Browse Articles

Roasting temperature and fat type influence cholesterol oxidation products, fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of beef sausages

The impact of fat type (FT) and roasting temperature (RT) on oxysterols, physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of beef sausages were investigated. Beef sausages were formulated with either 20% Beef tallow (BT), Palm olein (PO) or Soybean oil (SO), and oven-cooked at either 180oC for 30 min or 240oC for 15 min. The BT, PO, and SO sausages had the highest (P<0.05) levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), respectively. Roasting at 240°C increased PUFA, MUFA, and total cholesterol levels, and reduced SFA moisture, and fat levels (P<0.05). The FT × RT interaction was significant for oxysterols, instrumental color and cook loss. The SO-180 sausages had higher levels of 7-ketocholesterol, 5,6β-epoxy cholesterol, cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one, and total oxysterols, but these levels decreased significantly at 240°C. The BT sausages exhibited lower overall cholesterol oxidation, though 22R-hydroxycholesterol was elevated at 180°C, while the PO sausages showed intermediate oxysterol oxidation, with 7α-hydroxycholesterol increasing at 240°C (P<0.05). The SO sausages had higher TBARS compared to other sausages (P<0.05). The BT sausages had greater lightness and lower cook loss at 240°C, while redness increased in both BT and SO sausages at 240oC (P<0.05). The BT sausages had higher hardness and chewiness. The PO sausages had better taste scores than the BT sausages, with similar results to SO sausages, and both PO and SO sausages had higher appearance and overall acceptance scores than the BT sausages. Fat type and roasting temperature synergistically affect oxysterol levels and quality attributes of beef sausages, highlighting the importance of selecting suitable fats and roasting conditions to ensure safety, nutritional value, and sensory quality.

Effects of two different peptides on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in larval zebrafish

Epilepsy is a common and severe neurological disease characterized by spontaneous and recurrent seizures. Although anti-seizure treatments are effective for most patients, approximately 30% remain pharmacoresistant. Moreover, uncontrolled seizures are associated with increased health risks and shortened life expectancy in individuals with refractory epilepsy. Preclinical studies play a crucial role in drug discovery, and the zebrafish (Danio rerio) have been successfully employed for this purpose. In this study, we utilized the zebrafish PTZ-induced seizure model to evaluate the effects of two peptides on seizure responses: Tripeptide (p-BTX-I) and the CX2 (a Cx43derivated peptide). Zebrafish larvae at 6 days post-fertilization were pre-treated with these peptides at various concentrations, depending on their experimental groups, 24h prior to seizure induction. We assessed seizure frequency, quantified swimming activity, measured transcript levels of genes related to inflammation and apoptosis (il1b, tnfa, cox1, cox2a, il6, casp3a, casp9, baxa, bcl2a, and c-fos), and analyzed the biodistribution of both peptides. Our results indicate that the Tripeptide exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, particularly through reducing the expression of il1b and casp9. CX2 pre-treatment significantly downregulated inflammatory markers (il1b, il6, tnfa, and cox1). Biodistribution analysis confirmed that the CX2 peptide reached the zebrafish brain, suggesting a direct role in modulating seizure-related pathways. Our findings demonstrate that Tripeptide and CX2 peptides can modulate gene expression and mitigate molecular response associated with epileptic seizures in the zebrafish brain. These peptides thus represent promising candidates for future research aimed at developing novel anti-epileptic therapies. However, additional studies are required to evaluate their long-term efficacy, elucidate underlying mechanisms of action, and explore potential translational applications.

A scoping review of the incentives for promoting the adoption of agroecological practices and outcomes among rice farmers in Vietnam

Recent research and development efforts to achieve sustainable rice production in Vietnam have incorporated agroecological principles and practices. These efforts have come as a result of increasing pressure on food systems to achieve global food security. Growing food demand, rising population, climate change, and natural resources degradation, make it necessary to transform the current production systems towards more sustainable models. Agroecology is being promoted as one of the pathways to transition toward sustainable food production, with broad adoption requiring incentives for farmers. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, we conducted a scoping review of 120 articles to understand the incentives applied for promoting agroecological practices, whether and how the incentives promote the adoption of agroecological practices, and their relationship with economic, environmental, and social outcomes among rice farmers in Vietnam. Such in-depth reviews of the role of incentives in the agroecological transition are scarce. Results show that in about 60% of the articles, incentives led to adoption, outcomes (e.g., yield and income gains), or both, suggesting the importance and common use of incentives among rice farmers in Vietnam. Four types of incentives used were market, non-market, regulatory, and cross-compliance. These incentives directly or indirectly influenced outcomes through the adoption of agroecological practices. Market incentives (33%) were relatively more important for directly influencing outcomes, while non-market incentives (50%) were more important for indirectly influencing outcomes. Market, non-market, and regulatory incentives were more associated with the adoption of new agronomic practices, such as farm diversification, improved varieties, and organic agriculture than with other practices, while cross-compliance incentives were more highly associated with adoption of agroforestry. Generally, the incentives used were more associated with economic outcomes (56%), than with environmental (31%), and social (13%) outcomes. Overall, the results show that incentives influence outcomes differently, and a combination of different incentives is required to achieve holistic outcomes.

Optimizing electromagnetic wave propagation in cylindrical structures with beam-plasma interactions: A mode-matching approach

This study introduces a method for analyzing the propagation of electromagnetic waves in cylindrical structures with central chambers facilitating beam-plasma interactions, particularly relevant for slow-wave structures in backward wave oscillators. The boundary value problem, governed by the Helmholtz equation, is resolved using the mode-matching technique, yielding an exact solution. The analysis elucidates key phenomena, including reflection, transmission, orthogonality relations, and power flux variations with frequency and material properties. By examining the effects of plasma frequency and beam radius on phase velocity, group velocity, and interaction efficiency, the study provides insights into optimizing wave propagation and energy transfer. The results demonstrate that higher plasma frequencies and reduced beam radii enhance scattering characteristics, offering practical guidance for designing efficient electromagnetic devices.

Comparison of case-based learning and traditional lecture in teaching residents on research misconduct: a controlled before-and-after study

As scientific outputs continue to surge, research misconduct has garnered global attention. Case-based learning (CBL), an active student-centered learning strategy, possesses many advantages but has not been widely used in China due to resource constraints. This study aimed to address the research gap regarding the impact of CBL and traditional lecture on residents’ knowledge and attitudes towards research misconduct. This controlled before-and-after study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in southwest China from November 2022 through March 2023. All medical residents at the two hospitals were defined as participants. Residents participating in CBL course at one hospital comprised the experimental group, whereas those engaging in traditional lecture at another hospital constituted the control group. The CBL and control group included 202 and 205 individuals, respectively. A total of 298 subjects were successfully matched after propensity score matching, with 149 individuals in each group. After the courses, the participants’ knowledge on research misconduct, perceived consequences for research misconduct, and their agreement rate regarding research misconduct improved in the CBL and control group (P < 0.05), but certain aspects of their perceived consequences and agreement rate did not show significant improvement in the control group. The results revealed that there is a marked enhancement in residents’ knowledge about research misconduct, their perception of its consequences, and their overall disapproval of such behavior in the CBL group. This underscores the effectiveness of CBL in fostering a deeper understanding and stronger aversion towards research misconduct among residents.

Prognostic significance of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations in stage II/III colorectal cancer: A retrospective study and meta-analysis

The prognostic significance of KRAS and BRAF mutations is well-established in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) but remains uncertain in early-stage tumors. This study retrospectively analyzed 47 stage II/III CRC patients undergoing curative surgery to assess the association of mutations in KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Additionally, a meta-analysis was conducted to validate the prognostic relevance of these gene mutations. We included post hoc analyses of phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in stage II/III patients receiving adjuvant therapy after curative resection in the meta-analysis. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using a random-effect model in the overall population, stratified subgroups adjusted for microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and within MSI-high (MSI-H) and microsatellite-stable (MSS) populations. In the retrospective cohort, mutations in KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA were identified in 29.8%, 4.3%, 8.5%, and 14.9% of patients, respectively. No significant association between individual genes and survival was observed. However, in MSS patients, concurrent mutations were significantly associated with shorter OS and DFS (log-rank test, P < 0.05). The meta-analysis incorporated 13 eligible studies, including 15,034 patients. Pooled analyses revealed that KRAS and BRAF mutations were significantly linked to poor OS (KRAS: HR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.06-1.47, P = 0.008; BRAF: HR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.26-1.63, P < 0.001) and DFS (KRAS: HR = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.21-1.53, P < 0.001; BRAF: HR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.02-1.44, P = 0.032). The prognostic impact of BRAF mutation increased with MSI adjustment compared those without MSI adjustment. In MSS tumors, KRAS-mutant patients demonstrated significantly shorter DFS (HR = 1.63, 95%CI: 1.25-2.13, P < 0.001), while BRAF-mutant patients exhibited reduced OS (HR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.24-1.89, P < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.20-2.46, P = 0.003) compared to wildtype patients. Conversely, no significant survival differences were found between mutant and wildtype patients in the MSI-H population. Although PIK3CA mutation was nominally associated with OS (HR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.75-1.00, P = 0.046), the pooled result lacked robustness. In conclusion, KRAS and BRAF mutations had a negative prognostic impact on MSS stage II/III CRC patients receiving adjuvant therapy following curative resection. These patients may benefit from more effective adjuvant treatment strategies.

Exploration of the pattern, clinical presentation and outcome of children with renal diseases: A 14-year retrospective study at a teaching hospital in Ghana

Introduction Paediatric nephropathy, a condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality, is increasing in developing countries. Data on children with renal diseases are insufficient in Ghana despite the risk it poses. This study assessed the pattern, spectrum, outcome, and predictors of dialysis and death among children with renal disease at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana. Materials and methods A cross-sectional retrospective review was conducted among children aged 0–17 years. Demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory data, information on dialysis and treatment outcomes were obtained from their medical records and analyzed accordingly using STATA software version 15.1. Results A total of 332 children with renal diseases were seen (median age of 6 years), with 200(60.98%) being males. The most common renal diseases were nephrotic syndrome 141(42.47%) and acute kidney injury (AKI) 87(26.20%). Idiopathic (unknown) causes (82.98%) and intravascular hemolysis secondary to malaria (41.38%) were the major causes of nephrotic syndrome and acute kidney injury respectively. A death rate of 15.06% resulting mostly from AKI (6.33%) was observed whilst 7.83% underwent dialysis. Predictors of dialysis among those who had dialysis included being a female and having acute on chronic kidney disease whilst having high white blood cell count and acute on chronic kidney disease were significant predictors of death among children with renal diseases. Conclusion Paediatric renal diseases at KBTH were dominated by nephrotic syndrome and AKI. Timely treatment and prevention of common infectious agents and conditions causing intravascular hemolysis, which can contribute to paediatric renal diseases in Ghana, is needed to help reduce their progression to various forms of kidney disease.

Impacts of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation on discrepancies and 30-days post-discharge health services utilization in elderly Jordanians

Objectives To assess the impacts of pharmacist-led medication reconciliation (MedRec) on medication discrepancies and post-discharge health services utilization in elderly patients in Jordan. And to identify predictors of post discharge outcomes. Method Newly admitted patients, aged above 65 years were randomly allocated into either a group receiving pharmacist led MedRec or standard care. Within 24 hours of admission, a clinical pharmacist compiled a list of the Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) using at least two sources of information. The pharmacist compared the BPMHs to the admission charts to identify discrepancies and resolved them accordingly. One month post-discharge, patients were assessed for health services use, namely hospital readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and adverse drug events (ADEs). Logistic regressions used to investigate predictors of post discharge outcomes. Results A total of 128 patients with 151 medication discrepancies were included: 82 (54.3%) discrepancies in the intervention group, and 69 (45.7%) in the control group. A total of 52 Pharmacist-led interventions were recommended to physicians, of which 49 (94.2%) were accepted/implemented. At discharge, the majority of unintentional discrepancies were successfully resolved (p < 0.001). At 30 days post-discharge, patients who were readmitted to the hospital and visited the ED were significantly from the control group. There was no significant difference with respect to experiencing ADEs among the study groups. Patients who received pharmacist-led MedRec had almost 70% lower likelihood of hospital readmission and ED visits. Discrepancies at discharge was associated with higher odds of hospital readmissions. Conclusion Pharmacist-led MedRec services improved continuity of care for elderly patients. Implementing a structured reconciliation process successfully resolved discrepancies and reduced hospital readmissions as well as ED visits at 30-days post-discharge. This outlines potentials for healthcare cost savings. Future studies are recommended to explore long-term benefits, cost-effectiveness, and integrating pharmacist-led MedRec into standard discharge planning.

Bacterial expression, purification and folding of exceptionally hydrophobic and essential protein: Surfactant Protein-B (SP-B)

Lung Surfactant Protein B (SP-B) is essential for life. It is thus striking that, to this point, no method for making the full-length protein has been published and consequently we lack detailed understanding of SP-B’s basic structure-function relationships, as well as an inability to make it for clinical use. The major challenge in producing SP-B lies with its exceptionally hydrophobic nature. In this work, we present a method to produce recombinant SP-B in bacteria that can be used to make the full-length protein as well as the product focused on here, which is a construct lacking the N-terminal 7 residues, rSP-B (Δ7NTC48S-SP-B-6His). The construct is produced as a fusion to Staphylococcus nuclease A (SN) in Escherichia coli C43 cells, a strain known to promote production of toxic and membrane recombinant proteins. After cleavage from SN, rSP-B is folded on column and then exchanged into the lipid or detergent system of choice. rSP-B prepared in this way exhibits the correct secondary structure and demonstrates surface activity. The yield obtained is 0.3 mg of purified rSP-B (Δ7NTC48S-SP-B-6His) per liter of initial bacterial culture. We expect this method for producing SP-B will be valuable in enabling basic research into SP-B’s mechanisms, as well as possibly facilitating the inclusion of SP-B in lung surfactant formulations to treat common and frequently fatal lung conditions and in lung surfactant-based drug delivery.

Some novel concepts of interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy graphs and computational framework of fuzzy air conditioning system

The interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets being an extension of interval-valued intuitionistic and interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy sets is more flexible model to address vague information that has only two attributes yes or no. The combination of the concept of graph structures with interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets termed interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy graphs has been introduced in the literature. Due to its nature, interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy graph provides a vast space for membership and non-membership values. In this study, we initiate the notions of covering and matching in the paradigm of interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy graphs (IVq-ROFGs) and provide the analysis of fuzzy air conditioning system (FACS) based on these concepts. Some results and theorems related to these concepts, previously established for different fuzzy graphs, are also extended. In the beginning, we introduce the idea of covering in IVq-ROFGs and investigate several characteristics of some special types of IVq-ROFGs like cyclic IVq-ROFGs, complete IVq-ROFGs and complete bipartite IVq-ROFGs. Afterwards, we introduce the concept of matching in IVq-ROFGs and discuss various types of matchings within this frame. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our study, we apply the concepts of SAs and SIS in IVq-ROFGs supported by algorithm and pseudocode, to establish an appropriate framework for the FACS. This framework assesses the relationship between room temperature and target temperature. Finally, comparative study is conducted to verify that the presented model is the extension of the existing models in the literature.

The reliability and validity of a non-wearable indoor positioning system to assess mobility in older adults: A cross-sectional study

Background Detecting early changes in walking speed can allow older adults to seek preventative rehabilitation. Currently, there is a lack of consensus on which assessments to use to assess walking speed and how to continuously monitor walking speed outside of the clinic. Chirp is a privacy-preserving radar sensor developed to continuously monitor older adults’ safety and mobility without the need for cameras or wearable devices. Our study purpose was to evaluate the inter-sensor reliability, intrasession test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity of Chirp in a clinical setting. Methods We recruited 35 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 75.5 (standard deviation: 6.6) years, 86% female). All participants lived alone in an urban city in southwestern Ontario and had access to a smart device with wireless internet. Data were collected with a 4-meter ProtoKinetics Zeno TM Walkway (pressure sensors) with the Chirp sensor (radar positioning) at the end of the walkway. We assessed participants walking speed during normal and adaptive locomotion experimental conditions (walking-while-talking, obstacle, narrow walking, fast walking). We selected walking speed as a measure as it is a good predictor of functional mobility but also is associated with physical and cognitive functioning in older adults. Each of the experimental conditions was conducted twice in a randomized order, with fast walking trials performed last. For intra-session reliability testing, we conducted two blocks of walks within a participant session separated by approximately 30 minutes. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (A,1) (ICC (A,1) ) was used to assess the reliability and validity. Linear regression, adjusted for gender, was used to investigate the association between Chirp and cognition and health-related quality of life scores. Results Chirp walking speed inter-sensor reliability ICC (A,1)  = 0.999[95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.997 to 0.999] and intrasession test-retest reliability [ICC (A,1) = 0.921, 95% CI: 0.725 to 0.969] were excellent across all experimental conditions. Chirp walking speed concurrent validity compared to the ProtoKinetics Zeno TM Walkway was excellent across experimental conditions [ICC (A,1)  = 0.993, 95% CI: 0.985 to 0.997]. We found a weak association between walking speed and cognition scores using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment across experimental conditions (estimated β-value = 7.79, 95% CI: 2.79 to 12.80) and no association between walking speed and health-related quality of life using the 12-item Short Form Survey across experimental conditions (estimated β-value = 6.12, 95% CI: -7.12 to 19.36). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that Chirp is a reliable and valid measure to assess walking speed parameters in clinics among older adults.

Eliminating the myth of individual penalties in environmental law: Individual penalties and pollution emission reduction before and after the revision of China’s environmental protection act

Developing countries, including China, have long focused on punishing individuals through environmental laws. This focus stems from the fact that individual penalties are increasing and pollution emissions are decreasing. However, the over-emphasis on individual punishment in environmental laws is actually a false superstition. This paper takes the 2015 revision of China’s Environmental Protection Law as the node, analyses the impact of the law revision on the intensity of individual punishment and the degree of pollution emission, and then analyses the correlation between individual punishment and pollution emission reduction. The conclusion is that there is no correlation between individual punishment and pollution emission reduction. As a result, this paper dispels the myth of individual punishment in environmental laws. With the rapid development of economy and society, China’s environmental law should stimulate enterprises, citizens and public welfare organisations to participate, so as to change the purely punitive governance into collaborative governance.

Exploring the impact of virtual reality-based mathematics learning on students’ motivation: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

It has been extensively documented that motivation plays a pivotal role in both the learning and performance of mathematics, often intersecting with various antecedents of mathematical competence, such as math anxiety and self-esteem. These factors, in turn, significantly influence the well-being of students. Therefore, it is necessary to provide learning situations that may impact students’ motivation in learning mathematics. During the digital era, studies have examined the use of technology, particularly, virtual reality-based mathematics learning in explaining the variance of students’ motivation in mathematics learning. However, the results seem to be various and a comprehensive review about the impact of virtual reality mathematics learning on students’ motivation does not seem to exist yet. This review aims to fill this knowledge gap by examining the impact of mathematics learning using virtual reality-based learning materials on students’ motivation. The literature search will be conducted across multiple bibliographic databases, including Cambridge, Oxford, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, SpringerLink. Only studies published in English, German, or Indonesian within the past seven years will be eligible for inclusion in the review. The risk of bias inherent in this review will be evaluated by two independent reviewers utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical assessment tool. Any discrepancies between the reviewers will be resolved through the third reviewer. Further, quality of evidence will be examined using The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE). A review exploring the correlation between mathematics education utilizing virtual reality and student motivation will offer educational practitioners and stakeholder’s valuable insights into the effective integration of technology-based learning resources, particularly virtual reality. The findings of this study aim to elucidate the advantages and potential drawbacks associated with the adoption of virtual reality in mathematics education, as well as identify the student and instructional material characteristics that may be associated with specific increases in motivation. This protocol has been registered in PROSPERO with registration number: CRD42023463974.

Gender roles in ruminant disease management in Uganda: Implications for the control of peste des petits ruminants and Rift Valley fever

There is a distinct division of tasks and roles between men and women in livestock management in the different ruminant production systems in Uganda. Division of roles can influence disease control and prevention. This qualitative study asks what men and women do to prevent or control diseases that affect them and their livestock and what factors influence the choice of disease control measures taken. Discussants represented three production systems (pastoral, agro-pastoral, and mixed crop livestock), selected for the high prevalence of two livestock diseases (peste des petits ruminants and Rift Valley fever). Sex-disaggregated focus group discussions with livestock keepers and key informant interviews with veterinarians and other experts were conducted in six districts in the western, northeastern, and eastern regions of Uganda. Gendered livestock management roles strategically positioned men, women, girls, and boys to observe different clinical manifestations of disease. Livestock keepers mostly reported within-farm prevention and control methods, for which they presumably had more control than between-farm or community-level methods. While livestock keepers embraced disease control options such as the use of drugs, spraying acaracides, and the use of traditional herbs, many had concerns and misconceptions about vaccination as a preventive measure. Although women had fewer concerns about vaccine side effects, they still faced constraints, such as mistrust of animal health workers, limited decision-making powers, domestic workload, and inability to access vaccination points. The study findings can guide appropriate, gender-responsive interventions tailored by production system for controlling ruminant diseases in Uganda.

Research on the impact effect of multimodal transport on domestic and international dual circulation: Evidence from China’s railway and water transport

As an important part of the modern integrated transportation system, multimodal transport can promote changes in the transportation structure and serve as a crucial lever for upgrading the logistics industry and promoting domestic and international economic and trade development. Based on panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2017 to 2023, a fixed-effects model was constructed to empirically test the mechanism and impact of multimodal transport on domestic and international dual circulation. The findings reveal that the development of multimodal transport has a positive effect on both domestic and international circulations, with a more significant impact on the latter. Specifically, waterway multimodal transport significantly promotes both circulations, while railway multimodal transport only significantly affects the domestic circulation. Furthermore, the impact of multimodal transport on domestic and international dual circulations exhibits notable regional heterogeneity, with multimodal transport in eastern regions having a stronger effect on international circulations and that in central regions having a stronger effect on domestic circulations. This paper analyzes the theory of the multimodal transport’s impact on domestic and international dual circulation, provides a practical basis and reference for further research on the development of multimodal transport in relation to domestic and international dual circulation.

A spectral Fletcher-Reeves conjugate gradient method with integrated strategy for unconstrained optimization and portfolio selection

The spectral conjugate gradient (SCG) technique is highly efficient in addressing large-scale unconstrained optimization challenges. This paper presents a structured SCG approach that combines the Quasi-Newton direction and an extended conjugacy condition. Drawing inspiration from the Fletcher-Reeves conjugate gradient (CG) parameter, this method is tailored to improve the general structure of the CG approach. We rigorously establish the global convergence of the algorithm for general functions, using criteria from a Wolfe-line search. Numerical experiments performed on some unconstrained optimization problems highlight the superiority of this new algorithm over certain CG methods with similar characteristics. In the context of portfolio selection, the proposed method extended to address the problem of stock allocation, ensuring optimized returns while minimizing risks. Empirical evaluations demonstrate the efficiency of the method, demonstrating significant improvements in computational efficiency and optimization outcomes.

Comparative study of Taqman-based qPCR assay for the detection of Anisakis simplex and Pseudoterranova decipiens

Anisakidosis is a foodborne parasitic infection caused by the consumption of raw or uncooked seafood that contains third stage larvae from the Anisakidae family. This infection has been observed across the globe, with a particularly high prevalence in South Korea and Japan. Consequently, there is a necessity to compare and analyze the optimal detection methods with a view to preventing Anisakis outbreaks. In this study, a species-specific Taqman-based qPCR method was developed for the detection of the internal transcribed spacer region and mtDNA genes of Anisakis simplex and Pseudoterranova decipiens. Parasite-specific primer/probe sets were selected based on the data from domestic and foreign detection methods. In addition, we have designed our own primer/probe sets based on the target region of each parasite. A comprehensive literature review and a self-creation process were undertaken to select thirteen detection method sets for A. simplex and P. decipiens. The sensitivity of these sets was then evaluated by comparing the Cq values from extracted DNA. The concentrations of six primer/probe sets detected through the screening process were then compared to optimize the test method. The resultant optimized method demonstrated a limit of detection of 0.0019 ng/µL for A. simplex and 0.0001 ng/µL for P. decipiens. The specificity test also confirmed that there was no cross-activity with the five parasite samples and the three types of anisakids plasmid DNA. This study would contribute development of a rapid detection method for anisakidosis, providing a foundation for proactive responses to food poisoning outbreaks.

Association between physical activity, socioeconomic status, blood biomarkers, and diet in lebanese adults

Background Inactivity is a significant contributor to non-communicable diseases. In Lebanon, the World Health Organization reported a rising prevalence of physical inactivity among adults. Various studies highlight the benefits of physical activity (PA) on health, influenced by sociodemographic factors, gender, age, and diet. This study aims to examine PA correlates in Lebanese adults, focusing on blood biomarkers. Methods This cross-sectional study included 296 adults aged ≥18 years. Participants completed a brief sociodemographic and food frequency questionnaire, underwent anthropometric measurements, and provided fasting blood samples. PA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form and was divided into two categories: low PA corresponding to any walking activity, and moderate to vigorous PA for activities requiring physical effort. Descriptive statistics were computed for sociodemographic characteristics, BMI, waist circumference, energy intake, PA levels, and blood biomarkers. Logistic regressions were used to assess PA and blood biomarkers associations, adjusted for relevant covariates. Results Gender and marital status were associated with moderate to vigorous PA levels. No association was found between PA levels, BMI, waist circumference, diet, or blood biomarkers. Multivariate binary logistic regression analyses showed that females (OR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.16–3.31) and those with LDL moderate risk (OR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.02–3.66), and high risk (OR=2.44, 95% CI: 1.08–5.55), were more likely to show moderate-to-high PA levels. Conclusion PA was positively associated with gender and disease risk, particularly LDL, a biomarker known to jeopardize cardiovascular health. Disease risk appears to be a driving factor in performing physical activity among women. These results may guide early nutrition interventions endorsing physical activity as a preventive measure to decrease the prevalence of cardio metabolic disorders.

25(OH)D3 and F-25(OH)D as indicators of chronic kidney disease progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Salinity tolerance of Round Goby: Informing invasion potential in North American coastal watersheds

Since being introduced into the Laurentian Great Lakes in the 1990s, round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) has spread rapidly, reaching the Hudson River Estuary, NY in 2021. To address the expansion potential into saline environments from this North American coastal invasion front, we experimentally assessed the salinity tolerance of adult round gobies. Water temperatures vary widely in temperate aquatic ecosystems, and our study is the first to investigate the effect of temperature on the salinity tolerance of round goby, conducting tolerance trials at three temperatures: a preferred temperature of 20°C, 26°C reflective of summer conditions, and 5°C reflective of winter conditions. Adult round gobies were subjected to weekly salinity increases of 3 parts per thousand (ppt), concluding at 33ppt. Study specimens were monitored for stress cues (behavior changes and color changes), and mortality. We found significant salinity tolerance differences dependent on water temperature, with the highest tolerance at 5°C and the lowest tolerance at 26°C. By 30ppt, survival was 87% at 5°C and only 7% at 26°C. Based on mortality results, round goby expansion may occur year-round into brackish portions (<21ppt) of the Hudson River Estuary as far south as the Harlem River. This would open access to portions of Long Island Sound, potentially rendering other coastal watersheds to be at risk of invasion. However, temperature-dependent salinity tolerance findings suggest round goby expansion potential into high salinity habitats may be seasonally dependent, with expansion opportunities occurring in colder months and expansion barriers occurring in warmer months. To assess longer term survival and body condition, another experiment maintained round gobies at four sustained salinities (≤ 21ppt) for ten weeks at 20°C. Growth and hepatosomatic index at 21ppt were significantly lower (p<0.001) than at 1, 9, and 15ppt, indicating sustained exposure to higher salinities may affect energy stores, potentially limiting establishment potential.