Heterogeneous Behavior Research Articles

A Self-Consistent Molecular Mechanism of β2-Microglobulin Aggregation.

Despite the consensus on the origin of dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) being β2-microglobulin (β2m) aggregation, the debate on the underlying mechanism persists because of the continuous emergence of β2m variant- and pH-dependent contradictory results. By characterizing the native monomeric (initiation) and aggregated fibrillar (termination) states of β2m via a combination of two enhanced sampling approaches, we here propose a mechanism that explains the heterogeneous behavior of wild-type (WT) and pathogenic (V27M and D76N) β2m variants in physiological and disease-pertinent acidic pH environments. It appears that the higher retainment of monomeric native folds at neutral pH (native-like) distinguishes pathogenic β2m mutants from the WT (moderate loss). However, at acidic pH, all three variants behave similarly in producing a substantial amount of partially unfolded states (conformational switch, propensity), though with different extents (WT < V27M < D76N). Whereas at the fibrillar end, all β2m variants display a pH-dependent protofilament separation pathway and a higher protofilament binding affinity (stability) at acidic pH, where the relative order of binding affinity (WT < V27M < D76N) remains consistent with pH modulation. Combining these observations, we conclude that β2m variants possibly shift from native-like aggregation to conformational switch-initiated fibrillation as the pH is altered from neutral to acidic. The combined propensity-stability approach based on the initiation and termination points of β2m aggregation not only assists us in deciphering the mechanism but also emphasizes the protagonistic roles of both terminal points in the overall aggregation process.

Sarcoma: Last Year's Practice Changing Papers.

In 2023 and 2024, a wide variety of new studies have been published in the field of soft tissue sarcomas, representing the enormous heterogeneity of sarcoma histotypes, anatomical location, treatment variability, and biological behavior. This article summarizes the, in our view, seven most important publications in the field that will have an impact on the surgical practice and future treatment strategies of our patients. In the last year, we gained more insight in the genetic background of patients with sarcoma from a large Australian study, which will have an impact on future counseling and screening of our patients. Also, the role of radiotherapy in retroperitoneal liposarcoma became clearer in the combined STRASS-STREXIT study. Radiotherapy for extremity sarcomas can now also be done in a 3-week, hypofractioned manner, which is a major improvement for our patients. Furthermore, more evidence has been presented regarding the improved outcome of patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma when treated in high volume centers. Landmark studies with systemic treatment include the positive trial with nirogacestat in desmoid tumors, which have finally shifted the paradigm of desmoid treatment from surgery to systemic treatment. Also, the results of 2 phase 3 randomized controlled trials recently showed 1) that the combination of doxorubicin with trabectedin significantly improved progression free survival for patients with leiomyosarcoma when compared with doxorubicin alone and 2) that the combination of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab and radiotherapy followed by 1-yr adjuvant pembrolizumab significantly improved disease free survival for patients with primary localized undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma/myxofibrosarcoma or dedifferentiated/pleomorphic liposarcoma of the extremities or girdles. Key papers from the last year informs us that management of soft tissues sarcoma is constantly improving, since more data became available to guide us in defining the best treatment strategies.

Analysing heterogeneity in factors affecting adoption of ride-hailing services: a stepwise LCCA-MCDM modelling approach

AbstractThe study investigates the latent heterogeneity in travel behaviour among urban travellers, including ride-hailing service (RHS) users and non-users, by incorporating attitudes so as to reinforce conventional user-segmentation approaches. Simultaneously, prioritisation of ride-hailing specific attributes was carried out to assess how RHS will operate in a sustainable way. The study initially examines latent heterogeneity in travellers through a Latent Class Cluster Analysis (LCCA) model. Subsequently, it prioritises key RHS-specific attributes for each cluster using three established Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques. Three clusters were identified based on individuals’ attitudes and covariates (socio-demographics, travel habits, and built environment attributes). The largest cluster is the Tech-savvy ride-hailing-ready individuals (48%) with higher technological literacy, showing maximum acceptance towards ride-hailing. The second largest cluster comprises the Traditional active-mobility individuals (28%) who display the least proclivity towards RHS, probably due to their technological inhibition coupled with greater attachment to traditional travel alternatives. Lastly, the PV-loving multimodal individuals (24%) are primarily vehicle owners but prefer RHS for occasional trips. The final ranking obtained from the analysis has revealed that travel time, reliability, and flexibility are the motivators, while travel cost and waiting time are the deterrents, as perceived by the users, that influence RHS in the Indian context.

Adoption and Diffusion of Residential Photovoltaics under Heterogeneous Behaviors

Driven by global sustainability goals, residential photovoltaic (PV) has become a key driver in achieving carbon neutrality. Residential PV systems, due to their low cost and ease of installation, are gaining increasing significance. However, uneven regional development in China has posed challenges.This study, based on consumer behavior theory and supported by text analysis, designed a survey to explore significant internal perception factors influencing PV adoption. Hypothesis testing confirmed the importance of these factors. Using agent-based modeling, we incorporated these significant internal perceptions and demographic attributes, along with external factors such as information dissemination, to simulate consumer decision-making and the effectiveness of promotional strategies.The results show that positive perceptions of benefits, ease of use, and lower risk significantly enhance the willingness to adopt PV systems. Furthermore, controlling the scope of information dissemination and leveraging weak ties (such as online networks) are crucial for improving promotional effectiveness. This research offers practical insights for optimizing PV marketing strategies, aiding both Chinas and global green energy transitions.

Current account determinants in a globalized world

Abstract This paper investigates the determinants of external imbalances for a group of 26 developed and emerging countries over the period 1972–2021. In addition to traditional factors, the model incorporates the impact of external imbalances in third countries. The empirical evidence highlights the importance of accounting for parameter instabilities in modeling external imbalances, with countries exhibiting heterogeneous behavior in terms of the estimated break dates. The results underscore the critical role of external drivers, such as oil shocks, and the growing influence of third-country imbalances in an increasingly globalized world. Additionally, demographic trends emerge as a significant long-run internal driver. Finally, the paper calculates regime-specific short-run multipliers.

Iodinated contrast dye-diluent combination exhibits longer time to full dye saturation compared to lidocaine, bupivacaine, and water in porcine cadaveric nervous tissue.

Dye-diluent combinations have different nerve-staining behavior, making locoregional cadaveric dye study findings difficult to compare. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of 4 diluents on nerve color saturation when used in combination with commercial food dye. 48 unpreserved brachial plexus nerves were randomized into 4 diluent groups. Lidocaine, bupivacaine, iodinated contrast, and sterile water were combined with commercial food dye (10:1), and prosected nerves were immersed in one of these groups for 1, 15, 30, or 60 minutes. Images at baseline and at each timepoint were processed using ImageJ. Color saturation was divided into quartiles (dark, medium dark, medium light, or light). The percentage of nerve area stained in each quartile was compared using a 2-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test. At 1 minute, water and bupivacaine had a higher percentage of area of dark saturation compared to contrast. At 15 and 30 minutes, dark and medium-dark saturation percentages of area were also larger in lidocaine, bupivacaine, and water compared to contrast. There were no differences in saturation percentages of areas between groups at 60 minutes. Within groups, all diluents had darker percentages of area saturation at 15, 30, and 60 minutes compared to minute 1. In porcine nerves, the staining profiles of 2% lidocaine, 0.5% bupivacaine, and sterile water combined withcommercial food dye appear similar and may be used interchangeably after 15 minutes of exposure. When using iodinated contrast, exposures over 60 minutes yield comparable results to other diluents. Diluents contribute to heterogeneous nerve-staining behavior and should be considered when comparing study outcomes. If contrast is used as the diluent in cadaveric studies with postoperative imaging, researchers should be aware of the significant delay to reach a saturation level comparable to other diluent combinations.

Association of pre-existing conditions with major driver mutations and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC

ObjectivesThis study aims to explore how pre-existing conditions such as blood types, family history of cancer and comorbid diseases correlate with the genetic and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression that...

Hybrid control for the prey in a spatial prey-predator model with cooperative hunting and fear effect time lag

In the ecosystem, the chase of the predator with cooperation contributes to fear psychology in the prey, resulting in behavioral changes such as a decrease in the birth rate. We construct a spatially diffusive model with delay to investigate the combined perturbation of these factors. Initially, we establish the existence of positive solutions and examine the stability of steady-state solutions under varying conditions. The bifurcation dynamics of the positive solutions have been analyzed. Turing instability, arising from the random diffusion of the species, generates spatially irregular patterns characterized by patchy distribution of prey and predators in the spatial domain. Hopf bifurcation, resulting from the diffusive rate and delay, contributes to spatially periodic solutions where the number of species will spatially oscillate. The combined influence of diffusion and delay results in the emergence of Turing and Hopf bifurcation phenomena. In this case, the combined effect amplifies the spatially heterogeneous distribution of prey and predator. Our results reveal the heterogeneous behaviors of prey and predator under the coupled influence of cooperation hunting and fear effects. In this paper, we will also study a hybrid control scheme for controlling the generations of Turing patterns and Hopf bifurcation. Our theoretical results and numerical simulations demonstrate that the control scheme can mitigate the negative influence of combined factors and promote the species' stability.

A Novel Multimodal Long-Term Trajectory Prediction Scheme for Heterogeneous User Behavior Patterns

A Novel Multimodal Long-Term Trajectory Prediction Scheme for Heterogeneous User Behavior Patterns

Precisely controlled electrostatically sprayed sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel microbeads as super-adsorbent for adsorption of cationic dye.

In this pioneering study, electrostatic spraying (ES) technology with high voltages is proposed to reduce the size of hydrogel microbeads further, aiming to enhance the adsorption rate of cationic methylene blue (MB) dye. The increased voltages, ranging from 0.0 to 13.0 kV, further decreased the size of electrostatically sprayed hydrogel microbeads crosslinked by hydrogen bonds between sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) in hydrochloric acid. The size of SA/CMCS hydrogel microbeads was successfully reduced from 2000 ± 121 μm (SC-2000) to 400 ± 15 μm (SC-400). Notably, SC-400 exhibits the highest maximum adsorption capacity (qm) and rate constant (k2) at 840.3 mg/g and 0.0598 g/mg/min, respectively, at pH 9.0 and a temperature of 25 °C in the absence of ionic compounds, which is three times higher than that of SC-2000, due to their high specific surface area and pore volume. Through a series of adsorption studies and characterization analyses, SA/CMCS hydrogel microbeads displayed heterogeneous adsorption behaviors towards MB dye through electrostatic interactions between the deprotonated carboxylic groups and cationic MB molecules, where MB adsorption efficiency could be significantly influenced by pH and ionic strength. These findings suggest that ES technology is effective in synthesizing smaller SA/CMCS hydrogel microbeads with enhanced MB removal rates and stable adsorption capacities and their applications could be further explored for removing other organic dyes and toxic metals in subsequent research studies.

Multiscale Pore Architecture and Its Influence on Porosity, Permeability, and Fluid Flow in Tight Gas Reservoirs of the Shihezi H8 Formation, Ordos Basin

Characterizing pore network morphology and its influence on critical reservoir properties such as porosity, permeability, and fluid flow pathways is imperative for maximizing production from tight gas sandstone reservoirs. This study integrated petrographic and pore-scale analyses to investigate diagenetic effects on the Shihezi H8 Formation, Ordos Basin, China. Sixty core plug samples spanning depositional facies from wells were analyzed using thin-section petrography, scanning electron microscopy, laser grain size analysis, mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and porosity–permeability measurements. Thin-section observations indicated that formation primarily comprises litharenite and sub-litharenite sandstones deposited in fluvial–deltaic environments composed primarily of quartz and feldspar grains. Diagenesis caused significant porosity reduction through initial mechanical compaction, 3–13% quartz cementation, and localized dissolution, resulting in secondary porosity of up to 5%. Three diagenetic facies were differentiated based on variations in mineralogy and diagenetic alterations. MICP classified pore networks into three reservoir types defined by mean throat radii ranging from 0.091 to 0.270 μm. NMR distinguished pore architectures as uniformly microporous, bimodally micro–mesoporous, and heterogeneously distributed multiscale pores. Larger throat radii correlated positively with higher porosity (up to 8.6%), gas porosity (10.5%), and permeability (0.1911 mD). Grain size analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between mean detrital grain diameter (&gt;2.6 φ, 0.18 mm, (180 µm)), and significantly elevated average porosity (5–8%) compared to finer lithologies, implying depositional energy and sorting regimes. Integrating depositional features, diagenetic alterations, and multiscale pore architecture characterization quantitatively and qualitatively enhanced predictions of heterogeneity in hydrocarbon flow behavior amongst these tight reservoirs. The optimized insights from this integrated study provide a framework to guide development strategies and field appraisal methods for maximizing recovery from unconventional tight gas formations.

Understanding the influence of configurations and intermolecular interaction on thermomechanical and dynamics properties of polymer–clay nanocomposites via molecular dynamics simulations

AbstractPolymer‐clay nanocomposites (PCNs) have emerged as highly versatile structural materials that possess exceptional thermomechanical and dynamic properties, all the while retaining their inherent attributes of being lightweight and optically clear. The fabrication of nanocomposites involves the incorporation of carefully calibrated quantities of clay nanofillers into polymer matrixes. Current research expands upon existing coarse‐grained (CG) models of nanoclay and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and utilize molecular dynamics simulations to methodically explore the thermomechanical characteristics of PCNs. Specifically, the effects of exfoliated and stacked configurations of nanoclays, as well as variations in intermolecular interactions between the nanoclay and polymer constituents were tested. Tensile and shear simulations, as well as interfacial behaviors, are conducted. The intermolecular interaction could have significant influences on Shear Modulus and Young's Modulus, and those influences have their characteristics due to different configurations and different force directions, such as in most cases, exfoliated structures exhibit higher mechanical modulus compared with stacked configurations at varying interaction strengths. Additionally, in the in‐plane direction, they demonstrate stronger resistance effects compared with the out‐of‐plane direction. The interaction between PMMA and nanoclay slows down the global dynamics of PMMA, with a stronger effect observed for higher interaction strength. The impact of nanoclay on the segmental dynamics of PMMA decreases as we move away from the nanoclay layers toward the pure PMMA matrix. These findings provide molecular insights into the arrangement of components in PCNs during deformation and highlight the significance of nanoclay and the interface in determining their mechanical and dynamic properties.Highlights Variation patterns of mechanical modulus with interactions and configurations. The property difference in mechanical modulus due to configurations. Positive correlation between polymer Tg and intermolecular interaction. Global and local confinement effects on molecular stiffness during tension. Dynamical heterogeneity behavior on different interactions and temperatures.

Classification of pediatric soft and bone sarcomas using DNA methylation-based profiling

Pediatric sarcomas present heterogeneous morphology, genetics and clinical behavior posing a challenge for an accurate diagnosis. DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that coordinates chromatin structure and regulates gene expression, determining cell type and function. DNA methylation-based tumor profiling classifier for sarcomas (known as sarcoma classifier) from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum) was applied to 122 pediatric sarcomas referred to a reference pediatric oncology hospital. The classifiers reported 88.5% of agreement between histopathological and molecular classification confirming the initial diagnosis of all osteosarcomas and Ewing sarcomas. The Ewing-like sarcomas were reclassified into sarcomas with BCOR or CIC alterations, later confirmed by orthogonal diagnostic techniques. Regarding the CNAs profile, osteosarcomas had several chromosomal gains and losses as well as chromothripsis, whereas Ewing sarcomas had few large events, such as amplifications of chromosomes 8 and 12. The molecular classification together with clinical and histopathological assessment could improve the diagnosis of pediatric sarcomas although there are limitations to deal with more rare classes. This study provides an increase in the number of sarcomas evaluated for DNA methylation profiling in the pediatric population.

Miniaturized Shear Testing: In-Plane and Through-Thickness Characterization of Plywood.

This study addresses the challenges associated with conventional plywood shear testing by introducing a novel miniaturized shear test method. This approach utilizes a controlled router toolpath for precise sample fabrication, enabling efficient material use and data acquisition. Miniaturized samples, designed with double shear zones, were tested for τxy, τxz, and τyz configurations using a universal testing machine. Results revealed a mean ultimate shear strength ranging from 5.6 MPa to 7.3 MPa and a mean shear modulus ranging from 0.039 GPa to 0.095 GPa, confirming the orthotropic nature of plywood. The resulting shear behavior was determined with stress-strain curves correlated with failure patterns. The miniaturized tests effectively captured the material's heterogeneous behavior, particularly at smaller scales, and demonstrated consistent load-bearing capacity even after substantial stress reduction, suggesting suitability for bracing applications. This method allows for increased sample sizes, facilitating robust data collection for developing and validating finite element models. Future work will focus on evaluating the scalability of the observed orthotropic behavior and data scatter at larger scales and assessing the potential for this method to replace conventional full-scale plywood shear testing.

Heterogeneous ablation behavior of SiCf/SiC composite by nanosecond pulse laser

Heterogeneous ablation behavior of SiCf/SiC composite by nanosecond pulse laser

A clinicopathological and molecular series of five TFEB-altered renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases: highlighting an aggressive subset of TFEB-rearranged RCC concomitant with TFEB amplification/gene copy number gains.

The classification of TFEB-altered renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been revised to include TFEB-rearranged RCC and TFEB-amplified RCC in the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of the Urinary System. Given the wide spectrum of TFEB-altered RCC in terms of morphology and clinical behavior, an accurate diagnosis is challenging yet crucial, particularly in aggressive cases. Moreover, the concurrence of TFEB gene rearrangement and amplification/gene copy number (GCN) gains was also observed, but there was limited knowledge of these cases. We presented three TFEB-rearranged RCC cases, one TFEB-amplified RCC case, and one case of concomitant TFEB-rearranged and -amplified RCC, comparing the similarities and differences among these three subgroups. Furthermore, we summarized the clinicopathological and molecular features of TFEB-rearranged RCC concomitant with TFEB amplification/GCN gains from the literature and the present study. TFEB-altered RCCs exhibit significant heterogeneity in morphology and clinical behavior while displaying similar immunohistochemical profiles, including positive staining for Melan-A, PAX8, and CD117, and negative staining for CK7. A typical biphasic "rosette-like" morphology has been observed in a proportion of TFEB-rearranged RCC concomitant with TFEB amplification/GCN gains, which has been noted in TFEB-rearranged RCC, but not in cases with only TFEB amplification. Notably, TFEB-rearranged RCCs concomitant with TFEB amplification/GCN gains tend to be aggressive, in contrast to the often indolent nature of TFEB-rearranged cases, irrespective of the extent of TFEB gene copy increase. Therefore, a TFEB FISH assay is essential for unclassified RCC cases that exhibit melanocytic marker expression, and fluorescent signals should be counted and interpreted acurrately.

Correlating Heterogeneities in Support Fragmentation to Polymer Morphology in Metallocene‐Based Propylene Polymerization Catalysis

AbstractIn the field of olefin polymerization catalysis, metallocenes are heterogenized with methylaluminoxane onto silica supports to yield active catalysts. During olefin polymerization, these silica supports act as a framework to control the fragmentation stage, thereby influencing the final polymer product and preventing reactor fouling and fines formation. This study investigates the influence of different silica supports induced on the final polymer product. To study a broad range of silica supports from an industrial silica database, we utilize a hierarchical clustering method to cluster the supports based on their physical properties. From the clustering method, five supports representing the clusters and an industrial benchmark were analyzed at different polymerization stages using focused ion beam–scanning electron microscopy (FIB–SEM) and microcomputed tomography (microCT). This combined FIB‐SEM/microCT methodology revealed differences in both fragmentation behavior and polymer morphologies based on structural features, including macropores, mesopores, spray‐dried shells, spray‐dried spheres, and denser shells. The heterogeneity and ideal fragmentation behavior was further assessed by calculating the replication factor of each support, indicating that silica materials containing macropores and spray‐dried shells have an almost ideal replication phenomenon. This multiscale analysis revealed new understanding of catalyst fragmentation for different supports. This understanding could in the future be further developed by the addition of more supports or additional analysis of the supports to the industrial database.

Modeling the interplay between disease spread, behaviors, and disease perception with a data-driven approach

Individuals’ perceptions of disease influence their adherence to preventive measures, shaping the dynamics of disease spread. Despite extensive research on the interaction between disease spread, human behaviors, and interventions, few models have incorporated real-world behavioral data on disease perception, limiting their applicability. In this study, we propose an approach to integrate survey data on contact patterns and disease perception into a data-driven compartmental model, by hypothesizing that perceived severity is a determinant of behavioral change. We explore scenarios involving a competition between a COVID-19 wave and a vaccination campaign, where individuals’ behaviors vary based on their perceived severity of the disease. Results indicate that behavioral heterogeneities influenced by perceived severity affect epidemic dynamics, in a way depending on the interplay between two contrasting effects. On the one hand, longer adherence to protective measures by groups with high perceived severity provides greater protection to vulnerable individuals, while premature relaxation of behaviors by low perceived severity groups facilitates virus spread. Differences in behavior across different population groups may impact strongly the epidemiological curves, with a transition from a scenario with two successive epidemic peaks to one with only one (higher) peak and overall more numerous severe outcomes and deaths. The specific modeling choices for how perceived severity modulates behavior parameters do not strongly impact the model’s outcomes. Moreover, the study of several simplified models indicate that the observed phenomenology depends on the combination of data describing age-stratified contact patterns and of the feedback loop between disease perception and behavior, while it is robust with respect to the lack of precise information on the distribution of perceived severity in the population. Sensitivity analyses confirm the robustness of our findings, emphasizing the consistent impact of behavioral heterogeneities across various scenarios. Our study underscores the importance of integrating risk perception into infectious disease transmission models and gives hints on the type of data that further extensive data collection should target to enhance model accuracy and relevance.

Fouling behavior heterogeneity of typical nanoplastics in widely used polyvinylidene fluoride ultrafiltration membranes

The similarity between the particle size of nanoplastics (NPs) and the pore size of membranes used in water treatment plants may cause overlooked NPs to become potential bothers of membrane processes. Also, various NPs may impact membrane processes differently. Here, fouling behaviors of typical polyvinylidene fluoride ultrafiltration membranes induced by two typical NPs were investigated in environmentally relevant conditions. Results manifested adverse effects of diverse NPs on membranes differed. The flux descent rates of diverse NPs feed solutions-fouled membranes ranged from 9 % to 36 % over 2 h at 0.10 MPa in the dead-end filtration system. Polystyrene nanoplastics caused severer membrane fouling and greater cleaning difficulty than polyethylene nanoplastics did, and the fouling and the cleaning difficulty were both exacerbated with divalent cations present. Also, the incipient fouling was the chief driver. The obtained fouling behavior and cleaning efficiency were compared to the interaction energy data calculated by DLVO theory to better understand underlying fouling mechanisms. Significant correlations were observed between them. Overall, our findings demonstrated the negative impact and its heterogeneity of different NPs on membrane processes, elucidated their mechanisms, and provided scientific bases for NPs membrane fouling control.

FOOD SELECTION OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ENROLLED IN NATEA CAETÉS

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is understood as a neurological disorder characterized by behavioral heterogeneity, affective blunting, and stereotypical behaviors. Objective: To understand the eating habits of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the main foods and restrictions regarding the child's diet. Methodology: This is an observational, cross-sectional study with a qualitative descriptive approach, since the objective is to observe and delve deeper into the food selectivity of autistic children. The target population will be mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder registered with NATEA in the city of Capanema. Results: The sample consisted of 42 participants, of which 85.71% were male, reflecting the male predominance frequently observed in ASD diagnoses. The most represented age group was 5 to 12 years (61.90%), and the majority of participants identified as brown (85.72%). Regarding diagnosis, 64.29% of children were diagnosed between 1 and 5 years of age, and support levels ranged from mild (33.33%), moderate (40.48%) to intense (26.19%). Regarding feeding, 80.49% of children presented food selectivity, with a greater preference for carbohydrates and sweets, and low acceptance of vegetables and fats. Mealtimes were challenging for caregivers, with 70.97% reporting greater difficulty at the beginning of meals, suggesting initial resistance to food engagement. In addition, 80% of participants reported difficulties with food consistency, highlighting the importance of adapted nutritional interventions. Conclusion: The results indicate the need for integrated strategies to improve food acceptance and provide emotional support to caregivers. It is concluded that the demographic profile, associated with food selectivity and socioeconomic difficulties, reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary support programs to promote a balanced diet and well-being for this population.