bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Yield and Safety of CP-EBUS-TBNA and RP-EBUS-TBLB under Moderate Sedation: A Single-Center Retrospective Audit
Authors: Lim Valencia , Chin Reon Yew Zhou , Kee Adrian , Ng Jeffrey , See Kay Choong
Published: October 2022

Convex probe endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspirations (CP-EBUS-TBNAs) and radial probe endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial lung biopsies (RP-EBUS-TBLBs) can be performed under moderate sedation or general anesthesia. Moderate sedation is more convenient, however patient discomfort may result in inadequate tissue sampling. General anesthesia ensures better patient cooperation but requires more logistics and also carries sedation risks. We aim to describe the diagnostic yield and safety of CP-EBUS-TBNAs and RP-EBUS-TBLBs when performed under moderate sedation at our center. All patients who underwent CP-EBUS-TBNA and/or RP-EBUS-TBLB under moderate sedation, between January 2015 and May 2017, were reviewed. Primary outcomes were defined in regard to the diagnostic yield and safety profile. A total of 336 CP-EBUS-TBNAs and 190 RP-EBUS-TBLBs were performed between January 2015 and May 2017. The mean sedation doses used were 50 mcg of intravenous fentanyl and 2.5 mg of intravenous midazolam. The diagnostic yield of the CP-EBUS-TBNAs and RP-EBUS-TBLBs were 62.5% and 71.6%, respectively. Complication rates were low with: transient bleeding 11.9%, transient hypoxia 0.5%, and pneumothorax 0.1%. None required escalation of care, post procedure. Performing CP-EBUS-TBNAs and RP-EBUS-TBLBs under moderate sedation is safe and provides good diagnostic yield. These procedures should, therefore, be considered as first-line sampling techniques.
Time-to-Treatment of Oral Cancer and Potentially Malignant Oral Disorders: Findings in Malaysian Public Healthcare
Authors: Raman Sivaraj , Shafie Asrul Akmal , Abraham Mannil Thomas , Kiong Shim Chen , Maling Thaddius Herman , Rajendran Senthilmani , Cheong Sok Ching
Published: October 2022

This study aims to evaluate the time-to-treatment of oral cancer and potentially malignant oral disorders (PMOD) in a Malaysian public healthcare setting while exploring its contributing factors. It consists of (1) a cross-sectional patient survey to quantify time to seek care and barriers faced, and (2) a retrospective medical record abstraction to determine treatment and management intervals. Time intervals were aggregated and analyzed by their primary contributor—patient, professional, or healthcare system. The average total time-to-treatment of the 104 patients investigated was 167 days (SD = 158). This was predominantly contributed by the patient interval of 120 days (SD = 152). In total, 67.0% of patients delayed their visit to primary healthcare centers because they assumed the lesions were not dangerous or of concern. Additionally, there was a significant difference between patients ‘facing’ and ‘not facing’ difficulties to seek care, at 157 vs. 103 days (p = 0.028). System and professional delays were comparably shorter, at 33 days (SD = 20) and 10 days (SD = 15) respectively. Both demonstrated a significant difference between oral cancer and PMOD, at 43 vs. 29 days (p < 0.001) and 5 vs. 17 days (p < 0.001). The findings reiterate the need to reform current initiatives to better promote early lesion recognition by patients and implement strategies for the elimination of their access barriers.
Influence of the Dufour Effect on Shear Thermal Diffusion Flows
Authors: Burmasheva Natalya V. , Prosviryakov Evgeniy Yu.
Published: October 2022

The article considers thermal diffusion shear flows of a viscous incompressible fluid with spatial acceleration. The simulation uses a system of thermal diffusion equations (in the Boussinesq approximation), taking into account the Dufour effect. This system makes it possible to describe incompressible gases, for which this effect prevails, from a unified standpoint. It is shown that for shear flows, the system of equations under study is nonlinear and overdetermined. In view of the absence of a theorem on the existence and smoothness of the solution of the Navier–Stokes equation, the integration of the existing system seems to be an extremely difficult task. The article studies the question of the existence of a solution in the class of functions represented as complete linear forms in two Cartesian coordinates with non-linear (with respect to the third Cartesian coordinate) coefficients. It is shown that the system is non-trivially solvable under a certain condition (compatibility condition) constructed by the authors. The corresponding theorem is formulated and proven. These conclusions are illustrated by a comparison with the previously obtained results.
Building Knowledge Structures in Context: An Exploration of How Constructionism Principles Influence Engineering Student Learning Experiences in Academic Making Spaces
Authors: Downey R. Jamaal , Youmans Kate , Villanueva Alarcón Idalis , Nadelson Louis , Bouwma-Gearhart Jana
Published: October 2022

In this study, we explored how constructionism theory principles were integrated across six engineering academic making spaces to support student learning outcomes. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted a thematic analysis of semi-structured faculty and staff interviews. The data suggests that engineering academic making spaces afford students with collaborative spaces for collective discovery centered around the application of manufacturing processes and professional practices. Furthermore, data indicates that both educators and staff play an integral role in guiding student learning, autonomy-building, and lifelong learning in these spaces. However, additional considerations around learning cultures, student-centered learning, and their connections to situated cognition and collaborative learning are needed. Findings and subsequent recommendations focus on using a constructionism lens to promote engineering students’ learning outcomes in academic making spaces.
Novel Hybrid Fusion-Based Technique for Securing Medical Images
Authors: Abdallah Hanaa A. , Alkanhel Reem , Ateya Abdelhamied A.
Published: October 2022

The security of images has gained great interest in modern communication systems. This is due to the massive critical applications that are based on images. Medical imaging is at the top of these applications. However, the rising number of heterogenous attacks push toward the development of securing algorithms and methods for imaging systems. To this end, this work considers developing a novel authentication, intellectual property protection, ownership, and security technique for imaging systems, mainly for medical imaging. The developed algorithm includes two security modules for safeguarding various picture kinds. The first unit is accomplished by applying watermarking authentication in the frequency domain. The singular value decomposition (SVD) is performed for the host image’s discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients. The singular values (S) are divided into 64 × 64 non-overlapping blocks, followed by embedding the watermark in each block to be robust to any attack. The second unit is made up of two encryption layers to provide double-layer security to the watermarked image. The double random phase encryption (DRPE) and chaotic encryption have been tested and examined in the encryption unit. The suggested approach is resistant to common image processing attacks, including rotation, cropping, and adding Gaussian noise, according to the findings of the experiments. The encryption of watermarked images in the spatial and DCT domains and fused watermarked images in the DCT domain are all discussed. The transparency and security of the method are assessed using various measurements. The proposed approach achieves high-quality reconstructed watermarks and high security by using encryption to images and achieves robustness against any obstructive attacks. The developed hybrid algorithm recovers the watermark even in the presence of an attack with a correlation near 0.8.
Virtual CANBUS and Ethernet Switching in Future Smart Cars Using Hybrid Architecture
Authors: Olumuyiwa Olugbenga , Chen Yuhua
Published: October 2022

Smart cars have gained much attention in recent years due to the introduction of several safety and convenience features. In this paper, we propose a virtual CANBUS architecture that will improve the safety and data processing in future smart cars with the hybrid use of Ethernet technology deployed in conjunction with a CANBUS system to take advantage of the virtualization, speed, and quality of data processing. Data will be routed intelligently across the dual data paths of the traditional CANBUS and the Ethernet. The virtualized nature, with the help of a series of smart nodes and network traffic analyzers, will allocate the needed resources at the right time during the execution of different processes. This enables the possibility of routing data traffic over both Ethernet and CANBUS connections. The architecture is backward compatible with older vehicles and therefore takes advantage of the existing CANBUS system. The proposed architecture ensures that different segments are isolated from each other so that a breakdown in a segment does not bring down the entire system. The experimental results demonstrate the benefits of the proposed solution, which is to switch between two data pathways depending on the traffic loads. While the CANBUS is sufficient with low-bandwidth data, the Ethernet will create a better performance with high-bandwidth processes. The virtualized environment creates virtual topologies among communicating nodes, greatly simplifying the network management and enhancing the data traffic performance as the bandwidth requirement and the number of processors in future smart cars continue to scale.
An Adjacency Encoding Information-Based Fast Affine Motion Estimation Method for Versatile Video Coding
Authors: Li Ximei , He Jun , Li Qi , Chen Xingru
Published: October 2022

Versatile video coding (VVC), a new generation video coding standard, achieves significant improvements over high efficiency video coding (HEVC) due to its added advanced coding tools. Despite the fact that affine motion estimation adopted in VVC takes into account the translational, rotational, and scaling motions of the object to improve the accuracy of interprediction, this technique adds a high computational complexity, making VVC unsuitable for use in real-time applications. To address this issue, an adjacency encoding information-based fast affine motion estimation method for VVC is proposed in this paper. First, this paper counts the probability of using the affine mode in interprediction. Then we analyze the trade-off between computational complexity and performance improvement based on statistical information. Finally, by exploring the mutual exclusivity between skip and affine modes, an enhanced method is proposed to reduce interprediction complexity. Experimental results show that compared with the VVC, the proposed low-complexity method achieves 10.11% total encoding time reduction and 40.85% time saving of affine motion estimation with a 0.16% Bjøontegaard delta bitrate (BDBR) increase.
Detection and Recognition of Spatial Non-Cooperative Objects Based on Improved YOLOX_L
Authors: Ai Han , Zhang Haifeng , Ren Long , Feng Jia , Geng Shengnan
Published: October 2022

In view of the intelligent requirements of spatial non-cooperative target detection and recognition tasks, this paper applies the deep learning method YOLOX_L to the task and draws on YOLOF (You Only Look One-Level Feature) and TOOD (Task-Aligned One-Stage Object Detection), which optimize and improve its detection accuracy to meet the needs of space Task Accuracy Requirements. We improve the FPN (Feature Pyramid Networks) structure and decoupled prediction network in YOLOX_L and perform a validation comparative analysis of the improved YOLOX_L on the VOC2007+2012 and spacecraft dataset. Our experiments conducted on the VOC2007+2012 benchmark show that the proposed method can help YOLOX_L achieve 88.86 mAP, which is higher than YOLOX_L, running at 50 FPS under the image size of 608 × 608. The spatial target detection method based on the improved YOLOX has a detection accuracy rate of 96.28% and a detection speed of 50 FPS on our spacecraft dataset, which prove that the method has certain practical significance and practical value.
Mobility-Aware Data Caching to Improve D2D Communications in Heterogeneous Networks
Authors: Sheraz Muhammad , Shafique Shahryar , Imran Sohail , Asif Muhammad , Ullah Rizwan , Ibrar Muhammad , Bartoszewicz Andrzej , Mobayen Saleh
Published: October 2022

User Equipment (UE) is equipped with limited cache resources that can be utilized to offload data traffic through device-to-device (D2D) communications. Data caching at a UE level has the potential to significantly alleviate data traffic burden from the backhaul link. Moreover, in wireless networks, users exhibit mobility that poses serious challenges to successful data transmission via D2D communications due to intermittent connectivity among users. Users’ mobility can be exploited to efficiently cache contents by observing connectivity patterns among users. Therefore, it is crucial to develop an efficient data caching mechanism for UE while taking into account users’ mobility patterns. In this work, we propose a mobility-aware data caching approach to enhance data offloading via D2D communication. First, we model users’ connectivity patterns. Then, contents are cached in UE’ cache resources based on users’ data preferences. In addition, we also take into account signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR) requirements of the users. Hence, our proposed caching mechanism exploits connectivity patterns of users to perform data placement based on users’ own demands and neighboring users to enhance data offloading via cache resources. We performed extensive simulations to investigate the performance of our proposed mobility-aware data caching mechanism. The performance of our proposed caching mechanism is compared to most deployed data caching mechanisms, while taking into account the dynamic nature of the wireless channel and the interference experienced by the users. From the obtained results, it is evident that our proposed approach achieves 14%, 16%, and 11% higher data offloading gain than the least frequently used, the Zipf-based probabilistic, and the random caching schemes in case of an increasing number of users, cache capacity, and number of contents, respectively. Moreover, we also analyzed cache hit rates, and our proposed scheme achieves 8% and 5% higher cache hit rate than the least frequently used, the Zipf-based probabilistic, and the random caching schemes in case of an increasing number of contents and cache capacity, respectively. Hence, our proposed caching mechanism brings significant improvement in data sharing via D2D communications.
Considerations When Brewing with Fruit Juices: A Review and Case Study Using Peaches
Authors: Moreno Skylar R. , Curtis Savanna J. , Sarkhosh Ali , Sarnoski Paul J. , Sims Charles A. , Dreyer Eric , Rudolph Arthur B. , Thompson-Witrick Katherine A. , MacIntosh Andrew J.
Published: October 2022

Beer is traditionally brewed using barley, hops, water, and yeast. Historically, fruit has been utilized in brewing operations as a source of carbohydrates, color, and/or flavor. This practice has been increasing in recent years due to economic and market factors. While many scientific studies have shown that it is both possible and desirable to include fruits in brewing operations, there is little research published on how to properly evaluate their potential for use in brewing. This review aims to introduce and discuss the ways in which fermented products are impacted by the addition of fruit with respect to the following characteristics of the fruit and final product: sugars, volatiles, color, product identity, and microbial factors. To support this review, a case study is included in which peaches were evaluated for potential use as a fruit additive in a commercial brewing application. The peach juice, pre-addition beer, and final product were assessed based upon processing characteristics, sugar content and composition, color, volatile profile, and economic suitability for various applications in fermented beverages. This paper details the methods used to evaluate fruit as a guide for considering fruit as an addition to brewing formulations.
Sexually-Driven Combinatorial Diversity in Native Saccharomyces Wine Yeasts
Authors: Quintero-Blanco Juan , Delodi Eugenia , Garzón Andrés , Jimenez Juan
Published: October 2022

Natural diversity represents an inexhaustible source of yeasts for the diversification of wines and the improvement of their properties. In this study, we analysed the genetic diversity of autochthonous Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeasts in the Aljarafe of Seville, one of the warmest winemaking regions of Spain. Through multiplex-PCR analysis of five microsatellite markers and RT-PCR determination of the killer genotype, we found 94 different patterns among 150 S. cerevisiae yeast strains isolated from spontaneous fermentation of grape must, thereby representing a highly diverse population. Remarkably, 92% of the isolated strains exhibited high sporulation capacity. Tetrad analysis of sporulating strains rendered a microsatellite marker’s combinatory that mimics patterns observed in the native population, suggesting that the high polymorphism of microsatellite markers found in these wild yeasts might result from sexual reproduction in their natural environment. The identification of unconventional M2/L-A-lus totivirus combinations conferring the killer phenotype also supports this suggestion. One idea behind this study is to determine to what extent the vineyards microbiota in areas with warm climates can provide useful natural yeasts to adapt fermentation processes to the needs imposed by global warming. Analysis of traits of oenological interest in regions potentially affected by global climate changes, such as growth tolerance to ethanol and to sugar stress in the analysed strains, indicated that this broad combinatorial diversity of natural S. cerevisiae yeasts provides a wide range of autochthonous strains with desirable profiles for quality winemaking in warm regions. This combinatorial diversity renders strains with diverse oenological performing abilities. Upon microvinification assays and organoleptic attests, a S. cerevisiae strain with interesting oenological properties has been identified. This result can be considered a successful outcome in industry–academia collaboration.
Dynamics of Microbiota in Three Backslopped Liquid Sourdoughs That Were Triggered with the Same Starter Strains
Authors: Tolu Valentina , Fraumene Cristina , Carboni Angela , Loddo Antonio , Sanna Manuela , Fois Simonetta , Roggio Tonina , Catzeddu Pasquale
Published: October 2022

The preparation of sourdough may include the use of starter microorganisms to address the fermentation process toward specific conditions. The aim of this work was to study the dynamics of the microbial ecosystem in three liquid sourdoughs (SD1, SD2 and SD3) triggered with the same microbial strains. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly known as Lactobacillus plantarum), Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida lambica strains were inoculated as starters, and sourdoughs were differentiated for the fermentation conditions and for the method of starter inoculation. The analyses were performed on the three sourdoughs propagated in the laboratory for 22 days and on the sample SD1, which was transferred to a bakery and refreshed over many months. The dynamics of microbial communities were studied by plate-count analysis and metataxonomic approach. The acidity of sourdough was evaluated over time. Metataxonomic analysis highlighted a large heterogeneity of fungi microbiota in all sourdough preparations, many of them probably originated from the flour, being pathogens of plants. Few yeast species were found, and S. cerevisiae was plentiful but did not predominate over the other species, whereas the C. lambica species decreased over time and then disappeared in all preparations. The bacterial microbiota was less heterogeneous than the fungi microbiota; the species L. plantarum, Leuconostoc citreum and Levilactobacillus brevis (formerly known as Lactobacillus brevis) were always present in all sourdoughs, whereas Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis (formerly known as Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis) became the dominant species in bakery-propagated SD1 and in SD2 at the end of the propagation period.
A Thermal Imaging Flame-Detection Model for Firefighting Robot Based on YOLOv4-F Model
Authors: Li Sen , Wang Yeheng , Feng Chunyong , Zhang Dan , Li Huaizhou , Huang Wei , Shi Long
Published: October 2022

Fire robots are an effective way to save lives from fire, but their limited detection accuracy has greatly hampered their practical applications in complicated fire conditions. This study therefore proposes an advanced thermal imaging flame detection model of YOLOv4-F based on YOLOv4-tiny. We replaced the Leaky ReLU activation function with the Mish activation function in the YOLOV4-tiny feature extraction network. A Spatial Pyramid Pooling (SPP) was also added to increase the receiving range of the feature extraction network. To improve the feature fusion efficiency between multi-scale feature layers, a Path Aggregation Network (PANet) was adopted to replace the YOLOv4-tiny Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) with full use of feature information; a high-quality dataset containing 14,757 thermal imaging flame images was built according to the PASCAL VOC 2007 dataset standard. The results show that, when compared to the YOLOv4-tiny, YOLOv5-s, and YOLOv7-tiny models, the average detection accuracy of the proposed YOLOv4-F model is 5.75% higher, the average mAP of the five IOU cases rises by 7.02%, and the average detection confidence of three scaled flames shows a 18.09% gain. The proposed YOLOV4-F meets the requirements of fire robots on real-time responses and accurate flame detection, offering an important tool to improve the performance of the current fire robots.
Comparative Study of the Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Ability of Soups Made from Wild and Farmed Snakehead Fish (Channa Argus)
Authors: Ren Mengting , Yin Tao , You Juan , Liu Ru , Huang Qilin , Xiong Shanbai
Published: October 2022

In recent years, fish soup has become an important product for commercial processing of fish due to its health effects. In this study, nutritional composition and antioxidant ability of soups prepared from farmed and wild snakehead fish were analyzed (hereafter FS and WS soup, respectively). For the FS soup, the proximate composition of protein, fat, ash, free amino acids, and soluble peptides were 2.55%, 0.89%, 0.92%, 0.47%, and 0.62%, respectively. The total amino acid was 390.11 mg/ g, and the proportion of essential amino acid was 27.59%. The total fatty acid was 13.64 g/100 g, of which monounsaturated fatty acid was 5.78 g/100 g, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid 3.50 g/100 g, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid 0.41 g/100 g, respectively. The contents of Zn and Ca were 9.04 mg/ kg and 1.13 mg/ g, respectively. The DPPH radical-scavenging ability, Fe2+ chelating ability, and hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability was 57.89%, 21.21%, and 25.61%, respectively. Overall, there was no obvious difference in the nutritional composition and antioxidant activity between the FS and WS soups. The protein content (1.90%) of the WS soup was relatively lower, but the total fatty acid (16.22 g/100 g), MUFA (7.17 g/100 g), and Zn (12.57 mg/ kg) contents were significantly higher.
Bioactive Peptides Obtained from Legume Seeds as New Compounds in Metabolic Syndrome Prevention and Diet Therapy
Authors: Kiersnowska Kaja , Jakubczyk Anna
Published: October 2022

Currently, food is regarded not only as a source of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals but also as a source of bioactive compounds that can play a significant role in the prevention and diet therapy of many diseases. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex disorder defined as a set of interrelated factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, or dyslipidemia. MS affects not only adults but also children. Peptides are one of the compounds that exhibit a variety of bioactive properties. They are derived from food proteins, which are usually obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis or digestion in the digestive system. Legume seeds are a good source of bioactive peptides. In addition to their high protein content, they contain high levels of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The aim of this review is to present new bioactive peptides derived from legume seeds and showing inhibitory properties against MS. These compounds may find application in MS diet therapy or functional food production.
Effects of Blending on Phenolic, Colour, Antioxidant and Aroma Components of Cabernet Sauvignon Wine from Xinjiang (China)
Authors: Wang Huan , Miao Yuanyuan , Xu Xiaoyu , Ye Piping , Wu Huimin , Wang Bin , Shi Xuewei
Published: October 2022

High-quality wines in industrial winemaking frequently require a professional winemaker to make adjustments according to the wine of single-batch fermentation. Blending can improve the chemical composition and certain organoleptic properties of wine, promote copigmentation, and increase the complexity of the wine body and aroma. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and headspace solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS) were used to study the effects of adding 20% of Merlot, Marselan, Syrah and Pinot Noir and different blending methods on the nutritional, taste, color and aroma components of Cabernet Sauvignon wine. The results showed that the highest total phenols and flavonoids, the greatest content of antioxidant characteristics, the optimal color according to the parameter of T, red% and blue% and the most abundant aroma were observed both in CGM (grape blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) and CGS (grape blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Marselan), thus indicating the higher quality and complexity of these wines. In addition, the co-grapes treatment afforded more color and hue value than co-wines, which indicates co-grapes had more stable and more varied colors than co-wines. Our findings provide theoretical support for improving wine quality and craftsmanship.
Endogenous Peptides Identified in Soy Sauce Aroma Style Baijiu Which Interacts with the Main Flavor Compounds during the Distillation Process
Authors: Zhang Xu , Li Xinshe , Zhao Yunhao , Wu Qiang , Wan Yong , Yu Yougui
Published: October 2022

Endogenous peptides in Chinese baijiu have been recently reported. However, little information is available on their correlation with the main flavor substances. One hundred and forty-six peptides, consisting of more bitter amino acids and key amino acids responsible for bioactivity, were identified in tail liquor using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Additionally, the content of endogenous peptides increased gradually with distillation time, showing a high negative correlation with total esters (r = −0.929) and total alcohol (r = −0.964) but presented a moderate positive correlation with the total acid content (r = 0.714). The results of the correlation analysis between them were further proved by molecular docking, which showed that these endogenous peptides in baijiu interacted with the main flavor substances via hydrogen bonds. This study clarifies the dynamic changes of endogenous peptides during distillation and provides a theoretical reference for the relationship between these peptides and the main flavor substances.
Analysis of a Hybrid Coupled System of ψ-Caputo Fractional Derivatives with Generalized Slit-Strips-Type Integral Boundary Conditions and Impulses
Authors: Lv Zhiwei , Ahmad Ishfaq , Xu Jiafa , Zada Akbar
Published: October 2022

In the current paper, we analyzed the existence and uniqueness of a solution for a coupled system of impulsive hybrid fractional differential equations involving ψ-Caputo fractional derivatives with generalized slit-strips-type integral boundary conditions. We also study the Ulam–Hyers stability for the considered system. For the existence and uniqueness of the solution, we use the Banach contraction principle. With the help of Schaefer’s fixed-point theorem and some assumptions, we also obtain at least one solution of the mentioned system. Finally, the main results are verified with an appropriate example.
Formulation of Chitosan Microparticles for Enhanced Intranasal Macromolecular Compound Delivery: Factors That Influence Particle Size during Ionic Gelation
Authors: Weyers Morné , Peterson Bianca , Hamman Josias H. , Steenekamp Jan H.
Published: October 2022

Therapeutic macromolecules (e.g., protein and peptide drugs) present bioavailability challenges via extravascular administration. The nasal route presents an alternative non-invasive route for these drugs, although low bioavailability remains challenging. Co-administration of permeation enhancers is a promising formulation approach to improve the delivery of poorly bioavailable drugs. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize chitosan microparticulate formulations containing a macromolecular model compound (fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran 4400, FD-4) and a bioenhancer (piperine). Ionic gelation was used to produce chitosan microparticle delivery systems with two distinct microparticle sizes, differing one order of magnitude in size (±20 µm and ±200 µm). These two microparticle delivery systems were formulated into thermosensitive gels and their drug delivery performance was evaluated across ovine nasal epithelial tissues. Dissolution studies revealed a biphasic release pattern. Rheometry results demonstrated a sol-to-gel transition of the thermosensitive gel formulation at a temperature of 34 °C. The microparticles incorporating piperine showed a 1.2-fold increase in FD-4 delivery across the excised ovine nasal epithelial tissues as compared to microparticles without piperine. This study therefore contributed to advancements in ionic gelation methods for the formulation of particulate systems to enhance macromolecular nasal drug delivery.
Testing Leash Walking Training as a Physical Activity Intervention for Older Adult Dog Owners: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Potter Katie , Rajala Caitlin , Chase Colleen J. , LeBlanc Raeann
Published: October 2022

Dog walking is a physical activity (PA) with many health benefits for older adults. Dog behavior issues can be a barrier to dog walking. This study piloted leash manners training as a PA intervention for dog owners ages 60+ years. Fourteen dog owners (mean age = 65 years, female = 71%) enrolled in a leash manners training course. Process evaluation data were collected to determine feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures. Twelve of fourteen enrolled participants (86%) completed the course, and most were highly engaged with the program, as evidenced by high class attendance (92% of participants who completed the course attended ≥5 of 6 classes) and a majority (64%) reporting frequent skills practice at home. Further, most participants (73%) reported their leash walking skills improved. The PA assessment protocol (7 days of 24 h data collection using activPAL monitors) was well tolerated, with all participants who completed assessments at each time point (pre-program, post-program, 4-week follow-up) providing ≥6 valid days of data. In sum, the intervention approach and study procedures were feasible and acceptable in this sample of older adults. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of leash manners training for increasing PA in this population.
A Non-Randomized Combined Program of Walking and Low-Load Resistance Exercise Improves Cognitive Function and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly Women
Authors: Kim Jeonghyeon , Kang Seamon , Hong Haeryun , Joo Mingyu , Kang Hyunsik
Published: October 2022

Background: This study examines whether changes in cardiometabolic risk factors, functional fitness, and depressive symptoms following a six-month exercise intervention were associated with cognitive function in Korean women aged 65 years and older. Methods: A non-randomized study design was used to compare post-intervention changes in measured variables between control (n = 30) and exercise (n = 30) groups. The exercise intervention consisted of three days of low-load resistance exercise and two days of walking. Cognitive function and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Korean version of the Mini–Mental State Examination and the Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively. Functional fitness was measured using a senior fitness test battery. Results: The exercise group showed a significant improvement in cognitive function (p < 0.001) in conjunction with significant decreases in blood glucose (p = 0.052), triglycerides (p = 0.011), insulin (p = 0.002), tumor necrosis factor-α (p = 0.043), and depressive symptoms (p = 0.006) and an increase in interleukin-10 (p = 0.037), compared with the control group. Multivariate stepwise regression showed that changes in depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), insulin resistance (p < 0.001), and upper body muscle strength (p = 0.003) were positively associated with cognitive function. Conclusion: A six-month exercise intervention consisting of walking and low-load/high-repetition elastic band resistance exercise has the potential to improve cognitive function, as well as physical function and cardiometabolic risk factors, and to decrease depressive symptoms in older women.
The Impact of Depression on the Functional Outcome of the Elderly Stroke Victim from a Gender Perspective: A Systematic Review
Authors: Franco-Urbano María Salud , Rodríguez-Martínez María del Carmen , García-Pérez Patricia
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: The aim of this systematic review focused on analyzing the impact of depression on the functional outcome of the elderly stroke victim and how this disorder affects both the female and the male population. (2) Methods: We conducted a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review was registered in PROSPERO (ID 346284). The systematic search for clinical trials was performed in the databases Pubmed, Otseeker, Scopus, Web of Science, Psycinfo, Medline Complete, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and Dialnet. Articles were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, including those dealing with post-stroke depression in adults whose psychological status had changed. Studies that only assessed the psychological state of caregivers were excluded. (3) Results: In total, 609 articles were identified, of which 11 randomized controlled trials were finally included in the review. The results indicate that post-stroke depression influences the recovery of functionality and quality of life. In addition, the need to detect the mood of the adult population after the stroke and to provide individualized treatment according to the characteristics of the person is highlighted. (4) Conclusions: This systematic review shows how early detection of post-stroke depressive symptoms can improve the degree of disability and quality of life of the person, especially in women.
Development of a Shortened Version of the Nurse Managers’ Empowering Behavioral Scale for Staff Nurses
Authors: Sasaki Miki , Ogata Yasuko , Fujinami Keiko , Yonekura Yuki
Published: October 2022

The original version of the Nurse Managers’ Empowering Behavioral Scale for Staff Nurses (NMEB-SN) was both unique and comprehensive. However, it was considered lengthy. Hence, the intention of this particular study was to develop a shortened version of the NMEB-SN comprising 15 items across five subscales. Responses from 1268 staff nurses working at 10 Japanese hospitals were included in the analysis to confirm the validity and reliability of the scale. The results ensured internal consistency, construct and criterion-related validity, and test–retest reliability. The NMEB-SN short version is applicable in the context of practical and efficient nursing management to attract more nurses to the workplace.
Translation, Adaptation and Validation of the Pandemic Fatigue Scale (PFS) in the Greek Language
Authors: Asimakopoulou Evanthia , Paoullis Panagiotis , Shegani Antonio , Argyriadis Alexandros , Argyriadi Agathi , Patelarou Evridiki , Patelarou Athina
Published: October 2022

The growing fatigue of citizens due to the COVID-19 pandemic has already been addressed and its results are visible and threatens citizen compliance. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Pandemic Fatigue Scale (PFS) in the Greek language. A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2021 to March 2022. The translation and cultural adaptation process was developed according to the research protocols among the university student population in Cyprus and tested the psychometric properties of PFS. Three hundred thirty-four subjects participated in the study through a web survey, which included general information and the study process. The internal consistency for the total PFS showed good reliability (six items, a = 0.88). A weak statistically significant positive correlation was found between the PFS and the Greek versions of Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment—GAD-7 (r = 0.1.96; p < 0.001) and the PFS and Patient Health Questionnaire—PHQ-9 (r = 0.173; p = 0.002) demonstrating good concurrent validity. Recovering from the pandemic, it is necessary to build systems to detect and respond to future healthcare crises. The results suggest that the psychometric properties of the Greek PFS are satisfactory. The measure of pandemic fatigue allows for identifying fatigue groups for targeted interventions and testing how pandemic fatigue might be reduced in such situations.
Resilience and Emotional Intelligence of Staff Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Aljarboa Bader Emad , Pasay An Eddieson , Dator Wireen Leila Tanggawohn , Alshammari Salman Amish , Mostoles Jr. Romeo , Uy Ma Mirasol , Alrashidi Nojoud , Alreshidi Maha Sanat , Mina Enrique , Gonzales Analita
Published: October 2022

Although numerous scholars have studied resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, research exploring its relationship with emotional intelligence is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the resilience and emotional intelligence (EI) of staff nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data for this quantitative correlational study were gathered from the staff nurses of hospitals in the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia. The researchers employed simple random sampling, which yielded 261 staff nurses. Nationality (t = 6.422; p < 0.001) was found to have a significant relationship with resilience. Sex (t = 5.22; p < 0.001), ward assignment (t = 5.22; p < 0.001), age (F = 6.67; p < 0.001), and years of experience (F = 6.67; p < 0.001) revealed significant relationships with emotional intelligence. Resilience had a moderate positive relationship with EI (r = 0.55; p < 0.023), a weak positive relationship with self-emotion (r = 0.21; p < 0.003), and a very strong relationship with emotional appraisal (r = 0.85; p < 0.001). Improving emotional-intelligence skills is critical for assisting nurses during pandemic outbreaks. This can increase their individual and social resilience, while also improving their professional and life outcomes. These research findings suggest that emotional intelligence should be integrated into clinical practice and that EI data should be integrated into decision-making.
Association between Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Frailty: Cross-Sectional Study Using National Survey Data in Korea
Authors: Kim Hyunjoo , Lee Euni
Published: October 2022

Frailty is a multidimensional clinical syndrome that increases the risk of adverse health outcomes. Previous studies have reported a close link between menopause and frailty. Combined estrogen–progestin therapy (or estrogen-only therapy in women who have undergone a hysterectomy) is currently approved as a menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to treat menopausal symptoms. Despite increasing evidence of the importance of sex hormones in the development of frailty, very few studies have investigated the association between MHT and frailty. A cross-sectional evaluation was conducted using population-based survey data known as the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-V, 2008–2012). The KNHANES data provided variables that were used to construct a 51-item frailty index (FI). The number of study population, only including postmenopausal women, was 7823 women, and their mean age was 62.51 years (range 32–80 years). Approximately 40% of them had graduated from middle school or higher, 45% lived in metropolitan statistical areas, and 5% were recipients of the national Medical Aid. The mean age at menopause was 48.66 years (range 30–62 years). Overall, the mean FI value was 0.15, and the prevalence of MHT was 13.23%. Findings from multiple regression analysis using the inverse probability of treatment weighting showed that a treatment duration of more than 2 years and up to 5 years, age at first treatment between 50 and 59 years, and MHT initiation 3 to 6 years after menopause were all negatively associated with frailty (p < 0.05). Further studies are needed to confirm these findings using prospective data.
Genome-Wide Identification, Cloning and Expression Profile of RanBP2-Type Zinc Finger Protein Genes in Tomato
Authors: Gao Yanna , Li Ning , Ruan Jiaojiao , Li Ying , Liao Xiaoli , Yang Changxian
Published: October 2022

The RanBP2-type zinc finger (RBZ) protein genes, which are well-characterized in animals, are involved in the regulation of mRNA processing. Although they are diversely distributed in plants, their functions still remain largely unknown. In this study, we performed a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of 22 RBZ genes in tomato. The gene structure analysis revealed that the SlRBZ genes have 2 to 17 exons. SlRBZ proteins contain typical conserved domains, including Motif 1 or Motif 2, or a combination of Motif 9 and Motif 4. Two paralogous pairs were identified in the tomato. Segmental duplication possibly contributed to the expansion of the SlRBZ genes in tomato. Interestingly, the SlRBZ15 gene generated four products, yielded by alternative splicing. A cis-regulatory element analysis revealed that SlRBZ genes might be involved in the complex regulatory networks during plant growth and development. The expression profiles of the SlRBZ genes were analyzed in different tissues using eight phytohormones and four abiotic stress treatments based on RNA sequencing data and qRT-PCR verification. The results showed that each gene responded differently to more than one phytohormone or abiotic stress type. This research provides a foundation for future functional research on SlRBZ genes in tomato.
On the Benefits of Bias Correction Techniques for Streamflow Simulation in Complex Terrain Catchments: A Case-Study for the Chitral River Basin in Pakistan
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Manzanas Rodrigo , Ndehedehe Christopher E. , Ahmad Burhan , Adeyeri Oluwafemi E. , Dudzai Cornelius
Published: October 2022

This work evaluates the suitability of linear scaling (LS) and empirical quantile mapping (EQM) bias correction methods to generate present and future hydrometeorological variables (precipitation, temperature, and streamflow) over the Chitral River Basin, in the Hindukush region of Pakistan. In particular, LS and EQM are applied to correct the high-resolution statistically downscaled dataset, NEX-GDDP, which comprises 21 state-of-the-art general circulation models (GCMs) from the coupled model intercomparison project phase 5 (CMIP5). Raw and bias-corrected NEX-GDDP simulations are used to force the (previously calibrated and validated) HBV-light hydrological model to generate long-term (up to 2100) streamflow projections over the catchment. Our results indicate that using the raw NEX-GDDP leads to substantial errors (as compared to observations) in the mean and extreme streamflow regimes. Nevertheless, the application of LS and EQM solves these problems, yielding much more realistic and plausible streamflow projections for the XXI century.
H2, CO2, and CH4 Adsorption Potential of Kerogen as a Function of Pressure, Temperature, and Maturity
Authors: Raza Arshad , Mahmoud Mohamed , Alafnan Saad , Arif Muhammad , Glatz Guenther
Published: October 2022

We performed molecular dynamics simulation to elucidate the adsorption behavior of hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) on four sub-models of type II kerogens (organic matter) of varying thermal maturities over a wide range of pressures (2.75 to 20 MPa) and temperatures (323 to 423 K). The adsorption capacity was directly correlated with pressure but indirectly correlated with temperature, regardless of the kerogen or gas type. The maximum adsorption capacity was 10.6 mmol/g for the CO2, 7.5 mmol/g for CH4, and 3.7 mmol/g for the H2 in overmature kerogen at 20 MPa and 323 K. In all kerogens, adsorption followed the trend CO2 > CH4 > H2 attributed to the larger molecular size of CO2, which increased its affinity toward the kerogen. In addition, the adsorption capacity was directly associated with maturity and carbon content. This behavior can be attributed to a specific functional group, i.e., H, O, N, or S, and an increase in the effective pore volume, as both are correlated with organic matter maturity, which is directly proportional to the adsorption capacity. With the increase in carbon content from 40% to 80%, the adsorption capacity increased from 2.4 to 3.0 mmol/g for H2, 7.7 to 9.5 mmol/g for CO2, and 4.7 to 6.3 mmol/g for CH4 at 15 MPa and 323 K. With the increase in micropores, the porosity increased, and thus II-D offered the maximum adsorption capacity and the minimum II-A kerogen. For example, at a fixed pressure (20 MPa) and temperature (373 K), the CO2 adsorption capacity for type II-A kerogen was 7.3 mmol/g, while type II-D adsorbed 8.9 mmol/g at the same conditions. Kerogen porosity and the respective adsorption capacities of all gases followed the order II-D > II-C > II-B > II-A, suggesting a direct correlation between the adsorption capacity and kerogen porosity. These findings thus serve as a preliminary dataset on the gas adsorption affinity of the organic-rich shale reservoirs and have potential implications for CO2 and H2 storage in organic-rich formations.
Evaluation of a New Laboratory Protocol for Newborn Screening for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in New Zealand
Authors: de Hora Mark R. , Heather Natasha L. , Webster Dianne R. , Albert Benjamin B. , Hofman Paul L.
Published: October 2022

Between 2005 and 2021, 49 cases of classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia were diagnosed in New Zealand, 39 were detected in newborns and 10 were not detected by screening. Currently, for every case of CAH detected by screening, 10 false-positive tests are encountered. Second-tier liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LCMSMS) has the potential to improve screening sensitivity and specificity. A new laboratory protocol for newborn screening for CAH was evaluated. Birthweight-adjusted thresholds for first- and second-tier 17-hydroxyprogesterone, second-tier 21-deoxycortisol and a steroid ratio were applied to 4 years of newborn screening data. The study was enriched with 35 newborn screening specimens from confirmed CAH cases. Newborn screening was conducted on 232,542 babies, and 11 cases of classical CAH were detected between 2018 and 2021. There were 98 false-positive tests (specificity 99.96%, PPV = 10.1%) using the existing protocol. Applying the new protocol, the same 11 cases were detected, and there were 13 false-positive tests (sensitivity > 99.99%, PPV = 45.8%, (X2 test p < 0.0001). Incorporating the retrospective specimens, screening sensitivity for classical CAH was 78% (existing protocol), compared to 87% for the new protocol (X2 test p = 0.1338). Implementation of LCMSMS as a second-tier test will improve newborn screening for classical CAH in New Zealand.