Adverse Influence Research Articles

Russian Biodiversity Collections: A Professional Opinion Survey.

Biodiversity collections are important vehicles for protecting endangered wildlife in situations of adverse anthropogenic influence. In Russia, there are currently a number of institution- and museum-based biological collections, but there are no nation-wide centres of biodiversity collections. In this paper, we report on the results of our survey of 324 bioconservation, big-data, and ecology specialists from different regions of Russia in regard to the necessity to create several large national biodiversity centres of wildlife protection. The survey revealed specific goals that have to be fulfilled during the development of these centres for the protection and restoration of endangered wildlife species. The top three problems/tasks (topics) are the following: (1) the necessity to create large national centres for different types of specimens; (2) the full sequencing and creation of different "omic" (genomic, proteomic, transcriptomic, etc.) databases; (3) full digitisation of a biodiversity collection/centre. These goals may constitute a guideline for the future of biodiversity collections in Russia that would be targeted at protecting and restoring endangered species. With the due network service level, the translation of the website into English, and permission from the regulator (Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation), it can also become an international project.

A participatory system map of the adverse influence of urban environments on population health: integrating urban development and preventive health expertise

A participatory system map of the adverse influence of urban environments on population health: integrating urban development and preventive health expertise

Triphenyl phosphate exposure impairs colorectal health by altering host immunity and colorectal microbiota

Colorectal diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have become one of the most common public health concerns worldwide due to the increasing incidence. Environmental factors are one of the important causes of colorectal diseases, as they can affect the intestinal barrier function, immune response and microbiota, causing intestinal inflammation and tumorigenesis. Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), a widely used organophosphorus flame retardant that can leach and accumulate in various environmental media and biota, can enter the human intestine through drinking water and food. However, the effects of TPHP on colorectal health have not been well understood. In this study, we investigated the adverse influence of TPHP exposure on colorectal cells (in vitro assay) and C57BL/6 mice (in vivo assay), and further explored the potential mechanism underlying the association between TPHP and colorectal disease. We found that TPHP exposure inhibited cell viability, increased apoptosis and caused G1/S cycle arrest of colorectal cells. Moreover, TPHP exposure damaged colorectal tissue structure, changed immune-related gene expression in the colorectal transcriptome, and disrupted the composition of colorectal microbiota. Importantly, we found that TPHP exposure upregulated chemokine CXCL10, which was involved in colorectal diseases. Our study revealed that exposure to TPHP had significant impacts on colorectal health, which may possibly stem from alterations in host immunity and the structure of the colorectal microbial community.

Salt scaling resistance of pre-cracked ultra-high performance concrete with the coupling of salt freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles

Wet-dry cycles and cracking are unavoidable problems of concrete structures and reduce durability by enhancing the penetration of harmful ions and water, which may have a synergistic adverse influence with severe surface damage caused by salt freeze-thaw cycles. This study aims to investigate the salt scaling resistance of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) under multiple harsh environments including wet-dry cycles and pre-cracking. The relationship between workability, absorption behavior, and scaling resistance with fiber content increases is assessed. Mass loss, chloride binding behavior, pore structure, and pore morphology are analyzed to describe the influences of pre-cracking and wet-dry cycles. The results reveal that the workability of fresh concrete and the distribution of steel fibers are the key factors in determining the salt scaling resistance of UHPC. Pre-cracking and wet-dry cycles inhibit the rapid scaling damage of UHPC by accelerating chloride accumulation, which reduces the icing pressure of pore liquid and refining the micropores (<200 nm) capable of remaining non-frozen at low temperatures through the chemical binding of chloride. However, the combined effect of pre-cracking and wet-dry cycles can lead to the corrosion of internal steel fibers and more scaling damage, and the crack width should not be greater than 0.1 mm.

Exogenous shock: hierarchical effect of the industrial entrepreneur confidence in the mist of the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeIn the context of investment decisions, the intricate interplay between exogenous shocks and their influence on investor confidence significantly shapes their behaviors and, consequently, their outcomes. Investment decisions are influenced by uncertainties, exogenous shocks as well as the sentiments and confidence of investors, factors typically overlooked by decision-makers. This study will meticulously examine these multifaceted influences and discern their intricate hierarchical nuances in the sentiments of industrial entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachEmploying the robust framework of the generalized linear latent and mixed models (GLLAMM), this research will thoroughly investigate individual and group idiosyncrasies present in diverse data compilations. Additionally, it will delve deeply into the exogeneity of disturbances across different sectors and regions.FindingsRelevant insights gleaned from this research elucidate the adverse influence of exogenous forces, including pandemics and financial crises, on the confidence of industrial entrepreneurs. Furthermore, a significant discovery emerges in the regional analysis, revealing a notable homogeneity in the propagation patterns of industrial entrepreneurs' perceptions within the sectoral and regional context. This finding suggests a mitigation of regional effects in situations of global exogenous shocks.Originality/valueWithin the realm of academic inquiry, this study offers an innovative perspective in unveiling the intricate interaction between external shocks and their significant impacts on the sentiment of industrial entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the utilization of the robust GLLAMM captures the hierarchical dimension of this relationship, enhancing the precision of analyses. This approach provides a significant impetus for data-informed strategic directions.

The Influence of Economic Uncertainty on Food Security and the Moderating Role of Trade Openness in Developing Countries

This research examined the influence of economic uncertainty and the moderating role of trade openness on food security in 58 developing countries from 2012 to 2021. The dynamic panel data from the two-step System GMM was utilized to accomplish this. The findings of this research revealed that economic uncertainty did not exert a significant influence on food security in developing countries. Conversely, trade openness demonstrated a positive and significant effect in enhancing food security. Trade openness strengthened the adverse influence of economic uncertainty on food security in developing countries. The estimation results show trade openness has a significant positive effect of 0.0518, economic uncertainty has a positive but insignificant effect on food security, and Economic uncertainty when moderated by trade openness, shows a significant negative effect of -0.0533. The findings indicate that economic uncertainty does not significantly affect food security in developing countries. However, trade openness positively and significantly influences food security, suggesting that increased trade openness can enhance a country’s food security. The results reveal a significant negative effect when considering both trade openness and economic uncertainty. It implies that implementing policies that reduce trade openness can enhance food security in high economic uncertainty.

Lyophilization enhances the stability of Panax notoginseng total saponins-loaded transfersomes without adverse effects on ex vivo/in vivo skin permeation

Transfersomes (TFSs) have been extensively investigated to enhance transdermal drug delivery. As a colloidal dispersion system, TFSs are prone to problems such as particle aggregation and sedimentation, oxidation and decomposition of phospholipids. To enhance the stability of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS)-loaded transfersomes (PNS-TFSs) without adverse influences on their skin permeation, we prepared lyophilized PNS-loaded transfersomes (PNS-FD-TFSs), clarified their physicochemical characteristics and investigated their in vitro drug release, ex vivo skin permeation/deposition and in vivo pharmacokinetics. In this study, a simple, fast and controllable process was developed for preparing lyophilized PNS-TFSs. In the optimized PNS-FD-TFS formulation, sucrose and trehalose were added to the PNS-TFS dispersion with a mass ratio of trehalose, sucrose, and phospholipid of 3:2:1, and the mixture was frozen at −80 °C for 12 h followed by lyophilization at −45 °C and 5 Pa for 24 h. The optimized formulation of PNS-FD-TFSs was screened based on the appearance and reconstitution time of the lyophilized products, vesicle size, and PDI of the freshly reconstituted dispersions. It maintained stable physicochemical properties for at least 6 months at 4 °C. The vesicle size of PNS-FD-TFSs was below 100 nm and homogenous with a polydispersity index of 0.2 after reconstitution. The average encapsulation efficiencies of the five index saponins notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1), ginsenoside Re (GRe), ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) and ginsenoside Rd (GRd) in PNS-FD-TFSs were 68.41 ± 5.77%, 68.95 ± 6.08%, 65.46 ± 10.95%, 91.50 ± 5.62% and 95.78 ± 1.70%, respectively. The reconstituted dispersions of PNS-FD-TFSs were similar to PNS-TFSs in in vitro release, ex vivo skin permeation, and deposition. The pharmacokinetic studies showed that, compared with the PNS liposomes (PNS-LPS), the PNS-FD-TFS-loaded drug could permeate through the skin and enter the blood rapidly. It can be concluded that the lyophilization process can effectively improve the stability of PNS-TFSs without compromising their transdermal absorption properties.

Management of PCOS in Adolescence - Can We Improve Future Fertility by Treating Before and in Adolescence

PCOS is a multifunctional disorder with an evolving concept. Various studies have shown that this condition affects 8-13% of women of Reproductive age with 5-15% of them being adolescent girls. The physiological pubertal changes can mask the features of PCOS, hence leading to a challenging and a delayed diagnosis during adolescence mainly due to overlapping of symptoms which are mixed with menstrual irregularities, cosmetic issues and anxiety dominating affected girls. Various causative factors have been implicated to cause PCOS, with interaction between genetics, intrauterine maternal environment, and lifestyle. A strong family history in first degree relatives in addition to epigenetic changes and obesity can influence the early onset of PCOS in adolescents. It is important to achieve a timely diagnosis &amp; appropriate management during adolescence in order to tackle co-morbidities associated with PCOS and ensure a smooth transition to adulthood. Identifying at-risk adolescents can prevent PCOS in future and make patients aware of seeking timely treatment. As the adolescent matures into the phase of life when she would like to have children, she can be efficiently managed with lifestyle changes, oral contraceptive pills, androgens, and insulin sensitizers. Pre and Periconceptual management are of crucial importance in a woman having PCOS, as adverse influences on fetal development can cause diseases in the affected fetus due to epigenetic changes. Maternal factors like under/ over nutrition, obesity and Insulin Resistance can contribute to Impaired fetal nutrition and metabolic dysfunction. Hence correction of maternal insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism is important before conception, stressing the need of correct Nutrition during pregnancy to avoid transmission of PCOS to the fetus. There is an increased risk of PCOS in overweight girls between 7-13 yrs. of age, while being overweight after age 13, further worsens the chance of developing PCOS. Adolescents with BMI &gt; 40 are known to have 23-fold increased risk of developing PCOS. Hence being mindful of weight during childhood and adolescence can go a long way in preventing the onset of PCOS across future generations.

Intellectual Capital Value Addition and the Efficient Assets Management of Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria

Abstract Research background One crucial area that has not received good research attention is intellectual property. Even organizations engage the services of recruiting firms to get the best labour, and some workers earn more than others. But intellectual value addition is not ascertained. Purpose The goal of this study is to examine the effect of intellectual capital value addition on the efficient asset management of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Research methodology Data was sourced from the published annual accounts of 24 manufacturing firms. The VAIC was adapted to measure Intellectual capital value addition which is the predictor variable, while Return on Assets was used as a determinant of efficient assets management. The ordinary least square regression of the panel data was used to test the hypothesis. Result The outcome of the regression revealed that HC is a determinant of ROA with a co-efficient of regression and a significant value of (0.102 &gt; 0.5). SC has an adverse and noteworthy influence on ROA as indicated (–0.046 &gt; 0.05) while CEE has a positive and significant influence on ROA (0.825 &gt; 0.50). The paper affirmed that a weighty and constructive relationship exists amid intellectual capital and efficient assets management of the manufacturing companies and endorsed that listed manufacturing businesses in Nigeria should efficiently and effectively manage intellectual capital. Novelty This has contributed to extant literature as it’s the first study to investigate the effect of intellectual capital addition on efficient assets management in listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria. There is no study of this nature in Nigeria that has successfully adopted VAIC and it has proved that corporations consider hiring the best-skilled labour because of its contribution which improves the performance of such business. Again, this study covered 240 firm years, that is, ten years each of twenty-four companies, which no other previous study has done.

An adaptive multichannel speech dereverberation approach based on robust estimation

Room reverberation usually produces adverse influence on the quality of speech in human-machine interaction scenarios. To improve the clarity and intelligibility of reverberant speech, an adaptive multichannel speech dereverberation approach is proposed in this work. Unlike the traditional least-squares cost function for speech dereverberation, a robust estimator with an adaptive parameter is adopted to define a flexible cost function of the adaptive speech dereverberation algorithm. As a consequence, the developed adaptive filtering algorithm can dynamically track the non-stationarity and non-Gaussian properties of speech so that the reverberation component of speech is effectively suppressed. Numerical simulation experiments validate the dereverberation performance of the proposed approach.

The impact of Public Health Emergency (PHE) on the news dissemination strength: Evidence from Chinese-Speaking Vloggers on YouTube.

News dissemination plays a vital role in supporting people to incorporate beneficial actions during public health emergencies, thereby significantly reducing the adverse influences of events. Based on big data from YouTube, this research study takes the declaration of COVID-19 National Public Health Emergency (PHE) as the event impact and employs a DiD model to investigate the effect of PHE on the news dissemination strength of relevant videos. The study findings indicate that the views, comments, and likes on relevant videos significantly increased during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Moreover, the public's response to PHE has been rapid, with the highest growth in comments and views on videos observed within the first week of the public health emergency, followed by a gradual decline and returning to normal levels within four weeks. In addition, during the COVID-19 public health emergency, in the context of different types of media, lifestyle bloggers, local media, and institutional media demonstrated higher growth in the news dissemination strength of relevant videos as compared to news & political bloggers, foreign media, and personal media, respectively. Further, the audience attracted by related news tends to display a certain level of stickiness, therefore this audience may subscribe to these channels during public health emergencies, which confirms the incentive mechanisms of social media platforms to foster relevant news dissemination during public health emergencies. The proposed findings provide essential insights into effective news dissemination in potential future public health events.

Drivers of Sustainable Green Finance: Country’s Level Risk and Trade Perspective for OECD Countries

In contemporary times, developed economies are adopting environmentally friendly initiatives such as green finance and energy efficiency. However, the factors affecting energy efficiency are widely explored, and green finance remains overlooked in the empirical literature. The present research examines the drivers of sustainable green finance in OECD economies during 2004–2021. The study uses several panel diagnostic tests and validates the mixed integration order of the variables. Still, the long-run equilibrium relationship is valid between financial inclusion, energy efficiency, human capital, foreign trade, composite risk, and green finance. Using panel autoregressive distributed lag model, the study found that financial inclusion, energy efficiency, foreign trade, and composite risk significantly improve green finance in the long run. However, only energy efficiency is effective in the short run. On the other hand, human capital exhibits a significant adverse influence on green finance. The long-run results are robust due to the significant estimates offered by panel dynamic ordinary least square. Besides, there exist one-way and two-way causal associations between variables. The study recommends improving the financial sector performance to enhance financial inclusivity, increase investment in the energy efficiency sector, and encourage trade in environmentally friendly initiatives.

Optimized hydrogen purification for fuel cell quality from quinary coke oven gas via layered pressure swing adsorption under non-isothermal conditions

Coke oven gas from steel industries offers a valuable hydrogen rich fuel but is accompanied by impurities, such as CH4 and CO2, that contribute to the environmental footprint. The process of extracting H2 from coke oven gas not only provides clean energy from the alternative source, but also prevents the release of these impurities. Motivated by the promising H2 source alternative, a 2-bed, 6-step pressure swing adsorption system operating under non-isothermal conditions was used to purify H2 from coke oven gas. A validated multi-component adsorption model was developed via Aspen Adsorption to simulate and optimize the process. The validated model revealed strong correlations between the factors (adsorption pressure, adsorption temperature, adsorption time, and H2 concentration) and responses (purity and recovery of H2). The findings indicated that increasing the H2 feed concentration resulted in an improvement in H2 purity but a decline in recovery. Conversely, an extended duration of adsorption exhibited an adverse influence on both the purity and recovery of H2. Furthermore, the study indicates that higher adsorption pressure and temperature were correlated with lower H2 purity but improved recovery performance. To optimize the pressure swing adsorption process, the desirability function was applied within the response surface methodology model, enabling the determination of optimal conditions for the purification process. The optimized H2 purity and recovery were found to be 99.995% and 62.758%, respectively, at H2 feed concentration of 49%, adsorption time of 160 s, pressure of 6 atm, and adsorption temperature of 293 K.

High Unemployment Rate in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa despite High Educational Attainment

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES). The adverse influence of HS on education and employment may explain this. It remains unknown whether HS causes downward social trajectories, i.e., social drift, or whether those affected are born into a lower SES. We aimed to assess the influence of HS on education and employment and compare the highest educational attainment of participants with their parents. Methods: An anonymous online survey was distributed by patient-led organisations. Frequencies were compared with χ2 and disease interactions with one-way ANOVA. Results: Among 335 respondents from 10 countries, 94.9% completed secondary/high school, 71.3% completed further education, 41.8% completed an undergraduate degree, 20% completed postgraduate education, 10.7% completed a masters, and 2.1% completed a doctorate. Participant education was greater than parental education (p < 0.001). Despite this, 24.2% were unemployed and 15.2% were receiving illness benefit. Compared to national statistics, HS participants from Ireland (p = 0.003), the USA (p < 0.001), and the UK (p < 0.001) were more likely to be unemployed/receiving illness benefit despite higher educational attainment in Ireland (p = 0.006) and the USA (p = 0.003) with similar education in the UK (p = 0.153). Conclusions: Social drift describes downward social trajectories due to the development of a disease. Participants in this study report greater education than their parents and the background population, but despite this, they are experiencing downward social trajectories with higher unemployment and receipt of illness benefit. Disease onset in HS tends to be at peak educational age. Education does not appear to be impaired by early disease with disease accumulation during employment years limiting opportunities.

Exploring the adverse effects of 1,3,6,8-tetrabromo-9H-carbazole in atherosclerotic model mice by metabolomic profiling integrated with mechanism studies in vitro

Given its wide distribution in the environment and latent toxic effects, 1,3,6,8-tetrabromo-9H-carbazole (1368-BCZ) is an emerging concern that has gained increasing attention globally. 1368-BCZ exposure is reported to have potential cardiovascular toxicity. Although atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular disease and remains a primary cause of mortality worldwide, no evidence has been found regarding the impact of 1368-BCZ on atherosclerosis. Therefore, we aimed to explore the deleterious effects of 1368-BCZ on atherosclerosis and the underlying mechanisms. Serum samples from 1368-BCZ-treated atherosclerotic model mice were subjected to metabolomic profiling to investigate the adverse influence of the pollutant. Subsequently, the molecular mechanism associated with the metabolic pathway of atherosclerotic mice that was identified following 1368-BCZ exposure was validated in vitro. Serum metabolomics analysis revealed that 1368-BCZ significantly altered the tricarboxylic acid cycle, causing a disturbance in energy metabolism. In vitro, we further validated general markers of energy metabolism based on metabolome data: 1368-BCZ dampened adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, blocking the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) reversed the high production of ROS induced by 1368-BCZ. It is concluded that 1368-BCZ decreased the ATP synthesis by disturbing the energy metabolism, thereby stimulating the AhR-mediated ROS production and presumably causing aggravated atherosclerosis. This is the first comprehensive study on the cardiovascular toxicity and mechanism of 1368-BCZ based on rodent models of atherosclerosis and integrated with in vitro models.

Examining the asymmetric effects of fossil fuel consumption, foreign direct investment, and globalization on ecological footprint in Mexico

AbstractThis paper investigates the asymmetric effects of fossil fuels, foreign direct investment (FDI), and globalization on the ecological footprint (EFP) in Mexico from 1975 to 2020. To this end, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL), Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL), and the wavelet coherence approach are conducted. Based on the outcomes of the ARDL method, economic growth and fossil fuel consumption lead to ecological degradation, while foreign direct investment improves environmental conditions. Globalization has no impact on the environment. The NARDL approach illustrates that a positive shock to fossil fuels, FDI, and globalization degrades the environment. The wavelet coherence results emphasize the adverse environmental influence of economic growth and fossil fuels. These results imply that the Mexican government should conduct its economic expansion considering the principle of sustainable development. In this context, policymakers should propagate carbon taxes and similar instruments to promote clean energy sources that can replace fossil fuels and are compatible with sustainable development policies.

The moderated mediating effect of community integration in depressive symptoms which are related to childhood adversity and suicide attempts by adolescents who have dropped out of school

The aim of this study was to verify the moderated mediating effect of community integration on the influence of childhood adversity on suicide attempts in adolescent who have dropped out of school and examine the mediating effect of depressive symptoms. This study used the data of the first year from a Longitudinal Survey and Support Plan for Dropouts in 2013. Among 776 respondents, 685 (mean age = 18.04, SD = 0.78) participants were included in the final analysis. The results of this study showed that both childhood adversity and depressive symptoms were positively associated with suicide attempts. Depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between childhood adversity and suicide attempts. In particular, the mediating effect of depression on the influence of childhood adversity on suicide attempts was moderated by community integration. The results of this study suggest that help from counselors and social workers at a national level is needed to strengthen social ties between out-of-school youth and community members to prevent suicide among youth who have dropped out of school.

Renewable Energy Mix Enhancement: The Power of Foreign Investment and Green Policies

The objective of this study is to examine and assess the viewpoint of population and economic expansion, as well as foreign investment in the renewable energy sector, by examining the influence of green investment on indexed listed businesses in Indonesia's Sri-Kehati. The dataset utilised in this study include macroeconomic time series data from Indonesia spanning the years 2015 to 2021, as well as issuers indexed under the SRI-KEHATI framework. The data underwent analysis using the multiple regression approach. The study employed an associative research technique and utilised the Eviews 10 programme tool for data analysis. The findings of the study demonstrate a noteworthy positive impact of economic growth on the composition of renewable energy sources. The impact of population growth on the composition of renewable energy sources is shown to be insignificant, but foreign investment is observed to have a notable and adverse influence on the renewable energy mix. The impact of foreign investment on the Renewable Energy Mix is found to be both statistically significant and unfavourable. The variable of economic growth exhibits a noteworthy and favourable impact when moderated by green investment in Sri-Kehati indexed issuers, specifically in relation to the composition of renewable energy sources. The variable of population growth exhibits a noteworthy and favourable impact by means of moderating green investment in the perspective of Sri-Kehati indexed issuer companies regarding the composition of renewable energy sources. The variable of economic growth demonstrates a statistically significant and favourable impact when moderated by green investment in the Sri-Kehati Indexed Issuer Company, specifically in relation to the renewable energy mix. The impact of population growth on the renewable energy mix in the perspective of Sri-Kehati indexed issuer companies is found to be positive and statistically significant when considering the moderation effect of green investment. The variable representing economic growth demonstrates a notable and favourable impact when moderated by green investment in the Sri-Kehati Indexed Issuer Company, particularly in relation to the composition of renewable energy sources. The impact of population growth on the renewable energy mix in the perspective of Sri-Kehati indexed issuer companies is found to be positive and statistically significant when considering the moderation effect of green investment.

Capital structure and practices of accrual-based earnings management among non-financial Vietnamese listed firms

This paper’s primary goal is to examine the influence of a firm’s capital structures on practices of accrual-based earnings management by doing empirical research covering 51 non-financial Vietnamese listed companies during a period from 2013 to 2022. To estimate accrual-based earnings management practices, the modified Dechow and Dichev (2002) model was mobilized. Then, a regression between earnings management estimated values based on accruals and a group of capital structure variables and control variables that are hypothesized to influence earnings management practices is performed. The feasible generalized least square model is used to address econometric issues. Empirical results reveal that activities for managing accrual-based earnings indicate a considerable adverse influence from institutional ownership. However, other hypothesized variables that are management ownership, ownership concentration, foreign ownership, and leverage do not have a determinant sign as expected. ROA, one of five control factors, has a favorable impact on accrual-based earnings management practices, whereas company size has a negative impact. The study provides useful information to investors and stakeholders for their making investment decisions in Vietnam. The empirical findings are also based for recommendations to control earnings management practices at Vietnamese listed enterprises to enhance accounting information quality, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the Vietnam Stock Exchange.

Protective effects of melanoidins from black garlic on zearalenone-induced toxicity in zebrafish embryonic developmental model

Zearalenone (ZEN), a ubiquitous mycotoxin that widely occurs in grain and foodstuff may induce serious toxic effects after accumulation in vivo. Melanoidins (MLDs) have shown multiple bio-functional properties such as antioxidant, anti-bacterial and prebiotic activities. Black garlic exhibits several advantages over fresh garlic related to health improvement. In this study, the alleviative effects of black garlic MLDs on ZEN-induced toxicity and the potential mechanisms were studied using zebrafish embryonic developmental model. The results showed that MLDs restored the ZEN-induced adverse influences on zebrafish embryonic development, including delay in hatching time, morphological abnormality and the impairment of nervous development. Further studies showed that MLDs significantly inhibited the ZEN-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhanced the intrinsic antioxidant ability by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) and the content of glutathione (GSH). In addition, co-exposure of MLDs significantly inhibited the ZEN-stimulated cellular apoptosis in zebrafish larvae through down-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes of bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 and up-regulation of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2. Moreover, MLDs inhibited the in vivo accumulation of ZEN in zebrafish larvae. To sum up, MLDs attenuated the ZEN-induced zebrafish embryonic developmental toxicity through suppression of the oxidative stress and intervention on mitochondria apoptosis pathway as well as inhibiting the absorption of ZEN in zebrafish embryos/larvae. The results suggest that black garlic MLDs have potential to be used as a functional ingredient against the adverse effects of exogenous toxins.