bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurophotonics: a comprehensive review, current challenges and future trends
Authors: Barros Beatriz Jacinto , Cunha João P. S.
Published: May 2024

The human brain, with its vast network of billions of neurons and trillions of synapses (connections) between diverse cell types, remains one of the greatest mysteries in science and medicine. Despite extensive research, an understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive normal behaviors and response to disease states is still limited. Advancement in the Neuroscience field and development of therapeutics for related pathologies requires innovative technologies that can provide a dynamic and systematic understanding of the interactions between neurons and neural circuits. In this work, we provide an up-to-date overview of the evolution of neurophotonic approaches in the last 10 years through a multi-source, literature analysis. From an initial corpus of 243 papers retrieved from Scopus, PubMed and WoS databases, we have followed the PRISMA approach to select 56 papers in the area. Following a full-text evaluation of these 56 scientific articles, six main areas of applied research were identified and discussed: (1) Advanced optogenetics, (2) Multimodal neural interfaces, (3) Innovative therapeutics, (4) Imaging devices and probes, (5) Remote operations, and (6) Microfluidic platforms. For each area, the main technologies selected are discussed according to the photonic principles applied, the neuroscience application evaluated and the more indicative results of efficiency and scientific potential. This detailed analysis is followed by an outlook of the main challenges tackled over the last 10 years in the Neurophotonics field, as well as the main technological advances regarding specificity, light delivery, multimodality, imaging, materials and system designs. We conclude with a discussion of considerable challenges for future innovation and translation in Neurophotonics, from light delivery within the brain to physical constraints and data management strategies.
Objectivization study of acupuncture Deqi and brain modulation mechanisms: a review
Authors: Zhong Zhen , Yao Lin , Liu Yan-Ze , Wang Yu , He Min , Sun Meng-Meng , Huang Hai-Peng , Ma Shi-Qi , Zheng Hai-Zhu , Li Meng-Yuan , Zhang Xin-Yu , Cong De-Yu , Wang Hong-Feng
Published: May 2024

Deqi is an important prerequisite for acupuncture to achieve optimal efficacy. Chinese medicine has long been concerned with the relationship between Deqi and the clinical efficacy of acupuncture. However, the underlying mechanisms of Deqi are complex and there is a lack of systematic summaries of objective quantitative studies of Deqi. Acupuncture Deqi can achieve the purpose of treating diseases by regulating the interaction of local and neighboring acupoints, brain centers, and target organs. At local and neighboring acupoints, Deqi can change their tissue structure, temperature, blood perfusion, energy metabolism, and electrophysiological indicators. At the central brain level, Deqi can activate the brain regions of the thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, insular, middle temporal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, etc. It also has extensive effects on the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical-network and default mode network. The brain mechanisms of Deqi vary depending on the acupuncture techniques and points chosen. In addition, Deqi 's mechanism of action involves correcting abnormalities in target organs. The mechanisms of acupuncture Deqi are multi-targeted and multi-layered. The biological mechanisms of Deqi are closely related to brain centers. This study will help to explore the mechanism of Deqi from a local-central-target-organ perspective and provide information for future clinical decision-making.
Current insights into transcriptional role(s) for the nutraceutical Withania somnifera in inflammation and aging
Authors: Saha Praful , Ajgaonkar Saiprasad , Maniar Dishant , Sahare Simran , Mehta Dilip , Nair Sujit
Published: May 2024

The health-beneficial effects of nutraceuticals in various diseases have received enhanced attention in recent years. Aging is a continuous process wherein physiological activity of an individual declines over time and is characterized by various indefinite hallmarks which contribute toward aging-related comorbidities in an individual which include many neurodegenerative diseases, cardiac problems, diabetes, bone-degeneration, and cancer. Cellular senescence is a homeostatic biological process that has an important function in driving aging. Currently, a growing body of evidence substantiates the connection between epigenetic modifications and the aging process, along with aging-related diseases. These modifications are now being recognized as promising targets for emerging therapeutic interventions. Considering that almost all the biological processes are modulated by RNAs, numerous RNA-binding proteins have been found to be linked to aging and age-related complexities. Currently, studies have shed light on the ability of the nutraceutical Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to influence RNA expression, stability, and processing, offering insights into its mechanisms of action. By targeting RNA-related pathways, Withania somnifera may exhibit promising effects in ameliorating age-associated molecular changes, which include modifications in gene expression and signaling networks. This review summarizes the potential role of Withania somnifera as a nutraceutical in modulating RNA-level changes associated with aging, encompassing both in vitro and in vivo studies. Taken together, the putative role(s) of Withania in modulation of key RNAs will provide insights into understanding the aging process and facilitate the development of various preventive and therapeutic strategies employing nutraceuticals for healthy aging.
Microwave-assisted intralesional curettage combined with other adjuvant methods for treatment of Campanacci III giant cell tumor of bone in distal radius: a multicenter clinical study
Authors: Cui Haocheng , Li Jianhua , Zheng Kai , Xu Ming , Zhang Guochuan , Hu Yongcheng , Yu Xiuchun
Published: May 2024

Objective

To compare the clinical outcomes of microwave-assisted intralesional curettage(MAIC) with those of en bloc resection and autogenous fibular reconstruction (EBR-AFR) for treating grade III giant cell tumor of the bone (GCTB) of the distal radius and to elucidate the indications for wrist preservation surgery.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective study, 19 patients with grade III GCTB of the distal radius who underwent surgery at three medical institutions were included and categorized based on their surgical pattern. Seven patients underwent MAIC and internal fixation with bone cement (MAIC group) and 12 underwent EBR-AFR (EBR-AFR group). To evaluate the function of the affected limb postoperatively, wrist range of motion, grip strength, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores were recorded.

Results

The follow-up time of the MAIC group was 73.57 ± 28.61 (36–116) months, with no recurrence or lung metastasis. In contrast, the follow-up time of the EBR-AFR group was 55.67 ± 28.74 (36–132) months, with 1 case of local recurrence (8.3%, 1/12) and 1 case of lung metastasis (8.3%, 1/12). The wrist flexion, extension, supination, pronation, grip strength were better in the MAIC group than in the EBR-AFR group. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the MSTS score between the two groups, it is noteworthy that the MAIC group exhibited significantly superior emotional acceptance and hand positioning compared to the EBR-AFR group(p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The functional outcomes of the MAIC group are better. The treatment strategy for grade III GCTB of the distal radius should be determined based on the specific preoperative imaging findings. Nevertheless, MAIC can be the preferred surgical approach for most patients with grade III GCTB of the distal radius, particularly for young patients.
Dynamic changes in tumor profiling reveal intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity focused on an uncharacterized HER2 mutation: a case report of a young breast cancer patient
Authors: Schaffrin-Nabe Dörthe , Josten-Nabe Anke , Tannapfel Andrea , Uhl Waldemar , Garmer Marietta , Kurzrock Razelle , Crook Timothy , Limaye Sewanti , Schuster Stefan , Patil Darshana , Schaffrin Merle , Mokbel Kefah , Voigtmann Rudolf
Published: May 2024

Despite multiple recent advances in systemic therapy for metastatic breast cancer, cases which display suboptimal response to guideline-driven treatment are frequently seen in the clinic. Effective options for such patients are limited, particularly in later line of therapy, and selection of optimal treatment options is essentially empirical and based largely on considerations of previous regimens received. Comprehensive cancer profiling includes detection of genetic alterations in tissue and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), immunohistochemistry (IHC) from re-biopsied metastatic disease, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), gene expression analysis and pharmacogenomics. The advent of this methodology and application to metastatic breast cancer, facilitates a more scientifically informed approach to identification of optimal systemic therapy approaches independent of the restrictions implied by clinical guidelines. Here we describe a case of metastatic breast cancer where consecutive comprehensive tumor profiling reveals ongoing tumor evolution, guiding the identification of novel effective therapeutic strategies.
Genetic variation in UGT1A1 is not associated with altered liver biochemical parameters in healthy volunteers participating in bioequivalence trials
Authors: González-Iglesias Eva , Ochoa Dolores , Román Manuel , Soria-Chacartegui Paula , Martín-Vilchez Samuel , Navares-Gómez Marcos , De Miguel Alejandro , Zubiaur Pablo , Rodríguez-Lopez Andrea , Abad-Santos Francisco , Novalbos Jesús
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Bioequivalence clinical trials are conducted in healthy volunteers whose blood tests should be within normal limits; individuals with Gilbert syndrome (GS) are excluded from these studies on suspicion of any liver disease, even if the change is clinically insignificant. GS is a benign genetic disorder characterized by elevated bilirubin levels, the primary cause of which is the presence of polymorphisms in UGT1A1 gene. In this work, subjects with UGT1A1 intermediate (IM) or poor (PM) metabolizer genotype-informed phenotypes were investigated to determine whether they have a higher incidence of liver disease or other biochemical parameters.

Methods: The study population comprised 773 healthy volunteers who underwent biochemical analysis at baseline and at the end of the study which were genotyped for UGT1A1*80 (rs887829), as an indicator of UGT1A1*80+*28 (rs887829 and rs3064744), and UGT1A1*6 (rs4148323).

Results: Bilirubin levels were higher in subjects IMs and PMs compared to normal metabolizers (NMs). Decreased uric acid levels was observed in PMs compared to NMs. No associations were observed in liver enzyme levels according to UGT1A1 phenotype.

Discussion: Considering that there is no hepatic toxicity in subjects with UGT1A1 IM or PM phenotype, who are more likely to develop GS, this study suggests that they could be included in bioequivalence clinical trials as their biochemical parameters are not affected outside normal ranges.
Anomalous Hall effects in chiral superconductors
Authors: Ngampruetikorn Vudtiwat , Sauls J. A.
Published: May 2024

We report theoretical results for the electronic contribution to thermal and electrical transport for chiral superconductors belonging to even or odd-parity E1 and E2 representations of the tetragonal and hexagonal point groups. Chiral superconductors exhibit novel properties that depend on the topology of the order parameter and Fermi surface, and—as we highlight—the structure of the impurity potential. An anomalous thermal Hall effect is predicted and shown to be sensitive to the winding number, ν, of the chiral order parameter via Andreev scattering that transfers angular momentum from the chiral condensate to excitations that scatter off the random potential. For heat transport in a chiral superconductor with isotropic impurity scattering, i.e., point-like impurities, a transverse heat current is obtained for ν=±1, but vanishes for |ν|>1. This is not a universal result. For finite-size impurities with radii of order or greater than the Fermi wavelength, R≥ℏ/pf, the thermal Hall conductivity is finite for chiral order with |ν|≥2, and determined by a specific Fermi-surface average of the differential cross-section for electron-impurity scattering. Our results also provide quantitative formulae for analyzing and interpreting thermal transport measurements for superconductors predicted to exhibit broken time-reversal and mirror symmetries.
Process of mercury accumulation in urban strip river artificial wetland ecosystems: a case study of Changchun, a typical industrial city in Northeast China
Authors: Zong Jing , Zhang Hongjie , Li Xuemei , Bai Xinyu , Hu Yufei , Cui Dan , Wang Zhaojun , Zhang Gang
Published: May 2024

Mercury (Hg), as a global pollutant, is persistent, migratory, insidious, highly biotoxic and highly enriched, and is widely distributed in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. Wetland ecosystems, as active mercury reservoirs, have become the most important sources and sinks of heavy metal mercury. Distinguished from natural wetlands, artificial wetlands located in urban sections of rivers face problems such as diverse urban pollution sources and complex spatial and temporal changes. Therefore, in this study, five intermittently distributed artificial wetlands were selected from the upstream to the downstream of the Changchun section of the Yitong River, a tributary of the Songhua River basin in the old industrial base of Northeast China. The mercury levels in the water bodies, sediments and plants of the artificial wetlands were collected and tested in four quarters from April 2023 to analyse the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of total mercury. The results showed that the mercury levels in the water bodies, sediments and plants of the five wetlands showed a fluctuating trend with the river flow direction and had certain spatial and temporal distribution characteristics. This phenomenon was attributed to the sinking of external mercury pollution sources. In general, the wetland ecosystems showed a decreasing trend in the total Hg output of the downstream watershed. This may be due to the retention of particulate matter by aquatic plants in artificial wetlands to regular salvage of dead aquatic plants. At the same time urbanization and industrialization affect mercury levels in aquatic environments, so the risk of residential exposure needs to be looked at.
Misuse of emergency powers and its effect on civil society—the case of Hungary
Authors: Mészáros Gábor
Published: May 2024

Democratic tolerance has been used for their own destruction in Hungary. Gradually, various forms of crisis management have become the very nature of the governing political parties since 2010. Under the framework of Carl Schmitt's enemy-friend dichotomy, the Orbán regime has created its own “enemies” partially among those who would never be thought to be a threat to a constitutional democracy but to be considered its foundational elements (political opposition, NGOs, free media, etc.). This article shows how emergency powers and autocratic legalism were misused against civil society. There is one simple goal for the Hungarian autocratic regime: defending “our democracy” against “them,” who would still like to promote liberal democracy and the rule of law.
The Chinese customers and service staff interactive affective system (CCSIAS): introduction to a multimodal stimulus dataset
Authors: Liu Ping , Zhang Yi , Xiong Ziyue , Gao Ying
Published: May 2024

To research the emotional interaction between customers and service staff, single-modal stimuli are being used to activate subjects’ emotions while multimodal emotion stimuli with better efficiency are often neglected. This study aims to construct a multimodal emotion stimuli database (CCSIAS) with video records of real work status of 29 service staff and audio clips of interactions between customers and service staff by setting up wide-angle cameras and searching in company’s Ocean Engine for 15 consecutive days. First, we developed a tool to assess the emotional statuses of customers and service staff in Study 1. Second, 40 Masters and PhD students were invited to assess the audio and video data to evaluate the emotional states of customers and service staff in Study 2, using the tools developed in Study 1. Third, 118 participants were recruited to test the results from Study 2 to ensure the stability of the derived data. The results showed that 139 sets of stable emotional audio & video data were constructed (26 sets were high, 59 sets were medium and 54 sets were low). The amount of emotional information is important for the effective activation of participants’ emotional states, and the degree of emotional activation of video data is significantly higher than that of the audio data. Overall, it was shown that the study of emotional interaction phenomena requires a multimodal dataset. The CCSIAS (https://osf.io/muc86/) can extend the depth and breadth of emotional interaction research and can be applied to different emotional states between customers and service staff activation in the fields of organizational behavior and psychology.
The borderline effect for diabetes: when no difference makes a difference
Authors: Aungle Peter , Langer Ellen
Published: May 2024

We hypothesized that people at the borderline of being labeled as “prediabetic” based on A1c blood test results, who initially face equivalent risks of developing diabetes but who are labeled differently, would be more likely to develop diabetes when labeled as “prediabetic” as a result of the label. Study 1 served to establish the psychological effect of the prediabetes label: we surveyed 260 participants on Amazon Mechanical Turk to test whether risk perception significantly increased when comparing A1c test results that differed by 0.1% and led to different diagnostic labels (5.6 and 5.7%) but did not significantly increase when comparing those that differed by 0.1% but received the same label (5.5%/5.6 and 5.7%/5.8%). Study 2 explored whether labels are associated with different rates of developing diabetes when the initial difference in A1c results suggests equivalent risk. Using data from 8,096 patients, we compared patients whose initial A1c results differed by 0.1% and found those who received results labeled as prediabetic (A1c of 5.7%) were significantly more likely to develop diabetes than patients whose initial results were labeled as normal (5.6%). In contrast, patients whose initial results differed by 0.1% but who received the same “normal” label (5.5 and 5.6%) were equally likely to develop diabetes. These preliminary results suggest that diagnostic labels may become self-fulfilling, especially when the underlying pathology of patients receiving different labels does not meaningfully differ.
The effect of collectivism-oriented human resource management on employee resilience of hospitality employees
Authors: Chen Shihua , Hu Xiaohan , Xue Yuting , Wang Yuang
Published: May 2024

Introduction

In the face of an increasingly challenging and rapidly evolving business environment, not all the employees exhibit the requisite resilience necessary to recover from adversity. From both the individual and organizational perspectives, enhancing employee resilience emerges as a critical issue not only in the practical and academic fields. In the Chinese culture, this research aims to investigate how and why collectivism-oriented human resource management (C-HRM) fosters employee resilience. Drawing on the group engagement model, we propose a serial mediating effect of perceived overall fairness and three dimensions of social identity between C-HRM and employee resilience.

Methods

Using a sample of frontline employees in the hospitality industry, we conducted a field survey among 342 employees (study 1) and a two-wave online survey among 294 hospitality employees (study 2).

Results

Findings from empirical analysis indicated that C-HRM significantly increases overall fairness perception of hospitality frontline employees and in turn, their identification and respect, which further fertilize employee resilience. In addition, the indirect effect of C-HRM on employee resilience through perceived overall fairness and pride was not statistically significant.

Discussion

These important findings are expected to help employees cope with the workplace pressures caused by ongoing challenges and change, and contribute to sustainable career development.
The influence of vibratory massage after physical exertion on selected psychological processes
Authors: Wrześniewski Krzysztof , Pałka Tomasz , Blecharz Jan
Published: May 2024

Good mental preparation of an athlete plays an important role in achieving optimal sports results. An athlete who enters a competition should not feel fatigue resulting from intense physical exercise. Therefore, new and effective methods are being sought that could help accelerate the process of both physical and mental regeneration. Vibrotherapy is one of them. The aim of the study was to determine the optimal frequency of vibration, its duration and the position in which the subjects were placed during the treatments, in relation to the reduction of subjectively perceived exertion muscle pain, mental discomfort, emotional states and the level of cognitive processes that were disturbed by intense physical activity. Sixteen healthy male volunteers were involved in this study. The participants were assessed for their aerobic and anaerobic capacity. Each of the subjects performed a set of intensive physical exercises and then underwent vibrotherapy treatment. In random order, each of the men tested the effectiveness of eight combinations of frequency, duration, and body position. Psychological tests were conducted for each combination: frequency, duration of treatment, and position during treatment, in four stages: (1) before the start of the experiment (baseline POMS measurements), (2) immediately after the exercise (VAS scale, scale examining psychological discomfort and STROOP test), (3) immediately after the vibration treatment (POMS measurements, VAS scale, scale examining psychological discomfort and STROOP test), (4) 24 h after the vibration treatment (VAS scale examining subjective assessment of perceived pain and psychological discomfort). Based on the results, it was concluded that all the studied variables improved significantly over time (after the vibration treatment and 24 h after training). In addition, a statistically significant interaction measurement × frequency was noted for vigor scale (52HZ favored greater improvement in this state), and a statistically significant interaction was found for measurement × time for the VAS scale (p < 0.05) – the lower pain value was indicated 24 h after the 10-min vibration treatment. The type of frequency used, position, and duration of the treatment did not play a statistically significant role in changing STROOP test results and severity of psychological discomfort (p > 0.05).
Anxiety and fear of COVID-19 as potential mechanisms to explain vaccine hesitancy among adults
Authors: Fadhel Fahmi H. , Sufyan Nabil Saleh , Alqahtani Mohammed M. J. , Almaamari Ahmed Ali
Published: May 2024

Background

Vaccine hesitancy is a significant global problem resulting from the interaction of multiple factors, including mental health factors. However, the association of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy with mental health has not been well-examined, especially in Arab culture. This study aims to identify the correlation between anxiety/fear of COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy among Saudi adults.

Methods

An online-based survey was administered to 558 participants from all regions of Saudi Arabia using the snowball technique. However, this sample may not be representative of the Saudi adult population. Participants responded to the Questionnaire of Vaccine Hesitancy, the COVID-19-Anxiety Questionnaire (C-19-A), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Data were analyzed on vaccine uptake, vaccine hesitancy, coronavirus infection, and demographic variables. The predictive factors of vaccine hesitancy were examined in one model using multiple regression analysis by the Enter method (P= 0.05).

Results

COVID-19 anxiety and fear have significant correlations with vaccine hesitancy (Phi=0.33, P=0.017; Phi=0.29, P=0.013, respectively). Anxiety and fear were higher among unhesitating participants (t =2.469, P=0.014; t=2.025, P=0.043, respectively). Participants who had previously been infected with coronavirus were more likely to be hesitant (X2 = 23.126, P=0.000). Participants who scored high in anxiety were more likely to be vaccinated (F=3.979, P=0.019) and have a secondary school or college education (F=4.903 P=0.002). COVID-19 anxiety, gender, and coronavirus infection significantly predicted vaccine hesitancy.

Conclusion

Anxiety and fear of COVID-19 are among the most important factors correlated with vaccine hesitancy; unhesitant people are more likely to have anxiety and fear. COVID-19 anxiety significantly predicted vaccine hesitancy. We recommend integrating psychological care into vaccination plans to help increase the uptake rate during potential subsequent pandemics. Relevant intervention programs can be designed to help increase vaccine acceptance, deal with vaccine hesitancy, and relieve psychological symptoms during major pandemics. Psychologists can provide awareness messages, counselling seminars, online mentoring, or telemental health outreach.
Evaluating ChatGPT-4’s historical accuracy: a case study on the origins of SWOT analysis
Authors: Puyt Richard W. , Madsen Dag Øivind
Published: May 2024

In this study we test ChatGPT-4’s ability to provide accurate information about the origins and evolution of SWOT analysis, perhaps the most widely used strategy tool in practice worldwide. ChatGPT-4 is tested for historical accuracy and hallucinations. The API is prompted using a Python script with a series of structured questions from an Excel file and the results are recorded in another Excel file and rated on a binary scale. Our findings present a nuanced view of ChatGPT-4’s capabilities. We observe that while ChatGPT-4 demonstrates a high level of proficiency in describing and outlining the general concept of SWOT analysis, there are notable discrepancies when it comes to detailing its origins and evolution. These inaccuracies range from minor factual errors to more serious hallucinations that deviate from evidence in scholarly publications. However, we also find that ChatGPT-4 comes up with spontaneous historically accurate facts. Our interpretation of the result is that ChatGPT is largely trained on easily available websites and to a very limited extent has been trained on scholarly publications on SWOT analysis, especially when these are behind a paywall. We conclude with four propositions for future research.
Behavioral and contextual determinants of different stages of saving behavior
Authors: Barrafrem Kinga , Tinghög Gustav , Västfjäll Daniel
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Saving is a journey, beginning with the critical decision to initiate the process, take that pivotal first deposit step, and persistently commit to ongoing savings. However, a lot of saving plans fail already before any deposit is made, and even if the first deposit is made, long-run success of savings is far from guaranteed. In this study, we investigate both individual and saving-goal-specific determinants of successful savings.

Method

We use real-life savings data (N = 2,619 saving goals of 808 individuals) from a FinTech company in Sweden that helps individuals save for their goals. In addition, we collect a wide range of individual characteristics related to financial behavior: individuals' objective and subjective financial knowledge, self-control, and information avoidance.

Results and discussion

Our analysis uncovered distinctive patterns at different stages of the saving process. While objective financial knowledge didn't correlate with how much one saves, it was significantly related to the likelihood of making the first deposit. Furthermore, individuals with high self-control exhibited greater savings, though self-control was not related to the initiation of saving. Interestingly, subjective financial literacy and information avoidance showed no significant association with overall savings behavior. Additionally, our study indicated that the attainability of goals plays a crucial role in depositing funds, with more achievable goals having higher deposit likelihoods. Conversely, ambitious goals, despite their challenging nature, tended to attract more substantial savings. Our findings, grounded in real-life data, provide valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms influencing successful saving behaviors, shedding light on the complexities of financial decision-making and goal pursuit.
Development and validation of a quality of life and treatment satisfaction measure in canine osteoarthritis
Authors: Gildea Edwina , Scales-Theobald Emma , Thompson Jill , Cook Alasdair , Forde Katie , Skingley George , Lawrie Sophie , Williamson Nicola , Panter Charlotte
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Canine osteoarthritis (OA) causes pain and mobility impairment. This can reduce dog quality of life (QoL), owner QoL and owners’ satisfaction with, and adherence to, treatments. No existing canine OA-specific instrument assesses all three impacts. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically evaluate an owner-completed canine OA-specific measure of dog QoL, owner QoL and owner treatment satisfaction; the “Canine OA Quality of Life and Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire” (CaOA-QoL-TS).

Methods

The CaOA-QoL-TS was developed using a conceptual model derived from a meta-synthesis of published literature followed by cognitive interviews with ten owners of dogs with OA, to evaluate content validity.

Results

Based on interview findings, ten items were reworded, four removed, and two added; resulting in 26 items that all owners understood and considered relevant. The recall period and response options were well understood and appropriate to almost all owners. To evaluate its psychometric properties, the CaOA-QoL-TS (draft 26-item version) was administered, across six timepoints in a phase 4 field study, to owners of OA treated dogs, recruited from veterinary practices (N = 93). Inter-item correlations suggested items clustered into three distinct domains: Dog QoL, Owner QoL and Treatment Satisfaction, as hypothesized. Confirmatory factor analysis supported deletion of two items and calculation of the three domain scores, with acceptable model fit. The resulting 24-item CaOA-QoL-TS instrument demonstrated strong internal consistency and good to excellent test–retest reliability. Convergent validity was supported by moderate to strong correlations with concurrent measures. Known groups validity was supported by statistically significant differences between groups categorized by owner global impression of QoL. Ability to detect change was demonstrated through statistically significant improvements over time in Owner and Dog QoL, with larger within-group effect sizes reported for the mean of ‘improved’ dogs compared to the mean of ‘stable’ dogs. Only a small sample of dogs worsened throughout the study. Anchor-based analyses supported-0.9 and-1.0-point within-group responder definitions for dog and owner QoL domains, respectively.

Discussion

Findings support the content validity of the CaOA-QoL-TS in canine OA. The 24-item CaOA-QoL-TS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure owner and canine QoL and TS and is sensitive to improvements following OA treatment.
The Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Gut Immune and Oxidative Responses of European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): An Ex Vivo Approach
Authors: Fontinha Filipa , Martins Nicole , Campos Gabriel , Peres Helena , Oliva-Teles Aires
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the intestinal interactions between three short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), namely, acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio anguillarum) in intestinal explants of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles. The anterior intestine of 12 fish with an average weight of 100 g (killed by excess anesthesia with 2-phenoxyethanol) were sampled and placed in 24-well plates. The experimental treatments consisted of a control medium and a control plus 1 mM or 10 mM of sodium acetate (SA), sodium butyrate (SB), and sodium propionate (SP). After 2 h of incubation, the explants were challenged with Vibrio anguillarum at 1 × 107 CFU/mL for 2 h. After the bacterial challenge, and regardless of the SCFA treatment, the oxidative stress-related genus catalase (cat) and superoxide dismutase (sod) were down-regulated and glutathione peroxidase (gpx) was up-regulated. Furthermore, the immune-related genes, i.e., the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 8 (IL-8), transforming growth factor (TGF-β), and nuclear factor (NF-Kβ) were also up-regulated, and interleukin 10 (IL-10) was down-regulated. During the pre-challenge, sodium propionate and sodium butyrate seemed to bind the G-protein coupled receptor (grp40L), increasing its expression. During the challenge, citrate synthase (cs) was down-regulated, indicating that the SCFAs were used as an energy source to increase the immune and oxidative responses. Overall, our results suggest that sodium propionate and sodium butyrate may boost European sea bass immune response at the intestine level.
Combined Use of Fatty Acid Profiles and Elemental Fingerprints to Trace the Geographic Origin of Live Baits for Sports Fishing: The Solitary Tube Worm (Diopatra neapolitana, Annelida, Onuphidae) as a Case Study
Authors: Ricardo Fernando , Lopes Marta Lobão , Mamede Renato , Domingues M. Rosário , Ferreira da Silva Eduardo , Patinha Carla , Calado Ricardo
Published: May 2024

Diopatra neapolitana Delle Chiaje, 1841 (Annelida, Onuphidae) is one of the most exploited polychaete species in European waters, particularly in Ria de Aveiro, a coastal lagoon in mainland Portugal, where the overexploitation of this resource has led to a generalized decline of local populations. In an attempt to reduce the impact of harvesting, several management actions were implemented, but illegal poaching still fuels a parallel economy that threatens the sustainable use of this marine resource. The present study evaluated the combination of fatty acid profiles and elemental fingerprints of the whole body and jaws, respectively, of D. neapolitana collected from four harvesting locations within Ria de Aveiro in order to determine if their geographic origin could be correctly assigned post-harvesting. Results showed that both fatty acid profiles and elemental fingerprints differ significantly among locations, discriminating the geographic origin with higher accuracy when combining these two natural barcodes than when employing each individually. The present work can, therefore, contribute to the implementation of an effective management plan for the sustainable use of this marine resource, making it possible to detect if D. neapolitana was sourced from no-take zones and if it was collected from the place of origin claimed by live bait traders.
Sequencing of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Big Brown Mactra Clam, Mactra grandis (Venerida: Mactridae)
Authors: Ma Peizhen , Liu Zhihong , Li Zhuanzhuan , Sun Xiujun , Zhou Liqing , Wu Xiangyu , Wu Biao
Published: May 2024

Mitochondrial genomes are playing an increasingly important role in molluscan taxonomy, germplasm, and evolution studies. The first complete mitochondrial genome of the commercial big brown mactra clam, Mactra grandis, was characterized using Illumina next-generation sequencing in this study. The 17,289 bp circular genome has a typical gene organization of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNAs, and 22 tRNAs, with an obvious (A + T)-bias of 64.54%. All PCGs exhibited a homogeneous bias in nucleotide composition with a (A + T)-bias, a positive GC skew, and a negative AT skew. Results of phylogenetic analysis showed that Mactra grandis was most closely related to Mactra cygnus. The functional gene arrangement of the two species was identical but different from other Mactra species. The congeneric relationships among Mactra species were demonstrated by genetic distance analysis. Additionally, the selective pressure analysis suggested that cox1 was highly efficient for discriminating closely related species in genus Mactra, while nad2 was the most appropriate marker for population genetic analysis.
Where Do They Come From and Where Do They Go? Socioeconomic Patterns in Dog Acquisition and Rehoming
Authors: Kremer Tom , Neal Sue M.
Published: May 2024

This research examines the ways people acquire dogs in the US as well as the ways the dogs leave the household and the way these differ by income level in seven geographically diverse study communities. A web-based panel survey was distributed and received 6318 responses. Individuals were asked a series of demographic and socioeconomic questions as well as how they acquired their current dogs, how previous dogs left their household, and where they left to. The results indicate that the likelihood of acquiring a dog through friends and family decreased monotonically as income increased, while the opposite was observed for adopting and purchasing a dog. The likelihood of giving a dog away to a friend or family member also decreased as income increased, as opposed to shelter surrender—a person earning over USD 100,000 annually was more than four times likelier to surrender to a shelter than a person earning under USD 15,000. The results suggest a stronger reliance on informal social networks in lower-income communities for both obtaining and placing dogs. As these dogs would otherwise end up in the shelter system, animal shelters may support low-income pet owners to help keep their dogs within their community of care.
Motor Imagery Classification Using Effective Channel Selection of Multichannel EEG
Authors: Shiam Abdullah Al , Hassan Kazi Mahmudul , Islam Md. Rabiul , Almassri Ahmed M. M. , Wagatsuma Hiroaki , Molla Md. Khademul Islam
Published: May 2024

Electroencephalography (EEG) is effectively employed to describe cognitive patterns corresponding to different tasks of motor functions for brain–computer interface (BCI) implementation. Explicit information processing is necessary to reduce the computational complexity of practical BCI systems. This paper presents an entropy-based approach to select effective EEG channels for motor imagery (MI) classification in brain–computer interface (BCI) systems. The method identifies channels with higher entropy scores, which is an indication of greater information content. It discards redundant or noisy channels leading to reduced computational complexity and improved classification accuracy. High entropy means a more disordered pattern, whereas low entropy means a less disordered pattern with less information. The entropy of each channel for individual trials is calculated. The weight of each channel is represented by the mean entropy of the channel over all the trials. A set of channels with higher mean entropy are selected as effective channels for MI classification. A limited number of sub-band signals are created by decomposing the selected channels. To extract the spatial features, the common spatial pattern (CSP) is applied to each sub-band space of EEG signals. The CSP-based features are used to classify the right-hand and right-foot MI tasks using a support vector machine (SVM). The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated using two publicly available EEG datasets, known as BCI competition III–IV(A) and BCI competition IV–I. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach surpasses cutting-edge techniques.
Effect of Hybridization of Carbon Fibers on Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Fiber–Cement Composites: A Response Surface Methodology Study
Authors: Insaurriaga Gabriel L. , Gomes Cristian C. , Ribeiro Felipe V. , Calegaro Gustavo L. , Silveira Thamires A. , Cruz Lóren F. , Cruz Joziel A. , Amico Sandro C. , Delucis Rafael A.
Published: May 2024

Fiber-reinforced cement composites, particularly those incorporating natural fibers like cellulose, have gained attention for their potential towards more sustainable construction. However, natural fibers present inherent deficiencies in mechanical properties and can benefit from hybridization with carbon fibers. This study focuses on the incorporation of cellulose and carbon fibers, in varying contents, into fibrocement composites, employing a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize the material characteristics. The methodology involves testing, encompassing flexural tensile, compression, and fracture toughness tests. The results indicate an increasing trend in flexural strength for higher carbon fiber content, peaking near 5%. A plateau in flexural strength is observed between 1.2% and 3.6% carbon fiber content, suggesting a range where mechanical properties stabilize. Compressive strength shows a plateau between 1.2 and 3.6% and reaches its highest value (≈33 MPa) at a carbon fiber content greater than 4.8%, and fracture toughness above 320 MPa·m1/2 is achieved with carbon fiber content above 3.6%. This study offers insights into optimizing the synergistic effects of cellulose and carbon fibers in fibrocement composites.
Detection of Oncogene Hotspot Mutations in Female NSCLC Tumor DNA and Cell-Free DNA
Authors: Drejeriene Ieva , Cicenas Saulius , Stanciute Diana , Krasauskas Arnoldas , Gruode Jurate
Published: May 2024

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent type of lung cancer, with extensively characterized mutational spectra. Several biomarkers (such as EGFR, BRAF, KRAS gene mutations, etc.) have emerged as predictive and prognostic markers for NSCLC. Unfortunately, the quality of the available tumor biopsy and/or cytology material is not always adequate to perform the necessary molecular testing, prompting the search for alternatives. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) found in plasma is emerging as a highly promising avenue or a supplementary method for assessing the efficacy of cancer treatments. This is especially valuable in instances where conventional biopsy specimens, like formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE), or freshly frozen tumor tissues prove inadequate for conducting molecular pathology analyses subsequent to the initial diagnostic procedures. By leveraging cfDNA from plasma, clinicians gain an additional tool to gauge the effectiveness of cancer therapies, thereby enhancing their ability to optimize tailored treatment strategies. In this study, 51 Lithuanian females with NSCLC were analyzed, with adenocarcinoma being the predominant pathology diagnosis in 40 cases (78%). Target mutations were identified in 38 out of 51 patients (74.5%) in tumor tissue samples, while in plasma samples, they were identified in only 10 patients’ samples (19.6%). Even though we did not have enough voluminous plasma samples in our study, gene mutations were detected in plasma from ten women, three of whom were diagnosed with early stages of lung cancer (stages I and II). For these patients, the following mutations were detected: deletion in exon 19 of the EGFR gene and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the TP53 and MET genes. All other women were diagnosed with stages III or IV of lung cancer. This indicates that the later stages of cancer contribute more cfDNA in plasma, making extraction less complicated.
Withaferin A as a Potential Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Cachexia
Authors: Vemuri Vasa , Kratholm Nicholas , Nagarajan Darini , Cathey Dakotah , Abdelbaset-Ismail Ahmed , Tan Yi , Straughn Alex , Cai Lu , Huang Jiapeng , Kakar Sham S.
Published: May 2024

In our previous studies, we showed that the generation of ovarian tumors in NSG mice (immune-compromised) resulted in the induction of muscle and cardiac cachexia, and treatment with withaferin A (WFA; a steroidal lactone) attenuated both muscle and cardiac cachexia. However, our studies could not address if these restorations by WFA were mediated by its anti-tumorigenic properties that might, in turn, reduce the tumor burden or WFA’s direct, inherent anti-cachectic properties. To address this important issue, in our present study, we used a cachectic model induced by the continuous infusion of Ang II by implanting osmotic pumps in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice. The continuous infusion of Ang II resulted in the loss of the normal functions of the left ventricle (LV) (both systolic and diastolic), including a significant reduction in fractional shortening, an increase in heart weight and LV wall thickness, and the development of cardiac hypertrophy. The infusion of Ang II also resulted in the development of cardiac fibrosis, and significant increases in the expression levels of genes (ANP, BNP, and MHCβ) associated with cardiac hypertrophy and the chemical staining of the collagen abundance as an indication of fibrosis. In addition, Ang II caused a significant increase in expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-17, MIP-2, and IFNγ), NLRP3 inflammasomes, AT1 receptor, and a decrease in AT2 receptor. Treatment with WFA rescued the LV functions and heart hypertrophy and fibrosis. Our results demonstrated, for the first time, that, while WFA has anti-tumorigenic properties, it also ameliorates the cardiac dysfunction induced by Ang II, suggesting that it could be an anticachectic agent that induces direct effects on cardiac muscles.
Vasoactive Management of Pulmonary Hypertension and Ventricular Dysfunction in Neonates Following Complicated Monochorionic Twin Pregnancies: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Schroeder Lukas , Soltesz Leon , Leyens Judith , Strizek Brigitte , Berg Christoph , Mueller Andreas , Kipfmueller Florian
Published: May 2024

Objectives: Twins resulting from a complicated monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancy are at risk for postnatal evolution of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and cardiac dysfunction (CD). Both pathologies are important contributors to short- and long-term morbidity in these infants. The aim of the present retrospective single-center cohort study was to evaluate the need for vasoactive treatment for PH and CD in these neonates. Methodology: In-born neonates following a complicated MC twin pregnancy admitted to the department of neonatology of the University Children’s Hospital Bonn (UKB) between October 2019 and December 2023 were screened for study inclusion. Finally, 70 neonates were included in the final analysis, with 37 neonates subclassified as recipient twins (group A) and 33 neonates as donor twins (group B). Results: The overall PH incidence at day of life (DOL) 1 was 17% and decreased to 6% at DOL 7 (p = 0.013), with no PH findings at DOL 28. The overall incidence of CD was 56% at DOL 1 and decreased strongly until DOL 7 (10%, p = 0.015), with no diagnosis of CD at DOL 28. The use of dobutamine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin at DOL 1 until DOL 7 did not differ between the subgroups, whereas the dosing of milrinone was significantly higher in Group B at DOL 1 (p = 0.043). Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) was used in 16% of the cohort, and a levosimendan therapy was administered in 34% of the neonates. One-third of the cohort was treated with oral beta blockers, and in 10%, an intravenous beta blockade (landiolol) was administered. The maximum levosimendan vasoactive–inotropic score (LVISmax) increased from DOL 1 (12.4 [3/27]) to DOL 2 (14.6 [1/68], p = 0.777), with a significant decrease thereafter as measured at DOL 7 (9.5 [2/30], p = 0.011). Conclusion: Early PH and CD are frequent diagnoses in neonates following a complicated MC twin pregnancy, and an individualized vasoactive treatment strategy is required in the management of these infants.