bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Tool for Detecting Freshness of Commercial Packaged Pork
Authors: Arias Eduardo , Sierra Verónica , Prado Natalia , González Pelayo , Fiorentini Giovani , Díaz Juan , Oliván Mamen
Published: November 2022

Real-time monitoring of meat quality requires fast, accurate, low-cost, and non-destructive analytical methods that can be used throughout the entire production chain, including the packaged product. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of a portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy tool for the on-site detection of freshness of pork loin fillets in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) stored on display counters. Pork loin slices were sealed in MAP trays under two proportions of O2/CO2/N2: High-Ox-MAP (30/40/30) and Low-Ox-MAP (5/20/75). Changes in pH, color, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and microbiology (total viable counts, Enteriobacteriaceae, and lactic acid bacteria) were monitored over 15 days post-mortem at 4 °C. VIS-NIR spectra were collected from pork fillets before (through the film cover) and after opening the trays (directly on the meat surface) with a portable LABSPEC 5000 NIR system in diffuse reflectance mode (350–2500 nm). Quantitative NIR models by partial least squares regression (PLSR) showed a promising prediction ability for meat color (L*, a*, C*, and h*) and microbiological variables (R2VAL > 0.72 and RPDVAL > 2). In addition, qualitative models using PLS discriminant analysis obtained good accuracy (over 90%) for classifying pork samples as fresh (acceptable for consumption) or spoiled (not acceptable) based on their microbiological counts. VIS-NIR spectroscopy allows rapid evaluation of product quality and shelf life and could be used for on-site control of pork quality.
Establishment of a Sonotrode Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Apple Pomace
Authors: Razola-Díaz María del Carmen , Aznar-Ramos María José , Guerra-Hernández Eduardo Jesús , García-Villanova Belén , Gómez-Caravaca Ana María , Verardo Vito
Published: November 2022

Apple pomace is the main by-product from apple processing in the juice industry and is considered a source of polyphenols with several health bioactivities. Thus, this research focuses on the establishment of the ultrasound-assisted extraction of total phenolic compounds, focusing on phloretin and phloridzin, with high antioxidant activity from apple pomace, using a sonotrode. We used a Box–Behnken design of 15 experiments with 3 independent factors (ethanol (%), time (min) and amplitude (%)). The responses evaluated were the sum of phenolic compounds, phloretin and phloridzin measured by HPLC–MS-ESI-TOF, and antioxidant activity measured by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. The validity of the model was confirmed by ANOVA. Further, it was carried out using a comparison between different apple pomaces with or without seeds extracted by the optimal conditions. Phloretin and phloridzin accounted for 7 to 32% of the total phenolic compounds in the apple pomaces. Among all the apple pomace analyzed, that of the variety Gala had the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The presence of the cyanogenic compound amygdalin was detected in apple pomaces that contained seeds accompanied with a higher content of phloretin and phloridzin but a lower content of flavan-3-ols.
Physical, Nutritional, and Bioactive Properties of Mandacaru Cladode Flour (Cereus jamacaru DC.): An Unconventional Food Plant from the Semi-Arid Brazilian Northeast
Authors: Martins Ana Cristina S. , Medeiros Gracy Kelly V. de V. , Silva Jaielison Yandro P. da , Viera Vanessa B. , Barros Paternak de S. , Lima Marcos dos S. , Silva Marcelo S. da , Tavares Josean F. , Nascimento Yuri M. do , Silva Evandro F. da , Soares Juliana K. B. , Souza Evandro L. de , Oliveira Maria Elieidy G. de
Published: November 2022

In this study, we evaluated the physical, nutritional, and bioactive properties of mandacaru cladode flour (Cereus jamacaru DC.). The granulometric profile revealed particles with non-uniform geometry, flakiness, a rectangular tendency, and a non-homogeneous surface, with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 60 µm. The flour presented low water activity (0.423), a moisture content of 8.24 g/100 g, high ash (2.82 g/100 g), protein (5.18 g/100 g), and total carbohydrate contents (74.48 g/100 g), and low lipid contents (1.88 g/100 g). Mandacaru flour is an excellent source of insoluble dietary fiber (48.08 g/100 g), calcium (76.33%), magnesium (15.21%), and potassium (5.94%). Notably, 1H NMR analysis revealed the presence of N-methyltyramine. Using HPLC chromatography, glucose was identified as the predominant sugar (1.33 g/100 g), followed by four organic acids, especially malic acid (9.41 g/100 g) and citric acid (3.96 g/100 g). Eighteen phenolic compounds were detected, with relevant amounts of kaempferol (99.40 mg/100 g), myricetin (72.30 mg/100 g), and resveratrol (17.84 mg/100 g). The total phenolic compounds and flavonoids were 1285.47 mg GAE/100 g and 15.19 mg CE/100 g, respectively. The mean in vitro antioxidant activity values were higher using the FRAP method (249.45 µmol Trolox TEAC/100 g) compared to the ABTS•+ method (0.39 µmol Trolox TEAC/g). Finally, the ascorbic acid had a content of 35.22 mg/100 g. The results demonstrate the value of mandacaru as a little-explored species and an excellent matrix for the development of flours presenting good nutritional value and bioactive constituents with excellent antioxidant potential.
Determination of Soil Cadmium Safety Thresholds for Food Production in a Rice-Crayfish Coculture System
Authors: Gao Hui , Peng Xiang , Dai Linxiu , Li Jingyong , Yang Qian , Dou Zhi , Xu Qiang
Published: November 2022

Previous studies have mainly focused on cadmium (Cd) contamination in conventional rice monocultures, and no research on rice-crayfish coculture has been reported. In this study, a Cd-contaminated (0–30 mg kg−1) rice-crayfish co-culture system was established by adding exogenous Cd. The results showed that the Cd concentration in each tissue of rice and each organ of crayfish increased with increasing soil Cd concentration. Specifically, the Cd concentration in each rice tissue was as follows: root > stem > leaf ≈ panicle > grain > brown rice, and the jointing and heading stages were critical periods for the rapid enrichment of Cd in the aboveground tissues of rice. The Cd concentration in each organ of crayfish was as follows: hepatopancreas > gut > gill ≈ exoskeleton > abdominal muscle. Cd was gradually enriched in the abdominal muscle after 30 days of coculture between crayfish and rice. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that the soil’s total Cd concentration, available Cd concentration, and water Cd concentration were positively correlated with Cd content in various tissues of rice and various organs of crayfish, whereas EC and TDS in water were markedly related to rice stems, leaves, stalks, and small crayfish. According to the maximum limit of Cd in grain (0.2 mg kg−1) and crustacean aquatic products (0.5 mg kg−1) in China, the safe threshold of soil Cd for rice and crayfish under the rice-crayfish coculture system is 3.67 and 14.62 mg kg−1, respectively. Therefore, when the soil Cd concentration in the rice-crayfish coculture system exceeds 3.67 mg kg−1, the safety risk to humans through the consumption of food from this coculture system will increase. This study provides a theoretical basis for safe food production in a rice-crayfish coculture system using the established Cd pollution model.
Characterization of the Volatile Compounds of Onion with Different Fresh-Cut Styles and Storage Temperatures
Authors: Liu Guangmin , Wang Yaqin , Hu Liping , He Hongju
Published: November 2022

The flavor of fresh onion and its processed products is an important index with which to evaluate its quality. In this study, the highly volatile compounds of onion with different fresh-cut styles (bulb, ring, and square) and different storage temperatures (4 °C, 20 °C, and 25 °C) were characterized at the molecular level, focusing in particular on the volatile sulfur compounds. Headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) were employed. A total of 14 highly volatile compounds were identified in onion samples by HS-GC-IMS, and the square sample contained more volatile components. (E,E)-2,4-heptadianal, ethyl acetate, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-pentylfuran, propyl acetate, and 2,6-dimethylpyrazine were produced in the ring and square samples when stored at higher temperatures, while pentanal, 2-heptenal, hexanal were decreased after cutting. Simultaneously, 16 sulfur compounds were identified in onions by HS-SPME-GC-MS. The sulfur compounds profile of the bulbs was significantly different from that of the rings and squares at any temperature. When stored at a low temperature (4 °C), cutting onions into a ring or square shape produced more sulfur. However, at higher temperatures (20 °C and 25 °C), fresh-cutting decreased the sulfur concentration. The total content of sulfur compounds was higher in the same cut style stored at higher temperatures (20 °C or 25 °C). 2-Mercapto-3,4-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrothiophene and 2,4-dimethylthiophene were formed during storage; however, (E)-1-(prop-1-en-1-yl)-3-propyltrisulfane, 1-(1-(methylthio)propyl)-2-propyldisulfane, (Z)-1-(1-propenyldithio)propyl disulfide, dipropyl trisulfide, and methyl 1-(1-propenylthio)propyl disulfide were lost from all samples after storage.
Effect of Green Food Processing Technology on the Enzyme Activity in Spelt Flour
Authors: Leitgeb Maja , Knez Željko , Hojnik Podrepšek Gordana
Published: November 2022

In this research, a new approach to enzyme inactivation in flour was presented by supercritical technology, considered a sustainable technology with lower energy consumption compared to other technologies that use ultra-high temperature processing. Total protein concentration and the activity of enzymes α-amylase, lipase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and protease were determined in flour pre-treated with scCO2. During the study, it was observed that the activity of enzymes such as lipase and polyphenol oxidase, was significantly reduced under certain conditions of scCO2 treatment, while the enzymes α-amylase and protease show better stability. In particular, polyphenol oxidase was effectively inactivated below the 60% of preserved activity at 200 bar and 3 h, whereas α-amylase under the same conditions retained its activity. Additionally, the moisture content of the scCO2-treated spelt flour was reduced by 5%, and the fat content was reduced by 58%, while the quality of scCO2-treated flour was maintained. In this regard, the sustainable scCO2 process could be a valuable tool for controlling the enzymatic activity of spelt flour since the use of scCO2 technology has a positive effect on the quality of flour, which was verified by the baking performance of spelt flour with the baked spelt bread as an indicator of quality.
Reduction of Pathogens in Feces and Lymph Nodes Collected from Beef Cattle Fed Lactobacillus salivarius (L28), Lactobacillus acidophilus (NP51) and Propionibacterium freudenreichii (NP28), Commercially Available Direct-Fed Microbials
Authors: Flach Makenzie G. , Dogan Onay B. , Kreikemeier Wanda M. , Nightingale Kendra K. , Brashears Mindy M.
Published: November 2022

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and concentration of foodborne pathogens in the feces and peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs) of beef cattle when supplemented with direct-fed microbials (DFMs) in feedlots. Fecal samples were collected from the pen floors over a 5-month period at three different feedlots in a similar geographical location in Nebraska, where each feed yard represented a treatment group: (i.) control: no supplement, (ii.) Bovamine Defend: supplemented with NP51 and NP24 at a target dose of 9 log10CFU/g/head/day, and (iii.) Probicon: supplemented with L28 at a target dose of 6 log10CFU/g/head/day. Each fecal sample was tested for the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella, and concentration of E. coli O157:H7, Enterobacteriaceae and Clostridium perfringens. Cattle were harvested and PLNs were collected on the harvest floor. Real-time Salmonella PCR assays were performed for each PLN sample to determine Salmonella presence. The cattle supplemented with both DFMs had reduced foodborne pathogens in fecal samples, but feces collected from the pens housing the cattle supplemented with Probicon consistently had significantly less E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella prevalence as well as a lower C. perfringens concentration. While DFMs do not eliminate foodborne pathogens in fecal shedding and PLNs, the use of DFMs as a pre-harvest intervention allows for an effective way to target multiple pathogens reducing the public health risks and environmental dissemination from cattle.
Evaluation of Chemical Constituents of Litchi Pericarp Extracts and Its Antioxidant Activity in Mice
Authors: Yang Ziming , Zhang Li , Wu Yuan-Hang , Li Dian-Peng , Li Wei
Published: November 2022

Litchi pericarp is the main byproduct of litchi processing and contains several polyphenols. However, the chemical constituents and the antioxidant effect in litchi pericarp extracts (LPE) have been rarely studied. The result of the quantitative analyses of the major monomers in LPE indicated that procyanidin A2, procyanidin B2, epicatechin, rutin, and catechin were the major polyphenol compounds of LPE. The LPE exhibited high radical scavenging activity, as indicated by the results of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ascorbic acid, 2,2′-Azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) tests. Moreover, administrating D-galactose in mice led to the reduced activity of antioxidant enzymes, aggravated lipid peroxidation, and induced protein oxidation. The results were improved in the aging mice after the LPE treatment was performed. The above results suggest that LPE has an excellent antioxidant effect. Accordingly, litchi pericarp can serve as a promising source of dietary antioxidants.
Gluten-Free Products: Do We Need to Update Our Knowledge?
Authors: Mármol-Soler Claudia , Matias Silvia , Miranda Jonatan , Larretxi Idoia , Fernández-Gil María del Pilar , Bustamante María Ángeles , Churruca Itziar , Martínez Olaia , Simón Edurne
Published: November 2022

The gluten-free (GF) food market has been growing exponentially in recent years. However, GF products could contribute to imbalanced diets. The main objective of the present work was to perform a temporal nutritional comparison of GF foods over the last nine years. At the same time, the nutritional compositions of 104 GF products currently marketed in Spain were assessed and compared with their gluten-containing counterparts. Diets including GF products and the equivalent diets with homologous products with gluten were compared as well, the subjects being 25 adult celiac patients. A comparison of GF products (GFPs) in 2013 and 2022 showed nutritional differences in the groups of cookies, breakfast cereals, doughs/puff pastries/pizzas, and breads. The pasta group stands out from the rest due to an important decrease in energy, protein, simple carbohydrates, saturated lipids, dietary fiber, and salt. Comparing GF and gluten-containing homologous products in 2022, the major differences were found in protein and salt. Accordingly, GFPs lead to a diet lower in protein and higher in carbohydrates. Despite improvements in the formulation of GF products in recent years, their macronutrient profile maintains marked variation, and they cannot be considered nutritionally equivalent to their gluten-containing counterparts.
Dietary Environmental Footprints and Their Association with Socioeconomic Factors and Food Purchase Practices: BRAZUCA Natal Study
Authors: Hatjiathanassiadou Maria , de Souza Camila Valdejane Silva , Vale Diôgo , Dantas Natalie Marinho , Batista Yasmim Bezerra , Marchioni Dirce Maria Lobo , Lima Severina Carla Vieira Cunha , Lyra Clélia de Oliveira , Rolim Priscilla Moura , Seabra Larissa Mont’Alverne Jucá
Published: November 2022

The analysis of dietary environmental impacts has proven to be an important tool for guiding the adoption of healthier and more sustainable diets. This study aimed to estimate the dietary carbon (CF), water (WF), and ecological (EF) footprints of residents in the city of Natal, Brazil; the study also aimed to verify their association with socioeconomic factors and food purchase practices. This is a cross-sectional study that used dietary data from 411 adults and elderlies, which was collected via a questionnaire that applied to the respondents. The results showed that the dietary CF was 1901.88 g CO2 eq/day/1000 kcal, the WF was 1834.03 L/day/1000 kcal, and the EF was 14.29 m2/day/1000 kcal. The highest environmental footprint values showed an association (p ≤ 0.05) with the factors of male sex, white ethnicity, and higher income and schooling, whereas the lowest environmental footprint values were associated with social vulnerability variables such as female sex, non-white ethnicity, and lower income and schooling (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, people with lower environmental footprints consumed less fast food, had fewer meals at snack bars, and used food delivery services less often than those with higher footprints. The foods that most contributed to the CFs and WFs were beef and chicken, while fish and beef contribute the most to the EFs. The data in the present study show that a diet with a lower environmental impact is not always equal to a sustainable diet. This relationship is paradoxical and relates to food justice, as people with lower environmental footprint values are the same ones with worse socioeconomic conditions. In this sense, is it essential to consider the influence of the social context when assessing dietary environmental impacts and when assessing actions that promote healthier and more sustainable diets.
A New Technique for Determining Micronutrient Nutritional Quality in Fruits and Vegetables Based on the Entropy Weight Method and Fuzzy Recognition Method
Authors: Zhao Xuemei , Zhu Mengdong , Ren Xiao , An Qi , Sun Junmao , Zhu Dazhou
Published: November 2022

The human body needs nutrients to maintain its regular physiological activity. It requires 40 essential nutrients, including macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Although macronutrient intake has been improved in China due to people’s increased social awareness, the population’s micronutrient intake remains insufficient. Objective: The current food evaluation system is primarily used to assess macronutrients, while an effective assessment method for micronutrients is still lacking. Fruits and vegetables are low-energy food sources that mainly provide vitamins and minerals and supply the human body with various micronutrients. Methods: In this paper, the entropy and fuzzy recognition methods were used to construct the Vitamin Index (Vitamin Index = Vitamin A Index + Vitamin Comprehensive Index + Vitamin Matching Index) and Mineral Index (Mineral Index = Calcium Index + Mineral Comprehensive Index + Mineral Matching Index) and to evaluate the micronutrient quality of 24 vegetables and 20 fruits. Results: The assessment results showed that Chinese dates displayed the highest Vitamin and Mineral Index among fruits (Vitamin Index = 2.62 and Mineral Index = 2.63), while collard greens had the highest Vitamin Index of the vegetables, at 2.73, and red amaranth had the highest Mineral Index, at 2.74. Conclusions: The study introduces a new method for assessing the nutritional quality of micronutrients, which provides a new idea for assessing the nutrient quality of agricultural products.
The Lasso and the Factor Zoo-Predicting Expected Returns in the Cross-Section
Authors: Messmer Marcial , Audrino Francesco
Published: November 2022

We investigate whether Lasso-type linear methods are able to improve the predictive accuracy of OLS in selecting relevant firm characteristics for forecasting the future cross-section of stock returns. Through extensive Monte Carlo simulations, we show that Lasso-type predictions are superior to OLS when type II errors are a concern. The results change if the aim is to minimize type I errors. Finally, we analyze the predictive performance of the competing methods on the US cross-section of stock returns between 1974 and 2020 and show that only small and micro-cap stocks are highly predictable throughout the entire sample.
Adaptive Dynamic Surface Control of Strict-Feedback Fractional-Order Nonlinear Systems with Input Quantization and External Disturbances
Authors: Zhang Fan , Deng Xiongfeng , Wei Lisheng
Published: November 2022

In this work, an adaptive dynamic surface control law for a type of strict-feedback fractional-order nonlinear system is proposed. The considered system contained input quantization and unknown external disturbances. The virtual control law is presented by utilizing a dynamic surface control approach at each step, where the nonlinear compensating term with the estimation of unknown bounded parameters is introduced to overcome the influence of unknown external disturbances and surface errors. Meanwhile, the adaptive laws of relevant parameters are also designed. In addition, an improved fractional-order nonlinear filter is developed to deal with the explosion of complexity raised by the recursive process. In the last step, an adaptive dynamic surface control law is proposed to ensure the convergence of tracking error, in which the Nussbaum gain function is applied to solve the problem of the unknown control gain generated by input quantization. Then, the fractional Lyapunov stability theory is applied to verify the stability of the proposed control law. Finally, simulation examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control law.
Analysis of the Charge Density Variation Caused by the Physical Properties of the Electrodes of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Lu Xin , Chen Ning
Published: November 2022

The detection and characterization of electrode performance is a key problem of lithium-ion batteries. The physical properties of the electrodes affect the charge density during the life of a battery. The charge density is difficult to monitor because of the complexity of the charge distribution. In this paper, a visualized fractional derivative order (FDO) is used to characterize the charge distribution and to reveal variations in the charge density associated with the physical properties of the electrode. Instantaneous discharge datasets collected at different aging stages of batteries are used to identify the FDO in the fractional derivative model. The results show that the FDO has a strong correspondence with the charge density. As the charge density decreases, the charge mobility gradually increases due to changes in the charge distribution. Moreover, this paper finds that the capacity recovery effect is closely related to the mutation of the charge density and uses the FDO to explain the charge accumulation at the sharp edges of the electrodes. The analysis of the charge density variation caused by the physical properties of the electrodes provides guidance for the detection of the electrode performance and the design of the electrode microstructure.
Modeling and Calibration for Some Stochastic Differential Models
Authors: Moujahid Abdelmalik , Vadillo Fernando
Published: November 2022

In many scientific fields, the dynamics of the system are often known, and the main challenge is to estimate the parameters that model the behavior of the system. The question then arises whether one can use experimental measurements of the system response to derive the parameters? This problem has been addressed in many papers that focus mainly on data from a deterministic model, but few efforts have been made to use stochastic data instead. In this paper, we address this problem using the following procedure: first, we build the probabilistic stochastic differential models using a natural extension of the commonly used deterministic models. Then, we use the data from the stochastic models to estimate the model parameters by solving a nonlinear regression problem. Since the stochastic solutions are not differentiable, we use the well-known Nelder–Mead algorithm. Our numerical results show that the fitting procedure is able to obtain good estimates of the parameters requiring only a few sample data.
Extensible Steganalysis via Continual Learning
Authors: Zhou Zhili , Yin Zihao , Meng Ruohan , Peng Fei
Published: November 2022

To realize secure communication, steganography is usually implemented by embedding secret information into an image selected from a natural image dataset, in which the fractal images have occupied a considerable proportion. To detect those stego-images generated by existing steganographic algorithms, recent steganalysis models usually train a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) on the dataset consisting of paired cover/stego-images. However, it is inefficient and impractical for those steganalysis models to completely retrain the CNN model to make it effective for detecting a new emerging steganographic algorithm while maintaining the ability to detect the existing steganographic algorithms. Thus, those steganalysis models usually lack dynamic extensibility for new steganographic algorithms, which limits their application in real-world scenarios. To address this issue, we propose an accurate parameter importance estimation (APIE)-based continual learning scheme for steganalysis. In this scheme, when a steganalysis model is trained on a new image dataset generated by a new emerging steganographic algorithm, its network parameters are effectively and efficiently updated with sufficient consideration of their importance evaluated in the previous training process. This scheme can guide the steganalysis model to learn the patterns of the new steganographic algorithm without significantly degrading the detectability against the previous steganographic algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate the proposed scheme has promising extensibility for new emerging steganographic algorithms.
Modeling the Coal Tar Pitch Primary Carbonization Process
Authors: Hosseini Mahnaz Soltani , Chartrand Patrice
Published: November 2022

The properties of the carbon materials obtained as the final product of coal tar pitch carbonization process are a consequence of the type of chemical and physical phenomena occurring through the process. A new simplified approach for modeling of the primary carbonization is presented to provide the semi-quantitative knowledge about the process useful for improving the efficiency of the industries that deal with this process. The proposed approach is based on defining thermodynamic and kinetic equations simply representing numerous phenomena happening during primary carbonization. Partial pressures of emitted volatiles in a simple pitch system are studied. The model enables estimating the mass and enthalpy changes of pitch through thermal treatment consistent with experimental data for mass losses of pitch heat treated up to 550 °C. Application of the model to describe molecular weight distribution changes of pitch during primary carbonization is demonstrated, showing a good agreement between the presented results and the investigations reported by Greinke. For the first time, the effect of important parameters in pitch carbonization, such as the heating rate of the pitch and the carrier gas flow rate, on the emission rate of volatiles is successfully modeled. The present model is well able to estimate the energy requirement for thermal treatment of pitch up to 350 °C.
Three-Dimensional Bio-Printed Cardiac Patch for Sustained Delivery of Extracellular Vesicles from the Interface
Authors: Bar Assaf , Kryukov Olga , Cohen Smadar
Published: November 2022

Cardiac tissue engineering has emerged as a promising strategy to treat infarcted cardiac tissues by replacing the injured region with an ex vivo fabricated functional cardiac patch. Nevertheless, integration of the transplanted patch with the host tissue is still a burden, limiting its clinical application. Here, a bi-functional, 3D bio-printed cardiac patch (CP) design is proposed, composed of a cell-laden compartment at its core and an extracellular vesicle (EV)-laden compartment at its shell for better integration of the CP with the host tissue. Alginate-based bioink solutions were developed for each compartment and characterized rheologically, examined for printability and their effect on residing cells or EVs. The resulting 3D bio-printed CP was examined for its mechanical stiffness, showing an elastic modulus between 4–5 kPa at day 1 post-printing, suitable for transplantation. Affinity binding of EVs to alginate sulfate (AlgS) was validated, exhibiting dissociation constant values similar to those of EVs with heparin. The incorporation of AlgS-EVs complexes within the shell bioink sustained EV release from the CP, with 88% cumulative release compared with 92% without AlgS by day 4. AlgS also prolonged the release profile by an additional 2 days, lasting 11 days overall. This CP design comprises great potential at promoting more efficient patch assimilation with the host.
Probing the Effect and Mechanism of Flue Gas on the Performance of Resorcinol/Hexamethylenetetramine-Based Polymer Gel in Flue Gas Flooding Reservoir
Authors: Qiao Wenli , Zhang Guicai , Li Jianda , Jiang Ping , Pei Haihua
Published: November 2022

Polymer gel plugging is an effective method for gas mobility control in flue gas flooding reservoirs. However, the effect and mechanism of flue gas on the performance of polymer gels have rarely been reported. In this study, a polymer gel was prepared by cross-linking hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and resorcinol/ hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) to illuminate the influencing mechanism of flue gas composition on gel. The gel rheological testing results showed that flue gas promoted gelation performance, whereas it seriously threatened gel long-term stability, especially at high pressure conditions. The influence of CO2 on the polymer gel had the characteristic of multiplicity. The hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and the initial viscosity of HPAM solution decreased in the presence of CO2. Nonetheless, the dissolved CO2 expedited the decomposition rate of HMTA into formaldehyde, which promoted the cross-linking process of the HPAM, leading to a shorter gelation time. Oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) tests and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated that O2 played a leading role in the oxidative degradation of HPAM compared to CO2 and threatened the gel long-term stability at elevated gas pressures. To address the adverse effects caused by flue gas, it is highly desirable to develop polymer gels by adding oxygen scavengers or strengthening additives.
Bioadhesive Perivascular Microparticle-Gel Drug Delivery System for Intimal Hyperplasia Prevention: In Vitro Evaluation and Preliminary Biocompatibility Assessment
Authors: Melnik Tamara , Porcello Alexandre , Saucy François , Delie Florence , Jordan Olivier
Published: November 2022

Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is an undesirable pathology occurring after peripheral or coronary bypass surgery. It involves the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to a reduction in the diameter of the vascular lumen, which can lead to stenosis and graft failure. Topically applied atorvastatin (ATV) has been shown to slow down this process. To be effective, the drug delivery system should remain at the perivascular site for 5–8 weeks, corresponding to the progression of IH, and be capable of releasing an initial dose of the drug followed by a sustained release. Ideally, bioadhesion would anchor the gel to the application site. To meet these needs, we encapsulated ATV in a 2-component system: a hyaluronic acid–dopamine bioadhesive gel for rapid release and biodegradable microparticles for sustained release. The system was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, rheology, bioadhesion on porcine arteries, and a release profile. The rheological properties were adequate for perivascular application, and we demonstrated superior bioadhesion and cohesion compared to the control HA formulations. The release profile showed a burst, generated by free ATV, followed by sustained release over 8 weeks. A preliminary evaluation of subcutaneous biocompatibility in rats showed good tolerance of the gel. These results offer new perspectives on the perivascular application towards an effective solution for the prevention of IH.
A Study about a New Standardized Method of Home-Based Exercise in Elderly People Aged 65 and Older to Improve Motor Abilities and Well-Being: Feasibility, Functional Abilities and Strength Improvements
Authors: Melchiorri Giovanni , Triossi Tamara , Viero Valerio , Marroni Silvia , D’Arcangelo Giovanna , Tancredi Virginia
Published: November 2022

Background: To verify the effects in terms of feasibility, strength and functional abilities of a standardized exercise training method that is partially supported (home training), with the aim of improving motor abilities and well-being. Methods: A total of 67 participants underwent two sessions per week for 12 weeks for the program, based on 8 sequences with specific body part targets, with each sequence made up of 9 exercises. Outcome measures: Recording of training session data, Chair Test, Hand Grip Test, Timed Up-and-Go Test, Stork Balance Test, Sit-and-Reach Test, VAS, Perceived Physical Exertion. Results: In total, 97% of the sample were “adherent” (more than 70% of the prescribed treatments performed). The rate of adverse events was infrequent (only 8). Chair Test +31%, Hand Grip Test +6%, Timed Up-and-Go Test −17%, Stork Balance Test +65%, Sit-and-Reach Test +55%, VAS −34%, Perceived Physical Exertion −69%. Conclusions: Home training has good feasibility (adherence, tolerability, safety) and cost-effectiveness ratio and improves both strength and functional abilities, which, in turns, helps to improve motor abilities and well-being.
Does Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Predict In-Hospital Mortality in Acutely Unwell Hospitalized Oldest Old?
Authors: Wakerly Zack Robert , Soiza Roy L. , Pana Tiberiu A. , Myint Phyo Kyaw
Published: November 2022

Globally the population of older adults is the fastest growing age group. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is an estimation of true kidney function with lower eGFR associated with higher mortality. However, few studies explore eGFR’s prognostic value in the nonagenarian. We investigated the association between eGFR on admission and mortality among the nonagenarians hospitalised with acute illness. A retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study included patients aged ≥ 90 admitted into three acute medical assessment units or acute geriatric wards in England and Scotland between November 2008 and January 2009. Association between eGFR and all-cause mortality was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazard models controlling for potential confounders including frailty. 392 patients with mean (SD) 93.0 ± 2.6 years (68.45% women) were included. The median (IQR) eGFR was 26.61 (18.41–40.41) mL/min/1.732. 63 died in in hospital. Low eGFR was not associated with mortality (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.00 (95% CI 0.98–1.02) overall or in sub–group analysis by frailty (HR 0.96 (0.92–1.01)) or by eGFR of ≤30 (HR 1.01 (0.95–1.06). We found no evidence of prognostic value of eGFR in predicting in–hospital mortality in the acutely unwell hospitalised nonagenarians.
Knowledge and Attitude towards Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Primary Care Physicians in Northern Regions of Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Al-Rasheedi Abdullah N. , Thirunavukkarasu Ashokkumar , Almutairi Abdulhakeem , Alruwaili Sultan , Alotaibi Hatem , Alzaid Wasan , Albalawi Faisal , Alwadani Osama , Dilli Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious and often underreported condition, despite its highly prevalent distribution. Primary care physicians (PCPs) play an integral role in screening and managing patients with a high risk of developing OSA. This northern Saudi Arabian cross-sectional survey assessed the knowledge and attitude towards OSA among 264 randomly selected PCPs using the OSA Knowledge and Attitude (OSAKA) questionnaire. Among the participating PCPs, 43.9% and 45.1% had low scores in the knowledge and attitude categories, respectively. More than three-fourths (78%) of them recognized that an overnight sleep study is the gold standard for diagnosing OSA. Regarding referral, 39.4% of the OSA patients encountered by the PCPs were referred to ENT specialists, while 21% were referred to sleep clinics, and 18.2% were referred to pulmonologists. Nearly half (50.8%) of the participants recognized OSA as an important clinical disease, and 56.8% were confident in caring for OSA patients. Spearman’s correlation of the current study identified a positive correlation between knowledge scores and attitude scores (rho—0.151, p = 0.017). It is important to improve PCPs’ knowledge regarding OSA and the necessity for referral through different training methods. Furthermore, the study findings emphasize the need to include appropriate OSA programs and continuing medical education for PCPs.
Evaluation of the Reporting Standard Guidelines of Network Meta-Analyses in Physical Therapy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cho Sung-Hyoun , Shin In-Soo
Published: November 2022

The concept of network meta-analyses (NMA) has been introduced to the field of physical therapy. However, the reporting standard guidelines of these studies have not been evaluated. In this systematic review, we included all published NMA physical therapy studies that compared the clinical efficacy of three or more interventions to evaluate whether NMAs in physical therapy exhibit adequate reporting recommendations. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to 30 June 2022. Among the 252 identified articles, 19 NMAs including 805 randomized controlled trials were included. We applied both preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) and PRISMA-NMA checklists, which are 27- and 32-item reporting standard guidelines assessment tools, respectively. Protocol registrations (68.4%), risk of bias across studies (63.2%), additional analysis (57.9%), and funding (31.6%) were problematic items considering the PRISMA guidelines. Four studies reported all five new NMA-reporting items, and 15 (78.9%) did not address items S1–5 from the PRISMA-NMA guidelines. The median score (interquartile range) of the reporting standard guidelines was 27.0 (25.8–28.0). The identified shortcomings of published NMAs should be addressed while training researchers, and they should be encouraged to apply PRISMA-NMA, as a recognized tool for assessing NMA reporting guidelines is required.
Understanding Alcohol Use Discourse and Stigma Patterns in Perinatal Care on Twitter
Authors: Culp Fritz , Wu Yuqi , Wu Dezhi , Ren Yang , Raynor Phyllis , Hung Peiyin , Qiao Shan , Li Xiaoming , Eichelberger Kacey
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: perinatal alcohol use generates a variety of health risks. Social media platforms discuss fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and other widespread outcomes, providing personalized user-generated content about the perceptions and behaviors related to alcohol use during pregnancy. Data collected from Twitter underscores various narrative structures and sentiments in tweets that reflect large-scale discourses and foster societal stigmas; (2) Methods: We extracted alcohol-related tweets from May 2019 to October 2021 using an official Twitter search API based on a set of keywords provided by our clinical team. Our exploratory study utilized thematic content analysis and inductive qualitative coding methods to analyze user content. Iterative line-by-line coding categorized dynamic descriptive themes from a random sample of 500 tweets; (3) Results: qualitative methods from content analysis revealed underlying patterns among inter-user engagements, outlining individual, interpersonal and population-level stigmas about perinatal alcohol use and negative sentiment towards drinking mothers. As a result, the overall silence surrounding personal experiences with alcohol use during pregnancy suggests an unwillingness and sense of reluctancy from pregnant adults to leverage the platform for support and assistance due to societal stigmas; (4) Conclusions: identifying these discursive factors will facilitate more effective public health programs that take into account specific challenges related to social media networks and develop prevention strategies to help Twitter users struggling with perinatal alcohol use.
Completed Suicide Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic by Using the Psychological Autopsy Method in Sibiu County, Romania: Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Crisan Roxana-Mihaela , Băcilă Ciprian Ionuț , Toboltoc Paul-Cătălin , Morar Silviu
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with suicide, as some data suggests. Our study aims to investigate the emergence of eleven completed suicide cases suspected to be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic during the restrictive measures imposed by the Romanian government, and to identify the consequences of mental health, suicidal motivation, and behavioral changes. To this end, we analyzed the deceased’s medical records and applied the psychological autopsy method to the relatives/caregivers of the deceased for a suicidal investigation history, within conducted free-flow discussions. To highlight behavioral changes that occurred in the distant antecedents as well as immediately before the suicidal act, we used two sets of closed questions comprised of fifteen alarm signs, including depressive and/or anxiety symptoms. Our results showed that a deterioration of the mental status, especially concerning depressive and anxiety symptoms, was evident in people without or with pre-existing psychiatric pathology. The suicidal motivation proved to be complex including, in addition to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. We noted an intensification of the investigated alarm signs and even the emergence of new warning signs in the recent antecedents. Based on our findings, we reaffirmed the important role of the psychological autopsy method in suicide investigation, proving that it can detect the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people prone to suicide. This impact can be psycho-emotional, social, and/or economical, and thus we can state that the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences can be, at least, a triggering factor that enhances completed suicide risk. Further studies are needed in this particular area because correlations between the COVID-19 pandemic and completed suicide do not appear to be accidental.
Using Deep Neural Network Approach for Multiple-Class Assessment of Digital Mammography
Authors: Hsu Shih-Yen , Wang Chi-Yuan , Kao Yi-Kai , Liu Kuo-Ying , Lin Ming-Chia , Yeh Li-Ren , Wang Yi-Ming , Chen Chih-I , Kao Feng-Chen
Published: November 2022

According to the Health Promotion Administration in the Ministry of Health and Welfare statistics in Taiwan, over ten thousand women have breast cancer every year. Mammography is widely used to detect breast cancer. However, it is limited by the operator’s technique, the cooperation of the subjects, and the subjective interpretation by the physician. It results in inconsistent identification. Therefore, this study explores the use of a deep neural network algorithm for the classification of mammography images. In the experimental design, a retrospective study was used to collect imaging data from actual clinical cases. The mammography images were collected and classified according to the breast image reporting and data-analyzing system (BI-RADS). In terms of model building, a fully convolutional dense connection network (FC-DCN) is used for the network backbone. All the images were obtained through image preprocessing, a data augmentation method, and transfer learning technology to build a mammography image classification model. The research results show the model’s accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 86.37%, 100%, and 72.73%, respectively. Based on the FC-DCN model framework, it can effectively reduce the number of training parameters and successfully obtain a reasonable image classification model for mammography.
Do You Feel Safe at Home? A Qualitative Study among Home-Dwelling Older Adults with Advanced Incurable Cancer
Authors: Grov Ellen Karine , Ytrehus Siri
Published: November 2022

Many older adults with cancer prefer to live at home, and home treatment and outpatient care have been recommended for such patients. To improve their mental health, it is important to identify the challenges that are faced by home-dwelling older adults with cancer. This study aimed to examine the impact of the home on older adults with advanced cancer who were receiving treatment and follow-up care. In a cross-sectional design with criterion-based sampling, eight qualitative interviews were transcribed and interpreted thematically. We identified three themes of home-safety management: good home-safety management, uncertain home-safety management, and home-safety management collapse. Moreover, we revealed eight sub-themes important to the participants’ home-safety experience. Ensuring that older adults feel safe at home will afford them the opportunity to enjoy living at home, which in turn may alleviate their symptom burden and enhance their mental health.
HPV Vaccination among Polish Adolescents—Results from POLKA 18 Study
Authors: Drejza Michalina , Rylewicz Katarzyna , Lewandowska Maria , Gross-Tyrkin Katarzyna , Łopiński Grzegorz , Barwińska Joanna , Majcherek Ewa , Szymuś Klaudia , Klein Patrycja , Plagens-Rotman Katarzyna , Pisarska-Krawczyk Magdalena , Kędzia Witold , Jarząbek-Bielecka Grażyna
Published: November 2022

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and genital warts and constitutes one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Cervical cancer is the only reproductive cancer that has a primary prevention programme through the introduction of HPV vaccinations. Even though the majority of European countries have nationally funded HPV vaccination programmes, in Poland these are exclusively local and scarcely funded. Moreover, the majority of local programmes are directed to females only. Meanwhile, Poland has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates among high income countries. The aim of this study was to measure HPV vaccination levels among final-year students in Poland and to establish the association between vaccination status and gender, region and level of sexual education received. This study is a part of the POLKA 18 Study, which used original self-reported paper-based questionnaires distributed in schools in six Polish regions. The study was conducted between April and December 2019. The obtained data were analysed in STATA 17. In total, 2701 fully completed questionnaires were collected. Over half of the respondents (58.2%) did not know their HPV vaccination status. Only 16.0% of the respondents replied that they have been vaccinated against HPV (18.2% of females and 14.5% of males). There was no direct association between vaccination status and access to ‘family life education’ classes. The vaccination level significantly differed among the different regions of Poland (p < 0.0001), with the Śląskie and Wielkopolskie regions achieving the highest rates. At least a quarter of adolescents after their sexual debut have not been vaccinated against HPV. Regions with immunization programmes introduced to their provincial capitals had higher vaccination rates. Our findings indicate the need for the introduction of state-funded vaccination programmes at the national level for the vaccination rate to increase, which will have the potential to decrease cervical cancer incidence in the country.