bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of kilning on the macronutrient composition profile of three Swedish oat varieties
Authors: Norlander Siri , Dahlgren Lars , Sardari Roya R. R. , Marmon Sofia , Tullberg Cecilia , Nordberg Karlsson Eva , Grey Carl
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives

Kilning is crucial in oat processing, to prevent rancidity and extend shelf‐life. This study examines kilning effects on the macronutrient composition in Swedish oat varieties Galant, Fatima, and Belinda. We compared two kilning methods: one mimicking industrial practice and a simplified version. We analyzed dietary fibers (arabinoxylan, β‐glucan), protein and amino acids, lipid profile, lipase activity, and antioxidant capacity in these oat samples.

Findings

Distinct compositional differences were found: Galant had low lipid content, Fatima had elevated lipid and protein levels with fewer carbohydrates, and Belinda was rich in β‐glucan and dietary fibers. Both kilning procedures had similar impacts on all varieties, causing no major changes in dietary fiber or total protein content, but resulting in a 20% decrease in soluble proteins. Kilning decreased levels of several amino acids in Belinda, while the l‐glutamate/glutamine ratio increased across all varieties. Lipid analysis showed minimal kilning‐induced changes; yet, antioxidative capacity diminished. Both kilning methods effectively inactivated lipases.

Conclusions

These findings emphasize macronutrient variations among oat varieties and the effect of kilning on soluble proteins, amino acids, and antioxidative capacity.

Significance and Novelty

This study underscores the need for precise control in oat processing, crucial in plant‐based protein and novel food development for optimal quality and yield.
Disseminated tuberculosis presented with explicit hypercalcemia: A clinical case report
Authors: Dehghan Manshadi Seyed Ali , Shafiee Nahid , Piri Seyed Mohammad , Naghavi Erfan , Moradi Maryam
Published: February 2024

Key Clinical Message

Tuberculosis (TB) is a rare but known reason for hypercalcemia usually in those with underlying conditions such as renal failure, diabetes, or severe anemia. It is essential to consider TB in those with refractory or resistant hypercalcemia.

Hypercalcemia or a calcium level above 10.5 mg/dL can be a manifestation of TB that only became symptomatic in a small percentage of the patients. Patients with underlying diseases such as renal failure are more prone to poor prognosis. It is essential to use anti‐TB drugs besides hypercalcemia standard treatment to maintain a normal calcium level in TB‐related hypercalcemia. In thisstudy, we have presented a young adult with disseminated TB and persistent hypercalcemia who responded finally to anti‐TB drugs.
Recent Advances in Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin‐Derived Phenolics over Metal‐Zeolite Bifunctional Catalysts
Authors: He Ping , Li Lin , Shao Yuanchao , Yi Qisong , Liu Zhifeng , Geng Huawei , Liu Yuanshuai , Valtchev Valentin
Published: February 2024

The hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction provides a promising catalytic strategy to remove oxygen in biomass‐derived bio‐oil to produce renewable transportation fuels and value‐added chemicals. The development of highly efficient and stable HDO catalysts plays an essential role in biomass valorization. Metal‐zeolite bifunctional catalysts have been well‐developed as the effective HDO catalysts in upgrading lignin‐derived phenolics due to their excellent activity, selectivity, and thermal and hydrothermal stability. However, clarifying the roles of the active sites and their synergistic effect, and establishing effective structure‐performance relationships in the HDO process still face challenges. In this review, we first survey the conventional catalysts applied in the HDO of bio‐oil, followed by thoroughly discussing the roles of metal centers, acid sites, supports, and their impacts on the HDO process of phenolic model compounds or bio‐oil. Finally, a discussion on the stability and deactivation of metal‐zeolite catalysts, especially in the aqueous‐phase HDO reaction, is provided. This critical review offers new insights into the development of state‐of‐the‐art metal‐zeolite bifunctional catalysts with well‐defined porosity and metal‐acid properties for viable biomass valorization.
A Structure‐Activity Relationship Study of Amino Acid Derivatives of Pterostilbene Analogues Toward Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Cordella Fabiana , Dragone Nicola , D'Orsi Rosarita , Saponaro Concetta , Vergara Daniele , Lessi Marco , Angelici Gaetano
Published: February 2024

Pterostilbene is the dimethylated analogue of Resveratrol, a compound with well‐known biological activities, such as antioxidant, chemopreventive, anti‐diabetic, anti‐obesity, and cardioprotective. Despite many studies on the general effect of such polyphenolic molecules and their derivatives, a deep comprehension of their action and systematic structure‐activity relationship studies are still rare. Herein, three different analogues of functionalizable Pterostilbene were efficiently synthesized and derivatized with a selected library of antioxidant amino acids, allowing for a highly diversified exploration of the chemical space. The library was analyzed towards cancer cells. Collectively, our data demonstrated the enhanced anti‐proliferative activity of Tryptophan‐conjugated compounds. In breast cancer cells, the treatment with Tryptophan‐conjugated analogues induced the activation of cellular stress pathways, including autophagy signaling.
Physical activity and pain in people with and without cancer
Authors: Swain Christopher T. V. , Masters Matthew , Lynch Brigid M. , Patel Alpa V. , Rees‐Punia Erika
Published: February 2024

Background

Performing physical activity may provide analgesic benefit, although this effect is more established for noncancer pain rather than cancer pain. The relationship between physical activity and pain outcomes in adults with and without a history of cancer was examined.

Methods

Totals of 51,439 adults without a cancer history and 10,651 adults with a cancer history from the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort were included. Exposures included self‐reported moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as 2‐year change in MVPA. Pain outcomes included pain intensity (primary outcome) and analgesic use (secondary outcome).

Results

MVPA was inversely associated with pain intensity for adults with (odds ratio [OR], 0.84 [≥15 metabolic equivalent of task (MET) h/week vs. <7.5 MET h/week]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–0.93) and without (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.75–0.82) a history of cancer. Compared to remaining inactive, participants who became sufficiently active (cancer: OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.68–0.86; no cancer: OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.69–0.77), became inactive (cancer: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71–0.88; no cancer: OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.80–0.89), or remained sufficiently active (cancer: OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.60–0.72; no cancer: OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.60–0.65) also reported less pain. Physical activity was not related to analgesic use.

Conclusions

The relationship between physical activity and pain intensity was not substantially different between people with and without a history of cancer. Cancer survivors who perform more activity, or who increase their activity, may experience less pain than cancer survivors who consistently perform less.

Plain language summary

People who have had cancer often experience ongoing pain.

Being physically active may help reduce the intensity of the pain they experience.
Near‐infrared Light‐Induced Polymerizations: Mechanisms and Applications
Authors: Qiu Feng , Gong Jiao , Tong Gangsheng , Han Sheng , Zhuang Xiaodong , Zhu Xinyuan
Published: February 2024

Photopolymerizations have garnered significant attention in polymer science due to their low polymerization temperature, high production efficiency, environmental friendliness, and spatial controllability. Despite these merits, the poor penetration and severe chemical damage from ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) light resources pose significant barriers to their success in conventional photopolymerizations. A recent breakthrough involving the utilization of near‐infrared (NIR) laser with long wavelength has been exploited for diverse applications. With the combination of a NIR photosensitizer (PS), NIR‐induced photopolymerizations have been successfully developed to alleviate the challenges in conventional methods. The enhancement of penetration depth and safety of NIR‐induced photopolymerizations can contribute significantly to improving the efficiency of polymerization for production of intricate structures across various scales. In this concept, the typical types of PSs and polymerization mechanisms (PMs) within the NIR‐induced photopolymerization systems have been classified in detail. Additionally, the applications of various polymers achieved by NIR‐induced photopolymerizations are summarized. Furthermore, research directions and future challenges of this field are also discussed comprehensively.
Model‐Based Prediction of Irinotecan‐Induced Grade 4 Neutropenia in Cancer Patients: Influence of Incorporating Germline Genetic Factors in the Model
Authors: Karas Spinel , Mathijssen Ron H. J. , van Schaik Ron H. N. , Forrest Alan , Wiltshire Tim , Bies Robert R. , Innocenti Federico
Published: February 2024

Neutropenia is the major dose‐limiting toxicity of irinotecan‐based therapy. The objective of this study was to assess whether inclusion of germline genetic variants into a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model can improve prediction of irinotecan‐induced grade 4 neutropenia and identify novel variants of clinical value. A semimechanistic population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model was used to predict neutrophil response over time in 197 patients receiving irinotecan. Covariate analysis was performed for demographic/clinical factors and 4,781 genetic variants in 84 drug response‐ and toxicity‐related genes to identify covariates associated with neutrophil response. We evaluated the predictive value of the model for grade 4 neutropenia reflecting different clinical scenarios of available data on identified demographic/clinical covariates, baseline and post‐treatment absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs), individual pharmacokinetics, and germline genetic variation. Adding 8 genetic identified covariates (rs10929302 (UGT1A1), rs1042482 (DPYD), rs2859101 (HLA‐DQB3), rs61754806 (NR3C1), rs9266271 (HLA‐B), rs7294 (VKORC1), rs1051713 (ALOX5), and ABCB1 rare variant burden) to a model using only baseline ANCs improved prediction of irinotecan‐induced grade 4 neutropenia from area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC‐ROC) of 50–64% (95% confidence interval (CI), 54–74%). Individual pharmacokinetics further improved the prediction to 74% (95% CI, 64–84%). When weekly ANC was available, the identified covariates and individual pharmacokinetics yielded no additional contribution to the prediction. The model including only ANCs at baseline and at week 1 achieved an AUC‐ROC of 78% (95% CI, 69–88%). Germline DNA genetic variants may contribute to the prediction of irinotecan‐induced grade 4 neutropenia when incorporated into a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model. This approach is generalizable to drugs that induce neutropenia and ultimately allows for personalized intervention to enhance patient safety.
Air powder waterjet technology using erythritol or glycine powders in periodontal or peri‐implant prophylaxis and therapy: A consensus report of an expert meeting
Authors: Liu Chun Ching , Dixit Neha , Hatz Christian R. , Janson Tobias M. , Bastendorf Klaus‐Dieter , Belibasakis Georgios N. , Cosgarea Raluca , Karoussis Ioannis K. , Mensi Magda , O'Neill Jessica , Spahr Axel , Stavropoulos Andreas , Schmidlin Patrick R.
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To attain a collective expert opinion on the use of air powder waterjet technology (APWT) with erythritol and glycine powders in the prophylaxis and therapy of periodontal and peri‐implant diseases.

Material and Methods

In the first step, a modified one‐round online Delphi survey including 44 five‐point Likert scale questions was conducted among a group of 10 expert clinicians and researchers with thorough knowledge and experience in this topic. In the second step, the single questions and the survey results were discussed during a meeting, and consensus statements were formulated, respectively.

Results

An agreement was reached on most items, especially opinions supporting glycine and erythritol powders as favorable with respect to efficiency, safety, and comfort. More scientific evidence is needed to support the improvement in clinical attachment on teeth and implants, especially when APWT with erythritol is used. In addition, APWT needs more long‐term evaluation and studies in terms of microbiome/microbiological effects as well as effects on the inflammatory response on natural teeth and implants, also in light of a guided biofilm therapy concept.

Conclusions

In line with the expert opinions and supported by the evidence, it was concluded that the use of APWT with erythritol and glycine powders in nonsurgical periodontal and peri‐implant therapy and prophylaxis is patient compliant and efficient.
Intercropping in maize silage versus solo‐seeding for alfalfa establishment in Wisconsin and Idaho
Authors: Grabber John H. , Bjorneberg David L. , Rogers Christopher W.
Published: February 2024

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) intercropping with maize (Zea mays L.) silage is being developed in the northern United States to improve the profitability and environmental sustainability of forage production. This study, conducted under rainfed conditions in Wisconsin and semiarid irrigated conditions in Idaho, compared the establishment of alfalfa and dry matter yield of four intercropping systems to three conventional systems. The former systems included alfalfa interseeded at planting or the vegetative emergence (VE) stage of maize and grown with or without prohexadione growth retardant. The latter systems included alfalfa seeded in spring, summer‐seeded after barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), or late summer‐seeded after maize silage. Spring seeded and interseeded alfalfa in Wisconsin also received foliar fungicide and insecticide during establishment. During alfalfa establishment, yield of intercropped maize silage was 1.8‐ to 4.4‐fold greater than spring‐seeded alfalfa. Compared to spring‐seeded alfalfa, interseeded alfalfa had similar or somewhat lower stand density but similar first cut yield the following year, provided that intercropped maize was harvested near September 1 to allow ample alfalfa fall regrowth. Shifting interseeding from maize planting to the VE stage decreased early‐season alfalfa growth, but improved maize silage yield, with minor effects on alfalfa fall growth, stand density, and first cut yield. Prohexadione application had little impact on establishment or yield of interseeded alfalfa. While having high plant density, alfalfa seeded after barley or especially maize had less fall growth and low first cut yield. Overall, alfalfa establishment and yield of intercropping systems compared favorably with conventional systems.
Single open‐phase fault detection and tolerant control for wye‐connected three‐phase induction machine drives
Authors: Saffar Esmaeil , Ghanbari Mahmood , Ebrahimi Reza
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes open‐phase fault detection (FD) and tolerant control strategies for wye‐connected three‐phase induction machines (WCTPIMs). The FD mechanism is based on the comparison between predicted and actual values of stator currents, and the control approach is derived from the field‐oriented control (FOC). In the proposed fault‐tolerant control (FTC) method, an asymmetrical current transformation is used for stator current components, and the conventional symmetrical voltage transformation is employed for stator voltage components. It is shown that using these transformations, a modified FOC can be employed for the faulty WCTPIM. The suggested scheme is able to control WCTPIM drives under normal and single open‐phase fault (SOPF) modes with minor adjustments. Experimental results achieved from a laboratory prototype confirm the possibility and good performance of the proposed open‐phase FD and tolerant control for the WCTPIM under different operating conditions.
Neurofilament light chain concentration mediates the association between regional medial temporal lobe structure and memory in adults with Down syndrome
Authors: DiProspero Natalie , Sathishkumar Mithra , Janecek John , Smith Anna , McMillan Liv , Petersen Melissa , Tustison Nicholas , Keator David B. , Doran Eric , Hom Christy L. , Nguyen Dana , Andrews Howard , Krinsky‐McHale Sharon , Brickman Adam M. , Rosas H. Diana , Lai Florence , Head Elizabeth , Mapstone Mark , Silverman Wayne , Lott Ira T. , O'Bryant Sid , Yassa Michael A.
Published: February 2024

INTRODUCTION

Virtually all people with Down syndrome (DS) develop neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Atrophy of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (EC), as well as elevated plasma concentrations of neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein, are markers of neurodegeneration associated with late‐onset AD. We hypothesized that hippocampus and EC gray matter loss and increased plasma NfL concentrations are associated with memory in adults with DS.

METHODS

T1‐weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were collected from 101 participants with DS. Hippocampus and EC volume, as well as EC subregional cortical thickness, were derived. In a subset of participants, plasma NfL concentrations and modified Cued Recall Test scores were obtained. Partial correlation and mediation were used to test relationships between medial temporal lobe (MTL) atrophy, plasma NfL, and episodic memory.

RESULTS

Hippocampus volume, left anterolateral EC (alEC) thickness, and plasma NfL were correlated with each other and were associated with memory. Plasma NfL mediated the relationship between left alEC thickness and memory as well as hippocampus volume and memory.

DISCUSSION

The relationship between MTL gray matter and memory is mediated by plasma NfL levels, suggesting a link between neurodegenerative processes underlying axonal injury and frank gray matter loss in key structures supporting episodic memory in people with DS.
Low diversity and abundance of predatory fishes in a peripheral coral reef ecosystem
Authors: Williams Collin T. , Garzon Francesco , Cochran Jesse E. M. , Tanabe Lyndsey K. , Hawkes Lucy A. , McIvor Ashlie J. , Eweida Ameer A. , Marshall Paul A. , Berumen Michael L.
Published: February 2024

Semi‐enclosed seas are often associated with elevated local threats and distinct biogeographic patterns among marine fishes, but our understanding of how fish assemblage dynamics vary in relation to relatively small semi‐enclosed seas (e.g., the Gulf of Aqaba) remains limited. Baited remote underwater video surveys (n = 111) were conducted across ~300 km of coral reef habitats in the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea. A total of 55 predatory fish species were detected, with less than half of all species (n = 23) observed in both basins. Relative abundance patterns between the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea were variable among taxa, but nearly twice as many predatory fish were observed per unit of effort in the northern Red Sea. In general, assemblages in both basins were dominated by three taxa (Epinephelinae, Carangidae, and Lethrinidae). Large‐bodied and threatened species were recorded at very low abundances. Multivariate analysis revealed distinct assemblage structuring of coral reef predators between the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea. Most of the species driving these differences were recorded in both basins, but occurred at varying levels of abundance. Environmental factors were largely unsuccessful in explaining variation in assemblage structuring. These findings indicate that biological assemblages in the Gulf of Aqaba are more distinct than previously reported and that reef fish assemblage structuring can occur even within a relatively small semi‐enclosed sea. Despite inter‐basin assemblage structuring, the overall low abundance of vulnerable fish species is suggestive of overexploitation in both the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea of Saudi Arabia. As the region surveyed is currently undergoing large‐scale coastal development, the results presented herein aim to guide spatial management and recovery plans for these coral reef systems in relation to this development.
High intraspecific variability and previous experience affect polyphenol metabolism in polyphagous Lymantria mathura caterpillars
Authors: Volf Martin , Fontanilla Alyssa M. , Vanhakylä Suvi , Abe Tomokazu , Libra Martin , Kogo Ryosuke , Lilip Roll , Kamata Naoto , Murakami Masashi , Novotny Vojtech , Salminen Juha‐Pekka , Segar Simon T.
Published: February 2024

Polyphagous insect herbivores feed on multiple host‐plant species and face a highly variable chemical landscape. Comparative studies of polyphagous herbivore metabolism across a range of plants is an ideal approach for exploring how intra‐ and interspecific chemical variation shapes species interactions. We used polyphagous caterpillars of Lymantria mathura (Erebidae, Lepidoptera) to explore mechanisms that may contribute to its ability to feed on various hosts. We focused on intraspecific variation in polyphenol metabolism, the fates of individual polyphenols, and the role of previous feeding experience on polyphenol metabolism and leaf consumption. We collected the caterpillars from Acer amoenum (Sapindaceae), Carpinus cordata (Betulaceae), and Quercus crispula (Fagaceae). We first fed the larvae with the leaves of their original host and characterized the polyphenol profiles in leaves and frass. We then transferred a subset of larvae to a different host species and quantified how host shifting affected their leaf consumption and polyphenol metabolism. There was high intraspecific variation in frass composition, even among caterpillars fed with one host. While polyphenols had various fates when ingested by the caterpillars, most of them were passively excreted. When we transferred the caterpillars to a new host, their previous experience influenced how they metabolized polyphenols. The one‐host larvae metabolized a larger quantity of ingested polyphenols than two‐host caterpillars. Some of these metabolites could have been sequestered, others were probably activated in the gut. One‐host caterpillars retained more of the ingested leaf biomass than transferred caterpillars. The pronounced intraspecific variation in polyphenol metabolism, an ability to excrete ingested metabolites and potential dietary habituation are factors that may contribute to the ability of L. mathura to feed across multiple hosts. Further comparative studies can help identify if these mechanisms are related to differential host‐choice and response to host‐plant traits in specialist and generalist insect herbivores.
Formation and distribution of (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal in deep‐fried dough sticks under different conditions
Authors: Liu Yan , Fang Ying , Wang Zetong , Guo Liping , Xiao Junxia , Li Xiaodan
Published: February 2024

(E,E)‐2,4‐Decadienal is an important product of deep‐frying systems and is regarded as a health hazard. The present study investigated the formation of (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal in deep‐fried dough sticks under different conditions, including types of deep‐frying oils, deep‐frying temperature, and dough composition. In addition, the correlation between (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal formation and deep‐frying conditions was analyzed. The results showed that the (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal content in the deep‐frying system was related to the linoleic acid level in the deep‐frying oils. Furthermore, adding 6% soy protein isolate to the dough considerably suppressed the formation of (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal in the deep‐frying system, resulting in the lowest content at 43.52 mg kg–1. The highest (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal content in the deep‐frying system (64.65 mg kg–1) was observed when a dough with a moisture content of 38% was used. The results of the correlation analysis revealed a strong association between the (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal content in the deep‐fried dough sticks and their oil absorption capacity. The (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal content increased with higher oil content in the deep‐fried dough sticks. Therefore, suppressing the oil absorption of deep‐fried dough sticks is an important approach for controlling (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal content.

Practical applications: As one kind of traditional deep‐fried foods in China, deep‐fried dough sticks attracted the attention of consumers because of its desirable flavor and texture. Thus, it is crucial to improve its safety and quality. As is known, (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal is harmful to health, and it is the main aldehyde component in the deep‐frying system. Herein, it is important to improve the safety of deep‐fried dough sticks while suppressing the formation of (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal in deep‐frying system and reducing the content of (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal in deep‐fried dough sticks. On the one hand, the use of deep‐frying oils with lower level of linoleic acid could limit the formation of (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal in deep‐frying system, which could also be achieved with the addition of protein into the dough. On the other hand, suppressing the oil uptake ability of deep‐fried dough sticks is an important approach to limit the level of (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal in deep‐fried dough sticks.
Silibinin as a promising treatment for diabetes: Insights into behavioral and metabolic changes in an animal model
Authors: Dagli Gul Asli San , Boyuk Ozcan Gulbahar , Arihan Okan
Published: February 2024

Diabetes mellitus is causing serious health problems in the chronic period. Silibinin is a flavonoid obtained from the milk thistle (Silybum marianum), which is among the herbal ethnopharmacological administrations. In studies with silibinin, it has been reported that it increases the activity of pancreatic beta cells and insulin sensitivity and has a hyperglycemia‐reducing effect. However, behavioral parameters have not been evaluated together with insulin levels and liver function tests. Our aim in this study was to examine the effects of silibinin on insulin secretion, anxiety‐like behaviors, and learning in a streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced rat diabetes model. Wistar albino rats weighing 200–250 g were divided into 4 groups. Control: Saline solution, Diabetes: STZ 45 mg/kg, S 100: STZ 45 mg/kg + Silibinin 100 mg/kg, S 200: STZ 45 mg/kg + Silibinin 200 mg/kg. Administrations were continued for 21 days. On the 21st day, open field and elevated plus maze as unconditional anxiety tests; Barnes maze for learning and memory; and rotarod test for locomotor activity were conducted. Following behavioral tests, blood samples were taken under anesthesia. Blood glucose levels and ALT values were measured. Insulin levels were measured with an ELISA plate reader. Silibinin shortened the time to find the correct hole. Silibinin prevented the decrease in insulin due to STZ, exhibited a hyperglycemia‐reducing effect and decreased the elevation of ALT.
Experimental investigating of the effect of CO2 injection parameters on asphaltene precipitation and formation damage in live oil
Authors: Shojaei Komeil Ghahramani , Moghadasi Jamshid
Published: February 2024

With the increasing consumption of oil in the world and increasing production of oil from oil reservoirs, the reservoir pressure starts to decrease. On the other side, the use of oil leads to an increase in carbon dioxide production in the environment and causes global warming.

One of the effective methods of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere and increasing the reservoir's pressure is CO2‐EOR and carbon capturing and storing (CCS) which injects produced carbon dioxide from industrial sources into underground reservoirs. Carbon dioxide reduces oil viscosity and increases oil mobility producing an economical state. Moreover, with CO2‐EOR and CCS carbon dioxide can be stored in a depleted reservoir and helps reduce pollution and global warming.

Besides the environmental and economic benefits due to reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere and increasing oil production, CO2 injection causes various problems in the formation. Many experiments indicate that asphaltene precipitation and wettability alteration caused by asphaltene, dissolution/precipitation of rock, salt precipitation, and sludge formation are some of the problems that occur during CO2 injection operations in low pressure and temperature. However, few experiments evaluate asphaltene precipitation effective factors, such as pressure, injection rates, temperature, etc., in high temperatures and pressure (HPHT) near reservoir conditions. Therefore, there was a need for a comprehensive investigation of various factors and the impact of each of them on the asphaltene precipitation and formation damage in HPHT conditions, so this research was designed to help future simulation and industrial utilization.

A core‐flood setup was prepared to conduct CO2 flooding experiments and formation damage studies in HPHT conditions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different parameters including pressure, injection rate, and type of injected gas on asphaltene and its effect on formation damage caused by CO2 injection. The second goal of this study was to investigate the optimum injection in every section. The third goal was to determine the oil recovery during the process of CO2 injection in different conditions.

The results showed that an injection rate of 0.1 cc/min and higher injection pressures minimized asphaltene precipitation and maximized oil recovery. Replacing CO2 with natural gas liquids (NGL) gas reduced oil production and asphaltene precipitation. Overall, the experiments demonstrated the importance of optimizing injection parameters to limit formation damage during CO2 flooding. © 2024 The Authors. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Constructal design of a PCM cylindrical heat sink with three‐branched, two‐stages dendritic tubes
Authors: Ridha Hind Dhia'a , Ezzat Akram W.
Published: February 2024

Amputees who use prosthetic limbs suffer from the problem of high contact temperature between the socket of the prosthetic limb and the amputated part and lack of evaporation of sweat. These conditions lead to discomfort and failure to perform functions properly. In addition, these conditions help generate ulcers and accumulate harmful bacteria in this area. This paper presents a heatsink design to extract heat from the contact area. A cylindrical heat sink is designed for phase‐changing materials with three branched tubes in two stages. The current heat sink is used to cool the contact area between the amputated part and the socket in the lower prostheses. Three distributions of pipe branches are proposed. The distribution and pipe lengths were obtained using a constructal design method. In the constructal design, the lengths of the branched tubes were the degrees of freedom, the objective function was the minimization of the inlet temperature to the heat sink, and the constraint was the volume of the cylindrical heat sink. The metabolic heat transfer during exercise was estimated and its value was used to calculate the size of the cylindrical heatsink and the selection of the phase change material by testing three of them: water, tridecane, and dodecane. It was found that water gives the highest latent heat of melting and the lowest volume in addition to its availability. On the other hand, two cooling fluids were tested: water and air. It was found that water as a cooling fluid gave the lowest flow and the largest heat capacity. Constructal theory was used to design a cylindrical heat sink using branched tubes for the coolant in two steps: the first with three branches, and the second with nine branches. The degree of freedom for constructal theory was the length of the branches through the choice of their end locations. It was found that the branches of the highest length led to a reduction in temperature from 40°C to 15.48°C compared with the single tube, which reduced the temperature to 23.87°C. All tests recorded a pressure drop within the acceptable range of 3.1–5.43 Pa for the branches examined. The research demonstrated that using constructal theory achieved the best thermal dissipation within a restricted volume.
China's crisis management and market exit mechanism for banks—What is the way forward?
Authors: Xu Geleite , Shi Yifeng
Published: February 2024

As China's crisis management and market exit mechanism for banks (CMME mechanism) is still at an early stage of development, the legislation governing the mechanism is far from sufficient or satisfactory. With the aim of exploring how the holistic framework of China's CMME mechanism can be improved, this article systemically examines the mechanism from the perspectives of the major procedural components and the specially designed funding sources. Based on the analysis, three major types of weaknesses in the current mechanism are pointed out: ‘missing elements’, ‘unfit elements’ and ‘uncoordinated elements’. To be specific, some essential elements are missing from the current mechanism; some elements in the mechanism are unfit when applied to banks; and some elements are uncoordinated with each other within the mechanism. It is necessary that an overhaul of the mechanism be carried out to address these weaknesses. In addition, given that governments' involvement was demonstrated to be helpful in resolving bank crises in past cases, it would be better to institutionalise this experience in the CMME mechanism. Only with a well‐crafted CMME mechanism can bank crises be resolved in an orderly, effective and efficient manner.
Accuracy of and dental students’ preferences toward manual and digital cephalometric landmark identification: A randomized cross‐over study
Authors: Alhazmi Nora , Alsaeed Suliman , Almutairi Lamia , Almohammadi Duaa
Published: February 2024

Objective

To evaluate dental students' perceptions of manual and digital cephalometric landmark identification methods based on their preferences, difficulty level, and procedure time required to provide insights into the future of dental education, considering incorporating digital technology in dental schools.

Materials and methods

Fifty‐five second‐year dental students were randomly divided into two groups: (1) group A, students who performed manual landmark identification first, followed by digital method; and (2) group B, students who performed digital method first, followed by manual method. The duration of the procedure was recorded. Subsequently, all students completed a questionnaire regarding the difficulty they experienced using a visual analog scale and their preferences. Landmark identification accuracy was measured.

Results

Digital landmark identification was preferred by 93% of students. The mean procedure time for digital method was significantly lower than that of manual method (13.00 ± 5.60 vs. 9.70 ± 4.60; p = 0.002). Group B completed manual and digital methods in a shorter time than group A. Group A experienced less difficulty with manual procedure than group B. However, statistically significant differences were not observed in the difficulty level of digital technique. A statistically significant difference in the mean accuracy was shown in favor of the manual method. However, this difference is clinically insignificant (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Students considered digital method to be effective for learning and preferred it over manual method. Furthermore, digital landmark identification demonstrated better performance and was faster than manual method, suggesting that this must be incorporated in undergraduate dental education.
An analysis of POMC gene methylation and expression in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Chen Xuanyu , Qing Lili , Zou Tiantian , Wang Jia , Yin Wensa , Wang Zhiyong , Cheng Tiantian , Lu Yumei , Hu Liping , Liu Linlin , Nie Shengjie
Published: February 2024

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects millions of people and is believed to be caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Despite extensive research, the exact mechanisms underlying schizophrenia are still unclear. Studies have shown that numerous psychiatric disorders are associated with methylation of the POMC gene, which encodes adrenocorticotropic hormone, a critical player in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. However, the association between DNA methylation in POMC patients and schizophrenia remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated three fragments of the POMC promoter region, including 51 CpG sites, in the peripheral blood of schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. The POMC protein level was measured via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The schizophrenia group exhibited significantly greater levels of methylation of the POMC gene than those in the control group. The methylation level of the POMC‐2 fragment was significantly greater in the patient group than in the control group. There were 17 significantly hypermethylated CpG sites in the patient group. After stratification by sex, POMC methylation levels were found to be significantly greater in male schizophrenia patients than in healthy controls; the methylation levels of POMC‐2 fragments were greater in the male patient group; nine CpG sites were significantly hypermethylated in the male patient group; and only one CpG site was significantly hypermethylated in the female patient group. The POMC protein level in patients was significantly lower than that in healthy controls. These findings demonstrate that the DNA methylation of POMC might be associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Overall, studying the correlation between POMC methylation and schizophrenia may contribute to the diagnosis and evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Minimum degree stability of C2k+1 ${C}_{2k+1}$‐free graphs
Authors: Yuan Xiaoli , Peng Yuejian
Published: February 2024

We consider the minimum degree stability of graphs forbidding odd cycles: What is the tight bound on the minimum degree to guarantee that the structure of a ‐free graph inherits from the extremal graph (a balanced complete bipartite graph)? Andrásfai, Erdős, and Sós showed that if a ‐free graph on vertices has minimum degree greater than , then it is bipartite. Häggkvist showed that for , if a ‐free graph on vertices has minimum degree greater than , then it is bipartite. Häggkvist also pointed out that this result cannot be extended to . In this paper, we give a complete answer for any . We show that if and is an ‐vertex ‐free graph with , then is bipartite, and the bound is tight.
Haemoglobin Ottawa, sickle cell trait and vaso‐occlusive crises
Authors: Bobillier Cécile , Derclaye Isabelle , Ferrant Augustin , Maisin Diane
Published: February 2024

A girl with a sickle cell trait had severe VOCs (vaso‐occlusive crises), her father also had a sickle cell trait but mild VOCs, and her mother had no symptoms. Electrophoresis on agarose gel under alkaline conditions showed haemoglobin AS (HbAS) in the girl and in her father, with an S band increased more than expected (46.2% and 41.2% respectively), and a band migrating at C (16.8% and 8.9% respectively) in both. There was a band at S (19.6 %) in her mother. The C band was attributed to a hybrid tetramer with haemoglobin S (HbS) and a Hb variant. A homozygous c.46G>C mutation (Hb Ottawa, the Hb variant) was detected by Sanger sequencing in the girl. Heterozygosity for Hb Ottawa by Sanger sequencing was shown in both the father and the mother. The father, with HbAS and heterozygous for Hb Ottawa, had mild VOCs. Heterozygosity only for Hb Ottawa did not produce any abnormality in the mother. A sister and two brothers of the index patient presented a Hb variant, probably Hb Ottawa, migrating to the S zone (all 20%) at electrophoresis, without HbS. These last three were asymptomatic. We conclude that Hb Ottawa, an α‐globin variant, contributes along with haemoglobin S (HbS) to VOC symptoms.
Screening biosurfactant‐producing actinomycetes: Identification of Streptomyces sp. RP1 as a potent species for bioremediation
Authors: Ayoib Adilah , Gopinath Subash C. B. , Zambry Nor Syafirah , Yahya Ahmad Ramli Mohd
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to isolate biosurfactant‐producing and hydrocarbon‐degrading actinomycetes from different soils using glycerol–asparagine and starch–casein media with an antifungal agent. The glycerol–asparagine agar exhibited the highest number of actinomycetes, with a white, low‐opacity medium supporting pigment production and high growth. Biosurfactant analyses, such as drop collapse, oil displacement, emulsification, tributyrin agar test, and surface tension measurement, were conducted. Out of 25 positive isolates, seven could utilize both olive oil and black oil for biosurfactant production, and only isolate RP1 could produce biosurfactant when grown in constrained conditions with black oil as the sole carbon source and inducer, demonstrating in situ bioremediation potential. Isolate RP1 from oil‐spilled garden soil is Gram‐staining‐positive with a distinct earthy odor, melanin formation, and white filamentous colonies. It has a molecular size of ~621 bp and 100% sequence similarity to many Streptomyces spp. Morphological, biochemical, and 16 S rRNA analysis confirmed it as Streptomyces sp. RP1, showing positive results in all screenings, including high emulsification activity against kerosene (27.2%) and engine oil (95.8%), oil displacement efficiency against crude oil (7.45 cm), and a significant reduction in surface tension (56.7 dynes/cm). Streptomyces sp. RP1 can utilize citrate as a carbon source, tolerate sodium chloride, resist lysozyme, degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, and produce biosurfactant at 37°C in a 15 mL medium culture, indicating great potential for bioremediation and various downstream industrial applications with optimization.
Winter warm spells over Italy: Spatial–temporal variation and large‐scale atmospheric circulation
Authors: Di Bernardino Annalisa , Iannarelli Anna Maria , Casadio Stefano , Siani Anna Maria
Published: February 2024

This article analyses the winter warm spells (WWS) that occurred in central Mediterranean over the period 1993–2022, examining the daily maximum temperatures collected at eight airport sites located in the Italian Peninsula, belonging to different climate zones. According to the definition proposed in 1999 by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI), a WWS is a sequence of at least six consecutive days when daily maximum air temperature exceeds the calendar day 90th percentile centred on a 5‐day window for a base period. WWS occurring over the entire Italian territory or only over northern/central/southern Italy have been identified and related to the peculiar synoptic conditions. It was found that December is the month most prone to WWS and, on average, WWS last 9.4 days in northern Italy, 6.6 days in central Italy, and 8.5 days in southern Italy. Over the period under investigation, the Italian Peninsula experienced only one common event characterized by persistent high‐pressure systems associated with air subsidence over western Mediterranean and, therefore, with exceptional warming. Finally, it has been proven that the definition of WWS proposed by ETCCDI allows to capture synoptic scale events but, in orographically complex areas such as Italy, underestimates moderate spells, which generally might have a duration of at least 3 days. Consequently, it is important to consider the possibility of reducing the period length threshold used for the detection of WWS when orographically heterogeneous regions are studied.
Phytochemical profiling of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) honey and investigation of compounds related to its pollen occurrence
Authors: Leoni Valeria , Panseri Sara , Giupponi Luca , Pavlovic Radmila , Gianoncelli Carla , Coatti Gloria , Beretta Giangiacomo , Giorgi Annamaria
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is an important nectar source for honey production in some specific habitats as well as an important crop, so the definition of the features of this kind of honey is noteworthy. However, due to its rarity on the market, red raspberry honey is poorly characterized. The aim of this work was the phytochemical characterization of honey containing red raspberry from different geographical origins, through melissopalynological analyses concurrently with untargeted metabolomics achieved with different chromatographic techniques coupled to mass spectrometry: solid‐phase micro‐extraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME‐GC–MS) and high‐performance liquid chromatography/Orbitrap mass spectrometry (HPLC‐Orbitrap).

RESULTS

Only 4 out of the 12 samples involved in the study contained raspberry pollen as dominant pollen, although these honeys did not group in the hierarchical cluster analysis nor in the classical multidimensional scaling analyses used for data evaluation. The first result was the detection of mislabelling in two samples, which contained raspberry pollen only as minor or important minor pollen. Of the 188 compounds identified by HPLC‐Orbitrap and of the 260 identified by SPME‐GC–MS, 87 and 31 compounds were present in all samples, respectively. The structurally related compounds nicotinaldehyde and nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and nicotinyl alcohol were present in 100% of the samples and correlated with R. idaeus pollen count (r > 0.60, Pearson's correlation analysis).

CONCLUSION

This study reveals important aspects about the characterization of red raspberry honey and could give new insights on bee diet and preferences, since niacin compounds resulted interestingly to be related to the presence of red raspberry pollen. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Surgical treatment of distal hamstring tendon injuries yield a higher return‐to‐sports rate: A systematic review
Authors: Marín Fermín Theodorakys , Aminake Ghislain , Vasiliadis Angelo V. , Kalifis Georgios , Grabowski Radoslaw , Macchiarola Luca , Al‐Dolaymi Ayyoub A.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare the patient‐reported outcomes and return to sports of the conservative and surgical treatment of distal hamstring tendon injuries.

Methods

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines, two reviewers searched PubMed, Scopus and Virtual Health Library databases in January 2023. Clinical studies evaluating conservative or surgical management outcomes of distal hamstring tendon injuries were considered eligible for this systematic review if predefined criteria were fulfilled: (1) published in English or Spanish; (2) evaluated any of the following: patient‐reported outcomes, return‐to‐sports rate (RTS‐R) or return‐to‐sports time (RTS‐T). Data were presented in tables using absolute values from individual studies and derived pooled percentages.

Results

Eighteen studies were included for 67 patients and 68 distal hamstring tendon injuries. Initially, 39 patients (58.2%) underwent surgical treatment, whereas 28 (41.8%) were treated conservatively. Among conservative treatment patients, 15 failed and had to be operated on (53.6%), all with distal semitendinosus tendon injuries. Anchor fixation was the technique of choice in 20 lesions (36.4%), tenodesis in 16 (29.1%), tenectomy in 14 (25.5%) and sutures were preferred in five (9%). Thirteen out of 28 patients (46.4%) undergoing initial conservative treatment returned to sports at a mean of 3.6 months (range 1 week to 12 months), in contrast to surgical treatment, in which 36 out of 39 patients (92.3%) returned at a mean of 4.2 months (range 6 weeks to 12 months). Additionally, 14 of 15 patients (93.3%) converted to surgical treatment after failed conservative treatment returned to sports at a mean of 7.6 months after injury.

Conclusion

Initial surgical treatment of distal hamstring tendon injuries yields a high RTS‐R (92.3%) at a mean of 4.2 months. Furthermore, 15 out of 28 patients (53.6%) initially treated conservatively had to be operated on, delaying the RTS‐T (mean 7.6 months after injury) without affecting their RTS‐R.

Level of Evidence

IV.