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  • Article
    Paul JM, Reeve RA, Forte JD.
    Cognition. 2020 05;198:104204.
    Brain regions involved in saccadic eye movements partially overlap with a frontoparietal network implicated in encoding numerosities. Eye movement patterns may plausibly reflect strategic scanning behaviours to resolve the open-ended task of efficiently enumerating visual arrays. If so, these patterns may help explain individual differences in enumeration acuity in terms of well-understood visual attention mechanisms. Most enumeration eye-tracking paradigms, however, do not allow for direct manipulation of eye movement behaviours to test these claims. In the current study we terminated trials after a specified number of saccades to systematically probe the time course of enumeration strategies. Fifteen adults (11 naïve, 4 informed) enumerated random dot arrays under three conditions: (1) a novel saccade-terminated design where arrays were visible until one, two or four saccades had occurred; (2) a duration-terminated design where arrays were shown for 250, 500 or 1000 ms; and (3) a response-terminated design where arrays were visible until a response. Participants gave more accurate responses when enumerating saccade-terminated trials despite taking a similar time as in the duration-terminated trials. When participants were informed how trials would terminate, their saccade onset latencies shifted to match task demands. Rotating saccade vectors to align with salient image locations accounted for variability in the orientation of saccade trajectories. These findings (1) show a combination of stimulus-derived visual processing and task-based strategic demands account for enumeration eye movements patterns, (2) validate a novel saccade-contingent trial termination procedure for studying sequences of enumeration eye movements, and (3) highlight the need to include analyses of spatial and temporal eye movement patterns into models of visual enumeration strategies.
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  • Article
    Silva Oliveira Junior M, Schira-Heinen J, Reiche L, Han S, de Amorim VCM, Lewen I, Gruchot J, Göttle P, Akkermann R, Azim K, Küry P.
    EBioMedicine. 2022 Sep;83:104204.
    BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is characterised by inflammation, oligodendrocyte loss and axonal demyelination and shows an additional impact on astrocytes, and their polarization. Although a certain degree of spontaneous myelin repair can be observed, disease progression, and aging impair regeneration efforts highlighting the need to better understand glial cell dynamics to establish specific regenerative treatments.
    METHODS: Applying a chronic demyelination model, we here analysed demyelination and remyelination related effects on astrocytes and stem cell niches and studied the consequences of medrysone application on myelin repair, and astrocyte polarization.
    FINDINGS: Medrysone induced recovery of mature oligodendrocytes, myelin expression and node formation. In addition, C3d/S100a10 co-expression in astrocytes was enhanced. Moreover, Timp1 expression in C3d positive astrocytes revealed another astrocytic phenotype with a myelination promoting character.
    INTERPRETATION: Based on these findings, specific astrocyte subpopulations are suggested to act in a myelin regenerative way and manner the regulation of which can be positively modulated by this corticosteroid.
    FUNDING: This work was supported by the Jürgen Manchot Stiftung, the Research Commission of the medical faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, the Christiane and Claudia Hempel Foundation for clinical stem cell research and the James and Elisabeth Cloppenburg, Peek and Cloppenburg Düsseldorf Stiftung.
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  • Article
    Yang SY, Han AR, Kim KM, Kwon JS.
    J Dent. 2022 08;123:104204.
    OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate an orthodontic adhesive containing hydrated calcium silicate (hCS) in terms of its bond strength with the enamel surface and its acid-neutralization and apatite-forming abilities.
    METHODS: The experimental orthodontic adhesives were composed of 30 wt.% resin matrix and 70 wt.% filler, which itself was a mixture of silanized glass filler and hCS in weight ratios of 100% glass filler (hCS 0), 17.5% hCS (hCS 17.5), 35% hCS (hCS 35.0), and 52.5% hCS (hCS 52.5). The degree of conversion (DC) and shear bond strength (SBS) of bovine enamel surfaces were tested. pH measurements were performed immediately upon submersion of the specimens in a lactic acid solution. The surface precipitates that formed on specimens immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman spectroscopy after 15, 30, and 90 days.
    RESULTS: The experimental groups exhibited no significant differences in DC and had clinically acceptable SBS values. The hCS-containing groups showed increasing pH values as more hCS was added. hCS 52.5 produced Ca- and P-containing surface precipitates after PBS immersion, and hydroxyapatite deposition was detected after 15, 30, and 90 days.
    CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that orthodontic adhesives containing hCS are effective for acid neutralization. Furthermore, hCS has an apatite-forming ability for enamel remineralization.
    CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The novel orthodontic adhesive containing hCS exhibits a potential clinical benefit against demineralization and enhanced remineralization of the enamel surface around or beneath the orthodontic brackets.
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  • Article
    Grignon E, Battaglia AM, Schon TB, Seferos DS.
    iScience. 2022 May 20;25(5):104204.
    The development of low-cost and sustainable grid energy storage is urgently needed to accommodate the growing proportion of intermittent renewables in the global energy mix. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are promising candidates to provide grid storage due to their inherent safety, scalability, and economic viability. Organic cathode materials are especially advantageous for use in zinc-ion batteries as they can be synthesized using scalable processes from inexpensive starting materials and have potential for biodegradation at their end of life. Strategies for designing organic cathode materials for rechargeable zinc-ion batteries targeting grid applications will be discussed in detail. Specifically, we emphasize the importance of cost analysis, synthetic simplicity, end-of-life scenarios, areal loading of active material, and long-term stability to materials design. We highlight the strengths and challenges of present zinc-organic research in the context of our design principles, and provide opportunities and considerations for future electrode design.
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  • Article
    Chen C, Lu C, He D, Na N, Wu Y, Luo Z, Huang F.
    Microvasc Res. 2021 11;138:104204.
    BACKGROUND: Diabetes aggravates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (MI/RI). The association between high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and autophagy in diabetic MI/RI remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether inhibiting HMGB1 can regulate autophagy in diabetic mice (DM) after I/R injury.
    METHODS: I/R models of C57BL/KsJ mice and db/db mice were established. Histological changes, infarct size (IS), HMGB1 protein, and autophagy-related proteins were detected after 24h of reperfusion. In DM treatment groups, anti-HMGB1 antibody (H-Ig) was injected via tail vein after reperfusion for 15min, and the above-mentioned experimental methods were performed at the end of reperfusion.
    RESULTS: Compared with the I/R group, the pathological myocardial damage and IS were significantly increased in the I/R (DM) group. Additionally, the levels of HMGB1, Beclin1, and LC3II/LC3I ratio were remarkably higher in the I/R (DM) group than those in the I/R group, while p62 level was lower. In the H-Ig (DM) group, injection of H-Ig significantly reduced the IS, as well as alleviated pathological myocardial damage. Moreover, Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I ratio, and p62 levels were notably reversed after this treatment.
    CONCLUSIONS: I/R-induced myocardium was aggravated by diabetes, which may be related to increased release of HMGB1 and activated autophagy. Inhibition of HMGB1 alleviates diabetic MIRI which was associated with reduced autophagy.
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  • Article
    Akocak S, Güzel-Akdemir Ö, Kishore Kumar Sanku R, Russom SS, Iorga BI, Supuran CT, Ilies MA.
    Bioorg Chem. 2020 10;103:104204.
    Building on the conclusions of previous inhibition studies with pyridinium-benzenesulfonamides from our team and on the X-ray crystal structure of the lead compound identified, a series of 24 pyridinium derivatives of 3-aminobenzenesulfonamide was synthesized and investigated for carbonic anhydrase inhibition. The new pyridinium-sulfonamides were evaluated as inhibitors of four human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, namely CA I, CA II (cytosolic), CA IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor-associated forms). Excellent inhibitory activity in the nanomolar range was observed against CA IX with most of these sulfonamides, and against CA XII (nanomolar/sub-nanomolar) with some of the new compounds. These sulfonamides were generally potent inhibitors of CA II and CA I too. Docking studies revealed a preference of these compounds to bind the P1 hydrophobic site of CAs, supporting the observed inhibition profile. The salt-like nature of these positively charged sulfonamides can further focus the inhibitory ability on membrane-bound CA IX and CA XII and could efficiently decrease the viability of three human carcinomas under hypoxic conditions where these isozymes are over-expressed, thus recommending the new compounds as potential diagnostic tools or therapeutic agents.
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  • Article
    Viola E, Martorana M, Airoldi C, Caristia S, Ceriotti D, De Vito M, Tucci R, Meini C, Guiot G, Faggiano F.
    Acta Psychol (Amst). 2024 Apr;244:104204.
    Several studies have been conducted that show the crucial role of active participation in music in health promotion (e.g. Dingle et al., 2021; Sheppard & Broughton, 2020); however, little research has focused on the biopsychosocial effects of choral singing. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, in terms of improving physiological and psychosocial factors, of a choral program for middle-aged and older individuals. We integrated our study with qualitative observations of the atmosphere and flow state experienced by the choristers. The data were collected before and after 12 weeks of training, with 23 participants took part in the study. They experienced significant improvements in weight, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and satisfaction of psychological needs. A beneficial trend, although not statistically significant, were observed for blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, stress, psychological needs, and mental health. The observations progressively revealed a more cohesive and focused group. Our findings support the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration between healthcare and arts policy to promote and enhance health and well-being throughout the lifespan.
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  • Article
    Dreger FA, Rinkenauer G.
    Appl Ergon. 2024 Apr;116:104204.
    Labour shortages and costly operator training are driving the need for digital on-board robotic crane operator support in forestry and construction. This simulator study investigated the effects of sonification (auditory, pitch/loudness) and continuous visual (brightness/size) feedback on aiming movements with a robotic crane for low and high performers. The feedback was designed non-linear and linear. Thirty-six participants controlled a robotic crane bimanually using joysticks across 320 movements. Performance and skill indicators (movement time, accuracy, trajectory, smoothness) as well as satisfaction, and usefulness were assessed. Low-performing participants showed higher movement accuracy, particularly with non-linear pitch feedback compared to visual feedback. High performers exhibited no significant performance improvement in movement time, accuracy, or smoothness. There was no effect of linear or non-linear mapping of the feedback. Additionally, perceived satisfaction was lower with auditory than visual feedback. These results suggest that real-time auditory feedback can enhance operator accuracy whereas acceptance remains challenging.
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  • Article
    Settimi C, Zingaretti D, Verginelli I, Baciocchi R.
    J Contam Hydrol. 2023 07;257:104204.
    The degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors by zero-valent Iron-Copper (Fe-Cu) and Iron-Nickel (Fe-Ni) bimetals with 1%, 5% and 20% weight content (%wt) of Cu or Ni was tested in anaerobic batch vapor systems carried out at ambient room temperature (20 ± 2 °C) under partially saturated conditions. The concentrations of TCE and byproducts were determined at discrete reaction time intervals (4 h-7 days) by analyzing the headspace vapors. In all the experiments, up to 99.9% degradation of TCE in the gas phase was achieved after 2-4 days with zero-order TCE degradation kinetic constants in the range of 134-332 g mair-3d-1. Fe-Ni showed a higher reactivity towards TCE vapors compared to Fe-Cu, with up to 99.9% TCE dechlorination after 2 days of reaction, i.e., significantly higher than zero-valent iron alone that in previous studies was found to achieve comparable TCE degradation after minimum 2 weeks of reaction. The only detectable byproducts of the reactions were C3-C6 hydrocarbons. Neither vinyl chloride or dichloroethylene peaks were detected in the tested conditions above their method quantification limits that were in the order of 0.01 g mair-3. In view of using the tested bimetals in horizontal permeable reactive barriers (HPRBs) placed in the unsaturated zone to treat chlorinated solvent vapors emitted from contaminated groundwater, the experimental results obtained were integrated into a simple analytical model to simulate the reactive transport of vapors through the barrier. It was found that an HPRB of 20 cm could be potentially effective to ensure TCE vapors reduction.
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  • Article
    Zhang L, Wang Y, Schuemie MJ, Blei DM, Hripcsak G.
    J Biomed Inform. 2022 10;134:104204.
    Confounding remains one of the major challenges to causal inference with observational data. This problem is paramount in medicine, where we would like to answer causal questions from large observational datasets like electronic health records (EHRs) and administrative claims. Modern medical data typically contain tens of thousands of covariates. Such a large set carries hope that many of the confounders are directly measured, and further hope that others are indirectly measured through their correlation with measured covariates. How can we exploit these large sets of covariates for causal inference? To help answer this question, this paper examines the performance of the large-scale propensity score (LSPS) approach on causal analysis of medical data. We demonstrate that LSPS may adjust for indirectly measured confounders by including tens of thousands of covariates that may be correlated with them. We present conditions under which LSPS removes bias due to indirectly measured confounders, and we show that LSPS may avoid bias when inadvertently adjusting for variables (like colliders) that otherwise can induce bias. We demonstrate the performance of LSPS with both simulated medical data and real medical data.
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  • Article
    Gésan-Guiziou G, Alaphilippe A, Andro M, Aubin J, Bockstaller C, Botreau R, Buche P, Collet C, Darmon N, Delabuis M, Girard A, Grateau R, Kansou K, Martinet V, Membré JM, Sabbadin R, Soler LG, Thiollet-Scholtus M, Tonda A, Van-Der-Werf H.
    Data Brief. 2019 Aug;25:104204.
    This data article contains annotation data characterizing Multi Criteria Assessment (MCA) Methods proposed in the agri-food sector by researchers from INRA, Europe's largest agricultural research institute (INRA, http://institut.inra.fr/en). MCA can be used to assess and compare agricultural and food systems, and support multi-actor decision making and design of innovative systems for crop production, animal production and processing of agricultural products. These data are stored in a public repository managed by INRA (https://data.inra.fr/; https://doi.org/10.15454/WB51LL).
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  • Article
    Ryden A, Fernström LL, Svonni E, Riihimäki M.
    J Equine Vet Sci. 2023 02;121:104204.
    Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) is transmitted via contact with infected horses or fomites such as equipment or surfaces of the stable environment. Effective cleaning and sanitation is essential to minimize risk of fomite-associated infections. This study assessed the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitation of experimentally S. equi contaminated materials and equipment found in stables. Wood, concrete, plastic, leather halters, leather gloves and polyester webbing halters were inoculated with a 24-hour culture S. equi laboratory strain. In addition, selected materials were inoculated with a clinical strain of S. equi. Three days post inoculation all materials were sampled for retention of viable S. equi and a subset of each material was cleaned and sanitized. After an additional 2 days all treated and untreated materials were sampled for continued retention of viable S. equi. Separate subsets of contaminated polyester halter material were washed at 40°C with or without drying at 70°C, or washed at 60°C. After cleaning and sanitation, all samples except polyester halters were culture negative. Even before cleaning and sanitation leather appears to poorly support survival of S. equi. After washing at 40°C and tumble drying, 14 of 16 halters were culture positive, however culture negative when washed at 60°C. Routine cleaning and sanitation of fomites contaminated with S. equi was generally effective to eliminate viable bacteria. However, survival between materials and strains differed, with leather poorly permissive to S. equi survival even without cleaning, whereas polyester webbing halters retained viable S. equi even after washing at temperatures of 40°C.
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  • Article
    Yeh M, Zerr A, McCabe K.
    Behav Res Ther. 2022 12;159:104204.
    Culture-specific versions of evidence-based interventions are critically important to meeting the needs of underserved and minoritized populations but may also face significant barriers to large-scale implementation when there are settings with multiple cultural groups and within-group heterogeneity. The PersIn framework is a proposed approach for personalizing an evidence-based intervention to facilitate cultural responsiveness concurrent with fidelity to the original intervention, flexibility in individual implementation, and administration that is standardized, feasible, and replicable. This study describes pilot feasibility outcomes for MY PCIT (n = 32), a personalized version of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for culturally diverse families that was developed as a proof-of-concept of the PersIn framework. This application of the PersIn framework was designed to enhance cultural responsiveness by increasing alignment between parent explanatory models and the presentation and delivery of PCIT. MY PCIT produced both statistically and clinically significant changes in pre-to post-treatment child outcomes and parent outcomes. Child behavior change outcomes were comparable to those reported by three benchmark studies, supporting the potential of this approach.
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  • Article
    Poudel Jaishi P, Neupane SK, Neupane PK, Koirala D, Kandel A, Joshi K.
    Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022 Aug;80:104204.
    Introduction and importance: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limiting viral or post-viral thyroid illness with triphasic clinical history of thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism and restoration to normal thyroid function. COVID-19 have wide range of clinical manifestation involving both respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms. Subacute Thyroiditis is one of the emerging symptoms of COVID-19 infection. We reviewed various articles from different online platforms and found that viral antigen binds to HLA B35 molecules on the macrophages which activates cytotoxic T lymphocytes which damage the thyroid follicular cells by binding to ACE2 receptors.
    Case: We presented a case of COVID-19 induced subacute thyroiditis in an unvaccinated male patient whose physical symptoms manifested in the second week of infection. He presented with History of difficulty breathing associated with increased perspiration, generalized body weakness.
    Clinical findings and investigation: His clinical Findings and laboratory finding were suggestive of subacute thyroiditis.
    Intervention and outcome: The patient had been followed for a period of 15 days and was treated effectively with steroids which improved his symptoms. He was also counseled for vaccination.
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  • Article
    Bafti SM, Ang CS, Hossain MM, Marcelli G, Alemany-Fornes M, Tsaousis AD.
    Comput Biol Med. 2021 03;130:104204.
    State-of-the-art computer-vision algorithms rely on big and accurately annotated data, which are expensive, laborious and time-consuming to generate. This task is even more challenging when it comes to microbiological images, because they require specialized expertise for accurate annotation. Previous studies show that crowdsourcing and assistive-annotation tools are two potential solutions to address this challenge. In this work, we have developed a web-based platform to enable crowdsourcing annotation of image data; the platform is powered by a semi-automated assistive tool to support non-expert annotators to improve the annotation efficiency. The behavior of annotators with and without the assistive tool is analyzed, using biological images of different complexity. More specifically, non-experts have been asked to use the platform to annotate microbiological images of gut parasites, which are compared with annotations by experts. A quantitative evaluation is carried out on the results, confirming that the assistive tools can noticeably decrease the non-expert annotation's cost (time, click, interaction, etc.) while preserving or even improving the annotation's quality. The annotation quality of non-experts has been investigated using IoU (intersection over union), precision and recall; based on this analysis we propose some ideas on how to better design similar crowdsourcing and assistive platforms.
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  • Article
    Yanicelli LM, Vegetti M, Goy CB, Martínez EC, Herrera MC.
    Int J Med Inform. 2020 09;141:104204.
    In the last years, multidisciplinary post-discharge treatment programs, such as telemonitoring, have been promoted as a strategy for Heart Failure (HF) management. However, the distinctive requirements that a telemonitoring system should have, have not been clearly identified. To this aim, the most relevant requirements for telemonitoring of HF patients are derived from evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for HF management. The main objective of this work is to present a prototype of a telemonitoring system for HF patients, named SiTe iC, that has been developed based on the identified requirements, highlighting its design and evaluation. A first prototype of the system was designed and programmed. It consists of an mHealth app for HF patients, a website for physicians who monitor patients, and a server which runs an Application Programming Interface to allow communication between the app and the website. The system was thoroughly assessed through a clinical trial that demonstrates that telemonitoring using SiTe iC actually improves patients self-care when compared to usual care and it has the potential to avoid patient re-hospitalizations. This study demonstrated that the identified functional requirements for telemonitoring systems are relevant. In addition, thanks to SiTe iC, HF patients would take a more active role in their disease management by improving self-care.
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  • Article
    Ghanbari MM, Joneidi M, Kiani B, Babaie J, Sayyah M.
    Microb Pathog. 2020 Jul;144:104204.
    Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii that harms the brain and increases the risk of epilepsy acquisition. It is well known that cannabinoid (CB) signaling is activated following brain insults and protects the neurons from excitotoxicity and inflammation. We examined the role of CB neurotransmission in the proconvulsant effect of Toxoplasmosis in mice. Toxoplasmosis was established in mice by intraperitoneal injection of T. gondii cysts. The mice with acute and/or chronic Toxoplasma infection were pretreated (through intracerebroventricular injection) with CB1 and CB2 receptor agonists (ACEA and HU308) and antagonists (AM251 and AM630), as well as JZL184 (the irreversible inhibitor of mono acyl glycerol lipase, enzyme degrading the endogenous cannabinoid 2-Acyl glycerol). The seizure threshold was then measured by tail vein infusion of pentylenetetrazole. In healthy uninfected mice JZL184, ACEA, and AM630 increased the seizure threshold in a dose-dependent manner, whereas AM251 and HU308 showed dose-dependent proconvulsant effect. Mice with acute and/or chronic infection had a substantial lower seizure threshold than the uninfected mice. JZL 184, ACEA and AM630 inhibited proconvulsant effect of Toxoplasmosis, while AM251 and HU308 intensified proconvulsant effect of Toxoplasmosis. CB receptors play a role in proconvulsant effect of Toxoplasmosis in mice.
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  • Article
    Barceló D, Picó Y, Alfarhan AH.
    Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2023 Aug;101:104204.
    Microplastics (MPs) are in all environmental compartments, including atmosphere, terrestrial, and aquatic environments as well as in marine organisms, foods, drinking water, and indoor and outdoor environments. MPs can enter the human body through the food chain and contaminated environment. Ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact are the routes of their entry into the human body. Recent studies reporting the detection of MPs within the human body have raised concern among the scientific community as the knowledge about human exposure is still very limited and their impact on health is not well-understood yet. In this review article, we briefly cover the reports evidencing MP detection within the human body, e.g., stool, placenta, lungs, liver, sputum, breast milk, and blood. A concise synopsis of sample preparation and analysis of such human matrices is also provided. This article also presents a summary of the effect of MPs on human cell lines and human health.
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