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The vertebrate sense of taste allows rapid assessment of the nutritional quality and potential presence of harmful substances prior to ingestion. Among the five basic taste qualities, salty, sour, sweet, umami, and bitter, bitterness is associated with the presence of putative toxic substances and elicits rejection behaviors in a wide range of animals including humans. However, not all bitter substances are harmful, some are thought to be health-beneficial and nutritious. Among those compound classes that elicit a bitter taste although being non-toxic and partly even essential for humans are bitter peptides and L-amino acids. Using functional heterologous expression assays, we observed that the 5 dominant human bitter taste receptors responsive to bitter peptides and amino acids are activated by bile acids, which are notorious for their extreme bitterness. We further demonstrate that the cross-reactivity of bitter taste receptors for these two different compound classes is evolutionary conserved and can be traced back to the amphibian lineage. Moreover, we show that the cross-detection by some receptors relies on "structural mimicry" between the very bitter peptide L-Trp-Trp-Trp and bile acids, whereas other receptors exhibit a phylogenetic conservation of this trait. As some bile acid-sensitive bitter taste receptor genes fulfill dual-roles in gustatory and non-gustatory systems, we suggest that the phylogenetic conservation of the rather surprising cross-detection of the two substance classes could rely on a gene-sharing-like mechanism in which the non-gustatory function accounts for the bitter taste response to amino acids and peptides., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Beside the oral cavity, bitter taste receptors are expressed in several non-gustatory tissues. Whether extra-oral bitter taste receptors function as sensors for endogenous agonists is unknown. To address this question, we devised functional experiments combined with molecular modeling approaches to investigate human and mouse receptors using a variety of bile acids as candidate agonists. We show that five human and six mouse receptors are responsive to an array of bile acids. Moreover, their activation threshold concentrations match published data of bile acid concentrations in human body fluids, suggesting a putative physiological activation of non-gustatory bitter receptors. We conclude that these receptors could serve as sensors for endogenous bile acid levels. These results also indicate that bitter receptor evolution may not be driven solely by foodstuff or xenobiotic stimuli, but also depend on endogenous ligands. The determined bitter receptor activation profiles of bile acids now enable detailed physiological model studies., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Salmon is a nutritious and popular food among consumers predominantly in wealthy countries around the world. Since the mid-1990s farmed salmon production has exceeded wild salmon harvest, and is now 80 % of total global salmon supply. The environmental impacts of farmed salmon are frequently discussed and consumers are faced with a multitude of choices even after deciding to have salmon for dinner: species, production method, origin, product form. We present life cycle impacts of fresh and frozen salmon products, originating in purse seine fisheries for pink salmon and gill net fisheries for sockeye salmon in Alaska, when sold on markets in Europe and the United States. Norwegian salmon products are then modelled to the same markets in fresh and frozen form, based on literature data. Impact categories included were greenhouse gas emissions, marine eutrophication, marine ecotoxicity and land use. A fish in, fish out ratio is also calculated and differences in content of nutrients and contaminants described. Frozen products from wild sockeye and pink salmon had the lowest emissions in both markets. For consumers in the U.S. and Europe, wild salmon products have 46-86 % and 12-71 % lower greenhouse gas emissions than farmed Norwegian salmon, respectively, depending on species and product form. Farmed salmon also had higher land use, marine ecotoxic and eutrophying emissions and fish in, fish out ratio. Important differences exist in nutritional and contaminant content between the three types of salmon production. Improvement options as well as an optimized supply chain are modelled showing greenhouse gas reduction opportunities of 40-50 % also for the best performing chains. Results can be used as a baseline for improved data collection and emission reductions. Recommendations for consumers, industry and policymakers who can facilitate and even drive development towards more sustainable salmon products are provided., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: RH reports financial support was provided by Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Agency. FZ is employed by an institute that does research and contract work in her area of expertise commissioned by governmental and non-governmental organisations or by seafood companies. The institute has received funding for multiple private and publicly funded projects in the space of sustainable seafood production and consumption, including many projects related to farmed salmon. FZ was involved in research funded by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund, FHF, in 2019, which led to the data for farmed salmon used in this study. FZ is also part of the sustainability advisory board of Nomad Foods. RH receives research funding from many groups that have interests in fisheries outcomes including environmental NGOs, foundations, governments and fishing industry groups., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Although the physiological role of the C-terminal hydrolase domain of the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH-H) is well investigated, the function of its N-terminal phosphatase activity (sEH-P) remains unknown., Objectives: This study aimed to assess in vivo the physiological role of sEH-P., Methods: CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate a novel knock-in (KI) rat line lacking the sEH-P activity., Results: The sEH-P KI rats has a decreased metabolism of lysophosphatidic acids to monoacyglycerols. KI rats grew almost normally but with less weight and fat mass gain while insulin sensitivity was increased compared to wild-type rats. This lean phenotype was more marked in males than in female KI rats and mainly due to decreased food consumption and enhanced energy expenditure. In fact, sEH-P KI rats had an increased lipolysis allowing to supply fatty acids as fuel to potentiate brown adipose thermogenesis under resting condition and upon cold exposure. The potentiation of thermogenesis was abolished when blocking PPARγ, a nuclear receptor activated by intracellular lysophosphatidic acids, but also when inhibiting simultaneously sEH-H, showing a functional interaction between the two domains. Furthermore, sEH-P KI rats fed a high-fat diet did not gain as much weight as the wild-type rats, did not have increased fat mass and did not develop insulin resistance or hepatic steatosis. In addition, sEH-P KI rats exhibited enhanced basal cardiac mitochondrial activity associated with an enhanced left ventricular contractility and were protected against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury., Conclusion: Our study reveals that sEH-P is a key player in energy and fat metabolism and contributes together with sEH-H to the regulation of cardiometabolic homeostasis. The development of pharmacological inhibitors of sEH-P appears of crucial importance to evaluate the interest of this promising therapeutic strategy in the management of obesity and cardiac ischemic complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.)

The composition of menus and the sequence of foodstuffs consumed during a meal underlies elaborate rules. However, the molecular foundations for the observed taste- and pleasure-raising effects of complex menus are obscure. The molecular identification and characterization of taste receptors can help to gain insight into the complex interrelationships of food items and beverages during meals. In our study, we quantified important bitter compounds in chicory and chicory-based surrogate coffee and used them to identify responsive bitter taste receptors. The two receptors, TAS2R43 and TAS2R46, are exquisitely sensitive to lactucin, lactucopicrin, and 11β,13-dihydrolactucin. Sensory testing demonstrated a profound influence of the sequence of consumption of chicory, surrogate coffee, and roasted coffee on the perceived bitterness by human volunteers. These findings pave the way for a molecular understanding of some of the mixture effects underlying empirical meal compositions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Lang, Lang, Dunkel, Ziegler and Behrens.)

Purpose: The ability to develop and evaluate approaches to the management of advanced cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is limited by the lack of local, reliable and valid data to ensure that practice is evidence-based, replicable and reflects the needs of the population served., Methods: A secondary qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 59 health professionals delivering palliative cancer care in Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe were conducted to determine the use and needs for data and information for patient care and service delivery. Framework analysis was used, informed by a conceptual model for data use in low and middle-income countries., Results: Three meta-themes include: (1) Current practice in data gathering and use; (2) Gaps for capturing, storing information and supporting communication, and; (3) Needs and opportunities for data use. Deficits in current data access and use were identified, alongside targets for improving the quality, accessibility and utility of data to inform the development of palliative cancer care., Conclusions: The availability and use of relevant and reliable data relating to the current provision of palliative cancer care are requisite for the contextually appropriate and effective development of health services. The requirements and constraints articulated by participants can guide future development and optimisation of digital health approaches for palliative cancer care in the participating countries, with relevance to the wider sub-Saharan Africa region.

The effect of pain and analgesics on stress biomarkers is not well studied. We evaluated the effect of acute pain and analgesics on serum cortisol and copeptin in an experimental pain model in healthy volunteers. Healthy volunteers presented at 8 a.m. for an experimental pain stimulation. Cortisol and copeptin levels were measured before, during and after electrophysiological stimulation, first before and then during opioid delivery. Difference in biomarker levels compared to baseline levels was calculated, and potential influencing factors were evaluated by linear regression analysis. Cortisol decreased by 13% during the 10 min of rest at baseline, but copeptin did not change significantly. Cortisol had a median decrease of -24% or -83 nmol/l (-44 to -124 nmol/l, p = 0.0002) during the electrophysiological stimulation training session, while the median difference for copeptin was -22% or -1.01 pmol/l (-2.35 to 0.08 pmol/l, p = 0.0003). After administration of opioids, cortisol did not decrease but increased by 3% (p = 0.043), indicating an increasing opioids effect on cortisol. This effect was not visible for copeptin (median change -0.003 pmol/l (-0.50 to 0.24), p = 0.45). In this experimental pain model performed in the morning, moderate pain did not have a relevant effect on cortisol or copeptin levels, whereas opioids led to a discrete peak of cortisol.Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01975753 (registered on November 5, 2013, before start of recruitment)., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: The diagnosis of hypercortisolism requires multiple biochemical investigations, due to variations in cortisol production during the 24-hour circadian cycle. Midnight serum cortisol is difficult to interpret since the threshold value is dependent on the analytical method used and is often not provided by the manufacturer. Second-generation assays are more specific than first-generation assays and may have lower threshold values., Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine a novel threshold value of midnight serum cortisol for the biochemical diagnosis of hypercortisolism, using the Roche Cobas Cortisol® second-generation assay., Methods: This study was performed in adult patients hospitalized in the endocrinology unit of a university hospital. Patients had a complete assessment of their 24-hour cortisol cycle, i.e., a serum cortisol test every four hours and at least two first-line tests: late night salivary cortisol, dexamethasone suppression test and/or 24-hour urinary free cortisol. First-line tests were used to identify patients with hypercortisolism. Serum samples were analyzed by second-generation electrochemiluminescence immunoassays (ECLIA) from Roche Cobas Cortisol®., Results: Midnight serum cortisol samples were obtained from 175 hospitalized patients. The novel threshold value obtained was 157 nmol/L with a sensitivity of 82.9% (68.6 to 94.3%) and a specificity of 90.0% (85.0 to 95.0%)., Conclusion: Our study confirms that the threshold value of midnight serum cortisol is not comparable between first- and second-generation Roche Cobas Cortisol® assays and that the threshold value is lower with the second-generation assay., (Copyright © 2021 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer vast structural and chemical diversity enabling a wide and growing range of applications. While COFs are well-established as heterogeneous catalysts, so far, their high and ordered porosity has scarcely been utilized to its full potential when it comes to spatially confined reactions in COF pores to alter the outcome of reactions. Here, we present a highly porous and crystalline, large-pore COF as catalytic support in α,ω-diene ring-closing metathesis reactions, leading to increased macrocyclization selectivity. COF pore-wall modification by immobilization of a Grubbs-Hoveyda-type catalyst via a mild silylation reaction provides a molecularly precise heterogeneous olefin metathesis catalyst. An increased macro(mono)cyclization (MMC) selectivity over oligomerization (O) for the heterogeneous COF-catalyst (MMC:O=1.35) of up to 51 % compared to the homogeneous catalyst (MMC:O=0.90) was observed along with a substrate-size dependency in selectivity, pointing to diffusion limitations induced by the pore confinement., (© 2021 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Rh(I) NHC and Rh(III) Cp* NHC complexes (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene=pyrid-2-ylimidazol-2-ylidene (Py-Im), thiophen-2-ylimidazol-2-ylidene) are presented. Selected catalysts were selectively immobilized inside the mesopores of SBA-15 with average pore diameters of 5.0 and 6.2 nm. Together with their homogenous progenitors, the immobilized catalysts were used in the hydrosilylation of terminal alkynes. For aromatic alkynes, both the neutral and cationic Rh(I) complexes showed excellent reactivity with exclusive formation of the β(E)-isomer. For aliphatic alkynes, however, selectivity of the Rh(I) complexes was low. By contrast, the neutral and cationic Rh(III) Cp* NHC complexes proved to be highly regio- and stereoselective catalysts, allowing for the formation of the thermodynamically less stable β-(Z)-vinylsilane isomers at room temperature. Notably, the SBA-15 immobilized Rh(I) catalysts, in which the pore walls provide an additional confinement, showed excellent β-(Z)-selectivity in the hydrosilylation of aliphatic alkynes, too. Also, in the case of 4-aminophenylacetylene, selective formation of the β(Z)-isomer was observed with a neutral SBA-15 supported Rh(III) Cp* NHC complex but not with its homogenous counterpart. These are the first examples of high β(Z)-selectivity in the hydrosilylation of alkynes by confinement generated upon immobilization inside mesoporous silica., (© 2021 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: The majority of older people (> 65 years) in hospital have frailty and are at increased risk of readmission or death following discharge home. In the UK, following acute hospitalisation, around one third of older people with frailty are referred on for rehabilitation, termed 'intermediate care' services. Although this rehabilitation can reduce early readmission to hospital (< 30 days), recipients often do not feel ready to leave the service on discharge, suggesting possible incomplete recovery. Limited evidence suggests extended rehabilitation is of benefit in several conditions and there is preliminary evidence that progressive physical exercise can improve mobility and function for older people with frailty, and slow progression to disability. Our aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Home-based Older People's Exercise (HOPE) programme as extended rehabilitation for older people with frailty discharged home from hospital or intermediate care services after acute illness or injury., Methods: A multi-centre individually randomised controlled trial, to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the HOPE programme. This individualised, graded and progressive 24-week exercise programme is delivered by NHS physiotherapy teams to people aged 65 and older with frailty, identified using the Clinical Frailty Scale, following discharge from acute hospitalisation and linked intermediate care rehabilitation pathways. The primary outcome is physical health-related quality of life, measured using the physical component summary score of the modified Short Form 36- item health questionnaire (SF36) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include self-reported physical and mental health, functional independence, death, hospitalisations, care home admissions. Plans include health economic analyses and an embedded process evaluation., Discussion: This trial seeks to determine if extended rehabilitation, via the HOPE programme, can improve physical health-related quality of life for older people with frailty following acute hospitalisation. Results will improve awareness of the rehabilitation needs of older people with frailty, and provide evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the targeted exercise intervention. There is potential for considerable benefit for health and social care services through widespread implementation of trial findings if clinical and cost-effectiveness is demonstrated., Trial Registration: ISRCTN 13927531 . Registered on April 19, 2017., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The developing fetus is highly vulnerable to imbalances in the supply of essential amino acids (AA). Transplacental AA transfer depends on complex interactions between accumulative transporters, exchangers and facilitators, which maintain both intra-extracellular and materno-fetal substrate gradients. We determined physiological AA gradients between maternal and fetal blood and assessed their importance by studying maternal-fetal leucine transfer in human trophoblasts. Maternal-venous and corresponding fetal-arterial/fetal-venous sera were collected from 22 healthy patients at partum. The acquisition of the full AA spectra in serum was performed by ion exchange chromatography. Physiological materno-fetal AA levels were evaluated using paired two-way ANOVA with Tukey's correction. AA concentrations and gradients were tested for associations with anthropometric data by Spearman correlation analysis. Functional effects of a physiological leucine gradient versus equimolar concentrations were tested in BeWo cells using L-[ 3 H]-leucine in conventional and Transwell-based uptake and transfer experiments. The LAT1/SLC7A5-specific inhibitor JPH203 was used to evaluate LAT1-transporter-mediated leucine transport. Maternal AA concentrations correlated with preconceptional and maternal weights at partum. Interestingly, low materno-fetal AA gradients were associated with maternal weight, BMI and gestational weight gain. Leucine uptake was promoted by increased extracellular substrate concentrations. Materno-fetal leucine transfer was significantly increased against a 137µM leucine gradient demonstrating that transplacental leucine transport is stimulated by a counter-directed gradient. Moreover, leucine transfer was inhibited by 10µM JPH203 confirming that Leu transport across the trophoblast monolayer is LAT1-dependent. This study demonstrates a currently underestimated effect of transplacental AA gradients on efficient leucine transfer which could severely affect fetal development., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Fish and other aquatic foods (blue foods) present an opportunity for more sustainable diets 1,2 . Yet comprehensive comparison has been limited due to sparse inclusion of blue foods in environmental impact studies 3,4 relative to the vast diversity of production 5 . Here we provide standardized estimates of greenhouse gas, nitrogen, phosphorus, freshwater and land stressors for species groups covering nearly three quarters of global production. We find that across all blue foods, farmed bivalves and seaweeds generate the lowest stressors. Capture fisheries predominantly generate greenhouse gas emissions, with small pelagic fishes generating lower emissions than all fed aquaculture, but flatfish and crustaceans generating the highest. Among farmed finfish and crustaceans, silver and bighead carps have the lowest greenhouse gas, nitrogen and phosphorus emissions, but highest water use, while farmed salmon and trout use the least land and water. Finally, we model intervention scenarios and find improving feed conversion ratios reduces stressors across all fed groups, increasing fish yield reduces land and water use by up to half, and optimizing gears reduces capture fishery emissions by more than half for some groups. Collectively, our analysis identifies high-performing blue foods, highlights opportunities to improve environmental performance, advances data-poor environmental assessments, and informs sustainable diets., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: We previously reported that CEA kinetics are a marker of progressive disease (PD) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This study was specifically designed to confirm CEA kinetics for predicting PD and to evaluate CA19-9, cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumour cell (CTC) kinetics., Methods: Patients starting a chemotherapy (CT) with pre-treatment CEA > 5 ng/mL and/or CA19.9 > 30 UI/mL were prospectively included. Samples were collected from baseline to cycle 4 for CEA and CA19-9 and at baseline and the sixth week for other markers. CEA kinetics were calculated from the first to the third or fourth CT cycle., Results: A total of 192 mCRC patients were included. CEA kinetics based on the previously identified >0.05 threshold was significantly associated with PD (p < 0.0001). By dichotomising by the median value, cfDNA, ctDNA and CA19-9 were associated with PD, PFS and OS in multivariate analysis. A circulating scoring system (CSS) combining CEA kinetics and baseline CA19-9 and cfDNA values classified patients based on high (n = 58) and low risk (n = 113) of PD and was independently associated with PD (ORa = 4.6, p < 0.0001), PFS (HRa = 2.07, p < 0.0001) and OS (HRa = 2.55, p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: CEA kinetics alone or combined with baseline CA19-9 and cfDNA are clinically relevant for predicting outcomes in mCRC., Trial Registration Number: NCT01212510., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), a visceral fat depot directly located to the heart, is associated with atherosclerotic and inflammatory processes. The extent of PAT is related to the prevalence of coronary heart disease and might be used for cardiovascular risk prediction. This study aimed to determine the effect of smoking on the extent of PAT., Methods: We retrospectively examined 1217 asymptomatic patients (490 females, age 58.3 ± 8.3 years, smoker n = 573, non-smoker n = 644) with a multislice CT scanner and determined the PAT volume. Coronary risk factors were determined at inclusion, and a multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of smoking on PAT independent from accompanying risk factors., Results: The mean PAT volume was 215 ± 107 mL in all patients. The PAT volume in smokers was significantly higher compared to PAT volume in non-smokers (231 ± 104 mL vs. 201 ± 99 mL, p = 0.03). Patients without cardiovascular risk factors showed a significantly lower PAT volume (153 ± 155 mL, p < 0.05) compared to patients with more than 1 risk factor. Odds ratio was 2.92 [2.31, 3.61; p < 0.001] for elevated PAT in smokers., Conclusion: PAT as an individual marker of atherosclerotic activity and inflammatory burden was elevated in smokers. The finding was independent from metabolic risk factors and might therefore illustrate the increased inflammatory activity in smokers in comparison to non-smokers.

Background: To maintain the quality of frozen Atlantic salmon after thawing and highlight the potential for moving from air fright to boat for long-distance export, a study was designed to investigate the effects of sub-chilling before rapid freezing on the quality of thawed fillets. Atlantic salmon chilled on wet ice before filleting and freezing was used as a control for the experimental factor chilling, whereas fresh fillets were used for the frozen-thawed samples., Results: The pre-freezing chilling method interacted with the storage protocol and significantly affected the product. For fresh stored fillets, sub-chilling improved the microbiological and textural stability and degradation of proteins. After 1 month of frozen storage, sub-chilled fillets gave better color and textural properties, less adenosine triphosphate degradation and protein denaturation. In addition, sub-chilled 4-month-frozen fillets also showed improved microbial stability compared to those initially chilled with ice before frozen storage. Quality was lost as a function of storage. Fresh fillets generally had higher bacterial counts, surface breaking force, firmness, hue and contents of inosine monophosphate, and lower drip loss and inosine (HxR) levels than those stored frozen-thawed. Moreover, 4-month-frozen fillets had higher HxR levels and lower psychrotrophic viable count growth than those that were frozen for 1 month. The time fillets were stored frozen did not profoundly affect their quality., Conclusion: It is concluded that a frozen product might be competitive with a fresh product when sub-chilling is performed before freezing, especially when including the environmental benefits of frozen export by boat rather than air freight. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Objectives: To use pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) radiomics phenotyping to differentiate existing and predict future heart failure (HF) cases in the UK Biobank., Methods: PAT segmentations were derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) studies using an automated quality-controlled model to define the region-of-interest for radiomics analysis. Prevalent (present at time of imaging) and incident (first occurrence after imaging) HF were ascertained using health record linkage. We created balanced cohorts of non-HF individuals for comparison. PyRadiomics was utilised to extract 104 radiomics features, of which 28 were chosen after excluding highly correlated ones (0.8). These features, plus sex and age, served as predictors in binary classification models trained separately to detect (1) prevalent and (2) incident HF. We tested seven modeling methods using tenfold nested cross-validation and examined feature importance with explainability methods., Results: We studied 1204 participants in total, 297 participants with prevalent (60 ± 7 years, 21% female) and 305 with incident (61 ± 6 years, 32% female) HF, and an equal number of non-HF comparators. We achieved good discriminative performance for both prevalent (voting classifier; AUC: 0.76; F1 score: 0.70) and incident (light gradient boosting machine: AUC: 0.74; F1 score: 0.68) HF. Our radiomics models showed marginally better performance compared to PAT area alone. Increased PAT size (maximum 2D diameter in a given column or slice) and texture heterogeneity (sum entropy) were important features for prevalent and incident HF classification models., Conclusions: The amount and character of PAT discriminate individuals with prevalent HF and predict incidence of future HF., Clinical Relevance Statement: This study presents an innovative application of pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) radiomics phenotyping as a predictive tool for heart failure (HF), a major public health concern. By leveraging advanced machine learning methods, the research uncovers that the quantity and characteristics of PAT can be used to identify existing cases of HF and predict future occurrences. The enhanced performance of these radiomics models over PAT area alone supports the potential for better personalised care through earlier detection and prevention of HF., Key Points: •PAT radiomics applied to CMR was used for the first time to derive binary machine learning classifiers to develop models for discrimination of prevalence and prediction of incident heart failure. •Models using PAT area provided acceptable discrimination between cases of prevalent or incident heart failure and comparator groups. •An increased PAT volume (increased diameter using shape features) and greater texture heterogeneity captured by radiomics texture features (increased sum entropy) can be used as an additional classifier marker for heart failure., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The placenta maintains the balance between nutrition and growth control of the fetus through selective and regulated supply of macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and critical micronutrients. Perturbations in the balanced supply of nutrients as found in gestational diseases and altered fetal development have been associated with changes in amino acid transport proteins, such as the System L amino acid heterodimeric exchangers LAT1/SLC7A5 and LAT2/SLC7A8. Syncytiotrophoblasts (STB) form the crucial cell layer at the placental barrier coordinating the transfer of essential amino acids such as leucine from the maternal to the fetal circulation. The System L-mediated leucine transport across the placental barrier is a Na + -independent process against a counter-directed gradient, maintained by a tightly regulated interplay between accumulative transporters, exchangers, and facilitators.The two methods described here allow to standardize and characterize the uptake kinetics of leucine in conventionally cultured BeWo cells and the transfer of leucine across the placental cell barrier using a BeWo monolayer in the Transwell ® system., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The seafood sector is facing difficulties to meet the increasing demand for product greenhouse gas emission (GHG) assessments. We quantified GHGs of important seafood products of Norway, the world's second largest seafood exporter. We present results and improvement options for products of farmed salmon and wild‐caught shrimp, king crab, cod, and herring, followed to their dominating markets, based on detailed data for 2017. To enable more frequent monitoring, without engaging in a full assessment, we then suggest a simplified approach, focusing on the main drivers of production‐related emissions. The simplified approach is used to analyze temporal trends from 2007–2017 for fisheries and 1990–2017 for salmon aquaculture. Finally, the simplified approach was compared to the comprehensive assessment for 2017 to define species‐specific upscaling factors. Results show that salmon and crustacean products in 2017 caused higher emissions than cod and herring products, with feed and fuel use being the main emission drivers, whereas airfreighted products had the highest emissions of all products. Large improvement potential from average to best performers within each production system exists. The simplified approach shows that the fuel‐use intensity of Norwegian fisheries has increased by almost 50% for shrimp over the past decade whereas it has decreased for fish by 20% for demersal species such as cod and 5–10% for pelagic species such as herring. Feed‐related emissions for salmon, on the other hand, have increased by almost 30% during the same period, because of an increasing feed conversion ratio and increased inclusion of emission‐intensive feed inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic food production holds great promise as a viable solution to tackle the pressing issue of meeting the protein requirements of the African populace. It plays a crucial role in food security and economic growth, especially in tropical Africa. With a fast-expanding population, there is a growing need for aquatic food sources to provide inexpensive protein and essential nutrients. Despite Africa's vast aquatic food source supplies and the importance of aquatic food in healthy and sustainable diets, several challenges hinder its full exploitation in the tropical African environment. This study, therefore, aims to assess the existing state of aquatic food resources in Africa, examine the nutritional advantages associated with these foods, and identify the problems that hinder their maximal utilization. The findings highlight the differences in aquatic protein consumption across various countries, emphasizing the importance of considering local factors when formulating nutritional interventions and policies. The comparison between the supply of protein from aquatic sources and land animals across African nations revealed a consistent trend of lower availability of aquatic protein. Africa, in particular, had relatively lower per capita consumption values of animal protein. The continent's average quantity of land animal food significantly surpassed the average aquatic food supply. This suggests a predominant reliance on land animal sources in African countries to meet dietary protein needs. This finding holds significant importance for policymakers, nutritionists, and stakeholders, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to improve protein accessibility in African countries. Moreover, it calls for attention to address any existing imbalances between the utilization of land and aquatic protein sources in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishing vessels are important contributors to global emissions in terms of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. However, few studies have addressed the emissions from fishing vessels on fishing grounds. In this study, a framework for estimating fishing vessel emissions, using a bottom-up dynamic method based on the big data from the Beidou VMS (vessel monitoring system) of fishing vessels, is proposed and applied to a survey of fishing vessel emissions in the East China Sea. The results of the study established a one-year emission inventory of fishing vessels in the East China Sea. This study was the first to use VMS data to estimate fishing vessel emissions in a fishing area, and the results will help to support the management of their carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the context of socially sustainable urban development, comfortable, safe, and accessible public transport is crucial to motivating people to travel more sustainably. Using the framework given by Masoumi and Fastenmeier (2016) to examine the concepts of safety and security, we explore how perceptions of safety about different transport modes shaped the mobility of older adults in Bengaluru, India. Methods: In-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with 60 adults, aged 50 years and over, residing in urban Bengaluru, using a semi-structured in-depth interview guide to explore the perceptions of safety in different transport modes. Observations were conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying thematic analysis, we present how the perceptions of safety during their everyday travel shaped their mobility. Results: According to our research, older adults' perception of safety during their everyday travel is shaped by past negative experiences with accidents, pickpocketing, theft of mobile phones, and chain snatching. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the already existing inequalities, further limiting older adults' mobility to carry out regular activities such as buying groceries, socialising, making a hospital visit, or going to work due to the fear of getting infected. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the use of public transport needs to be encouraged among older adults by enhancing necessary safety features following the age-friendly cities framework. Furthermore, it can help policymakers develop transport polices, which suit the mobility needs of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present some optimised geometries for a thermal storage system previously proposed exploiting Phase-changing materials (PCMs). The optimization has been carried out by using a genetic algorithm. We demonstrate that a simple single-parental, mutation-based, single-objective genetic algorithm can be conveniently employed to optimize the geometry of the proposed PCM thermal energy storage system. Optimization I was the one with the least restrictive conditions and, therefore, with the greatest possibility of variation in the channel geometry. While the one with the worst results is Optimization II because of the most restrictive conditions, primarily constant solid/liquid volume. A metal frame increases the surface area by 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work conducts a numerical investigation of water jet impingement cooling during the steel quenching process. Although much of the simulation work in the literature relies on two-dimensional analyses, this study developed a three-dimensional CFD simulation model using Ansys-Fluent. The Eulerian mixture formulation with the volume of fluid (VOF) method was employed. It is shown that the developed model accurately simulates the boiling behavior in impingement cooling using circular water jets. The main parameters used in the simulation were: initial surface temperature of 700 °C, and jet velocity of 0.4 m / s impinging from a nozzle at 8 m m height from the heated surface. The 3D mesh has been refined in a way to maintain a y + value of 1 at the heated surface to capture the physics on the surface and to ensure that the viscous boundary layer is captured. Results such as temperature drop, boiling curve, and bubble frequency were presented and verified with the available experimental work in the literature. The developed mixture simulation using Ansys-Fluent has demonstrated its capability to numerically simulate the temperature history and boiling curves in the impingement process. This advancement will facilitate the study of numerous industrial parameters that are challenging to investigate experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germ cells are regulated by local microenvironments (niches), which secrete instructive cues. Conserved developmental signaling molecules act as niche-derived regulatory factors, yet other types of niche signals remain to be identified. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of sexual planarians revealed niche cells expressing a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (nrps). Inhibiting nrps led to loss of female reproductive organs and testis hyperplasia. Mass spectrometry detected the dipeptide β-alanyl-tryptamine (BATT), which is associated with reproductive system development and requires nrps and a monoamine-transmitter-synthetic enzyme Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) for its production. Exogenous BATT rescued the reproductive defects after nrps or aadc inhibition, restoring fertility. Thus, a nonribosomal, monoamine-derived peptide provided by niche cells acts as a critical signal to trigger planarian reproductive development. These findings reveal an unexpected function for monoamines in niche-germ cell signaling. Furthermore, given the recently reported role for BATT as a male-derived factor required for reproductive maturation of female schistosomes, these results have important implications for the evolution of parasitic flatworms and suggest a potential role for nonribosomal peptides as signaling molecules in other organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) technology transforms organic biomass components, such as cellulose and lignin, into valuable carbon materials, gases and inorganic salts through hydrolysis, degradation and polymerization, with significant advantages over traditional methods by reducing energy consumption, lowering pollutant emissions and enhancing carbonization efficiency. In the context of global climate change, HTC plays a critical role in water environment management by addressing industrial, agricultural, and domestic wastewater challenges. The application of HTC extends to wastewater treatment, where hydrochar effectively adsorbs heavy metals, organic compounds, and anions, thereby improving water quality. However, challenges remain, such as optimizing the process for diverse raw materials, managing economic costs, and addressing environmental and social impacts. Future research and policy support are essential for advancing HTC technology. By enhancing reaction mechanisms, developing catalysts, and promoting international cooperation, HTC can significantly contribute towards achieving carbon neutrality goals and fostering sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented case study evaluates the environmental and economic effects of carbon bio pellet production from orchard grass by Farmutil HS Inc. through the hydrothermal carbonisation method, using obtained biofuel as a substitute for natural gas for heat production. Hydrothermal carbonisation is a zero-waste technology that produces renewable bioenergy by substituting fossil fuels for non-renewable resources. Processing 60,000 t/y of orchard grass with this method resulted in a total amount of heat production of 456,780 GJ/y. This means that over 60% of the energy produced from natural gas could be substituted by renewable bioenergy. It is also very important that the estimated cost of heat produced from carbon bio pellets is 29% lower in comparison to the cost of heat produced from natural gas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent literature has exhibited a growing interest in the utilization of ground glass powder (GP) as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM). Yet, the application of SCMs in stabilizing heavy metallic and metalloid elements remains underexplored. This research zeroes in on zinc stabilization using a binder amalgam of GP and ordinary Portland cement (OPC). This study juxtaposes the stability of zinc in a recomposed binder consisting of 30% GP and 70% OPC (denoted as 30GP-M) against a reference binder of 100% CEM I 52.5 N (labeled reference mortar, RM) across curing intervals of 1, 28, and 90 days. Remarkably, the findings indicate a heightened kinetic immobilization of Zn at 90 days in the presence of GP—surging up to 40% in contrast to RM. Advanced microstructural analyses delineate the stabilization locales for Zn, including on the periphery of hydrated C3S particles (Zn–C3S), within GP-reactive sites (Si*–O–Zn), and amid C–S–H gel structures, i.e., (C/Zn)–S–H. A matrix with 30% GP bolsters the hydration process of C3S vis-à-vis the RM matrix. Probing deeper, the microstructural characterization underscores GP's prowess in Zn immobilization, particularly at the interaction zone with the paste. In the Zn milieu, it was discerning a transmutation—some products born from the GP–Portlandite reaction morph into GP–calcium–zincate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-impact fishing gear, such as fish pots, could help reduce human's impact on coastal marine ecosystems in fisheries but catch rates remain low and the harvest of resources used for baiting increases their environmental cost. Using black seabreams (Spondyliosoma cantharus) as target species in the Bay of Biscay, we developed and assessed the efficiency of biodegradable biopolymer-based baits (hereafter bio-baits) made of cockles (Cerastoderma edule) and different biopolymer concentrations. Through a suite of deep and machine learning models, we automatized both the tracking and behavior classification of seabreams based on quantitative metrics describing fish motion. The models were used to predict the interest behavior of seabream towards the bait over 127 h of video. All behavior predictions categorized as interested to the bait were validated, highlighting that bio-baits have a much weaker attractive power than natural bait yet with higher activity after 4 h once natural baits have been consumed. We also show that even with imperfect tracking models, fine behavioral information can be robustly extracted from video footage through classical machine learning methods, dramatically lifting the constraints related to monitoring fish behavior. This work therefore offers new perspectives both for the improvement of bio-baits and automatic fish behavior recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ongoing advancement of globalization significantly impacting the ecological environment, the continuous rise in the Land Surface Temperature (LST) is increasingly jeopardizing human production and living conditions. This study aims to investigate the seasonal variations in the LST and its driving factors using mathematical models. Taking the Wuhan Urban Agglomeration (WHUA) as a case study, it explores the seasonal characteristics of the LST and employs Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to categorize the driving factors. Additionally, it compares traditional models with machine-learning models to select the optimal model for this investigation. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) The WHUA's LST exhibits significant differences among seasons and demonstrates distinct spatial-clustering characteristics in different seasons. (2) Compared to traditional geographic spatial models, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) shows better explanatory power in investigating the driving effects of the LST. (3) Human Activity (HA) dominates the influence throughout the year and shows a significant positive correlation with the LST; Physical Geography (PG) exhibits a negative correlation with the LST; Climate and Weather (CW) show a similar variation to the PG, peaking in the transition; and the Landscape Pattern (LP) shows a weak positive correlation with the LST, peaking in winter while being relatively inconspicuous in summer and the transition. Finally, through comparative analysis of multiple driving factors and models, this study constructs a framework for exploring the seasonal features and driving factors of the LST, aiming to provide references and guidance for the development of the WHUA and similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's industrial processes use a variety of smart structure systems technologies. Various construction devices can significantly enhance a structure's ability to adapt to environmental changes. Smart structures are essential to the development of building technology. These forms of technologies are developing intelligent structural systems that behave like living systems and can perceive their environment. The objective of the research is to examine the connection of these professional systems, which become increasingly dependent over time. The research acknowledges and give emphasis to the significant role played by different types of systems (passive, semi-active, active, and hybrid) in formative the scope of construction through the analysis of novel techniques and innovative approaches. The paper state the assorted classification of smart structure schemes that have a significant role to serve the cycle life of the structure by reducing severe subjected damage to it. The study aims to investigate how these schemes of callings are inseparably connected, creating ever more advantageously as time goes on. The think about state and recognize the significant part of different categories of schemes (inactive, semi-active, active, and hybrid schemes) within the development scope through examination, unused methods and inventive strategies. The paper displayed the different categories of shrewd structure schemes that have a critical part to serve the cycle life of the structure by diminishing serious subjected harm to it.t. Furthermore, the research also demonstrated the smart structure's useful behavior, which is taken into account at every stage of the civil engineering design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of structural health monitoring (SHM), understanding the expected behavior of a structure is vital for the timely identification of anomalous activities. Existing methods often model only the physical quantities of monitoring data, neglecting the corresponding temporal information. To address this, this paper presents an innovative deep learning framework that synergistically combines a BiLSTM model, fortified by a temporal pattern attention (TPA) mechanism, with time-encoded temperature and traffic-induced deflection-temporal patterns. The arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA) is employed for optimal hyperparameter tuning, and incremental learning was implemented to enable real-time updates of the model. Based on the proposed framework, an anomaly detection method was subsequently developed. This method is bidirectional: it uses quantile loss to provide expected ranges for structural behavior, identifying isolated anomalies, while the windowed normalized mutual information (WNMI) based on multivariate kernel density estimation (MKDE) helps detect trend variability caused by decreases in structural stiffness. This framework and the anomaly detection method were validated using data from an operational cable-stayed bridge. The results demonstrate that the method effectively predicts structural behavior and detects anomalies, highlighting the critical role of temporal information in SHM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrochar, a carbonaceous material produced through hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass, has gained significant attention due to its versatile applications in agriculture, energy, and environmental protection. This review extensively explores hydrochar production by hydrothermal carbonization, specifically microwave and supercritical water treatment. These innovative approaches hold substantial promises in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of hydrochar synthesis. The review commences with an in-depth analysis of the fundamental principles governing hydrochar production, emphasizing the distinct mechanisms of microwave and supercritical water treatment. Insightful discussions on the influence of critical process parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and residence time, underscore these factors' pivotal role in tailoring hydrochar characteristics. Drawing on a wide array of research findings, the review evaluates the impact of different lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks on hydrochar properties, which is crucial for optimizing hydrochar production. The comparative assessment of microwave and supercritical water treatment sheds light on their unique advantages and challenges, guiding researchers toward informed decision-making in selection of methods. Furthermore, the review delves into the myriad applications of hydrochar, spanning soil amendment, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy. Environmental considerations and life cycle assessments associated with microwave and supercritical water treatment are also explored, providing a holistic perspective on the sustainability of hydrochar production. In conclusion, this comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on hydrochar production from diverse lignocellulosic biomass sources, emphasizing the efficacy of microwave and supercritical water methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present study aims to resolve the existing research gaps on olive pomace (OP) hydrochars application as a fuel by evaluating its molecular structures (FTIR and solid NMR analysis), identifying influential characteristics (Pearson correlation analysis), process optimization (response surface methodology), slagging–fouling risks (empirical indices), and combustion performance (TG-DSC analysis). The response surfaces plot for hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of OP slurry performed in a pressure reactor under varied temperatures (180–250 °C) and residence times (2–30 min) revealed 250 °C for 30 min to be optimal conditions for producing hydrochar fuel with a higher heating value (32.20 MJ·Kg−1) and energy densification ratio (1.40). However, in terms of process efficiency and cost-effectiveness, the optimal HTC conditions for producing the hydrochar with the highest energy yield of 87.9% were 202.7 °C and 2.0 min. The molecular structure of hydrochar was mainly comprised of aromatic rings with methyl groups, alpha-C atoms of esters, and ether bond linkages of lignin fractions. The slagging and fouling risks of hydrochars were comparatively lower than those of raw OP, as indicated by low slagging and fouling indices. The Pearson correlation analysis emphasized that the enrichment of acid-insoluble lignin and extractive contents, carbon densification, and reduced ash content were the main pivotal factors for hydrochar to exhibit better biofuel characteristics for energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) technology emerges as a sustainable method to convert wet biomass, including food waste and municipal solid waste into high‐energy dense biocoal. This process, conducted at temperatures ranging from 180 to 260°C and pressures of 10–50 bar, effectively transforms the organic material in wet biomass into solid, liquid, and gaseous outputs. The solid product, biocoal, possesses a high carbon concentration and heating values on par with lignite coal, presenting a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Despite operational commercial‐scale HTC facilities globally, further adoption across various feedstocks can improve waste management and energy production. The process can achieve energy yields up to 80%, particularly at temperatures favoring the generation of secondary char with higher heating values. HTC not only aids in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration in solid waste but also promotes environmental sustainability by yielding nutrient‐rich by‐products for agriculture. As a versatile and energy‐efficient solution, HTC technology is a pivotal innovation in waste‐to‐energy conversion, addressing the imperative for sustainable waste management. Other supplementary benefits are presented; they include higher employability, reduction of a nation's reliance on imported energy, and better waste control, therefore considering all pillars of sustainability. Future research should focus on optimizing process efficiency and exploring the broader applicability of HTC to various biomass feedstocks, enhancing its role in the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture plays a crucial role in meeting the growing global demand for seafood, but it faces challenges in terms of fish growth and health monitoring. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques offers promising solutions for optimizing fish farming practices and ensuring sustainable aquaculture. This abstract provides an overview of the role of AI in fish growth and health status monitoring, emphasizing its significance in promoting a sustainable aquaculture industry. AI technologies, such as machine learning and computer vision, have shown immense potential in analyzing large volumes of data collected from fish farms. By leveraging AI algorithms, fish farmers can gain valuable insights into fish growth patterns, feeding behavior, and environmental factors affecting fish health. These algorithms can detect and predict anomalies, diseases, and stress indicators, enabling proactive interventions to mitigate health issues and reduce losses. One of the key applications of AI in aquaculture is the development of smart monitoring systems. These systems employ various sensors, cameras, and data analytics tools to continuously collect real-time data on water quality, temperature, oxygen levels, and fish behavior. AI algorithms analyze this data to identify deviations from optimal conditions and provide timely alerts to farmers, allowing them to take appropriate actions such as adjusting feeding schedules, modifying water parameters, or administering treatments as needed. Furthermore, AI-based models can assist in optimizing feed management and reducing wastage. By analyzing historical data on fish growth and feed consumption, machine learning algorithms can determine the most efficient feed formulation and feeding regimes, leading to improved growth rates and minimized environmental impact. Another significant aspect of AI in fish farming is disease detection and prevention. Through image analysis and pattern recognition, AI algorithms can identify early signs of diseases, parasites, or abnormalities in fish appearance and behavior. This enables prompt disease diagnosis and targeted treatment, reducing the need for excessive use of antibiotics and chemicals while improving fish welfare. In summary, the integration of AI techniques in fish growth and health status monitoring holds great promise for the sustainability of aquaculture. By leveraging AI's capabilities in data analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modeling, fish farmers can optimize their practices, enhance productivity, reduce environmental impact, and ensure the welfare of farmed fish. However, continued research, data sharing, and collaboration between scientists, industry stakeholders, and policymakers are essential for harnessing the full potential of AI in achieving a sustainable aquaculture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in upholding intestinal health, fostering intestinal development, fortifying organisms against pathogen intrusion, regulating nutrient absorption, and managing the body's lipid metabolism. However, the influence of different cultivation modes on the growth indices and intestinal microbes of Salmo trutta fario remains underexplored. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics techniques to scrutinize the intestinal microbiota in three farming modes: traditional pond aquaculture (TPA), recirculating aquaculture (RA), and flow-through aquaculture (FTA). We aimed to assess the impact of different farming methods on the water environment and Salmo trutta fario's growth performance. Our findings revealed that the final weight and weight gain rate in the FTA model surpassed those in the other two. Substantial disparities were observed in the composition, relative abundance, and diversity of Salmo trutta fario gut microbiota under different aquaculture modes. Notably, the dominant genera of Salmo trutta fario gut microbiota varied across farming modes: for instance, in the FTA model, the most prevalent genera were SC-I-84 (7.34%), Subgroup_6 (9.93%), and UTCFX1 (6.71%), while, under RA farming, they were Bacteroidetes_vadinHA17 (10.61%), MBNT15 (7.09%), and Anaeromyxoactor (6.62%). In the TPA model, dominant genera in the gut microbiota included Anaeromyxobacter (8.72%), Bacteroidetes_vadinHA17 (8.30%), and Geobacter (12.54%). From a comparative standpoint, the genus-level composition of the gut microbiota in the RA and TPA models exhibited relative similarity. The gut microbiota in the FTA model showcased the most intricate functional diversity, while TPA farming displayed a more intricate interaction pattern with the gut microbiota. Transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, total dissolved solids, and temperature emerged as pivotal factors influencing Salmo trutta fario gut microbiota under diverse farming conditions. These research findings offer valuable scientific insights for fostering healthy aquaculture practices and disease prevention and control measures for Salmo trutta fario, holding substantial significance for the sustainable development of the cold-water fish industry in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasive black tiger shrimp has caused serious ecological problems in the America. However, since it can be directly eaten or made into feed, it may be beneficial to other countries. In order to ensure ecological security, it is necessary to control the invasion of the black tiger shrimp through international cooperation. Common control modes of the black tiger shrimp include the introducing natural enemy mode, making feed mode and the "bringing to the table" mode. In order to derive the applicable scope of various control modes of the black tiger shrimp and provide suggestions for the security and sustainability of the ecological supply chain of the America and cooperative country, this article constructs three differential game models and compares and analyzes the equilibrium results obtained by the models. Finally, the study shows that the higher the price of feed and the price of black tiger shrimp, the greater the degree of control of the black tiger shrimp. If the price of the black tiger shrimp and the reputation of the America for controlling the black tiger shrimp are lower, the America can gain more benefits under the feed production mode. Otherwise, the America prefers to sell the black tiger shrimp directly, thus directly "bringing to the table". Compared with the feed production or "bringing to the table" mode, cooperative country prefer to control the black tiger shrimp flooding through the natural enemy introduction mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Rates of adolescent mood disorders and adolescent smartphone use have risen in parallel, leading some to suggest that smartphone use might have detrimental effects on adolescents' moods. Alternatively, it is possible that adolescents turn to smartphone use when experiencing negative mood. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between adolescent smartphone use and mood using a longitudinal methodology that measured both in real-time. Method: This study used an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) procedure completed by 253 12-17-year old participants from across the United States. Participants received short surveys delivered to their smartphones at random points throughout the day. Measures included real-time, in-situ assessments of smartphone use, current mood, and mood before smartphone use. Results: Based on tests of a multilevel regression model, adolescent moods were positively associated with smartphone use (β = 0.261, F(1,259.49) = 19.120, p < 0.001), and that mood was positively associated with the length of phone use sessions (length of phone use β = 0.100, F(1, 112.88) = 5.616, p = 0.020). Participants also reported significant changes in mood during phone use, such that moods before phone use were significantly lower than moods during phone use (MChange= 0.539, t(2491) = 23.174, p < 0.001). Change in mood (mood before minus mood during phone use) was positively associated with the length of smartphone use sessions (β = 0.097, F(1,122.20) = 4.178, p = 0.043), such that participants who had a higher change in mood were more likely to report a longer length of smartphone use. Conclusions: Findings suggest that adolescent smartphone use is positively associated with mood. This finding may suggest that adolescents use smartphones for mood modification, which aligns with an understanding of smartphone use as potentially addictive behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the development and potential application of a nutritional Life Cycle Assessment (nLCA) method to rank meals, using a case study of a "toppings on toast" (ToTs) meal. Methodological issues are investigated in the context of application to support consumers to make more informed food choices at the meal level. Methods: Fourteen selected "toppings on toast" (ToTs) commonly consumed in New Zealand (NZ) were evaluated for their climate change impacts and nutritional value using the serve size of each topping as the functional unit (FU). NZ-specific climate change values were obtained from an existing database and recent literature. Nutritional value was calculated using the NRF family of indices - specifically the NRF9.3 and NRF28.3 indices (the latter constructed for this study to include all nutrients in the selected toppings for which reference values were available) and presented in a separate midpoint nutrition impact category. The NRF and climate change scores were assigned quartile-based weights, and the weight of each index score was averaged with that of the climate change score. Based on these average values, the toppings were ranked in two ranking sets (one for each index). In a sensitivity analysis, two alternative reference units were also used (100 g and 100 kcal) to investigate how different FUs influenced the final rankings. Results: The results showed that use of one or other NRF index affected the magnitude of the nLCA results; however, the rankings of the ToTs based on the nLCA results did not change much between the two indices. Avocado and peanut butter performed the best (top two ranks), and bacon, butter, and cheese were the poorest performers (bottom two ranks), for both the ranking sets. The toppings which did change ranks mostly moved up or down by only one position. Thus, the results of this case study suggest that the NRF9.3 index is sufficient to determine overall the best, medium, and worst performing toppings in the ToT meal context. However, the results also showed that water-soluble vitamins and unsaturated fats included in the NRF28.3 index contributed significantly to the nutritional scores for most of the toppings and were instrumental in the rank changes for the toppings which are particularly rich in these nutrients. Discussion: Thus, for a more diverse range of toppings/meals, an expanded index including these nutrients can generate more nuanced rankings. This study contributes to the nascent but fast-growing nLCA research field, particularly within the meal context. The method used in this case study could be applied in food composition databases, restaurant menus, and websites/apps that provides recipes for meals. However, the study also highlighted the potentially significant variability in climate change and nutritional values in the toppings associated with different production practices, seasonality, and different varieties of the same product. Any future development of nLCA-based meal level rankings should address this variability and communicate it to the consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The storage of CO2 and hydrogen within depleted gas and oil reservoirs holds immense potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and advancing renewable energy initiatives. However, achieving effective storage necessitates a thorough comprehension of the dynamic interplay between interfacial tension and wettability alteration under varying conditions. This comprehensive review investigates the multifaceted influence of several critical parameters on the alterations of IFT and wettability during the injection and storage of CO2 and hydrogen. Through a meticulous analysis of pressure, temperature, treatment duration, pH levels, the presence of nanoparticles, organic acids, anionic surfactants, and rock characteristics, this review elucidates the intricate mechanisms governing the changes in IFT and wettability within reservoir environments. By synthesizing recent experimental and theoretical advancements, this review aims to provide a holistic understanding of the processes underlying IFT and wettability alteration, thereby facilitating the optimization of storage efficiency and the long-term viability of depleted reservoirs as carbon capture and storage or hydrogen storage solutions. The insights gleaned from this analysis offer invaluable guidance for researchers, engineers, and policymakers engaged in harnessing the potential of depleted reservoirs for sustainable energy solutions and environmental conservation. This synthesis of knowledge serves as a foundational resource for future research endeavors aimed at enhancing the efficacy and reliability of CO2 and hydrogen storage in depleted reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The United Nations' goals for sustainability, like Zero Hunger by 2030, urge us to find new ways to produce food without harming nature. As traditional resources for feed, like soymeal and fishmeal, become scarcer and more expensive, exploring alternative protein sources is one options. Research on using insect meal instead of fishmeal shows promise in terms of animal growth and feed efficiency. This paper assesses the socio-economic benefits and costs of production of insect meal to substitute fishmeal in feed, while also focusing on factors that would affect performance most. The study evaluates the economic value of insect-based products, waste, and greenhouse gas reduction as socio-economic benefits. Data from laboratory trials and case studies on black soldier fly and yellow mealworm reveal negative balances of socio-economic benefits and costs; however, it is possible that upscaling and more effective technologies could move this positively. Changes in nutrient market values could also shift the balance as well as prevent impact on marine ecosystems from reduction fishery; this was not evaluated but could contribute to the overall outcome. Thus, although the current assessment shows a negative balance, it does not necessarily mean that the production of insect meal for feed is not beneficial for society in the long term. Sustainability targets set by the United Nations, such as Zero Hunger by 2030, encourage the search for innovative solutions to enhance food production while preserving the environment. Alternative protein sources for feed, while conventional resources like soymeal and fishmeal become more expensive and scarcer, is one of the possibilities. Studies on substituting fishmeal with insect meal show promising results in terms of animal growth and feed efficiency. This paper aims to assess the socio-economic benefits and costs of insect meal substituting fishmeal in feed and to highlight the factors influencing performance most. The study evaluates the economic value of insect-based products, waste reduction, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions as socio-economic benefits. It combines empirical data derived from laboratory trials and two case studies covering black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) and yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). Current analyses reveal negative socio-economic balances, emphasizing that reduction of operating and investment costs through upscaling and technological advancements can give a positive move, as well as factors such as current market valuations for nutrients can change significantly. Thus, a negative balance at the moment does not mean that insect rearing, and larva processing are not desirable from a long-term socio-economic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal energy is an abundant natural resource in many regions around the world. However, in some areas, the temperature of the geothermal energy resource is too low to be efficiently harvested. Organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) are known for recovering heat from low-temperature resources and generating electricity. Furthermore, half-effect absorption chillers (HEACs) are designed to produce cooling with low-temperature resources. This study proposes a novel configuration that utilizes an ORC for electricity generation, a HEAC for cooling production, and a PEM electrolysis system to produce hydrogen. The power section consists of two turbines, one driven by the vapor produced from the geothermal flow expansion, which powers the PEM section, while the other turbine in the ORC is used to drive pumps and electricity production. First, the system is thermoeconomically analyzed for an initial set of inputs. Then, various parameters are analyzed to determine their influences on system performance. The analyses reveal that the system can work with geothermal source temperatures as low as 80 °C, but the exergy and energy (thermal) efficiencies decrease to around 17% under the base settings. Furthermore, the system is capable of working with resource temperatures up to 170 °C. Ten parameters are found to affect the system's efficiency and effectiveness. To optimize the system, the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) is implemented to find the optimum conditions. The objective functions are exergy efficiency and unit polygeneration cost (UPGC), which can conflict. The optimization shows that the exergy efficiency of the system can reach 48% in the optimal conditions (for a heat source temperature of 112 °C and a mass flow rate of geothermal fluid of 44 kg/s), with a hydrogen production rate of 1.1 kg/h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]