bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moving in pain - A preliminary study evaluating the immediate effects of experimental knee pain on locomotor biomechanics
Authors: Charlton Jesse M. , Chang Elyott , Hou Sabrina W. , Lo Ernest , McClure Emily , Plater Cole , Wong Samantha , Hunt Michael A.
Published: April 2024

Pain changes how we move, but it is often confounded by other factors due to disease or injury. Experimental pain offers an opportunity to isolate the independent affect of pain on movement. We used cutaneous electrical stimulation to induce experimental knee pain during locomotion to study the short-term motor adaptions to pain. While other models of experimental pain have been used in locomotion, they lack the ability to modulate pain in real-time. Twelve healthy adults completed the single data collection session where they experienced six pain intensity conditions (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 out of 10) and two pain delivery modes (tonic and phasic). Electrodes were placed over the lateral infrapatellar fat pad and medial tibial condyle to deliver the 10 Hz pure sinusoid via a constant current electrical stimulator. Pain intensity was calibrated prior to each walking bout based on the target intensity and was recorded using an 11-point numerical rating scale. Knee joint angles and moments were recorded over the walking bouts and summarized in waveform and discrete outcomes to be compared with baseline walking. Knee joint angles changed during the swing phase of gait, with higher pain intensities resulting in greater knee flexion angles. Minimal changes in joint moments were observed but there was a consistent pattern of decreasing joint stiffness with increasing pain intensity. Habituation was limited across the 30-90 second walking bouts and the electrical current needed to deliver the target pain intensities showed a positive linear relationship. Experimental knee pain shows subtle biomechanical changes and favourable habituation patterns over short walking bouts. Further exploration of this model is needed in real-world walking conditions and over longer timeframes to quantify motor adaptations.
Atrial fibrillation and mortality in critically ill patients undergoing emergent fixed-wing air ambulance transport: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sundbom Marcus Fredriksson , Langelotz Hannah , Nyström Helena , A’roch Roman , Haney Michael
Published: April 2024

Objective

To examine if atrial fibrillation at the time of emergency transport to tertiary care hospital by air ambulance is associated with increased mortality risk.

Design

Retrospective cohort study. Logistic regression and Cox regression were used to assess associations of condition with outcome (mortality). Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to identify the comparison cases.

Setting

One tertiary care centre in sparsely populated northern Sweden

Participants

Critical care cases undergoing emergent fixed-wing air transport in the northern healthcare region of Sweden was included. 2143 cases were included in the study between 2000-2016.

Primary and secondary outcomes measures

The primary outcome was mortality risk at 90-days post transport in cases with atrial fibrillation during the fixed-wing air ambulance transport. The secondary outcome measures were vasopressor and impaired oxygenation was associated with mortality at 90-days post transport.

Results

Atrial fibrillation showed a higher 90-day post transport mortality risk estimate in the multivariate analysis of all cases, hazard ratio (HR) 1.70 (95% CI 1.08-2.67, p=0.022). In a propensity matched analysis, no increased mortality risk for atrial fibrillation was observed at the same time interval with hazard ratio 1.22 (0.65-2.27, p=0.536). In the secondary analysis, vasopressor use was associated with atrial fibrillation at the time of transport whereas impaired oxygenation was not associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

Conclusion

No increased mortality risk at 90 days was seen for cases with atrial fibrillation at time of transport in this cohort using a propensity score matched approach.

Article summary

Strengths and limitations

Explores the scarcely studied topic of mortality risk and atrial fibrillation at time of transport with fixed-wing air ambulance

Quasi-experimental approach with propensity score matching to handle selection bias

No co-morbidity and disease severity data which risk confounding results

A single transport system was studied which limits generalizability
Equitable deep learning for diabetic retinopathy detection using multi-dimensional retinal imaging with fair adaptive scaling: a retrospective study
Authors: Shi Min , Afzal Muhammad Muneeb , Huang Hao , Wen Congcong , Luo Yan , Khan Muhammad Osama , Tian Yu , Kim Leo , Elze Tobias , Fang Yi , Wang Mengyu
Published: April 2024

Background

As deep learning becomes increasingly accessible for automated detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR), questions persist regarding its performance equity among diverse identity groups. We aimed to explore the fairness of current deep learning models and further create a more equitable model designed to minimize disparities in performance across groups.

Methods

This study used one proprietary and two publicly available datasets, containing two-dimensional (2D) wide-angle color fundus images, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) fundus images, and three-dimensional (3D) Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) B-Scans, to assess deep learning models for DR detection. We developed a Fair Adaptive Scaling (FAS) module that dynamically adjusts the significance of samples during model training for DR detection, aiming to lessen performance disparities across varied identity groups. FAS was incorporated into both 2D and 3D deep learning models to facilitate the binary classification of DR and non-DR cases. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was adopted to measure the model performance. Additionally, we devised an equity-scaled AUC metric, which evaluates model fairness by balancing overall AUC against disparities among groups.

Findings

Using in-house color fundus images on the racial attribute, the overall AUC and ES-AUC of EfficientNet, after integrating with FAS, improved from 0.88 and 0.83 to 0.90 and 0.84 (p < 0.05), with AUCs for Asians and Whites improving by 0.04 and 0.03, respectively (p < 0.01). Regarding gender, both the overall AUC and ES-AUC of EfficientNet improved by 0.01 (p < 0.05) after integrating with FAS. While using in-house SLO fundus images based on race, the overall AUC and ES-AUC of EfficientNet improved from 0.80 to 0.83 (p < 0.01), with AUCs for Asians, Blacks, and Whites improving by 0.02, 0.01 and 0.04, respectively (p < 0.05). On gender, FAS improved the overall AUC and ES-AUC of EfficientNet by 0.02, with both genders showing an improvement of 0.02 (p < 0.01). Using the 3D deep learning model DenseNet121 on in-house OCT-B-Scans based on race, FAS improved the overall AUC and ES-AUC from 0.875 and 0.81 to 0.884 and 0.82 respectively, where the AUCs for Asians and Blacks improved by 0.03 and 0.02 (p < 0.01). On gender, FAS improved the overall AUC and ES-AUC of DenseNet121 by 0.04 and 0.03, while the AUCs for Females and Males improved by 0.05 and 0.04 (p < 0.01), respectively.

Interpretation

Existing deep learning models indeed exhibit variable performance across diverse identity groups in DR detection. The FAS proves beneficial in enhancing model equity and boosting DR detection accuracy, particularly for underrepresented groups.
The grit personality trait, eating behavior, and obesity among Japanese adults
Authors: Kurita Noriaki , Maeshibu Takako , Aita Tetsuro , Wakita Takafumi , Kikuchi Hiroe
Published: April 2024

Background

Despite the stigma attributing obesity to a lack of willpower, research on the interrelationships among an individual’s willpower, eating behaviors, and obesity is lacking.

Objective

This study aimed to quantify the extent to which multidimensional eating behaviors mediated the association between obesity and grit, which share commonalities with self-control.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved Japanese adults across a wide range of age groups. Grit was measured using an 8-item short grit scale. Multidimensional eating behaviors were measured using the Japanese version of the 21-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R21, comprising uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, and cognitive restraint. Obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥25.0 kg/m2, which is the World Health Organization’s cutoff specific to Asian populations in the Asia-Pacific region. A series of logistic regression models were created to analyze the association between grit and obesity with and without eating behaviors. Mediation analyses using the Karlson Holm Breen method were performed to determine whether eating behavior mediated this association.

Results

Of the 1641 adults, 26.8% were obese. A higher grit level was associated with a lower likelihood of obesity, less uncontrolled and emotional eating, and higher cognitive restraint. Uncontrolled and emotional eating fully mediated the association between grit and obesity, whereas cognitive restraint only partially mediated this association.

Conclusions

The inverse association between grit and obesity was mediated by multidimensional eating behaviors. Identifying impairments in eating behaviors, rather than focusing on an individual’s lack of willpower, may contribute to dispelling the aforementioned stigma and facilitating a dialogue for the prevention and management of obesity.
Identifying subtypes of youth suicidality based on psychopathology: alterations in genetic, neuroanatomical and environmental features
Authors: Wu Xinran , Palaniyappan Lena , van Velzen Laura , Yu Gechang , Fan Huanxin , Yu Liu , Becker Benjamin , Cheng Wei , Zhao Xingming , Feng Jianfeng , Sahakian Barbara J. , Robbins Trevor W. , Schumann Gunter , Schmaal Lianne , Zhang Jie
Published: April 2024

One of the most complex human behaviours that defies singular explanatory models is suicidal behaviour, especially in the youth. A promising approach to make progress with this conundrum is to parse distinct subtypes of this behaviour. Utilizing 1,624 children with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) and 3,224 healthy controls from the ABCD Study, we clustered children with STB based on thirty-four cognitive and psychopathological measures which capture suicide-related risk-moderating traits. Environmental and genetic risk factors, as well as neuroanatomical characteristics of each subtype, were then compared with controls. We identified five distinct STB subtypes, each revealing unique neuroanatomy, environmental/genetic risks, and persistence patterns. Subtype 1 (Depressive, 9.6%) exhibited the most severe depressive symptoms. Subtype 2 (Externalizing, 20.1%) displayed anatomical and functional alterations in frontoparietal network and increased genetic risk for ADHD. Subtype 3 (Cognitive Deficit, 20.4%) demonstrated lower cognitive performance and widespread white-matter deficits. Subtype 4 (Mild Psychotic, 22.2%) presented higher prodromal psychotic symptoms, often unnoticed by parents. Subtype 5 (High Functioning, 27.6%) showed larger total brain volume, better cognition, and higher socio-economic status, contrasting subtypes 1-4. Only Subtypes 1 and 2 demonstrate persistent STB features at the 2-year follow-up. Our results suggested that youth suicidal behaviour may result from several distinct bio-behavioral pathways that are identifiable through co-occurring psychopathology, and provide insights into the underlying neural mechanisms and corresponding intervention strategies.
Tunable Universal OR-gated CAR T cells for AML
Authors: Siddiqui Menna Y. , Chen Jingyao , Loffredo Madeline , Lee Seunghee , Deng Han , Li Yongshuai , Leemans Nelia , Lu Tim , Garrison Brian S. , Ayala Marcela Guzmán , Frankel Nicholas W. , Wong Wilson W.
Published: April 2024

Abstract/Summary

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by antigen heterogeneity and poor prognosis. A potential therapeutic approach to address this heterogeneity is targeting multiple surface antigens to prevent antigen escape and relapse. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are an adoptive cell therapy that have demonstrated remarkable clinical success in the treatment of B cell malignancies, and many efforts are underway to adapt them to myeloid malignancies. To tackle the heterogeneity of AML, logically targeting multiple antigens through an “A OR B” gated CAR circuit would be desirable. Here we combined FLT3 antigen targeting with the well characterized CD33 myeloid marker as a combinatorial OR gate approach using our split, universal, programmable (SUPRA) CAR platform. The split platform affords tunability over activation levels and multiplexed targeting that cannot be achieved through a tandem bispecific approach. We systematically characterized the specificity and sensitivity of different SUPRA CAR adapters against each target individually and in combination against a panel of target cell lines. Our results demonstrate that this CAR system can effectively target two antigens with equivalent efficacy to conventional CARs while reducing the engineering burden associated with designing CAR T cells against multiple antigens. Furthermore, we can characterize an effective dose range where off-target cytotoxicity against hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells is minimized. With the recent clinical advances in universal CAR designs, our SUPRA OR gate has the potential to provide an effective and safer solution to treating AML.
SHP-1 interacts with NFκB1 to inhibit its phosphorylation and nuclear translocation to suppress excessive bacterial inflammation
Authors: Wang Ningning , Tan Suxu , Wang Muyuan , Liu Hongning , Han Sen , Wu Zhendong , Ma Jie , Chen Songlin , Sha Zhenxia
Published: April 2024

The protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is a key negative regulator in cancer by dephosphorylating multiple target molecules. Specially in the NFκB signaling, where NFκB1/Rela dimer translocate to the nucleus and activate target gene transcription, SHP-1 inhibits the phosphorylation of Rela, while its regulation on NFκB1 has been unknown, especially in pathogen-induced inflammation. Chinese tongue sole, a representative flatfish, has been widely used as a genomics and disease model. Using the teleost and cellular model, we revealed for the first time that SHP-1 inhibits NFκB1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation by interacting with NFκB1, thereby suppressing NFκB signaling to inhibit bacterial inflammation. In addition, we showed that SHP-1 decreased mortality and alleviated histopathological deterioration, manifested in the inhibition of immune-related pathways and secretion of pro- inflammatory cytokines. Using cellular model, SHP-1 overexpression reduced macrophages M1 polarization, phagocytosis, and oxidative stress, while silencing SHP- 1 exhibited opposite effects. Our findings systematically dissect the functions of SHP- 1 and provide mechanistic insights into the control of inflammation-related diseases.

Teaser

SHP-1 help maintain the cellular and individual homeostasis by inhibiting the excessive inflammation and immunity via regulating the NFκB signaling.
Cholinergic interneurons in the nucleus accumbens are a site of cellular convergence for corticotropin release factor and estrogen regulation
Authors: Olson Kendra , Ingebretson Anna E. , Vogiatzoglou Eleftheria , Mermelstein Paul G. , Lemos Julia C.
Published: April 2024

Cholinergic interneurons (ChIs) act as master regulators of striatal output, finely tuning neurotransmission to control motivated behaviors. ChIs are a cellular target of many peptide and hormonal neuromodulators, including corticotropin releasing factor, opioids, insulin and leptin, which can influence an animal’s behavior by signaling stress, pleasure, pain and nutritional status. However, little is known about how sex hormones via estrogen receptors influence the function of these other neuromodulators. Here, we performed in situ hybridization on mouse striatal tissue to characterize the effect of sex and sex hormones on choline acetyltransferase (Chat), estrogen receptor alpha (Esr1), and corticotropin releasing factor type 1 receptor (Crhr1) expression. Although we did not detect sex differences in ChAT protein levels in the striatum, we found that female mice have moreChatmRNA-expressing neurons than males. At the population level, we observed a sexually dimorphic distribution ofEsr1- andCrhr1-expressing ChIs in the ventral striatum that demonstrates an antagonistic correlational relationship, which is abolished by ovariectomy. Only in the NAc did we find a significant population of ChIs that co-expressCrhr1andEsr1. At the cellular level,Crhr1andEsr1transcript levels were negatively correlated only during estrus, indicating that changes in sex hormones levels can modulate the interaction betweenCrhr1andEsr1mRNA levels. Together, these data provide evidence for the unique expression and interaction ofEsr1andCrhr1in ventral striatal ChIs, warranting further investigation into how these transcriptomic patterns might underlie important functions for ChIs at the intersection of stress and reproductive behaviors.
Challenging the impact of consortium diversity on bioaugmentation efficiency and native bacterial community structure in a freshly PAH-contaminated soil
Authors: Nieto E.E. , Festa S. , Colman D. , Morelli I. S. , Coppotelli B. M.
Published: April 2024

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority pollutants. We studied the effect of bioaugmentation with three allochthonous bacterial consortia with increasing diversity, SC AMBk, SC1 and SC4, in the structure and functionality of an acutely PAH-contaminated soil microbiome. The PAH supplementation increased the resource availability and the inocula were able to: efficiently degrade the PAHs supplemented after 15 days of incubation, become temporary established, and modify the number of total interactions with soil residents.SphingobiumandBurkholderia,both member of inoculants, were the major contributors to KO linked to degradation and to differentially abundant genera in inoculated microcosms, indicating their competitiveness in the soil. Bioaugmentation efficiency relayed on them, while further degradation, could be carried out by native microorganism. This is the one of the first works which applied three inocula, designed from naturally occurring bacteria and study their effect on the soil native community through the ANCOM-BC. We revealed that when a resource that can be use by the inoculant is added to the soil, it is not necessary a high-diversity inoculant to interact with native community and establish itself. This result has implications in the design of microbiome engineering for bioremediation processes
Detection ofSalmonellaTyphi andblaCTX-MGenes in Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Environmental Biofilms in Sindh Province, Pakistan
Authors: Tajammul Ayesha , Benson L. Scott , Ahmed Jamil , VanDerslice James , Tanner Windy
Published: April 2024

Typhoid fever poses a significant public health risk, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to clean water and improved sanitation may be limited. In Pakistan, this risk is especially serious given the emergence of an extensively drug-resistant (XDR)SalmonellaTyphi strain, a strain attributed toS. Typhi acquisition of theblaCTX-M-15gene. The now-dominant XDRS. Typhi strain, non-XDRS. Typhi, andblaCTX-Mgenes are readily disseminated via drinking water and wastewater in Pakistan and may also be present in biofilms associated with these environmental sources. This study investigates the presence ofS. Typhi andblaCTX-Mgenes within these environmental compartments. Drinking water (n=35) or wastewater samples (n=35) and samples of their associated biofilms were collected from Karachi and Hyderabad, Pakistan. Samples were tested by PCR forS. Typhi andblaCTX-Mgroup 1 genes as a proxy forblaCTX-M-15. Heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) were conducted to assess microbial load.S. Typhi was detected by PCR in one bulk wastewater sample and one drinking water biofilm.BlaCTX-Mgroup 1 genes were detected in all sample types and were detected more frequently in bulk wastewater (n=13/35) than in drinking water (n=2/35) and more frequently overall in biofilm samples (n=22/70) versus bulk water (n=15/70). Detection ofblaCTX-Min biofilm was not significantly associated with detection in the associated bulk water sample. This study marks the first detection ofS. Typhi in drinking water biofilms and the first report ofblaCTX-Mgenes in environmental biofilms in Pakistan. Environmental biofilms, particularly in drinking water systems, may serve as reservoirs for human exposure toS. Typhi and drug resistance genes. This study underscores the importance of expanding surveillance strategies to include biofilm sampling, providing valuable insights into pathogen dissemination in water systems, and informing targeted public health interventions to prevent waterborne diseases.
Integrating virtual reality, electroencephalography, and transcranial magnetic stimulation to study the neural origin of the sublime: The SUBRAIN protocol
Authors: Bondi Elena , Carbone Flavia , Pizzolante Marta , Schiena Giandomenico , Ferro Adele , Mazzocut-Mis Maddalena , Gaggioli Andrea , Chirico Alice , Brambilla Paolo , Maggioni Eleonora
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Awe is a complex emotion unveiling a positive and mixed nature, which resembles the Romantic feeling of the Sublime. It has increasingly become the object of scientific investigation in the last twenty years. However, its underlying brain mechanisms are still unclear. To fully capture its nature in the lab, researchers have increasingly relied on virtual reality (VR) as an emotion-elicitation method, which can resemble even complex phenomena in a limited space. In this work, a multidisciplinary team proposed a novel experimental protocol integrating VR, electroencephalography (EEG), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate the brain mechanisms of this emotion.

Methods

A group of bioengineers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and philosophers designed the SUBRAIN study, a single-center, one-harm, non-randomized interventional study to explore the neural processes underlying awe experiences. The study will be performed on fifty adults. The experimental protocol includes different steps: (i) screening, (ii) enrollment, (iii) pre-experimental assessment, (iv) VR experimental assessment, and (v) post-experimental debriefing. The brain’s electrical activity is recorded using the EEG while participants navigated three immersive awe-inducing VR environments (VREs) and a neutral one. At the same time, the cortical excitability and connectivity is investigated by performing a TMS-EEG session right after each VR navigation. Along with cerebral signals, self-reported questionnaires were used to assess the VR-induced changes in the emotional state of the subjects. This data is then analyzed to delve into the cerebral mechanisms of awe.

Discussion

This study protocol is the first one that tries to fully understand the neural bases of awe by eliciting and studying this phenomenon in VR. The pairing of awe-inducing VR experiences and questionnaires investigating participants’ affect and emotions, with non-invasive neural techniques, can provide a novel and extensive knowledge on this complex phenomenon. The protocol can inform on the combination of different instruments showing a reproducible and reliable setting for the investigation of induced complex emotions.
A novel use of HIV surveillance and court data to understand and improve care among a population of people with HIV experiencing criminal charges in North Carolina 2017-2020
Authors: Arant Elizabeth C. , Kavee Andrew L. , Wheeler Brad , Shook-Sa Bonnie E. , Samoff Erika , Rosen David L.
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Objectives: To enumerate the population of people with HIV (PWH) with criminal charges and to estimate associations between charges and HIV outcomes

Methods

We linked statewide North Carolina criminal court records to confidential HIV records (both 2017-2020) to identify a population of defendants with diagnosed HIV. We used generalized estimating equations to examine changes in viral suppression (outcome) pre-post criminal charges (exposure), adjusting for other demographic and legal system factors.

Results

9,534 PWH experienced criminal charges. Compared to others with charges, PWH were more likely to be male and report Black race. The median duration of unresolved charges was longer for PWH. When adjusting for demographic factors, the period following resolution of charges was modestly associated with an increased risk of viral suppression (aRR 1.03 (95% confidence interval 1.02-1.04) compared to the pre-charge period.

Conclusions

A significant portion of PWH in NC had criminal charges during a three-year period, and these charges went unresolved for a longer time than those without HIV. These preliminary findings raise questions regarding whether PWH have appropriate access to legal services.
Screening for psychotic experiences and psychotic disorders in general psychiatric settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Clauss Jacqueline A. , Foo Cheryl Y. S. , Leonard Catherine J. , Dokholyan Katherine N. , Cather Corinne , Holt Daphne J.
Published: April 2024

Background

The absence of systematic screening for psychosis within general psychiatric services contribute to substantial treatment delays and poor long-term outcomes. We conducted a meta-analysis to estimate rates of psychotic experiences, clinical high-risk for psychosis syndrome (CHR-P), and psychotic disorders identified by screening treatment-seeking individuals to inform implementation recommendations for routine psychosis screening in general psychiatric settings.

Methods

PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched to identify empirical studies that contained information on the point prevalence of psychotic experiences, CHR-P, or psychotic disorders identified by screening inpatient and outpatient samples aged 12-64 receiving general psychiatric care. Psychotic experiences were identified by meeting threshold scores on validated self-reported questionnaires, and psychotic disorders and CHR-P by gold-standard structured interview assessments. A meta-analysis of each outcome was conducted using the Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimator method of estimating effect sizes in a random effects model.

Results

41 independent samples (k=36 outpatient) involving n=25,751 patients (58% female, mean age: 24.1 years) were included. Among a general psychiatric population, prevalence of psychotic experiences was 44.3% (95% CI: 35.8-52.8%; 28 samples, n=21,957); CHR-P was 26.4% (95% CI: 20.0-32.7%; 28 samples, n=14,395); and psychotic disorders was 6.6% (95% CI: 3.3-9.8%; 32 samples, n=20,371).

Conclusions

High rates of psychotic spectrum illness in general psychiatric settings underscore need for secondary prevention with psychosis screening. These base rates can be used to plan training and resources required to conduct assessments for early detection, as well as build capacity in interventions for CHR-P and early psychosis in non-specialty mental health settings.
Patients experience with preoperative use of anti-obesity medications and associations with bariatric surgery expectations
Authors: Samuels Jason M , Patel Mayur , Roumie Christianne L. , Self Wesley , Funk Luke , Spann Matthew , Niswender Kevin
Published: April 2024

Objective

This study investigated associations between patients’ experiences with anti-obesity medications and weight loss expectations prior to bariatric surgery.

Methods

Patients were electronically surveyed with a 31-item questionnaire via email or the patient portal with a primary predictor variable of AOMs pre-surgery. Outcomes included degree of weight loss and weight regain and motivation for seeking surgery.

Results

346 persons were invited to complete the survey. 112 (32.4%) were completed, with 7 excluded due to not answering the AOM question. 73% reported AOM use. Among those who took AOMs prior to seeking bariatric surgery, average weight loss was 13 kg (SD ±10 kg) corresponding to a 4.4 kg/m2decrease in BMI. Of past AOMs receipients, 87% reported weight regain upon stopping AOMs. Average weight regain was 18 kg (SD 13kg, 126% increase). Patients reported improved longevity and quality of life as motivation for seeking surgery with AOM use history having no effect. Subjects reported an average weight loss goal of 65.8 kg (39% of baseline weight) from bariatric surgery.

Conclusion

AOMs were commonly used in those seeking bariatric surgery but motivation for surgery did not differ by AOMs use history. Motivations were most often related to goals for better overall health.

Study Importance Questions

Minimal data exists regarding patients’ experience with anti-obesity medicaitons and whether prior experience with these medications impacts patients’ expectations or goals for bariatric surgery.

This cross-sectional survey investigated the frequency of anti-obesity medication use prior to patients seeking bariatric surgery, finding nearly 3/4ths of patients seeking surgery have previously utilized pharmaceutical weight loss therapies.

This study will ideally spur clinical trials to determine the most effective approach to combination therapy, thus moving obesity treatment to a multimodal approach.
Multimodal surface coils for low field MR imaging
Authors: Zhao Yunkun , Bhosale Aditya A , Zhang Xiaoliang
Published: April 2024

Low field MRI is safer and more cost effective than the high field MRI. One of the inherent problems of low field MRI is its low signal-to-noise ratio or sensitivity. In this work, we introduce a multimodal surface coil technique for signal excitation and reception to improve the RF magnetic field (B1) efficiency and potentially improve MR sensitivity. The proposed multimodal surface coil consists of multiple identical resonators that are electromagnetically coupled to form a multimodal resonator. The field distribution of its lowest frequency mode is suitable for MR imaging applications. The prototype multimodal surface coils are built, and the performance is investigated and validated through numerical simulation, standard RF measurements and tests, and comparison with the conventional surface coil at low fields. Our results show that the B1efficiency of the multimodal surface coil outperforms that of the conventional surface coil which is known to offer the highest B1efficiency among all coil categories, i.e., volume coil, half-volume coil and surface coil. In addition, in low-field MRI, the required low-frequency coils often use large value capacitance to achieve the low resonant frequency which makes frequency tuning difficult. The proposed multimodal surface coil can be conveniently tuned to the required low frequency for low-field MRI with significantly reduced capacitance value, demonstrating excellent low-frequency operation capability over the conventional surface coil.
Local field potential signal transmission is correlated with the fractional anisotropy measured by diffusion tractography
Authors: Kasiri Maral , Abe Sumiko , Soroushmojdehi Rahil , Hernandez-Martin Estefania , Seyyed Mousavi Alireza , Sanger Terence D.
Published: April 2024

Objective

In this paper we aim to examine the correlation between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of anatomical connectivity and characteristics of signal transmission obtained from patient-specific transfer function models. Here, we focused on elucidating the correlation between structural and functional neural connectivity within a cohort of patients diagnosed with dystonia.

Methods

DTI images were obtained from twelve patients with dystonia prior to the deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. For each patient we processed the imaging data to estimate anatomical measures including fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), number of fiber tracts per unit area (N), and fiber tract length (L). After the implantation of temporary depth leads for each patient as part of their treatment plan, intracranial signals were recorded. Transfer function models and the corresponding measures of functional connectivity were computed for each patient using local field potential (LFP) recordings. Linear mixed effect analysis was then employed to determine the relationship between transfer function measures and DTI parameters.

Results

Our results illustrate a positive correlation between FA, AD, and intrinsic neural transmission measures, representing amplification and spread of intrinsic neural oscillations, obtained from the transfer functions models. However, no significant correlation was found between the functional connectivity and number of fiber tracts or fiber lengths.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that white matter integrity, as measured by FA and AD, can potentially reflect the amplification and spread of intrinsic brain signals throughout the network. This study underscores the significant relationship between structural and functional connectivity, offering valuable insights into propagation of neural activity in the brain network and potential implications for optimizing noninvasive treatments and planning for neurological disorders.
Stage-aware Brain Graph Learning for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Peng Ciyuan , Liu Mujie , Meng Chenxuan , Xue Sha , Keogh Kathleen , Xia Feng
Published: April 2024

Current machine learning-based Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis methods fail to explore the distinctive brain patterns across different AD stages, lacking the ability to trace the trajectory of AD progression. This limitation can lead to an oversight of the pathological mechanisms of AD and suboptimal performance in AD diagnosis. To overcome this challenge, this paper proposes a novel stage-aware brain graph learning model. Particularly, we analyze the different brain patterns of each AD stage in terms of stage-specific brain graphs. We design a Stage Feature-enhanced Graph Contrastive Learning method, named SF-GCL, utilizing specific features within each AD stage to perform graph augmentation, thereby effectively capturing differences between stages. Significantly, this study unveils the specific brain patterns corresponding to each AD stage, showing great potential in tracing the trajectory of brain degeneration. Experimental results on a real-world dataset demonstrate the superiority of our model.
Human transmembrane protein 68 links triacylglycerol synthesis to membrane lipid homeostasis
Authors: Zeng Fansi , Heier Christoph , Yu Qing , Peng Huimin , Huang Feifei , Zhao Zheng , Chang Pingan
Published: April 2024

Transmembrane protein 68 (TMEM68) is a recently identified mammalian triacylglycerol (TAG) synthase with high expression in the brain. How TMEM68 regulates cellular lipid metabolism in concert with other enzymatic pathways remains poorly understood. In this study, we assessed TMEM68 function in neuro- and gliablastoma cells by combining genetic gain- and loss-of-function approaches with lipidomics. We found that TMEM68 promotes TAG synthesis and lipid droplet formation independently of canonical acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) 1 and 2 enzymes and contributes a discrete fraction of basal cellular TAG storage. Notably, TMEM68 overexpression increased storage lipids at the expense of membrane lipids leading to a profound reduction of ether-linked glycerophospholipids (GPLs). Moreover, altered TMEM68 expression levels were associated with diminished prevalence of polyunsaturated GPLs. We conclude that TMEM68, besides its TAG synthesis function, acts as a multifaceted regulator of membrane lipid composition and polyunsaturated fatty acid homeostasis.
Same data, different results? Evaluating machine learning approaches for individual identification in animal vocalisations
Authors: Wierucka K , Murphy D , Watson SK , Falk N , Fichtel C , León J , Leu ST , Kappeler PM , Briefer EF , Manser MB , Phaniraj N , Scheumann M , Burkart JM
Published: April 2024

Automated acoustic analysis is increasingly used in animal communication studies, and determining caller identity is a key element for many investigations. However, variability in feature extraction and classification methods limits the comparability of results across species and studies, constraining conclusions we can draw about the ecology and evolution of the groups under study. We investigated the impact of using different feature extraction (spectro-temporal measurements, Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, and highly comparative time-series analysis) and classification methods (discriminant function analysis, support vector machines, Gaussian mixture models, neural networks, and random forests) on the consistency of classification accuracy across 16 mammalian datasets. We found that Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients and random forests yield consistently reliable results across datasets, facilitating a standardised approach across species that generates directly comparable data. These findings remained consistent across vocalisation sample sizes and number of individuals considered. We offer guidelines for processing and analysing mammalian vocalisations, fostering greater comparability, and advancing our understanding of the evolutionary significance of acoustic communication in diverse mammalian species.
A pragmatic pipeline for drug resistance identification inMycobacterium tuberculosisusing whole genome sequencing
Authors: Elton Linzy , Aydin Alp , Stoker Neil , Rofael Sylvia , Wildner Letícia Muraro , Achimi Abdul Jabar Babatunde Pacome Agbo , Tembo John , Hamid Muzamil Abdel , Chastel Mfoutou Mapanguy Claujens , Canseco Julio Ortiz , Doyle Ronan , Satta Giovanni , O’Grady Justin , Witney Adam , Ntoumi Francine , Zumla Alimuddin , McHugh Timothy D
Published: April 2024

Background

Delays in accurate diagnosis of drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) can hinder treatment. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) provides more information than standard molecular and phenotypic testing, but commonly used platforms are expensive to implement, and data interpretation requires significant expertise.

Aims

We aimed to optimise a TB WGS diagnostic pipeline balancing user-friendliness, cost- effectiveness and time to results, whilst ensuring accuracy.

Materials and methods

Growth conditions, DNA extraction protocols and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) library preparation kits were compared. Software for basecalling and analysis were evaluated to find the most accurate resistance SNP and lineage predictor.

Results

Optimally, a spin-column CTAB DNA extraction method was combined with the RBK110.96 library preparation kit, high accuracy basecalling and data analysis using TB-Profiler. Compared with Illumina, the pipeline was concordant for 16/17 (94%) isolates (lineage) and for 17/17 (100%) isolates (resistance SNPs). Our pipeline was 71% (12/17) concordant with phenotypic drug susceptibility test (DST) results. Time-to-diagnosis was around four weeks.

Conclusions

This optimised TB sequencing pipeline requires less time expertise to run and analyse than Illumina, takes less time than phenotypic DSTs and the results are comparable with Illumina. The cost per sample is comparable with other methods. These features make it an important tool for incorporating into routine DR-TB diagnostic pipelines and larger scale drug resistance surveillance in all settings.
Spinning pairs: Supporting
P03
quark-pair creation from Landau-gauge Green’s functions
Authors: Alkofer Reinhard , Llanes-Estrada Felipe J. , Salas-Bernárdez Alexandre
Published: April 2024

Abundant phenomenology suggests that strong decays from relatively low-excitation hadrons into other hadrons proceed by the creation of a light quark-antiquark pair with zero total angular momentum, the so called P03 mechanism originating from a scalar bilinear. Yet the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) interaction is perturbatively mediated by gluons of spin one, and QCD presents a chirally symmetric Lagrangian. Such scalar decay term must be spontaneously generated upon breaking chiral symmetry. We attempt to reproduce this with the help of the quark-gluon vertex in Landau gauge, whose nonperturbative structure has been reasonably elucidated in the last years, and insertions of a uniform, constant chromoelectric field. This is akin to Schwinger pair production in quantum electrodynamics (QED), and we provide a comparison with its two field-insertions diagram. We find that, the symmetry being cylindrical, the adequate quantum numbers to discuss the production are rather Σ30, Σ31, and Π30 as in diatomic molecules, and we indeed find a sizeable contribution of the third decay mechanism, which may give a rationale for the P03 phenomenology, as long as the momentum of the produced pair is at or below the scale of the bare or dynamically generated fermion mass. On the other hand, ultrarelativistic fermions are rather ejected with Σ31 quantum numbers. In QED, our results suggest that Σ30 dominates, whereas the constraint of producing a color singlet in QCD leads to Π30 dominance at sub-GeV momenta.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Coupled-channel
ΛcK+−pDs
interaction in the flavor SU(3) limit of lattice QCD
Authors: Etminan Faisal , Sasaki Kenji , Inoue Takashi
Published: April 2024

We study S-wave interactions in the I(Jp)=1/2(1/2−)  ΛcK+−pDs system on the basis of the coupled-channel Hadrons to Atomic nuclei from Lattice Quantum ChromoDynamics method. The potentials which are faithful to QCD S-matrix below the pD* threshold are extracted from Nambu-Bethe-Salpeter wave functions on the lattice in flavor SU(3) limit. For the simulation, we employ 3-flavor full QCD gauge configurations on a (1.93  fm)3 volume at

m

π

≃

872

 

 

MeV

. We present our results of the S-wave coupled-channel potentials for the ΛcK+−pDs system in the 1/2(1/2−) state as well as scattering observables obtained from the extracted potential matrix. We observe that the coupling between ΛcK+ and pDs channels is weak. The phase shifts and scattering length obtained from the extracted potential matrix show that the ΛcK+ interaction is attractive at low energy and stronger than the pDs interaction though no bound state at mπ≥872  MeV.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Probing new physics with polarization components of the tau lepton in quasielastic
e−p→Λcτ−
scattering process
Authors: Yan Xin-Shuai , Zhang Liang-Hui , Chang Qin , Yang Ya-Dong
Published: April 2024

Kinematics restricts the ability of rare charm decays to explore the charged lepton-flavor-violation processes mediated by the quark-level c→uℓτ transition. To fill the gap, we propose exploring new physics (NP) through the quasielastic scattering process e−p→τ−Λc and the polarization of the τ lepton. As analyzing modes for the τ polarization, we consider the decays τ−→π−ντ, τ−→ρ−ντ, and τ−→ℓ−ν¯ℓντ, and show that the τ polarization components can be extracted from analyzing the kinematics of the τ visible decay products. In the framework of a general low-energy effective Lagrangian, we then perform a detailed analysis of the polarization components in various aspects and scrutinize possible NP signals. With one upcoming experimental setup, we finally demonstrate promising event rate can be expected for the cascade process and, even in the worst-case scenario—no signals are observed at all—it can still provide a competitive potential for constraining the NP, compared with those from the high-pT dilepton invariant mass tails at high-energy colliders.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Integrable extensions of two-center Coulomb systems
Authors: Correa Francisco , Quintana Octavio
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we investigate new integrable extensions of two-center Coulomb systems. We study the most general n-dimensional deformation of the two-center problem by adding arbitrary functions supporting second-order commuting conserved quantities. The system is superintegrable for n>4 and, for certain choices of the arbitrary functions, reduces to known models previously discovered. Then, based on this extended system, we introduce an additional integrable generalization involving Calogero interactions for n=3. In all examples, including the two-center problem, we explicitly present the complete list of Liouville integrals in terms of second-order integrals of motion.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Anomalous and linear holographic hard wall models for glueballs and the pomeron
Authors: Costa-Silva Rafael A. , Boschi-Filho Henrique
Published: April 2024

In this work we propose improved holographic hard wall (HW) models by the inclusion of anomalous dimensions in the dual operators that describe glueballs inspired by the AdS/CFT correspondence. The anomalous dimensions come from well known semiclassical gauge/string duality analysis showing a dependence with the logarithm of spin S of the boundary states. We show that these logarithm anomalous dimensions of the high spin operators combined with the usual HW model allow us to match the pomeron trajectory and give glueball masses that are better than that of the original HW and soft wall models in comparison with lattice data. We also build up other anomalous HW models considering that the logarithm anomalous dimensions can be approximated by a truncated series of odd powers of the difference S−1/S. These models also fit the pomeron trajectory and produce good glueball masses. Then, we consider an anomalous dimension that is proportional to S, providing reasonable results. Finally, we propose an asymptotic linear anomalous HW model that effective dimensions for high spins operators are of the form Δ=aS+b, where a and b are constants to be fixed by comparison with the soft pomeron trajectory. In this last model, the Regge trajectory is asymptotically linear even for very high spins (J∼100) matching the soft pomeron trajectory accurately and generates glueball masses with deviations with respect to the lattice data better than the original HW and soft wall models.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Feasible Route to High-Temperature Ambient-Pressure Hydride Superconductivity
Authors: Dolui Kapildeb , Conway Lewis J. , Heil Christoph , Strobel Timothy A. , Prasankumar Rohit P. , Pickard Chris J.
Published: April 2024

A key challenge in materials discovery is to find high-temperature superconductors. Hydrogen and hydride materials have long been considered promising materials displaying conventional phonon-mediated superconductivity. However, the high pressures required to stabilize these materials have restricted their application. Here, we present results from high-throughput computation, considering a wide range of high-symmetry ternary hydrides from across the periodic table at ambient pressure. This large composition space is then reduced by considering thermodynamic, dynamic, and magnetic stability before direct estimations of the superconducting critical temperature. This approach has revealed a metastable ambient-pressure hydride superconductor, Mg2IrH6, with a predicted critical temperature of 160 K, comparable to the highest temperature superconducting cuprates. We propose a synthesis route a structurally related insulator, Mg2IrH7, which is thermodynamically stable above 15 GPa, and discuss the potential challenges in doing so.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024