Negative Link Research Articles

CAREGIVER BURDEN: UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF NATURE’S LOVE AND SALUTOGENESIS IN ELDERLY SPOUSES WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

The study was conducted to find relationship between nature, Salutogenesis & caregiver burden in older spouses with chronic illness. It was hypothesized that there is likely to be relationship amid nature, Salutogenesis & caregiver burden in older spouses with chronic illness. It was hypothesized that nature and Salutogenesis are likely to predict caregiver burden in older spouses with chronic illness. The quantitative method was used to collect the data from 120 participants. The Love for Nature Scale (Sohail & Tariq, 2023), Salutogenesis Wellness Promotion Scale (SWPS) (Becker et al., 2015), & Spousal Caregiving Burden Assessing Scale (BAS; Thara et al., 1998) were the respective scales used in this research. This study will offer indigenous basis for researchers to identify links between the relatedness of Love for Nature, Salutogenesis and Spousal Caregiver Burden in the Older adults. Findings showed negative link between nature, Salutogenesis & caregiver burden. Duration of chronic illness negatively predicts caregiver burden whereas seasonal nature & Salutogenesis positively predict caregiver burden. The findings of research are beneficial for the counselling of older adults, especially the ones who are providing care to their spouses.

Adversarial analysis of similarity-based sign prediction

Adversarial social network analysis explores how social links can be altered or otherwise manipulated to hinder unwanted information collection. To date, however, problems of this kind have not been studied in the context of signed networks in which links have positive and negative labels. Such formalism is often used to model social networks with positive links indicating friendship or support and negative links indicating antagonism or opposition.In this work, we present a computational analysis of the problem of attacking sign prediction in signed networks, whereby the aim of the attacker (a network member) is to hide from the defender (an analyst) the signs of a target set of links by removing the signs of some other, non-target, links. While the problem turns out to be NP-hard if either local or global similarity measures are used for sign prediction, we provide a number of positive computational results, including an FPT-algorithm for eliminating common signed neighborhood and heuristic algorithms for evading local similarity-based link prediction in signed networks.

Bidirectional Associations of Adolescents’ Momentary Social Media Use and Negative Emotions

AbstractPublic discourse and empirical studies have predominantly focused on the negative repercussions of social media on adolescents’ mental health. However, pervasive social media use is a relatively new phenomenon—its apparent harms have been widely accepted before sufficient longitudinal and experimental research has been conducted. The present study used an intensive longitudinal design (four assessments/day × 14 days; N = 154 12- to 15-year-olds (Mage = 13.47, SD = 0.58); N = 6,240 valid measurement occasions) to test the directionality of social media–negative emotion links in early adolescence, accounting for the type of social media usage (i.e., browsing vs. posting). The significance of effects depended on social media type: browsing predicted higher-than-usual negative emotions hours later, whereas no significant directional effects emerged for posting. The browsing effect was small but held after controlling for prior levels of negative emotions. It did not replicate concurrently, underscoring the importance of process-oriented designs with mental health symptoms tested shortly after passive social media usage. The results partially support the active-passive hypothesis, which singles out passively engaging with others’ curated social media content as most detrimental to mental health. Nonetheless, the small browsing effect and overall null-leaning pattern of effects imply that mediators and moderators are needed to further understand when using social media is problematic, beneficial, or neither.

Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and bone mineral density: Mendelian randomization and mediation analysis

BackgroundObservational studies have reported significant association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and bone mineral density (BMD), a critical indicator of bone health. We aimed to investigate whether NAFLD is a cause for changes in BMD. MethodsWe selected 29 independent SNPs as instrumental variables for NAFLD. A range of Mendelian randomization (MR) methods, namely the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, weighted-median, weighted-mode, and MR-Egger regression, were utilized to determine the causal effects of NAFLD on BMD. Two-step MR analysis was conducted to determine the mediating effect of fasting glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, low-density cholesterol, and body-mass index on the association between NAFLD and BMD. False-discovery-rate (FDR) was used to correct for multiple testing bias. ResultsThe IVW-method indicated a significantly inverse association between genetically predicted NAFLD and total body BMD (β = −0.04, 95 % CI -0.07 to −0.02, FDR = 0.010). Notably, the relationship was more pronounced in participants over 60 years of age (β = −0.06, 95 % CI -0.11 to −0.02, FDR = 0.030). Inverse associations were observed in other subpopulations and in site-specific BMD, though they were not statistically significant after correcting for multiple testing. We observed a significantly positive association between NAFLD and the risk of osteoporosis. Consistency in results was observed across multiple MR methods and in the repeated analysis. Fasting glucose, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin mediated 25.4 % (95 % CI 17.6–31.5 %), 18.9 % (12.0–24.9 %), and 27.9 % (19.9–36.7 %) of the effect of NAFLD on BMD, respectively. ConclusionOur findings underscore a probable causal negative link between NAFLD and BMD, indicating that NAFLD might detrimentally affect bone health, especially in older individuals.

The Impact of Sleep on Haematological Parameters in Firefighters.

Sleep is a vital process that impacts biological functions such as cell renewal, bone regeneration, and immune system support. Disrupted sleep can interrupt erythropoiesis, leading to fewer red blood cells, reduced haemoglobin concentration, and decreased haematocrit levels, potentially contributing to haematological disorders. This is particularly concerning for shift workers for example firefighters. While previous studies have explored sleep's adverse effects on various professions, research specific to firefighters is limited. This study investigates the relationship between sleep quality and haematological parameters among firefighters in Northeast Portugal. From a sample of 201 firefighters, variations in red blood cells, haemoglobin, and haematocrit values were linked to sleep quality. The study utilised non-parametric tests (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, Spearman's correlation) to explore the connection between sleep quality and haematological profile. The impact of covariates on haematological parameters was assessed using non-parametric ANCOVA (Quade's). A multiple regression analysis was employed to further understand how sleep quality and various confounding variables impact haematological levels. Findings suggest a negative link between sleep quality and haematological levels, meaning that as sleep quality deteriorates, there is a tendency for haematological levels to decrease, as indicated by Spearman's correlation (rRBC = -0.157, pRBC = 0.026; rHb = -0.158, pHb = 0.025; rHCT = -0.175, pHCT = 0.013). As observed in scientific literature, the correlation found suggests a possible inhibition of erythropoiesis, the process responsible for red blood cell production. Despite firefighters presenting a haematological profile within the reference range (RBC: 5.1 × 106/mm3 (SD ± 0.4), Hb: 15.6 g/dL (SD ± 1.3), 47% (SD ± 1.0), there is already an observable trend towards lower levels. The analysis of co-variables did not reveal a significant impact of sleep quality on haematological levels. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of sleep quality in determining haematological parameters among firefighters. Future research should investigate the underlying mechanisms and long-term implications of poor sleep quality on firefighter health. Exploring interventions to enhance sleep quality is vital for evidence-based strategies promoting firefighter well-being.

Non-sealed water hastens the efficiency of microbial electrochemical remediation system

Soil petroleum hydrocarbon contamination has become a global problem and microbial remediation is a friendly technology. The scarcity of electron acceptors and the low activity of functional microbes are limiting factors which are overcome by the soil microbial electrochemical system (MES). Using the petroleum hydrocarbon polluted soils as substrates, soil MESs were constructed with four different water-sealed levels to optimize the system configuration. After 65 days of operation, the accumulated charge of the group with the lowest water level (MES0) was 1282 C, while that of the highest water level group (MES5) was only 151 C. Compared with the original soil (OS), the hydrocarbon removal near the anode and cathode in MES0 were 28%–30%, which were 4%–11% higher than those in MES5. Additionally, the co-occurrence networks analysis revealed dominance in positive than negative links among bacterial, fungal, and archaeal communities in MES0 compared to MES5 and OS. In MES0 bacteria were more densely populated and connected into more closely related groups with higher interactions than those in MES5 as well as in OS. Contrary to bacteria, MES5 favored the growth and connections of fungal and archaeal communities compared to those in MES0. The above changes were ascribed to the dissolved oxygen, redox potential, and reduction of resistance, which shifted the electron acceptors hence contributing to the process of electrons and substrates transfer in soil, suggesting that bacteria synergistically cooperated with fungi, and archaea in the removal mechanisms of hydrocarbons in the MES. Our findings revealed the optimization of low water seal on the MES performance by providing a detailed overview of the synergistic behavioral characteristics of bacterial, fungal, and archaeal in soil MESs.

Altitudinal Impact on Phytochemical Composition and Mycorrhizal Diversity of Taxus Contorta Griff in the Temperate Forest of Shimla District.

Taxus contorta (family Taxaceae) is a native plant of temperate region of western Himalaya. The current study investigated the effect of altitude on the phytochemical composition and mycorrhizal diversity, associated with distribution of T. contorta in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Quantitative phytochemical analysis of the leaf extracts indicated that alkaloid levels decreased with altitude, with the highest value in Himri's methanol extracts (72.79 ± 1.08 mg/g) while phenol content increased with altitude, peaking in Nankhari's methanol extracts (118.83 ± 5.90 mg/g). Saponin content was higher in methanol extracts (78.13 ± 1.66 mg/g in Nankhari, 68.06 ± 1.92 mg/g in Pabbas, and 56.32 ± 1.93 mg/g in Himri). Flavonoid levels were notably higher in chloroform extracts, particularly in Nankhari (219.97 ± 2.99 mg/g), and positively correlated with altitude. Terpenoids were higher in chloroform extracts at Himri (11.34 ± 0.10 mg/g) and decreased with altitude. Taxol content showed minimal variation between solvents and altitudes (4.53-6.98 ppm), while rutin was only detected in methanol extracts (1.31-1.46 ppm). Mycorrhizal spore counts in T. contorta's rhizosphere varied with altitude: highest at Himri (77.83 ± 2.20 spores/50 g soil), decreasing to Pabbas (68.06 ± 1.96 spores/50 g soil) and lowest at Nankhari (66.00 ± 2.77 spores/50 g soil), with 17 AMF species identified overall, showing significant altitudinal influence on spore density. The rhizosphere of T. contorta was shown to be dominated by the Glomus species. The rhizospheric soil of the plant was found to be slightly acidic. Organic carbon and available potassium content decreased contrasting with increasing available nitrogen and phosphorus with altitude. Correlation data showed strong negative links between organic carbon (-0.83), moderate positive for nitrogen (0.46) and phosphorus (0.414), and moderate negative for potassium (-0.56) with the altitude. This study provides a comprehensive insight into changes in phytochemical constituents, mycorrhizal diversity and soil composition of T. contorta along a range of altitude.

Family leisure and negative links between family of origin adversity and marital satisfaction

AbstractObjectiveThis study evaluated family leisure as a moderator of negative associations between family of origin adversity and subsequent marital relationship satisfaction.BackgroundNegative experiences during childhood often affect marital outcomes. However, the vulnerability‐stress‐adaptation model of marriage suggests couples can adapt in healthy ways to manage vulnerabilities. Family leisure is often used to address stress. Family leisure remains a strong predictor of relationship well‐being due to its ability to strengthen emotion regulation and build psychological resources, motivating an evaluation of family leisure as a potential ameliorating factor for links between family of origin adversity and marital relationship satisfaction.MethodThe study used a national dyadic sample of heterosexual married couples from the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study in the United States in 2021 (N = 1,462 couples). This study estimated an actor–partner interdependence model with dyadic connections and individual controls to evaluate family leisure in the context of married couples with past family of origin adversity.ResultsFamily leisure positively associated with marital satisfaction directly but did not moderate family of origin adversity.ConclusionThe study confirmed negative links between family of origin adversity and marital relationship satisfaction. Although the study also confirmed positive links between family leisure and relationship satisfaction, family leisure was not helpful as a buffer for family of origin adversity.ImplicationsFindings suggest couples with family of origin adversity should not use family leisure as a primary means of addressing stress from family of origin experiences to help with marriages and may have more success with other strategies.

The Types of Water Conflicts in an Irrigation System in Northern Mexico: Conflict as a Negative Link in Social Network Analysis

We used social network analysis (SNA) to identify the types of water-related conflicts between the users and members of the institutional arena of the Rio Mayo Irrigation District (RMID) within the ancestral territory of the Yoreme Mayo indigenous group in Sonora, northeastern Mexico. We combined ethnography with an analysis and visualization of bimodal networks that consisted of 118 users and their connections to the institutional arena’s 30 identified social actors who influence water management. Using a clustering algorithm, we identified four types of conflicts: (1) disputes between small- and large-scale farmers over (i) irrigation water and (ii) payments for water rights and land rental; (2) the struggle by large-scale farmers against the upper level of the water hierarchy, to obtain more water; (3) struggles by rural indigenous women against water providers, to conserve indigenous vernacular systems of managing water for domestic use; and (4) a “conflict” that turned out to be merely a structural remnant of the algorithm. We conclude that land- and water-grabbing in the RMID mainly affect indigenous small-scale farmers and that the combination of SNA and a clustering algorithm can identify the types of natural resource-related conflicts that might go undetected by other methodologies. However, SNA should in some cases be accompanied by a qualitative methodology.

THE IMPACT OF GREEN GOVERNANCE ON SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING & CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: FINANCIAL RISK AS MODERATOR

The present research endeavors to examine the effects of green governance namely board gender diversity, committee size, board independence, and board size, on corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting. The study also considers the moderating effect of financial risk, including liquidity risk and capital risk. The data has been obtained from banking institutions in financial sector of Pakistan. Dataset comprises information from 33 banks that were included in our analysis. Convenience sampling technique was employed to gather the time series and cross-sectional data, which was utilized to construct panels in order to obtain desired outcomes. The results show significant and favorable relationship amid board's size & degree of independence when it comes to corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting. There is a negative correlation amid presence of a board committee, board gender diversity and practice of sustainability reporting. Regression has confirmed consistent findings, indicating that both board size and board independence exhibit positive association with SRI & CSR, whereas board committee and board gender diversity show a negative link.

Genetic association of the gut microbiota with epigenetic clocks mediated by inflammatory cytokines: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

A new aging biomarker epigenetic clock has been developed. There exists a close link between aging and gut microbiota, which may be mediated by inflammatory cytokines. However, the relationship between the epigenetic clock, gut microbiota, and the mediating substances is unclear. Two large genome-wide association meta-analyses were analyzed by two-sample Mendelian randomization. The results between gut microbiota and epigenetic clock were investigated using the four methods (Inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, weighted median, MR-PRESSO). Genetic correlation was measured by Linked disequilibrium score regression (LDSC). The correctness of the study direction was checked by the Steiger test. Cochran's Q statistic and MR-Egger intercept were used as sensitivity analyses of the study. The two-step method was used to examine the mediating role of inflammatory cytokines. We use the Benjamini-Hochberg correction method to correct the P value. After FDR correction, multiple bacterial genera were significantly or suggestively associated with four epigenetic clocks (GrimAge, HannumAge, IEAA, PhenoAge). And we detected several inflammatory factors acting as mediators of gut microbiota and epigenetic clocks. This study provides genetic evidence for a positive and negative link between gut microbiota and aging risk. We hope that by elucidating the genetic relationship and potential mechanisms between aging and gut microbiota, we will provide new avenues for continuing aging-related research and treatment.

Association between a body shape index and cognitive impairment among US older adults from a cross-sectional survey of the NHANES 2011–2014

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the relationship between A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and cognitive impairment among older adults in the United States.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed cognitive function in 2,752 individuals aged 60 and older using data from the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Cognitive assessments were conducted using the Immediate Recall Test (IRT), Delayed Recall Test (DRT), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). A Body Shape Index (ABSI) was calculated from waist circumference (WC), weight, and height. The relationship between ABSI and cognitive outcomes was examined through multifactorial linear regression, smooth curve fitting, and subgroup and interaction analyses.ResultsWith complete data, 2752 persons 60 and older participated in the study. After adjusting for covariables, these results showed statistically significant negative relationships between ABSI, IRT, and DSST scores. The negative correlation between DSST and ABSI is more substantial in males than females. There is less of a negative link between ABSI, AFT, and DSST among drinkers who consume 12 or more drinks annually compared to those who consume less. Furthermore, compared to individuals without high blood pressure(HBP), those who suffered HBP showed a more significant negative connection between ABSI and AFT.ConclusionLower cognitive function was linked to higher ABSI.

The benefits of physical exercise on older adults’ cognitive function: A cohort study exploring potential mechanisms

BackgroundDespite existing studies showing that physical exercise improves cognitive function in older adults either concurrently or in a delayed manner, studies examining these associations simultaneously are rare. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms in these associations remain incompletely understood. ObjectiveThis study explores the concurrent and delayed (two years later) associations between physical exercise and older adults’ cognitive function. This study also investigates the mediating roles of three negative physical, psychological, and social resources: limitations in daily abilities, depressive mood, and isolation from friends, as well as the moderating roles of cognitive reserve on these associations. DesignA cohort sample of 6646 Chinese older adults (Mean age = 69.28, SD = 7.03) is obtained from the 2016 and 2018 waves of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey. Regression analysis was employed to test the concurrent and delayed associations between physical exercise and cognitive function. The bootstrap method was utilized to examine the mediating roles of limitations in daily activities, depression mood, and isolation from friends. Interaction terms were generated to investigate the moderating roles of cognitive reserve. ResultsPhysical exercise presents concurrent and delayed positive associations with cognitive function. Limitations in daily activities, depressive mood and isolation from friends mediate the above associations. Moreover, cognitive reserve plays a significant role in buffering the concurrent and delayed negative links between depressive mood, isolation from friends, and cognitive function, with larger negative relationships observed for older adults with lower rather than higher levels of cognitive reserve. ConclusionsThis study validates the concurrent and delayed benefits of physical exercise on older adults’ cognitive function while elucidating the underlying mechanisms. These findings offer practical implications for health policies and intervention programs aimed at enhancing older adults’ cognitive function.

Effect of Macroeconomic indicators on Financial Inclusion: A Study of EAGLES Economies

The effect of macroeconomic variables on financial inclusion in EAGLES economies is examined in this study. The Eagles economy, comprising nine nations—Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, and Turkey—is the foundation of the analysis. The data was examined from the other eight prefectures because Taiwan's data isn't available from 1992 to 2022. The findings demonstrate that the connection between financial inclusion and GDP is very weak—nearly zero—and linear. There is a very slight negative link between exchange rates and financial inclusion. Additionally, there is a very modest negative link between interest rates and financial inclusion. Interest rates and financial inclusion have a very weakly negative association. A very slight positive linear association is suggested between the inflation rate and financial inclusion. There is a slight positive link between financial inclusion and the unemployment rate.

Effects of sexual orientation-based prejudice and discrimination in family of origin on depressive symptoms and life satisfaction in a Chinese sample: Reciprocal and authoritarian filial piety as moderators.

Experiencing prejudice and discrimination from family has been found to be positively associated with mental health problems among sexual minorities. Emerging evidence also shows the value of contextualizing the internalization of minority stress by considering individual cultural factors, such as filial piety. We examined whether authoritarian filial piety (AFP) and reciprocal filial piety (RFP) moderated the link between distal stressors in one's family and mental health outcomes. A total of 362 (56.9% male; age: M = 24.55, SD = 6.60) Chinese lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/questioning, and other non-heterosexual (LGBQ+) individuals participated in this study. They provided demographic information and completed a battery of measures for AFP and RFP, sexual orientation-based prejudice and discrimination in family of origin (SOPDF), depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction. Structural equation modeling results showed that SOPDF had a positive and negative link with depressive symptoms and life satisfaction, respectively. In addition, we identified AFP and RFP as significant moderators for the association between SOPDF and depressive symptoms, and the association between SOPDF and life satisfaction, respectively. Specifically, the positive effect of SOPDF on depressive symptoms was greater for participants with higher levels of AFP; the negative effect of SOPDF on life satisfaction was greater for participants who endorsed higher levels of RFP. Our findings corroborated past studies' conclusion about the detrimental impact of familial sexual stigma on LGBQ+ people's mental health. Furthermore, such impact on negative and positive mental health outcomes are respectively conditioned by the degree to which LGBQ+ individuals endorse AFP and RFP. These findings underscore the importance for therapists who endorse family therapy to help LGBQ+ clients navigate familial sexual stigma and consider the role of filial piety beliefs in shaping the impact of familial sexual stigma on these clients' mental health.

Crowds and Smiles: Visual Opportunity Structures and the Communication of European Political Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT The growing interest in political leaders’ visual communication often emphasizes specific visual features without focusing on the driving factors behind these strategies. Our study introduces the Visual Opportunity Structure (VOS) theory, aiming to explain the use of specific visual elements based on their suitability within the socio-political context. We examined the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing a large dataset (N = 73,379) of Instagram posts by 28 European national party leaders coded through automatic facial and emotional recognition algorithms. The findings reveal a negative link between the use of inappropriate visual features during pandemic waves, like depicting happiness and groups of people, and the severity of the pandemic’s impact. Political leaders significantly reduce these inappropriate visuals during severe waves, reintroducing them in calmer periods. This trend is particularly pronounced among government party leaders. Our research not only unveils a pattern in the visual communication tactics used by political figures during the pandemic but also provides deeper insights into how visual strategies align with the broader context. By shedding light on these nuances, the study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of visual political communication online.

Altered microbial diversity, interaction pattern, and nitrogen transformation processes response to different iron addition amounts in constructed wetlands

Microbial interactions affect the biogeochemical cycles, pollutant transformation, and stable operation of constructed wetlands (CWs), and these interaction networks are vulnerable to environmental stress. Iron (Fe)-based CWs have been demonstrated as an intensified nitrogen (N) removal system, however, whether and how the addition of Fe, an exogenous environmental stressor, and its amount affect the microbial interactions and functions are poorly understood, which inevitably determine the stability and sustainability of CW system. Herein, we demonstrated that higher Fe addition could effectively improve the stability and sustainability of the CW system by regulating the diversity and interactions of the microbial communities rather than the relative abundance of functional genes. Specifically, low Fe-addition reduced the complexity and robustness of microbial network and the number of keystone taxa, while the high Fe-addition CWs showed the opposite pattern. In CWs with low Fe-addition, N-Fe cycles were accomplished by increasing competition represented by a high proportion of negative links between the same function, whereas increased cooperation was observed in CWs with high Fe-addition. Moreover, Fe addition shaped divergent N transformation processes, with denitrification-dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) dominating in control group, and nitrification-partial denitrification/anammox (PD/A) dominating in Fe-based CWs, and the intensity of nitrification-PD/A increased with the addition amount of Fe. Our study provided insights into the potential ways to improve the stability and sustainability of Fe-CWs for intensified pollutant elimination, which would be valuable to advance the design, sustainable operation, and application of Fe-CWs.

Exploring the association between the female gender, education expenditure, renewable energy consumption and CO2 emissions: Empirical evidence from Nigeria

AbstractThe significance of women's contribution to attaining the Sustainable Development Goal of net zero emissions cannot be underestimated. Therefore, employing the ecofeminism theory, this research explores the effect of female gender, education expenditure and renewable energy consumption on carbon dioxide emissions in Nigeria between 1990 and 2019. The utilised methodologies include autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) and canonical cointegrating regression (CCR). The cointegration tests showed evidence of long‐run association. The ARDL result revealed that female gender, education expenditure, and renewable energy consumption have a negative relationship with carbon dioxide emissions in the long run. This indicates that a rise in these variables is beneficial to the environment. In the short run, female gender and renewable energy consumption have a negative link with carbon dioxide emissions. For robustness check, the results obtained from the FMOLS, DOLS and CCR methods validate the ARDL findings. Furthermore, the frequency domain causality test established that the female gender has a one‐way causal influence on carbon dioxide emissions in the long, medium, and short term. Based on these outcomes, policy recommendations are further discussed.

A study of the relationship between serum asprosin levels and MAFLD in a population undergoing physical examination

Asprosin, an adipokine, was recently discovered in 2016. Here, the correlation between asprosin and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was examined by quantitatively assessing hepatic steatosis using transient elastography and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). According to body mass index (BMI), 1276 adult participants were enrolled and categorized into three groups: normal, overweight, and obese. The study collected and evaluated serum asprosin levels, general biochemical indices, liver stiffness measure, and CAP via statistical analysis. In both overweight and obese groups, serum asprosin and CAP were greater than in the normal group (p < 0.01). Each group showed a positive correlation of CAP with asprosin (p < 0.01). The normal group demonstrated a significant and independent positive relationship of CAP with BMI, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), asprosin, waist circumference (WC), and triglycerides (TG; p < 0.05). CAP showed an independent positive association (p < 0.05) with BMI, WC, asprosin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and TG in the overweight group, and with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) showed an independent negative link (p < 0.01). CAP showed an independent positive relationship (p < 0.05) with BMI, WC, asprosin, TG, LDL-C, FBG, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and alanine transferase in the obese group. CAP also showed an independent positive link (p < 0.01) with BMI, WC, asprosin, TG, LDL-C, and FBG in all participants while independently and negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with HDL-C. Since asprosin and MAFLD are closely related and asprosin is an independent CAP effector, it may offer a novel treatment option for metabolic diseases and MAFLD.

Testing structural balance theories in heterogeneous signed networks

The abundance of data about social relationships allows the human behavior to be analyzed as any other natural phenomenon. Here we focus on balance theory, stating that social actors tend to avoid establishing cycles with an odd number of negative links. This statement, however, can be supported only after a comparison with a benchmark. Since the existing ones disregard actors’ heterogeneity, we extend Exponential Random Graphs to signed networks with both global and local constraints and employ them to assess the significance of empirical unbalanced patterns. We find that the nature of balance crucially depends on the null model: while homogeneous benchmarks favor the weak balance theory, according to which only triangles with one negative link should be under-represented, heterogeneous benchmarks favor the strong balance theory, according to which also triangles with all negative links should be under-represented. Biological networks, instead, display strong frustration under any benchmark, confirming that structural balance inherently characterizes social networks.