bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Optimization of Thermo-Mechanical Densification to Improve the Water Resistance of Outdoor Bamboo Scrimber
Authors: Wang Xiaoxia , Zhu Rongxian , Lei Wencheng , Su Qiupeng , Yu Wenji
Published: April 2023

The water resistance of bamboo scrimber used in outdoor environments greatly affects its applications and lifecycle. Physical and chemical studies have been conducted to investigate the influence of the hot-pressing temperature during thermo-mechanical densification on the water resistance of outdoor bamboo scrimber. Investigated parameters included the failure mode of surfaces, the vertical density profile, and the change of chemical components, which provides theoretical support for optimizing bamboo scrimber for outdoor applications. Here, the vertical density profiles of bamboo scrimber were measured using an X-ray density profiler, and the response of cells and bonding interfaces of bamboo scrimber to water absorption were recorded by using extended depth-of-field 3D microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The composition was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the effect of temperature on water resistance during thermo-mechanical densification. The water resistance of bamboo scrimber significantly improved as the temperature increased from 140 °C to 170 °C. The spring-back from the compressive deformation of cells and cracks was the main failure mode, and showed a negative correlation upon increasing the temperature. The moderate increase in cellulose crystallinity, the increase in the polymerization degree of the PF resin, and the thermal degradation of hemicelluloses explained the failure behavior of the bamboo scrimber at the molecular level.
Stand Structure Management and Tree Diversity Conservation Based on Using Stand Factors: A Case Study in the Longwan National Nature Reserve
Authors: Li Yue , Wang Xue , Zhang Chaofan , Li Jinpeng , Jiang Haibo , Sheng Lianxi , Li Zhenxin
Published: April 2023

The management of stand structure and the protection of species diversity are crucial to forest ecosystem service functions. Changbai Mountain is one of the three major forest regions in Northeast China, and understanding the characteristics of stand structure and the allometric relationship between stand structure variables and the correlation between stand factors and species diversity is the basis for achieving effective forest management and ecological function improvement. In this study, the typical deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest and coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest of the Longwan Nature Reserve in the Changbai Mountain were taken as the research objects, and the stand structure and diversity were investigated in detail. Allometric growth equations were established using the breast height diameter (DBH), tree height, and crown width of the main dominant species. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted on the stand structure and diversity of the forest community. The experimental results showed that young forests with small diameters and small individuals were the main part of the stands. Optimal allometric growth models of the main tree species (Acer mandshuricum, Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, Juglans mandshurica, Acer mono, and Tilia amurensis) were 0.807D0.646, 0608D0.381H0.390, 0.502D0.533H0.295, 0.795D0.540H0.157, and 0.541D0.484H0.301, respectively, with R2 values ranging between 0.6 and 0.8, indicating a good fit for the models. Furthermore, tree density, crown width, and DBH were the main factors affecting tree diversity. The research results will provide theoretical support for the efficient management of forest stand structure and diversity conservation in the Longwan Reserve.
Correct Calculation of the Existing Longitudinal Profile of a Forest/Skid Road Using GNSS and a UAV Device
Authors: Lepoglavec Kruno , Šušnjar Marijan , Pandur Zdravko , Bačić Marin , Kopseak Hrvoje , Nevečerel Hrvoje
Published: April 2023

The increasing importance of utilizing new technologies, such as GNSS (Global navigation satellite system) devices, total stations, drones, scanners, etc., in forestry has become evident with the development of these tools. Combined with precise GNSS devices, UAVs represent an efficient tool that facilitates field measurements and reduces time spent in the field while also providing highly accurate data. To accurately determine the application of spatial data for calculating the longitudinal slope of forest/logging roads in a research project, measurements based on UAVs were conducted and compared with GNSS data. GNSS data were considered the reference values for the studied area, assuming that satellite positions and internet signals were good. An accurate longitudinal slope was necessary to define fuel consumption on forest/logging roads and slopes throughout the project and to verify the calculation method that could be applied for such or similar terrain conditions and overgrowth. The main goal of this research phase was not to study fuel consumption but to obtain an accurate longitudinal profile of forest/skid roads on rocky terrain that is not overgrown or poorly grown. The study put forth two hypotheses, one of which was ultimately confirmed, while the other was refuted. The results show no significant differences when comparing the absolute elevation of the points in the profiles for defining the longitudinal slope of the road using the program for designing forest/skid roads. While applying such a method of data collection to create the main projects for the (re)construction of forest/skid roads, there are significant deviations in earthwork masses. There was a difference of over 22.64% in one of the types of earthwork excavation on the designed forest road, so the method implemented in the research does not give sufficiently accurate results.
Estimation of the Three-Dimension Green Volume Based on UAV RGB Images: A Case Study in YueYaTan Park in Kunming, China
Authors: Hong Zehu , Xu Weiheng , Liu Yun , Wang Leiguang , Ou Guanglong , Lu Ning , Dai Qinling
Published: April 2023

Three-dimension green volume (3DGV) is a quantitative index that measures the crown space occupied by growing plants. It is often used to evaluate the environmental and climatic benefits of urban green space (UGS). We proposed the Mean of neighboring pixels (MNP) algorithm based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) RGB images to estimate the 3DGV in YueYaTan Park in Kunming, China. First, we mapped the vegetated area by the RF algorithm based on visible vegetation indices and texture features, which obtained a producer accuracy (PA) of 98.24% and a user accuracy (UA) of 97.68%. Second, the Canopy Height Mode (CHM) of the vegetated area was built by using the Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Terrain Model (DTM), and the vegetation coverage in specific cells (1.6 m × 1.6 m) was calculated based on the vegetation map. Then, we used the Mean of neighboring pixels (MNP) algorithm to estimate 3DGV based on the cell area, canopy height, and vegetation coverage. Third, the 3DGV based on the MNP algorithm (3DGV_MNP), the Convex hull algorithm (3DGV_Con), and the Voxel algorithm (3DGV_Voxel) were compared with the 3DGV based on the field data (3DGV_FD). Our results indicate that the deviation of 3DGV_MNP for plots (Relative Bias = 15.18%, Relative RMSE = 19.63%) is less than 3DGV_Con (Relative Bias = 24.12%, Relative RMSE = 29.56%) and 3DGV_Voxel (Relative Bias = 30.77%, Relative RMSE = 37.49%). In addition, the deviation of 3DGV_MNP (Relative Bias = 17.31%, Relative RMSE = 19.94%) is also less than 3DGV_Con (Relative Bias = 24.19%, Relative RMSE = 25.77%), and 3DGV_Voxel (Relative Bias = 27.81%, Relative RMSE = 29.57%) for individual trees. Therefore, it is concluded that the 3DGV estimation can be realized by using the Neighboring pixels algorithm. Further, this method performed better than estimation based on tree detection in UGS. There was 377,223.21 m3 of 3DGV in YueYaTan Park. This study provides a rapid and effective method for 3DGV estimation based on UAV RGB images.
Enhancement of Biomass and Protein Production of Chlorella protothecoides in Heterotrophic Cultivation Using Expired Juices as Alternative Source of Nutrients for an Added-Value Biorefinery Scheme
Authors: Ibarruri Jone , Manso Mikel , Cebrián Marta
Published: April 2023

Microalgae are among the most suitable sources of new protein ingredients and bioactive compounds, although their cost-effective production still remains a developmental bottleneck. Heterotrophic growth has advantages, such as higher productivity and non-dependence on light and CO2, but it has not yet been fully implemented. The aim of this study was to increase the biomass and protein of Chlorella protothecoides in heterotrophic conditions using expired fruit and vegetable juices (FVJ) and to compare the results to those obtained using a modified Bristol (MB) medium. The initial amounts of sugars (15 g L−1) and yeast extract (8 g L−1) led to the highest protein production (43%) and protein yield (5.2 g L−1) in trials using 1 L bottles. Bioreactor trials using FVJ resulted in a similar biomass productivity (2.94 g L−1 d−1) compared to MB (3.04 g L−1 d−1) and in enhanced polyunsaturated fatty acid content; nonetheless, a lower amount of essential amino acids (EAA) was obtained. Biomass was further processed by ultra-high-pressure homogenisation for protein concentration and residual pellet production. The protein extracts showed significant increases in EAA (11.8% and 26% increase in MB and FVJ, respectively). Residual biomass showed potential as a source of lutein and antimicrobial compounds. The results indicate that FVJ is a promising source of nutrients for the heterotrophic production of C. protothecoides, and that the extracts obtained present nutritional profiles and bioactivities of potential interest.
Post-Digital Learning for Rural Development: A Case Study of Open Biotec MOOCs in Colombia
Authors: Ocampo-López Carlos , Muñoz-Blandón Oscar , Rendón-Castrillón Leidy , Ramírez-Carmona Margarita
Published: April 2023

This research presents an experience of post-digital learning of biotechnology in rural areas in Colombia by implementing a massive open online course (MOOC) for biotechnology education called Open Biotec. The objective was to improve Colombian rural development by creating learning communities around five topics: waste management, environmental biotechnology, bioprocesses, alternative energies, and bio-entrepreneurship. The study utilized various methods, including a socioeconomic diagnosis of a subregion of the department of Antioquia, Colombia, and the creation of MOOCs using the Action Research methodology. The pilot test of the training route in biotechnology involved the progressive development of the MOOC courses that comprise it. Around 918 students from rural areas were trained, and statistical analysis showed that the average grade of the students increased significantly from 6.13 to 7.53 and the median from 6.15 to 8.00. The study results demonstrate how the learning experience designed in the Open Biotec MOOC increases the degree of knowledge of students in this field of biotechnology, offering an opportunity to establish sustainable learning communities with participation and collaborative action mediated by virtual tools. The study concludes that rural education in Colombia could be strengthened with a training strategy for rural communities supported by MOOCs focused on the responsible use of local biodiversity from a biotechnological perspective.
Improved Food-Processing Techniques to Reduce Isoflavones in Soy-Based Foodstuffs
Authors: Bensaada Souad , Chabrier François , Ginisty Pascal , Ferrand Carine , Peruzzi Gabriele , Valat Marc , Bennetau-Pelissero Catherine
Published: April 2023

Soy is a growing protein source; however, the isoflavones it contains are of concern, as they exhibit estrogenic activities whose toxicological limits might be exceeded. Reducing their concentrations to safe levels while preserving nutritional quality in soy foodstuffs is therefore a matter of public health. The main objective of this paper is to develop at pilot scale a process for isoflavones’ extraction from soybeans, and to show its feasibility and efficiency. The study was conducted by first optimizing the previously obtained laboratory treatment key factors. These data were then transposed to the pilot level. Finally, the process was adjusted to technical constraints which appeared at pilot scale: the mandatory use of drenching and the exploration of granulometry analysis. The involved steps were validated by monitoring the genistein and daidzein content variations through statistical analysis of the data of an ELISA and a Folin–Ciocalteu assay. Additionally, isoflavones’ recovery from treatment waters for their valorisation and the water cleaning by means of filtration, centrifugation and resin adsorption were carried out. The results showed that the most successful pilot treatment developed involved soybean dehulling, drenching, washing and drying and almost halved isoflavones while preserving the main nutritional characteristics. A combination of techniques led to almost complete recovery of isoflavones from process waters.
Protective Cultures in Food Products: From Science to Market
Authors: Fischer Sebastian W. , Titgemeyer Fritz
Published: April 2023

An ultimate goal in food production is to guarantee food safety and security. Fermented food products benefit from the intrinsic capabilities of the applied starter cultures as they produce organic acids and bactericidal compounds such as hydrogen peroxide that hamper most food pathogens. In addition, highly potent small peptides, bacteriocins, are being expelled to exert antibiotic effects. Based on ongoing scientific efforts, there is a growing market of food products to which protective cultures are added exclusively for food safety and for prolonged shelf life. In this regard, most genera from the order Lactobacillales play a prominent role. Here, we give an overview on protective cultures in food products. We summarize the mode of actions of antibacterial mechanisms. We display the strategies for the isolation and characterization of protective cultures in order to have them market-ready. A survey of the growing market reveals promising perspectives. Finally, a comprehensive chapter discusses the current legislation issues concerning protective cultures, leading to the conclusion that the application of protective cultures is superior to the usage of defined bacteriocins regarding simplicity, economic costs, and thus usage in less-developed countries. We believe that further discovery of bacteria to be implemented in food preservation will significantly contribute to customer’s food safety and food security, badly needed to feed world’s growing population but also for food waste reduction in order to save substantial amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
Extraction, Composition, Functionality, and Utilization of Brewer’s Spent Grain Protein in Food Formulations
Authors: Devnani Bhanu , Moran Galo Chuchuca , Grossmann Lutz
Published: April 2023

In recent years, brewer’s spent grain (BSG) has gained attention as a plant-based protein source because it occurs in large quantities as a by-product of beer brewing. BSG can contribute to future food requirements and support the development of a circular economy. In light of the dynamic developments in this area, this review aims to understand the proteins present in BSG, and the effect of extraction techniques and conditions on the composition, physicochemical, and techno-functional properties of the obtained protein extracts. The water-insoluble hordeins and glutelins form the major protein fractions in BSG. Depending on the beer brewing process, the extraction technique, and conditions, the BSG protein isolates predominantly contain B, C, and ϒ hordeins, and exhibit a broad molecular weight distribution ranging between <5 kDa and >250 kDa. While the BSG isolates obtained through chemical extraction methods seem promising to obtain gelled food products, physical and enzymatic modifications of BSG proteins through ultrasound and proteolytic hydrolysis offer an effective way to produce soluble and functional protein isolates with good emulsifying and foaming capabilities. Specifically tailored protein extracts to suit different applications can thus be obtained from BSG, highlighting that it is a highly valuable protein source.
Plant-Based Milk Alternatives in Child Nutrition
Authors: Brusati Marco , Baroni Luciana , Rizzo Gianluca , Giampieri Francesca , Battino Maurizio
Published: April 2023

Plant-based milk alternatives can be distinguished in two main categories, differing in production processes and regulation: plant-based formulas and plant-based drinks. They are now a widely accepted class of products on the international market. The various plant-based milk alternatives differ in nutritional characteristics due to their origin and manufacturing; more importantly, whereas formulas from plant and cow origin can be used interchangeably, plant-based drinks are nutritionally different from cow’s milk and can be consumed by children subsequently to the use of formula. Several scientific organizations have expressed differing opinions on the use of these products in the diets of children. In the face of unanimous conclusions regarding the use of these products during the first year of life, in subsequent ages there were conflicting opinions regarding the timing, quantities, and type of product to be used. From the viewpoint of the child’s overall diet and health, it could be suggested that these foods be considered not as simple substitutes for cow’s milk, but as part of a varied diet, within individual advice of use. We suggest accepting the presence of these products in a baby’s diet (omnivores included), planning their use correctly in the context of a balanced diet, according to the specific product and the needs of the individual.
The Effect of Erythritol on the Physicochemical Properties of Reformulated, High-Protein, and Sugar-Free Macarons Produced from Whey Protein Isolate Intended for Diabetics, Athletes, and Physically Active People
Authors: Nastaj Maciej , Sołowiej Bartosz G. , Terpiłowski Konrad , Kucia Wiesław , Tomasevic Igor B. , Peréz-Huertas Salvador
Published: April 2023

This study reports the possibility of obtaining sugar-free WPI-based macarons with erythritol addition. The whey protein isolate (WPI) solution (20%, w/v) was whipped, and erythritol was added to the foam at concentrations of 20, 40, and 60 g, with 125 g of almond flour. The rheological properties (τ, G′, G″, and tan (δ)) and stability of the macaron batters before baking were evaluated. In order to produce the macarons, the batters were solidified at 147 °C for 12 min. The textural and surface properties (roughness and color), as well as the microstructures and water activities, were determined for the macarons. It was feasible to produce macarons over the entire range of the tested erythritol content. Even the smallest amount of erythritol (20 g) facilitated the preservation of the macaron structure. The medium erythritol concentration (40 g) improved the stability of the batters and their rheology and was the most effective for air pocket stabilization during baking; however, its largest addition (60 g) resulted in an increase in the final macaron volume. The increased erythritol addition improved mechanical properties and shelf life, producing a smoothing effect on the macaron surfaces and having a significant effect on their color co-ordinates.
High Genetic Diversity and Virulence Potential in Bacillus cereus sensu lato Isolated from Milk and Cheeses in Apulia Region, Southern Italy
Authors: Bianco Angelica , Normanno Giovanni , Capozzi Loredana , Del Sambro Laura , Di Fato Laura , Miccolupo Angela , Di Taranto Pietro , Caruso Marta , Petruzzi Fiorenza , Ali Ashraf , Parisi Antonio
Published: April 2023

The Bacillus cereus group includes species that act as food-borne pathogens causing diarrheal and emetic symptoms. They are widely distributed and can be found in various foods. In this study, out of 550 samples of milk and cheeses, 139 (25.3%) were found to be contaminated by B. cereus sensu lato (s.l.). One isolate per positive sample was characterized by Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) and for the presence of ten virulence genes. Based on MLST, all isolates were classified into 73 different sequence types (STs), of which 12 isolates were assigned to new STs. Virulence genes detection revealed that 90% and 61% of the isolates harboured the nheABC and the hblCDA gene cluster, respectively. Ninety-four percent of the isolates harboured the enterotoxin genes entS and entFM; 8% of the isolates possessed the ces gene. Thirty-eight different genetic profiles were identified, suggesting a high genetic diversity. Our study clearly shows the widespread diffusion of potentially toxigenic isolates of B. cereus s.l. in milk and cheeses in the Apulia region highlighting the need to adopt GMP and HACCP procedures along every step of the milk and cheese production chain in order to reduce the public health risk linked to the consumption of foods contaminated by B. cereus s.l.
Structural Evolution of Global Soybean Trade Network and the Implications to China
Authors: Wang Min , Liu Dong , Wang Zhenxing , Li Yuetan
Published: April 2023

China experiences a serious shortage of soybean supplies and relies heavily on international trade with high vulnerability and large uncertainty, which maybe sows food security risks. It is of great significance to analyze the structural evolution of the global soybean trade network and its implications to China for ensuring food security. This paper constructed a global soybean trade network (GSTN) and analyzed the structural evolutionary characteristics of GSTN from 2000 to 2020 using the complex network analysis method and simulated the impact of targeted destruction on China through scenario analysis. The results showed that GSTN was gradually complex exhibiting a small word and a scale-free network property. The global soybean exporter was dominated by some major soybean-producing countries in America. The US played an important role in maintaining GSTN’s robustness. China was the world’s largest soybean importer; unfortunately, its soybean imports relied heavily on a few countries, and the anti-interference ability of China’s soybean trade tended to decline. Therefore, China’s soybean trade was increasingly vulnerable to being tightly controlled by other countries when some uncertain factors occurred, such as trade frictions and changes in policy decisions from importing and exporting countries. The US and Brazil were key countries with significant soybean trade ties to China. To assess the impact of the two countries on China’s soybean trade, targeted destruction method was used through destroying them in the network. Targeted destruction scenario analysis indicated the two countries played important roles in the anti-interference ability of China’s soybean trade. Brazil played a positive role in China’s control of soybean trade flows, while the US did not. Some policies for China’s soybean production and international trade were proposed. A balance between the domestic production and import of soybean is needed. Optimizing the soybean trade import system and seeking more trade partners is crucial. Improving soybean self-sufficiency is the fundamental way to reduce the high-import dependence. The study provided some insights for coping with international market fluctuations and improving the sustainability of China’s soybean trade.
Molecular Docking Revealed the Potential Anti-Oxidative Stress Mechanism of the Walnut Polypeptide on HT22 Cells
Authors: Zhang Zijie , Shang Yuting , Li Siting , Chen Zhou , Xia Junxia , Tian Yiling , Jia Yingmin , Ma Aijin
Published: April 2023

The preparation of novel antioxidant peptides from food raw materials is one of the research focuses, but there are fewer studies on the preparation of antioxidant peptides from walnut meal, a by-product of processing walnuts. This study analyzed the antioxidant properties and protective effects of walnut protein hydrolyzed by alkaline protease and trypsin on the oxidative stress of HT22 cells. The peptides were identified by UPLC-MS/MS, and the anti-oxidative peptides were screened based on virtual computer tools. The potential anti-oxidative stress mechanism of the walnut polypeptide on HT22 cells was explored by molecular docking. The results revealed that walnut protein hydrolysates (WPH) with molecular weights of less than 1 kDa had good antioxidant properties and inhibited oxidative damage of HT22 cells by regulating the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Six of the ninety identified new peptides showed good solubility, non-toxicity, and bioactivity. The molecular docking results showed that the six peptides could dock with Keap1 successfully, and EYWNR and FQLPR (single-letter forms of peptide writing) could interact with the binding site of Nrf2 in the Keap1-Kelch structural domain through hydrogen bonds with strong binding forces. The results of this study provided important information on the antioxidant molecular mechanism of the walnut polypeptide and provided a basis for further development of walnut antioxidant polypeptide products.
Pickering Emulsion Stabilized by Fish Myofibrillar Proteins Modified with Tannic Acid, as Influenced by Different Drying Methods
Authors: Patil Umesh , Gulzar Saqib , Ma Lukai , Zhang Bin , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: April 2023

A novel food-grade, particles-based Pickering emulsion (PE) was prepared from a marine source. Yellow stripe trevally is an under-utilized species. The use of its muscle protein as solid food-grade particles for the preparation of a Pickering emulsion can be a potential means of obtaining the natural nutritive emulsifier/stabilizer. Fish myofibrillar proteins (FMP) were modified with tannic acid (TA) at varying concentrations (0.125, 0.25, and 0.5%) followed by freeze-drying (FD) or spray-drying (SD). Physicochemical characteristics and emulsifying properties of obtained FMP-TA complexed particles were assessed for structural changes and oil-in-water emulsion stabilization. The addition of TA caused a reduction in surface hydrophobicity and total sulfhydryl content values for either FD-FMP or SD-FMP. Conversely, disulfide bond content was significantly increased, particularly when TA at 0.5% was used (p < 0.05). FTIR, spectrofluorometer, and the protein pattern also confirmed the cross-linking between FMP and TA. SD-FMP modified with 0.5% TA (SD-FMP-0.5TA) rendered the highest emulsifying stability index but had a lowered emulsifying activity index (p < 0.05). Confocal microscopic images, droplet size, and rheological properties revealed that a SD-FMP-0.5TA-stabilized emulsion had higher stability after 45 days of storage than an FD-FMP-0.5TA-stabilized emulsion. Therefore, the SD-FMP-0.5TA complex could be used as a potential food-grade stabilizer/emulsifier for PE with enhanced emulsifying properties.
Moving towards Gel for Fish Feeding: Focus on Functional Properties and Its Acceptance
Authors: Lal Jham , Biswas Pradyut , Singh Soibam Khogen , Debbarma Reshmi , Mehta Naresh Kumar , Deb Suparna , Sharma Sanjeev , Waikhom Gusheinzed , Patel Arun Bhai
Published: April 2023

To resurrect and establish a low-impact aquaculture practice, gel-based feed applications hold promise. Gel feed is viscoelastic, nutrient-dense, hard, flexible, and appealing, and can be moulded into appealing shapes to ensure rapid acceptance by fish. The purpose of this research is to create a suitable gel feed using various gelling agents and to evaluate its properties and acceptance by a model fish, Pethia conchonius (rosy barb). Three gelling agents, viz. starch, calcium lactate and pectin, were included at 2%, 5%, and 8% in a fish-muscle-based diet. The physical properties of gel feed were standardized using texture profile analysis, sinking velocity, water and gel stability, water holding capacity, proximate composition, and colour. The lowest levels of nutrient leaching protein (0.57 ± 0.15%) and lipid (14.3 ± 14.30%) were observed up to 24 h in the underwater column. The highest score for overall physical and acceptance characteristics was noted for the 5% calcium lactate-based gel feed. Furthermore, a 20-day acceptance feeding experiment was conducted using 5% calcium lactate to examine its suitability as fish feed. The results indicate a better acceptability (3.55 ± 0.19%) and water stability (−2.5 ± 2.5%) of the gel feed compared to the control, with an improvement in nutrient losses. Overall, the study provides an insight into the application of gel-based diets for ornamental fish rearing, besides ensuring an efficient nutrient uptake and minimal leaching to establish a clean aquatic environment.
Response Surface Methodology for Optimization of Hydrogel-Forming Microneedles as Rapid and Efficient Transdermal Microsampling Tools
Authors: Leanpolchareanchai Jiraporn , Nuchtavorn Nantana
Published: April 2023

Microneedles (MNs) have shown a great potential for the microsampling of dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) in a minimally invasive manner for point-of-care testing (POCT). The swelling properties of hydrogel-forming microneedles (MNs) allow for passive extraction of ISF. Surface response approaches, including Box-Behnken design (BBD), central composite design (CCD), and optimal discrete design, were employed for the optimization of hydrogel film by studying the effects of independent variables (i.e., the amount of hyaluronic acid, GantrezTM S-97, and pectin) on the swelling property. The optimal discrete model was selected to predict the appropriate variables, due to the good fit of the experimental data and the model validity. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the model demonstrated p-value < 0.0001, R2 = 0.9923, adjusted R2 = 0.9894, and predicted R2 = 0.9831. Finally, the predicted film formulation containing 2.75% w/w hyaluronic acid, 1.321% w/w GantrezTM S-97, and 1.246% w/w pectin was used for further fabrication of MNs (525.4 ± 3.8 µm height and 157.4 ± 2.0 µm base width), which possessed 1508.2 ± 66.2% swelling, with 124.6 ± 7.4 µL of collection volume, and could withstand thumb pressure. Moreover, almost 50% of MNs achieved a skin insertion depth of approx. 400 µm, with 71.8 ± 3.2% to 78.3 ± 2.6% recoveries. The developed MNs show a promising prospect in microsample collection, which would be beneficial for POCT.
Aerogel Technology for Thermal Insulation of Cryogenic Tanks—Numerical Analysis for Comparison with Traditional Insulating Materials
Authors: Sambucci Matteo , Savoni Federico , Valente Marco
Published: April 2023

The traditional choice of insulation material for liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation with cryogenic tankers is the back-filled perlite-based system. However, aiming to further cut down the insulation cost, spare additional arrangement space, and provide safety in installation and maintenance, the requirement of looking for alternative materials still exists. Fiber-reinforced aerogel blankets (FRABs) could represent good candidates in designing insulation layers for LNG cryogenic storage because of their ability to ensure adequate thermal performance without the need to create deep vacuum conditions in the annular space of the tank. In this work, a finite element method (FEM) model was developed to study the thermal insulation performance of a commercial FRAB (Cryogel ® Z) for application in cryogenic storage/transport LNG tanks, comparing it with the performance of traditional perlite-based systems. Within the reliability limits of the computational model, the analysis proved that FRAB insulation technology gave encouraging results and might be potentially scalable for transporting cryogenic liquid. In addition to demonstrating superior performance in terms of thermal insulating efficiency and boil-off rate over the perlite-based system, as far as a perspective of cost savings and space gain, FRAB technology allows for higher levels of insulation without vacuum and with lower thickness of the outer shell, which is therefore beneficial for storing more material and lightening the weight of the LNG transportation semitrailer.
Time-Varying Oscillatory Response of Burning Gel Fuel Droplets
Authors: Sharma Janmejai , Miglani Ankur
Published: April 2023

Gel fuel droplets exhibit disruptive burning due to the rupture of their gellant shell, which causes the release of unreacted fuel vapors from the droplet interior to the flame in the form of jets. In addition to pure vaporization, this jetting allows convective transport for fuel vapors, which accelerates gas-phase mixing and is known to improve droplet burn rates. Using high-magnification and high-speed imaging, this study found that the viscoelastic gellant shell at the droplet surface evolves during the droplet’s lifetime, which causes the droplet to burst at different frequencies, thereby triggering a time-varying oscillatory jetting. In particular, the continuous wavelet spectra of the droplet diameter fluctuations show that the droplet bursting exhibits a nonmonotonic (hump-shaped) trend, where the bursting frequency first increases and then decreases to a point where the droplet stops oscillating. The changes in the shell structure are captured by tracking the temporal variation of the area of rupture sites, spatial movement of their centroid, and the degree of overlap between the rupture areas of successive cycles. During the initial period (immediately following its formation) when the shell is newly formed, it is weak and flexible, which causes it to burst at increasingly high frequencies. This is because the area at and around the rupture site becomes progressively weaker with each rupture in an already weak shell. This is shown by a high degree of overlap between the areas of successive ruptures. On the other hand, the shell flexibility during the initial period is demonstrated by a reversal in the motion of rupture site centroids. However, at later stages when the droplet has undergone multiple ruptures, the depletion of the fuel vapor causes accumulation of gellant on the shell, thus causing the shell to become strong and rigid. This thick, strong, and rigid shell suppresses droplet oscillations. Overall, this study provides a mechanistic understanding of how the gellant shell evolves during the combustion of a gel fuel droplet and causes the droplet to burst at different frequencies. This understanding can be used to devise gel fuel compositions that result in gellant shells with tailored properties, and therefore, control the jetting frequencies to tune droplet burn rates.
IGF2 May Enhance Placental Fatty Acid Metabolism by Regulating Expression of Fatty Acid Carriers in the Growth of Fetus and Placenta during Late Pregnancy in Pigs
Authors: Wu Zhimin , Hu Guangling , Zhang Yiyu , Ao Zheng
Published: April 2023

Fatty acids (FAs) are essential substances for the growth and development of the fetus and placenta. The growing fetus and placenta must obtain adequate FAs received from the maternal circulation and facilitated by various placental FA carriers, including FA transport proteins (FATPs), FA translocase (FAT/CD36), and cytoplasmic FA binding proteins (FABPs). Placental nutrition transport was regulated by imprinted genes H19 and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2). Nevertheless, the relationship between the expression patterns of H19/IGF2 and placental fatty acid metabolism throughout pig pregnancy remains poorly studied and unclear. We investigated the placental fatty acid profile, expression patterns of FA carriers, and H19/IGF2 in the placentae on Days 40 (D40), 65 (D65), and 95 (D95) of pregnancy. The results showed that the width of the placental folds and the number of trophoblast cells of D65 placentae were significantly increased than those of D40 placentae. Several important long-chain FAs (LCFAs), including oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonatic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosatetraenoic acid, in the pig placenta showed dramatically increased levels throughout pregnancy. The pig placenta possessed higher expression levels of CD36, FATP4, and FABP5 compared with other FA carriers, and their expression levels had significantly upregulated 2.8-, 5.6-, and 12.0-fold from D40 to D95, respectively. The transcription level of IGF2 was dramatically upregulated and there were corresponding lower DNA methylation levels in the IGF2 DMR2 in D95 placentae relative to D65 placentae. Moreover, in vitro experimentation revealed that the overexpression of IGF2 resulted in a significant increase in fatty acid uptake and expression levels of CD36, FATP4, and FABP5 in PTr2 cells. In conclusion, our results indicate that CD36, FATP4, and FABP5 may be important regulators that enhance the transport of LCFAs in the pig placenta and that IGF2 may be involved in FA metabolism by affecting the FA carriers expression to support the growth of the fetus and placenta during late pregnancy in pigs.
Assessing 40 Years of Flood Risk Evolution at the Micro-Scale Using an Innovative Modeling Approach: The Effects of Urbanization and Land Planning
Authors: Lazzarin Tommaso , Defina Andrea , Viero Daniele Pietro
Published: April 2023

The present work is aimed at assessing the change in time of flood risk as a consequence of landscape modifications. The town of San Donà di Piave (Italy) is taken as a representative case study because, as most parts of the North Italy floodplains, it was strongly urbanized and anthropized in the last several decades. As a proxy for flood risk, we use flood damage to residential buildings. The analysis is carried out at the local scale, accounting for changes to single buildings; GIS data such as high-resolution topography, technical maps, and aerial images taken over time are used to track how the landscape evolves over time, both in terms of urbanized areas and of hydraulically relevant structures (e.g., embankments). Flood hazard is determined using a physics-based, finite element hydrodynamic code that models in a coupled way the flood routing within the Piave River, the formation of levee failures, and the flooding of adjacent areas. The expected flood damage to residential buildings is estimated using an innovative method, recently proposed in the literature, which allows estimating how the damage evolves during a single flood event. The decade-scale change in the expected flood damage reveals the detrimental effect of urbanization, with flood risk growing at the pace of a fraction of urbanized areas. The within-event time evolution of the flood damage, i.e., how it progresses in the course of past or recent flood events, reflects changes in the hydrodynamic process of flooding. The general methodology used in the present work can be viewed as a promising technique to analyze the effects on the flood risk of past landscape evolution and, more importantly, a valuable tool toward an improved, well-informed, and sustainable land planning.
Engaging Leadership and Psychological Safety as Moderators of the Relationship between Strain and Work Recovery: A Cross-Sectional Study of HSS Employees
Authors: Selander Kirsikka , Korkiakangas Eveliina , Toivanen Minna , Yli-Kaitala Kirsi , Kangas Hilpi , Nevanperä Nina , Laitinen Jaana
Published: April 2023

Work in the health and social sector (HSS) is highly straining and therefore recovery from work needs to be promoted. Less is known on how job resources can be used to alleviate job strain and increase recovery from work. Thus, we analyzed the following: the association between job demands and work recovery; the connections of engaging leadership and psychological safety to recovery from work; and the moderating effects of engaging leadership and psychological safety on the relationship between strain and recovery from work. This cross-sectional study of 18,155 HSS and 4347 eldercare employees in 2020 using linear regression analysis showed that job strain (p < 0.001) and moral distress (p < 0.001) were associated with decreased recovery from work. Engaging leadership (p < 0.001) and psychologically safe work community (p < 0.001) enhanced recovery from work independently. Engaging leadership mitigated the harmful effect of job strain (p < 0.01) and moral distress (p < 0.05), and psychological safety mitigated the effect of job strain (p < 0.001), but not moral distress (p > 0.05). Thus, it is important to reduce job strain so that employees recover from work. Further job resources such as engaging leadership and psychological safety are important in themselves as they support recovery from work and employees’ well-being, but also as they alleviate job demands.
“Breastfeeding at Night Is Awesome” Mothers’ Intentions of Continuation of Breastfeeding Extreme and Very Preterm Babies upon Discharge from a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa
Authors: Madiba Sphiwe , Modjadji Perpetua , Ntuli Busisiwe
Published: April 2023

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is effective in increasing mothers’ initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding (BF) for extreme and very preterm (VLBW) infants. Although South Africa has implemented KMC for more than two decades, little is known about mothers’ perspectives on KMC. The purpose of this study was to describe the BF intentions and practices of mothers of VLBW infants at home following discharge and assess the role long stay in KMC has on their decision to BF beyond discharge. This qualitative study was conducted at the KMC unit of a tertiary hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. Focus group interviews were conducted with 38 mothers of VLBW infants who had transitioned from neonatal intensive care (NICU) to KMC. We analysed transcripts following the five steps for qualitative thematic data analysis. Mothers were knowledgeable of the importance and value of BF preterm infants and conceded that breast milk has advantages over formula. Mothers had positive feelings toward BF their preterm infants. The stay in KMC increased the direct BF of their preterm infants, mothers’ BF efficacy, and had a positive influence on mothers’ intentions to continue BF following discharge and to exclusively breastfeed for six months. Their BF intentions, efficacy, and practices were influenced by the skilful BF counselling, training, and support they received from the nursing staff. High intention to BF among these mothers is suggestive of their knowledge and confidence in BF for their VLBW infants. It is important that nursing staff in NICU and KMC appreciate the significant role they play in mothers’ readiness and confidence to breastfeed beyond discharge.
Validity and Consistency of the Arabic Version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) among Saudi Adults
Authors: Aldubayan Khalid , Ghafouri Khloud , Mutwalli Hiba , Kutbi Hebah A. , Mumena Walaa A.
Published: April 2023

The prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) is growing, and early screening is important to prevent related health complications. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) has been widely used as a diagnostic tool to identify cases of EDs; however, a validated Arabic version of the tool is needed to help in the screening process of EDs. The aim of this study was to validate the Arabic version of EDE-Q. A cross-sectional study included a sample of 549 adults, who were recruited mainly from the four major provinces in Saudi Arabia. A forward–backward translation method was conducted, and then the tool was validated using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The dataset was split for further convergent analysis using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and CFA. The results of CFA from the main dataset did not support the four-factor original EDE-Q. The results of EFA from the first data-split suggested a three-factor EDE-Q-14 Arabic version. This was supported by the results of CFA of the second data-split. A total of five items were allocated in each shape and weight concern, and restraint component, with correlations ranging from 0.969 and 0.462 and from 0.847 to 0.437, respectively. A total of four items were allocated in eating concern, with correlations ranging from 0.748 to 0.556. The internal consistency of the global and the three subscales were high, with Cronbach’s α ranging from 0.762 to 0.900. Findings of the current study suggest that the Arabic version of the EDE-Q-14 is a valid and reliable tool to screen for EDs among adults in Saudi Arabia.
Analgesic Efficacy of COX-2 Inhibitors in Periodontal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Isiordia-Espinoza Mario Alberto , Gómez-Sánchez Eduardo , Mora-Falcón Itzel Joselyn , Amador-Beas Iván Agustín , Hernández-Gómez Adriana , Serafín-Higuera Nicolás Addiel , Franco-de la Torre Lorenzo
Published: April 2023

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors versus other drugs in periodontal surgery. Two researchers searched PubMed, Google Scholar, ACM Digital, BASE, EBSCOhost, Scopus, or Web of Science for clinical trials using various combinations of words. All articles that met the selection criteria were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool. For data analysis, the inverse variance and mean difference statistical method was used with Review Manager 5.3 software for Windows. According to the conclusion of each study (qualitative evaluation), only one clinical trial had results in favor of a COX-2 inhibitor when compared to placebo, one clinical study informed that a COX-2 was better that an active control, four studies showed similar analgesic efficacy to active controls, and one clinical study informed the analgesic effect of one celecoxib-caffeine combination in comparison with celecoxib alone and placebo (n = 337). The COX-2 inhibitors showed a decrease in the rescue analgesic consumption (n = 138; I2 = 15%; mean difference = −0.31; 95%CIs = −0.6 to −0.01), and lower pain intensity at four hours (n = 178; I2 = 0%; mean difference = −2.25; 95%CIs = −2.94 to −1.55; p = 0.00001) when compared to active controls after periodontal surgery. In conclusion, the data indicate that COX-2 agents produce better pain relief in comparison to placebo and other drugs after periodontal surgery.
Detection of Depression-Related Tweets in Mexico Using Crosslingual Schemes and Knowledge Distillation
Authors: Pool-Cen Jorge , Carlos-Martínez Hugo , Hernández-Chan Gandhi , Sánchez-Siordia Oscar
Published: April 2023

Mental health problems are one of the various ills that afflict the world’s population. Early diagnosis and medical care are public health problems addressed from various perspectives. Among the mental illnesses that most afflict the population is depression; its early diagnosis is vitally important, as it can trigger more severe illnesses, such as suicidal ideation. Due to the lack of homogeneity in current diagnostic tools, the community has focused on using AI tools for opportune diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is a lack of data that allows the use of IA tools for the Spanish language. Our work has a cross-lingual scheme to address this issue, allowing us to identify Spanish and English texts. The experiments demonstrated the methodology’s effectiveness with an F1-score of 0.95. With this methodology, we propose a method to solve a classification problem for depression tweets (or short texts) by reusing English language databases with insufficient data to generate a classification model, such as in the Spanish language. We also validated the information obtained with public data to analyze the behavior of depression in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show that the use of these methodologies can serve as support, not only in the diagnosis of depression, but also in the construction of different language databases that allow the creation of more efficient diagnostic tools.