Safety and efficacy of low-power pure-cut hot snare polypectomy for small nonpedunculated colorectal polyps compared with conventional resection methods: A propensity score matching analysis.

Objectives: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is widely performed for small colorectal polyps. However, small colorectal polyps sometimes include high-grade adenomas or carcinomas that require endoscopic resection with electrocautery. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel resection technique, hot snare polypectomy with low-power pure-cut current (LPPC-HSP) for small colorectal polyps, compared with CSP and conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Methods: Records of patients who underwent CSP, EMR, or LPPC-HSP for nonpedunculated colorectal polyps less than 10 mm between April 2021 and March 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. We analyzed and compared the treatment outcomes of CSP and EMR with those of LPPC-HSP using propensity score matching. Results: After propensity score matching of 396 pairs, an analysis of CSP and LPPC-HSP indicated that LPPC-HSP had a significantly higher R0 resection rate (84% vs. 68%; p < 0.01). Delayed bleeding was observed in only two cases treated with CSP before matching. Perforation was not observed with either treatment. After propensity score matching of 176 pairs, an analysis of EMR and LPPC-HSP indicated that their en bloc and R0 resection rates were not significantly different (99.4% vs. 100%, p = 1.00; 79% vs. 81%, p = 0.79). Delayed bleeding and perforation were not observed with either treatment. Conclusions: The safety of LPPC-HSP was comparable to that of CSP. The treatment outcomes of LPPC-HSP were comparable to those of conventional EMR for small polyps. These results suggest that this technique is a safe and effective treatment for nonpedunculated polyps less than 10 mm.

Colorectal Post-polypectomy Bleeding in Outpatient versus Inpatient Treatment: Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Objectives: Delayed bleeding is the most frequent adverse event associated with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and hot snare polypectomy (HSP) of colorectal polyps. However, whether the incidence of delayed bleeding differs between outpatient and inpatient treatment is unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate delayed bleeding rates between outpatient and inpatient endoscopic treatments and clarify the safety of outpatient treatment. Methods: We enrolled 469 patients (1077 polyps) and 420 patients (1080 polyps) in the outpatient and inpatient groups, respectively, who underwent EMR or HSP for colorectal polyps at our institution between April 2020 and May 2023. Using propensity score matching, we evaluated the delayed bleeding rates between the two groups. Delayed bleeding was defined as a hemorrhage requiring endoscopic hemostasis occurring within 14 days of the procedure. Results: Propensity score matching created 376 (954 polyps) matched patient pairs. The median maximum diameter of polyps removed was 10 mm in both groups. Delayed bleeding rates per patients were 1.3% (5/376) in the outpatient group and 2.9% (11/376) in the inpatient group (P=0.21). In term of per polyp, early delayed bleeding (occurring within 24 hours) rates were higher in the inpatient group than outpatient group (0.2% [2/954] vs. 1.1% [10/954], respectively; P=0.04). No severe bleeding requiring a transfusion occurred in either group. Conclusions: Outpatient endoscopic treatment did not increase delayed bleeding compared with inpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment would be safe and common for the removal of colorectal polyps.

A Comprehensive Overview of the Stellate Ganglion Block Throughout the Past Three Decades: A Bibliometric Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 3 decades, clinicians and scholars have used and studied the stellate ganglion block (SGB) extensively, making this field a highly anticipated research hot spot. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no bibliometric analysis of the SGB until now. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to complete multiple tasks regarding SGB research: identify the collaboration and impact of countries, institutions, journals, and authors, evaluate the knowledge base, trace the trends in hot spots, and explore the emerging topics relevant to the field. STUDY DESIGN: A bibliometric analysis. METHODS: Publications that were associated with the SGB and published between the years of 1993 and 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on September 21st, 2023. CiteSpace 6.1.R6 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 were used to perform bibliometric and knowledge-map analyses. RESULTS: This study found a total of 837 publications originating from 51 countries and 1006 institutions. These articles were published in 393 journals. The United States was the country that produced the most articles focused on SGB, and the University of California, Los Angeles was the institution associated with the greatest number of publications. The anesthesiology and cardiology journals surveyed for this study published the most articles and received the most citations. Among the authors whose works were examined, Kitajima T had the greatest number of published articles, and Lipov E was the most frequently cited co-author. Five main domains of SGB research included electrical storm and refractory ventricular arrhythmia, breast cancer and climacteric medicine, post-traumatic stress disorder, pain management, and cerebrovascular diseases. The latest hot topics involving this field focused on SGB's anti-arrhythmic and anti-cerebral vasospasm effects and its treatment of long COVID syndrome. LIMITATIONS: Data were retrieved only from the WoSCC; therefore, publications in other databases might have been missed. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive bibliometric analysis conducted a complete overview of SGB research, which was helpful in furthering our understanding of research trends and locating research hot spots and gaps in this domain. This field is developing rapidly and will garner significant and continuous attention from future scholars.

A bibliometric analysis of follicular thyroid carcinoma: Current situation, hot spots, and global trends.

BACKGROUND: Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), the second most prevalent thyroid cancer after papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), tends to metastasize distantly, leading to poorer outcomes. Despite substantial research, a holistic bibliometric analysis of FTC literature is lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by employing bibliometric methods to track FTC research evolution. METHODS: English FTC publications were systematically gathered from the Web of Science. Bibliometric analysis, using R, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Excel, synthesized data and explored global research trends and topics. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2023, 9086 authors from 1953 institutions across 75 countries contributed to 1776 papers in 491 academic journals on FTC. The last two decades have witnessed a steady increase in publications related to FTC, with the United States leading in terms of publication volume. The United States dominated both in publications and citations, with the National Cancer Institute and Sheue-Yann Cheng as leading contributors. The journal 'Thyroid' featured the most publications, while the 'Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism' ranked highest in citation frequency. Research focused on gene expression analysis and preoperative diagnostics, with recent trends shifting toward prognosis management and machine learning due to advances in medical technology and increased health awareness. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive bibliometric analysis has mapped the landscape of FTC research, highlighting key contributors, institutions, and thematic trends. Current discourse predominantly revolves around genetic analysis, prognostic determinants, and preoperative diagnostics in FTC. This foundational work guides future FTC research, providing insights into its evolution.

Scope and Application of Hot Melt Extrusion in the Development of Controlled and Sustained Release Drug Delivery Systems.

Controlled-release drug delivery systems (CRDDS) are more beneficial than conventional immediate release (IRDDS) for reduced intake, prolonged duration of action, lesser adverse effects, higher bioavailability, etc. The preparation of CRDDS is more complex than IRDDS. The hot melt extrusion (HME) technique is used for developing amorphous solid dispersion of poorly water soluble drugs to improve their dissolution rate and oral bioavailability. HME can be employed to develop CRDDS. Sustained release delivery systems (SRDDS), usually given orally, can also be developed using HME. This technique has the advantages of using no organic solvent, converting crystalline drugs to amorphous, improving bioavailability, etc. However, the heat sensitivity of drugs, miscibility between drug-polymer, and the availability of a few polymers are some of the challenges HME faces in developing CRDDS and SRDDS. The selection of a suitable polymer and the optimization of the process with the help of the QbD principle are two important aspects of the successful application of HME. In this review, strategies to prepare SRDDS and CRDDS using HME are discussed with its applications in research.

Experimental selection of rolling contact length to the average thickness (L\have) ratio for producing fine-grain Incoloy 907 superalloy sheet by hot-rolling.

The current study investigates the effects of L\have values on the microstructure and tensile properties of the superalloy Incoloy 907. These effects are studied using hot-rolling at 84 % and 96 % thickness reductions. Microstructural examination of the received sample revealed a non-uniform coarse grain structure with precipitates of oxide phases rich in niobium and Laves. These precipitates are shredded and randomly distributed in the microstructure with elongated grains after hot-rolling under 84 % reduction. Following the solution-treatment, this sample's simultaneous static recrystallization and precipitation of secondary-phase particles has formed a banded structure of grain-size and secondary-phase particle bands. The particles of the secondary-phases are locally accumulated on the material's surface in the 96 % hot-rolled sample, creating a duplex grain and non-random microstructures with different cross-sectional conditions. The secondary-phase particle bands caused by the previous solution-treatment are retained in the pre-hot-rolled sample under 84 % reduction after aging. Furthermore, XRD analysis results show that the precipitation peak of γ'/γ phase was more visible and intense in this sample. Tensile tests conducted at room temperature and 649 °C indicate that the pre-hot-rolled sample with an 84 % reduction exhibited a 1 % improvement in cold ductility and an 8 % enhancement in hot ductility compared to the sample with a 96 % reduction.

Formulation Optimization and Characterization of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles of Apixaban.

BACKGROUND: Unpredictable situations such as clotting of blood, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism arise in the body, which is the leading cause of mortality. Such conditions generally arise after surgery as well as after treatment with oral anticoagulant agents. Apixaban is a novel oral anticoagulant widely recommended for the prevention and treatment of strokes and blood clots suffering from nonvalvular atrial fibrillation by suppressing factor Xa. Apixaban has a log P of 2.71 with poor solubility and reported maximum bioavailability of approximately 50%. OBJECTIVE: Hence, the current research mainly focused on the improvement of solubility, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy of Apixaban via solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). METHODS: The SLN was developed using the hot-homogenization method using a high-pressure homogenizer. The drug-lipid compatibility study was assessed by the FTIR, and the thermal analysis was performed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). During the scrutiny of lipids, the highest solubility of Apixaban was estimated in the glyceryl monostearate, hence selected for the formulation. Moreover, the colloidal solution was stabilized by the polyethylene glycol 200. The Design of Expert software (Version 13, Stat-Ease) was implemented for the optimization analysis by considering the 3-independent factors and 2-dependent parameters. The Patents on the SLN are Indian 202321053691, U.S. Patent, 10,973,798B2, U.S. Patent, U.S. Patent 2021/0069121A1, U.S. Patent 2022/0151945A1. RESULTS: Box-Behnken design was applied along with ANOVA, which showed a p-value less than 0.05 for the dependent parameters such as particle size and entrapment efficiency (p-value: 0.0476 and 0.0379). The optimized batch F10 showed a particle size of 167.1 nm, -19.5 mV zeta potential, and an entrapment efficiency of 87.32%. The optimized batch F10 was lyophilized and analyzed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed a particle size of 130 nm. The solid powder was filled into the capsule for oral delivery. CONCLUSION: The marked improvement in solubility and bioavailability was achieved with F10- loaded Apixaban via Solid lipid nanoparticles. Moreover, the sustained released profile also minimizes the unseen complications that occur due to the clotting of blood.

Intrinsic Superchirality in Planar Plasmonic Metasurfaces.

Plasmonic metasurfaces with spatial symmetry breaking are crucial materials with significant applications in fields such as polarization-controlled photonic devices and nanophotonic platforms for chiral sensing. In this paper, we introduce planar plasmonic metasurfaces, less than one-tenth of a wavelength thick, featuring nanocavities formed by three equilateral triangles. This configuration creates uniform, thin metasurfaces. Through a combination of experimental measurements and numerical modeling, we demonstrate the inherent superchirality of these plasmonic metasurfaces. We address the challenge of achieving a strong enhancement of optical chirality in the visible spectrum, reaching levels comparable to those of 3D chiral metasurfaces.

Intrapulpal anesthesia in endodontics: an updated literature review.

Effective pain management is crucial for the successful performance of various endodontic procedures. Painless treatments are made possible by anesthetizing the tooth to be treated using various nerve-block techniques. However, certain circumstances necessitate supplemental anesthetic techniques to achieve profound anesthesia, especially in situations involving a "hot tooth" in which intrapulpal anesthesia (IPA) is employed. IPA is a technique that involves the injection of an anesthetic solution directly into the pulp tissue and is often utilized as the last resort when all other anesthetic techniques have been unsuccessful in achieving complete pulpal anesthesia. This review focuses on the IPA procedure and the factors that influence its success. Additionally, the advantages, limitations, disadvantages, and future directions of IPA are discussed.

Regulating the Scaling Relations in Ammonia Synthesis through a Light-driven Bendable Seesaw Effect on Tailored Iron Catalyst.

Advancing the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process faces significant challenges due to the intrinsic constraints of scaling relations in heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, we reported an approach of bending the "seesaw effect" to regulate the scaling relations over a tailored α-Fe metallic material (α-Fe-110s), realizing highly efficient light-driven thermal catalytic ammonia synthesis rate of 1260 µmol gcatalyst-1 h-1 without additional heating. Specifically, the thermal catalytic activity of α-Fe-110s was significantly enhanced by the novel stepped {110} surface, exhibiting a 3.8-fold increase compared to the commercial fused-iron catalyst with promoters at 350 °C. The photo-induced hot electron transfer further accelerates the dinitrogen dissociation and hydrogenation simultaneously, effectively overcoming the limitation of scaling relation over identical sites. Consequently, the ammonia production rate of α-Fe-110s was further enhanced by 30 times at the same temperature with irradiation. This work designs an efficient and sustainable system for ammonia synthesis and provides a novel approach for regulating the scaling relations in heterogeneous catalysis.

Development of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) based implants using hot melt extrusion (HME) for sustained release of drugs: The impacts of PLGA's material characteristics.

Hot melt extrusion (HME) processed Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) implant is one of the commercialized drug delivery products, which has solid, well-designed shape and rigid structures that afford efficient locoregional drug delivery on the spot of interest for months. In general, there are a variety of material, processing, and physiological factors that impact the degradation rates of PLGA-based implants and concurrent drug release kinetics. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of PLGA's material characteristics on PLGA degradation and subsequent drug release behavior from the implants. Three model drugs (Dexamethasone, Carbamazepine, and Metformin hydrochloride) with different water solubility and property were formulated with different grades of PLGAs possessing distinct co-polymer ratios, molecular weights, end groups, and levels of residual monomer (high/ViatelTM and low/ ViatelTM Ultrapure). Physicochemical characterizations revealed that the plasticity of PLGA was inversely proportional to its molecular weight; moreover, the residual monomer could impose a plasticizing effect on PLGA, which increased its thermal plasticity and enhanced its thermal processability. Although the morphology and microstructure of the implants were affected by many factors, such as processing parameters, polymer and drug particle size and distribution, polymer properties and polymer-drug interactions, implants prepared with ViatelTM PLGA showed a smoother surface and a stronger PLGA-drug intimacy than the implants with ViatelTM Ultrapure PLGA, due to the higher plasticity of the ViatelTM PLGA. Subsequently, the implants with ViatelTM PLGA exhibited less burst release than implants with ViatelTM Ultrapure PLGA, however, their onset and progress of the lag and substantial release phases were shorter and faster than the ViatelTM Ultrapure PLGA-based implants, owing to the residual monomer accelerated the water diffusion and autocatalyzed PLGA hydrolysis. Even though the drug release profiles were also influenced by other factors, such as composition, drug properties and polymer-drug interaction, all three cases revealed that the residual monomer accelerated the swelling and degradation of PLGA and impaired the implant's integrity, which could negatively affect the subsequent drug release behavior and performance of the implants. These results provided insights to formulators on rational PLGA implant design and polymer selection.

Cold-hot Janus electrochemical aptamer-based sensor for calibration-free determination of biomolecules.

Real-time, high-frequency measurements of pharmaceuticals, metabolites, exogenous antigens, and other biomolecules in biological samples can provide critical information for health management and clinical diagnosis. Electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensor is a promising analytical technique capable of achieving these goals. However, the issues of insufficient sensitivity, frequent calibration and lack of adapted portable electrochemical device limit its practical application in immediate detection. In response we have fabricated an on-chip-integrated, cold-hot Janus EAB (J-EAB) sensor based on the thermoelectric coolers (TECs). Attributed to the Peltier effect, the enhanced/suppressed current response can be generated simultaneously on cold/hot sides of the J-EAB sensor. The ratio of the current responses on the cold and hot sides was used as the detection signal, enabling rapid on-site, calibration-free determination of small molecules (procaine) as well as macromolecules (SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) in single step, with detection limits of 1 µM and 10 nM, respectively. We have further demonstrated that the J-EAB sensor is effective in improving the ease and usability of the actual detection process, and is expected to provide a universal, low-cost, fast and easy potential analytical tool for other clinically important biomarkers, drugs or pharmaceutical small molecules.

The Hot Quadrate Sign on a Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) Scan.

The hot quadrate sign is defined as an intense arterial enhancement in the hepatic quadrate lobe, most frequently encountered on CT angiograms in patients with central venous occlusion. It has also been described as focal uptake on technetium-99m (Tc99m) sulfur colloid scans. We present an unusual case of focal uptake in the hepatic quadrate lobe on a ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan, corresponding to the hot quadrate sign in a 42-year-old patient with chronic kidney disease and central venous occlusion.

Bibliometric and visualized analysis of ultrasound combined with microbubble therapy technology from 2009 to 2023.

Background: In recent years, with the rapid advancement of fundamental ultrasonography research, the application of ultrasound in disease treatment has progressively increased. An increasing body of research indicates that microbubbles serve not only as contrast agents but also in conjunction with ultrasound, enhancing cavitation effects and facilitating targeted drug delivery, thereby augmenting therapeutic efficacy. The objective of this study is to explore the current status and prevailing research trends in this field from 2009 to 2023 through bibliometric analysis and to forecast future developmental trajectories. Methods: We selected the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded) from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) as our primary data source. On 19 January 2024, we conducted a comprehensive search encompassing all articles and reviews published between 2009 and 2023 and utilized the bibliometric online analysis platform, CiteSpace and VOSviewer software to analyze countries/regions, institutions, authors, keywords, and references, used Microsoft Excel 2021 to visualize the trends of the number of articles published by year. Results: Between 1 January 2009, and 31 December 2023, 3,326 publications on ultrasound combined with microbubble therapy technology were included. There were a total of 2,846 articles (85.6%) and 480 reviews (14.4%) from 13,062 scholars in 68 countries/regions published in 782 journals. China and the United States emerged as the primary contributors in this domain. In terms of publication output and global institutional collaboration, the University of Toronto in Canada has made the most significant contribution to this field. Professor Kullervo Hynynen has achieved remarkable accomplishments in this area. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology is at the core of the publishing of research on ultrasound combined with microbubble therapy technology. Keywords such as "sonodynamic therapy," "oxygen," "loaded microbubbles" and "Alzheimer's disease" indicate emerging trends in the field and hold the potential to evolve into significant areas of future investigation. Conclusion: This study provides a summary of the key contributions of ultrasound combined with microbubble therapy to the field's development over the past 15 years and delves into the historical underpinnings and contemporary trends of ultrasound combined with microbubble therapy technology, providing valuable guidance for researchers.

A deep learning model for anti-inflammatory peptides identification based on deep variational autoencoder and contrastive learning.

As a class of biologically active molecules with significant immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, anti-inflammatory peptides have important application value in the medical and biotechnology fields due to their unique biological functions. Research on the identification of anti-inflammatory peptides provides important theoretical foundations and practical value for a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms of inflammation and immune regulation, as well as for the development of new drugs and biotechnological applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more advanced computational models for identifying anti-inflammatory peptides. In this study, we propose a deep learning model named DAC-AIPs based on variational autoencoder and contrastive learning for accurate identification of anti-inflammatory peptides. In the sequence encoding part, the incorporation of multi-hot encoding helps capture richer sequence information. The autoencoder, composed of convolutional layers and linear layers, can learn latent features and reconstruct features, with variational inference enhancing the representation capability of latent features. Additionally, the introduction of contrastive learning aims to improve the model's classification ability. Through cross-validation and independent dataset testing experiments, DAC-AIPs achieves superior performance compared to existing state-of-the-art models. In cross-validation, the classification accuracy of DAC-AIPs reached around 88%, which is 7% higher than previous models. Furthermore, various ablation experiments and interpretability experiments validate the effectiveness of DAC-AIPs. Finally, a user-friendly online predictor is designed to enhance the practicality of the model, and the server is freely accessible at http://dac-aips.online .

Papillary Thyroid Cancer in a Patient With Graves' Disease and Hyperfunctioning (Hot) Thyroid Nodules: An Unexpected Presentation.

Hyperfunctioning (hot) nodules are considered benign while cold nodules are associated with a higher risk of thyroid cancer. In this case report, we present a patient diagnosed with Graves' disease and later found to have papillary thyroid carcinoma (Bethesda VI), confirmed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, with regional metastasis to the neck and possible metastasis to the lungs. This paper demonstrates that hot nodules are not always benign, and could be associated with malignancy.

Monitoring Multi-Drug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Kitagata Hot Spring, Southwestern Uganda: A Public Health Implication.

Background: The concerning frequency of K. pneumoniae in various recreational settings, is noteworthy, especially regarding multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains. This superbug is linked to the rapid spread of plasmids carrying these resistance genes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatiotemporal prevalence of MDR-K. pneumoniae in the Kitagata hot spring, Southwestern Uganda. Methods: A laboratory-based descriptive longitudinal study was conducted between May and July 2023. During rainy and dry seasons, we collected eighty water samples in the morning and evening from the hot spring. The temperature at each point was measured prior to sample collection, and two samples were obtained at varying depths. 5 mL of each homogenized sample were pre-enriched in brain heart infusion broth, and subsequently in both blood and violet red bile agar. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was performed, followed by the detection of carbapenemase (CR) and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) production. Polymerase chain reaction showed resistance genes viz. bla TEM, bla CTX-M and bla KPC. Data were analyzed using SPSS-20 to obtain chi-square tests and regression analysis. Results: K. pneumoniae accounted for 30.0% of isolates obtained from Kitagata hot springs, with all isolates classified as multi-drug resistant. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin, rifampicin, ceftazidime, and azithromycin (79.2%). Additionally, 95.8% of isolates harbored bla TEM gene alone and both bla TEM and bla CTX genes, followed by bla KPC alone (33.3%), with 25% harboring all three resistance genes. During the dry season, K. pneumoniae had a higher prevalence (35.0%) compared to the wet season (25.0%). The prevalence of MDR-K. pneumoniae significantly increased over the course of the study. The presence of the three studied resistance genes in the isolates showed a positive correlation with the second phase of sample collection and the dry season but exhibited a negative correlation with temperature, except for isolates harboring either bla TEM alone or bla TEM+KPC+CTX genes. Conclusion: Kitagata hot spring serves as a hotspot for continuous dissemination and acquisition of MDR-K. pneumoniae harboring resistance genes that encode for ESBL and CR production. The healthcare sector ought to implement an ongoing monitoring and surveillance system as well as robust antimicrobial resistance stewardship programs aimed at delivering health education to the community.

Cold snare polypectomy: A closer look at the efficacy and limitations for polyps 10-20 mm in size.

Current guidelines recommend cold snare polypectomy for polyps less than 10 mm in size. Conversely, endoscopic mucosal resection is still the preferred technique for larger polyps. Concerns regarding cold snare polypectomy for larger polyps revolve around the difficulty in conducting en-bloc resection (resulting in piecemeal removal), and the potential for local residual polyp tissue and a high rate of recurrence. On the other hand, cold snare technique has the advantages of shortening procedure time, reducing delayed bleeding risks and lowering cost of treatment. Numerous ongoing and recent studies are focused on evaluating the risks and benefits of this technique for polyps larger than 10 mm, with the goal of providing clear guidelines in the near future. The aim of this editorial is to provide our readers with an overview regarding this subject and the latest developments surrounding it.

Improvement of Antioxidant Activity and Sensory Properties of Functional Cookies by Fortification with Ultrasound-Assisted Hot-Air-Drying Blackberry Powders.

In response to the global challenge of food wastage and high perishability of blackberries, this study evaluated the use of ultrasound-assisted hot air drying (US-HAD) to convert downgraded blackberries into powders, comparing it with traditional hot air drying (HAD). US-HAD reduced the drying time and achieved a final moisture content of 12%. Physicochemical analyses (colourimetry, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and total phenolic content) were conducted on fresh fruit, powders, and fortified cookies. US-HAD cookies exhibited promising antioxidant activity, with ABTS values ranging from 8.049 to 8.536 mmol TEAC/100 g and DPPH values from 8.792 to 9.232 mmol TEAC/100 g, significantly higher than control cookies. The TPC was 13.033 mgGAE/g in HAD cookies and 13.882 mgGAE/g in US-HAD cookies. UHPLC-ESI-MS analysis showed an increase in phenolic compounds content in fortified cookies compared to the control. Sensory analysis highlighted a superior blackberry flavour and overall acceptability in US-HAD cookies, with statistical analysis confirming their superior nutritional and sensory qualities. Integrating US-HAD blackberry powder into cookies helps reduce food waste and enhances the nutritional profiles of baked goods, offering functional foods with health benefits. This work provides a scientific basis for developing enriched functional cookies, offering a healthy and sustainable alternative for utilising damaged fruits.

Study on Optimization Method for InSAR Baseline Considering Changes in Vegetation Coverage.

Time-series Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology, renowned for its high-precision, wide coverage, and all-weather capabilities, has become an essential tool for Earth observation. However, the quality of the interferometric baseline network significantly influences the monitoring accuracy of InSAR technology. Therefore, optimizing the interferometric baseline is crucial for enhancing InSAR's monitoring accuracy. Surface vegetation changes can disrupt the coherence between SAR images, introducing incoherent noise into interferograms and reducing InSAR's monitoring accuracy. To address this issue, we propose and validate an optimization method for the InSAR baseline that considers changes in vegetation coverage (OM-InSAR-BCCVC) in the Yuanmou dry-hot valley. Initially, based on the imaging times of SAR image pairs, we categorize all interferometric image pairs into those captured during months of high vegetation coverage and those from months of low vegetation coverage. We then remove the image pairs with coherence coefficients below the category average. Using the Small Baseline Subset InSAR (SBAS-InSAR) technique, we retrieve surface deformation information in the Yuanmou dry-hot valley. Landslide identification is subsequently verified using optical remote sensing images. The results show that significant seasonal changes in vegetation coverage in the Yuanmou dry-hot valley lead to noticeable seasonal variations in InSAR coherence, with the lowest coherence in July, August, and September, and the highest in January, February, and December. The average coherence threshold method is limited in this context, resulting in discontinuities in the interferometric baseline network. Compared with methods without baseline optimization, the interferometric map ratio improved by 17.5% overall after applying the OM-InSAR-BCCVC method, and the overall inversion error RMSE decreased by 0.5 rad. From January 2021 to May 2023, the radar line of sight (LOS) surface deformation rate in the Yuanmou dry-hot valley, obtained after atmospheric correction by GACOS, baseline optimization, and geometric distortion region masking, ranged from -73.87 mm/year to 127.35 mm/year. We identified fifteen landslides and potential landslide sites, primarily located in the northern part of the Yuanmou dry-hot valley, with maximum subsidence exceeding 100 mm at two notable points. The OM-InSAR-BCCVC method effectively reduces incoherent noise caused by vegetation coverage changes, thereby improving the monitoring accuracy of InSAR.