bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Gaming Behavior on School Adjustment among Korean Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of Self-Regulation
Authors: Lee Jisue , Jeong Goo-Churl
Published: March 2024

With the rise of digital devices, gaming has become both a pastime and part of the culture for young people. Teenagers use games to communicate, enjoy leisure time, and relieve stress. However, the maladaptive use of gaming can lead to difficulties in adolescents’ daily lives and school adjustment. Increasing adolescents’ self-regulation competencies can improve maladaptive gaming behaviors and help them use gaming adaptively. Therefore, this study examined the moderating effect of self-regulation on the impact of adolescent gaming behavior on school adjustment. This study considered 359 adolescent participants in South Korea. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression to test the moderating effect. The results indicated that adolescents’ adaptive use of games significantly increased school adjustment. Self-regulation significantly moderated the negative effects of the maladaptive use of games on school adjustment. Furthermore, the results revealed that the groups with highly adaptive and maladaptive use of games had high school adjustment but low self-regulation, indicating that they required active intervention.
A Review of Waterborne Polymer–Cementitious Composite Repair Materials for Application in Saline Soil Environments: Properties and Progress
Authors: Yang Yan’e , Pang Bo , Zhang Yunsheng , Wang Minghui , Miao Gaixia , Zhou Aoxiang
Published: March 2024

The properties of a large number of concrete infrastructures in China are deteriorating year by year, raising the need for repairing and strengthening these infrastructures. By introducing waterborne polymers into a cement concrete system, brittle cracks and easy bonding performance defects of concrete can be compensated for to form a long-life, semi rigid, waterborne polymer-modified cementitious repair material with a promising development prospect. This paper investigates the modification effect of polymer emulsions on ordinary cement mortar. Our research mainly focused on the physical and mechanical properties, durability, microstructure and application status of waterborne polymer-modified cementitious composites. Literature studies show that with the increase in waterborne polymer content (0 wt%~20 wt%), the performance of cement mortar significantly improves, which in turn expands its application range. Compared with ordinary cement mortar, the introduction of waterborne polymers blocks some of the pores in the cement to a certain extent, thus improving its permeability, freeze–thaw resistance and durability. Finally, this paper describes the application of waterborne polymer–cementitious composites in western saline soil environments, as well as discusses the prospects of their development.
IF1 Promotes Cellular Proliferation and Inhibits Oxidative Phosphorylation in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts under Normoxia and Hypoxia
Authors: Lauterboeck Lothar , Kang Sung Wook , White Donnell , Bao Rong , Mobasheran Parnia , Yang Qinglin
Published: March 2024

ATP synthase inhibitory factor subunit 1 (IF1) is an inhibitory subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase, playing a crucial role in regulating mitochondrial respiration and energetics. It is well-established that IF1 interacts with the F1 sector of ATP synthase to inhibit the reversal rotation and, thus, ATP hydrolysis. Recent evidence supports that IF1 also inhibits forward rotation or the ATP synthesis activity. Adding to the complexity, IF1 may also facilitate mitophagy and cristae formation. The implications of these complex actions of IF1 for cellular function remain obscure. In the present study, we found that IF1 expression was markedly upregulated in hypoxic MEFs relative to normoxic MEFs. We investigate how IF1 affects cellular growth and function in cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from mouse lines with systemic IF1 overexpression and knockout under normoxia and hypoxia. Cell survival and proliferation analyses revealed that IF1 overexpression exerted limited effects on cellular viability but substantially increased proliferation under normoxia, whereas it facilitated both cellular viability and proliferation under hypoxia. The absence of IF1 may have a pro-survival effect but not a proliferative one in both normoxia and hypoxia. Cellular bioenergetic analyses revealed that IF1 suppressed cellular respiration when subjected to normoxia and was even more pronounced when subjected to hypoxia with increased mitochondrial ATP production. In contrast, IF1 knockout MEFs showed markedly increased cellular respiration under both normoxia and hypoxia with little change in mitochondrial ATP. Glycolytic stress assay revealed that IF1 overexpression modestly increased glycolysis in normoxia and hypoxia. Interestingly, the absence of IF1 in MEFs led to substantial increases in glycolysis. Therefore, we conclude that IF1 mainly inhibits cellular respiration and enhances cellular glycolysis to preserve mitochondrial ATP. On the other hand, IF1 deletion can significantly facilitate cellular respiration and glycolysis without leading to mitochondrial ATP deficit.
Modulating Cholesterol Metabolism via ACAT1 Knockdown Enhances Anti-B-Cell Lymphoma Activities of CD19-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells by Improving the Cell Activation and Proliferation
Authors: Su Qiong , Yao Jie , Farooq Muhammad Asad , Ajmal Iqra , Duan Yixin , He Cong , Hu Xuefei , Jiang Wenzheng
Published: March 2024

CD19-specific CAR-T immunotherapy has been extensively studied for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma. Recently, cholesterol metabolism has emerged as a modulator of T lymphocyte function and can be exploited in immunotherapy to increase the efficacy of CAR-based systems. Acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1) is the major cholesterol esterification enzyme. ACAT1 inhibitors previously shown to modulate cardiovascular diseases are now being implicated in immunotherapy. In the present study, we achieved knockdown of ACAT1 in T cells via RNA interference technology by inserting ACAT1-shRNA into anti-CD19-CAR-T cells. Knockdown of ACAT1 led to an increased cytotoxic capacity of the anti-CD19-CAR-T cells. In addition, more CD69, IFN-γ, and GzmB were expressed in the anti-CD19-CAR-T cells. Cell proliferation was also enhanced in both antigen-independent and antigen-dependent manners. Degranulation was also improved as evidenced by an increased level of CD107a. Moreover, the knockdown of ACAT1 led to better anti-tumor efficacy of anti-CD19 CAR-T cells in the B-cell lymphoma mice model. Our study demonstrates novel CAR-T cells containing ACAT1 shRNA with improved efficacy compared to conventional anti-CD19-CAR-T cells in vitro and in vivo.
Utilization and Impact of a Radiation Nursing Clinic to Address Acute Care Needs for Patients with Gynecologic Cancers
Authors: Dou Aaron , Bouchard-Fortier Genevieve , Han Kathy , Milosevic Michael , Lukovic Jelena , Lheureux Stephanie , Li Xuan , Doherty Mary , Croke Jennifer
Published: March 2024

Background: The risk factors for acute care utilization in gynecologic oncology patients are poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors for the utilization of our centre’s acute care radiation nursing clinic (RNC) by gynecologic oncology patients receiving radiotherapy (RT). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of gynecological cancer patients treated with RT at an academic cancer centre between 1 August 2021 and 31 January 2022. Data on socio-demographics, clinical and treatment characteristics, and RNC visits were collected and summarized by descriptive statistics. The Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi-squared test/Fisher’s exact test were used for comparisons of continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Results: RT was delivered to 180 patients, of whom 42 (23%) received concurrent chemoradiation (CCR). Compared to those receiving RT alone, patients receiving CCR had higher rates of RNC utilization (55% vs. 19%, p < 0.001). Within the CCR cohort, patients who presented to the RNC were more likely to be unpartnered (43% vs. 11%, p = 0.04), receive a referral to Psychosocial Oncology (39% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.01), and experience treatment interruptions (52% vs. 16%, p = 0.02). There were no associations between RNC visits and age, disease site, or distance from the cancer centre. Conclusions: The receipt of CCR and specific psychosocial risk factors were associated with increased RNC utilization. Targeted strategies and early intervention to better meet the supportive care and psychosocial needs of this vulnerable population are needed.
Outcomes of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Brain Metastases Treated with the Upfront Single Agent Pembrolizumab: A Retrospective and Multicentric Study of the ESCKEYP GFPC Cohort
Authors: Nannini Simon , Guisier Florian , Curcio Hubert , Ricordel Charles , Demontrond Pierre , Abdallahoui Safa , Baloglu Seyyid , Greillier Laurent , Chouaid Christos , Schott Roland
Published: March 2024

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cause of brain metastasis (BM). Little is known about immune checkpoint inhibitor activity in the central nervous system, especially in patients receiving monotherapy for tumors with a tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50%. This noninterventional, retrospective, multicenter study, conducted with the GFPC, included treatment-naïve patients strongly positive for PD-L1 (TPS ≥ 50%) with BM receiving first-line single-agent pembrolizumab treatment between May 2017 and November 2019. The primary endpoints were centrally reviewed intracranial overall response rates (ORRs), centrally reviewed intracranial progression-free survival (cPFS), extracranial PFS, and overall survival were secondary endpoints. Forty-three patients from five centers were included. Surgical or local radiation therapy was administered to 31 (72%) patients, mostly before initiating ICI therapy (25/31). Among 38/43 (88.4%) evaluable patients, the intracranial ORR was 73%. The median PFS was 8.3 months. The cerebral and extracerebral median PFS times were 9.2 and 5.3 months, respectively. The median OS was 25.5 months. According to multivariate analysis, BM surgery before ICI therapy was the only factor significantly associated with both improved PFS (HR = 0.44) and OS (HR = 0.45). This study revealed the feasibility and outcome of front-line pembrolizumab treatment in this population with BM.
A Histological Evaluation of the Efficiency of Using Periprosthetic Autologous Fat to Prevent Capsular Contracture Compared to Other Known Methods—An Experimental Study
Authors: Pertea Mihaela , Aladari Nadia , Grosu Oxana Madalina , Luca Stefana , Tatar Raluca , Avadanei Andrei-Nicolae , Palaghia Madalina , Trofin Ana Maria , Lunca Sorinel , Filip Nina
Published: March 2024

Background: Capsular contracture remains a common complication in silicone breast implantation. The etiology, formation mechanisms, predisposing and favoring factors are still subjects of research. This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of using autologous fat introduced periprosthetically in preventing capsular contracture compared to other known methods: antibiotics and corticosteroids. Methods: A cohort of 80 Wistar rats was included in the study, divided into four subgroups. All subjects received a silicone implant, implanted in a pocket created along the abdominal midline. The first subgroup served as the control group, with subjects having the implant placed without any treatment. For the second and third subgroups, the implants were treated with an antibiotic solution and intramuscular injections of dexamethasone, respectively. The subjects in the last subgroup received centrifuged autologous fat introduced periprosthetically. Results: The subgroup with autologous fat exhibited a significantly smaller capsule thickness, which was poorly represented, with a smooth surface. The use of autologous fat for treating silicone prosthesis was linked with the lack of acute inflammation around the prosthetic site. Conclusions: Autologous fat helps to minimize the “non-self” reaction, which results in the development of a periprosthetic capsule consisting of mature collagen fibers interspersed with adipocytes.
UAV-Based Wetland Monitoring: Multispectral and Lidar Fusion with Random Forest Classification
Authors: Van Alphen Robert , Rains Kai C. , Rodgers Mel , Malservisi Rocco , Dixon Timothy H.
Published: March 2024

As sea levels rise and temperatures increase, vegetation communities in tropical and sub-tropical coastal areas will be stressed; some will migrate northward and inland. The transition from coastal marshes and scrub–shrubs to woody mangroves is a fundamental change to coastal community structure and species composition. However, this transition will likely be episodic, complicating monitoring efforts, as mangrove advances are countered by dieback from increasingly impactful storms. Coastal habitat monitoring has traditionally been conducted through satellite and ground-based surveys. Here we investigate the use of UAV-LiDAR (unoccupied aerial vehicle–light detection and ranging) and multispectral photogrammetry to study a Florida coastal wetland. These data have higher resolution than satellite-derived data and are cheaper and faster to collect compared to crewed aircraft or ground surveys. We detected significant canopy change in the period between our survey (2020–2022) and a previous survey (2015), including loss at the scale of individual buttonwood trees (Conocarpus erectus), a woody mangrove associate. The UAV-derived data were collected to investigate the utility of simplified processing and data inputs for habitat classification and were validated with standard metrics and additional ground truth. UAV surveys combined with machine learning can streamline coastal habitat monitoring, facilitating repeat surveys to assess the effects of climate change and other change agents.
Estimating Total Length of Partially Submerged Crocodylians from Drone Imagery
Authors: Aubert Clément , Le Moguédec Gilles , Velasco Alvaro , Combrink Xander , Lang Jeffrey W. , Griffith Phoebe , Pacheco-Sierra Gualberto , Pérez Etiam , Charruau Pierre , Villamarín Francisco , Roberto Igor J. , Marioni Boris , Colbert Joseph E. , Mobaraki Asghar , Woodward Allan R. , Somaweera Ruchira , Tellez Marisa , Brien Matthew , Shirley Matthew H.
Published: March 2024

Understanding the demographic structure is vital for wildlife research and conservation. For crocodylians, accurately estimating total length and demographic class usually necessitates close observation or capture, often of partially immersed individuals, leading to potential imprecision and risk. Drone technology offers a bias-free, safer alternative for classification. We evaluated the effectiveness of drone photos combined with head length allometric relationships to estimate total length, and propose a standardized method for drone-based crocodylian demographic classification. We evaluated error sources related to drone flight parameters using standardized targets. An allometric framework correlating head to total length for 17 crocodylian species was developed, incorporating confidence intervals to account for imprecision sources (e.g., allometric accuracy, head inclination, observer bias, terrain variability). This method was applied to wild crocodylians through drone photography. Target measurements from drone imagery, across various resolutions and sizes, were consistent with their actual dimensions. Terrain effects were less impactful than Ground-Sample Distance (GSD) errors from photogrammetric software. The allometric framework predicted lengths within ≃11–18% accuracy across species, with natural allometric variation among individuals explaining much of this range. Compared to traditional methods that can be subjective and risky, our drone-based approach is objective, efficient, fast, cheap, non-invasive, and safe. Nonetheless, further refinements are needed to extend survey times and better include smaller size classes.
Weak Scale Supersymmetry Emergent from the String Landscape
Authors: Baer Howard , Barger Vernon , Martinez Dakotah , Salam Shadman
Published: March 2024

Superstring flux compactifications can stabilize all moduli while leading to an enormous number of vacua solutions, each leading to different 4−d laws of physics. While the string landscape provides at present the only plausible explanation for the size of the cosmological constant, it may also predict the form of weak scale supersymmetry which is expected to emerge. Rather general arguments suggest a power-law draw to large soft terms, but these are subject to an anthropic selection of a not-too-large value for the weak scale. The combined selection allows one to compute relative probabilities for the emergence of supersymmetric models from the landscape. Models with weak scale naturalness appear most likely to emerge since they have the largest parameter space on the landscape. For finetuned models such as high-scale SUSY or split SUSY, the required weak scale finetuning shrinks their parameter space to tiny volumes, making them much less likely to appear compared to natural models. Probability distributions for sparticle and Higgs masses from natural models show a preference for Higgs mass mh∼125 GeV, with sparticles typically beyond the present LHC limits, in accord with data. From these considerations, we briefly describe how natural SUSY is expected to be revealed at future LHC upgrades. This article is a contribution to the Special Edition of the journal Entropy, honoring Paul Frampton on his 80th birthday.
A Mixed-Methods Study of How a Critical Race Theory-Informed Undergraduate Research Experience Program Provides Equitable Support for Aspiring Graduate Students
Authors: Fernandez Frank , Mason Sarah , Sharp Shannon , Chavira Gabriela , Khachikian Crist S. , Kwan Patchareeya , Saetermoe Carrie
Published: March 2024

Numerous studies document the benefits of participating in undergraduate research experiences (UREs), including greater odds of enrolling in graduate school. However, there is a lack of understanding about how UREs support student success. This study examines survey and interview data from a multi-year program evaluation of a National Institutes of Health-funded biomedical training program to consider whether and how participating in a URE fosters students’ sense of belonging, which is an important predictor of retention and graduation. Analyzing the quantitative survey data revealed that participating in the URE was positively associated with a sense of belonging even after controlling for students’ background characteristics, including gender, race or ethnicity, first-generation status, commuting burden, and age. Additionally, there was a positive relationship between a sense of belonging and odds of applying to graduate school. Path analysis suggests that the URE has an indirect relationship with applying to a graduate program that operates through the URE’s direct relationship with sense of belonging. Interview data offered insights into how the URE supported an increased sense of belonging. Specifically, we found that the URE fostered a sense of belonging when (1) faculty research mentors develop authentic, personal, and caring relationships with mentees, (2) the URE program welcomes, cultivates, and supports women and racially diverse students, and (3) the URE is embedded within a university environment that allows for faculty and peer engagement.
Performance and Emission Optimisation of an Ammonia/Hydrogen Fuelled Linear Joule Engine Generator
Authors: Chen Gen , Ngwaka Ugochukwu , Wu Dawei , Li Mingqiang
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a Linear Joule Engine Generator (LJEG) powered by ammonia and hydrogen co-combustion to tackle decarbonisation in the electrification of transport propulsion systems. A dynamic model of the LJEG, which integrates mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetics sub-models, as well as detailed combustion chemistry analysis for emissions, is presented. The dynamic model is integrated and validated, and the LJEG performance is optimised for improved performance and reduced emissions. At optimal conditions, the engine could generate 1.96 kWe at a thermal efficiency of 34.3% and an electrical efficiency of 91%. It is found that the electromagnetic force of the linear alternator and heat addition from the external combustor and engine valve timing have the most significant influences on performance, whereas the piston stroke has a lesser impact. The impacts of hydrogen ratio, oxygen concentration, inlet pressure, and equivalence ratio of ammonia-air on nitric oxide (NO) formation and reduction are revealed using a detailed chemical kinetic analysis. Results indicated that rich combustion and elevated pressure are beneficial for NO reduction. The rate of production analysis indicates that the equivalence ratio significantly changes the relative contribution among the critical NO formation and reduction reaction pathways.
Research on Dynamic Economic Dispatch Optimization Problem Based on Improved Grey Wolf Algorithm
Authors: Yang Wenqiang , Zhang Yihang , Zhu Xinxin , Li Kunyan , Yang Zhile
Published: March 2024

The dynamic economic dispatch (DED) problem is a typical complex constrained optimization problem with non-smooth, nonlinear, and nonconvex characteristics, especially considering practical situations such as valve point effects and transmission losses, and its objective is to minimize the total fuel costs and total carbon emissions of generating units during the dispatch cycle while satisfying a series of equality and inequality constraints. For the challenging DED problem, a model of a dynamic economic dispatch problem considering fuel costs is first established, and then an improved grey wolf optimization algorithm (IGWO) is proposed, in which the exploitation and exploration capability of the original grey wolf optimization algorithm (GWO) is enhanced by initializing the population with a chaotic algorithm and introducing a nonlinear convergence factor to improve weights. Furthermore, a simple and effective constraint-handling method is proposed for the infeasible solutions. The performance of the IGWO is tested with eight benchmark functions selected and compared with other commonly used algorithms. Finally, the IGWO is utilized for three different scales of DED cases, and compared with existing methods in the literature. The results show that the proposed IGWO has a faster convergence rate and better global optimization capabilities, and effectively reduces the fuel costs of the units, thus proving the effectiveness of IGWO.
Hydrogen-Rich Syngas Production from Gasification of Sewage Sludge: Catalonia Case
Authors: Untoria Sandra , Rouboa Abel , Monteiro Eliseu
Published: March 2024

The continuous tightening of legislation regulating the agricultural usage of sewage sludge in the province of Catalonia (Spain) leads us to propose its gasification to produce hydrogen-rich syngas. A thermodynamic equilibrium model was developed using Aspen Plus® to simulate the air and steam gasification of sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant in Catalonia. The syngas generated is analyzed in terms of composition and lower heating value (LHV), as a function of equivalence ratio (ER), gasification temperature (Tgas), steam-to-biomass ratio (SBR), and moisture content (MC). Results show that air-blown gasification finds the highest LHV of 7.48 MJ/m3 at 1200 °C, ER of 0.2, and MC of 5%. Using steam as the gasifying agent, an LHV of 10.30 MJ/m3 is obtained at SBR of 0.2, MC of 5%, and 1200 °C. A maximum of 69.7% hydrogen molar fraction is obtained at 600 °C, MC of 25%, and SBR of 1.2. This study suggests using steam as a gasifying agent instead of air since it provides a higher LHV of the syngas as well as a hydrogen-richer syngas for the implementation of gasification as an alternative method to sewage sludge treatment in the region of Catalonia. Since the economic aspect should also be considered, in this regard, our sensitivity analysis provided important data demonstrating that it is possible to reduce the gasification temperature without significantly decreasing the LHV.
An Efficient and Robust ILU(k) Preconditioner for Steady-State Neutron Diffusion Problem Based on MOOSE
Authors: Wu Yingjie , Zhang Han , Liu Lixun , Tang Huanran , Dou Qinrong , Guo Jiong , Li Fu
Published: March 2024

Jacobian-free Newton Krylov (JFNK) is an attractive method to solve nonlinear equations in the nuclear engineering community, and has been successfully applied to steady-state neutron diffusion k-eigenvalue problems and multi-physics coupling problems. Preconditioning technique plays an important role in the JFNK algorithm, significantly affecting its computational efficiency. The key point is how to automatically construct a high-quality preconditioning matrix that can improve the convergence rate and perform the preconditioning matrix factorization efficiently and robustly. A reordering-based ILU(k) preconditioner is proposed to achieve the above objectives. In detail, the finite difference technique combined with the coloring algorithm is utilized to automatically construct a preconditioning matrix with low computational cost. Furthermore, the reordering algorithm is employed for the ILU(k) to reduce the additional non-zero elements and pursue robust computational performance. A 2D LRA neutron steady-state benchmark problem is used to evaluate the performance of the proposed preconditioning technique, and a steady-state neutron diffusion k-eigenvalue problem with thermal-hydraulic feedback is also utilized as a supplement. The results show that coloring algorithms can automatically and efficiently construct the preconditioning matrix. The computational efficiency of the FDP with coloring could be about 60 times higher than that of the preconditioner without the coloring algorithm. The reordering-based ILU(k) preconditioner shows excellent robustness, avoiding the effect of the fill-in level k choice in incomplete LU factorization. Moreover, its performances under different fill-in levels are comparable to the optimal computational cost with natural ordering.
Field Trial Evaluation of a Hybrid Heat Pump in an Existing Multi-Family House before and after Renovation
Authors: Neubert Daniel , Glück Christian , Wapler Jeannette , Marko Armin , Bongs Constanze , Felsmann Clemens
Published: March 2024

Renovation of existing buildings is fundamental to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the building sector and to ensure the efficient operation of renewable heating systems. In multi-family houses, the suitability of heat pumps is limited by high required temperatures for the hot water preparation, which can be mitigated by hybrid heat pump systems. In this study, the energetic performance of a hybrid heat pump in a multi-family house, built in 1964, is investigated based on field data before and after a renovation. Multiple months are measured and mapped to a full year period. The combination of different renovation measures in the heating system and building envelope is rated w.r.t. their ecological and economical impact by taking into account the actual investment costs. The evaluation shows that the installation of a hybrid heat pump can achieve an accumulated greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 45%, which is similar to a building renovation to a new-build standard, which reduces the space heating demand by up to 62%. Nevertheless, only a combination of both measures can substantially reduce the emissions, which in this case are 81% lower compared to a gas boiler in 1990, which is still below the German climate target for 2040. Due to the low investment costs of a hybrid heat pump system, tenants are more likely to profit from a renting costs reduction, while a building renovation is especially economically beneficial at high energy prices. The results therefore emphasize that the insulation level should be selected carefully, as heat pumps already prepare space heating efficiently and that the heat pump must be able to support the hot water preparation to reach high emission reduction targets.
Impact of Noodle Formulation, Boiling Methodology and Their Interactions on Stable Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotope Ratios
Authors: Yang Jingjie , Erasmus Sara Wilhelmina , Sun Qianqian , Guo Boli , van Ruth Saskia Marieke
Published: March 2024

Stable isotopes are commonly utilized for the geographical origin verification of foods, including wheat. However, assessing processed products poses a greater challenge due to the alterations that take place during processing and which have not been fully elucidated yet. In the current study, the effects of the formulation (the mass ratios of gluten to starch), boiling process and their interaction on the stable hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopic ratios of wheat noodles were evaluated. The δ2H and δ18O of noodles with different formulations (the mass ratios of gluten to starch) as raw materials, in uncooked and cooked (boiled in water) noodles, were examined. The results indicated that the δ2H of the boiled noodles ranged from −80.1‰ to −46.8‰ and were significantly lower than those of the raw materials, which ranged from −73.0‰ to −39.2‰, and the uncooked noodles, which ranged from −73.3‰ to −39.6‰. Oppositely, 18O was enriched in the boiled noodles, ranging from 27.7‰ to 31.3‰, compared with the uncooked noodles, ranging from 28.4‰ to 29.6‰. In addition, a significant interaction effect between the formulation and the boiling process was recorded for δ18O. This study shows that the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic compositions of noodles were significantly changed during the boiling process, and the isotopic fractionation varies with the different formulations.
Green Extraction of Natural Colorants from Food Residues: Colorimetric Characterization and Nanostructuring for Enhanced Stability
Authors: Lauria Victoria Baggi Mendonça , Silva Luciano Paulino
Published: March 2024

Food residues are a promising resource for obtaining natural pigments, which may replace artificial dyes in the industry. However, their use still presents challenges due to the lack of suitable sources and the low stability of these natural compounds when exposed to environmental variations. In this scenario, the present study aims to identify different food residues (such as peels, stalks, and leaves) as potential candidates for obtaining natural colorants through eco-friendly extractions, identify the colorimetric profile of natural pigments using the RGB color model, and develop alternatives using nanotechnology (e.g., liposomes, micelles, and polymeric nanoparticles) to increase their stability. The results showed that extractive solution and residue concentration influenced the RGB color profile of the pigments. Furthermore, the external leaves of Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra, the peels of Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita maxima x Cucurbita moschata, and Beta vulgaris L. proved to be excellent resources for obtaining natural pigments. Finally, the use of nanotechnology proved to be a viable alternative for increasing the stability of natural colorants over storage time.
Investigation of the Effect of Different Seed Flours on Gluten-Free Products: Baton Cake Production, Characterization, and TOPSIS Application
Authors: Dedebas Tugba , Cebi Nur
Published: March 2024

The present study aims to develop gluten-free product formulations by using different seed flours to determine their effectiveness in gluten-free products. For this purpose, a baton cake model was selected; the cake production process was conducted by adding hemp, okra, mustard, or coriander seed flours with rice flour at a ratio of 25% seed flour to 75% rice flour to prepare the cake batters. The physicochemical, textural, and sensory properties, as well as the baking behaviors of the resulting products, were determined. The TOPSIS method was used in the sensory analyses. With the addition of seed flours, a color change occurred in the inner and crust values of the baton cake samples. It was observed that the hardness value of the baton cake samples increased with the addition of seed flour. In the TOPSIS evaluation, which is a multi-criteria decision-making method, the most preferred product in the free baton cake samples was the cake with hemp seed flour added, while the least preferred product was the control group baton cake. According to the findings, it was concluded that the use of seed flours can be used as an alternative ingredient in the production of gluten-free baton cakes that celiac patients can consume in their diets.
RNA-Based Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Membrane Vesicles Derived from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Authors: Yamasaki-Yashiki Shino , Kawashima Fumie , Saika Azusa , Hosomi Ryota , Kunisawa Jun , Katakura Yoshio
Published: March 2024

Bacteria generally release extracellular membrane vesicles (MVs), which are nanoparticles that play important roles in bacterial–bacterial and bacterial–host communication. As probiotics, lactic acid bacteria provide diverse health benefits to their hosts. In this study, we found that the Gram-positive lactic acid bacteria Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum NBRC 15891 produce high amounts of MVs (LpMVs), and that LpMVs inhibit interleukin (IL)-8 production induced by lipopolysaccharide in intestinal epithelial HT29 cells. Heat- or UV-killed bacterial cells did not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, and there was no uptake of these bacterial cells; contrarily, LpMVs were taken up into the cytoplasm of HT29 cells. Small RNAs extracted from LpMVs also suppressed IL-8 production in HT29 cells, suggesting that RNAs in the cytoplasm of bacterial cells are encapsulated in the MVs and released from the cells, which may be delivered to HT29 cells to exert their anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, administration of LpMVs to mice with dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis alleviated colitis-induced weight loss and colon length shortening, indicating that LpMV intake is likely to be effective in preventing or ameliorating colitis.
Effects of Drying Methods on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Cinnamomum camphora Seed Kernel Protein Isolate
Authors: Ye Mengqiang , Wang Zhixin , Yan Xianghui , Zeng Zheling , Peng Ting , Xia Jiaheng , Zhao Junxin , Wang Weiyun , Gong Deming , Yu Ping
Published: March 2024

Cinnamomum camphora seed kernel protein isolate (CPI) has attracted increasing attention due to its sustainability and potential applications. This study aimed to investigate the effects of freeze-drying (FD), vacuum-drying (VD), and spray-drying (SD) on the physicochemical and functional properties of CPI. The morphology observation results showed that the SD-CPI, SD-CPI, and VD-CPI were spherical, lamellar, and massive, respectively. Compared to FD and SD, VD had more impact on the color, surface hydrophobicity, intermolecular disulfide bonds, intrinsic fluorescence, and thermal stability of CPI. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses showed that among three CPI samples, VD-CPI had the highest content of β-sheet but the lowest contents of α-helix and β-turn. At different pH values, the solubility, emulsification, and foaming properties of VD-CPI were inferior to those of FD-CPI and SD-CPI. These results provide useful information on the changes in the physicochemical and functional properties of CPI subjected to different drying methods, and offer theoretical guidance for the production and use of CPI in the food industry.
A Comprehensive Risk Factor Exploration: Korean Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Sarcopenia Obesity in Young-Old Males—Investigating the Prevalence, Somatometric, Biochemical, and Behavioral Traits
Authors: Hwang Jongseok , Park Soonjee
Published: March 2024

Sarcopenic obesity refers to the coexistence of sarcopenia and obesity. This study assessed the prevalence of and risk factors for sarcopenic obesity in community-dwelling older males in Korea. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1060 community-dwelling participants. The participants were screened for sarcopenia and obesity. This study examined various risk factors, composed of somatometric, biochemical, and behavioral traits, including age; height; weight; body mass index; waist circumference; skeletal muscle mass index; fasting glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels; systolic and diastolic blood pressure; and smoking and drinking traits. The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in men had a weighted value of 9.09% (95% CI: 7.20–11.41). The clinical risk factors included short height, as well as high weight, body mass index, waist circumference, skeletal muscle mass index, triglyceride levels, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Specific prevalence and clinical risk factors for sarcopenic obesity were found among community-dwelling older men. These findings may be beneficial for primary care clinicians and healthcare professionals for identifying individuals with sarcopenic obesity and referring them for early detection and treatment.
Metals in Heritage Science
Authors: Soffritti Chiara
Published: March 2024

The valorization of our Cultural Heritage is deeply grounded in the study of the production, use and consumption of ancient metals [...]
Evolution of Primary Research Studies in Digital Interventions for Mental Well-Being Promotion from 2004 to 2023: A Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on the Web of Science
Authors: Armaou Maria , Pears Matthew , Konstantinidis Stathis Th. , Blake Holly
Published: March 2024

Research into digital interventions for mental well-being promotion has grown in recent years, fuelled by the need to improve mental health prevention strategies and respond to challenges arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This bibliometric analysis provides a structured overview of publication trends and themes in primary research studies reporting an array of digital interventions indexed at WoS from 2004 to 2023. Bibliometric data were collected on a sample of 1117 documents and analysed using the Biblioshiny package. Supplemental network visualisation analysis was conducted using VosViewer. The study, based on Web of Science and Scopus databases, indicates a marked increase in publications post-2020. There were seven groups of research themes clustered around “Mindfulness”, “Anxiety”, “COVID-19”, “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy”, “Depression”, “Web-based”, and “Positive Psychology”. Further, results demonstrated the growth of specific themes (e.g., mindfulness, mhealth), the defining impact of COVID-19 studies, and the importance of both randomised controlled trials and formative research. Overall, research in the field is still early in its development and is expected to continue to grow. Findings highlight the field’s dynamic response to societal and technological changes, suggesting a future trajectory that leans increasingly on digital platforms for mental health promotion and intervention. Finally, study limitations and implications for future studies are discussed.
Exploring the Spatiotemporal Effects of the Built Environment on the Nonlinear Impacts of Metro Ridership: Evidence from Xi’an, China
Authors: Xi Yafei , Hou Quanhua , Duan Yaqiong , Lei Kexin , Wu Yan , Cheng Qianyu
Published: March 2024

Exploring the correlation of the built environment with metro ridership is vital for fostering sustainable urban growth. Although the research conducted in the past has explored how ridership is nonlinearly influenced by the built environment, less research has focused on the spatiotemporal ramifications of these nonlinear effects. In this study, density, diversity, distance, destination, and design parameters are utilized to depict the “5D” traits of the built environment, while Shapley Additive Explanations with eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost-SHAP) are adopted to uncover the spatial and temporal features concerning the nonlinear relationship of the built environment with ridership for metro stations located in Xi’an. We conducted a K-means clustering analysis to detect different site clusters by utilizing local SHAP coefficients. The results show that (1) built environment variables significantly influence metro ridership in a nonlinear manner at different periods and thresholds, with the POI facility density being the most critical variable and the other variables demonstrating time-driven effects; (2) the variables of population density and parking lot density exhibit spatial impact heterogeneity, while the number of parks and squares do not present a clear pattern; and (3) based on the clustering results, the metro stations are divided into four categories, and differentiated guidance strategies and planning objectives are proposed. Moreover, the current work offers a more developed insight into the spatiotemporal influence of built environments on metro travel in Xi’an, China, using nonlinear modeling, which has vital implications for coordinated urban–metro development.
Lipoprotein(a) and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Where Do We Stand?
Authors: Tsioulos Georgios , Kounatidis Dimitris , Vallianou Natalia G. , Poulaki Aikaterini , Kotsi Evangelia , Christodoulatos Gerasimos Socrates , Tsilingiris Dimitrios , Karampela Irene , Skourtis Alexandros , Dalamaga Maria
Published: March 2024

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] consists of a low-density lipoprotein-like molecule and an apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] particle. Lp(a) has been suggested to be an independent risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Lp(a) plasma levels are considered to be 70–90% genetically determined through the codominant expression of the LPA gene. Therefore, Lp(a) levels are almost stable during an individual’s lifetime. This lifelong stability, together with the difficulties in measuring Lp(a) levels in a standardized manner, may account for the scarcity of available drugs targeting Lp(a). In this review, we synopsize the latest data regarding the structure, metabolism, and factors affecting circulating levels of Lp(a), as well as the laboratory determination measurement of Lp(a), its role in the pathogenesis of ASCVD and thrombosis, and the potential use of various therapeutic agents targeting Lp(a). In particular, we discuss novel agents, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that are currently being developed and target Lp(a). The promising role of muvalaplin, an oral inhibitor of Lp(a) formation, is then further analyzed.
Anatomical Anal Stenosis after PPH: Insights from a Retrospective Study and Rat Model
Authors: Wen Chia-Cheng , Huang Shih-Ming , Wang Yi-Wen
Published: March 2024

High-grade hemorrhoids are usually recommended to receive operational treatments. However, these traditional surgeries are associated with severe postoperative pain. A procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH), a circular staple device, has been developed to improve short-term outcomes, including reducing the severity of postoperative pain. PPH, compared to conventional surgery, has been associated with the incidence of anatomical anal stenosis. The causes of stenosis after PPH are not yet clear. We first analyzed the complications of our patients with PPH, and then developed a rat model to verify the tension force of PPH using Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson’s trichrome, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. Our clinical data showed that PPH significantly improved postoperative pain, but that it resulted in higher incidences of complications, including anal stenosis, than hemorrhoidectomy. We simulated the status of PPH and developed a rat model to verify PPH’s tension force, including the scarring area and the deposition of proinflammatory factors, angiogenic factors, and fibrotic factors. The tension wound histological data showed more extensive granulation tissue and inflammatory cell infiltration and a thicker epidermis than the control group on day 12 post-operation and tension treatment. In addition to IL-1β and IL-10 cytokines on day 3 and IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines on day 12 post-operation in the tension group, two angiogenic factors, CD31 and VEGF-A, were found to have a more significant expression on day 7 post-operation in the tension group. The mean scar area was larger and the distribution of fibrotic proteins (collagen 1, α-SMA, CTGF, and MMP2) in the tension group was significantly broader than in the control on day 12 post-operation and tension treatment. Based on the findings of our animal model, the development of a lesser tensile force for PPH to decrease the deposition of proinflammatory factors, angiogenic factors, and fibrotic factors is urgently required.
Prevalence and Estimation of the Evolution of Myopia in Spanish Children
Authors: Sánchez-Tena Miguel Ángel , Martinez-Perez Clara , Villa-Collar Cesar , González-Pérez Mariano , González-Abad Ana ,   Grupo de Investigación Alain Afflelou, Alvarez-Peregrina Cristina
Published: March 2024

Background: In recent decades, myopia has turned into a public health issue across the world. Between 1993 and 2016, the percentage of myopes increased from 10.4% to 34.2%. This study aims to analyze the myopia prevalence in Spanish children from five to seven years old over the last five years and to predict the rate of myopia in Spain by 2030. Methods: The sample consisted of children aged between 5 and 7, who underwent an optometric examination consisting of the measurement of visual acuity (VA) and determination of objective and subjective refraction. The cut-off points to define refractive error are established by the spherical equivalent (SE) value: hyperopia for an SE over or equal to +0.50 D; myopia for an SE under or equal to −0.50 D; and emmetropia when the SE is between −0.50 D and +0.50 D. Results: The myopia rate in Spanish children aged between five and seven was 19%. Myopia prevalence progressively increased as children grew up (p ≤ 0.001). It is estimated that, in the year 2030, the rate of myopia will be 30.2% [CI: 25.3–35.0], of which 81.9% [CI: 78.3–85.3] will have low myopia, 10.0% [CI: 7.2–12.8] moderate myopia, and 7.3% [CI: 4.9–9.7] high myopia. Conclusions: Nineteen percent of Spanish children between five and seven are myopes. In 2030, is expected that 30.2% of Spanish children between 5 and 7 years of age will be myopes. These estimations will support eye care professionals in recommending that children spend more time outdoors to prevent the onset of myopia and the use of methods to control myopia to avoid reaching these figures of high myopia.
Cholangiocyte Organoids: The New Frontier in Regenerative Medicine for the Study and Treatment of Cholangiopathies
Authors: Babboni Serena , Vacca Pier Giuseppe , Simonini Ludovica , Pezzati Daniele , Martinelli Caterina , Frongillo Francesco , Bianco Giuseppe , Marciano Emanuele , Basta Giuseppina , Ghinolfi Davide , Del Turco Serena
Published: March 2024

Cholangiopathies include a group of chronic progressive disorders, affecting the cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells that line the biliary tree, leading to liver parenchymal fibrosis and eventually end-stage liver disease necessitating transplantation. Experimental modeling of these multifactorial cholestatic diseases faces challenges due to the lack of adequate experimental in vitro and in vivo models. A novel approach employs three-dimensional organoid systems that offer several advantages for modeling disease and testing drug response in vitro. Organoids mimic intercellular communication, replicate the architecture of organs, and maintain the cell’s original phenotype. Cholangiocyte organoids provide an in vitro model to study the pathogenesis and pharmacotherapeutic treatment of cholangiopathies and show great promise for regenerative therapies. In particular, patient-derived organoids allow personalized medicine approaches and the study of individual disease characteristics. This review highlights the significance of cholangiocyte organoid models in advancing our understanding of cholangiopathies and driving advancements in regenerative medicine strategies.