bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Resolution Metagenomics of Human Gut Microbiota Generated by Nanopore and Illumina Hybrid Metagenome Assembly
Authors: Ye Lianwei , Dong Ning , Xiong Wenguang , Li Jun , Li Runsheng , Heng Heng , Chan Edward Wai Chi , Chen Sheng
Published: May 2022

Metagenome assembly is a core yet methodologically challenging step for taxonomic classification and functional annotation of a microbiome. This study aims to generate the high-resolution human gut metagenome using both Illumina and Nanopore platforms. Assembly was achieved using four assemblers, including Flye (Nanopore), metaSPAdes (Illumina), hybridSPAdes (Illumina and Nanopore), and OPERA-MS (Illumina and Nanopore). Hybrid metagenome assembly was shown to generate contigs with almost same sizes comparable to those produced using Illumina reads alone, but was more contiguous, informative, and longer compared with those assembled with Illumina reads only. In addition, hybrid metagenome assembly enables us to obtain complete plasmid sequences and much more AMR gene-encoding contigs than the Illumina method. Most importantly, using our workflow, 58 novel high-quality metagenome bins were obtained from four assembly algorithms, particularly hybrid assembly (47/58), although metaSPAdes could provide 11 high-quality bins independently. Among them, 29 bins were currently uncultured bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes. These findings were highly consistent and supported by mock community data tested. In the analysis of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), the number of BGCs in the contigs from hybridSPAdes (241) is higher than that of contigs from metaSPAdes (233). In conclusion, hybrid metagenome assembly could significantly enhance the efficiency of contig assembly, taxonomic binning, and genome construction compared with procedures using Illumina short-read data alone, indicating that nanopore long reads are highly useful in metagenomic applications. This technique could be used to create high-resolution references for future human metagenome studies.
Fatty Acids as Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Adjuvants Against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Park Sunyoung , Lee Jin-Hyung , Kim Yong-Guy , Hu Liangbin , Lee Jintae
Published: May 2022

Fatty acids have diverse functions in the vast majority of cells. At high doses, they act as antimicrobials while, at low doses, they exhibit antibiofilm and antivirulence activities. In this study, the synergistic antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of 30 fatty acids and 11 antibiotics were investigated against methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Of the 15 saturated and 15 unsaturated fatty acids examined, 16 enhanced the antibacterial activity of tobramycin. Combinatorial treatment with myristoleic acid (the most active) at 10 μg/ml and tobramycin at 10 μg/ml decreased cell survival by >4 log as compared with tobramycin treatment alone. Notably, aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as tobramycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, and streptomycin exhibited antimicrobial synergy with myristoleic acid. Co-treatment with myristoleic acid and antibiotics markedly decreased biofilm formation. Interestingly, co-treatment with tobramycin and myristoleic acid induced a reduction in S. aureus cell size. These results suggest that fatty acids, particularly myristoleic acid, can be used as aminoglycoside antibiotic adjuvants against recalcitrant S. aureus infections.
Mating Leads to a Decline in the Diversity of Symbiotic Microbiomes and Promiscuity Increased Pathogen Abundance in a Moth
Authors: Zhang Luo-Yan , Yu Hong , Fu Da-Ying , Xu Jin , Yang Song , Ye Hui
Published: May 2022

Mating may promote microbial diversity through sexual transmission, while mating-induced immune responses may decrease it. Therefore, the study of mating-induced microbiomes changes under different mating systems is informative to unravel its biological relevance and evolutionary significance. Here, we studied the microbiomes in a community context within the abdomen of Spodoptera frugiperda females using 16S rDNA sequences by setting virgin females, and females mated once, twice, or thrice with the same or different males. Alpha and beta diversities revealed that mating significantly affected the composition of microbiomes in S. frugiperda females, wherein virgin females have the highest diversity, followed by one-time mated females and females mated with multiple males, while females mated repeatedly with the same male showed the lowest diversity. The low diversity in females mated repeatedly with the same male may be due to lower sexual transmission as only mated with one mate and higher immune response from repeated matings. Functional prediction by FAPROTAX and literature searching found 17 possible pathogens and 12 beneficial microbiomes. Multiple mating turned over the abundance of pathogens and beneficial microbes, for example, Enterococcus and Lactobacillus spp. (beneficial) showed higher abundance in virgin females while Morganella and Serratia spp. (pathogens) showed higher abundance in females mated with multiple males. These results suggest that mating causes a decline in the diversity of symbiotic microbiomes and promiscuity incurs a higher pathogen abundance in S. frugiperda females, which may be the result of sexual transmission of bacterial strains and immune responses targeting members of the microbiomes. To our knowledge, we demonstrate microbiomes changes in female insects under virgin and different mating regimes for the first time.
The Active Microbiota of the Eggs and the Nauplii of the Pacific Blue Shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris Partially Shaped by a Potential Vertical Transmission
Authors: Giraud Carolane , Callac Nolwenn , Boulo Viviane , Lam Jean-Sébastien , Pham Dominique , Selmaoui-Folcher Nazha , Wabete Nelly
Published: May 2022

The many ecological niches present in an organism harbor distinct microorganisms called microbiota. Different factors can influence the establishment of these commensal microbial communities. In a previous article, we have concluded that some bacterial lineages associated with the early larval stages of the Pacific blue shrimpLitopenaeus stylirostriscould be acquired from the breedersviaa potential vertical transmission. The present study was conducted in order to investigate this hypothesis. Using HiSeq sequencing of the V4 region of 16S rRNA gene, we analyzed the active microbiota associated with the eggs and the nauplii ofL. stylirsotrisas well as with the reproductive organs of their breeders. Microbial communities associated with the rearing water were also considered to discriminate environmental microbial lineages. Using these analyses, we highlight a set of core bacterial families present in all samples and composed of members ofColwelliaceae,Alteromonadaceae,Pseudoalteromonadaceae,Saccharospirillaceae,Oceanospirillaceae,Vibrionaceae,Burkholderiaceae,Rhodobacteraceae,Flavobacteraceae, andCorynebacteriaceae; showing the importance of the environment in the establishment of the larval microbiota. We also present specific bacteria affiliated to theArcobacteraceae,Rhodobacteraceae,Comamonadaceae, andColwelliaceaefamilies, which were only found in the breeders and their offspring strengthening the hypothesis of a potential vertical transmission shaping the active microbiota of the eggs and the nauplii ofL. stylirostris.
Corticosterone Levels and Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene Expression in High Drinking in the Dark Mice and Their Heterogeneous Stock (HS/NPT) Founder Line
Authors: Savarese Antonia M. , Grigsby Kolter B. , Jensen Bryan E. , Borrego Marissa B. , Finn Deborah A. , Crabbe John C. , Ozburn Angela R.
Published: May 2022

The High Drinking in the Dark (HDID-1) line of mice has been selectively bred for achieving high blood alcohol levels (BALs) in the Drinking in the Dark task, a model of binge-like drinking. Recently, we determined that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonism with either mifepristone or CORT113176 (a selective GR antagonist) reduced binge-like ethanol intake in the HDID-1 mice, but not in their founder line, HS/NPT. Here, we examined whether the selection process may have altered glucocorticoid functioning by measuring (1) plasma corticosterone levels and (2) expression of the genes encoding GR (Nr3c1) and two of its chaperone proteins FKBP51 and FKBP52 (Fkbp5 and Fkbp4) in the brains (nucleus accumbens, NAc) of HDID-1 and HS/NPT mice. We observed no genotype differences in baseline circulating corticosterone levels. However, HDID-1 mice exhibited a greater stimulated peak corticosterone response to an IP injection (of either ethanol or saline) relative to their founder line. We further observed reduced basal expression of Fkbp4 and Nr3c1 in the NAc of HDID-1 mice relative to HS/NPT mice. Finally, HDID-1 mice exhibited reduced Fkbp5 expression in the NAc relative to HS/NPT mice following an injection of 2 g/kg ethanol. Together, these data suggest that selective breeding for high BALs may have altered stress signaling in the HDID-1 mice, which may contribute to the observed selective efficacy of GR antagonism in reducing binge-like ethanol intake in HDID-1, but not HS/NPT mice. These data have important implications for the role that stress signaling plays in the genetic risk for binge drinking.
Safety and Feasibility of a Novel Exoskeleton for Locomotor Rehabilitation of Subjects With Spinal Cord Injury: A Prospective, Multi-Center, and Cross-Over Clinical Trial
Authors: Chen Sijing , Wang Zhanbin , Li Yongqiang , Tang Jiashuai , Wang Xue , Huang Liping , Fang Zhuangwei , Xu Tao , Xu Jiang , Guo Feng , Wang Yizhao , Long Jianjun , Wang Xiaodong , Liu Fang , Luo Jianfeng , Wang Yulong , Huang Xiaolin , Jia Zishan , Shuai Mei , Li Jianan
Published: May 2022

Objective

To evaluate the safety, walking efficiency, physiological cost, don and doff time cost, and user satisfaction of Ai-robot.

Design

Prospective, multi-center, and cross-over trial.

Subjects

Paraplegic subjects (n = 40) with T6–L2 level spinal cord injury.

Methods

Subjects who could walk independently using Aiwalker, Ailegs, and hip knee ankle foot orthosis (HKAFO) for 6 min within 30 days of training underwent 10 sets of tests. In each set, they completed three 6-min walk test (6MWT) sessions using the three aids in random order.

Results

Skin lesions, pressure sores, and fractures, were the main adverse events, likely due to a lack of experience in using exoskeleton systems. The average 6MWT distances of the Aiwalker, Ailegs, and HKAFO groups were 134.20 ± 18.74, 79.71 ± 18.06, and 48.31 ± 19.87 m, respectively. The average heart rate increases in the Aiwalker (4.21 ± 8.20%) and Ailegs (41.81 ± 23.47%) groups were both significantly lower than that in the HKAFO group (62.33 ± 28.32%) (both p < 0.001). The average donning/doffing time costs for Ailegs and Aiwalker were significantly shorter than that of HKAFO (both p < 0.001). Satisfaction was higher in the Ailegs and Aiwalker groups (both p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Subjects with paraplegia below T6 level were able to ambulate safely and efficiently with Ai-robot. The use of Ai-robot should be learned under the guidance of experienced medical personnel.
The Spatiotemporal Neural Dynamics of Intersensory Attention Capture of Salient Stimuli: A Large-Scale Auditory-Visual Modeling Study
Authors: Liu Qin , Ulloa Antonio , Horwitz Barry
Published: May 2022

The spatiotemporal dynamics of the neural mechanisms underlying endogenous (top-down) and exogenous (bottom-up) attention, and how attention is controlled or allocated in intersensory perception are not fully understood. We investigated these issues using a biologically realistic large-scale neural network model of visual-auditory object processing of short-term memory. We modeled and incorporated into our visual-auditory object-processing model the temporally changing neuronal mechanisms for the control of endogenous and exogenous attention. The model successfully performed various bimodal working memory tasks, and produced simulated behavioral and neural results that are consistent with experimental findings. Simulated fMRI data were generated that constitute predictions that human experiments could test. Furthermore, in our visual-auditory bimodality simulations, we found that increased working memory load in one modality would reduce the distraction from the other modality, and a possible network mediating this effect is proposed based on our model.
The Relationship Between Muscle Strength and Cognitive Performance Across Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Continuum
Authors: Filardi Marco , Barone Roberta , Bramato Giulia , Nigro Salvatore , Tafuri Benedetta , Frisullo Maria Elisa , Zecca Chiara , Tortelli Rosanna , Logroscino Giancarlo
Published: May 2022

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive cognitive decline, mostly prominent in the domain of memory, but also associated with other cognitive deficits and non-cognitive symptoms. Reduced muscle strength is common in AD. However, the current understanding of its relationship with cognitive decline is limited. This study investigates the relationship between muscle strength and cognition in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We enrolled 148 consecutive subjects, including 74 patients with probable AD dementia, 37 MCI, and 37 controls. Participants underwent neuropsychological evaluation focused on attention, working memory, declarative memory and learning. Muscle strength and muscle mass were measured through hand dynamometer and bio-electrical impedance analysis, respectively. Patients with AD dementia were divided with respect to the severity of cognitive impairment into mild and moderate-to-severe patients. Moderate-to-severe patients with AD presented lower handgrip strength than MCI and controls. No differences were observed in muscle mass. In MCI and AD dementia, handgrip strength was associated with overall cognitive functioning, attentional and memory performance. The routine implementation of handgrip strength assessment in the clinical work-up of patients with MCI and AD could potentially represent a simple method to monitor functional and cognitive decline along the disease course.
Case Report: A Case Report of Neurosyphilis Mimicking Limbic Encephalitis
Authors: Liao Haibing , Zhang Yajing , Yue Wei
Published: May 2022

Neurosyphilis (NS) is an infection of the central nervous system caused by Treponema pallidum. It mimics various neurological and psychiatric diseases. In recent years, there have been several NS cases that manifest as limbic encephalitis (LE). Therefore, the diagnosis of neurosyphilis in the early stages is difficult. Here, we present a case of an NS patient who presented with LE manifestation. The 62-year-old woman presented with acute clinical manifestations of gibberish speech, poor memory, and seizures. Brain MRI showed abnormal signals on the right medial temporal lobe. In addition, the patient had a positive serum leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibody with a titer of 1:16. Therefore, an initial diagnosis of anti-LGI1 encephalitis was made. However, further tests carried out showed positive rapid plasma reagin (RPR), and treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) tests both in the serum and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Therefore, uncertainty arose as to whether the patient had both anti-LGI1 encephalitis and NS or whether the LGI1 antibody and LE manifestations were due to the NS. The patient was initiated on the recommended dose of penicillin G sodium. Following treatment, the patient reported a significant improvement in clinical symptoms, normal signals in the right temporal lobe, and a negative serum LGI1 antibody. These findings suggested that NS induced the LE manifestations and the production of the LGI1 antibody. This case demonstrates that testing syphilis in patients with LE is important and positive autoimmune encephalitis (AE) antibodies in NS patients need to be viewed and interpreted with greater caution.
Mechanisms for Cognitive Impairment in Epilepsy: Moving Beyond Seizures
Authors: Khalife Mohamed R. , Scott Rod C. , Hernan Amanda E.
Published: May 2022

There has been a major emphasis on defining the role of seizures in the causation of cognitive impairments like memory deficits in epilepsy. Here we focus on an alternative hypothesis behind these deficits, emphasizing the mechanisms of information processing underlying healthy cognition characterized as rate, temporal and population coding. We discuss the role of the underlying etiology of epilepsy in altering neural networks thereby leading to both the propensity for seizures and the associated cognitive impairments. In addition, we address potential treatments that can recover the network function in the context of a diseased brain, thereby improving both seizure and cognitive outcomes simultaneously. This review shows the importance of moving beyond seizures and approaching the deficits from a system-level perspective with the guidance of network neuroscience.
Surgical Effects of Resecting Skull Base Tumors Using Pre-operative Multimodal Image Fusion Technology: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Jian Zhi-heng , Li Jia-yan , Wu Kai-hua , Li Yu , Li Shi-xue , Chen Hai-dong , Chen Gang
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To analyze the surgical effects of resecting skull base tumors using multimodal three-dimensional (3D) image fusion technology in the neurosurgery department and present some typical cases.

Methods

From October 2019 to October 2021, we included 47 consecutive patients with skull base tumors in the Neurosurgery Department at Zhuhai People's Hospital in this study. Pre-operative head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging data acquisition was performed using the GE AW workstation software for registration fusion, image fusion, and 3D reconstruction. The surgical approach and surgical plan were designed based on the multimodal 3D image, and the resection rate, complication rate, and operative time of the surgery using the multimodal image fusion technique were analyzed.

Results

The reconstructed multimodal 3D images precisely demonstrated the size, location, and shape of the tumor along with the anatomical relationship between the tumor and surrounding structures, which is consistent with the intraoperative findings. Among 47 patients, 39 patients (78.7%) underwent total resection, 5 (14.9%) underwent subtotal resection, and 3 (6.4%) underwent partial resection. The mean operative time was 4.42 ± 1.32 h. No patient died during the inpatient period. Post-operative complications included 6 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage (14.9%), 3 cases of intracranial infection (6.4%), 6 cases of facial paralysis (12.8%), 2 cases of dysphagia (4.3%), and 1 case of diplopia (2.1%), all of which were improved after symptomatic treatment. The application value of pre-operative 3D image fusion technology was evaluated as outstanding in 40 cases (85.1%) and valuable in 7 cases (14.9%).

Conclusions

Pre-operative multimodal image fusion technology can provide valuable visual information in skull base tumor surgery and help neurosurgeons design the surgical incision, choose a more rational surgical approach, and precisely resect the tumor. The multimodal image fusion technique should be strongly recommended for skull base tumor surgery.
The Clinical Features and Long-Term Follow-Up of Vitamin B6-Responsive Infantile Spasms in a Chinese Cohort
Authors: Jiao Xianru , Gong Pan , Niu Yue , Xu Zhao , Wu Ye , Zhang Yuehua , Yang Zhixian
Published: May 2022

Objective

To analyze the clinical features, treatment, and prognosis of patients with vitamin B6-responsive infantile spasms (IS).

Methods

The clinical features, genetics, and follow-up data of 30 patients were collected and analyzed.

Results

The age of epileptic spasms (ES) onset was from 3 months to 12 months. They all received high doses of vitamin B6 at different times after the onset of ES, ranging from 1 day to 5 months. ES were controlled within 11 days in 93% (28/30) patients, and as late as 1 month and 2 months in the other two patients. In the course of treatment, 28 patients were seizure-free all the time, and seizures of other two patients recurred due to withdrawal of vitamin B6. The available follow-up EEG results of 28 patients were normal in 26 cases, and 81% (21/26) had suppressed epileptic discharges within 6 months. Of the 26 cases with normal follow up EEG, 4 had developmental delay and 22 had normal development. The time for EEG to return to normal in 22 patients with normal development ranged from 14 days to 2 years (mean = 111.5 days; median = 52.5 days). The time for EEG to return to normal in the other 4 patients with development delay ranged from 4 months to 2 years (mean = 375 days; median = 330 days). To the last follow-up, seizures were controlled well in 29 surviving patients, and 21 patients were able to deactivate from all medications without seizures recurrence. Sixteen patients showed varying degrees of developmental delay after onset. After seizure control, the psychomotor development was delayed in 7 patients (one died) until the last follow-up. Genetic analysis did not show any meaningful results.

Conclusion

An observation period of 1–2 weeks is essential to identify patients with vitamin B6-responsive IS. The treatment time could be extended according to the treatment response and EEG changes. It might take a longer time for EEG to return to normal and to stop taking drugs in patients with persistent or unimproved developmental delay. Neurodevelopmental outcomes and prognosis of vitamin B6-responsive IS were relatively favorable.
The Neural Representation of a Repeated Standard Stimulus in Dyslexia
Authors: Beach Sara D. , Ozernov-Palchik Ola , May Sidney C. , Centanni Tracy M. , Perrachione Tyler K. , Pantazis Dimitrios , Gabrieli John D. E.
Published: May 2022

The neural representation of a repeated stimulus is the standard against which a deviant stimulus is measured in the brain, giving rise to the well-known mismatch response. It has been suggested that individuals with dyslexia have poor implicit memory for recently repeated stimuli, such as the train of standards in an oddball paradigm. Here, we examined how the neural representation of a standard emerges over repetitions, asking whether there is less sensitivity to repetition and/or less accrual of “standardness” over successive repetitions in dyslexia. We recorded magnetoencephalography (MEG) as adults with and without dyslexia were passively exposed to speech syllables in a roving-oddball design. We performed time-resolved multivariate decoding of the MEG sensor data to identify the neural signature of standard vs. deviant trials, independent of stimulus differences. This “multivariate mismatch” was equally robust and had a similar time course in the two groups. In both groups, standards generated by as few as two repetitions were distinct from deviants, indicating normal sensitivity to repetition in dyslexia. However, only in the control group did standards become increasingly different from deviants with repetition. These results suggest that many of the mechanisms that give rise to neural adaptation as well as mismatch responses are intact in dyslexia, with the possible exception of a putatively predictive mechanism that successively integrates recent sensory information into feedforward processing.
Stochastic Physiological Gaze-Evoked Nystagmus With Slow Centripetal Drift During Fixational Eye Movements at Small Gaze Eccentricities
Authors: Ozawa Makoto , Suzuki Yasuyuki , Nomura Taishin
Published: May 2022

Involuntary eye movement during gaze (GZ) fixation, referred to as fixational eye movement (FEM), consists of two types of components: a Brownian motion like component called drifts-tremor (DRT) and a ballistic component called microsaccade (MS) with a mean saccadic amplitude of about 0.3° and a mean inter-MS interval of about 0.5 s. During GZ fixation in healthy people in an eccentric position, typically with an eccentricity more than 30°, eyes exhibit oscillatory movements alternating between centripetal drift and centrifugal saccade with a mean saccadic amplitude of about 1° and a period in the range of 0.5–1.0 s, which has been known as the physiological gaze-evoked nystagmus (GEN). Here, we designed a simple experimental paradigm of GZ fixation on a target shifted horizontally from the front-facing position with fewer eccentricities. We found a clear tendency of centripetal DRT and centrifugal MS as in GEN, but with more stochasticity and with slower drift velocity compared to GEN, even during FEM at GZ positions with small eccentricities. Our results showed that the target shift-dependent balance between DRT and MS achieves the GZ bounded around each of the given targets. In other words, GZ relaxes slowly with the centripetal DRT toward the front-facing position during inter-MS intervals, as if there always exists a quasi-stable equilibrium posture in the front-facing position, and MS actions pull GZ intermittently back to the target position in the opposite direction to DRT.
Guanidinoacetic Acid as a Nutritional Adjuvant to Multiple Sclerosis Therapy
Authors: Ostojic Sergej M.
Published: May 2022

Tackling impaired bioenergetics in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been recently recognized as an innovative approach with therapeutic potential. Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is an experimental nutrient that plays a significant role in high-energy phosphate metabolism. The preliminary trials suggest beneficial effects of supplemental GAA in MS, with GAA augments biomarkers of brain energy metabolism and improves patient-reported features of the disease. GAA can also impact other metabolic footprints of MS, including demyelination, oxidative stress, and GABA-glutamate imbalance. In this mini-review article, we summarize studies evaluating GAA effectiveness in MS, explore mechanisms of GAA action, and discuss the challenges of using dietary GAA as an element of MS therapy.
Metaphorical or Straightforward? Comparing the Effectiveness of Different Types of Social Media Advertising
Authors: Ding Xin , Feng Ping , Wang Jingqiang , Lin Meizhen
Published: May 2022

The existing studies have analyzed the advertising effects of metaphorical advertisements and straightforward adverts in traditional advertising media. However, their advertising effects on social media are still unclear. To address this issue, this study uses eye-tracking and questionnaires to examine two types of social media tourism advertising—metaphorical and straightforward in posts with both high and low popularity. This within-subject (n = 55) experiment was designed to examine the effects of social media tourism advertising types on visual attention and tourism intention and to identify the moderating role of post popularity based on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM). We found that advertising types had no significant effect on visual attention, but metaphorical advertisements increased tourism intention compared with straightforward adverts. Furthermore, we found that the level of post popularity moderated the effect of advertising types on visual attention. Specifically, metaphorical adverts in highly popular posts attracted more visual attention in the advertising text area and in the whole advert. Straightforward adverts in posts with low popularity attracted more visual attention in the advertising text area. This research advances the current literature by exploring the effects of social media tourism advertising types and has implications for managers deciding on strategies for social media tourism marketing.
Enhancing Activity in the Right Temporoparietal Junction Modifies the Effect of a High CEO-to-Employee Pay Ratio on the Perceived Investment Potential in the Construction Industry
Authors: Yang Xiaolan , Wang Jiaqi , Chen Shu
Published: May 2022

As an increasing number of governments require the disclosure of companies’ compensation information, compensation management is becoming an important part of internal management in the construction industry. Although the literature has shown that disclosing a high CEO-to-employee pay ratio will cause various effects on the decision-making of a company’s potential investors, there is little evidence on the neural basis of such effects. Given that previous neuroscience studies have shown that the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is associated with altruistic behaviors, this study used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to explore the role of the right TPJ in the effects of the CEO-to-employee pay ratio on potential investors’ perceived investment potential in the construction industry. The results show that enhancing activity in the right TPJ significantly reduced the perceived investment potential of female participants, especially those with no investment experience, when the company’s CEO-to-employee pay ratio is high compared to when the pay ratio is medium. This effect was not observed in male participants. The mechanisms underlying these effects of tDCS in the right TPJ on the perceived investment potential were also explored. The main contribution of this study lies in its pioneering exploration of the neural basis of investment decision-making regarding the CEO-to-employee pay ratio. Additionally, it reveals individual feature-based differences in the role of the TPJ in investment decision-making and its possible mechanisms.
Differences in Cortical Thickness in Schizophrenia Patients With and Without Auditory Verbal Hallucinations
Authors: Ren Honghong , Wang Qianjin , Li Chunwang , Li Zongchang , Li Jinguang , Dai Lulin , Dong Min , Zhou Jun , He Jingqi , Liao Yanhui , He Ying , Chen Xiaogang , Tang Jinsong
Published: May 2022

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are one of the most common and severe symptoms of schizophrenia (SCZ), but the neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying AVHs remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether persistent AVHs (pAVH) are associated with cortical thinning of certain brain regions in patients with SCZ. With the use of the 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, we acquired and analyzed data from 79 SCZ patients with pAVH (pAVH group), 60 SCZ patients without AVHs (non-AVH group), and 83 healthy controls (HC group). The severity of pAVH was assessed by the P3 hallucination items in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Auditory Hallucinations Rating Scale (AHRS). Cortical thickness analysis was used to compare the region of interest (ROI) cortical thickness between the groups. The relationship between the severity of pAVH and cortical thickness was also explored. Compared with the non-AVH and HC groups, the pAVH group exhibited significantly reduced cortical thickness in the bilateral lateral orbitofrontal region (p < 0.0007, after Bonferroni correction); no significant difference was found between the non-AVH group and the HC group. The cortical thickness of the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (P3: r = −0.44, p < 0.001; AHRS: r = −0.45, p < 0.001) and the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex (P3: r = −0.36, p = 0.002; AHRS: r = −0.33, p = 0.004) were negatively correlated with the severity of pAVH (after Bonferroni correction, p < 0.0125). Therefore, abnormal thickness of the bilateral lateral orbitofrontal cortices might be associated with pAVHs in SCZ patients.
Multisensory Concept Learning Framework Based on Spiking Neural Networks
Authors: Wang Yuwei , Zeng Yi
Published: May 2022

Concept learning highly depends on multisensory integration. In this study, we propose a multisensory concept learning framework based on brain-inspired spiking neural networks to create integrated vectors relying on the concept's perceptual strength of auditory, gustatory, haptic, olfactory, and visual. With different assumptions, two paradigms: Independent Merge (IM) and Associate Merge (AM) are designed in the framework. For testing, we employed eight distinct neural models and three multisensory representation datasets. The experiments show that integrated vectors are closer to human beings than the non-integrated ones. Furthermore, we systematically analyze the similarities and differences between IM and AM paradigms and validate the generality of our framework.
The Effect of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet on Sleep, Mental Health, and Hormonal Changes: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Women With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Daneshzad Elnaz , Heshmati Javad , Basirat Vahid , Keshavarz Seyed-Ali , Qorbani Mostafa , Larijani Bagher , Bellissimo Nick , Azadbakht Leila
Published: May 2022

Background

Some dietary patterns may improve diabetes complications through scavenging oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluated the effect of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on sleep status, mental health, and hormonal changes among Iranian women with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) included 66 diabetic women. Participants were randomly divided into the two different diet groups (the DASH diet and control diet; 33 patients in each group) for 3 months. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items were used to assess sleep and mental disorders, respectively. Fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), as well as several sex hormones were evaluated at the beginning and the end of the trial.

Results

Anthropometric indices, HbA1c (control: 8.77 ± 0.82 vs. 8.04 ± 1.03; the DASH diet 8.70 ± 1.05 vs.7.41 ± 1.03), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (control: 72.16 ± 26.02 vs. 68.12 ± 27.63; the DASH diet: 72.99 ± 25.19 vs. 67.43 ± 27.63) significantly decreased over 12 weeks in both the groups (P < .0001). Testosterone, 2-h postprandial glucose (2hPPG), and AGEs significantly decreased over 12 weeks in the DASH diet group. Sleep, depression, and anxiety scores significantly decreased over 12 weeks in the DASH diet group. Night sleep duration significantly increased over 12 weeks in the DASH diet group (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

A 12-week DASH diet significantly decreases testosterone, 2hPPG, AGEs level, as well as sleep, depression, and anxiety scores in women with type 2 diabetes. However, more RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.
Acute Effect of a Dietary Multi-Ingredient Nootropic as a Cognitive Enhancer in Young Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Triple-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial
Authors: Medrano María , Molina-Hidalgo Cristina , Alcantara Juan M. A. , Ruiz Jonatan R. , Jurado-Fasoli Lucas
Published: May 2022

Aim

To study the acute effect of a dietary multi-ingredient nootropic on cognitive performance in young healthy adults. We also analyzed the influence of the dietary multi-ingredient nootropic on emotional state, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods

This is a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. In total, 26 young healthy adults (50% women; 24.9 ± 3.3 years old) ingested 10 g of a dietary multi-ingredient nootropic [Evo-Gamers®; Harrison Sport Nutrition (HSN), Granada, Spain] or placebo (maltodextrin) in a randomized order (clinicaltrials.gov No. NCT04790188). After 30 min of the ingestion, participants performed a battery of cognitive performance tests to measure the processing speed, inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, creativity, and verbal fluency. The emotional status was assessed through questionnaires, and HR and HRV were measured using a heart rate monitor.

Results

In comparison with placebo, the acute ingestion of the nootropic showed a significantly better response time in several cognitive tests (i.e., processing speed, inhibitory control, spatial working memory, and cognitive flexibility, all P < 0.05 and effect size range of 0.4–0.6). It also displayed a higher accuracy in the processing speed, the inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility tests (all P < 0.05; effect size ranged from 0.4 to 0.6). Furthermore, the nootropic showed a higher creativity and positive emotions and lower sadness-depression emotions, whereas HR and HRV remained similar between placebo vs. nootropic conditions. However, there were no differences between the nootropic and placebo in verbal fluency, motivation, or anxiety (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion

An acute ingestion of a dietary multi-ingredient nootropic enhances cognitive performance in comparison with placebo without negatively influencing HR or HRV in young healthy adults.
Short-Term Changes in Mental, Physical, and Social Factors After Metabolic Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents: A Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Goldenshluger Ariela , Maor Tamar , Via-Kagan Renana , Zelekha Orly , Gepner Yftach
Published: May 2022

Background

Metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is an effective treatment for adolescents with severe obesity. However, changes in mental, physical, and social factors, as well as their association with the extent of excess weight loss (%EWL) after MBS, remain controversial.

Methods

We followed 97 adolescents (64% females, aged 17 ± 0.9 years, BMI 46.1 ± 5.9 kg/m2) before and 9 months following MBS in a multi-center, prospective cohort study. Changes in mental, physical, and social factors were assessed by self-reported questionnaires, and associations with %EWL were evaluated after adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

The body mass index (BMI) decreased by 30%, and all physical parameters significantly improved (p ≤ 0.001). Energy level increased by 24%, mood level by 14%, and mental health by 9.5% (p ≤ 0.002). Social parameters were also improved, with a significant decrease in social rejection (p = 0.02), and an increase in participation in after-school social activities (p = 0.008). Mental health improvement was associated with baseline social rejection (r = 0.514, p < 0.001). The improvement in all factors was not related to the extent of %EWL.

Conclusion

Metabolic bariatric surgery MBS in adolescents led to a meaningful decrease in BMI and to an improvement in short-term physical, mental, and social factors that were not related to %EWL. Patients experiencing social rejection may improve their mental health following BS.
A Novel Multi-Omics Analysis Model for Diagnosis and Survival Prediction of Lower-Grade Glioma Patients
Authors: Wu Wei , Wang Yichang , Xiang Jianyang , Li Xiaodong , Wahafu Alafate , Yu Xiao , Bai Xiaobin , Yan Ge , Wang Chunbao , Wang Ning , Du Changwang , Xie Wanfu , Wang Maode , Wang Jia
Published: May 2022

Background

Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) are characterized by remarkable genetic heterogeneity and different clinical outcomes. Classification of LGGs is improved by the development of molecular stratification markers including IDH mutation and 1p/19q chromosomal integrity, which are used as a hallmark of survival and therapy sensitivity of LGG patients. However, the reproducibility and sensitivity of the current classification remain ambiguous. This study aimed to construct more accurate risk-stratification approaches.

Methods

According to bioinformatics, the sequencing profiles of methylation and transcription and imaging data derived from LGG patients were analyzed and developed predictable risk score and radiomics score. Moreover, the performance of predictable models was further validated.

Results

In this study, we determined a cluster of 6 genes that were correlated with IDH mutation/1p19q co-deletion status. Risk score model was calculated based on 6 genes and showed gratifying sensitivity and specificity for survival prediction and therapy response of LGG patients. Furthermore, a radiomics risk score model was established to noninvasively assist judgment of risk score in pre-surgery. Taken together, a predictable nomogram that combined transcriptional signatures and clinical characteristics was established and validated to be preferable to the histopathological classification. Our novel multi-omics nomograms showed a satisfying performance. To establish a user-friendly application, the nomogram was further developed into a web-based platform: https://drw576223193.shinyapps.io/Nomo/, which could be used as a supporting method in addition to the current histopathological-based classification of gliomas.

Conclusions

Our novel multi-omics nomograms showed the satisfying performance of LGG patients and assisted clinicians to draw up individualized clinical management.
Radiosensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells Is Dependent on the Organ Microenvironment
Authors: Guo Genyan , Morse Ryan T. , Wang Jie , Chen Xuan , Zhang Jiajie , Wang Andrew Z.
Published: May 2022

Background

Distant metastasis is the leading risk factor of death in breast cancer patients, with lung and liver being commonly involved sites of distant seeding. Ongoing clinical trials are studying the benefit from additional local treatment to these metastatic sites with radiation therapy. However, little is known about the tissue-specific microenvironment and the modulating response to treatments due to limitations of traditional in vitro systems. By using biomatrix scaffolds (BMSs) to recreate the complex composition of extracellular matrices in normal organs, we chose to study the radiotherapy response with engineered breast cancer “metastases” in liver and lung organ-specific tissues.

Methods

Liver and lung BMSs were prepared for tissue culture. Human breast cancer cell lines were passaged on normal tissue culture plates or tissue culture plates coated with Matrigel, liver BMSs, and lung BMSs. Clonogenic assays were performed to measure cell survival with varying doses of radiation. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) detection assay was used to measure ROS levels after 6 Gy irradiation to cancer cells.

Results

The response of breast cell lines to varying doses of radiotherapy is affected by their in vitro acellular microenvironment. Breast cancer cells grown in liver BMSs were more radiosensitive than when grown in lung BMSs. ROS levels for breast cancer cells cultured in lung and liver BMSs were higher than that in plastic or in Matrigel plate cells, before and after radiotherapy, highlighting the interaction with surrounding tissue-specific growth factors and cytokines. ROSs in both lung and liver BMSs were significantly increased after radiotherapy delivery, suggesting these sites create prime environments for radiation-induced cell death.

Conclusions

The therapeutic response of breast cancer metastases is dependent on the organ-specific microenvironment. The interaction between tissue microenvironment in these organs may identify sensitivity of therapeutic drug targets and radiation delivery for future studies.
Artesunate Inhibits the Development of Esophageal Cancer by Targeting HK1 to Reduce Glycolysis Levels in Areas With Zinc Deficiency
Authors: Jin Jing , Guo Dongli , Wang Yingying , Jiao Wenpeng , Li Daojuan , He Yutong
Published: May 2022

Esophageal cancer (EC) threatens many lives in China, especially in areas with high incidences of EC. Our previous studies proved that zinc deficiency (ZD) promotes the cell cycle, thus promoting the progression of EC in areas with a high incidence of EC. Artesunate could inhibit the cell cycle, thereby inhibiting the progression of EC. In this study, we first demonstrated the mechanism by which artesunate inhibits EC in vitro and then demonstrated that artesunate could reverse the ZD-promoted progression of EC before EC occurred in vivo. The results showed that artesunate could inhibit the cell cycle, metastasis, and glycolysis of EC cells. Artesunate could target HK1, promote HK1 degradation, and reduce the levels of HIF-1α and PKM2 expression, which are key glycolysis enzymes. The in vivo results showed that ZD could increase the expression of HK1 and increase the incidence of EC. Artesunate reduced the incidence of EC and decreased the level of HK1 expression before EC occurred. Artesunate has an anti-EC effect by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis and has the potential to be a drug that prevents EC in areas with a high risk of EC.
Projected Impact of Weight Gain During the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Future Burden of Cancer in Canada
Authors: Murphy Rachel A. , Parks Jaclyn , Woods Ryan , Brenner Darren R. , Ruan Yibing , Bhatti Parveen
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting public health measures have had significant impacts on daily life, including shifts in health behaviours which contribute to weight gain and may increase subsequent risk of chronic diseases such as cancer. Using OncoSim, a web-based microsimulation tool, we estimated the future burden of cancer in Canada by incorporating data on unintentional weight gain among adults during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Population impact measures were estimated until 2042, assuming a 12-year latency period. We estimated 14,194 excess cancer cases and 5,324 excess cancer deaths by 2042 due to COVID-19 related weight gain. Particularly large impacts were estimated for endometrial and breast cancer among women, with 2,983 and 2,151 excess cases by 2042. For men, 1,700 excess colorectal cases and 1,188 excess kidney cancer cases were projected by 2042. Changes in health behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to have significant and long-lasting impacts on cancer burden. These projections highlight the immediate need for investment into the development and implementation of effective cancer prevention strategies.
Immune-and Metabolism-Associated Molecular Classiﬁcation of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Chen Zhenyue , Jiang Weiyi , Li Zhen , Zong Yun , Deng Gaopi
Published: May 2022

Ovarian cancer (OV) is a complex gynecological disease, and its molecular characteristics are not clear. In this study, the molecular characteristics of OV subtypes based on metabolic genes were explored through the comprehensive analysis of genomic data. A set of transcriptome data of 2752 known metabolic genes was used as a seed for performing non negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering. Three subtypes of OV (C1, C2 and C3) were found in analysis. The proportion of various immune cells in C1 was higher than that in C2 and C3 subtypes. The expression level of immune checkpoint genes TNFRSF9 in C1 was higher than that of other subtypes. The activation scores of cell cycle, RTK-RAS, Wnt and angiogenesis pathway and ESTIMATE immune scores in C1 group were higher than those in C2 and C3 groups. In the validation set, grade was significantly correlated with OV subtype C1. Functional analysis showed that the extracellular matrix related items in C1 subtype were significantly different from other subtypes. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that C2 subtype was more sensitive to immunotherapy. Survival analysis of differential genes showed that the expression of PXDN and CXCL11 was significantly correlated with survival. The results of tissue microarray immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of PXDN was significantly correlated with tumor size and pathological grade. Based on the genomics of metabolic genes, a new OV typing method was developed, which improved our understanding of the molecular characteristics of human OV.