bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of root production to long‐term aridity under environmental perturbations in Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems
Authors: Vojdani Azad , Baur Lauren E. , Rudgers Jennifer A. , Collins Scott L. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Root production influences carbon and nutrient cycles and subsidizes soil biodiversity. However, the long‐term dynamics and drivers of belowground production are poorly understood for most ecosystems. In drylands, fire, eutrophication, and precipitation regimes could affect not only root production but also how roots track interannual variability in climate.

We manipulated the intra‐annual precipitation regime, soil nitrogen, and fire in four common Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem types (three grasslands and one shrubland) in New Mexico, USA, where the 100‐year record indicates both long‐term drying and increasing interannual variability in aridity. First, we evaluated how root production tracked aridity over 10–17 years using climate sensitivity functions, which quantify long‐term, nonlinear relationships between biological processes and climate. Next, we determined the degree to which perturbations by fire, nitrogen addition or intra‐annual rainfall altered the sensitivity of root production to both mean and interannual variability in aridity.

All ecosystems had nonlinear climate sensitivities that predicted declines in production with increases in the interannual variance of aridity. However, root production was the most sensitive to aridity in Chihuahuan Desert shrubland, with reduced production under drier and more variable aridity.

Among the perturbations, only fire altered the sensitivity of root production to aridity. Root production was more than twice as sensitive to declines with aridity following prescribed fire than in unburned conditions. Neither the intra‐annual seasonal rainfall regime nor chronic nitrogen fertilization altered the sensitivity of roots to aridity.

Synthesis. Our results yield new insight into how dryland plant roots respond to climate change. Our comparison of dryland ecosystems of the northern Chihuahuan Desert predicted that root production in shrublands would be more sensitive to future climates that are drier and more variable than root production in dry grasslands. Field manipulations revealed that fire could amplify the climate sensitivity of dry grassland root production, but in contrast, the climate sensitivity of root production was largely resistant to changes in the seasonal rainfall regime or increased soil fertilization.
Gut health benefits and associated systemic effects provided by functional components from the fermentation of natural matrices
Authors: Colucci Cante Rosa , Nigro Federica , Passannanti Francesca , Lentini Giulia , Gallo Marianna , Nigro Roberto , Budelli Andrea Luigi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRecently, the role of the gut microbiota in metabolic health, immunity, behavioral balance, longevity, and intestine comfort has been the object of several studies from scientific communities. They were encouraged by a growing interest from food industries and consumers toward novel fermented ingredients and formulations with powerful biological effects, such as pre, pro, and postbiotic products. Depending on the selected strains, the operating conditions, the addition of suitable reagents or enzymes, the equipment, and the reactor configurations, functional compounds with high bioactivity, such as short‐chain fatty acids, gamma‐aminobutyric acid, bioactive peptides, and serotonin, can be enhanced and/or produced through fermentation of several vegetable matrices. Otherwise, their formation can also be promoted directly in the gut after the dietary intake of fermented foods: In this case, fermentation will aim to increase the content of precursor substances, such as indigestible fibers, polyphenols, some amino acids, and resistant starch, which can be potentially metabolized by endogenous gut microorganisms and converted in healthy molecules. This review provides an overview of the main functional components currently investigated in literature and the associated gut health benefits. The current state of the art about fermentation technology as a promising functionalization tool to promote the direct or indirect formation of gut‐health‐enhancing components was deepened, highlighting the importance of optimizing microorganism selection, system setups, and process conditions according to the target compound of interest. The collected data suggested the possibility of gaining novel functional food ingredients or products rich in functional molecules through fermentation without performing additional extraction and purification stages, which are needed when conventional culture broths are used.
Mycoproteins and their health‐promoting properties: Fusarium species and beyond
Authors: Lee Daseul , Pan Jeong Hoon , Kim Dahye , Heo Wan , Shin Eui Cheol , Kim Young Jun , Shim Youn Young , Reaney Martin J. T. , Ko Seong‐Gyu , Hong Seung‐Beom , Cho Hyung Taek , Kim Tae Gyun , Lee Kangwook , Kim Jae Kyeom 
Published: May 2024

AbstractFilamentous fungal mycoproteins have gained increasing attention as sustainable alternatives to animal and plant‐based proteins. This comprehensive review summarizes the nutritional characteristics, toxicological aspects, and health‐promoting effects of mycoproteins, focusing on those derived from filamentous fungi, notably Fusarium venenatum. Mycoproteins are characterized by their high protein content, and they have a superior essential amino acid profile compared to soybeans indicating excellent protein quality and benefits for human nutrition. Additionally, mycoproteins offer enhanced digestibility, further highlighting their suitability as a protein source. Furthermore, mycoproteins are rich in dietary fibers, which have been associated with health benefits, including protection against metabolic diseases. Moreover, their fatty acids profile, with significant proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids and absence of cholesterol, distinguishes them from animal‐derived proteins. In conclusion, the future of mycoproteins as a health‐promoting protein alternative and the development of functional foods relies on several key aspects. These include improving the acceptance of mycoproteins, conducting further research into their mechanisms of action, addressing consumer preferences and perceptions, and ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. To fully unlock the potential of mycoproteins and meet the evolving needs of a health‐conscious society, continuous interdisciplinary research, collaboration among stakeholders, and proactive engagement with consumers will be vital.
Upconversion nanoparticles‐modified aptasensors for highly sensitive mycotoxin detection for food quality and safety
Authors: Bahari Hamid‐Reza , Mousavi Khaneghah Amin , Eş Ismail 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMycotoxins, highly toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi, pose significant health risks as they contaminate food and feed products globally. Current mycotoxin detection methods have limitations in real‐time detection capabilities. Aptasensors, incorporating aptamers as specific recognition elements, are crucial for mycotoxin detection due to their remarkable sensitivity and selectivity in identifying target mycotoxins. The sensitivity of aptasensors can be improved by using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). UCNPs consist of lanthanide ions in ceramic host, and their ladder‐like energy levels at f‐orbitals have unique photophysical properties, including converting low‐energy photons to high‐energy emissions by a series of complex processes and offering sharp, low‐noise, and sensitive near‐infrared to visible detection strategy to enhance the efficacy of aptasensors for novel mycotoxin detection. This article aims to review recent reports on the scope of the potential of UCNPs in mycotoxin detection, focusing on their integration with aptasensors to give readers clear insight. We briefly describe the upconversion photoluminescence (UCPL) mechanism and relevant energy transfer processes influencing UCNP design and optimization. Furthermore, recent studies and advancements in UCNP‐based aptasensors will be reviewed. We then discuss the potential impact of UCNP‐modified aptasensors on food safety and present an outlook on future directions and challenges in this field. This review article comprehensively explains the current state‐of‐the‐art UCNP‐based aptasensors for mycotoxin detection. It provides insights into potential applications by addressing technical and practical challenges for practical implementation.
Quality characteristics and cooking‐induced changes on phenolic compounds of dried green tea noodles
Authors: Yu Kun , He Wei , Huang Xiaoxiu , Wu Di , Du Chuanlai 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIncorporating green tea powder (GTP) into wheat flour–based noodles can significantly improve nutritional value. So, this study investigated the effects of GTP (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) on the quality properties of dried green tea noodles (DGTN) and cooking‐induced changes to phenolic compounds. Mixolab analysis of wheat flour with GTP showed more water absorption of dough, and the developed dough had a firmer structure. GTP markedly increased the toughness of the noodle sheet. DGTN fortified with GTP showed more stable textural properties during cooking and storage, representing higher hardness and tensile strength. The viscosity and thermal properties of DGTN showed that GTP affected the gelatinization and retrogradation behavior of starch, which were closely related to the textural properties. Overall, DGTN prepared with 1.5% GTP showed better quality properties. However, ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐time (UPLC/Q‐TOF‐mass spectrometry [MS]/MS) analysis showed that cooking by boiling significantly decreased phenolic content in 1.5% DGTN; further analysis revealed that the thermal degradation is a key factor in the loss of polyphenols. Therefore, further studies are necessary to focus on the mechanism of cooking‐induced polyphenol loss, which is of great significance for improving the nutritional value of cooked DGTN.
Biotransformation of Cynomorium flavan‐3‐ols in dairy sheep and their effects on inflammation and liver growth retardation
Authors: Duan Shen , Byambaakhuu Narantsetseg , Han Na , Zhang Wenguang , Guo Wenrui , Ma Chao‐Mei 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe stems of Cynomorium songaricum are used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic and also used locally as a food material and livestock feed. It is known that some of the falvan‐3‐ol monomers and dimers that entered the milk of dairy sheep fed with C. songaricum stems are biotransformation products of the original flavan‐3‐ol polymers in C. songaricum stems. This study was performed to investigate the biotransformation process of the flavan‐3‐ols in dairy sheep and to evaluate the bioactivities. The results showed that procyanidin A2 and epicatechin could be released from the polymeric flavan‐3‐ols of C. songaricum through rumen microbial metabolism. On traumatic and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammation models of Tg (mpx: EGFP) zebrafish larvae and LPS‐induced liver injury models of Tg (fabp10a: DsRed) zebrafish larvae, the milk from sheep fed with C. songaricum stems showed stronger anti‐inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities compared to blank milk. The absorbed chemical constituents of C. songaricum stems and the metabolites also exhibited anti‐inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities, with the dimeric flavan‐3‐ols being more effective than the monomers. The milk, the absorbed chemical constituents of C. songaricum stems, and the metabolites alleviated the increased level of reactive oxygen species induced by LPS in zebrafish larvae.Practical ApplicationThis study found that C. songaricum stems as livestock feed could produce milk that has a beneficial impact on consumer and livestock health in terms of anti‐inflammation and hepatoprotection.
Against Reason: Juan Pablo Forner and the Enlightenment of Sentiment and Sensibility
Authors: Costa Elsa 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis article explores Spain's positioning in the shifting currents of the later Enlightenment through the polemic works of lawyer and satirist Juan Pablo Forner. Forner's attempts to prove the existence of an autochthonous tradition of Spanish pragmatism and empiricism form an index of the penetration of intra‐Enlightenment debates into Spanish thought in the late eighteenth century. Forner, profoundly aware of tensions between Cartesian rationalism and Lockean sentimental empiricism across Europe, intervenes on the side of empiricism, insisting that Cartesianism is nothing but a guise of Scholastic hyperrationalism. The article disputes scholarly perceptions of Forner as a Christian reactionary.
Markov models for clinical decision‐making in radiation oncology: A systematic review
Authors: McCullum Lucas B , Karagoz Aysenur , Dede Cem , Garcia Raul , Nosrat Fatemeh , Hemmati Mehdi , Hosseinian Seyedmohammadhossein , Schaefer Andrew J , Fuller Clifton D ,   the Rice/MD Anderson Center for Operations Research in Cancer (CORC),   MD Anderson Head and Neck Cancer Symptom Working Group
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe intrinsic stochasticity of patients' response to treatment is a major consideration for clinical decision‐making in radiation therapy. Markov models are powerful tools to capture this stochasticity and render effective treatment decisions. This paper provides an overview of the Markov models for clinical decision analysis in radiation oncology. A comprehensive literature search was conducted within MEDLINE using PubMed, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Only studies published from 2000 to 2023 were considered. Selected publications were summarized in two categories: (i) studies that compare two (or more) fixed treatment policies using Monte Carlo simulation and (ii) studies that seek an optimal treatment policy through Markov Decision Processes (MDPs). Relevant to the scope of this study, 61 publications were selected for detailed review. The majority of these publications (n = 56) focused on comparative analysis of two or more fixed treatment policies using Monte Carlo simulation. Classifications based on cancer site, utility measures and the type of sensitivity analysis are presented. Five publications considered MDPs with the aim of computing an optimal treatment policy; a detailed statement of the analysis and results is provided for each work. As an extension of Markov model‐based simulation analysis, MDP offers a flexible framework to identify an optimal treatment policy among a possibly large set of treatment policies. However, the applications of MDPs to oncological decision‐making have been understudied, and the full capacity of this framework to render complex optimal treatment decisions warrants further consideration.
Content validation of the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis “impaired swallowing” using the Delphi technique: A study with dysphagia nursing experts in Japan
Authors: Nishizawa Kazuyoshi , Honda Ikumi , Doi Tomoko 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPurposeNurses’ clinical reasoning skills regarding impaired swallowing can help prevent patient complications and maintain quality of life. Clinical reasoning skills need content‐validated defining characteristics (DCs). We aimed to validate the content of these DCs for nursing diagnosis “impaired swallowing.”MethodsContent validation of the DCs was performed by 275 dysphagia nursing experts in Japan, using 3 rounds of the Delphi technique and Fehring's Diagnostic Content Validation (DCV) model. Three rounds of questionnaires on 84 DCs were completed via printed mail.FindingsThe valid response rates for each round were as follows: round 1, 90.2%; round 2, 77.8%; and round 3, 71.3%. Of the 84 DCs, 77 that met the consensus criteria were categorized as major (n = 18), minor (n = 45), and excluded (n = 14). There were four minor DCs other than the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases. DCs listed from outside NANDA‐I included 12 major, 16 minor, and 3 excluded characteristics. Of the NANDA‐I DCs, 5 were no consensus and 11 were excluded. The total DCV score for the 63 major and minor DCs was 0.8.ConclusionsOur results recommend the addition of 28 DCs and the exclusion of 11 for the NANDA‐I nursing diagnosis “impaired swallowing” (00103). Major DCs were prominent indicators of impaired swallowing and signs of aspiration or pharyngeal residuals. Minor DCs included not only the three phases but also other signs necessary for a comprehensive understanding of impaired swallowing.Implications for nursing practiceThis validation study strengthens the clinical usefulness of the DCs for impaired swallowing, which can improve nurses’ clinical reasoning skills. Major and minor DCs can increase the awareness of impaired swallowing and enable accurate intervention, thereby preventing patient complications and maintaining quality of life.
Rural and remote pharmacists’ perspectives of grey nomads with diabetes travelling in Australia
Authors: De Bellis Anita , McCloud Christine , Giles Jane , Apollloni Marc , Abigail Wendy , Hill Pauline 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of the research was to explore rural and remote pharmacists’ experiences of encountering grey nomads with diabetes.DesignA qualitative Interpretive Description design was used to explore and capture the experiences of rural and remote pharmacists interacting with grey nomads who had diabetes. Data from the interviews were analysed thematically.SettingThe Pharmacy Guild of Australia was approached and through their membership rural and remote pharmacists were invited to participate in the research.ParticipantsNine rural and remote pharmacists who had encounters and provided services to grey nomads with diabetes responded to be interviewed.ResultsThe analysed findings established four major themes including: the influence of rural and remote locations on services; common problems encountered by the pharmacists; preparation for travel by grey nomads with diabetes; and pharmacists’ preparedness to support grey nomads with diabetes.ConclusionThe findings of this study identified that pharmacists needed remuneration for services provided to grey nomads with diabetes. Also, further development of the My Health record and telehealth to include pharmacists would be advantageous for grey nomads who have diabetes. Pharmacists stated there was a need for further education and a continuing professional development module specifically designed for pharmacists on diabetes self‐management that moved beyond medications. A pre‐travel checklist for grey nomads with diabetes travelling in rural and remote Australia would benefit all stakeholders through better preparation of travellers with diabetes to self‐manage, thereby reducing the demand for health services including pharmacies.
Examining the intersection of carceral space and well‐being: Correctional officers' perspectives on old and new prison design
Authors: Mario Brittany , Ricciardelli Rosemary , Johnston Matthew S. , Sibley Marcus A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn the current study, we explored the prison design and infrastructural changes that Canadian correctional officers consider to be essential in the construction of a new provincial correctional institution intended to replace Her Majesty's Penitentiary (HMP) in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Analyzing 28 semi‐structured interviews conducted with correctional officers employed at HMP, we found the poor working conditions within HMP are, at least in part, related to the physical design of the prison, including inadequate lighting, poor air quality and temperature, high sound levels, and other spatial limitations. Building on the prison design literature, findings suggest that while prison design requires attention to physical security at the forefront, there are ways to improve the space, recognizing how an uncomfortable workplace and living conditions also pose a potential threat to the well‐being and safety of correctional officers and people who are incarcerated.
Interspecies conflict, precarious reasoning, and the gull problem in the Gulf of Maine
Authors: Taylor Liam U. , Hodge Wriley , Shlepr Katherine R. , Anderson John 
Published: May 2024

AbstractContemporary conservation science requires mediating conflicts among nonhuman species, but the grounds for favoring one species over another can be unclear. We examined the premises through which wildlife managers picked sides in an interspecies conflict: seabird conservation in the Gulf of Maine (GOM). Managers in the GOM follow a simple narrative dubbed the gull problem. This narrative assumes Larus gulls are overpopulated and unnatural in the region. In turn, these assumptions make gulls an easy target for culling and lethal control when the birds come into conflict with other seabirds, particularly Sterna terns. Surveying historical, natural historical, and ecological evidence, we found no scientific support for the claim that Larus gulls are overpopulated in the GOM. Claims of overpopulation originated from a historical context in which rising gull populations became a nuisance to humans. Further, we found only limited evidence that anthropogenic subsidies make gulls unnatural in the region, especially when compared with anthropogenic subsidies provided for other seabirds. The risks and consequences of leveraging precarious assumptions include cascading plans to cull additional gull populations, obfuscation of more fundamental environmental threats to seabirds, and the looming paradox of gull conservation—even if one is still inclined to protect terns in the GOM. Our close look at the regional history of a conservation practice thus revealed the importance of not only conservation decisions, but also conservation decision‐making.
Cross‐sectional association of continuous glucose monitoring‐derived metrics with cerebral small vessel disease in older adults with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Sugimoto Taiki , Saji Naoki , Omura Takuya , Tokuda Haruhiko , Miura Hisayuki , Kawashima Shuji , Ando Takafumi , Nakamura Akinori , Uchida Kazuaki , Matsumoto Nanae , Fujita Kosuke , Kuroda Yujiro , Crane Paul K. , Sakurai Takashi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAimTo examine cross‐sectional associations between continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)‐derived metrics and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) in older adults with type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsIn total, 80 patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥70 years were analysed. Participants underwent CGM for 14 days. From the CGM data, we derived mean sensor glucose, percentage glucose coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glucose excursion, time in range (TIR, 70‐180 mg/dl), time above range (TAR) and time below range metrics, glycaemia risk index and high/low blood glucose index. The presence of cerebral SVD, including lacunes, microbleeds, enlarged perivascular spaces and white matter hyperintensities, was assessed, and the total number of these findings comprised the total cerebral SVD score (0‐4). Ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association of CGM‐derived metrics with the total SVD score.ResultsThe median SVD score was 1 (interquartile range 0‐2). Higher hyperglycaemic metrics, including mean sensor glucose, TAR >180 mg/dl, TAR >250 mg/dl, and high blood glucose index and glycaemia risk index, were associated with a higher total SVD score. In contrast, a higher TIR (per 10% increase) was associated with a lower total SVD score (odds ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.56‐0.95). Glycated haemoglobin, percentage glucose coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glucose excursions, time below range and low blood glucose index were not associated with total cerebral SVD scores.ConclusionsThe hyperglycaemia metrics and TIR, derived from CGM, were associated with cerebral SVD in older adults with type 2 diabetes.