bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of ι‐carrageenase from macroalgae‐associated bacterium Microbulbifer sp. YNDZ01
Authors: Zhang Qian , Gui Yuanyuan , Zhao Luying , Zhang Ao , Fu Liping , Cao Zhe , Li Jiang 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn the present study, the ι‐carrageenase gene, Car1293, was obtained from the genome of Microbulbifer sp. YNDZ01, which was isolated from the surface of macroalgae. To date, there are few studies on ι‐carrageenase and the anti‐inflammatory activity of ι‐carrageenan oligosaccharides (CGOS). To enhance our perspective on ι‐carrageenase and ι‐carrageen oligosaccharides, the sequence, protein structure, enzymatic properties, enzymatic digestion products and anti‐inflammatory activity of the gene were investigated.RESULTSThe gene length of Car1293 is 2,589 bp, encoding an enzyme with 862 amino acids, which shares 34% similarity with any previously reported ι‐carrageenase. The spatial structure of Car1293 consists of many α‐helices with a β‐fold binding module located at its terminus, and eight binding sites were found in the binding module as a result of docking with CGOS‐DP4 ligand. The optimum temperature and pH for the activity of recombinant Car1293 toward ι‐carrageenan were 50 °C and 6.0, respectively. The hydrolysates of Car1293 are mainly degree of polymerization (DP)8, with minor products showing DP2, DP4, and DP6. The enzymatic hydrolysates CGOS‐DP8 showed prominent anti‐inflammatory activity, which was greater than that of the positive control l‐monomethylarginine in lipopolysaccharide‐induced RAW264.7 macrophages. It inhibited nitric oxide production, as well as significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6 secretion.CONCLUSIONThe ι‐carrageenase sequence encoded by Car1293 is novel and can hydrolyze carrageenan into CGOS‐DP8 that has a significant anti‐inflammatory effect. The present study fills a gap in the research on the biological activity of oligosaccharides in ι‐carrageenan and provides promising data for the development of natural anti‐inflammatory agent. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Anti‐oomycete ability of scopolamine against Phytophthora infestans, a terrible pathogen of potato late blight
Authors: Zhu Zhiming , Xiong Ziwen , Zou Wenjin , Shi Zhiwen , Li Shanying , Zhang Xinze , Liu Shicheng , Liu Yi , Luo Xunguang , Ren Jie , Zhu Zhenglin , Dong Pan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDPhytophthora infestans causes late blight, threatening potato production. The tropane alkaloid scopolamine from some industrial plants (Datura, Atropa, etc.) has a broad‐spectrum bacteriostatic effect, but its effect on P. infestans is unknown.RESULTSIn the present study, scopolamine inhibited the mycelial growth of phytopathogenic oomycete P. infestans, and the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 4.25 g L−1. The sporangia germination rates were 61.43%, 16.16%, and 3.99% at concentrations of zero (control), 0.5 IC50, and IC50, respectively. The sporangia viability of P. infestans was significantly reduced after scopolamine treatment through propidium iodide and fluorescein diacetate staining, speculating that scopolamine destroyed cell membrane integrity. The detached potato tuber experiment demonstrated that scopolamine lessened the pathogenicity of P. infestans in potato tubers. Under stress conditions, scopolamine showed good inhibition of P. infestans, indicating that scopolamine could be used in multiple adverse conditions. The combination effect of scopolamine and the chemical pesticide Infinito on P. infestans was more effective than the use of scopolamine or Infinito alone. Moreover, transcriptome analysis suggested that scopolamine leaded to a downregulation of most P. infestans genes, functioning in cell growth, cell metabolism, and pathogenicity.CONCLUSIONTo our knowledge, this is the first study to detect scopolamine inhibitory activity against P. infestans. Also, our findings highlight the potential of scopolamine as an eco‐friendly option for controlling late blight in the future. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Adding genistein or luteolin decreased the yield of citrinin and without reducing pigments in yam solid‐fermentation by Monascus
Authors: Yang Haiyun , Peng Zhiqing , Xie Liuming , Xie Jianhua , Huang Zhibing 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDChinese yam fermented by Monascus, namely red mold dioscorea (RMD), has the potential of treating diseases. However, the production of citrinin limits the application of RMD. In the present study, the fermentation process of Monascus was optimized by adding genistein or luteolin to reduce citrinin yield.RESULTSThe results showed that citrinin in 25 g of Huai Shan yam was reduced by 48% and 72% without affecting the pigment yield by adding 0.2 g of luteolin or genistein, respectively, to a 250‐mL conical flask after fermentation for 18 days at 28 °C, whereas the addition of luteolin increased the content of yellow pigment by 1.3‐fold. Under optimal conditions, citrinin in 20 g of iron bar yam decreased by 55% and 74% after adding 0.2 g of luteolin or genistein. Luteolin also increased yellow pigment content by 1.2‐fold. Ultra HPLC coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry was used for the preliminary analysis of Monascus fermentation products. It was found that the amino acid types in RMD are similar to those in yams, but there are fewer polysaccharides and fatty acids.CONCLUSIONThe results obtained in the present study showed that the addition of genistein or luteolin could reduce citrinin on the premise of increasing pigment yield, which laid a foundation for the better use of yams in Monascus fermentation. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Composition, functional properties and safety of honey: a review
Authors: Wang Hong , Li Lantao , Lin Xiaohui , Bai Weidong , Xiao Gengsheng , Liu Gongliang 
Published: May 2023

AbstractHoney has been used not only as a food source but also for medicinal purposes. Recent studies have indicated that honey exhibits antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and anti‐obesity properties, as well as anticancer, anti‐atherosclerotic, hypotensive, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory activities. These health benefits of honey could be attributed to its wide range of nutritional components, including polysaccharides and polyphenols, which have been proven to possess various beneficial properties. It is notable that the composition of honey can also be affected by nectar, season, geography and storage condition. Moreover, the safety of honey requires caution to avoid any potential safety incidents. Therefore, this review aims to provide recent research regarding the chemical composition, biological activities and safety of honey, which might be attributed to comprehensive utilization of honey. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
TiO2 nanoparticles combined with polystyrene nanoplastics aggravated reproductive toxicity in female mice via exacerbating intestinal barrier disruption
Authors: Zhang Jinfeng , Zou Yuying , Hu Liehai , Zhao Yu , Fen Yueying , Xu Hengyi 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDTiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), a widely used food additive in the food industry, have been shown to aggravate the progress of metabolic diseases. Nanoplastics (NPLs) are an emerging contaminant widely present in the food system and have been shown to induce ovarian disorders in mammals. Noteworthy, they can be ingested by humans through ‘contaminated’ food, whereas the potential toxicity of NPLs and TiO2 NPs combined remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential effects and mechanisms of co‐exposure to polystyrene (PS) NPLs and TiO2 NPs on the ovary in female mice.RESULTSOur results revealed that the co‐exposure of TiO2 NPs and PS NPLs caused significant injury to ovarian structure and function, but individual exposure had no effect. Moreover, compared to the TiO2 NPs group, co‐exposure aggravated the intestinal barrier damage in mice, increasing the bioaccumulation of TiO2 NPs in the ovary. After being supplemented with the oxidative stress inhibitor N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine, the expression of ovarian antioxidant genes increased, and the ovarian structural and functional injury in co‐exposure mice reverted to normal levels.CONCLUSIONThe present study demonstrated that co‐exposure to PS NPLs and TiO2 NPs can cause more severe female reproductive dysfunction and deepens the toxicological insights between NPLs and NPs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Assessing social perceptions of rewilding approaches in Spain using traditional domestic livestock
Authors: Pérez‐Barbería F. Javier , Gordon Iain J. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractRewilding is habitat restoration that attempts to return ecosystems to their state before human alterations were imposed. Rewilding might involve actions that are not desired by society. As a result, a compromised form of rewilding has been proposed that is generally known as rewilding lite, which involves some human intervention to achieve the goals of a more natural state of ecosystems that were historically disturbed by anthropogenic influences. Rewilding lite is gaining traction in Europe where marginal agriculture areas are being abandoned. We addressed a variant that we called livestock rewilding (LR) based on the use of herbivorous livestock species to restore ecological functions and trophic complexity (functional integrity) in abandoned agricultural landscapes. Our objective was to assess societal attitudes and awareness of LR in Spain based on the answers of 1,036 respondents of a self‐selecting questionnaire of 27 closed‐ended questions addressed to the general public using snowball sampling, conducted between March and July 2021. Seventy‐five percent of the respondents supported LR but only on the condition of imposing minimum hazards to people, crops, and property. Ranchers were the least likely societal group to support LR (58%). Women had the greatest enthusiasm for LR (79% women vs. 71% men). Horses, donkeys, and goats were the most preferred species to be included in LR programs, with pigs as the least popular after cattle and sheep. There was support for the removal of excess individuals of rewilded livestock and for the use of their meat for human consumption, especially among male respondents. Respondents were reticent to accept mortality in LR populations caused by natural stochastic events and discriminated between livestock species for population control methods. Respondents preferred non‐lethal methods of population control; involving hunters was a second choice. Some hunters were reluctant to participate in population control of rewilded livestock, especially if they had to pay, and were reticent to shoot equids but keen to shoot goats. There was general support among Spanish respondents for LR, though there were significant differences between societal groups in attitudes towards the type, species, and intensity of management required to minimize hazards to people's health, crops, and the environment. Livestock rewilding is a plausible tool for the restoration of trophic complexity in abandoned agricultural land in Spain that could be used to circumvent the introduction of allochthonous wild species.
Demographic history of the Punjab urial and implications for its management
Authors: Bajwa Amna Arshad , Shehzad Wasim , Islam Saher , Imran Muhammad , Ashraf Kamran , Khan Arman , Zahoor Muhammad Yasir , Rashid Muhammad Imran , Khan Waseem Ahmad , Rehman Habib Ur , Orozco‐Terwengel Pablo 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) is endemic to Northern Punjab, Pakistan, and is categorized as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. The urial population has declined by 30% over the last 3 generations. We used non‐invasive fecal samples to identify individuals and estimate population size of Punjab urial in the Kalabagh Game Reserve, Pakistan. We genotyped samples using 12 microsatellite markers to assess genetic variation, population structure, and demographic changes. Microsatellite analysis revealed high levels of genetic variation in urials in terms of expected and observed heterozygosity and allelic diversity. The population structure of the Punjab urial in the Kalabagh Game Reserve, based solely on microsatellite variation using Bayesian clustering, indicated 3 different clusters in the reserve. Results revealed that the urial population may be facing inbreeding pressure because its ancestral effective population size has declined from between 20,000 and 50,000 to ≤1,000 animals today. This reduction has partly occurred because of a bottleneck that occurred about 10,000 years ago. Results also indicate that 1 urial population cluster has the signature of a bottleneck, which may be due to population isolation. The 3 urial clusters are small and broadly dispersed in a large territory, meaning they could be extirpated without any opportunity for natural re‐population through dispersion. The results of our study support a management strategy that encourages maintaining connectivity between urial localities within the Kalabagh Game Reserve, increased diversity so the effective population size may recover from the historical decline, and the use of data generated here as a baseline of urial genetic diversity in the reserve for monitoring diversity over the long term.
I personally like it: Preference for minority endorsement in the early stage of the consumer decision journey
Authors: Chen Xingyu , Huang Minxue , Yu Zhengdong , Cai Wenpei 
Published: May 2023

AbstractConsumers engage in word‐of‐mouth pervasively, and strategies such as different endorsement types are commonly used to facilitate word‐of‐mouth diffusion. Prior work on endorsement has highlighted the advantage of the majority (e.g., everyone likes it) in persuasion so that companies usually use it to shape consumers' preference, but is the majority endorsement more effective than the minority endorsement (e.g., I personally like it)? This research demonstrates that the persuasiveness of majority or minority endorsement depends on the stages of the consumer decision journey. Minority endorsement can be more influential than majority endorsement in the early stage of the consumer decision journey. This paper theorizes and demonstrates that this effect occurs because minority endorsement emphasizes differentiation from the group and does not have any conformity pressure, which could satisfy consumers' pronounced need for decision autonomy in the early stage. In contrast, majority endorsement is more effective in the late stage because consumers regard it as social proof and can better meet consumers' salient need for decision control. These findings identify psychological needs in the consumer decision journey, contribute to the research on social influence, and provide managerial insights for marketers on when and how to adopt different strategies to influence consumers.
Bring it on! Package shape signaling dominant male body promotes healthy food consumption for male consumers
Authors: Qian Da , Yan Haifeng , Pan Li , Li Ou 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAlthough the effects of product packaging on food healthiness and product/brand anthropomorphism on consumer response have been extensively studied, there has been little attention paid to how anthropomorphizing the package could potentially bias consumers' perception of food healthiness and subsequent consumption. Drawing on theory from evolutionary psychology, the current paper proposes that package signaling a dominant male body (vs. nondominant package) promoted healthy food consumption among males rather than female consumers. In a field study (Study 1), preliminary real‐world evidence was collected that showed that both genders perceived food as healthier when it was packaged in a dominant (vs. nondominant) package. However, in terms of food content satisfaction, only males reported more satisfaction when exposed to the dominant (vs. nondominant) package, and this effect was not observed for unhealthy food. Next, two lab experiments directly assessed the impact of package dominance on male consumers' purchase intention of healthy food products and found that intrasexual competition underlies such effect (Studies 2 and 3). These findings were contingent on individual differences in competitive mindset (Study 4); competitive (vs. cooperative) consumers were more inclined to pay a premium for healthy food within dominant package. Our work adds to the growing body of literature on anthropomorphic package by highlighting the influential role of package dominance on healthy food consumption. Marketers selling healthy food may adopt a dominant (i.e., V‐shaped package) to communicate the product's healthiness and promote consumption for male consumers.
Development and Validation of the Dystonia‐Pain Classification System: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Listik Clarice , Listik Eduardo , de Paiva Santos Rolim Flávia , Meneses Cury Portela Denise Maria , Perez Lloret Santiago , de Alves Araújo Natália Rebeca , Carvalho Pedro Rubens Araújo , Santos Graziele Costa , Limongi João Carlos Papaterra , Cardoso Francisco , Mylius Veit , Brugger Florian , Fernandes Ana Mercia , Reis Barbosa Egberto , Jacobsen Teixeira Manoel , Ferraz Henrique Ballalai , Camargos Sarah Teixeira ,   Pain in Dystonia Study Group, Cury Rubens Gisbert , de Andrade Daniel Ciampi 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundDystonia is associated with disabling nonmotor symptoms like chronic pain (CP), which is prevalent in dystonia and significantly impacts the quality of life (QoL). There is no validated tool for assessing CP in dystonia, which substantially hampers pain management.ObjectiveThe aim was to develop a CP classification and scoring system for dystonia.MethodsA multidisciplinary group was established to develop the Dystonia‐Pain Classification System (Dystonia‐PCS). The classification of CP as related or unrelated to dystonia was followed by the assessment of pain severity score, encompassing pain intensity, frequency, and impact on daily living. Then, consecutive patients with inherited/idiopathic dystonia of different spatial distribution were recruited in a cross‐sectional multicenter validation study. Dystonia‐PCS was compared to validated pain, mood, QoL, and dystonia scales (Brief Pain Inventory, Douleur Neuropathique‐4 questionnaire, European QoL‐5 Dimensions‐3 Level Version, and Burke–Fahn–Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale).ResultsCP was present in 81 of 123 recruited patients, being directly related to dystonia in 82.7%, aggravated by dystonia in 8.8%, and nonrelated to dystonia in 7.5%. Dystonia‐PCS had excellent intra‐rater (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ‐ ICC: 0.941) and inter‐rater (ICC: 0.867) reliability. In addition, pain severity score correlated with European QoL‐5 Dimensions‐3 Level Version's pain subscore (r = 0.635, P < 0.001) and the Brief Pain Inventory's severity and interference scores (r = 0.553, P < 0.001 and r = 0.609, P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsDystonia‐PCS is a reliable tool to categorize and quantify CP impact in dystonia and will help improve clinical trial design and management of CP in patients affected by this disorder. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
A bounded dynamical network of curves and the stability of its steady states
Authors: Dassios Ioannis , Tzounas Georgios , Milano Federico 
Published: May 2023

In this article, we study the dynamic behavior of a network that consists of curves that are in motion and bounded. We first focus on the construction of the model which is a system of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). This system is subject to four conditions: angle and intersection conditions between the curves at the point that they meet and angle and intersection conditions between the curves and the boundary from which the network is bounded. Then, we define a linear operator and study the stability of the steady states of the corresponding boundary value problem (BVP).
Optimal and heuristic policies for production and inventory controls in dual supply chains with fluctuating demands
Authors: Lin Bing , Chen Shaoxiang , Bhatnagar Rohit 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn the context of fast‐fashion business, we study the joint control of production, inventory, and unilateral transshipment in dual supply chains in which one supply chain is a responsive supply chain for fashion products and the other is an efficient supply chain for basic products in a fluctuating demand environment (FDE). Our research focuses on: (1) formulating an appropriate model for this complex problem; (2) characterizing the structured optimal policy, which can be used to develop effective heuristic policies; and (3) generalizing our studies for more applications. To address these issues, we formulate a discrete‐time finite‐horizon stochastic dynamic program model in which FDE is represented by a world state evolving in accordance with the discrete‐time Markov chain. The supply chain for the fashion product is modeled by a two‐stage tandem production system with a make‐to‐stock (MTS) stage for the fabric and a subsequent MTS stage for finished fashions. In parallel, the supply chain for the basic products is also modeled by a two‐stage tandem production system with a MTS stage for the fabric and a subsequent make‐to‐order (MTO) stage for finished basics. Further, the two supply chains are coupled via the unilateral transshipment of fabric with random transshipment time. By value iteration, we characterize the optimal policy for the single‐product problem with a set of monotone switching surfaces. The results are extended to the multi‐product multi‐supplier case. Further, based on the structure of the optimal policy, we develop a heuristic policy for the multi‐dimensional dynamic program model. From a practice perspective, we demonstrate the value of transshipment and controlled transshipment, analytically and numerically, and therefore justify the establishment of two separate local manufacturing bases in dual supply chains. Additionally, to achieve both quick response and efficiency, we show that the total cost can be reduced significantly if sufficient fabric is prepared just in time (JIT) for in‐season production at the beginning of a season.
Does mission concreteness make a difference in nonprofit performance? Automated text analysis approach to the importance of concrete mission statements
Authors: Baek Young Min , Ihm Jennifer , Kang Chul Hee 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMission statements are important for the performance of nonprofit organizations (NPOs), but many of them are not concrete enough to influence nonprofit performance and prior research has studied the concreteness of mission statements in two divergent ways. We investigated how the two aspects of concrete mission statement influence internal and external stakeholders of NPOs differently and affect nonprofit performance. We first conducted an automated text analysis to determine the relationship between the concreteness of the 100 largest US NPOs' mission statements and organizational performance (Study 1). To validate the measure of the automated text analysis and reveal the relationship between the two aspects of concrete mission statements, we additionally conducted randomized controlled experiments with 76 professionals in the nonprofit field who were in charge of evaluating organizational performance (Study 2). Results of both studies suggest that concrete mission statements are positively related to organizational performance and that nonprofit professionals' perceived concreteness of mission statements drives their prediction of higher organizational performance. Theoretical and practical implications for the concreteness of NPOs' mission statements are discussed.