bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient parameter calibration and real-time simulation of large-scale spiking neural networks with GeNN and NEST
Authors: Schmitt Felix Johannes , Rostami Vahid , Nawrot Martin Paul
Published: February 2023

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) represent the state-of-the-art approach to the biologically realistic modeling of nervous system function. The systematic calibration for multiple free model parameters is necessary to achieve robust network function and demands high computing power and large memory resources. Special requirements arise from closed-loop model simulation in virtual environments and from real-time simulation in robotic application. Here, we compare two complementary approaches to efficient large-scale and real-time SNN simulation. The widely used NEural Simulation Tool (NEST) parallelizes simulation across multiple CPU cores. The GPU-enhanced Neural Network (GeNN) simulator uses the highly parallel GPU-based architecture to gain simulation speed. We quantify fixed and variable simulation costs on single machines with different hardware configurations. As a benchmark model, we use a spiking cortical attractor network with a topology of densely connected excitatory and inhibitory neuron clusters with homogeneous or distributed synaptic time constants and in comparison to the random balanced network. We show that simulation time scales linearly with the simulated biological model time and, for large networks, approximately linearly with the model size as dominated by the number of synaptic connections. Additional fixed costs with GeNN are almost independent of model size, while fixed costs with NEST increase linearly with model size. We demonstrate how GeNN can be used for simulating networks with up to 3.5 · 106 neurons (> 3 · 1012synapses) on a high-end GPU, and up to 250, 000 neurons (25 · 109 synapses) on a low-cost GPU. Real-time simulation was achieved for networks with 100, 000 neurons. Network calibration and parameter grid search can be efficiently achieved using batch processing. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches for different use cases.
Behavioral and transcriptomic effects of the cancer treatment tamoxifen in mice
Authors: Galvano Elena , Pandit Harshul , Sepulveda Jordy , Ng Christi Anne S. , Becher Melanie K. , Mandelblatt Jeanne S. , Van Dyk Kathleen , Rebeck G. William
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Tamoxifen is a common treatment for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. While tamoxifen treatment is generally accepted as safe, there are concerns about adverse effects on cognition.

Methods

We used a mouse model of chronic tamoxifen exposure to examine the effects of tamoxifen on the brain. Female C57/BL6 mice were exposed to tamoxifen or vehicle control for six weeks; brains of 15 mice were analyzed for tamoxifen levels and transcriptomic changes, and an additional 32 mice were analyzed through a battery of behavioral tests.

Results

Tamoxifen and its metabolite 4-OH-tamoxifen were found at higher levels in the brain than in the plasma, demonstrating the facile entry of tamoxifen into the CNS. Behaviorally, tamoxifen-exposed mice showed no impairment in assays related to general health, exploration, motor function, sensorimotor gating, and spatial learning. Tamoxifen-treated mice showed a significantly increased freezing response in a fear conditioning paradigm, but no effects on anxiety measures in the absence of stressors. RNA sequencing analysis of whole hippocampi showed tamoxifen-induced reductions in gene pathways related to microtubule function, synapse regulation, and neurogenesis.

Discussion

These findings of the effects of tamoxifen exposure on fear conditioning and on gene expression related to neuronal connectivity suggest that there may be CNS side effects of this common breast cancer treatment.
Global trends of traditional Chinese exercises for musculoskeletal disorders treatment research from 2000 to 2022: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Guan Chong , Gu Yuanjia , Cheng Ziji , Xie Fangfang , Yao Fei
Published: February 2023

Background

Traditional Chinese exercise has been shown to be effective in relieving long-term chronic pain, physical dysfunction, decreased ability to participate in society and decreased quality of life in musculoskeletal diseases. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in publications on the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders by traditional Chinese exercises. The purpose of this study is to review the characteristics and trends of Chinese traditional exercise studies on musculoskeletal diseases published since 2000 through bibliometric analysis, and identify current research hotspots, so as to guide the direction of future research.

Methods

Publications regarding traditional Chinese exercises for musculoskeletal disorders from 2000 to 2022 were downloaded from the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer 1.6.18 and CiteSpace V software were used for bibliometric analyses. Bibliometric visualization and comparative analysis were conducted for authors, cited authors, journals, co-cited journals, institutions, countries, references, and keywords.

Results

A total of 432 articles were obtained, with an upward trend over time. The most productive countries and institutions in this field are the USA (183) and Harvard University (70). Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (20) was the most prolific journal, Cochrane Database System Review (758) was the most commonly cited journal. Wang Chenchen published the largest number of articles (18). According to high frequency keywords, the hot spot musculoskeletal disorder and the type of traditional Chinese exercise are knee osteoarthritis and Tai Chi.

Conclusion

This study provides a scientific perspective for the research of traditional Chinese exercises for musculoskeletal disorders and provides valuable information for researchers to discover the current research status, hot spots and new trends of future research.
Prior knowledge-based precise diagnosis of blend sign from head computed tomography
Authors: Wang Chen , Yu Jiefu , Zhong Jiang , Han Shuai , Qi Yafei , Fang Bin , Li Xue
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Automated diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage on head computed tomography (CT) plays a decisive role in clinical management. This paper presents a prior knowledge-based precise diagnosis of blend sign network from head CT scans.

Method

We employ the object detection task as an auxiliary task in addition to the classification task, which could incorporate the hemorrhage location as prior knowledge into the detection framework. The auxiliary task could help the model pay more attention to the regions with hemorrhage, which is beneficial for distinguishing the blend sign. Furthermore, we propose a self-knowledge distillation strategy to deal with inaccuracy annotations.

Results

In the experiment, we retrospectively collected 1749 anonymous non-contrast head CT scans from the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. The dataset contains three categories: no intracranial hemorrhage (non-ICH), normal intracranial hemorrhage (normal ICH), and blend sign. The experimental results demonstrate that our method performs better than other methods.

Discussion

Our method has the potential to assist less-experienced head CT interpreters, reduce radiologists' workload, and improve efficiency in natural clinical settings.
A 1-Tesla MRI system for dedicated brain imaging in the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Berson Elisa R. , Mozayan Ali , Peterec Steven , Taylor Sarah N. , Bamford Nigel S. , Ment Laura R. , Rowe Erin , Lisse Sean , Ehrlich Lauren , Silva Cicero T. , Goodman T. Rob , Payabvash Seyedmehdi
Published: February 2023

Objective

To assess the feasibility of a point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI for identification of intracranial pathologies within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods

Clinical findings and point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI imaging findings of NICU patients (1/2021 to 6/2022) were evaluated and compared with other imaging modalities when available.

Results

A total of 60 infants had point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI; one scan was incompletely terminated due to motion. The average gestational age at scan time was 38.5 ± 2.3 weeks. Transcranial ultrasound (n = 46), 3-Tesla MRI (n = 3), or both (n = 4) were available for comparison in 53 (88%) infants. The most common indications for point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI were term corrected age scan for extremely preterm neonates (born at greater than 28 weeks gestation age, 42%), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) follow-up (33%), and suspected hypoxic injury (18%). The point-of-care 1-Tesla scan could identify ischemic lesions in two infants with suspected hypoxic injury, confirmed by follow-up 3-Tesla MRI. Using 3-Tesla MRI, two lesions were identified that were not visualized on point-of-care 1-Tesla scan: (1) punctate parenchymal injury versus microhemorrhage; and (2) small layering IVH in an incomplete point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI with only DWI/ADC series, but detectable on the follow-up 3-Tesla ADC series. However, point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI could identify parenchymal microhemorrhages, which were not visualized on ultrasound.

Conclusion

Although limited by field strength, pulse sequences, and patient weight (4.5 kg)/head circumference (38 cm) restrictions, the Embrace® point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI can identify clinically relevant intracranial pathologies in infants within a NICU setting.
The role of histone methyltransferases in neurocognitive disorders associated with brain size abnormalities
Authors: Ritchie Foster D. , Lizarraga Sofia B.
Published: February 2023

Brain size is controlled by several factors during neuronal development, including neural progenitor proliferation, neuronal arborization, gliogenesis, cell death, and synaptogenesis. Multiple neurodevelopmental disorders have co-morbid brain size abnormalities, such as microcephaly and macrocephaly. Mutations in histone methyltransferases that modify histone H3 on Lysine 36 and Lysine 4 (H3K36 and H3K4) have been identified in neurodevelopmental disorders involving both microcephaly and macrocephaly. H3K36 and H3K4 methylation are both associated with transcriptional activation and are proposed to sterically hinder the repressive activity of the Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 (PRC2). During neuronal development, tri-methylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3) by PRC2 leads to genome wide transcriptional repression of genes that regulate cell fate transitions and neuronal arborization. Here we provide a review of neurodevelopmental processes and disorders associated with H3K36 and H3K4 histone methyltransferases, with emphasis on processes that contribute to brain size abnormalities. Additionally, we discuss how the counteracting activities of H3K36 and H3K4 modifying enzymes vs. PRC2 could contribute to brain size abnormalities which is an underexplored mechanism in relation to brain size control.
Case report: skeletal muscle metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma presenting as synovial sarcoma
Authors: Stergioula Anastasia , Pantelis Evaggelos , Kormas Theodoros , Agrogiannis Georgios
Published: February 2023

Differentiated thyroid carcinomas tend to remain localized and usually are of slow progression with excellent long-term survival. The major sites of distant metastases are cervical lymph nodes, lungs and bones and the minor sites include the brain, liver, pericardium, skin, kidney, pleura and muscle. Skeletal muscle metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma, are exceedingly rare. In this report, a 42-year-old woman with follicular thyroid cancer that had had a total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation nine years ago was presented with a painful right thigh mass and negative PET/CT scan. The patient had also lung metastases during the follow-up period which were treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. An MRI scan of the right thigh showed a deep-seated lobulated mass with cystic regions, bleeding elements and strong heterogeneous post contrast administration enhancement. Due to the similarities in clinical manifestations and imaging features between soft tissue tumors and skeletal muscle metastases, the case was initially misdiagnosed in favor of synovial sarcoma. Histopathological, immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis of the soft tissue mass confirmed to be a thyroid metastasis and, as a result, a final diagnosis of skeletal muscle metastasis was provided. Even though the probability of a skeletal muscle metastasis from thyroid cancer approaches zero, this study aims to raise the awareness to the medical community that these events do in fact occur in the clinical setting and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with thyroid carcinomas.
A case report of misdiagnosed fetal lung mass and review of the literature
Authors: Wang Zongyu , Xu Chang , He Taozhen , Yuan Miao
Published: February 2023

The patient was a male neonate, and a prenatal ultrasound had detected a right lung mass. He was born at term and after delivery had tachypnea and feeding difficulties. A chest x-ray and a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large mass in the right chest with compression on the right lung after birth. We initially considered congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM). After conservative treatment, his respiratory symptoms worsened gradually, and he required continuous supplemental oxygen. The symptoms could not be relieved by puncturing due to a postnatal ultrasound having shown a mass with anechoic microcystic spaces. He therefore underwent an emergency thoracotomy and lobectomy at 14 days of age. The pathology was consistent with fetal lung interstitial tumor (FLIT). The patient remained healthy at the three-month follow-up. We reviewed the literature on FLIT and found that, to date, 23 cases have been reported worldwide.
Ferroptosis-related genes are involved in asthma and regulate the immune microenvironment
Authors: Wang Haixia , Jia Yuanmin , Gu Junlian , Chen Ou , Yue Shouwei
Published: February 2023

Background: Asthma was a chronic inflammatory illness driven by complicated genetic regulation and environmental exposure. The complex pathophysiology of asthma has not been fully understood. Ferroptosis was involved in inflammation and infection. However, the effect of ferroptosis on asthma was still unclear. The study was designed to identify ferroptosis-related genes in asthma, providing potential therapeutic targets.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis combined with WGCNA, PPI, GO, KEGG, and CIBERSORT methods to identify ferroptosis-related genes that were associated with asthma and regulated the immune microenvironment in GSE147878 from the GEO. The results of this study were validated in GSE143303 and GSE27066, and the hub genes related to ferroptosis were further verified by immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR in the OVA asthma model.

Results: 60 asthmatics and 13 healthy controls were extracted for WGCNA. We found that genes in the black module (r = −0.47, p < 0.05) and magenta module (r = 0.51, p < 0.05) were associated with asthma. CAMKK2 and CISD1 were discovered to be ferroptosis-related hub genes in the black and magenta module, separately. We found that CAMKK2 and CISD1 were mainly involved in the CAMKK-AMPK signaling cascade, the adipocytokine signaling pathway, the metal cluster binding, iron-sulfur cluster binding, and 2 iron, 2 sulfur cluster binding in the enrichment analysis, which was strongly correlated with the development of ferroptosis. We found more infiltration of M2 macrophages and less Tregs infiltration in the asthma group compared to healthy controls. In addition, the expression levels of CISD1 and Tregs were negatively correlated. Through validation, we found that CAMKK2 and CISD1 expression were upregulated in the asthma group compared to the control group and would inhibit the occurrence of ferroptosis.

Conclusion: CAMKK2 and CISD1 might inhibit ferroptosis and specifically regulate asthma. Moreover, CISD1 might be tied to the immunological microenvironment. Our results could be useful to provide potential immunotherapy targets and prognostic markers for asthma.
Characterization of muscle mass, strength and mobility of critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: Distribution by sex, age, days on mechanical ventilation, and muscle weakness
Authors: Silva-Gutiérrez Alexis , Artigas-Arias Macarena , Alegría-Molina Andrea , Guerra-Vega Pablo , Navarrete Pablo , Venegas Ángela , Montecinos Carlos , Vásquez Lorena , Moraga Karen , Rubilar César , Villagrán Germán , Parada Rodrigo , Vitzel Kaio Fernando , Marzuca-Nassr Gabriel Nasri
Published: February 2023

Objective: Quantify and categorize by sex, age, and time spent on mechanical ventilation (MV), the decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength and mobility in critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and requiring mechanical ventilation while at intensive care unit (ICU).

Design: Prospective observational study including participants recruited between June 2020 and February 2021 at Hospital Clínico Herminda Martin (HCHM), Chillán, Chile. The thickness of the quadriceps muscle was evaluated by ultrasonography (US) at intensive care unit admission and awakening. Muscle strength and mobility were assessed, respectively, through the Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC-SS) and the Functional Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit Scale (FSS-ICU) both at awakening and at ICU discharge. Results were categorized by sex (female or male), age (<60 years old or ≥60 years old) and time spent on MV (≤10 days or >10 days).

Setting: Intensive care unit in a public hospital.

Participants: 132 participants aged 18 years old or above (women n = 49, 60 ± 13 years; men n = 85, 59 ± 12 years) admitted to intensive care unit with a confirmed diagnosis of severe SARS-CoV-2 and requiring MV for more than 48 h were included in the study. Patients with previous physical and or cognitive disorders were excluded.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Results: Muscle thickness have significantly decreased during intensive care unit stay, vastus intermedius (−11%; p = 0.025), rectus femoris (−20%; p < 0.001) and total quadriceps (−16%; p < 0.001). Muscle strength and mobility were improved at intensive care unit discharge when compared with measurements at awakening in intensive care unit (time effect, p < 0.001). Patients ≥60 years old or on MV for >10 days presented greater muscle loss, alongside with lower muscle strength and mobility.

Conclusion: Critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and requiring MV presented decreased muscle mass, strength, and mobility during their intensive care unit stay. Factors associated with muscle mass, such as age >60 years and >10 days of MV, exacerbated the critical condition and impaired recovery.
The effects of photoperiod and temperature-related factors on maize leaf number and leaf positional distribution in the field
Authors: Xu Honggen , Ming Bo , Wang Keru , Xue Jun , Hou Peng , Li Shaokun , Xie Ruizhi
Published: February 2023

Quantifying the effects of various environmental conditions on maize leaf number is essential to understanding the environmental adaptations and population structure of maize plants and for enhancing maize productivity. In this study, seeds of three temperate-adapted maize cultivars, each belonging to different maturity classes, were sown on eight different dates. Sowing dates ranged from the middle of April to early July, which allowed us to cover a wide range of environmental conditions. Random forest regression and multiple regression models with variance partitioning analyses were used to assess the effects of environmental factors on the number of leaves and their distributions on maize primary stems. We demonstrated that the total leaf number (TLN) increased in the three cultivars in the following order: FK139 < JNK728 < ZD958, and variations in TLN for each cultivar were 1.5, 1.76, and 2.75 leaves, respectively. The variation in TLN was ascribed to changes in LB (leaf number below the primary ear), which were higher than variations in LA (leaf number above the primary ear). Variations in TLN and LB were mainly affected by the photoperiod during growth stages V7 to V11, and differences in TLN and LB in response to different photoperiods ranged from 1.34 to 2.95 leaves h-l. Variations in LA was mainly affected by temperature-related factors. Therefore, the results of this study enhanced our current understanding of key environmental conditions that affect maize leaf numbers, and provides scientific support for the benefits of adjusting sowing dates and selecting suitable cultivars to mitigate the effects of climate change on maize production.
Plant eIF4E isoforms as factors of susceptibility and resistance to potyviruses
Authors: Zlobin Nikolay , Taranov Vasiliy
Published: February 2023

Potyviruses are the largest group of plant-infecting RNA viruses that affect a wide range of crop plants. Plant resistance genes against potyviruses are often recessive and encode translation initiation factors eIF4E. The inability of potyviruses to use plant eIF4E factors leads to the development of resistance through a loss-of-susceptibility mechanism. Plants have a small family of eIF4E genes that encode several isoforms with distinct but overlapping functions in cell metabolism. Potyviruses use distinct eIF4E isoforms as susceptibility factors in different plants. The role of different members of the plant eIF4E family in the interaction with a given potyvirus could differ drastically. An interplay exists between different members of the eIF4E family in the context of plant–potyvirus interactions, allowing different eIF4E isoforms to modulate each other’s availability as susceptibility factors for the virus. In this review, possible molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction are discussed, and approaches to identify the eIF4E isoform that plays a major role in the plant–potyvirus interaction are suggested. The final section of the review discusses how knowledge about the interaction between different eIF4E isoforms can be used to develop plants with durable resistance to potyviruses.
QTL cluster analysis and marker development for kernel traits based on DArT markers in spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Zeng Zhankui , Zhao Dehui , Wang Chunping , Yan Xuefang , Song Junqiao , Chen Peng , Lan Caixia , Singh Ravi P.
Published: February 2023

Genetic dissection of yield component traits including kernel characteristics is essential for the continuous improvement in wheat yield. In the present study, one recombinant inbred line (RIL) F6 population derived from a cross between Avocet and Chilero was used to evaluate the phenotypes of kernel traits of thousand-kernel weight (TKW), kernel length (KL), and kernel width (KW) in four environments at three experimental stations during the 2018–2020 wheat growing seasons. The high-density genetic linkage map was constructed with the diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers and the inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) method to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for TKW, KL, and KW. A total of 48 QTLs for three traits were identified in the RIL population on the 21 chromosomes besides 2A, 4D, and 5B, accounting for 3.00%–33.85% of the phenotypic variances. Based on the physical positions of each QTL, nine stable QTL clusters were identified in the RILs, and among these QTL clusters, TaTKW-1A was tightly linked to the DArT marker interval 3950546–1213099, explaining 10.31%–33.85% of the phenotypic variances. A total of 347 high-confidence genes were identified in a 34.74-Mb physical interval. TraesCS1A02G045300 and TraesCS1A02G058400 were among the putative candidate genes associated with kernel traits, and they were expressed during grain development. Moreover, we also developed high-throughput kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers of TaTKW-1A, validated in a natural population of 114 wheat varieties. The study provides a basis for cloning the functional genes underlying the QTL for kernel traits and a practical and accurate marker for molecular breeding.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of sesquiterpenoids isolated from Laggera pterodonta
Authors: Li Jinliang , Li Fengchao , Wu Guoxing , Gui Furong , Li Hongmei , Xu Lili , Hao Xiaojiang , Zhao Yuhan , Ding Xiao , Qin Xiaoping
Published: February 2023

Plant-derived natural products are important resources for pesticide discovery. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a well-validated pesticide target, and inhibiting AChE proves fatal for insects. Recent studies have shown that the potential of various sesquiterpenoids as AChE inhibitors. However, few studies have been conducted with eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes with AChE inhibitory effects. Therefore, in this research, we isolated two new sesquiterpenes, laggeranines A (1) and B (2), along with six known eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes (3–8) from Laggera pterodonta, and characterized their structures and the inhibitory effect they exerted on AChE. The results showed that these compounds had certain inhibitory effects on AChE in a dose-dependent manner, of which compound 5 had the best inhibitory effect with IC50 of 437.33 ± 8.33 mM. As revealed by the Lineweaver-Burk and Dixon plots, compound 5 was observed to suppress AChE activity reversibly and competitively. Furthermore, all compounds exhibited certain toxicity levels on C. elegans. Meanwhile, these compounds had good ADMET properties. These results are significant for the discovery of new AChE targeting compounds, and also enrich the bioactivity activity repertoire of L. pterodonta.
Full-length transcriptome, proteomics and metabolite analysis reveal candidate genes involved triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis in Dipsacus asperoides
Authors: Pan Jie , Huang Chaokang , Yao Weilin , Niu Tengfei , Yang Xiaolin , Wang Rufeng
Published: February 2023

Dipsacus asperoides is a traditional medicinal herb widely used in inflammation and fracture in Asia. Triterpenoid saponins from D. asperoides are the main composition with pharmacological activity. However, the biosynthesis pathway of triterpenoid saponins has not been completely resolved in D. asperoides. Here, the types and contents of triterpenoid saponins were discovered with different distributions in five tissues (root, leaf, flower, stem, and fibrous root tissue) from D. asperoides by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. The discrepancy between five tissues in D. asperoides at the transcriptional level was studied by combining single-molecule real-time sequencing and next- generation sequencing. Meanwhile, key genes involved in the biosynthesis of saponin were further verified by proteomics. In MEP and MVA pathways, 48 differentially expressed genes were identified through co-expression analysis of transcriptome and saponin contents, including two isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and two 2,3-oxidosqualene β-amyrin cyclase, etc. In the analysis of WGCNA, 6 cytochrome P450s and 24 UDP- glycosyltransferases related to the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins were discovered with high transcriptome expression. This study will provide profound insights to demonstrate essential genes in the biosynthesis pathway of saponins in D. asperoides and support for the biosynthetic of natural active ingredients in the future.
Perceived meaning of life and satisfaction with life: A research synthesis using an online finding archive
Authors: Sameer Yomna , Eid Yasmine , Veenhoven Ruut
Published: February 2023

Introduction

“Meaning” and “happiness” are leading topics in positive psychology, but their relationship is not well understood. The first step to better understanding is to inspect the pattern of correlations found in the research literature. Specifically, we seek answers to the following questions of fact: (1) Is there a correlation between perceived meaning of life and satisfaction with life? (2) If so, is that correlation positive or negative? (3) How strong is this correlation? (4) How variable is this correlation across persons and situations? (5) Do the correlations differ across components of happiness? (6) What aspects of meaning are most/least associated with happiness? (7) What sources of meaning are most/least associated with happiness? (8) Does seeing meaning relate differently to happiness than searching for meaning?

Method

We took stock of the available research findings, using the World Database of Happiness, which holds standardized descriptions of 171 observed relations between perceived meaning of life and satisfaction with life.

Results

We found strong correlations between happiness and the degree of perceived meaning in life but little correlation with the pursuit of meaning. While the correlation with the degree of meaning is positive at the micro-level of individuals, it appears to be negative at the macro-level of nations.

Discussion

Having established the above mentioned matters of fact, we considered the following questions on causality: (1) Is there an innate need for meaning? (2) How does the perceived meaning of life otherwise affect satisfaction with life? (3) How does satisfaction with life affect the perceived the meaning of life? (4) Why is the correlation positive at the micro-level of individuals, but negative at the macro-level of nations?

Conclusions

We conclude that there is no innate human need for meaning. Still, the perceived meaning of life can affect life satisfaction in various other ways, while life satisfaction will also affect the sense of meaning. Both positive and negative effects can be involved, the balance of which tends to be positive for seeing meaning but close to neutral for pursuing meaning.
Sentence comprehension test for Russian: A tool to assess syntactic competence
Authors: Chernova Daria , Novozhilov Artem , Slioussar Natalia
Published: February 2023

Although all healthy adults have advanced syntactic processing abilities in their native language, psycholinguistic studies report extensive variation among them. However, very few tests were developed to assess this variation, presumably, because when adult native speakers focus on syntactic processing, not being distracted by other tasks, they usually reach ceiling performance. We developed a Sentence Comprehension Test for the Russian language aimed to fill this gap. The test captures variation among participants and does not show ceiling effects. The Sentence Comprehension Test includes 60 unambiguous grammatically complex sentences and 40 control sentences that are of the same length, but are syntactically simpler. Every sentence is accompanied by a comprehension question targeting potential syntactic processing problems and interpretation errors associated with them. Grammatically complex sentences were selected on the basis of the previous literature and then tested in a pilot study. As a result, six constructions that trigger the largest number of errors were identified. For these constructions, we also analyzed which ones are associated with the longest word-by-word reading times, question answering times and the highest error rates. These differences point to different sources of syntactic processing difficulties and can be relied upon in subsequent studies. We conducted two experiments to validate the final version of the test. Getting similar results in two independent experiments, as well as in two presentation modes (reading and listening modes are compared in Experiment 2) confirms its reliability. In Experiment 1, we also showed that the results of the test correlate with the scores in the verbal working memory span test.
Death anxiety, resilience, and family cohesion in parents of children and adolescents in the end stages of life
Authors: Mohammadi Fateme , Zahra Masoumi Seyedeh , Oshvandi Khodayar , Bijani Mostafa , Nikrouz Leila
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Adolescents in the end stages of life impose a lot of psychological stress on other family members, which may affect their resilience and quality of life. So, the aim of the present study was to investigate death anxiety, family adaptability and cohesion, and resilience in the parents of children and adolescents who were at the end stages of life.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study. Two hundred and ten parents were selected by convenience sampling and completed the questionnaires such as demographics survey, the death anxiety scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale, family adaptability, and cohesion scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), independent t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regressions. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Result

The findings showed that death anxiety in parents of children and adolescents in the end stages of life has a significant inverse correlation with family adaptability and cohesion (p < 0.001, r = −0.92) and resilience (p < 0.001, r = −0.90). The variables of family adaptability and cohesion, resilience, number of children, the children’s illness duration, and marital status can predict 61.34% of the death anxiety variance in these parents.

Conclusion

The parents of children and adolescents in end stages of life reported high death anxiety and moderate family adaptability and cohesion, but low resilience. Accordingly, pediatric nurses and healthcare policymakers should develop comprehensive support plans for these parents to facilitate their adaptation and increase their family adaptability and cohesion.
Modeling residents’ multidimensional social capital in China’s neighborhood renewal projects: SEM and MIMIC approaches
Authors: Huang Ruopeng , Xie Fangyun , Fu Xinyue , Liu Wenli
Published: February 2023

Neighborhood renewal is now an important approach to sustainable urban development in China. However, neighborhood renewal projects are often beset with social problems such as noncooperation from residents, which can be attributed to diverse interests and complex relationships among residents. However, there is little research on resident relations in China and intra-resident conflict. Based on social capital, this study provided a better understanding of resident relationships in neighborhood renewal in China. To this end, we developed a theoretical framework of residents’ multidimensional social capital (structural, relational, and cognitive). Then, a survey was conducted to collect data from 590 residents across China who were experiencing or had experienced neighborhood renewal. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) modeling were used. The results revealed positive effects of structural social capital on relational and cognitive social capital, and the mediation role of relational social capital was demonstrated. We also tested the effects of differences in sociodemographic characteristics. Our findings verify the explanatory power of social capital regarding residents’ complex relationships in neighborhood renewal in China. Implications for theory and policy are discussed. This study helps to improve our understanding of residents’ social systems in neighborhood renewal and provides theoretical support for formulating neighborhood renewal policies in China and abroad.
Experiences of seeking and accessing medical care among persons with major depression: A qualitative descriptive study of persons with depression in China
Authors: Zhou Yan Hua , Leung Doris , Lin Jian Kui , Hu Li Chan , Lin Xiao Yang , Zhang Xuelin , Mak Yim Wah
Published: February 2023

Introduction

A large number of people in China are affected by depression, yet tend to delay seeking treatment. This study aims to explore persons living with depression and their journey of diagnoses and seeking professional medical help in China.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 persons who visiting physicians to be diagnosed and receive professional help from a large mental health center in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. Individual interviews were conducted and data were analyzed using content analysis.

Results

Three themes were identified from the findings: (1) “noticed something was wrong”; (2) negotiated decisions with their own narratives and the personal suggestions of others; and (3) gave new meaning to their experiences of depression, whereby they sought medical treatment.

Discussion

The findings of the study indicated that the impact of progressive depressive symptoms on the participants’ daily lives was a strong motivation for them to seek professional help. The obligation to care for and support their family prevented them from initially disclosing their depressive symptoms to family members, but eventually prompted them to seek professional help and persist in follow-up treatment. Some participants experienced unexpected benefits (e.g., relief at no longer feeling “alone”) during their first visit to the hospital for depression or when they were diagnosed with depression. The results suggest a need to continue to actively screen for depression and provide more public education to prevent negative assumptions and reduce public and personal stigmatization of those with mental health problems.
Biological interpretation of the sporadic sputum smear-positive-culture-negative outcome for patients with tuberculosis undertaking treatments
Authors: Luo Jingjing , Yu Xia , Dong Lingling , Huo Fengmin , Ma Yifeng , Liang Qian , Shang Yuanyuan , Huang Hairong
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The objective of the study was to identify the causes of smear-positive-culture-negative (S+/C–) outcomes of patients with tuberculosis during the treatment course.

Methods

A laboratory-based retrospective study was performed at the Beijing Chest Hospital in China. Within the study period, all patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) who undertook anti-TB treatments and yielded smear positive outcomes with simultaneous culture outcomes on sputa were considered. Patients were classified into three groups: (I) performed LJ medium culture only; (II) performed BACTEC MGIT960 liquid culture only; and (III) performed both LJ culture and MGIT960 culture. The S+/C– rates of each group were analyzed. The clinical medical records regarding patient category, follow-up bacteriologic examination data, and treatment response were investigated.

Results

In total, 1,200 eligible patients were enrolled, and the overall S+/C– rate was 17.5% (210/1,200). Group I had obviously higher S+/C– rate (37%) than group II (18.5%) and group III (9.5%). When solid and liquid cultures were considered independently, the S+/C– outcome was observed more frequently in the solid culture group than in the liquid culture group (30.4%, 345/1,135 vs. 11.5%, 100/873; p < 0.001, χ2 = 102.64). Among the 102 S+/C– patients who had follow-up cultures performed, 35 (34.3%) had positive culture outcomes. Whereas among the 67 patients with follow-up information for more than 3 months but without supportive bacteriological evidence, 45 (67.2%, 45/67) had unfavorable prognosis (including relapse and unimproved conditions), and only 22 (32.8%, 22/67) patients had improved conditions. Compared with new cases, retreated cases produced S+/C– outcomes more frequently and had more chances to be cultivated bacilli successfully afterward.

Conclusions

Among our patients, the sporadic smear positive and culture negative outcomes for sputa are more likely associated with the technical failures of culture than with dead bacilli, and this is especially noteworthy for LJ medium culture.
Multidimensional poverty of persons with disabilities in China: An analysis of poverty reduction effect of employment services
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Guo Jiamin , Li Hu
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Disability is a global public health problem, and poverty due to illness and disability has always been a major problem and challenge for global poverty governance. In order to eradicate poverty, China has carried out a series of welfare reforms and employment interventions for people with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to examine the levels of multidimensional poverty of persons with disabilities aged 16–59 in China and the poverty reduction effect of employment services.

Methods

The Alkire-Foster (AF) method is applied to measure and decompose the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) of people with disabilities in this study. In order to make the results more robust, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and the combination of propensity score matching and difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) are used to study the effect of employment services on multidimensional poverty of the disabled.

Results

The results show that among persons with disabilities aged 16–59, about 90% are deprived in at least one dimension, and about 30% are in a state of severe multidimensional poverty until 2019. The contributions of deprivation in the dimensions of education and social participation are remarkably higher than dimensions of economy, health and insurance. In addition, employment services have a significant improvement effect on multidimensional poverty, which is reflected not only in the economic dimension, but also in the dimensions of education, insurance and social participation.

Conclusion

People with disabilities are generally in multidimensional poverty in China, and their abilities in learning and social integration are seriously inadequate. Employment services have played a great role in improving poverty, but the improvement has been different in different dimensions and different disability categories. These findings provide important evidence for recognizing multidimensional poverty of persons with disabilities and the poverty reduction effect of employment services, which will help to formulate more reasonable public policies to eradicate poverty.
Overcoming Resource Nexus Conflicts With a Normative-Institutional Approach: A Case Study of Brazil
Authors: Carvalho Priscila , Spataru Catalina
Published: February 2023

Water-energy nexus research highlights the need for co-management across water and energy sectors, whereby joint planning and solutions under better integrated governance of resources could make action more efficient and cost-effective to advance the SDGs. A gap remains in the literature with regards to the normative dimension of the resource nexus. At the background or resource nexus conflicts there are norms, which need to be considered and applied in the resolution of disputes. Brazil has been chosen as case study because of rising conflicts around its high dependency on water and hydropower generation to keep affordable tariffs, while securing multiple water uses. Hydrological factors (e.g., prolonged droughts) and non-hydrological factors (e.g., chronic delays in delivery of new plants and transmission lines) have impacted on water availability, which led to constraints for hydropower generation, with cascading economic, social and environmental impacts. Electricity prices have risen, while water quantity and quality have decreased, affecting multiple users and ecological integrity of rivers. All of which impact negatively on livelihoods and water services and sanitation, aggravated by the fact that electricity represents one of the fastest growing costs for Water services, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) suppliers. The novel combination of research methods based on metrics, historical-institutional analysis, questionnaire, and in-depth interviews served as instruments for the assessment of the water-electricity nexus issues and development of a new legal approach to manage conflicts arising in Brazil. Most of the existing work has favored integration of water and electricity sectors based on quantitative approach to address the interlinkages between them and tackle trade-offs. However, from a legal perspective, very little is known about how these sectors could be better integrated in practice. This study proposes a normative-institutional approach that offers a flexible, integrated, and adequate legal treatment to overcome the conflicts between water and electricity in the context of their asymmetrical governance, policies, regulation, planning and environmental injustices. Split in substantive, institutional, and procedural dimensions this approach is necessary to enhance participatory and equitable resource governance based on the laws of balancing legal principles, rational, inclusive, and transparent procedures. It was concluded that for water-electricity nexus thinking to be connected to the idea of integration it will be necessary to consider justice by taking a normative-institutional approach that can support advances to the SDGs in more holistic and fair ways.
Forest degradation modifies litter production, quality, and decomposition dynamics in Southern temperate forests
Authors: Leal Fabiola , Aburto Felipe , Aguilera Natalia , Echeverría Cristian , Gatica-Saavedra Paula
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Anthropic disturbances are driving unprecedented changes in forest ecosystem functions and biogeochemical processes, hindering the forests’ benefits to society. Litter decomposition is one of the most critical processes that regulate forests’ carbon and nutrient cycling. However, how forest degradation affects litter decomposition and elemental dynamics requires further examination. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of forest degradation on the production and decomposition of litter and C,N, and P dynamics in a temperate forest in south-central Chile.

Methods

Litter traps and litter bags were installed in three Long Term Research Forest Plots (LTER) representing different conservation states: mature, secondary, and degraded Nothofagus forests.

Results and Discussion

The total litter input varied between 3.5 to 1.1 Mg ha–1 year–1 in the mature and degraded forests, respectively. We found the highest lignin and nutrient levels in the degraded forest and the lowest in the mature forest. In the mature forest, 44% of the initial litter was decomposed, while in the degraded forest it only reached 7%. Decomposing litter showed the lowest C:N and C:P ratios in the mature forest most of the year. The balance between inputs and outputs yielded a more substantial litter accumulation in the mature forests.

Conclusion

Our results strongly suggest that anthropogenic degradation altered litter quality and nutrient dynamics while decreasing litter production and decomposition.
Evolution of the thermodynamic properties of a coronal mass ejection in the inner Corona
Authors: Sheoran Jyoti , Pant Vaibhav , Patel Ritesh , Banerjee Dipankar
Published: February 2023

The thermodynamic evolution of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) in the inner corona (≤1.5 Rsun) is not yet completely understood. In this work, we study the evolution of thermodynamic properties of a CME core observed in the inner corona on 20 July 2017, by combining the MLSO/K-Cor white-light and the MLSO/CoMP Fe XIII 10747 Å line spectroscopic data. We also estimate the emission measure weighted temperature (TEM) of the CME core by applying the Differential Emission Measure (DEM) inversion technique on the SDO/AIA six EUV channels data and compare it with the effective temperature (Teff) obtained using Fe XIII line width measurements. We find that the Teff and TEM of the CME core show similar variation and remain almost constant as the CME propagates from ∼1.05 to 1.35 Rsun. The temperature of the CME core is of the order of million-degree kelvin, indicating that it is not associated with a prominence. Further, we estimate the electron density of this CME core using K-Cor polarized brightness (pB) data and found it decreasing by a factor of ∼3.6 as the core evolves. An interesting finding is that the temperature of the CME core remains almost constant despite expected adiabatic cooling due to the expansion of the CME core, which suggests that the CME core plasma must be heated as it propagates. We conclude that the expansion of this CME core behaves more like an isothermal than an adiabatic process.