bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic Tumorigenesis: Precursors, Genetic Risk Factors and Screening
Authors: Badheeb Mohamed , Abdelrahim Adham , Esmail Abdullah , Umoru Godsfavour , Abboud Karen , Al-Najjar Ebtesam , Rasheed Ghaith , Alkhulaifawi Mohammed , Abudayyeh Ala , Abdelrahim Maen
Published: November 2022

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant and aggressive tumor. Despite medical advancement, the silent nature of PC results in only 20% of all cases considered resectable at the time of diagnosis. It is projected to become the second leading cause in 2030. Most pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed in the advanced stages. Such cases are typically unresectable and are associated with a 5-year survival of less than 10%. Although there is no guideline consensus regarding recommendations for screening for pancreatic cancer, early detection has been associated with better outcomes. In addition to continued utilization of imaging and conventional tumor markers, clinicians should be aware of novel testing modalities that may be effective for early detection of pancreatic cancer in individuals with high-risk factors. The pathogenesis of PC is not well understood; however, various modifiable and non-modifiable factors have been implicated in pancreatic oncogenesis. PC detection in the earlier stages is associated with better outcomes; nevertheless, most oncological societies do not recommend universal screening as it may result in a high false-positive rate. Therefore, targeted screening for high-risk individuals represents a reasonable option. In this review, we aimed to summarize the pathogenesis, genetic risk factors, high-risk population, and screening modalities for PC.
Evaluation of Differences between the Baltic Triglopsis quadricornis and White Sea Triglopsis sp. Using Morphological and Genetic Data
Authors: Sideleva Valentina , Zhidkov Zakhar
Published: November 2022

According to the modern fish system, one species of fourhorn sculpin Triglopsis quadricornis lives in the Baltic Sea and Arctic waters. In the present study, sculpins from the Baltic and White Seas were studied using different methods: morphological analysis to establish patterns of the seismosensory system, tomography for the study of cranial bones, X-ray imaging for the study of the axial skeleton, as well as phylogenetic analysis of two mtDNA markers (control region and CO1) and one nDNA marker (RAG1). The results obtained by these methods were used to prove the existence of two species: T. quadricornis in the Baltic Sea and Triglopsis sp. in the White Sea. These species differ significantly in the unique shape and size of the bony outgrowths on the head, as well as in the number of bony plates on the body. Genetic differences between the species were expressed in the formation of T. quadricornis and Triglopsis sp. independent clusters on Bayesian phylogenetic trees reconstructed based on the sequences of the mtDNA control region and RAG1.
Power Lines and Birds: Drivers of Conflict-Prone Use of Pylons by Nesting White Storks (Ciconia ciconia)
Authors: Burdett Evan M. , Muriel Roberto , Morandini Virginia , Kolnegari Mahmood , Ferrer Miguel
Published: November 2022

Energy infrastructure is expanding at a global scale and can represent a major threat to wildlife populations. Power lines are one of the main sources of human-induced avian mortality due to electrocution or collision, but many species use electricity pylons as a structure for nesting. Pylon nesting results in human-wildlife conflict because it can cause power outages and structural damage to power lines. The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large-size semicolonial species that increasingly nests on pylons, causing growing operational and economic issues to power companies and energy consumers. In this study, the likelihood of problematic pylon use by nesting storks was predicted using a suite of explanatory variables related to the availability of foraging habitat and human disturbance. During a five-year period (2015–2019), we assessed the distribution of stork nests removed from the highly-risky top part of transmission pylons (220–400 kV) by power company technicians in South western Spain. A total of 839 nests were removed from 11% of the transmission pylons (n = 1196) during the study period. Pylon use intensified on pylons located near to landfills, surrounded by high proportion of grassland, and when close to freshwater sources (water body or river) and other occupied pylons. Human disturbance was unlikely to deter storks from using pylons and pylon use increased in urban areas. The approach used here to predict pylon use by nesting birds has applications for both human-wildlife conflict mitigation and conservation purposes where endangered species use human infrastructure. Power companies may use this kind of information to install anti-nesting devices (to reduce power outages and avian mortality or nesting platforms on suitable pylons (to promote pylons use by endangered species), and to account for the likelihood of conflict-prone use of pylons when siting future power lines.
Dataset: Coleoptera (Insecta) Collected from Beer Traps in “Smolny” National Park (Russia)
Authors: Ruchin Alexander B. , Egorov Leonid V. , Artaev Oleg N. , Esin Mikhail N.
Published: November 2022

Monitoring Coleoptera diversity in protected areas is part of the global ecological monitoring of the state of ecosystems. The purpose of this research is to describe the biodiversity of Coleoptera studied with the help of baits based on fermented substrate in the European part of Russia (Smolny National Park). The research was conducted April–August 2018–2022. Samples were collected in traps of our own design. Beer or wine with the addition of sugar, honey, or jam was used for bait. A total of 194 traps were installed. The dataset contains 1254 occurrences. A total of 9226 Coleoptera specimens have been studied. The dataset contains information about 134 species from 24 Coleoptera families. The largest number of species that have been found in traps belongs to the family Cerambycidae (30 species), Nitidulidae (14 species), Elateridae (12 species), and Curculionidae and Coccinellidae (10 species each). The number of individuals in the traps of these families was distributed as follows: Cerambycidae—1018 specimens; Nitidulidae—5359; Staphylinidae—241; Elateridae—33; Curculionidae—148; and Coccinellidae—19. The 10 dominant species accounted for 90.7% of all detected specimens in the traps. The maximum species diversity and abundance of Coleoptera was obtained in 2021. With the installation of the largest number of traps in 2022 and more diverse biotopes (64 traps), a smaller number of species was caught compared to 2021. New populations of such species have been found from rare Coleoptera: Calosoma sycophanta, Elater ferrugineus, Osmoderma barnabita, Protaetia speciosissima, and Protaetia fieberi.
A Comparative Study of Bridge Inspection and Condition Assessment between Manpower and a UAS
Authors: Kim In-Ho , Yoon Sungsik , Lee Jin Hwan , Jung Sungwook , Cho Soojin , Jung Hyung-Jo
Published: November 2022

As the number of old bridges increases, the number of bridges with structural defects is also increasing. Timely inspection and maintenance of bridges are required because structural degradation is accelerated after bridge damage. Recently, in the field of structural health monitoring, a bridge inspection using an unmanned aerial vehicle system (UAS) is receiving a lot of attention. In this paper, UAS-based automatic damage detection and bridge condition evaluation were performed on existing bridges. From the process of preparing for inspection to the management of inspection data, the entire bridge inspection process was performed through field tests. The necessary element techniques for each stage were explained and the results were confirmed. Finally, UAS-based results were compared with conventional human-based visual inspection results. As a result, it was confirmed that the UAS-based bridge inspection is faster and more objective than the existing technology. Therefore, it was confirmed that the automatic bridge inspection method based on unmanned aerial vehicles can be applied to the field as a promising technology.
Iterative Joint Estimation Procedure of Channel and PDP for OFDM Systems
Authors: He Ruixuan , Liu Xiaoran , Mei Kai , Gong Guangwei , Xiong Jun , Wei Jibo
Published: November 2022

The power-delay profile (PDP) estimation of wireless channels is an important step to generate a channel correlation matrix for channel linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) estimation. Estimated channel frequency response can be used to obtain time dispersion characteristics that can be exploited by adaptive orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. In this paper, a joint estimator for PDP and LMMSE channel estimation is proposed. For LMMSE channel estimation, we apply a candidate set of frequency-domain channel correlation functions (CCF) and select the one that best matches the current channel to construct the channel correlation matrix. The initial candidate set is generated based on the traditional CCF calculation method for different scenarios. Then, the result of channel estimation is used as an input for the PDP estimation whereas the estimated PDP is further used to update the candidate channel correlation matrix. The enhancement of LMMSE channel estimation and PDP estimation can be achieved by the iterative joint estimation procedure. Analysis and simulation results show that in different communication scenarios, the PDP estimation error of the proposed method can approach the Cramér–Rao lower bound (CRLB) after a finite number of iterations. Moreover, the mean square error of channel estimation is close to the performance of accurate PDP-assisted LMMSE.
What Does It Take to Solve the 3D Ising Model? Minimal Necessary Conditions for a Valid Solution
Authors: Viswanathan Gandhimohan M. , Portillo Marco Aurelio G. , Raposo Ernesto P. , da Luz Marcos G. E.
Published: November 2022

An exact solution of the Ising model on the simple cubic lattice is one of the long-standing open problems in rigorous statistical mechanics. Indeed, it is generally believed that settling it would constitute a methodological breakthrough, fomenting great prospects for further application, similarly to what happened when Lars Onsager solved the two-dimensional model eighty years ago. Hence, there have been many attempts to find analytic expressions for the exact partition function Z, but all such attempts have failed due to unavoidable conceptual or mathematical obstructions. Given the importance of this simple yet paradigmatic model, here we set out clear-cut criteria for any claimed exact expression for Z to be minimally plausible. Specifically, we present six necessary—but not sufficient—conditions that Z must satisfy. These criteria will allow very quick plausibility checks of future claims. As illustrative examples, we discuss previous mistaken “solutions”, unveiling their shortcomings.
Enhancing Employee Engagement in Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Industry: The Moderating Role of a Democratic Leadership Style
Authors: Haryanto Haryanto , Suharman Harry , Koeswayo Poppy Sofia , Umar Haryono
Published: November 2022

The quality of employee skills and job commitments, measured based on their retention, is essential in the current rapidly changing technological world. This study aimed to identify the influences of corporate governance (CG), internal control (IC), and corporate reputation (CR) on employee engagement (EE) with democratic leadership style as the moderating variable. Data from 276 companies with 606 respondents were collected using a Google form questionnaire sent to logistics companies that are members of the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association (ILFA) and analyzed using the Partial Least Square–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS–SEM) with the help of SmartPLS 4.0.7.8 software. The results showed that corporate governance, reputation, and internal control positively influence employee engagement. Furthermore, the democratic leadership style does not strengthen the effects of corporate governance, internal control, and corporate reputation on employee engagement. This implies that leaders of the Indonesian logistics and forwarders industry should find a more suitable leadership style for their respective organizations because democratic leadership may not always be the best choice.
An Analysis of the Production Process of the Care Cosmetic Line Using Problem-Based Learning Tools
Authors: Bryszewska Malgorzata Anita , Kulesza Justyna
Published: November 2022

A batch of a new product designed by the research and development department was prepared at a private label of a Polish cosmetics company. The product was transferred to the warehouse with no indication of when it would be given to a supplier. A student starting her internship in the factory wondered why the date of delivery for distribution was not indicated. To study this problem, an analysis of the production process was carried out using the tools of the problem-based learning method. SWOT analysis, a flowchart, a questionnaire and an Ishikawa diagram were used as tools for evaluation of the production process of the work of departments involved in the production of one cosmetics line. Analyses and surveys conducted by the observer as well as feedback from employees identified several problems. Among them, poor planning was selected as the so-called specific problem, i.e., the one to which special attention was paid and solutions for which were suggested. Planning with a longer time horizon would allow the preparation of production and the logistics departments to adjust the production line by separating it from other cosmetics, thus avoiding disruptions and interruptions in production in general. Suggestions also included changing or expanding a malfunctioning enterprise resource planning (EPR) system used to manage the organization that does not organize work properly and even delays it.
Systematic Literature Review on the Fidelity of Maritime Simulator Training
Authors: de Oliveira Renan P. , Carim Junior Guido , Pereira Bruno , Hunter David , Drummond Jeanine , Andre Marilyn
Published: November 2022

The fidelity of a maritime simulator refers to how realistic the representation of a vessel and its environment look, behave, and feel in real life. Despite the benefits of using simulators in maritime training and education, there is a lack of understanding of different debates on whether higher levels of fidelity translate into better training outcomes. Therefore, to investigate and summarise what is known about maritime simulator fidelity, we conducted a systematic literature review on the maritime simulator-based training literature from 2005 to 2021. We performed bibliometric, authorship, and content analyses of thirty-six references, including white and grey literature. The results show that simulator fidelity is divided into physical and functional fidelity. While the former includes the ergonomics layout of the bridge, visual system, vessel manoeuvrability, and hydrographic modelling, the latter involves training program design, simulator session design, and the role of the instructor. The results reveal that there is no prevalent tradition in the literature, a low number of citations, and the references are dispersed among many publications, authors, and institutions. Despite the fact that the prevalence of studies employing high-fidelity simulators can positively impact training, most of the studies are based on subjective evaluation, if any evidence is provided, and were produced by Scandinavian and European institutions and researchers. To address these limitations, we propose a research agenda containing three recommendations.
All Directional Search Motion Estimation Algorithm
Authors: A.V. Paramkusam , Darimireddy Naresh K. , B. Sridhar , Siripurapu Sridhar
Published: November 2022

The search performance of block-matching motion estimation algorithms, i.e., search speed and motion estimation quality, mainly depends on the shape and size of the search pattern. Most motion estimation algorithms employ search patterns of square, diamond, hexagonal, cross diamond or cross hexagonal shapes. These search patterns achieve good results for video sequences with simple motion activity, but unfavourable results for video sequences with complex motion activity. After a thorough investigation of the effect of search pattern on search performance, this paper proposes an all-direction search (ADS) pattern, which searches for the best block in all possible directions. For further improvement in search speed, a half way stop technique is applied in search process. The results show that the proposed ADS algorithm outperforms other state-of-the-art and eminent motion estimation algorithms. The higher the direction complexity in the neighbouring motion vectors, the better the prediction quality of ADS, which is further proved by the simulation results.
Analysis of the Surface Electric Field Distribution of a 10 kV Faulty Composite Insulator
Authors: Zhang Jiahong , Shi Jiali , Zhang Jing
Published: November 2022

To obtain a more comprehensive knowledge of the surface electric field distribution of composite insulators, a three-dimensional (3D) simulation model of a 10 kV FXBW4-10/70 composite insulator was established, and the distribution of the axial and radial electric fields on the surface of the insulator under normal, damaged, internal defect, and fouling fault conditions were calculated and analyzed based on the finite element method. The results showed that the axial and radial electric field distributions on the surfaces of the normal composite insulators were “U” shaped, the radial electric field at the damaged location had a greater change than the axial electric field, and both the axial and radial electric fields at the internal defect location increased significantly. For the insulator covered with NaCl conductive fouling, the axial electric fields at the high-voltage (HV) and low-voltage (LV) ends showed a greater change. The results can provide a basis for the fault identification of composite insulators and the optimal design of insulation structures.
Detection of an Incipient Fault for Dual Three-Phase PMSMs Using a Modified Autoencoder
Authors: Xiao Li , Chen Qi , Hou Shuping , Yan Zhi , Tian Yiming
Published: November 2022

For the detection of incipient interturn short-circuit (IITSC) faults of machines without shutting them down, there are still shortcomings of insufficient incipient fault features and a high false alarm rate. This is especially the case for dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) with complex winding structures, and this kind of incipient fault detection is more complicated. To solve this detection difficulty, an IITSC detection method for dual three-phase PMSMs is proposed based on a modified deep autoencoder (MDAE). This autoencoder (AE) adopts an improved distribution metric combined with the maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) and the maximum covariance discrepancy (MCD) to extract the fault feature from the common features, which can improve the feature difference between the normal state and the incipient fault state. Then, the permutation entropy of the extracted features is calculated to detect the IITSC faults. The results illustrate that this method can not only detect IITSC faults online effectively and robustly, but also reduce the false alarm rate of the fault detection for dual three-phase PMSMs.
K-Shaped Silicon Waveguides for Logic Operations at 1.55 μm
Authors: Kotb Amer , Zoiros Kyriakos E.
Published: November 2022

Silicon has properties that make it the preferable semiconductor material for realizing a wide suite of electronic devices. In this paper, all basic optical logic operations, including XOR, AND, OR, NOT, NOR, XNOR, and NAND, are demonstrated by means of simulation using K-shaped compact silicon waveguides operated at the 1.55 μm telecommunications wavelength. This waveguide comprises three waveguide strips, all made of silicon printed on silica. By adjusting the phase of the incident beams, the pursued logic operations can be realized. To evaluate how well the considered operations are performed, the contrast ratio (CR) is employed as a figure of merit. Compared to other reported waveguides, the suggested K-shaped waveguide achieves higher CRs and a speed of the order of 120 Gb/s.
LSTM Multi-Stage Transfer Learning for Blood Pressure Estimation Using Photoplethysmography
Authors: Ali Noor Faris , Atef Mohamed
Published: November 2022

Considerable research has been devoted to developing machine-learning models for continuous Blood Pressure (BP) estimation. A challenging problem that arises in this domain is the selection of optimal features with interpretable models for medical professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate evidence-based physiologically motivating features based on a solid physiological background of BP determinants. A powerful and compact set of features encompassing six physiologically oriented features was extracted in addition to another set of features consisting of six commonly used features for comparison purposes. In this study, we proposed a BP predictive model using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks with multi-stage transfer learning approach. The proposed model topology consists of three cascaded stages. First, a BP classification stage. Second, a Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) regression stage to further approximate a quantity proportional to Vascular Resistance (VR) using the extracted Cardiac Output (CO) from the PPG signal. Third, the main BP estimation stage. The final stage (final BP prediction) is able to exploit embedded correlations between BP and the proposed features along with derived outputs carrying hemodynamic characteristics through the sub-sequence stages. We also constructed traditional single-stage Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and LSTM-based models to appraise the performance gain of our proposed model. The models were tested and evaluated on 40 subjects from the MIMIC II database. The LSTM-based multi-stage model attained a MAE ± SD of 2.03 ± 3.12 for SBP and 1.18 ± 1.70 mmHg for DBP. The proposed set of features resulted in drastic error reduction, of up to 86.21%, compared to models trained on the commonly used features. The superior performance of the proposed multi-stage model provides confirmatory evidence that the selected transferable features among the stages coupled with the high-performing multi-stage topology enhance blood pressure estimation accuracy using PPG signals. This indicates the compelling nature and sufficiency of the proposed efficient features set.
A Review on Fast Direct Methods of Surface Integral Equations for Analysis of Electromagnetic Scattering from 3-D PEC Objects
Authors: Jiang Ming , Li Yin , Lei Lin , Hu Jun
Published: November 2022

This paper reviews a series of fast direct solution methods for electromagnetic scattering analysis, aiming to significantly alleviate the problems of slow or even non-convergence of iterative solvers and to provide a fast and robust numerical solution for integral equations. Then the advantages and applications of fast direct solution methods and the research trends are introduced in detail. Three different main methods are discussed, namely hierarchically off-diagonal low-rank matrices (HODLR) and skeletonization direct methods based on weak and strong admissibility condition. Numerical examples of computational complexity and electromagnetic scattering analysis of jet models are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of each approach. Finally, a brief discussion is given on the main challenges and possible strategies of fast direct solution methods which still exist.
Projecting Sustainable Systems of Economy by Means of Ecological Optimization
Authors: Pártlová Petra , Korená Kristína , Váchal Jan
Published: November 2022

The paper presents an innovated method for territorial zoning and its implementation in the territory of the Zdíkovský stream catchment area. The basis for projecting is ananthropo-ecological approach to the territory and the proposition of determining the new GES (geo-ecological units). Four essential territorial zones differing by anthropo-ecological burden and the degree of protection are suggested. A procedure for determining ecocritical lines (situations) in the territory, their regime, and possible solutions is suggested in the spirit of sustainability for future generations. The formulae and procedure for calculating the CES (coefficient of ecological stability) or ZSES (essential degrees of ecological stability), which divide the tested territory into appropriate zones, are also suggested. A comparison of zoning prior to 1989 and following was carried out, and it was proven that the significant presence of agricultural and forest subsystems in the territory with the extensive form of use resulted in the differentiation of the territory in terms of landscape character. The results point to the usability of the suggested method in the areas of planning, landscape development, protection, and territorial future development prognosis in terms of the natural potential on the local and superregional level.
Influence of Intake Port Structure on the Performance of a Spark-Ignited Natural Gas Engine
Authors: Pan Jie , Ma Junfang , Li Junyin , Liu Hongzhe , Wei Jing , Xu Jingjing , Zhu Tao , Zhang Hairui , Li Wei , Pan Jiaying
Published: November 2022

Spark-ignited natural gas engines have received increasing attention in the heavy-duty market due to their low cost and reliability advantages. However, there are still some issues with natural gas engines retrofitted from 10 to 15 L diesel engines, which is a valuable medium-term goal for the automotive industry. In this work, the effect of intake port structure on the performance of a spark-ignited heavy-duty natural gas engine was investigated by multidimensional numerical simulations. A newly designed intake port was proposed, with strengthened in-cylinder turbulent kinetic energy and homogeneous air-fuel mixtures. Bench tests show that the proposed intake port has impressive thermal efficiency, cycle variation, and acceptable emissions performance. The effective thermal efficiency improves from 41.0% to 41.4%, and the cycle variation is 36% lower than traditional schemes. However, with the accelerated flame propagation, the in-cylinder temperature and NOx emission of the mixed-flow port increase while the CO emission decreases. In summary, a proper balance of in-cylinder swirl and tumble flow can significantly affect the economy and stability of natural gas engines. The proposed structure solves the inherent problems of slow natural gas flame propagation and harmful cyclic variations.
Efficient Prediction of Fuel Cell Performance Using Global Modeling Method
Authors: Yang Qinwen , Xiao Gang , Liu Tao , Gao Bin , Chen Shujun
Published: November 2022

A global modeling method is developed to describe the relationship between multi-type parameters and fuel cell performance, which significantly contributes to the efficient performance prediction of fuel cell systems. The multi-type parameters include operating parameters, geometric parameters of the graphite end plates, and the membrane electrolyte assembly physical parameters. An adaptive sampling method integrated with the Kriging method is newly developed for global modeling. Experiments are designed and implemented for model construction and evaluation. The results show the local development and global development in the whole design space can be balanced during the adaptive sampling process. Meanwhile, the prediction capability of accuracy and sensitivity for the global model is reliable in the whole design space. The prediction accuracy is improved by nearly 26% compared to the fuel cell model built for optimization with the same sample size. The prediction sensitivity also proved that the global model could follow the experimental variations under small input deviations.
Schizosaccharomyces pombe in the Brewing Process: Mixed-Culture Fermentation for More Complete Attenuation of High-Gravity Wort
Authors: Pownall Barnaby , Reid Struan J. , Hill Annie E. , Jenkins David
Published: November 2022

High-gravity brewing is a method that maximises brewhouse capacity and reduces energy consumption per unit of beer produced. The fermentation of wort with high sugar content is known to impact the fermentation characteristics and production of aroma-active volatiles, and as such, cultures that are adapted to this method are industrially valuable. Mixed-culture fermentation offers brewers the opportunity to combine desirable features from multiple strains of yeast and to take advantage of the interactions between those strains. In this study, a highly attenuative strain of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is paired with a fast-fermenting brewing strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the fermentation of wort at both standard and high gravity at centilitre scale. Mixed cultures were found to produce several esters and higher alcohols in higher concentration than in either of the parent monocultures at both standard and high gravity. The mixed culture also represented a compromise between fermentation length (modelled by the logistic equation), which was extended by the inclusion of S. pombe, and ethanol yield, which was increased. The application of mixed-culture strategies to high-gravity brewing practices may allow brewers greater flexibility in achieving desired flavour profiles whilst increasing brewhouse efficiency.
Comparison Review of the Production, Microbiology, and Sensory Profile of Lambic and American Coolship Ales
Authors: Carriglio John , Budner Drew , Thompson-Witrick Katherine A.
Published: November 2022

Sour beers have been traditionally brewed with spontaneous fermentation. This has been occurring in Belgium for hundreds of years, and more recently in the United States as the American craft beer industry has boomed. Belgian sour styles include lambics, which are mirrored in a burgeoning style called the American coolship ale (ACA). American beers have much more creative leeway than their Belgian counterparts, as American craft brewing tends to incorporate more contemporary techniques and ingredients than their traditional European forebears. This review paper will summarize the history, production methods, fermentation, microbiological profiles, and sensory profiles of Belgian lambics and American coolship ales.
Feed Efficiency, Tissue Growth and Energy Budget Changes during the Molting Cycle of Juvenile Mud Crab, Scylla serrata: Effects of Dietary Proteins, Fishmeal versus Soy Protein Concentrate
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc Thi Bich , Wantiez Laurent , Lemaire Pierrette , Chim Liet
Published: November 2022

Three isoenergetic diets differing in their fishmeal/soy protein concentrate (SPC) ratio were assessed on the tissue growth and energy budget of juvenile crabs Scylla serrata in postmolt stages (PMolt) and in intermolt stages (IMolt). The average growth rates on a dry matter basis were 2.064 ± 0.324% and 0.492 ± 0.08% initial BW.day−1 during PMolt and IMolt stages, respectively. The efficiencies of the feed conversion (FCE, %), protein retention (PRE, %) and energy retention (ERE, %) were similar for the three experimental diets. However, FCE, PRE and ERE in PMolt stages were four to five times higher than in IMolt stages. The feed intake, energy and protein required for growth in PMolt stages were obviously higher than in IMolt stages. The energy budgets (% total energy intake) were marginally affected by diet but were significantly affected by the molt stage. The maintenance energy was lower in PMolt stages (49.84 ± 4.9%) than in IMolt stages (83.33 ± 2.45%). The excess in maintenance energy in IMolt stages represents the portion set aside for the next molt: shell energy content (4.97 ± 0.31%) and energy for ecdysis (±28%). Conversely, recovery energy was significantly higher in PMolt stages (34.39 ± 0.99%) than in IMolt stages (8.33 ± 1.7%). In conclusion, SPC sustained good tissue growth and good feed utilization and can be used as a main source of dietary protein for crab juveniles in captivity.
Characterization and Bioactive Potential of Carotenoid Lutein from Gordonia rubripertncta GH-1 Isolated from Traditional Pixian Douban
Authors: Zhang Qing , Wang Jie , Li Chanyuan , Zheng Miaoxin , He Zihan , Zou Yuting , Xiong Haibo , Xu Bitao , Xiang Wenliang , Tang Jie
Published: November 2022

The characterization and bioactive properties of carotenoid produced by Gordonia rubripertincta GH-1 originating from Pixian Douban (PXDB), the Chinese traditional condiment, was investigated. The produced and purified yellow pigment was characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and was identified as carotenoid lutein. Additionally, the bioactive activity of lutein from G. rubripertincta GH-1 was evaluated by measuring the free radical scavenging capacity in vitro and feeding zebrafish lutein through aqueous solution. The results showed that the carotenoid lutein had strong antioxidant capacity and a protective effect on zebrafish eye cells, which could inhibit the apoptosis of eye cells in a concentration dependent manner. The results suggested that carotenoid lutein from G. rubripertincta GH-1 could be utilized as a potential source of natural antioxidants or functional additives for food/pharmaceutical industries.
Studies on Simultaneous Enrichment and Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 during Sample Shipment
Authors: Chen Chuyan , Coronel-Aguilera Claudia P. , Applegate Bruce M. , Gehring Andrew G. , Bhunia Arun K. , Paoli George C.
Published: November 2022

The USDA-FSIS has zero tolerance for E. coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef. Currently, FSIS collects samples from beef processing facilities and ships them overnight to regional testing laboratories. Pathogen detection requires robust methods that employ an initial 15–24 h culture enrichment. This study assessed the potential of using the ΦV10nluc phage-based luminescence detection assay during enrichment while the sample is in transit. Parameters including phage concentrations, temperature, and media-to-sample ratios were evaluated. Results in liquid media showed that 1.73× 103 pfu/mL of ΦV10nluc was able to detect 2 CFU in 10 h. The detection of E. coli O157:H7 was further evaluated in kinetic studies using ratios of 1:3, 1:2, and 1:1 ground beef sample to enrichment media, yielding positive results for as little as 2–3 CFU in 325 g ground beef in about 15 h at 37 °C. These results suggest that this approach is feasible, allowing the detection of a presumptive positive upon arrival of the sample to the testing lab. As the current cargo hold controlled temperature is required to be 15–25 °C, the need for elevated temperature should be easily addressed. If successful, this approach could be expanded to other pathogens and foods.
Integrated Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNA and mRNA to Reveal Putative Candidate Genes Associated with Backfat Quality in Beijing Black Pig
Authors: Liu Xin , Tian Weilong , Wang Ligang , Zhang Longchao , Liang Jing , Wang Lixian
Published: November 2022

Pigs’ backfat quality has an important impact on the quality of pork and pork products and has a strong relationship with nutrition and sensory characteristics. This study aimed to identify the related candidate genes of backfat quality and to preliminary clarify the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying pig backfat quality phenotypes. Expression assessments of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA profiling in backfat from high-quality (firm and white) and low-quality (soft and yellow) Beijing Black pigs were performed by RNA sequencing. Significantly different expressions were observed in 610 protein-coding genes and 290 lncRNAs between the two groups. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway annotation showed that some candidate differentially expressed genes that participate in lipid-related pathways and pigmentation terms may play a role in backfat quality in pigs. The cis-target and trans-target genes were predicted to explore the regulatory function of lncRNAs, and integrative analyses of different expression lncRNAs targets and different expression genes were performed. The results showed the regulatory networks of lncRNA-mRNA related to backfat quality, and our study obtained strong candidate genes for backfat quality: ELOVL5, SCD, DGAT2, SLC24A5, and TYRP1, which were involved in fat metabolism, adipogenesis regulation, and pigmentation. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the molecular genetic mechanisms of backfat quality in pigs, and these findings improve the current understanding of backfat quality mechanisms and provide a foundation for further studies.
Increase the Content of Ester Compounds in Blueberry Wine Fermentation with the Ester-Producing Yeast: Candida glabrata, Pichia anomala, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus
Authors: Cai Wenqin , Li Bang , Chen Yanru , Fu Guiming , Fan Haowei , Deng Mengfei , Wan Yin , Liu Na , Li Mengxiang
Published: November 2022

The co-fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and ester-producing yeasts is considered to be an effective way to improve the flavor and quality of fruit wine. In this study, three kinds of ester-producing yeasts (Candida glabrata NCUF308.1, Pichia anomala NCUF306.1, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus NCUF307.1) and S. cerevisiae NCUF309.2 were used to simulate blueberry wine co-fermentation at different ratios. The results showed that, compared with S. cerevisiae NCUF309.2 fermentation (S), the population of S. cerevisiae NCUF309.2 in co-fermentation samples decreased to varying degrees, and the content of ethanol also decreased. The results also showed that the co-fermentation of C. glabrata NCUF308.1 and S. cerevisiae NCUF309.2 at the ratio of 1:1 (CS1), co-fermentation of P. anomala NCUF306.1 and S. cerevisiae NCUF309.2 at the ratio of 5:1 (PS5), and co-fermentation of W. anomalus NCUF307.1 and S. cerevisiae NCUF309.2 at the ratio of 5:1 (WS5) could significantly increase the content of ester compounds (p < 0.05), which was 3.29, 4.75, and 3.04 times that of the S sample, respectively. Among them, the sample of CS1 was characterized by phenethyl acetate and isoamyl acetate, while the samples of CS5 and PS5 were characterized by propyl octanoate and ethyl decanoate, and the sample of WS5 was characterized by 3-methylbutyl hexanoate. However, the contents of odor active compounds were higher in the CS1 sample. Therefore, the samples of CS1 had the potential to create the distinctive flavor of blueberry wine.
Encapsulation of Marjoram Phenolic Compounds Using Chitosan to Improve Its Colon Delivery
Authors: Siles-Sánchez María de las Nieves , Jaime Laura , Villalva Marisol , Santoyo Susana
Published: November 2022

In this study, chitosan particles were used to encapsulate marjoram phenolic compounds as colon-specific drug-delivery systems. The microparticles were prepared by ionic gelation and spray-drying techniques and varying amounts of polymer and extract, along with different method conditions. The spray drying of microparticles (0.75% low molecular weight chitosan dissolved in 0.4% of acetic acid) presented the best encapsulation efficiency (near 75%), with size ranges from 1.55 to 1.68 µm that allowed the encapsulation of 1.25–1.88 mg/mL of extract. Release studies of individual marjoram phenolic compounds at pH 2 and 7.4 showed that most of the compounds remained encapsulated in the microparticles. Only arbutin and vicenin II presented a high initial burst release. As the polarity of the compounds was reduced, their initial release decreased. In addition, after gastrointestinal digestion, most of marjoram phenolic compounds remained encapsulated. These results prove that chitosan microparticlescould protect the marjoram phenolic compounds during gastrointestinal digestion, specifically those related to anticancer activity, which enables their application as colon-specific delivery systems.
A Top-Down Procedure for Synthesizing Calcium Carbonate-Enriched Chitosan from Shrimp Shell Wastes
Authors: Miron Andreea , Sarbu Andrei , Zaharia Anamaria , Sandu Teodor , Iovu Horia , Fierascu Radu Claudiu , Neagu Ana-Lorena , Chiriac Anita-Laura , Iordache Tanta-Verona
Published: November 2022

Chitosan is used in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, water treatment, and food due to its superior biocompatibility and biodegradability. Nevertheless, the complex and relatively expensive extraction costs hamper its exploitation and, implicitly, the recycling of marine waste, the most abundant source of chitosan. In the spirit of developing environmental-friendly and cost-effective procedures, the present study describes one method worth consideration to deliver calcium-carbonate-enriched chitosan from shrimp shell waste, which proposes to maintain the native minerals in the structure of chitin in order to improve the thermal stability and processability of chitosan. Therefore, a synthesis protocol was developed starting from an optimized deacetylation procedure using commercial chitin. The ultimate chitosan product from shrimp shells, containing native calcium carbonate, was further compared to commercial chitosan and chitosan synthesized from commercial chitin. Finally, the collected data during the study pointed out that the prospected method succeeded in delivering calcium-carbonate-enriched chitosan with high deacetylation degree (approximately 75%), low molecular weight (Mn ≈ 10.000 g/ mol), a crystallinity above 59 calculated in the (020) plane, high thermal stability (maximum decomposition temperature over 300 °C), and constant viscosity on a wide range of share rates (quasi-Newtonian behavior), becoming a viable candidate for future chitosan-based materials that can expand the application horizon.
Ecosystem Services: A Social and Semantic Network Analysis of Public Opinion on Twitter
Authors: Bruzzese Stefano , Ahmed Wasim , Blanc Simone , Brun Filippo
Published: November 2022

Social media data reveal patterns of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of users on a range of topics. This study analysed 4398 tweets gathered between 17 January 2022 and 3 February 2022 related to ecosystem services, using the keyword and hashtag “ecosystem services”. The Microsoft Excel plugin, NodeXL was used for social and semantic network analysis. The results reveal a loosely dense network in which information is conveyed slowly, with homogeneous, medium-sized subgroups typical of the community cluster structure. Citizens, NGOs, and governmental administrations emerged as the main gatekeepers of information in the network. Various semantic themes emerged such as the protection of natural capital for the sustainable production of ecosystem services; nature-based solutions to protect human structures and wellbeing against natural hazards; socio-ecological systems as the interaction between human beings and the environment; focus on specific services such as the storage of atmospheric CO2 and the provision of food. In conclusion, the perception of social users of the role of ecosystem services can help policymakers and forest managers to outline and implement efficient forest management strategies and plans.
Standardized High-Quality Processes for End-of-Life-Decision Making in the Intensive Care Unit Remain Robust during an Unprecedented New Pandemic—A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Marsch Fanny , Spies Claudia D. , Francis Roland C. E. , Graw Jan A.
Published: November 2022

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, a concomitant increase in awareness for end-of-life decisions (EOLDs) and advance care planning has been noted. Whether the dynamic pandemic situation impacted EOLD-processes on the intensive care unit (ICU) and patient-sided advance care planning in Germany is unknown. This is a retrospective analysis of all deceased patients of surgical ICUs of a university medical center from March 2020 to July 2021. All included ICUs had established standardized protocols and documentation for EOLD-related aspects of ICU therapy. The frequency of EOLDs and advance directives and the process of EOLDs were analyzed (No. of ethical approval EA2/308/20). A total number of 319 (85.5%) of all deceased patients received an EOLD. Advance directives were possessed by 83 (22.3%) of the patients and a precautionary power of attorney by 92 (24.7%) of the patients. There was no difference in the frequency of EOLDs and patient-sided advance care planning between patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. In addition, no differences in frequencies of do-not-resuscitate orders, withholding or withdrawing of intensive care medicine therapeutic approaches, timing of EOLDs, and participation of senior ICU attendings in EOLDs were noted between patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. Documentation of family conferences occurred more often in deceased patients with COVID-19 compared to non-COVID-19 patients (COVID-19: 80.0% vs. non-COVID-19: 56.8, p = 0.001). Frequency of EOLDs and completion rates of advance directives remained unchanged during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic years. The EOLD process did not differ between patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. Institutional standard procedures might contribute to support the robustness of EOLD-making processes during unprecedented medical emergencies, such as new pandemic diseases.
Nosological Characteristics in Women with Social Media Disorder: The Role of Social Functional Impairment and Agreeableness
Authors: Scherer Lara , Mader Lisa , Wölfling Klaus , Beutel Manfred E. , Egloff Boris , Müller Kai W.
Published: November 2022

Social media disorder (SMD) is a frequently occurring subtype of Internet-related disorders (IRD), which has recently become a focus of research. It is noticeable that women are among those affected, whose nosological characteristics need to be examined. A clinical sample of n = 294 women (14–68 years, M = 36.88 years) was generated. The questionnaire included questions about demography, IRD, SMD, personality traits, psychopathological distress, functional impairment and comorbid mental illnesses. IRD was found in 17.5 percent and SMD in 12.5 percent of women. Compared to women with global IRD Women with SMD reported lower scores on the personality traits neuroticism and agreeableness. They are more frequently functionally impaired in the social dimension, more often reported comorbid substance-dependency and less eating disorders. The results suggest that although have similar characteristics to the comparison group, women with SMD differ in their nosological characteristics from women with global IRD.
Solid Fuel Combustion and Air Pollution: Filling the Data Gap and Future Priorities
Authors: Du Wei , Chen Long , Chen Yuanchen
Published: November 2022

To date, some 3 billion people worldwide still rely on solid fuels (e.g., wood, coal,crop residues, animal dung, etc.) as a source of residential energy for cooking and space heating[...]