bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain Structural Correlates of Dispositional Insight and the Mediation Role of Neuroticism in Young Adults
Authors: Lin Jiabao , Chen Yajue , Xie Jiushu , Cheng Qiuping , Zou Mi , Mo Lei
Published: April 2022

Studies on the neural correlates of episodic insight have made significant progress in the past decades. However, the neural mechanisms underlying dispositional insight are largely unknown. In the present study, we recruited forty-four young, healthy adults and performed several analyses to reveal the neural mechanisms of dispositional insight. Firstly, a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) technique was used to explore the structural brain mechanisms of dispositional insight. We found that dispositional insight was significantly and negatively correlated with the regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the left thalamus (TLM.L), right temporoparietal junction (TPJ.R), and left dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC.L). Secondly, we performed a seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis to complement the findings of VBM analysis further. The brain regions of TLM.L, DMPFC.L, and TPJ.R were selected as seed regions. We found that dispositional insight was associated with altered RSFC between the DMPFC.L and bilateral TPJ, between the TPJ.R and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, DMPFC.L, TPJ.L, right insula, and right cerebellum. Finally, a mediation analysis found that the personality of neuroticism partially mediated the relationship between the brain region of TLM.L and dispositional insight. These findings imply that dispositional insight has a specific functional and structural neural mechanism. The personality of neuroticism may play a pivotal role in the processes of dispositional insight.
Microglia Don’t Treat All Neurons the Same: The Importance of Neuronal Subtype in Microglia-Neuron Interactions in the Developing Hypothalamus
Authors: Ngozi Zuri , Bolton Jessica L.
Published: April 2022

Microglia are now well-known as integral regulators of brain development, phagocytosing whole neurons, and pruning weak or excess synapses in order to sculpt and refine immature circuits. However, the importance of neuronal subtype in guiding microglial activity has not received much attention until recently. This perspective will delineate what is known about this topic so far, starting with the developing brain as a whole and then focusing on the developing hypothalamus in particular. There is emerging evidence that subpopulations of microglia treat excitatory and inhibitory neurons differently, and our recent work has shown that even the type of neuropeptide produced by the nearby neurons is important. For example, microglia abutting corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) engulf fewer excitatory synapses than do microglia on the borders of the PVN that are not contacting CRH+ neurons. Potential future directions and technical considerations will be discussed in an effort to catalyze this emerging and exciting area of research. Applications of this research may hold promise in creating more specific therapies that target unique subtypes of microglia-neuron interactions in the atypically developing brain.
Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Element-Binding Protein 1 Post-transcriptionally Regulates Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 Expression Through 3′ Untranslated Region in Central Nervous System Neurons
Authors: Oe Souichi , Hayashi Shinichi , Tanaka Susumu , Koike Taro , Hirahara Yukie , Seki-Omura Ryohei , Kakizaki Rio , Sakamoto Sumika , Nakano Yosuke , Noda Yasuko , Yamada Hisao , Kitada Masaaki
Published: April 2022

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an inherited intellectual disability caused by a deficiency in Fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1) gene expression. Recent studies have proposed the importance of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 1 (CPEB1) in FXS pathology; however, the molecular interaction between Fmr1 mRNA and CPEB1 has not been fully investigated. Here, we revealed that CPEB1 co-localized and interacted with Fmr1 mRNA in hippocampal and cerebellar neurons and culture cells. Furthermore, CPEB1 knockdown upregulated Fmr1 mRNA and protein levels and caused aberrant localization of Fragile X mental retardation protein in neurons. In an FXS cell model, CPEB1 knockdown upregulated the mRNA levels of several mitochondria-related genes and rescued the intracellular heat shock protein family A member 9 distribution. These findings suggest that CPEB1 post-transcriptionally regulated Fmr1 expression through the 3′ untranslated region, and that CPEB1 knockdown might affect mitochondrial function.
Activation of a Locus Coeruleus to Dorsal Hippocampus Noradrenergic Circuit Facilitates Associative Learning
Authors: Tsetsenis Theodoros , Badyna Julia K. , Li Rebecca , Dani John A.
Published: April 2022

Processing of contextual information during a new episodic event is crucial for learning and memory. Neuromodulation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex plays an important role in the formation of associations between environmental cues and an aversive experience. Noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus send dense projections to both regions, but their contribution to contextual associative learning has not been established. Here, we utilize selective optogenetic and pharmacological manipulations to control noradrenergic transmission in the hippocampus during the encoding of a contextual fear memory. We find that boosting noradrenergic terminal release in the dorsal CA1 enhances the acquisition of contextual associative learning and that this effect requires local activation of β-adrenenergic receptors. Moreover, we show that increasing norepinephrine release can ameliorate contextual fear learning impairments caused by dopaminergic dysregulation in the hippocampus. Our data suggest that increasing of hippocampal noradrenergic activity can have important implications in the treatment of cognitive disorders that involve problems in contextual processing.
Histopathologic Characterization and Neurodegenerative Markers in Patients With Limbic Encephalitis Undergoing Epilepsy Surgery
Authors: Rácz Attila , Hummel Chiara A. , Becker Albert , Helmstaedter Christoph , Schuch Fabiane , Baumgartner Tobias , von Wrede Randi , Borger Valeri , Solymosi László , Surges Rainer , Elger Christian E.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Limbic encephalitis is an increasingly recognized cause of medial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) and associated cognitive deficits, potentially resulting in hippocampal sclerosis (HS). For several reasons, these patients usually do not undergo epilepsy surgery. Thus, histopathologic examinations in surgical specimens of clearly diagnosed limbic encephalitis are scarce. The purpose of this study was a detailed histopathologic analysis of surgical tissue alterations, including neurodegenerative markers, in patients with limbic encephalitis undergoing epilepsy surgery.

Methods

We investigated the surgical specimens of six patients operated on with mTLE related to limbic encephalitis (among them four patients were with GAD65 and one with Ma1/2 antibodies), and compared the findings to a control group with six patients matched according to age at the time of surgery without limbic encephalitis and without early inciting events.

Results

Histopathologic analysis in the group with limbic encephalitis revealed HS in four patients, while three of them also displayed signs of an active inflammatory reaction with lymphocytes. In one of the patients with GAD65-encephalitis who was suffering from a late-onset mTLE and a long disease course, neurodegenerative protein markers (β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau) were found coexisting with inflammatory reactions and HS. Investigations in the control group did not reveal any inflammatory reaction or neurodegenerative marker.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a possible link between long-lasting immune reactions in the medial temporal lobe, HS, and further toward the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Presently, however, a causal relationship between these entities cannot yet be established. Furthermore, our results suggest that an immunological etiology should always be considered in late onset (> 18 years) mTLE, also in cases of long disease duration and the presence of HS.
Association of Red Meat Consumption, Metabolic Markers, and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Pan Lang , Chen Lu , Lv Jun , Pang Yuanjie , Guo Yu , Pei Pei , Du Huaidong , Yang Ling , Millwood Iona Y. , Walters Robin G. , Chen Yiping , Hua Yujie , Sohoni Rajani , Sansome Sam , Chen Junshi , Yu Canqing , Chen Zhengming , Li Liming
Published: April 2022

Objective

The metabolic mechanism of harmful effects of red meat on the cardiovascular system is still unclear. The objective of the present study is to investigate the associations of self-reported red meat consumption with plasma metabolic markers, and of these markers with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Methods

Plasma samples of 4,778 participants (3,401 CVD cases and 1,377 controls) aged 30–79 selected from a nested case-control study based on the China Kadoorie Biobank were analyzed by using targeted nuclear magnetic resonance to quantify 225 metabolites or derived traits. Linear regression was conducted to evaluate the effects of self-reported red meat consumption on metabolic markers, which were further compared with the effects of these markers on CVD risk assessed by logistic regression.

Results

Out of 225 metabolites, 46 were associated with red meat consumption. Positive associations were observed for intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), small high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and all sizes of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Cholesterols, phospholipids, and apolipoproteins within various lipoproteins, as well as fatty acids, total choline, and total phosphoglycerides, were also positively associated with red meat consumption. Meanwhile, 29 out of 46 markers were associated with CVD risk. In general, the associations of metabolic markers with red meat consumption and of metabolic markers with CVD risk showed consistent direction.

Conclusions

In the Chinese population, red meat consumption is associated with several metabolic markers, which may partially explain the harmful effect of red meat consumption on CVD.
Vitamin K2 Enhances Fat Degradation to Improve the Survival of C. elegans
Authors: Qu Zhi , Zhang Lu , Huang Wei , Zheng Shanqing
Published: April 2022

The beneficial effects of vitamin K (VK) on various chronic age-related syndromes have generally been considered dependent on its antioxidant effects. However, due to the distinct bioavailability and biological activities of VKs, exactly which of these activities and by what mechanisms they might act still need to be elucidated. In this study, we found that VK2 can extend the lifespan of C. elegans and improve the resistance to pathogen infection, heat stress and H2O2-induced inner oxidative stress. Importantly, the roles of VK2 on aging and stress resistance were shown to be dependent on enhanced fat metabolism and not due to its antioxidant effects. Moreover, the genes related to fat metabolism that were up-regulated following VK2 treatment play key roles in improving survival. Obesity is a leading risk factor for developing T2DM, and taking VKs has been previously considered to improve the insulin sensitivity associated with obesity and T2DM risk. However, our results showed that VK2 can significantly influence the expression of genes related to fat metabolism, including those that regulate fatty acid elongation, desaturation, and synthesis of fatty acid-CoA. VK2 enhanced the fatty acid β-oxidation activity in peroxisome to degrade and digest fatty acid-CoA. Our study implies that VK2 can enhance fat degradation and digestion to improve survival, supporting the effectiveness of VK2-based medical treatments. VK2 is mainly produced by gut bacteria, suggesting that VK2 might facilitate communication between the gut microbiota and the host intestinal cells to influence fat metabolism.
Associations Between Fitness, Physical Activity, and Fatness in Preschool Children With Typical and Atypical Motor Coordination
Authors: Keating Shelley E. , Mielke Gregore I. , King-Dowling Sara , Timmons Brian W. , Kwan Matthew , Cairney John
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Increased adiposity in children confers a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in later life, with low cardiorespiratory fitness strongly linked to poorer metabolic health. Children with motor coordination problems are likely to be less physically fit and at a higher risk of obesity. In this study, we examined the associations between aerobic and anaerobic fitness, device-measured physical activity, and body adiposity in children (aged 4–5 years) with typical and atypical motor coordination.

Methods

Baseline data from the Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) cohort study were utilised. The assessments included aerobic and anaerobic fitness via time-to-exhaustion on Bruce treadmill test and normalised mean power on Wingate cycling test, respectively; light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary time via accelerometry; and body adiposity (%) via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2) was used to assess motor coordination and classify children as typically developing (TD, >16th percentile) or at risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD, ≤16th percentile). General linear regression models were fitted to examine associations.

Results

The analyses included 495 participants (5.0 ± 0.6 years, 56% male, and body adiposity 22.7 ± 4.2%). Aerobic fitness (β = −0.006, p < 0.001) and MVPA (β = −0.018, p = 0.045) were negatively associated with body adiposity when adjusted for age, sex, and MABC-2 score. There was no relationship between sedentary time and body adiposity. There were no interactions of sex or MABC-2 score with any variable.

Conclusion

Lower aerobic fitness and MVPA were associated with higher body adiposity in preschoolers, regardless of motor coordination. Interventions targetting improved aerobic fitness and MVPA are therefore warranted in both TD and atypically developing preschoolers. Whether maintaining high aerobic fitness in children with possible DCD confers protection against obesity requires longitudinal investigation.
What Is the Relationship Between Body Mass Index, Sex Hormones, Leptin, and Irisin in Children and Adolescents? A Path Analysis
Authors: Zhang Li , Peng Xingwang , Wang Yuanyuan , Cao Ruiyao , Zhang Zizhe , Fu Lianguo
Published: April 2022

Objective

The present research aimed to study the relationship between body mass index (BMI), sex hormones, leptin, and irisin in children and adolescents with different body types.

Methods

In this study, a stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select students aged 8-15 years from two 9-year schools as the research subjects. Based on a case-control study, 183 overweight/obese students were selected. After using sex and age matching to create a matched sample of normal-weighted students, a total of 366 students, including 214 boys (58.5%) and 152 girls (41.5%) were included. We measured their height and weight and calculated their body mass index BMI. Afterward, their concentrations of leptin, irisin, oestradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) in the serum were detected.

Results

There were significant differences in T, E2, leptin, and irisin between normal-weighted boys and girls (p < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in T, E2, and irisin between overweight/obese boys and girls (p < 0.05). Overweight/obese students had higher concentrations of irisin and leptin than normal-weight students (p < 0.05). The direct effect of BMI on irisin was not statistically significant in either normal or overweight/obese students, but their indirect effects via leptin were statistically significant (for normal-weight boys and girls, standardized indirect effect coefficient: 0.29 and 0.38, respectively; for overweight/obese boys and girls, standardized indirect effect coefficient: 0.36 and 0.34, respectively). There was a negative pathway of E2 → leptin → irisin in normal-weight boys (standardized indirect effect coefficient: −0.24) and a negative pathway of T → leptin → irisin in overweight/obese boys (standardized indirect effect coefficient: −0.27).

Conclusion

The indirect effects of BMI on irisin via leptin exist in children and adolescents of different body types. E2 was negatively correlated with leptin in normal-weight boys, whereas T was negatively correlated with leptin in overweight/obese boys.
Management of Hypertensive Crises in Children: A Review of the Recent Literature
Authors: Bertazza Partigiani Nicola , Spagnol Rachele , Di Michele Laura , Santini Micaela , Grotto Benedetta , Sartori Alex , Zamperetti Elita , Nosadini Margherita , Meneghesso Davide
Published: April 2022

Hypertensive emergency is a life-threatening condition associated with severe hypertension and organ damage, such as neurological, renal or cardiac dysfunction. The most recent guidelines on pediatric hypertension, the 2016 European guidelines and the 2017 American guidelines, provide recommendations on the management of hypertensive emergencies, however in pediatric age robust literature is lacking and the available evidence often derives from studies conducted in adults. We reviewed PubMed and Cochrane Library from January 2017 to July 2021, using the following search terms: “hypertension” AND “treatment” AND (“emergency” OR “urgency”) to identify the studies. Five studies were analyzed, according to our including criteria. According to the articles reviewed in this work, beta-blockers seem to be safe and effective in hypertensive crises, more than sodium nitroprusside, although limited data are available. Indeed, calcium-channel blockers seem to be effective and safe, in particular the use of clevidipine during the neonatal age, although limited studies are available. However, further studies should be warranted to define a univocal approach to pediatric hypertensive emergencies.
Water Stress Differentially Modulates the Expression of Tomato Cell Wall Metabolism-Related Genes in Meloidogyne incognita Feeding Sites
Authors: Veronico Pasqua , Rosso Laura Cristina , Melillo Maria Teresa , Fanelli Elena , De Luca Francesca , Ciancio Aurelio , Colagiero Mariantonietta , Pentimone Isabella
Published: April 2022

Microscopic observations and transcriptomic RNA-Seq analyses were applied to investigate the effect of water stress during the formation of tomato galls formation 1 and 2 weeks after inoculation with the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Water stress affected root growth and the nematode ability to mount an efficient parasitism. The effects of water stress on the feeding site development were already observed at 1 week after nematode inoculation, with smaller giant cells, delayed development, and thinner cell walls. These features suggested changes in the expression levels of genes involved in the feeding site formation and maintenance. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and expression patterns were used to characterize differentially expressed genes. Water stress modified the expression profile of genes involved in the synthesis, degradation, and remodeling of the cell wall during the development of nematode feeding site. A comparison of gene expression with unstressed galls revealed that water stress intensified the up or downregulation of most genes. However, it particularly influenced the expression pattern of expansin A11 (Solyc04g081870.4.1), expansin-like B1(Solyc08g077910.3.1), a pectin acetylesterase (Solyc08g005800.4.1), and the pectin methylesterase pmeu1 (Solyc03g123630.4.1) which were upregulated in unstressed galls and repressed by water stress, at both sampling times. The expression of most members of the genes involved in cell wall metabolism, i.e., those coding for Csl, fasciclin, and COBRA proteins, were negatively influenced. Interestingly, alteration in the expression profiles of most dirigent protein genes (DIRs) and upregulation of five gene coding for Casparian strip domain protein (CASP)-like proteins were found. Gene expression analysis of galls from water stressed plants allowed us to better understand the molecular basis of M. incognita parasitism in tomato. Specific genes, including those involved in regulation of cellulose synthesis and lignification process, require further study to develop defense strategies against root-knot nematodes.
Let's Buy With Social Commerce Platforms Through Social Media Influencers: An Indian Consumer Perspective
Authors: Alam Faizan , Tao Meng , Lahuerta-Otero Eva , Feifei Zhao
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the retail industry around the globe, including in the vast market of India. The response to the pandemic required stores to close and develop new ways to approach shoppers more efficiently. The worldwide usage of social media enabled the growth of social commerce (s-commerce). Influencers on s-commerce platforms use live broadcasting on their channels to promote endorsed products. The features of s-commerce influencers enhance users' trust in the online community and s-commerce intention, impacting their online purchasing intentions. In this study, we collected data from 379 Indian consumers to test the measurement and structural model using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to verify our conceptual framework. We found that trust in the online community and s-commerce intention are antecedents of online purchase intentions. Additionally, the results demonstrate that trust in Indian social media influencers and s-commerce intentions are vital for boosting consumers' purchase intention, verifying the hypothesized mediating effect of these factors. Based on these results, we suggest several managerial actions that could enhance the value of s-commerce for franchises, executives, e-retailers, and e-marketplaces.
Prenatal GABAB Receptor Agonist Administration Corrects the Inheritance of Autism-Like Core Behaviors in Offspring of Mice Prenatally Exposed to Valproic Acid
Authors: Jiang Shucai , He Maotao , Xiao Lifei , Sun Yu , Ding Jiangwei , Li Wenchao , Guo Baorui , Wang Lei , Wang Yangyang , Gao Caibin , Sun Tao , Wang Feng
Published: April 2022

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of prenatal baclofen (a GABAB receptor agonist) treatment on the inheritance of autism-like behaviors in valproic acid (VPA)-exposed mice. VPA model mice (first generation, F1) that were prenatally exposed to VPA exhibited robust core autism-like behaviors, and we found that oral administration of baclofen to F1 mice corrected their autism-like behavioral phenotypes at an early age. Based on a previous epigenetics study, we mated the F1 male offspring with litter females to produce the second generation (F2). The F2 male mice showed obvious inheritance of autism-like phenotypes from F1 mice, implying the heritability of autism symptoms in patients with prenatal VPA exposure. Furthermore, we found prenatal baclofen administration was associated with beneficial effects on the autism-like phenotype in F2 male mice. This may have involved corrections in the density of total/mature dendritic spines in the hippocampus (HC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), normalizing synaptic plasticity. In this research, GABAB receptor agonist administration corrected the core autism-like behaviors of F1 mice and protected against the inheritance of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring of F1 mice, suggesting the potential of early intervention with GABAB receptor agonists in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Perceived Family Functioning Profile in Adolescents at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: Rigidity as a Possible Preventive Target
Authors: Iorio Melanie , Casini Erica , Damiani Stefano , Fusar-Poli Paolo , Borgatti Renato , Mensi Martina Maria ,   Clinical High Risk State for Psychosis Research Group
Published: April 2022

The presence of a positive family relationship has been suggested as a protective factor from parental stress and from the development of full-blown psychosis. However, to date, there is limited research on family functioning in adolescents with psychosis and at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P). This study is aimed at comparing family functioning and perceived stress in parents of adolescents with either CHR-P, early onset psychosis (EOP), or other psychiatric disorders (no CHR-P). As a secondary aim, it will correlate family functioning with parental perceived stress in order to find critical targets of intervention. We conducted a Reporting of Studies Conducted Using Observational Routinely-Collected Health Data (RECORD)—compliant, real-world, cross-sectional study. One-hundred and eleven adolescents aged 12–17 who access the institute of hospitalization and care with scientific character (IRCCS) Mondino Foundation Neuropsychiatric services (Pavia, Italy) between 2017 and 2020 and their parents (n = 222) were included. Sociodemographic characteristics of adolescents and their parents were collected. Family functioning was evaluated through the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-IV (FACES-IV) and the level of stress through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Twenty adolescents had EOP, 38 had CHR-P, and 59 had no CHR-P. In total, 2.6% of CHR-P adolescents were adopted, 76.3% had separated-divorced parents, and 34.2% of parents had a depressive disorder. Among the FACES-IV sub-scale, maternal rigidity was progressively increased from no-CHR-P to CHR-P to EOP group, with statistical differences between EOP and the other two groups (p = 0.01). CHR-P mothers and fathers showed a high level of PSS values, without group difference. Lastly, PSS values correlated positively with the Rigidity, Disengagement, and Chaos scale of FACES-IV and negatively with the Communication scale (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that family functioning has a central role and could represent a worthwhile target of intervention for adolescents at CHR-P, leading the way to new preventive approaches.
Immunomodulatory Role of CB2 Receptors in Emotional and Cognitive Disorders
Authors: Morcuende Alvaro , García-Gutiérrez María Salud , Tambaro Simone , Nieto Elena , Manzanares Jorge , Femenia Teresa
Published: April 2022

Emotional behavior, memory, and learning have been associated with alterations in the immune system in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. In recent years, several studies pointed out the involvement of the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2r) in the immune system and the regulation of inflammation. This receptor is widely distributed in different tissues and organs with higher expression in spleen and immune system cells. However, CB2r has also been detected in several brain areas and different brain cell types, such as neurons and glia. These findings suggest that CB2r may closely relate the immune system and the brain circuits regulating inflammation, mood, and cognitive functions. Therefore, we review the studies that may help elucidate the molecular bases of CB2r in regulating inflammation in different brain cells and its role in the pathophysiology of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
Characterizing the Mechanical Stiffness of Passive-Dynamic Ankle-Foot Orthosis Struts
Authors: Ashcraft Kara R. , Grabowski Alena M.
Published: April 2022

People with lower limb impairment can participate in activities such as running with the use of a passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthosis (PD-AFO). Specifically, the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO) is a PD-AFO design that includes a carbon-fiber strut, which attaches posteriorly to a custom-fabricated tibial cuff and foot plate and acts in parallel with the impaired biological ankle joint to control sagittal and mediolateral motion, while allowing elastic energy storage and return during the stance phase of running. The strut stiffness affects the extent to which the orthosis keeps the impaired biological ankle in a neutral position by controling sagittal and mediolateral motion. The struts are currently manufactured to a thickness that corresponds with one of five stiffness categories (1 = least stiff, 5 = most stiff) and are prescribed to patients based on their body mass and activity level. However, the stiffness values of IDEO carbon-fiber struts have not been systematically determined, and these values can inform dynamic function and biomimetic PD-AFO prescription and design. The PD-AFO strut primarily deflects in the anterior direction (ankle dorsiflexion), and resists deflection in the posterior direction (ankle plantarflexion) during the stance phase of running. Thus, we constructed a custom apparatus and measured strut stiffness for 0.18 radians (10°) of anterior deflection and 0.09 radians (5°) of posterior deflection. We measured the applied moment and strut deflection to compute angular stiffness, the quotient of moment and angle. The strut moment-angle curves for anterior and posterior deflection were well characterized by a linear relationship. The strut stiffness values for categories 1–5 at 0.18 radians (10°) of anterior deflection were 0.73–1.74 kN·m/rad and at 0.09 radians (5°) of posterior deflection were 0.86–2.73 kN·m/rad. Since a PD-AFO strut acts in parallel with the impaired biological ankle, the strut and impaired biological ankle angular stiffness sum to equal total stiffness. Thus, strut stiffness directly affects total ankle joint stiffness, which in turn affects ankle motion and energy storage and return during running. Future research is planned to better understand how use of a running-specific PD-AFO with different strut stiffness affects the biomechanics and metabolic costs of running in people with lower limb impairment.
Body Mass Index and Exercise Effort Influences Changes in Motor Symptoms After High-Cadence Dynamic Cycling in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Gates Peter , Ridgel Angela L.
Published: April 2022

High-cadence dynamic cycling improves motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), such as tremor and bradykinesia. However, some participants experience greater benefits than others. To gain insight into how individual characteristics and cycling performance affects functional changes, data from two previous studies were used to build several preliminary predictive models. The purpose was to examine which variables contribute to greater improvement in symptoms after high-cadence dynamic cycling. We hypothesized that individuals with higher body mass index (BMI), increased age, more severe symptoms, and higher PD medication dosages were less likely to contribute effort during cycling. UPDRS-III was assessed before and after each session, and cadence and power were recorded every second. Entropy of cadence was calculated, and data were analyzed using analysis of variance and multiple linear regression. The multiple linear regression model of post UPDRS significantly (R2= 0.81,p< 0.001) explained its variance, with pre UPDRS as the main predictor (p< 0.0001). The binomial logistic model of mean effort did not significantly (R2= 0.36,p= 0.14) explain the variance.Post-hocanalysis found a significant (β = 0.28,p= 0.03) moderating effect of different levels of BMI on the association between mean effort and post UPDRS. These results suggest that BMI, effort, and baseline UPDRS levels can potentially predict individual responses to high-cadence dynamic cycling.
Mitigating Disputes Originated by Multiple Discordant Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: A Survey of Methodologists and Clinicians
Authors: Puljak Livia , Parmelli Elena , Capobussi Matteo , Gonzalez-Lorenzo Marien , Squizzato Alessandro , Moja Lorenzo , Riva Nicoletta
Published: April 2022

Background

Overlapping systematic reviews (SRs) are increasingly frequent in the medical literature. They can easily generate discordant evidence, as estimates of effect sizes and their interpretation might differ from one source to another.

Objective

To analyze how methodologists and clinicians make a decision when faced with discordant evidence formalized in structured tables.

Methods

We conducted a 16-item survey exploring how methodologists and clinicians would react when presented with multiple Summary of Findings (SoF) tables (generated using the GRADE tool) derived from 4 overlapping and discordant SRs and meta-analyses on thrombolytic therapy for intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism. SoF tables reported 4 different magnitudes of effects and overall certainty. Participants were asked to provide their recommendations regarding the intervention and the reasons behind their conclusion.

Results

Of the 80 invitees, 41 (51%) participated. The majority described themselves as “somewhat familiar” or experts with SoF tables. The majority recommended the therapy (pharmacological systemic thrombolysis), grading the recommendation as weak positive. Certainty of evidence and benefit-risk balance were the two criteria that prevailed in generating the recommendation. When faced with overlapping meta-analyses, the preferred approach was to use only high-quality SRs and exclude redundant SRs. Several participants suggested integrating the SoF tables with additional information, such as a more comprehensive evaluation of the risk of bias of systematic reviews (71%), heterogeneity/inconsistency (68%) and studies included within each SR (62%).

Conclusion

When faced with multiple controversial SR results, the type and completeness of reported information in SoF tables affect experts' ability to make recommendations. Developers of the SoF table should consider collating key information from overlapping and potentially discordant reviews.
Successful Co-Feeding of Asian Seabass, Lates calcarifer Larvae With Palm Oil-Based Microdiets and Live Feeds
Authors: Safiin Nik Siti Zaimah , Ching Fui Fui , Shapawi Rossita
Published: April 2022

Palm oil has been recognized as a high potential alternative dietary lipid source to reduce the reliance on expensive fish oil in aquaculture feeds. Unfortunately, most research studies were focusing on the juvenile or grow-out stage of aquatic species. This study was designed to develop weaning microdiets for Asian seabass larvae with dietary fish oil being replaced with crude palm oil (CPO) at 25, 50, and 75% (CPO25, CPO50, and CPO75) and refined bleached deodorized palm olein, refined palm oil (RPO) at 50 and 75% (RPO50 and RPO75) replacement levels. A fish-oil-based microdiet was used as a control treatment (FO100). The triplicate groups of fish larvae with initial weight and length of 1.71 ± 0.13 mg and 5.54 ± 0.34 mm, respectively, were stocked at 150 larvae/tank and co-fed with the experimental microdiets and live feeds (L-type rotifer and artemia). The final body weight (0.54–0.63 g) and specific growth rate (SGR) (12.8–13.13%/d) of fish-fed palm oil-based diets were significantly better than the control diet (0.42 g; 12.21%/day, respectively). In particular, RPO75 yielded the best SGR followed by RPO50, CPO75, CPO50, and CPO25. The feeding intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not statistically different from other treatments (0.2–0.3 g/fish/d and 1.06–1.63, respectively). The survival rate of larvae-fed palm oil-based diets (33.11–46.67%) during the feeding trial was comparable to the control diet (39.33%). In the 65 ppt-salinity stress test at 25 DPH, there was no significant difference in terms of the survival rate of larvae fed the control diet and the CPO-based diets, but the lowest survival rate was observed in the RPO-based diets than the control diet. Higher final whole-body protein and lipid contents (15.3 ± 0.4 and 3.7 ± 0.0%, respectively) were observed in fish-fed CPO50 compared to other treatments. Generally, the replacement of fish oil with palm oil increased the palmitic acid (C:16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1n9) and significantly reduced the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (C20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (C22:6n3) contents in both the microdiets and larval body, a common observation in this kind of investigation. Considering the good growth and survival of Asian seabass larvae in this study, availability of palm oil, and its competitive price compared to fish oil, it is suggested that weaning diets for Asian seabass larvae can be developed using palm oil as a partial source of dietary lipid.
Spatial-Temporal Accessibility and Inequality of Veterinary Service in Hong Kong: A Geographic Information System-Based Study
Authors: Ng Ka Yiu , Ho Chun Long , Koh Keumseok
Published: April 2022

Veterinary services are vital to the welfare of pets and their owners. Previous studies examined multiple factors affecting pet owners' decision to consult veterinarians, yet few studied the spatial accessibility of veterinary services. This study is one of the pioneering studies on the spatial-temporal accessibility of veterinary service and how it is associated with social and spatial inequality in Hong Kong. We measured the spatial availability and accessibility of both general and 24/7 veterinary clinics (i.e., veterinary clinics offering service for 24 hours, seven days a week or providing emergency services outside of business hours) using Geographic Information System and principal component analysis. We found that the spatial distribution pattern of general and 24/7 veterinary clinics can be explained by the average district-to-district distances and the area of a district. In addition, social and spatial inequality of access to veterinary services were observed. The spatial accessibility of general veterinary clinics within walking distance is negatively correlated with household size and the number of public-housing and subsidized-housing households, but positively correlated with the number of private-housing households. The spatial availability and accessibility of 24/7 veterinary service are positively correlated with the number of private housing households and households with the highest monthly household income, and the latter also positively correlates with a population with a post-secondary degree, further shedding light on the social and spatial inequality issue that communities with wealthier households and highly educated populations have more accessibility to 24/7 veterinary services. Last, we argue that the need-based veterinary support tends to target remote rural areas while overlooking the new growth areas close to the traditional urban core but poor in accessibility to veterinary care. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation into the pet ownership landscape and their needs over space and time will be beneficial to construct a more robust animal welfare system in Hong Kong.
A Fuzzy Grouping Genetic Algorithm for Solving a Real-World Virtual Machine Placement Problem in a Healthcare-Cloud
Authors: Alharbe Nawaf , Aljohani Abeer , Rakrouki Mohamed Ali
Published: April 2022

Due to the large-scale development of cloud computing, data center electricity energy costs have increased rapidly. Energy saving has become a major research direction of virtual machine placement problems. At the same time, the multi-dimensional resources on the cloud should be used in a balanced manner in order to avoid resources waste. In this context, this paper addresses a real-world virtual machine placement problem arising in a Healthcare-Cloud (H-Cloud) of hospitals chain in Saudi Arabia, considering server power consumption and resource utilization. As a part of optimizing both objectives, user service quality has to be taken into account. In fact, user quality of service (QoS) is also considered by measuring the Service-Level Agreement (SLA) violation rate. This problem is modeled as a multi-objective virtual machine placement problem with the objective of minimizing power consumption, resource utilization, and SLA violation rate. To solve this challenging problem, a fuzzy grouping genetic algorithm (FGGA) is proposed. Considering that multiple optimization objectives may have different degrees of influence on the problem, the fitness function of the proposed algorithm is calculated with fuzzy logic-based function. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Convolutional-Neural-Network-Based Handwritten Character Recognition: An Approach with Massive Multisource Data
Authors: Saqib Nazmus , Haque Khandaker Foysal , Yanambaka Venkata Prasanth , Abdelgawad Ahmed
Published: April 2022

Neural networks have made big strides in image classification. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) work successfully to run neural networks on direct images. Handwritten character recognition (HCR) is now a very powerful tool to detect traffic signals, translate language, and extract information from documents, etc. Although handwritten character recognition technology is in use in the industry, present accuracy is not outstanding, which compromises both performance and usability. Thus, the character recognition technologies in use are still not very reliable and need further improvement to be extensively deployed for serious and reliable tasks. On this account, characters of the English alphabet and digit recognition are performed by proposing a custom-tailored CNN model with two different datasets of handwritten images, i.e., Kaggle and MNIST, respectively, which are lightweight but achieve higher accuracies than state-of-the-art models. The best two models from the total of twelve designed are proposed by altering hyper-parameters to observe which models provide the best accuracy for which dataset. In addition, the classification reports (CRs) of these two proposed models are extensively investigated considering the performance matrices, such as precision, recall, specificity, and F1 score, which are obtained from the developed confusion matrix (CM). To simulate a practical scenario, the dataset is kept unbalanced and three more averages for the F measurement (micro, macro, and weighted) are calculated, which facilitates better understanding of the performances of the models. The highest accuracy of 99.642% is achieved for digit recognition, with the model using ‘RMSprop’, at a learning rate of 0.001, whereas the highest detection accuracy for alphabet recognition is 99.563%, which is obtained with the proposed model using ‘ADAM’ optimizer at a learning rate of 0.00001. The macro F1 and weighted F1 scores for the best two models are 0.998, 0.997:0.992, and 0.996, respectively, for digit and alphabet recognition.
Joint State and Parameter Estimation for Hypersonic Glide Vehicles Based on Moving Horizon Estimation via Carleman Linearization
Authors: Hu Yudong , Gao Changsheng , Jing Wuxing
Published: April 2022

Aimed at joint state and parameter estimation problems in hypersonic glide vehicle defense, a novel moving horizon estimation algorithm via Carleman linearization is developed in this paper. First, the maneuver characteristic parameters that reflect the target maneuver law are extended into the state vector, and a dynamic tracking model applicable to various hypersonic glide vehicles is constructed. To improve the estimation accuracy, constraints such as path and parameter change amplitude constraints in flight are taken into account, and the estimation problem is transformed into a nonlinear constrained optimal estimation problem. Then, to solve the problem of high time cost for solving a nonlinear constrained optimal estimation problem, in the framework of moving horizon estimation, nonlinear constrained optimization problems are transformed into bilinear constrained optimization problems by linearizing the nonlinear system via Carleman linearization. For ensuring the consistency of the linearized system with the original nonlinear system, the linearized model is continuously updated as the window slides forward. Moreover, a CKF-based arrival cost update algorithm is also provided to improve the estimation accuracy. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed joint state and parameter estimation algorithm greatly improves the estimation accuracy while reducing the time cost significantly.
Design and Key Parameter Optimization of Conic Roller Shelling Device Based on Walnut Moisture-Regulating Treatments
Authors: Wang Jiannan , Liu Minji , Wu Huichang , Peng Jinyi , Peng Baoliang , Yang Yanshan , Cao Minzhu , Wei Hai , Xie Huanxiong
Published: April 2022

The quality of walnuts deteriorates owing to the poor quality of the shelling equipment. The improvement of shelling quality is urgently required for walnut processing. In this study, systematic research was carried out on the changes in walnut mechanical properties, mechanical model of walnut shelling, and the key parameters of the equipment. The key parameters were determined as the angles of the shelling conic roller (X1), speeds of the shelling conic roller (X2), clearance between the shelling conic roller and the static roller (X3), and the moisture content of walnuts (X4). The Box–Behnken design method was used for the experimental design, an analysis of variance was applied to determine the graded significance of each variable on the rate of high-quality kernel (RHQK) and rate of shell rushing (RSC), and the multi-objective optimization method was used to obtain the optimal parameters for RHQK and RSC. The ranking of factors affecting RHQK and RSC were: (X3) > (X4) > (X2) > (X1) for RHQK, and (X2) > (X3) > (X4) > (X1) for RSC. The ranks of significant interactive effects among the factors were as follows: (X1 X2) > (X2 X3) for RHQK and (X2 X3) > (X3 X4) > (X2 X4) for RSC. The multi-objective optimization results showed that the optimal combination was X1 = 15.83°, X2 = 17.93 rpm, X3 = 45 mm, and X4 = 9.5%, yielding RHQK = 84.54%, and RSC = 99.15%. The verification test of the optimal results further illustrates the accuracy of the optimization. The obtained results showed that the quality of walnut shelling can be improved by adjusting the moisture content of walnuts and optimizing key parameters of the equipment. This method also represents a potential solution for improving the shelling quality of other nuts.
Elevated Gamma Connectivity in Nidopallium Caudolaterale of Pigeons during Spatial Path Adjustment
Authors: Li Mengmeng , Fan Jiantao , Lin Lubo , Shang Zhigang , Wan Hong
Published: April 2022

Previous studies showed that spatial navigation depends on a local network including multiple brain regions with strong interactions. However, it is still not fully understood whether and how the neural patterns in avian nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL), which is suggested to play a key role in navigation as a higher cognitive structure, are modulated by the behaviors during spatial navigation, especially involved path adjustment needs. Hence, we examined neural activity in the NCL of pigeons and explored the local field potentials’ (LFPs) spectral and functional connectivity patterns in a goal-directed spatial cognitive task with the detour paradigm. We found the pigeons progressively learned to solve the path adjustment task when the learned path was blocked suddenly. Importantly, the behavioral changes during the adjustment were accompanied by the modifications in neural patterns in the NCL. Specifically, the spectral power in lower bands (1–4 Hz and 5–12 Hz) decreased as the pigeons were tested during the adjustment. Meanwhile, an elevated gamma (31–45 Hz and 55–80 Hz) connectivity in the NCL was also detected. These results and the partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) modeling analysis provide insights into the neural activities in the avian NCL during the spatial path adjustment, contributing to understanding the potential mechanism of avian spatial encoding. This study suggests the important role of the NCL in spatial learning, especially path adjustment in avian navigation.