bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural connectivity of the sensorimotor network within the non-lesioned hemisphere of children with perinatal stroke
Authors: Craig Brandon T. , Kinney-Lang Eli , Hilderley Alicia J. , Carlson Helen L. , Kirton Adam 
Published: March 2022

AbstractPerinatal stroke occurs early in life and often leads to a permanent, disabling weakness to one side of the body. To test the hypothesis that non-lesioned hemisphere sensorimotor network structural connectivity in children with perinatal stroke is different from controls, we used diffusion imaging and graph theory to explore structural topology between these populations. Children underwent diffusion and anatomical 3T MRI. Whole-brain tractography was constrained using a brain atlas creating an adjacency matrix containing connectivity values. Graph theory metrics including betweenness centrality, clustering coefficient, and both neighbourhood and hierarchical complexity of sensorimotor nodes were compared to controls. Relationships between these connectivity metrics and validated sensorimotor assessments were explored. Eighty-five participants included 27 with venous stroke (mean age = 11.5 ± 3.7 years), 26 with arterial stroke (mean age = 12.7 ± 4.0 years), and 32 controls (mean age = 13.3 ± 3.6 years). Non-lesioned primary motor (M1), somatosensory (S1) and supplementary motor (SMA) areas demonstrated lower betweenness centrality and higher clustering coefficient in stroke groups. Clustering coefficient of M1, S1, and SMA were inversely associated with clinical motor function. Hemispheric betweenness centrality and clustering coefficient were higher in stroke groups compared to controls. Hierarchical and average neighbourhood complexity across the hemisphere were lower in stroke groups. Developmental plasticity alters the connectivity of key nodes within the sensorimotor network of the non-lesioned hemisphere following perinatal stroke and contributes to clinical disability.
Low prevalence of spectacle use in the Hungarian Roma population indicates unmet health needs
Authors: Losonczy Gergely , Piko Peter , Klevering B. Jeroen , Kosa Zsigmond , Sandor Janos , Adany Roza 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe Roma population is the largest transnational ethnic minority group in Europe, often facing socioeconomic inequalities and various health problems. In the present study, we investigated visual acuity and its influencing factors along with spectacle use of the Roma population in comparison with the general population in Hungary. A cross-sectional survey was carried out including 832 participants aged 20–64 years. We recorded the uncorrected visual acuity along with anthropometric, demographic, socioeconomic and health-related data of each individual. Although the average uncorrected visual acuity was somewhat higher, the use of a visual aid was significantly less frequent in the Roma population, especially in the group with a visual acuity below 0.5 in both eyes (14.3% vs. 77.1%, p < 0.001). Age, abdominal obesity and disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism had a negative impact on visual acuity in both populations; however, the latter was a much stronger risk factor in the Roma population (OR 5.789, 95% CI 2.239–14.964, p < 0.001) than in the general population (OR 2.075, 95% CI 1.097–3.926, p = 0.025). Our results show serious unmet health needs within the Roma population, which calls for public health programs to improve poor primary care indicators on regular eye examination and much more rigorous diabetes control.
Computation and visualization of cell–cell signaling topologies in single-cell systems data using Connectome
Authors: Raredon Micha Sam Brickman , Yang Junchen , Garritano James , Wang Meng , Kushnir Dan , Schupp Jonas Christian , Adams Taylor S. , Greaney Allison M. , Leiby Katherine L. , Kaminski Naftali , Kluger Yuval , Levchenko Andre , Niklason Laura E. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSingle-cell RNA-sequencing data has revolutionized our ability to understand of the patterns of cell–cell and ligand–receptor connectivity that influence the function of tissues and organs. However, the quantification and visualization of these patterns in a way that informs tissue biology are major computational and epistemological challenges. Here, we present Connectome, a software package for R which facilitates rapid calculation and interactive exploration of cell–cell signaling network topologies contained in single-cell RNA-sequencing data. Connectome can be used with any reference set of known ligand–receptor mechanisms. It has built-in functionality to facilitate differential and comparative connectomics, in which signaling networks are compared between tissue systems. Connectome focuses on computational and graphical tools designed to analyze and explore cell–cell connectivity patterns across disparate single-cell datasets and reveal biologic insight. We present approaches to quantify focused network topologies and discuss some of the biologic theory leading to their design.
Amplitude setting and dopamine response of finger tapping and gait are related in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Syeda Hafsa Bareen , Glover Aliyah , Pillai Lakshmi , Kemp Aaron S. , Spencer Horace , Lotia Mitesh , Larson-Prior Linda J. , Virmani Tuhin 
Published: March 2022

AbstractMovement amplitude setting is affected early in Parkinson’s disease (PD), clinically manifesting as bradykinesia. Our objective was to determine if amplitude setting of upper limb bimanual movements and bipedal gait are similarly modulated in PD. 27 PD and 24 control participants were enrolled. Participants performed a bimanual anti-phase finger tapping task wearing gloves with joint angular sensors, and an instrumented gait assessment. Participants performed normal and fast paced assessments to vary motor load. PD participants were evaluated OFF (PD-OFF) and ON (PD-ON) levodopa. PD-OFF participants had smaller tap amplitude, and greater tap amplitude variability than controls in the more affected hands (all p < 0.05). Tap amplitude and stride length (p = 0.030) were correlated in PD-OFF. Tap amplitude was also correlated with motor UPDRS (p < 0.005) and bradykinesia motor (p < 0.05) and ADL (p < 0.005) UPDRS subscores. The relative amount of improvement in tap amplitude and stride length with levodopa was correlated. In PD, upper limb and gait amplitude setting are similarly scaled with motor demand and dopamine supplementation. This suggests these automated motor functions are subserved by common functional networks.
Genomic epidemiology of Streptococcus agalactiae ST283 in Southeast Asia
Authors: Aiewsakun Pakorn , Ruangchai Wuthiwat , Thawornwattana Yuttapong , Jaemsai Bharkbhoom , Mahasirimongkol Surakameth , Homkaew Anchalee , Suksomchit Paveesuda , Dubbs Padungsri , Palittapongarnpim Prasit 
Published: March 2022

AbstractStreptococcus agalactiae, also known as Lancefield Group BStreptococcus(GBS), is typically regarded as a neonatal pathogen; however, several studies have shown that the bacteria are capable of causing invasive diseases in non-pregnant adults as well. The majority of documented cases were from Southeast Asian countries, and the most common genotype found was ST283, which is also known to be able to infect fish. This study sequenced 12 GBS ST283 samples collected from adult patients in Thailand. Together with publicly available sequences, we performed temporo-spatial analysis and estimated population dynamics of the bacteria. Putative drug resistance genes were also identified and characterized, and the drug resistance phenotypes were validated experimentally. The results, together with historical records, draw a detailed picture of the past transmission history of GBS ST283 in Southeast Asia.
Systematic palynology in Korean Piperales with special focus on its exine surface ornamentation and orbicule morphology
Authors: Oak Min-Kyeong , Yang Sungyu , Choi Goya , Song Jun-Ho 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe pollen and orbicule morphology of the Korean Piperales (Aristolochia, Asarum, Houttuynia, Piper, and Saururus) were investigated via scanning electron microscopy. Piperales pollen is a monad, its size ranging from very small to large (P = 7.78–51.4 μm, E = 6.68–43.1 μm), and having a mainly circular to sub-circular shape. The aperture type is constant in the genus [inaperturate (Aristolochia), tri to pentaporate (Asarum), and monosulcate (Houttuynia, Piper, and Saururus)]. There are four distinct types of exine ornamentation: Fossulate with perforate, microreticulate with gemmae, microperforate with granula, and microechinate. The orbicules (minute sporopollenin granules) were observed in all studied taxa and thus, may be a possible symplesiomorphic characteristic of Piperales. Further, the observed orbicule surface ornamentation was similar to pollen exine patterns, for example muri, gemmae, or granula. This resemblance between orbicule and pollen exine ornamentation may imply a similar biosynthesis pattern of sporopollenin of pollen exine and orbicules. The phenogram resulting from a cluster analysis using palynological characters was generally consistent with the known molecular phylogeny of Piperales. This initial study will help understand the palynological diversity and provide detailed information of pollen and orbicule characteristics in Piperales.
Therapeutic routine with respiratory exercises improves posture, muscle activity, and respiratory pattern of patients with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Dareh-deh Hamid Rezaee , Hadadnezhad Malihe , Letafatkar Amir , Peolsson Anneli 
Published: March 2022

AbstractNeck pain and forward head posture (FHP) are typical in prolonged smartphone users and need to be targeted for treatment. We aimed to compare the effect of a routine therapeutic program with and without respiratory exercises on smartphone users with FHP and non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP). Sixty patients (aged 24.7 ± 2.1 years) with FHP and NSCNP were randomly assigned to the routine therapeutic program (n = 20), combined respiratory exercises with a routine therapeutic program (n = 20), or control (n = 20) groups. At baseline, there was no difference among groups at all variables. Each programme was implemented three times a week for eight weeks. Primary Outcome was pain measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), and secondary ones were forward head angle, the activity of specific muscles, and respiratory patterns, measured by photogrammetry, electromyography and manual, respectively. All outcomes were measured at baseline and eight weeks post-treatment. We used the repeated measures analysis of variance to examine the interaction between time and group, paired t-test for intragroup comparison, one-way analysis of variance for intergroup comparison, and Tukey post hoc test at a significant level 95% was used. There were significant differences in the combined group compared with the routine therapeutic group (P = 0.03) for diaphragm muscle activation, respiratory balance (P = 0.01), and the number of breaths (P = 0.02). There were significant within-group changes from baseline to post-treatment in the combined group for all outcomes above, but no changes in the therapeutic exercise routine group. Despite respiratory pattern, none of the secondary outcomes proved to be superior in the combination group compared to the routine therapeutic program in smartphone users with FHP and NSCNP. Future studies with longer follow-up assessments could strengthen these results.Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials using the IRCT website with ID number of, IRCT20200212046469N1 “Prospectively registered” at 04/03/2020.
A reduced SNP panel to trace gene flow across southern European wolf populations and detect hybridization with other Canis taxa
Authors: Stronen Astrid Vik , Mattucci Federica , Fabbri Elena , Galaverni Marco , Cocchiararo Berardino , Nowak Carsten , Godinho Raquel , Ruiz-González Aritz , Kusak Josip , Skrbinšek Tomaž , Randi Ettore , Vlasseva Albena , Mucci Nadia , Caniglia Romolo 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIntra- and inter-specific gene flow are natural evolutionary processes. However, human-induced hybridization is a global conservation concern across taxa, and the development of discriminant genetic markers to differentiate among gene flow processes is essential. Wolves (Canis lupus) are affected by hybridization, particularly in southern Europe, where ongoing recolonization of historic ranges is augmenting gene flow among divergent populations. Our aim was to provide diagnostic canid markers focused on the long-divergent Iberian, Italian and Dinaric wolf populations, based on existing genomic resources. We used 158 canid samples to select a panel of highly informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to (i) distinguish wolves in the three regions from domestic dogs (C. l. familiaris) and golden jackals (C. aureus), and (ii) identify their first two hybrid generations. The resulting 192 SNPs correctly identified the five canid groups, all simulated first-generation (F1) hybrids (0.482 ≤ Qi ≤ 0.512 between their respective parental groups) and all first backcross (BC1) individuals (0.723 ≤ Qi ≤ 0.827 to parental groups). An assay design and test with invasive and non-invasive canid samples performed successfully for 178 SNPs. By separating natural population admixture from inter-specific hybridization, our reduced panel can help advance evolutionary research, monitoring, and timely conservation management.
Association of retinopathy severity with cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with type 1 diabetes: a multi-state modeling analysis
Authors: Wang Wei-Ming , Ou Huang-Tz , Wen Miin-Jye , Su Pei-Fang , Yang Chen-Yi , Kuo Te-Hui , Wang Ming-Cheng , Lin Wei-Hung 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the impact of diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity on the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in T1D patients. Patients diagnosed with T1D between 1999 and 2013 were identified from patient-level data of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research database. A total of 1135 patients were included and classified into mild DR (n = 454), severe DR (n = 227), or non-DR (n = 454) by using propensity score matching. Multi-state model analyses, an extension of competing risk models with adjustment for transition-specific covariates for prediction of subsequent MACE and ESRD, were performed. MACE and ESRD risks were significantly higher in the severe DR patients; a 2.97-fold (1.73, 5.07) and 12.29-fold (6.50, 23.23) increase in the MACE risk among the severe DR patients compared to the mild DR and DR-free patients, respectively; and, a 5.91-fold (3.50, 9.99) and 82.31-fold (29.07, 233.04) greater ESRD risk of severe DR patients than that of the mild DR and DR-free groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Severity of DR was significantly associated with the late diabetes-related vascular events (i.e., MACE, ESRD) among T1D patients.
Comparative analysis of four complete mitogenomes from hoverfly genus Eristalinus with phylogenetic implications
Authors: Li Hu , Li Juan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe genus Eristalinus is widely distributed globally. Four complete mitochondrial genomes (i.e., mitogenomes) of Eristalinus were sequenced and analyzed in this study: Eristalinus viridis (Coquillett, 1898), E. quinquestriatus (Fabricius, 1781), E. tarsalis (Macquart, 1855), and E. sp. Within these four sequenced mitogenomes, most protein-coding genes (ND2, CO1, COX2, COX3, ND3, ND5, ND4, ND4L, ND6, and Cytb) began with a typical ATN (T/C/G/A) start codon and ended with a stop codon TAA or incomplete T, whereas ND1 began with the start codon TTG. ND3 ended with TAG. The secondary tRNA structure was that of a typical cloverleaf, and only the tRNA-Ser1 lacked a DHU arm. Three and five domains appeared in the 12S and 16S rRNA secondary structures, respectively. The phylogenetic relationships among the four Eristalinus species combined with the published mitogenomes of Syrphidae were reconstructed using the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, which support the monophyly of the subfamily Syrphinae but do not support that of the subfamily Eristalinae. Of note, Eristalini and Syrphini are monophyletic groups. The mitogenomes of E. viridis, E. quinquestriatus, E. sp., and E. tarsalis are useful for determining the phylogenetic relationships and evolution of Syrphidae.
MicroRNA-155 expression with Brucella infection in vitro and in vivo and decreased serum levels of MicroRNA-155 in patients with brucellosis
Authors: Zhang Xi , Chen Jingjing , Cheng Huimin , Zhu Jinying , Dong Qiao , Zhang Huan , Chen Zeliang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractInfection with Brucella is characterized by the inhibition of host immune responses. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) has been implicated in the immune response to many diseases. In this study, its expression during Brucella 16M infection of macrophages and mice was analyzed. Expression of miR-155 was significantly induced in macrophages at 24 h post infection. Further, an analysis of infected mice showed that miR-155 was inhibited at 7 and 14 days but induced at 28 days. Interestingly, this trend in induction or inhibition was reversed at 7 and 14 days in 16M△virB-infected mice. This suggested that decreased expression of miR-155 at an early stage of infection was dependent on intracellular replication. In humans with brucellosis, serum levels of miR-155 were significantly decreased compared to those in individuals without brucellosis and healthy volunteers. Significant correlations were observed between serum level of miR-155 and serum anti-Brucella antibody titers and the sweating symptom. This effect suggests that Brucella interferes with miR-155-regulated immune responses via a unique mechanism. Taken together, data from this study indicate that Brucella infection affects miR-155 expression and that human brucellosis patients show decreased serum levels of miR-155.
Automated analysis of activity, sleep, and rhythmic behaviour in various animal species with the Rtivity software
Authors: Silva Rui F. O. , Pinho Brígida R. , Monteiro Nuno M. , Santos Miguel M. , Oliveira Jorge M. A. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBehavioural studies provide insights into normal and disrupted biological mechanisms. In many research areas, a growing spectrum of animal models—particularly small organisms—is used for high-throughput studies with infrared-based activity monitors, generating counts per time data. The freely available software to analyse such data, however, are primarily optimized for drosophila and circadian analysis. Researchers investigating other species or non-circadian behaviour would thus benefit from a more versatile software. Here we report the development of a free and open-source software—Rtivity—allowing customisation of species-specific parameters, and offering a versatile analysis of behavioural patterns, biological rhythms, stimulus responses, and survival. Rtivity is based on the R language and uses Shiny and the recently developed Rethomics package for a user-friendly graphical interface without requiring coding skills. Rtivity automatically assesses survival, computes various activity, sleep, and rhythmicity parameters, and performs fractal analysis of activity fluctuations. Rtivity generates multiple informative graphs, and exports structured data for efficient interoperability with common statistical software. In summary, Rtivity facilitates and enhances the versatility of the behavioural analysis of diverse animal species (e.g. drosophila, zebrafish, daphnia, ants). It is thus suitable for a broad range of researchers from multidisciplinary fields such as ecology, neurobiology, toxicology, and pharmacology.
Florida’s urban stormwater ponds are net sources of carbon to the atmosphere despite increased carbon burial over time
Authors: Goeckner Audrey H. , Lusk Mary G. , Reisinger Alexander J. , Hosen Jacob D. , Smoak Joseph M. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractStormwater ponds are engineered ecosystems designed for flood control and sediment retention in urban watersheds. They are the most commonly used stormwater control measure in the USA, but their biogeochemical processes and impacts are often overlooked. Here, we assessed the potential impact of stormwater ponds on regional carbon cycling by coupling carbon burial rates and fluxes of carbon dioxide and methane gases in five sites over an age gradient of 14–34 years. Carbon burial increased logarithmically with site age, ranging from 22 to 217 g carbon m−2y−1, while, median floating chamber diffusive gas fluxes were 1290 g carbon dioxide m−2y−1and 5 g methane m−2y−1, which, when combined as carbon dioxide equivalents, equates to 2900 g carbon dioxide eq m−2y−1. Comparing carbon burial to gas flux reveals that stormwater ponds can be net carbon sources and need to be considered for regional and global carbon models.
Early Speech Sound Production and Its Trajectories in Very Preterm Children From 2 to 4 Years of Age
Authors: van Noort-van der Spek Inge L. , Dudink Jeroen , Reiss Irwin K. , Franken Marie-Christine J. P. 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
Very preterm (VPT) children are at risk for speech and language problems throughout school age. However, little is known about early speech sound production in these children. This study aims to present a detailed description of early speech sound production and its trajectories in VPT children from 2 to 4 years of age. In addition, this study aimed to determine if early speech sound production is associated with speech production and expressive language function at 4 years of age.

Method:
In 63 VPT children (< 32 weeks of gestation, 41 boys, mean gestational age = 28.8 weeks, mean birth weight = 1,135 g), speech sound production was assessed by naturalistic speech analysis at 2 years of corrected age and speech and language function by standardized tests at 4 years of age.

Results:
Speech sound production was found to be abnormal in 49% of the VPT children at 2 years of age and in 19% at 4 years of age. Four different speech production trajectories from 2 to 4 years of age could be identified: a normal trajectory, an abnormal trajectory, a catch-up trajectory, and a growing-into-deficit trajectory. Early speech production, defined by the number of acquired consonants at 2 years of age, significantly predicted the word production score at 4 years of age and the sentence production score at 4 years of age.

Conclusions:
Compared to the general population, an alarmingly high proportion of VPT children showed speech production problems at 2 years of age. About half of these children showed persistent speech problems at 4 years of age. Moreover, these problems were associated with expressive language problems at the age of 4 years.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19310822
A Letter to the Editor Regarding Bambara et al. (2021), “Using Peer Supports to Encourage Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder to Show Interest in Their Conversation Partners”
Authors: Keates Nathan 
Published: March 2022

Purpose:
The purpose of this letter is to address interpretations regarding Bambara et al.'s (2021) study and help resolve potential for further missteps within this line of research.

Conclusion:
There is clear value in teaching skills that are wanted by autistic people. The primary issue within the article is that it does not acknowledge the double empathy problem and is constructed based on only a neurotypical system of interpretation or communication style. What is being promoted is to address skills autistic participants request.