bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and Outcomes of Peritoneal Strumosis: A Report of Three Cases and Systematic Review
Authors: Li Sijian , Wang Xiaoxue , Hong Ruping , Zhang Xinyue , Yin Min , Zhang Tianyu , Yang Jiaxin
Published: April 2023

Benign struma ovarii (SO) has a probability of metastasis named “peritoneal strumosis”, which is extremely rare, such that the specific clinical characteristics, treatment options, and survival outcomes remain unclear. We screened three cases of peritoneal strumosis among 229 cases of SO treated in our hospital. Case 1 was a 36-year-old woman with extensive peritoneal seedings at initial presentation. The second one was a 49-year-old with trocar site implant 11 years after laparoscopic adnexectomy. Case 3 was a 45-year-old woman who had an isolated lesion at the anterior surface of the rectum after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for SO 14 years ago. These three patients underwent surgery without any adjuvant treatment and remained disease-free after 30 to 68 months. A systematic review was then conducted and another 16 cases were identified. More than half (10/19, 52.6%) of the patients had previous SO-related ovarian surgery. The median interval between prior SO-related surgery and the initial presentation of peritoneal strumosis was 10.0 years; both regional and distant metastasis, even in the liver, lung, and heart, could also be affected. Surgery was the mainstay therapy (18/19, 94.7%), in which six patients (6/19, 31.7%) were treated with total thyroidectomy (TT) followed by radioiodine (RAI) therapy. Postoperative chemotherapy was only applied in one patient, and the last one only received a diagnostic biopsy without further treatment. Recurrence was noted in two patients with a median recurrence-free survival of 12 years, where surgical excision and RAI were then performed. No death occurred after a mean follow-up of 53 months, where 12 patients achieved no evidence of disease and five were alive with the disease. Peritoneal strumosis has unpredictable biological behaviors and the crude incidence is approximately 1.3% in SO. Patients with peritoneal strumosis have excellent survival outcomes, irrespective of different treatment strategies employed. Surgery with personalized RAI should be preferred and long-term close monitoring is recommended.
Modeling Based on Ensemble Learning Methods for Detection of Diagnostic Biomarkers from LncRNA Data in Rats Treated with Cis-Platinum-Induced Hepatotoxicity
Authors: Kucukakcali Zeynep , Colak Cemil , Gozukara Bag Harika Gozde , Balikci Cicek Ipek , Ozhan Onural , Yildiz Azibe , Danis Nefsun , Koc Ahmet , Parlakpinar Hakan , Akbulut Sami
Published: April 2023

Background: The first aim of this study is to perform bioinformatic analysis of lncRNAs obtained from liver tissue samples from rats treated with cisplatin hepatotoxicity and without pathology. Another aim is to identify possible biomarkers for the diagnosis/early diagnosis of hepatotoxicity by modeling the data obtained from bioinformatics analysis with ensemble learning methods. Methods: In the study, 20 female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group and a hepatotoxicity group. Liver samples were taken from rats, and transcriptomic and histopathological analyses were performed. The dataset achieved from the transcriptomic analysis was modeled with ensemble learning methods (stacking, bagging, and boosting). Modeling results were evaluated with accuracy (Acc), balanced accuracy (B-Acc), sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (Ppv), negative predictive value (Npv), and F1 score performance metrics. As a result of the modeling, lncRNAs that could be biomarkers were evaluated with variable importance values. Results: According to histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses, a significant increase was observed in the sinusoidal dilatation and Hsp60 immunoreactivity values in the hepatotoxicity group compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). According to the results of the bioinformatics analysis, 589 lncRNAs showed different expressions in the groups. The stacking model had the best classification performance among the applied ensemble learning models. The Acc, B-Acc, Se, Sp, Ppv, Npv, and F1-score values obtained from this model were 90%, 90%, 80%, 100%, 100%, 83.3%, and 88.9%, respectively. lncRNAs with id rna-XR_005492522.1, rna-XR_005492536.1, and rna-XR_005505831.1 with the highest three values according to the variable importance obtained as a result of stacking modeling can be used as predictive biomarker candidates for hepatotoxicity. Conclusions: Among the ensemble algorithms, the stacking technique yielded higher performance results as compared to the bagging and boosting methods on the transcriptomic data. More comprehensive studies can support the possible biomarkers determined due to the research and the decisive results for the diagnosis of drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
Application of Novel Technologies in Cardiac Electrotherapy to Prevent Complications
Authors: Budrejko Szymon , Kempa Maciej , Rohun Justyna , Daniłowicz-Szymanowicz Ludmiła , Zienciuk-Krajka Agnieszka , Faran Anna , Raczak Grzegorz
Published: April 2023

(1) Background: Cardiac electrotherapy is developing quickly, which implies that it will face a higher number of complications, with cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE) being the most frequent, but not the only one. (2) Methods: This is a retrospective case study followed by a literature review, which presents a patient with a rare but dangerous complication of electrotherapy, which could have been prevented if modern technology had been used. (3) Results: A 34-year-old female was admitted with suspicion of CDRIE based on an unclear echocardiographic presentation. However, with no signs of infection, that diagnosis was not confirmed, though an endocardial implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) lead was found folded into the pulmonary trunk. The final treatment included transvenous lead extraction (TLE) and subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) implantation. (4) Conclusions: With the increasing number of implantations of cardiac electronic devices and their consequences, a high index of suspicion among clinicians is required. The entity of the clinical picture must be thoroughly considered, and various diagnostic tools should be applied. Lead dislocation into the pulmonary trunk is an extremely rare complication. Our findings align with the available literature data, where asymptomatic cases are usually effectively treated with TLE. Modern technologies, such as S-ICD, can effectively prevent lead-related problems and are indicated in young patients necessitating long-term ICD therapy.
Clinical Improvement in Depression and Cognitive Deficit Following Electroconvulsive Therapy
Authors: Ahmad Hariza Ahmad Mus’ab , Mohd Yunus Mohd Heikal , Murthy Jaya Kumar , Wahab Suzaily
Published: April 2023

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a long-standing treatment choice for disorders such as depression when pharmacological treatments have failed. However, a major drawback of ECT is its cognitive side effects. While numerous studies have investigated the therapeutic effects of ECT and its mechanism, much less research has been conducted regarding the mechanism behind the cognitive side effects of ECT. As both clinical remission and cognitive deficits occur after ECT, it is possible that both may share a common mechanism. This review highlights studies related to ECT as well as those investigating the mechanism of its outcomes. The process underlying these effects may lie within BDNF and NMDA signaling. Edema in the astrocytes may also be responsible for the adverse cognitive effects and is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 and the protein Homer1a.
Predictive Factors for Pediatric Craniopharyngioma Recurrence: An Extensive Narrative Review
Authors: Serbis Anastasios , Tsinopoulou Vasiliki Rengina , Papadopoulou Anastasia , Kolanis Savvas , Sakellari Eleni I. , Margaritis Kosmas , Litou Eleni , Ntouma Stergianna , Giza Styliani , Kotanidou Eleni P. , Galli-Tsinopoulou Assimina
Published: April 2023

Despite being classified as benign tumors, craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to their location, growth pattern, and tendency to recur. Two types can be identified depending on age distribution, morphology, and growth pattern, adamantinomatous and papillary. The adamantinomatous CP is one of the most frequently encountered central nervous system tumors in childhood. Our aim was to review the relevant literature to identify clinical, morphological, and immunohistochemical prognostic factors that have been implicated in childhood-onset CP recurrence. Lack of radical surgical removal of the primary tumor by an experienced neurosurgical team and radiotherapy after a subtotal excision has been proven to significantly increase the recurrence rate of CP. Other risk factors that have been consistently recognized in the literature include younger age at diagnosis (especially <5 years), larger tumor size at presentation, cystic appearance, difficult tumor location, and tight adherence to surrounding structures, as well as the histological presence of whorl-like arrays. In addition, several other risk factors have been studied, albeit with conflicting results, especially in the pediatric population. Identifying risk factors for CP recurrence is of utmost importance for the successful management of these patients in order to ultimately ensure the best prognosis.
Using Online Discussion Forums to Enhance and Document Students’ Workplace Learning Experiences: A Semi-Private Emirati University’s Context
Authors: Aderibigbe Semiyu Adejare , AbdelRahman Abdel Rahman Ahmed , Al Othman Hussain
Published: April 2023

Workplace learning experience complements students’ learning at the university and equips them with practical skills required in professional work contexts. Given its importance, educators must constantly devise strategies to enhance students’ workplace learning and collect contextual data to determine how best to support them in collaboration with the internship sites. In this study, we adopted the online discussion forum to supplement undergraduate students’ workplace learning in a semi-private Emirati university through reflection and workplace knowledge sharing with colleagues asynchronously. Using a qualitative approach, we ethically retrieved and thematically analyzed students’ contributions to the online discussion forum. Our findings indicate that students found the orientation week beneficial and the knowledge gained at the university, such as communication and information technology, resourceful. Additionally, students found integration into the new context, time management, language issues, and emailing challenging. Despite the reported challenges, students indicated that the workplace learning experience strengthened their practical skills, including managing time, working with different people, and communicating within different contexts to smooth their transition to professional work contexts. Based on the findings, we suggest using online discussion to supplement workplace learning as an essential element for educators to consider when developing programs. We also recommend pre-internship orientations where expectations, roles, and required knowledge are discussed to prepare students for successful workplace learning experiences.
Accurate Analysis Method and Voltage Gain Curve Derivation Algorithm Based on Time-Domain Analysis for High-Efficiency LLC Resonant Converter Design
Authors: Park Su-Seong , Eom Min-Ho , Lee Sang-Taek , Kim Rae-Young
Published: April 2023

An accurate analysis method for an LLC resonant converter and a time-domain analysis (TDA)-based voltage gain curve derivation algorithm are proposed in this paper. When applied to an LLC resonant converter, the TDA method can obtain high-accuracy current and voltage waveforms by solving nonlinear equations for circuit parameters through operation-mode analysis. An LLC resonant converter operating mode classification algorithm was proposed based on the results of this analysis. The circuit voltage and current values in the steady state were quickly and precisely derived using this algorithm. An accurate power-loss analysis is required to design a high-efficiency converter. Therefore, TDA is a powerful tool for designing an LLC resonant network. The proposed TDA-based LLC resonant converter analysis and voltage gain curve derivation algorithm provides high-accuracy voltage, current value estimation and voltage gain curves for all switching-frequency ranges. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified using a 500 W LLC resonant converter prototype experiment.
Designing Aquaculture Monitoring System Based on Data Fusion through Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL)
Authors: Sung Wen-Tsai , Isa Indra Griha Tofik , Hsiao Sung-Jung
Published: April 2023

The aquaculture production sector is one of the suppliers of global food consumption needs. Countries that have a large amount of water contribute to the needs of aquaculture production, especially the freshwater fisheries sector. Indonesia is a country that has a large number of large bodies of water and is the top-five producer of aquaculture production. Technology and engineering continue to be developed to improve the quality and quantity of aquaculture production. One aspect that can be observed is how the condition of fish pond water is healthy and supports fish growth. Various studies have been conducted related to the aquaculture monitoring system, but the problem is how effective it is in terms of accuracy of the resulting output, implementation, and costs. In this research, data fusion (DF) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) were implemented in an aquaculture monitoring system with temperature, turbidity, and pH parameters to produce valid and accurate output. The stage begins with testing sensor accuracy as part of sensor quality validation, then integrating sensors with wireless sensor networks (WSNs) so they can be accessed in real time. The implemented DF is divided into three layers: first, the signal layer consists of WSNs and their components. Second, the feature layer consists of DRL combined with deep learning (DL). Third, the decision layer determines the output of the condition of the fish pond in “normal” or “not normal” conditions. The analysis and testing of this system look at several factors, i.e., (1) the accuracy of the performance of the sensors used; (2) the performance of the models implemented; (3) the comparison of DF-DRL-based systems with rule-based algorithm systems; and (4) the cost effectiveness compared to labor costs. Of these four factors, the DF-DRL-based aquaculture monitoring system has a higher percentage value and is a low-cost alternative for an accurate aquaculture monitoring system.
Feature Fusion and Information Supervision Consistency for Object Detection
Authors: Tang Xiaofen , Zhao Maomao
Published: April 2023

The inconsistency between classification and regression is a common problem in the field of object detection. Such inconsistency may lead to undetected objects, false detection, and regression boxes overlapping in the detection results. It has been determined that the inconsistency is mainly caused by feature coupling and the lack of information regarding the interactions between detection heads. In this study, the characteristics of spatial invariance were used, and the ability to fit the data distribution was enhanced by fully connected layers. A feature fusion module (FFM) was proposed in order to enhance the capabilities of the model’s feature extractions. This study also further considered the inconsistency between the loss functions and the proposed regression loss function (RMAE) based on mean absolute error (MAE) for the purpose of improving the location quality. Furthermore, in order to solve the problem of the lack of information regarding the interactions between detection heads, an inconsistency loss function (Lin) was added on the basis of the feature fusion module. Then, to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed methods, the proposed feature fusion network (FMRNet) was trained based on RetinaNet. The experimental results demonstrated that this study’s proposed methods surpassed the accuracy of some existing detectors when FMRNet was adopted. It was confirmed that the proposed methods had the ability to solve the problems of undetected objects, false detection, and regression boxes overlapping.
LA_YOLOx: Effective Model to Detect the Surface Defects of Insulative Baffles
Authors: Li Quanyang , Luo Zhongqiang , He Xiangjie , Chen Hongbo
Published: April 2023

In the field of industry, defect detection based on YOLO models is widely used. In real detection, the method of defect detection of insulative baffles is artificial detection. The work efficiency of this method, however, is low because the detection is depends absolutely on human eyes. Considering the excellent performance of YOLOx, an intelligent detection method based on YOLOx is proposed. First, we selected a CIOU loss function instead of an IOU loss function by analyzing the defect characteristics of insulative baffles. In addition, considering the limitation of model resources in application scenarios, the lightweight YOLOx model is proposed. We replaced YOLOx’s backbone with lightweight backbones (MobileNetV3 and GhostNet), and used Depthwise separable convolution instead of conventional convolution. This operation reduces the number of network parameters by about 42% compared with the original YOLOx network. However, the mAP of it is decreased by about 0.8% compared with the original YOLOx model. Finally, the attention mechanism is introduced into the feature fusion module to solve this problem, and we called the lightweight YOLOx with an attention module LA_YOLOx. The final value of mAP of LA_YOLOx reaches 95.60%, while the original YOLOx model is 95.31%, which proves the effectiveness of the LA_YOLOx model.
A Secondary Particle Filter Photometric Data Inversion Method of Space Object Characteristics
Authors: Wang Yang , Du Xiaoping , Gou Ruixin , Liu Zhengjun , Chen Hang
Published: April 2023

A secondary particle filter (SPF) inversion method for geostationary space object characteristics based on ground photometric data is presented. The method combines the estimation results of the standard particle filter (PF) algorithm and the resampling algorithm of the particle generation process. SPF first generates N particles according to the standard PF process, and performs the standard PF without resampling. Particle weight is an important indicator to determine the closeness of particles to the real state. With the progress of PF, the weight of particles closer to the real state will gradually increase. SPF takes the particle weight value as an important basis to judge the closeness of particles to the real state. By setting a threshold, the particles closest to the real state are screened out and roughened. The SPF method in this paper uses a particle filter twice and it is a new particle filter method. The first particle filter identifies particles near the real state. Before the second particle filter, it is equivalent to the actual state distribution of the system is known, so that the distribution of initial particles can be set more efficiently and effectively, and the number of particles close to the real state of the system can be increased. Experiment results show that the estimation error and the RMSE of the inversion error of SPF are less than PF, which not only shows that the inversion result based on SPF is better than the inversion result based on PF, but also proves the effectiveness of the inversion method based on SPF.
Initial Study of Fungal Bioconversion of guishe (Agave lechuguilla Residue) Juice for Bioherbicide Activity on Model Seeds
Authors: Sánchez Robles José Humberto , Luna Enríquez Cristina Fernanda , Reyes Ana G. , Cruz Requena Marisol , Ríos González Leopoldo J. , Morales Martínez Thelma K. , Ascacio Valdés Juan A. , Medina Morales Miguel A.
Published: April 2023

In agriculture, weed management is a significant concern because their uncontrolled proliferation decreases soil quality for food crops. Allelopathy is a natural phenomenon in which the activity of allelochemical compounds inhibits the germination and growth of invasive plants as a defense mechanism. Among allelochemicals are polyphenols, which may affect genetic material or crucial enzyme activities for proper physiological function. Agroindustrial residues are a vast source of polyphenolic compounds with allelochemical activity. The bagasse of Agave Lechuguilla, known as guishe, is an abundant residue in México. The guishe has been characterized before by its polyphenolic content. Based on that, a fungal bioconversion process was developed to increase the availability of the allelochemicals in the guishe juice. First, guishe juice was obtained by mechanical pressed and characterized by spectrophotometric analysis. Results showed (g/L): 5.62 flavonoids, 0.64 of hydrolyzable polyphenols, 12.67 of reducing sugars, and 23.3 total sugars. The compounds detected by HPLC-ESI-MS were pterostilbene, hydroxycaffeic, caffeoyltartaric, and 4-O-glucoside coumaric acids, considered allelopathic. After the fungal bioprocess, (+)-gallocatechin and 3,7-Dimethyl quercetin were detected as additional compounds of interest. The flavonoid and hydrolyzable polyphenol content were modified to the highest accumulation of 1.57 and 14.9 g/L at 72 h, meaning a 2.45- and 2.22-fold increase. A bioprocess guishe juice (BGJ) was obtained at the compound accumulation peak of 72 h and evaluated in an allelopathic assay on model seeds (tomato and corn). Results show that BGJ inhibits up to 96.67% of corn seeds and up to 76.6% of tomato seeds compared to positive control.
Production of Long Hemp Fibers Using the Flax Value Chain
Authors: Pinsard Lola , Revol Nathalie , Pomikal Henri , De Luycker Emmanuel , Ouagne Pierre
Published: April 2023

Hemp is finding a strong renewal of interest in the production of fine fibers for garment textiles. This resource of long-line fibers would come as a complement to the highly demanded flax fibers, whose large production in the north-west of Europe cannot be extended. In Normandy, where a complete industrial value chain exists for flax, it is intended to adapt it to hemp, and this was demonstrated from the field to the scutched fibers with a complete value chain. In this region, early harvesting is necessary to leave enough time for dew-retting and permit dry storage of stems before mid-September. An early-flowering variety (USO-31) was harvested using dedicated hemp equipment to obtain a 1 m parallel and aligned windrow that can be further processed by flax equipment. The scutching process as well as the fiber’s morphological and mechanical properties were particularly studied. Adapted scutching process parameters with reduced advancing speed and beating turbine velocity led to long fiber yields of about 18% of the stem mass. Stem yields were reaching about 6 tons/ha leading to a production of 1.1 tons/ha of long fibers. The tensile properties of the long fibers were highly sufficient for textile applications, and their thickness after hackling was in the range suitable for the production of fine yarns. Compared to other crops grown in Normandy, the hemp as produced in this 2020 case study provides good incomes to the farmer, higher than traditional crops such as wheat or barley, and the results of this study should encourage farmers to grow hemp for textile purposes.
Comparing the Effect of HPP on the Structure and Stability of Soluble and Membrane-Bound Polyphenol Oxidase from ‘Lijiang Snow’ Peach: Multispectroscopic and Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Zhou Hengle , Bie Shenke , Li Zi , Zhou Linyan
Published: April 2023

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) easily causes fruits and vegetables to lose their color and nutritional value. As a non-thermal process, high-pressure processing (HPP) showed different inactivation effects on endogenous enzymes. In this work, soluble PPO (sPPO) and membrane-bound PPO (mPPO) from ‘Lijiang snow’ peaches were purified, and then the effect of high pressure on the conformation of sPPO and mPPO was investigated and compared at the molecular level. The maximum activation of sPPO and mPPO by 11.2% and 4.8% was observed after HPP at 200 MPa, while their activities both gradually decreased at 400 MPa and 600 MPa; in particular, the residual activities of sPPO and mPPO at 600 MPa for 50 min were 41.42% and 72.95%, respectively. The spectroscopic results indicated that the secondary structure of PPOs was little affected by HPP, but HPP led to obvious changes in their tertiary structure. The simulations showed that the decreasing distance between the copper ion and His residue in the copper-binding region of two PPOs at 200 MPa was favorable to catalytic activity, while the increasing distance between copper ions and His residues and the disordered movement of the loop region above 400 MPa were unfavorable. In addition, the structure of sPPO was relatively looser than that of mPPO, and high pressure showed a more significant effect on the conformation of sPPO than that of mPPO. This study clarified the effect of HPP on PPO’s structure and the relationship between its structure and activity and provided a basis for the prevention of enzymatic browning.
Study on Quality Change and Processing Suitability Evaluation of the Low-Temperature Vacuum Frying of Bananas
Authors: Chen Xi , Tang Yayuan , Wei Zhen , Deng Zhonglin , Li Zhichun , Li Li , He Xuemei , Sun Jian
Published: April 2023

The banana quality evaluation system is not sufficiently mature in China and cannot meet the demand of producing high-quality processed banana products. In order to screen banana varieties suitable for low-temperature vacuum frying and extend the banana deep processing industry chain, banana slices from 15 varieties planted in China were prepared by low-temperature vacuum-frying (VF) technology in the present study. After factor analysis on 20 indicators of sensory, flavor, nutritional and processing quality from different varieties of banana slices, comprehensive quality evaluation models were constructed for banana slices. It was concluded that Meishijiao No. 1 had the highest overall score among the 15 banana varieties; hence, it was deemed suitable for processing. Meanwhile, in order to investigate the difference between flavor substances in banana slices before and after processing, a flavor histology study was conducted with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). It was found that the content differences of 2,3-pentanedione, hexanal and pentanal may cause the weakened fruitiness and the increased oil flavor of banana taste.
Effect of Essential Oils from Lemongrass and Tahiti Lime Residues on the Physicochemical Properties of Chitosan-Based Biodegradable Films
Authors: Daza Luis , Montealegre Miguel , Sandoval Aldana Angélica , Obando Mónica , Váquiro Henry , Eim Valeria , Simal Susana
Published: April 2023

This work aimed to evaluate the impact of adding two essential oils (EO) from lemongrass (LEO) and Tahiti lime (TLEO) on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of chitosan-based biodegradable films. Six film formulations were prepared: two controls with chitosan concentrations of 1% and 1.5% v/w, two formulations combining the two chitosan concentrations with 1% LEO v/v, and two formulations combining the two chitosan concentrations with 1% TLEO v/v. The films’ morphological, water affinity, barrier, mechanical, and thermal properties were evaluated. The films’ surface showed a heterogeneous morphology without cracks, whereas the cross-section showed a porous-like structure. Adding EO to the films promoted a 35–50% decrease in crystallinity, which was associated with an increase in the elasticity (16–35%) and a decrease in the tensile strength (9.3–29.2 MPa) and Young’s modulus (190–1555 MPa) on the films. Regarding the optical properties, the opacity of the films with TLEO increased up to 500% and 439% for chitosan concentrations of 1% and 1.5%, respectively. While the increase in opacity for the films prepared with LEO was 357% and 187%, the reduction in crystallinity also reduced the resistance of the films to thermal processes, which could be explained by the reduction in the enthalpy of fusion. The thermal degradation of the films using TLEO was higher than those where LEO was used. These results were indicative of the great potential of using TLEO and LEO in biodegradable films. Likewise, this work showed an alternative for adding value to the cultivation of Tahiti lime due to the use of its residues, which is in accordance with the circular economy model. However, it was necessary to deepen the study and the use of these essential oils in the preparation of biodegradable films.
Challenging the Status Quo to Shape Food Systems Transformation from a Nutritional and Food Security Perspective: Second Edition
Authors: Raposo António , Zandonadi Renata Puppin , Botelho Raquel Braz Assunção
Published: April 2023

Access to and choices of food are doubtless beyond the realms of biological and nutritional needs [...]
Polyurethane Foam as a Novel Material for Ochratoxin A Removal in Tea and Herbal Infusions—A Quantitative Approach
Authors: Ponce María del Valle , Cina Mariel , López Carlos , Cerutti Soledad
Published: April 2023

A novel solid-phase extraction methodology followed by UHPLC-MS/MS has been developed for Ochratoxin A (OTA) analysis in herbal infusions. For this purpose, a commercial polyurethane foam (PUF) was used as sorbent, and the experimental conditions were fully optimized. The strategy was satisfactory for reducing the matrix effect and allowed for OTA quantification in black tea and herbal infusions, with suitable recoveries and quantitation limits in agreement with those required by the maximum levels allowed by current regulations. The achieved results demonstrated the unprecedented use of polyurethane foam as an effective alternative for OTA retention and quantification in herbal infusions with the advantages of simple preparation, time saving, sustainability, and low cost for routine analysis.
Effect of Amino Acids on Fusarium oxysporum Growth and Pathogenicity Regulated by TORC1-Tap42 Gene and Related Interaction Protein Analysis
Authors: Deng Yijia , Wang Rundong , Zhang Yuhao , Li Jianrong , Gooneratne Ravi
Published: April 2023

Free amino acids (AAs) formed in fermented meat products are important nitrogen sources for the survival and metabolism of contaminating fungi. These AAs are mainly regulated by the TORC1-Tap42 signaling pathway. Fusarium spp., a common contaminant of fermented products, is a potential threat to food safety. Therefore, there is an urgent need to clarify the effect of different AAs on Fusarium spp. growth and metabolism. This study investigated the effect of 18 AAs on Fusarium oxysporum (Fo17) growth, sporulation, T-2 toxin (T-2) synthesis and Tri5 expression through Tap42 gene regulation. Co-immunoprecipitation and Q Exactive LC-MS/MS methods were used to detect the interacting protein of Tap42 during specific AA treatment. Tap42 positively regulated L-His, L-Ile and L-Tyr absorption for Fo17 colony growth. Acidic (L-Asp, L-Glu) and sulfur-containing (L-Cys, L-Met) AAs significantly inhibited the Fo17 growth which was not regulated by Tap42. The L-Ile and L-Pro addition significantly activated the sporulation of ΔFoTap42. L-His and L-Ser inhibited the sporulation of ΔFoTap42. In T-2 synthesis, ΔFoTap42 was increased in GYM medium, but was markedly inhibited in L-Asp and L-Glu addition groups. Dose–response experiments showed that 10–70 mg/mL of neutral AA (L-Thr) and alkaline AA (L-His) significantly increased the T-2 production and Tri5 expression of Fo17, but Tri5 expression was not activated in ΔFoTap42. Inhibition of T-2 synthesis and Tri5 expression were observed in Fo17 following the addition of 30–70 mg/mL L-Asp. KEGG enrichment pathway analysis demonstrated that interacting proteins of Tap42 were from glycerophospholipid metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and were related to the MAPK and Hippo signaling pathways. This study enhanced our understanding of AA regulation in fermented foods and its effect on Fusarium growth and metabolism, and provided insight into potential ways to control fungal contamination in high-protein fermented foods.
Multi-Element Assessment of Potentially Toxic and Essential Elements in New and Traditional Food Varieties in Sweden
Authors: Kollander Barbro , Rodushkin Ilia , Sundström Birgitta
Published: April 2023

With the global movement toward the consumption of a more sustainable diet that includes a higher proportion of plant-based foods, it is important to determine how such a change could alter the intake of cadmium and other elements, both essential and toxic. In this study, we report on the levels of a wide range of elements in foodstuffs that are both traditional and “new” to the Swedish market. The data were obtained using analytical methods providing very low detection limits and include market basket data for different food groups to provide the general levels in foods consumed in Sweden and to facilitate comparisons among traditional and “new” food items. This dataset could be used to estimate changes in nutritional intake as well as exposure associated with a change in diet. The concentrations of known toxic and essential elements are provided for all the food matrices studied. Moreover, the concentrations of less routinely analyzed elements are available in some matrices. Depending on the food variety, the dataset includes the concentrations of inorganic arsenic and up to 74 elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, W, V, Y, Zn, Zr, rare Earth elements (REEs) (Ce, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ho, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, Tb, Tm, and Yb), platinum group elements (PGEs) (Ir, Os, Pd, Pr, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru, and Pr), and halogens (Br, Cl, and I)). The main focus (and thus the most detailed information on variation within a given food group) is on foods that are currently the largest contributors to dietary cadmium exposure in Sweden, such as pasta, rice, potato products, and different sorts of bread. Additionally, elemental concentrations in selected food varieties regarded as relatively new or “novel” to the Swedish market are provided, including teff flour, chia seeds, algae products, and gluten-free products.
Effects of Light Shading, Fertilization, and Cultivar Type on the Stable Isotope Distribution of Hybrid Rice
Authors: Wadood Syed Abdul , Jiang Yunzhu , Nie Jing , Li Chunlin , Rogers Karyne M. , Liu Hongyan , Zhang Yongzhi , Zhang Weixing , Yuan Yuwei
Published: April 2023

The effect of fertilizer supply and light intensity on the distribution of elemental contents (%C and %N) and light stable isotopes (C, N, H, and O) in different rice fractions (rice husk, brown rice, and polished rice) of two hybrid rice cultivars (maintainer lines You-1B and Zhong-9B) were investigated. Significant variations were observed for δ13C (−31.3 to −28.3‰), δ15N (2.4 to 2.7‰), δ2H (−125.7 to −84.7‰), and δ18O (15.1‰ to 23.7‰) values in different rice fractions among different cultivars. Fertilizer treatments showed a strong association with %N, δ15N, δ2H, and δ18O values while it did not impart any significant variation for the %C and δ13C values. Light intensity levels also showed a significant influence on the isotopic values of different rice fractions. The δ13C values showed a positive correlation with irradiance. The δ2H and δ15N values decreased with an increase in the irradiance. The light intensity levels did not show any significant change for δ18O values in rice fractions. Multivariate ANOVA showed a significant interaction effect of different factors (light intensity, fertilizer concentration, and rice variety) on the isotopic composition of rice fractions. It is concluded that all environmental and cultivation factors mentioned above significantly influenced the isotopic values and should be considered when addressing the authenticity and origin of rice. Furthermore, care should be taken when selecting rice fractions for traceability and authenticity studies since isotopic signatures vary considerably among different rice fractions.
Autoformer-Based Model for Predicting and Assessing Wheat Quality Changes of Pesticide Residues during Storage
Authors: Liu Yingjie , Zhang Qingchuan , Dong Wei , Li Zihan , Liu Tianqi , Wei Wei , Zuo Min
Published: April 2023

Proper grain storage plays a critical role in maintaining food quality. Among a variety of grains, wheat has emerged as one of the most important grain reserves globally due to its short growing period, high yield, and storage resistance. To improve the quality assessment of wheat during storage, this study collected and analyzed monitoring data from more than 20 regions in China, including information on storage environmental parameters and changes in wheat pesticide residue concentrations. Based on these factors, an Autoformer-based model was developed to predict the changes in wheat pesticide residue concentrations during storage. A comprehensive wheat quality assessment index Q was set for the predicted and true values of pesticide residue concentrations, then combined with the K-means++ algorithm to assess the quality of wheat during storage. The results of the study demonstrate that the Autoformer model achieved the optimal prediction results and the smallest error values. The mean absolute error (MAE) and the other four error values are 0.11017, 0.01358, 0.04681, 0.11654, and 0.13005. The findings offer technical assistance and a scientific foundation for enhancing the quality of stored wheat.
Occurrence of Biogenic Amines in Wines from the Central European Region (Zone B) and Evaluation of Their Safety
Authors: Míšková Zuzana , Lorencová Eva , Salek Richardos Nikolaos , Koláčková Tereza , Trávníková Ludmila , Rejdlová Anita , Buňková Leona , Buňka František
Published: April 2023

The decarboxylation of the corresponding amino acids by microorganisms leads to the formation of biogenic amines (BAs). From a toxicological point of view, BAs can cause undesirable physiological effects in sensitive individuals, particularly if their metabolism is blocked or genetically altered. The current study aimed to monitor and evaluate the content of eight biogenic amines (BAs) in 232 samples of wines (white, rosé, red) produced in the Central European region (Zone B). White wines (180 samples), rosé wines (17 samples), and red wines (35 samples) were analyzed. High-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a ultraviolet–visible diode array detector (UV/VIS DAD) was applied to identify and quantify the BAs present in wines. In general, histamine (HIS), tyramine (TYM), putrescine (PUT), cadaverine (CAD), phenylethylamine (PEA), spermine (SPN) and spermidine (SPD) were detected in all tested wine samples. Tryptamine (TRM) was not present in any of the samples examined. In white and red wines, SPD, TYM, and PUT were most often detected. Regarding rosé wines, the three major BAs were SPN, TYM, and CAD. The BA content in red wines was generally higher than in rosé and white wines. However, HIS concentrations above the recommended limit of 10 mg/L were detected in 9% of the red wine samples. In addition, alarming levels of PUT, HIS, TYM, and PEA, with serious potential impact on consumer health, were recorded in two red wine samples. On the whole, the presence and concentrations of BAs in wine should be constantly evaluated, primarily because alcohol intensifies the hazardous effects of BAs.
Evaluation of Temperature Uniformity in a Middle-Refrigerated Truck Loaded with Pig Carcasses
Authors: Bai Hongwu , Zhou Guanghong , Liu Xianjin
Published: April 2023

In this study, we constructed a calculation model to determine the internal temperature field distribution in a medium-sized refrigeration truck with the dimensions of 4.1 m × 2.2 m × 2.2 m. Wind speed, air temperature, and carcass temperature were designated as the initial conditions. The k-ε model of computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate different wind speeds and ventilation duct settings on the carriage. Additionally, under specific boundary conditions, the speed of the air outlet, the types of ventilation ducts, and the carcass loads were all varied to determine the uniformity of the temperature field. The results showed that, when the air outlet speed was 5 m/s, the temperature field in the refrigerated truck was relatively more uniform. The simulated results were in good agreement with the measured results. The average absolute error was 0.35 °C, and the average relative error was 9.23%.
On Some Connections between Negotiating while Fighting and Bargaining between a Buyer and Seller
Authors: Meirowitz Adam
Published: April 2023

We point out an equivalence between a class of games in which players negotiate while fighting and a class of games in which a buyer and seller negotiate over terms. Importantly and perhaps ironically, bargaining before fighting is strategically distinct from bargaining before a change of ownership but bargaining while fighting is equivalent to bargaining before a change of ownership. These connections and intuition from models of bilateral trade help shed light on two mechanisms for learning while frighting: inference based on observing strategic choices and information leakage on the battlefield. Debates on the relative importance of these to mechanism are addressed; some subtle clarifications to extant arguments are provided. Moreover, the importance of learning hard information from the battlefield is connected to work on Coasian Dynamics with information leakage and avenuse for future work relying on advances in behavioral theory are sketched out.
Influence of Different pH Values on Gels Produced from Tea Polyphenols and Low Acyl Gellan Gum
Authors: Zhang Fangyan , Wang Xiangcun , Guo Na , Dai Huanhuan , Wang Yimei , Sun Yiwei , Zhu Guilan
Published: April 2023

To explore the influence of pH values on the properties of a compound system containing tea polyphenols (TPs) and low acyl gellan gum (LGG), the color, texture characteristics, rheological properties, water holding capacity (WHC), and microstructure of the compound system were measured. The results showed that the pH value noticeably affects the color and WHC of compound gels. Gels from pH 3 to 5 were yellow, gels from pH 6 to 7 were light brown, and gels from pH 8 to 9 were dark brown. The hardness decreased and the springiness increased with an increase in pH. The steady shear results showed that the viscosity of the compound gel solutions with different pH values decreased with increasing shear rates, indicating that all of the compound gel solutions were pseudoplastic fluids. The dynamic frequency results showed that the G′ and G″ of the compound gel solutions gradually decreased with increasing pH and that G′ was higher than G″. No phase transition occurred in the gel state under heating or cooling conditions at pH 3, indicating that the pH 3 compound gel solution was elastic. The WHC of the pH 3 compound gel was only 79.97% but the WHC of compound gels pH 6 and pH 7 was almost 100%. The network structure of the gels was dense and stable under acidic conditions. The electrostatic repulsion between the carboxyl groups was shielded by H+ with increasing acidity. The three-dimensional network structure was easily formed by an increase in the interactions of the hydrogen bonds.
Cyclic Steps Created by Flowing Water on Ice Surface
Authors: Wu Zhuyuan , Izumi Norihiro
Published: April 2023

The interface between ice and fluid can become unstable and devolve into cyclic steps bounded by hydraulic jumps. These steps are created by flowing water or wind over the ice surface. This study presents an analytical model to reproduce cyclic steps created by water over the ice surface. We apply four governing equations: the momentum equation, the continuity equation, the heat transfer equation in water, and the energy balance equation (the Stefan equation). After calculation, we can generate the variations in the depth-averaged water temperature, the depth-averaged velocity, and the ice elevation over one step wavelength. We can also understand the cyclic step formation process and how the heat transfer capacity of air and water, and the Froude number in the normal flow condition influence the wavelength. The results of the obtained steps in the analysis are compared with experimental observations to validate our model.
Exploring the Association between Ambient Temperature and Daily Hospital Admissions for Diarrhea in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Kunene Zamantimande , Kapwata Thandi , Mathee Angela , Sweijd Neville , Minakawa Noboru , Naidoo Natasha , Wright Caradee Y.
Published: April 2023

Diarrhea contributes significantly to global morbidity and mortality. There is evidence that diarrhea prevalence is associated with ambient temperature. This study aimed to determine if there was an association between ambient temperature and diarrhea at a rural site in South Africa. Daily diarrheal hospital admissions (2007 to 2016) at two large district hospitals in Mopani district, Limpopo province were compared to average daily temperature and apparent temperature (Tapp, ‘real-feel’ temperature that combined temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed). Linear regression and threshold regression, age-stratified to participants ≤5 years and >5 years old, considered changes in daily admissions by unit °C increase in Tapp. Daily ranges in ambient temperature and Tapp were 2–42 °C and −5–34 °C, respectively. For every 1 °C increase in average daily temperature, there was a 6% increase in hospital admissions for diarrhea for individuals of all ages (95% CI: 0.04–0.08; p < 0.001) and a 4% increase in admissions for individuals older than 5 years (95% CI: 0.02–0.05; p < 0.001). A positive linear relationship between average daily Tapp and all daily diarrheal admissions for children ≤5 years old was not statistically significant (95% CI: −0.00–0.03; p = 0.107). Diarrhea is common in children ≤5 years old, however, is more likely triggered by factors other than temperature/Tapp, while it is likely associated with increased temperature in individuals >5 years old. We are limited by lack of data on confounders and effect modifiers, thus, our findings are exploratory. To fully quantify how temperature affects hospital admission counts for diarrhea, future studies should include socio-economic–demographic factors as well as WASH-related data such as personal hygiene practices and access to clean water.
The Influence of Medicine Approaches on Patient Trust, Satisfaction, and Loyalty
Authors: Sertan Ayşe , Çek Kemal , Öniz Adile , Özgören Murat
Published: April 2023

The increase in traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) methods has revealed the necessity of determining relevant behavioral tendencies among healthcare users. In our study, the evaluation of TCM approaches of healthcare users living in North Cyprus in terms of treatment effectiveness, patient trust and patient satisfaction, and the effects of these variables on patient loyalty, were investigated. Data were collected utilizing the scale approach as well as the survey technique in order to measure the variables in the study. A total of 452 participants completed the survey. TCM has a positive effect on treatment effectiveness, patient trust and patient satisfaction. Patient trust and patient satisfaction have a positive effect on patient loyalty, whereas treatment effectiveness did not have a significant effect on patient loyalty. There is a significant and positive mediating effect of patient trust and patient satisfaction between TCM and patient loyalty. However, the mediating effect of treatment effectiveness is not significant between TCM and patient loyalty. This study will help researchers and practitioners understand the importance of attitude, trust, effectiveness, satisfaction and loyalty in relation to TCM. It is suggested that studies that measure the behaviors of patients should increase in order to obtain better health outcomes.