bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphisms as a predictor for clinical presentation in schizophrenia – recent findings
Authors: Farcas Adriana , Hindmarch Charles , Iftene Felicia
Published: October 2023

Schizophrenia is a highly heritable, severe psychiatric disorder that involves dysfunctions in thinking, emotions, and behavior, with a profound impact on a person’s ability to function normally in their daily life. Research efforts continue to focus on elucidating possible genetic underlying mechanisms of the disorder. Although the genetic loci identified to date to be significantly associated with schizophrenia risk do not represent disease-causing factors, each one of them could be seen as a possible incremental contributor. Considering the importance of finding new and more efficient pharmacological approaches to target the complex symptomatology of this disorder, in this scoping review, we are focusing on the most recent findings in studies aiming to elucidate the contribution of one of the genetic factors involved – the BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphisms. Here we performed a systematic search in Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases with the search terms: (BDNF gene polymorphism) AND (schizophrenia) for articles published in the last 5 years. To be selected for this review, articles had to report on studies where genotyping for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was performed in participants diagnosed with schizophrenia (or schizophrenia spectrum disorders or first-episode psychosis). The search provided 35 results from Pubmed, 134 results from Embase, and 118 results from the Web of Science database. Twenty-two articles were selected to be included in this review, all reporting on studies where an implication of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms in the disorder’s pathophysiology was sought to be elucidated. These studies looked at BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism variants, their interactions with other genes of interest, and different facets of the illness. The Met/Met genotype was found to be associated with higher PANSS positive scores. Furthermore, Met/Met homozygous individuals appear to present with worse cognitive function and lower levels of serum BDNF. In the Val/Val genotype carriers, increased BDNF levels were found to correlate with weight gain under Risperidone treatment. However, due to heterogeneous results, the diversity in study populations and studies’ small sample sizes, generalizations cannot be made. Our findings emphasize the need for further research dedicated to clarifying the role of gene polymorphisms in antipsychotic treatment to enhance specificity and efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Serotonin syndrome caused by a CYP2C19-mediated interaction between low-dose escitalopram and clopidogrel: a case report
Authors: Wu Jianhong , Yu Jiao , Qu Kankan , Yin Jiajun , Zhu Chunming , Liu Xiaowei
Published: October 2023

Background

Serotonin syndrome has been recognized as a serious adverse reaction to antidepressants and is characterized by sudden or severe autonomic nerve dysfunction and neuromuscular symptoms. Without an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment, serotonin syndrome progresses rapidly and can be life-threatening. It is usually related to the dose of 5-hydroxytryptamine drugs, and the dose is the basis for diagnosis. Therefore, serotonin syndrome induced by low-dose antidepressants rarely occurs, and clinicians are more likely to misdiagnose patients who take low-dose antidepressants with similar symptoms. Here, we present a case study of serotonin syndrome caused by a relatively low dose of escitalopram, which is not common in past references.

Case summary

The patient was a 74-year-old Asian woman with a 42-year history of schizophrenia. After 6 weeks of antidepressant treatment, our patient presented with characteristic myoclonus in the lower limbs and closed eyes with fluttering. Initially, she was misdiagnosed with neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) due to antipsychotic medication and was treated accordingly, even with discontinuation of clozapine. However, her symptoms persisted, and then therapeutic drug monitoring was initiated with the involvement of a clinical pharmacist. Eventually, she was diagnosed with serotonin syndrome due to escitalopram levels reaching the warning level. Subsequently, the patient’s treatment was modified, and her clinical outcome was satisfactory without any other serious adverse reactions. Gene detection was also performed, and a cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP) 2C19-mediated interaction between low-dose escitalopram and clopidogrel seems to be a possible mechanism.

Conclusion

Data on this is extremely scarce, and to the best of our knowledge, serotonin syndrome caused by low-dose antidepressants has not yet been discussed to any great extent in the literature. Our case provides more clinical experience in the treatment of serotonin syndrome.
Association between overtime and depressive symptoms among Chinese employees
Authors: Liang Yinyin , Li Zixuan , Wang Xinrou , Liu Pengcheng , Ma Liang , Wang Xiaojie
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This study examines the correlation between overtime and depressive symptoms, and analyzed the moderating effect of age, education level, and income level on their correlation by using a nationally representative sample from the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2018.

Methods

Participants are divided into three groups: 30-44 h/week, 44.1–61.9 h/week (defined as overtime group), and ≥ 62 h/week (heavy overtime group). The multiple ordered logistic regression models are conducted to estimate the association between overtime and depressive symptoms. The interaction term of overtime and moderators including age, education level, and income level are introduced into the models to test the moderating effect.

Results

The overtime group have an increased probability of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.04–1.20) compared with those who reported working hours 30-44 h/week, after controlling for important confounders. What’s more, the worsening of depressive symptoms is more pronounced in the heavy overtime group (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.22–1.44). The moderating effect results show that younger employees, employees with high education levels, and those with high income level are more likely to be affected by the negative effects of overtime.

Conclusion

Working overtime increased the likelihood of depressive symptoms. Younger employees, high-educated employees and employees with high income level are more vulnerable to the negative effects of overtime on mental health.
An action research partnership in an urban Texas county to explore barriers and opportunities for collaborative community health needs assessments
Authors: Nava Marcela , English Amanda S. , Fulmer Linda , Sanchez Katherine
Published: October 2023

Background

The Affordable Care Act mandated triennial community health needs assessments (CHNAs) for greater nonprofit hospital accountability in responding to community health needs. Over 10 years later, hospital spending on community benefits remains largely unchanged. While greater collaboration in CHNA implementation can increase hospital investment in community-based initiatives, nonprofit hospitals in conservative states are subject to policy, political, and economic factors that inhibit public health partnerships and magnify existing disparities in health care access. This participatory action research study explores the decision-making environment of collaborative CHNA implementation within a group of nonprofit hospitals in a north Texas urban county.

Methods

In 2017 faculty from an urban anchor institution initiated an academic-community partnership with a coalition of nonprofit hospitals, public health departments, and academic institutions. An interdisciplinary research team engaged in multi-method document review and qualitative data collection to describe historical barriers for local CHNA processes and develop practical strategies for joint CHNA initiatives. Local CHNA documents were first reviewed through team-based content analysis and results applied to develop a qualitative study protocol. Key informants were recruited from county-based nonprofit hospitals, community-based nonprofit organizations, and public health systems. Seventeen senior- and mid-level professionals participated in semi-structured research interviews to describe their perspectives relating to CHNA-related planning and implementation decisions. Through iterative data collection and analysis, the research team explored CHNA-related knowledge, experiences, and processes. A constructivist lens was subsequently applied to examine historical barriers and future opportunities for local collaboration.

Results

Findings reveal CHNA implementation is a multi-stage cyclical process in organizational environments with accountability to a wide range of public and private stakeholders. This promotes varied levels of inclusivity and conservatism in data collection and community benefit implementation. Decisions to collaborate are hindered by competing priorities, including compliance with existing guidelines, administrative simplicity, alignment with health care service delivery, and efficient resource use. Efforts to promote greater CHNA collaboration may be facilitated through intentional alignment with organizational priorities and clearly communicated benefits of participation for leaders in both public and private nonprofit health systems.

Discussion

We consider implications for policymakers and health systems in restrictive political environments and advance a conceptual framework for greater CHNA collaboration.
Predictive digital twin for optimizing patient-specific radiotherapy regimens under uncertainty in high-grade gliomas
Authors: Chaudhuri Anirban , Pash Graham , Hormuth David A. , Lorenzo Guillermo , Kapteyn Michael , Wu Chengyue , Lima Ernesto A. B. F. , Yankeelov Thomas E. , Willcox Karen
Published: October 2023

We develop a methodology to create data-driven predictive digital twins for optimal risk-aware clinical decision-making. We illustrate the methodology as an enabler for an anticipatory personalized treatment that accounts for uncertainties in the underlying tumor biology in high-grade gliomas, where heterogeneity in the response to standard-of-care (SOC) radiotherapy contributes to sub-optimal patient outcomes. The digital twin is initialized through prior distributions derived from population-level clinical data in the literature for a mechanistic model's parameters. Then the digital twin is personalized using Bayesian model calibration for assimilating patient-specific magnetic resonance imaging data. The calibrated digital twin is used to propose optimal radiotherapy treatment regimens by solving a multi-objective risk-based optimization under uncertainty problem. The solution leads to a suite of patient-specific optimal radiotherapy treatment regimens exhibiting varying levels of trade-off between the two competing clinical objectives: (i) maximizing tumor control (characterized by minimizing the risk of tumor volume growth) and (ii) minimizing the toxicity from radiotherapy. The proposed digital twin framework is illustrated by generating an in silico cohort of 100 patients with high-grade glioma growth and response properties typically observed in the literature. For the same total radiation dose as the SOC, the personalized treatment regimens lead to median increase in tumor time to progression of around six days. Alternatively, for the same level of tumor control as the SOC, the digital twin provides optimal treatment options that lead to a median reduction in radiation dose by 16.7% (10 Gy) compared to SOC total dose of 60 Gy. The range of optimal solutions also provide options with increased doses for patients with aggressive cancer, where SOC does not lead to sufficient tumor control.
Understanding how social norms influence access to and utilization of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Taiwo Modupe Oladunni , Oyekenu Oluwatoyin , Hussaini Rahinatu
Published: October 2023

Background

This study explored the influence of social norms on the access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents. Apart from individual and environmental barriers, social norms influence contraceptive decisions and ultimately sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Social norms that shape group behavior describe acceptable standards of behavior and evoke sanctions when such behavior standards are not adhered to. Sexually active adolescents in Nigeria have a relatively low level of modern contraceptive use being influenced by social norms. Scaling up adolescent reproductive health interventions that integrate normative change for a wider impact of programs remains challenging.

Methods

Using data from 18 communities, 188 married and unmarried adolescents (F52% and M48%) and 69 (F37%; M63%) reference group participants were purposively sampled and participated in a social norms exploration intervention study conducted through focus group discussion and in-depth interviews between October and November 2019. The Advancing Learning and Innovation on Gender Norms (ALIGN) Social Norms Exploration Tool (SNET) was adapted for the data collection into discussion guides and vignettes. Pilot testing of the tools informed review and validation prior to actual data collection.

Findings

Low contraceptive uptake by adolescents was characterized by early and forced marriage in childhood; a prominent practice enshrined in social norms around girl-childchastity, family honor, and disapproval of pre-marital sex and pregnancy out of wedlock.

Conclusion

The understanding of harmful social norms, normative change actors, and potential norm-shifting factors for contraceptive decisions by adolescents is essential for effective adolescent sexual and reproductive health interventions for wider impact and adaptive programming in behavior change interventions for improving the access to and utilization of modern contraceptives by adolescents for improved sexual health outcomes, the attainment of the Family Planning (FP) 2030 commitment and universal health coverage policy.
An Experimental Field Trial Investigating the Use of Bacteriophage and Manure Slurry Applications in Beef Cattle Feedlot Pens for Salmonella Mitigation
Authors: Nickodem Colette A. , Arnold Ashley N. , Beck Matthew R. , Bush K. Jack , Gehring Kerri B. , Gill Jason J. , Le Tram , Proctor Jarret A. , Richeson John T. , Scott H. Morgan , Smith Jason K. , Taylor T. Matthew , Vinasco Javier , Norman Keri N.
Published: October 2023

Post-harvest Salmonella mitigation techniques are insufficient at addressing Salmonella harbored in cattle lymph nodes, necessitating the exploration of pre-harvest alternatives that reduce Salmonella prior to dissemination to the lymph nodes. A 2 × 2, unbalanced experiment was conducted to determine the effectiveness of pre-harvest treatments applied to the pen surface for Salmonella mitigation in cattle. Treatments included manure slurry intended to mimic pen run-off water (n = 4 pens), a bacteriophage cocktail (n = 4), a combination of both treatments (n = 5), and a control group (n = 5) that received no treatment. Environment samples from 18 feedlot pens and fecal grabs, hide swabs, and subiliac lymph nodes from 178 cattle were collected and selectively enriched for Salmonella, and Salmonella isolates were sequenced. The combination treatment was most effective at reducing Salmonella, and the prevalence was significantly lower compared with the control group for rump swabs on Days 14 and 21. The treatment impact on Salmonella in the lymph nodes could not be determined due to low prevalence. The reduction on cattle hides suggests that bacteriophage or water treatments applied to the feedlot pen surface may reduce Salmonella populations in cattle during the pre-harvest period, resulting in reduced contamination during slaughter and processing.
Community-Based Workshops to Involve Rural Communities in Wildlife Management Case Study: Bighorn Sheep in Baja California, Mexico
Authors: Ruiz-Mondragón Enrique de J. , Romero-Figueroa Guillermo , Paredes-Montesinos Rafael , Tapia-Cabazos Luz A. , Méndez-Rosas Luis A. , Venegas-Barrera Crystian S. , Arrellano-García María E. , Guerrero-Cárdenas Israel , Lozano-Cavazos Eloy A.
Published: October 2023

The description of natural history, and information on the factors threatening conservation, the distribution area, and the status of species population are necessary for proper wildlife management. The objective of this research was to generate such information in two rural communities and to engage residents in bighorn sheep management through a program of three workshops. The first one covered training regarding natural history and management of the species. The second one consisted in the description of the habitat of the species through a dynamic of participatory mapping. The third, include a design of a one strategy to monitor the bighorn sheep population. The workshops were attended by 37 people from the two rural communities. The results suggest the economic element was the main interest of the inhabitants regarding the bighorn sheep. Eleven risk factors were identified to the bighorn sheep in the study sites, a participatory map with relevant information for the management of the species on each community was developed, and a monitoring strategy of the bighorn sheep population was prepared. The workshop program proposed in this research is a tool that can be applied in rural communities to lay the groundwork for a long-term management project of wildlife species.
NCAPG Regulates Myogenesis in Sheep, and SNPs Located in Its Putative Promoter Region Are Associated with Growth and Development Traits
Authors: Yuan Zehu , Ge Ling , Su Pengwei , Gu Yifei , Chen Weihao , Cao Xiukai , Wang Shanhe , Lv Xiaoyang , Getachew Tesfaye , Mwacharo Joram M. , Haile Aynalem , Sun Wei
Published: October 2023

Previously, NCAPG was identified as a candidate gene associated with sheep growth traits. This study aimed to investigate the direct role of NCAPG in regulating myogenesis in embryonic myoblast cells and to investigate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in its promoter region and sheep growth traits. The function of NCAPG in myoblast proliferation and differentiation was detected after small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) knocked down the expression of NCAPG. Cell proliferation was detected using CCK-8 assay, EdU proliferation assay, and flow cytometry cell cycle analysis. Cell differentiation was detected via cell immunofluorescence and the quantification of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). SNPs in the promoter region were detected using Sanger sequencing and genotyped using the improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR®) technique. As a result, a notable decrease (p < 0.01) in the percentage of EdU-positive cells in the siRNA-694-treated group was observed. A significant decrease (p < 0.01) in cell viability after treatment with siRNA-694 for 48 h and 72 h was detected using the CCK-8 method. The quantity of S-phase cells in the siRNA-694 treatment group was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). After interfering with NCAPG in myoblasts during induced differentiation, the relative expression levels of MRFs were markedly (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) reduced compared with the control group on days 5–7. The myoblast differentiation in the siRNA-694 treatment group was obviously suppressed compared with the control group. SNP1, SNP2, SNP3, and SNP4 were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with all traits except body weight measured at birth and one month of age. SNP5 was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with body weight, body height, and body length in six-month-old sheep. In conclusion, interfering with NCAPG can inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of ovine embryonic myoblasts. SNPs in its promoter region can serve as potential useful markers for selecting sheep growth traits.
Bridging Evolutionary History and Conservation of New World Vultures
Authors: Cortés-Díaz Daniela , Buitrago-Torres Diana L. , Restrepo-Cardona Juan Sebastián , Estellés-Domingo Irene , López-López Pascual
Published: October 2023

The New World Vultures (Cathartidae) include seven species of obligate scavengers that, despite their ecological relevance, present critical information gaps around their evolutionary history and conservation. Insights into their phylogenetic relationships in recent years has enabled the addressing of such information gaps through approaches based on phylogeny. We reconstructed the ancestral area in America of the current species using two regionalization schemes and methods: Biogeography with Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis (BioGeoBears) and Bayesian Binary Model–Monte Carlo Markov Chains (BBM–MCMC). Then, we identified the priority species and areas for conservation by means of the Evolutionary Distinctiveness index (ED), as a proxy of the uniqueness of species according to phylogeny, and the Global Endangerment index (GE), mapping phylogenetic diversity. We found that the ancestral area of New World Vultures in America corresponds to South America, with dispersal processes that led to a recolonization of North America by Coragyps atratus, Gymnogyps californianus and Cathartes aura. We identified the Black Vulture, G. californianus and Vultur gryphus as priority species based on ED and “Evolutionary Distinct Globally Endangered” (EDGE) indexes, and the lowlands of Amazon River basin and the Orinoco basin and some tributaries areas of the Guiana Shield were identified as the priority areas when mapping the phylogenetic diversity. This study highlights the importance of filling knowledge gaps of species of conservation concern through the integration of evolutionary and ecological information and tools and, thus, developing adequate strategies to enhance the preservation of these species in the face of the current loss of biodiversity.
GLCM-Based FBLS: A Novel Broad Learning System for Knee Osteopenia and Osteoprosis Screening in Athletes
Authors: Chen Zhangtianyi , Zheng Haotian , Duan Junwei , Wang Xiangjie
Published: October 2023

Due to the physical strain experienced during intense workouts, athletes are at a heightened risk of developing osteopenia and osteoporosis. These conditions not only impact their overall health but also their athletic performance. The current clinical screening methods for osteoporosis are limited by their high radiation dose, complex post-processing requirements, and the significant time and resources needed for implementation. This makes it challenging to incorporate them into athletes’ daily training routines. Consequently, our objective was to develop an innovative automated screening approach for detecting osteopenia and osteoporosis using X-ray image data. Although several automated screening methods based on deep learning have achieved notable results, they often suffer from overfitting and inadequate datasets. To address these limitations, we proposed a novel model called the GLCM-based fuzzy broad learning system (GLCM-based FBLS). Initially, texture features of X-ray images were extracted using the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). Subsequently, these features were combined with the fuzzy broad learning system to extract crucial information and enhance the accuracy of predicting osteoporotic conditions. Finally, we applied the proposed method to the field of osteopenia and osteoporosis screening. By comparing this model with three advanced deep learning models, we have verified the effectiveness of GLCM-based FBLS in the automatic screening of osteoporosis for athletes.
Research on Automatic Classification of Coal Mine Microseismic Events Based on Data Enhancement and FCN-LSTM Network
Authors: Shang Guojun , Li Li , Zhang Liping , Liu Xiaofei , Li Dexing , Qin Gan , Li Hao
Published: October 2023

Efficient and accurate classification of the microseismic data obtained in coal mine production is of great significance for the guidance of coal mine production safety, disaster prevention and early warning. In the early stage, the classification of microseismic events relies on human experiences, which is not only inefficient but also often causes some misclassifications. In recent years, the neural network-based classification method has become more favored by people because of its advantages in modeling procedures. A microseismic signal is a kind of time-series signal and the application of the classification method is widely optimistic. The number and the balance of the training data samples have an important impact on the accuracy of the classification result. However, the quality of the training data set obtained from the production cannot be guaranteed. A long short-term memory (LSTM) network can analyze the time-series input data, where the image classification at the pixel level can be achieved by the fully convolutional network (FCN). The two structures in the network can not only use the advantages of the FCN for extracting signal details but also use the characteristics of LSTM for conveying and expressing the long time-series information effectively. In this paper, a time-series data enhancement combination process is proposed for the actual poor microseismic data. A hybrid FCN-LSTM network structure was built, the optimal network parameters were obtained by experiments, and finally a reasonable microseismic data classifier was obtained.
An Approach of Consensus-Based Double-Layer Blockchain System for Multi-Ship Collision Risk Mitigation Considering COLREGs
Authors: Chen Yongjun , Wang Tengfei , Xiao You’an , Wang Yang , Yan Gang’ao
Published: October 2023

Ship collision avoidance (CA) is the most fundamental and essential issue of maritime safety, regardless of whether the ship is a conventional ship or a future maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS). However, effective ship-to-ship communication has been recognized as a critical issue and one of the major challenges affecting the success of ship CA. This study intends to investigate the basic trust concerns in the cybersecurity components of the ship CA process and develop a blockchain-based solution for trustworthy communication. The novel idea behind applying blockchain to ship CA decision-making is that the various participating ships in a scenario of dynamically changing ship encounters form a decentralized network of opportunities, which makes blockchain an appealing tool to offer a solution for evaluating and maximizing trust in entity dynamics. The mechanism of entity participation in upholding a master chain for avoiding ship encounters is described in this work. The research begins by analyzing conventional ship CA decision scenarios under COLREGs in order to identify formal communication strategies that can make information more understandable. Based on this, it is demonstrated how beliefs of trust (BoT) between entities are encoded and combined on the chain to enable entities in the encounter scenario to form an initial opinion about another entity before becoming familiar with it. This first encounter occurs during ship CA. Second, this article examines how encounter ships have temporary rights in the process of making CA decisions. This generates blocks and attaches them to the chain at the consensus layer of blockchain technology. Finally, this study undertakes a case test of ship CA based on the aforementioned communication principles. In order to ensure safe and effective communication during brief, one-time ship encounters, the results offer a practical method for conveying CA reasoning in encounter scenarios. As a result, it can aid in the selection of better (more reliable) nodes to uphold the evidence-based understanding of the ship CA process and assess the reliability of unidentified members.
Modulation of Gut Microbiome as a Therapeutic Modality for Auditory Disorders
Authors: Godur Dimitri A. , Denton Alexa J. , Eshraghi Nicolas , Mittal Jeenu , Cooper Jaimee , Moosa Moeed , Mittal Rahul
Published: October 2023

The gut microbiome has been shown to play a pivotal role in health and disease. Recently, there has been increased interest within the auditory community to explore the role of the gut microbiome in the auditory system and its implications for hearing disorders such as sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), otitis media, and tinnitus. Studies have suggested that modulating the gut microbiome using probiotics as well as with diets high in monounsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a reduction in inflammation prevalence in auditory disorders. This review aims to evaluate the current literature on modulation of the gut microbiome and its effects on otological conditions. The probiotic conversion of nondigestible carbohydrates into short-chain fatty acids has been shown to provide benefits for improving hearing by maintaining an adequate vascular supply. For acute and secretory otitis media, studies have shown that a combination therapy of probiotics with a decreased dose of antibiotics yields better clinical outcomes than aggressive antibiotic treatment alone. Gut microbiome modulation also alters neurotransmitter levels and reduces neuroinflammation, which may provide benefits for tinnitus by preventing increased neuronal activity. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics, natural health products, and micronutrients on auditory disorders, paving the way to develop novel interventions.
Robust Solution of the Multi-Model Singular Linear-Quadratic Optimal Control Problem: Regularization Approach
Authors: Glizer Valery Y.
Published: October 2023

We consider a finite horizon multi-model linear-quadratic optimal control problem. For this problem, we treat the case where the problem’s functional does not contain a control function. The latter means that the problem under consideration is a singular optimal control problem. To solve this problem, we associate it with a new optimal control problem for the same multi-model system. The functional in this new problem is the sum of the original functional and an integral of the square of the Euclidean norm of the vector-valued control with a small positive weighting coefficient. Thus, the new problem is regular. Moreover, it is a multi-model cheap control problem. Using the solvability conditions (Robust Maximum Principle), the solution of this cheap control problem is reduced to the solution of the following three problems: (i) a terminal-value problem for an extended matrix Riccati type differential equation; (ii) an initial-value problem for an extended vector linear differential equation; (iii) a nonlinear optimization (mathematical programming) problem. We analyze an asymptotic behavior of these problems. Using this asymptotic analysis, we design the minimizing sequence of state-feedback controls for the original multi-model singular optimal control problem, and obtain the infimum of the functional of this problem. We illustrate the theoretical results with an academic example.
Identification of Sensory and Voltammetric Markers of Regional Typicality: Tempranillo Rioja Wines as a Case Study
Authors: Sáenz-Navajas María-Pilar , Iosifidis Achilleas , Gonzalez-Hernandez Marivel , Fernández-Zurbano Purificación , Valentin Dominique
Published: October 2023

The definition of regional typicality is a determinant for the preservation of perceived wine quality and protection of wine origin. This work firstly aims at evaluating the sensory diversity of young Tempranillo Tinto wines in the three subregions of DOCa Rioja (Alta-RALT-, Alavesa-RAVS- and Oriental-RO-) and secondly aims to explore the capacity of voltammetric signals to measure sensory differences. Thirty young Tempranillo Tinto wines, ten from each subregion, were sensory-described using a free sorting task followed by a free description task with 32 well-established Rioja winemakers. The sorting task evidenced that the salient sensory differences perceived were between RO and RALT/RAVS, attributed to differences in perceived colour intensity, body/structure and liquorice aroma. The free description task highlighted the core and shared characteristic of the young Tempranillo Tinto Rioja wines, a fresh fruit aroma, but also the unique and specific sensory profiles attached to the three regions. The RALT region presents ripe fruit and spicy and balsamic/mint aromas with powerful tannins, while RAVS’s wines are mainly characterised by their gummy candy, fresh fruit, lactic and floral aromas, with a silky and mellow mouthfeel. The characteristic profile for RO was linked to jammy fruit, with spicy aromas and a light perception in the mouth. The signals derived from linear sweep voltammetry were able to measure the main sensory differences between RO and RALT/RALV, as did the sorting task. This is the first time that scientific research has established the typical regional character of young Tempranillo Tinto Rioja wines, which includes a common and shared profile combined with the specificities linked to each subregion, contributing to a better understanding of the notion of regional typicality in wine.
Gas Plasma Treatment Improves Titanium Dental Implant Osseointegration—A Preclinical In Vivo Experimental Study
Authors: Nevins Myron , Chen Chia-Yu , Parma-Benfenati Stephano , Kim David M.
Published: October 2023

Recent technological advancements led to the development of various plasma-based technologies for post-packaging modifications. The purpose of the present preclinical in vivo study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel chairside nonthermal gas plasma treatment for enhancing osseointegration of titanium implants. Six male mixed foxhounds underwent extraction of mandibular premolars and first molars, and the sockets healed for 42 days. Canine mandibles were randomized to receive either plasma-treated (test) or non-plasma-treated (control) dental implants. A total of 36 implants were placed in six animals, and they were sacrificed at 2 weeks (two animals), 4 weeks (two animals), and 6 weeks (two animals) after the implant surgery. When the radiographic analysis was performed, the changes in bone level were not statistically significant between the two groups at 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The difference became significant at 6 weeks (p = 0.016), indicating more bone loss from baseline to 6 weeks for the control group. The bone-to-implant contact (BIC) appeared to be higher for the test groups at all time points, and the BIC was significantly higher for the test group at 4 weeks (p = 0.046). In conclusion, this study underscored the potential of nonthermal plasma treatment in enhancing implant osseointegration.
Biological and Chemical Characterization of Musa paradisiaca Leachate
Authors: Boulogne Isabelle , Petit Philippe , Desfontaines Lucienne , Durambur Gaëlle , Deborde Catherine , Mirande-Ney Cathleen , Arnaudin Quentin , Plasson Carole , Grivotte Julie , Chamot Christophe , Bernard Sophie , Loranger-Merciris Gladys
Published: October 2023

There is a growing demand for molecules of natural origin for biocontrol and biostimulation, given the current trend away from synthetic chemical products. Leachates extracted from plantain stems were obtained after biodegradation of the plant material. To characterize the leachate, quantitative determinations of nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, and cations (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+), Q2/4, Q2/6, and Q4/6 absorbance ratios, and metabolomic analysis were carried out. The potential role of plantain leachates as fungicide, elicitor of plant defense, and/or plant biostimulant was evaluated by agar well diffusion method, phenotypic, molecular, and imaging approaches. The plant extracts induced a slight inhibition of fungal growth of an aggressive strain of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which causes anthracnose. Organic compounds such as cinnamic, ellagic, quinic, and fulvic acids and indole alkaloid such as ellipticine, along with some minerals such as potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, may be responsible for the inhibition of fungal growth. In addition, jasmonic, benzoic, and salicylic acids, which are known to play a role in plant defense and as biostimulants in tomato, were detected in leachate extract. Indeed, foliar application of banana leachate induced overexpression of LOXD, PPOD, and Worky70-80 genes, which are involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism, jasmonic acid biosynthesis, and salicylic acid metabolism, respectively. Leachate also activated root growth in tomato seedlings. However, the main impact of the leachate was observed on mature plants, where it caused a reduction in leaf area and fresh weight, the remodeling of stem cell wall glycopolymers, and an increase in the expression of proline dehydrogenase.
Association between Impaired Ketogenesis and Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Bae Jaehyun , Lee Byung-Wan
Published: October 2023

Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is generally developed with excessive accumulation of lipids in the liver. Ketogenesis is an efficient pathway for the disposal of fatty acids in the liver and its metabolic benefits have been reported. In this review, we examined previous studies on the association between ketogenesis and MAFLD and reviewed the candidate mechanisms that can explain this association.
Evolutionary Adaptation of Protein Turnover in White Muscle of Stenothermal Antarctic Fish: Elevated Cold Compensation at Reduced Thermal Responsiveness
Authors: Krebs Nina , Bock Christian , Tebben Jan , Mark Felix C. , Lucassen Magnus , Lannig Gisela , Pörtner Hans-Otto
Published: October 2023

Protein turnover is highly energy consuming and overall relates to an organism’s growth performance varying largely between species, e.g., due to pre-adaptation to environmental characteristics such as temperature. Here, we determined protein synthesis rates and capacity of protein degradation in white muscle of the cold stenothermal Antarctic eelpout (Pachycara brachycephalum) and its closely related temperate counterpart, the eurythermal common eelpout (Zoarces viviparus). Both species were exposed to acute warming (P. brachycephalum, 0 °C + 2 °C day−1; Z. viviparus, 4 °C + 3 °C day−1). The in vivo protein synthesis rate (Ks) was monitored after injection of 13C-phenylalanine, and protein degradation capacity was quantified by measuring the activity of cathepsin D in vitro. Untargeted metabolic profiling by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to identify the metabolic processes involved. Independent of temperature, the protein synthesis rate was higher in P. brachycephalum (Ks = 0.38–0.614 % day−1) than in Z. viviparus (Ks= 0.148–0.379% day−1). Whereas protein synthesis remained unaffected by temperature in the Antarctic species, protein synthesis in Z. viviparus increased to near the thermal optimum (16 °C) and tended to fall at higher temperatures. Most strikingly, capacities for protein degradation were about ten times higher in the Antarctic compared to the temperate species. These differences are mirrored in the metabolic profiles, with significantly higher levels of complex and essential amino acids in the free cytosolic pool of the Antarctic congener. Together, the results clearly indicate a highly cold-compensated protein turnover in the Antarctic eelpout compared to its temperate confamilial. Constant versus variable environments are mirrored in rigid versus plastic functional responses of the protein synthesis machinery.
Application of Inflatable Video-Assisted Mediastinoscopic Transhiatal Esophagectomy in Individualized Treatment of Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Song Shangqi , Shen Cheng , Hu Yang , He Yazhou , Yuan Yong , Xu Yuyang
Published: October 2023

Surgery is a crucial treatment option for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. The emergence of minimally invasive esophageal techniques has led to the popularity of video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy, which has proven to be more advantageous than traditional thoracotomy. However, some patients with esophageal cancer may not benefit from this procedure. Individualized treatment plans may be necessary for patients with varying conditions and tolerances to anesthesia, making conventional surgical methods unsuitable. Inflatable video-assisted mediastinoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy (IVMTE) has emerged as a promising treatment option for esophageal cancer because it does not require one-lung ventilation, reduces postoperative complications, and expands surgical indications. This technique also provides surgical opportunities for patients with impaired pulmonary function or thoracic lesions. It is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the advancements and limitations of IVMTE to tailor treatment plans and improve outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer. Understanding the advantages and limitations of this surgical method will help specific patients with esophageal cancer. We conducted a thorough review of the relevant literature to examine the importance of IVMTE for individualized treatment of this disease.
Pharmacological Therapies of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Narrative Review of Preclinical, Clinical–Experimental, and Real-World Evidence
Authors: Crisafulli Salvatore , Boccanegra Brigida , Vitturi Giacomo , Trifirò Gianluca , De Luca Annamaria
Published: October 2023

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disease, with an estimated incidence of about 1 in 10,000 live births. To date, three orphan drugs have been approved for the treatment of SMA: nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec, and risdiplam. The aim of this narrative review was to provide an overview of the pre- and post-marketing evidence on the pharmacological treatments approved for the treatment of SMA by identifying preclinical and clinical studies registered in clinicaltrials.gov and in the EU PAS register from their inception until the 4 January 2023. The preclinical evidence on the drugs approved for SMA allowed a significant acceleration in the experimental phase of these drugs. However, since these drugs had been authorized through accelerated programs, the conduction of post-marketing studies was requested as a condition of their marketing approval to better understand their risk–benefit profiles in real-world settings. As of the 4 January 2023, a total of 69 post-marketing studies concerning the three orphan drugs approved for SMA were identified in clinicaltrials.gov (N = 65; 94.2%) and in the EU PAS register (N = 4; 5.8%). Currently, ongoing studies are primarily aimed at providing evidence concerning the risk–benefit profile of the three drugs in specific populations that were not included in the pivotal trials and to investigate the long-term safety and clinical benefits of these drugs. Real-world data sources collecting information regarding the natural history of the disease and post-marketing surveillance of the available therapies are increasingly becoming essential for generating real-world evidence on this rare disease and its orphan drugs.
Analyzing Qualitative Changes in Metalinguistic Processing in Typically Developing 5- to 7-Year-Old Children
Authors: Melogno Sergio , Pinto Maria Antonietta , Lauriola Marco
Published: October 2023

This study was based on an analysis of some of the qualitative aspects underlying the findings of previous research into the metalinguistic abilities in 160 Italian-speaking, typically developing children aged from 5 to 7 years. This previous research had used six metalinguistic tasks, a nonverbal intelligence test, and two lexical- and grammar-comprehension tests. The outcomes showed a significant improvement in all the dependent variables in the age range considered, measured by a series of ANOVAs, with high correlation between all the variables and a strong homogeneity between the metalinguistic tasks, as revealed by a factor analysis. Using generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis, the current study analyzed the cognitive levels of response that constituted the total score of each task, at each age (5–6, 6–7, and 7–8 years). Although based on the different distribution of the cognitive levels at each age and in each task, the results of this analysis further confirmed the significance of the developmental changes, and showed different developmental trajectories as a function of the specific task. These results are discussed in light of the different involvement of cognitive processes and literacy skills in the transitional phase between kindergarten and the first two years of primary school.
Atypical Associations between Functional Connectivity during Pragmatic and Semantic Language Processing and Cognitive Abilities in Children with Autism
Authors: Márquez-García Amparo V. , Ng Bonnie K. , Iarocci Grace , Moreno Sylvain , Vakorin Vasily A. , Doesburg Sam M.
Published: October 2023

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by both atypical functional brain connectivity and cognitive challenges across multiple cognitive domains. The relationship between task-dependent brain connectivity and cognitive abilities, however, remains poorly understood. In this study, children with ASD and their typically developing (TD) peers engaged in semantic and pragmatic language tasks while their task-dependent brain connectivity was mapped and compared. A multivariate statistical approach revealed associations between connectivity and psychometric assessments of relevant cognitive abilities. While both groups exhibited brain–behavior correlations, the nature of these associations diverged, particularly in the directionality of overall correlations across various psychometric categories. Specifically, greater disparities in functional connectivity between the groups were linked to larger differences in Autism Questionnaire, BRIEF, MSCS, and SRS-2 scores but smaller differences in WASI, pragmatic language, and Theory of Mind scores. Our findings suggest that children with ASD utilize distinct neural communication patterns for language processing. Although networks recruited by children with ASD may appear less efficient than those typically engaged, they could serve as compensatory mechanisms for potential disruptions in conventional brain networks.
Modular Construction of Topological Interlocking Blocks—An Algebraic Approach for Resource-Efficient Carbon-Reinforced Concrete Structures
Authors: Stüttgen Sascha , Akpanya Reymond , Beckmann Birgit , Chudoba Rostislav , Robertz Daniel , Niemeyer Alice C.
Published: October 2023

An algebraic approach to the design of resource-efficient carbon-reinforced concrete structures is presented. Interdisciplinary research in the fields of mathematics and algebra on the one hand and civil engineering and concrete structures on the other can lead to fruitful interactions and can contribute to the development of resource-efficient and sustainable concrete structures. Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) using non-crimp fabric carbon reinforcement enables very thin and lightweight constructions and thus requires new construction strategies and new manufacturing methods. Algebraic methods applied to topological interlocking contribute to modular, reusable, and hence resource-efficient TRC structures. A modular approach to construct new interlocking blocks by combining different Platonic and Archimedean solids is presented. In particular, the design of blocks that can be decomposed into various n-prisms is the focus of this paper. It is demonstrated that the resulting blocks are highly versatile and offer numerous possibilities for the creation of interlocking assemblies, and a rigorous proof of the interlocking property is outlined.