bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Evaluation of Microbiota Dynamics and Metabolites Correlation Between Spontaneous and Inoculated Fermentations of Nanfeng Tangerine Wine
Authors: Qiu Xiangyu , Yu Linlin , Wang Weiying , Yan Riming , Zhang Zhibin , Yang Huilin , Zhu Du , Zhu Bo
Published: May 2021

Understanding the evolution of microorganisms and metabolites during wine fermentation is essential for controlling its production. The structural composition and functional capacity of the core microbiota determine the quality and quantity of fruit wine. Nanfeng tangerine wine fermentation involves a complex of various microorganisms and a wide variety of metabolites. However, the microbial succession and functional shift of the core microbiota in this product fermentation remain unclear. Therefore, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS/GC-MS) were employed to reveal the core functional microbiota for the production of volatile flavors during spontaneous fermentation (SF) and inoculated fermentation (IF) with Saccharomyces cerevisiae of Nanfeng tangerine wine. A total of 13 bacterial and 8 fungal genera were identified as the core microbiota; Lactobacillus and Acetobacter were the dominant bacteria in SF and IF, respectively. The main fungal genera in SF and IF were Hanseniaspora, Pichia, and Saccharomyces with a clear succession. In addition, the potential correlations analysis between microbiota succession and volatile flavor dynamics revealed that Lactobacillus, Acetobacter, Hanseniaspora, and Saccharomyces were the major contributors to the production of the volatile flavor of Nanfeng tangerine wine. The results of the present study provide insight into the effects of the core functional microbiota in Nanfeng tangerine wine and can be used to develop effective strategies for improving the quality of fruit wines.
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane Impairs Amyloid Beta Clearance by Decreasing Liver X Receptor α Expression
Authors: Wu Dongmei , Hu Yang , Song Min , Li Gongbo
Published: May 2021

Abnormal amyloid beta (Aβ) clearance is a distinctive pathological mechanism for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), which mediates the lipidation of apolipoprotein E, plays a critical role in Aβ clearance. As an environmental factor for AD, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) can decrease ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression and disrupt Aβ clearance. Liver X receptor α (LXRα) is an autoregulatory transcription factor for ABCA1 and a target of some environmental pollutants, such as organophosphate pesticides. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether DDT could affect Aβ clearance by targeting LXRα. The DDT-pretreated H4 human neuroglioma cells and immortalized astrocytes were incubated with exogenous Aβ to evaluate Aβ consumption. Meanwhile, cytotoxicity and LXRα expression were determined in the DDT-treated cells. Subsequently, the antagonism of DDT on LXRα agonist T0901317 was determined in vitro. The interaction between DDT and LXRα was predicted by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation technology. We observed that DDT could inhibit Aβ clearance and decrease the levels of LXRα mRNA and LXRα protein. Moreover, DDT is supposed to strongly bind to LXRα and exert antagonistic effects on LXRα. In conclusion, this study firstly presented that DDT could inhibit LXRα expression, which would contribute to Aβ clearance decline in vitro. It provides an experimental basis to search for potential therapeutic targets of AD.
Aberrant Synaptic PTEN in Symptomatic Alzheimer’s Patients May Link Synaptic Depression to Network Failure
Authors: Díaz González Marta , Buberman Assaf , Morales Miguel , Ferrer Isidro , Knafo Shira
Published: May 2021

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Amyloid β (Aβ) impairs synaptic function by inhibiting long-term potentiation (LTP), and by facilitating long-term depression (LTD). There is now evidence from AD models that Aβ provokes this shift toward synaptic depression by triggering the access to and accumulation of PTEN in the postsynaptic terminal of hippocampal neurons. Here we quantified the PTEN in 196,138 individual excitatory dentate gyrus synapses from AD patients at different stages of the disease and from controls with no neuropathological findings. We detected a gradual increase of synaptic PTEN in AD brains as the disease progresses, in conjunction with a significant decrease in synaptic density. The synapses that remain in symptomatic AD patients are more likely to be smaller and exhibit fewer AMPA receptors (AMPARs). Hence, a high Aβ load appears to strongly compromise human hippocampal synapses, as reflected by an increase in PTEN, inducing a loss of AMPARs that may eventually provoke synaptic failure and loss.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Gastric Cancer: Vicious but Hopeful
Authors: Li Yuyi , Zhong Xingwei , Zhang Yunzhu , Lu Xinliang
Published: May 2021

Tumor progression depends on the collaborative interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding stroma. First-line therapies direct against cancer cells may not reach a satisfactory outcome, such as gastric cancer (GC), with high risk of recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, novel treatments and drugs target the effects of stroma components are to be promising alternatives. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) represent the decisive components of tumor stroma that are found to strongly affect GC development and progression. MSC from bone marrow or adjacent normal tissues express homing profiles in timely response to GC-related inflammation signals and anchor into tumor bulks. Then the newly recruited “naïve” MSC would achieve phenotype and functional alternations and adopt the greater tumor-supporting potential under the reprogramming of GC cells. Conversely, both new-comers and tumor-resident MSC are able to modulate the tumor biology via aberrant activation of oncogenic signals, metabolic reprogramming and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. And they also engage in remodeling the stroma better suited for tumor progression through immunosuppression, pro-angiogenesis, as well as extracellular matrix reshaping. On the account of tumor tropism, MSC could be engineered to assist earlier diagnosis of GC and deliver tumor-killing agents precisely to the tumor microenvironment. Meanwhile, intercepting and abrogating vicious signals derived from MSC are of certain significance for the combat of GC. In this review, we mainly summarize current advances concerning the reciprocal metabolic interactions between MSC and GC and their underlying therapeutic implications in the future.
Signal Enhancement of Low Magnetic Field Magnetic Resonance Image Using a Conventional- and Cyclic-Generative Adversarial Network Models With Unpaired Image Sets
Authors: Yoo Denis , Choi Yuni Annette , Rah C. J. , Lee Eric , Cai Jing , Min Byung Jun , Kim Eun Ho
Published: May 2021

In this study, the signal enhancement ratio of low-field magnetic resonance (MR) images was investigated using a deep learning-based algorithm. Unpaired image sets (0.06 Tesla and 1.5 Tesla MR images for different patients) were used in this study following three steps workflow. In the first step, the deformable registration of a 1.5 Tesla MR image into a 0.06 Tesla MR image was performed to ensure that the shapes of the unpaired set matched. In the second step, a cyclic-generative adversarial network (GAN) was used to generate a synthetic MR image of the original 0.06 Tesla MR image based on the deformed or original 1.5 Tesla MR image. Finally, an enhanced 0.06 Tesla MR image could be generated using the conventional-GAN with the deformed or synthetic MR image. The results from the optimized flow and enhanced MR images showed significant signal enhancement of the anatomical view, especially in the nasal septum, inferior nasal choncha, nasopharyngeal fossa, and eye lens. The signal enhancement ratio, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and correlation factor between the original and enhanced MR images were analyzed for the evaluation of the image quality. A combined method using conventional- and cyclic-GANs is a promising approach for generating enhanced MR images from low-magnetic-field MR.
Recurrent Somatic MAP2K1 Mutations in Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Bu Rong , Siraj Abdul K. , Masoodi Tariq , Parvathareddy Sandeep Kumar , Iqbal Kaleem , Al-Rasheed Maha , Haqawi Wael , Diaz Mark , Victoria Ingrid G. , Aldughaither Saud M. , Al-Sobhi Saif S. , Al-Dayel Fouad , Al-Kuraya Khawla S.
Published: May 2021

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAP2K1) is a dual specificity protein kinase that phosphorylates both threonine and tyrosine residues in ERK. MAP2K1 mutations have been identified in several cancers. However, their role in Middle Eastern papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) is lacking. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of MAP2K1 mutations in a large cohort of Middle Eastern PTC and CRC using whole-exome and Sanger sequencing technology. In the discovery cohort of 100 PTC and 100 CRC cases (comprising 50 MAPK mutant and 50 MAPK wildtype cases each), we found one MAP2K1 mutation each in PTC and CRC, both of which were MAPK wildtype. We further analyzed 286 PTC and 289 CRC MAPK wildtype cases and found three MAP2K1 mutant PTC cases and two MAP2K1 mutant CRC cases. Thus, the overall prevalence of MAP2K1 mutation in MAPK wildtype cases was 1.1% (4/336) in PTC and 0.9% (3/339) in CRC. Histopathologically, three of the four MAP2K1 mutant PTC cases were follicular variant and all four tumors were unifocal with absence of extra-thyroidal extension. All the three CRC cases harboring MAP2K1 mutation were of older age (> 50 years) and had moderately differentiated stage II/III tumors located in the left colon. In conclusion, this is the first comprehensive report of MAP2K1 somatic mutations prevalence in PTC and CRC from this ethnicity. The mutually exclusive nature of MAP2K1 and MAPK mutations suggests that each of these mutation may function as an initiating mutation driving tumorigenesis through MAPK signaling pathway.
Genomic Heterogeneity and Clonal Evolution in Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Revealed by Single Cell DNA Sequencing
Authors: Duan Qingke , Tang Chao , Ma Zhao , Chen Chuangui , Shang Xiaobin , Yue Jie , Jiang Hongjing , Gao Yan , Xu Bo
Published: May 2021

Gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer is a tumor that occurs at the junction of stomach and esophagus anatomically. GEJ cancer frequently metastasizes to lymph nodes, however the heterogeneity and clonal evolution process are unclear. This study is the first of this kind to use single cell DNA sequencing to determine genomic variations and clonal evolution related to lymph node metastasis. Multiple Annealing and Looping Based Amplification Cycles (MALBAC) and bulk exome sequencing were performed to detect single cell copy number variations (CNVs) and single nucleotide variations (SNVs) respectively. Four GEJ cancer patients were enrolled with two (Pt.3, Pt.4) having metastatic lymph nodes. The most common mutation we found happened in the TTN gene, which was reported to be related with the tumor mutation burden in cancers. Significant intra-patient heterogeneity in SNVs and CNVs were found. We identified the SNV subclonal architecture in each tumor. To study the heterogeneity of CNVs, the single cells were sequenced. The number of subclones in the primary tumor was larger than that in lymph nodes, indicating the heterogeneity of primary site was higher. We observed two patterns of multi-station lymph node metastasis: one was skip metastasis and the other was to follow the lymphatic drainage. Taken together, our single cell genomic analysis has revealed the heterogeneity and clonal evolution in GEJ cancer.
The Time for Chronotherapy in Radiation Oncology
Authors: Bermúdez-Guzmán Luis , Blanco-Saborío Alejandro , Ramírez-Zamora Juliana , Lovo Eduardo
Published: May 2021

Five decades ago, Franz Halberg conceived the idea of ​​a circadian-based therapy for cancer, given the differential tolerance to treatment derived from the intrinsic host rhythms. Nowadays, different experimental models have demonstrated that both the toxicity and efficacy of several anticancer drugs vary by more than 50% as a function of dosing time. Accordingly, it has been shown that chemotherapeutic regimens optimally timed with the circadian cycle have jointly improved patient outcomes both at the preclinical and clinical levels. Along with chemotherapy, radiation therapy is widely used for cancer treatment, but its effectiveness relies mainly on its ability to damage DNA. Notably, the DNA damage response including DNA repair, DNA damage checkpoints, and apoptosis is gated by the circadian clock. Thus, the therapeutic potential of circadian-based radiotherapy against cancer is mainly dependent upon the control that the molecular clock exerts on DNA repair enzymes across the cell cycle. Unfortunately, the time of treatment administration is not usually considered in clinical practice as it varies along the daytime working hours. Currently, only a few studies have evaluated whether the timing of radiotherapy affects the treatment outcome. Several of these studies show that it is possible to reduce the toxicity of the treatment if it is applied at a specific time range, although with some inconsistencies. In this Perspective, we review the main advances in the field of chronoradiotherapy, the possible causes of the inconsistencies observed in the studies so far and provide some recommendations for future trials.
A Ketogenic Diet and the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Li Qinrui , Liang Jingjing , Fu Na , Han Ying , Qin Jiong
Published: May 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by stereotyped behavior and deficits in communication and social interaction. There are no curative treatments for children with ASD. The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, appropriate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet that mimics the fasting state of the body and is proven beneficial in drug-resistant epilepsy and some other brain diseases. An increasing number of studies demonstrated that a KD improved autistic behavior, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. We reviewed the neuroprotective role of a KD in ASD, which is likely mediated via improvements in energy metabolism, reductions in antioxidative stress levels, control of neurotransmitters, inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, and modulation of the gut microbiota. A KD is likely a safe and effective treatment for ASD.
EAP and ECPCP Statement Risks for Children's Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Call for Maintenance of Essential Pediatric Services
Authors: Dembiński Łukasz , Huss Gottfried , Radziewicz-Winnicki Igor , Grossman Zachi , Mazur Artur , del Torso Stefano , Barak Shimon , Carrasco Sanz Angel , Hadjipanayis Adamos
Published: May 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown have had drastic socioeconomic and psychological effects on countries and people, respectively. There has been limited access to health care and education. These negative consequences have had a significant impact on the well-being of children and adolescents. Therefore, the EAP and the ECPCP are requesting state, health, and education authorities as well as European pediatric societies and the healthcare professionals that special attention be given to this population and the problems they face as a result of the pandemic.
Suppression of CD13 Enhances the Cytotoxic Effect of Chemotherapeutic Drugs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Ji Shengping , Ma Yuqian , Xing Xiaoyan , Ge Binbin , Li Yutian , Xu Xinyue , Song Jiliang , Xiao Mei , Gao Feng , Jiang Wenyan , Fang Chunyan , Wang Xuejian
Published: May 2021

Multidrug resistance (MDR) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious problem that directly hinders the effect of chemotherapeutics. In this study, we mainly explore the molecular mechanism of ROS-induced CD13 expression using hepatocarcinoma cells as the research object. We show that the drug of fluorouracil (5FU), epirubicin (EPI) and gemcitabine (GEM) can induce ROS generation, activate Ets2 and promote CD13 expression. Meanwhile, CD13 can activate NRF1 and up-regulate ROS scavenging genes transcription, such as SOD1, GPX1, GPX2 and GPX3, leading to down-regulation of intracellular ROS level and reducing the sensitivity of cells to chemotherapy agent. We also detected the anti-tumor effect of the combination therapy, CD13 inhibitor ubenimex and a variety of conventional anti-cancer drugs, such as 5FU, EPI, GEM, pemetrexed (Pem) and paclitaxel (PTX) were employed in combination. Ubenimex enhances the sensitivity of different chemotherapeutic agents and cooperates with chemotherapeutic agents to suppress tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. In general, overexpression of CD13 can lead to chemotherapy resistance, and CD13 inhibitor can reverse this effect. Combination of chemotherapy agent and ubenimex will become a potential treatment strategy for liver cancer resistance.
Co-evolutionary Game Dynamics of Competitive Cognitions and Public Opinion Environment
Authors: Liu Haoyan , Wang Xin , Liu Longzhao , Li Zhoujun
Published: May 2021

Competitive cognition dynamics are widespread in modern society, especially with the rise of information-technology ecosystem. While previous works mainly focus on internal interactions among individuals, the impacts of the external public opinion environment remain unknown. Here, we propose a heuristic model based on co-evolutionary game theory to study the feedback-evolving dynamics of competitive cognitions and the environment. First, we show co-evolutionary trajectories of strategy-environment system under all possible circumstances. Of particular interest, we unveil the detailed dynamical patterns under the existence of an interior saddle point. In this situation, two stable states coexist in the system and both cognitions have a chance to win. We highlight the emergence of bifurcation phenomena, indicating that the final evolutionary outcome is sensitive to initial conditions. Further, the attraction basins of two stable states are not only influenced by the position of the interior saddle point but also affected by the relative speed of environmental feedbacks.
Magnesium Fertilization Affected Rice Yields in Magnesium Sufficient Soil in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China
Authors: Liu Zhilei , Huang Qiuhong , Liu Xiaohui , Li Pengfei , Naseer Muhammad Rehman , Che Yeqi , Dai Yaning , Luo Xiangyu , Liu Donghui , Song Lili , Jiang Baiwen , Peng Xianlong , Yu Cailian
Published: May 2021

Magnesium (Mg) plays a crucial role in rice yield. Heilongjiang Province is the main rice-producing region of China, playing an important role in guaranteeing China's and the world's grain security. However, rarely Mg fertilization is applied in this province. Soil Mg status of main rice-producing areas in Heilongjiang Province was investigated and Mg fertilizer experiments were conducted aiming to provide fertilizer recommendation in this region. A total of 358 soil samples from the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layer from the main rice-producing areas of Heilongjiang Province were collected to analyze soil exchangeable Mg (ex-Mg) and relative chemical properties. Meanwhile, field experiments of soil and foliar Mg application were performed in 2017–2019 to identify the effect of this nutrient on rice yield. The results showed that the ex-Mg concentration in the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layer was 282 mg kg−1and 243 mg kg−1, respectively. Moreover, ex-Mg ranged on the abundant and exceptionally abundant level accounted for 75% in 0–20 cm and 55.3% in 20–40 cm. The ex-Mg concentration in the upper soil layer was higher than in the lower soil layer and varied depending on regions, which the west part of Heilongjiang Province showed the highest concentration in both soil layers. Correlation analysis showed that there had a significant (P< 0.05) linear relationship between ex-Mg and pH, CEC, ex-K, Ca, K/Mg, and Ca/Mg. Meanwhile, the results of path coefficients demonstrated that pH, CEC, and Ca/Mg had the most direct effect on ex-Mg concentration among these above factors. Soil Mg application had little effect on rice yield, which might be related to the soil Mg concentration and availability, and root uptake activity. Foliar Mg application increased rice yield by 8.45% (P< 0.05) compared to without Mg treatment, increased 1,000-grain weight by 2.62% (P< 0.05), and spikelet number per panicle by 4.19% (P< 0.05). In general, the paddy soil ex-Mg concentration in Heilongjiang Province was abundant. Soil-applied Mg played little role in rice yield in ex-Mg abundant regions, while foliar application increased rice yields significantly via increasing 1,000-grain weight and spikelet number per panicle.
Suppression of ERECTA Signaling Impacts Agronomic Performance of Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merril) in the Greenhouse
Authors: Berchembrock Yasmin Vasques , Botelho Flávia Barbosa Silva , Srivastava Vibha
Published: May 2021

The ERECTA (ER) family of genes, encoding leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (RLK), influences complex morphological and physiological aspects of plants. Modulation of ER signaling leads to abiotic stress tolerance in diverse plant species. However, whether the gain in stress tolerance is accompanied with desirable agronomic performance is not clearly known. In this study, soybean plants potentially suppressed in ER signaling were evaluated for the phenotypic performance and drought response in the greenhouse. These plants expressed a dominant-negative Arabidopsis thaliana ER (AtER) called ΔKinase to suppress ER signaling, which has previously been linked with the tolerance to water deficit, a major limiting factor for plant growth and development, directly compromising agricultural production. With the aim to select agronomically superior plants as stress-tolerant lines, transgenic soybean plants were subjected to phenotypic selection and subsequently to water stress analysis. This study found a strong inverse correlation of ΔKinase expression with the agronomic performance of soybean plants, indicating detrimental effects of expressing ΔKinase that presumably led to the suppression of ER signaling. Two lines were identified that showed favorable agronomic traits and expression of ΔKinase gene, although at lower levels compared with the rest of the transgenic lines. The drought stress analysis on the progenies of these lines, however, showed that these plants were more susceptible to water-deficit stress as compared with the non-transgenic controls. The selected transgenic plants showed greater stomata density and conductance, which potentially led to higher biomass, and consequently more water demand and greater susceptibility to the periods of water withholding.
Sociocultural Factors Affecting Vocabulary Development in Young South African Children
Authors: Southwood Frenette , White Michelle J. , Brookes Heather , Pascoe Michelle , Ndhambi Mikateko , Yalala Sefela , Mahura Olebeng , Mössmer Martin , Oosthuizen Helena , Brink Nina , Alcock Katie
Published: May 2021

Sociocultural influences on the development of child language skills have been widely studied, but the majority of the research findings were generated in Northern contexts. The current crosslinguistic, multisite study is the first of its kind in South Africa, considering the influence of a range of individual and sociocultural factors on expressive vocabulary size of young children. Caregivers of toddlers aged 16 to 32 months acquiring Afrikaans (n = 110), isiXhosa (n = 115), South African English (n = 105), or Xitsonga (n = 98) as home language completed a family background questionnaire and the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) about their children. Based on a revised version of Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) ecological systems theory, information was obtained from the family background questionnaire on individual factors (the child’s age and sex), microsystem-related factors (the number of other children and number of adults in the child’s household, maternal level of education, and SES), and exosystem-related factors (home language and geographic area, namely rural or urban). All sociocultural and individual factors combined explained 25% of the variance in expressive vocabulary size. Partial correlations between these sociocultural factors and the toddlers’ expressive vocabulary scores on 10 semantic domains yielded important insights into the impact of geographic area on the nature and size of children’s expressive vocabulary. Unlike in previous studies, maternal level of education and SES did not play a significant role in predicting children’s expressive vocabulary scores. These results indicate that there exists an interplay of sociocultural and individual influences on vocabulary development that requires a more complex ecological model of language development to understand the interaction between various sociocultural factors in diverse contexts.
Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Increases GABA in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex: A Preliminary Sham-Controlled Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study in Acute Bipolar Depression
Authors: Diederichs Chad , DeMayo Marilena M. , Cole Jaeden , Yatham Lakshmi N. , Harris Ashley D. , McGirr Alexander
Published: May 2021

Background: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to identify gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) alterations in mood disorders, particularly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) where decreased concentrations have been associated with anhedonia. In major depressive disorder (MDD), prior work suggests that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) increases mPFC GABA concentrations proportional to antidepressant response. To our knowledge, this has not been examined in acute bipolar depression.

Methods: As part of a multicentre 4-week randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial using intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in individuals with acute bipolar depression, we quantified mPFC GABA and Glx (glutamate+glutamine) concentrations using a 3T MRS scan at baseline and after the intervention. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HRDS-17), and anhedonia was measured using the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS).

Results: The trial was terminated for futility and magnetic resonance spectroscopy data was acquired for 18 participants. At baseline, there were no associations between GABA or Glx concentrations and anhedonia, however GABA was negative correlated with depressive symptom severity on the HRDS-17. Compared to the sham-iTBS group, participants receiving active-iTBS had a significant increase in mPFC GABA concentrations. This was unrelated to antidepressant outcomes or improvements in anhedonia.

Conclusion: Our data suggests that iTBS targeting the DLPFC is associated with physiological changes in the mPFC. In acute bipolar depression, our preliminary data suggests that mPFC GABA is dissociated from antidepressant iTBS treatment outcomes and anhedonia.
The Unintended Consequences of the Pandemic: The New Normal for College Students in South Korea and Taiwan
Authors: Chen Wei-Lin , Song Sue-Yeon , Yap Ko-Hua
Published: May 2021

This study attempts to compare the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on college students' lifestyles and mental health conditions in South Korea and Taiwan. As the COVID-19 outbreak has spread across the globe, it has brought significant changes to college campuses worldwide. College students have been heavily affected by the closure, as online learning has become increasingly common in higher education institutions. Using data collected from college students in South Korea and Taiwan in the spring of 2020, this study examines the effects of pandemic-related lifestyle changes on mental health conditions for college students in the two countries. The results were 3-fold. First, compared to college students in Taiwan, college students in South Korea reported greater decreases in time spent traveling, being with friends, eating at restaurants, and engaging in part-time employment, and greater increases in online shopping and ordering food for delivery. Second, college students in South Korea reported a higher level of worry, a greater possibility of contact with a person with COVID-19, and a lower level of happiness than did college students in Taiwan. Third, our findings indicate that social activities, including spending time with friends, were positively correlated with mental health conditions in South Korea and Taiwan. Comparing Korean and Taiwanese students' lifestyle changes and mental health conditions amid the pandemic, the study argues that the decrease in socialization and interaction under these new circumstances may be a significant factor that explains an increase in mental health issues in Korean college students compared to Taiwanese students, given the increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea and the corresponding greater use of online teaching platforms there than in Taiwan.
COVID-19: A Syndemic Requiring an Integrated Approach for Marginalized Populations
Authors: Caron Rosemary M. , Adegboye Amanda Rodrigues Amorim
Published: May 2021

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, has challenged healthcare systems globally. The health inequities experienced by immigrants, refugees, and racial/ethnic minorities have been aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The socioeconomic, political, and demographic profile of these vulnerable populations places them at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionally higher among these at-risk groups. The purpose of this perspective is to: (1) highlight the interactions among the social determinants of health (SDoH) and their bi-directional relationship with the COVID-19 pandemic which results in the current syndemic and; (2) offer recommendations that consider an integrated approach to mitigate COVID-19 risk for marginalized populations in general. For these at-risk populations, we discuss how individual, structural, sociocultural, and socioeconomic factors interact with each other to result in a disparate risk to contracting and transmitting COVID-19. Marginalized populations are the world's collective responsibility. We recommend implementing the Essential Public Health Services (EPHS) framework to promote those systems and policies that enable optimal health for all while removing systemic and structural barriers that have created health inequities. The pledge of “Health for All” is often well-accepted in theory, but the intricacy of its practical execution is not sufficiently recognized during this COVID-19 syndemic and beyond.
Sustainable Production of African Traditional Beers With Focus on Dolo, a West African Sorghum-Based Alcoholic Beverage
Authors: Sawadogo-Lingani Hagrétou , Owusu-Kwarteng James , Glover Richard , Diawara Bréhima , Jakobsen Mogens , Jespersen Lene
Published: May 2021

Spontaneously fermented sorghum beers remain by far the most popular traditional cereal-based alcoholic beverages in Africa. Known under various common names (traditional beers, sorghum beers, opaque, native or indigenous beers) they are also recognized under various local names depending on the region or ethnic group. Dolo and pito are two similar traditional beers popular in West African countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Ivory Coast. These low-alcoholic beers are nutritious and contribute to the nutritional balance of local populations, as well as to their socio-cultural and economic well-being. The production of African traditional beers remains one of the major economic activities, creating employment and generating substantial income that contributes to livelihoods as well as the countries' economic systems. Their processing (malting and brewing) is still artisanal, based on traditional family know-how. The brewing process involves either an acidification and an alcoholic fermentation phases, or a mixed fermentation combining LAB and yeasts. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been identified as the dominant yeast species involved in the alcoholic fermentation, with a biodiversity at strain level. LAB involved in the processing belong to the genera of Limosilactobacillus, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus. Molds (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Geotrichum), and acetic bacteria are often associated with the malting and brewing processes. Challenges for sustainable production of African sorghum beer include inconsistent supply of raw materials, variability in product quality and safety, high energy consumption and its impact on the environment, poor packaging and short shelf-life. For sustainable and environmentally-friendly production of African sorghum beers, there is the need to assess the processing methods and address sustainability challenges. Strategies should promote wider distribution and adoption of improved sorghum varieties among farmers, prevent losses through the adoption of good storage practices of raw material, promote the adoption of improved cook stoves by the brewers, develop and adopt starter cultures for controlled fermentation, regulate the production through the establishment of quality standards and better valorize by-products and wastes to increase the competitiveness of the value chain. Appropriate packaging and stabilization processes should be developed to extend the shelf-life and diversify the channels for sustainable distribution of African cereal-based alcoholic beverages.
El aprendizaje basado en problemas para mejorar el pensamiento crítico: revisión sistemática
Authors: Bermúdez Mendieta Jhon
Published: May 2021

Este estudio tuvo como propósito determinar cómo el uso de la metodología educativa Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas mejora el pensamiento crítico en estudiantes de secundaria. Para lograr lo propuesto, se desarrolló un análisis sistemático de la información, a través de la búsqueda de artículos científicos de acceso libre, en las bases de datos Dialnet, Scielo, Redalyc y Google académico. Como criterio de selección se consideró estudios empíricos que presenten resultados de intervenciones implementadas con Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas para mejorar el Pensamiento crítico, independiente de su género o idioma, publicados en los últimos seis años; artículos con intervención en muestras de estudiantes de educación secundaria. Los artículos seleccionados se organizaron en tablas para identificar sus objetivos, tipos de investigación y metodologías. Se destaca como resultado un mayor reporte de investigaciones realizadas en Asia. Se concluye que el Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas mejora significativamente el Pensamiento crítico en estudiantes de secundaria.
Panorama económico del Perú en el contexto del COVID-19
Authors: Trujillo Figueroa Wuily Franz , Mendoza Briceño Edmer
Published: May 2021

La investigación ha tenido como objetivo describir la variación de la tasa de interés, el tipo de cambio, las reservas internacionales netas, el producto bruto interno y las expectativas empresariales durante el periodo de pandemia originado por la COVID-19 y cómo influyó en la economía peruana en el contexto macroeconómico en comparativa con cinco años seguidos de variabilidad económica. El análisis se realizó bajo el enfoque cuantitativo, se aplicó el método descriptivo, en la recolección de datos se empleó la técnica de análisis documental con el apoyo de las memorias del Banco Central de Reserva del Perú y estadísticas de la economía peruana desde el año 2016 hasta agosto del 2020. Para el análisis de cálculo se utilizó el software estadístico SPSS 26.0. En ese contexto la tasa de interés varió entre 12.30 y 17.73 puntos porcentuales a diferencia del tipo de cambio que fluctuó entre 3.21 y 3.51 soles, asimismo las expectativas empresariales se situaron entre 21.5 y 61.0 puntos, también el producto bruto interno se movió entre -39.9 y 4.2 en porcentaje, finalmente las reservas internacionales netas evolucionaron entre 57,999 y 74,782 millones de dólares.
Entrevista de “clinica psicológica” a paul salkovskis
Authors: Coppo Alejandra
Published: May 2021

En esta entrevista rPaul Salkowskis nos cuenta su experiencia y opiniones sobre tema como la terapia cognitiva, el trastorno obsesivo compulsivo, obsesiones y los proyectos en los que está ocupado en la actualidad.
Comprensión y explicación en el proceso psicoterapéutico: la co-construcción de la “lógica” del síntoma por parte del paciente y del terapeuta
Authors: Provvedi Gianluca , Cionini Lorenzo
Published: May 2021

El objetivo de esta contribución es la presentación de una lectura del proceso terapéutico desde una óptica constructivista, por medio del análisis de dos fenómenos: la comprensión y la explicación. Éstos se analizan desde dos puntos de vista, el del terapeuta y el del paciente, a partir de la premisa que los dos fenómenos adquieren significados distintos según se apliquen a uno u otro actor de la interacción, si bien, al desarrollarse dentro de la relación terapéutica, se presentan como procesos complementarios y constituyen de hecho un fenómeno único.
Psicoterapia, retórica y hermenéutica: implicaciones para la práctica y la investigación
Authors: Frank Jerome D
Published: May 2021

En la medida en que el psicoterapeuta trata de interpretar y transformar los significados de la comunicación de los pacientes, la psicoterapia se parece a la retórica y la hermenéutica. Este artículo señala algunas de estas semejanzas y considera las implicaciones que se derivan de ello para la práctica psicoterapéutica y la investigación.
Revista de revistas
Authors: Botella Lluis , Feixas i Viaplana Guillem
Published: May 2021

Análisis de revistas
Aplicación didáctica del modelo del desarrollo moral
Authors: Villegas Manuel , Mallor Pilar
Published: May 2021

Este artículo constituye una aplicación práctica del modelo de terapia basada en el desarrollo moral. De este modo, se reproduce en una sola sesión imaginaria todo un proceso terapéutico en su totalidad, basado en un caso real.
Entrevista a manuel villegas sobre su libro “el error de prometeo. Psico(pato)logía del desarrollo moral”
Authors: Mallor Plou Pilar
Published: May 2021

Entrevista a Manuel Villegas.
Pauta de reconstrucción de malestar psicológico: aplicaciones a un caso clínico
Authors: Quiñones Bergeret Álvaro
Published: May 2021

El propósito del presente artículo es describir la Pauta de Malestar Psicológico [RMPS] y sus posibilidades de aplicabilidad clínica en un caso didáctico. Esta pauta de observación para terapeutas, surge de la investigación de transcripciones de procesos de psicoterapia tanto exitosos como no exitosos. La RMPS se inspira tanto en la experiencia clínica atesorada como en la tradición cognitiva en psicoterapia.
La versión española del CORE-OM: Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure
Authors: Feixas Guillem , García-Grau Eugeni , Bados Arturo , González Esther , Corbella Sergi , Botella Lluís , Saúl Luis Ángel , Trujillo Adriana , Evans Chris , López-González M. Ángeles
Published: May 2021

Se presenta la versión en español del Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation- Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), un instrumento creado por el Core System Group para la evaluación del cambio terapéutico. El CORE-OM es un cuestionario que evalúa el malestar psicológico a partir de cuatro dimensiones: Bienestar subjetivo, Problemas/Síntomas, Funcionamiento general y Riesgo. Se describe el cuestionario y se exponen los estudios psicométricos realizados, los cuales indican que el instrumento posee un nivel de validez y fiabilidad adecuadas, así como una excelente aceptación y sensibilidad al cambio terapéutico. Con la supervisión y guía de miembros del equipo creador del CORE-OM, se realizó el proceso de traducción de la versión original en inglés. Colaboraron 12 personas competentes en ambas lenguas de diferentes lugares de España; posteriormente 64 castellano-parlantes de distintas condiciones y orígenes lingüísticos participaron en la revisión del instrumento. Así se obtuvo una versión definitiva en español del CORE-OM, de la que se derivaron las versiones más breves resultantes (CORE-SFA, CORE-SFB, CORE-10 y CORE-5) y todas ellas en versión femenina y masculina. Ahora que el CORE-OM está disponible para todos los psicoterapeutas de habla hispana (www.ub.edu/terdep/core), se hace necesario continuar con el estudio de validación con el objetivo de disponer de las propiedades psicométricas del instrumento en su versión en español.
La evolución histórica del paradigma de Carl Rogers y la terapia centrada en el cliente: de la actitud no-directiva a la actitud experiencial
Authors: Lietaer Germain
Published: May 2021

El presente artículo intenta delinear la evolución histórica que ha seguido el paradigma de Carl Rogers desde sus inicios hasta nuestros días. Para ello se propone particularmente describir el proceso seguido por este paradigma desde la práctica de una terapia «no-directiva» a una terapia «orientada a la experiencia».
La pcp ante el fin del milenio: comentarios sobre el xii international congress on personal construct psychology.
Authors: Herrero Olga
Published: May 2021

XII Congreso Internacional sobre Psicología de los Constructos Personales.
The Traffic Grooming Problem in Optical Networks with Respect to ADMs and OADMs: Complexity and Approximation
Authors: Flammini Michele , Monaco Gianpiero , Moscardelli Luca , Shalom Mordechai , Zaks Shmuel
Published: May 2021

All-optical networks transmit messages along lightpaths in which the signal is transmitted using the same wavelength in all the relevant links. We consider the problem of switching cost minimization in these networks. Specifically, the input to the problem under consideration is an optical network modeled by a graph G, a set of lightpaths modeled by paths on G, and an integer g termed the grooming factor. One has to assign a wavelength (modeled by a color) to every lightpath, so that every edge of the graph is used by at most g paths of the same color. A lightpath operating at some wavelength λ uses one Add/Drop multiplexer (ADM) at both endpoints and one Optical Add/Drop multiplexer (OADM) at every intermediate node, all operating at a wavelength of λ. Two lightpaths, both operating at the same wavelength λ, share the ADMs and OADMs in their common nodes. Therefore, the total switching cost due to the usage of ADMs and OADMs depends on the wavelength assignment. We consider networks of ring and path topology and a cost function that is a convex combination α·|OADMs|+(1−α)|ADMs| of the number of ADMs and the number of OADMs deployed in the network. We showed that the problem of minimizing this cost function is NP-complete for every convex combination, even in a path topology network with g=2. On the positive side, we present a polynomial-time approximation algorithm for the problem.
Allergic Food Sensitization and Disease Manifestation in the Fetus and Infant: A Perspective
Authors: Hopp Russell J. , Salazar Peggy , Pasha Muhammad Asghar
Published: May 2021

Even though allergic disease is identified in the first year of life, it is often in a less forward fashion, with elements of a wait and see approach. If the infant does not have an anaphylactic food reaction, other less dramatic allergic phenomenon is often under-emphasized, waiting for additional concerns. We approached this with a conception to first conduct birthday surveys, attempting to link intrauterine and peri-birth circumstances to affect better allergy recognition in young infants.
Wall Thinning Assessment for Ferromagnetic Plate with Pulsed Eddy Current Testing Using Analytical Solution Decoupling Method
Authors: Zhang Qing , Wu Xinjun
Published: May 2021

The wall-thinning measurement of ferromagnetic plates covered with insulations and claddings is a main challenge in petrochemical and power generation industries. Pulsed eddy current testing (PECT) is considered as a promising method. However, the accuracy is limited due to the interference factors such as lift-off and cladding. In this study, by decoupling analytic solution, a feature only sensitive to plate thickness is proposed. Based on the electromagnetic waves reflection and transmission theory, cladding-induced interference is firstly decoupled from the analytical model. Moreover, by using the first integral mean value theorem, interferences of insulation and the lift-off are decoupled, too. Hence, the method is proposed by calculating Euclidean distances between the normalized detection signal and normalized reference signal as the feature to assess wall thinning. Its effectiveness under various conditions is examined and results show that the proposed feature is only sensitive to the ferromagnetic plate thickness. Finally, the experiment is carried on to verify this method practicable.
Effects of Glycemic Gap on Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: Lee Minwoo , Lim Jae-Sung , Kim Yerim , Lee Ju Hun , Kim Chul-Ho , Lee Sang-Hwa , Jang Min Uk , Oh Mi Sun , Lee Byung-Chul , Yu Kyung-Ho
Published: May 2021

Background: Post-stroke hyperglycemia is a frequent finding in acute ischemic stroke patients and is associated with poor functional and cognitive outcomes. However, it is unclear as to whether the glycemic gap between the admission glucose and HbA1c-derived estimated average glucose (eAG) is associated with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Methods: We enrolled acute ischemic stroke patients whose cognitive functions were evaluated three months after a stroke using the Korean version of the vascular cognitive impairment harmonization standards neuropsychological protocol (K-VCIHS-NP). The development of PSCI was defined as having z-scores of less than −2 standard deviations in at least one cognitive domain. The participants were categorized into three groups according to the glycemic gap status: non-elevated (initial glucose − eAG ≤ 0 mg/dL), mildly elevated (0 mg/dL < initial glucose − eAG < 50 mg/dL), and severely elevated (50 mg/dL ≤ initial glucose − eAG). Results: A total of 301 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 63.1 years, and the median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was two (IQR: 1–4). In total, 65 patients (21.6%) developed PSCI. In multiple logistic regression analyses, the severely elevated glycemic gap was a significant predictor for PSCI after adjusting for age, sex, education level, initial stroke severity, Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification, and left hemispheric lesion (aOR: 3.65, p-value = 0.001). Patients in the severely elevated glycemic gap group showed significantly worse performance in the frontal and memory domains. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study demonstrated that an elevated glycemic gap was significantly associated with PSCI three months after a stroke, with preferential involvement of frontal and memory domain dysfunctions.