bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Teaching and Learning Modes on Graduates’ Social and Entrepreneurial Skills Development: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Tecilazić Ana , Ogrizek Biškupić Ivana , Balković Mislav
Published: April 2024

There is a growing interest in researching the impact of different modes of learning and teaching on the non-academic outcomes of graduates, such as their employment outcomes. This study examines the impact of teaching and learning modes on the perceived relevance of study programmes in preparing graduates for career entry and the development of social and entrepreneurial skills in six European countries that participated in the Eurograduate pilot survey: Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Lithuania, Malta, and Norway. The study shows that learning and teaching methods have a modest impact on graduates’ perceptions that their study programmes provide a good foundation for entering professional life. However, it proves that there is a significant relationship emerging between activating teaching and learning modes and the development of graduates’ social and entrepreneurial skills. It, thus, expands on the results of the first European pilot study on the graduate survey and contributes to the current debates in this area.
Graphical Design Approach for UWB Stacked CG LNA Using Inversion Coefficient
Authors: Hamed Ahmed , Ismail Ayman
Published: April 2024

The design of ultra-wide-band (UWB) low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) entails a large number of design challenges and tradeoffs, which include sustaining good input matching over a wide bandwidth along with finding a proper compromise between various LNA performance metrics, such as gain, bandwidth, noise figure, power, and linearity. This paper presents a design approach for UWB LNAs based on the inversion coefficient (IC). The proposed approach is a graphical design approach where the proper operating point is chosen based on predefined constraints. A complete systematic solution is presented for the problem of UWB input matching with a high degree of analytical accuracy. The design approach is illustrated through the design of two UWB stacked common-gate LNAs in 65 nm technology. The post-layout simulation results show very good agreement with analytical expectations. The first LNA achieves an S11 better than −8.2 dB over a 27.6 GHz frequency range, a gain of 12.4 dB over a 16.5 GHz bandwidth, a minimum noise-figure, NF, of 4.5 dB, and an IIP3 of −5.2 dBm while consuming only 530 μW. The second LNA achieves an S11 better than −15 dB over an 8.8 GHz frequency range, a gain of 12.5 dB over a 6.8 GHz bandwidth, a minimum NF of 4 dB, and an IIP3 of −4.3 dBm while consuming only 550 μW.
FPGA-Based Implementation of a Digital Insulin-Glucose Regulator for Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Authors: Di Patrizio Stanchieri Guido , De Marcellis Andrea , Faccio Marco , Palange Elia , Di Ferdinando Mario , Di Gennaro Stefano , Pepe Pierdomenico
Published: April 2024

This paper reports on the hardware implementation of a digital insulin-glucose regulator for type 2 diabetic patients by using a Field Programmable Gate Array board. For a real time-control of the patient insulin concentration, the insulin-regulator needs to measure only his blood glucose concentration. With respect to other reported solutions using general-purpose programmable hardware’s, the proposed insulin-glucose regulator allows to design a software-free, fully-hardware architecture of the system here described in detail. A prototype has been developed so to validate its functionality in the following two operating modes: (i) in the open loop condition for which only the insulin-glucose regulator is operating; (ii) in the closed loop condition for which the insulin-glucose regulator acting as an artificial pancreas is connected to a population of one hundred virtual patients individuated by employing a comprehensive theoretical model recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the pre-clinical validation of glucose control strategies. These virtual patients present the same trend of the variation of the glucose concentration achieving different maximum and minimum values of glucose concentrations when eating a meal. The paper presents and discusses the experimental results by comparing them with those ones obtained by implementing the theoretical model through numerical simulations performed in SIMULINK. Relative errors lower than ±1% have been achieved by performing this comparison so demonstrating a very high accuracy of the proposed insulin-glucose regulator digital system. The implemented hardware solution of the digital controller can process the input data related to the glucose concentration of each virtual patient in about 1.1 μs with an estimated power consumption of about 36 mW. These achievements open the way for further investigations on digital architectures for glucose regulators to be integrated in VLSI as System-on-Chips and/or Lab-on-Chips for portable, wearable, and implantable solutions in real biomedical applications.
Performance Improvements via Peephole Optimization in Dynamic Binary Translation
Authors: Xie Wenbing , Luo Qiaoling , Tian Xue , Huang Junyi , Qi Fengbin
Published: April 2024

The emergence of new instruction set architectures (ISAs) poses challenges in ensuring compatibility with legacy applications. Dynamic binary translation (DBT) serves as a crucial approach for achieving cross-ISA compatibility, enabling legacy applications to run compatibly with cross-ISAs. However, software-based translation encounters significant performance overhead, including substantial memory access and insufficient exploitation of target architecture features. The significant performance overhead challenges hinder the practical implementation of DBT. In this paper, we investigate a novel peephole optimization approach. First, we perform peephole analysis to identify redundant memory access and suboptimal instruction sequences. Next, we leverage live variable analysis to eliminate redundant memory-access instructions. Additionally, we bridge the gaps between cross-ISAs by exploiting ISA-specific features through instruction fusion. Finally, we implement the proposed optimization design using the open-source QEMU and extensively evaluate it on both ARM64 and SW64 platforms. The experimental results reveal that SPEC2006 benchmark effectively gets a maximum performance speedup of 1.52×, alongside a reduction in code size of up to 13.98%. These results affirm the effectiveness of our optimization approach in DBT performance and code sizes.
Asynchronous Privacy-Preservation Federated Learning Method for Mobile Edge Network in Industrial Internet of Things Ecosystem
Authors: Odeh John Owoicho , Yang Xiaolong , Nwakanma Cosmas Ifeanyi , Dhelim Sahraoui
Published: April 2024

The typical industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) network system relies on a real-time data upload for timely processing. However, the incidence of device heterogeneity, high network latency, or a malicious central server during transmission has a propensity for privacy leakage or loss of model accuracy. Federated learning comes in handy, as the edge server requires less time and enables local data processing to reduce the delay to the data upload. It allows neighboring edge nodes to share data while maintaining data privacy and confidentiality. However, this can be challenged by a network disruption making edge nodes or sensors go offline or experience an alteration in the learning process, thereby exposing the already transmitted model to a malicious server that eavesdrops on the channel, intercepts the model in transit, and gleans the information, evading the privacy of the model within the network. To mitigate this effect, this paper proposes asynchronous privacy-preservation federated learning for mobile edge networks in the IIoT ecosystem (APPFL-MEN) that incorporates the iteration model design update strategy (IMDUS) scheme, enabling the edge server to share more real-time model updates with online nodes and less data sharing with offline nodes, without exposing the privacy of the data to a malicious node or a hack. In addition, it adopts a double-weight modification strategy during communication between the edge node and the edge server or gateway for an enhanced model training process. Furthermore, it allows a convergence boosting process, resulting in a less error-prone, secured global model. The performance evaluation with numerical results shows good accuracy, efficiency, and lower bandwidth usage by APPFL-MEN while preserving model privacy compared to state-of-the-art methods.
A Fusion Adaptive Cubature Kalman Filter Approach for False Data Injection Attack Detection of DC Microgrids
Authors: Wu Po , Zhang Jiangnan , Luo Shengyao , Song Yanlou , Zhang Jiawei , Wang Yi
Published: April 2024

With the widespread application of information technology in microgrids, microgrids are evolving into a class of power cyber–physical systems (CPSs) that are deeply integrated with physical and information systems. Due to the high dependence of microgrids’ distributed cooperative control on real-time communication and system state information, they are increasingly susceptible to false data injection attacks (FDIAs). To deal with this issue, in this paper, a novel false data injection attack detection method for direct-current microgrids (DC MGs) was proposed, based on fusion adaptive cubature Kalman filter (FACKF) approach. Firstly, a DC MG model with false data injection attack is established, and the system under attack is analyzed. Subsequently, an FACKF approach is proposed to detect attacks, capable of accurately identifying the attacks on the DC MG and determining the measurement units injected with false data. Finally, simulation validations were conducted under various DC MG model conditions. The extensive simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method surpasses traditional CKF detection methods in accuracy and effectiveness across different conditions.
A Proportional-Integral-Resonant Current Control Strategy for a Wind-Driven Brushless Doubly Fed Generator during Network Unbalance
Authors: Cai Defu , Liu Haiguang , Hu Sheng , Sun Guanqun , Wang Erxi , Tang Jinrui
Published: April 2024

This article proposes a proportional-integral-resonant (PIR) current control strategy for a wind-driven brushless doubly fed generator (WDBDFG) during network unbalance. Firstly, four control objectives of WDBDFG, including eliminating unbalanced currents of power winding (PW), pulsations of control winding (CW) currents, torque, and PW power, are discussed and different from current controls in which the references to PW currents were computed; the CW current references are derived here. Then, an improved CW current controller using a PIR controller is proposed to achieve different control objectives. In contrast with current controls, CW currents are not involved with sequence extraction in the proposed control and can be totally regulated only in a positive synchronous reference frame. Hence, the system control structure is greatly simplified, and dynamic characteristics are improved. Furthermore, in order to obtain completely decoupled control of current and average power, feedforward control, considering all the couplings and perturbances, is also applied in CW current loops. Simulation results for a 2 MW grid-connected WDBDFG show that the proposed control is capable of achieving four control objectives, including canceling CW current distortion, PW current unbalance, pulsations of PW active power or pulsations of reactive power, and machine torque. Its dynamic process is much more smoothly and quickly than that of current controls, and therefore the proposed control has better dynamic control characteristics during network unbalance.
Plant Adaptation to Extreme Environments in Drylands—Series II: Studies from Northwest China
Authors: Yang Xiao-Dong , Li Sai-Qiang , Lv Guang-Hui , Wu Nai-Cheng , Gong Xue-Wei
Published: April 2024

Arid and semi-arid lands cover more than one-third of the Earth’s terrestrial area [...]
Wood Basic Density in Large Trees: Impacts on Biomass Estimates in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Romero Flora Magdaline Benitez , de Nazaré Oliveira Novais Thais , Jacovine Laércio Antônio Gonçalves , Bezerra Eronildo Braga , de Castro Lopes Rosana Barbosa , de Holanda Juliana Sousa , Reyna Edi Flores , Fearnside Philip Martin
Published: April 2024

Wood basic density (WD) plays a crucial role in estimating forest biomass; moreover, improving wood-density estimates is needed to reduce uncertainties in the estimates of tropical forest biomass and carbon stocks. Understanding variations in this density along the tree trunk and its impact on biomass estimates is underexplored in the literature. In this study, the vertical variability of WD was assessed along the stems of large trees that had a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 50 cm from a dense ombrophilous forest on terra firme (unflooded uplands) in Acre, Brazil. A total of 224 trees were sampled, including 20 species, classified by wood type. The average WD along the stem was determined by the ratio of oven-dry mass to saturated volume. Five models were tested, including linear and nonlinear ones, to fit equations for WD, selecting the best model. The variation among species was notable, ranging from 0.288 g cm−3 (Ceiba pentandra, L., Gaertn) to 0.825 g cm−3 (Handroanthus serratifolius, Vahl., S. Grose), with an average of 0.560 g cm−3 (±0.164, standard deviation). Significant variation was observed among individuals, such as in Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (H. ex D.), which ranged from 0.305 to 0.655 g cm−3. WD was classified as low (≤0.40 g cm−3), medium (0.41–0.60 g cm−3), and high (≥0.61 g cm−3). The variability in WD along the stem differs by wood type. In trees with low-density wood, density shows irregular variation but tends to increase along the stem, whereas it decreases in species with medium- and high-density wood. The variation in WD along the stem can lead to underestimations or overestimations, not only in individual trees and species but also in total stocks when estimating forest biomass. Not considering this systematic bias results in significant errors, especially in extrapolations to vast areas, such as the Amazon.
A Fish-Based Tool for the Quality Assessment of Portuguese Large Rivers
Authors: Faro António Tovar , Ferreira Maria Teresa , Oliveira João Manuel
Published: April 2024

Multimetric indices play a pivotal role in assessing river ecological quality, aligning with the European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) requirements. However, indices developed specifically for large rivers are uncommon. Our objective was to develop a fish-based tool specifically tailored to assess the ecological quality in Portuguese large rivers. Data were collected from seven sites in each of three Portuguese large rivers (Minho, Guadiana, and Tagus). Each site was classified using an environmental disturbance score, combining different pressure types, such as water chemistry, land use, and hydromorphological alterations. The Fish-based Multimetric Index for Portuguese Large Rivers (F-MMIP-LR) comprises four metrics: % native lithophilic individuals; % alien individuals; % migrant individuals; and % freshwater native individuals, representing compositional, reproductive, and migratory guilds. The index showed good performance in separating least- and most-disturbed sites. Least-disturbed sites were rated ‘high’ or ‘good’ by F-MMIP-LR, contrasting with no such classification for most-disturbed sites, highlighting index robustness. The three rivers presented a wide range of F-MMIP-LR values across the gradient of ‘bad’ to ‘high’, indicating that, on a large spatial extent, the biological condition was substantially altered. The F-MMIP-LR provides vital information for managers and decision-makers, guiding restoration efforts and strengthening conservation initiatives in line with the WFD.
Effect of Ball-Milling Treatment Combined with Glycosylation on the Structure and Functional Properties of Litopenaeus vannamei Protein
Authors: Wang Dan , Liu Yangliu , Guo Mingzhu , Sun Jilu
Published: April 2024

Litopenaeus vannamei protein (LVP) is a high-quality protein. However, its functional properties do not fully meet the needs of food processing. In this study, LVP-xylose conjugates were prepared by conventional wet heat method (GLVP) and ball-milling-assisted wet heat method (GBLVP), respectively. The changes in structure and functional properties of the glycosylated LVP were explored. The findings revealed that ball-milling pretreatment increased the grafting degree to 35.21%. GBLVP had a sparser surface structure and lower particle size than GLVP. FTIR spectra showed that xylose was grafted onto LVP successfully and GBLVP had the lowest α-helix content. Compared with GLVP, GBLVP had a decrease in intrinsic fluorescence intensity and surface hydrophobicity, and an increase in UV absorption intensity. Moreover, GBLVP had higher foaming capacity, solubility and water-holding capacity, and lower allergenicity than GLVP. However, ball-milling pretreatment had a negative impact on the vitro digestibility and oil-holding capacity of GBLVP. In conclusion, ball-milling-assisted treatment of glycosylation could effectively improve the functional properties of LVP, benefiting the broader application of LVP in the food industry.
Bacterial Metabarcoding of Raw Palm Sap Samples from Bangladesh with Nanopore Sequencing
Authors: Ábrahám Ágota , Islam Md. Nurul , Gazdag Zoltán , Khan Shahneaz Ali , Chowdhury Sharmin , Kemenesi Gábor , Akter Sazeda
Published: April 2024

The traditional practice of harvesting and processing raw date palm sap is not only culturally significant but also provides an essential nutritional source in South Asia. However, the potential for bacterial or viral contamination from animals and environmental sources during its collection remains a serious and insufficiently studied risk. Implementing improved food safety measures and collection techniques could mitigate the risk of these infections. Additionally, the adoption of advanced food analytical methods offers the potential to identify pathogens and uncover the natural bacterial diversity of these products. The advancement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, particularly nanopore sequencing, offers a rapid and highly mobile solution. In this study, we employed nanopore sequencing for the bacterial metabarcoding of a set of raw date palm sap samples collected without protective coverage against animals in Bangladesh in 2021. We identified several bacterial species with importance in the natural fermentation of the product and demonstrated the feasibility of this NGS method in the surveillance of raw palm sap products. We revealed two fermentation directions dominated by either Leuconostoc species or Lactococcus species in these products at the first 6 h from harvest, along with opportunistic human pathogens in the background, represented with lower abundance. Plant pathogens, bacteria with the potential for opportunistic human infection and the sequences of the Exiguobacterium genus are also described, and their potential role is discussed. In this study, we demonstrate the potential of mobile laboratory solutions for food safety purposes in low-resource areas.
Proteomic Profile of Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Products as Influenced by Protein Concentration Method and Cultivar
Authors: Jarošová Markéta , Roudnický Pavel , Bárta Jan , Zdráhal Zbyněk , Bártová Veronika , Stupková Adéla , Lorenc František , Bjelková Marie , Kyselka Jan , Jarošová Eva , Bedrníček Jan , Bohatá Andrea
Published: April 2024

The research is focused on the quantitative evaluation of the flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) proteome at the level of seed cake (SC), fine flour—sieved a fraction below 250 µm (FF)—and protein concentrate (PC). The evaluation was performed on three oilseed flax cultivars (Agriol, Raciol, and Libra) with different levels of α-linolenic acid content using LC-MS/MS (shotgun proteomics) analysis, which was finalized by database searching using the NCBI protein database for Linum usitatissimum and related species. A total of 2560 protein groups (PGs) were identified, and their relative abundance was calculated. A set of 33 quantitatively most significant PGs was selected for further characterization. The selected PGs were divided into four classes—seed storage proteins (11S globulins and conlinins), oleosins, defense- and stress-related proteins, and other major proteins (mainly including enzymes). Seed storage proteins were found to be the most abundant proteins. Specifically, 11S globulins accounted for 41–44% of SC proteins, 40–46% of FF proteins, and 72–84% of PC proteins, depending on the cultivar. Conlinins (2S albumins) were the most abundant in FF, ranging from 10 to 13% (depending on cultivar). The second most important class from the point of relative abundance was oleosins, which were represented in SC and FF in the range of 2.1–3.8%, but only 0.36–1.20% in PC. Surprisingly, a relatively high abundance of chitinase was found in flax products as a protein related to defence and stress reactions.
Evaluation of Dynamic Changes of Volatile Organic Components for Fishmeal during Storage by HS-SPME-GC-MS with PLS-DA
Authors: Geng Jie , Cao Qing , Jiang Shanchen , Huangfu Jixuan , Wang Weixia , Niu Zhiyou
Published: April 2024

Headspace solid-phase microextraction, combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and partial least squares discriminant analysis, was adopted to study the rule of change in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for domestic and imported fishmeal during storage with different freshness grades. The results showed that 318 kinds of VOCs were detected in domestic fishmeal, while 194 VOCs were detected in imported fishmeal. The total relative content of VOCs increased with storage time, among which acids and nitrogen-containing compounds increased significantly, esters and ketones increased slightly, and phenolic and ether compounds were detected only in domestic fishmeal. Regarding the volatile base nitrogen, acid value, pH value, and mold counts as freshness indexes, the freshness indexes were significantly correlated with nine kinds of VOCs (p < 0.05) through the correlation analysis. Among them, volatile base nitrogen had a significant correlation with VOCs containing nitrogen, acid value with VOCs containing carboxyl group and hydrocarbons, pH value with acids which could be used to adjust pH value, and mold counts with part of acids adjusting pH value and VOCs containing nitrogen. Due to the fact that the value of all freshness indexes increased with freshness degradation during storage, based on volatile base nitrogen and acid value, the fishmeal was divided into three freshness grades, superior freshness, corrupting, and completely corrupted. By using partial least squares discriminant analysis, this study revealed the differences in flavor of the domestic and imported fishmeal during storage with different freshness grades, and it identified four common characteristic VOCs, namely ethoxyquinoline, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[e]indole-1,2-dione, hexadecanoic acid, and heptadecane, produced by the fishmeal samples during storage, as well as the characteristic VOCs of fishmeal at each freshness grade.
Isolation and Characterisation of Streptococcus spp. with Human Milk Oligosaccharides Utilization Capacity from Human Milk
Authors: Zhou Ye , Liu Xiaoming , Chen Haiqin , Zhao Jianxin , Zhang Hao , Chen Wei , Yang Bo
Published: April 2024

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) that promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes in infants are abundant in human milk. Streptococcus, one of the dominant genera in human milk microbiota, is also highly prevalent in the infant gut microbiota, possibly due to its adeptness at utilizing HMOs. While previous studies have mainly focused on HMO interactions with gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides spp., the interaction with Streptococcus spp. has not been fully explored. In this study, Streptococcus spp. was isolated from human milk and identified to exhibit extensive capabilities in utilizing HMOs. Their consumption rates of 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), 6′-sialyllactose (6′-SL), and lacto-N-tetraose (LNT) closely matched those of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis ATCC 15697. Furthermore, we assessed the safety-related genes in the genomes of the Streptococcus species capable of utilizing HMOs, revealing potential virulence and resistance genes. In addition, no haemolytic activity was observed. These findings expand the knowledge of metabolic interactions and networks within the microbiota of human milk and the early life human gut.
Purification and Biochemical Characterization of a Novel Fibrinolytic Enzyme from Culture Supernatant of Coprinus comatus
Authors: Wang Jinyu , Liu Xiaolan , Jing Yan , Zheng Xiqun
Published: April 2024

A novel fibrinolytic enzyme was produced by the liquid fermentation of Coprinus comatus. The enzyme was purified from the culture supernatant by hydrophobic interactions, gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatographies. It was purified by 241.02-fold, with a specific activity of 3619 U/mg and a final yield of 10.02%. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the purity of the enzyme, showing a single band with a molecular weight of 19.5 kDa. The first nine amino acids of the N-terminal of the purified enzyme were A-T-Y-T-G-G-S-Q-T. The enzyme exhibited optimal activity at a temperature of 42 °C and pH 7.6. Its activity was significantly improved by Zn2+, K+, Ca2+, Mn2+, and Mg2+ while being inhibited by Fe2+, Fe3+, Al2+, and Ba2+. The activity of the enzyme was completely inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and it was also dose-dependently inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and soy trypsin inhibitor (SBTI). However, inhibitors such as N-α-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), aprotinin, and pepstatin did not significantly affect its activity, suggesting that the enzyme was a serine-like metalloproteinase. The enzyme acted as both a plasmin-like fibrinolytic enzyme and a plasminogen activator, and it also exhibited the capability to hydrolyze fibrinogen and fibrin. In vitro, it demonstrated the ability to dissolve blood clots and exhibit anticoagulant properties. Furthermore, it was found that the enzyme prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT), and reduced the levels of fibrinogen (FIB) and prothrombin activity (PA). Based on these studies, the enzyme has great potential to be developed as a natural agent for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic diseases.
Alginate Cryogels as a Template for the Preparation of Edible Oleogels
Authors: Meseldzija Sladjana , Ruzic Jovana , Spasojevic Jelena , Momcilovic Milan , Moeini Arash , Cabrera-Barjas Gustavo , Nesic Aleksandra
Published: April 2024

A high consumption of solid fats is linked to increased inflammation and a risk of cardiovascular diseases. Hence, in recent years, there has been increasing interest in the development of oleogels as a fat substitute in food products. Oleogels are edible gels that contain a large amount of liquid oils entrapped in a 3D network and that can potentially be applied to spreads, bakery goods, meat, and dairy products in order to lower their saturated fat content while maintaining a desirable food texture and mouthfeel. In this work, alginate cryogels were studied as templates for three different edible oils in the process of oleogel formation. Two different freezing regimes to obtain cryogels were employed in order to evaluate better the textural and morphological capabilities of cryogels to adsorb and retain edible oils. It was shown that rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen produces alginate cryogels with a lower density, higher porosity, and a greater ability to adsorb the tested oils. The highest uptake and holding oil capacity was achieved for olive oil, which reached a value of 792% and 82%, respectively. The best chewiness was found for an oleogel containing olive oil, whereas oleogels with the other two tested oils showed better springiness. Hence, the results presented in this work demonstrated that alginate-based cryogels can be effectively used as templates for oleogels and potentially find applications in the food industry.
Stress Factors for the Paediatric and Adult Palliative Care Multidisciplinary Team and Workplace Wellbeing Solutions
Authors: Popa Maria Valentina , Mîndru Dana Elena , Hizanu (Dumitrache) Mihaela , Gurzu Irina Luciana , Anton-Păduraru Dana Teodora , Ștreangă Violeta , Gurzu Bogdan , Guțu Cristian , Elkan Eva Maria , Duceac Letiția Doina
Published: April 2024

Background: Palliative care is a challenging specialty, especially when it comes to caring for children with serious life-limiting conditions and supporting their families. Workers face significant challenges and experience major impacts on their wellbeing. We conducted a qualitative study to understand the sources of stress in the palliative care team, their work expectations, and how they can cope with the demands. Methods: We used an online questionnaire about the causes of stress, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which support is needed in the workplace. Results: Of the 56 palliative care professionals who participated in the survey, 57.1% considered the main causes of stress to be high workload, difficult emotional burdens (55.4%) affecting their outlook on life (61.2%), the death of patients (46.4%), and communication with patients’ families (26.8%). The COVID-19 pandemic increased stress levels for the majority of respondents (89.3%). The need for specialised training (53.6%), support groups, psychological counselling and adapted organisational policies was highlighted. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the importance of understanding the needs of both paediatric and adult palliative care staff in order to provide optimal care and support their balance in this demanding area of the healthcare system.
Exploring Healthcare Providers’ and Women’s Perspectives of Labor Companionship during Childbirth: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study
Authors: AlKhunaizi Anwar Nader , Al-Otaibi Areej Ghalib , Alharbi Manal F. , Bahari Ghareeb
Published: April 2024

A labor companion of choice during childbirth is crucial for improving women’s birth experience and confidence to give birth. Labor companions provide various benefits, including enhanced communication, emotional support, non-pharmacological pain relief, and better healthcare. However, little is known about the supportive actions of labor companions with respect to women’s needs during labor and birth, as well as healthcare providers’ perceptions of labor companions. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the perceptions of healthcare providers and women regarding labor companions. The study utilized an interpretative phenomenology research design. Data collection involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 14 participants. The sample consisted of mothers, physicians, and nurses, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted for data analysis. Five themes were identified: (a) impact of companionship, (b) benefits for healthcare providers, (c) companion roles, (d) loneliness and alienation of mothers, and (e) challenges of implementation. The findings indicated that the presence of a companion reduces the need for unnecessary medical interventions and eases the workload of healthcare providers. Without a companion, mothers often feel lonely and disconnected during the birthing process. The presence of companions is often hindered by space limitations in delivery rooms, the absence of clear policies, and lack of childbirth education programs for companions. Clear policies, education programs, and adequate space are essential for implementing and promoting labor companionship during childbirth.
The Prediction of Quality of Life by Frailty and Disability among Dutch Community-Dwelling People Aged 75 Years or Older
Authors: Gobbens Robbert J. J. , van der Ploeg Tjeerd
Published: April 2024

The present study aimed to examine the prediction of quality of life by frailty and disability in a baseline sample of 479 Dutch community-dwelling people aged 75 years or older using a follow-up period of 8 years. Regarding frailty, we distinguish between physical, psychological, and social frailty. Concerning physical disability, we distinguish between limitations in performing activities in daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities in daily living (IADL). The Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) and the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (GARS) were used to assess frailty domains and types of disability, respectively. Quality of life was determined by the WHOQOL-BREF containing physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. In our study, 53.9% of participants were woman, and the mean age was 80.3 years (range 75–93). The study showed that psychological frailty predicted four domains of quality of life and physical frailty three. Social frailty was only found to be a significant predictor of social quality of life and environmental quality of life. ADL and IADL disability proved to be the worst predictors. It is recommended that primary healthcare professionals (e.g., general practitioners, district nurses) focus their interventions primarily on factors that can prevent or delay psychological and physical frailty, thereby ensuring that people’s quality of life does not deteriorate.
The Relationship between Lifestyle, Mental Health, and Loneliness in the Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Schütz Daiana Meregalli , Rossi Tainá , de Albuquerque Nathalia Saraiva , Costa Dalton Breno , Machado Jéssica Santos , Fritsch Larissa , Gosmann Natacha , Mastrascusa Raul Costa , Sessegolo Natália , Bottega Vitória Rodrigues , Wearick-Silva Luis Eduardo , Moret-Tatay Carmen , Della Gatta Francesco , Irigaray Tatiana Quarti
Published: April 2024

The study focused on examining the relationship between well-being and various psychological factors such as loneliness, anxiety, depression, and stress, whilst also considering changes in lifestyle. A total of 108 elderly participants, with an average age of 70.38 years, were enrolled in this quantitative cross-sectional study. The research employed a battery of assessment tools including a Sociodemographic Data Questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination, Positive Mental Health Scale, Stress Perception Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale (reduced version), Loneliness Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was conducted in order to understand the distribution of scores across these variables, followed by the categorization of participants based on the reported alterations in eating and physical activity behaviors. Correlations between variables were assessed using Spearman correlation and an EBIC-LASSO network analysis. The findings indicated a potential detriment to the well-being of elderly individuals practicing social distancing, evidenced by heightened symptoms of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and stress, alongside the reported changes in dietary patterns and physical activity. The study underscores the importance of understanding the pandemic’s impact on the well-being of older adults and advocates for longitudinal investigations to delineate the evolving effects of social distancing measures across different phases of the pandemic.
The Impact of Comorbidities among Ethnic Minorities on COVID-19 Severity and Mortality in Canada and the USA: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mac Christina , Cheung Kylem , Alzoubi Tala , Atacan Can , Sehar Hibah , Liyanage Shefali , AlShurman Bara’ Abdallah , Butt Zahid Ahmad
Published: April 2024

(1) Current literature on ethnic minorities, comorbidities, and COVID-19 tends to investigate these factors separately, leaving gaps in our understanding about their interactions. Our review seeks to identify a relationship between ethnicity, comorbidities, and severe COVID-19 outcomes (ICU admission and mortality). We hope to enhance our understanding of the various factors that exacerbate COVID-19 severity and mortality in ethnic minorities in Canada and the USA. (2) All articles were received from PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Ovid EMBASE from November 2020 to June 2022. Included articles contain information regarding comorbidities among ethnic minorities in relation to COVID-19 severity and mortality. (3) A total of 59 articles were included that examined various ethnic groups, including Black/African American, Asian, Hispanic, White/Caucasian, and Indigenous people. We found that the most examined comorbidities were diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. A total of 76.9% of the articles (40 out of 52) found a significant association between different races and COVID-19 mortality, whereas 21.2% of the articles (11 out of 52) did not. (4) COVID-19 ICU admissions and mortality affect various ethnic groups differently, with Black patients generally having the most adverse outcomes. These outcomes may also interact with sex and age, though more research is needed assessing these variables together with ethnicity.
Correction: Elford et al. Identification and Evaluation of Tools Utilised for Measuring Food Provision in Childcare Centres and Primary Schools: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 4096
Authors: Elford Audrey , Gwee Cherice , Veal Maliney , Jani Rati , Sambell Ros , Kashef Shabnam , Love Penelope
Published: April 2024

In the original publication [...]
The Association between Body Mass Index and Glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) in the US Population’s Diabetes Status
Authors: Lin Wenxue
Published: April 2024

Obesity, indicated by Body Mass Index (BMI), is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, its association with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a crucial indicator of blood-sugar control, may vary across different populations and disease statuses. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2018 were analyzed. Participants aged 18–79 years with complete information on BMI, diabetes status, and HbA1c were included (n = 4003). Linear regression models were used to assess the association between BMI and HbA1c, adjusting for demographic confounders, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and healthcare access. Among participants without diabetes, BMI was positively associated with HbA1c levels (coefficient: 0.015, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.02; p-value < 0.05), after adjusting for potential confounders. However, this association was not significant among those with diabetes (coefficient: −0.005, 95% CI: −0.05, 0.04; p-value > 0.1). Our findings suggest a differential relationship between BMI and HbA1c in individuals with and without diabetes. While BMI remains a significant predictor of HbA1c in non-diabetic individuals, its significance diminishes in those with diabetes.
Mechanism of the Pulvinus-Driven Leaf Movement: An Overview
Authors: Zeng Fanwei , Ma Zonghuan , Feng Yongqing , Shao Miao , Li Yanmei , Wang Han , Yang Shangwen , Mao Juan , Chen Baihong
Published: April 2024

Leaf movement is a manifestation of plant response to the changing internal and external environment, aiming to optimize plant growth and development. Leaf movement is usually driven by a specialized motor organ, the pulvinus, and this movement is associated with different changes in volume and expansion on the two sides of the pulvinus. Blue light, auxin, GA, H+-ATPase, K+, Cl−, Ca2+, actin, and aquaporin collectively influence the changes in water flux in the tissue of the extensor and flexor of the pulvinus to establish a turgor pressure difference, thereby controlling leaf movement. However, how these factors regulate the multicellular motility of the pulvinus tissues in a species remains obscure. In addition, model plants such as Medicago truncatula, Mimosa pudica, and Samanea saman have been used to study pulvinus-driven leaf movement, showing a similarity in their pulvinus movement mechanisms. In this review, we summarize past research findings from the three model plants, and using Medicago truncatula as an example, suggest that genes regulating pulvinus movement are also involved in regulating plant growth and development. We also propose a model in which the variation of ion flux and water flux are critical steps to pulvinus movement and highlight questions for future research.
Halogen Bond via an Electrophilic π-Hole on Halogen in Molecules: Does It Exist?
Authors: Varadwaj Pradeep R.
Published: April 2024

This study reveals a new non-covalent interaction called a π-hole halogen bond, which is directional and potentially non-linear compared to its sister analog (σ-hole halogen bond). A π-hole is shown here to be observed on the surface of halogen in halogenated molecules, which can be tempered to display the aptness to form a π-hole halogen bond with a series of electron density-rich sites (Lewis bases) hosted individually by 32 other partner molecules. The [MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ] level characteristics of the π-hole halogen bonds in 33 binary complexes obtained from the charge density approaches (quantum theory of intramolecular atoms, molecular electrostatic surface potential, independent gradient model (IGM-δginter)), intermolecular geometries and energies, and second-order hyperconjugative charge transfer analyses are discussed, which are similar to other non-covalent interactions. That a π-hole can be observed on halogen in halogenated molecules is substantiated by experimentally reported crystals documented in the Cambridge Crystal Structure Database. The importance of the π-hole halogen bond in the design and growth of chemical systems in synthetic chemistry, crystallography, and crystal engineering is yet to be fully explicated.
Modification of Seurat v4 for the Development of a Phase Assignment Tool Able to Distinguish between G2 and Mitotic Cells
Authors: Watson Steven , Porter Harry , Sudbery Ian , Thompson Ruth
Published: April 2024

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) is a rapidly advancing field enabling the characterisation of heterogeneous gene expression profiles within a population. The cell cycle phase is a major contributor to gene expression variance between cells and computational analysis tools have been developed to assign cell cycle phases to cells within scRNAseq datasets. Whilst these tools can be extremely useful, all have the drawback that they classify cells as only G1, S or G2/M. Existing discrete cell phase assignment tools are unable to differentiate between G2 and M and continuous-phase-assignment tools are unable to identify a region corresponding specifically to mitosis in a pseudo-timeline for continuous assignment along the cell cycle. In this study, bulk RNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed genes between mitotic and interphase cells isolated based on phospho-histone H3 expression using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. These gene lists were used to develop a methodology which can distinguish G2 and M phase cells in scRNAseq datasets. The phase assignment tools present in Seurat were modified to allow for cell cycle phase assignment of all stages of the cell cycle to identify a mitotic-specific cell population.
Assessment of the Correlation and Diagnostic Accuracy between Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers: A Comparison of the Lumipulse and Simoa Platforms
Authors: Dakterzada Farida , Cipriani Raffaela , López-Ortega Ricard , Arias Alfonso , Riba-Llena Iolanda , Ruiz-Julián Maria , Huerto Raquel , Tahan Nuria , Matute Carlos , Capetillo-Zarate Estibaliz , Piñol-Ripoll Gerard
Published: April 2024

We compared the clinical and analytical performance of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) plasma biomarkers measured using the single-molecule array (Simoa) and Lumipulse platforms. We quantified the plasma levels of amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), Aβ40, phosphorylated tau (Ptau181), and total tau biomarkers in 81 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 30 with AD, and 16 with non-AD dementia. We found a strong correlation between the Simoa and Lumipulse methods. Concerning the clinical diagnosis, Simoa Ptau181/Aβ42 (AUC 0.739, 95% CI 0.592–0.887) and Lumipulse Aβ42 and Ptau181/Aβ42 (AUC 0.735, 95% CI 0.589–0.882 and AUC 0.733, 95% CI 0.567–0.900) had the highest discriminating power. However, their power was significantly lower than that of CSF Aβ42/Aβ40, as measured by Lumipulse (AUC 0.879, 95% CI 0.766–0.992). Simoa Ptau181 and Lumipulse Ptau181/Aβ42 were the markers most consistent with the CSF Aβ42/Aβ40 status (AUC 0.801, 95% CI 0.712–0.890 vs. AUC 0.870, 95% CI 0.806–0.934, respectively) at the ≥2.127 and ≥0.084 cut-offs, respectively. The performance of the Simoa and Lumipulse plasma AD assays is weaker than that of CSF AD biomarkers. At present, the analysed AD plasma biomarkers may be useful for screening to reduce the number of lumbar punctures in the clinical setting.
Modulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperones and Mutant Protein Degradation in GABRG2(Q390X) Associated with Genetic Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures Plus and Dravet Syndrome
Authors: Poliquin Sarah , Nwosu Gerald , Randhave Karishma , Shen Wangzhen , Flamm Carson , Kang Jing-Qiong
Published: April 2024

A significant number of patients with genetic epilepsy do not obtain seizure freedom, despite developments in new antiseizure drugs, suggesting a need for novel therapeutic approaches. Many genetic epilepsies are associated with misfolded mutant proteins, including GABRG2(Q390X)-associated Dravet syndrome, which we have previously shown to result in intracellular accumulation of mutant GABAA receptor γ2(Q390X) subunit protein. Thus, a potentially promising therapeutic approach is modulation of proteostasis, such as increasing endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD). To that end, we have here identified an ERAD-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase, HRD1, among other ubiquitin ligases, as a strong modulator of wildtype and mutant γ2 subunit expression. Overexpressing HRD1 dose-dependently reduced the γ2(Q390X) subunit. Additionally, we show that zonisamide (ZNS)—an antiseizure drug reported to upregulate HRD1—reduces seizures in the Gabrg2+/Q390X mouse. We propose that a possible mechanism for this effect is a partial rescue of surface trafficking of GABAA receptors, which are otherwise sequestered in the ER due to the dominant-negative effect of the γ2(Q390X) subunit. Furthermore, this partial rescue was not due to changes in ER chaperones BiP and calnexin, as total expression of these chaperones was unchanged in γ2(Q390X) models. Our results here suggest that leveraging the endogenous ERAD pathway may present a potential method to degrade neurotoxic mutant proteins like the γ2(Q390X) subunit. We also demonstrate a pharmacological means of regulating proteostasis, as ZNS alters protein trafficking, providing further support for the use of proteostasis regulators for the treatment of genetic epilepsies.
Unraveling a Small Secreted Peptide SUBPEP3 That Positively Regulates Salt-Stress Tolerance in Pyrus betulifolia
Authors: Xu Chaoran , Xiang Ling , Huang Wenting , Zhang Xiao , Mao Chong , Wu Shuang , Li Tianzhong , Wang Shengyuan , Wang Shengnan
Published: April 2024

Small secreted peptides (SSPs) play important roles in regulating plants’ growth and development in response to external stimulus, but the genes and functions of SSPs in many species are still unknown. Therefore, it is particularly significant to characterize and annotate SSP genes in plant genomes. As a widely used stock of pears, Pyrus betulifolia has strong resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we analyzed the SSPs genes in the genome of P. betulifolia according to their characteristics and homology. A total of 1195 SSP genes were identified, and most of them are signaling molecules. Among these, we identified a new SSP, subtilase peptide 3 (SUBPEP3), which derived from the PA region of preSUBPEP3, increasing the expression level under salt stress. Both adding synthetic peptide SUBPEP3 to the culture medium of pears and the overexpression of SUBPEP3 in tobacco can improve the salt tolerance of plants. In summary, we annotated the SSP genes in the P. betulifolia genome and identified a small secreted peptide SUBPEP3 that regulates the salt tolerance of P. betulifolia, which provides an important theoretical basis for further revealing the function of SSPs.