Search Results (1,034)

Vernonia amygdalina Del. (bitter leaf) is a nutrient-rich indigenous leafy vegetable, but most research has examined raw material or laboratory extracts rather than the vegetable as consumed. This structured narrative review evaluates how household and food-processing methods affect nutrient retention, anti-nutritional factors, and bioaccessibility and distinguishes measured species-specific findings from extrapolated evidence. Boiling and aqueous debittering can reduce heat-sensitive nutrients, minerals, and anti-nutritional factors, but the heterogeneous primary studies do not permit a single quantitative estimate of these effects. Lactic acid fermentation is a potential research strategy: proposed reductions in anti-nutritional factors and bitterness are extrapolated from other fermented plant foods because no species-specific fermentation study was identified. Similarly, proposed gut-microbiome effects are inferred from general dietary-fibre and isolated-polyphenol literature, not from V. amygdalina feeding studies. No human study has directly measured nutrient absorption, systemic bioavailability, or clinical effects after consumption of processed bitter leaf. Hence, phytate-to-mineral ratios are interpreted only as indicators of predicted absorption, and proposed food formats and development pathways are identified as author-generated concepts rather than validated products. The review identifies priorities for species-specific processing studies, standardised in vitro digestion, product safety and acceptability testing, and ultimately human absorption and efficacy research. Full article

Background/Objectives: Goat milk is an important source of bioactive lipids, but information on the fatty acid (FA) profiles of indigenous Greek goat breeds under semi-extensive management remains limited. This study aimed to compare the milk FA composition and lipid health indices of Capra prisca, Skopelos, and crossbred goats in Thessaly, Greece, and to evaluate the effect of organic versus conventional semi-extensive production systems. Methods: Thirty bulk-tank milk samples were collected during spring 2025 from eight herds, comprising Capra prisca (n = 10), Skopelos (n = 10), and crossbred goats (n = 10), with 15 samples from each production system. Physicochemical characteristics were determined using an ultrasonic milk analyzer, while FA composition was analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC–FID). Lipid quality indices, including the Atherogenicity Index (AI) and Thrombogenicity Index (TI), were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA with Benjamini–Hochberg adjustment. Results: Breed significantly affected several individual FAs but not total SFA, MUFA, or UFA concentrations. Capra prisca milk contained higher levels of C4:0, C18:0, and C18:3n6 (pBH ≤ 0.015), whereas Skopelos milk showed higher C16:0 and lower C18:2n6 isomers (pBH ≤ 0.046). Total PUFA and ω-6 concentrations were higher in Capra prisca and crossbred milk than in Skopelos milk (pBH ≤ 0.004). In contrast, total ω-3 concentrations and lipid health indices did not differ significantly among breeds or between production systems (AI = 2.5–2.7; TI = 3.0–3.3; PUFA/SFA = 0.06–0.07; pBH ≥ 0.192). Conclusions: Under semi-extensive management, breed was associated primarily with differences in individual FAs and total ω-6 PUFA concentrations, whereas overall lipid health indices were relatively stable. No significant differences were observed between organic and conventional production systems. These findings provide baseline information on the milk lipid composition of indigenous Greek goat breeds and support further investigation using larger, multi-season datasets. Full article

Background: Over recent decades, Latin America has undergone significant population aging, accompanied by persistent inequalities that adversely affect healthcare access, particularly among Indigenous populations. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize the available evidence on healthcare access for older Indigenous women in the region, identifying relevant dimensions, barriers, facilitators, and existing knowledge gaps. Methods: A systematic search was performed in scientific databases and gray literature up to 19 June 2026, including studies published between 2020 and 2026 in Spanish, English, or Portuguese. The PCC framework (Population, Concept, Context) was applied. Following a multi-reviewer selection process involving seven reviewers and data extraction using a standardized matrix, the findings were narratively synthesized in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results: Eleven sources of evidence were included, representing six Latin American countries and including one regional review; qualitative approaches were the most common among the primary studies. Eight dimensions of accessibility were identified: geographic, economic, cultural, organizational, linguistic, functional, administrative, and social. Principal barriers included geographic isolation, poverty, a lack of cultural and linguistic relevance, bureaucratic hurdles, structural racism, and a scarcity of disaggregated data. Facilitators encompassed family and community networks, traditional medicine, local leadership, social programs, and technological/intercultural adaptations such as telemedicine. Compared with the Levesque framework, approachability, appropriateness, and formal system-navigation mechanisms were not clearly represented in the Latin American evidence, while engagement was insufficiently characterized. Conclusions: The findings indicate that structural and cultural barriers continue to persist. Full article

Background: White brined cheese represents one of the most important traditional fermented dairy products in Bulgaria. Its microbiological quality is commonly evaluated through the detection of foodborne pathogens; however, such an approach provides limited information regarding production hygiene and the natural microbial ecosystem of the product. Methods: The present study performed an integrated microbiological assessment of 100 Bulgarian white brined cow’s milk cheese samples (50 artisanal and 50 industrial) by simultaneously evaluating hygiene indicator microorganisms (Escherichia coli and coagulase-positive staphylococci), major foodborne pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp.), and the natural yeast microbiota using standardized ISO methods. Yeast species were identified by MALDI–TOF MS, and statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and coagulase-positive staphylococci were not detected in any cheese sample. Escherichia coli was detected in only two samples (2.0%), with no significant difference between artisanal and industrial cheeses (p > 0.05). In contrast, yeasts were detected in 99% of the samples, and nine yeast taxa were identified. Significant differences in yeast species distribution were observed between production systems, with Torulaspora delbrueckii predominating in artisanal cheeses and Debaryomyces hansenii in industrial products (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that artisanal white brined cheese is not inherently associated with a higher microbiological risk when good manufacturing and hygienic practices are applied. More importantly, the study shows that combining foodborne pathogens, hygiene indicators, and indigenous yeast microbiota provides a substantially more comprehensive assessment of microbiological quality than pathogen detection alone, supporting an integrated concept for the evaluation of traditional fermented dairy products. Full article

Indigenous youth are increasingly recognized as important agents of sustainability; however, how environmental learning shapes pro-environmental intentions and behaviors remains insufficiently understood. This exploratory mixed-methods study integrates Experiential Learning Theory (ELT), the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine behavioral transformation among indigenous youth participating in community-based environmental learning activities in northern Thailand. Twenty-five indigenous student participants engaged in a structured environmental learning program developed through Citizen Science, Critical Participatory Action Research, and Living Lab approaches. Quantitative data from 250 activity-level questionnaire responses and qualitative data from 200 reflective responses collected from 25 participants through eight reflection prompts were analyzed using PLS-SEM, mediation analysis, permutation-based MGA, and the Gioia methodology. The model explained 50.0% of the variance in pro-environmental behavioral intention. Communication quality significantly enhanced attention (β = 0.452, p < 0.001), and participation strongly predicted practical experience (β = 0.660, p < 0.001). Practical experience contributed to perceived value of information, which enhanced perceived behavioral control (β = 0.691, p < 0.001), a key mechanism influencing behavioral intention. Peripheral information processing showed a stronger effect than central processing, and MGA revealed differentiated learning pathways across activity categories. Qualitative findings indicated a progression from environmental practices to advocacy and environmental identity, supported by indigenous ecological knowledge and intergenerational learning. This study provides an exploratory framework for understanding culturally grounded environmental learning and offers implications for designing sustainability education programs with indigenous communities. Full article

This study evaluated the antimicrobial properties of Piper carpunya extracts, which are traditionally used by Ecuadorian indigenous communities, and validated the in vitro findings in a real food matrix. Three different extracts (ethanolic, hydroethanolic, and aqueous-lyophilized) were evaluated by the agar well diffusion method against a panel of 20 microbial strains comprising both foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. The extracts with the highest yield and antimicrobial activity were then tested in a precooked risotto formulated under commercial conditions, in challenge tests with Clostridium perfringens. All extracts inhibited C. perfringens at a minimum inhibitory concentration below 80 mg/mL, the ethanol extract being the most effective. In the risotto model, the ethanol–water extract (8%, w/w) reduced C. perfringens counts by approximately 2 log CFU/g relative to the inoculated control and also lowered aerobic mesophilic and psychrophilic counts, whereas the freeze-dried extract was less effective and bacterial counts declined only until day 4 of storage. Both extracts slightly reduced pH and water activity and, rather than protecting the lipid fraction, exhibited a prooxidant effect; nevertheless, malondialdehyde remained below 0.35 mg/kg throughout the 30-day storage period, well below the thresholds associated with perceptible rancidity. P. carpunya extracts show potential as natural ingredients for improving the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat foods, and their chemical and sensory characterization is required before practical application. Full article

The Cretaceous shallow oil sands in the Dagang area, located on the western slope of the Songliao Basin, are characterized by a burial depth of ≤182 m, an average reservoir temperature of 11.8 °C, an extremely high crude oil viscosity of 1,750,000 mPa·s at 15 °C, and water-bearing layers in both the roof and floor. Conventional thermal recovery methods such as SAGD and CSS are geologically unsuitable for this deposit and suffer from high energy consumption and carbon emissions. As microbial oil recovery is a technically advanced enhanced oil recovery technology that leverages microbial growth, reproduction and metabolism in the reservoir to alter the properties of oil, rock, gas and water through interaction with these components, and petroleum biotechnology research confirms that microorganisms can degrade high-molecular-weight petroleum hydrocarbons to reduce crude oil viscosity and improve its fluidity, this study explores the technical feasibility of microbial cold recovery for in situ extraction of such low-temperature, high-viscosity oil sands. The study adopts a five-well pilot pattern (one injector and four producers) with an integrated approach combining reservoir unblocking, microbial viscosity reduction, and vibration-assisted production. Systematic screening identified Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium, and Citrobacter as the most efficient indigenous microbial strains. Pseudomonas exhibited a crude oil degradation rate of 32.17%, reducing asphaltene content from 7.47% to 3.56%, and achieved large-scale proliferation (2.5 × 10⁸ cfu/mL) at 15 °C. It also achieved a 40.8% reduction in crude oil viscosity and a desulfurization rate, alongside 56.6% denitrification. With the optimal activator No. 3, the viscosity reduction rate reached 45.18%, and the viable cell count exceeded 9.45 × 10⁸ cfu/mL. The synergistic action of Pseudomonas and an A-type nano-microemulsion surfactant reduced the oil–water interfacial tension from 49.56 to 1.25 mN/m (a 97.48% reduction) and lowered the crude oil viscosity at 25 °C from 302,000 to 11,023 mPa·s (a 96.35% reduction). Core flooding tests demonstrated an incremental oil recovery of 7.38% compared with the water-flooded control, with interfacial tension dropping from 48.21 to 1.18 mN/m. In the field trial, composite perforation (32 shots/m, 1610 mm penetration) and two cycles of oil-based fermentation fluid huff-n-puff reduced injection pressure from 2.0 to 2.5 MPa to 1.0–1.8 MPa. A total of 1489 m³ of microbial agent was injected into five wells, followed by a 125-day shut-in period. Nano-microemulsion single-well huff-n-puff (579 m³ over 87 days) further decreased injection pressure to 0 MPa. A downhole harmonic vibration source (≤20 Hz) was also applied during the trial. During the production phase, Pseudomonas was found to dominate the produced fluid, with its peak relative abundance exceeding 70%. Cumulative fluid production reached 4114 m³, yielding 21 m³ of oil sand oil. Wells with vibration assistance showed significantly higher oil content and better emulsification performance than wells without vibration assistance. Full article

Background: Evidence of systematic under-counting of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) populations living in urban centres in Canada has been documented for the previous three census rounds (2012, 2016, 2021). Methods: In partnership with Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg, Inc. and the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, a respondent-driven sampling survey of First Nations and Métis peoples living in Winnipeg was conducted and the population living in Winnipeg was estimated using the multiplier method in conjunction with participants’ responses to census participation. Results: We estimated a population of 300,000 (95% CI 248,000 to 379,000) First Nations and Métis people living in Winnipeg, three times higher than the 2021 Census count of 90,535. Interpretation: The Canadian census continues to systematically undercount Indigenous peoples living in urban centres. Improving the accuracy and precision of Indigenous population enumeration is required for equitable health services funding and delivery. Partnerships with FNIM governing and health service organizations, addition of Indigenous identity to the short form-census participation and coverage, and improved collection methods for people living in collective dwellings or experiencing housing insecurity are recommended. Full article

The aim of the study was to analyse the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Tumbes region between March 2020 and December 2022. Method: An ecological design with a descriptive approach was used for the study population, which consisted of 51,421 confirmed cases of COVID-19 residing in the provinces of Contralmirante Villar, Tumbes, and Zarumilla in the department of Tumbes. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in SISOVID by the Ministry of Health and the registry of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in all age groups were recorded. The sociodemographic data collected was supplemented with information available on the web platform of the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI). The data were organized into databases and analyzed using software such RStudio (versión 2024.12.1), applying epidemiological indicators (incidence, prevalence, mortality, and lethality). The epidemiological data were organized and analyzed in a database prepared in Microsoft Excel to consolidate the information through data filtering and organization. Results: Among the main findings, a decrease in incidence was observed between 2021 (7840/100,000 inhabitants) and 2022 (5721/100,000 inhabitants), although the cumulative case rate increased from 15% to 20%. The mortality rate fell significantly from 2.57 per 1000 inhabitants in 2021 to 0.33 in 2022. The highest fatality rates were concentrated among people over 60 years of age with comorbidities, especially men. Conclusion: The pandemic was unevenly distributed, affecting adults between 30 and 59 years of age, populations with pre- existing conditions, and densely populated urban areas the most. The geographic distribution of cases helped identify areas warranting priority for improving the health response. It is recommended to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, improve access to health services in densely populated areas, and prioritise care for vulnerable groups such as older adults and indigenous peoples. Full article

Background/Objectives: Due to advances in paleogenetic research, a substantial amount of data has been accumulated on the Y-chromosome of the ancient Scytho-Siberian population that inhabited South Siberia and the adjacent territories of modern Mongolia and North-West China. It became possible to compare the Y-chromosomes of ancient men and modern Tuvans of various clans. Methods: We analyzed Y-SNPs and Y-STRs of ancient and modern samples. Results: During Tuvan ethnogenesis, the total frequency of the haplogroups Q and R1a dropped from 85% in Scytho-Siberian populations to 35% in modern Tuvans. Today, the gene pool of Tuvans is dominated by haplogroups N-P43, N-M178 and O-M175, which remain undetected in the samples from the Scytho-Siberian period. An analysis of the Y-STR phylogenetic networks that integrated data on Y-STR haplotypes and Y-SNPs of the Q and R1a haplogroup branches of both ancient and modern specimens provides findings that should be interpreted as broad phylogenetic affinities consistent with the paternal lineage continuity of haplogroups Q-YP1102 and R1a-Y39884. At the same time, the TMRCA estimate for the Y-STR cluster of the dominant branch of haplogroup Q in modern Tuvans, Q-YP1102-YP1691, is only 670 ± 130 YBP. Clusters of Y-STR haplotypes of the R1a-Y39884, R1a-YP1506, and R1a-YP1543 branches in modern Tuvans are also young and date back to between 1200 and 400 YBP. The Scytho-Siberian haplogroups R1a-YP1272, Q-BZ180, and N-Y147969 were not found in our sample set of modern Tuvans (n = 633). Conclusions: Haplogroups Q-YP1102 and R1a-Y39884 originated in Siberia and their branches are typical for the modern indigenous populations of South and West Siberia. Q-YP1102 marks the Yeniseian substrate and R1a-Y39884 was common in the ancient Siberian Andronovo culture. Overall, the gene pool of the Tuvan population was shaped (at least since the Scytho-Siberian period) by close interactions with the gene pools of Siberia and West Mongolia. However, the resolution of Y-SNP and Y-STR genotyping, as well as the limited sample size of ancient samples and their location in a limited area of the Eerbek River valley, do not allow us to conclude about the direct inheritance of modern Tuvan lineages from the ancient Scytho-Siberian population. Full article

Background/Objective: The Behavioral and Mental Wellness in Indigenous Communities (BMWIC) education program was created to address mental health (MH) resource gaps in the Fort Belknap Community (FBC). Designed to enhance MH literacy, task-shifting capacity, and MH care coordination skills, the FBC partnered with Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON) to co-develop a culturally aligned MH training program. This protocol outlines the development of the BMWIC curriculum. Methods: Steps 1–5 of the 6-step Collaborative Participatory Adaptation Model (CPAM) guided the development of the BMWIC, including collaboration, review of evidence-based models, cultural adaptation of materials, and the creation of a robust evaluation plan to be conducted. Four courses were ultimately developed on: historical trauma, culturally informed MH screening and care, risk and protective factors and health-related Tribal, state and federal legal jurisdiction in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Discussion: The BMWIC development process serves as a prime example of translating community priorities into an educational intervention through a combination of best practices in health science education with Indigenous ways of knowing (IWK). Targeted training and task shifting, such as through the BMWIC, may have the potential to expand MH-related knowledge and strengthen the capacity of community health systems to identify psychological and behavioral concerns early, coordinate care more effectively, and improve access to MH care and resources at the community level. Conclusions: This protocol may be useful for academic-community partnerships creating culturally informed educational programs across disciplines and specialties in service to Indigenous communities. The next steps will involve piloting and evaluating the curriculum and collaborating with healthcare organizations to determine sustainable pathways for scaling the BMWIC where it is most needed. Full article

This study investigates how personal and family names function as systems of heritage transmission in communities of South West Region, Cameroon and Cross River State, Nigeria. While African onomastics has documented naming traditions, cross-border comparative research on naming as a linguistic–anthropological system remains limited. Using qualitative methods—interviews, participant observation, and ritual documentation—the study analyses the semantic, morphological, and socio-cultural dimensions of indigenous names. The findings show that naming practices operate as structured cultural mechanisms that encode lineage affiliation, birth circumstances, moral expectations, spirituality, and social belonging. The study develops a motivational classification framework demonstrating how names sustain intergenerational knowledge and social cohesion while adapting to religious change, migration, and modernization. By linking linguistic form to social function, the article contributes a comparative perspective to African onomastics and highlights naming as a key resource for cultural continuity in borderland societies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Evacuation policies for childbirth in Nunavut, Canada, continue to profoundly shape the lives of Inuit women, their families, and communities. The evacuation policy is known to disrupt kinship networks and contribute to the erosion of Inuit birthing knowledge. Addressing a gap in Inuit-led understandings of sexual and reproductive health priorities, this paper presents findings from research conducted in 2024 with Kivallirmiut women (‘People of’ in Inuktitut is miut; Kivallirmiut means people of the Kivalliq Region. Nunavummiut means people of Nunavut, and Arviarmiut means people of Arviat, Nunavut, Canada). The study took place in two communities in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. Methods: Employing a highly participatory, community-based Indigenous methodology, this study was underpinned by Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, Indigenous feminist and postcolonial and decolonial theories, and principles of health equity. Data from a survey were generated to identify needs and priorities related to perinatal health and care. Results: Findings identify that Inuit women in these communities hold an interest in accessing perinatal information and support, with a strong desire for learning from Inuit Elders, as well as support via peer networks. Participants also emphasized a desire for more information concerning travelling for birth (medical evacuation), breastfeeding, and healing after birth. Different models for delivery of this information and perinatal support were also identified. Conclusions: Collectively, the priorities of Inuit women in this survey offer insights concerning a structural misalignment between existing perinatal care supports and services that rely on evacuation-based perinatal care and the needs and priorities within Kivalliq communities. This disconnection reveals enduring colonial assumptions embedded within current healthcare systems. The findings suggest a need for perinatal supports that centre culture, kinship, and relational forms of support. Full article

Wild edible plants play a crucial role in supporting rural livelihoods, yet knowledge about their use remains under documented, particularly among younger generations and across gender lines. This study examined the distribution of ethnobotanical knowledge of wild edible plants across age and gender groups in four municipalities of the Vhembe District, South Africa. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with 160 participants, primarily in the Venda region. Gendered patterns emerged, where women were more familiar with wild vegetables, while men demonstrated greater knowledge of wild fruits. Promisingly, some female youth demonstrated greater knowledge than older women and male participants. Voucher specimens of the cited plants were verified at the University of Venda Herbarium, and data were analysed using qualitative methods and generalised linear models. Results of this study suggest the need to document and conserve Indigenous knowledge, promote intergenerational knowledge transfer, and empower women and youth in traditional food systems to enhance food security and cultural heritage. The study further provides a foundation for future research on knowledge transmission pathways and supports the development of targeted, community-based conservation and educational initiatives to enhance food security and cultural heritage. Full article

Background: Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, remains one of the most destructive diseases limiting potato production worldwide. Methods: This study evaluated the biocontrol potential of indigenous endophytic Trichoderma and Streptomyces isolates using an integrated approach involving antagonistic assays, molecular identification, microscopy, biochemical characterization, multivariate analyses, and two-season field trials. Results: Among 39 endophytic isolates recovered from healthy potato tissues, eight Trichoderma and two Streptomyces strains exhibited strong antagonistic activity, suppressing pathogen mycelial growth by up to 82.6%. Molecular analyses identified the most effective isolates as Trichoderma atrobrunneum, Streptomyces globisporus, and Streptomyces parvus. Microscopic observations revealed multiple antagonistic mechanisms, including hyphal coiling, penetration, deformation, and destruction of P. infestans hyphae and sporangia. Under field conditions, selected bioagents consistently reduced disease incidence and severity across two growing seasons; Trichoderma isolate T4 showed the strongest efficacy, reducing disease incidence to 3.00% and severity to 2.18%. Bioagent treatments also alleviated pathogen-induced oxidative stress, reducing malondialdehyde to 62.00 nmol g⁻¹ and modulating antioxidant enzyme activities. Principal component and heatmap analyses confirmed stable performance of top-performing treatments across seasons. Conclusions: These findings indicate that indigenous endophytic Trichoderma and Streptomyces suppress potato late blight through direct antagonism and modulation of host defense responses, highlighting their potential as sustainable components of integrated disease management strategies. Full article