bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA metabarcoding analysis of the bare‐nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) diet
Authors: Old Julie M. , Vallin Blaire L. , Thorley Rowan K. , Casey Fiona , Stannard Hayley J.
Published: May 2024

Wombats are native herbivorous grazers that have adapted to Australia's low‐quality forage. Studies on diet selection by bare‐nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) are limited and are either observational or based on microhistological studies. The current study determined the diet of wombats through DNA metabarcoding across five study sites in New South Wales over a one‐year period. Metabarcoding was chosen as it is non‐invasive, less time consuming and more specific than traditional techniques. The list of 209 plant species identified as eaten by wombats in this study is much higher than previously reported, with grasses being the most common plant group identified in all samples. Most dietary items identified were introduced plant species. Seasonal differences in plants eaten occurred at four of the five study sites and may reflect dietary abundance and floristic composition at different times of year. Further studies are required to determine if the dietary items differ markedly across the entire range of wombats, and if nutrition influences dietary preferences.
Immobilizing of polyethyleneimine on bamboo viscose fiber using epichlorohydrin crosslinker for enhancing adsorption ability with lac dye
Authors: Cheerarot Onanong , Saikrasun Sunan
Published: May 2024

Immobilization of polyethyleneimine (PEI) on bamboo viscose fiber using epichlorohydrin (ECH) crosslinker (ABF‐e‐PEI) was employed to enhance the ability of dyeing with lac. The results from morphological observation, thermal degradation behavior, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) clearly revealed the success of PEI‐immobilizing on fiber surface with no significant change in intrinsic properties of the fiber after modification. The modified fiber exhibited fast and efficient adsorption with the adsorption capacity >90 mg/g which was much higher than that of the unmodified adsorbent (did not exceed 10 mg/g). The results from kinetic and isotherm studies showed that the adsorption process conformed to the pseudo‐second‐order, intra‐particle diffusion and Langmuir models. Adsorption temperatures have less effect to the adsorption performance of the modified adsorbent. Electrostatic ion‐dipole interaction between protonated amines of PEI and negative charged sites of lac dye was the main proposed mechanism. Good resistance of color changes for ABF‐e‐PEI was confirmed by the color‐fastness assessment (grade 4–5), suggesting efficient method of PEI‐immobilizing using ECH crosslinker. The binding reaction of between amine groups of PEI and hydroxyl groups of the cellulosic fiber using ECH crosslinker can be expected to have a broad potential application in dyeing processes or pollution treatments due to its simple, cost‐effective, flexible and efficient method.
Seismic performance of vertical strut and lateral brace suspended continuous‐plasterboard ceiling system with all edges free in the plane of ceiling
Authors: Patnana Venkatesh , Rai Durgesh C.
Published: May 2024

Suspended ceilings are critical nonstructural elements, and their seismic damage in buildings highlighted the incompatibility between the design and performance of structural and nonstructural elements. In order to study the performance of less researched continuous‐plasterboard ceilings, shake table testing was conducted on a ceiling system vertically supported at grid ends with free edges in its plane and suspended by vertical struts and lateral braces. The system had a clearance of 20 mm at the grid ends to accommodate ceiling movements. The ceiling performed satisfactorily for floor accelerations ranging from 0.2 g to 1.4 g without any visible damage. However, the ceiling was slightly rotated and lightly damaged at its perimeter for an extreme dynamic loading of sinusoidal excitation at its natural frequencies. In addition, the experimental performance of the ceiling was numerically validated using nonlinear and linearized responses of sub‐assemblage test data of critical components and connections. It was observed that the developed numerical models can be used to predict the behavior of such ceiling systems as an alternative to evaluation by shake table testing.
Carbon emission reduction in public buildings of extreme cold regions: A study on enclosure structure and HVAC system parameter optimization
Authors: Teng Jiaying , Yin Hang
Published: May 2024

The implementation of strategies aimed at curtailing energy consumption and carbon emissions in buildings is of paramount importance. Priority should be accorded to the reduction of embodied carbon emissions from construction materials and operational carbon emissions during the usage phase. A public building situated in an extremely cold region is chosen as the subject of this study. An initial investigation is conducted into the impact of various enclosure structure materials on embodied carbon. The impact of different heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems on the total carbon emissions of public buildings are studied as well. The findings indicate that the amalgamation of W3 + R + G4 + H4 culminates in the least total carbon emissions. Upon establishing the foundational scheme for the public building, an optimization (nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II [NSGA II] and Criteria Importance Through Intercrieria Correlation [CRITIC]) of the enclosure structure parameters is initiated to examine the optimal parameters of the public building's enclosure structure. The findings reveal that a decrease in the heat transfer coefficient could trigger an increase in total carbon emissions. This is attributed to the fact that the carbon emissions embodied in the production process of these materials could potentially outweigh the reduction observed in operational carbon emissions. Further adjustments were also made to the parameters of the HVAC system in the buildings. The findings indicate that within the context of public buildings, given the presence of optimal parameters and an HVAC system that utilizes solar energy for both heating and cooling in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air‐Conditioning Engineers, Inc. 6 A climatic zone, the efficiency of the cooling system can exert a significant influence on the operations carbon emissions reduction.
Calibration‐free image analysis method for grain‐size distribution of small natural sand samples
Authors: Mélanie Vah , Armelle Jarno , François Marin
Published: May 2024

Natural sand samples collected from bedload or suspension transport can be too small to be sieved. However, related transported mass to sediment size is crucial to calibrate sediment transport models. Image analysis technique can be an easy and cheap alternative. The present study proposes a general law valid for natural sand grains and small gravels that statistically relates elongation to flatness of particles and gives after some assumptions on grain shape and orientation of grains at the sieve mesh passage, the closest distribution of mass to sieving technique from images of grains given by a flatbed scanner. The proposed model is based on the hypothesis of an ellipsoidal grain shape and a preferential grain crossing aligned with the sieve diagonal. Any sand either homogeneous or heterogeneous from various origins (fluvial, marine and quarry) can be analysed directly without any further need for calibration.
RCVM‐ASS‐CICSKA‐PAPT‐VDF: VLSI design of high‐speed reconfigurable compressed Vedic PAPT‐VDF filter for ECG medical application
Authors: Suresh Kumar K. V. , Madhavi D.
Published: May 2024

During signal acquisition, the signals are impacted by multiple noise sources that must be filtered before any analysis. However, many different filter implementations in VLSI are dispersed among many studies. This study aims to give readers a systematic approach to designing a Pipelined All‐Pass Transformation based Variable digital filter (PAPT‐VDF) to eliminate the high‐frequency noise from ECG data. The modified design emphasizes first‐ and second‐order responses to obtain high‐speed filter realization with high operating frequencies. The addition of adder and multiplier designs to the hardware architecture of a filter design improves performance. The fundamental blocks of the filter design are the adder and multiplier. The adder and multiplier are employed with an Adaptable stage size‐based concatenation, incremented carry‐skip adder (ASS‐CICSKA), and Improved reconfigurable compressed Vedic multiplier (IRCVM). Utilizing the adder design diminishes the delay with enhanced performance because receiving the carry from an incrementation block is not mandatory. In the multiplier design, the compressor and the reconfigurable approach are adapted with a data detector block to detect the redundant input and lower the logic gates' switching activity with less area overhead. The proposed filter design is implemented in vertex 7 FPGA family device, and the performance measures are analyzed regarding area utilization, delay, power, and frequency. Also, by using the denoised signal, the mean square error (MSE), and signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) are evaluated in the MATLAB platform.
Determinants of undernutrition among settled pastoralists' children aged 6–59 months in Kenya
Authors: Adongo Amos Otieno , Matofari Joseph Wafula , Kamau Mbuthia Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

The transition from nomadism to sedentary lifestyle has introduced changes in diets and undernutrition is endemic among settled pastoral households. This study aimed to investigate the underlying factors affecting stunting, underweight, and wasting of children aged 6–59 months in Marsabit County, Kenya. A cross‐sectional household survey was conducted in six wards capturing pastoral, agro‐pastoral, and urban livelihood practices. Using multistage sampling method, 394 children aged 6–59 months participated with written consent from the caregivers. A pretested questionnaire and anthropometric measures were used during data collection. Population characteristics were summarized into means and proportions, while chi‐square and analysis of variance were used to evaluate associations between variables. Backward logistic regressions were used to explore predictors of stunting, underweight, and wasting, respectively. The results showed that the mean Height for Age Z‐score, Weight for Age Z‐score, and Weight for Height Z‐score were −1.51, 1.54, and 1.02, respectively. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 38.1%, 23.0%, and 18.5%, respectively. The age of child, source of drinking water, and waste disposal were some of the main factors influencing stunting among children. In conclusion, the prevalence of undernutrition was high compared to the World Health Organization recommended cutoffs. Water sources hygiene, and caregiver's income were some of the main predictors of undernutrition among children. Development agencies need to focus on the supply of potable water, access to toilet facilities, in addition to nutrition education on hygienic complementary feeding practices among pastoral caregivers.
Awareness, knowledge, and behaviors regarding trans unsaturated fatty acids in a sample of Lebanese adults
Authors: El Hajj Marianne , Abou Chaaya Jennifer , Abou Chaaya Jessica , Tueni Maya
Published: May 2024

Lebanon is a country in the Middle East that had been witnessing nutrition transition to a westernized diet high in trans fats (TFs) and saturated fatty acids (TFAs) that had been linked to cardiovascular diseases and many other health issues. This study examines TF‐related awareness, knowledge, and self‐reported behaviors among a sample of Lebanese adults aged between 18 and 64 years, as well as their association with sociodemographic factors and anthropometric measurements. Using a multicomponent questionnaire, a cross‐sectional study was conducted online, across all Lebanese regions based on a convenience sampling method (n = 401). Factors associated with TF‐related awareness, knowledge, and behaviors were examined by multivariate linear regression analysis. The study highlighted specific gaps in TF‐related awareness, knowledge, and behavioral practices as well as differences by sociodemographic factors. Most of the participants (36%) had heard of partly hydrogenated oils (PHOs) rather than TFs (49%). A higher proportion of respondents (54%) said they understood a little about TFs, the majority had inadequate knowledge about the foods that contain TFs, and 44% said they would not give up eating their favorite snack even if they knew it contains TFs. Overall, consumers' awareness and knowledge about TFs are rather low and the majority had fair behavioral practices. In addition, being a woman and having higher education level were significantly associated with higher levels of TFs awareness, knowledge, and behavior scores. Higher behavior scores were shown in older participants, married, and those who had part‐time jobs, whereas having higher income and normal weight were significantly associated with higher awareness scores. These findings offer valuable insight into TF‐related awareness, knowledge, and behaviors in a sample of Lebanese adults and provide key information that could spur the development of evidence‐based TFs reduction interventions specific to the Middle East.
A pilot study investigating the influence of dietary boron levels on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Authors: Rababah Taha , Aludatt Muhammad , Gammoh Sana , Salameh Feras Bani , Magableh Ghazi , Almajwal Ali , Yücel Sevil , AL‐Rayyan Yara , AL‐Rayyan Numan
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary boron on osteoporosis in postmenopausal Jordanian women. Sixty‐six women diagnosed with osteoporosis were recruited and data on personal information, dietary habits, medical history, and lifestyle were collected. Bone mineral density, serum calcium, and serum vitamin D measurements were obtained from patient records. This study showed a strong correlation between boron intake and bone mineral density in these women with osteoporosis and a negative correlation between boron intake and serum calcium (p < .05). However, no significant correlation was found between boron intake and various parameters such as serum vitamin D, dietary habits, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), age of menopause, cases of hysterectomy or oophorectomy, location of fractures, education level, social status, smoking, and physical activity (p > .05). A significant link was found between boron intake and bone mineral density highlighting the importance of nutritional and lifestyle factors affecting bone health. Further research on the specific impact of boron is warranted to better inform dietary interventions for osteoporosis prevention and management.
Performance evaluation and investigation of diffraction optical elements effect on bit error rate of free space optics and performance investigation of space uplink wireless optical communication under varying atmospheric turbulence conditions
Authors: Soni Gaurav , Sharma Manish
Published: May 2024

Several other optical antenna topologies have been developed and implemented throughout the years. These topologies include a variety of optical components, including the axicon optical element, dual‐secondary mirror, cone reflecting mirror, prism beam slier, and beam‐splitter/beam combiner. In contrast, the secondary reflecting mirror causes an obscuration loss that must be compensated for by reducing the transmission power in an optical antenna design. In order to address this issue in space optical communication, the present research helps to develop an enhanced two diffractive optical elements (DOEs) technology however the data presented therein only shows that DOEs may boost transmission power efficiency, which is insufficient for system designers. Though On‐Off Keying (OOK) is widely used in optical communication systems at the moment, the proposed research include DOEs into an OOK space uplink optical. The proposed research uses numerical simulation to explore how much a space uplink OOK system's bit error rate (BER) may be improved by using DOEs and adjusting fundamental parameters. The proposed BER model takes environmental factors like wind and detector noise into account. Using this theoretical model, the present work helps to investigate the effect of DOEs on the BER versus fundamental parameter characteristic curves in space uplink optical communication. Based on the findings, the DOEs structure has the potential to significantly enhance the BER performance of space uplink optical communication systems, especially at high obscuration ratios. When the obscuration ratio is 0.25, 0.167, or 0.125 and the transmission power is 1 W, for instance, the DOEs may improve the BER by a factor of two or one order of magnitude or less when the parameters are changed to the typical parameter values as specified. Results increase by a factor of six, three, and two orders of magnitude, respectively, when transmitting at 5 W. The results show that DOEs can significantly enhance the BER performance, especially at high obscuration ratios. The findings suggest that integrating DOEs into the optical subsystem is a straightforward approach to improving the performance of space uplink optical communication systems.
Nanomedicine‐mediated recovery of antioxidant glutathione peroxidase activity after oxidative‐stress cellular damage: Insights for neurological long COVID
Authors: Akanchise Thelma , Angelov Borislav , Angelova Angelina
Published: May 2024

Nanomedicine for treating post‐viral infectious disease syndrome is at an emerging stage. Despite promising results from preclinical studies on conventional antioxidants, their clinical translation as a therapy for treating post‐COVID conditions remains challenging. The limitations are due to their low bioavailability, instability, limited transport to the target tissues, and short half‐life, requiring frequent and high doses. Activating the immune system during coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection can lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), depleted antioxidant reserve, and finally, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. To tackle this problem, we developed an antioxidant nanotherapy based on lipid (vesicular and cubosomal types) nanoparticles (LNPs) co‐encapsulating ginkgolide B and quercetin. The antioxidant‐loaded nanocarriers were prepared by a self‐assembly method via hydration of a lyophilized mixed thin lipid film. We evaluated the LNPs in a new in vitro model for studying neuronal dysfunction caused by oxidative stress in coronavirus infection. We examined the key downstream signaling pathways that are triggered in response to potassium persulfate (KPS) causing oxidative stress‐mediated neurotoxicity. Treatment of neuronally‐derived cells (SH‐SY5Y) with KPS (50 mM) for 30 min markedly increased mitochondrial dysfunction while depleting the levels of both glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). This led to the sequential activation of apoptotic and necrotic cell death processes, which corroborates with the crucial implication of the two proteins (GSH‐Px and TH) in the long‐COVID syndrome. Nanomedicine‐mediated treatment with ginkgolide B‐loaded cubosomes and vesicular LNPs showed minimal cytotoxicity and completely attenuated the KPS‐induced cell death process, decreasing apoptosis from 32.6% (KPS) to 19.0% (MO‐GB), 12.8% (MO‐GB‐Quer), 14.8% (DMPC‐PEG‐GB), and 23.6% (DMPC‐PEG‐GB‐Quer) via free radical scavenging and replenished GSH‐Px levels. These findings indicated that GB‐LNPs‐based nanomedicines may protect against KPS‐induced apoptosis by regulating intracellular redox homeostasis.
Incidence and predictors of post‐surgery atrial fibrillation occurrence: A cohort study in 53,387 patients
Authors: Brunetta Enrico , Del Monaco Guido , Rodolfi Stefano , Zachariah Donah , Vlachos Kostantinos , Latini Alessia Chiara , De Santis Maria , Ceriotti Carlo , Galimberti Paola , Taormina Antonio , Battaglia Vincenzo , Falasconi Giulio , Maceda Diego Penela , Efremidis Michael , Letsas Konstantinos P. , Selmi Carlo , Stefanini Giulio Giuseppe , Condorelli Gianluigi , Frontera Antonio
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most common arrhythmia in the postoperative setting. We aimed to investigate the incidence of postoperative AF (POAF) and determine its predictors, with a specific focus on inflammation markers.

Methods

We performed a retrospective single tertiary center cohort study including consecutive adult patients who underwent a major surgical procedure between January 2016 and January 2020. Patients were divided into four subgroups according to the type of surgery.

Results

Among 53,387 included patients (79.4% male, age 64.5 ± 9.5 years), POAF occurred in 570 (1.1%) with a mean latency after surgery of 3.4 ± 2.6 days. Ninety patients died (0.17%) after a mean of 13.7 ± 8.4 days. The 28‐day arrhythmia‐free survival was lower in patients undergoing lung and cardiovascular surgery (p < .001). Patients who developed POAF had higher levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP) (0.70 ± 0.03 vs. 0.40 ± 0.01 log10 mg/dl; p < .001). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, adjusting for confounding factors, CRP was an independent predictor of POAF [HR per 1 mg/dL increase in log‐scale = 1.81 (95% CI 1.18–2.79); p = .007]. Moreover, independent predictors of POAF were also age (HR/1 year increase = 1.06 (95% CI 1.04–1.08); I < .001), lung and cardiovascular surgery (HR 23.62; (95% CI 5.65–98.73); p < .001), and abdominal and esophageal surgery (HR 6.26; 95% CI 1.48–26.49; p = .013).

Conclusions

Lung and cardiovascular surgery had the highest risk of POAF in the presented cohort. CRP was an independent predictor of POAF and postsurgery inflammation may represent a major driver in the pathophysiology of the arrhythmia.
Impact of COVID‐19 infection on the in‐hospital outcome of patients hospitalized for heart failure with comorbid atrial fibrillation: Insight from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database 2020
Authors: Wattanachayakul Phuuwadith , Suenghataiphorn Thanathip , Srikulmontri Thitiphan , Rujirachun Pongprueth , Malin John , Danpanichkul Pojsakorn , Polpichai Natchaya , Saowapa Sakditad , Casipit Bruce A. , Amanullah Aman
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) commonly coexist, resulting in adverse health and economic consequences such as declining ventricular function, heightened mortality, and reduced quality of life. However, limited information exists on the impact of COVID‐19 on AF patients that hospitalized for HF.

Methods

We analyzed the 2020 U.S. National Inpatient Sample to investigate the effects of COVID‐19 on AF patients that primarily hospitalized for HF. Participants aged 18 and above were identified using relevant ICD‐10 CM codes. Adjusted odds ratios for outcomes were calculated through multivariable logistic regression. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality, with secondary outcomes including system‐based complications.

Results

We identified 322,090 patients with primary discharge diagnosis of HF with comorbid AF. Among them, 0.73% (2355/322,090) also had a concurrent diagnosis of COVID‐19. In a survey multivariable logistic and linear regression model adjusting for patient and hospital factors, COVID‐19 infection was associated with higher in‐hospital mortality (aOR 3.17; 95% CI 2.25, 4.47, p < 0.001), prolonged length of stay (βLOS 2.82; 95% CI 1.71, 3.93, p < 0.001), acute myocarditis (aOR 6.64; 95% CI 1.45, 30.45, p 0.015), acute kidney injury (AKI) (aOR 1.48; 95% CI 1.21, 1.82, p < 0.001), acute respiratory failure (aOR 1.24; 95% CI 1.01, 1.52, p 0.045), and mechanical ventilation (aOR 2.00; 95% CI 1.28, 3.13, p 0.002).

Conclusion

Our study revealed that COVID‐19 is linked to higher in‐hospital mortality and increased adverse outcomes in AF patients hospitalized for HF.
Characteristics and variations in young adults with cutaneous melanoma: A national cancer database analysis
Authors: Greene Alicia C. , Matzelle‐Zywicki Madeline , Ziegler Olivia , El‐Mallah Jessica C. , Stack Michael J. , Pameijer Colette R. , Shen Chan
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives

Many cancers in young adulthood differ in terms of biology, histologic variation, and prognosis compared to cancer in other older age groups. Differences in cutaneous melanoma among young adults compared to other older age groups, as well as between sexes in young adults are not well studied.

Methods

The National Cancer Database was queried for patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma between 2004 and 2017. Patient characteristics, disease factors, and treatment were stratified by age‐based cohorts and compared using standard univariate statistics. The Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank tests were used to evaluate overall survival (OS) between age‐based cohorts and young adult sexes.

Results

Of the 329 765 patients identified, 10.5% were between 18 and 39 years of age at diagnosis. Compared with other older age groups, young adult patients were more likely to be female and uninsured with higher proportions of superficial spreading melanoma, melanoma of the trunk and extremities, and earlier‐stage disease. Young adults had improved OS compared to other older age groups. Young male patients had a greater proportion of no insurance, nodular melanoma, higher‐stage disease, and decreased OS compared to young female patients. Additionally, while the 5‐year OS difference was statistically significant across all stages of disease between young males and females, the clinical significance is likely limited to later stages.

Conclusions

Age and sex‐specific differences in cutaneous melanoma highlight distinct patterns and characteristics, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Mechanism and application of acupuncture and electro‐acupuncture associated with cancer therapy
Authors: Yang Xinggang , Li Guangqi , Yang Jiaqing , Ma Xuelei
Published: May 2024

The rapid progress in cancer treatment, along with the increase in cure and control rates, has led to the gradual acceptance of cancer as a chronic disease. Cancer treatment is comprehensive and long‐term. However, cancer symptoms and treatment side effects can hinder patients' quality of life and adherence to treatment, ultimately impacrefting their long‐term survival. Acupuncture (AC) and electro‐acupuncture (EA) have been widely used to treat various diseases. AC and EA have demonstrated their ability to relieve symptoms and side effects related to cancer treatment. The review provides a brief overview of the historical lineage and basic principles of AC treatment, as well as a detailed exploration of the mechanisms and clinical applications of AC and EA to relieve cancer symptoms and treatment side effects. AC and EA can play a therapeutic role by regulating systems of nervous, endocrine, immune and so on. Clinical studies have demonstrated that AC and EA can effectively relieve pain, postoperative ileus, and other symptoms. The safety of AC and EA has been tested worldwide. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and future research directions for AC and EA in the field of cancer treatment.
Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of triterpenoid accumulation in the roots of Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta (Nannf.) L.T.Shen at different altitudes
Authors: Wang Zi‐xia , Li Peng‐peng , Jia Yan‐jun , Wen Long‐xia , Tang Zhuo‐shi , Wang Yan‐ping , Cui Fang , Hu Fang‐Di
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Codonopsis Radix is a beneficial traditional Chinese medicine, and triterpenoid are the major bioactive constituents. Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta (Nannf.) L.T.Shen (CPM) is a precious variety of Codonopsis Radix, which is distributed at high mountain areas. The environment plays an important role in the synthesis and metabolism of active ingredients in medicinal plants, but there is no report elaborating on the effect of altitude on terpenoid metabolites accumulation in CPM.

Objectives

This study aims to analyse the effects of altitude on triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways and secondary metabolite accumulation in CPM.

Material and methods

The untargeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and 10 triterpenoids based on ultra‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS) method were analysed at the low‐altitude (1480 m) and high‐altitude (2300 m) CPM fresh roots. The transcriptome based on high‐throughput sequencing technology were combined to analyse the different altitude CPM triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways.

Results

A total of 17,351 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 55 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected from the different altitude CPM, and there are significant differences in the content of the 10 triterpenoids. The results of transcriptome study showed that CPM could significantly up‐regulate the gene expression levels of seven key enzymes in the triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway.

Conclusions

The CPM at high altitude is more likely to accumulate triterpenes than those at low altitude, which was related to the up‐regulation of the gene expression levels of seven key enzymes. These results expand our understanding of how altitude affects plant metabolite biosynthesis.
Metabolome classification of olive by‐products from different oil presses providing insights into its potential health benefits and valorization as analyzed via multiplex MS‐based techniques coupled to chemometrics
Authors: Fayek Nesrin M. , Baky Mostafa H. , Li Zhenhao , Khalifa Ibrahim , Capanoglu Esra , Farag Mohamed A.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the most popular edible oil‐producing fruits, consumed worldwide for its myriad nutritional and health benefits. Olive oil production generates huge quantities of by‐products from the fruit, which are considered environmental hazards. Recently, more and more efforts have been made to valorize olive by‐products as a source of low‐cost, value‐added food applications.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to globally assess the metabolome of olive fruit by‐products, including olive mill wastewater, olive pomace, and olive seeds from fruits from two areas, Siwa and Anshas, Egypt.

Methods

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS) were used for profiling primary and secondary metabolites in olive by‐products. Also, multivariate data analyses were used to assess variations between olive by‐product samples.

Results

A total of 103 primary metabolites and 105 secondary metabolites were identified by GC‐MS and UPLC‐MS, respectively. Fatty acids amounted to a major class in the olive by‐products at 53–91%, with oleic acid dominating, especially in the pomace of Siwa. Mill wastewater was discriminated from other by‐products by the presence of phenolics mainly tyrosol, hydroxyl tyrosol, and α‐tocopherol as analyzed by UPLC‐MS indicating their potential antioxidant activity. Pomace and seeds were rich in fatty acids/esters and hydroxy fatty acids and not readily distinguishable from each other.

Conclusion

The current work discusses the metabolome profile of olive waste products for valorization purposes. Pomace and seeds were enriched in fatty acids/esters, though not readily distinguishable from each other.
The 90% minimum effective concentration of ropivacaine for ultrasound‐guided interscalene brachial plexus block in children aged 1–10 years: A biased coin design up‐and‐down sequential allocation trial
Authors: Yang Li , Yang Fei , Tian Yaqiong , Liu Ling , Li Shangyingying , Ahmad Tauseef , Shi Yuan , Tu Shengfen
Published: May 2024

Ropivacaine is a commonly used local anesthetic for brachial plexus blocks in children, but the minimum effective dose of ropivacaine for interscalene brachial plexus blocks has not been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the 90% minimum effective concentration (MEC90) of ropivacaine for an ultrasound‐guided interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB). A total of 155 patients, aged from 1 to 10 years, underwent unilateral surgical procedures on areas of the upper extremity not innervated by the ulnar nerve. The biased coin design up‐and‐down sequential method (BCD‐UMD) was used to determine the MEC90 of ropivacaine for ultrasound‐guided ISB. In our study, the initial concentration of ropivacaine was 0.07% in the toddler group and 0.09% in the preschool and school‐age groups. During the trial, the concentration of ropivacaine for each subsequent patient was determined by the blocking effect of the previous patient. In case of failure, the concentration for the next patient was increased by 0.01%. Otherwise, the concentration was either decreased by 0.01%, with a probability of 0.11, or kept the same, with a probability of 0.89. Overall, the MEC90 of ropivacaine was 0.104% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.070%–0.106%) in the toddler group, 0.114% (95% CI, 0.090%–0.117%) in the preschool group, and 0.133% (95% CI, 0.099%–0.136%) in the school‐age group. No adverse events occurred. Our study showed that lower concentrations of ropivacaine could provide effective nerve blocks and reduce the risk of local anesthetics.
Childhood internal migration in Europe: Developments across cohorts and countries
Authors: Pertzikovitz Alon , Wachter Gusta G. , de Valk Helga A. G.
Published: May 2024

Internal migration is the driving force behind population re‐distribution within countries. Although internal migration has been extensively studied among adults, little is known about patterns in childhood migration, and even less so in a comparative manner. This study, therefore, adopts a child‐centred approach and contributes to the literature by exploring cross‐national changes in childhood migration across birth cohorts. Moreover, it examines how patterns of childhood migration relate to the postponement of childbearing. Drawing on retrospective residential histories from the SHARE survey, we analyzed childhood migration trajectories of 178,476 individuals born between 1935 and 1994 in 28 European countries. Cohort analyses confirm a country gradient in childhood migration, with the highest migration rates in Northern Europe and the lowest in Southeastern Europe. Nonetheless, across nearly all countries, childhood migration has consistently declined since the 1970s. Furthermore, when children relocate, it happens at increasingly younger ages. Finally, we find that these patterns are related to the increasing childbearing age across Europe. Our results thereby highlight the interplay between childhood migration and adult family life's changing dynamics, offering a novel perspective on the link between these two demographic components.
CCZM‐based fatigue analysis and reliability assessment for wind turbine blade adhesive joints considering parameter uncertainties
Authors: Liu Zheng , Liu Haodong , Shao Zhenjiang , Liang Jinlong , Tang Ruizhi
Published: May 2024

Wind turbine blades are complex structures composed of multiple bonded components. The fatigue performance of these adhesive joints is crucial for ensuring operational safety over the blade's lifespan. Traditional structural fatigue analysis methods are inadequate for evaluating the fatigue properties of these joints due to the unique characteristics of adhesive materials. Variations in material and dimensional parameters, as well as fluctuating operational loads, further complicate the fatigue analysis of adhesive joints in wind turbine blades. To tackle this issue, this study introduces a fatigue analysis and reliability assessment method for the adhesive joints of wind turbine blades, employing the Cyclic Cohesive Zone Model (CCZM) and accounting for parameter uncertainties. Specifically, a novel methodology for fatigue analysis based on the CCZM is presented. The methodology is programmatically implemented to obtain a fatigue life dataset through multiple simulations, considering uncertainties in material parameters, adhesive dimensions, and loads. Subsequently, a fatigue reliability model is formulated to evaluate the fatigue reliability of adhesive joints in wind turbine blades under different parameter conditions, and the sensitivity of fatigue reliability to each parameter is investigated. The findings offer valuable insights for improving the safety and reliability of adhesive structures in wind turbine blades.
Selection of the level of vibration signal decomposition and mother wavelets to determine the level of failure severity in spur gearboxes
Authors: Pérez‐Torres Antonio , Sánchez Rene‐Vinicio , Barceló‐Cerdá Susana
Published: May 2024

Spur gearboxes are an integral component in the operation of rotary machines. Hence, the early determination of the severity level of a failure is crucial. This manuscript delineates a methodology for selecting essential mother wavelets and filters from the wavelet transform (WT) to process the vibration signal within the time‐frequency domain, aiming to ascertain the severity level of failures in spur gearboxes. Initially, information is garnered from the gearbox through vibration signals in the time domain, utilising six accelerometers. Subsequently, the signal is partitioned into various levels, and information from each level is extracted using diverse mother wavelets and their respective filters. The signal is segmented into sub‐bands, from which the condition state is ascertained using an energy operator. After that, the appropriate level of wave decomposition is determined through ANOVA tests and post‐hoc Tukey analyses, evaluating performance in failure classification via the Random Forest (RF) model. Upon establishing the decomposition level, the analysis proceeds to identify which mother wavelets and filters are most suitable for determining the severity level of different types of failure in spur gearboxes. Moreover, this study investigates the impact of sensor positioning and inclination on acquiring the vibration signal. This aspect is explored through factorial ANOVA tests and multiple comparisons of the data derived from the sensors. The RF classification model achieved exceedingly favourable results (accuracy 96% and AUC 98%), with minimal practical influence from the positioning and inclination of a sensor, thereby affirming the proposed methodology's suitability for this type of analysis.
Optimal step stress accelerated degradation tests with the bivariate inverse Gaussian process
Authors: Qu Liang , Li Jin , Zhao Xiujie , Zhang Min , Lv Zhenyu
Published: May 2024

Step‐stress accelerated degradation test (SSADT) has become a prevailing approach to lifetime assessment for highly reliable products. In practice, many products suffer from multiple degradation processes that significantly contribute to failures. In this paper, we investigate the optimal SSADT plans for products subject to two dependent degradation characteristics modeled by a bivariate inverse Gaussian process. The drift parameter of each process is assumed to be influenced by a common stress factor. A bivariate Birnbaum‐Saunders (BVBS)‐type distribution is employed to approximate the lifetime distribution and facilitate the derivation of the objective function. The optimal plans are prescribed under three common optimality criteria in the presence of constraints on test units and inspections. A revisited example of fatigue crack is then presented to demonstrate the proposed methods. Finally, the sensitivity of the SSADT plans is studied, and the results exhibit fair robustness of the optimal plans.
Transfer learning for anatomical structure segmentation in otorhinolaryngology microsurgery
Authors: Ding Xin , Huang Yu , Zhao Yang , Tian Xu , Feng Guodong , Gao Zhiqiang
Published: May 2024

Background

Reducing the annotation burden is an active and meaningful area of artificial intelligence (AI) research.

Methods

Multiple datasets for the segmentation of two landmarks were constructed based on 41 257 labelled images and 6 different microsurgical scenarios. These datasets were trained using the multi‐stage transfer learning (TL) methodology.

Results

The multi‐stage TL enhanced segmentation performance over baseline (mIOU 0.6892 vs. 0.8869). Besides, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) achieved a robust performance (mIOU 0.8917 vs. 0.8603) even when the training dataset size was reduced from 90% (30 078 images) to 10% (3342 images). When directly applying the weight from one certain surgical scenario to recognise the same target in images of other scenarios without training, CNNs still obtained an optimal mIOU of 0.6190 ± 0.0789.

Conclusions

Model performance can be improved with TL in datasets with reduced size and increased complexity. It is feasible for data‐based domain adaptation among different microsurgical fields.
Data‐driven stability margin for linear multivariable systems
Authors: Ren Jinrui , Quan Quan , Xu Bin , Wang Shuai , Cai Kai‐Yuan
Published: May 2024

The notion of stability margin (SM) plays an important role in control engineering. For multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) systems, the classic SM is no longer applicable. The one‐loop‐at‐a‐time analysis method may lead to unreliable SMs. Although some robust SM analysis methods are popular in MIMO systems, they are model‐based or not easy‐to‐use in engineering sometimes. In this paper, gain margin and time‐delay margin are defined for linear MIMO systems, and a corresponding SM analysis method is proposed by utilizing a loop transformation and the small‐gain theorem. Most importantly, a data‐driven method for measuring the defined SMs is also presented. As a frequency‐domain method, this method can be used to experimentally obtain the SMs of MIMO systems on model‐free occasions. The proposed SM analysis method and measurement method are simple and practical. Two simulation studies and an experimental test are performed to illustrate the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method.
Partitioning graphs with linear minimum degree
Authors: Ma Jie , Wu Hehui
Published: May 2024

We prove that there exists an absolute constant such that, for any positive integer , every graph with minimum degree at least admits a vertex‐partition , where both and have minimum degree at least , and every vertex in has at least neighbors in . This confirms a question posted by Kühn and Osthus (J. Comb. Theory Ser. B. 88 (2003), 29–43.) and is tight up to a constant factor. Our proof combines probabilistic methods with structural arguments based on Ore's theorem on ‐factors of bipartite graphs.
Latest Open Doors report examines trends in international student enrollment
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: May 2024

The Institute of International Education, in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, has been gathering data and publishing statistics since 1948 on the number of international students enrolling in American colleges and universities, their countries of origin, and the number of American students studying abroad. This is a definitive survey of international and U.S. higher education student mobility.
Changeable Active Sites by Pr Doping CuSA‐TiO2 Photocatalyst for Excellent Hydrogen Production
Authors: Zi Baoye , Zheng Hongshun , Zhou Tong , Lu Qingjie , Chen Mingpeng , Xiao Bin , Zhang Yumin , Qiu Zhishi , Sun Huachuan , Zhao Jianhong , Luo Zhongge , He Tianwei , Zhang Jin , Zhao Zongyan , Liu Qingju
Published: May 2024

Photocatalytic water splitting for clean hydrogen production has been a very attractive research field for decades. However, the insightful understanding of the actual active sites and their impact on catalytic performance is still ambiguous. Herein, a Pr‐doped TiO2‐supported Cu single atom (SA) photocatalyst is successfully synthesized (noted as Cu/Pr‐TiO2). It is found that Pr dopants passivate the formation of oxygen vacancies, promoting the density of photogenerated electrons on the CuSAs, and optimizing the electronic structure and H* adsorption behavior on the CuSA active sites. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of the obtained Cu/Pr‐TiO2 catalyst reaches 32.88 mmol g−1 h−1, 2.3 times higher than the Cu/TiO2. Innovatively, the excellent catalytic activity and performance is attributed to the active sites change from O atoms to CuSAs after Pr doping is found. This work provides new insight for understanding the accurate roles of single atoms in photocatalytic water splitting.
Dual Antibacterial Properties of Copper‐Coated Nanotextured Stainless Steel
Authors: Tripathi Anuja , Park Jaeyoung , Pho Thomas , Champion Julie A.
Published: May 2024

Bacterial adhesion to stainless steel, an alloy commonly used in shared settings, numerous medical devices, and food and beverage sectors, can give rise to serious infections, ultimately leading to morbidity, mortality, and significant healthcare expenses. In this study, Cu‐coated nanotextured stainless steel (nSS) fabrication have been demonstrated using electrochemical technique and its potential as an antibiotic‐free biocidal surface against Gram‐positive and negative bacteria. As nanotexture and Cu combine for dual methods of killing, this material should not contribute to drug‐resistant bacteria as antibiotic use does. This approach involves applying a Cu coating on nanotextured stainless steel, resulting in an antibacterial activity within 30 min. Comprehensive characterization of the surface revealing that the Cu coating consists of metallic Cu and oxidized states (Cu2+ and Cu+), has been performed by this study. Cu‐coated nSS induces a remarkable reduction of 97% in Gram‐negative Escherichia coli and 99% Gram‐positive Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria. This material has potential to be used to create effective, scalable, and sustainable solutions to prevent bacterial infections caused by surface contamination without contributing to antibiotic resistance.
Double‐Salts Super Concentrated Carbonate Electrolyte Boosting Electrochemical Performance of Ni‐Rich LiNi0.90Co0.05Mn0.05O2 Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Yang Qiang , Liu Qi , Tan Guoqiang , Li Li , Chen Renjie , Wu Feng
Published: May 2024

Current lithium‐ion batteries cannot meet the requirement of higher energy density with further large‐scale application of electrical vehicles. Lithium metal batteries combined with Ni‐rich layered oxides cathode are expected as the one of promising solutions, while the poor electrode and electrolyte interface impedes the commercial development of lithium metal batteries. A new double‐salts super concentrated (DSSC) carbonate electrolyte is proposed to improve the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.90Co0.05Mn0.05O2 (NCM9055)||Li metal battery which exhibits stable cycling performance with the capacity retention of 93.04% and reversible capacity of 173.8 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 1 C, while cells with conventional 1 m diluted electrolyte remains only 60.55% and capacity of 114.2 mAh g−1. The double salts synergistic effect in super concentrated electrolyte promotes the formation for more balanced stable cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) inorganic compounds of CFx, LiNOx, SOF2, Li2SO4, and less LiF by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) test, and the uniform 2–3 nm rock‐salt phase protection layer on the cathode surface by transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization, improving the cycling performance of the Ni‐rich NCM9055 layered oxide cathode. The DSSC electrolyte also can relief the Li dendrite growth on Li metal anode, as well as exhibit better flame retardance, promoting the application of more safety Ni‐rich NCM9055||Li metal batteries.