#EndtheSTIgma: An Exploratory Analysis of the 2019 HPV Awareness Day Conversation on Twitter & Instagram.

The current study explores the risk communication conversations on Twitter and Instagram in the context of the 2019 HPV Awareness Day, through the theoretical lenses of the stigma associated with HPV, HPV-related cancer, and the HPV vaccine. Our findings reveal that: 1) self and enacted stigma are present in these social media conversations, via nonprofits and official ambassadors, and via regular people; 2) other categories related to stigma, which can be seen as reactions to stigma and appeals to better individuals and society (i.e. stopping stereotypes) also emerged in these conversations, via official and not official sources, pro and against vaccine discourses; and 3) the same categories emerged from the data via both platforms, but differences exist in terms of narratives and messaging. Practical implications are discussed.

Coupling Fields to 3D Quantum Gravity via Chern-Simons Theory.

We propose a mechanism that couples matter fields to three-dimensional quantum gravity, which can be used for theories with a positive or negative cosmological constant. Our proposal is rooted in the Chern-Simons formulation of three-dimensional gravity and makes use of the Wilson spool, a collection of Wilson loops winding around closed paths of the background. We show that the Wilson spool correctly reproduces the one-loop determinant of a free massive scalar field on rotating black holes in AdS_{3} and Euclidean dS_{3} as G_{N}→0. Moreover, we describe how to incorporate quantum metric fluctuations into this formalism.

Public thoughts on incentivizing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the United States: testing hostile media bias with user-generated comments.

Facebook is the most popular social media platform and often used by news organizations to distribute content to broad audiences. Features of this online news environment, especially user-generated comments shown to news consumers, have the potential to induce audience perceptions of hostile media bias. This study furthers investigation into the influence of exposure to Facebook comments and news topics on consumers. Using a sample of U.S. adult Facebook users (N = 1,274), this work utilized a 2 (likeminded comments or disagreeable comments) × 2 (story topic of requiring COVID-19 vaccines to receive a monetary bonus or maintain employment) between-subjects experimental design. While controlling for the influence of partisanship, this work further proves that features of the Facebook environment uniquely influence news audience perceptions of neutral news content. Specifically, findings indicate that news story topic can influence perceptions of bias. Further, topic and comment exposure interacted, demonstrating the intensity of story topic and likeminded comments enhance hostile media perceptions.

From Quantum Curves to Topological String Partition Functions.

This paper describes the reconstruction of the topological string partition function for certain local Calabi-Yau (CY) manifolds from the quantum curve, an ordinary differential equation obtained by quantising their defining equations. Quantum curves are characterised as solutions to a Riemann-Hilbert problem. The isomonodromic tau-functions associated to these Riemann-Hilbert problems admit a family of natural normalisations labelled by the chambers in the extended Kähler moduli space of the local CY under consideration. The corresponding isomonodromic tau-functions admit a series expansion of generalised theta series type from which one can extract the topological string partition functions for each chamber.

An Overview of the Impact of Bacterial Infections and the Associated Mortality Predictors in Patients with COVID-19 Admitted to a Tertiary Center from Eastern Europe.

1. BACKGROUND: Literature data on bacterial infections and their impact on the mortality rates of COVID-19 patients from Romania are scarce, while worldwide reports are contrasting. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a unicentric retrospective observational study that included 280 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, on whom we performed various microbiological determinations. Based on the administration or not of the antibiotic treatment, we divided the patients into two groups. First, we sought to investigate the rates and predictors of bacterial infections, the causative microbial strains, and the prescribed antibiotic treatment. Secondly, the study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with in-hospital death and evaluate the biomarkers' performance for predicting short-term mortality. 3. RESULTS: Bacterial co-infections or secondary infections were confirmed in 23 (8.2%) patients. Acinetobacter baumannii was the pathogen responsible for most of the confirmed bacterial infections. Almost three quarters of the patients (72.8%) received empiric antibiotic therapy. Multivariate logistic regression has shown leukocytosis and intensive care unit admission as risk factors for bacterial infections and C-reactive protein, together with the length of hospital stay, as mortality predictors. The ROC curves revealed an acceptable performance for the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (AUC: 0.781), and C-reactive protein (AUC: 0.797), but a poor performance for fibrinogen (AUC: 0.664) in predicting fatal events. 4. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the somewhat paradoxical association of a low rate of confirmed infections with a high rate of empiric antibiotic therapy. A thorough assessment of the risk factors for bacterial infections, in addition to the acknowledgment of various mortality predictors, is crucial for identifying high-risk patients, thus allowing a timely therapeutic intervention, with a direct impact on improving patients' prognosis.

Exposure Effects or Confirmation Bias? Examining Reciprocal Dynamics of Misinformation, Misperceptions, and Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccines.

This longitudinal study integrates exposure effects and confirmation bias under the theoretical framework of dynamic motivation activation (DMA) to examine the dynamic reciprocity of misinformation, misperceptions, and attitudes in the context of COVID-19 vaccination. Results from a three- national survey showed that misinformation exposure, misperceptions, and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines reinforced themselves over time. Further, misperceptions reduced subsequent pro-vaccine attitudes, and pro-vaccine attitudes in turn decreased subsequent misperceptions. Longitudinal mediation analysis also indicated that attitudes reinforced themselves through misperceptions. Surprisingly, we did not find a significant impact of misinformation exposure on subsequent misperceptions or effects of attitudes on subsequent misinformation exposure. These findings highlight the importance of addressing misperceptions regarding COVID-19 vaccines and provide insights for theoretical development in research on exposure effects and confirmation bias.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Disadvantaged Groups' Experience with Perceived Barriers, Cues to Action, and Attitudes.

PURPOSE: Drawing from the Health Belief Model, we explored how disadvantaged groups in the U.S., including Black, Hispanic, less educated and wealthy individuals, experienced perceived barriers and cues to action in the context of the COVID-19 vaccination. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey administered in March 2021. SETTING: USA. SUBJECTS: A national sample of U.S. residents (n = 795) recruited from Prolific. MEASURES: Perceived barriers (clinical, access, trust, religion/spiritual), cues to action (authorities, social circles), attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. ANALYSIS: Factor analysis and Structural Equation Model (SEM) were performed in STATA 16. RESULTS: Black and less educated individuals experienced higher clinical barriers (CI [.012, .33]; CI [.027, .10]), trust barriers (CI [.49, .92]; CI [.057, .16]), and religious/spiritual barriers (CI [.28, .66]; CI [.026, .11]). Hispanics experienced lower levels of clinical barriers (CI [-.42, .0001]). Clinical, trust, and religious/spiritual barriers were negatively related to attitudes toward vaccination (CI [-.45, -.15]; CI [-.79, -.51]; CI [-.43, -.13]). Black and less educated individuals experienced fewer cues to action by authority (CI [-.47, -.083]; CI [-.093, -.002]) and social ties (CI [-.75, -.33]; CI [-.18, -.080]). Lower-income individuals experienced fewer cues to action by social ties (CI [-.097, -.032]). Cues from social ties were positively associated with vaccination attitudes (CI [.065, .26]). CONCLUSION: Communication should be personalized to address perceived barriers disadvantaged groups differentially experience and use sources who exert influences on these groups.

Social distancing during COVID-19: threat and efficacy among university students in seven nations.

COVID-19 has been spreading fast worldwide, and until effective and safe vaccines have been widely adopted, preventive measures such as social distancing are crucial to keep the pandemic under control. The study's research questions asked which psychosocial factors predict social distancing behavior and whether there are country-level differences in social distancing? Using the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) as a theoretical lens, we examined the predictive effects of threat and efficacy and demographic variables on adherence to the COVID-19 preventive behavior of social distancing using a survey among an international sample of university students. Using path modeling and analysis of covariance, we confirmed the predictive effects of the EPPM on social distancing behavior. Our final model showed that perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 was both directly and indirectly (through response efficacy) associated with social distancing behavior; that perceived severity of COVID-19 yielded a significant indirect effect on social distancing behavior through both self-efficacy and response efficacy; that perceived susceptibility is indirectly and positively associated with social distancing behavior through response efficacy; and that self-efficacy and response efficacy were directly associated with social distancing behavior. Additionally, there were country-level differences in social distancing. Possible explanations for and implications of these findings are discussed.

Governmental and public thematic patterns on vaccination during a measles outbreak: the Romanian perspective.

With 675 confirmed cases of measles in Romania in September 2016, the Ministry of Health launched the online campaign called 'Vaccines Save Lives'. This study seeks to apply the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs to the online communication among the Romanian Ministry of Health and online users throughout this vaccination campaign. Using a mixed-method approach, we demonstrate how cluster analysis can help in visualizing the overall relationship among codes (HBM constructs) in the thematic interpretation related to vaccination. Results of the cluster analysis show that the Romanian Ministry of Health used three main themes (shaping credibility, reality versus conspiracy, and unbiased information). Focusing on the diseases that vaccinations could prevent, the Romanian authority also addressed the issues related to conspiracy theory, the possible side effects, and collateral victims if parents refuse to vaccinate their children. The online users' comments were structured on two themes: multi-faceted reluctance and vaccination gain. Despite the anti-vaccination comments and anti-work-related content directed toward the campaign and the Ministry of Health, there were pro-vaccination comments in which online users encouraged parents to report cases of side effects and accused them of using their personal stories to provoke vaccination hesitancy. These findings may provide important information to (inter)national communication practitioners who design and implement health campaigns to increase vaccination rates.

COVID-19 Vaccine Demand and Financial Incentives.

BACKGROUND: Public health experts estimate that only very high COVID-19 vaccine uptake levels can result in herd immunity. OBJECTIVE: This study's main objective was to evaluate the impact of vaccine price levels, including payments, and the efficacy levels on COVID-19 vaccine demand. METHODS: Data for this study were collected from an online survey of 2000 US individuals aged 18 years and older, which included a set of contingent valuation questions. Parametric and nonparametric procedures were used to estimate the distribution of willingness-to-pay and willingness-to-accept values for the vaccine and to assess its association with vaccine efficacy levels (50, 70, and 95%). RESULTS: Most of the individuals (60%) indicated they were willing to pay a positive amount for the vaccine; 13.7% said they would only accept the vaccine if it were free; 14.1% were willing to take the vaccine only if they were paid; and 12.2% were not willing to accept the vaccine. The vaccine efficacy level was found to affect an individual's demand for the vaccine. Estimated mean willingness-to-pay values were: US$594, US$706, and US$723 for vaccines with efficacy levels of 50, 70, and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: US individuals highly value the COVID-19 vaccine, and about 88% of the US population would accept the vaccination; however, 14% indicated they would get vaccinated if compensated. Payments of about US$500 or more would be needed to sufficiently incentivize 50% or more of this group vaccinated.

Identification of Clinical Isolates of Candida albicans with Increased Fitness in Colonization of the Murine Gut.

The commensal and opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans is an important cause of fungal diseases in humans, with the gastrointestinal tract being an important reservoir for its infections. The study of the mechanisms promoting the C. albicans commensal state has attracted considerable attention over the last few years, and several studies have focused on the identification of the intestinal human mycobiota and the characterization of Candida genes involved in its establishment as a commensal. In this work, we have barcoded 114 clinical C. albicans isolates to identify strains with an enhanced fitness in a murine gastrointestinal commensalism model. The 114 barcoded clinical isolates were pooled in four groups of 28 to 30 strains that were inoculated by gavage in mice previously treated with antibacterial therapy. Eight strains that either exhibited higher colonization load and/or remained in the gut after antibiotic removal were selected. The phenotypic analysis of these strains compared to an RFP-tagged SC5314 wild type strain did not reveal any specific trait associated with its increased colonization; all strains were able to filament and six of the eight strains displayed invasive growth on Spider medium. Analysis of one of these strains, CaORAL3, revealed that although mice required previous bacterial microbiota reduction with antibiotics to be able to be colonized, removal of this procedure could take place the same day (or even before) Candida inoculation. This strain was able to colonize the intestine of mice already colonized with Candida without antibiotic treatment in co-housing experiments. CaORAL3 was also able to be established as a commensal in mice previously colonized by another (CaHG43) or the same (CaORAL3) C. albicans strain. Therefore, we have identified C. albicans isolates that display higher colonization load than the standard strain SC5314 which will surely facilitate the analysis of the factors that regulate fungal colonization.

Diabetes Mellitus-A Risk Factor for Unfavourable Outcome in COVID-19 Patients-The Experience of an Infectious Diseases Regional Hospital.

Early research into the implications concerning the evolution of the infection caused by the new coronavirus in people with glucose metabolism dysfunction, in this case diabetics, shows that severe forms of the disease predominate in this risk category. Moreover, it seems that even in patients with normal glycaemic status, COVID-19 may predispose to the development of hyperglycaemia which modulates immune mechanisms and inflammatory responses, with direct effects on morbidity and mortality. Thus, taking into account these scientific data, as well as the increased frequency of diabetes in the general population, we aimed to assess the risk of an unfavourable outcome of diabetic patients, which is in a strong connection with the presence and severity of pulmonary disease such as interstitial pneumonia/bronchopneumonia, as well as the effectiveness of Tocilizumab administration. The results of our study indicate a three-fold higher risk of death in patients with diabetes and COVID-19 (RR = 3.03; IC95%: 2.37-3.86; p = 0.001),compared to nondiabetic patients, and the risk of developing severe forms of acute respiratory failure was 1.5 times higher in the first studied category. In conclusion, we can say that the diabetic diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection is more predisposed to immunological and organic dysfunctions that may ultimately result in death, and treatment with monoclonal anti-IL-6 antibodies was more effective in diabetic patients than non-diabetics (p < 0.05). The effectiveness of Tocilizumab was significant in both studied groups, but diabetic patients responded better to this therapy compared to non-diabetes-mellitus (DM) ones (76.7% vs. 35% p = 0.001).

Stay Socially Distant and Wash Your Hands: Using the Health Belief Model to Determine Intent for COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors at the Beginning of the Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly spread around the world, and since currently no treatments that are safe and effective for large groups of people nor a vaccine are available, the best way to prevent the illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus causing it. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive effects of both demographic and psychosocial factors originating with the Health Belief Model on reported intent to adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviors (e.g., social distancing, hand washing, and not attending large gatherings). METHOD: A Qualtrics survey of 500 U.S. adults was conducted to explore the relationships of demographics and psychosocial factors with the intent to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures. RESULTS: Gender was a predictor of taking preventive action, with women more likely to take action. Health Belief Model constructs predicted uptake of most COVID-19 preventive actions, but the constructs often appeared to work independent of the model. Race/ethnicity was an infrequent predictor, but when it did, minorities were less likely to report intent to adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS: While not a perfect model for this pandemic, the Health Belief Model and its constructs should continue to be considered for use by public health communicators focusing on preventive measure campaign design in both the COVID-19 pandemic era and beyond.

Smaller subcortical volumes and enlarged lateral ventricles are associated with higher global functioning in young adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome with prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia.

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is a developmental genetic syndrome associated with a 30% risk for developing schizophrenia. Lateral ventricles and subcortical structures are abnormal in this syndrome as well as in schizophrenia. Here, we investigated whether these structures are related in young adults with 22q11DS with and without prodromal symptoms (PS) for schizophrenia and whether abnormalities in volumes are associated with global functioning. MR images were acquired on a 3T scanner from 51 individuals with 22q11DS and 30 healthy controls (mean age: 21±2 years). Correlations were performed to evaluate the relationship between ventricular and subcortical volumes, with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) in each group. Lateral ventricular volumes correlated negatively with subcortical volumes in individuals with 22q11DS. In individuals with 22q11DS with PS only, GAF correlated positively with volumes of the lateral ventricles and negatively with subcortical volumes. PAS correlated negatively with lateral ventricle volumes, and positively with volumes of subcortical structures. The results suggest a common neurodevelopmental mechanism related to the growth of these brain structures. Further, the ratio between the volumes and clinical measures could potentially be used to characterize individuals with 22q11DS and those from the general population for the risk of the development of schizophrenia.

Abnormalities in white matter tracts in the fronto-striatal-thalamic circuit are associated with verbal performance in 22q11.2DS.

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities in fronto-striatal-thalamic (FST) sub-circuits are present in schizophrenia and are associated with cognitive impairments. However, it remains unknown whether abnormalities in FST sub-circuits are present before psychosis onset. This may be elucidated by investigating 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), a genetic syndrome associated with a 30% risk for developing schizophrenia in adulthood and a decline in Verbal IQ (VIQ) preceding psychosis onset. Here, we examined white matter (WM) tracts in FST sub-circuits, especially those in the dorsolateral (DLPFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) sub-circuits, and their associations with VIQ in young adults with 22q11DS. METHODS: Diffusion MRI scans were acquired from 21 individuals with 22q11DS with prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia, 30 individuals with 22q11DS without prodromal symptoms, and 30 healthy controls (mean age: 21 ± 2 years). WM tracts were reconstructed between striatum and thalamus with rostral middle frontal gyrus (rMFG) and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), representing DLPFC and VLPFC respectively. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) were used for group comparisons. VIQ was assessed and associations with the diffusion measures were evaluated. RESULTS: FA was significantly increased and RD decreased in most tracts of the DLPFC and VLPFC sub-circuits in 22q11DS. Verbal IQ scores correlated negatively with FA and, at trend level, positively with RD in the right thalamus-IFG tract in 22q11DS with prodromal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: While abnormalities in FST sub-circuits are associated with schizophrenia, we observed that these abnormalities are also present in 22q11DS individuals with prodromal symptoms and are associated with verbal performance in the right thalamus-IFG tract.

Tweeting the #flushot: Beliefs, Barriers, and Threats During Different Periods of the 2018 to 2019 Flu Season.

Influenza epidemics happen every year, with more than 8 million severe cases in 2017. The most effective way to prevent seasonal influenza is vaccination. In recent years, misinformation regarding vaccines abounds on social media, but the flu vaccine is relatively understudied in this area, and the current study is the first 1 to explore the content and nature of influenza information that is shared on Twitter, comparing tweets published in the early flu season with those posted in peak flu season. Using a quantitative content analysis, 1000 tweets from both parts of the flu season were analyzed for use of Health Belief Model (HBM) variables, engagement, and flu vaccine specific variables. Findings show several promising opportunities for health organizations and professionals: HBM constructs were present more frequently than in previous, related studies, and fewer vaccine-hesitant tweets appear to be present. However, the presence of high barriers to flu vaccine uptake increased significantly from early to peak season, including an increase in the mention of conspiracy theories. Flu vaccine related tweets appear to vary in misinformation level and density throughout the flu season. While this should be confirmed by further studies over multiple flu seasons, this a finding that should be considered by public health organizations when developing flu vaccine campaigns on social media.

(S)pin the flu vaccine: Recipes for concern.

Influenza epidemics happen yearly, and the World Health Organization estimates that the virus is connected to between 290,000 and 650,000 annual deaths. The most effective way to prevent seasonal influenza is vaccination. The prevalence of vaccine misinformation on social media is increasing, but the visual platform Pinterest is understudied in this area. The current study is the first to explore the content and nature of influenza information that is shared on Pinterest. Using a quantitative content analysis, Pinterest messages were theoretically analyzed for Health Belief Model variables as well as for message source, engagement, and position on vaccination. Findings showed concerning trends but also promising opportunities for health organizations and professionals.

The effects of prostaglandins and endocannabinoids on iris arterial vascularization in Wistar rats - Experimental analysis.

Introduction: The iris vascular supply originates in the anterior and long posterior ciliary arteries. The endothelium influences local blood flow by releasing endothelium relaxing and contracting substances. From a functional perspective, the ocular vascular tonus adjustment is humoral and neural dependent. Objectives: The present article aims to evaluate the possible implications of topical administration of selective COX2 and nonselective COX inhibitors generically named nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and their possible interactions with the endocannabinoid system and the way they could interfere with the vascular tone at the level of ocular iris territory in Wistar rats. Materials and methods: Experimental protocol on Wistar rats was performed in accordance with present laws regarding animal welfare and ethics in animal experiments (Directive 86/ 609EEC/ 1986; Romanian Law 205/ 2004; Romanian Laws 206/ 2004, 471/ 2002 and 9/ 2008; Romanian Order 143/ 400). The studied substances were instilled topically under general anesthesia, and images of the rat iris vessels were captured over a period of 10 minutes. The obtained images were further analyzed using an appropriate hardware and software program. Results: The nonselective NSAIDs induced vascular dilation in the iris vessels, while the selective COX2 inhibitors determined a variable degree of vasoconstriction. Conclusion: In view of the results of this experiment and the added evidence found in literature, we consider that further research will show the potential benefits for the additional use of NSAIDs in ocular pathology, otherwise unaffected by this medication until the present time (for example, glaucoma treatment).

Implementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in Candida albicans.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) methodology is not only an efficient tool in gene editing but also an attractive platform to facilitate DNA, RNA, and protein interactions. We describe here the implementation of a CRISPR-based system to regulate expression in the clinically important yeast Candida albicans By fusing an allele of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 devoid of nuclease activity to a transcriptional repressor (Nrg1) or activator (Gal4), we were able to show specific repression or activation of the tester gene CAT1, encoding the cytosolic catalase. We generated strains where a 1.6-kbp upstream regulatory region of CAT1 controls the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and demonstrated the functionality of the constructs by quantitative PCR (qPCR), flow cytometry, and analysis of sensitivity/resistance to hydrogen peroxide. Activation and repression were strongly dependent on the position of the complex in this regulatory region. We also improved transcriptional activation using an RNA scaffolding strategy to allow interaction of inactive variants of Cas9 (dCas9) with the RNA binding protein MCP (monocyte chemoattractant protein) fused to the VP64 activator. The strategy shown here may facilitate the analysis of complex regulatory traits in this fungal pathogen.IMPORTANCE CRISPR technology is a new and efficient way to edit genomes, but it is also an appealing way to regulate gene expression. We have implemented CRISPR as a gene expression platform in Candida albicans using fusions between a Cas9 inactive enzyme and specific repressors or activators and demonstrated its functionality. This will allow future manipulation of complex virulence pathways in this important fungal pathogen.

Abnormalities in gray matter microstructure in young adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

BACKGROUND: 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11DS) is a genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a chromosomal deletion and a distinct cognitive profile. Although abnormalities in the macrostructure of the cortex have been identified in individuals with 22q11DS, it is not known if there are additional microstructural changes in gray matter regions in this syndrome, and/or if such microstructural changes are associated with cognitive functioning. METHODS: This study employed a novel diffusion MRI measure, the Heterogeneity of Fractional Anisotropy (HFA), to examine variability in the microstructural organization of the cortex in healthy young adults (N = 30) and those with 22q11DS (N = 56). Diffusion MRI, structural MRI, clinical and cognitive data were acquired. RESULTS: Compared to controls, individuals with 22q11DS evinced increased HFA in cortical association (p = .003, d = 0.86) and paralimbic (p < .0001, d = 1.2) brain areas, whereas no significant differences were found between the two groups in primary cortical brain areas. Additionally, increased HFA of the right paralimbic area was associated with poorer performance on tests of response inhibition, i.e., the Stroop Test (rho = -0.37 p = .005) and the Gordon Diagnostic System Vigilance Commission (rho = -0.41 p = .002) in the 22q11DS group. No significant correlations were found between HFA and cognitive abilities in the healthy control group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that cortical microstructural disorganization may be a neural correlate of response inhibition in individuals with 22q11DS. Given that the migration pattern of neural crest cells is disrupted at the time of early brain development in 22q11DS, we hypothesize that these neural alterations may be neurodevelopmental in origin, and reflect cortical dysfunction associated with cognitive deficits.