bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Mindfulness Interventions on Older Adults’ Cognition: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mirabito Grazia , Verhaeghen Paul
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To examine the effect of mindfulness interventions on cognitive tasks in healthy older adults and older adults with diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.

Methods

Three-level meta-analysis and systematic review of 30 published randomized-controlled trials.

Results

Mindfulness interventions provided a small, yet significant positive effect on cognition compared to a control group (average weighted Hedges’ g = 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.06–0.65]). Attention (g = 0.22, 95% CI = [0.09, 0.35]), long-term memory (g = 0.32, 95% CI = [0.08, 0.56]), and visuospatial processing (g = 0.22, 95% CI = [0.10, 0.34]) all showed significantly meaningful changes regardless of cognitive status of the participants. There was no evidence for publication bias. Healthy older adults showed higher effect sizes than those with MCI (g = 0.27, 95% CI = [0.11, 0.43], vs. (g = −0.09, 95% CI = [−0.35, 0.17], respectively). Otherwise, there were no significant moderating effects of age, marital status, education, region, intervention type, length, number of sessions, adherence, or gender on effect size. Moderator analyses within cognitive domains suggest that focused attention practices might be the best for improving cognition. Lastly, meditation interventions seem to work as effectively as other mind-body interventions, but not as effectively as other interventions to improve cognitive functioning in older adults.

Discussion

Mindfulness interventions appear to be a useful tool for improving cognitive functioning in older adults.
Osteonecrosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Clinical Features, Risk Factor Analysis, and Outcomes
Authors: Bakhshi Zeinab , Yadav Siddhant , Harmsen W Scott , Edakkanambeth Varayil Jithinraj , Karls Kevin A , Tremaine William J , Loftus Edward V
Published: September 2022

Background

Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a known adverse event associated with corticosteroid (CS) usage. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often treated with a CS for induction of remission. We sought to describe clinical features and outcomes of IBD patients with AVN.

Methods

In this retrospective, single-center, case-control study, patients with IBD who had a diagnosis of osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, or AVN from 1976 to 2009 were included, and each was matched with up to 2 controls (IBD but no AVN) on age, sex, IBD subtype, geographic area of residence, and date of IBD diagnosis. We abstracted risk factor data from the medical records. Conditional logistic regression was performed accounting for minor differences in age and date of first IBD visit to assess the relationship between putative risk factors and AVN, expressed as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.

Results

Eighty-five patients were diagnosed with IBD-AVN and were matched with 163 controls. The mean age at AVN diagnosis was 47.5 years. AVN was diagnosed a median of 12.2 years after IBD diagnosis, and the control group was followed for a median of 15 years after IBD diagnosis to ensure that they did not have AVN. Ten percent of patients with AVN did not have any CS exposure. History of arthropathy or estrogen use in Crohn’s disease and use of CS, osteoporosis, and history of arthropathy in ulcerative colitis were significantly associated with AVN.

Conclusions

Most patients with IBD-AVN had multifocal involvement. Most had received CS, but many patients had other risk factors including arthropathy.
Biotic Interactions and the Future of Fishes on Coral Reefs: The Importance of Trait-Based Approaches
Authors: Hodge Jennifer R , Price Samantha A
Published: September 2022

Biotic interactions govern the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems. As environmental conditions change, reef-associated fish populations can persist by tracking their preferred niche or adapting to new conditions. Biotic interactions will affect how these responses proceed and whether they are successful. Yet, our understanding of these effects is currently limited. Ecological and evolutionary theories make explicit predictions about the effects of biotic interactions, but many remain untested. Here, we argue that large-scale functional trait datasets enable us to investigate how biotic interactions have shaped the assembly of contemporary reef fish communities and the evolution of species within them, thus improving our ability to predict future changes. Importantly, the effects of biotic interactions on these processes have occurred simultaneously within dynamic environments. Functional traits provide a means to integrate the effects of both ecological and evolutionary processes, as well as a way to overcome some of the challenges of studying biotic interactions. Moreover, functional trait data can enhance predictive modeling of future reef fish distributions and evolvability. We hope that our vision for an integrative approach, focused on quantifying functionally relevant traits and how they mediate biotic interactions in different environmental contexts, will catalyze new research on the future of reef fishes in a changing environment.
Aortic remodelling and late outcomes following thoracic endovascular repair with a bare-metal stent distal extension among patients with complicated type-B aortic dissection
Authors: Wamala Isaac , Nazari-Shafti Mir Timo Zadegh , Heck Roland , Penkalla Adam , Montagner Matteo , Staffa Steven J , Falk Volkmar , Buz Semih
Published: September 2022

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to describe the factors affecting mid and late aortic remodelling following thoracic endovascular aortic repair with the PETTICOAT (Provisional Extension To Induce Complete Attachment) technique among patients with complicated acute or subacute type B aortic dissection.

METHODS

A retrospective single-centre study that evaluates clinical and morphological outcomes among 65 consecutive patients. The area and diameter of the true and false lumen, overall aortic diameter and false lumen perfusion were evaluated.

RESULTS

Concomitant direct visceral artery stenting was successfully conducted in 32 (49%) patients. There was one (1.5%) postoperative stroke; three (4.6%) patients developed spinal cord ischaemia; two (3%) patients suffered retrograde type A dissection; and two (3%) patients had mesenteric ischaemia, despite successful reperfusion, that required a bowel resection. Median postoperative follow-up was 63.1 (interquartile range, 32.1– 91.8) months. The probability of survival was 96.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 88.3%–99.2%] at 30 days, 93.9% (95% CI 84.4%–97.6%) at 1 year, 78.0 (95% CI 64.2%–87.0%) at 5 years and 72.8% (95% CI at 57.9%–83.2%) at 10 years postoperatively. There was a statistically significant postoperative increase in true-lumen area, diameter and true-lumen index in all five aortic levels measured. Complete false lumen (FL) thrombosis at the coeliac trunk, renal arteries and aortic bifurcation levels was observed in 47%, 15% and 24% of patients at midterm (6–15 months) and in 29%, 21% and 29% on late (later than 21 months) computed tomography angiograms (CTA). Persistent false lumen (FL) perfusion at the coeliac level on midterm CTA was associated with a larger extent of late aortic growth (P = 0.042) and was, in the majority of cases, caused by iliac re-entries either alone (28.57) or in combination with visceral and lumbar (28.57%) or distal aortic (10.71%) re-entries. A larger abdominal aortic diameter at midterm was associated with an increased probability of distal aortic reinterventions (hazard ratio 7.26, 95% CI 2.41–21.9, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent FL perfusion of the distal aorta at midterm following TEVAR with the PETTICOAT technique among patients with acute and subacute type B dissection is caused mainly by iliac, visceral, lumber and distal aorta re-entries. Patients with persistent FL perfusion have an increased risk of aortic aneurysmal growth at late follow-up.
Iterative algorithms for reducing inversion of discrete algebraic riccati matrix equation
Authors: Liu Jianzhou , Wang Zheng , Xie Zhiming , Wang Li
Published: September 2022

In practical engineering, many control problems usually can be transformed into solutions of the discrete algebraic Riccati equation (DARE), which has two matrix inverse operations formally. In this paper, first, by the relationship between properties of the matrix Schur complement and partitioned representation of inverse matrix, we change the DARE with twice inversions into an equivalent form with once inversion and propose a corresponding iterative algorithm. Next, for a special case of DARE, we deformed this DARE into a new equivalent one. For the equivalent form, we propose a new iterative algorithm in an inversion-free way. Furthermore, for these algorithms, we prove their monotone convergence and give the analysis of their errors. Last, comparing with some existing work on this topic, corresponding numerical examples are given to illustrate the superiority and effectiveness of our results.
Investigation of the strength of concrete-like material with waste rock and aeolian sand as aggregate by machine learning
Authors: Hu Yafei , Li Keqing , Zhang Bo , Han Bin
Published: September 2022

Solid waste filling is an important development direction for filling mining technology. This paper proposes to use waste rock and aeolian sand as aggregates to fill the underground extraction area in order to reduce the environmental damage of related waste solid. The experiments are optimized by response surface methodology and multivariate nonlinear response models are constructed to investigate the effects of different factors on uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of concrete-like material (CLM). The performance of different swarm intelligence optimization algorithms is analyzed and combined with support vector regression model (SVR) to construct an intelligent prediction model for UCS. The results show that the packing density has a maximum value of 0.74 when the proportion of waste rock is around 0.6. The response model constructed in this paper has a P-value < 0.01 and R2 > 0.8, which indicates its high significance and goodness of fit. The UCS of CLM increases with the increase of cement content and slurry mass fraction, while it also increases and then decreases with the increase of proportion of waste rock. The ratio of waste rock and aeolian sand will affect the compactness of cemented structure. The better the ratio, the higher the average grey value of the cemented structure, the more compactness the cemented structure. The whale optimization algorithm-SVR model constructed in this paper has a prediction accuracy of more than 99% for UCS of CLM, which achieves high accuracy and fast prediction of UCS under multifactor conditions.
International Law and the Securitisation of Peacemaking: On Chapter VII, the Security Council and the Mediation Mandate in Yemen
Authors: Turner Catherine
Published: September 2022

Peace mediation as a form of peaceful settlement of disputes has evolved significantly in the past 20 years, moving away from an informal process between parties towards a more structured undertaking rooted in norms and values of international law. Sitting between Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the UN Charter, mediation is an underexplored aspect of the collective security regime in international law. Surprisingly little attention has been paid to the role of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the exercise of legal authority under Chapter VII in shaping mediation mandates. This article addresses this gap by developing a theoretical framework for understanding the role of UNSC in the construction of security in the context of peacemaking. Using the mandate of the Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen as a case study, the article traces the progression of the mediation mandate a set out in the UNSC resolutions, interrogating the shift in discourse from UN support for an inclusive political transition into a narrower focus on hard security and the international response to the threat of terrorism. Through this analysis the article demonstrates how the place of UNSC within the Charter system allows for a gradual securitisation of the peace mediation process at the expense of inclusive approaches. At a time when consensus on collective security appears to be weakening the role of the UNSC in constructing and responding to global threats is of significant interest to the future of Charter-based international peace and security.
Inside-out planet formation – VII. Astrochemical models of protoplanetary discs and implications for planetary compositions
Authors: Cevallos Soto Arturo , Tan Jonathan C , Hu Xiao , Hsu Chia-Jung , Walsh Catherine
Published: September 2022

Inside-out planet formation (IOPF) proposes that the abundant systems of close-in Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes form in situ at the pressure maximum associated with the dead zone inner boundary (DZIB). We present a model of physical and chemical evolution of protoplanetary disc midplanes that follows gas advection, radial drift of pebbles, and gas-grain chemistry to predict abundances from ∼300 au down to the DZIB near 0.2 au. We consider typical disc properties relevant for IOPF, i.e. accretion rates $10^{-9}\lt \dot{m}/ (\mathrm{ M}_\odot \:{\rm {yr}}^{-1})\lt 10^{-8}$ and viscosity parameter α = 10−4, and evolve for fiducial duration of 105 yr. For outer, cool disc regions, we find that C and up to $90{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of O nuclei start locked in CO and $\rm O_2$ ice, which keeps abundances of $\rm CO_2$ and $\rm H_2O$ one order of magnitude lower. Radial drift of icy pebbles is influential, with gas-phase abundances of volatiles enhanced up to two orders of magnitude at icelines, while the outer disc becomes depleted of dust. Discs with decreasing accretion rates gradually cool, which draws in icelines closer to the star. At ≲ 1 au, advective models yield water-rich gas with C/O ratios ≲ 0.1, which may be inherited by atmospheres of planets forming here via IOPF. For planetary interiors built by pebble accretion, IOPF predicts volatile-poor compositions. However, advectively enhanced volatile mass fractions of $\sim 10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ can occur at the water iceline.
Coemergence of the Amphipathic Helix on Ameloblastin With Mammalian Prismatic Enamel
Authors: Su Jingtan , Bapat Rucha Arun , Visakan Gayathri , Moradian-Oldak Janet
Published: September 2022

To investigate correlation between the ameloblastin (Ambn) amino acid sequence and the emergence of prismatic enamel, a notable event in the evolution of ectodermal hard tissues, we analyzed Ambn sequences of 53 species for which enamel microstructures have been previously reported. We found that a potential amphipathic helix (AH) within the sequence encoded by Exon 5 of Ambn appeared in species with prismatic enamel, with a few exceptions. We studied this correlation by investigating synthetic peptides from different species. A blue shift in fluorescence spectroscopy suggested that the peptides derived from mammalian Ambn interacted with liposomes. A downward shift at 222 nm in circular dichroism spectroscopy of the peptides in the presence of liposomes suggested that the peptides of mammals with prismatic enamel underwent a transition from disordered to helical structure. The peptides of species without prismatic enamel did not show similar secondary structural changes in the presence of liposomes. Peptides of mammals with prismatic enamel caused liposome leakage and inhibited LS8 and ALC cell spreading regulated by full-length Ambn. RT-PCR showed that AH is involved in Ambn’s regulation of cell polarization genes: Vangl2, Vangl1, Prickle1, ROCK1, ROCK2, and Par3. Our comprehensive sequence analysis clearly demonstrates that AH motif is closely related to the emergence of enamel prismatic structure, providing insight into the evolution of complex enamel microstructure. We speculate that the AH motif evolved in mammals to interact with cell membrane, triggering signaling pathways required for specific changes in cell morphology associated with the formation of enamel prismatic structure.
Schizophrenia
Authors: Glatt Stephen J. , Faraone Stephen V. , Tsuang Ming T.
Published: September 2022

Schizophrenia is one of the most traumatic psychiatric disorders, both for the affected person and their family. It also carries an unfortunate stigma and suffers from frequent misinterpretation by the popular media. The disorder usually manifests itself through significant periods of hallucinations, bizarre delusions, and disorganized behaviour, but the individuals who suffer from this brain disorder are not generally violent, and do have periods of remission. However it is often difficult for these individuals to maintain a regular lifestyle and relationships at home and at work, and many individuals with schizophrenia end up unable to live independently or, worse, homeless. This new edition in the popular Facts series provides a concise and up-to-date account of the underlying causes and symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as current theories about the disorder. The authors look at all the current treatment options, both medical and psychological, together with likely side-effects and the problem of compliance with treatment. The role of the family and the community in caring for individuals with schizophrenia is also considered. The authors are experienced psychiatrists and psychologists with many years' experience in the treatment and study of schizophrenia. This book will provide a welcome source of information for individuals with schizophrenia, their family members, and those involved in caring for them.
Disability and Work During the Industrial Revolution in Britain
Authors: Blackie Daniel
Published: September 2022

A common claim in disability studies is that industrialization has marginalized disabled people by limiting their access to paid employment. This claim is empirically weak and rests on simplified accounts of industrialization. Use of the British coal industry during the period 1780–1880 as a case study shows that reassessment of the effect of the Industrial Revolution is in order. The Industrial Revolution was not as detrimental to the lives of disabled people as has often been assumed. While utopian workplaces for disabled people hardly existed, industrial sites of work did accommodate quite a large number of workers with impairments. More attention therefore needs to be paid to neglected or marginalized features of industrial development in the theorization of disability. Drawing on historical research on disability in the industrial workplace will help scholars better understand the significance of industrialization to the lives of disabled people, both in the past and the present.
Institutions for People with Disabilities in North America
Authors: Noll Steven
Published: September 2022

The institution or asylum in North America was established as a mechanism for confining, controlling, and containing groups of individuals classified and labeled as mentally ill or intellectually disabled and defined as deviant, defective, or delinquent. These congregate facilities, established both for the protection of the individuals housed there and for the simultaneous protection of society from those same people, developed into massive structures designed to accommodate thousands of residents/patients/inmates. The rationale behind the rapid rise of the institution throughout the nineteenth and into the mid-twentieth centuries paralleled the growth of modern medicine and psychiatry. By the 1950s, institutions housed hundreds of thousands of individuals. Yet by the start of the twenty-first century, the institutional model had been intellectually discredited, and these facilities had been all but abandoned. This rather astounding demise mirrored broader social, scientific, and medical trends.
Polio and Disability in Cold War Hungary
Authors: Vargha Dora
Published: September 2022

Concerns over children’s physical health and ability were shared experiences across post–World War II societies, and the figure of the child was often used as a tool to reach over the Iron Curtain. However, key differences in how children with polio were perceived, and as a result treated, followed Cold War fault lines. Concepts of an individual’s role in society shaped medical treatment and views of disability, which contributed to the celebrated polio child in one environment and her invisibility in another. Thus, through the lens of disability, new perspectives have emerged on the history of the Cold War, polio, and childhood.
Disability in Modern Chinese Cinema
Authors: Riep Steven L.
Published: September 2022

Depictions of disability in Chinese-language films from China and Taiwan, once a rarity, have become mainstream since the 1980s and have shifted from critiquing national policies, historical accounts, and collective experiences to highlighting disabled people as complex characters and advocating for greater support for them. These films reveal how disability has become a positive source of identity in its own right. Films from the late 1980s and early 1990s such as Tian Zhuangzhuang’s The Blue Kite use disability to offer critiques of official policies or alternative accounts of historical events. Zhou Sun’s Breaking the Silence and Xue Xiaolu’s Ocean Heaven, which focus on caregiving parents and their disabled children, reveal the need for private, extragovernmental networks of support as well as greater government support for those with disabilities and their families. Finally, films such as Zhang Yimou’s Happy Times feature characters with impairments living rich and rewarding lives, countering stereotypes about disability.
The Disability Rights Movement in the United States
Authors: Patterson Lindsey
Published: September 2022

Contrary to the traditional notion that disability rights in the United States were the by-product of the tumultuous 1960s, the disability rights movement actually dates back to the late nineteenth century. Over the years, ordinary citizens and local, national, and international organizations combined in promoting the citizenship rights of disabled people. Excluded from most aspects of public life, people with disabilities championed self-determination through deinstitutionalization, the independent living movement, and access to education, employment, and public transportation. This examination of local, state, and national efforts by people with disabilities to achieve full participation in civic life will help expand our understanding of civil rights movements in modern U.S. history.
Dissection of cellular and molecular mechanisms of aristolochic acid-induced hepatotoxicity via single-cell transcriptomics
Authors: Luo Piao , Chen Jiayun , Zhang Qian , Xia Fei , Wang Chen , Bai Yunmeng , Tang Huan , Liu Dandan , Gu Liwei , Du Qingfeng , Xiao Wei , Yang Chuanbin , Wang Jigang
Published: September 2022

Background

Aristolochic acids (AAs), a class of carcinogenic and mutagenic natural products from Aristolochia and Asarum plants, are well-known to be responsible for inducing nephrotoxicity and urothelial carcinoma. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to AAs could also induce hepatotoxicity and even hepatocellular carcinoma, though the mechanisms are poorly defined.

Methods

Here, we aimed to dissect the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of aristolochic acid I (AAI)-induced hepatotoxicity by using advanced single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and proteomics techniques. We established the first single-cell atlas of mouse livers in response to AAI.

Results

In hepatocytes, our results indicated that AAI activated NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways, which may contribute to the inflammatory response and apoptosis. In liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), AAI activated multiple oxidative stress and inflammatory associated signaling pathways and induced apoptosis. Importantly, AAI induced infiltration of cytotoxic T cells and activation of proinflammatory macrophage and neutrophil cells in the liver to produce inflammatory cytokines to aggravate inflammation.

Conclusions

Collectively, our study provides novel knowledge of AAs-induced molecular characteristics of hepatotoxicity at a single-cell level and suggests future treatment options for AAs associated hepatotoxicity.
SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE 1 is inhibited by clade D Protein phosphatase 2C D6 and D7 in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Fu Haiqi , Yu Xiang , Jiang Yuanyuan , Wang Yuhan , Yang Yongqing , Chen She , Chen Qijun , Guo Yan
Published: September 2022

The salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway is essential for maintaining sodium ion homeostasis in plants. This conserved pathway is activated by a calcium signaling-dependent phosphorylation cascade. However, the identity of the phosphatases and their regulatory mechanisms that would deactivate the SOS pathway remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that PP2C.D6 and PP2C.D7, which belong to clade D of the protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) subfamily in Arabidopsis thaliana, directly interact with SOS1 and inhibit its Na+/H+ antiporter activity under non-salt-stress conditions. Upon salt stress, SOS3-LIKE CALCIUM-BINDING PROTEIN8 (SCaBP8), a member of the SOS pathway, interacts with the PP2Cs and suppresses their phosphatase activity; simultaneously, SCaBP8 regulates the subcellular localization of PP2C.D6 by releasing it from the plasma membrane. Thus, we identified two negative regulators of the SOS pathway that repress SOS1 activity under nonstress conditions. These processes set the stage for the activation of SOS1 by the kinase SOS2 to achieve plant salt tolerance. Our results suggest that reversible phosphorylation/dephosphorylation is crucial for the regulation of the SOS pathway, and that calcium sensors play dual roles in activating/deactivating SOS2 and PP2C phosphatases under salt stress.
Phylogenomics shows unique traits in Noctilucales are derived rather than ancestral
Authors: Cooney Elizabeth C , Leander Brian S , Keeling Patrick J
Published: September 2022

Dinoflagellates are a diverse protist group possessing many unique traits. These include (but are not limited to) expansive genomes packaged into permanently condensed chromosomes, photosynthetic or cryptic plastids acquired vertically or horizontally in serial endosymbioses, and a ruffle-like transverse flagellum attached along its length to the cell. When reconstructing character evolution, early branching lineages with unusual features that distinguish them from the rest of the group have proven useful for inferring ancestral states. The Noctilucales are one such lineage, possessing relaxed chromosomes in some life stages and a trailing, thread-like transverse flagellum. However, most of the cellular and molecular data for the entire group come from a single cultured species, Noctiluca scintillans, and because its phylogenetic position is unresolved it remains unclear if these traits are ancestral or derived. Here, we use single cell transcriptomics to characterize three diverse Noctilucales genera: Spatulodinium, Kofoidinium, and a new lineage, Fabadinium gen. nov. We also provide transcriptomes for undescribed species in Amphidinium and Abediniales, critical taxa for clarifying the phylogenetic position of Noctilucales. Phylogenomic analyses suggests that the Noctilucales are sister to Amphidinium rather than an independent branch outside the core dinoflagellates. This topology is consistent with observations of shared characteristics between some members of Noctilucales and Amphidinium and provides the most compelling evidence to date that the unusual traits within this group are derived rather than ancestral. We also confirm that Spatulodinium plastids are photosynthetic and of ancestral origin, and show that all non-photosynthetic Noctilucales retain plastid genes indicating a cryptic organelle.
Liquid–liquid phase transition in deeply supercooled Stillinger–Weber silicon
Authors: Goswami Yagyik , Sastry Srikanth
Published: September 2022

The existence of a phase transition between two distinct liquid phases in single-component network-forming liquids (e.g. water, silica, silicon) has elicited considerable scientific interest. The challenge, both for experiments and simulations, is that the liquid–liquid phase transition (LLPT) occurs under deeply supercooled conditions, where crystallization occurs very rapidly. Thus, early evidence from numerical equation of state studies was challenged with the argument that slow spontaneous crystallization had been misinterpreted as evidence of a second liquid state. Rigorous free-energy calculations have subsequently confirmed the existence of a LLPT in some models of water, and exciting new experimental evidence has since supported these computational results. Similar results have so far not been found for silicon. Here, we present results from free-energy calculations performed for silicon modeled with the classical, empirical Stillinger-Weber–potential. Through a careful study employing state-of-the-art constrained simulation protocols and numerous checks for thermodynamic consistency, we find that there are two distinct metastable liquid states and a phase transition. Our results resolve a long-standing debate concerning the existence of a liquid–liquid transition in supercooled liquid silicon and address key questions regarding the nature of the phase transition and the associated critical point.
Cell-type-specific genes associated with cortical structural abnormalities in pediatric bipolar disorder
Authors: Lei Wenkun , Xiao Qian , Wang Chun , Gao Weijia , Xiao Yiwen , Dai Yingliang , Lu Guangming , Su Linyan , Zhong Yuan
Published: September 2022

Abstracts

Background

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) has been proven to be related to abnormal brain structural connectivity, but how the abnormalities in PBD correlate with gene expression is debated.

Objective

This study aims at identification of cell-type-specific gene modules based on cortical structural differences in PBD.

Methods

Morphometric similarity networks (MSN) were computed as a marker of interareal cortical connectivity based on MRI data from 102 participants (59 patients and 43 controls). Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used to calculate MSN differences related to transcriptomic data in AHBA. The biological processes and cortical cell types associated with this gene expression profile were determined by gene enrichment tools.

Results

MSN analysis results demonstrated differences of cortical structure between individuals diagnosed with PBD and healthy control participants. MSN differences were spatially correlated with the PBD-related weighted genes. The weighted genes were enriched for “trans-synaptic signaling” and “regulation of ion transport”, and showed significant specific expression in excitatory and inhibitory neurons.

Conclusions

This study identified the genes that contributed to structural network aberrations in PBD. It was found that transcriptional changes of excitatory and inhibitory neurons might be associated with abnormal brain structural connectivity in PBD.
SUBSTANTIAL EXTERNAL DOSE RATE VARIABILITY OBSERVED IN A COHORT OF LU-177 PATIENTS INDEPENDENT OF BMI AND SEX
Authors: Bellamy Michael , Chu Bae , Serencsits Brian , Quinn Brian , Prasad K , Altamirano J , Williamson Matthew , Miodownik Daniel , Abrahams Natalie , Chen Fanny , Bierman David , Wutkowski M , Dauer Lawrence
Published: September 2022

External dose rates were measured 1 m away from 230 Lu-177 patients to characterise the variability in normalised dose rates as a function of administered activity, body mass index (BMI) and sex. The largest dose rate observed was 0.07 mSv/h associated with an administered activity of 7.2 GBq. Substantial variability was found in the distribution of the normalised dose rate associated that had an average of 0.0037 mSv/h per GBq and a 95% confidence interval of 0.0024–0.0058 mSv/h per GBq. Based on this study, estimating the patient dose rate based on the Lu-177 gamma exposure factor overestimates the dose rate by a factor of 2. A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between the patient dose rate and patient BMI and an empirically derived equation relating these two quantities was reported. On average, male patient dose rates were 3.5% lower than female dose rates, which may be attributed to the larger average BMI of the male patient group.
CONVERSION OF DOSE DISTRIBUTION TO CELL SURVIVAL FRACTION THROUGH DNA DAMAGE: A MONTE CARLO STUDY
Authors: Salgado Maldonado Sebastián , Russomando Andrea
Published: September 2022

Ionizing radiation plays an important role in cancer treatment. Radiation is able to damage the genetic material of cells, blocking their ability to divide and proliferate further. Since radiation affects both healthy and malignant tissues, for all radiation treatments, the design of an accurate treatment plan is fundamental. Usually, weight factors, such as the relative biological effectiveness, are applied to estimate the impact of the kind of radiation and the irradiated medium on the dose deposition. However, these factors can only provide a partial estimation of the real effect on tissues. In this work, a flexible system that is able to predict cell survival fractions according to the planned dose distribution is presented. Dose deposition and subsequent DNA damage were simulated with a multi-scale modeling approach by first applying the FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) code to estimate the absorbed doses and fluence energy spectra and then using the MC Damage Simulation code to compute the DNA damage yields. Lastly, the results are converted into cell survival fraction using a theoretical model. The comparisons between the simulated survival fractions with experimental data are reported for a proton spread out Bragg peak at several doses. The presented approach helps to elucidate radiobiological responses along the Bragg curve and has the flexibility to be extended to a wide range of situations of clinical interest.
What Explains Socioeconomic Disparities in Early Pregnancy Rates?
Authors: Cha Hyungmin , Weitzman Abigail
Published: September 2022

In this study, we integrate diverse structural, social psychological, and relational perspectives to develop and test a comprehensive framework of the processes that make early pregnancy a socially stratified phenomenon. Drawing on rich panel data collected among a sample of 940 18- to 20-year-old women from a county in Michigan, we estimate nested hazard models and formal mediation analyses to simultaneously elucidate the extent to which different mechanisms explain disparities in early pregnancy rates across maternal education levels—a key indicator of socioeconomic status. Together, our distal mechanisms explain 53 and 31 percent of the difference in pregnancy rates between young women whose mothers graduated college and young women whose mothers graduated and did not graduate high school, respectively. Reproductive desires, norms, and attitudes, relationship contexts, and educational opportunities and environment each link maternal education to young women’s odds of pregnancy. Self-efficacy, however, plays only a modest role; while contraceptive affordability and knowledge are not significant pathways. These findings bring into focus the most prominent intervening mechanisms through which socioeconomic circumstances shape young women’s likelihood of becoming pregnant during the transition to adulthood.
Use of Human iPSC-CMs in Nonclinical Regulatory Studies for Cardiac Safety Assessment
Authors: Yang Xi , Ribeiro Alexandre J S , Pang Li , Strauss David G
Published: September 2022

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) provide a human-relevant platform for cardiac function assessment. Alternative assays using hiPSC-CMs are increasingly being employed for regulatory decision-making. A retrospective review revealed steady use of hiPSC-CM-based in vitro assays in nonclinical studies of drug-induced cardiotoxicity in regulatory submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most of the hiPSC-CMs data were obtained in exploratory studies and submitted as supportive evidence in concordance with other nonclinical data. Some of those studies were used to inform clinical trial design. This article provides an overview of the use of hiPSC-CMs in regulatory applications to FDA, with a focus on the integration of human-relevant in vitro data into proarrhythmic and non-proarrhythmic risk assessment. By identifying the regulatory submissions including hiPSC-CMs data, we explore their utility and discuss their limitations for predicting human cardiac safety in clinical trials. An important take-home message is that regulatory acceptance of hiPSC-CMs data is dependent on both the context of use and accurate data interpretation.
Paraphyly of Marimermithida refines primary routes of transition to parasitism in roundworms
Authors: Tchesunov Alexei V , Nikolaeva Olga V , Rusin Leonid Yu , Sanamyan Nadezda P , Panina Elena G , Miljutin Dmitry M , Gorelysheva Daria I , Pegova Anna N , Khromova Maria R , Mardashova Maria V , Mikhailov Kirill V , Yushin Vladimir V , Petrov Nikolai B , Lyubetsky Vassily A , Nikitin Mikhail A , Aleoshin Vladimir V
Published: September 2022

Parasitic life-strategies in the phylum Nematoda (roundworms) are remarkably diverse and intricate in terms of evolution and taxonomy. By analysing novel rDNA data obtained on rare host-associated groups with unusual biology, we reveal paraphyly of the last major taxon with uncertain higher-rank classification that united solely parasitic nematodes (Marimermithida) to show that primarily marine parasitism only emerged independently and repeatedly in a few free-living lineages. We report secondary seaward ingression of land-based parasites (Mermithida) via invading hosts in the subtidal zone to illustrate the host-borne scenario of oceanic fish and mammal colonization by primarily terrestrial parasites (Spiruria). We also present the first molecular data on marine nematodes from unicellular hosts (foraminiferan protozoans) to demonstrate the independent origins of exploitative nematode associations at a microscopic scale. We argue that, in contrast with primarily intestinal associations arising from saprotrophy and commensalism, non-intestinal host capture (colonization of host body cavity or internal organs) is likely to be a primary route of transition to truly exploitative parasitism in roundworms. Predispositions to host capture in nematode morphology, ecology and life cycles imply its evolution as part of innate pre-adaptations to crossing environmental boundaries to enable multiple successful transitions to parasitism in the phylum history.
Seed Health Testing: Doing Things Right
Authors: Hiddink Gerrit A. , Willmann Roland , Woudenberg Joyce H. C. , Souza-Richards Rose
Published: September 2022

Since seeds can be a route for pathogen introduction, they are routinely inspected and tested to prevent pest outbreaks and introduction into new territories. The need for high throughput, short lead times, and cost reduction has played an important role in the development and application of techniques in seed health testing. Examples are molecular and serological techniques, such as ELISA and PCR assays, which are commonly called indirect tests. After signal detection in ELISA or PCR assay a seed lot is a suspect lot that requires further investigation for a final conclusion about the health status of the seed lot, since these tests do not provide any information about pathogen viability or pathogenicity. The seed industry uses them as a prescreen to identify healthy seed lots and in combination with classical methods, commonly called direct tests, to confirm viability of the target pathogen and demonstrate its pathogenicity. However, outside industry, indirect tests are increasingly used to make a final decision on the health status of a seed lot. This has led to a growing number of seed lots being rejected when the risk of introducing a pathogen to importing countries may have been negligible. We propose that investments continue to be made in the development of high-throughput prescreening detection methods like HTS and PCR assays, but together with direct tests that enable accurate assessment of the risks involved when target pathogens are detected using indirect tests. Close collaboration between molecular scientists and classical phytopathologists is essential.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Why and How Civic Health Should Be Incorporated Into Medical Education
Authors: Barrere-Cain Rio , Garriga Meera , Kaki Dahlia A. , Lawrence Carlton , Reardon Alexander , Martin Alister
Published: September 2022

Civic health refers to the ability of a community to organize and collectively address problems that affect the well-being of its members through democratic participation. Civic health should be an integral part of the medical school curriculum because improving a community’s civic health shifts the distribution of power toward patients, better enabling them to address social determinants of health that are affecting their well-being. This article details how to effectively integrate civic health curriculum into already-existing medical education frameworks, outlines how these interventions will improve both patient care and the student experience, and addresses barriers that might restrict the implementation. Civic health can be integrated into the didactic curriculum in the form of lunchtime guest lectures, panels with community organizations, and small-group discussions; it can be integrated into experiential curriculum by distributing QR codes to aid in voter registration, organizing voter registration drives, and participating in nonpartisan canvassing. This civic health content can be integrated into existing social justice curricula without massive investment or structural change. Medical students are capable and effective messengers of civic health and can affect change at all levels of training. Notably, because civic health is directly actionable, it can be a source of motivation rather than burnout for medical students. As students develop into medical professionals, the training in civic health improves their understanding of social determinants of health and enables them to play an important role in promoting civic engagement and empowering patients with the democratic tools necessary to enact social change.
A Central Collinear Start Point for Reconstruction Nailing of Femur Fractures: A Technical Trick and Case Series
Authors: Robles Abrianna S. , DeSanto Donald J. , Earhart Jeffrey S. , Marecek Geoffrey S.
Published: September 2022

Selecting the optimal entry point for reconstruction nailing is critical to avoid iatrogenic malalignment and optimize mechanical stability. In-line nailing is familiar to surgeons and desirable for its on-axis position. However, there are several potential drawbacks. We describe a modified entry point and present an accompanying clinical series emphasizing an entry point in line with the medullary canal and central on the femoral neck. This central collinear start point is anterior to the traditional piriformis start point and may obviate some of the potential drawbacks with traditional piriformis nailing.
Genetic Variant of ROBO3 Gene Is Associated with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in the Chinese Population
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Zhang Zhanrong , Shu Lun , Meng Yichen , Ma Jun , Gao Rui , Zhou Xuhui
Published: September 2022

Study Design.

A case-control association study.

Objectives.

This study aimed to reveal whether mutations within ROBO3 gene were related to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in Chinese Han population and to investigate the functional role of ROBO3 in the pathogenesis and progression of AIS.

Summary of Background Data.

ROBO3 is essential for the regulation of hind brain axonal cell migration and midline crossing. Studies have demonstrated that ROBO3 homozygous mutations are associated with horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis (HGPPS). However, whether and how ROBO3 contributed to the development of scoliosis remains unclear.

Methods.

Whole exome sequencing was performed in 135 AIS patients and 267 healthy controls to evaluate the differences of SNP variants within ROBO3. Then the identified variant of ROBO3 was genotyped in another cohort included 1140 AIS patients and 1580 controls. Moreover, paraspinal muscles were collected from 39 AIS patients and 45 lumbar disc herniation patients for the measurement of ROBO3 mRNA expression. The Chi-square test, Fisher exact test or Student’s t test were used to compare intergroup data. Pearson correlation was used to determine the association between ROBO3 expression and clinical phenotypes.

Results.

Significant association was identified between the gene variant (rs74787566) of ROBO3 and the development of AIS through exome sequencing. Then its genotyping cohort demonstrated that higher frequency of allele A in AIS patients compared to controls (7.89% vs. 4.30%, P<0.001, odds ratio=1.87). In addition, ROBO3 expression in paraspinal muscles were inversely correlated with cobb’s angle (P=0.043, r2=0.1059).

Conclusion.

The mutation of ROBO3 were remarkably associated with AIS. The declined expression of ROBO3 could participated in the progression of curve magnitude. Further studies were needed to verify the functional role of ROBO3 in the development of AIS.

Level of Evidence.

3
Involvement of GABAA receptors of lateral habenula in the acquisition and expression phases of morphine-induced place preference in male rats
Authors: Amohashemi Elahe , Reisi Parham , Alaei Hojjatallah
Published: September 2022

The lateral habenula (LHb) is a critical brain structure involved in the aversive response to drug abuse. It has been determined that the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system plays the main role in morphine dependency. The role of GABA type A receptors (GABAARs) in LHb on morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) remains unknown. In this study, the effect of bilateral intra-LHb microinjection of GABAAR agonist and antagonist on the acquisition and expression phases of CPP, utilizing a 5-day CPP paradigm in male rats, was evaluated. Subcutaneous administration of different doses of morphine caused a dose-dependent CPP. Intra-LHb microinjection of the GABAAR agonist, muscimol, in combination with morphine (5 mg/kg; subcutaneously) enhanced CPP scores in the acquisition phase of morphine CPP, whereas the GABAAR antagonist, bicuculline, significantly reduced the conditioning scores in the acquisition phase. Furthermore, pretreatment with a high dose of bicuculline reversed the additive effect of muscimol during the acquisition phase, yet the low dose of antagonist had no significant effect on agonist-induced CPP scores. On the other hand, muscimol (3 µg/rat) significantly increased CPP scores in the expression phase but bicuculline did not induce a significant effect on CPP scores. Bicuculline and muscimol microinjections did not affect locomotor activity in the testing sessions. Our results confirm that GABAARs in LHb play an active role in morphine reward. In addition, microinjections of bicuculline/muscimol may alter the morphine response through the GABAergic system.