bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: Cyclosporine A-induced extrapyramidal syndrome following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Al-Amrani Fatema , Al Rawas Abdulhakeem , Al-Ajmi Eiman , Al Futaisi Amna
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Cyclosporine A-associated neurotoxicity has been reported in up to 40% of patients and its wide range of neurological adverse effects have been reported, ranging from mild tremors to fatal leukoencephalopathy. Extrapyramidal (EP) neurotoxicity is a rare manifestation of cyclosporine. Cyclosporine-induced extrapyramidal syndrome remains a rare adverse reaction.

Design/methods

A database search was performed for studies in patients from all age groups. We found a total of 10 articles reporting EP as an adverse effect of cyclosporine A. A total of 16 patients were found, and a thorough review of these patients was performed. A comparison of patients was performed to highlight common clinical presentations, investigations during the symptomatic phase, and prognosis. In addition, we describe an 8-year-old boy who developed cyclosporine-related extrapyramidal signs on day 60 post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for beta-thalassemia.

Conclusion

Cyclosporine A can induce neurotoxicity resulting in diverse symptoms. Signs of EP are rare manifestations of cyclosporine neurotoxicity and should be considered when evaluating post-transplant recipients of cyclosporine when they are present with any EP symptoms. Discontinuation of cyclosporine results in good recovery in most patients.
Time from sudden sensory neural hearing loss to treatment as a prognostic factor
Authors: Chen Itay , Eligal Shalom , Menahem Ori , Salem Riki , Sichel Jean-Yves , Perez Ronen , Shaul Chanan
Published: April 2023

Introduction

The widely accepted treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is corticosteroid treatment (oral or intratympanic). The main goal of this work is to define the significance of the time between symptom onset and treatment initiation, as well as other prognostic factors, for hearing improvement.

Methods

This retrospective study included 666 patients treated for SSNHL. Demographic data, audiometry, treatment method, time since symptom onset, and associated symptoms were recorded for each patient. The patients were divided into five groups according to the treatment initiation time—half a week, one week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 4 weeks and over—after symptom onset. The degree of improvement was assessed by comparing the audiometry at the beginning and the end of the treatment.

Results

The average period of hearing loss from symptom onset to treatment initiation was 10.8 days. Significant differences were found between the groups of half a week, one week, and 2 weeks and the groups of 3 weeks and 4 weeks and over (each separately, p < 0.001). No difference was found between the half-week, one-week, and two-week groups, nor was there a difference between the three-week and four-week-and-over groups. A correlation was found between the treatment initiation time in days and the degree of improvement in hearing for both speech recognition threshold (SRT) and discrimination, R = 0.26 p < 0.001 and R = 0.17 p < 0.001, respectively. No correlation was found for gender, age of the patients, comorbidities, or associated symptoms.

Conclusion

The threshold for treatment initiation time is up to 2 weeks, after which the amplitude of hearing improvement decreases significantly. The other prognostic factors measured were not found to be statistically significant predictors.
Discrepancies of video head impulse test results in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo and vestibular neuritis
Authors: Liu Yingzhao , Leng Yangming , Zhou Renhong , Liu Jingjing , Wang Hongchang , Xia Kaijun , Liu Bo , Xiao Hongjun
Published: April 2023

Objective

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo (SHLV) and vestibular neuritis (VN) remain frequent causes of acute vestibular syndrome (AVS). The aim of study was to compare the results of video head impulse test (vHIT) in patients with SHLV and VN. The characteristics of high-frequency vestibule-ocular reflex (VOR) and the differences of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these two AVS were explored.

Methods

Fifty-seven SHLV patients and 31 VN patients were enrolled. vHIT was conducted at the initial presentation. The VOR gains and occurrence of corrective saccades (CSs) of anterior, horizontal, and posterior semicircular canals (SCCs) in two groups were analyzed. Pathological vHIT results refer to impaired VOR gains and presence of CSs.

Results

In SHLV group, pathological vHIT results was most prevalent in the posterior SCC on the affected side (30/57, 52.63%), followed by horizontal (12/57, 21.05%) and anterior SCC (3/57, 5.26%). In VN group, pathological vHIT preferentially affected horizontal SCC (24/31, 77.42%), followed by anterior (10/31, 32.26%) and posterior SCC (9/31, 29.03%) on the affected side. As for anterior and horizontal SCC on the affected side, the incidences of pathological vHIT results in VN group were significantly higher than those in SHLV group (β = 2.905, p < 0.01; β = 2.183, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the incidence of pathological vHIT result in posterior SCC between two groups.

Conclusion

Comparison of vHIT results in patients with SHLV and VN revealed discrepancies in the pattern of SCCs impairments, which may be explained by different pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these two vestibular disorders presenting as AVS.
Arousal system stimulation and anesthetic state alter visuoparietal connectivity
Authors: Hutt Axel , Hudetz Anthony G.
Published: April 2023

Cortical information processing is under the precise control of the ascending arousal system (AAS). Anesthesia suppresses cortical arousal that can be mitigated by exogenous stimulation of the AAS. The question remains to what extent cortical information processing is regained by AAS stimulation. We investigate the effect of electrical stimulation of the nucleus Pontis Oralis (PnO), a distinct source of ascending AAS projections, on cortical functional connectivity (FC) and information storage at mild, moderate, and deep anesthesia. Local field potentials (LFPs) recorded previously in the secondary visual cortex (V2) and the adjacent parietal association cortex (PtA) in chronically instrumented unrestrained rats. We hypothesized that PnO stimulation would induce electrocortical arousal accompanied by enhanced FC and active information storage (AIS) implying improved information processing. In fact, stimulation reduced FC in slow oscillations (0.3–2.5 Hz) at low anesthetic level and increased FC at high anesthetic level. These effects were augmented following stimulation suggesting stimulus-induced plasticity. The observed opposite stimulation-anesthetic impact was less clear in the γ-band activity (30–70 Hz). In addition, FC in slow oscillations was more sensitive to stimulation and anesthetic level than FC in γ-band activity which exhibited a rather constant spatial FC structure that was symmetric between specific, topographically related sites in V2 and PtA. Invariant networks were defined as a set of strongly connected electrode channels, which were invariant to experimental conditions. In invariant networks, stimulation decreased AIS and increasing anesthetic level increased AIS. Conversely, in non-invariant (complement) networks, stimulation did not affect AIS at low anesthetic level but increased it at high anesthetic level. The results suggest that arousal stimulation alters cortical FC and information storage as a function of anesthetic level with a prolonged effect beyond the duration of stimulation. The findings help better understand how the arousal system may influence information processing in cortical networks at different levels of anesthesia.
A Novel Theanine Complex, Mg-L-Theanine Improves Sleep Quality via Regulating Brain Electrochemical Activity
Authors: Dasdelen Muhammed Furkan , Er Sezgin , Kaplan Berkan , Celik Suleyman , Beker Mustafa Caglar , Orhan Cemal , Tuzcu Mehmet , Sahin Nurhan , Mamedova Havakhanum , Sylla Sarah , Komorowski James , Ojalvo Sara Perez , Sahin Kazim , Kilic Ertugrul
Published: April 2023

Graphical Abstract

The effects of Mg-L-Theanine on brain electrochemical activity, antioxidant enzymes and sleep. Mg-L-Theanine increases sleep duration, slow waves powers, GABAergic and serotonergic receptor expressions, dopamine, melatonin, and serotonin levels, and antioxidant enzyme activity.
The Effect of Chronic Rhinosinusitis on the Staging and Prognosis of Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Lei Tingting , Chang Yu , Zhang Lei , Zhang Mingzhi
Published: April 2023

Clinically, extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) patients frequently had a history of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) before onset, and the correlation between the two diseases has not been systematically reported at present. In this study, we applied the method—retrospective analysis—to explore the relationship between CRS and ENKTL. We collected clinical data and the length of CRS history before onset in 214 patients diagnosed with ENKTL and found that the length of CRS history was correlated with the stage of 182 ENKTL patients whose primary sites were upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) (χ2 = 21.317, p = 0.046, n = 182); the Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.162 (p = 0.029). There was no significant difference in stage of the non-UAT-ENKTL patients (χ2 = 18.910, p = 0.091, n = 32). The COX multivariate regression analysis showed that CRS history was an independent prognostic predictor for PFS of the UAT-ENKTL patients (p = 0.004), and patients without CRS had significantly better PFS than the more than 15 years CRS history group (p = 0.001). Our findings suggested that we should not ignore the existence of chronic inflammation of the nasal cavity in ENKTL patients. It is better to treat CRS as soon as possible in clinical practice to reduce the possibility of the occurrence or progression of UAT-ENKTL.
A simplified non-coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy for the whole brain radiotherapy with hippocampus avoidance
Authors: Xue Juan , Jin Sunian , Zhang Hongtao , Zou Kun , Sheng Junxiu , Tang Jinhai , Zhao Wanying , Yang Ping , Tang Lufan , Lv Xiupeng , Lv Li
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of using a simplified non-coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (NC-VMAT) and investigate its dosimetric advantages compared with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (C-VMAT) for hippocampal-avoidance whole brain radiation therapy (HA-WBRT).

Methods

Ten patients with brain metastase (BM) were included for HA-WBRT. Three treatment plans were generated for each case using IMRT, C-VMAT, and NC-VMAT, respectively.

Results

The dosimetric results of the three techniques complied roughly with the RTOG 0933 criteria. After dose normalization, the V30Gy of whole brain planned target volume (WB-PTV) in all the plans was controlled at 95%. Homogeneity index (HI) of WB-PTV was significantly reduced in NC-VMAT (0.249 ± 0.017) over IMRT (0.265 ± 0.020, p=0.005) and C-VMAT (0.261 ± 0.014, p=0.020). In terms of conformity index (CI), NC-VMAT could provide a value of 0.821 ± 0.010, which was significantly superior to IMRT (0.788 ± 0.019, p<0.001). According to D2% of WB-PTV, NC-VMAT could provide a value of 35.62 ± 0.37Gy, significantly superior to IMRT (36.43 ± 0.65Gy, p<0.001). According to D50% of WB-PTV, NC-VMAT can achieve the lowest value of 33.18 ± 0.29Gy, significantly different from IMRT (33.47 ± 0.43, p=0.034) and C-VMAT (33.58 ± 0.37, p=0.006). Regarding D2%, D98%, and Dmean of hippocampus, NC-VMAT could control them at 15.57 ± 0.18Gy, 8.37 ± 0.26Gy and 11.71 ± 0.48Gy, respectively. D2% and Dmean of hippocampus for NC-VMAT was significantly lower than IMRT (D2%: 16.07 ± 0.29Gy, p=0.001 Dmean: 12.18 ± 0.33Gy, p<0.001) and C-VMAT (D2%: 15.92 ± 0.37Gy, p=0.009 Dmean: 12.21 ± 0.54Gy, p<0.001). For other organs-at-risk (OARs), according to D2% of the right optic nerves and the right lenses, NC-VMAT had the lowest values of 31.86 ± 1.11Gy and 7.15 ± 0.31Gy, respectively, which were statistically different from the other two techniques. For other organs including eyes and optic chiasm, NC-VMAT could achieve the lowest doses, different from IMRT statistically.

Conclusion

The dosimetry of the three techniques for HA-WBRT could roughly comply with the proposals from RTOG 0933. After dose normalization (D95%=30Gy), NC-VMAT could significantly improve dose homogeneity and reduce the D50% in the brain. Besides, it can reduce the D2% of the hippocampus, optic nerves, and lens. With this approach, an efficient and straightforward plan was accomplished.
Digital health in pain assessment, diagnosis, and management: Overview and perspectives
Authors: Hadjiat Yacine , Arendt-Nielsen Lars
Published: April 2023

Managing pain is essential for social, psychological, physical, and economic reasons. It is also a human right with a growing incidence of untreated and under-treated pain globally. Barriers to diagnosing, assessing, treating, and managing pain are complicated, subjective, and driven by patient, healthcare provider, payer, policy, and regulatory challenges. In addition, conventional treatment methods pose their own challenges including the subjectivity of assessment, lack of therapeutic innovation over the last decade, opioid use disorder and financial access to treatment. Digital health innovations hold much promise in providing complementary solutions to traditional medical interventions and may reduce cost and speed up recovery or adaptation. There is a growing evidence base for the use of digital health in pain assessment, diagnosis, and management. The challenge is not only to develop new technologies and solutions, but to do this within a framework that supports health equity, scalability, socio-cultural consideration, and evidence-based science. The extensive limits to physical personal interaction during the Covid-19 pandemic 2020/21 has proven the possible role of digital health in the field of pain medicine. This paper provides an overview of the use of digital health in pain management and argues for the use of a systemic framework in evaluating the efficacy of digital health solutions.
A mosaic mutation in the CLCNKB gene causing Bartter syndrome: A case report
Authors: Zhou Lan , Chen Xiaohui , Xiong Jiaojiao , Lei Ling
Published: April 2023

Background

Type III Bartter syndrome (BS) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the CLCNKB (chloride voltage-gated channel Kb) gene that encodes CLC-Kb. CLC-Kb is mainly located in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop and regulates chloride efﬂux from tubular epithelial cells to the interstitium. Type III BS is characterized by metabolic alkalosis, renal salt wasting, hyperreninemia, and hyperaldosteronism with normal blood pressure.

Case presentation

We reported the case of a 3-day-old girl whose initial symptom we diagnosed as jaundice, but we accidentally found metabolic alkalosis. She showed recurrent metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, and hypochloremia and also had hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronism with normal blood pressure. Both oral potassium supplements and potassium infusion therapy were unable to entirely restore the electrolyte imbalance. She was suspected of Bartter syndrome and genetic tests were performed on her and her parents. Next-generation sequencing identified CLCNKB gene mutation including heterozygous mutation c.1257delC (p.M421Cfs*58) and a low-level mutation c.595G > T (p.E199*); both mutations were also verified in the parents.

Conclusion

We reported the case of a classic Bartter syndrome in a newborn with a heterozygous frameshift mutation and a mosaic non-sense mutation in the CLCNKB gene.
Risk factors for neonatal sepsis among neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Adare General Hospital in Hawassa City, Ethiopia
Authors: Shifera Nigusie , Dejenie Filagot , Mesafint Gebremeskel , Yosef Tewodros
Published: April 2023

Background

Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a serious blood bacterial infection in children of 28 days or younger, manifested by systemic signs and symptoms of infection. Neonatal sepsis has become one of the leading causes of admission and death in developing countries like Ethiopia. Understanding different risk factors for neonatal sepsis is essential for early diagnosis and treatment. So, this study aimed to assess the risk factors for neonatal sepsis among neonates at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Adare General Hospital in Hawassa City, Ethiopia.

Methods and materials

A case–control study design was employed on 264 neonates (66 cases and 198 controls) in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Adare General Hospital from April to June 2018. Data were collected by interviewing the mothers and reviewing neonates’ medical records. The data were edited, cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi info version 7 and were transported and analyzed using SPSS version 20. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the significance of the associations.

Result

A total of 264 neonates (66 cases and 198 controls) with 100% response rate. The mean (±SD) age of mothers was 26 ± 4.042 years. The majority (84.8%) of the cases were found in children under 7 days, with a mean age of 3.32 days ± 3.376 SD. Factors such as prolonged rupture of the membrane [AOR = 4.627; 95% CI (1.997–10.72)], history of the urinary tract or sexually transmitted infections [AOR = 2.5; 95% CI (1.151–5.726)], intrapartum fever [AOR = 3.481; 95% CI (1.18–10.21)], foul smelling liquor [AOR = 3.64; 95% CI (1.034–12.86)], and low APGAR score in the fifth minute [AOR = 3.38; 95% CI (1.107–10.31)] were the independent predictors of neonatal sepsis.

Conclusion

Prolonged rupture of the membrane, intrapartum fever, urinary tract infection, foul-smelling liquor, and low APGAR score were independent risk factors of neonatal sepsis, and this study also observed that the onset of neonatal sepsis was higher in the first week of a neonate's life. Routine sepsis evaluation must focus on neonates born with the aforementioned characteristics and make interventions for babies born with these risk factors.
Olive Leaves as a Potential Phytotherapy in the Treatment of COVID-19 Disease; A Mini-Review
Authors: Abdelgawad Shimaa M. , Hassab Mahmoud A. El , Abourehab Mohammed A. S. , Elkaeed Eslam B. , Eldehna Wagdy M.
Published: April 2023

Beginning from December 2019, widespread COVID-19 has caused huge financial misfortunes and exceptional wellbeing emergencies across the globe. Discovering an effective and safe drug candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 and its associated symptoms became an urgent global demand, especially due to restricted information that has been discharged with respect to vaccine efficacy and safety in humans. Reviewing the recent research, olive leaves were selected as a potential co-therapy supplement for the treatment and improvement of clinical manifestations in COVID-19 patients. Olive leaves were reported to be rich in phenolic compounds such as oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, and luteolin-7-O-glucoside and also triterpenoids such as maslinic, ursolic, and oleanolic acids that have been reported as anti–SARS-CoV-2 metabolites in recent computational and in vitro studies. In addition, olive leaf extract was previously reported in several in vivo studies for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, immunomodulatory, and antithrombotic activities which are of great benefit in the control of associated inflammatory cytokine storm and disseminated intravascular coagulation in COVID-19 patients. In conclusion, the described biological activities of olive leaves alongside their biosafety, availability, and low price make them a potential candidate drug or supplement to control COVID-19 infection and are recommended for clinical investigation.
The performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosing pulmonary infectious diseases using authentic clinical specimens: The Illumina platform versus the Beijing Genomics Institute platform
Authors: Han Shuangyu , Zhao Zhan , Yang Lei , Huang Jie , Wang Yubao , Feng Jing
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been increasingly used to detect infectious organisms and is rapidly moving from research to clinical laboratories. Presently, mNGS platforms mainly include those from Illumina and the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI). Previous studies have reported that various sequencing platforms have similar sensitivity in detecting the reference panel that mimics clinical specimens. However, whether the Illumina and BGI platforms provide the same diagnostic performance using authentic clinical samples remains unclear.

Methods: In this prospective study, we compared the performance of the Illumina and BGI platforms in detecting pulmonary pathogens. Forty-six patients with suspected pulmonary infection were enrolled in the final analysis. All patients received bronchoscopy, and the specimens collected were sent for mNGS on the two different sequencing platforms.

Results: The diagnostic sensitivity of the Illumina and BGI platforms was notably higher than that of conventional examination (76.9% vs. 38.5%, p < 0.001; 82.1% vs. 38.5%, p < 0.001; respectively). The sensitivity and specificity for pulmonary infection diagnosis were not significantly different between the Illumina and BGI platforms. Furthermore, the pathogenic detection rate of the two platforms were not significantly different.

Conclusion: The Illumina and BGI platforms exhibited similar diagnostic performance for pulmonary infectious diseases using clinical specimens, and both are superior to conventional examinations.
Domesticating Vigna stipulacea: Chromosome-Level genome assembly reveals VsPSAT1 as a candidate gene decreasing hard-seededness
Authors: Takahashi Yu , Sakai Hiroaki , Ariga Hirotaka , Teramoto Shota , Shimada Takashi L. , Eun Heesoo , Muto Chiaki , Naito Ken , Tomooka Norihiko
Published: April 2023

To increase food production under the challenges presented by global climate change, the concept of de novo domestication—utilizing stress-tolerant wild species as new crops—has recently gained considerable attention. We had previously identified mutants with desired domestication traits in a mutagenized population of the legume Vigna stipulacea Kuntze (minni payaru) as a pilot for de novo domestication. Given that there are multiple stress-tolerant wild legume species, it is important to establish efficient domestication processes using reverse genetics and identify the genes responsible for domestication traits. In this study, we identified VsPSAT1 as the candidate gene responsible for decreased hard-seededness, using a Vigna stipulacea isi2 mutant that takes up water from the lens groove. Scanning electron microscopy and computed tomography revealed that the isi2 mutant has lesser honeycomb-like wax sealing the lens groove than the wild-type, and takes up water from the lens groove. We also identified the pleiotropic effects of the isi2 mutant: accelerating leaf senescence, increasing seed size, and decreasing numbers of seeds per pod. While doing so, we produced a V. stipulacea whole-genome assembly of 441 Mbp in 11 chromosomes and 30,963 annotated protein-coding sequences. This study highlights the importance of wild legumes, especially those of the genus Vigna with pre-existing tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, for global food security during climate change.
CRISPR-mediated genome editing in poplar issued by efficient transformation
Authors: Movahedi Ali , Wei Hui , Kadkhodaei Saeid , Sun Weibo , Zhuge Qiang , Yang Liming , Xu Chen
Published: April 2023

Background

CRISPR has been increasingly used for plant genetic improvements because of its high efficiency and precision. Recently, the authors have reported the possibility of homology-directed repair (HDR) using CRISPR/Cas9 through woody plants such as poplar. HDR often replaces nucleotides with one donor DNA template (DDT), including homologous sequences.

Methods

CRISPR–Cas9 was recruited, and three variables, Agrobacteria inoculator concentration, pDDT/pgRNA ratio, and homologous arm length, were designed to integrate nptII and 2XCamV 35S into the MKK2 promoter zone.

Results

Here, we showed that recovered poplars on kanamycin-supplemented media exhibited enhanced expression of MKK2 affected by the precise integration of 2XcamV 35S and nptII, improving biochemical and phenotypic properties. Our findings confirmed that Agrobacterium inoculator OD600 = 2.5, increased DDT numbers during cell division to 4:1 pDDT/pgRNA, and optimized homologous arms 700 bp caused efficient HDR and increased MKK2 expression.

Conclusion

Efficient transformations resulted from optimized variables, directly affecting the HDR efficiency through woody plants such as poplar.
Molecular cloning and functional characterization of BcTSA in the biosynthesis of indole alkaloids in Baphicacanthus cusia
Authors: Guo Zhiying , Chen Junfeng , Lv Zongyou , Huang Yuxiang , Tan Hexin , Zhang Lei , Diao Yong
Published: April 2023

Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek (B. cusia) is an essential traditional Chinese herb that is commonly used to treat colds, fever, and influenza. Indole alkaloids, such as indigo and indirubin, are the primary active constituents of B. cusia. The indole-producing reaction is crucial for regulating the flow of indole alkaloids metabolites along the pathways and coordinating primary and secondary product biosynthesis in plants. The tryptophan synthase alpha-subunit (TSA) can catalyse a process that produces indole, which is free to enter secondary metabolite pathways; however, the underlying potential mechanism of regulating indigo alkaloids synthesis remains unknown. Here, a BcTSA was cloned from the transcriptome of B. cusia. The BcTSA has a significant degree of similarity with other plant TSAs according to bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) research showed that BcTSA was dramatically enhanced in response to treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), and abscisic acid (ABA), and was predominantly expressed in the stems as opposed to the leaves and rhizomes. Subcellular localization revealed that BcTSA is localized in chloroplasts, which is compatible with the fact that the conversion of indole-3-glycerol phosphate (IGP) to indole occurs in chloroplasts. The complementation assay results showed that BcTSA was functional, demonstrating that it was capable of catalyzing the conversion of IGP to indole. BcTSA was shown to stimulate the manufacture of indigo alkaloids including isatin, indigo, and indirubin when the gene was overexpressed in the hairy roots of Isatis indigotica. In conclusion, our research provides novel perspectives that might be applied to manipulating the indole alkaloid composition of B. cusia.
The role of ideations in de-problematizing migration crises (and other wicked problems)
Authors: Klasche Benjamin
Published: April 2023

This article examines the role of ideations in the de-problematization process of the governance of “migration crises”. Ideations, for example, in the form of frames often simplify social reality and do not allow us to understand the nature of a problem policy-makers are dealing with. To show this, I use the example of the “European Migrant Crisis,” to illustrate that it is, in fact, a wicked problem. The “wicked problem” concept describes a complex and contingent problem and, in essence, a set of “un-owned” processes. It further dissolves local and global distinctions and forces to connect micro and macro processes at all times. In this article, I show that this “migration crisis” (and also many others) consists of much more than just a humanitarian or security crisis but is also constituted by geopolitical crises and crises of political institutions. A relational approach seems most pertinent to be able to grasp all these aspects and helps us to stop de-problematizing it and instead problematize it adequately. It also advocates for the circumvention of ideations as they are a main source for the de-problematization of wicked problems.
Acquisition of non-canonical word orders in Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Ji Yue , Sheng Li , Zheng Li
Published: April 2023

To better understand Mandarin-speaking children’s acquisition of non-canonical word orders, we tested comprehension and production of Mandarin non-canonical activeba-construction and passivebei-construction, in comparison with canonical active SVO sentences among 180 children between three and 6 years of age. Our results showed that children had more difficulties withbei-construction compared to SVO sentences in both comprehension and production, but early problems ofba-construction only lied in production. We discussed these patterns in connection with two accounts of language acquisition which attribute language development to the maturation of grammar or to the exposure to the input, respectively.
Predictors and outcomes associated with the growth curves of self-efficacy beliefs in regard to anger and sadness regulation during adolescence: a longitudinal cross-cultural study
Authors: Di Giunta Laura , Lunetti Carolina , Lansford Jennifer E. , Eisenberg Nancy , Pastorelli Concetta , Bacchini Dario , Uribe Tirado Liliana Maria , Iselin Anne-Marie R. , Basili Emanuele , Gliozzo Giulia , Favini Ainzara , Cirimele Flavia , Remondi Chiara
Published: April 2023

Introduction

This longitudinal study examined unique and joint effects of parenting and negative emotionality in predicting the growth curves of adolescents’ self-efficacy beliefs about regulating two discrete negative emotions (anger and sadness) and the association of these growth curves with later maladjustment (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problems).

Methods

Participants were 285 children (T1: Mage = 10.57, SD = 0.68; 53.3% girls) and their parents (mothers N = 286; fathers N = 276) from Colombia and Italy. Parental warmth, harsh parenting, and internalizing and externalizing problems were measured in late childhood at T1, whereas early adolescents’ anger and sadness were measured at T2 (T2: Mage = 12.10, SD = 1.09). Adolescent self-efficacy beliefs about anger and sadness regulation were measured at five time-points from T2 to T6 (T6: Mage = 18.45, SD = 0.71), and internalizing and externalizing problems were measured again at T6.

Results

Multi-group latent growth curve models (with country as the grouping variable) demonstrated that in both countries there was on average a linear increase in self-efficacy about anger regulation and no change or variation in self-efficacy about sadness regulation. In both countries, for self-efficacy about anger regulation (a) T1 harsh parenting and T1 externalizing problems were negatively associated with the intercept, (b) T2 anger was negatively associated with the slope, and (c) the intercept and the slope were associated with lower T6 internalizing and externalizing problems, controlling for T1 problems. For self-efficacy about sadness regulation, (a) T1 internalizing problems were negatively associated with the intercept only in Italy, (b) T2 sadness was negatively associated with the intercept only in Colombia, and (c) the intercept negatively predicted T6 internalizing problems.

Discussion

This study advances knowledge of the normative development of self-efficacy beliefs about anger and sadness regulation during adolescence across two countries, highlighting the predictive value of pre-existing family and individual characteristics on this development and prediction by the development of self-efficacy beliefs on later adjustment.
Influence of primary students’ self-regulated learning profiles on their rating of a technology-enhanced learning environment for mathematics
Authors: Bednorz David , Bruhn Svenja
Published: April 2023

The importance of learning technologies for mathematics education is increasing as new opportunities arise for mathematics education for all students, in school and at home. These so-called technology-enhanced learning environments (TELEs) incorporating technology with mathematical content are useful for developing mathematical knowledge and can simultaneously foster self-regulated learning (SRL) and motivational learning in mathematics. However, how do primary students’ differences in their SRL and motivation affect their rating of the quality of mathematical TELEs? To answer this research question, we asked third and fourth-grade primary students (n = 115) to evaluate both their SRL, including metacognition and motivation, and the quality characteristics of the ANTON application, a frequently and intensively used TELE in Germany. Using a person-centered research approach by conducting a cluster analysis, we identified three SRL profiles of primary students—motivated self-learners, non-motivated self-learners, and average motivated non-self-learners—who differ in their ratings of the quality characteristics of the TELE (output variables). Our results highlight that motivated self-learners and non-motivated self-learners vary significantly in their rating of the adequacy of the TELE to their mathematical learning and highly but not significantly concerning the TELE’s reward system. Moreover, differences existed between the motivated self-learners and the average motivated non-self-learners regarding their rating of the characteristic differentiation. Based on these findings, we assume that technical elements associated with adequacy, differentiation, and rewards of mathematical TELEs should be tailorable to the needs of individuals and groups of primary schoolchildren.
Synergistic effects of high early-life stress exposure and HIV infection on reaction time variability
Authors: Sergio Jordan P. , Kundu Retina , McIntosh Roger C. , Palmero Mabel , Hegde Rachal R. , de Dios Marcel A. , Clark Uraina S.
Published: April 2023

Addressing comorbidities contributing to cognitive impairment in people living with HIV (PLWH) remains imperative. Prior studies utilizing reaction time intra-individual variability (RT-IIV), a robust behavioral marker of cognitive dysfunction, demonstrate increased cognitive impairment in adults living with HIV who have high early life stress (ELS) exposure relative to those with low-ELS exposure. Yet, it is unknown whether RT-IIV elevations are due to high-ELS alone or both HIV-status and high-ELS. In the current study, we explore the potential additive effects of HIV and high-ELS exposure on RT-IIV to better characterize the independent and combined effects of these factors on RT-IIV among PLWH. We assessed 59 PLWH and 69 HIV-negative healthy control (HC) participants with either low or high ELS on RT-IIV during a working memory task (1-back). We observed a significant interaction between HIV status and ELS exposure on RT-IIV, PLWH who had experienced high ELS demonstrating RT-IIV elevations relative to all other groups. In addition, RT-IIV was significantly associated with ELS exposure in PLWH, but not in the HC group. We also observed associations between RT-IIV and measures of HIV-disease severity (plasma HIV viral load, nadir CD4) among PLWH. Taken as a whole, these findings provide novel evidence of the combined effects of HIV and high-ELS exposure on RT-IIV, and thus suggest HIV-related and ELS-related neural abnormalities may act in an additive or synergistic manner to affect cognition. Such data warrant further investigation into the neurobiological mechanisms associated with HIV and high-ELS exposure that contribute to increased neurocognitive dysfunction among PLWH.
Time and risk preferences and the perceived effectiveness of incentives to comply with diabetic retinopathy screening among older adults with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Tang Jianjun , Yang Ziwei , Kee Frank , Congdon Nathan
Published: April 2023

Behavioral economics has the potential to inform the design of incentives to improve disease screening programs by accounting for various behavioral biases. We investigate the association between multiple behavioral economics concepts and the perceived effectiveness of incentive strategies for behavioral change among older patients with a chronic disease. This association is examined by focusing on diabetic retinopathy screening, which is recommended but very variably followed by persons living with diabetes. Five time and risk preference concepts (i.e., utility curvature, probability weighting, loss aversion, discount rate, and present-bias) are estimated simultaneously in a structural econometric framework, based on a series of deliberately-designed economic experiments offering real money. We find that higher discount rates and loss aversion and lower probability weighting are significantly associated with lower perceived effectiveness of intervention strategies whereas present-bias and utility curvature have an insignificant association with it. Finally, we also observe strong urban vs. rural heterogeneity in the association between our behavioral economic concepts and the perceived effectiveness of intervention strategies.
IVF-induced pregnancy and early motherhood among women with a history of severe eating disorders
Authors: Sommerfeldt Bente , Skårderud Finn , Kvalem Ingela Lundin , Gulliksen Kjersti S. , Holte Arne
Published: April 2023

Background

There is a higher prevalence of eating disorders among women seeking in vitro fertilization (IVF). Women with a history of eating disorders may be particularly vulnerable to eating disorder relapse during IVF, pregnancy, and early motherhood. The experience of these women during this process has hardly been studied scientifically, despite its high clinical relevance. The overall aim of this study is to describe how women with a history of eating disorders experience the process of becoming a mother through IVF, pregnancy, and the postpartum period.

Methods

We recruited women with a history of severe anorexia nervosa who had undergone IVF (n = 7) at public family health centers in Norway. Semi-openly, the participants were interviewed extensively first during pregnancy, and then 6 months after birth. The 14 narratives were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analyses (IPA). All participants were required to complete the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and were diagnosed (DSM-5) by using the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), during both pregnancy and postpartum.

Results

All participants experienced a relapse of an eating disorder during IVF. They perceived IVF, pregnancy, and early motherhood to be overwhelming, confusing, a source of severe loss of control, and a source of body alienation. There were four core phenomena that were reported that were strikingly similar across all participants: “anxiousness and fear,” “shame and guilt,” “sexual maladjustment,” and “non-disclosure of eating problems.” These phenomena persisted continuously throughout IVF, pregnancy, and motherhood.

Conclusion

Women with a history of severe eating disorders are highly susceptible to relapse when undergoing IVF, pregnancy, and early motherhood. The process of IVF is experienced as extremely demanding and provoking. There is evidence that eating problems, purging, over-exercising, anxiousness and fear, shame and guilt, sexual maladjustment, and non-disclosure of eating problems continue throughout IVF, pregnancy, and the early years of motherhood. Therefore, it is necessary for healthcare workers providing services to women undergoing IVF to be attentive and intervene when they suspect a history of eating disorders.
I like what you are saying, but only if i feel safe: Psychological safety moderates the relationship between voice and perceived contribution to healthcare team effectiveness
Authors: Weiss Mona , Morrison Elizabeth W. , Szyld Demian
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Are nurses who voice work-related concerns viewed as positive contributors to a team? We propose that the extent to which healthcare professionals consider voice by nurses as helpful for the team depends on how psychologically safe they feel. Specifically, we hypothesized that psychological safety moderates the relationship between voice of a lower ranking team member (i.e., a nurse) and perceived contribution by others, such that voice is more likely to be seen as valuable for team decision-making when psychological safety is high but not when it is low.

Methods

We tested our hypotheses with a randomized between-subjects experiment using a sample of emergency medicine nurses and physicians. Participants evaluated a nurse who either did or did not speak up with alternative suggestions during emergency patient treatment.

Results

Results confirmed our hypotheses: At higher levels of psychological safety the nurse’s voice was considered as more helpful than withholding of voice for team decision-making. This was not the case at lower levels of psychological safety. This effect was stable when including important control variables (i.e., hierarchical position, work experience, gender).

Discussion

Our results shed light on how evaluations of voice are contingent on perceptions of a psychologically safe team context.
Changing visions in ESP development and teaching: Past, present, and future vistas
Authors: Dou An Qi , Chan Swee Heng , Win Min Thein
Published: April 2023

Globalization and international development in language education have inspired a shift from the learning of traditional College English to English for Specific Purposes (ESP). This article begins with a section on the methodology used to develop the literature review. From various literatures, a historical perspective was first presented for the period, 1962 to the present day, and accompanied by a review on the teaching approaches. The purpose was to reveal emerging trends in ESP development and forefront the strength of association between ESP development and the changes in teaching approaches. Then it focuses on the relationship between needs analysis and ESP, as needs analysis is well recognized as a vital ESP characteristic and it is given a comprehensive revisit as an update in ESP development. The review continues with some insights into recent studies from various countries to reflect on various aspectual developments of current ESP practices that illustrate the dynamics of growing research agendas that have implications for current and future ESP research directions. Finally, future vistas for ESP development and teaching are affirmed. The paper concludes on the note on the importance of knowing past and future ESP developments, and the prioritizing of effective teaching based on soundly designed materials tailored to particular student-centered needs and wants.
Research trends in multimodal metaphor: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Zhong Zenan , Wen Suijun , Chen Shukun
Published: April 2023

The concept of multimodal metaphor has generated a growing body of literature over the past decades. However, a systemic review of the domain seems to be lacking in relevant literature. This study, therefore, is an attempt to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the field of multimodal metaphor during 1977–2022, with a focus on 397 relevant publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) with the visualization tool VOSviewer. Some major quantitative findings are: (i) the number of publications in multimodal research began to surge in 2010 upon the seminal work of Forceville’s (2009); (ii) USA, China and Spain are the most productive countries; (iii) journals in the field of advertising, communication and linguistics are important sources of publications; and (iv) eleven clusters of keywords are identified, such as “visual metaphor”, “persuasion”, “pictures”, “impact”, “multimodal metaphor”, “model”, etc., representing crucial areas of interests. We also identified, by qualitative observations, three research trends in multimodal metaphor, driven by cognitive linguistic theory, the theory of pragmatics and visual/multimodal rhetoric theory, respectively. Various theoretical perspectives may shed light on possible further research on multimodal metaphor.
Development, predictors, and effects of trainees’ organizational identification during their first year of vocational education and training
Authors: Maué Elisabeth , Findeisen Stefanie , Schumann Stephan
Published: April 2023

The vocational identity of trainees is one component of their professional competence and is considered to be a central goal of vocational education and training (VET) programs. From the numerous identity constructs and conceptualizations, this study focuses on the organizational identification of trainees, that is, the extent to which trainees internalize the values and goals of their training company and perceive themselves as part of this company. We are specifically interested in the development, predictors, and effects of trainees’ organizational identification, as well as the interrelations between organizational identification and social integration. We use longitudinal data of n = 250 trainees in dual VET programs in Germany at the very beginning of their VET program (t1), after 3 months (t2), and after 9 months (t3). A structural equation model was used to analyze the development, predictors, and effects of organizational identification for the first 9 months of training and the cross-lagged effects between organizational identification and social integration. The results showed a high stability of trainees’ organizational identification over the first 9 months. Regarding the predictors, the results indicated positive direct and indirect effects of the formal socialization tactics implemented by the training company, as well as of support by the trainer at the beginning of the training. However, collegial support at the beginning of the training did not seem to play a significant role in organizational identification. Moreover, organizational identification positively affected trainees’ emotional engagement and self-perceived competence while negatively predicting dropout intentions after 9 months of training. Finally, the cross-lagged effects between organizational identification and social integration were not significant, and only at t3 were these constructs positively correlated. However, regarding the development, predictors, and effects, very similar results were found for organizational identification and social integration. The results underline the positive significance of organizational identification for the individual, the company, and society, even at this early stage of training. The results are discussed regarding both their scientific and practical implications.