Search Results (1,318,157)

Postbiotics are gaining increasing interest among the scientific community as well as at the level of food processing enterprises. The aim of this preliminary study was to characterise the metabolic diversity of a novel Bifidobacterium longum strain, BIOCC 1719, of human origin. The change after 24 h cultivation in three media was assessed using a metabolomic approach. Milk-based substrates favoured the activity of the strain, promoting the production of B vitamins, essential amino acids, bile acids, and fatty acids. Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B7, and B12 (with an average increase of 20–30%) were produced in both whole milk and whey; the increased production in the latter was as high as 100% for B7 and 744% for B12. The essential amino acids methionine and threonine were produced (>38%) in both milk and whey, and there was an increased production of leucine (>50%) in milk and lysine (126%) in whey. Increases in the content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by 20%, deoxycholic acid in milk and whey (141% and 122%, respectively), and cholic acid (52%) in milk were recorded. During the preliminary characterisation of the metabolic diversity of the novel B. longum strain, BIOCC 1719, we identified the bioactive compounds produced by the strain during fermentation. This suggests its potential use as a postbiotic ingredient to enrich the human diet. Full article

In this study, the researchers explored novel relationships between the self-related processes of self-talk, inner speech, self-concept clarity, mindfulness, mind wandering, and self-regulation. Using self-report questionnaires (n = 227), we found a small positive association between inner speech use and mind wandering, as well as a medium positive association of mindfulness with self-regulation, in accordance with claims made in the literature. We found a medium positive relationship between mindfulness awareness and inner speech responses, potentially because mindfulness awareness represents an active state of self-focus, requiring verbal self-directed probes. Conversely, the correlations between reports of inner speech use and mindfulness acceptance were medium and negatively associated, perhaps because self-acceptance is a less active process that does not require as much self-directed speech as acquiring self-awareness, or perhaps self-acceptance consists of silencing the mind. Furthermore, the mindfulness-acceptance responses were negatively associated with mind wandering but positively correlated with self-concept clarity and self-regulation (all significant and of medium strength). Another noteworthy result was that mind wandering was negatively correlated with self-concept clarity and self-regulation, in accordance with the view that mind wandering represents a self-escape mechanism and thus impedes the transparency of one’s self-view and efforts at controlling oneself. This study pieces together what has been presented in the literature, examining variables that are typically studied in isolation. Further, these results have implications for the future study of self-regulation in that self-focused attention, self-acceptance, and self-concept clarity may be mediators on the paths between self-talk or inner speech use and self-regulation. Full article

In this study, using the Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) approach, the structure-activity relationship of 33 small quinoline-based compounds with biological anti-gastric cancer activity in vitro was analyzed in 3D space. Once the 3D geometric and energy structure of the target chemical library has been optimized and their steric and electrostatic molecular field descriptions computed, the ideal 3D-QSAR model is generated and matched using the Partial Least Squares regression (PLS) algorithm. The accuracy, statistical precision, and predictive power of the developed 3D-QSAR model were confirmed by a range of internal and external validations, which were interpreted by robust correlation coefficients (; ; ). After carefully analyzing the contour maps produced by the trained 3D-QSAR model, it was discovered that certain structural characteristics are beneficial for enhancing the anti-gastric cancer properties of Quinoline derivatives. Based on this information, a total of five new quinoline compounds were developed, with their biological activity improved and their drug-like bioavailability measured using POM calculations. To further explore the potential of these compounds, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed in an aqueous environment for 100 nanoseconds, specifically targeting serine/threonine protein kinase. Overall, the new findings of this study can serve as a starting point for further experiments with a view to the identification and design of a potential next-generation drug for target therapy against cancer. Full article

The pathogenic mycoplasmas are among the bacteria causing significant losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) are economically important pathogens causing chronic respiratory disease, decreased growth, egg production and hatchability rates, and significant downgrading of carcasses. Effective diagnosis of infection with these species in poultry is highly requisite considering their two routes of spreading—horizontal and vertical. Their prevalence and molecular epidemiology were investigated in 184 turkey flocks in Poland. Tracheal samples were selected from 144 broiler flocks and 40 turkey breeder flocks collected in 2015–2023. The prevalence of MG was determined by real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene and PCR targeting the mgc2 gene, and MS was determined by a 16–23S rRNA real-time PCR and a vlhA gene PCR. Further identification and molecular characterization were carried out using PCR and sequencing. M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae were found in 8.33% and 9.72% of turkey broiler flocks respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of MG isolates in most cases showed high similarity to the ts-11-like strains. MS isolates showed high similarity to strains isolated from flocks of laying hens causing EAA. Additional tests detected Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale, Gallibacterium anatis, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus and Riemerella anatipestifer. These secondary pathogens could have significantly heightened the pathogenicity of the mycoplasma infections studied. Full article

Background: Physical activity (PA) and functional fitness (FF) are crucial for promoting independent living and healthy aging in older adults. However, there is a lack of normative values for the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) among older adults (aged 55–90) living in southern rural Taiwan, particularly in the Chiayi region, which has been relatively underserved in terms of health-related resources compared to northern Taiwan. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the age- and gender-specific normative fitness scores for a large representative population of community-dwelling older adults in southern rural Taiwan. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to obtain normative FF scores for 3332 community-dwelling elderly people (1057 men and 2275 women) in Chiayi, through the implementation of functional fitness tests across 72 Chiayi communities. The developed normative data served as a reference for exercise prescription for the elderly in southern Taiwan. Results: The study showed that the average normative values of all functional fitness tests declined significantly with increasing age (p < 0.05). Sex differences were also found in all measures of FF tests, with elderly women scoring significantly better than men on flexibility (scratch back: −1.34 ± 9.03 vs. −6.54 ± 11.07; chair sit and reach: 6.56 ± 9.44 vs. 0.56 ± 10.40) (p < 0.05), while men scored significantly higher than women on strength (grip strength: 30.83 ± 8.06 vs. 21.82 ± 5.32; bicep curl: 19.25 ± 5.44 vs. 17.64 ± 4.98) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, four FF normative scores in southern rural Taiwan were found to be significantly higher than their counterparts living in northern Taiwan. Conclusion: These findings contribute positively to the evaluation of fitness levels among older adults in southern rural Taiwan and provide a concrete reference for developing sound PA programs for this population. The results suggest that strategies aimed at promoting increased participation in PA among older adults need to consider age-, sex-, and region-specific factors. Full article

This paper presents an approach to enhancing the clarity and intelligibility of speech in digital communications compromised by various background noises. Utilizing deep learning techniques, specifically a Variational Autoencoder (VAE) with 2D convolutional filters, we aim to suppress background noise in audio signals. Our method focuses on four simulated environmental noise scenarios: storms, wind, traffic, and aircraft. The training dataset has been obtained from public sources (TED-LIUM 3 dataset, which includes audio recordings from the popular TED-TALK series) combined with these background noises. The audio signals were transformed into 2D power spectrograms, upon which our VAE model was trained to filter out the noise and reconstruct clean audio. Our results demonstrate that the model outperforms existing state-of-the-art solutions in noise suppression. Although differences in noise types were observed, it was challenging to definitively conclude which background noise most adversely affects speech quality. The results have been assessed with objective (mathematical metrics) and subjective (listening to a set of audios by humans) methods. Notably, wind noise showed the smallest deviation between the noisy and cleaned audio, perceived subjectively as the most improved scenario. Future work should involve refining the phase calculation of the cleaned audio and creating a more balanced dataset to minimize differences in audio quality across scenarios. Additionally, practical applications of the model in real-time streaming audio are envisaged. This research contributes significantly to the field of audio signal processing by offering a deep learning solution tailored to various noise conditions, enhancing digital communication quality. Full article

When replanting an asparagus field, the roots of the previous crop are crushed and incorporated into the soil, creating problems of autotoxicity and fungal infections. Asparagus roots can be considered as a valuable byproduct, since they are very rich in saponins (3–6%), compounds currently considered as bio-emulsifiers. The objective is to evaluate the emulsifying and foaming capacity of a saponin extract from asparagus roots (ARS) and compare it with other commercial extracts. ARS was obtained using a process patented by our research group. The results have shown that ARS has activity similar to Quillaja extract. Its critical micellar concentration falls between that of Quillaja and Tribulus extracts (0.064, 0.043, and 0.094 g/100 mL, respectively). Both emulsifying and foaming activities are affected by pH, salt, and sucrose to a similar extent as the other extracts. Additionally, it has demonstrated an inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase, which is even better than the other two studied extracts, as indicated by its IC₅₀ value (0.7887, 1.6366, and 2.0107 mg/mL for asparagus, Quillaja, and Tribulus, respectively). These results suggest that ARS could serve as a natural emulsifying/foaming agent for healthier and safer food products and as a potential aid in treatments for obesity and hyperlipidemia. Full article

The accidental spillage of flammable liquids on in-service ships and offshore installations may lead to pool fires, which are likely to spread over a particularly large area in large compartments under ship motion, resulting in extensive damage. However, the effect of the spreading extent of liquid fuel due to inclined ship motion on pool fire consequences has not been considered in the existing literature. Thus, in this study, fuel discharge experiments were conducted to investigate the spreading behaviour under different substrate inclination angles and discharge rates. The experimental results were analysed to derive closed-form expressions to predict the spreading extent of liquid fuel in large compartments. Additionally, the effects of surface inclination on fire consequences were investigated using the Fire Dynamics Simulator in terms of the heat release rate. The findings can provide guidance for effective fire safety design and establishing a realistic fire modelling methodology for ships and offshore installations. Full article

The identity-based encryption with equality test (IBEET) has become a hot research topic in cloud computing as it provides an equality test for ciphertexts generated under different identities while preserving the confidentiality. Subsequently, for the sake of the confidentiality and authenticity of the data, the identity-based signcryption with equality test (IBSC-ET) has been put forward. Nevertheless, the existing schemes do not consider the anonymity of the sender and the receiver, which leads to the potential leakage of sensitive personal information. How to ensure confidentiality, authenticity, and anonymity in the IBEET setting remains a significant challenge. In this paper, we put forward the concept of the identity-based matchmaking encryption with equality test (IBME-ET) to address this issue. We formalized the system model, the definition, and the security models of the IBME-ET and, then, put forward a concrete scheme. Furthermore, our scheme was confirmed to be secure and practical by proving its security and evaluating its performance. Full article

This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness and the outcomes of the association between different types of biofeedback techniques and therapeutic exercises in the conservative treatment of patellar femoral pain (PFP). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines have been used and followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Between April and June 2023, the following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, ScienceDirect, BIOMED Central, Cochrane Library, and PEDro. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected. Following the search, 414 records were found, and after using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 RCTs were retrieved to include in this systematic review, assessing 513 patients. The association between biofeedback and therapeutic exercise may be beneficial for pain, function (AKPS), extensor muscle strength, reduction of the dynamic knee valgus and vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) (EMG) optimization. All these results were valued in the short term. Regarding the intervention type, it was possible to correlate the EMG biofeedback with the benefits of the knee extensor strength and the EMG activity of VM and VL. Conversely, using mirror, verbal, and somesthetic (hands and band) feedback seems to be linked to the reduction of the knee dynamic valgus. Full article

Cytochrome P450s (CYP450s) are a versatile superfamily of enzymes known to undergo rapid evolution. They have important roles across growth and development pathways in crustaceans, although it is difficult to characterise orthologs between species due to their sequence diversity. Conserved CYP450s enzymes in crustaceans are those associated with ecdysteroidogenesis: synthesising and breaking down the active moult hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone. The complex life cycle of the ornate spiny lobster, Panulirus ornatus, relies on moulting in order to grow and develop. Many of these diverse life stages have been analysed to establish a comprehensive transcriptomic database for this species. The transcripts putatively encoding for CYP450s were mapped using transcriptomic analysis and identified across growth and development stages. With the aid of phylogeny, 28 transcripts of 42 putative P. ornatus CYP450s were annotated, including the well conserved Halloween genes, which are involved in ecdysteroidogenesis. Expression patterns across the life stages determined that only a subset of the CYP450s can be detected in each life stage or tissue. Four Shed transcripts show overlapping expression between metamorphosis and adult tissues, suggesting pleotropic functions of the multiple Shed orthologs within P. ornatus. Full article

The morphological responses of two mesotidal beaches located in different coastal settings (embayed and open sandy beaches) on the northwestern Iberian coast were monitored during the winter of 2018/19. The offshore wave time series analysis is related to high-resolution topo-bathymetric measurements to explore spatial-temporal morphological variability at monthly to seasonal scales. Both locations are subjected to the North Atlantic wave climate which exhibits a pronounced seasonality. Throughout the last decade (2010–2020), significant wave heights reached values of up to H_s~9 m during winters and up to H_s~6 m during summers. On average, approximately 12 storms occurred annually in this region. The results clearly reveal divergent morphological responses and sediment transport behaviors at the upper beach and the intertidal zone during the winter for each location. In the embayed beach (Patos), sediment transport in the nearshore is governed by cross-shore processes between the beach berm and a submerged sandbar. In contrast, the open beach (Mira) showed dynamic sediment exchanges and three-dimensional morphologies alternating between accumulation and erosion zones. Overall, both beaches exhibited an erosional trend after the winter, particularly concerning berm erosion and the subaerial beach volume/shoreline retreat. This study highlights the contrasting morphodynamic response on open and embayed beaches to winter conditions, integrating both the subaerial and submerged zones. Local geological and environmental factors, as well as the coastal management strategies applied, will influence how the beach responds to winter wave events. Monitoring and understanding these responses are essential for effective coastal management and adaptation to changing climate. Full article

Accurate delineation of individual agricultural plots, the foundational units for agriculture-based activities, is crucial for effective government oversight of agricultural productivity and land utilization. To improve the accuracy of plot segmentation in high-resolution remote sensing images, the paper collects GF-2 satellite remote sensing images, uses ArcGIS10.3.1 software to establish datasets, and builds UNet, SegNet, DeeplabV3+, and TransUNet neural network frameworks, respectively, for experimental analysis. Then, the TransUNet network with the best segmentation effects is optimized in both the residual module and the skip connection to further improve its performance for plot segmentation in high-resolution remote sensing images. This article introduces Deformable ConvNets in the residual module to improve the original ResNet50 feature extraction network and combines the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) at the skip connection to calculate and improve the skip connection steps. Experimental results indicate that the optimized remote sensing plot segmentation algorithm based on the TransUNet network achieves an Accuracy of 86.02%, a Recall of 83.32%, an F1-score of 84.67%, and an Intersection over Union (IOU) of 86.90%. Compared to the original TransUNet network for remote sensing land parcel segmentation, whose F1-S is 81.94% and whose IoU is 69.41%, the optimized TransUNet network has significantly improved the performance of remote sensing land parcel segmentation, which verifies the effectiveness and reliability of the plot segmentation algorithm. Full article

In this work, the interaction of an additively produced Ti-₄Al-₃V titanium alloy with a nickel superalloy tool and the features of the stir zone formation during friction stir processing have been studied. The stop-action technique was used to produce the samples to be studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy methods, as well as microhardness measurements. As a result, it was revealed that the tool, when moving, forms a pre-deformed area in front of it, which is characterized by a fine-grained structure. The presence of an interface layer between the workpiece material and primary fragmentation by the tool was revealed. It was demonstrated that the transfer of titanium alloy material occurs periodically following the ratio of feeding speed to tool rotation rate. Metal flow around the tool can occur in both laminar and vortex modes, as indicated by the tool material stirred into the transfer layer and used as a marker. Full article

This study on total suspended matter (TSM) in the Pearl River Estuary established a regression analysis model using Landsat 8 reflectance and measured TSM data, crucial for environmental management and engineering projects. High coefficients of determination (>0.6) were reported for the selected models. TSM concentration was notably high in 2013, peaking at 180 mg/L during the flood season and 80 mg/L in the dry season. In contrast, 2020 saw lower concentrations. Similar spatial distribution patterns were observed during dry and flood seasons, with high nearshore and low offshore TSM concentrations. Statistical analyses revealed natural factors (precipitation and runoff) as major influencers of the TSM distribution, with human activities presenting localized, limited impacts, except under long-term and large-scale conditions. Over time, the influence of large-scale water-based construction, such as the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, on TSM distribution became significant. Full article