bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nobody likes to sleep alone: aspiring to kinship futures in post‐Soviet Cuba
Authors: Härkönen Heidi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn post‐Soviet Cuba, instead of the political future envisioned by Revolutionary authorities, poor residents of Havana aspire to create kinship futures where there is no need to ‘sleep alone’. Here, the idea of ‘sleeping together’ represents a trustworthy social bond that shelters a person from loneliness over time. For thesehabaneros, sexual love between men and women cannot be trusted, since it is often plagued by suspicions of material interest. By contrast, they view parent‐child connections as a way to secure a cared‐for future for themselves. Nevertheless, as Cuban socialism undergoes transformations, gendered inequalities create obstacles for many people's aspirations for parenthood. This article explores the contrast between sexual and filial love in Cubans’ efforts to create kinship futures for themselves, thereby adding to our understandings of poor people's life projects.
The play of ‘dirty politics’: ordinary ethics and the evidence of experience on the workfloor in New Delhi, India
Authors: Jaju Garima 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis article explores the tensed sociality amongst precariously employed service economy workers in the retail outlets of a prominent eyewear company in New Delhi, India. The bickering staff label the ongoing interpersonal strife ‘dirty politics’. Linked to this are their confident assertions that, in fact, all politics is dirty, and dirty politics is the only type of politics possible – rejecting formal party politics and labour unions as morally vacuous and motivated by utilitarian individualism. Engaging with the anthropology of ordinary ethics, the article demonstrates how the affectively charged experience and talk of petty politicking on the neoliberal workfloor provides critical ‘evidence’ that ‘confirms’ such a politico‐ethical view.
Promoting Women's Rights, Hiding the Empire: Marie‐Hélène Lefaucheux, an Imperialist Woman at the United Nations
Authors: Nasser Anna 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis contribution examines the role of Marie‐Hélène Lefaucheux, the French representative in the UN Commission on the Status of Women between 1948 and 1953. By focusing on Lefaucheux's activism and connection with the French government, this article intends to analyse how French post‐imperial policy carried out by reformist women's organisations pursued the expansion of women's and human rights whilst supporting the empire. Using a range of archival sources and the Commission's reports, this work argues that the role of reformist imperial women and organisations was crucial in influencing the Commission which was both a place of contestation and protection of the gendered and colonial order.
Recent advances in rare earth ion‐doped upconversion nanomaterials: From design to their applications in food safety analysis
Authors: Li Huanhuan , Sheng Wei , Haruna Suleiman A. , Hassan Md. Mehedi , Chen Quansheng 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe misuse of chemicals in agricultural systems and food production leads to an increase in contaminants in food, which ultimately has adverse effects on human health. This situation has prompted a demand for sophisticated detection technologies with rapid and sensitive features, as concerns over food safety and quality have grown around the globe. The rare earth ion‐doped upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)‐based sensor has emerged as an innovative and promising approach for detecting and analyzing food contaminants due to its superior photophysical properties, including low autofluorescence background, deep penetration of light, low toxicity, and minimal photodamage to the biological samples. The aim of this review was to discuss an outline of the applications of UCNPs to detect contaminants in food matrices, with particular attention on the determination of heavy metals, pesticides, pathogenic bacteria, mycotoxins, and antibiotics. The review briefly discusses the mechanism of upconversion (UC) luminescence, the synthesis, modification, functionality of UCNPs, as well as the detection principles for the design of UC biosensors. Furthermore, because current UCNP research on food safety detection is still at an early stage, this review identifies several bottlenecks that must be overcome in UCNPs and discusses the future prospects for its application in the field of food analysis.
Effect of the incorporation of pregelatinized cassava starch on the physicochemical, textural, and acoustic characteristics of baked snacks
Authors: Cazzaniga Amanda , Brousse M. Marcela , Linares Andrés R. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAlmost all the dehydrated cassava puree is pregelatinized cassava starch (PCS). Its potential application in food would add variety. But food characteristics vary depending on the raw materials used. We examined how the structure of snacks changed when PCS was used instead of flour in terms of porosity, instrumental textural parameters, and acoustic parameters and compare them to commercial crackers. The volume of air was unaffected by the substitution. However, substitution did reduce thickness and alter the number, size, and wall firmness of pores, as well as their distribution and shape, which raise the values of firmness, fracturability, hardness, and fragility, though not linearly. The partial substitutions and the control did not exhibit any appreciable differences in the acoustic parameters. The total replacement sample was noisier and maintained a wide variety of sounds. The PCS vitreous state is primarily responsible for structure changes, but other elements, such as processing conditions, contribute to differences in comparison to the commercial samples. The porosity of commercial samples was lower than that of the elaborated samples. Texturally, it led to lower fracturability and greater fragility (less mm until fracture and fewer force peaks). The elaborated samples were all louder than the commercials. Although sensory analysis is required to classify a food as crunchy, the physicochemical changes caused by the substitution and their impact on the structure's behavior were established. Each textural parameter cannot determine whether the food is crunchy, crispy, or friable on its own; an analysis that incorporates all the characteristics is required. Supplement Material.Practical applicationThis study demonstrates that pregelatinized cassava flour can be used to partially or completely replace wheat flour in baked snacks. Although textural differences were noted, these alterations were acceptable for products with a similar market niche. These findings might be used in the food business, notably by companies aiming to offer baked snack choices that are not made with standard wheat flour.
Modeling of the inactivation kinetics of aerobic mesophiles and yeasts and molds natural microbiota in nonthermal plasma‐treated pineapple (Ananas comosus) juice
Authors: Pipliya Sunil , Kumar Sitesh , Srivastav Prem Prakash 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology is a promising nonthermal technology that can be employed for pasteurization of fruit juice. The effect of NTP on the natural microbiota, namely, aerobic mesophiles (AM), and yeasts and molds (YM) in pineapple juice were examined in the experimental range of 25–45 kV up to 10 min treatment time. At an applied voltage of 45 kV, the AM and YM count reductions of 4.7 and 4.1 log cfu/mL were obtained at the end of the 14‐min treatment. The inactivation kinetics of microbes were attempted to be explained using nonlinear models, including Weibull + tail, Geeraerd, log‐logistic, Coroller, and Cerf. The residual population (Nres) model parameter in the Geeraerd model explained the tailing behavior of microbes. Furthermore, the estimated values for the scale parameter and destruction rate constants were used to describe the sensitive and resistant percentages of the microbial population. According to statistical parameters (R2: 0.978–0.999, RMSE: 0.034–0.277) and validation indicators (accuracy factor: 1.013–1.152, bias factor: 0.985–1.12), all models performed well. Akaike's theory was used to select the best‐fit model, and the Coroller model was shown to be the most accurate one for AM and YM, exhibiting the lowest Akaike increment (Δi = 0).Practical ApplicationNonthermal plasma may be used as an alternate nonthermal process for this product in order to meet customer appeal for safe and nutritious juice with minimal processing. The goal of this work was to produce a nutritious and safe pineapple juice by using nonthermal processing.
Sustained ameliorative effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA85 on dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis in mice
Authors: Han Mei , Liao Wenyan , Dong Yao , Fei Teng , Gai Zhonghui 
Published: August 2023

AbstractUlcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease associated with immune system dysfunction caused by gut dysbiosis. This study aimed to investigate the alleviating effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA85 on colitis and its underlying mechanism using mouse models of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced UC. The UC mouse models were established by treating C57BL/6J male mice with 2.5% (w/v) DSS in drinking water for 7 days. These mice received supplementation with either L. acidophilus LA85 (1 × 109 colony‐forming units/day) or 200 µL of sterile water once daily (LA85‐treated and UC model mice, respectively). The disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and histological changes in the colons of mice were then analyzed at Day 21, and the effects of L. acidophilus LA85 on the gut microbiota and serum inflammatory cytokines were also investigated. Compared with the UC model mice, L. acidophilus LA85‐treated UC mice showed significant reductions in a variety of colitis symptoms, including weight loss, the DAI score, colon shortening, and colon tissue damage. Lactobacillus acidophilus LA85 supplementation also significantly decreased the serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin‐6 while increasing the serum concentration of IL‐10. Furthermore, LA85 supplementation improved the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota, both of which had been decreased by DSS. In particular, L. acidophilus LA85‐treated UC mice showed higher relative abundances of Akkermansia and Romboutsia than the UC model mice. These results demonstrate that L. acidophilus LA85 can alleviate inflammatory diseases of the intestine, such as inflammatory bowel disease, by regulating immune responses and restoring the gut microbiota.Practical ApplicationUlcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease caused by imbalance of gut microbiota. This study showed that L. acidophilus LA85 can alleviate DSS‐induced colitis in mice through regulation of inflammatory cytokines, protection of intestinal barrier, and regulation of specific gut microbiota. L. acidophilus LA85 is a promising probiotic candidate for the treatment of UC.
Oral administration of Bifidobacterium longum WHH2270 ameliorates type 2 diabetes in rats
Authors: Gao Kan , Ren Xueliang , Chen Cailing , Fan Qiuling , Li Yanjun , Wang Haifeng , Chen Su 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAccumulating evidence suggests that specific probiotic strains exert hypoglycemic effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and probiotic strains within Bifidobacterium exhibit potential beneficial effects on T2DM. In this study, α‐glucosidase inhibitory activities of 14 Bifidobacterium strains were assessed in vitro. The hypoglycemic effects of Bifidobacterium longum WHH2270 with high α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity (42.03%) were then investigated in a high‐fat diet/streptozotocin‐induced T2DM rat model. Oral administration of WHH2270 (4 × 109 CFU/kg/day) for 8 weeks significantly reversed the reduced body weight and ameliorated the levels of fasting blood glucose, serum triglyceride, serum total cholesterol, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance in T2DM rats. Using 16S rRNA high‐throughput sequencing of feces, WHH2270 was revealed to reshape the gut microbiome composition by increasing the abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and decreasing the abundances of UCG_005, Clostridium, and Faecalibacterium in T2DM rats. Besides, the fecal levels of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including acetate, propionate, and butyrate were also elevated after WHH2270 administration. Moreover, the gene expressions of SCFA receptors FFAR2 and FFAR3 in the colon and pancreas of T2DM rats were restored by WHH2270 administration, accompanied by increased levels of serum acetate. In summary, these results provide evidence that WHH2270 has the potential to improve T2DM symptoms by alleviating hyperglycemia, which was associated with changes in the gut microbiome composition and SCFA production.Practical ApplicationBifidobacterium longum WHH2270 with high α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity may serve as a promising hypoglycemic agent for the treatment of T2DM.
Low temperature inhibits pectin degradation by PpCBFs to prolong peach storage time
Authors: Guo Tingting , Li Jianzhao , Guo Meiling , Yang Qi , Dai Xiaonan , Qiao Xuqiang , Song Zhizhong , Tian Changping , Li Yanju , Ge Hang , Cheng Jieshan , Liang Meixia 
Published: August 2023

AbstractLow‐temperature storage is a widely used method for peach fruit storage. However, the impact of PpCBFs on pectin degradation during low‐temperature storage is unclear. As such, in this study, we stored the melting‐flesh peach cultivar “Fuli” at low temperature (LT, 6°C) and room temperature (RT, 25°C) to determine the effect of different temperatures on its physiological and biochemical changes. Low‐temperature storage can inhibit the softening of “Fuli” peaches by maintaining the stability of the cell wall. It was found that the contents of water‐soluble pectin and ionic‐soluble pectin in peach fruit stored at RT were higher than those stored at LT. The enzyme activities of polygalacturonase (PG), pectate lyase (PL), and pectin methylesterase (PME) were all inhibited by LT. The expressions of PpPME3, PpPL2, and PpPG were closely related to fruit firmness, but PpCBF2 and PpCBF3 showed higher expression levels at LT than RT. The promoters of PpPL2 and PpPG contain the DER motif, which suggested that PpCBF2 and PpCBF3 might negatively regulate their expression by directly binding to their promoters. These results indicated that LT may maintain firmness by activating PpCBFs to repress pectin‐degradation‐related enzyme genes during storage.
Effects of sprouting duration on the nutrient, functional, and phytochemical properties of tiger nut flour, and the sensory properties of bread made thereof
Authors: Kizzie‐Hayford Nazir , Abano Ernest Ekow , Akanson Joshua , Dankwa Esi , Rohm Harald , Ampofo‐Asiama Jerry 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe influence of sprouting on tiger nut's (TN) nutritional, functional, and phytochemical quality was examined, and the flour used for bread making to evaluate the feasibility as a functional ingredient. TN was sprouted and sampled at 3 days intervals for 12 days, dried and milled into flour and analyzed. Subsequently, 25% of wheat flour (WF) was replaced with the 9 days‐sprouted TN flour for bread. Sprouting for 9 days increased the protein content from 9.19 ± 0.04 to 9.79 ± 0.15 g/100 g dry matter (DM), fiber from 6.75 ± 0.16 to 9.27 ± 0.44 g/100 g DM, and ash from 2.34 ± 0.10 to 2.70 ± 0.06 g/100 g DM but decreased fat content from 26.10 ± 0.18 to 23.18 ± 0.43 g/100 g DM and soluble sugar from 33.13 ± 1.25 to 23.75 ± 1.44 °Bx. We observed increases in the polyphenols (94.16 ± 6.43–214.23 ± 6.98 mg GAE/100 g) and ascorbic acid (26.66 ± 0.17–65.13 ± 0.19 mg AE/100 g) and decreases in the cyanogenic glycosides (273.79 ± 0.37–231.54 ± 3.53 mg/100 g) and oxalates (19.04 ± 1.14–5.65 ± 0.93 mg/100 g) contents. Sprouting decreased the particle size and increased the water retention and swelling power of TN flour. WF bread was described as stretchy, sweet, and creamy, whereas sprouted TN bread was brown, nutty, and wheat‐like. Consumer acceptance for the sprouted TN bread was comparable to WF bread, showing the possible application in bread making.Practical ApplicationThe outcome of the study could help to exploit the nutri‐functional and phytochemical benefits of sprouted TN in the baking industry for producing acceptable products. This would enhance the utility of TN for food in regions where TNs grows.
Effect of fucoidan on gut microbiota and its clinical efficacy in Helicobacter pylori eradication: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Shu , Tian Zi Bin , Chen Jian Wei , Cong Pei Shan , Ding Xue Li , Zhang Cui Ping , Yin Xiao Yan , Yang Lin , Jing Xue , Mao Tao , Li Xiao Yu , Sun Zhan Yi , Jiang Jin Ju , Yu Ya Nan 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveTo assess the clinical efficacy of fucoidan‐assisted standard quadruple therapy (SQT) in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and the improvement of gut microbiota.MethodsAn open‐label randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University in Shandong Province, China. Ninety patients who tested positive for H. pylori were randomized to the standard quadruple therapy (SQT) group (SQ), SQT + fucoidan combination group (SF), and fucoidan + sequential SQT group (FS), respectively. Stool samples were collected for gut microbiota composition at baseline and after treatment.ResultsAfter H. pylori eradication, the relative abundances of most conditional pathogens in the SQ decreased, while those of several beneficial bacteria increased or decreased (P < 0.05). In FS, the abundances of most beneficial bacteria increased gradually from baseline to week 12, while those of the conditional pathogens decreased (P < 0.05). The abundance of Bifidobacterium had a decreasing trend in SQ, but remained unchanged in SF and increased in FS (P < 0.05). The abundances of most beneficial bacteria were significantly higher in FS than in SQ and SF (P < 0.05). Addition of fucoidan enhanced symptom improvement during H. pylori eradication compared with SQT alone.ConclusionsFucoidan considerably improved gut dysbiosis during SQT for H. pylori eradication. Gut microbiota can be maintained by the addition of fucoidan before eradication therapy with SQT rather than by concomitant addition with therapy. Fucoidan‐assisted SQT could relieve gastrointestinal symptoms during H. pylori eradication.
Significance and prognostication of mediastinal lymph node enlargement on chest computed tomography among adult Indigenous Australians
Authors: Doss Arockia X , Howarth Timothy P , Ng Lai , Doss Shibi A , Heraganahally Subash Shanthakumar 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIntroductionThere is a lack of data on chest computed tomography (CT) findings on mediastinal lymph node enlargement (MLE), including normal size threshold of less than 10 or 15 mm for MLE among Indigenous Australians. In this study, we assessed the significance and the applicability of the current guidelines for the threshold for abnormal MLE among adult Indigenous Australians.MethodsPatients who underwent chest CT between 2012 and 2020 among those referred to undergo lung function test (spirometry) were assessed for the presence of MLE which were classified as Group A (no measurable nodes), Group B (<10 mm), Group C (≥10 to 14.99 mm) and Group D (≥15 mm).ResultsOf the total 67 patients identified to have MLE, 49 patients had at least two CT scans available for assessment over a median follow‐up period of 101.3 weeks (IQR: 62.4, 235.6) and were included in the analysis. Evidence of chronic lung disease was common, with a significant proportion demonstrating either COPD or bronchiectasis and a high proportion with smoking history (93%). During the first CT scan, 34/49 (69%) had >10 mm nodes, of which 12/34 (35%) reduced in size, 22/34 (65%) remained stable, and 3/34 (9%) had malignancy on follow‐up.ConclusionDespite most patients demonstrating the presence of significant MLE with varying size and in most >10 mm, the majority remain stable or benign in nature and only a minor proportion showed evidence of lung malignancy. Further prospective studies are needed in the characterisation of MLE among Indigenous patients.
A pile of pipelines: An overview of the bioinformatics software for metabarcoding data analyses
Authors: Hakimzadeh Ali , Abdala Asbun Alejandro , Albanese Davide , Bernard Maria , Buchner Dominik , Callahan Benjamin , Caporaso J. Gregory , Curd Emily , Djemiel Christophe , Brandström Durling Mikael , Elbrecht Vasco , Gold Zachary , Gweon Hyun S. , Hajibabaei Mehrdad , Hildebrand Falk , Mikryukov Vladimir , Normandeau Eric , Özkurt Ezgi , M. Palmer Jonathan , Pascal Géraldine , Porter Teresita M. , Straub Daniel , Vasar Martti , Větrovský Tomáš , Zafeiropoulos Haris , Anslan Sten 
Published: August 2023

AbstractEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has gained growing attention as a strategy for monitoring biodiversity in ecology. However, taxa identifications produced through metabarcoding require sophisticated processing of high‐throughput sequencing data from taxonomically informative DNA barcodes. Various sets of universal and taxon‐specific primers have been developed, extending the usability of metabarcoding across archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes. Accordingly, a multitude of metabarcoding data analysis tools and pipelines have also been developed. Often, several developed workflows are designed to process the same amplicon sequencing data, making it somewhat puzzling to choose one among the plethora of existing pipelines. However, each pipeline has its own specific philosophy, strengths and limitations, which should be considered depending on the aims of any specific study, as well as the bioinformatics expertise of the user. In this review, we outline the input data requirements, supported operating systems and particular attributes of thirty‐two amplicon processing pipelines with the goal of helping users to select a pipeline for their metabarcoding projects.
Strategies for senolytic drug discovery
Authors: Power Helen , Valtchev Peter , Dehghani Fariba , Schindeler Aaron 
Published: August 2023

AbstractSenolytics are a category of drugs that reduce the impact of cellular senescence, an effect associated with a range of chronic and age‐related diseases. Since the discovery of the first senolytics in 2015, the number of known senolytic agents has grown dramatically. This review discusses the broad categories of known senolytics—kinase inhibitors, Bcl‐2 family protein inhibitors, naturally occurring polyphenols, heat shock protein inhibitors, BET family protein inhibitors, P53 stabilizers, repurposed anti‐cancer drugs, cardiac steroids, PPAR‐alpha agonists, and antibiotics. The approaches used to screen for new senolytics are articulated including a range of methods to induce senescence, different target cell types, various senolytic assays, and markers. The choice of methods can greatly influence the outcomes of a screen, with high‐quality screens featuring robust systems, adequate controls, and extensive validation in alternate assays. Recent advances in single‐cell analysis and computational methods for senolytic identification are also discussed. There is significant potential for further drug discovery, but this will require additional research into drug targets and mechanisms of actions and their subsequent rigorous evaluation in pre‐clinical models and human trials.