bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal dynamics of animacy categorization in the brain of patients with mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Karimi Hamed , Marefat Haniyeh , Khanbagi Mahdiyeh , Kalafatis Chris , Modarres Mohammad Hadi , Vahabi Zahra , Khaligh-Razavi Seyed-Mahdi
Published: February 2022

Electroencephalography (EEG) has been commonly used to measure brain alterations in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, reported changes are limited to those obtained from using univariate measures, including activation level and frequency bands. To look beyond the activation level, we used multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) to extract patterns of information from EEG responses to images in an animacy categorization task. Comparing healthy controls (HC) with patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), we found that the neural speed of animacy information processing is decreased in MCI patients. Moreover, we found critical time-points during which the representational pattern of animacy for MCI patients was significantly discriminable from that of HC, while the activation level remained unchanged. Together, these results suggest that the speed and pattern of animacy information processing provide clinically useful information as a potential biomarker for detecting early changes in MCI and AD patients.
Long-term high-fructose high-fat diet feeding elicits insulin resistance, exacerbates dyslipidemia and induces gut microbiota dysbiosis in WHHL rabbits
Authors: Moughaizel Michelle , Dagher Elie , Jablaoui Amin , Thorin Chantal , Rhimi Moez , Desfontis Jean-Claude , Mallem Yassine
Published: February 2022

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a global public health burden due to its link to cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. The present study was designed to characterize the metabolic and cardiovascular disturbances, as well as changes in gut microbiota associated with high-fructose high-fat diet (HFFD)-induced MetS in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Twenty-one Watanabe rabbits were assigned to a control (n = 9) and HFFD (n = 12) groups, receiving a chow diet and a HFFD, respectively. During a 12-weeks protocol, morphological parameters were monitored; plasma fasting levels of lipids, glucose and insulin were measured and a glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed. HOMA-IR was calculated. Cardiac function and vascular reactivity were evaluated using the Langendorff isolated heart and isolated carotid arteries methods, respectively. 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples was used to determine gut microbial composition and abundance. HFFD-fed Watanabe rabbits exhibited increased fasting insulin (p < 0.03, 12th week vs. Baseline), HOMA-IR (p < 0.03 vs. Control), area under the curve of the GTT (p < 0.02 vs. Control), triglycerides (p < 0.05, 12th week vs. Baseline), TC (p < 0.01 vs. Control), LDL-C (p < 0.001 vs. Control). The HFFD group also displayed a significant decrease in intestinal microbial richness, evenness and diversity (FDR < 0.001, FDR < 0.0001, FDR < 0.01, respectively vs. Control group) and an increase in its Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (R = 3.39 in control vs. R = 28.24 in the HFFD group) indicating a shift in intestinal microbial composition and diversity. Our results suggest that HFFD induces insulin resistance and gut microbiota dysbiosis and accentuates dyslipidemia; and that, when subjected to HFFD, Watanabe rabbits might become a potential diet-induced MetS animal models with two main features, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.
The where and when of COVID-19: Using ecological and Twitter-based assessments to examine impacts in a temporal and community context
Authors: Pasquini Giancarlo , Ferguson Giselle , Bouklas Isabella , Vu Huy , Zamani Mohammadzaman , Zhaoyang Ruixue , Harrington Karra D. , Roque Nelson A. , Mogle Jacqueline , Schwartz H. Andrew , Scott Stacey B.
Published: February 2022

In March 2020, residents of the Bronx, New York experienced one of the first significant community COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States. Focusing on intensive longitudinal data from 78 Bronx-based older adults, we used a multi-method approach to (1) examine 2019 to early pandemic (February-June 2020) changes in momentary psychological well-being of Einstein Aging Study (EAS) participants and (2) to contextualize these changes with community distress scores collected from public Twitter posts posted in Bronx County. We found increases in mean loneliness from 2019 to 2020; and participants that were higher in neuroticism had greater increases in thought unpleasantness and feeling depressed. Twitter-based Bronx community scores of anxiety, depressivity, and negatively-valenced affect showed elevated levels in 2020 weeks relative to 2019. Integration of EAS participant data and community data showed week-to-week fluctuations across 2019 and 2020. Results highlight how community-level data can characterize a rapidly changing environment to supplement individual-level data at no additional burden to individual participants.
Bilinguals’ speech perception in noise: Perceptual and neural associations
Authors: Bsharat-Maalouf Dana , Karawani Hanin
Published: February 2022

The current study characterized subcortical speech sound processing among monolinguals and bilinguals in quiet and challenging listening conditions and examined the relation between subcortical neural processing and perceptual performance. A total of 59 normal-hearing adults, ages 19–35 years, participated in the study: 29 native Hebrew-speaking monolinguals and 30 Arabic-Hebrew-speaking bilinguals. Auditory brainstem responses to speech sounds were collected in a quiet condition and with background noise. The perception of words and sentences in quiet and background noise conditions was also examined to assess perceptual performance and to evaluate the perceptual-physiological relationship. Perceptual performance was tested among bilinguals in both languages (first language (L1-Arabic) and second language (L2-Hebrew)). The outcomes were similar between monolingual and bilingual groups in quiet. Noise, as expected, resulted in deterioration in perceptual and neural responses, which was reflected in lower accuracy in perceptual tasks compared to quiet, and in more prolonged latencies and diminished neural responses. However, a mixed picture was observed among bilinguals in perceptual and physiological outcomes in noise. In the perceptual measures, bilinguals were significantly less accurate than their monolingual counterparts. However, in neural responses, bilinguals demonstrated earlier peak latencies compared to monolinguals. Our results also showed that perceptual performance in noise was related to subcortical resilience to the disruption caused by background noise. Specifically, in noise, increased brainstem resistance (i.e., fewer changes in the fundamental frequency (F0) representations or fewer shifts in the neural timing) was related to better speech perception among bilinguals. Better perception in L1 in noise was correlated with fewer changes in F0 representations, and more accurate perception in L2 was related to minor shifts in auditory neural timing. This study delves into the importance of using neural brainstem responses to speech sounds to differentiate individuals with different language histories and to explain inter-subject variability in bilinguals’ perceptual abilities in daily life situations.
Comparative outcomes of combined corticosteroid and remdesivir therapy with corticosteroid monotherapy in ventilated COVID-19 patients
Authors: Mandadi Subhadra , Pulluru Harish , Annie Frank
Published: February 2022

Remdesivir (RDV) reduces time to clinical improvement in hospitalized COVID -19 patients requiring supplemental oxygen. Dexamethasone improves survival in those requiring oxygen support. Data is lacking on the efficacy of combination therapy in patients on mechanical ventilation. We analyzed for comparative outcomes between Corticosteroid (CS) therapy with combined Corticosteroid and Remdesivir (CS-RDV) therapy. We conducted an observational cohort study of patients aged 18 to 90 with COVID-19 requiring ventilatory support using TriNetX (COVID-19 Research Network) between January 20, 2020, and February 9, 2021. We compared patients who received at least 48 hours of CS-RDV combination therapy to CS monotherapy. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality rates in propensity-matched (PSM) cohorts. Secondary outcomes were Length of Stay (LOS), Secondary Bacterial Infections (SBI), and MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and Pseudomonas infections. We used univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and stratified log-rank tests. Of 388 patients included, 91 (23.5%) received CS-RDV therapy, and 297 (76.5%) received CS monotherapy. After propensity score matching, with 74 patients in each cohort, all-cause mortality was 36.4% and 29.7% in the CS-RDV and CS therapy, respectively (P = 0.38). We used a Kaplan-Meier with a log-rank test on follow up period (P = 0.23), and a Hazards Ratio model (P = 0.26). SBI incidence was higher in the CS group (13.5% vs. 35.1%, P = 0.02) with a similar LOS (13.4 days vs. 13.4 days, P = 1.00) and similar incidence of MRSA/Pseudomonas infections (13.5% vs. 13.5%, P = 1.00) in both the groups. Therefore, CS-RDV therapy is non-inferior to CS therapy in reducing 28-day all-cause in-hospital mortality but associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of SBI in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
The effect of visual and proprioceptive feedback on sensorimotor rhythms during BCI training
Authors: Halme Hanna-Leena , Parkkonen Lauri
Published: February 2022

Brain–computer interfaces (BCI) can be designed with several feedback modalities. To promote appropriate brain plasticity in therapeutic applications, the feedback should guide the user to elicit the desired brain activity and preferably be similar to the imagined action. In this study, we employed magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure neurophysiological changes in healthy subjects performing motor imagery (MI) -based BCI training with two different feedback modalities. The MI-BCI task used in this study lasted 40–60 min and involved imagery of right- or left-hand movements. 8 subjects performed the task with visual and 14 subjects with proprioceptive feedback. We analysed power changes across the session at multiple frequencies in the range of 4–40 Hz with a generalized linear model to find those frequencies at which the power increased significantly during training. In addition, the power increase was analysed for each gradiometer, separately for alpha (8–13 Hz), beta (14–30 Hz) and gamma (30–40 Hz) bands, to find channels showing significant linear power increase over the session. These analyses were applied during three different conditions: rest, preparation, and MI. Visual feedback enhanced the amplitude of mainly high beta and gamma bands (24–40 Hz) in all conditions in occipital and left temporal channels. During proprioceptive feedback, in contrast, power increased mainly in alpha and beta bands. The alpha-band enhancement was found in multiple parietal, occipital, and temporal channels in all conditions, whereas the beta-band increase occurred during rest and preparation mainly in the parieto-occipital region and during MI in the parietal channels above hand motor regions. Our results show that BCI training with proprioceptive feedback increases the power of sensorimotor rhythms in the motor cortex, whereas visual feedback causes mainly a gamma-band increase in the visual cortex. MI-BCIs should involve proprioceptive feedback to facilitate plasticity in the motor cortex.
Effectiveness of face masks in blocking the transmission of SARS-CoV-2: A preliminary evaluation of masks used by SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals
Authors: Mello Vinicius M. , Eller Cristiane M. , Salvio Andreza L. , Nascimento Felipe F. , Figueiredo Camila M. , Silva Emanuelle S. R. F. , Sousa Paulo S. F. , Costa Pamela F. , Paiva Anne A. P. , Mares-Guias Maria A. M. M. , Lemos Elba R. S. , Horta Marco A. P.
Published: February 2022

In 2019, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is transmitted via the airborne route, caused a new pandemic namely, “coronavirus disease 2019” (COVID-19). Although the effectiveness of face masks to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is debated, no study has evaluated the virus-blocking efficacy of masks used by patients. We aimed to evaluate this efficacy of masks used by SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. Data, masks used, and nasopharyngeal swab samples were obtained from these patients. Forty-five paired samples of nasopharyngeal swabs and masks were obtained and processed; the majority of masks were woven. Viral RNAs were amplified using quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and detected only on the inner parts of masks. Median viral load (VL) values of swabs and masks were 1.954x106 and 2,51x103, respectively. Statistically, there was a difference of approximately 1000 RNA copies/mL between swabs and masks and no significant difference in VL values among different types of masks. There were statistically significant differences in VL values between men and women and between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Our findings suggest the blocking of virus transmission by different types of masks and reinforce the use of masks by both infected and non-infected individuals.
The New Music Industries: Disruption and Discovery, Diane Hughes, Mark Evans, Guy Morrow and Sarah Keith (2016)
Authors: Williams David A.
Published: February 2022

Review of: The New Music Industries: Disruption and Discovery, Diane Hughes, Mark Evans, Guy Morrow and Sarah Keith (2016)

Cham: Springer Publishing, 137 pp.,

ISBN 978-3-319-40364-9, h/bk, USD $69.99
Musical Gentrification: Popular Music, Distinction and Social Mobility, P. Dyndahl, S. Karlsen and R. Wright (eds) (2020)
Authors: Missena Sol Elisa Martinez
Published: February 2022

Review of: Musical Gentrification: Popular Music, Distinction and Social Mobility, P. Dyndahl, S. Karlsen and R. Wright (eds) (2020)

London and New York: Routledge, 196 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-36734-335-4, h/bk, USD $160.00
Evangelism in modern band
Authors: Cremata Radio
Published: February 2022

Modern band is a relatively new addition to the US music education culture and is attracting attention in K–12 and tertiary contexts. While popular music education has a longer lineage and deeper roots that precedes modern band, the neophytes associated with the recent proliferation and popularization of modern band present potential challenges to a well-intended group of music educators. In many cases, their enthusiasm outweighs their understanding, and their backgrounds in and interactions with non-modern band contexts reveal an intercultural dilemma in which students, teachers, music teacher candidates and music teacher educators are entwined and potentially ill-informed. Nonetheless, modern band continues to spread and gain traction within the profession. This article explores modern band through a framework of evangelism and highlights some of its dynamic sociological practices such as conversion, neophytes and missionaries. Furthermore, this article provides some suggestions and recommendations to address some of these challenges.
The urgency of wider adoption of one health approach for the prevention of a future pandemic
Authors: Hoque M. Nazmul , Faisal Golam Mahbub , Chowdhury Farhan Rahman , Haque Amlan , Islam Tofazzal
Published: February 2022

Recurring outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses serve as a reminder that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected. Therefore, multisectoral, transdisciplinary, and collaborative approaches are required at local, regional, and global levels to tackle the ever-increasing zoonotic threat. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 zoonosis has been posing tremendous threats to global human health and economies. The devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic teaches us to adopt a "One Health Approach (OHA)" to tackle a possible future pandemic through a concerted effort of the global scientific community, human health professionals, public health experts, veterinarians and policymakers through open science and open data sharing practices. The OHA is an integrated, holistic, collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach to tackle potential pandemic zoonotic diseases. It includes expanding scientific inquiry into zoonotic infections; monitoring, and regulating traditional food markets, transforming existing food systems, and incentivizing animal husbandry and legal wildlife trade to adopt effective zoonotic control measures. To adopt an OHA globally, research and academic institutions, governments and non-government sectors at the local, regional, and international levels must work together. This review aimed to provide an overview of the major pandemics in human history including the COVID-19, anthropogenic drivers of zoonoses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse zoonoses, the concept of OHA and how an OHA could be utilized to prevent future pandemic threats to the human-animal-ecosystem interfaces. In addition, this review article discusses the strategic framework of OHA and possible challenges to implement OHA in practice to prevent any future pandemics. The practices of open data sharing, open science, and international collaboration should be included in the OHA to prevent and/or rapidly tackle any health emergencies in the future.
CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PSEUDO-NITZSCHIA SPECIES IN LAMPUNG BAY, INDONESIA
Authors: Rachman Arief , Thoha Hikmah
Published: February 2022

The domoic acid producing Pseudo-nitzschia has received more attention in the recent years due to increasing amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) cases in many Asian countries. However, information on morphological characters of Pseudo-nitzschia species in Indonesia was very limited, which hinders the attempt to quickly identify the species during a harmful algal blooms in the coastal waters. Thus this study aimed to identify and characterize the Pseudo-nitzschia species found in Lampung Bay, Indonesia. Phytoplankton samples used in this study were taken from the reference collection for plankton (RCP) in Research Center for Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (RCO-LIPI). The samples were collected from Padang Cermin area in Lampung, during high tide in 2005. In this research, morphology and morphometry of Pseudo-nitzschia were observed using light microscope (LM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The Pseudo-nitzschia species found in Lampung was labelled as LMP3. Jaccard cluster analysis, using simple average link, showed that LMP3 was Pseudo-nitzschia pungens. The morphology and morphometry of LMP3 were matched perfectly with P. pungens (100% similarity) and differed from other Pseudo-nitzschia species in seriata complex. Unfortunately, it was not known whether the P. pungens LMP3 in this study was the toxin producer strain as this study used preserved sample, thus it was not possible to detect any trace of domoic acid in there.
Az Európa Tanács 1999. június 21-i 1260/1999/EK rendelete a strukturális alapokra vonatkozó általános rendelkezések megállapításáról
Authors: Letenyei László
Published: February 2022

Az Európai Unió Tanácsa 1260/1999/EK-rendelete 1999-ben hét évre, azaz a 2000 és 2006 közötti időszakra lefektette az Európai Unió fejlesztéssel kapcsolatos alapelveit, célkitűzésit és eszközeit. Az ezután következő hét év tervezési és programozási gyakorlatának alapdokumentuma várhatóan 2006-ban jelenik majd meg. Az Európai Unió joganyaga kizárólag az Európai Unió Hivatalos Lapjának nyomtatott kiadásában megjelent változatban tekinthető hitelesnek. Az eredeti változat magyar nyelvre történő fordítása az Igazságügyi Minisztérium koordinációjában készült. Az Igazságügyi Minisztérium koordinációjában készült fordítások képezik a Hivatalos Lap magyar nyelvű különkiadásában a csatlakozáskor megjelenő fordítások alapját, azonban az e kiadványban megjelenő, illetve a Hivatalos Lap magyar nyelvű különkiadásában megjelenő szövegek között eltérés lehetséges. A mindenkori hatályos közösségi jogszabályok szövege az Európai Unió hivatalos nyelvein ingyenesen elérhető a következő portálon: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex.
A nyugat-csendes-óceáni térség argonautái
Authors: Malinowski Bronislaw
Published: February 2022

A déltengeri szigetvilág tengerpart mentén élő népei hozzáértő tengerészek és kereskedők – vagy legalábbis azok voltak, mielőtt kihaltak. Néhányan közülük kiváló minőségű, hatalmas tengerjáró kenufajtákat fejlesztettek ki, melyekkel könnyen vállalkozhattak távoli kereskedelmi expedíciókra vagy akár háborús hódításokra is. A pápua-melanéziai népek, melyek Új-Guinea tengerpartján és a part menti szigeteken élnek, nem jelentenek ez alól kivételt: jobbára mindannyian merész tengerészek, szorgalmas kézművesek és ügyes kereskedők. A fontos használati tárgyak – például az agyagedények, kőszerszámok, kenuk, finoman megmunkált kosarak, értékes díszítések – gyártási központjai a lakosok készségeitől, az áthagyományozott törzsi szokásoktól és a környék sajátos anyagi erőforrásaitól függően a térségben szétszórtan helyezkednek el, ezért ezeket a tárgyakat kereskedelmi célból nagy távolságokra, néha több száz mérföldre is elszállítják.
Endoscopic Coil Embolization for Refractory Intrahepatic Biliary Duct Leak
Authors: Dutra Barbara , Welborn Macartney , Thosani Nirav C. , Badillo Ricardo , DaVee Tomas , Bhakta Dimpal
Published: February 2022

Bile leaks may be seen after blunt and penetrating trauma, as well as iatrogenic injury from surgical procedures. There are many articles on endoscopic treatment options for the management of biliary leaks, including sphincterotomy, endoscopic stent, or nasobiliary drain placement. Data, however, are scarce regarding the management of persistent biliary leaks after the initial intervention. We present a case of endoscopic coil embolization to treat a refractory bile leak after initial endoscopic sphincterotomy and stent placement in a patient with a grade IV liver laceration due to a gunshot wound.
On Quantification of Incidence and Intensity of Poverty
Authors: Khataniar Rabinjyoti
Published: February 2022

The study aims to explore and quantify poverty from global to local context based on available secondary data published by the World Bank and Planning Commission of India. The study reveals that the global absolute number of poor and poverty ratio has declined in spite of the increase in total global population. At the National level, not only the poverty ratio but also the poverty gap has declined. However, the disparity in the number of poor people in its complete term points out a different trend of poverty, i.e., poverty in India was getting tilted to urban poverty. Almost all developing economies have been showing the same trend; a large proportion of the urban poor live on less than 1$ a day. The incidence of poverty in the state of Assam has been on a declining trend since 1973-74.  However, Assam has experienced an increase in absolute poverty, both rural and urban, as a result of the state's rapid population growth and others. The study recommended institutional initiatives for continuous monitoring of official poverty data, which has been suspended since 2011. It is also essential to have a new poverty assessment based on multidimensional components like access to health care, education, sanitation, and living spaces with social distance along with income.
Currency Crisis in South Sudan: Contexts, Causes and Policy Options
Authors: Atem Gabriel Garang
Published: February 2022

This study combines contextual framework, review of South Sudan elites’speculative policies and empirical evidence between July 2011 to December 2017to explain the causes of the exchange rate crisis in South Sudan. The study findselites' speculative policies and a surging money supply caused the depreciation ofthe exchange rate. The study argues that policymakers implemented unsustainablepolicies, and speculative regulations in the financial sector as conduits for the elitesto benefit through rent-seeking. Disabled by ineffective monetary and exchangerate transmission channels, the Bank of South Sudan signaled its inability to defendthe fixed exchange rate in November 2013 by devaluing the pound. Politics came inthe way, the devaluation was rescinded by parliament in December 2013. Thedevaluation was later implemented in December 2015 at a higher exchange ratewhen the Bank of South Sudan surrendered to defending a fixed exchange rateregime. South Sudan's macroeconomic environment is characterized byhyperinflation, depreciation and lack of political will to ensure good economicgovernance prevails. Resolving macroeconomic challenges of such magnitude,requires external policy and financial support for the Bank of South Sudan tocorrect the exchange rate and monetary policy challenges.
Novel mutation in PIK3CD affecting the Ras-binding domain
Authors: Abrego Fuentes Laura , Garkaby Jenny , Scott Ori , Willet Pachul Jessica , Dadi Harjit , Merico Daniele , Vong Linda
Published: February 2022

Introduction: The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays critical roles in diverse cellular processes, including differentiation, proliferation, motility, survival, and growth. PI3Kδ, comprised of the catalytic subunit p110δ and regulatory subunit p85α, is essential for normal lymphocyte and myeloid development and function. Gain-of-function mutations in PIK3CD (encoding p110δ) cause a combined immunodeficiency known as activated PI3Kδ syndrome (APDS), in which patients frequently present with recurrent respiratory infections, severe recurrent (or persistent) infections with herpes family viruses, and lymphadenopathy.

Aim: To describe the clinical presentation, immune evaluation, and genetic work-up of 2 patients (daughter and mother) with recurrent sinopulmonary, soft tissue, and skin infections.

Results: Both daughter and mother presented with recurrent sinopulmonary and soft tissue infections. Immune evaluation of the daughter revealed intermittent hypogammaglobulinemia and abnormal specific vaccine responses, while immune parameters of her mother were normal. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel mutation in PIK3CD (NM_005026), c.C719T, resulting in p.T240M. Western blot analysis of downstream AKT levels revealed increased basal phosphorylation, in line with gain-of-function mutations of PIK3CD.

Conclusion: The novel missense mutation in PIK3CD occurs in the region encoding the Ras-binding domain (RBD) of p110δ, and likely alters the structural configuration of the domain. To date, pathogenic mutations targeting the RBD of p110δ have not yet been described. Our results expand on the genotypic spectrum of APDS.

Statement of Novelty: We describe a novel mutation in the Ras-binding domain of PIK3CD leading to a presentation of recurrent sinopulmonary and soft tissue infections in the context of APDS.
Temporal activity patterns of layer II and IV rat barrel cortex neurons in healthy and injured conditions
Authors: Burns Thomas F. , Rajan Ramesh
Published: February 2022

Neurons are known to encode information not just by how frequently they fire, but also at what times they fire. However, characterizations of temporal encoding in sensory cortices under conditions of health and injury are limited. Here we characterized and compared the stimulus‐evoked activity of 1210 online‐sorted units in layers II and IV of rat barrel cortex under healthy and diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI) (caused by a weight‐drop model) conditions across three timepoints post‐injury: four days, two weeks, and eight weeks. Temporal activity patterns in the first 50 ms post‐stimulus recording showed four categories of responses: no response or 1, 2, or 3 temporally‐distinct response components, that is, periods of high unit activity separated by silence. The relative proportions of unit response categories were similar between layers II and IV in healthy conditions but not in early post‐TBI conditions. For units with multiple response components, inter‐component timings were reliable in healthy and late post‐TBI conditions but disrupted by injury. Response component times typically shifted earlier with increasing stimulus intensity and this was more pronounced in layer IV than layer II. Surprisingly, injury caused a reversal of this trend and in the late post‐TBI condition no stimulus intensity‐dependence differences were observed between layers II and IV. We speculate this indicates a potential compensatory mechanism in response to injury. These results demonstrate how temporal encoding features maladapt or functionally recover differently in sensory cortex after TBI. Such maladaptation or functional recovery is layer‐dependent, perhaps due to differences in thalamic input or local inhibitory neuronal makeup.
Análisis del Mercado de maíz en México desde una perspectiva de precios
Authors: Reyes Santiago Ester , Bautista Mayorga Fidel , García Salazar José Alberto
Published: February 2022

El maíz es el grano básico más importante en México; a pesar de ello, se importan grandes cantidades para satisfacer el consumo. El presente artículo tuvo como objetivos determinar los factores que afectan el comportamiento del mercado de maíz grano en México, estimar el efecto del precio de garantía sobre la oferta y analizar mediante escenarios el efecto del precio de importación sobre este mercado. Se formuló un modelo de ecuaciones simultáneas empleando datos anuales del mercado de maíz de 1999 a 2020 y se estimó el modelo por mínimos cuadrados en dos etapas (MC2E). Los resultados indican que aumentar el precio de garantía en 37.4% provoca quela producción crezca en 8.38% y que los efectos de aumentar el precio de importación en 20% origina que la producción aumente 2.1% y el consumo se reduzca 5%. Se recomienda realizar sinergia con otros programas de apoyo al agro mexicano para incrementar aún más la producción y de esta manera avanzar en la autosuficiencia alimentaria.
Correlations in Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Assessed Using EN 14651 and Modified ASTM C1609/C1609M-19 Beam Tests
Authors: Bernard E. S.
Published: February 2022

The mechanical performance of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is commonly assessed using simply-supported beam-based test methods such as ASTM C1609/C1609M-19, Standard Test Method for Flexural Toughness of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (Using Beam with Third-Point Loading), and EN 14651, Test Method for Metallic Fibre Concrete - Measuring the Flexural Tensile Strength (Limit of Proportionality (LOP), Residual). These methods can be used to characterize flexural performance at first peak and in the post-crack range for specimens of FRC prepared either in the laboratory or in the field. The EN 14651 test method involves application of a central point load to a notched beam, with performance quantified as flexural strength expressed as a function of crack mouth opening displacement. The ASTM C1609/C1609M-19 test method involves application of third-point loading to a beam lacking a notch, with performance quantified as load resistance expressed as a function of central deflection. The distribution of stress differs between the two test methods, and it is difficult to directly compare post-crack performance. However, a method of calculating the crack width for a third-point loaded beam based on the measured central deflection and crack offset from the center of loading has recently been published. This method permits the post-crack performance of an ASTM C1609/C1609M-19 beam to be expressed in terms of the estimated maximum crack width without directly measuring the crack width. The current investigation examines whether post-crack flexural strengths obtained with ASTM C1609/C1609M-19 using this modified method produces equivalent performance to that obtained using EN 14651 for a given FRC mixture.
The Influence of Different B2O3 Dosage on the Rheological Properties and Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Cement Mortar
Authors: Huang Weitao , Zhang Guoxue
Published: February 2022

This article investigates the influence of B2O3 dosage on the rheological properties and mechanical properties of geopolymer cement mortar. The results showed that B2O3 slightly reduced the fluidity of geopolymer cement mortar, whereas the yield stress and plastic viscosity of geopolymer cement mortar increased with the increase of B2O3 dosage, besides the thixotropy of geopolymer cement mortar also increased. Moreover, the appropriate amount of B2O3 was found to improve the mechanical properties of the 3, 7 days geopolymer cement mortar. Compared to the specimen without B2O3, with 1 wt. % B2O3 geopolymer cement mortar, the 3, 7 days flexural strengths were increased by 18.15 % and 15.03 %, the 3, 7 days compressive strength were increased by 4.95 % and 11.28 %, respectively. Furthermore, infrared spectrum analysis indicated that the formation and propagation of the amorphous aluminosilicate gel phase were improved, which can explain the improvement in the mechanical strength with the incorporation of B2O3. Hence, it is found that the incorporation of B2O3 particles can enhance the rheological properties and mechanical properties of geopolymer cement mortar.
Activation of Extrasynaptic Kainate Receptors Drives Hilar Mossy Cell Activity
Authors: Ramos Czarina , Lutzu Stefano , Yamasaki Miwako , Yanagawa Yuchio , Sakimura Kenji , Tomita Susumu , Watanabe Masahiko , Castillo Pablo E.
Published: February 2022

Mossy cells (MCs) of the dentate gyrus are key components of an excitatory associative circuit established by reciprocal connections with dentate granule cells (GCs). MCs are implicated in place field encoding, pattern separation, and novelty detection, as well as in brain disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy and depression. Despite their functional relevance, little is known about the determinants that control MC activity. Here, we examined whether MCs express functional kainate receptors (KARs), a subtype of glutamate receptors involved in neuronal development, synaptic transmission, and epilepsy. Using mouse hippocampal slices, we found that bath application of submicromolar and micromolar concentrations of the KAR agonist kainic acid induced inward currents and robust MC firing. These effects were abolished in GluK2 KO mice, indicating the presence of functional GluK2-containing KARs in MCs. In contrast to CA3 pyramidal cells, which are structurally and functionally similar to MCs and express synaptic KARs at mossy fiber (MF) inputs (i.e., GC axons), we found no evidence for KAR-mediated transmission at MF–MC synapses, indicating that most KARs at MCs are extrasynaptic. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy analyses confirmed the extrasynaptic localization of GluK2-containing KARs in MCs. Finally, blocking glutamate transporters, a manipulation that increases extracellular levels of endogenous glutamate, was sufficient to induce KAR-mediated inward currents in MCs, suggesting that MC-KARs can be activated by increases in ambient glutamate. Our findings provide the first direct evidence of functional extrasynaptic KARs at a critical excitatory neuron of the hippocampus.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTHilar mossy cells (MCs) are an understudied population of hippocampal neurons that form an excitatory loop with dentate granule cells. MCs have been implicated in pattern separation, spatial navigation, and epilepsy. Despite their importance in hippocampal function and disease, little is known about how MC activity is recruited. Here, we show for the first time that MCs express extrasynaptic kainate receptors (KARs), a subtype of glutamate receptors critically involved in neuronal function and epilepsy. While we found no evidence for synaptic KARs in MCs, KAR activation induced strong action potential firing of MCs, raising the possibility that extracellular KARs regulate MC excitabilityin vivoand may also promote dentate gyrus hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis.
Strong Gamma Frequency Oscillations in the Adolescent Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Wang Zhengyang , Singh Balbir , Zhou Xin , Constantinidis Christos
Published: February 2022

Working memory ability continues to mature into adulthood in humans and nonhuman primates. At the single-neuron level, adolescent development is characterized by increased prefrontal firing rate in the delay period, but less is known about how coordinated activity between neurons is altered. Local field potentials (LFPs) provide a window into the computations conducted by the local network. To address the effects of adolescent development on LFP activity, three male rhesus monkeys were trained to perform an oculomotor delayed response task and tested at both the adolescent and adult stages. Simultaneous single-unit and LFP signals were recorded from areas 8a and 46 of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In both the cue and delay period, power relative to baseline in the gamma frequency range (32–128 Hz) was higher in the adolescent than the adult stage. The changes between developmental stages could not be accounted for by differences in performance and were observed in more posterior as well as more anterior recording sites. In the adult stage, high-firing neurons were also more likely to reside at sites with strong gamma power increase from baseline. For both stages, the gamma power increase in the delay was selective for sites with neuron-encoding stimulus information in their spiking. Our results establish gamma power decrease to be a feature of prefrontal cortical maturation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTGamma-frequency oscillations in extracellular field recordings (e.g., local field potential or EEG) are a marker of normal interactions between excitatory and inhibitory neurons in neural circuits. Abnormally low gamma power during working memory is seen in conditions such as schizophrenia. We sought to examine whether the immature prefrontal cortex similarly exhibits lower power in the gamma-frequency range during working memory, in a nonhuman primate model of adolescence. Contrary to this expectation, the adolescent PFC exhibited stronger gamma power during the maintenance of working memory. Our findings reveal an unknown developmental maturation trajectory of gamma-band oscillations, propose a refinement of information encoding during PFC maturation, and raise the possibility that schizophrenia represents an excessive state of prefrontal maturation.
The Slack Channel Regulates Anxiety-Like Behaviors via Basolateral Amygdala Glutamatergic Projections to Ventral Hippocampus
Authors: Zhang Qi , Gao Shun-Heng , Shen Zhong-Shan , Wang Yun , Hu Su-Wan , Duan Guang-Bing , Liu Ye , Zhong Dan-Ya , Liu Jing , Sun Meng-Han , Zhang Xin , Cao Tian-Yu , Cao Jun-Li , Tang Qiong-Yao , Zhang Zhe
Published: February 2022

Anxiety disorders are a series of mental disorders characterized by anxiety and fear, but the molecular basis of these disorders remains unclear. In the present study, we find that the globalSlack KOmale mice exhibit anxious behaviors, whereas the SlackY777Hmale mice manifest anxiolytic behaviors. The expression of Slack channels is rich in basolateral amygdala (BLA) glutamatergic neurons and downregulated in chronic corticosterone-treated mice. In addition, electrophysiological data show enhanced excitability of BLA glutamatergic neurons in theSlack KOmice and decreased excitability of these neurons in theSlack Y777Hmice. Furthermore, the Slack channel deletion in BLA glutamatergic neurons is sufficient to result in enhanced avoidance behaviors, whereasKcnt1gene expression in the BLA or BLA–ventral hippocampus (vHPC) glutamatergic projections reverses anxious behaviors of theSlack KOmice. Our study identifies the role of the Slack channel in controlling anxious behaviors by decreasing the excitability of BLA–vHPC glutamatergic projections, providing a potential target for anxiolytic therapies.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAnxiety disorders are a series of mental disorders characterized by anxiety and fear, but the molecular basis of these disorders remains unclear. Here, we examined the behaviors of loss- and gain-of-function of Slack channel mice in elevated plus maze and open field tests and found the anxiolytic role of the Slack channel. By altering the Slack channel expression in the specific neuronal circuit, we demonstrated that the Slack channel played its anxiolytic role by decreasing the excitability of BLA–vHPC glutamatergic projections. Our data reveal the role of the Slack channel in the regulation of anxiety, which may provide a potential molecular target for anxiolytic therapies.
Tinjauan Yuridis Pembatasan Hak Politik Melalui Peraturan Komisi Pemilihan Umum
Authors: Rinaldi Aris
Published: February 2022

Hak dipilih merupakan bagian dari hak politik warga negara Indonesia. Jaminan terhadap hak tersebut diatur dalam hukum tertinggi negara Indonesia. Perlindungannya dijelaskan di dalam Undang-undang Nomor 39 Tahun 1999 tentang Hak Asasi Manusia. Di sisi lain, negara dapat membatasi hak dan kebebasan seseorang dengan dalil untuk menghormati dan menjamin hak orang lain. Korupsi sebagai tindakan yang merugikan hak banyak orang dapat dilakukan pembatasan. Pencabutan hak politik dalam literatur hukum di Indonesia dapat dilakukan melalui putusan pengadilan sebagai bagian hukuman tambahan. Hak dipilih dapat dicabut hanya dalam rentang waktu tertentu dan untuk jabatan tertentu. Pengaturan mengenai pembatasan hak seseorang menjadi calon legislatif telah diatur dalam Undang-undang Nomor 7 Tahun 2017 tentang Pemilihan Umum. Tidak ditentukan secara spesifik mantan terpidana apa yang dibatasi untuk mencalonkan diri sebagai anggota legislatif. Hanya saja apabila mantan terpidana mengumumkan secara terbuka dan jujur kepada publik bahwa yang bersangkutan mantan terpidana, maka ia dapat mencalonkan diri menjadi anggota legislatif. Permasalahan timbul ketika komisi pemilihan umum sebagai penyelenggara pemilu menetapkan Peraturan komisi pemilihan umum (PKPU) yang melarang mantan terpidana korupsi menjadi bakal calon legislatif. Maka dalam penelitian ini, penulis ingin menganalisis pencabutan hak politik melalui PKPU terhadap peraturan perundang-undangan yang berlaku di Indonesia.
Eksistensi Hak Ulayat Masyarakat Adat Dalam Undang-Undang Pokok Agraria
Authors: Arrasid Sandi Ersya
Published: February 2022

Sebagai negara kepulauan terbesar di dunia, indonesia tentunya memiliki masyarakat  dan adat budaya yang beragam, bahkan jauh sebelum kemerdekaan sudah ada masyarakat adat beserta aturan yang mengatur hidup masyarakat adat tersebut. Aturan  itu mengatur seluruh aspek kehidupan masyarakat adat, bahkan juga mengatur hak atas tanah, salah satunya ada yang dinamakan dengan tanah ulayat, yaitu tanah yang terletak dalam lingkungan wilayah adat dan menjadi pendukung utama penghidupan dan kehidupan masyarakat. Setelah kemerdekaan, pemerintah mengeluarkan Undang- Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1960 yang mengatur tentang peraturan pokok agraria. Undang- Undang tersebut dibuat dengan berlandaskan hukum adat tentang tanah, yang sederhana dan menjamin kepastian hukum bagi seluruh rakyat Indonesia. Namun pada era modern sekarang ini undang-undang tersebut pada pelaksanaannya justru tidak dapat melindungi Hak Ulayat. Disadari juga bahwa pengakuan hak ulayat dalam UUPA masih ambigu karena terlampau banyak persyaratan yang harus dipenuhi oleh Hak Ulayat itu sendiri. Penulis mencoba menganilisis apakah UUPA yang merupakan produk hukum  lama dapat menjamin perlindungan Hak Ulayat masyarakat adat. Bukan hanya  UUPA,  penulis juga menganalisis peraturan perundang-undangan sumber daya agraria lainnya yang melindungi Hak Ulayat.
Formulasi Konsep Shared Responsibility System Melalui Observator Agency Dalam Proses Rekrutmen Hakim Tingkat Pertama
Authors: Violita Tiara Krisma
Published: February 2022

Konstitusi Indonesia menyatakan bahwa negara Indonesia adalah negara hukum. Conditio sine qua non atau persyaratan mutlak dalam sebuah negara yang berdasarkan hukum adalah Pengadilan yang mandiri, netral (tidak memihak), kompeten, transparan, akuntabel dan berwibawa, yang mampu menegakkan wibawa hukum, pengayoman hukum, kepastian hukum dan keadilan. Hakim sebagai aktor utama atau figur sentral dalam proses peradilan senantiasa dituntut untuk mengasah kepekaan nurani,  memelihara integritas, kecerdasan moral dan meningkatkan profesionalisme dalam menegakkan hukum dan keadilan bagi rakyat banyak. Namun dalam kenyataannya hakim yang seharusnya menjadi benteng terakhir bagi para pencari keadilan malah menjadi wujud representasi dari ketidak adilan. Banyaknya laporan masyarakat terhadap Komisi Yudisial mengenai pelanggaran hakim merupakan wujud nyata dari rendahnya kualitas hakim di Indonesia. Salah satu penyebab rendahnya kualitas hakim di Indonesia adalah kurangnya pengawasan yang dilakukan oleh Komisi Yudisial dan Mahkamah Agung, khususnya pengawasan dalam proses rekrutmen hakim dimana  rekrutmen  hakim saat ini merupakan tanggung jawab tunggal Mahkamah Agung. Artikel ini memberikan solusi alternatif bagi permasalahan tersebut melalui konsep Shared Responsibility System dalam proses rekrutmen hakim tingkar pertama di Indonesia. Metode rekrutmen hakim yang mengedepankan pengawasan secara preventif  dan represif melalui kolaborasi Mahkamah Agung, Komisi Yudisial serta partisipasi masyarakat diharapkan mampu mewujudkan proses rekrutmen hakim yang transparan, akuntabilitas, partisipatif dan tanpa KKN.
Revisi Undang-Undang Perlindungan Disabilitas: Aksesibilitas Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Kekerasan Seksual
Authors: Ramadhan Dylan Aldianza , Solekhah Alfia Septiani , Marinda Fitrah
Published: February 2022

Belakangan di Indonesia ramai dengan maraknya kasus kekerasan seksual, seolah berita hukuman berak pada para pelaku tidak menjadi ketakutan bagi para pelaku yang baru. Belum lama ini kita dikejutkan dengan berita wanita penyandang disabilitas yang diperkosa 3 orang pria di condet. Hal itu mengetuk mata kita bahwa persoalan nafsu tidak memandang objek, ketika seseorang digelapkan pada persoalan nafsu maka apa yang di depan mata akan menjadi sasaran pelampiasan libidonya. Dimana kita ketahui adanya budaya patriarki di Indonesia yang tidak pro pada wanita, ditambah ketika wanita tersebut merupakan orang penyandang disabilitas, maka sulit membayangkan betapa beratnya beban yang perlu ditanggung para wanita disabilitas korban kekerasan ini. Maka darinya latar belakang keprihatinan yang mengajak penulis untuk meneliti terakhir ini. Metode penelitian yang digunakan yaitu yuridis normatif, dengan beberapa pendekatan yaitu: pendekatan perundang-undangan, pendekatan konseptual, pendekatan historis, pendekatan kasus, dan pendekatan perbandingan. Kemudian, tidak membatasi pada kajian pustaka saja penulis berusaha menyelam pada realitas di lapangan dengan penelitian empiris untuk mendapatkan gambaran secara komprehensif. Berdasarkan analisis penulis didapati urgensi pembentukan RUU Perlindungan pada disabilitas di Indonesia, dimana Ketika RUU ini diimplementasikan maka kelak akan bisa menjadi payung hukum yang berpihak pada para penyandang disabilitas. Kemudian untuk mengoptimalisasikan RUU ini kelak bisa diterapkan dengan baik maka perlu segera mengesahkan RUU PKS juga. Dari kolaborasi keduanya maka akan menciptakan ruang keberpihakan pada Wanita, disabilitas, anak, dan korban kekerasan seksual. Kesimpulan, pembuatan RUU Perlindungan Disabilitas bisa menjadi aksesibilitas untuk pencegahan kekerasan seksual. Saran penulis, sebaiknya DPR merumuskan RUU tentang perlindungan pada Disabilitas sesegera mungkin.