bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feeding flaxseed to chicken hens changes the size and fatty acid composition of their chicks’ brains
Authors: Whittle Rosemary H. , Kiarie Elijah G. , Ma David W. L. , Widowski Tina M.
Published: June 2024

Diets fed to commercial chicken breeders are high in n-6 fatty acids (n-6 FAs) and low in n-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs). N-3 FAs are essential for embryonic brain development. In precocial birds, like chickens, brain development and brain n-3 FA accrual occur primarily before hatching. In two experiments, broiler and layer breeders were fed diets with or without flaxseed as the source of n-3 FAs from plant-based alpha-linolenic acid. Day-old broiler (n = 80) and layer (n = 96) offspring were dissected to calculate the percentage brain-to-body weight. Brain FA analyses from total lipid extracts were determined in the broiler (n = 24) and layer (n = 24) offspring brains, and the percentage FA composition and concentration (µg FAs per g brain) were calculated for each n-3 and n-6 FA. The brain size was only increased in broiler offspring from mothers fed flaxseed (χ2 = 9.22, p = 0.002). In layer offspring only, the maternal flaxseed diet increased the brain concentration and percentage of n-3 FAs and decreased n-6 FAs (p < 0.05). We showed that feeding flaxseed to mothers increased the brain size in broiler offspring and altered brain FA composition in layer offspring. These results may have implications for poultry and other captive bird species fed diets low in n-3 FAs.
Comparison of smoking traditional, heat not burn and electronic cigarettes on salivary cytokine, chemokine and growth factor profile in healthy young adults–pilot study
Authors: Zięba Sara , Maciejczyk Mateusz , Antonowicz Bożena , Porydzaj Aleksandra , Szuta Mariusz , Lo Giudice Giuseppe , Lo Giudice Roberto , Krokosz Stanisław , Zalewska Anna
Published: June 2024

Objective: Smoking is the cause of numerous oral pathologies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of smoking traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heat-not-burn products on the content of salivary cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in healthy young adults.

Design: Three groups of twenty-five smokers each as well as a control group matched in terms of age, gender, and oral status were enrolled in the study. In unstimulated saliva collected from study groups and participants from the control group, the concentrations of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were assessed by Bio-Plex® Multiplex System.

Results: We demonstrated that smoking traditional cigarettes is responsible for increasing the level of IFN-γ compared to non-smokers and new smoking devices users in unstimulated saliva in the initial period of addiction. Furthermore, e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products appear to have a similar mechanism of affecting the immune response system of unstimulated saliva, leading to inhibition of the local inflammatory response in the oral cavity.

Conclusion: Smoking traditional cigarettes as well as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products is responsible for changes of the local immune response in saliva. Further research is necessary to fill the gap in knowledge on the effect of new smoking devices on the oral cavity immune system.
GranoScan: an AI-powered mobile app for in-field identification of biotic threats of wheat
Authors: Dainelli Riccardo , Bruno Antonio , Martinelli Massimo , Moroni Davide , Rocchi Leandro , Morelli Silvia , Ferrari Emilio , Silvestri Marco , Agostinelli Simone , La Cava Paolo , Toscano Piero
Published: June 2024

Capitalizing on the widespread adoption of smartphones among farmers and the application of artificial intelligence in computer vision, a variety of mobile applications have recently emerged in the agricultural domain. This paper introduces GranoScan, a freely available mobile app accessible on major online platforms, specifically designed for the real-time detection and identification of over 80 threats affecting wheat in the Mediterranean region. Developed through a co-design methodology involving direct collaboration with Italian farmers, this participatory approach resulted in an app featuring: (i) a graphical interface optimized for diverse in-field lighting conditions, (ii) a user-friendly interface allowing swift selection from a predefined menu, (iii) operability even in low or no connectivity, (iv) a straightforward operational guide, and (v) the ability to specify an area of interest in the photo for targeted threat identification. Underpinning GranoScan is a deep learning architecture named efficient minimal adaptive ensembling that was used to obtain accurate and robust artificial intelligence models. The method is based on an ensembling strategy that uses as core models two instances of the EfficientNet-b0 architecture, selected through the weighted F1-score. In this phase a very good precision is reached with peaks of 100% for pests, as well as in leaf damage and root disease tasks, and in some classes of spike and stem disease tasks. For weeds in the post-germination phase, the precision values range between 80% and 100%, while 100% is reached in all the classes for pre-flowering weeds, except one. Regarding recognition accuracy towards end-users in-field photos, GranoScan achieved good performances, with a mean accuracy of 77% and 95% for leaf diseases and for spike, stem and root diseases, respectively. Pests gained an accuracy of up to 94%, while for weeds the app shows a great ability (100% accuracy) in recognizing whether the target weed is a dicot or monocot and 60% accuracy for distinguishing species in both the post-germination and pre-flowering stage. Our precision and accuracy results conform to or outperform those of other studies deploying artificial intelligence models on mobile devices, confirming that GranoScan is a valuable tool also in challenging outdoor conditions.
BrMYB116 transcription factor enhances Cd stress tolerance by activating FIT3 in yeast and Chinese cabbage
Authors: Anwar Ali , Yuan Chao , Cui Bing , Wang Lixia , He Lilong , Gao Jianwei
Published: June 2024

Cd (cadmium) is a highly toxic heavy metal pollutant often present in soil and detrimentally impacting the production and quality of horticultural crops. Cd affects various physiological and biochemical processes in plants, including chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis, mineral uptake and accumulation, and hormonal imbalance, leading to cell death. The MYB family of transcription factors plays a significant role in plant response to environmental influences. However, the role of MYB116 in abiotic stress tolerance remains unclear. In this study, we reported that Chinese cabbage transcription factor BrMYB116 enhanced Cd stress tolerance in yeast. The expression level of BrMYB116 was increased by Cd stress in Chinese cabbage. Additionally, yeast cells overexpressing BrMYB116 showed improved Cd stress tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation. Moreover, we found that BrMYB116 interacted with facilitator of iron transport (FIT3) to enhance Cd stress tolerance. ChIP-qPCR results showed that ScFIT3 was activated through specific binding to its promoter. Additionally, the overexpression of ScFIT3 induced Cd stress tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation in yeast and Chinese cabbage. These results suggest new avenues for plant genomic modification to mitigate Cd toxicity and enhance the safety of vegetable production.
Multiple transcription factors involved in the response of Chinese cabbage against Plasmodiophora brassicae
Authors: Meng Sida , Yan Xinyu , Piao Yinglan , Li Shizhen , Wang Xin , Jiang Jing , Liang Yue , Pang Wenxing
Published: June 2024

Clubroot disease, which is caused by the obligate biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora brassicae, leads to the formation of galls, commonly known as pathogen-induced tumors, on the roots of infected plants. The identification of crucial regulators of host tumor formation is essential to unravel the mechanisms underlying the proliferation and differentiation of P. brassicae within plant cells. To gain insight into this process, transcriptomic analysis was conducted to identify key genes associated with both primary and secondary infection of P. brassicae in Chinese cabbage. Our results demonstrate that the k-means clustering of subclass 1, which exhibited specific trends, was closely linked to the infection process of P. brassicae. Of the 1610 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) annotated in subclass 1, 782 were identified as transcription factors belonging to 49 transcription factor families, including bHLH, B3, NAC, MYB_related, WRKY, bZIP, C2H2, and ERF. In the primary infection, several genes, including the predicted Brassica rapa probable pectate lyase, RPM1-interacting protein 4-like, L-type lectin-domain-containing receptor kinase, G-type lectin S-receptor-like serine, B. rapa photosystem II 22 kDa protein, and MLP-like protein, showed significant upregulation. In the secondary infection stage, 45 of 50 overlapping DEGs were upregulated. These upregulated DEGs included the predicted B. rapa endoglucanase, long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase, WRKY transcription factor, NAC domain-containing protein, cell division control protein, auxin-induced protein, and protein variation in compound-triggered root growth response-like and xyloglucan glycosyltransferases. In both the primary and secondary infection stages, the DEGs were predicted to be Brassica rapa putative disease resistance proteins, L-type lectin domain-containing receptor kinases, ferredoxin-NADP reductases, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthases, histone deacetylases, UDP-glycosyltransferases, putative glycerol-3-phosphate transporters, and chlorophyll a-binding proteins, which are closely associated with plant defense responses, biosynthetic processes, carbohydrate transport, and photosynthesis. This study revealed the pivotal role of transcription factors in the initiation of infection and establishment of intracellular parasitic relationships during the primary infection stage, as well as the proliferation and differentiation of the pathogen within the host cell during the secondary infection stage.
Uncovering the effect of waterlogging stress on plant microbiome and disease development: current knowledge and future perspectives
Authors: Tyagi Anshika , Ali Sajad , Mir Rakeeb Ahmad , Sharma Sandhya , Arpita Kumari , Almalki Mohammed A. , Mir Zahoor Ahmad
Published: June 2024

Waterlogging is a constant threat to crop productivity and ecological biodiversity. Plants face multiple challenges during waterlogging stress like metabolic reprogramming, hypoxia, nutritional depletion, reduction in gaseous exchange, pH modifications, microbiome alterations and disease promotion all of which threaten plants survival. Due to global warming and climatic change, the occurrence, frequency and severity of flooding has dramatically increased posing a severe threat to food security. Thus, developing innovative crop management technologies is critical for ensuring food security under changing climatic conditions. At present, the top priority among scientists is to find nature-based solutions to tackle abiotic or biotic stressors in sustainable agriculture in order to reduce climate change hazards to the environment. In this regard, utilizing plant beneficial microbiome is one of the viable nature based remedial tool for mitigating abiotic stressors like waterlogging. Beneficial microbiota provides plants multifaceted benefits which improves their growth and stress resilience. Plants recruit unique microbial communities to shield themselves against the deleterious effects of biotic and abiotic stress. In comparison to other stressors, there has been limited studies on how waterlogging stress affects plant microbiome structure and their functional traits. Therefore, it is important to understand and explore how waterlogging alters plant microbiome structure and its implications on plant survival. Here, we discussed the effect of waterlogging stress in plants and its microbiome. We also highlighted how waterlogging stress promotes pathogen occurrence and disease development in plants. Finally, we highlight the knowledge gaps and areas for future research directions on unwiring how waterlogging affects plant microbiome and its functional traits. This will pave the way for identifying resilient microbiota that can be engineered to promote their positive interactions with plants during waterlogging stress.
Characterization of the far-red light absorbing light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding complex, a derivative of the distinctive Lhca gene family in green algae
Authors: Kosugi Makiko , Ohtani Shuji , Hara Kojiro , Toyoda Atsushi , Nishide Hiroyo , Ozawa Shin-Ichiro , Takahashi Yuichiro , Kashino Yasuhiro , Kudoh Sakae , Koike Hiroyuki , Minagawa Jun
Published: June 2024

Prasiola crispa, an aerial green alga, exhibits remarkable adaptability to the extreme conditions of Antarctica by forming layered colonies capable of utilizing far-red light for photosynthesis. Despite a recent report on the structure of P. crispa’s unique light-harvesting chlorophyll (Chl)-binding protein complex (Pc-frLHC), which facilitates far-red light absorption and uphill excitation energy transfer to photosystem II, the specific genes encoding the subunits of Pc-frLHC have not yet been identified. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of P. crispa strain 4113, originally isolated from soil samples on Ongul Island, Antarctica. We obtained a 92 Mbp sequence distributed in 1,045 scaffolds comprising 10,244 genes, reflecting 87.1% of the core eukaryotic gene set. Notably, 26 genes associated with the light-harvesting Chl a/b binding complex (LHC) were identified, including four Pc-frLHC genes, with similarity to a noncanonical Lhca gene with four transmembrane helices, such as Ot_Lhca6 in Ostreococcus tauri and Cr_LHCA2 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. A comparative analysis revealed that Pc-frLHC shares homology with certain Lhca genes found in Coccomyxa and Trebouxia species. This similarity indicates that Pc-frLHC has evolved from an ancestral Lhca gene with four transmembrane helices and branched out within the Trebouxiaceae family. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis conducted during the initiation of Pc-frLHC gene induction under red light illumination indicated that Pc-frLHC genes were induced independently from other genes associated with photosystems or LHCs. Instead, the genes of transcription factors, helicases, chaperones, heat shock proteins, and components of blue light receptors were identified to coexpress with Pc-frLHC. Those kinds of information could provide insights into the expression mechanisms of Pc-frLHC and its evolutional development.
Transcriptome and anatomical analysis of Stipa breviflora in response to different grazing intensities in desert steppe
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Wu Jierui , Dai Rui , Zhang Zhiqiang , Wang Yunbo , Mi Fugui
Published: June 2024

Stipa breviflora is a dominant species in the desert steppe of Northern China. Grazing is the main land use pattern of grassland, which could cause a variety of adaptive evolutionary mechanisms in plant community composition as well as individual plant growth and morphological characteristics. However, very little is known about the morphological structure and transcriptional regulation response to different grazing intensities in S. breviflora. In this study, transcriptome and anatomical analyses of S. breviflora under different grazing intensities, including no grazing, moderate grazing, and heavy grazing, were performed. The anatomical analysis results showed that epidermis cells and xylems significantly thicken with grazing intensity, suggesting that grazing results in increasing lignification. Furthermore, the components of cell walls such as lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin were all increased dramatically and significantly under both moderate and heavy grazing. Transcriptome analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes related to different grazing intensities were also engaged in plant cell wall formation and in photosynthesis and respiration. In addition, the activities of ATP synthase and Rubisco-activating enzyme increased significantly with enhanced grazing intensity and differed significantly between moderate and heavy grazing intensities. The trends in transcriptome and plant phenotype changes are consistent. Taken together, these results indicated that S. breviflora has evolved a grazing tolerance strategy under long-term grazing conditions, influencing photosynthesis and respiration in terms of its own structure and enzyme activities in the body, to maintain normal life activities under different grazing conditions.
Automatic detection of ALS from single-trial MEG signals during speech tasks: a pilot study
Authors: Dash Debadatta , Teplansky Kristin , Ferrari Paul , Babajani-Feremi Abbas , Calley Clifford S. , Heitzman Daragh , Austin Sara G. , Wang Jun
Published: June 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an idiopathic, fatal, and fast-progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. ALS patients often experience an initial misdiagnosis or a diagnostic delay due to the current unavailability of an efficient biomarker. Since impaired speech is typical in ALS, we hypothesized that functional differences between healthy and ALS participants during speech tasks can be explained by cortical pattern changes, thereby leading to the identification of a neural biomarker for ALS. In this pilot study, we collected magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings from three early-diagnosed patients with ALS and three healthy controls during imagined (covert) and overt speech tasks. First, we computed sensor correlations, which showed greater correlations for speakers with ALS than healthy controls. Second, we compared the power of the MEG signals in canonical bands between the two groups, which showed greater dissimilarity in the beta band for ALS participants. Third, we assessed differences in functional connectivity, which showed greater beta band connectivity for ALS than healthy controls. Finally, we performed single-trial classification, which resulted in highest performance with beta band features (∼ 98%). These findings were consistent across trials, phrases, and participants for both imagined and overt speech tasks. Our preliminary results indicate that speech-evoked beta oscillations could be a potential neural biomarker for diagnosing ALS. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the detection of ALS from single-trial neural signals.
Promoting collective precycling behavior: results from a group intervention with Berlin households in Germany
Authors: Wenzel Klara
Published: June 2024

To tackle the global waste crisis, there is an urgent need for decisive and joint action at multiple levels. The collective behavior of a community could make a significant contribution. This paper presents the results of a field experiment designed to promote packaging waste prevention – called precycling – in a newly formed community setting, in Berlin, Germany. The aim was to examine the effect of the intervention on precycling and to examine the underlying social identity processes. Over a four-week period, 132 participants from 96 different households digitally received a combination of different interventions, that were theoretically informed by the Social Identity Model of Pro-Environmental Action (SIMPEA). Households were assigned to two intervention groups and a waiting control group. Data was collected before, immediately after and four months after the intervention to assess the impact of the intervention using multilevel models. After the intervention, the overall precycling behavior increased significantly, but not as a result of the different group conditions. In the more comprehensive intervention group, which included social interaction and behavioral experimentation, the community identification was strengthened and the reuse behavior, as a subset of precycling, increased. While a number of social identity processes (collective efficacy beliefs, having a precycling action goal, crisis appraisal, and sufficiency attitudes) were found to positively predict the precycling behavior, surprisingly, the predictive power of social norms and ingroup identification could not be confirmed. Overall, the presented community intervention promoted precycling. However, in this dynamic real-world setting, not all intervention elements worked as expected. The pitfalls and opportunities of this intervention are discussed, and ideas for translating the results into everyday precycling activities are presented.
Can sports participation be a protective factor against suicide-related outcomes in adolescents: a systematic review
Authors: Huo Meilin , Yang Zhen , Yang Li , Chen Sitong
Published: June 2024

Background

Suicide-related outcomes among adolescents have become a serious public health problem worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that sports participation may interact with suicide-related outcomes. The objective of this systematic review is to systematically review and summarize the association between sports participation and suicide-related outcomes among adolescents.

Design

A systematic review according to PRISMA Statement (International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols registration: INPLASY202330072) https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-3-0072/.

Methods

The literature search was conducted in three electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCOhost.

Results

A total of 16 studies (12 cross-sectional studies, 4 prospective studies) met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. Strong consistent evidence was found for the negative association between suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and sports participation among adolescents. There was insufficient evidence to support consistency in the association between sports participation and suicide plans, and no evidence regarding gender differences between sports participation and these suicide-related outcomes. Furthermore, there was heterogeneity in the measures of sports participation and suicide-related outcomes across the included studies.

Conclusion

Evidence suggests that more sports participations are associated with lower suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adolescents. However, the directionality of the observed associations should be examined based on more high-quality longitudinal studies in the future.
The N270 as an index of consumer commodity color preference in the S1–S2 paradigm
Authors: Shu Deming , Liu Dianzhi , Zhang Gong-Liang
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Affective decision-making is a prominent topic in consumer psychology research, with its core assumption being that consumers tend to purchase brands and commodities they like. However, the reasons behind why we develop emotional responses of liking or disliking toward certain commodities, as well as what the underlying neural mechanisms are, remain largely unknown.

Methods

This study utilized the S1–S2 paradigm in an experiment wherein S1 presented 12 types of commodities and S2 displayed 48 distinct colored squares. Participants were instructed to assess whether they “Like” or “Dislike” the commodity in S1, which was colored with the S2 color. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were obtained during the reaction process and subsequently analyzed to examine the components of S2-induced event-related potentials (ERPs).

Results

The analysis revealed that S2 elicited a significant N270 in the prefrontal scalp area under both the “Like” and “Dislike” conditions. Interestingly, the amplitude of the N270 was significantly higher during the “Dislike” condition compared to the “Like” condition.

Discussion

The N270 component was shown to reflect the conflict in physical attributes between S1 and S2, as well as the conflict between commodity and color. This highlights the potential utility of this component as an objective EEG indicator of consumer commodity color preferences in future marketing research.
Exploring quantitative indices to characterize piano timbre with precision validated using measurement system analysis
Authors: Zhuang Yuan , Yang Shuo
Published: June 2024

Aim

Timbre in piano performance plays a critical role in enhancing musical expression. However, timbre control in current piano performance education relies mostly on descriptive characterization, which involves large variations of interpretation. The current study aimed to mitigate the limitations by identifying quantitative indices with adequate precision to characterize piano timbre.

Methods

A total of 24 sounds of G6 were recorded from 3 grand pianos, by 2 performers, and with 4 repetitions. The sounds were processed and analyzed with audio software for the frequencies and volumes of harmonic series in the spectrum curves. Ten quantitative timbre indices were calculated. Precision validation with statistical gage R&R analysis was conducted to gage the repeatability (between repetitions) and reproducibility (between performers) of the indices. The resultant percentage study variation (%SV) of an index must be ≤10% to be considered acceptable for characterizing piano timbre with enough precision.

Results

Out of the 10 indices, 4 indices had acceptable precision in characterizing piano timbre with %SV ≤10%, including the square sum of relative volume (4.40%), the frequency-weighted arithmetic mean of relative volume (4.29%), the sum of relative volume (3.11%), and the frequency-weighted sum of relative volume (2.09%). The novel indices identified in the current research will provide valuable tools to advance the measurement and communication of timbre and advance music performance education.
From individual resilience to collective response: reframing ecological emotions as catalysts for holistic environmental engagement
Authors: Qiu Shicun , Qiu Jiacun
Published: June 2024

The ongoing international study on the mental health implications of climate change has prompted a deeper exploration of ecological emotions such as eco-anxiety, eco-worry and eco-grief, which are associated with environmental degradation and the escalating climate crisis. Although psychological and mental health literature has mainly presented preliminary conceptual analyses, the understanding of ecological emotions remains unclear. This narrative review aims to clarify the definition, highlight precipitating factors, and outline the effects of ecological emotions on mental health, emphasizing the need for thorough research to shift the nonclinical intervention approach from merely promoting individual resilience to encouraging collective engagement. Our analysis of the literature reveals that the existing theoretical framework, which predominantly focuses on bolstering individual resilience, provides only temporary relief for acute symptoms without addressing the foundational social and environmental factors that trigger these ecological emotions. We conclude that it is crucial to overcome the limitations of Western anthropocentrism’s human-to-human interaction approach and embrace the unity of humans and nature to effectively manage the increasing ecological emotions. This perspective draws insights from the holistic and collective wisdom of indigenous cultures and traditional Chinese philosophy, offering a potential pathway toward maintaining a sustainable emotional balance amid the worsening global ecological turmoil.
Iconic logic: the visual art of drawing the right conclusion
Authors: Kramer Peter
Published: June 2024

Most people, evidence suggests, have a hard time thinking straight. Symbolic logic is a tool that can help remedy this problem. Unfortunately, it is highly abstract and uses symbols whose meanings rely on unintuitive arbitrary conventions. Without sacrificing rigor, iconic logic is more concrete and uses icons that resemble what they stand for and whose meanings are thus easier to picture, process, and remember. Here I review and critique iconic existential graphs and concept diagrams—the former link iconic logic to iconic mathematics; the latter expand popular Euler or Venn diagrams and have, to some degree, been empirically investigated for user-friendliness. I lay out how expertise in perception, cognition, and genetics can inform and improve such empirical research to help make iconic logic more ergonomic. After all, logic is a tool, and tools should not only suit their use but also their user.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: the role of the amygdala and potential therapeutic interventions – a review
Authors: Davis Lori L. , Hamner Mark B.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder triggered by exposure to a life-threatening or sexually violent traumatic event, and is characterized by symptoms involving intrusive re-experiencing, persistent avoidance of associated stimuli, emotional and cognitive disturbances, and hyperarousal for long periods after the trauma has occurred. These debilitating symptoms induce occupational and social impairments that contribute to a significant clinical burden for PTSD patients, and substantial socioeconomic costs, reaching approximately $20,000 dollars per individual with PTSD each year in the US. Despite increased translational research focus in the field of PTSD, the development of novel, effective pharmacotherapies for its treatment remains an important unmet clinical need.

Observations

In this review, we summarize the evidence implicating dysfunctional activity of the amygdala in the pathophysiology of PTSD. We identify the transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) ion channels as promising drug targets given their distribution in the amygdala, and evidence from animal studies demonstrating their role in fear response modulation. We discuss the evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatment approaches for PTSD.

Discussion

In view of the prevalence and economic burden associated with PTSD, further investigation is warranted into novel treatment approaches based on our knowledge of the involvement of brain circuitry and the role of the amygdala in PTSD, as well as the potential added value of combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy to better manage PTSD symptoms.
Examining putamen resting-state connectivity markers of suicide attempt history in depressed adolescents
Authors: Tymofiyeva Olga , Ho Tiffany C. , Connolly Colm G. , Gorrell Sasha , Rampersaud Ryan , Darrow Sabrina M. , Max Jeffrey E. , Yang Tony T.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Suicide is a current leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults. The neurobiological underpinnings of suicide risk in youth, however, remain unclear and a brain-based model is lacking. In adult samples, current models highlight deficient serotonin release as a potential suicide biomarker, and in particular, involvement of serotonergic dysfunction in relation to the putamen and suicidal behavior. Less is known about associations among striatal regions and relative suicidal risk across development. The current study examined putamen connectivity in depressed adolescents with (AT) and without history of a suicide attempt (NAT), specifically using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate patterns in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC). We hypothesized the AT group would exhibit lower striatal RSFC compared to the NAT group, and lower striatal RSFC would associate with greater suicidal ideation severity and/or lethality of attempt.

Methods

We examined whole-brain RSFC of six putamen regions in 17 adolescents with depression and NAT (MAge [SD] = 16.4[0.3], 41% male) and 13 with AT (MAge [SD] = 16.2[0.3], 31% male).

Results

Only the dorsal rostral striatum showed a statistically significant bilateral between-group difference in RSFC with the superior frontal gyrus and supplementary motor area, with higher RSFC in the group without a suicide attempt compared to those with attempt history (voxel-wise p<.001, cluster-wise p<.01). No significant associations were found between any putamen RSFC patterns and suicidal ideation severity or lethality of attempts among those who had attempted.

Discussion

The results align with recent adult literature and have interesting theoretical and clinical implications. A possible interpretation of the results is a mismatch of the serotonin transport to putamen and to the supplementary motor area and the resulting reduced functional connectivity between the two areas in adolescents with attempt history. The obtained results can be used to enhance the diathesis-stress model and the Emotional paiN and social Disconnect (END) model of adolescent suicidality by adding the putamen. We also speculate that connectivity between putamen and the supplementary motor area may in the future be used as a valuable biomarker of treatment efficacy and possibly prediction of treatment outcome.
Assessment of psychiatrists’ preparedness in managing disaster-related psychiatric disorders: a survey in Taiwan from post-graduate medical education perspective
Authors: Lin Po-Chun , Chou Yu-Ching , Kao Lien-Cheng , Wan Fang-Jung , Tzeng Nian-Sheng
Published: June 2024

Background

Disaster-related psychiatric disorders (DRPD) present a significant challenge to mental health professionals, yet there is a notable lack of emphasis on the preparedness of psychiatrists in managing these conditions within post-graduate medical education.

Methods

This study utilized a questionnaire to collect data from psychiatrists, focusing on their prior involvement in managing DRPD, perceived competence, medication preferences, and factors influencing their experiences in handling such disorders. Analysis included distribution and ranking of variables, alongside cross-analysis examining associations between demographic factors (age, gender, hospital levels, years of practice, board certification) and treatment experiences, as well as readiness for in-hospital or outside-hospital mobilization in DRPD management.

Results

One hundred and three Taiwanese psychiatrists participated in the study, with the majority reporting involvement in managing DRPD (71.8%), particularly in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Antidepressants, specifically serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors, were commonly preferred for DRPD treatment, including PTSD and depression. Psychiatrists aged over 40, with more than 10 years of practice, and hold the board-certified status, showed greater experiences for outside- or inside- the hospital mobilization in DRPD management.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that within post-graduate medical education, Taiwanese psychiatrists demonstrate significant experience, willingness, and capacity to effectively manage DRPD. However, there is a need to integrate comprehensive training on disaster psychiatry into post-graduate psychiatric education programs to further enhance preparedness and optimize outcomes in managing these challenging conditions.
Leveraging ChatGPT to optimize depression intervention through explainable deep learning
Authors: Liu Yang , Ding Xingchen , Peng Shun , Zhang Chengzhi
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Mental health issues bring a heavy burden to individuals and societies around the world. Recently, the large language model ChatGPT has demonstrated potential in depression intervention. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the viability of ChatGPT as a tool for aiding counselors in their interactions with patients while concurrently evaluating its comparability to human-generated content (HGC).

Methods

We propose a novel framework that integrates state-of-the-art AI technologies, including ChatGPT, BERT, and SHAP, to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of mental health interventions. ChatGPT generates responses to user inquiries, which are then classified using BERT to ensure the reliability of the content. SHAP is subsequently employed to provide insights into the underlying semantic constructs of the AI-generated recommendations, enhancing the interpretability of the intervention.

Results

Remarkably, our proposed methodology consistently achieved an impressive accuracy rate of 93.76%. We discerned that ChatGPT always employs a polite and considerate tone in its responses. It refrains from using intricate or unconventional vocabulary and maintains an impersonal demeanor. These findings underscore the potential significance of AIGC as an invaluable complementary component in enhancing conventional intervention strategies.

Discussion

This study illuminates the considerable promise offered by the utilization of large language models in the realm of healthcare. It represents a pivotal step toward advancing the development of sophisticated healthcare systems capable of augmenting patient care and counseling practices.
Lifestyle trajectories in middle-aged adults and their relationship with health indicators
Authors: Roca-Ventura Alba , Solana-Sánchez Javier , Cattaneo Gabriele , Tormos-Muñoz Josep M. , Pascual-Leone Álvaro , Bartrés-Faz David
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Understanding the impact of different lifestyle trajectories on health preservation and disease risk is crucial for effective interventions.

Methods

This study analyzed lifestyle engagement over five years in 3,013 healthy adults aged 40-70 from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative using K-means clustering. Nine modifiable risk factors were considered, including cognitive, physical, and social activity, vital plan, diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep. Self-reported diagnoses of new diseases at different time-points after baseline allowed to explore the association between these five profiles and health outcomes.

Results

The data-driven analysis classified subjects into five lifestyle profiles, revealing associations with health behaviors and risk factors. Those exhibiting high scores in health-promoting behaviors and low-risk behaviors, demonstrate a reduced likelihood of developing diseases (p < 0.001). In contrast, profiles with risky habits showed distinct risks for psychiatric, neurological, and cardiovascular diseases. Participant’s lifestyle trajectories remained relatively stable over time.

Discussion

Our findings have identified risk for distinct diseases associated to specific lifestyle patterns. These results could help in the personalization of interventions based on data-driven observation of behavioral patterns and policies that promote a healthy lifestyle and can lead to better health outcomes for people in an aging society.
Impact of an improved outdoor space on people with dementia in a hospital unit
Authors: Ng Lorraine , Dyer Suzanne M. , Dawson Suzanne , Laver Kate
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Gardens and outdoor spaces are an important part of institutional environments for people with dementia. However, evidence regarding the benefits these spaces have for people with dementia is still limited. This paper presents the evaluation of the redevelopment of an inaccessible outdoor space into a therapeutic garden on a high dependency psychogeriatric unit in an acute hospital.

Method

A Mixed methods evaluation was undertaken. An interrupted time series analysis investigated the impact of the garden on falls and challenging behaviours of patients using routinely collected data. Perspectives of the redeveloped garden were captured through (a) a staff survey and (b) semi-structured interviews with families of patients.

Results

Rates of falls and challenging behaviours dropped at the time of the garden opening but showed increasing rates each month both before and after the garden opened. Most staff believed that the garden provided benefits for patients however limited staff time and concerns over patient safety were barriers to use. Families identified four main themes related to garden use including: (1) being outside (2) occupation and identity, (3) being stimulating, and (4) barriers and facilitators.

Conclusion

The garden was regarded positively by families and staff however, there were barriers that prevented it from being better utilised. Staff concerns over risk were not reflected in falls and challenging behaviour outcomes. Further research into how barriers to garden use may be overcome is justified.
Histological pattern of tumor inflammation and stromal density correlate with patient demographics and immuno-oncologic transcriptional profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Theofilou Vasileios Ionas , Ghita Ioana , Elnaggar Manar , Chaisuparat Risa , Papadimitriou John C. , Bentzen Soren M. , Dyalram Donita , Lubek Joshua E. , Ord Robert A. , Younis Rania H.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent oral malignancy, with emerging interest in the characterization of its tumor microenvironment. Herein, we present a comprehensive histological analysis of OSCC stromal density and inflammation and their relationship with patient demographics, clinicopathologic features and immuno-oncologic signatures.

Materials-methods

Eighty-seven completely excised OSCC tissues were prospectively collected and scored for histopathologic inflammatory subtypes [HIS]—inflamed (INF), immune-excluded (IE) and immune-desert (ID), peritumoral stromal inflammation (PTSI), and peritumoral stromal fibrosis (PTSF). Scoring of inflammation was complemented by Semaphorin 4D immunohistochemistry. NanoString differential gene expression (DGE) analysis was conducted for eight OSCC cases representative of the inflammatory and stromal subtypes and the demographic groups.

Results

PTSF correlated with male gender (p = 0.0043), smoking (p = 0.0455), alcohol consumption (p = 0.0044), increased tumor size (p = 0.0054), and advanced stage (p = 0.002). On the contrary, PTSI occurred predominantly in females (p = 0.0105), non-drinkers (p = 0.0329), and small tumors (p = 0.0044). Transcriptionally, decreased cytokine signaling, and oncogenic pathway activation were observed in HIS-IE. Smokers and males displayed decreased global immune-cell levels and myeloid-cell predominance.

Conclusion

Our work describes OSCC stromal and inflammatory phenotypes in correlation with distinct patient groups and DGE, highlighting the translational potential of characterizing the tumor microenvironment for optimal patient stratification.
Exploring the impact of sleep on emotional and physical well-being in professional cricketers: a cohort study over an in-season training period
Authors: Grewal S. , Theijse R. T. , Dunlop G. , van Deurzen D. F. P. , van den Bekerom M. P. J. , Klautz R. J. M. , Lefebvre R. P. , Munsami D. , Grewal N.
Published: June 2024

Background

Professional athletes navigate a multitude of unique challenges associated to sport-specific factors (e.g., training, travel and competition) and non-sport factors (e.g., performance pressure, stress and anxiety) that can interfere with healthy sleep behaviors. Sleep plays a key role in proper biopsychosocial development as well as short- and long-term biological, physical, psychological, and cognitive health. As poor sleep quality is known to impair proper brain function, this study aimed to investigate the effect of sleep quality on a professional athlete's ability to train, recover, and perform, as well as their overall emotional and physical well-being.

Methods

A cohort study was performed in 40 professional male cricket athletes from the Dutch national cricket team (mean age 26.5 ± 5.1 years). The athletes were monitored across a 22 weeks in-season training period. Sleep quality and overall emotional and physical well-being were assessed using daily sleep diaries and questionnaires which scored the readiness to train, stress levels, fatigue, muscle soreness and flu symptoms respectively. Quality of sleep and subsequent association with the consecutive elements of the well-being questionnaire were assessed through statistical using the student t-test and clinical differences with the methodology of Osoba and colleagues: <5% “no change”, 5%–10% “little change”; 10%–20% “moderate change”; and >20% “very much change”.

Results

The results demonstrated that the professional athletes assessed their sleep quality as average with a mean score of 3.4 out of 5. Lower perceived quality of sleep (<75th percentile) was correlated with a decreased readiness to train (mean score 3.2 [IQR: 3.0–4.0] vs. 3.5 [IQR: 3.0–5.0]; P < 0.001) and increased extent of muscle soreness (2.7 [IQR: 2.0–3.0] vs. 2.3 [IQR: 2–3]; P < 0.001), stress level (mean score 2.3 [IQR: 2.0–3.0] vs. 1.9 [IQR: 1.0–2.0]; P < 0.001) and perceived fatigue (mean score 2.9 [IQR: 2.0–3.0] vs. 2.3 [IQR: 2.0–3.0]; P < 0.001). Likewise, in patients with lower perceived quality of sleep, the proportion of players presenting with flu symptoms increased over 4-fold (4.1% vs. 17%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study highlights that good sleep quality positively influences the overall emotional and physical well-being of professional athletes. Our results emphasize the importance of targeted sleep interventions to improve sleep quality and subsequently optimize psychological and physiological wellness.
Food production and biodiversity are not incompatible in temperate heterogeneous agricultural landscapes
Authors: Zingg Silvia , Grenz Jan , Humbert Jean-Yves
Published: June 2024

We need landscape-scale approaches to design and manage agro-ecosystems that can sustain both agricultural production and biodiversity conservation. In this study, yield figures provided by 299 farmers served to quantify the energy-equivalents of food production across different crops in 49 1-km2 landscapes. Our results show that the relationship between bird diversity and food energy production depends on the proportion of farmland within the landscape, with a negative correlation observed in agriculture dominated landscapes (≥ 64–74% farmland). In contrast, neither typical farmland birds nor butterflies showed any significant relationship with total food energy production. We conclude that in European temperate regions consisting of small-scale, mixed farming systems (arable and livestock production), productivity and biodiversity conservation may not be purely antagonistic, particularly when (semi-)natural habitats make up a large fraction of the landscape (≥ 20%).