Melioidosis is an endemic infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria, which contaminates soil and water. To better understand the environmental changes that have contributed to melioidosis outbreaks, this study used spatiotemporal analyses to clarify the distribution pattern of melioidosis and the relationship between melioidosis morbidity rate and local environmental indicators (land surface temperature, normalised difference vegetation index, normalised difference water index) and rainfall. A retrospective study was conducted from January 2013 to December 2022, covering data from 219 sub-districts in Northeast Thailand, with each exhibiting a varying morbidity rate of melioidosis on a monthly basis. Spatial autocorrelation was determined using local Moran’s I, and the relationship between the melioidosis morbidity rate and the environmental indicators was evaluated using a geographically weighted Poisson regression. The results revealed clustered spatiotemporal patterns of melioidosis morbidity rate across sub-districts, with hotspots predominantly observed in the northern region. Furthermore, we observed a range of coefficients for the environmental indicators, varying from negative to positive, which provided insights into their relative contributions to melioidosis in each local area and month. These findings highlight the presence of spatial heterogeneity driven by environmental indicators and underscore the importance of public health offices implementing targeted monitoring and surveillance strategies for melioidosis in different locations. Full article

Background: Several screening strategies for identifying congenital CMV (cCMV) have been proposed; however, the optimal solution has yet to be determined. We aimed to determine the prevalence of cCMV by universal screening with saliva pool testing and to identify the clinical variables associated with a higher risk of cCMV to optimize an expanded screening strategy. Methods: We carried out a prospective universal cCMV screening (September/2022 to August/2023) of 2186 newborns, analyzing saliva samples in pools of five (Alethia-LAMP-CMV^®) and then performed confirmatory urine CMV RT-PCR. Infants with risk factors (small for gestational age, failed hearing screening, HIV-exposed, born to immunosuppressed mothers, or <1000 g birth weight) underwent expanded screening. Multivariate analyses were used to assess the association with maternal/neonatal variables. Results: We identified 10 infants with cCMV (prevalence: 0.46%, 95% CI 0.22–0.84), with significantly higher rates (2.1%, 95% CI 0.58–5.3) in the high-risk group (p = 0.04). False positives occurred in 0.09% of cases. No significant differences in maternal/neonatal characteristics were observed, except for a higher prevalence among infants born to non-Chilean mothers (p = 0.034), notably those born to Haitian mothers (1.5%, 95% CI 0.31–4.34), who had higher odds of cCMV (OR 6.82, 95% CI 1.23–37.9, p = 0.04). Incorporating maternal nationality improved predictive accuracy (AUC: 0.65 to 0.83). Conclusions: For low-prevalence diseases such as cCMV, universal screening with pool testing in saliva represents an optimal and cost-effective approach to enhance diagnosis in asymptomatic patients. An expanded screening strategy considering maternal nationality could be beneficial in resource-limited settings. Full article

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic long-acting partial µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist that can be used for chronic pain as a sublingual tablet, transdermal patch (Butrans^®), or a buccal film (Belbuca^®). Buprenorphine’s unique high receptor binding affinity and slow dissociation at the MOR allow for effective analgesia while offering less adverse effects compared to a full agonist opioid, in particular, less concern for respiratory depression and constipation. It is underused in chronic pain and palliative care due to misconceptions and stigma from its use in opioid use disorder (OUD). This case report discusses the unique pharmacology of buprenorphine, including its advantages, disadvantages, available formulations, drug–drug interactions, initiation and conversion strategies, and identifies ideal populations for use, especially within the palliative care patient population. Full article

(1) Background: Niemann–Pick type C1 (NP-C1) is a lysosomal storage disorder that results in the defective trafficking of cholesterol and other cellular lipids in the endosomal–lysosomal pathway. This rare autosomal recessive disorder presents in three forms based on the age of onset. The adult form presents in patients greater than 15 years of age but is rarely seen after the age of 30. Common symptoms of the late adult-onset category of NP-C1 include progressive cognitive impairment and ataxia, with psychiatric and movement disorders presenting less frequently than in other forms of NP-C1. Dystonic movement disorders present most frequently, along with chorea, myoclonus, and parkinsonism. Herein, we present a rare case of NP-C1, diagnosed at age 35 with an initial symptom of supranuclear palsy. The goal of the presented case is to highlight the importance of the neurological examination and an inclusive differential diagnosis in patients with new-onset supranuclear palsy. (2) Methods: A single case report. (3) Results: A 46-year-old male with a past medical history of NP-C1 was admitted to the hospital for respiratory distress. He was noted to have a supranuclear gaze palsy with partially preserved voluntary saccades to the right. His mother revealed that he first had difficulty moving his eyes at the age of 34. After multiple consultations and genetic testing one year later, he was diagnosed with NP-C1. (4) Conclusions: Because NP-C1 affects many regions of the brain responsible for eye movements, neurological eye assessments can be a useful tool in diagnoses. Furthermore, eye movement abnormalities may be the initial presenting symptom of NP-C1, predisposing patients to misdiagnosis with progressive supranuclear palsy and other conditions that may mimic early-stage NP-C1. Definitive diagnosis is achieved through genetic testing. Filipin staining test was the gold standard in the past. The NP-C Suspicion Index was developed to assist in diagnoses, but its efficacy is unclear with late adult-onset NP-C1. Although no cure exists, early identification can facilitate an improved symptom management course for patients. Miglustat, a glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) inhibitor, is the approved therapy in Europe specific to NP-C1 for slowing and preventing the neurological manifestations of NP-C1. Delays between symptom onset and treatment initiation are likely to result in poorer outcomes and a progression of neurological symptoms. High doses may present tolerance concerns, especially in cases of delayed treatment and advanced neurological deficit. Full article

Research Highlights: This study examined the emotional and cognitive health benefits of nature in comparison with working memory training. It considered the long-term effects, the application of mobile terminal technology, and routine-based approaches with the aim of integrating nature’s health benefits into people’s daily lives. Background and Objectives: Infectious diseases and aging may limit people’s activities indoors; the recovery effect of nature has been widely recognized, and terminal technology is developing rapidly. In this context, we want to explore the emotional and cognitive effects of viewing nature (VR) videos on mobile devices for a long time. Materials and Methods: The experiment employed a between-subjects design, with participants being randomly assigned to one of four groups: a forest VR video group, a water VR group, a working memory training group, and a control group. The participants watched the video three times a week for 20 min each for four weeks. The number of valid participants for compliance, preference, and willingness was 136, and the number of valid participants for the study of emotional and cognitive effects was 62. Brief Profile of Mood States (BPOMS) scales, running memory accuracy, shifting cost, etc., were used as indicators to reflect emotions and cognition. A repeated measures analysis of variance was performed on these indicators at four groups × two time points (pretest/post-test). Results: ① There were no significant differences in the participants’ adherence, preferences, and willingness to watch different natural videos and perform working memory training. ② Long-term home training (e.g., watching VR nature videos or working memory training) may have had a minimal effect on emotional responses to mobile terminals. However, home training may be more conducive to the stabilization of anger. ③ Watching forest VR videos had a positive effect on the updating function of the brain; watching water VR videos was beneficial for the shifting function and automatic processing speed; and working memory training had a positive effect on the updating and shifting functions. Conclusions: There were no significant differences in adherence, preference, willingness, and effects on emotion and cognition between long-term forest VR video viewing, water VR video viewing, and working memory training on mobile terminals. All three types of home training may be beneficial for the stabilization of emotion (especially anger), and all can have some positive effects on cognition. Full article

Radiation treatment of cancers like prostate or cervix cancer requires considering nearby bone structures like vertebrae. In this work, we present and validate a novel automated method for the 3D segmentation of individual lumbar and thoracic vertebra in computed tomography (CT) scans. It is based on a single, low-complexity convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture which works well even if little application-specific training data are available. It is based on volume patch-based processing, enabling the handling of arbitrary scan sizes. For each patch, it performs segmentation and an estimation of up to three vertebrae center locations in one step, which enables utilizing an advanced post-processing scheme to achieve high segmentation accuracy, as required for clinical use. Overall, 1763 vertebrae were used for the performance assessment. On 26 CT scans acquired for standard radiation treatment planning, a Dice coefficient of 0.921 ± 0.047 (mean ± standard deviation) and a signed distance error of 0.271 ± 0.748 mm was achieved. On the large-sized publicly available VerSe2020 data set with 129 CT scans depicting lumbar and thoracic vertebrae, the overall Dice coefficient was 0.940 ± 0.065 and the signed distance error was 0.109 ± 0.301 mm. A comparison to other methods that have been validated on VerSe data showed that our approach achieved a better overall segmentation performance. Full article

The electrochemical splitting of seawater is promising but also challenging for sustainable hydrogen gas production. Herein, ZIF-67 nanosheets are grown on nickel foam and then etched by Ni²⁺ in situ to obtain a hierarchical hollow nanosheets structure, which demonstrates outstanding OER performance in alkaline seawater (355 mV at 100 mA cm⁻²). Diven by a silicon solar panel, an overall electrolysis energy efficiency of 62% is achieved at a high current of 100 mA cm⁻² in seawater electrolytes. This work provides a new design route for improving the catalytic activity of metal organic framework materials. Full article

Timely and accurate information on tree species is of great importance for the sustainable management of natural resources, forest inventory, biodiversity detection, and carbon stock calculation. The advancement of remote sensing technology and artificial intelligence has facilitated the acquisition and analysis of remote sensing data, resulting in more precise and effective classification of tree species. A review of the remote sensing data and deep learning tree species classification methods is lacking in its analysis of unimodal and multimodal remote sensing data and classification methods in this field. To address this gap, we search for major trends in remote sensing data and tree species classification methods, provide a detailed overview of classic deep learning-based methods for tree species classification, and discuss some limitations of tree species classification. Full article

(1) Background: Bowel management contributes throughout the pathway of care for children with Hirschsprung. Preoperative bowel management prepares the child and family for the pull-through surgery. Perioperative bowel management supports early recovery and tailored bowel management in the follow-up supports the achievement of social continence. (2) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of our institutional bowel management program to illustrate the pre-, peri- and postoperative bowel management strategies. (3) Results: A total of 31 children underwent primary pull-through, 23 without a stoma and 8 with a stoma, at a median age of 9 months. All children without a stoma were prepared for surgery by using rectal irrigations. Children with a stoma were prepared for surgery with a transfer of stoma effluent. Transanal irrigation supported early recovery. (4) Conclusions: Bowel management is a key pillar of the management of children with Hirschsprung disease. Incorporating bowel management in the pathway of care facilitates primary pull-through and supports perioperative recovery. Full article

Two new Mn(II) and Zn(II) metal–organic compounds of 1,10-phenanthroline and methyl benzoates viz. [Mn(phen)₂Cl₂]2-ClBzH (1) and [Zn(4-MeBz)₂(2-AmPy)₂] (2) (where 4-MeBz = 4-methylbenzoate, 2-AmPy = 2-aminopyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2-ClBzH = 2-chlorobenzoic acid) were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, TGA, spectroscopic (FTIR, electronic) and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The crystal structure analysis of the compounds revealed the presence of various non-covalent interactions, which provides stability to the crystal structures. The crystal structure analysis of compound 1 revealed the formation of a supramolecular dimer of 2-ClBzH enclathrate within the hexameric host cavity formed by the neighboring monomeric units. Compound 2 is a mononuclear compound of Zn(II) where flexible binding topologies of 4-CH₃Bz are observed with the metal center. Moreover, various non-covalent interactions, such as lp(O)-π, lp(Cl)-π, C–H∙∙∙Cl, π-stacking interactions as well as N–H∙∙∙O, C–H∙∙∙O and C–H∙∙∙π hydrogen bonding interactions, are found to be involved in plateauing the molecular self-association of the compounds. The remarkable enclathration of the H-bonded 2-ClBzH dimer into a supramolecular cavity formed by two [Mn(phen)₂Cl₂] complexes were further studied theoretically using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the non-covalent interaction (NCI) plot index and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) computational tools. Synergistic effects were also analyzed using molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface analysis. Full article

Autonomous driving, as a pivotal technology in modern transportation, is progressively transforming the modalities of human mobility. In this domain, vehicle detection is a significant research direction that involves the intersection of multiple disciplines, including sensor technology and computer vision. In recent years, many excellent vehicle detection methods have been reported, but few studies have focused on summarizing and analyzing these algorithms. This work provides a comprehensive review of existing vehicle detection algorithms and discusses their practical applications in the field of autonomous driving. First, we provide a brief description of the tasks, evaluation metrics, and datasets for vehicle detection. Second, more than 200 classical and latest vehicle detection algorithms are summarized in detail, including those based on machine vision, LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, and sensor fusion. Finally, this article discusses the strengths and limitations of different algorithms and sensors, and proposes future trends. Full article

Background: Centrifugal-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) have improved morbidity and mortality for their recipients. Hospital readmissions remain common, negatively impacting quality of life and survival. We sought to identify risk factors associated with hospital readmissions among patients with CF-LVADs. Methods: Consecutive patients receiving a CF-LVAD between February 2011 and March 2021 were retrospectively evaluated using prospectively maintained institutional databases. Hospital readmissions within three years post-LVAD implantation were dichotomized into heart failure (HF)/LVAD-related or non-HF/LVAD-related readmissions. Multivariable Cox regression models augmented using a machine learning algorithm, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method, for variable selection were used to estimate associations between HF/LVAD-related readmissions and pre-, intra- and post-operative clinical variables. Results: A total of 204 CF-LVAD recipients were included, of which 138 (67.7%) had at least one HF/LVAD-related readmission. HF/LVAD-related readmissions accounted for 74.4% (436/586) of total readmissions. The main reasons for HF/LVAD-related readmissions were major bleeding, major infection, HF exacerbation, and neurological dysfunction. Using pre-LVAD variables, HF/LVAD-related readmissions were associated with substance use, previous cardiac surgery, HF duration, pre-LVAD inotrope dependence, percutaneous LVAD/VA-ECMO support, LVAD type, and the left ventricular ejection fraction in multivariable analysis (Harrell’s concordance c-statistic; 0.629). After adding intra- and post-operative variables in the multivariable model, LVAD implant hospitalization length of stay was an additional predictor of readmission. Conclusions: Using machine learning-based techniques, we generated models identifying pre-, intra-, and post-operative variables associated with a higher likelihood of rehospitalizations among patients on CF-LVAD support. These models could provide guidance in identifying patients with increased readmission risk for whom clinical strategies to mitigate this risk may further improve LVAD recipient outcomes. Full article

(1) Background: The effective selection of hyperspectral feature bands is pivotal in monitoring the nutritional status of intricate alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The traditional methods often employ hierarchical screening of multiple feature indicators, but their universal applicability suffers due to the use of a consistent methodology across diverse environmental contexts. To remedy this, a backward feature elimination (BFE) selection method has been proposed to assess indicator importance and stability. (2) Methods: As research indicators, the crude protein (CP) and chlorophyll (Chl) contents in degraded grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau were selected. The BFE method was integrated with partial least squares regression (PLS), random forest (RF) regression, and tree-based regression (TBR) to develop CP and Chl inversion models. The study delved into the significance and consistency of the forage quality indicator bands. Subsequently, a path analysis framework (PLS-PM) was constructed to analyze the influence of grassland community indicators on Spec_Chl and Spec_CP. (3) Results: The implementation of the BFE method notably enhanced the prediction accuracy, with ΔR²_RF-Chl = 56% and ΔR²_RF-CP = 57%. Notably, spectral bands at 535 nm and 2091 nm emerged as pivotal for CP prediction, while vegetation indices like the PRI and mNDVI were critical for Chl estimation. The goodness of fit for the PLS-PM stood at 0.70, indicating the positive impact of environmental factors such as grassland cover on Spec_Chl and Spec_CP prediction (r_Chl = 0.73, r_CP = 0.39). Spec_Chl reflected information pertaining to photosynthetic nitrogen associated with photosynthesis (r = 0.80). (4) Disscusion: Among the applied model methods, the BFE+RF method is excellent in periodically discarding variables with the smallest absolute coefficient values. This variable screening method not only significantly reduces data dimensionality, but also gives the best balance between model accuracy and variables, making it possible to significantly improve model prediction accuracy. In the PLS-PM analysis, it was shown that different coverage and different community structures and functions affect the estimation of Spec_CP and Spec_Chl. In addition, Spec_Chl has a positive effect on the estimation of Spec_CP (r = 0.80), indicating that chlorophyll does reflect photosynthetic nitrogen information related to photosynthesis, but it is still difficult to obtain non-photosynthetic and compound nitrogen information. (5) Conclusions: The application of the BFE + RF method to monitoring the nutritional status of complex alpine grasslands demonstrates feasibility. The BFE filtration process, focusing on importance and stability, bolsters the system’s generalizability, resilience, and versatility. A key research avenue for enhancing the precision of CP monitoring lies in extracting non-photosynthetic nitrogen information. Full article

Starch, as a primary component of wheat, plays a crucial role in determining the quality of noodles and pasta. A deep understanding of the impact of starch on the quality of noodles and pasta is fundamentally important for the industrial progression of these products. The starch structure exerts an influence on the quality of noodles and pasta by affecting its functional attributes and the interaction of starch–gluten proteins. The effects of starch structure (amylopectin structure, amylose content, granules size, damaged starch content) on the quality of noodles and pasta is discussed. The relationship between the functional properties of starch, particularly its swelling power and pasting properties, and the texture of noodles and pasta is discussed. It is important to note that the functional properties of starch can be modified during the processing of noodles and pasta, potentially impacting the quality of the end product, However, this aspect is often overlooked. Additionally, the interaction between starch and gluten is addressed in relation to its impact on the quality of noodles and pasta. Finally, the application of exogenous starch in improving the quality of noodles and pasta is highlighted. Full article

This paper introduces the election optimization algorithm (EOA), a meta-heuristic approach for engineering optimization problems. Inspired by the democratic electoral system, focusing on the presidential election, EOA emulates the complete election process to optimize solutions. By simulating the presidential election, EOA introduces a novel position-tracking strategy that expands the scope of effectively solvable problems, surpassing conventional human-based algorithms, specifically, the political optimizer. EOA incorporates explicit behaviors observed during elections, including the party nomination and presidential election. During the party nomination, the search space is broadened to avoid local optima by integrating diverse strategies and suggestions from within the party. In the presidential election, adequate population diversity is maintained in later stages through further campaigning between elite candidates elected within the party. To establish a benchmark for comparison, EOA is rigorously assessed against several renowned and widely recognized algorithms in the field of optimization. EOA demonstrates superior performance in terms of average values and standard deviations across the twenty-three standard test functions and CEC2019. Through rigorous statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test at a significance level of 0.05, experimental results indicate that EOA consistently delivers high-quality solutions compared to the other benchmark algorithms. Moreover, the practical applicability of EOA is assessed by solving six complex engineering design problems, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world scenarios. Full article

The fall webworm (FWW), H. cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiidae), is an extremely high-risk globally invasive pest. Understanding the invasion dynamics of invasive pests and identifying the critical factors that promote their spread is essential for devising practical and efficient strategies for their control and management. The invasion dynamics of the FWW and its influencing factors were analyzed using standard deviation ellipse and spatial autocorrelation methods. The analysis was based on statistical data on the occurrence of the FWW in China. The dissemination pattern of the FWW between 1979 and 2022 followed a sequence of “invasion-occurrence-transmission-outbreak”, spreading progressively from coastal to inland regions. Furthermore, areas with high nighttime light values, abundant ports, and non-forested areas with low vegetation cover at altitudes below 500 m were more likely to be inhabited by the black-headed FWW. The dynamic invasion pattern and the driving factors associated with the fall webworm (FWW) provide critical insights for future FWW management strategies. These strategies serve not only to regulate the dissemination of insects and diminish migratory tendencies but also to guarantee the implementation of efficient early detection systems and prompt response measures. Full article

Tonsillectomy with steroid pulse therapy (SPT) has been established as an effective treatment for immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) in Japan. However, the underlying mechanisms supporting tonsillectomy remain unclear. This study assessed palatine tonsils from 77 patients with IgAN, including 14 and 63 who received SPT before and after tonsillectomy, respectively. Tonsils from 21 patients with chronic tonsillitis were analyzed as controls. Specific tonsillar lesions were confirmed in patients with IgAN, correlating with active or chronic renal glomerular lesions and SPT. T-nodule and involution of lymphoepithelial symbiosis scores in tonsils correlated with the incidence of active crescents and segmental sclerosis in the glomeruli, respectively. The study revealed an essential role of the tonsil–glomerular axis in early active and late chronic phases. Moreover, the SPT-preceding group demonstrated no changes in the T-nodule score, which correlated with active crescent formation, but exhibited a considerable shrinkage of lymphatic follicles that produced aberrant IgA1. The study underscores the involvement of innate and cellular immunity in IgAN and advocates for tonsillectomy as a necessary treatment alongside SPT for IgAN, based on a stepwise process. Full article

Desktop-based virtual colonoscopy is a proven and accurate process for identifying colon abnormalities. However, it is time-consuming. Faster, immersive interfaces for virtual colonoscopy are still incipient and need to be better understood. This article introduces a novel design that leverages VR paradigm components to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of immersive analysis. Our approach contributes a novel tool highlighting unseen areas within the colon via eye-tracking, a flexible navigation approach, and a distinct interface for displaying scans blended with the reconstructed colon surface. The path to evaluating and validating such a tool for clinical settings is arduous. This article contributes a formative evaluation using think-aloud sessions with radiology experts and students. Questions related to colon coverage, diagnostic accuracy, and time to complete are analyzed with different user profiles. Although not aimed at quantitatively measuring performance, the experiment provides lessons learned to guide other researchers in the field. Full article

Protein ubiquitination is common and crucial in cellular functions, however, little is known about how deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) reverse regulate the ubiquitination signaling process. PPPDE family proteins are a novel class of deubiquitinating peptidases with demonstrated deubiquitination/deSUMOylating activities. In this study, we identified 10 PPPDE genes from the rice (Oryza sativa L.) genome unevenly distributed on five chromosomes, where most of these members have not been reported to date. Based on the gene structure, the OsPPPDE family consists of three distinct subgroups within the phylogenetic tree. Cis-element analysis identified light/phytohormone-responsive, development, and abiotic stress-related elements in the promoters of OsPPPDE. Furthermore, we conducted and analyzed the transcript abundance of OsPPPDE under various tissues and stresses using the transcriptome data of 352 samples from the Rice Expression Database and GEO datasets. Moreover, OsPPPDE5 showed differential regulation of its transcript abundance during Cd and drought stress. Collinearity and syntenic analysis of 101 PPPDEs and PPPDE-like proteins in 10 plant genomes indicated that this family is evolutionarily conserved. Domestication analysis suggests that OsPPPDEs may contribute to indica–japonica divergence using the data from the 3K Rice Genome Project. Our study provides a foundation for further study on the function and molecular mechanism of the OsPPPDE gene family. Full article

Background: Research has shown that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are prevalent and are associated with psychological distress. Some studies indicate facing these adversities can lead to post-traumatic growth. This study aims to assess the impact of ACEs on psychological distress and post-traumatic growth and to determine the mediating effect of post-traumatic growth between ACEs and psychological distress, in a sample of adults. Methods: In this study, there were 521 participants (mean = 31.32, SD = 12.28), who answered the following surveys online: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Family ACE Questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Results: ACEs were positive and significant predictors of psychological distress, and the “Change in the perception of the self and life in general” factor of post-traumatic growth was the strongest predictor of lower perceived psychological distress. Post-traumatic growth did not mediate the relationship between ACEs and psychological distress. Conclusions: These findings contribute to the improvement of clinical practice and health policies and highlight the need for a more in-depth understanding of the impact of ACEs on mental health. Full article

Highly selective etching of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂) has received considerable attention from the semiconductor community owing to its precise patterning and cost efficiency. We investigated the etching selectivity of Si₃N₄ and SiO₂ in an NF₃/O₂ radio-frequency glow discharge. The etch rate linearly depended on the source and bias powers, whereas the etch selectivity was affected by the power and ratio of the gas mixture. We found that the selectivity can be controlled by lowering the power with a suitable gas ratio, which affects the surface reaction during the etching process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the Si₃N₄ and QMS measurements support the effect of surface reaction on the selectivity change by surface oxidation and nitrogen reduction with the increasing flow of O₂. We suggest that the creation of SiO_xN_y bonds on the surface by NO oxidation is the key mechanism to change the etch selectivity of Si₃N₄ over SiO₂. Full article

Unsaturated fat replacement should be used to reduce the use of saturated fat and trans fatty acids in the diet. In this study, pea protein micro-gels (PPMs) with different structures were prepared by microparticulation at pH 4.0–7.0 and named as PPM (pH 4.0), PPM (pH 4.5), PPM (pH 5.0), PPM (pH 5.5), PPM (pH 6.0), PPM (pH 6.5), and PPM (pH 7.0). Pea protein was used as a control to evaluate the structure and interfacial properties of PPMs by particle size distribution, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), free sulfhydryl group content, and emulsifying property. PPM (pH 7.0) was suitable for application in O/W emulsion stabilization because of its proper particle size, more flexible structure, high emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsifying stability index (ESI). The Pickering emulsion stabilized by PPM (pH 7.0) had a uniform oil droplet distribution and similar rheological properties to cream, so it can be used as a saturated fat replacement in the manufacture of ice cream. Saturated fat was partially replaced at different levels of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%, which were respectively named as PR0, PR20, PR40, PR60, PR80, and PR100. The rheological properties, physicochemical indexes, and sensory properties of low-saturated fat ice cream show that PPM (pH 7.0)-stabilized emulsion can be used to substitute 60% cream to manufacture low-saturated fat ice cream that has high structural stability and similar melting properties, overrun, and sensory properties to PR0. The article shows that it is feasible to prepare low-saturated fat ice cream with PPM (pH 7.0)-stabilized Pickering emulsion, which can not only maintain the fatty acid profile of the corn oil used, but also possess a solid-like structure. Its application is of positive significance for the development of nutritious and healthy foods and the reduction of chronic disease incidence. Full article