bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Survey on the Evaluation of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Taste in Austria
Authors: Iannilli Emilia , Pötz Emilise Lucerne , Hummel Thomas
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to investigate the sensory and emotional contents of the umami taste perception in a group of subjects from Austria, using a novel approach that expanded on previous findings from European samples.
A total of 233 Austrian participants, who had lived in Austria for most of their lives, were recruited for this study. The participants underwent a blind tasting of monosodium glutamate (MSG) dissolved in water. In the first open-answer format, participants provided verbal descriptions of the solution. Then, they were instructed to rate the pleasantness of MSG and salt (NaCl) and to give basic demographic information. A text-semantic-based analysis was performed to interpret the emotional valence of the descriptors used by the participants.
The results showed that the MSG solution was mainly received with a neutral sentiment by the entire group, as well as by both female and male subgroups. Additionally, MSG's taste and perceptual profile were delineated from the verbal descriptors. "Sour" was the most common taste descriptor, while "unfamiliar" was the most common perceptual category into which the descriptors fell. Our results also indicated that the pleasantness ratings for salt and MSG were positively correlated, suggesting that umami can produce a similar perceptual experience to salt once the unfamiliarity is overcome.
In conclusion, our study extensively contributes to understanding umami sensory perception and its acceptance in a European group.
Evaluation of the Sustainability of Reforestation Initiatives in Anthropized Forest Habitats in the Lubumbashi Charcoal Production Basin (Haut-Katanga, Dr Congo)
Authors: N'tambwe Dieu-donné Nghonda , Khoji Héritier Muteya , Kalenga Gracia Mupanda , Duse François Dukuku , Kasanda Nathan Mukendi , Esoma Bienvenu Okothomas , Mpanda Médard Mukenza , Cabala Sylvestre Kaleba , Malaisse François , Masengo Wilfried Kalenga , Bogaert Jan , Useni Yannick Sikuzani
Published: November 2024

The sustainability of reforestation initiatives depends on the involvement of local communities, whose lack of ownership compromises efforts to combat deforestation in the Lubumbashi Charcoal Production Basin. This study assesses reforestation activities in two village areas (Milando and Mwawa), based on individual interviews (50 individuals/village area) and floristic inventories carried out in two types of habitats (reforested and unexploited) for each village area. The hypotheses test whether (i) reforested habitats and tree species were inclusively selected and sustained through community-based practices, (ii) reforested habitats exhibit comparable ecological metrics to unexploited miombo due to protected regrowth, and (iii) ethnobotanical and floristic lists show variations reflecting differing anthropogenic impacts and limited species diversity in reforestation efforts. Thus, the interviews gathered data on habitat and woody species selection for reforestation, and management practices, while the inventories assessed the condition of these reforested habitats in terms of density per hectare, basal area, mean square diameter, and floristic diversity. The results show that in both village areas, the selection of habitats for reforestation was carried out concertedly (22.00-44.00% of citations). Woody species were chosen according to the needs of local communities (40-52%) and the availability of seeds (18.00-44.00%). Furthermore, management practices for these reforested habitats include planning/assessment meetings (26.00-38.00%) and maintenance activities, such as firebreaks (38.00-46.00%) and surveillance of reforested habitats (24.00%). Additionally, these practices are being increasingly neglected, jeopardizing reforestation efforts. However, density/ha, basal area, mean square diameter and floristic diversity did not show significant differences between reforested and unexploited habitats, particularly at Milando (p>0.05). Furthermore, floristic similarity is 55.56% for reforested habitats and 93.75% for unexploited habitats but remains low between reforested and unexploited habitats (40.00-47.62%). This similarity between ethnobotanical and floristic lists is also low (43.75-31.58%). The results of the present study suggest a sustainable and continuous management of these reforested habitats for an effective reconstitution of the forest cover. To reinforce the sustainable management of these reforested habitats, it is recommended that decision-makers conduct with awareness-raising campaigns and establish payment for environmental services mechanisms to motivate communities.
The Role of Cardiac Troponin and Other Emerging Biomarkers Among Athletes and Beyond: Underlying Mechanisms, Differential Diagnosis, and Guide for Interpretation
Authors: Celeski Mihail , Segreti Andrea , Crisci Filippo , Cricco Riccardo , Piscione Mariagrazia , Di Gioia Giuseppe , Nusca Annunziata , Fossati Chiara , Pigozzi Fabio , Ussia Gian Paolo , Solaro R. John , Grigioni Francesco
Published: November 2024

Cardiovascular (CV) disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, highlighting the necessity of understanding its underlying molecular and pathophysiological pathways. Conversely, physical activity (PA) and exercise are key strategies in reducing CV event risk. Detecting latent CV conditions in apparently healthy individuals, such as athletes, presents a unique challenge. Early identification and treatment of CV disorders are vital for long-term health and patient survival. Thus, there is a pressing need to identify and implement more sensitive and specific biomarkers for CV disorders in clinical practice. Similarly, research continues to explore reliable biomarkers for evaluating the health of athletes and the effectiveness of physical exercise. Cardiac troponin is currently the most commonly used biomarker for assessing CV changes in both athletes and the general population. However, there remains considerable debate surrounding the mechanisms underlying exercise-induced troponin elevations and its release in non-ischemic contexts. This has led to a new research focus on biomarkers, such as exosomes and cytokines, which may provide deeper insights. This review aims to summarize current research on cytokines and exosomes, their physiological roles, and their relevance in various CV conditions, especially in athletes. Special attention is given to underlying mechanisms, potential as biomarkers, and future perspectives. Furthermore, we review current evidence on troponin release in non-ischemic conditions, post-strenuous exercise, and the complex biological pathways that influence its detection.
Unraveling the miRNAs and miRNome in Fasciolosis: Key Players in the Crosstalk Host-Parasite and Its Pathogenesis
Authors: Barrero-Torres Diana María , Herrera-Torres Guillem , Pérez José , Martínez-Moreno Álvaro , Martínez-Moreno Francisco Javier , Zafra Rafael , Buffoni Leandro , Rufino-Moya Pablo J. , Ruiz-Campillo María Teresa , Molina-Hernández Verónica
Published: November 2024

Fasciolosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by helminth parasites of the genus Fasciola spp. including F. hepatica and F. gigantica being a zoonotic major problem of human and animal health. Its control with antihelminthics is becoming ineffective due to the increase of the parasite resistances. To develop new therapeutic protocols is crucial a deeper knowledge about the molecular bases in the host-parasite interactions. The high-throughput omics technologies have dramatically provided unprecedented insights into the complexity of the molecular crosstalk host-parasite. miRNAs are key players as critical regulators in numerous biological processes modifying the gene expression of cells by degradation of mRNA, regulating transcription and translation functions, protein positioning, cell cycle integrity, differentiation and apoptosis. The large-scale exploration of miRNAs including the miRNome has offered great scientific knowledge steps in fasciolosis further scrutinizing the pathogenesis, the growth and development of their strains and their interaction with the host for the survival of the different parasite stages. This review compilate the updated knowledge related to miRNAs involved in fasciolosis and the generated miRNome highlighting the importance of these key molecules in the host-parasite interactions and the pathogenesis of Fasciola spp. directing towards the development of new biotherapeutic protocols for the control of fasciolosis.
Automated Fillet Weld Inspection Based on Deep Learning from 2D Images
Authors: Diaz-Cano Ignacio , Morgado-Estevez Arturo , Rodríguez Corral Jose Maria , Medina-Coello Pablo , Salvador-Dominguez Blas , Alvarez-Alcon Miguel
Published: November 2024

This work presents an automated weld inspection system based on a one-stage Neural Network trained through a series of 2D weld seam images obtained in the same study. Our method uses You Only Look Once in version 8 (YOLOv8) for object detection. Several models have been trained so that the system can predict: the type of Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)/Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) weld, two of the common welding processes that have been used in most industries: shipbuilding, automotive, aeronautics among others; detect if a weld is well manufactured or defective; and a third experiment where four classes are attempted to be detected: a correctly manufactured weld, if it presents a lack of penetration defect, an undercut defect or other manufacturing problems. The presented system does not stop at determining the correct welding parameters. The study is based on finding a robust and reliable system to support this difficult and critical task of weld inspection. High performance was achieved in all three experiments carried out in this study, both in those that established a binary classification (the first two) and in the one that established a multiclass classification (the third experiment). In all of them, an average prediction success rate of over 97\% was achieved.
Turning Low Quality Secondary Raw Materials into Biostimulants/Biofertilizers by Eco-Bioleaching Technology
Authors: Štyriaková Darina , Štyriaková Iveta , Šuba Jaroslav
Published: November 2024

The results connect the mining industry with agriculture through innovative biotechnology called “eco-bioleaching”. This technology transforms disused mining resources (sand from open pit mines, foundry sand) into biohelpers in an ecological way supporting the restoration of soil structure and features and stimulating of growth and health of plants. The quality of most of these resources is insufficient to meet potential market demands, so their use is increasingly rare and they remain as abandoned open pit mines. Here we see the need for a special innovative technology that increases the industrial value of the deposits and returns them to the circular economy. Eco-bioleaching of samples based on the activity of naturally occurring microbial consortia can produce leachate that can be used as a biostimulant/biofertilizer. Such a new generation of biostimulants/biofertilizers contains beneficial probiotic bacteria, organic acids, phytohormones, and dissolved micro- and macro-elements from non-metallic raw materials and wastes. The mined low-grade sands and used raw materials such as foundry sands represent input material for the biotechnological process and ultimately become part of the soil (earth) again, closing the cycle with positive effects for the local mining industry and agriculture.
Synthesis and Characterization of Tetrasubstituted Porphyrin Tin(IV) Complexes and Their Adsorption Properties over Tetracycline Antibiotics
Authors: Yaman Hanifi , Baig Mirza Talha , Kayan Asgar
Published: November 2024

New tetra-substituted porphyrin tin complexes (1-14) were prepared by two different ways: In the first preparation procedure, tin porphyrin complexes were prepared by direct reaction of butyltin trichloride and dibutyltin dichloride with tetra/tetrakis(4-X-phenyl)porphyrins (X= H, F, Cl, Br, CF3, CH3O, and (CH3)2N). In the second procedure, the same tin porphyrin complexes were synthesized from the reaction of butyltin trichloride and dibutyltin dichloride with lithium porphyrinato derivatives. These novel tin complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H, 13C NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Among these complexes, tin porphyrin containing methoxy group [Bu2Sn(TMOPP)] was tested as an adsorbent to remove tetracycline antibiotics from wastewater. The TTC antibiotic removal efficiency (R%) of this complex was measured using UV-Vis spectroscopy. After 120 min of equilibration, the final R% and adsorption capacity (qt) were measured 60.15% and 18.10 mg/g, respectively.
Systematics of the Miracle Berry Genus, Synsepalum, Sensu Lato, and Relatives (Sapotaceae)
Authors: Potter Daniel , Uleh Mark
Published: November 2024

Synsepalum and Englerophytum are two closely related genera of the sub-family Sapotoideae in the family Sapotaceae. It has been reported that the two genera are a monophyletic group, and their generic limitations are uncertain. Synsepalum is an economically important genus that includes the medicinally and culinarily important plant, -miracle berry, S. dulcificum. The phylogenetic relationships among the species are poorly understood. This study has been conducted to refine the phylogenetic relationships between and within the two genera utilizing nuclear and chloroplast DNA data. Bayesian analyses and Maximum likelihood of nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid (trnH-psbA) sequences were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the two genera. Phylogenetic trees generated for both regions (nuclear and plastid) resulted in the resolution of six clades. Four of the clades correspond to species in the genus Synsepalum and two clades include species of Englerophytum. The two clades of Englerophytum are nested within Synsepalum suggesting that the two genera are closely related and may not merit their current circumscription as distinct genera. Also, Synsepalum is confirmed to constitute more than one lineage suggesting it is not monophyletic in its current definition. Overall, the study suggests the need for a comprehensive evaluation of all species currently recognized in the two genera.
Bridging the Foundational Versus Actionable Cycle in Cancer: Hypoxia Domino Effect and Cancer Cell Microenvironment (CCME) “Drug” Delivery
Authors: Swamy Kumara , Basavalingaiah S Ajaikumar
Published: November 2024

Cancer therapy evolution has always been about combinations, Timing, and Sequencing. Identifying the optimum combination by clinical trials will take an indeterminate amount of time with the “web” of effective available therapy options today. Additionally, newer targets and effective drugs are added continually, making optimum evidence-based therapy challenging to catch up with. In such a situation, revisiting the foundational aspects of cancer therapy approaches to create actionable trial scaffolds for early and definitive conclusions about the optimum treatment would be appropriate. The trial foundational platform should also allow for the incorporation of effective treatments that will come up in the future. Four fundamental changes exist in cancer development and progression, namely vasculature-metabolic-immune-phenotypic cascades. Hypoxia is the maestro orchestrating interwoven changes through the master manipulator - HIF-1 α. Hypoxia in Cancer is like spider-weaving resistant webs with the potential to overcome every therapy intervention. This review conceptualizes bridging foundational and actionable approaches in cancer therapy to provide a scaffold for stepwise Combinations, Timing, and Sequencing (CTS) strategy with early resolutions in animal/clinical trials. Fundamentally, based on the golden principle of first opportunity, it is the best time to handle and reverse the cancer process’s ramifications. A shift in focus is proposed in the present article from the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) to the Cancer Cell Microenvironment (CCME).
Expanded Spectrum and Increased Incidence of Adverse Events Linked to COVID-19 Genetic Vaccines: New Concepts on Prophylactic Immuno-Gene Therapy and Iatrogenic Orphan Disease
Authors: Szebeni Janos
Published: November 2024

The mRNA- and DNA-based “genetic” COVID-19 vaccines can induce a broad range of adverse events (AEs), with statistics showing significant variation depending on timing and data analysis methods. Focusing only on lipid nanoparticle-enclosed mRNA (mRNA-LNP) vaccines, this review traces the evolution of statistical conclusions on AE prevalence and incidence associated with these vaccines, from initial underestimation of atypical, severe toxicities to recent claims suggesting the possible contribution of Covid-19 vaccinations to the excess deaths observed in many countries over the past few years. Among hundreds of different AEs listed in Pfizer’s pharmacovigilance survey, the present analysis categorizes the main symptoms according to organ systems, nearly all being affected. Using data from the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and a global vaccination dataset, a comparison of the prevalence and incidence rates of AEs induced by genetic versus flu vaccines revealed an average 26-fold increase in AEs with genetic vaccines. The difference is especially pronounced in the case of severe 'Brighton-listed' AEs, which are also observed in COVID-19 and post-COVID conditions. Among these, the increases of incidence rates (AE+/ AE++AE-) relative to flu vaccines, given as x-fold rises, were 1,152x, 455x, 226x, 218x, 162x, 152x; and 131x, for myocarditis, thrombosis, death, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, dyspnea, and hypertension, respectively. The review delineates the concepts that genetic vaccines can be regarded as prophylactic immuno-gene therapies, and that the chronic disabling AEs might be categorized as iatrogenic orphan diseases. A better understanding of the mechanisms of these AEs and diseases is urgently needed to come to consensus regarding the current relative/benefit ratio of genetic COVID-19 vaccines and to ensure the safety of future products based on gene-delivery-based technologies.
Comparison of Recombination Rate, Reference Bias, and Unique Pangenomic Haplotypes in Cannabis sativa Using Seven De Novo Genome Assemblies
Authors: Stack George M , Quade Michael A , Wilkerson Dustin G , Monserrate Luis A , Bentz Philip C , Carey Sarah B , Grimwood Jane , Toth Jacob A , Crawford Seth , Harkess Alex , Smart Lawrence B
Published: November 2024

Genomic characterization of Cannabis sativa has accelerated rapidly in the last decade as sequencing costs have decreased and public and private interest in the species has increased. Two emerging challenges for the C. sativa research community are to 1) comprehensively capture the genomic diversity of the species and 2) reconcile and leverage the large amounts of genomic data to make meaningful contributions to fundamental research and commercial production systems. Here, we present seven new chromosome-level haplotype-phased genomes of C. sativa. All of these genotypes were alive at the time of publication, and several have numerous years of associated phenotype data. We used a kmer-based pangenome analysis to place these new assemblies in the context of more than 200 existing assemblies. We leveraged linkage maps constructed from F2 progeny of two of the assembled genotypes to characterize the recombination rate across the genome. Lastly, we re-aligned a bulk segregant analysis dataset for the major-effect flowering locus Early1 to several of the new assemblies to evaluate the impact of reference bias on the mapping results. These new assemblies, combined with the continued propagation of the genotypes, will contribute to the growing body of genomic resources for C. sativa to accelerate future research efforts.
Non-Communicable Diseases Among Forcibly Displaced People: A Systematic Mapping Review
Authors: Nishino Kyohei , Gyeltshen Tshewang , Mahbubur Rahman
Published: November 2024

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a serious global health challenge, accounting for 74% of all deaths worldwide, with low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately affected. These challenges are further exacerbated in humanitarian settings, particularly among forcibly displaced people (FDP). Despite the critical need for NCDs management in these populations, their epidemiology remains poorly understood. This highlights an urgent research priority to address knowledge gaps and improve their health outcomes. Methods: This research conducted a systematic mapping review to aggregate and categorize existing publications on NCDs among FDP. Literature searches were performed across five electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Global Index Medicus, and Google Scholar, using predefined criteria related to target populations, research domains, and study design. The evidence was systematically coded and analyzed to assess the current research status on NCDs among FDP. Results: A total of 310 publications were included in the review. The finding indicates an increasing trend in publications on NCDs among FDP since 2014. In contrast, most studies were low evidence levels. Disease-specific research primarily focused on diabetes mellitus (DM) (26.4%) and hypertension (19.8%), addressing health status (43.1%) and health policy (32.0%). Studies mainly concentrated on Syrian (45.5%) and Palestinian (18.9%) refugees, with limited research on other countries and types of FDP. Funding sources were mostly governmental (23.1%) and philanthropic foundations (17.6%), although many studies were unfunded (26.2%). Conclusion: This is the first systematic mapping review on NCDs among FDP. The findings revealed both current knowledge focuses and gaps. Although the research quantity has increased, the evidence quality remains low. Retrieved studies predominantly focus on DM and hypertension among Syrian and Palestinian refugees, causing significant knowledge gaps in geographical areas and types of FDP. Future research should prioritize higher-quality studies, expand the geographical scope, and include diverse types of FDP populations.
Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Modal Wave Field Predictions in 3D Room Acoustics
Authors: Schoder Stefan
Published: November 2024

The capabilities of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to solve the Helmholtz equation in a simplified three-dimensional room are investigated. From a simulation point of view, it is interesting since room acoustic simulations often lack information from the applied absorbing material in the low-frequency range. This study extends previous findings toward modeling the 3D sound field with PINNs in an excitation case using DeepXDE with the backend PyTorch. The neural network is memory-efficiently optimized by mini-batch stochastic gradient descent with periodic resampling after 100 iterations. A detailed hyperparameter study is conducted regarding the network shape, activation functions, and deep learning backends (PyTorch, TensorFlow 1, TensorFlow 2). We address the computational challenges of realistic sound excitation in a confined area. The accuracy of the PINN results is assessed by a Finite Element Method (FEM) solution computed with openCFS. For distributed sources, it was shown that the PINNs converge to the solution, with deviations occurring in the range of a relative error of 0.28%. With feature engineering and including the dispersion relation of the wave into the neural network input via transformation, the trainable parameters were reduced to a fraction (around 5%) compared to the standard PINN formulation while yielding a higher accuracy of 1.54% compared to 1.99%.
Establishment of Alkylresorcinols Cut-off Point to Screen the 100% Whole Wheat Flour
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhang Xuesong , Wang Yufei , Gao Chao , Wang Guodong , Yang Jingming , Cai Beilei , Wang Zhu
Published: November 2024

Alkylresorcinols (ARs) are recognized biomarkers of whole grains, exhibiting biological functions such as antioxidant activity and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, and correlated with nutrients, including fat, dietary fiber, and carbohydrates. ARs can be regarded as a valuable nutritional indicator for evaluating the nutritional quality of whole wheat flour. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the ARs content in Chinese commercial whole wheat flour, establish a nutritional quality cut-off point based on ARs, and screen the 100% whole wheat flour. Methods: In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the ARs content in 17 Chinese wheat grains and 22 commercial whole wheat flours. Meanwhile, the ARs content in wheat grains reported in other relevant studies was also included. Then, the ARs cut-off point of whole wheat flour was calculated, and this value was applied to distinguish the nutritional quality of the commercial whole wheat flour and screen the 100% whole wheat flour. Results: The average total ARs content in the 22 commercial whole wheat flours was 19.8 mg/100 g, ranging from 2.9 to 77.9 mg/100 g, presenting a bimodal distribution, with 40.9% exceeding the cut-off point. Consequently, approximately 40.9% of commercial whole wheat flour can be classified as 100% whole wheat flour. Conclusions: This study provides a nutritional quality cut-off point for Chinese commercial whole wheat flours, indicating a notable variation in ARs content and identifying a substantial proportion that falls short of the established nutritional cut-off point.
SelTZ: Fine-Grained Data Protection for Edge Neural Networks Using Selective TrustZone Execution
Authors: Jeong Sehyeon , Oh Hyunyoung
Published: November 2024

This paper presents an approach to protecting deep neural network privacy on edge devices
using ARM TrustZone. We propose a selective layer protection technique that balances performance
and privacy. Rather than executing entire layers within the TrustZone secure environment,
which leads to significant performance and memory overhead,
we selectively protect only the most sensitive subset of data from each layer. Our method
strategically partitions layer computations between normal and secure worlds, optimizing
TrustZone usage while providing robust defenses against privacy attacks. Through extensive
experiments on standard datasets (CIFAR-100 and ImageNet-Tiny), we demonstrate that our approach
reduces membership inference attack (MIA) success rates from over 90\% to near random guess (50\%)
while achieving up to 7.3× speedup and 71\% memory reduction compared to state-of-the-art
approaches. On resource-constrained edge devices with limited secure memory, our selective
approach enables protection of significantly more layers than full layer protection methods,
while maintaining strong privacy guarantees through efficient data partitioning and parallel
processing across security boundaries.
Trypsin vs. Papain: What Is the Best Digestive for Hippocampal Triculture Preparation?
Authors: Tumozov Ivan Andreevich , Mal`tseva Valentina Nikolaevna , Maiorov Sergei Alexandrovich , Kosenkov Artem Mikhailovich , Gaidin Sergei Gennadevich
Published: November 2024

Microglia, accounting for 5-15 % of total brain cells, is the essential population of glial cells in the cultures for modeling neuroinflammation in vitro. However, microglia proliferation is poor in the neuron-glial cultures. Here, we studied the population composition of rat hippocampal neu-ron-glial cell cultures prepared using papain (PAP-cultures) and trypsin (TRY-cultures) as prote-olytic enzymes for cell isolation. We have found that the microglia percentage in PAP-cultures was higher than in TRY-cultures. Microglia in PAP-cultures are predominantly polarized, while bushy morphology was more characterized for TRY-cultures. We have also studied the effects of the combination of TGFβ+MCSF+cholesterol, which should enhance microglia proliferation, on the population composition and microglia morphology. These factors increase the microglia number both in PAP- and TRY-cultures (to 25-30 % of the total number of cells) and promote the appearance of ameboid microglia characterized by high mobility. However, the significant appearance of ameboid microglia was observed already at the early stages of cultivation (2 DIV) in TRY-cultures while in PAP-cultures the described transformation was observed at 7DIV. Thus, our results demonstrate that papain is a more suitable proteolytic enzyme for preparing mixed hippocampal neuron-glial with a higher percentage of heterogenous microglia and functional neurons and astrocytes (tricultures).
Time to Change: A Multilevel Analysis of the Enduring Effects of the Pandemic in the Restaurant Sector
Authors: Fernández-de-Caleya-Dalmau Ramón , Ramos-Abascal María Isabel , Maylín-Aguilar Caridad
Published: November 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a serious risk to the economic viability of companies and the sustainability of employment in the restaurant sector, an important industry and employment provider in Mexico and Spain. This paper analyzes the causes of prolonged and intense destruction for companies and employees via multilevel analysis techniques and a qualitative, inductive methodology drawing on multiple sources. The model posits that the sectoral structure, management practices, and institutional actions during and after the pandemic are predictors of business recovery or continued losses. In the event of a demand shock, the combination of low institutional protection at the macro level, a hostile industry structure at the meso level, and a focus solely on economic sustainability as the primary business objective resulted in widespread resignation and put survival at risk, particularly for smaller companies and entrepreneurs. In an asymmetrical and fragmented marketplace, recuperating consumer demand requires skilled human capital and know-how that can be difficult to acquire when labor practices are abusive to employees, with precarious contracts and low wages. In conclusion, addressing the sector's shortcomings requires a profound change in managing key assets, such as human capital, to acquire the capacity for flexibility, adaptability, and innovation essential for change and renewal.
Is Social Media Marketing Strategy the New Mechanism of Luring Consumers? A Mixed Methods Approach to Understand Its Effect on Purchase Intentions
Authors: Islam Maidul , Sheikh Shabnam A.
Published: November 2024

This research paper used a mixed method approach to provide a new perspective on the impact of social media marketing and consumer purchase intention. Due to the technological development and addition of several functionalities to the social media platform in the recent past, the way consumers and firms engage has changed dramatically in this current competitive market. Earlier several papers used quantitative methods to understand the effect of social media marketing on consumer purchase intention. But huge criticism had been voiced against heavily used quantitative methods. Hence to encounter this criticism and better understand social media marketing as a tool to lure consumers both empirical study as well as a systematic literature review method were employed. At the first section of the research a systematic literature review method had been pursued followed by quantitative method to verify our finding using frequency distribution, factor analysis and Pearson Correlation test. The research results from this mixed method reveal that there is a significant positive relationship between social media marketing and purchase intention.
Three New Minor Compounds from the Roots of Rehmannia glutinosa and Their In Silico and In Vitro AMPK Activation
Authors: Lee Hwaryeong , Youn Isoo , Noh Sang Gyun , Kim Hyun Woo , Song Eunhye , Nam Sang-Jip , Chung Hae Young , Seo Eun Kyoung
Published: November 2024

Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, which belongs to the Orobanchaceae family, is a perennial herb found in China, Japan, and Korea. In traditional medicine, it is used to cool the body, improve water metabolism in the kidney, and provide protection from metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. In this study, three new compounds were isolated from the roots of R. glutinosa, along with 18 known compounds. Structure elucidation was performed with spectroscopic analyses including nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism spectroscopy. As the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway is reportedly related to metabolic diseases, AMPK activation studies were conducted using in silico simulations and in vitro assays. Among the isolated com-pounds, 1 showed a potential as an AMPK activator in both in silico simulations and in vitro ex-periments. Our findings expand the chemical profiles of the plant R. glutinosa and suggest one newly found compound (1) activates AMPK.
Scientific Journals Can Be Misled by Unjustified Ethical Alerts: A Case Study
Authors: Baudoux Véronique , Nicolay Benoît , Zizi Martin
Published: November 2024

Background: Compliance with research ethics legislation is a crucial issue for the protection of the rights of people taking part in clinical trials. Researchers have the opportunity to alert publishers when they have concerns about possible non-compliance with this legislation by other authors, and this opportunity for independent scrutiny is important. Nevertheless, some alerts may turn out to be unfounded due to a misunderstanding of the legislation or shortcomings in the analysis of the publications concerned. Methods: We present the analysis of the article by F. Franck et al. « Raising concerns on questionable ethics approvals - a case study of 456 trials from the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection » [1] in which the authors explain having sent numerous emails to different publishers to express their concerns about potential ethical breaches in 456 publications from a single French institution. We analyzed in detail the 248 studies that the authors present as suspect on the grounds that they all mention the same ethical number. We have also studied the texts of French law and the content of presentations given by institutions specializing in clinical research, explaining the framework of the Jardé Law. Results: Our detailed analysis of these 248 studies discovered that only seven of them report research involving humans. All the others are secondary research on existing biological samples and most of them present the results of genomic analyses of new bacteria discovered by the authors. In France, as in many other countries, research on biological samples that have already been collected for care purpose or as part of a previous study and research on micro-organisms are not research involving human subjects. The rules that apply in these specific contexts are therefore different. Conclusions: Assessing the ethical conformity of scientific publications must be based on a precise knowledge of the legislation and a rigorous analysis of these publications. When researchers who alert publishers confuse research involving the human person with research not involving the human person, the publishers are in danger of being misled by these unfounded alerts. This can have deleterious consequences for the authors but also for the entire scientific community through the distrust generated towards medical research.
Evaluation of Plasma microRNA-222 as a Biomarker for Gastric Cancer
Authors: Wakamatsu Kotaro
Published: November 2024

Background: Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been detected in patients with gastric cancer (GC), which inspired the use of miRNAs as a novel biomarker for GC. In this study, we investigated the previously reported miRNA dysfunction in cancer tissues as a potential plasma biomarker for GC using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Methods: The published miRNA abnormalities were searched in the microRNA Cancer Association Database. Plasma samples were collected from patients with GC (n=26) and controls (n=17). The sensitivity and specificity of polyadenylation RT-PCR (PA-RT) and stem-loop RT-PCR (SL-RT) were compared. Statistical comparisons between patients with GC and controls were performed to identify miRNA biomarkers, and correlation analyses between the threshold cycle (Ct) values of miRNAs and various blood biochemical parameters were performed to elucidate the confounding factors. Results: mir-17, mir-21, mir-31, mir-99b, mir-222, and U6 were selected. PA-RT showed greater sensitivity and lower specificity than SL-RT (PA-RT vs. SL-RT, mean Ct: 19.6 vs. 29.2; coefficient of variation: 0.42 vs. 0.10). We adopted SL-RT owing to its higher specificity and found that only mir-222 was significantly upregulated in patients with GC (GC vs. control, miRNA expression: 15.4 vs. 5.27, P=0.0098). We found that mir-31 and mir-99b were correlated with blood urea nitrogen levels, whereas mir-21 was correlated with neutrophil counts.Conclusion: Only plasma mir-222 was confirmed to be dysregulated in patients with GC, irrespective of biochemical parameters.
Fabrication and Performance Regulation of Lightweight Porous Electromagnetic Absorbing Materials via CO2 Nucleation-Free Foaming of EP
Authors: Dong Tienan , Quan Jingru , Huang Funing , Guan Yitong , Lin Zihong , Wang Zeyao , Liu Yuheng , Hang Zusheng , Zhao Yupei , Huang Yu’an
Published: November 2024

In this study, CO₂ reacted with a curing agent through nucleophilic addition to form ammonium salts, enabling stable capture and internal release of CO₂, thereby achieving gas-phase nucleation and foaming of epoxy resin without the use of nucleating agents. Further, absorbing agent is in-troduced to coupling the absorbing mechanism and assist uniform foaming. The gas-phase nucle-ation-free foaming process, relying on the induced growth of initial gas nuclei and the synergistic effect of wave-absorbing nucleating agents, effectively eliminates the uneven foaming issues caused by traditional solid nucleating agents. The dual mechanisms synergistically optimize the lightweight mesoporous structure and wave absorption performance. Ultimately, a type of light-weight epoxy foam-based absorbing material (LFAMs) was obtained. BET indicate that adding 2.0 wt% carbon-based wave-absorbing agents (LFAMs-A2) expanded the material's volume to 4.6 times its original volume, forming a relatively uniform porous structure. VNA tests showed that in the frequency range of 12–18 GHz, the material containing 2.0 wt% carbon-based wave-absorbing agents (LFAMs-A2) achieved minimum reflection loss (RLmin) reaching -13.25 dB and effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5 GHz. The material containing 2.0 wt% fer-rite-based wave-absorbing agents (LFAMs-C2) achieved minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -26.83 dB at 16.6 GHz and effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6 GHz, covering the Ku band. Meanwhile, DSC indicate that the material maintains good thermal stability at 150°C. The pre-sent work provides a research approach for lightweight thick coatings and structure-performance synergistic optimization, demonstrating its application potential in 5G communication, micro-wave anechoic chambers, and aerospace fields.
Assessment of Dental Arch Width Expansion Effectiveness Using a Novel Hybrid Aligner with Virtual Brackets and Nickel Titanium Archwires: A Prospective Clinical Study
Authors: Leon-Valencia Jhonny , Alarcon-Perez Jose Antonio , Martin Conchita
Published: November 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel hybrid aligner system, Geniova Technologies™ (GT), for arch expansion and to compare the predictability of its virtual setup measurements with a conventional clear aligner system (CA) after the first treatment phase.Materials and Methods: Adult patients with maxillary dentoalveolar compression and anterior crowding >3 mm were enrolled and assigned to GT and CA groups. Transverse changes for canines and premolars were measured at the cusp and cervical levels after the first set of aligners.Results: No significant baseline differences in transverse dimensions were found between groups. Treatment duration (4.25 months for GT vs. 9.75 months for CA) and the number of aligners (4.25 in GT vs. 28.25 in CA) significantly differed (p<0.001). However, effectiveness comparisons revealed no significant differences in expansion outcomes, with both groups showing similar accuracy.Conclusions: The GT group achieved comparable dentoalveolar expansion of canines and premolars in significantly less time and with fewer aligners than the CA group. The predictability of virtual setup measurements was similar for both systems, confirming their comparable performance in achieving planned expansion.
Navigating Burnout: The Mediating Role of Mindfulness and the Mediterranean Lifestyle in Fostering Job Satisfaction and Well-being
Authors: Christodoulou Efstratios , Dimitriadou Maroula-Eleni , Mpali Tsambika , Koutelidakis Antonios E.
Published: November 2024

This study delves into the intricate interplay between mindfulness, the Mediterranean lifestyle, burnout, job satisfaction, and well-being among employees, offering compelling insights for workplace interventions. Through a cross-sectional survey comprising 407 employees in Greece, we unravel the profound associations among these variables, shedding light on novel pathways to mitigate burnout and enhance overall employee satisfaction and health. Our findings unveil not only the negative associations between mindfulness, the Mediterranean lifestyle, and burnout but also the pivotal role of mindfulness as a predicting factor of burnout. Moreover, our research underscores the significant impact of burnout on job satisfaction, emphasizing the need for organizational strategies to address employee well-being. Notably, our mediation analyses illuminate the potential benefits of mindfulness and the Mediterranean lifestyle on burnout, accentuating the importance of fostering a workplace culture that embraces holistic well-being practices. With practical implications for designing evidence-based workplace wellness programs, our study advocates for the integration of mindfulness techniques and the adoption of Mediterranean lifestyle principles to cultivate resilient, engaged employees and foster thriving organizational cultures. By delving into these dynamic relationships, our research not only advances theoretical frameworks but also offers actionable strategies to navigate burnout and promote flourishing in the modern workplace.
Sustainable Manufacturing and Applications of Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors
Authors: Yeboah Luckman , Oppong Peter , Abdul Malik Ayinawu , Acheampong Prince , Morgan Joseph , Addo Rose , Williams Henyo Boris
Published: November 2024

Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) have become pivotal in high-power, high-frequency, and high-temperature applications. Their superior properties, including higher thermal conductivity, breakdown voltage, and energy efficiency, make them essential for advanced technologies like electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and 5G infrastructure. However, their production processes are resource-intensive and pose significant environmental challenges. This review explores recent innovations in sustainable WBG manufacturing, focusing on low-energy epitaxial growth techniques, recycling of semiconductor materials, and efforts to reduce toxic byproducts. It also highlights the role of WBG materials in driving next-generation electronic systems and addresses the environmental concerns associated with scaling these materials for widespread use. The potential of Ultrawide-Bandgap (UWBG) materials for even more extreme applications is discussed, underscoring the need for continued innovation in sustainable practices to ensure the long-term viability of WBG technologies.
Optimization of Activated Carbon Nanoparticles for Microwave-Assisted Heavy Oil Recovery: Effects of Salinity and Nanoparticle Concentration
Authors: Aboueldahab Abdelrahman , Elwaziry Youssef , Gabry Mohamed Adel Adel , Nguyen Son , Y. Soliman Mohamed
Published: November 2024

This study examines the influence of activated carbon nanoparticle concentration and salinity on microwave heating efficiency for heavy oil extraction. By evaluating varying concentrations of activated carbon in sandstone cores, this research aims to determine the optimal balance that maximizes heating while avoiding pore blockages. Cores were injected with fracturing fluid containing 0.1% to 0.5% activated carbon and subjected to microwave heating. Results revealed that a 0.3% concentration achieved the highest average temperature without significant blockage, while higher concentrations led to blockages, impeding heat transfer. Salinity also played a role, with a 10% sodium chloride solution significantly enhancing heating efficiency, though further increases showed minimal impact. CT imaging confirmed that higher activated carbon concentrations resulted in particle accumulation near the injection side, causing uneven heat distribution. These findings highlight the importance of controlled nanoparticle concentration and salinity for optimizing thermal EOR, with 0.3% activated carbon identified as ideal for balancing heat efficiency and pore permeability. This study suggests that further refinement through advanced imaging like micro-CT scanning could enhance understanding of nanoparticle behavior, supporting more efficient thermal recovery techniques.
The Relationship between Job Efficacy, Patient Safety and Quality of Patient Care among Nurses Working in Secondary Hospital in Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia
Authors: A.Alsulaiman Abdulaziz , Banawas Saeed S. , Albougami Abdulrhman , Alasiry Sharifa M
Published: November 2024

Background: Nursing profession is one of the most crucially healthcare profession in hospitals, and there are many factors affecting job efficacy of these nurses which may then affect positively or negatively the patients’ safety and quality of care in the healthcare settings. Aim: This study aims to determine the relationship between Job Efficacy, Patient Safety and Quality of Patient Care among nurses working in Secondary Hospital in Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on conveniently selected nurses in various hospitals located in Second health cluster in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to fill questionnaire for six weeks, an online questionnaire was used, and it consist of Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture and the Self-Efficacy Scale, all data then was analysed using SPSS program. Results: From total 326 participants with mroe than half (51%) are male and 44% of the sample are 31-40 years old, as well as, about 44% of the sample are BSN graduate, 51% of nurses have 5 years to 10 years, the responses of the sample of the study sample showed a general trend towards approving for Job Efficacy with mean =2.66 ± 0.46, the study sample showed a general trend towards approving for Patient Safety, with mean is 3.25 ± 0.41, and the sample showed a general trend towards approving for Quality of Patient Care among nurses, with mean is 3.71± 0.73. The results revealed a significant difference in job efficacy among participants due to gender (P-value =0.043), age (p-value = 0.027), total years of experience working as a nurse (p-value = 0.017), and there is no significant difference with Job efficacy among participants due to marital Status (p-value = 0.948). Conclusion: Nurses’ job efficacy can affect positively on the patient’s safety and quality of care among patients who are visiting second health cluster.