bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coco: conservation design for optimal ecological connectivity
Authors: van Mantgem Eline S. , Hillebrand Johanna , Rose Lukas , Klau Gunnar W.
Published: November 2023

Despite global conservation efforts, biodiversity continues to decline, causing many species to face extinction. These efforts include designing protected areas to function as ecologically connected networks for habitat and movement pathway conservation. Ecological connectivity is defined as the connectivity of landscapes and seascapes that allows species to move and ecological processes to function unimpeded. It facilitates long-term species persistence and resilience, mitigates the impact of habitat fragmentation due to climate change and land-use change, and addresses ecological processes that support ecosystems. Thus, ecological connectivity is key in the design of habitat conservation networks. To incorporate many complicating factors in this process, it relies on decision-support frameworks to decide which areas to include to protect biodiversity while minimizing cost. Various approaches emerged to deal with the computational complexity involved in habitat conservation design. However, despite the importance of designing ecologically connected conservation networks, these widely used decision-support frameworks do not offer functionality to optimize ecological connectivity directly during conservation design. Here, we present a fast, exact method to use connectivity metrics during the biodiversity conservation design process. Our method is exact in the sense that it always returns optimal solutions in our model. We extend an existing Reserve Selection problem (RSP) formulation with vertex-weighted connectivity constraints to include edge-weighted connectivity constraints. Further, we describe two novel variations of the RSP to directly optimize over connectivity metrics, one with cost minimization and one with a fixed cost. We introduce Coco, an open-source decision-support system to design ecologically connected conservations. Coco provides an integer linear programming (ILP) method to include connectivity in conservation design. To this end, we formulate our novel RSP variations as an ILP. We test Coco on simulated data and two real datasets, one dataset of the Great Barrier Reef and a large-scale dataset of the marine area in British Columbia. We compare the performance of Coco to Marxan Connect and show that Coco outperforms Marxan Connect both in runtime and solution quality. Further, we compare the results of our proposed methods to the existing RSP formulation and show that our novel methods significantly increase connectivity at a lower cost.
A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study of sarcopenia-related traits and inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Jiao Xin , Wu Wen-yu , Zhan Shao-feng , Liu Jian-bo , Zhang Xian-jin
Published: November 2023

Background

There is increasing evidence pointing to a close relationship between sarcopenia and inflammatory bowel disease. However, it remains unclear whether or in which direction causal relationships exist, because these associations could be confounded.

Methods

We conducted a two-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization analysis using data from European genome-wide association studies of the appendicular lean mass(n = 450,243), walking pace(n = 459,915), grip strength (left hand, n = 461,026; right hand, n = 461,089), inflammatory bowel disease (25,042 patients and 34,915 controls), ulcerative colitis (12,366 patients and 33,609 controls), and Crohn’s disease (12,194 patients and 28,072 controls) to investigate the causal relationship between sarcopenia-related traits and inflammatory bowel disease and its subtypes on each other. The inverse-variance weighted method was used as the primary analysis method to assess the causality, and a comprehensive sensitivity test was conducted.

Results

Genetically predicted appendicular lean mass was significantly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (OR = 0.916, 95%CI: 0.853–0.984, P = 0.017), ulcerative colitis (OR =0.888, 95%CI: 0.813–0.971, P = 0.009), and Crohn’s disease (OR = 0.905, 95%CI: 0.820–0.999, P = 0.049). Similar results also revealed that the usual walking pace was causally associated with Crohn’s disease (OR = 0.467, 95%CI: 0.239–0.914, P = 0.026). Reverse mendelian randomization analysis results found that genetic susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn’s disease were associated with lower appendicular lean mass. A series of sensitivity analyses ensured the reliability of the present research results.

Conclusion

The mendelian randomization study supports a bidirectional causality between inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and appendicular lean mass, but no such bidirectional causal relationship was found in ulcerative colitis. In addition, genetically predicted usual walking pace may reduce the risk of Crohn’s disease. These findings have clinical implications for sarcopenia and inflammatory bowel disease management.
Inflammasome pathway in kidney transplantation
Authors: Granata Simona , La Russa Daniele , Stallone Giovanni , Perri Anna , Zaza Gianluigi
Published: November 2023

Kidney transplantation is the best available renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage kidney disease and is associated with better quality of life and patient survival compared with dialysis. However, despite the significant technical and pharmaceutical advances in this field, kidney transplant recipients are still characterized by reduced long-term graft survival. In fact, almost half of the patients lose their allograft after 15–20 years. Most of the conditions leading to graft loss are triggered by the activation of a large immune-inflammatory machinery. In this context, several inflammatory markers have been identified, and the deregulation of the inflammasome (NLRP3, NLRP1, NLRC4, AIM2), a multiprotein complex activated by either whole pathogens (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses) or host-derived molecules, seems to play a pivotal pathogenetic role. However, the biological mechanisms leading to inflammasome activation in patients developing post-transplant complications (including, ischemia-reperfusion injury, rejections, infections) are still largely unrecognized, and only a few research reports, reviewed in this manuscript, have addressed the association between abnormal activation of this pathway and the onset/development of major clinical effects. Finally, the regulation of the inflammasome machinery could represent in future a valuable therapeutic target in kidney transplantation.
Harnessing artificial intelligence in radiology to augment population health
Authors: Sim Jordan Z. T. , Bhanu Prakash K. N. , Huang Wei Min , Tan Cher Heng
Published: November 2023

This review article serves to highlight radiological services as a major cost driver for the healthcare sector, and the potential improvements in productivity and cost savings that can be generated by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the radiology workflow, referencing Singapore healthcare as an example. More specifically, we will discuss the opportunities for AI in lowering healthcare costs and supporting transformational shifts in our care model in the following domains: predictive analytics for optimising throughput and appropriate referrals, computer vision for image enhancement (to increase scanner efficiency and decrease radiation exposure) and pattern recognition (to aid human interpretation and worklist prioritisation), natural language processing and large language models for optimising reports and text data-mining. In the context of preventive health, we will discuss how AI can support population level screening for major disease burdens through opportunistic screening and democratise expertise to increase access to radiological services in primary and community care.
Ideal body weight-based determination of minimum oral calories beneficial to function and survival in ALS
Authors: Nakamura Ryutaro , Kurihara Mika , Kobashi Shuhei , Tamaki Yoshitaka , Ogawa Nobuhiro , Kitamura Akihiro , Yamakawa Isamu , Bamba Shigeki , Terashima Tomoya , Urushitani Makoto
Published: November 2023

Introduction

This study sought to identify the optimal caloric intake to improve function and survival in ALS patients by comparing oral intake per ideal body weight (IBW) and its discrepancy with total energy expenditure (TEE) using the Shimizu formula.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 104 ALS patients was conducted, categorizing them based on their average intake during the first week after admission using two primary intake cutoffs: 25 kcal/kgIBW and 30 kcal/kgIBW. The variance between oral intake and TEE was also evaluated using −300 kcal and 0 kcal as reference points.

Results

Oral caloric intake per IBW and functional decline rate (rs = −0.35, p < 0.001), but the variance from TEE was not significantly correlated (−0.11, p = 0.27). Survival data showed that patients consuming less than 25 kcal/kgIBW had a median survival of 24 months, increasing to 38 months for those consuming between 25–30 kcal/kgIBW and 63 months for those consuming 30 kcal/kgIBW or more. Deviations from the TEE did not significantly affect survival (p = 0.36). Among patients consuming less than their TEE, those consuming less than 25 kcal/kgIBW had a shorter median survival (24 months) compared to their counterparts (46 months) (p = 0.022). Consumption of less than 25 kcal/kgBW emerged as a significant negative predictor of patient outcome, independent of factors such as age, gender or disease progression.

Discussion

Intakes of 25 kcal/kgIBW or more are correlated with improved ALS outcomes, and larger, multi-regional studies are recommended for deeper insights.
Evaluations of microvascular density by optical coherence tomography, angiography, and function by multifocal electroretinography of the macular area in eyes with branch retinal artery occlusion
Authors: Igawa Yuro , Amaki Haruna , Kanno Junji , Tachibana Midori , Konno Satomi , Yoshikawa Yuji , Matsumoto Soiti , Shoji Takuhei , Makita Jun , Shinoda Kei
Published: November 2023

Introduction

It is reported that eyes with a branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) had normal full-field electroretinography (ERG) but the response of the multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) was reduced in the area of the arterial occlusion. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a recently appeared modality that can evaluate microvascularizations in different retinal layers and in different regions of the retina. The purpose of this study was to determine the density of the microcirculation and the function of the macular area of eyes with BRAO, and to determine whether they are significantly correlated.

Methods

The OCTA and mfERG findings of 7 eyes of 6 patients (3 men, 3 women) were studied. The mean age of the patients was 71.7±10.6 years. The OCTA examinations were made with volume scans of 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 mm squares centered on the fovea. The macular vessel densities (mVD) in the superficial retinal layer (SRL) and deep retinal layer (DRL) were measured for the superior and inferior halves of 3  × 3  and 6  × 6 mm diameter concentric circles. The mfERGs were recorded with targets set to stimulate the focal areas of the retina corresponding to the areas examined by OCTA.

Results

The OCTA examinations showed that the mVD of the 3 mm concentric circle in the SRL was significantly lower on the affected side than on the unaffected side (P = 0.022). No such difference was observed in the DRL. The N1 amplitude of the 20.2° concentric circle and the N1–P1 amplitude of the 10.1° concentric circle of the mfERGs were significantly smaller on the affected side than on the unaffected side (P = 0.047 and 0.031). A significant positive correlation was found between the mVD of the 6 mm concentric circle in the DRL and the P1–N2 amplitude of the 20.2° concentric circle (ρ = −0.929 and p = 0.003).

Discussion

These findings indicate that OCTA images may be able to show changes in the density of the retinal macular microcirculation, and the mfERGs may be able to show alterations in the function of the macular area of the eyes with BRAO. A layer-by-layer analysis of the local retinal microcirculation and function should help in determining the pathogenesis of BRAO.
Relationship of knob morphometric analysis with production performance and meat quality in Yangzhou goose (Anser cygnoides)
Authors: Zhang Yang , Xu Xinlei , Ji Wangyang , Qi Shangzong , Bao Qiang , Cao Zhi , Liu Wei , Zhang Yong , Zhang Yu , Xu Qi , Chen Guohong
Published: November 2023

The development of the knob in Chinese geese (Anser cygnodies) is an outcome of extensive and prolonged selection and breeding. The knob serves not only as a visual indicator of sexual maturity in geese but also holds significance as a crucial packaging trait that attracts attention of consumers attentions, who tend to distinctly prefer geese with larger knobs. Consequently, investigating the formation of the knob holds practical value, as it will help achieving external traits aligned with consumers’ preferences. To understand the relationship between knob size, production efficiency, and meat quality in Yangzhou geese, we examined histological and anatomical characteristics in 500- and 120-day-old geese with large and small knobs. Notably, knob size had a pronounced impact on key anatomical and structural parameters, such as chest depth, leg muscle water-binding capacity, and insoluble collagen composition in Yangzhou geese (p < 0.05). In addition, we measured testosterone and estrogen levels in male and female geese, respectively, as well as growth hormone, and found that birds of both sexes with a large knob had higher sex and growth hormone levels in the body. This study established a fundamental theoretical basis for advancing the enhancement of goose knob traits.
Stressing the importance of plant specialized metabolites: omics-based approaches for discovering specialized metabolism in plant stress responses
Authors: Wu Mengxi , Northen Trent R. , Ding Yezhang
Published: November 2023

Plants produce a diverse range of specialized metabolites that play pivotal roles in mediating environmental interactions and stress adaptation. These unique chemical compounds also hold significant agricultural, medicinal, and industrial values. Despite the expanding knowledge of their functions in plant stress interactions, understanding the intricate biosynthetic pathways of these natural products remains challenging due to gene and pathway redundancy, multifunctionality of proteins, and the activity of enzymes with broad substrate specificity. In the past decade, substantial progress in genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics has made the exploration of plant specialized metabolism more feasible than ever before. Notably, recent advances in integrative multi-omics and computational approaches, along with other technologies, are accelerating the discovery of plant specialized metabolism. In this review, we present a summary of the recent progress in the discovery of plant stress-related specialized metabolites. Emphasis is placed on the application of advanced omics-based approaches and other techniques in studying plant stress-related specialized metabolism. Additionally, we discuss the high-throughput methods for gene functional characterization. These advances hold great promise for harnessing the potential of specialized metabolites to enhance plant stress resilience in the future.
Mental health survey of medical personnel during pre-job training in a closed-loop management system during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Zhou Limin , Huang Ximei , He Liping , He Jiaxin , Qin Jue , Fang Zhenling , Huang Chen , Chen Jinyu
Published: November 2023

Object

With the aim of enhancing prevention and regional control of epidemics, the mental health status of medical personnel was analyzed before the implementation of closed-loop management during the COVID-19 pandemic in the regional hospital representative.

Methods

In accordance with directives from the unified deployment of the national and regional health bureaus, and following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, from September 2021 to November 2022, all medical personnel assigned to a closed-loop working environment by Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital were enrolled as research subjects through cluster sampling method. Using a cross-sectional survey method, relevant data such as age, gender, professional title, and mental health status were collected. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale were administered. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the influencing factors of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Single factor logistic regression analysis was performed first, followed by multiple factor logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 500 valid responses were received. Depression was reported by a higher proportion of physicians than nurses. Anxiety was reported by higher proportion of men than women and by a higher proportion of physicians than nurses. Medical personnel under the age of 30 years reported fewer symptoms of insomnia than those over the age of 41 years, and medical personnel with intermediate professional titles reported more severe symptoms of insomnia than junior personnel. There was no significant difference between the results of the three questionnaires for medical personnel from other hospital departments or in the different type of closed-loop work environments.

Conclusion

During the pandemic, conducting psychological health assessments for medical personnel undergoing pre-job training in closed-loop management was beneficial for the timely detection of psychological problems. Although this study only conducted a cluster sampling survey and lacked comparative analysis on other medical institutions, it still suggested that it was necessary to strengthen timely psychological counseling and intervention for senior male physicians.
Can participatory processes lead to changes in the configuration of local mental health networks? A social network analysis
Authors: Camacho Salvador , Hilber Adriane Martin , Ospina-Pinillos Laura , Sánchez-Nítola Mónica , Shambo-Rodríguez Débora L. , Lee Grace Yeeun , Occhipinti Jo-An
Published: November 2023

Systems modeling offers a valuable tool to support strategic decision-making for complex problems because it considers the causal inter-relationships that drive population health outcomes. This tool can be used to simulate policies and initiatives to determine which combinations are likely to deliver the greatest impacts and returns on investment. Systems modeling benefits from participatory approaches where a multidisciplinary stakeholder group actively engages in mapping and contextualizing causal mechanisms driving complex system behaviors. Such approaches can have significant advantages, including that they may improve connection and coordination of the network of stakeholders operating across the system; however, these are often observed in practice as colloquial anecdotes and seldom formally assessed. We used a basic social network analysis to explore the impact on the configuration of the network of mental health providers, decision-makers, and other stakeholders in Bogota, Colombia active in a series of three workshops throughout 2021 and 2022. Overall, our analysis suggests that the participatory process of the systems dynamics exercise impacts the social network’s structure, relationships, and dynamics.
Descriptive epidemiology of sickle cell disease in Tennessee: population-based estimates from 2008 to 2019
Authors: Plaxco Allison P. , Hankins Jane S. , Davis Robert , Dudley Judy , Young Amanda J. , Mukhopadyay Ayesha , Carroll Yvonne , Aguinaga Maria del Pilar , Takemoto Clifford M. , Nolan Vikki G. , Ray Meredith A. , Wiese Andrew , Amosun Tobi , Cooper William O. , Smeltzer Matthew P.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The Sickle Cell Data Collection Program (SCDC) is a multi-state initiative utilizing multiple data sources to estimate population prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) with the goal of improving quality of life and health outcomes among those affected. SCDC in Tennessee operates as a multi-site, interdisciplinary team using multiple sources of data to learn more about SCD in Tennessee.

Methods

This analysis characterizes the number, demographics, and proximity to specialty care of individuals living with SCD in Tennessee who have been covered by Medicaid or identified by newborn screening. We compared demographic patterns of individuals with SCD living in rural areas with those living in urban areas, as well as those living in counties contributing more than 50 individuals to the cohort, respectively, to demographic patterns of individuals with SCD in the rest of the state, using Chi-Square or Fisher’s exact tests.

Results

Findings show that overall, 66.1% of all SCD patients identified through newborn screening were residents of Davidson and Shelby counties at the time of birth, and 81.8% of those identified through Medicaid claims lived in Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Montgomery, Rutherford, or Shelby County. In total, 8.6% of the cohort lived in rural settings and 91.4% in urban settings. Of the 95 counties in Tennessee, 75 (78.9%) had at least 1 to 40 residents with SCD, yet of these 75 counties, less than half had a hematology/oncology trained provider practicing within them.

Discussion

This analysis brings us closer to understanding how many people with SCD live in rural areas of Tennessee and the challenges they face in seeking the care needed to adequately manage their disease. Acute healthcare utilization remains highest in the young adulthood years. This analysis provides insight into how healthcare utilization patterns among individuals with SCD vary by age group and over time.
Becoming futile: the emotional pain of treating COVID-19 patients
Authors: Rodriquez Jason
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profoundly detrimental impact on the emotional wellbeing of health care workers. Numerous studies have shown that their rates of the various forms of work-related distress, which were already high before the pandemic, have worsened as the demands on health care workers intensified. Yet much less is known about the specific social processes that have generated these outcomes. This study adds to our collective knowledge by focusing on how one specific social process, the act of treating critically ill COVID-19 patients, contributed to emotional pain among health care workers.

Methods

This article draws from 40 interviews conducted with intensive care unit (ICU) staff in units that were overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. The study participants were recruited from two suburban community hospitals in Massachusetts and the interviews were conducted between January and May 2021.

Results

The results show that the uncertainty over how to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients, given the absence of standard protocols combined with ineffective treatments that led to an unprecedented number of deaths caused significant emotional pain, characterized by a visceral, embodied experience that signaled moral distress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and burnout. Furthermore, ICU workers’ occupational identities were undermined as they confronted the limits of their own abilities and the limits of medicine more generally.

Discussion

The inability to save incurable COVID-19 patients while giving maximal care to such individuals caused health care workers in the ICU an immense amount of emotional pain, contributing to our understanding of the social processes that generated the well-documented increase in moral distress and related measures of work-related psychological distress. While recent studies of emotional socialization among health care workers have portrayed clinical empathy as a performed interactional strategy, the results here show empathy to be more than dramaturgical and, in this context, entailed considerable risk to workers’ emotional wellbeing.
RNA sequencing analysis revealed differentially expressed genes and their functional annotation in porcine longissimus dorsi muscle affected by dietary lysine restriction
Authors: Hasan Md. Shamimul , Wang Ying , Feugang Jean M. , Zhou Huaijun , Liao Shengfa F.
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary lysine restriction on the global gene expression profile of skeletal muscle in growing pigs. Twelve crossbred (Yorkshire × Landrace) barrows (initial BW 22.6 ± 2.04 kg) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (LDD: a lysine-deficient diet; LAD: a lysine-adequate diet) according to a completely randomized experiment design (n = 6). After feeding for 8 weeks, skeletal muscle was sampled from the longissimus dorsi of individual pigs. The muscle total RNA was isolated and cDNA libraries were prepared for RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis. The RNA-Seq data obtained was then analyzed using the CLC Genomics Workbench to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 80 genes (padj ≤ 0.05) were differentially expressed in the longissimus dorsi muscle of the pigs fed LDD vs. LAD, of which 46 genes were downregulated and 34 genes were upregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of the DEGs (padj ≤ 0.05) for functional annotation identified those GO terms that are mostly associated with the molecular functions of structural molecules and metabolic enzymes (e.g., oxidoreductase and endopeptidase), biological process of acute-phase response, and amino acid metabolism including synthesis and degradation in the extracellular matrix region. Collectively, the results of this study have provided some novel insight regarding the molecular mechanisms of muscle growth that are associated with dietary lysine supply.
Investigation and Analysis of the Influence of Environmental Factors on the Temperature Distribution of Thin-Walled Concrete
Authors: Yang Wenjian , Pang Mingliang , Xie Hongqiang , Xiao Mingli , Pei Jianliang , Zhuo Li
Published: November 2023

The temperature field of thin-walled concrete is susceptible to the influence of the external environment, which may endanger the safety of its operation in projects. Therefore, it is essential for construction designers to conduct a full cycle experiment to clarify the influence of various environmental factors on thin-walled concrete temperature. In this paper, based on a long-term outdoor measurement experiment, the mean temperature and gradient temperature were both statistically analyzed seasonally, and two extreme gradient temperature patterns were identified and summarized. In addition, random forest regression was introduced to conduct a sensitivity analysis. It was found that the air temperature controlled the mean temperature and that solar radiation was the dominant factor affecting the gradient temperature, while the effect of wind speed was overall negligible. In addition, correlations between the concrete’s temperature and environmental factors were analyzed. It was concluded that the concrete’s mean temperature was positively and linearly correlated with the air temperature, while the minimum gradient temperature for the bottom shadow surface and maximum gradient temperature for the top shadow surface, respectively, had negative and positive linear correlations with the average solar radiation.
COVID-19 and Acute Pancreatitis: Not Increased Risk but Reduced Care
Authors: Cevolani Michele , Ferronato Marco , Lizzio Chiara Elide , Elia Eleonora , Marini Desy , Mazzotta Elena , Ricci Claudio , Casadei Riccardo , Migliori Marina
Published: November 2023

Background and aim: Over the last few years, SARS-CoV-2 has been reported as a possible cause of acute pancreatitis (AP), but whether it is a relevant clinical–epidemiological entity is still a matter of debate. We aim to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of AP during the first year of the COVID pandemic (2020) and compare them with the pre-COVID period (2008–2019) to identify any differences and clarify a potential causative role of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We used a monocentric retrospective study of 132 AP patients during 2020 and 1987 AP patients during 2008–2019. Diagnosis and severity were classified according to the revised Atlanta criteria. Propensity score matching was performed according to clinical–epidemiological features, and outcome analysis was performed on two subgroups of 109 patients. Results: The total number of AP cases in 2020 is one of the lowest in the last 13 years (132 cases, median 161, IQR 146-183). No major epidemiological differences were noted. During 2020, we observed a significant modification of the distribution of etiologies (p < 0.001), mainly based on a decrease in biliary forms (59.6% vs. 43.2%) and an increase in alcoholic forms (6.9% vs. 12.9%). Idiopathic forms remain unchanged (20.5% vs. 21.9%). The proportion of AP of idiopathic etiology and SARS-CoV-2 infection was 0.008%. There were no differences in terms of severity distribution (p = 0.127), length of stay (p = 0.916), need for ICU (p = 0.139), or mortality (p = 0.462). Even among statistically matched groups, there were no differences between the length of stay (9 vs. 10 days, p = 0.890), need for ICU admission (1.8% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.683), or in-hospital mortality (0 vs. 1.8%, p = 0.342). Conclusions: The lower AP diagnoses indicate delayed and likely missed diagnoses, probably because of both hesitancy and organizational problems during the pandemic. The unchanged proportion of idiopathic forms supports the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 is not an AP trigger.
The Role of a Plant-Only (Vegan) Diet in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Online Survey of the Italian General Population
Authors: Rizzo Gianluca , Baroni Luciana , Bonetto Chiara , Visaggi Pierfrancesco , Orazzini Mattia , Solinas Irene , Guidi Giada , Pugliese Jessica , Scaramuzza Giulia , Ovidi Filippo , Buselli Irene , Bellini Massimo , Savarino Edoardo , de Bortoli Nicola
Published: November 2023

The relationship between food and the pathophysiological mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is unclear. There are few data on the impact of dietary habits on GERD symptoms and on the incidence of GERD in subjects undergoing plant-based diets. In this study, we investigated the association between diet and GERD, using data collected through an online survey of the Italian general population. In total, 1077 subjects participated in the study. GERD was defined according to the Montreal Consensus. For all subjects age, gender, body mass index (BMI), marital status, education, occupation, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits were recorded. All participants also completed the SF-36 questionnaire on Quality of Life. A total of 402 subjects (37.3%) were vegans and 675 (62.7%) non-vegans. The prevalence of GERD in the total population was 9%. Subjects with GERD-related symptoms recorded a worse quality of life according to SF-36 analysis (p < 0.05 for all dimensions). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for confounders, participants undergoing a vegan diet had a significantly lower risk of GERD (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.28–0.81, p = 0.006). These findings should be taken into account to inform the lifestyle management of GERD.
Nanoparticles of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K8 Reduce Staphylococcus aureus Respiratory Infection and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha- and Interferon Gamma-Induced Lung Inflammation
Authors: Hong Jonghyo , Son Minseong , Sin Jaeeun , Kim Hangeun , Chung Dae-Kyun
Published: November 2023

Multiple studies have confirmed that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum has beneficial effects in respiratory diseases, including respiratory tract infections, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the role of L. plantarum lysates in respiratory diseases is unclear. Staphylococcus aureus infects the lungs of mice, recruits immune cells, and induces structural changes in alveoli. Lung diseases can be further aggravated by inflammatory cytokines such as CCL2 and interleukin (IL)-6. In in vivo studies, L. plantarum K8 nanoparticles (K8NPs) restored lung function and prevented lung damage caused by S. aureus infection. They inhibited the S. aureus infection and the infiltration of immune cells and prevented the increase in goblet cell numbers in the lungs of S. aureus–infected mice. K8NPs suppressed the expression of CCL2 and IL-6, which were increased by the combination treatment of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma (TI), in a dose-dependent manner. In in vitro studies, the anti-inflammatory effect of K8NPs in TI-treated A549 cells and TI-injected mice occurred through the reduction in activated mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor kappa-B. These findings suggest that the efficacy of K8NPs in controlling respiratory inflammation and infection can be used to develop functional materials that can prevent or alleviate respiratory diseases.
A Comparative Evaluation of the Caloric Intake and Economic Efficiency of Two Types of Homogenized Diets in a Hospital Setting
Authors: Crippa Camilla , Matteucci Sofia , Pastore Manuela , Morenghi Emanuela , Starace Erica , De Pasquale Giulia , Pieri Gabriella , Soekeland Fanny , Gibbi Stefano Maria , Lo Cricchio Giuliana , Zorloni Andrea , Mazzoleni Beatrice , Mancin Stefano
Published: November 2023

The prevalence of malnutrition is increasing globally due to factors such as age-related pathological conditions and diseases that impact food and beverage intake. In hospital settings, older adult patients often require homogenised diets, which can lead to malnutrition due to poor palatability and limited variety. This study compared the Standard Homogenised Diet (HSD) and a Modified Homogenized Diet (HMD) proposed in a tertiary hospital in Northern Italy. A retrospective and observational design was used to analyse data from 86 adult patients with various conditions requiring a homogenised diet. The primary goal was to compare food intake, rheological characteristics, and palatability of the two diets. The secondary objective was to evaluate the economic impact by comparing costs and quantifying food waste from unused meals. Patients on HMD had a median daily caloric intake of 852 kcal (IQR 787–926 kcal) compared to 631 kcal (IQR 506–797 kcal) in the HSD group. Taste, texture, palatability, and ease of intake for HMD outperformed HSD with scores such as 3.7 ± 0.6 vs. 2.5 ± 0.4 for taste. Economically, HMD was EUR 0.53 less expensive per day than HSD, and food wastage costs were significantly lower for HMD (EUR 2.66 ± 0.81) than HSD (EUR 4.66 ± 1.27). Overall, HMD presented substantial benefits in patient satisfaction and cost-efficiency. This insight may aid diverse care settings to enhance meal acceptance and nutritional intake for patients needing homogenised diets.
Predicting Personalized Diets Based on Microbial Characteristics between Patients with Superficial Gastritis and Atrophic Gastritis
Authors: Gao Xiaoxiang , Yin Pingping , Ren Yilin , Yu Leilei , Tian Fengwei , Zhao Jianxin , Chen Wei , Xue Yuzheng , Zhai Qixiao
Published: November 2023

Background: gastritis is a common stomach disease with a high global incidence and can potentially develop into gastric cancer. The treatment of gastritis focuses on medication or diets based on national guidelines. However, the specific diet that can alleviate gastritis remains largely unknown. Methods: we propose a microbiota-directed dietary strategy that investigates potential food factors using microbial exogenous metabolites. Given the current lack of understanding of the repeatable characteristics of gastric microbiota, we conducted a meta-analysis to identify the features of gastric bacteria. Local samples were collected as validation cohorts. Furthermore, RevEcoR was employed to identify bacteria’s exogenous metabolites, and FooDB was used to retrieve foods that can target specific bacteria. Results: Bacteroides, Weissella, Actinomyces, Atopobium, Oribacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Rothia were biomarkers between superficial gastritis (SG) and atrophic gastritis (AG) (AG_N) without H. pylori infection, whereas Bacillus, Actinomyces, Cutibacterium, Helicobacter, Novosphingobium, Pseudomonas, and Streptococcus were signatures between SG and AG (AG_P) with H. pylori infection. According to the exogenous metabolites, adenosyloobalamin, soybean, common wheat, dates, and barley were regarded as potential candidates for AG_N treatment, while gallate was regarded as a candidate for AG_P treatment. Conclusions: this study firstly profiled the gastric microbiota of AG and SG with or without H. pylori and provided a recommended diet for global AG according to exogenous metabolites.
Microfluidic Formulation for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Trinh Kieu The Loan
Published: November 2023

Microfluidic technology was recognized in the 1980s when the first micropumps and micro-valves were developed to manipulate fluids for biological applications [...]
Religion in the Home—The Sacred Songs of the Drawing Room
Authors: Boyce-Tillman June
Published: November 2023

The Victorian bourgeois ballad is a distinctive genre that demonstrates the spirituality of religion transferred to the drawing room. This paper will examine in detail four examples of the genre—The Lost Chord, The Holy City, Arise O Sun and The Volunteer Organist to examine the spirituality of the genre in terms of the materials used, the musical construction, the value system underpinning it and the expressive character. It will interrogate their relationship to the spirituality of Victorian Anglicanism and the place of this spirituality in the lives of the people with whom they were popular and its role in their social life, drawing on the author’s own experience. It was also a genre in which women excelled and this and the notion of spirituality will be examined culturally, drawing on Foucault’s notion of subjugated knowing.
Fragile Solace: Navigating toward Wellbeing in ISIS-Occupied Mosul in 2014–2017
Authors: Nummenmaa Esko , Allaw Thaer
Published: November 2023

Populations in conflict contexts often live for extended periods of time in displacement or under occupation. Both have profound consequences for navigating daily wellbeing. Drawing on narrative interviews (n = 8) with participants who lived through the ISIS (Islamic State) occupation of Mosul in 2014–2017, we seek to highlight narratives of wellbeing- and illbeing-emerging from their experiences. Our case study suggests that multiple persistent threats forced a renegotiation of ways to sustain key elements of wellbeing. Our findings suggest that intentionally propagated distrust led to reduced interaction, while insecurity and fear diminished personal freedoms, causing recurring shocks requiring constant adaptation. Decreasing the size of the core social unit helped families manage risks and resources when facing existential threats, while the diversification of interpersonal and communal relations created space for moments of normalcy. Choices made in order to stay safe and sane under such exceptional circumstances include complex relational choices, such as breaking familial ties with loved ones. Our research expands on the positive and negative impacts of relations on wellbeing and deepens our understanding of how wellbeing is navigated in contexts of forced departure—environments from which people often flee to seek refuge elsewhere.
Identification of broadband acoustical sources in the cylindric duct using a hybrid reconstruction method
Authors: Gao Kang
Published: November 2023

Beamforming and inverse methods are widely applied to the localization and reconstruction of acoustical sources inside ducts. Identification of in-duct sources using the conventional beamforming method would lead to poor spatial resolution and even fail at some specific frequencies
with multiple virtual sources. Employing the inverse method would improve the accuracy of inner duct source localization, however, severe deviation of source intensity results calculated by the inverse method from actual results would occur due to tremendous dimensions of inversion and regulation
process of the transfer function matrix. To reduce the dimensions of inversion and further improve the accuracy of source identification, a combined imaging methodology is proposed. The beamforming method is firstly applied to locate regions containing sound sources preliminarily, then an
inverse method is applied to regions contributed by beamforming to remove ghosts and side lobes. Numerical simulations are implemented to validate the method. Azimuthal and radial localization results indicate that the combined imaging method is with better spatial resolution than beamforming
or inverse methods. Reconstructed results of the source's volumetric velocity demonstrate that the proposed method has a lower deviation of source intensity than the inverse method.
Assessment of acoustical materials sound absorption coefficient under oblique incidence plane wave and diffuse field using a virtual source antenna
Authors: Berry Alain
Published: November 2023

The measurement of the absorption coefficient of acoustic materials is usually performed in an impedance tube under normal incidence on a small sample, or in a reverberant room under diffuse field incidence on a large sample of material. Both methods are prone to well-documented experimental
limitations and errors. The approach proposed here uses a virtual source antenna (a point source moved at successive positions) over a material sample typically 1 to 4 m2 in size, and a fixed microphone pair directly above the material surface. Several methods have been tested to reconstruct
the absorption coefficient under oblique plane wave or diffuse field incidence. Among these, the inversion of the Allard propagation model over an absorbing plane, in order to extract the material properties (complex wavenumber and density) from measured microphone transfer functions, is presented
here. Absorption coefficients are shown for various acoustic materials.
Characterising non-linear elements with free-free and fixed boundary conditions for dynamic substructuring
Authors: Zucchini Alessandro
Published: November 2023

In the context of dynamic substructuring applied to the automotive field, a crucial aspect for determining the noise property of a vehicle is the evaluation of the transfer behaviour of the rubber elements connecting the different components of a car. The goal of this research is to
extract the frequency dependent dynamic stiffness for different models of rubber bushings presenting a similar architecture. In particular we will compare two different methods for characterising the dynamic behaviour of non-linear elements using the virtual point transformation. Firstly,
a free-free measurement with hammer impacts will be performed. Here, particular attention will be given to the weighting matrices of the virtual point transformation to explore how those terms could improve the method. Secondly, on the same bushings, we modify the experiment by clamping the
rubber mounts to the ground and creating fixed boundary conditions. Here, the system is excited both with hammer impacts and shaker excitation and we will highlight comparable results with the previous experiment. The different approaches will be compared in terms of accuracy, experimental
effort, and numerical stability.
The Modeling of Disc-shaped Acoustic Black Hole Plate and Vibration Characteristics
Authors: Ding Yuan
Published: November 2023

The Acoustic Black Hole (ABH) structure has great potential in vibration and noise control due to the characteristics of high damping and energy accumulation. A dish-shaped two-dimensional acoustic black hole plate is proposed in order to reduce the possibility of the structural damage
happened in conventional embedded ABH in the centre of the plate. The dish-shaped acoustic black hole plate only cuts ABH on the edge. The finite element method is often used to establish the model of acoustic black hole plates. However, it is high cost and low efficiency in computation. A
semi-analytical theoretical model of the disc-shaped acoustic black hole plate based on Gaussian expansion method is established in order to improve computation efficiency. Meanwhile, the shape function filtering method is proposed to solve the problem of non-convergence when Gaussian expansion
method is used to model a non-rectangular plate. A finite element model of the disc-shaped acoustic black hole plate is established and used to verify the accuracy of the proposed semi-analytical theoretical model. The results show that the dish-shaped acoustic black hole plate has excellent
energy accumulation effect and can be used further as Dynamic Vibration Absorber (DVA) to reduce the vibration of host structure.
A genetic-continuation algorithm for bifurcation analysis of nonlinear rotordynamic systems
Authors: Kim Sitae
Published: November 2023

This study presents a combined numerical scheme with genetic algorithm and continuation method for analysing nonlinear vibrations in rotor-bearing systems. A modified genetic algorithm is developed for solving multiple coexisting roots in nonlinear rotordynamic problem. Here, the genetic
objective is the completion of periodicity for the boundary values of journal/pad phase states during the consecutive generations. The arc-length continuation takes the role to extend the solutions with respect to operating parameters such as the shaft spin speed and disc mass eccentricity.
The resulting bifurcation diagrams, then, can comprehensively show the emergences and disappearances of multiple response states and their stability conditions in detail, which is unlike with the commonly applied numerical integration method. A finite model of heavily loaded Jeffcott rotor
supported by six-pad tilting pad journal bearing is utilized to evaluate the developed algorithm. The 150 initial states for the journal and pad are generated, and the 8 optimal results are selected and inbreeded for evolution; it repeats for 15 generations. As results, multiple coexisting
responses are identified at the same condition, and various bifurcation events such as periodic doubling, saddle-node are discovered from the solution manifolds.
Minimization of acoustic power in free space using dipole sound sources
Authors: OGASAWARA YUTA
Published: November 2023

Low-frequency noise is difficult to suppress by passive control using a sound absorbing material. Active noise control is expected to be an effective method against low-frequency noise. Minimizing the total acoustic power emitted by a sound source causes a zero-control power phenomenon.
In the zero control power phenomenon, the absorption and blowout of sound energy around the control sound source (CSS) are balanced, and the time average of the control power becomes zero. Therefore, control power suppression may be able to minimize total acoustic power. Previous studies have
assumed that the sound source is a monopole sound source or a piston embedded in an infinite baffle. In this research, the sound sources are regarded as dipole sound source. In addition, numerical calculations are performed based on the derived control law to clarify the effect of the position
and the rotation angle of the dipole on the acoustic power.
Programmable sound absorption performance enabled by 3D printed fibers
Authors: Johnston William
Published: November 2023

Design of acoustic materials can be achieved through the connection between their geometry and acoustical performance. Here, we propose 3D-printing as an enabling technology that allows us to precisely control an acoustic material's micro-geometry and orientation, which then eliminates
microscopic geometry bias due to conventional manufacturing process, thus realizing precise material characterization at the 3D-printing CAD programming stage. This concept was practiced in the current study focusing on 3D-printing fibrous sound absorbing layers. A fused deposition modeling
(FDM) method was applied to produce the fibers. A Tarnow-based airflow resistivity model was implemented together with Johnson-Champoux-Allard and Biot theories for modeling the geometry-performance connection for the fibers. The sound absorption prediction accuracy of the model was validated
by E-1050 standing wave tube measurements on the printed sample.