Extending the Lifetime of Frying Oil through Optimization of Fryer Cleaning.

With increases in consumer demand for fried foods in Japan over the last several decades, the consumption of frying oil has also steadily increased. Fryers used in restaurants to cook large quantities of food are typically cleaned using neutral kitchen detergents at the end of the day after removing the oil from the tank. However, significant amounts of debris can remain in the fryer after cleaning, possibly accelerating oil deterioration and thus reducing the quality of the fried foods. In this study, debris obtained from fryer tanks used in actual restaurants was assessed using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy together with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and were determined to comprise polymerized oil and carbonized organic matter. Experiments using artificially prepared debris confirmed that these materials increased the acid value (AV) of frying oil. Trials in two restaurants serving similar amounts of fried chicken, French fries and doughnuts examined the effects of cleaning the fryer with either an alkaline detergent or a neutral kitchen detergent on debris removal and oil life. The alkaline detergent was found to completely remove debris while the neutral detergent left significant amounts of debris. After cleaning, the fryers were operated with new oil as usual and the deterioration of this oil was monitored by assessing the color difference, AV, carbonyl value and peroxide value. These indices increased 1.3 to 2.0 times faster in the case that the neutral kitchen detergent was used, suggesting that cleaning fryer tanks with an alkaline detergent could contribute to extending the lifetime of frying oil, reducing food losses and thus achieving sustainable development goals.

Current definitions of hemodynamic structural valve deterioration after bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement lack consistency.

Objective: New echocardiographic definitions have been proposed for hemodynamic structural valve deterioration. We aimed to study their consistency in classifying structural valve deterioration after surgical aortic valve replacement. Methods: Data were used of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement in a multicenter, prospective cohort study with a 5-year follow-up. All patients received the same stented bioprosthesis. Echocardiographic parameters were assessed by an independent core laboratory. Moderate or greater stenotic hemodynamic structural valve deterioration was defined according to Capodanno and colleagues, Dvir and colleagues, and the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3; regurgitation data were not considered in this analysis. Consistency was quantified on the basis of structural valve deterioration classification at subsequent time points. Results: A total of 1118 patients received implants. Patients' mean age was 70 years, and 75% were male. Hemodynamic structural valve deterioration at any visit was present in 51 patients (4.6%), 32 patients (2.9%), and 34 patients (3.0%) according to Capodanno, Dvir, and Valve Academic Research Consortium 3. A total of 1064 patients (95%) were never labeled with structural valve deterioration by any definition. After the first classification with structural valve deterioration, 59%, 59%, and 65% had no subsequent structural valve deterioration classification according to Capodanno, Dvir, and Valve Academic Research Consortium 3, respectively. Conclusions: The current definitions of hemodynamic structural valve deterioration are strong negative predictors but inconsistent positive discriminators for the detection of stenotic hemodynamic structural valve deterioration. Although the diagnosis of structural valve deterioration may be categorical, echocardiographic indices lack this degree of precision in the first 5 years after surgical aortic valve replacement. The inconsistency of current structural valve deterioration definitions impedes the detection of true valve degeneration, which challenges the clinical usefulness of these definitions.

Kinetics and mechanisms of thermal deterioration in silver carp (Hypophthalmichtys molitrix) surimi gel quality under high-temperature sterilization.

BACKGROUND: The gelation properties of surimi gel under various high temperatures (115, 118, and 121 °C) and sterilization intensities (F0 values of 3-7 min) were systematically investigated. A kinetic model detailed quality changes during heat treatment through mathematical analysis, elucidating mechanisms for gel quality degradation. RESULTS: Increased sterilization intensity significantly reduced the quality characteristics of surimi gel. Compared to the gel without sterilization treatment, when the sterilization intensity was increased to 7 min, the gel strength of the groups treated at 115 °C, 118 °C, and 121 °C decreased by 68.35%, 51.4%, and 51.71%, respectively, and the water-holding capacity decreased by 24.87%, 16.85%, and 22.5%, respectively. The hardness, chewiness, and whiteness of the gel also significantly decreased, and the changes in these indicators all conformed to a first-order kinetic model. Activation energy of 291.52 kJ mol-1 highlighted gel strength as the least heat-resistant. At equivalent sterilization intensities, 115 °C exhibited the poorest gel quality, followed by 121 °C, with 118 °C showing relatively better gel quality. Increased T22 and decreased PT22 suggested heightened water mobility and transition of immobilized water within the gel into free water. Protein degradation, weakened disulfide bonds and hydrophobic interaction, and protein conformation changes collectively led to a rough and incoherent gel network structure with large fissures, as verified by the results of scanning electron microscopy. Correlation analysis indicated potential for precise control over surimi gel quality by modulating physicochemical attributes. CONCLUSION: The outcomes may be beneficial to improve the production and quality control of ready-to-eat surimi-based products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

A High Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio on Admission is Associated with Early Neurological Deterioration Following Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Purpose: The fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) is a novel inflammation marker associated with various diseases. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between FAR and early neurological deterioration (END) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Patients and Methods: From September 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023, continuously recruited AIS patients who received IVT within 4.5 hours were included in the study. Blood samples were collected in the emergency room before IVT. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was assessed upon admission and after thrombolysis within the first 24 hours. END was defined as an increase in the NIHSS score by ≥ 4 points within 24 hours after thrombolysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between FAR and END, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive ability of FAR for END. Results: 343 participants were recruited, and 59 (17.2%) experienced END. Patients with END had higher FAR levels than those without END (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FAR was independently associated with END, both as a continuous variable and as a tertile variable (P<0.005). After excluding patients with hemorrhagic transformation (HT), FAR remained independently associated with END (P<0.005). The area under the curve (AUC) of FAR for predicting END was 0.650 (95% CI=0.571-0.729, P<0.001), with an optimal cutoff of 72.367 mg/g, a sensitivity of 61.6%, and a specificity of 62.6%. Conclusion: FAR upon admission was independently associated with END after IVT and can be an effective predictor.

Metabolomics analysis of physicochemical properties associated with quality deterioration in insect-infested hawthorn berries.

The sliced and dried hawthorn berries are easily infested by insects during storage. This study aimed to determine the effect of insect infestation on the quality of hawthorn berries and assess the change at metabolite level by analyzing physicochemical property and metabolomics profiling. A total of 184 shared differential metabolites were obtained, mainly including flavonoids, fatty acids, carboxylic acids and derivatives, and nitrogenous compounds. Through receiver operating characteristic curve assessment, 9 significant differential markers were screened out to distinguish insect infestation of hawthorn berries. Correlation analysis showed that the color, total organic acids, total phenolics, and total flavonoids were effective indicators for quality evaluation of insect infestation, and uric acid and hippuric acid can serve as biomarkers for the quality deterioration of hawthorn berries during storage. This study demonstrated that insect infestation could decrease the quality of hawthorn berries from macro and micro perspectives.

Tunneling nanotubes mediate KRas transport: Inducing tumor heterogeneity and altering cellular membrane mechanical properties.

Mutation in oncogene KRas plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of numerous malignant tumors. Malignancy involves changes in cell mechanics for extensive cellular deformation during metastatic dissemination. We hypothesize that oncogene KRas mutations are intrinsic to alterations in cellular mechanics that promote malignant tumor generation and progression. Here, we demonstrate the use of optical tweezers coupled with a confocal fluorescence imaging system and gene interference technique to reveal that the mutant KRas protein can be transported between homogeneous and heterogeneous tumor cells by tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), resulting in a significant reduction of membrane tension and acceleration of membrane phospholipid flow in the recipient cells. Simultaneously, the changes in membrane mechanical properties of the tumor cells also enhance the metastatic and invasive ability of the tumors, which further contribute to the deterioration of the tumors. This finding helps to clarify the association between oncogene mutations and changes in the mechanical properties of tumor cells, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of cancer treatment strategies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Here, we present a laser confocal fluorescence system integrated with optical tweezers to observe the transfer of mutant KRasG12D protein from mutant cells to wild-type cells through TNTs. Malignancy involves changes in cell mechanics for extensive cellular deformation during metastatic dissemination. Our results demonstrate a significant decrease in membrane tension and an increase in membrane phospholipid flow in recipient cells. These alterations in mechanical properties augment the migration and invasive capabilities of tumor cells, contributing to tumor malignancy. Our findings propose that cellular mechanical properties could serve as new markers for tumor development, and targeting membrane tension may hold potential as a therapeutic strategy.

Effects of PCSK9 Inhibitors on Early Neurologic Deterioration in Patients with Acute Non-Cardioembolism without Hemorrhagic Transformation After Intravenous Thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND: END (Early Neurologic Deterioration) significantly elevates the risk of morbidity and mortality. While numerous studies have investigated END following hemorrhagic transformation post-thrombolysis in acute cerebral infarction research on END without hemorrhagic transformations in patients with acute cerebral infarction due to non-cardiogenic embolism remains scarce. AIM: This study aimed to elucidate the impact of PCSK9 inhibitors on early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with acute non-cardioembolism cerebral infarction without hemorrhagic transformation post-intravenous thrombolysis. Additionally it aimed to identify risk factors associated with END in patients suffering from this type of stroke. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of PCSK9 inhibitors on early neurologic deterioration (END) in patients with acute non-cardiogenic cerebral infarction without hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis and identify associated risk factors for END in this patient population. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study the data of consecutive patients who underwent intravenous thrombolysis after AIS (acute ischemic stroke) without hemorrhagic transformation during hospitalization at the Stroke Center of The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2018 to February 2023 were retrieved and assessed. An increase of >2 in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within 7 days after admission was defined as END. RESULTS: This study included 250 patients (56 males 22.4%) they were 63.34±12.901 years old. There were 41 patients in the END group and 209 in the non-END group. The usage rate of PCSK9 inhibitors was significantly different between the END group and non-END group (29.268% vs 58.852% P<0.001). The White blood cell count (WBC) and homocysteine levels showed a significant difference between the two groups (all P<0.05). Patients not using PCSK9 inhibitors (OR=0.282 95%CI: 0.127-0.593) and white blood cell count (OR=1.197, 95%CI: 1.085-1.325) were independently associated with END. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that the sensitivity specificity and area under the curve for PCSK9 inhibitors used for END were 88.9%, 80.7% and 0.648 respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of PCSK9 inhibitors can reduce the incidence of early neurological deterioration in patients with acute non-cardioembolism and non-hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis.

The accuracy of predicting hospital admission by emergency medical service and emergency department personnel compared to the prehospital MEWS: a prospective multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Overcrowding in the emergency department (ED) is a global problem. Early and accurate recognition of a patient's disposition could limit time spend at the ED and thus improve throughput and quality of care provided. This study aims to compare the accuracy among healthcare providers and the prehospital Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) in predicting the requirement for hospital admission. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multi-centre study was performed including adult patients brought to the ED by ambulance. Involved Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel, ED nurses and physicians were asked to predict the need for hospital admission using a structured questionnaire. Primary endpoint was the comparison between the accuracy of healthcare providers and prehospital MEWS in predicting patients' need for hospital admission. RESULTS: In total 798 patients were included of whom 393 (49.2%) were admitted to the hospital. Sensitivity of predicting hospital admission varied from 80.0 to 91.9%, with physicians predicting hospital admission significantly more accurately than EMS and ED nurses (p < 0.001). Specificity ranged from 56.4 to 67.0%. All healthcare providers outperformed MEWS ≥ 3 score on predicting hospital admission (sensitivity 80.0-91.9% versus 44.0%; all p < 0.001). Predictions for ward admissions specifically were significantly more accurate than MEWS (specificity 94.7-95.9% versus 60.6%, all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers can accurately predict the need for hospital admission, and all providers outperformed the MEWS score.

Assessment of the quality of interdisciplinary communication (CritCom): evaluation and refinement of a center summary report.

Communication failures among clinicians in the ICU (intensive care unit) often lead to worse patient outcomes. CritCom is a bilingual (English and Spanish) tool to evaluate the quality of interdisciplinary communication around patient deterioration for pediatric oncology patients. The use of reports, such as the CritCom report, as dissemination methods lead to quicker knowledge translation and implementation of research findings into policy. Nurses and physicians at participating centers who care for patients at risk of deterioration completed the CritCom survey and center-specific reports were generated to communicate CritCom results. Focus groups were conducted with clinicians receiving CritCom reports in both English and Spanish to evaluate report clarity and usability. Participants found the reports to be useful and described the writing and design as clear and specific. Participants provided feedback to improve report design and requested actionable steps to improve communication at their center. Feedback illustrated that the report was easy to interpret and a useful way to disseminate information. Participants noted the utility of the report, illustrating that the use of reports can be a useful method to disseminate research findings back to participants in a way that is applicable to the local context. Communicating research findings through reports can minimize the significant time lag in knowledge translation and provide participants with actionable steps to implement in their setting.

Cross-cultural adaptation of National Early Warning Score 2 to Angolan Portuguese.

Objective: To make a cross-cultural adaptation of the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS 2) from English to Angolan Portuguese. Methods: A methodological research of cross-cultural adaptation was conducted, involving sequential stages of forward translation, translation synthesis, back-translation, and the application of the Delphi Panel methodology for analyzing semantic, idiomatic, experiential, and conceptual equivalence between the translated and the original versions. This process culminated in the development of a pre-final version, which subsequently underwent testing in a cohort of nurses (n = 37). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was calculated to assess inter-rater reliability of ratings. Cronbach's alpha was used for evaluating the internal consistency and reliability within the items of the NEWS 2 score. Results: The cross-cultural adaptation process allowed us to prepare the final version of this tool. The data collected during the testing phase facilitated the examination of inter-rater reliability of ratings and the internal consistency and reliability within the items of the NEWS2 score. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient observed at this step was 0.992. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.993. Conclusion: The cross-cultural adaptation of the NEWS 2 scoring system to Angolan Portuguese was successful, providing healthcare professionals in Angola with the means to effectively use the tool.

Based on proteomics probing into the deterioration mechanism of pork batter gel caused by different cooking temperatures.

The purpose of this experiment was to explore the influence of different cooking temperatures on the deterioration characteristics of pork batter gel by using proteomics, gel electrophoresis, size and chemical bond of aggregates. The results showed that the protein molecules of the pork batter gel was degraded during heating cooking and the protein aggregates were composed of many degraded protein fragments; compared with the control group 75 °C (0 min), the significant degradation of cytoskeleton showed at 110 °C (30 min) and 121 °C (30 min) and the significant degradation of myosin complexonly appeared at 121 °C (30 min). As the heating temperature points increased, compared with the control group 75 °C (0 min), the different temperatures could promote the separation of metal ions with proteins especially at 110 °C (30 min) and 121 °C (30 min), which could ultimately influence quality of pork batter gel by the size of particle. As the increase of heating temperature points, the recombination of aggregates composed of different proteins was not conducive to the retention of capillary water, which reduced the texture of pork batter gel. This research provided theoretical support for improving the process property of the meat products.

The Use of Imaging to Quantify the Impact of Seed Aging on Lettuce Seed Germination and Seedling Vigor.

The decline in seed quality over time due to natural aging or mishandling requires assessing seed vigor for resilience in adverse conditions. Accelerated aging (AA) methods simulate seed deterioration by subjecting seeds to high temperatures and humidity. Saturated salt accelerated aging (SSAA) is an AA method adopted for small seeds like lettuce (Lactuca sativa). In this study, we subjected seeds of two lettuce cultivars ('Muir' and 'Bauer') to SSAA by sealing them in a box containing 40 g/100 mL of a sodium chloride (NaCl) solution in a dark growth chamber at 41 °C for 24, 48, and 72 h with a control. We monitored their vigor using embedded computer cameras, tracking the projected canopy size (PCS) daily from sowing to harvest. The cultivar 'Muir' exhibited consistent PCS values across the treatments, while 'Bauer' showed PCS variations, with notable declines after prolonged aging. The germination rates dropped significantly after 48 and 72 h of SSAA. A nonlinear regression model revealed a strong relationship between PCS and shoot dry weight across harvests and cultivars (R2 = 0.93, RMSE = 0.15, p < 0.001). The research found that the projected canopy size and shoot dry weight increased over time with significant differences in treatments for the cultivar 'Bauer' but not for 'Muir,' with the canopy size being a strong predictor of dry weight and no significant impact from the SSAA treatments. This study highlights cultivar-specific responses to aging and demonstrates the efficacy of our imaging tool in predicting lettuce dry weight despite treatment variations. Understanding how aging affects different lettuce varieties is crucial for seed management and crop sustainability.

Revealing the deterioration mechanism in gelling properties of pork myofibrillar protein gel induced by high-temperature treatments: Perspective on the protein aggregation and conformation.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of gel deterioration of myofibrillar proteins (MP) gels induced by high-temperature treatments based on the protein aggregation and conformation. The results showed that the gel strength and water holding capacity of MP obviously increased and then decreased as the temperature increased, reaching the maximum value at 80 °C (P < 0.05). The microstructure analysis revealed that appropriate temperature (80 °C) contributed to the formation of a more homogeneous, denser, and smoother three-dimensional mesh structure when compared other treatment temperatures, whereas excessive temperature (95 °C) resulted in the formation of heterogeneous and large protein aggregates of MP, decreasing the continuity of gel networks. This was verified by the rheological properties of MP gels. The particle size (D4,3 and D3,2) of MP obviously increased with larger clusters at excessive temperature, and the surface hydrophobicity of MP decreased (P < 0.05), which has been linked to the formation of soluble or insoluble protein aggregates. Tertiary structure and secondary structure results revealed that the proteins had a tendency to be more stretched under higher temperature treatments, which resulted in a decrease in covalent interactions and non-covalent interactions, fostering the over-aggregation of MP. Therefore, our present study indicated that the degradation of MP gels treated at high temperatures was explained by protein aggregation and conformational changes in MP.

Experimental Study on the Strength Deterioration and Mechanism of Stabilized River Silt Reinforced with Cement and Alginate Fibers.

River silt deposited by water in coastal areas is unsuitable for engineering construction. Thus, the in situ stabilization treatment of river silt as the bearing layer has been an important research area in geotechnical engineering. The strength degradation behavior and mechanism of stabilized river silt reinforced with cement and alginate fibers (AFCS) in different engineering environments are crucial for engineering applications. Therefore, freeze-thaw (F-T) cycle tests, wetting-drying (W-D) cycle tests, water immersion tests and seawater erosion tests were conducted to explore the strength attenuation of stabilized river silt reinforced with the same cement content (9% by wet weight) and different fiber contents (0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% by weight of wet soil) and fiber lengths (3 mm, 6 mm and 9 mm). The reinforcement and damage mechanism of AFCS was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. The results indicate that the strength of AFCS was improved from 84% to 180% at 15 F-T cycle tests, and the strength of AFCS was improved by 26% and 40% at 30 W-D cycles, which showed better stability and excellent characteristics owing to the hygroscopic characteristics of alginate fiber arousing the release of calcium and magnesium ions within the alginate. Also, the strength attenuation of AFCS was reduced with the increase in the length and content of alginate fibers. Further, the strength of specimens in the freshwater environment was higher than that in the seawater environment at the same fiber content, and the softening coefficient of AFCS in the freshwater environment was above 0.85, indicating that the AFCS had good water stability. The optimal fiber content was found to be 0.6% based on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) reduction in specimens cured in seawater and a freshwater environment. And the strength of AFCS was improved by about 10% compared with that of cement-stabilized soil (CS) in a seawater environment. A stable spatial network structure inside the soil was formed, in which the reinforcing effect of fibers was affected by mechanical connection, friction and interfacial bonding. However, noticeable cracks developed in the immersed and F-T specimens. These microscopic characteristics contributed to decreased mechanical properties for AFCS. The results of this research provide a reference for the engineering application of AFCS.

Effect of Specific Spoilage Organisms on the Degradation of ATP-Related Compounds in Vacuum-Packed Refrigerated Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

This study examined the spoilage potential of specific spoilage organisms on the degradation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-related compounds in vacuum-packed refrigerated large yellow croaker. The total viable count (TVC), ATP-related compounds and related enzymes of vacuum-packed refrigerated large yellow croaker inoculated with different bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens and Shewanella putrefaciens) were characterized using the spread plate method, high-performance liquid chromatography and assay kits, respectively. Results indicated that the TVC for both control and Shewanella putrefaciens groups reached spoilage levels at days 9 and 15, respectively. The changes of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine deaminase activity across all groups showed no significant difference attributable to microbial growth. The results suggested that ATP to inosine monophosphate (IMP) degradation primarily occurs via fish's endogenous enzymes, with minimal microbial involvement. On day 12, the IMP content in fillets inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.93 µmol/g) was half higher than in those inoculated with Shewanella putrefaciens (0.57 µmol/g). Both spoilage organisms facilitated IMP degradation, with Shewanella putrefaciens making a more substantial contribution. Analysis of K values and correlation coefficients revealed that Shewanella putrefaciens was the primary factor in the freshness loss of refrigerated vacuum-packed large yellow croaker. These findings offer a reference for understanding quality changes in refrigerated large yellow croaker, especially regarding umami degradation at the microbial level.

Endogenous Proteases in Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus japonicas): Deterioration and Prevention during Handling, Processing, and Preservation.

The sea cucumber is an essential nutrient source and a significant economic marine resource associated with successful aquaculture. However, sea cucumbers are highly susceptible to autolysis induced by endogenous protease after postmortem, and the phenomenon of body wall "melting" occurs, which seriously affects the food quality of products and the degree of acceptance by consumers. To satisfy the growing demand for fresh or processed sea cucumbers, we must clarify the autolysis mechanism of sea cucumbers and the methods to achieve autolysis regulation. In this paper, the factors leading to the quality deterioration and texture softening of sea cucumbers are reviewed, with emphasis on enzymatic characteristics, the autolysis mechanism, the effects of autolysis on the physicochemical properties of the body wall of the sea cucumber, and the development of potential natural protease inhibitors. We aim to provide some reference in future preservation and processing processes for sea cucumbers, promote new processing and preservation technologies, and advance the sea cucumber industry's development.

Health in a Virtual Environment (HIVE): A Novel Continuous Remote Monitoring Service for Inpatient Management.

The aim of this study was to describe the implementation of a novel 50-bed continuous remote monitoring service for high-risk acute inpatients treated in non-critical wards, known as Health in a Virtual Environment (HIVE). We report the initial results, presenting the number and type of patients connected to the service, and assess key outcomes from this cohort. This was a prospective, observational study of characteristics and outcomes of patients connected to the HIVE continuous monitoring service at a major tertiary hospital and a smaller public hospital in Western Australia between January 2021 and June 2023. In the first two and a half years following implementation, 7541 patients were connected to HIVE for a total of 331,118 h. Overall, these patients had a median length of stay of 5 days (IQR 2, 10), 11.0% (n = 833) had an intensive care unit admission, 22.4% (n = 1691) had an all-cause emergency readmission within 28 days from hospital discharge, and 2.2% (n = 167) died in hospital. Conclusions: Our initial results show promise, demonstrating that this innovative approach to inpatient care can be successfully implemented to monitor high-risk patients in medical and surgical wards. Future studies will investigate the effectiveness of the program by comparing patients receiving HIVE supported care to comparable patients receiving routine care.

Screening of NIAS World Rice Core Collection for Seeds with Long Longevity as Useful Potential Breeding Materials Focusing on the Stability of Embryonic RNAs.

Seed longevity is a crucial trait for the seed industry and genetic resource preservation. To develop excellent cultivars with extended seed lifespans, it is important to understand the mechanism of keeping seed germinability long term and to find useful genetic resources as prospective breeding materials. This study was conducted to identify the best cultivars with a high and stable seed longevity trait in the germplasm of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and to analyze the correlation between seed longevity and embryonic RNA integrity. Seeds from 69 cultivars of the world rice core collection selected by the NIAS in Japan were harvested in different years and subjected to long-term storage or controlled deterioration treatment (CDT). The long-term storage (4 °C, RH under 35%, 10 years) was performed on seeds harvested in 2010 and 2013. The seeds harvested in 2016 and 2019 were used for CDT (36 °C, RH of 80%, 40 days). Seed longevity and embryonic RNA integrity were estimated by a decrease in the germination percentage and RNA integrity number (RIN) after long-term storage or CDT. The RIN value was obtained by the electrophoresis of the total RNA extracted from the seed embryos. Seeds of "Vandaran (indica)", "Tupa 729 (japonica)", and "Badari Dhan (indica)" consistently showed higher seed longevity and embryonic RNA integrity both under long-term storage and CDT conditions regardless of the harvest year. A strong correlation (R2 = 0.93) was observed between the germination percentages and RIN values of the seeds after the long-term storage or CDT among nine cultivars selected based on differences in their seed longevity. The study findings revealed the relationship between rice seed longevity and embryo RNA stability and suggested potential breeding materials including both japonica and indica cultivars for improving rice seed longevity.

Non-insulin-based insulin resistance indices predict early neurological deterioration in elderly and middle-aged acute ischemic stroke patients in Northeast China.

Insulin resistance (IR) has a strong association with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) occurrence and poor prognosis of afflicted patients. However, the relation between early neurological deterioration (END) risk and IR in elderly and middle-aged patients remains to be thoroughly studied. Here, we investigated the relationship between four indicators of IR and the risk of END in middle-aged patients patients with AIS. The study retrospectively analyzed 1696 elderly and middle-aged patients having AIS between January 2019 and June 2023. Within 7 days of admission, the patients were then stratified relying upon alternations in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Subsequently, we employed logistic regression analyses for assessing each index correlation with END on the basis of the tertiles of TyG index (TyGI), triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein ratio (TG/HDL), TyG-BMI, alongside IR metabolic score (METS-IR). These four indicators were significantly heightened in the END group (n = 680) in comparison to the non-END group (n = 1016). When grouping using tertiles, the four aforementioned indicators emerged as independent risk factors for END occurrence, whether or not adjusted for confounding factors. The results revealed a progressive elevation in END occurrence risk with the rise in the tertile of each indicator. Finally, we utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for assessing the indicators' predictive power. TyG-BMI, TyGI, TG/HDL, and METS-IRs' area under the curve (AUC) were, respectively, 0.736 (95% CI: 0.712-0.761; P < 0.001), 0. 694 (95% CI: 0.668-0.721; P < 0.001), 0.684 (95% CI: 0.658-0.711; P < 0.001), and 0.722 (95% CI: 0.697-0.747; P < 0.001). IR is associated with END risk in middle-aged AIS patients. TyG-BMI, TyGI, TG/HDL, and METS-IR are independent risk factors of END in elderly and middle-aged AIS patients. Simultaneously, these four IR indicators have significant predictive power for END.