Voices are the most relevant social sounds for humans and therefore have crucial adaptive value in development. Neuroimaging studies in adults have demonstrated the existence of regions in the superior temporal sulcus that respond preferentially to voices. Yet, whether voices represent a functionally specific category in the young infant's mind is largely unknown. We developed a highly sensitive paradigm relying on fast periodicauditory stimulation (FPAS) combined with scalp electroencephalography (EEG) to demonstrate that the infant brain implements a reliable preferential response to voices early in life. Twenty-three 4-month-old infants listened to sequences containing non-vocal sounds from different categories presented at 3.33Hz, with highly heterogeneous vocal sounds appearing every third stimulus (1.11Hz). We were able to isolate a voice-selective response over temporal regions, and individual voice-selective responses were found in most infants within only a few minutes of stimulation. This selective response was significantly reduced for the same frequency-scrambled sounds, indicating that voice selectivity is not simply driven by the envelope and the spectral content of the sounds. Such a robust selective response to voices as early as 4months of age suggests that the infant brain is endowed with the ability to rapidly develop a functional selectivity to this socially relevant category of sounds.

Behavior evolution can promote the emergence of agricultural pests by changing their ecological niche. For example, the insect pest Drosophila suzukii has shifted its oviposition (egg-laying) niche from fermented fruits to ripe, non-fermented fruits, causing significant damage to a wide range of fruit crops worldwide. We investigate the chemosensory changes underlying this evolutionary shift and ask whether fruit sugars, which are depleted during fermentation, are important gustatory cues that direct D. suzukii oviposition to sweet, ripe fruits. We show that D. suzukii has expanded its range of oviposition responses to lower sugar concentrations than the model D. melanogaster, which prefers to lay eggs on fermented fruit. The increased response of D. suzukii to sugar correlates with an increase in the value of sugar relative to a fermented strawberry substrate in oviposition decisions. In addition, we show by genetic manipulation of sugar-gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) that sugar perception is required for D. suzukii to prefer a ripe substrate over a fermented substrate, but not for D. melanogaster to prefer the fermented substrate. Thus, sugar is a major determinant of D. suzukii's choice of complex substrates. Calcium imaging experiments in the brain's primary gustatory center (suboesophageal zone) show that D. suzukii GRNs are not more sensitive to sugar than their D. melanogaster counterparts, suggesting that increased sugar valuation is encoded in downstream circuits of the central nervous system (CNS). Taken together, our data suggest that evolutionary changes in central brain sugar valuation computations are involved in driving D. suzukii's oviposition preference for sweet, ripe fruit.

The perception of food odor, derived from complex mixtures of odorants, remains poorly understood. This study investigated how key odorants of icewine influence odor mixture perception and mixture-induced perceptual interactions. A multichannel olfactometer was used to deliver 90 mixtures to 36 trained participants who used a Rate-All-That-Apply method to rate the odor samples. Results showed that adding odorants to a mixture affected both the characteristic odor of the individual component and other odor characteristics, revealing specific perceptual interactions. Combining up to six odorants with icewine odor influenced a maximum of two odor characteristics in the mixture, regardless of the specific combination. Interestingly, adding odorants had a stronger impact on the overall mixture odor profile than omitting them, particularly when manipulating fewer than three odorants. These findings emphasize the complexity of odor mixture perception and provide new insights into the influence of key odorants on the aroma of wine.

7-Ketocholesterol and 7β-hydroxycholesterol are most often derived from the autoxidation of cholesterol. Their quantities are often increased in the body fluids and/or diseased organs of patients with age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration, and sarcopenia which are frequently associated with a rupture of RedOx homeostasis leading to a high oxidative stress contributing to cell and tissue damages. On murine cells from the central nervous system (158N oligodendrocytes, microglial BV-2 cells, and neuronal N2a cells) as well as on C2C12 murine myoblasts, these two oxysterols can induce a mode of cell death which is associated with qualitative, quantitative, and functional modifications of the peroxisome. These changes can be revealed by fluorescence microscopy (apotome, confocal microscopy), transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and gas chromatography-coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Noteworthy, several natural molecules, including ω3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and α-tocopherol, as well as several Mediterranean oils [argan and olive oils, Milk-thistle (Sylibum marianum) and Pistacia lenticus seed oils], have cytoprotective properties and attenuate 7-ketocholesterol- and 7β-hydroxycholesterol-induced peroxisomal modifications. These observations led to the concept of pexotherapy.

The school meal system could contribute to the transition towards more sustainable food system by promoting plant-based meals. Knowing whether parents want more vegetarian school meals for their children is a prerequisite for a successful implementation. The present study aimed to estimate the proportion of parents who would opt for more vegetarian school meals for their children and to study associations of willingness with family characteristics and food choice motives. An online survey was sent to parents whose children are registered for school canteen in Dijon (France). We collected child-level information, data on family sociodemographic characteristics, and data on dietary habits and food choice motives of the family. We examined family characteristics associated with the willingness to increase the frequency of vegetarian school meals from one meal per week to two or daily. Generalized linear models were performed. In total, 49% of parents were willing to opt for a second weekly vegetarian meal and 26% for a daily vegetarian meal for their children (n = 1261). Parents willing to opt for more vegetarian meal were more likely to have higher education, be flexitarian or vegetarian and to currently opt for pork-free meals for their children, and their children attended the school canteen less frequently. Environmental motives were positively associated with the willing to opt for a second weekly vegetarian meal; familiarity and sensory appeal motives were negatively associated. Health and animal welfare motives were positively associated with the willing to opt for a daily vegetarian meal and sensory appeal was negatively associated. Increasing the frequency of vegetarian school meals would satisfy a demand expressed by parents but must be accompanied by interventions enhancing pleasure of eating vegetarian meals.

Ultrasonography is an emerging tool that helps to assess diaphragmatic function. It is now widely used in ICUs to predict weaning from mechanical ventilation. Ultrasonography is readily available, harmless (no radiation), and repeatable with good interoperator reproducibility. Over the past few years, ultrasonography has seen increasing use in patients with chronic pulmonary pathologies. The aim of this review is (1)to describe the ultrasound techniques used to assess diaphragmatic excursion and thickening, (2)to indicate the expected, normal values in healthy patients, and (3)to summarize the main findings and clinical applications in treatment of chronic respiratory disorders. Chronic pulmonary diseases are associated with diaphragmatic dysfunction that can be assessed with ultrasound. Diaphragmatic dysfunction is primary in neuromuscular disorders and secondary to respiratory disease in other chronic pulmonary conditions (COPD, ILD). Ultrasound is correlated with the severity of the underlying disease (functional and clinical parameters). The prognostic interest of diaphragm ultrasonography remains to be established, after which its utilization should become routine.

BackgroundEmotional eating is defined as a nonpathological eating behavior, whereas binge-eating disorder (BED) is defined as a pathological eating behavior. While different, both share some striking similarities, such as deficits in emotion regulation and inhibition. Previous research has suggested the existence of an “eating continuum” that might reflect the increased severity of overeating behaviors, that is, from nonpathological overeating to BED. The main aims of this scoping review were to explore in the literature the idea of a continuum between emotional eating and BED and to observe whether deficits in emotion regulation and inhibition follow this continuum in terms of severity. The other aims were to hopefully clarify the ill-defined concept of overeating, to question the potential role of positive emotions and to identify potential knowledge gaps.MethodA systematic scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Two databases (PubMed/Medline and PsycINFO) were examined in complete accordance with the beforehand sharply defined eligibility and exclusion criteria. The main criteria included adults (≥ 18) with emotional eating, BED or overeating and emotion regulation and inhibition as exposure criteria.ResultsThirty-two studies were included in this scoping review. If the results showed a link between emotional eating and BED, with the presence of inhibition and emotion regulation deficits in both eating behaviors, no mention of a continuum between emotional eating and BED was found.ConclusionIn the absence of research directly comparing emotional eating and BED in the same studies and testing the potential increase in severity of emotion regulation and inhibition deficits along this continuum, there is currently no certainty that a continuum exists between emotional eating and BED. In the end, the idea of a continuum in terms of increased severity of overeating and in terms of emotion regulation and inhibition deficits between emotional eating and BED appears to be a gap in knowledge in the literature. This scoping review highlights the need for further research to identify knowledge gaps.

Vegan diet has emerged as a popular dietary choice for people worldwide in recent times, due to concerns such as health issues, animal rights and welfare, and the sustainability of the environment. The purpose of this literature review was to explain how a vegan diet may affect the health of adults and to point out beneficial components found in it as well as any difficulties associated with its implementation. Evidence supports that a vegan diet can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. A well-planned vegan diet must include adequate calories and nutrients, as well as the necessary supplements, such as vitamin B12, vitamin D and EPA/DHA. Given the current growing interest in plant-based diets among the general population, it is crucial to understand both the barriers, risks, and benefits of the vegan diet among physicians, policy makers, and the general population.

Despite their interests, faba beans are characterised by bitterness but little is known about its compounds that activate the 25 human bitter receptors (TAS2Rs). This study aimed to determine the bitter molecules in faba beans, especially saponins and alkaloids. These molecules were quantified by UHPLC-HRMS in flour, starch and protein fractions of 3 faba bean cultivars. The fractions from the low-alkaloid cultivar and the protein fractions exhibited higher saponin content. Vicine and convicine were highly correlated with bitter perception. The bitterness of soyasaponin βb and alkaloids was studied using a cellular approach. Soyasaponin βb activated 11 TAS2Rs, including TAS2R42 whereas vicine activated only TAS2R16. The high vicine content should explain the faba bean bitterness considering that concentration of soyasaponin βb was low. This research provides a better understanding of the bitter molecules in faba beans. Selection of low-alkaloid ingredients or alkaloid removal treatments could improve the faba bean flavour.

Several studies have investigated the effect of parental age on biological parameters such as reproduction, lifespan, and health; however, the results have been inconclusive, largely due to inter-species variation and/or modest effect sizes. Here, we examined the effect of parental age on the lifespan, reproductive capacity, and locomotor activity of genetic isogenic lines of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We found that the progeny of successive generations of old parents had significantly shorter lifespans than the progeny of young parents in both species. Moreover, we investigated the fertility, fecundity, and locomotor activity of C. elegans. Interestingly, both the shorter lifespan and deteriorated healthspan of the progeny were significantly improved by switching to only one generation of younger parents. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the detrimental effect of older parental age on the longevity of the progeny can be reversed, suggesting the existence of a beneficial non-genetic mechanism.