Optimal Time Research Articles

Exercise Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Women with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Abstract Purpose Anthracyclines have been one of the standard therapies for breast cancer (BC), and dose-related cardiotoxicity is one serious side effect. Exercise is an effective strategy for the prevention and management of BC, endorsed by experts in both exercise and oncology. However, there is a great deal of confusion about the effectiveness of exercise on anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and the exercise prescription (i.e., timing, type, and intensity) for cardiotoxicity, which limits its application in clinical settings. The aim of this article is to review the safety of exercise in BC patients receiving anthracyclines and its effectiveness in preventing cardiotoxicity. Methods Six electronic databases were searched using terms related to exercise, BC, anthracyclines, and cardiotoxicity for retrieving clinical randomized controlled trials in either Chinese or English. A summary of the included literature was also provided. Results Of 202 records screened, 10 were eligible. A total of 434 BC patients (stage I–IIIC, mean age ranged from 43.5 to 52.4 years) were included. The main findings were that: (1) Acute (a single bout) moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise could prevent NT-proBNP elevation beyond the threshold of acute myocardial injury; (2) Long-term (> 8 weeks) moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise (continuous or interval) could improve or maintain left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiorespiratory fitness in BC patients. However, the optimal timing, type, and intensity of exercise for people with BC to prevent cardiotoxicity remain unclear. Conclusion Moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise may be an effective non-pharmacological approach to mitigate cardiotoxicities induced by anthracyclines in women with BC. However, the optimal exercise prescription for preventing cardiotoxicity remains unclear.

Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen in Filler-Induced Vascular Occlusion.

The rising incidence of filler-induced vascular complications in the context of aesthetic procedures necessitates a thorough assessment of therapeutic options. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has emerged as a potential intervention for filler-induced vascular occlusion (FIVO), although optimal dosing and timing remain undefined. This review explores the pathophysiology of FIVO and elucidates HBOT's multifaceted role in salvaging ischemic tissue. The physical and biochemical mechanisms of HBOT, including its vasodilatory, anti-spasmodic, and anti-inflammatory effects, are examined. HBOT serves as an adjunctive therapy in FIVO management, emphasizing timely intervention, adherence to specific pressures (two atmosphere absolute), and session durations (60 minutes) to optimize efficacy and minimize complications. While existing HBOT protocols for compromised grafts provide insights, standardized guidelines for FIVO are lacking. HBOT enhances tissue oxygenation, modulates reactive oxygen species, and influences angiogenesis and hypoxia response. However, it does not replace key treatment protocols for filler vascular complications. Further research and standardized protocols are warranted to define HBOT's definitive role in mitigating filler-induced vascular complications. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Influence of Synthesis Parameters on the Short-Range Structure and Electrochemical Performances of Li2MnO2F.

In the last years, disordered rocksalt structure (DRS) materials were proposed as a positive electrode for lithium-ion batteries. In particular, the fluorinated DRS materials were proposed to be more stable upon cycling than pure oxide counterparts. These materials are mainly obtained by mechanosynthesis in order to incorporate a significant number of F ions and maintain a disordered structure. Since the local structural arrangement is crucial for battery application, we aim to monitor its evolution upon the synthesis of Li2MnO2F from two sets of precursors: Mn2O3, Li2O, and LiF or LiMnO2 and LiF. The synthesis progress was thus followed, by 7Li and 19F MAS NMR coupled to XRD to probe the structure at different scales. This allowed us to identify an optimal milling time to reach the final compounds. We show that they exhibit similar morphology (by SEM), medium- and short-range orders (by XRD, 7Li and 19F NMR, EXAFS), and average Mn oxidation degree (by XANES). The electrochemical performances of the two compounds are almost similar, with high specific capacities of 319 mAh·g-1 ("from LiMnO2") and 304 mAh·g-1 ("from Mn2O3") for the first charge to 4.8 V vs Li+/Li, proving their interest as post-NMC candidates as positive electrode materials.

Effect of high-dose vitamin C on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Acute kidney injury frequently occurs after cardiac surgery, and is primarily attributed to renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and inflammation from surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass. Vitamin C, an antioxidant that is often depleted in critically ill patients, could potentially mitigate I/R-induced oxidative stress at high doses. We investigated the effectiveness of high-dose vitamin C in preventing I/R-induced renal injury. The ideal time and optimal dosage for administration were determined in a two-phase experiment on Sprague–Dawley rats. The rats were assigned to four groups: sham, IRC (I/R + saline), and pre- and post-vitC (vitamin C before and after I/R, respectively), with vitamin C administered at 200 mg/kg. Additional groups were examined for dose modification based on the optimal timing determined: V100, V200, and V300 (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg, respectively). Renal I/R was achieved through 45 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Vitamin C administration during reperfusion significantly reduced renal dysfunction and tubular damage, more than pre-ischemic administration. Doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg during reperfusion reduced oxidative stress markers, including myeloperoxidase and inflammatory responses by decreasing high mobility group box 1 release and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 inflammasome. Overall beneficial effect was most prominent with 200 mg/kg. The 300 mg/kg dose, however, showed no additional benefits over the IRC group regarding serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels and histological evaluation. During reperfusion, high-dose vitamin C administration (200 mg/kg) significantly decreased renal I/R injury by effectively attenuating the major triggers of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Early vs Late Fixation of Extremity Fractures Among Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury

The optimal timing for fixation of extremity fractures after traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains controversial. To investigate whether patients who underwent extremity fixation within 24 hours of TBI experienced worse outcomes than those who had the procedure 24 hours or more after TBI. This cohort study used data from the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study. Patients 16 years or older with TBI who underwent internal extremity fixation met inclusion criteria. To compare outcomes, patients who underwent the procedure within 24 hours were propensity score matched with those who underwent it 24 hours or later. Patients were treated from December 9, 2014, to December 17, 2017. Data analysis was conducted between August 1, 2022, and December 25, 2023. The primary outcome was an unfavorable functional status at 6 months (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended [GOSE] score ≤4). A total of 253 patients were included in this study. The median age was 41 (IQR, 27-57) years, and 184 patients (72.7%) were male. The median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 41 (IQR, 27-49). Approximately half of the patients (122 [48.2%]) had a mild TBI while 120 (47.4%) had moderate to severe TBI. Seventy-four patients (29.2%) underwent an internal extremity fixation within 24 hours, while 179 (70.8%) had the procedure 24 hours or later. At 6 months, 86 patients (34.0%) had an unfavorable functional outcome. After propensity score matching, there were no statistically significant differences in unfavorable functional outcomes at 6 months (odds ratio [OR], 1.12 [95% CI, 0.51-1.99]; P = .77) in patients with TBI of any severity. Similar results were observed in patients with mild TBI (OR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.22-2.29]; P = .56) and moderate to severe TBI (OR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.32-3.70]; P = .90). The outcomes of extremity fracture fixation performed within 24 hours after TBI appear not to be worse than those of procedures performed 24 hours or later. This finding suggests that early fixation after TBI could be considered in patients with mild head injuries.

Study on the change rule of low-temperature properties of asphalt binder with aging time

ABSTRACT Low-temperature cracking is common distress in asphalt pavements. Understanding the change rule of its low-temperature properties is helpful in investigating the optimal maintenance timing of asphalt pavement. In this paper, the change rule of low-temperature properties of asphalt binders with aging time is investigated by various indexes. Four asphalt binders and four anti-aging modified asphalt binders were subjected to the rolling thin film oven (RTFO) test and pressure aging vessel (PAV) test. Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) with the 4 mm parallel plates was used to determine the low-temperature properties of asphalt binders. The results show that aging and low temperature have a negative impact on the low-temperature properties of asphalt binders. The anti-aging agent improves the low-temperature properties and aging resistance of asphalt binders. Compared with other indexes, the critical cracking temperature Tc and the critical temperature difference ΔTc are more suitable for analysing the effect of aging on the low-temperature properties of asphalt binders. Also, the ΔTc shows the three-stage decreasing rule of ‘fast-slow-fast’, with the inflection points. It meant that the low-temperature properties of asphalt binders had been altered at the inflection points, which provided a favourable reference to research on the optimal maintenance timing of asphalt pavement.

Embodied practice in a disembodied time: How the COVID‐19 pandemic shaped direct work with children and young people

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic and related restrictions imposed in the UK had a significant impact on social work practice with children and young people. As has been widely reported, practitioners were deprived of multisensory information in their assessments and of opportunities to connect with children. In this article, we consider data from Scotland, created through interviews with practitioners during May 2021, a time of tentative optimism between periods of widespread lockdown. The Scottish policy context offers particular tensions and contrasts through which to understand how practice was impacted by physical distancing measures. Just prior to the beginning of pandemic restrictions, in February 2020, the report of Scotland's Independent Care Review, The Promise, was published and emphasized the importance of love, nurture, and care for children. The Promise encouraged professionals to ‘bring their whole selves to work’ and to relate to families in ways that are natural, and not constrained by ideas of professionalism. The following month, the country was in a national lockdown with strict restrictions on the contact workers could have with families. Drawing on data from practitioners working in this context, we aim to explore how social workers reconceptualized direct work with children during this period.

Effectiveness of wood ash and paper sludge as liming and nutrient sources for annual ryegrass grown in podzolic soils of Newfoundland

AbstractThe acidic soils of western Newfoundland require liming for successful production of most crops. Locally sourced paper mill waste wood ash (WA) and paper sludge (SL) have potential as cheaper alternatives to limestone (LIME). Two greenhouse experiments evaluated WA and SL as liming and soil conditioning amendments for annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) production. At 55 days after seeding, soil pH in WA (6.2 and 6.3) and wood ash and paper sludge (WASL) (6.0 and 6.3) were not different from that in LIME (6.0 and 6.5) for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. However, pH in SL was 0.4 and 0.3 points lower than in LIME. Compared to LIME, WA, SL, and WASL produced 31%–52% and 57%–74% greater biomass yield in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. N uptake was greater in WA (60 and 129 kg N ha−1) and WASL (51 and 97 kg N ha−1) compared to LIME (40 and 85 kg N ha−1), in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. SL did not differ from LIME in Experiment 1, but reduced N uptake by 57% in Experiment 2. The results show significant potential of WA as an alternative amendment for liming and yield improvement of annual ryegrass grown in NL podzolic soils. However, SL has limited potential due to the risk of increasing N immobilization and residual soil mineral N when growing conditions are limiting. Combining SL with WA or biochar seemed to alleviate these risks. Overall, the adoption of these amendments for field production systems warrants serious consideration, following supplemental field studies to determine optimal application rates and timing.

Early Beta-Blocker Utilization in Critically Ill Patients With Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

There is limited evidence that beta-blockers may provide benefit for patients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the acute injury period. Larger studies on utilization patterns and impact on outcomes in clinical practice are lacking. The present study uses a large, national hospital claims-based dataset to examine early beta-blocker utilization patterns and its association with clinical outcomes among critically ill patients with moderate-severe TBI. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of the administrative claims Premier Healthcare Database of adults (≥17 years) with moderate-severe TBI admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from 2016 to 2020. The exposure was receipt of a beta-blocker during day 1 or 2 of ICU stay (BB+). The primary outcome was hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were: hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, discharge to home, and vasopressor utilization. In a sensitivity analysis, we explored the association of beta-blocker class (cardioselective and noncardioselective) with hospital mortality. We used propensity weighting methods to address possible confounding by treatment indication. A total of 109 665 participants met inclusion criteria and 39% (n = 42 489) were exposed to beta-blockers during the first 2 days of hospitalization. Of those, 42% received cardioselective only, 43% received noncardioselective only, and 14% received both. After adjustment, there was no association with hospital mortality in the BB+ group compared to the BB- group (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94, 1.04). The BB+ group had longer hospital stays, lower chance of discharged home, and lower risk of vasopressor utilization, although these difference were clinically small. Beta-blocker class was not associated with hospital mortality. In this retrospective cohort study, we found variation in use of beta-blockers and early exposure was not associated with hospital mortality. Further research is necessary to understand the optimal type, dose, and timing of beta-blockers for this population.

Anatomical changes and dosimetric analysis of the neck region based on FBCT for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients during radiotherapy.

The study aimed to investigate anatomical changes in the neck region and evaluate their impact on dose distribution in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Additionally, the study sought to determine the optimal time for replanning during the course of treatment. Twenty patients diagnosed with NPC underwent IMRT, with weekly pretreatment kV fan beam computed tomography (FBCT) scans in the treatment room. Metastasized lymph nodes in the neck region and organs at risk (OARs) were redelineation using the images from the FBCT scans. Subsequently, the original treatment plan (PLAN0) was replicated to each FBCT scan to generate new plans labeled as PLAN 1-6. The dose-volume histograms (DVH) of the new plans and the original plan were compared. One-way repeated measure ANOVA was utilized to establish threshold(s) at various time points. The presence of such threshold(s) would signify significant change(s), suggesting the need for replanning. Progressive volume reductions were observed over time in the neck region, the gross target volume for metastatic lymph nodes (GTVnd), as well as the submandibular glands and parotids. Compared to PLAN0, the mean dose (Dmean) of GTVnd-L significantly increased in PLAN5, while the minimum dose covering 95% of the volume (D95%) of PGTVnd-L showed a significant decrease from PLAN3 to PLAN6. Similarly, the Dmean of GTVnd-R significantly increased from PLAN4 to PLAN6, whereas the D95% of PGTVnd-R exhibited a significant decrease during the same period. Furthermore, the dose of bilateral parotid glands, bilateral submandibular glands, brainstem and spinal cord was gradually increased in the middle and late period of treatment. Significant anatomical and dosimetric changes were noted in both the target volumes and OARs. Considering the thresholds identified, it is imperative to undertake replanning at approximately 20 fractions. This measure ensures the delivery of adequate doses to target volumes while mitigating the risk of overdosing on OARs.

MALDI-TOF MS combined with AUC method for tigecycline susceptibility testing in Escherichia coli.

The wide spread of tet(X4) gene orthologues in the environment, food, poultry and humans is causing serious tigecycline resistance. Consequently, developing a fast and universal method to detect tigecycline resistance has become increasingly important. During 2019-2022, 116 Escherichia coli isolates were obtained from nine provinces in China. All isolates were tested for their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents by the microdilution broth method and for the tet(X4) gene by PCR. Ten tet(X4)-positive E. coli isolates were used to confirm certain conditions, including the optimal incubation time, the optimal concentration of tigecycline, and the cut-off of the relative growth (RG) value. The optimal time and concentration of tigecycline for separation of susceptible and resistant isolates was 2 h and 4 mg/L, and the RG cut-off value was 0.4. We validated whether the experiment was feasible using 116 isolates of E. coli. The method yielded a susceptibility of 94.9% (95% CI: 81.4%-99.1%) and a specificity of 96.1% (95% CI: 88.3%-99.0%). This research has shown that this optical antimicrobial susceptibility testing method can rapidly differentiate between susceptible and resistant phenotypes in isolates of E. coli. In the same range as the current gold-standard methods, the clinical turnaround time is reduced from 48 h to 2.5 h. The above results suggest that the method has splendid specificity and operationality.

Analysis of Lithium Aging Using Machine Learning-Enhanced Spectroscopy Techniques

Lithium compounds such as lithium hydride (LiH) and lithium hydroxide (LiOH) have a wide range of industrial applications, but are highly reactive in environments with H2O and CO2. These reactions lead to the ingrowth of secondary lithium compounds, which can alter the homogeneity and affect the application of particular lithium chemicals. This study performed an exploratory analysis of different lithium compounds using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy. Machine learning models are trained on the recorded spectral data to discriminate emission features that differ between LiH, LiOH, and Li2CO3 to perform high-fidelity classification. Support vector machine classifiers yield perfect prediction accuracy between the three compounds with optimal training time. Multivariate methods are then used to produce regression models quantifying the ingrowth of LiOH in LiH. Performing a mid-level data fusion of selected LIBS and Raman features with partial least-squares regression produces the superlative model with a root mean square error of 2.5 wt[Formula: see text] and a detection limit of 6.3 wt[Formula: see text].

Commentary: Optimal Timing for Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures: When Is Best?

Commentary: Optimal Timing for Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures: When Is Best?

Optimal timing of faculty teaching when combined with near-peer teaching: A mixed methods analysis

Background Near-peer teaching is increasingly used in medical education, supporting or replacing faculty teaching. It has positive aspects for learners and tutors, some of which are explained by higher social and cognitive congruence between learners and near-peer tutors (NPTs). This study investigates the optimal combination of faculty tutors (FTs) and NPTs in an abdominal ultrasound course. Methods Sixty-four third-year medical students underwent a basic ultrasound course, with 75% of lessons taught by NPTs and 25% by FTs. Each of four groups had a different faculty teaching timing. A mixed methods approach used a survey and semi-structured interviews at the course end to elicit learners’ preferences, and end-of-course examination scores to look for differences in outcomes. Results Most learners preferred having faculty teaching in the second half of the course, saying it would be overwhelming to start with FTs. Learners preferred between a quarter and a third of the teaching to be from FTs, with NPTs rated better at teaching basics, and FTs contributing unique, helpful clinical knowledge. There was no significant between-group difference in examination scores. Conclusions Medical students preferred most of their teaching to be from NPTs, with some faculty input in the second half of the course.

(098) Does Early Implantation of Penile Prosthesis for Ischemic Priapism Associated with Decreased Complication Rate? A Systematic Review of Literature

Abstract Introduction Ischemic priapism (IP) is a prolonged undesired erection that accounts for >95% of all priapism episodes. Like compartment syndrome, it is characterized by diminished corporal blood flow and can lead to corporal fibrosis, penile shortening, and refractory erectile dysfunction. Penile prosthesis (PP) implantation is the treatment option in IP to treat the priapic episode and to preserve erectile function. However, no standardization exists regarding the optimal timing of PP implantation surgery. Objective The present review aims to systematically analyse the literature comparing early and delayed PP implantation in patients with IP. Methods A systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to July 1st, 2023 and followed by hand searching. All the steps were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. We assess the quality of evidence and the risk of bias in each included study. Results Three retrospective cohort studies comprising 199 subjects were included in this systematic review. All studies have different definitions of the timing of early PP implantation, ranging from within one week to ≤6 months from the onset of priapism. Despite different types of PP used, all studies agreed that early PP implantation results in lower intraoperative complications, such as corporeal perforation and urethral injury, greater preservation of penile length and girth, and a lower rate of prosthetic revision. On the other hand, the delayed insertion was linked to a longer surgical time because of challenges brought on by fibrotic tissue, with most of them also requiring a smaller cylinder. In regards to post-operative complication, the majority of studies demonstrated that delayed implantation would result in a higher rate of complication rate; however, one study demonstrated that early PP implantation had a higher likelihood of prosthesis erosion and infection, which was believed due to a higher rate of bacterial invasion during the earlier shunt surgeries. Conclusions The majority of current evidence favours early penile prosthesis insertion in term of lower complication rate for IP, especially the intraoperative complication, for IP, compared to the delayed implantation. Nevertheless, better quality evidence is still needed from RCT to determine the exact timing for early implantation, patient selection, and the best penile prosthesis types. Disclosure No.

Splenic gene expression of cytokines at multiple time points following lipopolysaccharide challenge in layers.

To investigate inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection in layers. 33 40-week-old laying hens were used. 30 laying hens were divided into 2 groups: the first group was injected with 8 mg/kg LPS, while the second group was injected with sterile saline. At the start of the study, 3 birds served as a baseline and were used as the time 0 controls for both the saline and LPS-treated groups. Blood and spleen tissues were collected at 0 (before) and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours after injection. LPS administration increased splenic mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α (P < .001) and serum IL-6 levels (P < .01) compared to saline injection. The mRNA expression of most cytokine genes increased rapidly toward peak values within 2 hours after the LPS injection, and then the difference between the saline and LPS treatments got smaller as time went on; serum IL-6 reached its highest concentration 2 hours after LPS administration. The magnitude of LPS-induced upregulation of gene expression was the highest for IL-6, followed by IL-1β and IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α was the least affected. The temporal and quantitative profile of these inflammatory mediators generated from this study provides valuable information in identifying the optimal time window and appropriate biomarkers for LPS-induced inflammation, which has significant implications in evaluating the effects of interventions on the immune system of chickens.

Adult versus adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: a meta-analysis of clinical and radiographic outcomes.

While the natural history of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and adult idiopathic scoliosis (AdIS) is well documented in the literature, the impact of age on postoperative outcomes remains an active area of research. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare patients undergoing surgery for AIS and AdIS with respect to: (1) postoperative Cobb correction, (2) perioperative variables, and (3) postoperative complications. A systematic literature search was performed in accordance with preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. studies published between 2002 and 2022, retrospective, and comparing AIS vs. AdIS patients undergoing deformity surgery. The primary outcome was postoperative Cobb correction. Secondary outcomes included estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, total instrumented levels, length of stay (LOS), and postoperative complications. Random-effects models were performed according to the method of DerSimonian and Laird. Of 190 identified articles, 14 fit the inclusion criteria. A total of 1788 patients were included, 1275(71.3%) with AIS, and 513(28.7%) with AdIS. There was a significant age difference between AIS and AdIS (15.3 vs. 36.7years, mean difference (MD) = 21.3years, 95%CI = 14.3-28.4,p < 0.001). Mean postoperative Cobb percentage correction was reported in 5 articles and was significantly higher in AIS (68.4%) vs. AdIS (61.4%) (MD = -7.2, 95%CI = -11.6,-2.7,p = 0.001). EBL was not significantly different between AIS and AdIS (695.6mL vs 817.7mL,p = 0.204). Furthermore, no difference was found in operative time (MD = 37.9min,95%CI = -10.7;86.6,p = 0.127), total instrumented level (MD = 0.88,95%CI = -0.7,2.4,p = 0.273), and LOS (MD = 0.5, 95%CI = -0.2;1.2, p = 0.188). Four articles reported postoperative complications in AIS vs AdIS, with no difference in neurological deficit, instrumentation-related complications, and medical complications. AIS patients had better radiographic correction compared to AdIS. Though no difference was found in perioperative outcomes and complications, these findings emphasize the importance of counseling patients regarding the optimal timing of surgical correction.

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) fruits: Potential characterization of flavor and functional profiles during ripening based on UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS

As a 'superfruit', the sour and astringent flavor of lingonberries seriously limits consumer acceptance and unravelling the intrinsic link between specific flavor and chemical constituents is urgent. This study proposed a comparative qualitative and quantitative analysis for flavor and functional phytochemicals in lingonberry fruits based on UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). After systematic MRM parameters optimization, the developed method showed good precision (RSD < 4.4%) and recovery (99.89 ∼ 105.21%) within 6 min. The results revealed the distribution of 18 flavor and functional components of lingonberries during different ripening periods. In addition, it was surprisingly found that citric acid (7.94–15.58 mg/g DW) and (+)-catechin (0.52–4.13 mg/g DW) were the components contributing to the sour and astringent flavor of lingonberries, cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (0.48–4.17 mg/g DW) was the primary component affecting color, and benzoic acid (3.67–19.45 mg/g DW) was the typical functional component. Furthermore, biosynthetic gene transcript levels showed positive correlations with the chemical composition metabolic profile in lingonberry fruits at different ripening stages. In conclusion, this work provided a rapid and sensitive analysis and the dynamic changes of flavor and functional phytochemicals for quality control, optimal harvesting time and application of lingonberry fruits.

Influence of the Steel Slag Particle Size on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Concrete

The present paper probes into the influence of the steel slag particle size on the mechanical properties and microstructure of concrete, with steel slag serving as the primary raw material. Steel slag with different particle sizes was selected as the partial substitute material for concrete by mechanical grinding. The influence of steel slag on the compressive strength, bending strength, and microstructure of concrete was determined by laser particle size analyzer, specific surface area analyzer, strength experiment, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that mechanical grinding has significant effects on the particle size distribution and specific surface area of the steel slag. The optimal grinding time is 20 min and the specific surface area is 0.65 m2/g. D10, D50 and D90 are 0.91 μm, 16.57 μm and 46.40 μm, respectively. The steel slag with a fine particle size can better fill the pores in concrete and improve the compactness, thus enhancing the mechanical properties of concrete. The change in the steel slag particle size does not change the type of hydration products, but the smaller the particle size of steel slag, the better the gelling activity, the larger the hydration products, the denser the structure, and the better the mechanical properties. Therefore, the present study provides an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for the application of steel slag as an additive in the concrete industry.

Derivation of Creep Parameters for Surrounding Rock through Creep Tests and Deformation Monitoring Data: Assessing Tunnel Lining Safety

Derivation of Creep Parameters for Surrounding Rock through Creep Tests and Deformation Monitoring Data: Assessing Tunnel Lining Safety