Molecular mechanisms and physiological functions of mitophagy.

Degradation of mitochondria via a selective form of autophagy, named mitophagy, is a fundamental mechanism conserved from yeast to humans that regulates mitochondrial quality and quantity control. Mitophagy is promoted via specific mitochondrial outer membrane receptors, or ubiquitin molecules conjugated to proteins on the mitochondrial surface leading to the formation of autophagosomes surrounding mitochondria. Mitophagy-mediated elimination of mitochondria plays an important role in many processes including early embryonic development, cell differentiation, inflammation, and apoptosis. Recent advances in analyzing mitophagy in vivo also reveal high rates of steady-state mitochondrial turnover in diverse cell types, highlighting the intracellular housekeeping role of mitophagy. Defects in mitophagy are associated with various pathological conditions such as neurodegeneration, heart failure, cancer, and aging, further underscoring the biological relevance. Here, we review our current molecular understanding of mitophagy, and its physiological implications, and discuss how multiple mitophagy pathways coordinately modulate mitochondrial fitness and populations.

Abundance of the Membrane Proteome in Yeast Cells Lacking Spc1, a Non-catalytic Subunit of the Signal Peptidase Complex.

The signal peptidase complex (SPC) mediates processing of signal peptides of secretory precursors. But, recent studies show that the eukaryotic SPC also cleaves internal transmembrane segments of some membrane proteins, and its non-catalytic subunit, Spc1/SPCS1 plays a critical role in this process. To assess the impact of Spc1 on membrane proteostasis, we carried out quantitative proteomics of yeast cells with and without Spc1. Our data show that the abundance of the membrane proteome in yeast cells lacking Spc1 is in general reduced compared to that in wild-type cells, implicating its role in controlling the cellular levels of membrane proteins.

Far-red light enrichment affects gene expression and architecture as well as growth and photosynthesis in rice.

Plants use light as a resource and signal. Photons within the 400-700 nm waveband are considered photosynthetically active. Far-red photons (FR, 700-800 nm) are used by plants to detect nearby vegetation and elicit the shade avoidance syndrome. In addition, FR photons have also been shown to contribute to photosynthesis, but knowledge about these dual effects remains scarce. Here, we study shoot-architectural and photosynthetic responses to supplemental FR light during the photoperiod in several rice varieties. We observed that FR enrichment only mildly affected the rice transcriptome and shoot architecture as compared to established model species, whereas leaf formation, tillering and biomass accumulation were clearly promoted. Consistent with this growth promotion, we found that CO2-fixation in supplemental FR was strongly enhanced, especially in plants acclimated to FR-enriched conditions as compared to control conditions. This growth promotion dominates the effects of FR photons on shoot development and architecture. When substituting FR enrichment with an end-of-day FR pulse, this prevented photosynthesis-promoting effects and elicited shade avoidance responses. We conclude that FR photons can have a dual role, where effects depend on the environmental context: in addition to being an environmental signal, they are also a potent source of harvestable energy.

Evaluating testicular tissue for future autotransplantation: focus on cancer cell contamination and presence of spermatogonia in tissue cryobanked for boys diagnosed with a hematological malignancy.

STUDY QUESTION: What is the contamination rate by cancer cells and spermatogonia numbers in immature testicular tissue (ITT) harvested before the start of gonadotoxic therapy in boys with a hematological malignancy? SUMMARY ANSWER: Among our cohort of boys diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphomas, 39% (n = 11/28) had cancer cells identified in their tissues at the time of diagnosis and all patients appeared to have reduced spermatogonia numbers compared to healthy reference cohorts. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Young boys affected by a hematological cancer are at risk of contamination of their testes by cancer cells but histological examination is unable to detect the presence of only a few cancer cells, which would preclude autotransplantation of cryobanked ITT for fertility restoration, and more sensitive detection techniques are thus required. Reduced numbers of spermatogonia in ITT in hematological cancer patients have been suggested based on results in a limited number of patients. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This retrospective cohort study included 54 pre- and peri-pubertal boys who were diagnosed with a hematological malignancy and who underwent a testicular biopsy for fertility preservation at the time of diagnosis before any gonadotoxic therapy between 2005 and 2021. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Among the 54 patients eligible in our database, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) testicular tissue was available for 28 boys diagnosed either with ALL (n = 14) or lymphoma (n = 14) and was used to evaluate malignant cell contamination. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed for each patient to search for cancer cells in the tissue. Markers specific to each patient's disease were identified at the time of diagnosis on the biopsy of the primary tumor or bone marrow aspiration and an immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on the FFPE ITT for each patient to evidence his disease markers. PCR analyses on the FFPE tissue were also conducted when a specific gene rearrangement was available. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The mean age at diagnosis and ITT biopsy of the 28 boys was 7.5 years (age range: 19 months-16 years old). Examination of ITT of the 28 boys on H&E stained sections did not detect malignant cells. Using IHC, we found contamination by cancerous cells using markers specific to the patient's disease in 10 of 28 boys, with a higher rate in patients diagnosed with ALL (57%, n = 8/14) compared with lymphoma (14%, n = 2/14) (P-value < 0.05). PCR showed contamination in three of 15 patients who had specific rearrangements identified on their bone marrow at the time of diagnosis; one of these patients had negative results from the IHC. Compared to age-related reference values of the number of spermatogonia per ST (seminiferous tubule) (Spg/ST) throughout prepuberty of healthy patients from a simulated control cohort, mean spermatogonial numbers appeared to be decreased in all age groups (0-4 years: 1.49 ± 0.54, 4-7 years: 1.08 ± 0.43, 7-11 years: 1.56 ± 0.65, 11-14 years: 3.37, 14-16 years: 5.44 ± 3.14). However, using a cohort independent method based on the Z-score, a decrease in spermatogonia numbers was not confirmed. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The results obtained from the biopsy fragments that were evaluated for contamination by cancer cells may not be representative of the entire cryostored ITT and tumor foci may still be present outside of the biopsy range. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: ITT from boys diagnosed with a hematological malignancy could bear the risk for cancer cell reseeding in case of autotransplantation of the tissue. Such a high level of cancer cell contamination opens the debate of harvesting the tissue after one or two rounds of chemotherapy. However, as the safety of germ cells can be compromised by gonadotoxic treatments, this strategy warrants for the development of adapted fertility restoration protocols. Finally, the impact of the hematological cancer on spermatogonia numbers should be further explored. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): The project was funded by a grant from the FNRS-Télévie (grant n°. 7.4533.20) and Fondation Contre le Cancer/Foundation Against Cancer (2020-121) for the research project on fertility restoration with testicular tissue from hemato-oncological boys. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Development of a double antibody sandwich ELISA method for the quantitative detection of serum C-reactive protein based on nanobody.

In this study, we successfully developed a nanobody-based double antibody sandwich ELISA kit for the detection of clinical serum C-reactive protein (CRP) by using two novel CRP specific nanobodies. The developed method exhibited a linear detection range of approximately 6-200 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 1 ng/mL. Furthermore, the method demonstrated excellent specificity, as there was no cross-reactivity with interfering substances such as total bilirubin and hemoglobin and so on. To assess reproducibility, independent measurements of the samples were conducted under experimental conditions, resulting in intra- and inter-batch coefficients of variation below 10% and a recovery rate of 93%-102%. These results indicate robust reproducibility of the method. To evaluate the performance of the developed kit, we collected 90 clinical samples for correlation analysis with commercial kits. The results showed a high correlation coefficient value (R2) of 0.98, indicating accurate concordance between the developed and commercial kits. In conclusion, our study successfully developed a nanobody-based double antibody sandwich ELISA kit to detect clinical serum CRP. The utilization of nanobodies represents a significant advancement in the field of CRP immunoassay development. The developed kit demonstrates excellent performance characteristics and holds promise for clinical applications.

Zinc Supplementation Initiated Prior to or During Pregnancy Modestly Impacted Maternal Status and High Prevalence of Hypozincemia in Pregnancy and Lactation: The Women First Preconception Maternal Nutrition Trial.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding effects of small-quantity-lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) on maternal serum zinc concentrations (SZC) in pregnancy and lactation are limited. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of preconception compared with prenatal zinc supplementation (compared with control) on maternal SZC and hypozincemia during pregnancy and early lactation in women in low-resource settings, and assess associations with birth anthropometry. METHODS: From ∼100 women/arm at each of 3 sites (Guatemala, India, and Pakistan) of the Women First Preconception Maternal Nutrition trial, we compared SZC at 12- and 34-wk gestation (n = 651 and 838, respectively) and 3-mo postpartum (n = 742) in women randomly assigned to daily SQ-LNS containing 15 mg zinc from ≥3 mo before conception (preconception, arm 1), from ∼12 wk gestation through delivery (early pregnancy, arm 2) or not at all (control, arm 3). Birth anthropometry was examined for newborns with ultrasound-determined gestational age. Statistical analyses were performed separately for each time point. RESULTS: At 12-wk gestation and 3-mo postpartum, no statistical differences in mean SZC were observed among arms. At 34-wk, mean SZC for arms 1 and 2 were significantly higher than for arm 3 (50.3, 50.8, 47.8 µg/dL, respectively; P = 0.005). Results were not impacted by correction for inflammation or albumin concentrations. Prevalence of hypozincemia at 12-wk (<56 µg/dL) was 23% in Guatemala, 26% in India, and 65% in Pakistan; at 34 wk (<50 µg/dL), 36% in Guatemala, 48% in India, and 74% in Pakistan; and at 3-mo postpartum (<66 µg/dL) 79% in Guatemala, 91% in India, and 92% in Pakistan. Maternal hypozincemia at 34-wk was associated with lower birth length-for-age Z-scores (all sites P = 0.013, Pakistan P = 0.008) and weight-for-age Z-scores (all sites P = 0.017, Pakistan P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Despite daily zinc supplementation for ≥7 mo, high rates of maternal hypozincemia were observed. The association of hypozincemia with impaired fetal growth suggests widespread zinc deficiency in these settings. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01883193.

The Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of an Integrated Wasting Prevention and Screening Intervention Package in Burkina Faso and Mali.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about costs and cost effectiveness of interventions that integrate wasting prevention into screening for child wasting. OBJECTIVES: This study's objective was to estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of an intervention that integrated behavior change communication (BCC) and small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) into platforms for wasting screening in Burkina Faso (a facility-based platform, where BCC was enhanced compared with standard care) and Mali (a community-based platform, with standard BCC). METHODS: Activity-based costing was used to estimate the cost per child-contact for the intervention and the comparison group, which did not receive the intervention. Costs were ascertained from accounting records, interviews, surveys, and observations. The number of child-contacts was calculated using population size estimates and average attendance rates for each service. Costs per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted were estimated using a Markov model populated with data from the parent trials on impact of wasting incidence and treatment coverage. RESULTS: In the intervention group in Burkina Faso, the cost per child-contact of facility-based screening was $0.85 of enhanced BCC was $4.28, and of SQ-LNS was $8.86. In Mali, the cost per child-contact of community-based screening was $0.57, standard BCC was $0.72, and SQ-LNS was $4.14. Although no SQ-LNS costs were incurred in the comparison groups (hence lower total costs), costs per child-contact for screening and BCC were higher because coverage of these services was lower. The intervention package cost $1073 per DALY averted in Burkina Faso and $747 in Mali. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of wasting prevention into screening for child wasting led to higher total costs but lower unit costs than standard screening due to increased coverage. Greater cost-effectiveness could be achieved if BCC were strengthened and led to improved caregiver health and nutrition practices and if screening triggered appropriate use of services and higher treatment coverage.

Systematically amino acid analysis: Advancements in extinction coefficient determination for therapeutic proteins.

Biologicals developers often face challenges in accurately determining the extinction coefficient (EC) measurement. We have successfully improved the precision and robustness of the widely recognized amino acid analysis method for EC determination, through a stepwise optimization process. Extensive analyses based on 114 observations, covering eight proteins over three years were performed, with a maximum relative standard deviation of 1.5% among multiple analysts, and a maximum deviation of 2.8% from the theoretical EC across the eight given proteins examined.

The metrics maze in science: navigating academic evaluation without journalistic pressures.

In recent years a troubling trend has emerged in the medical research field, notably in reproductive medicine, manifesting an increased emphasis on quantity over quality in articles published. The pressure to collect copious publication records risks compromising meticulous expertise and impactful contributions. This tendency is exemplified by the rise of 'hyper-prolific researchers' publishing at an extraordinary rate (i.e. every 5 days), prompting a deeper analysis of the reasons underlying this behaviour. Prioritizing rapid publication over Galileo Galilei's systematic scientific principles may lead to a superficial approach driven by quantitative targets. Thus, the overreliance on metrics to facilitate academic careers has shifted the focus to numerical quantification rather than the real scientific contribution, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the evaluation systems. The Hamletian question is: are we scientist or journalist? Addressing these issues could necessitate a crucial re-evaluation of the assessment criteria, emphasizing a balance between quantity and quality to foster an academic environment that values meaningful contributions and innovation.

Comparative proteomic analysis of vancomycin-sensitive and vancomycin-intermediate resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

PURPOSE: The extensive use of vancomycin has led to the development of Staphylococcus aureus strains with varying degrees of resistance to vancomycin. The present study aimed to explore the molecular causes of vancomycin resistance by conducting a proteomics analysis of subcellular fractions isolated from vancomycin-intermediate resistant S. aureus (VISA) and vancomycin-sensitive S. aureus (VSSA) strains. METHODS: We conducted proteomics analysis of subcellular fractions isolated from 2 isogenic S. aureus strains: strain 11 (VSSA) and strain 11Y (VISA). We used an integrated quantitative proteomics approach assisted by bioinformatics analysis, and comprehensively investigated the proteome profile. Intensive bioinformatics analysis, including protein annotation, functional classification, functional enrichment, and functional enrichment-based cluster analysis, was used to annotate quantifiable targets. RESULTS: We identified 128 upregulated proteins and 21 downregulated proteins in strain 11Y as compared to strain 11. The largest group of differentially expressed proteins was composed of enzymatic proteins associated with metabolic and catalytic activity, which accounted for 32.1% and 50% of the total proteins, respectively. Some proteins were indispensable parts of the regulatory networks of S. aureus that were altered with vancomycin treatment, and these proteins were related to cell wall metabolism, cell adhesion, proteolysis, and pressure response. CONCLUSION: Our proteomics study revealed regulatory proteins associated with vancomycin resistance in S. aureus. Some of these proteins were involved in the regulation of cell metabolism and function, which provides potential targets for the development of strategies to manage vancomycin resistance in S. aureus.

Analyzing the relative importance of habitat quantity and quality for boosting pollinator populations in agricultural landscapes.

To increase pollinator populations, international policy targets minimum levels of seminatural habitat cover, but it is unknown whether improving the quality of existing habitats could bring similar benefits without the need of reducing cropland area. Using data we collected in 26 Italian agricultural landscapes during the entire flying season, we explored the relative importance of habitat quantity (seminatural habitat cover) and quality (flower availability) on pollinator densities in seminatural habitats. We obtained transect-based counts and estimated the effect of habitat quantity (proportion of seminatural habitat) and quality (flower cover and richness) on wild bee and hoverfly densities. We used the relationships revealed in the data to simulate pollinator population sizes in landscapes with varying habitat quantity and quality. Wild bee densities were only related to flower availability, whereas hoverfly densities were additionally related to seminatural habitat cover. We found that in complex agricultural landscapes (above 15% seminatural habitat cover), improving habitat quality increased pollinator populations more effectively than increasing habitat quantity. However, increasing habitat quantity was by far the most effective approach for boosting pollinator populations in simple landscapes.

Análisis de la importancia relativa de la cantidad y calidad del hábitat para incrementar las poblaciones de polinizadores en los paisajes agrícolas Resumen Las políticas internacionales buscan que existan niveles mínimos de cobertura seminatural del hábitat para incrementar las poblaciones de polinizadores y se desconoce si mejorar la calidad de los hábitats existentes podría brindar beneficios similares sin tener que reducir el área de cultivo. Usamos datos recolectados en 26 paisajes agrícolas de Italia durante la temporada de vuelo para analizar la importancia relativa de la cantidad (cobertura de hábitat seminatural) y calidad (disponibilidad de flores) del hábitat para la densidad de polinizadores en los hábitats seminaturales. Obtuvimos conteos basados en transectos y estimamos el efecto de la cantidad (proporción del hábitat seminatural) y calidad (riqueza y cobertura de flores) del hábitat sobre la densidad de las abejas silvestres y los sírfidos. Usamos la relación revelada por los datos para simular el tamaño poblacional de los polinizadores en los paisajes con diferente calidad y cantidad de hábitat. La densidad de las abejas silvestres sólo se relacionó con la disponibilidad de flores cuando la densidad de sírfidos se relacionó con la cobertura del hábitat seminatural. Descubrimos que en los paisajes agrícolas complejos (por encima del 15% de cobertura de hábitat seminatural) cuya calidad mejoraba, las poblaciones de polinizadores incrementaban de manera más eficiente que cuando se mejoraba la cantidad. Sin embargo, incrementar la cantidad del hábitat fue por mucho la estrategia más efectiva para acrecentar las poblaciones de polinizadores en paisajes simples.

Snack quality and snack timing are associated with cardiometabolic blood markers: the ZOE PREDICT study.

BACKGROUND: Snacking is a common diet behaviour which accounts for a large proportion of daily energy intake, making it a key determinant of diet quality. However, the relationship between snacking frequency, quality and timing with cardiometabolic health remains unclear. DESIGN: Demography, diet, health (fasting and postprandial cardiometabolic blood and anthropometrics markers) and stool metagenomics data were assessed in the UK PREDICT 1 cohort (N = 1002) (NCT03479866). Snacks (foods or drinks consumed between main meals) were self-reported (weighed records) across 2-4 days. Average snacking frequency and quality [snack diet index (SDI)] were determined (N = 854 after exclusions). Associations between snacking frequency, quality and timing with cardiometabolic blood and anthropometric markers were assessed using regression models (adjusted for age, sex, BMI, education, physical activity level and main meal quality). RESULTS: Participants were aged (mean, SD) 46.1 ± 11.9 years, had a mean BMI of 25.6 ± 4.88 kg/m2 and were predominantly female (73%). 95% of participants were snackers (≥ 1 snack/day; n = 813); mean daily snack intake was 2.28 snacks/day (24 ± 16% of daily calories; 203 ± 170 kcal); and 44% of participants were discordant for meal and snack quality. In snackers, overall snacking frequency and quantity of snack energy were not associated with cardiometabolic risk markers. However, lower snack quality (SDI range 1-11) was associated with higher blood markers, including elevated fasting triglycerides (TG (mmol/L) ß; - 0.02, P = 0.02), postprandial TGs (6hiAUC (mmol/L.s); ß; - 400, P = 0.01), fasting insulin (mIU/L) (ß; - 0.15, P = 0.04), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; ß; - 0.04, P = 0.04) and hunger (scale 0-100) (ß; - 0.52, P = 0.02) (P values non-significant after multiple testing adjustments). Late-evening snacking (≥ 9 pm; 31%) was associated with lower blood markers (HbA1c; 5.54 ± 0.42% vs 5.46 ± 0.28%, glucose 2hiAUC; 8212 ± 5559 vs 7321 ± 4928 mmol/L.s, P = 0.01 and TG 6hiAUC; 11,638 ± 8166 vs 9781 ± 6997 mmol/L.s, P = 0.01) compared to all other snacking times (HbA1c remained significant after multiple testing). CONCLUSION: Snack quality and timing of consumption are simple diet features which may be targeted to improve diet quality, with potential health benefits. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER AND WEBSITE: NCT03479866, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03479866?term=NCT03479866&draw=2&rank=1.

Changes in skeletal muscle function during chemotherapy and related factors in patients with acute leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Skeletal muscle function is an important prognostically relevant indicator in patients with acute leukemia (AL), but skeletal dysfunction during chemotherapy is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence changes in skeletal muscle function from before the start of chemotherapy to before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study that included 90 patients with AL who underwent chemotherapy before transplantation to perform allo-HSCT (men, 67.3%; median age, 53 years). The outcome measure was defined as changes in skeletal muscle function from before chemotherapy to before allo-HSCT, and was assessed by measuring the psoas muscle index (PMI) as skeletal muscle quantity and computed tomography values (CTV) as skeletal muscle quality using a computed tomography scanner. We examined the differences in PMI and CTV before chemotherapy and allo-HSCT, and the factors associated with changes in PMI. RESULT: The mean PMI for before chemotherapy and allo-HSCT were 4.6 ± 1.4 cm2/m2 and 4.0 ± 1.3 cm2/m2 and significant differences were observed (p < 0.001). However, the mean CTV before chemotherapy and allo-HSCT were 47.3 ± 4.5 HU and 47.4 ± 5.0 HU, respectively, and no significant differences were found (p = 0.798). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, age and sex were identified as factors related to changes in PMI (age, p = 0.019; sex, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: We found that skeletal muscle quantity decreased during chemotherapy in patients with AL and was influenced by male sex and older age. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:   TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 34-096(11,243). Date of registration: September 11, 2023.

Involuntary social isolation and alcohol consumption: an ecological momentary assessment in Germany amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: Alcohol consumption often occurs in a social setting, which was affected by social distancing measures amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this study, we examine how involuntary social isolation (i.e. comparing a no-lockdown stage with a lockdown stage) affects the association between loneliness, social activities, and drinking behavior. METHOD: We performed an ecological momentary assessment eight times per day for 7 days amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. We recruited 280 participants and assessed their trait loneliness, daily state loneliness, social activities, and drinking behaviors. RESULTS: We found that a lockdown condition moderates the association between trait and daily state loneliness and alcohol consumption. During a lockdown stage, trait loneliness was positively associated, whereas state loneliness was negatively associated with alcohol consumption. During a no-lockdown stage, trait and state loneliness were both negatively associated with alcohol consumption. For both no-lockdown and lockdown stages, duration of social interaction, male gender, and weekends was positively associated with alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that an involuntary social isolation condition (i.e. a lockdown stage) changes how trait loneliness is associated with alcohol consumption.

Preschool children generate quantity inferences from both words and pictures.

As children learn to communicate with others, they must develop an understanding of the principles that underlie human communication. Recent evidence suggests that adults expect communicative principles to govern all forms of communication, not just language, but evidence about children's ability to do so is sparse. This study investigated whether preschool children expect both pictures and words to adhere to the communicative principle of quantity using a simple matched paradigm. Children (N = 293) aged of 3 to 5 years (52.5% male and 47.5% female; majority White with college-educated mothers) participated. Results show that children as young as 3.5 years can use the communicative principle of quantity to infer meaning across verbal and pictorial alternatives.

Heuristic strategy of intuitive statistical inferences in 7- to 10-year-old children.

Intuitive statistical inferences refer to making inferences about uncertain events based on limited probabilistic information, which is crucial for both human and non-human species' survival and reproduction. Previous research found that 7- and 8-year-old children failed in intuitive statistical inference tasks after heuristic strategies had been controlled. However, few studies systematically explored children's heuristic strategies of intuitive statistical inferences and their potential numerical underpinnings. In the current research, Experiment 1 (N = 81) examined 7- to 10-year-olds' use of different types of heuristic strategies; results revealed that children relied more on focusing on the absolute number strategy. Experiment 2 (N = 99) and Experiment 3 (N = 94) added continuous-format stimuli to examine whether 7- and 8-year-olds could make genuine intuitive statistical inferences instead of heuristics. Results revealed that both 7- and 8-year-olds and 9- and 10-year-olds performed better in intuitive statistical inference tasks with continuous-format stimuli, even after focusing on the absolute number strategy had been controlled. The results across the three experiments preliminarily hinted that the ratio processing system might rely on the approximate number system. Future research could clarify what specific numerical processing mechanism may be used and how it might support children's statistical intuitions.

The association of dietary carbohydrate quality and quantity with obesity among Iranian adolescents: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent obesity is considered as a major health concern worldwide which is closely linked to the quality of diet. The purpose of the present study was to assess the carbohydrate quality and quantity in relation to odds of overweight and obesity in adolescents. METHODS: This case-control study with a 1:1 ratio was conducted on 406 adolescents (14 to 18 years old) matched for age and gender. Participants were selected by multistage cluster random sampling method from March to October 2019 in Shiraz, Iran. Dietary intakes of the study population were assessed by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Also anthropometric indices were measured using standard methods and demographic information was recorded via face to face interview. The relation between low carbohydrate diet score (LCDS) and carbohydrate quality index (CQI), and odds of obesity was evaluated by multiple Logistic regression. RESULTS: After adjusting the role of potential confounders, the participants in the third tertiles of LCDS (OR = 0.443, 95% CI = (0.260 to 0.755)) and CQI (OR = 0.005, 95% CI = (0.001 to 0.025)) had less odds of being overweight and obese compared to the first tertile. CONCLUSION: The present study found an inverse relationship between dietary quantity and quality of carbohydrate intake and the odds of overweight and obesity in a sample of Iranian adolescents.

Association between quality and quantity of carbohydrate intake with selected anthropometric indices among primary school girls in Kerman city, Iran: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The school-age is a crucial period of physical and cognitive growth, which requires an assessment of dietary intake and its influence on body weight and height. This study aims to determine the association between the quality and quantity of carbohydrate intake with selected anthropometric indices in primary school girls in Kerman City, Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 330 primary school girls ages 6-12 years in Kerman. We used a validated and reliable dish-based 185-item food frequency questionnaire to evaluate people's food intake. We assessed the amount of carbohydrates in children's diets as the percentage of daily calories and grams per day. We used dietary fiber intake (grams/day), the glycemic load, the ratio of whole grain to total grain, and the ratio of solid carbohydrates to total carbohydrates to assess carbohydrate quality. Height, weight, and arm circumference were measured. We calculated body mass index (BMI) by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in centimeters squared. We used the World Health Organization z-scores charts for girls 5 to 19 years old to assess z-scores for BMI-for-age (BAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-age (WAZ). Socioeconomic status and physical activity were assessed. We used ANOVA and ANCOVA statistical tests to assess the association between anthropometric indices and carbohydrate quantity and quality parameters. RESULTS: Participants with the highest amount of carbohydrate intake had significantly higher anthropometric indices, including arm circumference, BMI-for-age z score (BAZ), and Height-for-age z score (HAZ) (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.009, respectively). With the increase in glycemic load (GL) and dietary fiber intake, anthropometric indices including arm circumference (GL: p < 0.001, Fiber: p < 0.001), BAZ (GL: p < 0.001, Fiber: P < 0.001), and HAZ (GL: P = 0.009, Fiber: p < 0.001) increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that there was a positive association between the amount of carbohydrate intake and anthropometric indices (MUAC, BAZ, and HAZ). Also, with the increase in glycemic load and dietary fiber intake, the anthropometric indices including MUAC, BAZ, and HAZ increased.

Fruitful changes? Exploring household fruit purchase decisions following comprehensive food policy regulations in Chile.

Changes in unprocessed healthy food purchases associated with the implementation of comprehensive food policy remain understudied. This study analyzes whether, following the announcement, modification, and implementation of Chile's Food Labeling and Advertising law targeting highly processed food (occurring in 2012, 2015, and 2016, respectively), households improved their fruit purchase decisions: purchase participation (i.e., buying likelihood) and purchase quantity. Expenditure data from a representative sample of Chilean households were employed, covering two consecutive survey waves conducted in 2011/2012 and 2016/2017. After controlling for socioeconomic factors (e.g., prices and income), results indicate that only purchase participation increased, providing weak support for positive spillover effects of a comprehensive food policy on fruit purchases. Subsample analyses reveal that this increase was driven by college-educated, childless, and low-income households and was stronger for sweeter and more convenient fruits. Considering that households in Chile do not meet health recommendations for daily fruit intake, additional policy efforts targeting healthy, unprocessed food consumption could be considered.

Unit one is intrusive.

The SI brochure's treatment of quantities that it regards as dimensionless, with the associated unit one, requires certain physical quantities to be regarded as simply numbers. The resulting formal system erases the nature of these quantities and excludes them from important benefits that quantity calculus provides over numerical value calculations, namely, that accidental confusion of different units and different kinds of quantities is sometimes prevented. I propose a better treatment that entails removing from the SI brochure those prescriptions that conflict with common practices in the treatment of dimensionless quantities, especially the definition and use of non-SI dimensionless units that are distinguished by kind.