Hierarchical Cluster Analysis Research Articles

Transparent, flexible, and eco-friendly starch-based films for reversible optoelectronic noses for food spoilage monitoring in smart packaging.

Areversible optoelectronic nose is presentedconsisting of ten acid-base indicators incorporated into a starch-based film, covering a wide pHrange. The starch substrate is odorless, biocompatible, flexible, and exhibits high tensile resistance. This optical artificial olfaction system was used to detect the early stages of food decomposition by exposing it to the volatile compounds produced during the spoialge process of three food products (beef, chicken, and pork).A smartphone was used to capture the color changes caused by intermolecular interactions between each dye and the emitted volatiles over time. Digital images were processed to generate a differential color map, which uses the observed color shifts to create a unique signature for each food product. To effectively discriminate among different samples and exposure times, we employed chemometric tools, including hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). This approach detects food deterioration in a practical, cost-effective, and user-friendly manner, making it suitable for smart packaging. Additionally, the use of starch-based films in the food industry is preferable due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability characteristics.

Teacher Mobility from “Starter School” to “Forever School”: The Impact on Urban Schools and Students

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Framework was utilized to examine the complexity of the teacher turnover problem in regard to structural inequalities within education that need to be dismantled to create equitable outcomes for all students. Hierarchical cluster analysis was implemented to investigate school report card data of elementary schools in a rural school district ( n = 18) and an urban school district ( n = 41) in geographical proximity in the southeastern United States. Clusters were formed using school level variables including the breakdown of student race/ethnicity, percentage of economically disadvantaged students, teacher turnover rates, years of teaching experience, and a school performance measure. Four clusters emerged from the analysis. Across all variables there were significant differences found between clusters ( p < .001) in the school performance measure, teacher turnover rates, student race/ethnicity, and percentage of students receiving free/reduced price lunch. The percentage of teachers with between 4 and 10 years of experience was statistically equivalent across all cluster groups, differences were found in the number of initially licensed teachers (a low of 9.9% in Cluster 2 to a high of 27.0% in Cluster 4) and teachers with 10 or more years experience (ranging from 46.5% in Cluster 4 to 62.2% in Cluster 2).

Application of water quality index and statistical-hydrochemical techniques in groundwater assessment of the Quaternary aquifer, southwest Nile Delta of Egypt

The objective of the current study is to investigate the hydrogeochemistry of the Quaternary groundwater and evaluating its suitability for drinking and irrigation needs using statistical analysis, water quality indicators and physicochemical parameters, in west of the Nile Delta, Egypt. The study area has high population growth and agricultural activities, which require groundwater protection, and predicting probable environmental problems. For these reasons, 54 groundwater samples were collected during April 2021. Hierarchical cluster analysis, Pearson, and factor analysis used for statistical analysis. Biplots, Gibbs and Piper diagrams were used to infer the geochemical processes controlling groundwater chemistry. The groundwater is affected by silicate weathering, reveres ion exchange, dissolution of CO2, and recharge from the Nile. According to the WQICCME drinking value, the groundwater ranged between fair to marginal water quality. The distribution of integrated-weight water quality index of the samples, showed that it is excellent for irrigation (< 25). The nine physicochemical parameters sodium percent (Na%), permeability index, sodium adsorption ratio, Kelley Index, residual sodium carbonate, magnesium hazard, Potential Salinity, Corrosive Ratio and Chloro-alkaline Indices revealed that most of the groundwater are of good quality and can be safely used for agricultural activities, albeit few samples due the west needs some treatment. It is recommended to minimize the fertilizers and nutrients use to decrease the anthropogenic impact on the groundwater. The reuse of irrigation water without treatment should be limited. As well, the pumping rates should be controlled to avoid aquifer salinization.

Identifying Giant Cell Arteritis patients with higher risk of relapse and vascular events: a cluster analysis.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is one of the most common large vessel (LVV) vasculitis and is associated with a high risk of relapse and cardiovascular complications. Improving risk stratification remains a significant issue in this patient population. We aimed to perform a cluster analysis among GCA to identify clusters and evaluate their prognostic value. In a multicenter cohort study, we performed hierarchical cluster analysis on the factor analysis of mixed data coordinates results with 283 GCA patients' characteristics to generate clusters and assess incidence of relapse, cardiovascular events and death. Three clusters were identified: "Vascular relapsing profile" (23.0%), "Typical GCA profile" (47.7%), and "Ophthalmologic elderly profile" (29.3%). The "Vascular relapsing profile" cluster included younger patients with more frequent relapses and cardiovascular events, particularly thoracic aortic aneurysms. The "Typical GCA profile" was the largest, with classic cranial manifestations and frequently associated polymyalgia rheumatica. The "Ophthalmologic elderly profile" had the oldest patients with more visual loss and the highest mortality rate. Our findings underline the varied prognostic landscape within GCA, emphasizing the poor cardiovascular prognosis of younger patients with LV involvement and the higher mortality among elderly patients. This reinforces the need for further research regarding the screening of aortic abnormalities and whether those patients might benefit from intensive treatment with biotherapy and cardiovascular risk factors management.

Ensuring a sustainable and healthy primary school of the future: Finding answers through group concept mapping

Objectives: Overweight and obesity among school-aged children pose a threat to both their academic performance and public health. The Healthy Primary School of the Future (HPSF) initiative was established to address this issue. Our objective was to explore the conditions that make HPSF sustainable based on the perspectives of relevant stakeholders. Design: The study utilised Group Concept Mapping, a structured methodology for conducting mixed-methods participative research, combining qualitative data collection with quantitative data analysis measures. Method: Participants included parents, teachers, school directors, politicians, labour unions, educational, nutrition and health scientists and policymakers. They were asked to respond to the prompt, ‘A necessary condition to make the HPSF sustainable is . . .’. The statements generated were then assessed for their importance and feasibility. Using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analyses, we identified the shared vision among the stakeholders. Results: A total of 106 unique statements were generated and grouped statistically into 10 clusters. The most significant clusters were identified as Financing; Accessibility for everyone; and Content/Lifestyle/School Programme. The clusters that were deemed most feasible included Content/Lifestyle/School Programme; Accessibility for everyone; and Evaluation. Conclusion: Achieving sustainability for the HPSF requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the conditions outlined in all 10 clusters. Based on the ratings of feasibility and importance, our recommendation is to prioritise implementation of Content/Lifestyle/School Programme and Accessibility for everyone. Subsequently, efforts should be directed towards realising the less feasible but crucial conditions, such as Financing and Evaluation, followed by the remaining six clusters of conditions as identified.

Farmer typology and drivers of agricultural mechanization use in Haiti

Agricultural mechanization is recognized as an important technology to increase agricultural productivity, face labor shortages, and reduce post-harvest loss. However, variations among farms’ characteristics and agricultural production systems suggest adopting a targeted strategy in mechanization programs for farmers. This research aimed to answer the following questions in the particular case of Haiti: are there different types of smallholder farmers in terms of mechanization use and socio-economic characteristics? What types of mechanization are used by farmers, and what drives their use among different types of farmers? What are the different types of farms in terms of mechanization use? We used typology construction methodology (principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA)) for a sample of 637 farmers and have identified four different clusters of farmers according to the characteristics of the farms they managed: “Little rain-fed farms” (cluster 1), “Little lowlands farms” (cluster 2), “Medium-sized farms in irrigated plains” (cluster 3), and “Large fragmented mountain farms”. Farms in cluster 3 were those who used more agricultural mechanization, and the results of multinomial logistic regression (MNLR) model revealed that the significant drivers of this use were location, access to credit and low food security status. Mechanization use of farms in clusters 1 and 4 was distinctively driven by saving behavior and off-farm income, respectively. In the pooled sample, the drivers of mechanization were: regions or location, age of the farmers, irrigation, livestock, access to credit, off-farm income and food security status. This study contributes to the literature by testing new drivers of agricultural mechanization such as food security status, and off-farm income. The findings can be used to design appropriate mechanization strategies to increase productivity and face labor price/scarcity challenges. They suggest that mechanization policies should focus on agricultural equipment that are adapted to the specificities of the production systems of each farm type, and strengthen access to credit. Otherwise, mechanization will be predominantly used only in irrigated lowlands.

LC−MS/MS−based metabolite profiling and antioxidant evaluation of three Indonesian orange varieties

The orange peel contains bioactive components with health−promoting effects, a rich source of antioxidants, and could be used for functional food. However, due to many factors, the composition and concentration of bioactive compounds from orange peels differ because of their variety. This study aims to identify the metabolite and evaluate the antioxidant activity of peels from Indonesian orange varieties, i.e., Rimau Gerga Lebong (RGL, Bengkulu), Brastagi (JBM, North Sumatra), and Garut (JSG, West Java). The metabolite profile was analyzed using LC−MS/MS and discriminated based on orange variety using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Antioxidant activity was measured using the 2,2 −diphenyl− 1 −picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), cupric ion−reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and ferric−reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. In this study, the metabolite profile of orange peel proved to be rich in flavonoids like hesperidin, rutin, nobiletin, polyphenol−organic acids like p − coumaric acid, citric acid, quinic acid, and other metabolites from the class terpenoids, amino acids, and sugars. PCA separated each variety and HCA heatmaps showed variations in the distribution of identified metabolites. In the RGL variety, 47 metabolites were identified, dominated by flavonoids and terpenoids. As many as 44 metabolites in the JBM variety contain many amino acids and flavonoids. In JBM, 44 metabolites were identified with carboxylic and amino acids as the main compounds. RGL orange peel extract had the highest antioxidant activity using the DPPH and CUPRAC methods, whereas the FRAP method did not show significant differences. Regarding metabolites and antioxidant activity, RGL, JBM, and JSG orange peels can be developed as alternative functional foods.

Musculoskeletal Diseases as the Most Prevalent Component of Multimorbidity: A Population-Based Study

Background/Objectives: Due to their high frequency, common risk factors, and similar pathogenic mechanisms, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are more likely to occur with other chronic illnesses, making them a “component disorder“ of multimorbidity. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of multimorbidity and to identify the most common clusters of diagnosis within multimorbidity states, with the primary hypothesis that the most common clusters of multimorbidity are MSDs. Methods: The current study employed data from a population-based 2019 European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). Multimorbidity was defined as a ≥2 diagnosis from the list of 17 chronic non-communicable diseases, and to define clusters, the statistical method of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was performed. Results: Out of 13,178 respondents, multimorbidity was present among 4398 (33.4%). The HCA method yielded six multimorbidity clusters representing the most common diagnoses. The primary multimorbidity cluster, which was prevalent among both genders, age groups, incomes per capita, and statistical regions, consisted of three diagnoses: (1) lower spine deformity or other chronic back problem (back pain), (2) cervical deformity or other chronic problem with the cervical spine, and (3) osteoarthritis. Conclusions: Given the influence of musculoskeletal disorders on multimorbidity, it is imperative to implement appropriate measures to assist patients in relieving the physical discomfort and pain they endure. Public health information, programs, and campaigns should be utilized to promote a healthy lifestyle. Policymakers should prioritize the prevention of MSDs by encouraging increased physical activity and a healthy diet, as well as focusing on improving functional abilities.

Phenotypes and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: a global unsupervised cluster analysis from Phase II/III of the GLORIA-AF registry

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are characterized by a great clinical heterogeneity and complexity across the world. Usual classifications may not adequately characterize this population. Data-driven cluster analysis reveals different possible classifications of patients. Purpose To identify different clusters of AF patients who share similar clinical phenotypes and evaluate the association between identified clusters and clinical outcomes using cluster analysis. Methods An agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis was performed in patients from phase II/III of the GLORIA-AF registry. Associations between clusters and a composite outcome composed of all-cause death, stroke and major bleeding were evaluated using Cox regression analyses. Results The study included 26,045 AF patients (mean±SD age 70.1±10; 44.8% female) with a median [IQR] follow-up of 3 years [2.3-3.1]. Five clusters were identified: Cluster 1 was composed of young males from North America with morbid obesity and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors; Cluster 2 included older Asian patients with lower body mass index (BMI), fewer CV risk factors, lower anticoagulation rate but the highest AF ablation rate; Cluster 3 identified European males with CV comorbidities and behavioral disorders (smoking, alcohol abuse); Cluster 4 was characterized by patients with the highest rate of permanent AF, cancer, anticoagulant therapy prescription ; Cluster 5 included older women from Europe with high CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, the highest heart rate, lower BMI and high rate of previous stroke and transient ischemic attack. The incidence of the composite outcome increased a stepwise fashion among clusters from 3.2% patient-years (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4-4.1) for Cluster 1 to 6% patient-years (95% CI: 5.6-6.4) for Cluster 5 (p&amp;lt;0.0001): Cluster 1 versus 2 hazard ratio (HR): 0.85 (95% CI 0.65–1.11); 2 versus 3 HR: 0.84 (95% CI 0.76–0.93); 3 versus 4 HR: 0.9 (95% CI 0.82–0.99) and 4 versus 5 HR: 0.82 (95% CI 0.74–0.91). Conclusion Cluster analysis identified five statistically-driven groups of AF patients, with distinct phenotype characteristics and associated with different risks for major clinical adverse events.Baseline characteristics.Dendrogram and Kaplan Meier-curves.

#2490 Analyzing the morphology of mesothelial cells when exposed to peritoneal dialysis solutions

Abstract Background and Aims Glucose remains the predominant osmotic agent in peritoneal dialysis (PD), yet its prolonged use is associated with an inevitable decline in peritoneal filtration capacity. Persistent contact with glucose during dialysis can induce significant morphological and functional changes in the peritoneum. In this study, we explore the morphological alterations in mesothelial cells exposed to both conventional glucose-based PD solutions and an innovative biocompatible PD solution (XyloCore) containing L-carnitine and Xylitol. Method Met5A mesothelial cells were seeded and cultured on a polyester filter (with a pore size of 0.4 micrometers, Transwell, 12 well type, Millipore) utilizing a full medium. The impact of PD solutions, differentiating between glucose-based and XyloCore, was assessed on cells cultivated on transwells. These cells were exposed to PD solutions on the apical side and to culture medium on the basal side. The cells were then employed for proteomic and metabolomic assessments and were also fixed and scrutinized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results Through unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis, discernable proteomic distinctions emerged between wild-type (WT) cells (control) and cells exposed to either glucose-based PD solution or XyloCore. In SEM analysis, control cells exhibited a distinct flat epithelial appearance. Contrastingly, subjecting WT cells to treatment with a glucose-based PD solution induced significant alterations in cellular morphology. Notably, cells displayed elongated shapes, loosening of cell-cell contacts, and a consistent denuding of the culture surface. In contrast, XyloCore maintained a better cellular morphology and mitigated cell detachment. Conclusion Preserving the integrity of the mesothelial barrier is crucial for maintaining peritoneal ultrafiltration capacity. The findings suggest that glucose-based PD solutions trigger early morphological changes in cell shape and cell-cell contacts, likely stemming from alterations in cytoskeleton or adhesion molecules. The exploration of new osmotic agents in clinical practice holds paramount significance for the future of peritoneal dialysis.

Sexual and preventive behaviors associated with HAV, HBV, and HPV vaccine hesitancy among men who have sex with men in France

ABSTRACT Vaccination coverage against hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human papillomaviruses (HPV) is insufficient among men who have sex with men (MSM), partly because of their high prevalence of vaccine hesitancy (VH) specific to these vaccines. This study aimed to investigate determinants of specific VH in MSM, focusing on characteristics of their sexual activity, propensity to use prevention tools and medical care, disclosure of sexual orientation to health care professionals (HCPs), and perceived stigmatization. A cross-sectional electronic survey (February – August 2022) collected perceptions of HBV, HAV, and HPV, and of their respective vaccines among 3,730 French MSM and enabled the construction of a specific VH variable. Using agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis, we constructed a typology of MSM sexual and prevention practices. We identified three MSM clusters (low- (C1, 24%), moderate- (C2, 41%), and high- (C3, 35%) “sexual activity/medical engagement”) that showed an increasing gradient in the use of medical prevention with regular medical care and exposure to high-risk sexual practices. A multiple ordinal logistic regression showed that overall specific VH was higher in the C1 cluster and in men who had not informed their physician of their sexual orientation. This typology could usefully help to adapt vaccination communication strategies for MSM prevention program according to patients’ profiles. HCPs should be encouraged and trained to ask men about their sexual practices and to provide appropriate vaccination recommendations nonjudgmentally.

Exploring types of parent attachment via the clustering modules of a new free statistical software, ROP-R

The aim of the paper is threefold: (1) to demonstrate the rich repertoire of clustering capabilities of a ROPstat and R-based new and free software, called ROP-R, by illustrating several analyses with real psychological data; (2) to show how well ROP-R works in tandem with ROPstat software in complex classification analyses; and (3) to explore some nontrivial types of parent attachment using the clustering modules of ROP-R. Four modules of ROP-R are available for performing cluster analyses (CAs), with several methods (e.g., divisive hierarchical CA, k-medoids CA, k-medians CA, model-based CA) not found in other user-friendly menu-driven software. In the paper, mother and father attachment data are used from a study with adolescents (Mirnics et al., 2021) to illustrate how the ROP-R software can be used to perform various CAs and evaluate the results using attractive graphs and useful tables. Comparing different clustering methods, it was found that both standard AHCA and k-means CA could discover a 7-type structure, which was also verified by the nonstandard k-medians CA. However, the nonstandard k-medoids CA and MBCA methods were not very effective in identifying a structure with an acceptable overall homogeneity. Nevertheless, they were able to identify some types through extremely homogeneous clusters.

College students' perceptions of electronic cigarette risks and benefits: a concept mapping study.

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is on the rise among young adults, with higher public acceptance than traditional tobacco. A study in Taiwan employed concept mapping to explore risk and benefit perceptions of e-cigarette use among college students. The study involved 100 college students from 11 Taiwanese universities, with 50 being e-cigarette users and 50 non-users. Data collection and analysis were done with the GroupWisdom™ platform. Participants engaged in brainstorming, rating and sorting their perceptions, which were analyzed using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analyses. The participants' mean age was 19.24 years, and 55% were male. This process resulted in the identification of 10 clusters encompassing 64 statements, with 3 clusters focused on risk perceptions, 6 on benefit perceptions, and 1 dealing with e-cigarette regulations. Notably, risk perceptions were rated higher than benefit perceptions. Non-users held significantly higher risk perceptions and lower benefit perceptions across the nine clusters related to e-cigarette use. Concept mapping proved to be an effective tool for understanding college students' perceptions. These findings can assist health educators in comprehending college students' viewpoints on e-cigarette use and in developing targeted interventions. Additionally, exploring benefit perceptions may enhance students' critical thinking skills regarding e-cigarette advertising.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Tagetes filifolia Lag. essential oil from Peruvian Andes

The chemical composition of the essential oil from the aerial parts (leaves and flowers) of Tagetes filifolia Lag. grown in the Peruvian Andes was examined throughout the gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Fifty-seven compounds were identified representing more than 99% of the essential oil. Phenylpropanoids had the major percentage, including (E)-anethol (85.0%) and estragole (12.9%) as the most abundant compounds. A multivariate analysis was performed using hierarchical cluster analysis to examine the relationship between the studied sample and other T. filifolia specimens from 21 essential oil compositions reported in the literature. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis reveals three groups: (E)-anethole/estragole, estragole/(E)-anethole and an outlier (Z)-anethole/estragole. In addition, antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. The essential oil had a moderate scavenging effect and ferric reducing capacity.

Profiles of Dementia Caregivers according to Psychosocial and Resource Variables. Importance of Kinship.

The present study aims to analyze the existence of different profiles in family caregivers of people with dementia according to psychosocial and resource variables. In addition, it aims to study whether there is a greater representation of each kinship group in each of the profiles and if there are differences in emotional distress among such profiles considering the kinship with the care-recipient. Participants were 288 family dementia caregivers, divided into four kinship groups (wives, husbands, sons and daughters). Psychosocial (familism, dysfunctional thoughts and experiential avoidance), resource (leisure activities and social support) and outcomes (depressive, anxious and guilt symptomatology) variables were collected. A hierarchical cluster analysis using Ward's method, an exploratory factor analysis of two fixed factors and contingency tables were performed. Five clusters were obtained: Low psychosocial vulnerability-High resources, Low psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources, Mixed, High psychosocial vulnerability-High resources, and High psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources. Results suggested that clusters associated with lower distress were the Low psychosocial vulnerability-High resources and the High psychosocial vulnerability-High resources. Clusters associated with higher distress were the Low psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources and Mixed. High levels of dysfunctional thoughts, familism and experiential avoidance do not always have a maladaptive function. This could depend on sociocultural and resource variables such as the kinship with the caregiver or perceived social support. The identification of profiles of family caregivers potentially needing protection and vulnerable to psychological distress could help to increase the effectiveness of interventions aimed at this population.

Chemical diversity of the essential oils of Artemisia sieberi in Iran

Artemisia sieberi is widely distributed in the desert and semi-desert regions of Iran. We collected samples from different parts of Iran and proceeded to extract and analyse their essential oils using hydrodistillation and GC-MS, respectively. Among seventy-two compounds identified within the oils, the hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpenoids, trans-thujone (0.0–22.9%), cis-thujane (0.0–47.3%), 1, 8-cineole (0.7–37.1%), camphor (0.0–46.4%), santolinyl acetate (0–33.8%) and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (0.0–16.4%) and the sesquiterpenoid, davanone (0.0–59.6%), were reported as the predominant components from the 17-accession. The above-mentioned GC-MS analytical results in conjunction with chemometric calculations, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA), suggested 6 chemical groups of A. sieberi collected from the Northern to the Southern parts of Iran. The chemical classification of EOs were based on the sum of concentration of terpenoids with distinct C-skeletons, but not individual constituents. These distinct groups include the species predominant in, I: thujane, II: davanone, III: davanone and bornane, IV: p-menthane, V: bornane and VI: irregular monoterpenoids. The trace or less distributed phytochemicals are also suggested to divide the A. sieberi into two main group of sesquiterpene and monoterpene producers.

Inhibition of reactive oxygen species production accompanying alternatively activated microglia by risperidone in a mouse ketamine model of schizophrenia.

Recent studies have highlighted the potential involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and microglia, a major source of ROS, in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In our study, we explored how the second-generation antipsychotic risperidone (RIS) affects ROS regulation and microglial activation in the hippocampus using a mouse ketamine (KET) model of schizophrenia. KET administration resulted in schizophrenia-like behaviors in male C57BL/6J mice, such as impaired prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response and hyper-locomotion. These behaviors were mitigated by RIS. We found that the gene expression level of an enzyme responsible for ROS production (Nox2), which is primarily associated with activated microglia, was lower in KET/RIS-treated mice than in KET-treated mice. Conversely, the levels of antioxidant enzymes (Ho-1 and Gclc) were higher in KET/RIS-treated mice. The microglial density in the hippocampus was increased in KET-treated mice, which was counteracted by RIS. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three morphological subtypes of microglia. In control mice, most microglia were resting-ramified (type I, 89.7%). KET administration shifted the microglial composition to moderately ramified (type II, 44.4%) and hyper-ramified (type III, 25.0%). In KET/RIS-treated mice, type II decreased to 32.0%, while type III increased to 34.0%. An invitro ROS assay showed that KET increased ROS production in dissociated hippocampal microglia, and this effect was mitigated by RIS. Furthermore, we discovered that a NOX2 inhibitor could counteract KET-induced behavioral deficits. These findings suggest that pharmacological inhibition of ROS production by RIS may play a crucial role in ameliorating schizophrenia-related symptoms. Moreover, modulating microglial activation to regulate ROS production has emerged as a novel avenue for developing innovative treatments for schizophrenia.

The Effect of Ovariectomy and Estradiol Substitution on the Metabolic Parameters and Transcriptomic Profile of Adipose Tissue in a Prediabetic Model

Menopause brings about profound physiological changes, including the acceleration of insulin resistance and other abnormalities, in which adipose tissue can play a significant role. This study analyzed the effect of ovariectomy and estradiol substitution on the metabolic parameters and transcriptomic profile of adipose tissue in prediabetic females of hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats (HHTgs). The HHTgs underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery (SHAM), and half of the OVX group received 17β-estradiol (OVX+E2) post-surgery. Ovariectomy resulted in weight gain, an impaired glucose tolerance, ectopic triglyceride (TG) deposition, and insulin resistance exemplified by impaired glycogenesis and lipogenesis. Estradiol alleviated some of the disorders associated with ovariectomy; in particular, it improved insulin sensitivity and reduced TG deposition. A transcriptomic analysis of perimetrial adipose tissue revealed 809 differentially expressed transcripts in the OVX vs. SHAM groups, mostly pertaining to the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, and oxidative stress. Estradiol substitution affected 1049 transcripts with overrepresentation in the signaling pathways of lipid metabolism. The principal component and hierarchical clustering analyses of transcriptome shifts corroborated the metabolic data, showing a closer resemblance between the OVX+E2 and SHAM groups compared to the OVX group. Changes in the adipose tissue transcriptome may contribute to metabolic abnormalities accompanying ovariectomy-induced menopause in HHTg females. Estradiol substitution may partially mitigate some of these disorders.

Exploring Sustainable Urban Transportation: Insights from Shared Mobility Services and Their Environmental Impact

The transportation landscape is witnessing profound changes due to technological advancements, necessitating proactive policy responses to harness innovation and avert urban mobility disruption. The sharing economy has already transformed ridesharing, bicycle-sharing, and electric scooters, with shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) poised to reshape car ownership. This study pursues two objectives: firstly, to establish a market segmentation for shared ride services and secondly, to evaluate the environmental impact of ridesharing in different contexts. To mitigate potential biases linked to stated preference data, we analysed the navette service, utilized by a research institute in Europe, closely resembling future SAVs. The market segmentation relied on hierarchical cluster analysis using employee survey responses, while the environmental analysis was grounded in the 2019 navette service data. Our analysis revealed four unique employee clusters: Cluster 1, emphasizing active transportation and environmental awareness; Cluster 2, showing openness towards SAVs given reliable alternatives are available; Cluster 3, the largest segment, highlighting a demand for policy support and superior service quality; and Cluster 4, which places a premium on time, suggesting a potential need for strategies to make the service more efficient and, consequently, discourage private car use. These findings highlight a general willingness to adopt shared transport modes, signalling a promising transition to shared vehicle ownership with significant environmental benefits achievable through service design and policy measures.

Study on Quality Characteristic of Chebulae Fructus and Its Adulterants and Degradation Pathway of Hydrolyzable Tannins.

Chebulae Fructus (CF) is known as one of the richest sources of hydrolyzable tannins (HTs). In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector method was established for simultaneous determination of the 12 common phenolcarboxylic and tannic constituents (PTCs). Using this method, quantitative analysis was accomplished in CF and other four adulterants, including Terminaliae Belliricae Fructus, Phyllanthi Fructus, Chebulae Fructus Immaturus, and Canarii Fructus. Based on a quantitative analysis of the focused compounds, discrimination of CF and other four adulterants was successfully accomplished by hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Additionally, the total contents of the 12 compounds that we focused on in this study were unveiled as 148.86 mg/g, 96.14 mg/g, and 18.64 mg/g in exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp and seed of CF, respectively, and PTCs were witnessed to be the most abundant in the exocarp of CF. Noticeably, the HTs (chebulagic acid, chebulanin acid, chebulinic acid, and punicalagin) were observed to be ultimately degraded to chebulic acid, gallic acid, and ellagic acid during sunlight-drying of the fresh fruits. As a result, our study indicated that CF and its adulterants could be distinguished by the observed 12 PTCs, which were mainly distributed in the exocarp of the fruits. The HTs were prone to degrade into the three simple phenolcarboxylic acids during drying or processing, allowing us to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the PTCs, with great significance in the improved quality of CF and related products.