bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drying Strawberry Slices: A Comparative Study of Electrohydrodynamic, Hot Air, and Electrohydrodynamic‐Hot Air Techniques
Authors: Polat Ahmet 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThe investigation encompassed an examination of the drying durations, modeling, and quality attributes (color, rehydration capacity, microstructural features, total soluble solid [TSS], and pH values) of strawberry slices subjected to diverse drying methodologies, namely electrohydrodynamic (EHD), EHD‐hot air, and hot air processes. Furthermore, 10 distinct thin‐layer drying models were applied, and their goodness‐of‐fit was assessed to identify the most suitable model for the drying process. This analysis encompassed applying two distinct temperatures (50°C and 55°C), and voltage levels (20 and 30 kV). The EHD method yielded the lengthiest drying durations for the strawberry samples, with hot air and EHD‐hot air drying techniques subsequent in descending order of drying time. The outcomes of the modeling analyses demonstrated that the thin‐layer drying behaviors of used drying methods were best described by the Midilli et al. and Wang and Singh models in terms of their goodness‐of‐fit. A decline in the L* values was noted with the elevation of temperature in the hot air drying method and with the escalation of voltage in the EHD drying. The minimum a* value was detected in the hot air drying method conducted at 55°C. The rehydration capacity of strawberry samples subjected to the EHD and EHD‐hot air combination drying methods (except 20 kV‐55°C) did not exhibit any statistically significant variation in response to different voltage settings. Although the structure of strawberry samples dried with 20 kV application was observed as smoother, cracks occurred on the product surface in other drying applications. In hot air and EHD methods, varying temperature and volt applications did not show a significant effect on TSS and pH values. As a result, it has been seen that EHD technology, which is a promising drying method used in this study, is a suitable method in terms of processing efficiency and consumer acceptability of dried strawberry products.
Exploring the Relationship Between Gut Microbiota and Sarcopenia Based on Gut–Muscle Axis
Authors: Li Wei , Sheng Ren‐Wang , Cao Mu‐Min , Rui Yun‐Feng 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTSarcopenia, as a disease characterized by progressive decline of quality, strength, and function of muscles, has posed an increasingly significant threat to the health of middle‐aged and elderly individuals in recent years. With the continuous deepening of studies, the concept of gut–muscle axis has attracted widespread attention worldwide, and the occurrence and development of sarcopenia are believed to be closely related to the composition and functional alterations of gut microbiota. In this review, combined with existing literatures and clinical reports, we have summarized the role and impacts of gut microbiota on the muscle, the relevance between gut microbiota and sarcopenia, potential mechanisms of gut microbiota in the modulation of sarcopenia, potential methods to alleviate sarcopenia by modulating gut microbiota, and relevant advances and perspectives, thus contributing to adding more novel knowledge to this research direction and providing certain reference for future related studies.
Investigation of Changes in the Reflection Spectrum of Human Blood When Exposed to Laser Radiation With Wavelengths of 450 or 980 nm
Authors: Chuchin V. Yu. , Masharskaya A. A. , Belikov A. V. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to determine and explain changes in the reflectance spectrum of human blood in vitro when exposed to laser radiation at wavelengths of 450 or 980 nm.MethodsReflectance spectra of venous blood samples were measured before and after exposure to a single pulse of 450 or 980 nm laser radiation. A numerical optical model based on the Monte Carlo method was applied.ResultsLaser irradiation at 450 and 980 nm caused the most significant changes in the reflectance spectrum around 600 nm, associated with alterations in blood oxygen saturation. The maximum efficiency of reducing oxygen saturation was 0.20%/W for 980 nm and 0.72%/W for 450 nm, likely due to differences in blood absorption at these wavelengths.ConclusionsThe greatest change in intensity reflectance spectra and oxygen saturation of human venous blood occurs when exposed to laser radiation at 450 nm, not at 980 nm.
Machine learning predictive models to guide prevention and intervention allocation for anxiety and depressive disorders among college students
Authors: Zhai Yusen , Zhang Yixin , Chu Zhicong , Geng Baocheng , Almaawali Mahmood , Fulmer Russell , Lin Yung‐Wei Dennis , Xu Zhaopu , Daniels Aubrey D. , Liu Yanhong , Chen Qu , Du Xue 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCollege student mental health has been a critical concern for professional counselors. Anxiety and depressive disorders have become increasingly prevalent over the past decade. Utilizing machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), we developed predictive models (i.e., eXtreme Gradient Boosting [XGBoost], Random Forest, Decision Tree, and Logistic Regression) to identify US college students at heightened risk of diagnosable anxiety and depressive disorders. The dataset included 61,619 students from 133 US higher education institutions and was partitioned into a 90:10 ratio for training and testing the models. We employed hyperparameter tuning and cross‐validation to optimize model performance and examined multiple measures of predictive performance (e.g., area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], accuracy, sensitivity). Results revealed strong discriminative power in our machine learning predictive models with AUC of 0.74 and 0.77, indicating current financial situation, sense of belonging on campus, disability status, and age as the top predictors of anxiety and depressive disorders. This study provides a practical tool for professional counselors to proactively identify students for anxiety and depressive disorders before these conditions escalate. Application of machine learning in counseling research provides data‐driven insights that help enhance the understanding of mental health determinants, guide prevention and intervention strategies, and promote the well‐being of diverse student populations through counseling.
Lack of wastewater treatment in a small town drives the spread of ESBL‐producing Escherichia coli in irrigation waters
Authors: VanderYacht Thomas , Salinas Liseth , Remerleitch Tilden , Walas Nikolina , Ho Tin , Trueba Gabriel , Graham Jay P. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTAntibiotic resistance (ABR) is a critical and growing global challenge, especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Ecuador has made great progress in connecting households to piped water supplies; however, the collection and treatment of domestic wastewater has lagged. This infrastructural gap may be accelerating the spread of ABR into surface waters used downstream for irrigation. We studied the contributions of a small town in Ecuador to the prevalence of extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase‐producing Escherichia coli in a glacial stream used for irrigating crops. The study analyzed water samples upstream (n = 60) and downstream (n = 60) of the town of Píntag as well as 30 lettuce samples irrigated by surface waters downstream of the town. A subset of third generation cephalosporin resistant E. coli (3GCR‐EC) isolates (n = 58) were sequenced to characterize antibiotic resistance genes and pathogenic lineages. Our results showed that there was nearly a three‐log increase in mean E. coli colony forming units in the downstream samples versus upstream. At the upstream sites above the town of Píntag, 6.7% of water samples were positive for 3GCR‐EC compared to 100% of samples collected at the downstream sites. Additionally, 70.1% of sequenced 3GCR‐EC isolates collected at downstream sites carried blaCTX‐M genes and 3.4% belonged to pandemic lineages ST131 and ST10. As countries develop household piped water infrastructure, attention should focus on how the lack of domestic wastewater collection and treatment may accelerate the spread of ABR in waterways and the food system.
Bacterial extracellular vesicles as intranasal postbiotics: Detailed characterization and interaction with airway cells
Authors: Razim Agnieszka , Zabłocka Agnieszka , Schmid Anna , Thaler Michael , Černý Viktor , Weinmayer Tamara , Whitehead Bradley , Martens Anke , Skalska Magdalena , Morandi Mattia , Schmidt Katy , Wysmołek Magdalena E. , Végvári Akos , Srutkova Dagmar , Schwarzer Martin , Neuninger Lukas , Nejsum Peter , Hrdý Jiri , Palmfeldt Johan , Brucale Marco , Valle Francesco , Górska Sabina , Wisgrill Lukas , Inic‐Kanada Aleksandra , Wiedermann Ursula , Schabussova Irma 
Published: October 2024

AbstractEscherichia coli A0 34/86 (EcO83) is a probiotic strain used in newborns to prevent nosocomial infections and diarrhoea. This bacterium stimulates both pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokine production and its intranasal administration reduces allergic airway inflammation in mice. Despite its benefits, there are concerns about the use of live probiotic bacteria due to potential systemic infections and gene transfer. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from EcO83 (EcO83‐EVs) might offer a safer alternative to live bacteria. This study characterizes EcO83‐EVs and investigates their interaction with host cells, highlighting their potential as postbiotic therapeutics. EcO83‐EVs were isolated, purified, and characterised following the Minimal Information of Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (MISEV) guidelines. Ex vivo studies conducted in human nasal epithelial cells showed that EcO83‐EVs increased the expression of proteins linked to oxidative stress and inflammation, indicating an effective interaction between EVs and the host cells. Further in vivo studies in mice demonstrated that EcO83‐EVs interact with nasal‐associated lymphoid tissue, are internalised by airway macrophages, and stimulate neutrophil recruitment in the lung. Mechanistically, EcO83‐EVs activate the NF‐κΒ signalling pathway, resulting in the nitric oxide production. EcO83‐EVs demonstrate significant potential as a postbiotic alternative to live bacteria, offering a safer option for therapeutic applications. Further research is required to explore their clinical use, particularly in mucosal vaccination and targeted immunotherapy strategies.
Geochronology and ice‐flow modelling of the Late Quaternary glaciers on Mt. Soğanlı, Türkiye
Authors: Sarıkaya M. A. , Candaş A. , Ege İ. , Wilcken K. M. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTUnderstanding Earth's climate history through the chronology and reconstruction of palaeoglaciers is a central topic of palaeoclimatology. Examining the remnants of past glaciations preserved in isolated alpine environments provides insight into critical palaeoclimatic conditions. Accurate dating techniques, such as terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides, are crucial for understanding the timing of these changes. The Anatolian Peninsula, characterized by diverse topographical and climatic factors, witnessed the presence of glaciers during the Late Pleistocene, shaping its alpine landscape significantly. While mountain ranges such as the Taurus and Pontic favoured glacier development due to their elevation and lower temperatures, isolated mountains such as Mount Soğanlı in the interior hinterland also supported significant palaeoglaciers. Despite previous studies on Anatolia's glaciers, numerical dating of glacial deposits on Mount Soğanlı has remained elusive until now, hindering precise palaeoclimatic interpretations. This study employs cosmogenic 36Cl surface exposure dating and physical‐based ice‐flow modelling using an open‐source framework, Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM), to determine the timing of glaciations and to reconstruct past glacier extents on Mount Soğanlı. The results reveal glacier retreat ages of 48.3 ± 13.4 and 18.3 ± 4.4 ka based on two well‐preserved moraines. Additionally, palaeoclimate simulations matched with the field observations indicate considerably colder conditions (6.65–8.15°C colder than today) necessary to sustain glaciers on Mount Soğanlı, when precipitation amounts were the same as today. These findings contribute to a better understanding of Anatolia's palaeoclimatic fluctuations and align with similar studies in neighbouring regions, enhancing our knowledge of past climate dynamics of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Zero‐echo‐time sequences in highly inhomogeneous fields
Authors: Borreguero Jose , Galve Fernando , Algarín José M. , Alonso Joseba 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPurposeZero‐echo‐time (ZTE) sequences have proven a powerful tool for MRI of ultrashort tissues, but they fail to produce useful images in the presence of strong field inhomogeneities (14 000 ppm). Here we seek a method to correct reconstruction artifacts from non‐Cartesian acquisitions in highly inhomogeneous , where the standard double‐shot gradient‐echo approach to field mapping fails.MethodsWe present a technique based on magnetic field maps obtained from two geometric distortion‐free point‐wise (SPRITE) acquisitions. To this end, we employ three scanners with varying field homogeneities. These maps are used for model‐based image reconstruction with iterative algebraic techniques (ART). For comparison, the same prior information is fed also to widely used Conjugate Phase (CP) algorithms.ResultsDistortions and artifacts coming from severe inhomogeneities, at the level of the encoding gradient, are largely reverted by our method, as opposed to CP reconstructions. This holds even close to the limit where intra‐voxel bandwidths (determined by inhomogeneities, up to 1.2 kHz) are comparable to the encoding inter‐voxel bandwidth (determined by the gradient fields, 625 Hz in this work).ConclusionWe have benchmarked the performance of a new method for ZTE imaging in highly inhomogeneous magnetic fields. For example, this can be exploited for dental imaging in affordable low‐field MRI systems, and can be expanded for arbitrary pulse sequences and extreme magnet geometries, as in, for example, single‐sided MRI.
A New Method for Determining the Safety Distance Between Irregular Karst Cave and Circumferential Shield Tunnel
Authors: Zhang Yanhuan , Sun Shangqu , Wang Jing , Li Liping , Sun Zizheng , Chen Diyang , Men Yanqing 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTWhen a shield tunnel passes through a karst area, the water‐filled cave can easily make the surrounding rock metamorphic, resulting in water inrush, ground collapse, and shield machine failure and other engineering hazards. Natural cavities have a significant degree of geometric irregularity due to groundwater alteration and soluble rock erosion. Considering the difficulties in describing the shape of a natural irregular cavity, circular, rectangular, and elliptical geometries have been simplified in most related studies. Based on the upper bound theorem of limit analysis, we established a three‐dimensional failure model including the karst caves located directly above and below the circumferential side of the tunnel. Then, we deduced the corresponding analytical solution of the critical safety distance (CSD). Furthermore, the effects of rock mass parameters, cave parameters, and geometric parameters on the CSD were analyzed. Then we designed the numerical simulation considering the irregular geometry shape at the circumferential side of tunnel using the Fourier descriptors. In addition, we estimated the CSDs for two failure models using the revised dichotomy and failure criterion. The findings demonstrated a quantifiable association between CSD and Fourier descriptors of irregular cave shape, resulting in the development of a CSD prediction model. These test results can provide a theoretical foundation and direction for predicting water inrush caused by the constrained irregular cave.
An LQR‐Lagrange Algorithm Generated by Interdisciplinary Integration With Optimal Control and Optimization
Authors: An Molin , Han Xueshan 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTInterdisciplinary integration is a superior method to improve the optimization algorithm. In this paper, control theory and optimization are combined, and the optimization algorithm is regarded as a control process. Based on the premise of optimal control, the state equation corresponding to Lagrange Algorithm is established with the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions as the objective. As an optimal control method, linear quadratic regulator (LQR) is utilized to control the calculation process, and an innovative LQR‐Lagrange Algorithm is proposed. The Lyapunov stability criterion is applied to analyze the convergence, and it is proved that the proposed LQR‐Lagrange Algorithm is bound to converge as long as the parameter matrices and are positive definite. The analysis indicates that the influence of parameters in LQR‐Lagrange Algorithm on the calculation speed is monotonic, and the elements in and has no effect on the convergence. Therefore, the proposed algorithm has a monotonic and user‐friendly parameter tuning strategy. It perfectly tackles the game between parameter tuning strategy and calculation speed, and cracks the difficulties and dilemmas of conventional algorithms in this issue, realizing a win‐win situation.
Veteran Affairs disability compensation: Likely the U.S.’s largest disability program, but what do we know about its impacts on service‐disabled veterans?
Authors: Armour Philip , Gadwah‐Meaden Catria 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe last few decades have seen rapid growth in the size of the Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation (VADC) program, which provides tax‐free cash benefits to veterans with disabilities connected to military service. Given this recent growth, VADC is on pace to eclipse Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to become the largest U.S. disability program by expenditures. Although there are decades of causal research on the design and impacts of SSDI, there is no comparable body of evidence for VADC. In this Policy Insight, we discuss how causal evidence was produced for Social Security‐administered disability programs and why there is a lack of this evidence for VADC. Chief among the explanations is a lack of VADC data access available to the broader researcher community, access that Social Security facilitates for the programs it administers. However, even with this access, the proliferation of benefits and services targeted to service‐disabled veterans implies that existing earnings loss studies and causal estimates of the impact of VADC benefit receipt on any given outcome of interest likely are mismeasurements of true effects. We conclude with recommendations for restructuring approaches to research design to accurately estimate impacts of VADC benefits as well as the wide array of other programs supporting service‐disabled veterans.
Denoising sphere‐valued data by relaxed total variation regularization
Authors: Beinert Robert , Bresch Jonas 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCircle‐ and sphere‐valued data play a significant role in inverse problems like magnetic resonance phase imaging and radar interferometry, in the analysis of directional information, and in color restoration tasks. In this paper, we aim to restore ‐sphere‐valued signals exploiting the classical anisotropic total variation on the surrounding ‐dimensional Euclidean space. For this, we propose a novel variational formulation, whose data fidelity is based on inner products instead of the usually employed squared norms. Convexifying the resulting non‐convex problem and using ADMM, we derive an efficient and fast numerical denoiser. In the special case of binary (0‐sphere‐valued) signals, the relaxation is provable tight, that is, the relaxed solution can be used to construct a solution of the original non‐convex problem. Moreover, the tightness can be numerically observed for barcode and QR code denoising as well as in higher dimensional experiments like the color restoration using hue and chromaticity and the recovery of SO(3)‐valued signals.
A new Legendre polynomial approach for computing the matrix exponential action on a vector
Authors: Pozza Stefano , Zahid Shazma 
Published: October 2024

AbstractWe propose a new approach for computing the action of the matrix exponential over a vector. The approach is based on a Legendre polynomial expansion in the framework of the so‐called ‐product solution to ODEs. The new approach can be combined with Krylov subspace methods.
Agricultural legacy shapes plant diversity patterns in mountain grasslands of Maramureș and Bukovina: A cross‐border perspective (Ukraine, Romania)
Authors: Janišová Monika , Magnes Martin , Bojko Igor , Borsukevych Liubov M. , Budzhak Vasyl V. , Chorney Illya , Iuga Anamaria , Ivașcu Cosmin Marius , Kish Roman , Kuzemko Anna , Palpurina Salza , Skokanová Katarína , Širka Pavel , Tokaryuk Alla , Dayneko Polina 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

We investigated farming practices and grassland plant diversity patterns in the historical regions of Maramureș and Bukovina, located in the central Eastern Carpathians of Romania and Ukraine. We explored the influence of social and historical factors on recent grassland plant diversity, including changes and modifications in land use and grassland management practices.

We used stratified random sampling to select 48 grassland parcels in eight villages on the Ukrainian‐Romanian borderlands. We identified the factors that affect the composition and diversity of grassland vascular plants and bryophytes at multiple spatial scales and compared the frequency and timing of historical and recent grassland management practices to distinguish between preserved and modified agricultural traditions.

In most of the grassland parcels studied (83% in Romania and 78% in Ukraine), traditional land use persisted. Local plant species richness was primarily influenced by management practices, outweighing the impact of topography and soil factors. Regular mowing at appropriate intensity increased the richness of vascular plants, while grazing promoted the richness of bryophyte species. Modifications to farming systems, observed in all studied villages, were mainly due to declining population and livestock numbers. Although the timing of spring and autumn grazing in hay meadows still adhered to tradition, mowing schedules shifted earlier, especially for the first cut of two‐cut hay meadows. Traditional corralling, fertilization and hayseed application have become rare or discontinued in certain villages, while controlled burning has increased. Past use of mineral fertilizers in Ukrainian villages during the Soviet era influenced the recent diversity and composition of vascular plant species, favouring nutrient‐demanding species.

Social factors and agricultural policies indirectly affect biodiversity in semi‐natural grasslands, leaving a tangible footprint even in the most remote areas of the Carpathian Mountains. We provide basic recommendations to preserve the remarkable biodiversity of the region.

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