bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory dysfunction may cause prospective memory impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients: an event-related potential study
Authors: Yu Hemei , Gao Junling , Chang Richard Shek-Kwan , Mak Windsor , Thach Thuan-Quoc , Cheung Raymond Tak Fai
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember future intentions, and PM function is closely related to independence in daily life, particularly in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). As PM involves various cognitive components of attention, working memory, inhibition and other executive functions, this study investigated how TLE may affect PM components and the underlying neural mechanisms.

Methods

Sixty-four subjects were recruited, including 20 refractory TLE patients, 18 well-controlled TLE patients and 26 age-matched healthy controls. A set of neuropsychological tests was administered to assess specific brain functions. An event-related potential (ERP) task was used to further explore how PM and its components would be differentially affected in the two TLE types.

Results

Our findings revealed that: (1) refractory TLE patients scored lower than the healthy controls in the digit span, Verbal Fluency Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test; (2) refractory TLE patients exhibited impaired PM performance and reduced prospective positivity amplitudes over the frontal, central and parietal regions in ERP experiments when compared to the healthy controls; and (3) decreased P3 amplitudes in the nogo trials were observed over the frontal-central sites in refractory but not in well-controlled TLE patients.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first ERP study on PM that has specifically identified PM impairment in refractory but not in well-controlled TLE patients. Our finding of double dissociation in PM components suggests that inhibition dysfunction may be the main reason for PM deficit in refractory TLE patients. The present results have clinical implications for neuropsychological rehabilitation in TLE patients.
Contour integration deficits at high spatial frequencies in children treated for anisometropic amblyopia
Authors: Jiang Shu-Qi , Chen Yan-Ru , Liu Xiang-Yun , Zhang Jun-Yun
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study was conducted to reexamine the question of whether children treated for anisometropic amblyopia have contour integration deficits. To do so, we used psychophysical methods that require global contour processing while minimizing the influence of low-level deficits: visibility, shape perception, and positional uncertainty.

Methods

Thirteen children with anisometropic amblyopia (age: 10.1 ± 1.8 years) and thirteen visually normal children (age: 10.8 ± 2.0 years) participated in this study. The stimuli were closed figures made up of Gabor patches either in noise or on a blank field. The contrast thresholds to detect a circular contour on a blank field, as well as the thresholds of aspect ratio and contour element number to discriminate a circular or elliptical contour in noise, were measured at Gabor spatial frequencies of 1.5, 3, and 6 cpd for amblyopic eyes (AEs), fellow eyes (FEs), and normal control eyes. Visual acuities and contrast sensitivity functions for AEs and FEs and the Randot stereoacuity were measured before testing.

Results

The AEs showed contrast deficits and degraded shape perception compared to the FEs at higher spatial frequencies (6 cpd). When the influence of abnormal contrast sensitivity and shape perception were minimized, the AEs showed contour integration deficits at spatial frequencies 3 and 6 cpd. These deficits were not related to basic losses in contrast sensitivity and acuity, stereoacuity, and visual crowding. Besides, no significant difference was found between the fellow eyes of the amblyopic children and the normal control eyes in the performance of contour integration.

Conclusion

After eliminating or compensating for the low-level deficits, children treated for anisometropic amblyopia still show contour integration deficits, primarily at higher spatial frequencies, which might reflect the deficits in global processing caused by amblyopia. Contour integration deficits are likely independent of spatial vision deficits. Refractive correction and/or occlusion therapies may not be sufficient to fully restore contour integration deficits, which indicates the need for the development of clinical treatments to recover these deficits.
Effects of genetics and sex on adolescent behaviors following neonatal ethanol exposure in BXD recombinant inbred strains
Authors: Baker Jessica A. , Mulligan Megan K. , Hamre Kristin M.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are the leading preventable neurodevelopmental disorders and two hallmark symptoms of FASD are abnormal behavior, and cognitive and learning deficits. The severity of alcohol’s teratogenic effects on the developing brain is influenced by genetics and sex. We previously identified recombinant inbred BXD mouse strains that show differential vulnerability to ethanol-induced cell death in the developing hippocampus, a brain region important in learning and memory. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that strains with increased vulnerability to ethanol-induced cell death in the hippocampus have concomitant deficits in multiple hippocampal-related behaviors during adolescence.

Methods

The current study evaluated the effects of developmental ethanol exposure on adolescent behavior in two BXD strains that show high cell death (BXD48a, BXD100), two that show low cell death (BXD60, BXD71), and the two parental strains (C57BL/6 J (B6), DBA/2 J (D2)). On postnatal day 7, male and female neonatal pups were treated with ethanol (5.0 g/kg) or saline given in two equal doses 2 h apart. Adolescent behavior was assessed across multiple behavioral paradigms including the elevated plus maze, open field, Y-maze, and T-maze.

Results

Our results demonstrate that the effects of developmental ethanol exposure on adolescent behavioral responses are highly dependent on strain. The low cell death strains, BXD60 and BXD71, showed minimal effect of ethanol exposure on all behavioral measures but did present sex differences. The parental –B6 and D2–strains and high cell death strains, BXD48a and BXD100, showed ethanol-induced effects on activity-related or anxiety-like behaviors. Interestingly, the high cell death strains were the only strains that showed a significant effect of postnatal ethanol exposure on hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory behaviors.

Discussion

Overall, we identified effects of ethanol exposure, strain, and/or sex on multiple behavioral measures. Interestingly, the strains that showed the most effects of postnatal ethanol exposure on adolescent behavior were the BXD strains that show high ethanol-induced cell death in the neonatal hippocampus, consistent with our hypothesis. Additionally, we found evidence for interactions among strain and sex, demonstrating that these factors have a complex effect on alcohol responses and that both are important considerations.
BIDL: a brain-inspired deep learning framework for spatiotemporal processing
Authors: Wu Zhenzhi , Shen Yangshu , Zhang Jing , Liang Huaju , Zhao Rongzhen , Li Han , Xiong Jianping , Zhang Xiyu , Chua Yansong
Published: July 2023

Brain-inspired deep spiking neural network (DSNN) which emulates the function of the biological brain provides an effective approach for event-stream spatiotemporal perception (STP), especially for dynamic vision sensor (DVS) signals. However, there is a lack of generalized learning frameworks that can handle various spatiotemporal modalities beyond event-stream, such as video clips and 3D imaging data. To provide a unified design flow for generalized spatiotemporal processing (STP) and to investigate the capability of lightweight STP processing via brain-inspired neural dynamics, this study introduces a training platform called brain-inspired deep learning (BIDL). This framework constructs deep neural networks, which leverage neural dynamics for processing temporal information and ensures high-accuracy spatial processing via artificial neural network layers. We conducted experiments involving various types of data, including video information processing, DVS information processing, 3D medical imaging classification, and natural language processing. These experiments demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method. Moreover, as a research framework for researchers in the fields of neuroscience and machine learning, BIDL facilitates the exploration of different neural models and enables global-local co-learning. For easily fitting to neuromorphic chips and GPUs, the framework incorporates several optimizations, including iteration representation, state-aware computational graph, and built-in neural functions. This study presents a user-friendly and efficient DSNN builder for lightweight STP applications and has the potential to drive future advancements in bio-inspired research.
The role of probiotics and prebiotics in modulating of the gut-brain axis
Authors: Ansari Fereshteh , Neshat Mehrdad , Pourjafar Hadi , Jafari Seid Mahdi , Samakkhah Shohreh Alian , Mirzakhani Esmaeel
Published: July 2023

Pro-and prebiotics have been indicated to modulate the gut-brain axis, which have supportive impacts on central nervous systems, and decrease or control the incidence of some mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, autism, Schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s. In this review, complex communications among microbiota, gut, and the brain, and also recent scientific findings of the impacts and possible action mechanisms of pro-and prebiotics on mental disorders have been discussed. The results have shown that pro-and prebiotics can improve the function of central nervous system and play an important role in the prevention and treatment of some brain disorders; however, in order to prove these effects conclusively and firmly and to use these compounds in a therapeutic and supportive way, more studies are needed, especially human studies/clinical trials.
Recent advancement in bioeffect, metabolism, stability, and delivery systems of apigenin, a natural flavonoid compound: challenges and perspectives
Authors: Chen Peng , Chen Fuchao , Guo ZhiLei , Lei Jiexin , Zhou Benhong
Published: July 2023

Apigenin is a bioflavonoid compound that is widely present in dietary plant foods and possesses biological activities that protect against immune, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Therefore, apigenin is widely used in food and medicine, and increasing attention has been drawn to developing new delivery systems for apigenin. This review highlights the biological effects, metabolism, stability, and bioactivity of apigenin. In addition, we summarized advancements in the delivery of apigenin, which provides some references for its widespread use in food and medicine. Better stability of apigenin may enhance digestion and absorption and provide health benefits. Constructing delivery systems (such as emulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers, hydrogels, and liposomes) for apigenin is an effective strategy to improve its bioavailability, but more animal and cell experiments are needed to verify these findings. Developing apigenin delivery systems for food commercialization is still challenging, and further research is needed to promote their in-depth development and utilization.
Case Report: Optimum excision with split skin graft closure in the management of penile sebaceous carcinoma
Authors: Fam Xeng Inn , Liu Chian Yong , Md Pauzi Suria Hayati , Rizuana Iqbal Hussain
Published: July 2023

Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) is a rare malignant skin neoplasm derived from the meibomian gland of adnexal epithelium, which is frequently confused with basal cell carcinoma (BCC), exhibiting sebaceous differentiation and commonly found in the head and neck regions. We report a case of penile sebaceous carcinoma, an extremely rare anatomical site for SC. A 68-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of painless, non-healing ulcerated nodules over the left side of the penile shaft. Wedge biopsy showed adenocarcinoma with signet ring differentiation. We proceeded with wide local excision (WLE) of the lesion with the inclusion of the indurated skin and 5 mm of normal margin, followed by primary closure of the scrotal defect and split skin grafting of the penile shaft by using a thigh skin donor. The final histopathological examination revealed sebaceous carcinoma with pagetoid spread. The patient achieved recurrence-free survival without any form of adjuvant therapy after 4 years of follow-up.
Pain nursing for gynecologic cancer patients
Authors: Wu Wei , He Xiaodan , Li Shenjie , Jin Ming , Ni Yali
Published: July 2023

Gynecological malignancy remains a prevalent cause of mortality among women. Chronic cancer pain, as a severe complication of malignancy and its therapies, accounts for a substantial burden of physical and psychological distress in affected patients. Accordingly, early identification, assessment, and standardized management of such pain are crucial in the prevention or delay of its progression. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the pathological factors that contribute to pain in patients with gynecological malignancy while highlighting the underlying mechanisms of pain in this population. In addition, we summarize several treatment modalities targeting pain management in gynecologic cancer patients, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. These interventions are crucial for tumor elimination and patient survival. Chronic cancer pain exerts a significant impact on wellbeing and quality of life for patients with gynecologic cancer. Therefore, our review emphasizes the importance of addressing this pain and its psychological sequelae and advocates for a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses nursing and psychological support. In summary, this review offers valuable insights into the pathological factors underlying pain, reviews pain management modalities, and stresses the critical role of early intervention and comprehensive care in enhancing the quality of life of these patients.
Construction of a prognostic signature associated with liver metastases for prognosis and immune response prediction in colorectal cancer
Authors: Liu Chang , Lu Zhihua , Yan Jun , Xue Dong , He Xiaoyu , Huang Wenbo , Sun Qi , Zhao Wei , Li Fanni
Published: July 2023

Background

As the most common gastrointestinal malignancy worldwide, liver metastases occur in half colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Early detection can help treat them early and reduce mortality in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). Finding useful biomarkers for CRLM is thus essential.

Methods

The TCGA and GEO databases were used to download the expression profiles and clinical data of the patients. Differential analysis screened for genes associated with CRLM, and univariate Cox regression analysis identified genes associated with prognosis. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method further preferred genes to construct a prognostic signature. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to show patients’ overall survival (OS). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed the accuracy of the model. Risk scores and clinical characteristics of patients were included in multivariate Cox regression analysis to identify independent risk factors, and a nomogram was constructed. The proportion of immune cells and infiltration were assessed using the ‘CIBERSORT’ package and the ‘ESTIMATE’ package.

Results

We constructed a signature consisting of seven CRLM-associated genes, and signature-based risk scores have great potential in estimating the prognosis of CRC patients. Moreover, the poor response to immunotherapy in high-risk patients might contribute to the poor prognosis of individuals. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of Hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (HAMP), the only gene highly expressed in CRC and liver metastatic tissues, promoted CRC development and that it was associated with tumor mutation burden (TMB), DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, and microsatellite instability (MSI) in various tumors. Finally, we found that in CRC patients, low expression of HAMP also represented a better immunotherapeutic outcome, reflecting the critical role of HAMP in guiding immunotherapy.

Conclusion

We identified a prognostic signature containing 7 CRLM-associated genes, and the signature was specified as an independent predictor and a nomogram containing the risk score was built accordingly. In addition, the derived gene HAMP could help guide the exploration of profitable immunotherapeutic strategies.
Perspectives on emotional memory images and the persistence of pain
Authors: Hudson Matt , Johnson Mark I.
Published: July 2023

Multiple influences prevent recovery from pain. Our viewpoint is that non-conscious emotional memory images (EMIs) triggers outdated stress responses contributing to the intractability of pain. In this perspectives article we explore the concept that EMIs contribute to the persistence of pain. We contend that psychophysiological “stress” responses, resulting from first-time, novel and unprecedented pernicious or adverse events form EMIs within very short time frames (split-second learning). Subsequently, these EMIs are re-triggered in daily living, “re-playing” stress responses. We postulate that EMIs continually “raise the alarm” to socio-ecological stimuli by re-triggering the HPA-axis and amplifying neural input associated with threat, fear, anxiety, and pain, creating a debilitating state of psychophysiological dis-ease. We position the EMI within a philosophical debate on the nature and locus of memory and explain how the EMI, irrespective of whether it is a “thing” or a metaphor, can create a basis of understanding for the client to grasp. We describe a therapeutic approach (Split-Second Unlearning) to “clear” EMIs and the “stickiness” of pain and help people embark on a healing journey. This involves surveillance of clients for micro-expression(s) signifying an in-the-moment stress response, representative of the presence of an EMI, and encouraging the client to become a curious observer within/of their own experience. This helps the client detach their EMI from its stress response. We contend that this occurs rapidly without the need to get bogged down in a whole-life narrative. We advocate further exploration of our EMI model of dis-ease in the context of intractable pain.
Anticancer therapeutic effect of ginsenosides through mediating reactive oxygen species
Authors: Li Xiaonan , Cao Donghui , Sun Siming , Wang Yuehui
Published: July 2023

Dysregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS-regulated pathways in cancer cells leads to abnormal accumulation of reactive oxygen species, displaying a double-edged role in cancer progression, either supporting transformation/proliferation and stimulating tumorigenesis or inducing cell death. Cancer cells can accommodate reactive oxygen species by regulating them at levels that allow the activation of pro-cancer signaling pathways without inducing cell death via modulation of the antioxidant defense system. Therefore, targeting reactive oxygen species is a promising approach for cancer treatment. Ginsenosides, their derivatives, and related drug carriers are well-positioned to modulate multiple signaling pathways by regulating oxidative stress-mediated cellular and molecular targets to induce apoptosis; regulate cell cycle arrest and autophagy, invasion, and metastasis; and enhance the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to chemotherapeutic agents of different cancers depending on the type, level, and source of reactive oxygen species, and the type and stage of the cancer. Our review focuses on the pro- and anticancer effects of reactive oxygen species, and summarizes the mechanisms and recent advances in different ginsenosides that bring about anticancer effects by targeting reactive oxygen species, providing new ideas for designing further anticancer studies or conducting more preclinical and clinical studies.
Role of nucleus accumbens dopamine 2 receptors in motivating cocaine use in male and female rats prior to and following the development of an addiction-like phenotype
Authors: Towers Eleanor Blair , Williams Ivy L. , Qillawala Emaan I. , Lynch Wendy J.
Published: July 2023

A hallmark of cocaine use disorder (CUD) is dysfunction of dopamine signaling in the mesolimbic pathway, including impaired dopamine 2 (D2) receptor signaling. One of the most replicated findings in human imagining studies is decreased striatal D2 receptor binding in individuals with a substance use disorder relative to healthy controls; however, the vast majority of the data is from males, and findings in smokers suggest this molecular shift may not translate to females. The goal of this study was to determine whether there are sex differences in the role of D2 receptors in motivating cocaine use prior to and following the development of an addiction-like phenotype (defined by an enhanced motivation for cocaine relative to the short-access, ShA, group). Here, male and female rats were given ShA (20 infusions/day, 3 days) or extended-access (ExA; 24h/day, 96 infusions/day, 10 days) to cocaine self-administration and then following 14 days of withdrawal, were tested under a progressive-ratio schedule to assess motivation for cocaine use. Once a stable level of motivation was established, the effect of NAc-infusions of the D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride (0–3.0 µg/side) were examined. We found that in males, eticlopride was less effective at decreasing motivation for cocaine following ExA versus ShA self-administration, particularly at low eticlopride doses. In contrast, in females, there were no differences in the effectiveness of eticlopride between ExA and ShA. These findings indicate that males, but not females, become less sensitive to NAc-D2 receptor antagonism with the development of an addiction-like phenotype.
The resonance between the electromagnetic field and electrons in the helicon plasma source of a magnetoplasma rocket engine
Authors: Yang Zhenyu , Fan Wei , Han Xianwei , Tan Chang
Published: July 2023

The helicon plasma source is of great significance for the magnetoplasma rocket engine (MPRE) to be used as an effective propulsion device. In this paper, a multi-fluid, two-dimensional, axisymmetric model coupled with the electromagnetic field was developed to simulate the helicon plasma source in the MPRE. The simulation results demonstrate that the operation mode of the helicon plasma source in the MPRE gradually converts to a high-order wave mode and the resonance between the electromagnetic field and electrons is observed; due to the resonance, the deposit power density inside the plasma increases significantly, and the plasma density is two orders of magnitude higher than that in the inductively coupled plasma source. As the magnetic field intensity increases, the helicon plasma source enters into a high-order wave mode, which suggests that the MPRE can improve the utilization rate of the working medium by a stronger magnetic field.
Finite element study on the initiation of new fractures in temporary plugging fracturing
Authors: Xing Xuesong , Wu Guangai , Zhou Jun , Zhang Anshun , Hou Yanan , Xie Xin , Wu Jianshu , Kong Xiangwei , Li Song
Published: July 2023

Hydraulic fracturing technology is an important means to efficiently exploit unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. As the development of oil and gas fields continues at a high rate, the life cycle of oil and gas wells has been significantly shortened. Fracture sealing is often used to transform oil and gas reservoirs, maintaining long-term economic development benefits. Multiple high-conductivity channels were created between the borehole and the reservoir through temporary sealing of fractures near the contaminated zone. This extended the recovery range and further improved the recovery of oil and gas. A mathematical model was developed to predict the distribution of stress around the artificial fracture prior to the rupture of the seal. Finite element software was used to model the stress distribution around a reservoir containing natural and artificial fractures. We discuss the mechanical conditions for the initiation of a new fracture and the optimal timing for fracture sealing. The prediction of the propagation and propagation trajectories of the new fracture is revealed, and the behavior rules for the initiation and steering propagation of the new fracture are clarified. These results can facilitate theoretical studies and on-site technical optimization of fracture sealing.
Effects of dietary leucine on growth, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and inflammation in juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco
Authors: Feng Dexiang , Yu Yangping , Liu Kaifang , Su Yi , Fan Tianyu , Guo Xusheng , Li Ming
Published: July 2023

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary leucine on growth, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and inflammation in juvenile yellow catfish. Five diets were formulated to contain five dietary leucine levels: 12.00 (control), 19.00, 26.00, 33.00, and 40.00 g kg−1. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 juvenile fish (5.02 ± 0.15 g) twice daily to apparent satiation for 56 days. Weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and activities of liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and serum lysozyme, as well as immunoglobulin M content, significantly increased with increase in dietary leucine levels up to 26.00 g kg−1, but those values decreased significantly with a further increase in dietary leucine. On the contrary, the lowest malondialdehyde content was found in 26.00 and 33.00 g kg−1 leucine groups. The expression levels of IGF 1 and MYF 5 genes in muscle were significantly upregulated with increase in dietary leucine levels up to 26.00 g kg−1, but the expression of MSTN level showed the opposite trend. The lowest expression levels of IL 8 and TNFɑ genes in the liver were found in 26.00 g kg−1 leucine groups. The quadratic regression analysis on weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio against dietary leucine levels indicated that the optimal dietary leucine requirement was estimated to be 26.84–27.00 g kg−1of the dry diet.
The potentials for incidental vocabulary acquisition from listening to computer science academic lectures: a higher education corpus-based case study from Macau
Authors: Reynolds Barry Lee , Xie Xiaowen (Serina) , Pham Quy Huynh Phu
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Universities in non-Anglophone countries are increasingly implementing English as the medium of instruction (EMI) lectures. There seems to be an assumption that students’ performance on standardized English examinations can be equated with the lexical knowledge needed to comprehend EMI lectures regardless of discipline. For unknown words students encounter, it is assumed that they can be picked up through listening to these lectures. This potential for students to acquire unknown words incidentally while listening to these lectures has yet to be fully explored.

Methods

This study addresses the potential of students incidentally acquiring vocabulary from listening to EMI lectures through corpus analyses of computer science lectures at one public university in Macau. Taking into consideration frequency, range, and lecturer explanation, corpus analyses of the transcripts of 28 computer science lectures (40 h 36 min) were conducted to determine the lexical knowledge needed for students to comprehend the lectures. The potential number of words these students could acquire through listening to the lectures was also uncovered through further analyses.

Results

Results showed that L2 students need to have receptive knowledge of the most frequent 3,000 word families plus proper nouns and marginal words to reach beyond 95% lexical coverage. To reach 98% lexical coverage, 5,000 word families are needed. Considering frequency, range, and teacher explanation, we concluded that 30 new words could reasonably be incidentally acquired after listening to the 28 lectures.

Discussion

These results indicate a need for EMI lecturers to consider the lexical knowledge of students and whether additional pedagogical techniques (i.e., vocabulary explanation) should be employed in content classrooms when lectures are delivered in English, especially for specialized fields such as computer science. Our results also draw attention to the importance of field specific vocabulary and the potential pitfalls of using blanket English language admissions criteria when admitting students to different academic programs.
Case reports: Using Good Psychiatric Management (GPM) conceptualizations in the dimensional assessment and treatment of personality disorders
Authors: Blay Martin , Benmakhlouf Ines , Duarte Miguel , Perroud Nader , Greiner Christian , Charbon Patrick , Choi-Kain Lois , Speranza Mario
Published: July 2023

Good Psychiatric Management (GPM) is a generalist clinical management approach for borderline personality disorder that incorporates common ingredients of good standard care for any psychiatric diagnosis with what works from prevailing specialist psychotherapies. Similar to all validated therapies for BPD, it relies on a specified formulation of the disorder' symptoms as arising from interpersonal hypersensitivity, to dynamically describe typical patterns of daily self- and interpersonal issues that drive the instability that defines the general personality dysfunction characteristic of the disorder. Recent adaptations of GPM have been proposed for narcissistic personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, with development of similar dynamic models for both (intrapsychic coherence model and model of overcontrol). New dimensional models of personality disorder diagnosis have been developed to address limitations of categorical approach, but the incorporation of these models into usage in the delivery of clinical services (where categorical approach remains the most used) is limited. This paper describes an adaptation of GPM to two cases of personality disorder that illustrate the usefulness of GPM models for dynamic representation of complex daily fluctuations in internal psychic coherence and interpersonal functioning. Specialist psychotherapies will never meet the demands of public health needs to treat personality dysfunction, and incorporation of new dimensional models of diagnosis are needed for treatments that can provide a minimal standard of care for providers and patients.
Analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in antipsychotic-free individuals with at-risk mental state and patients with first-episode schizophrenia
Authors: Le Anh Thi Phuong , Higuchi Yuko , Sumiyoshi Tomiki , Itoh Hiroko , Sasabayashi Daiki , Takahashi Tsutomu , Suzuki Michio
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Abnormalities in membrane phospholipids are considered one of the pathophysiological backgrounds for schizophrenia. This study, explores the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes and its association with clinical characteristics in two groups: individuals with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) and patients experiencing their first-episode of schizophrenia (FES).

Materials and methods

This study measured erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in 72 antipsychotic-free individuals with ARMS, 18 antipsychotic-free patients with FES, and 39 healthy volunteers. Clinical symptoms and cognitive and social functions were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS), and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS).

Results

Eicosapentaenoic and docosapentaenoic acid levels were lower in the ARMS and FES groups than in the healthy control group. In contrast, nervonic acid (NA) levels were markedly higher in the ARMS and FES groups than in the controls, while only the FES group showed higher levels of arachidonic acid. Oleic acid and NA levels were significantly associated with PANSS scores in both the FES and ARMS groups, particularly for the negative and general subscores. However, the patient groups had no significant associations between the fatty acid composition and the BACS, SCoRS, and SOFAS scores. Furthermore, the baseline fatty acid composition did not differ between the ARMS individuals who later developed psychosis (N = 6) and those who were followed for more than 2 years without developing psychosis onset (N = 30).

Discussion

The findings suggest that abnormal fatty acid compositions may be shared in the early stages of schizophrenia and the clinical high-risk state for psychosis and may serve as vulnerability markers of psychopathology.
Exploring the bidirectional causal link between household income status and genetic susceptibility to neurological diseases: findings from a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Nong Weidong , Mo Gui , Luo Chun
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Observational studies have revealed that socioeconomic status is associated with neurological disorders and aging. However, the potential causal effect between the two remains unclear. We therefore aimed to investigate the causal relationship between household income status and genetic susceptibility to neurological diseases using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study.

Methods

An MR study was conducted on a large-sample cohort of the European population pulled from a publicly available genome-wide association study dataset, using a random-effects inverse-variance weighting model as the main standard. MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and maximum likelihood estimation were also performed concurrently as supplements. A sensitivity analysis, consisting of a heterogeneity test and horizontal pleiotropy test, was performed using Cochran’s Q, MR-Egger intercept, and MR-PRESSO tests to ensure the reliability of the conclusion.

Results

The results suggested that higher household income tended to lower the risk of genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease (odds ratio [OR]: 0.740, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.559–0.980, p-value = 0.036) and ischemic stroke (OR: 0.801, 95% CI = 0.662–0.968, p-value = 0.022). By contrast, higher household income tended to increase the risk of genetic susceptibility to Parkinson’s disease (OR: 2.605, 95% CI = 1.413–4.802, p-value = 0.002). No associations were evident for intracranial hemorrhage (OR: 1.002, 95% CI = 0.607–1.653, p-value = 0.993), cerebral aneurysm (OR: 0.597, 95% CI = 0.243–1.465, p-value = 0.260), subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR: 1.474, 95% CI = 0.699–3.110, p-value = 0.308), or epilepsy (OR: 1.029, 95% CI = 0.662–1.600, p-value = 0.899). The reverse MR study suggested no reverse causal relationship between neurological disorders and household income status. A sensitivity analysis verified the reliability of the results.

Conclusion

Our results revealed that the populations with a superior household income exhibit an increased predisposition of genetic susceptibility to Parkinson’s Disease, while demonstrating a potential decreased genetic susceptibility to ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.
Intestinal and fecal pH in human health
Authors: Yamamura Ryodai , Inoue Kumi Y. , Nishino Kunihiko , Yamasaki Seiji
Published: July 2023

Gut microbiota has been reported to be closely related to host energy metabolism and immunity, and thus influence the development and progression of various human diseases. To date, the gut microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, defensins, cathelicidins, and lactoferrin in feces have been investigated as biomarkers associated with various disease conditions. In this review, we introduce intestinal and fecal pH, which is relatively easy and rapid to measure compared to the composition of the gut microbiota and its metabolites. In particular, this review presents the distribution of pH in the human body, its role and clinical significance, and various factors that affect intestinal and fecal pH, including the gut microbiota and its metabolites.
Press discourses on ecological crises in the UK, Israel, and Hungary
Authors: Yuval-Davis Nira , Meier Isabel , Rosen Rolly , Varjú Viktor
Published: July 2023

This article explores the relationships between political projects of belonging and approaches to environmental and climate ecological crises via comparing centre-right and centre-left newspapers in the UK, Israel and Hungary. Our theoretical framework draws on Nira Yuval-Davis's work on the politics of belonging as a way of understanding and framing the different political projects that accompany reporting on ecological issues. Focusing on selected national and international case studies on these issues at the centre of public debate during the last two decades, the paper explores and compares these relationships by examining the eco-relational, spatial, temporal and normative framing dimensions of the political projects of belonging as expressed in these articles. The findings of the analysis show that, despite different cultural and historical contexts, the most significant dividing line is not among countries but between the different political projects of belonging of the newspapers. This can be seen even when dealing with country-specific, rather than international, case studies. Overall, centre-right newspapers tend to focus on narrow nationalist interests concerning the climate crisis and do not produce discourses of urgency to resolve the crisis except when reporting on major international political agendas. They are also more inclined to focus on the economic aspects of such efforts and how they would affect the “people”. The centre-left press, on the other hand, tends to prioritise ecological issues much more; it has wider global and planetary interdependent constructions of belonging and engages in the production of discourses of urgency in an attempt to solve the crisis and avoid future catastrophes. However, even in the centre-left press, especially in the UK, a tendency to remain within a western-centric perspective was observed.
Exploring the contributions of non-farm income diversification for improving soil and water conservation practices and reducing rural poverty in rain-fed areas of Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Jabbar Awais , Wei Liu , Zhang Jian , Liu Jiyun , Wang Ye , Wu Qun , Peng Jianchao
Published: July 2023

Attaining agricultural sustainability and eliminating poverty are the key challenges of rural areas. Non-farm income diversification is a vital livelihood strategy that endorses sustainable agriculture and alleviates poverty. Considering the land degradation and poor economic situation of Pakistan's rain-fed areas, the current research examined the potential effects of non-farm income diversification on household poverty and adopting soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies. A survey of 441 farmers was conducted in rain-fed areas of Punjab, Pakistan, and for econometric analysis, the propensity score matching (PSM) technique was employed to explore the objectives. The results signified that diversified farmers were more likely to adopt SWC practices and were less vulnerable to poverty. The findings suggest that farmer-based organizations and agricultural extension activities must be strengthened as they support non-farm income diversification, thus facilitating investment in soil and water conservation technologies and reducing poverty.
Incidence, risk factors, management and prevention of severe postoperative epistaxis after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery: a single center experience
Authors: Liu Xiaohai , Wang Pengfei , Li Mingchu , Chen Ge
Published: July 2023

Objective

Postoperative epistaxis is a very rare but severe complication after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) that can lead to catastrophic consequences. However, the incidence, risk factors, management and prevention of postoperative epistaxis remain unclear.

Patients and methods

Consecutive patients with pituitary adenoma (PA), Rathke's cleft cyst, craniopharyngioma, or clival chordoma who received EETS in our department between September 2020 and November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence, risk factors, management and prevention of postoperative epistaxis were investigated and analyzed.

Results

A total of 557 consecutive patients who received EETS were included in this study. Eight patients (1.4%) (7 PAs and 1 Rathke's cleft cyst) experienced severe postoperative epistaxis. The size of the PAs was 9.6 mm–46.2 mm, with a median size of 22.1 mm. Epistaxis occurred 4 h to 30 days (median 14.5 days) postoperatively. Bleeding was stopped in 3 patients after nasal packing with iodoform gauze. The remaining 5 patients for whom nasal packing was insufficient were all sent to the operating room, and posterior nasal septal artery (PNSA) bleeding was identified and successfully treated with endoscopic bleeding artery electrocauterization under general anesthesia. In the EETS, all 8 patients had downward extension of the septal mucosal incision, in which 6 had intraoperative bleeding of PNSA that were cauterized by bipolar diathermy. Four patients had causative factors, including administration of antiplatelet agents, Valsalva-like manoeuvre, nose blowing and removal of nasal packing, respectively. No patients had recurrent epistaxis during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

Post-EETS epistaxis is a rare but severe complication that could lead to catastrophic consequences, and one of the most common bleeding sources is the PNSA. Endoscopic bleeding artery electrocauterization under general anesthesia may be a safe, economic and effective measure for epistaxis refractory to nasal packing. Avoiding excessive downward extension of the septal mucosal incision could contribute to the prevention of postoperative epistaxis.
Myo-inositol improves the viability of boar sperm during liquid storage
Authors: Jawad Ali , Oh Dongjin , Choi Hyerin , Kim Mirae , Cai Lian , Lee Joohyeong , Hyun Sang-Hwan
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Liquid preservation of boar semen is a highly preferred method for semen preservation in pig production. However, oxidative stress is the main challenge during the liquid preservation of boar semen in a time dependent manner. Therefore, supplementation of sperm with antioxidants during storage to protect them from oxidative stress has been the focus of recent research. Myo-inositol (Myo-Ins), the most active form of inositol, which belongs to the vitamin (Vit.) (B1 group has been shown to improve semen quality) (1). This study aimed to investigate whether Myo-Ins supplementation protects boar sperm in liquid preservation against oxidative stress and determine the appropriate concentration of Myo-Ins to be used in this regard.

Methods

Boar sperm was diluted with a semen extender with different concentrations of Myo-Ins (2, 4, 6, and 8 mg/mL) depending on the previous studies (1, 24). Sperm motility and viability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), semen time survival, and gene expression were measured and analyzed on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 for the different samples.

Results

Different concentrations of Myo-Ins exerted different protective effects on the boar sperm quality. The addition of 2 mg/mL Myo-Ins resulted in higher sperm motility and viability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, MMP, and effective survival time. Investigation of mRNA expression patterns via qRT-PCR suggested that the 2 mg/mL Myo-Ins sample had increased expression of antioxidative genes.

Conclusion

The addition of Myo-Ins to semen extender improved the boar semen quality by decreasing the effects of oxidative stress during liquid preservation at 17°C. Additionally, 2 mg/mL is the optimum inclusion concentration of Myo-Ins for semen preservation.
Efficacy of a novel bivalent vaccine containing porcine circovirus type 2d and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae against a dual PCV2d and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae challenge
Authors: Ham Sehyeong , Suh Jeongmin , Oh Taehwan , Kim Chonghan , Seo Byoung-Joo , Chae Chanhee
Published: July 2023

Background

Information on efficacy of a novel bivalent vaccine containing porcine circovirus type 2d (PCV2d) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

Objective

To evaluate bivalent vaccine for efficacy under experimental conditions.

Animals

Clinically healthy 35 weaned piglets at 18 days of age were used.

Methods

A 2.0 mL dose of bivalent vaccine was administered intramuscularly to pigs at 21 days of age in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The pigs were challenged at 42 days of age either intranasally with PCV2d, or intratracheally with M. hyopneumoniae, or with both.

Results

Vaccinated-challenged pigs improved the growth performance compared to pigs that were unvaccinated and then, challenged. Vaccinated-challenged pigs elicited a significant amount of protective immunity for PCV2d-specific neutralizing antibodies and interferon-γ secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC) as well as for M. hyopneumoniae-specific IFN-γ-SC compared to unvaccinated/challenged pigs. Induction of systemic cellular and humoral immune responses from bivalent vaccination reduced the viral and mycoplasmal loads in the blood and larynx. Vaccination and challenge simultaneously reduced both lung and lymphoid lesion severity when compared to unvaccinated-challenged pigs.

Discussion

The results of this study demonstrated that the evaluated bivalent PCV2d and M. hyopneumoniae vaccine was efficacious in protecting pigs from the most predominant PCV2d genotype in the field today, as evaluated with a dual PCV2d and M. hyopneumoniae challenge under experimental conditions.
A State of the Art Review of Systems of Linear Inequalities and Related Observability Problems
Authors: Castillo Enrique
Published: July 2023

This work is a short review of the state of the art aiming to contribute to the use, disclosure, and propagation of systems of linear inequalities in real life, teaching, and research. It shows that the algebraic structure of their solutions consists of the sum of a linear subspace, an acute cone, and a polytope, and that adequate software exists to obtain, in their simplest forms, these three components. The work describes, based on orthogonality and polarity, homogeneous and complete systems of inequalities, the associated compatibility problems, and their relations with convex polyhedra and polytopes, which are the only possible solution for bounded problems, the most common in real practice. The compatibility and the observability problems, including their symbolic forms, are analyzed and solved, identifying the subsets of unknowns with unique solutions and those unbounded, important items of information with practical relevance in artificial intelligence and automatic learning. Having infinitely many solutions of a given problem allows us to find solutions when some of the assumptions fail and unexpected constraints come into play, a common situation for engineers. The linear programming problem becomes trivial when the set of all solutions is available and all solutions are obtained, contrary to the case of standard programs that provide only one solution. Several examples of applications to several areas of knowledge are presented, illustrating the advantages of solving these systems of inequalities.