bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Executive Functions and Special Educational Needs and Their Relationship with School-Age Learning Difficulties
Authors: Núñez Juan Manuel , Soto-Rubio Ana , Pérez-Marín Marián
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: The relationship between executive functions, special educational needs (SEN), and learning difficulties in school-aged children is critical for developing effective educational interventions. This study explores the connection between executive functions and SEN in primary school students, examining differences in executive function profiles between those with and without SEN and their impact on learning difficulties. Methods: In total, 123 primary school students aged 6 to 12 and their teachers and parents participated in this study. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-2) and the Prediscal test were used to assess difficulties in reading and mathematics, and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through ad hoc records. Results: The results indicated that students with SEN exhibited significantly more affected executive function profiles compared to their peers without SEN in both family and school contexts, highlighting areas such as cognitive flexibility, initiative, working memory, planning and organisation, task supervision, and material organisation. Additionally, significant negative correlations were found between executive functions and performance in reading and mathematics, suggesting that deficits in executive functions are strongly associated with SEN. Conclusions: These findings underscore the critical role of executive functions in understanding and addressing SEN and learning difficulties, emphasising the need for comprehensive assessment programmes and early intervention targeting executive function deficits to support the academic and overall development of students with SEN.
Investigation of the Etiology of Molar Incisor Hypomineralization in Children Residing in Konya Province and Surrounding Areas, Türkiye
Authors: Seloğlu Aslı , Kahvecioğlu Firdevs
Published: November 2024

Background: According to the literature, hypomineralization of molars and incisors is a multifactorial condition that depends on both genetic and environmental factors. This study aims to diagnose Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) cases with a new index that better defines the defect and to contribute to the literature by identifying possible etiological factors. Methods: This research was conducted with children aged 8–11 years old and their parents from Konya province and surrounding provinces. While children who were diagnosed with MIH as a result of the examination constituted the study group, children with no findings of MIH during intraoral examination were included in the control group. Between February and October 2020, 104 patients for the study group and 104 patients for the control group were reached, and a survey was administered to a total of 208 parents. Results: Asthma, pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, a fever, and febrile convulsions between the ages of 0–4 have been found to be related to MIH (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The association between medical diseases in children and enamel defect formation draws attention to the importance of pediatricians in the early diagnosis of MIH cases. Pediatricians can be very helpful in informing parents of children with health problems about possible dental defects and referring them to a pediatric dentist.
A Nutrition Education Intervention Positively Affects the Diet–Health-Related Practices and Nutritional Status of Mothers and Children in a Pulse-Growing Community in Halaba, South Ethiopia
Authors: Lombamo Getahun Ersino , J. Henry Carol , A. Zello Gordon
Published: November 2024

Objective: We conducted a six-month nutrition education intervention focused on the consumption of pulses and other foods to assess the effect on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) as well as the nutritional status of children and mothers from two pulse-growing communities in Halaba, south Ethiopia. Methods: About 200 mother–child pairs in each of two purposively selected communities participated in this intervention study. A six-month nutrition education programme, involving interactive monthly community meetings and home visits, was offered to one of the two communities and the other served as a control/comparison. This study incorporated the use of Health Belief Model constructs to assess the KAP/perceptions of mothers surrounding pulse and other food consumptions, as well as nutrition-related issues before and after the intervention. Objective measures included dietary diversity scores (DDSs), one-day weighed dietary intakes and nutritional status measures based on anthropometric information. Demographics and socioeconomic information were also collected at baseline and endline. Results: Significant improvements (p < 0.05) were found in the intervention group on the KAP and perceptions of pulse nutrition benefits among mothers, DDSs and pulse and animal source food consumption indexes for mothers and children and the mean body-mass-index-for-age Z-score and wasting among children. Conclusions: Community-based nutrition education interventions involving monthly interactive community meetings and home visits in pulse-growing communities from a resource-poor country like Ethiopia can be effective in improving mothers’ knowledge of pulse nutrition and consumption frequency, leading to improvements in the DDSs of children and mothers while decreasing child underweight and wasting.
Perspectives and Challenges of Telemedicine and Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Dermatology
Authors: Zama Daniele , Borghesi Andrea , Ranieri Alice , Manieri Elisa , Pierantoni Luca , Andreozzi Laura , Dondi Arianna , Neri Iria , Lanari Marcello , Calegari Roberta
Published: November 2024

Background: Pediatric dermatology represents one of the most underserved subspecialties in pediatrics. Artificial intelligence (AI) and telemedicine have become considerable in dermatology, reaching diagnostic accuracy comparable to or exceeding that of in-person visits. This work aims to review the current state of telemedicine and AI in pediatric dermatology, suggesting potential ways to address existing issues and challenges. Methods: We conducted a literature review including only articles published in the last 15 years. A total of 458 studies were identified, of which only 76 were included. Results: Most of the studies on telemedicine evaluate accuracy focused on concordance, which ranges from 70% to 89% for the most common pediatric skin diseases. Telemedicine showed the potential to manage chronic dermatological conditions in children, as well as decrease waiting times, and represents the chance for unprivileged populations to overcome barriers limiting access to medical care. The main limitations of telemedicine consist of the language barrier and the need for adequate technologies and acceptable image-quality video, which can be overcome by AI. AI-driven apps and platforms can facilitate remote consultations between pediatric dermatologists and patients or their caregivers. However, the integration of AI into clinical practice faces some challenges ranging from technical to ethical and regulatory. It is crucial to ensure that the development, deployment, and utilization of AI systems conform to the seven fundamental requirements for trustworthy AI. Conclusion: This study supplies a detailed discussion of open challenges with a particular focus on equity and ethical considerations and defining possible concrete directions.
Survival Analysis of Prefabricated Zirconia Crowns with and Without Pulpotomy in Primary Teeth: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Alrashdi Murad
Published: November 2024

Background: Prefabricated Zirconia Crowns (PZCs) are increasingly preferred for restoring primary teeth due to their esthetic appeal and retention. However, their rigid, unmodifiable design requires precise tooth preparation, often leading to aggressive reduction and potential pulp exposure. Pulpotomy, a standard treatment for reversible pulpitis and mechanical pulp exposure, is sometimes employed before PZCs. While pulpotomy is not routinely performed, its use raises important considerations about the interplay between restorative procedures and pulp therapy in pediatric dentistry, particularly regarding the long-term restoration outcomes of PZCs. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of pulpotomy on the success rate of PZCs. Methods: We examined 81 anterior upper primary teeth treated with PZCs in children aged 2–5 years over a two-year period. Cases were divided into groups with and without pulpotomy. Follow-ups occurred at 6-month intervals, assessing clinical and radiographic outcomes. Analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0 software. The statistical significance was p < 0.05. Results: A total of 81 anterior primary teeth were included. Chi-square analysis showed no association between pulp therapy and PZC success (χ2 = 0.051, p = 0.822). The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed comparable survival curves and the log-rank test showed no statistically significant difference in survival time between pulpotomy-treated and untreated groups (χ2 = 0.051, p = 0.821). Conclusions: Pulpotomy did not significantly affect the success rate of PZCs within 2 years.
An In Vivo Comparison of Trueness and Precision of Two Novel Methods for Improving Edentulous Full Arch Implant Scanning Accuracy: A Pilot Study
Authors: Nulty Adam Brian
Published: November 2024

Background: This retrospective in vivo study evaluated the trueness and precision of two digital intraoral scanners—Dentsply Sirona Primescan and Medit i900—, both with and without two variants of the novel Scan Ladder aids, and compared their performance to a new intraoral photogrammetry scanner (Shining 3D Elite). Methods: Data from ten edentulous patients, previously collected during routine clinical treatment, were analyzed using a master STL generated from traditional impression casts as the reference. A custom positional change calculator and comprehensive statistical analysis were used to assess scanner accuracy. Results: The findings demonstrated that the use of the Scan Ladder significantly enhanced the overall accuracy of both intraoral scanners, showing no statistically significant differences when compared to the intraoral photogrammetry system. Conclusions: These results indicate that the Scan Ladder improves the performance of conventional intraoral scanners and suggests that the Shining 3D Elite intraoral photogrammetry scanner is a reliable alternative to extraoral photogrammetry for edentulous cases. Further research, with a larger and more diverse cohort, is warranted to validate and expand upon these findings.
High-Order Disturbance Observer-Based Fuzzy Fixed-Time Safe Tracking Control for Uncertain Unmanned Helicopter with Partial State Constraints and Multisource Disturbances
Authors: Ren Ruonan , Wang Zhikai , Ma Haoxiang , Ji Baofeng , Tao Fazhan
Published: November 2024

In the real-world operation of unmanned helicopters, various state constraints, system uncertainties and multisource disturbances pose considerable risks to their safe fight. This paper focuses on anti-disturbance adaptive safety fixed-time control design for the uncertain unmanned helicopter subject to partial state constraints and multiple disturbances. Firstly, a developed safety protection algorithm is integrated with the fixed-time stability theory, which assures the tracking performance and guarantees that the partial states are always constrained within the time-varying safe range. Then, the compensation mechanism is developed to weaken the adverse impact induced by the filter errors. Simultaneously, the influence of the multisource disturbances on the system stability are weakened through the Ito^ differential equation and high-order disturbance observer. Further, the fuzzy logic system is constructed to approximate the system uncertainties caused by the sensor measurement errors and complex aerodynamic characteristics. Stability analysis proves that the controlled unmanned helicopter is semi-globally fixed-time stable in probability, and the state errors converge to a desired region of the origin. Finally, simulations are provided to illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme.
Assessing the Foreign Direct Investment Performance of Middle-Income Countries Using Data Envelopment Analysis with Translation Invariance
Authors: Yang Runyu , Ryu Youngbok , Oet Mikhail V.
Published: November 2024

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a primary vehicle for manufacturing transfer. Middle-income countries can benefit by effectively utilizing FDI to achieve technological development and economic equality and possibly address the middle-income trap issue. This study assessed the FDI performance of ten middle-income countries and examined the statistical relationships between their performance and their contexts: technological development, economic equality, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the former, we employed non-radial data envelopment analysis, taking advantage of its translation invariance property to derive efficiency scores; for the latter, we conducted a series of Kruskal–Wallis tests to examine the statistical relationships. According to the analysis results, we found that (a) most countries, except China and India, showed stable efficiency scores over time, (b) their efficiency scores were statistically significantly associated with the level of technological development (indicated by their technology lifecycle-based sigmoid curves) and economic equality (represented by Gini index and poverty indicator); and (c) their efficiency scores were not associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The results imply that to improve their foreign direct investment performance, host countries may need to enhance their absorptive capacity in both the technological and economic domains.
Study on the Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Building Carbon Emissions and Influencing Factors in the Urban Agglomeration of the Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Yuan Ruiqing , Lu Jiayi , Zhang Kai , Niu Hongying , Long Ying , Xu Xiangyang
Published: November 2024

With the rapid urbanization process, the construction industry has become a significant source of urban carbon emissions in China. The carbon emissions from buildings in the urban clusters of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, a crucial region for China’s economic development, have attracted considerable attention. This study focuses on urban buildings and aims to investigate the primary influencing factors of building carbon emissions in the urban clusters of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The study highlights the innovative use of nighttime light remote sensing data to analyze urban carbon emissions and provides an in-depth exploration of the spatiotemporal characteristics of building carbon emissions in the urban clusters of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Utilizing nighttime light remote sensing data similar to DMSP-OLS and provincial-level building carbon emissions, combined with spatial autocorrelation and spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression models, the study estimates and analyzes the building carbon emissions from 2012 to 2021 in 71 prefecture-level and above administrative regions within the three major urban clusters of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The results indicate a continuous increase in total building carbon emissions in the three major urban clusters of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, with an accelerating growth rate. Spatially, urban building carbon emissions exhibit enhanced convergence but decreasing correlation over time, demonstrating evolving spatiotemporal patterns. Furthermore, the study identifies economic development level, population size, built-up area, and industrial structure as the main factors influencing building carbon emissions, with industrial structure showing significant impact.
Environmental Risk Assessment of Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA) in Portuguese Groundwater Ecosystems
Authors: Inês Santos , Ana Lopes , Emília Silva
Published: November 2024

The aim of the present study was to assess the risk related to the exposure of groundwater ecosystems to herbicide glyphosate and its non-relevant metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) based on the quotient between measured concentrations gathered from the Water Resources Information System of Portugal, and groundwater quality standards set in legislation and estimated from environmental quality standards in surface waters. Glyphosate was analyzed in 103 groundwater samples collected from 80 wells located in 21 aquifer systems from the four hydrogeological units of mainland Portugal, between 2019 and 2021. It was detected in 14% of the total samples; however, only 10% presented concentration levels above 0.1 µg/L, the groundwater quality standard, and none of these values exceeded the value of 8.67 μg/L estimated from the annual average environmental quality standard proposed for glyphosate in surface waters. In comparison, AMPA was detected in only 5% of 63 groundwater samples, in four dug wells. In both compounds, the maximum concentration level was quantified in a dug well located in the O25-Torres Vedras aquifer system, from the Western unit, with 4.69 and 4.24 μg/L for glyphosate and AMPA, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate that it is extremely important to raise awareness and offer training to farmers on the sustainable use of plant protection products and good agricultural practices, in order to prevent groundwater contamination and improve its quality. There is also an urgent need to carry out ecotoxicological tests with further groundwater species from different functional groups in order to obtain a quality standard that accurately represents the groundwater communities.
Differential Cytotoxicity, Inflammatory Responses, and Aging Effects of Human Skin Cells in Response to Fine Dust Exposure
Authors: Kim Tae Eun , Lim Jun Woo , Jeong Jae Hyun , Ryu Hee Wook
Published: November 2024

Airborne fine dust pollution poses a significant threat to both respiratory and skin health, yet the skin’s physiological response to such exposure has been underexplored. This study investigates the impact of fine dust on skin cells, focusing on their metabolic activity, inflammatory responses, and aging-related changes. We found that exposure to fine dust model compounds led to dose-dependent cytotoxicity, with PM2.5-Ions exhibiting higher toxicity compared to PM10-PAHs. Human epithelial keratinocytes (HEKn) showed heightened sensitivity to fine dust, marked by increased inflammation, particularly with elevated IL-8 expression in response to PM2.5-Ions. Additionally, fine dust exposure resulted in reduced cell density, slower proliferation, and decreased migration, notably at higher concentrations of PM2.5-Ions. These changes are indicative of accelerated aging processes, including compromised cell function and structural integrity. Live cell imaging and correlation analyses highlighted significant links between metabolic activity, cell morphology, and IL-8 secretion. These findings provide critical insights into the differential impacts of fine dust components on skin cells, emphasizing the potential acceleration of aging processes and underscoring the need for further research on cellular responses to environmental stress and the development of protective measures against urban fine dust exposure. Overall, this study, which contributes to addressing the skin health risks posed by air pollutants, could be actively used in environmental science, dermatology, and public health.
Age-Dependent DNA Methylation Variability on the X-Chromosome in Male and Female Twins
Authors: Tan Qihua , Alo Hikmat , Nygaard Marianne , Sørensen Mette , Saleh Alisa , Mengel-From Jonas , Christensen Kaare
Published: November 2024

We aimed to explore the age-dependent epigenetic variability on the X-chromosome with consideration of X-chromosome inactivation by applying a sex-stratified regression analysis to DNA methylation array data on X-linked CpGs in aging identical twins. We found 13 X-linked CpGs showing age-related significant increase in variability in males (FDR < 0.05) but none in females. In females, we found a significantly higher proportion of CpGs showing increased variability with age among nominally significant (p < 0.05) CpGs under inactivation, but not among CpGs escaping inactivation. Survival analysis showed a slight trend of correlation by directional change in the variable CpGs with mortality in males. Compared with females, the male X-chromosome can be more vulnerable to epigenetic instability during aging.
HOM2 Deletion by CRISPR-Cas9 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Decreasing Higher Alcohols in Whiskey
Authors: He Jiaojiao , Zhou Haoyang , Liang Jine , Tuerxun Kadireya , Ding Zhuoling , Zhou Shishui
Published: November 2024

In typical whiskey, the content of higher alcohols is about 1500–2000 mg/L, leading to a high intoxicating degree (ID). To produce low-ID whiskey, Saccharomyces cerevisiae XF0-h, XF0-H and XF0-LH were successfully constructed by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to knockout HOM2 (encoding aspartate β-semialdehyde dehydrogenase) in the original strain XF0 and the LEU1 knockout strain XF0-L. The contents of higher alcohols in whiskey fermented by XF0-h, XF0-H, and XF0-LH were 704 ± 8 mg/L, 685 ± 6 mg/L, and 685 ± 19 mg/L, respectively, showing reductions of 23.93%, 25.98%, and 15.81% compared to XF0, XF0, and XF0-L. The fermentation conditions of XF0-LH were optimized through single-factor experiments and the Box–Behnken design. The optimal conditions were a wort concentration of 9.8 °P, hydrolyzed broken rice syrup addition of 78 g/L, and an inoculum size of 2.7 × 106 cells/mL. The low-ID whiskey was brewed with a higher alcohol content of 556 mg/L by 50 L fermenter at the optimal conditions.
Exploring Ultrasonic Energy Followed by Natural Fermentation Processing to Enhance Functional Properties and Bioactive Compounds in Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Grains
Authors: Alkaltham Mohammed Saeed , Qasem Akram A. , Ibraheem Mohamed A. , Hassan Amro B.
Published: November 2024

This study explores the effect of ultrasonic treatment followed by fermentation on the in vitro protein digestibility, protein solubility, functional properties, antioxidant activity, total carotenoid content, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in millet grains. Ultrasonic treatment was applied at different temperatures (20, 40, and 60 °C). The findings indicated significant improvements in phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity in terms of the results of the DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays of millet grains after ultrasonic treatment alone or combined with fermentation. Moreover, the carotenoid and GABA contents were found to be significantly higher in the ultrasonic-treated grains. The protein solubility functional properties of the millet grains were also improved after the ultrasonic treatment alone or coupled with the fermentation process. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the combined ultrasonic treatment and fermentation of the millet grains could enhance their antioxidant activity, functional characteristics, and vital compounds. Furthermore, the partial least squares (PLS) validation model emphasised that the ultrasonic treatment of millet at 40 °C, followed by fermentation, is the most optimal treatment among the other treatments. Hence, the conclusions highlight the potential of combined ultrasonic (40 °C) and fermentation treatments to improve grains’ nutritional value and functional properties, making millet more suitable for use in health-promoting food products.
Evaluating the Performance of Anaerobic Digestion with Upstream Thermal Hydrolysis—What Role Does the Activated Sludge Process Play?
Authors: Rühl Johannes , Engelhart Markus
Published: November 2024

The performance of anaerobic digestion of mixed sludge (MS) with upstream thermal hydrolysis of waste activated sludge (WAS) was evaluated and compared to conventional anaerobic digestion. In contrast to previous studies, this work focuses on the evaluation of the impact of the activated sludge process, which was assessed using a temperature-normalized solids retention time (SRTASP,T). For this purpose, data from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant related to SRTASP,T, primary sludge (PS) and WAS production were combined with experimental data from laboratory-scale anaerobic digestion of PS, WAS, thermally hydrolyzed WAS, and MS. The parameter SRTASP,T was used as a key link between the full-scale and experimental data. For WAS, SRTASP,T essentially influenced the efficacy of thermal hydrolysis on the performance of anaerobic digestion. The increase in methane yield was higher with increasing SRTASP,T. When considering MS, however, the increase was significantly lower and leveled out over the investigated range of SRTASP,T, mainly due to corresponding WAS/MS ratios. This study demonstrates that the knowledge of SRTASP,T, sludge production, and anaerobic degradability enables the assessment of the potential of thermal hydrolysis and its effect on anaerobic digestion.
Driving Factors and Future Trends of Wildfires in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Bai Maowei , Yao Qichao , Wang Zhou , Wang Di , Zhang Hao , Fang Keyan , Guo Futao
Published: November 2024

Departures from historical wildfire regimes due to climate change have significant implications for the structure and composition of forests, as well as for fire management and operations in the Alberta region of Canada. This study analyzed the relationship between climate and wildfire and used a random forest algorithm to predict future wildfire frequencies in Alberta, Canada. Key factors driving wildfires were identified as vapor pressure deficit (VPD), sea surface temperature (SST), maximum temperature (Tmax), and the self-calibrated Palmer drought severity index (scPDSI). Projections indicate an increase in wildfire frequencies from 918 per year during 1970–1999 to 1151 per year during 2040–2069 under a moderate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenario (RCP 4.5) and to 1258 per year under a high GHG emission scenario (RCP 8.5). By 2070–2099, wildfire frequencies are projected to increase to 1199 per year under RCP 4.5 and to 1555 per year under RCP 8.5. The peak number of wildfires is expected to shift from May to July. These findings suggest that projected GHG emissions will substantially increase wildfire danger in Alberta by 2099, posing increasing challenges for fire suppression efforts.
Changes in Physiological Homeostasis in the Gills of Litopenaeus vannamei Under Carbonate Alkalinity Stress and Recovery Conditions
Authors: Xiao Meng , Nan Yuxiu , Yang Yukai , Li Hua , Duan Yafei
Published: November 2024

Carbonate alkalinity (CA) is the major toxic factor that interferes with the survival and growth of shrimp in saline–alkaline water. Gills are the main entry organ for CA toxicity in shrimp. In this study, low-salinity cultured Litopenaeus vannamei were exposed to 5 mmol/L CA stress for 7 days and then recovered for 7 days to explore the physiological changes in the gills under CA stress and recovery conditions at multiple biological levels. The results showed that CA stress increased the activities of antioxidative biochemical indexes (T-AOC, T-SOD, and POD) and the relative expression levels of romo1, nrf2, and gpx genes, while it decreased the relative expression levels of the sod and hsp70 genes. In addition, CA stress also increased the relative expression levels of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (bip, ire1, and xbp1), immunity (alf, crus, pen-3 and propo), apoptosis (casp-3), detoxification metabolism (cyp450 and gst), and osmotic adjustment (ca, nka-α, nka-β, vatp, nhe, clc, aqp, tip4, and ccp). Although changes in some of the physiological indexes were reversed after the CA stress was relieved, they still could not effectively recover to the control level. These results reveal that CA stress has a negative impact on physiological homeostasis in the shrimp gills by inducing oxidation and ER stress and by interfering with immunity, apoptosis, detoxification, and osmotic adjustment.
Preparation and Characteristics of Ball-Milled Blueberry Peel Particles and Their Application in Ice Cream
Authors: Pan Li-Hua , Lin Jia-Hui , Li Mei-Jia , Cao Lei , Liu Xiao-Yu , Deng Yuan-Yuan , Luo Shui-Zhong , Zheng Zhi
Published: November 2024

Ice cream is popular but contains high amounts of saturated fats and few health-promoting ingredients. In the presence of xanthan gum (0.25%), blueberry peel particles prepared through ball-milling treatment (BMPs) were used to prepare ice cream containing camellia oil as a fat replacer. The BMPs possessed smaller particle sizes, larger contact angles, and higher contents of anthocyanin aglycone compared with commonly milled blueberry peel particles. BMPs with the largest contact angle (66.30°) were obtained by ball-milling the blueberry peel at 15 Hz for 6 h (BMP15Hz6h). The ice cream mixes were depicted as linear viscoelastic gel-like solids, and their apparent viscosity, G′ and G′, increased with the increase in the BMP15Hz6h concentration. Ice cream with strong antioxidant activity and good freeze–thaw stability was acceptable and desirable in the presence of 0.5% BMP15Hz6h.
Nutritional Processing Quality of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) Venison in Different Muscles
Authors: Jin Chunai , Cui Songhuan , Lu Yushun , Li Zhiman , Huo Xiaohui , Wang Yanbo , Sha Jiyue , Sun Yinshi
Published: November 2024

In order to investigate the nutritional processing quality of sika deer (Cervus nippon) venison at different sites, the pH24 h, tenderness, pressurized water loss rate, meat color, intramuscular fat, moisture, protein, amino acid, fatty acid and squalene contents of sika deer venison were determined in twelve sites: foreleg, hind leg, outer tenderloin, rump, neck meat, chest meat, deer flank, abdominal rib, high rib, tenderloin, anterior tendon and posterior tendon. The results showed that the pH24 h of sika deer venison at different sites was 5.49~5.78; the tenderness of outer tenderloin (31.71 N) was the lowest, and the neck meat (68.53 N) was the highest; the squeezing moisture of tenderloin (28.12%) was the largest, and the foreleg (12.34%) was the smallest; the brightness of outer tenderloin L* (29.68) was the lowest, and the redness a* and yellowness b* of deer flank were the highest; the intramuscular fat and moisture were 0.66~4.97% and 71.00~73.78%, respectively; and the protein content of outer tenderloin (23.44%) and rump (24.02%) was high. The venison meat contained 17 kinds of amino acids, and the total amount was 63.87~79.33 g/100 g. It was rich in essential amino acids, mainly lysine and leucine, accounting for 64.29~65.39% of non-essential amino acids, which was close to the ideal protein composition. Palmitoleic acid and oleic acid were the main monounsaturated fatty acids in venison, and the contents of abdominal ribs were the highest, 16,875.33 mg/kg and 31,772.73 mg/kg, respectively. The contents of essential fatty acids were also the highest in abdominal ribs (11,225.37 mg/kg); forelegs, hind legs, outer tenderloins, rumps, neck meat, chest meat, high rib, tenderloins, anterior tendons and posterior tendons were all good sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Squalene content was highest in the abdominal rib (100.85 mg/kg). The nutritional processing quality of sika deer venison in different muscles is significantly different, and this study can provide a data basis for the evaluation and processing of sika deer venison quality.
Preparation, Structural Characterization, and Hypoglycemic Activity of Dietary Fiber from Sea Buckthorn Pomace
Authors: Xiao Qi , Yang Liting , Guo Jingjing , Zhang Xiyu , Huang Yu , Fu Qun
Published: November 2024

Sea buckthorn pomace is often discarded as a by-product during the sea buckthorn processing stage. Consequently, its richness in dietary fiber is usually overlooked. In this study, soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) were extracted from sea buckthorn pomace using ultrasound combined with the enzyme method. The optimal values of the independent variable were determined by a combinatorial design and a response surface optimization test with SDF/IDF as the dependent variable, prepared as follows: 5% enzyme addition, ultrasonic power of 380 W, enzymatic time of 30 min, and alcoholic precipitation liquid ratio of 4:1. Under these conditions, the SDF/IDF ratio was 17.07%. The structural characterization and hypoglycemic activity of the two dietary fibers were then compared. The results show that two dietary fibers have respective structures and functional groups of fibers. SDF was less crystalline than IDF, and its structure was looser. Furthermore, the hypoglycemic activity of SDF was significantly better than IDF’s (p < 0.05). The glucose adsorption capacity of SDF was 1.08–1.12 times higher than that of IDF. SDF inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase by 1.76 and 4.71 times more than IDF, respectively. These findings provide a reference for improving the utilization of sea buckthorn processing by-products.
Comparative Quantitative and Discriminant Analysis of Wheat Flour with Different Levels of Chemical Azodicarbonamide Using NIR Spectroscopy and Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: He Hongju , Wang Yuling , Jiang Shengqi , Zhang Jie , Bi Jicai , Qiao Hong , Pan Leiqing , Ou Xingqi
Published: November 2024

This study investigated and comprehensively compared the performance of spectra (950–1660 nm) acquired respectively from NIR and HSI in the rapid and non-destructive quantification of azodicarbonamide (ADA) content (0–100 mg/kg) in WF and simultaneously identified WF containing excessive ADA (>45 mg/kg). The raw spectra were preprocessed using 14 methods and then mined by the partial least squares (PLS) algorithm to fit ADA levels using different numbers of WF samples for training and validation in five datasets (NTraining/Validation = 189/21, 168/42, 147/63, 126/84, 105/105), yielding better abilities of NIR Savitzky–Golay 1st derivative (SG1D) spectra-based PLS models and raw HSI spectra-based PLS models in quantifying ADA with higher determination coefficients and lower root-mean-square errors in validation (R2V & RMSEV), as well as establishing 100% accuracy in PLS discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models for identifying excessive ADA-contained WF in each dataset. Twenty-four wavelengths selected from a NIR SG1D spectra in a 168/42 dataset and 23 from a raw HSI spectra in a 147/63 dataset allowed for the better performance of quantitative models in ADA determination with higher R2V and RMSEV in validation (R2V > 0.98, RMSEV < 3.87 mg/kg) and for discriminant models in WF classification with 100% accuracy. In summary, NIR technology may be sufficient if visualization is not required.
The Effects of Fat Content on the Shelf-Life of Vacuum-Packed Red Meat
Authors: Toomik Elerin , Rood Laura , Hunt Ian , Nichols David S. , Bowman John P. , Kocharunchitt Chawalit
Published: November 2024

When stored at chill temperatures, vacuum-packed (VP) lamb has a much shorter shelf-life than VP beef, primarily due to its higher pH, which could be linked to the higher fat content. The higher pH would create more favourable conditions for the growth of spoilage bacteria, resulting in a shorter shelf-life of meat. To determine the effects of fat on meat shelf-life as it relates to pH, a series of shelf-life trials at 2 °C were conducted using VP beef and lamb mince with varying fat contents (i.e., control with ~5%, 20%, and 50%) as a model system to red meat primal cuts. The results showed that higher fat content reduced the shelf-life of VP beef mince by 24% and lamb mince by 12.5%. This reduction was accompanied by significantly (p < 0.05) decreased glucose and lactic acid levels. Throughout storage, a higher fat content in beef and lamb mince generally resulted in a higher pH by 0.1 (p < 0.05) compared to the respective controls. Higher fat content mince also had faster lactic acid bacteria growth rates (by up to 0.13 Log10 CFU/g/day) and higher maximum populations of presumptive enteric bacteria up to 1.3 Log10 CFU/g (p < 0.05). These results suggest that fat content can negatively influence the shelf-life of VP red meat through lowering glucose and lactic acid levels, raising the pH, and increasing LAB growth rate and maximum population levels of presumptive enteric bacteria.
Tanshinone Content Prediction and Geographical Origin Classification of Salvia miltiorrhiza by Combining Hyperspectral Imaging with Chemometrics
Authors: Dai Yaoyao , Yan Binbin , Xiong Feng , Bai Ruibin , Wang Siman , Guo Lanping , Yang Jian
Published: November 2024

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology was combined with chemometrics to achieve rapid determination of tanshinone contents in Salvia miltiorrhiza, as well as the rapid identification of its origins. Derivative (D1), second derivative (D2), Savitzky–Golay filtering (SG), multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), and standard normal variate transformation (SNV) were utilized to preprocess original spectrum (ORI). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and support vector machine (SVM) models were employed to discriminate 420 Salvia miltiorrhiza samples collected from Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, Sichuan, and Anhui Provinces. The contents of tanshinone IIA, tanshinone I, cryptotanshinone, and total tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza were predicted by the back-propagation neural network (BPNN), partial least square regression (PLSR), and random forest (RF). Finally, effective wavelengths were selected using the successive projections algorithm (SPA) and variable iterative space shrinkage approach (VISSA). The results indicated that the D1-PLS-DA model performed the best with a classification accuracy of 98.97%. SG-BPNN achieved the best prediction effect for cryptotanshinone (RMSEP = 0.527, RPD = 3.25), ORI-BPNN achieved the best prediction effect for tanshinone IIA (RMSEP = 0.332, RPD = 3.34), MSC-PLSR achieved the best prediction effect for tanshinone I (RMSEP = 0.110, RPD = 4.03), and SNV-BPNN achieved the best prediction effect for total tanshinones (RMSEP = 0.759, RPD = 4.01). When using the SPA and VISSA, the number of wavelengths was reduced below 60 and 150, respectively, and the performance of the models was all very good (RPD > 3). Therefore, the combination of HSI with chemometrics provides a promising method for predicting the active ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhiza and identifying its geographical origins.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Novel Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus RL-H3-005 and Pedicoccus acidilactici RP-H3-006: In Vivo and In Vitro Evidence
Authors: Li Shugang , Li Yixuan , Sui Donglin , Ren Qingyu , Ai Chunqing , Li Mingxin , Zhao Shouhao , Li Huan , Song Shuang , Ren Xiaomeng
Published: November 2024

Probiotics have garnered escalating attention in the treatment and prevention of inflammatory disorders. In this study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus RL-H3-005 (RL5) and Pediococcus acidilactici RP-H3-006 (RP6), which possess anti-inflammatory effects and favorable probiotic attributes, were selected through the comparison of an RAW264.7 inflammatory cell model screening and in vitro probiotic properties. Subsequently, it was implemented in an animal model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. The results demonstrated that RL5 and RP6 could inhibit the release of proinflammatory factors in RAW264.7 inflammatory cells and exhibited excellent environmental adaptability, adhesion, safety, and antibacterial activity. Additionally, RL5 and RP6 provided protective effects on the intestines of mice with acute colitis by reducing the levels of intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress. Concurrently, supplementation with RL5 and RP6 modulated the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. These discoveries suggest that RL5 and RP6 can be used as a novel probiotic for alleviating intestinal inflammation.
The Effect of Thermal Processes on the Organoleptic and Nutraceutical Quality of Tomato Fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Narra Federica , Brigante Federico Ivan , Piragine Eugenia , Solovyev Pavel , Benedetti Giada , Araniti Fabrizio , Bontempo Luana , Ceccanti Costanza , Martelli Alma , Guidi Lucia
Published: November 2024

The present study investigated the changes in the organoleptic characteristics, nutraceuticals, and antioxidant activity of tomato fruits subjected to different thermal processes: tomato sauce (80 °C for 30 min), blanching treatment (100 °C for 10 s), and the superheated steam method (SHS; 100 °C for 7 min) compared with fresh tomato fruit. Even though SHS negatively modified the color of the product (L* −7% than fresh tomatoes), it was the only technology able to increase the antioxidant activity compared with fresh tomatoes (e.g., +40.3% in ABTS assay), whilst lycopene and ascorbic acid contents reported similar values to fresh tomatoes. Regarding lycopene, only 5Z-lycopene (with a higher bioavailability than (all-E)-isomers) was found in all samples, and SHS maintained the same level observed in fresh tomato fruit. Furthermore, SHS technology preserved the antioxidant effects of fresh tomato extract even in human endothelial cells. This result confirmed those obtained in previous “cell-free” assays and demonstrated that SHS treatment significantly maintains the biological properties of tomato fruit in preventing oxidative stress. However, heat-treated tomato extracts did not show the same effects as fresh tomato extract against noradrenaline-induced vasoconstriction in isolated rat aortic rings. This study demonstrates that the use of SHS technology can be considered an innovative and sustainable thermal process (in terms of maintaining the nutraceutical quality) for tomato fruits, thus paving the way for future investigations on the effects of fresh and heat-treated tomatoes after intestinal absorption in vitro and in vivo.
Physiochemical, Bio, Thermal, and Non-Thermal Processing of Major and Minor Millets: A Comprehensive Review on Antinutritional and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Bheemaiah Balyatanda Suhan , Gowda N. A. Nanje , Subbiah Jeyamkondan , Chakraborty Snehasis , Prasad P. V. Vara , Siliveru Kaliramesh
Published: November 2024

Millets are recognized as future foods due to their abundant nutrition and resilience, increasing their value on the global stage. Millets possess a broad spectrum of nutrients, antinutrients, and antioxidants, making it imperative to understand the effects of various processing methods on these components. Antinutritional factors interfere with the digestibility of macro-nutrients and the bioavailability and bio accessibility of minerals. This necessitates methods to reduce or eliminate antinutrients while improving nutritive and antioxidant value in food. This review aims to elucidate the rationale behind processing choices by evaluating the scientific literature and examining the mechanisms of processing methods, categorized as physiochemical, bio, thermal, novel non-thermal, and their combination techniques. Physiochemical and bioprocessing methods alter antinutrients and antioxidant profiles through mass transfer, enzyme activation, product synthesis, microbial activity, and selective removal of grain layers. Thermal methods break functional bonds, modify the chemical or physical structures, enhance kinetics, or degrade heat-labile components. Non-thermal techniques preserve heat-sensitive antioxidants while reducing antinutrients through structural modifications, oxidation by ROS, and break down the covalent and non-covalent bonds, resulting in degradation of compounds. To maximize the trade-off between retention of beneficial components and reducing detrimental ones, exploring the synergy of combination techniques is crucial. Beyond mitigating antinutrients, these processing methods also stimulate the release of bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, and peptides, which exhibit potent health-promoting properties. This review underscores the transformative potential of processing technologies in enhancing millets as functional ingredients in modern diets, promoting health and advancing sustainable food practices.
Methods for Detection, Extraction, Purification, and Characterization of Exopolysaccharides of Lactic Acid Bacteria—A Systematic Review
Authors: Yadav Manoj Kumar , Song Ji Hoon , Vasquez Robie , Lee Jae Seung , Kim In Ho , Kang Dae-Kyung
Published: November 2024

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are large-molecular-weight, complex carbohydrate molecules and extracellularly secreted bio-polymers released by many microorganisms, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB are well known for their ability to produce a wide range of EPSs, which has received major attention. LAB-EPSs have the potential to improve health, and their applications are in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Several methods have been developed and optimized in recent years for producing, extracting, purifying, and characterizing LAB-produced EPSs. The simplest method of evaluating the production of EPSs is to observe morphological features, such as ropy and mucoid appearances of colonies. Ethanol precipitation is widely used to extract the EPSs from the cell-free supernatant and is generally purified using dialysis. The most commonly used method to quantify the carbohydrate content is phenol–sulfuric acid. The structural characteristics of EPSs are identified via Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. The molecular weight and composition of monosaccharides are determined through size-exclusion chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The surface morphology of EPSs is observed via scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, whereas thermal characteristics are determined through thermogravimetry analysis, derivative thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry. In the present review, we discuss the different existing methods used for the detailed study of LAB-produced EPSs, which provide a comprehensive guide on LAB-EPS preparation, critically evaluating methods, addressing knowledge gaps and key challenges, and offering solutions to enhance reproducibility, scalability, and support for both research and industrial applications.
Hypoxia Preconditioned Serum Hydrogel (HPS-H) Accelerates Dermal Regeneration in a Porcine Wound Model
Authors: Jiang Jun , Man Tanita , Kirsch Manuela , Knoedler Samuel , Andersen Kirstin , Reiser Judith , Werner Julia , Trautz Benjamin , Cong Xiaobin , Forster Selma , Alageel Sarah , Dornseifer Ulf , Schilling Arndt F. , Machens Hans-Günther , Kükrek Haydar , Moog Philipp
Published: November 2024

Harnessing the body’s intrinsic resources for wound healing is becoming a rapidly advancing field in regenerative medicine research. This study investigates the effects of the topical application of a novel porcine Hypoxia Preconditioned Serum Hydrogel (HPS-H) on wound healing using a minipig model over a 21-day period. Porcine HPS exhibited up to 2.8× elevated levels of key angiogenic growth factors (VEGF-A, PDGF-BB, and bFGF) and demonstrated a superior angiogenic effect in a tube formation assay with human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) in comparison to porcine normal serum (NS). Incorporating HPS into a hydrogel carrier matrix (HPS-H) facilitated the sustained release of growth factors for up to 5 days. In the in vivo experiment, wounds treated with HPS-H were compared to those treated with normal serum hydrogel (NS-H), hydrogel only (H), and no treatment (NT). At day 10 post-wounding, the HPS-H group was observed to promote up to 1.7× faster wound closure as a result of accelerated epithelialization and wound contraction. Hyperspectral imaging revealed up to 12.9% higher superficial tissue oxygenation and deep perfusion in HPS-H-treated wounds at day 10. The immunohistochemical staining of wound biopsies detected increased formation of blood vessels (CD31), lymphatic vessels (LYVE-1), and myofibroblasts (alpha-SMA) in the HPS-H group. These findings suggest that the topical application of HPS-H can significantly accelerate dermal wound healing in an autologous porcine model.