Important Quality Research Articles

Biological importance and environmental quality of the Laguna Santa Ana in Zacatecas, Mexico

Objective: To determine the environmental quality and diversity of the waterfowl species of the Laguna Santa Ana, located in the municipality of Fresnillo, Zacatecas. Design/Methodology/Approach: A physicochemical analysis of the water was carried out to determine its organic matter pollution. In addition, the Bradford method was applied to establish protein levels, and an optical emission spectrometry was conducted to detect heavy metals. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’) was carried out to identify and count the populations of the lagoon. Results: The physicochemical analysis of water recorded 55 and 230.6 mg/L BOD5 and COD, respectively. High protein levels (0.27-2.95 mL/mL) indicated organic pollution and high arsenic levels. The Shannon-Weiner index (2.7) recorded a high waterfowl diversity. Study Limitations/Implications: Biological abundance was not determined, as a result of the sample size. The changes regarding waterfowl diversity may be the consequence of the seasonal conditions. Findings/Conclusions: The Laguna de Santa Ana has a high waterfowl diversity, including species of international interest; however, organic pollution has caused a a significant environmental deterioration.

Abstract 4119129: PREDICTING 30-DAY ALL-CAUSE READMISSION AFTER STROKE: THE APPLICATION OF MACHINE LEARNING TO LINKED REGISTRY DATA

Background: Thirty-day readmission following hospital discharge for stroke is an important quality measure for US hospitals. Current US prediction models for post stroke readmission based on electronic medical records from single healthcare systems or hospitals have modest discrimination (AUC range 0.64 - 0.74). Aim: To develop 30-day all-cause readmission prediction model using a machine learning (ML) based method trained on linked stroke registry and administrative claims data. Methods: Using probabilistic linking, we matched acute stroke (ICD-10 I61-I63) discharges from 31 hospitals participating in the Michigan Acute Stroke registry between 2016-2020 to multipayer administrative claims data provided by the Michigan Value Collaborative for Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan commercial beneficiaries. Stroke registry data included patient demographics, clinical characteristics, past medical history, and treatments. Claims data was used to identify readmissions within 30 days of discharge. We used multivariable LASSO logistic regression- a simple ML technique to predict 30-day all-cause-readmission and evaluated the prediction accuracy using a hospital-split internal validation scheme to generate hospital-specific and pooled AUC estimates with 95% confidence intervals (Figure 1). Results: Of 19,382 linked stroke discharges, 2,724 (14.1%) were readmitted within 30-days. Readmitted patients were older, more likely to be male, black, and have higher stroke severity (NIHSS >5). Registry hospitals were either primary (64%) or comprehensive (26%) stroke centers. Hospital-specific 30-day readmission ranged between 9.9%-23.1% ( P <.001) with an average of 14.1% (95% CI:13.6%-14.5%) (Figure 2). Hospital specific AUC estimates ranged between 0.60-0.80 with a pooled AUC of 0.68 (95% CI:0.65-0.70) (Figure 2). Conclusions: ML prediction model fitted to linked registry data can be used to predict hospital-specific and statewide readmissions post stroke.

Bubble defect detection for tire shearography images with transfer learning based deep CNN models

Abstract Safety of drivers and passengers is an important quality assurance aim of the tire manufacturers. Tires that have air bubbles in them are a frequent cause of accidents. Recently, manufacturers have placed a high value on employing laborers with tire diagnostic experience. Along with the expenditure of time and money, this process also necessitates a sizable workforce of experienced laborers. The detection of tire defects can be automated utilizing a number of different ways, greatly reducing the margin for human error. One such method is digital shearography, which can be used to detect air bubbles in images. In this study, transfer learning-based models are proposed to classify air bubble defects in tire shearography images. Proposed method employed in transfer learning with several deep learning CNN-based models, including VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, Xception, MobileNetV2 and DenseNet201. Owing to the assistance of the experts at the Pirelli Automobile Tires Izmit factory, we were able to collect and label the dataset used in this study. The dataset contains 1392 tire shearography images. 811 of these images belong to the “good” class, while the remaining 581 images belong to the “bad” class. The proposed method in this study achieves remarkable bubble detection results over 95% in terms of accuracy and other metrics with the DenseNet201 model. The results indicate that the proposed model has comparable accuracy and recall with the existing studies. This study is valuable for the tire industry, as the existing literature offers limited research on the classification of tire bubble defects, the differentiation between defective and defect-free tires, and the categorization of various defect types. In addition, the proposed model offers several advantages over existing studies, including higher robustness against overfitting, suitability for real-time industrial applications, and improved efficiency in processing, making a practical solution for defect detection in industrial settings.

DEVELOPMENT, OPTIMIZATION AND ASSESSMENT OF NAPROXEN MICROSPONGES BY BOX-BEHNKEN DESIGN AS A TARGETTED AND CONTROLLED RELEASE DRUG DELIVERY

Objective: Due to weak physical, chemical stability and poor bioavailability of Naproxen conventional dosage form; the purpose of this work is to improve formulation stability, additionally to accomplish highest possible concentration of the drug in the blood by preparing Naproxen loaded microsponges. Methods: Naproxen Microsponge (NM) was created utilising the quasi emulsion technique. In this process Ethyl Cellulose (EC) acts as a polymer, Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) acts as the emulsifier, and Dichloromethane acts as the solvent. To investigate how changes in different formulation and processing parameters affect important product qualities, a Box Behnken Design (BBD) was used. Particle Size, Percentage Yield, and Entrapment Efficiency (%EE) were selected as response factors, whereas independent variables including EC quantity (X1), PVA concentration (X2), and Stirring Speed (X3) were selected as independent variables. Results: The microsponges underwent thorough analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Particle Size analysis. The evaluation included studying the morphology, drug loading, and in vitro drug release. The compatibility studies showed no chemical interactions between the drug and the polymers used. It was observed that the ratio of drug to polymer had a significant impact on drug content, EE and particle size. The SEM results revealed that the microsponges were spherical with a porous surface and had a mean particle size of 15.15 µm. The in vitro drug release studies demonstrated that the optimized Naproxen Microsponge Formulation (NMF2) achieved over 80% extended drug release by the end of 8 h, following the Corsmeyer Peppas Model. Conclusion: The Naproxen loaded microspheres possessed a sustained release with improved bioavailability and better stability.

Формирование профессионально-важных качеств сотрудников ОВД посредством проектной методики изучения дисциплины «Профессиональная этика и служебный этикет»

The article is devoted to the study of the formation of professionally important qualities (hereinafter referred to as PIC) of students at the Barnaul Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, ensuring their moral and psychological stability (honesty, discipline, responsibility, justice, etc.). An analysis of expert assessments of the formation of professionally important qualities grouped into four clusters "Moral stability", "Sustainability of working capacity", "Self-organization in professional activity", "Extroversion, social activity" was conducted on a representative sample (over 600 respondents). A comparative analysis by forms of study (full-time, part-time, faculty of professional retraining - short-term full-time programs) showed that students of the correspondence form of study included in practical professional activity, assess the formation of "professionally important qualities of students" significantly higher than students of other forms, with the exception of the cluster "Self-organization in professional activity". A comparative analysis of expert assessments of full-time students of the 2nd and 4th years demonstrated positive dynamics in three clusters, proving the overall effectiveness of the educational work of the university. Stagnation of indicators is observed for the factor "sustainability of working capacity". The results of the study formed the basis for developing the content of the course "Professional Ethics and Service Etiquette". The experience of implementing the project method as a technology for developing "professionally important qualities of students" is substantiated and described

Информационная гигиена как фактор успешной профессиональной деятельности сотрудников уголовно-исполнительной системы

The article examines the issues of information hygiene as a factor of successful professional activity of employees of the penal correction system in the context of digital transformation. The insufficiency of research on information hygiene in the psychology of professional activity of specialists is emphasized. Information (digital) hygiene is a certain set of norms and rules that ensure optimal interaction with information of various kinds, which, in turn, ensures the preservation of professional health, personal resources, professional and personal identity and is one of the factors of success of professional activity in the context of digital transformation. Recommendations on the observance of information hygiene in the official activities of employees of the penitentiary system are given. The directions of the official activity of employees of the penal enforcement system in which the use of information hygiene is significant are highlighted: interaction with various information tools and software service products; organization of interdepartmental electronic interaction with law enforcement agencies and other federal executive authorities; information support for the activities of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia; information security and protection of information resources of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia; implementation of various projects of digital transformation of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia. Two approaches are proposed in training to improve the level of development of digital hygiene by employees of the penitentiary system: within the framework of higher and additional professional education. Considering information hygiene as a complex professionally important quality and a factor of successful performance of employees of the penal enforcement system, it is quite natural that these aspects can serve as the basis for taking into account and developing criteria for the success of professional activity in the future, an expanded description and characterization of generalized labor functions of professional standards by position, clarification of occupational and psychograms, optimization of procedures for professional selection and professional certification of employees of the penitentiary system in the dynamics of the professional path.

Application of Small Field Practice in Tennis Teaching in Colleges and Universities

At present, the requirements of quality education are constantly improving, and more attention should be paid to the cultivation of students comprehensive quality. As an important quality training course, physical education can not only strengthen students physical quality to some extent, but also exercise their minds. As a kind of sports, tennis is very popular among college students. However, the training conditions of tennis are harsh and difficult, and some colleges and universities are unable to do their best in tennis teaching. Under this background, the small field practice method has certain advantages, which can enable students to practice independently. Starting from the main content of small field practice, this paper analyzes the application of this practice in college teaching, aiming at strengthening students physique and promoting tennis level.

Formation and Development of Professionally Important Qualities of Civil Defense Specialists at Higher Education Institutions

The article deals with the peculiarities of the formation and development of professionally important qualities of civil defense specialists at higher education institutions. Different approaches to the definition of the concept of «professionally important qualities» are analyzed, according to which the concept is considered as biologically determined (physiological, psychological, innate abilities and inclinations), individual and psychological properties of a personality as a specialist as well as personal properties formed and developed in the process of training and professional activities. The author considers some classifications of professionally important qualities of a civil defense specialist. For any type of professional activity, such professionally important qualities as discipline, responsibility, accuracy, attentiveness, observation, sensitivity, punctuality, restraint, ingenuity, ability to self-control and professional self-assessment of one's own states and actions, purposefulness, developed visual and figurative memory and analytical thinking are relevant. Risky professions require physical endurance, coordination of movements, dexterity, ability to tolerate heavy physical loads and high temperatures, determination and courage, mental and emotional stability, risk-taking, ability to switch, distribute, concentrate and hold attention, react quickly to the situation and make independent decisions and act in extreme conditions, a sense of duty, etc. The following groups of professionally important qualities for civil defense specialists are identified and substantiated: psychophysiological, intellectual, emotional and volitional, moral and ethical, managerial and communicative. The possibilities of their formation and development in the process of cadets' professional training at a higher education institution are considered.

Identification and molecular marker development for peel color gene in melon (Cucumis melo L.)

Peel color is an important appearance quality of melons that greatly affects consumer preferences. In this study, a near-isogenic line NIL-G (dark green peel) was generated from B8 (grey-green peel) and B15 (white peel). The F2 population constructed by crossing NIL-G and B15 was used to study the inheritance pattern of peel color, and bulked-segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) was employed to identify the interval in which the target gene was located. Genetic analysis results showed that the dark green peel trait at maturity is controlled by a dominant gene. BSA-seq and molecular markers were used to localize the candidate gene in a 263.7 kb interval of chromosome 4, which contained the CmAPRR2 gene with known functions. Moreover, allelic sequence analysis revealed four SNP variations of the CmAPRR2 gene in B15, of which SNP.G614331A was located at the junction of the 6th exon and 6th intron. The G-to-A mutation caused alternative splicing of the transcript of CmAPRR2 in B15, generating two transcripts (CmAPRR2-A and CmAPRR2-B) with premature termination codons. Furthermore, the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker, APRR2-G/A, was developed based on this SNP and shown to co-segregate with the peel color phenotype in the F2 population. Compared to white-peel B15, the expression level of CmAPRR2 in dark green peel NIL-G was higher at each growth stage. Therefore, CmAPRR2 may be the key gene controlling the fruit color of melons. Overall, this study identified a novel allelic variant of CmAPRR2 that leads to white peel formation in mature melons. The study also provides a theoretical basis for further research on the gene regulatory mechanism of melon peel colors and may promote the future use of molecular marker-assisted selection to modify melon peel colors.

Development of a qPCR assay for the quantification of canine autosomal DNA recovered from livestock attacks

The absence of a standardised method to quantify canine DNA recovered from livestock attacks leaves forensic providers without an important quality control step to help support their decision making. Typically used to normalise the amount of DNA for STR amplification, modern forensic DNA quantification approaches use qPCR of target genes and can also include an Internal Positive Controls (IPC) to determine the presence of PCR inhibitors. The co-amplification of livestock DNA alongside canine DNA has meant that previously developed qPCR methods are not suitable for use so a standardised approach is needed. This research describes the development of a Taq-man multiplex qPCR assay that simultaneously quantifies the autosomal MC1R and Y-specific SRY gene to determine the concentration of canine DNA recovered from attacked livestock. Data suggests that the method is robust and reproducible with no significant difference in the standard curves produced from multiple runs or from different DNA standards derived from different canines. Assay sensitivity of between 15 and 31 pg is consistent with other forensic quantification assays and also in line with the sensitivity of the two tested canine STR kits, Canine Genotype 2.1 Kit and CaDNAP Panels 1 and 2. The assay is highly specific to canines when tested against 163 different dogs representing 33 different breeds and no cross-amplification of non-target species’ DNA was observed even from livestock DNA tested at 31.25ng/µl. This strongly suggests that any DNA detected on evidence collected from attacked livestock is canine. The assay also shows robust tolerance to common livestock inhibitors continuing to amplify when inhibitor-spiked DNA samples were tested. Both mixed and inhibited DNA samples underwent STR typing using two canine forensic STR kits with data showing the Canine Genotype 2.1 Kit displaying pronounced cross-amplification of livestock DNA and and/or extensive PCR inhibition leading to the complete loss of amplification when using this kit. Conversely the CaDNAP Panels 1 and 2 showed little cross-amplification of livestock DNA and improved inhibitor tolerance suggesting that this approach was better suited for the analysis of livestock attack samples. Findings are discussed and the impact of the observations on future work in this area are explored.

Caregiver-reported satisfaction with pediatric movement disorder surgery.

Patient- and surrogate-reported outcomes are increasingly recognized as important and historically limited dimensions of satisfaction with medical care. Evaluating caregiver satisfaction for cerebral palsy (CP) patients with pediatric movement disorders (PMDs) remains undefined, limited by a lack of appropriate tools and the heterogeneity of the patient population. The authors identified caregiver satisfaction with the neurosurgical management of PMDs as a key quality metric and report their results across an institutional experience. A retrospective single-institution survey study was performed on caregivers of consecutive children who underwent PMD surgery from March 2022 to December 2023. The authors designed a brief 4-question satisfaction survey with dichotomous yes/no answers. The telephone survey solicited answers from primary caregivers, and contact attempts were made 3 times before labeling a nonresponder. Non-English speakers were included. The survey answers were correlated with demographic characteristics, clinical data, and complications. Descriptive statistics were performed using Excel. Seventy patients were identified in the study period with 50 associated caregivers voluntarily responding to the questionnaire (50/70 [71.4%]). Forty-six male and 24 female patients with a mean (range) age of 13.1 (2-34) years and a follow-up range of 3-20 months were included. All 50 caregivers reported satisfaction with the surgical care their child received: 100% confirmed they would refer others to the program and 94% confirmed that they would have the surgery again in retrospect. Ten caregivers (10/50 [20%]) recalled complications, but only 5 (5/50 [10%]) surgical complications resulted in hospital readmission. Caregivers were overwhelmingly satisfied with the neurosurgical care for PMDs and would recommend the functional pediatric neurosurgery program to others. A large percentage would again submit to the surgery. There is a perception disparity between caregiver- and hospital-identified complications; it may be beneficial to emphasize expected adverse effects with caregivers prior to surgery. Caregiver satisfaction remains an important quality dimension and future research may benefit from more objective metrics.

A rapid evaluation method for pumpkin sensory quality based on near‐infrared spectroscopy

AbstractThe sensory quality (SQ) of pumpkin fruit is one of the most important quality indexes for consumers. In this study, a rapid pumpkin SQ evaluation method based on near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was introduced. The starch and moisture contents of pumpkins were first determined by NIRS, and then the SQ of pumpkin could be estimated indirectly by these components. Test was carried out on 97 samples of 34 pumpkin fruits. The pumpkin starch and water NIRS models based on variable dimension particle swarm optimization combined moving window (VDPSO‐CMW) and standard normal variate transformation (SNV) showed the best predictive performances, whose predictive determination coefficients (R2p) were 0.775 and 0.932, respectively. A multiple linear regression model (correlation coefficient = 0.788) was established based on the prediction results of the two models and the SQ values obtained from cooking experiments. The proposed method has the potential to provide effective support for pumpkin breeding and production.

Proposed Improvement of Trans Semanggi Suroboyo Services Using IPA and QFD Methods

The high intensity of private vehicle usage has led to uncontrolled road congestion. To encourage residents to switch to public transportation, the Surabaya City Government introduced Trans Semanggi Suroboyo. Trans Semanggi Suroboyo experienced a decrease in passengers in 2023, with a decline of 324,711 passengers. Based on a preliminary survey with direct interviews conducted with 35 Trans Semanggi Suroboyo passengers, frequent complaints were related to service and facilities. Therefore, it is important to analyze and propose improvements to the services of Trans Semanggi Suroboyo as public transportation in Surabaya. To enhance the quality of services and facilities, it is essential to identify and evaluate passenger perceptions using service quality dimensions based on the Decree of the Director General of Land Transportation Number SK.5923/AJ.005/DRJD/2016. The most important service quality priorities for passengers are measured using the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method. This research identified 9 critical attributes that require improvement. Subsequently, a service quality improvement design was developed using the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) approach through the House of Quality (HoQ) matrix, resulting in 5 priority technical responses. Based on these findings, a plan for improving the service and facilities of the Trans Semanggi Suroboyo bus was proposed to maintain the quality of public transportation services.

Professionally significant qualities of teaching producing in the context of digital development: Evaluating the effectiveness by education stakeholders

Introduction. The article is devoted to the problem of increasing the level of communicative culture in future economists in the digital era. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the effectiveness of professionally important qualities of teaching producing in universities of Economics, taking into account the digital format of interaction. Materials and Methods. The methodological basis of the study is the Pareto optimality principle (2080), which allows the authors to determine the necessary minimum of teaching resources in terms of modern communication knowledge for training economists in the digital age. During the study, an online survey was conducted in order to substantiate the effectiveness of professionally important qualities of teaching producing in the context of the digital specifics of the socio-economic space. The research sample consisted of students and academic staff of economics departments of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Omsk State Pedagogical University, and Omsk State Technical University. Results. The theoretical analysis of the research problem revealed professionally important qualities of teaching producing (communication skills, digitals kills, knowledge of the principles of teaching ethics to create an atmosphere of trust and psychological safety), which facilitate the development of future economists’ communicative culture (motivational, cognitive, and functional components). According to the results of the empirical part of the study, the education stakeholders highly appreciated the effectiveness of professionally significant qualities of teaching producing and their positive correlation. Conclusions. The use of the Pareto rule allows the authors to conclude that the formation of professionally significant t qualities of teaching producing, which make up about 20% of the professional qualities composition for academic staff at universities of economics, determines 80% of the productivity of educational outcomes in terms of developing future economists’ communicative culture. This, in turn, determines the ability of graduates to build communication taking into account the career prospects at various levels of digitalization and interaction with artificial intelligence systems.

Stiffness and hardness of thermally modified timber assessed with explainable machine learning

Thermal modification is an environmentally friendly practice to enhance the durability of wood. Despite the method's effectiveness in improving wood durability and dimensional stability, the mechanical properties of wood could be compromised following the heat treatment process. While most of the literature has focused on studying the impact of wood modification on stiffness or strength, less attention was given to characterization and nondestructive prediction of wood hardness following thermal treatment. Hardness, an important quality indicator of wood, has been a subject of limited research in the context of developing predictive models for assessing the hardness of thermally modified wood. The existing research in this area has either been scarce or unsuccessful, with poor predictive performance being a common issue. This research studies the impact of thermal modification on the longitudinal and transverse hardness of some common North American softwoods (Douglas-fir, Western hemlock, red cedar) and hardwoods (red alder, paper birch). It also aims to develop an explainable machine-learning (TreeNet gradient boosting machine) predictive model for hardness prediction using stress wave data combined with wood density and information about the type of wood species and heat treatment level. The impact of heat treatment on the stress wave velocity, density, and hardness was studied, and the dependency of the variables was assessed using correlation and clustering analysis. Machine learning modeling showed that the longitudinal and transverse hardness could be predicted by having a maximum R2 (test data) of 70.62 and 72.78, respectively, with a relative importance of the predictors in descending order as wood species > density > wave velocity >MOEdyn> heat treatment. Using the top 3 critical parameters yielded an R2 (test data) of ∼69 % for both models. The developed model could predict the hardness of various wood species treated at different temperatures, having only the type of wood species and its density followed by the stress wave velocity, which can be measured at an industrial scale.

Simultaneous extraction and deglycosylation for flavonoid analysis in Ginkgo biloba products using a two-phase deep eutectic solvent system

Total flavonoid content is one of the most important quality indicators of Ginkgo biloba leaves and its products, but the complex pretreatment procedures and the excessive use of organic solvents complicate the detection process. In response, an innovative and efficient two-phase deep eutectic solvent (DES) system—composed of an acidic hydrophilic DES and a hydrophobic DES—was developed to quantify flavonoids for quality control of G. biloba products. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detection conditions were optimized, followed by systematic screening and design of the two-phase DES system through adjustments to polarity, hydrophilicity, and acidity. Optimal pretreatment conditions were established through operating condition optimization. This approach enabled simultaneous extraction, deglycosylation, and enrichment of all flavonoids from G. biloba samples into the hydrophobic phase in a single step. Method validation showed strong linearity with a correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.9995). The detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) limits were between 0.35 and 0.37 mg/kg, and 0.92 and 0.96 mg/kg, respectively. The method also exhibited high sensitivity and accuracy, with a recovery rate of 96.91–100.39%. A greenness assessment with the ComplexGAPI tool confirmed this method’s eco-friendly advantages over conventional techniques, aligning well with green chemistry and economic principles. Ultimately, this technique effectively measured flavonoid levels in different G. biloba products. The method developed in this work not only enhances the efficiency of simultaneous extraction and deglycosylation by modifying the polarity, hydrophilicity, and acidity of the two-phase DES system, but also offers valuable insights for the advancement of environmentally friendly analysis technology for flavonoids.

Chinese consumer perception and purchasing behavior of beef – Mainly in North and East China

Beef is an important food for Chinese people and understanding the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that impact on their satisfaction and purchasing behavior is necessary for industry growth. This was confirmed using an online survey that included 26 questions and 3617 valid responses, mainly from people located in North and East China. It was found that 47.7 % of Chinese residents like to eat beef, and they perceive beef as healthy and of high nutritional value. Chilled beef, exclusive of hot-boned or frozen products, was preferred by the majority (58.2 %) of respondents. Shank was the most popular beef cut for Chinese consumers, reflecting that stewing was found to be the preferred method for cooking beef. There were demographic differences in consumption frequency, purchase location, and the most important sensory qualities of beef for Chinese consumers. Male consumers placed more importance on the marbling of beef compared to female consumers (P < 0.05). Meat color, marbling, and price were ranked as the top three factors considered when respondents were purchasing beef. Eating and cooking habits had the strongest effect on consumer willingness to purchase beef. These findings will help to support consumer orientated beef production and processing in North and East China.

Cognitive Function and the Consumption of Probiotic Foods: A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Study.

Background/Objectives: Impaired cognition is a key trait of the diseases of aging and is an important quality of life factor for older adults and their families. Over the past decade, there has been an increasing appreciation for the role of the microbiome in cognition, as well as emerging evidence that probiotics, such as those in yogurt and other dairy products, can have a positive impact on cognitive function. However, it is unclear to what extent the consumption of yogurt is associated with improved cognitive function in older adults. Methods: Therefore, we compared the scores for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Digit-Symbol Substitution Test between respondents who self-reported daily yogurt/dairy consumption with those who claimed they did not in an NHANES. Results: We found that cognitive scores were significantly higher (40.03 ± 0.64 vs. 36.28 ± 1.26, p = 0.017) in respondents reporting daily yogurt/dairy consumption, though only a trend remained after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates (p = 0.074). Conclusions: Further studies are required to confirm that this is a cause-effect relationship and whether changing diets is a low-cost means of protecting aging populations from cognitive decline and improving their quality of life.

Adrian Figg.

"A turning point in my career was spending a summer in grad school with Prof. Cyrille Boyer at UNSW learning PET-RAFT polymerization. Most of our projects revolve around addressing limitations in RAFT polymerization using photoredox catalysis… The most important quality of a mentor is creating environments to foster qualities you don't know you have yet…" Find out more about Adrian Figg in his Introducing… Profile.

Studies of genetic diversity and genome-wide association for vitamin C content in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) using high-throughput SNP arrays.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a source of beneficial compounds though they are generally present in low quantities. We used 40K Axiom and 9K Infinium SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) arrays to (i) explore the genetic variability in 21 varieties and (ii) carry out genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of vitamin C content in21 varieties and a population of 205 plants from the richest variety in vitamin C ('Lechuga del Pirineo'). Structure and phylogenetic analyses showed that the group formed mainly by traditional varieties was the most diverse, whereas the red commercial varieties clustered together and very distinguishably apart from the rest. GWAS consistently detected, in a region of chromosome 2, several SNPs related to dehydroascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C) content using three different methods to assess population structure, subpopulation membership coefficients, multidimensional scaling, and principal component analysis. The latter detected the highest number of SNPs (17) and the most significantly associated, 12 of them showing a high linkage disequilibrium with the lead SNP. Among the 84 genes in the region, some have been reported to be related to vitamin C content or antioxidant status in other crops either directly, like those encoding long non-coding RNA, several F-box proteins, and a pectinesterase/pectinesterase inhibitor, or indirectly, like extensin-1-like protein and endoglucanase 2 genes. The involvement of other genes identified within the region in vitamin C levels needs to be further studied. Understanding the genetic control of such an important quality trait in lettuce becomes very relevant from a breeding perspective.