bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of physical field‐assisted freezing and thawing to mitigate damage to frozen food
Authors: Jiang Qiyong , Zhang Min , Mujumdar Arun S. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractFreezing is an effective technique to prolong the storage life of food. However, the freeze‐thaw process also brings challenges to the quality of food, such as mechanical damage and freeze cracks. Increasingly, physical fields have been preferred as a means of assisting the freezing and thawing (F/T) processes to improve the quality of frozen food because of their high efficiency and simplicity of application. This article systematically reviews the application of high‐efficiency physical field techniques in the F/T of food. These include ultrasound, microwave, radio frequency, electric fields, magnetic fields, and high pressure. The mechanisms, application effects, advantages and disadvantages of these physical fields are discussed. To better understand the role of various physical fields, the damage to food caused by the F/T process and traditional freezing is discussed. The evidence shows that the physical fields of ultrasound, electric field and high pressure have positive effects on the F/T of food. Proper application can control the size and distribution of ice crystals effectively, shorten the freezing time, and maintain the quality of food. Microwave and radio frequency exhibit positive effects on the thawing of food. Dipole rotation and ion oscillation caused by electromagnetic waves can generate heat inside the product and accelerate thawing. The effects of magnetic field on F/T are controversial. Although some physical field techniques are effective in assisting F/T of food, negative phenomena such as uneven temperature distribution and local overheating often occur at the same time. The generation of hotspots during thawing can damage the product and limit application of these techniques in industry. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Vegetation regeneration on natural terrain landslides in Hong Kong: Direct seeding of native species as a restoration tool
Authors: Law Ying Ki , Lee Calvin K. F. , Pang Chun Chiu , Hau Billy Chi Hang , Wu Jin 
Published: October 2022

AbstractLandslides are common in tropical and subtropical regions with hilly terrains and heavy rainstorms, and can cause significant economic, ecological, and social impacts. Natural forest succession is usually slow on landslides due to poor soil structure and lack of woody plant seeds, and often comes with a higher risk of repeated landslides. Active forest restoration has been increasingly suggested as an effective alternative to restore exposed landslide scars. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of using different seed coatings and surface soil treatments on seed germination and seedling establishment of pioneer and late‐successional tree species on landslide scars in Hong Kong. Our results show that biochar‐dominant seed coating boosted seed germination rate by an additional 9.33% (Standard error = 0.04), while clay‐dominant seed coating did not show significant effects. The effects on seedling survival were not significant in both seed coating and surface soil treatments. Our results also show that large seed and later successional species have significantly higher germination rates than pioneer species and are able to successfully establish on landslide sites. These results suggest that direct seeding using a biochar seed coat with large seeds or late‐successional species is a useful method to enhance tree seed germination—an essential first step to restore the forests after landslide disturbances, with potential to be extended to other humid tropical and subtropical forests.
Effects of artificial restoration on vertical distribution of soil carbon storage following revegetation in a semiarid grassland of North China
Authors: Chen Lingling , Sun Jiahui , Baoyin Taogetao 
Published: October 2022

AbstractArtificial restoration is an important strategy to restore plant communities and soil nutrients in degraded grassland ecosystems. Despite that research has been extensive on the impacts of vegetation restoration on soil carbon storage, little work has been tried to examine the impacts of artificial restoration on the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) storage following revegetation in grassland ecosystems. In this paper, the responses of plant species diversity, litter biomass (LB), aboveground biomass (AGB), the relative biomass of three dominant plant species, and the belowground biomass (BGB) were quantified under five different restoration regimes (natural recovery, harrowing, harrowing plus fertilization, harrowing plus irrigation, harrowing plus fertilization and irrigation), to explore the direct and indirect effects of artificial restoration, mediated by changes in the plant properties following revegetation, on SOC storage in Leymus chinensis steppe, North China. We found that artificial restoration greatly facilitated the recovery of Leymus chinensis but lowered the plant diversity. Irrigation treatment, particularly harrowing plus irrigation, was associated with both higher BGB and LB, which had positive effects on SOC storage at the 30–60 cm soil layer when compared with natural restoration. In addition, artificial restoration had positive but not significant effects on SOC storage in the surface soil layer (0–10 cm) mediated directly by changes in BGB, while it exerted negative indirect effects on SOC storage at the 10–30 cm soil layer through low level of plant species diversity. The loss of two dominant species (Stipa krylovii and Cleistogenes squarrosa) could greatly impact SOC storage not only due to lowered species diversity but also the reduced quality of litter input into soil. It is therefore proposed that maintaining high levels of plant species diversity could help sustain higher soil carbon storage through producing high‐quality root and litter. Our findings from the 9‐year restoration experiment suggested that natural restoration is a sustainable grassland restoration regime to conserve both plant diversity and soil nutrients over short timescales in semi‐arid grasslands in North China. In the long term, SOC storage can be substantially enhanced by artificial restoration, especially under treatments that include irrigation.
Long‐term outcomes of early stage oral tongue cancer: Main cause of treatment failure and second primary malignancy
Authors: Park Young M. , Lim Jae‐Yol , Koh Yoon W. , Kim Se‐Heon , Choi Eun C. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractObjectiveWe attempted to investigate the long‐term outcomes, prognostic factors, treatment failures, second primary malignancies, and salvage therapies in early (pT1‐2N0) oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 295 early stage OTSCC patients.ResultsTwo hundred ninety‐five patients were enrolled. The average follow‐up period was 64.5 months (range, 1–190 months). Five‐year recurrence‐free survival rate was 84.8% and disease‐specific survival rate was 91.2%. On multivariate analysis, only the depth of invasion (DOI) exhibited significant correlations with the disease recurrence. Patient's age and DOI demonstrated a significant association with survival. A total of 53 recurrence and 35 death events occurred, with the main cause of treatment failure being regional or local recurrence. In recurrent cases, the success rate of salvage treatment was 42% at 5 years. During the follow‐up period, second primary malignancy occurred in 13 patients, and 8 (61.5%) of those patients were successfully treated.ConclusionsIn pT1‐2N0 OTSCC, regional or local recurrence is the main recurrence pattern, whereas age and DOI >5 mm are significant prognostic factors related to recurrence and survival. Since several patients experienced second primary malignancies in the head and neck, careful and thorough surveillance may be required to detect second primary lesions.Level of Evidence4.
Diverse impacts of day and night temperature on spring phenology in freshwater marshes of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Shen Xiangjin , Jiang Ming , Lu Xianguo 
Published: October 2022

AbstractUnderstanding the spatiotemporal variation in vegetation phenology of freshwater marshes and its response to climate change is significant to evaluate the global carbon cycling. Based on the climate and satellite‐derived vegetation index data, this work investigated the temporal and spatial variation of spring phenology and its response to climatic change in freshwater marshes of the Tibetan Plateau. We found that the start date of vegetation growing season (SOS) showed a significant advancing trend of 3.4 d decade−1 from 2001 to 2019 in freshwater marshes of the Tibetan Plateau. The increase of spring daytime and nighttime temperatures could advance the vegetation SOS over the marshes of the Tibetan Plateau. However, the effects of day maximum and night minimum temperature on freshwater marsh SOS were divergent at different altitudes: the advancing effect of warming night‐time and daytime temperature on the SOS was more significant in the regions below and above 4000 m, respectively.
Feasibility of photoacoustic‐guided ultrasound treatment for port wine stains
Authors: Chua Chloe J. , Pandey Prabodh K. , Kelly Kristen M. , Xiang Liangzhong 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesPort wine birthmark, also known as port wine stain (PWS) is a skin discoloration characterized by red/purple patches caused by vascular malformation. PWS is typically treated by using lasers to destroy abnormal blood vessels. The laser heating facilitates selective photothermolysis of the vessels and attenuates quickly in the tissue due to high optical scattering. Therefore, residual abnormal capillaries deep in the tissue survive and often lead to the resurgence of PWS. Ultrasound (US) has also been proposed to treat PWS, however, it is nonselective with respect to the vasculature but penetrates deeper into the tissue. We aim to study the feasibility of a hybrid PWS treatment modality combining the advantages of both modalities.Materials and MethodsIn this manuscript, we propose a photoacoustic (PA) guided US focusing methodology for PWS treatment which combines the optical contrast‐based selectivity with US penetration to focus the US energy onto the vasculature. The PA signals collected by the transducers, when time‐reversed, amplified, and transmitted, converge onto the PWS, thus minimally affecting the neighboring tissue. We performed two‐ and three‐dimensional simulations that mimic realistic transducers and medium properties in this proof of concept study.ResultsThe time‐reversed PA signals when transmitted from the transducers converged onto the vasculature, as expected, thus reducing the heating of the neighboring tissue. We observed that while the US focus is indeed affected due to experimental factors such as limited‐view, large detector separation and finite detection bandwidth, and so forth, the US did focus completely or partially onto the vasculature demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed methodology.ConclusionThe results demonstrate the potential of the proposed methodology for PWS treatment. This treatment method can destroy the deeper capillaries while minimally heating the neighboring tissue, thus reducing the chances of the resurgence of PWS and as well as cosmetic scarring.
Supramolecular Coassembled Peptide Hydrogels for Efficient Anticancer Therapy by RNS‐Based PDT and Immune Microenvironment Regulation
Authors: Wang Dan , Li Hui , Wang Dianyu , Hao Yusen , Gui Han , Liu Jianfeng , Zhang Yumin , Liu Jinjian , Yang Cuihong 
Published: October 2022

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted much attention in cancer treatment due to its tumor selectivity and noninvasive nature. Recent studies have demonstrated that PDT mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in tumor microenvironment (TME) synergistically improves the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. However, the instability and short half‐life of the ROS generated by PDT limit its clinical applications. Herein, a coassembled peptide hydrogel comprising two short peptides that contained the same assembly unit, Ce6‐KKFKFEFEF (KEF‐Ce6) and RRRRRRRR‐KFKFEFEF (KEF‐R8) is developed. When exposed to 635 nm laser irradiation, KEF‐Ce6 released ROS, while KEF‐R8 plays as nitric oxide (NO) donor. Subsequently, ROS reacts with NO to produce reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments prove that converting ROS into more cytotoxic RNS caused intense cell death. Importantly, it is observed that tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) are polarized to proinflammatory types (M1‐type) by the RNS‐based PDT. The increase of M1 macrophages relieves the immunosuppressive situation in TME. Thus, when combined with αPD‐L1 treatment, the survival time of tumor‐bearing mice is prolonged. Overall, a simple yet efficient coassembled hydrogel that can cascade release ROS/NO/RNS and strengthen antitumor T cell responses to boost cancer immunotherapy by reprogramming TAMs is provided.
Soybean Oil Based Allyl Acrylates and Methacrylates: Synthesis, Characterization, and Polymerization
Authors: Çayli Gökhan , Hatir Pınar Çakir 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIn this study, a simple synthesis method for the allylic acrylates and methacrylates of soybean oil is evaluated. As a model compound, allylic acrylation and methacrylation of methyl oleate is also studied. IR and 1H NMR techniques are used in order to characterize all the allylic esters. Although homopolymerization of allylic esters is unsuccessful, copolymers of the allylic esters with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, n butyl acrylate, and styrene are obtained as low load bearing solids. Copolymerization products of acrylated soybean oil (ACSO) and methacrylted soybean oil (METACSO with styrene show rubbery properties. METACSO‐Styrene and ACSO‐styrene copolymers exhibit 35.3 and 24.9 kPa tensile strengths with more than 200% of elongation. Thermal stabilities of the synthesized polymers are measured by TGA technique. The copolymers of methyl oleate‐based allyl acrylates and methacrylates exhibit higher 5% weight loss temperature than the copolymers of allylic acrylate and methacrylate of soybean oil.
Photoswitchable and Solvent‐Controlled Directional Actuators: Supramolecular Assembly and Crosslinked Polymers
Authors: Chen Yi‐Fan , Hsieh Chia‐Ling , Lee Lin‐Ruei , Liu Yu‐Chun , Lee Min‐Jie , Chen Jiun‐Tai 
Published: October 2022

AbstractUntethered small actuators have drawn tremendous interest owing to their reversibility, flexibility, and widespread applications in various fields. For polymer actuators, however, it is still challenging to achieve programmable structural changes under different stimuli caused by the intractability and single‐stimulus responses of most polymer materials. Herein, multi‐stimuli‐responsive polymer actuators that can respond to light and solvent via structural changes are developed. The actuators are based on bilayer films of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and azobenzene chromophore (AAZO)‐crosslinked poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC). Upon UV light irradiation, the AAZO undergoes trans‐cis‐trans photoisomerization, causing the bending of the bilayer films. When the UV light is off, a shape recovery toward an opposite direction occurs spontaneously. The reversible deformation can be repeated at least 20 cycles. Upon solvent vapor annealing, one of the bilayer films can be selectively swollen, causing the bending of the bilayer films with the directions controlled by the solvent vapors. The effects of different parameters, such as the weight ratios of AAZO and film thicknesses, on the bending angles and curvatures of the polymer films are also analyzed. The results demonstrate that multi‐stimuli‐responsive actuators with fast responses and high reproducibility can be fulfilled.
Mitochondrial quality control proteases and their modulation for cancer therapy
Authors: Zhang Jiangnan , Qiao Wenliang , Luo Youfu 
Published: October 2022

AbstractMitochondria, the main provider of energy in eukaryotic cells, contains more than 1000 different proteins and is closely related to the development of cells. However, damaged proteins impair mitochondrial function, further contributing to several human diseases. Evidence shows mitochondrial proteases are critically important for protein maintenance. Most importantly, quality control enzymes exert a crucial role in the modulation of mitochondrial functions by degrading misfolded, aged, or superfluous proteins. Interestingly, cancer cells thrive under stress conditions that damage proteins, so targeting mitochondrial quality control proteases serves as a novel regulator for cancer cells. Not only that, mitochondrial quality control proteases have been shown to affect mitochondrial dynamics by regulating the morphology of optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), which is closely related to the occurrence and progression of cancer. In this review, we introduce mitochondrial quality control proteases as promising targets and related modulators in cancer therapy with a focus on caseinolytic protease P (ClpP), Lon protease (LonP1), high‐temperature requirement protein A2 (HrtA2), and OMA‐1. Further, we summarize our current knowledge of the advances in clinical trials for modulators of mitochondrial quality control proteases. Overall, the content proposed above serves to suggest directions for the development of novel antitumor drugs.
GPR109a Regulates Phenotypic and Functional Alterations in Macrophages and the Progression of Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Zhang Zhaodi , Li Jiahong , Zhang Ming , Li Binbin , Pan XiaoHua , Dong Xiaoliang , Pan Li‐Long , Sun Jia 
Published: October 2022

ScopeDietary fibers can alter gut microbiota and microbial metabolite profiles. SCFAs are produced by bacterial fermentation of fiber, mediating immune homeostasis through G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPR109a, a receptor for niacin and butyrate, expressed by immune cells and non‐immune cells, is a key factor regulating immune responses. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of GPR109a in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remain unclear.Methods and resultsExperimental T1D was induced by streptozotocin in GPR109a‐deficient (Gpr109a−/−) and wild type mice. The study found that Gpr109a−/− mice were more susceptible to T1D with dysregulated immune responses, along with increased M1 macrophage polarization (from 10.55% to 21.48%). Further, an adoptive transfer experiment demonstrated that GPR109a‐deficient macrophages promoted the homing of intestine‐derived type 1 cytotoxic T cells to pancreas (from 18.91% to 24.24%), thus disturbing the pancreatic immune homeostasis in non‐obese diabetic mice. Mechanistically, GPR109a deficiency promoted M1 macrophage polarization associated with the activation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3‐signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 signaling pathway.ConclusionThe findings reveal that macrophage GPR109a deficiency accelerates the development of T1D. Activation of GPR109a on macrophage by dietary components may provide a new strategy for preventing or treating T1D.
Design of microstrip Yagi‐Uda antenna array for 4.5 GHz band fixed wireless access in 5G
Authors: Roy Jibendu S. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractFixed wireless is a part of wireless local area network (WLAN) infrastructure which connects two fixed locations, like, tower to building or building to building by radio link or by other wireless link. In fifth generation (5G) for fixed wireless access (FWA) one of the attractive bands is 4.5 GHz band. The designs of a microstrip Yagi‐Uda antenna and a 4‐element Yagi‐Uda array for the application to 5G FWA at 4.5 GHz band are reported here. The experimentally investigated impedance and radiation properties of Yagi‐Uda antenna and a 4‐element array of it are reported. The antenna has 10 dB return loss bandwidth of 580 MHz which is 12.8% of the centre frequency and the array has bandwidth of 520 MHz which is 11.7% at the centre frequency. The Yagi‐Uda antenna array beam is tilted by 46° from the broadside direction. The measured maximum gains of the Yagi‐Uda antenna and the 4‐element array are 7.2 and 16.5 dBi, respectively. The cross‐polarization levels lower by about 20 dB than the main lobes are observed. The Yagi‐Uda array has high front‐to‐back ratio of better than 25 dB. The measured results are compared with the simulated results.
Silver sulfide as Q‐switcher and mode‐locker in Erbium‐doped fiber laser cavity
Authors: Ahmed Norizan , Omar Suziana , Jusoh Zulzilawati , Rahman Husna A. , Dimyati Kaharudin , Apsari Retna , Harun Sulaiman W. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractA silver sulfide saturable absorber (SA) was successfully employed in an Erbium‐doped fiber laser (EDFL) cavity for short and ultrashort pulse generations. The Q‐switched laser was obtained with an operation wavelength of 1566 nm, pulse rate of 93.81 kHz, and pulse duration of 1.68 μs at a 187.04 mW pump. As the EDFL cavity was optimized for mode‐locking operation by adding 100 m long single mode fiber, a stable soliton pulse train operating at 1564 nm was realized with a constant repetition rate of 1.88 MHz and pulse duration of 3.01 ps. The good nonlinear characteristics of the SA make synergetic contributions to the generation of high‐performance Q‐switched and mode‐locked lasers.
Technical note: Investigation of dose and LETd effect to rectum and bladder by using non‐straight laterals in prostate cancer receiving proton therapy
Authors: Yang Yunze , Rwigema Jean‐Claude M. , Vargas Carlos , Yu Nathan Y. , Keole Sameer R. , Wong William W. , Schild Steven E. , Bues Martin , Liu Wei , Shen Jiajian 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundParallel‐opposed lateral beams are the conventional beam arrangements in proton therapy for prostate cancer. However, when considering linear energy transfer (LET) and RBE effects, alternative beam arrangements should be investigated.PurposeTo investigate the dose and dose averaged LET (LETd) impact of using new beam arrangements rotating beams 5°–15° posteriorly to the laterals in prostate cancer treated with pencil‐beam‐scanning (PBS) proton therapy.MethodsTwenty patients with localized prostate cancer were included in this study. Four proton treatment plans for each patient were generated utilizing 0°, 5°, 10°, and 15° posterior oblique beam pairs relative to parallel‐opposed lateral beams. Dose‐volume histograms (DVHs) from posterior oblique beams were analyzed. Dose‐LETd‐volume histogram (DLVH) was employed to study the difference in dose and LETd with each beam arrangement. DLVH indices, , defined as the cumulative absolute volume that has a dose of at least d (Gy[RBE]) and a LETd of at least l (keV/µm), were calculated for both the rectum and bladder to the whole group of patients and two‐sub groups with and without hydrogel spacer. These metrics were tested using Wilcoxon signed‐rank test.ResultsRotating beam angles from laterals to slightly posterior by 5°–15° reduced high LETd volumes while it increased the dose volume in the rectum and increased LETd in bladders. Beam angles rotated five degrees posteriorly from laterals (i.e., gantry in 95° and 265°) are proposed since they achieved the optimal balance of better LETd sparing and minimal dose increase in the rectum. A reduction of V(50 Gy[RBE], 2.6 keV/µm) from 7.41 to 3.96 cc (p < 0.01), and a slight increase of V(50 Gy[RBE], 0 keV/µm) from 20.1 to 21.6 cc (p < 0.01) were observed for the group without hydrogel spacer. The LETd sparing was less effective for the group with hydrogel spacer, which achieved the reduction of V(50 Gy[RBE], 2.6 keV/µm) from 4.28 to 2.10 cc (p < 0.01).ConclusionsPosterior oblique angle plans improved LETd sparing of the rectum while sacrificing LETd sparing in the bladder in the treatment of prostate cancer with PBS. Beam angle modification from laterals to slightly posterior may be a strategy to redistribute LETd and perhaps reduce rectal toxicity risks in prostate cancer patients treated with PBS. However, the effect is reduced for patients with hydrogel spacer.