bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional associations of white matter integrity and neurological, post-traumatic stress disorder and autonomic symptoms in Veterans with and without history of loss of consciousness in mild TBI
Authors: Waters Abigail B. , Bottari Sarah A. , Jones Laura C. , Lamb Damon G. , Lewis Gregory F. , Williamson John B.
Published: January 2024

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) share overlapping symptom presentations and are highly comorbid conditions among Veteran populations. Despite elevated presentations of PTSD after mTBI, mechanisms linking the two are unclear, although both have been associated with alterations in white matter and disruptions in autonomic regulation. The present study aimed to determine if there is regional variability in white matter correlates of symptom severity and autonomic functioning in a mixed sample of Veterans with and without PTSD and/or mTBI (N = 77).

Methods

Diffusion-weighted images were processed to extract fractional anisotropy (FA) values for major white matter structures. The PTSD Checklist-Military version (PCL-M) and Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) were used to determine symptom domains within PTSD and mTBI. Autonomic function was assessed using continuous blood pressure and respiratory sinus arrythmia during a static, standing angle positional test. Mixed-effect models were used to assess the regional specificity of associations between symptom severity and white matter, with FA, global symptom severity (score), and white matter tract (tract) as predictors. Additional interaction terms of symptom domain (i.e., NSI and PCL-M subscales) and loss of consciousness (LoC) were added to evaluate potential moderating effects. A parallel analysis was conducted to explore concordance with autonomic functioning.

Results

Results from the two-way Score × Tract interaction suggested that global symptom severity was associated with FA in the cingulum angular bundle (positive) and uncinate fasciculus (negative) only, without variability by symptom domain. We also found regional specificity in the relationship between FA and autonomic function, such that FA was positively associated with autonomic function in all tracts except the cingulum angular bundle. History of LoC moderated the association for both global symptom severity and autonomic function.

Conclusions

Our findings are consistent with previous literature suggesting that there is significant overlap in the symptom presentation in TBI and PTSD, and white matter variability associated with LoC in mTBI may be associated with increased PTSD-spectra symptoms. Further research on treatment response in patients with both mTBI history and PTSD incorporating imaging and autonomic assessment may be valuable in understanding the role of brain injury in treatment outcomes and inform treatment design.
Association between lifestyle and dietary preference factors and conventional adenomas and serrated polyps
Authors: Xu Jue , Chi Peihan , Qin Kang , Li Biao , Cheng Zhongxue , Yu Zhecong , Jiang Caixia , Yu Yunxian
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Both conventional adenoma (AD) and serrated polyp (SP) were known precursor lesions of colorectal cancer (CRC). Modifiable lifestyle factors were significantly associated with CRC risk, but whether these factors were related to the risk of different precursors of CRC needed to be clarified. This study aimed to evaluate the risks of AD and SP caused by lifestyle factors and compare the risk differences between AD and SP.

Methods

The study population was from the CRC screening cohort in Hangzhou, China. A total of 458,457 eligible individuals volunteered to undergo initial screening including the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and the CRC risk assessment. Finally, 13,993 participants who had undergone colonoscopy tests and had been diagnosed at designated hospitals were selected in this study. All participants were required to fill out a questionnaire during the initial screening for collecting their information. The generalized estimate equation (GEE) model was used to assess the association between lifestyle factors/dietary preferences and AD/SP.

Results

The body mass index (BMI) and smoking were positively associated with the risks of only SP (BMI: OR = 1.50, 95%CI: 1.23–1.84; smoking: OR = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.07–1.55), only AD (BMI: OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.28–1.82; OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.11–1.39), and synchronous SP and AD (BMI: OR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.40–2.75; smoking: OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.27–1.85). In the case-group comparison, smoking was more strongly associated with the risk of synchronous SP and AD than only AD. Alcohol drinking was positively associated with the risk of AD (OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.14–1.44), but no statistically significant difference was observed in risks in the case-group comparison. Furthermore, whole-grain intake was associated with a decreased risk of only AD (OR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.65–0.93). However, white meat intake was positively associated with risks of only SP when compared with AD cases (OR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.15–2.23).

Conclusion

The current study identified common risk factors such as BMI and smoking as well as different risks of certain factors (e.g., alcohol drinking and whole-grain intake) for SP and AD. However, there were still some factors, especially diet-related factors, that have not been fully elucidated in their association with the two lesions. Further research is needed in future to confirm and develop prevention strategies for different lesions.
Gut microbiota dysbiosis and protein energy wasting in patients on hemodialysis: an observational longitudinal study
Authors: Bi Xiao , Liu Yuqing , Yao Lu , Ling Lilu , Lu Jianxin , Hu Chun , Ding Wei
Published: January 2024

Background

Protein energy wasting (PEW) is common in patients on hemodialysis, and its development may involve gut microbial dysbiosis. However, the exact relationship between the composition of different flora and the development of PEW remains unclear.

Methods

This is an observational longitudinal study on 115 patients undergoing hemodialysis who were followed up for 1 year. All the patients were evaluated at baseline, and different microbiota compositions were determined. After a 1 year follow-up period, the correlations between clinical parameter variations and the relative abundance of different gut flora were assessed using Spearman correlation. Moreover, the associations of the abundance of different gut microbiota with decrease in lean tissue mass and the development of PEW were analyzed using ROC curve and logistical regression analyses.

Results

We found that the relative abundances of Actinobacteria and Bifidobacteriaceae were significantly lower in patients with PEW than in those who did not develop PEW (p < 0.05). The abundance of Actinobacteria and Bifidobacteriaceae correlated positively with variations in serum albumin levels (r = 0.213, p = 0.035 and r = 0.214, p = 0.034, respectively), lean tissue mass (r = 0.296, p = 0.007 and r = 0.238, p = 0.002, respectively), and lean tissue index (r = 0.377, p < 0.001 and r = 0.419, p < 0.001, respectively). The area under the ROC curve or AUC values of Actinobacteria and Bifidobacteriaceae for the prediction of lean tissue mass decrease ranged from 0.676 to 0.708 (p < 0.05). Thus, decrease in the abundance of Actinobacteria and Bifidobacteriaceae may be associated with decrease in lean tissue mass and the occurrence of PEW.

Conclusion

The present findings imply Actinobacteria and Bifidobacteriaceae may be potential markers for predicting skeletal muscle mass decrease and PEW development in patients on hemodialysis.
RC48-ADC combined with tislelizumab as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with HER2-positive locally advanced muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer: a multi-center phase Ib/II study (HOPE-03)
Authors: Wen Feng , Lin Tianhai , Zhang Peng , Shen Yali
Published: January 2024

Background

Bladder cancer with high expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is related to pathological malignancy and poor prognosis. The standard care for muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer (MIBC) is neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy (RC) with pelvic lymph node dissection. For HER2-positive MIBC, the efficacy of cisplatin-based NAC is unsatisfactory, and adverse reactions are inevitable or even intolerable. New regimens with higher efficiency and lower toxicity need to be explored in the neoadjuvant setting for this population.

Methods

HOPE-03 is a multi-center, open-label, single-arm, phase Ib/II study aiming to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RC48-ADC (disitamab vedotin (DV)), a humanized anti-HER2 antibody conjugated with monomethyl auristatin E, and tislelizumab (PD-1 antibody) as a novel neoadjuvant treatment combination in patients with HER2-positive locally advanced urothelial MIBC. Fifty-one patients with cT2-4bN0-3M0-1a pathology- and imaging-diagnosed HER2 positive (immunohistochemistry status 3+ or 2+ or 1+) MIBC were recruited. Of these patients, six were enrolled in the dose-escalation phase (three patients in the RC48-ADC 1.5 mg/kg group and three patients in the 2.0 mg/kg group), and 45 patients were enrolled in the phase II study (the expected recommended phase II dose for RC48-ADC was 2.0 mg/kg). Patients without disease progression received radical cystectomy or bladder-sparing therapies as their preference after neoadjuvant treatment. The primary endpoints were clinical complete remission rate (cCR rate; T0/Ta/Tis), pathological complete remission rate (pCR rate), and safety. The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and quality of life.

Discussion

The HOPE-03 trial provides a description of the safety profile of RC-48 and tislelizumab combination in the neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive locally advanced urothelial MIBC, and the efficacy is explored as well in this population.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=137111, identifier ChiCTR2200060153.
Perspective: rethinking therapeutic strategies in oncology
Authors: Patz Edward F. , Gottlin Elizabeth B. , Simon George R.
Published: January 2024

Immuno-oncology has revolutionized cancer care, drug development, the design of clinical trials, standard treatment paradigms, and the evaluation of response to therapy. These are all areas, however, that have not fully incorporated principles of tumor immunology. Insufficient emphasis is put on the effect drugs have on the immune system, and specifically, the impact that multiple lines of therapy can have on the functioning of the immune system, hindering a robust anti-tumor immune response. A paradigm shift in how we approach the development of novel immunotherapeutic agents is necessary to facilitate the effective improvements in patient outcomes.
Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human annexin A5 (SY-005) in patients with severe COVID-19
Authors: Tschirhart Brent J. , Lu Xiangru , Mokale Kognou Aristide Laurel , Martin Claudio M. , Slessarev Marat , Fraser Douglas D. , Leligdowicz Aleksandra , Urquhart Bradley , Feng Qingping
Published: January 2024

Objective: Annexin A5 is a phosphatidylserine binding protein with anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant and anti-apoptotic properties. Preclinical studies have shown that annexin A5 inhibits pro-inflammatory responses and improves organ function and survival in rodent models of sepsis. This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of the recombinant human annexin A5 (SY-005) in severe COVID-19.

Methods: This was a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Severe COVID-19 patients were randomly assigned to receive intravenous 50 μg/kg (low dose, n = 3), 100 μg/kg (high dose, n = 5) of SY-005 or placebo (n = 5) every 12 h for 7 days. Plasma SY-005 levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the PK parameters were determined using non-compartmental analysis.

Results: All patients treated with SY-005 had a normal baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, 104–125 mL/min/1.73 m2). Both low and high doses of SY-005 were cleared within 6 h after intravenous administration. Plasma maximum concentrations (Cmax), half-life, clearance and volume distribution of low and high doses of SY-005 were 402.4 and 848.9 ng/mL, 0.92 and 0.96 h, 7.52 and 15.19 L/h, and 9.98 and 20.79 L, respectively. Daily pre-dose circulating annexin A5 levels were not significantly different when SY-005 was administered at the low or the high dose 12-h intervals. There was no significant effect on activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) or INR (international normalized ratio of prothrombin time) during 7 days of SY-005 treatment.

Conclusion: SY-005 doses of 50 and 100 μg/kg were detectable and subsequently cleared from the plasma in severe COVID-19 patients with normal baseline renal function. There was no significant plasma SY-005 accumulation 6 h after drug administration and coagulation was not altered during 7 days of treatment.

Clinical trials Registration: This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04748757, first posted on 10 February 2021).
Constitutive expression of spliced X-box binding protein 1 inhibits dentin formation in mice
Authors: Xu Qian , Li Jiahe , Zhang Hua , Wang Suzhen , Qin Chunlin , Lu Yongbo
Published: January 2024

Upon endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is activated, which subsequently converts an unspliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1U) mRNA to a spliced mRNA that encodes a potent XBP1S transcription factor. XBP1S is essential for relieving ER stress and secretory cell differentiation. We previously established Twist2-Cre;Xbp1CS/+ mice that constitutively expressed XBP1S in the Twist2-expressing cells as well as in the cells derived from the Twist2-expressing cells. In this study, we analyzed the dental phenotype of Twist2-Cre;Xbp1CS/+ mice. We first generated a mutant Xbp1s minigene that corresponds to the recombinant Xbp1Δ26 allele (the Xbp1CS allele that has undergone Cre-mediated recombination) and confirmed that the Xbp1s minigene expressed XBP1S that does not require IRE1α activation in vitro. Consistently, immunohistochemistry showed that XBP1S was constitutively expressed in the odontoblasts and other dental pulp cells in Twist2-Cre;Xbp1CS/+ mice. Plain X-ray radiography and µCT analysis revealed that constitutive expression of XBP1S altered the dental pulp chamber roof- and floor-dentin formation, resulting in a significant reduction in dentin/cementum formation in Twist2-Cre;Xbp1CS/+ mice, compared to age-matched Xbp1CS/+ control mice. However, there is no significant difference in the density of dentin/cementum between these two groups of mice. Histologically, persistent expression of XBP1S caused a morphological change in odontoblasts in Twist2-Cre;Xbp1CS/+ mice. Nevertheless, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry analyses showed that continuous expression of XBP1S had no apparent effects on the expression of the Dspp and Dmp1 genes. In conclusion, these results support that sustained production of XBP1S adversely affected odontoblast function and dentin formation.
Minimal circuit motifs for second-order conditioning in the insect mushroom body
Authors: Jürgensen Anna-Maria , Schmitt Felix Johannes , Nawrot Martin Paul
Published: January 2024

In well-established first-order conditioning experiments, the concurrence of a sensory cue with reinforcement forms an association, allowing the cue to predict future reinforcement. In the insect mushroom body, a brain region central to learning and memory, such associations are encoded in the synapses between its intrinsic and output neurons. This process is mediated by the activity of dopaminergic neurons that encode reinforcement signals. In second-order conditioning, a new sensory cue is paired with an already established one that presumably activates dopaminergic neurons due to its predictive power of the reinforcement. We explored minimal circuit motifs in the mushroom body for their ability to support second-order conditioning using mechanistic models. We found that dopaminergic neurons can either be activated directly by the mushroom body’s intrinsic neurons or via feedback from the output neurons via several pathways. We demonstrated that the circuit motifs differ in their computational efficiency and robustness. Beyond previous research, we suggest an additional motif that relies on feedforward input of the mushroom body intrinsic neurons to dopaminergic neurons as a promising candidate for experimental evaluation. It differentiates well between trained and novel stimuli, demonstrating robust performance across a range of model parameters.
Plant life history strategies vary in subtropical forests with different disturbance histories: an assessment of biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits
Authors: Liu Julian , Xia Haojun , Zheng Zihong , Wang Yunquan , Chen Jianhua , Ni Jian , Yu Mingjian , Zheng Weicheng , Liu Libin
Published: January 2024

Disturbance alters environmental conditions in forests. Plants growing in forests with different disturbance histories in diverse environments may adopt varying life history strategies, but few studies focus on this effect. This study comprehensively investigated plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits in subtropical forests with two different disturbance histories in east China to explore differences in life history strategies. Biodiversity was slightly higher in disturbed compared to conserved forests. Significantly higher biomass was measured in conserved relative to disturbed evergreen broadleaved forests (P < 0.05). In conserved forests, leaf tissue density (LTD) was significantly higher and leaf thickness (LT), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), twig tissue density (TTD), twig dry matter content (TDMC), bark tissue density (BTD) and dry matter content (BDMC), and stem tissue density (STD) and dry matter content (SDMC) were significantly lower than in disturbed forests (P < 0.05). In terms of associated plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits, conserved forests adopted a resource acquisition strategy, reducing biodiversity and developing multiple functional traits such as high leaf area and specific leaf area and low LT, LDMC, TTD, TDMC, BTD, BDMC, STD, and SDMC to support a high biomass accumulation rate. Disturbed forests adopted a resource conservation strategy, enhancing biodiversity and developing converse trait combinations to lower the rate of biomass accumulation. A comprehensive investigation of plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits and subsequent assessment of plant life history strategies in conserved and disturbed forests will aid investigations of regional biodiversity and carbon reserves, contribute data to the TRY and Chinese plant trait databases, and improve ecological management and restoration efforts in east China.
Growth and transcriptional response of wheat and rice to the tertiary amine BMVE
Authors: Dharni Jaspinder Singh , Shi Yu , Zhang Chi , Petersen Chris , Walia Harkamal , Staswick Paul
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Seed vigor is largely a product of sound seed development, maturation processes, genetics, and storage conditions. It is a crucial factor impacting plant growth and crop yield and is negatively affected by unfavorable environmental conditions, which can include drought and heat as well as cold wet conditions. The latter leads to slow germination and increased seedling susceptibility to pathogens. Prior research has shown that a class of plant growth regulators called substituted tertiary amines (STAs) can enhance seed germination, seedling growth, and crop productivity. However, inconsistent benefits have limited STA adoption on a commercial scale

Methods

We developed a novel seed treatment protocol to evaluate the efficacy of 2-(N-methyl benzyl aminoethyl)-3-methyl butanoate (BMVE), which has shown promise as a crop seed treatment in field trials. Transcriptomic analysis of rice seedlings 24 h after BMVE treatment was done to identify the molecular basis for the improved seedling growth. The impact of BMVE on seed development was also evaluated by spraying rice panicles shortly after flower fertilization and subsequently monitoring the impact on seed traits.

Results

BMVE treatment of seeds 24 h after imbibition consistently improved wheat and rice seedling shoot and root growth in lab conditions. Treated wheat seedlings grown to maturity in a greenhouse also resulted in higher biomass than controls, though only under drought conditions. Treated seedlings had increased levels of transcripts involved in reactive oxygen species scavenging and auxin and gibberellic acid signaling. Conversely, several genes associated with increased reactive oxygen species/ROS load, abiotic stress responses, and germination hindering processes were reduced. BMVE spray increased both fresh and mature seed weights relative to the control for plants exposed to 96 h of heat stress. BMVE treatment during seed development also benefited germination and seedling growth in the next generation, under both ambient and heat stress conditions.

Discussion

The optimized experimental conditions we developed provide convincing evidence that BMVE does indeed have efficacy in plant growth enhancement. The results advance our understanding of how STAs work at the molecular level and provide insights for their practical application to improve crop growth.
How do personality traits modulate real-world gaze behavior? Generated gaze data shows situation-dependent modulations
Authors: Yamashita Jumpei , Takimoto Yoshiaki , Oishi Haruo , Kumada Takatsune
Published: January 2024

It has both scientific and practical benefits to substantiate the theoretical prediction that personality (Big Five) traits systematically modulate gaze behavior in various real-world (working) situations. Nevertheless, previous methods that required controlled situations and large numbers of participants failed to incorporate real-world personality modulation analysis. One cause of this research gap is the mixed effects of individual attributes (e.g., the accumulated attributes of age, gender, and degree of measurement noise) and personality traits in gaze data. Previous studies may have used larger sample sizes to average out the possible concentration of specific individual attributes in some personality traits, and may have imposed control situations to prevent unexpected interactions between these possibly biased individual attributes and complex, realistic situations. Therefore, we generated and analyzed real-world gaze behavior where the effects of personality traits are separated out from individual attributes. In Experiment 1, we successfully provided a methodology for generating such sensor data on head and eye movements for a small sample of participants who performed realistic nonsocial (data-entry) and social (conversation) work tasks (i.e., the first contribution). In Experiment 2, we evaluated the effectiveness of generated gaze behavior for real-world personality modulation analysis. We successfully showed how openness systematically modulates the autocorrelation coefficients of sensor data, reflecting the period of head and eye movements in data-entry and conversation tasks (i.e., the second contribution). We found different openness modulations in the autocorrelation coefficients from the generated sensor data of the two tasks. These modulations could not be detected using real sensor data because of the contamination of individual attributes. In conclusion, our method is a potentially powerful tool for understanding theoretically expected, systematic situation-specific personality modulation of real-world gaze behavior.
How is personality related to research performance? The mediating effect of research engagement
Authors: Feng Rui , Xie Yunhui , Wu Junjie
Published: January 2024

Faculty members' research performance holds great significance for the development of a university. The primary objective of this study is to examine the influences of researchers' personalities on their research performance within universities, as well as the mediating role of research engagement in this relationship. The study encompassed 189 faculty members from a university and employed descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, measurement, and structural equation modeling as the analytical procedures. The results obtained from structural equation modeling reveal significant effects of faculty members' personalities on their objective research performance rather than self-reported performance. Specifically, conscientiousness and openness to experience exhibit a positive correlation with research performance. On the contrary, the neuroticism and social attributes of personality (the integration of extraversion and agreeableness) exhibit a negative correlation with research performance. Furthermore, research engagement mediates the effects of openness to experience and neuroticism on research performance. This study carries significant implications for the training and recruitment selection of faculty members in universities and enhances our understanding of how different personalities lead to a variance in research engagement and performance.
Do parent media habits contribute to child global development?
Authors: Fitzpatrick Caroline , Johnson Alexa , Laurent Angélique , Bégin Mathieu , Harvey Elizabeth
Published: January 2024

Background/objective

Parents of preschoolers’ report using screen media frequently. More frequent screen use by parents may undermine child development by displacing time for foundational parent-child interactions. The objective of the present study is to examine the extent to which parent screen use contributes to child global development 1 year later.

Methods

Data are from a cohort of 315 preschoolers from Nova Scotia, Canada and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents reported the number of hours per day they spent using screens, as well as child screen time and sex, and parent educational attainment. Our outcome is child global development scores, which combine assessments of communication, cognitive, personal-social, and motor skills measured at 4.5 using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) (N = 249, 79% retained).

Results

Parents in our sample spent on average 6.35 h per day using screen media outside of work (SD = 3.07) and children spent on average 3.43 h per/day using screens. Multivariate linear regression indicated that each 1-h increase in parents daily screen media use, corresponded to a 1.25 decrease in child global development scores, B = −1.25 p < 0.05, 95% CI between −2.37 and −0.13.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that parent screen use may represent a key component of children’s media ecology. Given the importance of global development in early childhood for later health and achievement, the present results suggest that interventions should include parent screen use habits in media wellness interventions.
Neurophysiological insights into impaired mentalization in borderline personality disorder an electroencephalography study
Authors: Yun Seokho , Jo So-Hye , Jeon Hye-Jin , Choo Bokyung , Seok Jeong-Ho , Shin Hyunkyung , Kim In-Young , Choi Sun-Woo , Koo Bon-Hoon
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by interpersonal and emotional instabilities, recurring suicidal tendencies, and feelings of emptiness. Childhood adverse event is reported in 70%–80% of cases involving BPD. Furthermore, the deficiency in mentalization capacity plays a significant role in emotion dysregulation and social interaction problems within individuals with BPD. This study explored the relationship among childhood adverse experiences, mentalization capacity, and neurophysiological activity in patients with BPD.

Methods

Resting-state electroencephalography was used to identify the neural correlates associated with childhood adversity and mentalization deficits. The participants included 45 patients with BPD and 15 healthy controls.

Results

The BPD group exhibited reduced alpha activity during eyes-closed rest, indicating heightened arousal even during relaxation. Correlations were found between the power spectral density (PSD) and mentalization capacity in the delta and theta ranges, suggesting an association between PSD and emotional awareness and expression. Gamma activity negatively correlated with psychic equivalence, implying a blurring of the boundaries between internal mental experiences and the external world.

Conclusion

These findings offer insights into the pathophysiology of BPD, provide potential diagnostic markers, and suggest personalized treatment approaches based on mentalization traits.
Presence of kratom in opioid overdose deaths: findings from coroner postmortem toxicological report
Authors: Torrico Tyler , Patel Kajal , Nikolov Nicole , Salam Md. Towhid , Padhy Ranjit , Weinstein David
Published: January 2024

Background

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use in the United States is becoming increasingly popular and its legal status varies widely from state to state. Multiple reports of adverse events associated with kratom use have ranged from liver injury, seizures, psychiatric disturbance, and rarely death.

Methods

This study investigated coroner autopsy reports from Kern County in California for the year 2020 which included qualitative data on substances from blood toxicological reports. Of the 214 opioid-associated accidental overdoses reported, 4 subjects (1.9%) had mitragynine (kratom) exposure on the autopsy report and were included in the study. We reported available demographic information and comorbid substance findings from the associated autopsy reports.

Results

All 4 individuals with mitragynine (kratom) toxicology had accidental opioid overdose deaths noted in autopsy reports. Each subject also had toxicology positive for at least one other substance. Fentanyl was found in 3 (75%) of the cases and suspected to be the primary contributor to opioid-related deaths in those cases. However, one fatality was without fentanyl, but instead had tested positive for benzodiazepines, cannabis, and other psychiatric medications.

Discussion

The findings of this brief report provide insight into the role that mitragynine (kratom) may have in modulating risk of opioid-related deaths. The combined use of kratom with opioids such as fentanyl appears most likely to increase the risk of a fatal overdose, but it may also occur with other medications such as benzodiazepines and psychiatric medications. It is a serious concern that in the midst of the opioid overdose epidemic there is a growing presence of kratom use in the U.S. population with a largely unregulated status.
Linguistic indicators for predicting the veracity of online health rumors
Authors: Zhao Jingyi , Fu Cun
Published: January 2024

This study aims to examine the role of language in discerning the authenticity of online health rumors. To achieve this goal, it specifically focuses on analyzing five categories of linguistic indicators: (1) emotional language characterized by sentiment words, sensory words, and continuous punctuations, (2) exaggerated language defined by the presence of extreme numbers and extreme adverbs, (3) personalized language denoted by first-person pronouns, (4) unprofessional language represented by typographical errors, and (5) linkage language marked by inclusion of hyperlinks. To conduct the investigation, a dataset consisting of 1,500 information items was utilized. The dataset exhibited a distribution pattern wherein 20% of the information was verified to be true, while the remaining 80% was categorized as rumors. These items were sourced from two prominent rumor-clarification websites in China. A binomial logistic regression was used for data analysis to determine whether the language used in an online health rumor could predict its authenticity. The results of the analysis showed that the presence of sentiment words, continuous punctuation marks, extreme numbers and adverbs in an online health rumor could predict its authenticity. Personalized language, typographical errors, and hyperlinks were also found to be useful indicators for identifying health rumors using linguistic indicators. These results provide valuable insights for identifying health rumors using language-based features and could help individuals and organizations better understand the credibility of online health information.
Study on the burden of digestive diseases among Chinese residents in the 21st century
Authors: Gong Shijun , Zhang Yuyu , Wang Yaqiong , Yang Xianhu , Cheng Baolian , Song Ziyi , Liu Xingrong
Published: January 2024

Background

The global burden of digestive diseases has increased in recent years. The study aims to comprehend the trend of incidence and death rates related to digestive diseases in China from 2000 to 2020.

Methods

The study collected data on digestive diseases and their causes, such as incidence rates, death rates, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived with Disability, Disability-Adjusted Life Years and estimated annual percentage change from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease website and the Chinese Health and Wellness Statistical Yearbook spanning. And we employed the age-period-cohort model to analyze the influence of age, period, and birth cohort on the trend of death rates associated with digestive diseases.

Results

In contrast to the global burden of digestive disease, China experienced increases in the age-standardized incidence for inflammatory bowel disease, gallbladder and biliary diseases, as well as appendicitis from 2000 to 2019. The corresponding estimated annual percentage change for these diseases were 2.06, 1.74, and 0.99. Females showed a significantly higher incidence of digestive diseases, while males experienced a higher death rate. Moreover, individuals in the age groups under 5 years and over 60 years exhibited higher death rates than those in other age groups.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the ongoing importance of digestive diseases as a substantial public health issue in China. Reducing the disease burden of IBD in China necessitates healthcare systems to enhance their infrastructure and personnel readiness, ensuring an equitable, affordable, and accessible distribution of care for IBD patients. To reduce the occurrence and mortality rates of digestive diseases in China, the government should promote the adoption of early screening policies for individuals under the 5 year and those above the 60 year. These policies should be accompanied by customized preventive measures.
Behavioral mechanisms underlying trait-mediated survival in a coral reef fish
Authors: Rankin Tauna L. , Cowen Madeline C. , Kandlikar Gaurav S. , Shulzitski Kathryn , Sponaugle Su
Published: January 2024

Fast growth and large size generally increase survivorship in organisms with indeterminate growth. These traits frequently covary, but where they do not, trade-offs often exist in the behavioral choices of organisms. Juvenile bicolor damselfish Stegastes partitus that settle on coral reefs at larger sizes generally experience enhanced survivorship but have slower juvenile growth rates. We hypothesized that differences in behavior may mediate this trade-off. To test whether it is trait-related behaviors or the traits themselves that enhance early survival, we combined individual behavioral observations with otolith (ear stone)-based daily growth measurements for juvenile S. partitus in the Florida Keys. Foraging, sheltering, and chasing behaviors of 256 fish were measured during 5 different months (2008–2009), and patterns of differential survival were similar to those from a 6-year (2003–2008) recruitment time series. We found a trade-off between sheltering and foraging that significantly explained patterns in size-at-settlement: damselfish that settled at larger sizes spent less time sheltered and more time feeding high in the water column. Juvenile growth rates were unrelated to any of the sheltering–foraging behaviors but instead were inversely related to adult conspecific density. Damselfish that settled near higher densities of conspecifics were subjected to increased territorial chasing. Chasing intensity interacted with settlement size such that large juveniles who were chased more frequently exhibited slower growth rates, whereas smaller settlers did not experience this energetic cost. Thus, the dominant survival strategy of S. partitus is to settle at a large size and spend more time foraging high in the water column while dodging conspecifics at an energetic cost to their growth rates. Size-at-settlement is determined during the larval period and after settlement, this trait is key to subsequent behaviors and the strength of trait-mediated survival. Understanding how somatic growth, body size, and survival are intertwined in early life is necessary to help explain population dynamics.
Permittivity sensor development for lunar and planetary surface exploration
Authors: Gscheidle Christian , Witzel Thilo , Smolka Alexander , Reiss Philipp
Published: January 2024

Permittivity sensors measure the electric permittivity (formerly known as the dielectric constant) of a sample between its electrodes and offer a reliable method to characterize the subsurface of planetary bodies in situ. One potential application is the identification and mapping of water ice at the poles of the Moon. In this paper, the scientific background and heritage of the permittivity sensor concept are discussed, and the implemented electronic architecture is introduced, focusing on the novel patch electrodes. The data processing approach for the measurements is based on Fourier transformation, and numerical simulation setups are used for performance predictions. The calibration of the sensor validates the functionality of the electronics, and the results from both simulations and characterization experiments show that the concept is applicable in the exploration scenario. Considering both engineering and scientific aspects, the results highlight the permittivity sensor’s suitability for lunar and planetary exploration missions, albeit further points for improvement are identified.
Unveiling gender differences: a mixed reality multitasking exploration
Authors: Abbas Safanah , Jeong Heejin
Published: January 2024

While gender differences have been studied in both real and virtual worlds separately, few studies have focused on multitasking in hybrid environments. This study investigated the gender factor in multitasking within a mixed reality environment. Thirty-six participants completed eight experimental conditions to assess their workload, task priority, and hand usage. Two distinct tasks were employed in the experiment: a block-matching task for the physical world, where participants located and matched English letters with their corresponding positions on a wooden board, and the N-back task for the virtual world. Four conditions focused on digital-physical monotasking, while the rest involved mixed-reality multitasking. The results reveal that perceived mental demand is a significant factor. Males prioritized virtual tasks, whereas females prioritized both tasks equally. Understanding the factors influencing gender-based performance differences can enhance the design of practical mixed reality applications, addressing equity and quality concerns. This study suggests that cognitive load plays a vital role in determining how genders perform when juggling multiple tasks, both physical and virtual.
Generation Z, values, and media: from influencers to BeReal, between visibility and authenticity
Authors: Tirocchi Simona
Published: January 2024

This study examines the connection between values perceived as important by Generation Z and the values conveyed by the media contents chosen and consumed by young individuals. The article’s main objective is to identify the values that a sample of Italian university students, aged between 20 and 23, consider most significant. It explores their perceptions and expectations regarding contemporary society and the ethical trends therein. Furthermore, it investigates their preferred media and the values they believe these media platforms convey, trying to investigate the relationship between values and favorite media. Media and digital platforms, indeed, play an increasingly vital role in shaping and disseminating values. YouTubers, influencers, or, in a broader context, content on social media platforms (such as Instagram, TikTok, as well as entertainment platforms like Netflix) demonstrate how the new mediators of communication and the forms of media content favored by young individuals are, more evidently than ever, intertwined with the sharing of values, norms, and social expectations, much like family and school once were. One example that emerged from the research concerned the success of the “Bereal” platform, linked on the one hand to the desire to make public and share one’s self-image, and on the other hand to the need to show oneself as “authentic.” Through the conduct of five focus groups in December 2022 involving 60 university students from the University of Turin, this research reveals a substantial continuity in the values considered most important by young individuals (compared to previous national surveys). The article also demonstrates how the values conveyed by the media favored by young people do not always correspond to traditional ones and express needs that, at times, the new digital platforms and their protagonists manage to intercept.
Effects of the COVID-19 induced cotton crisis on agricultural production and livelihoods of smallholders in southern Mali
Authors: Dissa Arouna , Slingerland Maja , Giller Ken E. , Descheemaeker Katrien
Published: January 2024

Smallholder farming systems are vulnerable to disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic weakened the financial ability of the Malian government in the 2020–21 growing season to subsidize cotton farmers’ access to mineral fertilizers and the cotton company (CMDT) could not offer a good cotton price. Consequently, farmers refused to grow cotton, leading to a cotton crisis with implications on crop production and farmers’ livelihoods. We used data collected over three consecutive growing seasons in the old cotton basin of Koutiala and analysed them using two-way mixed ANOVA over selected indicators related to farm and household components. The analysis was done for farms of different resource endowment, through comparing the cotton crisis season to the two previous normal seasons. Besides the abandonment of cotton, the total cropped area and area devoted to maize reduced in 2020–21, while the area allocated to millet, sorghum and cowpea increased, especially for cotton farmers with medium and high resource endowments. In addition, the nitrogen use intensity dropped at the farm level and particularly for the cereal crops, but without negative effect on yields of maize, millet and sorghum. Food self-sufficiency and income per capita significantly increased for the medium resource farms, while income dropped for the high resource farms with large herds. The farming system was able to absorb the shock of limited access to fertilizer for one season, due to the elimination of otherwise strong labour competition between cotton and cereal crops, favourable weather conditions and farmers’ responsive coping with the cotton crisis. This study revealed the importance of disaggregated livelihood evaluations, because resource endowments have implications not only for the actual effect on livelihoods, but also for farmers’ adaptive capacity.
Determinants of the adherence to Mediterranean diet: application of the k-means cluster analysis profiling children in the Metropolitan City of Bari
Authors: Facendola Rosalia , Ottomano Palmisano Giovanni , De Boni Annalisa , Acciani Claudio , Roma Rocco
Published: January 2024

The transition to sustainable food systems and the achievement of SDGs 2 and 12 entails the adoption of sustainable consumption and production patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet and its impact on nutritional status and health have been the focus of recent research. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, BMI (kg/m2), and age of children. The geographical area is the Metropolitan City of Bari (Apulia region, southern Italy), which is involved in the development of an effective food policy aimed at ensuring a sustainable food transition. An online survey was filled out by parents or guardians responsible for the dietary patterns of children between 2 and 15 years of age to collect data about their Mediterranean diet adherence through the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and sociodemographic features, food habits and lifestyles, and anthropometric variables. Descriptive statistics and k-means cluster analysis were applied for profiling children, contributing to identifying the main factors that might affect individual Mediterranean diet adherence. Four clusters were characterized, taking into account food habits and lifestyle index, socioeconomic index, children’s age, and body mass index (BMI). Results showed an association between low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and high prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. The factors positively associated with following an optimal Mediterranean diet adherence were the mother’s education level and level of income; skipping breakfast is linked to low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Therefore, targeted strategies should be put in place to improve Mediterranean diet adherence among children, promoting healthy dietary habits.
Structural Flexibility Effect on Spaceborne Solar Observation System’s Micro-Vibration Response
Authors: Yang Lin , Wang Yansong , Wei Lei , Chen Yao
Published: January 2024

The spaceborne solar observation system is crucial for the study of space phenomena such as solar flares, which requires high tracking accuracy. This study presents a coupling model that integrates mechanical, electrical, and control models to investigate the structural flexibility effect on the micro-vibration response. We established a rigid–flexible model using mechanical parts. We considered the influence of flexible features while studying the dynamic responses in its operation. The state-space equations of the system showed that modal frequency, damping, and modal participation factors played significant roles. We derived transfer functions using the Laplace transform of the coupling models to better understand this mechanism, and Simulink models were thereby established. We simulated the acceleration responses of the rigid–flexible and rigid models under angle tracking modes, and the results showed significant differences. We also simulated the acceleration responses of the models under various control frequencies, and the optimal control frequency was thus obtained. Finally, we performed experiments, and the results indicated that the rigid–flexible model could better predict the motion and acceleration responses for the spaceborne solar observation system. This study provides valuable information for understanding the role of flexible features in space performance high-tracking accuracy instruments and for micro-vibration suppression research.