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To examine trends, characteristics, and outcomes of donor oocyte embryo transfer cycles by original oocyte and resultant embryo state and determine whether oocyte state (fresh or frozen) is differentially associated with clinical pregnancy, live birth, and term, healthy birthweight neonates among singleton live births. Retrospective cohort study. National study. Patients undergoing donor oocyte embryo transfer cycles in the United States reporting to the National Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance System from 2013 to 2020. Original donor oocyte and resultant embryo state (fresh or frozen). Annual numbers and proportions of total donor oocyte embryo transfer cycles stratified by oocyte and embryo state and single embryo transfer cycles resulting in the live birth of term (≥37 weeks gestation), healthy birthweight (≥2,500 g) singletons during 2013–2020. Rates of live birth and term, healthy birthweight neonates among singleton live births for 2018–2020 are also reported. Relative risks examine associations between donor oocyte state and live birth and term, healthy birthweight neonates among singleton live births resulting from donor oocyte embryo transfer cycles. From 2013 to 2020, there were 135,085 donor oocyte embryo transfer cycles, of which the proportions increased for frozen embryos (42.3%–76.6%), fresh embryos using frozen donor oocytes (19.9%–68.3%) and single embryo transfers (36.4%–85.5%). During 2018–2020, there were 48,679 donor oocyte embryo transfer cycles. Rates of live birth were lower with frozen compared with fresh donor oocytes for both fresh (46.2%, 55.9%; adjusted relative risk [aRR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79–0.87) and frozen (41.3%, 45.8%; aRR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91–0.98) embryo transfer cycles. Among singleton live births, rates of delivering a term, healthy birth weight neonate were similar for frozen compared with fresh donor oocyte transfer cycles among fresh (77.3%, 77.2%; aRR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98–1.03) and frozen (75.6%, 75.1%; aRR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.99–1.04) embryos. In this national study of donor oocyte embryo transfer cycles, frozen embryo transfers, fresh embryo transfers using frozen oocytes, and single embryo transfers increased. Although frozen compared with fresh oocytes were associated with a slightly reduced rate of live birth, rates of term, healthy birthweight neonates among singleton live births were comparable between donor oocyte states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is the top imported fish in Japan. It is usually shipped in chilled form by air cargo to preserve its freshness but posts a high environmental impact. As a sustainable alternative, ocean freight can be implemented if the salmon is frozen. However, the question arises as to whether the quality of the frozen and thawed salmon is comparable. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental impact and quality of Norwegian Atlantic salmon in chilled and frozen form. The CO 2 equivalent emissions of the key life-cycle stages were calculated, and the quality assessment was carried out by colorimetry and sensory evaluation with careful preparation and execution. The results showed that the CO 2 equivalent emissions of the packaging, transport, and overall cycle of the frozen salmon were 35 %, 90 %, and 60 % lower than those of the chilled salmon. Color measurements using digital imaging show that the frozen salmon is slightly redder, with a higher a* value and a lower b* value. Panelist ratings indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in perceived color, glossiness, fishy smell, texture, umami, and juiciness between chilled and frozen salmon. The study provides preliminary results that demonstrate the potential of frozen seafood and ocean freight transportation as a sustainable cold chain solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased awareness by industry of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is forcing companies to examine electrical technologies as alternatives to fossil fuel‐driven thermal ones. Spray drying of milk is recognized as a high‐energy process and is of particular importance to New Zealand. It requires inlet air temperatures higher than most existing electrically‐driven heat‐pumps can reliably achieve. Already some companies internationally are considering freezing and shipping milk concentrates rather than drying which begs the question as to whether the GHG emissions of frozen concentrate outweigh the GHG avoided by not drying. This research note assesses the relative GHG emissions and indicates a GHG advantage for frozen concentrate shipping. Practical applications: Increased awareness of the significance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is forcing companies to examine alternatives to fossil fuel‐driven thermal technologies. Spray drying of milk is recognized as a high‐energy process and is of particular importance to New Zealand. It requires inlet air temperatures higher than most existing electrically‐driven heat‐pumps can achieve and so commonly requires fossil‐fuel use. Already some companies internationally are considering freezing and shipping milk concentrates rather than shipping dried milk. This research note assesses the relative GHG emissions of conventional (fossil‐fuelled) processes, and a novel process involving frozen concentrate. The evaluation shows that significant greenhouse gas reduction is possible by shipping frozen concentrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) caught during the summer months in Icelandic waters after intensive feeding is rich in lipids and, thus, sensitive to lipid degradation. Recent studies have led to improved cooling and handling on board, ensuring high‐quality raw material. However, studies on the development of high‐quality products for human consumption are lacking. The study aimed to investigate the effects of hot‐smoking on the physicochemical, microbial, and sensory quality of deep‐skinned Atlantic mackerel fillets during chilled storage (1 ± 0.6°C). In addition, the quality of smoked mackerel from frozen–thawed fillets (9 months at −25 ± 1.8°C) was compared to that of fresh‐smoked fillets to evaluate the possibility of the industry being able to provide smoked fillets throughout the year, despite the short fishing season. Brining and hot‐smoking reduced total viable counts and inactivated Listeria monocytogenes. Hot‐smoking positively affected the sensory attributes of the fillets and sensory quality was largely maintained for at least 21 days of chilled storage. Although slightly lower sensory and texture scores were obtained for frozen–thawed smoked fillets, they remained within acceptable limits throughout the period of cold storage. The shelf‐life of smoked Atlantic mackerel deep‐skinned fillets stored at 1°C is, therefore, assessed to be at least 21 days. Well‐fed Atlantic mackerel is suitable for developing high‐quality and stable smoked fillet products from both fresh and frozen–thawed raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in combination with classification methods for the discrimination of fresh and once- or twice-freeze–thawed fish. An experiment was carried out with common carp (Cyprinus carpio). From each fish, test pieces were cut from the dorsal and ventral regions and measured from the skin side as fresh, after single freezing at minus 18 °C for 15 ÷ 28 days and 15 ÷ 21 days for the second freezing after the freeze–thawing cycle. NIRS measurements were performed via a NIRQuest 512 spectrometer at the region of 900–1700 nm in Reflection mode. The Pirouette 4.5 software was used for data processing. SIMCA and PLS-DA models were developed for classification, and their performance was estimated using the F1 score and total accuracy. The predictive power of each model was evaluated for fish samples in the fresh, single-freezing, and second-freezing classes. Additionally, aquagrams were calculated. Differences in the spectra between fresh and frozen samples were observed. They might be assigned mainly to the O–H and N–H bands. The aquagrams confirmed changes in water organization in the fish samples due to freezing–thawing. The total accuracy of the SIMCA models for the dorsal samples was 98.23% for the calibration set and 90.55% for the validation set. For the ventral samples, respective values were 99.28 and 79.70%. Similar accuracy was found for the PLS-PA models. The NIR spectroscopy and tested classification methods have a potential for nondestructively discriminating fresh from frozen–thawed fish in as methods to protect against fish meat food fraud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, I use the song 'Let It Go' from Frozen as a steppingstone for addressing song and animated musical film as combined media, or rather integrations, and, based on the models put forward by Lars Elleström, propose a framework for discussing different kinds of synchronic intermediality. I propose that when analysing synchronic intermediality, we need to consider (at least) three types of combination: 1) combination of modalities (understood as formal structures framing the content), 2) combination of qualified aspects (understood as conventions of media products, herein those aspects tied to media representation), and 3) combination of semiotic content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological samples of lipids and metabolites degrade after extensive years in −80 °C storage. We aimed to determine if associated multivariate models are also impacted. Prior TOFI_Asia metabolomics studies from our laboratory established multivariate models of metabolic risks associated with ethnic diversity. Therefore, to compare multivariate modelling degradation after years of −80 °C storage, we selected a subset of aged (≥5-years) plasma samples from the TOFI_Asia study to re-analyze via untargeted LC-MS metabolomics. Samples from European Caucasian (n = 28) and Asian Chinese (n = 28) participants were evaluated for ethnic discrimination by partial least squares discriminative analysis (PLS–DA) of lipids and polar metabolites. Both showed a strong discernment between participants ethnicity by features, before (Initial) and after (Aged) 5-years of −80 °C storage. With receiver operator characteristic curves, sparse PLS–DA derived confusion matrix and prediction error rates, a considerable reduction in model integrity was apparent with the Aged polar metabolite model relative to Initial modelling. Ethnicity modelling with lipids maintained predictive integrity in Aged plasma samples, while equivalent polar metabolite models reduced in integrity. Our results indicate that researchers re-evaluating samples for multivariate modelling should consider time at −80 °C when producing predictive metrics from polar metabolites, more so than lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To diminish the browning and tissue softening issues of green pepper dishes in the freezing/thawing processes, salt, trehalose and calcium chloride were used to treat thawed green peppers, and the hardness, drip loss rate, chlorophyll content, sensory evaluation and microstructure of thawed green peppers were measured to verify the effect of process green protection and hard preservation. A single factor experiment was used to screen the optimum range of each factor and response surface methodology was chosen to obtain the optimum process parameter combination. Results showed that the optimum process for protecting green and hardness properties of green pepper was as follows: Blanching green pepper at 100 ℃ for 5 s, the mass fraction of salt in the blanching solution was 0.50%, immersed in cold water for 15 min, the mass fraction of trehalose was 0.51%, and the mass fraction of calcium chloride was 0.25%. Under this process condition, compared with the control group, the color difference of green pepper in the treatment group was reduced by 3.98, the hardness was increased by 20.37%, the juice loss rate was decreased by 40.29%, the chlorophyll content and sensory score were increased by 102.70% and 88%, respectively. Through the scanning electron microscopy, it was found that the treated green pepper cell wall was more complete and maintained a better cell structure. This process can effectively maintain the color and taste of green pepper after thawing, which can provide data support for the research of green and hardness preservation technology of frozen green pepper prefabricated vegetables.

Extending the shelf life of exported beef could increase international demand and producer profits. The objective was to evaluate the effects of topically applying combinations of acerola cherry powder and rosemary extract on the shelf life of frozen–thawed bone-in beef short rib and chuck roll steaks. Chuck rolls (IMPS 116A; N = 9) and bone-in short ribs (IMPS 123A; N = 18) were aged (7 d; 0 °C), frozen (30 d; −20 °C), and thawed (60–72 h; 0 °C). Steaks measuring 1.02 cm thick were treated and subjected to a 4 d retail display. Steaks were left untreated (control) or sprayed topically with acerola cherry powder (0.05%; A), rosemary extract (0.10%; R), or a combination (M1 = 0.05% A + 0.1% R; M2 = 0.1% A + 0.1% R; M3 = 0.05% A + 0.2% R; M4 = 0.1% A + 0.2% R). Chuck roll M2- and M4-treated steaks were redder than the control steaks on days 3 and 4 (p = 0.008), and antioxidant-treated steaks had less lipid oxidation on day 4 than the control steaks (p = 0.021). Bone marrow samples treated with R, M3, and M4 were redder than the control on days 1–3 (p = 0.014), and bone marrow treated with M3 was subjectively redder compared to the control on days 0 and 1 (p = 0.033). Topical antioxidants improve the redness and delay the oxidation of frozen–thawed beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three stages of ice crystal formation in muscle tissue in this paper were analyzed. • The working principles and equipment of ultrasound-assisted freezing technique, high-voltage electric and magnetic field-assisted freezing technique, and liquid nitrogen freezing technique were discussed, respectively. • The future direction of cold chain storage and transport technology were analyzed. Low temperature environments can effectively inhibit the growth of microorganisms in raw meat products due to the reduced activity of enzymes, which is conducive to the long-term preservation of foodstuffs. At present, mainstream technologies include ultrasonic-assisted freezing, high-voltage electric and magnetic field-assisted freezing, and liquid nitrogen freezing technologies are widely used in the freezing process. In this paper, the freezing processes and devices for the fresh meat products were reviewed. The formation mechanism of ice crystals during the freezing of meat products was analyzed. The influence of the shape and size of ice crystals on their quality was studied. Also, the effect of different freezing processes and freezing device on the quality of meat products was studied. The key technologies regarding cold chain storage and transportation of meat products should move in the direction of intelligence, information, efficiency, and the unmanned. Finally, the key processes and device regarding freezing, cold chain, storage, and transportation were planned for the future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of frozen storage on the stability of traditional dough starters in China. Methods: The microbial community structure and abundance of related metabolic genes in different fermented sourdough prepared by Jiaozi (JZ) and Laomian (LM) starters before and after frozen storage at -20°C for half a year were analyzed using the shotgun metagenomic sequencing method, and differences in characteristics of texture in steamed bread were also compared by formal methods. Results: The fermentation ability (FA) and metabolic activities of yeast in the JZH sourdough (started by JZ which was stored at -20°C for half a year) were better than those of LMH sourdough (started by LM which was stored at -20°C for half a year). The dominant genera of Acetobacter were found to be increased in the JZH0 sourdough (started by JZH and fermented for 0 h) and those of Lactobacillus were found to be decreased. Lactobacillus (98.72%), Pediococcus (0.37%), Saccharomyces (0.27%), and Acetobacter (0.01%), were dominant in sourdough LMH0 (started by LMH and fermented for 0 h). The abundances of "oxidative phosphorylation-related enzymes" and the "biosynthesis of glutamate"-related enzymes and genes related to "biosynthesis of glutamate" and "unsaturated fatty acid" were higher in JZH0 than in the JZ0 sourdough (started by JZ without being frozen and fermented for 0 h). The good FA of yeast, the acid production capacity of bacteria in the sourdough, and the quality of the JZH steamed bread (made by the JZH starter) indicated the better freezing tolerance of the microorganisms in JZ than in LM. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study suggests the better application potential of the JZ as the fermentation starter in actual production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum L.) is characterized by a low energy value, but a high biological value and is desirable for both adults and children. Pomegranate fruits as a raw material is ideal for the production juices. Therefore, in this research were used two varieties of pomegranate fruits: Karamustafa and Hicaz, grown in Valandovo, R. North Macedonia. To produce the pomegranate juices with good quality properties it is important to have quality raw material. For that purpose, 30 fruits of each variety were taken to estimate the morphometric characteristics (mass, height and width). The production of the fresh pomegranate juices was with cold squeezing of both varieties of the pomegranate fruits, and then the juices were frozen, without using additives. To determine the quality properties of squeezed fresh and frozen juices from the fruits of both pomegranate varieties, were applied different laboratory methods. Therefore, were analysed the following parameters: total dry matter, soluble dry matter, total sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose), total acids (citric acid), vitamin C, anthocyanins, polyphenols and minerals. According to the performed analysis, the frozen juice of the Karamustafa variety had higher average values for: soluble dry matters (17.50 %) and polyphenols (131.86 mg/L). The estimation of the sensory properties was done descriptively and by using the scoring method (max. 20 points). The variety Hicaz had sweeter, more acceptable taste, and on the other hand the variety Karamustafa had more intensive color, due the higher contain of the anthocyanins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Prediction of the effect of the hormone progesterone on pregnancy results that measured on the day of transfer of fresh and frozen embryos. Methods: This research at reproductive centres in Baghdad from May 2022 to April 2023 examined how serum progesterone levels affect embryo transfers in ICSI procedures in 100 fresh or frozen cycle women. The study examined clinical data and endometrial preparation techniques to determine if progesterone levels affect pregnancy rates. Data were analysed using SPSS to determine how pre-transfer hormonal levels affected implantation and pregnancy outcomes. Participants were selected according on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study shows that progesterone is essential for IVF embryo transfers. Results: Compared to frozen cycles in females, fresh cycles had greater mean age and progesterone levels but lower COC number and 2PN levels, with no changes in BMI, MII, or injectable MII. Frozen cycles produced more good-grade embryos, whereas fresh cycles produced more fair-grade embryos. There were no differences in the number of “C” embryos. Fresh cycle groups had greater pregnancy rates (59.1%) than frozen cycle groups (38.9%), but progesterone levels did not change between cycle types. Conclusion: The study found that fresh cycles include older participants, greater progesterone but lower COC and 2PN levels, and higher pregnancy rates than frozen cycles. BMI, MII levels, embryo count, poor grade “C” embryos, and progesterone levels associated to pregnancy outcomes did not differ across groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To compare Frozen Section (FS) results during the reimplantation stage of revision knee arthroplasty, in patients without clinical signs of infection but with preoperative inconclusive serum inflammatory markers. METHODS: Sections were revisited the day after surgery. Intraoperative FS (iFS) was accepted as positive when the presence of >5 polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNLs) in 5 separate high-power fields was determined according to the consensus criteria of the International Consensus on Musculoskeletal Infection. The clinical outcomes, cultures and diagnostic values of iFS and review FS (rFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: No complications developed after reimplantation in 66 (84.6%) of the 78 evaluated patients. Complications developed in 12 patients, six of whom were treated with re-explantation, four with arthrodesis and two with above-the-knee amputation. Both iFS and rFS yielded insignificant sensitivity and specificity (25% and 45.5%, 25% and 45%, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between definitive culture and iFS and rFS. CONCLUSION: iFS evaluation is insufficient to exclude recovery from periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Diagnosis of recurrence of infection in patients with indefinite serum inflammatory markers between the explantation and reimplantation interval remains challenging due to massive fibrosis that makes proper tissue sampling difficult. The attending physician should closely monitor clinical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences between the stability of α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol as well α-tocotrienol stored at −20 °C and −80 °C were studied in broccoli and blueberry samples. Before storage up to 28 days, they underwent different initializing processes such as freezing quickly with liquid nitrogen and freeze-drying, followed by homogenization. While α-tocopherol levels in blueberries did not significantly differ, levels in broccoli were substantially higher after homogenization of freeze-dried samples compared to fresh broccoli samples. This might be caused by higher extractability of α-tocopherol from the changed cell structure. Storage of fresh broccoli samples at −20 °C led to decreasing α-tocopherol levels. Nevertheless, the deviation between freeze-dried samples to the initial fresh samples and fresh samples frozen with liquid nitrogen stored at −20 °C for 7 days were in the same order of magnitude. In conclusion, storage up to 7 days for vitamin relevant samples before analysis seemed to be justifiable.

Aims and Objectives Gynecological neoplasms are among the most common cancers in female population of India and worldwide. Various new advances have been made to diagnose gynecological pathologies which include imprint cytology and frozen sections in addition to the histopathological techniques. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative diagnostic procedure with gold standard histopathology.

Purpose: To determine whether embryo cryopreservation is associated with a difference in maternal serum analyte levels in singleton and twin pregnancies conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton and twin pregnancies conceived via IVF from a university health system from 01/2014 to 09/2019. Patients with available first and second trimester serum analyte data were included and analyzed separately. Multiple of the median (MoM) values for free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Inhibin A, and unconjugated estriol (uE3) were compared between two groups: pregnancies conceived after the transfer of fresh embryos versus pregnancies conceived after the transfer of frozen-thawed embryos. Multiple linear regression of log MoM values with F test was performed to adjust for potential confounders. Results: For singletons, fresh embryos were associated with a lower median first trimester free β-hCG (1.00 MoM vs. 1.14 MoM; parameter estimate [PE] 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.99, p =.03) compared to frozen-thawed embryos. Fresh embryos were also associated with a lower median second trimester uE3 (0.93 MoM vs. 1.05 MoM; PE 0.88, CI 0.83–0.95, p =.0004) and AFP (1.02 MoM vs. 1.19 MoM; PE 0.91, CI 0.84–0.99, p =.02) compared to frozen-thawed embryos in singletons. There were no significant differences between median first and second trimester serum analytes in twin pregnancies compared between the two groups. Conclusion: Singleton pregnancies derived from fresh embryos had lower first (free β-hCG) and second (uE3 and AFP) trimester analytes compared to frozen-thawed embryos. Twin pregnancies demonstrated no difference between the groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the weather phenomena occur in winter, such as rain and snow, freezing rain, glaze and rime, the rotating parts of the wind sensor of the automatic weather station are easy to freeze, resulting in the lack of wind direction and speed observation data. In order to solve the problem of freezing of the wind sensor, a wind sensor heating device based on the hierarchical heating technology was designed, which adopts the combined control of multi-stage heating elements to realize the adaptive starting of different levels of heating modes. By testing the performance of the wind sensor heating device and processing and analyzing the observed data of wind direction and speed, the feasibility of the application of the wind sensor heating device in the meteorological observation business was evaluated. The results show that the wind sensor with heating device plays a good role in anti freezing and operation is more stable. The wind direction and speed data integrity of the wind sensor with heating device was better than that of the wind sensor without heating device. The two wind speeds have strong correlation and correlation coefficients was above 95% . The consistency of wind direction between the two was significant and both of them were above 80%, and the consistency of wind direction in 10 min was better than that in 2 min. It could be seen that the wind sensor heating device can not only effectively reduce the number of freezing occurrences of the wind sensor and timely eliminate the icing layer, but also reduce the workload of the observer's equipment maintenance, improve the stability of the operation of the wind sensor and the continuity of the data, thus providing decision support for the application of the wind sensor heating device to the meteorological observation business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pomegranate is a temperature-sensitive fruit during postharvest storage. If exposed to cold temperatures above its freezing point for a long time, it will suffer from cold stress. Failure to pay attention to the symptoms that may occur during storage will result in significant damage. Identifying pomegranates susceptible to cold damage in a timely manner requires considerable skill, time and cost. Therefore, non-destructive and real-time methods offer great benefits for commercial producers. To this end, the purpose of this study is the non-destructive identification of healthy frozen pomegranates. First, healthy pomegranates were collected, and hyperspectral images were acquired using a hyperspectral camera. Then, to ensure that enough frozen pomegranates were collected for model training, all samples were kept in cold storage at 0 °C for two months. They were then transferred to the laboratory and hyperspectral images were taken from all of them again. The dataset consisted of frozen and healthy images of pomegranates in a ratio of 4:6. The data was divided into three categories, training, validation and test, each containing 1/3 of the data. Since there is a class imbalance in the training data, it was necessary to increase the data of the frozen class by the amount of its difference with the healthy class. Deep learning networks with ResNeXt, RegNetX, RegNetY, EfficientNetV2, VisionTransformer and SwinTransformer architectures were used for data analysis. The results showed that the accuracies of all models were above 99%. In addition, the accuracy values of RegNetX and EfficientNetV2 models are close to one, which means that the number of false positives is very small. In general, due to the higher accuracy of EfficientNetV2 model, as well as its relatively high precision and recall compared to other models, the F1 score of this model is also higher than the others with a value of 0.9995. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Donor sperm treatment is advised to be performed with frozen-thawed donor semen. A disadvantage of frozen-thawed semen is lower pregnancy rates compared to inseminations with fresh semen. Semen parameters affect ongoing pregnancy rates in intracervical inseminations with frozen-thawed donor semen. In an attempt to translate this into clinical relevance, cohort studies have tried to find cut-off values for semen parameters after thawing for intracervical insemination, but these studies assessed only one semen parameter per study, thereby overlooking the intricate interplay between all semen parameters. We performed a retrospective cohort study and tried to calculate thresholds for all semen parameters that lead to the best possible ongoing pregnancy rates in intracervical insemination with frozen-thawed donor semen. Between April 1999 and December 2015, data from 1,186 women who underwent 7,103 cycles of intracervical insemination with donor semen from 129 sperm donors were available for analysis. Our results showed that total motility and total motile count (TMC) after thawing were associated with ongoing pregnancy rate. The best possible ongoing pregnancy chances after intracervical insemination were obtained at a total motility of ≥20% and a total motile count (TMC) of ≥8 × 106 after thawing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives Gynecological neoplasms are among the most common cancers in female population of India and worldwide. Various new advances have been made to diagnose gynecological pathologies which include imprint cytology and frozen sections in addition to the histopathological techniques. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative diagnostic procedure with gold standard histopathology. Method The study included 50 patients who had suspected gynecological neoplasm in a time period of 12 months. Their intraoperative diagnosis was made on frozen section and imprint cytology to rule out benign or malignant lesions and compared with gold standard histopathology. Results Our study concludes that maximum cases of female genital tract neoplasms belonged to the age group of 19 to 76 years, with 60% cases in postmenopausal age group. Overall diagnosis of 62, 52, and 76% malignancies were made on imprint cytology, frozen section, and histopathological examination, respectively. Conclusion The study concludes that diagnostic accuracy by intraoperative imprint cytology is higher (80%) than frozen section (76%). True positive cases were maximally reported by histopathology. True negative and false positive cases were equally reported by both frozen and imprint cytology. False negative cases were reported by frozen section more than by imprint cytology. The kappa statistical value was lesser in frozen versus histopathology and more in imprint versus histopathology. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for imprint cytology were 77.5, 90.0, 96.9, and 50%, respectively, whereas for frozen section, it was 72.5, 90.0, 96.7, and 45.0%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If you are a parent, then you must have seen those two cartoons (Encanto and Frozen) a dozen times. And if you are not a parent, then you certainly heard of them, because they are some of Disney's best and largest projects, and not just in terms of box office income, which was huge (close to 3 billion dollars, combined). Financial aspects aside, the two productions are amazing because of their powerful educational messages. In this article, we analyse the educational messages and behaviours anchored in the Rational Emotive Behaviour Theory, a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping individuals identify and change irrational beliefs that lead to negative emotions and self-defeating behaviours. We also analyse the two movies from a cinematherapy perspective. We conclude and recommend that the two movies can and should be used by parents, educators, and counsellors all over the world to educate their children about some rational attitudes (unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance and life acceptance, self-awareness), as well as important values (family, friendship, honesty, courage) and also as therapeutic instruments from a cinematherapy perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of applying electrostatic field (EF)–assisted thawing on the quality attributes of previously frozen beef striploin. Beef striploins from both sides of 12 USDA Choice carcasses were halved, frozen at −40°C, and thawed under 4 EF voltage treatments: 0 kV (control), 2.5 kV, 5 kV, and 10 kV. After reaching the internal temperature of −1°C, striploins were weighed for yield calculation, swabbed for microbial analysis, fabricated into steaks, and assigned to either 0- or 14-d aging period and retail displayed for 0 or 7 d. Subjective and objective color measurements were taken during the retail display. Upon completion of retail display, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), cook loss, sarcomere length, troponin-T degradation, muscle fiber spacing, lipid oxidation, antioxidant capacity, pH, and proximate analysis were performed. All EF treatments increased purge loss compared to the control (P0.05). Overall, our study determined that there was no economic benefit to apply EF during thawing regarding yield and purge loss. However, the application of EF may improve tenderness and extend shelf life of beef during retail display.

Considering that fluctuations in temperature can cause variations in both the internal structure as well as the mineral composition of rocks, their fracture characteristics must be impacted accordingly. With the exponential development of geotechnical engineering in cold regions, it is urgent to study the influence of the sub-zero temperature environment on the mechanical properties and dynamic properties of rocks. In order to investigate the influence of sub-zero temperature gradient on the dynamic fracture characteristics of rocks, red sandstone was used for the preparation of notched semi-circular bend specimens. First, a water-saturated machine and a sub-zero temperature incubator were utilized to pretreat the rock for 48 h, conducive for both satiation and freezing processes. Subsequently, the dynamic tests were carried out utilizing an improved split Hopkinson bar experimental system with a cryogenic sub-system. Concurrently, the striker velocity was modulated by setting distinctive air pressures, following which the rock was loaded at various loading rates. The test results demonstrate that the fracture toughness of the rock has an evident loading rate effect, and the fracture toughness proliferates exponentially with the increase in the loading rate. In the event that the loading rate is certain, the fracture toughness of the rock primarily increases gradually and then expeditiously over the course of advancement from room temperature to −20 ℃. Contradictorily, the rock fracture toughness diminishes abruptly with plummeting temperature. Analysis of the rock fracture process, accommodated by a high-speed camera, revealed that the fracture process of the rock at distinctive temperatures is fundamentally equivalent, and the crack propagation speed is negligibly influenced by the temperature. Furthermore, the rock fracture mode was analyzed by employing a scanning electron microscope (SEM) system. The SEM images of the rock depicted that the fracture of red sandstone at sub-zero temperature is predominantly intergranular fracture and cement tearing, accompanied by a trace of transgranular fracture. Meanwhile, the experimentation also revealed that the number of micro-cracks in the rock significantly multiplied when the temperature declined to −25 ℃, illustrating that sub-zero temperature has a deteriorating effect on the rock. Conclusively, the influence mechanism of temperature on the internal structure of the rock is discussed, and it is assumed that the change in the internal structure of the rock is the collaborative effect of thermal expansion-cold contraction and ice-water phase transition. The interpretation of this study has substantial reference significance for the further consequential analysis of frigidity on the fracture properties of the rock.

ABSTRACTThe intake of nitrite in sausages is a concern for health-conscious consumers. This study investigated the effects of heating method (smokehouse, water bath, or ohmic heating), temperature (40, 60, or 75°C), sodium nitrite level (80 or 250 ppm), and frozen storage period (≤3 days or 4 weeks) on the residual nitrite, pigments, and curing efficiency of chicken sausages. The results indicated that the electrical conductivities of samples were sufficiently high for ohmic heating. The extension of frozen storage duration to 4 weeks could substantially lessen the residual nitrites in all sausage samples compared to less than 3 days of storage, particularly for the raw sausage. The total pigment, nitrosylhemochrome, and curing efficiency values of the normal-sodium nitrite sausages were considerably higher than their counterparts, especially for the samples heated at high temperatures. Almost all attributes of the sausages were rather similar among the three heating techniques.

This study aimed to investigate near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in combination with classification methods for the discrimination of fresh and once- or twice-freeze–thawed fish. An experiment was carried out with common carp (Cyprinus carpio). From each fish, test pieces were cut from the dorsal and ventral regions and measured from the skin side as fresh, after single freezing at minus 18 °C for 15 ÷ 28 days and 15 ÷ 21 days for the second freezing after the freeze–thawing cycle. NIRS measurements were performed via a NIRQuest 512 spectrometer at the region of 900–1700 nm in Reflection mode. The Pirouette 4.5 software was used for data processing. SIMCA and PLS-DA models were developed for classification, and their performance was estimated using the F1 score and total accuracy. The predictive power of each model was evaluated for fish samples in the fresh, single-freezing, and second-freezing classes. Additionally, aquagrams were calculated. Differences in the spectra between fresh and frozen samples were observed. They might be assigned mainly to the O–H and N–H bands. The aquagrams confirmed changes in water organization in the fish samples due to freezing–thawing. The total accuracy of the SIMCA models for the dorsal samples was 98.23% for the calibration set and 90.55% for the validation set. For the ventral samples, respective values were 99.28 and 79.70%. Similar accuracy was found for the PLS-PA models. The NIR spectroscopy and tested classification methods have a potential for nondestructively discriminating fresh from frozen–thawed fish in as methods to protect against fish meat food fraud.

Abstract Background The in vitro stability assessment is essential for investigating the diagnostic accuracy of pleural biomarkers. This study aimed to investigate the long‐term stability of pleural fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) at −80°C to −70°C. In addition, we analyzed the effects of frozen storage on the diagnostic accuracy of CEA for malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Methods Pleural fluid CEA of participants in two prospective cohorts were stored at −80°C to −70°C for 1–3 years. The CEA level in the stored specimen was measured with an immunoassay, and its level in the fresh specimen was extracted from medical records. The Bland–Altman method, Passing‐Bablok regression, and Deming regression were used to analyze the agreement of CEA between the fresh and frozen pleural fluid. In addition, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CEA in the fresh and frozen specimens for MPE. Results A total of 210 participants were enrolled. The median CEA levels in frozen and fresh pleural fluid specimens were similar (frozen, 2.32 ng/mL; fresh, 2.59 ng/mL; p 0.05 for all). No significant difference was observed between the area under the ROC curves of CEA in the fresh and frozen specimens (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion Pleural fluid CEA is seemingly stable when stored at –80°C to −70°C for 1–3 years. Frozen storage does not significantly affect the diagnostic accuracy of CEA for MPE.

Background: A precise determination of time since death plays a major role in forensic routine. Currently available techniques for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) are restricted to specific time periods or cannot be applied for individual case-specific reasons. During recent years, it has been repeatedly demonstrated that Western blot analysis of postmortem muscle protein degradation can substantially contribute to overcome these limitations in cases with different background. Enabling to delimit time points at which certain marker proteins undergo distinct degradation events, the method has become a reasonable new tool for PMI delimitation under various forensic scenarios. However, additional research is yet required to improve our understanding of protein decomposition and how it is affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Since there are temperature limits for proteolysis, and investigators are confronted with frozen corpses, investigation of the effects of freezing and thawing on postmortem protein decomposition in the muscle tissue is an important objective to firmly establish the new method. It is also important because freezing is often the only practical means to intermittently preserve tissue samples from both true cases and animal model research. Methods: Sets of dismembered pig hind limbs, either freshly detached non-frozen, or thawed after 4 months of freeze-storage (n = 6 each), were left to decompose under controlled conditions at 30 °C for 7 days and 10 days, respectively. Samples of the M. biceps femoris were regularly collected at predefined time points. All samples were processed via SDS-PAGE and Western blotting to identify the degradation patterns of previously characterized muscle proteins. Results: Western blots show that the proteins degrade predictably over time in precise patterns that are largely unaffected by the freeze-and-thaw process. Investigated proteins showed complete degradation of the native protein band, partly giving rise to degradation products present in distinct time phases of the decomposition process. Conclusion: This study provides substantial new information from a porcine model to assess the degree of bias that freezing and thawing induces on postmortem degradation of skeletal muscle proteins. Results support that a freeze–thaw cycle with prolonged storage in frozen state has no significant impact on the decomposition behavior. This will help to equip the protein degradation–based method for PMI determination with a robust applicability in the normal forensic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the influence of a sub-zero temperature environment on the dynamic characteristics of weakly cemented red sandstone rock, a series of dynamic tests are conducted using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) experiment system. The results show that the dynamic stress–strain curve of weakly cemented sandstone has plastic characteristics under lower sub-zero temperatures. The dynamic compressive strength (DCS) and elastic modulus of the rock have a typical strain rate sensitivity, which increases exponentially with the increase in the strain rate. When the temperature is decreased from normal temperature to sub-zero temperature, the DCS and elastic modulus increase. With the continuous decrease of temperature, both of the parameters show the characteristics of rapid increase and subsequent rapid decrease. The significant effect of sub-zero temperature on the energy dissipation of weakly cemented red sandstone is observed, wherein the energy dissipated per unit volume of rock, ηV, increases first and then decreases with the continuous decrease in the temperature. Finally, based on the experimental results, the influence mechanism of sub-zero temperature on weakly cemented rock is analyzed. The research results can serve as a guide for engineering construction in cold regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In microbiome studies, fecal and oral samples are stored and processed in different ways, which could affect the observed microbiome composition. In this study, we compared storage and processing methods applied to samples prior to DNA extraction to determine how each affected microbial community diversity as assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We collected dental swabs, saliva, and fecal samples from 10 individuals, with three technical replicates per condition. We assessed four methods of storing and processing fecal samples prior to DNA extraction. We also compared different fractions of thawed saliva and dental samples to fresh samples. We found that lyophilized fecal samples, fresh whole saliva samples, and the supernatant fraction of thawed dental samples had the highest levels of alpha diversity. The supernatant fraction of thawed saliva samples had the second highest evenness compared to fresh saliva samples. Then, we investigated the differences in observed community composition at the domain and phylum levels and identified the amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that significantly differed in relative abundance between the conditions. Lyophilized fecal samples had a greater prevalence of Archaea as well as a greater ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes compared to the other conditions. Our results provide practical considerations not only for the selection of storage and processing methods but also for comparing results across studies. Differences in processing and storage methods could be a confounding factor influencing the presence, absence, or differential abundance of microbes reported in conflicting studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of pterostilbene, a phenolic compound found in fruits and red wine, on bovine sperm quality characteristics. The spermatozoon was safely handled in the laboratory before subjecting it to Assisted Reproductive Techniques, such as in vitro fertilization, which generates free radicals that might negatively affect structural integrity and fertilizing capacity. An approved approach to protect spermatozoa is the supplementation of the media with exogenous antioxidants. The multiple benefits and pleiotropic actions of antioxidants make them scientifically interesting and popular. In this study, the effect of two different concentrations (10 μΜ and 25 μΜ) of pterostilbene have been tested during two incubation periods, 60 min and 240 min, after thawing. The addition of 25 μM pterostilbene in the bovine sperm preparation media had advantageous effects on motility, viability, intracellular superoxide anion concentration, and acrosomal status of spermatozoa. Thus, the role of pterostilbene seems potentially beneficial for spermatozoa and should be further investigated. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), primarily produced by cellular metabolism, are highly reactive molecules that modify cellular compounds. During sperm preparation in Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ARTs), intrinsic and extrinsic sources of ROS can impact spermatozoa's oxidative status. The modification of the media with compounds that enhance sperm quality characteristics is of great significance. The current study investigated the effect of pterostilbene, a phenolic compound, on bovine sperm quality. Cryopreserved spermatozoa from six bulls were thawed, supplemented with pterostilbene (0, 10 μΜ, 25 μΜ) and incubated for 60 min and 240 min. Spermatozoa were analyzed in terms of motility, viability, acrosomal status and intracellular concentration of superoxide anion in each time point. The incubation of spermatozoa with 25 μΜ pterostilbene resulted in the preservation of quality parameters through superoxide anion mitigation, while its presence in capacitating conditions resulted in higher percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. The results of the present study indicate that the addition of pterostilbene prevents oxidative insult to spermatozoa and preserves the sperm quality parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass wool column filtration (GWCF) selects human, bull, boar, dog and buffalo spermatozoa, but reports in the horse are scarce. Single‐layer colloid centrifugation with Androcoll‐E™ is currently the standard procedure to select good‐quality equine sperm. This study was designed to assess GWCF (50 and 75 mg columns; GWCF‐50 and GWCF‐75, respectively) efficacy to select good‐quality sperm from fresh and frozen–thawed equine semen, and to compare its performance with Androcoll‐E™ colloid centrifugation. Percentage total motile (TM), progressively motile (PM), morphologically normal (MN), osmotically competent (HOS+) and acrosome‐intact/osmotically competent (AI/HOS+) sperm were determined. In studies done with fresh semen samples (n = 17), suspensions subjected to GWCF‐50 showed an improvement (p <.05) in PM and HOS+ sperm after selection. With GWCF‐75, an increase (p <.05) in PM, MN and HOS+ sperm was observed. Results with GWCF were comparable or better than with Androcoll‐E™ selection. Sperm recovery was similar between procedures for all semen parameters. Total sperm count recovery was lower after GWCF‐75 (GWCF‐50 = 60.0; GWCF‐75 = 51.0; Androcoll‐E™ = 76.0 million sperm; median; p =.013), but results on total progressive sperm count were similar (GWCF‐50 = 23.0; GWCF‐75 = 27.0; Androcoll‐E™ = 24.0 million sperm; median; p =.3850). Using frozen–thawed semen samples (n = 16), an improvement (p <.05) in TM, PM, NM, HOS+ and AI/HOS+ sperm was observed in GWCF‐75 filtrates. Results were comparable to Androcoll‐E™ centrifugation, except HOS+ that increased (p <.05) only after GWCF‐75. Recovery was comparable for all parameters in frozen samples. GWCF is a simple and low‐cost procedure that selects equine sperm with a quality comparable to colloid centrifugation with Androcoll‐E™. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of freezing yak milk at −20 °C and −40 °C for 30, 90 and 180 days on the fermentation characteristics and storage quality of the corresponding yogurt were discussed. The results showed that, compared with that of yogurt made from fresh yak milk, the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth and acid production rate of the yogurt in the −20 °C group decreased at 90 d. The water-holding capacity, viscosity and hardness decreased during storage, and a sour taste was prominent, while no significant changes were observed in the −40 °C group. At 180 d of freezing, the post-acidification of the yogurt in the −20 °C and −40 °C groups increased after 21 d of storage. Compared with the −40 °C group, the −20 °C group showed a significant decrease in LAB counts, a decrease in pH value to 3.63–3.80 and poor texture and sensory quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During storage at low temperatures, the spermatozoa quality changes due to cold shock and free radicals. Diluent supplementation with antioxidants is an effort to maintain the quality of spermatozoa during storage. This study aimed to evaluate the α-tocopherol effect in CEP extender on sperm quality, membrane integrity, and lipid peroxidation during storage at 4°C-5°C. This was a laboratory experiment that compared the use of 2 mM of α-tocopherol in CEP with no addition of α-tocopherol (as control) in five bulls. Semen was collected from Brahman bulls, diluted in CEP with and without α-tocopherol, and stored at 4°C-5°C. Sperm motility and viability were investigated by a light microscope at a ×400 magnification using Eosin-Nigrosin staining. Moreover, membrane integrity was evaluated by lipid peroxidation using the MDA assay and hypoosmotic swelling test. The sperm motility, viability, and membrane integrity were higher in CEP with α-tocopherol. Lipid peroxidation was significantly different between the treatment and control groups. The α-tocopherol supplementation in the diluent CEP could maintain the spermatozoa quality during storage at 4°C-5°C.

Background Ovarian neoplasm is the third most common malignancy in Indian women. Intraoperative diagnosis becomes the critical guiding tool for the surgeons to take the decisions on the extent of surgery specially when preserving fertility has to be considered.

Biological samples of lipids and metabolites degrade after extensive years in −80 °C storage. We aimed to determine if associated multivariate models are also impacted. Prior TOFI_Asia metabolomics studies from our laboratory established multivariate models of metabolic risks associated with ethnic diversity. Therefore, to compare multivariate modelling degradation after years of −80 °C storage, we selected a subset of aged (≥5-years) plasma samples from the TOFI_Asia study to re-analyze via untargeted LC-MS metabolomics. Samples from European Caucasian (n = 28) and Asian Chinese (n = 28) participants were evaluated for ethnic discrimination by partial least squares discriminative analysis (PLS–DA) of lipids and polar metabolites. Both showed a strong discernment between participants ethnicity by features, before (Initial) and after (Aged) 5-years of −80 °C storage. With receiver operator characteristic curves, sparse PLS–DA derived confusion matrix and prediction error rates, a considerable reduction in model integrity was apparent with the Aged polar metabolite model relative to Initial modelling. Ethnicity modelling with lipids maintained predictive integrity in Aged plasma samples, while equivalent polar metabolite models reduced in integrity. Our results indicate that researchers re-evaluating samples for multivariate modelling should consider time at −80 °C when producing predictive metrics from polar metabolites, more so than lipids.

Extending the shelf life of exported beef could increase international demand and producer profits. The objective was to evaluate the effects of topically applying combinations of acerola cherry powder and rosemary extract on the shelf life of frozen–thawed bone-in beef short rib and chuck roll steaks. Chuck rolls (IMPS 116A; N = 9) and bone-in short ribs (IMPS 123A; N = 18) were aged (7 d; 0 °C), frozen (30 d; −20 °C), and thawed (60–72 h; 0 °C). Steaks measuring 1.02 cm thick were treated and subjected to a 4 d retail display. Steaks were left untreated (control) or sprayed topically with acerola cherry powder (0.05%; A), rosemary extract (0.10%; R), or a combination (M1 = 0.05% A + 0.1% R; M2 = 0.1% A + 0.1% R; M3 = 0.05% A + 0.2% R; M4 = 0.1% A + 0.2% R). Chuck roll M2- and M4-treated steaks were redder than the control steaks on days 3 and 4 (p = 0.008), and antioxidant-treated steaks had less lipid oxidation on day 4 than the control steaks (p = 0.021). Bone marrow samples treated with R, M3, and M4 were redder than the control on days 1–3 (p = 0.014), and bone marrow treated with M3 was subjectively redder compared to the control on days 0 and 1 (p = 0.033). Topical antioxidants improve the redness and delay the oxidation of frozen–thawed beef.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of various combinations of refrigerated and frozen storage on quality and palatability attributes in ribeye roll and top sirloin butt subprimals and steaks. USDA Choice boneless ribeye rolls (n=40) and top sirloin butts (n=40) were aged under refrigeration for 21 d before being assigned to 1 of 4 treatments. Treatments included (1) Frozen subprimals/Frozen steaks, in which subprimals were frozen for 30 d, thawed for 7 d, and portioned into steaks that were frozen for 30 d, then thawed for 2 d before evaluation; (2) Frozen subprimals/Refrigerated steaks, in which subprimals were frozen for 30 d, thawed for 7 d, and portioned into steaks for evaluation; (3) Refrigerated subprimals/Frozen steaks, in which subprimals were portioned into steaks that were frozen for 30 d, then thawed for 2 d before evaluation; and (4) Refrigerated subprimals/Refrigerated steaks, in which subprimals were portioned into steaks for evaluation within 7 d of portioning. Beef steaks from the ribeye rolls and top sirloin butts were evaluated to determine the impact of storage treatments on purge, color, cooking yield, tenderness, and consumer acceptability. For both subprimals, purge varied (P0.05) consumer ratings were observed for ribeye steaks. Frozen/Frozen top sirloin steaks had the lowest (P

In microbiome studies, fecal and oral samples are stored and processed in different ways, which could affect the observed microbiome composition. In this study, we compared storage and processing methods applied to samples prior to DNA extraction to determine how each affected microbial community diversity as assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We collected dental swabs, saliva, and fecal samples from 10 individuals, with three technical replicates per condition. We assessed four methods of storing and processing fecal samples prior to DNA extraction. We also compared different fractions of thawed saliva and dental samples to fresh samples. We found that lyophilized fecal samples, fresh whole saliva samples, and the supernatant fraction of thawed dental samples had the highest levels of alpha diversity. The supernatant fraction of thawed saliva samples had the second highest evenness compared to fresh saliva samples. Then, we investigated the differences in observed community composition at the domain and phylum levels and identified the amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that significantly differed in relative abundance between the conditions. Lyophilized fecal samples had a greater prevalence of Archaea as well as a greater ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes compared to the other conditions. Our results provide practical considerations not only for the selection of storage and processing methods but also for comparing results across studies. Differences in processing and storage methods could be a confounding factor influencing the presence, absence, or differential abundance of microbes reported in conflicting studies.

Background: The in vitro stability assessment is essential for investigating the diagnostic accuracy of pleural biomarkers. This study aimed to investigate the long‐term stability of pleural fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) at −80°C to −70°C. In addition, we analyzed the effects of frozen storage on the diagnostic accuracy of CEA for malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Methods: Pleural fluid CEA of participants in two prospective cohorts were stored at −80°C to −70°C for 1–3 years. The CEA level in the stored specimen was measured with an immunoassay, and its level in the fresh specimen was extracted from medical records. The Bland–Altman method, Passing‐Bablok regression, and Deming regression were used to analyze the agreement of CEA between the fresh and frozen pleural fluid. In addition, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CEA in the fresh and frozen specimens for MPE. Results: A total of 210 participants were enrolled. The median CEA levels in frozen and fresh pleural fluid specimens were similar (frozen, 2.32 ng/mL; fresh, 2.59 ng/mL; p < 0.01). The slopes and intercepts in the Passing‐Bablok regression (intercept 0.01, slope 1.04) and Deming regression (intercept 0.65; slope 1.00) were not statistically significant (p > 0.05 for all). No significant difference was observed between the area under the ROC curves of CEA in the fresh and frozen specimens (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Pleural fluid CEA is seemingly stable when stored at –80°C to −70°C for 1–3 years. Frozen storage does not significantly affect the diagnostic accuracy of CEA for MPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the conceptualisations of the notion 'loneliness' in the film titled Frozen (2013), directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. The study employs the cognitive methodology coupled with the media linguistic perspective. Multimodal metaphors and their functions in the narrative of the film have a special place in the analysis. The aim of the study is to analyse the aforementioned animated film in terms of what components of the conceptual structure of 'loneliness' were shown by its authors, what domains found in language they invoked, and what new contents related to the subject matter they used. The text shows that loneliness in Frozen is conceptualised as singleness, lack of company, lack of love, otherness, freedom, escape, experience of loss, rejection, closure, darkness, cold, and emptiness. A special image of the analysed notion emerges from two metaphors: LONELINESS is ICE, LONELINESS is a CLOSED DOOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kadın/Woman 2000 is the property of Kadin/Woman 2000 and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Since ancient times, the majority of humans have been categorized as pescatarians, depending mostly on seafood and fish as well as their byproducts. Fish is currently in greater demand as it is a good source of protein, which is necessary for maintaining the health of muscles, organs, and blood vessels. Due to their sensitive tissues and aquatic environment, fish are especially prone to microbial infections. It has been suggested that one way to assess the quality of fish is through the monitoring of these bacteria. Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the microbiological quality of fresh and frozen fishes. Materials and Methods: A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the microbial quality of fresh and frozen common carps to raise food safety concerns, Iraq-Erbil city. A total of 50 samples of fishes were collected from local markets and breeding ponds from September 2021 to January 2022. The most probable number (MPN) method was used for the estimation of the total coliform, whereas the horizontal method was used for the enumeration of Salmonella spp. Results: In this study, 53% of frozen samples contaminated with the coliform, whereas 15% of the fresh common carps were contaminated with coliform and passed the acceptable range (