Strong Effect Research Articles

Insight into the Manipulation Mechanism of Polymorphic Transformation by Polymers: A Case of Cimetidine.

Employing polymer additives is an effective strategy to realize the manipulation of polymorphic transformation. However, the manipulation mechanism is still not clear, which limit the precise selection of polymeric excipients and the development of pharmaceutical formulations. The solubility of cimetidine (CIM) in acetonitrile/water mixtures were measured. And the polymorphic transformation from CIM form A to form B with the addition of different polymers was monitored by Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the manipulation effect of polymers was determined based on the results of experiments and molecular simulations. The solubility of form A is consistently higher than that of form B, which indicate that form B is the thermodynamically stable form within the examined temperature range. The presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) of a shorter chain length could have a stronger inhibitory effect on the phase transformation process of metastable form, whereas polyethylene glycol (PEG) had almost no impact. The nucleation kinetics experiments and molecular dynamic simulation results showed that only PVP molecules could significantly decrease the nucleation rate of CIM, due to the ability of reducing solute molecular diffusion and solute-solute molecular interaction. A combination of crystal growth rate measurements and calculations of the interaction energies between PVP and the crystal faces of CIM indicate that smaller molecular weight PVP can suppress crystal growth more effectively. PVP K16-18 has more impact on the stabilization of CIM form A and inhibition of the phase transformation process. The manipulation mechanism of polymer additives in the polymorphic transformation of CIM was proposed.

Differential roles of serotonin receptor subtypes in regulation of neurotrophin receptor expression and intestinal hypernociception.

Aberrant serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) metabolism and neurite outgrowth were associated with abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We previously demonstrated that 5-HT receptor subtype 7 (5-HT₇) was involved in visceral hypersensitivity of IBS-like mouse models. The aim was to compare the analgesic effects of a novel 5-HT₇ antagonist to reference standards in mouse models and investigate the mechanisms of 5-HT₇-dependent neuroplasticity. Two mouse models, including Giardia post-infection combined with water avoidance stress (GW) and post-resolution of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis (PT) were used. Mice were orally administered CYY1005 (CYY, a novel 5-HT₇ antagonist), alosetron (ALN, a 5-HT₃ antagonist), and loperamide (LPM, an opioid receptor agonist) prior to measurement of visceromotor responses (VMR). Levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin receptors (NTRs) were assessed. Peroral CYY was more potent than ALN or LPM in reducing VMR values in GW and PT mice. Increased mucosal 5-HT₇-expressing nerve fibers were associated with elevated Gap43 levels in the mouse colon. We observed higher colonic Ntrk2 and Ngfr expression in GW mice, and increased Bdnf expression in PT mice compared with control mice. Human SH-SY5Y cells stimulated with mouse colonic supernatant or exogenous serotonin exhibited longer nerve fibers, which CYY dose-dependently inhibited. Serotonin increased Ntrk1 and Ngfr expression via 5-HT₇ but not 5-HT₃ or 5-HT₄, while Ntrk2 upregulation was dependent on all three 5-HT receptor subtypes. Stronger analgesic effects by peroral CYY were observed compared with reference standards in two IBS-like mouse models. The 5-HT₇-dependent NTR upregulation and neurite elongation may be involved in intestinal hypernociception.

Synergistic Effects of 125I Seed Implantation Brachytherapy and Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Tumors.

Monotherapy consisting of radiotherapy or chemotherapy has limited efficacy in pancreatic tumors. This study aims to investigate whether the combination of 125I brachytherapy and gemcitabine (GEM) chemotherapy has a synergistic effect on pancreatic cancer (PC). In vitro, PANC-1 cells in the exponential phase were treated with 125I radioactive seeds (6 Gy) and GEM (30 nM). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and flow cytometry, respectively. In vivo, we examined the inhibitory effect of three different treatment regimens on tumor growth in mice when combined with 125I brachytherapy and GEM. Next, we investigated the effects of the optimal scheme among the three on the tumor microenvironment, tumor tissue morphology, tumor cell apoptosis, systemic inflammatory response, and levels of apoptosis-related proteins in the tumor. Changes in the tumor microenvironment and levels of apoptosis-related proteins were measured by Western blot. The extent of damage to tumor tissue morphology was assessed by Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining. Tumor cell apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining. Changes in inflammation-related factors were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The results of in vitro cell experiments demonstrated that the combination of 125I radioactive seeds (6 Gy) and GEM (30 nM) had a stronger inhibitory effect on PANC-1 cells than either alone (p < 0.05). In vivo, data showed that the GEM (after 3 d) + 125I treatment group had the strongest tumor inhibition effect on PC (p < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the combined treatment of 125I brachytherapy and GEM caused changes in the expression of collagen and connexin in the tumor microenvironment, promoted tumor cell apoptosis, upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, and helped to restore pancreatic function (p < 0.01). Our research results suggest that the strategy of 125I seed implantation surgery in mice after 3 days of GEM treatment has a more pronounced synergistic effect on the treatment of PC.

Insights into the catalytic effect of atmospheric organic trace species on the hydration of Criegee intermediates

The bimolecular reactions between Criegee intermediates (CIs) and atmospheric trace species have been extensively investigated, with a particular focus on the reaction with water, while the catalytic role of atmospheric organic compounds in hydration reactions was often neglected. In this study, we employed quantum chemical calculations and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations to investigate the catalytic effects of atmospheric organic amines, organic acids, and alcohols on the hydration reactions of CIs in the gas phase and at the gas-liquid interface. The catalytic reactions were found to follow a cyclic catalytic structure and a stepwise reaction mechanism. Gas-phase studies revealed that organic acids exhibited stronger catalytic effects compared to amines and alcohols, and the catalytic efficiency of amines and alcohols was similar to those of single water molecule. In addition, the catalytic reaction barriers of organic acids and alcohols were positively correlated with their gas-phase acidity (R2 = 0.94 to 0.97). A negative correlation was observed between the catalytic reaction barrier of amines and their gas-phase basicity (R2 = 0.84 to 0.90) and proton affinity (R2 = 0.84 to 0.92). At the gas-liquid interface, organic acids promoted the formation of hydroxyethyl hydroperoxide (HEHP, CH3CH(OH)(OOH)), organic acid ions, and H3O+, whereas the catalytic hydration of CIs by organic amines resulted in the formation of CH3CH(OH)OO and amine ions. Both HEHP and CH3CH(OH)OO can be further decomposed to form OH and HO2, or participate in new particles formation as precursors. This study complements the research gap on the reaction of CIs with water, providing valuable insights into the atmospheric sources of HEHP and HOx as well as the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs).

The Effect of Dietary Nitrate on the Oral Microbiome and Salivary Biomarkers in Individuals with High Blood Pressure

BackgroundGreen leafy vegetables (GLV) contain inorganic nitrate, an anion with potential prebiotic effects on the oral microbiome. However, it remains unclear whether GLV and pharmacological supplementation [potassium nitrate (PN)] with a nitrate salt induce similar effects on the oral microbiome. ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the effect of GLV with PN supplementation on the oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers in individuals with high blood pressure. MethodsSeventy individuals were randomly allocated to 3 different groups to follow a 5-wk dietary intervention. Group 1 consumed 300 mg/d of nitrate in form of GLV. Group 2 consumed pills with 300 mg/d of PN and low-nitrate vegetables. Group 3 consumed pills with potassium chloride (placebo: PLAC) and low-nitrate vegetables. The oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers of oral health were analyzed before and after the dietary intervention. ResultsThe GLV and PN groups showed similar microbial changes, probably nitrate-dependent, including an increase in the abundance of Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, Campylobacter species, and a decrease in Veillonella, Megasphaera, Actinomyces, and Eubacterium species after the treatment. Increased abundance of Rothia species, and reduced abundance of Streptococcus, Prevotella, Actinomyces, and Mogibacterium species were observed in the GLV group, which could be nitrate-independent. GLV and PN treatments increased salivary pH, but only GLV treatment showed an increase in the salivary buffering capacity and a reduction of lactate. ConclusionThe combination of nitrate-dependent and nitrate-independent microbial changes in the GLV group has a stronger effect to potentially improve oral health biomarkers compared with PN.

Characteristics of demersal fish community structure during summer hypoxia in the Pearl River Estuary, China.

In recent decades, hypoxic areas have rapidly expanded worldwide in estuaries and coastal zones. The Pearl River Estuary (PRE), one of China's largest estuaries, experiences frequent seasonal hypoxia due to intense human activities and eutrophication. However, the ecological effects of hypoxia in the PRE, particularly on fish communities, remain unclear. To explore these effects, we collected fish community and environmental data in July 2021 during the summer hypoxia development period. The results revealed that bottom-layer dissolved oxygen (DO) in the PRE ranged from 0.08 to 5.71 mg/L, with extensive hypoxic zones (DO ≤ 2 mg/L) observed. Hypoxia has varied effects on fish community composition, distribution, species, and functional diversity in the PRE. A total of 104 fish species were collected in this study, with approximately 30 species (28.6%) exclusively found in hypoxic areas. Species responses to hypoxia varied: species such as Sardinella zunasi, Coilia mystus, and Nuchequula nuchalis were sensitive, while Decapterus maruadsi, Siganus fuscescens, and Lagocephalus spadiceus showed higher tolerance. Within the hypoxia area, dissolved oxygen was the main limiting factor for fish community diversity. Functional diversity (FDiv) decreased with higher dissolved oxygen levels, indicating a potential shift in the functional traits and ecological roles of fish species in response to changing oxygen conditions. Further analysis demonstrated that dissolved oxygen had a significantly stronger effect on fish community structure at hypoxic sites than in the whole PRE. Moreover, other environmental variables also had significant effects on the fish community structure and interacted with dissolved oxygen in the hypoxia area. These findings suggest that maintaining sufficient dissolved oxygen levels is essential for sustaining fish communities and ecosystem health in the PRE. This study provides novel insights into the effects of hypoxia on fish communities in estuarine ecosystems and has significant implications for the ecological health and management of the PRE.

Biogeographic and seasonal differences in consumer pressure underlie strong predation in the tropics.

Biotic interactions play a critical role in shaping patterns of global biodiversity. While several macroecological studies provide evidence for stronger predation in tropical regions compared with higher latitudes, results are variable even within the tropics, and the drivers of this variability are not well understood. We conducted two complementary standardized experiments on communities of sessile marine invertebrate prey and their associated predators to test for spatial and seasonal differences in predation across the tropical Atlantic and Pacific coastlines of Panama. We further tested the prediction that higher predator diversity contributes to stronger impacts of predation, using both direct observations of predators and data from extensive reef surveys. Our results revealed substantially higher predation rates and stronger effects of predators on prey in the Pacific than in the Atlantic, demonstrating striking variation within tropical regions. While regional predator diversity was high in the Atlantic, functional diversity at local scales was markedly low. Peak predation strength in the Pacific occurred during the wet, non-upwelling season when ocean temperatures were warmer and predator communities were more functionally diverse. Our results highlight the importance of regional biotic and abiotic drivers that shape interaction strength and the maintenance of tropical communities, which are experiencing rapid environmental change.

Detection of functional diversity gradients and their geoclimatic filters is sensitive to data types (occurrence vs. abundance) and spatial scales (sites vs. regions)

Functional diversity (FD) reflects within- and between-site variation of species traits (α- and β-FD, respectively). Understanding how much data types (occurrence-based vs. abundance-weighted) and spatial scales (sites vs. regions) change FD and ultimately interfere with the detection of underlying geoclimatic filters is still debated. To contribute to this debate, we explored the occurrence of 1690 species in 690 sites, abundances of 1198 species in 343 sites, and seven functional traits of the Atlantic Forest woody flora in South America. All FD indices were sensitive and dependent on the data type at both scales, with occurrence particularly increasing α richness and dispersion (occurrence > abundance in 80% of the sites) while abundance increased β total, β replacement, and α evenness (abundance > occurrence in 60% of the sites). Furthermore, detecting the effect of geoclimatic filters depended on the data type and was scale-dependent. At the site scale, precipitation seasonality and soil depth had weak effects on α- and β-FD (max. R2 = 0.11). However, regional-scale patterns of α richness, dispersion, and evenness strongly mirrored the variation in precipitation seasonality, soil depth, forest stability over the last 120 kyr, and cation exchange capacity (correlations > 0.80), suggesting that geoclimatic filters manifest stronger effects at the regional scale. Also, the role of edaphic gradients expands the idea of biogeographical filters beyond climate. Our findings caution functional biogeographic studies to consider the effect of data type and spatial scale before designing and reaching ecological conclusions about the complex nature of FD.

A dynamic state variable model suggests a stronger effect of age than individual energetic state on reproductive allocation in burying beetles

Evolutionary fitness is determined by how an organism allocates energy, or other limited resources, to reproduction during its lifetime. For iteroparous organisms, two alternative patterns of lifetime reproductive allocation are terminal investment and reproductive restraint. Terminal investment maximizes an individual’s current reproductive output by allocating all available resources to current reproduction at the cost of future reproduction. In contrast, the reproductive restraint strategy allocates the individual’s resources toward future survival and reproductive events. We used dynamic state variable modeling to investigate the conditions under which the burying beetle, Nicrophorus orbicollis, would balance between reproductive restraint and terminal investment over their lifetime. Our model provides a formal extension, specific to burying beetle biology, of the dynamic terminal investment threshold conceptual model. For young females, we show that delayed reproduction and reproductive restraint are the optimal tactic for all individuals except for those in the highest condition. However, as age increases, terminal investment becomes the optimal tactic over an increasingly broader range of individual conditions. Surprisingly, manipulation of a variety of factors, such as survival rate, resource availability, and metabolic costs, causes only minor changes in the general pattern observed. We suggest that in burying beetles, and other similar organisms, age plays a dominant role in determining the pattern of reproductive allocation over a lifetime. Individual energetic condition is important in changing the boundaries between alternative reproductive strategies, but it does not change the overall pattern of dominance of delayed reproduction or reproductive restraint at early ages and dominance of terminal investment with increasing age.

Mechanical properties of geopolymer recycled concrete infilled steel tubes with three sectional types

The steel tubes with geopolymer recycled concrete (GRC) infill are actively seeking environmentally friendly and low-carbon building materials as alternatives in the process of promoting sustainable development, maximizing the use of waste materials and resources, and reducing consumption of natural resources and environmental pollution. In this paper, three types of steel tube specimens with GRC infill were proposed, i.e., the geopolymer recycled concrete-filled steel tube (GRCFST), geopolymer recycled concrete-filled double skin steel tube (GRCFDST), and geopolymer recycled concrete-filled double section steel tubes (GRCFDSST). These GRC-steel tube structures were tested under axial compressive loading, and the influence of some crucial factors on bearing capacity, ductility and strain distribution of specimens was considered, such as the slag content, and the types of steel tube section and the replacement rate of recycled aggregate. The experimental results show that the steel tube can provide effective confinement for geopolymer recycled concrete and thus compensate for the adverse effect induced by recycled aggregate. The slag content has less effect on the bearing capacities of the GRCFDSST specimen compared with the GRCFST and GRCFDST specimens due to the stronger confinement effect of the former. The ductility of GRCFDSST specimens is better than the other steel tube specimens under the same parameter conditions. This study, building on existing literature, provides new insights and design recommendations for the mechanical performance of concrete-filled steel tube structures by using geopolymer recycled concrete as a filling material.

Environmental Regulation, Foreign Direct Investment, and Green Total Factor Productivity: An Empirical Test Based on Chinese City-Level Panel Data

Environmental regulation is a crucial tool for government intervention in the field of green technology innovation. It can boost an enterprise’s competitiveness and encourage green technology innovation, both of which have a major effect on luring foreign investment. This paper first systematically elaborates on the relationship between environmental regulation, foreign direct investment (FDI), and green total factor productivity (GTFP) and then combines panel data from Chinese cities to empirically test these relationships using various methods, such as the mediation effect model, two-stage least squares, and difference-in-differences method. The study found that environmental regulation significantly boosts FDI and GTFP. FDI helps to improve GTFP, and environmental regulation can impact GTFP indirectly through FDI. The way that FDI and environmental regulations affect GTFP demonstrates regional variation. Large cities with high economic growth gain more from environmental regulation. FDI has a stronger promotion effect on GTFP in medium- and small-sized cities than in large-sized cities, and it does not significantly impact GTFP in cities with high levels of economic development or in the eastern region.

Effectiveness of ballistic exercises for increasing upper body explosive power in physical education lessons for university students

Background and Study Aim. Explosive power is an important element of fitness levels, with fast muscle contractions being required in most physical activities. Study implements and verifies the effects of ballistic exercises with medicine balls of various weights on upper body explosive strength for non-sporting university students. Material and Methods. The study involved 184 male and 143 female undergraduate students, all 21 years old. These students had no medical contraindications to participating in the activities required by the physical education program. The development of upper body explosive strength was conducted using ballistic exercises, specifically various types of medicine ball throws, over one academic year. The evaluation comprised six tests: Overhand Ball Throw, Overhead Medicine Ball Throw-forward, Overhead Medicine Ball Throw-backward, Medicine Ball Chest Throw, Shot Put - Track and Field, and 30 s Plyometric Push-Ups. These tests were scheduled at three different times during the academic year: October, December, and May. Results. The results of the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements indicate F values associated with statistically significant thresholds (p &lt; 0.05). In contrast, partial eta squared (η²p) values demonstrate a stronger effect of ballistic exercise application for the male group. Significant improvements in results were observed for both genders from one test to another. The differences were notably larger between the test conducted before the winter holiday (December) and the test at the end of the second semester (May) compared to those between the test at the beginning of the academic year (October) and the one before the winter holiday (December). This pattern indicates a clear improvement in muscle strength in the second semester (January-May). The only test where high percentages of men, and especially women, encountered problems was the 30-second Plyometric Push-Ups. In the final tests, 10% of males and 40% of females scored zero. Conclusions. Ballistic exercises based on various medicine ball throws prove to be an attractive and effective solution to improve upper body muscle strength for non-sporting university students. The application of these exercises can significantly enhance physical education programs by providing clear benefits in terms of strength development. This is particularly evident in environments aimed at general student populations rather than athletes. Furthermore, while the exercises are broadly beneficial, they may require modifications to address the challenges some students face.

Microemulsion-Based Polymer Gels with Ketoprofen and Menthol: Physicochemical Properties and Drug Release Studies.

Ketoprofen is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug frequently incorporated in topical dosage forms which are an interesting alternatives for oral formulations. However, due to the physiological barrier function of skin, topical formulations may require some approaches to improve drug permeation across the skin. In this study, ketoprofen-loaded microemulsion-based gels with the addition of menthol, commonly known for absorption-enhancing activity in dermal products, were investigated. The main objective of this study was to analyze the physicochemical properties of the obtained gels in terms of topical application and to investigate the correlation between the gel composition and its mechanical properties and the drug release process. Microemulsion composition was selected with the use of a pseudoternary plot and the selected systems were tested for electrical conductivity, viscosity, pH, and particle diameter. The polymer gels obtained with Carbopol® EZ-3 were subjected to rheological and textural studies, as well as the drug release experiment. The obtained results indicate that the presence of ketoprofen slightly decreased yield stress values. A stronger effect was exerted by menthol presence, even though it was independent of menthol concentration. A similar tendency was seen for hardness and adhesiveness, as tested in texture profile analysis. Sample cohesiveness and the drug release rate were independent of the gel composition.

Climate and salinity together control above ground carbon accumulation in the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem

Mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating climate change through carbon (C) accumulation. Developing robust methods for the estimation of long-term C accumulation is essential for monitoring and reporting carbon financing projects under different global mechanisms. Moreover, understanding the effects of climate and habitat on C accumulation is important for developing mangrove management plans and conservation options. In this study, long-term above ground C accumulation in the three most dominated mangrove tree species, Heritiera fomes, Excoecaria agallocha and Sonneratia apetala, was estimated using a dendrochronological approach in two contrasting (low vs high) salinity zones in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. In addition, how climate and habitat (e.g., regulators and soil resources) influence C accumulation was analyzed. For the first time, we estimated C accumulation in mangrove species over their entire lifetime using stem disc-derived tree-ring data. The C accumulation patterns exhibited similar patterns of variation, increasing from pith to bark in each case. C accumulation was significantly higher in the low salinity zone (LSZ) than in the high salinity zone (HSZ) (p < 0.05). The cumulative C accumulation increased with tree age in each case, and C accumulation was influenced mainly by seasonal precipitation, especially during monsoon. General additive modeling (GAM) revealed that soil salinity had a stronger effect on C accumulation variability in the studied tree species. Other regulatory variables (i.e., siltation and elevation) and soil resources (i.e., P and K) had species-specific influences on C accumulation. Tree-ring data show the potential to yield better biomass and C estimations, which could aid frequent and rapid reporting of C accumulation in mangroves. Moreover, the results also suggest that climate and regulatory variables, especially soil salinity, together impact the C cycles in the Sundarbans.

Comparative Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils from the Bark and Flower of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils.

This study was designed to compare the antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils from the bark and flower of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. Distillation extraction and steam distillation were used to extract EOs from the bark and flower. The results showed that the contents of EOs of SDE-F and SDE-B were much higher than that of SD-F and SD-B. EOs from the bark were rich in eudesmol (especially α-eudesmol) and exhibited a stronger antioxidant effect than the flower. The anti-tumor effects of SD-B and SD-F on HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells were better than that of SDE-B and SDE-F. The inhibitory rates of SD-B and SD-F on MDA-MB-231 cells were 59.21% and 48.27%, exceeding that of positive control 5-fluorouracil (47.04%) at 50 μg/mL. All four EOs exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory activities through the regulation of nitric oxide production and pro-inflammation cytokines in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and they also remarkably suppressed the mRNA expressions of nitric oxide synthase, IL-6 and TNF-α at the concentration higher than that of positive control dexamethasone. These results indicated significant differences in the composition, and anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities of EOs extracted by different methods and provided a theoretical basis for their development and utilization.

Molecular dynamics simulation of hydrocalumite as adsorbent for anionic radionuclides

Hydrocalumite, is a hydration product of aluminum-rich cements, and is known in cement chemistry as an AFm phase. Structurally, it belongs to the family of layered double hydroxides, or “anionic clays”, where positively charged crystal layers require the presence of negatively charged ions in the interlayer space. Therefore, AFm phases can serve as potential adsorbents for anionic radionuclides (e.g., 35Cl−, 125I−, 129I−, 131I−) from aqueous solutions. Here we use classical molecular dynamic simulations to analyze the structure and properties of AFm phases containing Cl− and I−. The classical ClayFF force field is used to quantitatively study the structure, energetics and mobility of anions and H2O molecules in the interlayers of these phases and at their interfaces with CsCl and CsI aqueous solutions. In this study we report that the basal (001) surfaces of AFm phases can strongly adsorb hydrated Cl− and I− anions due to the donated hydrogen bonds from the interfacial hydroxyls, but primarily due to their strong attraction to the structural Ca cations exposed at the surface. However, our simulations show that the adsorption of I− is weaker than that of Cl−, leading to the higher surface mobility of I− due to its stronger chaotropic effect. The interlayer diffusional mobility of the Cl− and I− anions in the AFm phases is also investigated by using the Eyring-Vineyard approach and is shown to be significantly lower than in larger nanopores. Hence, the most likely transport of such anionic radionuclides takes place through the nano- and micro-pores of hardened cement.

Characterization of low-molecular-weight fucoidan prepared by photocatalysis degradation and its regulation effect on metabolomics of LPS-stimulated macrophages

Fucoidan (ANP) from Ascophyllum nodosum demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory activity. Because lower-molecular-weight polysaccharides usually process even better bioactivities, in the present study, the photocatalytic degradation method with TiO2 and H2O2 was used to prepare low-molecular-weight derivatives (D-ANP-1.5 and D-ANP-3.5) with molecular weight of 5.0 kDa and 2.3 kDa, respectively. The characteristics of D-ANP-1.5 and D-ANP-3.5 were identified by chemical composition analysis, high-performance gel permeation chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography photo-diode array mass, and Fourier transform-infrared spectrum, and compared with that of original fucoidan. The sulfate group retention rates of D-ANP-1.5 and D-ANP-3.5 were over 90.0% and the fucose and total sugar contents increased. However, the uronic acid and protein contents were decreased and the functional groups were not changed during degradation. Subsequently, 7 oligosaccharides in D-ANP-3.5 were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization detector mass and 6 of them were sulfated. Moreover, D-ANP-3.5 (2.3 kDa) supplement showed stronger inhibition effect of nitric oxide production than D-ANP-1.5 and undegraded ANP in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, metabolic profiles results indicated that arginine biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, the TCA cycle, purine metabolism, and glutathione metabolism, along with influencing metabolic biomarkers such as betaine, arginine, NAD+, ATP, and pyroglutamic acid, were involved in the effects of D-ANP-3.5. The superior regulation effect on metabolomics in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells of D-ANP-3.5 could be attributed to its relatively low molecular weight and high fucose content. The present study advance understanding of the mechanism for the anti-inflammation of D-ANP-3.5.

Green spaces and respiratory, cardiometabolic, and neurodevelopmental outcomes: An individual-participant data meta-analysis of >35.000 European children

Studies evaluating the benefits and risks of green spaces on children’s health are scarce. The present study aimed to examine the associations between exposure to green spaces during pregnancy and early childhood with respiratory, cardiometabolic, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age children. We performed an Individual-Participant Data (IPD) meta-analysis involving 35,000 children from ten European birth cohorts across eight countries. For each participant, we calculated residential Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within a 300 m buffer and the linear distance to green spaces (meters) during prenatal life and childhood. Multiple harmonized health outcomes were selected: asthma and wheezing, lung function, body mass index, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, non-verbal intelligence, internalizing and externalizing problems, and ADHD symptoms. We conducted a two-stage IPD meta-analysis and evaluated effect modification by socioeconomic status (SES) and sex. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed via random-effects meta-regression. Residential surrounding green spaces in childhood, not pregnancy, was associated with improved lung function, particularly higher FEV1 (β = 0.06; 95 %CI: 0.03, 0.09 I2 = 4.03 %, p < 0.001) and FVC (β = 0.07; 95 %CI: 0.04, 0.09 I2 = 0 %, p < 0.001) with a stronger association observed in females (p < 0.001). This association remained robust after multiple testing correction and did not change notably after adjusting for ambient air pollution. Increased distance to green spaces showed an association with lower FVC (β = −0.04; 95 %CI: −0.07, −0.02, I2 = 4.8, p = 0.001), with a stronger effect in children from higher SES backgrounds (p < 0.001). No consistent associations were found between green spaces and asthma, wheezing, cardiometabolic, or neurodevelopmental outcomes, with direction of effect varying across cohorts. Wheezing and neurodevelopmental outcomes showed high between-study heterogeneity, and the age at outcome assessment was only associated with heterogeneity in internalizing problems.. This large European meta-analysis suggests that childhood exposure to green spaces may lead to better lung function. Associations with other respiratory outcomes and selected cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes remain inconclusive.

Volatility and returns connectedness between cryptocurrency and China’s financial markets: A TVP-VAR extended joint connectedness approach

We employ a time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) joint connectedness approach to study the dynamic risk spillover effects between cryptocurrencies and China’s financial market, further exploring the impact of cryptocurrencies on China’s financial market. Our results show that there is asymmetric risk transmission between cryptocurrencies and China’s financial market, and the risk spillover effect is very weak. Specifically, the spillover of cryptocurrencies to China’s financial market is significantly stronger than the spillover of China’s financial market to cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies have a stronger spillover effect to China’s exchange rate and gold. The net spillover effect of cryptocurrencies is weakening over time. Overall, the return spillover impact of cryptocurrencies on China’s financial market is greater than the volatility spillover impact, and the degree of impact of different cryptocurrencies is heterogeneous. The findings of this study have several implications for policymakers and investors.

Original or discounted amount? The mechanism of impact of group-buying bill amount display and peer presence on consumer repurchase intention in restaurants

Group-buying coupons have increasingly become a crucial marketing measure for restaurants to attract and maintain consumer flow. Compared to redemption in-store, stimulating consumer repurchase intention is more important for long-term restaurant development. Accordingly, this study, grounded in social influence theory, explores the mechanisms by which restaurant group-buying bill amount display and peer presence affect consumer repurchase intention through two scenario experiments. The findings are as follows: (1) When peers are present, displaying the original amount on the bill enhances consumer repurchase intention more effectively; when peers are absent, displaying the discounted amount has a stronger effect. Meanwhile, intimacy level strengthens the effect of peer presence, thereby further enhancing repurchase intention. (2) Self-esteem plays a mediating role in the aforementioned relationships. (3) Consumer self-construal moderates these relationships. These results not only enrich the theoretical understanding of restaurant group-buying but also offer practical insights for enhancing post-group-buying marketing effectiveness.