Successful Change Research Articles

The Role of Allies in Successful Change Management

The Role of Allies in Successful Change Management

Correlation between the bacterial community succession and purine compound changes during Huangjiu fermentation

Purine is mainly culprit of hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout, which is widely present in Huangjiu in the form of free bases. Bacterial succession plays an important role in quality control in Huangjiu. The correlation between the purine compound content and the bacterial communities during the fermentation process has not yet been evaluated. In this study, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology was used to monitor the bacterial community composition of Huangjiu at different fermentation stages. The correlation between the bacterial community and the contents of physicochemical properties and purine compounds were evaluated using the Spearman analysis method. The key enzymes of purine metabolism pathway in the microbial community were analyzed by bioinformatics using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt). The results showed that the purine content in Huangjiu increased gradually in 0∼9d of fermentation (21.05–65.71 mg/L), and stabilized gradually in 12∼18d (65.63–69.55 mg/L), while the abundance of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of bacterial microbial flora were increased (0∼9d) and then stabilized (12∼18d). Moreover, Lactobacillus acetotolerans and Lactobacillus helveticus were highly correlated positively with purine contents, while Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were correlated negatively. In addition, the dominant strains of bacteria were involved in the metabolism of purine, and the key enzymes for purine compound synthesis were more abundant than that for purine degradation. This study is helpful to scientifically understand the formation mechanism of purines, providing a basis for screening functional strains of purine degrading to accurately regulate purine level in Huangjiu.

Enabling successful change in a high-demand working environment: a case study in a health care organization

PurposeThe anticipation of organizational change and the transition process often creates uncertainty for employees and can lead to stress and anxiety. It is therefore essential for all organizations, especially those that operate in high-demand working environments, to support the well-being of staff throughout the change process.Design/methodology/approachResearch on how employees respond to the organizational change of relocating to a new work space is limited. To fill this gap in the research, we present a case study examining the well-being of clinical and health care employees before and after a disruptive change: relocation in workplace facilities. In addition, factors that enabled successful change in this high-stress, high-demand working environment were investigated. Interviews were conducted with 20 participants before the relocation and 11 participants after relocation. Following an inductive approach, data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes.FindingsOur findings suggest that a supportive team, inclusive leadership and a psychologically safe environment, may buffer negative employee well-being outcomes during disruptive organizational change.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature on successful organizational change in health care by highlighting the resources which support well-being throughout the change process and enabling the successful transition to a new facility.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Leadership Styles in Organizational Change Management

The article extensively investigates the role of leadership style in organizational change management, covering a wide range of literature on the subject. The authors have made efforts to present various leadership styles that can facilitate change management processes, including authoritarian, transformational, laissez-faire, servant, transactional, democratic, strategic, bureaucratic, consultative, and participative leadership. The review underscores the essential nature of leadership in ensuring successful organizational change, especially in navigating competitive markets. Furthermore, the review delves into the concepts of leadership and organizational change management, providing detailed explanations of their types.

Social Engineering for Reducing Hypertension Case in Indonesia: a Qualitative Study in a Rural Area

Consuming foods with a large amount of salt is an unhealthy lifestyle that raises blood pressure. People currently love salty foods in Indonesia. One of district in Indonesia called Jeneponto referred to hypertension as Nai’ Cera. The Jeneponto community consumes more significant salty food higher than the provincial average for South Sulawesi. An intervention study was carried out to change the habit of consuming high salt, smoking and drinking coffee. This study is qualitative with participatory action research approach. The in-depth interviews and focused group discussion were addressed to twenty-two informants which involved in an intervention program. Social engineering became the key-point to socialize the importance of the program. Well-trained local people recruited as an agent of change. They followed the social engineering intervention and focused on what people need to reduce hypertension. The program raised awareness on hypertension towards their lives by educating as well as discussing on their risky habits on over consumptions fatty, sugar, salt substances. The successful behavior changes in this program comprised several keys to consider such as: the intervention locations, the closest relationship towards the agent, the agent as frontliner, sustainability of the program, and commitment of all components of intervention.

Insight into the dynamic change of flavor profiles and their correlation with microbial community succession and lipid oxidation during the processing of dry-cured duck

Microbial community and lipid oxidation play an important role in flavor development of dry-cured duck. To explore the dynamic changes in microbial community succession, oxidative properties and flavor profiles during the processing of dry-cured duck and the relationships between them, the samples were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing, peroxide values, electronic nose and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and their relationships were established by multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that the changes in lipid oxidation were related to the processing technology, especially the air-drying time. Thirty-five volatiles were identified, of which nonanal, 1-octen-3-ol, hexanal, benzaldehyde, and 2-pentylfuran were the characteristic aroma compounds. Staphylococcus, Vibrio, and Lactococcus were the dominant genera during the processing. Staphylococcus and Lactococcus were positively correlated with the characteristic flavor compounds and lipid oxidation products. These findings offer novel insights into the flavor formation of dry-cured ducks and offer deeper theoretical guidance for their preparation and production.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Thailand’s Public Health Emergency Management System: A Case Study

Purpose: This phenomenological qualitative research investigates Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) in response to COVID-19, with a specific focus on the case of Thailand’s Health Region 9 (Nakhon Ratchasima) and its program known as COVID-19 Back Home. Method: The study gathers data through in-depth interviews with four groups comprising a total of 112 individuals from three Thai provinces. The collected data is subjected to content analysis, and the findings are analyzed using a framework based on system theory. Results and conclusion: The successful management of subjects returning home is highlighted, resulting in saving numerous patients' lives. The study identifies various suggestions and success factors for each phase of the management process. The research sheds light on PHEM situations in response to COVID-19, specifically examining Health Region 9's COVID-19 Back Home program. Implications of the research: The study provides valuable insights into the inputs, activities, and processes involved in managing such situations, showcasing successful strategies, collaborative efforts, and behavioral changes. Originality/value: The identified suggestions and success factors can inform and improve future management approaches.

Measuring and monitoring skill learning in closed-loop myoelectric hand prostheses using speed-accuracy tradeoffs

Objective. Closed-loop myoelectric prostheses, which combine supplementary sensory feedback and electromyography (EMG) based control, hold the potential to narrow the divide between natural and bionic hands. The use of these devices, however, requires dedicated training. Therefore, it is crucial to develop methods that quantify how users acquire skilled control over their prostheses to effectively monitor skill progression and inform the development of interfaces that optimize this process. Approach. Building on theories of skill learning in human motor control, we measured speed-accuracy tradeoff functions (SAFs) to comprehensively characterize learning-induced changes in skill—as opposed to merely tracking changes in task success across training—facilitated by a closed-loop interface that combined proportional control and EMG feedback. Sixteen healthy participants and one individual with a transradial limb loss participated in a three-day experiment where they were instructed to perform the box-and-blocks task using a timed force-matching paradigm at four specified speeds to reach two target force levels, such that the SAF could be determined. Main results. We found that the participants’ accuracy increased in a similar way across all speeds we tested. Consequently, the shape of the SAF remained similar across days, at both force levels. Further, we observed that EMG feedback enabled participants to improve their motor execution in terms of reduced trial-by-trial variability, a hallmark of skilled behavior. We then fit a power law model of the SAF, and demonstrated how the model parameters could be used to identify and monitor changes in skill. Significance. We comprehensively characterized how an EMG feedback interface enabled skill acquisition, both at the level of task performance and movement execution. More generally, we believe that the proposed methods are effective for measuring and monitoring user skill progression in closed-loop prosthesis control.

Height growth and biomass partitioning during secondary succession differ among forest light strata and successional guilds in a tropical rainforest

In closed‐canopy systems globally, plants exhibit intense competition for light, prioritizing vertical growth to attain elevated positions within the canopy. Light competition is especially intense in tropical rainforests because of their dense shaded stands, and during forest succession because of concomitant changes in vertical light profiles. We evaluated how the height growth of individual tree differs among forest light strata (canopy, sub‐canopy and understorey) and successional guilds (early, mid‐ and late successional species) during secondary succession in a Mexican rainforest. Fourteen secondary forest stands differing in time since agricultural abandonment (1–25 years) were monitored for seven consecutive years. For each stand and census year we estimated relative light intensity (RLI) for each height and categorized trees into forest light strata: understorey (RLI ≦ 33.3%), sub‐canopy (33.3% ≦ RLI ≦ 66.6%) and canopy (RLI ≧ 66.6%), and into successional guilds based on the literature. We estimated two measures of height growth: absolute height growth (HGabs, cm year−1) calculated as the difference in tree height between two consecutive censuses, and biomass partitioning to height growth (HGbp, in kg kg−1 × 100) calculated as the percentage of total aboveground biomass growth partitioned to height growth. Earlier in succession, trees for all strata had greater HGabs and HGbp, resulting in rapid vertical forest development. HGabs was fastest for canopy trees, followed by sub‐canopy and understorey trees. These differences in HGabs among strata, combined with their inter‐specific variation and continuous recruitment of small individuals, lead to a rapid differentiation in tree sizes and increase stand structural heterogeneity. HGbp was greater for understorey and sub‐canopy trees than for canopy trees, reflecting ontogenetic changes in the light competition strategy from growth to persistence. With succession, both HGabs and HGbp decreased, most strongly for canopy trees, probably because of an increased exposure to drought stress. These successional changes stabilize stand size structure and reduce the rate of development.

Two decades of dune slack restoration in North Wales: diversity, community and habitat specialists

Humid dunes slacks are a highly threatened habitat, listed as vulnerable in the EU habitat red list. Accelerated successional processes in dune systems have resulted in the loss and degradation of ideal conditions for specialist dune slack species, hence the need for conservation management. We investigated the restoration of a dune slack in North Wales, UK, where vegetation and soil removal to 10 cm depth was undertaken to reinstate nutrient‐poor, open and damp conditions. We assessed the outcomes of the management for dune slack communities over the 18 years since restoration. We also assessed the differences between restored and unrestored areas of dune slacks. The dunes were restored in the winter of 2004/2005, after which we conducted vegetation surveys in fixed quadrats for most years in the restored and adjacent, un‐restored dune slacks. Species diversity and plant community composition changes over time were assessed using Shannon's index, multivariate analysis and indicator species analysis. Comparisons between the restored and unrestored areas of the dune slacks were also made. Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs) were examined to identify potential environmental drivers of post management successional changes. After 18 years the restored dune slacks developed a species‐rich and diverse community. compared to the unrestored slacks. The establishment of species occurred rapidly in the first three years, followed by continued but slower increases in species richness and diversity. This is due to the addition of new species without losses of established species. EIVs show no significant difference over time suggesting the restored areas are still at an early stage of succession. Distinct stages of community change since restoration are characterised by different indicator species. Plants are likely to be largely recruited from an existing seed bank. Restoration by turf removal may be suitable for other low nutrient, species rich habitats dependent upon fluctuating groundwater levels.

Lower limbs biomechanical deficits associated with stage 1 and 2 posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction during walking

BackgroundPosterior tibialis tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is a chronic degenerative musculoskeletal disorder causing a progressive ankle complex and arch collapse altering lower limb biomechanics. However, biomechanical changes associated with stage 1 and 2 PTTD need to be better characterized during walking to guide clinical recommendations and improve non-operative treatments. Research questionWhat are the lower limb kinematic and kinetic differences between individuals with stage 1 (PTTD1), individuals with stage 2 PTTD (PTTD2) and healthy counterparts during gait? MethodsSixteen PTTD1, 11 PTTD2 and 20 healthy controls were included in this multicentric case-control study to compare their lower limb gait biomechanics. Kinematic and kinetic data were recorded using a three-dimensional motion capture system and a force plate. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping was used to compare lower limb joint motion and moments between groups during the stance phase. ResultsPTTD1 had minimal biomechanical differences compared with the control group. In contrast, PTTD2 presented significant differences compared with controls and PTTD1. At the ankle, PTTD2 exhibited greater plantarflexion and eversion angles and midfoot dorsiflexion and inversion angles throughout stance compared with controls and PTTD1. PTTD2 presented lower midfoot abduction moments compared with controls. These changes led PTTD2 to exhibit knee and hip adaptative biomechanical mechanisms in the frontal and transverse planes in late stance. PTTD2 had greater knee internal rotation angles and smaller knee external rotation moments compared to controls. PTTD2 had smaller hip internal rotation angles compared with PTTD1 and smaller hip adduction moments compared with controls. SignificancePTTD1 showed minimal biomechanical differences compared to controls and important differences compared to PTTD2. The lower limb biomechanical deficits accentuate as the pathology advances from stage 1 to stage 2. PTTD is a progressive condition needing early clinical management at stage 1 to avoid successive biomechanical changes associated with stage 2.

Distinguishing between Low- and High-Cost Pro-Environmental Behavior: Empirical Evidence from Two Complementary Studies

To reach sustainability goals, researchers and policymakers must focus on addressing changes toward more pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Therefore, this study shows evidence-based perceptions of low- and high-cost behaviors and deduces recommendations for PEB interventions. We applied a multi-step mixed-method approach: First, a representative online survey was conducted to collect a general quantitative overview and classify low- and high-cost behavior based on past behavior and behavioral intentions. Second, a gamification intervention that aimed to gain quantitative data about certain behaviors and perceived low- and high-costs was conducted with university students. The results of the two studies showed that PEB can easily be categorized into high-, rather-high-, rather-low-, and low-cost behavior. However, this classification is not based on emission sectors, e.g., mobility, but on the specific behavior. Interventions can be recommended according to subjective costs: For example, low-cost behavior does not need additional interventions in most cases but must be maintained as is. According to the empirical findings, high-cost behavior needs top-down interventions, while rather-high- and rather-low-cost behavior requires bottom-up interventions to achieve behavior changes. In summary, managing interventions using this classification and focusing on high-impact behavior can lead to successful behavior changes and emission reductions.

Reactive transport modeling constraints on the complex genesis of a lacustrine dolomite reservoir: A case from the Eocene Qaidam Basin, China

Reactive transport modeling (RTM) is an emerging method used to address geological issues in diagenesis research. However, the extrapolation of RTM results to practical reservoir prediction is not sufficiently understood. This paper presents a case study of the Eocene Qaidam Basin that combines RTM results with petrological and mineralogical evidence. The results show that the Eocene Xiaganchaigou Formation is characterized by mixed siliciclastic-carbonate-evaporite sedimentation in a semiclosed saline lacustrine environment. Periodic evaporation and salinization processes during the syngenetic-penecontemporaneous stage gave rise to the replacive genesis of dolomites and the cyclic enrichment of dolomite in the middle-upper parts of the meter-scale depositional sequences. The successive change in mineral paragenesis from terrigenous clastics to carbonates to evaporites was reconstructed using RTM simulations. Parametric uncertainty analyses further suggest that the evaporation intensity (brine salinity) and particle size of sediments (reactive surface area) were important rate-determining factors in the dolomitization, as shown by the relatively higher reaction rates under conditions of higher brine salinity and fine-grained sediments. Combining the simulation results with measured mineralogical and reservoir physical property data indicates that the preservation of original intergranular pores and the generation of porosity via replacive dolomitization were the major formation mechanisms of the distinctive lacustrine dolomite reservoirs (widespread submicron intercrystalline micropores) in the Eocene Qaidam Basin. The results confirm that RTM can be effectively used in geological studies, can provide a better general understanding of the dolomitizing fluid-rock interactions, and can shed light on the spatiotemporal evolution of mineralogy and porosity during dolomitization and the formation of lacustrine dolomite reservoirs.

Barriers to successful change management

Change management plays a crucial role in an organisation’s ability to adapt and thrive in today’s ever-evolving and fast-changing technologically enabled business landscape. Many organisations continue to struggle with effective change management, resulting in failed projects and missed opportunities for growth and development. This paper analyses the reasons why organisations frequently falter in change management efforts and provides insights into overcoming these barriers. The paper identifies a host of significant barriers to effective and successful change management. Each barrier is discussed in detail, explaining the negative effect it can have on change initiatives. Among these barriers are the lack of change management role accountability, a culture where change management is not embraced at all levels, a lack of change champions and leadership support, resistance to change, limited employee involvement, inadequate and poorly designed communications and a failure to properly integrate change management with other complementary approaches. The paper provides practical recommendations to overcome these barriers. It emphasises the crucial role of leadership in championing the change, communicating the vision and actively involving employees in the change process. It underscores the importance of a well-crafted, clear and consistent communication that can help build trust, ensure buy-in and reduce resistance. The paper also highlights the need for robust integration of change management with other complementary approaches. Furthermore, the paper underscores the significance of a centralised change management approach, incorporating tools, best practices and standardised change management practices, and setting realistic expectations to sustain change efforts over time. It stresses the need for organisations to provide the necessary resources, authority and support to staff to effectively fulfil their change management roles. In conclusion, this paper provides insights into overcoming the main barriers to successful change implementation. By implementing the suggested strategies, organisations can enhance their change management capabilities and increase their adaptability, thereby ensuring long-term success in a rapidly changing business landscape.

Mg–Zn–Cl-integrated functional interface for enhancing the cycle life of Mg electrodes

The instability of the Mg-electrolyte interface in nonaqueous electrolytes hinders the realization of rechargeable Mg batteries (RMBs). Herein, we adopted surface engineering to address this issue by alleviating the passivation characteristics of reductive Mg electrodes. Among a series of artificial interfaces derived from different elements, the Mg–Zn–Cl-integrated artificial interface imparted outstanding Mg deposition–dissolution cycling performance upon combination with a halide-free weakly coordinated anion-based electrolyte. The artificial interface allowed Mg deposition–dissolution reactions beneath the interface, as evidenced by systematic scanning electron microscopy observations combined with electron backscatter diffraction analyses, and such interfacial characteristics suppressed the intrusion of Mg deposits into microporous separators, leading to remarkably stable cycling even under exceptionally high utilization conditions (>30 %). The amorphous nature induced by Cl integration improved interfacial stability during the successive morphological changes of Mg electrodes owing to electrochemical deposition–dissolution cycling. In addition, the artificial interface enabled the employment of a thin PTFE-based separator, which was unattainable using unmodified Mg. The developed techniques can pave the way for assessing the interfacial behavior under harsh, lean electrolyte conditions, which is an extremely important but unexplored research area of RMB chemistry.

The Influence of Spinous Process Union on Clinical Outcomes After Spinous Process Osteotomy for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis After 2 Years: A Secondary Analysis From the NORDSTEN-Study.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a prevalent and increasingly important cause of low back pain, leg pain, and walking impairment. Minimally invasive decompressive techniques such as spinous process (SP) osteotomy have become more common in recent years. The main aim of this study was to investigate the proportion of complete SP union and whether complete radiological healing after the osteotomy is associated with superior clinical outcome after 2 years. In this retrospective cohort study, 149 patients were included from the Spinal Stenosis Trial, a part of the NORwegian Degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal STENosis study. Computed tomography imaging was performed 2 years postoperatively. The number of osteotomies and the number of SP unions were recorded. Patients were divided into groups based on the degree of union: nonunion, partial union, and complete union. Rate of success (>30% improvement in Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]) and mean change in ODI were the primary outcome measures. We compared the differences between baseline and follow-up between the Degree of Union groups. The study included 102 of 149 eligible patients. Ten patients (9.8%) were classified as having nonunion, 15 (14.7%) as having partial union, and 77 (75.5%) as having complete union. Of the 155 osteotomies, there were 122 classified as union (77%). The success rate was 74%, with no influence of SP union. The mean change in the ODI was -20.1 (95% CI -37.0, 14.2) with no influence of SP union. We found no influence of SP union, classified by computed tomography, on clinical outcome 2 years after SP osteotomy in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Supplying useful information about SPO to assist surgeons in the choice of decompressive technique.

Differences in Response of Tree Species at Different Succession Stages to Neighborhood Competition

Neighborhood competition influences tree growth, which can affect species composition and community succession. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding how dominant tree species at different successional stages of forest communities respond in terms of crown architecture and functional traits during their growth process to neighborhood competition. In this study, we analyzed the responses of average annual basal area increment (BAI), crown architecture, and leaf functional traits of early-successional species (Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana), transitional species (Alniphyllum fortunei and Choerospondias axillaris), and late-successional species (Elaeocarpus duclouxii and Castanopsis carlesii) to neighbor competition in a secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest. We found that the BAI of all species is negatively correlated with competition intensity. Notably, early-successional and transitional species exhibited a more rapid decline in growth rates compared to late-successional species in response to increased competition. Among these tree species, the response of crown structure to neighbor competition exhibited variation. Early-successional and transitional species displayed a negative correlation between the competition index and crown area (CA)/diameter, while a positive correlation emerged between the lowest branch height (LBH)/height. Conversely, late-successional species followed the opposite trend. In terms of leaf functional traits, specific leaf area (SLA) showed heightened sensitivity to neighborhood competition, with a positive correlation between SLA of all tree species and the competition index. Furthermore, water use efficiency (WUE) demonstrated negative correlations with the competition index in early-successional and transitional trees, while a positive correlation emerged with late-successional trees. These findings suggest that early-successional and transitional trees prioritize vertical canopy growth, whereas late-successional trees tend to favor horizontal canopy expansion in response to neighboring competition. Additionally, early-successional and transitional trees experience more significant suppression of radial growth rate. Our research contributes to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving changes in species composition and community succession.

Managing Organisational Change: The Role of Polyphony and Emotional Reflexivity

Despite the profound impact of polyphonic practices in helping leaders and organisational members to achieve a successful organisational change effort, many organisations are still unable to engage in excellent change communication activities. As such, the organisations will face difficulties in achieving their short and long-term goals, create more misunderstandings among employees, and diminish both employees and customers’ trusts. Previous research studies have also progressively highlighted cultural factors has been one of the influential factors that affect the communication behaviours of organisational members and leaders during change. Since research that focuses on middle managers’ polyphony practices especially those in a collectivistic society has been minimal, this research was conducted to examine how polyphonism is practiced by the studied organisation during organisational change. Using middle managers’ conversations on emotional reflexivity during change, this research was conducted to obtain a rich understanding on the studied phenomenon. Communicative Constitution of Organisations the Montreal School (CCO TMS) theory was used to guide the present research and semi-structured in-depth interviews with thirty middle managers of a Malaysian (aerospace component manufacturing) organisation were carried out. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The data revealed polyphony are strongly enforced by the respondents and their leaders through five steps of practice: mutual recognition, mutual trust, dialogic sessions, mutual understanding, and mutual agreement. The respondents also acted as polyphonous leaders: leader and decision maker of subordinates’ interactions, and leader for ideas’ diversity. The themes also reflected the emotional reflexivity practiced by the respondents which are self-consciousness, empathy, self-control, motivation and social skills. This research helped to contribute new traits to the unique face of Malaysians’ identities. It also shows the importance in attending to middle managers’ conversations on change since middle managers’ acceptance towards change are being influenced from their emotional reflexivity and organisation’s polyphony practice.

Prefabricated shouldered abutments enable successful restoration of molar crowns on implants.

This retrospective study evaluated the effect of selected clinical and patient factors on survival, success, and peri-implant bone level changes of locking taper implants supporting molar crowns on Bicon's prefabricated shouldered abutments. A total of 234 patients, who received 274 single molar crowns supported by locking taper implants were included in this retrospective study. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess overall implant survival, prostheses survival, and success. Crowns were either monolithic (resin based) or bilayered (milled fiber-reinforced composite coping veneered with indirect composite). Early and late changes in marginal bone levels were plotted and analyzed with equivalence testing to compare the effects of different factors on crestal bone levels. At 9.5 years after implant surgery, the implant survival probability was 94.2%, the probability of prosthesis survival was 91.4%, and the probability of prosthetic success was 90.4%. Neither the use of different crown materials, nor the choice of monolithic versus bilayered crown construction, significantly affected the probability of prosthetic success. Marginal bone levels, on average, trended downwards towards the top of the implant within the first 2 years after functional loading, and remained stable on average, since then. Factors affecting bone levels included the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which precluded early implant bone loss; and subcrestal implant placement, which was linked to significantly higher long-term bone levels. The implant and abutment system studied resulted in high implant and prosthetic survival rates, regardless of prosthetic material used, with stable bone levels over time.

Fungal Community Succession and Volatile Compound Changes during Fermentation of Laobaigan Baijiu from Chinese Hengshui Region.

To investigate the core fungal community succession and its effects of volatile compound production during different stages (D-1, D-2, D-3, E-4, E-5, and E-6) of Hengshui Laobaigan Baijiu, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) was carried out, accompanied by the identification and quantification of the volatile flavor compounds using headspace solid-phase coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). HTS results demonstrated that the fungal community of stage D-1 was similar to that of E-4 after adding Daqu, while the richness and diversity of the fungal community were most prominent at stage E-6. Moreover, the addition of Daqu at the beginning of Ercha fermentation resulted in a significant increase in the relative abundances of the fungal community at the genus level, setting the stage for the production of volatile compounds. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of a total of 45 volatile compounds. Combining the GC-MS result with the heat map and principal component analysis (PCA), the concentrations of volatile compounds were highest in stage E-5. Meanwhile, concentrations of esters, especially ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate, isoamyl acetate and ethyl hexanoate, were high in both stages E-5 and E-6. This indicated that stage E-5 was crucial to the fermentation process of Laobaigan Baijiu. Three fungal genera (Saccharomyces, Candida, and Pichia) were indicated as the core microbiota for the production of the main volatile flavor compounds of Laobaigan Baijiu through partial least square (PLS) analysis. The information provided in this study offered valuable insights into the fermentation mechanism of Laobaigan Baijiu, thereby serving as a theoretical framework for enhancing the quality of Baijiu and realizing cost-effective production.