bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular, Chemical, and Sensory Attributes Fingerprinting of Self-Induced Anaerobic Fermented Coffees from Different Altitudes and Processing Methods
Authors: Martinez Silvia , Batista Nádia , Bressani Ana , Dias Disney , Schwan Rosane
Published: December 2022

Coffee quality is achieved by performing good practices. This study aimed to evaluate coffees from different altitudes fermented with the self-induced anaerobic method (SIAF) and processed via natural (N) and pulped natural (PN). Molecular (PCR-DGGE), chemical (HPLC, ABTS, DPPH, ATR-FTIR, and GC-MS), and sensory analyses were performed. Leuconostoc predominated both processes and all altitudes. Hanseniaspora and Pichia predominated both processes at 800 and 1200 m. Acids were higher in N coffees for all altitudes. Acetic, malic acid and alcohols were the most abundant. Higher sensory scores were obtained in N (mainly at 1400 m—88.13). Floral and spices were perceived in all samples. ABTS capacity in roasted coffee increased with altitude in PN (2685.71, 2724.03, and 3847.14 µM trolox/g); meanwhile, the opposite was observed in N. High sensory scores were obtained in high altitudes. Alcohols and acids in roasted beans increase with altitude. Leuconostoc and Pichia showed potential as future coffee starters.
Effects of Texture Modifiers on Physicochemical Properties of 3D-Printed Meat Mimics from Pea Protein Isolate-Alginate Gel Mixture
Authors: Leelapunnawut Supanut , Ngamwonglumlert Luxsika , Devahastin Sakamon , Derossi Antonio , Caporizzi Rossella , Chiewchan Naphaporn
Published: December 2022

Meat mimics were prepared from pea protein isolate-alginate gel via 3D printing. The texture of 3D-printed meat mimics was modified by incorporating transglutaminase (TGase) or κ-carrageenan (κc) at 0.3, 0.6 or 0.9% (w/w) into printing material prior to 3D printing. Rheological properties of modified printing material were measured; results were used to support 3D printing results. Textural properties of raw and cooked meat mimics were determined and compared with those of selected animal meats, namely, pork tenderloin, chicken breast, salmon meat and Spanish mackerel. Cooking losses of meat mimics were also determined. G′, G″ and tan δ of TGase-modified material were not significantly different from those of the control. In contrast, increasing κc content resulted in increased G′ and G″; tan δ of all κc-modified samples decreased from that of the control. Addition of TGase at 0.9% into printing material increased the hardness of raw meat mimics, while κc at 0.9% increased hardness of cooked meat mimics. Raw meat mimics treated with 0.9% TGase exhibited texture closest to raw salmon. Texture of cooked meat mimics treated with 0.9% κc was closest to that of cooked salmon. TGase-treated meat mimics tended to experience lower cooking losses, while κc-treated meat mimics exhibited an opposite trend.
The Effect of Cow Breed and Wild Garlic Leaves (Allium ursinum L.) on the Sensory Quality, Volatile Compounds, and Physical Properties of Unripened Soft Rennet-Curd Cheese
Authors: Pluta-Kubica Agnieszka , Najgebauer-Lejko Dorota , Domagała Jacek , Štefániková Jana , Golian Jozef
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cow breed and the addition of wild garlic on the sensory quality, volatile compounds, and physical properties of soft rennet-curd cheese. Cheese was produced from the milk of the Polish Holstein-Friesian breed Black-and-White type and the Polish Red breed, with or without the addition of wild garlic leaves. The samples were analyzed for their sensory quality, volatile compounds (using an electronic nose and GC/MS), color, and texture. The intensity of taste and smell characteristics depended only on the addition of wild garlic. PCA showed that the differences in volatile profiles resulted both from the milk cow breed and the use of wild garlic. Breed influenced almost all color parameters, while the addition of wild garlic affected all of them. The milk source, wild garlic addition, and storage duration influenced the majority of the textural parameters of the cheeses. The research conducted indicates that the addition of wild garlic leaves results in the enrichment of the volatile compound profile of cheese, making its taste and smell less milky and sour (p ≤ 0.001), while modifying its color and some textural properties (p ≤ 0.001); while, at the same time, not adversely affecting the sensory assessment of the color, appearance, texture, smell, or taste of the cheese (p > 0.05).
Antioxidant, Organoleptic and Physicochemical Changes in Different Marinated Oven-Grilled Chicken Breast Meat
Authors: Okpala Charles Odilichukwu R. , Juchniewicz Szymon , Leicht Katarzyna , Korzeniowska Małgorzata , Guiné Raquel P. F.
Published: December 2022

The antioxidant, organoleptic, and physicochemical changes in different marinated oven-grilled chicken breast meat were investigated. Specifically, the chicken breast meat samples were procured from a local retailer in Wroclaw, Poland. The antioxidant aspects involved 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-pierylhydrazy (DPPH), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The organoleptic aspects involved sensory and texture aspects. The physicochemical aspects involved the pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), cooking weight loss, L* a* b* color, and textural cutting force. Different marination variants comprised incremental 0.5, 1, and 1.5% concentrations of Baikal skullcap (BS), cranberry pomace (CP), and grape pomace (GP) that depicted antioxidants, and subsequently incorporated either African spice (AS) or an industrial marinade/pickle (IM). The oven grill facility was set at a temperature of 180 °C and a constant cooking time of 5 min. Results showed various antioxidant, organoleptic and physicochemical range values across the different marinated oven-grilled chicken breast meat samples, most of which appeared somewhat limited. Incorporating either AS or IM seemingly widens the ABTS and FRAP ranges, with much less for the DPPH. Moreover, with increasing CP, GP, and BS concentrations, fluctuations seemingly persist in pH, TBARS, cooking weight loss, L* a* b* color, and textural cutting force values even when either AS or IM was incorporated, despite resemblances in some organoleptic sensory and texture profiles. Overall, the oven-grilling approach promises to moderate the antioxidant, organoleptic, and physicochemical value ranges in the different marinated chicken breast meat samples in this study.
Thermomechanical Autovaporization (MFA) as a Deodorization Process of Palm Oil
Authors: Jamoussi Bassem , Jablaoui Cherif , Hajri Amira K. , Chakroun Radhouane , Al-Mur Bandar , Allaf Karim
Published: December 2022

Throughout the vegetable oil industry, there is a focus on eradicating the volatile molecules affecting the aroma or taste of the crude oil, whether it is natural or derived from the extraction process. Refining aims to reduce these compounds to a level acceptable to the consumer. In addition, the famous conventional operation of deodorization calls for high levels of temperature depending on the boiling point used to remove the atmospheric pressure of each molecule. The process implies a vacuum level between 10 to 80 kPa absolute pressure, a temperature generally between 190 and 240 °C, and a duration of 2 to 3 h. These conditions necessarily (inevitably) lead to a decrease in the quality of refined oil. Recently, the application of the Multi-Flash Autovaporization “MFA” operation has shown the possibility of eradicating volatile molecules while adopting relatively low temperature and time levels. Despite the high boiling temperature of the volatile organic compounds (VOC), MFA leads to good efficiency in reducing VOCs and preserving oil quality. The main odorant compounds in the crude palm oil were E-2-Hexenal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, and decanal. Specific literature can indicate precise boiling temperatures under atmospheric pressure. In addition, many experimental studies have explained the evolution of each molecule and shown how they depend on the operating parameters (inlet oil pressure from 200 to 450 kPa and from 5 and 30 s time of each cycle, and the number of cycles up to 7), and how the empirical mathematical models describe the MFA deodorization, estimate the efficiency of the whole process, and optimize the operating parameters. In this research, the thermodynamic data of absolute pressure volatility versus temperature was used to better identify the removal rate (up to around 87%) implied by an abrupt pressure drop to a vacuum of 5 kPa for p = 450 kPa, t = 25 s/cycle, and the number of cycles (C = 6). The safeguarding of the fatty acid profile illustrated the maintenance of the oil quality.
Protection of Mono and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Grapeseed Oil by Spray Drying Using Green Biopolymers as Wall Material
Authors: Sánchez-Osorno Diego Mauricio , Caicedo Paz Angie Vanesa , López-Jaramillo María Camila , Villa Aída Luz , Martínez-Galán Julián Paul
Published: December 2022

One of the most common ways to protect oils is microencapsulation, which includes the use of encapsulating agents. Due to the environmental problems facing humanity, this study seeks to combine green biopolymers (microcrystalline cellulose and whey protein isolate) that function as encapsulating agents for grapeseed oil. Grapeseed oil that is obtained from agro-industrial waste has shown health benefits, including cardioprotective, anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These health benefits have been mainly associated with monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids. In this sense, it has been observed that grapeseed oil can be easily modified by environmental factors such as oxygen, high temperatures, and light, showing the instability and easy degradation of grapeseed oil. In this study, grapeseed oil was encapsulated using the spray-drying technique to conserve its lipidic profile. Powder recovery of the grapeseed oil microcapsules ranged from 65% to 70%. The encapsulation efficiency of the microcapsules varied between 80% and 85%. The FTIR analysis showed chemical interactions that demonstrate chemisorption between the grapeseed oil and the encapsulating material, while the SEM micrographs showed a correct encapsulation in a spherical shape. Gas chromatography showed that the lipid profile of grapeseed oil is preserved thanks to microencapsulation. Release tests showed 80% desorption within the first three hours at pH 5.8. Overall, whey protein and microcrystalline cellulose could be used as a wall material to protect grapeseed oil with the potential application of controlled delivery of fatty acids microcapsules.
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions to Nabla Fractional Systems
Authors: Yang Jikai , Li Hongli , Zhang Long
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we study the existence and uniqueness of solutions for nabla fractional systems. By using the properties of bijective functions, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition ensuring the existence and uniqueness of solutions for a class of fractional discrete systems. Furthermore, we derive two sufficient conditions guaranteeing the existence of solutions by means of a nonlinear functional analysis method. In addition, the above conclusions are extended to high-dimensional delayed systems. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the validity of our results.
Provenance Variability in Coeval Slope Channel Systems: Hermod S2 Member Sandstone (Eocene), South Viking Graben (North Sea)
Authors: Luzinski Wiktor Marek , Morton Andrew C. , Hurst Andrew , Tøllefsen Ingeborg Ims , Cater John
Published: December 2022

Conventional and varietal heavy mineral studies of the earliest Eocene Hermod S2 Member (Mbr) sandstones in the Greater Alvheim area of the northern North Sea have revealed marked lateral variations and more subtle vertical evolution in provenance signature. Major variations are of geographic rather than stratigraphic nature as biostratigraphy reveals that all investigated sandstones are coeval. The provenance variations show an organized pattern, with sandstones in the north showing a different signature than those in the south. The position of the sandstones relative to the East Shetland Platform (ESP) is inferred to be the main control on provenance, with sediment input from at least two different point sources. Sediment supplied from both catchments is predominantly recycled in nature, given the mineralogical maturity of the heavy mineral assemblages, consistent with the evidence for widespread Permo-Triassic and Devonian sediments on the ESP. However, some direct supply from metasedimentary (Moine and Dalradian) basement is implied by the sporadic occurrence of unstable minerals. The southern catchment incorporated a greater exposure of Permo-Triassic sandstones than the northern catchment. The Permo-Triassic part of the catchment can be reconstructed as comprising equivalents of the Foula and Otter Bank sandstones present to the west of Shetland, with the majority of the Foula section having been stripped off prior to Hermod S2 deposition, exposing Otter Bank equivalents for erosion and redeposition. However, remnant Foula-like sandstones remained exposed further south on the ESP until at least the earliest Eocene since Foula-type garnet signatures are found in the Forties Sandstone Mbr of the central North Sea. In addition to lateral differences, stratigraphic evolution of provenance can also be detected in the Hermod S2 Mbr, with variations in key provenance-sensitive parameters related to a sea-level rise that reduced the extent of alluvial storage and altered the geological framework of the hinterland.
Constructing and Verifying an Alexithymia Risk-Prediction Model for Older Adults with Chronic Diseases Living in Nursing Homes: A Cross-Sectional Study in China
Authors: Wen Jing , Wu Ying , Peng Lixia , Chen Siyi , Yuan Jiayang , Wang Weihong , Cong Li
Published: December 2022

Alexithymia is a critical global public health concern. This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study explored the risk factors of alexithymia in older adults living in nursing homes with chronic diseases. It also developed and evaluated an alexithymia risk-prediction model. A total of 203 older adults with chronic diseases were selected from seven nursing homes in Changsha, China, using simple random and cluster sampling. The participants were surveyed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and a socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire. The alexithymia total score was 43.85 ± 9.570, with an incidence rate of 8.9%. Alexithymia had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between social support and psychological resilience (the effect value was 0.12), accounting for 19.04% of the total effect. Gender, depression, and psychological resilience were the main independent influencing factors of alexithymia (p < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) curve of the risk-prediction model was 0.770. The participants, especially those who were male and depressed, exhibited a certain degree of alexithymia. Additionally, it partially mediated the association between social support and psychological resilience, which is a protective factor against alexithymia. The risk-prediction model showed good accuracy and discrimination. Hence, it can be used for preliminary screening of alexithymia in older adults with chronic diseases living in nursing homes.
Eros and Etiology in Love’s Labour’s Lost
Authors: Chalk Darryl
Published: December 2022

In Love’s Labour’s Lost, the creation of an academe where study is posited as the antidote to the diseases of the mind caused by worldly desire results in an epidemic of lovesickness. Lovesickness, otherwise known as ‘erotic melancholy’ or ‘erotomania’, was treated in contemporary medical documents as a real, diagnosable illness, a contagious disease thought to infect the imagination through the eyes, which could be fatal if left untreated. Such representation of love as a communicable disease is drawn, I suggest, from a neoplatonic tradition led by the work of Marsilio Ficino, particularly his fifteenth-century treatise Commentary on Plato’s Symposium on Love. Ficino’s construction of eros as a kind of ‘vulgar love’, distinctive from ‘heroic love’, emphatically denotes lovesickness as a kind of material contagion with the eye as its primary means of transmission, an idea that had a more significant influence in England and on the work of playwrights like William Shakespeare than has previously been acknowledged. For all its lighthearted conceits, Love’s Labour’s Lost takes lovesickness and its etiology very seriously, in ways that have been almost entirely ignored by scholarship on this play.
Radiomics and Molecular Classification in Endometrial Cancer (The ROME Study): A Step Forward to a Simplified Precision Medicine
Authors: Bogani Giorgio , Chiappa Valentina , Lopez Salvatore , Salvatore Christian , Interlenghi Matteo , D’Oria Ottavia , Giannini Andrea , Leone Roberti Maggiore Umberto , Chiarello Giulia , Palladino Simona , Bascio Ludovica , Castiglioni Isabella , Raspagliesi Francesco
Published: December 2022

Molecular/genomic profiling is the most accurate method to assess prognosis of endometrial cancer patients. Radiomic profiling allows for the extraction of mineable high-dimensional data from clinical radiological images, thus providing noteworthy information regarding tumor tissues. Interestingly, the adoption of radiomics shows important results for screening, diagnosis and prognosis, across various radiological systems and oncologic specialties. The central hypothesis of the prospective trial is that combining radiomic features with molecular features might allow for the identification of various classes of risks for endometrial cancer, e.g., predicting unfavorable molecular/genomic profiling. The rationale for the proposed research is that once validated, radiomics applied to ultrasonographic images would be an effective, innovative and inexpensive method for tailoring operative and postoperative treatment modalities in endometrial cancer. Patients with newly diagnosed endometrial cancer will have ultrasonographic evaluation and radiomic analysis of the ultrasonographic images. We will correlate radiomic features with molecular/genomic profiling to classify prognosis.
Heart Rate Variability and Chronotype in Young Adult Men
Authors: Vondrasek Joseph D. , Alkahtani Shaea A. , Al-Hudaib Abdulrahman A. , Habib Syed Shahid , Al-Masri Abeer A. , Grosicki Gregory J. , Flatt Andrew A.
Published: December 2022

Whether morning heart rate variability (HRV) predicts the magnitude of its circadian variation in the absence of disease or is influenced by chronotype is unclear. We aimed to quantify associations between (1) morning HRV and its diurnal change, and (2) morning HRV and a Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ)-derived chronotype. Resting electrocardiograms were obtained in the morning and evening on separate days in a counterbalanced order to determine the mean RR interval, root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN) in 23 healthy men (24.6 ± 3.4 yrs; body mass index: 25.3 ± 2.8 kg/m2). The MEQ was completed during the first laboratory visit. Morning RMSSD and SDNN were significantly higher (Ps < 0.05) than evening values. Morning RMSSD and SDNN were associated with their absolute (Ps < 0.0001), and relative diurnal changes (Ps < 0.01). No associations were observed between HRV parameters and the MEQ chronotypes (Ps > 0.09). Morning HRV was a stronger determinant of its evening change than chronotype. Greater diurnal variation in HRV was dependent on higher morning values. Strategies to improve basal HRV may therefore support healthier cardio-autonomic circadian profiles in healthy young men.
Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF) in Portuguese Cancer Survivors
Authors: Silva Sandra , Bártolo Ana , Santos Isabel M. , Paiva Débora , Monteiro Sara
Published: December 2022

In 2020, around 60,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in Portugal, and many of them suffered some level of Fear of Progression (FoP) of the disease. Although this FoP is realistic, and is part of the normal and appropriate response to this type of disease, there is no instrument to assess and understand whether it is exaggerated in the face of the situation. The present study aimed to translate and validate the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF) for the Portuguese population. The sample consisted of 220 volunteers, aged 18 years or over and diagnosed with cancer for at least six months. Participants completed the FoP-Q-SF, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). The FoP-Q-SF demonstrated high internal reliability (α = 0.86) and the confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-dimensional structure of the FoP-Q-SF. Convergent validity was supported with significant positive correlations with psychological distress, especially anxiety (0.68). The FoP-Q-SF has been found to be a valid instrument to measure FoP in Portuguese cancer survivors.
Correlation of Percentage Body Fat, Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio with Abdominal Muscle Strength
Authors: Arif Munazza , Gaur Davinder K. , Gemini Nishant , Iqbal Zaheen A. , Alghadir Ahmad H.
Published: December 2022

Sedentary lifestyle and consumption of high-fat foods have become widespread, especially in the urban population. This leads to a reduction in lean body mass and increased body fat. The correlation between body fat indices and low back pain has been less explored and documented. The aim of this study was to identify the correlation between the percentage of body fat, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio and abdominal muscle strength. Percentage of body fat was estimated by using the body composition analyzer method using Tanita BC-545 Innerscan Segmental Body Composition. Waist-to-hip ratio was calculated by dividing the waist circumference by hip circumference. Abdominal muscle (rectus abdominis and external oblique) strength was measured by maximum voluntary isometric contraction as measured by surface electromyography. A positive correlation was observed between waist circumference and the percentage of body fat, while a negative correlation was observed between the average maximum voluntary isometric contraction of rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles and the percentage of body fat. Individuals with a high percentage of body fat tend to have higher fat distribution over the abdominal region and decreased abdominal muscle strength. Therapists should emphasize the use of abdominal muscles in individuals with high body fat in order to reduce the associated risk of the development of poor posture and low back pain.
A Type I and a Type II Metacaspase Are Differentially Regulated during Corolla Development and in Response to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses in Petunia × hybrida
Authors: Chapin Laura J. , Jones Michelle L.
Published: December 2022

Metacaspases are structural homologs of the metazoan caspases that are found in plants, fungi, and protozoans. They are cysteine proteases that function during programmed cell death, stress, and cell proliferation. A putative metacaspase designated PhMC2 was cloned from Petunia × hybrida, and sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that it encodes a type II metacaspase. PhMC2 cleaved protease substrates with an arginine residue at the P1 site and cysteine (iodoacetamide) and arginal (leupeptin) protease inhibitors nearly abolished this activity. The activity of PhMC2 was highest at pH 8, and the putative catalytic site cysteine residue was required for optimal activity. Quantitative PCR showed that PhMC2 transcripts were detectable in petunia corollas, styles, and ovaries. Expression patterns were not upregulated during petal senescence but were higher at the middle stages of development when flower corollas were fully open but not yet starting to wilt. PhMC1, a type I metacaspase previously identified in petunia, and PhMC2 were differentially regulated in vegetative tissues in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. PhMC2 expression was upregulated to a greater extent than PhMC1 following Botrytis cinerea infection, while PhMC1 was upregulated more by drought, salinity, and low nutrient stress. These results suggest that petunia metacaspases are involved in flower development, senescence, and stress responses.
Physiological Characteristics and Proteome of Dalbergia odorifera in Loam and Gravel Substrates
Authors: Yu Shuzhong , Yu Kai , Yang Zhende
Published: December 2022

Dalbergia odorifera, a crucial medicinal and commercial plant, shows great potential for ecological restoration in karst rocky desertification (KRD) areas. However, no studies have examined its adaptation mechanism to barren KRD environments. We focused on the physiological and protein variations of D. odorifera grown under loam substrate (LS), composite substrate (CS, 50% gravel), and gravel substrate (GS, 100% gravel). Results showed that volume, surface area, and dry weight of root in CS were the highest. Proteomic analysis revealed 516 and 443 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) in CS compared with LS and GS, respectively. Functional analysis showed that epidermal morphogenesis, organic substrate transport, lipid transport, and detection of abiotic stimulus were enriched in the overlapped DAPs. In addition, compared to LS, specific DAPs in CS were enriched to Gene Ontology (GO) terms such as root hair cell differentiation, ATP, carbohydrate metabolism, and also to pathways including carbohydrate digestion and absorption, starch and sucrose metabolism, HIF-1 signaling, mineral absorption, and lysosome. However, specific DAPs in CS relative to GS were clustered to hydrogen peroxide, fatty acid biosynthesis, and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, a series of transcripts encoding crucial DAPs were confirmed by RT-qPCR. In conclusion, the physiological characteristics and proteomic landscape showed that CS substrate was more favorable to the adaptation of D. odorifera to KRD than LS and GS substrates. The protein evaluation related to substrates in this study provides further evidence for ecological management of D. odorifera in KRD areas.
Synergistic Improvement of Production, Economic Return and Sustainability in the Tea Industry through Ecological Pest Management
Authors: Zheng Rongrong , Ma Yanli , Liu Luxing , Jiang Beiying , Ke Runmei , Guo Sisi , He Dunchun , Zhan Jiasui
Published: December 2022

The use of ecological principles to manage plant pests has attracted renewed attention, but our knowledge related to the contributions of ecological pest management to social and natural sustainability is fragmented. In this study, we compared the performance and resilience of tea production and the economic benefits of tea ecological management (TEM) and tea conventional management (TCM). We show that TEM significantly improved tea biomass and quality, nutritional efficiency, and beneficial insects, but reduced seasonal variation. As a result, economic return increased by $8045/ha in the TEM mode compared to $6064/ha in the TCM mode. These results confirm that TEM is a promising production mode that can reconcile the conflict between the immediate and long-term service of agriculture. However, environmental improvements associated with organic pest control benefit society, and the government should provide adequate financial support to promote the production system.
Agrivoltaic System and Modelling Simulation: A Case Study of Soybean (Glycine max L.) in Italy
Authors: Potenza Eleonora , Croci Michele , Colauzzi Michele , Amaducci Stefano
Published: December 2022

Agrivoltaic systems (AV) combine agricultural activities with the production of electricity from photovoltaic (PV) panels on the same land area. The concept of AV systems was introduced in 1982 by Goetzberger and Zastrow, but only more recently have the increased environmental concerns and the favorable economic and political frameworks stimulated a growing interest in this technology. A critical issue in the development of AV is the selection of crops that can grow profitably under the micrometeorological conditions generated by AV systems. This experiment studied the effect of four different shade depth treatments (AV1 = 27%, AV2 = 16%, AV3 = 9%, and AV4 = 18%) on the morphology, physiology, and yield of a soybean crop grown under a large-scale AV system. The field results were used to validate the output of a simulation platform that couples the crop model GECROS with a set of algorithms for the estimation and spatialisation of the shading, radiation, and crop-related outputs. Crop height, leaf area index (LAI), and specific leaf area (SLA) all increased under the most shaded AV areas compared to the full light (FL, control) conditions. On average, under an AV system, the grain yield and the number of pods per plant were reduced by 8% and 13%, and in only one area (AV2) was a slight increase in grain yield (+4.4%) observed in comparison to the FL. The normalised root mean square error (nRMSE) value of the predicted grain yield differed from the observed grain values of 12.9% for the FL conditions, 15.7% in AV1, 16.5% in AV2, 6.71% in AV3, and 2.82% in AV4. Although the model simulated the yield satisfactorily, the results of the RMSE revealed that the model tends to underestimate the yield with an increase in shade, particularly for the AV1 and AV2 conditions.
Study of 15 Varieties of Herbaceous Peony Pollen Submicroscopic Morphology and Phylogenetic Relationships
Authors: Zhang Dongliang , Xie Anqi , Yang Xiao , Shi Yajie , Yang Lijin , Dong Lingling , Lei Fuling , Wu Jingyue , Sun Xia
Published: December 2022

Paeonia lactiflora Pall. is widely used in medicine, garden applications, and as a potted ornamental. Cultivated varieties of paeonifloras suitable for cut flowers are urgently needed. In this study, the pollen morphology of P. lactiflora was studied and the characters of different varieties were compared, so as to provide reference for selecting suitable parents for new hybrid varieties. We examined the pollen morphology of 15 herbaceous peony varieties using scanning electron microscopy and analyzed the external pollen morphology and genetic relationship of the varieties. The pollen grains of the studied varieties were spheroidal or subspheroidal, bilaterally symmetrical monads, circular in polar view, and circular or elliptical in equatorial view. The exine of the pollen grains was observed as being relatively smooth under the light microscope, with the area around the equatorial axis having more lumina under the scanning electron microscope. The pollen grain exine sculpture was either reticular or pit type. The pollen apertures were tricolporate, arranged longitudinally, and equally spaced. The pollen grains were of two sizes: medium and small. The differences between the varieties were mainly reflected in the exine sculpture of the pollen. The closer the genetic relationship between the 15 peony varieties, the more subtle the differences in the exine sculpture. In the same cluster group, the morphological characteristics of herbaceous peony pollen were correlated with the shapes of flower and scale buds and the texture of the petals. However, the study identified no direct correlation with the cultivar type and flower color.
Swallowing Apraxia Post Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Alfaris Abdullah Mohammed , Alghamdi Atheer Saeed , Almowalad Enas Saad , Al Harbi Awad Aweid , Alghamdi Khaled Abdulraheem , Saeedi Jameelah , Al Awaji Nisreen Naser
Published: December 2022

A 55-year-old male patient with a known medical history of diabetes mellitus type 2 and treated lymphoma was first admitted with a sudden left-sided facial asymmetry and mouth deviation to the left side with no other neurological symptoms. A Computerized Tomography (CT) scan of the brain showed acute infarct and small left basal ganglia old lacunar infarction. He was discharged on a dual antiplatelet. One week later, the patient’s condition had worsened and, therefore, was admitted with an impression of ischemic stroke. A bedside swallowing assessment, VFSS, and FEES study were conducted to diagnose this case. The bedside assessment did not reveal any sensory or motor deficits in his oral cavity and the FEES examination was also unable to rule out pharyngeal dysphagia. However, a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) revealed a significant dysfunction of oral preparation and oral phases and presented difficulty initiating the pharyngeal phase. Given these features, we believe that this swallowing difficulty is caused by swallowing apraxia. This case provides additional information and understanding on management from the swallowing side.
Which Attributes of Credibility Matter for Quality Improvement Projects in Hospital Care—A Multiple Case Study among Hospitalists in Training
Authors: Hut-Mossel Lisanne , Ahaus Kees , Welker Gera , Gans Rijk
Published: December 2022

Healthcare professionals have to give substance to the role of a champion in order to successfully lead quality improvement (QI) initiatives. This study aims to unravel how hospitalists in training shape their role as a champion within the context of QI projects in hospital care and why some are more effective in leading a QI project than others. We focus on the role of credibility, as it is a prerequisite for fulfilling the role of champion. This multiple-case study builds upon 23 semi-structured interviews with hospitalists in training: quality officers and medical specialists. We first coded data for each case and then described the different contexts of each case in detail to enable comparison across settings. We then compared the cases and contrasted the attributes of credibility. Four attributes of credibility emerged and were identified as essential for the hospitalist in training to succeed as a champion: (1) being convincing about the need for change by providing supportive clinical evidence, (2) displaying competence in their clinical work and commitment to their tasks, (3) generating shared ownership of the QI project with other healthcare professionals, and (4) acting as a team player to foster collaboration during the QI project. We also identified two contextual factors that supported the credibility of the hospitalist in training: (1) choosing a subject for the QI project that was perceived as urgently required by the group of stakeholders involved, and (2) being supported by the board of directors and other formal and informal leaders as the leader of a QI project. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between credibility and sustainability of change.
Effective Response to Hospital Congestion Scenarios: Simulation-Based Evaluation of Decongestion Interventions
Authors: Hou Wanxin , Qin Shaowen , Thompson Campbell Henry
Published: December 2022

Hospital overcrowding is becoming a major concern in the modern era due to the increasing demand for hospital services. This study seeks to identify effective and efficient ways to resolve the serious problem of congestion in hospitals by testing a range of decongestion strategies with simulated scenarios. In order to determine more efficient solutions, interventions with smaller changes were consistently tested at the beginning through a simulation platform. In addition, the implementation patterns were investigated, which are important to hospital managers with respect to the decisions made to control hospital congestion. The results indicated that diverting a small number of ambulances seems to be more effective and efficient in congestion reduction compared to other approaches. Furthermore, instead of implementing an isolated approach continuously, combining one approach with other strategies is recommended as a method for dealing with hospital overcrowding.
First-Trimester Biochemical Serum Markers in Female Kidney Transplant Recipients—The Impact of Graft Function
Authors: Mazanowska Natalia , Jarmużek-Orska Patrycja , Pietrzak Bronisława , Pazik Joanna , Jabiry-Zieniewicz Zoulikha , Kosiński Przemysław
Published: December 2022

Data on serum biochemistry markers as a component of the first-trimester screening test in pregnant kidney graft recipients are limited. In the absence of a separate validated algorithm, biochemical testing is commonly used in the first-trimester screening in kidney transplant recipients. Therefore, the study aimed to analyze first-trimester serum biochemical markers and the first trimester combined screening results in pregnant kidney graft recipients. A retrospective study was carried out in pregnant women who underwent the first-trimester combined screening test performed per the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) protocol in 2009–2020. The study group included 27 pregnancies in kidney graft transplant recipients, and the control group was 110 patients with normal kidney function, matched according to age, body mass index (BMI), and gestational age. The biochemical serum markers (free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin [beta-hCG] and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A [PAPP-A]) were evaluated using the FMF-approved Roche Elecsys® assay and exhibited as multiples of the median (MoM) values. Data on first-trimester screening test results, perinatal outcomes, and graft function (assessed using serum creatinine concentrations) were analyzed. The analysis of first-trimester screening parameters revealed no difference in nuchal translucency (NT) measurements and uterine artery flow. However, free beta-hCG MoM and PAPP-A values were higher in posttransplant pregnancies than in controls: 3.47 ± 2.08 vs. 1.38 ± 0.85 (p = 0.035) and 1.46 ± 0.81 vs. 0.98 ± 0.57 (p = 0.007), respectively. The false positive rate of trisomy 21 (T21) screening in graft recipients was 25.9% vs. 3% in the controls. The free β-hCG MoM values positively correlated with serum creatinine levels before (r = 0.653; p < 0.001), during (r = 0.619; p = 0.001), and after pregnancy (r = 0.697; p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant negative correlation for PAPP-A MoM values for postpartum serum creatinine concentration (r = −0.424, p = 0.035). Our results show significantly higher serum concentrations of free beta-hCG and PAPP-A in posttransplant pregnancies than in healthy controls, confirmed when exhibited as MoM values and their association with graft function was assessed by serum creatinine concentration. Taking those changes into account would reduce the high number of false positive test results in this group. The validated first-trimester screening algorithm that considers altered kidney function in pregnant kidney graft recipients remains to be developed.
Co-Design in Electrical Medical Beds with Caregivers
Authors: Bacchin Davide , Pernice Gabriella Francesca Amalia , Pierobon Leonardo , Zanella Elena , Sardena Marcello , Malvestio Marino , Gamberini Luciano
Published: December 2022

Among the plethora of instruments present in healthcare environments, the hospital bed is undoubtedly one of the most important for patients and caregivers. However, their design usually follows a top-down approach without considering end-users opinions and desires. Exploiting Human-centered design (HCD) permits these users to have a substantial role in the final product outcome. This study aims to empower caregivers to express their opinion about the hospital bed using a qualitative approach. For a holistic vision, we conducted six focus groups and six semi-structured interviews with nurses, nursing students, social-health operators and physiotherapists belonging to many healthcare situations. We then used thematic analysis to extract the themes that participants faced during the procedures, providing a comprehensive guide to designing the future electrical medical bed. These work results could also help overcome many issues that caregivers face during their everyday working life. Moreover, we identified the User Experience features that could represent the essential elements to consider.
Organizational Factors Determining Access to Reperfusion Therapies in Ischemic Stroke-Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Botelho Ana , Rios Jonathan , Fidalgo Ana Paula , Ferreira Eugénia , Nzwalo Hipólito
Published: December 2022

Background: After onset of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), there is a limited time window for delivering acute reperfusion therapies (ART) aiming to restore normal brain circulation. Despite its unequivocal benefits, the proportion of AIS patients receiving both types of ART, thrombolysis and thrombectomy, remains very low. The organization of a stroke care pathway is one of the main factors that determine timely access to ART. The knowledge on organizational factors influencing access to ART is sparce. Hence, we sought to systematize the existing data on the type and frequency of pre-hospital and in-hospital organizational factors that determine timely access to ART in patients with AIS. Methodology: Literature review on the frequency and type of organizational factors that determine access to ART after AIS. Pubmed and Scopus databases were the primary source of data. OpenGrey and Google Scholar were used for searching grey literature. Study quality analysis was based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: A total of 128 studies were included. The main pre-hospital factors associated with delay or access to ART were medical emergency activation practices, pre-notification routines, ambulance use and existence of local/regional-specific strategies to mitigate the impact of geographic distance between patient locations and Stroke Unit (SU). The most common intra-hospital factors studied were specific location of SU and brain imaging room within the hospital, and the existence and promotion of specific stroke treatment protocols. Most frequent factors associated with increased access ART were periodic public education, promotion of hospital pre-notification and specific pre- and intra-hospital stroke pathways. In specific urban areas, mobile stroke units were found to be valid options to increase timely access to ART. Conclusions: Implementation of different organizational factors and strategies can reduce time delays and increase the number of AIS patients receiving ART, with most of them being replicable in any context, and some in only very specific contexts.
The First 30 Years of the Universal Hepatitis-B Vaccination-Program in Italy: A Health Strategy with a Relevant and Favorable Economic-Profile
Authors: Boccalini Sara , Bonito Benedetta , Zanella Beatrice , Liedl Davide , Bonanni Paolo , Bechini Angela
Published: December 2022

In 1991, Italy was one of the first countries worldwide to introduce a universal hepatitis-B vaccination for children. Since then, epidemiological data have clearly demonstrated the huge clinical benefits of the vaccination. The aim of this study was to update the favorable economic impact of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination, 30 years after its implementation. A mathematical model was developed to simulate the clinical/economic impact of the universal HBV-vaccination program versus a hypothetical no-vaccination scenario as a posteriori analysis. We assessed the vaccination benefits over a 30-year-immunization-period (1991–2020), and the following period, 2021–2070. Our data showed a big drop in HBV-related diseases (−82% in infections, chronic disease, and hepatocellular-carcinoma cases), and related costs (−67% in the immunization period and −85% in 2021–2070), attributable to vaccination. The return on investment (ROI) and the benefit-to-cost (BCR) ratios are >1 for the first thirty-year-immunization-period, and are predicted to almost triplicate the economic savings in the period 2021–2070, both for the National Health Service (NHS) and from societal perspectives. Our model confirmed that the implementation of universal HBV-vaccination in Italy during the first 30 years continues to be a cost-saving strategy, and more advantageous effects will be further achieved in the future. The HBV-vaccination strategy greatly expresses a huge impact in both the short- and long-term, and from the clinical and economic point-of-views.
Green-Biased Technical Change and Its Influencing Factors of Agriculture Industry: Empirical Evidence at the Provincial Level in China
Authors: Wang Yan , Zuo Lingling , Qian Shujing
Published: December 2022

The continued expansion of agriculture must contend with the dual pressures of changing factor endowment structure and constrained resources and environments. The main purpose of this paper is to provide feasible ideas for high-quality agricultural development in the transition period through the research on the green-biased technical change in Chinese agriculture. This paper selects China’s provincial panel data of the agriculture industry from 1997 to 2017, combining the DEA-SBM model and Malmquist–Luenberger index decomposition method to calculate the green-biased technical change (BTC) index; second, the influence mechanism of BTC is empirically investigated by using the panel data regression analysis approach. The results show that: (1) in China’s agriculture industry, BTC is the driving force behind long-term and steady improvement of technological advancement. Specifically, input-biased technical change (IBTC) has a substantial enhancing effect on agricultural green total factor productivity (GTFP), whereas output-biased technical change (OBTC) has a certain inhibiting effect. (2) On the whole, the tendency of capital substituting for labor and land is very evident, whereas the biased advantage of desirable output is not particularly prominent. (3) The BTC index in Chinese agriculture varies regionally. The eastern region has the highest IBTC index but the lowest OBTC index. (4) The degree of marketization, urbanization, capital deepening, financial support for agriculture, and other factors have a promoting effect on IBTC, whereas most of them have a restraining effect on OBTC. There is evident regional heterogeneity in the effect of environmental regulation intensity on BTC. The following are the primary contributions of this paper: based on national conditions in China, this paper empirically explores the changes and internal rules of green-biased technical change in China’s agriculture industry from various regional viewpoints. It provides an empirical foundation for the regional diversification of agricultural green transformation.