bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family homeless shelters as contexts for early childhood development: Shelter resources and staff capacity
Authors: Halverson McKenna M. , Wallace Laura E. , Tebepah Tariere C. , Riccelli Victoria , Bajada Allison , Herbers Janette E.
Published: September 2023

Family homeless shelters are critical contexts in which many young children develop; however, little is known about the developmental appropriateness of these settings, including their resources and the capacity of their staff to effectively meet the needs of the children and families they serve. The current study involves both quantitative and qualitative components to assess aspects of developmental appropriateness of US shelter spaces for children ages birth to 5 years, with an emphasis on staff knowledge, parenting programmes, and play spaces. Participants were 64 staff working in different family homeless shelters representing all 10 Housing and Urban Development regions. Data were collected via semistructured phone interviews. Results indicated that most shelters offered some type of parenting programme (65.5%) and had some developmentally appropriate space for families with young children (87.5%); however, the nature of these spaces and programmes varied considerably, with very few respondents describing use of evidence‐based practices. Findings on knowledge of early child development among shelter staff indicated substantial need for trainings on a range of topics, including typical child development, parent–child relationships, and impacts of trauma on families with young children. Furthermore, we identified a need for better measurement tools to assess knowledge of child development.
Habit training versus habit training with direct visual biofeedback in adults with chronic constipation: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Norton Christine , Bannister Sybil , Booth Lesley , Brown Steve R. , Cross Samantha , Eldridge Sandra , Emmett Christopher , Grossi Ugo , Jordan Mary , Lacy‐Colson Jon , Mason James , McLaughlin John , Moss‐Morris Rona , Scott S. Mark , Stevens Natasha , Taheri Shiva , Taylor Stuart A. , Yiannakou Yan , Knowles Charles H.
Published: September 2023

Aim

The aim was to determine whether specialist‐led habit training using Habit Training with Biofeedback (HTBF) is more effective than specialist‐led habit training alone (HT) for chronic constipation and whether outcomes of interventions are improved by stratification to HTBF or HT based on diagnosis (functional defaecation disorder vs. no functional defaecation disorder) by radio‐physiological investigations (INVEST).

Method

This was a parallel three‐arm randomized single‐blinded controlled trial, permitting two randomized comparisons: HTBF versus HT alone; INVEST‐ versus no‐INVEST‐guided intervention. The inclusion criteria were age 18–70 years; attending specialist hospitals in England; self‐reported constipation for >6 months; refractory to basic treatment. The main exclusions were secondary constipation and previous experience of the trial interventions. The primary outcome was the mean change in Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score at 6 months on intention to treat. The secondary outcomes were validated disease‐specific and psychological questionnaires and cost‐effectiveness (based on EQ‐5D‐5L).

Results

In all, 182 patients were randomized 3:3:2 (target 384): HT n = 68; HTBF n = 68; INVEST‐guided treatment n = 46. All interventions had similar reductions (improvement) in the primary outcome at 6 months (approximately −0.8 points of a 4‐point scale) with no statistically significant difference between HT and HTBF (−0.03 points; 95% CI −0.33 to 0.27; P = 0.85) or INVEST versus no‐INVEST (0.22; −0.11 to 0.55; P = 0.19). Secondary outcomes showed a benefit for all interventions with no evidence of greater cost‐effectiveness of HTBF or INVEST compared with HT.

Conclusion

The results of the study at 6 months were inconclusive. However, with the caveat of under‐recruitment and further attrition at 6 months, a simple, cheaper approach to intervention may be as clinically effective and more cost‐effective than more complex and invasive approaches.
Effects of triclabendazole and its metabolite exposure on the heart‐rate–corrected QT intervals: A randomized, placebo‐ and positive‐controlled thorough QT study in healthy individuals
Authors: Prince William T. , Venishetty Vinay Kumar , Lecot Jean , Shakeri‐Nejad Kasra , Gray Cathy , Taylor Amanda , Iyer Ganesh R. , Zack Julia
Published: September 2023

Triclabendazole is an effective and well‐tolerated treatment for human fascioliasis. A placebo‐ and positive‐controlled, four‐sequence by four‐period crossover study was conducted in 45 healthy participants to assess the effect of therapeutic (10 mg/kg twice daily [b.i.d.] for 1 day) and supratherapeutic (10 mg/kg b.i.d. for 3 days) oral doses of triclabendazole on corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation. Moxifloxacin (400 mg, oral) was used as a positive control. The highest mean placebo‐corrected change from baseline in QTcF (ΔΔQTcF) on day 4 with triclabendazole was 9.2 at therapeutic dose ms and 21.7 ms at supratherapeutic dose, at 4 h postdose. The upper limit of the two‐sided 90% confidence interval exceeded 10 ms across all timepoints, except at predose timepoint on day 4 in the therapeutic group indicating that an effect of triclabendazole on cardiac repolarization could not be excluded. However, triclabendazole had no clinically significant effects on heart rate and cardiac conduction at the studied doses. In the moxifloxacin group, the mean ΔΔQTcF peak value was 13.7 ms at 3 h on day 4. The assay sensitivity was confirmed. Maximum plasma concentration of triclabendazole, sulfoxide metabolite, and sulfone metabolite occurred at ~3‐, 4‐, and 6‐h postdose, respectively. No deaths, serious adverse events, study discontinuations due to treatment‐emergent adverse events, or clinically relevant abnormalities in laboratory evaluations and vital sign values were observed. This study showed that triclabendazole had no clinically relevant effects on heart rate and cardiac conduction; however, an effect on cardiac repolarization (ΔΔQTcF >10 ms) could not be excluded.
Multidimensional design‐reality gaps in ICT in education projects in the Samoan aidscape
Authors: Tsujita Masami
Published: September 2023

Motivation

During the last decades, Samoa has received much aid to improve the use of information, communication, and technology (ICT) in education. However, the inequality gap in digital education between the global North and South remains wide, including in Samoa. This warrants further study of ICT in education projects in recipient countries.

Purpose

This study examines the gap between ICT project design and the reality lived by schoolteachers in Samoa.

Methods and approach

Empirical data were collected primarily through informal conversations with current and former teachers and ICT service providers. Their stories supported direct observation of ICT in schools garnered through working as a lecturer at an academic institution in Samoa.

I use the concept of aidscape, which reflects the multidimensional nature of aid landscape, to explore the reality gaps across dimensions of the daily life of teachers and examines how these gaps are interrelated at multiple levels.

Findings

The reality of teachers shows interlinking challenges to the use of ICT in schools; challenges of accessing equipment, school culture, user perception, high staff turnover, and labour emigration. Enhancing the use of ICT by teachers requires material, technical, financial, sociocultural, and emotional support simultaneously from various aid actors who operate on different scales.

Other challenges, including the high cost of technology and devices, the lack of funding for long‐term projects, the lack of ICT experts in the country and poor connectivity, also contribute to the less than satisfactory results of some ICT in education.

Policy implications

The way forward lies in better co‐ordination among donors and more effective collaboration between different ministries of the recipient government to develop a combined project team dedicated to ICT in education. This team could work to unravel interconnected issues and tackle challenges one by one to find feasible solutions at the grassroots level, which could then be incorporated into viable national policies.
Temperature and soil moisture change microbial allocation of pesticide‐derived carbon
Authors: Wirsching Johannes , Rodriguez Luciana Chavez , Ditterich Franziska , Pagel Holger , He Rushan , Uksa Marie , Zwiener Christian , Kandeler Ellen , Poll Christian
Published: September 2023

Temperature and soil moisture are known to control pesticide mineralization. Half‐life times () derived from pesticide mineralization curves generally indicate longer residence times at low soil temperature and moisture but do not consider potential changes in the microbial allocation of pesticide‐derived carbon (C). We aimed to determine carbon use efficiency (, formation of new biomass relative to total C uptake) to better understand microbial utilization of pesticide‐derived C under different environmental conditions and to support the conventional description of degradation dynamics based on mineralization. We performed a microcosm experiment at two MCPA (2‐methyl‐4‐chlorophenoxyacetic acid) concentrations (1 and 20 mg kg−1) and defined 20°C/pF 1.8 as optimal and 10°C/pF 3.5 as limiting environmental conditions. After 4 weeks, 70% of the initially applied MCPA was mineralized under optimal conditions but MCPA mineralization reached less than 25% under limiting conditions. However, under limiting conditions, an increase in was observed, indicating a shift towards anabolic utilization of MCPA‐derived C. In this case, increased C assimilation implied C storage or the formation of precursor compounds to support resistance mechanisms, rather than actual growth since we did not find an increase in the tfdA gene relevant to MCPA degradation. We were able to confirm the assumption that under limiting conditions, C assimilation increases relative to mineralization and that C redistribution, may serve as an explanation for the difference between mineralization and MCPA dissipation‐derived degradation dynamics. In addition, by introducing to the temperature‐ and moisture‐dependent degradation of pesticides, we can capture the underlying microbial constraints and adaptive mechanisms to changing environmental conditions.
Topography modulates climate sensitivity of multidecadal trends of holm oak decline
Authors: López‐Ballesteros Ana , Rodríguez‐Caballero Emilio , Moreno Gerardo , Escribano Paula , Hereş Ana‐Maria , Yuste Jorge Curiel
Published: September 2023

Forest decline events have increased worldwide over the last decades being holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) one of the tree species with the most worrying trends across Europe. Since this is one of the tree species with the southernmost distribution within the European continent, its vulnerability to climate change is a phenomenon of enormous ecological importance. Previous research identified drought and soil pathogens as the main causes behind holm oak decline. However, despite tree health loss is a multifactorial phenomenon where abiotic and biotic factors interact in time and space, there are some abiotic factors whose influence has been commonly overlooked. Here, we evaluate how land use (forests versus savannas), topography, and climate extremes jointly determine the spatiotemporal patterns of holm oak defoliation trends over almost three decades (1987–2014) in Spain, where holm oak represents the 25% of the national forested area. We found an increasing defoliation trend in 119 out of the total 134 holm oak plots evaluated, being this defoliation trend significantly higher in forests compared with savannas. Moreover, we have detected that the interaction between topography (which covariates with the land use) and summer precipitation anomalies explains trends of holm oak decline across the Mediterranean region. While a higher occurrence of dry summers increases defoliation trends in steeper terrains where forests dominate, an inverse relationship was found in flatter terrains where savannas are mainly located. These opposite relationships suggest different causal mechanisms behind decline. Whereas hydric stress is likely to occur in steeper terrains where soil water holding capacity is limited, soil waterlogging usually occurs in flatter terrains what increases tree vulnerability to soil pathogens. Our results contribute to the growing evidence of the influence of local topography on forest resilience and could assist in the identification of potential tree decline hotspots and its main causes over the Mediterranean region.
A biorefinery model for the production of oil and biomethane using castor plants
Authors: Testa Giorgio , Corinzia Sebastiano Andrea , Calcagno Silvio , Cosentino Salvatore L. , Piccitto Alessandra
Published: September 2023

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important oilseed crop worldwide whose inedible oil is widely used in the industrial, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors. Castor plants show high conversion potential for use as biorefining feedstocks. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of two nitrogen fertilization levels (0 and 120 kg N ha−1) on seed and oil yield. From a biorefinery perspective, the residual biomass of seed processing was analyzed in terms of fiber composition and biomethane production carrying out a biological pretreatment using two white‐rot fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Irpex lacteus). Nitrogen fertilization resulted in an increase in seed and oil yields and a difference in capsule husk composition. Fungal pretreatment of capsule husks showed promising effects on anaerobic digestion, increasing the biomethane yield compared to untreated biomass. The highest lignin degradation and the lowest cellulose loss during pretreatment were obtained with I. lacteus, and this fungal pretreatment resulted in the highest biomethane yield (103.2 NmL g−1 volatile solids) for the fertilized biomass.
Citizenship of the agricultural transfer population and property income‐‐empirical evidence from the Chinese region
Authors: Zhang Yongqi , Chen Xi
Published: September 2023

In urbanization, achieving common prosperity is a common complication faced by human society in the process of development. The citizenship of the agricultural transfer population (CRM) is a vital urbanization goal in developing countries. However, there is rare empirical evidence on the citizenship of agricultural migrants and property income. The relaxation of household registration restrictions and property policy changes under China's new urbanization plan provide crucial material for the test of their causal effects. The results of this study suggest that the citizenship of the agricultural transfer population can be divided into two stages: identity conversion and service sharing. Both the initial household registration conversion and the later service sharing are conducive to the growth of property income of the residents who have switched from agriculture to non‐agriculture. Besides, the increase in transfer length of the “rural‐to‐non‐native” residents further strengthens the positive effect of service parity on property income. This implies that governments and relevant authorities in developing countries should emphasize the construction of a policy system for equalizing basic public services to facilitate the reduction of income disparity while stimulating economic growth. Additionally, the mechanism analysis reveals that the underlying logic of the citizenship of agricultural migrants lies in the ability to enrich total property, adjust asset allocation behavior, reinforce the efficiency of financial asset allocation, and achieve an increase in property income. The quantitative results of this study provide effective information for future sustainable urban development, especially for rational urbanization in developing countries.
Effects of fatty acid chain length on structure and in vitro enzymatic digestibility of type 5 resistant starch
Authors: Qin Renbing , Zhu Jiaming , Li Guanglei , Zeng Jie , Sun Yangyang , Xiang Fengjuan
Published: September 2023

The effects of saturated fatty acids with different chain lengths (C12, C14, C16, C18) on the structure and digestibility of type 5 resistant starch (RS5s) were investigated. The complexing index (CI), structure, phase transition temperature, digestibility and evaluation glycemic index (eGI) values of RS5s were determined. High‐amylose corn starch VII (HA7) ‐ myristic acid (MA) complex had the highest CI value (41.1%), relative crystallinity (40.4%) and 1047 cm−1/1022 cm−1 (1.0), smallest full width at half maximum (fwhm) of the band at 480 cm−1 (16.4), indicating that RS5 with 14‐carbon saturated fatty acids was more easily to form V‐type crystal complexes with amylose, and the long‐range and short‐range molecular orderliness was the best. With the increase of the carbon chain (12 ~ 18), The peak temperature (Tp) of the complexes gradually increased from the HA7‐lauric acid (LA) complex (112.8 °C) to HA7‐stearic acid (SA) complex (119.1 °C). The content of slow digestible starch (SDS) and eGI values gradually decreased (P < 0.05), and the content of resistant starch (RS) significantly increased (P < 0.05). These results indicated fatty acid chain length and long‐range molecular orderliness were the main factors affecting the digestibility of RS5s.
Effect of spray‐drying or freeze‐drying on the physicochemical parameters, antioxidant activity, and volatile components of craft beer
Authors: Zhong Longbin , Fu Zihuan , Bai Xinpeng , Zhu Hengwei , Zhu Peng , Huang Huan , Liu Yizhe
Published: September 2023

Converting craft beer to a powder form allows the concentration of phenolic and volatile compounds. In this study, craft beer was brewed in laboratory brewing equipment and converted to a powder using freeze‐drying and spray‐drying processes. When the freeze‐dried powder was dissolved in water, its physicochemical properties were identical to those of craft beer. Freeze‐drying effectively encapsulated the bioactive compounds in craft beer, with an encapsulation rate of 99.6%, which was 27.6% higher than that of spray‐drying. Headspace solid‐phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the esters were effectively retained after freeze‐drying and had the highest retention of 90% for ethyl hexanoate, whereas spray‐drying resulted in the loss of most of the esters. Spray‐dried particles were all spherical, whereas lyophilized particles were irregularly shaped. The particle size ranged from 6.28 to 12.15 μm for spray‐dried powders and from 14.19 to 50.97 μm for lyophilized powders. The findings indicate that both encapsulation methods are effective for the preparation of craft beer powder. However, freeze‐drying can encapsulate the bioactive and volatile compounds in craft beer more effectively than spray‐drying and aid in the better retention of craft beer characteristics.
Development of active packaging film reinforced with nano cellulose extracted from Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) residues for prolonging the shelf life of chicken meat
Authors: Mukkadan Maria J. , Preetha Radhakrishnan , Sreejit V.
Published: September 2023

The development of new packaging materials with biodegradability is gaining more importance nowadays. The packaging materials produced using cellulose can reduce the environmental pollution caused by synthetic polymers. The nanocellulose was extracted from the Borassus flabellifer husk by combining TEMPO (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine 1‐oxyl radical)‐mediated oxidation and ultrasonication. The packaging film was developed by the combination of arrowroot starch (5 g), glycerol (2 g), nanocellulose suspension (5%) and neem oil (1 mL) using the solution casting technique. The film was then analysed for different properties, including tensile strength, contact angle measurement, antioxidant properties and antimicrobial properties. The active packaging film showed improved mechanical, antimicrobial and optical properties than the normal starch film. The application study of the active films showed that the chicken meat packed in pure starch films spoiled faster with greater changes in pH, weight loss and hardness than the chicken packed in active films. The incorporation of neem oil in the film prevented the lipid oxidation of chicken meat due to the antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds present in neem oil and resulted in lower peroxide values.
Structural, thermal, techno‐functional and chemical characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Gas‐Chromatography‐Mass Spectrophotometry, Thermogravimetric Analyser, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy‐Dispersive X‐Ray Spectrometer of Moringa Oleifera flower powder
Authors: Jaglan Poonam , Kaushik Deepika , Kumar Mukul , Kumar Ashwani , Kaur Jasjit , Oz Emel , Brennan Charles , Proestos Charalampos , Brennan Margaret , Ahmad Naushad , Elobeid Tahra , Oz Fatih
Published: September 2023

The aim of this research is to characterise the physicochemical and techno‐functional properties of the Moringa oleifera flower powder, and various techniques were used in this regard, such as FTIR, GC–MS, TGA, FESEM, and EDS. The bulk and tapped density of the Moringa oleifera flower powder were found to be 0.44 ± 0.03 (g/cm3) and 0.51 ± 0.01 (g/cm3), respectively. The water absorption index and water solubility index were 10.60 ± 0.10 (g/g) and 8.70 ± 0.20 (%), respectively. The foaming capacity was found to be 15.20 ± 0.20 (%), and the foaming stability was 56.34 ± 0.10 (%). The total phenolic content of the Moringa oleifera flower extract was 15.97 ± 0.223 mg GAE/g, whereas the flavonoid content was 12.38 ± 0.321 mg QE/g. The antioxidant activity of the flower extract was measured by DPPH assay and was found to be 59.65%. The flower extract showed 11 mm and 8 mm of the zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, whereas, with antibiotic streptomycin, the zones of inhibition were found to be 20 and 18 mm, respectively. Based on the research findings, Moringa oleifera flower powder and extract can be used as food fortification, antioxidant, and antibacterial agents.
Enhancement of Spirulina platensis bioactivity by probiotic fermentation and encapsulation by spray‐drying
Authors: Kuley Esmeray , Uslu Leyla , Durmus Mustafa , Sakarya Yetkin , Özyurt Gulsun
Published: September 2023

The enhancing impact of fermentation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and drying/coating on bioactivity properties of Spirulina platensis was investigated. The fermentation with Lp. plantarum took place anaerobically for 72 h at 37 C. Encapsulation of fresh and fermented samples was made by spray‐drying with a 170 °C air inlet temperature, a 20 mL/min feed flow rate and different ratios of coating material (1:0, 1:1 and 1:2 maltodextrin). Fresh Spirulina capsules exhibited different shapes, mostly rod form whilst fermented Spirulina exhibited a generally spherical shape. 1,1‐diethoxy‐ethane (34.02%) and tert‐butyldimethylsilyl 2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluoropropanoate (26.70%) were identified as the major compounds in fermented Spirulina. The total phenol content of Spirulina was in range from 14.22 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g for fermented wet spirulina to 77.27 mg GAE/g for fermented spray‐dried Spirulina coated with maltodextrin at a ratio of 1:1. The drying and fermentation processes significantly increased the total phenol content, total antioxidant activity and diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity of Spirulina (P < 0.05). Bacteriostatic concentration of fermented spray‐dried Spirulina was 25 mg/mL against Salmonella Paratyphi A, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, whereas bactericidal effect was at a concentration of 25 mg/mL vs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. faecalis. The combination of fermentation with Lp. plantarum and drying after coating with maltodextrin of Spirulina enhanced its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties by 0.7–20‐fold compared to fresh, wet Spirulina.
Formation and properties of mung bean resistant starch nanoparticles
Authors: Yan Xiaoxia , Bai Jinlin , Liu Zeyi , Li Shuyi , Zhang Tiehua
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the formation and properties of mung bean‐resistant starch nanoparticles. The mung bean amylose content increased from 56.86% to 68.29% with the ultrasonic time increasing. The particle size, X‐ray diffraction and in vitro digestion of mung bean‐resistant starch nanoparticles were studied. All the nanoparticles presented V‐type crystalline structure, which indicated the formation of starch‐curcumin complex. Results of particle size showed that size distribution curve of resistant starch nanoparticles with ultrasonic treatment of 2 min had only one peak and it was narrower than others. According to the in vitro digestion results, digestibility of resistant starch nanoparticles increased compared with that of native starch, the reason was because of the formation of starch‐curcumin complex. This study provides a method to prepare resistant starch nanoparticles with a higher resistant starch content and could improve the stability and bioavailability of curcumin.
Physical properties of cocoa butter: effect of sucrose esters on oil migration
Authors: Fontenele Domingues Maria Aliciane , Paulo Beatriz Delgado , Teodoro da Silva Thaís L. , Ribeiro Ana Paula Badan
Published: September 2023

It is known that emulsifiers can modify the crystallisation behaviour of fats, improving their stability. In this sense, changes in the crystallisation behaviour of cocoa butter (CB) may contribute to reducing oil migration through its crystalline structure. This study analysed the effect of adding sucrose stearate (S‐370) and sucrose behenate (B‐370) emulsifiers at different concentrations on oil migration in CB. The compatibility diagram curves indicated a miscible phase behaviour between CB and the emulsifiers S‐370 and B‐370 at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5%, confirming the compatibility between its components. There is a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) for the melting point of mixtures containing 0.3% and 0.5% of S‐370, yet we can consider that all samples reach their total melting point at 35 °C. However, the samples containing S‐370 showed a higher firmness profile than those containing B‐370, corroborating the results of compatibility and melting point. CB exhibited characteristic two‐step isothermal crystallisation at 17.5 °C, with distinct effects of the emulsifiers for each crystallisation step. S‐370 and B‐370 modify the solid dissolution process and oil migration through cocoa butter. The physical properties of CB were altered by adding S‐370 and B‐370. The oil migration process differed for each emulsifier, although diffusion, the identified migration mechanism, is the same for both.
Effects of highland barley protein and β‐glucan addition on the flour structure, bread quality and starch digestibility of whole wheat bread
Authors: Zhang Qi , Yang Yueyue , Jin Zhengyu , Jiao Aiquan
Published: September 2023

Whole wheat bread is rich in nutrition, but its starch digestibility is unsatisfactory. Thus, how to reduce its digestibility has attracted much attention. This study investigated the effects of highland barley protein and β‐glucan on the pasting properties, and thermal properties of whole wheat flour to reveal the mechanism of highland barley protein and β‐glucan regulating the in vitro digestibility. The digestibility results showed that β‐glucan and protein could slow down starch digestion to some degree. The cross‐section structure determination results indicated that β‐glucan and protein decreased the porosity. The differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis results showed that β‐glucan and protein increased the onset of pasting, decreased the peak temperature and enthalpy of pasting and decreased the thermal stability. The Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy results revealed a blue‐shift in the ‐OH position of the bread added with protein and β‐glucan (from 995.59 to 996.07 cm−1), indicating that the hydrogen bonding might form intramolecularly. In this study, the addition of highland barley protein and β‐glucan was proved to be helpful in decreasing the in vitro digestibility and showed modification in the texture quality of bread, which might be suitable for diabetic patients.
A novel infrared roasting to improve the flavour profile of virgin rapeseed oils
Authors: Wang Mengzhu , Fan Liuping , Li Jinwei
Published: September 2023

In this work, a novel roasting method for virgin rapeseed oil (VRO) production was proposed. The effect of infrared roasting (IR) on oxidation stability, Maillard reaction, glucosinolate degradation and volatiles of VRO was evaluated at 110–170 °C. The results showed that VROs from IR exhibited better oxidation stability (higher oxidative stability index and DPPH radical scavenging activity) of VROs than that from traditional roller roasting (TRR). This was attributed to the higher contents of tocopherols (748.78 mg kg−1) and canolol (680.69 mg kg−1) measured in IR‐VROs than tocopherols (682.15 mg kg−1) and canolol (564.28 mg kg−1) in TRR‐VROs. IR could provide a more effective thermal fracture of rapeseed, facilitating to higher releases of tocopherols and canolol. Moreover, during IR, free amino acid (from 25.60 to 15.03 mg kg−1), reducing sugars (from 7.65 to 2.04 mg kg−1) and glucosinolate (from 28.73 to 13.00 mg kg−1) were decreased more than TRR, especially at 150 °C, indicating more intense Maillard reaction and glucosinolate degradation. Hence, more nitriles/isothiocyanates (657.43 μg kg−1) and pyrazines (269.64 μg kg−1) were generated in IR‐VROs than TRR‐VROs (600.82 and 163.89 μg kg−1, respectively). From sensory analysis, the flavour profile of IR‐VRO was more than TRR‐VRO at 150 °C. IR holds the potential to produce VROs with better flavours.
Dysregulation of B lymphocyte development in the SKG mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kim Joo Eun (June) , Tung Lin Tze , Jiang Roselyn R. , Yousefi Mitra , Liang Yue , Malo Danielle , Vidal Silvia M. , Nijnik Anastasia
Published: September 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease that affects approximately 1% of the world's population and is characterised by joint inflammation, the destruction of articular cartilage and bone, and many potentially life‐threatening extraarticular manifestations. B lymphocytes play a central role in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis as the precursors of autoantibody secreting plasma cells, as highly potent antigen‐presenting cells, and as a source of various inflammatory cytokines, however, the effects of rheumatoid arthritis on B lymphocyte development remain poorly understood. Here, we analyse B lymphocyte development in murine models of rheumatoid arthritis, quantifying all the subsets of B cell precursors in the bone marrow and splenic B cells using flow cytometry. We demonstrate a severe reduction in pre‐B cells and immature B cells in the bone marrow of mice with active disease, despite no major effects on the mature naïve B cell numbers. The loss of B cell precursors in the bone marrow of the affected mice was associated with a highly significant reduction in the proportion of Ki67+ cells, indicating impaired cell proliferation, while the viability of the B cell precursors was not significantly affected. We also observed some mobilisation of the B cell precursor cells into the mouse spleen, demonstrated with flow cytometry and pre‐B colony forming units assays. In summary, the current work demonstrates a severe dysregulation in B lymphocyte development in murine rheumatoid arthritis, with possible implications for B cell repertoire formation, tolerance induction, and disease mechanisms.
Barriers and facilitators to healthcare for people without documentation status: A systematic integrative literature review
Authors: Clifford Namuun , Blanco Nancy , Bang So Hyeon , Heitkemper Elizabeth , Garcia Alexandra A.
Published: September 2023

Aims

To identify the barriers and facilitators to healthcare for people without documentation status.

Design

We conducted a systematic integrative literature review following the Whittemore and Knafl methodology.

Methods

Literature search was conducted to identify studies addressing barriers or facilitators to healthcare for people without documentation status in the United States between 2012 and 2022. Studies were critiqued for quality, with results analysed thematically using the social‐ecological model.

Data Sources

Searches were conducted in PubMed, PAIS, Web of Science, CINAHL and Psych Info in October 2022.

Results

The review incorporated 30 studies (19 qualitative and 11 quantitative). People without documentation status encountered numerous healthcare barriers such as intrapersonal (lack of financial resources and health insurance, fear), interpersonal (language and cultural discrepancies, discrimination), community (bureaucratic requirements, anti‐immigrant rhetoric) and policy‐related barriers. Conversely, linguistically and culturally competent care, empathetic and representative staff, health navigators, safety‐net clinics and supportive federal policies emerged as key facilitators.

Conclusion

These findings illuminate the complex healthcare disparities experienced by people without documentation status and underscore facilitators enhancing care accessibility. Future research is needed to explore interventions to increase access to care for this population.

Impact

This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the complex barriers and facilitators to healthcare for people without documentation status in the United States. The findings support the value of universal healthcare access, a priority of the World Health Organization, and can inform healthcare policies and practices worldwide.

Reporting Method

The review was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses framework.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution was needed.

Trial and Protocol Registration

The study protocol was registered with the PROSPERO database (registration number: CRD42022366289).
Exosomal circHIPK3 derived from umbilical cord‐derived mesenchymal stem cells enhances skin fibroblast autophagy by blocking miR‐20b‐5p/ULK1/Atg13 axis
Authors: Qiu Zhi‐Yang , Lin Shi‐Shuai , Pan Nan‐Fang , Lin Zhi‐Hu , Pan Yun‐Chuan , Liang Zun‐Hong
Published: September 2023

Background

Umbilical cord‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) could alleviate diabetes‐induced injury. Hence, this investigation aimed to explore the role and mechanism of UCMSCs‐derived exosomal circHIPK3 (exo‐circHIPK3) in diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

HFF‐1 cells were cultured in high glucose (HG) medium or normal medium, and treated with UCMSCs‐derived exo‐circHIPK3 or miR‐20b‐5p mimics or Unc‐51‐like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) overexpression vector. The surface markers of UCMSCs were analyzed using a flow cytometer. The differentiation potential of UCMSCs was evaluated using oil red O staining, alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. Cell proliferation was determined by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The miRNA expressions were analyzed by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Protein levels were quantified by western blot. An immunofluorescence staining was used for observing LC3 expression. The interaction between miR‐20b‐5p and circHIPK3, and between miR‐20b‐5b and ULK1 were identified by a RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and a luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Up‐regulation of circHIPK3 was found in UCMSCs‐derived exosomes. Exo‐circHIPK3 decreased the miR‐20b‐5p level while increasing the contents of ULK1 and autophagy‐related gene 13 (Atg13) in HG‐induced fibroblasts. In addition, exo‐circHIPK3 activated HG‐induced fibroblast autophagy and proliferation. Overexpressed miR‐20b‐5p promoted fibroblast injury by inhibiting cell autophagy via the ULK1/Atg13 axis in HG conditions of high glucose. Moreover, exo‐circHIPK3 enhanced autophagy and cell viability in HG‐induced fibroblasts through the miR‐20b‐5p/ULK1/Atg13 axis.

Conclusion

UCMSCs‐derived exosomal circHIPK3 promoted cell autophagy and proliferation and accelerated the fibroblast injury repair by the miR‐20b‐5p/ULK1/Atg13 axis.
How much capital should be taxed? A review of the quantitative and empirical literature
Authors: Spataro Luca , Crescioli Tommaso
Published: September 2023

This paper reviews the literature providing quantitative and empirical results on capital taxation. In doing this, we differentiate between individual and corporate taxes, respectively. From existing literature, it emerges that capital income taxes for individuals increase with the degree of heterogeneity within the population, market competition, and the economy's maturity, being negative (i.e., subsidy) in the presence of monopolistic competition or developing countries, no higher than 15% in Mirrleesian economies and as high as 45% when coupled with incomplete insurance markets and labor income taxes in competitive‐closed economies. Excessively high wealth tax rates for redistributive purposes, however, are prevented by the larger tax elasticity of rich (−1.15) with respect to poor (−0.09) individuals. Negative tax elasticities concerning employment (from −0.5 to −0.2), innovation (from −2.8 to −1.3), and investments (−4.7) suggest low corporate taxes, whose magnitude should be negatively related to the degree of the economy's openness, given also the possibility for firms to relocate abroad. Finally, although still inconclusive, the main conclusions concerning dividend taxes suggest that tax rates increase with the firm's size and, thus, be set at low levels for start‐ups.
Is School Absenteeism a Spectrum? Development and Validation of Japanese Futoko Spectrum Quotient (FSQ)1
Authors: Hou Yuejiang , Harada Yuki , Ota Masayoshi , Kato Hiromichi
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to develop and validate a scale called the Futoko Spectrum Quotient (FSQ), which measures school absenteeism (futoko), as a method to achieve the early identification of at‐risk students. We recruited 673 students and 119 futoko students from secondary schools and educational support centers. The results showed that the bifactor model had better fit, proposing a general (G) factor representing avoidance motivation and an orthogonal specific (S) factor representing psychological distress. We then examined the measurement invariance and continuity of the latent bifactor construct of the FSQ, correlations of the FSQ with external variables, and measurement reliability to validate the FSQ. Our findings highlight the need to focus on students’ mental state prior to the emergence of absence behaviors and the significance of the present scale in theory and practice.
Whole genome assessment of a declining game bird reveals cryptic genetic structure and insights for population management
Authors: Luna Leilton W. , Williams Lisa M. , Duren Kenneth , Tyl Reina , Toews David P. L. , Avery Julian D.
Published: September 2023

Population genomics applied to game species conservation can help delineate management units, ensure appropriate harvest levels and identify populations needing genetic rescue to safeguard their adaptive potential. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is rapidly declining in much of the eastern USA due to a combination of forest maturation and habitat fragmentation. More recently, mortality from West Nile Virus may have affected connectivity of local populations; however, genetic approaches have never explicitly investigated this issue. In this study, we sequenced 54 individual low‐coverage (~5X) grouse genomes to characterize population structure, assess migration rates across the landscape to detect potential barriers to gene flow and identify genomic regions with high differentiation. We identified two genomic clusters with no clear geographic correlation, with large blocks of genomic differentiation associated with chromosomes 4 and 20, likely due to chromosomal inversions. After excluding these putative inversions from the data set, we found weak but nonsignificant signals of population subdivision. Estimated gene flow revealed reduced rates of migration in areas with extensive habitat fragmentation and increased genetic connectivity in areas with less habitat fragmentation. Our findings provide a benchmark for wildlife managers to compare and scale the genetic diversity and structure of ruffed grouse populations in Pennsylvania and across the eastern USA, and we also reveal structural variation in the grouse genome that requires further study to understand its possible effects on individual fitness and population distribution.
PASTA‐kinase‐mediated signaling drives accumulation of the peptidoglycan synthesis protein MurAA to promote cephalosporin resistance in Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Mascari Carly A. , Little Jaime L. , Kristich Christopher J.
Published: September 2023

The bacterial PASTA kinase, IreK, is required for intrinsic cephalosporin resistance in the Gram‐positive opportunistic pathogen, Enterococcus faecalis. IreK activity is enhanced in response to cell wall stress, such as cephalosporin exposure. The downstream consequences of IreK activation are not well understood in E. faecalis, but recent work in other low‐GC Gram‐positive bacteria demonstrated PASTA kinase‐dependent regulation of MurAA, an enzyme that performs the first committed step in the peptidoglycan synthesis pathway. Here, we used genetic suppressor selections to identify MurAA as a downstream target of IreK signaling in E. faecalis. Using complementary genetic and biochemical approaches, we demonstrated that MurAA abundance is regulated by IreK signaling in response to physiologically relevant cell wall stress to modulate substrate flux through the peptidoglycan synthesis pathway. Specifically, the IreK substrate, IreB, promotes proteolysis of MurAA through a direct physical interaction in a manner responsive to phosphorylation by IreK. MurAB, a homolog of MurAA, also promotes MurAA proteolysis and interacts directly with IreB. Our results therefore establish a connection between the cell wall stress sensor IreK and one critical physiological output to modulate peptidoglycan synthesis and drive cephalosporin resistance.
Review of intervention products for use in the prevention and control of anemia
Authors: Lopez de Romaña Daniel , Mildon Alison , Golan Jenna , Jefferds Maria Elena D. , Rogers Lisa M. , Arabi Mandana
Published: September 2023

Anemia remains a major public health problem, especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries. The World Health Organization recommends several interventions to prevent and manage anemia in vulnerable population groups, including young children, menstruating adolescent girls and women, and pregnant and postpartum women. Daily iron supplementation reduces the risk of anemia in infants, children, and pregnant women, and intermittent iron supplementation reduces anemia risk in menstruating girls and women. Micronutrient powders reduce the risk of anemia in children. Fortifying wheat flour with iron reduces the risk of anemia in the overall population, whereas the effect of fortifying maize flour and rice is still uncertain. Regarding non‐nutrition‐related interventions, malaria treatment and deworming have been reported to decrease anemia prevalence. Promising interventions to prevent anemia include vitamin A supplementation, multiple micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women, small‐quantity lipid‐based supplements, and fortification of salt with iodine and iron. Future research could address the efficacy and safety of different iron supplementation formulations, identify the most bioavailable form of iron for fortification, examine adherence to supplementation regimens and fortification standards, and investigate the effectiveness of integrating micronutrient, helminth, and malaria control programs.
Results of Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction with and without Tibial Tubercle Transfer in Patellar Instability: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Xu Tianhao , Zhu Yanlin , Zhang Lei , Xie Hui‐Qi , Fu Weili
Published: September 2023

The optimal surgical intervention for lateral patellar instability remains a topic of controversy despite satisfactory clinical outcomes and low re‐dislocation rates reported in numerous studies following medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) with and without tibial tubercle transfer (TTT). The purpose of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to investigate the hypothesis that combining MPFLR with TTT provides reduced complication rates and improved clinical outcomes to isolated MPFLR in patients with lateral patellar instability. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta‐analysis of comparative trials involving MPFLR with and without TTT, sourcing data from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. The primary clinical outcomes analyzed included the Kujala score, the Lysholm score, complication rates, and the Caton–Deschamps index (CDI). Random or fixed effects were used for the meta‐analysis. Postoperatively, there were no significant differences observed in the Kujala and Lysholm scores between MPFLR and MPFLR + TTT (p = 0.053). At the final follow‐up, the CDI had decreased 0.015 (95% CI −0.044, 0.013; p = 0.289) points in the MPFLR group, with no statistical significance. In contrast, the MPFLR + TTT group demonstrated a significant decrease of 0.207 (95% CI −0.240, −0.174; p = 0.000) points in CDI. Notably, the complication rate was higher in the MPFLR + TTT group compared to the MPFLR‐only group (RR = 2.472; 95% CI 1.638, 3.731; p = 0.000). Both MPFLR and MPFLR + TTT procedures yield significant improvements in the Kujala and Lysholm scores. However, the MPFLR + TTT approach results in an apparent improvement in CDI and corrects patellar maltracking, particularly in cases involving high tibial tuberosity‐trochlear groove (TT‐TG) (>20 mm) or patella alta (CDI > 1.2), while MPFLR alone cannot. It is essential to consider the higher complication rate of MPFLR + TTT, which suggests that MPFLR alone may be sufficient for patients without high TT‐TG or patella alta.
Will intelligent machines become moral patients?
Authors: Moosavi Parisa
Published: September 2023

This paper addresses a question about the moral status of Artificial Intelligence (AI): will AIs ever become moral patients? I argue that, while it is in principle possible for an intelligent machine to be a moral patient, there is no good reason to believe this will in fact happen. I start from the plausible assumption that traditional artifacts do not meet a minimal necessary condition of moral patiency: having a good of one's own. I then argue that intelligent machines are no different from traditional artifacts in this respect. To make this argument, I examine the feature of AIs that enables them to improve their intelligence, i.e., machine learning. I argue that there is no reason to believe that future advances in machine learning will take AIs closer to having a good of their own. I thus argue that concerns about the moral status of future AIs are unwarranted. Nothing about the nature of intelligent machines makes them a better candidate for acquiring moral patiency than the traditional artifacts whose moral status does not concern us.