bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating State Space Discovery by Persistent Cohomology in the Spatial Representation System
Authors: Kang Louis , Xu Boyan , Morozov Dmitriy
Published: April 2021

Persistent cohomology is a powerful technique for discovering topological structure in data. Strategies for its use in neuroscience are still undergoing development. We comprehensively and rigorously assess its performance in simulated neural recordings of the brain's spatial representation system. Grid, head direction, and conjunctive cell populations each span low-dimensional topological structures embedded in high-dimensional neural activity space. We evaluate the ability for persistent cohomology to discover these structures for different dataset dimensions, variations in spatial tuning, and forms of noise. We quantify its ability to decode simulated animal trajectories contained within these topological structures. We also identify regimes under which mixtures of populations form product topologies that can be detected. Our results reveal how dataset parameters affect the success of topological discovery and suggest principles for applying persistent cohomology, as well as persistent homology, to experimental neural recordings.
Evaluating the Velocity and Extent of Cortical Venous Filling in Patients With Severe Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis or Occlusion
Authors: Lin Jia'Xing , Cheng Zhong'Yuan , Shi Ying'Ying , Cai Xiang'Ran , Huang Li'An
Published: April 2021

Objective: To investigate the velocity and extent of cortical venous filling (CVF) and its association with clinical manifestations in patients with severe stenosis or occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using dynamic computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Methods: Fifty-eight patients (36 symptomatic and 22 asymptomatic) with severe unilateral stenosis (≥70%) or occlusion of the MCA M1 segment who underwent dynamic CTA were included. Collateral status, antegrade flow, and CVF of each patient were observed using dynamic CTA. Three types of cortical veins were selected to observe the extent of CVF, and the absence of CVF (CVF-) was recorded. Based on the appearance of CVF in the superior sagittal sinus, instances of CVF, including early (CVF1), peak (CVF2), and late (CVF3) venous phases, were recorded. The differences in CVF times between the affected and contralateral hemispheres were represented as rCVFs, and CVF velocity was defined compared to the median time of each rCVF.

Results: All CVF times in the affected hemisphere were longer than those in the contralateral hemisphere (p < 0.05). Patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis had more ipsilateral CVF- (p = 0.02) and more delayed CVF at rCVF2 and rCVF21 (rCVF2-rCVF1) (p = 0.03 and 0.001, respectively) compared to those with asymptomatic MCA stenosis. For symptomatic patients, fast CVF at rCVF21 was associated with poor collateral status (odds ratio [OR] 6.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37–30.05, p = 0.02), and ipsilateral CVF- in two cortical veins was associated with poor 3-month outcomes (adjusted OR 0.025, 95% CI 0.002–0.33, p = 0.005).

Conclusions: Complete and fast CVF is essential for patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis or occlusion. The clinical value of additional CVF assessment should be explored in future studies to identify patients with severe MCA stenosis or occlusion at a higher risk of stroke occurrence and poor recovery.
The Role of the Mirror System in Influencing Musicians’ Evaluation of Musical Creativity: A tDCS Study
Authors: Colombo Barbara , Anctil Reid , Balzarotti Stefania , Biassoni Federica , Antonietti Alessandro
Published: April 2021

Evidence reported in the literature suggests that the mirror system not only plays a role in recognizing motor action but also fosters a better understanding of other people because it helps an individual assume another’s perspective. This led to the idea, supported by research findings, that people with higher empathy scores should show higher activation of the mirror system. Recently, it has been hypothesized that a purely auditory mirror system exists. In this study, we aimed to explore the possibility that this system might play a particular role for musicians. Specifically, this system would impact their response to a new piece of music by using non-invasive brain stimulation to modulate the activation of the mirror system. A sample of 40 young musicians was involved in this study. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to a cathodal stimulation condition, while the other half was used as a control. After listening to a new piece of music, participants were asked to rate the creativity of the piece (by focusing on how interesting, innovative, and exciting the piece was) as well as their general emotional response to it. Their empathy levels were also assessed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Results showed that the cathodal stimulation of the mirror system negatively affected both the perception of creativity (level of innovation) and the emotional response to the music. There was no significant difference in the ratings of how interesting the piece was perceived. The effect was mediated by the individuals’ level of empathy. Specifically, empathic concern and fantasy dimensions increased the evaluation of creativity. Results also showed that participants reported less emotion with a negative valence in the cathodal stimulation condition.
Sleep Deprivation Deteriorates Heart Rate Variability and Photoplethysmography
Authors: Bourdillon Nicolas , Jeanneret Fanny , Nilchian Masih , Albertoni Patrick , Ha Pascal , Millet Grégoire P.
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Sleep deprivation has deleterious effects on cardiovascular health. Using wearable health trackers, non-invasive physiological signals, such as heart rate variability (HRV), photoplethysmography (PPG), and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) can be analyzed for detection of the effects of partial sleep deprivation on cardiovascular responses.

Methods

Fifteen participants underwent 1 week of baseline recording (BSL, usual day activity and sleep) followed by 3 days with 3 h of sleep per night (SDP), followed by 1 week of recovery with sleep ad lib (RCV). HRV was recorded using an orthostatic test every morning [root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD), power in the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) bands, and normalized power nLF and nHF were computed]; PPG and polysomnography (PSG) were recorded overnight. Continuous blood pressure and psychomotor vigilance task were also recorded. A questionnaire of subjective fatigue, sleepiness, and mood states was filled regularly.

Results

RMSSD and HF decreased while nLF increased during SDP, indicating a decrease in parasympathetic activity and a potential increase in sympathetic activity. PPG parameters indicated a decrease in amplitude and duration of the waveforms of the systolic and diastolic periods, which is compatible with increases in sympathetic activity and vascular tone. PSG showed a rebound of sleep duration, efficiency, and deep sleep in RCV compared to BSL. BRS remained unchanged while vigilance decreased during SDP. Questionnaires showed an increased subjective fatigue and sleepiness during SDP.

Conclusion

HRV and PPG are two markers easily measured with wearable devices and modified by partial sleep deprivation, contradictory to BRS. Both markers showed a decrease in parasympathetic activity, known as detrimental to cardiovascular health.
Neurologic Music Therapy via Telehealth: A Survey of Clinician Experiences, Trends, and Recommendations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Cole Lauren Patricia , Henechowicz Tara Lynn , Kang Kyurim , Pranjić Marija , Richard Nicole Marie , Tian Gloria L. J. , Hurt-Thaut Corene
Published: April 2021

This cross-sectional survey investigated the transition of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) services from in-person (pre-COVID-19) to telehealth (since COVID-19) to (1) determine whether the use of an NMT paradigm contributes to the successful transition of therapy services to telehealth, (2) identify which NMT domains and techniques are transferable from in-person to telehealth, (3) identify whether there are differences in the transition of NMT services across different employment settings, and (4) evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of telehealth NMT. An online survey comprised of 49 closed and open-ended questions was distributed by the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy to 2,778 NMT affiliates worldwide. The survey sought information on demographics, telehealth perceptions, technology, assessment, clinical practice, safety, and caregiver involvement. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were applied. Eighty-one participants answered the survey and the 69 who completed the survey in its entirety were included in the analysis. Results indicated that the frequency of NMT technique usage had no impact on the overall number of clinical hours retained over telehealth. Correlation analysis revealed an association between more frequent NMT usage and perceived likelihood of using telehealth in the future (i.e., once COVID-19 is no longer a major threat), as well as with fewer group sessions lost over telehealth. All NMT domains transferred to telehealth, although within the sensorimotor domain, fewer therapists implemented rhythmic auditory stimulation for telehealth sessions compared to in-person. Overall, NMTs had fewer hours for telehealth compared to in-person regardless of employment setting. Technological challenges were notable drawbacks, while major benefits included the ability to continue providing NMT when in-person sessions were not possible, increased accessibility for remote clients, and positive outcomes related to increased caregiver involvement. Based on the results, our recommendations for implementing telehealth in Neurologic Music Therapy include integrating telehealth into routine care, mitigating safety concerns, identifying those who could benefit most from remote delivery, involving caregivers, and developing/sharing resources for telehealth NMT.
Suicidality Associated With Deep Brain Stimulation in Extrapyramidal Diseases: A Critical Review and Hypotheses on Neuroanatomical and Neuroimmune Mechanisms
Authors: Costanza Alessandra , Radomska Michalina , Bondolfi Guido , Zenga Francesco , Amerio Andrea , Aguglia Andrea , Serafini Gianluca , Amore Mario , Berardelli Isabella , Pompili Maurizio , Nguyen Khoa D.
Published: April 2021

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a very well-established and effective treatment for patients with extrapyramidal diseases. Despite its generally favorable clinical efficacy, some undesirable outcomes associated with DBS have been reported. Among such complications are incidences of suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior (SB) in patients undergoing this neurosurgical procedure. However, causal associations between DBS and increased suicide risk are not demonstrated and they constitute a debated issue. In light of these observations, the main objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive and unbiased overview of the literature on suicide risk in patients who received subthalamic nucleus (STN) and internal part of globus pallidum (GPi) DBS treatment. Additionally, putative mechanisms that might be involved in the development of SI and SB in these patients as well as caveats associated with these hypotheses are introduced. Finally, we briefly propose some clinical implications, including therapeutic strategies addressing these potential disease mechanisms. While a mechanistic connection between DBS and suicidality remains a controversial topic that requires further investigation, it is of critical importance to consider suicide risk as an integral component of candidate selection and post-operative care in DBS.
Compound Dihuang Granule Inhibits Nigrostriatal Pathway Apoptosis in Parkinson’s Disease by Suppressing the JNK/AP-1 Pathway
Authors: Wang Li , Yang Yu-fang , Chen Long , He Zhu-qing , Bi Dian-yong , Zhang Lei , Xu Yan-wu , He Jian-cheng
Published: April 2021

Compound Dihuang Granule (CDG) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It has been shown to alleviate PD symptoms. However, the molecular mechanisms of its action have not been established. To establish the molecular mechanisms of CDG against PD, we used TCM network pharmacology methods to predict its molecular targets and signaling pathways, followed by experimental validation. The Core Protein protein interaction (PPI) network of the 150 intersections between CDG and PD-related genes, comprising 23 proteins, including CASP3 (caspase-3), MAPK8 (JNK), FOS (c-Fos), and JUN (c-Jun). KEGG and GO analyses revealed that apoptotic regulation and MAPK signaling pathways were significantly enriched. Since c-Jun and c-Fos are AP-1 subunits, an important downstream JNK effector, we investigated if the JNK/AP-1 pathway influences CDG against apoptosis through the nigrostriatal pathways in PD rat models. Molecular docking analysis found that the top three bioactive compounds exhibiting the highest Degree Centrality following online database and LC-MS analysis had high affinities for JNK. Experimental validation analysis showed that CDG decreased the number of rotating laps and suppressed the levels of phosphorylated c-Jun, c-Fos, and JNK, as well as the number of TUNEL positive cells and the cleaved caspase-3 level in the nigrostriatal pathway. Furthermore, CDG treatment elevated the number of TH neurons, TH expression level, and Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio in a 6-OHDA-induced PD rat. These findings are in tandem with those obtained using SP600125, a specific JNK inhibitor. In conclusion, CDG suppresses the apoptosis of the nigrostriatal pathway and relieves PD symptoms by suppressing the JNK/AP-1 signaling pathway.
Chemoresponse of de novo Acute Myeloid Leukemia to “7+3” Induction can Be Predicted by c-Myc-facilitated Cytogenetics
Authors: Hsiao Tzu-Hung , Wang Ren Ching , Lu Tsai-Jung , Shih Chien-Hung , Su Yu-Chen , Tsai Jia-Rong , Jhan Pei-Pei , Lia Cai-Sian , Chuang Han-Ni , Chang Kuang-Hsi , Teng Chieh-Lin
Published: April 2021

Background: Identifying patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who will probably respond to the “7 + 3” induction regimen remains an unsolved clinical challenge. This study aimed to identify whether c-Myc could facilitate cytogenetics to predict a “7 + 3” induction chemoresponse in de novo AML.

Methods: We stratified 75 untreated patients (24 and 51 from prospective and retrospective cohorts, respectively) with de novo AML who completed “7 + 3” induction into groups with and without complete remission (CR). We then compared Myc-associated molecular signatures between the groups in the prospective cohort after gene set enrichment analysis. The expression of c-Myc protein was assessed by immunohistochemical staining. We defined high c-Myc-immunopositivity as > 40% of bone marrow myeloblasts being c-Myc (+).

Results: Significantly more Myc gene expression was found in patients who did not achieve CR by “7 + 3” induction than those who did (2439.92 ± 1868.94 vs. 951.60 ± 780.68; p = 0.047). Expression of the Myc gene and c-Myc protein were positively correlated (r = 0.495; p = 0.014). Although the non-CR group did not express more c-Myc protein than the CR group (37.81 ± 25.13% vs. 29.04 ± 19.75%; p = 0.151), c-Myc-immunopositivity could be a surrogate to predict the “7 + 3” induction chemoresponse (specificity: 81.63%). More importantly, c-Myc-immunopositivity facilitated cytogenetics to predict a “7 + 3” induction chemoresponse by increasing specificity from 91.30 to 95.92%.

Conclusion: The “7 + 3” induction remains the standard of care for de novo AML patients, especially for those without a high c-Myc-immunopositivity and high-risk cytogenetics. However, different regimens might be considered for patients with high c-Myc-immunopositivity or high-risk cytogenetics.
Model Test of Jacked Pile Penetration Process Considering Influence of Pile Diameter
Authors: Wang Yonghong , Sang Songkui , Liu Xueying , Huang Yongfeng , Zhang Mingyi , Miao Dezi
Published: April 2021

In order to investigate the influence of different diameters on pile end resistance, pile side resistance, pile axial force and pile force transmission law of jacked pile penetration, two pairs of embedded sensitized microfiber grating sensors were installed by slotting the pile body. The pile-jacking process of static-pressing viscous foundation soil with different diameters of closed-tube model piles was successfully monitored. The test results show that the pile pressure, pile end resistance and pile side resistance of the two test piles increase linearly with the increase of pile depth. When the pile jacks, the final pressure of the test pile TP1 is higher than that of the test pile. TP2 is 31% higher, pile end resistance is 18% higher, and total side resistance is 57% higher. The results show that increasing the pile diameter can significantly increase the pile side resistance; under different penetration depths, the pile side resistance is from top to end. Continuously exerted, the axial force of the pile body decreases with the depth of the pile and the slope of the distribution curve of the axial forcegradually decreases. At the maximum penetration depth, the axial force of the pile TP1 is 18% larger than that of the test pile TP2; As the depth increases, the unit side resistance at the same penetration depth gradually decreases, that is, the side resistance has a “degradation effect”; at the end of the pile jacking, the percentage of the pile end resistance to the pile force exceeds 50%, that is, the pile end resistance bears most of the load. This research can be used as a reference for the study of pile driving mechanism in clayey and layered clayey soils.
Radiobiology Experiments With Ultra-high Dose Rate Laser-Driven Protons: Methodology and State-of-the-Art
Authors: Chaudhary Pankaj , Milluzzo Giuliana , Ahmed Hamad , Odlozilik Boris , McMurray Aaron , Prise Kevin M. , Borghesi Marco
Published: April 2021

The use of particle accelerators in radiotherapy has significantly changed the therapeutic outcomes for many types of solid tumours. In particular, protons are well known for sparing normal tissues and increasing the overall therapeutic index. Recent studies show that normal tissue sparing can be further enhanced through proton delivery at 100 Gy/s and above, in the so-called FLASH regime. This has generated very significant interest in assessing the biological effects of proton pulses delivered at very high dose rates. Laser-accelerated proton beams have unique temporal emission properties, which can be exploited to deliver Gy level doses in single or multiple pulses at dose rates exceeding by many orders of magnitude those currently used in FLASH approaches. An extensive investigation of the radiobiology of laser-driven protons is therefore not only necessary for future clinical application, but also offers the opportunity of accessing yet untested regimes of radiobiology. This paper provides an updated review of the recent progress achieved in ultra-high dose rate radiobiology experiments employing laser-driven protons, including a brief discussion of the relevant methodology and dosimetry approaches.
Performance Enhanced Elemental Array Generation for Integral Image Display Using Pixel Fusion
Authors: Huang Yingqing , Yan Zhan , Jiang Xiaoyu , Jing Tao , Chen Song , Lin Min , Zhang Jinguo , Yan Xingpeng
Published: April 2021

Integral imaging is an emerging three-dimensional display technology. However, some inherent issues such as depth inversion has restricted its development. As such, this paper proposes a pixel fusion technique to generate elemental image arrays and overcome pseudoscopic problems occurring in sparse imaging environments. The similarity between the aimed displayed rays and the two adjacent captured rays of an object in a parallel light field was measured by the ratio of the spatial distance of the displayed and captured rays to the interval of the adjacent captured light. Displayed pixel values were acquired for the parallel captured rays. Corresponding pixel position errors were determined in sparse capture conditions and the method was further improved by using the position errors to identify the correct pixel, resulting in higher image quality. The proposed technique does not require manual adjustment of reference planes or other parameters, even at low capturing densities. This provides added convenience and may reduce capturing costs in actual scenes. Experiments using two bricks in virtual scenes under 9 × 9 to 137 × 137 capture cameras were conducted, and the quality of the generated elemental image array was compared with smart pseudoscopic-to-orthoscopic conversion (SPOC). The peak signal-to-noize ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM) values showed the effectiveness of the proposed technique. The optical reconstruction results from both real and virtual scenes demonstrated improvements in vision of reconstructed three-dimensional scenes.
Volatile Liquid Detection by Terahertz Technologies
Authors: Baxter Harry W , Worrall Adam A , Pang Jie , Chen Riqing , Yang Bin
Published: April 2021

The prospect of being able to move through security without the inconvenience of separating liquids from bags is an exciting one for passengers, and there are important operational benefits for airports as well. Here, two terahertz (THz) systems, 100 GHz sub-THz line scanner and attenuation total reflection-based THz time domain spectroscopy (TDS), have been used to demonstrate the capability of identifying different liquid samples. Liquid samples’ THz complex permittivities are measured and their differences have contributed to the variation of 100 GHz 2D images of volatile liquids with different volumes inside of cannister bottles. The acquired attenuation images at 100 GHz can easily be used to distinguish highly absorbed liquids (Water, Ethanol, Fuel Treatment Chemicals) and low loss liquids (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene and Universal Bottle Cleaner). The results give a promising feasibility for mm-wave imager and THz spectroscopy to efficiently identify different volatile liquids.
D-Galactose Induces Chronic Oxidative Stress and Alters Gut Microbiota in Weaned Piglets
Authors: Han Hui , Liu Zemin , Yin Jie , Gao Jing , He Liuqin , Wang Chenyu , Hou Ruoxin , He Xingguo , Wang Guoqiang , Li Tiejun , Yin Yulong
Published: April 2021

Oxidative stress commonly occurs in pig production, which can severely damage the intestinal function of weaned piglets. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of D-galactose with different levels used to induce chronic oxidative stress on growth performance, intestinal morphology and gut microbiota in weaned piglets. The results showed that addition of 10 and 20 g/kg BW D-galactose reduced average daily gain and average daily feed intake from the first to the third week. 10 g/kg BW D-galactose increased the concentration of serum MDA at the second and third week. 10 g/kg BW D-galactose significantly influenced the jejunal and ileal expressions of GPx1, CAT1, and MnSOD. The results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that compared with the control, 10 and 20 g/kg BW D-galactose significantly decreased the relative abundance of Tenericutes, Erysipelotrichia, Erysipelotrichales, and Erysipelotrichaceae, while increased the relative abundance of Negativicutes, Selenomonnadales, and Veillonellaceae. The results indicated that treatment with 10 g/kg BW/day D-galactose for 3 weeks could induce chronic oxidative stress, reduce the growth performance and alter gut microbiota in weaned piglets.
A Novel NAC Transcription Factor From Eucalyptus, EgNAC141, Positively Regulates Lignin Biosynthesis and Increases Lignin Deposition
Authors: Sun YiMing , Jiang Chunxue , Jiang Ruiqi , Wang Fengying , Zhang Zhenguo , Zeng Jianjun
Published: April 2021

Wood formation is a complicated process under the control of a large set of transcription factors. NAC transcription factors are considered “master switches” in this process. However, few NAC members have been cloned and characterized in Eucalyptus, which is one of the most economically important woody plants. Here, we reported an NAC transcription factor from Eucalyptus grandis, EgNAC141, which has no Arabidopsis orthologs associated with xylogenesis-related processes. EgNAC141 was predominantly expressed in lignin-rich tissues, such as the stem and xylem. Overexpression of EgNAC141 in Arabidopsis resulted in stronger lignification, larger xylem, and higher lignin content. The expression of lignin biosynthetic genes in transgenic plants was significantly higher compared with wild-type plants. The transient expression of EgNAC141 activated the expression of Arabidopsis lignin biosynthetic genes in a dual-luciferase assay. Overall, these results showed that EgNAC141 is a positive regulator of lignin biosynthesis and may help us understand the regulatory mechanism of wood formation.
The Politics of Vulnerability in Refugee Admissions Under the EU-Turkey Statement
Authors: Welfens Natalie , Bekyol Yasemin
Published: April 2021

Resettlement and humanitarian admission programs claim to target ‘particularly vulnerable’, or ‘the most vulnerable’ refugees. If the limited spots of such programs are indeed foreseen for particularly vulnerable groups and individuals, as resettlement actors claim, how is vulnerability defined in policies and put into practice at the frontline? Taking European states’ recent admission programs under the EU-Turkey statement as an example, and focusing on Germany as an admission country, this research note sheds light on this question. Drawing on document analysis, and original fieldwork insights, we show that on paper and in practice vulnerability as a policy category designates some social groups as per se more vulnerable than others, rather than accounting for contingent reasons of vulnerability. In policy documents, the operational definition of vulnerability and its relation to other criteria remain largely undefined. In selection practices, additional criteria curtail a purely vulnerability-based selection, exacerbate existing or create new vulnerabilities in their own right. We conclude that, in the absence of clear definitions, resettlement and humanitarian admission programs’ declared focus on the most vulnerable remains a discretionary promise, with limited possibilities of political and legal scrutiny.
Overly Strong Priors for Socially Meaningful Visual Signals Are Linked to Psychosis Proneness in Healthy Individuals
Authors: Stuke Heiner , Kress Elisabeth , Weilnhammer Veith Andreas , Sterzer Philipp , Schmack Katharina
Published: April 2021

According to the predictive coding theory of psychosis, hallucinations and delusions are explained by an overweighing of high-level prior expectations relative to sensory information that leads to false perceptions of meaningful signals. However, it is currently unclear whether the hypothesized overweighing of priors (1) represents a pervasive alteration that extends to the visual modality and (2) takes already effect at early automatic processing stages. Here, we addressed these questions by studying visual perception of socially meaningful stimuli in healthy individuals with varying degrees of psychosis proneness (n= 39). In a first task, we quantified participants’ prior for detecting faces in visual noise using a Bayesian decision model. In a second task, we measured participants’ prior for detecting direct gaze stimuli that were rendered invisible by continuous flash suppression. We found that the prior for detecting faces in noise correlated with hallucination proneness (r= 0.50,p= 0.001, Bayes factor 1/20.1) as well as delusion proneness (r= 0.46,p= 0.003, BF 1/9.4). The prior for detecting invisible direct gaze was significantly associated with hallucination proneness (r= 0.43,p= 0.009, BF 1/3.8) but not conclusively with delusion proneness (r= 0.30,p= 0.079, BF 1.7). Our results provide evidence for the idea that overly strong high-level priors for automatically detecting socially meaningful stimuli might constitute a processing alteration in psychosis.
Ecologies of Repair: A Post-human Approach to Other-Than-Human Natures
Authors: Blanco-Wells Gustavo
Published: April 2021

This conceptual paper explores the theoretical possibilities of posthumanism and presents ecologies of repair as a heuristic device to explore the association modes of different entities, which, when confronted with the effects of human-induced destructive events, seek to repair the damage and transform the conditions of coexistence of various life forms. The central idea is that severe socio-environmental crisis caused by an intensification of industrial activity are conducive to observing new sociomaterial configurations and affective dispositions that, through the reorganization of practices of resistance, remediation, and mutual care, are oriented to generating reparative and/or transformative processes from damaged ecologies and communities. Crises constitute true ontological experimentation processes where the presence of other-than-human natures, and of artifacts or devices that participate in reparative actions, become visible. A post-human approach to nature allows us to use languages and methodologies that do not restrict the emergence of assemblages under the assumption of theira prioriontological separation, but rather examine their reparative potential based on the efficacy of situated relationships. Methodologically, transdisciplinarity is relevant, with ethnography and other engaged methods applied over units of observation and experience called socio-geo-ecologies. The relevant attributes of these socio-geo-ecologies, beyond the individual, community, or institutional aspects, are the specific geological characteristics that make possible an entanglement of interdependent relationships between human and non-human agents. The conceptual analysis is illustrated with empirical examples stemming from socio-geo-ecologies researched in Southern Chile.
The Role of Blinks, Microsaccades and their Retinal Consequences in Bistable Motion Perception
Authors: Brych Mareike , Murali Supriya , Händel Barbara
Published: April 2021

Eye-related movements such as blinks and microsaccades are modulated during bistable perceptual tasks. However, if they play an active role during internal perceptual switches is not known. We conducted two experiments involving an ambiguous plaid stimulus, wherein participants were asked to continuously report their percept, which could consist of either unidirectional coherent or bidirectional component movement. Our main results show that blinks and microsaccades did not facilitate perceptual switches. On the contrary, a reduction in eye movements preceded the perceptual switch. Blanks, on the other hand, thought to mimic the retinal consequences of a blink, consistently led to a switch. Through the timing of the blank-introduced perceptual change, we were able to estimate the delay between the internal switch and the response. This delay further allowed us to evaluate that the reduction in blink probability co-occurred with the internal perceptual switch. Additionally, our results indicate that distinct internal processes underlie the switch to coherent vs. component percept. Blanks exclusively facilitated a switch to the coherent percept, and only the switch to coherent percept was followed by an increase in blink rate. In a second study, we largely replicated the findings and included a microsaccade analysis. Microsaccades only showed a weak relation with perceptual switches, but their direction was correlated with the perceived motion direction. Nevertheless, our data suggests an interaction between microsaccades and blinks by showing that microsaccades were differently modulated around blinks compared with blanks. This study shows that a reduction in eye movements precedes internal perceptual switches indicating that the rate of blinks can set the stage for a reinterpretation of sensory input. While a perceptual switch based on changed sensory input usually leads to an increase in blink rate, such an increase was only present after the perceptual switch to coherent motion but absent after the switch to component percept. This provides evidence of different underlying mechanism or internal consequence of the two perceptual switches and suggests that blinks can uncover differences in internal percept-related processes that are not evident from the percept itself.
Smart Speaker Recommendations: Impact of Gender Congruence and Amount of Information on Users' Engagement and Choice
Authors: Romero Jaime , Ruiz-Equihua Daniel , Loureiro Sandra Maria Correia , Casaló Luis V.
Published: April 2021

The relevance of smart speakers is steadily increasing, allowing users perform several daily tasks. From a commercial perspective, smart speakers also provide recommendations of products and services that may influence the consumer decision-making process. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the adoption of smart speakers, but there is a lack of proper guidelines that help design the way these devices should offer their consumption recommendations. Based on a stimulus-organism-response approach, we analyze how two features of smart speakers' recommendations (the gender congruence between the customer and the speaker, and the length of the message) influence on the effectiveness of such recommendations (i.e., visiting intentions) through its impact on user engagement and attitude. Data was collected from a sample of undergrad students in Spain using an experiment design that focused on a restaurant recommendation, and analyzed using partial least squares. On the one hand, our results suggests that gender congruence generates user engagement with the smart speaker. On the other hand, message length is positively related to attitudes towards the restaurant, at a declining rate. In addition, while better attitudes lead to higher visiting intentions, the influence of engagement on visiting intentions is partially mediated via attitudes. Thus, our findings contribute to understand the antecedents of users' engagement with smart speakers, as well as its impact on the customers' willingness to follow smart speakers' recommendations, constituting a base to analyze the impact of artificial intelligence solutions aimed to smooth the transitions of a customer through the stages of purchase process.
EFL Students' Preferences for Written Corrective Feedback: Do Error Types, Language Proficiency, and Foreign Language Enjoyment Matter?
Authors: Zhang Tiefu , Chen Xuemei , Hu Jiehui , Ketwan Pattarapon
Published: April 2021

Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, this study investigated the preference of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) for four types of written corrective feedback (WCF), which are often discussed in the literature, on grammatical, lexical, orthographic, and pragmatic errors. In particular, it concerned whether such preference is influenced by two learner variables, namely, foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and proficiency level. The preference for selective vs. comprehensive WCF was also examined. The participants in the study were 117 University students in a Thai EFL context. Analysis of questionnaire data revealed a tendency for learners to prefer more explicit types of WCF (i.e., metalinguistic explanation and overt correction) for most error types, irrespective of their proficiency and FLE level. High proficiency level learners rated less explicit WCF types (i.e., underlining and error code) as useful to some degree, whereas their low proficiency level counterparts did not. Similar results were found for the two FLE groups. Besides, the FLE level seemed to play a role in perceiving the value of WCF in terms of scope. The results of follow-up interviews showed that the linguistic features of learners' first language, existing knowledge of the target language, affective feelings, and teacher's role were the main factors contributing to variation in learners' preferences. Possible pedagogical implications are discussed.
Beyond the School Walls: Keeping Interactive Learning Environments Alive in Confinement for Students in Special Education
Authors: Álvarez-Guerrero Garazi , López de Aguileta Ane , Racionero-Plaza Sandra , Flores-Moncada Lirio Gissela
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying safety measures, including confinement, has meant an unprecedented challenge for the world population today. However, it has entailed additional difficulties for specific populations, including children and people with disabilities. Being out of school for months has reduced the learning opportunities for many children, such as those with less academic resources at home or with poorer technological connectivity. For students with disabilities, it has entailed losing the quality of the special attention they often need, in addition to a more limited understanding of the situation. In this context, a case study was conducted in a special education classroom of a secondary education school. This class started implementing Dialogic Literary Gatherings with their special education students before the COVID-19 confinement and continued online during the confinement. Qualitative data was collected after a period of implementation of the gatherings showing positive impacts on the participants. The case study shows that interactive learning environments such as the Dialogic Literary Gatherings can provide quality distance learning for students with disabilities, contributing to overcome some of the barriers that the pandemic context creates for the education of these students.
Evidence for an Interaction Between NEDD4 and Childhood Trauma on Clinical Characters of Schizophrenia With Family History of Psychosis
Authors: Bi Xiao-Jiao , Hu Lei , Qiao Dong-Dong , Han Chao , Sun Meng-Meng , Cui Kai-Yan , Wang Li-Na , Yang Li-Min , Liu Lan-Fen , Chen Zhe-Yu
Published: April 2021

Background: Neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated 4 (NEDD4) polymorphisms and childhood trauma (CT) are associated with schizophrenia. However, whether NEDD4 interacts with CT on symptoms of schizophrenia remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the gene–environment interaction effect.

Methods: We recruited 289 schizophrenia patients and 487 controls and genotyped rs2303579, rs3088077, rs7162435, rs11550869, and rs62043855 in their NEDD4 gene.

Results: We found significant differences in the rs2303579 and rs3088077 between the two groups. Patients with the rs2303579 CC genotype had higher scores compared with other genotype (P = 0.026) in the test of positive schizophrenia syndrome scores, whereas patients with the rs3088077 TT (P = 0.037) and rs7162435 CC genotypes (P = 0.009) had higher scores compared with the other genotypes in the test of excitement factor. Patients with a family history of psychosis (FH+) reported higher negative scores (P = 0.012) than those without. Patients exposed to physical abuse (PA) reported a lower language learning and memory score (P = 0.017) and working memory score (P = 0.047) than those not. Patients exposed to sexual abuse (SA) reported a lower reasoning and problem-solving skills score (P = 0.025); those exposed to emotional neglect (EN) reported a lower social cognition score (P = 0.044); and those exposed to physical neglect reported a lower social cognition score (P = 0.036) but higher visual learning and memory score (P = 0.032). Rs3088077 could interact with EN to increase risk for schizophrenia. Optimal model rs62043855 × EA, rs3088077 × rs7162435 × rs11550869 × SA × EN and rs2303579 × rs7162435 × rs11550869 × rs62043855 × EA × PA could explain positive symptom, excitement symptom and working memory, respectively, in FH+ group.

Conclusion: The study highlighted that the combined interaction of NEDD4 and CT may be associated with symptoms of schizophrenia especially for those with FH+.
Digital Communication Biomarkers of Mood and Diagnosis in Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Healthy Control Populations
Authors: Gillett George , McGowan Niall M. , Palmius Niclas , Bilderbeck Amy C. , Goodwin Guy M. , Saunders Kate E. A.
Published: April 2021

Background: Remote monitoring and digital phenotyping harbor potential to aid clinical diagnosis, predict episode course and recognize early signs of mental health crises. Digital communication metrics, such as phone call and short message service (SMS) use may represent novel biomarkers of mood and diagnosis in Bipolar Disorder (BD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Materials and Methods: BD (n = 17), BPD (n = 17) and Healthy Control (HC, n = 21) participants used a smartphone application which monitored phone calls and SMS messaging, alongside self-reported mood. Linear mixed-effects regression models were used to assess the association between digital communications and mood symptoms, mood state, trait-impulsivity, diagnosis and the interaction effect between mood and diagnosis.

Results: Transdiagnostically, self-rated manic symptoms and manic state were positively associated with total and outgoing call frequency and cumulative total, incoming and outgoing call duration. Manic symptoms were also associated with total and outgoing SMS frequency. Transdiagnostic depressive symptoms were associated with increased mean incoming call duration. For the different diagnostic groups, BD was associated with increased total call frequency and BPD with increased total and outgoing SMS frequency and length compared to HC. Depression in BD, but not BPD, was associated with decreased total and outgoing call frequency, mean total and outgoing call duration and total and outgoing SMS frequency. Finally, trait-impulsivity was positively associated with total call frequency, total and outgoing SMS frequency and cumulative total and outgoing SMS length.

Conclusion: These results identify a general increase in phone call and SMS communications associated with self-reported manic symptoms and a diagnosis-moderated decrease in communications associated with depression in BD, but not BPD, participants. These findings may inform the development of clinical tools to aid diagnosis and remote symptom monitoring, as well as informing understanding of differential psychopathologies in BD and BPD.
Association Between Changes in Muscle Strength and Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Female College Students: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Cao Jianhua , Zhao Fang , Ren Zhongyu
Published: April 2021

Muscle strength can be a predictor of depressive symptoms among the elderly. We conducted a prospective study aiming to examine the association between change of handgrip strength and the incidence risk of depressive symptoms among Chinese female college students. Handgrip strength was used as a representative indicator of skeletal muscle strength, and a handheld digital smedley dynamometer was applied to measure handgrip strength. We also used the 20-item Zung self-rating depression scale to evaluate depressive status, and a score of ≥50 indicated moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. During a 1-year follow-up period, the incidence of depressive symptoms is 10.7%. Multivariate logistic regressions analysis revealed that the multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CI) of depressive symptoms for the categories of handgrip strength change was 1.00 (reference) for group 1, 0.57 (0.28, 1.19) for group 2, 0.41 (0.19, 0.89) for group 3 and 0.33 (0.11, 0.99) for group 4 (p = 0.018). This study indicated that change of handgrip strength level over one-year period is negatively associated with risk of depressive symptoms among Chinese female college students.
Closed-Form Results for Prior Constraints in Sum-Product Networks
Authors: Papantonis Ioannis , Belle Vaishak
Published: April 2021

Incorporating constraints is a major concern in probabilistic machine learning. A wide variety of problems require predictions to be integrated with reasoning about constraints, from modeling routes on maps to approving loan predictions. In the former, we may require the prediction model to respect the presence of physical paths between the nodes on the map, and in the latter, we may require that the prediction model respect fairness constraints that ensure that outcomes are not subject to bias. Broadly speaking, constraints may be probabilistic, logical or causal, but the overarching challenge is to determine if and how a model can be learnt that handles a declared constraint. To the best of our knowledge, treating this in a general way is largely an open problem. In this paper, we investigate how the learning of sum-product networks, a newly introduced and increasingly popular class of tractable probabilistic models, is possible with declared constraints. We obtain correctness results about the training of these models, by establishing a relationship between probabilistic constraints and the model's parameters.
Socio-Economic and Psychological Determinants for Household Water Treatment Practices in Indigenous–Rural Indonesia
Authors: Daniel D. , Pande Saket , Rietveld Luuk
Published: April 2021

Household water treatment (HWT) is one of the possible technologies to improve the quality of potable water in low–middle-income countries. However, many households still drink untreated water that leads to negative health consequences, highlighting the need for a behavioral study. This study explores the role of eight socio-economic characteristics (SECs) and five psychological factors on the practices of HWT, using a combination of statistical analyses and Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) modeling. The findings were based on 377 household interviews in East Sumba, Indonesia, an area where indigenous belief is still common. Self-reported answers and observed practices of HWT were combined, and 51% of the respondents were categorized as regular users of HWT. Furthermore, favorable socio-economic conditions, e.g., wealthier or more educated parents, facilitated psychological factors that led to regular use of HWT. This suggests the importance of reducing SEC inequalities to improve the HWT adoption. Mother's education was the most influential SEC (ΔP = 8), and people who followed indigenous beliefs tend not to use HWT on a regular basis. Moreover, easy access to water positively influenced the household's ability to operate the HWT technology. Attitude toward the HWT practice, especially the perception of treated water's taste (β = 0.277), was the most significant psychological factor, influencing HWT adoption. An interpretation of complex interlinkages between socio-economic conditions and psychological factors that drive the practice of HWT was therefore offered, alongside recommendations for conservative interventions to change the household's behavior in a culturally unique area with difficult access to water.