Tween Research Articles

Dietary intake and sleep in late childhood - do shorter children have distinct patterns?

The exceptional growth rate during adolescence demands increased dietary intake. We aimed to compare diet and lifestyle of pre-adolescents with height and weight below the 10th percentile, with those of pre-adolescents of higher height and weight. This case-control study included healthy pre-pubertal girls (≥9 years) and boys (≥10 years). The case groups included 31 girls and 32 boys with height and weight <10th percentile, and weight percentile ≤height percentile. The control groups comprised 24 girls and 24 boys, with height ≥25th percentile, BMI 5th-85th percentiles. Participants completed 3-day food diaries and lifestyle-related questionnaires. Energy intake/estimated-requirement and protein/body-weight were comparable in the case and control groups, both in boys and girls. In boys, fat (P = 0.050) and carbohydrate (P ≤ 0.001) intakes/body-weight were higher in the case group versus controls; and iron (P < 0.001), zinc (P = 0.005), vitamin A (P < 0.001), calcium (P = 0.005), and vitamin C (P = 0.034) consumption were lower. In girls, carbohydrate/body-weight was higher in the case group compared to controls (P = 0.007); micronutrient intake was comparable, and lower than recommended. Compared to controls, short and thin boys reported less sleep during weekdays (P < 0.001). Relatively short, thin pre-adolescents may have distinct dietary intake and sleeping patterns compared to taller peers, especially boys. Nutrition is a key environmental determinant of childhood growth. Not much is known about late nutritional impact on growth in children whose anthropometric indices are below the 10th percentile. We compared food diaries and lifestyle questionnaires of pre-pubertal pre-adolescents with height <10th percentiles and weight≤height for age and sex, with those of peers with indices in higher percentiles. We found distinct differences in micronutrient intakes and sleep duration in the shorter boys, but no energy deficit in either sex. We suggest that diet and lifestyle parameters should be evaluated in children with relatively low anthropometric indices, to ensure optimal growth.

Fabrication of stable oleogel-in-water nanoemulsions with ethyl cellulose nanoparticles

Nanoemulsions (NEs) are liquid-based nanosized colloidal systems offering advantages (superior kinetic stability and rheology) compared to macro- and microemulsions. However, stabilization of these emulsions is difficult, since the small droplet sizes in NEs present large surface area-to-volume ratios. Thus, they need to be stabilized by superb emulsifiers to maintain stability. Herein, we report the construction of novel oleogel-in-water NEs with excellent stability against coalescence and phase separation. To do this, nanoparticles (NPs), based on ethylcellulose (EC), were first prepared, and then NEs were made using EC oleogel as the oil phase, ECNPs solution as the water phase, and tween-80 (TW80) as the surfactant. It was observed that NE stabilized by ECNPs, EC oleogel, and TW80 had a significantly lower particle size (201.86±1.57 nm), polydispersity index (0.13±0.06), with no phase separation over 30 days of storage as well as a higher zeta potential (-79.68±1.36 mV), and complex modulus (21441.80±418.21 kPa), as compared to the control NE (stabilized only by TW80). According to the findings, the developed NE has the potential for food and drug delivery applications.

Impact of Surfactants on Solution Behavior and Membrane Transport of Amorphous Solid Dispersions

The purpose of the study was to develop an amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) of a poorly soluble compound (AK100) and investigate the impact of different surfactants on its dissolution, supersaturation and membrane transport. The solubility of the AK100 was determined in crystalline and amorphous form in the absence and presence of three surfactants at different concentrations: sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), polysorbate 80 (PS80) and D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS). The relation between solubility and surfactant solubilization was evaluated using a computational model. The ASD powder was prepared by solvent evaporation for non-sink dissolution experiments with and without the pre-dissolved surfactants. A transport study with Caco-2 cells was conducted to evaluate the impact of surfactants-based formulation on membrane transport. Both the corresponding crystalline and amorphous solubility of AK100 increased linearly as a function of the surfactant concentrations. The supersaturation was maintained for at least three hours in absence of surfactant and in presence of TPGS, whereas supersaturation declined with SDS and PS80. As expected, the membrane flux of the AK100 was higher for the ASD than for the crystalline powder, and further increased with increased concentration of TPGS. The supersaturation ratio based on the activity-based calculation from Caco-2 cells study was always higher than that of the concentration-based one for the amorphous and crystalline forms of AK100. This study shows how additional solubilizing excipients during formulation development can improve the resulting dissolution and phase behavior of supersaturated drug solution.

Akkermansia muciniphila attenuates the association between specific metal exposures during pregnancy and depressive symptoms in late childhood

Akkermansia muciniphila attenuates the association between specific metal exposures during pregnancy and depressive symptoms in late childhood

Using machine learning to derive neurobiological subtypes of general psychopathology in late childhood.

Traditional mental health diagnoses rely on symptom-based classifications. Yet this approach can oversimplify clinical presentations as diagnoses often do not adequately map onto neurobiological features. Alternatively, our study used structural imaging data and a semisupervised machine learning technique, heterogeneity through discriminative analysis, to identify neurobiological subtypes in 9- to 10-year-olds with high psychopathology endorsements (n = 9,027). Our model revealed two stable neurobiological subtypes (adjusted Rand index = 0.38). Subtype 1 showed smaller structural properties, elevated conduct problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, and impaired cognitive performance compared to Subtype 2 and typically developing youth. Subtype 2 had larger structural properties, cognitive abilities comparable to typically developing youth, and elevated internalizing symptoms relative to Subtype 1 and typically developing youth. These subtypes remained stable in their neurobiological characteristics, cognitive ability, and associated psychopathology traits over time. Taken together, our data-driven approach uncovered evidence of neural heterogeneity as demonstrated by structural patterns that map onto divergent profiles of psychopathology symptoms and cognitive performance in youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Liver magnetic resonance imaging, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome risk in pre-pubertal Mexican boys.

Rising global pediatric obesity rates, increase non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence, with MetS being a NAFLD risk factor. NAFLD can be asymptomatic, with liver function tests insensitive to mild disease, and liver biopsy, risking complications. Thus, we investigated multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) metrics of liver fat (proton density fat fraction, PDFF) and disease activity (fibro-inflammation; iron-corrected T1, cT1), in a Hispanic pre-pubertal pediatric cohort, with increased risk of NAFLD. Pre-pubertal boys (n = 81) of varying Body-Mass Index (BMI) were recruited in Mexico City. Most children (81%) had normal liver transaminase levels, 38% had high BMI, and 14% had ≥ 3 MetS risk factors. Applying mpMRI thresholds, 12%, 7% and 4% of the cohort had NAFLD, NASH and high-risk NASH respectively. Participants with ≥ 3 MetS risk factors had higher cT1 (834ms vs. 737ms, p = 0.004) and PDFF (8.7% vs. 2.2%, p < 0.001) compared to those without risk factors. Those with elevated cT1 tended to have high BMI and high insulin (p = 0.005), HOMA-IR (p = 0.005) and leptin (p < 0.001). The significant association of increased risk of MetS with abnormal mpMRI, particularly cT1, proposes the potential of using mpMRI for routine pediatric NAFLD screening of high-risk (high BMI, high MetS risk score) populations.

Surfactant-enhanced dispersion stability of cellulose nanocrystals and enhanced oil recovery performance

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have attracted more and more attention in EOR. CNCs are abundant and renewable, with nanoscale dimensions, excellent rheological properties, and easy-to-modify surface properties. However, the colloid stability of CNCs under high salinity conditions is poor, which limits their application in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In order to improve the stability of CNCs in the salt environment, the effect of the mixed system of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) on the dispersion stability of CNCs in the presence of different valence salt ions was investigated systematically. The dispersion stability of CNCs was investigated by using the ζ-potential and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The mixed surfactants improved the dispersion stability of CNCs within the studied salt ion concentration range (Na+ ≤ 300 mM, Ca2+ ≤ 10 mM, Mg2+ ≤ 10 mM). The stabilization mechanism of CNCs was explained by the electrostatic effect and spatial stabilization effect. In the presence of salt ions, the adsorption behavior of mixed surfactants on the surface of CNCs in the presence and absence of crude oil was revealed through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Microscopic displacement experiments indicated that due to the small particle size of CNCs in salt environments, the pores were not blocked, resulting in a significant improvement in the oil displacement performance.

In vitro digestive behavior of emulsifier-stabilized excipient emulsions affects the bioaccessibility of flavonoids.

Flavonoids, found in common vegetables and fruits, have health benefits that are often limited by their low bioavailability. Excipient emulsions provide an effective strategy to overcome these obstacles. However, the nature of the emulsifier used to formulate excipient emulsions and the chemical structure of the flavonoids both affect the bioaccessibility of the flavonoids. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the interfacial properties of excipient emulsions on the in vitro gastrointestinal fate of representative structural flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, and apigenin) through the INFOGEST method. Tween 80 (TW80) (a nonionic surfactant) was more effective at reducing the oil-water interfacial tension than whey protein isolate (WPI) (a protein-based emulsifier) or octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified starch (MS) (a polysaccharide-based emulsifier). Moreover, TW80 created excipient emulsions with smaller oil droplets, which were more resistant to oral and gastric conditions. The WPI-emulsions underwent severe flocculation in the gastric phase, leading to an appreciable increase in particle size (from 220 to 3000 nm). The TW80-coated oil droplets were more digestible than WPI- or MS-coated ones. This was attributed to the larger lipid surface area for lipase attachment. The bioaccessibility of quercetin, kaempferol, and apigenin was also affected by emulsifiers: TW 80 (25% to 45%) > WPI (14% to 29%) ≈ MS (15% to 25%). Flavonoid bioaccessibility appeared to be related to their molecular properties. This study provides guidance for the design of effective excipient emulsions to enhance the bioavailability of flavonoids. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Developmental Timing of Associations Among Parenting, Brain Architecture, and Mental Health

Parenting is associated with brain development and long-term health outcomes, although whether these associations depend on the developmental timing of exposure remains understudied. Identifying these sensitive periods can inform when and how parenting is associated with neurodevelopment and risk for mental illness. To characterize how harsh and warm parenting during early, middle, and late childhood are associated with brain architecture during adolescence and, in turn, psychiatric symptoms in early adulthood during the COVID-19 pandemic. This population-based, 21-year observational, longitudinal birth cohort study of low-income youths and families from Detroit, Michigan; Toledo, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois, used data from the Future of Families and Child Well-being Study. Data were collected from February 1998 to June 2021. Analyses were conducted from May to October 2023. Parent-reported harsh parenting (psychological aggression or physical aggression) and observer-rated warm parenting (responsiveness) at ages 3, 5, and 9 years. The primary outcomes were brainwide (segregation, integration, and small-worldness), circuit (prefrontal cortex [PFC]-amygdala connectivity), and regional (betweenness centrality of amygdala and PFC) architecture at age 15 years, determined using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and youth-reported anxiety and depression symptoms at age 21 years. The structured life-course modeling approach was used to disentangle timing-dependent from cumulative associations between parenting and brain architecture. A total of 173 youths (mean [SD] age, 15.88 [0.53] years; 95 female [55%]) were included. Parental psychological aggression during early childhood was positively associated with brainwide segregation (β = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.45) and small-worldness (β = 0.17; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.28), whereas parental psychological aggression during late childhood was negatively associated with PFC-amygdala connectivity (β = -0.37; 95% CI, -0.55 to -0.12). Warm parenting during middle childhood was positively associated with amygdala centrality (β = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.38) and negatively associated with PFC centrality (β = -0.18; 95% CI, -0.31 to -0.03). Warmer parenting during middle childhood was associated with reduced anxiety (β = -0.05; 95% CI -0.10 to -0.01) and depression (β = -0.05; 95% CI -0.10 to -0.003) during early adulthood via greater adolescent amygdala centrality. Neural associations with harsh parenting were widespread across the brain in early childhood but localized in late childhood. Neural associations with warm parenting were localized in middle childhood and, in turn, were associated with mental health during future stress. These developmentally contingent associations can inform the type and timing of interventions.

Cost-Effectiveness of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Pediatric Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Down Syndrome Patients.

To examine the cost-effectiveness of hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) implantation at an early age in simulated pediatric cohorts with Down Syndrome (DS) and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Cost-utility analysis. Hypothetical cohort. A Markov model simulated 3 pediatric cohorts with DS and OSA beginning at age 4 years until 21 years. Cohorts received HGNS implants in early childhood, late childhood, or adulthood at age 4, 13 (current FDA-approved age), or 18 years, respectively. Input model parameters were obtained from the literature and our institution. Outcomes were measured with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), measured in dollars per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Deterministic 1-way sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of parameter uncertainty. Results (total costs; total QALYs) across the time horizon were determined for each cohort: early implantation ($83,300.35; 15.79), late ($48,319.09; 14.98), and adult ($38,721.07; 14.55). ICERs were $48,892.47 per QALY for early vs late implantation, $43,471.15 per QALY for early vs adult implantation, and $30,959.58 per QALY for late vs adult implantation. All ICERs were below a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY. Varying the discount rate and utility expectedly varied the ICERs and cost-effectiveness. Threshold analysis showed early implantation to be cost-effective for a HGNS implantation cost up to $62,230 compared to late implantation. The current study suggests HGNS is a cost-effective treatment strategy for pediatric patients with DS and severe OSA. Our findings also suggest cost-effectiveness at ages younger than 13, the current age of FDA approval.

Size-controlled interfacial crystallization of A-type resistant starch microparticles via acetone precipitation

Short-chain glucan (SCG) recrystallization has emerged as an effective approach for producing resistant starch microparticle (RSP), which hold promise in both food science and clinical nutrition. This study introduces a novel method utilizing Tween 80 (TW80) to mediate the interfacial recrystallization of SCG into A-type crystalline RSP (ARSP) through acetone precipitation. TW80 plays a crucial role by stabilizing water-in-oil microemulsion droplets within acetone-oil mixtures, facilitating the formation of uniform and spherical ARSP ranging in size from 0.2 μm to 2 μm. The surface characteristics of ARSP, including porosity and smoothness, are notably influenced by SCG concentration. As SCG concentration increases, the melting temperature of ARSP rises from 117 °C to 145 °C, accompanied by a decrease in average surface area from 12.07 to 8.35 m2/g, alongside an increase in crystallinity. Moreover, the in vitro digestion test revealed that the digestion rate of ARSP was decreased from 0.73 h−1 to 0.39 h−1 with increasing SCG concentration, while increasing the resistant starch (RS) content in ARSP from 48.6% to 70.5%. This enhancement offers a strategic approach for modulating the digestion rate of ARSP, presenting opportunities for tailored release profiles and improved stability in food science applications. These findings underscore the potential of ARSP as a functional ingredient with significant implications for nutritional and clinical settings.

Differential reconfiguration of brain networks in children in response to standard versus rewarded go/no-go task demands.

Response inhibition and sustained attention are critical for higher-order cognition and rely upon specific patterns of functional brain network organization. This study investigated how functional brain networks reconfigure to execute these cognitive processes during a go/no-go task with and without the presence of rewards in 26 children between the ages of 8 and 12 years. First, we compared task performance between standard and rewarded versions of a go/no-go task. We found that the presence of rewards reduced commission error rate, a measure considered to indicate improved response inhibition. Tau, thought to index sustained attention, did not change across task conditions. Next, changes in functional brain network organization were assessed between the resting state, the standard go/no-go task, and the rewarded go/no-go task. Relative to the resting state, integration decreased and segregation increased during the standard go/no-go task. A further decrease in integration and increase in segregation was observed when rewards were introduced. These patterns of reconfiguration were present globally and across several key brain networks of interest, as well as in individual regions implicated in the processes of response inhibition, attention, and reward processing. These findings align with patterns of brain network organization found to support the cognitive strategy of sustained attention, rather than response inhibition, during go/no-go task performance and suggest that rewards enhance this organization. Overall, this study used large-scale brain network organization and a within-subjects multi-task design to examine different cognitive strategies and the influence of rewards on response inhibition and sustained attention in late childhood.

Analysis Of Symbolic Value In Purchasing Imitation Louis Vuitton Bags: Economic Sociology Perspective

This research aims to explain the symbolic value in influencing the business of buying imitation Louis Vuitton bags which is seen using Beckert's (2009) four market valuation criteria. Based on a survey conducted by the Indonesian Anti-Counterfeiting Society (MIAP), economic losses due to imitation goods in Indonesia continue to increase every year until reaching a peak in 2014 of 65.1 billion rupiah, in 2020 it was recorded at 291 trillion, with a tax loss of 967 billion rupiah and employment of more than 2 million. Control over counterfeit goods is getting stricter. As explained by Cicilia King, Communications Manager for Louis Vuitton (Indonesia), especially in Europe, the company provides education, including to officers at airports, so that they are able to identify whether an item is genuine or fake. Louis Vuitton, according to various records, is the most counterfeited famous brand ( Kompas.com ). Young consumers are increasingly buying imitation products from luxury brands. Because late childhood is a time of searching for identity and a time of change (Asyia et al., 2022; Sofianita, 2015). This research uses Beckert's theory in the article The social order of markets (2009). Researchers used a qualitative approach with a case study type of research. The findings in this research explain that market valuation criteria consisting of standardization, cognitive anchoring, normative legitimacy, and social positioning are explained in this case study. KEYWORDS : Symbolic Value, Imitation, Louis Vuitton, Qualitative, Case Study

The AI-driven age detection in children's drawings: a deep learning approach for late childhood assessment

The AI-driven age detection in children's drawings: a deep learning approach for late childhood assessment

Early childhood family threat and longitudinal amygdala-mPFC circuit development: Examining cortical thickness and gray matter-white matter contrast

Early threat-associated cortical thinning may be interpreted as accelerated cortical development. However, non-adaptive processes may show similar macrostructural changes. Examining cortical thickness (CT) together with grey/white-matter contrast (GWC), a proxy for intracortical myelination, may enhance the interpretation of CT findings. In this prospective study, we examined associations between early life family-related threat (harsh parenting, family conflict, and neighborhood safety) and CT and GWC development from late childhood to middle adolescence. MRI was acquired from 4200 children (2069 boys) from the Generation R study at ages 8, 10 and 14 years (in total 6114 scans), of whom 1697 children had >1 scans. Linear mixed effect models were used to examine family factor-by-age interactions on amygdala volume, caudal and rostral anterior cingulate (ACC) and medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) CT and GWC. A neighborhood safety-by-age-interaction was found for rostral ACC GWC, suggesting less developmental change in children from unsafe neighborhoods. Moreover, after more stringent correction for motion, family conflict was associated with greater developmental change in CT but less developmental change in GWC. Results suggest that early threat may blunt ACC GWC development. Our results, therefore, do not provide evidence for accelerated threat-associated structural development of the amygdala-mPFC circuit between ages 8–14 years.

The development of prosocial behavior from late childhood to adolescence: a longitudinal and multicultural study

The development of prosocial behavior from late childhood to adolescence: a longitudinal and multicultural study

Age-dependent changes in the hyoid bone morphology in children.

This radiologic work aimed to display the alteration in the hyoid bone (HB) morphology in the pediatric population with advancing age. This pediatric examination consisted of computed tomography images of 129 subjects (49 males / 80 females) aged 1-17 years. The anterior-posterior length of HB, the lengths of right and left greater horns, the width and height of HB's body, and the distance between the midpoints of the posterior ends of the greater horns increased with advancing age (p < 0.001), but the angle of the right and left greater horns (p = 0.022) decreased. Four configurations regarding HB shape were observed: Type A (U-shaped HB) in 8.5% (11 HBs) out of 129 children, Type B (B-shaped HB) in 33.3% (43 HBs), Type C (D-shaped HB) in 45% (58 HBs), and Type D (V-shaped HB) in 13.2% (17 HBs). HB shape types correlated with the pediatric age (p < 0.001), but not gender (p = 0.153). Most of the parameters increased until the postpubescent period, but the angle of the right and left greater horns decreased after the late childhood. Our linear functions representing the growth pattern of HB in children may be useful to estimate HB size.

The genetics of spatiotemporal variation in cortical thickness in youth

Prior studies have shown strong genetic effects on cortical thickness (CT), structural covariance, and neurodevelopmental trajectories in childhood and adolescence. However, the importance of genetic factors on the induction of spatiotemporal variation during neurodevelopment remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the genetics of maturational coupling by examining 308 MRI-derived regional CT measures in a longitudinal sample of 677 twins and family members. We find dynamic inter-regional genetic covariation in youth, with the emergence of regional subnetworks in late childhood and early adolescence. Three critical neurodevelopmental epochs in genetically-mediated maturational coupling were identified, with dramatic network strengthening near eleven years of age. These changes are associated with statistically-significant (empirical p-value <0.0001) increases in network strength as measured by average clustering coefficient and assortativity. We then identify genes from the Allen Human Brain Atlas with similar co-expression patterns to genetically-mediated structural covariation in children. This set was enriched for genes involved in potassium transport and dendrite formation. Genetically-mediated CT-CT covariance was also strongly correlated with expression patterns for genes located in cells of neuronal origin.

Enhanced amplified spontaneous emission performance of inorganic perovskite by additive engineering

All-inorganic perovskites have become promising optical gain medium due to excellent optical properties. For CsPbX3 thin films, optical losses caused by uneven morphology and non-radiative defects can hinder amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) performance. Here, we take advantage of additive engineering strategy to simultaneously control the morphology and defect states of CsPbBrxI3-x films via introducing Polysorbate-20 (PS20) into perovskite precursor. The optical gain coefficient of the CsPbBrxI3-x film increased from 491.1 cm−1 to 1252 cm−1 and ASE threshold decreased to 4.72 μJ/cm2. Moreover, the optimized perovskite film exhibited excellent linear polarization characteristics with high degree of polarization (DOP) of 88 %. Our research highlights the importance of defect passivation and morphology control to improve ASE performance.

Safety of Prior Propranolol Therapy for Infantile Hemangioma.

Propranolol has been the primary treatment for infantile hemangioma (IH) since 2008. Prior studies have investigated the effects in late childhood of propranolol therapy given in infancy for IH, including neurocognitive dysfunction, sleep disorders, and hypoglycemia. However, few studies have determined the risk of these adverse effects later in life. Using the TrinetX database, we studied the risk of growth impairment, sleep disorders, learning disabilities, and diabetes mellitus in children aged 10-17 years who had received propranolol for IH in infancy. The maximum age of 17 years was chosen for the study, as propranolol was established as a treatment for IH in 2008. The results showed no statistically significant risk of growth impairment, sleep disorders, learning disabilities, or diabetes mellitus in IH patients treated with propranolol. These findings support existing evidence that propranolol therapy given in infancy for IH is not associated with long-term adverse effects up to age 17 years in the studied patient population.