bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catch composition, reproductive biology and diet of the bowmouth guitarfish Rhina ancylostomus Bloch and Shneider, 1801 (Batoidea: Rhinidae) in the eastern Arabian Sea, India
Authors: Purushottama G. B. , Thomas Sujitha , Kizhakudan Shoba Joe , Zacharia P. U.
Published: November 2023

Scarce information exists on the life history of the bowmouth guitarfish Rhina ancylostomus (=R. ancylostoma) landed by trawlers and gillnetters that operate in the eastern Arabian Sea off Karnataka, on the south-west coast of India. This study was carried out to update information on this species by analysing the size distribution, sex ratio, length-at-maturity (Lm50%), length–weight relationship and diet using data collected during 2016-2019. Three hundred and sixty-nine individuals were collected with a total length (TL) range of 44.0 to 295 cm and total weight (TW) range of 0.2 to 127 kg. The length-weight relationship (LWR) of females and males did not differ significantly and therefore, a common equation was derived as TW = 0.006604TL 3.027504(r2=0.979). The length-at-maturity (Lm50%) for females and males were estimated to be 183.0 and 164.0 cm TL, respectively. R. ancylostoma has two functional ovaries and the ovarian cycle and gestation run concurrently. The number of embryos ranged from 2 to 8 and size at-birth was estimated to range between 44.0 and 50.0 cm TL. Overall sex ratio indicated dominance of females. Dietary analysis of stomach contents (%IRI) revealed that R. ancylostomus fed primarily on teleosts (73.3%), crustaceans (20.5%) and molluscs (6.2%). Gravid females enter coastal waters possibly for parturition and feeding in some seasons, where they become vulnerable to trawl and gillnets used along Karnataka coast. The species is categorised in IUCN Red List as “Critically Endangered” and the present study revealed the urgent need to construct an effective management plan to conserve this species in the region.Keywords: Bycatch, Elasmobranchs, Life history, Shark ray
On-farm performance of genetically improved scampi (CIFA-GI scampi TM) in carp-scampi polyculture system in Odisha, India
Authors: Panda Debabrata , Pillai Bindu R. , Mahapatra Kanta Das , De Himanshu Kumar , Mishra Bibhudatta , Sahu Sovan , Naik Namita , Suara Purnapriya , Nayak Abhijit , Patra Mukesh Kumar
Published: November 2023

On-farm performance evaluation of the genetically improved variety of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii christened as CIFA-GI scampiTM was carried out in 14 districts of Odisha State, India during April 2019 to March 2020. Data were collected through personal interview of 46 farmers (28 CIFA-GI scampiTM and 18 non-GI scampi farmers) using a structured questionnaire. Socio-economic profile of two groups of respondents were found to be identical for all the selected variables except education, primary occupation and pond size. Harvest size, absolute growth rate, yield, sale price and gross profit were significantly higher in CIFA-GI scampiTM farmers compared to non-GI scampi farmers though size at stocking, stocking density and survival did not vary between these two groups. It was found that CIFA-GI scampiTM showed 53% higher growth rate, 68% higher yield, fetched 13% higher farm gate price with `0.62 lakh ha-1 crop-1 additional profit compared to non-GI scampi in carp-scampi polyculture system. The input and output parameters of carp component were not significantly different between the groups. The findings of this study highlighted the superiority of the CIFA-GI scampiTM. Thus, the adoption of culture of this improved strain will not only bridge the yield gap but also help in realisation of higher economic benefit to the farmers.  
Keywords: CIFA-GI scampiTM, Genetically improved prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Polyculture, Performance assessment, , Socio-economic profile
Effect of salinity variation on intestinal microbiota of the Indian white shrimp Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards, 1837
Authors: Vinay T. N. , Patil P. K. , Suvana S. , Aravind R. , Avunje S. , Panigrahi A. , Balasubramanian C. P.
Published: November 2023

The effects of salinity adaptation on gut microbiota of juvenile Indian white shrimp, Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 was analysed in this experiment. Intestines of shrimps adapted to two different salinities were examined using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. At all salinity levels, the dominant phyla recorded were Proteobacteria followed by Bacteroidota and Fusobacteriota.  However, as the salinity decreased, abundance of Proteobacteria increased while richness of Bacteroidota and Fusobacteriota decreased significantly.  At genus level, salinity reduction increased the abundance of Vibrio and Photobacterium; while it decreased the abundance of Spongiimonas and Hypnocyclicus. The survival of animals in both the groups was not affected but the weight gain was less in low saline group (5 ppt). The results confirm the influence of salinity in rearing water on the intestinal microbiota of shrimp.
Keywords:  Aquaculture, Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, Hypnocyclicus, Proteobacteria, Salinity, Spongiimonas
Relationship between fish body and sagittal otolith morphometrics in the pool barb Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822) from the Ganga and Punpun rivers of Bihar, India
Authors: Jaspreet singh  , Ahirwal S. K. , Tarkeshwar Kumar  , Vivekanand Bharti  , Pranab Gogoi  , Kamal Sarma
Published: November 2023

The present study estimated the morphometric relationships between body and sagittal otolith of the economically and nutritionally important pool barb Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822). A total of 266 fish specimens were collected monthly from the Ganga and Punpun rivers of Bihar, India from September 2021 to March 2022 Length-weight relationships (LWRs), length frequency distribution, condition factor and otolith aspect ratio were assessed. The fish length and weight ranged from 5.57 cm to 11.17 cm and 1.18 g to 18.98 g, respectively. The b value in LWRs (b>3) were estimated as 3.20 and 3.17 for Ganga and Punpun, respectively. Condition factors indicated optimal growth conditions for this species in both the rivers. The fish and otolith morphometrics showed a positive correlation, and the highest coefficient of determination (R2) was observed between total fish length and otolith weight (R2= 0.942) followed by fish length and otolith length (R2=0.90). All of these relationships are significant to fisheries management and useful for future time series studies on food-feeding habits, stock structure, environmental change and resource conservation.
Keywords :  Coefficient of determination, Condition factor, Fish otolith, Growth, Length-weight relationship
Preservative effect of ready to disperse bioactive edible coating powder from fish protein hydrolysate incorporated with chitosan and active clove oil on tuna fillets (Thunnus albacares) during chilled storage
Authors: Sathish Kumar K. , Bindu J. , Elavarasan K. , Balange Amjad K. , Narasimhamurthy L.
Published: November 2023

Developing bioactive edible coatings is an emerging trend to improve nutritional value, food quality, and safety. The present work was undertaken to develop ready to disperse bioactive edible coating (BEC) powder from fish protein hydrolysate incorporated with chitosan and clove oil, and to evaluate their preservative effect (10 and 20% level) on tuna fillets during chilled storage at 4°C. Microbiological, biochemical, and sensory evaluation were carried out during 18 days of storage study. Aerobic plate count of tuna fillets treated with 10 and 20% BEC solutions showed 5.45±0.007 log cfu g-1 and 5.33±0.009 log cfu g-1, respectively at the end of storage, whereas the control sample reached 9.25±0.004 log cfu g-1. Among the BEC solution treated samples, 20% BEC solution treated sample had the lowest TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) value (1.68±0.04 mg MDA kg-1) followed by 10% BEC solution treated sample (1.93±0.02 mg MDA kg-1) at the end of the storage, while the control sample exceeded the acceptable limit (2.388±0.167248 mg MDA kg-1) on 9th day itself, which gave clear evidence that BEC solutions effectively extended the tuna fillet’s shelf-life. The overall study revealed that the sample treated with BEC solutions showed an excellent preservative effect on tuna fillets, which indicates the potential of combined use of these agents in food products.
Keywords: Bioactive edible coating, Biochemical analysis, Chilled Storage, Sensory evaluation, Tuna fillets
The Role of Diffusion on Reservoir Performance in Underground Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Arekhov Vladislav , Clemens Torsten , Wegner Jonas , Abdelmoula Mohamed , Manai Taoufik
Published: November 2023

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) has the potential to balance fluctuating sustainable energy generation and energy demand by offering large-scale seasonal energy storage. Depleted natural gas fields or underground gas storage fields are attractive for UHS as they might allow for cost-efficient hydrogen storage. The amount of cushion gas required and the purity of the backproduced hydrogen are important cost factors in UHS.

This study focuses on the role of molecular diffusion within the reservoir during UHS. Although previous research has investigated various topics of UHS such as microbial activity, UHS operations, and gas mixing, the effects of diffusion within the reservoir have not been studied in detail. To evaluate the composition of the gas produced during UHS, numerical simulation was used here. The hydrogen recovery factor and methane-to-hydrogen production ratio for cases with and without diffusive mass flux were compared. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify important factors for UHS, including permeability contrast, vertical-to-horizontal permeability ratio, reservoir heterogeneity, binary diffusion coefficient, and pressure-dependent diffusion. Additionally, the effect of numerical dispersion on the results was evaluated.

The simulations demonstrate that diffusion plays an important role in hydrogen storage in depleted gas reservoirs or underground gas storage fields. Ignoring molecular diffusion can lead to the overestimation of the hydrogen recovery factor by up to 9% during the first production cycle and underestimation of the onset of methane contamination by half of the back production cycle. For UHS operations, both the composition and amount of hydrogen are important to design facilities and determine the economics of UHS, and hence diffusion should be evaluated in UHS simulation studies.
Does the use of phytostimulants and the cutting times influence the productivity of the soybean crop?
Authors: Viana Jeandson Silva , de Oliveira José Fábio Ferreira , Gonçalves Edilma Pereira , Silva Monalisa Alves Diniz da , BORGES JOÃO PAULO GOES DA SILVA , Melo Luan Danilo Ferreira de Andrade , Silva Júlio César de Almeida , Lima Juliana Joice Pereira , Junior João Luciano de Andrade Melo
Published: November 2023

The use of techniques and products that maximize the production of a crop is fundamental when considering the scarcity of areas in regions that have adequate edaphoclimatic conditions for production or climatic inconsistency in other regions. Thus, the growth of national soybean production is due to research related to the theme; however, more studies can contribute to a greater productive advance in this segment. With this, the objective was to observe the influence of cutting times and the phytostimulant on the productivity of the soybean crop. Studies developed were in two agricultural years 2014/15 and 2015/16. The plot design was used, where the plots were formed by the cutting periods (40, 50, 60, 70 and 90 days after emergence (DAE) [1]and the subplots by the application of the phytostimulant (auxin, cytokinin and gibberellin), plus the witness without cutting. The Stimulate® positively (statistically higher) influenced analyzed variables; number of total pods (NVT), number of full pods (NVC), straw yield (RP), crop growth rate (TCC), harvest index (CI) and yield (GY). Cutting the aerial part of soybean plants at 40 DAE does not reduce grain production. Treatment of soybean seed with Stimulate® increases productivity at 15% and up to 60 DAE significantly stimulates soybean growth and regrowth.
The Efficacy of Preventing Portal Hypertension and Treating Cirrhosis Decompensation Due to Hepatitis B with Fuzheng Huayu Tablets, Entecavir and Carvedilol: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Guo Yanan , Li Zhengxin , Yangqing Ma , Huang Jihan , Lv Jing , Liu Chenghai
Published: November 2023

Background
Portal hypertension is an important pathological basis for the development of cirrhotic decompensation and its complications. The mechanism of its formation and development is complex, involving both increased intrahepatic resistance due to structural destruction of the liver and extrahepatic hyperdynamic circulation due to vasoactive substance disorders. However few drug has been provided values of primary prevention. Whether anti-liver fibrosis drugs would reduce the risk of portal hypertension was still not known.
Methods/design:
This is a non-blind, non-placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter clinical trial. 192 chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients with or without mild gastroesophageal varices in compensatory stage were enrolled for protocol A. Which the control group is given entecavir(ETV), and the experimental group is given Fuzheng Huayu Tablets(FZHY) and ETV. 184 CHB patients with moderate or severe gastroesophageal varices in compensatory stage were enrolled for protocol B. Which the control group is given ETV plus carvedilol(CDL), and the experimental group is given FZHY, ETV and CDL. Both protocols were carried out with 96w of treatment and 12w of follow-up. The primary outcome is the incidence of clinical event. The secondary outcome include: measurements of varicose veins, liver fibrosis and liver functions.
Discussion
This trial may carry out the effects of anti-liver fibrosis drugs(FZHY) on preventing portal hypertension or treating cirrhosis decompensation due to CHB.
Trial registration:
Clinical Trials.gov, ID: NCT 02945982. Registered on October 26, 2016.
Experimental Evaluation of Flexural and Bond Behaviours of Adobe Masonry
Authors: Rafi Muhammad Masood , Khan Sher , Marri Amanullah , Bhutto Muhammad Aslam
Published: November 2023

This paper presents the results of experimental testing of adobe masonry assemblages to study their flexure and bond behaviours. The properties of soil and water absorption of adobe units were also investigated. The plasticity index of the soil was 7.56 which was higher compared to that reported for the adobe soil in a few regions of the world. The silt and clay contents of the soil were also higher as compared to the soil used by the researchers elsewhere. High water absorption of the adobe units (27.37%) indicated their low cohesion characteristic which was evidenced by low bond strength. The flexure strength of the wallettes tested in a direction parallel to the bed joints was less as compared to those tested perpendicular to the bed joints. The tensile bond strength determined by the bond wrench method was considerably smaller as compared to the flexural strength of the wallettes. The observed flexural and bond strengths of the adobe masonry were also smaller as compared to those reported in the existing literature.
From Leaf to Soil: Exploring the Dynamics of Leaf Litter Production and Decomposition in a Sal Forest Ecosystems in Jharkhand, India
Authors: ANANDITA KUMARI , Sinha Anand Kumar , Jeganathan C
Published: November 2023

Understanding the complex processes of leaf litter production and decomposition is essential for understanding the nutrient cycle and ecosystem functioning in various terrestrial settings. The dynamics of leaf litter in Sal (Shorea robusta) forest ecosystems are investigated in this work. With comprehensive field sampling, quantification of the changes in leaf litter and pinpointing the underlying causes of these variances. This year-long study delved into the dynamics of litter in the Sal Forest across seven distinct locations. Results aligned with prior findings, emphasizing the role of Sal tree phenology and local climate, particularly temperature, in litter production dynamics. Sample point 6, inside a dense forest, stood out with abundant vegetation and diverse species, exhibiting optimal litter decomposition, nutrient accumulation, and utilization due to favorable temperature and humidity with a decay constant of 0.5358. May, June, and July fostered the highest decomposition, with a total mass loss of ~ 84.68%. Principle composite correlation value of soil factors such as pH (0.812), water holding capacity (0.924), moisture content (0.944), soil organic carbon (0.772), soil carbon (0.893), soil nitrogen (0.857), soil phosphorous (0.847), and soil potassium (0.726) and humidity (0.836) suggests that these factors significantly influence decomposition. The research underscores the intricate nature of litter decomposition, shaped by Sal tree phenology, climate, vegetation cover, and soil properties, collectively driving the Sal Forest ecosystem's ecological processes. This study provides a thorough picture of the transit of leaf litter from the forest canopy to the forest floor to comprehend the intricate links between leaf litter production and soil health in Sal Forest ecosystems.
Polariton Bose–Einstein Condensate from Bound State in the Continuum at Room Temperature
Authors: Liu Xinfeng , Wu Xianxin , Zhang Shuai , Song Jiepeng , Deng Xinyi , Du Wenna , Zeng Xin , Zhang Zhiyong , Chen Yuzhong , Wang Yubin , Jiang Chuanxiu , Zhong Yangguang , Wu Bo , Zhu Zhuoya , Liang Yin , Zhang Qing , Xiong Qihua
Published: November 2023

Exciton–polaritons (polaritons) resulting from the strong exciton–photon interaction stimulates the development of novel low-threshold coherent light sources to circumvent the ever-increasing energy demands of optical communications1-3. Polaritons from bound states in the continuum (BICs) are promising for Bose–Einstein condensation owing to their theoretically infinite quality factors, which provide prolonged lifetimes and benefit the polariton accumulations4-7. However, BIC polariton condensation remains limited to cryogenic temperatures ascribed to the small exciton binding energies of conventional material platforms. Herein, we demonstrated room-temperature BIC polariton condensation in perovskite photonic crystal lattices. BIC polariton condensation was demonstrated at the vicinity of the saddle point of polariton dispersion that generates directional vortex beam emission with long-range coherence. We also explore the peculiar switching effect among the miniaturized BIC polariton modes through effective polariton−polariton scattering. Our work paves the way for the practical implementation of BIC polariton condensates for integrated photonic and topological circuits.
Age-dependent loss of Crls1 causes myopathy and skeletal muscle regeneration failure
Authors: Seo Young Kyo , Yoo Youngbum , Yeon MyeongHoon , Kim Won-Kyung , Shin Hyeon-Bin , Lee Seung-Min , Yoon Mee-Sup , Ro Hyunju
Published: November 2023

Skeletal muscle aging results in the gradual deterioration of myogenesis, leading to muscle mass loss. However, the precise role of cardiolipin in myogenesis remains unclear. This study investigated the crucial role of mitochondrial cardiolipin and cardiolipin synthase 1 (Crls1) in age-related muscle deterioration and myogenesis. Our findings demonstrate that both cardiolipin and Crls1 are downregulated in aged skeletal muscles. Moreover, the knockdown of Crls1 in myoblasts resulted in reduced mitochondrial mass, activity, and expression of OXPHOS complex IV, along with the destruction of the mitochondrial cristae structure. AAV9-shCrls1-mediated downregulation of Crls1 impaired regeneration in a mouse model of cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced muscle damage, whereas Crls1 overexpression using AAV9-mCrls1 improved regeneration in an aging animal model of CTX-induced damage. Overall, our results highlight that the age-dependent decrease in Crls1 expression contributes to muscle loss by diminishing mitochondrial quality in skeletal muscle myoblasts. These findings suggest that modulation of Crls1 expression holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for mitigating muscle deterioration associated with aging, offering potential avenues for developing interventions to improve overall muscle health and quality of life in the elderly.
Blockade of C5aR1 resets M1 via gut microbiota-mediated PFKM stabilization in a TLR5-dependent manner
Authors: Yang Jing , Zhao Jie , Yao Chen , Qin Yongqin , Zhu Hanyong , Guo Hui , Ji Binbin , Li Xueqin , Sun Na , Li Rongqing , Wu Yuzhang , Zheng Kui-Yang , Pan Yuchen , Zhao Tingting
Published: November 2023

Background: Targeting C5aR1 modulates the function of infiltrated immune cells including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and development through TAM education. However, whether and how the gut flora is involved in C5aR1 inhibition-mediated TAMs remains unclear.
Methods: Genetic deletion C5ar1 or pharmacological inhibition of C5aR1 using anti-C5aR1 antibodies or PMX-53, in the presence or absence of deletion antibodies, were employed to investigate the impact and mechanism by which C5aR1 inhibition regulates polarization of tumor-associated macrophages through modulation of gut microbiota composition. The effects of C5aR1 inhibition in tumor growth were evaluated in MC-38 tumor bearing mice treated with or without the indicated compounds. The infiltrated immune cells and the polarization of TAMs was measured by flow cytometry. The glycolysis was examined by metabolic assays. Microarray analysis was utilized to assess the gene profiling. The levels of key enzymes in glycolysis were determined by Western blotting and quantitative PCR. The composition of gut microbiota was investigated using bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing. The relative expression of C5aR1 in TAMs from CRC patients was assessed using single-cell RNA-seq data from SCDVA and multiplexed immunofluorescence staining, respectively.
Results: C5aR1 inhibition elevated the concentration of serum IL-22 and the mRNA levels of its downstream target genes encoded antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), leading to gut microbiota modulation and flagellin releasement, which contributed to M1 polarization. In addition, our data revealed that high levels of C5aR1 in TAMs predicted poor prognosis.
Conclusion: C5aR1 inhibition reduced CRC growth via resetting M1 by AKT2 activation-mediated PFKM stabilization in a TLR5-dependent manner, which relied on IL-22-regulated gut flora.
Using Planar Biaxial Testing to Characterize the Changes in Axial Load and Strain of Human, Porcine, and Ovine Fossa Ovalis Following a Transseptal Puncture
Authors: Iaizzo Paul A , Vergen Jorge A , Ziph Josh , Lindberg Mary Elizabeth
Published: November 2023

Background
In many cardiovascular interventional procedures, transseptal punctures are used to gain access to the left atrial and ventricular anatomies. As various types of transseptal procedures (TSP) continue to be developed and improved, the fossa ovalis (FO), within the human hearts and pre-clinical models, still needs to be biomechanically studied. For example, the induced changes in FO properties following a transseptal procedure, are not fully understood. The goal of this study was to quantify changes in the biomechanical properties of human, porcine, and ovine FO before and after a TSP.
Methods
Physiologically viable human FO were recovered from non-transplantable human hearts. FO were also recovered from porcine and ovine hearts immediately after slaughter. Recovered FO were then measured using microcomputed tomography (µCT) and biomechanically assessed using planar biaxial testing. A proprietary instrument was then used to puncture the FO. Changes were then measured using planar biaxial testing.
Results
A total of five human FO, four porcine FO, and three ovine FO were successfully recovered and tested for this study. Across all sample groups, planar biaxial testing shows increased axial strain following a TSP. Axial load was observed to decrease across all sample groups.
Conclusions
Our study used planar biaxial testing to measure the changes in biomechanical properties following a TSP. This includes data on changes in the maximum mean axial strain and maximum mean axial load of human, porcine, and ovine FO following TSP procedures. These findings provide important insights for medical device and procedural developers.
Analyzing river disruption factors and ecological flow in China's Liu River Basin amid environmental changes
Authors: Li Mingqian , Wang He , Gu Hongbiao , Chi Baoming
Published: November 2023

Water resources variability and availability in a basin affect river flows and sustain river ecosystems. Climate change and human activities disrupt runoff sequences, causing water environmental issues like river channel interruptions. Therefore, determining ecological flow in changing environments is challenging in hydrological research. Based on an analysis of long-term changes in hydrological and meteorological variables and interruption conditions in the semi-arid Liu River Basin (LRB), this study summarizes the controlling factors of river interruption at different temporal and spatial scales and proposes a framework to determine ecological flow under changing environments. Hydrological model and the monthly optimal probability distribution (MOPD) were used to determine the optimal ecological runoff of LBR. The results showed that from 1956 to 2017, precipitation and potential evapotranspiration in the basin showed no significant decreasing trend, but the streamflow significantly decreased, and the downstream interruption worsened, with an average annual interruption duration of 194 days at Xinmin Station from 1988 to 2017. The controlling factors of river interruption are: (1) soil and water conservation measures in the upstream significantly reduce the runoff capacity; (2) the operation mode of the controlling reservoir in the middle reaches changes from "all-year discharge" to "winter storage and spring release" to "combined storage and supply,” severing the hydraulic connection between upstream and downstream; and (3) siltation in the downstream river channel coupled with over-extraction of groundwater increases the seepage capacity of the river. The monthly ecological flow of Naodehai Reservoir was determined by considering the monthly seepage losses after reconstructing the natural runoff using the SWAT model and determining the optimal probability distribution function for monthly runoff. The findings are important for downstream LRB ecological restoration and for determining the ecological flow of other river basins in changing environments.
Introduction of CS/GP improves the self-healing and flame-retardant effect of ENR/PLA composites
Authors: You Pingfeng , zhang ping , Chen Pengfei , Xie Ruishi , Chen lin , Xiong Ying
Published: November 2023

With the rapid development of society, polymer materials are widely used in automotive, construction, and electronic components due to their excellent properties such as easy processing, cheap price, and corrosion resistance. However, most polymers, such as rubber and leather, suffer from poor mechanical properties, susceptibility to micro cracking and flammability. In this paper, an epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)/polylactic acid (PLA)/chitosan (CS)/guanidine phosphate (GP) composite with certain self-healing and flame-retardant properties was successfully prepared. The network structure is constructed by forming thermoplastic elastomers (TVPs) through ENR and PLA, and the amino groups on CS and GP can form hydrogen bonds with ENR. which improves the mechanical properties of ENR/PLA composites and gives the ENR/PLA/CS/GP composites excellent self-healing properties. Secondly, CS and GP can also form intumescent flame retardants to improve the flame-retardant properties of ENR/PLA composites. Among them, the ENR/PLA/CS2/GP4 composite can achieve 78% self-healing effect and 35.8% reduction in flame retardant heat release rate (HRR).
Fats extracted from oil press cakes, fish meat, and chicken hearts as potential CoQ10 supplements
Authors: Semeniuc Cristina Anamaria , Mandrioli Mara , Podar Andersina Simina , Ranga Floricuţa , Socaciu Maria Ioana , Ionescu Simona Raluca , Fogarasi Melinda , Fărcaş Anca Corina , Toschi Tullia Gallina , Vodnar Dan Cristian , Socaci Sonia Ancuţa
Published: November 2023

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a liposoluble compound naturally occurring in plant and animal cells, with some benefits for health, mainly due to its antioxidant properties. The food industry gives large quantities of by-products and waste; these could be used to recover the natural form of CoQ10, which has a higher bioavailability than synthetic. The Folch method was used in this study to extract and characterise the fats from some food by-products (oil press cakes of rapeseed, sunflower, pumpkin, linseed, walnut, and hempseed) and waste (fish meat and chicken hearts), previously identified as sources of CoQ10, for potential uses as dietary supplements. The highest CoQ10 content was found in fats extracted from chicken hearts-CH (2041.74 µg/g) and pumpkin press cakes-PPC (661.40 µg/g). Both fats are triglycerides but have a low CVD risk (AI values below the recommended limit). CH fat is dominated by oleic acid (n-9) and PPC fat by linoleic acid (n-6). PUFAs/MUFAs ratio is above the recommended minimum in both fats; however, the n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio in CH fat exceeds the maximum value. They also contain tocopherols (PPC-138.09 µg/g and CH-54.22 µg/g) that, along with CoQ10, give them antioxidant properties; therefore, they meet the criteria of a food supplement.
Tailoring Vibrational Excitation Pathways for High-Yield Oxidation of Methane to Methanol
Authors: Underwood Thomas , Nallapareddy Charan
Published: November 2023

The direct conversion of methane to methanol under mild conditions is a pathway to utilize methane and form a value-added fuel over distributed scales. However, over-oxidation of methanol limits the maximum methanol yield, energy efficiency, and scalability of the process. For the first time, we show how molecular excitations and reaction timescales can be tailored in thermal non-equilibrium to break this limit. We engineer reaction pathways to form preferential intermediates that restrict the formation of unwanted byproducts. We combine vibrational excitations with synergistic transport timescales in a one-pot reactor that control the accumulation and extraction of methanol to extend high methanol selectivity (> 30%) to high methane conversion (> 50%). We use these methods to demonstrate the highest methanol yield (> 20%) reported via single-step methane conversion at near room temperature and pressure. We generalize these advances using process descriptors to demonstrate a pathway to scalable and efficient methanol synthesis.
The relationship between type D personality and blood groups subtypes, and medication adherence in Iranian patients with type II diabetes mellitus
Authors: Dastjerdi Mahsa , Sabbagh Sima , Aliabadi Maryam Ghasemi , Shafiee Sahar , Najarzadegan Mehdi , Niknam Sara , Aliyari Roqayeh , Meamar Rokhsareh
Published: November 2023

Purpose
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood groups and personality types, and medication adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods
302 patients with T2DM were considered in the study. Their sociodemographic information and medical history were recorded. Type D personality and medical adherence were checked using DS-14 and MMAS-8 questionnaires, respectively. Blood samples were obtained from the patients to determine the types of ABO blood groups, HbA1c, fasting blood sugar and lipid profile.
Results
No significant association was found between the patients' characteristics including demographic and laboratory information and medical adherence to treatment. However, a significant difference in medical adherence was observed between patients with type D personality; According to logistic regression model, patients with type D (OR: 6.23, (95%CI: 2.34–16.55, P < 0.001) had better adherence to medication, while the blood groups was not associated with medical adherence to treatment.
Conclusion
Type D personality cannot impair medical adherence in these patients. There was an association between type D personality and the ABO blood group, but the ABO blood group was not related to medical adherence.
Pre-post evaluation of nursing home residents’ quality of life after 16-20-weeks participation in the trishaw-passenger initiative Cycling Without Age
Authors: Ahrensberg Hannah , Eghøj Martin , Rasmussen Mette , Jørgensen Andreas , Toftager Mette , Petersen Christina Bjørk
Published: November 2023

Background
The "Cycling Without Age" initiative offers trishaw rides to nursing home residents, hoping to promote mobility, social interaction, and engagement, and enhancing mental health. However, empirical research investigating the effect on health and well-being is limited.
Aim
To evaluate if participation in “Cycling Without Age” is associated with increased quality of life.
Methods
The study was a 16-20-week quasi-experimental single-arm study, using a pre-post evaluation with participants acting as their own controls. A total of 52 participants (median age: 79.5 (IQR: 12.0)) from 17 Danish nursing homes were enrolled. Data was obtained through interview-based questionnaires and health examination tests for cognitive and physical functioning. The main outcome was quality of life measured by the 10-point Cantril ladder of life satisfaction. Secondly, mental health, self-efficacy, self-perceived health, loneliness, self-perceived pain, sleep quality, 6-min walk test, handgrip strength, cognitive function, and physical function and mood were examined. Changes in outcomes were analysed as mean differences by paired-sample t-tests, McNemar’s or the Marginal Homogeneity test.
Results
The mean difference from baseline to follow-up in quality of life was + 0.94 (p = 0.040). Subgroup analyses of quality of life showed that the increase was only significant among men, participants with very low physical functioning, participants with probability of cognitive impairment, and residents participating in < 6 trishaw rides. A significant increase in mood-score of 1.01 (p = 0.001) immediately after trishaw rides was also observed.
Conclusion
Findings suggest that participation in “Cycling Without Age” has an immediate significant impact on mood and is associated with a significant improved quality of life among nursing homes residents, escpecially among men and individuals with low cognitive and physical function. The study makes a valuable contribution to the field of public health by showing that trishaw activity for nursing home residents driven by volunteers can offer great potential for community-based health-promotion.
Trial registration: The study was approved by the Scientific Ethical Committee at the Capital Region of Denmark (number H-20010668) and registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT04536779).
Exploring the Potential of High-Frequency Ultrasound to Enhance Liposomal Curcumin Delivery to HCC 1954 Breast Cancer Cells: A Promising Strategy for Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Radha Remya , Paul Vinod , Anjum Shabana , Bouakaz Ayache , Pitt William , Husseini Ghaleb A.
Published: November 2023

Improving the efficacy of chemotherapy remains a key challenge in cancer treatment, considering the low bioavailability, high cytotoxicity, and undesirable side effects of some clinical drugs. Targeted delivery and sustained release of therapeutic drugs to cancer cells can reduce the whole-body cytotoxicity of the agent and deliver a safe localized treatment to the patient. There is growing interest in herbal drugs, such as curcumin, which is highly noted as a promising anti-tumor drug, considering its wide range of bioactivities and therapeutic properties against various tumors. Conversely, the clinical efficacy of curcumin is limited because of poor oral bioavailability, low water solubility, instability in gastrointestinal fluids, and unsuitable pH stability. Drug-delivery colloid vehicles like liposomes and nanoparticles combined with microbubbles and ultrasound-mediated sustained release are currently being explored as effective delivery modes in such cases. This study aimed to synthesize and study the properties of curcumin liposomes (CLs) and optimize the high-frequency ultrasound release and uptake by a human breast cancer cell line (HCC 1954) through in vitro studies of culture viability and cytotoxicity. CLs were successfully synthesized with particle sizes of 81 ± 2 nm. The synthesized liposomes were stable, encapsulated curcumin, and released curcumin upon exposure to ultrasound. In vitro studies on HCC1954 cells showed that CLs and the combination of ultrasound in the presence of Definity microbubbles, enhanced the anti-tumor activity of the herbal therapeutic agent compared to treatment without ultrasound. Furthermore, the study delved into curcumin liposomes' cytotoxic effects using an Annexin V/PI-based apoptosis assay. The treatment with CLs, particularly in conjunction with ultrasound and microbubbles, amplified cell apoptosis, particularly in the late apoptosis stage, which was attributed to heightened cellular uptake within cancer cells.
Research activities in the dielectric ceramics: information from data mining in literature
Authors: zhang wenxu , Wang Xiaochao
Published: November 2023

Vast published dielectric ceramics literature is a natural database for big-data analysis, discovering structure-property relationships and property prediction based on experimental conditions. We constructed a data-mining pipeline based on natural language processing (NLP) to extract property information from about 12900 dielectric ceramics articles. The micro-F1 scores for sentence classification, named entities recognition, relation extraction (related), and relation extraction (same) are 0.916, 0.827, 0.909, and 0.9, respectively. We built a dielectric ceramics database containing about 220000 aligned values of properties and normalized about 98000 data. Finally, we demonstrated the distribution of some important properties and the correlation relationships for different properties. We also analyzed the properties distribution for certain dielectric ceramics composites. The development of the dielectric ceramics was outlined. The experimental data enable us to extract the structure-property relationship in the future.
Enhancing ICU care through NGS – based identification of infectious agents : A comparative study
Authors: Ramanathan Aishwariya , Marimuthu Anusuya , Abayasekara Lalanika M. , Jeyaratnam Thurga , Chandrasekaran Vishvanath , Perera Jennifer , Ramasubramanium Venkatasubramanium , Sethuraman Nandini , Samarasinghe Sumudu , Peiris Varuna , Gnanam Vaz S
Published: November 2023

Background:
Use of molecular techniques to accurately identify the infectious disease is well established. Molecular techniques like PCR or RT PCR rely on specific gene targets in a designated pathogen for detection. In contrast, PCR with universal targets along with Next generation sequencing can cover a broad range of organisms including anerobic, fastidious and slow growing organisms and is not limited to a single organism or panel of pathogens. The Bactfast product from Credence Genomics has been previously evaluated for the diagnosis of infections in the clinical samples and showed sensitivity of 91.8% when compared with conventional cultures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of Bactfast and Fungifast for the diagnosis of infectious disease in a clinical ICU setting while using conventional culture as a gold standard.
Methods:
Clinical samples from sterile sites including blood were collected and processed using Bactfast and Fungifast product. Results were compared with conventional culture techniques including MALDI-TOF (VITEK-MS, Biomerieux), VITEK-2 compact.
Results:
A total of 490 samples were processed, 111 samples processed with Bactfast showed concordance with culture positive results. 322 samples and 472 samples processed with Bactfast and Fungifast respectively showed a concordance with culture negative results. Bactfast showed sensitivity of 94.1% and specificity of 86.6% compared with culture results. Only 12 fungal culture positives were observed in the total of 490, which is not sufficient to calculate the sensitivity of Fungifast and further studies required.
Conclusion:
Since the fungal culture positive samples are low, the sensitivity of the Fungifast could not be concluded in this study. However, it is clear that these products can be used for the diagnosis of infectious agents within 36 hours in the sterile samples and blood where there are limitations to culture. Furthermore, as these products are designed as pan bacterial and fungal assays, it is a versatile tool that is able to identify rare pathogens as well as conventional microbes. Therefore, Bactfast and Fungifast are useful diagnostic tools for use in the clinical ICU setting.
Liquefaction of latex glove waste for volume reduction
Authors: Kim Sung-Wook , Oh Maeng-Kyo , Jeon Min Ku
Published: November 2023

The accumulation of dry active wastes (DAWs) such as latex gloves in nuclear facilities has become a serious issue because of the high cost and limited storage area for their management. In this study, the liquefaction of latex gloves, which mainly comprise rubber and CaCO3, was investigated as a waste reduction technique. When liquefaction occurred at > 270°C, the latex gloves decomposed into gaseous, liquid, and solid products. Cs-, Sr-, and Co-contaminated latex gloves were liquefied at 350°C, and the solid product was subsequently recovered via distillation. Notably, the contaminants comprising CaCO3 and char only remained in the solid product (~ 33.3 wt.%); thus, the gaseous and liquid products could be regarded as non-radioactive, thereby reducing the volume of radioactive waste (~ 92.7% reduction after compression). Liquefaction is favorable compared to conventional combustion because it generates less harmful gases by converting the organic components to condensed phases.
Effect of Ropivacaine combined with Nalbuphine in Erector Spinae Plane Block on postoperative analgesia in Lumbar trauma surgery
Authors: Zhang Jin , Zhang Fan , Chen Jun , Sun Jinnan , Wang Shaolin
Published: November 2023

Backgroud
Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been gradually applied to postoperative analgesia in Thoracic, Abdominal, and Spinal Surgery. However, the action time of local anesthetics is limited. Nalbuphine was used as an adjuvant of Ropivacaine to observe the postoperative analgesic effects of ESPB after lumbar trauma surgery.
Methods
This is a single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled research. Patients aged between 18 and 65 years, with ASA physical status I to Ⅱ, and scheduled for an elective surgical procedure. Ultrasound-guided ESPB was performed with 0.375% ropivacaine in group R and 0.375% ropivacaine combined with 10 mg nalbuphine in group N (each side dose 20 mL). The primary outcome measure was the first postoperative remedy analgesia time. The secondary outcome measures of the study were NRS scores for rest and during movement at 4 hr, 6 hr, 8 hr, 10 hr, 12 hr, 24 hr and 48 hr after extubation, accumulated consumption dose of sufentanil at 0–4 hr, 4–8 hr, 8–12 hr, 12–24 hr and 0–24 hr after surgery, intraoperative dosage of remifentanil and sufentanil, first off-bed time, first exhaust time and length of hospital stay.
Results
A total of 57 participants completed the study. The mean difference of the first postoperative remedy analgesia time(group N vs group R, 489 ± 52 min vs 391 ± 23 min) was 98 min (95%CI, 76 to 119). Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed increasing pain-free population in group N and pain-free time Log-rank (Mantel Cox) test showed the hazard ratio (HR, group N/group R) was 0.225 (95% CI, 0.114 to 0.443). NRS scores at rest at 8 hr, 10 hr and 12 hr after surgery in group N were significantly lower than those in group R(P < 0.05). NRS scores during movement at 8 hr and 10 hr after surgery in group N were significantly lower than those in group R(P < 0.05). Compared with group R, the cumulative consumption dose of sufentanil in group N at 4–8 hr, 8–12 hr and 0–24 hr after surgery was significantly reduced (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications, first off-bed time, first exhaust time, length of hospital stay and satisfaction situation between the two groups.
Conclusion
Compared with ropivacaine alone, the application of ropivacaine combined with nalbuphine for ESPB in posterior lumbar surgery can prolong the postoperative pain relief time significantly and reduce the patient's demand for analgesics.
Inequalities in the Utilisation of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Interventions within Scheduled Tribes in India: An Analysis of Odisha and Jharkhand
Authors: S Rekha , Mohan Varshini Neethi , Vaidyanathan Girija , Dash Umakant , R Muraleedharan V
Published: November 2023

Background: The utilisation of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) services remains lower among the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in India than among the rest of the country’s population. The tribal population's poorest and least-educated households are further denied access to RMNCH care due to the intersection of their social status, wealth, and education levels. The study analyses the wealth- and education-related inequalities in the utilisation of RMNCH services within the ST population in Odisha and Jharkhand.
Methodology: We have constructed two summary measures, namely Co-coverage indicator and a modified Composite Coverage Index (CC), to determine wealth- and education-related inequalities in the utilisation of RMNCH indicators within the ST population in Odisha and Jharkhand. The absolute and relative inequalities with respect to wealth and education within the ST population are estimated by employing the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII).
Results: The results of the study highlight that access to RMNCH services is easier for women who are better educated and belong to wealthier households. The SII and RII values in the co-coverage indicator and modified CCI exhibit an increase in wealth-related inequalities in Odisha between NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-21). Whereas, in Jharkhand, the wealth- and education-related absolute and relative inequalities present a reduction between 2016 and 2021. Among the indicators, utilisation of vaccination was high, while the uptake of Antenatal Care Centre Visits and Vitamin A supplementation should be improved.
Interpretation: The study results underscore the urgency of targeted policies and interventions to address the inequalities in accessing RMNCH services among ST communities. A multi-dimensional approach that considers the socioeconomic, cultural and geographical factors affecting healthcare should be adopted while formulating health policies to reduce the inequalities in access to healthcare.