bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Probiotic icecream as a functional food - a review
Authors: Sarkar S. 
Published: April 2024

PurposeGlobally, consumer’s inclination towards functional foods had noticed due to their greater health consciousness coupled with enhanced health-care cost. The fact that probiotics could promote a healthier gut microbiome led projection of probiotic foods as functional foods and had emerged as an important dietary strategy for improved human health. It had established that ice cream was a better carrier for probiotics than fermented milked due to greater stability of probiotics in ice cream matrix. Global demand for ice cream boomed and probiotic ice cream could have been one of the most demanded functional foods. The purpose of this paper was to review the technological aspects and factors affecting probiotic viability and to standardize methodology to produce functional probiotic ice cream.Design/methodology/approachAttempt was made to search the literature (review and researched papers) to identify diverse factors affecting the probiotic viability and major technological challenge faced during formulation of probiotic ice cream. Keywords used for data searched included dairy-based functional foods, ice cream variants, probiotic ice cream, factors affecting probiotic viability and health benefits of probiotic ice cream.FindingsRetention of probiotic viability at a level of >106cfu/ml is a prerequisite for functional probiotic ice creams. Functional probiotic ice cream could have been produced with the modification of basic mix and modulating technological parameters during processing and freezing. Functionality can be further enhanced with the inclusion of certain nutraceutical components such as prebiotics, antioxidant, phenolic compounds and dietary fibres. Based upon reviewed literature, suggested method for the manufacture of functional probiotic ice cream involved freezing of a probiotic ice cream mix obtained by blending 10% probiotic fermented milk with 90% non-fermented plain ice cream mix for higher probiotic viability. Probiotic ice cream with functional features, comparable with traditional ice cream in terms of technological and sensory properties could be produced and can crop up as a novel functional food.Originality/valueProbiotic ice cream with functional features may attract food manufacturers to cater health-conscious consumers.
Corporate social responsibility activities, consumers’ trust and gender: an analysis of Islamic banks in Somalia
Authors: Yusuf Mohamud Said , Dirie Khadar Ahmed , Alam Md. Mahmudul , Salisu Isyaku 
Published: April 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the amount of trust customers have in Somali Islamic banks. Furthermore, the role of gender in CSR activities and Islamic bank clientele is evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach
Throughout February and March 2022, 410 clients of Islamic banks in Somalia were surveyed using a questionnaire. The partial least squares approach and the structural equation model are applied to examine the data.

Findings
Findings indicate that all variables of CSR activities, such as social product, social legal, social needs, social environment and social employees’ responsibility, are influential and significant predictors of trust in Islamic banks in Somalia. Gender inequalities moderate the relationship between social product, social needs, social environment, social employee and trust. Conversely, only social legal responsibility was unaffected by gender differences in Somalia regarding people’s trust in Islamic banks.

Practical implications
A sample from a developing country such as Somalia is useful for shedding light on the outcomes of consumers’ perceptions of and trust in businesses’ CSR in the developing world. Furthermore, this study contributes to knowledge regarding CSR and how it can help the Islamic banking industry. Its findings will be useful to policymakers and regulatory bodies in the banking industry in their efforts to improve CSR.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first empirical investigation of its kind about the understudied relationship among customer trust, CSR efforts and gender in Somalia context. Furthermore, it investigates how gender specifically moderates CSR in the Islamic banking sector in a developing country.
Customers’ intention to use virtual reality in tourism: a comprehensive analysis of influencing factors
Authors: Sinha Neena , Dhingra Sanjay , Sehrawat Ritu , Jain Varnika , Himanshu Himanshu 
Published: April 2024

Purpose
The emergence of virtual reality (VR) has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including tourism, as it delivers a simulated environment that closely emulates real-life experiences. Therefore, this study aims to explore how the factors, i.e. enjoyment, emotional involvement, flow state, perceived privacy risk, physical risk and cost, influence the customers’ intention to use VR for tourism.

Design/methodology/approach
This study integrates the technology acceptance model, hedonic consumption theory with other factors, including cognitive response, authenticity, perceived privacy risk, perceived physical risk, perceived cost and perceived presence. Partial least squares structural equation modelling approach was used to test the proposed research model.

Findings
The finding based on the sample of 252 respondents revealed that authenticity is the most influential factor impacting behavior intention followed by perceived cost, attitude, cognitive response and enjoyment. Also, the study supported the moderating impact of personal innovativeness between attitude and behavioral intention to use VR for tourism.

Practical implications
The findings of the study offers practical implications for service providers, site managers, destination marketers, tourist organizations and policymaker to develop more effective strategies for offering VR services for tourism.

Originality/value
This study enriches the current understanding of VR adoption in context of tourism with empirical evidences.
Metformin ameliorates endometrial thickness in a rat model of thin endometrium
Authors: Imran M. , Khandvilkar Aditya , Metkari Siddhanath , Sachdeva Geetanjali , Chaudhari Uddhav 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMetformin, a well‐established anti‐diabetic drug, is also used in managing various other metabolic disorders including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). There are evidences to show that metformin improves endometrial functions in PCOS women. However, fewer studies have explored the direct effects of metformin on endometrium. Previous in vitro studies have shown that therapeutic serum concentrations of metformin enhance endometrial epithelial cell proliferation. The present study was undertaken to investigate in vivo effects of metformin on endometrial proliferation in a rat model of thin endometrium. Toward this, a rat model of thin endometrium was developed. Metformin (0.1% or 1% w/v) was administrated orally for 15 days in rats with thin endometrium. Oral metformin administration for three consecutive estrous cycles (15 days) in the thin endometrium rat model led to an increase in endometrial thickness compared to sham endometrium. Histological analysis showed a significant increase in the number of endometrial glands (P < 0.05), stromal cells (P < 0.01) and blood vessels (P < 0.01) in metformin‐treated (n = 10 in each group) uterine horns compared to sham (saline‐treated) uterine horns in rats. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and vascular epithelial growth factor was found to be upregulated on treatment with 1% metformin‐treated group (n = 7). However, pregnancy outcomes in the rats treated with metformin remained unaltered despite the restoration of endometrial thickness. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that metformin ameliorates endometrial thickness in a rat model of thin endometrium by increasing endometrial proliferation and angiogenesis, without restoration of embryo implantation.
Use of biologics for psoriasis in solid organ transplant recipients
Authors: Costa Blasco Marta , Doyle Claire , Diong Sophie , Ni Raghallaigh Siona 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBiologics have significantly advanced the treatment of inflammatory disorders, including psoriasis. However, their use in immunosuppressed patients, such as those with solid‐organ transplants, is less understood. These patients often face dermatological issues, but inflammatory skin diseases are rare due to their immunosuppressive treatments. Our study aims to assess biologics' effectiveness in such immunocompromised patients. We report a case from our institution of a 29‐year‐old man with a history of psoriasis, who underwent a kidney transplant and later developed erythroderma. He did not respond to traditional treatments and was successfully treated with adalimumab, leading to the discontinuation of MMF. We also reviewed literature in solid organ transplant patients with psoriasis. Our findings, based on 10 articles, indicate a cautious approach to using biologics in this group, with further research needed for efficacy and safety.
Physical and occupational therapists' learning needs and preferences for education on functional electrical stimulation: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Musselman Kristin E. , Mayhew Madi , Somal Harneet , Benn Natasha L. , Salbach Nancy M. , Switzer‐McIntyre Sharon 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundFunctional electrical stimulation (FES) is an evidence‐based intervention that is rarely used by Canadian physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs). A common barrier to FES implementation is a lack of knowledge and training. FES learning resources that meet therapists' learning needs and preferences may address this barrier.ObjectiveTo explore OTs' and PTs' perspectives on the utility of FES e‐learning resources, including whether the resources met their learning needs and preferences.MethodsThrough this qualitative descriptive study, feedback on FES e‐learning resources was solicited from 5 PTs and 18 OTs who work clinically, but do not use FES. Participants reviewed ≥3 prerecorded lectures on FES topics and then completed a semi‐structured interview. Participants were asked about the lectures' content, delivery, ease of use and comprehensibility, and were asked to suggest modifications to facilitate self‐directed learning about FES. Interviews were analyzed using conventional content analysis.ResultsThree themes were identified. (1) Feedback on FES e‐learning: the content and delivery of the prerecorded lectures facilitated participants' learning, although opportunities to improve content and delivery were identified. (2) Factors influencing FES learning needs and preferences: Participants identified internal (i.e., baseline knowledge, learning style) and external (i.e., learning with colleagues, practice setting) factors that affected learning. Themes 1 and 2 impacted (3) the effects of FES e‐learning: Participants described the outcomes of their FES e‐learning, including increases in FES knowledge, confidence, and use in clinical practice.ConclusionTherapists' perceived the FES e‐learning resources to be useful and to address their learning needs and preferences.
Global mismatches between threat mapping research effort and the potential of threat abatement actions to reduce extinction risk
Authors: Ridley Francesca A. , Rushton Stephen P. , Hickinbotham Emily J. , Suggitt Andrew J. , McGowan Philip J. K. , Mair Louise 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThreat mapping is a necessary tool for identifying and abating direct threats to species in the ongoing extinction crisis. There are known gaps in the threat mapping literature for particular threats and geographic locations, and it remains unclear if the distribution of research effort is appropriately targeted relative to conservation need. We aimed to determine the drivers of threat mapping research effort and to quantify gaps that, if filled, could inform actions with the highest potential to reduce species’ extinction risk. We used a negative binomial generalized linear model to analyze research effort as a function of threat abatement potential (quantified as the potential reduction in species extinction risk from abating threats), species richness, land area, and human pressure. The model showed that threat mapping research effort increased by 1.1 to 1.2 times per standardized unit change in threat abatement potential. However, species richness and land area were stronger predictors of research effort overall. The greatest areas of mismatch between research effort and threat abatement potential, receiving disproportionately low research effort, were related to the threats to species of agriculture, aquaculture, and biological resource use across the tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, and Madagascar. Conversely, the threat of linear infrastructure (e.g., roads and rails) across regions, the threat of biological resource use (e.g., hunting or collection) in sub‐Saharan Africa, and overall threats in North America and Europe all received disproportionately high research effort. We discuss the range of methodological and sociopolitical factors that may be behind the overall trends and specific areas of mismatch we found. We urge a stronger emphasis on targeting research effort toward those threats and geographic locations where threat abatement activities could make the greatest contribution to reducing global species extinction risk.
Anthropogenic pressure limits the recovery of a postwar leopard population in central Mozambique
Authors: Briers‐Louw Willem D. , Kendon Tamar , Rogan Matthew S. , Leslie Alison J. , Almeida João , Gaynor David , Naude Vincent N. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe population size and conservation status of wildlife in post‐conflict areas is often uncertain. In Mozambique, decades of armed conflict resulted in large‐scale wildlife population depletion with limited conservation and research opportunities. The African leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large carnivore with great ecological and economic significance, yet their population status is largely unknown within Mozambique. Using camera trapping in conjunction with robust spatially explicit capture‐recapture modeling, we estimated leopard density in 2021 for Coutada 11, a wildlife management area in the postwar Zambezi Delta landscape of central Mozambique. Leopard density was relatively low (1.57 ± 0.37 SE [latent‐mixture‐model] and 1.84 ± 0.41 [sex‐mixture‐model] leopards/100 km2), occurring in the bottom fourth of 161 range‐wide leopard densities, and similar to those from semiarid and human‐dominated landscapes. Prey‐based carrying capacity estimates suggested that leopard density should be at least twice as large. Despite a recent and substantial reduction in poaching activity, evidence of snared leopards indicates that sustained bushmeat poaching, combined with sustainable, but additional legal offtake is suppressing leopard population recovery. This study provides important baseline insight into leopard population density in Mozambique and joins mounting evidence indicating that anthropogenic pressures limit large carnivore populations which is of major national and global concern. We suggest long‐term monitoring of this leopard population to determine trends over time and implement effective conservation interventions in response to population changes. This population clearly has the capacity to recover if hunting quotas are reduced to account for illegal offtake and, more importantly, if anti‐poaching efforts are redoubled to reduce unsustainable anthropogenic mortality of leopards.
1076. Vernonia missurica Raf.: Compositae
Authors: Hind Nicholas , Langhorne Joanna 
Published: April 2024

SummaryVernonia missurica Raf. (Compositae: Vernonieae: Vernoniinae) is described and illustrated, a full synonymy provided, the location of known type material provided, and its taxonomic position discussed; a selected iconography is indicated. The cultivation, propagation, pests and diseases and availability of the species are commented on. The complexity of the tribe Vernonieae in a global context is discussed and compared with that of the Eupatorieae. Vernonia Schreb. sensu stricto is considered by some to be restricted to North America and Mexico, with two disjunct species in South America. The infrageneric classification of Vernonia s.s. is commented on, although it is clearly appropriate to regard any formal classification as work in progress as historical attempts are a nomenclatural issue still to be resolved, if needed. The etymology of the generic names Vernonia and Vernoniopsis is introduced and then discussed at length. Vernoniopsis Dusén (Vernonieae), described following anatomical work on xylopodia, is considered to be congeneric with Pycnocephalum (Less.) DC. (Vernonieae). Dusén's name, once highlighted, has subsequently been added to Index Nominum Genericorum, although incorrect assumptions have been made in the Plants of the World Online record, and still have to be updated. A revised generic synonymy of Pycnocephalum and that of Pycnocephalum plantaginifolium (Less.) DC. is provided; the types of all heterotypic synonyms is stated, along with the location of known type material. The later homonym, Vernoniopsis Humbert (currently in the Astereae: Madagasterinae), thus requiring a replacement name, is given the name Jalantzia, and the appropriate new combinations, Jalantzia caudata and J. lokohensis, are made.
Rehabilitation in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy: A controlled, 1‐year follow‐up study on a specialized inpatient rehabilitation program
Authors: Specht Ulrich , Lahr Denise , May Theodor W. , Speicher Pascal , Hausfeld Heiko , Coban Ingrid , Müffelmann Birgitt , Bien Christian G. , Hagemann Anne 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of a specialized inpatient rehabilitation program in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy (NDE), who had been referred within 1 year after diagnosis.MethodsWe performed an open, prospective, controlled study comparing a 1‐year follow‐up assessment of patients with NDE after completing a rehabilitation program at an epilepsy center (rehabilitation group) with a control group of patients with similar epilepsy duration, but without rehabilitation in the first year after diagnosis. Primary outcome measures comprised emotional adaptation to epilepsy, depression and anxiety; and secondary outcome measures were overall quality of life (QoL), overall health, perceived restrictions because of epilepsy, level of information about epilepsy, and employment status.ResultsComparison of the admission data of 74 rehabilitation group patients (mean age and SD 47.7 ± 13.0 years) with the pre‐rehabilitation assessment of 56 control patients (45.5 ± 12.1 years) revealed no significant differences concerning sociodemographic and health data. Comparison of the follow‐up assessment of the rehabilitation group and the pre‐rehabilitation assessment of the control group showed significantly better values for the rehabilitation group on emotional adaptation to epilepsy (p = .003), overall QoL (p = .006) and overall health (p = .011), perceived restrictions because of epilepsy, and subjective level of information about epilepsy (both p's < .001). There were no statistically significant differences concerning depression and anxiety or employment status (all p's > .50). One year after rehabilitation, patients in the rehabilitation group were more often seizure‐free and less often on sickness absence than control group patients (both p's < .001).SignificanceSince reduced QoL shortly after diagnosis of NDE is associated with seizure recurrence, an early identification of patients with a greater need for support seems important. This epilepsy‐related rehabilitation program showed lasting effects on several aspects of adaptation to epilepsy and QoL.
Stimulus‐induced arousal with transient electroencephalographic improvement distinguishes nonictal from ictal generalized periodic discharges
Authors: Gélisse Philippe , Tatum William O. , Crespel Arielle , Kaplan Peter W. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn the case of suspicion of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), reactivity on electroencephalograms (EEGs) can provide valuable diagnostic information. Reactivity refers to responses to auditory or somatosensory stimulation, with changes in amplitude and frequency of background activity. Because of self‐perpetuating processes and the failure of self‐terminating mechanisms, status epilepticus is unlikely to cease when patients spontaneously move, and it cannot typically be stopped by external stimulation (i.e., auditory and tactile stimuli). The defining EEG characteristic of absence status epilepticus is the presence of bilateral, synchronous, symmetric, rhythmic paroxysmal activity that shows little or no reactivity to sensory stimulation. On the other hand, in metabolic/toxic or multifactorial encephalopathies, triphasic waves (TWs) are influenced by the level of vigilance. TWs may be transiently abolished when patients increase their level of alertness from a drowsy/lethargic state to a state of wakefulness. This reactivity is only observed when patients can be aroused by a somatosensory or auditory stimulus. This reactivity tends to disappear with increasing severity of the disease and in comatose patients. In patients without preexisting developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, this pattern of stimulus‐induced wakefulness with transient improvement of the EEG is a major criterion in determining that the EEG patterns are not ictal. This criterion of reactivity on EEGs, beyond the classical clinical/EEG criteria of NCSE (Salzburg criteria), should now be systematically added.
Line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography in dermato‐oncology: A literature review towards harmonized histopathology‐integrated terminology
Authors: Jacobsen Kevin , Ortner Vinzent Kevin , Wenande Emily , Sahu Aditi , Paasch Uwe , Haedersdal Merete 
Published: April 2024

AbstractNon‐invasive diagnostics like line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC‐OCT) are being implemented in dermato‐oncology. However, unification of terminology in LC‐OCT is lacking. By reviewing the LC‐OCT literature in the field of dermato‐oncology, this study aimed to develop a unified terminological glossary integrated with traditional histopathology. A PRISMA‐guided literature‐search was conducted for English‐language publications on LC‐OCT of actinic keratosis (AK), keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), and malignant melanoma (MM). Study characteristics and terminology were compiled. To harmonize LC‐OCT terminology and integrate with histopathology, synonymous terms for image features of AK, KC, and MM were merged by two authors, organized by skin layer and lesion‐type. A subset of key LC‐OCT image‐markers with histopathological correlates that in combination were typical of AK, squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCis), invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and MM in traditional histopathology, were selected from the glossary by an experienced dermatopathologist. Seventeen observational studies of AK (7 studies), KC (13 studies), MM (7 studies) utilizing LC‐OCT were included, with 117 terms describing either AK, KC, or MM. These were merged to produce 45 merged‐terms (61.5% reduction); 5 assigned to the stratum corneum (SC), 23 to the viable epidermis, 2 to dermo‐epidermal junction (DEJ) and 15 to the dermis. For each lesion, mandatory key image‐markers were a well‐defined DEJ and presence of mild/moderate but not severe epidermal dysplasia for AK, severe epidermal dysplasia and well‐defined DEJ for SCCis, interrupted DEJ and/or dermal broad infiltrative strands for invasive SCC, dermal lobules connected and/or unconnected to the epidermis for BCC, as well as single atypical melanocytes and/or nest of atypical melanocytes in the epidermis or dermis for MM. This review compiles evidence on LC‐OCT in dermato‐oncology, providing a harmonized histopathology‐integrated terminology and key image‐markers for each lesion. Further evaluation is required to determine the clinical value of these findings.