Preference Index Research Articles

Paternalism attitudes and the happiness value of fundamental freedoms

Abstract Governmental regulations and prohibitions may effectively reduce self-harming behavior, but might also restrict personal freedom rights. This paper investigates into individuals’ preferences for the trade-off between being protected from taking self-harming actions by the state, and the desire to be free to choose. We introduce the Paternalism Preference Index to measure this preference. Our results indicate considerable heterogeneity in how individuals support, or object to, such governmental prescriptions. More importantly, we show the importance of the paternalism preference in a survey on life satisfaction during the Covid-19 pandemic. We find a reversed relationship between the preference for paternalistic state interventions and the valuation of personal freedoms. Individuals who prefer to have a larger choice set at the expense of committing potentially self-harming actions derive a higher value from personal freedoms in terms of life satisfaction.

Cichorium intybus L. Oligo-Polysaccharides (CIO) Exerts Antianxiety and Antidepressant Effects on Mice Experiencing Behavioral Despair and Chronic Unpredicted Mild Stress.

Cichorium intybus L. oligo-polysaccharides (CIOs), obtained from Cichorium intybus L., is a mixture of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. This study explores the antianxiety and antidepressant effects and mechanisms of CIOs by using acute behavioral despair and chronic unpredictable mild stress mice models and measuring the levels of 5-HT and the expression of proteins related to the BDNF/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. Moreover, 56 male C57BL/6N mice were used to test behavioral despair. They were randomized into seven groups (Control, Citalopram, CIO 12.5 mg/kg, CIO 25 mg/kg, CIO 100 mg/kg, and CIO 200 mg/kg) based on body weight; they were administered with the corresponding medication daily for 7 days; and behavioral tests were conducted on them (forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST)) after 7 days. Seventy male C57BL/6N mice were adopted in the next part of the experiment and randomly divided into seven groups (Control, CUMS, Fluoxetine, MOO, CIO 25 mg/kg, and CIO 100 mg/kg) based on the sucrose preference index. Except for the control group, the other groups were subjected to 6 weeks of CUMS. From the fifth week of stress, the corresponding drugs were administered by gavage until the end of the behavioral tests. In the behavioral despair tests, the immobility time was significantly reduced in the FST and TST after the CIO (25 and 100 mg/kg) treatment of 7 days. After 6 weeks of chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS) treatment, CIO (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) administration significantly reduced the number of buried beads in the marble burying test (MBT), decreased the latency in the novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), and shortened the immobility time in the FST and TST. CIO administration significantly increased the sucrose preference index in the sucrose preference test (SPT). Additionally, CIO treatment increased hippocampal 5-HT levels while upregulating the expression of BDNF, P-PI3K/PI3K, P-ERK/ERK, P-Akt/Akt, and P-mTOR/mTOR. In summary, CIO exerted promising antidepressant effects in behavioral despair and antianxiety and antidepressant effects in CUMS-induced depressive mice. Moreover, CIO therapy was facilitated by increasing the 5-HT content, alleviating the damage of hippocampal neurons, and upregulating the BDNF/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascade. Thus, CIO is a substance with the potential to treat anxiety and depression.

RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF CARDIAC SIZE BY USING MULTIPLE SCALING SYSTEMS IN HEALTHY CAPTIVE AYE-AYES (DAUBENTONIA MADAGASCARIENSIS).

The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is an unusual lemur with a small population in human care. Cardiac pathologies, but not normal size parameters, have been reported in this species. This study aimed to determine whether radiographic cardiac scaling systems commonly used to evaluate heart size in domestic mammals have potential clinical application in aye-ayes. Selected cardiac silhouette, vertebral, and intrathoracic skeletal dimensions were measured retrospectively on paired sets of orthogonal thoracic radiographs collected during health examinations of aye-ayes maintained at three British zoos. Measurements from 21 healthy aye-ayes (10 males, 11 females) of varying ages were used to calculate reference intervals (RI) with 90% confidence intervals for vertebral heart scale in both right lateral (VHS-RLat) and ventrodorsal (VHS-VD) projections, a modified VHS (VHS-Mod), thoracic inlet heart size (TIHS), and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR). VHS-VD (9.49 ± 0.29) was slightly higher than VHS-RLat (9.32 ± 0.33; P = 0.08) and had the lowest coefficient of variation of the scaling indices; TIHS was 4.89 ± 0.36, VHS-Mod was 11.07 ± 0.49, and CTR was 0.53 ± 0.05. Thoracic depth-to-width ratio of aye-ayes ranged between 0.75 and 0.91, equivalent to an intermediate thoracic morphology in dogs. No scaling indices differed significantly by sex, age group, or thoracic morphology; however, VHS-Mod and CTR were significantly correlated with bodyweight (P = 0.0022 and P = 0.041, respectively) and CTR with age (P = 0.02). Summed cardiac dimensions demonstrated a near-linear relationship with bodyweight and T4 vertebral length (both P < 0.05), but not thoracic inlet length (P = 0.12). Analysis of measurements by using serial radiographs from hand-reared animals indicated potential utility of RI in aye-ayes >0.4 yr. Overall, results suggest VHS-VD and VHS-RLat are preferred cardiac scaling indices in aye-ayes. These data will aid zoo clinicians in the evaluation of cardiac size and identification of cardiomegaly in this endangered primate.

Origin of Tar Balls Along the Beaches of Genaveh Region, Persian Gulf.

Oil spills and tarballs are significant pollutants in marine environments, and identifying their sources is crucial for mitigating environmental impacts. This study aims to determine the primary sources of petroleum spills and tarballs along the shores of Genaveh (northwest of the Persian Gulf) by employing chemical fingerprinting techniques and biomarkers. Specifically, petroleum hydrocarbons were analyzed in 19 tarball samples, 13 surface sediment samples from the Genaveh coast, and reference oil samples from 21 offshore oil platforms located in the Bahregan, Khark, Lavan, Siri, and Hendurabi regions. Samples were extracted using the Soxhlet extraction method, followed by two-step column chromatography, and the compositions of n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hopanes, and steranes were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentration of PAHs in coastal sediment samples from Genaveh ranged from 345 (S841) to 27,374 ng/g-dw (S852), indicating moderate to very high pollution levels. The total concentration of aliphatic hydrocarbons in coastal sediment samples from Genaveh ranged from 8,694 (S842) to 27,374 µg/g-dw (S851), significantly exceeding n-alkane concentrations reported in surface sediments from many other regions worldwide, suggesting considerable pollution levels. For the 19 collected tarball samples, PAH concentrations varied from 597.5 to 10,173 ng/g-dw, while n-alkane concentrations ranged from 27,136 to 66,341 µg/g-dw, which may indicate differences in age or freshness. Diagnostic indicators, such as undifferentiated complex mixtures (UCM), a carbon preference index (CPI) close to 1 for n-alkanes, diagnostic ratios of PAHs, and ratios of hopanes and steranes, pointed to a predominantly petrogenic origin of hydrocarbons in the coastal sediments of Genaveh. The principal component analysis (PCA) results revealed a distinction between oil samples from the Lavan, Hendurabi, and Siri platforms, indicating oil leakage from the Khark oilfield pipelines (Doroud and Forouzan) and Bahregan oilfields (Bahregansar and Soroosh) as a major pollution source. This implies that both oil spills, observed in the coastal sediments of Genaveh, and episodic spills, represented by tarballs, originate from a similar, homogeneous source. Only sediment samples from stations S841 and S812 were not influenced by tarballs, suggesting pollution from a different source compared to other sediment samples.

External Validation of the Neiman Imaging Comorbidity Index in Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Payer Claims Data.

The Neiman Imaging Comorbidity Index (NICI) was developed and validated in a claims dataset encompassing >10 million privately insured beneficiaries, in which it outperformed the commonly used Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) in predicting advanced imaging use. This external validation assessed the broader generalizability of NICI for predicting receipt of advanced imaging in nationally representative populations, including patients insured by Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers. All 2018 to 2019 patient-level claims from the CMS Medicare 5% Research Identifiable File, CMS Medicaid 100% Research Identifiable File, and private insurance (commercial and Medicare Advantage) claims from Inovalon Insights, LLC, were included. Using 2018 comorbidity data, beneficiaries were assigned CCI and NICI. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUCs) measured index performance predicting advanced imaging in 2019. AUCs for NICI and CCI were compared overall, across age groups, and after adjusting for age and sex. A total of 108,846,549 beneficiaries were included across Medicare (n= 2,536,403), Medicaid (n= 49,685,052), and private insurance (n= 56,625,094) datasets. NICI outperformed CCI in Medicare (AUC: 0.7709, 95 confidence interval [CI]: 0.7702-0.7716 versus AUC: 0.7503, 95% CI: 0.7496-0.7510; P < .001), Medicaid (AUC: 0.6876, 95% CI: 0.6874-0.6878 versus AUC: 0.6798 95% CI: 0.6796-0.6800]; P < .001), and private insurance data (AUC: 0.6658, 95% CI: 0.6656-0.6660 versus AUC: 0.6479, 95% CI: 0.6477-0.6481; P < .001). NICI outperformed CCI in adjusted models and in nearly all age strata across the three cohorts. The NICI outperformed CCI in predicting advanced imaging in populations insured by numerous different payers. Validation data support NICI as the preferred index to adjust for patient comorbidities when studying advanced imaging as an outcome, but further investigations are warranted.

Investigating Oil Entrance from Hendijan Oil Field in the Northwest of the Persian Gulf Using Chemical Fingerprinting.

Concerning the entrance of oil into the Persian Gulf due to the presence of oil fields in this ecosystem, a wide investigation was carried out in 2017 to evaluate the hydrocarbons source identification and chemical fingerprinting. To this end, surface sediments were collected from the Persian Gulf. In the laboratory, compounds (n-alkanes, PAHs, hopane and sterane) were then extracted with a Soxhlet system and two steps of chromatographic columns and analyzed using a GC-MS instrument. The results showed that the concentrations of the n-alkanes and Σ30 PAHs increased with a reduction in distance from hot spots. This suggests that high concentrations of hydrocarbons in the locations near the hot spots might be due to oil leakage, transportation of and exploration for oil, pipeline fractures and industrial activities. A positive relation between total organic matter (TOM) and hydrocarbons was observed. A common petrogenic hydrocarbon source was strongly implied in most places by the presence of unresolved compounds resolved (UCM), lower molecular weight/higher molecular weight (LMW/HMW) and carbon preference index (CPI) ratios < 1. Typical profiles of petrogenic PAHs with predominant alkyl substituted naphthalene and phenanthrene, various PAH ratios and multivariate analysis showed that PAHs were mainly derived from petrogenic sources. Simultaneous use of n-alkanes and PAHs in source identification can be effective to precisely specify the hydrocarbon sources in complicated mixture ecosystems. Furthermore, using multivariate analysis and chemical fingerprinting of n-alkanes, PAHs, hopanes and sterane confirmed that Hendijan crude oil may be the source of the sediment pollution in the study area.

Preference Assessment in Dementia Care: Systematic Literature Reivew

AbstractBackgroundBoosting shared decision‐making (SDM) for individuals with dementia is a critical aspect of patient‐centered care. This collaborative approach respects the autonomy and dignity of patients, even when they face challenges in communication or decision‐making due to their medical condition. Understanding patients’ values and preferences may be central to a successful SDM process. The aim of this study is to review various preference evaluation methods used for individuals with dementia in clinical settings, and to suggest the most effective and feasible tools for accurately measuring values and preferences.MethodsWe strictly followed an updated guideline for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) (Page et al., 2021). A systematic review was conducted through a search of three online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane) and included studies about patient preferences published in English between 2000 and 2023. This review included studies that used a quantitative approach including surveys and structured interviews to gather data on the preferences of individuals with dementia and cognitive impairment. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria are shown in Figure 1.ResultsAfter identification of 268 studies, twenty studies were finally eligible for review (Figure 1). Five categories of preference evaluations were generated from the review: (a) values and preferences in decision‐making (n = 6), (b) treatment goals (n = 2), (c) discrete choice experiments for preferences (n = 3), (d) diagnosis disclosure and communication (n = 5), (e) advanced care planning (n = 4). Most of the studies demonstrated substantial reliability and validity in their assessment methods for individuals with dementia.ConclusionsOur findings suggested that individuals with dementia can reliably express their values and preferences about treatment that they currently receive or will need in the future. Moreover, our review highlighted the need for flexible and adaptable assessment to accommodate each patient’s unique circumstances. The utilization of tools with the autonomy preference index, clearly defined treatment goals, and transparent diagnosis disclosure, seem to be critical for fostering effective SDM process.

Hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel inhibitor, Ivabradine, attenuates brain mitochondrial oxidative stress without reducing cognitive impairment in Dox‐induced chemobrain

AbstractBackgroundDoxorubicin (Dox), a chemotherapeutic agent, is known to cause chemobrain leading to cognitive decline and brain mitochondrial dysfunction. Ivabradine (Iva), hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel blocker used for angina and arrhythmia, has been shown to be an anticonvulsant, antioxidant, and neuroprotective agent. However, the effects of Iva on cognitive function, and brain mitochondrial function in Dox‐induced chemobrain are still not determined. This study aimed to investigate whether Iva attenuates Dox‐induced brain toxicity in male rats by affecting cognitive dysfunction, synaptic dysplasticity, and brain mitochondrial dysfunction.MethodTwenty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: vehicle‐treated control, Iva‐treated control, vehicle‐treated Dox, and Iva‐treated Dox. The control rats were received normal saline, while the Dox‐treated rats were received Dox at a dose of 3 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally on days 0, 4, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Iva (10 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage from day 0 to day 29. On day 30, novel object location (NOL) test was performed to assess cognitive function. Hippocampal‐synaptic plasticity and brain mitochondrial function were measured after euthanasia.ResultDox‐treated rats showed a decreased % preference index of a new location in the NOL test, decreased % of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP), and impaired brain mitochondrial function as indicated by increased mitochondrial ROS, impaired brain mitochondrial membrane potential change, and caused mitochondrial swelling (Figure 1A‐G). Iva‐treated control rats showed no effects on the NOL, % fEPSP, and brain mitochondrial function compared to vehicle‐treated control rats. Iva‐treated Dox rats exhibited a decrease in brain mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), but showed no significant difference in NOL, % fEPSP, brain mitochondrial membrane potential change, and mitochondrial swelling compared to vehicle‐treated Dox rats (Figure 1A‐G).ConclusionDox‐induced chemobrain manifested in cognitive impairment, synaptic dysplasticity, and brain mitochondrial dysfunction. Iva treatment showed a reduction in brain mitochondrial ROS, with no improvement in mitochondrial membrane potential changes and swelling in Dox‐induced chemobrain. Iva did not improve cognitive function and hippocampal‐synaptic plasticity in Dox‐treated rats. These findings suggest the antioxidant properties of Ivabradine in chemobrain, but this dose of Iva was not enough to protect brain injury in Dox‐induced chemobrain.

Ruta Angustifolia Essential Oil: Behavioral and Insecticidal Effects Against Larvae and Adults of Tribolium castaneum.

The study aims to evaluate the behavioral and insecticidal effects of Ruta angustifolia EO (RAEO) against larvae and adults of a major pest insect, Tribolium castaneum. RAEO exhibited a strong repellency against both adults and larvae where percentages as high as 74 and 72 % of PR (Percentage of Repellency) were recorded respectively, at 0.47 μL/cm2 after 2 h. Regarding the antifeedant bioassay, no feeding deterrence was recorded in adults while an increase in appetite was registered in larvae exhibiting -80 % of FDI recorded at 0.2 μL/pellet. In terms of feeding preference, the response significantly depended on the developmental stage (F=97.19, P<0.05) and larvae were attracted to treated pellets recording percentages of 84 and 73 % of PI (Preference index) after 5 and 30 min at 0.05 μL/pellet; on the other hand, adults expressed a repulsive behavior at 0.2 μL/pellet with a PI of -81.1 (20 min), and -69.2 % (30 min). Regarding topical application toxicity, a significant difference was observed between larvae and adults (p<0.05 F=174.56). The study promotes the use of RAEO as a repellent and bioinsecticide for the control of larvae and adults of T. castaneum.

Вплив тривалого вживання етанолу ad libitum на емоційну поведінку щурів з різним рівнем алкогольної мотивації

Experimental studies of behavioral disorders due to the consumption of psychoactive substances through their realistic modeling by laboratory animals is becoming more and more relevant against the background of the inevitable psychogenic imperative associated with the war in Ukraine. In this aspect, emotional behavior is the resulting factor that generalizes and accompanies the mechanisms of psycho-emotional disorders, which are considered the most common mental diseases in the world. Under conditions of ethanol consumption ad libitum, with the use of ethological observation methods, we studied the character of the emotional response of non-linear white rats of young reproductive age in unusual stressful situations of the “elevated plus-maze”, “dark-light chamber” and “ tail fixation”. The aim was to study the effect of long-term alcoholization on the level of anxiety and tendency to depressivelike behavior in animals, depending on the severity of alcohol motivation according to the ethanol preference index and the average daily individual dose of its consumption. As a result of a complex analysis of the behavior of rats with different levels of alcohol motivation under the conditions of free access to ethanol, it was found that there is no significant modulation of emotional activity. This indicates its stability or inertia, which, combined with improved cognitive functions, often negatively impacted by the neurotoxic effects of ethanol, and an increase in grooming behavior as a correlate of adaptive/compensatory manifestation of emotional stress, highlights the importance of considering age-related emotional and behavioral characteristics in the development of alcohol dependence mechanisms.

Comprehensive walkability assessment of urban pedestrian environments using big data and deep learning techniques.

Assessing street walkability is a critical agenda in urban planning and multidisciplinary research, as it facilitates public health, community cohesion, and urban sustainability. Existing evaluation systems primarily focus on objective measurements, often neglecting subjective assessments and the diverse walking needs influenced by different urban spatial elements. This study addresses these gaps by constructing a comprehensive evaluation framework that integrates both subjective and objective dimensions, combining three neighbourhood indicators: Macro-Scale Index, Micro-Scale Index, and Street Walking Preferences Index. A normalization weighting method synthesizes these indicators into a comprehensive index. We applied this framework to assess the street environment within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road. The empirical results demonstrate that: (1) The framework reliably reflects the distribution of walkability. (2) The three indicators show both similarities and differences, underscoring the need to consider the distinct roles of community and street-level elements and the interaction between subjective and objective dimensions. (3) In high-density cities with ring-road development patterns, the Macro-Scale Index closely aligns with the Comprehensive Index, demonstrating its accuracy in reflecting walkability. The proposed framework and findings offer new insights for street walkability research and theoretical support for developing more inclusive, sustainable and walkable cities.

Origin of biomarkers (PAH, n-alkane, hopane, estrane) in different colors of plastic resin pellets and surface sediments from coastal area of the Makuran-Oman Sea

The unique attributes of the study area, situated near the Strait of Hormuz—an extensively utilized oil shipping corridor for Iran and neighboring Arabian nations—encompass oil extraction and exploitation, the establishment of an oil export hub, the advancement of petrochemical industries, as well as tourism and transportation activities. This research represents the first examination of the sources of plastic resin pellet release, addressing both local and non-local contributions. To conduct this study, samples of plastic resin pellet and coastal and intertidal surface sediments were collected from seven stations on the shores of the Oman Sea in Hormozgan province (Sirik, Garook, Ziarat, Karpan, Koohestak, Gohardo, and Kargan) with four replications to determine the origin and spatial distribution pattern of hydrocarbons and the diffusion source of plastic resin pellets (offshore or regional). Plastic resin pellets were separated based on color (white, yellow, brown, and black). Soxhlet was used to extract hydrocarbons, two stages of column chromatography were used to separate compounds, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to identify and determine their concentration. The total n-alkanes concentration ranged from 2940 to 18,711 (μg/g) in coastal surface sediments, from 19,721–1678 (μg/g) in intertidal surface sediments, and from 11,481.50 to 55,601.41 (μg/g) in plastic resin pellets. A similar trend was found for the total PAH concentration which ranged from 135.57 to 3890.62 (ng/g) in coastal sediments, from 1820.28 to 6579.55 (ng/g) in intertidal sediments, and from 3714.19 to 66/1920451 (ng/g) in plastic resin pellets. According to the sediment pollution criteria, a high pollution level was assessed in most of the stations. In most of the surface sediments and plastic resin pellets, the presence of unresolved complex mixture (UCM), the carbon preference index (CPI) lower than 1, and the diagnostic ratios of PAH, hopane, and sterane compounds indicated petrogenic origin for hydrocarbons. The results of principal component analysis based on 16 diagnostic ratios of PAH, n-alkane, hopane, and sterane compounds showed that brown and black plastic resin pellets were placed in a different group than the coastal and intertidal sediments and white and yellow plastic resin pellets. Most likely, the diffusion source of brown and black plastic resin pellets is different and through open water.

Geochemical Parameters of Oil and Rock Samples from Murzuq Basin, Libya: An Application for Paleoenvironment Description

Seven sedimentary rocks and seven crude oils undertook a geochemical analysis to describe their organic matter type and then tag the Paleoenvironments based on the organic matter. The samples were collected from B1-NC151, A1-NC58, P1- NC1, E1-NC174, D1-NC151, H29-NC115, and D1-NC174 boreholes, located in Murzuq Basin. The study was established to understand life forms in the ecosystem based on biomarkers that biochemical techniques recognized. Microscopy was used for kerogen typing and Spore Color Index reference. Organic matter (EOM) was extracted from cutting samples. Furthermore, hydrocarbons were saturated and aromatic fractionated from the samples to investigate using Gas chromatograph system. Spore color index (SCI), range between 1.5-3.5, Amorphous organic matter (AOM) from 42 to 95 percentage, Phytoclasts % were 4-15.5, and Palynomorphs % range 0.5 to 7.5. The percentage of Carbon 85.66-86.29, Hydrogen 13.16-13.73, Nitrogen 0.06 -0.27, and Sulfur 0.31-0.70, besides wax were measured, ranging among 1.3 to 6.0 %. Pristine/n-C17, Phytane/n-C18, Pristine/Phytane, carbon preference index measurements (CPI) and DBT/P as saturated hydrocarbon ratios from whole oil chromatographs were established. Tricyclic terpanes, hopanes and n-alkanes were distinguishing as the most important oil biomarkers that reserved the characteristics in the Paleoenvironments.

Rethinking residential building design in high-density cities for enhancing pandemic resilience: Balancing importance and practicality

The relationship between the built environment and epidemic transmission is particularly pronounced within the context of lockdown policies and high-density urban areas. Non-pharmaceutical interventions have become increasingly important during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study proposes an evaluation index system for pandemic-resilient residential building designs in high-density cities, covering the entire design process including site planning, architecture design, building equipment and management. The system includes 64 design strategies, categorized into 15 sub-categories and 4 categories. Then, we evaluate the preference of each strategy by synthesizing the dimensions of importance and implementation difficulty. A questionnaire survey was conducted among experts who have experience with pandemic-resilient designs in high-density cities. Fuzzy synthetic evaluation analysis was implemented along with the “preference index” concept to identify the most important and practical interventions during the pandemic outbreak. The results indicate that “service and management” is the category that requires priority, followed by “property management,” “common areas” and “building morphology” in sub-categories. Among the design strategies, “waste receptacle,” “publicity and education,” “floor drain and water seal” and “environmental cleaning and disinfection” are the top four recommended strategies. This study provides policymakers and practitioners with effective and easily implementable prevention measures during an outbreak of respiratory tract infections. It also offers specific policy recommendations and application suggestions for new and existing buildings, contributing to creating a safer and healthier living environment.

Genetic Variation in Trophic Avoidance Behaviour Shows Fruit Flies are Generally Attracted to Bacterial Substrates.

Pathogen avoidance behaviours are often assumed to be an adaptive host defence. However, there is limited experimental data on heritable, intrapopulation phenotypic variation for avoidance, a strong prerequisite for adaptive responses to selection. We investigated trophic pathogen avoidance in 122 inbred Drosophila melanogaster lines, and in a derived outbred population. Using the FlyPAD system, we tracked the feeding choice that flies made between substrates that were either clean or contained a bacterial pathogen. We uncovered significant, but weakly heritable variation in the preference index amongst fly lines. However, instead of avoidance, most lines demonstrated a preference for substrates containing several bacterial pathogens, showing avoidance only for extremely high bacterial concentrations. Bacterial preference was not associated with susceptibility to infection and was retained in flies with disrupted immune signalling. Phenotype-genotype association analysis indicated several novel genes (CG2321, CG2006, and ptp99A) associated with increased preference for the bacterial substrate, while the amino-acid transporter sobremesa was associated with greater aversion. Given the known fitness benefits of consuming high-protein diets, our results suggest that bacterial attraction may instead reflect a dietary preference for protein over carbohydrate. More work quantifying intrapopulation variation in avoidance behaviours is needed to fully assess its importance in host-pathogen evolutionary ecology.

Inhibition of Glycolysis Alleviates Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Induced Neuroinflammation and Depression-like Behavior.

Growing evidence suggests that glucose metabolism plays a crucial role in activated immune cells, significantly contributing to the occurrence and development of neuroinflammation and depression-like behaviors. Chronic stress has been reported to induce microglia activation and disturbances in glucose metabolism in the hippocampus. This study aims to investigate how chronic stress-mediated glycolysis promotes neuroinflammation and to assess the therapeutic potential of the glycolysis inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), in a model of chronic stress-induced neuroinflammation and depression-like behavior. In in vitro studies, we first explored the effects of 2-DG on the inflammatory response of microglia cells. The results showed that corticosterone (Cort) induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, increased glycolysis, and promoted the release of inflammatory mediators. However, these effects were reversed by intervention with 2-DG. Subsequently, we examined changes in depression-like behavior and hippocampal glycolysis in mice during chronic stress. The results indicated that chronic stress led to prolonged escape latency in the Morris water maze, increased platform-crossing frequency, reduced sucrose preference index, and extended immobility time in the forced swim test, all of which are indicative of depression-like behavior in mice. Additionally, we found that the expression of the key glycolytic enzyme hexokinase 2 (HK2) was upregulated in the hippocampus of stressed mice, along with an increased release of inflammatory factors. Further in vivo experiments investigated the effects of 2-DG on glycolysis and pro-inflammatory mediator production, as well as the therapeutic effects of 2-DG on chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior in mice. The results showed that 2-DG alleviated chronic stress-induced depression-like behaviors, such as improving escape latency and platform-crossing frequency in the Morris water maze, and increasing the time spent in the center of the open field. Additionally, 2-DG intervention reduced the level of glycolysis in the hippocampus and decreased the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. These findings suggest that 2-DG can mitigate neuroinflammation and depressive behaviors by inhibiting glycolysis and inflammatory responses. Overall, our results highlight the potential of 2-DG as a therapeutic agent for alleviating chronic stress-induced neuroinflammation through the regulation of glycolysis.

The Effect of Valproic Acid Administration on Learning, Social Interaction, and Depression Induced by Withdrawal Syndrome in Morphine-dependent Mice

Background: Opioids can lead to mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. Valproic acid (VPA) has neuroprotective effects that can prevent neural degeneration. This study aims to examine the impact of VPA on learning, social interaction, and depression in mice dependent on morphine. Methods: Subjects were divided into four groups and received injections of saline, VPA, morphine, or a combination of VPA and morphine for eight days. Behavioral tests were conducted on day 8, and then administration of VPA and morphine was stopped, leading to spontaneous withdrawal syndrome. Behavioral tests were repeated on day 11, and histological analysis was performed on the hippocampus. Findings: The preference index (PI%) decreased in the novel object recognition test in the VPA and morphine sulfate (MOR) groups compared to the control (CTL) group in the chronic phase. The concomitant administration of VPA and morphine caused an increase in social interaction criteria in both the chronic and withdrawal phases. The decrease in immobility time in the VPA and MOR+VPA groups compared to the CTL group in the withdrawal phase was not statistically significant in the tail suspension test (TST). In Nissl staining, the combination of MOR+VPA led to a significant decrease in the DC/All cell ratio compared to the individual MOR and VPA groups (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: VPA may improve social relationships and depression indices during morphine withdrawal. VPA may potentially mitigate the cellular changes in the CA1 of the hippocampus induced by morphine.

Characterization and health risk assessment of n-alkanes and PAHs in sediments from Shalateen (Halayeb Triangle), Egyptian Red Sea Coast

In this paper, the concentrations, origins, and carcinogenic potential of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) collected from Shalateen sediments (Sh), Red Sea, Egypt were discussed. Individual n-alkanes has fluctuated from a minimum of 17.7 μg/g dw recorded for C-9 at Sh-54 to a maximum of 2.02 × 104 μg/g dw recorded for C-12 at Sh-B1. Total n-alkanes have fluctuated from 252–1.41 × 104 μg/g with a mean of 4.84 × 104 μg/g dw. C-12 had the highest average value, and C-19 had the lowest. The total ΣPAH concentrations in sediments from Shalateen as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) ranged from 43.2 to 270 ng/g dw (averaging 95.2 ng/g dw). Carbon preference index (CPI) values were <1, consistent with the prevalence of even-C alkanes vs. the odd-C homologues. High molecular weight (HMW) PAHs were the most abundant substances affecting the collected samples. The cancer risk ranged from 2.25 × 10−5 to 4.78 × 10−2, indicating a moderate cancer risk associated with PAHs. The primary sources of PAHs in sediments included emissions from burning gasoline and diesel, biomass, and natural gas. The current study is considered one of the most important and unique with regard to the amounts and distributions of n-alkanes and PAHs in sediments along the coasts of Shalateen. It is the first baseline data documentation (GC MS/MS approach) of n-alkanes and PAHs in the Shalateen region.

Patient autonomy in self-managing their bronchial asthma exacerbation and its associated factors, 2024.

Asthma, a global chronic respiratory condition, varies in patient autonomy due to limited resources, health literacy, and cultural beliefs, emphasizing the importance of understanding this autonomy for improved asthma management. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jimma University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, involving face-to-face interviews with 175 patients. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical factors, and autonomy levels using a validated Patient Autonomy Preference Index. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were used. A total of 175 participants were recruited, out of them 41.7% (95% CI: 31.19, 40.41)) of participants were autonomous in managing their asthma exacerbation. 127 (72.6%) of study participants were female, with a mean age of 47.51 (SD ± 13.96), 101(57.7%) were live in urban areas, 54 (30.9%) had no formal education, 140 (80%) were married, 112 (64%) had health insurance, and 102(83.3%) obtained health information about their condition from healthcare workers. Reside in an urban area (AOR = 3.24; 95% CI: 1.40-7.49, p < 0.006), have health insurance (AOR = 4.30; 95% CI: 1.76-10.51, p < 0.001), those doing regular exercise (AOR = 4.79; 95% CI: 1.69-13.64, p < 0.003), have family history (AOR = 7.47; 95% CI: 1.61-34.60, p < 0.01), have a duration above five years since diagnosis (AOR = 0.44; 95% CI: 1.04-1.26, p < 0.003), and participants with a high level of health literacy (AOR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.00-1.20, p < 0.042) become associated with being autonomous in managing asthma exacerbation. Only around forty-two percent of study participants were autonomous in managing their asthma exacerbation. Thus healthcare providers should give due attention to those who reside in rural areas, are not insured, recently diagnosed with asthma, and with low health literacy to enhance patient autonomy and self-management practices, ultimately improving health outcomes for individuals with asthma.

Salinity impacts on n-alkanes in lake sediments of the Badain Jaran Desert, Northwestern China: Implications for paleoclimate reconstruction

n-Alkanes in lake sediments are essential biomarkers for paleoclimate research, yet the influence of lake salinity on their distribution remains unclear. This study investigates this relationship by analyzing sediments from eight lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert, all subject to similar climatic conditions but varying in salinity. Soil samples from the shoreline vegetation belt and suspended particle matter (SPM) were collected to identify the origin of plant input in the lake sediments. Additionally, sediment samples from the littoral zone to the lake center were all gathered to evaluate the salinity effects at different water depths. Key indexes such as content, the proportion of aquatic macrophyte (Paq), average chain length (ACL), and carbon preference index (CPI) of n-alkanes were examined to elucidate salinity effects. The result showed that the surrounding vegetation belt is the primary source of n-alkanes in lake sediments, with minimal contributions from SPM. Increased salinity was found to decrease CPI in the littoral zone, while also reducing Paq and increasing ACL in the lake bottom sediments. Changes of Paq, ACL and CPI in sediments are not attribute to variations in vegetation belt input but rather suggest that high salinity enhances n-alkane degradation, particularly favoring the degradation of mid-chain compounds in lake bottom sediments. Consequently, the reliability of n-alkane indexes as indicators of aquatic macrophyte in deep lake cores may be compromised by salinity. This study underscores the importance of accounting for salinity effects when using n-alkanes in reconstructing paleoclimate and suggests that their potential as indicators of lake salinization merits further attention.