bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Side-Milling-Force Model Considering Tool Runout and Workpiece Deformation
Authors: Xie Miao , Yu Xinli , Bao Wei , Liu Changfu , Xia Min
Published: February 2023

With the development of Industry 4.0, hard-cut materials such as titanium alloys have been widely used in the aerospace industry. However, due to the poor rigidity of titanium alloy parts, deformation and vibration easily occur during the cutting process, which affects the accuracy, surface quality and efficiency of part machining. Therefore, in this paper, tool runout and workpiece deformation are introduced into the milling process of flat-end mills. Based on the tool’s hypocycloid motion, a geometric parameter model of the milling process is established, and the undeformed cutting thickness model is obtained considering the tool runout and workpiece deformation. Finally, the milling force model for side-milling titanium alloy thin-walled parts was established. The accuracy of the force model is verified through experiments. The error of the proposed model is far less than that of the traditional basic method. The maximum error of the traditional basic method is 87.09%. However, the maximum error of the proposed model is only 66.54%. The results show that the proposed force model considering tool runout and workpiece deformation can provide more accurate milling force prediction.
The Relationship between Socioeconomic Factors at Different Administrative Levels and Forest Fire Occurrence Density Using a Multilevel Model
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhao Hang , Zhang Zhengxiang , Yin Yiwei , Zhen Shuo
Published: February 2023

Wildfires are among the main factors that disturb terrestrial ecosystems, landscapes, and the environment. Understanding the differences that the socioeconomic factors of different administrative levels have on fire occurrence remains critical to inform the driving function of ignition sources. In this study, we collected socioeconomic and land use data for 21 cities and 81 counties in the study area from 2001 to 2019 and applied a multilevel model to explore the relationship between wildfire occurrence density and the driving factors. We estimated the fixed and random effect of the factors at different levels and built three hierarchical linear models (HLMs) to quantify the impacts of socioeconomic drivers on wildfires. The results showed that the variance among cities contributed to 14.01% of the unexplained variation of random effects at the county level. At the county level, the densities of middle school student populations, gross domestic product (GDP), and impervious surface areas were significantly positively correlated with fire occurrence density. At the city level, GDP and its interaction with county-level factors were significantly negatively correlated with fire occurrence density. This study provides a new method and findings for the research of wildfire occurrence and risk.
Insect Diversity in the Coastal Pinewood and Marsh at Schinias, Marathon, Greece: Impact of Management Decisions on a Degraded Biotope
Authors: Petrakis Panos V. , Koulelis Panagiotis P. , Solomou Alexandra D. , Spanos Kostas , Spanos Ioannis , Feest Alan
Published: February 2023

The insects trapped in 63 plots positioned in a mixed pinewood and a marsh in Schinias, Marathon, Greece is studied relative to the anthropogenic disturbance. The last anthropogenic impact was recently intensified because of the Olympic Games in the area. One hundred and forty insect species were found that had abundances greater than two individuals in each sampling session in all plots. Seven insect community types were found using cluster analysis. The types, which corresponded to recognized habitats, re-emerged in a non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination. It was also found that insects tended to dwell in different plots, even in the same habitat. The invading P. halepensis Mill., which replaces P. pinea L., changed the entomofauna. The seven habitats had different numbers of bioindicators out of 74 insect species, not in general correlated with human impact. Three components of insect diversity were measured, and the temporal species turnover was consistently higher than the spatial one. In this sense, pine habitats were rated first in terms of overall insect diversity. In terms of biodiversity, the impact on the various biotopes was assessed utilizing the diversity–equitability index V, which indicated that the two P. halepensis-dominated habitats have negative V values together with the habitat dominated by Tamarix hampeana Nied. The conservation of P. pinea and the marsh habitats is recommended for conserving local entomofauna and stopping the progression of P. halepensis. The optimization of management strategies to meet the management goals of all elements of this degraded ecosystem seems to be crucial.
Changes in Physicochemical Characteristics and Microbial Diversity of Traditional Fermented Vinasse Hairtail
Authors: Zhang Yue , Tu Chuanhai , Lin Huimin , Hu Yuwei , Jia Junqi , Shui Shanshan , Wang Jiaxing , Hu Yi , Zhang Bin
Published: February 2023

Fermented foods may confer several benefits to human health and play an important role in a healthy and balanced diet. Vinasse hairtail is a farmhouse-fermented food product with cultural and economic significance to locals in Zhoushan China. It is traditionally produced and subjected to 0–8 days of fermentation. In this study, we aimed to characterize the microbiota and physicochemical profiles of vinasse hairtail across different stages of fermentation. With the increase of fermentation time, pH, total sugar content, reducing sugar content, fat content, salt content, total protein content, myofibrillar protein content, TVB-N, and TBARS index increased, while the peroxide value decreased. The addition of vinasse significantly intensified the lipid and protein oxidation and protein degradation of hairtail, thereby increasing the flavor of its products. The microbial diversity and succession characterization during the fermentation of vinasse hairtail by high-throughput sequencing was measured. Results showed that Firmicutes was the predominant phylum and Lactobacillus was the main genera of bacterial diversity. Ascomycota was the main phylum of fungi and the main fungal genera detected in the samples were Saccharomyces. Additionally, the correlation between microbial community and physicochemical properties was found. Our study revealed that Lactobacillus was the major lactic acid bacteria present throughout the fermentation process. The results may provide a theoretical basis for improving the overall quality of vinasse hairtail.
Characterization of Bee Bread Produced with Defined Starter Cultures Mimicking the Natural Fermentation Process
Authors: Poyraz Fatmanur , Yalmanci Dilara , İspirli Hümeyra , Dertli Enes
Published: February 2023

Bee bread is a product with unique properties for humans and bees that is produced through the fermentation of pollen in the honeycomb, mainly caused by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast strains present in the environment. It is a rich source of nutrients such as proteins, polyphenols and vitamins. Despite the potential nutritional value of bee bread, it is consumed at low levels, as harvesting bee bread from the hives is costly and difficult. This study aimed to produce a standard bee bread by using different strains of the fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) Lactobacillus kunkeei and the yeasts Starmeralla magnolia MP-2 and Zygosaccharomyces siamensis MP-14, previously isolated from bee products. In this context, bee bread was produced from pollen by solid-state fermentation using selected FLAB and yeast species, which were then compared with spontaneously developed and commercially available bee bread in terms of microbial stability, physicochemical properties, total phenolic component amounts, in vitro digestibility and amino acid profiles. As a result, it was determined that bee bread made from bee pollen fermented with starter cultures showed improved characteristics than commercial bee bread and was more advantageous in terms of absorption as well as production processes.
Development of Digested Sludge-Assimilating and Biohydrogen-Yielding Microflorae
Authors: Hayakawa Yuhei , Aburai Nobuhiro , Fujii Katsuhiko
Published: February 2023

Digested sludge (DS) is a waste product of anaerobic digestion that is produced during the biodegradation of excess sludge. It cannot be used as a substrate for further biogas production owing to its recalcitrant nature. In the present study, we used a heat treatment technique to convert DABYS microflora (DABYS = digested sludge-assimilating and biogas-yielding soil microflora), which degraded DS and produced methane gas, to a microflora that could produce hydrogen gas from DS. Heat treatment at 80 and 100 °C inactivated the methanogens that consume hydrogen for methane production but did not affect the thermotolerant bacteria. We developed three microflorae (DABYS-A80, DABYS-A100, and DABYS-80B) to exclusively produce hydrogen gas. They included representatives from the anaerobic eubacterial families Clostridiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. Pseudomonas sp. was also present in DABYS-A80 and DABYS-A100. It is thought that bacteria in the Enterobacteriaceae family or Pseudomonas genus survive heat treatment because they are embedded in microgranules. Enzymatic analysis suggested that the microflorae hydrolyzed DS using cellulase, chitinase, and protease. Under optimum culture conditions, DABYS-A80, -A100, and B-100 produced gas yields of 8.0, 7.1, and 2.6 mL, respectively, from 1.0 g of dried DS.
The LNG Flow Simulation in Stationary Conditions through a Pipeline with Various Types of Insulating Coating
Authors: Shammazov Ildar , Karyakina Ekaterina
Published: February 2023

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is one of the most promising fuels for energy supply because it has a favorable combination of environmental and economic properties in connection with new trends aimed at the development of ecological and sustainable consumption of natural resources, which ensure a constant growth in LNG consumption. The article presents an analytical review of the main technical solutions for the construction of cryogenic pipelines and insulating coating structures. The ANSYS Fluent software was used for simulation of the LNG flow in a pipeline section 10 m long with an outer diameter of 108 mm for three types of insulating coating (polyurethane (PU) foam, aerogel, and vacuum-insulated pipe (VIP)). In addition, an assessment was made of the insulating effect on the LNG temperature distribution along the length of the pipeline. The largest increase in temperature from 113 K to 113.61 K occurs in PU foam-insulated pipes; the smallest was observed in VIP. Further, as an alternative to steel, the use of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for pipeline material was considered. The optimal result in terms of temperature distributions was obtained while simulating the flow of an LNG pipeline with PU foam by increasing the thickness of the insulating coating to 0.05 m.
Exposure and Health Risk Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 in Raw Milk and Cottage Cheese in Adults in Ethiopia
Authors: Zebib Haftom , Abate Dawit , Woldegiorgis Ashagrie Zewdu
Published: February 2023

Aflatoxin M1 (milk toxin) found in milk is formed from the hepatic biotransformation of AFB1 (aflatoxin B1) and poses a risk to human health when consumed. The risk assessment of AFM1 exposure due to milk consumption is a valuable way to assess health risk. The objective of the present work was to determine an exposure and risk assessment of AFM1 in raw milk and cheese, and it is the first of its kind in Ethiopia. Determination of AFM1 was conducted using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicated that AFM1 was positive in all samples of milk products. The risk assessment was determined using margin of exposure (MOE), estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard index (HI), and cancer risk. The mean EDIs for raw milk and cheese consumers were 0.70 and 0.16 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. Our results showed that almost all mean MOE values were <10,000, which suggests a potential health issue. The mean HI values obtained were 3.50 and 0.79 for raw milk and cheese consumers, respectively, which indicates adverse health effects for large consumers of raw milk. For milk and cheese consumers, the mean cancer risk was 1.29 × 10−6 and 2.9 × 10−6 cases/100,000 person/year, respectively, which indicates a low risk for cancer. Therefore, a risk assessment of AFM1 in children should be investigated further as they consume more milk than adults.
Rapid Quantitative Method Development for Beef and Pork Lymph Nodes Using BAX® System Real Time Salmonella Assay
Authors: Vargas David A. , Betancourt-Barszcz Gabriela K. , Blandon Sabrina E. , Applegate Savannah F. , Brashears Mindy M. , Miller Markus F. , Gragg Sara E. , Sanchez-Plata Marcos X.
Published: February 2023

The goal of this study was to develop a rapid RT-PCR enumeration method for Salmonella in pork and beef lymph nodes (LNs) utilizing BAX®-System-SalQuant® as well as to assess the performance of the methodology in comparison with existing ones. For study one: PCR curve development, pork, and beef LNs (n = 64) were trimmed, sterilized, pulverized, spiked with 0.00 to 5.00 Log CFU/LN using Salmonella Typhimurium, and then homogenized with BAX-MP media. Samples were incubated at 42 °C and tested at several time points using the BAX®-System-RT-PCR Assay for Salmonella. Cycle-Threshold values from the BAX®-System, for each Salmonella concentration were recorded and utilized for statistical analysis. For study two: Method comparison; additional pork and beef LNs (n = 52) were spiked and enumerated by (1) 3M™EB-Petrifilm™ + XLD-replica plate, (2) BAX®-System-SalQuant®, and (3) MPN. Linear-fit equations for LNs were estimated with recovery times of 6 h and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 10 CFU/LN. Slopes and intercepts for LNs using BAX®-System-SalQuant® when compared with MPN were not significantly different (p < 0.05), while the same parameters for 3M™EB-Petrifilm™ + XLD-replica plate were significantly different (p > 0.05). The results support the capability of BAX®-System-SalQuant® to enumerate Salmonella in pork and beef LNs. This development adds support to the use of PCR-based quantification methodologies for pathogen loads in meat products.
Analytical Platform for the Study of Metabolic Pathway of Propyl Propane Thiosulfonate (PTSO) from Allium spp.
Authors: García-Nicolás María , Pastor-Belda Marta , Campillo Natalia , Rodríguez-Sojo María Jesús , Ruiz-Malagón Antonio Jesús , Hidalgo-García Laura , Abad Paloma , de la Torre José Manuel , Guillamón Enrique , Baños Alberto , Gálvez Julio , Viñas Pilar , Arroyo-Manzanares Natalia
Published: February 2023

The present work is focused on the development of an analytical platform to elucidate the metabolic pathway of PTSO from onion, an organosulfur compound well-known for its functional and technological properties and its potential application in animal and human nutrition. This analytical platform consisted of the use of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole with time-of-flight MS (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) in order to monitor volatile and non-volatile compounds derived from the PTSO. For the extraction of the compounds of interest, two different sample treatments were developed: liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and salting-out assisted liquid–liquid extraction (SALLE) for GC–MS and UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis, respectively. Once the analytical platform was optimised and validated, an in vivo study was planned to elucidate PTSO metabolisation, revealing the presence of dipropyl disulfide (DPDS) in liver samples with concentrations between 0.11 and 0.61 µg g−1. The DPDS maximum concentration in the liver was observed at 0.5 h after the intake. DPDS was also present in all plasma samples with concentrations between 2.1 and 2.4 µg mL−1. In regard to PTSO, it was only found in plasma at times above 5 h (0.18 µg mL−1). Both PTSO and DPDS were excreted via urine 24 h after ingestion.
Effects of High-Canolol Phenolic Extracts on Fragrant Rapeseed Oil Quality and Flavor Compounds during Frying
Authors: Cao Lili , Jia Pengpeng , Liu Haotian , Kang Shengmei , Jiang Shaotong , Pang Min
Published: February 2023

Fragrant rapeseed oil (FRO) is a frying oil widely loved by consumers, but its quality deteriorates with increasing frying time. In this study, the effect of high-canolol phenolic extracts (HCP) on the physicochemical properties and flavor of FRO during frying was investigated. During frying, HCP significantly inhibited the increase in peroxide, acid, p-anisidine, and carbonyl values, as well as total polar compounds and degradation of unsaturated fatty acids. A total of 16 volatile flavor compounds that significantly contributed to the overall flavor of FRO were identified. HCP was effective in reducing the generation of off-flavors (hexanoic acid, nonanoic acid, etc.) and increased the level of pleasant deep-fried flavors (such as (E,E)-2,4-decadienal). Therefore, the application of HCP has a positive effect on protecting the quality and prolonging the usability of FRO.
Effect of Metal Ions on the Interaction of Condensed Tannins with Protein
Authors: Zhang Liangliang , Guan Qinhao , Zhang He , Tang Lihua
Published: February 2023

A quantitative analysis of the precipitate effects of metal ions (Al3+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) by bovine serum albumin (BSA) on two condensed tannins (CT) from sorghum and plum was presented in this study. The results showed that adding metal ions enhanced the precipitation of proteins by CT, depending on the type and concentration of the metal ions used in the reaction system. The presence of metal ions and precipitation results on the CT–protein complex showed that Al3+ and Fe2+ had a higher binding ability with CT and a weaker influence on the precipitation of the CT–protein complex than Cu2+ and Zn2+. However, when the initial reaction solution contained excessive amounts of BSA, the extra addition of metal ions had no significant effect on the amount of BSA precipitation. Reversely, adding Cu2+ or Zn2+ into the reaction solution increased the amount of precipitated BSA when the amount of CT was excessive. In addition, the amounts of CT from plum, rather than sorghum, generated more protein precipitate in the presence of Cu2+ or Zn2+, which may be due to the different binding modes between the metal ion and the CT–BSA complex. This study also proposed a model of the interaction between the metal ion and the CT–protein precipitate.
Encapsulation of Orange Peel Oil in Biopolymeric Nanocomposites to Control Its Release under Different Conditions
Authors: Ghasemi Sanaz , Assadpour Elham , Kharazmi Mohammad Saeed , Jafarzadeh Shima , Zargar Masoumeh , Jafari Seid Mahdi
Published: February 2023

Orange peel oil (OPO) is one of the most common flavorings used in the food industry, but it is volatile under environmental conditions (the presence of light, oxygen, humidity, and high temperatures). Encapsulation by biopolymer nanocomposites is a suitable and novel strategy to improve the bioavailability and stability of OPO and its controlled release. In this study, we investigated the release profile of OPO from freeze-dried optimized nanocomposite powders as a function of pH (3, 7, 11) and temperature (30, 60, and 90 °C), and within a simulated salivary system. Finally, its release kinetics modelling was performed using experimental models. The encapsulation efficiency of OPO within the powders, along with the morphology and size of the particles, were also evaluated by an atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. The results showed that the encapsulation efficiency was in the range of 70–88%, and the nanoscale size of the particles was confirmed by AFM. The release profile showed that the lowest and the highest release rates were observed at the temperatures of 30 and 90 °C and in the pH values of 3 and 11, respectively, for all three samples. The Higuchi model provided the best model fitting of the experimental data for the OPO release of all the samples. In general, the OPO encapsulates prepared in this study showed promising characteristics for food flavoring applications. These results suggest that the encapsulation of OPO may be useful for controlling its flavor release under different conditions and during cooking.
Enhancing Conductivity and Self-Healing Properties of PVA/GEL/OSA Composite Hydrogels by GO/SWNTs for Electronic Skin
Authors: Chen Xiaohu , Zhang Haonan , Cui Jiashu , Wang Yanen , Li Mingyang , Zhang Juan , Wang Changgeng , Liu Zhisheng , Wei Qinghua
Published: February 2023

The use of flexible, self-healing conductive hydrogels as a type of typical electronic skin with the function of transmitting sensory signals has attracted wide attention in the field of biomaterials. In this study, composite hydrogels based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), gelatin (GEL), oxidized sodium alginate (OSA), graphene oxide (GO), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were successfully prepared. The hydrogen and imine bonding of the composite hydrogels gives them excellent self-healing properties. Their self-healing properties restore 68% of their breaking strength and over 95% of their electrical conductivity. The addition of GO and SWNTs enables the PGO-GS hydrogels to achieve a compressive modulus and conductivity of 42.2 kPa and 29.6 mS/m, which is 8.2 times and 1.5 times that of pure PGO, respectively. Furthermore, the PGO-GS hydrogels can produce profound feedback signals in response to deformation caused by external forces and human movements such as finger flexion and speech. In addition, the PGO-GS hydrogels exhibit superior biocompatibility compared to PGO. All of these results indicate that the PGO-GS hydrogels have great potential with respect to future applications in the field of electronic skin.
Coexistence of Genetic Diseases Is a New Clinical Challenge: Three Unrelated Cases of Dual Diagnosis
Authors: Capra Anna Paola , La Rosa Maria Angela , Briguori Sara , Civa Rosa , Passarelli Chiara , Agolini Emanuele , Novelli Antonio , Briuglia Silvana
Published: February 2023

Technological advancements in molecular genetics and cytogenetics have led to the diagnostic definition of complex or atypical clinical pictures. In this paper, a genetic analysis identifies multimorbidities, one due to either a copy number variant or a chromosome aneuploidy, and a second due to biallelic sequence variants in a gene associated with an autosomal recessive disorder. We diagnosed the simultaneous presence of these conditions, which co-occurred by chance, in three unrelated patients: a 10q11.22q11.23 microduplication and a homozygous variant, c.3470A>G (p.Tyr1157Cys), in the WDR19 gene associated with autosomal recessive ciliopathy; down syndrome and two variants, c.850G>A; p.(Gly284Arg) and c.5374G>T; p.(Glu1792*), in the LAMA2 gene associated with merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (MDC1A); and a de novo 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome and homozygous variant, c.2828G>A (p.Arg943Gln), in the ABCA4 gene associated with Stargardt disease 1 (STGD1). The possibility of being affected by two relatively common or rare inherited genetic conditions would be suspected when signs and symptoms are incoherent with the primary diagnosis. All this could have important implications for improving genetic counseling, determining the correct prognosis, and, consequently, organizing the best long-term follow-up.
Impact of Advanced Paternal Age on Fertility and Risks of Genetic Disorders in Offspring
Authors: Kaltsas Aris , Moustakli Efthalia , Zikopoulos Athanasios , Georgiou Ioannis , Dimitriadis Fotios , Symeonidis Evangelos N. , Markou Eleftheria , Michaelidis Theologos M. , Tien Dung Mai Ba , Giannakis Ioannis , Ioannidou Eleni Maria , Papatsoris Athanasios , Tsounapi Panagiota , Takenaka Atsushi , Sofikitis Nikolaos , Zachariou Athanasios
Published: February 2023

The average age of fathers at first pregnancy has risen significantly over the last decade owing to various variables, including a longer life expectancy, more access to contraception, later marriage, and other factors. As has been proven in several studies, women over 35 years of age have an increased risk of infertility, pregnancy problems, spontaneous abortion, congenital malformations, and postnatal issues. There are varying opinions on whether a father’s age affects the quality of his sperm or his ability to father a child. First, there is no single accepted definition of old age in a father. Second, much research has reported contradictory findings in the literature, particularly concerning the most frequently examined criteria. Increasing evidence suggests that the father’s age contributes to his offspring’s higher vulnerability to inheritable diseases. Our comprehensive literature evaluation shows a direct correlation between paternal age and decreased sperm quality and testicular function. Genetic abnormalities, such as DNA mutations and chromosomal aneuploidies, and epigenetic modifications, such as the silencing of essential genes, have all been linked to the father’s advancing years. Paternal age has been shown to affect reproductive and fertility outcomes, such as the success rate of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and premature birth rate. Several diseases, including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and paediatric leukaemia, have been linked to the father’s advanced years. Therefore, informing infertile couples of the alarming correlations between older fathers and a rise in their offspring’s diseases is crucial, so that they can be effectively guided through their reproductive years.
Differential Repeat Accumulation in the Bimodal Karyotype of Agave L.
Authors: Ramos Lamonier Chaves , Báez Mariana , Fuchs Joerg , Houben Andreas , Carvalho Reginaldo , Pedrosa-Harand Andrea
Published: February 2023

The genus Agave presents a bimodal karyotype with x = 30 (5L, large, +25S, small chromosomes). Bimodality within this genus is generally attributed to allopolyploidy in the ancestral form of Agavoideae. However, alternative mechanisms, such as the preferential accumulation of repetitive elements at the macrochromosomes, could also be important. Aiming to understand the role of repetitive DNA within the bimodal karyotype of Agave, genomic DNA from the commercial hybrid 11648 (2n = 2x = 60, 6.31 Gbp) was sequenced at low coverage, and the repetitive fraction was characterized. In silico analysis showed that ~67.6% of the genome is mainly composed of different LTR retrotransposon lineages and one satellite DNA family (AgSAT171). The satellite DNA localized at the centromeric regions of all chromosomes; however, stronger signals were observed for 20 of the macro- and microchromosomes. All transposable elements showed a dispersed distribution, but not uniform across the length of the chromosomes. Different distribution patterns were observed for different TE lineages, with larger accumulation at the macrochromosomes. The data indicate the differential accumulation of LTR retrotransposon lineages at the macrochromosomes, probably contributing to the bimodality. Nevertheless, the differential accumulation of the satDNA in one group of macro- and microchromosomes possibly reflects the hybrid origin of this Agave accession.
Challenges and Opportunities for Clinical Cytogenetics in the 21st Century
Authors: Heng Eric , Thanedar Sanjana , Heng Henry H.
Published: February 2023

The powerful utilities of current DNA sequencing technology question the value of developing clinical cytogenetics any further. By briefly reviewing the historical and current challenges of cytogenetics, the new conceptual and technological platform of the 21st century clinical cytogenetics is presented. Particularly, the genome architecture theory (GAT) has been used as a new framework to emphasize the importance of clinical cytogenetics in the genomic era, as karyotype dynamics play a central role in information-based genomics and genome-based macroevolution. Furthermore, many diseases can be linked to elevated levels of genomic variations within a given environment. With karyotype coding in mind, new opportunities for clinical cytogenetics are discussed to integrate genomics back into cytogenetics, as karyotypic context represents a new type of genomic information that organizes gene interactions. The proposed research frontiers include: 1. focusing on karyotypic heterogeneity (e.g., classifying non-clonal chromosome aberrations (NCCAs), studying mosaicism, heteromorphism, and nuclear architecture alteration-mediated diseases), 2. monitoring the process of somatic evolution by characterizing genome instability and illustrating the relationship between stress, karyotype dynamics, and diseases, and 3. developing methods to integrate genomic data and cytogenomics. We hope that these perspectives can trigger further discussion beyond traditional chromosomal analyses. Future clinical cytogenetics should profile chromosome instability-mediated somatic evolution, as well as the degree of non-clonal chromosomal aberrations that monitor the genomic system’s stress response. Using this platform, many common and complex disease conditions, including the aging process, can be effectively and tangibly monitored for health benefits.
The Coding Mitogenome of the Freshwater Crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus (Decapoda:Astacidea:Astacidae) from Lake Vegoritida, Greece and Its Taxonomic Classification
Authors: Alvanou Maria V. , Apostolidis Apostolos P. , Lattos Athanasios , Michaelidis Basile , Giantsis Ioannis A.
Published: February 2023

Pontastacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) (Decapoda:Astacidea:Astacidae) constitutes an ecologically and economically highly important species. In the present study, the mitochondrial genome of the freshwater crayfish P. leptodactylus from Greece is analyzed for the first time, using 15 newly designed primer pairs based on available sequences of closely related species. The analyzed coding part of the mitochondrial genome of P. leptodactylus consists of 15,050 base pairs including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA gene (rRNAs), and 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs). These newly designed primers may be particularly useful in future studies for analyzing different mitochondrial DNA segments. Based on the entire mitochondrial genome sequence, compared to other haplotypes from related species belonging in the same family (Astacidae) available in the GenBank database, a phylogenetic tree was constructed depicting the phylogenetic relationships of P. leptodactylus. Based on the results, the genetic distance between Astacus astacus and P. leptodactylus is smaller than the genetic distance between Austropotamobius pallipes and Austropotamobius torrentium, despite the fact that the latter two are classified within the same genus, questioning the phylogenetic position of A. astacus as a different genus than P. leptodactylus. In addition, the sample from Greece seems genetically distant compared with a conspecific haplotype available in the GenBank database, possibly implying a genetic distinction of P. leptodactylus from Greece.
Coming-of-Age of Teenage Female Arab Gothic Fiction: A Feminist Semiotic Study
Authors: Hurley Zoe , Hojeij Zeina
Published: February 2023

This feminist semiotic study explores the folkloric imaginary of the jinn in the context of children’s and young adults’ Arab Gothic literature. Across the Middle East, the jinn is a common trope in literature, folklore and oral storytelling who, in diegetic terms, can manifest as the Gothic figure of an aging female, deranged older woman or succubus (known as sa’lawwa in Arabic). In this study, a novel feminist semiotic framework is developed to explore the extent to which the Gothic female succubus either haunts or liberates Arab girls’ coming-of-age fictions. This issue is addressed via a feminist semiotic reading of the narratives of Middle Eastern woman author @Ranoy7, exploring the appeal of her scary stories presented on YouTube. Findings reveal tacit fears, ambivalences and tensions embodied within the Arab Gothic sign of the aging female succubus or jinn. Overall, the research develops feminist insights into the semiotic motif of the female jinn and its role in constituting Arab females as misogynistic gendered sign objects in the context of the social media story explored.
Effect of an Integrated Physiotherapy Protocol on Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Khan Sohrab Ahmad , Parasher Prithvi , Ansari Mairaj Ahmed , Parvez Suhel , Fatima Noor , Alam Iqbal
Published: February 2023

Background: Exercise therapy can potentially relieve symptoms and improve functional status of the knee osteoarthritis population. Despite the proved practical benefits, there is no standard, comprehensive physiotherapeutic protocol available targeting the physical and physiological impairment cluster associated with disease. Osteoarthritis is a whole joint disease, affecting joint cartilage, ligaments, menisci and joint associated muscles, from variable pathophysiological processes. Hence, there is a need to develop a physiotherapy protocol to address the multi-structural physical, physiological and functional impairments associated with the disease. Objective: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of designed, therapist supervised, patient education, progressive resistance exercises, passive stretching exercises, soft tissue manipulation, muscle energy technique, Maitland mobilization, aerobic exercise, and neuromuscular training physiotherapy protocol on pain, disability, balance, and physical functional performance in knee osteoarthritis patients. Methodology: The preliminary study was conducted on a (n = 60) sample of convenience. The samples were randomly allocated into two study groups, intervention, and control group. The control group was advised on a basic home program. On the other hand, the treatment of the intervention group was designed with a therapist supervised Physiotherapy Protocol. The outcome variables studied were the Visual Analogue Scale, Modified WOMAC Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, Functional Reach Test, 40 m Fast Paced Walk Test, Stair Climb Test, 30 s Chair Stand Test. Results: The results of the study revealed a significant improvement among most of the studied outcome measures in the intervention group, hence the designed supervised physiotherapy protocol was found effective in relieving multiple physiological impairments associated with this whole joint disease.
Gender Differences among Healthcare Providers in the Promotion of Patient-, Person- and Family-Centered Care—And Its Implications for Providing Quality Healthcare
Authors: Lim Sarah Ashley , Khorrami Amir , Wassersug Richard J. , Agapoff Jame A.
Published: February 2023

The concept of “patient-centered care” (PCC) emphasizes patients’ autonomy and is commonly promoted as a good healthcare practice that all of medicine should strive for. Here, we assessed how six medical specialties—pediatrics, OBGYN, orthopedics, radiology, dermatology, and neurosurgery—have engaged with PCC and its derivative concepts of “person-centered care” (PeCC) and “family-centered care” (FCC) as a function of the number of female physicians in each field. To achieve this, we conducted a scoping review of three databases—PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo—to assess the extent that PCC, PeCC, FCC, and RCC were referenced by different specialties in the medical literature. Reference to PCC and PeCC in the literature correlates significantly with the number of female physicians in each field (all p < 0.00001) except for neurosurgery (p > 0.5). Pediatrics shows the most extensive reference to PCC, followed by OBGYN, with a significant difference between all disciplines (p < 0.001). FCC remains exclusively embraced by pediatrics. Our results align with documented cognitive differences between men and women that recognize gender differences in empathizing (E) versus systemizing (S) with females demonstrating E > S, which supports PCC/PeCC/FCC approaches to healthcare.
Goal Orientations of Secondary School Students and Their Intention to Practise Physical Activity in Their Leisure Time: Mediation of Physical Education Importance and Satisfaction
Authors: Pérez-Quero Francisco Javier , Granero-Gallegos Antonio , Baena-Extremera Antonio , Baños Raúl
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to analyse the mediating role of Physical Education importance and satisfaction/fun between the dispositional goal orientations of secondary school students and their intention to partake in leisure time physical activity. The research design was descriptive, cross-sectional, and non-randomized. In total, 2102 secondary school students participated (Mage = 14.87; SD = 1.39) (1024 males; 1078 females). The scales used were the Perception of Success Questionnaire, Importance of Physical Education, Satisfaction with Physical Education, and Intention to Participate in Leisure Time Physical Activity. Structural equation models with the latent variables were also calculated. The results highlight that Physical Education satisfaction/fun has a mediating effect between task orientation and the intention to practice physical activity during leisure time.
Effects of Iron Salts on Demineralization and Discoloration of Primary Incisor Enamel Subjected to Artificial Cariogenic Challenge versus Saline Immersion
Authors: Nazemisalman Bahareh , Mohseni Mehran , Darvish Shayan , Farsadeghi Mahya , Luchian Ionut
Published: February 2023

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effects of iron salts on the demineralization and discoloration of primary incisor enamel subjected to artificial cariogenic challenge (ACC) versus saline immersion. Methodology: In this in vitro experimental study, 90 primary incisors were evaluated in 10 groups (n = 9). Five groups were subjected to ACC, and the other five were immersed in saline. Ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous ammonium citrate, and ferrous gluconate were added to both saline and cariogenic solutions. The solutions were refreshed every 48 h. After 14 days, the teeth were removed from the media and their demineralization was inspected via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was also performed. The color of the specimens was measured at baseline and after the intervention using the Vita Shade Guide. Results: Data were analyzed by the Kruskal–Wallis test, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey’s test. The color change of specimens subjected to ACC was greater than the color change of those in saline (p = 0.083). The teeth subjected to ACC showed greater iron uptake than did those in saline (p = 0.023). SEM assessment revealed a regular pattern of enamel prisms, with some broken prisms and superficial cracks in the teeth immersed in saline. The teeth subjected to ACC showed numerous fractures and cracks, which were greater in the ferrous sulfate group. Conclusions: Immersion in ACC increased the structural porosities and led to greater iron uptake and, consequently, higher discoloration. The maximum structural changes and subsequent staining were noted in the ferrous sulfate group, followed by ferrous ammonium citrate, ferrous fumarate, and ferrous gluconate.
Research on Knowledge Learning of COVID-19 Video Viewers: Based on Cognitive Mediation Model
Authors: Liu Jingfang , Lu Caiying , Cai Jingxian
Published: February 2023

During the COVID-19 epidemic, social media has become the main channel for people to learn information related to the epidemic, among which information in the form of videos has played a significant role in the prevention and control of COVID-19. However, few studies have analyzed the process of knowledge learning of individuals through watching COVID-19 videos. Therefore, to explore the process of COVID-19 video viewers’ knowledge acquisition, this paper constructs a knowledge learning path model based on the cognitive mediation model and dual coding theory. A sample of 255 valid questionnaires was collected to validate this model. The results of this study show that an individual’s perceived risk of COVID-19 affects their surveillance motivation positively, while surveillance motivation further stimulates the attention and elaboration about the information in COVID-19 videos. Among them, attention positively influences the elaboration about the information. Ultimately, both an individual’s attention and elaboration positively influence the knowledge he or she acquires from the COVID-19 videos. This paper not only verifies the hypothesized relationships in the original cognitive mediation model, but also extends the model to the context of video knowledge learning. Analyzing the knowledge learning process of COVID-19 video viewers, this paper can provide suggestions for government propaganda departments and relevant media to improve public knowledge of COVID-19.
Torture and Maltreatment in Prison: A Medico-Legal Perspective
Authors: Albano Giuseppe Davide , Guadagnino Daniela , Midiri Mauro , La Spina Corinne , Tullio Valeria , Argo Antonina , Zerbo Stefania
Published: February 2023

The maltreatment and torture of prisoners constitute a global problem. Methods of maltreatment are classified as the psychological and the physical, and physical methods inevitably lead to psychological sequelae. Our review offers an analysis from the medico-legal perspective of the literature on the torture and physical and sexual abuse experienced by prisoners and their psychological sequelae and aims to investigate the medico-legal issues of investigating maltreatment in prison so as to suggest methodologies and updated approaches for dealing with such cases in a forensic context. We performed a comprehensive literature search of peer-reviewed publications (articles and reviews), research reports, case studies, books, service models, protocols, and institutional documents available online using key electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed) and search engines (Google Scholar) with the following keywords: physical violence, psychological violence, torture, maltreatment, physical abuse, psychological abuse AND prison OR prisoner OR jail OR custody. In the medical literature, most of the publications on torture are based on retrospective studies of torture among survivors and often refer to asylum seekers. Forensic evaluation is crucial for assessing the determinant elements of torture and maltreatment. A multidisciplinary approach and standardized and updated methodologies are needed to support policymakers, national institutions, and public health system initiatives in this field.
Short Video Addiction on the Interaction of Creative Self-Efficacy and Career Interest to Innovative Design Profession Students
Authors: Lin I-Tung , Shen Yu-Min , Shih Mei-Jen , Ho Chien-Chang
Published: February 2023

In recent years, a variety of emerging online media, such as TikTok, Kuaishou, YouTube and other short video application platforms, have appeared. The problem of short video addiction has become an issue to education experts and the general public, as students’ excessive use of short video has become increasingly serious with many hidden concerns to the students’ learning effectiveness. In addition, to meet the growing demand for innovative design talents worldwide, the Taiwan government has been committed to promoting policies related to the cultivation of innovative and creative talents nowadays, particularly for innovative design profession students who often use the Internet and short videos for learning. Therefore, the study aims to use questionnaires to understand the habits and addiction of the innovative design profession students in using short videos, and to further investigate the relation of short video addiction to the students’ creative self-efficacy (CSE) and career interests. A total of 561 valid questionnaires were collected after eliminating invalid questionnaires and reliability analysis. Structural equation modeling and model validation were conducted afterwards. The results showed that short video addiction had a negative effect on CSE; CSE had a positive effect on career interests; and CSE had an indirect effect between short video addiction and career interests.
An Optimization-Linked Intelligent Security Algorithm for Smart Healthcare Organizations
Authors: Irshad Reyazur Rashid , Alattab Ahmed Abdu , Alsaiari Omar Ali Saleh , Sohail Shahab Saquib , Aziz Asfia , Madsen Dag Øivind , Alalayah Khaled M.
Published: February 2023

IoT-enabled healthcare apps are providing significant value to society by offering cost-effective patient monitoring solutions in IoT-enabled buildings. However, with a large number of users and sensitive personal information readily available in today’s fast-paced, internet, and cloud-based environment, the security of these healthcare systems must be a top priority. The idea of safely storing a patient’s health data in an electronic format raises issues regarding patient data privacy and security. Furthermore, with traditional classifiers, processing large amounts of data is a difficult challenge. Several computational intelligence approaches are useful for effectively categorizing massive quantities of data for this goal. For many of these reasons, a novel healthcare monitoring system that tracks disease processes and forecasts diseases based on the available data obtained from patients in distant communities is proposed in this study. The proposed framework consists of three major stages, namely data collection, secured storage, and disease detection. The data are collected using IoT sensor devices. After that, the homomorphic encryption (HE) model is used for secured data storage. Finally, the disease detection framework is designed with the help of Centered Convolutional Restricted Boltzmann Machines-based whale optimization (CCRBM-WO) algorithm. The experiment is conducted on a Python-based cloud tool. The proposed system outperforms current e-healthcare solutions, according to the findings of the experiments. The accuracy, precision, F1-measure, and recall of our suggested technique are 96.87%, 97.45%, 97.78%, and 98.57%, respectively, according to the proposed method.
Cut-Wounding Promotes Phenolic Accumulation in Cucumis melo L. Fruit (cv. Yugu) by Regulating Sucrose Metabolism
Authors: Guo Yuanyuan , Yu Zhifang , Li Ruxin , Wang Libin , Xie Chunyan , Wu Zhangfei
Published: February 2023

The effect of cutting on the molecular changes underlying sucrose metabolism and the phenylpropanoid pathway in melon fruit (cv. Yugu) during storage at 15 °C was investigated. Furthermore, the key metabolites, enzymes, and genes involved in sucrose and phenylpropanoid metabolism were determined. Results showed that the cutting of melon increased the activities of acid invertase (AI), neutral invertase (NI), and sucrose synthase-cleavage (SS-c) and the expressions of CmAI1/2, CmNI1/2, and CmSS1, while sucrose synthase-synthesis (SS-s) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activities and the CmSS2/3 and CmSPS1/2/4 gene expressions were suppressed. These led to sucrose decomposition and fructose and glucose accumulation in fresh-cut melon at the early stage of storage. Moreover, cutting increased the activity and gene expression of hexokinase, which accelerated the transformation of hexose in fresh-cut melon. In addition, cutting enhanced the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) and up-regulated the expressions of CmPAL1-9, CmC4H1-4, and Cm4CL1/2/3, which activated phenylpropanoid metabolism and resulted in phenolic accumulation in fresh-cut melon. These findings demonstrate that cutting of melon can enhance sucrose metabolism and phenylpropanoid pathway by regulating the activities and gene expressions of related enzymes. Therefore, cut-wounding promoted the conversion of sugars to supply the necessary substrates for phenolic accumulation in fresh-cut melon.