bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
B - 117 Preliminary Validity for a Standardized Measure of Neuropsychological Testing Readiness: the Barnett-Coldiron Testing Readiness Inventory
Authors: Coldiron Allyson M , Killingsworth Derek C , Zamora Joel A , Bishop Kellee N , DiGiovanna Benjamin J , Motley John E , Arreola Langarica Ashley D , Guillory Logan A , Barnett Michael D 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
Neuropsychological testing requires specific conditions of the clinician, client, and setting for valid standardized measurement and clinical interpretation, and yet only effort/symptom validity and orientation are routinely assessed in a standardized manner. Many other conditions are agreed to impact testing performance, including the developed construct of testing readiness: internal client states that are appropriate for undergoing neuropsychological testing (e.g., well rested, not intoxicated) as well as atypical conditions that require accommodations (e.g., mobility limitations, colorblindness). This study examined the preliminary validity of a testing readiness self-report screening measure developed to standardize the assessment and reporting of this aspect of profile validity.

Method
Community-dwelling young adults (N = 58) and older adults (N = 35) were screened for psychological and cognitive well-being, and then completed the Barnett-Coldiron Testing Readiness Inventory (BCTRI), followed by a short neuropsychological battery.

Results
The BCTRI displayed good internal consistency (α = 0.84) with a skewed distribution (−1.57) expected of healthy, testing-ready participant samples, and the only difference in BCTRI scores between participant demographic groups was found in psychological symptoms between age cohorts (t[57.99] = 2.27, p = 0.03). Additionally, the BCTRI showed discriminative validity with established neuropsychological tests – including an effort test (p = 0.81) – as well as concurrent validity with screening measures of overlapping psychological constructs (r = 0.60, p &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion
The BCTRI displayed preliminary validity for the standardized assessment of testing readiness, as an aspect of client profile validity for neuropsychological testing, and the measure’s easy interpretation and quantitative reporting method show potential utility for both clinical and research settings. Future studies will investigate cutoff scores for clinical use.
B - 122 A Preliminary Analysis of the Neuropsychological Evaluation of the UPSA (NEUPSA)
Authors: Peek Elizabeth , Miranda Alannah , Holloway Breanna , Raven Karli , Rosberg Holden , Minassian Arpi , Perry William 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
The UCSD Performance Skills Assessment (UPSA) is a well-established performance instrument created to evaluate functional outcomes. We applied a neuropsychological framework to the UPSA and created the Neuropsychological Evaluation of the UPSA (NEUPSA), assessing the cognitive processes that underlie the functional tasks in the UPSA. The study aimed to compare the executive function and attention components of the NEUPSA with a validated computerized cognitive assessment.

Methods
Participants were 86 adults drawn from the San Diego community. Participants completed the UPSA, 5 Choice CPT (5CCPT) which evaluates attention by calculating a d-prime score that assesses sustained attention, and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) which assesses risky decision making. We employed a Spearman’s correlation analysis with a 95% confidence interval to assess the strength of the relationship between NEUPSA attention scores and 5CCPT and IGT performance.

Results
NEUPSA subscores were significantly correlated with performance on computerized cognitive assessments. 5CCPT scores were positively correlated with NEUPSA attention scores (r = 0.24, p = 0.03). IGT scores were positively correlated with NEUPSA executive functioning scores (r = 0.23, p = 0.04).

Conclusion
These findings provide preliminary evidence that the NEUPSA assesses aspects of attention (i.e., sustained attention) and executive function (i.e., risky decision making). Further research, however, needs to be conducted on the validity of this measure and the utility in assessing neuropsychological function in clinical populations. Next steps include assessing NEUPSA performance in various non-healthy comparison populations. In this study, we emphasize the fundamental cognitive principles necessary for performance, offering a promising avenue for comprehending impaired functioning.
B - 125 Atypical Alzheimer’s Disease in a Highly Educated Individual: a Case Study
Authors: Jiang Yirou , DeVaughn Saskia , Peery Shelley 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
Early onset of atypical Alzheimer’s disease (ad) can be challenging to identify, especially in highly educated individuals. Protein deposits in neural areas other than the medial temporal lobe can be associated with a heterogeneous neurocognitive pattern. We present a case that highlights the value of biomarker studies in these individuals.

Method
A 67-year-old, right-handed female with 18 years of education presented with inefficient word retrieval and mental set loss, which emerged approximately two to three years prior. Symptoms worsened in the context of gabapentin use status post lung cancer resection without return to baseline with steady progression. Remaining medical history includes a 1.4 cm right parietal falcine meningioma, hyperlipidemia, and depression.

Results
In the context of high average premorbid functioning, challenges included complex executive functioning, subtle visuospatial deficits, and encoding and recall inefficiencies. Naming was low average. Neuroimaging revealed mild parietal and dorsal frontal atrophy, potentially age-appropriate, with no significant hippocampal atrophy.

Conclusions
The present case highlights the possibility of atypical protein deposits and neurocognitive pattern in a highly educated individual with the potential of an early onset ad process. The value of biomarkers and neuropsychological nuances will be of increasing relevance in the context of emerging amyloid therapies.
B - 132 Validation of the PCL-5 Symptom Severity Scale Embedded Symptom Validity Index in a Cross-Cultural Forensic Sample
Authors: Snodgrass Makenna , Schroeder Ryan W , Spector Jack , Bieu Rachel 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
Three embedded symptom validity indices were recently created for the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The first, the PCL-5 Symptom Severity Scale (PSS), is derived from the PCL-5 total score, and preliminary findings have indicated its effectiveness in research and clinical samples. Our aim was to cross-validate this validity index in a cross-cultural forensic sample.

Method
Examinees were Macedonian and Kosovar contractors (N = 79) previously employed at military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq. Examinees underwent defense psychological examinations between 2018 and 2023 related to pursuit of federal workers compensation claims for PTSD. Testing was performed with translated instruments and administered with assistance from certified interpreters. Two sets of analyses were conducted in this study. In the first, examinees were categorized as valid or invalid responders based on their Trauma Symptom Inventory-II Atypical Response Scale (ATR) scores. In the second, validity status was categorized based on a more conservative criterion of failing 2+ validity tests.

Results
Receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to determine optimal cutoff scores and classification accuracy statistics for the PSS. The area under the curve was acceptable (0.77) in both analyses. When categorizing invalidity with the ATR, a PSS cutoff of 64 resulted in 95% specificity and 33% sensitivity. When categorizing invalidity by failure of 2+ validity tests, the PSS cutoff could be adjusted to 62 resulting in 90% specificity and 46% sensitivity.

Conclusion
Results of the current study are in line with those from previous research. These findings extend the utility of the PSS to a cross-cultural forensic sample.
B - 134 Validation of the Pcl-5 Rare Items Scale Embedded Symptom Validity Index in a Cross-Cultural Forensic Sample
Authors: Snodgrass Makenna , Schroeder Ryan , Spector Jack , Bieu Rachel 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
Recently, three embedded symptom validity indices were developed for the PTSD Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5). The PCL-5 Rare Item (PRI) scale is one of those indices, which is calculated by summing examinee responses to infrequently endorsed item ratings. Preliminary findings indicate the PRI is effective in a research sample but potentially less effective in a clinical sample. The aim of the current study was to cross-validate the PRI in a cross-cultural forensic sample.

Method
Examinees were Macedonian and Kosovar contractors (N = 79). Contractors were previously employed at military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq. The examinees underwent defense psychological examinations related to pursuing federal workers compensation claims for PTSD. Examinations were conducted between 2018 and 2023 with appropriately translated instruments and assistance from certified interpreters. Two sets of analyses were performed for this study. First, examinees were categorized as responding validly or invalidly based on their Trauma Symptom Inventory-II Atypical Response Scale (ATR) scores. In a second set of analyses, validity status was based on a more conservative criterion of failing 2+ validity tests.

Results
Receiver operating characteristic analyses were employed. Area under the curve findings were acceptable (0.74) in both sets of analyses. When invalidity was based on the ATR, a PRI cutoff of 3 resulted in 95% specificity and 35% sensitivity. Similarly, when invalidity was determined by failure of 2+ validity tests, a PRI cutoff of 3 resulted in 95% specificity and 36% sensitivity.

Conclusion
Results of the current study support the utility of the PRI in a cross-cultural forensic sample.
B - 138 Factors Influencing Performance Validity Test (PVT) Performance in a Clinical Multiple Sclerosis Sample
Authors: Palmeri Maria J , Rose Nina , Foley Frederick , Seng Elizabeth 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
Performance Validity Test (PVT) failure, originally designed to assess malingering in forensic settings, is remarkably common in the clinical setting. Though there are potentially numerous explanations for PVT failure, there is a paucity of research investigating its frequency, and contributing factors, in patients with neurological disorders. We aimed to identify factors associated with PVT failure among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Method
A hierarchical logistic regression was performed on a dataset containing neuropsychological assessment results of 32 males (23.5%), and 104 females (76.5%) with MS (N = 106, Mean age = 47.9) to evaluate associations between depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS-Anxiety) (step 1), fatigue (Fatigue Scale of Motor and Cognitive Functions, FSMC) (step 2), age/years of education (step 3), and PVT failure (Test of Memory Malingering, TOMM score &lt; 45).

Results
The final model was significant and explained 40.8% of the variance in TOMM failure (χ2(6) = 21, p = 0.002). The odds of PVT failure increased by 22.1% (p = 0.04) for every 1 unit increase in z-score on the PHQ-9. The odds of PVT failure increased by 66.3% for every 1 point increase in total Cognitive Fatigue (p = 0.01). Age, education, HADS-Anxiety, and Motor-Fatigue were not significantly associated with TOMM failure.

Conclusion
It is commonly assumed that neurology patients who fail PVTs are seeking secondary gain (e.g., disability). This study provides some support for the hypothesis that psychological factors, such as depression and cognitive fatigue, may significantly contribute to PVT failure in some clinical populations.
B - 142 Reason to Forget Use of (Most) Digit Span Validity Measures in Aging Clinical Samples
Authors: Reese Caitlin S , Denney David A , Gonzalez Deborah M , Stohlman Shelby , Walls Brittany D , Ruchinskas Robert 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
The Digit Span (DS) subtest has survived every iteration of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and the reliable digit span (RDS forward+backward) is an established embedded performance validity test (PVT). The only known DS meta-analysis drew near equivalency between the WAIS-R and WAIS-III RDS and age-corrected scaled score (ACSS) validity cutoffs, recommending use of either. The WAIS-IV included a new DS sequencing subtest. Alternate and enhanced RDS measures, adding sequencing, were derived. However, aging samples often perseverate on sequencing. The aims of this study are to confirm and update the faulty use of the enhanced RDS in the aging, establish that use of the previously recommended DS ACSS cutoff (now including sequencing) is similarly faulty, and update all DS PVT cutoff specificities in a clinical aging sample.

Method
Memory Clinic data were taken from 350 individuals with neuropsychologist-neurologist consensus diagnoses including 111 individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease (ad), 181 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; 99 amnestic; 82 non-amnestic) and 58 with subjective cognitive complaints (SCC).

Results
Most DS embedded PVTs (e.g., ACSS&lt;6, Enhanced RDS &lt; 11) present with poor specificity in aging clinical populations (e.g., Χ2 (3350) = 26.331,p = &lt;0.001), while the traditional RDS (&lt; 6) excludes sequencing and retains the best relative specificity (81–95%), as ad performs worst on sequencing (&lt;0.001).

Conclusions
While prior research favored the DS ACSS in older individuals, this study provided support for the traditional RDS in a memory clinic population. Future directions include corroborating these findings using standalone PVTs and conducting an updated DS meta-analysis.
B - 144 Base Rates of Performance Validity Test Failure among Patients with Persistent COVID-Related Cognitive Concerns
Authors: Sedgwick Thomas A , Basurto Karen S , Finley John-Christopher A , Boulais Brooke M , Phillips Matthew S , Jennette Kyle J , Soble Jason H , Ellison Rachael L , Pliskin Neil H , Ulrich Devin M 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
Data on performance invalidity in neuropsychological evaluations among patients with SARS-CoV-2-related cognitive concerns is limited. This study investigated the base rates of performance validity test (PVT) failure among a sample of neuropsychological referrals with persistent cognitive concerns following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Method
Data were collected from 62 patients (27% male, 73% female) with subjective cognitive concerns following SARS-Cov-2 infection. The sample included ethnoracially diverse adult patients (M = 44.1 years, SD = 12.53) with an average of 15 years of education (SD = 2.97) who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations including freestanding (Test of Memory Malingering, Trial 1 [TOMM T1]) and embedded (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-4th Edition Digit Span Reliable Digit Span [WAIS-IV DS RDS]; California Verbal Learning Test-Brief Form Forced Choice [CVLT-BF FC]; Brief Visuospatial Memory Test Recognition-Discrimination [BVMT RD]; Stroop Word Reading T-Score [Stroop Word T]) PVTs.

Results
A majority of the sample (63%) passed all PVTs, 9.7% of the sample failed ≥2 PVTs suggesting invalidity, and 27.4% of the sample failed exactly one PVT. On embedded PVTs, failure rates were as follows: WAIS-IV DS RDS: 11.3%, CVLT-BF FC: 1.6%, BVMT Rec-Dis: 8.1%, and Stroop Word T: 8.1%. The failure rate on TOMM Trial 1 was 19.4%.

Conclusions
Patients presenting with persistent cognitive concerns following SARS-CoV-2 infection demonstrated relatively low overall invalidity rates using an empirically established cut-off (≥2). Further research is needed to confirm the generalizability of the present findings, as well as to explore the implications of failure on one PVT and the implications of failure on embedded versus freestanding PVTs in this population.
B - 146 An Analysis of Emotional Distress as a Predictor of Performance and Symptom Validity
Authors: Brandys Tyler , Kent George W , Clark Emilie , Naatz Lisa , Pyykkonen Ben 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
The current study examined the impact of emotional distress on measures of performance and symptom validity. It examined this relationship with the Victoria Symptom Validity Test (VSVT), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Reliable Digit span, and MMPI-2 FBS.

Data Selection
83 participants were assessed at a Midwest clinic. Inclusion criteria required the administration of relevant tests.

Data Synthesis
A Binary logistic regression indicated that emotional distress was not a significant predictor of group identification via symptom validity: VSVT Difficult Items (p = 0.55) and WAIS-IV reliable Digit Span (p = 0.56). However, the MMPI-2 variables of emotional distress (Scales, 1, 2, 3, and 7) were predictive of FBS classification (P = 0.01). Follow up independent samples t-test comparing validity classification identified group difference on MMPI-2 scales of 1, 2,3, and 7 were only significant for MMPI-2 FBS and not VSVT and WAIS-IV RDS.

Conclusions
The current analysis identified that emotional distress, as measured by 4 MMPI-2 clinical scales, did not significantly predict validity classification via VSVT Hard Items or WAIS-IV RDS. In contrast, emotional distress was predictive of symptom validity classification as identified by MMPI-2 FBS cut score. Significant group differences in emotional distress were evident on all 4 MMPI-2 scales assessed when classified by FBS cut score. These constructs should be understood as unique in their relationship to emotional distress, with PVTs not being impacted by the endorsement of emotional distress, but SVT was associated with the endorsement of emotional distress.
Utilization of duckweed-derived biomass for polyhydroxybutyrate production in Escherichia coli via dual enzymatic saccharification using amylase and cellulase complex
Authors: Ooi Toshihiko , Sato Rikako , Matsumoto Ken'ichiro 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Duckweed is a rapid-growing plant with a high starch and low lignin content. The duckweed was saccharified via dual enzymatic treatment using amylase and cellulase complex. The duckweed-derived glucose was utilized for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production in engineered Escherichia coli. In addition, the low concentration supplementation of the duckweed extract promoted cell growth compared to the analytical grade glucose.
Aurantiochytrium mutant strains exhibiting different colony colors altered the contents of squalene
Authors: Yang Tianjing , Kubo Shohei , Juntila Darryl Joy , Iwata Yasushi , Tomita Kanako , Hase Yoshihiro , Oono Yutaka , Araie Hiroya , Yoneda Kohei , Maeda Yoshiaki , Suzuki Iwane 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Aurantiochytrium sp. 18W-13a, a marine heterotrophic protist belonging to the genus thraustochytrid, is known to accumulate high levels of squalene and carotenoids. Nowadays, the mutagenesis breeding of microorganisms is still widely practiced because the induced mutations of DNA do not involve the permanent integration of heterologous DNA sequences. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the improvement of squalene yield by mutagenesis breeding using Aurantiochytrium sp. 18W-13a. To bypass the massively laborious screening, we propose to use colony colors as the first criterion to screen mutants with high squalene accumulation, since the carotenoid and squalene synthetic pathways share an intermediate. We selected pale (white)-colored mutants after carbon ion irradiation. The white mutants exhibited larger squalene yields than twice as much of the original strain. The results clearly indicate that the present screening method with colony colors promises to obtain productive strains of squalene.
Batch-effect correction in single-cell RNA sequencing data using JIVE
Authors: Hastings Joseph , Lee Donghyung , O’Connell Michael J 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Motivation
In single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, addressing batch effects—technical artifacts stemming from factors such as varying sequencing technologies, equipment, and capture times—is crucial. These factors can cause unwanted variation and obfuscate the underlying biological signal of interest. The joint and individual variation explained (JIVE) method can be used to extract shared biological patterns from multi-source sequencing data while adjusting for individual non-biological variations (i.e. batch effect). However, its current implementation is originally designed for bulk sequencing data, making it computationally infeasible for large-scale single-cell sequencing datasets.

Results
In this study, we enhance JIVE for large-scale single-cell data by boosting its computational efficiency. Additionally, we introduce a novel application of JIVE for batch-effect correction on multiple single-cell sequencing datasets. Our enhanced method aims to decompose single-cell sequencing datasets into a joint structure capturing the true biological variability and individual structures, which capture technical variability within each batch. This joint structure is then suitable for use in downstream analyses. We benchmarked the results against four popular tools, Seurat v5, Harmony, LIGER, and Combat-seq, which were developed for this purpose. JIVE performed best in terms of preserving cell-type effects and in scenarios in which the batch sizes are balanced.

Availability and implementation
The JIVE implementation used for this analysis can be found at https://github.com/oconnell-statistics-lab/scJIVE.
NeoaPred: a deep-learning framework for predicting immunogenic neoantigen based on surface and structural features of peptide–human leukocyte antigen complexes
Authors: Jiang Dawei , Xi Binbin , Tan Wenchong , Chen Zixi , Wei Jinfen , Hu Meiling , Lu Xiaoyun , Chen Dong , Cai Hongmin , Du Hongli 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Motivation
Neoantigens, derived from somatic mutations in cancer cells, can elicit anti-tumor immune responses when presented to autologous T cells by human leukocyte antigen. Identifying immunogenic neoantigens is crucial for cancer immunotherapy development. However, the accuracy of current bioinformatic methods remains unsatisfactory. Surface and structural features of peptide–HLA class I (pHLA-I) complexes offer valuable insight into the immunogenicity of neoantigens.

Results
We present NeoaPred, a deep-learning framework for neoantigen prediction. NeoaPred accurately constructs pHLA-I complex structures, with 82.37% of the predicted structures showing an RMSD of &lt; 1 Å. Using these structures, NeoaPred integrates differences in surface, structural, and atom group features between the mutant peptide and its wild-type counterpart to predict a foreignness score. This foreignness score is an effective factor for neoantigen prediction, achieving an AUROC (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve) of 0.81 and an AUPRC (Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve) of 0.54 in the test set, outperforming existing methods.

Availability and implementation
The source code is released under an Apache v2.0 license and is available at the GitHub repository (https://github.com/Dulab2020/NeoaPred).