bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inappropriate trusting behaviour in dementia
Authors: Chokesuwattanaskul Anthipa , Penn Dexter , Albero Claudia , Johnson Jeremy C. S. , Benhamou Elia , Russell Lucy L. , Hardy Chris J. D. , Marshall Charles R. , Rohrer Jonathan D. , Warren Jason D. 
Published: September 2024

BackgroundInappropriate trusting behaviour may have significant social, financial and other consequences for people living with dementia. However, its clinical associations and predictors have not been clarified. Here we addressed this issue in canonical syndromes of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).MethodsIn 34 patients with AD and 73 with FTD (27 behavioural variant (bv)FTD, 22 semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), 24 nonfluent/agrammatic variant (nfv)PPA) we recorded inappropriate trusting and other abnormal socio-emotional behaviours using a semi-structured caregiver survey. Patients were comprehensively characterised using a general cognitive assessment and the Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (RSMS; an informant index of socioemotional awareness).ResultsInappropriate trusting was more frequent in svPPA (55%) and bvFTD (44%) than nfvPPA (17%) or AD (24%). After adjusting for age, sex, education and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, inappropriate trusting was significantly more likely in svPPA (odds ratio 3.61; 95% confidence interval 1.41–8.75) and bvFTD (3.01, 1.23–6.65) than AD. Significant predictors of inappropriate trusting comprised apathy in svPPA, disinhibition and altered pain responsiveness in bvFTD, and lower MMSE and RSMS (self-presentation) scores in AD.ConclusionDementia syndromes vary in prevalence and predictors of abnormal trusting behaviour, with implications for clinical counselling and safeguarding.
Reward system neurodynamics during menstrual pain modulated by COMT Val158Met polymorphisms
Authors: Hsu Pei-Shan , Liu Ching-Hsiung , Yang Ching-Ju , Lee Lin-Chien , Li Wei-Chi , Chao Hsiang-Tai , Lin Ming-Wei , Chen Li-Fen , Hsieh Jen-Chuen 
Published: September 2024

IntroductionPrimary dysmenorrhea (PDM), characterized by cyclic pain, may involve pain modulation within the reward system (RS). The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism, which significantly influences dopamine activity, is linked to the regulation of both acute and chronic pain. This study examines the differential neurodynamic modulation in the RS associated with COMT Val158Met polymorphisms during menstrual pain among PDM subjects.MethodNinety-one PDM subjects underwent resting-state fMRI during menstruation and were genotyped for COMT Val158Met polymorphisms. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) analyses were used to assess the RS response. Psychological evaluations included the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory.ResultVal/Val homozygotes (n = 50) and Met carriers (n = 41) showed no significant differences in McGill Pain Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. However, Met carriers exhibited lower scores on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Distinct FC patterns was observed between Val/Val homozygotes and Met carriers, specifically between the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex, NAc and inferior parietal lobe, ventral tegmental area (VTA) and prefrontal cortex, VTA and precentral gyrus, and VTA and superior parietal lobe. Only Met carriers showed significant correlations between ALFF and FC values of the NAc and VTA with pain-related metrics (McGill Pain Questionnaire and Pain Catastrophizing Scale scores). NAc ALFF and NAc-prefrontal cortex FC values positively correlated with pain-related metrics, while VTA ALFF and VTA-prefrontal cortex and VTA-superior parietal lobe FC values negatively correlated with pain-related metrics.DiscussionThis study reveals that the COMT Val158Met polymorphism results in genotype-specific functional changes in the brain’s RS during menstrual pain. In Met carriers, engagement of these regions is potentially linked to motivational reward-seeking and top-down modulation. This polymorphism likely influences the RS’s responses, significantly contributing to individual differences in pain regulation.
Causality of blood metabolites and metabolic pathways on peripheral arteriosclerosis: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Ye Qian , Zhou Yilin , Xu Kai , Jiang Zhili 
Published: September 2024

BackgroundPeripheral arteriosclerosis is caused by any atherosclerosis outside the heart and brain. However, the underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aims to explore the causal relationship between blood metabolites and peripheral arteriosclerosis.MethodsA Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was implemented to estimate the causality of blood metabolites on peripheral arteriosclerosis. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 1,400 metabolites was used as the exposure, whereas two different GWAS datasets of peripheral arteriosclerosis were the outcomes. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) was the main analysis of causal analysis. MR-Egger, the simple mode, weighted median and weighted mode were used to increase the stability and robustness of the results. Cochran Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, the funnel plot, and MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier were used for sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst5.0.ResultsIn this MR study, eight blood metabolites have a strong causal relationship with peripheral arteriosclerosis, including 1-myristoyl-2-arachidonoyl-GPC (14:0/20:4), 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-gpc (16:0/20:4n6), 1-(1-enyl-stearoyl)-2-arachidonoyl-GPE, 1-palmitoyl-2-dihomo-linolenoyl-GPC, Gamma-glutamylleucine, Deoxycholic acid glucuronide and two named X- (X-24546, X-26111). In addition, five important metabolic pathways in peripheral arteriosclerosis were identified through metabolic pathway analysis.ConclusionThis study provides evidence for the causal relationship between blood metabolites and peripheral arteriosclerosis, and these eight blood metabolites provide new perspectives for screening and prevention of peripheral arteriosclerosis in the future.
Eight brain structures mediate the age-related alterations of the working memory: forward and backward digit span tasks
Authors: Bahri Maryam , Farrahi Hassan , Mahdavinataj Hami , Batouli Seyed Amir Hossein 
Published: September 2024

IntroductionWorking memory (WM) as one of the executive functions is an essential neurocognitive ability for daily life. Findings have suggested that aging is often associated with working memory and neural decline, but the brain structures and resting-state brain networks that mediate age-related differences in WM remain unclear.MethodsA sample consisting of 252 healthy participants in the age range of 20 to 70years was used. Several cognitive tasks, including the n-back task and the forward and backward digit span tests were used. Also, resting-state functional imaging, as well as structural imaging using a 3T MRI scanner, were performed, resulting in 85 gray matter volumes and five resting-state networks, namely the anterior and posterior default mode, the right and left executive control, and the salience networks. Also, mediation analyses were used to investigate the role of gray matter volumes and resting-state networks in the relationship between age and WM.ResultsBehaviorally, aging was associated with decreased performance in the digit span task. Also, aging was associated with a decreased gray matter volume in 80 brain regions, and with a decreased activity in the anterior default mode network, executive control, and salience networks. Importantly, the path analysis showed that the GMV of the medial orbitofrontal, precentral, parieto-occipital, amygdala, middle occipital, posterior cingulate, and thalamus areas mediated the age-related differences in the forward digit span task, and the GMV of superior temporal gyrus mediated the age-related differences in the backward digit span task.DiscussionThis study identified the brain structures mediating the relationship between age and working memory, and we hope that our research provides an opportunity for early detection of individuals at risk of age-related memory decline.
The relationship between college students’ learning engagement and academic self-efficacy: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Wang Yaxing , Zhang Wen 
Published: September 2024

IntroductionDespite the return of college students to campus in the post-pandemic era, the deep influence of COVID-19 on learning approaches persists. Existing research has explored fewer mechanisms underlying academic self-efficacy and learning engagement. In line with social cognitive theory, the psychological resilience framework, and vocational socialization theory, this research investigated academic self-efficacy, professional commitment, psychological resilience, and academic engagement among college students in the post-pandemic era. In this research, the focus was on understanding the impact of academic self-efficacy on learning engagement, taking into account gender as a moderator and psychological resilience and professional commitment as mediators.MethodsWe conducted a survey with 1,032 college students in Henan Province, China, utilizing the Psychological Resilience Scale, Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, College Student Learning Engagement Questionnaire, and College Student Professional Commitment Scale. SPSS and the Process plugin were used to assess mediating and moderating effects.ResultsAcademic self-efficacy significantly and positively correlates with college students’ commitment to learning. The positive anticipation of learning engagement facilitated by academic self-efficacy exerts its effect through the fully parallel mediation of psychological resilience and professional commitment. Notably, the mediation effect of professional commitment was greater than that of psychological resilience. Further research found that the mediation of professional commitment was moderated by gender, with female students demonstrating stronger perceptions of professional commitment associated with elevated levels of learning engagement. Gender did not exhibit a significant moderating effect on psychological resilience.ConclusionCollege students’ academic self-efficacy, professional commitment, and psychological resilience must be addressed to enhance their learning engagement.
Validity and reliability of the Depression Information Needs Scale among the Iranian general population
Authors: Jafari Alireza , Naddafi Fatemehzahra , Nejatian Mahbobeh , Charoghchian Khorasani Elham , Tehrani Hadi 
Published: September 2024

IntroductionThe prevalence of depression in the community is high. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the information needs on depression in the community. This cross-sectional study aimed to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Depression Information Needs Scale (DINS) among the general population.MethodsThe translation and assessment of the validity and reliability of the DINS were conducted from February 2022 to May 2023 in Gonabad, Iran. The inclusion criteria in this study were individuals 18 years or older, those living in Gonabad for 1 year or more, and participants who provided written informed consent. Sample sizes of 546 and 629 were used for the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), respectively. The reliability of the DINS was examined using three methods: McDonald’s omega coefficient, test–retest reliability, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.ResultsMost participants were women, had a bachelor’s degree, and were married. The values of 0.959 for scale content validity index averaging (S-CVI/Ave) and 0.817 for content validity ratio (CVR) were calculated. In the EFA section, four factors with eigenvalues greater than 1 were extracted and explained 63.861% of the variance. Only two items were not placed in related or acceptable factors and were deleted. Finally, based on the results of the goodness-of-fit indexes (e.g., RMSEA = 0.074, CFI = 0.944, NFI = 0.930, and GFI = 0.911), the scale was approved with 18 items and 4 factors: lived experience (4 items), general (facts about depression) (6 items), research and policies (4 items), and specific treatments (4 items). For all the DINS items, the McDonald’s omega coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were 0.953, 0.950, and 0.957, respectively.ConclusionThe Persian version of the DINS was validated with 18 items and 4 factors, and this scale can be used to assess depression information needs in the general public and specific groups.
The potential predictive value and relationship of blood-based inflammatory markers with the clinical symptoms of Han Chinese patients with first-episode adolescent-onset schizophrenia
Authors: Liu Zhihua , Lv Dali , Li Jianfeng , Li Fuwei , Zhang Yanhua , Liu Yongjie , Gao Chao , Qiu Yafeng , Ma Jun , Zhang Ruiling 
Published: September 2024

BackgroundInflammation is associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The blood markers for systemic inflammation include neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), system inflammation response index (SIRI), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). However, these inflammation markers and their relationships with clinical phenotypes among Han Chinese patients with first-episode adolescent-onset schizophrenia (AOS) is unclear. This investigation aimed to elucidate the impact of inflammation on Han Chinese AOS patients as well as the association of blood-based inflammation markers with clinical symptoms.MethodsAltogether, 203 Han Chinese individuals participated in this study, 102 first-episode AOS patients and 101 healthy controls. The assessment of inflammatory indices was based on complete blood cell count. Furthermore, schizophrenia-related clinical symptoms were evaluated using the five-factor model of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).ResultsIn Han Chinese first-episode AOS patients, levels of SIRI, PLR, SII, and NLR were significantly increased (p &lt; 0.001), while LMR decreased (p &lt; 0.001) compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression showed that LMR, NLR, SII, and SIRI (all p &lt; 0.05) were independently associated with AOS. Moreover, Receiver operating characteristics assessment indicated that NLR, SIRI, LMR, and SII could effectively distinguish AOS patients from healthy controls. Their areas under the curves were 0.734, 0.701, 0.715, and 0.730 (all p &lt; 0.001). In addition, Correlation analysis revealed that LMR was negatively correlated with the PANSS total, negative, and cognitive factor scores (all p &lt; 0.05); NLR was positively correlated with the cognitive factor score (p &lt; 0.01); SII was negatively correlated with the positive factor score and positively with the negative and cognitive factor scores (all p &lt; 0.05); SIRI was positively correlated with the PANSS total and cognitive factor scores (all p &lt; 0.01).ConclusionsThis research established the involvement of peripheral blood inflammatory markers (LMR, NLR, SII, and SIRI) with the clinical manifestations and pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and these can serve as screening tools or potential indices of the inflammatory state and AOS symptoms severity.
Older adults make sense of their suicidal behavior: a Swedish interview study
Authors: Hed Sara , Berg Anne Ingeborg , Wiktorsson Stefan , Strand Jennifer , Canetto Silvia Sara , Waern Margda 
Published: September 2024

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to explore how individuals aged 70 or older living in Sweden understood a recent suicidal act, and what changed in them and around them in the aftermath.MethodFour women and five men (age range 71-91 years) receiving care at a geriatric psychiatric outpatient clinic in a large Swedish city took part in two interviews about their most recent suicidal act. Most of the women and none of the men had engaged in prior suicidal acts. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed.ResultsThe suicidal act was explained as a response to losses (in physical and cognitive functions, social roles and relationships) that rendered previous coping strategies unviable. The participants reported being dependent on a healthcare system that they experienced as indifferent and even dismissive of their suffering. The suicidal act was described as an unplanned act of despair. Positive changes followed for participants who reported having had suicidal ideation prior to the suicidal act and had insights into its triggers. Some gained access to needed medical care; others developed greater awareness of their psychological needs and became more effective at coping. Individuals who said that they had not had suicidal thoughts prior to the suicidal act and could not explain it reported no positive change in the aftermath. The respondents’ narratives indicated gendered themes.DiscussionParticipants’ age-related losses were in many cases exacerbated by negative interactions with health care providers, indicating that continued attention needs to be given to implicit ageism in medical professionals. The suicidal acts were described as impulsive, which was unexpected because a dominant belief is that older adult suicidal behavior is planned. One reason for the discrepancy may be that this study focused on nonfatal acts, and planned acts may be more likely to be fatal. Another reason could be shame due to suicide stigma. Alternatively, these acts were truly unplanned. The older adult suicide planning question should be addressed in larger studies across geographical and cultural settings. Future studies should also include questions about gender norms of suicidality and separately examine women’s and men’s data.
Cost-effectiveness of diagnostic imaging modalities in symptomatic patients with lower limb peripheral arterial disease: discrete event simulation model
Authors: Kamenský Vojtěch , Rogalewicz Vladimír , Gajdoš Ondřej , Donin Gleb , Mašková Barbora , Holá Martina , Tichopád Aleš 
Published: September 2024

ObjectiveLower limb peripheral arterial disease in the symptomatic stage has a significant effect on patients´ functional disability. Before an intervention, an imaging diagnostic examination is necessary to determine the extent of the disability. This study evaluates cost-effectiveness of duplex ultrasonography (DUS), digital subtraction angiography (DSA), computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the diagnostics of symptomatic patients with lower limb peripheral arterial disease indicated for endovascular or surgical intervention.MethodsDiscrete event simulation was used to capture lifetime costs and effects. Costs were calculated from the perspective of the health care payer, and the effects were calculated as quality-adjusted life year’s (QALY’s). The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to pairwise compare CTA, MRA and DSA with DUS as the baseline diagnostic modality. A scenario analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were carried out to evaluate the robustness of the results.ResultsIn the basic case, the DUS diagnostic was the least expensive modality, at a cost of EUR 10,778, compared with EUR 10,804 for CTA, EUR 11,184 for MRA, and EUR 11,460 for DSA. The effects of DUS were estimated at 5.542 QALYs compared with 5.554 QALYs for both CTA and MRA, and 5.562 QALYs for DSA. The final incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) value of all evaluated modalities was below the cost-effectiveness threshold whereas CTA has the lowest ICER of EUR 2,167 per QALY. However, the results were associated with a large degree of uncertainty, because iterations were spread across all cost-effectiveness quadrants in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis.ConclusionFor imaging diagnosis of symptomatic patients with lower limb peripheral arterial disease, CTA examination appears to be the most cost-effective strategy with the best ICER value. Baseline diagnostics of the DUS modality has the lowest costs, but also the lowest effects. DSA achieves the highest QALYs, but it is associated with the highest costs.
The Development Of Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Methods For The Analysis Of Cyanobacterial Toxins In Environmental Freshwaters
Authors:   ,   Cork Institute of Technology, Dineen Brian 
Published: September 2024

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a common component of many freshwater and marine ecosystems and have a potential to produce several different classes of biotoxins. The most common class of cyanobacterial toxins are the microcystins (MCs) and cylindrospermopsins (CYLs). MCs are cyclic heptapeptides that display potent hepatotoxicity and are tumour promoters. CYLs are alkaloids that are cytotoxic and can cause illness and display hepatotoxic effects in animals and humans. Worldwide, these toxins have caused fatal poisonings to animals, birds and fish. Several incidents of human intoxications have been reported and the presence of these toxins in environmental waters that are used for the production of potable waters is of big interest to the drinking water treatment industry. Traditionally, prior to the analysis of MCs and CYLs, lengthy sample preparation procedures have been required. Solid phase extraction (SPE) is the most commonly used procedure for sample preparation and analyte pre-concentration. These SPE methods are often extremely tedious, lengthy and expensive to carry out, offer variable rates of recovery for MCs, require large amounts of organic solvents and require a lot of operator know-how in the successful day to day operation of methods. In this thesis, automation and the sensitivity of automated and hybrid instrumentation has been exploited to develop rapid and sensitive methods for the analysis of MCs and CYLs in environmental freshwaters. During these studies, an automated analyte preconcentration method with liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC- MS/MS) was developed using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for a number of MCs. In addition, the features of new hybrid instrumentation were exploited and direct methods were developed using full scan orbitrap mass spectrometry for a suite of MCs in environmental freshwaters. The mass fragmentation pathways of MCs were investigated using high resolution mass spectrometry and the use of desmethylated standards allowed for the reassignment and correction of previously published proposed product ion assignments. Two more direct methods were developed for the analysis of CYLs in freshwaters using linear ion trap and full scan Orbitrap MS, in both negative and positive ionisation modes as CYL is zwitterionic. In addition, the mass fragmentation pathways of CYLs in both ionisation modes were studied using LIT MS" studies and high mass accuracy data generated using the Orbitrap MS.