bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Responses to Cigarette Package Labeling Alternatives Among Adults Who Smoke: Results From a Randomized Trial
Authors: Thrasher James F , Hackworth Emily E , Ferguson Stuart G , Xiong Liyan , Kim Minji , Yang Chih-Hsiang , Hammond David , Sun Yanwen , Hardin James W , Niederdeppe Jeff
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Little experimental research has evaluated whether the effects of cigarette package inserts with efficacy messages and/or pictorial health warning labels (PHWLs) differ across key subgroups of adults who smoke.

Aims and Methods

Adults who reported currently smoking (n = 367) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: Small text-only HWLs on pack sides (control); inserts with efficacy messages and small HWLs (inserts-only); PHWLs showing harms of smoking (PHWLs-only); both (inserts + PHWLs). Participants received a 14-day supply of cigarettes labeled to reflect their group. Every evening over 2 weeks, participants reported forgoing and stubbing out cigarettes before they finished smoking over the prior 24 hours, combined into a binary indicator of either behavior (eg, forgoing/stubbing). Separate mixed-effects logistic models were estimated to evaluate moderation of labeling group contrasts (ie, PHWLs vs not; inserts vs. not; inserts-only vs. inserts + PHWLs; PHWLs-only vs. inserts + PHWLs) by baseline covariates (self-efficacy to quit, intention to quit, education, health literacy, and time discounting), predicting day-level forgoing/stubbing.

Results

Education moderated PHWL effects, with PHWLs predicting more forgoing/stubbing only among those with low education (OR = 4.68, p < .001). Time discounting moderated insert effects, with inserts promoting forgoing/stubbing only among those with low time discounting (ie, lower impulsivity; OR = 4.35, p < .001).

Conclusions

Inserts with efficacy messages appear effective mostly among people with low time discounting, whereas PHWLs appear most effective among those with low education, suggesting their potential to address education-related disparities. Labeling strategies appeared equally effective across subgroups defined by self-efficacy to quit, quit intention, and health literacy. Combining inserts with PHWLs did not appear to mitigate moderation effects.

Implications

This randomized trial with adults who smoke suggests that cigarette packs with inserts describing cessation benefits and tips can promote cessation-related behaviors (ie, forgoing or stubbing out cigarettes) among those with low-time discounting (ie, low impulsivity). Alternative interventions may be needed for people with high-time discounting, as found in cessation trials. PHWLs appear most effective among those with low education, potentially addressing education-related disparities. No differential effects were found for those with different levels of self-efficacy to quit, quit intentions, or health literacy. Combining inserts and PHWLs may not be more effective than either alone.
Canonizing al-Furūq: Shihāb al-Dīn al-Qarāfī’s Text on Legal Maxims
Authors: Saba Elias G
Published: June 2024

Anwār al-burūq fī anwāʾ al-furūq by the Mālikī Shihāb al-Dīn al-Qarāfī (d. 684/1285) is one of the most famous legal texts written in Mamluk Cairo. This article explores two issues with this canonical work: (i) it does not align with the generic constraints of the legal distinctions genre and (ii) the problems that early commentators found with it. First, the article discusses the text in terms of its form and content to show how the work should be understood as a work of substantive legal maxims (qawāʿid). Second, the article analyses the problems that two Mālikī commentators, Muḥammad al-Baqqūrī (d. 707/1307-08) and Ibn al-Shāṭṭ (d. 723/1323), found with al-Qarāfī’s text. Put together, these two threads highlight the pioneering nature of al-Qarāfī’s text. At the same time, something about this new text made contemporary Mālikīs uneasy about the text, even as they gave Anwār al-burūq a privileged position within the Mālikī canon. It ends with a brief discussion of the modern resonances of this text.
CDPK5 and CDPK13 play key roles in acclimation to low oxygen through the control of RBOH-mediated ROS production in rice
Authors: Li Jingxia , Ishii Takahiro , Yoshioka Miki , Hino Yuta , Nomoto Mika , Tada Yasuomi , Yoshioka Hirofumi , Takahashi Hirokazu , Yamauchi Takaki , Nakazono Mikio
Published: June 2024

CALCIUM-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE (CDPK) stimulates reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent signaling by activating RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG (RBOH). The lysigenous aerenchyma is a gas space created by cortical cell death that facilitates oxygen diffusion from the shoot to the root tips. Previously, we showed that RBOHH is indispensable for the induction of aerenchyma formation in rice (Oryza sativa) roots under low-oxygen conditions. Here, we showed that CDPK5 and CDPK13 localize to the plasma membrane where RBOHH functions. Mutation analysis of the serine at residues 92 and 107 of RBOHH revealed that these residues are required for CDPK5- and CDPK13-mediated activation of ROS production. The requirement of Ca2+ for CDPK5 and CDPK13 function was confirmed using in vitro kinase assays. CRISPR/Cas9-based mutagenesis of CDPK5 and/or CDPK13 revealed that the double knockout almost completely suppressed inducible aerenchyma formation, whereas the effects were limited in the single knockout of either CDPK5 or CDPK13. Interestingly, the double knockout almost suppressed the induction of adventitious root formation, which is widely conserved in vascular plants, under low-oxygen conditions. Our results suggest that CDPKs are essential for the acclimation of rice to low-oxygen conditions and also for many other plant species conserving CDPK-targeted phosphorylation sites in RBOH homologs.
Dissociation of transcription factor MYB94 and histone deacetylases HDA907/908 alleviates oxidative damage in poplar
Authors: Kong Xiangge , Chen Yao , Li Huanhuan , Li Menghan , Liu Xuejiao , Xia Linchao , Zhang Sheng
Published: June 2024

Drought is one of the major threats to forest productivity. Oxidation stress is common in drought-stressed plants, and plants need to maintain normal life activities through complex reactive oxygen scavenging mechanisms. However, the molecular links between epigenetics, oxidation stress, and drought in poplar (Populus) remain poorly understood. Here, we found that Populus plants overexpressing PtrMYB94, which encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor that regulates the abscisic acid signaling pathway, displayed increased tolerance to extreme drought stress via upregulation of embryogenic cell phosphoprotein 44 (PtrECPP44) expression. Further investigation revealed that PtrMYB94 could recruit the histone deacetylases PtrHDA907/908 to the promoter of PtrECPP44 and decrease acetylation at lysine residues 9, 14, and 27 of histone H3, leading to relatively low transcriptional expression levels under normal conditions. Drought induced the expression of PtrMYB94 while preventing interaction of PtrMYB94 with PtrHDA907/908, which relaxed the chromatin structure and facilitated the binding of RNA polymerase II to the PtrECPP44 promoter. The upregulation of PtrECPP44 helped poplar alleviate oxidative damage and maintain normal cell activities. This study establishes a PtrMYB94-PtrECPP44 transcriptional regulatory module modified by PtrHDA907/908 in modulating drought-induced oxidative stress recovery. Therefore, our study reveals an oxidative regulatory mechanism in response to drought stress and provides insights into molecular breeding for stress resistance in poplar.
Structural dynamics of plant–pollinator mutualistic networks
Authors: Lampo Aniello , Palazzi María J , Borge-Holthoefer Javier , Solé-Ribalta Albert
Published: June 2024

The discourse surrounding the structural organization of mutualistic interactions mostly revolves around modularity and nestedness. The former is known to enhance the stability of communities, while the latter is related to their feasibility, albeit compromising the stability. However, it has recently been shown that the joint emergence of these structures poses challenges that can eventually lead to limitations in the dynamic properties of mutualistic communities. We hypothesize that considering compound arrangements—modules with internal nested organization—can offer valuable insights in this debate. We analyze the temporal structural dynamics of 20 plant–pollinator interaction networks and observe large structural variability throughout the year. Compound structures are particularly prevalent during the peak of the pollination season, often coexisting with nested and modular arrangements in varying degrees. Motivated by these empirical findings, we synthetically investigate the dynamics of the structural patterns across two control parameters—community size and connectance levels—mimicking the progression of the pollination season. Our analysis reveals contrasting impacts on the stability and feasibility of these mutualistic communities. We characterize the consistent relationship between network structure and stability, which follows a monotonic pattern. But, in terms of feasibility, we observe nonlinear relationships. Compound structures exhibit a favorable balance between stability and feasibility, particularly in mid-sized ecological communities, suggesting they may effectively navigate the simultaneous requirements of stability and feasibility. These findings may indicate that the assembly process of mutualistic communities is driven by a delicate balance among multiple properties, rather than the dominance of a single one.
How to successfully secure a higher speciality training post in the United Kingdom: dermatology focus
Authors: Aboluwarin Oluwamayowa , Fong Wei Chern Gavin , Panthagani Anusha
Published: June 2024

Navigating the labyrinthine process of securing higher speciality training poses formidable challenges for doctors in training. Achieving success in this endeavour demands more than a mere grasp of the prerequisites; it necessitates meticulous preparation and foresight. Dermatology, as a medical speciality, stands out on account of its appeal, encompassing a diverse patient population, expansive scope of work, work-life balance, a plethora of procedural variety, intellectual stimulation, and abundant research opportunities. Despite the evolving landscape of medical professions, dermatology maintains its appeal as an exceptionally sought-after speciality in the year 2023/2024. This is evident in the escalating competition ratios, rising from 5.46 in 2021 to 7.53 in 2023 for dermatology training posts. Notably, this fervent competition is not exclusive to dermatology, as evidenced by the competition ratios such as Emergency Medicine ST3 (competition ratio 10.95), Immunology ST3 (competition ratio 6.00), Occupational Medicine (competition ratio 7.14), and Plastic Surgery ST3 (competition ratio 4.23) in the 2023/2024 application cycle. In light of this intensifying competition, this article seeks to furnish aspiring candidates with current and invaluable insights, serving as a guide to clinching a coveted national training number in their preferred speciality. While the landscape of higher speciality training encompasses numerous possibilities, this article concentrates primarily on dermatology, intertwining its guidance with relevance to other medical and surgical specialties. Through this exploration, readers will gain essential perspectives to navigate the intricacies of the application process and emerge as competitive contenders in the higher speciality training application process.
Dealing with potentials and drawbacks of peer review panels: About the intertwined layers of determinacy and indeterminacy
Authors: Philipps Axel
Published: June 2024

To improve evaluation processes in science, scholars of grant peer review and science policy often problematize that factors such as emotions, group dynamics, and informal arrangements influence panel discussions. They emphasize their negative effects on scientifically grounded deliberations and search for solutions to decrease such impacts. By doing this, these scholars easily play down positive effects of emotion work and informal talks during panel sessions and seem less encouraged to study the interplay of formally organized and more informal exchanges. To take both into consideration, in this essay I outline a concept of review processes as intertwined layers of determinacy and indeterminacy. It proposes that determinate outcomes of panel discussions (e.g. definite judgements, funding recommendations) can only be understood relative to the process’s indeterminacy (contextual vagueness such as informal talk, emotion work, tacit compromises). This theoretical framework (1) will help analytically to investigate indeterminacy in review panel processes as a whole as well as in panelists’ situated scientific reasonings and (2) will generate knowledge for more effective evaluation management.
Intergenerational educational mobility and anti-system support: the journey matters
Authors: McNeil Andrew
Published: June 2024

Educational attainment is one of the most prominent political cleavages in society, and a key determinant of anti-system party support. To what extent this is a result of one’s own educational attainment, one’s parents’ educational attainment, or the status loss or gain from educational mobility is unclear. I analyse the European Social Survey with diagonal reference models, which separate origin and destination effects from mobility effects. My findings show that one’s parental educational origins are an important predictor of anti-system right support. There is an additional mobility effect, upward educational mobility reduces support for the anti-system right whereas downward mobility increases support. Contrastingly, anti-system left support does not appear to derive from parental educational origin or educational mobility experience, perhaps suggesting that it derives instead from a wider cross-section of society. Finally, I show that origin effects on anti-system right support are consistent across Western European countries.
Fatherhood and men’s working hours in a part-time economy
Authors: Zwier Dieuwke , Kalmijn Matthijs , Bol Thijs
Published: June 2024

How do fathers adjust their working hours after the birth of their first child? Though the impact of childbirth on women’s employment is well-established, less is known about its effect on fathers. We investigate this question in the Netherlands (2006–2017), a country characterized by high prevalence of part-time work. We focus on two contexts that might shape the extent to which first-time fathers reduce their working hours after childbirth: the household and the organization. For this purpose, we use detailed longitudinal register data. The results reveal that men’s employment displays a high degree of stability around childbirth: even in the Dutch “part-time economy,” the vast majority of fathers remain full-time employed. We do find substantial heterogeneity in labor market responses after childbirth. Fathers earning relatively less than their partner pre-childbirth are more likely to scale down their working hours. The organizational gender composition is also associated with work hours reductions following childbirth. Although we find that fathers’ employment is contingent on both the household and organizational context, the substantial stability in men’s labor supply remains an obstacle to a more equal division of (un)paid labor.
Moral A-Listers in a Moral Economy of Suspicion: Promoting Gender Projects, Re-establishing the Gender Order, and Forging Gendered Subjectivities on Online US Spousal Reunification Forums
Authors: Longo Gina Marie
Published: June 2024

This study investigates how privileged petitioners applying for “green cards” for foreign national spouses uphold the US gender order and gender project when navigating the spousal reunification process. This work troubles the dichotomy within the literature between the all-empowered state and the wholly disempowered petitioners. Using content analysis of an online forum where petitioners exchange advice with others, I show the privileged petitioners enthusiastically engage in upholding the racialized gender hierarchy of the United States. Ultimately, as privileged petitioners broker immigration policy, they engage in state-building and nation-building practices that reaffirm their own privilege, which they feel is fleeting and must be re-established. Unlike less-privileged petitioners who discipline themselves to align with the state’s ideal of what a proper future nation should look like, these petitioners try to discipline others’ by constructing gendered subjectivities and forging racialized femininities that serve to uphold and legitimate the petitioners’ place in within the social hierarchy and the household.
Beyond the discomfort: understanding and managing sexual pain in women, a comprehensive case-based discussion
Authors: Ali Muna , Fraker Jessica , Sobel Talia , Vegunta Suneela
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Sexual pain has a profound impact on individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and affects women more often than men. It adversely affects both sexual function and interpersonal relationships. Despite its prevalence, sexual pain in women often remains unaddressed and untreated. Various underlying causes contribute to sexual pain, sometimes involving multiple factors. We explore treatment options and offer clinical insights into the evaluation and management of 4 common conditions which cause sexual pain in women. In this article, we use the term “women” to indicate cisgender women.

Objectives

Our aim is to highlight the most common clinical scenarios of sexual pain and provide comprehensive discussions on each, to improve patient care and outcomes in the management of sexual pain.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive review of literature and clinical cases to explore the various causes and management strategies for sexual pain in women. We systematically searched databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and relevant medical journals. We included peer-reviewed articles, case studies, and clinical trials published between 2000 and 2023. Additionally, we analyzed real-life cases from our clinical practice at our academic institution.

Results

Our review identified various factors contributing to sexual pain in women, ranging from hormonal imbalances to neuroproliferative and inflammatory conditions affecting the genitourinary system. Each case should be approached individually to offer optimal management strategies accordingly.

Conclusion

The management of sexual pain in women requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the multifactorial nature of the condition. Patient education and counseling play a crucial role in the management of sexual pain, empowering individuals to advocate for their own health and well-being. The collaboration between healthcare providers and patients can improve our understanding and management of this complex condition.
Corylin alleviated sepsis-associated cardiac dysfunction via attenuating inflammation through downregulation of microRNA-214-5p
Authors: Li Chunyan , Hou Daorong , Huang Yanhong , Liu Yifan , Li Yong , Wang Cheng
Published: June 2024

Background

Corylin, a natural flavonoid, is isolated from the fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L. Nevertheless, the effect of corylin on sepsis-associated cardiac dysfunction is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the role and mechanism of corylin in sepsis related cardiac dysfunction.

Methods

Experiments were carried out on mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or myocardial cell sepsis induced by LPS.

Results

Administration of corylin improved cardiac dysfunction induced by LPS or CLP in mice. Corylin inhibited the increases of interleukin-1 (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the heart of mice with LPS or CLP. LPS elevated the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in cardiomyocytes, which were inhibited by corylin treatment. Corylin attenuated the increases of microRNA (miRNA)-214-5p in the heart of mice with LPS, CLP, LPS-treated NRCMs, H9c2 and AC16 cells. Administration of miRNA-214-5p agomiR reversed the improving effects of corylin on the damaged cardiac function and the increases of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in mice treated with LPS.

Conclusion

These outcomes indicated that corylin improved sepsis-associated cardiac dysfunction by inhibiting inflammation. And corylin inhibited inflammation of sepsis by decreasing miRNA-214-5p. Downregulation of miRNA-214-5p improved sepsis-associated cardiac dysfunction and inhibited inflammatory factors.
All’s well that ends well: short story of Ukraine’s road towards European Union membership
Authors: Petrov Roman
Published: June 2024

The state of the EU–Ukraine relations cannot be comprehended without a profound understanding of its historical, legal, and political evolution. In fact, the EU–Ukraine relations have always mirrored the entire complexity of the EU’s external policies, ambitions, and difficulties of the EU enlargement and today’s search for EU strategic autonomy.

The objective of this article is to fill in the gap and to offer a three-dimensional analysis of the EU–Ukraine relations. The first dimension is the study of the historical evolution of the EU–Ukraine relations from the time of Ukraine’s independence in 1991 till Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Therein the EU–Ukraine relations are looked through the prism of geopolitical changes within and outside the EU. The full independence of Ukraine in 1991, so- called ‘Orange revolution’ in 2005 and the ‘Revolution of Dignity’ in 2014 have been linked to the evolving EU policies towards Ukraine and the entire post-Soviet area. The second dimension is a legal scrutiny of the main contractual documents between the EU and Ukraine since 1991. This article offers an in-depth study of bilateral EU–Ukraine agreements (Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1998 and Association Agreement of 2014). The third dimension is an attempt to comprehend how Ukraine’s bid for full EU membership in 2022 could help to stop the blatant military and humanitarian aggression by Russia and to contribute to a fair peace deal.

The purpose of this article is to set out the framework of the study of EU relations with third countries in context of historical evolution of such country, geopolitical challenges around it, and legal nature of bilateral contractual tools and policies that, eventually, may lead either to a gradual integration with the EU or to the full EU membership.
Presence of Microscopic Hematuria Does Not Predict Clinically Important Intra-Abdominal Injury in Children
Authors: Papillon Stephanie C. , Pennell Christopher P. , Bauer Shannara E. , DiBello Aubrey , Master Sahal A. , Prasad Rajeev , Arthur L. Grier , Grewal Harsh
Published: June 2024

Objective

Screening for blunt intra-abdominal injury in children often includes directed laboratory evaluation that guides need for computed tomography. We sought to evaluate the use of urinalysis in identifying patients with clinically important intraabdominal injury (ci-IAI).

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients less than 18 years who presented with blunt mechanisms at a level I trauma center between 2016 and 2019. Exclusion criteria included transfer from an outside facility, physical abuse, and death within thirty minutes of arrival. Demographics, physical exam findings, serum chemistries, urinalysis, and imaging were reviewed. Clinically important intraabdominal injury was defined as injury requiring ≥2 nights admission, blood transfusion, angiography with embolization, or therapeutic surgery.

Results

Two hundred forty patients were identified. One hundred sixty-five had a completed urinalysis. For all patients an abnormal chemistry panel and abnormal physical exam had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a negative predictive value of 99.3%. Nine patients had a ci-IAI. Patients with a ci-IAI were more likely to have abdominal pain, tenderness on exam, and elevated hepatic enzymes. When patients were stratified by the presence of an abnormal chemistry or physical exam with or without microscopic hematuria, urinalysis did not improve the ability to identify patients with a ci-IAI. In fact, presence of microscopic hematuria increased the rate of false positives by 12%.

Conclusions

Microscopic hematuria was not a useful marker for ci-IAI and may lead to falsely assuming a more serious injury.
Triage Discordance in an Academic Pediatric Emergency Department and Disparities by Race, Ethnicity, and Language for Care
Authors: Jafari Kaileen , Burns Brian , Barry Dwight , Koid Cassandra , Tan Tina , Hartford Emily
Published: June 2024

Background

Minoritized patients are disproportionately represented in low-acuity emergency department (ED) visits in the United States in part caused by lack of timely access to primary and urgent care. However, there is also the possibility that implicit bias during triage could contribute to disproportionate representation of minority groups in low-acuity ED visits. Triage discordance, defined as when ED resources used are different from initial triage score predictions, can be used as a proxy for triage accuracy. Recent data suggest that discordant triage may be common, although little is known about the interaction with race, ethnicity, and language for care.

Objectives

This study aims to determine the prevalence of discordant triage among moderate- and low-acuity pediatric ED encounters and the interaction with patient race, ethnicity, and language for care.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of pediatric ED encounters from 2019 with Emergency Severity Index (ESI) scores of 3, 4, or 5 at an academic referral hospital. The primary outcome was triage discordance, encompassing overtriage (ESI 3 and 4) and undertriage (ESI 4 and 5). Logistic and multinomial regressions were used to assess discordant triage by race, ethnicity, and language group.

Results

Triage discordance occurred in 47% (n = 18,040) of encounters. Black and Hispanic patients had higher likelihood of undertriage for ESI 5 (adjusted odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.46 and 1.27, 95% CI 1.07–1.52, respectively), and Black patients were more likely to be overtriaged in ESI 3 (1.18, 95% CI 1.09–1.27). Those with a language other than English for care had higher proportions of overtriage for ESI 3 (1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.12) and undertriage for ESI 5 (1.23, 95% CI 1.11–1.37).

Conclusions

We found high rates of triage discordance in our pediatric ED, with significant associations with race, ethnicity, and language for care. Future research should evaluate the source of triage discordance and develop quality improvement efforts to improve equitable care.
PAM: Predictive attention mechanism for neural decoding of visual perception
Authors: Dado Thirza , Le Lynn , van Gerven Marcel , Güçlütürk Yağmur , Güçlü Umut
Published: June 2024

In neural decoding, reconstruction seeks to create a literal image from information in brain activity, typically achieved by mapping neural responses to a latent representation of a generative model. A key challenge in this process is understanding how information is processed across visual areas to effectively integrate their neural signals. This requires an attention mechanism that selectively focuses on neural inputs based on their relevance to the task of reconstruction — something conventional attention models, which capture only input-input relationships, cannot achieve. To address this, we introduce predictive attention mechanisms (PAMs), a novel approach that learns task-driven “output queries” during training to focus on the neural responses most relevant for predicting the latents underlying perceived images, effectively allocating attention across brain areas. We validate PAM with two datasets: (i) B2G, which contains GAN-synthesized images, their original latents and multiunit activity data; (ii) Shen-19, which includes real photographs, their inverted latents and functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Beyond achieving state-of-theart reconstructions, PAM offers a key interpretative advantage through the availability of (i) attention weights, revealing how the model’s focus was distributed across visual areas for the task of latent prediction, and (ii) values, capturing the stimulus information decoded from each area.
Insula uses overlapping codes for emotion in self and others
Authors: Xiao Jiayang , Adkinson Joshua A. , Allawala Anusha B. , Banks Garrett , Bartoli Eleonora , Fan Xiaoxu , Mocchi Madaline , Pascuzzi Bailey , Pulapaka Suhruthaa , Franch Melissa C. , Mathew Sanjay J. , Mathura Raissa K. , Myers John , Pirtle Victoria , Provenza Nicole R , Shofty Ben , Watrous Andrew J. , Pitkow Xaq , Goodman Wayne K. , Pouratian Nader , Sheth Sameer , Bijanki Kelly R. , Hayden Benjamin Y.
Published: June 2024

In daily life, we must recognize others’ emotions so we can respond appropriately. This ability may rely, at least in part, on neural responses similar to those associated with our own emotions. We hypothesized that the insula, a cortical region near the junction of the temporal, parietal, and frontal lobes, may play a key role in this process. We recorded local field potential (LFP) activity in human neurosurgical patients performing two tasks, one focused on identifying their own emotional response and one on identifying facial emotional responses in others. We found matching patterns of gamma- and high-gamma band activity for the two tasks in the insula. Three other regions (MTL, ACC, and OFC) clearly encoded both self- and other-emotions, but used orthogonal activity patterns to do so. These results support the hypothesis that the insula plays a particularly important role in mediating between experienced vs. observed emotions.
Resting-State Electroencephalography Alpha Dynamic Connectivity: Quantifying Brain Network State Evolution in Individuals with Psychosis
Authors: Aubonnet Romain , HASSAN Mahmoud , Gargiulo Paolo , Seri Stefano , Di Lorenzo Giorgio
Published: June 2024

This study investigates brain dynamic connectivity patterns in psychosis and their relationship with psychopathological profile and cognitive functioning using a novel dynamic connectivity pipeline on resting-state EEG. Data from seventy-eight individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and sixty control subjects (CTR) were analyzed. Source estimation was performed using eLORETA, and connectivity matrices in the alpha band were computed with the weighted phase-lag index. A modified k-means algorithm was employed to cluster connectivity matrices into distinct brain network states (BNS), from which metrics were extracted. The segmentation revealed five distinct BNSs. FEP exhibited significantly lower connectivity power in BNS 2 and 5 and a greater duration dispersion in BNS 1 than CTR. Negative correlations were identified between BNS metrics and negative symptoms in FEP. In CTR, correlations were found between BNS metrics and cognitive domains. This analysis method highlights the variability of neural dynamics in psychosis and their relationship with negative symptoms.
High-bandwidth, low-profile, long-term wireless EEG telemetry allows for optogenetic entrainment of natural cortical oscillations in freely-moving rats
Authors: Rees Beth , Griffiths Phillip R. , Woodhall Gavin , Greenhill Stuart D.
Published: June 2024

Recording of whole-brain or multi-unit neuronal activity in the rodent brain is a powerful and widely used technique in neuroscience research. However, the acquisition of data from freely-moving animals is subject to a range of compromises. If a high bandwidth of data digitisation is needed, animals will either need to be tethered to the acquisition system or any telemetry used will have a short working battery life. For freely-moving experiments, especially those requiring careful behavioural measurements, such tethers and/or headstages incorporating e.g. optogenetic stimulation systems may prove to be confounding or limiting in the experiments which may be performed. Here we present the reﬁnement and deployment of a wirelessly-charged, self-contained EEG telemeter at high data bandwidths (2kHz) with integrated optogenetic stimulator (473nm) and fully subcutaneous ﬁbre routing and implantation. This approach has allowed for rats to be recorded long-term (6 months) without requiring device explants, charging or maintenance, with an outward appearance identical to an unimplanted rodent. We have demonstrated the use of this system to stimulate cortical networks at a range of frequencies in freely-moving and acutely-anaesthetised rats allowing for the boosting or entrainment of physiological oscillations at will.
Spike Reliability is Cell-Type Specific and Shapes Excitation and Inhibition in the Cortex
Authors: Russo S. , Stanley G. B. , Najafi F.
Published: June 2024

Neurons encode information in the highly variable spiking activity of neuronal populations, so that different repetitions of the same stimulus can generate action potentials that vary significantly in terms of the count and timing. How does spiking variability originate, and does it have a functional purpose? Leveraging the Allen Institute cell types dataset, we relate the spiking reliability of cortical neuronsin-vitroduring the intracellular injection of current resembling synaptic inputs to their morphologic, electrophysiologic, and transcriptomic classes. Our findings demonstrate that parvalbumin+ (PV) interneurons, a subclass of inhibitory neurons, show high reliability compared to other neuronal subclasses, particularly excitatory neurons. Through computational modeling, we predict that the high reliability of PV interneurons allows for strong and precise inhibition in downstream neurons, while the lower reliability of excitatory neurons allows for integrating multiple synaptic inputs leading to a spiking rate code. These findings illuminate how spiking variability in different neuronal classes affect information propagation in the brain, leading to precise inhibition and spiking rate codes.
Characterization of Bilateral Reaching Development Using Augmented Reality Games
Authors: Ziccardi Shelby , Timanus Samantha , Ashrafzadehkian Ghazaleh , Guy Stephen J. , Hawe Rachel L.
Published: June 2024

Highlights

We developed augmented reality games to examine bilateral reaching in 133 children

Symmetric and asymmetric reaching developed in parallel

Synchrony in hands reaching targets improved with age

Children continued to improve through age 17, though slower rate after 12 years

Females demonstrated better reaching performance than males

Bilateral coordination is commonly impaired in neurodevelopmental conditions including cerebral palsy, developmental coordination disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. However, we lack objective clinical assessments that can quantify bilateral coordination in a clinically feasible manner and determine age-based norms to identify impairments. The objective of this study was to use augmented reality and computer vision to characterize bilateral reaching abilities in typically developing children. Typically developing children (n=133) ages 6-17 years completed symmetric and asymmetric bilateral reaching tasks in an augmented reality game environment. We analyzed the number of target pairs they could reach in 50 seconds as well as the time lag between their hands reaching the targets. We found that performance on both tasks developed in parallel, with development slowing but not plateauing after age 12. Children performed better on the symmetric task than asymmetric, both in targets reached and with shorter hand lags. Variability between children in hand lag decreased with age. We also found gender differences with females outperforming males, which were most pronounced in the 10-11 year olds. Overall, this study demonstrates parallel development through childhood and adolescence of symmetric and asymmetric reaching abilities. Furthermore, it demonstrates the ability to quantify bilateral coordination using computer vision and augmented reality, which can be applied to assess clinical populations.
Object-translocation induces event coding in the hippocampus
Authors: Duan Ya-Li , Hu Shu-Yi , Ge Xiao-Fan , Long Jia-Li , Deng Chu , Sun Yu-Ming , Li Cheng-Ji , Zhang Rong , Cai Xing , Lu Li
Published: June 2024

Episodic memory refers to the recollection of personally experienced events anchored in spatial contexts. Salient objects within a navigation environment serve as both landmarks and event cues; however, the nuanced integration of these elements during episodic memory formation is not well understood. The mnemonic functions of the hippocampal CA1 region are partially organized along its transverse axis, with proximal and distal subregions preferentially processing spatial and non-spatial information, respectively. Based on comprehensive analysis of neuronal responses along the CA1 proximodistal axis to manipulations of environmental cues and object features, we identified an event-like population coding within CA1 following object displacement. In addition, the neuronal responses at both initial and relocated object locations were shaped by distinct convergent inputs. These findings highlight the specific roles that objects may play in spatial navigation and memory encoding, providing novel insights into the selective processing of object-related information within the entorhinal-hippocampal network.

Significance Statement

Salient objects within a navigation environment serve as both landmarks and event cues critical for episodic memory. However, the enigmatic contribution of objects to the “where” and “what” components of episodic memory remains poorly understood. Here we comprehensively analyzed the neuronal responses in the hippocampal CA1 region along its transverse axis, to manipulations of environmental cues and object features. Our results revealed an event-like population coding within CA1 following object displacement, suggesting a minimal landmark role these objects play during memory formation. This study provides novel insights into the selective and flexible processing of object-related information within the entorhinal-hippocampal network.
Potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies against sarbecoviruses elicited by single ancestral SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Yu Lei , Wang Yajie , Liu Yuanchen , Xing Xiaomin , Li Chen , Wang Xun , Shi Jialu , Ma Wentai , Li Jiayan , Chen Yanjia , Qiao Rui , Zhao Xiaoyu , Gao Ming , Wen Shuhua , Xue Yingxue , Guan Yongjun , Chu Hin , Sun Lei , Wang Pengfei
Published: June 2024

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics hold promise for both preventing and treating infectious diseases, especially among vulnerable populations. However, the emergence of various variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents challenges for current mAb treatments, emphasizing the need for more potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies. In this study, we employed an unbiased screening approach to discover broadly neutralizing antibodies and successfully isolated two mAbs from individuals with only exposure to ancestral SARS-CoV-2. One of these antibodies, CYFN1006-1, exhibited robust cross-neutralization against a spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the latest JN.1 and KP.2 variants, with consistent IC50values ranging from ∼1 to 5 ng/mL. Notably, it also displayed broad neutralization activity against SARS-CoV and related sarbecoviruses, such as WIV1, SHC014, RaTG13, and GD-Pangolin. Structural analysis revealed that these mAbs target shared hotspot but mutation-resistant epitopes, with their Fabs locking the RBD in the “down” conformation through interactions with adjacent Fabs and RBDs, and cross-linking Spike trimers into di-trimers to block viral infection. In vivo studies conducted in a JN.1-infected hamster model validated the protective efficacy of CYFN1006-1, emphasizing its therapeutic potential. These findings suggest that, through meticulous approaches, rare antibodies with cross-neutralization activities against SARS-CoV-2 and related sarbecoviruses can be identified from individuals with exclusively ancestral virus exposure.
A spontaneous mutation in ADIPOR1 causes retinal degeneration in mice
Authors: Yang Junzheng , Buchanan Natasha M. , Lima Erika , Banks Angela , Sluch Valentin M. , Fan Lin , Leehy Barrett , Arellano Ivana , Qiu Yubin , Klokman Garrett , Hanks Shawn , Vrouvlianis Joanna , Davis Vanessa , Wu Chung-Yeh , Danilack Aaron , Rice Dennis S.
Published: June 2024

Adiponectin receptor 1 (ADIPOR1) is a transmembrane protein necessary for normal anatomy and physiology in the retina. In a recent study of complement factor H knockout mice (Cfh−/−), our lab discovered a flecked retina phenotype and retinal thinning by fundus imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT), respectively. The phenotype was observed in a subset (50%) ofCfh−/−mice. The thinning observedin vivois due to an early degeneration of rod photoreceptors. This phenotype has not been reported in published studies ofCfh−/−mice. AdipoR1 knockout mice (AdipoR1−/−) and mice deficient in Membrane Frizzled Related Protein (MFRP) exhibit this phenotype, suggesting an involvement in the emergence of the retinal degeneration observed in a subset ofCfh−/−mice.CfhandAdipoR1are located in close proximity on mouse Chromosome 1 (Chr1) and a complementation cross betweenCfhandAdipoR1mice with retinal degeneration produced 100% progeny with retinal degeneration. Sequencing of theCfh−/− mice revealed a c.841 C > T mutation inAdipoR1. Furthermore, oneCfhwildtype (of Cfh+/+) and 2 heterozygous (ofCfh+/−) mice exhibited retinal degeneration and were homozygous for the point mutation. The c.841 C > T mutation results in a proline to serine conversion at position 281 (P281S) in ADIPOR1. This residue is critical for ADIPOR1 open and closed conformations in the membrane.In silicomodeling of candidate ADIPOR1 ligands, 11-cis-retinaldehyde and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), that are deficient in AdipoR1−/−, suggests that ADIPOR1 is involved in trafficking retinoids and fatty acids and their combined deficiency in the ADIPOR1 mutant retinas might explain the retinal degeneration phenotype.
Geothermal ecosystems on Mt. Erebus, Antarctica, support diverse and taxonomically novel biota
Authors: Rasmussen Trine Bertram , Noell Stephen E. , Herbold Craig W. , Dickie Ian A. , Richards-Babbage Roanna , Stott Matthew B. , Cary S. Craig , McDonald Ian R.
Published: June 2024

Mt. Erebus, Antarctica, is the southernmost active volcano in the world and harbors a diverse and geochemically unique array of geothermal ecosystems including ‘Subglacial’ and ‘Exposed’ features, surrounded by a vast desert of ice and snow. Previous studies, although limited in scope, have highlighted the unique and potentially endemic biota present on Mt. Erebus. In this study, we provide a systematic biodiversity study across all domains of life and all types of geothermal features present on Mt. Erebus. We present physicochemical and biological data from 39 Exposed samples and 9 Subglacial samples from Mt. Erebus. The taxonomic novelty of prokaryotes and fungi found supports past hypotheses of high endemism among the biota of Mt. Erebus; in particular, the large number of taxonomically divergent fungal sequences was surprising. We found that different site types had unique physicochemistry and biota; in particular, Exposed sites were significantly warmer than Subglacial sites (median: 40 vs 10℃ for Exposed and Subglacial, respectively) and tended to have greater abundances of photosynthetic organisms (CyanobacteriaandChlorophyta). Subglacial sites were characterized by a greater abundance of prokaryotes from the phylumActinobacteriota, correlated with the greater concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Sr present. Additionally, we found that Tramway Ridge differed from other Exposed sites as well as all Subglacial sites in physicochemistry (significantly greater conductivity, water content, total carbon, and total nitrogen levels) and biota (greater relative abundances of orderNitrososphaeriaand phylumBacteroidota). In this study, we provide a blueprint for future work aimed at better understanding the novel biota of Mt. Erebus.
Designing a Perioperative Mind-Body Intervention for Peripheral Vascular Interventions
Authors: Maximilian C. Y. , Mehta Darshan , Dua Anahita , Stephen Antonia , Bruce Alex M. , Forsythe Aynsley , Chitilian Hovig V. , Bringle Erik J. , Simpson James C. , Parady Katherine M. , McNeil Lisa A. , Baim Margaret A. , Eagleton Matthew J. , Chang David C. , Yeh Gloria Y.
Published: June 2024

Background

Peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs) performed under procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) can be associated with anxiety and poor compliance with patient instructions during surgery. Mind-body interventions (MBIs) such as meditation have demonstrated the potential to decrease perioperative anxiety, though this area is understudied, and no tailored interventions have been developed for the vascular surgical patient population.

Objectives

We aimed to design a perioperative MBI that specifically targeted vascular surgical patients undergoing PVIs under PSA. We sought to perform this in a scientifically rigorous, multi-disciplinary collaborative manner.

Methods

Following the Obesity-Related Behavioral Intervention Trials (ORBIT) model, we designed (Phase 1a) and then refined (Phase 1b) a MBI for patients undergoing PVIs under PSA to decrease perioperative anxiety and sedation and facilitate patient intraoperative compliance. Phase 1a involved a literature review, informal information gathering and synthesis, and drafting a preliminary protocol for a perioperative MBI. Phase 1b involved assembling a multi-disciplinary expert panel of perioperative and mind-body clinicians and researchers to improve the MBI using an iterative, modified Delphi approach.

Results

The modified Delphi process was completed, and a consensus was reached after three iterations. The resulting MBI consisted of two seven-minute preoperative guided meditations on the day of surgery, including diaphragmatic breathing, body scans, and guided imagery emphasizing awareness of the ipsilateral leg where the vascular surgery was performed. A document delineating the integration of the MBI into the operating room workflow was produced, including details regarding the intervention’s timing, duration, and modality.

Conclusion

Using a multi-specialty expert panel, we designed a novel MBI in the form of a guided meditation with elements of mindfulness and guided imagery to decrease anxiety and increase intraoperative compliance for patients undergoing PVIs under PSA. A prospective pilot study is being planned to test the program’s feasibility.