Male Samples Research Articles

The role of oxytocin receptor gene variants in appetitive aggression: A study in a South African male sample

AbstractChronic exposure to trauma and violence can promote aggressive behavior. Oxytocin and variants in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene may play a role in the etiology of proactive, that is, goal‐oriented instrumental aggression, or reactive aggression, which typically occurs in response to emotionally triggering situations. The current study builds on previous findings that experienced and witnessed trauma in childhood predicts higher levels of appetitive aggression, a form of proactive aggression characterized by the enjoyment of participating in violent behavior. The current study explores the role of OXTR rs2254298 and rs53576 variants in appetitive and reactive aggression. Adult males living in Cape Town, South Africa, and at risk for violent behavior completed the Appetitive Aggression Scale (AAS) and Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). OXTR rs2254298 and rs53576 were successfully genotyped via restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in 238 and 239 participants, respectively. Regression analysis showed that rs2254298 G/G and A/G genotypes and the rs53576 A/G genotype were significantly associated with lower AAS scores (p < .001) compared to the A/A genotype. Additionally, genotype interaction analyses conducted in 232 participants, found that the combination of rs2254298 A/G and rs53576 G/G genotypes produced opposite effects on appetitive and reactive aggression. Specifically, this combination was associated with a 0.29‐point increase in AAS scores (p = .032) and a 0.13‐point decrease in BPAQ scores (p = .037) when compared to A‐allele homozygosity for both variants. These results suggest that genetic variation in a signaling system involved in influencing environmental and social salience may contribute to appetitive aggression.

Age and Gender Estimation Using the Osseous Microanatomy: Original Research

ABSTRACT Aim: This study was performed with the idea of assessing age and gender utilizing differences in osseous microanatomy in human jawbones. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively among human jawbone samples. Various morphometric assessments such as trabecular width, marrow space, and their corelation were studied. In the samples, variations among osteon numbers, differences in the shapes of the osteocytes of jawbones, and amount of inflammation in the bony areas were recorded. Results: It was noted in this study that mean values of the diameter of the Haversian canal and vessel density had a noteworthy increase in female jawbone samples. The amount of osteocytes in both female and male bone samples was also statistically significant in terms of the correlation coefficient. Conclusion: We concluded that more sensitive identification of human remains, that is, age and gender analysis, can be performed by histomorphometric evaluation of bone remains.

A novel approach using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometric analysis to distinguish male and female human hair samples.

This article presents an attempt to discriminate between human male and female hair samples using a single strand of scalp hair. The methodology involves the non-destructive application of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with chemometric analysis. A total of 96 hair samples, evenly distributed between 48 male and 48 female volunteers from India, were collected. Spectral analysis revealed subtle differences between the two groups, and reliance on visual interpretation might introduce biasness. To avoid subjective biases, chemometric techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were employed for enhanced data visualization and separation. PCA results revealed that the first 10 principal components accounted for 93% of the total variance, with three significant PCs. The PLS-DA model demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity and specificity in sex discrimination from hair samples, establishing its efficacy as a robust classification tool. Furthermore, the proposed model exhibited 100% accuracy in predicting unknown samples, underscoring its potential applicability in real-world scenarios. These outcomes affirm the viability of our approach for non-invasive classification of human male and female hair based on single-strand scalp hair analysis.

Abstract A078: Characterization of normal human male mammary cells and their de novo transformed derivatives

Abstract Men normally develop and maintain bi-layered mammary glands that appear structurally and histologically similar to those that develop in women, but with reported deficient lobule formation. Men also develop breast cancer, mostly of the ER+ subtype and an age-associated increasing onset, but at a 100-fold lower incidence and overall worse outcome. However, the classification and treatment of male breast cancers are largely based on strategies developed for female patients, despite their known hormonal and other differences. This is likely due, at least in part, to the fact that adult male mice, unlike humans do not develop full mammary glands. Thus, experimental access to mouse models have been lacking and studies of “normal” male mammary tissue have thus been largely restricted to analysis of human male gynecomastia samples. We now report the utility of multiple systems for analyzing normal adult human female mammary cell properties to this source of freshly obtained and viably cryopreserved normal human male mammary tissue. Histological examination of male mammary tissues (3 donors) confirmed their reported bi-layered structure surrounded by fibroblasts and lack of gross evidence of lobules. Use of procedures created for analyzing female breast tissue indicates that the human male mammary glands contain the same subsets but in different relative proportions; i.e., the proportion of EpCAM+CD49f- mammary cells (Luminal Cells, LCs) is relatively increased and of the EpCAM+CD49f+ cells (Luminal Progenitors, LPs) and EpCAM-CD49f+ cells (Basal Cells, BCs) is correspondingly decreased, consistent with a lack of alveolae. However, the freshly isolated male LPs and BCs contain a similar frequency of EGF-responsive colony-forming cells (CFCs) as female LPs and BCs. Subcutaneous transplantation of the male mammary cells in both male and female immunodeficient mice resulted in the generation of hollow mammary structures 4 weeks later as previously shown for female cells, and these were also found to contain LC, LP and BC populations including some with detectable levels of CFCs suggesting their derivation from a male mammary stem cell population (Eirew et al Nat Med 2008). We have also found evidence from qPCR and RNA-seq analyses of reduced progesterone signaling and alveologenesis in male LPs and LCs. These findings suggest hormonal differences may play a major role in regulating the altered ratios of cell types present in the normal adult human male mammary gland in comparison to premenopausal female. Interestingly, preliminary experiments also indicate that normal human male mammary cells transduced with KRASG12D without, or with BMI1+MYC+TP53R273C , generate analogous slowly-growing ER+, and rapidly-growing, highly aggressive tumours, respectively, in male immunodeficient mice. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the potential of established cell culture, xenotransplantation and molecular analytical tools to reveal the altered mechanisms that account for the different structure and biology of human male mammary tissue. Citation Format: Shengsen Ding, Susanna Tan, Ebrahim Eskandari-Nasab, Shrinka Sen, Martin Hirst, Connie Eaves. Characterization of normal human male mammary cells and their de novo transformed derivatives [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2023 Oct 19-22; San Diego, California. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(3 Suppl_1):Abstract nr A078.

Agreeableness modulates mental state decoding: Electrophysiological evidence.

Agreeableness is one of the five personality traits which is associated with theory of mind (ToM) abilities. One of the critical processes involved in ToM is the decoding of emotional cues. In the present study, we investigated whether this process is modulated by agreeableness using electroencephalography (EEG) while taking into account task complexity and sex differences that are expected to moderate the relationship between emotional decoding and agreeableness. This approach allowed us to identify at which stage of the neural processing agreeableness kicks in, in order to distinguish the impact on early, perceptual processes from slower, inferential processing. Two tasks were employed and submitted to 62 participants during EEG recording: the reading the mind in the eyes (RME) task, requiring the decoding of complex mental states from eye expressions, and the biological (e)motion task, involving the perception of basic emotional actions through point-light body stimuli. Event-related potential (ERP) results showed a significant correlation between agreeableness and the contrast for emotional and non-emotional trials in a late time window only during the RME task. Specifically, higher levels of agreeableness were associated with a deeper neural processing of emotional versus non-emotional trials within the whole and male samples. In contrast, the modulation in females was negligible. The source analysis highlighted that this ERP-agreeableness association engages the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Our findings expand previous research on personality and social processing and confirm that sex modulates this relationship.

Macroscopic differences in adult human femora are linked to body mass index.

Bone functional adaptation is routinely invoked to interpret skeletal morphology despite ongoing debate regarding the limits of the bone response to mechanical stimuli. The wide variation in human body mass presents an opportunity to explore the relationship between mechanical load and skeletal response in weight-bearing elements. Here, we examine variation in femoral macroscopic morphology as a function of body mass index (BMI), which is used as a metric of load history. A sample of 80 femora (40 female; 40 male) from recent modern humans was selected from the Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection. Femora were imaged using x-ray computed tomography (voxel size ~0.5 mm), and segmented to produce surface models. Landmark-based geometric morphometric analyses based on the Coherent Point Drift algorithm were conducted to quantify shape. Principal components analyses were used to summarize shape variation, and component scores were regressed on BMI. Within the male sample, increased BMI was associated with a mediolaterally expanded femoral shaft, as well as increased neck-shaft angle and decreased femoral neck anteversion angle. No statistically significant relationships between shape and BMI were found in the female sample. While mechanical stimulus has traditionally been applied to changes in long bong diaphyseal shape it appears that bone functional adaptation may also result in fundamental changes in the shape of skeletal elements.

Characterising the social interaction style of autism in young adult males with fragile X syndrome.

The characterisation of autism in fragile X syndrome (FXS) has been a source of controversy due to the complexity of disentangling autism traits from common features of the FXS phenotype. Autism in FXS is significantly underdiagnosed in the community, which may be partly due to insufficient clinical description of the social interaction profile of autism within the FXS phenotype. In this study, we applied a classic framework for characterising social interaction styles in autism to a sample of young adult males with FXS and co-occurring autism to enhance understanding of how the social challenges associated with autism manifest within FXS. Participants were 41 males (M age= 18years) with FXS and co-occurring autism. Interaction samples were coded for expression of predominately 'active' (characterised by a desire to make social approaches) or 'passive' (characterised by lack of initiation of social approach towards others) interaction profiles. Differences in the expression of phenotypic features of FXS, including anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, cognitive, adaptive and language impairments and autism symptom severity, were examined across those with passive and active interaction styles. Approximately half of the sample was classified as active and half as passive, demonstrating diversity in the social phenotype of autism associated with FXS. The two subtypes did not differ in autism severity, anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms or in cognitive, adaptive or language abilities. This study enhances understanding of FXS-associated autism by documenting phenotypic variability in the social interaction profile in this group, with active and passive social interaction styles represented. The two social interaction styles were not associated with differential expression of common phenotypic features of FXS, suggesting similar support needs.

Characterization of DNA concentration in urine and dried blood samples to detect the c.577 deletion within the EPO gene.

The EPO gene variant, c.577del (VAR-EPO), was discovered in the Chinese population in 2021. The mutated protein is naturally present in urine from individuals heterozygous for the variant. Electrophoresis methods currently applied in anti-doping laboratories produce a pattern in samples from individuals carrying VAR-EPO that cannot be unambiguously distinguished from individuals who received recombinant EPO doses. Consequently, the analysis of blood samples is obligatory to facilitate interpretation of suspicious findings from urine samples. However, this complicates the process and delays the reporting. Objective of this study was to develop EPO c.577del detection in urine and dried blood samples (DBS) in order to facilitate and accelerate EPO results management. Moreover, estimation of the success rate of sequencing regarding concentration of DNA in urine and DBS was evaluated. Conclusive results regarding Sanger sequencing were obtained for all samples with DNA concentrations above 0.024 ng/μL DNA in 80% of urines samples from volunteers. The potential success of DNA sequencing rate in athletes' urines was investigated. A total of 191 urine samples were considered. DNA concentration exceeding 0.024 ng/μL was detected in 85% of the samples. Interestingly, in-competition samples had a significantly higher DNA concentration than out-of-competition male urine samples (0.330 vs. 0.084 ng/μL). Moreover, conclusive EPO sequences were obtained for 100% of DBS (cellulose and polymer matrices). In conclusion, method for detection of EPO gene variant was developed in urine and DBS. Characterization of DNA concentration was performed in order to evaluate the probability of success of sequencing EPO gene in anti-doping field.

Walker's traits for sex estimation in modern Croatian population using MSCT virtual cranial database: Validation and development of population-specific standards

The present study aimed to test the applicability of Walker`s method in the Croatian population by using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) scans of a head from the University hospitals (UHC) in Split and Zagreb. Cranial morphological traits (nuchal crest, mastoid process, supraorbital edge, and glabella) were scored from images of 280 adult patients with balanced distribution according to sex and geographical region. Differences between Split and Zagreb samples were visible through principal component analysis (PCA) with Split individuals being more robust, that also reflected in specific differences in trait expression like mastoid process (P = 0.001) and supraorbital edge (P = 0.003) in male samples. Original equations did not perform well in our population, with accuracy ranging from 62 % to 70 % with low accuracy in females (48 % - 56 %). We developed 15 population-specific equations that comprised all possible combinations with single or multiple variables. The best performing equation was the one that included glabella and mastoid process that showed the least interregional variabilities and achieved accuracy of 86.25 %. To enable a direct application of equations developed we provided on-line app called CroWalker, available at: https://crowalker-rvhw.onrender.com/.

Identification of sex-specific DNA markers in the army fish (Spinibarbus hollandi) by whole genome re-sequencing method

With the development of high throughput sequencing technology, genome information for more and more fish species can be available. Based on these genomes, sex-specific marker of various fish species was developed and further applied in sex control breeding. Here, whole genome re-sequencing (WGS re-seq) method was used to screen sex-specific sequences in the army fish (Spinibarbus hollandi). A total of 34.34, 30.64, 11.58, 11.21 and 12.63 Gb were generated for five females, and 12.61, 11.12, 11.67, 13.01 and 11.63 Gb were generated for five males. Moreover, we generated 39.47 Gb data for pool sequencing of female samples and 32.17 Gb for male samples. After filtering and validating, 20 candidate sex-specific sequences were obtained. Further, by PCR confirmation, six male-specific markers (X11, X17, X22, C3, C7, C10) were successfully developed with 100% accuracy in eight females and eight males. Subsequently, in another two different farmed populations of army fish, the authenticity of sex identification remained to be 100% using these markers. Besides, after homology and coverage analysis, we found the candidate sequence corresponding to C3, C7 and C10 had a similar X chromosome homologous sequence, and the resulting C3, C7 and C10 markers also amplified two bands in males but one band in females. In all, these sex-specific markers developed in this study would assist in sex control breeding and promote further research on the sex determination and differentiation mechanism of S. hollandi.

Impact of sexual function domains on sexual satisfaction and quality of life: Importance across the age spectrum.

Sexual satisfaction is an important component of global quality life for many adult men. Substantial gaps exist in our appreciation of how age mediates sexual satisfaction in the context of functional sexual measures. We sought to evaluate modifiable factors associated with overall sexual satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large, age-stratified community-based sample of adult men. A sample of adult males registered with the online research service ResearchMatch completed a 75-item online questionnaire in this cross-sectional study. Queries included demographics, general health data, and validated sexual health measures including International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT). Multivariable regression was performed to assess associations with self-reported sexual satisfaction (defined by "moderately satisfied" or "very satisfied" on the 5-level Likert scale) and overall HRQoL (as measured by the EQ-5D-visual analog scale (VAS) stratified by age. One thousand thirty-three men completed the survey and were stratified by age cohorts. IIEF-5 and PEDT scores were higher in younger cohorts. On multivariable regression analysis, higher IIEF-5, lower PEDT, better overall health-related quality of life, and the presence of a sexual partner within the last month were associated with an increased likelihood of overall sexual satisfaction. When stratified by age cohort, higher IIEF-5 scores were consistently positively associated with sexual satisfaction (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.22, P < 0.001), as well as independently associated with improved overall HRQoL by EQ-5D-VAS (β = 0.71, Standard Error (SE) = 0.08, P < 0.001). The erectile function was independently associated with sexual satisfaction and quality of life across all age strata and predictive of both sexual satisfaction and global HRQoL. Low overall rates of sexual satisfaction across cohorts highlight the critical importance of evaluation and treatment of sexual health, regardless of age.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Sex-Linked Molecular Markers to Identify Neomale Breeders for the Production of All-Female Progenies of Rainbow Trout.

A cultured stock of masculinized rainbow trout was diagnosed with Y-linked markers (sdY and OmyY1) aiming to detect neomales before their use at the production level. To achieve a reliable diagnosis, the following steps were considered: (1) PCR amplification of the housekeeping β-actin gene to determine the DNA quality of samples, (2) validation of the Y-linked markers by their PCR amplification in male and female samples with known sex, and (3) molecular sexing of the masculinized juveniles based on male-specific (XY genotype) and neomale-specific (XX genotype) PCR product band patterns visualized on agarose gel. The validity and concordance of the markers were assessed. The housekeeping gene identified samples with negative PCR amplification revealing a poor DNA quality. The OmyY1 marker presented a more distinctive PCR product band pattern between males and females than the sdY marker and identified a higher proportion of true males (sensitivity = 1.0 and 0.91, respectively). The OmyY1 marker accurately identified 105 neomales of the 198 masculinized individuals on account their consistent and distinctive PCR product band pattern. Among both markers, there was a medium high positive concordance (γ index = 0.7). It is concluded that the OmyY1 marker shows the best performance to reliably detect neomales, a step that is essential to have certified breeders for the production of all-female progenies in fish farming.

Dose-response association between 24-hour total movement activity and testosterone deficiency in adult males.

Previous studies on the relationship between physical activity and testosterone are limited and controversial. Hence we investigated whether high level of physical activity is associated with a low risk of testosterone deficiency (TD). This cross-sectional analysis was conducted in a representative sample of US adult males who participated in the 2011-2014 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We used the monitor independent movement summary (MIMS) to assess activity intensity, a novel physical activity metrics developed using raw data collected by accelerometers. Multivariable regression and smooth curve fitting was used to describe the relationships between physical activity and TD, and segmented regression model were used to analyze the threshold effect between them. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using interaction and stratified analysis. A U-shaped relationship between daily MIMS units and risk of TD was observed. The optimal value of daily MIMS units for the lowest risk of TD was 14.77 (×103), the risk of TD decreased by 5% in patients per unit increase of daily MIMS units when daily MIMS units <14.77 (×103) (adjusted OR = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.91, 0.99), but increased by 12% per unit increase of daily MIMS units when daily MIMS units ≥14.77 (×103) (adjusted OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.23). In sensitivity analyses, the threshold effect was also similar according to baseline characteristics (P-interaction >0.05). In a nationally representative sample of US adult males, light to moderate intensity physical activity is associated with a lower odds of TD, while high-intensity physical activity is associated with a higher risk of TD.

Hend Al Maseeb , Maha Al Sej Factors Influencing Males’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic affected individuals’ mental health in many societies including individuals in Kuwait. The rates of mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, loneliness, and depression due to COVID-19 increased globally. Therefore, this study aimed to examine a sample of males (368) who lived in Kuwait during the lockdown and curfew caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for significant differences between socio-demographic variables such as marital status, age, loneliness, and exposure to violence and depression, anxiety, stress, and positive and negative suicide ideation. Method: This study investigated whether anxiety, stress, and negative suicidal ideation predict depression by applying a quantitative approach using cross-sectional design in addition to utilizing an online survey. Results: The results showed that there were significant differences between the study variables and there were significant association between anxiety, stress, and negative ideation and depression. Conclusion: It is necessary to investigate the consequences of the pandemic on the individuals’ mental health and addressing them because it is expected that the effects of COVID-19 on individuals and societies will continue for many years to come

Age prediction using DNA methylation of Y-chromosomal CpGs in semen samples

In cases of sexual assault, the evidence often exists as a mixture of female and male body fluids, and in many cases, contains a higher proportion of female body fluids than males. In these cases, Y-STR, rather than autosomal STRs, can provide useful information. It becomes very difficult to identify the true suspect if there is no match among known suspects or if a match exists for two or more suspects, e.g. two suspects from the same paternal lineage. However, age prediction using the DNA methylation of Y-chromosomal CpGs can help narrow the search for unknown suspects and discriminate between older and younger suspects. Therefore, the DNA methylation profiles of semen samples from 56 healthy Korean males were generated using Illumina’s Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip Array. Among the ten identified age-associated CpG markers located in the Y-chromosome, nine were used to construct age prediction models. The identified markers were further investigated in the MPS analysis of 147 semen samples, and the multiplex assay was validated with the reliability, reproducibility and sensitivity tests. Several age prediction models were constructed using the MPS data with the multiple linear regression, stepwise linear regression, ridge linear regression, lasso regression, elastic net linear regression and support vector machine analyses, and all showed MAEs of 5 to 7 years in the test set samples. Six single-source female samples were also subjected to MPS analysis but showed very low coverage that could not affect the analysis of the mixed samples. Therefore, the age prediction models of the present study are expected to provide useful investigative leads, especially in mixed male and female samples from sexual assault cases.

Prevalence of high and low risk HPV genotypes among vaccinated and non-vaccinated people in Tehran

BackgroundHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) that is estimated almost all sexually active Patients at some stage of their life will be infected by the virus. Although most HPV infections resolve spontaneously, some can result in health complications, such as genital warts and several types of cancer. This study analyzed the variety of HPV genotypes in females and males among the infected population.MethodsSamples were obtained from the oral, vaginal, and genital sites of study participants and the samples underwent DNA extraction and subsequently amplified using Real-Time PCR. The recognition of high-risk (HR) and low-risk (LR) HPV genotypes was carried out using the HPV REALQUALITY RQ-Multi diagnostic kit and demographic information was analyzed alongside statistical virological data.ResultsOut of 936 samples, 324 cases (34.6%) were found to be positive for HPV, while 612 cases (65.4%) were negative. Of our participants, 70 samples of males (27.5%) and 254 samples of females (37.3%) were HPV-positive. Common genotypes included 16, 6, 11, and 18, while genotypes 59, 56, 31, 45, and 52 were also detected.ConclusionAccording to the findings of this study, a significant prevalence of HPV infection was seen in males and females, and the incidence of high-risk genotypes was more diverse in males. While the vaccine was effective in preventing some types of HPV, such as 16, 18, 6, and 11, there seems to be an increase in infections caused by other genotypes, and precautions should be taken to prevent future health problems.

Origin of the Andronovans: A Statistical Approach

The origin of the Andronovo population is explored using a statistical rather than typological approach. Four questions are raised. Which Eastern European populations of the Middle Bronze and the transition to the Late Bronze Age had taken part in Andronovo origins? What was the contribution of the southern groups? What was the role of the autochthonous Siberian substratum? What was the population background of the dichotomy between two major Andronovo cultural traditions, Fedorovka and Alakul? To address these questions, measurements of 12 male Andronovo cranial samples (nine relating to Fedorovka and three to Alakul) and 85 male cranial samples from Eastern Europe, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Southwestern Central Asia, Southern Caucasus, and the Near East were subjected to canonical variate analysis, and minimum spanning trees were constructed. The results suggest that the most likely ancestors of Andronovans were Late Catacomb tribes of Northern Caucasus, people of Poltavka, Sintashta, and those associated with the Abashevo-Sintashta horizon. While no direct parallels with Southern Caucasian, Southwestern Central Asian or Near Eastern populations were found among Andronovo groups, some of them could have inherited the southern component from either the Abashevo or the Catacomb people. In the former case, one should postulate a gradient: Fatyanovo → Balanovo → Abashevo → Sintashta → Petrovka → Andronovo; in the latter case, the variation within Andronovo is directly derivable from that among the Catacomb populations. Andronovo groups displaying an autochthonous Siberian tendency demonstrate various degrees of “mutual assimilation” between immigrants and pre-Mongoloid natives. Differences between the Fedorovka and Alakul samples are significant but very small. A special role of Petrovka in the origin of Alakul is not supported by the analysis.

Muscle, season, sex, and carcass weight affected pork texture, collagen characteristics, and intramuscular fat content.

In this study, pigs from 3 supply chains were slaughtered in an Australian summer and winter (n = 20 for each supply chain). The pigs were from 2 sexes (female and castrated male) and 2 carcass weight groups (high: 95.0 to 100.0kg and low: 75.0 to 80.0kg). From each carcass, the Biceps femoris (BF), Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL), and Triceps brachii (TB) were excised at 24h postmortem, vacuum packed, frozen at 24-48h and transported to the lab. Cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and texture profile analysis (adhesiveness, chewiness, cohesiveness, hardness, resilience, and springiness) were measured in LTL and BF. pH, collagen content, and solubility and intramuscular fat (IMF) content were determined for all muscles. Results showed that BF was tougher than LTL, and winter samples were tougher than summer ones (P < 0.05). The TB had higher pH, collagen, and IMF content than BF and LTL (P < 0.05). Collagen solubility was higher in castrated male and winter samples. pH, collagen solubility, and IMF content were significantly (P < 0.05) related to chewiness and hardness in pork BF and LTL. pH and IMF were also related to cooking loss, while collagen solubility and IMF were related to WBSF (P < 0.05). The relationships of pH and IMF with pork texture were predominantly driven by the LTL, while the relationships between collagen solubility and texture were predominantly driven by the BF. Collagen solubility and IMF of pork BF and TB were related to those of LTL, but the correlations were not strong enough for prediction. Pork texture and chemical components were affected by muscle, seasons, sex and carcass weight. pH, collagen solubility, and IMF-affected pork texture.

Psychometric properties and gender invariance of the 8-item emotion regulation questionnaire (ERQ-8) among Chinese university students.

To assess emotion regulation strategies in a clear and direct manner, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) was developed based on the process model of emotion regulation. ERQ primarily assesses an individual's propensity for reappraisal (a cognitive change in the individual's psychological state in specific situations) and expressive suppression (a regulatory response where an individual alters their emotional response after the onset of an emotional reaction). Recent studies have suggested that the abbreviated 8-item version of the ERQ exhibits comparable model fit to the original version. The present study aimed to explore the psychometric properties and assess cross-gender invariance of the ERQ-8 in Chinese university students. University students from Jiangsu Province participated in this study. Participants completed self-report surveys assessing emotion regulation strategies. It was conducted from May 2022 to July 2022. The study employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the two-factor model of ERQ-8 and measurement invariance across male and female samples. The mean age of 1534 participants was 19.83 years (SD = 1.54), and the majority were female (70.4%). The initial ERQ-10 model with ten items demonstrated good fit for all indicators, CFI (Comparative Fit index) = 0.967, TLI (Tucker-Lewis Index) = 0.957, RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) = 0.043, SRMR (Standardised Root Mean Square Residual) = 0.029. However, to assess the fit of the previously proposed ERQ-8 model, two items (Q1 and Q3) were excluded. The fit of the ERQ-8 model was further improved (CFI = 0.989, TLI = 0.984, RMSEA = 0.029, SRMR = 0.021). All item loadings exceeded or were equal to 0.573. Internal consistency analysis based on the ERQ-8 model revealed Cronbach's alpha values of 0.840 for reappraisal and 0.745 for suppression, and corresponding composite reliability (CR) values of 0.846 and 0.747, respectively. Test-retest reliability, assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (95% CI) within a one-week interval, ranged from 0.537 to 0.679. The correlation coefficient between the two factors was 0.084, significantly below 0.85, which suggested a low correlation between the two factors. The results of the invariance analysis across gender demonstrated that the values of ΔCFI and ΔTLI were both below 0.01. It was supported the gender invariance of the ERQ-8 among university students. The eight-item ERQ demonstrated validity and reliability in evaluating emotion regulation strategies, and measurement invariance was observed across gender among university students. The ERQ-8 may prove to be a practical and cost-effective tool, particularly in time-constrained situations.

Beyond monolithic threat: Understanding risk typology in court-involved Black male youth

Black male youth are at greatest risk of disparate contact and detention in the U.S. juvenile justice system. This study aims to identify recidivism risk/need patterns among African American male youth in the Ohio juvenile justice system, utilizing cluster analysis of risk assessment data from the Ohio Youth Assessment System-Disposition (OYAS-DIS). We found four distinct risk patterns and accompanying recidivism rates in the Black male youth population. Two of the clusters exhibited moderate levels of risk. However, they had significantly different recidivism outcomes, suggesting certain combinations of risk factors have more or less impact the propensity for crime in the Black male sample. Implications for policy and practice are discussed, as well as future directions for research.