bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring stingless bee honey from selected regions of Peninsular Malaysia through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–based untargeted metabolomics
Authors: Manickavasagam Ganapaty , Saaid Mardiana , Lim Vuanghao 
Published: January 2024

AbstractVolatile organic compounds in honey are known for their considerable impact on the organoleptic properties of honey, such as aroma, flavor, taste, and texture. The type and composition of volatile organic compounds are influenced by entomological, geographical, and botanical origins; thus, these compounds have the potential to be chemical markers. Sixty‐two volatile compounds were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry from 30 Heterotrigona itama (H. itama) honey samples from 3 different geographical origins. Hydrocarbons and benzene derivatives were the dominant classes of volatile organic compounds in the samples. Both clustering and discriminant analyses demonstrated a clear separation between samples from distant origins (Kedah and Perak), and the volcano plot supported it. The reliability and predictability of the partial least squares–discriminant analysis model from the discriminant analysis were validated using cross‐validation (R2: 0.93; Q2: 0.83; accuracy: 0.97) and the permutation test (p < 0.001), and the output depicted that the model is legitimate. In combination with the variable importance of projection (VIP > 1.0) and the Kruskal–Wallis test (p < 0.01), 19 volatile organic compounds (encompassed aldehydes, benzene derivatives, esters, hydrocarbons, and terpenoids) were sorted and named potent chemical markers in classifying honey samples from three geographical origins. In brief, this study illustrated that volatile organic compounds of stingless honey originated from the same bee species, but different geographical origins could be applied as chemical markers.
Molecular descriptors of icewine odorants: A first insight into their relationship with metabolism and olfactory perception
Authors: Ma Yue , Xu Yan , Tang Ke 
Published: January 2024

AbstractTo investigate the differences in physicochemical parameters of compounds that are metabolized from different precursors and contribute to the aroma perception of icewine, odor‐active compounds in icewine were identified by gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O) analysis combined with comprehensive two‐dimensional GC and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (GC  ×  GC–TOFMS) analysis, and the molecular descriptors of these odor‐active compounds were calculated by computational chemistry software. The distribution pattern of these odorants classified by their precursors and their olfactory perception was visualized on the basis of their molecular descriptor differences. The results showed that the odorants sourced from different precursors could be clearly separated from each other based on their molecular descriptors, which belonged to blocks such as constitution indices and 2D matrix‐based descriptors. The results also showed that honey and cooked potatoe descriptions or peach and smoke descriptions have quite different molecular descriptors. This study should contribute to future research that relates to computational chemistry‐based aroma perception and prediction in fermented beverages.Practical ApplicationThe results obtained from this study may be useful for the construction of a classification system of various odor‐active compounds in a given product and may provide a molecular solution for the determination of different perceptual dimensions of an odor mixture.
Improving the colloidal stability of pectin–phycocyanin complexes by increasing the mixing ratio
Authors: Buecker Stephan , Gibis Monika , Bartmann Laura , Bussler Sara , Weiss Jochen 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIn the food industry, the phycobiliprotein phycocyanin acts as a color pigment or the functional part of the superfood “Spirulina.” It is industrially extracted from Arthrospira platensis. Current scientific research is focusing on finding complex partners with the potential to stabilize phycocyanin against its sensitivity toward heating and pH changes. Less attention is paid to the factors that influence complexation. This study focuses on the mixing ratio of phycocyanin with pectin. Phycocyanin concentration was fixed, and the mixing ratios ranged from 0.67 to 2.50 (pectin:phycocyanin). All samples were analyzed for their color, size, microscopic structure, zeta potential, and sedimentation stability before and after heating at 85°C. It was found that increasing the pectin content fostered the initial interactions with the protein and chromophore, resulting in a color shift from blue to turquoise. The size of the complexes decreased from several micrometers to nanometers with increasing pectin concentration. Those smaller complexes that were formed at a mixing ratio of 2.5 showed a higher colloidal stability over a period of ∼2 days. It is suggested that at a low mixing ratio (0.67), phycocyanin cannot be completely entrapped within the complexes and attaches to the complex surface as well. This results in aggregation and precipitation of the complexes upon heating. With increasing aggregation and consequently size as well as density of the complexes, sedimentation was accelerated.Practical ApplicationUnder acidic conditions, as found in many foods and beverages (e.g., soft drinks, hard candy), phycocyanin tends to agglomerate and lose its color. Specifically heating, triggers denaturation, causing phycocyanin to aggregate and lose vital protein–chromophore interactions necessary to maintain a blue color. To prevent precipitation of the phycocyanin‐pectin complexes, increasing the amount of pectin to a ratio of at least 2.0 is effective. This illustrates how adjusting the mixing ratio improves stability. Conversely, lower mixing ratios induce color precipitation, valuable in purification processes. Thus, practical use of biopolymer‐complexes, requires determination of the optimal mixing ratio for the desired effect.
An integrated approach for improving clinical management of non‐obstructive azoospermia
Authors: Shi Fu , Liu Ye , Chen Zheng , Li Dongliang , Yao Yuanqing , Zhou Meixun , Zhuo Yumin , Ma Xin , Cao Dandan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundNon‐obstructive azoospermia is the most severe form of male infertility. A testicular biopsy is required for the diagnosis of non‐obstructive azoospermia, and the causal factors for non‐obstructive azoospermia remain unknown.ObjectivesTo reduce the risk of multiple biopsies and identify factors that contribute to non‐obstructive azoospermia, we proposed an integrated approach for the preoperative diagnosis and clinical management of non‐obstructive azoospermia by applying the chromosome‐spreading technique and whole‐exome sequencing.Materials and MethodsBetween July 2020 and December 2022, after ruling out definitive obstructive azoospermia and non‐obstructive azoospermia patients with testicular volume < 6 mL, 20 patients with non‐obstructive azoospermia who underwent preoperative testicular diagnostic biopsy using testicular sperm aspiration were subjected to retrospective analysis.ResultsMicroscopic examination identified four patients with sperm cells, and 16 without sperm cells. Routine pathological analysis classified one patient as normal spermatogenesis, three as hypospermatogenesis, five as maturation arrest, nine as Sertoli cell‐only, and two as unable to judge. With chromosome‐spreading technology using routine cell suspension samples for microscopic examination, 18 patient diagnoses were validated, and two patients without a definitive diagnosis were supplemented. Detection of the Y chromosome and a well‐organized whole‐exome sequencing analysis revealed potential genetic factors.Discussion and ConclusionThe full use of testicular biopsy is beneficial for the diagnosis of azoospermia, as it avoids the risk of multiple biopsies. Moreover, in combination with whole‐exome sequencing, clinicians can obtain more information regarding the pathogenesis of non‐obstructive azoospermia, which may guide treatment.
Need‐supportive leadership behaviors and sickness absence among employees: The mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction
Authors: Stenling Andreas , Nielsen Karina , Olafsen Anja Hagen , Tafvelin Susanne 
Published: January 2024

AbstractResearch exploring relationships between leadership behaviors and sickness absence is scarce. Grounded in self‐determination theory (SDT), the present study examined: (i) the relationship between need‐supportive leadership and sickness absence; and (ii) whether satisfaction of the basic psychological needs mediates the relationship between need‐supportive leadership and sickness absence. Municipal employees (n = 347, 78% women, age span = 19–66 years) provided baseline data on perceived need‐supportive leadership and reported their need satisfaction at work 8 weeks later. Sickness absence data were obtained from municipality records. Two‐part regression models showed that need‐supportive leadership was negatively associated with sick days (b = −0.28, 95% CI [−0.45, −0.11]). Need‐supportive leadership had an indirect effect on the number of sick days through a composite score of need satisfaction (ab = −1.96, 95% CI [−5.11, −0.12]). Mediation models with each need separately indicated that autonomy (ab = −2.12, 95% CI [−5.33, −0.23]) and relatedness (ab = −1.33, 95% CI [−3.41, −0.11]) mediated the relationship between need‐supportive leadership and number of sick days. Need‐supportive leadership and need satisfaction at work may function as protective factors that provide followers with opportunities to deal with symptoms of ill health and reduce the risk of prolonged sickness absence.
Fennel seeds dietary inclusion as a sustainable approach to reduce methane production and improve nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation
Authors: Kholif Ahmed E. , Gouda Gouda A. , Fahmy Mahmoud , Morsy Tarek A. , Abdelsattar Mahmoud M. , Vargas‐Bello‐Pérez Einar 
Published: January 2024

AbstractRuminants are considered a major producer of methane (CH4). Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the ability of dry fennel seeds to affect in vitro gas production and fermentation. Fennel seeds were included at 0% (Control), 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% DM of a diet containing per kg DM: 500 g concentrate feed mixture, 400 g berseem hay, and 100 g of rice straw. The incubations lasted 48 h. Fennel seeds increased (P < 0.001) the asymptotic gas production and decreased its rate, while decreasing the production and proportion of CH4 (P < 0.05) and increased its rate. Moreover, fennel seed increased DM and neutral detergent fiber (P < 0.01) degradability, and increased total production of short‐chain fatty acids, acetate, and propionate (P < 0.05). Compared to the control, fennel seeds increased (P < 0.01) metabolizable energy, partitioning factor, and microbial crude protein production. Overall, fennel seeds can be included up to 2% DM in ruminant diets as an environmentally friendly product in animal farming due to its ability to improve feed utilization, ruminal fermentation and while reducing CH4 production.
The impact of a new approach to family safeguarding in social care: Initial findings from an analysis of routine data
Authors: Irving Dulcie , Buivydaite Ruta , Tsiachristas Apostolos , Thomas Steve , Farncombe Hannah , Perera‐Salazar Rafael , Vincent Charles 
Published: January 2024

AbstractChild safeguarding services intervene when a child is at risk of serious emotional or physical harm. Oxfordshire County Council is implementing a new approach to child safeguarding (Family Solutions Plus [FSP]) with a greater focus on whole family support and reducing the need for foster care. We sampled two cohorts of children closed within 1 year and examined the time spent in services. The sample included 474 children entering services before the new model's implementation and 561 children after. A greater proportion of children receiving FSP required a single care plan before their case was closed (85.9%; 69.4%, p < 0.001) and only experienced the lowest level plan (74.5%; 61.8%, p < 0.001). On average, this group spent less time in services for the period being observed (MD = 17.58, 95% confidence interval = 6.19, 28.96). At this early stage, no significant reduction in the number of children requiring foster care was seen (5.5%; 3.9%, p = 0.23). These initial findings suggest a potential association of FSP with a reduced number and level of care plans as well as length of time. Local authorities in England may investigate further whether FSP is a potentially useful model in improving safeguarding services.
Prusogliptin (DBPR108) monotherapy in treatment‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double‐blind, active and placebo‐controlled, phase 3 study
Authors: Wang Wei , Guo Xiaohui , Zhang Cheng , Ning Tao , Ma Guoqing , Huang Yanli , Jia Rui , Zhou Deai , Cao Mengya , Zhang Tianhao , Yao Lingli , Yuan Jing , Chen Ling ,   DBPR108 monotherapy phase 3 study collaborative group
Published: January 2024

AbstractAimThis study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of prusogliptin (DBPR108), a novel and highly selective dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor, in individuals with type 2 diabetes who had not been using glucose‐lowering agents regularly for the 8 weeks before the screening period.Materials and MethodsIn this multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, phase 3 study, adult patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive either DBPR108 100 mg, sitagliptin 100 mg, or placebo once daily during the initial 24‐week double‐blind treatment period, followed by a 28‐week open‐label extension period during which all patients received DBPR108 100 mg once daily. The primary endpoint was the mean change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels from baseline to week 24.ResultsIn total, 766 patients were enrolled and received DBPR108 100 mg (n = 462), sitagliptin 100 mg (n = 152), or placebo (n = 152). The mean age of all patients was 54.3 ± 10.5 years, with 58% being men. The median duration of type 2 diabetes was 0.38 (0.02, 2.65) years, and the mean HbA1c (SD) at baseline was 7.94% (0.62), 7.88% (0.61) and 7.83% (0.59) for DBPR108, sitagliptin and placebo groups, respectively. At week 24, the least square mean (SE) changes from baseline in HbA1c were −0.63% (0.04%) for DBPR108, −0.60% (0.07%) for sitagliptin and −0.02% (0.07%) for placebo. The mean treatment difference between DBPR108 and placebo was −0.61% (95% CI –0.77% to −0.44%), and between DBPR108 and sitagliptin was −0.03% (95% CI –0.19% to 0.13%). These results indicate that DBPR108 was superior to placebo and non‐inferior to sitagliptin. DBPR108 also significantly reduced fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels and had little effect on body weight. The mean (SD) changes in HbA1c from baseline to week 52 were −0.50% (0.97%) for the DBPR108 group, −0.46% (0.96%) for the sitagliptin group and −0.41% (0.95%) for the placebo group. The incidence of adverse events was comparable across all three groups.ConclusionsDBPR108 showed superiority to placebo and non‐inferiority to sitagliptin in terms of glycaemic control over the initial 24 weeks in treatment‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, its efficacy was sustained for up to 52 weeks.
An event‐related potential study of prepotent motor activity and response inhibition deficits in schizophrenia
Authors: Hong Xiangfei , Xu Lihua , Hu Yegang , Qian Zhenying , Wang Jijun , Li Chunbo , Sheng Jianhua 
Published: January 2024

AbstractResponse inhibition deficits in schizophrenia (SZ) are accompanied by reduced neural activities using event‐related potential (ERP) measurements. However, it remains unclear whether the reduction in inhibition‐related ERPs in SZ is contingent upon prepotent motor tendencies. This study aimed to examine the relationship between ERP markers of prepotent motor activity (lateralised readiness potential, LRP) and response inhibition (P3) by collecting behavioural and EEG data from healthy control (HC) subjects and SZ patients during a modified Go/No‐Go task. A trial‐averaged analysis revealed that SZ patients made more commission errors in No‐Go trials compared with HC subjects, although there was no significant difference in the inhibition‐related P3 effect (i.e. larger P3 amplitudes in No‐Go compared with Go trials) between the two groups. Subsequently, No‐Go trials were sorted and median‐split into bins of stronger and weaker motor tendencies. Both HC and SZ participants made more commission errors when faced with stronger motor tendencies. The LRP‐sorted P3 data indicated that HC subjects exhibited larger P3 effects in response to stronger motor tendencies, whereas this trial‐by‐trial association between P3 and motor tendencies was absent in SZ patients. Furthermore, SZ patients displayed diminished P3 effects in No‐Go trials with stronger motor tendencies but not in trials with weaker motor tendencies, relative to HC subjects. Taken together, these findings suggest that SZ patients are unable to dynamically adjust inhibition‐related neural activities in response to changing inhibitory control demands and emphasise the importance of considering prepotent motor activity when investigating the neural mechanisms underlying response inhibition deficits in SZ.
Single‐cell transcriptomics analysis of cellular heterogeneity and immune mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: He Ziping , Chen Qianqian , Wang Kaiyue , Lin Jiang , Peng Yilin , Zhang Jinlong , Yan Xisheng , Jie Yan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSingle‐cell transcriptomics analysis is an advanced technology that can describe the intracellular transcriptome in complex tissues. It profiles and analyses datasets by single‐cell RNA sequencing. Neurodegenerative diseases are identified by the abnormal apoptosis of neurons in the brain with few or no effective therapy strategies at present, which has been a growing healthcare concern and brought a great burden to society. The transcriptome of individual cells provides deep insights into previously unforeseen cellular heterogeneity and gene expression differences in neurodegenerative disorders. It detects multiple cell subsets and functional changes during pathological progression, which deepens the understanding of the molecular underpinnings and cellular basis of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis of immune cells shows the regulation of immune response. Different subtypes of immune cells and their interaction are found to contribute to disease progression. This finding enables the discovery of novel targets and biomarkers for early diagnosis. In this review, we emphasize the principles of the technology, and its recent progress in the study of cellular heterogeneity and immune mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases. The application of single‐cell transcriptomics analysis in neurodegenerative disorders would help explore the pathogenesis of these diseases and develop novel therapeutic methods.
Transcendental arguments and metaphysical neutrality: A Wittgensteinian proposal
Authors: Shahid Sidra 
Published: January 2024

AbstractDespite periods of resurgence over the last decades, it is safe to say that transcendental arguments no longer enjoy a prominent presence in the philosophical landscape. One reason for their declining prominence is the sustained suspicion that despite their self‐proclaimed metaphysical neutrality, transcendental arguments are, in fact, metaphysically committed. This paper aims to revive the discussion of transcendental considerations by offering a metaphysically neutral account of transcendental arguments. I argue that a metaphysically neutral conception of transcendental arguments requires a revision of two concepts constitutive of transcendental claims, namely, transcendental necessity and the a priori. I propose a transcendental reading of Wittgenstein's On Certainty, which, I maintain, provides us with an alternative, metaphysically neutral understanding of these concepts. Thus revised, transcendental claims are suitable for what Mark Sacks once described as the “post‐metaphysical” orientation of contemporary philosophy.
P–S–N curves fitting method of small samples obeying Weibull distribution
Authors: Song Jiaxin , Zhao Bingfeng , Xie Liyang , Yang Xiaoyu , Wu Ningxiang , Wang Lei 
Published: January 2024

AbstractA three‐parameter Weibull small sample aggregation method is proposed to address the problem of small sample fatigue data in practical engineering. First, based on the empirical assumption that the shape parameter is a constant and data equivalent conversion and aggregation, the small sample fatigue life data are converted into “equivalent large samples.” Second, through the linear relationship between logarithmic scale parameter and stress, an iterative procedure is established to estimate the scale parameters of small sample data. At the same time, the moment and rank estimation methods are used to solve the location parameters quickly. Finally, P–S–N curves with different survival rates are given, and a 7‐series aluminum alloy is selected to verify the correctness and reliability of the method proposed in this study. The results show that the predicted life obtained by the method still has high accuracy under a high survival rate, which can provide a theoretical basis for solving practical engineering problems.
Aerodynamic fatigue evaluation of the equipment cabin of high‐speed trains based on sub‐zone loading method
Authors: Xiao Heting , Liang Xi‐feng , Sun Bo , Zhou Wei , Zhang Qiang 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe equipment cabins of high‐speed trains encountered alternating pressure loads during operation. A fatigue evaluation methodology based on sub‐zone aerodynamic loading was proposed. Theoretical model was given between pressure load at each zone and the accompanying six structural stress components. Stress recovery matrix was formulated by finite element analysis (FEA) in sub‐zone loading cases to relate the stress to the measured pressure loads. Vehicle test gathered the pressure time‐history data of cabin sub‐zones at the head car in different ambient conditions, from which the two‐dimensional stress spectrum was derived by rain‐flow counting. The fatigue damage of welds was then assessed utilizing the Miner's and Corten Dolan's rules, yielding maximum equivalent damages of 0.72 and 0.23, respectively. The structural fatigue damage under high environmental wind conditions was 1–3 times greater than in calm weather. Nonetheless, the fatigue damage incurred by the metal matrix was significantly lower, demonstrating a substantial safety margin.