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Several plant papain-like cysteine proteases are exploited by the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and textile industries. However, some of these enzymes can cause allergic reactions. In this context, we investigated the frequency of sensitization and allergic reactions to some fruit and/or latex cysteine proteases, which are used as additives by the food industry to improve and modify the quality of their products. The FABER test was used to analyse the patients‘ sensitization towards five plants and, for comparison, two homologous mite cysteine proteases. In an Italian population of 341 allergic patients, 133 (39%) had IgE specific for at least one of the seven cysteine proteases under investigation. Most of the patients were IgE positive for Der p 1 and/or Der f 1 (96.38%) reported a clinical history suggestive of respiratory allergy to mites, whereas none of the subjects sensitized to the homologs from papaya, pineapple and fig reported allergy symptoms following ingestion of these foods. Only one patient referred symptoms from ingesting kiwifruit. Therefore, the obtained results showed that sensitization to the fruit enzymes was only rarely concomitant with allergic reactions. These observations, together with the literature reports, suggest that the allergy to plant papain-like cysteine proteases might mainly be an occupational disease.

This paper examines screenwriter Frances Marion's use of sound in scripts she wrote during the transitional period from silent to sound film. Engaging feminist historiography, screenwriting studies, and sound studies, I argue that Marion's expressive use of narrativized sound in both sound and silent scripts was remarkably innovative, yet underappreciated. Her skillful use of integrated sound helps account for her success in the early 1930s and aligns with the style of sound filmmaking that later came to dominate.

This study examined food insecurity and coping strategies in enset-producing versus non-producing households in central Ethiopia, highlighting the importance of agriculture in addressing the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger. The study employed a mixed-research approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted with 270 respondents, supplemented by focus group discussions and interviews with key informants. Inferential statistics, including t-tests, chi-square tests, and an ordered logit model, were used to analyze food security determinants. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data, and the Consolidated Approach to Reporting Food Security Indicators (CARI) framework was used to assess food security levels. The results indicate that enset-producing households have higher consumption rates of pulses (4.725 days) and fats (2.359 days) compared to non-producers, who consume less across most food groups than their enset-producing counterparts. Enset producers scored 2.16 and non-producers scored 4.75 on the Reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI) component of the CARI framework, specifically for the indicator relying on less preferred foods. Enset producers also had a higher mean total food expenditure (96,157.46 ETB) compared to non-producers (89,098.07 ETB). Coping strategies revealed that 6.38% of enset producers sell assets under stress, compared to 31.25% of non-producers. According to the CARI index, 3.52% of enset producers and 0% of non-producers are food secure, while 23.94% of enset producers and 81.25% of non-producers are severely food insecure. In addition, the ordered logit model revealed that food security among enset-producing households is significantly influenced by gender, education, remittances, and exposure to shocks, while for non-producers, key determinants include age, household size, and access to health insurance. The study concludes that enset producers are more resilient to food insecurity and recommends promoting enset cultivation and strengthening support systems such as education, health insurance, and remittance access to enhance household food security.

Papaya has been reported to elicit IgE-mediated hypersensitivity via pollen inhalation and fruit consumption. Certain papaya sensitive patients with food allergy were found to experience recurrent respiratory distresses even after quitting the consumption of fruits. This observation prompted us to investigate the allergens commonly present in fruits and pollen grains of papaya. A discovery approach consisting of immunoproteomic detection followed by molecular characterization led to the identification of a novel papaya allergen designated as Cari p 1. This allergen was detected as a 56 kDa IgE-reactive protein from pollen as well as fruit proteome through serological analysis. The protein was identified as an endopolygalacturonase by tandem mass spectrometry. Full length Cari p 1 cDNA was isolated from papaya pollen, cloned in expression vector, and purified as recombinant allergen. The recombinant protein was monomeric and displayed pectinolytic activity. Recombinant Cari p 1 reacted with IgE-antibodies of all the papaya sensitized patient sera. In addition to IgE-reactivity, rCari p 1 displayed allergenic activity by stimulating histamine release from IgE-sensitized granulocytes. CD-spectroscopy of rCari p 1 revealed the presence of predominantly β-sheet characters. The melting curve of the allergen showed partial refolding from a fully denatured state indicating the possible presence of conformational IgE-epitopes characteristic of inhalant allergens in addition to the linear IgE-epitopes of food allergens. The expression of this allergen in papaya fruits was detected by immunoblot with anti-Cari p 1 rabbit IgG and reconfirmed by PCR. In an mouse model, rCari p 1 exhibited a comparable level of inflammatory responses in the lung and duodenum tissues explaining the dual role of Cari p 1 allergen in respiratory sensitization via pollen inhalation and sensitization of gut mucosa via fruit consumption. Purified rCari p 1 can be used a marker allergen for component-resolved molecular diagnosis. Further immunological studies on Cari p 1 are warranted to design immunotherapeutic vaccine for the clinical management of papaya allergy.

The pericoronary fat attenuation index (FAI) is an emerging computed tomography-derived marker for measuring vascular inflammation at coronary vessels. It holds prognostic significance for major cardiovascular events and enhances cardiac risk assessment, complementing traditional risk factors and coronary artery calcium scores. However, the impact of local coronary circulation factors on pericoronary inflammation development in right versus left coronary arteries has not been clearly understood.This study aimed to investigate the regional differences in inflammation levels between the right and left coronary arteries in four clinical scenarios: acute coronary event in the follow-up period, post-COVID patients, recent percutaneous intervention, and unstable angina with significant lesions on native coronary arteries.The study included 153 patients (mean age 62 years, 70.5% male) who underwent clinically indicated coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Vulnerable plaque features were analyzed to identify high-risk plaques. FAI and the FAI score, a score integrating risk factors and age, were calculated for each case at the left anterior descending artery (LAD), circumflex artery (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA).A total of 459 coronary arteries were analyzed. Both FAI and FAI scores were higher in the RCA (15.23 ± 11.97) compared to the LAD (10.55 ± 6.78) and (11.48 ± 6.5) LCX (p = 0.02). FAI values showed a significantly higher level at the RCA (−71.25 ± 7.47 HU) compared to the LCX (−76 ± 7.68 HU) and the LAD (−73.04 ± 8.9 HU, p <0.0001). This trend persisted across all subgroups, including post-COVID CT scans (−75.49 ± 7.62 HU for RCA vs. −72.89 ± 9.40 HU for the LCX vs. −71.28 ± 7.82 HU for the LAD, p = 0.01) and patients with high-risk plaques (20.98 ± 16.29 for the RCA vs. 11.77 ± 7.68 for the LCX vs. 12.83 ± 6.47 for the LAD, p = 0.03).Plaques in different coronary areas show varied vulnerability and inflammation levels. The RCA, in particular, demonstrates greater inflammation susceptibility, with higher inflammation scores in areas surrounding the coronary plaques.

This study assesses Sino-African cooperation with a view to understanding its nature and subsequently identifying ways to improve it. Using a mixed method that combined in-depth interviews, Afrobarometer, and Johns Hopkins’ China Africa Research Initiative (CARI) data, I find that, despite a few gains, China takes the lion’s share of benefits from the cooperation. Indeed, the balance of trade is skewed toward China, and there is very little Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) flowing to Africa. Moreover, ‘debt trap diplomacy’ is crippling African economies, raising alarm over whether China intends to recolonize the continent. Also, while Chinese aid is negligible, the amount of contracts revenues and diplomatic support it gets from the continent makes one think Africa deserves more from the cooperation. Nevertheless, China, just like any other country, acts in its nation’s interest. Therefore, it is incumbent upon African countries to ensure that they demand more from the cooperation. In the end, to address China’s hegemony over Sino-African cooperation, Africa should prioritize the development of local content through technological and skill transfers, curb corruption, and build a critical mass of negotiators. Este estudio buscó evaluar la cooperación entre China y África con el fin de comprender su naturaleza y, posteriormente, identificar formas de mejorarla. Utilizando un método mixto que combinó entrevistas en profundidad, datos de Afrobarometer y Johns Hopkins (CARI) encontramos que, a pesar de algunas pocas ganancias, China se lleva la mayor parte de los beneficios de la cooperación. De hecho, la balanza comercial está sesgada hacia China y hay muy poca IED china que fluye hacia África. Por otra parte, la diplomacia de la trampa de la deuda está paralizando las economías africanas al punto de alarmar si China tiene la intención de recolonizar el continente. Además, si bien la ayuda china es insignificante, la cantidad de ingresos por contratos y el apoyo diplomático que recibe del continente hace pensar que África merece más cooperación. Sin embargo, se observa que, al igual que cualquier otro país, China actúa en interés de su nación, por lo tanto, corresponde a los países africanos garantizar que exijan más cooperación. Al final, para abordar la hegemonía de China sobre la cooperación chino-africana, África debe priorizar el desarrollo de contenido local a través de transferencias tecnológicas y de habilidades, frenar la corrupción y construir una masa crítica de negociadores. 本研究旨在评估中非合作，以了解中非合作的性质，并找出改进中非合作的途径。通过结合深度访谈、非洲晴雨表，约翰•霍普金数据以及CARI的研究方法，笔者发现，尽管合作取得了一些成果，中国仍然从合作中获得了最大利益。事实上，贸易平衡向中国倾斜，中国对非直接投资很少。此外，债务陷阱外交正在使非洲经济陷入瘫痪，以至于中国是否打算重新占领非洲大陆的话题引起了恐慌。再者，尽管中国的援助微不足道，但它从非洲大陆获得的契约收入和外交支持，让人认为非洲应该从合作中获益更多。然而，笔者注意到，中国同其他任何国家一样采取符合本国利益的行动。因此非洲国家有责任确保自己对合作提出更多的要求。最后，为了解决中国在中非合作问题上的霸主地位，非洲应优先通过技术和技能转让来发展当地内容，遏制腐败，并培养众多的谈判家。

Mary Medlicott reviews the book \"The Search for the Book of Thoth (Egyptian Myths)\" by Cari Meister and Jared Osterhold.