bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delayed effects of elevated corticosterone level on volume of hippocampal formation in laboratory rat
Authors: Zach P , Mrzílková J , Řezáčová L , Stuchlík A , Valeš K
Published: February 2021

We studied delayed effects of elevated plasma levels of
corticosterone (Cort) on volumetry, neuronal quantity, and gross
marks of neurodegeneration in the hippocampal formation of
Long-Evans rats. Animals were exposed to increased CORT levels
for three weeks via implanted subcutaneous pellets. Volumetry,
neuronal quantification and gross marks of degeneration were
measured seven weeks after the termination of CORT treatment.
We observed significant differences in volumes and especially in
laterality of hippocampal subfields between control and CORTtreated animals. We found that the left hippocampus was
substantially larger than the right hippocampus in the
corticosterone-treated group, but not in the control group. In the
control group, on the other hand, right hippocampal volume was
markedly higher than all other measured volumes (hippocampal
left control, hippocampal left CORT-treated and hippocampal
right CORT-treated). Left hippocampal volume did not differ
between the groups.
The connexin 37 (1019C>T) gene polymorphism is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in women with type 1 and 2 diabetes and in women with central obesity
Authors: Piťha J , Hubáček JA , Piťhová P
Published: February 2021

The gene for connexin 37 (Cx37) is considered to be one of the
candidate genes for cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the
association between Cx37 (1019C>T) gene polymorphism
(Pro319Ser) and ankle brachial blood pressure index (ABI) in
women with type 1 (n=178) and type 2 (n=111) diabetes, and in
women from general population (n=862). All women were
genotyped for Cx37 polymorphism. In addition to traditional
cardiovascular risk factors, ABI was analyzed. In women with
type 1 diabetes, ABI significantly decreased from TT to CC
carriers (p for trend= 0.008). A similar trend was seen in women
with type 2 diabetes (p=0.050) and in women with waist
circumference above 75th percentile (94 cm; n=208) of the
general population (p=0.049). The gene for Cx37 was associated
with subclinical atherosclerosis in women with type 1 and 2
diabetes and in women with advanced central obesity. The
presence of C allele indicated increased risk.
Del espectador pasivo al experiencial: la realidad virtual en la información deportiva
Authors: Paíno Ambrosio Adriana , Rodríguez Fidalgo Mª Isabel
Published: February 2021

La Realidad Virtual (RV) y el vídeo en 360º se han introducido de forma novedosa en los últimos años en el ámbito periodístico gracias a sus potencialidades narrativas. Sus características no han pasado desapercibidas dentro del campo de la información deportiva, que ya cuenta con una elevada audiencia en cualquier medio de comunicación tradicional o cibernético, dotándola, ahora, de un mayor atractivo. Uno de los cambios que introducen estas producciones es su forma de consumo. Dentro de este contexto surge esta investigación, centrada en el periodismo inmersivo. Bajo una perspectiva cualitativa y cuantitativa se analizan 225 producciones deportivas seleccionadas aleatoriamente en las principales plataformas técnicas que suministran contenidos en RV y vídeo en 360º. La perspectiva del análisis se centra en los cambios producidos en el espectador deportivo. Los principales hallazgos evidencian que una de las innovaciones de este tipo de narración inmersiva incide directamente en el rol que ocupa el espectador, al dejar de adoptar una actitud pasiva para convertirse en un protagonista más del deporte. Comienzan a generarse nuevas experiencias de consumo deportivas donde el tratamiento informativo, en cierta medida, queda relegado a un segundo plano, en relación a los criterios periodísticos tradicionales. Estamos ante un nuevo espectador deportivo.
Improved Hypertension by Investigating Circadian Rhythm of Blood Pressure
Authors: Shimamura Tadao , Bando Hiroshi , Nagahiro Shinji , Nakanishi Miwako , Watanabe Osami
Published: February 2021

Case: The case is 86-year-old male hypertensive patient with anti-hypertensive drug for 5 years. He has been provided Amlodipine besilate 5mg at 0800h and doxazosin mesylate 2mg at 2300h for long. In June 2020, he noticed unstable fluctuation of Blood Pressure (BP) during morning, afternoon and night. Results: Then, he checked the circadian rhythm of BP, which showed higher BP in early morning, decreasing BP 0800-1000h, minimum BP during 1000-1400h, increasing BP during 1400-1800h and stable BP during 1800-2400h. Due to the result, he changed to take amlodipine at 2300h. Consequently, his BP gradually became stable during 24 hours after 2 weeks. Discussion: Some factors may exist for contributing improved BP fluctuation. They include a) pathophysiological characteristics of BP circadian rhythm, b) effective time for anti-hypertensive drug, c) accuracy of the obtained BP data and d) the social and psychological reliability of the patient. Regarding d) he was engaged in research and development work as a senior researcher at a chemical company. He has been also a member of New Elderly Association (NEA), which was established by Shigeaki Hinohara. He lives on the philosophy of Hinohara-ism for long, associated with stable mind and body.
Cofilin: A Promising Protein Implicated in Cancer Metastasis and Apoptosis
Authors: Xu Jing , Huang Yan , Zhao Jimeng , Wu Luyi , Qi Qin , Liu Yanan , Li Guona , Li Jing , Liu Huirong , Wu Huangan
Published: February 2021

Cofilin is an actin-binding protein that regulates filament dynamics and depolymerization. The over-expression of cofilin is observed in various cancers, cofilin promotes cancer metastasis by regulating cytoskeletal reorganization, lamellipodium formation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Clinical treatment of cancer regarding cofilin has been explored in aspects of tumor cells apoptosis and cofilin related miRNAs. This review addresses the structure and phosphorylation of cofilin and describes recent findings regarding the function of cofilin in regulating cancer metastasis and apoptosis in tumor cells.
Rational Design of Smart Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Zhang Yanyu , Huang Yishun
Published: February 2021

Hydrogels are polymeric three-dimensional network structures with high water content. Due to their superior biocompatibility and low toxicity, hydrogels play a significant role in the biomedical fields. Hydrogels are categorized by the composition from natural polymers to synthetic polymers. To meet the complicated situation in the biomedical applications, suitable host–guest supramolecular interactions are rationally selected. This review will have an introduction of hydrogel classification based on the formulation molecules, and then a discussion over the rational design of the intelligent hydrogel to the environmental stimuli such as temperature, irradiation, pH, and targeted biomolecules. Further, the applications of rationally designed smart hydrogels in the biomedical field will be presented, such as tissue repair, drug delivery, and cancer therapy. Finally, the perspectives and the challenges of smart hydrogels will be outlined.
A Statistical Model for Earthquake And/Or Rainfall Triggered Landslides
Authors: Frigerio Porta Gabriele , Bebbington Mark , Xiao Xun , Jones Geoff
Published: February 2021

Natural hazards can be initiated by different types of triggering events. For landslides, the triggering events are predominantly earthquakes and rainfall. However, risk analysis commonly focuses on a single mechanism, without considering possible interactions between the primary triggering events. Spatial modeling of landslide susceptibility (suppressing temporal dependence), or tailoring models to specific areas and events are not sufficient to understand the risk produced by interacting causes. More elaborate models with interactions, capable of capturing direct or indirect triggering of secondary hazards, are required. By discretising space, we create a daily-spatio-temporal hazard model to evaluate the relative and combined effects on landslide triggering due to earthquakes and rainfall. A case study on the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna is presented, which suggests these triggering effects are best modeled as additive. This paper demonstrates how point processes can be used to model the triggering influence of multiple factors in a large real dataset collected from various sources.
Challenges to the Reforestation Pipeline in the United States
Authors: Fargione Joseph , Haase Diane L. , Burney Owen T. , Kildisheva Olga A. , Edge Greg , Cook-Patton Susan C. , Chapman Teresa , Rempel Austin , Hurteau Matthew D. , Davis Kimberley T. , Dobrowski Solomon , Enebak Scott , De La Torre Rafael , Bhuta Arvind A. R. , Cubbage Frederick , Kittler Brian , Zhang Daowei , Guldin Richard W.
Published: February 2021

Large-scale global reforestation goals have been proposed to help mitigate climate change and provide other ecosystem services. To explore reforestation potential in the United States, we used GIS analyses, surveys of nursery managers and foresters, and literature synthesis to assess the opportunities and challenges associated with meeting proposed reforestation goals. We considered a scenario where 26 million hectares (64 million acres) of natural and agricultural lands are reforested by 2040 with 30 billion trees at an estimated cost of $33 ($24–$53) billion USD. Cost per hectare will vary by region, site conditions, and other factors. This scenario would require increasing the number of tree seedlings produced each year by 1.7 billion, a 2.3-fold increase over current nursery production levels. Additional investment (not included in the reforestation cost estimate) will be needed to expand capacity for seed collection, seedling production, workforce development, and improvements in pre- and post-planting practices. Achieving this scenario will require public support for investing in these activities and incentives for landowners.
Genetic Parameters for Tolerance to Heat Stress in Crossbred Swine Carcass Traits
Authors: Usala Maria , Macciotta Nicolò Pietro Paolo , Bergamaschi Matteo , Maltecca Christian , Fix Justin , Schwab Clint , Shull Caleb , Tiezzi Francesco
Published: February 2021

Data for loin and backfat depth, as well as carcass growth of 126,051 three-way crossbred pigs raised between 2015 and 2019, were combined with climate records of air temperature, relative humidity, and temperature–humidity index. Environmental covariates with the largest impact on the studied traits were incorporated in a random regression model that also included genomic information. Genetic control of tolerance to heat stress and the presence of genotype by environment interaction were detected. Its magnitude was more substantial for loin depth and carcass growth, but all the traits studied showed a different impact of heat stress and different magnitude of genotype by environment interaction. For backfat depth, heritability was larger under comfortable conditions (no heat stress), as compared to heat stress conditions. Genetic correlations between extreme values of environmental conditions were lower (∼0.5 to negative) for growth and loin depth. Based on the solutions obtained from the model, sires were ranked on their breeding value for general performance and tolerance to heat stress. Antagonism between overall performance and tolerance to heat stress was moderate. Still, the models tested can provide valuable information to identify genetic material that is resilient and can perform equally when environmental conditions change. Overall, the results obtained from this study suggest the existence of genotype by environment interaction for carcass traits, as a possible genetic contributor to heat tolerance in swine.
Detection of In Vivo Inflammasome Activation for Predicting Sepsis Mortality
Authors: Cui Jing , Oehrl Stephanie , Ahmad Fareed , Brenner Thorsten , Uhle Florian , Nusshag Christian , Rupp Christoph , Funck Felix , Meisel Stefan , Weigand Markus A. , Morath Christian , Schäkel Knut
Published: February 2021

Sepsis is a severe life-threatening syndrome caused by dysregulated host responses to infection. Biomarkers that allow for monitoring the patient’s immune status are needed. Recently, a flow cytometry-based detection of in vivo inflammasome activation by formation of cytoplasmic aggregates of ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain) has been proposed. Here we report on the frequency of ASC-speck+ leukocytes correlating with the survival of sepsis. 25 patients with sepsis were sampled consecutively for 7 days. Blood, serum samples and patient data were collected according to the guidelines of the PredARRT-Sep-Trial. Flow cytometric analysis was performed on fresh whole blood samples to investigate the formation of ASC-specks in leukocyte subsets. Serum samples were analyzed for production of IL-1ß, IL-18 and additional inflammatory markers. ASC-speck formation was found to be increased in leukocytes from sepsis patients compared to healthy donor controls. The absolute number of ASC-speck+ neutrophils peaked on day 1. For monocytes, the highest percentage and maximum absolute number of ASC-speck+ cells were detected on day 6 and day 7. Inflammatory cytokines were elevated on day 1 and declined thereafter, with exception of IL-18. Survival analysis showed that patients with lower absolute numbers of ASC-speck+ monocytes (<1,650 cells/ml) on day 6 had a lower probability to survive, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 10.178. Thus, the frequency of ASC-speck+ monocytes on day 6 after onset of sepsis may serve to identify patients at risk of death from sepsis.
Tissue Treg Secretomes and Transcription Factors Shared With Stem Cells Contribute to a Treg Niche to Maintain Treg-Ness With 80% Innate Immune Pathways, and Functions of Immunosuppression and Tissue Repair
Authors: Zhang Ruijing , Xu Keman , Shao Ying , Sun Yu , Saredy Jason , Cutler Elizabeth , Yao Tian , Liu Ming , Liu Lu , Drummer IV Charles , Lu Yifan , Saaoud Fatma , Ni Dong , Wang Jirong , Li Yafeng , Li Rongshan , Jiang Xiaohua , Wang Hong , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: February 2021

We used functional -omics angles and examined transcriptomic heterogeneity in CD4+Foxp3+regulatory T cells (Treg) from spleen (s-Treg), lymph nodes (LN-Treg), intestine (int-Treg), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT-Treg), and made significant findings:1)Five new shared Treg genes including NIBAN, TNFRSF1b, DUSP4,VAV2, and KLRG1, and 68 new signatures are identified. Among 27 signaling pathways shared in four tissue Treg, 22 pathways are innate immune pathways (81.5%);2)s-Treg, LN-Treg, int-Treg, and VAT-Treg have zero, 49, 45, and 116 upregulated pathways, respectively;3)12, 7, and 15 out of 373 CD markers are identified as specific for LN-Treg, int-Treg, and VAT-Treg, respectively, which may initiate innate immune signaling;4)7, 49, 44, and 79 increased cytokines out of 1176 cytokines are identified for four Treg, respectively, suggesting that Treg have much more secretory proteins/cytokines than IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35;5)LN-Treg, int-Treg, and VAT-Treg have 13 additional secretory functions more than s-Treg, found by analyzing 1,706 secretomic genes;6)2, 20, 25, and 43 increased transcription factors (TFs) out of 1,496 TFs are identified four Treg, respectively;7)LN-Treg and int-Treg have increased pyroptosis regulators but VAT-Treg have increased apoptosis regulators;8)1, 15, 19, and 31 increased kinases out of 661 kinome are identified for s-Treg, LN-Treg, int-Treg, and VAT-Treg, respectively;9)comparing with that of s-Treg, LN-Treg, int-Treg, and VAT-Treg increase activated cluster (clusters 1–3) markers; and decrease resting cluster (clusters 4–6) markers; and10)Treg promote tissue repair by sharing secretomes and TFs AHR, ETV5, EGR1, and KLF4 with stem cells, which partially promote upregulation of all the groups of Treg genes. These results suggest that stem cell-shared master genes make tissue Treg as the first T cell type using a Treg niche to maintain their Treg-ness with 80% innate immune pathways, and triple functions of immunosuppression, tissue repair, and homeostasis maintenance. Our results have provided novel insights on the roles of innate immune pathways on Treg heterogeneity and new therapeutic targets for immunosuppression, tissue repair, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, transplantation, and cancers.
Isopropoxy Benzene Guanidine Kills Staphylococcus aureus Without Detectable Resistance
Authors: Zhang Xiufeng , Xiong Wenguang , Peng Xianfeng , Lu Yixing , Hao Jie , Qin Zonghua , Zeng Zhenling
Published: February 2021

Serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clearly urge the development of new antimicrobial agents. Drug repositioning has emerged as an alternative approach that enables us to rapidly identify effective drugs. We first reported a guanidine compound, isopropoxy benzene guanidine, had potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Unlike conventional antibiotics, repeated use of isopropoxy benzene guanidine had a lower probability of resistance section. We found that isopropoxy benzene guanidine triggered membrane damage by disrupting the cell membrane potential and cytoplasmic membrane integrity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that isopropoxy benzene guanidine is capable of treating invasive MRSA infections in vivo studies. These findings provided strong evidence that isopropoxy benzene guanidine represents a new chemical lead for novel antibacterial agent against multidrug-resistant S. aureus infections.
The Role of Neuroinflammation in Glaucoma: An Update on Molecular Mechanisms and New Therapeutic Options
Authors: Rolle Teresa , Ponzetto Antonio , Malinverni Lorenza
Published: February 2021

Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy characterized by the continuous loss of retinal ganglion cells, leading to progressive and irreversible visual impairment. In this minireview, we report the results of the most recent experimental studies concerning cells, molecular mechanisms, genes, and microbiome involved in neuroinflammation processes correlated to glaucoma neurodegeneration. The identification of cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways related to retinal ganglion cell death is the first step toward the discovery of new therapeutic strategies. Recent experimental studies identified the following possible targets: adenosine A2A receptor, sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1 (neurofilament light chain), toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4, phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4), and FasL-Fas signaling (in particular ONL1204, a small peptide antagonist of Fas receptors), and therapies directed against them. The continuous progress in knowledge provides interesting data, although the total lack of human studies remains an important limitation. Further research is required to better define the role of neuroinflammation in the neurodegeneration processes that occur in glaucomatous disease and to discover neuroprotective treatments amenable to clinical trials. The hereinafter reviewed studies are reported and evaluated according to their translational relevance.
Dopaminergic Treatment Effects on Dysarthric Speech: Acoustic Analysis in a Cohort of Patients With Advanced Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Cavallieri Francesco , Budriesi Carla , Gessani Annalisa , Contardi Sara , Fioravanti Valentina , Menozzi Elisa , Pinto Serge , Moro Elena , Valzania Franco , Antonelli Francesca
Published: February 2021

Importance: The effects of dopaminergic treatment on speech in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are often mixed and unclear. The aim of this study was to better elucidate those discrepancies.

Methods: Full retrospective data from advanced PD patients before and after an acute levodopa challenge were collected. Acoustic analysis of spontaneous monologue and sustained phonation including several quantitative parameters [i.e., maximum phonation time (MPT); shimmer local dB] as well as the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) (total scores, subscores, and items) and the Clinical Dyskinesia Rating Scale (CDRS) were performed in both the defined-OFF and -ON conditions. The primary outcome was the changes of speech parameters after levodopa intake. Secondary outcomes included the analysis of possible correlations of motor features and levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) with acoustic speech parameters. Statistical analysis included paired t-test between the ON and OFF data (calculated separately for male and female subgroups) and Pearson correlation between speech and motor data.

Results: In 50 PD patients (male: 32; female: 18), levodopa significantly increased the MPT of sustained phonation in female patients (p < 0.01). In the OFF-state, the UPDRS part-III speech item negatively correlated with MPT (p = 0.02), whereas in the ON-state, it correlated positively with the shimmer local dB (p = 0.01), an expression of poorer voice quality. The total CDRS score and axial subscores strongly correlated with the ON-state shimmer local dB (p = 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions: Our findings emphasize that levodopa has a poor effect on speech acoustic parameters. The intensity and location of LID negatively influenced speech quality.
Directly Exploring the Neural Correlates of Feedback-Related Reward Saliency and Valence During Real-Time fMRI-Based Neurofeedback
Authors: Direito Bruno , Ramos Manuel , Pereira João , Sayal Alexandre , Sousa Teresa , Castelo-Branco Miguel
Published: February 2021

Introduction: The potential therapeutic efficacy of real-time fMRI Neurofeedback has received increasing attention in a variety of psychological and neurological disorders and as a tool to probe cognition. Despite its growing popularity, the success rate varies significantly, and the underlying neural mechanisms are still a matter of debate. The question whether an individually tailored framework positively influences neurofeedback success remains largely unexplored.

Methods: To address this question, participants were trained to modulate the activity of a target brain region, the visual motion area hMT+/V5, based on the performance of three imagery tasks with increasing complexity: imagery of a static dot, imagery of a moving dot with two and with four opposite directions. Participants received auditory feedback in the form of vocalizations with either negative, neutral or positive valence. The modulation thresholds were defined for each participant according to the maximum BOLD signal change of their target region during the localizer run.

Results: We found that 4 out of 10 participants were able to modulate brain activity in this region-of-interest during neurofeedback training. This rate of success (40%) is consistent with the neurofeedback literature. Whole-brain analysis revealed the recruitment of specific cortical regions involved in cognitive control, reward monitoring, and feedback processing during neurofeedback training. Individually tailored feedback thresholds did not correlate with the success level. We found region-dependent neuromodulation profiles associated with task complexity and feedback valence.

Discussion: Findings support the strategic role of task complexity and feedback valence on the modulation of the network nodes involved in monitoring and feedback control, key variables in neurofeedback frameworks optimization. Considering the elaborate design, the small sample size here tested (N = 10) impairs external validity in comparison to our previous studies. Future work will address this limitation. Ultimately, our results contribute to the discussion of individually tailored solutions, and justify further investigation concerning volitional control over brain activity.
EEG Correlates of Long-Distance Dependency Formation in Mandarin Wh-Questions
Authors: Lo Chia-Wen , Brennan Jonathan R.
Published: February 2021

Event-related potential components are sensitive to the processes underlying how questions are understood. We use so-called “covert” wh-questions in Mandarin to probe how such components generalize across different kinds of constructions. This study shows that covert Mandarin wh-questions do not elicit anterior negativities associated with memory maintenance, even when such a dependency is unambiguously cued. N = 37 native speakers of Mandarin Chinese read Chinese questions and declarative sentences word-by-word during EEG recording. In contrast to prior studies, no sustained anterior negativity (SAN) was observed between the cue word, such as the question-embedding verb “wonder,” and the in-situ wh-filler. SANs have been linked with working memory maintenance, suggesting that grammatical features may not impose the same maintenance demands as the content words used in prior work.
Predicting Student Performance Using Machine Learning in fNIRS Data
Authors: Oku Amanda Yumi Ambriola , Sato João Ricardo
Published: February 2021

Increasing student involvement in classes has always been a challenge for teachers and school managers. In online learning, some interactivity mechanisms like quizzes are increasingly used to engage students during classes and tasks. However, there is a high demand for tools that evaluate the efficiency of these mechanisms. In order to distinguish between high and low levels of engagement in tasks, it is possible to monitor brain activity through functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The main advantages of this technique are portability, low cost, and a comfortable way for students to concentrate and perform their tasks. This setup provides more natural conditions for the experiments if compared to the other acquisition tools. In this study, we investigated levels of task involvement through the identification of correct and wrong answers of typical quizzes used in virtual environments. We collected data from the prefrontal cortex region (PFC) of 18 students while watching a video lecture. This data was modeled with supervised learning algorithms. We used random forests and penalized logistic regression to classify correct answers as a function of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentration. These models identify which regions best predict student performance. The random forest and penalized logistic regression (GLMNET with LASSO) obtained, respectively, 0.67 and 0.65 area of the ROC curve. Both models indicate that channels F4-F6 and AF3-AFz are the most relevant for the prediction. The statistical significance of these models was confirmed through cross-validation (leave-one-subject-out) and a permutation test. This methodology can be useful to better understand the teaching and learning processes in a video lecture and also provide improvements in the methodologies used in order to better adapt the presentation content.
Multivariate Correlation Measures Reveal Structure and Strength of Brain–Body Physiological Networks at Rest and During Mental Stress
Authors: Pernice Riccardo , Antonacci Yuri , Zanetti Matteo , Busacca Alessandro , Marinazzo Daniele , Faes Luca , Nollo Giandomenico
Published: February 2021

In this work, we extend to the multivariate case the classical correlation analysis used in the field of network physiology to probe dynamic interactions between organ systems in the human body. To this end, we define different correlation-based measures of the multivariate interaction (MI) within and between the brain and body subnetworks of the human physiological network, represented, respectively, by the time series of δ, θ, α, and β electroencephalographic (EEG) wave amplitudes, and of heart rate, respiration amplitude, and pulse arrival time (PAT) variability (η, ρ, π). MI is computed: (i) considering all variables in the two subnetworks to evaluate overall brain–body interactions; (ii) focusing on a single target variable and dissecting its global interaction with all other variables into contributions arising from the same subnetwork and from the other subnetwork; and (iii) considering two variables conditioned to all the others to infer the network topology. The framework is applied to the time series measured from the EEG, electrocardiographic (ECG), respiration, and blood volume pulse (BVP) signals recorded synchronously via wearable sensors in a group of healthy subjects monitored at rest and during mental arithmetic and sustained attention tasks. We find that the human physiological network is highly connected, with predominance of the links internal of each subnetwork (mainly η−ρ and δ−θ, θ−α, α−β), but also statistically significant interactions between the two subnetworks (mainly η−β and η−δ). MI values are often spatially heterogeneous across the scalp and are modulated by the physiological state, as indicated by the decrease of cardiorespiratory interactions during sustained attention and by the increase of brain–heart interactions and of brain–brain interactions at the frontal scalp regions during mental arithmetic. These findings illustrate the complex and multi-faceted structure of interactions manifested within and between different physiological systems and subsystems across different levels of mental stress.
A Single Case Feasibility Study of Sensorimotor Rhythm Neurofeedback in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Cook Alexander J. , Pfeifer Kristina J. , Tass Peter A.
Published: February 2021

Electroencephalographic activity over the sensorimotor cortex has been one of the best studied targets for neurofeedback therapy. Parkinson’s disease patients display abnormal brain rhythms in the motor cortex caused by increased synchrony in the basal ganglia-cortical pathway. Few studies have examined the effects of sensorimotor-based neurofeedback therapy in humans with PD. In this pilot study, one patient, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 10 years prior, participated in two consecutive days of EEG neurofeedback training to increase sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) power over the motor cortex. Using a visual display connected to ongoing EEG, the patient voluntarily manipulated SMR power, and he/she was awarded with points to positively reinforce successful increases over a predefined threshold. Recorded EEG data were source localized and analyzed for the occurrence of high amplitude bursts of SMR activity as well as bursts in the beta frequency band in the precentral cortex. The rate of SMR bursts increased with each subsequent training session, while the rate of beta bursts only increased on the final session. Relative power in the beta band, a marker of PD symptom severity, decreased over the motor cortex in the later session. These results provide first evidence for the feasibility of SMR neurofeedback training as a non-invasive therapy for reducing Parkinson’s disease related activity and upregulating SMR in the human motor cortex.
Sociodemographic Differences in Prenatal Diagnosis of Chromosomal Anomalies: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Santoro Michele , Mezzasalma Lorena , Coi Alessio , Baldacci Silvia , Pasquini Lucia , Pierini Anna
Published: February 2021

Background: In Europe, about 76% of cases of chromosomal anomalies are prenatally diagnosed. Prenatal diagnosis allows more efficient planning of postnatal treatment and helps parents for an informed decision about the continuation of pregnancy. The main aim of this study was to evaluate whether the sociodemographic maternal characteristics affect the probability of prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal anomalies.

Methods: Cases of chromosomal anomalies in the period 2005–2017 came from the population-based registry of congenital anomalies of Tuscany (Italy). Differences in the proportion of cases prenatally diagnosed were investigated through the following maternal characteristics: education, geographic origin and occupation. The association between cases of termination of pregnancy after prenatal diagnosis and maternal characteristics was also analysed. Odds Ratios (OR) adjusted by maternal age were calculated using logistic regression models. Results were provided for all cases of chromosomal anomalies and for Down syndrome cases.

Results: A total of 1,419 cases were included in the study. Cases prenatally diagnosed were 1,186 (83.6%). We observed a higher proportion of cases not prenatally diagnosed among cases with low maternal education compared to those with high maternal education (OR = 2.16, p < 0.001) and in women from high migratory outflow countries, compared to the Italian ones (OR = 2.85, p < 0.001). For prenatally diagnosed Down syndrome cases, we observed a higher proportion of termination of pregnancy for women with low education level (OR = 4.36, p = 0.023).

Conclusions: In our study evidence of differences in the probability of prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal anomalies associated with maternal education and geographic origin was found. Population-based studies investigating sociodemographic disparities can provide essential information for targeted public health programs. Further studies are recommended to monitor the impact of the increasing availability of non-invasive screening tests.
Graft Versus Host Disease Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Pharmacovigilance Study and Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Nguyen Lee S. , Raia Lisa , Lebrun-Vignes Bénédicte , Salem Joe-Elie
Published: February 2021

Background: In patients with allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are used to treat malignancy recurrence. However, ICI are also associated with graft vs. host disease (GVHD). In this pharmacovigilance analysis, we aimed to characterize cases of GVHD associated with ICI, drawn from the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database, VigiBase®, and from literature.

Methods: We performed VigiBase® query of cases of GVHD associated with ICI. These cases were combined with those of literature, not reported in VigiBase®. The Bayesian estimate of disproportionality analysis, the information component, was considered significant if its 95% credibility interval lower bound was positive; denoting a significant association between GVHD and the suspected ICI. Time to onset between ICI and GVHD onset and subsequent mortality were assessed.

Results: Disproportionality analysis yielded 93 cases of GVHD associated with ICI (61.8% men, median age 38 [interquartile range = 27; 50] years). Cases were mostly associated with nivolumab (53/93, 57.0%), pembrolizumab (23/93, 24.7%) and ipilimumab (12/93, 12.9%) monotherapies. GVHD events occurred after 1 [1; 5.5] injection of ICI, with a time to onset of 35 [IQR = 14; 176] days. Immediate subsequent mortality after GVHD was 24/93, 25.8%. There was no significant difference in mortality depending on the molecule (p = 0.41) or the combination regimen (combined vs. monotherapy, p = 0.60). Previous history of GVHD was present in 11/18, 61.1% in cases reported in literature.

Conclusion: In this worldwide pharmacovigilance study, disproportionality yielded significant association between GVHD and ICI, with subsequent mortality of 25.8%. Previous history of GVHD was reported in more than half of cases.

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:NCT03492242
Impacts of Pre-bloom Leaf Removal on Wine Grape Production and Quality Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: VanderWeide Joshua , Gottschalk Chris , Schultze Steven R. , Nasrollahiazar Esmaeil , Poni Stefano , Sabbatini Paolo
Published: February 2021

Wine grape (Vitis viniferaL.) is the most widely cultivated fruit crop in the world. However, the climactic characteristics in some growing regions are suboptimal for grape production, including short season length and excess precipitation. Grape growers can utilize an array of methods to mitigate these issues, including “early leaf removal,” a management practice involving the removal of leaves from selected basal nodes along shoots around bloom. This meta-analysis reviews the extensive literature on this practice, with specific regards to application at “pre-bloom” (PB). One hundred seventy-five publications on the topic of “early leaf removal” were identified using key terms and subsequently narrowed via eight data curation steps. The comparison between treated (PB) and control plants in these studies revealed two important results. First, PB lowered bunch rot disease (−61%), partially through reducing the compactness of clusters. Second, PB promoted a significant increase in fruit total soluble solids (°Brix, +5.2%), which was related to the increase in the leaf-to-fruit ratio. Furthermore, cultivar and rootstock were found to have a large influence on the success of PB, while the contribution of climate was smaller. In conclusion, PB significantly lowers yield and bunch rot disease and increases °Brix, both of which improve grape and wine quality.
Internalization of Mastery Goals: The Differential Effect of Teachers’ Autonomy Support and Control
Authors: Benita Moti , Matos Lennia
Published: February 2021

Two linked studies explored whether students’ perceptions differentiate between teachers’ autonomy support and control when presenting mastery goals, and the outcomes of these two practices, in terms of students’ internalization of mastery goals and their behavioral engagement. In two phases, Study 1 (N = 317) sought to validate a new instrument assessing students’ perceptions of teachers’ autonomy support and control when presenting mastery goals. Study 2 (N = 1,331) demonstrated that at both within- and between-classroom levels, perceptions of teachers’ autonomy support for mastery goals were related to students’ mastery goals’ endorsement and behavioral engagement. These relations were mediated by students’ autonomous reasons to pursue learning activities. Perceptions of teachers’ control predicted disengagement through controlled reasons for learning, but only at the within-classroom level. This research joins a growing body of work demonstrating that combining achievement goal theory with SDT can further our understanding of the underpinnings of achievement motivation. It suggests that if teachers want their students to endorse mastery goals (and be more engaged), they need to use more autonomy supportive practices and less controlling ones.
Studying Gambling Behaviors and Responsible Gambling Tools in a Simulated Online Casino Integrated With Amazon Mechanical Turk: Development and Initial Validation of Survey Data and Platform Mechanics of the Frescati Online Research Casino
Authors: Lindner Philip , Ramnerö Jonas , Ivanova Ekaterina , Carlbring Per
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Online gambling, popular among both problem and recreational gamblers, simultaneously entails both heightened addiction risks as well as unique opportunities for prevention and intervention. There is a need to bridge the growing literature on learning and extinction mechanisms of gambling behavior, with account tracking studies using real-life gambling data. In this study, we describe the development and validation of the Frescati Online Research Casino (FORC): a simulated online casino where games, visual themes, outcome sizes, probabilities, and other variables of interest can be experimentally manipulated to conduct behavioral analytic studies and evaluate the efficacy of responsible gambling tools.

Methods: FORC features an initial survey for self-reporting of gambling and gambling problems, along with several games resembling regular real-life casino games, designed to allow Pavlovian and instrumental learning. FORC was developed with maximum flexibility in mind, allowing detailed experiment specification by setting parameters using an online interface, including the display of messages. To allow convenient and rapid data collection from diverse samples, FORC is independently hosted yet integrated with the popular crowdsourcing platform Amazon Mechanical Turk through a reimbursement key mechanism. To validate the survey data quality and game mechanics of FORC, n = 101 participants were recruited, who answered an questionnaire on gambling habits and problems, then played both slot machine and card-draw type games. Questionnaire and trial-by-trial behavioral data were analyzed using standard psychometric tests, and outcome distribution modeling.

Results: The expected associations among variables in the introductory questionnaire were found along with good psychometric properties, suggestive of good quality data. Only 6% of participants provided seemingly poor behavioral data. Game mechanics worked as intended: gambling outcomes showed the expected pattern of random sampling with replacement and were normally distributed around the set percentages, while balances developed according to the set return to player rate.

Conclusions: FORC appears to be a valid paradigm for simulating online gambling and for collecting survey and behavioral data, offering a valuable compromise between stringent experimental paradigms with lower external validity, and real-world gambling account tracking data with lower internal validity.
Identification and Management of COVID-19 Related Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems: A Multi-Tier Intervention Model
Authors: Dhonju Gunjan , Kunwar Arun Raj , Karki Utkarsh , Devkota Narmada , Bista Isha , Sah Rampukar
Published: February 2021

Nepal is a low and medium-income country (LMIC), situated in South-east Asia, with a population of 29 million, of which, 40–50% are children and adolescents. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the lives of people around the world, including Nepal. The child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) needs and services in Nepal have a significant gap. CAMH in Nepal suffers from lack of specialized training in this field as well as scarcity of human resources and services. There is only one full-time child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) out-patient clinic in the country. Some recent activities have focused on CAMH in Nepal but the COVID-19 pandemic has produced new challenges. Access to mental health services for children and adolescents (C&A) across Nepal has been adversely affected. Factors such as closure of schools, confinement at home, lockdown, transportation problems, uncertainty, loss of usual routine and fear of infection have affected the mental health of C&A. This has highlighted a need to build capacity of available local human resources, enhance community support, teach measures of coping with stress and improve CAMH service delivery by strengthening the referral system, but these have to be addressed overcoming problems of travel restrictions and limited resources. To address these needs, online platform can be a suitable approach. With this view, a multi-tier CAMH intervention model was developed, which utilizes online platform for training mental health professionals across Nepal, who would then facilitate sessions for C&A, teachers, parents and caregivers; and link them to CAMH services locally, and remotely through teleconsultation. This started as a pilot from June 2020 and will continue till end of February 2021, with the aim to reach 40,000 C&A, parents, teachers and caregivers. As of Nov 2020, this model has been used to successfully conduct 1,415 sessions, with 28,597 population reached. Among them, 16,571 are C&A and 12,026 are parents, teachers and caregivers, across all 7 provinces of Nepal. In this paper, the multi-tier intervention to address the COVID-19 related CAMH problems has been discussed as a feasible framework for resource limited settings and LMICs like Nepal.
Soil Ecosystems Change With Time
Authors: Doblas-Miranda Enrique
Published: February 2021

All the animals living below our feet are not still. They can move (to a lot of places because the soil is a 3D space) and to change (for example, from a cocoon to an active state). Therefore, the same soil below a given piece of field may not contain the same living communities in winter as in summer, or even during a sunny day compared to a cold night. For example, research on soil beetle larvae showed seasonal vertical movements, as the larvae searched for better living conditions. Moreover, the soil varies a lot during its formation, and consequently its inhabitants also change. In the case of oribatids, a minuscule but diverse group of soil mites, scientists observed changes in the community over dozen to hundreds of years! Many studies showed a basic but powerful principle: ecosystems are not still photographs, but instead are constantly changing environments.
Functionalised Terpyridines and Their Metal Complexes—Solid-State Interactions
Authors: Lee Young Hoon , Kim Jee Young , Kusumoto Sotaro , Ohmagari Hitomi , Hasegawa Miki , Thuéry Pierre , Harrowfield Jack , Hayami Shinya , Kim Yang
Published: February 2021

Analysis of the weak interactions within the crystal structures of 33 complexes of various 4′-aromatic derivatives of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpy) shows that interactions that exceed dispersion are dominated, as expected, by cation⋯anion contacts but are associated with both ligand–ligand and ligand–solvent contacts, sometimes multicentred, in generally complicated arrays, probably largely determined by dispersion interactions between stacked aromatic units. With V(V) as the coordinating cation, there is evidence that the polarisation of the ligand results in an interaction exceeding dispersion at a carbon bound to nitrogen with oxygen or fluorine, an interaction unseen in the structures of M(II) (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ru and Cd) complexes, except when 1,2,3-trimethoxyphenyl substituents are present in the 4′-tpy.
Assessing the Impact on Grid Infrastructure of Electrification Pathways for the Italian Residential Sector
Authors: Trabucchi Andrea , Premoli Vilà Lidia , Borgarello Marco , Besagni Giorgio
Published: February 2021

To achieve the decarbonization objectives described in the Paris Agreement, thermal appliances’ electrification is considered an essential factor. Unfortunately, the substitution of thermal appliances with electric alternatives will inevitably increase the load on the national electric system; thus, it is crucial to perform analyses to assess these policies’ impact. This paper, using as a reference the electrification pathways studied by Besagni et al. employing the MOIRAE (bottom-up MOdel to compute the energy consumption of the Italian REsidential sector) model, calculates the energy and power increase in the residential sector in 2030 due to the substitution of different thermal appliances and discusses potential policies to take into account the effect of their implementation on the Italian electric system. Even if the current generation capacity can sustain the electrification process without problems, investments will be needed to limit the possibility of congestions on transmission lines connecting the country’s northern and southern parts.