Processing Steps Research Articles

BPN-YOLO: A Novel Method for Wood Defect Detection Based on YOLOv7

The detection of wood defect is a crucial step in wood processing and manufacturing, determining the quality and reliability of wood products. To achieve accurate wood defect detection, a novel method named BPN-YOLO is proposed. The ordinary convolution in the ELAN module of the YOLOv7 backbone network is replaced with Pconv partial convolution, resulting in the P-ELAN module. Wood defect detection performance is improved by this modification while unnecessary redundant computations and memory accesses are reduced. Additionally, the Biformer attention mechanism is introduced to achieve more flexible computation allocation and content awareness. The IOU loss function is replaced with the NWD loss function, addressing the sensitivity of the IOU loss function to small defect location fluctuations. The BPN-YOLO model has been rigorously evaluated using an optimized wood defect dataset, and ablation and comparison experiments have been performed. The experimental results show that the mean average precision (mAP) of BPN-YOLO is improved by 7.4% relative to the original algorithm, which can better meet the need to accurately detecting surface defects on wood.

Adaptation of Conventional Wheat Flour Mill to Refine Sorghum, Corn, and Cowpea

This study evaluated the refinement of sorghum, corn, and cowpea grains using the processing steps and equipment originally designed for wheat milling that consists of a conventional gradual reduction system. The need to mill these grains resulted from a desire to produce alternative ingredients for developing new fortified blended extruded foods used for food aid programming. Milling of white sorghum grain resulted in a crude protein content of 7.4% (wb) for both whole and coarse-milled flour. The crude protein content in whole fine-milled sorghum was 6.8% (wb), which was significantly lower than that of whole coarse flour at 9.3% (wb). A decrease in the ash content of sorghum flour correlates with the decortication process. However, degermed corn, fine and coarse, had significantly different crude protein content of 6.0 ± 0.2% (wb) and 7.7 ± 0.06% (wb), respectively. Degerming of corn improved the quality of corn flour (fine and coarse) by reducing the crude fat content from 3.3 ± 0.18% (wb) to 1.2 ± 0.02% (wb) and 0.6 ± 0.13% (wb), respectively. This helped increase the starch content from 60.1 ± 0.28% (wb) in raw corn to 74.7 ± 0.93% (wb) and 71.8 ± 0.00% (wb) in degermed fine and coarse corn flour, respectively. Cowpea milling did not produce differences in the milling stream outputs when the crude fat and crude protein were compared. Whole flour from the grains had higher milling yields than decorticated flour. This study demonstrated that a mill dedicated to wheat size reduction can be adapted to refine other grains to high quality.

Borax attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis by modulating Nrf2/ROS balance in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in rainbow trout

Acrylamide (ACR) can have adverse environmental effects because of its multiple applications. Relevant scientific literatures of the existence of ACR residues in foods following processing steps have raised concern in the biochemistry, chemistry and safety of this vinyl substance. The interest has focused on the hepatotoxicity of ACR in animals and humans and on the ACR content mitigation and its detoxification. Borax (BX), as a naturally occurring antioxidant featured boron compound, was selected in this investigation to assess its possible neuro-protective potential against ACR-induced neurotoxicity. Nrf2 axis signaling pathways and detoxification response to oxidative stress after exposure to ACR in brains of rainbow trout, and the effect of BX application on reducing ACR-induced neurotoxicity were investigated. Rainbow trout were acutely exposed to ACR (12.5 mg/L) alone or simultaneously treated with BX (0.75 mg/L) during 96h. The exposed fish were sampled at 48th and 96th and oxidative stress response endpoints, 8-OHdG, Nrf2, TNF-α, caspase-3, in addition to IL-6 activities and the levels of AChE and BDNF in brain tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were evaluated. Samples showed decreases in the levels of ACR-mediated biomarkers used to assess neural toxicity (SOD, CAT, GPx, AChE, BDNF, GSH), increased levels of MDA, MPO, DNA damage and apoptosis. ACR disrupted the Nrf2 pathway, and induced neurotoxicity. Inhibited activities’ expressions under simultaneous administration experiments, revealed the protective effects of BX against ACR-induced toxicity damage. The obtained data allow the outline of early multi-parameter signaling pathways in rainbow trout

Fracture toughness and overall characterization of PLA based biocomposites with natural fibers: A comparative study

Biocomposites based on commercial polylactic acid (PLA) matrix reinforced with three different short natural fibers (coir, fique and sisal) at 1; 3, and 5 % wt, were obtained by compression molding. The idea of keeping additional processing steps as low as possible, thus reducing costs, prevailed. Then, no chemical treatment was performed on natural fibers. Overall performance of composites was evaluated by means of fracture tests along with FTIR and thermal characterization, SEM micrographs, and tensile tests. Results show that the incorporation of short sisal fibers increased more than 130 % the fracture toughness of composite materials, by inducing additional mechanisms of energy dissipation prior to crack growth. This improvement in behavior was observed even though there was no good adhesion between fibers and matrix. Sisal fibers’ composites exhibited the best fracture and mechanical properties compared to coir and fique composites, without a detriment in degradation behavior.

Impact of aging of primary and secondary polystyrene nanoplastics on the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic digestion

Sewage sludge is a significant reservoir of nano/microplastics (NPs/MPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Research has revealed that NPs/MPs may exert an inhibitory effect on anaerobic digestion (AD) of sludge. Moreover, NPs/MPs can influence microbial community diversity and composition, potentially increasing ARGs dissemination. The morphological changes to NPs/MPs surface due to aging contribute to modifying hydrophobic properties. To date, there is limited comprehension regarding how various surface properties of NPs influence ARGs dissemination during AD. This study investigated the impact of primary aged/non-aged and secondary aged/non-aged polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) propagation during AD. The findings indicated that the UV-aging process resulted in surface oxidation and distinct morphological characteristics in both primary and secondary PSNPs, while the surface oxidation effect was more pronounced in the secondary aged PSNPs. High concentrations (150 μg/L) of primary and secondary PSNPs inhibited methane production, with secondary PSNPs causing greater inhibition by 16 to 20 % compared to control. In contrast, low concentration (25 μg/L) had negligible or slightly positive effects on methane production. PSNPs at 150 μg/L reduced total VFA concentration, indicating an inhibitory effect on the fermentation step in the AD process. Primary and secondary PSNPs exhibited changes in EPS characteristics. ARGs abundance was enriched in reactors amended with PSNPs, with the highest abundance of 8.54 × 105 copies/g sludge observed in the secondary aged PSNPs (150 μg/L) reactor. Reactors exposed to aged PSNPs exhibited a relatively higher abundance of ARGs compared to reactors exposed to non-aged PSNPs. Exposure to PSNPs increased the microbial community diversity within the digesters and triggered the enrichment of Comamonadaceae and Syntrophaceae, belonging to Proteobacteria phylum. On the other hand, archaeal communities tended to shift towards hydrogenotrophic methanogens in PSNPs reactors. The correlation analysis showed that Comamonadaceae were positively correlated with the majority of ARGs and intl1. A positive correlation was observed between MGEs and most ARGs, suggesting that the increased proliferation of ARGs under PSNPs exposure may be linked to the abundance of MGEs, which in turn promotes the growth of hosts carrying ARGs. These findings suggest that aged and non-aged NPs could substantially impact the spread of ARGs and MGEs, which also led to notable alterations in the composition of the microbial community. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the multifaceted impacts of PSNPs with various characteristics on AD processes, microbial communities, and ARGs proliferation, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive assessments of NPs pollutants in the environment.

For Good’s Sake: Strategic Social Media Influencer Communication in Non-Profit Organisations

ABSTRACT Strategic social media influencer communication has become increasingly professionalised in recent years, as evidenced by the emergence of established processes and routines. The continued success and opportunities associated with social media influencer communication are also relevant for non-profit organisations. Theory suggests that both credibility and the social relationship with their followers – two central aspects of the success of social media influencers – are also mission-critical for non-profit organisations. However, the impact of these requirements on the processes of strategic social media influencer communication in non-profit organisations is almost unexplored so far. Therefore, this study uses expert interviews with non-profit organisations, agencies and social media influencers to investigate how the processes in non-profit organisations differ from those encountered in for-profit entities. The results show that the main process steps (planning, organisation and evaluation) are organised similarly to for-profit campaigns, e.g. with brands. Differences emerge with regard to the special communicative requirements of non-profit organisations, which necessitate specific changes in the design and weighing of the individual steps. These must already be taken into account in the conceptualisation stage of strategic social media influencer communication of non-profit organisations. The study also indicates that the social media influencers’ perspective as independent strategic actors (and businesses) in strategic communications deserve attention in further research.

Replicating CD Nanogrooves onto PDMS to Guide Nanowire Growth for Monolithic Flexible Photodetectors with High Bending-Stable UV-vis-NIR Photoresponse.

Guided nanowires grown on polymer surfaces facilitate their seamless integration as flexible devices without post-growth processing steps. However, this is challenging due to the inability of polymer films to provide the required lattice-matching effect. In this work, this challenge is addressed by replicating highly aligned nanogrooves from a compact disc (CD) onto a casted flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface. Leveraging the replicated nanogrooves, copper hexadecafluorophthalocyanine (F16CuPc) and various metal phthalocyanines are guided into large-area, self-aligned nanowires. Subsequently, by employing specifically designed shadow masks during electrode deposition, these nanowires are seamlessly integrated as either a monolithic flexible photodetector with a large sensing area or on-chip flexible photodetector arrays. The resulting flexible photodetectors exhibit millisecond and long-term stable response to UV-vis-NIR light. Notably, they demonstrate exceptional bending stability, retaining stable and sensitive photoresponse even at a curvature radius as low as 0.5cm and after enduring 1000 bending cycles. Furthermore, the photodetector array showcases consistent sensitivity and response speed across the entire array. This work not only proves the viability of guided nanowire growth on flexible polymer surfaces by replicating CD nanogrooves but also underscores the potential for large-scale monolithic integration of guided nanowires as flexible devices.

Versailles Santa Barbara-5 derived bifunctional one-dimensional electrocatalysts of hierarchical Ni3S2 nanoprism@nanosheets arrays for self-supporting and binder-free efficient supercapacitor and methanol oxidation reaction

We herein present a structure consisting of two-dimensional (2D) single-crystal Ni3S2 nanosheets designed on one-dimensional (1D) Ni3S2 nanoprism arrays (also known as Ni3S2 nanoprism@nanosheets). These arrays are directly synthesized over nickel foam, which is referred to as Ni3S2/NF. These structures can be used as binderless, self-supporting electrodes for bifunctional methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) applications and high energy density hybrid supercapacitors (HSC). Ni3S2/NF is synthesized through the two steps of hydrothermal processes. In step I, 1D hexagonal Versailles Santa Barbara-5 (VSB-5) nanorod arrays have been prepared onto the surface of NF (denoted as VSB-5/NF). The precursor for step II was 1D VSB-5 nanorod arrays, which were transformed into Ni3S2 using Na2S as a sulfur source via the Kirkendall effect. Electrochemical examination results show that as-synthesized Ni3S2/NF electrode exhibited a high specific capacitance (Cs) of 145.0 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1, low series resistance (0.18 Ω) and charge-transfer resistance (0.05 Ω), small relaxation time constant (τ0 = 8 ms) and high frequency response at 125.8 Hz. Ni3S2/NF has a superior specific capacity of 145.0 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1 as a SC electrode. The Ni3S2/NF//CNTs/NF HSC can be operated up to 1.6 V in a 3 M KOH electrolyte, delivering an impressive energy density of 256.35 W h kg−1 at a power density of 6400 W kg−1. The as-assembled Ni3S2/NF//CNTs/NF HSC device exhibited an impressive stability of 81 % even after undergoing 10,000 charge-discharge cycles. When compared to previously reported catalysts, Ni3S2/NF was proved to be an excellent electrocatalyst for MOR due to its ability to generate a current density of 215.0 mA cm−2 at 0.5 VSCE, while maintaining a superior and stable current density of 619.2 mA cm−2 at 0.8 VSCE.

Revealing the Arabidopsis AtGRP7 mRNA binding proteome by specific enhanced RNA interactome capture

BackgroundThe interaction of proteins with RNA in the cell is crucial to orchestrate all steps of RNA processing. RNA interactome capture (RIC) techniques have been implemented to catalogue RNA- binding proteins in the cell. In RIC, RNA-protein complexes are stabilized by UV crosslinking in vivo. Polyadenylated RNAs and associated proteins are pulled down from cell lysates using oligo(dT) beads and the RNA-binding proteome is identified by quantitative mass spectrometry. However, insights into the RNA-binding proteome of a single RNA that would yield mechanistic information on how RNA expression patterns are orchestrated, are scarce.ResultsHere, we explored RIC in Arabidopsis to identify proteins interacting with a single mRNA, using the circadian clock-regulated Arabidopsis thaliana GLYCINE-RICH RNA-BINDING PROTEIN 7 (AtGRP7) transcript, one of the most abundant transcripts in Arabidopsis, as a showcase. Seedlings were treated with UV light to covalently crosslink RNA and proteins. The AtGRP7 transcript was captured from cell lysates with antisense oligonucleotides directed against the 5’untranslated region (UTR). The efficiency of RNA capture was greatly improved by using locked nucleic acid (LNA)/DNA oligonucleotides, as done in the enhanced RIC protocol. Furthermore, performing a tandem capture with two rounds of pulldown with the 5’UTR oligonucleotide increased the yield. In total, we identified 356 proteins enriched relative to a pulldown from atgrp7 mutant plants. These were benchmarked against proteins pulled down from nuclear lysates by AtGRP7 in vitro transcripts immobilized on beads. Among the proteins validated by in vitro interaction we found the family of Acetylation Lowers Binding Affinity (ALBA) proteins. Interaction of ALBA4 with the AtGRP7 RNA was independently validated via individual-nucleotide resolution crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (iCLIP). The expression of the AtGRP7 transcript in an alba loss-of-function mutant was slightly changed compared to wild-type, demonstrating the functional relevance of the interaction.ConclusionWe adapted specific RNA interactome capture with LNA/DNA oligonucleotides for use in plants using AtGRP7 as a showcase. We anticipate that with further optimization and up scaling the protocol should be applicable for less abundant transcripts.

Round-the-Clock Adsorption-Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride by Ag/Ni-TiO2.

The synergy of adsorption and photocatalysis is a good method to remove organic pollutants in wastewater. In recent decades, persistent photocatalysis has gained considerable interest for its ability to sustain the catalytic degradation of organic pollutants in the dark. Herein, we report three different TiO2 nanomaterials to remove tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) in solution. We found that the removal ability of TiO2, Ni-TiO2, and Ag/Ni-TiO2 is 8.8 mg/g, 13.9 mg/g and 23.4 mg/g, respectively, when the initial concentration of TCH is 50 mg/L. Chemical adsorption could be the rate-determining step in the TCH adsorption process. Moreover, Ag nanoparticles dispersed on Ni doped TiO2 surface act as traps to capture photo-generated electrons upon illumination with indoor light. The holes in Ag/Ni-TiO2 serve as critical oxidative species in TCH degradation under dark conditions. This work provides new insights into the design of persistent photocatalysts that can be activated by weak illumination and degrade organic pollutants in wastewater after sunset.

Parenteral nutrition at home/long-term parenteral nutrition.

Some diseases require that patients receive parenteral nutrition (PN) over a prolonged time period. Long-term administration of PN can further complicate an already complex therapy, posing additional risk of potential complications. This article is based on presentations and discussions held at the International Safety and Quality of PN Summit, providing insights into aspects of home PN (HPN) and examples of good HPN practice. One critical step in the HPN process is when patients transition from a hospital to a home setting, and vice versa. Generally, electronic PN ordering is not feasible in an HPN setting, leading to potential difficulties in communication and coordination. HPN requires that patients (or their home caregivers) administer PN, and thus their education and competency are crucial. Likewise, the choice of PN formulation is of great importance. For example, using more modern intravenous lipid emulsions containing medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and/or fish oil can provide benefits in terms of liver function during long-term HPN. Internationally, there are wide variations in delivery of HPN, with compounded PN dominating in some countries while others make greater use of market-authorized multichamber bags (MCBs). Patient-related factors, institutional considerations, and the availability of different MCB formulations, are also contributing factors guiding formulation and delivery system preferences. Education and communication remain key components of a successful HPN process. The information shared here may help to motivate efforts to improve HPN processes and to consider the often-differing perspectives of patients and their healthcare professionals.

A Cyber-Physical Production System for the Integrated Operation and Monitoring of a Continuous Manufacturing Train for the Production of Monoclonal Antibodies.

The continuous manufacturing of biologics offers significant advantages in terms of reducing manufacturing costs and increasing capacity, but it is not yet widely implemented by the industry due to major challenges in the automation, scheduling, process monitoring, continued process verification, and real-time control of multiple interconnected processing steps, which must be tightly controlled to produce a safe and efficacious product. The process produces a large amount of data from different sensors, analytical instruments, and offline analyses, requiring organization, storage, and analyses for process monitoring and control without compromising accuracy. We present a case study of a cyber-physical production system (CPPS) for the continuous manufacturing of mAbs that provides an automation infrastructure for data collection and storage in a data historian, along with data management tools that enable real-time analysis of the ongoing process using multivariate algorithms. The CPPS also facilitates process control and provides support in handling deviations at the process level by allowing the continuous train to re-adjust itself via a series of interconnected surge tanks and by recommending corrective actions to the operator. Successful steady-state operation is demonstrated for 55 h with end-to-end process automation and data collection via a range of in-line and at-line sensors. Following this, a series of deviations in the downstream unit operations, including affinity capture chromatography, cation exchange chromatography, and ultrafiltration, are monitored and tracked using multivariate approaches and in-process controls. The system is in line with Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing concepts and is the first end-to-end CPPS for the continuous manufacturing of mAbs.

ExonSurfer: a web-tool to design primers at exon–exon junctions

BackgroundReverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) with intercalating dyes is one of the main techniques to assess gene expression levels used in basic and applied research as well as in diagnostics. However, primer design for RT-qPCR can be complex due to the high demands on primer quality. Primers are best placed on exon junctions, should avoid polymorphic regions, be specific to the target transcripts and also prevent genomic amplification accurately, among others. Current software tools manage to meet all the necessary criteria only insufficiently. Here, we present ExonSurfer, a novel, user-friendly web-tool for qPCR primer design.ResultsExonSurfer combines the different steps of the primer design process, encompassing target selection, specificity and self-complementarity assessment, and the avoidance of issues arising from polymorphisms. Amplification of potentially contaminating genomic DNA is avoided by designing primers on exon-exon junctions, moreover, a genomic alignment is performed to filter the primers accordingly and inform the user of any predicted interaction. In order to test the whole performance of the application, we designed primer pairs for 26 targets and checked both primer efficiency, amplicon melting temperature and length and confirmed the targeted amplicon by Sanger sequencing. Most of the tested primers accurately and selectively amplified the corresponding targets.ConclusionExonSurfer offers a comprehensive end-to-end primer design, guaranteeing transcript-specific amplification. The user interface is intuitive, providing essential specificity and amplicon details. The tool can also be used by command line and the source code is available. Overall, we expect ExonSurfer to facilitate RT-qPCR set-up for researchers in many fields.

Reactive distillation with inter-integrated vapor permeation for 1,3-Dioxolane production: Experiments, modeling, process analysis and design

To overcome the problem of difficult separation of the 1,3-dioxane (DOL)-H2O azeotrope in the production of DOL, a new high-integrated technology via reactive distillation (RD) with inter-integrated vapor permeation (VP) (abbreived as R-VP-D) was established. A series of R-VP-D experiments were conducted to find the effect of dedydration on reactant conversion and DOL content in the distillate. A two-dimensional VP module modeled by Aspen Custom Modeler (ACM) was combined with two RD modules in Aspen Plus to simulate the entire R-VP-D process, and the R-VP-D model was verified by experimental results. Then, by this model, systematic research on VP inserting position and membrane area on the reaction performance, reboiler and condenser duty, catalyst load, and TAC of the R-VP-D column was performed. The mechanism of how dehydration promotes reaction was explored. Finally, a new RD-VP-D technology for producing 99.9wt% DOL was designed and optimized. Two goals were achieved by inserting VP: obtaining a DOL-H2O mixture that crosses the azeotropic point in the distillate and improving reaction performance by removing by-product H2O. Under the optimal parameter, the energy consumption per unit product was reduced by 3.9% with less equipment, a simpler process, and less required land area compared with the RD with pressure swing distillation technology reported in the literature, and CO2 emissions were reduced by 4.0%. The reason why promotion effect is insignificant was explored, which is related to which of separation or reaction is the control step in RD process.

Single-step extraction/pre-formulation process for B-phycoerythrin using glycerol-based eutectic solvents: A step toward more sustainable production of phycobiliproteins

B-Phycoerythrin (B-PE) is a protein pigment of significant interest to the food and cosmetic industries. B-PE is obtained from algal or microalgal biomass, such as Porphyridium cruentum, after complex pre-treatment, extraction, and pre-formulation schemes. This work investigated the use of a single step process for the extraction and pre-formulation of B-PE from P. cruentum without complex biomass pretreatment. Five hydrophilic NaDES based on glycerol with varying water contents (20–40%) were implemented by ultrasound-assisted extraction using a one-step extraction procedure. The yields obtained were satisfaying, ranging from 5 to 15 mg of B-PE per gram of dry matter. Additionally, a purity index suitable for use in cosmetics and food products was achieved, with an average of >1.5. Furthermore, the extracts obtained in a eutectic medium demonstrated enhanced stability for B-PE, with an average loss of 10% after accelerated aging, allowing storage at room temperature without loss of quality. In particular, NaDES based on glycerol and glucose and/or betaine appeared to be the most effective in preserving the integrity and antioxidant activity of B-PE, with a range of 15–30% quenched DPPH. The ComplexGAPI tool demonstrated that our single-step NaDES process is more environmentally friendly than conventional extraction processes, thanks to lower energy consumption, reduced unitary operations, and less waste production. These results provide a solid foundation for sustainable management of the valorization of P-BE for cosmetic or food industries.

Using machine learning algorithms to identify farms on the 2022 Census of Agriculture

As is the case for many National Statistics Institutes, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has observed dwindling survey response rates, and the requests for more information at finer temporal and spatial scales have led to increased response burdens. Non-survey data are becoming increasingly abundant and accessible. Consequently, NASS is exploring the potential to complete some or all of a survey record using non-survey data, which would reduce respondent burden and potentially lead to increased response rates. In this paper, the focus is on a large set of records associated with potential farms, which are operations with undetermined farm status (farm/non-farm) and are referred to here as operations with unknown status (OUS). Although they usually have some agriculture, most OUS records are eventually classified as non-farms. Those OUS that are classified as farms tend to have higher proportions of producers from under-represented groups compared to other records. Determining the probability that an OUS record is a farm is an important step in the imputation process. The OUS records that responded to the 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture were used to develop models to predict farm status using multiple data sources. Evaluated models include bootstrap random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), neural network (NN), and support vector machine (SVM). Although the SVM had the best outcomes for three of the five metrics, the sensitivity for identifying farms was the lowest (13.8%). The NN model had a sensitivity of 80.5%, which was substantially higher than the other models, and its specificity of 45.3% was the lowest of all models. Because sensitivity was the primary metric of interest and the NN performed reasonably well on the other metrics, the NN was selected as the preferred model.

Towards the development of a safe, metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of 2-acetyl thiophene

Thiophene-2-carbonyl chloride (TCC) is a key raw material in the manufacture of active ingredients for agriculture. A new 3-step process for preparing TCC from commercial thiophene was recently developed that featured a metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of 2-acetylthiopehene (AcT). That process utilized pure oxygen in a flammable solvent, acetic acid, at elevated temperatures, which represented a hazardous condition by operating above the limiting oxygen concentration for the solvent and at a temperature above the flashpoint for the solvent. More recently, the same oxidation reaction has been achieved in an autoclave using diluted oxygen. Described in this Letter are details of our progress towards the identification of safe operating conditions for the aerobic oxidation of AcT.

Jean-Martin Charcot, member of thesis juries at the Paris medical school (1862–1893)

ABSTRACT Jean-Martin Charcot is considered the founding father of modern neurology. There are many general and specialized biographies about him, the result being that a new text is unexpected or would likely amount to plagiarism. However, part of the duties for Charcot’s medical professorship have not, to date, been studied at all. This article will focus on the role of Charcot as a member of doctorate juries and, in particular, as the president of these juries. I have reviewed around 12,500 theses one by one. These were defended at the Paris medical school from 1862, Charcot’s first year as an agrégé (assistant professor), to his death in 1893. Among the theses, I have selected all of those that discuss neuropsychiatry in the broadest terms (3,663). I have paid particular attention to all of those for which Charcot was part of the jury. This involves 608 theses. All of the data were entered in a database (Filemaker) to facilitate identifying those theses corresponding to one or more of the criteria. Statistical comparisons were then carried out (Excel spreadsheet). In addition to these results, brief individualized surveys were conducted on theses selected for their representativeness, either for the subject matter (multiple sclerosis, aphasia, tabes, general paralysis, etc.) or for specific criteria (foreigners, women, etc.), but all of the theses were defended before a jury that included Charcot. This makes it possible to track how the areas of study in the medical world changed over time, and particularly those of Charcot. The juries Charcot was obliged to be a part of, without any particular ties to the candidate and/or any involvement in the selection and supervision of the work, must be differentiated from the thesis juries for his students. In the latter case, the thesis subjects were most often linked to Charcot’s researches. Providing a thesis subject was motivated, in certain cases, by the desire to disseminate new data in the medical profession, not only by dint of the theses themselves but also through the reports that the medical press published regularly (e.g. the diagnosis of various types of shaking) and through the commercial publication of these data, in some cases with a preface by Charcot. In other cases, the thesis was a step in the long process of developing a theory (hysteria). Or it led to a flowering of new ideas, insufficiently proven, which Charcot would only cover in his Lessons once there was convincing confirmation (amyotrophy). This rich cornucopia gives rise to certain neglected nuggets, as well as works that have entered the classical corpus—for example, the theses of Léopold Ordenstein, Ivan Poumeau, Isaac Bruhl, Albert Gombault, and Pierre Janet.

Influence of Music Therapy on the Improvement of Perceived Well-Being Indices in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Hormonal Treatment

ABSTRACT Background Although there are a growing number of studies investigating the benefits of music therapy interventions with patients diagnosed with cancer, few studies have taken an approach that specifically examines indices of perceived well-being in women with breast cancer. Overcoming these challenges can be an important step in the recovery process. Purpose The purpose of our study was to know the positive influence of responsive music therapy through gong sounds, emitted live, on different areas of well-being of women with breast cancer. Methods Four individual sessions of responsive music therapy with live gong sounds were conducted in which three women (M = 54; SD = 5.57) participated both in the music therapy program and in the completion of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Breast (FACT-B) and a semi-structured interview with ad hoc designed questions about perception of qualitative aspects. Results The results showed that the music therapy sessions significantly improved, p = .043 < 0.05, various domains of perceived well-being in women with breast cancer. Discussion This article highlights several key benefits associated with music therapy and various indices of well-being in women with breast cancer, identifies the limitations of the study, and discusses the findings. It is considered necessary to replicate this practice in future studies that include a larger sample and age range over longer follow-up periods. Translation for Health Education Practice The text highlights the importance of considering music therapy as a complementary intervention in comprehensive cancer care programs, which may be relevant to health educators when considering intervention and support approaches for cancer patients. Health education interventions targeting the enhancement of cancer patients’ well-being should incorporate music therapy techniques.

Revisiting Bundle Recommendation for Intent-aware Product Bundling

Product bundling represents a prevalent marketing strategy in both offline stores and e-commerce systems. Despite its widespread use, previous studies on bundle recommendation face two significant limitations. Firstly, they rely on noisy datasets, where bundles are defined by heuristics, e.g., products co-purchased in the same session. Secondly, they target specific tasks by holding unrealistic assumptions, e.g., the availability of bundles for recommendation directly. This paper proposes to take a step back and considers the process of bundle recommendation from a holistic user experience perspective. We first construct high-quality bundle datasets with rich metadata, particularly bundle intents, through a carefully designed crowd-sourcing task. We then define a series of tasks that together, support all key steps in a typical bundle recommendation process, from bundle detection, completion and ranking, to explanation and auto-naming, whereby 19 research questions are raised correspondingly to guide the analysis. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments and analyses with representative recommendation models and large language models (LLMs), demonstrating the challenges and opportunities, especially with the emergence of LLMs. To summarize, our study contributes by introducing novel data sources, paving the way for new research avenues, and offering insights to guide product bundling in real e-commerce platforms.