Tissue-Specific Ablation of Liver Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Induces a Metabolically Healthy Obese Phenotype in Female Mice.

Obesity is associated with numerous metabolic complications including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and a reduced capacity for physical activity. Whole-body ablation of liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP) in mice was shown to alleviate several of these metabolic complications; high-fat (HF)-fed LFABP knockout (LFABP) mice developed higher fat mass than their wild-type (WT) counterparts but displayed a metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype with normoglycemia, normoinsulinemia, and reduced hepatic steatosis compared with WT. Since LFABP is expressed in both liver and intestine, in the present study, we generated LFABP conditional knockout (cKO) mice to determine the contributions of LFABP specifically within the liver or within the intestine, to the whole-body phenotype of the global knockout.

Cognitive Performance in Relation to Systemic and Brain Iron at Perimenopause.

Background: The literature on the relationships among blood iron levels, cognitive performance, and brain iron levels specific to women at the menopausal transition is ambiguous at best. The need to better understand these potential relationships in women for whom monthly blood loss (and thus iron loss) is ceasing is highlighted by iron's accumulation in brain tissue over time, thought to be a factor in the development of neurodegenerative disease.

Methods: Non-anemic women who were either low in iron or had normal iron levels for their age and race/ethnicity provided blood samples, underwent MRI scans to estimate brain iron levels, and performed a set of cognitive tasks with concurrent EEG.

Complementary Feeding and Infant Gut Microbiota: A Narrative Review.

: The complementary feeding period, spanning from 6 to 24 months of age, marks the transition from an exclusive liquid diet in infants to a dietary pattern requiring the introduction of solid foods to meet nutritional demands. Complementary feeding coincides with other critical development windows, including the maturation of the gut microbiome. However, the effects of specific solid foods on gut microbiota and the subsequent influence on health outcomes require further investigation.

Preventing and Managing Pre- and Postoperative Micronutrient Deficiencies: A Vital Component of Long-Term Success in Bariatric Surgery.

Bariatric surgery (BS) is an effective treatment for severe obesity and its related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. However, the anatomical and physiological changes associated with these procedures significantly increase the risk of preoperative and postoperative micronutrient deficiencies, which can lead to severe complications such as anemia, osteoporosis, and neurological disorders. This narrative review examines the prevalence and clinical implications of micronutrient deficiencies in BS patients, as well as evidence-based strategies for their prevention and management.

Healthful vs. Unhealthful Plant-Based Restaurant Meals.

Vegan/vegetarian (VEG) restaurants and VEG options in omnivore (OMNI) restaurants may serve unhealthful plant-based food that may be more harmful than a typical American diet. A sample of 561 restaurants with online menus were analyzed over a 3-year period. Each plant-based menu entrée was counted, up to a maximum of ten entrées per restaurant, meaning that a restaurant customer could select from ten or more healthful plant-based choices.

Body Mass Index and Cardiovascular Risk Markers: A Large Population Analysis.

An elevated body mass index (BMI) has been added to the new American Heart Association atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk model. Our goal in this study was to examine the relationships between BMI and traditional and non-traditional ASCVD risk factors. We measured levels of blood glucose, insulin, lipids, lipoproteins, sterols, fatty acids, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and hormones in 226,000 middle-aged and elderly subjects (55% women) and associated those parameters to BMI in 5 groups (BMI 20-25, 25.

Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Mutant with Enhanced Nattokinase Production via ARTP Mutagenesis.

Nattokinase (NK), a serine protease with high thrombolytic activity, has significant potential for application in foods intended for special health benefits. However, the NK production in wild-type natto is relatively low. In this study, a high-yielding NK and genetically stable mutant strain ( JNC002.

A Systematic Literature Review of Cultured Meat Through the Conceptual Frameworks of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Global Value Chain.

Cultured meat (CM) is currently experiencing a surge in popularity, primarily due to its promise to produce animal-based products with a lower environmental impact and a higher level of animal welfare. Although CM production remains limited and lacks pre-market approval (except for Singapore and the USA), recent technological advancements have been notable. A greater number of stakeholders, including biotechnology companies, start-ups, private investors, NGOs and big agrifood companies, are entering the CM value chain.

Advances in Mechanisms of Anaphylaxis in Wheat Allergy: Utility of Rodent Models.

Wheat is a staple and nutritious food that is consumed globally. However, it is identified as a major allergenic food because of its capacity to trigger life-threatening systemic anaphylaxis. The specific mechanisms that underlie this systemic anaphylaxis in wheat allergy are incompletely understood.

Quality and Consumer Acceptance of Chia Seed as an Egg Substitute in Brownies.

Chia seeds have emerged as a promising natural substitute for eggs in various baked products due to their unique gelling properties and ability to bind ingredients. Their gelling abilities closely mimic the moisture-retention functions of eggs in baked goods. The growing interest in plant-based alternatives creates a larger market for more sustainable foods.

Sensory Properties and Acceptability of Fermented Pearl Millet, a Climate-Resistant and Nutritious Grain, Among Consumers in the United States-A Pilot Study.

Millets are climate-resistant, potential alternatives to wheat that could provide environmental, food security, and health benefits (e.g., lower glycemic index).

Melatonin/P34HB Films for Active Packaging: Optimizing Flavor Preservation and Quality of Honey Peaches During Storage.

To address unpredictable flavor changes in postharvest peaches during storage, this study investigated the use of bioactive packaging with melatonin-infused P34HB films. Films with melatonin concentrations of 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% were prepared using the extrusion casting method and applied to peach storage at room temperature. Comprehensive film properties were characterized, showing that melatonin minimally impacted the films' mechanical properties, including gas and water vapor permeability, but significantly increased film haze.

Beliefs, Practices, and Knowledge of Household Food Handlers Regarding the Impact of Electricity Outages on Food Safety: Findings from a National Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon.

Food safety continues to be a global concern threatening human life, especially in low-income countries where frequent electricity outages pose higher risks to food safety, increasing the risks of foodborne illnesses due to temperature fluctuations. This study aimed to assess the consumer's knowledge of food safety, beliefs, and household practices during electricity cut-off. A cross-sectional study among consumers in Lebanon was conducted using an online survey (n = 571).

Cross-Cultural Comparison (13 Countries) of Consumers' Willingness to Eat Specific Insect Powders in Five Food Types.

By 2050, the world's population will rise to 9 billion, which implies that it is necessary to double protein production. We should consider more sustainable, alternative forms of protein. A solution to this is the use of insects, which offer high levels of protein and require less water than poultry, pork, and beef production.

Double Emulsion Microencapsulation System for Using Pea Protein and Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Microencapsulation using a double emulsion system can improve the viability of probiotic cells during storage and digestion. In this study, a double emulsion system W/O/W was designed to microencapsulate using pea protein (PP) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) at various proportions, and the effect of their proportions on the stability and efficacy of the encapsulation system was studied. The double emulsions were prepared by a two-step emulsification process: the internal aqueous phase containing probiotic strain (W) was homogenized into the oil phase (O), which was then homogenized into the external aqueous phase (W) containing 15% wall materials with varying proportions of PP and CNCs [F1 (100:0), F2 (96:4), F3 (92:8), F4 (88:12), F5 (84:16), F6 (80:20)].

Impact of Anaerobic Fermentation Liquid on Bok Choy and Mechanism of Combined Vitamin C from Bok Choy and Allicin in Treatment of DSS Colitis.

In the context of pollution-free waste treatment, anaerobic fermentation liquid (AFL), a prominent by-product of biogas engineering, has emerged as a focal point in contemporary research. Concurrently, vitamin C, an active compound abundant in fruits and vegetables, possesses extensive application potential. The development of efficient extraction processes and the utilization of its biological activities have garnered significant attention from researchers.

Towards Sustainable Aquafeeds: Microalgal ( sp. QH25) Co-Product Biomass Can Fully Replace Fishmeal in the Feeds for Rainbow Trout ().

Aquaculture, one of the world's most rapidly growing food sectors, faces several concerns about its sustainability. A major concern is using fishmeal and fish oil from ocean-derived small pelagic fish (sardine, anchovy, etc.) in aquaculture feed.

Characterization of Extruded Sorghum-Soy Blends to Develop Pre-Cooked and Nutritionally Dense Fortified Blended Foods.

Food aid commodities are essential food items in global food aid programming. Some are primarily made from an extrusion of corn and soybeans. However, there are concerns about the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) of some of these grains.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Detection of Off-Flavor Compounds in Tench () After Depuration in Clean Water.

Tench () is a warm-temperate, freshwater benthic fish with often unpleasant odors and flavors which result from its natural habitat. These characteristics may deter consumers; therefore, their removal would enhance the fish's palatability and market appeal. Thus, tench were grown in an aquaculture center and subjected to a clean water depuration system in which six sampling points were carried out at 0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h.

Microstructure-Based Magneto-Mechanical Modeling of Magnetorheological Elastomer Composites: A Comparable Analysis of Dipole and Maxwell Methods.

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are smart composite materials with tunable mechanical properties by ferromagnetic particle interactions. This study applied the microstructure-based dipole and Maxwell methods to evaluate the magneto-mechanical coupling and magnetostrictive responses of MREs, focusing on various particle distributions. The finite element modeling of representative volume elements with fixed volume fractions revealed that the straight chain microstructure exhibits the most significant magnetostrictive effect due to its low initial shear stiffness and significant magnetic force contributions.

Vibration Analysis of Shape Memory Alloy Enhanced Multi-Layered Composite Beams with Asymmetric Material Behavior.

This study develops a finite element solution to analyze the vibration response of multi-layer shape memory alloy (SMA) composite beams. Using Euler-Bernoulli beam motion equations with tension-compression asymmetry, based on Poorasadion's model, the Newmark method and Newton-Raphson technique are employed. Validating the model against ABAQUS/Standard results for a homogeneous SMA beam shows good agreement.

Recent Progress in Computational and Data Sciences for Additive Manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing (AM), often referred to as 3D printing, is a preferred technique for producing components that are challenging to manufacture through conventional methods [...

The Effect of Mold Flux Wetting Conditions with Varying Crucible Materials on Crystallization.

Understanding mold flux crystallization is essential for assessing heat transfer during steel casting. The complexity of the mold gap presents challenges in identifying the optimal testing method and nucleation type. This study investigates how variations in wetting properties influence nucleation dynamics, in particular the wetting behaviors of mold flux in platinum and graphite crucibles and how they affect crystallization temperatures and solidification mechanisms.

Bayesian Updating of Fatigue Crack Growth Parameters for Failure Prognosis of Miter Gates.

Navigable waterways play a vital role in the efficient transportation of millions of tons of cargo annually. Inland traffic must pass through a lock, which consists of miter gates. Failures and closures of these gates can significantly disrupt waterborne commerce.

Citrus-Fruit-Based Hydroxyapatite Anodization Coatings on Titanium Implants.

The increasing demand for titanium implants necessitates improved longevity. Plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings enhance implant osseointegration but are susceptible to delamination. Alternatively, anodized hydroxyapatite coatings have shown greater adhesion strengths.