Nutrigenomics: future for sustenance

Nutrigenomics deals with the effect of foods and food constituents on gene expression. It is a new concept in disease prevention and cure. Nutrigenomics conveys how nutrients influence our body to express genes, whereas nutrigenetics refers to how our body responds to nutrients. The various bioactive food components can alter the gene expression mechanisms. But our actual knowledge is so insufficient that the only use of such information may help to satisfy our imagination. If science could arrive at some more precise facts, that would have vast applications in medicine.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in children affected by allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma: results from the second “SIAIP rhinosinusitis and conjunctivitis committee” survey

Background The role of allergic sensitization seems to be protective against SARS CoV2 infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using online surveys, the impact of COVID-19 on Italian allergic children, comparing the prevalence of AR and asthma symptoms between the first and second pandemic wave. Methods Both surveys were emailed to Italian pediatricians in April 2020 (first survey) and in March 2021 (second survey). The first one was related to the impact of COVID-19 and the most frequently reported symptoms. The second one was superimposed on the previous one, taking into account some additional aspects in the management of disease. Results A total of 99 pediatricians participated in the first survey and 267 in the second one. The first survey showed that, asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis prevalence was mostly between 0 and 20% throughout the country. The second survey showed a lower prevalence of both diseases nationwide in comparison to the first one. Comparing the two surveys, statistically significant differences were reported only in the distribution of asthma prevalence in Southern Italy while no differences were highlighted in the North and in the Center. Finally regarding allergic rhinoconjunctivitis prevalence, no differences were noticed nationwide. Conclusions Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma, if under control, did not represent risk factors for the susceptibility to SARS CoV2. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to continue therapies during COVID-19 outbreak, according to the international guidelines. However, being COVID-19 a new disease, actual knowledge will undergo continuous improvements over time.

Self-Assessment of Competencies by Bachelor Students in Computer Science

Competency achievements in a Computer Science Bachelor are studied using self-assessment by graduating students at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University. Changes across the two ‘pandemic’ years 2020 and 2021 with respect to subsidiary, satisfaction and competencies are analysed. One goal was to identify which competencies may have suffered due to the different number of online semesters. The data shows very few significant differences by type of competencies. Larger differences may be due to a change in lecturer. Difference in satisfaction in some subsidiaries is found. Students from the 2021 group feel that their grades reflect their actual knowledge less than the 2020 group. The methodology presented here provides a valid tool for long-term quality assessment based on student feedback. There are limitations based on the data elicitation. Students are not required to take the survey. Self-assessment is not considered to be sufficient for a validation of achieved competencies. However, it reflects satisfaction and perceived quality. Autovalutazione delle competenze da parte degli studenti di laurea in informatica. I risultati di apprendimento in un Corso di Laurea di primo livello di informatica sono analizzati nel presente contributo utilizzando l’autovalutazione degli studenti laureati all’Università della Cooperative State University del Baden-Württemberg (Germania). Vengono analizzati i cambiamenti nella progressione di competenze acquisite nei due anni di pandemia (2020 e 2021) in ordine a sede universitaria, livello di soddisfazione e risultati di apprendimento. Un obiettivo era quello di identificare le competenze maggiormente influenzate dall’utilizzo della didattica a distanza. I dati mostrano scarse differenze in ordine al tipo di competenze acquisite. Le differenze più significative sono correlate al cambio di docente. In alcune sedi si rilevano differenze nella soddisfazione degli studenti. Gli studenti del cluster 2021 ritengono che la loro valutazione rifletta le loro conoscenze realmente acquisite, a differenza del cluster di studenti del 2020. La metodologia illustrata nel presente contributo fa riferimento ad uno strumento utile per la valutazione della qualità degli apprendimenti basata sul feedback degli studenti. Le limitazioni connesse allo studio riguardano le modalità di rilevazione dei dati. Gli studenti non sono tenuti a partecipare allo studio. L’autovalutazione non è sufficiente per convalidare le competenze acquisite, consente però di rilevare la soddisfazione e la qualità percepita dagli studenti.

Actual and Perceived Knowledge About COVID-19: The Role of Information Behavior in Media

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a health threat that has dominated media coverage. However, not much is known about individual media use to acquire knowledge about COVID-19. To address this open research question, this study investigated how the perceived threat is linked to media use and how media use is associated with perceived and actual knowledge about COVID-19. In a German online survey conducted between April 16 and April 27, 2020, N = 952 participants provided information on their perceived threat and media use to inform themselves about COVID-19. In this process, they indicated how well they were informed about COVID-19 (perceived knowledge) and subsequently completed a COVID-19 knowledge test (actual knowledge). Results indicated that individuals who felt more threatened by COVID-19 used media more often to inform themselves (b = 0.20, p < 0.001) but focused on fewer different media channels (b = 0.01, p < 0.001). Further, frequent media use was associated with higher perceived knowledge (b = 0.47, p < 0.001), but not with higher actual knowledge about COVID-19 (b = −0.01, p = 0.938), reflecting an illusion of knowledge. Additionally, using fewer media channels was linked to higher perceived (b = 2.21, p < 0.001) and actual knowledge (b = 2.08, p = 0.008). Finally, explorative analyses on the use of different media channels revealed that an illusion of knowledge emerged for using social media, public television, and newspapers. Potential explanations for the findings and implications for future research are discussed.

Adult Children’s Monitoring, Knowledge, and Intergenerational Ambivalence

Monitoring aging parents' daily life is an essential task for adult children to ensure their parents’ health and safety. The current study examined domains of parents' lives that adult children monitored as caregivers. Based on social domain theory (Smetana, 1999), we hypothesized that adult children would monitor parents’ health and safety issues as respecting parents’ autonomy in other issues. The study also examined how adult children’s belief in need for monitoring and their perception of having actual knowledge of their parents’ behaviors and thoughts would relate to the intensity of their intergenerational ambivalence. Adults who had at least one living parent (N=398, Mage=60, SD=7.7, range 45-77) participated in online surveys. Issues of parents' lives that adult children monitored were categorized into four domains by factor analysis: parents' financial safety, health and physical safety, substance use, and plans with other adult children. A series of regression analyses revealed that adult children's sense of need to know about parents' financial safety was associated with lower ambivalence, B=-.60, SE=.18, β=-.23, p=.001, whereas parents’ physical safety was associated with greater ambivalence, B=.42, SE=.19, β =.17, p=.03. Adult children's perception of their knowledge about parents' financial safety was positively associated with their ambivalence, B=.58, SE=.20, β=.22, p=.004, whereas adult children's perception of parents' physical safety was negatively associated with their ambivalence, B=-.42, SE=.21, β=-.14, p=.05. Different meanings of different types of parents' safety issues for adult children as their caregivers and suggestions for future research will be discussed.

Does Knowledge about Climate Change Predict Concern? Concern for Climate Change and the Knowledge-Deficit Theory

<p>The knowledge-deficit theory suggests that if people are not concerned about climate change, it is because there is a deficit in their knowledge of climate change—they do not properly comprehend the scientific consensus. So do people with higher levels of knowledge about climate change feel more concerned than those with lower knowledge levels? Existing research has been inconclusive but suggests differences between perceived and actual knowledge. This thesis comprises two studies. Study 1 tests the effect of perceived knowledge on concern for climate change with a nationally representative, randomly selected sample of 269 New Zealanders. Study 2 tests the effect of actual knowledge about climate change on concern with a sample of 452 New Zealanders recruited via snowball sampling. Results supported the knowledge-deficit theory for concern for climate change, but only when actual knowledge was tested. Participants in both Study 1 and Study 2 with high perceived knowledge did not have correspondingly high levels of concern, but Study 2 participants with high actual knowledge of climate change did also have high levels of concern. Other variables tested that consistently predicted high concern for climate change were perceived efficacy (the perception that one's actions will influence group outcomes) and environmental values. Demographic variables were not strong or consistent predictors of concern, but overall, younger female participants tended to display higher levels of concern than older male participants.</p>

Does Knowledge about Climate Change Predict Concern? Concern for Climate Change and the Knowledge-Deficit Theory

<p>The knowledge-deficit theory suggests that if people are not concerned about climate change, it is because there is a deficit in their knowledge of climate change—they do not properly comprehend the scientific consensus. So do people with higher levels of knowledge about climate change feel more concerned than those with lower knowledge levels? Existing research has been inconclusive but suggests differences between perceived and actual knowledge. This thesis comprises two studies. Study 1 tests the effect of perceived knowledge on concern for climate change with a nationally representative, randomly selected sample of 269 New Zealanders. Study 2 tests the effect of actual knowledge about climate change on concern with a sample of 452 New Zealanders recruited via snowball sampling. Results supported the knowledge-deficit theory for concern for climate change, but only when actual knowledge was tested. Participants in both Study 1 and Study 2 with high perceived knowledge did not have correspondingly high levels of concern, but Study 2 participants with high actual knowledge of climate change did also have high levels of concern. Other variables tested that consistently predicted high concern for climate change were perceived efficacy (the perception that one's actions will influence group outcomes) and environmental values. Demographic variables were not strong or consistent predictors of concern, but overall, younger female participants tended to display higher levels of concern than older male participants.</p>

Social Epistemology, Descriptive and Normative

Social epistemology ought to incorporate both a descriptive element (understanding our actual knowledge practices) and a normative element (assessing and evaluating those practices). While the two dominant traditions of social epistemology research in the last three decades tend to privilege one of these elements over the other, this chapter aims to articulate and defend an approach that can accommodate both and avoid the distortions.

Apiose-Relevant Glycosidases

Apiose is a branched pentose naturally occurring either as a component of the plant cell wall polysaccharides or as a sugar moiety present in numerous plant secondary metabolites such as flavonoid and phenylethanoid glycosides, substrates in plant defense systems or as glycosylated aroma precursors. The enzymes catalyzing hydrolysis of such apiosylated substances (mainly glycosidases specific towards apiose or acuminose) have promising applications not only in hydrolysis (flavor development), but potentially also in the synthesis of apiosides and apioglucosides with pharmaceutical relevance. This review summarizes the actual knowledge of glycosidases recognizing apiose and their potential application in biocatalysis.