bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Structure and Diversity of Root-Associated and Soil Microbial Communities Between Acacia Plantations and Native Tropical Mountain Forests
Authors: Sawada Kozue , Watanabe Shinichi , Nguyen Ho Lam , Sugihara Soh , Seki Mayuko , Kobayashi Hana , Toyota Koki , Funakawa Shinya
Published: September 2021

Deforestation of native tropical forests has occurred extensively over several decades. The plantation of fast-growing trees, such as Acacia spp., is expanding rapidly in tropical regions, which can contribute to conserve the remaining native tropical forests. To better understand belowground biogeochemical cycles and the sustainable productivity of acacia plantations, we assessed the effects of vegetation (acacia plantations vs. native forests) and soil types (Oxisols vs. Ultisols) on soil properties, including the diversity and community structures of bacteria- and fungi-colonizing surface and subsurface roots and soil in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The results in surface soil showed that pH was significantly higher in acacia than in native for Oxisols but not for Ultisols, while exchangeable Al was significantly lower in acacia than in native for Ultisols but not for Oxisols. Bacterial alpha diversity (especially within phylum Chloroflexi) was higher in acacia than in native only for Oxisols but not for Ultisols, which was the same statistical result as soil pH but not exchangeable Al. These results suggest that soil pH, but not exchangeable Al, can be the critical factor to determine bacterial diversity. Acacia tree roots supported greater proportions of copiotrophic bacteria, which may support lower contents of soil inorganic N, compared with native tree roots for both Oxisols and Ultisols. Acacia tree roots also supported greater proportions of plant pathogenic Mycoleptodiscus sp. but appeared to reduce the abundances and diversity of beneficial ECM fungi compared with native tree roots regardless of soil types. Such changes in fungal community structures may threaten the sustainable productivity of acacia plantations in the future.
Potential Serum Biomarkers for Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders Based on Proteomic Analysis of Cognitive-Related Brain Regions
Authors: Li Yitong , Chen Lei , Li Zhengqian , Song Yanan , Yuan Yi , Liu Taotao , Hong Jingshu , Wang Qian , Chang Huixian , Kuang Zhongshen , He Jindan , Li Yue , Mi Xinning , Han Dengyang , Yang Ning , Guo Xiangyang
Published: September 2021

Postoperative neurocognitive disorders (po-NCD), including postoperative delirium (POD) and delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR), are common in geriatric surgical patients. However, the ideal diagnostic biomarkers to predict individual risks of po-NCDs have not been identified. In this study, proteomic analysis was used to detect dysregulated proteins in three cognitive-related brain regions, the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and temporal lobe, of aged dNCR rats. The common affected proteins in these three brain regions were further verified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Furthermore, serum samples from aged rats with dNCR and elderly hip fracture patients with POD were also assessed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assays to investigate the biomarker potential of these dysregulated proteins. The increased expression levels of haptoglobin, caseinolytic protease (ClpP), and alpha-2 macroglobulin (A2M) as well as decreased expression levels of 14-3-3β/α and biliverdin reductase-A (BVR-A) were validated by proteomic analysis in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and temporal lobe of aged dNCR rats. The increased expression of haptoglobin and decreased expression of 14-3-3β/α were further demonstrated in the three brain regions by western blotting. Moreover, increased levels of S100A6 and BVR-A in the hippocampus, S100A6 in the prefrontal cortex, and A2M in the temporal lobe were also observed. More intriguingly, both decreased serum 14-3-3β/α and increased A2M in geriatric POD patients as well as decreased serum ClpP in aged dNCR rats were verified. These results not only indicate potential diagnostic biomarkers for po-NCD but also provide directions for further pathological investigations.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [ChiCTR1900027393].
Comparison of Causality Network Estimation in the Sensor and Source Space: Simulation and Application on EEG
Authors: Koutlis Christos , Kimiskidis Vasilios K. , Kugiumtzis Dimitris
Published: September 2021

The usage of methods for the estimation of the true underlying connectivity among the observed variables of a system is increasing, especially in the domain of neuroscience. Granger causality and similar concepts are employed for the estimation of the brain network from electroencephalogram (EEG) data. Also source localization techniques, such as the standardized low resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA), are widely used for obtaining more reliable data in the source space. In this work, connectivity structures are estimated in the sensor and in the source space making use of the sLORETA transformation for simulated and for EEG data with episodes of spontaneous epileptiform discharges (ED). From the comparative simulation study on high-dimensional coupled stochastic and deterministic systems originating in the sensor space, we conclude that the structure of the estimated causality networks differs in the sensor space and in the source space. Moreover, different network types, such as random, small-world and scale-free, can be better discriminated on the basis of the data in the original sensor space than on the transformed data in the source space. Similarly, in EEG epochs containing epileptiform discharges, the discriminative ability of network topological indices was significantly better in the sensor compared to the source level. In conclusion, causality networks constructed at the sensor and source level, for both simulated and empirical data, exhibit significant structural differences. These observations indicate that further studies are warranted in order to clarify the exact relationship between data registered in the sensor and source space.
Two-Year Change in Serum Total Cholesterol Is Associated With Incident Ischemic Stroke: Results From the Kailuan Study
Authors: Wang Yu , Wang Anxin , Zuo Yingting , Wu Shouling , Zhao Xingquan
Published: September 2021

Background and Purpose: Compared with one single measurement, dynamic change of lipid parameter calculated by repeated measurements has been recognized as a potential biometric to make stroke risk assessments. Total cholesterol (TC) is an important risk factor for stroke, but the relationship between TC change and incident stroke has not been investigated thoroughly. We thus aimed to explore the association between 2-year TC change and the risk of incident stroke, both ischemic and hemorrhagic, in the general population.

Methods: From June 2006 to October 2007, a total of 70,999 participants with complete TC value at baseline (2006–2007) and the second examination (2008–2009) were included in our study. The change of TC was calculated as the 2-year follow-up TC subtracting baseline TC. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the tertile of TC change and risk of incident stroke and stroke subtypes.

Results: A total of 2,815 cases of stroke events were identified with a median follow-up period of 9.0 years. After adjusting for baseline TC and confounding factors, 2-year TC change was independently associated with increased risk of total stroke (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.12) and ischemic stroke (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03–1.13) per SD (1.04 mmol/L) increase, while no significant association was obtained between TC change and intracerebral hemorrhage (p = 0.659).

Conclusions: Increased 2-year TC change is associated with an elevated risk of incident total stroke and ischemic stroke, irrespective of the baseline TC value. Maintaining a sustained ideal level of TC is important for stroke prevention.
Acute White Matter Integrity Post-trauma and Prospective Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms
Authors: Weis Carissa N. , Huggins Ashley A. , Miskovich Tara A. , Fitzgerald Jacklynn M. , Bennett Kenneth P. , Krukowski Jessica L. , Webb E. Kate , deRoon-Cassini Terri A. , Larson Christine L.
Published: September 2021

Background:Little is known about what distinguishes those who are resilient after trauma from those at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous work indicates white matter integrity may be a useful biomarker in predicting PTSD. Research has shown changes in the integrity of three white matter tracts—the cingulum bundle, corpus callosum (CC), and uncinate fasciculus (UNC)—in the aftermath of trauma relate to PTSD symptoms. However, few have examined the predictive utility of white matter integrity in theacuteaftermath of trauma to predictprospectivePTSD symptom severity in a mixed traumatic injury sample.

Method:Thus, the current study investigated acute brain structural integrity in 148 individuals being treated for traumatic injuries in the Emergency Department of a Level 1 trauma center. Participants underwent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging 2 weeks post-trauma and completed several self-report measures at 2-weeks (T1) and 6 months (T2), including the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-V (CAPS-5), post-injury.

Results:Consistent with previous work, T1 lesser anterior cingulum fractional anisotropy (FA) was marginally related to greater T2 total PTSD symptoms. No other white matter tracts were related to PTSD symptoms.

Conclusions:Results demonstrate that in a traumatically injured sample with predominantly subclinical PTSD symptoms at T2, acute white matter integrity after trauma is not robustly related to the development of chronic PTSD symptoms. These findings suggest the timing of evaluating white matter integrity and PTSD is important as white matter differences may not be apparent in the acute period after injury.
“Nothing to Lose, Absolutely Everything to Gain”: Patient and Caregiver Expectations and Subjective Outcomes of Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Authors: Thomson Cassandra J. , Segrave Rebecca A. , Fitzgerald Paul B. , Richardson Karyn E. , Racine Eric , Carter Adrian
Published: September 2021

Background:How “success” is defined in clinical trials of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for refractory psychiatric conditions has come into question. Standard quantitative psychopathology measures are unable to capture all changes experienced by patients and may not reflect subjective beliefs about the benefit derived. The decision to undergo DBS for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is often made in the context of high desperation and hopelessness that can challenge the informed consent process. Partners and family can observe important changes in DBS patients and play a key role in the recovery process. Their perspectives, however, have not been investigated in research to-date. The aim of this study was to qualitatively examine patient and caregivers’ understanding of DBS for TRD, their expectations of life with DBS, and how these compare with actual experiences and outcomes.

Methods:A prospective qualitative design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants (six patients, five caregivers) before DBS-implantation and 9-months after stimulation initiation. All patients were enrolled in a clinical trial of DBS of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Interviews were thematically analyzed with data saturation achieved at both timepoints.

Results:Two primary themes identified were: (1)anticipated vs. actual outcomes, and (2)trial decision-making and knowledge. The decision to undergo DBS was driven by the intolerability of life with severe depression coupled with the exhaustion of all available treatment options. Participants had greater awareness of surgical risks compared with stimulation-related risks. With DBS, patients described cognitive, emotional, behavioral and physical experiences associated with the stimulation, some of which were unexpected. Participants felt life with DBS was like “a roller coaster ride”—with positive, yet unsustained, mood states experienced. Many were surprised by the lengthy process of establishing optimum stimulation settings and felt the intervention was still a “work in progress.”

Conclusion:These findings support existing recommendations for iterative informed consent procedures in clinical trials involving long-term implantation of neurotechnology. These rich and descriptive findings hold value for researchers, clinicians, and individuals and families considering DBS. Narrative accounts capture patient and family needs and should routinely be collected to guide patient-centered approaches to DBS interventions.
Neuroprotective Effects of Ceftriaxone Involve the Reduction of Aβ Burden and Neuroinflammatory Response in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Tikhonova Maria A. , Amstislavskaya Tamara G. , Ho Ying-Jui , Akopyan Anna A. , Tenditnik Michael V. , Ovsyukova Marina V. , Bashirzade Alim A. , Dubrovina Nina I. , Aftanas Lyubomir I.
Published: September 2021

Ceftriaxone (CEF) is a safe and multipotent antimicrobial agent that possesses neuroprotective properties. Earlier, we revealed the restoration of cognitive function in OXYS rats with signs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like pathology by CEF along with its modulating the expression of genes related to the system of amyloid beta (Aβ) metabolism in the brain. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of CEF on behavior, Aβ deposition, and associated neuroinflammation using another model of an early AD-like pathology induced by Aβ. Mice were injected bilaterally i.c.v. with Aβ fragment 25–35 to produce the AD model, while the CEF treatment (100 mg/kg/day, i.p., 36 days) started the next day after the surgery. The open field test, T-maze, Barnes test, IntelliCage, and passive avoidance test were used for behavioral phenotyping. Neuronal density, amyloid accumulation, and the expression of neuroinflammatory markers were measured in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. CEF exhibited beneficial effects on some cognitive features impaired by Aβ neurotoxicity including complete restoration of the fear-induced memory and learning in the passive avoidance test and improved place learning in the IntelliCage. CEF significantly attenuated amyloid deposition and neuroinflammatory response. Thus, CEF could be positioned as a potent multipurpose drug as it simultaneously targets proteostasis network and neuroinflammation, as well as glutamate excitotoxicity, oxidative pathways, and neurotrophic function as reported earlier. Together with previous reports on the positive effects of CEF in AD models, the results confirm the potential of CEF as a promising treatment against cognitive decline from the early stages of AD progression.
Kv4.2-Positive Domains on Dendrites in the Mouse Medial Geniculate Body Receive Ascending Excitatory and Inhibitory Inputs Preferentially From the Inferior Colliculus
Authors: Fujimoto Hisataka , Notsu Eiji , Yamamoto Ryo , Ono Munenori , Hioki Hiroyuki , Takahashi Megumu , Ito Tetsufumi
Published: September 2021

The medial geniculate body (MGB) is the thalamic center of the auditory lemniscal pathway. The ventral division of MGB (MGV) receives excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the inferior colliculus (IC). MGV is involved in auditory attention by processing descending excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the auditory cortex (AC) and reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN), respectively. However, detailed mechanisms of the integration of different inputs in a single MGV neuron remain unclear. Kv4.2 is one of the isoforms of the Shal-related subfamily of potassium voltage-gated channels that are expressed in MGB. Since potassium channel is important for shaping synaptic current and spike waveforms, subcellular distribution of Kv4.2 is likely important for integration of various inputs. Here, we aimed to examine the detailed distribution of Kv4.2, in MGV neurons to understand its specific role in auditory attention. We found that Kv4.2 mRNA was expressed in most MGV neurons. At the protein level, Kv4.2-immunopositive patches were sparsely distributed in both the dendrites and the soma of neurons. The postsynaptic distribution of Kv4.2 protein was confirmed using electron microscopy (EM). The frequency of contact with Kv4.2-immunopositive puncta was higher in vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2)-positive excitatory axon terminals, which are supposed to be extending from the IC, than in VGluT1-immunopositive terminals, which are expected to be originating from the AC. VGluT2-immunopositive terminals were significantly larger than VGluT1-immunopositive terminals. Furthermore, EM showed that the terminals forming asymmetric synapses with Kv4.2-immunopositive MGV dendritic domains were significantly larger than those forming synapses with Kv4.2-negative MGV dendritic domains. In inhibitory axons either from the IC or from the RTN, the frequency of terminals that were in contact with Kv4.2-positive puncta was higher in IC than in RTN. In summary, our study demonstrated that the Kv4.2-immunopositive domains of the MGV dendrites received excitatory and inhibitory ascending auditory inputs preferentially from the IC, and not from the RTN or cortex. Our findings imply that time course of synaptic current and spike waveforms elicited by IC inputs is modified in the Kv4.2 domains.
Metal-Regulatory Transcription Factor-1 Targeted by miR-148a-3p Is Implicated in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression
Authors: Lyu Zhuozhen , Yang Mingyu , Yang Tan , Ma Mingze , Yang Zhen
Published: September 2021

Metal-regulatory transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) is of importance in maintaining metal homeostasis. Copper exposure considerably stimulates the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells with enhanced MTF-1 expression. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we utilized different approaches to investigate the potential role of MTF-1 involved in HCC progression. The expression levels of MTF-1 and miR-148a-3p were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. The interaction of MTF-1 with apurinic apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox effector factor 1 (APE/Ref-1) or miR-148a-3p was determined using immunoprecipitation or dual-luciferase reporter assay, respectively. Cell viability and metastatic ability were evaluated using colony formation, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), wound scratch, and Transwell assays, and apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. The biological functions of MTF-1 and miR-148a-3p were also determined using a xenograft mouse model. MTF-1 expression was upregulated in HCC cells and was associated with poor survival and recurrence. MTF-1 overexpression enhanced the proliferation and metastatic potential of HCC cells. Further mechanistic analyses demonstrated that MTF-1 bound to APE/Ref-1 and that MTF-1 is a direct target of miR-148-3p, which inversely regulated MTF-1 transcription activity. MiR-148a-3p overexpression effectively inhibited HCC cell proliferation and metastasis stimulated by MTF-1, with increased apoptosis. There was a decrease in miR-148a-3p expression in exosomes isolated from the plasma of patients with HCC and HCC cell culture supernatants. Co-incubation of HCC cells with exosomes from hepatocyte-conditioned media inhibited cell migration and caused apoptosis. The in vivo study revealed slow growth of MTF-1-knockdown and miR-148a-3p-overexpressing Hep3B-derived xenografts, with reduced tumor volume and weight compared with the control group. Collectively, these findings implicate MTF-1 as a modulator of HCC tumorigenesis and progression. Selective targeting towards exosomal miR-148a-3p, which might contribute to the negative regulation of MTF-1 at least partially in HCC, demonstrates therapeutic benefits for patients with HCC.
Survival-Weighted Health Profiles in Patients Treated for Advanced Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Tsai Yao-Te , Chen Wen-Cheng , Hsu Cheng-Ming , Tsai Ming-Shao , Chang Geng-He , Lee Yi-Chan , Huang Ethan I. , Fang Chiung-Cheng , Lai Chia-Hsuan
Published: September 2021

Objectives

For patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), particularly for those with advanced disease, quality of life (QoL) is a key outcome measure. Therefore, we estimated survival-weighted psychometric scores (SWPS), life expectancy (LE), and quality-adjusted LE (QALE) in patients with advanced OSCC.

Methods and Materials

For estimation of survival function, we enrolled 2313 patients with advanced OSCC diagnosed between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2013. The patients were followed until death or December 31, 2014. To acquire the QoL data, data from 194 patients were collected by employing the Taiwan Chinese versions of the Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 and Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck 35 developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the EQ-5D-3L between October 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017. The LE of the patients with OSCC were estimated through linear extrapolation of a logit-transformed curve. SWPS and QALE were determined by integrating the LE and corresponding QoL outcomes.

Results

For the patients with advanced OSCC, the estimated LE and QALE were 8.7 years and 7.7 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), respectively. The loss of LE and QALE was 19.0 years and 20.0 QALYs, respectively. The estimated lifetime impairments of swallowing, speech, cognitive functioning, physical functioning, social functioning, and emotional functioning were 8.3, 6.5, 6.5, 6.1, 5.7, and 5.4 years, respectively. The estimated lifetime problems regarding mouth opening, teeth, social eating, and social contact were 6.6, 6.1, 7.5, and 6.1 years, respectively. The duration of feeding tube dependency was estimated to be 1.6 years.

Conclusions

Patients with advanced OSCC had an estimated LE of 8.7 years and QALE of 7.7 QALYs. SWPS provided useful information regarding how advanced OSCC affects the subjective assessment of QoL. Our study results may serve as a reference for the allocation of cancer treatment resources.
Case Report: Dupilumab Successfully Controls Severe Eczema in a Child With Elevated IgE Levels and Recurrent Skin Infections
Authors: Joshi Tejas P. , Anvari Sara , Gupta Meera R. , Davis Carla M. , Hajjar Joud
Published: September 2021

The efficacy of dupilumab in pediatric patients with severe eczema presenting in the setting of elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and recurrent bacterial skin infections is not well-understood. Here we present the case of a child with elevated IgE levels in whom dupilumab treatment led to remarkable control of his eczema and recurrent skin infections. We also review the use of dupilumab in other patients with molecularly proven cases of hyper IgE (HIGE) syndrome. Our case supports the notion that dupilumab may have a seminal application in treating severe eczema that occurs in the setting of elevated IgE levels and recurrent bacterial skin infections.
A Randomized Controlled Study of Caudal Dexmedetomidine for the Prevention of Postoperative Agitation in Children Undergoing Urethroplasty
Authors: Zhu Weichao , Sun Jie , He Jianhua , Zhang Wangping , Shi Meng
Published: September 2021

Background: Postoperative agitation is a common complication in children undergoing general anesthesia. This study aimed to investigate the effect of caudal dexmedetomidine for the prevention of postoperative agitation in children undergoing urethroplasty.

Materials and Methods: Eighty children were prospectively recruited to this study and randomized to two groups (40 cases in each group), specifically, a dexmedetomidine group (group D) who received 0.2% ropivacaine + 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine for caudal block, and a control group who received 0.2% ropivacaine alone. The time to wake up, the time to discharge from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), the duration of the caudal block, and the Ramsay sedation scale (RSS) were evaluated in the patients. Adverse events such as postoperative agitation, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension, excessive sedation, nausea, and vomiting were also recorded during the first postoperative 24 h.

Results: The incidence of postoperative agitation was lower in group D compared with patients in the control group (2.5 vs. 22.5%, p = 0.007). The time to wake up and the time to discharge from PACU were longer in group D than in the control group (15.2 ± 2.6 vs. 13.4 ± 1.3 min, 48.2 ± 7.7 vs. 41.5 ± 8.0 min, respectively, p < 0.001). However, the extubation times were similar between the two groups. The duration of the caudal block was longer in group D compared with the control group (8.8 ± 1.6 vs. 4.6 ± 0.7 h, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Caudal dexmedetomidine prolongs the duration of caudal block and decreases the incidence of postoperative agitation in children undergoing urethroplasty.

Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR1800016828.
Therapeutic Effect of Combining Anisodamine With Neostigmine on Local Scar Formation Following Roux-en-Y Choledochojejunostomy in a Novel Rat Model
Authors: Lyu Shao-cheng , Wang Jing , Xu Wen-li , Wang Han-xuan , Pan Fei , Jiang Tao , He Qiang , Lang Ren
Published: September 2021

Background: The present study aimed to explore the potential effect of combining anisodamine with neostigmine on local scar formation following Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy (RCJS) in a novel rat model.

Methods: The biliary obstruction model of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats was established in advance, and 54 rats were divided into nine groups randomly (sham operation group, anisodamine group, neostigmine group, combination group, and control group). Anisodamine (25 mg/kg) and neostigmine (50 μg/kg) were injected to the abdominal cavity separately or simultaneously for 1 week since the first day after surgery according to their allocated intervention, while the same amount of saline (0.5 ml) was injected intraperitoneally in the control group. Indexes including body weight, the diameter of the common bile duct, liver function, inflammatory indexes, and the condition of scar formation in different groups at certain time were evaluated in our study.

Results: Recovery of liver function (ALT, AST, TB, DB, and GGT) and systematic inflammation indexes (CRP, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in the combination group was prior to that in the control group (p < 0.05), while no statistical difference in the serum level of IL-10 was observed among groups. Rats in the combination group represented a wider anastomotic diameter and lower expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 at anastomotic stoma compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Histopathological staining showed slighter proliferation of collagen and smooth muscle fibers in rats’ bile duct wall and less local scar formation at anastomotic stoma compared to the control group.

Conclusion: The combination of anisodamine and neostigmine can alleviate local and systemic inflammatory response, promote the recovery of liver function, and reduce scar formation in rats after the RCJS procedure.
A Risk Scoring Model for High-Dose Methotrexate-Induced Liver Injury in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Based on Gene Polymorphism Study
Authors: He Xia , Yao Pingli , Li Mengting , Liang Hong , Liu Yilong , Du Shan , Zhang Min , Sun Wenzhuo , Wang Zeyuan , Hao Xin , Yu Ze , Gao Fei , Liu Xinxia , Tong Rongsheng
Published: September 2021

A study on 70 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) children (age ≤16 years) treated with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital was conducted. The aim of the study was to establish a risk-scoring model to predict HD-MTX-induced liver injury, considering gene polymorphisms’ effects. Data screening was performed through t-test, chi-square test, and ridge regression, and six predictors were identified: age, MTRR_AA, MTRR_AG, SLCO1B1_11045879_CC, albumin_1 day before MTX administration, and IBIL_1 day before MTX administration (p < 0.1). Then, the risk-scoring model was established by ridge regression and evaluated the prediction performance. In a training cohort (n = 49), the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.76, and metrics including accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were promising (0.86, 0.81, 0.76, 0.91, 0.81, 0.88, respectively). In a test cohort (n = 21), the AUC was 0.62 and negative predictive value was 0.80; other evaluation metrics were not satisfactory, possibly due to the limited sample size. Ultimately, the risk scores were stratified into three groups based on their distributions: low- (≤48), medium- (49–89), and high-risk (>89) groups. This study could provide knowledge for the prediction of HD-MTX-induced liver injury and reference for the clinical medication.
Dl-3-N-Butylphthalide Promotes Angiogenesis in an Optimized Model of Transient Ischemic Attack in C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Wang Jiahui , Li Yanyan , Yu Haihan , Li Gaigai , Bai Shuang , Chen Shiling , Zhang Ping , Tang Zhouping
Published: September 2021

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) has been widely regarded as a clinical entity. Even though magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of TIA patients are negative, potential neurovascular damage might be present, and may account for long-term cognitive impairment. Animal models that simulate human diseases are essential tools for in-depth study of TIA. Previous studies have clarified that Dl-3-N-butylphthalide (NBP) promotes angiogenesis after stroke. However, the effects of NBP on TIA remain unknown. This study aims to develop an optimized TIA model in C57BL/6 mice to explore the microscopic evidence of ischemic injury after TIA, and investigate the therapeutic effects of NBP on TIA. C57BL/6 mice underwent varying durations (7, 8, 9 or 10 min) of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion were assessed by laser speckle contrast imaging. TIA and ischemic stroke were distinguished by neurological testing and MRI examination at 24 h post-operation. Neuronal apoptosis was examined by TUNEL staining. Images of submicron cerebrovascular networks were obtained via micro-optical sectioning tomography. Subsequently, the mice were randomly assigned to a sham-operated group, a vehicle-treated TIA group or an NBP-treated TIA group. Vascular density was determined by immunofluorescent staining and fluorescein isothiocyanate method, and the expression of angiogenic growth factors were detected by western blot analysis. We found that an 8-min or shorter period of ischemia induced neither permanent neurological deficits nor MRI detectable brain lesions in C57BL/6 mice, but histologically caused neuronal apoptosis and cerebral vasculature abnormalities. NBP treatment increased the number of CD31+ microvessels and perfused microvessels after TIA. NBP also up-regulated the expression of VEGF, Ang-1 and Ang-2 and improved the cerebrovascular network. In conclusion, 8 min or shorter cerebral ischemia induced by the suture MCAO method is an appropriate TIA model in C57BL/6 mice, which conforms to the definition of human TIA, but causes microscopic neurovascular impairment. NBP treatment increased the expression of angiogenic growth factors, promoted angiogenesis and improved cerebral microvessels after TIA. Our study provides new insights on the pathogenesis and potential treatments of TIA.
Structuring Free-Standing Foils for Laser-Driven Particle Acceleration Experiments
Authors: Gheorghiu Cristina C. , Ionescu Stefania C. , Ghenuche Petru , Cernaianu Mihail O. , Doria Domenico , Popa Daniel , Leca Victor
Published: September 2021

The recent development of petawatt-class laser systems sets a focus on the development of ultra-thin free-standing targets to access enhanced particle acceleration schemes vital for future applications, such as, medical and laser-driven nuclear physics. Specific strategies are required to improve the laser-to-particle energy conversion efficiency and increase the maximum particle energy. One of the promising approaches is based on the target design optimization; either by tuning key parameters which will strongly affect the laser-matter interaction process (e.g., material, composition, density, thickness, lateral dimensions, and shape) or by using micro/nanostructures on the target surface. At ELI-NP, considerable efforts are dedicated to extend the target capabilities beyond simple planar target design and develop complex targets with tailored properties suitable for high-power laser-plasma interaction experiments, as well as for studies with gamma and positrons beams. The paper provides an overview of the manufacturing capabilities currently available within ELI-NP Targets Laboratory for providing users with certain types of solid targets, specifically micro/nanostructured gold and copper foils and microns thick, porous anodized alumina. Also, optimization studies of alternative patterns (micro/nanodots) on silicon substrate are presented for future implementation on metallic free-standing thin foils.
Hyperspectral Imaging Combined With Deep Transfer Learning for Rice Disease Detection
Authors: Feng Lei , Wu Baohua , He Yong , Zhang Chu
Published: September 2021

Various rice diseases threaten the growth of rice. It is of great importance to achieve the rapid and accurate detection of rice diseases for precise disease prevention and control. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was performed to detect rice leaf diseases in four different varieties of rice. Considering that it costs much time and energy to develop a classifier for each variety of rice, deep transfer learning was firstly introduced to rice disease detection across different rice varieties. Three deep transfer learning methods were adapted for 12 transfer tasks, namely, fine-tuning, deep CORrelation ALignment (CORAL), and deep domain confusion (DDC). A self-designed convolutional neural network (CNN) was set as the basic network of the deep transfer learning methods. Fine-tuning achieved the best transferable performance with an accuracy of over 88% for the test set of the target domain in the majority of transfer tasks. Deep CORAL obtained an accuracy of over 80% in four of all the transfer tasks, which was superior to that of DDC. A multi-task transfer strategy has been explored with good results, indicating the potential of both pair-wise, and multi-task transfers. A saliency map was used for the visualization of the key wavelength range captured by CNN with and without transfer learning. The results indicated that the wavelength range with and without transfer learning was overlapped to some extent. Overall, the results suggested that deep transfer learning methods could perform rice disease detection across different rice varieties. Hyperspectral imaging, in combination with the deep transfer learning method, is a promising possibility for the efficient and cost-saving field detection of rice diseases among different rice varieties.
Prevention of Mental Health Difficulties for Children Aged 0–3 Years: A Review
Authors: Izett Elizabeth , Rooney Rosanna , Prescott Susan L. , De Palma Mia , McDevitt Maryanne
Published: September 2021

The period of infancy and early childhood is a critical time for interventions to prevent future mental health problems. The first signs of mental health difficulties can be manifest in infancy, emphasizing the importance of understanding and identifying both protective and risk factors in pregnancy and the early postnatal period. Parents are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems during the perinatal period. An understanding of the evidence around prevention and intervention for parental anxiety and depression is vital to the process of prevention of early mental health disorders in infants and young children. Here we review the existing prevention and treatment interventions in the early years focusing on the period from conception to 3 years – the majority targeting parents in order to improve their mental health, and that of their infants. Elements of successful programs for parents include psychoeducation and practical skills training, as well as work on the co-parenting relationship, developing secure attachment, and enhancing parental reflective functioning. While both targeted and universal programs have produced strong effect sizes, universal programs have the added benefit of reaching people who may otherwise not have sought treatment. In synthesizing this information, our goal is to inform the development of integrated models for prevention and novel early intervention programs as early in life as possible.
Embracing Responsible Leadership and Enhancing Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment: A Social Identity Perspective
Authors: Xiao Xiaohong , Zhou Zheng , Yang Fu , Qi Huijie
Published: September 2021

Although organizational citizenship behavior for the environment (OCBE) literature has highlighted the critical role of leadership on the emergence of OCBE, there is still room for further research exploration of how and when leaders influence subordinates’ OCBE. According to social identity theory, we propose a theoretical model that responsible leadership promotes subordinates’ OCBE by examining subordinates’ moral identity as a mediator and individualism as a boundary condition. Using a sample of 273 collected in China, results indicated that responsible leadership was positively related to subordinates’ moral identity, which in turn was positively related to subordinates’ OCBE. Subordinates’ moral identity partially mediated the relationship between responsible leadership and their OCBE. In addition, both the relationship between responsible leadership and subordinates’ moral identity and the indirect relationship between responsible leadership and subordinates’ OCBE were stronger when individualism was lower. These findings provide novel insights into how responsible leadership influences OCBE and how such influence is shaped by subordinates’ individualism.
Father’s Perspectives on Family Relationships and Mental Health Treatment Participation in the Context of Maternal Postpartum Depression
Authors: Battle Cynthia L. , Londono Tobon Amalia , Howard Margaret , Miller Ivan W.
Published: September 2021

Objective: To understand the perspectives of fathers whose partners experienced postpartum depression, particularly (1) views on how fathers and family relationships were impacted by maternal PPD, and (2) attitudes regarding inclusion of fathers within the treatment process.

Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with 8 postpartum couples using a semi-structured protocol, and administered questionnaires assessing demographics, depression, and family functioning. We abstracted data from hospital records regarding the mother’s depressive episode. We summarized quantitative data using descriptive statistics, and analyzed interview transcripts using qualitative analysis techniques, focusing specifically on fathers’ input on postpartum relationships and treatment involvement.

Results: Over one-third of fathers had elevated symptoms of depression, and family functioning scores suggested that most couples were experiencing dysfunction in their relationships. Qualitative analysis identified three major categories of themes, and subthemes in each category. Major themes included: (1) fathers’ experiences during the postpartum period, including not understanding postpartum mental health conditions and desiring more information, experiencing a range of emotions, and difficulty of balancing work with family; (2) fathers’ views on postpartum relationships, such as communication problems, empathy for partner, and relationship issues with other family members; (3) fathers’ attitudes toward postpartum treatment, including openness to be involved, perceived benefits, and barriers and facilitators to the inclusion of partners in treatment.

Conclusion: Though barriers exist, many fathers are motivated to be included in the treatment process. In addition to supporting maternal wellbeing, fathers view treatment as a means to improve issues in the couple or family system, such as communication difficulties.
Development and Initial Validation of the Duke Misophonia Questionnaire
Authors: Rosenthal M. Zachary , Anand Deepika , Cassiello-Robbins Clair , Williams Zachary J. , Guetta Rachel E. , Trumbull Jacqueline , Kelley Lisalynn D.
Published: September 2021

Misophonia is characterized by decreased tolerance and accompanying defensive motivational system responding to certain aversive sounds and contextual cues associated with such stimuli, typically repetitive oral (e. g., eating sounds) or nasal (e.g., breathing sounds) stimuli. Responses elicit significant psychological distress and impairment in functioning, and include acute increases in (a) negative affect (e.g., anger, anxiety, and disgust), (b) physiological arousal (e.g., sympathetic nervous system activation), and (c) overt behavior (e.g., escape behavior and verbal aggression toward individuals generating triggers). A major barrier to research and treatment of misophonia is the lack of rigorously validated assessment measures. As such, the primary purpose of this study was to develop and psychometrically validate a self-report measure of misophonia, the Duke Misophonia Questionnaire (DMQ). There were two phases of measure development. In Phase 1, items were generated and iteratively refined from a combination of the scientific literature and qualitative feedback from misophonia sufferers, their family members, and professional experts. In Phase 2, a large community sample of adults (n = 424) completed DMQ candidate items and other measures needed for psychometric analyses. A series of iterative analytic procedures (e.g., factor analyses and IRT) were used to derive final DMQ items and scales. The final DMQ has 86 items and includes subscales: (1) Trigger frequency (16 items), (2) Affective Responses (5 items), (3) Physiological Responses (8 items), (4) Cognitive Responses (10 items), (5) Coping Before (6 items), (6) Coping During (10 items), (7) Coping After (5 items), (8) Impairment (12 items), and Beliefs (14 items). Composite scales were derived for overall Symptom Severity (combined Affective, Physiological, and Cognitive subscales) and Coping (combined the three Coping subscales). Depending on the needs of researchers or clinicians, the DMQ may be use in full form, individual subscales, or with the derived composite scales.
Application of Deep Learning Algorithms to Visual Communication Courses
Authors: Wang Zewen , Li Jiayi , Wu Jieting , Xu Hui
Published: September 2021

There are rare studies on the combination of visual communication courses and image style transfer. Nevertheless, such a combination can make students understand the difference in perception brought by image styles more vividly. Therefore, a collaborative application is reported here combining visual communication courses and image style transfer. First, the visual communication courses are sorted out to obtain the relationship between them and image style transfer. Then, a style transfer method based on deep learning is designed, and a fast transfer network is introduced. Moreover, the image rendering is accelerated by separating training and execution. Besides, a fast style conversion network is constructed based on TensorFlow, and a style model is obtained after training. Finally, six types of images are selected from the Google Gallery for the conversion of image style, including landscape images, architectural images, character images, animal images, cartoon images, and hand-painted images. The style transfer method achieves excellent effects on the whole image besides the part hard to be rendered. Furthermore, the increase in iterations of the image style transfer network alleviates lack of image content and image style. The image style transfer method reported here can quickly transmit image style in less than 1 s and realize real-time image style transmission. Besides, this method effectively improves the stylization effect and image quality during the image style conversion. The proposed style transfer system can increase students’ understanding of different artistic styles in visual communication courses, thereby improving the learning efficiency of students.
Capturing the Trajectory of Psychological Status and Analyzing Online Public Reactions During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Through Weibo Posts in China
Authors: Chiang Yi-Chen , Chu Meijie , Lin Shengnan , Cai Xinlan , Chen Qing , Wang Hongshuai , Li An , Rui Jia , Zhang Xiaoke , Xie Fang , Lee Chun-Yang , Chen Tianmu
Published: September 2021

When a major, sudden infectious disease occurs, people tend to react emotionally and display reactions such as tension, anxiety, fear, depression, and somatization symptoms. Social media played a substantial awareness role in developing countries during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to analyze public opinion regarding COVID-19 and to explore the trajectory of psychological status and online public reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic by examining online content from Weibo in China. This study consisted of three steps: first, Weibo posts created during the pandemic were collected and preprocessed on a large scale; second, public sentiment orientation was classified as “optimistic/pessimistic/neutral” orientation via natural language processing and manual determination procedures; and third, qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted to reveal the trajectory of public psychological status and online public reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public psychological status differed in different periods of the pandemic (from December 2019 to May 2020). The newly confirmed cases had an almost 1-month lagged effect on public psychological status. Among the 15 events with high impact indexes or related to government decisions, there were 10 optimism orientation > pessimism orientation (OP) events (2/3) and 5 pessimism orientation > optimism orientation (PO) events (1/3). Among the top two OP events, the high-frequency words were “race against time” and “support,” while in the top two PO events, the high-frequency words were “irrationally purchase” and “pass away.” We proposed a hypothesis that people developed negative self-perception when they received PO events, but their cognition was developed by how these external stimuli were processed and evaluated. These results offer implications for public health policymakers on understanding public psychological status from social media. This study demonstrates the benefits of promoting psychological healthcare and hygiene activity in the early period and improving risk perception for the public based on public opinion and the coping abilities of people. Health managers should focus on disseminating socially oriented strategies to improve the policy literacy of Internet users, thereby facilitating the disease prevention work for the COVID-19 pandemic and other major public events.