A systematic scoping review of study methodology for randomized controlled trials investigating probiotics in athletic and physically active populations

Background:The purported ergogenic and health effects of probiotics have been a topic of great intrigue among researchers,practitioners,and the lay public alike.There has also been an increased research focus within the realm of sports science and exercise medicine on the athletic gut microbiota.However,compared to other ergogenic aids and dietary supplements,probiotics present unique study challenges.The objectives of this systematic scoping review were to identify and characterize study methodologies of randomized controlled trials investigating supplementation with probiotics in athletes and physically active individuals.Methods:Four databases(MEDLINE,CINAHL,Cochrane CENTRAL,and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)were searched for randomized controlled studies involving healthy athletes or physically active individuals.An intervention with probiotics and inclusion of a control and/or placebo group were essential.Only peer-reviewed articles in English were considered,and there were no date restrictions.Results were extracted and presented in tabular form to detail study protocols,characteristics,and outcomes.Bias in randomized controlled trials was determined with the RoB 2.0 tool.Results:A total of 45 studies were included in the review,with 35 using a parallel group design and 10 using a cross-over design.Approximately half the studies used a single probiotic and the other half a multi-strain preparation.The probiotic dose ranged from 2×10^(8)to 1×10^(11)colony forming units daily,and the length of intervention was between 7 and 150 days.Fewer than half the studies directly assessed gastrointestinal symptoms,gut permeability,or the gut microbiota.The sex ratio of participants was heavily weighted toward males,and only 3 studies exclusively investigated females.Low-level adverse events were reported in only 2 studies,although the methodology of reporting varied widely.The risk of bias was generally low,although details on randomization were lacking in some studies.Conclusion:There is a substantial body of research on the effects of prob iotic supplementation in healthy athletes and physically active individuals.Considerable heterogeneity in probiotic selection and dosage as well as outcome measures has made clinical and mechanistic interpretation challenging for both health care practitioners and researchers.Attention to issues of randomization of participants,treatments and interventions,selection of outcomes,demographics,and reporting of adverse events will facilitate more trustworthy interpretation of probiotic study results and inform evidence-based guidelines.

Enhancing wood efficiency through comprehensive wood flow analysis:Methodology and strategic insights

Wood,an essential natural resource in human civilization,remains widely used despite advances in technology and material substitution.The surge in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental concerns accentuates the need for optimizing wood utilization.Material flow analysis is a powerful tool for tracking material flows and stocks,aiding resource management and environmental decision-making.However,the full extent of its methodological dimensions,particularly within the context of the wood supply chain,remains relatively unexplored.In this study,we delve into the existing literature on wood flow analysis,discussing its primary objectives,materials involved,temporal and spatial scales,data sources,units,and conversion factors.Additionally,data uncertainty,data reconciliation and crucial assumptions in material flow analysis are highlighted in this paper.Key findings reveal the significance of wood cascading and substitution effects by replacing non-wood materials,where they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than the natural carbon sink of forests and wood products.The immediate impact of short-term wood cascading might not be as robust as the substitution effect,with energy substitution showcasing better results than material substitution.However,it's crucial to note that these conclusions could experience significant reversal from a long-term and global perspective.Strategies for improving wood efficiency involve maximizing material use,advancing construction technologies,extending product lifespans,promoting cascade use,and optimizing energy recovery processes.The study underscores the need for standardized approaches in wood flow analysis and emphasizes the potential of wood efficiency strategies in addressing environmental challenges.

Research on the development methodology for clinical practice guidelines for organic integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine

Integrated traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and Western medicine(WM)is a new medical science grounded in the knowledge bases of both TCM and WM,which then forms a unique modern medical system in China.Integrated TCM and WM has a long history in China,and has made important achievements in the process of clinical diagnosis and treatment.However,the methodological defects in currently published clinical practice guidelines(CPGs)limit its development.The organic integration of TCM and WM is a deeper integration of TCM and WM.To realize the progression of"integration"to"organic integration",a targeted and standardized guideline development methodology is needed.Therefore,the purpose of this study is to establish a standardized development procedure for clinical practice guidelines for the organic integration of TCM and WM to promote the systematic integration of TCM and WM research results into clinical practice guidelines in order to achieve optimal results as the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

The Influence of Tartaric Acid in the Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Using Response Surface Methodology

Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)synthesized using tartaric acid as a capping agent have a great impact on the reaction kinetics and contribute significantly to the stability of AgNPs.The protective layer formed by tartaric acid is an important factor that protects the silver surface and reduces potential cytotoxicity problems.These attributes are critical for assessing the compatibility of AgNPs with biological systems and making them suitable for drug delivery applications.The aim of this research is to conduct a comprehensive study of the effect of tartaric acid concentration,sonication time and temperature on the formation of silver nanoparticles.Using Response Surface Methodology(RSM)with Face-Centered Central Composite Design(FCCD),the optimization process identifies the most favorable synthesis conditions.UV-Vis spectrum regression analysis shows that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid are more stable than AgNPs without tartaric acid.This highlights the increased stability that tartaric acid provides in AgNP ssssynthesis.Particle size distribution analysis showed a multimodal distribution for AgNPs with tartaric acid and showed the smallest size peak with an average size of 20.53 nm.The second peak with increasing intensity shows a dominant average size of 108.8 nm accompanied by one standard deviation of 4.225 nm and a zeta potential of−11.08 mV.In contrast,AgNPs synthesized with polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)showed a unimodal particle distribution with an average particle size of 81.62 nm and a zeta potential of−2.96 mV.The more negative zeta potential of AgNP-tartaric acid indicates its increased stability.Evaluation of antibacterial activity showed that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid showed better performance against E.coli and B.subtilis bacteria compared with AgNPs-PVP.In summary,this study highlights the potential of tartaric acid in AgNP synthesis and suggests an avenue for the development of stable AgNPs with versatile applications.

Optimization of Preparation of Oregano Oil Microspheres by Box-Behnken Response Surface Methodology

[Objectives]To optimize the formulation and preparation of oregano oil microspheres by Box-Behnken response surface methodology.[Methods]Chitosan was used as the carrier material to prepare oregano oil microspheres by emulsion crosslinking method.The encapsulation efficiency,drug loading and ID 50 were used as the evaluation indicators,and the comprehensive score(OD)obtained by"coefficient of variation-AHP comprehensive weighting method"was used as the final evaluation indicator.The formulation design and preparation process were optimized by single factor experiment and Box-Behnken response surface methodology,and the optimal process parameters were determined.[Results]The optimal formulation and preparation process parameters of oregano oil microspheres were as follows:the ratio of oregano oil to chitosan was 2∶1,the emulsifying speed of double emulsion was 200 r/min,the amount of emulsifier in the colostrum was 4%,and the volume of curing agent was 1.0 mL.The average encapsulation efficiency was 45.33%±1.32%,the average drug loading was 30.59%±2.45%,and the median diameter(ID 50)was 52.596μm±0.023%.[Conclusions]The encapsulation efficiency,drug loading and ID 50 of oregano oil chitosan microspheres prepared by emulsion crosslinking method met the requirements.The drug-loaded microsphere not only can be used as a preparation finished product for direct application,but also be used as a product intermediate to lay a foundation for the research and development of subsequent dosage forms.

Optimization of Methylene Blue Dye Adsorption onto Coconut Husk Cellulose Using Response Surface Methodology: Adsorption Kinetics, Isotherms and Reusability Studies

In this study, coconut husk cellulose was employed as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent to eliminate methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. The successful development of response surface methodology paired with a central composite design (RSM-CCD) enabled the optimization and modelling of the adsorption process. The study investigated the individual and combined effects of three variables (pH, contact time, and initial MB dye concentration) on the adsorption of MB dye onto coconut husk cellulose. The developed RSM-CCD model exhibited a remarkable degree of precision in predicting the removal efficiency of MB dye within the specified experimental parameters. This was demonstrated by the strong regression parameters, with an R2 value of 99.79% and an adjusted R2 value of 99.6%. The study depicted that the optimal parameters for attaining a 98.8827% removal of MB dye using coconut husk cellulose were as follows: an initial MB dye concentration of 30 mg∙L−1, contact time of 120 minutes, and pH 7 at a fixed adsorbent dose of 0.5 g. The Freundlich isotherm model provided the most satisfactory description of the equilibrium adsorption isotherms, suggesting that MB dye adsorption onto coconut husk cellulose occurs on a heterogeneous surface. The experimental results demonstrated a strong agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, indicating that the number of active sites present on the cellulose adsorbent predominantly influences the adsorption process of MB dye. Additionally, the adsorbent made from coconut husk cellulose exhibited the potential to be reused, as it retained its efficiency for a maximum of three cycles of adsorption of MB dye. The results of this study show that coconut husk cellulose has the potential to be an effective and sustainable adsorbent for removing MB dye from aqueous solutions.

Optimization of Cellulose Nanocrystal Isolation from Ayous Sawdust Using Response Surface Methodology

This study focuses on the extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), derived from Ayous sawdust. The process involves multiple steps and a large amount of chemical products. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of factors that impact the isolation process and to identify the optimal conditions for CNC isolation by using the response surface methodology. The factors that varied during the process were the quantity of MCC, the concentration of sulfuric acid, the hydrolysis time and temperature, and the ultrasonic treatment time. The response measured was the yield. The study found that with 5.80 g of microcrystalline cellulose, a sulfuric acid concentration of 63.50% (w/w), a hydrolysis time of 53 minutes, a hydrolysis temperature of 69˚C, and a sonication time of 19 minutes are the ideal conditions for isolation. The experimental yield achieved was (37.84 ± 0.99) %. The main factors influencing the process were the sulfuric acid concentration, hydrolysis time and temperature, with a significant influence (p < 0.05). Infrared characterization results showed that nanocrystals were indeed isolated. With a crystallinity of 35.23 and 79.74, respectively, for Ayous wood fiber and nanocrystalline cellulose were observed by X-ray diffraction, with the formation of type II cellulose, thermodynamically more stable than native cellulose type I.

Simulated patient methodology as a“gold standard”in community pharmacy practice:Response to criticism

The simulated patient methodology(SPM)is considered the“gold standard”as covert participatory observation.SPM is attracting increasing interest for the investigation of community pharmacy practice;however,there is criticism that SPM can only show a small picture of everyday pharmacy practice and therefore has limited external validity.On the one hand,a certain design and application of the SPM goes hand in hand with an increase in external validity.Even if,on the other hand,this occurs at the expense of internal validity due to the trade-off situation,the justified criticism of the SPM for investigating community pharmacy practice can be countered.

Response Surface Methodology as an Approach for Optimization of Vinegar Fermentation Conditions Using Three Different Thermotolerant Acetic Acid Bacteria

This study aimed to investigate optimal fermentation conditions of biological acetic acid fermentation for vinegar production. Optimization was performed on 3 acetic acid bacteria strains namely VMA1, VMA7 and VMAO using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A Box-Behnken-Design (BBD) was achieved with three different independent process parameters involving: fermentation temperature, original alcohol concentration and original acetic acid concentration and one dependent variable (acetic acid yield). The results showed that the mathematical models describe correctly the relationship between responses and factors (F values of the models (p R2 (coefficient of correlation) respectively 0.96, 0.94, 0.98, and adjusted R2 0.95, 0.92, 0.98). The maximum acidity was obtained respectively at fermentation temperatures, original alcohol concentrations and original acetic acid concentrations ranging from [37.5°C - 45°C], [16% - 20% (v/v)], [1.5% - 2% (w/v)] for VMA1, [40°C - 45°C], [14.5% - 20% (v/v)], [1.7% - 2% (w/v)] for VMA7 and [42°C - 45°C], [17% - 20% (v/v)], [1.5% - 2% (w/v)] for VMAO. The use of these acetic strains in the production of vinegar may seriously lead to a decrease or even an ablation of the costs related to the cooling of bioreactors especially in warm and hot countries, in the context of global warming.

Optimization of Preparation Conditions of Modified Oyster Shell Powder/Ce-N-TiO2 by Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

A new composite photocatalyst of modified oyster shell powder/Ce-N-TiO2 was prepared by sol-gel method. Based on single factor experiment, Ce doping rate, N doping rate and calcination temperature were taken as input variables. Based on the central composite design (BBD) response surface model, two functional relationship models between three independent variables and glyphosate removal rate were established to evaluate the influence degree of independent variables and interaction on catalyst. The significance of the model and regression coefficient was tested by variance analysis. The analysis of the obtained data showed that the degradation performance of the composite photocatalyst was significantly affected by the calcination temperature and the rate of N doping, while the rate of Ce doping had little effect;at the calcination temperature of 505.440°C, the degradation rate of glyphosate reached the maximum of 82.15% under the preparation conditions of 17.057 mol% N doping and 0.165 mol% Ce doping, respectively.

Response Surface Methodology-Based SERS for Determination of Gymnodimine

Gymnodimine (GYM), a fast-acting marine toxin, is destructive to aquaculture and human health through contaminated shellfish. The current detection methods in GYM have definite drawbacks in operation, such as the demand for delicate instruments and the consumption of time. Therefore, silver colloid was utilized as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) desirable substrate for sensitive and rapid detection of GYM in lake and shellfish samples. The theoretical spectrum of GYM is calculated by density functional theory (DFT), and the substrate performance is evaluated by a rhodamine 6 G probe. Under the optimal SERS experimental condition calculated by the response surface methodology, the low limit of detection of 0.105 μM with R2 of 0.9873 and a broad linearity range of 0.1 - 10 μM was achieved for GYM detection. In addition, the substrate was satisfyingly applied to detect gymnodimine in the lake and shellfish matrix samples with LOD as low as 0.148 μM and 0.170 μM, respectively. These results demonstrated a promising SERS platform for detecting marine toxins in seafood for food safety and pharmaceutical research.

Effects of main ecological factors on the growth of marine green alga Caulerpa sertularioides using the response surface methodology

Caulerpa sertularioides is an invasive potential blooming green alga in China but it remains poorly studied.We studied the effects of ecological factors on its growth.Optimum conditions of ecological factors,i.e.,irradiance,temperature,and salinity,for the growth of its fragments were determined in the response surface methodology(RSM).The specific growth rates(SGR)of the fragments were determined in single-factor experiment.The results show that the SGR of C.sertularioides peaked under the conditions of irradiance 37.5μmol/(m~2·s),temperature25℃,and salinity 30.Meanwhile,using the Box-Behnken design,the conditions were further optimized and verified to be:irradiance 39.03μmol/(m~2·s),temperature 25.29℃,and salinity 30.06,under which the SGR reached 4.66%.The results provide new theoretical data and solutions for the cultivation,invasion prediction,and monitoring of Caulerpa species in China and the world.The RSM method may have great potential applications in the environmental adaptation characteristics of new macroalgal cultivars,intensive orientation cultured germplasm,and environmental hazard analysis of cultivated species in the field.

Optimization of Mortar Compressive Strength Prepared with Waste Glass Aggregate and Coir Fiber Addition Using Response Surface Methodology

Waste Glass(WGs)and Coir Fiber(CF)are not widely utilized,even though their silica and cellulose content can be used to create construction materials.This study aimed to optimize mortar compressive strength using Response Surface Methodology(RSM).The Central Composite Design(CCD)was applied to determine the optimization of WGs and CF addition to the mortar compressive strength.Compressive strength and microstructure testing with Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM),Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FT-IR),and X-Ray Diffraction(XRD)were conducted to specify the mechanical ability and bonding between the matrix,CF,and WGs.The results showed that the chemical treatment of CF produced 49.15%cellulose,with an average particle size of 1521μm.The regression of a second-order polynomial model yielded an optimum composition consisting of 12.776%WGs and 2.344%CF with a predicted compressive strength of 19.1023 MPa.C-S-H gels were identified in the mortars due to the dissolving of SiO_(2) in WGs and cement.The silica from WGs increased the C-S-H phase.CF plays a role in preventing,bridging,and branching micro-cracks before reaching maximum stress.WGs aggregates and chemically treated CF are suitable to be composited in mortar to increase compressive strength.

An operator methodology for the global dynamic analysis of stochastic nonlinear systems

In a global dynamic analysis,the coexisting attractors and their basins are the main tools to understand the system behavior and safety.However,both basins and attractors can be drastically influenced by uncertainties.The aim of this work is to illustrate a methodology for the global dynamic analysis of nondeterministic dynamical systems with competing attractors.Accordingly,analytical and numerical tools for calculation of nondeterministic global structures,namely attractors and basins,are proposed.First,based on the definition of the Perron-Frobenius,Koopman and Foias linear operators,a global dynamic description through phase-space operators is presented for both deterministic and nondeterministic cases.In this context,the stochastic basins of attraction and attractors’distributions replace the usual basin and attractor concepts.Then,numerical implementation of these concepts is accomplished via an adaptative phase-space discretization strategy based on the classical Ulam method.Sample results of the methodology are presented for a canonical dynamical system.

Optimization for Microbial Degumming of Ramie with Bacillus subtilis DZ_(5) in Submerged Fermentation by Orthogonal Array Design and Response Surface Methodology

As a kind of natural fiber,ramie fiber has distinctive advantages in textile application,but the application is limited due to the traditional degumming mode.Compared with the traditional degumming process,the microbial degumming process has many advantages.To obtain the optimal conditions for degumming ramie with Bacillus subtilis DZ_(5)(BS DZ_(5)),a combined statistical approach of orthogonal array design(OAD)and response surface methodology(RSM)was used.The influences of initial pH of the bacteria medium,culture temperature,shaking speed,degumming time and inoculum size on submerged fermentation degumming were evaluated by using fractional factorial design.The main factors in the analysis were culture temperature,shaking speed and initial pH.The residual gum mass fraction was used as the optimization index,and the optimal conditions for degumming were determined by central composite design and RSM.Thus with only a limited number of experiments,an optimal ramie microbial degumming condition was found as the culture temperature of 40℃,the initial pH in the culture medium of 8.5,the shaking speed of 205 r/min,the degumming time of 96 h and the inoculum size of 5%.After microbial degumming of ramie under the optimal conditions,there was only 10.6%residual gum by mass in the fiber.In addition,the effective degumming of BS DZ_(5)was also confirmed by a scanning electron microscope(SEM).

Optimization of Solid-state Fermentation Conditions of Sophora japonica cv.jinhuai by Response Surface Methodology

[Objectives]To optimize the solid-state fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus by Penicillium with Sophora japonica cv.jinhuai as raw material.[Methods]The fermentation conditions were optimized by single factor experiment and response surface methodology with quercetin content as the dependent variable.[Results]According to the established model,the optimal fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus was obtained as follows:temperature 29.97℃,time 6.88 d,rotation speed 180.86 rpm,inoculation amount 3.93 mL,and the expected content of quercetin was 34.8053 mg/g.Based on this,the fermentation parameters were adjusted,and the actual content was 33.67 mg/g,which was close to the predicted value.[Conclusions]The optimization of fermentation process of Flos Sophorae Immaturus by response surface methodology provides a reference for the development and utilization of this medicinal material.

Methodology of Marx for Ecological Justice

Historical materialism provides a methodology for solving the problem of ecological justice,that is,consciously constructing the socialist power system is the prerequisite and foundation for realizing ecological justice.In essence,the fundamental nature of the socialist power system,namely,“affinity to the people”,determines the realistic possibility of ecological justice.

Strategy and Methodology of Integration Testing for GUI Software

In this paper, by means of effective testing practices, main strategies of integration testing for GUI software, including differentiating strategy for distinguished system, strategy of personnel organization, incremental testing strategy based on baseline version, testing strategy of circulating loop through the whole life, and the strategy of test suite construction, were briefly investigated. Moreover, for the code analysis, the FTA (Fault Tree analysis) is proposed to deal with the software change in regression testing. For test suite constructing, the constructing methods for baseline version and the incremental change are deeply discussed, in which main points focus on the testing strategy based on “Sheet/Form”, the “Grey-box approach” for integration testing process, and the application of the improved STD (State Transform Diagram) in state testing. At the same time, the suite construction of integration testing for two types, including small scale program and large scale software, is analyzed and discussed in detail. For testing execution, the specific method based on “Cross-testing” is investigated. Concurrently, by a lot of examples, all results of testing activity indicate that these strategies and methods are useful and fitted to integration testing for GUI software.

Synoptic review on existing and potential sources for bias in dental research methodology with methods on their prevention and remedies

The results of years of dental study serve as the foundation for the practise of medicine and,for that matter,dentistry.Doctors may have their own preferences for techniques and materials,but whether directly or indirectly,their decisions are influenced by systematic reviews and meta-analyses.However,due to poorly conducted or presented research,this very basic foundation may not be reliable.Bias in research is one of several factors that might make study results or research itself unreliable.Bias can be introduced into research at many stages,deliberately or unknowingly.Bias can appear at any point during the research process,even before the study itself begins.There are many biases in research,but some of them are more relevant to dentistry research than others.Because it is said that“eyes see what the mind knows”,it is essential to have a complete understanding of the different types of bias,how and when they get entrenched,and what steps may be taken to prevent or lessen them if they do occur.This comprehensive summary of bias in dentistry research is provided by this synoptic review.The goal is to identify gaps and measures that have been taken-or that should have been taken-by providing both descriptive and evaluative summaries,as well as examples from the literature,when needed.

Reflections on the Three Controversies in Economic Methodology by Virtue of the Philosophy of Science

The philosophical foundation of the mainstream neoclassical economics is empirical philosophy.The controversies of economic methodology over inductive and deductive methods,over verificationistic and falsificationistic approaches,and over positive and normative analyses in the evolution of economics are associated with those in the philosophy of science.The evolution of philosophy of science suggests that the above-mentioned pairs of economic methodologies should be appropriately combined when used in economics.It is not sensible to overemphasize either one inside each pair of economic methodologies.