The raw eating quality of sweet potato is complex. As consumers start paying more attention to the raw eating quality of tuberous roots in sweet potato, the evaluation of the raw eating quality of sweet potato is becoming an important issue. Therefore, we measured 16 quality indicators in 81 varieties of sweet potato. It was found that these 16 quality traits had different coefficients of variation (C.V.). Among them, the C.V. of fructose, glucose, and adhesiveness were the largest: 87.95%, 87.43% and 55.09%, respectively. The cluster analysis method was used to define six categories of the different tuberous roots of sweet potato. Group I, III, and IV had a stronger hardness and higher starch and cellulose content. Groups II, V, and VI were softer, with a high moisture and soluble sugar content. The principal component analysis method was used to comprehensively evaluate 16 quality indicators of 81 sweet potato varieties. It was found that Futian1, Taishu14, and Nanshu022 are good varieties in terms of raw eating quality. These varieties have low hardness, high adhesiveness in texture, high soluble sugar content, and low starch and cellulose. Future research should focus on improving the raw eating quality of sweet potato by reducing hardness, starch, and cellulose, while increasing adhesiveness, soluble sugar, and moisture content. Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is a tuber crop and a nutritious and staple vegetable [As the world population continues to increase, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, are now overweight, and 650 million are obese  since thegetable ,11, whilRaw sweet potatoes have less maltose sugar than those that have undergone heat processing because heating affects the starch’s transformation into maltose . Cooked Raw sweet potato is more similar to a fruit than a vegetable. Therefore, research on raw sweet potato can draw more lessons from the research on fruits and vegetables. The quality of fruit is often a very important factor for consumers. The measurement of raw crop (such as fruit and vegetable) attributes includes both internal and external characteristics ,17. TastA principal component analysis (PCA) is always used to comprehensively evaluate food quality, and this method helps researchers to determine high-quality raw sweet potato varieties. In this study, 16 quality indicators of 81 sweet potato varieties were tested. The quality of sweet potato  was comprehensively evaluated to provide suggestions for improving the eating quality of raw sweet potato.2 NPK-15:15:15 complex fertilizer and 225 kg K2SO4. The trial was planted in three completely randomized blocks (about 12 m2), and 10 sweet potato seedlings were planted in each block of each variety. Tuberous roots were measured at Zhejiang A & F University after harvesting.Eighty-one sweet potato varieties from the China Agriculture Research System (CARS) were used in this study, which was conducted in 2021 . Sweet pThe texture properties of tuberous roots of sweet potatoes were determined using a physical property analyzer (FTC company model TMS-PRO) with reference to the methods of Dong . A 1 cm-The hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin contents were measured using the wet chemistry methods of Van Soest . Then, aStarch content was determined using an assay kit  according to AACC Method 76-13.01 . Powder v/v = 65:35) as the mobile phase, with a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min−1, column temperature of 30 °C, drift tube temperature of 95 °C, nitrogen flow rate of 2.4 mL·min−1, and injection volume of 4.0 μL.Soluble sugar components were determined by the method of Grabowski et al. . A 0.200Moisture content was determined by the AACC international method 44-19.0 . The sweThe SPSS 23.0 software  was used for the analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Origin 2021  was used for the mapping and correlation analysis. All data in the experiment were analyzed in triplicate. For the principal component analysis (PCA), the quality attributes of different sweet potato varieties were normalized, the characteristic value and contribution rate were determined, and the raw eating quality score of sweet potatoes was calculated.p < 0.01)  .−1 (Taishu14), with an average value of 24.64 mg·g−1. The sucrose content of tuberous roots varied from 22.50 (Qining19) to 146.41 mg·g−1 (Zheshu21), with an average value of 86.42 mg·g−1. The glucose content of tuberous roots varied from 3.81 (Zheshu75) to 131.48 mg·g−1 (Taishu14), with an average value of 27.81 mg·g−1. The C.V. values of soluble sugar were 87.43%, 27.96%, and 87.95%. The above indicators show greater differences among varieties in this study  in this study, and the C.V. value is 28.74%. Soluble pectin had a stronger correlation with the adhesiveness of tuberous roots [−1 (Eshu19), and its C.V. was 25.00%. Hemicelluloses are polysaccharides in plant cell walls that have beta-(1→4)-linked backbones with an equatorial configuration. The most important biological function of hemicellulose is to strengthen the cell wall through the interaction with cellulose and lignin [−1 (Futian1), and C.V. is 15.10%. Protopectin content varies from 10.38 (Longshu24) to 18.31 mg·g−1 (Wansu4723), and C.V. is 13.20%. Cellulose is a polysaccharide composed of linear glucan chains that are linked together by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds with cellobiose residues as the repeating units at different degrees of polymerization [−1 (Miannanshu10), and C.V. is 3.99%, and in this study, the above indicators showed significant differences among varieties (p < 0.01). The order of C.V. is lignin > soluble pectin > hemicellulose > protopectin > cellulose  (Moisture content is an important aspect of the tuberous roots of sweet potatoes and varies from 60.11 (NingB73-8) to 86.31% (Futian1). In this study, the C.V. of moisture content was 7.26%. Starch content makes up a large proportion of the dry tuberous root of sweet potato, varying from 41.23 (Futian1) to 86.56% (Sushu29). The C.V. of starch content was 11.86%. The above indicators show significant differences among the varieties used in this study ( < 0.01) .p < 0.05; R = −0.512, R = −0.405, R = −0.501, R = −0.470, R = −0.760, p < 0.01, respectively) and a stronger positive correlation with gumminess, chewiness, and starch content . This indicates that the starch content accumulated in tuberous roots may increase in hardness, while fructose, sucrose, glucose, hemicellulose, and moisture content decrease.As shown in p < 0.01) and a negative correlation with starch content . This indicates that a high adhesiveness accompanies a high soluble content, especially regarding glucose and fructose content. Cohesiveness has a strong positive correlation with springiness, chewiness, fructose, glucose, hemicellulose, moisture, and soluble pectin content . There was a negative correlation between cohesiveness and starch content , and springiness had a strong negative correlation with starch content . There was a stronger positive correlation between gumminess and chewiness  and a strong negative correlation between gumminess and fructose, sucrose, glucose, and moisture content . Chewiness had a strong negative correlation with moisture content , indicating high moisture content; a lower starch content in tuberous roots makes it easier to chew when raw.Adhesiveness has a strong positive correlation with cohesiveness, springiness, and fructose, glucose, soluble pectin, and hemicellulose content , and Sushu33 were categorized into Group III. Their main features are a low springiness in texture, high sucrose, low fructose and glucose content in soluble sugar, high soluble pectin and low cellulose content in cell wall components, and high starch content .Group IV contains 18 varieties, including Qining19, Xinxiang, Xushu37, etc. Their main features are low cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness in terms of texture, low sucrose in soluble sugar, high lignin and cellulose content and low protopectin content in cell wall components, low moisture content, and high starch content .Group V contains 17 varieties, including Futian1, Longshu5, Jishu33, etc. Their main features are low hardness, gumminess, and chewiness in terms of texture, low sucrose and high fructose and glucose content in soluble sugar, low lignin and high protopectin content in cell wall components, high moisture content, and low starch content .Group VI contains 11 varieties, including Qining17, Sushu9, Eshu19, etc. Their main features are high adhesiveness in terms of texture, high sucrose content in soluble sugar, low cellulose and high protopectin and hemicellulose content in cell wall components, high moisture content, and low starch content .The six groups have distinct characteristics. It is worth noting that Groups I, III, and IV have a greater hardness and higher starch and cellulose contents. Group II, V, and VI are soft, juicy, and have high soluble sugar contents.PCA is the most commonly used dimension reduction method. Using this method, the correlated variables are converted into uncorrelated principal components (PCs), which allows the maximum variance between features to be recorded . In thisWe analyzed data and found that high hardness and cellulose content were not good for raw eating. Therefore, PC1 and PC4 have positive values, and PC2, PC3, and PC5 have negative values. We calculated the principal component model by taking the ratio of the five PCs to the eigenvalues. The sum of the eigenvalues of all PCs was as follows:n represents the feature vector of the corresponding matrix; Xn represents the standardized index of raw quality; Yn represents the score of each main component in the tuberous roots; and F represents the comprehensive score of raw eating quality.Among these values, PCFrom the perspective of comprehensive scores, the score types with a comprehensive score greater than 1 were selected, and a total of three varieties were found, with the highest ranking being Futian1 . The secThe raw eating quality of tubers and root crops requires different evaluations. The heating process of tuberous roots affects the starch gradually gelatinizing, leading to the leaching of maltose . Then, tp < 0.01). Starch content had a strong negative correlation with adhesiveness and cohesiveness.The cellulose fraction was affected by soluble pectin content and texture properties . MeanwhiSoluble pectin, hemicellulose, moisture, and starch could be essential factors that affect the textural properties of different sweet potato varieties. After a cluster analysis, we divided 81 varieties into six different groups. Groups I, III, and IV contain firmer sweet potatoes with a higher starch content than other groups, making them appropriate for cooking or food processing. Groups II, V, and VI contain softer sweet potatoes with a higher soluble sugar content than other groups, making them appropriate for raw eating or cooking. According to the market demand, juicy, sweet, and palatable fruit have high-quality taste attributes ,41,42. WIn sweet potato varieties, several factors can have very complex effects on raw eating quality. It is necessary to consider the texture, sweetness, and juiciness of sweet potato for the evaluation of raw eating quality. We evaluated changes in sixteen qualities of 81 varieties under the same cultivated environment. Among these qualities, the coefficient of variation, glucose content, fructose content, and adhesiveness were the largest: 87.95%, 87.43%, and 55.09%, respectively. This indicated that glucose content, fructose content, and adhesiveness are the most susceptible characteristics of sweet potato varieties. A cluster analysis divided sweet potatoes into six categories with different qualities. Each category had its own unique quality attributes. The PCA revealed the raw eating quality comprehensive evaluation scores of different sweet potato varieties. The eating quality of Futian1, Taishu14, and Nanshu022 was excellent. Future research on raw sweet potato should focus on reducing hardness and starch and cellulose content, and increasing fructose, glucose, and moisture content in order to improve the raw eating quality of tuberous roots in sweet potato.


The results showed that pregelatinisation did not affect the chemical structure of sago starch, but its degree of crystallinity reduced, and X-ray diffraction pattern changed from C-type to A-type. Powder bulk properties of pregelatinised sago starch and Spress® B820 were comparable, exhibiting better flowability but lower compactibility than Avicel® PH 101. In the formulation of paracetamol tablets, pregelatinised sago starch and Spress® B820 performed equally well, followed by Avicel® PH 101 as indicated in Formulations 3, 2 and 1, respectively.An excipient intended for direct compression in pharmaceutical tableting must show important features of flowability and compactibility. This study investigated pregelatinised sago starch as an excipient for direct compression tablets. Pregelatinised sago starch was prepared and characterised. Its powder bulk properties and performance in the tablet formulations with paracetamol as a model drug were compared against two commercial, directly compressible excipients, namely Avicel Direct compression is a preferred method in the manufacturing of tablets as it offers simplicity and cost effectiveness, where tablets are formed by compression of the powder mixtures consisting of drug(s) and directly compressible excipients . Demonst® DW and Uni-pure® LD , Starch® 1500  and Spress® B820 . These aforementioned excipients are widely used as direct compression excipients in tablet formulations [Spray dried lactose, introduced in the early 1960s, was the first excipient designed for direct compression . Since tulations .® B820 and Avicel® PH 101, respectively.Sago starch is available abundantly in Malaysia with its main usage in food products . In the ® B820 , Avicel® PH101 , paracetamol BP powder and sodium starch glycolate , magnesium stearate .A local sago starch , SpressW/V sago starch was heated in a water bath  at a predetermined pregelatinisation temperature of 65 °C with stirring at 700 RPM  for 60 min. The resulting sago starch paste was dried in an Oven WTB Binder  at 40 °C for 48 h. The dried mass was then powdered in a laboratory mill . The dried starch powder was passed through a sieve (180 µm aperture) and stored in a tightly sealed white container prior to usage.Pregelatinised sago starch was prepared according to Widodo and Hassan, 2015 [−1 interval with a 4 cm−1 resolution.FT-IR spectra were obtained on an FT-IR spectrophotometer (Model: IFS66v/S) using a KBr disc containing 1% sample. The disc was scanned over a wave number range of 4000–400 cm13C analyses. 13C NMR spectra were observed under cross polarisation magic angle sample spinning (CPMAS) with the spinning rate at 7 kHz. The chemical shift was determined using tetramethylsilane TMS (0 ppm) as an internal standard.The NMR spectra were recorded at room temperature on a Broker AV400 solid-state NMR at a frequency of 100.6 MHz for α monochromatised radiation, running at 40 kV and 40 mA at ambient temperature. The scanning region of the diffraction angle 2θ was from 2° to 40° with step interval 0.02 and scanning rate of 2°/min. The total run time was 60 min. Degree of crystallinity of the starches was obtained by calculating the area of crystallinity in the X-ray diffractogram obtained [The X-ray diffraction patterns were recorded using a D8 Advance X-ray Diffractometer  with CuKParticle size distribution was determined using a light microscope . Mean projected diameter of 300 particles was calculated using NIS Element D2.30 computer software. The shape and surface texture of excipients were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM)  at an accelerating voltage of 10 to 12.5 kV.Moisture content was determined according to The United States of Pharmacopeia . Each ofρ0) and tapped density (ρt) of the excipients were determined by a tapped density tester . A 250 mL glass cylinder was filled with 100 g of powder sample and placed on top of the tapped density tester, and bulk volume was recorded. The cylinder was then tapped 1000 times to a constant volume and the tap volume was recorded. Bulk and tapped densities were calculated based on the ratio of weight to volume. The procedure was done in triplicate.The bulk density  was filled into the steel funnel  and allowed to completely discharge from the funnel. The height (Y) and diameter (X) of the pile of powder that formed were measured. The angle of repose α (°) was calculated according to Formula (1). The results were reported in triplicate.T of the compact was then calculated using Formula (2).F, d and t are the hardness, diameter and thickness of the compact, respectively.To evaluate the excipients compactibility, round flat-faced compacts were individually prepared by compressing each of the excipients in an Enerpac GA3 Single Punch Machine  at ten different compression pressures (from 20 to 200 MPa) and repeated three times for each level of compression pressure. The compacts were weighed and measured for diameter, thickness and hardness  after storage for 24 h. The tensile strength Paracetamol is poorly compressible; thus, it is suitable to be used as a model drug for loading capacity determination ,8. ParacFormulations of tablets containing paracetamol as a model drug were developed as shown in Short-term accelerated stability study was conducted according to International Conference on Harmonization . Tabletst-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. Results with p < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.The differences in means of data were analysed using FT-IR spectra were used to verify the changes in chemical structure as a result of pregelatinisation. The FT-IR spectra analyses revealed that there were no new sharp bands found in the pregelatinised sago starch , indicat−1 and 1200 cm−1 with three peaks at 980 cm−1, 1084 cm−1 and 1166 cm−1, associated with (C-O-H), (C-C) and (C-O), represent a glycosidic linkage. Another characteristic of sharp bands are the three peaks at 1649 cm−1, 2920 cm−1 (refer to the C-H stretching of starch molecules) and 3422 cm−1 (refer to O-H group of starch). The two sharp bands at 1645 cm−1 and 1411 cm−1 are characteristics of bound water and C-H bonding present in the starch molecules [The characteristics of strong, broad bands between 927 cmolecules .13C-NMR spectra  from (52.00 ± 1.03) to (35.11 ± 1.10)%.The peaks of sago starch appeared sharper compared to its pregelatinised forms, indicating that sago starch has a larger crystalline region. This study showed that pregelatinisation significantly reduced the degree of crystallinity , (89.30 ± 20.29) and (88.00 ± 18.98) µm for the moisture content at (5.19 ± 0.06), (9.91 ± 0.02) and (10.39 ± 0.41) %, respectively.Results of the excipient bulk powder evaluations are presented in ® B820 was recorded at (0.64 ± 0.00) g/cm3, pregelatinised sago starch at (0.52 ± 0.01) g/cm3 and Avicel PH 101 at (0.35 ± 0.00) g/cm3. The highest bulk density of Spress® B820 was due to its small particles that lie in between the larger ones to form lower bulk volume, while the lowest bulk density of Avicel PH 101 resulted from its fibrous rodlike structure, where particles of Avicel PH 101 were packed in an irregular manner, thus demonstrating large voids among the particles. The mean value of tap density obtained for Spress® B820 was (0.71 ± 0.00) g/cm3, followed by pregelatinised sago starch of (0.61 ± 0.01) g/cm3 and Avicel PH 101 of (0.44 ± 0.00) g/cm3. Tapping actions allowed smaller particles to slip between the larger ones producing a lower bulk volume. Consequently, tap density is always higher than bulk density, and thus the order could be similar to the bulk density. Spress® B820 and pregelatinised sago starch showed angles of repose of (30.23 ± 0.46) and (30.37 ± 0.23)°, respectively, and were rated as having excellent flow, and Avicel PH 101, with an angle of repose of (41.87 ± 0.51)°, was rated as passable [® B820 was excellent and significantly influenced by their particle size and moisture content with very strong correlation . The poor flow properties of Avicel® PH 101 resulted from particle size (p < 0.05) and its rodlike structure, where entanglements between particles arise and hamper the flowability.Bulk density of Spresspassable . This st2 values at 0.8884, 0.9874 and 0.9961 for Avicel PH 101, Spress® B820 and pregelatinised sago starch, respectively. Avicel PH 101 compacts were found to have the highest radial tensile strength at any of the compression pressures, followed by Spress® B820 and pregelatinised sago starch. This could be due to the fast formation of interparticle bonding under compression and the presence of optimum moisture content (5.19%) within the porous structure of Avicel® PH 101, which acts as an internal lubricant to smooth the flow within the individual microcrystalline particles during plastic deformation. Hence, Avicel PH 101 demonstrated the greatest degree of plastic deformation and the highest compactibility among the excipients.Compaction profile of ® B820 and pregelatinised sago starch upon paracetamol loading at various concentrations, where the tensile strength of the compacts reduced significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing paracetamol concentration. Consequently, the area under the plotted curves (AUC) of the tensile strength versus compression pressure decreased with increasing paracetamol content.® B820 and pregelatinised sago starch relative to paracetamol reached up to 70.16%, 59.16% and 60.97%, respectively.To determine loading capacity of the excipient, plots of the area ratio versus percentage (%) of paracetamol were constructed . Linear p < 0.05) for each of the formulations due to the variation in compression pressure applied to produce tablets. The results are summarised in All of the formulations produced tablets in compliance with The United States of Pharmacopeia  for unif® B820 (Formulation 2) and pregelatinised sago starch (Formulation 3) needed compression pressures of 40, 160 and 120 MPa, respectively, to produce tablets with the hardnesses of 90 to 110 N. Formulation 1 required the lowest compression pressure due to the inclusion of Avicel PH 101. Although Spress® B820 exhibited higher plasticity than pregelatinised sago starch, Formulation 2 required higher compression pressures than Formulation 3, which could be related to the higher magnesium stearate sensitivity and larger average particle size of Spress® B820 than pregelatinised sago starch. Excipients that were sensitive to magnesium stearate would soften the tablets [Paracetamol tablets in this study were designed to have an ideal hardness between 90 and 110 N, with the intention to minimise the effects resulting from various degrees of hardness of the tablets on their disintegration and dissolution properties [p < 0.05), thus meeting The United States of Pharmacopeia specifications for uncoated tablets. This shows that the three directly compressible excipients possessed good disintegration properties. The rapid disintegration of Formulation 1 was due to the ability of water to penetrate into the porous hydrophilic tablet matrix of Avicel® PH 101, subsequently disrupting the hydrogen bonding of the particles, and hence weakening the strength of the tablets [® PH 101 matrix was much faster than into Spress® B820 or pregelatinised sago starch matrices of Formulation 2 or 3, respectively. Formulations 2 and 4 exhibited longer disintegration time than Formulations 3 and 5, respectively. It is possible that Spress® B820 was more sensitive to the magnesium stearate lubricant than pregelatinised sago starch; as such, the resulting paracetamol tablets were more hydrophobic and less accessible by the aqueous medium [® PH 101 and sodium starch glycolate in the formulations as complimentary disintegration agents. The porous structure of Avicel® PH 101 accelerated the water penetration into the tablet matrix and hastened the swelling of Spress® B820, pregelatinised sago starch and sodium starch glycolate to disintegrate the tablets [All the tablets disintegrated in less than 2 min   in the formulations. Both formulations released more than 80% of paracetamol within 5 min, and within 15 min they released 100% and 99.95% of paracetamol, respectively. The area under dissolution curves found that Formulation 1 showed the lowest dissolution efficiency (40.14%), followed by Formulation 2 (69.50%), Formulation 3 (71.25%), Formulation 5 (86.36%) and Formulation 4 (86.55%).Results of the dissolution tests and their efficiency are presented in n medium . Formula® B820 and pregelatinised sago starch produced tablets with similar dissolution profiles and may also be similar in bio-equivalency.A difference in dissolution efficiency below 10% means dissolution profiles are equivalent and could be similar in bio-equivalency . Hence, p < 0.05) to those of the references, respectively (Formulations 4 and 5 exhibited a superior release profile among all of the formulations; therefore, they were selected for further accelerated stability study, with the tablets produced on day 1 used as references. The results showed that all evaluated parameters such as uniformity of weight, dimension, hardness, friability, disintegration and dissolution for Formulations 4 and 5 after 3 and 6 months of storage at the accelerated stability study conditions were found to be similar (ectively . This inThis study indicates that pregelatinised sago starch has the potential to be a new alternative for a directly compressible excipient. Its flow properties were excellent and performed well in the tablet formulations using paracetamol as a model of active ingredient, with the resulting tablets exhibiting good stability, satisfactory disintegration time and dissolution properties.


We aimed to evaluate whether donor-related inflammatory markers found in kidney transplant preservation fluid can associate with early development of kidney allograft dysfunction.Our prospective study enrolled 74 consecutive donated organs who underwent kidney transplantation in our center between September 2020 and June 2021. Kidneys from 27 standard criteria donors were allocated to static cold storage and kidneys from 47 extended criteria donors to hypothermic machine perfusion. ELISA assessment of inflammatory biomarkers  was analyzed in view of a primary endpoint defined as the occurrence of delayed graft function or slow graft function during the first week following transplantation.p = .04, 95% CI: 1.06-12.03) and 3 Months  after transplant surgery.Soluble VCAM levels measured in transplant conservation fluid were significantly associated with recipient serum creatinine on day 7. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis identified VCAM as an independent non-invasive predictor of early graft dysfunction, both at 1 week (OR: 3.57, This prospective pilot study suggests that pre-transplant evaluation of VCAM levels could constitute a valuable indicator of transplant health and identify the VCAM-CD49d pathway as a target to limit donor-related vascular injury of marginal transplants. Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for most patients with end-stage kidney disease with benefits for both quality and quantity of life , 2. In sSeveral attempts have been made to identify recipient biomarkers that can predict early graft dysfunction , 9, 10.HStatic cold storage of donor organs remains the common method to preserve solid organs. The concept of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) of deceased-donor kidneys provides an attractive alternative to limit transplant vascular injury prior transplant –17. To dAgence de la Biomédecine (PFS18-013), the National Ministry of Research and adhered to the Jardé Law on human investigation. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or over, had a negative cross-match and included all deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients. Kidney transplants from living donors and transplant donation after circulatory death were excluded from the study. A total of 77 donors were initially enrolled. Three patients requiring early allograft nephrectomy owing to arterial (n = 2) and venous thrombosis (n = 1) were excluded from the final analysis. From these sources, donor and recipient risk factors commonly associated with outcomes were prospectively collected. Donor factors included patient age and gender, body mass index (BMI), blood group, hypertension, comorbidities, serum creatinine level (µmol/L), donor criteria SCD or ECD criteria, cold ischemia time, and type of organ preservation (static cold storage or HMP).This prospective single-center cohort study was conducted between September 2020 and June 2021 in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the National Ethics Committee of the ® stent was routinely placed in the ureter to protect the anastomosis and was endoscopically removed after 14 days. All of the patients received the same induction therapy: rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (Thymoglobuline®) was administered on day 0 (1.25 g/kg/day) for 8 days, prednisolone administration on day 0 , with subsequent tapering to achieve a targeted mean maintenance dose of 0.25 mg/kg/day on day 30 after transplant. Two types of immunosuppressive regimen were given as maintenance treatment during the study period: Tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (FK/MMF) and corticosteroid or cyclosporin, azathioprine (CSA/Aza) and corticosteroids.After organ removal, kidneys from SCD were allocated to static cold storage and were submerged in Institut Georges Lopez-1 solution  at 4°C, according to established Eurotransplant guidelines. The kidneys from ECD allocated to hypothermic machine perfusion were placed on the Organ Recovery Systems LifePort  devices using kidney preservation solution 1 (KPS-1). Renal resistances were monitored and flow adjusted, but none of the kidneys was discarded based only on intravascular resistance and flow measurements. All transplantations were performed through an open and extraperitoneal approach. The renal vein and renal artery were anastomosed end-to-side to the external iliac vessels. Extravesical ureteroneocystostomy was created according to the Lich-Gregoir technique. Double-J® ELISA kits .Immediately before transplantation, 50 mL of preservation solution was collected, stored at 4°C, centrifuged at 400g for 5 minutes in order to remove the cellular debris. Samples were aliquoted and stored at -80°C. Quantitative assay of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1), interferon-γ (IFNγ), and chemokine C-X3-C motif ligand 1  was performed on the thawed conservation fluids, according to manufacturer instructions using QuantikineAngiogenic parameters previously evaluated on PRAT-SVF in a subgroup of 17 donors (9 ECD versus 8 standard criteria donors) , were usThe primary endpoint was early graft dysfunction defined as the occurrence of delayed graft function  or slow graft function (SGF) defined by recipient serum creatinine > 250 µmol/L (3.0 mg/dL) on postoperative day 7.2) (measured by creatinine and by glomerular filtration rate as estimated by the chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation).Secondary endpoints included predictors of renal dysfunction 3 months following transplantation  and GraphPad Prism v9.0.2 software  for graphical representation of figures. Descriptive statistics were conducted on variables described in To assess the predictors of DGF/SGF in the overall cohort and in the ECD cohort, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis using a stepwise backward elimination step allowing evaluation of adjusted odds rations (ORs) and 95% confident intervals (CIs). All tests were two sided, and.05 was considered as significant.p = .117) and donor obesity  tended to be associated with early graft dysfunction by day 7 post-transplant. When considering the ECD group only (n = 47), 36% (17/47) of the donors experienced delayed or slow graft function during the first week following transplantation. While donor age, gender or dyslipidemia did not significantly impact early ECD graft dysfunction, the occurrence of DGF/SGF by day 7 post-transplant tended to be associated with donor obesity (p = .064) and HTA (p = .170). Creatinine levels on day 7 showed a strong correlation with creatinine levels evaluated at one month, 2 months and 3 months post-transplant and were inversely correlated to the CKD-EPI of transplant recipients at 3 months post-transplant (p = .008), day 45 (p = .005), and day 180 (p = .003) post-transplant  and 47 from marginal donors (extended criteria donors or ECD). Donor baseline characteristics are summarized in p <.1) for enhanced soluble IL-6 receptor and lowered IFNγ levels was also observed in the ECD group but did not reach significance. When further discriminating ECD, donors conserved in static or perfused conditions (p = .0167), TNF-α  and ICAM .The comparative analysis of inflammatory biomarkers evaluated in the preservation fluids from ECD and SCD donors is presented in p=0002, p = .040). In contrast, other donor characteristics such as gender, BMI or obesity (BMI>30), dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and coronary disease were not statistically associated with the values of the inflammatory molecules evaluated in the entire cohort. In addition, significant associations were found between increased cold ischemia duration and some of the evaluated biomarkers evaluated in the conservation fluid obtained from the entire cohort: VCAM , ICAM , IL6-R , and fractalkine  levels.When analyzed in the entire cohort, donor age was correlated with VCAM levels , IL6 and VCAM were the only soluble inflammatory markers that were significantly different in the perfusion fluid of ECD donors according to early dysfunction of the graft (p = .0005), recipient age , recipient BMI  and tended to be inversely correlated to the IL-6 Receptor/IL-6 ratio evaluated in conservation fluids (p = .1639). The VCAM levels evaluated in transplant conservation fluids were also correlated to creatinine levels evaluated in transplant recipients at 1 month post-transplant  in preservation fluid, recipient age , recipient BMI , and donor age .Consistently, renal function evaluated 3 months after transplantation was also inversely correlated with VCAM levels  for the entire cohort and 0.766  when considering the ECD group  at 3 months post-transplant, independently of other risk factors such as donor HTA and aging , the National Ministry of Research and adhered to the Jardé Law on human investigation. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.Study concept and design: PP, RB, and AD. Acquisition of data: MB, BG-T, PA, LL and PF. Analysis and interpretation of data: MB, BG-T, PP, and AD. Drafting of the manuscript: MB, AD, and PP. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: EL, RB, and FS. Statistical analysis: BG-T and PP. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.Association Française d’Urologie” and the EAU Section of Transplantation Urology (ESTU). The funders of the study were not involved in overall study management.The study was funded by the French Urological Association “All authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.


Due to digitalization, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have significantly enhanced their efficiency and productivity in the past few years. The process to automate SME transaction execution is getting highly multifaceted as the number of stakeholders of SMEs is connecting, accessing, exchanging, adding, and changing the transactional executions. The balanced lifecycle of SMEs requires partnership exchanges, financial management, manufacturing, and productivity stabilities, along with privacy and security. Interoperability platform issue is another critical challenging aspect while designing and managing a secure distributed Peer-to-Peer industrial development environment for SMEs. However, till now, it is hard to maintain operations of SMEs' integrity, transparency, reliability, provenance, availability, and trustworthiness between two different enterprises due to the current nature of centralized server-based infrastructure. This paper bridges these problems and proposes a novel and secure framework with a standardized process hierarchy/lifecycle for distributed SMEs using collaborative techniques of blockchain, the internet of things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) with machine learning (ML). A blockchain with IoT-enabled permissionless network structure is designed called “B-SMEs” that provides solutions to cross-chain platforms. In this, B-SMEs address the lightweight stakeholder authentication problems as well. For that purpose, three different chain codes are deployed. It handles participating SMEs' registration, day-to-day information management and exchange between nodes, and analysis of partnership exchange-related transaction details before being preserved on the blockchain immutable storage. Whereas AI-enabled ML-based artificial neural networks are utilized, the aim is to handle and optimize day-to-day numbers of SME transactions; so that the proposed B-SMEs consume fewer resources in terms of computational power, network bandwidth, and preservation-related issues during the complete process of SMEs service deliverance. The simulation results present highlight the benefits of B-SMEs, increases the rate of ledger management and optimization while exchanging information between different chains, which is up to 17.3%, and reduces the consumption of the system’s computational resources down to 9.13%. Thus, only 14.11% and 7.9% of B-SME’s transactions use network bandwidth and storage capabilities compared to the current mechanism of SMEs, respectively. Whereas small and medium-sized enterprises, especially the production and manufacturing units, are on the developing agenda of various developed countries across the globe. While designing and creating units, one needs to consider the constraints of production and manufacturing development by size, scaling, and fund availability. In addition, owing to the amount, geographical reach, ability and capability of employees, and working intensity of entrepreneurs to drive their ideas to function. These are the main building blocks of SMEs that help in economic development2. According to the recent report on US economic cooperation and development (2021), all the connected stakeholders, including small companies countrywide and SMEs represent market fluctuations, which is more than 90% of overall enterprises4. However, SMEs generate half of the employment in the country and provide a turn ratio of more than 47% of the total increment of the business gross domestic product5. In a customer-driven environment, the production and manufacturing units are designed according to the procedures to respond back to mass customization using internet of things (IoT) technology, which provides a new pathway to value its customers.The climate of global business and enterprises has changed the nature of development and related connectivity of SMEs. It is also because of the competitive fluctuates in the market and day-to-day challenges rising in the recent era, in which small and medium-sized businesses are performing only as receiving and adopting regulatory bodies. Manufacturing sectors contribute most of the ratio to economic developmentDigitalization is a new paradigm that provides an opportunity to maintain SMEs in a better manner as compared to the traditional ones and transform them to allow more flexibility and agility. And so, SMEs' engines maintain the customer requirements by providing improved responsiveness accordingly. However, quality is a core component of customer-oriented infrastructure, being too upfront the transformation focus under the process of digitalization. The process hierarchy of creating SMEs is categorized as follows: (i) designing, (ii) planning, (iii) manufacturing, and (iv) performing functions or services.6. It is well noted, thus, to analyze the impact of digital manufacturing on quality measurement and to ensure that events of node transactions are functionally connected and synchronized at the same time.While the quality of product, which is dispatched before to the customers of SMEs, is the fundamental objective to measure the favorable impact of production and manufacturing initially. Until there are no standard quality processes proposed, and no proper hierarchy currently being followed by the developers to design manufacturing units of SMEs that have evolved with the time and are converted to production. And so, these changes in the process hierarchy with developers maintain mass customization. The quality measurement has increasingly facilitated decisions based on the data collected in the dynamic time, from the marketplace and customer side. It is important to prioritize the processes that support SMEs' production and manufacturing and mitigate product development-related risks to design, plan, manufacture, develop, and perform functions within the defined resource constraints, such as less time and limited cost while fulfilling the customer requirement7. It is possible to react directly and efficiently to customer-generated records with the use of the recent version of smaller batch sizes. Industrial IoT intends to corporate effectively with the processes of manufacturing SMEs, which is general to detect and recognize from the huge scale production. And so, because of industrial settings, where products are manufactured by indie with the help of a customer-specific approach. Mass customization is a concept that has drastically evolved in industrial production, need to design a cost-efficient method, which means the cost is equivalent to the mass products. A manufacturing unit based on the industrial IoT provides a modular architecture for replacing traditional systems8. It mainly focuses on the centralized server-based decision-making processes, and specific value-added evaluation is strictly limited in nature. However, SMEs and industrial IoT-enabled framework collaborates replace with versatile, reconfigure manufacturing and decentralized systems that provide effectiveness, responsiveness, strategic management, and building capability for decision making, as shown in Fig. Whereas the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless sensor networks (WSN)-enabled SMEs' manufacturing process to change the traditional working operation of data gathering, examination, analysis, preservation, and present industrial and production records among the connected units9. On the other side, these highlighted factors pose a significant limitation in the SMEs-related transformation and digitalization. For this reason, various enterprises are unwilling and unsatisfied with speed cost, time, and related resource constraints because it consumes high engineering and investment initially, and the output is not cost-effective and satisfactory. However, to manage and optimize manufacturing and production-related data or transactions of SMEs in a ledger, various artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled machine learning (ML) techniques  are proposed9. Substantially, to expand the scope and context of AI development by tuning the mentioned SMEs' operations and integrated market fluctuations. Most importantly, the collaboration of AI with social computing performs a crucial role to develop a strong digital marketing strategies for SMEs by employing post and share mechanisms to spread awareness related to new manufacturing, production, and industrial development. Whereas performance and productivity depend to a certain degree. Therefore, it counts as long-term benefits.In addition, the advancement in digital technology, such as IoT technology with SMEs provides improve productivity and income, captures market shares, creates brand awareness, mass customization, real-time feedback that enhances organizational implementation and necessary changes, helps in decision making, and evaluates customers sentiments13. Thus, blockchain is recently enabling SMEs to secure their running systems and process hierarchy to realize integrity, transparency, traceability, provenance, trustworthiness, and access ledger via distributed application (DApp). The existing SMEs are integrated with the collaborative approach of AI-blockchain, help to secure the process hierarchy, maintain customer-orientation strategy, encrypt exchanging information between customers and ecosystem, protected distributed node-to-node transactions, platform interoperability, and storage immutability. Furthermore, the individual event of node transaction is being stored before proper verification and validation using chain codes (smart contracts). A chain-like structure along with chronological order is designed that connects participating stakeholders in a public permissionless network to initiate SMEs’ transactions and exchange. This helps to achieve privacy and security for SMEs, which is hard to tamper with or forge and preserve optimized records in a secure storage container with hash-encrypted form.In the current scenario, the centralized server-based network infrastructure is used for SMEs transactions acquisition towards deliverance. It affects directly SMEs' ledger integrity and privacy because of weak security, which means information is tracked and accessed easily, especially tracing customers' personal records through the Internet. Distributed ledger technology has been adopted widely in various small and medium-sized enterprise environments to avoid tampering and forgeryThis paper addresses the current process between customers and SMEs, such as manufacturing, production, and industrial units interconnective, including data gathering, management, and optimization. It is also analyzed that the implementation of digital technology with AI creates a new paradigm. Probably analysis of the impacts of SMEs on the countries’ economy highlights the benefits of adoption.In this paper, we highlight comparative research results related to digitalization, SMEs, industrial IoT, AI, blockchain, and their transformation conducted in Asia over the past few years.The outcome of the research in which a standard process hierarchy is derived, that led to managing customer relationships with SMEs at a secure, protected, and standard level. The proposed B-SMEs (a blockchain and AI-enabled distributed framework) provide a platform where the DApp is designed, created, and deployed for the sake of a transparent transactional environment. The main objectives are to handle SMEs-related automation, especially transaction verification and validation, exhaling, and sharing of resources among participants.With the development of blockchain distributed public permissionless networks integrated with AI provide a lightweight authentication mechanism that reduces the cost of computational resources along with network bandwidth and storage.There are three different chaincodes created and deployed for stakeholders’ registration, SME transactions and exchange updates, and information management and optimization of immutable storage. However, individual transactions are protected with the use of the NuCypher threshold re-encrypted throughout the deliverance. And so, the proof-of-work (PoW) and proof-of-stack (PoS) pre-defined ethereum consensus is adopted along with a digital signature to schedule, initiate, manage, and approve transactions and related information exchange among participating stakeholders.At last, this paper highlights a few of the open challenges, limitations, and issues involved in the implementation and deployment of DApp BSMEs in real-time, which will consider as future developments for technological maturity.The main research contributions and objectives of this paper are discussed as follows:The remainder of this research paper is structured as follows: In Section “14. It reduces the impact of external limitations and introduces a great change in SMEs' operations by providing business strategies. While the adaptation of digital technology (DT), various challenging issues rises in both the sustainable economic development and social values of enterprises. However, the proper utilization of DT improves the regional economical-social conditions. To empower enterprises at every level, need to focus on the different phases of manufacturing growth, production, and sustainability. Due to this, there are various studies presented that investigated the types of issues, challenges, and limitations, and proposed different methods, such as moderating the role of entrepreneurial orientation, dynamic capability IoT strategy, resource-based views, etc. In this manner, we separated close methods, models, mechanisms, strategies, approaches, and conceptual architectures that use AI, industrial IoT, and blockchain-based modular framework to enhance the capabilities of SMEs. A few related works that highlight the research gaps involving the current systems of SMEs, and further discussion related to open changes popped up as follows, as mentioned in Table In digitalization, the concept of digital transformation is considered an efficient and effective business approach used to build improved enterprises' business practices compared to the traditional ones28. The distributed ledger technology started gaining popularity as an evaluation of cryptocurrency, which is an automated distributed transaction platform that handles a number of requests without any centralized or third-party involvement. In this manner, SMEs and IoT collectively utilized blockchain as a secure infrastructure or a ledger that records events of node transactions and logs the changes in SMEs' expert status. However, there are various other benefits of using collaboratively blockchain, IoT, and AI, for the sake of improving the efficiency and capability of SMEs, cost-efficient transactions deliverance, and a secure information exchange environment. Therefore, we systematically reviewed various related studies that highlight the role of technology and its involvement in building a secure and protected SME environment .Data examination.Data extraction.Data analysis.Design procedure to schedule process (priority bases).Implement a pathway for data traveling with the use of WSN.As we discussed, till now, there is no standard process hierarchy/lifecycle of SMEs proposed. In this regard, the proposed work identified this problem and addressed. And so, we proposed a B-SMEs standardized process hierarchy/lifecycle, as shown in Fig. For data management and optimization, we evaluate a classification mechanism that examines redundancy in data/transactions of SMEs and extracts the original ones while discarding duplication during the pre-verification process. This procedure helps computational resource management to reduce the computing cost and submit verified data in the ledger for further processes. For using this ML technique, especially artificial neural network (ANN) in the proposed B-SMEs to manage day-to-day transactions. In analyzing the ledger, ANN considers a breakthrough as it solves the data management, organization, and optimization. Before implementing, we identified a number of emerging loopholes involve in the distributed data management environment, such as data/transactions detection issues, and unstable recognition of files in the different nodes. Thus, to analyze these issues, we construct a data identification mechanism using machine learning and associate this with ANN, which efficiently extracts pattern, detect, recognize, and classify data files/transactions of SMEs. A self-correlation connects with the ANN to schedule logs for processing, along with that, it minimizes the risk of data capturing/loss by providing large-dimensional space for classification.Weight (w’).Bias (b’).Input neurons (n’).Counter (c’).Single layer inputs (s’).Threshold (t’).Output neurons (o’).Activation function (σ).The notation of ANN with respect to the process of classification is discussed as follows:1’, n2’, n3’, and ns’, with the assign weight w1’, w2’, w3’, and ws’, respectively.For data verification process, weight is defined that objective is to create connection between the participating neurons in the ANN architectural design. Whereas single neuron holds a certain number of events od nodes data/transactions . However, individual neuron of designed ANN assigns a unique values/label, then the input values are nThe sum of inputs and weights, demonstrating the level of excitation, is as follows:If the range of the threshold fluctuates in an increasing manner of the proposed SMEs, then the output neuron (o’) = to the total (excitation fluctuation), which is defined in the expression discussed below:However, the σ (sigma) is performed as the nonlinear function, where the t’ value = ‘0’, in which t’ down towards the minus side consider a negative sign.Thus, that is the reason, we customize parameters of t’ by providing b’ and w’ values, such as w’0 = negative t’.Therefore, a bias values b’0 = t’ is added to maintain ANN large-dimensional for data classification, such as if n’ value of n’ = 1 with formal inputs.Then the output (o’) equation is expressed as follows:Figure Third, the blockchain permissionless public network (a peer-to-peer network with node interconnectivity) is deployed along with two different chain-of-communication, such as off-chain and on-chain. These two designed communication channels tackle a number of transactions that occur in the chain, for example, applicational requests, node-to-node activities, operational control, external communication, and information exchange. For instance, the on-chain receives internal transactional requests, which are implicitly handled. On the other side, off-chain communication tackles all explicit activities (outside of chain/cross-chain platform). However, the main objective of a blockchain transaction processor is to schedule a list of transactions, which is provided by outsourcing computation and execution, as shown in Fig. This paper presents three different chain codes and discusses their purposes to design, create, and deploy in this section. The list of contracts and consensus policies are as follows: (i) SMEsR, (ii) corresponding, (iii) addNInfo, (iv) updateInfo, (v) logsPre, (vi) PoW, and (vii) PoS.The working operation of proposed B-SMEs is categorized into two different folds, such as chain codes and consensus policies with digital signature, as shown in Table A fixed size of node transactions = 4 MB.Local area network is designed with limited bandwidth of up to 1 Mb/s.Heterogenetic nodes interconnectivity is designed for intercommunication with two channels.After the problem description of data management and optimization using ANN  and deliver every operation securely and smoothly along with logs preservation (immutable storage). However, the most suitable use of this collaborative technology with KYC compliance for robust industrial, manufacturing, and production of SMEs. Although, the usage of these integrated technologies will stimulate ideas about the current and the futuristic development of SMEs.Nowadays, various financial institutions invest their assets in the development of blockchain infrastructure to create their all operations digitally and ensure security and robust efficiency. It is due to the increase acceleration in the development of information communication technology and digitalization that make SMEs and related activities more reliable36. In the domain of SMEs, the blockchain-based modular architecture collaborate with AI technology archives ledger integrity, system provenance, and transaction traceability by continuously stimulating distributed IPFS when every executing SMEs transactions and incorporating transmission details from the participating SMEs along with corresponding stakeholders. In this manner, the corresponding individual SME can check the details of financial growth, new participant, business logs, and related information with a click regardless of who direct the operations. There is no central authority or middleman available between the SMEs and regulatory body that manually verifies and validates a number of transactions. As developing this, the risk of tampering and forgery in the information exchange between participating stakeholders is reduced or almost restricted compared to the traditional ones. Thus, along with this, the blockchain permissionless public network avoids the concerns of participants while exchanging their operational logs with the regulatory and compliance authorities because of peer-to-peer connectivity.It is highlighted that scalability of data management and the cost of privacy and security consider one of the critical challenges when designing and developing blockchain-enabled DApp36. The corresponding SMEs records core datils in blockchain distributed ledger and trace according to the requirement, such as futuristic employment and business growths, etc. These records are provided through the DApp with the use of blockchain public permissionless network-enabled environment, that is the reason it allows access to the participating SMEs to this sensitive and other-related details for robust economical contribution. However, the critical issues are to analysis and restrict repetitive data records, that consume more time to separate individual logs; for the act of this, it uses more power to computes. To overcome this situation, we design and create smart contracts (chain codes) along with consensus protocols to automate transaction verification and validation in accordance with the strategy of ledger records.In the B-SMEs environment, all the data manage and optimize in a distributed manner in the decentralized consortium, especially in public ledger using blockchain. With this development, the SMEs exchange critical information in a secure chain like structure via chronological order, for example, registration credentials, sale and purchase details, growth of financial assets, market fluctuations, startups values, and others34. And so, it is relying on third-part data management and optimization tools with security solutions as well. In addition, to manage these issues, there are various tools, techniques, and applications used with the IoT technology to capture the records from portable devices36. Examine and analyze each log with different ML techniques to extract redundancy in the ledger and optimize it.There are various challenges, limitations, and issues associated with the existing SMEs including the registration of startups, financial transactions exchange, and privacy, transparency in intercommunication, ledger maintenance in the centralized server-based preservationThis paper discusses the existing security and privacy procedure and separates the loopholes while SMEs are interconnected and exchange related information during the intercommunication between node-to-node over the centralized network. In this paper, we propose a B-SME, a collaborative technological framework using blockchain, IoT, and AI, that alleviates the resource usage of the collaborative technologies in the distributed network environment and create the system more reliable and efficient. This B-SMEs has implemented and deployed a secure process hierarchy of data management and optimization to be cost-effective and resource-efficient creating no problem in terms of the system’s provenance. It maintains efficient data integrity and a transparent, traceable, and reliable environment without affecting the container of blockchain docker. The experimental results shows that the exchanging information between interoperable chains increases up to 17.3%, where it reduces the consumption of the system’s computational resources down to 9.13%. Thus, only 14.11% and 7.9% of B-SME’s transactions use network bandwidth and storage capabilities compared to the current mechanism running for SMEs, respectively.However, for this purpose, we created three different chain codes (smart contracts), along with customizing consensus policies (such as PoW and PoS) to automate and investigate individual transactions of SMEs with proper verification and validation process. In this manner, B-SMEs reduce the consumption of resources, such as the cost of computational energy, network load, and preservation. During each SMEs’ transactions acquisition to deliverance, the information of nodes is optimized and stored in blockchain ledger enabled IPFS according to the protocol designed in the chaincode, which is developed as per the requirement of a data structure for overall streamlining transmission, content management, and broadcasting. Substantially, all these SME-related transmissions  are scheduled and executed with two different distributed communication channels, such as on-chain and off-chain. Whereas on-chain communication handles all implicit operations. And so, off-chain manages operations explicitly. Finally, the experimental results illustrated that this proposed B-SMEs is a good candidate when implemented in the real-time industrial environment.


Nitrogen is a key factor affecting sorghum growth and grain quality. This experiment was designed to investigate the physicochemical properties of sorghum starch in four sorghum varieties  under four nitrogen levels: 0 kg/ha urea (N1), 300 kg/ha urea as base fertilizer (N2), 300 kg/ha urea as topdressing at the jointing stage (N3), and 450 kg/ha urea as topdressing at the jointing stage (N4). The results showed that grain size and amylose content increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer level, peaking at N3. The peak viscosity, final viscosity, gelatinization temperature, initial temperature, final temperature, and enthalpy value increased with the nitrogenous fertilizer level, peaking at N3. The application of nitrogen fertilizer at the jointing period significantly increased the above indicators. However, excess nitrogen at the jointing period (N4) can significantly reduce the above indicators, thus changing the physicochemical properties and structure of sorghum starch. Overall, nitrogen significantly affects the structure and physicochemical properties of sorghum starch. Sorghum is the world’s fifth most important cereal . It poss−1 [Nitrogen fertilizer is the most important fertilizer for crop growth and development. Nitrogen fertilizer deficiency is the primary factor limiting crop growth, yield, and quality . Numerou−1 . However−1 . Nitroge−1 . Given tAccordingly, in this study, we selected four Chinese sorghum varieties planted under four different nitrogen fertilizer levels and then compared their chemical compositions, physicochemical, thermal, and pasting properties. This study will provide useful information for the application of sorghum starch in food.The field experiment was carried out from May 2021 to October 2021 on a Small Miscellaneous Grain Test Base  at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province. This region has a temperate and semi-arid monsoon climate. The meteorological data during the sorghum growing season are shown in The experiments were performed using four sorghum varieties used in the brewing industry, grown in the spring-sown late-maturing areas. They included Liaoza 10, Liaoza 19, Jinza 31, and Jinza 34. The four different nitrogen fertilizer treatments were as follows: The nitrogen levels included four nitrogen treatments: 0 kg/ha urea (N1), 300 kg/ha urea as base fertilizer (N2), 300 kg/ha urea as topdressing at the jointing stage (N3), and 450 kg/ha urea as topdressing at the jointing stage (N4). All treatments applied the same amount of potassium fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer at the same time, and the variable is the amount and period of nitrogen fertilizer application. The seeds were sown on 1 May and harvested on 11 October. Other practices were in conformity with local recommendations. A split-plot experimental design was adopted, with fertilization rate as the main plot factor and variety as the subplot factor. The treatments were performed in triplicate. The plots measured 5 m by 6 m. The row spacing was 60 cm, whereas the plant spacing was 15.5 cm (32 plants/row). The plot area was 6 × 5 × 0.60 = 18 square meters, the aisle width was 1.2 m, and the non-aisle spacing was 50 cm.Sorghum grain starch was extracted as previously described by Gao et al. . BrieflyThe morphology of starch granules was observed using an SEM-6360LV scanning electron microscope . Briefly, a small amount of dry starch was evenly spread on the double-sided conductive adhesive of the stage and sprayed with gold using the SCD500 ion sputtering sprayer under vacuum and observed using a scanning electron microscope at a working voltage is 100 V, accelerating voltage of 15 kV, and ×1200 magnification .The size and distribution of starch granules were measured and observed using a laser diffraction particle size analyzer (2000 E) . The amyloid was slowly added to the measuring beaker, and the sample granules were obtained after ultrasonic dispersion. The particulate size was determined using an in-built software in the commuter .Amylose content was measured according to the method of Zhang W et al. . First, Solubility and swelling was measured according to the method of Gao et al. First, 10 mL of distilled water was added to 0.200 g of starch in a 15 mL centrifuge tube to prepare a 2.0% starch milk concentration. The pot was water bathed for 30 min with shaking once every 5 min. The tubes were then cooled to room temperature and centrifuged at 2000 r/min for 20 min with a large-capacity low-speed centrifuge. The supernatant was poured into an aluminum box of known mass and heated in the oven to 105 °C to a constant weight (W1). The precipitate was weighted while still in the centrifuge tube (W2) .The solubility of the sorghum starch was calculated as W1/W0 × 100%; the swelling degree of sorghum starch was calculated using W2/(W0 − W1) × 100% formulae, where W0 is the dry mass of starch (g), W1 is the mass of the supernatant dried to a constant weight (g), and W2 is the wet weight of the sediment (g).Transparency was measured according to the method of Gao L et al. . First, −1. The scanning was performed 32 times at a speed of 4 cm−1. The peak heights at 1045 cm−1, 1022 cm−1 and 995 cm−1 were read from the deconvoluted spectrum, and the peak height ratio R1 (1045/1022) was between 1045 cm−1 and 1022 cm−1. The peak height ratio R2 (1022/995) was between 1022 cm−1 and 995 cm−1 [The short-range ordered structure of sorghum starch was determined using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (Nicolet iS50). The starch sample was placed in the sample slot of the ATR accessory of the infrared spectrometer. The blank background was then collected, which was followed by the infrared spectrum in the range of 800 to 1200 cm995 cm−1 .The starch moisture content was measured at room temperature using a near-infrared analyzer (DA7250). The required starch and moisture weight was calculated using a rapid viscosity analyzer  Co., Ltd., Beijing, China). First, 2 g of starch was weighed; then, 25 mL distilled water was added, and the starch solution with a mass fraction of 8.0% was prepared by stirring evenly. The parameters were set as follows: heat at 50 °C for 1 min, heat to 95 °C within 3.7 min, maintain at 95 °C for 2.7 min, and then cool to 50 ℃ in 3.8 min. The temperature was maintained at 50 °C for 2 min. The mixture was stirred at 960 r/min in the first 10 s and at 160 r/min for the remainder of the process. The whole process lasted for 13 min. The paste temperature, peak viscosity, valley viscosity, breakage value, final viscosity, regeneration value, and peak time were analyzed using a ThermalCycle  for Windows software [Thermal analysis was conducted measured using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) purchased from the TA Company  as described by Wang et al. . First, Data were analyzed using the SPSS 19.0 statistical analysis  software for a significant difference (LSD) test, whereas data processing and the drawing of graphs were performed using Origin 2021  and WPS office 2021 . The effect of different nitrogen fertilizer treatments on the morphology of sorghum starch granules is shown in The sorghum size under different nitrogen fertilizer levels is shown in The effect of different nitrogen fertilizer treatments on the amylose content of sorghum grain is shown in The effects of different nitrogen fertilizer treatments on the solubility and swelling of sorghum starch are shown in The effect of different nitrogen fertilizer content on the transparency of sorghum starch paste is shown in −1 is sensitive to the short-range ordered structure changes in starch. Therefore, we use ATR-FTIR to determine the short-range ordered structure of sorghum starch granules [−1 ratio (R1) is related to the short-range order degree of starch, and the 1022/995 cm−1 ratio (R2) can be used to quantify the ratio of shaped to ordered structures [−1 (blue circle) and 995 cm−1 (red circle). However, with the increase in nitrogen application level, the position and trend of absorption peak of infrared spectra did not change, which indicated that nitrogen application did not affect the range of the short-range ordered structure of sorghum starch.The Fourier transform infrared spectra of sorghum starch under different nitrogen fertilizer treatments are shown in granules . Starch ructures . The higNitrogen fertilizers significantly affect the gelatinization properties of sorghum starch . The peaThe effects of different nitrogen fertilizer treatments on the enthalpy characteristics of sorghum starch are shown in Under the conditions of our study, nitrogen fertilizer had no significant effect on the morphology of sorghum grain. The surface of starch granules in each treatment was uneven, with pits. However, the source of the pits needs further investigation. There are two possibilities: a lot of studies showed that a pit on the surface of starch particles usually exists in the contractile particles with higher α-amylase activity, that is to say A-type starch granules  increased in number, decreased in size, and exhibited pitting . Another−1 (R1) of starch first decreased and then increased, whereas the ratio of 1022/995 cm−1 (R2) first increased and then decreased, which is consistent with our findings [Zhang et al. found that the transparency of tartary buckwheat starch first increased and then decreased with an increase in the nitrogen fertilizer level, which is inconsistent with our findings on sorghum starch paste, and this could be attributed to the different genotypes among different crops . The stafindings . In the findings ; R2 decrfindings . The diffindings ,14. In tfindings . BD reflfindings . A high findings . The entfindings . Kim et findings . In the findings ,24,38. TUnder the conditions of our study, the study evaluated the effect of nitrogen levels on the structure and physicochemical properties of starch in four sorghum varieties. We found that nitrogen affects sorghum’s physicochemical properties. The particle size increased with the nitrogenous fertilizer level. A similar trend was observed for the amylose content. However, the proportion of amorphous structure in starch decreased with an increase in the nitrogenous fertilizer level. The peak viscosity, final viscosity, gelatinization temperature, initial temperature, final temperature, and enthalpy increased significantly with an increase in the nitrogenous fertilizer level. The application of nitrogenous fertilizer at the jointing period significantly increases the above parameters, all of which peaked at N3 (300 kg/ha urea as topdressing at jointing stage). However, excess nitrogen at the jointing period (N4: 450 kg/ha urea as topdressing at the jointing stage) can significantly reduce the above indicators, thus changing the physicochemical properties and structure of sorghum starch. Overall, nitrogen significantly affects the structure and physicochemical properties of sorghum starch.


Comparisons were made by evaluating times and costs of the radiolabeling process, imaging features including pharmacokinetics, and impact on patient management. The analysis of advantages and drawbacks of both radioligands might help to make a better choice based on firm data. For [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11, the radiochemical yield (RCY) using a low starting activity  was of 80.98 ± 0.05%, while using a high one , the RCY was 71.48 ± 0.04%. Thus, increased starting activities of [68Ga]-chloride negatively influenced the RCY. A similar scenario occurred for [18F]PSMA-1007. The rate of detection of PCa lesions by Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) was similar for both radioligands, while their distribution in normal organs significantly differed. Furthermore, similar patterns of biodistribution were found among [18F]PSMA-1007, [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11, and [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617, the most used agent for RLT. Moreover, the analysis of economical aspects for each single batch of production corrected for the number of allowed PET/CT examinations suggested major advantages of [18F]PSMA-1007 compared with [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11. Data from this study should support the proper choice in the selection of the PSMA PET radioligand to use on the basis of the cases to study.The aim of this work is to compare [ Prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among males and the fifth cause of death worldwide related to disease progression . Advance68Ga] including PSMA-11, PSMA I&T, PSMA-617, etc., and those labeled with Fluoride-18 [18F] including PSMA-1007, DCFPyL, and JK-PSMA-7, etc. All of these synthetic peptides, independently from the radionuclide used for PET imaging, are characterized by high affinities for PSMA, although different, and ensure excellent performances in terms of the detection rate and diagnostic accuracy. Different patterns of biodistribution and variable levels of uptake in normal organs as well as pharmacokinetic properties were found. For such characteristics, these agents are in Pharmacopeia or under evaluation for authorization by regulatory agencies worldwide and they rapidly gained great relevance in the management of PCa patients. Thus, the knowledge of pros and cons of 68Ga-labeled and 18F-labeled-PSMA is mandatory for the proper choice. In this setting, we have analyzed our data of the past years at NCI of Napoli, by reviewing all of the parameters involved in the preparation and use of [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [18F]-PSMA-1007. In detail, we considered the radiochemical yields, the imaging performances, and the impact of PET findings in the management of patients with PCa, including the selection of eligible patients for radioligand therapy (RLT) [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [18F]PSMA-1007 in a nuclear medicine center with its own cyclotron/radiopharmacy facility, we adopted the same procedure previously published for [18F]PSMA-1007 Gallium chloride, low (L) (596.55 ± 37.97 MBq) and high (H) (1436.27 ± 68.68 MBq), were used for the labeling of PSMA-11 . This choice was driven by the eluted radioactivity in two different periods of [68Ge]/[68Ga] generator shelf life. In detail, H activities correspond to the first seven weeks of generator life from the calibration date, and L activities correspond to the last seven weeks of generator life.Two starting activities of Gallium chloride activity, resulting in 99.91% (99.75–100%) for L and 99.96% (99.81–100%) for H activities.The RCP at the end of synthesis (EOS) and the related RCY are summarized in 68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11, besides the starting activity, was approximately 1.830€; ranging from 66€/37 MBq to 140€/37 MBq for high and low activities of [68Ga]Gallium chloride, respectively. These differences in terms of costs per 37 MBq were obtained by considering the number of allowed PET/CT exams: two PET/CT exams for L activities and up to five for H activities.The costs for each production of [18F]PSMA-1007 in our institution have been analyzed and published [18F]Fluoride, a final activity of 45–50 GBq of [18F]PSMA-1007 was obtained, allowing 25–30 PET/CT exams per day. The costs for the production of [18F]PSMA-1007 was approximately 5.450€ (4.31€/37 MBq), as shown in The labeling procedure, quality controls, and cost of production for preparing [ublished . Conside18F]PSMA-1007 and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 have different patterns of uptake in normal organs, as shown in 18F]PSMA-1007 than for [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11. Increased hepatic extraction of [18F]PSMA-1007 causes increased excretion throughout the intestine, and often prolonged retention within the gall bladder is observed. This finding is related to the higher lipophilicity of fluorinated radioligand. Such biodistribution might interfere with the detection of the involved abdominal lymph nodes. [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11. The prolonged and persistent presence of radioactive urine in the bladder might musk recurrences in the prostate and/or pelvic lymph nodes. Increased uptake and elevated excretion via the urinary system are prevalent for [18F]PSMA-1007, performed before RLT with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617, and the radioligand was concentrated within skeletal and lymph nodal metastases. After the first two cycles of RLT, the patient was reevaluated by PET/CT with [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11, that documented the same lesions although with different uptake.Nevertheless, the detection of PCa deposits, in our experience, was not significantly affected by the behavior of the two radioligands in normal organs/tissues. In the wide majority of cases, both radioligands depicted the same lesions with different levels of uptake as shown in 177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617). All of the known lesions were seen by the three different PSMA-radioligands. Such a finding indicates that the selection of candidates for RLT may be reliable, independently from the used PET-PSMA radioligand.PET/CT images of both radioligands were also compared with planar, whole-body SPECT/CT images, acquired for dosimetric purposes 96 h after the first cycle , and as a con the relatively low amounts of radioligand available at the end of each synthesis /[68Ga] generator, that ranges between 370 and 1110 MBq.The wide majority of published papers used 6GaGa-PSMA68Ga]Gallium chloride, decreasing by about 10% for higher activities (1300 MBq–1500 MBq), usually obtained in the first seven weeks of generator life from the calibration date. The RCY was affected by the activities of [68Ga]Gallium chloride by cyclotron and a liquid target will likely improve the limited amounts of injectable radioligands by starting with activities 20–30 fold greater than those obtained with a generator [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 were obtained using cyclotron and solid targets. Activity as high as 72 GBq at EOS was obtained, with no evidence of negative effects on the quality of the final product . In terms of patient doses, this activity will allow 12–15 studies to be performed in a center with two PET cameras Fluoride plays a key role in the final yield for [18F]PSMA-1007; thus, the optimization of the variables influencing the yields of the synthesis is mandatory as we have previously demonstrated [18F]Fluoride: low (55.91 ± 6.69 GBq), medium (89.06 ± 4.02 GBq), and high (162.38 ± 6.46 GBq), we found that the medium one was the most compliant for clinical needs, ensuring the best match of RCY, costs, and number of performed PET/CT exams Ga-PSMA-11 will be much higher than those for [18F]PSMA-1007. They will range from 9.155€ to 18.310€ according to the [68Ge]/[68Ga] generator shelf life and the number of required syntheses (5 or 6) to prepare 25–30 doses. All of the required syntheses (5–6) could not be performed in one day because the [68Ge]/[68Ga] generator needs time to regenerate after elution [18F]PSMA-1007 production to perform the same number of PET/CT exams is approximatively 5.450€.Moreover, we considered the production costs of the two radioligands . According to the actual volume of PSMA PET/CT exams performed in our institution, which ranges between 25–30 exams on a weekly basis, the costs of production for -PSMA-1007 while the overall rate of detection was not significantly affected by the PSMA probe. The highest uptake of [18F]-PSMA-1007 may be explained by the highest injected activity (up to 3-fold) of [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and the relatively high number of emitted positrons vs. [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11, as shown in Our experience indicated that the highest uptake within lesions was observed by [18F]PSMA-1007, and it is related to the highest lipophilicity [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 accumulates highly because of its greater hydrophilicity. Among the differences between the two radiopharmaceuticals, a greater [18F]PSMA-1007 uptake in the skeleton is frequently observed, which according to the extensive and prolonged quality controls we have performed in our experience, is not related to free [18F]Fluorine. The nature of the isotope may be a possible explanation: the lower positron energy and the higher rate of photon emission (photon flux density) of [18F]Fluorine compared to [68Ga]Gallium contribute to the detection of more positive benign lesions in the skeleton, related to increased osteoblastic activity  Gallium (1.90 MeV) enables a better spatial resolution on PET/CT images , increasing image noise by possible prompt gamma contamination in PET data and negatively impacting the detection sensitivity Fluoride PSMA-1007 than [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 within recurrent metastases has been reported as well as a biodistribution similar to PSMA-617, currently used for the RLT of mCRPC [18F]PSMA-1007 and [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 seem to be a perfect theragnostic tandem [A higher uptake of [of mCRPC . Despitec tandem  as confi18F]PSMA-1007 were performed as previously described [Radiosyntheses and quality controls of [escribed .68Ga]Gallium was obtained by a 68Ge/68Ga generator (0.74–1.85 GBq) . Radiosyntheses were performed using an All In One mini automated synthesizer  and cassettes without pre-purification after generator elution. The reagents kit  included PSMA-11 (GMP grade), acetate buffer (0.7 M), HCl (0.1 M), ethanol, and a saline bag.PSMA-1007 is in many ways an ideal radiotracer for PCa imaging; it can be produced with purity and in high yield and it can be transported to sites that do not have cyclotron and radiopharmacy facilities.[68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 can also be produced in high purity but in much lower yield than [18F]PSMA-1007 unless it is produced by a cyclotron; moreover, [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 has to be produced on site due the short half-life and low yield. [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 production are the same for both starting activity ranges. However, comparing the two diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, [18F]PSMA-1007 is the most compliant one, according to the aspects previously evaluated. The costs of [18F]PSMA-1007 is characterized by a better specificity in detecting recurrences and a similar behavior to the therapeutical analogue [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617. This makes the radioligand a better probe for patients eligible for RLT.From a clinical point of view, our experience suggests that [68Ga]Gallium chloride, it is mandatory to overcome the limited scalability of the generator, by introducing a liquid target for the production of [68Ga]Gallium by a cyclotron. This will enable a significant reduction of costs due to the synthesis process of [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 improving the number of PET/CT exams performed at once in a similar range/fashion to [18F]PSMA-1007.To optimize the production of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and imaged, after two cycles of RLT, with [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11. The relevant aspect is the similar distribution and levels of uptake within malignant deposits among diagnostic ligands and therapeutic companions while some differences were observed in normal organs, mainly related to greater lipophilicity of [18F]PSMA-1007 vs. other radioligands.Our experience also shows that among the different PSMA radioligands used to image or to treat PCa, there are no significant differences in their binding within tumor lesions. As shown in 68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [18F]PSMA-1007 is not influenced by significant differences in the rate of detection, while it might reflect economical and/or the number of PET/CT studies to perform on a daily or weekly basis. In our analysis, [18F]-PSMA-1007 seems to add several advantages in routine clinical applications, related to economic convenience, greater availability, and consequent higher number of performed PET/CT exams, as well as a pattern of distribution similar to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 within PCa lesions, which supports its clinical use for proper selection of patients eligible for RLT.In conclusion, the choice between [


ALL) include all strides, others removed (REFERENCE) two strides around turns, (ONE) one stride around turns, (LENGTH) strides <63% of median stride length, and (SPEED) strides that fall outside the 95% confidence interval of gait speed over the strides included in REFERENCE. Means and SDs of gait parameters were compared for each trial against the most conservative definition (REFERENCE). ONE and SPEED definitions resulted in similar means and SDs compared to REFERENCE, while ALL and LENGTH definitions resulted in substantially higher SDs of all gait parameters. An in-depth analysis of individual strides showed that the first two strides after and last two strides before a turn were significantly different from steady-state walking. Therefore, it is suggested to exclude the first two strides around turns to assess steady-state gait.Different methods exist to select strides that represent preferred, steady-state gait. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of different stride-selection methods on spatiotemporal gait parameters to analyze steady-state gait. A total of 191 patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis (aged 38–85) wearing inertial sensors walked back and forth over 10 m for two minutes. After the removal of strides in turns, five stride-selection methods were compared: ( Gait is one of the most fundamental activities of daily life. Unsurprisingly, gait impairments negatively impact independent living and the quality of life of individuals . Gait caStride-selection methods presented in the literature are based on two main methods. Either a fixed number of strides are excluded around turns or after starting , or striParticipants were recruited from the outpatient clinic of the orthopedic department of the Sint Maartenskliniek between October 2020 and October 2021. They were invited to participate if they had visited the clinic for end-stage knee, hip or ankle OA confirmed by an orthopedic surgeon, or after total knee or hip arthroplasty (TKA or THA) due to OA. Participants had to be at least 18 years old. People were excluded if they had gait or balance problems caused by anything other than OA. Informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to testing. A total of 191 people participated in this study, and eight people participated twice; before and after joint replacement surgery. This resulted in a total of 199 measurements that were analyzed.Participants were equipped with four IMUs  placed on both feet (dorsum side of the foot), the upper part of the sternum, and the lumbar level (L4/L5) of the trunk. Subsequently, participants walked back and forth over 10 m in a broad hallway in the clinic, performing 180° turns after each 10 m stretch . They weThe identification of initial contact  and termALL: Include all strides;REFERENCE: Remove first 2 strides after, and last 2 strides before turn [ore turn ;ONE: Remove first stride after, and last stride before turn;LENGTH: Filter out strides <63% of median stride length [e length ;SPEED: Calculate mean and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of gait speed over the strides included in REFERENCE, then include all strides within this 95% CI.Five definitions to include strides representative for steady-state gait were compared. Before applying any definition, all strides made within turns were removed. Definitions are the following:REFERENCE, using mean differences and their 99% confidence interval (99% CI). For the in-depth analysis, the first four strides after and before a turn were compared with the middle section of the walking trajectory using mean differences and their 99% CI. The middle section of the walking trajectory consists of the fifth stride after the turn, up to and including the fifth stride before the next turn. To explore if age and gait speed differences between participants affected the acceleration and deceleration phases, the research sample was split into tertiles based on age  and gait speed achieved in the middle section of the walking trajectory speed   of gait speed, stride length and stride time over strides were calculated for each trial using Python’s numpy (v1.22.0) package. Definitions were compared against the most conservative definition, est 33%) . StatistParticipants were aged between 38 and 85 years (mean ± SD: 63.1 ± 9.0), and 110 were female and 81 male. In total, 93 measurements were performed in end-stage OA, and 106 were after joint-replacement surgery. See REFERENCE) to 160 (ALL), while the average amount of turns per trial was 10 (range 1 to 19). Means and SDs of gait speed, stride length and stride time for definition REFERENCE, and the mean differences and associated 99% CI of each definition with REFERENCE are shown in REFERENCE for any definition. The SDs of gait speed of all definitions were different compared to REFERENCE, ranging from −0.00  m/s for SPEED to 0.04  m/s for ALL. Stride length did not differ from REFERENCE for any definition. The SD of stride length differed from REFERENCE for all definitions except SPEED, ranging from 0.00  m for ONE to 0.03  m for ALL. Definitions ALL and LENGTH resulted in a significantly higher stride time of 0.02  s than REFERENCE. The stride time derived from ONE and SPEED did not significantly differ from REFERENCE. The SDs of stride time of all definitions were different compared to REFERENCE, ranging from 0.00  s for SPEED to 0.06  s for ALL. REFERENCE.The average number of selected strides per trial ranged from 108 (ONE), or through speed-based outlier analysis (SPEED), yielded highly similar means and variance of spatiotemporal gait parameters compared to the more conservative method, excluding two strides around each turn (REFERENCE). Including all strides in the straight-ahead portion of gait (ALL) or all strides that are at least 63% of the median stride length (LENGTH) seemed too lenient, including too much of the acceleration and deceleration phases. The in-depth analysis indicated that the first two strides after and last two strides before a turn were different from the steady-state walking period. Furthermore, strides after the turn  had a more significant effect on the calculated spatiotemporal parameters compared to the strides before the turn (deceleration phase).Unsurprisingly, our definition analysis showed that excluding strides based on different methods affected the means and variance of the spatiotemporal gait parameters. Excluding only the first and last stride around each turn (ALL). Nonetheless, the first stride after the turn was on average 0.17 m/s slower compared to the middle section, while the second stride before and the first stride after a turn were also considerably slower: 0.08 m/s. This suggests that these deviating strides had a limited effect on the mean, likely due to the relatively high number of strides in the middle section (n = 108 strides) compared to the number of first and second strides around turns (n = 10 turns). Importantly, it should be noted that the effect of including strides around the turn may be different when using other, mainly shorter, walking trajectories than our 10 m walkway.The absolute differences between the means of the spatiotemporal gait parameters of the five methods were very limited. The maximum mean deviation was 0.03 m/s in gait speed, 2 cm in stride length, and 20 ms in stride time , the 99% CI of the mean difference was still above 0, suggesting a consistent effect on the variance. Researchers and clinicians interested in the variability measures of gait should therefore proceed with extra caution in their decision making regarding the inclusion of strides for the analysis of gait.In contrast to the means, marked differences between selection methods were observed for the variance of the gait parameters. To illustrate, including all strides in the analysis doubled the SD of gait speed from 0.04 m/s to 0.08 m/s. Although the SPEED and LENGTH methods in our analysis could be seen as a form of outlier analysis. As definition LENGTH included almost all strides in the straight-ahead portion, LENGTH revealed similar results to ALL and seemed too lenient. The SPEED definition resulted in very similar outcomes as ONE and REFERENCE, but with a higher number of strides per trial included. A potential downside of these outlier analyses is that strides during the steady-state gait are excluded. This can be the case in patients with high variability in their gait pattern, for example, due to freezing of the gait in Parkinson’s disease. Due to the high variability, an inappropriate number of strides might get identified as outliers and as such get discarded by these methods, even though these strides might be highly interesting, and exclusion could be problematic. Additional data analysis on a group with a higher variability in their gait pattern is recommended to determine the effect of the different methods on the variance of spatiotemporal gait parameters.The Our in-depth analysis of the four strides before and after each turn showed differences in the first two strides around each turn compared to the middle section of the trajectory. Furthermore, the acceleration phase after a turn seems to affect the spatiotemporal gait parameters more than the deceleration phase before a turn. It should be noted that the ability to accelerate during gait initiation or decelerate to accommodate turning can be impacted by gait impairments due to age-related deficits. Muir et al. reported that adults over 80 years old needed more steps to reach their steady gait speed compared to the younger adults . BesidesREFERENCE) of a ten-meter walkway will leave approximately six meters for steady-state gait. As the stride length in this study was 1.12 m on average, this would result in the inclusion of five strides per leg on average per stretch of the trajectory. In settings where shorter walkways are used, assessors could estimate in advance how many stretches would be needed to obtain the number of strides necessary for their specific research or clinical purpose.As mentioned above, the influence of excluding more or less strides around turns is also dependent on how many strides are collected as part of the steady-state gait . This number depends on the length of the walkway, the total testing time, and gait speed of an individual. To illustrate, excluding two strides at both ends (This study includes some limitations that merit attention. First, the study population was restricted to people with OA in the lower extremities. Even though a large data set of 199 measurements was used, caution should be exercised when translating these results to other groups with gait impairments, as also laid out above. Secondly, various components of the algorithm for gait analysis were validated in previous studies ,9,14,15,In conclusion, our analyses suggest that the first two strides during the acceleration and last two strides during the deceleration phases around turns should not be included. Nevertheless, the specific aims of the gait assessment and available test conditions should guide the decision on which selection method to use to select strides representative of the preferred, steady-state gait.