Search Results (41,737)

Education is a well-established determinant of health and well-being, yet its benefits may not be equally distributed across populations. This study examines whether educational attainment predicts psychological well-being, financial difficulty, and social support among deaf adults and whether these associations differ from those observed among hearing adults. Using nationally representative data from the U.S. Household Pulse Survey, we analyzed a weighted sample of adults aged 25–54 (N = 36,810), employing multivariate linear regression models that included education, hearing status, their interaction, and demographic covariates. Higher education was generally associated with more favorable outcomes among deaf adults, particularly in psychological well-being and social and emotional support, though effects were modest and less consistent for financial difficulty. Hearing adults reported significantly better outcomes across all domains, and interaction effects indicated that the benefits of education were significantly larger for hearing adults than for deaf adults. These findings suggest that while education remains beneficial for deaf people, its protective effects are limited, likely due to persistent structural and communication barriers. Given the importance of education, improving access alone will not eliminate disparities in well-being without concurrent efforts to address structural and social inequities. Full article

The growing pressure exerted by global food demand, combined with the excessive use of chemical and synthetic inputs, is prompting the agricultural sector to seek innovative and sustainable solutions to improve, or at least maintain, crop yields in a context of increased abiotic stress linked to climate change. Among the promising approaches, biostimulants are attracting growing interest, particularly those derived from natural sources such as seaweed extracts, humic acids, and beneficial microorganisms. These products work through various mechanisms, including osmotic regulation, activation of antioxidant systems, stimulation of root growth, and improvement of nutrient absorption. Many recent research and review articles have explored the optimal combinations of raw materials, formulation processes, target crops, and environmental conditions to maximize beneficial effects on plant growth, soil health, and tolerance to abiotic stresses. As a result, a growing range of commercial products is emerging, with diverse chemical compositions, formulations, and modes of application. However, the precise relationships between the biochemical composition of biostimulants and their physiological effects remain poorly understood, suggesting a key role for molecular synergies. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in biostimulant research and their potential to enhance food security by improving crop resilience in the context of climate change. Full article

The quality of edible oils is determined not only by the raw material, but also by the applied processing technology. Rapeseed oil is widely valued for its favorable fatty acid profile, however, the effects of combined pressing conditions and low-temperature bleaching on its lipid profile and calculated nutritional quality indices remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oil production method and bleaching earth addition on the fatty acid profile, nutritional quality indices, and oxidizability-related indices of rapeseed oil from an applied food processing perspective. Rapeseed oil samples were obtained from a commercial producer using cold pressing, hot pressing, and mixed two-stage pressing. The oils were subjected to low-temperature bleaching with 1–5% bleaching earth. The fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatography, and selected fatty acid-based indices were calculated and grouped into three categories: fatty acid class ratios, nutritional quality indices, and oxidizability-related indices. These included ratios describing the balance between omega-6 s omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Σ PUFA n-6/n-3), unsaturated and saturated fatty acids (Σ UFA/Σ SFA), and polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids (Σ PUFA/Σ SFA). Health-oriented indices such as the Desirable Fatty Acids/Undesirable Fatty Acids ratio (Σ DFA/Σ OFA), hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (h/H), Nutritive Value Index (NVI), Atherogenic Index (AI), and Thrombogenic Index (TI), and oxidizability-related indices including the Unsaturation Index (UI), Peroxidizability Index (PI), Oxidizability Index (OI), calculated Oxidizability Value (Cox), and Oxidative Stability Index (OS). The results showed that the production method significantly influenced saturated fatty acid content and selected fatty acid-based nutritional quality indices. Cold-pressed oil was characterized by the lowest saturated fatty acid content and the most beneficial values of selected nutritional quality indices. Hot-pressed oil showed higher saturated fatty acid content and less favorable values for selected indices, whereas mixed oil generally showed values between those of cold-pressed and hot-pressed oils. However, differences in the main unsaturated fatty acid fractions were limited and, for most monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid parameters, were not statistically significant. Across all processing variants, the nutritional quality indices remained advantageous, with omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio values of 2.1–2.4, atherogenic index values of approximately 0.04–0.05, and thrombogenic index values of approximately 0.08–0.09. Although significant interactions between production method and bleaching earth addition were observed for selected oxidizability-related indices, the magnitude of bleaching-induced changes was limited. Overall, the findings indicate that low-temperature bleaching may be applied as a mild processing step without substantially compromising the fatty acid-based quality characteristics of rapeseed oil. The study provides practical insight into the relationship between pressing technology, bleaching conditions, and lipid quality assessment in industrial rapeseed oil production. Full article

Chloride (Cl⁻) is an essential micronutrient for plants that supports multiple physiological functions throughout plant growth and development. Its effects are strongly concentration-dependent: low Cl⁻ availability promotes beneficial physiological processes, whereas excessive accumulation can induce cytotoxicity. In plants, the movement of Cl⁻ across plasma and organellar membranes is primarily mediated by three principal channel and transporter families: chloride channels (CLC), aluminum-activated malate transporters (ALMT), and slow anion channel-associated homologs (SLAC/SLAH). These families differ in gating mechanisms, ion selectivity, transport properties, and subcellular localization. This review synthesizes current knowledge of plant chloride transport proteins, with emphasis on their phylogenetic distribution, structural organization, and functional diversification. We summarize their core physiological roles in stomatal regulation, water-use efficiency, nutrient uptake, ion homeostasis, growth modulation, and abiotic stress tolerance. We also discuss how their activities are regulated by post-translational modifications, notably phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, as well as by ion concentrations, pH shifts, and phytohormone signaling. Unlike earlier reviews that primarily focused on individual transporter families or specific stress responses, this work provides an integrated framework linking structure–function relationships with regulatory networks. It also evaluates recent advances in high-resolution structural biology, electrophysiological approaches, and in vivo imaging techniques. Furthermore, we delineate current technical bottlenecks and unresolved questions, such as the molecular determinants of substrate specificity and potential cross-talk among transporter families, and propose future directions for crop improvement. By integrating structural, physiological, and regulatory perspectives, this review aims to serve as a valuable reference and stimulate interdisciplinary research on plant chloride biology. Full article

Background: The present study aimed to develop and characterize three honey- and essential oil-based structured systems intended for topical skin application. Materials and Methods: The semisolid systems were prepared as oil-in-water structured emulsions containing four types of honey (Manuka, Tualang, chestnut, and manna), three essential oils (palmarosa, cistus, and lavender), and five vegetable oils (pomegranate seed, aloe, centella, hemp seed, and calendula). Each formulation consisted of two honey types, one essential oil, and two vegetable oils, with final concentrations of 5% honey and 0.1–0.2% essential oil. The formulations were investigated through physicochemical, rheological, and in vivo skin evaluations. Results: Rheological analysis demonstrated non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior with shear-thinning and thixotropic characteristics, indicating that the systems are structured, semisolid, and suitable for topical application. Differences in spreadability and consistency suggested variations in the internal organization of the emulsion matrices. In vivo skin assessments were performed over four weeks using non-invasive instrumental methods. The obtained results demonstrated improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, firmness, and skin barrier function, together with reductions in transepidermal water loss and erythema. The evaluation of skin textural parameters revealed improvements in skin uniformity and a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. Among the tested structured systems, F3 formulation exhibited the most pronounced moisturizing effect, while F1 formulation showed notable improvements in parameters associated with skin texture and wrinkle-related features. Conclusions: Overall, the results indicate that honey-based topical systems enriched with essential and vegetable oils represent promising multifunctional semisolid formulations for topical skin-conditioning and barrier-supportive applications. Their favorable rheological behavior, combined with beneficial effects on skin hydration, barrier function, and skin surface properties, supports their potential use in skin-conditioning and anti-aging-related formulations. Full article

Chronic low-grade aging-associated inflammation, or inflammaging, is a central pillar of age-related decline in quality of life. Inflammaging is partially mediated by impaired intestinal, immune, and microbiome function, and it has been hypothesized that probiotics could be used to promote healthy aging. SBD121, a defined synbiotic containing food-derived microbial strains and prebiotic fibers, has previously been shown to improve grip strength in male rats, an important indicator of healthspan, and is under evaluation in a clinical trial of 143 newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients (NCT06005220). However, the mechanisms underlying its potential benefits have not been determined. Here, we examined the function of SBD121 in microbial, cellular, and animal models relevant to inflammaging. SBD121 inhibited the growth of potential microbial pathogens, produced immunomodulatory metabolites in vitro, and improved human intestinal cell barrier function under both basal and challenge conditions, while reducing inflammatory chemokine secretion following inflammatory challenge. SBD121 also reduced the secretion of multiple chemokines in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human intestinal and immune cells. Finally, SBD121 improved survival and locomotor activity in a C. elegans longevity model, providing evidence of benefits to lifespan and healthspan. Together, these data demonstrate that SBD121 exhibits beneficial microbial, epithelial, immune, and longevity effects and support continued investigation of SBD121 as a candidate intervention for healthy aging. Full article

Polyphenols often oscillate between antioxidant and pro-oxidant behaviours depending on structural motifs and context, yet the field still relies heavily on test-tube antioxidant assays that poorly predict cellular and clinical outcomes. This review (2015-2025) integrates chemistry, enzymology, and human data to frame polyphenols as modulators of redox signalling rather than mere radical scavengers. We first formalize the catechol/o-quinone-hydroquinone/p-quinone cycle and the role of NQO1 and Keap1/NRF2 thresholds. We then examine bioavailability, conjugation, and microbiota-derived metabolites (metabotypes), highlighting when the “active” species is a conjugate or a microbial derivative. We discuss safety through quinone speciation and adduct chemistry, and connect food processing (e.g., PPO-driven browning) with shifts in quinone pools. Contextual “levers” (pH, O₂, Fe/Cu, oxidases) can flip antioxidant to pro-oxidant outputs, sometimes beneficial via hormesis and redox preconditioning. In humans, randomised trials and prospective cohorts point in a broadly consistent direction, although primary composite endpoints have often proved null, and observational associations should not be read as equivalent to trial evidence. Heterogeneous results across studies are largely explained by dose, adherence, metabotypes, matrix, and endpoint selection. We propose a practical dose-response framework and a reporting checklist to improve interpretation and translation. Recasting polyphenols as tuneable redox-signalling agents clarifies apparent contradictions across models and suggests precision-nutrition strategies (metabotype-aware) and food design approaches (PPO and quinone speciation) with potential in healthy ageing, muscle, and brain. Full article

Background: Mung bean soup (MBS), as a common form of mung bean consumption, is widely consumed in folk to relieve summer heat. However, MBS is prone to red discoloration during cooking and storage. Furthermore, how this color change affects its phenolic compounds composition and bioactivity remains poorly understood. Objectives: Herein, this study systematically compared the phenolic profiles and heat stress (HS)-alleviating effects of normal mung bean soup (NMBS) and reddened mung bean soup (RMBS). Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice (six-week-old) were randomly assigned to four groups: control (no HS), HS, HS-NMBS, and HS-RMBS. HS was induced at 40 °C for 2 h/day for 7 days, with NMBS or RMBS provided ad libitum throughout the experiment. Phenolic analysis, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and gut microbiota were evaluated. Results: The results showed that reddening significantly reduced the total phenolic and flavonoid contents by 18.28% and 16.77%, respectively, accompanied by the loss of key bioactive compounds (vitexin and isovitexin). NMBS and RMBS could effectively alleviate HS-induced physiological damages in mice to varying degrees, including reduced weight loss, improved hepatic and intestinal histopathology, and lower levels of oxidative stress and inflammation (p < 0.05). However, NMBS provided superior overall protection by downregulating the expression of HS-associated genes (PPAR-γ) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β), while upregulating the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Furthermore, supplementation with NMBS or RMBS restored the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by HS. Especially, NMBS was more effective in restoring microbial diversity, modulating the F/B ratio, and enriching beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Dubosiella, and norank_f_Muribaculaceae. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of avoiding the occurrence of redness in MBS to maximize its efficacy. Full article

Background/Objectives: To evaluate whether global myocardial glucose metabolism and its regional heterogeneity, quantified using dynamic ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET), are associated with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Methods: The analytic cohort included 120 patients with suspected ischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent thallium-201 perfusion single photon emission tomography and dynamic FDG PET. Global myocardial metabolic rate of glucose (MRGlu) and coefficient of variation in FDG uptake were calculated from scar-excluded myocardium. Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were assessed over a median follow-up of 2.5 years. Public myocardial gene-expression datasets (GSE116250 and GSE135055) were analyzed to explore glucose metabolism-related transcriptional patterns relevant to the imaging findings. Results: Fifty-one patients (42.5%) experienced MACEs. Lower global MRGlu was independently associated with improved MACE-free survival (hazard ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.27–0.87). Among patients with low global MRGlu, a high coefficient of variation predicted favorable outcomes (hazard ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.18–0.68), indicating beneficial metabolic heterogeneity. Analysis of external gene-expression data demonstrated consistent downregulation of glucose-handling genes in end-stage heart failure across ischemic and dilated etiologies. A higher expression of SLC2A1, HK1, IRS1, and PKM was associated with faster progression to transplantation. Conclusions: In ischemic cardiomyopathy, dynamic FDG PET-derived quantification of myocardial glucose metabolism provides prognostic information beyond traditional viability assessment. Low global metabolism combined with preserved metabolic heterogeneity helps identify patients with favorable clinical outcomes. Full article

This study examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance (FP), measured by return on equity (ROE), and evaluates the moderating role of intellectual capital components, human capital efficiency (HCE), structural capital efficiency (SCE), and capital employed efficiency (CEE), in Philippine-listed firms. A longitudinal panel design was employed using 138 firm-year observations from Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) companies from 2019 to 2024. CSR was measured through an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure index based on sustainability and governance reports. Intellectual capital (IC) was operationalized using the value-added intellectual capital (VAIC) framework. Hierarchical moderated panel regression was conducted, with robustness checks using fixed- and random-effects models, Hausman tests, and cluster-robust standard errors. CSR shows a negative but non-robust association with ROE, indicating short-term cost implications in an emerging market context. Among IC components, although CEE exhibited the largest interaction effect in the pooled regression models, its moderating effect was not supported by the panel robustness analyses. HCE shows a positive but less stable effect, while SCE is not significant. Moderation results are limited; HCE weakens the negative CSR–ROE relationship in baseline models but loses significance under robust estimation. CEE shows inconsistent moderation, and SCE has no moderating effect. Disaggregated analysis indicates that environmental and social disclosure dimensions drive the negative association between ESG disclosure and ROE., whereas governance is neutral to slightly positive. Firms should align CSR with resource capabilities, emphasizing capital efficiency and human capital to mitigate costs. Policymakers should support firms beyond disclosure mandates. This study provides longitudinal evidence from an emerging market, showing that CSR value is conditional on resource efficiency rather than inherently beneficial. Full article

Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic acid mainly present in wheat bran. It has beneficial health effects, but may affect gluten network formation and the processing quality of wheat-based products. This study investigated the interaction mechanisms between FA and glutenin/gliadin in dough and simulated dough systems. The results show that FA’s effects on both proteins were dose and system dependent. In dough, low-dose FA (≤0.3 g) promoted structural loosening of glutenin, as suggested by β-sheet conversion to β-turns/random coil structures, increased t-g-t disulfide and free thiols, and reduced particle size, whereas high doses promoted reaggregation via microenvironment reshaping, hydrophobic enhancement, cross-linking, and subunit rearrangement. For gliadin, low-dose FA may have altered local charge and hydrogen-bonding environments, while high-dose FA increased the hydrogen-bonding proportion by 45.71% and g-g-g conformation by 60.85%, suggesting enhanced molecular aggregation. In simulated dough, FA promoted stronger structural loosening of glutenin but favored gliadin aggregation, indicating that starch, lipids, water distribution, and other dough components may redirect FA–protein interactions. Molecular docking, as a complementary approach, predicted the preferential binding of FA to gliadin, LMW-GS and HMW-GS at different sites. These findings provide a theoretical basis for regulating phenolic acid–gluten interactions in whole-wheat and functional wheat-based products. Full article

Brain plasticity is often described as the capacity of the nervous system to change in response to development, experience, injury, disease, or treatment. That definition is useful, but it can obscure two clinically important points: plasticity is biologically constrained, and change is not always beneficial. This narrative review examines sex-dependent brain plasticity as a context-sensitive process rather than as a simple male–female contrast. We distinguish four operational outcomes of plasticity: (i) reparative plasticity, which restores structure or function; (ii) compensatory plasticity, which preserves performance through alternative or more costly strategies; (iii) insufficient plasticity, in which reorganization is too weak or unstable to sustain function; and (iv) maladaptive plasticity, in which plastic change reinforces dysfunction, pain, excitability, rigidity, or decline. We also define adaptive reserve as the integrated capacity of neural, glial, vascular, immune, metabolic, endocrine, and gene-regulatory systems to support useful reorganization under stress. The review evaluates endocrine, synaptic, neuroimmune, mitochondrial, vascular, stress-related, and epigenetic mechanisms, indicating where evidence for sex-dependent effects is relatively strong and where it remains indirect, inconsistent, or context-dependent. Disease examples include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, intellectual disability, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, traumatic and ischemic injury, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, aging, and systemic metabolic or inflammatory disorders. Throughout, biological sex is separated from gender-related social, diagnostic, and health-care determinants. We conclude that therapeutic strategies should not aim simply to enhance plasticity, but to guide it by matching intervention, timing, dose, biological readiness, and monitoring to the patient’s adaptive state. Full article

Background/Objectives: Absent or hypoplastic nasal bone is strongly associated with Trisomy 21 and other common aneuploidies. Nevertheless, there is a growing body of literature that has associated absence or hypoplasia of the nasal bone with underlying genetic aberrations, other than Trisomy 21. While karyotyping effectively identifies substantial structural mutations, it is limited by its inability to detect submicroscopic copy number variants, thereby constraining the identification of pathological submicroscopic DNA gains or losses. The main objective of our study was to conduct a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis to evaluate the incremental yield of chromosomal microarray analysis compared to karyotyping in cases of isolated absence/hypoplasia of the fetal nasal bone. Methods: Our review was designed according to the PRISMA guidelines. It included all observational studies that reported the results of CMA testing in fetuses diagnosed with absent or hypoplastic nasal bone without additional structural abnormalities or findings that would not qualify as structural abnormalities (soft signs) (isolated absent/hypoplastic nasal bone). Results: The study included 15 studies with a total of 1328 cases of affected fetuses that met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Combined data from these studies revealed an overall 3% incremental yield of CMA over karyotyping (95% CI 1–4%, I² = 62%) in isolated cases. Conclusions: Our findings may be beneficial in clinical practice to provide management strategies and counsel couples, personalizing, as such, patient care and assisting clinicians when encountering this prevalent clinical entity. Full article

The increasing demand for food has driven intensive agricultural practices, which negatively impact soil health and ecosystem stability; therefore, it is necessary to adopt sustainable alternatives that enhance crop productivity while minimizing environmental damage. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial and fungal microbiota present in bioinputs derived from mountain soil microorganisms used in maize cultivation, as well as the microbial communities in agricultural soils at the end of the cultivation stage across different plots in the Frailesca region, Chiapas, Mexico. Bacterial communities showed differences among bioinputs depending on their origin, while soil samples showed relatively similar bacterial distribution patterns across plots. Conversely, fungal communities displayed heterogeneous distribution patterns in both bioinputs and soils. Several microbial groups related to beneficial functions for plants and soil, such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and the production of phytohormones and siderophores were identified; those belonging to the genera Acetobacter, Klebsiella, Meyerozyma, Saccharomyces, and Paecilomyces were found in bioinputs, while those belonging to the genera Bradyrhizobium, Sphingomonas, Penicillium, Talaromyces, Humicola, and Metarhizium were identified in soil samples. The results demonstrate that bioinputs contain microbial communities with potential plant growth-promoting functions and can serve as strategies for improving soil health through sustainable agricultural production. Full article

Background/Objectives: The non-neuronal cardiac cholinergic system (NNCCS) is known to synthesize ACh independently of the parasympathetic nervous system, thereby regulating cardiac homeostasis, which includes sustainability of energy metabolism, anti-inflammatory and anti-ischemic properties, electrical stability, and mitochondrial calcium handling. Given these beneficial functions of NNCCS, we were prompted to search for an inducer. One such inducer is SNPiP, a novel low-molecular-weight chemical compound developed by us. SNPiP accelerates ACh synthesis in the heart via cGMP elevation and, intriguingly, enhances diastolic function, increasing cardiac output and end-systolic pressure without elevating heart rate. However, the pharmacokinetics of SNPiP remain unknown, which led us to conduct the present study. Methods and Results: We found that the half-life of SNPiP in the blood was extremely short, similar to that of a nitric oxide (NO) donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine. This short half-life is caused by the rapid distribution of SNPiP into organs, including the heart, kidney, and liver. In addition, once transferred into blood cells, SNPiP itself became stable and remained intact for up to 1 h. Moreover, the short half-life was partly explained by the rapid degradation of SNPiP and concomitant loss of the nitroso group in the blood. Notably, when rats were treated with SNPiP, NO levels in the heart elevated bimodally: immediately after administration and again about 12 h later, coinciding with the previous report of NNCCS upregulation and accelerated ACh synthesis with NO production. Importantly, our previous transcriptome analysis of SNPiP-treated hearts supports these findings, as it revealed upregulation of diastolic function-related genes and proteins. Conclusions: Collectively, these results clarify the pharmacokinetics of SNPiP and demonstrate that, despite a shorter half-life, SNPiP is efficiently distributed to the heart, where it confers beneficial effects through induction of NNCCS. Full article