appearance, quality, and yield. CLAVATA3 (SlCLV3) is a candidate gene of the fasciated (fas) locus that plays a role in controlling the number of flower organs and fruit locules in tomato. The SlCLV3 encoding signal peptide mainly acts by inhibiting the expression of WUSCHEL (WUS) but there is little research about how the receptor transmits the CLV3 signal to WUS and inhibits its expression. The CRISPR/Cas9 method was employed to edit the first exon of tomato SlCLV3 in this study, leading to the functional deletion of SlCLV3. As a result, flowers with a high number of organs and fruits with a high number of locules were produced. We screened six candidate genes using the transcriptome of clv3 mutants, analyzed expression variations in these genes between the cultivated allele and wild-type allele of fas, and showed that only SlLET6 and SlGIF1 (GRF1-interacting factor 1) were influenced by the fas locus. SlLET6 overexpression resulted in an increase in flower carpels and fruit locules. These results suggest that SlLET6 may be the downstream gene of SlCLV3 regulating the number of carpels and fruit locules in tomato.
Prenatal Exposure to Tobacco and Cannabis in Six Race/Ethnicity Groups during the First Three Years after Legalization of Cannabis for Recreational Use in California
Authors: Kharrazi Martin , Berger Kimberly , Pearl Michelle , Li Ying , DeGuzman Josephine , Behniwal Paramjit , Morse Allison , Moskalenko Ilya , Williams Rebecca J. , She Jianwen
Published: December 2023

There are known health concerns linked to prenatal tobacco and cannabis exposures. This study aims to objectively determine the level of exposure to tobacco and cannabis in pregnant individuals from six race/ethnicity groups (Black, Hispanic, Asian Indian, Native American, Vietnamese, and White) in the first three years following legalization of recreational marijuana use in 2018 in California. We used a cross-sectional sample of prenatal screening program participants (2018–2020) from southern and central California (N = 925). Exposures were estimated by a lab analysis of cotinine (tobacco) and 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (OH-THC, cannabis) in banked serum. Disparities in tobacco exposure were evident, with Black subjects experiencing the highest smoking rate (16%) followed by Native American (10%) and White (8%) subjects, and ≤2% among Hispanic, Asian Indian, and Vietnamese subjects. Environmental tobacco exposure generally showed a similar pattern of exposure to tobacco smoking across race/ethnicity groups. Cannabis detection ranged from 5% among Hispanic subjects to 12% and 13% among White and Black subjects, respectively, and was higher among tobacco users and those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke than those with no cotinine detected. Tobacco and cannabis exposure were generally greatest in younger subjects and those with indices of a lower economic status; however, among Black subjects, cannabis exposure was greatest in older subjects and those with a higher socioeconomic status. Race/ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic factors can inform targeting of high-exposure groups for intervention.
Understanding the Barriers Fathers Face to Seeking Help for Paternal Perinatal Depression: Comparing Fathers to Men Outside the Perinatal Period
Authors: Reay Megan , Mayers Andrew , Knowles-Bevis Rebecca , Knight Matthew T. D.
Published: December 2023

Research has shown that men are less likely than women to seek help for depression at any time of life due to barriers, including stereotypical masculine norms and stigma. The evidence suggests that approximately 10% of fathers experience postnatal depression, yet new and expectant fathers are not routinely offered screening or support in the same way as mothers. Therefore, this research explored the barriers fathers face to seeking help for paternal perinatal depression (PPD). Data were collected using an online survey. Initially, fathers with postnatal depression were compared to men experiencing depression at another time of their life in terms of their attitudes to seeking psychological help, conformity to masculine norms, self-stigma, and awareness of services. Secondly, a proposed model of help-seeking amongst fathers with postnatal depression was evaluated. Finally, additional barriers to help-seeking for paternal postnatal depression were explored qualitatively. A total of 125 participants took part in the quantitative comparison, and 50 of the fathers also provided qualitative data. No between-group differences were found, suggesting that the existing literature on barriers to seeking help for male depression is applicable to fathers with postnatal depression. The qualitative results also highlighted the need for better awareness of paternal postnatal depression and better access to services for fathers. Limitations, implications for policy, and directions for future research are discussed.
The Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) Cohort Study: Design, Methods, and Baseline Characteristics
Authors: Thompson Terri-Ann M. , Desai Mayur M. , Martinez-Brockman Josefa L. , Tessier-Sherman Baylah , Nunez Maxine , Adams O. Peter , Nazario Cruz María , Maharaj Rohan G. , Nunez-Smith Marcella
Published: December 2023

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for a higher proportion of mortality and morbidity in the Caribbean and US territories—majority-minority communities—than in the United States or Canada. Strategies to address this disparity include enhancing data collection efforts among racial/ethnic communities. The ECHORN Cohort Study (ECS), a regional adult cohort study, estimates prevalence and assesses risk factors for NCDs in two United States territories and two Caribbean islands. Here, we describe the cohort study approach, sampling methods, data components, and demographic makeup for wave one participants. We enrolled ECS participants from each participating island using random and probability sampling frames. Data components include a clinical examination, laboratory tests, a brief clinical questionnaire, and a self-administered health survey. A subset of ECS participants provided a blood sample to biobank for future studies. Approximately 2961 participants were enrolled in wave one of the ECS. On average, participants are 57 years of age, and the majority self-identify as female. Data from the ECS allow for comparisons of NCD outcomes among racial/ethnic populations in the US territories and the US and evaluations of the impact of COVID-19 on NCD management and will help highlight opportunities for new research.