bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of drifts in the ASDEX upgrade upper open divertor using SOLPS‐ITER
Authors: Paradela Pérez I. , Groth M. , Wischmeier M. , Coster D. , Brida D. , David P. , Silvagni D. , Faitsch M. ,   the ASDEX‐Upgrade Team,   the EUROfusion MST1 Team
Published: April 2020

SOLPS‐ITER L‐mode‐like simulations with the full set of currents and drift velocities activated, and fluid neutrals have been carried out to interpret experimental results obtained in AUG. Drifts are critical to quantitatively reproduce the experimental results; however, simulations without drifts can also reproduce some trends qualitatively. The magnitude and dependence of the peak heat flux onto both targets on the upstream collisionality are, in general, in quantitative agreement within uncertainties with infrared thermography measurements in favourable field direction. The onset of power detachment is observed. In unfavourable toroidal field direction, a more symmetrical inner/outer target solution with regards to the power distribution is predicted, in agreement with experimental observations. However, also in unfavourable toroidal field direction, insufficient power is dissipated in the simulations and therefore qpeak, inn is overpredicted by up to a factor of 4 and qpeak, out by up to a factor of 1.5. The largest contribution to the sources due to radial transport in the energy balance equation is the radial divergence of the energy flux due to VE × B.
Association of bedtime with the risk of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease among middle‐aged and elderly Chinese adults with pre‐diabetes and diabetes
Authors: Hu Chunyan , Zhang Yi , Wang Shuangyuan , Lin Lin , Peng Kui , Du Rui , Qi Hongyan , Zhang Jie , Wang Tiange , Zhao Zhiyun , Li Mian , Xu Yu , Xu Min , Li Donghui , Bi Yufang , Wang Weiqing , Chen Yuhong , Lu Jieli
Published: April 2020

Background

Emerging evidence indicated that sleep characteristics may play important roles in the development of metabolic disorders. However, little is known as to the association between bedtime and the risk of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in individuals with pre‐diabetes and diabetes.

Methods

In a prospective cohort of 10 375 adults aged ≥40 years, 1960 of 3484 eligible pre‐diabetic and diabetic individuals were identified for the current study. NAFLD was diagnosed using liver ultrasonography at baseline and at follow‐up. Information on bedtime was obtained at baseline using a standard questionnaire.

Results

We documented 433 incident cases of NAFLD among this study population. In multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression model, later bedtime was associated with increased risk of NAFLD (29% increased risk per hour of later bedtime). Compared to individuals with bedtime ≤20:00, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of NAFLD for bedtime of 20:00‐22:00 and ≥22:00 were 1.56 (1.04‐2.34) and 2.05 (1.31‐3.20), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, significant associations were observed among those who were overweight or physically inactive, or those with metabolic syndrome or elevated 10‐year risks for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. When estimating the joint effect of bedtime and other sleep characteristics, higher risk of incident NAFLD was observed in groups of late bed/early rise, late bed/napping (yes), late bed/bad sleeper, or late bed/shorter sleep durations.

Conclusions

Later bedtime was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident NAFLD in adults with pre‐diabetes and diabetes, underscoring the importance of sleep behaviour management in the prevention of NAFLD.
The role of noninvasive biomarkers in diagnosis and risk stratification in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Hernandez Roman Jose , Siddiqui Mohammad S.
Published: April 2020

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronically elevated liver enzymes. Diagnosis and risk stratification of NAFLD remains clinically challenge as patients with NAFLD are either asymptomatic or have nonspecific presenting complaints and may have normal liver enzymes. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the clinically aggressive variant of NAFLD, is also difficult to differentiate noninvasively, and a liver biopsy is required to definitively diagnose NASH. Thus, the definitive diagnosis and risk stratification of NAFLD is embedded in histological assessment of the liver. Several clinical aides been investigated in an attempt to risk stratify and identify patients noninvasively as doing a liver biopsy in all patients with NAFLD are not feasible. Since these biomarkers are unable to differentiate NASH from non‐NASH, they have leveraged biochemical changes within the liver as patients progress to varying degree of hepatic fibrosis to identify patients with moderate fibrosis (fibrosis stage 2 or greater) and advanced fibrosis (fibrosis stage 3 or greater) to help guide the need for additional and more definitive workup. These clinical aides span from by‐products of apoptosis to statistical modelling of clinically available data to identify ‘at‐risk’ patients with NAFLD. The current review will focus the diagnostic performance of these noninvasive serum‐based biomarkers in NAFLD.
Global interim guidance on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) during pregnancy and puerperium from FIGO and allied partners: Information for healthcare professionals
Authors: Poon Liona C. , Yang Huixia , Kapur Anil , Melamed Nir , Dao Blami , Divakar Hema , McIntyre H. David , Kihara Anne B. , Ayres‐de‐Campos Diogo , Ferrazzi Enrico M. , Di Renzo Gian Carlo , Hod Moshe
Published: April 2020

In response to the World Health Organization (WHO) statements and international concerns regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak, FIGO has issued comprehensive guidance for the management of pregnant women.
A task offloading optimization strategy in MEC‐based smart cities
Authors: Li Shuangyuan
Published: April 2020

The Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) technology can greatly facilitate the development of smart cities, as a result, MEC‐based smart cities have attracted much attention from some global research communities. In such filed, there is always a non‐negligible challenge, that is, efficient task offloading from mobile devices to edge servers. To this end, this letter proposes a task offloading optimization strategy to make a tradeoff between energy consumption and response time, including the modeling of two sub‐objectives and a heuristic bi‐objective optimization algorithm. The proposed strategy is simulated and the experimental results demonstrate that it is more efficient compared to the the‐state‐of‐the‐art strategy.
Impact of interference aware metrics on iterative multipath routing for industrial WSN
Authors: Maimour Moufida
Published: April 2020

Multipath routing holds a great potential to enhance transmission reliability in Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSN). This may be heavily impeded by the phenomena of interpath interference especially for high data rate applications. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of a set of interference aware metrics on the performance of an iterative multipath routing where paths are built one after the other. A path is chosen based on its estimated interference with already built ones. We consider both active and passive metrics and show that the latter are more preferred in the context of IWSN characterized by their limited resources. Among passive monitoring metrics, we show that the best metric is not necessarily the one that is the most costly to estimate.
Game theory based cooperative caching strategy in information‐centric networking
Authors: Ren Youli
Published: April 2020

Information‐centric networking (ICN) has received much attention from the governments and researcher in recent years thanks to its in‐network caching feature. In this paper, a cooperative ICN caching scheme based on game theory is proposed, where the ICN topology has been partitioned into some domains. For each piece of content in the individual domain, the caching value degree for the local domain as well as the neighboring domains is computed and it is regarded as the key factor of caching decision. In particular, the caching decision aims at minimizing the average delay of obtaining contents. The experimental results show that the novel cooperative caching scheme has higher cache hit rate and lower delay compared with two benchmarks.
Adolescent Learning of Academic Vocabulary in Iceland
Authors: Ólafsdóttir Sigríður , Laster Barbara , K. Stefánsson Kristján
Published: April 2020

The fields of vocabulary instruction, literacy professional development, and global language issues framed this research. Situated in Iceland, the intervention consisted of professional development for 10th‐grade teachers focused on academic words in various subject materials, increasing the learners’ proficiency in using explicit strategies to detect word meanings, and offering learners multimodal ways of working with the vocabulary. There were no significant differences between the participants in the experimental schools (n = 157) and in the control schools (n = 88). There were gains from pretest to posttest in vocabulary and in comprehension, and there were some promising trends that distinguished the experimental group from the control group on the reading comprehension test. The nature, intensity, and length of the professional development offered to the high school teachers and the relatively short time of measurement of student outcomes are suggested explanations of the results.
Improving equitable access to essential medicines: Learning from the experience of pharmacists within Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Authors: Connor Sharon , Forrister Daniel , Karir Veena , Kauffman Yardlee , Sochacki Marisa
Published: April 2020

Two billion people worldwide currently lack access to basic essential medicines. Compounding this challenge, there is also inequity in relation to medication quality, particularly within resource‐constrained settings. Shortages in qualified pharmacy staff exacerbate these problems in poorer countries, with many nongovernmental organizations attempting to fill these gaps. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF; also known as Doctors Without Borders) is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1971 that provides free medical humanitarian care for populations in need. Pharmacists are an integral part of MSF's medical activities and are engaged in multiple functions within the organization. They serve as a liaison between logistics, supply, and medical departments and facilitate delivery of patient care. Moreover, pharmacists ensure that the medication use process is intact from project planning to distribution of medications. Pharmacist aid workers within MSF assume many roles including field worker, project manager, project coordinator, access to essential medicines advocate, and many others. We highlight the work of MSF pharmacists via vignettes, sharing their experiences from countries around the world. Working with MSF is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor; becoming an aid worker in the organization preferably requires prior experience working in resource‐limited settings, as well as humanitarian work experience. The role of the pharmacist within MSF is evolving, with increased emphasis on clinical pharmacy services, rational drug use, and antimicrobial resistance. Pharmacists are essential to humanitarian work in ensuring quality and safety in the care of patients served.
Clinical pharmacy practice in Saudi Arabia: Historical evolution and future perspective
Authors: Badreldin Hisham A. , Alosaimy Sara , Al‐jedai Ahmed
Published: April 2020

Over the past three decades, the pharmacy profession in Saudi Arabia has been evolving steadily in different areas of practice, particularly in clinical pharmacy. This evolution has resulted from the significant advancements made in clinical pharmacy education and training. From an educational perspective, the vast majority of newly established pharmacy schools have adopted the Doctor of Pharmacy degree instead of the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. From a training perspective, there has been a massive expansion in the number of residency training sites. A significant advancement was declared when several Saudi pharmacy schools and residency training programs were able to meet the standards that were set forth and were similar to those available in the United States. This was achieved through certification and accreditation from well‐established accreditation bodies like the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the American Society of Health‐System Pharmacists. Currently, clinical pharmacists in Saudi Arabia have assumed advanced practice roles as a result of these advancements. Hence, there is a need to describe the advancing role of the clinical pharmacy practice model in Saudi Arabia. This paper will review clinical pharmacy education and training, its historical evolution, the current practice model, the challenges, and future perspectives in Saudi Arabia.
Striving for excellence in experiential education
Authors: Boyce Eric G. , Harris Christy S. , Bingham Angela L. , Chan Emily , Chapman Scott A. , Chilbert Maya R. , Dy‐Boarman Eliza , Haines Stuart T. , Heavner Mojdeh S. , Marcus Kristine B. , Smith Susan E. , Strnad Kyle , Yunker Nancy S.
Published: April 2020

High‐quality experiential education builds on didactic education to enable graduates to meet the full spectrum of entry‐level pharmacy‐related roles and responsibilities, including lifelong learning and professional development. The 2019 Educational Affairs Committee A, an ACCP standing committee, was charged to review and update the 2008 ACCP white paper and position statement on quality experiential education. The main objective of this white paper is to provide colleges and schools of pharmacy (C/SOPs) and affiliated partners in experiential education with practices expected to assist in achieving excellence in experiential education and fulfilling the goal of developing fully competent practice‐ and team‐ready pharmacy graduates.
Assertive Ads for Want or Should? It Depends on Consumers’ Power
Authors: Wang Cindy Xin , Zhang Jiao
Published: April 2020

Advertisements using assertive language are commonly seen in marketing communications, yet assertive language has often been shown to be ineffective in communication and even decrease compliance. Recent research began to examine factors that influence the effectiveness of assertive advertising messages, but little research has studied the potential moderating role of consumer‐related factors. The current research fills this gap by investigating the moderating role of consumers’ power. Across five studies, the authors find that for high‐power consumers, assertive ads are effective in promoting want products but ineffective in promoting should products. For low‐power consumers, however, assertive ads are effective in promoting should products but ineffective in promoting want products. Moreover, the authors show that this pattern of results is driven (mediated) by consumers’ perception of the fit between the advertising message and the advertised product. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Mix or Match? Consumer Spending Decisions in Conditional Promotions
Authors: Sokolova Tatiana , Li Yi
Published: April 2020

Conditional multi‐item promotions are a prevalent marketing tactic whereby consumers have to buy a certain number of products to get a discount. This paper examines how framing a multi‐item promotion in terms of savings on multiple items versus a single item (e.g., “buy two, get X% off on both” vs. “buy two, get 2X% off on the cheaper item”) affects consumers’ decision‐making and product choices. Two laboratory studies and a field study at a boutique clothing store demonstrate that the “2X% on cheaper” framing makes consumers more likely to select similarly priced primary and secondary items. This strategy is driven by increased focus on promotional savings under the “2X% on cheaper” framing, which leads consumers to spend more on their secondary items. Overall, this research shows how a subtle change in the framing of multi‐item promotions changes consumers’ product selection strategies and shopping basket composition.
Catalytic activity of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for hydrogen peroxide decomposition: optimization and characterization
Authors: Maharjan Anoth , Dikshit Pritam Kumar , Gupta Arvind , Kim Beom Soo
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

The present study is focused on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). Intrinsic peroxidase mimicking activity of Fe3O4 NPs helps in decomposition of H2O2 for the generation of •OH radicals during the Fenton process. A response surface methodology based central composite design (CCD) method was adopted to optimize five different process parameters: reaction time, temperature, pH, Fe3O4 NP concentration and H2O2 concentration.

RESULTS

CCD‐predicted H2O2 decomposition (%) showed close agreement with the experimental results, confirming the good fit of the experimental data to the model. A maximum H2O2 decomposition of 92.31% was achieved with an initial H2O2 concentration of 31.07 mg L−1, Fe3O4 NPs of 1.34 wt%, pH of 5.29, temperature of 23.1 °C and reaction time of 5.6 min as optimal values. The morphology and structure of Fe3O4 NPs before and after the reaction process were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X–ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.

CONCLUSION

The characterization data showed no significant changes in the structure of Fe3O4 NPs after the reaction compared to the pristine Fe3O4 NPs. The catalytic efficiency of these NPs was found to be in close agreement with other similar materials reported in previous literature. These optimization variables for H2O2 decomposition using Fe3O4 NPs may be useful in designing protocols for practical application at a large scale. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Photochemical degradation of aqueous artificial sweeteners by UV/H2O2 and their biodegradability studies
Authors: Jahani Ramtin , Dhib Ramdhane , Mehrvar Mehrab
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Photochemical degradations of three commonly used artificial sweeteners, namely aspartame (ASP), acesulfame K (ACE), and sucralose (SUC), are studied in multicomponent aqueous systems, and treated through UV/H2O2 process in a recirculating batch reactor. The biodegradation characteristics of the three sweeteners are also investigated both in single and multicomponent aqueous systems through respirometry. The results are used to draw conclusions and recommendations for onsite treatment of industrial wastewaters containing artificial sweeteners.

RESULTS

The effects of the operating temperature and the applied H2O2 dosage are found to be significant on the overall degradation efficiency. An interaction effect between aspartame and sucralose is identified, resulting in a temporary improvement in total organic carbon (TOC) removal in some cases. Respirometric tests confirm that acesulfame K and sucralose are non‐biodegradable, whereas aspartame is readily biodegradable with a 6‐day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand to theoretical oxygen demand (cBOD6/ThOD) ratio of 0.63 ± 0.02.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that activated sludge processes can remove ASP even in the presence of ACE and SUC. The latter two compounds cannot be degraded by activated sludge. Hence, the UV/H2O2 process is a suitable treatment technique for simultaneous removal when all three sweeteners are present in an aqueous matrix. A higher temperature of the wastewater stream may be used as a process variable to reduce oxidant dosing when applicable. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
A mini‐review and recent outlooks on the synthesis and applications of zeolite imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) membranes on polymeric substrate
Authors: Sutrisna Putu Doddy , Prasetya Nicholaus , Himma Nurul Faiqotul , Wenten I Gede
Published: April 2020

Zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF) is one of the subclasses of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that has been widely investigated in the last decade. Among the ZIF members, a particular interest has been devoted to ZIF‐8 due to various factors, such as mild and fast synthesis conditions, framework stability and the right pore aperture to perform various separations. Recently, there has also been growing interest in developing ZIF‐8 as a thin layer membrane on polymeric substrates as they are considerably cheaper than the inorganic ones. This review then discusses recent advances in this field, focusing on various fabrication strategies and promising future applications. The challenges and future perspectives are also discussed with an emphasis on employing this approach in industrial scale. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Separation of bio‐based chemicals using pervaporation
Authors: Li Wenqi , Estager Julien , Monbaliu Jean‐Christophe M , Debecker Damien P , Luis Patricia
Published: April 2020

The increasing demand of raw materials and the ever‐present risk of fossil resource depletion are effective motivators for the development of new bio‐based routes for the synthesis of chemicals. The use of non‐renewable natural resources, such as fossil fuels, and the generation of greenhouse gases have led to severe environmental problems. However, one of the challenges of using renewable biomass resources to produce building block molecules is achieving an efficient and economically viable purification step. The complexity of the mixture involves generally high separation costs. Separation processes, such as distillation and liquid–liquid extraction, have been proposed to purify target bio‐based compounds. However, the high energetic cost associated with such processes is pushing the current research towards the development of alternative solutions. In this context, membrane technology, such as pervaporation, is an interesting solution for minimizing the energy consumption of the process. This review highlights the main parameters and factors that impact the performance of pervaporation in the separation of complex bio‐based chemical mixtures. Coupling effects, which are among the critical issues in pervaporation, are discussed in detail. Hybrid processes, in which both reaction and distillation are performed during the pervaporation process, are also addressed. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Differences in serum proteins in traditional Chinese medicine constitutional population: Analysis and verification
Authors: Tan Fei , Chen Xinyan , Zhang Huihua , Yuan Jiamin , Sun Chen , Xu Fuping , Huang Li , Zhang Xiaoxuan , Guan Huahua , Chen Ziwen , Wang Chen , Fan Shaoyi , Zeng Liling , Ma Xiaoming , Ye Weicheng , He Weitong , Lu Peixia , Petritis Brianne , Huang Ruo-Pan , Yang Zhimin
Published: April 2020

Traditional Chinese medicine assigns individuals into different categories called “constitutions” to help guide the clinical treatment according to subjective physiologic, psychologic analyses, large-scale clinical observations, and epidemiologic studies. To further explore more objective expressions of constitutions, antibody microarrays were used to analyze the serologic protein profiles of two different constitutions, a balanced (or healthy) constitution (BC) and the dampness constitution (DC) comprising phlegm-dampness and damp-heat constitutions. The profiles of changing constitutions across time were also analyzed. Nineteen differentially expressed proteins between the two groups were identified, with known biologic functions involved in immunity and inflammation. This proteomic study may provide a biologic explanation why the BC is different than the dampness constitution.
Management of radiation therapy‐induced vaginal adhesions and stenosis: A New Zealand survey of current practice
Authors: Summerfield Janeane , Leong Aidan
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Vaginal dilation is often indicated as an intervention for the management of radiation therapy‐induced vaginal adhesions and stenosis (RTVAS). However, limited research exists underpinning this intervention and diversity in patient recommendations internationally are reported. In the absence of New Zealand (NZ) national guidelines regarding the management of RTVAS, a survey of NZ radiation therapy departments was conducted to gain an overview of current practice.

Methods

A two‐section online survey was developed to capture RTVAS education and management overview across NZ. Section one focused on departmental resourcing and section two on local standard practice regarding vaginal dilator usage. One RTVAS education representative from each department was invited to complete the survey.

Results

Eight of nine NZ departments completed the survey. Consistent treatment indications were identified for RTVAS patient education with the involvement of diverse staffing groups at various time‐points throughout the treatment process. Protocols for RTVAS management existed in each RT department with staff commonly trained by informal peer observation. Dilator usage was recommended regardless of patient sexual activity. Agreement was shown regarding the recommended start time of dilator usage and frequency. The recommended duration of dilator use post‐treatment varied from 6 months to greater than 36 months.

Conclusions

This work illustrates both concordance and diversity in practice and contributes to the limited body of literature available. Further research is warranted to explore patterns of practice between departmental protocols and individual practitioners in further detail.
Stochastic event set generation for tropical cyclone using machine‐learning approach guided by environmental data
Authors: Bongirwar Vishal
Published: April 2020

Tropical cyclone stochastic eventset is a critical component in any cyclone risk assessment model. In this study, a novel methodology is proposed for the development of basin wide tropical cyclone stochastic eventset. The proposed methodology utilizes the reanalysis data to represent the environmental conditions of cyclones, which in turn governs the cyclone behaviour and variability in space and time. The basic assumption in the proposed methodology is that, given the high correlation between cyclone behaviour and environmental conditions, the cyclone may respond similarly if the environmental conditions are identical. Thus, it is possible to model the response of a cyclone based on identifying a group of events with similar state in history. The state of cyclone at any given instance is defined using cyclone track characteristics and environmental parameters from ocean and atmospheric reanalysis data. The methodology presented herein addresses some key open questions in the stochastic eventset development about capturing the seasonal and spatial variability of cyclone, and modelling of events in historically data sparse region. The k nearest neighbour machine learning algorithm was used to train the track movement, intensification, and inland decay model. The proposed methodology is illustrated through a case study consisting of the development of stochastic event set for South West Pacific basin and compared with historical observations. The methodology introduced in this article represents a step toward a rational approach to capture the seasonality of cyclone; and effective use of environmental information together with machine learning to generate realistic stochastic events.
The phytochemical analysis and pharmacological potentials of husk and straw as paddy waste products
Authors: Murtey Mogana Das , Seeni Azman
Published: April 2020

Rice serves as a staple food for one‐half of the global population. However, rice production, particularly the rice milling process, results in a substantial amount of paddy waste products (e.g. bran, husk and straw) annually. Because the potentials of bran have been extensively explored in prior studies, the present review focuses exclusively on the phytochemical analysis and pharmacological potentials of husk and straw. This comprehensive review establishes a solid foundation for promoting husk and straw as medicinal substances given their promising pharmacological potentials as bioactive compound sources with therapeutic functions. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Screening antagonistic yeasts against citrus green mold and the possible biocontrol mechanisms of Pichia galeiformis (BAF03)
Authors: Chen Ou , Yi Lanhua , Deng Lili , Ruan Changqing , Zeng Kaifang
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Penicillium digitatum is one of the most important pathogens causing citrus green mold, leading to significant economic losses. Traditionally, synthetic fungicides are used to control diseases. However, the side effects of fungicides should not be ignored. Thus, antagonistic yeasts were proposed to be safe and effective alternatives for managing diseases. Orchards are excellent sources of naturally occurring antagonists against pathogens. Therefore, in the present study, antagonistic yeasts obtained from orchards were screened, and the possible biocontrol mechanisms of the most promising yeast were investigated.

RESULTS

Seventy‐eight isolates of yeasts (15 species of 10 genera) were obtained from citrus orchards. In in vitro assays, 16 strains showed antifungal activity against Pichia digitatum and 15 strains showed biocontrol potential against green mold on Olinda oranges. Pichia galeiformis (BAF03) exhibited the best antagonistic activity against P. digitatum during 6 days storage at 25 °C and a good antagonistic activity during 29 days at 4 °C. Pichia galeiformis (BAF03) could colonize and amplify quickly in wounded citrus. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that the citrus wound was colonised by the yeast. A total of eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry The VOCs produced by P. galeiformis (BAF03) efficiently inhibited P. digitatum.

CONCLUSION

Pichia galeiformis (BAF03) isolated from a citrus orchard showed potential to control postharvest green mold of citrus. The possible mechanisms of action likely include competition for space and nutrients as well as production of VOCs.
Recovery and identification bioactive peptides from protein isolate of Spirulina platensis and their in vitro effectiveness against oxidative stress‐induced erythrocyte hemolysis
Authors: Zeng Qiao‐Hui , Wang Jing Jing , Zhang Ying‐Hui , Song Yu‐Qiong , Liang Jing‐Lin , Zhang Xue‐Wu
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Spirulina platensis is recognized as one of the most nutritious foods, containing a high protein content of up to 70%. Meanwhile, he interest in using natural protein resources to develop bioactive peptides is steadily increasing. Therefore, this study released the bioactive peptides from S. platensis by enzymatic hydrolysis using pepsin (1:3000 U g−1), and their amino acid sequences were determined by de novo sequencing. On this basis, the antioxidant activities of synthesized bioactive peptides were comprehensively evaluated by 2,2′‐azinobis‐3‐ethylbenzothiazolin‐6‐sulfonic acid assay, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryhydrazyl assay, and cell hemolysis assay induced by 2,2′‐azobis‐(2‐amidino‐propane) dihydrochloride (AAPH).

RESULTS

The degree of hydrolysis and recovery percentage of pepsin hydrolysis were 172 and 825 g kg–1 respectively, and FFEFF (P1: m/z 736.4, 8%), EYFDALA (P2: m/z 828.4, relative intensity 18.5%), and VTAPAASVAL (P3: m/z 899.5, relative intensity 17.3%) were purified and identified. P2 possessed an excellent radical scavenging activity compared with P1, P3, and vitamin C, which was contributed to by its high β‐sheet conformation and specific amino acid compositions. Moreover, P2 significantly attenuated AAPH‐induced oxidative hemolysis of erythrocytes and protected the erythrocytes, because it reduced the formation of malondialdehyde and increased the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes.

CONCLUSION

This study provided insights into the potential antioxidant function of the synthesized peptides originated from the bioactive peptides of S. platensis proteins, which would contribute to the development of natural antioxidant from new protein resources. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Spray drying and storage of probiotic‐enriched almond milk: probiotic survival and physicochemical properties
Authors: Lipan Leontina , Rusu Bogdan , Sendra Esther , Hernández Francisca , Vázquez‐Araújo Laura , Vodnar Dan Cristian , Carbonell‐Barrachina Ángel A
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

The combination of the nutritional profile of almond milk with the benefits of probiotic bacteria is an interesting development to meet the demand for sustainable and health‐promoting food. Almond milk inoculated with probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum (ATCC8014) was spray dried and the almond, its milk, and powders were characterized physicochemically. Samples were characterized in terms of bacterial survival before and after atomization. Bacterial viability and total fatty acid changes were studied during 8 months’ storage at 4 and 22 °C.

RESULTS

Results showed adequate physicochemical properties and an optimal bacterial survival rate, maintaining almost the same values before and after the spray‐drying operation. A decrease was observed in the cell viability for samples stored at 4 °C. However, the cell count was maintained above the minimum level suggested (107 living cells) to allow potential probiotic functionality for 8 months. On the other hand, the count cell of powders stored at 22 °C was below the minimum level required after 6 months. The fatty acids profile was not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by storage time and temperature.

CONCLUSION

A new almond‐based‐product with probiotics was developed to meet consumer demands. Almond nutrients were recovered from almond milk powder and were found to be a good source of K and high in Mg and in monounsaturated fat. The viability of bacteria was assured during 8 months of storage at 4 °C and up to 6 months for samples stored at 22 °C. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Maternal dietary uridine supplementation reduces diarrhea incidence in piglets by regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier and cytokine profiles
Authors: Wu Xin , Gao Lu‐Min , Liu Yi‐Lin , Xie Chunyan , Cai Lichuang , Xu Kang , Zhou Xi‐Hong
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Nucleotides play an important role in the regulation of cellular energy and protein homeostasis, which facilitate the repair, recovery and repletion of tissue function. This study tested the effects of maternal uridine (UR) supplementation during late pregnancy and lactation of sows on the immune function of the small intestine in neonatal and suckling piglets.

RESULTS

Results showed that compared to the control group, maternal dietary UR supplementation significantly decreased incidence of diarrhea in suckling piglets (P < 0.01); and increased both duodenal and ileal average villus height (P < 0.01) as well as villus height/crypt depth in ileum (P = 0.017) in neonatal piglets. RT‐qPCR results showed that maternal UR supplementation decreased mRNA expression of claudin‐1 in jejunum and ileum of neonatal piglets (P < 0.05), while significantly increased mRNA expression of claudin‐1 in duodenum and jejunum of suckling piglets. Furthermore, in suckling piglets, maternal dietary UR supplementation increased mRNA expression of IL‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐1β in duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05), increased IL‐10 expression in both jejunal and ileal mucosa (P < 0.05) and increased mRNA expression of IKB and TLR4 in ileal mucosa (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that maternal dietary supplementation with UR contributed to reducing incidence of diarrhea by regulating cytokine secretion and intestinal mucosal barrier function in suckling piglets. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Agronomical traits, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in raw and cooked potato tubers growing under saline conditions
Authors: Akrimi Rawaa , Hajlaoui Hichem , Rizzo Valeria , Muratore Giuseppe , Mhamdi Mahmoud
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Potato yields and tuber compositions are linked to mechanisms adopted by plants to cope with salinity and often can change after cooking. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of salinity, variety and cooking method in the composition of potato tubers. Three potato varieties (Spunta, Bellini and Alaska) grown under distinct salt levels (T1: 2.2 ms cm−1 EC, T2: 8.5 ms cm−1 EC before electromagnetic treatment and 6.3 ms cm−1 EC after electromagnetic treatment, T3: 8.5 ms cm−1 EC) were studied. Yield and tuber quality attributes (starch, dry matter, specific density and tuber size) were evaluated. Carotenoids, total and individual phenolics determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), relative antioxidant capacity (RAC) and ions content were analyzed, in both raw and water boiled tubers.

RESULTS

Tuber yield, starch, dry matter, ions and antioxidants were significantly influenced by the salinity level and variety. The least production and the highest antioxidants were obtained under T3. Antioxidants were influenced by cooking method, the interactions treatment × cooking method and variety × cooking method. Individual phenolic compounds exhibited different response to cooking as quercetin, caffeic acid and catechin decreased significantly after boiling. However, coumaric acid increased in Alaska tubers.

CONCLUSION

Salinity level, variety and cooking method are important determinants of tuber yield and composition. Electromagnetic water may be useful to enhance potato production and tuber quality in areas suffering from water salinization. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Non‐hermetic packaging of biomedical microsystems from a materials perspective: A review
Authors: Chong Hao , Majerus Steve J.A. , Bogie Kath M. , Zorman Christian A.
Published: April 2020

The advancement of reliable encapsulation techniques for long‐term implantable biomedical microdevices is of vital importance for the safe and steady operation of implants for chronic applications. Conventional techniques based on titanium or ceramic enclosures, however, cannot meet the packaging requirements of emerging innovations in medical implants due to issues related to scalability, incompatibility with microfabrication processes and challenges with miniaturization. A variety of polymeric materials have been identified for encapsulation of implantable systems, including polyimide, parylene, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). These materials are not as hermetic as conventional metal or ceramic packages nor as widely adopted in regulative licensed devices for long‐term implantation. However, studies have shown promising results regarding their potential for long‐term encapsulation, in particular for devices fabricated on polymeric substrates. This review offers a summary of the encapsulation performance of these emerging polymeric materials with a specific focus on their long‐term performance and quantification of their expected lifetime.
Synthesis and characterization of additive graphene oxide nanoparticles dispersed in water: Experimental and theoretical viscosity prediction of non‐Newtonian nanofluid
Authors: Xu Yang , Nguyen Quyen , Malekahmadi Omid , Hadi Ramin , Jokar Zahra , Mardani Ali , Karimipour Arash , Ranjbarzadeh Ramin , Li Zhixiong , Bach Quang‐Vu
Published: April 2020

Graphene oxide (GO) is a mixture of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. GO sheets used to make tough composite materials, thin films, and membranes. GO‐water nanofluid's rheological behavior was investigated in this research. Various mass fractions: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.5 mg/ml; different temperature ranges: 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C, 45°C, and 50°C; and several shear ranges: 12.23, 24.46, 36.69, 61.15, 73.38, and 122.3 s−1 were studied. X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX), dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS), and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) tests studied to analyze phase and structure. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tests studied for microstructural observation. The stability of nanofluid was checked by the zeta‐potential test. Non‐Newtonian behavior of nanofluid, similar to power‐law model (with power less than one), revealed by results. Also, results showed that viscosity increased by increment of mass fraction, and on the contrary, increment of temperature, caused a decrease in viscosity. Then, to calculate nanofluid's viscosity, a correlation presented 1.88% (for RPM = 10) and 0.56% (for RPM = 100) deviation. Finally, to predict nanofluid's viscosity in other mass fractions and temperatures, an artificial neural network has been modeled by R2 = 0.99. It can be concluded that GO can be used in thermal systems as stable nanofluid with agreeable viscosity.
Grape Extract Activates Brown Adipose Tissue Through Pathway Involving the Regulation of Gut Microbiota and Bile Acid
Authors: Han Xue , Guo Jielong , Yin Manwen , Liu Yiwen , You Yilin , Zhan Jicheng , Huang Weidong
Published: April 2020

Scope

Although the physiological function of grape extract (GE) has long been recognized, the precise mechanism remains obscure. This study is designed to investigate the effects of GE on metabolism and the association between GE activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the restoration of gut microbiota (GM).

Methods and results

Diet‐induced obese mice are used to investigate the function of GE. GE administration increases energy metabolism and prevents obesity. Also, GE restores the dysbiosis of GM by augmenting the observed species, enhancing the Firmicutes‐to‐Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing the abundance of the Bifidobacteria, Akkermansia, and Clostridia genera. This restoration of GM alters the bile acid (BA) pool in the serum. The abundance of Akkermansia, Clostridium, and Bifidobacterium is negatively correlated with the concentrations of TαMCA, TβMCA, and TCA but is positively correlated with DCA. The changes in BA promoted TGR5 in BAT, which contributed to thermogenesis. The metabolites of GE in blood do not stimulate TGR5 in vitro.

Conclusion

GE stimulates the thermogenesis of BAT through a pathway involving the regulation of GM and BA in diet‐induced obese mice. This study reveals the mechanism by which dietary polyphenols promote thermogenesis by regulating BA, which is altered by GM.
Flexible film dosimeter for in vivo dosimetry
Authors: Cho Jin Dong , Son Jaeman , Sung Jiwon , Choi Chang Heon , Kim Jin Sung , Wu Hong‐Gyun , Park Jong Min , Kim Jung‐in
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The aims of this study were to develop a flexible film dosimeter applicable to the irregular surface of a patient for in vivo dosimetry and to evaluate the device’s dosimetric characteristics.

Methods

A flexible film dosimeter with active layers consisting of radiochromic‐sensitive films and flexible silicone materials was constructed. The dose‐response, sensitivity, scanning orientation dependence, energy dependence, and dose rate dependence of the flexible film dosimeter were tested. Irradiated dosimeters were scanned 24 h post‐irradiation, and the region of interest was 5 mm × 5 mm. Biological stability tests ensured the safety of application of the flexible film dosimeter for patients. A preliminary clinical study with the flexible film dosimeter was implemented on four patients.

Results

The red channel demonstrated the highest sensitivity among all channels, and the response sensitivity of the dosimeter decreased with the applied dose, which were the same as the characteristics of GAFCHROMIC EBT3 radiochromic films. The flexible film dosimeter showed no significant energy dependence for photon beams of 6 MV, 6 MV flattening filter‐free (FFF), 10 MV, and 15 MV. The flexible film dosimeter showed no substantial dose rate dependence with 6 or 6 MV FFF. In terms of biological stability, the flexible film dosimeter demonstrated no cytotoxicity, no irritation, and no skin sensitization. In the preliminary clinical study, the dose differences between the measurements with the flexible film dosimeter and calculations with the treatment planning system ranged from −0.1% to 1.2% for all patients.

Conclusions

The dosimeter developed in this study is a flexible film capable of attachment to a curved skin surface. The biological test results indicate the stability of the flexible film dosimeter. The preliminary clinical study showed that the flexible film dosimeter can be successfully applied as an in vivo dosimeter.
Microstructural evolution and mechanical investigation of hot stretched graphene oxide reinforced polyacrylonitrile nanofiber yarns
Authors: Yu Yuxi , Tan Zekai , Zhang Jibin , Liu Guan‐bin
Published: April 2020

To reveal the enhancement effect of graphene oxide (GO) in polymer nanofiber yarns, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/GO nanofibers with different GO content (0.1‐0.5 wt%) were electrospun. The alignment of PAN chains and GO in nanofibers was enhanced by hot stretching of the yarn in dry conditions. The microstructure of the composite nanofiber yarns was investigated through X‐ray diffraction, polarized Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrated that the hot stretching above Tg of PAN precursor lead to the increased orientation‐induced crystallization and alignment of PAN chain and GO. The yarn with 0.1 wt% GO and stretched by 4 times its length obtained the highest strength and modules (310.88 ± 24.68 MPa and 7.24 ± 0.55 GPa), which were 600% and 500% higher than those of the as‐electrospun pure PAN yarn. The most promising tensile properties found in hot stretched yarns with low GO content was because the strong interaction occurred between PAN molecules and oxygen‐containing functional groups. Indirect evidence of GO aggregation was also presented, which adversely affected the mechanical properties at higher GO content. Composite nanofiber yarns were sewable and weavable, and could be used as a new generation of composite reinforcement after pyrolysis.
Beyond Heart Failure and Ischemic Heart Disease: A Scoping Review of Novel Uses of Ivabradine in Adults
Authors: Hellenbart Erika L. , Griffin Tina , DiDomenico Robert J.
Published: April 2020

Ivabradine lowers heart rate by inhibiting the hyperpolarization‐activated current in pacemaker cells, and its use for the treatment of heart failure (HF) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) is well described. Ivabradine may be an attractive treatment option for other conditions for which a reduction in heart rate is desirable but less is known about its role in these settings. The primary objective was to perform a scoping review summarizing the literature evaluating novel uses for ivabradine other than HF and IHD in adults. PubMed and EMBASE were searched for articles for all dates through September 2019. Search strategies combined terms generic, commercial/trade, and international names for ivabradine. Manual search of references was also performed to identify additional articles. Studies were included if they were published in English, evaluated the efficacy of ivabradine for indications other than HF or IHD in patients aged 18 years or older, and the primary outcome included clinically relevant end points. Articles were screened first by title and abstract followed by full‐text screening of the remaining articles. After removal of duplicates, 1807 records were screened for inclusion and 84 studies were included in this scoping review. Novel uses of ivabradine were reported for various tachyarrhythmias, valvular heart disease, premedication for coronary computed tomography angiography, perioperative risk reduction, sepsis with and without multi‐organ dysfunction syndrome, cor pulmonale, reactive airway disease, and erectile dysfunction. This scoping review identified several potential novel uses for ivabradine in adults. This review may help to identify existing gaps where further research is needed to elucidate the role of ivabradine for indications beyond HF and IHD.