bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation and measurement uncertainty of analytical methods for various azo dye adulterants in Curcuma longa L
Authors: Yang Hyo‐Jin , Lim Suji , Lee Doo‐Hee , Yun Choong‐In , Kim Young‐Jun 
Published: July 2024

AbstractFood adulteration involving the illegal addition of dyes to foodstuffs has become an alarming issue in recent years. This study developed and validated a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–DAD (diode array detector) method for the simultaneous determination of nine azo dyes (Butter Yellow, Sudan Orange G, Para Red, Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III, Sudan IV, Sudan Red 7B, and Scarlet 808). Moreover, a qualitative analysis method using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was developed to more accurately identify peaks detected in HPLC–DAD. The calibration curve represented good linearity (r2 ≥ 0.9998) over the measured concentration range of 0.5–25 mg/kg. limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.01–0.04 and 0.04–0.12 mg/kg, respectively. Accuracy and precision were 96.0–102.6 and 0.16–2.01 (relative standard deviation%), respectively. Additionally, the measurement uncertainty and HorRat value were estimated. Several Curcuma longa L. distributed in Korea were collected and monitored for azo dye contaminants.Practical ApplicationThe proposed HPLC–DAD method represents a significant advancement in the field, offering a reliable means of quantifying azo dyes and identifying their presence even at trace levels in adulterated turmeric. This not only contributes to ensuring the safety and integrity of turmeric products but also establishes precedent for robust analytical techniques in addressing food safety challenges.
Determination of prebiotic activity and probiotic encapsulation ability of inulin type fructans obtained from Inula helenium roots
Authors: Meral Hilal Dikmen , Özcan Fahriye Şeyma , Özcan Nihat , Bozkurt Fatih , Sağdiç Osman 
Published: July 2024

AbstractInulin, a prebiotic utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries, promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon, thereby enhancing human health. Although inulin is commercially produced from chicory and artichoke, Inula helenium roots offer a high potential for inulin production. The aim of this study is to investigate the prebiotic activity of inulin (inulin‐P) from I. helenium roots on Lactobacillus rhamnosus, as well as its ability to produce synbiotic microcapsules and the effects on probiotic viability during freeze‐drying, in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) digestion, and storage. First, the effect of inulin‐P on L. rhamnosus viability and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) production was compared to other commonly utilized prebiotics. The findings revealed that inulin‐P remarkably promoted the growth and SCFA yield of L. rhamnosus for 48 h of fermentation and 28 days of storage. Then, L. rhamnosus was encapsulated with inulin‐P and commercial inulin to compare its survival throughout storage and the GI tract. Inulin‐P microcapsules outperformed in terms of viability during storage (7.98 log CFU/g after 30 days at 4°C). Furthermore, inulin‐P microcapsules were heat‐resistant and protected L. rhamnosus from GI conditions, resulting in a high survival rate (89.52%) following large intestine simulation, which is ideal for increasing customer benefits. Additionally, inulin‐P microcapsules exhibited similar physical characteristics to commercial inulin. Consequently, this study revealed that inulin‐P, which is easy to produce, low‐cost, and has industrial application potential, could be used as a good carrier for the synbiotic encapsulation of L. rhamnosus.Practical ApplicationInulin is a prebiotic that promotes the activity and growth of beneficial bacteria in the human gut. Although commercial inulin is currently produced from chicory root and artichoke, Inula helenium root is a potential raw material for inulin production. In this study, inulin was produced from I. helenium roots with a low‐cost and easy production method, and it was determined that this inulin was an effective carrier in the synbiotic encapsulation of L. rhamnosus. This inulin exhibits superior prebiotic activity and encapsulation efficiency compared to commercial inulins like Orafti® GR and HPX and can be easily integrated into industrial production.
Characterization of a new style tofu coagulated by fermentation of Lactobacillus plantarum SJ‐L‐1
Authors: Zhao Bingyu , Yuan Zuoyun , Ji Nairu , Zhao Hongling , Zhang Weiwei , Jia Liu , Zhichao Wu , Zhu Yunping 
Published: July 2024

AbstractA new style of tofu coagulated through the fermentation of Lactobacillus plantarum SJ‐L‐1 was produced. L. plantarum SJ‐L‐1 with a high growth rate and excellent acid production ability was isolated and identified from naturally fermented soy yellow whey. The gene annotation indicated the potential outstanding isoflavone conversion capacity of L. plantarum SJ‐L‐1. Furthermore, fermentation tofu was prepared using L. plantarum SJ‐L‐1 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus 1–16 as the starter microbiota. Compared to traditional MgCl2 tofu and fermented soy whey tofu, SJ‐L‐1 tofu exhibited a slight increase in hardness and better structure uniformity. SJ‐L‐1 tofu also possessed the highest levels of total isoflavone content (76.33 µg/g) and volatile compounds (561.54 µg/kg) among the four styles of tofu. This research indicated that this new type of tofu coagulated through a combination of heat and fermentation of L. plantarum SJ‐L‐1 represents a promising candidate for future functional foods.
Quantitative assessment of reef foraminifera community from metabarcoding data
Authors: Girard Elsa B. , Didaskalou Emilie A. , Pratama Andi M. A. , Rattner Carolina , Morard Raphaël , Renema Willem 
Published: July 2024

AbstractDescribing living community compositions is essential to monitor ecosystems in a rapidly changing world, but it is challenging to produce fast and accurate depiction of ecosystems due to methodological limitations. Morphological methods provide absolute abundances with limited throughput, whereas metabarcoding provides relative abundances of genes that may not correctly represent living communities from environmental DNA assessed with morphological methods. However, it has the potential to deliver fast descriptions of living communities provided that it is interpreted with validated species‐specific calibrations and reference databases. Here, we developed a quantitative approach to retrieve from metabarcoding data the assemblages of living large benthic foraminifera (LBF), photosymbiotic calcifying protists, from Indonesian coral reefs that are under increasing anthropogenic pressure. To depict the diversity, we calculated taxon‐specific correction factors to reduce biological biases by comparing surface area, biovolume and calcite volume, and the number of mitochondrial gene copies in seven common LBF species. To validate the approach, we compared calibrated datasets of morphological communities from mock samples with bulk reef sediment; both sample types were metabarcoded. The calibration of the data significantly improved the estimations of genus relative abundance, with a difference of ±5% on average, allowing for comparison of past morphological datasets with future molecular ones. Our results also highlight the application of our quantitative approach to support reef monitoring operations by capturing fine‐scale processes, such as seasonal and pollution‐driven dynamics, that require high‐throughput sampling treatment.
Japan: Political Developments and Data in 2023
Authors: HINO AIRO , OGAWA HIROKI , FAHEY ROBERT A. , LIU LING 
Published: July 2024

AbstractJapan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) continued to slide in public opinion polls in 2023, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's approval ratings never recovering from the scandal over the party's association with the controversial Unification Church that was exposed in the previous year. Kishida survived an assassination attempt in April, and the LDP's subsequent strong performance in by‐elections helped to temporarily stabilise his leadership. However, the party faced a fresh scandal in November, when a police investigation into the misreporting and mishandling of ‘slush fund’ money by the LDP's major factions led to the removal of four senior Cabinet ministers and an even sharper decline in support for the Kishida administration. Rising consumer prices, due in part to a weakening of the Yen, were also a major concern throughout 2023, with inflation for the full year reaching 3.1 per cent, its highest level since 1981.
Biologic treatment sequences in moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis
Authors: Ting Samantha , Lowe Patricia , Smith Annika , Fernández‐Peñas Pablo 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe advent of novel biologics has led to an increase in biologic‐switching as patients and clinicians pursue improved clinical outcomes. However, guidance on treatment sequencing in an Australian setting is sparse. This study examines the patterns of care across two tertiary centres in Australia and characterizes the factors contributing to biologic‐switching.MethodsA retrospective study of patients who attended the outpatient Dermatology biologic clinics across two tertiary hospitals was conducted. Data on treatment sequencing and patients' PASI at every visit from April 2006 to December 2020 were collected. Patterns of biologic‐switching were examined. The speed of treatment response for each biologic was determined by the time to achieve PASI‐90 and ‐100 for each treatment course.ResultsA total of 440 treatment courses were analysed. Ustekinumab and adalimumab were the most frequently prescribed first‐line biologics. The highest proportion of biologic‐switching was observed among patients on TNF‐α inhibitors (63.8%). After 2015, more patients were prescribed IL‐12/23 and IL‐17 inhibitors in favour of TNF‐α inhibitors. IL‐17 inhibitors demonstrated the most rapid treatment response and low PASI scores relative to other biologics. Patients who did not switch biologics had lower rates of psoriatic arthritis and lower BMI, compared to patients who switched biologics. The median PASI on discontinuation generally exceeded 3.0, while on continuation, it was less than 1.2, reflecting patients' and clinicians' thresholds for biologic‐switching.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates an increased uptake of more novel biologics as they become available, due to improved safety profiles and clinical outcomes.
The Efficacy of C‐Reactive Protein (CRP) to Albumin Ratio (CAR) and Fibrinogen to CRP Ratio (FCR) in Predicting the Latent Period of Preterm Labor
Authors: Seyhanli Zeynep , Bayraktar Burak , Cakir Betul Tokgoz , Bucak Mevlut , Karabay Gulsan , Aktemur Gizem , Yigit Ayse , Yucel Kadriye Yakut , Yılmaz Zehra Vural 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo investigate the role of inflammatory markers, including neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), c‐reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR), fibrinogen to albumin ratio (FAR), and fibrinogen to CRP ratio (FCR) in predicting the latency period (≤72 vs. >72 hours) before preterm birth.Materials and MethodsIn a retrospective study, we assessed 135 patients meeting the specified criteria with signs of preterm labor (<34 weeks). The patients were categorized into two groups: 71 patients giving birth within 72 h (latency ≤ 72 h) and 64 patients giving birth after 72 h (latency > 72 h). We examined the demographic and medical characteristics and perinatal outcomes of all participants. Categorical variables between groups were compared using the Chi‐square test. The Student's t‐test was utilized for normally distributed continuous variables, and the Mann–Whitney U test was applied for non‐normally distributed data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to identify the optimal cut‐off levels for inflammatory markers in predicting the latency period before birth.ResultsAmong the parameters examined, significant differences were observed between the groups only in terms of CAR and FCR. While CAR showed a significantly higher value in the group with latency period ≤72 h (0.537 ± 1.239 vs. 0.247 ± 0.325, p = 0.022), FCR showed a significantly lower value in the group with latency period ≤72 h (63.58 (2.99–1165) vs. 88.93 (9.35–1165), p = 0.013). The identified cut‐off value for CAR was 0.190, providing a sensitivity of 57.7% and a specificity of 56.3% (p = 0.022). The cut‐off value for FCR was 71.67, with a sensitivity of 42.3% and a specificity of 42.2% (p = 0.013).ConclusionsThe CAR and the FCR, serving as predictive markers for preterm labor, may offer a simple, cost‐effective, and easily accessible approach, particularly in resource‐limited settings.
The influence of socioeconomic disadvantage on short‐ and long‐term outcomes after oesophagectomy for cancer: an Australian multicentre study
Authors: Park Jin‐soo , Polikarpova Aleksandra , Leibman Steven , Laurence Jerome M. , Smith Garett , Falk Gregory L. , Sandroussi Charbel 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundSocioeconomic status (SES) affects outcomes following surgery for various cancers. There are currently no Australian studies that examine the role of socioeconomic disadvantage on outcomes following oesophagectomy for cancer. This study assessed whether SES was associated with short‐term perioperative morbidity, long‐term survival, and oncological outcomes following oesophagectomy across three tertiary oesophageal cancer centres in Australia.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed comprising all patients who underwent oesophagectomy for cancer across three Australian centres. Patients were stratified into SES groups using the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD). Outcomes measured included perioperative complication rates, overall survival, and disease‐free survival.ResultsThe study cohort was 462 patients, 205 in the lower SES and 257 in the higher SES groups. The lower SES group presented with more advanced oesophageal cancer stage, a higher rate of T3 (52.6% versus 42.7%, P = 0.038) and N2 disease (19.6% versus 10.5%, P = 0.006), and had a higher rate of readmission within 30 days (11.2% versus 5.4%, P = 0.023). There was no difference in overall survival or disease‐free survival between groups.ConclusionLower socioeconomic status was associated with more advanced stage and increased risk of early, unplanned readmission following oesophagectomy, but was not associated with a difference in overall or disease‐free survival.
Editorial: Leveraging existing mid‐end ultrasound machine for point‐of‐care intestinal ultrasound in low‐resource settings—Prospective, real‐world impact on clinical decision making
Authors: Swaminathan Akhilesh , Friedman Antony B. 
Published: July 2024

LINKED CONTENTThis article is linked to Pal et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18155 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18189
Molecular monitoring of MDS: Watch this space!
Authors: Scheid Christof 
Published: July 2024

The use of IPSS‐M provides a wealth of molecular information in newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients. Besides the prognostic implications, molecular markers will also help to choose therapeutic options and may also be informative to determine the depth of response. Duployez and Preudhomme provide a comprehensive overview of this area of research, which is particularly complex in MDS.Commentary on: Duployez et al. Monitoring molecular changes in the management of myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol 2024; 205:772‐779.
Toward a paradigm shift in prognostication and treatment of early‐stage Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Gallamini Andrea , Filippi Andrea , Camus Vincent , Vassilakopoulos Theodoros P. 
Published: July 2024

SummaryTwenty years after the conceptual revolution that occurred in the millennium turnaround upon the introduction of PET/CT in lymphoma staging, restaging, and prognostication, a number of new parameters for PET reading have been proposed: (1) the shift from a qualitative to a semi‐quantitative reading for PET reporting, (2) an international consensus on these novel interpretation keys, (3) a standardized and agreed procedure to measure the total metabolic tumour volume (TMTV), and (4) the proposition of new indexes to portray the tumour spread: (D‐Max and Total Lesion Surface –TLS). These proved to be very powerful prognosticators, able to revolutionize the traditional Ann Arbor four‐stage lymphoma staging. During the 17° Lugano meeting on lymphoma, one main question was asked to experts attending a closed workshop dedicated to new metrics for lymphoma diagnosis, staging, restaging, and prognostication: “Should the traditional 4‐stage anatomic staging system be simplified to a more clinically relevant 2‐stage system (e.g., limited vs. extensive disease)?” Early‐stage HL is an example of how these new metrics could fit with this proposal.
Mitigating infection risks: The promise and challenge of bispecific antibodies in haematological malignancies
Authors: Rafei Hind , Rezvani Katayoun 
Published: July 2024

Bispecific antibodies have shown significant clinical efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myeloma, expanding treatment options for these patients. While these advancements are promising, it is important to be aware of associated side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome, neutropenia and infections. Gonugunta et al. provide valuable insights into the infection risks linked to the use of bispecific antibodies in haematological malignancies, drawing on both clinical trial data and real‐world experiences.Commentary on: Gonugunta et al. Risk of infections with bispecific antibodies in B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myeloma—The current state. Br J Haematol 2024; 205:1197‐1201.
Identifying the facilitators and barriers to implementation of renal tumour biopsy in the diagnostic pathway for small renal masses
Authors: Ranieri Veronica , Warren Hannah , Florez Isabella , Neves Joana B. , Walkden Miles , Bernstein Darryl E. , Santiapillai Joseph , Williams Norman , Wildgoose William H. , Patki Prasad , Stewart Grant D. , Kinsella Netty , Pizzo Elena , Barod Ravi , Bex Axel , Mumtaz Faiz , El‐Sheikh Soha , Gurusamy Kurinchi , Tran Maxine G.B. 
Published: July 2024

ObjectivesTo understand the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of renal tumour biopsy (RTB) in the diagnostic pathway for renal tumours in England.Patients and MethodsParticipants consisted of patients who had a renal tumour diagnosed and/or treated at one of five tertiary centres in England, healthcare professionals involved in the direct care of patients diagnosed with renal tumours, and clinical service managers and commissioners. The study employed a mixed‐methods research methodology consisting of individual interviews and an on‐line survey that explored the types of facilitators and barriers individuals perceived and experienced and the frequency in which these were reported. A public dissemination event took place following the completion of data collection; to facilitate discussion of potential solutions to implementing RTB.ResultsThere were 50 participant interviews (23 patients, 22 clinicians, and five health service commissioners/operations managers). The patient on‐line survey received 52 responses, and the clinician survey received 22 responses. Patients most frequently reported influences in choosing whether to undergo RTB pertained to wanting to know the diagnosis of their kidney mass (40%), the advice or information provided by healthcare professionals (40%), and not wishing to delay treatment (23%). Clinicians most frequently reported barriers to recommending RTB related to their uncertainty of diagnostic accuracy (56%), availability of appointments or hospital beds (52%), concerns of risk of bleeding (44%), risk of seeding (41%), and delays in meeting national cancer pathway targets (41%). The dissemination event was attended by 18 participants (seven patients and 11 clinicians). Suggestions to improve implementation included reducing variation and promotion of standardisation of practice by a consensus statement, increasing the evidence base (clinicians) and improved communication by developing better patient aids such as videos and diagrams (patients and clinicians).ConclusionImplementation of RTB may be dependent on the quality of information provided, its format and perceived reliability of the information. Increased utilisation of RTB may be improved by development of a consensus statement on the role of biopsy, with patients expressing a preference for alternative information aids such as patient videos.
Multi‐plant firms and the heavy tail of firm size distribution
Authors: Chakrabarti Anindya S. , Tomar Shekhar 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe right tail of the firm size distribution has a heavy tail. The origin of this phenomenon, especially the specific characteristics of firms driving this pattern, remain a subject of extensive debate. Previous work has shown that plant size distribution has thinner tails than firm size distribution, indicating the role of multi‐plant firms. However, we do not know whether this phenomenon is simply a mechanical effect arising from aggregation across multiple plants or whether the plants of multi‐plant firms are different from those of single‐plant firms. Using novel data with plant‐to‐firm mapping, we document that plants of multi‐plant firms are more heavy‐tailed than single‐plant firms, indicating the dominance of the selection effect at the intensive margin. Extensive margin via aggregation of sales at the firm level plays a less crucial role than the selection effect. Importantly, single‐plant exporters have a thinner tail than multi‐plant non‐exporters, suggesting a more dominant role of multi‐plant identity than export identity in explaining heavy tails.
Spatial omics technologies for understanding molecular status associated with cancer progression
Authors: Nagasawa Satoi , Zenkoh Junko , Suzuki Yutaka , Suzuki Ayako 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCancer cells are generally exposed to numerous extrinsic stimulations in the tumor microenvironment. In this environment, cancer cells change their expression profiles to fight against circumstantial stresses, allowing their progression in the challenging tissue space. Technological advancements of spatial omics have had substantial influence on cancer genomics. This technical progress, especially that occurring in the spatial transcriptome, has been drastic and rapid. Here, we describe the latest spatial analytical technologies that have allowed omics feature characterization to retain their spatial and histopathological information in cancer tissues. Several spatial omics platforms have been launched, and the latest platforms finally attained single‐cell level or even higher subcellular level resolution. We discuss several key papers elucidating the initial utility of the spatial analysis. In fact, spatial transcriptome analyses reveal comprehensive omics characteristics not only in cancer cells but also their surrounding cells, such as tumor infiltrating immune cells and cancer‐associated fibroblasts. We also introduce several spatial omics platforms. We describe our own attempts to investigate molecular events associated with cancer progression. Furthermore, we discuss the next challenges in analyzing the multiomics status of cells, including their morphology and location. These novel technologies, in conjunction with spatial transcriptome analysis and, more importantly, with histopathology, will elucidate even novel key aspects of the intratumor heterogeneity of cancers. Such enhanced knowledge is expected to open a new path for overcoming therapeutic resistance and eventually to precisely stratify patients.