bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
B - 140 Comparison of Performance Validity, Symptom Validity, Cognitive, and Psychological Symptom Report Measures in an Active-Duty Military Sample
Authors: Armistead-Jehle Patrick , Ingram Paul , Keen Megan
Published: September 2024

Objective

Performance and symptom validity (PVT/SVT) are distinct but related constructs (Nelson et al., 2007; Ruocco et al., 2008). However, studies have rarely examined PVT and SVT via factor analytic techniques, which offer stronger understanding of concurrent performance patterns across tests. Ord et al (2021) conducted one such study and concluded that PVT/SVT each “contribute unique information about examinees’ performance.” This and previous studies, however, have not included cognitive or symptom measures along with SVTs/PVTs, which limits interpretation.

Methods

In a large sample of Active-Duty (ad) personnel (n = 629), EFA and CFA modeling evaluated underlying patterns between different forms of testing (PVT, SVT, symptom report, and cognitive report). Measures include the MSVT, NV-MSVT, RBANS, and PAI.

Results

EFA (Maximum Likelihood and Geomin rotation) evidenced shared method variance patterns across PVT, SVT, and both cognitive/symptom scales without good fit (X2 = 4643.0, RMSEA = 0.15, CFI = 0.58). When modeled with CFA, these domains provided good fit, X2(145) = 634.92, CFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.05. Standardized loadings were large for PVT (0.40–0.97), SVT (0.62–0.98), symptom report (0.43–0.91), and cognitive ability (0.48–0.87). Higher order factor structure suggests convergence of PVT and Cognitive Testing (0.70); however, SVT and were distinct from cognitively-focused testing (−0.43).

Conclusions

Validity testing in neuropsychology has accelerated (Sweet et al., 2021), and understanding relationships between validity and symptom domains is critical to this effort. Our study suggests differentiation between domains, with weaker relationships between validity and clinical symptoms.
B - 141 Research Review of Symptom and Performance Validity Tandem: Inventory of Problems-29 and Memory Module
Authors: Viglione Donald J , Giromini Luciano
Published: September 2024

Objective

Consistent with the NAN expectations, the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (Sweet et al., 2021) asserted that neuropsychologists should include symptom validity tests (SVT) and performance validity tests (PVT) to assess the credibility of psychological and cognitive complaints. Aligned with this declaration, the Inventory of Problems–29 (IOP-29), an SVT, and its Memory Module (IOP-M), a PVT based on the respondent’s recall of the IOP-29 items. Our objective is to evaluate the research support of these measures to discriminate credible from noncredible presentations.

Data Selection

Since the IOP was introduced in 2017, more than 20 peer-reviewed research studies on the IOP-29 and 10 studies including both the IOP-29 and IOP-M have been published with 4 meta-analyses or systematic reviews. These publications present various, commonly used statistical analyses of validity and efficacy, e.g., sensitivity and specificity, along with comparisons to other SVTs and PVTs.

Data Synthesis

In the quantitative research literature, the IOP-29 and IOP-M have demonstrated efficacy across countries and languages in discriminating credible from noncredible presentations related to psychosis, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and neuropsychological disorders.

Conclusions

These findings support adding this tandem to the multi-method evaluation of the credibility of mental health and neuropsychological presentations. The brevity of administering these two tests, i.e., approximately 20 minutes total, suggests that the cost–benefit might be strong. More research with biomarkers and specific neuropsychological disorders might be needed along with more publications for which the authors do not include the test developers.
B - 143 A Comparison of Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomology (SIMS) Performance to Multiple Validity Measures in a Criminal Forensic Sample
Authors: Hernandez Katherine A , Ikonomou Vasilios C , Campbell Ivan A , Wagaman Bailey N , Sullivan Sydney , Ton-Loy Adan , Kockler Timothy , Hill Benjamin D
Published: September 2024

Objective

We compared valid or invalid SIMS performance to other performance and symptom validity measures.

Methods

Data from 119 forensic neuropsychological evaluations [competency (n = 106), forensic (n = 5), insanity (n = 5), commitment review (n = 2), and danger (n = 1)] were analyzed. Three chi-squares tests compared group membership (valid/invalid) for SIMS total score, affective (AF) subscore, or low intelligence (LI) subscore to a separate valid or invalid group membership based on MMPI-2-RF (VRIN-r and TRIN-r), WAIS-IV Reliable Digit Span, and WMT (IR, DR, and CONS) validity cutoff scores (74% failed >2 measures).

Results

Sample was predominately male (91.6%) and Caucasian (53.8%). Mean age was 35.1 years; mean education was 11.36 years. For SIMS total, 36% failed the SIMS but passed all other validity measures [χ 2(1) = 21.668; p < 0.001; V = 0.427] for a 64% concordance rate for overall valid performance. Individuals with valid scores on the SIMS AF subscale were likely (66%) to have valid performance on all other validity measures [χ 2(1) = 12.418; p < 0.001; V = 0.323]. Individuals with valid scores on the SIMS LI subscale were essentially at chance (52%) to have performed validly overall [χ 2(1) = 9.406; p = 0.002; V = 0.0.281].

Conclusions

In this forensic criminal sample, a third of individuals failed the SIMS total score and AF subscale while having credible performance otherwise. Approximately half failed the LI subscale while passing other validity measures. Results suggest that SIMS performance is not strongly related to SVT measures that focuses on response consistency or PVT performance; there is still significant classification overlap. However, high base rate of PVT/SVT failure in this sample may limit generalizability.
B - 145 CVLT-3 Forced Choice Recognition Failure Rate in a Mixed Clinical Population
Authors: Myers Melissa A , Moncrief Grant G , Graefe Anna C , Roth Robert M
Published: September 2024

Objective

The CVLT-3 is a measure of verbal learning and memory used extensively in clinical and research settings that contains an embedded performance validity indicator, a forced choice recognition trial (CVLT-3-FCR). The CVLT-2-FCR was modified for the CVLT-3-FCR, replacing abstract with concrete distractor words. To date, no one has reported independent data on failure rates in clinical populations on the CVLT-3-FCR.

Method

Participants were 373 patients referred for clinical neuropsychological evaluation who completed the CVLT-3 (Standard form) as part of their evaluation. Mean age was 61.20 (SD = 14.30, range = 20–86), mean education was 15.00 years (SD = 2.87, range = 6–21), 53.1% were male, and 97.6% White. Failure was defined as CVLT-3-FCR score ≤ 14.

Results

85.5% of our mixed clinical sample had CVLT-3-FCR score of 16/16, and 7.5% had 15/16. Only 7% (N = 26) scored ≤14, most common primary diagnoses being mild neurocognitive disorder (N = 9) and psychiatric (N = 7), while only four had dementia of any etiology. Those who failed tended to be a little older [pass = 60.82 years (SD = 14.44), fail = 66.38 years (SD = 11.28); p = 0.055) and scored lower for CVLT-3 Total Trials 1–5, short- and long-delay free recall, recognition hits, false positives, and discriminability (all p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Findings indicate CVLT-3-FCR ≤ 14 is extremely rare in a large mixed clinical sample of adults and older adults, even in subsamples for whom lower scores on PVTs have been suggested (e.g., dementia). While passing the CVLT-3-FCR does not in itself confirm adequate test engagement, failure should raise concern and the need for additional PVTs in one’s assessment.
B - 147 Neuropsychological Evaluation of a Blind Patient with Suspected Lewy Body Dementia
Authors: Carbone Kaitlyn , Phenis Richard
Published: September 2024

Objective

Assessment of patients who are blind can be complicated. In patients with Lewy body dementia (LBD), visuospatial abilities are often impaired early but assessment of these abilities is limited in patients who are blind. This case involved neuropsychological evaluation of a patient who is blind with suspected LBD and aims to expand existing literature.

Method

75-year-old, blind (since early 20s) Caucasian female with onset of progressive cognitive decline 18 months prior and motor symptoms 12 months prior. Functional decline, cognitive fluctuations, hallucinations, and possible Rapid Eye Movement behavioral disorder were endorsed. MRI of the brain revealed “diffusely prominent perivascular spaces” and “chronic white matter ischemia”.

Results

Testing found deficits for verbal fluency, processing speed, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. This fronto-subcortical pattern of cognitive dysfunction and functional decline met criteria for mild dementia. Memory performance was variable but not indicative of Alzheimer’s dementia. History and symptoms raise concern for an underlying LBD. With vision loss, Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a potential cause of some of the hallucinations but does not account for the other symptoms reported, which better support an LBD etiology.

Conclusions

This presentation aims to contribute to the limited literature surrounding assessment of LBD in patients who are blind. Aside from the obvious test selection restrictions, finding relevant research and available normative data surrounding neuropsychological assessment in this population is difficult due to the different causes and levels of vision impairment. Limited research surrounding the evaluation and diagnosis of LBD in patients who are blind further complicate this case.
Accuracy of Reaction Time Measurement on Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric UltraMobile
Authors: Arrieux Jacques , Ivins Brian
Published: September 2024

Objective

This observational study examined the accuracy of simple reaction time (RT) measurements on various touchscreen tablet devices using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric (ANAM) UltraMobile test battery. The study investigated the implications of interpreting ANAM UltraMobile with laptop-based normative data by analyzing the magnitude and variability of RT accuracy across devices.

Method

RT accuracy on 10 different tablets was assessed using a photodetector and robotic arm to respond to stimuli at predetermined response times. The recorded RT was compared with the true RT obtained from the robotic arm to calculate the RT error.

Results

ANAM UltraMobile recorded slower RTs than the laptop version. Additionally, RT error varied considerably among the 10 tablet models, suggesting psychometrically significant implications that could lead to interpretive errors when using laptop-based normative data.

Conclusions

Relative to the RT error from the laptop-based version of ANAM, tablet data from ANAM UltraMobile are significantly slower and exhibit large variability between devices. These differences may have clinically significant implications for the comparability of the two versions. The findings suggest that further research with human participants is needed to assess the equivalence of ANAM UltraMobile with its predecessor.
The Challenge of Kosovo
Authors: Maniura Robert
Published: September 2024

This essay offers a reflection on the vexed position of the pre-modern visual arts in Kosovo that sees medieval monuments under continuing armed guard. The violence that led to this state of affairs is sadly familiar, but this enduring phenomenon attracts little attention. The essay concentrates on the fate of the Serbian royal foundations in the region and suggests that it has important implications for the discipline of art history, whose established tools risk failing to find purchase on the polarised sectarian readings that have been forced on these monuments. The veneration of some of these nominally Christian sites by Muslims of varying ethnicities was well attested in the former Yugoslavia, but has not been integrated into their historical study. This essay proposes that the neglect of this experience, which is itself receding into an elusive past, raises questions about art history’s methods and scope.
New Insights Into Breast and Chest Wall Asymmetry in the Aesthetic Patient
Authors: Hafezi Farhad , Kazemi Ashtiani Abbas , Azarbakhsh Mahdokht , Ali Jaafari , Gharegheshlagh Soheila Naderi
Published: September 2024

Background

Asymmetry, a prevalent phenomenon throughout the human body, prompts this retrospective study, in which the authors aim at discerning potential patterns in its manifestation. Building upon our previous investigations in which left-sided chest wall and pelvic bone width surpassed their right-sided counterparts, a hypothesis is formulated suggesting the likelihood of the right breast being narrower and longer compared with the left.

Objectives

Our objective in this study is to investigate the correlation between the left-sidedness phenomenon in the chest wall and breast shape and appearance, with the aim of understanding its potential impact on outcomes in breast aesthetic surgery.

Methods

A random selection of pictures from 600 female patients undergoing various aesthetic breast procedures formed the basis of this study. Exclusion criteria involved the elimination of 254 pictures with nonstandard photography. Horizontal and vertical parameters of breasts and chest walls were measured, and the results on both sides were systematically compared to validate our hypothesis.

Results

On the left side, the chest wall, the distance between the nipple and the midline, and that of the nipple and the anterior axillary line were significantly wider. Vertical measurements, including the sternal notch to the nipple, the clavicle to the nipple, and the clavicle to inferior breast distance, although longer, did not exhibit statistical significance.

Conclusions

Approximately 77% of patients displayed wider breasts and chest walls on the left side. However, this observed asymmetry did not yield a statistically significant impact on the length of the breasts.

Level of Evidence: 3 (Diagnostic)
Isolation of bacteria from Grifola frondosa cultivation on wood logs to find mycelial growth-promoting bacteria
Authors: Chen Fu-Chia , Kamei Ichiro
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to isolate bacteria that coexist with the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa when it is cultured on wood, and to determine their interactions; in turn, the aim was to find bacteria that stimulate mycelial growth so as to decrease the time required for spawn preparation on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Some Pseudomonas, Dyella, Bacillus, and Priestia spp. isolated from the cultivation surroundings of G. frondosa had a positive effect on the mycelial growth of the fungus in PDA. However, some isolated bacteria had a severe negative effect on the mycelial growth, especially Burkholderia spp. Thus, both mycelial-promoting bacteria and potentially pathogenic bacteria coexist with G. frondosa in cultivation. Enzyme activity assays indicated that some wood-degrading bacteria inhabit the cultivation surroundings of G. frondosa, and these bacteria probably help the fungus to degrade wood (especially cellulose).
β-Caryophyllene, a dietary phytocannabinoid, alleviates high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in mice via AMPK activation
Authors: Kamikubo Ryosuke , Yoshida Hiroki , Fushimi Taiki , Kamei Yuki , Akagawa Mitsugu
Published: September 2024

β-Caryophyllene (BCP), a dietary phytocannabinoid, significantly suppresses palmitate-induced lipid accumulation in human HepG2 hepatocytes via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. The objective of the preset research was to assess whether oral administration of BCP alleviates obesity-induced hepatic steatosis in mice through AMPK activation. We examined the protective action of supplementation of 0.3% BCP (w/w) in a high-fat diet (HFD) on C57BL/6J mice for 12 weeks. BCP supplementation evidently ameliorated histological hepatic steatosis features, and significantly reduced triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the liver, and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase as compared with non-supplemented HFD-fed mice. Immunoblotting revealed that BCP supplementation in HFD-fed mice also caused hepatic AMPK activation. Furthermore, treatment with BCP in HFD-fed mice significantly suppressed body weight gain and attenuated obesity-related phenotypes relative to the HFD mice. Our results suggest the usefulness of BCP in the prevention of obesity-related liver steatosis and liver injury.
A test of the mechanistic process behind the convergent agonistic character displacement hypothesis
Authors: Luepold Shannon Buckley , Carlotti Sandro , Pasinelli Gilberto
Published: September 2024

In this era of rapid global change, understanding the mechanisms that enable or prevent species from co-occurring has assumed new urgency. The convergent agonistic character displacement (CACD) hypothesis posits that signal similarity enables the co-occurrence of ecological competitors by promoting aggressive interactions that reduce interspecific territory overlap and hence, exploitative competition. In northwestern Switzerland, ca. 10% of Phylloscopus sibilatrix produce songs containing syllables that are typical of their co-occurring sister species, Phylloscopus bonelli (“mixed singers”). To examine whether the consequences of P. sibilatrix mixed singing are consistent with CACD, we combined a playback experiment and an analysis of interspecific territory overlap. Although P. bonelli reacted more aggressively to playback of mixed P. sibilatrix song than to playback of typical P. sibilatrix song, interspecific territory overlap was not reduced for mixed singers. Thus, the CACD hypothesis was not supported, which stresses the importance of distinguishing between interspecific aggressive interactions and their presumed spatial consequences.
A Bayesian pharmacokinetics integrated phase I–II design to optimize dose-schedule regimes
Authors: Lu Mengyi , Yuan Ying , Liu Suyu
Published: September 2024

The schedule of administering a drug has profound impact on the toxicity and efficacy profiles of the drug through changing its pharmacokinetics (PK). PK is an innate and indispensable component of the dose-schedule optimization. Motivated by this, we propose a Bayesian PK integrated dose-schedule finding (PKIDS) design to identify the optimal dose-schedule regime by integrating PK, toxicity, and efficacy data. Based on the causal pathway that dose and schedule affect PK, which in turn affects efficacy and toxicity, we jointly model the three endpoints by first specifying a Bayesian hierarchical model for the marginal distribution of the longitudinal dose-concentration process. Conditional on the drug concentration in plasma, we jointly model toxicity and efficacy as a function of the concentration. We quantify the risk-benefit of regimes using utility—continuously updating the estimates of PK, toxicity, and efficacy based on interim data—and make adaptive decisions to assign new patients to appropriate dose-schedule regimes via adaptive randomization. The simulation study shows that the PKIDS design has desirable operating characteristics.
Heart rate variability as a dynamic marker of surgeons’ stress during vascular surgery
Authors: De Louche Calvin D , Mandal Manish , Fernandes Lee , Lawson Jason , Bicknell Colin D , Pouncey Anna L
Published: September 2024

Background

A surgeon experiences elevated stress levels when operating. Acute stress is linked to cognitive overload, worsening surgical performance. Chronic stress poses a significant risk to a surgeon’s health. Identifying intraoperative stress may allow for preventative strategies that reduce surgeons’ stress and subsequently improve patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using heart rate variability as a marker of stress during vascular surgery.

Methods

A total of 11 senior surgeons were evaluated performing three different vascular surgery procedures. Heart rate variability metrics (low-frequency to high-frequency ratio and standard deviation of the normal-normal interval) were determined from single-lead ECG traces at predetermined procedural performance points. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6, a validated stress tool, was used to assess surgeon-reported stress. Subjective reports of procedural difficulty were also collected. One-way ANOVA compared heart rate variability at key performance points with baseline. Pearson’s coefficient assessed correlation between heart rate variability and subjective stress.

Results

Data were collected for six carotid endarterectomies, six open abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, and five lower limb bypasses. Heart rate variability metrics indicating markedly greater stress were observed at key performance points across all procedures. Peaks in stress were consistent across different surgeons performing the same procedure. A significant correlation was observed between heart rate variability metrics and subjective State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6 stress reports (r = 0.768, P =<0.001). The most difficult procedural steps reported corresponded with heart rate variability metrics displaying the greatest stress.

Conclusion

Heart rate variability may be a viable approach to assess intraoperative stress and cognitive load during vascular surgery and could be used to evaluate whether a theatre intervention (for example timeout) could reduce stress in areas of surgical difficulty.
Pollination ecology of Dracula erythrochaete (Orchidaceae): brood-site imitation or food deception?
Authors: Gil-Amaya Karen , Fernández Melania , Oses Lizbeth , Benavides-Acevedo Miguel , Grimaldi David , Blanco Mario A , Karremans Adam P
Published: September 2024

Pleurothallidinae is the most diverse Neotropical subtribe in Orchidaceae and is almost exclusively pollinated by insects of the order Diptera. Dracula, a genus of 138 species in the Pleurothallidinae, is known to attract Zygothrica (Drosophilidae) flies, common macrofungi visitors, by imitating fungal volatile compounds and lamellae. Interestingly, Dracula orchids do not appear to offer any rewards to their floral visitors. While brood-site imitation of macrofungi has been suggested as their pollination system, the exact behaviour of flies during their extended visits to the orchid flowers has yet to be confirmed. In this study, we document the pollination mechanism of Dracula erythrochaete. We characterize the floral structures involved in the mechanism using anatomical and morphological evidence. Additionally, through in situ observations and camera recordings, we describe the insect behaviour. We show that flowers of D. erythrochaete share the same group of visitors as nearby macrofungi, including different Zygothrica species, seven of which were determined as effective pollinators. Male and female flies were attracted to the flowers and displayed feeding behaviour. Accordingly, proteins were detected in high concentrations on the papillae at the base of the movable lip and in papillary trichomes of the sepals, near the column. The concept of brood-site imitation is debated, as no oviposition events were observed and no eggs were found on the flowers. Therefore, a mixed strategy of congregation/brood-site imitation and food reward is proposed for pollination.
Inside out: the neural basis of spontaneous and creative thinking
Authors: Lopez-Persem Alizée , Mandonnet Emmanuel , Volle Emmanuelle
Published: September 2024

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Default mode network electrophysiological dynamics and causal role in creative thinking’ by Bartoli et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae199).
How to review a submitted dermatology manuscript
Authors: Fong Wei Chern Gavin , Williams Hywel C
Published: September 2024

Although much has been written about peer review science, practical advice on how to peer review articles is lacking, especially for dermatology. This article aims to provide a practical, stepwise framework to support new reviewers. Step 1 involves a rapid read of the manuscript to get a feel of the topic and to clarify the study question and design. Step 2 is a thorough, slower read, using an appropriate EQUATOR checklist. Step 3 is to organize your comments to the authors into major and minor points in a constructive way, focusing on clarity of question, internal validity, external validity and whether the interpretation fits with the results. Finally, make a recommendation to the editor, indicating whether the study is publishable with suitable revision or whether it contains some fatal flaws. We hope that this practical guide will encourage and help new reviewers to take on this rewarding and important scientific task for patient benefit.
Functional alterations of lateral temporal cortex for processing voice prosody in adults with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Hashimoto Ryu-ichiro , Okada Rieko , Aoki Ryuta , Nakamura Motoaki , Ohta Haruhisa , Itahashi Takashi
Published: September 2024

The human auditory system includes discrete cortical patches and selective regions for processing voice information, including emotional prosody. Although behavioral evidence indicates individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in recognizing emotional prosody, it remains understudied whether and how localized voice patches (VPs) and other voice-sensitive regions are functionally altered in processing prosody. This fMRI study investigated neural responses to prosodic voices in 25 adult males with ASD and 33 controls using voices of anger, sadness, and happiness with varying degrees of emotion. We used a functional region-of-interest analysis with an independent voice localizer to identify multiple VPs from combined ASD and control data. We observed a general response reduction to prosodic voices in specific VPs of left posterior temporal VP (TVP) and right middle TVP. Reduced cortical responses in right middle TVP were consistently correlated with the severity of autistic symptoms for all examined emotional prosodies. Moreover, representation similarity analysis revealed the reduced effect of emotional intensity in multivoxel activation patterns in left anterior superior temporal cortex only for sad prosody. These results indicate reduced response magnitudes to voice prosodies in specific TVPs and altered emotion intensity-dependent multivoxel activation patterns in adult ASDs, potentially underlying their socio-communicative difficulties.
Provincial and connector qualities of somatosensory brain network hubs in bipolar disorder
Authors: Klahn Anna Luisa , Thompson William Hedley , Momoh Imiele , Abé Christoph , Liberg Benny , Landén Mikael
Published: September 2024

Brain network hubs are highly connected brain regions serving as important relay stations for information integration. Recent studies have linked mental disorders to impaired hub function. Provincial hubs mainly integrate information within their own brain network, while connector hubs share information between different brain networks. This study used a novel time-varying analysis to investigate whether hubs aberrantly follow the trajectory of other brain networks than their own. The aim was to characterize brain hub functioning in clinically remitted bipolar patients. We analyzed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 96 euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder and 61 healthy control individuals. We characterized different hub qualities within the somatomotor network. We found that the somatomotor network comprised mainly provincial hubs in healthy controls. Conversely, in bipolar disorder patients, hubs in the primary somatosensory cortex displayed weaker provincial and stronger connector hub function. Furthermore, hubs in bipolar disorder showed weaker allegiances with their own brain network and followed the trajectories of the limbic, salience, dorsal attention, and frontoparietal network. We suggest that these hub aberrancies contribute to previously shown functional connectivity alterations in bipolar disorder and may thus constitute the neural substrate to persistently impaired sensory integration despite clinical remission.
Partisans process policy-based and identity-based messages using dissociable neural systems
Authors: Jacoby Nir , Landau-Wells Marika , Pearl Jacob , Paul Alexandra , Falk Emily B , Bruneau Emile G , Ochsner Kevin N
Published: September 2024

Political partisanship is often conceived as a lens through which people view politics. Behavioral research has distinguished two types of “partisan lenses”—policy-based and identity-based—that may influence peoples’ perception of political events. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms through which partisan discourse appealing to policy beliefs or targeting partisan identities operate within individuals. We addressed this question by collecting neuroimaging data while participants watched videos of speakers expressing partisan views. A “partisan lens effect” was identified as the difference in neural synchrony between each participant’s brain response and that of their partisan ingroup vs. outgroup. When processing policy-based messaging, a partisan lens effect was observed in socio-political reasoning and affective responding brain regions. When processing negative identity-based attacks, a partisan lens effect was observed in mentalizing and affective responding brain regions. These data suggest that the processing of political discourse that appeals to different forms of partisanship is supported by related but distinguishable neural—and therefore psychological—mechanisms, which may have implications for how we characterize partisanship and ameliorate its deleterious impacts.
Chemometrics-assisted functionalization of boronic acid-derived supramolecules
Authors: Kubo Yuji , Kawaguchi Kaede , Ito Masato
Published: September 2024

Chemometrics is a useful technique to analyze large amounts of data collected to generate insights and predict behaviors, being applied to boronate supramolecules. Boronic acid-based dynamic covalent bond with diols and catechols is a great advantage for multivariate analysis, involving calibration and prediction of the % ee of enantiomeric analytes using chiral boronates. Chemometrics-assisted quantitative structure–property relationship analysis has also been applied to room-temperature phosphorescence behavior of boronate assemblies. This review highlights the effectiveness of chemometrics in experimental material chemistry.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Efficacy and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplant for Preventing Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection
Authors: Drekonja Dimitri M , Shaukat Aasma , Huang Yuan , Zhang Jane H , Reinink Andrew R , Nugent Sean , Dominitz Jason A , Davis-Karim Anne , Gerding Dale N , Kyriakides Tassos C
Published: September 2024

Background

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of healthcare–associated infections in US hospitals, with 15%–30% of patients experiencing recurrence. The aim of our randomized, double-blind clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of capsule-delivered fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) versus placebo in reducing recurrent diarrhea and CDI recurrence. The secondary aim was FMT safety assessment.

Methods

Between 2018 and 2022, Veterans across the Veterans Health Administration system with recurrent CDI who responded to antibiotic treatment were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to oral FMT or placebo capsules. Randomization was stratified by number of prior CDI recurrences (1 or ≥2). The primary endpoint was clinical recurrence by day 56, defined as >3 unformed stools daily for ≥2 days with or without laboratory confirmation of C. difficile, or death within 56 days.

Results

The study was stopped due to futility after meeting prespecified criteria. Of 153 participants (76 FMT, 77 placebo) with an average age of 66.5 years, 25 participants (32.9%) in the FMT arm and 23 (29.9%) in the placebo arm experienced the primary endpoint of diarrhea and possible or definite CDI recurrence or death within 56 days of capsule administration (absolute difference, 3.0% [95% confidence interval, −11.7% to 17.7%]). Stratification by number of recurrences revealed no statistically significant differences. There were no clinically important differences in adverse events.

Conclusions

FMT therapy versus placebo did not reduce CDI recurrence or death at 56 days. There were no meaningful differences in adverse events between treatment groups.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT03005379.
The Unseen ‘Others’: A Framework for Investor Stewardship
Authors: Katelouzou Dionysia
Published: September 2024

Institutional investors, as stewards, exercise power on behalf of their clients/beneficiaries, and in doing so, regard a broader spectrum of ‘unseen’ others - end investors, investable assets, and the broader economy, environment, and society. This analytical framework reveals a crucial distinction: the interests of these unseen others may not align with those of the clients/beneficiaries on whose behalf investor stewards act. By introducing multiple stewardship relationships —client stewardship, end-investor stewardship, asset stewardship, and sustainability stewardship—this article develops a model of enlightened stewardship and addresses a key challenge: stewardship beyond client stewardship mainly operates outside the domain of hard law. The article advocates for stewardship codes to ‘crowd in’ enlightened stewardship, complementing regulatory frameworks and leveraging intrinsic motivations for responsible investment. Using the UK Stewardship Code as a case study, it suggests incorporating elements akin to section 172 of the UK Companies Act 2006 to provide essential clarity and guidance in redefining the purpose of stewardship.
Tracking toads from dusk till dawn: linking inter- and intra-individual variation in movement behavior
Authors: Jreidini Nathalie , Green David M
Published: September 2024

Animals can differ in their individual movement behaviors during their daily displacements. Studies of animal movement patterns often disregard the need to understand individual variation in these patterns and the role of this variation in shaping population distributions of movements. To assess the link between individual movements and population distributions, we radio-tracked 13 Fowler’s Toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) in Long Point, Ontario, Canada, after their breeding season. We recorded individual coordinates every 30 min, from the moment they emerged from their burrows around dusk until they burrowed in the morning, and obtained a total of 157 movements. We used the resulting series of step lengths and turning angles in a Hidden Markov Model to estimate movement type as “directed” or “non-directed.” We also assigned to each encounter one of 3 space-dependent movement states: “foraging”, “in transit”, or “searching”, and found that movement type and state switched within individuals irrespective of time during a single night. We find that switching between movement types varied throughout the night, leading to stochastic within-individual variation in movements, and the distribution of movement distances differed significantly among individuals. Movement states, however, were time-dependent, suggesting displacement routines were similar across individuals. Variation in movement behavior within individuals scales up to result in variation among individuals which, in turn, was found to shape the distribution of the sampled population. Our findings therefore underline the importance of a multi-scale approach in the study of movement.
RegulaTome: a corpus of typed, directed, and signed relations between biomedical entities in the scientific literature
Authors: Nastou Katerina , Mehryary Farrokh , Ohta Tomoko , Luoma Jouni , Pyysalo Sampo , Jensen Lars Juhl
Published: September 2024

In the field of biomedical text mining, the ability to extract relations from the literature is crucial for advancing both theoretical research and practical applications. There is a notable shortage of corpora designed to enhance the extraction of multiple types of relations, particularly focusing on proteins and protein-containing entities such as complexes and families, as well as chemicals. In this work, we present RegulaTome, a corpus that overcomes the limitations of several existing biomedical relation extraction (RE) corpora, many of which concentrate on single-type relations at the sentence level. RegulaTome stands out by offering 16 961 relations annotated in >2500 documents, making it the most extensive dataset of its kind to date. This corpus is specifically designed to cover a broader spectrum of >40 relation types beyond those traditionally explored, setting a new benchmark in the complexity and depth of biomedical RE tasks. Our corpus both broadens the scope of detected relations and allows for achieving noteworthy accuracy in RE. A transformer-based model trained on this corpus has demonstrated a promising F1-score (66.6%) for a task of this complexity, underscoring the effectiveness of our approach in accurately identifying and categorizing a wide array of biological relations. This achievement highlights RegulaTome’s potential to significantly contribute to the development of more sophisticated, efficient, and accurate RE systems to tackle biomedical tasks. Finally, a run of the trained RE system on all PubMed abstracts and PMC Open Access full-text documents resulted in >18 million relations, extracted from the entire biomedical literature.
Development and validation of a CT-based deep learning radiomics signature to predict lymph node metastasis in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a multicentre study
Authors: Jiang Tianzi , Wang Hexiang , Li Jie , Wang Tongyu , Zhan Xiaohong , Wang Jingqun , Wang Ning , Nie Pei , Cui Shiyu , Zhao Xindi , Hao Dapeng
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a pivotal determinant that influences the treatment strategies and prognosis for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients. This study aims to establish and verify a deep learning (DL) radiomics model for the prediction of LNM in OPSCCs using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT).

Methods

A retrospective analysis included 279 OPSCC patients from 3 institutions. CECT images were used for handcrafted (HCR) and DL feature extraction. Dimensionality reduction for HCR features used recursive feature elimination (RFE) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithms, whereas DL feature dimensionality reduction used variance-threshold and RFE algorithms. Radiomics signatures were constructed using six machine learning classifiers. A combined model was then constructed using the screened DL, HCR, and clinical features. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) served to quantify the model’s performance, and calibration curves were utilized to assess its calibration.

Results

The combined model exhibited robust performance, achieving AUC values of 0.909 (95% CI, 0.861-0.957) in the training cohort, 0.884 (95% CI, 0.800-0.968) in the internal validation cohort, and 0.865 (95% CI, 0.791-0.939) in the external validation cohort. It outperformed both the clinical model and best-performing radiomics model. Moreover, calibration was deemed satisfactory.

Conclusions

The combined model based on CECT demonstrates the potential to predict LNM in OPSCCs preoperatively, offering a valuable tool for more precise and tailored treatment strategies.

Advances in knowledge

This study presents a novel combined model integrating clinical factors with DL radiomics, significantly enhancing preoperative LNM prediction in OPSCC.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in patients with borderline stenosis of the left anterior descending artery and vasospastic angina: to stent or not to stent? A case report
Authors: Bernacik Anna , Niewiara Łukasz , Szolc Piotr , Legutko Jacek , Guzik Bartłomiej
Published: September 2024

Background

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a complex disease that resembles the clinical presentation of acute myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries. The aetiology remains elusive despite the comprehensive nature of current guidelines meticulously detailing the diagnostic process.

Case summary

We present the case of a 64-year-old female who presented with a clinical profile consistent with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, confirmed by elevated cardiac enzyme levels. Echocardiography raised suspicions of TCM. Angiography presented a challenge, revealing a 65% stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Based on the collected evidence, we decided to delay and ultimately forgo LAD revascularization while identifying epicardial vasospasm through a provocation test as a possible cause underlying TCM.

Discussion

Conducting an acetylcholine provocation test, as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology guidelines for patients with ischaemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease unveiled severe diffuse vasospasm affecting both the LAD and circumflex arteries. The intricate interplay of pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical presentations necessitates ongoing exploration to uncover the mysteries and refine our diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Successful use of point-of-care ultrasound for an elderly patient with heart failure in a primary care setting: a case report
Authors: Kato Naoko P , Svantesson Josefine , Johansson Peter , Strömberg Anna , Jaarsma Tiny
Published: September 2024

Background

Appropriate assessment of fluid status of patients with heart failure (HF) is challenging in outpatient settings, e.g. primary care, especially among elderly HF patients with multiple comorbidities. The use of handheld ultrasound devices for point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has increased.

Case summary

An 80-year-old male had HF with preserved ejection fraction with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification II. He had multiple comorbidities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and been followed up in both a nurse-led HF clinic and a nurse-led chronic obstructive pulmonary disease clinic in primary care. During a scheduled visit to the nurse-led HF clinic in primary care, he exhibited orthopnoea and moderate leg oedema. A HF nurse, using a handheld ultrasound device (Vscan, GE Healthcare), detected B-lines in the left lung, indicating the presence of fluid in the left lung, and an enlarged and non-varying inferior vena cava (IVC) during the POCUS examination. Based on these results, the HF nurse concluded that the patient was experiencing decompensated HF, rather than a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. As a result, his loop diuretics were promptly increased. The patient and his wife received advice on self-care from the HF nurse and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease nurses. At a follow-up visit 2 weeks later, his breathlessness and swelling were reduced, with no B-lines or dilated IVC found during the POCUS examination.

Discussion

The POCUS can be a good decision support tool for not only physicians but also other healthcare professionals to identify worsening HF and to monitor treatment responses in HF patients in primary care settings.
Marital status, educational level, and mid-term mortality risk in 5924 patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Lachonius Maria , Giang Kok Wai , Pétursson Pétur , Angerås Oskar , Skoglund Kristofer , Jeppsson Anders , Nielsen Susanne J
Published: September 2024

Aims

There is scarce knowledge about the association between social factors and mid-term outcome in older patients undergoing transaortic valve implantation (TAVI). Our aim in this study is to explore associations between marital status, educational level, and mortality risk in patients after TAVI.

Methods and results

Patients aged ≥65 who underwent TAVI in Sweden during 2014–2020 were identified from the SWEDEHEART registry. Social factors and comorbidities were collected from mandatory national registries. Cox regression models adjusted for baseline comorbidities, age, sex, year of TAVI, social factors, and smoking were used to estimate mortality risk. Median follow-up was 1.9 years (interquartile range: 0.9–3.3). Overall, 5924 patients were included (47.3% women), with a mean age of 82.1 years (standard deviation: 6.1). Of the 1410 (23.8%) deaths during follow-up, 721 (51.2%) were related to cardiovascular causes. Patients with low education (<10 years) had a higher risk of mortality than patients with the highest education level [>12 years; adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.41]. Never being married/cohabiting was associated with an increased risk of mortality in comparison with being married/cohabiting (aHR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05–1.65). A separate analysis of men and women showed an increased risk among never-married men (aHR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.23–2.14) but not among never-married women (aHR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.56–1.30).

Conclusion

Disadvantage in social factors was associated with an increased mortality risk after TAVI in older patients. These findings emphasize the importance of developing strategies to increase health literacy and social support after TAVI in older patients with unfavourable social factors.
Exploring clinical factors to predict the survival of patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer with neoadjuvant immunotherapy
Authors: Zhang Mengzhe , Yan Meng , Xiao Zengtuan , Li Yue , Liu Zuo , Zhang Pengpeng , Wang Xiaofei , Zhang Lianmin , Zhang Zhenfa
Published: September 2024

OBJECTIVES

The goal was to explore clinical factors and build a predictive model for the disease-free and overall survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

METHODS

Inclusion criteria for patients in this multicentre study were as follows: (i) Patients who were diagnosed with stages I–III NSCLC after a bronchoscopy biopsy or puncture; (ii) patients who were examined with computed tomography/positron emission tomography-computed tomography before treatment and surgery; (iii) patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors for 2 to 6 cycles preoperatively; (iv) patients whose peripheral blood indicators and tumour markers were assessed before treatment and preoperatively; (v) patients who underwent radical lung cancer surgery after neoadjuvant therapy. Cases were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to 78 clinical indicators based on a 10-fold Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator selection. We used Cox proportional hazards models to predict disease-free and overall survival. Then, we used time-dependent area under the curve and decision curve analyses to examine the accuracy of the results.

RESULTS

Data were collected continuously, and 212 and 85 cases were randomly assigned to training and testing sets, respectively. The area under the curve for the prediction of disease-free survival (training: 1 year, 0.83; 2 years, 0.81; 3 years, 0.83 versus testing: 1 year, 0.65; 2 years, 0.66; 3 years, 0.70), overall survival (training: 1 year, 0.86; 2 years, 0.85; 3 years, 0.86 versus testing: 1 year, 0.66; 2 years, 0.57; 3 years, 0.70) were determined. The coefficient factors including pathological response; preoperative tumour maximum diameter; preoperative lymph shorter diameter; preoperative tumour and lymph maximum standardized uptake value; change in tumour standardized uptake value preoperatively; and blood-related risk factors were favourably associated with prognosis (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our prediction model, which integrated data from preoperative positron emission tomography-CT, preoperative blood parameters and pathological response, was able to make highly accurate predictions for disease-free and overall survival in patients with NSCLC receiving neoadjuvant immunity with chemical therapy.