bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quitting intentions and behaviours among young Australian e‐cigarette users
Authors: Jongenelis Michelle I. , Gill Melissa , Lawrence Nicole , Wakefield Claire E.
Published: June 2024

Background and aims

With the prevalence of e‐cigarette use among Australian youth increasing significantly in recent years, greater attention is being paid to encouraging and supporting cessation. However, research to inform such efforts is lacking. The present study sought to (i) measure desire to quit e‐cigarette use and actual quitting attempts among young Australians and (ii) explore correlates of quitting‐related cognitions and behaviours.

Design, setting and participants

This was a cross‐sectional on‐line survey conducted in Australia. The participants were 14−25‐year‐old e‐cigarette users (n = 602; 53% women).

Measurements

Desire to quit vaping and attempts to quit vaping were the primary dependent variables. The independent variables included several individual (e.g. harm perceptions, perceived appeal of vapes), social (descriptive norms) and environmental (e.g. ease of e‐cigarette access) factors.

Findings

A majority of respondents (61%) expressed a desire to quit vaping, and just over half (55%) had made a quit attempt. Finding vapes easy to access was associated with both a lack of desire [odds ratio (OR) = 0.71] and attempts to quit (OR = 0.77), while self‐reported addiction to vaping (OR = 1.42 and OR = 3.11) and perceiving vaping to be associated with mental health risks (OR = 1.30 and OR = 1.40) were positively correlated with these variables. Perceiving that vaping is common among people of one’s age (OR = 0.82) and finding vapes appealing (OR = 0.55) were associated with a lack of desire to quit, while perceiving vaping to have physical health risks was positively associated with quitting desire (OR = 1.58). School‐based education on vaping was associated with reporting an attempt/s to quit (OR = 0.47).

Conclusions

This survey of young Australian e‐cigarette users suggests a high level of desire to quit using e‐cigarettes and attempts to quit. Increasing knowledge regarding the physical and mental health risks associated with e‐cigarette use may assist with promoting quitting‐related intentions. Changing social norms, reducing the accessibility of e‐cigarettes and reducing the appeal of the products also constitute potential means of increasing the desire to quit.
Shape analysis of the carpal joint in healthy and septic arthritis in newborn calves
Authors: Koçak Sedef , Özaydin İsa , Gündemir Ozan
Published: June 2024

Septic arthritis is common in newborn calves due to poor birth and housing hygiene. This study investigated the pathological deformities caused by arthritis in the carpal bones of calves using geometric morphometry. The changes in the carpal joint bones of newborn calves with septic arthritis were examined through shape analysis. The study included 20 healthy Simmental calves and 30 Simmental calves with septic arthritis. Dorso‐palmar x‐ray images of the carpal joint were taken, and geometric morphometry was performed on these images using 25 landmarks. The first principal components (PC1) represented 26.92% of the total variation, while PC2 represented 13.84%. One of the most significant shape changes with increasing PC1 occurred in the os carpi intermedium. The study found that it was statistically possible to discriminate between radiometric carpal joint images of Simmental calves in the control and arthritis groups using geometric morphometry. In newborn calves with septic arthritis, the trochlea radi was located more proximally. There was an enlargement of the os carpi intermedium and a tendency towards the os carpi ulnare in female calves with septic arthritis. These results indicate significant bone deformation due to septic arthritis. Geometric morphometric methods can be clinically useful, as demonstrated in this study. Researchers can statistically explore these shape analyses, opening new avenues for research in this field. This method not only enhances our understanding of morphological changes but also provides a framework for clinical investigations and discoveries in related areas.
Informational lobbying and commercial diplomacy
Authors: Thrall Calvin
Published: June 2024

What determines thecontentof bilateral diplomacy? I argue that the foreign policy issues prioritized by specific embassies are influenced by their diplomats' sources of information. For evidence, I study the proliferation of American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams)—private interest groups composed of US firms that are operating in specific host states—over the 20th and early 21st centuries. AmChams became key sources of information for US embassies, particularly on issues of relevance to the private sector (such as tax, trade, and investment regulations). Using novel text data from approximately 1500 oral history interviews with former diplomats, and leveraging the institutional structure of diplomatic rotation, I show that diplomats who were exposed to active AmCham branches paid significantly greater attention to commercial issues. These results identify a new avenue through which interest groups can influence foreign policy, help explain the proliferation of probusiness international agreements over the past several decades, and contribute to the growing literature on diplomacy in the international political economy.
Race, legislative speech, and symbolic representation in Congress
Authors: Vishwanath Arjun
Published: June 2024

We know little about the extent to which racial minorities are symbolically represented by members of Congress. This stands in contrast to a wealth of research analyzing the extent to which minorities are substantively and descriptively represented. This article provides the most comprehensive analysis of symbolic representation to date. Using data on legislators’ speech from 105,875 newsletters and 620,838 floor speeches, I find that White legislators of both parties are more likely to symbolically represent Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians if those groups are more populous in their constituency. However, these effects only hold cross‐sectionally; using a difference‐in‐differences setup from redistricting shocks, I find that there is little within‐legislator variation in speech patterns as their constituencies change. Lastly, I show that, unlike on the symbolic dimension, legislators’ substantive representation is not influenced by group size. I conclude that White legislators are symbolically responsive to their constituents’ identities in their speech patterns.
Voted in, standing out: Public response to immigrants' political accession
Authors: Zonszein Stephanie , Grossman Guy
Published: June 2024

How do dominant‐group natives react to immigrants' political integration? We argue that ethnic minority immigrants winning political office makes natives feel threatened, triggering animosity. We test this dynamic across the 2010–2019 UK general elections, using hate crime police records, public opinion data, and text data from over 500,000 regional and local newspaper articles. While past work has not established a causal relationship between minorities' political power gains and dominant‐group animosity, we identify natives' hostile reactions with a regression discontinuity design that leverages close election results between immigrant‐origin ethnic minority and dominant‐group candidates. We find that minority victories increase hate crimes by 67%, exclusionary attitudes by 66%, and negative media coverage of immigrant groups by 110%. Consistent with power threat and social identity theories, these findings demonstrate a strong and widespread negative reaction—encompassing a violence‐prone fringe and the mass public—against ethnic minority immigrants' integration into majority settings.
Uncertain times: The causal effects of coups on national income
Authors: Grier Kevin , Grier Robin , Moncrieff Henry J.
Published: June 2024

We use doubly robust difference‐in‐differences models to estimate the causal effect of successful coups on national incomes. We find that real per capita gross domestic product (GDP) decreases by 10%–12% 5 years after a coup and the effect has not begun to diminish at that point. When we investigate the economic and political mechanisms behind this outcome, we find that our result is mostly driven by a fall in investment and in the rule of law, along with an increase in repression. Given the size of the effect, preventing coups can be seen as a significant development issue, and though the international community has taken steps to discourage coups, further consideration of anticoup policies seems well‐warranted.
Computer‐aided discovery of novel aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands to regulate CYP1A1 expression in inflammatory macrophages
Authors: Chen Kerui , Luo Li , Tu Gao , Yang Jingyi , Pu Wang , Zhu Junyu , Xue Weiwei , Zhang Rui
Published: June 2024

The environmental factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a key protein connecting the external environmental signals (e.g., environmental endocrine disruptor TCDD) to internal cellular processes, is involved in the activation of peripheral macrophages and inflammatory response in human body. Thus, there is widespread interest in finding compounds to anti‐inflammatory response in macrophages by targeting human AhR. Here, ensemble docking based‐virtual screening was first used to screen a library (~200,000 compounds) against human AhR ligand binding domain (LBD) and 25 compounds were identified as potential inhibitors. Then, 9 out of the 25 ligands were found to down‐regulate the mRNA expression of CYP1A1 (a downstream gene of AhR signaling) in AhR overexpressing macrophages. The most potent compound AE‐411/41415610 was selected for further study and found to reduce both mRNA and protein expressions level of CYP1A1 in mouse peritoneal macrophage. Moreover, protein chip signal pathway analysis indicated that AE‐411/41415610 play a role in regulating JAK–STAT and AKT–mTOR pathways. In sum, the discovered hits with novel scaffolds provided a starting point for future design of more effective AhR‐targeted lead compounds to regulate CYP1A1 expression of inflammatory peritoneal macrophages.
Progressive bone loss and bleeding on probing: A cohort study
Authors: Ramanauskaite Ausra , Padhye Ninad , Kallab Sandra , Dahmer Iulia , Begic Amira , Tiede Stefanie , Schwarz Frank
Published: June 2024

Aim

To investigate whether a progressive marginal bone loss (PMBL) occurring beyond the initial bone remodeling (IBR) is linked with bleeding on probing.

Materials and Methods

A total of 70 partially edentulous patients exhibiting 112 two‐piece bone‐level implants were included in this retrospective study. Panoramic radiographs were obtained after implant insertion (T0), after delivery of a final prosthetic restoration (T1) and subsequently during the 1‐(T2), 5‐(T3), 10‐(T4), and 15‐years (T5) follow‐up visits. At each time point, radiographic marginal bone levels were assessed from the implant shoulder to the first bone‐to‐implant contact at mesial and distal aspects. The IBR was defined as a bone loss occurring up to prosthesis delivery, that is, from T0 to T1. The PMBL was defined as bone loss occurring after T1. At T2, T3, T4, and T5, the presence or absence of bleeding on probing (BOP) was recorded at four sites. A median regression with mixed models was performed to assess the difference of PMBL in PMBL + BOP+ and PBML + BOP− groups.

Results

Over the mean implant functioning time of 4.44 ± 4.91 years, 38 (34%) implants showed no PBML, whereas 74 (66%) implants featured PMBL. Of these, 35 (47%) and 39 (53%) implants were assigned to the PMBL + BOP− and PMBL + BOP+ groups, respectively. The mean PMBL after 1, 5, 10, and 15 years were comparable between implants featuring PMBL with or without BOP. At 1 year, BOP intensity significantly correlated PMBL, with each increase in one BOP‐positive site being associated with increase in PMBL by 0.55 mm (p = 0.038), whereas this association was not found at 5, 10, and 15 years. The IBR values in the no PBML, PMBL + BOP+, and PBML + BOP− groups were −0.24 ± 0.31, −0.41 ± 0.59, and −0.24 ± 0.33 mm, respectively, with no significant differences found among the groups.

Conclusion

Progressive bone loss at implant sites is not always linked with bleeding on probing.
Signaling sustainability: Do Canadian consumers prefer broad or narrow food sustainability labels?
Authors: Yang Yang , Hobbs Jill E. , Fulmes Megan , Smyth Stuart J.
Published: June 2024

Sustainability labeling has been increasingly integrated into many food product labels in response to consumer interest in purchasing sustainably produced food. While a product label may contain the phrase “sustainably produced”, little additional information is available to consumers regarding how sustainability has been enhanced, or the dimensions of sustainability encompassed by the label. Using data from a survey of 1416 Canadian consumers, we examine consumer perceptions of sustainability and preferences for broad versus narrow sustainability claims across several contexts, including the dimensions of sustainability and the scope of a sustainability standard with respect to compliance criteria, product coverage, and geographical coverage. We find low levels of consumer knowledge and understanding of sustainability labeling, heterogeneity with respect to which dimension of sustainability appeals to different types of consumers, and a general preference for broad over narrowly defined sustainability labels, particularly with respect to the scope of criteria encompassed by the label. Our findings suggest some confusion as to what constitutes sustainability in the context of agri‐food, but that broader, more encompassing labels are likely to gain more traction with consumers.
Verbal evasion among Iranian presidential candidates
Authors: Yousofi Nouroddin , Najafi Ahmad
Published: June 2024

Clarity is an integral part of communication and a highly substantial speech principle. However, it is widely recognized that when public figures are confronted with unfavorable questions, they may choose to break the principle of clarity in communication and avoid direct reponses. In this regard, the present study attempts to provide a synopsis of the aspects of answering and evading employed by politicians in the context of Iran. To accomplish this goal, Bull's framework of evasion in news interviews and its subgenre was adopted. Data were collected from the tenth presidential candidates' debates in 2009 (the freest and the most controversial presidential debate, among others) between six Iranian candidates, including MirHosseyn Musavi, Mehdi Karubi, Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad, and Mohsen Rezaee. After analyzing the conversations, the questions in the debates were divided into two groups: those answered and those not. The unanswered questions, based on Bull's 12 techniques of evasion, were analyzed and incorporated into one of the 12 categories. The findings indicated that Iranian presidential candidates were largely evasive, and most of the time, they “ignored the question” when they were not eager to answer. Moreover, it was revealed that reformists, compared to fundamentalists, were more evasive.
Social class, smartphone advertising exposure, self‐esteem, and materialism: The case of children in Lebanon
Authors: Sayah Rita
Published: June 2024

The current compounded economic crisis in Lebanon has increased poverty rates and widened the gap between families of different socioeconomic classes. Little is known about the impact of advertising, particularly smartphone advertising, on the self‐esteem and materialism levels of children in developing countries like Lebanon. This study aimed to measure the differences among children coming from lower and upper socioeconomic classes in the following: smartphone advertising exposure, materialism and self‐esteem, vulnerability to the effects of smartphone advertising exposure on materialism, and vulnerability to the effects of materialism on self‐esteem. It was found that advertising affected negatively the self‐esteem of the children coming from lower social classes, including the “newly poor,” because in the current economic situation, children who are more exposed to advertising are more likely to believe in advertising, have lower self‐satisfaction, and believe themselves to be inferior for not owning the various products that are advertised, which lead them to become more materialistic than children from wealthier families. On the other hand, advertising had a reinforcing effect on materialism among more affluent children. In addition, and contrary to the expected, children from higher social classes, and not children from deprived households, were more susceptible to the impact of advertising on materialism. These findings enlighten us on the significant role that today's advertising plays in societies with wide socioeconomic disparities.
I balance suffering(s): The politics and moralities of humanitarian caseworkers in Egypt as a refugee transit point
Authors: Magdy Ramy , Yasser Mai
Published: June 2024

In a world where asylum and migration have become major concerns for countries of transit and destination, political neutrality seems to be demanded from humanitarian workers. But under the pressures of workload, limited funds, and complex settings, these actors deviate from expectations and practice extra‐legal authority of a unique political nature. When handling asylum cases, these agents take crucial decisions that decisively impact the lives of asylum seekers. In legally fragile transit points where the rule of law faces challenges and where asylum seekers come seeking further resettlement in European countries, rejected applicants face risky fates of deportation, jail, violence, or death. In turn, humanitarian caseworkers pushed by workloads, purse strings, emotional burnout, and compassion fatigue, flatten the sufferings of their applicants, balance, and rank them. Caseworkers have to rank sufferings and decide who may eventually survive and who may simply be left to a risky unknown. In Agambian terms, this extralegal authority draws the lines, creates a zone of exception and throws rejected applicants into the realm of “Bare Life” where they become “Homo Sacer,” whose life is worthless. Using Lipsky's theorization of street‐level bureaucrats and in‐depth interviews, the paper tackles these crucial issues by interviewing caseworkers from a variety of international organizations operating in the transit point of Egypt. These caseworkers are responsible for conducting different roles in the Refugee Status Determination process.
Time series generative adversarial network for muscle force prognostication using statistical outlier detection
Authors: Bansal Hunish , Chinagundi Basavraj , Rana Prashant Singh , Kumar Neeraj
Published: June 2024

Machine learning approaches, such as artificial neural networks (ANN), effectively perform various tasks and provide new predictive models for complicated physiological systems. Examples of Robotics applications involving direct human engagement, such as controlling prosthetic arms, athletic training, and investigating muscle physiology. It is now time for automated systems to take over modelling and monitoring tasks. However, there is a problem with the massive amount of time series data collected to build accurate forecasting systems. There may be inconsistencies in forecasting muscle forces due to the enormous amount of data. As a result, anomaly detection techniques play a significant role in detecting anomalous data. Detecting anomalies can help reduce redundancy and free up large storage space for storing relevant time‐series data. This paper employs several anomaly detection techniques, including Isolation Forest (iforest), K‐Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Open Support Vector Machine (OSVM), Histogram, and Local Outlier Factor (LOF). These techniques have been used by Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM), Auto‐Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), and Prophet models. The dataset used in this study contained raw measurements of body movements (kinematics) and the forces generated during walking (kinetics) of 57 healthy people (29 Female, 28 Male) without walking abnormalities or recent leg injuries. To increase the data samples, we used TimeGAN that generates synthetic time series data with temporal dependencies, aiding in training robust predictive models for muscle force prediction. The results are then compared with different evaluation metrics for five different samples. It is found that anomaly detection techniques with LSTM, ARIMA, and Prophet models provided better performance in forecasting muscle forces. The iforest method achieved the best Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (r) of 0.95, which is a competitive score with existing systems that perform between 0.7 and 0.9. The methodology provides a foundation for precision medicine, enhancing prognostic capability over relying solely on population averages.
A strategy for improving silk yield and organ size in silk‐producing insects
Authors: Tang Xin , Liu Huawei , Chang Li , Wang Xin , Liu Qingsong , Tang Zhangchen , Xia Qingyou , Zhao Ping
Published: June 2024

Insect silks possess excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility and mechanical properties, and have numerous applications in biomedicine and tissue engineering. However, the application of silk fiber is hindered by its limited supply, especially from non‐domesticated insects. In the present study, the silk yield and organ size of Bombyx mori were significantly improved through genetic manipulation of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) pathway components. Silk protein synthesis and silk gland size were decreased following rapamycin treatment, inhibiting the TORC1 signaling pathway both in vivo and ex vivo. The overexpression of posterior silk gland‐specific Rheb and BmSLC7A5 improved silk protein synthesis and silk gland size by activating the TORC1 signaling pathway. Silk yield in BmSLC7A5‐overexpression silkworms was significantly increased by approximately 25%. We have demonstrated that the TORC1 signaling pathway is involved in the transcription and translation of silk genes and transcriptional activators via phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase 1 and 4E‐binding protein 1. Our findings present a strategy for increasing silk yield and organ size in silk‐producing insects.
Swaying the advantage: multifaceted functions of inflammasomes in adaptive immunity
Authors: Zouali Moncef
Published: June 2024

Eukaryotic cells are equipped with cytoplasmic sensors that recognize diverse pathogen‐ or danger‐associated molecular patterns. In cells of the myeloid lineage, activation of these sensors leads to the assembly of a multimeric protein complex, called the inflammasome, that culminates in the production of inflammatory cytokines and pyroptosis. Recently, investigation of the inflammasomes in lymphocytes led to the discovery of functional pathways that were initially believed to be confined to the innate arm of the immune system. Thus, the adapter protein apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a CARD (ASC) was documented to play a critical role in antigen uptake by dendritic cells, and regulation of T‐ and B‐cell motility at several stages, and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) was found to act as a modulator of regulatory T‐cell differentiation. Remarkably, NLRP3 was demonstrated to act as a transcription factor that controls Th2 cell polarization, and as a negative regulator of regulatory T‐cell differentiation by limiting Foxp3 expression. In B lymphocytes, NLRP3 plays a role in the transcriptional network that regulates B‐cell development and homing, and its activation is essential for germinal center formation and maturation of high‐affinity antibody responses. Such recently discovered inflammasome‐mediated functions in T and B lymphocytes offer multiple cross‐talk opportunities for the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. A better understanding of the dialog between inflammasomes and intracellular components could be beneficial for therapeutic purposes in restoring immune homeostasis and mitigating inflammation in a wide range of disorders.
Structural and computational insights into the substrate specificity of acyltransferase domains from modular polyketide synthases
Authors: Huang Shuxin , Ji Huining , Zheng Jianting
Published: June 2024

Polyketides are natural products synthesized by polyketide synthases (PKSs), where acyltransferase (AT) domains play a crucial role in selection of extender units. Engineering of AT domains enables the site‐specific incorporation of non‐natural extender units, leading to generation of novel derivatives. Here, we determined the crystal structures of AT domains from the fifth module of tylosin PKS (TylAT5) derived from Streptomyces fradiae and the eighth module of spinosad PKS (SpnAT8) derived from Saccharopolyspora spinosa, and combined them with molecular dynamics simulations and enzyme kinetic studies to elucidate the molecular basis of substrate selection. The ethylmalonyl‐CoA‐specific conserved motif TAGH of TylAT5 and the MMCoA‐specific conserved motif YASH of SpnAT8 were identified within the substrate‐binding pocket, and several key residues close to the substrate acyl moiety were located. Through site‐directed mutagenesis of four residues near the active site, we successfully reprogrammed the specificity of these two AT domains toward malonyl‐CoA. Mutations in TylAT5 enhanced its catalytic activity 2.6‐fold toward malonyl‐CoA, and mutations in SpnAT8 eliminated the substrate promiscuity. These results extend our understanding of AT substrate specificity and would benefit the engineering of PKSs.
Fracture mechanism of Ti60 alloy at high temperature in very high cycle fatigue regime and fatigue life prediction
Authors: Zhou Qikai , Huang Zhiyong , Qian Hongjiang , Wang Jian , Shen Zeshuai , Pan Kai , Chen Yonghui
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to investigate the failure mechanism of Ti60 titanium alloy in the high cycle fatigue (HCF) and very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) at 500°C. Ti60 specimens were characterized before and after the 500°C VHCF test, and the fracture surfaces were observed. The results show that there are three different fatigue failure mechanisms at 500°C: (i) equiaxed primary α phase (αp) cleavage, forming small unsmooth facets and rough fracture area (RA), and fusion of non‐adjacent facets to grow into the main crack. (ii) αp grains gather into large grain with triple junction, and large grain slip to form large fusion facet. (iii) Oxide shedding and then cracks form. A dynamic recurrent neural network model is used to predict the fatigue life of Ti60 alloy, 91% of the overall predictions were within the scatter band of 3.0, and 100% were within the scatter band of 5.0.
Assessing the probiotic potential and safety of newly isolated Bacillus coagulans VHBAX‐04: in vitro and in silico evaluations
Authors: Sunhare Raksha , Shyam Prasad Shri Vidya , Kodimule Shyamprasad , Prabu Rajagopalan
Published: June 2024

The human gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse and intricate microbial community, a pivotal contributor to human well‐being. An effective strategy for exploring the diversity and potential probiotic attributes of Bacillus species is to isolate them from faecal samples. In this investigation, we scrutinised the in vitro probiotic characteristics of Bacillus coagulans VHBAX‐04, an isolate derived from human faeces. These attributes encompassed acid and gastric juice tolerance, resistance to bile salts and intestinal juice, adhesion capabilities, safety profile, antibiotic resistance pattern, the absence of toxin genes, and antimicrobial efficacy. Furthermore, we conducted in silico analyses to evaluate its probiotic potential. The notable absence of genes associated with mucin degradation, red blood cell lysis, gelatin hydrolysis, or toxin production in B. coagulans VHBAX‐04 certifies its safety as a probiotic. Additionally, the distinct antibiotic resistance pattern of strain VHBAX‐04 suggests its potential for co‐administration with antibiotics. In conclusion, this study underscores the suitability of B. coagulans VHBAX‐04 as a viable probiotic option. Isolation and Evaluation of Bacillus coagulans WBX04: A Probiotic Strain from Human Feces Studied through 16S rRNA Sequencing and In Vitro Tests.
Enhanced α‐glycosidase inhibition through synergistic interactions: A comprehensive analysis of dihydromyricetin and acarbose in vine tea extracts
Authors: Xia Xudong , Lu Rongrui , Zhao Nanxing , Kong Hongming , Yuan Fang , Liu Hesheng , Liu Lianliang , Qi Xiangyang , Chen Qiuping
Published: June 2024

α‐Glycosidase, a critical therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), can be modulated by inhibitors to reduce postprandial blood glucose levels. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) and its key compounds on α‐glycosidase. The results demonstrated that fifteen varieties of vine tea extracts inhibited α‐glycosidase in a dose‐dependent manner, with IC50 values ranging from 5.25 to 35.8 μg mL−1. HPLC analysis revealed dihydromyricetin (DHM) as the main compound in vine tea, with an IC50 value of 262.50 μM. Notably, the synergistic combination of DHM and the antidiabetic drug acarbose (ABS) significantly enhanced inhibitory effectiveness, with the optimal ratio (1:125) yielding a potentiation index (CI) of 0.09. Fluorescence and molecular docking analyses supported the hypothesis that DHM enhanced ABS's inhibitory effect through complex formation and specific interactions, offering a promising option for safer and more effective diabetes therapy.
The effects of rice bran oil, coconut oil and homogenisation pressure on the properties of oil‐in‐water emulsion loaded baicalein
Authors: Treesuwan Witcha , Treesuwan Khemmapas , Aussanasuwannakul Aunchalee
Published: June 2024

Baicalein is a functional flavonoid that has been intensively studied for its health benefits. Loading baicalein in oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions could provide advantages for its application in foods. This work investigated the characteristics of O/W emulsions loaded with baicalein formulated by combination of vegetable oils and homogenisation pressures. Rice bran oil (RBO) and coconut oil (CCO), classified as long‐chain triglycerides and medium‐chain triglyceride, were used in the homogenisation process at 600–1200 bar. The rice bran oil‐in‐water emulsion loaded with baicalein (RBOb/W) produced at 1200 bar provided the emulsion with the smallest particle size of the surface‐weighted mean diameter (d3,2) of 220 nm. The result showed that loading baicalein into RBO could reduce the particle size of O/W emulsion while it increased the particle size of coconut oil‐in‐water emulsion loaded with baicalein (CCOb/W). The RBOb/W and CCOb/W emulsions were physically stable in terms of droplet size during storage at 4 °C for 28 days. The change in viscosity of freshly prepared emulsion loaded with baicalein was dominant compared with the emulsion unloaded baicalein, however, the viscosity profiles of emulsions loaded with baicalein are like emulsions unloaded with baicalein after storage. The influence of baicalein on the viscoelastic properties of emulsion was observed in the storage modulus (G′) at low frequencies. These results suggest that baicalein could potentially interfere with the stabilising effect of Tween 20, contribute to droplet interactions, and migrate from the surface of RBO but not CCO. High baicalein retention of 91–98% was observed in the RBOb/W emulsions. This study recommends that RBO is preferable over CCO to produce O/W emulsion loaded with baicalein in terms of droplet size, stability and retention. It would be useful information to produce functional ingredients for the food industry.
Recent progress in metabolomics research: insights into fruit metabolome, harvesting techniques and health‐promoting bioactives
Authors: Dadwal Vikas , Aroor Manoj S. , Joshi Robin , Gupta Mahesh
Published: June 2024

The use of cutting‐edge omics technology to edible fruits has transformed the disciplines of fruit biology, pre‐ and post‐harvest investigations, metabolite biosynthesis and the identification of novel therapeutic fruit bioactives for health by leveraging varied omics data. Combining modern analytical chromatography tools (LC, GC) with mass spectrometry has significantly improved our ability to examine complex fruit tissues or extracted components, advancing our understanding of the fruit metabolome. Studies aiming at understanding the full metabolome and future quality characteristics have concentrated on quantifying the number of metabolites in edible fruit species and cultivars from diverse geographical locations. These studies have also helped to develop new databases for precise and comprehensive qualitative analysis of metabolites, allowing for the analysis of metabolite biosynthesis pathways to identify differences in metabolites among developed hybrids, metabolite origins and potential derivatives. Bioactive metabolite information is currently being utilised to manage illnesses, provide nutrition and creation of novel food products. Furthermore, this research has helped us better understand fruit quality and how metabolites interact with biological systems. In conclusion, this review emphasises the importance of metabolomics approaches in studying fruit metabolomes in the context of current research perspectives.
Child and mother characteristics associated with 6‐month weight gain for infants and toddlers during 6 to 36 months
Authors: Kenney Emma , Frongillo Edward A. , McIver Kerry L. , Dowda Marsha , Pate Russell R.
Published: June 2024

Background

The prevalence of childhood obesity in the U.S. has increased, likely due to decreased physical activity, increased sedentary behaviour and unhealthy diets. Little is known about the relationships between these factors and weight gain in those under the age of three.

Objectives

This study aimed to understand the longitudinal associations of weight gain over 6‐month intervals with child and parent characteristics as children develop from 6 to 36 months.

Methods

Mother and infant data were collected at 6‐month intervals from 6 to 36 months. Weight (kg) was the primary outcome variable, and potential explanatory variables included child and parent characteristics, physical activity, motor development, diet and sleep. Structural equation modelling was used to assess associations between explanatory variables and 6‐month weight gain.

Results

Weight increased ~1 kg per 6‐month interval (p < 0.001) from 6 to 36 months. Childcare outside of the home at 12 months was associated with 0.272 kg (p = 0.002) greater weight gain at 18 months, while children's physical activity was associated with 0.228 kg (per 2 SD, p = 0.051) less weight gain during the same time period. Mother's TV and screen media use (0.102 kg per hour/day, p = 0.046) and child's intake of high‐energy beverages at 18 months (0.387 kg, p = 0.037) were both associated with greater weight gain at 24 months.

Conclusion

Childcare, physical activity, screen media use and high‐energy beverage consumption might affect weight gain at different time points in early childhood. These insights can inform efforts to prevent excessive weight gain and childhood obesity effectively.
Global distribution range of birds is negatively correlated with their level of diet specialization
Authors: Benedetti Yanina , Morelli Federico
Published: June 2024

Aim

Understanding the factors determining the size of a species distribution range is crucial to preventing the extinction of vulnerable species, particularly specialist species. Previous research has shown that climate and various traits of a species significantly affect its distribution range size. However, the impact of avian dietary specialization remains relatively unexplored and geographically restricted.

Location

Worldwide.

Taxon

Birds.

Methods

We assessed the worldwide distribution range of 7416 bird species concerning the degree of diet specialization, including body mass size, daily activity and evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) as covariates. The phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) model – including the avian phylogeny – was used to test the potential correlation between the distribution range size of bird species and the explored life history traits.

Results

We found that, at a global scale, diet specialization negatively correlates with the distribution range size of bird species. Overall, diet specialist species displayed a distribution range of 60% smaller than generalist species.

Main Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that an avian diet specialization is crucial in predicting its potential distribution range size. This information is essential for those species with narrow distribution ranges often threatened by global concerns.
Oxidative stress in hair follicle development and hair growth: Signalling pathways, intervening mechanisms and potential of natural antioxidants
Authors: Du Fanpan , Li Jingjie , Zhang Shiqian , Zeng Xuemei , Nie Jing , Li Zheng
Published: June 2024

Hair follicle development and hair growth are regulated by multiple factors and multiple signalling pathways. The hair follicle, as an important skin appendage, is the basis for hair growth, and it has the functions of safeguarding the body, perceiving the environment and regulating body temperature. Hair growth undergoes a regular hair cycle, including anagen, catagen and telogen. A small amount of physiological shedding of hair occurs under normal conditions, always in a dynamic equilibrium. Hair loss occurs when the skin or hair follicles are stimulated by oxidative stress, inflammation or hormonal disorders that disrupt the homeostasis of the hair follicles. Numerous researches have indicated that oxidative stress is an important factor causing hair loss. Here, we summarize the signalling pathways and intervention mechanisms by which oxidative stress affects hair follicle development and hair growth, discuss existing treatments for hair loss via the antioxidant pathway and provide our own insights. In addition, we collate antioxidant natural products promoting hair growth in recent years and discuss the limitations and perspectives of current hair loss prevention and treatment.
Likelihood‐Based Estimation of Model‐Derived Oral Reading Fluency
Authors: Potgieter Cornelis , Qiao Xin , Kamata Akihito , Kara Yusuf
Published: June 2024

As part of the effort to develop an improved oral reading fluency (ORF) assessment system, Kara et al. estimated the ORF scores based on a latent variable psychometric model of accuracy and speed for ORF data via a fully Bayesian approach. This study further investigates likelihood‐based estimators for the model‐derived ORF scores, including maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), maximum a posteriori (MAP), and expected a posteriori (EAP), as well as their standard errors. The proposed estimators were demonstrated with a real ORF assessment dataset. Also, the estimation of model‐derived ORF scores and their standard errors by the proposed estimators were evaluated through a simulation study. The fully Bayesian approach was included as a comparison in the real data analysis and the simulation study. Results demonstrated that the three likelihood‐based approaches for the model‐derived ORF scores and their standard error estimation performed satisfactorily.
Infrared‐aided hot‐air drying of coconut: Impact on drying kinetics and quality metrics
Authors: Pandiselvam R. , Davison Sneha , Manikantan M. R. , Jeevarathinam G. , Jacob Anjitha , Ramesh S. V. , Shameena Beegum P. P.
Published: June 2024

This study explored various drying techniques and temperatures to analyze their effects on the drying kinetics and quality of copra. The initial moisture content of coconut kernels was 50%–55% (w.b.), which decreased to 6%–8% (w.b.) as a result of the drying process. This study focuses on evaluating the individual and hybrid effects of infrared drying (IRD) and hot‐air drying (HAD) techniques to enhance the quality of copra. Three drying methods were used: IRD, HAD, and infrared‐assisted hot‐air drying (IRAHAD). Coconut pieces were subjected to different drying temperatures (50, 60, and 70°C) with a constant air speed of 2 m/s. Optimal results were achieved by employing the IRAHAD method at 60°C, preserving a crucial fat content of 68.4% essential for increased extraction of oil from copra and comparatively high drying rates. In particular, the drying rates in IRAHAD were twice as high as those in IRD and HAD. At a drying temperature of 60°C, the logarithmic model and the diffusion approximation model were deemed the best fit for HAD and IRAHAD, respectively.

Practical applications

This study demonstrates the efficacy of infrared‐assisted hot‐air drying (IRAHAD) at 60°C in preserving copra's crucial fat content of 68.4% for optimal oil extraction. By implementing IRAHAD, producers can efficiently dry coconut kernels while maintaining quality, enhancing extraction yields, and improving overall profitability in the coconut processing industry.
Disrupted stress‐induced analgesia in a neuropathic pain state is rescued by the endocannabinoid degradation inhibitor JZL195
Authors: Atwal Nicholas , Sokolaj Eddy , Mitchell Vanessa A. , Winters Bryony L. , Vaughan Christopher W.
Published: June 2024

Acute stress normally engages descending brain pathways to produce an antinociceptive response, known as stress‐induced analgesia. Paradoxically, these descending pain modulatory pathways are also involved in the maintenance of the abnormal pain associated with chronic neuropathic pain. It remains unclear how stress‐induced analgesia is affected by neuropathic pain states. We therefore examined the impact of a chronic constriction nerve‐injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain on restraint stress‐induced analgesia in C57BL/6 mice. Thirty minutes of restraint stress produced analgesia in the hotplate thermal nociceptive assay that was less in CCI compared to control mice who underwent a sham‐surgery. In sham but not CCI mice, stress‐induced analgesia was reduced by the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone. The cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist AM281 did not affect stress‐induced analgesia in either sham or CCI mice. Low‐dose pre‐treatment with the dual fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor JZL195 increased stress‐induced analgesia in CCI but not sham mice. The JZL195 enhancement of stress‐induced analgesia in CCI mice was abolished by AM281 but was unaffected by naltrexone. These findings indicate that the acute opioid‐mediated analgesic response to a psychological stressor is disrupted in a nerve‐injury model of neuropathic pain. Importantly, this impairment of stress‐induced analgesia was rescued by blockade of endocannabinoid breakdown via a cannabinoid CB1 receptor dependent mechanism. These findings suggest that subthreshold treatment with endocannabinoid degradation blockers could be used to alleviate the disruption of endogenous pain control systems in a neuropathic pain state.

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Different stressors uniquely affect the expression of endocannabinoid‐metabolizing enzymes in the central ring ganglia of Lymnaea stagnalis
Authors: Rivi Veronica , Rigillo Giovanna , Batabyal Anuradha , Lukowiak Ken , Pani Luca , Tascedda Fabio , Benatti Cristina , Blom Johanna M. C.
Published: June 2024

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, energy balance, modulation of stress, and inflammatory responses, acting as a critical link between the brain and the body's peripheral regions, while also offering promising potential for novel therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, in humans, pharmacological inhibitors of different ECS enzymes have led to mixed results in both preclinical and clinical studies. As the ECS has been highly conserved throughout the eukaryotic lineage, the use of invertebrate model organisms like the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis may provide a flexible tool to unravel unexplored functions of the ECS at the cellular, synaptic, and behavioral levels. In this study, starting from the available genome and transcriptome of L. stagnalis, we first identified putative transcripts of all ECS enzymes containing an open reading frame. Each predicted protein possessed a high degree of sequence conservation to known orthologues of other invertebrate and vertebrate organisms. Sequences were confirmed by qualitative PCR and sequencing. Then, we investigated the transcriptional effects induced by different stress conditions (i.e., bacterial LPS injection, predator scent, food deprivation, and acute heat shock) on the expression levels of the enzymes of the ECS in Lymnaea's central ring ganglia. Our results suggest that in Lymnaea as in rodents, the ECS is involved in mediating inflammatory and anxiety‐like responses, promoting energy balance, and responding to acute stressors. To our knowledge, this study offers the most comprehensive analysis so far of the ECS in an invertebrate model organism.

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Aging and neurodegeneration: From molecular mechanisms to therapeutic interventions
Authors: Outeiro Tiago Fleming , Brocardo Patricia S. , Gelain Daniel P.
Published: June 2024

Protein aggregation is a common age‐associated process and can be a pathological hallmark of various neurodegenerative conditions, possibly because of an age‐associated decline in the activity of components of the proteostasis network. The specific molecular drivers of protein aggregation in certain cell types are not well understood, posing tremendous challenges to current research aimed at devising strategies to treat neurodegenerative diseases. This preface introduces the special issue “Aging and Neurodegeneration: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic interventions,” featuring articles that assess the drivers of pathology in the aging cell, including oxidative stress, protein glycation/aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.
Charting facial growth and development for Bantu Africans: Central tendencies, variational properties and sexual dimorphisms
Authors: Zhong Yu Jie , Cui Dan , Wen Patrick Yi Feng , Wong Hai Ming
Published: June 2024

Current studies on facial growth and development have been largely based on European populations. Less studied are African populations, who because of their distinct genetic makeup and environmental conditions, provide deeper insights into patterns of facial development. Patterns of facial shape development in African populations remain largely uncharacterised. Our study aimed to establish facial growth and development trajectories based on a cohort of 2874 Bantu Africans from Tanzania aged 6–18 years, with particular focus on identifying morphogenetic processes that lead to observed developmental shape changes. Procrustes ANCOVA suggested sexually dimorphic patterns of facial shape development (p = 0.0036). The forehead was relatively contracted during development in both sexes. The glabella region was more anteriorly displaced in females due to expansion in the region laterosuperior to the eyes. Nasal protrusion increased with development, which was found to arise from local expansion in the nasal alae and columella. Local expansion in the upper and lower labial regions resulted in forward displaced lips in both sexes, with the effect more pronounced in males. The mentum was displaced more anteriorly in females due to comparatively more expanded mental regions with development. The lateral facial region corresponding to the underlying body of the mandible were developmentally expanded but were posteriorly positioned due to protrusive growth of surrounding structures. Generalised additive modelling of Procrustes variance suggested that facial variation decreased non‐linearly with age (p < 0.05). Relative principal component analysis suggested that variations in facial outline shape were developmentally constrained, whereas nasolabial and mental regions, where developmental changes were significant, became morphologically diversified with development. In contrast to simple descriptive illustration of facial shape development, we gained transformative insights into patterns of facial shape development by analysing morphogenetic processes and variational properties. Our analytical framework is broadly applicable to morphometric studies on ontogenetic shape changes.