bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers in autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system
Authors: Zhang Fenghe , Gao Xue , Liu Jia , Zhang Chao
Published: April 2023

The autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) represent individual heterogeneity with different disease entities. Although clinical and imaging features make it possible to characterize larger patient cohorts, they may not provide sufficient evidence to detect disease activity and response to disease modifying drugs. Biomarkers are becoming a powerful tool due to their objectivity and easy access. Biomarkers may indicate various aspects of biological processes in healthy and/or pathological states, or as a response to drug therapy. According to the clinical features described, biomarkers are usually classified into predictive, diagnostic, monitoring and safety biomarkers. Some nerve injury markers, humoral markers, cytokines and immune cells in serum or cerebrospinal fluid have potential roles in disease severity and prognosis in autoimmune diseases occurring in the CNS, which provides a promising approach for clinicians to early intervention and prevention of future disability. Therefore, this review mainly summarizes the potential biomarkers indicated in autoimmune disorders of the CNS.
Current progress on innate immune evasion mediated by Npro protein of pestiviruses
Authors: Wen Shubo , Li Xintong , Lv Xiangyu , Liu Kai , Ren Jingqiang , Zhai Jingbo , Song Yang
Published: April 2023

Interferon (IFN), the most effective antiviral cytokine, is involved in innate and adaptive immune responses and is essential to the host defense against virus invasion. Once the host was infected by pathogens, the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) were recognized by the host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which activates interferon regulatory transcription factors (IRFs) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signal transduction pathway to induce IFN expression. Pathogens have acquired many strategies to escape the IFN-mediated antiviral immune response. Pestiviruses cause massive economic losses in the livestock industry worldwide every year. The immune escape strategies acquired by pestiviruses during evolution are among the major difficulties in its control. Previous experiments indicated that Erns, as an envelope glycoprotein unique to pestiviruses with RNase activity, could cleave viral ss- and dsRNAs, therefore inhibiting the host IFN production induced by viral ss- and dsRNAs. In contrast, Npro, the other envelope glycoprotein unique to pestiviruses, mainly stimulates the degradation of transcription factor IRF-3 to confront the IFN response. This review mainly summarized the current progress on mechanisms mediated by Npro of pestiviruses to antagonize IFN production.
Different configurations of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein delivered by integrase-defective lentiviral vectors induce persistent functional immune responses, characterized by distinct immunogenicity profiles
Authors: Borghi Martina , Gallinaro Alessandra , Pirillo Maria Franca , Canitano Andrea , Michelini Zuleika , De Angelis Maria Laura , Cecchetti Serena , Tinari Antonella , Falce Chiara , Mariotti Sabrina , Capocefalo Antonio , Chiantore Maria Vincenza , Iacobino Angelo , Di Virgilio Antonio , van Gils Marit J. , Sanders Rogier W. , Lo Presti Alessandra , Nisini Roberto , Negri Donatella , Cara Andrea
Published: April 2023

Several COVID-19 vaccine strategies utilizing new formulations for the induction of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and T cell immunity are still under evaluation in preclinical and clinical studies. Here we used Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV)-based integrase defective lentiviral vector (IDLV) delivering different conformations of membrane-tethered Spike protein in the mouse immunogenicity model, with the aim of inducing persistent nAbs against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC). Spike modifications included prefusion-stabilizing double proline (2P) substitutions, mutations at the furin cleavage site (FCS), D614G mutation and truncation of the cytoplasmic tail (delta21) of ancestral and Beta (B.1.351) Spike, the latter mutation to markedly improve IDLV membrane-tethering. BALB/c mice were injected once with IDLV delivering the different forms of Spike or the recombinant trimeric Spike protein with 2P substitutions and FCS mutations in association with a squalene-based adjuvant. Anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) binding Abs, nAbs and T cell responses were detected up to six months from a single immunization with escalating doses of vaccines in all mice, but with different levels and kinetics. Results indicated that IDLV delivering the Spike protein with all the combined modifications, outperformed the other candidates in terms of T cell immunity and level of both binding Abs and nAbs soon after the single immunization and persistence over time, showing the best capacity to neutralize all formerly circulating VoC Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. Although present, the lowest response was detected against Omicron variants (BA.1, BA.2 and BA.4/5), suggesting that the magnitude of immune evasion may be related to the higher genetic distance of Omicron as indicated by increased number of amino acid substitutions in Spike acquired during virus evolution.
Research progress in the development of natural-product-based mucosal vaccine adjuvants
Authors: Gao Yingying , Guo Ying
Published: April 2023

Mucosal vaccines have great potential and advantages in preventing infection caused by multiple pathogens. In developing mucosal vaccines, the biggest challenge comes from finding safe and effective adjuvants and drug delivery systems. Great progress has been made in the generation of mucosal adjuvants using detoxified bacterial toxin derivatives, pathogen-related molecules, cytokines, and various vaccine delivery systems. However, many problems, relating to the safety and efficacy of mucosal vaccine adjuvants, remain. Certain natural substances can boost the immune response and thus could be used as adjuvants in vaccination. These natural-product-based immune adjuvants have certain advantages over conventional adjuvants, such as low toxicity, high stability, and low cost of production. In this review, we summarize the latest natural-product-based immune adjuvants, and discuss their properties and clinical applications.
Extending regional habitat classification systems to ocean basin scale using predicted species distributions as proxies
Authors: Callery Oisín , Grehan Anthony
Published: April 2023

The patchy nature and overall scarcity of available scientific data poses a challenge to holistic ecosystem-based management that considers the whole range of ecological, social, and economic aspects that affect ecosystem health and productivity in the deep sea. In particular, the evaluation of, for instance, the impact of human activities/climate change, the adequacy and representativity of MPA networks, and the valuation of ecosystem goods and services is hampered by the lack of detailed seafloor habitat maps and a univocal classification system. To maximize the use of current evidence-based management decision tools, this paper investigates the potential application of a supervised machine learning methodology to expand a well-established habitat classification system throughout an entire ocean basin. A multi-class Random Forest habitat classification model was built using the predicted distributions of 6 deep-sea fish and 6 cold-water corals as predictor variables (proxies). This model, found to correctly classify the area covered by an existing European seabed habitat classification system with ~90% accuracy, was used to provide a univocal deep-sea habitat classification for the North Atlantic. Until such time as global seabed mapping projects are complete, supervised machine learning approaches, as described here, can provide the full coverage classified maps and preliminary habitat inventories needed to underpin marine management decision making.
Discovery of new indolosesquiterpenoids bearing a N-O linkage by overexpression of LuxR regulator in a marine bacterium Streptomyces sp.
Authors: Park Jiyoon , Cho Hang Su , Moon Dong Hyun , Lee Donghoon , Kal Youngjoo , Cha Sangwon , Lee Sang Kook , Yoon Yeo Joon , Oh Dong-Chan
Published: April 2023

The xiamycins are bioactive indolosesquiterpenoids that have been isolated from actinobacterial strains belonging to the Streptomyces genus. The overexpression of orf2011, which encodes the LuxR family regulator in a marine Streptomyces strain (HK18) isolated from a hypersaline saltern, significantly increased the production of xiamycin dimers, namely the previously reported dixiamycins A and C (3 and 4), compared to the wild-type strain. In addition, the engineered strain produced new members of the xiamycin family (lipoxiamycins A and B), which possessed a lipophilic chain linked to the indolosesquiterpenoid core structure by a N–O bond. The transcription analysis of the N-hydroxylase-encoding xiaH by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that the transcription level of xiaH responsible for the formation of a nitroxyl radical was increased by the overexpression of orf2011, which is located outside the xiamycin biosynthetic gene cluster. The structures of these compounds were determined by full spectroscopic analysis, and the connectivity between the lipophilic chain and the indolosesquiterpenoid moiety was confirmed in both lipoxiamycins A and B (1 and 2) by MS/MS analysis. Moreover, the absolute configurations of these compounds were established using quantum mechanics-based electronic circular dichroism and DP4 calculations. Finally, it was demonstrated that lipoxiamycin A (1) displayed inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production at an IC50 of 9.89 ± 0.92 µM in RAW 264.7 cells.
The value of 7 peripheral blood serum ratios in diagnosis and prediction of disease activity of patients within inflammatory bowel disease individuals
Authors: Pan Jun , Li Jiao , Gao Yuanjun
Published: April 2023

Objective

In recent years, a number of studies have suggested that inflammation-based biomarkers can be applied in the diagnostics and prognostic testing of disease. However, the association between these ratios and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of these inflammation-based ratios in patients with IBD.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 362 patients with IBD and 100 healthy individuals from January 2016 and December 2021. The receiver operating characteristic curve and logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the diagnostic and predictive performance of the seven ratio markers [neutrophil- to-albumin ratio (NAR), neutrophil-to-pre-albumin ratio (NPAR), albumin-to-alkaline-phosphatase ratio (AAPR), albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR), albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio (AFR), fibrinogen-to-pre-albumin ratio (FPR), and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI)] regarding to disease activity in IBD individuals.

Results

Compared with healthy controls, patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) exhibited higher levels of NAR, NPAR, FPR (P < 0.001), lower levels of AAPR, and PNI (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the level of NPAR (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.02–1.23, P = 0.016) and AGR (OR = 1.01, 95%CI: 1.01–1.12, P < 0.001) was an independent risk factor of IBD. Then, we found the level of NPAR (OR = 1.10, 95%CI: 1.01–1.20, P = 0.02) and PNI (OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.71–0.96, P = 0.01) was independently associated with disease activity. Besides, a positive association was observed between the level of NPAR and two clinical scores [Harvey Bradshaw index (HBI) in patients with CD, Mayo score in patients with UC]. Finally, the level of NPAR (P = 0.002) and PNI (P = 0.003) showed a significant difference in the IBD-associated neoplasia group and IBD without neoplasia group.

Conclusion

Our data first suggests NPAR as a putative biomarker for diagnosing and predicting disease activity in patients with IBD. Investigations involving a larger number of IBD individuals are necessary to validate its use as an easily obtained peripheral blood biomarker of IBD.
Evidence of kidney injury in preeclampsia: Increased maternal and urinary levels of NGAL and KIM-1 and their enhanced expression in proximal tubule epithelial cells
Authors: Wang Yuping , Gu Yang , Gu Xin , Cooper Danielle B. , Lewis David F.
Published: April 2023

Background and objective

Proteinuria and glomerular endotheliosis are characteristics of glomerular injury in preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder in human pregnancy. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) are biomarkers of acute/chronic renal tubule injury. To determine if tubule injury occurs in preeclampsia, we determined maternal plasma and urine NGAL and KIM-1 levels and evaluated NGAL and KIM-1 expression in kidney biopsy specimens from women with preeclampsia.

Methods

Prenatal and postpartum maternal blood and urinary samples were collected from three groups of pregnant women: normal pregnancy (n = 100), preeclampsia (n = 83), and pregnancy complicated with chronic hypertension (n = 20). Plasma and urine levels of NGAL and KIM-1 were measured by ELISA. Kidney biopsy tissue sections from patients with preeclampsia (n = 5) were obtained from Pathology Archives and processed to determine NGAL and KIM-1 expression by immunostaining and high kidney solution images were assessed by electron microscopy (EM).

Results

Prenatal plasma and urine levels of NGAL and KIM-1 were significantly higher in preeclamptic than in normal controls, p < 0.01. In normal pregnancy, both plasma and urine levels of NGAL and KIM-1 at 24–48 h after delivery and 6–8 weeks postpartum were relatively comparable to that of antenatal levels. In preeclampsia, urine, but not plasma, NGAL levels were reduced at 6–8 weeks postpartum compared to the antenatal levels, p < 0.05. Although maternal and urine KIM-1 levels were reduced at 6–8 weeks postpartum compared to the antenatal levels in preeclampsia, the levels were still higher than those in normal pregnancy. Positive expression of NGAL and KIM-1 was detected in proximal tubule epithelial cells in kidney tissue specimens from preeclampsia but not in non-pregnancy controls. EM examination showed glomerular and tubular injury in preeclampsia.

Conclusion

Our findings of increased maternal levels and urine secretion of NGAL and KIM-1, along with the upregulation of NGAL and KIM-1 expression in tubular epithelial cells in preeclampsia, provide plausible evidence that tubular injury exists in preeclampsia. The higher postpartum NGAL and KIM-1 levels in preeclamptic pregnancies indicate that tubular injury would not resolve within 2–3 months after delivery and suggest that proper follow-up and management of kidney function in women with preeclampsia would be necessary to reduce chronic kidney diseases in those women later in life.
Lipopolysaccharide structure modulates cationic biocide susceptibility and crystalline biofilm formation in Proteus mirabilis
Authors: Clarke O. E. , Pelling H. , Bennett V. , Matsumoto T. , Gregory G. E. , Nzakizwanayo J. , Slate A. J. , Preston A. , Laabei M. , Bock L. J. , Wand M. E. , Ikebukuro K. , Gebhard S. , Sutton J. M. , Jones B. V.
Published: April 2023

Chlorhexidine (CHD) is a cationic biocide used ubiquitously in healthcare settings. Proteus mirabilis, an important pathogen of the catheterized urinary tract, and isolates of this species are often described as “resistant” to CHD-containing products used for catheter infection control. To identify the mechanisms underlying reduced CHD susceptibility in P. mirabilis, we subjected the CHD tolerant clinical isolate RS47 to random transposon mutagenesis and screened for mutants with reduced CHD minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). One mutant recovered from these screens (designated RS47-2) exhibited ~ 8-fold reduction in CHD MIC. Complete genome sequencing of RS47-2 showed a single mini-Tn5 insert in the waaC gene involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inner core biosynthesis. Phenotypic screening of RS47-2 revealed a significant increase in cell surface hydrophobicity and serum susceptibility compared to the wildtype, and confirmed defects in LPS production congruent with waaC inactivation. Disruption of waaC was also associated with increased susceptibility to a range of other cationic biocides but did not affect susceptibility to antibiotics tested. Complementation studies showed that repression of smvA efflux activity in RS47-2 further increased susceptibility to CHD and other cationic biocides, reducing CHD MICs to values comparable with the most CHD susceptible isolates characterized. The formation of crystalline biofilms and blockage of urethral catheters was also significantly attenuated in RS47-2. Taken together, these data show that aspects of LPS structure and upregulation of the smvA efflux system function in synergy to modulate susceptibility to CHD and other cationic biocides, and that LPS structure is also an important factor in P. mirabilis crystalline biofilm formation.
Considerations and caveats for analyzing chromatin compartments
Authors: Kalluchi Achyuth , Harris Hannah L. , Reznicek Timothy E. , Rowley M. Jordan
Published: April 2023

Genomes are organized into nuclear compartments, separating active from inactive chromatin. Chromatin compartments are readily visible in a large number of species by experiments that map chromatin conformation genome-wide. When analyzing these maps, a common step is the identification of genomic intervals that interact within A (active) and B (inactive) compartments. It has also become increasingly common to identify and analyze subcompartments. We review different strategies to identify A/B and subcompartment intervals, including a discussion of various machine-learning approaches to predict these features. We then discuss the strengths and limitations of current strategies and examine how these aspects of analysis may have impacted our understanding of chromatin compartments.
Age, β-endorphin, and sex dependent effects of maternal separation on locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and alcohol reward
Authors: Scopano Madison R. , Jones Holly E. , Stea Sam G. , Freeman Maya Z. , Grisel Judith E.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Childhood adversity is pervasive and linked to numerous disadvantages in adulthood, including physical health problems, mental illness, and substance use disorders. Initial sensitivity to the rewarding effects of alcohol predicts the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder, and may be linked to developmental stress. The opioid peptide β-endorphin (β-E) regulates the stress response and is also implicated in the risk for excessive alcohol consumption.

Methods

We explored the influence of β-E in an animal model of early life adversity using controlled maternal separation by evaluating changes in locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and the initial rewarding effects of alcohol in a single exposure conditioned place preference paradigm in control C57BL/6J and β-E deficient β-E +/+ 0.129S2-Pomc tm1Low/J; β-E −/− mice. Maternal separation (MS) occurred for 3 h each day from post-natal days (PND) 5–18 in approximately half the subjects.

Results

Maternal interactions increased following the separation protocol equally in both genotypes. MS and control subjects were tested as adolescents (PND 26–32) or adults (PND 58–72); the effects of MS were generally more pronounced in older subjects. Adults were more active than adolescents in the open field, and MS decreased activity in adolescent mice but increased it in adults. The increase in adult activity as a result of early life stress depended on both β-E and sex. β-E also influenced the effect of maternal separation on anxiety-like behavior in the Elevated Plus Maze. MS promoted rewarding effects of alcohol in male β-E deficient mice of either age, but had no effect in other groups.

Discussion

Taken together, these results suggest that the effects of MS develop over time and are β-E and sex dependent and may aid understanding of how individual differences influence the impact of adverse childhood experiences.
Transcranial focused ultrasound selectively increases perfusion and modulates functional connectivity of deep brain regions in humans
Authors: Kuhn Taylor , Spivak Norman M. , Dang Bianca H. , Becerra Sergio , Halavi Sabrina E. , Rotstein Natalie , Rosenberg Benjamin M. , Hiller Sonja , Swenson Andrew , Cvijanovic Luka , Dang Nolan , Sun Michael , Kronemyer David , Berlow Rustin , Revett Malina R. , Suthana Nanthia , Monti Martin M. , Bookheimer Susan
Published: April 2023

Background

Low intensity, transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a re-emerging brain stimulation technique with the unique capability of reaching deep brain structures non-invasively.

Objective/Hypothesis

We sought to demonstrate that tFUS can selectively and accurately target and modulate deep brain structures in humans important for emotional functioning as well as learning and memory. We hypothesized that tFUS would result in significant longitudinal changes in perfusion in the targeted brain region as well as selective modulation of BOLD activity and BOLD-based functional connectivity of the target region.

Methods

In this study, we collected MRI before, simultaneously during, and after tFUS of two deep brain structures on different days in sixteen healthy adults each serving as their own control. Using longitudinal arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI and simultaneous blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI, we found changes in cerebral perfusion, regional brain activity and functional connectivity specific to the targeted regions of the amygdala and entorhinal cortex (ErC).

Results

tFUS selectively increased perfusion in the targeted brain region and not in the contralateral homolog or either bilateral control region. Additionally, tFUS directly affected BOLD activity in a target specific fashion without engaging auditory cortex in any analysis. Finally, tFUS resulted in selective modulation of the targeted functional network connectivity.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that tFUS can selectively modulate perfusion, neural activity and connectivity in deep brain structures and connected networks. Lack of auditory cortex findings suggests that the mechanism of tFUS action is not due to auditory or acoustic startle response but rather a direct neuromodulatory process. Our findings suggest that tFUS has the potential for future application as a novel therapy in a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with subcortical pathology.
Mind the gender gap: The social neuroscience of belonging
Authors: Rippon Gina
Published: April 2023

Gender gaps persist in the 21st century, in many aspects of society and in many types of organisation. There are earnings gaps in almost all domains, reports of glass ceilings and the “missing middle” in business, finance, law and politics, and dramatic under-representation of women in many branches of science, even in the most “gender equal” countries. This is despite decades of effort to address them, including targeted legislation and many Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Early essentialist, competence-based explanations for the existence of gender gaps have been largely discredited at the research level, although their persistence in the public consciousness and at the level of education and training can still negatively bias both individual self-belief and organisational processes. Contemporary essentialist explanations are now emerging, with claims that such gaps are the manifestations of the presence or absence of endogenous, brain-based characteristics underpinning career progression or career preferences. The focus remains on the individual as the source of gender imbalances. Less attention has been paid to the contextual aspects of organisations where gender gaps are evident, to inclusion (or the lack of it), or the availability of unbiased reward and progression pathways. Advances in 21st century social cognitive neuroscience are revealing the importance of external organisational processes as powerful brain-changing forces, with their potentially negative impact on self-belief and a sense of belonging. Key research is demonstrating the cortical and behavioural consequences of negative social experiences, with the activation of core inhibitory pathways associated with low self-esteem, lack of engagement, and eventual withdrawal. This paper will argue that reference to such research will provide better explanations for the persistence of gender gaps, and offer evidence-based insights into addressing gender gap issues. Importantly, this is not a rejection of an endogenous, brain-based explanation for gender gaps but the elaboration of a better-informed 21st century model, flagging up the need to take factors such as cultural stereotyping and organisational bias into account in any drive toward true gender equity, or genuinely levelled playing fields.
Postnatal corticosteroid exposure in very preterm infants: A French cohort study
Authors: Iacobelli Silvia , Allamèle-Moutama Käliani , Lorrain Simon , Gouyon Béatrice , Gouyon Jean-Bernard , Bonsante Francesco ,   the Logipren Collaborative Working Group
Published: April 2023

Background: Postnatal corticosteroids (PC) are widely used in very preterm infants. International reports and national multicenter trials describe a marked variability across countries and inter-sites, in the use of PC. Few information is available on therapeutic indications and prescription characteristics of PC.

Aim: The main objective of this study was to describe the exposure to PC in a large cohort of preterm infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation, according to the prescription data of 41 tertiary-care NICUs in France. Secondary objectives were to describe therapeutic indications, day of life (DOL) of the first exposure, route of administration, duration, cumulative dose for each drug, and differences in exposure rates across centers.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort analysis from January 2017 to December 2021, in 41 French tertiary-care NICUs using the same computerized order-entry system.

Results: In total, 13,913 infants [birth weight 1144.8 (±365.6) g] were included. Among them, 3633 (26.1%) were exposed to PC, 21.8% by systemic and 10.1% by inhaled route. Within the study population, 1,992 infants (14.3%) received the first corticosteroid treatment in the first week of life and 1641 (11.8%) after DOL 7. The more frequent indications were prevention and/or treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and arterial hypotension. Hydrocortisone was the more often prescribed molecule. For systemic PC the first exposure occurred in mean at DOL 9.4 (±13.5), mean duration of treatment was 10.3 (±14.3) days, and the cumulative dose (expressed as the equivalent dose of hydrocortisone) was in median [IQR] 9.0 [5.5–28.8] mg/kg. For inhaled PC, the first exposure occurred in mean at DOL 34.1 (±19.7), and mean duration of treatment 28.5 (±24.4) days. The exposure rate ranged from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 56% among centers, and significantly increased over the study period (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: In this French cohort of very preterm infants, around one patient out to five was exposed to PC during hospital stay in the NICU. The exposure occurred early, starting from the first week of life. Exposure rate widely varied among centers. Pharmacoepidemiology studies are useful to increase knowledge on corticosteroid utilization patterns in preterm infants.
Effect of dynamic cerebral autoregulation on the association between deep medullary vein changes and cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: He Ling , Guo Zhen-Ni , Qu Yang , Wang Run-Ting , Zhang Peng , Yang Yi , Jin Hang
Published: April 2023

Changes in the deep medullary vein (DMV) are reported to be associated with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). While the mechanisms of this association are unclear, dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) has been speculated to participate in this association. Thus, we aimed to verify the association between DMV changes and total CSVD burden and further investigate the effect of dCA function on this correlation. In this prospective study, 95 Asian patients aged ≥18 years were included in the final assessment. DMV scores and total CSVD burden were determined using magnetic resonance imaging sequences. Transfer function analysis was performed to analyze dCA function. Generalized linear regressions were used to assess the relationship between DMV changes and total CSVD burden as well as between DMV changes and dCA function. An interaction model was utilized to assess the effect of dCA function on the association between DMV changes and total CSVD burden. Generalized linear models showed a significant positive association between DMV changes and total CSVD burden (p = 0.039) and a significant negative association between DMV changes and dCA function (p = 0.018). The interaction model demonstrated a significant positive interaction of dCA impairment on the association between DMV changes and the total CSVD burden (p = 0.02). Thus, we came to the conclusion that changes in DMV were correlated independently with both CSVD and dCA impairment and furthermore, impaired dCA function play an interaction effect on the association between DMV changes and the total CSVD burden. Our results can help improve the understanding of the complex pathogenesis and progression of CSVD, thereby facilitating early intervention and treatment development.
Towards continuous EIT monitoring for hemorrhagic stroke patients
Authors: Ouypornkochagorn Taweechai , Polydorides Nick , McCann Hugh
Published: April 2023

The practical implementation of continuous monitoring of stroke patients by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is addressed. In a previous paper, we have demonstrated EIT sensitivity to cerebral hemodynamics, using scalp-mounted electrodes, very low-noise measurements, and a novel image reconstruction method. In the present paper, we investigate the potential to adapt that system for clinical application, by using 50% fewer electrodes and by incorporating into the measurement protocol an additional high-frequency measurement to provide an effective reference. Previously published image reconstruction methods for multi-frequency EIT are substantially improved by exploiting the forward calculations enabled by the detailed head model, particularly to make the referencing method more robust and to attempt to remove the effects of modelling error. Images are presented from simulation of a typical hemorrhagic stroke and its growth. These results are encouraging for exploration of the potential clinical benefit of the methodology in long-term monitoring of hemorrhagic stroke.
Genome-wide characterization and functional identification of MYB genes in Malus sieversii infected by Valsa mali
Authors: Ding Yu , Yang Qihang , Waheed Abdul , Zhao Mingqi , Liu Xiaojie , Kahar Gulnaz , Haxim Yakupjan , Wen Xuejing , Zhang Daoyuan
Published: April 2023

Among the most important transcription factors in plants, the v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB) regulates the expression network of response genes under stresses such as fungal infection. In China, the canker disease Valsa mali threatens the survival of Malus sieversii, an ancestor of cultivated apples. Using the M. sieversii genome, we identified 457 MsMYB and 128 R2R3-MsMYB genes that were randomly distributed across 17 chromosomes. Based on protein sequence and structure, the R2R3-MsMYB genes were phylogenetically divided into 29 categories, and 26 conserved motifs were identified. We further predicted cis-elements in the 2000-kb promoter region of R2R3-MsMYBs based on the genome. Transcriptome analysis of M. sieversii under V. mali infection showed that 27 R2R3-MsMYBs were significantly differentially expressed, indicating their key role in the response to V. mali infection. Using transient transformation, MsMYB14, MsMYB24, MsMYB39, MsMYB78, and MsMYB108, which were strongly induced by V. mali infection, were functionally identified. Among the five MsMYBs, MsMYB14 and MsMYB78 were both important in enhancing resistance to diseases, whereas MsMYB24 inhibited resistance. Based on the results of this study, we gained a better understanding of the MsMYB transcription factor family and laid the foundation for a future research program on disease prevention strategies in M. sieversii.
Beyond emotional intelligence: The new construct of meta-emotional intelligence
Authors: D'Amico Antonella , Geraci Alessandro
Published: April 2023

Meta-emotional intelligence is a recently developed multidimensional construct that, starting from the original ability model of emotional intelligence, focuses on the cognitive aspects of emotional abilities and on the metacognitive and meta-emotional processes that influence our emotional life. Thus, meta-emotional intelligence is the combination of emotional abilities and meta-emotional dimensions, such as the beliefs about emotions, the self-concept about one's emotional abilities, and the self-evaluation of performance. This article aims to illustrate the theoretical and methodological background of this construct and to describe the IE-ACCME test, an original multi-method tool that has been developed to measure the different variables that compose meta-emotional intelligence. Applications of this construct will be discussed, as well as future directions.
Check the box! How to deal with automation bias in AI-based personnel selection
Authors: Kupfer Cordula , Prassl Rita , Fleiß Jürgen , Malin Christine , Thalmann Stefan , Kubicek Bettina
Published: April 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as decision support for personnel preselection, e.g., in the form of a dashboard, promises a more effective and fairer selection process. However, AI-based decision support systems might prompt decision makers to thoughtlessly accept the system’s recommendation. As this so-called automation bias contradicts ethical and legal requirements of human oversight for the use of AI-based recommendations in personnel preselection, the present study investigates strategies to reduce automation bias and increase decision quality. Based on the Elaboration Likelihood Model, we assume that instructing decision makers about the possibility of system errors and their responsibility for the decision, as well as providing an appropriate level of data aggregation should encourage decision makers to process information systematically instead of heuristically. We conducted a 3 (general information, information about system errors, information about responsibility) x 2 (low vs. high aggregated data) experiment to investigate which strategy can reduce automation bias and enhance decision quality. We found that less automation bias in terms of higher scores on verification intensity indicators correlated with higher objective decision quality, i.e., more suitable applicants selected. Decision makers who received information about system errors scored higher on verification intensity indicators and rated subjective decision quality higher, but decision makers who were informed about their responsibility, unexpectedly, did not. Regarding aggregation level of data, decision makers of the highly aggregated data group spent less time on the level of the dashboard where highly aggregated data were presented. Our results show that it is important to inform decision makers who interact with AI-based decision-support systems about potential system errors and provide them with less aggregated data to reduce automation bias and enhance decision quality.
Impulsivity, suicidal thoughts, psychological distress, and religiosity in adolescents and young adults
Authors: Abdullah Mudassar , Khalily Muhammad Tahir , Ruocco Anthony Charles , Hallahan Brian
Published: April 2023

Background

Impulsivity is associated with suicidal acts and ideation, whereas higher religious commitment has been identified as a potential protective factor linked to lower suicidal ideation.

Objectives

We examined the extent to which higher religious commitment is associated with lower suicidal ideation and whether religious commitment modifies the relationship between impulsivity and suicidal ideation.

Methods

Adolescent and young adult males, with a prior history of suicidal act and ideations, completed standardized questionnaires [i.e., Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS), Barratt Impulsivity Scale-II (BIS-II), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), and Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (RCI-10)], to assess impulsivity, suicidal ideation, distress, and religious commitment. Regression and mediation analyses were performed to investigate the relationships among impulsivity, religious commitment, and suicidal ideation.

Results

Of the 747 study participants (mean age 18.8 years, SD = 4.1), 151 (20.2%) had a history of suicidal acts and 177 (23.7%) had a history of suicidal ideation. Non-planning impulsivity (predictor) was inversely associated with religious commitment (r = −0.33, p < 0.01), and religious commitment (mediator) was inversely related to suicidal ideation (outcome) (r = −0.32, p < 0.01). These findings remained statistically significant when controlling for either religious commitment or non-planning impulsivity, as appropriate. Higher religious commitment reduced the association between non-planning impulsivity and suicidal ideation (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The findings highlight the potential for cultivating spirituality to buffer against higher suicidal ideation, and thus could be considered as an additional therapeutic strategy for individuals with higher levels of impulsivity and co-morbid suicidal ideation.
Influencing factors of home exercise adherence in elderly patients with stroke: A multiperspective qualitative study
Authors: Zhang Yuanxing , Qiu Xichenhui , Jin Qiansheng , Ji Cuiling , Yuan Ping , Cui Mengjiao , Zhang Juanjuan , Chen Lu
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Evidence has shown that stroke exercise rehabilitation is the most effective way to improve disease prognosis, but home exercise adherence in elderly patients with stroke is low due to they are more likely to have movement disorders, cognitive disorders, mental disorders, etc. Currently, most studies on exercise adherence in elderly patients with stroke are quantitative, and there is a lack of qualitative studies from the perspective of patients, caregivers, and medical staff. Considering the importance of home exercise adherence in elderly patients with stroke, the present study aimed to explore the influencing factors of home exercise adherence in them and summarize the potential ways to improve it.

Methods

From October to December 2022, 9 medical staff, 12 elderly patients with stroke and 7 caregivers from a level A tertiary hospital and community health service center in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province were selected by the purposive sampling and were interviewed in a face-to-face semi-structured way. The data were analyzed and summarized by the phenomenological analysis of Colaizzi’s method.

Results

The influencing factors of home exercise adherence in elderly patients with stroke can be summarized into 3 themes and 8 subthemes. These were individual factors (physical impairment, exercise self-efficacy, and depression), family factors (caregiving ability and emotional support); and stroke rehabilitation environment (exercise prescription, monitoring and feedback, and organizational policy).

Conclusion

Home exercise adherence in elderly patients with stroke was influenced by many factors. Medical staff should assess the patient’s physical function and depression, establish a multi-support system, formulate personalized exercise prescription, pay attention to the monitoring and feedback of home-based exercise rehabilitation, and improve the home-based rehabilitation model for stroke, so as to improve the home exercise adherence in elderly patients with stroke and promote the best rehabilitation effect.
Breast cancer and occupation: Non-parametric and parametric net survival analyses among Swiss women (1990–2014)
Authors: Guseva Canu Irina , Bovio Nicolas , Arveux Patrick , Bulliard Jean-Luc , Fournier Evelyne , Germann Simon , Konzelmann Isabelle , Maspoli Manuela , Rapiti Elisabetta , Grzebyk Michel
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Occupation can contribute to differences in risk and stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. This study aimed at determining whether occupation, along with skill level and the socio-professional category, affect the breast cancer survival (BCS) up to 10 years after diagnosis.

Materials and methods

We used cancer registry records to identify women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer in western Switzerland over the period 1990–2014 and matched them with the Swiss National Cohort. The effect of work-related variables on BCS was assessed using non-parametric and parametric net survival methods.

Results

Study sample included 8,678 women. In the non-parametric analysis, we observed a statistically significant effect of all work-related variables on BCS. Women in elementary occupations, with low skill level, and in paid employment not classified elsewhere, had the lowest BCS, while professionals, those with the highest skill level and belonging to top management and independent profession category had the highest BCS. The parametric analysis confirmed this pattern. Considering elementary occupations as reference, all occupations but Craft and related trades had a hazard ratio (HR) below 1. Among professionals, technicians and associate professionals, and clerks, the protective effect of occupation was statistically significant and remained unchanged after adjustment for age, calendar period, registry, nationality, and histological type. After adjusting for tumor stage, the HRs increased only slightly, though turned non-significant. The same effect was observed in top management and independent professions and supervisors, low level management and skilled laborers, compared to unskilled employees.

Conclusion

These results suggest that work-related factors may affect BCS. Yet, this study was conducted using a limited set of covariates and a relatively small study sample. Therefore, further larger studies are needed for more detailed analyses of at risk occupations and working conditions and assessing the potential interaction between work-related variables and tumor stage.
Issues of ubiquitous music archaeology: Shared knowledge, simulation, terseness, and ambiguity in early computer music
Authors: Lazzarini Victor , Keller Damián , Radivojević Nemanja
Published: April 2023

The reconstruction of tools and artworks belonging to the origins of music computing unveils the dynamics of distributed knowledge underlying some of the major breakthroughs that took place during the analogue-digital transition of the 1950s and 1960s. We document the implementation of two musical replicas, the Computer Suite for Little Boy and For Ann (Rising). Our archaeological ubiquitous-music methods yield fresh insights on both convergences and contradictions implicit in the creation of cutting-edge technologies, pointing to design qualities such as terseness and ambiguity. Through new renditions of historically significant artefacts, enabled by the recovery of artistic first-hand sources and of one of the early computer music environments, MUSIC V, we explore the emergence of exploratory simulations of new musical worlds.
Breastfeeding experiences and women's self-concept: Negotiations and dilemmas in the transition to motherhood
Authors: Augusto Amélia , Neves Dulce Morgado , Henriques Vera
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Breastfeeding is much more than a biological event. It is a social construction, full of cultural meanings and framed by social structures. Being, simultaneously, a natural event and a social practice, breastfeeding poses challenges to feminist approaches in the sense it may be acknowledged as an empowering practice for women and/or as a setback in the process of women's social emancipation. Often focused on the product, i.e., the milk and its beneficial properties for the infant's health, the dominant discourse on breastfeeding makes it a trait of good mothering, withdrawing the understanding of the particular (but also structural) contexts in which this practice occurs.

Methods

Based on results from a focus group with five mothers of a first child, this paper addresses first-person testimonies about breastfeeding and transition to motherhood, aiming to capture eventual self-concept dilemmas, impacts of social judgments, difficulties related to the work-family balance, as well as negotiation processes taking place within couples and early-parents.

Results and discussion

Despite being subject to tensions and sometimes stressful adaptation processes, motherhood and breastfeeding tend to be ultimately described by women as experiences that enhance welcome changes in personal trajectories, life priorities and identities.
Ki67 and the apparent diffusion coefficient in postoperative prostate cancer with endocrine therapy
Authors: He Jun , Che Bangwei , Li Po , Li Wei , Huang Tao , Chen Peng , Liu Miao , Li Guangyu , Zhong Siwen , Tang Kaifa
Published: April 2023

Background

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a critical part of prostate cancer (PCa) screening, diagnosis, staging, and prognosis. However, elevated PSA levels can also be caused by several external factors. To improve the specificity and sensitivity of PSA in clinical practice, we explored whether markers or parameters may be used as prognostic targets for PCa by long-term follow-up.

Methods

A total of 121 PCa patients who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) were included in our study, all of whom underwent imaging and preoperative pathological diagnosis. Endocrine therapy has long been applied to treat postoperative patients. The prognosis of enrolled patients was followed, and statistics were collected. Spearman's correlation analysis was applied to examine the relationship and clinical parameters. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to process the clinical variables of PCa patients. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was applied to examine univariate and multivariate variables.

Results

The Gleason score (GS), PSA, clinical stage, nerve infiltration, organ confinement, Ki67 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were significantly associated with prognosis (all P < 0.05). The GS, PSA, clinical stage, organ confined, Ki67, nerve infiltration and ADC were included in the multivariate analysis (all P < 0.05). Ultimately, Ki67 and the ADC were found to provide meaningful predictive information (both P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Ki67 and the ADC may be clinically and analytically valid prognostic biomarkers and imaging parameters in PCa. They may be useful for predicting the prognosis and risk of PCa patients undergoing postoperative routine endocrine therapy.
An approach to learn regulation to maximize growth and entropy production rates in metabolism
Authors: King Ethan , Holzer Jesse , North Justin A. , Cannon William R.
Published: April 2023

Elucidating cell regulation remains a challenging task due to the complexity of metabolism and the difficulty of experimental measurements. Here we present a method for prediction of cell regulation to maximize cell growth rate while maintaining the solvent capacity of the cell. Prediction is formulated as an optimization problem using a thermodynamic framework that can leverage experimental data. We develop a formulation and variable initialization procedure that allows for computing solutions of the optimization with an interior point method. The approach is applied to photoheterotrophic growth of Rhodospirilium rubrum using ethanol as a carbon source, which has applications to biosynthesis of ethylene production. Growth is captured as the rate of synthesis of amino acids into proteins, and synthesis of nucleotide triphoshaptes into RNA and DNA. The method predicts regulation that produces a high rate of protein and RNA synthesis while DNA synthesis is reduced close to zero in agreement with production of DNA being turned off for much of the cell cycle.