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Soluble activin receptor type IIB-mediated inhibition improves muscle regeneration following Crotalus atrox venom-induced damage
Get PDFViper bite envenomation often results in prominent skeletal muscle damage. According to our previous studies, prolonged pres-ence of C. atrox venom toxins induced extensive muscle damage which mimicked the outcome of chronic muscle damage often seen in human muscular dystrophies. In the case of chronic muscle damage, two critical processes occur: muscle regeneration is im-paired, and fibrosis develops. Myostatin/Activin signalling is a key regulator of both of these processes. Myostatin and its closely related molecules in particular Activin inhibit myocyte proliferation and differentiation while promoting fibroblast proliferation and expression of extracellular matrix proteins. Thus, attenuating Myostatin/Activin signalling offers an attractive means of promoting muscle development while decreasing fibrosis. Hence, we have used the soluble Activin Receptor type IIb, which acts as a ligand trap for both Myostatin and Activin to dampen signalling and assessed whether this intervention can alter the patholog-ical trajectory of C. atrox venom-induced muscle damage in mice. We report that the soluble Activin Receptor type IIb treatment increased the size of regenerating fibres while at the same time reducing the level of fibrotic tissue in muscle damaged with C. atrox venom
The effects of processing steps on avenanthramides, avenacosides and β-glucan content during the production of oat-based milk alternatives
Get PDFOat-Based Milk Alternatives (OMAs) may provide health benefits resulting from oat nutritional compounds; avenanthramides, polyphenols providing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; avenacosides, saponins with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties; and β-glucans, which may assist in lowering blood cholesterol and prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Oats undergo multiple processing steps to ensure a sensory appealing and safe product, however, little research has been carried out on the specific effects on these compounds. This study aimed to determine concentration of avenanthramides, avenacoside A and β-glucan in OMA samples throughout 12 stages of production. Avenanthramides and avenacosides were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, with β-glucan determined spectrophotometrically using a modified enzymatic assay.
An overall reduction of 42% was observed in measured β-glucan, with a decanting stage a main contributing factor. Measured β-glucan was negatively impacted by glucoamylase treatment, yet increased upon α-amylase, 90°C and high shear treatments. Avenanthramides and avenacoside A significantly increased after initial enzymatic treatment with α-amylase, whilst avenanthramides again upon 90°C heat treatment and decanting. However, avenanthramide concentration decreased after UHT and prolonged heat treatments, suggesting a susceptibility to degradation at temperatures above 120°C. With this information, future production may be optimised to better preserve potential health benefits of OMAs
Extremely persistent precipitation events during April–June 2022 in the southern China: projected changes at different global warming levels and associated physical processes
No full textWith the rapid progression of global climate warming, the southern China is facing severe challenges related to extreme precipitation. Based on the multi-model ensembles of CMIP6 simulations, the future changes in extreme precipitation in the southern China at various global warming levels (GWLs) under the SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 are investigated and the likelihood of rare events like those occurred during April–June 2022 is assessed. As global surface temperatures rise, the southern China is expected to experience more frequent and intense extreme precipitation events compared to those in the recent climate. The changes in magnitudes of precipitation extremes and the likelihood of rare events primarily depend on the GWLs, but they are not very sensitive to the scenarios. Under SSP5-8.5 at 1.5 °C, 2 °C, 3 °C and 4 °C GWLs, the probability of Rx30day similar to the 2022 event increases by 3.64, 3.87, 8.68, and 15.46 times relative to the current climate, respectively. We further evaluated the thermodynamic and dynamic mechanisms driving seasonal mean precipitation changes using the moisture budget equation. The results indicate that changes in moisture flux convergence are mainly caused by thermodynamic effects, while dynamic effects play a negative role. Compared to SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, the increase in seasonal precipitation under SSP3-7.0 tends to be weaker, related to increased aerosol changes under SSP3-7.0. These findings reveal a strong sensitivity of changes in extreme precipitation in the southern China to GWLs, but less sensitivity to emission scenarios at the same GWLs, providing useful information for climate change mitigation policy in this region
Human brain responses to the artificial sweetener sucralose and sucrose in the presence of flavour modifier
Get PDFObjectives
There is a significant need to reduce sugar in food. We can replace sugar with non-nutrient sweeteners; however, they need to be desirable. Previously, we found adding a flavour modifier to a taste can result in neural super-additivity that could drive enhanced pleasure. It is not known if adding a flavour modifier to a non-nutrient sweetener could affect brain activity in the same way.
Methods
Healthy adults (N = 48, Mean age 26 yrs.) participated. We examined the neural effects of adding a flavour modifier to the non-nutrient sweetener sucralose (SLM) and the neural effects of sucrose vs sucralose. We examined whole brain data and the ROIs insula, pre- and postcentral gyrus, identified from a meta-analysis on brain responses to sweet tastes.
Results
Super-additive neural effects to SLM were in the mid/inferior temporal gyri, pre- and post-central gyri and parietal areas at the whole-brain level, p < 0.05 Family Wise Error corrected threshold. Superior frontal gyrus activity correlated with SLM pleasantness. There were no whole brain differences including reward-related differences between sucrose and sucralose. We did find greater ROI somatosensory activity (p = 0.01) for sucrose vs sucralose.
Discussion
We provide the first evidence that adding a flavour modifier to a non-nutrient sweetener reveals synergistic neural activity in brain areas associated with taste sensation, intensity, attention, perception and multisensory integration. Modifiers added to sweeteners could help consumers switch to healthier options and producers reduce the amount of sugar in foods. Future studies should examine if neural super-additivity effects can be used to predict subsequent consummatory behaviour
Fruit and ornamental plants as natural hosts of cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV)
Get PDFCacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV), a member of the Badnavirus genus (family: Caulimoviridae) causes an emerging disease on Theobroma cacao. It is associated with branch dieback and has been reported to reduce yield. As there is no treatment for infected plants, preventing transmission is the most effective strategy. However, to understand what inoculum reservoirs exist in the environment it is necessary to determine the host range of the virus. Previously, this virus was only been reported on cacao. To determine whether other species could serve as hosts, plants in the Malvaceae and other families growing near CaMMV-infected cacao were sampled and tested for the presence of the virus. Plants belonging to seven species of Malvaceae, one species of Fabaceae, and one species of Meliaceae tested positive including widely grown ornamental plants and fruit trees such as Hibiscus (Hibiscus sp.), Maga (Thespesia grandiflora), and Durian (Durio sp.). These additional hosts may contribute to disease spread by serving as inoculum reservoirs in areas where the virus is present. The CaMMV strains found on non-cacao hosts shared high identity with cacao infecting strains, suggesting recent movement between cacao and other species
Mitigating enteric methane emissions: an analysis of emerging media frames and consumer narrative tensions on natural solutions and techno-fixes
Get PDFReducing enteric methane production from ruminant livestock has been positioned as a key intervention to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Bovaer©, a feed additive purported to reduce enteric methane emissions in dairy cows by nearly a third, has received regulatory authorization in many countries. However, there is a dearth of evidence on the consumer’s response to the use of such products. In the three weeks after 27 November 2024, there was a significant increase in media communications associated with the use of Bovaer© in Europe, and especially the United Kingdom (UK). This structured review of academic and gray literature and an iterative non-systematic survey of media discourse online explored and characterized the narratives that emerged in this three-week period of intense activity in both social media and mainstream media communications in order to critique the narratives and grammars within the public response and the implications for policymakers, industry and academia. The main narrative that emerged reflected the science-consumer tensions associated with the use of Bovaer© and the four sub-narratives shaping it (mainstream media influence and narrative framing, distrust in science and lack of relatability, conspiracy theories and fear-based narratives, consumer buycotts and market responses). Organizations adopting technological solutions to address ‘wicked’ societal problems need to understand the factors that trigger, amplify and attenuate social concern as expressed in mainstream and social media and need to adopt appropriate communication and dissemination activities to reduce the circulation of mis-dis-mal-information and promote information that is appropriate for multiple audiences and levels of understanding
Feasibility of a finger food menu for older adults post stroke in hospital
Get PDFBackground: Many people in hospital after a stroke are at risk of reduced food intake, leading to less effective post‐stroke recovery. Finger foods (foods that can be easily transferred from the plate to the mouth without cutlery) have the potential to increase food intake and enable mealtime independence. However, the components of a well‐designed trial evaluating a finger food menu in a hospital are unclear, with little published evaluation of how to implement a finger food menu in hospitals. This study aimed to implement a finger food menu and to evaluate the feasibility of using it in a stroke rehabilitation ward.
Methods: The feasibility study was a prospective, before‐and‐after intervention study. Thirty‐one hospital inpatients from a stroke ward in a National Health Service hospital in the United Kingdom were included. A finger food menu was offered over two lunchtime meals and compared with the standard lunchtime menu. Feasibility was assessed by evaluating recruitment and retention of patients to the study, feasibility of data collection methods, interrater reliability of plate waste estimations using digital photography and assessing change in food intake. Intervention costs were assessed to support a cost‐consequence analysis. Barriers and facilitators to implementation were evaluated through qualitative observations.
Results: Thirty‐one participants were recruited (mean age 80, SD 8.5). Retention to the study was low, with 40% of patient participants not completing the study. Attrition was due to participants moving from the study ward. Dietary intake measures were successful via plate waste photography with good interrater reliability κ = 0.709 (95% CI: 0.64–0.77). A cost‐consequence analysis identified food costs and staff costs as key to delivering the finger food menu. The ward context and use of an internal facilitator to support the delivery of the intervention are important factors to consider.
Conclusion: Using finger foods in hospitals for older people after stroke is feasible and warrants a future cluster randomised control trial with minor adaptions to the protocol
The importance of traditional seeds in agroecology transitions: a case study from Himachal Pradesh in India
Get PDFThis paper is based on a qualitative case study of an initiative by the state of Himachal Pradesh in North India to transition all its farmers to natural farming, an agroecological approach. The paper explores the importance of traditional seeds in the context of a transition to natural farming where cash crops and hybrid seeds had been previously promoted. The study was conducted in thirty-five villages across five districts in Himachal Pradesh. Farmers were interviewed to explore the transition processes and assess their experiences of how traditional seeds and hybrid seeds respond to natural farming practices. The research indicates that many farmers view hybrid seeds as lacking climate resilience, necessitating the use of agrochemicals, and being culturally and practically unsuitable. Employing natural farming practices with hybrid crops resulted in increased workloads and lower yields in cereals. Additionally, the research explores how state mechanisms facilitated access to traditional seeds and identifies areas that require further effort to revitalize farmer seed systems. We argue that supporting traditional seed systems is a key enabling factor for agroecology: it is crucial to maintaining food security, improving health and nutrition, and building resilience to climate change
