bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cholinergic and Neuroimmune Signaling Interact to Impact Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Alcohol Pathology Across Development
Authors: Macht Victoria A. , Vetreno Ryan P. , Crews Fulton T.
Published: March 2022

Alcohol (ethanol) use and misuse is a costly societal issue that can affect an individual across the lifespan. Alcohol use and misuse typically initiates during adolescence and generally continues into adulthood. Not only is alcohol the most widely abused drug by adolescents, but it is also one of the most widely abused drugs in the world. In fact, high rates of maternal drinking make developmental ethanol exposure the most preventable cause of neurological deficits in the Western world. Preclinical studies have determined that one of the most consistent effects of ethanol is its disruption of hippocampal neurogenesis. However, the severity, persistence, and reversibility of ethanol’s effects on hippocampal neurogenesis are dependent on developmental stage of exposure and age at assessment. Complicating the neurodevelopmental effects of ethanol is the concurrent development and maturation of neuromodulatory systems which regulate neurogenesis, particularly the cholinergic system. Cholinergic signaling in the hippocampus directly regulates hippocampal neurogenesis through muscarinic and nicotinic receptor actions and indirectly regulates neurogenesis by providing anti-inflammatory regulatory control over the hippocampal environmental milieu. Therefore, this review aims to evaluate how shifting maturational patterns of the cholinergic system and its regulation of neuroimmune signaling impact ethanol’s effects on adult neurogenesis. For example, perinatal ethanol exposure decreases basal forebrain cholinergic neuron populations, resulting in long-term developmental disruptions to the hippocampus that persist into adulthood. Exaggerated neuroimmune responses and disruptions in adult hippocampal neurogenesis are evident after environmental, developmental, and pharmacological challenges, suggesting that perinatal ethanol exposure induces neurogenic deficits in adulthood that can be unmasked under conditions that strain neural and immune function. Similarly, adolescent ethanol exposure persistently decreases basal forebrain cholinergic neuron populations, increases hippocampal neuroimmune gene expression, and decreases hippocampal neurogenesis in adulthood. The effects of neither perinatal nor adolescent ethanol are mitigated by abstinence whereas adult ethanol exposure-induced reductions in hippocampal neurogenesis are restored following abstinence, suggesting that ethanol-induced alterations in neurogenesis and reversibility are dependent upon the developmental period. Thus, the focus of this review is an examination of how ethanol exposure across critical developmental periods disrupts maturation of cholinergic and neuroinflammatory systems to differentially affect hippocampal neurogenesis in adulthood.
Immunotherapeutic Value of MAP1LC3C and Its Candidate FDA-Approved Drugs Identified by Pan-Cancer Analysis, Virtual Screening and Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Zhang Xudong , Li Kunhang , Zhong Shiyu , Liu Shengyu , Liu Tao , Li Lishuai , Han Shuo , Zhai Qingqing , Bao Nan , Shi Xin , Bao Yijun
Published: March 2022

Background: The autophagy pathway within the tumour microenvironment can be regulated to inhibit or promote tumour development. In the fight against tumour growth, immunotherapy induces an anti-tumour immune response, whereas autophagy modulates this immune response. A key protein in the autophagy pathway, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (MAP1LC3), has recently become a hotspot for tumour research. As a relatively novel member, the function of MAP1LC3C in tumours still need to be investigated. Therefore, the goal of this study was to look into the possible link between MAP1LC3C and immunotherapy for 33 kinds of human malignancies by using pan-cancer analysis.

Methods: High-throughput sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression Project and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia databases, combined with clinical data, were used to analyze the expression of MAP1LC3C in 33 types of cancer, as well as patient prognosis and neoplasm staging. Activity scores were calculated using ssGSEA to assess the MAP1LC3C activity in pan-cancer. Associations between MAP1LC3C and the tumour microenvironment, including immune cell infiltration and immunomodulators, were analyzed. Moreover, tumour tissue ImmuneScores and StromalScores were analyzed using the ESTIMATE algorithm. Additionally, associations between MAP1LC3C and tumour mutational burden/microsatellite instability, were investigated. Finally, based on the expression and structure of MAP1LC3C, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs, were screened by virtual screening, molecular docking and NCI-60 drug sensitivity analysis.

Results: Our study found that MAP1LC3C was differentially expressed in tumour and normal tissues in 23 of 33 human cancer types, among which MAP1LC3C had prognostic effects in 12 cancer types, and MAP1LC3C expression was significantly correlated with tumour stage in four cancer types. In addition, MAP1LC3C activity in 14 cancer types was consistent with changes in transcription levels. Moreover, MAP1LC3C strongly correlated with immune infiltration, immune modulators and immune markers. Finally, a number of FDA-approved drugs were identified via virtual screening and drug sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion: Our study investigated the prognostic and immunotherapeutic value of MAP1LC3C in 33 types of cancer, and several FDA-approved drugs were identified to be highly related to MAP1LC3C and can be potential cancer therapeutic candidates.
Time Resolution Studies of Thallium Based Cherenkov Semiconductors
Authors: Terragni Giulia , Pizzichemi Marco , Roncali Emilie , Cherry Simon R. , Glodo Jaroslaw , Shah Kanai , Ariño-Estrada Gerard , Auffray Etiennette , Ghezzi Alessio , Kratochwil Nicolaus
Published: March 2022

In the context of improving the detector performance of time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET), the combination of charge induction readout and prompt Cherenkov photon production in semiconductor materials can lead to an outstanding detector performance in energy, timing, and spatial resolution. Energy resolutions as good as 1.2% at 662 keV and 5% at 122 keV are reported for pixel thallium bromide (TlBr) detectors. The high refractive index of Tl-based materials, between 2.3 and 2.6, leads to a high Cherenkov photon generation yield but can also challenge photon extraction, potentially affecting the time performance. In this work, the timing properties of TlBr and thallium chloride (TlCl) crystals of different geometries are measured using an optimized test setup with high-frequency readout electronics. A coincidence time resolution (CTR) value of 167 ± 6 ps FWHM is achieved using a 3 × 3 × 3 mm3black-painted TlBr crystal. In order to assess potential improvements, a Geant4-based simulation tool kit is developed and validated against experimental measurements. The simulation tool kit is used to predict the contributions limiting the time resolution regarding the crystal and photodetector properties, highlighting the potential of such materials. Finally, paths to further improve the detector performance in TOF-PET are discussed.
Cohabitation With Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Affects Brain Neuromodulators But Not Welfare Indicators in Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus)
Authors: Staven Fredrik R. , Gesto Manuel , Iversen Martin H. , Andersen Per , Patel Deepti M. , Nordeide Jarle T. , Kristensen Torstein
Published: March 2022

Lumpfish are utilized to combat ectoparasitic epidemics in salmon farming. Research gaps on both cleaning behavior and client preferences in a natural environment, emphasizes the need to investigate the physiological impacts on lumpfish during cohabitation with piscivorous Atlantic salmon. Lumpfish (39.9 g, S.D ± 8.98) were arranged in duplicate tanks (n = 40 per treatment) and exposed to Live Atlantic salmon (245.7 g, S.D ± 25.05), salmon Olfaction or lifelike salmon Models for 6 weeks. Growth and health scores were measured every second week. In addition, the final sampling included measurements of neuromodulators, body color, and plasma cortisol. A stimulation and suppression test of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis was used for chronic stress assessment. Results showed that growth, health scores, and body color remained unaffected by treatments. Significant reductions in levels of brain dopamine and norepinephrine were observed in Live compared to Control. Plasma cortisol was low in all treatments, while the stimulation and suppression test of the HPI axis revealed no indications of chronic stress. This study presents novel findings on the impact on neuromodulators from Atlantic salmon interaction in the lumpfish brain. We argue that the downregulation of dopamine and norepinephrine indicate plastic adjustments to cohabitation with no negative effect on the species. This is in accordance with no observed deviations in welfare measurements, including growth, health scores, body color, and stress. We conclude that exposure to salmon or salmon cues did not impact the welfare of the species in our laboratory setup, and that neuromodulators are affected by heterospecific interaction.
A New Method to Address the Importance of Detoxified Enzyme in Insecticide Resistance – Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Yifan , Wilson Alan E. , Liu Nannan
Published: March 2022

Insect-borne diseases, such as malaria, and plant pathogens, like the tobacco mosaic virus, are responsible for human deaths and poor crop yields in communities around the world. The use of insecticides has been one of the major tools in pest control. However, the development of insecticide resistance has been a major problem in the control of insect pest populations that threaten the health of both humans and plants. The overexpression of detoxification genes is thought to be one of the major mechanisms through which pests develop resistance to insecticides. Hundreds of research papers have explored how overexpressed detoxification genes increase the resistance status of insects to an insecticide in recent years. This study is, for the first time, a synthesis of these resistance and gene expression data aimed at (1) setting up an example for the application of meta-analysis in the investigation of the mechanisms of insecticide resistance and (2) seeking to determine if the overexpression detoxification genes are responsible for insecticide resistance in insect pests in general. A strong correlation of increased levels of insecticide resistance has been observed in tested insects with cytochrome P450 (CYP), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and esterase gene superfamilies, confirming that the overexpression of detoxification genes is indeed involved in the insecticide resistance through the increased metabolism of insecticides of insects, including medically (e.g., mosquito and housefly) and agriculturally (e.g., planthopper and caterpillar) important insects.
The Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma and Atherosclerosis: Post-translational Modification and Selective Modulators
Authors: Yin Liqin , Wang Lihui , Shi Zunhan , Ji Xiaohui , Liu Longhua
Published: March 2022

Atherosclerosis is the hallmark of cardiovascular disease (CVD) which is a leading cause of death in type 2 diabetes patients, and glycemic control is not beneficial in reducing the potential risk of CVD. Clinically, it was shown that Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists, are insulin sensitizers with reducing risk of CVD, while the potential adverse effects, such as weight gain, fluid retention, bone loss, and cardiovascular risk, restricts its use in diabetic treatment. PPARγ, a ligand-activated nuclear receptor, has shown to play a crucial role in anti-atherosclerosis by promoting cholesterol efflux, repressing monocytes infiltrating into the vascular intima under endothelial layer, their transformation into macrophages, and inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation as well as migration. The selective activation of subsets of PPARγ targets, such as through PPARγ post-translational modification, is thought to improve the safety profile of PPARγ agonists. Here, this review focuses on the significance of PPARγ activity regulation (selective activation and post-translational modification) in the occurrence, development and treatment of atherosclerosis, and further clarifies the value of PPARγ as a safe therapeutic target for anti-atherosclerosis especially in diabetic treatment.
Adipokine Retinol Binding Protein 4 and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Ji Yanjing , Song Jinyou , Su Tianhong , Gu Xiaosong
Published: March 2022

The morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been increasing year by year all over the world and expanding greatly to the younger population, which becomes the leading causes of death globally that threatens human life safety. Prediction of the occurrence of diseases by using risk related adverse events is crucial for screening and early detection of CVDs. Thus, the discovery of new biomarkers that related to risks of CVDs are of urgent in the field. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a 21-kDa adipokine, mainly secreted by adipocytes. Besides its well-established function in the induction of insulin resistance, it has also been found in recent years to be closely associated with CVDs and other risk factors, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, obesity, and hyperlipidemia. In this review, we mainly focus on the progress of research that establishes the correlation between RBP4 and CVDs and the corresponding major risk factors in recent years.
Ethylene Response Factor109 Attunes Immunity, Photosynthesis, and Iron Homeostasis in Arabidopsis Leaves
Authors: Yang Chiu-Ling , Huang Yu-Ting , Schmidt Wolfgang , Klein Patricia , Chan Ming-Tsair , Pan I-Chun
Published: March 2022

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient element for all organisms including plants. Chlorosis of young leaves is a common symptom of Fe deficiency, reducing the efficiency of photosynthesis, and, ultimately, crop yield. Previous research revealed strong responsiveness of the putative key transcription factor ERF109 to the Fe regime. To elucidate the possible role of ERF109 in leaf Fe homeostasis and photosynthesis, we subjected Arabidopsis thaliana erf109 knockout lines and Col-0 wild-type plants to transcriptome profiling via RNA-seq. The transcriptome profile of Fe-sufficient erf109 leaves showed a 71% overlap with Fe-deficient Col-0 plants. On the other hand, genes that were differentially expressed between Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient Col-0 plants remained unchanged in erf109 plants under conditions of Fe deficiency. Mutations in ERF109 increased the expression of the clade Ib bHLH proteins bHLH38, bHLH39, bHLH101, the nicotianamine synthase NAS4, and the Fe storage gene FER1. Moreover, mutations in ERF109 led to significant down-regulation of defense genes, including CML37, WRKY40, ERF13, and EXO70B2. Leaves of erf109 exhibited increased Fe levels under both Fe-sufficient and Fe-deficient conditions. Reduced Fv/Fm and Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values in erf109 lines under Fe deficiency indicate curtailed ability of photosynthesis relative to the wild-type. Our findings suggest that ERF109 is a negative regulator of the leaf response to Fe deficiency. It further appears that the function of ERF109 in the Fe response is critical for regulating pathogen defense and photosynthetic efficiency. Taken together, our study reveals a novel function of ERF109 and provides a systematic perspective on the intertwining of the immunity regulatory network and cellular Fe homeostasis.
Using Blur for Perceptual Investigation and Training in Sport? A Clear Picture of the Evidence and Implications for Future Research
Authors: Limballe Annabelle , Kulpa Richard , Bennett Simon
Published: March 2022

Dynamic, interactive sports require athletes to identify, pick-up and process relevant information in a very limited time, in order to then make an appropriate response. Perceptual-cognitive skills are, therefore, a key determinant of elite sporting performance. Recently, sport scientists have investigated ways to assess and train perceptual-cognitive skills, with one such method involving the use of blurred stimuli. Here, we describe the two main methods used to generate blur (i.e., dioptric and Gaussian) and then review the current findings in a sports context. Overall, it has been shown the use of blur can enhance performance and learning of sporting tasks in novice participants, especially when the blur is applied to peripheral stimuli. However, while intermediate and expert level participants are relatively impervious to the presence of blur, it remains to be determined if they are positive effects on learning. In a final section, we describe some of the methodological issues that limit the application of blur and then discuss the potential use of virtual reality to extend the current research base in sporting contexts.
Acceptance and Online Interpretation of “Gender-Neutral Pronouns”: Performance Asymmetry by Chinese English as a Foreign Language Learners
Authors: Ma Zheng , Wu Shiyu , Xu Shiying
Published: March 2022

The present study (N= 109) set out to examine the role of cross-linguistic differences as a source of potential difficulty in the acceptance and online interpretation of the English singulartheyby Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners across two levels of second-language proficiency. Experiment 1 operationalized performance through an untimed acceptability judgment test and Experiment 2 through a self-paced reading task. Statistical analyses yielded an asymmetric pattern of results. Experiment 1 indicated that unlike native English speakers who generally accepted the singulartheywith all antecedent types, two Chinese EFL groups consisting of English majors (higher level) and non-English majors (lower level) both rated it as the least acceptable pronoun regardless of their proficiency level. In contrast, Experiment 2 demonstrated that like native English speakers, both Chinese EFL groups were not disrupted in their reading by the use of the singulartheymost of the time, although its online interpretation was modulated by L2 proficiency levels of the participants. While the English majors were not affected by the use of the singularthey, the non-English majors spent a significantly longer time reading the latter region of the sentences where the singulartheywas used. In short, the results of the two experiments seem to indicate that under no time constraint, L2 speakers showed a heightened degree of grammar sensitivity, whereas when there was a time constraint, their grammatical sensitivity was reduced by a greater need to focus on meaning. The difficulty for Chinese EFL learners to acquire the singulartheymay be located at the restructuring of their existing knowledge of the plural feature ofthey[−PLURAL] in their mental lexicon and the adaptation to the sociocultural norms of the target language. The pedagogical implications of the findings are discussed.
Do You Feel Included? A Latent Profile Analysis of Inclusion in the Chinese Context
Authors: Qu Jiaojiao , Wang Mengcheng
Published: March 2022

Although the importance of inclusion has been firmly supported by prior studies, the question of whether certain subgroups exist in the workplace whose members feel more or less included remains under-explored, limiting our understanding of how an inclusive workplace can be achieved. To address this gap, the current study conducted a latent profile analysis (LPA) to obtain evidence-based information regarding employees’ sense of inclusion in their organizations. Using a sample of 1,168 participants engaged in multiple industries in China, we identified three profiles of inclusion, with a largest proportion feeling a moderate level of inclusion (69.5%), a smaller proportion feeling a high level of inclusion (22.7%), and a tiny proportion feeling a low level of inclusion (7.8%). The three profiles differ significantly on key variables, demonstrating that the group feeling more included tends to be more aged and tenured, hold a higher educational degree, work in the high-tech sector, and come from a developed area. Such a group also shows more engagement in their work but less exhaustion, feels that they have more opportunities for development, and gains more support from colleagues and supervisors. Our findings point to the existence of subgroups of inclusion within the Chinese context and highlight the characteristics of these profiles, which in turn shed lights on how we can reach the goal of inclusion.
A Functional Contextual Account of Background Knowledge in Categorization: Implications for Artificial General Intelligence and Cognitive Accounts of General Knowledge
Authors: Edwards Darren J. , McEnteggart Ciara , Barnes-Holmes Yvonne
Published: March 2022

Psychology has benefited from an enormous wealth of knowledge about processes of cognition in relation to how the brain organizes information. Within the categorization literature, this behavior is often explained through theories of memory construction called exemplar theory and prototype theory which are typically based on similarity or rule functions as explanations of how categories emerge. Although these theories work well at modeling highly controlled stimuli in laboratory settings, they often perform less well outside of these settings, such as explaining the emergence of background knowledge processes. In order to explain background knowledge, we present a non-similarity-based post-Skinnerian theory of human language called Relational Frame Theory (RFT) which is rooted in a philosophical world view called functional contextualism (FC). This theory offers a very different interpretation of how categories emerge through the functions of behavior and through contextual cues, which may be of some benefit to existing categorization theories. Specifically, RFT may be able to offer a novel explanation of how background knowledge arises, and we provide some mathematical considerations in order to identify a formal model. Finally, we discuss much of this work within the broader context of general semantic knowledge and artificial intelligence research.
Contextual Factors Affecting Risky Decision Making: The Influence of Music on Task Performance and Perceived Distraction
Authors: Buelow Melissa T. , Jungers Melissa K. , Parks Cora , Rinato Bonnie
Published: March 2022

Previous research has investigated factors that contribute to the development of different risk-taking behaviors, such as can occur on lab-based behavioral risky decision making tasks. On several of the most common tasks, participants must develop an adequate understanding of the relative risks and benefits associated with each decision in order to learn to decide advantageously. However, contextual factors can affect the decision making process and one’s ability to weigh the risks and benefits of a decision. The present study investigates the extent to which music may be an additional contextual factor that can disrupt decision making and other executive functions. Across four studies we examine whether having music playing passively in the background or having participants actively listen to music affects performance on measures of risky decision making, working memory, processing speed, and problem solving. Participants reported greater distraction for rock music than classical music in the passive listening studies but did not report any differences in distraction across conditions in the active listening studies. Despite this self-reported increased level of distraction, few significant differences were found in task performance across groups and across studies. The Angling Risk Task (ART) was sensitive to differences in risk by condition, with music leading to greater risk-taking in a passive listening study, but less risk-taking in an active listening study, compared to no music. The extent to which music serves as a contextual factor disrupting performance on measures of risky decision making and other executive functions may depend in part on whether individuals are actively versus passively listening to the music.
Introversion and High Spatial Ability Is Associated With Origami Proficiency
Authors: Hanada Mitsuhiko
Published: March 2022

This study examined the relationship between origami performance, personality traits, and spatial ability. The researchers asked 43 Japanese university students (19 women and 24 men) to fold three models of origami (paper folding). Their performance was assessed by the number of successes in correctly folding the paper to make the models. They also answered the personality inventory NEO-FFI and completed the block-design test of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV, which measures the spatial ability of people. The results showed that although origami performance demonstrated no significant relation with neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, or conscientiousness, it improved as introversion tendency and spatial ability increased. There were no differences based on sex in origami performance. The findings suggest that performing origami requires spatial ability, which supports the view that origami is a potential educational material for training and enhancing spatial ability, and that introversion is advantageous to origami performance.
Dynamic Tracking of State Anxiety via Multi-Modal Data and Machine Learning
Authors: Ding Yue , Liu Jingjing , Zhang Xiaochen , Yang Zhi
Published: March 2022

Anxiety induction is widely used in the investigations of the mechanism and treatment of state anxiety. State anxiety is accompanied by immediate psychological and physiological responses. However, the existing state anxiety measurement, such as the commonly used state anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, mainly relies on questionnaires with low temporal resolution. This study aims to develop a tracking model of state anxiety with high temporal resolution. To capture the dynamic changes of state anxiety levels, we induced the participants' state anxiety through exposure to aversive pictures or the risk of electric shocks and simultaneously recorded multi-modal data, including dimensional emotion ratings, electrocardiogram, and galvanic skin response. Using the paired self-reported state anxiety levels and multi-modal measures, we trained and validated machine learning models to predict state anxiety based on psychological and physiological features extracted from the multi-modal data. The prediction model achieved a high correlation between the predicted and self-reported state anxiety levels. This quantitative model provides fine-grained and sensitive measures of state anxiety levels for future affective brain-computer interaction and anxiety modulation studies.
Gray Matter Alterations in Pediatric Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Voxel-Based Morphometry Studies
Authors: Liu Jingran , Wen Fang , Yan Junjuan , Yu Liping , Wang Fang , Wang Duo , Zhang Jishui , Yan Chunmei , Chu Jiahui , Li Yanlin , Li Ying , Cui Yonghua
Published: March 2022

Objective

The aim of this study is comparing gray matter alterations in SCZ pediatric patients with those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) based on a systematic review and an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Elsevier, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). A systematic review and an ALE meta-analysis were performed to quantitatively examine brain gray matter alterations.

Results

Children and adolescents with schizophrenia had decreased gray matter volume (GMV) mainly in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), temporal cortex (such as the middle temporal gyrus and transverse temporal gyrus), and insula, while children and adolescents with OCD mainly had increased GMV in the PFC and the striatum (including the lentiform nucleus and caudate nucleus), and decreased GMV in the parietal cortex.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that gray matter abnormalities in the PFC may indicate homogeneity between the two diseases. In children and adolescents, structural alterations in schizophrenia mainly involve the fronto-temporal and cortico-insula circuits, whereas those in OCD mainly involve the prefrontal-parietal and the prefrontal-striatal circuits.
Intra-rater Kappa Accuracy of Prototype and ICD-10 Operational Criteria-Based Diagnoses for Mental Disorders: A Brief Report of a Cross-Sectional Study in an Outpatient Setting
Authors: Rocha Neto Helio G. , Sinem Tomas Boldrini , Koiller Luisa Mendez , Pereira Amanda Machado , de Souza Gomes Bianca Marques , Veloso Filho Carlos Linhares , Cavalcanti Maria T. , Telles-Correia Diogo
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives

The use of “operational criteria” is a solution for low reliability, contrasting with a prototypical classification that is used in clinics. We aim to measure the reliability of prototypical and ICD-10 diagnoses.

Methods

This is a retrospective study, with a convenience sample of subjects treated in a university clinic. Residents reviewed their diagnosis using ICD-10 criteria, and Cohen's kappa statistic was performed on operational and prototype diagnoses.

Results

Three out of 30 residents participated, reviewing 146 subjects under their care. Diagnoses were grouped in eight classes: organic (diagnoses from F00 to F09), substance disorders (F10–F19), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (F20–F29), bipolar affective disorder (F30, F31, F34.0, F38.1), depression (F32, F33), anxiety-related disorders (F40–F49), personality disorders (F60–F69), and neurodevelopmental disorders (F70–F99). Overall, agreement was high [K = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.69–0.85], with a lower agreement related to personality disorders (K = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.38–0.76) and higher with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (K = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.82–0.99).

Discussion

Use of ICD-10 criteria did not significantly increase the number of diagnoses. It changed few diagnoses, implying that operational criteria were irrelevant to clinical opinion. This suggests that reliability among interviewers is more related to information gathering than diagnostic definitions. Also, it suggests an incorporation of diagnostic criteria according to training, which then became part of the clinician's prototypes. Residents should be trained in the use of diagnostic categories, but presence/absence checking is not needed to achieve operational compatible diagnoses.
Suicidality and Quality of Life in Treatment-Resistant Depression Patients in Latin America: Secondary Interim Analysis of the TRAL Study
Authors: Corral Ricardo , Alessandria Hernan , Agudelo Baena Lina María , Ferro Eugenio , Duque Xochitl , Quarantini Lucas , Caldieraro Marco Antonio , Cabrera Patricia , Kanevsky Gabriela
Published: March 2022

Background

A large proportion of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The TRAL study examines the impact of TRD on suicidality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among MDD patients in 4 Latin American countries.

Methods

In this multicenter, prospective, observational study, MDD patients were recruited from 33 sites in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina. Patients were assessed for TRD, defined as failure to respond to ≥2 antidepressant medications of adequate dose and duration. Other assessments included current disease status, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), 5 Level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS).

Results

1,475 MDD patients were included in the analysis (mean age, 45.6 years; 78% women), and 429 met criteria for TRD. Thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts were more common among TRD patients (38.7%) compared with non-TRD patients (24.9%; P < 0.0001), according to the current disease status questionnaire. The C-SSRS showed that lifetime suicidal behavior was significantly more common among TRD patients than non-TRD patients (13.8 vs. 10.0%; P = 0.0384). Compared with non-TRD patients, TRD patients showed significantly greater adverse impacts on QoL (EQ-5D-5L), more severe depression (PHQ-9), and greater functional impairment (SDS).

Conclusion

TRD patients in clinical sites from Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina were more likely to experience suicidality and negative effects on HRQoL than non-TRD patients.
The Moderating Role of Lifestyle on Insomnia in Home Quarantine College Students During the COVID-19 Epidemic
Authors: Zhang Jinfang , Mi Lin , Zhao Jingbo , Chen Huilin , Wang Dongfang , Ma Zijuan , Fan Fang
Published: March 2022

There has been sufficient evidence for the relationship between lifestyle and insomnia in the general population, but for individuals who already suffer from insomnia, it is not clear whether a healthy lifestyle can also pose similar benefits. The present study investigated the roles of different aspects of lifestyle in the development of individual insomnia by tracking insomnia symptoms of college students during the COVID-19 lock-down. Two surveys were conducted on 65,200 college students in the process of home isolation in Guangdong Province of China, at the pandemic outbreak period (T1) and the initial remission period (T2), respectively. Given the objectives of the present study, a total of 1,702 college students with clinical insomnia from T1 were selected as subjects. Insomnia symptoms were assessed using the Youth Self Rating Insomnia Scale (YSIS), while demographic information, epidemic exposure, and lifestyle were all measured by self-developed questionnaire, through network survey. The 1,702 college students (mean age ± standard deviation, 20.06 ± 1.46, range 16–25; 71.9% females) with insomnia symptoms were divided into three trajectory groups: recovery group, remission group, and chronic insomnia group according to their insomnia scores in T2 phase. The results showed that there was no significant difference in demographic backgrounds or epidemic exposure among the three groups, however, there were significant differences in food intake, exercise, and Internet use. The regression results further showed that both the recovery group and the remission group adopted more regular food intake than the chronic group. The recovery group exhibited better daily exercise habits than both the remission group and the chronic group. The duration of Internet use was significantly shorter for the recovery group than for the chronic group. These findings indicate a strong relationship between the lifestyle and the recovery of insomnia for college students isolated at home during the epidemic period. Significance of the different aspects of lifestyle on the recovery of insomnia are discussed.
Gender-Specific Related Factors for Suicidal Ideation During COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown Among 5,175 Chinese Adolescents
Authors: Zhu Jin , Li Baohua , Hao Fengcheng , Luo Linlin , Yue Song , Zhai Jinguo , Chen Min , Liu Yan , Liu Debiao , Wang JianLi
Published: March 2022

Background

Suicide was an urgent issue during the pandemic period in adolescents. However, few studies were focused on suicide during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown.

Methods

An online survey was conducted among 5,175 Chinese adolescents from June 9th to 29th in 2020 to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. A gender-specific stepwise logistic regression model was used. All analyses were performed with STATA 15.0.

Results

About 3% of the participants had reported having SI during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. The prevalence of female SI (3.64%, 95% CI: 2.97–4.45%) was higher than that of males (2.39%, 95% CI: 1.88–3.05%) (χ2 = 6.87, p = 0.009). Quarreling with parents [odds ratio (OR) = 9.73, 95% CI: 5.38–17.59], insomnia (OR = 5.28, 95% CI: 2.81–9.93), previous suicide attempt history (OR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.69–8.03), previous SI history (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.30–6.06), and feeling depressed during pandemic lockdown (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.22–4.18) were positively associated with the males' SI. However, having emptiness inside (OR = 4.39, 95% CI: 2.19–8.79), quarreling with parents (OR = 3.72, 95% CI: 2.16–6.41), insomnia (OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.85–5.80), feeling anxious (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.46–4.70), and longing for father's emotional warmth (OR = 0.38, 0.20–0.72) were associated mostly with females' SI.

Conclusions

Female adolescents, who felt emptiness from their families and their fathers' emotional warmth, were at much higher risk of having SI during COVID-19 lockdown. We must specify a suicide prevention policy and interventions for adolescents in the pandemic crisis based on gender gaps.
Towards Digital Segregation? Problematizing the Haves and Have Nots in the Smart City
Authors: Foley Rider W. , Nadjari Sam , Eshirow John , Adekunle Rahman , Codjoe Paul
Published: March 2022

Scholars, policymakers, and issue advocates have long pointed to the digital divide and systemic injustices that pervade designs for the smart city. For many, this debate centers around the “haves” and “have nots” and the differences between those social groups. This research problematizes that binary classification and articulates a more nuanced set of social groups. Evidence from surveys and participant observations suggest that the smart city is further segregating urban residents along socio-economic lines. While some users will reap financial and social rewards from digital commerce, recreation and social life, others will be preyed upon, victimized or excluded. This will privilege a small group of elites and allow them to perpetuate digital segregation in the smart city. We close we a discussion on how to create pathways for greater inclusion and community-based governance.
Discrete Cutaneous Feedback for Reducing Dimensions of Wearable Haptic Devices
Authors: Leonardis Daniele , Gabardi Massimiliano , Barsotti Michele , Frisoli Antonio
Published: March 2022

In this article, we explore alternative cutaneous haptic feedback for rendering modulation of the grasping force. The aim of the study was to reduce power requirements and in turn dimensions of the actuators, in wearable devices applied to virtual or teleoperated manipulation. This is critical in certain rehabilitation or training scenarios where haptics should not interfere with dexterity of the user. In the study, we experimented discrete, pulsed cutaneous force feedback and compared it with conventional continuous proportional feedback, in a virtual pick and place task. We made use of wearable thimbles based on voice coil actuators in order to provide high-quality, low-noise haptic feedback to the participants. The evaluation was performed on the basis of both objective measurements of task performance (measured virtual forces and correct ratio) and a questionnaire evaluating participants’ preferences for the different feedback conditions. On the basis of the obtained results, in the article, we discuss the possibility of providing high-frequency, discretized cutaneous feedback only, driven by modulation of the grasping force. The opportunity is to reduce volume and mass of the actuators and also to consider alternative design solutions, due to the different requirements in terms of static and high-frequency components of the output force.
A Robust Approach for Reproducing the Haptic Sensation of Sandpaper With Different Roughness During Bare Fingertip Interaction
Authors: Zhang Jianyao , Kajimoto Hiroyuki
Published: March 2022

When reproducing realistic virtual textures for bare finger interaction, an accelerometer attached to a fingernail is commonly used. This measurement depends on the dynamic conditions during the exploration action, and slight differences in roughness are difficult to acquire accurately because of masking by shivering, low-pass filtering by the finger tissue, and sensor accuracy. We propose a simpler yet robust approach based on the 3D measurement of the surface and compare it with the conventional approach. The 3D surface images of sandpaper with different degrees of roughness were captured using a 3D microscope, and the line roughness curve was transformed into an acceleration curve by quadratic differential transformation. The real-time acceleration and frictional force were measured by an accelerometer and force sensor for comparison. A haptic device replaying acceleration-based vibrations by two audio speakers and producing tangential force by a motor-controlled liner slide was developed for reproduction. We conducted experiments with participants to evaluate the reproduction approach. Experimental results showed that the conventional approach obtained sufficient discriminability with the assistance of force, whereas the proposed approach achieved higher reproducibility and discriminability by sole vibration. Thus, our approach provides a new reference for studies of bare finger interaction with rough surfaces.
Spontaneous Ventilation Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Patients With Poor Lung Function: Short- and Long-Term Outcomes
Authors: Wang Runchen , Wang Qixia , Jiang Shunjun , Chen Chao , Zheng Jianqi , Liu Hui , Liang Xueqing , Chen Zhuxing , Wang Haixuan , Guo Zhuoxuan , Liang Wenhua , He Jianxing , Liang Hengrui , Wang Wei
Published: March 2022

Objective

The goal of this study was to explore the feasibility and safety of spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (SV-VATS) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with poor lung function.

Methods

NSCLC patients with poor lung function who underwent SV-VATS or mechanical ventilation VATS (MV-VATS) from 2011 to 2018 were analyzed. 1:2 Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied, and the short- and long-term outcomes between the SV-VATS group and the MV-VATS group were compared.

Results

Anesthesia time (226.18 ± 64.89 min vs. 248.27 ± 76.07 min; P = 0.03), operative time (140.85 ± 76.07 min vs. 163.12 ± 69.37 min; P = 0.01), days of postoperative hospitalization (7.29 ± 3.35 days vs. 8.40 ± 7.89 days; P = 0.04), and days of chest tube use (4.15 ± 2.89 days vs. 5.15 ± 3.54 days; P = 0.01), the number of N1 station lymph node dissection (2.94 ± 3.24 vs. 4.34 ± 4.15; P = 0.005) and systemic immune-inflammation index (3855.43 ± 3618.61 vs. 2908.11 ± 2933.89; P = 0.04) were lower in SV-VATS group. Overall survival and disease-free survival were not significantly different between the two groups (OS: HR 0.66, 95% CI: 0.41–1.07, P = 0.09; DFS: HR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.42–1.45, P = 0.43).

Conclusions

Comparable short-term and long-term outcomes indicated that SV-VATS is a feasible and safe method and might be an alternative to MV-VATS when managing NSCLC patients with poor lung function.
La Cohesión Grupal: factor terapéutico y requisito para la creación de un grupo de terapia
Authors: Rodríguez-Zafra Mónica , García Galeán Laura
Published: March 2022

El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una revisión tanto sobre el valor terapéutico de la cohesión grupal como sobre la importancia de que este factor se favorezca activamente por parte del terapeuta de grupo para que el grupo pueda trabajar con más eficiencia todos los factores terapéuticos descritos por Yalom que tienen lugar en el grupo. La orientación de este trabajo es dinámica relacional, dentro del marco general de la orientación humanista.
Prediction of Sound Insulation Using Artificial Neural Networks—Part I: Lightweight Wooden Floor Structures
Authors: Bader Eddin Mohamad , Ménard Sylvain , Bard Hagberg Delphine , Kouyoumji Jean-Luc , Vardaxis Nikolaos-Georgios
Published: March 2022

The artificial neural networks approach is applied to estimate the acoustic performance for airborne and impact sound insulation curves of different lightweight wooden floors. The prediction model is developed based on 252 standardized laboratory measurement curves in one-third octave bands (50–5000 Hz). Physical and geometric characteristics of each floor structure (materials, thickness, density, dimensions, mass and more) are utilized as network parameters. The predictive capability is satisfactory, and the model can estimate airborne sound better than impact sound cases especially in the middle-frequency range (250–1000 Hz), while higher frequency bands often show high errors. The forecast of the weighted airborne sound reduction index Rw was calculated with a maximum error of 2 dB. However, the error increased up to 5 dB in the worse case prediction of the weighted normalized impact sound pressure level Ln,w. The model showed high variations near the fundamental and critical frequency areas which affect the accuracy. A feature attribution analysis explored the essential parameters on estimation of sound insulation. The thickness of the insulation materials, the density of cross-laminated timber slab and the concrete floating floors and the total density of floor structures seem to affect predictions the most. A comparison between wet and dry floor solution systems indicated the importance of the upper part of floors to estimate airborne and impact sound in low frequencies.
Power-Efficient Soft Pneumatic Actuator Using Spring-Frame Collateral Compression Mechanism
Authors: Kim Sungjun , Lee Seung Ryeol , Lee Sinyoung , Lee Dongun , Shin Dongjun
Published: March 2022

With the ongoing research on soft robots, the performance of soft actuators needs to be enhanced for more wide robotic applications. Currently, most soft robots based on pneumatic actuation are capable of assisting small systems, but they are not fully suited for supporting joints requiring large force and range of motion. This is due to the actuation characteristics of the pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM); they are relatively slow, inefficient, and experience a significant force reduction when the PAM contracts. Hence, we propose a novel PAM based on a spring-frame collateral compression mechanism. With only a single compressed air source, the external mesh-covered and inner spring-frame actuators of the proposed PAM operate simultaneously to generate considerable force. Additionally, the design of the internal actuator within the void space of PAM reduces the air consumption and consequently improves the actuator’s operating speed and efficiency. We experimentally confirmed that the proposed PAM exhibited 31.2% greater force, was 25.6% faster, and consumed 21.5% lower air compared to the conventional McKibben muscles. The performance enhancement of the proposed PAM improves the performance of soft robots, allowing the development of more compact robots with greater assistive range.
A Semi-Analytical and Monte Carlo-Based Phase Dynamic Evolution Approach for LEO Mega-Constellations
Authors: Su Bo , Zhou Qingrui
Published: March 2022

In recent years, with the reduction of the cost of microsatellites, the development of commercial rockets and the multi-satellite launching technology, the construction of large-scale constellations in low-Earth orbit (Mega-Constellations) has become a development trend. Since the motion of LEO satellites is affected by perturbations such as non-spherical gravitational fields and atmospheric drag, as well as the uncertainty of actuators, measurement systems, and dynamic models, it is easy to cause divergence of constellation configurations. The station-keeping control of the satellites is crucial for the stable operation of the mega-constellation. Aiming at this problem, this paper proposes an uncertainty propagation approach based on semi-analytical and Monte Carlo for LEO Mega-Constellations. Under the assumption that initial uncertainty on the osculating trajectory is Gaussian distribution, through hypothesis testing analysis, the uncertainty propagation simulations of a single satellite suggest that the satellite argument of latitude and the relative phase of co-plane satellites can be both considered as Gaussian distributions with zero means. Multi-group Monte Carlo simulations with product-based least-squares surface fitting establish an approximate mapping between initial and terminal errors. The mapping provides an efficient method for deviation prediction and can be used to design the station-keeping control strategy.