bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of negative urgency and mood inductions on alcohol cognitions
Authors: Wolkowicz Noah R. , Augur Isabel F. , Ham Lindsay S.
Published: February 2024

Background

Negative urgency (NU), the tendency to act rashly during negative emotional states, is a robust risk factor for alcohol misuse that is posited to function in part through alcohol‐related cognitions. Nonetheless, relatively little research has examined mood‐based fluctuations in such cognitions, which could help to explain how the trait of NU translates to impulsive alcohol‐related behaviors. We examined how NU impacted several alcohol cognitions (positive/negative alcohol expectancies, positive/negative alcohol valuations, and alcohol craving for positive/negative emotional reinforcement) before and after negative, neutral, or positive mood inductions. We hypothesized that NU would predict greater and more favorable endorsement of alcohol and its effects following negative (vs. positive or neutral) mood induction.

Methods

Participants (N = 428) were southern‐midwestern college students recruited for an online experiment. Following the provision of consent, participants rated NU and preinduction alcohol cognitions, and were then randomly assigned to one of three (negative, neutral, or positive) mood inductions; subsequently, postinduction alcohol‐cognition ratings were immediately obtained. We conducted six robust multilevel linear models (one per DV) examining NU's influence on within‐person changes in alcohol cognitions across each mood induction.

Results

No three‐way interactions were identified and only one two‐way interaction involving NU was identified. There were main effects across mood induction conditions and time points for NU predicting greater endorsement of positive and negative alcohol outcome expectancies, and greater alcohol craving for positive and negative emotional reinforcement.

Conclusions

Greater NU predicts greater perceived likelihood of alcohol's effects, alongside greater desire for mood improvement from alcohol. The absence of three‐way interactive effects indicates NU's influence on mood‐dependent fluctuations in alcohol cognitions may manifest over longer timescales (e.g., months and years), involve alternative cognitive processes (e.g., drinking motives and implicit alcohol cognitions), and apply more broadly to desires for mood improvement than purely negative emotional reinforcement.
Factors associated with transitions in tobacco product use states among young adults aged 18–29 years
Authors: Blank Melissa D. , Turiano Nicholas A. , Bray Bethany C. , Milstred Andrea R. , Childers Margaret , Dino Geri , Romm Katelyn F.
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives

This study examined young adults’ tobacco use transitions based on their past 30‐day use states, and identified factors associated with their transitions.

Methods

Participants (N = 12377) were young adults aged 18‐29 years at Wave 1 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. Self‐reported tobacco use states were categorized by the number of past‐month use days (0, 1–4, 5–8, 9–12, 13–30 days) for cigarettes, electronic cigarettes [e‐cigarettes], traditional cigars, filtered cigars, cigarillos, smokeless tobacco (SLT), and hookah. Multistate Markov models examined transitions between use states across Waves 1–5 of unweighted PATH data and multinomial logistic regressions examined predictors of transitions.

Results

Most young adults remained nonusers across adjacent waves for all products (88%–99%). Collapsed across waves, transitioning from use at any level to nonuse (average 46%–67%) was more common than transitioning from nonuse to use at any level (average 4%–10%). Several factors that predicted riskier patterns of use (i.e., transitioning to use and/or remaining a user across adjacent waves) were similar across most products: male, Black, Hispanic, lower education levels, and lower harm perceptions. In contrast, other factors predicted riskier patterns for only select products (e.g., e‐cigarette and SLT use among Whites).

Discussion and Conclusions

Few sampled young adults escalated their tobacco use over time, and escalations for many products were predicted by similar factors.

Scientific Significance

Prevention and regulatory efforts targeted towards adolescents should continue, but also be expanded into young adulthood. These same efforts should consider both shared and unique factors that influence use transitions.
Cumulative incidence of and risk factors for BCG infection after adjuvant BCG instillations
Authors: Holmberg Lars , Skogmar Sten , Garmo Hans , Hagberg Oskar , Häggström Christel , Gårdmark Truls , Ströck Viveka , Aljabery Firas , Jahnson Staffan , Hosseini Abolfazl , Jerlström Tomas , Sherif Amir , Söderkvist Karin , Ullén Anders , Malmström Per‐Uno , Liedberg Fredrik
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To investigate the cumulative incidence proportion of disseminated or local Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) infections after adjuvant BCG instillations in patients with non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Patients and Methods

We analysed the timing and occurrence of BCG infections and absolute and relative risk in relation to patient characteristics available in the Swedish nationwide database ‘BladderBaSe 2.0’. The cumulative incidence proportion of a BCG infection was indicated by a reported diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in the patient registry or filing a prescription for tuberculostatic drugs.

Results

The cumulative incidence proportion was 1.1% at the 5‐year follow‐up in 5033 patients exposed to adjuvant BCG instillations. The incidence rate was highest during the first 2 years after start of BCG instillations. Women had a lower risk than men (hazard ratio 0.23, 95% confidence interval 0.07–0.74). Age and calendar time at diagnosis, comorbidity, tumour risk group, previous medication with corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, or time between transurethral resection of the bladder tumour and commencing the adjuvant BCG instillation were not associated with risk.

Conclusions

These data further supports that the overall risk of a BCG infection after BCG‐instillation treatment for NMIBC is low. The great majority of infections occur in the first 2 years, calling for an awareness of the diverse symptoms of BCG infection during this period. We provide evidence for male sex as a risk factor; however, the statistical precision is low and with a risk of selection bias, making it difficult to rule out the other suggested risk factors without further studies with different approaches.
Long‐term experience with tepotinib in Japanese patients with MET exon 14 skipping NSCLC from the Phase II VISION study
Authors: Morise Masahiro , Kato Terufumi , Matsumoto Shingo , Inoue Takako , Sakamoto Tomohiro , Tokito Takaaki , Atagi Shinji , Kozuki Toshiyuki , Takeoka Hiroaki , Chikamori Kenichi , Shinagawa Naofumi , Tanaka Hiroshi , Horii Eisuke , Adrian Svenja , Bruns Rolf , Johne Andreas , Paik Paul K. , Sakai Hiroshi
Published: February 2024

Tepotinib is a highly selective MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that has demonstrated robust and durable clinical activity in patients with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the Phase II VISION study, patients received oral tepotinib 500 mg once daily. The primary endpoint was an objective response by an independent review committee (IRC) according to RECIST v1.1 criteria. The secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR), progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Here we report the analysis of the efficacy and safety of tepotinib in all Japanese patients with advanced METex14 skipping NSCLC from VISION (n = 38) with >18 months' follow‐up. The median age of the Japanese patients was 73 years (range 63–88), 39.5% of patients were ≥75 years old, 68.4% were male, 55.3% had a history of smoking, 76.3% had adenocarcinoma, and 10.5% of patients had known brain metastases at baseline. Overall, the objective response rate (ORR) was 60.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 43.4, 76.0) with a median DOR of 18.5 months (95% CI: 8.3, not estimable). ORR in treatment‐naïve patients (n = 18) was 77.8% (95% CI: 52.4, 93.6), and in patients aged ≥75 years (n = 15), ORR was 73.3% (95% CI: 44.9, 92.2). The most common treatment‐related adverse event (AE) with any grade was blood creatinine increase (65.8%), which resolved following tepotinib discontinuation. Other common treatment‐related AEs were peripheral edema (60.5%), hypoalbuminemia (34.2%), diarrhea (28.9%), and nausea (15.8%). In summary, tepotinib demonstrated robust and durable clinical activity irrespective of age or therapy line, with a manageable safety profile in Japanese patients with METex14 skipping NSCLC enrolled in VISION.
Integration of CD4+ T cells and molecular subtype predicts benefit from PD‐L1 blockade in muscle‐invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Liu Ge , Jin Kaifeng , Liu Zhaopei , Su Xiaohe , Xu Ziyue , Li Bingyu , Xu Jingtong , Liu Hailong , Chang Yuan , Zhu Yu , Xu Le , Wang Zewei , Wang Yiwei , Zhang Weijuan
Published: February 2024

Muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a disease characterized by molecular and clinical heterogeneity, posing challenges in selecting the most appropriate treatment in clinical settings. Considering the significant role of CD4+ T cells, there is an emerging need to integrate CD4+ T cells with molecular subtypes to refine classification. We conducted a comprehensive study involving 895 MIBC patients from four independent cohorts. The Zhongshan Hospital (ZSHS) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts were included to investigate chemotherapeutic response. The IMvigor210 cohort was included to assess the immunotherapeutic response. NCT03179943 was used to evaluate the clinical response to a combination of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and chemotherapy. Additionally, we evaluated genomic characteristics and the immune microenvironment to gain deeper insights into the distinctive features of each subtype. We unveiled four immune‐molecular subtypes, each exhibiting distinct clinical outcomes and molecular characteristics. These subtypes include luminal CD4+ Thigh, which demonstrated benefits from both immunotherapy and chemotherapy; luminal CD4+ Tlow, characterized by the highest level of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutation, thus indicating potential responsiveness to FGFR inhibitors; basal CD4+ Thigh, which could benefit from a combination of ICB and chemotherapy; and basal CD4+ Tlow, characterized by an immune suppression microenvironment and likely to benefit from transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) inhibition. This immune‐molecular classification offers new possibilities for optimizing therapeutic interventions in MIBC.
Community and individual socioeconomic inequalities and dental caries from childhood to adolescence: A 10‐year cohort study
Authors: Brondani Bruna , Knorst Jessica K. , Ardenghi Thiago M. , Mendes Fausto M. , Brondani Mário A.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of individual and contextual socioeconomic inequalities in the occurrence of untreated dental caries during the transition from childhood to adolescence.

Methods

This 10‐year prospective cohort study followed up an initial sample of 639 1–5 years old schoolchildren from southern Brazil. After 7 and 10 years from the baseline (T1), two other reassessments were conducted (T2 and T3), respectively. Untreated dental caries was measured through the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS‐ scores 3, 5 and 6) at T1 and T3. Socioeconomic status (SES) at the contextual and individual level was assessed at T1. At T2, socioeconomic, behavioural and psychosocial characteristics were evaluated as possible pathways of explanation. Structural equation modelling was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects among the variables over 10 years.

Results

A total of 429 adolescents were reevaluated at 10‐year follow‐up (cohort retention rate of 67.1%). About 30.6% presented untreated dental caries at T3. Low individual SES at T1 directly impacted a higher occurrence of dental caries at T3. Non‐white skin colour at T1 also indirectly impacted a higher occurrence of dental caries at T3 through low individual SES at T1 and lower household income at T2. Contextual SES did not predict, directly or indirectly, dental caries at T3.

Conclusion

There is strong evidence that socioeconomic inequalities at the individual level play an important role on the occurrence of dental caries from childhood to adolescence. On the other hand, there was no evidence that contextual SES influences the occurrence of dental caries over time.
Analysing bully‐victim formation through symbolic interactionism: A case study in China
Authors: He Erlin , Hao Han , Pan Kunkun , Li Xiaoqiong , Zhao Xun
Published: February 2024

Bullying is a pervasive public behaviour that raises significant global concerns, inflicting harm on bullies, victims, and bully‐victims. This qualitative case study investigates bully‐victim role formation through the lens of symbolic interactionism. Data were collected via interviews and observations with a Chinese adolescent boy identified as a bully‐victim, by his family, teachers, and peers. Findings revealed the case subject experienced relational and physical victimization, while perpetrating financial, verbal, and physical bullying. Family violence, school exclusion, and an aggressive community culture shaped the subject's aggressive responses over time. Unique aspects of the Chinese cultural context, including parent–child dynamics within migrant families and teacher–student relationships, influenced role development. This novel application of symbolic interactionism sheds light on the complex interplay between multisystem interactions, emotions, and confrontational actions underlying the case subject's bully‐victim status. The study underscores the value of qualitative explorations, giving voice to bully‐victims' perspectives. Findings can inform culturally specific bullying prevention and highlight how contextual interactions shape adolescents' roles. This rare glimpse into bully‐victim experiences in China advances theoretical perspectives and has important implications for research and practice addressing the worldwide problem of bullying.
Exploring children's experiences of schooling in Tanzania: How the ‘hidden curriculum’ undermines aspirations for sustainable development
Authors: Adamson Laela , Brown Rhona
Published: February 2024

In the context of aspirations that firmly position education as the key to multiple global development goals, we raise concerns about how education is experienced by many children, particularly in low‐income, postcolonial contexts. Drawing from two, in‐depth qualitative studies in Tanzania, we demonstrate that existing pedagogical practices, including the use of an unfamiliar language of learning and teaching, constitute a ‘hidden curriculum’ that powerfully undermines the vision of education embedded in the sustainable development agenda. We argue that research that foregrounds children's experiences should have a more prominent role as it enables us to understand the lived implications of global policy‐making.
PCSK9 increases vulnerability of carotid plaque by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Xu Ran , Li Tianhua , Luo Jichang , Zhang Xiao , Wang Tao , Wang Yabing , Ma Yan , Yang Bin , Jia Jinzhu , Dmytriw Adam A. , Li Wenjing , Jiao Liqun
Published: February 2024

Background

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been recognized as a novel lipid‐lowing target. Recent clinical studies suggested the value of inhibiting PCSK9 in decreasing the vulnerability of coronary plaques. However, the evidence of PCSK9‐regulated evolution of unstable carotid plaques is unclear, which has limited the use of PCSK9 inhibitor in carotid plaques. This study aimed to determine the effect and molecular mechanisms of PCSK9 on vulnerability of carotid plaques, to provide potential therapeutic targets for stabilizing carotid plaques.

Methods

The expression of PCSK9 in stable and unstable carotid plaques were examined in tissue and plasma. Human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and carotid VSMCs were employed to transfect lentivirus for overexpression and knockdown of PCSK9, respectively. Morphological and functional changes of mitochondria were observed by live‐cell imaging. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by propidium iodide staining. RNA‐sequencing and biological examinations were performed to explore and validate the underlying mechanisms. Truncated plasmids were employed to identify the functional domain of PCSK9 in regulation of VSMCs' mitochondrial morphology, function and apoptosis.

Results

Clinically, PCSK9 was closely related with vulnerability of human carotid plaques. Increased expression of PCSK9 in human VSMCs was accompanied by higher level of apoptosis. At subcellular level of VSMCs, the morphology of mitochondria was shifted toward the fission state, followed by mitochondrial dysfunction. Inhibition of p38 MAPK activation partially rescued the above morphological and behavioral changes caused by PCSK9. Furthermore, inhibiting of dynamin‐related protein 1 (DRP1) attenuated PCSK9‐related mitochondrial dysfunction and cell apoptosis. The 1‐149aa domain of PCSK9 protein was essential to achieve functional regulation to VSMCs.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that PCSK9 induced morphology‐related mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of VSMCs, which may be related to increased vulnerability of carotid plaque.
The Information‐Processing Perspective on Categorization
Authors: Martínez Manolo
Published: February 2024

Categorization behavior can be fruitfully analyzed in terms of the trade‐off between as high as possible faithfulness in the transmission of information about samples of the classes to be categorized, and as low as possible transmission costs for that same information. The kinds of categorization behaviors we associate with conceptual atoms, prototypes, and exemplars emerge naturally as a result of this trade‐off, in the presence of certain natural constraints on the probabilistic distribution of samples, and the ways in which we measure faithfulness. Beyond the general structure of categorization in these circumstances, the same information‐centered perspective can shed light on other, more concrete properties of human categorization performance, such as the results of certain prominent experiments on supervised categorization.
How Prior Knowledge, Gesture Instruction, and Interference After Instruction Interact to Influence Learning of Mathematical Equivalence
Authors: Cook Susan Wagner , Wernette Elle M. D. , Valentine Madison , Aldugom Mary , Pruner Todd , Fenn Kimberly M.
Published: February 2024

Although children learn more when teachers gesture, it is not clear how gesture supports learning. Here, we sought to investigate the nature of the memory processes that underlie the observed benefits of gesture on lasting learning. We hypothesized that instruction with gesture might create memory representations that are particularly resistant to interference. We investigated this possibility in a classroom study with 402 second‐ and third‐grade children. Participants received classroom‐level instruction in mathematical equivalence using videos with or without accompanying gesture. After instruction, children solved problems that were either visually similar to the problems that were taught, and consistent with an operational interpretation of the equal sign (interference), or visually distinct from equivalence problems and without an equal sign (control) in order to assess the role of gesture in resisting interference after learning. Gesture facilitated learning, but the effects of gesture and interference varied depending on type of problem being solved and the strategies that children used to solve problems prior to instruction. Some children benefitted from gesture, while others did not. These findings have implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of gesture on mathematical learning, revealing that gesture does not work via a general mechanism like enhancing attention or engagement that would apply to children with all forms of prior knowledge.
Determining the Relativity of Word Meanings Through the Construction of Individualized Models of Semantic Memory
Authors: Johns Brendan T.
Published: February 2024

Distributional models of lexical semantics are capable of acquiring sophisticated representations of word meanings. The main theoretical insight provided by these models is that they demonstrate the systematic connection between the knowledge that people acquire and the experience that they have with the natural language environment. However, linguistic experience is inherently variable and differs radically across people due to demographic and cultural variables. Recently, distributional models have been used to examine how word meanings vary across languages and it was found that there is considerable variability in the meanings of words across languages for most semantic categories. The goal of this article is to examine how variable word meanings are across individual language users within a single language. This was accomplished by assembling 500 individual user corpora attained from the online forum Reddit. Each user corpus ranged between 3.8 and 32.3 million words each, and a count‐based distributional framework was used to extract word meanings for each user. These representations were then used to estimate the semantic alignment of word meanings across individual language users. It was found that there are significant levels of relativity in word meanings across individuals, and these differences are partially explained by other psycholinguistic factors, such as concreteness, semantic diversity, and social aspects of language usage. These results point to word meanings being fundamentally relative and contextually fluid, with this relativeness being related to the individualized nature of linguistic experience.
Political uncertainty and litigation efficiency: Evidence from China
Authors: Huang Yuexin , Li Ruijing , Luo Danglun , Yuan Rongli
Published: February 2024

In this article, we investigate the influence of local official turnover on litigation efficiency using manually collected data from listed companies in China from 1995 to 2013. Our findings indicate that official turnover leads to a decrease in litigation efficiency, with a 16.3% increase in the duration of litigation cases. This effect is more pronounced when newly appointed officials are working in different locations. It is more significant when the involved enterprise is a private entity, suggesting that political cycles contribute to the selective enforcement of private enterprises. Further analysis reveals that the adverse impact of official turnover on litigation efficiency is short‐lived. The conclusions contribute to the existing literature on official turnover and litigation efficiency and hold potential implications for judicial independence reforms.
Helminth ecological requirements shape the impact of climate change on the hazard of infection
Authors: Vanalli Chiara , Mari Lorenzo , Casagrandi Renato , Gatto Marino , Cattadori Isabella M.
Published: February 2024

Outbreaks and spread of infectious diseases are often associated with seasonality and environmental changes, including global warming. Free‐living stages of soil‐transmitted helminths are highly susceptible to climatic drivers; however, how multiple climatic variables affect helminth species, and the long‐term consequences of these interactions, is poorly understood. We used experiments on nine trichostrongylid species of herbivores to develop a temperature‐ and humidity‐dependent model of infection hazard, which was then implemented at the European scale under climate change scenarios. Intestinal and stomach helminths exhibited contrasting climatic responses, with the former group strongly affected by temperature while the latter primarily impacted by humidity. Among the demographic traits, larval survival heavily modulated the infection hazard. According to the specific climatic responses of the two groups, climate change is expected to generate differences in the seasonal and spatial shifts of the infection hazard and group co‐circulation. In the future, an intensification of these trends could create new opportunities for species range expansion and co‐occurrence at European central‐northern latitudes.
Governing schools in times of pandemic: A set‐theoretical analysis of the role of policy capacities in school closure
Authors: Salazar‐Morales Diego , Pineda Pedro , Amaral Lucas
Published: February 2024

Policy capacity plays a pivotal role in shaping the extent of global governmental responses to the COVID‐19 pandemic. While scholars have primarily examined this phenomenon through individual case studies, focusing on demographic variables that influence governments' COVID‐19 responses, little understanding exists regarding how existing policy capacities (systemic, organizational, and individual) have either constrained or empowered governments to navigate the pandemic diversely. To address this gap, our study focuses on the worldwide patterns of school closures and re‐openings during COVID‐19. Utilizing configurational analysis on data from 110 countries, we reveal that factors such as less professional organizational capacities, flawed individual leadership capacities, and contextual factors such as heightened political polarization serve as quasi‐sufficient conditions for longer school closures, while their significant presence leads to extended periods of schools remaining open. The research is supported by detailed case studies of the US, Colombia, Israel, and South Korea, elucidating diverse policy trajectories and combinations influencing prolonged closures or swift re‐openings.
Educational actions about good manufacturing practices of canned fruits and vegetables for health inspectors: a partnership between university and health surveillance
Authors: Tomé Luana Leal , Zanin Laís Mariano , Stedefeldt Elke , Capriles Vanessa Dias
Published: February 2024

Educational actions in the food sector can contribute to monitoring, deciding on the best interventions, and defending consumer health. We aimed to develop and implement educational actions for health inspectors about good manufacturing practices of canned fruits and vegetables based on the health risk. This quantitative and qualitative study was carried out in six stages: (1) document analysis, (2) preparation of a preliminary questionnaire, (3) focus group and validation of that questionnaire, (4) application of the preliminary questionnaire, (5) the educational action itself, and (6) application of the post‐educational actions' questionnaire. In Stage 4, 121 inspectors answered the preliminary questionnaire, and 140 were involved in the educational actions (Stage 5). The data obtained from the document analysis (Stage 1) and the preliminary questionnaire (Stage 4) informed the education actions, which were carried out in two stages: a video lesson and a remote, synchronous meeting, enabling the participation of inspectors from different regions of the state of São Paulo. The educational actions were based on active learning methods using interactive online tools, addressing case studies, and reflecting on professional practice and its problems. The quantitative and qualitative data from the preliminary questionnaire demonstrated that the critical control points of the canned fruits and vegetables manufacturing process and the production flow should be emphasised in the educational actions. The qualitative analysis of the active learning activities demonstrated that ‘acidification and heat treatment’ were the critical points identified by the participants, attesting to the education actions' relevance. The approach proposed in this study provides health inspectors with a model of active educational actions in food safety based on active learning methods that can be adapted for future in‐service educational actions at health surveillance centres worldwide.
Enhancing the techno‐ and bio‐functionality of wheat germ fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Aghagholizadeh Roya , Dokouhaki Mina , Condict Lloyd , Daneshgar Sara , Brennan Charles S. , Kasapis Stefan
Published: February 2024

This study explored the fermentation of defatted wheat germ (DWG) using Lactobacillus plantarum, leading to the release of bioactive peptides with improved technological and health properties. Proteomic analysis of fermented defatted wheat germ (FDWG) and DWG revealed a higher abundance of functional peptides in FDWG, with 27 peaks ranging from 503–1391 m/z compared to 22 peaks ranging from 537–1362 m/z for DWG. The peptides identified in FDWG were enriched in hydrophobic amino acids, known for their antioxidant and radical scavenging capabilities. Furthermore, FDWG‐based bread demonstrated the lowest gliadin content, making it a promising option for coeliac patients. The bread also exhibited a soft texture and higher consumer acceptance, positioning it as a viable alternative in reduced‐gluten bakery products. Overall, fermented wheat germ presents an exciting avenue for obtaining bioactive peptides with diverse potential applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Comparison of water mobility and distribution in Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun during hot‐air and microwave drying processes
Authors: Pang Lingyun , Guo Shuihuan , Zhan Lijuan , Zhu Chaozhi , Qu Shanshan , Pan Siyi
Published: February 2024

Low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) was employed to investigate changes in mobility as well as distribution of water in yam slices in the course of hot‐air drying (HAD) and microwave drying (MD) processes. Moisture content, effective moisture diffusivity, and water activity were also analysed. According to the results, a total of three water fractions with various T2 relaxation times were observed in fresh yam slices: T21 (0.9–2.6 ms), T22 (30–130 ms), and T23 (130–1245 ms). With the increment in drying temperature and the rise of microwave power in the course of drying, there was a significant decline in the transverse relaxation time and peak amplitude of T23. The overall moisture content exhibited a good correlation with Atotal during both HAD and MD processes, with coefficients equivalent to 0.9194 and 0.9024, respectively. With rising drying temperature and microwave power, there was a corresponding rise in effective moisture diffusivity. In comparison with HAD, the rate of water diffusion and evaporation in yam slices dried by MD was higher. Taking into account the drying efficiency and moisture state, MD was suggested as a preferable drying technology for dehydrating yam slices.
Selected physicochemical and morphological properties of Gamma‐Irradiated tapioca flour, rice flour, and pea flours
Authors: Theprugsa Prapasri , Vatthanakul Suteera , Limroongreungrat Kullaya , Khwansakool Pitchalai , Wongmaneepratip Wanwisa , Sajjabut Surasak , Prinyawiwatkul Witoon
Published: February 2024

The effects of gamma irradiation on selected physicochemical and morphological properties of tapioca, rice, and pea flours were studied. Treatments by gamma irradiation at different doses (0, 2.5, 5.5, and 7 kGy) caused changes in structure and physicochemical properties of starch granules of those flours. Generally, the solubility of tapioca, rice, and pea flour significantly increased (100.69%, 116.72%, and 15.18%, respectively) whereas swelling power (19.61%, 10.16%, and 25.08%), pasting parameters (peak viscosity, trough viscosity, final viscosity, breakdown, and setback), enthalpy of gelatinisation (34.26%, 83.54%, and 84.80%) and syneresis (68.21%, 58.79%, and 26.91%) significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) as the dose of irradiation increased. Irradiation affected the pasting temperature and syneresis of pea flour more than those of tapioca and rice flours. Gamma irradiation did not change starch granule surface of the flours. This study demonstrated that the gamma‐irradiated flours had significant changes in physicochemical properties depending on the radiation dose; these changes will affect their uses in food formulations.
Reliability and validity of the food technology Neophobia scale in a Turkish sample
Authors: Kahriman Meryem , Baş Murat
Published: February 2024

Food technology neophobia refers to the unwillingness/avoidance and neophobia to foods produced using new food technologies. Identifying this neophobia in a society is significant as it affects the demand for these products in the food industry. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Food Technology Neophobia Scale in a Turkish sample. We conducted this study in two stages. In the first stage, which we conducted with 182 participants, we determined that the scale had high reliability and was suitable for validity testing. In the second stage, which we conducted with 610 participants, we performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The results of these analyses did not confirm the thirteen‐item and four‐factor structure, unlike the original scale; however, they pointed to a twelve‐item and three‐factor structure: ‘New Food Technologies Are Unnecessary’, ‘Perception of Risks’, and ‘Healthy Choice and Information/Media’. This structure has an acceptable fit and is a valid and useful scale for use in Türkiye.
Bioinformatics analysis of purified and identified novel bacteriocin‐like inhibitory substances produced by Streptomyces sp.
Authors: Kurnianto Muhammad Alfid , Lioe Hanifah Nuryani , Chasanah Ekowati , Kusumaningrum Harsi Dewantari
Published: February 2024

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides synthesised ribosomally by bacteria that can be used as natural preservatives. One potential bacteriocin‐producing bacteria that has yet to be widely studied is Streptomyces sp. Bioinformatics analysis has been conducted on the purified and identified bacteriocin‐like inhibitory substances (BLIS) produced by Streptomyces sp. The BLIS fraction, purified by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography, showed significantly increased specific activities against E. coli, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and S. typhimurium (1.2–189.4 folds). Identification of four purified BLIS fractions using HR‐LC‐ESI‐MS/MS revealed molecular mass from 1287.51 to 1812.85 Da with the sequences of TAEAEAAEGAEEAAP (fraction AS531), TQGGINANKTGSQGYG (fraction AS822), SGGYGGMGAGGIGGQRSGPQ (fraction AS857) and PGGAKGGFGGGGRPGGQGMPGG (fraction AS1121). These peptide sequences have a minimum of 2 hydrophobic amino acids, a net charge of −4 to +2, an isoelectric point of 2.68–11.71 and a hydrophobicity of 20.44–27.46 kcal mol−1. The results of molecular docking analysis between purified BLIS and the penicillin‐binding protein 3 (PBP‐3) receptor by methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) also showed that four fractions had low binding energy (−7.5 to −8.1 kcal mol−1) with 17–25 hydrogen bonds and distances <4 Å. Furthermore, in vitro characterisation revealed that the four purified‐BLIS have a low to moderate LC50 (68.81–200.35 μgmL−1) against A. salina and the ability to maintain 50% antibacterial activity against E. coli up to 100 °C for 30 min and in the pH range of 2.0–8.0, especially fractions AS531 and AS822. Based on the antibacterial spectrum, physicochemical characteristics and peptide sequence, BLIS produced by Streptomyces sp., is a novel bacteriocin with promising applications as a food preservative.
Modification of the bioactivity, digestibility and rheological behaviour of different millets by lactic acid fermentation
Authors: Chauhan Deepti , Gujral Hardeep Singh , Kaler Raj Sukhwinder Singh
Published: February 2024

Seven different millets, foxtail, kodo, little, finger, browntop, barnyard and pearl, were subjected to solid‐state fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum and the extent of biomodification in functional, anti‐nutritional, in vitro starch and protein digestibility was studied. Fermentation significantly reduced phytic acid up to 80.84% and increased water absorption index, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of millets. Pasting properties of millets were significantly affected by fermentation with increased peak and lower setback viscosity. In vitro protein digestibility and resistant starch increased while rapidly digestible starch and glycaemic index decreased upon fermentation. Solid‐state fermentation of millets can effectively lead to their biomodification lowering anti‐nutrients and improving digestibility.
Germination in improving the nutrition, health benefits and processing of highland barley
Authors: Ruirong Pan , Hassane Hamadou Alkassoumi , Xu Bin
Published: February 2024

Barley has played a critical role in mankind civilisation. Despite being underexploited, highland barley (HB) is an economical crop demonstrating superior nutritional and health benefits compared to most common cereals. In recent years, germination has drawn a great attention because of its ability to increase nutrients in grains. This review aimed to elucidate the implication of germination in improving the qualities of HB. Because of germination, amelioration in nutrients and digestibility was observed in germinated HB (GHB) than ungerminated HB, due to activation of various enzymes. An increase in polyphenols and antioxidant activity was achieved in GHB. GHB‐based products exhibited better water‐holding capacity, water solubility index, oil‐holding capacity, sensory attributes and cooking time. However, excessive germination may have negative impact on starch‐protein network, which might be detrimental during food processing. Overall, controlled‐germination could be a viable approach to improve the digestibility, palatability, acceptability and shelf‐life of HB‐based products.
Bubble‐driven solid‐phase microextraction for the rapid determination of potassium sorbate in oyster sauce by HPLC‐DAD
Authors: Li Jin‐Yu , Ma Yun‐Jiao , Xiao Feng , Xu Xian‐Bing
Published: February 2024

On‐site sample preparation has the advantage of combining sampling and sample preparation into a single step, thereby minimising sources of error, and eliminating the risk of analyte instability. Bubble‐driven solid‐phase microextraction (BD‐SPME) was first proposed as an on‐site pretreatment method. Oyster sauce underwent on‐site pretreatment to measure potassium sorbate levels via high‐performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC‐DAD), obviating the need for stirrers. The high sensitivity of the HPLC determination of potassium sorbate was obtained using BD‐SPME pretreatment with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.03 mg L−1 and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.10 mg L−1. The refined technique displayed remarkable linearity from 0.10 to 30.00 mg L−1, boasting a coefficient of determination R2 ≥ 0.998. In addition, the recoveries of potassium sorbate in oyster sauce using the method were in the range of 90.8–101.4%. Evidently, BD‐SPME in combination with HPLC‐DAD is a sensitive and promising analysis for on‐site pretreatment.
Effect of transglutaminase in conjunction with glucono‐δ‐lactone treatment on the antigenicity and conformational structure of β‐conglycinin
Authors: Xing Guangliang , Yang Siran , Liu Jia , Huang Lu , Zheng Maoqiang
Published: February 2024

In this study, β‐conglycinin was treated with transglutaminase (TGase) and glucono‐δ‐lactone (GDL) to meticulously examine the resulting changes in both antigenicity and structural attributes. The findings elucidated a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the antigenicity of β‐conglycinin to 72.1% and 77.5% after the modified treatment employing TGase alone or in conjunction with GDL, respectively, in contrast to the untreated samples. Electrophoretic analysis showed a decrease in the density of 7S α, 7S α′, and 7S β, indicating the formation of high molecular weight protein aggregates because of the catalytic effect of TGase. Additionally, the simultaneous application of TGase and GDL induced modifications in the structural configuration of β‐conglycinin, as evidenced by a decrease in intrinsic fluorescence intensity, an augmentation in surface hydrophobicity, and a transition from β‐sheet to β‐turn and random coil structures. These observed alterations suggest that the decline in antigenicity is intricately linked to conformational changes, potentially influencing the exposure of antigenic epitopes. Overall, this study holds significant theoretical and practical implications for the development of hypoallergenic soy products and the enhancement of food safety.
Significant reduction in left testicular volume shown by ultrasonography in infertile patients with left‐side grade 2–3 varicocele as compared to less than grade 2: An evidence for indication of varicocelectomy
Authors: Kondoh Nobuyuki , Chikawa Ai , Okumura Mikiko , Hayakawa Hitomi , Ohama Naoko , Shigeta Minoru
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Testicular volume (TV) is known to be one of the main parameters for testicular function (TF). This study was conducted to re‐evaluate the indications of a varicocelectomy based on a survey of preoperative TV results in left‐side varicocele patients considered to reflect the detrimental effects of a varicocele on TF.

Methods

TV results of infertile patients determined using ultrasonography by a single expert physician were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

Of 590 examined patients, 424 had no varicocele findings (Group A), while 148 had a left‐side varicocele (Group B). Group B was subdivided based on varicocele grade into Group B0 (subclinical), B1 (grade 1), B2 (grade 2), and B3 (grade 3). Comparisons of left‐side TV showed no significant differences for grade among Group A, B0, and B1, whereas that for Group B2 and B3 was significantly lower as compared with Group A (p < 0.01, 0.02, respectively). The median TV of Group B I (composed of Groups B0 and B1) was 9.8 cm3, while that of Group B II (Groups B2 and B3) was significantly lower at 8.4 cm3 (p < 0.05). In contrast, a comparison of right TV values identified no significant differences among the groups (p = 0.918).

Conclusion

A varicocelectomy should be performed for patients with a grade 2 and 3 varicocele for ameliorating testicular function.
Enfortumab vedotin prolongs overall survival in metastatic urothelial carcinoma following pembrolizumab therapy in real‐world data
Authors: Uemura Koichi , Ito Hiroki , Jikuya Ryosuke , Kondo Takuya , Tatenuma Tomoyuki , Kawahara Takashi , Ito Yusuke , Komeya Mitsuru , Muraoka Kentaro , Hasumi Hisashi , Uemura Hiroji , Makiyama Kazuhide
Published: February 2024

Objective

In December 2021, enfortumab vedotin (EV), an antibody‐drug conjugate directed against nectin‐4, was approved in Japan as a new treatment after platinum‐containing chemotherapy and PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors. This study evaluated, using real‐world data, the efficacy and safety of EV therapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

Materials and methods

Fifty‐five patients with mUC who discontinued pembrolizumab therapy due to disease progression between June 2018 and April 2023 at Yokohama City University Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Of the 55 patients, 25 received EV therapy (EV group) and 30 did not (non‐EV group). All patients who underwent EV therapy were diagnosed with disease progression after the approval of EV in Japan.

Results

The median (range) follow‐up period after pembrolizumab discontinuation was 6.3 (0.7–31.1) months. There were eight (32.0%) deaths due to cancer in the EV group and 27 (90.0%) in the non‐EV group. The overall survival (OS) after pembrolizumab discontinuation was not reached in the EV group versus 2.6 months in the non‐EV group (p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that EV therapy (EV vs. non‐EV group; hazard ratio 0.26; 95% confidence interval 0.16–0.41; p < 0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for OS.

Conclusion

EV prolonged OS in mUC following pembrolizumab therapy in real‐world data.
Trabajo esencial pero excluido: crisis de la COVID‐19 y precariedad del trabajo doméstico en el Brasil
Authors: ACCIARI Louisa , DOS SANTOS BRITO Chirlene , PEREIRA PINTO Cleide
Published: February 2024

En este artículo se estudia el impacto de la crisis de la COVID‐19 en las trabajadoras domésticas del Brasil, a partir de los datos de una encuesta realizada con la Federação Nacional das Trabalhadoras Domésticas (FENATRAD). Los resultados del análisis, centrados en el empleo y los ingresos, la seguridad y salud en el trabajo y la vulneración de derechos, muestran la extrema polarización entre quienes perdieron su fuente de sustento y quienes tuvieron que seguir trabajando a costa de la salud y de los derechos humanos básicos. Más allá de las circunstancias excepcionales, las autoras sostienen que esta situación fue posible por las condiciones preexistentes de exclusión jurídica y precariedad.
Políticas preferenciales de empleo y rendimiento empresarial. Evidencia del sector público de la India
Authors: JAIN Ritika , ABRAHAM Vinoj
Published: February 2024

En este artículo se examina el impacto de la reserva de puestos de trabajo en el rendimiento empresarial del sector público en la India. Tras analizar datos de todas las empresas públicas manufactureras de 2014 a 2017 con técnicas de variables instrumentales, se corrobora la hipótesis de que las reservas benefician el rendimiento empresarial si se implementan en puestos de todos los niveles jerárquicos. También se constata que las categorías reservadas están desproporcionadamente representadas en el extremo inferior de la jerarquía organizativa. Este desequilibrio se debe principalmente a limitaciones sistemáticas en las notificaciones de vacantes y a prácticas discriminatorias de las organizaciones.
Construction of an instrument to enable the assessment of the risk of falls in older outpatients: A quantitative methodological study
Authors: Wu Wenbin , Zhou Qi , Gao Qiang , Li Hong , Zhang Jie , Wu Juan , Shen Ji , Li Jing , Shi Hong
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To develop an instrument to facilitate the risk assessment of falls in older outpatients.

Design

A quantitative methodological study using the cross‐sectional data.

Methods

This study enrolled 1988 older participants who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in an outpatient clinic from May 2020 to November 2022. The history of any falls (≥1 falls in a year) and recurrent falls (≥2 falls in a year) were investigated. Potential risk factors of falls were selected by stepwise logistic regression, and a screening tool was constructed based on nomogram. The tool performance was compared with two reference tools (Fried Frailty Phenotype; CGA with 10 items, CGA‐10) by using receiver operating curves, sensitivity (Sen), specificity (Spe), and area under the curve (AUC).

Results

Age, unintentional weight loss, depression measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire‐2, muscle strength measured by the five times sit‐to‐stand test, and stand balance measured by semi‐ and full‐tandem standing were the most important risk factors for falls. A fall risk screening tool was constructed with the six measurements (FRST‐6). FRST‐6 showed the best AUC (Sen, Spe) of 0.75 (Sen = 0.72, Spe = 0.69) for recurrent falls and 0.65 (Sen = 0.74, Spe = 0.48) for any falls. FRST‐6 was comparable to CGA‐10 and outperformed FFP in performance.

Conclusions

Age, depression, weight loss, gait, and balance were important risk factors of falls. The FRST‐6 tool based on these factors showed acceptable performance in risk stratification.

Impact

Performing a multifactorial assessment in primary care clinics is urgent for falls prevention. The FRST‐6 provides a simple and practical way for falls risk screening. With this tool, healthcare professionals can efficiently identify patients at risk of falling and make appropriate recommendations in resource‐limited settings.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution was received, due to our study design.