bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction of orexin-expressing neurons and a unique sleep phenotype in the Tg-SwDI mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wu Yan , Bhat Narayan R. , Liu Meng
Published: February 2025

Sleep disturbances are common in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementia (ADRD). We performed a sleep study on Tg-SwDI mice, a cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) model, and age-matched wild-type (WT) control mice. The results showed that at 12 months of age, the hemizygous Tg-SwDI mice spent significantly more time in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (44.6 ± 2.4% in Tg-SwDI versus 35.9 ± 2.5% in WT) and had a much shorter average length of wake bout during the dark (active) phase (148.5 ± 8.7 s in the Tg-SwDI versus 203.6 ± 13.0 s in WT). Histological analysis revealed stark decreases of orexin immunoreactive (orexin-IR) neuron number and soma size in these Tg-SwDI mice (cell number: 2187 ± 97.1 in Tg-SwDI versus 3318 ± 137.9 in WT. soma size: 109.1 ± 8.1 μm2 in Tg-SwDI versus 160.4 ± 6.6 μm2 in WT), while the number and size of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) immunoreactive (MCH-IR) neurons remained unchanged (cell number: 4256 ± 273.3 in Tg-SwDI versus 4494 ± 326.8 in WT. soma size: 220.1 ± 13.6 μm2 in Tg-SwDI versus 202.0 ± 7.8 μm2 in WT). The apoptotic cell death marker cleaved caspase-3 immunoreactive (Caspase-3-IR) percentage in orexin-IR neurons was significantly higher in Tg-SwDI mice than in WT controls. This selective loss of orexin-IR neurons could be associated with the abnormal sleep phenotype in these Tg-SwDI mice. Further studies are needed to determine the cause of the selective death of orexin-IR cells and relevant effects on cognition impairments in this mouse model of microvascular amyloidosis.
Association between hemoglobin glycation index and poor outcome after endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Yang Yan , Liu Mei , Huang Shungui , Zhu Chen , Li Guangzong , Wang Bin , Luo Xiaojing , Zhang Lingwen , Song Weizheng
Published: February 2025

Background

The prognostic significance of hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) on acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) remained unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between HGI and the risk of poor outcome after EVT.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled AIS patients with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation treated with EVT from a multicenter study. Poor outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score > 2 points at 90 days after EVT. We used multivariable logistic regression models to investigate the association between HGI and poor outcome. We employed the restricted cubic spline curve to visualize the association between HGI and the risk of poor outcome after EVT.

Results

Among the 403 enrolled patients (median age, 72 years; 63.8% male), a total of 198 (49.1%) patients had poor outcome at 90 days. The restricted cubic spline curve showed that there was a U-shape relationship between HGI and the risk of poor outcome (P for non-linearity < 0.001). After divided patients into three groups based on HGI tertiles, HGI (tertile 1 vs. 2) was significantly associated with poor outcome [odds ratio (OR), 3.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.08–7.22; P < 0.001] and early neurological deterioration (OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.55–6.44; P = 0.002) in multivariable analyses. Adding HGI into models improved the discriminative ability for poor outcome (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study identified a U-shaped relationship between HGI and poor outcome, with low HGI levels significantly associated with poor outcome after EVT.
Investigating dynamic brain functional redundancy as a mechanism of cognitive reserve
Authors: Schwarz Julia , Zistler Franziska , Usheva Adriana , Fix Anika , Zinn Sebastian , Zimmermann Juliana , Knolle Franziska , Schneider Gerhard , Nuttall Rachel
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Individuals with higher cognitive reserve (CR) are thought to be more resilient to the effects of age-related brain changes on cognitive performance. A potential mechanism of CR is redundancy in brain network functional connectivity (BFR), which refers to the amount of time the brain spends in a redundant state, indicating the presence of multiple independent pathways between brain regions. These can serve as back-up information processing routes, providing resiliency in the presence of stress or disease. In this study we aimed to investigate whether BFR modulates the association between age-related brain changes and cognitive performance across a broad range of cognitive domains.

Methods

An open-access neuroimaging and behavioral dataset (n = 301 healthy participants, 18–89 years) was analyzed. Cortical gray matter (GM) volume, cortical thickness and brain age, extracted from structural T1 images, served as our measures of life-course related brain changes (BC). Cognitive scores were extracted from principal component analysis performed on 13 cognitive tests across multiple cognitive domains. Multivariate linear regression tested the modulating effect of BFR on the relationship between age-related brain changes and cognitive performance.

Results

PCA revealed three cognitive test components related to episodic, semantic and executive functioning. Increased BFR predicted reduced performance in episodic functioning when considering cortical thickness and GM volume as measures of BC. BFR significantly modulated the relationship between cortical thickness and episodic functioning. We found neither a predictive nor modulating effect of BFR on semantic or executive performance, nor a significant effect when defining BC via brain age.

Discussion

Our results suggest that BFR could serve as a metric of CR when considering certain cognitive domains, specifically episodic functioning, and defined dimensions of BC. These findings potentially indicate the presence of multiple underlying mechanisms of CR.
Secondary bilateral synchronization of interictal EEG discharges in focal epilepsy: prevalence and associated factors
Authors: Specktor Polina , Spierer Ronen , Katson Mark , Herskovitz Moshe
Published: February 2025

Background

Epilepsy is commonly categorized based on etiology, treatment, and prognosis. Misclassification can occur due to the presence of interictal secondary bilateral synchronization (SBS) discharges seen on an electroencephalogram (EEG), misleading the classification process.

Objective

To examine the prevalence of interictal SBS discharges in patients with focal epilepsy and to identify predictors of these discharges.

Design

Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent long-term video EEG monitoring (LTVEM) from August 2001 to May 2014.

Methods

We included patients with focal epilepsy. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not they had SBS discharges.

Results

We found 1,017 patients who underwent LTVEM. Of the 221 patients included in the final analysis, 36 (16%) exhibited SBS discharges. Patients in the SBS group were younger and had an earlier onset age of epilepsy. They also had higher rates of unclear seizure onset zone and focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures. In the binary logistic regression analysis, young onset age of epilepsy was the only significant factor.

Conclusion

The prevalence of SBS discharges in focal epilepsy is relatively high (16%), emphasizing the importance of cautious interpretation of interictal EEG in epilepsy classification. Young age of disease onset is associated with higher rates of SBS.
Perspective: Use of protein S100B as a quality assurance marker for endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Lieschke Franziska , Foerch Christian
Published: February 2025

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a highly effective treatment for ischemic stroke associated with large vessel occlusion. Given its complexity, this procedure is widely used throughout the world in hospitals with different levels of experience. Therefore, practical quality assurance is advised to ensure a high standard of care across the board. In this perspective article, we propose the implementation of measuring serum S100B after MT as a surrogate outcome parameter for the extent of tissue damage as an additional quality indicator for internal and external benchmarking in endovascular therapy. We focus on the analysis of patients, in whom there is a discrepancy between the expected (e.g., based on favorable preconditions) and the actual biomarker outcome. We aim to illustrate the advantages and drawbacks of measuring S100B after MT, reliably depicting the procedure’s quality and its use for comparison and identification of “outlier” patients in MT patient cohorts for further process and single-case analysis.
Evaluating the efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation therapy on quality of life in persistent postural-perceptual dizziness: the role of anxiety and depression in treatment outcomes
Authors: Alahmari Khalid A. , Alshehri Sarah
Published: February 2025

Background

Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic disorder that significantly affects the quality of life (QoL) and daily living. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) has emerged as a promising treatment option, yet its effectiveness, particularly in relation to symptom duration, anxiety, and depression, remains underexplored.

Methods

This cross-sectional study assessed the effect of VRT on the QoL in 188 PPPD patients, as well as the correlation between the duration of symptoms and dizziness severity and the role of anxiety and depression in the treatment response. QoL was assessed using the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D), and dizziness-related handicap using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results

Ninety three patients were included in the analysis. QoL was significantly improved post-VRT with a greater mean EQ-5D score (EQ-5D post-VRT 0.72; EQ-5D pre-VRT 0.61, p = 0.032). Age was also found to correlate with increased dizziness severity (p < 0.001), although this was not as strong as the correlation of symptom duration (longer duration correlating with increased dizziness severity; p < 0.01), anxiety (r = −0.45, p = 0.002) and depression (r = −0.51, p < 0.001) (both significantly associated with poorer outcomes especially with reference to VRT) emerging as independent correlates of reduced effectiveness of treatment.

Conclusions

This study revealed the benefit of VRT in patients with PPPD on QoL and indicates the importance of identifying and treating psychological factors to improve the success of treatment for PPPD.
Case report: Monitoring consciousness with fNIRS in a patient with prolonged reduced consciousness following hemorrhagic stroke undergoing adjunct taVNS therapy
Authors: Gao Fei , Wang Likai , Wang Zhan , Tian Yaru , Wu Jingyi , Wang Mengchun , Wang Litong
Published: February 2025

Disorders of consciousness (DoC) resulting from severe brain injury present substantial challenges in rehabilitation due to disruptions in brain network connectivity, particularly within the frontal-parietal network critical for awareness. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention; however, the precise mechanisms through which it influences cortical function in DoC patients remain unclear. This study describes the effects of taVNS on fronto-parietal network connectivity and arousal in a 77-year-old female patient with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). The patient received bilateral taVNS for 1 h daily over 3 months, with functional connectivity (FC) in the frontoparietal network assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and behavioral responsiveness evaluated through the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). After taVNS intervention, mean FC was enhanced from 0.06 (SD = 0.31) to 0.33 (SD = 0.28) in the frontal-parietal network. The frontal-parietal were subdivided into 12 regions of interest (ROIs) and it was determined that the FC between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the left prefrontal ROIs was 0.06 ± 0.41 before the intervention and 0.55 ± 0.24 after the intervention. Behavioral improvements were evidenced by an increase in CRS-R scores from 2 to 14, marking the patient's transition from UWS to minimally conscious state plus (MCS+). Additionally, regions associated with auditory and sensory processing showed increased cortical engagement, supporting the positive impact of taVNS on cortical responsiveness. This suggests its value as a non-invasive adjunctive therapy in the rehabilitation of DoC patients. Further studies are necessary to confirm these effects in a wider patient population and to refine the strategy for clinical application of taVNS.
Case report: A rare case of a long-term survivor of glioblastoma who underwent two courses of hypofractionated radiotherapy as part of her care
Authors: Mrvoljak Midhad , Mishra Shubhendu , Chen Liam , Neil Elizabeth , Ehler Eric , Terezakis Stephanie , Sloan Lindsey
Published: February 2025

Glioblastoma (GB) is a primary brain tumor that is lethal and challenging to treat. The 3-year overall survival (OS) of patients with this diagnosis has stayed the same since 2005. The patient is a 75-year-old woman who presented with progressive aphasia and was diagnosed with GB (WHO grade 4, IDH1/IDH2 wild type, ATRX intact, p53 and PTEN mutant, BRAF non-mutated, O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylated) and who underwent surgical resection, hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) (4,005 cGy in 15 fractions) alone, and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ). She was progression-free for approximately 20 months. Although planned, concurrent TMZ was not used during the complete first course of HFRT due to the patient’s performance status. After recurrence, another HFRT (35 Gy in 10 fractions) was employed. She was progression-free on imaging for 8 months until a recent follow-up scan showed potential progression versus radiation-related change. At the time of this case report, her care is still ongoing. This represents a rare case of a long-term survivor of GB who has received two courses of HFRT, a treatment option that is usually used in those with predicted shorter survival times.
Case report: Primary intraosseous meningioma: a radiological study of two cases confirmed pathologically
Authors: Wang Yue , Hu Jibo
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Primary intraosseous meningioma (PIM) is a rare lesion often misidentified preoperatively due to its ambiguous benign or malignant characteristics. In this report, we introduce two novel cases of PIM and explore the potential correlation between pathological classification and imaging features. Our aim is to enhance our understanding of PIM and improve its preoperative diagnosis.

Case presentation

The first case is a 68-year-old female patient presenting with a brain mass located in the temporal region. Computed tomography (CT) imaging demonstrated the destruction of adjacent bone structures. A right frontal temporal craniectomy was subsequently performed and histological examination pathologically confirmed the lesion was the chordoid variant of PIM. The second case is a 56-year-old male patient who exhibited an irregular soft-tissue mass in the right sphenoid as visualized on brain CT. The patient underwent a surgical intervention for a skull base neoplasm. Postoperative pathological analysis confirmed the presence of the meningothelial variant of PIM. Upon pathological examination, the two cases were respectively classified as atypical meningioma (Grade II) and benign meningioma (Grade I).

Conclusions

While pathological examination remains indispensable for the definitive confirmation of PIM, the early identification of PIM is critically dependent on radiological imaging methods. The imaging characteristics of PIM exhibit variability across different pathological grades, a factor that can significantly aid in both the diagnostic process and the formulation of appropriate treatment strategies.
Proteomic profiling of serum in cats with naturally occurring degenerative joint disease and co-morbid conditions
Authors: Lascelles B. Duncan X. , Ponnala Rakesh , Kamerling Steven G. , Williams Tracey
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) occurs very commonly in cats and can be associated with pain. Almost 70% of cats with DJD-associated pain suffer the co-morbidity of chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are currently very limited treatment or management options. A greater understanding of the systems biology of DJD, DJD-associated pain, and CKD may contribute to identifying disease specific biomarkers and relevant targets for the development of therapeutics for the control of these conditions in cats, and help inform human pain therapeutic development.

Methods

Using mass spectrometry-based proteomic profiling of the serum of 200 highly phenotyped cats with varying burdens of DJD, pain, and CKD, we identified significant individual proteins and pathways.

Results

Functional pathway analysis, based on differentially abundant proteins across individual disease states (DJD, pain, CKD), identified pathways playing a role in DJD and DJD-associated pain including acute phase response signaling, LXR/RXR and FXR/RXR activation and the complement system. With the added co-morbidity of CKD, similar pathways were identified, with the addition of IL-12 signaling and production in macrophages.

Discussion

We identified differentially abundant proteins associated with DJD, pain and CKD and future work should evaluate these proteins as potential biomarkers of disease (individually or as clusters). Further, these data could be leveraged to identify novel therapeutic targets to address the gap in our ability to manage DJD, pain, and CKD in cats. Given that our work was in cats with naturally occurring DJD, these results may have translational applicability to human health.
Malaria prevalence and patients’ knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices toward the disease in the Jawi District, Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Damen Mekete , Bekele Damtew , Gashaw Fikru
Published: February 2025

Background

Malaria is the most important parasitic illness causing morbidity and mortality with high prevalence in tropical regions.

Objective

This study was aimed at evaluating the 7-year malaria trend and community awareness at Jawi Health Center and primary Hospital in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A retrospective and cross-sectional or prospective design were used for the study. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 software. The findings were considered significant at P < 0.05.

Results

Among 62,624 blood films between 2015 and 2021 at Jawi Health Center, 40.9% were positive. Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 85.8%. Women had more mixed infections (P. falciparum and P. vivax) (X2 = 8.9, df = 2, P = 0.011) than men. A greater proportion (20.6%) of malaria cases was observed within the under 5 years age group and the number of malaria cases was higher in September, October, and June. The overall prevalence of malaria was found to be 25.2% and June had the highest proportion (75.6%). In total, 335 (80.9%) respondents recognized mosquito bites as the cause and fever (50%) as a clinical symptom of malaria. More than half of the respondents (60.1%) never sleep under mosquito nets.

Conclusion

Thus, these findings have substantial implications for the trend of malaria prevalence and patient awareness of the disease which support the existing malaria control efforts.
Global visualization of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Zheng Xiaodong , Han Wenjin , Gao Shan , Jia MengLong , Liu LiJun , Yu Longtan
Published: February 2025

Objective

The objective of this study is to present a comprehensive overview of current advancements, prominent areas of interest, emerging trends, and frontiers in global research concerning the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The aim is to offer valuable insights and guidance for future research endeavors in this field.

Methods

We conducted a literature search on the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using the Web of Science Core Collection database spanning from 2009 to 2024. Visualization of countries, institutions, authors, and keywords was performed using CiteSpace.

Results

1,002 English articles were included in this study. Between 2009 and 2020, publications remained relatively low and stable. However, in 2021, interest in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis began to surge, a noticeable increase in publications, with a peak reached in 2022. The United States emerged as the leading contributor among countries, institutions, and authors. Nanjing University and Peter O. Newton were the most prolific institutions and authors, respectively. The academic journal with the highest number of published articles was Spine. Notably, areas such as Cobb angle measurement, the efficacy of non-surgical treatments for AIS, and factors influencing the success of brace treatment garnered significant attention as hot topics in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment.

Conclusion

The prognosis remains consistent across patients with varying degrees of curvature in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Given the limited understanding of its etiology, the relationship between curvature and prognosis, as well as the exploration of its underlying causes, could emerge as new research directions in the future.
Exploring the anti-metastatic potential of sunitinib and novel analogs in colorectal cancer: insights into HIF-1α mediated metastasis
Authors: Rassouli Fatemeh B. , Matin Maryam M. , Hadizadeh Farzin , Nejabat Masoud , Allahverdizadeh Hossein , Jamali Hamidreza , Gharedaghi Shahin , Hassanzadeh Halimeh
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide with high mortality rate. Metastasis, the primary cause of cancer-related deaths, is attributed to various factors including tumor hypoxia. Due to the urgent demand for potent anti-metastatic agents, we aimed to determine the effects of sunitinib and novel analogs on the metastatic behavior of human CRC cells in hypoxic condition for the first time.

Methods

For in silico analyses, pathogenic targets of metastatic CRC were identified, PPI network was constructed and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was conducted. The expression of HIF1A was evaluated in seven CRC cell lines, and computational modeling was carried out to define the interaction of sunitinib with HIF-1α. For in vitro studies, analogs of sunitinib were synthesized, and cells were assessed for viability, migration, invasion, MMPs activity and gene expression in hypoxic condition.

Results and Discussion

Computational analyses highlighted the importance of HIF-1α as a crucial mediator of metastasis in CRC. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations demonstrated favorable and stable interaction of sunitinib and three novel analogs with HIF-1α PAS-B domain. Volcano plots indicated upregulation of HIF1A in LoVo cells compared to six other CRC cell lines. Findings of in vitro studies revealed considerable inhibitory effects of sunitinib and analogs on LoVo cell migration and invasion in hypoxic condition. Gelatin zymography and qPCR analysis indicated decreased activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, along with downregulation of EMT transcription factors in hypoxic condition. Current study reports promising anti-metastatic effects of sunitinib and novel analogs on CRC cells, providing foundation for further investigation to combat cancer metastasis.
Unveiling the nutraceutical potential of indigenous and exotic eggplant for bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity as well as its suitability to the nutraceutical industry
Authors: Lyngdoh Yvonne Angel , Saha Partha , Tomar Bhoopal Singh , Bhardwaj Rakesh , Nandi Laxman L. , Srivastava Mohita , Gurung Bishal , Ranjan Jeetendra Kumar , Chaukhande Paresh
Published: February 2025

Eggplant is a nutritionally rich crop that has beneficial effects on human health. Wide diversity exists in eggplant in terms of biochemical content; however, extensive research work has not been undertaken to gain more in-depth knowledge on its antioxidant capacity to improve the quality of the existing popular cultivated varieties and develop/identify nutrient-rich germplasms. Therefore, a total of 57 genotypes were chosen for the study, and they were evaluated for various biochemical compounds. The biochemical traits taken were an average of three replications and these values were used for statistical analysis. The analysis of variance for five fruit quality parameters indicated a high variability among the eggplant genotypes, which signifies that at least one of the genotypes is statistically different from the rest. The total phenolics ranged from 39.63 to 312.65 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g with the highest being observed in Pusa Krishna. The flavonoid content ranged from 7.83 to 65.09 mg/100 g FW. The antioxidant assays, viz., cupric reducing antioxidant activity (CUPRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), were evaluated which ranged from 51.48 to 200.36 mg GAE/100 g for CUPRAC and 35.36 to 214.01 mg GAE/100 g for FRAP. Principal component analysis (PCA) generated a total of five principal components, and the maximum variance of 90.72% was exhibited by the first three PCs. The agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) revealed similar results to the PCA by identifying three major clusters. Cluster 1 had a maximum number of genotypes grouped together, i.e., 48, followed by cluster 2 with six genotypes, viz., Pusa Krishna (G-32), G-5, Mayurbhanj Local, HABI-2, Solanum gilo, and Solanum sisymbrifolium, and cluster 3 had only three genotypes, namely, Solanum insanum, Solanum khasianum, and Solanum xanthocarpum. Furthermore, the wild species S. insanum, S. khasianum, and S. xanthocarpum can also be utilized as a donor line for carrying out the nutritional breeding program as they are the reservoir of many important biochemical genes.
Elevation gradient effects on grassland species diversity and phylogenetic in the two-river source forest region of the Altai Mountains, Xinjiang, China
Authors: Che Jing , Ye Mao , He Qingzhi , Zeng Guoyan , Li Miaomiao , Chen Weilong , Pan Xiaoting , Qian Jiaorong , Lv Yexin
Published: February 2025

Altitude, as a key environmental factor, shapes the spatial patterns of species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and community phylogenetic structure. Studying grassland diversity and phylogenetic structure along altitudinal gradients helps clarify how altitude-driven environmental changes influence community assembly, and reveal vertical patterns in community formation. This study examines grasslands at 1300–2500 m elevation in the Two-River Source Forest Area, Altai Mountains, Xinjiang. Six elevation gradients (200 m intervals) were surveyed with 90 grassland quadrats, documenting community characteristics and environmental data. The study analyzes the patterns of species composition, diversity, and phylogeny across different elevation gradients and explores their relationships with key environmental factors. The results indicate that the grassland species composition is dominated by species from the Poaceae, Rosaceae, and Asteraceae families, with Poa annua (annual bluegrass) being the dominant species within Poaceae. The species diversity along the elevation gradient exhibits a bimodal trend, with an initial increase, followed by a decrease, another increase, and finally a decline as the elevation rises. In contrast, phylogenetic diversity shows a unimodal pattern, characterized by an initial increase followed by a decline with increasing elevation. Although the phylogenetic structure did not exhibit a significant trend of transitioning from divergence to clustering along the altitudinal gradient, the overall phylogenetic pattern of grassland communities tended toward clustering. Further analysis reveals significant correlations between species diversity and environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, forest cover, and soil moisture. However, no environmental factors were found to have a significant correlation with the phylogenetic indices.
Protective mechanisms of exogenous melatonin on chlorophyll metabolism and photosynthesis in tomato seedlings under heat stress
Authors: An Wangwang , Wang Guangzheng , Dou Jianhua , Zhang Yonghai , Yang Qing , He Yongmei , Tang Zhongqi , Yu Jihua
Published: February 2025

Elevated temperatures severely affect plant growth, reducing yield and quality. Melatonin (MT), a plant biomolecule, is known to enhance stress tolerance, but its role in heat resistance and underlying mechanisms require further exploration. This study investigates MT’s regulatory effects on chlorophyll metabolism and photosynthesis in tomato seedlings under high-temperature stress (40°C). Tomato seedlings treated with 100 μmol MT showed improved physiological and photosynthetic performance under heat stress. MT application increased osmolytes (proline and soluble sugar), enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities [catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX)], and reduced oxidative damage markers (H2O2, O2−, malondialdehyde, and conductivity). Photosynthetic parameters, including key enzyme activities [sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), and NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NADP-GAPDH)], photochemical efficiency [Fv/Fm and Y(II)], and photochemical quenching (Qp), were significantly improved, restoring the OJIP curve and enhancing photosynthesis. MT also regulated chlorophyll metabolism by promoting synthesis [increasing chlorophyll a and b, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), Mg-protoporphyrin (Mg Proto), and protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) levels] and upregulating synthesis genes (SlHEMA1, SlPORB, SlPORC, and SlCHLI) while inhibiting degradation genes (SlCLH1, SlCLH2, SlPAO, SlPPH, and SlRCCR). These findings demonstrate that MT enhances tomato heat tolerance by protecting chlorophyll metabolism and photosynthesis, offering a theoretical basis for improving crop resilience to heat stress.
Herbicide resistance in Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees populations from different regions of Jiangsu Province, China: sensitivity differences and underlying mechanisms
Authors: Xu Peng , Wang Ke , Ju Yawen , Fu Yousheng , Zhu Axiu , Cao Kaige , Wang Hongchun
Published: February 2025

Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees, a noxious weed species commonly found in rice fields, has become a significant challenge in Jiangsu Province, China, as it has developed resistance to multiple herbicides due to extensive and continuous herbicide use in recent years. Therefore, this study was conducted to elucidate sensitivity differences and the mechanisms underlying the resistance of L. chinensis (L.) Nees populations to commonly used herbicides across different regions of Jiangsu Province, China. A whole-plant bioassay was used to assess the sensitivity of 46 L. chinensis populations collected from various areas within Jiangsu to several herbicides frequently applied in paddy fields, including: cyhalofop-butyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, pyraclonil, benzobicyclon, anilofos, and oxaziclomefone. After treatment with cyhalofop-butyl, 38 out of 46 populations showed relative resistance-index values that were over four times that of the controls, indicating significant resistance to cyhalofop-butyl. All 41 cyhalofop-butyl-resistant populations showed cross-resistance to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl but remained susceptible to pyraclonil, benzobicyclon, anilofos, and oxaziclomefone. The proportion of populations resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides increased progressively from the south to the north of Jiangsu. Cross-resistance was evident between cyhalofop-butyl and fenoxaprop-P-ethyl; however, all resistant populations were susceptible to pyraclonil, benzobicyclon, anilofos, and oxaziclomefone. Furthermore, mutations in the ACCase gene were identified as a crucial mechanism for cyhalofop-butyl resistance. Specifically, we found ACCase mutations I1781L, W1999C, W2027C/L/S, I2041N, and D2078G in cyhalofop-butyl-resistant L. chinensis populations, among which, W1999C and W2027C accounted for a relatively high proportion, while I1781L, W2027L/S, I2041N, and D2078G were found in one population each. ACCase gene mutations are seemingly a key mechanism for the development of resistance to cyhalofop-butyl, thus, our study provides useful information for developing effective weed-management strategies for controlling this noxious weed species, while ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.
Tetramycin ameliorates tebuconazole·azoxystrobin to control leaf spot and viral diseases of Taizishen
Authors: Tian Bing , Tang Chenglin , Liu Jiaqi , Jin Boya , Zhang Cheng
Published: February 2025

Leaf spot and viral diseases are the most frequently occurring leaf problems in Taizishen production. In this study, we examined the controlling role played by the co-application of tetramycin and low dose tebuconazole·azoxystrobin against leaf spot and viral diseases in Taizishen, investigating its resistance, electrophysiological information, growth and quality. Among them, electrophysiological information indicators include electrical signals [intrinsic capacitance (IC), resistance (IR), impedance (IZ), capacitive reactance (IXc), and inductive reactance (IXL)], intracellular water metabolism, nutrient transport, and plant metabolic activity. The results indicate that 0.3% tetramycin 1000-time + 75% tebuconazole·azoxystrobin 2000-time diluent controlled leaf spot and viral diseases the best, with protection effects of 90.03%~90.46% and 71.67%~73.08% at 15~30 days after the last fungicide application, respectively. These values are obviously higher than those treated with high doses of tetramycin or tebuconazole·azoxystrobin alone. Concurrently, their combined application could notably enhance total soluble flavonoids, total soluble phenols, protective enzyme activity, IC, intracellular water metabolism, nutrient transport, and metabolic activity, while reducing its MDA, IR, IZ, IXc, and IXL. Moreover, their co-application also could obviously ameliorate photosynthesis, biomass, agronomic trait, and root growth and quality, as well as actually reduce tebuconazole·azoxystrobin input. Additionally, the control effects of leaf spot and viral diseases in Taizishen treated by their combined application exhibited significant correlations with its disease resistance, electrophysiology, photosynthesis, growth, and quality parameters. This study highlights the combined application of low-dosage tebuconazole·azoxystrobin and tetramycin as a practicable measure for controlling leaf spot and viral diseases in Taizishen, promoting its resistance, growth, and quality, as well as reducing chemical pesticide application.
The problem of governance
Authors: Murtazashvili Jennifer Brick
Published: February 2025

Shadi Hamid’s The Problem of Democracy makes a compelling case for focusing on government over governance. Hamid’s offers a view of a restrained American foreign policy in the Middle East that avoids falling into the trap of a crass isolationism or an overbearing imposition of liberalism. For all its insight, this essay makes a case that governance remains especially significant to promote peace and prosperity in fragile states. It also argues that minimalist democracy, where attempted, has not necessarily lived up to the promise Hamid sees for it.
What constitutes a new party? The lack of a standard operationalization and the way forward
Authors: Rahat Gideon
Published: February 2025

This mini-review examines scholars' responses to the question, “What constitutes a new party?” It proposes a path out of a situation in which there is no one standard answer to this question, or even a dominant answer. The absence of a standard or dominant answer creates an interesting setting for theoretical and methodological creativity. At the same time, the situation is problematic: with no agreed answer, large n studies that differ in how they define and operationalize party newness are not comparable. And because political parties are central actors in democratic politics, this situation negatively affects comparative politics research. An agreed answer (or answers) is especially critical for studies that analyze stability, continuity, and change of party organizations, party systems, and the political system as a whole. This article reviews the approaches to party newness and identifies their main features. No one approach seems to be substantially preferable to the others. Thus, the way forward is to establish a database that will include the data already produced on party newness. Such a database will enable comparison of the different codifications and measurements and systematically examine their similarities and differences.
A semantic strength and neural correlates in developmental dyslexia
Authors: Lukic Sladjana , Jiang Fei , Mandelli Maria Luisa , Qi Ting , Inkelis Sarah M. , Rosenthal Emily , Miller Zachary , Wellman Emma , Bunge Silvia A. , Gorno-Tempini Maria Luisa , Pereira Christa Watson
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Most studies of dyslexia focus on domains of impairment (e.g., reading and phonology, among others), but few examine possible strengths. In the present study, we investigated semantic fluency as a cognitive strength in English-speaking children with dyslexia aged 8–13.

Methods

Ninety-seven children with dyslexia completed tests of letter and semantic verbal fluency, standardized measures of reading and cognitive functions, and task-free resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). First, we adjusted performance on semantic fluency by letter fluency and created a residual score that was used to separate participants into high (residual >0) or average (residual <0) semantic performance groups. We then employed a psycholinguistic clustering and switching approach to the semantic fluency task and performed dynamic task-free rs-fMRI connectivity analysis to reveal group differences in brain dynamics.

Results

High and average semantic fluency groups were well-matched on demographics and letter fluency but differed on their psycholinguistic patterns on the semantic fluency task. The high semantic fluency group, compared to the average semantic fluency group, produced a higher number of words within each cluster, a higher max cluster size, and a higher number of switches. Differential dynamic rs-fMRI connectivity (shorter average dwell time and greater brain state switches) was observed between the high and average groups in a large-scale bilateral frontal-temporal-occipital network.

Discussion

These data demonstrate that a subgroup of children with dyslexia perform above average on semantic fluency tasks and their performance is strongly linked to distinct psycholinguistic patterns and differences in a task-free resting-state brain network, which includes regions previously implicated in semantic processing. This work highlights that inter-individual differences should be taken into account in dyslexia and reveals a cognitive area of strength for some children with dyslexia that could be leveraged for reading interventions.
Remembering what did not happen: the role of hypnosis in memory recall and false memories formation
Authors: Leo Donato Giuseppe , Bruno Davide , Proietti Riccardo
Published: February 2025

Memory recall is subject to errors that can lead to the formation of false memories. Several factors affect memory processes, such as attention deficits or emotional distress. Additionally, cardiovascular diseases may lead to cognitive decline and memory loss, also increasing the occurrence of false events recall. Hypnosis has proved to affect the autonomic nervous system, positively impacting the cardiovascular response. Hypnosis has also been suggested as a tool to enhance memory and autobiographical events recall in both healthy and unhealthy individuals; however, this approach has led to several controversies. Particularly, the employment of hypnosis in autobiographical recall (hypnotic regression) has been accused of favoring the creation of false memories, leading to therapeutic fallacy. In this paper, we review the current literature on the mechanisms behind the creation of false memories and the role played by hypnosis in memory enhancement and false memory recall. The evidence here collected suggests that cardiovascular diseases affect brain health contributing to cognitive decline and memory impairments, also increasing the occurrence of false memories. Hypnosis induces an increase in parasympathetic activity and a decrease in sympathetic activity, suggesting a potential role in preventing some cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, which in turn may improve brain health. Additionally, hypnosis has been shown to have some effectiveness in enhancing memory functions, although contradictory findings reported by several studies make it difficult to draw proper conclusions. Hypnotic regression and guided imagery should be used with caution as they may unintentionally lead to false memory recall. Nevertheless, further studies are required to better understand the effects of hypnosis on the brain and the heart and how it can be used to enhance memory, especially in people with cognitive decline.
From strain to strength: a yearlong study on the transformative influence of inner engineering online program on mental well-being
Authors: Swaminathan Ashwin , DeSchryver Braiden , Rayapuraju Akila , Barbaro Julianna , Orui Hibiki , Subramaniam Balachundhar , Reed Preeti Upadhyay
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Health is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being, all of which are deeply interconnected. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of mental and social health, as rates of loneliness, depression, and anxiety surged. Mindfulness practices, such as Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya (SMK), have gained attention for their potential to enhance well-being by integrating breath regulation, meditation, and cognitive reframing techniques. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Inner Engineering Completion Online (IECO) program was created to effectively teach SMK with global travel restrictions in effect. This study examines the long-term effects of SMK, taught through the IECO, on various measures of well-being over a one-year follow-up period.

Methods

Participants were recruited from the January 2020 IECO course. Participants completed surveys at consent, post-IECO, and 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1-year post-IECO. The surveys consisted of 4 validated neuropsychological scales: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Positive Emotion/Relationship/Engagement Scale (PERMA) Profiler, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Survey data was analyzed using linear mixed effect modeling. Two-sided p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Hundred and eighty-eight participants were enrolled. Hundred and sixty-four participants completed baseline measurements, and 41 participants completed surveys at all timepoints. The baseline median [IQR] PSS score in participants was 13 [8, 18]; post-IECO median [IQR] PSS was 11 [8, 16] and 6-week median [IQR] PSS was 7 [4, 12], suggesting that consistent practice of Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya resulted in reduced stress. This score was sustained up to a year post-IECO with a median [IQR] of 7 [3, 12]. The mean mindfulness scale (MAAS) score increased by 0.97 (95% C.I. 0.7–1.2 p < 0.01, η2p = 0.30) at the 1-year timepoint compared to baseline. The global PSQI score reduced at the week 6 timepoint by 1.3 (95% C.I. 0.49–2.0, p < 0.01) with medium effect size and was sustained until 1 year.

Discussion

Within 6 weeks of participating in IECO, regular practice of SMK significantly reduced stress, improved sleep quality, and boosted mindfulness. These benefits were sustained for at least a year with continued practice, suggesting that this practice is an effective path to maintaining general well-being.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, trial identification number NCT04189146.
The influencing factors of the participation intention and behavior in organized scientific research of young teachers in modern industrial colleges—based on the theory of planned behavior and normative activation theory
Authors: Zhang Yuanbao , Li Junfeng , Song Jinyu
Published: February 2025

Organized scientific research is vital to implementing organized technological innovation in modern industrial colleges. Young teachers’ deep participation determines success. Based on the theory of planned behavior and normative activation, a survey of 309 young teachers from modern industrial colleges participating in organized scientific research found that personal norms, subjective norms, behavioral attitudes, and perceived behavioral control significantly impact their intention to participate. Awareness of consequence, ascribed responsibility, and subjective norms indirectly positively impact their participation intention, and the participation intention and perceived behavioral control positively affect their participation behavior. Policy support has a positive mediating effect between participation intention and behavior. There are group differences in gender, education level, professional title, and subject type in demographic characteristics in five aspects: subjective norms, personal norms, perceived behavioral control, participation intention, and participation behavior. This article proposes the following measures: improving the internal interest coordination mechanism of scientific research organizations to enhance young teachers’ sense of scientific research achievement; reconstructing the organized scientific research evaluation model to enhance young teachers’ teamwork awareness; improving the support system for organized research policies to stimulate young teachers’ self-efficacy; concerning young teachers’ group differences and creating a research environment that tolerates failure.
A new Bayesian method for the estimation of emergency nurses’ thresholds and agreement in the context of telephone triage
Authors: Vicovaro Michele , Mignemi Giuseppe , Nucci Massimo , Bolognani Luigi , Iannattone Sara , Bruno Giovanni , Spoto Andrea
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Triage is the process aimed at ensuring that patients receive a level and quality of care matching the urgency of their conditions. The present study focuses on telephone triage. We discuss the application of a new decision-making model to the task of telephone triage.

Methods

The model allows to estimate the nurse’s Belonging Threshold (BT), which quantifies the minimum level of severity of an emergency scenario that leads the nurse to activate a rescue vehicle with emergency devices. The BT can be used as an index of the possible tendency of the nurse to systematically over-or under-triage. The model also provides accurate estimations of the level of agreement between different nurses, and between the nurses and reference experts, net of the noise due to the possible differences between the nurses’ BTs.

Results and discussion

The model and the related experimental procedure were applied to a sample of 21 emergency nurses at the SUEM 118 Operations Center in Venice. We discuss how the model can be useful to identify nurses who would benefit from a training to improve the consistency of their application of the protocol, as well as to identify specific emergency scenarios for which the assignment of priority codes was most problematic.