Increased excitatory amino acid transporter 2 levels in basolateral amygdala astrocytes mediate chronic stress–induced anxiety-like behavior

The conventional perception of astrocytes as mere supportive cells within the brain has recently been called into question by empirical evidence, which has revealed their active involvement in regulating brain function and encoding behaviors associated with emotions.Specifically, astrocytes in the basolateral amygdala have been found to play a role in the modulation of anxiety-like behaviors triggered by chronic stress. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms by which basolateral amygdala astrocytes regulate chronic stress–induced anxiety-like behaviors remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we found that in a mouse model of anxiety triggered by unpredictable chronic mild stress, the expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 was upregulated in the basolateral amygdala. Interestingly, our findings indicate that the targeted knockdown of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 specifically within the basolateral amygdala astrocytes was able to rescue the anxiety-like behavior in mice subjected to stress. Furthermore, we found that the overexpression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 in the basolateral amygdala, whether achieved through intracranial administration of excitatory amino acid transporter 2agonists or through injection of excitatory amino acid transporter 2-overexpressing viruses with GfaABC1D promoters, evoked anxiety-like behavior in mice. Our single-nucleus RNA sequencing analysis further confirmed that chronic stress induced an upregulation of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 specifically in astrocytes in the basolateral amygdala. Moreover, through in vivo calcium signal recordings, we found that the frequency of calcium activity in the basolateral amygdala of mice subjected to chronic stress was higher compared with normal mice.After knocking down the expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 in the basolateral amygdala, the frequency of calcium activity was not significantly increased, and anxiety-like behavior was obviously mitigated. Additionally, administration of an excitatory amino acid transporter 2 inhibitor in the basolateral amygdala yielded a notable reduction in anxiety level among mice subjected to stress. These results suggest that basolateral amygdala astrocytic excitatory amino acid transporter 2 plays a role in in the regulation of unpredictable chronic mild stress-induced anxiety-like behavior by impacting the activity of local glutamatergic neurons, and targeting excitatory amino acid transporter 2 in the basolateral amygdala holds therapeutic promise for addressing anxiety disorders.

Effects of LW-AFC on anxiety-like behavior and immune function in corticosterone-induced mice

OBJECTIVE Chronic stress is one of the important factors in the development of many mental and neurological diseases,and cause damage to the central nervous system,affect animal emotions and damage the immune function of the body.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of LW-AFC which extracting from traditional Chinese medicine prescription Liuwei Dihuang decoctionon the anxiety-like behaviorand immune dysfunction abnormalities caused by chronic stress,and whether immune intervention affect the action of LW-AFC.METHODS Male BALB/c mice were subcutaneously injected with corticosterone(25 mg·kg^-1)for 28 d to establish a chronic stress model.Cyclophos⁃phamide(Cy,80 mg·kg^-1)was injected continuously for the initial three days,followed by once a week,LW-AFC(1.6 g·kg^-1)was given continuously for 28 d.Then investigate the emotion changes by open field and elevated plus maze tests,and detected the lymphocyte proliferation,lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood,microglia and astrocyte expression,and inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood and brain tissue.RESULTS The mice showed obvious depressive-like behaviorafter 28 d of continuous corticosterone injection.LW-AFC could significantly improve the anxietybehavior induced by corticosterone injection,but LW-AFC could not improve the anxietybehavior of mice by Cy intervention.The expression of glial cells in hippocampus of corticosterone-induced mice showed an upward trend,and the activation of microglia and astrocytes have significantly increase in corticosterone and Cy injected mice.LW-AFC significantly decreased the activation of microglia and astrocytes in corticosterone-induced mice with Cy intervention.This suggested that LW-AFC can reduce the damage of stress on the immune function of central nervous system under immunosuppres⁃sive state.Furthermore,LW-AFC could significantly up-regulate the proliferation of splenic lymphocyte stimulated by LPS and ConA,up-regulate the proportion of CD3+CD8+cells,reduce the proportion of CD4+/CD8+cells,decrease the secretion of inflammatory factors IL-6 and MCP-1 in plasma,and increase the level of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in plasma of mice induced by chronic corticosteroneinjection.While LW-AFC could promote the inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6in plasma,inhibit the secretion of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 and inflammatory cytokine MCP-1 in hippocampus of corticosterone-induced mice with Cy intervention.CONCLUSION LW-AFC can improve anxiety-likebehavior induced by chronic stress,the Cy intervention affects the alleviation of anxiety-like behavior by LW-AFC as well as the regulation of immune function.The regulation of immune function might be the main way for LW-AFC to improve the function of central nervous system.

Exposure to Hypobaric Hypoxia and Reoxygenation Induces Transient Anxiety-Like Behavior in Rat

Chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) causes memory impairment and prolonged state of mental confusion. However, effect of high altitude exposure on mood state and its underlying mechanisms have been poorly studied.? Present study was undertaken to investigate the mood state alteration following chronic exposure to HH. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups and exposed to hypoxia for 3, 7, 14 and 21 days in an animal decompression chamber at an altitude of 25,000ft. Anxiety-and depression-like behaviors were assessed by using various mazes along with changes in serotonin and glutamate level. Our study revealed a decrease in exploratory, grooming and rearing behavior in open field test following initial exposure to HH for 7 days without affecting the locomotory behavior. Initial exposure to HH-decreased time spent in open arm of elevated plus maze indicating induction of anxiety-like behavior which normalized on prolonged hypoxic exposure for 21 days. Hypoxic exposure for 7 days induced anhedonia and increased despair behavior in rat while there was steady improvement in these behaviors when exposed for 21 days. Decrease in serotonin level was noted in hippocampus along with elevated corticosterone and glutamate level which gradually decreased on prolonged exposure to HH. These findings suggest that initial exposure to HH increases transient anxiety-like behavior in rats followed by gradual improvement in mood state on prolonged exposure. Further, the study also indicates the involvement of serotonergic system in mood state alteration at high altitude following chronic exposure and reoxygenation.

Effects of clonidine on anxiety-like behaviors of rats subjected to chronic hypoperfusional cerebral ischemia

Aim To investigate the effect of clonidine on anxiety-like behaviors of rats subjected to chronic hy- popeffusional cerebral ischemia. Methods Chronic hypopeffusional cerebral ischemia was established by perma- nent bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion （two-vessel occlusion, 2VO）. Three weeks after 2VO, rats were given clonidine （0.05 mg·kg^-1, i. p. ） for 14 days. Behavioural experiments including elevated plus maze （EPM） and open field test （OFT） were applied to evaluate anxiey-like behaviour after four-week ischemia. Re- suits 2VO rats significantly spent less time in open arm of EPM and more time in peripheral region of OFT com- pared with sham rats. Clonidine notably increased open arm time in EPM and prolonged time spent in center region in OFT of 2VO rats. Conlusion Chronic hypopeffusional cerebral ischemia caused anxiety-like behaviors of rats and clonidine showed an important role in improving anxiety-like behaviors in 2VO rats.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate alleviates prenatal pyridaben exposureinduced anxiety-like behaviors in offspring

Pyridaben(PY)is a widely used organochlorine acaricide,which can be detected in the peripheral blood of pregnant women.Available evidence suggests that PY has reproductive toxicity.However,it remains uncertain whether prenatal PY exposure impacts neurobehavioral development in offspring.Here,we administered PY to pregnant mice at a dose of 0.5 and 5 mg kg^(-1)day^(-1)via gavage and observed anxietylike behaviors in PY offspring aged five weeks.We then integrated the metabolome and transcriptome of the offspring's brain to explore the underlying mechanism.Metabolome data indicated that the vitamin B6 metabolism pathway was significantly affected,and the pyridoxal 50-phosphate(PLP)concentration and the active form of vitamin B6 was significantly reduced.Moreover,the transcriptome data showed that both PLP generation-related Pdxk and anxiety-related Gad1 were significantly down-regulated.Meanwhile,there was a decreasing trend in the concentration of GABA in the hippocampal DG region.Next,we supplemented PLP at a dose of 20 mg kg^(-1)day^(-1)to the PY offspring via intraperitoneal injection at three weeks.We found up-regulated expression of Pdxk and Gad1 and restored anxiety-like behaviors.This study suggests that prenatal exposure to PY can disrupt vitamin B6 metabolism,reduce the concentration of PLP,down-regulate the expression levels of Pdxk and Gad1,inhibit the production of GABA,and ultimately lead to anxiety-like behaviors in offspring.

Pinealectomy and Exogenous Melatonin Regulate Anxiety-Like and Depressive-Like Behaviors in Male and Female Wistar Rats

The main objective of this work was to 1) study the influence of endogenous melatonin (Mel) abolishment via pinealectomy and 2) explore exogenous Mel effect on anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior in male and female rats. Rats were shamoperated (Sh) or pinealectomized (Px) and following subgroups were selected 1) Px/NaCl (0.9%) and Sh/NaCl (0.9%) : rats injected subcutaneously, once daily for 8 weeks, with saline solution NaCl (0.9%) as vehicle;2) Px/Mel (4 mg/Kg) and Sh/Mel (4 mg/Kg): Rats similarly injected with 4 mg/Kg of Mel. All animals were housed under a photoperiod of (LD:16/8). After different treatments animals were tested in the open-field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPM) to determine anxiety-like behavior, and forced swimming test (FST) to evaluate depressive-like level. Our results revealed that level of anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior are significantly higher in Px/NaCl (0.9%) when compared to Sh/NaCl (0.9%) group, suggesting that pinelectomy induced an anxiogenic and depressant effects. The Px effects would be due to the absence of endogenous Mel synthesis and release. Additionally, we clearly demonstrated that the level of anxiety-like and depressive-like behavior are higher in Px/Mel (4 mg/Kg) and Sh/Mel when compared respectively to Px/NaCl (4 mg/Kg) and Sh/NaCl groups suggesting an anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of exogenous Mel. Behavioral responses were sex dependent since the difference between females and males, especially, after melatonin administration, were statistically significant. These experiments provide evidence that pinealectomy and Mel regulated emotionally behavior in male and female rats.

Integrated ribosome and proteome analyses reveal insights into sevoflurane-induced long-term social behavior and cognitive dysfunctions through ADNP inhibition in neonatal mice

A growing number of studies have demonstrated that repeated exposure to sevoflurane during development results in persistent social abnormalities and cognitive impairment.Davunetide,an active fragment of the activity-dependent neuroprotective protein(ADNP),has been implicated in social and cognitive protection.However,the potential of davunetide to attenuate social deficits following sevoflurane exposure and the underlying developmental mechanisms remain poorly understood.In this study,ribosome and proteome profiles were analyzed to investigate the molecular basis of sevoflurane-induced social deficits in neonatal mice.The neuropathological basis was also explored using Golgi staining,morphological analysis,western blotting,electrophysiological analysis,and behavioral analysis.Results indicated that ADNP was significantly down-regulated following developmental exposure to sevoflurane.In adulthood,anterior cingulate cortex(ACC)neurons exposed to sevoflurane exhibited a decrease in dendrite number,total dendrite length,and spine density.Furthermore,the expression levels of Homer,PSD95,synaptophysin,and vglut2 were significantly reduced in the sevoflurane group.Patch-clamp recordings indicated reductions in both the frequency and amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents(mEPSCs).Notably,davunetide significantly ameliorated the synaptic defects,social behavior deficits,and cognitive impairments induced by sevoflurane.Mechanistic analysis revealed that loss of ADNP led to dysregulation of Ca^(2+)activity via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling,resulting in decreased expression of synaptic proteins.Suppression of Wnt signaling was restored in the davunetide-treated group.Thus,ADNP was identified as a promising therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of neurodevelopmental toxicity caused by general anesthetics.This study provides important insights into the mechanisms underlying social and cognitive disturbances caused by sevoflurane exposure in neonatal mice and elucidates the regulatory pathways involved.

Association of preschool children behavior and emotional problems with the parenting behavior of both parents

BACKGROUND Parental behaviors are key in shaping children’s psychological and behavioral development,crucial for early identification and prevention of mental health issues,reducing psychological trauma in childhood.AIM To investigate the relationship between parenting behaviors and behavioral and emotional issues in preschool children.METHODS From October 2017 to May 2018,7 kindergartens in Ma’anshan City were selected to conduct a parent self-filled questionnaire-Health Development Survey of Preschool Children.Children’s Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire(Parent Version)was applied to measures the children’s behavioral and emotional performance.Parenting behavior was evaluated using the Parental Behavior Inventory.Binomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between the detection rate of preschool children’s behavior and emotional problems and their parenting behaviors.RESULTS High level of parental support/participation was negatively correlated with conduct problems,abnormal hyperactivity,abnormal total difficulty scores and abnormal prosocial behavior problems.High level of maternal support/participation was negatively correlated with abnormal emotional symptoms and abnormal peer interaction in children.High level of parental hostility/coercion was positively correlated with abnormal emotional symptoms,abnormal conduct problems,abnormal hyperactivity,abnormal peer interaction,and abnormal total difficulty scores in children(all P<0.05).Moreover,paternal parenting behaviors had similarly effects on behavior and emotional problems of preschool children compared with maternal parenting behaviors(all P>0.05),after calculating ratio of odds ratio values.CONCLUSION Our study found that parenting behaviors are associated with behavioral and emotional issues in preschool children.Overall,the more supportive or involved the parents are,the fewer behavioral and emotional problems the children experience;conversely,the more hostile or controlling the parents are,the more behavioral and emotional problems the children face.Moreover,the impact of fathers’parenting behaviors on preschool children’s behavior and emotions is no less significant than that of mothers’parenting behaviors.

Microstructures and micromechanical behaviors of high -entropy alloys investigated by synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques: A review

High-entropy alloys(HEAs)possess outstanding features such as corrosion resistance,irradiation resistance,and good mechan-ical properties.A few HEAs have found applications in the fields of aerospace and defense.Extensive studies on the deformation mech-anisms of HEAs can guide microstructure control and toughness design,which is vital for understanding and studying state-of-the-art structural materials.Synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction are necessary techniques for materials science research,especially for in situ coupling of physical/chemical fields and for resolving macro/microcrystallographic information on materials.Recently,several re-searchers have applied synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction methods to study the deformation mechanisms,phase transformations,stress behaviors,and in situ processes of HEAs,such as variable-temperature,high-pressure,and hydrogenation processes.In this review,the principles and development of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction are presented,and their applications in the deformation mechanisms of HEAs are discussed.The factors that influence the deformation mechanisms of HEAs are also outlined.This review fo-cuses on the microstructures and micromechanical behaviors during tension/compression or creep/fatigue deformation and the application of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction methods to the characterization of dislocations,stacking faults,twins,phases,and intergrain/interphase stress changes.Perspectives on future developments of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction and on research directions on the deformation mechanisms of novel metals are discussed.

PCDH17 restricts dendritic spine morphogenesis by regulating ROCK2-dependent control of the actin cytoskeleton,modulating emotional behavior

Proper regulation of synapse formation and elimination is critical for establishing mature neuronal circuits and maintaining brain function.Synaptic abnormalities,such as defects in the density and morphology of postsynaptic dendritic spines,underlie the pathology of various neuropsychiatric disorders.Protocadherin 17(PCDH17)is associated with major mood disorders,including bipolar disorder and depression.However,the molecular mechanisms by which PCDH17 regulates spine number,morphology,and behavior remain elusive.In this study,we found that PCDH17 functions at postsynaptic sites,restricting the number and size of dendritic spines in excitatory neurons.Selective overexpression of PCDH17 in the ventral hippocampal CA1 results in spine loss and anxiety-and depression-like behaviors in mice.Mechanistically,PCDH17 interacts with actin-relevant proteins and regulates actin filament(F-actin)organization.Specifically,PCDH17 binds to ROCK2,increasing its expression and subsequently enhancing the activity of downstream targets such as LIMK1 and the phosphorylation of cofilin serine-3(Ser3).Inhibition of ROCK2 activity with belumosudil(KD025)ameliorates the defective F-actin organization and spine structure induced by PCDH17 overexpression,suggesting that ROCK2 mediates the effects of PCDH17 on F-actin content and spine development.Hence,these findings reveal a novel mechanism by which PCDH17 regulates synapse development and behavior,providing pathological insights into the neurobiological basis of mood disorders.

A Comparative Study on the Post-Buckling Behavior of Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipes(RTPs)Under External Pressure Considering Progressive Failure

The collapse pressure is a key parameter when RTPs are applied in harsh deep-water environments.To investigate the collapse of RTPs,numerical simulations and hydrostatic pressure tests are conducted.For the numerical simulations,the eigenvalue analysis and Riks analysis are combined,in which the Hashin failure criterion and fracture energy stiffness degradation model are used to simulate the progressive failure of composites,and the“infinite”boundary conditions are applied to eliminate the boundary effects.As for the hydrostatic pressure tests,RTP specimens were placed in a hydrostatic chamber after filled with water.It has been observed that the cross-section of the middle part collapses when it reaches the maximum pressure.The collapse pressure obtained from the numerical simulations agrees well with that in the experiment.Meanwhile,the applicability of NASA SP-8007 formula on the collapse pressure prediction was also discussed.It has a relatively greater difference because of the ignorance of the progressive failure of composites.For the parametric study,it is found that RTPs have much higher first-ply-failure pressure when the winding angles are between 50°and 70°.Besides,the effect of debonding and initial ovality,and the contribution of the liner and coating are also discussed.

Neurophysiological, histological, and behavioral characterization of animal models of distraction spinal cord injury: a systematic review

Distraction spinal cord injury is caused by some degree of distraction or longitudinal tension on the spinal cord and commonly occurs in patients who undergo corrective operation for severe spinal deformity.With the increased degree and duration of distraction,spinal cord injuries become more serious in terms of their neurophysiology,histology,and behavior.Very few studies have been published on the specific characteristics of distraction spinal cord injury.In this study,we systematically review 22 related studies involving animal models of distraction spinal cord injury,focusing particularly on the neurophysiological,histological,and behavioral characteristics of this disease.In addition,we summarize the mechanisms underlying primary and secondary injuries caused by distraction spinal cord injury and clarify the effects of different degrees and durations of distraction on the primary injuries associated with spinal cord injury.We provide new concepts for the establishment of a model of distraction spinal cord injury and related basic research,and provide reference guidelines for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Influence of heat treatment on microstructure,mechanical and corrosion behavior of WE43 alloy fabricated by laser-beam powder bed fusion

Magnesium(Mg)alloys are considered to be a new generation of revolutionary medical metals.Laser-beam powder bed fusion(PBF-LB)is suitable for fabricating metal implants withpersonalized and complicated structures.However,the as-built part usually exhibits undesirable microstructure and unsatisfactory performance.In this work,WE43 parts were firstly fabricated by PBF-LB and then subjected to heat treatment.Although a high densification rate of 99.91%was achieved using suitable processes,the as-built parts exhibited anisotropic and layeredmicrostructure with heterogeneously precipitated Nd-rich intermetallic.After heat treatment,fine and nano-scaled Mg24Y5particles were precipitated.Meanwhile,theα-Mg grainsunderwent recrystallization and turned coarsened slightly,which effectively weakened thetexture intensity and reduced the anisotropy.As a consequence,the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were significantly improved to(250.2±3.5)MPa and(312±3.7)MPa,respectively,while the elongation was still maintained at a high level of 15.2%.Furthermore,the homogenized microstructure reduced the tendency of localized corrosion and favoredthe development of uniform passivation film.Thus,the degradation rate of WE43 parts was decreased by an order of magnitude.Besides,in-vitro cell experiments proved their favorable biocompatibility.

Towards precision 24-hour movement behavior recommendations—The next new paradigm?

1.Background The importance of physical activity(PA)for health is unequivocal.^(1)Accordingly,population-based recommendations for exercise,and more recently public health guidelines for PA,have been developed and released by authoritative groups for many decades.^(2)Such guidelines emerged with leadership from the exercise physiology discipline and were rooted in,and loyal to,the importance of moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA(MVPA)or exercise.

Unveiling the brain’s symphony:exploring the necessity and sufficiency of neural networks in behavior control

Since the pioneering work by Broca and Wernicke in the 19th century,who examined individuals with brain lesions to associate them with specific behaviors,it was evident that behaviors are complex and cannot be fully attributable to specific brain areas alone.Instead,they involve connectivity among brain areas,whether close or distant.At that time,this approach was considered the optimal way to dissect brain circuitry and function.These pioneering efforts opened the field to explore the necessity or sufficiency of brain areas in controlling behavior and hence dissecting brain function.However,the connectivity of the brain and the mechanisms through which various brain regions regulate specific behaviors,either individually or collaboratively,remain largely elusive.Utilizing animal models,researchers have endeavored to unravel the necessity or sufficiency of specific brain areas in influencing behavior;however,no clear associations have been firmly established.

Cluster DetectionMethod of Endogenous Security Abnormal Attack Behavior in Air Traffic Control Network

In order to enhance the accuracy of Air Traffic Control(ATC)cybersecurity attack detection,in this paper,a new clustering detection method is designed for air traffic control network security attacks.The feature set for ATC cybersecurity attacks is constructed by setting the feature states,adding recursive features,and determining the feature criticality.The expected information gain and entropy of the feature data are computed to determine the information gain of the feature data and reduce the interference of similar feature data.An autoencoder is introduced into the AI(artificial intelligence)algorithm to encode and decode the characteristics of ATC network security attack behavior to reduce the dimensionality of the ATC network security attack behavior data.Based on the above processing,an unsupervised learning algorithm for clustering detection of ATC network security attacks is designed.First,determine the distance between the clustering clusters of ATC network security attack behavior characteristics,calculate the clustering threshold,and construct the initial clustering center.Then,the new average value of all feature objects in each cluster is recalculated as the new cluster center.Second,it traverses all objects in a cluster of ATC network security attack behavior feature data.Finally,the cluster detection of ATC network security attack behavior is completed by the computation of objective functions.The experiment took three groups of experimental attack behavior data sets as the test object,and took the detection rate,false detection rate and recall rate as the test indicators,and selected three similar methods for comparative test.The experimental results show that the detection rate of this method is about 98%,the false positive rate is below 1%,and the recall rate is above 97%.Research shows that this method can improve the detection performance of security attacks in air traffic control network.

Microstructure and impact behavior of Mg-4Al-5RE-xGd cast magnesium alloys

This work investigated the microstructure and impact behavior of Mg-4Al-5RE-xGd(RE represents La-Ce mischmetal;x=0,0.2,0.7 wt.%)alloys cast by high-pressure die casting(HPDC),permanent mold casting(PMC),and sand casting(SC)techniques.The results indicated that with increasing Gd content,the grain sizes of the HPDC alloy had a slight change,but the grains of the PMC and SC alloys were significantly refined.Besides,the acicular Al_(11)RE_(3)phase was modified into the short-rod shape under the three casting conditions.The impact toughness of the studied alloy was mainly dominated by the absorbed energy during the crack initiation.With increasing Gd content,the impact toughness of the studied alloy monotonically increased due to the lower tendency of the modified second phase toward crack initiation.The impact stress was higher than the tensile stress,exhibiting a strain rate sensitivity for the mechanical response;however,the HPDC alloy had an inconsistent strain rate sensitivity during the impact event due to the transformation of the deformation mechanism from twinning to slip with increasing strain.Abundant dimples covered the fracture surface of the fine-grained HPDC alloys,indicating a typical ductile fracture.Nevertheless,due to the deficient{1012}twinning activity and the suppressed grain boundary sliding during the impact event,the HPDC alloys showed insufficient plastic deformation capacity.

The Impact of Social Media on Dietary Behaviors and Body Image of College Students: A Qualitative Approach

Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional misinformation promoted by influencers and non-experts caused negative impact on diet behavior and perception of body image. Previous research indicated that extensive use of social media was positively linked to disordered eating behaviors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that allow users to follow celebrities intensified exposure to influencers’ messages and images and resulted in negative moods and body dissatisfaction. Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of social media on college students’ dietary behaviors and body image. Participants: 18 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southern United States were recruited through a mass email. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of three focus groups was conducted. The focus groups were based on guiding open-ended questions. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the data using inductive and deductive codes. Results: Three main themes were identified. The conditions theme included elements that explain why and how social media influences the participants’ actions. The actions theme included eating behavior, physical activity, and dietary supplement intake. The consequences theme describes anticipated or actual outcomes of actions such as body image and ideal weight. Conclusions: Social media has had a negative influence on diet behaviors and a positive influence on physical activity. Evidence-based nutrition and weight management information is needed to thwart potential misinformation.

Xylooligosaccharides Alleviate Inflammatory Dermatoses and Related Depression-Like Behaviors in Atopic Dermatitis Mice Induced by 2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene

Objective:To investigate the influence of xylooligosaccharides on skin inflammation,behavioral characteristics,neurotransmitters,and gut flora in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis(AD)induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene(DNFB).Methods:The AD mouse model was created by administration of DNFB for 14 consecutive days.The scoring atopic dermatitis index,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),histopathology,and immunohistochemical analyses were used to assess inflammation and depression-like behaviors.Furthermore,high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to determine the composition of fecal microbiota.Results:Xylooligosaccharides treatment reduced the number of scratches and skin thickness,mast cell infiltration and the levels of immunoglobulin(Ig)E and T-helper cytokines compared with the AD model group.Meanwhile,xylooligosaccharides treatment reduced the immobility time of mice in the forced swimming test and increased the total movement distance and movement distance in the center area in the open-field test.Furthermore,5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine expression in the brain was increased following xylooligosaccharides treatment.Using network pharmacology,Gene Ontology analysis showed that the targets were mainly enriched in phosphatase binding and the regulation of leukocyte differentiation,which ameliorated AD mainly through the hypoxia inducible factor-1 and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B pathways.16S rRNA gene sequencing,diversity indices,and gut microbial taxonomic composition analysis showed DNFB-induced changes in intestinal microbiota diversity in AD mice.Comparative analysis indicated that xylooligosaccharides intake improved the gut microbiome by dramatically enhancing the concentration of Lactobacillus while decreasing the concentration of Bacteroides in mice.Conclusion:Xylooligosaccharides reduce inflammatory dermatosis and related depression-like behaviors via regulating intestinal homeostasis,having medicinal value as a nutritional and functional ingredient.

Prospect Theory Based Individual Irrationality Modelling and Behavior Inducement in Pandemic Control

Understanding and modeling individuals’behaviors during epidemics is crucial for effective epidemic control.However,existing research ignores the impact of users’irrationality on decision-making in the epidemic.Meanwhile,existing disease control methods often assume users’full compliance with measures like mandatory isolation,which does not align with the actual situation.To address these issues,this paper proposes a prospect theorybased framework to model users’decision-making process in epidemics and analyzes how irrationality affects individuals’behaviors and epidemic dynamics.According to the analysis results,irrationality tends to prompt conservative behaviors when the infection risk is low but encourages risk-seeking behaviors when the risk is high.Then,this paper proposes a behavior inducement algorithm to guide individuals’behaviors and control the spread of disease.Simulations and real user tests validate our analysis,and simulation results show that the proposed behavior inducement algorithm can effectively guide individuals’behavior.