bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“WAVING THE BANNER OF DEMOCRACY”: DEMOCRATIC SANCTIONS AND THREE HYPOCRISY PUZZLES
Authors: Nili Shmuel
Published: May 2024

This essay aims to advance the general discussion of hypocrisy in moral and political philosophy as well as normative policy debates regarding democratic sanctions against autocracies that often trigger charges of hypocrisy. In the process of making sense of these charges, I articulate and tackle three general puzzles regarding hypocrisy complaints. The first—the inaction puzzle—asks why a charge of hypocrisy should have any effect on the moral assessment of an agent’s actions, as distinct from the agent’s character or attitudes. The second—the ambivalence puzzle—asks why we often react to hypocrisy charges with seemingly paradoxical ambivalence, recognizing such charges for the transparent deflections they often are, but also granting their normative force. The third—the preemption puzzle—asks why hypocrisy charges do not entirely lose their force when their targets openly concede that they too have suffered from the same flaws that they highlight in others. I argue that sustained reflection on each of these puzzles can enrich—and be enriched by—normative analysis of democratic sanctions.
Start-up activity in the LLM ecosystem
Authors: Dale Robert
Published: May 2024

The technical and mainstream media’s headline coverage of AI invariably centers around the often astounding abilities demonstrated by large language models. That’s hardly surprising, since to all intents and purposes that’s where the newsworthy magic of generative AI lies. But it takes a village to raise a child: behind the scenes, there’s an entire ecosystem that supports the development and deployment of these models and the applications that are built on top of them. Some parts of that ecosystem are dominated by the Big Tech incumbents, but there are also many niches where start-ups are aiming to gain a foothold. We take a look at some components of that ecosystem, with a particular focus on ideas that have led to investment in start-ups over the last year or so.
Psychological support for elite athletes
Authors: Tachiya Yasuhisa
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Introduction and Methods: The author provides an overview of the history and future prospects of psychological support for elite athletes in Japan. Results: The 1964 Tokyo Olympics was the starting point for the psychological support of these athletes. Thereafter, the Japanese Society of Sport Psychology (JSSP) was founded in 1973, and sports psychologists began providing psychological support to elite athletes; this was followed by the establishment in 2001 of the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences (JISS), an organization that provides psychological support to athletes through cooperation among sports psychologists, clinical psychologists, and sports psychiatrists. The Japanese Association of Sports Psychiatry, which cooperates and collaborates with the JSSP, was founded in 2003. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Japanese sports psychiatrists provided psychological support to elite athletes from around the world at the Olympic Village. Sports psychologists of the JISS also provided psychological support to Japanese elite athletes during this time. Conclusion: In recent years, tremendous attention has been paid to the mental health and well- being of elite athletes, and both research into these topics and support of athletes has been taking place in Japan at an unprecedented rate.
Tests Assessing Corrupt Behavior From a Psychological	Perspective
Authors: Ponce-Díaz Carlos Ramón , Aiquipa-Tello Jesús Joel , Pacheco-Luza Edgard Fernando , Pezúa-Vasquez Rocío Liney
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Corruption is a psychosocial problem that has important implications for different areas of society. In psychology, this problem is usually studied through corrupt behavior. The aim of this study is thus to analyze the tests used to evaluate corrupt behavior from a psychological perspective. A systematic review was conducted following the standards of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement of relevant studies published from 2000 to 2023 in Scopus, ScienceDirect and the Web of Science. We have therefore included empirical studies published in Spanish and English, synthesized their information using thematic analysis, and presented these results in a summary table. Specifically, we reviewed 696 articles and 63 relevant full-text articles, and 24 of these studies met the inclusion criteria. Accordingly, we have found that corrupt behavior has been evaluated through three types of tests: surveys, corruption scenarios, and bribery games. The main properties of these tests also vary according to the adopted theoretical framework, domain evaluated, rigor of evaluation, and sample characteristics. These findings can be used to determine the choice of a particular instrument or in the construction of another if the existing instruments are deemed inappropriate.
Revisiting a Global Burnout Score With the Burnout Assessment Tool	(BAT) Across Nine Country Samples
Authors: De Beer Leon T. , Schaufeli Wilmar B. , De Witte Hans , Hakanen Jari J. , Kaltiainen Janne , Glaser Jürgen , Seubert Christian , Shimazu Akihito , Bosak Janine , Procházka Jakub , Kajzar Aleš , Christensen Marit
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Studies published on the validity of the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT), a novel burnout instrument, have gained traction in the literature over recent years. The BAT has been successfully shown to be equivalent across representative samples when modeled as a second-order/higher-order model. However, this specification is not free of criticism and the bifactor approach has been presented as the alternative model specification. Therefore, a study investigating the construct-relevant multidimensionality of the BAT across many representative samples is warranted to reassess a global burnout factor ( n = 9,041). We implemented bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling to ascertain the relevance of a global burnout factor and specific component factors (bifactor-ESEM). According to the standardized loadings and McDonald’s ω coefficients, the results showed that the bifactor-ESEM model had a strong global burnout factor with relevant specific factors beyond the global factor. The model also showed measurement invariance across countries and genders. We also present a figure that compares the global burnout mean scores of the countries. All in all, the results of this study reaffirmed that BAT-assessed burnout can be modeled with an equivalent global burnout score across conditions.
How Tungurahua Volcano Dropped Heavy Metals into Ecuador’s Food Supply
Authors: Wight Andrew
Published: May 2024

When Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano erupted multiple times between 1999 and 2016, nearby farming communities were covered in ash, which left heavy metals in their crops.
Structural deviations of the posterior fossa and the cerebellum and their cognitive links in a neurodevelopmental deletion syndrome
Authors: Sefik Esra , Duan Kuaikuai , Li Yiheng , Sholar Brittney , Evans Lindsey , Pincus Jordan , Ammar Zeena , Murphy Melissa M. , Klaiman Cheryl , Saulnier Celine A. , Pulver Stormi L. , Goldman-Yassen Adam E. , Guo Ying , Walker Elaine F. , Li Longchuan , Mulle Jennifer G. , Shultz Sarah
Published: May 2024

High-impact genetic variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders provide biologically-defined entry points for mechanistic investigation. The 3q29 deletion (3q29Del) is one such variant, conferring a 40-100-fold increased risk for schizophrenia, as well as high risk for autism and intellectual disability. However, the mechanisms leading to neurodevelopmental disability remain largely unknown. Here, we report the first in vivo quantitative neuroimaging study in individuals with 3q29Del (N = 24) and neurotypical controls (N = 1608) using structural MRI. Given prior radiology reports of posterior fossa abnormalities in 3q29Del, we focused our investigation on the cerebellum and its tissue-types and lobules. Additionally, we compared the prevalence of cystic/cyst-like malformations of the posterior fossa between 3q29Del and controls and examined the association between neuroanatomical findings and quantitative traits to probe gene-brain-behavior relationships. 3q29Del participants had smaller cerebellar cortex volumes than controls, before and after correction for intracranial volume (ICV). An anterior-posterior gradient emerged in finer grained lobule-based and voxel-wise analyses. 3q29Del participants also had larger cerebellar white matter volumes than controls following ICV-correction and displayed elevated rates of posterior fossa arachnoid cysts and mega cisterna magna findings independent of cerebellar volume. Cerebellar white matter and subregional gray matter volumes were associated with visual-perception and visual-motor integration skills as well as IQ, while cystic/cyst-like malformations yielded no behavioral link. In summary, we find that abnormal development of cerebellar structures may represent neuroimaging-based biomarkers of cognitive and sensorimotor function in 3q29Del, adding to the growing evidence identifying cerebellar pathology as an intersection point between syndromic and idiopathic forms of neurodevelopmental disabilities.
HAP40 modulates mutant Huntingtin aggregation and toxicity in Huntington’s disease mice
Authors: Chen Laiqiang , Qin Yiyang , Guo Tingting , Zhu Wenzhen , Lin Jingpan , Xing Tingting , Duan Xuezhi , Zhang Yiran , Ruan Eshu , Li Xiang , Yin Peng , Li Shihua , Li Xiao-Jiang , Yang Su
Published: May 2024

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a monogenic neurodegenerative disease, caused by the CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in exon 1 of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. The HTT gene encodes a large protein known to interact with many proteins. Huntingtin-associated protein 40 (HAP40) is one that shows high binding affinity with HTT and functions to maintain HTT conformation in vitro. However, the potential role of HAP40 in HD pathogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we found that the expression level of HAP40 is in parallel with HTT but inversely correlates with mutant HTT aggregates in mouse brains. Depletion of endogenous HAP40 in the striatum of HD140Q knock-in (KI) mice leads to enhanced mutant HTT aggregation and neuronal loss. Consistently, overexpression of HAP40 in the striatum of HD140Q KI mice reduced mutant HTT aggregation and ameliorated the behavioral deficits. Mechanistically, HAP40 preferentially binds to mutant HTT and promotes Lysine 48-linked ubiquitination of mutant HTT. Our results revealed that HAP40 is an important regulator of HTT protein homeostasis in vivo and hinted at HAP40 as a therapeutic target in HD treatment.
METTL8 links mt-tRNA m3C modification to the HIF1α/RTK/Akt axis to sustain GBM stemness and tumorigenicity
Authors: Lee Bernice Woon Li , Chuah You Heng , Yoon Jeehyun , Grinchuk Oleg V. , Liang Yajing , Hirpara Jayshree L. , Shen Yating , Wang Loo Chien , Lim Yan Ting , Zhao Tianyun , Sobota Radoslaw M. , Yeo Tseng Tsai , Wong Andrea Li Ann , Teo Kejia , Nga Vincent Diong Weng , Tan Bryce Wei Quan , Suda Toshio , Toh Tan Boon , Pervaiz Shazib , Lin Zhewang , Ong Derrick Sek Tong
Published: May 2024

Epitranscriptomic RNA modifications are crucial for the maintenance of glioma stem cells (GSCs), the most malignant cells in glioblastoma (GBM). 3-methylcytosine (m3C) is a new epitranscriptomic mark on RNAs and METTL8 represents an m3C writer that is dysregulated in cancer. Although METTL8 has an established function in mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA) m3C modification, alternative splicing of METTL8 can also generate isoforms that localize to the nucleolus where they may regulate R-loop formation. The molecular basis for METTL8 dysregulation in GBM, and which METTL8 isoform(s) may influence GBM cell fate and malignancy remain elusive. Here, we investigated the role of METTL8 in regulating GBM stemness and tumorigenicity. In GSC, METTL8 is exclusively localized to the mitochondrial matrix where it installs m3C on mt-tRNAThr/Ser(UCN) for mitochondrial translation and respiration. High expression of METTL8 in GBM is attributed to histone variant H2AZ-mediated chromatin accessibility of HIF1α and portends inferior glioma patient outcome. METTL8 depletion impairs the ability of GSC to self-renew and differentiate, thus retarding tumor growth in an intracranial GBM xenograft model. Interestingly, METTL8 depletion decreases protein levels of HIF1α, which serves as a transcription factor for several receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) genes, in GSC. Accordingly, METTL8 loss inactivates the RTK/Akt axis leading to heightened sensitivity to Akt inhibitor treatment. These mechanistic findings, along with the intimate link between METTL8 levels and the HIF1α/RTK/Akt axis in glioma patients, guided us to propose a HIF1α/Akt inhibitor combination which potently compromises GSC proliferation/self-renewal in vitro. Thus, METTL8 represents a new GBM dependency that is therapeutically targetable.
dsRNAi-mediated silencing of PIAS2beta specifically kills anaplastic carcinomas by mitotic catastrophe
Authors: Rodrigues Joana S. , Chenlo Miguel , Bravo Susana B. , Perez-Romero Sihara , Suarez-Fariña Maria , Sobrino Tomas , Sanz-Pamplona Rebeca , González-Prieto Román , Blanco Freire Manuel Narciso , Nogueiras Ruben , López Miguel , Fugazzola Laura , Cameselle-Teijeiro José Manuel , Alvarez Clara V.
Published: May 2024

The E3 SUMO ligase PIAS2 is expressed at high levels in differentiated papillary thyroid carcinomas but at low levels in anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATC), an undifferentiated cancer with high mortality. We show here that depletion of the PIAS2 beta isoform with a transcribed double-stranded RNA–directed RNA interference (PIAS2b-dsRNAi) specifically inhibits growth of ATC cell lines and patient primary cultures in vitro and of orthotopic patient-derived xenografts (oPDX) in vivo. Critically, PIAS2b-dsRNAi does not affect growth of normal or non-anaplastic thyroid tumor cultures (differentiated carcinoma, benign lesions) or cell lines. PIAS2b-dsRNAi also has an anti-cancer effect on other anaplastic human cancers (pancreas, lung, and gastric). Mechanistically, PIAS2b is required for proper mitotic spindle and centrosome assembly, and it is a dosage-sensitive protein in ATC. PIAS2b depletion promotes mitotic catastrophe at prophase. High-throughput proteomics reveals the proteasome (PSMC5) and spindle cytoskeleton (TUBB3) to be direct targets of PIAS2b SUMOylation at mitotic initiation. These results identify PIAS2b-dsRNAi as a promising therapy for ATC and other aggressive anaplastic carcinomas.
Safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of the self-amplifying mRNA ARCT-154 COVID-19 vaccine: pooled phase 1, 2, 3a and 3b randomized, controlled trials
Authors: Hồ Nhân Thị , Hughes Steven G. , Ta Van Thanh , Phan Lân Trọng , Đỗ Quyết , Nguyễn Thượng Vũ , Phạm Anh Thị Văn , Thị Ngọc Đặng Mai , Nguyễn Lượng Viết , Trịnh Quang Vinh , Phạm Hùng Ngọc , Chử Mến Văn , Nguyễn Toàn Trọng , Lương Quang Chấn , Tường Lê Vy Thị , Nguyễn Thắng Văn , Trần Lý-Thi-Lê , Thi Van Luu Anh , Nguyen Anh Ngoc , Nguyen Nhung-Thi-Hong , Vu Hai-Son , Edelman Jonathan M. , Parker Suezanne , Sullivan Brian , Sullivan Sean , Ruan Qian , Clemente Brenda , Luk Brian , Lindert Kelly , Berdieva Dina , Murphy Kat , Sekulovich Rose , Greener Benjamin , Smolenov Igor , Chivukula Pad , Nguyễn Vân Thu , Nguyen Xuan-Hung
Published: May 2024

Combination of waning immunity and lower effectiveness against new SARS-CoV-2 variants of approved COVID-19 vaccines necessitates new vaccines. We evaluated two doses, 28 days apart, of ARCT-154, a self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, compared with saline placebo in an integrated phase 1/2/3a/3b controlled, observer-blind trial in Vietnamese adults (ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT05012943). Primary safety and reactogenicity outcomes were unsolicited adverse events (AE) 28 days after each dose, solicited local and systemic AE 7 days after each dose, and serious AEs throughout the study. Primary immunogenicity outcome was the immune response as neutralizing antibodies 28 days after the second dose. Efficacy against COVID-19 was assessed as primary and secondary outcomes in phase 3b. ARCT-154 was well tolerated with generally mild–moderate transient AEs. Four weeks after the second dose 94.1% (95% CI: 92.1–95.8) of vaccinees seroconverted for neutralizing antibodies, with a geometric mean-fold rise from baseline of 14.5 (95% CI: 13.6–15.5). Of 640 cases of confirmed COVID-19 eligible for efficacy analysis most were due to the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. Efficacy of ARCT-154 was 56.6% (95% CI: 48.7– 63.3) against any COVID-19, and 95.3% (80.5–98.9) against severe COVID-19. ARCT-154 vaccination is well tolerated, immunogenic and efficacious, particularly against severe COVID-19 disease.
Primacy of vision shapes behavioral strategies and neural substrates of spatial navigation in marmoset hippocampus
Authors: Piza Diego B. , Corrigan Benjamin W. , Gulli Roberto A. , Do Carmo Sonia , Cuello A. Claudio , Muller Lyle , Martinez-Trujillo Julio
Published: May 2024

The role of the hippocampus in spatial navigation has been primarily studied in nocturnal mammals, such as rats, that lack many adaptations for daylight vision. Here we demonstrate that during 3D navigation, the common marmoset, a new world primate adapted to daylight, predominantly uses rapid head-gaze shifts for visual exploration while remaining stationary. During active locomotion marmosets stabilize the head, in contrast to rats that use low-velocity head movements to scan the environment as they locomote. Pyramidal neurons in the marmoset hippocampus CA3/CA1 regions predominantly show mixed selectivity for 3D spatial view, head direction, and place. Exclusive place selectivity is scarce. Inhibitory interneurons are predominantly mixed selective for angular head velocity and translation speed. Finally, we found theta phase resetting of local field potential oscillations triggered by head-gaze shifts. Our findings indicate that marmosets adapted to their daylight ecological niche by modifying exploration/navigation strategies and their corresponding hippocampal specializations.
Stratospheric influence on surface ozone pollution in China
Authors: Chen Zhixiong , Liu Jane , Qie Xiushu , Cheng Xugeng , Yang Mengmiao , Shu Lei , Zang Zhou
Published: May 2024

Events of stratospheric intrusions to the surface (SITS) can lead to severe ozone (O3) pollution. Still, to what extent SITS events impact surface O3 on a national scale over years remains a long-lasting question, mainly due to difficulty of resolving three key SITS metrics: frequency, duration and intensity. Here, we identify 27,616 SITS events over China during 2015-2022 based on spatiotemporally dense surface measurements of O3 and carbon monoxide, two effective indicators of SITS. An overview of the three metrics is presented, illustrating large influences of SITS on surface O3 in China. We find that SITS events occur preferentially in high-elevation regions, while those in plain regions are more intense. SITS enhances surface O3 by 20 ppbv on average, contributing to 30-45% of O3 during SITS periods. Nationally, SITS-induced O3 peaks in spring and autumn, while over 70% of SITS events during the warm months exacerbate O3 pollution. Over 2015-2022, SITS-induced O3 shows a declining trend. Our observation-based results can have implications for O3 mitigation policies in short and long terms.
Inseparable RNA binding and chromatin modification activities of a nucleosome-interacting surface in EZH2
Authors: Gail Emma H. , Healy Evan , Flanigan Sarena F. , Jones Natasha , Ng Xiao Han , Uckelmann Michael , Levina Vitalina , Zhang Qi , Davidovich Chen
Published: May 2024

Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) interacts with RNA in cells, but there is no consensus on how RNA regulates PRC2 canonical functions, including chromatin modification and the maintenance of transcription programs in lineage-committed cells. We assayed two separation-of-function mutants of the PRC2 catalytic subunit EZH2, defective in RNA binding but functional in methyltransferase activity. We find that part of the RNA-binding surface of EZH2 is required for chromatin modification, yet this activity is independent of RNA. Mechanistically, the RNA-binding surface within EZH2 is required for chromatin modification in vitro and in cells, through interactions with nucleosomal DNA. Contrarily, an RNA-binding-defective mutant exhibited normal chromatin modification activity in vitro and in lineage-committed cells, accompanied by normal gene repression activity. Collectively, we show that part of the RNA-binding surface of EZH2, rather than the RNA-binding activity per se, is required for the histone methylation in vitro and in cells, through interactions with the substrate nucleosome.
Dynamics of cognitive variability with age and its genetic underpinning in NIHR BioResource Genes and Cognition cohort participants
Authors: Rahman Md Shafiqur , Harrison Emma , Biggs Heather , Seikus Chloe , Elliott Paul , Breen Gerome , Kingston Nathalie , Bradley John R. , Hill Steven M. , Tom Brian D. M. , Chinnery Patrick F.
Published: May 2024

A leading explanation for translational failure in neurodegenerative disease is that new drugs are evaluated late in the disease course when clinical features have become irreversible. Here, to address this gap, we cognitively profiled 21,051 people aged 17–85 years as part of the Genes and Cognition cohort within the National Institute for Health and Care Research BioResource across England. We describe the cohort, present cognitive trajectories and show the potential utility. Surprisingly, when studied at scale, the APOE genotype had negligible impact on cognitive performance. Different cognitive domains had distinct genetic architectures, with one indicating brain region-specific activation of microglia and another with glycogen metabolism. Thus, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning cognition are distinct from dementia risk loci, presenting different targets to slow down age-related cognitive decline. Participants can now be recalled stratified by genotype and cognitive phenotype for natural history and interventional studies of neurodegenerative and other disorders.
CBX7 silencing promoted liver regeneration by interacting with BMI1 and activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway
Authors: Dou Zhimin , Lu Fei , Hu Jinjing , Li Bin , Li Xun
Published: May 2024

Multiple studies have shown knockdown of chromobox 7 (CBX7) promotes the regenerative capacity of various cells or tissues. We examined the effect of CBX7 on hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration after 2/3 hepatectomy in a mouse model. For in vitro experiments, NCTC 1469 and BNL CL.2 hepatocytes were co-transfected with siRNA-CBX7-1 (si-CBX7-1), siRNA-CBX7-2 (si-CBX7-2), pcDNA-CBX7, si-BMI1-1, si-BMI1-2, pcDNA-BMI1, or their negative control. For in vivo experiments, mice were injected intraperitoneally with lentivirus-packaged shRNA and shRNA CBX7 before hepatectomy. Our results showed that CBX7 was rapidly induced in the early stage of liver regeneration. CBX7 regulated hepatocyte proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of NCTC 1469 and BNL CL.2 hepatocytes. CBX7 interacted with BMI1 and inhibited BMI1 expression in hepatocytes. Silencing BMI1 aggregated the inhibitory effect of CBX7 overexpression on hepatocyte viability and the promotion of apoptosis. Furthermore, silencing BMI1 enhanced the regulatory effect of CBX7 on Nrf2/ARE signaling in HGF-induced hepatocytes. In vivo, CBX7 silencing enhanced liver/body weight ratio in PH mice. CBX7 silencing promoted the Ki67-positive cell count and decreased the Tunel-positive cell count after hepatectomy, and also increased the expression of nuclear Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1. Our results suggest that CBX7 silencing may increase survival following hepatectomy by promoting liver regeneration.
A novel proposed classification system for rock slope stability assessment
Authors: Jaiswal Amit , Verma A. K. , Singh T. N.
Published: May 2024

The present study introduces “rock slope instability score (RSIS)” a novel classification system for assessing rock slope stability. It takes into account geological and geotechnical parameters, as well as the impact of human activities and triggering parameters, which have become more frequent due to climate change and few of them have been ignored in existing classifications. The study focuses on rock slopes of various lithologies from the Indian Himalayas. The development of this new classification system is based on the examination of 81 different rock slopes from various states of the Indian Himalayas. Extensive field surveys, rock sampling, geotechnical laboratory tests, and ground measurements have been conducted at the various slope sites to establish a comprehensive scoring system for the stability assessment. The distributions of weightage to each parameter have been considered, corresponding to its degree of impact in causing slope instability. Sensitivity analysis of all defined parameters of RSIS system has revealed that the majority of the parameters exhibit a strong positive correlation, with Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from 0.74 to 0.61. However, two parameters, namely discontinuity dip and the relationship between slope & discontinuity direction, gives moderate relationship with correlation coefficient values of 0.48 and 0.41, respectively. To avoid any designer biasness in the system, several individuals gathered data set at different times. The proposed classification system has demonstrated a strong correlation with the actual slope condition, and it is quite promising. The outcome of RSIS classification for studied 81 slopes classified 2 slopes under stable condition, 21 slopes as partially stable, 44 as unstable, and 14 as completely unstable.
Topical insulin in neurotrophic keratopathy after diabetic vitrectomy
Authors: Eleiwa Taher K. , Khater Ahmed A. , Elhusseiny Abdelrahman M.
Published: May 2024

To assess the efficacy and safety of topical insulin (TI) for treating neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) within one-month post-diabetic vitrectomy (DV) compared to conventional non-invasive measures, we conducted this retrospective case-control study including all eyes that developed acute NK (stages 2 and 3) following DV between October 2020 and June 2023. The control group included NK cases managed with preservative-free lubricant eye drops and prophylactic topical antibiotics. In contrast, the study group included NK cases treated with TI [1 unit per drop] four times daily, in addition to the previously mentioned treatment. The primary outcome measure was time to epithelial healing. Secondary outcome measures included any adverse effect of TI or the need for amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT). During the study period, 19 patients with a mean age of 49.3 ± 8.6 years received TI versus 18 controls with a mean age of 52.5 ± 10.7 years. Corneal epithelial healing was significantly faster in the TI-treated group compared to controls, with a mean difference of 12.16 days (95% CI 6.1–18.3, P = 0.001). Survival analysis indicated that the insulin-treated group had 0% and 20% of NK stages 2 and 3, respectively, that failed to achieve corneal epithelial healing, compared to 20% and 66.7% for the control group (P < 0.001). In the control group, two eyes required AMT due to progressive thinning. Additionally, three patients in the control group, progressing to stage 3 NK, were switched to TI, achieving healing after a mean of 14 days. No adverse effects were reported in the TI-treated group. Our study suggests that TI can effectively and safely promote the healing of NK after DV.
Investigating sensitivity to multi-domain prediction errors in chronic auditory phantom perception
Authors: Yasoda-Mohan Anusha , Faubert Jocelyn , Ost Jan , Kropotov Juri D. , Vanneste Sven
Published: May 2024

The perception of a continuous phantom in a sensory domain in the absence of an external stimulus is explained as a maladaptive compensation of aberrant predictive coding, a proposed unified theory of brain functioning. If this were true, these changes would occur not only in the domain of the phantom percept but in other sensory domains as well. We confirm this hypothesis by using tinnitus (continuous phantom sound) as a model and probe the predictive coding mechanism using the established local–global oddball paradigm in both the auditory and visual domains. We observe that tinnitus patients are sensitive to changes in predictive coding not only in the auditory but also in the visual domain. We report changes in well-established components of event-related EEG such as the mismatch negativity. Furthermore, deviations in stimulus characteristics were correlated with the subjective tinnitus distress. These results provide an empirical confirmation that aberrant perceptions are a symptom of a higher-order systemic disorder transcending the domain of the percept.
Impact of vegetation composition and seasonality on sensitivity of modelled CO2 exchange in temperate raised bogs
Authors: Voigt Claas , Dubbert Maren , Launiainen Samuli , Porada Philipp , Oestmann Jan , Piayda Arndt
Published: May 2024

Encroachment of vascular plants (VP) in temperate raised bogs, as a consequence of altered hydrological conditions and nutrient input, is widely observed. Effects of such vegetation shift on water and carbon cycles are, however, largely unknown and identification of responsible plant physiological traits is challenging. Process-based modelling offers the opportunity of gaining insights into ecosystem functioning beyond observations, and to infer decisive trait shifts of plant functional groups. We adapted the Soil–Vegetation–Atmosphere Transfer model pyAPES to a temperate raised bog site by calibration against measured peat temperature, water table and surface CO2 fluxes. We identified the most important traits determining CO2 fluxes by conducting Morris sensitivity analysis (MSA) under changing conditions throughout the year and simulated VP encroachment. We further investigated transferability of results to other sites by extending MSA to parameter ranges derived from literature review. We found highly variable intra-annual plant traits importance determining ecosystem CO2 fluxes, but only a partial shift of importance of photosynthetic processes from moss to VP during encroachment. Ecosystem respiration was dominated by peat respiration. Overall, carboxylation rate, base respiration rate and temperature sensitivity (Q10) were most important for determining bog CO2 balance and parameter ranking was robust even under the extended MSA.
Cardiac function in a large animal model of myocardial infarction at 7 T: deep learning based automatic segmentation increases reproducibility
Authors: Kollmann Alena , Lohr David , Ankenbrand Markus J. , Bille Maya , Terekhov Maxim , Hock Michael , Elabyad Ibrahim , Baltes Steffen , Reiter Theresa , Schnitter Florian , Bauer Wolfgang R. , Hofmann Ulrich , Schreiber Laura M.
Published: May 2024

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging allows precise non-invasive quantification of cardiac function. It requires reliable image segmentation for myocardial tissue. Clinically used software usually offers automatic approaches for this step. These are, however, designed for segmentation of human images obtained at clinical field strengths. They reach their limits when applied to preclinical data and ultrahigh field strength (such as CMR of pigs at 7 T). In our study, eleven animals (seven with myocardial infarction) underwent four CMR scans each. Short-axis cine stacks were acquired and used for functional cardiac analysis. End-systolic and end-diastolic images were labelled manually by two observers and inter- and intra-observer variability were assessed. Aiming to make the functional analysis faster and more reproducible, an established deep learning (DL) model for myocardial segmentation in humans was re-trained using our preclinical 7 T data (n = 772 images and labels). We then tested the model on n = 288 images. Excellent agreement in parameters of cardiac function was found between manual and DL segmentation: For ejection fraction (EF) we achieved a Pearson’srof 0.95, an Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.97, and a Coefficient of variability (CoV) of 6.6%. Dice scores were 0.88 for the left ventricle and 0.84 for the myocardium.
Symptomatology and knowledge regarding pelvic floor dysfunctions and influence of gender stereotypes in female athletes
Authors: Bosch-Donate Elisa , Vico-Moreno Elena , Fernández-Domínguez Juan Carlos , González-Trujillo Antonio , Sastre-Munar Andreu , Romero-Franco Natalia
Published: May 2024

Pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFD) are highly prevalent among females who do athletics, a sport requiring jumping, strength, and running. Although educational approaches are useful options, the educational need for this particular population remains unknown. The objective of the present study was to describe the level of knowledge regarding PFD and its relationship with symptomatology and gender stereotypes in female athletes in Spain. A total of 255 female athletes completed an anonymous online survey to explore their knowledge regarding urinary incontinence (UI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), anal incontinence (AI), and sexual dysfunction (SexD), as well as their PFD symptoms and gender stereotyped beliefs related to sport. Educational level and sports characteristics (training volume, experience, and athletic modality) were also explored. Participants demonstrated a low level of knowledge in terms of POP (52.5%), AI (64.0%), and SexD (40%), but not for UI (70.8%). The proportion of PFD complaints was 63.5% for dyspareunia, 51.8% for urine leakage, 42.4% for pelvic pain, 17.3% for AI, and 9.0% for POP, with no associations with knowledge (p > 0.05). Lower knowledge about UI and SexD was related to greater gender stereotypes (p < 0.05) and rejection of professional healthcare (p = 0.010). As a conclusion, the level of knowledge about PFD was low in female athletes who train and compete in athletics in Spain, mainly with regard to sexual dysfunction. Although 63.5% of athletes had dyspareunia and 51.8% urinary leakages, symptomatology was not associated with level of knowledge. However, a lower level of knowledge was associated with more stereotyped beliefs and rejection of professional healthcare for PFD. These findings confirm the need to design appropriate educational interventions to disseminate information on all the types of PFD, particularly sexual contents. The potential influence of gender stereotypes makes it appropriate to include the gender perspective in these interventions.
Higher final speed in 30–15 intermittent fitness tests correlates with soccer's locomotor demands, not heart rate responses in small-sided soccer games
Authors: Quan YanXiu , Zhao YongXing , Wang XiaoShuang , Xu Qi
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to achieve two objectives: firstly, to analyze the relationships between aerobic fitness, as represented by the VIFT, and the heart rate and locomotor responses of youth male soccer players across various teams; and secondly, to compare players with lower and higher VIFT in terms of performance outcomes extracted during small-sided games (SSGs). A total of twenty-six youth male soccer players, aged 16.5 ± 0.32 years, with 3.4 ± 1.1 years of experience, voluntarily participated in the study. These players belonged to two regional-level tier 2 teams (trained/developmental). In the initial week of observation, the 30–15 Intermittent Fitness Test was implemented to measure the final velocity (VIFT) achieved by the players. Subsequently, the 5v5 format of play was conducted twice a week over two consecutive weeks, during which heart rate responses and locomotor demands were measured. The Pearson product-moment correlation test revealed a significant correlation between VIFT and the total distance covered during the 5v5 format (r = 0.471 [95% CI: 0.093; 0.721], p = 0.015). Conversely, small and non-significant correlations were identified between VIFT and mean heart rate (r = 0.280 [95% CI: − 0.126; 0.598]; p = 0.166), VIFT and peak heart rate (r = 0.237 [95% CI: − 0.170; 0.569]; p = 0.243), as well as VIFT and high-speed running (r = 0.254 [95% CI: − 0.153; 0.580]; p = 0.211). Players with higher VIFT demonstrated a significantly greater total distance, with a large effect size (+ 6.64%; p = 0.015; d = 1.033), compared to those with lower VIFT. Our findings suggest that improved performance in VIFT may lead to covering more distance in 5v5 matches. However, the lack of significant associations between VIFT and heart rate levels during SSGs suggests that they are not strongly correlated, possibly because VIFT is more closely linked to locomotor profile. As a practical implication, coaches may consider organizing players during SSGs based on their VIFT if the goal is to standardize locomotor demands.
Quantitative analysis of social influence and digital piracy contagion with differential equations on networks
Authors: Mallick Dibyajyoti , Gaurav Kumar , Bhattacharya Saumik , Ghosh Sayantari
Published: May 2024

Illegal file sharing of copyrighted contents through popular file sharing networks poses an enormous threat to providers of digital contents, such as, games, softwares, music and movies. Though empirical studies of network effects on piracy is a well-studied domain, the dynamics of peer effect in the context of evolving social contagion has not been enough explored using dynamical models. In this research, we methodically study the trends of online piracy with a continuous ODE approach and differential equations on graphs to have a clear comparative view. We first formulate a compartmental model to study bifurcations and thresholds mathematically. We later move on with a network-based analysis to illustrate the proliferation of online piracy dynamics with an epidemiological approach over a social network. We figure out a solution for this online piracy problem by developing awareness among individuals and introducing media campaigns, which could be a valuable factor in eradicating and controlling online piracy. Next, using degree-block approximation, network analysis has been performed to investigate the phenomena from a heterogeneous approach and to derive the threshold condition for the persistence of piracy in the population in a steady state. Considering the dual control of positive peer influence and media-driven awareness, we examine the system through realistic parameter selection to better understand the complexity of the dynamics and suggest policy implications.
Novel techniques to analyze dynamical properties of quantum chaos with peculiar evidence of hybrid systems confinement
Authors: Bary Ghulam , Ahmed Waqar , Ahmad Riaz , Niazai Shafiullah , Khan Ilyas
Published: May 2024

Recent results demonstrate the dynamical peculiarities of the quantum chaos within the hybrid systems by chaotic parameters and probe the pattern formation under the influence of condensation. The complex dynamic behavior of the considered systems was determined with numerical simulation and presented an efficient technique that studied fractional systems comprising chaos-coherence fractions. The findings divulge the peculiar association between the coherence structure and the correlations at finite relative momenta. Thus the present study helps to explore the partially chaos hybrid systems in order to stimulate the experimental applications of nonlinear phenomena. The coherent-chaotic parameters can be measured by examining the chaos peculiarities that possess explicit relations with the condensations to demonstrate the environs of the physical systems. We investigate the influence of the multiplicities, chaos, momentum and temperature of the nonlinear system on the coherent-chaotic normalized correlations. The chaotic parameters are suppressed considerably with the coherence fraction and it appears numerically zero at maximum condensation and one at ideal chaos emissions. We procure that the meaningful parameters decrease significantly with the multiplicity of the nonlinear systems and increase with the momentum in the specified regimes. The identical multiplicity leads to contemplating the coherence and thus the normalized chaotic parameters within its spectacular influences exhibit significance worth contemplating in earnest. The findings underscore the significance of cogitating correlations in deciphering the nonlinear system characteristics and bestowing extraordinary perceptiveness into the convoluted essence of complex systems. The contemplated methodology can be applied to evaluating and analyzing the nonlinear systems and such an innovative approach computes the problems of celestial mechanics, heartbeats and chemical reactions in engineering and medical fields.
Comparison of the effect of Everolimus, Prednisolone, and a combination of both on experimentally induced peritoneal adhesions in rats
Authors: Kazemi Kourosh , Jamshidi Kamran , Naseri Reyhaneh , Shahriarirad Reza , Shamsaeefar Alireza , Hosseinzadeh Ahmad
Published: May 2024

Postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions represent a significant post-surgical problem. Its complications can cause a considerable clinical and cost burden. Herein, our study aimed to investigate the effect of Everolimus on peritoneal adhesion formation after inducing adhesions in rats. In this experimental study, adhesion bands were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 3 ml of 10% sterile talc solution in 64 male albino rats. The first group served as the control group. The second one received oral Prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day), the third received Everolimus (0.1 mg/kg/day), and group four received both drugs with similar dosages for four consecutive weeks. The formation of adhesion bands was qualitatively graded according to the Nair classification. The rats in the control group had extensive adhesions between the abdominal wall and the organs. Regarding substantial adhesion formation, 50% (8/16) of animals in the control group had substantial adhesions, while this rate in the groups receiving Prednisolone, Everolimus, and combination treatment was 31%, 31%, and 31%, respectively. Also, 68.75% (5/11) of the Prednisolone recipients had insubstantial adhesions, the same as Everolimus recipients, while in the combination group, 66.66% (10/15) rats had insubstantial adhesions. Everolimus demonstrated satisfactory results in reducing the rates of induced peritoneal adhesion in an experimental model, similar to Prednisolone and superior to a combination regime.
Misinformation does not reduce trust in accurate search results, but warning banners may backfire
Authors: Williams-Ceci Sterling , Macy Michael W. , Naaman Mor
Published: May 2024

People rely on search engines for information in critical contexts, such as public health emergencies–but what makes people trust some search results more than others? Can search engines influence people’s levels of trust by controlling how information is presented? And, how does the presence of misinformation influence people’s trust? Research has identified both rank and the presence of misinformation as factors impacting people’s search behavior. Here, we extend these findings by measuring the effects of these factors, as well as misinformation warning banners, on theperceived trustworthinessof individual search results. We conducted three online experiments (N = 3196) using Covid-19-related queries, and found that although higher-ranked results areclickedmore often, they are not moretrusted. We also showed that misinformation does not damage trust in accurate results displayed below it. In contrast, while a warning about unreliable sources might decrease trust in misinformation, it significantly decreases trust inaccurateinformation. This research alleviates some concerns about how people evaluate the credibility of information they find online, while revealing a potential backfire effect of one misinformation-prevention approach; namely, that banner warnings about source unreliability could lead to unexpected and nonoptimal outcomes in which people trust accurate information less.
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in patients with multiple sclerosis in Poland
Authors: Pawełczyk Agnieszka , Donskow-Łysoniewska Katarzyna , Szewczak Ludmiła , Kierasińska Magdalena , Machcińska Maja , Rola Rafał , Welc-Falęciak Renata
Published: May 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that affects mainly young people. It is believed that the autoimmune process observed in the pathogenesis of MS is influenced by a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors, including infectious agents. The results of this study suggest the protective role of Toxoplasma gondii infections in MS. Interestingly, high Toxoplasma IgM seropositivity in MS patients receiving immunomodulatory drugs (IMDs) was identified. On the other hand, Borrelia infections seem to be positively associated with MS. Although the interpretation of our results is limited by the retrospective nature of the studies, the results strongly indicate that further experimental and clinical studies are needed to explain the role of infectious agents in the development and pathophysiological mechanisms of MS.
Climate temperature and seasonal influences on the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in South Korea
Authors: Lee Yeon-Hee , Chung Jin-Woo
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to explore seasonal variations in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) prevalence in South Korea, utilizing nationwide population-based big data. Data corresponding to the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code of K07.6, which identifies TMD, were extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service online platform for the period from 2010 to 2022. Additionally, we integrated these data with climate temperature records from the Korean Meteorological Administration. We subsequently conducted a statistical analysis of TMD patient data on a monthly and seasonal basis over the past 13 years to assess prevalence. Over the past 13 years, the number of TMD patients in Korea has steadily increased. The prevalence of TMD rose from 0.48% (224,708 out of a total population of 50,515,666) in 2010 to 0.94% (482,241 out of a total population of 51,439,038) in 2022, marking a 1.96-fold increase. Among children under 10 years of age, no significant differences were observed in TMD prevalence between boys and girls. However, a distinct female predominance emerged after the age of 10, with an average female-to-male ratio of 1.51:1. The peak prevalence of TMD occurred in individuals in their 20 s, followed by adolescents in their late 10 s. The majority of TMD patients were concentrated in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, with metropolitan areas accounting for 50% of the total patient count. Seasonally, TMD patient numbers showed no significant increase in winter compared with spring or summer. The temperature difference, defined as the absolute difference between the highest and lowest temperatures for each month, showed a positive correlation with TMD patient counts. A greater temperature difference was associated with higher patient counts. The strongest correlation between temperature differences and TMD patient numbers was observed in winter (r = 0.480, p < 0.01), followed by summer (r = 0.443, p < 0.01), and spring (r = 0.366, p < 0.05). Temperature differences demonstrated a significantly stronger correlation with the increase in the number of TMD patients than absolute climate temperatures. This aspect should be a key consideration when examining seasonal trends in TMD prevalence in South Korea.