bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in the aging brain? A voxel-based morphometry analysis of the hippocampus and the amygdala
Authors: Sambuco Nicola 
Published: September 2021

Objectives
Volumetric reductions in the hippocampus and the amygdala are considered a hallmark for many psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Because brain atrophy is often observed in disorders that have a higher prevalence in females than males, it has been proposed that sex differences in the aging brain represent a vulnerability factor for developing more severe psychiatric conditions.

Methods
Sexual dimorphism was assessed in the amygdala volume and hippocampal volume in a large sample (N = 554) of healthy individuals ranging from 20 to 79 years old, using structural brain data available from a public dataset.

Results
In both the hippocampus and the amygdala, a quadratic association was found between age and brain volume. Using uncorrected data for head size [total intracranial volume (TIV)], males clearly demonstrated larger amygdala and hippocampal volume across all ages, and an interaction between age and sex in the hippocampus supported the hypothesis of accelerated atrophy in the hippocampus in later life (60–79 years old). However, when volumetric data adjusted for TIV were used, sex differences were not observed in the hippocampus nor the amygdala.

Conclusion
These findings support the extensive series of studies suggesting that sex differences in brain volume are likely related to the confounding effect of head size. While continued effort is allocated to identify sex-related biomarkers, increasing evidence suggests that sexual dimorphism in the hippocampus or the amygdala does not appear to be the primary candidates for precision medicine to identify sex-related biomarkers that index potential vulnerabilities.
Unitization congruence moderates the effect of unitization on associative recognition: evidence from event-related potentials
Authors: Ma Yurao , Liu Zejun , Zhao Chunyu , Guo Chunyan 
Published: September 2021

Objectives
Recently, a growing number of studies have shown that familiarity can promote associative recognition when more than two types of stimuli are combined into a single entity. However, it is not clear why the effect of unitization on associative recognition varies in the different studies. In this study, we examined whether the unitization congruence (UC) between original image pairs and rearranged ones affects associative recognition.

Methods
Participants were asked to learn relevant and irrelevant picture pairs for the encoding phase, and they needed to distinguish intact pairs from rearranged pairs for the retrieval phase, while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during the whole process.

Results
The results of the behavioral experiments showed that the performances of recognition (Prs: hits-false alarms) were higher under the relevant condition than under the irrelevant one for both UC conditions, although this effect was much larger under the inconsistent UC condition than under the consistent one. The ERP results also revealed that there were larger early old/new effect (FN400) and late left parietal old/new effect (LPC) under the relevant condition than under the irrelevant ones, irrespective of its consistency or inconsistency. However, these effects were more significant for inconsistent conditions.

Conclusions
These results indicated that UC can moderate the effect of unitization on associative recognition by increasing familiarity and recollection and revealed the need to match the level of unitization of materials arrangements in future studies.
Financial and Non-financial Conflicts of Interest Among the Japanese Government Advisory Board Members Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Mamada Hanano , Murayama Anju , Ozaki Akihiko , Hashimoto Takanao , Saito Hiroaki , Sawano Toyoaki , Bhandari Divya , Shrestha Sunil , Tanimoto Tetsuya 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the extent of conflicts of interest among the Japanese government COVID-19 advisory board members and elucidate the accuracy of conflicts of interest (COI) disclosure and management strategies.MethodsUsing the payment data from all 79 pharmaceutical companies in Japan between 2017 and 2018 and direct research grants from the Japanese government between 2019 and 2020, we evaluated the extent of financial and non-financial COI among all 20 Japanese government COVID-19 advisory board members.ResultsJapanese government COVID-19 advisory board members were predominantly male (75.0%) and physicians (50.0%). Between 2019 and 2020, two members (10.0%) received a total of $819,244 in government research funding. Another five members (25.0%) received $419,725 in payments, including $223,183 in personal fees, from 28 pharmaceutical companies between 2017 and 2018. The average value of the pharmaceutical payments was $20,986 (standard deviation: $81,762). Further, neither the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare nor the Japanese Cabinet Secretariat disclosed financial or non-financial COI with industry. Further, the government and had no policies for managing COI among advisory board members.ConclusionsThis study found that the Japanese government COVID-19 advisory board had financial and non-financial COI with pharmaceutical companies and the government. Further, there were no rigorous COI management strategies for the COVID-19 advisory board members. Any government must ensure the independence of scientific advisory boards by implementing more rigorous and transparent management strategies that require the declaration and public disclosure of all COI.
Butyrate and related epigenetic changes link Parkinson’s disease to inflammatory bowel disease and depressive symptoms
Authors: Xie Aoji , Ensink Elizabeth , Li Peipei , Gordevičius Juozas , Marshall Lee L. , George Sonia , Pospisilik J. Andrew , Aho Velma T. E. , Houser Madelyn C. , Pereira Pedro A. B. , Rudi Knut , Paulin Lars , Tansey Malú G. , Auvinen Petri , Brundin Patrik , Brundin Lena , Labrie Viviane , Scheperjans Filip 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe gut microbiome and its metabolites can impact brain health and are altered in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. It has been recently demonstrated that PD patients have reduced fecal levels of the potent epigenetic modulator butyrate and its bacterial producers. Here, we investigate whether the changes in the gut microbiome and associated metabolites are linked to PD symptoms and epigenetic markers in leucocytes and neurons.MethodsStool, whole blood samples, and clinical data were collected from 55 PD patients and 55 controls. We performed DNA methylation analysis on whole blood samples and analyzed the results in relation to fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations and microbiota composition. In another cohort, prefrontal cortex neurons were isolated from control and PD brains. We identified the genome-wide DNA methylation by targeted bisulfite sequencing.ResultsWe show that lower fecal butyrate and reduced Roseburia, Romboutsia, and Prevotella counts are linked to depressive symptoms in PD patients. Genes containing butyrate-associated methylation sites include PD risk genes and significantly overlap with sites epigenetically altered in PD blood leucocytes, predominantly neutrophils, and in brain neurons, relative to controls. Moreover, butyrate-associated methylated-DNA (mDNA) regions in PD overlap with those altered in gastrointestinal, autoimmune, and psychiatric diseases.ConclusionsDecreased levels of bacterially produced butyrate are linked to epigenetic changes in leucocytes and neurons from PD patients, and to the severity of their depressive symptoms. PD shares common butyrate-dependent epigenetic changes with certain gastrointestinal and psychiatric disorders, which could be relevant for their epidemiological linkage.
Profiles of US Hispanics Unvaccinated for COVID-19
Authors: Piper Brian J. , Sanchez Bianca V. , Madera Joshua D. , Sulzinski Michael A. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Hispanics in the US with increased rates of SARS-Cov2 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. The objective of this report was to characterize the demographics and beliefs of unvaccinated Hispanics to help address their concerns that lead to vaccine hesitancy.MethodsOf 1,011 potential participants from a national online panel, 22.3% (N=225, 51.6% female, age = 40.5) met inclusion criteria of Hispanic adults and not receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The 30-item survey included items about demographics, political affiliations, sources of news (e.g., Fox vs. CNN), reasons for being unvaccinated, and ratings (0 = strongly disagree, 100 = strongly agree) of 10 controversial statements regarding COVID-19.ResultsOver three-fifths (62.6%) identified side effects and safety concerns while almost one-third (30.5%) a lack of efficacy as their top reasons for being unvaccinated. Agreement to “The developers of the COVID-19 vaccine rushed the development and cut-corners” was rated highest (63.22) which was significantly (p < .001) higher than the other nine statements (e.g., “The COVID-19 vaccine does not work”). Many vaccine attitudes differed significantly by political party affiliation and some by gender and news source. Republicans (59.9 ± 4.2) scored higher than Democrats (38.5 ± 4.2, p ≤ .001) to “If I’ve already had COVID-19, I don’t need the vaccine.”ConclusionsThis study identified heterogeneity in COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among Hispanics. Further research is needed to determine if the subgroups identified are differentially receptive to interventions to facilitate reconsideration of prior vaccination decisions.
Murine Fetal Tracheal Occlusion Increases Lung Basal Cells via Increased Yap Signaling
Authors: Serapiglia Vincent , Stephens Chad , Joshi Rashika , Aydin Emrah , Oria Marc , Marotta Mario , Peiro Jose L. , Varisco Brian M. 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACTFetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) is an emerging surgical therapy for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Ovine and rabbit data suggested altered lung epithelial cell populations after TO with transcriptomic signatures implicating basal cells. To test this hypothesis, we deconvolved mRNA-seq data and used quantitative image analysis in fetal rabbit lungs to showed increased basal cells and reduced ciliated cells after TO. In a fetal mouse TO model, flow cytometry showed increased basal cells, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated basal cell extension to the subpleura. Nuclear yap, a known regulator of basal cell fate, was increased in TO lung, and Yap ablation on the lung epithelium abrogated TO-mediated basal cell expansion. mRNA-seq of TO lung showed increased activity of downstream Yap genes. Human lung specimens with congenital and fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion had clusters of subpleural basal cell that were not present in control. TO increases lung epithelial cell nuclear Yap leading to basal cell expansion.
Fluency Changes due to Sports-Related Concussion
Authors: Patel Sona , Grabowski Caryn , Dayalu Vikram , Cunningham Mercedes , Testa Anthony J. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlterations in speech have long been identified as indicators of various neurologic conditions including traumatic brain injury (TBI), neurodegenerative diseases, and stroke. TBIs that can be assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale often result in speech symptoms such as dysarthria and occasionally neurogenic stuttering. The manifestation of symptoms including the specific changes in speech occurring in mild TBIs (or concussions) may differ from more severe head injuries. This work aims to compare speech fluency in sport-related concussion to baseline performance as well as non-athlete controls.MethodsA total of 230 Division I student athletes participated in pre-season speech testing. Of these, 12 students (18-22 years) who sustained a concussion also participated in speech testing in the days following diagnosis of concussion. Samples of picture descriptions were independently coded by three trained raters as 17 error types within the three traditional categories of errors defined in fluency analysis (Stuttering-Like Disfluency, Articulation Error, Other Disfluency).ResultsWithin-subjects analysis comparing the difference in percent error scores at baseline and post-concussion revealed significant differences for interjections (t(11)=-2.678, p< .05). The Other Disfluency category was also significantly different (t(11)= -2.735, p< .05), with more errors occurring after a concussion. No change in the Stuttering-Like Disfluency (t(11)= -0.799, p>.05) or Articulation Error category (t(11)=-0.045, p>.05) was found.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that speech changes occur following mild sports-related concussions. Specifically, the rate of interjections increased in a limited sample of college athletes who sustain a concussion. Changes in additional error types (fillers, pauses) were trending, but were not significant potentially due to the low sample size. Future studies should consider speech as a diagnostic tool for concussion.
Odorant receptor copy number change, co-expression, and positive selection establish peripheral coding differences between fly species
Authors: Auer Thomas O. , Álvarez-Ocaña Raquel , Cruchet Steeve , Benton Richard , Arguello J. Roman 
Published: September 2021

1.AbstractDespite numerous examples of chemoreceptor gene family expansions and contractions, how these changes relate to modifications in the neural circuitry in which they are expressed remains unclear. Drosophila’s Odorant receptor (Or) family is ideal for addressing this question because a large majority of Ors are uniquely expressed in single olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) types. Between-species changes in Or copy number, therefore, may indicate diversification/reduction of OSN populations. To test this, we investigated a rapidly duplicated/deleted subfamily (named Or67a) in Drosophila melanogaster and its sister species (D. simulans, D. sechellia, and D. mauritiana). We found that the common ancestor had three Or67a paralogs that had already diverged adaptively in their odor-evoked responses. Following their speciation, two Or67a paralogs were lost independently in D. melanogaster and D. sechellia, with ongoing positive selection acting on the intact genes. Instead of the expected singular expression of each diverged Ors, the three D. simulans Or67a paralogs are co-expressed. Thus, while neuroanatomy is conserved between these species, independent selection on co-expressed receptors has contributed to species-specific peripheral coding of olfactory information. This work reveals a model of adaptive change previously not considered for olfactory evolution and raises the possibility that similar processes may be operating among the largely uninvestigated cases of Or co-expression.
Ultrasensitive detection of Bacillus anthracis by real time PCR targeting a polymorphism in multi-copy 16S rRNA genes and their transcripts
Authors: Braun Peter , Nguyen Martin Duy-Thanh , Walter Mathias C. , Grass Gregor 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe anthrax pathogen Bacillus anthracis poses a significant threat to human health. Identification of B. anthracis is challenging because of the bacterium’s close genetic relationship to other Bacillus cereus group species. Thus, molecular detection is founded on species-specific PCR targeting single-copy genes. Here, we validated a previously recognized multi-copy target, a species-specific SNP present in 2-5 copies in every B. anthracis genome analyzed. For this, a hydrolysis probe-based real time PCR assay was developed and rigorously tested. The assay was specific as only B. anthracis DNA yielded positive results, was linear over 9 log10 units and was sensitive with a limit of detection (LoD) of 2.9 copies/reaction. Though not exhibiting a lower LoD than established single copy PCR targets (dhp61 or PL3), the higher copy number of the B. anthracis–specific 16S rRNA gene allele afforded ≤2 unit lower threshold (Ct) values. To push the detection limit even further, the assay was adapted for reverse transcription PCR on 16S rRNA transcripts. This RT-PCR assay was also linear over 9 log10 units and was sensitive with a LoD of 6.3 copies/reaction.In a dilution-series of experiments, the 16S RT-PCR assay achieved a thousand-fold higher sensitivity than the DNA-targeting assays. For molecular diagnostics, we recommend a real time RT-PCR assay variant in which both DNA and RNA serve as templates (thus, no requirement for DNase treatment). This will at least provide results equaling the DNA-based implementation if no RNA is present but will be superior even at the lowest residual rRNA concentrations.
Effects of testing and vaccination levels on the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prospects for its termination
Authors: Nesteruk Igor , Rodionov Oleksii 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACTA simple statistical analysis of the accumulated and daily numbers of new COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita was performed with the use of recent datasets for European and some other countries and regions. It was shown that vaccination can significantly reduce the likelihood of deaths. However, existing vaccines do not prevent new infections, and vaccinated individuals can spread the infection as intensely as unvaccinated ones. Therefore, it is too early to lift quarantine restrictions in Europe and most other countries. The constant appearance of new cases due to re-infection increases the likelihood of new coronavirus strains, including very dangerous. As existing vaccines are not able to prevent this, it remains to increase the number of tests per registered case. If the critical value of 520 is exceeded, one can hope to stop the occurrence of new cases.
Fractional-order Approach to Modeling and Characterizing the Complex and Frequency-dependent Apparent Arterial Compliance: In Human and Animal Validation
Authors: Bahloul Mohamed A. , Aboelkassem Yasser , Laleg-Kirati Taous-Meriem 
Published: September 2021

AbstractRecently, experimental and theoretical studies have revealed the potential of fractional calculus to represent viscoelastic blood vessel and arterial biomechanical properties. This paper presents five fractional-order models to describe the dynamic relationship between aortic blood pressure and volume, representing the apparent vascular compliance. The proposed model employs fractional-order capacitor element (FOC) to lump the complex and frequency dependence characteristics of arterial compliance. FOC combines both resistive and capacitive properties, which the fractional differentiation order, α, can control. The proposed representations have been compared with generalized integer-order models of arterial compliance. All structures have been validated using different aortic pressure and flow rate waveforms collected from various human and animal species such as pigs and dogs. The results demonstrate that the fractional-order scheme can reconstruct the overall dynamic of the complex and frequency-dependent apparent compliance dynamic and reduce the complexity. The physiological relevance of the proposed models’ parameters was assessed by evaluating the variance-based global sensitivity analysis. Moreover, the simplest fractional-order representation has been embed in a global arterial lumped parameter representation to develop a novel fractional-order modified arterial Windkessel. The introduced arterial model has been validated by applying real human and animal hemodynamic data and shows an accurate reconstruction of the proximal blood pressure. The novel proposed paradigm confers a potential to be adopted in clinical practice and basic cardiovascular mechanics research.
Learning about threat from friends and strangers is equally effective: an fMRI study on observational fear conditioning
Authors: Kaźmierowska Anna M. , Szczepanik Michał , Wypych Marek , Droździel Dawid , Marchewka Artur , Michałowski Jarosław M. , Olsson Andreas , Knapska Ewelina 
Published: September 2021

AbstractHumans often benefit from social cues when learning about the world. For instance, learning about threats from others can save the individual from dangerous first-hand experiences. Familiarity is believed to increase the effectiveness of social learning, but it is not clear whether it plays a role in learning about threats. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we undertook a naturalistic approach and investigated whether there was a difference between observational fear learning from friends and strangers. Participants (observers) witnessed either their friends or strangers (demonstrators) receiving aversive (shock) stimuli paired with colored squares (observational learning stage). Subsequently, participants watched the same squares, but without receiving any shocks (direct-expression stage). We observed a similar pattern of brain activity in both groups of observers. Regions related to threat responses (amygdala, anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex) and social perception (fusiform gyrus, posterior superior temporal sulcus) were activated during the observational phase, reflecting the fear contagion process. The anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex were also activated during the subsequent stage, indicating the expression of learned threat. Because there were no differences between participants observing friends and strangers, we argue that social threat learning is independent of the level of familiarity with the demonstrator.HighlightsWe compared observational learning of fear from friends and strangersFamiliarity does not enhance social learning of fear in humansBayesian statistics confirm absence of differences between friends and strangersObservational fear learning activates social and fear networks including amygdalaAmygdala activations are absent when learned fear is recalled
Assessing the optimal frequency of early parasitoid releases in an apple orchard to control Dysaphis plantaginea: a proof of concept study
Authors: Ferrais L. , Tougeron K. , Gardin P. , Hance T. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAlternative measures to pesticides to control the rosy apple aphid Dysaphis plantaginea are being developed. Naturally occurring predators and parasitoids often fail to reduce aphid abundance below the economic threshold in orchards, because they are active too late after the aphid first infestation. We tested the efficiency of mass release of two parasitoid species, Aphidius matricariae and Ephedrus cerasicola, early in the season to match the presence of aphid fundatrix (sensitive stages). In this trial focusing on an organic apple orchard, three releases were done either every week or every two weeks to test the effect of the release frequency, during two consecutive years. The number of aphid colonies and aphid number per tree were monitored from late March to late May. Degree-days necessary for parasitoid emergence in the field after release were calculated. We show that a sufficient level of aphid control by parasitoids is reached during the first month of the survey, but control mostly fails during the second part of the monitoring session, for both release treatments, and compared to the neem oil control treatment. The relative effects of release frequencies were different between years probably because of interannual differences in aphid population dynamics and initial infestation in orchards. The field survey and the degree-day model suggest that parasitoid releases, at either frequency, are promising candidates for biological control of the rosy aphid, although the method still needs proper calibration. This conclusion needs to be reinforced by repeating the study in more orchards, but our case study lays the first empirical basis that will help to develop future control methods of aphids by parasitoid releases in apple orchards. We argue that releases should be done one to two weeks before first aphid detection to account for long development times of parasitoids at relatively low temperatures.