bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causal relationship between circulating lipid traits and periodontitis: univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization
Authors: Hu Gaofu , Song Chengjie , Yang Yuxuan , Wang Wenhao , Wang Ao , Huang Mei , Lei Lihong , Wu Yanmin
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The correlation between dyslipidemia and periodontitis is revealed through epidemiological studies. However, the results are affected by several confounding factors. This study aims to elucidate the genetic causal association between circulating lipid traits and periodontitis by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods

After the different screening processes, two cohorts of circulating lipid traits from the UK Biobank were used as exposure data, including five circulating lipid traits. The Periodontitis cohort was selected from the GeneLifestyle Interactions in Dental Endpoints (GLIDE) consortium as outcome data. In univariable MR, the inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used in conjunction with six additional analytical methods to assess causality. The Cochran Q test, IGX2 statistic, MR-PRESSO, and MR-Egger intercept were used to quantify heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The multivariable MR-IVW (MVMR-IVW) and MVMR-robust were mainly used as analytical methods in the multiple MR analyses.

Results

The IVW estimates showed that genetically predicted Apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) [odds ratio (OR)=1.158, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.007–1.331, P-value=0.040] was potentially associated with the risk of periodontitis, but the statistical power of the results was low. Multivariable MR analysis did not reveal any significant causal relationship between apo A1 and periodontitis (OR=0.72, 95% CI=0.36–1.41, P-value=0.34). In the validation cohort, there was also no significant causal relationship between apo A1 and periodontitis (OR=1.079, 95% CI=0.903–1.290, P-value=0.401). Meanwhile, genetically predicted Apolipoprotein B (apo B), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) (all P-values>0.05) were not significantly associated with the risk of periodontitis causal inference.

Conclusion

This MR analysis was unable to provide genetic evidence for the influence of these five circulating lipid traits on periodontitis. However, a more extensive study with a more comprehensive circulating lipid profile and periodontitis data is needed due to study limitations.
Ultra-short-term power load forecasting method based on stochastic configuration networks and empirical mode decomposition
Authors: Pang Xinfu , Sun Wei , Li Haibo , Ma Yihua , Meng Xiangbin , Liu Wei
Published: July 2023

Ultra-short-term power load forecasting (USTPLF) can provide strong support and guarantee the decisions on unit start-up, shutdown, and power adjustment. The ultra-short-term power load (USTPL) has strong non-smoothness and nonlinearity, and the time-series characteristics of the load data themselves are difficult to explore. Therefore, to fully exploit the intrinsic features of the USTPL, a stochastic configuration networks (SCNs) USTPLF method based on K-means clustering (K-means) and empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is proposed. First, the load data are decomposed into several intrinsic mode functions (i.e., IMFs) and residuals (i.e., Res) by EMD. Second, the IMFs are classified by K-means, and the IMF components of the same class are summed. Third, the SCNs is used to forecast the electric load on the basis of the classified data. Lastly, on the basis of the real load of Shenzhen City, the proposed method is applied for emulation authentication. The result verifies the efficiency of the proposed measure.
Planning distribution network using the multi-agent game and distribution system operators
Authors: Li Jiangnan , Wang Tao , Tang Shouquan , Jiang Jiru , Chen Shuyao
Published: July 2023

When planning the distribution network, the income of each market entity is calculated by a fixed price. How to take the price of power into account while developing the planning strategy for each organization in the actual power market is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed imminently. To address this problem, considering the continuous change in the market price due to the change in the supply–demand relationship in the actual power market, this article proposes a distribution network planning method which considers the distribution system operator (DSO) and multi-agent game. First, the planning decision model of distribution network companies and power users with different interest subjects is constructed with grid planning and DG operation as decision variables. Second, DSO is introduced to the game framework. Based on the distribution locational marginal pricing (DLMP), a price accounting model is being developed. Then, the transfer relationships and game behavior among the distribution company, power users, and DSO are analyzed. Finally, an iterative search algorithm is used to solve a multi-agent game planning model of a distribution network that takes into account price signals in the power market. Examples based on IEEE 33-bus systems validate the suggested method’s validity and efficacy.
Why so few expert women in the water sector? Masculinity, race, sex, and policy narratives of technology, gender and development in Nepal
Authors: Liebrand Janwillem
Published: July 2023

To challenge the masculinity of the professional water sector, I take in this paper one of the core questions of feminist technology studies as the starting point: why are there so few expert women in technology? By means of a critical feminist reading of policy and research documents, from the 1950s onwards, focusing on Nepal's history of rural development and technology transfer, I trace the origins of expert women's limited participation in politically relevant processes of water decision making. The analysis reveals that both technology-and-development—and women/gender-and-development policy narratives have validated, and continue to validate, women expert's subordinate position in the Nepali water sector. This is partially so, because donors and national governments insufficiently recognize the racial and sexist assumptions that are historically rooted into these policy narratives.
Human granzyme B regulatory B cells prevent effector CD4+CD25- T cell proliferation through a mechanism dependent from lymphotoxin alpha
Authors: Sailliet Nicolas , Mai Hoa-Le , Dupuy Amandine , Tilly Gaëlle , Fourgeux Cynthia , Braud Martin , Giral Magali , Robert Jean-Michel , Degauque Nicolas , Danger Richard , Poschmann Jeremie , Brouard Sophie
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Human Granzyme B (GZMB) regulatory B cells (Bregs) have suppressive properties on CD4+ effector T cells by a mechanism partially dependent on GZMB. Moreover, these cells may be easily induced in vitro making them interesting for cell therapy.

Methods

We characterized this population of in vitro induced GZMB+Bregs using single cell transcriptomics. To investigate their regulatory properties, Bregs or total B cells were also co-cultured with T cells and scRNAseq was used to identify receptor ligand interactions and to reveal gene expression changes in the T cells.

Results

We find that Bregs exhibit a unique set of 149 genes differentially expressed and which are implicated in proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and altered antigen presentation capacity consistent with their differentiated B cells profile. Notably, Bregs induced a strong inhibition of T cell genes associated to proliferation, activation, inflammation and apoptosis compared to total B cells. We identified and validated 5 receptor/ligand interactions between Bregs and T cells. Functional analysis using specific inhibitors was used to test their suppressive properties and we identified Lymphotoxin alpha (LTA) as a new and potent Breg ligand implicated in Breg suppressive properties.

Discussion

We report for the first time for a role of LTA in GZMB+Bregs as an enhancer of GZMB expression, and involved in the suppressive properties of GZMB+Bregs in human. The exact mechanism of LTA/GZMB function in this specific subset of Bregs remains to be determined.
Effects of Atrazine exposure on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells assessed by combinatorial assay matrix
Authors: Uwazie Crystal C. , Pirlot Bonnie M. , Faircloth Tyler U. , Patel Mihir , Parr Rhett N. , Zastre Halie M. , Hematti Peiman , Moll Guido , Rajan Devi , Chinnadurai Raghavan
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem cells (MSCs) are an essential component of the regenerative and immunoregulatory stem cell compartment of the human body and thus of major importance in human physiology. The MSCs elicit their beneficial properties through a multitude of complementary mechanisms, which makes it challenging to assess their phenotype and function in environmental toxicity screening. We here employed the novel combinatorial assays matrix approach/technology to profile the MSC response to the herbicide Atrazine, which is a common environmental xenobiotic, that is in widespread agricultural use in the US and other countries, but banned in the EU. Our here presented approach is representative for screening the impact of environmental xenobiotics and toxins on MSCs as an essential representative component of human physiology and well-being.

Methods

We here employed the combinatorial assay matrix approach, including a panel of well standardized assays, such as flow cytometry, multiplex secretome analysis, and metabolic assays, to define the phenotype and functionality of human-donor-derived primary MSCs exposed to the representative xenobiotic Atrazine. This assay matrix approach is now also endorsed for characterization of cell therapies by leading regulatory agencies, such as FDA and EMA.

Results

Our results show that the exposure to Atrazine modulates the metabolic activity, size, and granularity of MSCs in a dose and time dependent manner. Intriguingly, Atrazine exposure leads to a broad modulation of the MSCs secretome (both upregulation and downmodulation of certain factors) with the identification of Interleukin-8 as the topmost upregulated representative secretory molecule. Interestingly, Atrazine attenuates IFNγ-induced upregulation of MHC-class-II, but not MHC-class-I, and early phosphorylation signals on MSCs. Furthermore, Atrazine exposure attenuates IFNγ responsive secretome of MSCs. Mechanistic knockdown analysis identified that the Atrazine-induced effector molecule Interleukin-8 affects only certain but not all the related angiogenic secretome of MSCs.

Discussion

The here described Combinatorial Assay Matrix Technology identified that Atrazine affects both the innate/resting and cytokine-induced/stimulated assay matrix functionality of human MSCs, as identified through the modulation of selective, but not all effector molecules, thus vouching for the great usefulness of this approach to study the impact of xenobiotics on this important human cellular subset involved in the regenerative healing responses in humans.
Physiological responses of Pocillopora corals to upwelling events in the Eastern Tropical Pacific
Authors: Castrillón-Cifuentes Ana Lucia , Zapata Fernando A. , Wild Christian
Published: July 2023

Upwelling events can change the sea water conditions within few hours during several months on a seasonal regimen. These events are predicted to intensify due to climate change, exposing shallow benthic organisms to hypoxia and thermal stress, among other extreme conditions. Some coral reefs in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) recurrently experience upwelling events. Coral reefs off Gorgona Island, Colombia, are exposed to lower oxygen concentrations (3.0 - 3.7 mg O2 L-1) and lower temperatures (17 - 24°C) from mid-January to mid-April, when upwelling develops, compared to the rest of the year (4.9 ± 0.7 mg O2 L-1, 28.4 ± 0.3°C, mean ± SD). While no visible signs of stress have been reported for corals during upwelling, it can be hypothesized that corals would be negatively affected by these changes. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) identify the effects of temperature and hypoxia on the metabolic rate (MO2) of Pocillopora corals under lab conditions, and (2) to examine the changes in skeletal growth and Symbiodiniaceae density of Pocillopora in the field between upwelling and non-upwelling seasons. Findings revealed that MO2 was significantly reduced by 20% at 24°C and significantly increased by 10% at 32°C compared to 28°C. During the upwelling season, Pocillopora corals exhibited a 52% increase in Symbiodiniaceae density, but the growth rate decreased by 50% compared to the non-upwelling season. Fast changes in water conditions during the upwelling strongly affects the metabolism of Pocillopora corals. Although conditions during upwelling were not lethal, they compromised the energy of the coral for their vital functions, indicating that upwelling pushes them toward their physiological limit. Consequently, predicted increases in upwelling events in combination with ocean warming and deoxygenation may be particularly critical for upwelling-exposed corals and the reefs they build in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Physical activity is related to disease severity and fatigue, but not to relapse rate in persons with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis – a self-reported questionnaire based study
Authors: Schlagheck Marit L. , Hübner Sven T. , Joisten Niklas , Walzik David , Rademacher Annette , Wolf Florian , Bansi Jens , Warnke Clemens , Zimmer Philipp
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Based on theoretical models, physical activity has been introduced as a promoting method to mitigate the disease severity, fatigue and relapse rate in multiple sclerosis. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the relation between self-reported physical activity level and disease severity, fatigue and relapse rate in persons with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods

A survey was offered to persons with RRMS from March 2019 to August 2021 (n = 253). Physical activity level, fatigue and disease severity were determined using the Godin Leisure-Time Questionnaire (GLTEQ), the Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) scale and the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC). Additionally, participants’ relapse rate was recorded.

Results

Bivariate correlations revealed an inverse relation between physical activity level and PDDS (ρ = −0.279; p < 0.001) as well as between physical activity and FSMC (r = −0.213, p < 0.001), but not between physical activity and relapse rate (r = 0.033, p > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses explained 12.6% and 5.2% of the variance of PDDS and FSMC.

Conclusion

Our findings confirm a relation between self-reported physical activity, disease severity and fatigue in persons with RRMS. However, self-reported physical activity level does not seem to affect the annualised relapse rate.
Case report: A case of neuro-Behçet's syndrome presenting as brain stem mass lesions
Authors: Ayoade Folusakin , Hernandez Salma , Montreuil Nadine , Drews-Elger Katherine , Quiroz Tanya , Sternberg Candice A.
Published: July 2023

Neuro-Behçet's syndrome, a severe and rare manifestation of Behçet's disease (BD), can be misdiagnosed due to its challenging clinical presentation. This article presents the case of a 20-year-old cis-gender male with intermittent fever, bilateral uveitis, and neurological symptoms who was found to have multiple brain stem mass lesions on brain imaging. A careful medical history elicited recurrent painful oral and genital ulcerations which were important in making the correct diagnosis. As there are no validated criteria or definite set of tests available to confirm neuro-Behçet's disease, the diagnosis is often established by exclusion after ruling out other potential etiologies. In our case, after an extensive negative workup for infectious, neuro-degenerative and malignant etiologies combined with the patient's medical history, a diagnosis of Behçet's disease with neurological involvement (neuro-Behçet's syndrome) was made. High doses of steroids were given, and the patient had a favorable outcome. Repeated magnetic resonance imaging of the brain 2 years later showed no new brain lesions. Neuro-Behçet's disease should be included as a differential diagnosis of unexplained brain stem lesions in the right clinical context. In these situations, providers should obtain medical histories related to genital and oral ulcers and eye problems as these may help to narrow down the diagnosis. The clinical presentation and challenges of this uncommon presentation of BD including a brief literature review of neuro-Behçet's disease with brain stem mass lesions are discussed in this case study.
Effects of ketogenic diet on the classification and functional composition of intestinal flora in children with mitochondrial epilepsy
Authors: Wang Jing , Huang LIjuan , Li Hua , Chen Guohong , Yang Liming , Wang Dong , Han Hong , Zheng Guo , Wang Xu , Liang Jianmin , He Weijie , Fang Fang , Liao Jianxiang , Sun Dan
Published: July 2023

The ketogenic diet (KD) has shown excellent performance in the treatment of refractory epilepsy, but how it works is not yet fully understood. Gut microbiota is associated with various neurological disorders through the brain-gut axis. Different dietary patterns have different effects on the composition and function of gut microbiota. Here, by analyzing fecal samples from some patients with mitochondrial epilepsy before and after KD treatment through 16SrRNA sequencing, we found that KD intervention reduced the abundance of Firmicutes in the patient’s gut, while the abundance of Bacteroidota increased in the KD group. LefSe analysis showed that Actinobacteriota, Phascolarctobacterium had significant advantages in the control group, while Bacteroides increased significantly after KD intervention, especially Bacteroides fragilis. Functional analysis showed that there were significant differences in 12 pathways in level 3. These changes suggest that KD can change the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota in patients and affect their function. Changes in specific bacterial groups in the gut may serve as biomarkers for the therapeutic effects of KD on epilepsy.
Sharing leaky-integrate-and-fire neurons for memory-efficient spiking neural networks
Authors: Kim Youngeun , Li Yuhang , Moitra Abhishek , Yin Ruokai , Panda Priyadarshini
Published: July 2023

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) have gained increasing attention as energy-efficient neural networks owing to their binary and asynchronous computation. However, their non-linear activation, that is Leaky-Integrate-and-Fire (LIF) neuron, requires additional memory to store a membrane voltage to capture the temporal dynamics of spikes. Although the required memory cost for LIF neurons significantly increases as the input dimension goes larger, a technique to reduce memory for LIF neurons has not been explored so far. To address this, we propose a simple and effective solution, EfficientLIF-Net, which shares the LIF neurons across different layers and channels. Our EfficientLIF-Net achieves comparable accuracy with the standard SNNs while bringing up to ~4.3× forward memory efficiency and ~21.9× backward memory efficiency for LIF neurons. We conduct experiments on various datasets including CIFAR10, CIFAR100, TinyImageNet, ImageNet-100, and N-Caltech101. Furthermore, we show that our approach also offers advantages on Human Activity Recognition (HAR) datasets, which heavily rely on temporal information. The code has been released at https://github.com/Intelligent-Computing-Lab-Yale/EfficientLIF-Net.
Case Report: Giant abdominal hemangioma originating from the liver
Authors: Jiang Tianxiang , Zhao Zhou , Cai Zhaolun , Shen Chaoyong , Zhang Bo
Published: July 2023

Background

Hepatic hemangioma is among the most common benign liver lesions. However, giant pedunculated hepatic hemangiomas are exceptionally rare and associated with additional risks, such as torsion.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 63-year-old female patient who presented with abdominal distension and pain. Barium meal examination and gastroscopy revealed a large, smooth-surfaced submucosal bulge located at the fundus of the stomach. Subsequent MRI examination identified a mass measuring approximately 6.4 x 7 cm in the left upper abdomen. Surgical intervention was planned for mass removal. However, intraoperative exploration revealed the origin of the mass to be the liver, and subsequent histopathological examination confirmed it as a hemangioma.

Conclusion

We systematically summarized the characteristics of our case along with 31 previously reported cases. Giant pedunculated hepatic hemangiomas typically occur in the left lobe of the liver. Due to their atypical presentation, a combination of imaging methods such as ultrasound, CT, and/or MRI is essential for accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, surgical intervention is recommended due to the potential risks of bleeding, rupture, and torsion.
Association study between C10orf90 gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer
Authors: Song Jian , Wang Kaixuan , Chen Zhaowei , Zhong Dunjing , Li Li , Guo Liangliang , Yu Shuyong
Published: July 2023

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor in the world. The morbidity and mortality rates in Western countries have decreased, but they are still on the rise in China. C10orf90 is associated with a variety of cancers, but the correlation between C10orf90 and CRC is not yet known.

Methods

A total of 1,339 subjects were randomly enrolled in our study. After extracting their DNA, three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of C10orf90 were genotyped to analyze the potential relationship between these variants and CRC risk. PLINK software packages (version 1.07) were used to evaluate multiple genetic models by calculating the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The best SNP–SNP interaction model was defined by the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis.

Results

C10orf90 rs12412320 was significantly associated with CRC risk (p = 0.006) and might be associated with the lower CRC risk (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65–0.93). The relationship of rs12412320 with lower CRC risk was found in people aged >60 years and ≤60 years, women, non-smokers, or non-drinkers. Rs11245008 in people aged ≤60 years and rs11245007 among men had a higher CRC susceptibility. Rs12412320 was related to the lower risk of advanced stages (III/IV stage), while rs11245007 might be associated with the higher risk of advanced stages (III/IV stage). Moreover, rs12412320 had the most significant relationship with the susceptibility to rectal cancer.

Conclusion

This study is the first to report between C10orf90 gene polymorphisms and CRC risk in Chinese people, which suggests that C10orf90 rs12412320 might play a crucial role in preventing CRC occurrence.
Hypoxia-driven ncRNAs in breast cancer
Authors: H. Al-Zuaini Hashim , Rafiq Zahid Kashif , Xiao Xiangyan , Raza Umar , Huang Qiyuan , Zeng Tao
Published: July 2023

Low oxygen tension, or hypoxia is the driving force behind tumor aggressiveness, leading to therapy resistance, metastasis, and stemness in solid cancers including breast cancer, which now stands as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. With the great advancements in exploring the regulatory roles of the non-coding genome in recent years, the wide spectrum of hypoxia-responsive genome is not limited to just protein-coding genes but also includes multiple types of non-coding RNAs, such as micro RNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs. Over the years, these hypoxia-responsive non-coding molecules have been greatly implicated in breast cancer. Hypoxia drives the expression of these non-coding RNAs as upstream modulators and downstream effectors of hypoxia inducible factor signaling in the favor of breast cancer through a myriad of molecular mechanisms. These non-coding RNAs then contribute in orchestrating aggressive hypoxic tumor environment and regulate cancer associated cellular processes such as proliferation, evasion of apoptotic death, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, therapy resistance, stemness, and evasion of the immune system in breast cancer. In addition, the interplay between hypoxia-driven non-coding RNAs as well as feedback and feedforward loops between these ncRNAs and HIFs further contribute to breast cancer progression. Although the current clinical implications of hypoxia-driven non-coding RNAs are limited to prognostics and diagnostics in breast cancer, extensive explorations have established some of these hypoxia-driven non-coding RNAs as promising targets to treat aggressive breast cancers, and future scientific endeavors hold great promise in targeting hypoxia-driven ncRNAs at clinics to treat breast cancer and limit global cancer burden.
A review of the low-energy K−-nucleus/nuclei interactions with light nuclei AMADEUS investigations
Authors: Skurzok Magdalena , Cargnelli Michael , del Grande Raffaele , Fabbietti Laura , Guaraldo Carlo , Marton Johann , Moskal Paweł , Piscicchia Kristian , Scordo Alessandro , Silarski Michał , Sirghi Diana Laura , Vazquez Doce Oton , Zmeskal Johann , Wycech Sławomir , Branchini Paolo , Czerwiński Eryk , Kang Xiaolin , Mandaglio Giuseppe , Martini Matteo , Selce Andrea , Curceanu Catalina
Published: July 2023

The AMADEUS Collaboration conducts research aimed to experimentally investigate the low-energy K− hadronic interactions with light nuclei like hydrogen, helium, and carbon, in order to provide new constraints to the antikaon-nucleon strong interaction studies in the non-perturbative quantum chromodynamics regime. K− nuclear absorption, both at-rest and in-flight, are explored using the unique low-momentum and monochromatic kaon beam from the DAΦNE collider interacting with the KLOE detector components, a detector characterized by high acceptance and excellent position and momentum resolutions. This paper presents an overview of the AMADEUS results.
Effects of the termination of LC30 imidacloprid stress on the multigeneration adaptive strategies of Aphis glycines population
Authors: Zhang Aonan , Dou Nan , Qu Zhongcheng , Guo Yongxia , Zhou WenJing , Wu Dongxue , Lin Zhiying , Feng Min , Cui Hengjia , Han Lanlan
Published: July 2023

Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a major soybean pest that often poses a serious threat to soybean production. Imidacloprid is one of the commonly used insecticides to control the soybean aphid. To investigate the effect of termination of imidacloprid stress on the adaptive strategies of soybean aphid populations, we studied the growth, development, and related metabolism changes when the stress was terminated after 24 generations of imidacloprid stress on A. glycines. The results show that the A. glycines population accelerated its recovery and expanded its population size across generations. The longevity of the adults of the recovering population in the F12, F18, and F24 generations, respectively, was 1.11, 1.15, and 1.11 times longer than the control, while the fecundity was 10.38%, 11.74%, and 11.61% higher than that of the control. The net reproductive rate (R0) of the recovering population was always significantly higher than that of the control in the F1 to F24 generations. In addition, metabolisms related to the regulation of cell proliferation and oocyte meiosis were significantly upregulated in the recovering population. Even when the imidacloprid pressure disappeared, intergenerational stimuli still affected the adaptive strategies of soybean aphid populations. This effect was manifested as inhibiting the growth and development of the soybean aphid in the early generations and improving the fecundity of the soybean aphid in the later generations. Adaptive soybean aphid populations would surge in the absence of imidacloprid pressure. This study provides an important reference for exploring the adaptability of the A. glycines population under termination of stress from low lethal concentrations of imidacloprid across generations. It also provides important data for monitoring the population dynamics of A. glycines in the field and analyzing the degree of pharmacodynamic stress.
Plant impedance spectroscopy: a review of modeling approaches and applications
Authors: Van Haeverbeke Maxime , De Baets Bernard , Stock Michiel
Published: July 2023

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has emerged over the past decade as an efficient, non-destructive method to investigate various (eco-)physiological and morphological properties of plants. This work reviews the state-of-the-art of impedance spectra modeling for plant applications. In addition to covering the traditional, widely-used representations of electrochemical impedance spectra, we also consider the more recent machine-learning-based approaches.
The influence of parenting style in childhood on adult depressed patients’ interpersonal relationships in the period of youth
Authors: Chang Jingjing , Huang Kaiyi , Wang Weidong
Published: July 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore the mediating effect of adolescent self and courage on the relationship between parenting style in childhood and adult depressed patients’ interpersonal relationships in the period of youth.

Methods

The study analyzed data from 651 depressed individuals using the Wang Weidong memory-tracing personality developmental inventory (WMPI) from the psychology department of Guang’anmen Hospital.

Results

The results of the study show a significant positive correlation between parenting style in childhood, adolescent self, courage, and adult depressed patients’ interpersonal relationships in the period of youth. Parenting style in childhood has a direct positive predictive effect on adult depressed patients’ interpersonal relationships in the period of youth. It also has an indirect effect on interpersonal relationships in the period of youth through three indirect pathways: the independent mediating effect of adolescent self, the independent mediating effect of adolescent courage, and the chain mediating effect of adolescent self and courage.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that parenting style in childhood plays an important role in shaping adult depressed patients’ interpersonal relationships in the period of youth. The relationship between parenting style in childhood and interpersonal relationships in the period of youth is influenced by the independent mediating effect of adolescent self and courage, as well as the chain mediating effect of adolescent self and courage. These findings have implications for the development of interventions and programs aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of depressed patients.
The role of non-numerical information in the perception of temporal numerosity
Authors: Cicchini Guido Marco , Anobile Giovanni , Burr David C. , Marchesini Paolo , Arrighi Roberto
Published: July 2023

Numerosity perception refers to the ability to make rapid but approximate estimates of the quantity of elements in a set (spatial numerosity) or presented sequentially (temporal numerosity). Whether numerosity is directly perceived or indirectly recomputed from non-numerical features is a highly debated issue. In the spatial domain, area and density have been suggested as the main parameters through which numerosity would be recomputed. In the temporal domain, stimuli duration and temporal frequency could be similarly exploited to retrieve numerosity. By adapting a psychophysical technique previously exploited in the spatial domain, we investigated whether temporal visual numerosity is directly perceived. Adult participants observed sequences of visual impulses sampled from a stimulus space spanning several levels of temporal frequency and duration (and hence numerosity), and then reproduced the sequence as accurately as possible via a series of keypresses. Crucially, participants were not asked to reproduce any particular property (such as number of impulses) but were free to choose any available cue (such as total duration, or temporal frequency). The results indicate that while the overall sequence duration was barely considered, numerosity and temporal frequency were both spontaneously used as the main cues to reproduce the sequences, with a slight but significant dominance of numerosity. Overall, the results are in line with previous literature suggesting that numerosity is directly encoded, even for temporal sequences, but a non-numerical feature (temporal frequency) is also used in reproducing sequences.
The relationship between professional self-concept and career decision-making difficulties among postgraduate nursing students in China: the mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy
Authors: Bi Yaping , Mou Shaoyu , Wang Ge , Liao Mingyan
Published: July 2023

Background

In the context of a global shortage, uneven distribution, and structural imbalance of nursing talent, postgraduate nursing students must make appropriate decisions about their careers not only for the nursing profession but also for society as a whole. However, little research has been reported on the current status and factors influencing career decision-making difficulties among postgraduate nursing students.

Objectives

Exploring the mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy between professional self-concept and career decision-making difficulties among postgraduate nursing students in China based on the social cognitive career theory.

Methods

276 postgraduate nursing students from 25 universities in seven administrative regions of China were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected with the Career decision-making difficulties Questionnaire, Career Decision-making Self-Efficacy Scale, and Nursing Professional Self-concept Scale through an online survey, and were analyzed by univariate analysis, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and PROCESS macro.

Results

The score for career decision-making difficulties was 2.84 (SD = 0.54). Professional self-concept (r = −0.496, p < 0.01) and career decision-making self-efficacy (r = −0.551, p < 0.01) were negatively associated with career decision-making difficulties. Career decision-making self-efficacy played a partial mediating role between professional self-concept and career decision-making difficulties (p < 0.01), with the mediating effect (Effect Value = −0.253, Bootstrap 95% CI: −0.349, −0.156) accounting for 53.82% of the total effect.

Conclusion

The high scores of career decision-making difficulties among postgraduate nursing students demand widespread attention. Nursing educators need to develop a complete and standardized career counseling curriculum for postgraduate nursing students, and should pay attention to the cultivation and development of positive professional self-concept and career decision-making self-efficacy of postgraduate nursing students to reduce their career decision-making difficulties and help them make effective career decision-making.
Sleep-push movement performance in elite field hockey champions with and without training specialization
Authors: Cosendey Killian , Mongold Scott , Petieau Mathieu , Cheron Guy , Cebolla Ana-Maria
Published: July 2023

Objective

To investigate kinematic and muscle activity differences during the sleep-push movement in elite field hockey players. We hypothesized that players with specialized sleep-push movement training (specialists) would possess a lower center of mass (CoM) and enhanced reproducibility of muscle activations during the movement, compared to players without explicit movement training (non-specialists).

Methods

Ten field hockey players of the Belgian national field hockey team performed the sleep-push movement (5 specialists and 5 non-specialists). Muscle activity and kinematic data were recorded using EMG to evaluate the reproducibility of muscle activations by cross-correlation analysis and power spectral features across the movement, while a motion capture system was used to assess kinematics.

Results

Compared to non-specialists, specialists had significantly (p < 0.05) increased stick velocity (9.17 ± 1.28 m/s versus 6.98 ± 0.97 m/s) and lower CoM height (141 ± 52 mm versus 296 ± 64 mm), during the second part of the shot. Specialists also showed a significant (p < 0.05) lower power spectrum in the activity of the upper limb muscles before the shot. Superimposition of the auto crosscorrelation results demonstrated a high degree of reproducibility in specialists’ muscle activations.

Conclusion

Sleep-push movements realized by elite players who are specialists in the sleep-push movement presented significant kinematics and muscular activation differences when compared to the sleep-push movements realized by elite players who were not specialists in such movement. Characterization of the specific movement and the related high-level performer’s muscular strategies offers the possibility of translating sport science findings into functional training with concrete applications for coaches, players, and other key stakeholders for the continued development of the field.
A case report—“When less is more”: controlled inpatient reduction of anticholinergic burden in a patient with clozapine-resistant schizophrenia
Authors: Pjevac Milica , Korošec Hudnik Liam
Published: July 2023

The functional status of an individual with schizophrenia is the defining factor in their quality of life and is closely associated with cognitive abilities, which are impaired in individuals with schizophrenia and considered to be the core symptom of the disorder. The use of psychopharmacotherapy can also have a significant impact on cognitive functioning. The relationship between clozapine treatment and cognitive impairment in individuals with schizophrenia is an intricate one. While some studies have reported a positive effect of clozapine on learning and memory, other studies have found that patients treated with clozapine experienced a decline in cognitive functioning in particular areas. In particular, attention and memory have been shown to deteriorate with rising plasma levels of clozapine. This effect may be attributed to its anticholinergic effect. A reduction in the medication related to anticholinergic burden has been previously found to improve cognitive abilities. In the presented case, we describe a psychotic relapse with delirium symptoms in a patient on clozapine treatment with potentially toxic clozapine blood level. The symptoms of delirium subsided after a clozapine dose adjustment. Gradually lowering the initially very high anticholinergic burden improved the patient's cognitive functioning.
A public health study on the participation mechanism of social capital in the governance of public sports space in dilapidated urban communities – a case study of Changsha City, Hunan Province
Authors: Xinze Li , Xiaoyi Zhang , Qiao He
Published: July 2023

Introduction

China’s aging population, mobile population, low-income families, and other vulnerable groups congregate in dilapidated urban communities serving as public health spaces. As a result, managing public sports spaces in aging urban areas is a significant public health project in China, an essential strategy for raising residents’ quality of life, and a significant effort to support the active aging of the older adult.

Methods

The study used mathematical and statistical techniques, questionnaires, and logical deduction to conduct a public health study on the participation mechanism of social capital in the governance of public sports spaces in dilapidated urban communities. It chose 11 old Changsha, Hunan Province, communities as the research objects.

Results

Personal social capital was found to boost the availability of public sports spaces in older populations through social connections. Collective social capital improves the availability of public sports spaces in aging populations through social trust and stabilizes the order of public sports spaces in aging communities through social involvement.

Discussion

To improve the governance efficiency of public sports spaces in aging urban communities, the study aims to actively mobilize and accumulate social capital through cultivating the public spirit, reshaping the concept of sports governance, appropriately decentralizing and empowering, strengthening sports governance structures, enhancing communication and collaboration, and building sports governance. This is essential for China to fully implement the policies of active aging, a healthy China, and creating a community for global public health.
Cumulative health disadvantages: an empirical study of the health and mobility of the first cohort of migrant workers in China
Authors: Qiu Fengxian , Kong Qingyang , Fan Dongjun
Published: July 2023

Background

The study aimed to understand the factors affecting the health and healthcare of the first cohort of migrant workers in China using the concept of the cumulative disadvantage framework.

Methods

Data from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (2017) were used to analyze the process of cumulative disadvantage of health and healthcare among migrant workers. The study also analyzed the spatial lag problem between localized medical insurance policies and healthcare accessibility.

Results

The results revealed a significant negative association between the mobility of the first cohort of migrant workers and their health status. Long-term exposure to hazardous work had a greater negative impact on their health. Chinese migrant workers faced significant obstacles in accessing healthcare due to the lack of portability in health insurance.

Conclusion

The study emphasizes the urgent need for addressing the structural barriers hindering healthcare access and outcomes for migrant workers. It is crucial to promote a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system in China to ensure migrant workers’ health and well-being.
Staphylococcus aureus phagocytosis is affected by senescence
Authors: Robledo Esteban , Benito Rodriguez Paula Guadalupe , Vega Israel Aníbal , Colombo María Isabel , Aguilera Milton Osmar
Published: July 2023

Senescent cells accumulate in multicellular animals with aging, resulting in organ or tissue dysfunction. These alterations increase the incidence of a variety of illnesses, including infectious diseases, and, in certain instances, its severity. In search of a rationale for this phenomenon, we focused on the endophagocytic pathway in senescent cells. We first described the endocytic vesicle populations at different stages of maturation using confocal microscopy. There was an increase in the number of vacuoles per cell, which was partially explained by an increase in cell size. No changes in vesicle maturation or degradation capacities were determined by microscopy or Western blot assays. Also, we studied the internalization of various endophagocytic cargoes in senescent cells and observed only a decrease in the intracellular recovery of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Afterwards, we studied the intracellular traffic of S. aureus, and observed no differences in the infection between control and senescent cells. In addition we quantified the recovery of bacteria from control and senescent cells infected in the presence of several inhibitors of endophagosomal maturation, and no changes were observed. These results suggest that bacterial internalization is affected in senescent cells. Indeed, we confirmed this hypothesis by determining minor bacterial adherence and internalization by confocal microscopy. Furthermore, it is important to highlight that we found very similar results with cells from aged animals, specifically BMDMs. This alteration in senescent cells enlightens the diminished bacterial clearance and may be a factor that increases the propensity to suffer severe infectious conditions in the elderly.
An alternative method of SNP inclusion to develop a generalized polygenic risk score analysis across Alzheimer's disease cohorts
Authors: Brookes Keeley J. , Guetta-Baranes Tamar , Thomas Alan , Morgan Kevin
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) have great clinical potential for detecting late-onset diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), allowing the identification of those most at risk years before the symptoms present. Although many studies use various and complicated machine learning algorithms to determine the best discriminatory values for PRSs, few studies look at the commonality of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) utilized in these models.

Methods

This investigation focussed on identifying SNPs that tag blocks of linkage disequilibrium across the genome, allowing for a generalized PRS model across cohorts and genotyping panels. PRS modeling was conducted on five AD development cohorts, with the best discriminatory models exploring for a commonality of linkage disequilibrium clumps. Clumps that contributed to the discrimination of cases from controls that occurred in multiple cohorts were used to create a generalized model of PRS, which was then tested in the five development cohorts and three further AD cohorts.

Results

The model developed provided a discriminability accuracy average of over 70% in multiple AD cohorts and included variants of several well-known AD risk genes.

Discussion

A key element of devising a polygenic risk score that can be used in the clinical setting is one that has consistency in the SNPs that are used to calculate the score; this study demonstrates that using a model based on commonality of association findings rather than meta-analyses may prove useful.
Physiological responses of mechanosensory systems in the head of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Brehm Nils , Wenke Nils , Glessner Keshia , Haehnel-Taguchi Melanie
Published: July 2023

The lateral line system of zebrafish consists of the anterior lateral line, with neuromasts distributed on the head, and the posterior lateral line, with neuromasts distributed on the trunk. The sensory afferent neurons are contained in the anterior and posterior lateral line ganglia, respectively. So far, the vast majority of physiological and developmental studies have focused on the posterior lateral line. However, studies that focus on the anterior lateral line, especially on its physiology, are very rare. The anterior lateral line involves different neuromast patterning processes, specific distribution of synapses, and a unique role in behavior. Here, we report our observations regarding the development of the lateral line and analyze the physiological responses of the anterior lateral line to mechanical and water jet stimuli. Sensing in the fish head may be crucial to avoid obstacles, catch prey, and orient in water current, especially in the absence of visual cues. Alongside the lateral line, the trigeminal system, with its fine nerve endings innervating the skin, could contribute to perceiving mechanosensory stimulation. Therefore, we compare the physiological responses of the lateral line afferent neurons to responses of trigeminal neurons and responsiveness of auditory neurons. We show that anterior lateral line neurons are tuned to the velocity of mechanosensory ramp stimulation, while trigeminal neurons either only respond to mechanical step stimuli or fast ramp and step stimuli. Auditory neurons did not respond to mechanical or water jet stimuli. These results may prove to be essential in designing underwater robots and artificial lateral lines, with respect to the spectra of stimuli that the different mechanosensory systems in the larval head are tuned to, and underline the importance and functionality of the anterior lateral line system in the larval fish head.