bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intra‐individual variability in task performance after cognitive training is associated with long‐term outcomes in children
Authors: Cubillo Ana , Hermes Henning , Berger Eva , Winkel Kirsten , Schunk Daniel , Fehr Ernst , Hare Todd A. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe potential benefits and mechanistic effects of working memory training (WMT) in children are the subject of much research and debate. We show that after five weeks of school‐based, adaptive WMT 6–9 year‐old primary school children had greater activity in prefrontal and striatal brain regions, higher task accuracy, and reduced intra‐individual variability in response times compared to controls. Using a sequential sampling decision model, we demonstrate that this reduction in intra‐individual variability can be explained by changes to the evidence accumulation rates and thresholds. Critically, intra‐individual variability is useful in quantifying the immediate impact of cognitive training interventions, being a better predictor of academic skills and well‐being 6–12 months after the end of training than task accuracy. Taken together, our results suggest that attention control is the initial mechanism that leads to the long‐run benefits from adaptive WMT. Selective and sustained attention abilities may serve as a scaffold for subsequent changes in higher cognitive processes, academic skills, and general well‐being. Furthermore, these results highlight that the selection of outcome measures and the timing of the assessments play a crucial role in detecting training efficacy. Thus, evaluating intra‐individual variability, during or directly after training could allow for the early tailoring of training interventions in terms of duration or content to maximise their impact.
Capturing the real‐world benefit of residual β‐cell function during clinically important time‐periods in established Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Taylor Guy S. , Shaw Andy C. , Smith Kieran , Wason James , McDonald Timothy J. , Oram Richard A. , Stevenson Emma , Shaw James A. M. , West Daniel J. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAimsMany individuals with type 1 diabetes retain residual β‐cell function, with increased endogenous insulin secretion associated with reduced hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia and glycaemic variability. However, it is unknown when these improvements occur during the day. Dysglycaemia is common in overnight and postprandial periods and associated with diabetes complications. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the influence of residual β‐cell function upon nocturnal and postprandial glycaemic control in established type 1 diabetes.MethodsUnder free‐living conditions, 66 participants wore a blinded continuous glucose monitor (CGM), kept a food diary, and completed a stimulated urine C‐peptide creatinine (UCPCR) test. Nocturnal, and postprandial CGM outcomes (participant means and discrete event analysis) were compared between UCPCR groups: undetectable (Cpepund), low (Cpeplow: 0.001–0.19 nmol/mmol) and high (Cpephigh: ≥0.2 nmol/mmol).ResultsGreater β‐cell function was associated with incremental improvements in glycaemia. Cpephigh spent significantly greater time in normoglycaemia than Cpepund overnight (76 ± 20% vs. 58 ± 20%, p = 0.005) and 0–300 mins postprandially (68 ± 22% vs. 51 ± 22%, p = 0.045), while also having reducing nocturnal variability (SD 1.12 ± 0.41 vs. 1.52 ± 0.43 mmol/L, p = 0.010). Analysis of individual events, controlling for diabetes duration, BMI, basal insulin, use of a continuous or flash glucose monitor and (for postprandial) meal type, carbohydrate and bolus insulin intake, replicated the group findings, additionally demonstrating Cpepund had increased hyperglycaemia versus Cpeplow overnight and increased postprandial hypoglycaemic events compared with Cpephigh. For all participants, breakfast had a significantly higher incremental area under the curve than lunch and dinner.ConclusionsResidual β‐cell function is associated with improved nocturnal and postprandial glycaemic control. These data may be of clinical importance for identifying specific periods and individuals where further glycaemic management strategies would be beneficial.
Comparing the comparators: How should the quality of education offered by online universities be evaluated?
Authors: Brasher Andrew , Whitelock Denise , Holmes Wayne , Pozzi Francesca , Persico Donatella , Manganello Flavio , Passarelli Marcello , Sangrà Albert 
Published: February 2022

AbstractComparing universities and courses is of interest to a variety of stakeholders including potential students, policy makers, news and media organisations, ranking providers, and universities themselves. There are a range of existing university ranking schemes that provide comparisons (e.g. Academic Ranking of World Universities) but typically these are designed with face‐to‐face teaching and learning in mind. There is also a growing number of quality assurance tools and approaches aimed at ensuring the quality of online education This article reports on an analysis of a range of quality assurance systems for online higher education institutions and courses, together with variety of ranking systems targeting conventional universities—with the aim of establishing what they measure, and the metrics used to assess quality. The findings from this analytical study were compared with a meta‐analysis of the literature about how students choose their university in order to understand how these instruments influence current student opinion and can be used more proactively by universities themselves. The findings reveal: (1) current ranking systems are of limited value for most potential undergraduate students, particularly with reference to online education, (2) comparison systems that can be of value to students from a variety of different backgrounds are likely to be complex to set up and run, and (3) quality indicators that promote both formative and summative evaluation may be beneficial to both institutions and students.
Suv39h1 regulates memory stability by inhibiting the expression of Shank1 in hippocampal newborn neurons
Authors: Chen Qi‐Nan , Ding Xin‐Lu , Guo Xiu‐Xian , Zhou Gang , Guan Ji‐Song 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAdult newborn neurons are involved in memory encoding and extinction, but the neural mechanism is unclear. We found the adult newborn neurons at 4 weeks are recruited by learning and subjected to epigenetic regulations, consequently reducing their ability to be re‐recruited later. After removal of the epigenetic blockage, Suv39h1 KO mice showed an increased recruiting number of aged newborn neurons and enhanced flexibility in learning tasks. Besides NRXN1, we found SHANK1, the synaptic scaffold protein, is one of the major targets of Suv39h1, regulating memory stability. Expression of Shank1 is transiently engaged to enhance synaptogenesis during learning and is strongly suppressed by Suv39h1 from 5 h after learning. Exogenously overexpression of Shank1 in dentate gyrus increased the density of mushroom spines and decreased the persistency of old memories. Our study indicated the activity‐regulated epigenetic modification in newly matured newborn neurons in hippocampus insulates temporally distinct experiences and stabilizes old memories.
An improved Amplex Red‐based fluorometric assay of phenol oxidases and peroxidases activity: A case study on Haplic Chernozem
Authors: Khosrozadeh Sajedeh , Dorodnikov Maxim , Reitz Thomas , Blagodatskaya Evgenia 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe initial steps of complex organic matter degradation in soil comprise several oxidative processes catalysed by phenol oxidases and peroxidases. Commonly, their activity is determined by colorimetric approaches based on a range of substrates, making comparison between studies difficult. To improve this shortcoming, we conducted a calibration procedure for assessing phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities in soils by a sensitive fluorometric assay. This assay is based on the colourless and non‐fluorescent Amplex Red® reagent as a substrate, which forms a fluorescent product, resorufin, upon oxidation. Commercially available resorufin was used as a standard for calibration. We applied Michaelis–Menten kinetics to determine functional traits of phenol oxidases and peroxidases in a case study on Haplic Chernozem from different land‐use and climate treatments of a field experiment. The kinetic parameters, limit of detection and limit of quantification demonstrated a high sensitivity of the fluorometric assay to differences caused by these treatments. For the total oxidative enzymes, the catalytic efficiency (Kcat, calculated as Vmax/Km) was 30% higher in the cropland compared with the pasture plot. However, compared with soil samples collected from ambient climatic conditions, Kcat of total oxidoreductases was 60% lower in cropland exposed to elevated air temperature and drought. The phenol oxidase activity was substantially higher than peroxidase activity in cropland land use. However, higher Kcat of peroxidase than phenol oxidase resulted in 60% faster substrate turnover under both climatic conditions. In our case study, the Amplex Red‐based assay enabled rapid and high‐throughput analyses of phenol oxidase and peroxidase activity in soil. The sensitivity of this assay for soil enzymology applications needs further testing for a larger range of soils and environmental conditions.Highlights
A novel fluorometric assay of phenol oxidase and peroxidase activity in soil is proposed
Resorufin fits very well for calibration simplifying the comparisons between studies
Phenol oxidase and peroxidase displayed apparent Michaelis–Menten kinetics
Amplex Red was sensitive for land‐use and climate treatments on Haplic Chernozem
Patterns of molar agenesis associated with p.P20L and p.R77Q variants in PAX9
Authors: Intarak Narin , Theerapanon Thanakorn , Porntaveetus Thantrira , Shotelersuk Vorasuk 
Published: February 2022

AbstractNonsyndromic tooth agenesis is associated with variants in several genes. There are numerous genotype‐phenotype publications involving many patients and kindreds. Here, we identified six Thai individuals in two families with nonsyndromic tooth agenesis, performed exome sequencing, and conducted functional experiments. Family 1 had four affected members carrying the heterozygous PAX9 variant, c.59C>T (p.Pro20Leu). The p.Pro20Leu was previously reported in two families having four and three affected members. These seven cases and Proband‐1 had agenesis of at least three third molars. Family 2 comprised two affected members with agenesis of all 12 molars. Both individuals were heterozygous for c.230G>A (p.Arg77Gln) in PAX9, which has not been reported previously. This variant is predicted to be damaging, evolutionarily conserved, and resides in the PAX9 linking peptide. The BMP4 RNA levels in Proband‐1′s leukocytes were not significantly different from those in the controls, whereas BMP4 levels observed in Proband‐2 were significantly increased. Moreover, the p.Arg77Gln variant demonstrated nuclear localization similar to the wild‐type but resulted in significantly impaired transactivation of BMP4, a PAX9 downstream gene. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the PAX9 p.Pro20Leu is highly associated with absent third molars, while the novel PAX9 p.Arg77Gln impairs BMP4 transactivation and is associated with total molar agenesis.
DRAMing for autophagy
Authors: Leytens Alexandre , Dengjel Jörn 
Published: February 2022

Autophagy, a catabolic lysosomal recycling pathway, is often found dysregulated in human diseases. Whereas its prime cell stress‐related function is cytoprotection, autophagy has also been linked to the activation of apoptosis and cell death. One group of proteins which participates in the orchestration of autophagy and apoptosis is the family of DRAM proteins. In the current issue of The FEBS Journal, Barthet et al. uncover a compensatory crosstalk between the two newest members of the family, DRAM‐4 and DRAM‐5, the latter one regulating autophagic activity.Comment on https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16365
Experimental evaluation of plastic wake on growing fatigue cracks from the analysis of residual displacement fields
Authors: Vasco‐Olmo Jose M. , Díaz Francisco A. , Camacho‐Reyes Alonso , James Neil , Antunes Fernando V. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractA growing fatigue crack gives rise to a plastically deformed wake of material that envelops the crack. In this work, the plastic wake extent during fatigue crack growth is experimentally quantified by analyzing the crack tip displacement fields measured with digital image correlation. A novel technique based on use of a yield criterion is proposed that uses the undamaged state of the specimen as the reference state in the image processing. The plastic wake was identified by differentiation of the residual displacement fields obtained with a near‐zero load level to avoid any rigid body motion. The plastic wake extent was then found by assuming that the boundary between the elastic and plastic regions would occur when the equivalent stress was higher than the yield stress of the material. The results presented can contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms driving fatigue crack propagation.
Genetic variants at the chromosomal region 2q21.3 underlying inhibitor development in patients with severe haemophilia A
Authors: Spena Silvia , Cairo Andrea , Pappalardo Emanuela , Gorski Marcin M. , Garagiola Isabella , Hassan Shermarke , Gualtierotti Roberta , Peyvandi Flora 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIntroductionInhibitor development affects about 30% of patients with severe haemophilia A (HA) and results from different environmental and genetic risk factors. Previously, we identified the missense variant rs3754689 in the LCT gene linked with this predisposition. Since rs3754689 variant is benign and is located in a conserved haplotype region, we hypothesized that the association signal captured by this variant is located in coinherited, neighbouring genes.AimTo identify novel genetic risk factors associated with inhibitor development in coding regions of R3HDM1, UBXN4, CXCR4, MCM6, DARS and miR128‐1 genes.MethodsTargeted sequencing was performed in 246 severe HA patients (72 with and 174 without inhibitor): 181 previously and 65 newly enrolled.ResultsForty‐one common and 152 rare variants passed the quality control. Logistic regression analysis of common variants identified rs3754689 and four additional variants (.011 < P < .047; FDR ranging .2‐.38). Logistic regression analysis performed only in the 220 Italian patients showed similar results (.004 < P < .05; FDR ranging .12‐.22). Three of these variants (rs3213892 and rs3816155 in the LCT intron 13 and rs961360 in the R3HDM1 intron10‐exon11 junction) may affect the expression of UBXN4 and R3HDM1, respectively. Rare variants did not show association with inhibitor development. Identified variants were not replicated in the multi‐ethnic SIPPET cohort of 230 severe HA patients.ConclusionDue to the limited sample size that may be responsible of the high FDR values, we could not confirm with certainty the analysed association. Further evaluation of the expression levels of analysed genes will confirm or not their role in inhibitor development.
Electronic diaries in the management of haemophilia gene therapy: Perspective of an expert group from the German, Austrian and Swiss Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (GTH)
Authors: Miesbach Wolfgang , Eichler Hermann , Holstein Katharina , Holzhauer Susanne , Klamroth Robert , Knöfler Ralf , Male Christoph , Olivieri Martin , Oldenburg Johannes , Tiede Andreas 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIntroductionGene therapy (GT) is becoming a realistic treatment option for patients with haemophilia. Outside clinical trials, the complexity and potential complications of GT will pose unprecedented challenges to haemophilia care centres.AimTo explore the potential use of electronic tools to improve the delivery of GT under real‐world conditions.MethodsConsidering the hub‐and‐spoke model, the GTH working group on GT considered the entire patient pathway and reached consensus on requirements for an integrative software tool to secure documenting and sharing information between treaters, pharmacies and patients.ResultsSix steps of the gene therapy process were identified, each requiring completion of the previous step as a prerequisite for entry. The responsibilities of GT dosing and follow‐up treatment centres, read/write access rules, and the minimum data set were outlined. Data contributed by patients through mobile devices was also considered.ConclusionImportant information needs to be shared between patients and treatment centres in a real‐world GT hub‐and‐spoke model. Collecting and sharing this information in well‐organised electronic applications will not only improve patient care but also enable national and international data collection in clinical registries.
Blink reflex: A practical test to evaluate the trigeminal nerve injury following percutaneous balloon compression for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Ma Chengwen , Tian Fuyu , Zhou Le , Gu Junxiang , Zhang Xi , Quan Junjie , Qu Jianqiang , Yan Xianxia 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the blink reflex (BR) in estimating the potential injury of trigeminal nerve following percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) surgery, and to determine the association between BR alterations and early surgical outcomes.MethodsIn this single‐center, prospective before‐and‐after study, a total of 74 patients who had primary trigeminal neuralgia and scheduled for PBC between October 2020 and June 2021 were prospectively included. BR testing and facial sensory assessment were performed pre‐ and post‐PBC. The latency and the area under the curve (AUC) of pre‐ and postoperative R1 (R1pre/R1post) and R2 (R2pre/R2post) were measured.ResultsThe BR components were noticeably delayed or diminished following PBC. R1post was elicited in only 26 patients, and absent in 48 patients. The residual R1post had markedly reduced AUC (median difference [Hodges–Lehmann]: −59.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −217.5 to −6.9, p = 0.023). Compared with R2pre, the latency of R2post was considerably delayed (mean difference: 4.3, 95% CI: 2.9 to 5.7, p < 0.001) and the AUC was greatly suppressed (median difference [Hodges–Lehmann]: −388.4, 95% CI: −548.4 to −259.5, p < 0.001). After PBC, 58 patients had immediate total pain relief, and 16 had partial relief. The absence of R1post was found in 46 of 58 (79.3%) patients with complete remission, whereas in only 2 of 16 (12.5%) patients with partial relief. Association analysis showed that the absence of R1post was strongly associated with total pain relief (46/58 [79.3%] vs. 2/16 [12.5%], odds ratio [OR]: 26.8, 95% CI: 5.4 to 134.5, Cramér's V: 0.6, p < 0.001). The latency of R2post in patients with total relief was significantly delayed (mean difference: 2.5, 95% CI: 0.3 to 4.6, p = 0.028). Patients experienced graded facial numbness after PBC, of whom 31 reported mild numbness (Grades I–II) and 43 reported more severe numbness (Grades III–IV). The absence of R1post was significantly associated with facial numbness severity, 33/43 (76.7%) in Grades III–IV vs. 15/31 (48.4%) in Grades I–II (OR: 0.284, 95% CI: 0.105 to 0.771, Cramér's V: 0.3, p = 0.012). In patients with more severe numbness, the latency of R2post was significantly delayed (mean difference: 2.7, 95% CI: 0.1 to 5.3, p = 0.043), and the reduction of AUC was much greater (median difference [Hodges–Lehmann]: 17.2, 95% CI: 0.5 to 35.4, p = 0.041).ConclusionBoth R1 and R2 were significantly diminished after PBC and these alterations were associated with early surgical outcomes, suggesting that the BR is useful in evaluating trigeminal injury following PBC and could provide objective information about early prognosis.
Assessing attack‐related fear in headache disorders—Structure and psychometric properties of the Fear of Attacks in Migraine Inventory
Authors: Klan Timo , Bräscher Anne‐Kathrin , Klein Silja , Diezemann‐Prößdorf Anke , Guth Anna‐Lena , Gaul Charly , Witthöft Michael 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a self‐report questionnaire for the assessment of attack‐related fear in migraine, and to determine its factor structure as well as its psychometric properties by the primary analysis of a cross‐sectional survey’s data.BackgroundHigh fear of attacks in migraine increases the burden of disease and is assumed to have a negative impact on the course of the disease. Little is known about the structure and dimensionality of attack‐related fear, and a valid instrument for the comprehensive assessment is lacking.MethodsBased on a literature search and interviews with persons with migraine as well as with experienced practitioners, a 46‐item self‐report questionnaire, the Fear of Attacks in Migraine Inventory (FAMI) was developed. A cross‐sectional online survey comprising an assessment of diagnostic criteria of migraine and a battery of questionnaires including the FAMI was conducted (N = 387 persons with migraine, 364/387 [94.1%] women, M = 40.9 [SD = 13.1] years, migraine without aura: 153/387 [39.5%], migraine with aura: 85/387 [22.0%], and chronic migraine: 149/387 [38.5%]).ResultsItem selection led to 29 items for the FAMI. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in three clearly interpretable factors (fear of negative consequences; attention and anticipation; fear‐avoidance); a confirmatory factor analysis yielded an acceptable to good model fit (χ2(3) = 1328.84, p = 0.001, χ2/df = 3.55, RMSEA = 0.085, SRMR = 0.073, CFI = 0.98, and TLI = 0.97). Reliability was good (fear‐avoidance, ω = 0.85; attention and anticipation, ω = 0.88) to excellent (fear of negative consequences, ω = 0.91). Correlational analyses confirmed the convergent validity of the FAMI.ConclusionsThe FAMI appears suitable and promising for the assessment of attack‐related fear in migraine research and clinical care.
Changes in transcriptome of goat muscle during frozen, ice‐temperature and chilled storage within 7 days
Authors: Xiao Yu , Shen Qian , Gu Minghui , Jiao Yang , Liu Yongfeng 
Published: February 2022

SummaryThis study aimed to use high‐throughput Illumina Hiseq4000 sequencing to reveal transcriptome changes of longissimus thoracis of goats in frozen storage (−20 to −18°C, FS), ice‐temperature storage (−1.5 to −0.5°C, IS) and chilled storage (2–4°C, CS) within 7 days postmortem. Hierarchical cluster and correlation analysis showed that transcriptome of FS changed little, and IS was suitable for 7 days’ storage. There were 27 continuously differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (fold change ≥2, P < 0.05) over time, and 10 genes were up‐regulated and 17 genes were down‐regulated. Among them, expression amounts of WTIP, PLK3, LOC108635411 and NHSL1 were negatively correlated with shear force, L*, a* and b*, respectively, and CD3E was positively correlated with a*. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that DEGs with increasing storage temperature were mainly involved in energy production and conversion, phosphorylation and apoptosis. This study provided a new perspective for understanding the underlying mechanism of goat meat quality after slaughter.