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Eicosanoids are a class of molecules derived from C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that play a vital role in mammalian and insect biological systems, including development, reproduction, and immunity. Recent research has shown that insects have significant but lower levels of C20 PUFAs in circulation in comparison to C18 PUFAs. It has been previously hypothesized in insects that eicosanoids are synthesized from C18 precursors, such as linoleic acid (LA), to produce downstream eicosanoids. In this study, we show that introduction of arachidonic acid (AA) stimulates production of cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and cytochrome P450-derived eicosanoids. Downstream immune readouts showed that LA stimulates phagocytosis by hemocytes, while both LA and AA stimulate increased antimicrobial peptide production when D. melanogaster is exposed to a heat-killed bacterial pathogen. In totality, this work identifies PUFAs that are involved in insect immunity and adds evidence to the notion that Drosophila utilizes immunostimulatory lipid signaling to mitigate bacterial infections. Our understanding of immune signaling in the fly and its analogies to mammalian systems will increase the power and value of Drosophila as a model organism in immune studies.

Disordered eating behavior differs between the restricting subtype (AN-R) and the binging and purging subtype (AN-BP) of anorexia nervosa (AN). Yet, little is known about how these differences impact fatty acid (FA) dysregulation in AN. To address this question, we analyzed 26 FAs and 7 FA lipogenic enzymes (4 desaturases and 3 elongases) in 96 women: 25 AN-R, 25 AN-BP, and 46 healthy control women. Our goal was to assess subtype-specific patterns. Lauric acid was significantly higher in AN-BP than in AN-R at the fasting timepoint (p = 0.038) and displayed significantly different postprandial changes 2 h after eating. AN-R displayed significantly higher levels of n-3 alpha-linolenic acid, stearidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid, and n-6 linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid compared to controls. AN-BP showed elevated EPA and saturated lauric acid compared to controls. Higher EPA was associated with elevated anxiety in AN-R (p = 0.035) but was linked to lower anxiety in AN-BP (p = 0.043). These findings suggest distinct disordered eating behaviors in AN subtypes contribute to lipid dysregulation and eating disorder comorbidities. A personalized dietary intervention may improve lipid dysregulation and enhance treatment effectiveness for AN.

Mutations in the adiponectin receptor 1 gene (AdipoR1) lead to retinitis pigmentosa and are associated with age-related macular degeneration. This study explores the effects of AdipoR1 gene deficiency in mice, revealing a striking decline in ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), an increase in ω6 fatty acids, and elevated ceramides in the retina. The AdipoR1 deficiency impairs peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α signaling, which is crucial for FA metabolism, particularly affecting proteins associated with FA transport and oxidation in the retina and retinal pigmented epithelium. Our lipidomic and proteomic analyses indicate changes that could affect membrane composition and viscosity through altered ω3 PUFA transport and synthesis, suggesting a potential influence of AdipoR1 on these properties. Furthermore, we noted a reduction in the Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins, which are crucial for forming and maintaining photoreceptor outer segments that are PUFA-enriched ciliary structures. Diminution in Bardet-Biedl syndrome-proteins content combined with our electron microscopic observations raises the possibility that AdipoR1 deficiency might impair ciliary function. Treatment with inhibitors of ceramide synthesis led to substantial elevation of ω3 LC-PUFAs, alleviating photoreceptor degeneration and improving retinal function. These results serve as the proof of concept for a ceramide-targeted strategy to treat retinopathies linked to PUFA deficiency, including age-related macular degeneration.

Hepatic inflammation is commonly identified in Wilson disease (WD), a genetic disease of hepatic and brain copper accumulation. Copper accumulation is associated with increased oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species generation which may result in non-enzymatic oxidation of membrane-bound polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). PUFA can be oxidized enzymatically via lipoxygenases (LOX), cyclooxygenases (COX), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP). Products of PUFA oxidation are collectively known as oxylipins (OXL) and are bioactive lipids that modulate hepatic inflammation. We examined hepatic OXL profiles at early stages of WD in two mouse models, the toxic milk mouse from The Jackson Laboratory (tx-j) and the Atp7b knockout on a C57Bl/6 background (Atp7b-/-B6). Targeted lipidomic analysis performed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry showed that in both tx-j and Atp7b-/-B6 mice, hepatic OXL profiles were altered with higher thromboxane and prostaglandins levels. The levels of oxidative stress marker, 9-HETE were increased more markedly in tx-j mice. However, both genotypes showed upregulated transcript levels of many genes related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Both genotypes showed higher prostaglandins, thromboxin along with higher PUFA-derived alcohols, diols, and ketones with altered epoxides; the expression of Alox5 was upregulated and many CYP-related genes were dysregulated. Pathway analyses show dysregulation in arachidonic acid and linoleic acid metabolism characterizes mice with WD. Our findings indicate alterations in hepatic PUFA metabolism in early-stage WD and suggest the upregulation of both, non-enzymatic ROS-dependent and enzymatic PUFA oxidation, which could have implications for hepatic manifestations in WD and represent potential targets for future therapies.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a key anti-inflammatory cytokine that can limit immune cell activation and cytokine production in innate immune cell types1. Loss of IL-10 signalling results in life-threatening inflammatory bowel disease in humans and mice-however, the exact mechanism by which IL-10 signalling subdues inflammation remains unclear2-5. Here we find that increased saturated very long chain (VLC) ceramides are critical for the heightened inflammatory gene expression that is a hallmark of IL-10 deficiency. Accordingly, genetic deletion of ceramide synthase 2 (encoded by Cers2), the enzyme responsible for VLC ceramide production, limited the exacerbated inflammatory gene expression programme associated with IL-10 deficiency both in vitro and in vivo. The accumulation of saturated VLC ceramides was regulated by a decrease in metabolic flux through the de novo mono-unsaturated fatty acid synthesis pathway. Restoring mono-unsaturated fatty acid availability to cells deficient in IL-10 signalling limited saturated VLC ceramide production and the associated inflammation. Mechanistically, we find that persistent inflammation mediated by VLC ceramides is largely dependent on sustained activity of REL, an immuno-modulatory transcription factor. Together, these data indicate that an IL-10-driven fatty acid desaturation programme rewires VLC ceramide accumulation and aberrant activation of REL. These studies support the idea that fatty acid homeostasis in innate immune cells serves as a key regulatory node to control pathologic inflammation and suggests that metabolic correction of VLC homeostasis could be an important strategy to normalize dysregulated inflammation caused by the absence of IL-10.

In pre-disposed individuals, a reprogramming of the hepatic lipid metabolism may support liver cancer initiation. We conducted a high-resolution mass spectrometry based untargeted lipidomics analysis of pre-diagnostic serum samples from a nested case-control study (219 liver cancer cases and 219 controls) within the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study. Out of 462 annotated lipids, 158 (34.2%) were associated with liver cancer risk in a conditional logistic regression analysis at a false discovery rate (FDR)

Compacted bentonite has been commonly recognized as an effective buffer/backfill material in deep geological repositories for high-level nuclear waste disposal. Anisotropic microstructure can be inevitably generated during the bentonite block compaction. More importantly, this anisotropy can be intensified by the stress-induced anisotropy produced during the subsequent engineering service while the bentonite block is being submitted to external stresses. In this work, using a modified suction-controlled high-pressure consolidation setup, one-dimensional compression tests were conducted on the compacted GMZ bentonite specimens along the directions both parallel (V-type specimen) and perpendicular (H-type specimen) to the compaction surface (bedding) formed during the specimen preparation processes. Quantitative analyses on the anisotropic compression characteristic, as well as insights into the formation and evolution mechanisms of anisotropic degree, were performed. The vertical (bedding) type (V-type) specimens exhibited more significant compression deformation, lower yield stress, and higher swelling index when compared to the horizontal type (H-type) specimens. The compaction-induced anisotropy could be intensified with increasing dry density and could be either strengthened or weakened during the subsequent compression processes, in which, the anisotropy of the horizontal type specimen kept continuously increasing, while that of the vertical type specimen decreased first and then gradually turned to increase. Development and evolution of stress-induced anisotropy closely depended on the stress level applied and the stress path followed. Relationships among the pre-consolidation pressures (major/minor principal stresses) during the specimen compaction and the subsequent one-dimensional compression played a vital role in the generation and evolution of the stress-induced anisotropy of the specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Unsaturated zones are important for geotechnical design, geochemical reactions, and microbial reactions. The numerical analysis of unsaturated seepage is complex because it involves highly nonlinear partial differential equations. The permeability can vary by orders of magnitude over short vertical distances. This article defines and uses H‐convergence tests to quantify numerical errors made by uniform meshes with element size (ES) for 1D steady‐state conditions. The quantitative H‐convergence should not be confused with a qualitative mesh sensitivity study. The difference between numerical and mathematical convergences is stated. A detailed affordable method for an H‐convergence test is presented. The true but unknown solution is defined as the asymptote of the numerical solutions for all solution components when ES decreases to zero. The numerical errors versus ES are then assessed with respect to the true solution, and using a log–log plot, which indicates whether a code is correct or incorrect. If a code is correct, its results follow the rules of mathematical convergence in a mathematical convergence domain (MCD) which is smaller than the numerical convergence domain (NCD). If a code is incorrect, it has an NCD but no MCD. Incorrect algorithms of incorrect codes need to be modified and repaired. Existing codes are shown to converge numerically within large NCDs but generate large errors, up to 500%, in the NCDs, a dangerous situation for designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateritic clay has distinct properties from other clays due to its high sesquioxide content. Its stiffness characteristics have not been well understood, especially when the soil is unsaturated and anisotropic. This study investigated the stiffness characteristics of compacted lateritic clay through suction-controlled triaxial compression tests equipped with local strain measurements. Both vertically and horizontally cut specimens were tested to determine the evolution of stiffness anisotropy during shearing. Three suctions (0, 10, and 150 kPa) and two confining pressures (50 and 200 kPa) were considered. When strains are relatively small (e.g., less than 0.2%), the secant Young's modulus Esec of vertical specimens is consistently higher than that of horizontal specimens at all suctions and stresses due to the inherent anisotropic structure. The degree of anisotropy increases with increasing suction since suction enhances the stiffness more significantly in vertical specimens than in horizontal specimens. This behaviour may be due to an enhanced force chain in the vertical direction during shearing. As strains increase, the degradation of Esec normalized by the maximum Young's modulus E0 is almost independent of suction and anisotropy. Lateritic clay has a higher degradation rate than other clays with a similar plasticity index because of its aggregated microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water sensitivity and structural characteristics of collapsible loess are two typical factors that significantly influence its mechanical behaviors. This paper presents a simple and practical elastic-plastic model based on the modified Cam-Clay model to well capture the essential behavior of unsaturated intact loess. The model employs deviator stress and spheric stress as the stress variables, with the water content serving as the moisture variable. The critical state surface of the model can be determined by utilizing the shear strength parameters of unsaturated soil under axisymmetric stress conditions. An initial yield surface equation is established by incorporating structural strength into the elliptical yield surface equation, which is used to determine the starting point for elastic-plastic deformation calculations under different humidity and stress combinations. The model comprises several parameters, each of which has a clear physical interpretation and can be conveniently obtained through conventional triaxial tests. The validity of the model for unsaturated intact loess is confirmed through a comparison with the stress–strain relationship of unsaturated intact loess in the axisymmetric stress state. This work has the potential to significantly enhance our ability to predict and mitigate potential geotechnical disasters, such as foundation deformation under axisymmetric conditions and slope stability problems under non-axisymmetric conditions. Ultimately, the application of this model could contribute to the safety and stability of infrastructure and construction projects in loess regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the pore structure and gas permeability of river sand concrete and manufactured sand concrete (mixed with various stone powders) are examined under dry and wet conditions. First, the pore structure of concrete was tested using the mercury-in-pressure (MIP), hydrostatic balance (HB), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods. Second, the gas permeability of concrete was measured using the quasi-stationary flow method. Finally, a numerical model was developed based on the relationship between the pore structure and gas permeability. The results indicated that the gas permeability of dry concrete has a quadratic linear relationship with the porosity and volumetric characteristic pore size. The pore structure of partially water-saturated concrete can be corrected using a correction factor and the relaxation rate of the dry material. Finally, a random hierarchical bundle model using the HB–NMR method is proposed. The maximum relative deviation between the predicted and experimental values is 48.28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pericarp of African pear (Dacryodes edulis) is butyraceous. This study evaluated the fatty acid contents of three varieties of African pear (Akpabuyo pear, Ikom butter pear and Ikom pear).Ripe fruits of the three varieties of pear were purchased from Marian markets Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria. Each sample was divided into three batches. The first batch was left raw, the second was pan roasted till the pulp became soft, and the third batch was immersed into boiled water for 3 minutes. Each batch was prepared by deseeding the soft pulp. They were separately homogenized and stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for fatty acid (FA) analysis. The fatty acid contents of the samples were determined by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods. Data obtained were analyzed using the mean and standard deviation. Arachidonic acid in raw Akpabuyo pear was the predominant (1.55 g/100g) UFA. Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) were found to be present in a higher percentage compared to the unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in all the samples. Roasted Akpabuyo pear had the highest concentration of SFA (Lauric 28.45 g/100g),Blanched pear samples had lower FA. The consumption of raw and blanched Akpabuyo pear was recommended because of the type and concentration of the FA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of nuts and berries are considered part of a healthy eating pattern. Nuts and berries contain a complex nutrient profile consisting of essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and phenolics in quantities that improve physiological outcomes. The spectrum of health outcomes that may be impacted by the consumptions of nuts and berries includes cardiovascular, gut microbiome, and cognitive, among others. Recently, new insights regarding the bioactive compounds found in both nuts and berries have reinforced their role for use in precision nutrition efforts. However, challenges exist that can affect the generalizability of outcomes from clinical studies, including inconsistency in study designs, homogeneity of test populations, variability in test products and control foods, and assessing realistic portion sizes. Future research centered on precision nutrition and multi-omics technologies will yield new insights. These and other topics such as funding streams and perceived risk-of-bias were explored at an international nutrition conference focused on the role of nuts and berries in clinical nutrition. Successes, challenges, and future directions with these foods are presented here.

Purpose – The experiments of this study investigated the effect of the subgrade degree of saturation on the value of the stresses generated on the surface and the middle (vertical and lateral stresses). The objectives of this study can be identified by studying the effect of subgrade layer degree of saturation variation, load amplitude and load frequency on the transmitted stresses through the ballast layer to the subgrade layer and the stress distribution inside it and investigating the excess pore water pressure development in the clay layer in the case of a fully saturated subgrade layer and the change in matric suction in the case of an unsaturated subgrade layer. Design/methodology/approach – Thirty-six laboratory experiments were conducted using approximately half-scale replicas of real railways, with an iron box measuring 1.5 x 1.0 × 1.0 m. Inside the box, a 0.5 m thick layer of clay soil representing the base layer was built. Above it is a 0.2 m thick ballast layer made of crushed stone, and on top of that is a 0.8 m long rail line supported by three 0.9 m (0.1 × 0.1 m) slipper beams. The subgrade layer has been built at the following various saturation levels: 100, 80, 70 and 60%. Experiments were conducted with various frequencies of 1, 2 and 4 Hz with load amplitudes of 15, 25 and 35 kN. Findings – The results of the study demonstrated that as the subgrade degree of saturation decreased from 100 to 60%, the ratio of stress in the lateral direction to stress in the vertical direction generated in the middle of the subgrade layer decreased as well. On average, this ratio changed from approximately 0.75 to approximately 0.65. Originality/value – The study discovered that as the test proceeded and the number of cycles increased, the value of negative water pressure (matric suction) in the case of unsaturated subgrade soils declined. The frequency of loads had no bearing on the ratio of decline in matric suction values, which was greater under a larger load amplitude than a lower one. As the test progressed (as the number of cycles increased), the matric suction dropped. For larger load amplitudes, there is a greater shift in matric suction. The change in matric suction is greater at higher saturation levels than it is at lower saturation levels. Furthermore, it is seen that the load frequency value has no bearing on how the matric suction changes. For all load frequencies and subgrade layer saturation levels, the track panel settlement rises with the load amplitude. Higher load frequency and saturation levels have a greater impact.

Unsaturated contaminated soil from domestic sources has a significant impact on engineering construction. Taking unsaturated CH3COOH contaminated clay as the research object, unsaturated triaxial tests under different matrix suction and different net confining pressure were carried out, and the strength parameters and strength prediction formula were obtained. The prediction results of unsaturated soil strength of Fredlund Xing soil water characteristic curve model and Van Genuchten soil water characteristic curve model were compared. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe and analyze the characteristics of the microstructure of contaminated clay. It shows that the matric suction of unsaturated soil can increase the cohesion and internal friction angle of unsaturated soil, and the increase is linear, which conforms to the bivariate shear strength relationship. As the suction of the matrix increases, the stress–strain curve gradually changes from strain softening to strain hardening. The prediction result of unsaturated soil strength based on Fredlund-Xing soil water characteristic curve model is better than that based on Van Genuchten soil water characteristic curve model, and the smaller the confining pressure and the greater the matrix suction, the more accurate the prediction result.CH3COOH dissolves minerals and hard iron compound minerals in the soil, reduces soil strength and increases soil deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embankment failures can be prevented by introducing geocomposites to act as drains. The effect of the geocomposite layer on the pore pressure distribution and surface displacements of an unsaturated embankment upon infiltration has been studied numerically using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. The inclusion of the geocomposite layer leads to an increase of suction below the interface and a decrease in suction above it by functioning both as a capillary barrier and a drainage layer, thereby reducing the surface displacements upon infiltration. The load in the form of rainfall and the resistance such as suction of the embankment material being variable leads to a variability in the displacements; therefore, reliability analysis has been carried out using hydraulic permeability and soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) parameters as random variables. To assess the probability of failure (Pf), a surrogate model based on augmented radial basis function has been used. Probabilistic analysis revealed that the embankment with geocomposite has less Pf compared to the embankment without geocomposite considering the rainfall infiltration. Moreover, sensitivity analysis predicted that SWCC parameters influence the Pf of embankment containing geosynthetics under infiltration to a larger extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of suction-control oedometer tests were conducted on unsaturated and saturated MX80 bentonite pellet/powder mixtures. The mixture samples were imposed with various suctions from 0 to 113 MPa under a low vertical stress (0.1 MPa). Then, the mixture samples were loaded in steps with controlled suction until reaching three different target stresses σv (0.1, 3.2, and 12.8 MPa) and instantaneously unloaded. The microstructure of unloaded samples was observed with mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and microcomputed tomography (μCT), together with the determination of suction, water content, void ratio, and saturation degree. Results showed that the water-retention behavior of bentonite pellet/powder mixture was rather characterized by pellets instead of powder. Due to the stress release, the measured suction after unloading sme was larger than the imposed suction sim. The suction difference Δs between sme and sim depended on both suction and load. Under a given σv , the suction effect was characterized by an increase of Δs when sim decreased from 113 to 4.2 MPa, but by a noticeable decrease of Δs when sim further decreased to zero. This was found to be related to the changes of the slopes of soil-water retention curves (SWRCs): the slope was decreasing with suction increases after 4.2 MPa suction, but was increasing with suction increases before 4.2 MPa suction. As far as the stress effect was concerned, a larger Δs was identified at a higher σv for a given sim. The narrowing difference between Δs and the reduction of mean stress of pellet Δppellet with increasing load was because of the decrease of larger pores due to loading. The total mixture void ratio eTmixture was highly dependent on suction and vertical stress, whereas the total pellet void ratio eTpellet was only dependent on suction in the stress range considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a generalized framework to estimate the seismic active earth thrust on rigid retaining walls with unsaturated backfill. A novel suction stress-dependent approach was developed to compute the horizontal and vertical seismic acceleration profiles within the backfill. The framework applies the limit equilibrium method with a log-spiral failure surface and considers the influence of suction-stress through the effective stress approach. A detailed validation of the proposed framework is conducted by comparing it with well-established solutions reported in previous studies showing a satisfactory agreement. Validation was performed for the cases of static loading with suction and seismic loading without suction because of the unavailability of the data for the combined case. The influence of suction on the seismic active earth thrust for different soil types and environmental conditions is presented together with other parameters including wall height, soil friction angle, frequency of input excitation, and horizontal and vertical seismic acceleration coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fatty acids required for human health and are obtained primarily from food or synthesized in the body by highly regulated processes. The metabolites of these lipids, formed largely through the action of cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, or cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, are responsible for multiple biological functions including inflammation, tissue repair, cell proliferation, blood vessel permeability, and immune cell behavior. The role of these regulatory lipids in disease has been well studied since their discovery as druggable targets; however, the metabolites generated downstream of these pathways have only recently gained attention for regulating biology. Specifically, the biological activity of lipid vicinal diols formed from the metabolism of CYP450-generated epoxy fatty acids (EpFA) by epoxide hydrolases were previously thought to have little biological activity but increasingly are recognized as promoting inflammation and brown fat adipogenesis, and exciting neurons through the regulation of ion channel activity at low concentrations. These metabolites also appear to balance the action of the EpFA precursor. For example, EpFA demonstrate the ability to resolve inflammation and reduce pain, while some lipid diols, through opposing mechanisms, promote inflammation and pain. This review describes recent studies that highlight the role of regulatory lipids, focusing on the balance between EpFA and their diol metabolites in promoting or resolving disease.

BackgroundThe circulating metabolome is altered in multiple sclerosis (MS), but its prognostic capabilities have not been extensively explored. Lipid metabolites might be of particular interest due to their multiple roles in the brain, as they can serve as structural components, energy sources, and bioactive molecules. Gaining a deeper understanding of the disease may be possible by examining the lipid metabolism in the periphery, which serves as the primary source of lipids for the brain.ObjectiveTo determine if altered serum lipid metabolites are associated with the risk of relapse and disability in children with MS.MethodsWe collected serum samples from 61 participants with pediatric-onset MS within 4 years of disease onset. Prospective longitudinal relapse data and cross-sectional disability measures (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS]) were collected. Serum metabolomics was performed using untargeted liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Individual lipid metabolites were clustered into pre-defined pathways. The associations between clusters of metabolites and relapse rate and EDSS score were estimated utilizing negative binomial and linear regression models, respectively.ResultsWe found that serum acylcarnitines (relapse rate: normalized enrichment score [NES] = 2.1, q = 1.03E-04; EDSS: NES = 1.7, q = 0.02) and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (relapse rate: NES = 1.6, q = 0.047; EDSS: NES = 1.9, q = 0.005) were associated with higher relapse rates and EDSS, while serum phosphatidylethanolamines (relapse rate: NES = -2.3, q = 0.002; EDSS: NES = -2.1, q = 0.004), plasmalogens (relapse rate: NES = -2.5, q = 5.81E-04; EDSS: NES = -2.1, q = 0.004), and primary bile acid metabolites (relapse rate: NES = -2.0, q = 0.02; EDSS: NES = -1.9, q = 0.02) were associated with lower relapse rates and lower EDSS.ConclusionThis study supports the role of some lipid metabolites in pediatric MS relapses and disability.

α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is expressed by stem-like and poor outcome hepatocellular cancer tumors and is a clinical tumor biomarker. AFP has been demonstrated to inhibit dendritic cell (DC) differentiation and maturation and to block oxidative phosphorylation. To identify the critical metabolic pathways leading to human DC functional suppression, here, we used two recently described single-cell profiling methods, scMEP (single-cell metabolic profiling) and SCENITH (single-cell energetic metabolism by profiling translation inhibition). Glycolytic capacity and glucose dependence of DCs were significantly increased by tumor-derived, but not normal cord blood-derived, AFP, leading to increased glucose uptake and lactate secretion. Key molecules in the electron transport chain in particular were regulated by tumor-derived AFP. These metabolic changes occurred at mRNA and protein levels, with negative impact on DC stimulatory capacity. Tumor-derived AFP bound significantly more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than cord blood-derived AFP. PUFAs bound to AFP increased metabolic skewing and promoted DC functional suppression. PUFAs inhibited DC differentiation in vitro, and ω-6 PUFAs conferred potent immunoregulation when bound to tumor-derived AFP. Together, these findings provide mechanistic insights into how AFP antagonizes the innate immune response to limit antitumor immunity.Significanceα-Fetoprotein (AFP) is a secreted tumor protein and biomarker with impact on immunity. Fatty acid-bound AFP promotes immune suppression by skewing human dendritic cell metabolism toward glycolysis and reduced immune stimulation.

Oxylipins, oxidation products of unsaturated free fatty acids (FFAs), are involved in various cellular signaling systems. Among these oxylipins, FFA epoxides are associated with beneficial effects in metabolic and cardiovascular health. FFA epoxides are metabolized to diols, which are usually biologically less active, by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Plasma epoxide-diol ratios have been used as indirect measures of sEH activity. This study was designed to examine the effects of acute elevation of individual plasma FFAs on a variety of oxylipins, particularly epoxides, diols, and their ratios. We tested if FFA epoxide-diol ratios are altered by circulating FFA levels (i.e., substrate availability) independent of sEH activity. Wistar rats received a constant intravenous infusion of olive (70% oleic acid (OA)), safflower seed (72% linoleic acid (LA)), and fish oils (rich in ω-3 FFAs) as emulsions to selectively raise OA, LA, and ω-3 FFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)), respectively. As expected, olive, safflower seed, and fish oil infusions selectively raised plasma OA (57%), LA (87%), EPA (70%), and DHA (54%), respectively (p < 0.05 for all). Raising plasma FFAs exerted substrate effects to increase hepatic and plasma epoxide and diol levels. These increases in epoxides and diols occurred to similar extents, resulting in no significant changes in epoxide-diol ratios. These data suggest that epoxide-diol ratios, often used as indices of sEH activity, are not affected by substrate availability or altered plasma FFA levels and that epoxide-diol ratios may be used to compare sEH activity between conditions of different circulating FFA levels.

BackgroundMacrophages of healthy subjects have a pro-resolution phenotype, upload amyloid-β (Aβ) into endosomes, and degrade Aβ, whereas macrophages of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) generally have a pro-inflammatory phenotype and lack energy for brain clearance of Aβ.ObjectiveTo clarify the pathogenesis of sporadic AD and therapeutic effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with vitamins B and D and antioxidants on monocyte/macrophage (MM) migration in the AD brain, MM transcripts in energy and Aβ degradation, MM glycome, and macrophage clearance of Aβ.MethodsWe followed for 31.3 months (mean) ten PUFA-supplemented neurodegenerative patients: 3 with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), 2 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 3 MCI/vascular cognitive impairment, 2 with dementia with Lewy bodies, and 7 non-supplemented caregivers. We examined: monocyte migration in the brain and a blood-brain barrier model by immunochemistry and electron microscopy; macrophage transcriptome by RNAseq; macrophage glycome by N-glycan profiling and LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry; and macrophage phenotype and phagocytosis by immunofluorescence.ResultsMM invade Aβ plaques, upload but do not degrade Aβ, and release Aβ into vessels, which develop cerebrovascular amyloid angiopathy (CAA); PUFA upregulate energy and Aβ degradation enzyme transcripts in macrophages; PUFA enhance sialylated N-glycans in macrophages; PUFA reduce oxidative stress and increase pro-resolution MM phenotype, mitochondrial membrane potential, and Aβ phagocytosis (p

The authors aim to present in the form of a dialogue between two psychoanalysts, Psi1 and Psi2, some theoretical and practical controversies encountered in Relational Psychoanalysis and, more generally, in the field of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The two clinicians discuss in depth the concept of ‘configuration’ in relational psychoanalysis, questioning its meaning and clinical application, and highlighting the complexity of the method. The debate begins with the concept of trauma and where it stands in relation to the configuration of the I-Subject. Psi1 highlights the unsaturated nature of meta-criteria, warning of theoretical self-referentiality, while Psi2 focuses on the importance of clinical practice and understanding the specificity of the patient. Through this comparison, the authors offer an open and flexible view of the clinical perspective, aiming to respect the uniqueness of each individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchrotron X‐ray microtomography (XMT) was used to measure total air‐water interfacial areas (Aaw) as a function of water saturation (Sw) for several soils that comprise a range of physical and geochemical properties. Measurements were also conducted for glass beads and quartz sands for comparison. Apparent near‐linear Aaw‐Sw relationships are observed for the three sands and the three sandy soils. In contrast, the measured interfacial areas for two soils that contain greater proportions of silt and clay are strongly nonlinear functions of water saturation. The greater degree of nonlinearity observed for these two soils is due to their much greater particle‐size distributions (i.e., uniformity coefficients) and their concomitant greater range in pore sizes. Interfacial areas determined with the thermodynamic method were used to benchmark the XMT measurements. XMT‐measured interfacial areas compare well to the thermodynamic‐determined values for the sands and sandy soils. In contrast, the XMT‐measured interfacial areas for the two soils with larger particle‐size distributions are not fully congruent with the thermodynamic‐determined values. Both of these soils have large fractions of pore space comprising nominal pore diameters smaller than the resolution of the XMT imaging. These results suggest that air‐water interfacial area may not always be fully characterized by standard XMT for soils with large particle‐size distributions. Plain Language Summary: High‐resolution pore‐scale imaging is conducted for several sands and soils to examine the relationship between the magnitude of air‐water interfacial area and water saturation as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the imaging method. Key Points: X‐ray microtomography (XMT) measurements of air‐water interfacial area are reported for soilsThe relationship between air‐water interfacial area and water saturation is nonlinearBenchmarking results indicate that XMT may not measure all interfacial area for soils with higher silt and clay contents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow foundations are usually built above the groundwater table. In such cases, this soil is considered dry in analysis and design, while it is actually an unsaturated soil. This unsaturated soil can lead to many geotechnical issues, such as swelling when wet and collapsing when dry. It can also change the soil's shear strength, which in turn affects the bearing capacity of the soil. The classical principles of saturated soil are often not suitable for explaining these phenomena. Limited studies dealt with a large scale model close to the field conditions for such soil and therefore, there is much more room for improvement. The study reveals that compacting the expansive soil on the wet side of optimum is capable of reducing swelling pressure and the expansion index for both the bentonite–sand mixture and kaolin soil. The bearing capacity of a footing resting on both swelling and non-swelling soils decreases noticeably with the increase in the soil degree of saturation due to the effect of matric suction which increases the soil stiffness. The results show that the measured bearing capacity is (1.1–3.3) higher than that estimated by Terzaghi equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theoretical and practical studies of the cyclic loads resulting from the movement and passage of trains on the unsaturated subgrade to determine the effect of the degree of saturation and moisture content on the foundations and infrastructure of the railway lines, especially the settlement in the railway lines as a result of the development of the train loads. Thirty-six laboratory experiments were carried out using models that simulate a railway with nearly half the scale of the real one, using an iron box of (1.5 × 1.0 × 1.0) meters and a layer of clay soil with a thickness of 0.5 m representing the base layer, were constructed inside it. Above it, there is a layer of crushed stone representing a 0.2 m thick ballast, topped by a rail line of 0.8 m long installed on three sleeper beams with dimensions of 0.9 m (0.1 × 0.1 m). The subgrade layer has been constructed at different saturation degrees as follows: 100, 80, 70, and 60%. The tests were carried out using different load amplitudes and frequencies. These experiments investigated the effect of the subgrade degree of saturation on the value of the stresses generated on the surface and the middle (vertical and lateral stresses) and the settlement of the subgrade. In the case of unsaturated subgrade soil, an increase in load frequency has a clear effect on increasing the generated stresses in the subgrade layer, especially with lower saturation levels. However, the results and measurements of these experiments found that the load frequency almost had no effect on the values of the stresses generated on the surface and inside the subgrade layer with a 100% degree of saturation. The results of the investigation demonstrated that, while load frequency had a minimal effect on track-panel settlement, it increased with the load amplitude and subgrade soil saturation degree. The change of settlement of the track panel with the number of cycles has a high rate at the beginning; after a while from that, it decreases gradually until, after some value of the number of cycles, the settlement changes at a very low rate and gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemodialysis patients (HDPs) have higher blood pressure, higher levels of inflammation, a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and unusually low plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels compared to healthy subjects. The objective of our investigation was to examine the levels of endocannabinoids (eCBs) and oxylipins (OxLs) in female HDPs compared to healthy matched female controls, with the underlying hypothesis that differences in specific PUFA levels in hemodialysis patients would result in changes in eCBs and OxLs. Plasma phospholipid fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography. Plasma was extracted and analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography followed by electrospray ionization and tandem MS for eCBs and OxLs. The global untargeted metabolite profiling of plasma was performed by GCTOF MS. Compared to the controls, HDPs showed lower levels of plasma EPA and the associated OxL metabolites 5- and 12-HEPE, 14,15-DiHETE, as well as DHA derived 19(20)-EpDPE. Meanwhile, no changes in arachidonylethanolamide or 2-arachidonylglycerol in the open circulation were detected. Higher levels of multiple N-acylethanolamides, monoacylglycerols, biomarkers of progressive kidney disease, the nitric oxide metabolism-linked citrulline, and the uremic toxins kynurenine and creatine were observed in HDP. These metabolic differences in cCBs and OxLs help explain the severe inflammatory and cardiovascular disease manifested by HDPs, and they should be explored in future studies.

The fetus is strongly dependent on nutrients from the mother, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In adult animals, n-3 PUFA ameliorates stroke-mediated brain injury, but the modulatory effects of different PUFA content in maternal diet on focal arterial stroke in neonates are unknown. This study explored effects of maternal n-3 or n-6 enriched PUFA diets on neonatal stroke outcomes. Pregnant mice were assigned three isocaloric diets until offspring reached postnatal day (P) 10-13: standard, long-chain n-3 PUFA (n-3) or n-6 PUFA (n-6) enriched. Fatty acid profiles in plasma and brain of mothers and pups were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and cytokines/chemokines by multiplex protein analysis. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) was induced in P9-10 pups and cytokine and chemokine accumulation, caspase-3 and calpain-dependent spectrin cleavage and brain infarct volume were analyzed. The n-3 diet uniquely altered brain lipid profile in naïve pups. In contrast, cytokine and chemokine levels did not differ between n-3 and n-6 diet in naïve pups. tMCAO triggered accumulation of inflammatory cytokines and caspase-3-dependent and -independent cell death in ischemic-reperfused regions in pups regardless of diet, but magnitude of neuroinflammation and caspase-3 activation were attenuated in pups on n-3 diet, leading to protection against neonatal stroke. In conclusion, maternal/postnatal n-3 enriched diet markedly rearranges neonatal brain lipid composition and modulates the response to ischemia. While standard diet is sufficient to maintain low levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines under physiological conditions, n-3 PUFA enriched diet, but not standard diet, attenuates increases of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in ischemic-reperfused regions and protects from neonatal stroke.

Carrier protein-dependent biosynthesis provides a thiotemplated format for the production of natural products. Within these pathways, many reactions display exquisite substrate selectivity, a regulatory framework proposed to be controlled by protein-protein interactions (PPIs). In Escherichia coli, unsaturated fatty acids are generated within the de novo fatty acid synthase by a chain length-specific interaction between the acyl carrier protein AcpP and the isomerizing dehydratase FabA. To evaluate PPI-based control of reactivity, interactions of FabA with AcpP bearing multiple sequestered substrates were analyzed through NMR titration and guided high-resolution docking. Through a combination of quantitative binding constants, residue-specific perturbation analysis, and high-resolution docking, a model for substrate control via PPIs has been developed. The in silico results illuminate the mechanism of FabA substrate selectivity and provide a structural rationale with atomic detail. Helix III positioning in AcpP communicates sequestered chain length identity recognized by FabA, demonstrating a powerful strategy to regulate activity by allosteric control. These studies broadly illuminate carrier protein-dependent pathways and offer an important consideration for future inhibitor design and pathway engineering.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are structural components of membrane phospholipids, and influence cellular function via effects on membrane properties, and also by acting as a precursor pool for lipid mediators. These lipid mediators are formed via activation of pathways involving at least one step of dioxygen-dependent oxidation, and are consequently called oxylipins. Their biosynthesis can be either enzymatically-dependent, utilising the promiscuous cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, or cytochrome P450 mixed function oxidase pathways, or nonenzymatic via free radical-catalyzed pathways. The oxylipins include the classical eicosanoids, comprising prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes, and also more recently identified lipid mediators. With the advent of new technologies there is growing interest in identifying these different lipid mediators and characterising their roles in health and disease. This review brings together contributions from some of those at the forefront of research into lipid mediators, who provide brief introductions and summaries of current understanding of the structure and functions of the main classes of nonclassical oxylipins. The topics covered include omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA biosynthesis pathways, focusing on the roles of the different fatty acid desaturase enzymes, oxidized linoleic acid metabolites, omega-3 PUFA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators, elovanoids, nonenzymatically oxidized PUFAs, and fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids.

The main objective of this study is to determine the appropriateness of unsaturated gypseous soil as a subgrade layer for carrying foundations. A comprehensive laboratory testing program was implemented to investigate the geotechnical characteristics and behavior of unsaturated gypseous soil. Tests that are physical included specific gravity, classification tests, relative density, Proctor compactions, single and double oedometer collapse potential, and static triaxial compression (CU-test). Chemical testing, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Electronic Dissipation x-ray Scanning (EDS) analyses were also carried out. The tests were performed for samples prepared at 70% relative density of the natural gypseous soil. Tests are performed on the natural, unsaturated at degrees of saturation (30%, 60%, and 80%) and fully saturated gypseous soil to investigate the gypseous soil behaviors. In both single and double oedometer testing, it was discovered that the degree of specimen collapse is (Moderate) at 70% relative density, with a collapse index value ranging from (4%). The angle of internal friction for both total and effective stresses (f' and f) decreases as the moisture content of the gypseous soil increases at all saturation levels. In contrast, it was found that the strength of soil cohesion for both total and effective stresses (c' and c) increased with increasing gypseous soil moisture up to saturation (60%), which led to a rise in soil shear strength. The reduction value ranged from (38.50° to 7°) in respect of effective stresses and between (34.50° and 7°) with respect to total stresses. Effective stress increase varied from (10.0 – 26.0 kPa), and total stress increase ranged from (12.50 – 28.0 kPa). Then the strength started gradually decreasing at the saturation degrees 80 and 100%, respectively. As a result, the shear strength of the soil decreases with the value of reduction ranging from (20.0 – 11.50 kPa) for effective stresses and (21.50 – 11.50 kPa) for total stresses.

Background: Few studies have been published about the quality of freshwater fish in Algeria. This study determined the chemical composition and the fatty acid of six species of freshwater fish cultivated in the North region of Algeria (Nile tilapia, red tilapia, common carp, Algerian barb, crucian carp, and mirror carp) as well as the nutritional quality of the lipids in these freshwater fish species. Methods: One hundred and ten freshwater fish were randomly caught in the spring of 2021 from Achor Ali farm (Jijel), Beni-Haroun Dam (Mila), and EL-Agrem Dam (Jijel) from Algeria. Moisture, ash, protein, lipid, and fatty acids were measured according to standard laboratory procedures and protocols of previous studies. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA (XLSTAT 2014), and the pair wise comparison of the means was done by Tukeys test at the 5% significance level (p

The water sensitivity and structural characteristics of collapsible loess are two typical factors that significantly influence its mechanical behaviors. This paper presents a simple and practical elastic-plastic model based on the modified Cam-Clay model to well capture the essential behavior of unsaturated intact loess. The model employs deviator stress and spheric stress as the stress variables, with the water content serving as the moisture variable. The critical state surface of the model can be determined by utilizing the shear strength parameters of unsaturated soil under axisymmetric stress conditions. An initial yield surface equation is established by incorporating structural strength into the elliptical yield surface equation, which is used to determine the starting point for elastic-plastic deformation calculations under different humidity and stress combinations. The model comprises several parameters, each of which has a clear physical interpretation and can be conveniently obtained through conventional triaxial tests. The validity of the model for unsaturated intact loess is confirmed through a comparison with the stress–strain relationship of unsaturated intact loess in the axisymmetric stress state. This work has the potential to significantly enhance our ability to predict and mitigate potential geotechnical disasters, such as foundation deformation under axisymmetric conditions and slope stability problems under non-axisymmetric conditions. Ultimately, the application of this model could contribute to the safety and stability of infrastructure and construction projects in loess regions.

BackgroundMaternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation has profound effects on the development and lifelong health of the child. Long-chain PUFAs are particularly important for myelination and the development of vision during the perinatal period.ObjectivesWe conducted a systematic review to examine the relationship between supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and/or lactation and neurodevelopment in children, to inform the Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.MethodsWe identified articles on omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in pregnant and lactating women that included measures of neurodevelopment in their children (0-18 y) by searching PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, and CINAHL Plus. After dual screening articles for inclusion, we qualitatively synthesized and graded the strength of evidence using pre-established criteria for assessing risk of bias, consistency, directness, precision, and generalizability.ResultsWe included 33 articles from 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 1 prospective cohort study. Of the 8 RCTs that delivered omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplements during pregnancy alone (200-2200 mg/d DHA and 0-1100 mg/d EPA for approximately 20 wk), 5 studies reported ≥1 finding that supplementation improved measures of cognitive development in the infant or child by 6%-11% (P  0.05) result. There was inconsistent or insufficient evidence for other outcomes (language, social-emotional, physical, motor, or visual development; academic performance; risks of attention deficit disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, or depression) and for supplementation during lactation or both pregnancy and lactation. Populations with a lower socioeconomic status and adolescents were underrepresented and studies lacked racial and ethnic diversity.ConclusionsLimited evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy may result in favorable cognitive development in the child. There was insufficient evidence to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy and/or lactation on other developmental outcomes.

Agricultural workers, especially those who work in swine confinement facilities, are at increased risk for developing pulmonary diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic bronchitis due to exposures to fumes, vapors, and organic dust. Repetitive exposure to agricultural dust leads to unresolved inflammation, a common underlying mechanism that worsens lung disease. Besides occupational exposure to dusts, diet also significantly contributes to inflammation and disease progression. Since DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid and its bioactive metabolites have key roles in inflammation resolution, we rationalized that individuals chronically exposed to organic dusts can benefit from dietary modifications. Here, we evaluated the role of DHA in modifying airway inflammation in a murine model of repetitive exposure to an aqueous extract of agricultural dust (three-week exposure to swine confinement dust extract, HDE) and after a one-week resolution/recovery period. We found that mice fed a high DHA diet had significantly increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of DHA-derived resolvins and lower TNFα along with altered plasma levels of endocannabinoids and related lipid mediators. Following the one-week recovery we identified significantly reduced BALF cellularity and cytokine/chemokine release along with increased BALF amphiregulin and resolvins in DHA diet-fed versus control diet-fed mice challenged with HDE. We further report observations on the effects of repetitive HDE exposure on lung Ym1+ and Arg-1+ macrophages. Overall, our findings support a protective role for DHA and identify DHA-derived resolvins and endocannabinoids among the potential mediators of DHA in altering airway inflammation in chronic agricultural dust exposure.

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to determine whether or not unsaturated gypseous soil can function well as a substrate for the foundations of carrying loads. A comprehensive program of testing was carried out with the objective of validating the geotechnical parameters and behavior of the unsaturated gypseous soils. The testing program included specific gravity, moisture content, classification tests, Proctor’s compaction, relative density, and the triaxial test. Additionally, chemical analysis was performed on the samples as well. This approach was employed in a granular soil suction process to eliminate gaps of air in the soil until the soil grains held together. The sample was prepared by using a pump of vacuum with a suction process (approximately −20.0 kPa), and this method was used in the granular soil suction process. As a consequence of this, the suction prevents a specimen from collapsing when it is removed from the apparatus. The next step consisted of conducting a consolidated-undrained triaxial test on the soil. Experiments were performed on materials with a relative density of 35% and several degrees of saturation, such as normal saturation (6%), unsaturated (30, 60, 80%), and 100% saturated. It was shown that there is a reduction in the internal friction angle for the effective and total stresses is caused by an increase in the water content of the soil at any saturation degree. This occurs in both the unsaturated and saturated states of the soil. The angle of friction decreased by 80% of the natural value for both stresses, effective and total. As gypseous soil moisture increases up to the saturation degree of 60%, the soil cohesion for the total and effective stresses rises, where it increased by (220% and 125%) of the natural value for both the effective stress and the total stress, respectively, leading to an increase in the soil’s shear strength (ϕ and c). After then, there was a steady weakening of the force when it reached saturation degrees of 80% and 100%, where it decreased by (44% and 47%) of the maximum value at 60% saturation degree for both the effective stress and the total stress, respectively.

In the present paper, we focus on the study of the transport of mixtures of inorganic and organic compounds (Pyrene and lead) on unsaturated soil at two different water saturations. The soil used is a mixture of sand, clay, and organic matter. The transport of solutes exhibiting different sorption characteristics under steady-state conditions at 0.3 and 0.21 volumetric water contents (VWC) of the porous medium was experimentally investigated in a column. The Thomas model and the two-site first-order approach were used for modeling the adsorption/desorption steps. As the first results, the adsorption and desorption of mono- compound show a strong fixation of the lead than for the pyrene. In addition, the coexisting pollutant tests show the decrease of the lead and pyrene adsorption on soil and the decrease in lead retention after the desorption step. Tests with lower VWC show enhancement of lead adsorption with the multipollutant condition. The model approach shows that the equilibrium condition is not appropriate for all tests even for the lead adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to determine the effect of the consumption of three sources of fatty acids on the relative weight, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the liver, and intestinal morphometry in an early-life animal model. Seventy-six randomly distributed chicks received one of the diets (T1: 97.0% basal diet (BD) + 3.0% inert material, T2: 97.0% BD + 3.0% partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening, T3: 97.0% BD + 3.0% quinoa oil, and T4: 97.0% BD + 3.0% fish oil) until the seventh day of life; samples were then extracted in order to be analyzed. We found that the animals that consumed quinoa oil (T3) or fish oil (T4) had favorable results associated to lower liver weight and better absorption of nutrients at intestinal level due to higher values in the hair length and crypt depth ratio, in comparison to partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening (T2). In conclusion, quinoa oil constitutes a healthy option for consumption and an alternative source to fish oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary pressure plays a critical role in driving fluid flow in unsaturated porous (pores not saturated with liquids but also containing air/gas) structures. The role and importance of capillary pressure have been well documented in geological and soil sciences but remain largely unexplored in the food literature. Available mathematical models for unsaturated food systems have either ignored the capillary-driven flow or combined it with the diffusive flow. Such approaches are bound to impact the accuracy of models. The derivation of the microscale definition of capillary pressure is overviewed, and the limitations of using the microscale definition at the macroscale are discussed. Next, the factors affecting capillary pressure are briefly reviewed. The parametric expressions for capillary pressure as a function of saturation and temperature, developed originally for soils, are listed, and their application for food systems is encouraged. Capillary pressure estimation methods used for food systems are then discussed. Next, the different mathematical formulations for food systems are compared, and the limitations of each formulation are discussed. Additionally, examples of hybrid mixture theory–based multiscale models for frying involving capillary pressure are provided. Capillary-driven liquid flow plays an important role in the unsaturated transport during the processing of porous solid foods. However, measuring capillary pressure in food systems is challenging because of the soft nature of foods. As a result, there is a lack of available capillary pressure data for food systems which has hampered the development of mechanistic models. Nevertheless, providing a fundamental understanding of capillary pressure will aid food engineers in designing new experimental studies and developing mechanistic models for unsaturated processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoxetine is an antidepressant commonly prescribed not only to adults but also to children for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The adverse effects of the long-term treatment reported in some patients, especially in younger individuals, call for a detailed investigation of molecular alterations induced by fluoxetine treatment. Two-year fluoxetine administration to juvenile macaques revealed effects on impulsivity, sleep, social interaction, and peripheral metabolites. Here, we built upon this work by assessing residual effects of fluoxetine administration on the expression of genes and abundance of lipids and polar metabolites in the prelimbic cortex of 10 treated and 11 control macaques representing two monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) genotypes. Analysis of 8871 mRNA transcripts, 3608 lipids, and 1829 polar metabolites revealed substantial alterations of the brain lipid content, including significant abundance changes of 106 lipid features, accompanied by subtle changes in gene expression. Lipid alterations in the drug-treated animals were most evident for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). A decrease in PUFAs levels was observed in all quantified lipid classes excluding sphingolipids, which do not usually contain PUFAs, suggesting systemic changes in fatty acid metabolism. Furthermore, the residual effect of the drug on lipid abundances was more pronounced in macaques carrying the MAOA-L genotype, mirroring reported behavioral effects of the treatment. We speculate that a decrease in PUFAs may be associated with adverse effects in depressive patients and could potentially account for the variation in individual response to fluoxetine in young people.

Avocados are a nutrient-dense plant-food, but limited trial-derived evidence exists about the effects of avocado intake on family nutritional status. We investigated the impact of two levels of avocado allotment, plus a standard nutrition education intervention on the nutritional status of Hispanic/Latino families. Seventy-two families consisting of at least three members of ≥5 years of age and residing in the same home, free of severe chronic disease, not on specific diets, and self-identified of Hispanic heritage, were randomized to one of two levels of avocado allotment (low = 3/week/family or high = 14/week/family) for 6 months plus 12 bi-weekly nutrition education sessions. The primary outcomes included change in a family's total energy and macro- and micronutrient intakes. Primary analysis was intention-to-treat with unpaired, two-sided t-tests to assess mean changes between groups at 6 months. At 6 months, the high avocado allotment group had a significant reduction in energy intake, carbohydrate, animal and vegetable protein, saturated and polyunsaturated fat, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, and vitamin D intakes (all p < 0.05). A high allotment of avocados significantly reduced self-reported energy intake by 29% kcal/family/day, compared to a 3% kcal/family/day reduction in families who received a low allotment. Culturally-appropriate plant-food interventions may alter the nutritional status of at-risk families.

Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play critical roles in membrane stability and cell signaling within the retina. ELOVL2 (Elongation of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids-Like 2), an elongase involved in the synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), has recently been implicated in regulating aging in the mammalian retina. In this work, we characterize the expression and function of elovl2 in the retina development in embryonic zebrafish. Whole mount in situ hybridization shows elovl2 is expressed in the Muller glia in embryonic and adult zebrafish. Lipidomics analysis of elovl2 crispants whole embryos at day 2 and eyes at day 7 demonstrated significant changes in lipids composition, especially on the level of lipids containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Histological analysis of zebrafish lacking elovl2 revealed increased retinal thickness compared to controls at day 7 without gross disruptions of the retinal architecture. Finally, elovl2 crispants showed differences in the visual motor reflex light off (VMR-OFF) at day 7 compared to controls. In sum, inactivation of elovl2 in zebrafish embryos caused changes in lipid composition and in visual behavior, further confirming the important role of LC-PUFAs in healthy vision.

The theoretical and practical studies of the cyclic loads resulting from the movement and passage of trains on the unsaturated subgrade to determine the effect of the degree of saturation and moisture content on the foundations and infrastructure of the railway lines, especially the settlement in the railway lines as a result of the development of the train loads. Thirty-six laboratory experiments were carried out using models that simulate a railway with nearly half the scale of the real one, using an iron box of (1.5 × 1.0 × 1.0) meters and a layer of clay soil with a thickness of 0.5 m representing the base layer, were constructed inside it. Above it, there is a layer of crushed stone representing a 0.2 m thick ballast, topped by a rail line of 0.8 m long installed on three sleeper beams with dimensions of 0.9 m (0.1 × 0.1 m). The subgrade layer has been constructed at different saturation degrees as follows: 100, 80, 70, and 60%. The tests were carried out using different load amplitudes and frequencies. These experiments investigated the effect of the subgrade degree of saturation on the value of the stresses generated on the surface and the middle (vertical and lateral stresses) and the settlement of the subgrade. In the case of unsaturated subgrade soil, an increase in load frequency has a clear effect on increasing the generated stresses in the subgrade layer, especially with lower saturation levels. However, the results and measurements of these experiments found that the load frequency almost had no effect on the values of the stresses generated on the surface and inside the subgrade layer with a 100% degree of saturation. The results of the investigation demonstrated that, while load frequency had a minimal effect on track-panel settlement, it increased with the load amplitude and subgrade soil saturation degree. The change of settlement of the track panel with the number of cycles has a high rate at the beginning; after a while from that, it decreases gradually until, after some value of the number of cycles, the settlement changes at a very low rate and gradually.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not unsaturated gypseous soil can function well as a substrate for the foundations of carrying loads. A comprehensive program of testing was carried out with the objective of validating the geotechnical parameters and behavior of the unsaturated gypseous soils. The testing program included specific gravity, moisture content, classification tests, Proctor's compaction, relative density, and the triaxial test. Additionally, chemical analysis was performed on the samples as well. This approach was employed in a granular soil suction process to eliminate gaps of air in the soil until the soil grains held together. The sample was prepared by using a pump of vacuum with a suction process (approximately −20.0 kPa), and this method was used in the granular soil suction process. As a consequence of this, the suction prevents a specimen from collapsing when it is removed from the apparatus. The next step consisted of conducting a consolidated-undrained triaxial test on the soil. Experiments were performed on materials with a relative density of 35% and several degrees of saturation, such as normal saturation (6%), unsaturated (30, 60, 80%), and 100% saturated. It was shown that there is a reduction in the internal friction angle for the effective and total stresses is caused by an increase in the water content of the soil at any saturation degree. This occurs in both the unsaturated and saturated states of the soil. The angle of friction decreased by 80% of the natural value for both stresses, effective and total. As gypseous soil moisture increases up to the saturation degree of 60%, the soil cohesion for the total and effective stresses rises, where it increased by (220% and 125%) of the natural value for both the effective stress and the total stress, respectively, leading to an increase in the soil's shear strength (ϕ and c). After then, there was a steady weakening of the force when it reached saturation degrees of 80% and 100%, where it decreased by (44% and 47%) of the maximum value at 60% saturation degree for both the effective stress and the total stress, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]