Observers predict actions from facial emotional expressions during real-time social interactions.

In face-to-face social interactions, emotional expressions provide insights into the mental state of an interactive partner. This information can be crucial to infer action intentions and react towards another person's actions. Here we investigate how facial emotional expressions impact subjective experience and physiological and behavioral responses to social actions during real-time interactions. Thirty-two participants interacted with virtual agents while fully immersed in Virtual Reality. Agents displayed an angry or happy facial expression before they directed an appetitive (fist bump) or aversive (punch) social action towards the participant. Participants responded to these actions, either by reciprocating the fist bump or by defending the punch. For all interactions, subjective experience was measured using ratings. In addition, physiological responses (electrodermal activity, electrocardiogram) and participants' response times were recorded. Aversive actions were judged to be more arousing and less pleasant relative to appetitive actions. In addition, angry expressions increased heart rate relative to happy expressions. Crucially, interaction effects between facial emotional expression and action were observed. Angry expressions reduced pleasantness stronger for appetitive compared to aversive actions. Furthermore, skin conductance responses to aversive actions were increased for happy compared to angry expressions and reaction times were faster to aversive compared to appetitive actions when agents showed an angry expression. These results indicate that observers used facial emotional expression to generate expectations for particular actions. Consequently, the present study demonstrates that observers integrate information from facial emotional expressions with actions during social interactions.

Predictors and Impact of Prolonged Vasoplegia After Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

Background: Vasoplegia after cardiac surgery is associated with adverse outcomes. However, the clinical effects of vasoplegia and the significance of its duration after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation are less known. Objectives: This study aimed to identify predictors of and outcomes from transient vs prolonged vasoplegia after CF-LVAD implantation. Methods: The study was a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent CF-LVAD implantation between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2017. Vasoplegia was defined as the presence of all of the following: mean arterial pressure ≤65 mm Hg, vasopressor (epinephrine, norepinephrine, vasopressin, or dopamine) use for >6 hours within the first 24 hours postoperatively, cardiac index ≥2.2 L/min/m2 and systemic vascular resistance <800 dyne/s/cm5, and vasodilatory shock not attributable to other causes. Prolonged vasoplegia was defined as that lasting 12 to 24 hours; transient vasoplegia was that lasting 6 to <12 hours. Patient characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors were analyzed. Results: Of the 600 patients who underwent CF-LVAD implantation during the study period, 182 (30.3%) developed vasoplegia. Mean patient age was similar between the vasoplegia and no-vasoplegia groups. Prolonged vasoplegia (n = 78; 13.0%), compared with transient vasoplegia (n = 104; 17.3%), was associated with greater 30-day mortality (16.7% vs 5.8%; P = 0.02). Risk factors for prolonged vasoplegia included preoperative dialysis and elevated body mass index. Conclusions: Compared with vasoplegia overall, prolonged vasoplegia was associated with worse survival after CF-LVAD implantation. Treatment to avoid or minimize progression to prolonged vasoplegia may be warranted.

CBCT Evaluation of Root Canal Morphology of Maxillary First Premolar in Saudi Subpopulation.

Background and Objective: Clinicians must possess a comprehensive understanding of variations in canal morphology and configuration during endodontic procedures to enhance treatment success. This study aims to assess and analyze the canal configurations of maxillary first premolars using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography within the sub-population of Western Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, following the acquisition of ethical clearance from Batterjee Medical College in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a retrospective examination of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans of maxillary first premolars in adult patients was conducted. The study focused on quantifying the number of canals and characterizing their configurations, with classification based on Vertucci's categorization. Results: The study examined 399 CBCT images of maxillary first premolars, revealing that type IV canal configurations were the predominant morphology (56.9%), followed by type V (24.6%). Significant gender-related disparities were observed, with females displaying a higher incidence of types I and V canals. At the same time, males exhibited a greater prevalence of types IV and VI canals. Notably, no substantial associations were discerned between canal types and age groups. Conclusion: Within the context of maxillary first premolars, type IV canal configuration emerged as the most prevalent. Gender-based distinctions were evident, with females predominantly presenting types I and V canal configurations, whereas males displayed a higher occurrence of types IV and VI canal configurations.

Interprofessional interventions and factors that improve end-of-life care in intensive care units: An integratory review.

INTRODUCTION: The changes in health dynamics, caused by the SARS-COVD-2 pandemic and its consequences, generated a greater need to integrate palliative care in the ICU to promote a dignified death. OBJECTIVE: Identify interprofessional interventions and factors that improve the care of patients at the end of life. METHODOLOGY: Integrative review, including experimental, quasi-experimental, observational, analytical, and descriptive studies with correlation of variables, published from 2010 to 2021, identified in COCHRANE, CINAHL, CUIDEN, LILACS, SCIELO, Dialnet, PsychInfo, PubMed, PROQUES, PSYCHOLOGY, JOURNALS, SCIENCEDIRECT, with MeSH/DECS terms: "Critical Care", "IntensiveCare" "Life support care", "Palliative care", "Life Quality", "Right to die". 36,271 were identified, after excluding duplicate title, abstract, year of publication, design, theme, methodological quality, objectives, and content, 31 studies were found. RESULTS: It included 31 articles, 16.7% experimental, 3.3% quasi-experimental, 80% observational, analytical, and descriptive with correlation of variables, 38% published in the United States, 38%, and 19% in Brazil. The pooled sample was 24,779 participants. 32.2% of the studies had level of evidence 1 recommendation (c), and 25.8% level of evidence 2 recommendation (c). This paper synthesises evidence to promote Interprofessional Collaborative Practice in the ICU, improve end-of-life care, and interventions to achieve established therapeutic goals, implement effective care policies, plans, and programmes for critically ill patients and their families; factors that affect palliative care and improve with training and continuing education for health personnel. CONCLUSION: There are interventions to manage physical and emotional symptoms, training strategies and emotional support aimed at health personnel and family members to improve the quality of death and reduce stays in the ICU. The interdisciplinary team requires training on palliative and end-of-life care to improve care.

Altered thermal preferences of infected or immune-challenged Aedes aegypti and Aedes japonicus mosquitoes.

Temperature is a critical factor shaping physiology, life cycle, and behaviour of ectothermic vector insects, as well as the development and multiplication of pathogens within them. However, the influence of pathogen infections on thermal preferences (behavioural thermoregulation) is not well-understood. The present study examined the thermal preferences of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Ae. japonicus) infected with either Sindbis virus (SINV) or Dirofilaria immitis over 12 days post exposure (p.e.) or injected with a non-pathogenic Sephadex bead over 24 h in a thermal gradient (15-30 °C). SINV-infected Ae. aegypti preferred 5 °C warmer temperatures than non-infected ones at day 6 p.e., probably the time of highest innate immune response. In contrast, D. immitis-infected Ae. japonicus preferred 4 °C cooler temperatures than non-infected ones at day 9 p.e., presumably a stress response during the migration of third instar larvae from their development site to the proboscis. Sephadex bead injection also induced a cold preference in the mosquitoes but to a level that did not differ from control-injections. The cold preference thus might be a strategy to escape the risk of desiccation caused by the wound created by piercing the thorax. Further research is needed to uncover the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying these behaviours.

Controlling the Uptake and Release of Semiochemicals in Channel-Type Metal-Organic Frameworks Through Pore Expansion.

Semiochemicals can be used to manipulate insect behaviour for sustainable pest management strategies, but their high volatility is a major issue for their practical implementation. Inclusion of these molecules within porous materials is a potential solution to this issue, as it can allow for a slower and more controlled release. In this work, we demonstrate that a series of Zr(IV) and Al(III) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with channel-type pores enable controlled release of three semiochemicals over 100 days by pore size design, with the uptake and rate of release highly dependent on the pore size. Insight from grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations indicates that this is due to weaker MOF-guest interactions per guest molecule as the pore size increases. These MOFs are all stable post-release and can be reloaded to show near-identical re-release profiles. These results provide valuable insight on the diffusion behaviour of volatile guests in MOFs, and for the further development of porous materials for sustainable agriculture applications.

Evaluating Polarizable Biomembrane Simulations against Experiments.

Owing to the increase of available computational capabilities and the potential for providing a more accurate description, polarizable molecular dynamics force fields are gaining popularity in modeling biomolecular systems. It is, however, crucial to evaluate how much precision is truly gained with increasing cost and complexity of the simulation. Here, we leverage the NMRlipids open collaboration and Databank to assess the performance of available polarizable lipid models─the CHARMM-Drude and the AMOEBA-based parameters─against high-fidelity experimental data and compare them to the top-performing nonpolarizable models. While some improvement in the description of ion binding to membranes is observed in the most recent CHARMM-Drude parameters, and the conformational dynamics of AMOEBA-based parameters are excellent, the best nonpolarizable models tend to outperform their polarizable counterparts for each property we explored. The identified shortcomings range from inaccuracies in describing the conformational space of lipids to excessively slow conformational dynamics. Our results provide valuable insights for the further refinement of polarizable lipid force fields and for selecting the best simulation parameters for specific applications.

Longitudinal determinants of employment status in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: To investigate longitudinal relationships between employment status and disease-related, (neuro)psychological, and work-related factors in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: 170 employed people with MS underwent yearly neurological and neuropsychological examinations to assess MS-related disability and cognitive functioning. Additionally, they completed yearly questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, fatigue, cognitive complaints, workplace support and coping. Multilevel models for change were fitted to examine progression of these factors over three years, and to assess possible relationships with change in employment status. Results: People with a deteriorated employment status after three years reported more depression (p=0.009), a higher impact of fatigue (p<0.001), more cognitive complaints (p<0.001) and less workplace support (p=0.001) at baseline than people with a stable employment status. There were no differences in progression over time of the examined variables between people with a stable or deteriorated employment status. Conclusion: More depression, a higher impact of fatigue, more cognitive complaints and less workplace support are predictive of a deteriorated employment status after three years in individuals with MS. How these factors progress over time is not different between those with a stable or deteriorated employment. MS-related disability, anxiety, objective cognition and coping were not related to a deterioration in employment status.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants by green-synthesized gold nanoparticles using polysaccharide for environmental remediation.

The recent rise in textile dye wastewater discharge into the environment has detrimental effects on living organisms and human health. The present study reports a facile approach to green-synthesized AuNPs employing sesbania gum for catalytic and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The obtained AuNPs were characterized by various techniques such as UV-vis, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, AFM, zeta potential, LC-MS, and XPS. The XRD patterns revealed a highly crystalline and face-centered cubic structure. XPS and EDX analysis defined the chemical composition and product purity of SBG-AuNPs. Photocatalytic degradation of hazardous dyes congo red and safranin-O using SBG-AuNPs showed a rapid decomposition rate with 94.69 % under visible light irradiation. The effect of pH, dye concentration, and catalyst dose on photodegradation and recyclability was also studied. The kinetic plots were used to calculate the rate constant, showing a pseudo-first-order reaction. Scavenger trap experiments confirmed the role of h+ and superoxide(.O2-) as active species, and LCMS analysis was used to identify the degradation intermediates. The catalytic reduction of SBG-AuNPs was studied for brilliant green (BG) and methylene blue (MB) in the presence of NaBH4, resulting the degradation efficiency of 90.37 % and 84.52 %, respectively. This study presents an innovative approach for designing highly efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation and wastewater treatment from textile dyes.

Novel tetrapolar single-needle electrode for electrochemotherapy in bone cavities: Modeling, design and validation.

Electrochemotherapy is a cancer treatment in which local pulsed electric fields are delivered through electrodes. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on exposing the tumor to a threshold electric field. Electrode geometry plays an important role in the resulting electric field distribution, especially in hard-to-reach areas and deep-seated tumors. We designed and developed a novel tetrapolar single-needle electrode for proper treatment in bone cavities. In silico and in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the electric field and electric current produced by the electrode. In addition, tomography images of a real case of nasal cavity tumor were segmented into a 3D simulation to evaluate the electrode performance in a bone cavity. The proposed electrode was validated and its operating range was set up to 650 V. In the nasal cavity tumor, we found that the electrode can produce a circular electric field of 3 mm with an electric current of 14.1 A at 500 V, which is compatible with electrochemotherapy standards and commercial equipment.

Cigarette craving in virtual reality cue exposure in abstainers and relapsed smokers.

Cue exposure therapy (CET) in substance-use disorders aims to reduce craving and ultimately relapse rates. Applying CET in virtual reality (VR) was proposed to increase its efficacy, as VR enables the presentation of social and environmental cues along with substance-related stimuli. However, limited success has been reported so far when applying VR-CET for smoking cessation. Understanding if effects of VR-CET differ between future abstainers and relapsing smokers may help to improve VR-CET. Data from 102 participants allocated to the intervention arm (VR-CET) of a recent RCT comparing VR-CET to relaxation in the context of smoking cessation was analyzed with respect to tolerability, presence, and craving during VR-CET. Cue exposure was conducted in four VR contexts (Loneliness/Rumination, Party, Stress, Café), each presented twice. Relapsed smokers compared to abstainers experienced higher craving during VR-CET and stronger craving responses especially during the Stress scenario. Furthermore, lower mean craving during VR-CET positively predicted abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Attempts to improve smoking cessation outcomes of VR-CET should aim to identify smokers who are more at risk of relapse based on high craving levels during VR-CET. Specifically measuring craving responses during social stress seems to be well suited to mark relapse. We propose to investigate individualized treatment approaches accordingly.

Identification of fungi isolated from commercial bumblebee colonies.

Fungi can have important beneficial and detrimental effects on animals, yet our understanding of the diversity and function of most bee-associated fungi is poor. Over 2 million bumblebee colonies are traded globally every year, but the presence and transport of viable fungi within them is unknown. Here, we explored whether any culturable fungi could be isolated from commercial bumblebee nests. We collected samples of various substrates from within 14 bumblebee colonies, including the honey, honey cup wall, egg cup wall, and frass then placed them on agar and recorded any growth. Fungal morphotypes were then subcultured and their ITS region sequenced for identification. Overall, we cultured 11 fungal species from the various nest substrates. These included both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and Candida sp. Our results provide the first insights into the diversity of viable fungal communities in commercial bumblebee nests. Further research is needed to determine if these fungi are unique to commercial colonies or prevalent in wild bumblebee nests, and crucially to determine the ecological and evolutionary implications of these fungi in host colonies.

Overlay databank unlocks data-driven analyses of biomolecules for all.

Tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) are currently revolutionising many fields, yet their applications are often limited by the lack of suitable training data in programmatically accessible format. Here we propose an effective solution to make data scattered in various locations and formats accessible for data-driven and machine learning applications using the overlay databank format. To demonstrate the practical relevance of such approach, we present the NMRlipids Databank-a community-driven, open-for-all database featuring programmatic access to quality-evaluated atom-resolution molecular dynamics simulations of cellular membranes. Cellular membrane lipid composition is implicated in diseases and controls major biological functions, but membranes are difficult to study experimentally due to their intrinsic disorder and complex phase behaviour. While MD simulations have been useful in understanding membrane systems, they require significant computational resources and often suffer from inaccuracies in model parameters. Here, we demonstrate how programmable interface for flexible implementation of data-driven and machine learning applications, and rapid access to simulation data through a graphical user interface, unlock possibilities beyond current MD simulation and experimental studies to understand cellular membranes. The proposed overlay databank concept can be further applied to other biomolecules, as well as in other fields where similar barriers hinder the AI revolution.

Unexpected behavioural adaptation of yellow fever mosquitoes in response to high temperatures.

Temperature is a major ecological driver of mosquito-borne diseases as it influences the life-history of both the mosquito and the pathogen harboured within it. Understanding the mosquitoes' thermal biology is essential to inform risk prediction models of such diseases. Mosquitoes can respond to temperatures by microhabitat selection through thermal preference. However, it has not yet been considered that mosquitoes are likely to adapt to changing temperatures, for example during climate change, and alter their preference over evolutionary time. We investigated this by rearing six cohorts of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti at two temperatures (24 °C, 30 °C) for 20 generations and used these cohorts to explicitly separate the effects of long-term evolution and within-generation acclimation on their thermal preferences in a thermal gradient of 20-35 °C. We found that warm-evolved mosquitoes spent 31.5% less time at high temperatures, which affects their efficiency as a vector. This study reveals the complex interplay of experimental evolution, rearing temperatures, and thermal preference in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. It highlights the significance of incorporating mosquito microhabitat selection in disease transmission models, especially in the context of climate change.

Probing the dynamic landscape of peptides in molecular assemblies by synergized NMR experiments and MD simulations.

Peptides or proteins containing small biomolecular aggregates, such as micelles, bicelles, droplets and nanodiscs, are pivotal in many fields ranging from structural biology to pharmaceutics. Monitoring dynamics of such systems has been limited by the lack of experimental methods that could directly detect their fast (picosecond to nanosecond) timescale dynamics. Spin relaxation times from NMR experiments are sensitive to such motions, but their interpretation for biomolecular aggregates is not straightforward. Here we show that the dynamic landscape of peptide-containing molecular assemblies can be determined by a synergistic combination of solution state NMR experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Solution state NMR experiments are straightforward to implement without an excessive amount of sample, while direct combination of spin relaxation data to MD simulations enables interpretation of dynamic landscapes of peptides and other aggregated molecules. To demonstrate this, we interpret NMR data from transmembrane, peripheral, and tail anchored peptides embedded in micelles. Our results indicate that peptides and detergent molecules do not rotate together as a rigid body, but peptides rotate in a viscous medium composed of detergent micelle. Spin relaxation times also provide indirect information on peptide conformational ensembles. This work gives new perspectives on peptide dynamics in complex biomolecular assemblies.

Herbivore effects increase with latitude across the extent of a foundational seagrass.

Climate change is altering the functioning of foundational ecosystems. While the direct effects of warming are expected to influence individual species, the indirect effects of warming on species interactions remain poorly understood. In marine systems, as tropical herbivores undergo poleward range expansion, they may change food web structure and alter the functioning of key habitats. While this process ('tropicalization') has been documented within declining kelp forests, we have a limited understanding of how this process might unfold across other systems. Here we use a network of sites spanning 23° of latitude to explore the effects of increased herbivory (simulated via leaf clipping) on the structure of a foundational marine plant (turtlegrass). By working across its geographic range, we also show how gradients in light, temperature and nutrients modified plant responses. We found that turtlegrass near its northern boundary was increasingly affected (reduced productivity) by herbivory and that this response was driven by latitudinal gradients in light (low insolation at high latitudes). By contrast, low-latitude meadows tolerated herbivory due to high insolation which enhanced plant carbohydrates. We show that as herbivores undergo range expansion, turtlegrass meadows at their northern limit display reduced resilience and may be under threat of ecological collapse.

Detection and genetic characterization of orf virus from sheep and goats in Nigeria.

Orf is a contagious, viral epitheliotropic disease of small ruminants. We investigated the molecular epidemiology of orf virus (ORFV) in breeds of small ruminants to determine the evolutionary diversity in Nigeria. Out of 54 small ruminants screened, the number of animals that were positive for ORFV in the three locations were 25. The distribution of positive animals by location were FCT 45.0% (n = 9/20), Oyo State 42.9% (6/14), and Plateau State 50.0% (n = 10/20). ORFV sequences from this study clustered with viruses detected in Taiwan, Iran, USA, and France. Our findings highlight the risk of transmission across geographic boundaries in Nigeria and West Africa, and reinforces the need for increased surveillance to prevent and control spread. Comprehensive characterization of ORFV in small ruminants as well as in humans in Nigeria is required to better elucidate the epidemiological dynamics and the virus evolution.

Effects of ADHD and ADHD treatment on glycemic management in type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

AIMS: Studies suggested a higher prevalence of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in individuals with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D). However, it is unclear how ADHD impacts glycemia and diabetes-related complications. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of ADHD and ADHD medications on HbA1c and acute complications in T1D. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and Web of Science collections up to November 22, 2023. Seventeen studies were selected for the systematic review by independent reviewers, with twelve included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c levels were significantly higher in T1D individuals with ADHD compared to those without ADHD (MD = 0.60; 95 % CI: 0.41, 0.79; I2 = 90.1 %; p-value < 0.001). The rates of suboptimal HbA1c levels, hospitalization, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hypoglycemia were all substantially higher in T1D individuals with ADHD than those without ADHD. No difference was found in mean HbA1c between those who received ADHD treatment and those who did not (mean difference = -0.52; 95 % confidence interval: -1.16, 0.13; I2 = 78.6 %; p-value = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: ADHD is associated with higher HbA1c and increased acute diabetes-related complications. More research is needed to assess the effects of ADHD treatments on T1D management.

Serum pentraxin 3 levels in term neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (PPHN) is a serious disorder. The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays an important role in angiogenesis, cell proliferation, tissue repair and cell regulation. The present study aims to assess the diagnostic and clinical value of PTX3 in PPHN. METHODS: The present case-control 60 full-term neonates diagnosed with PPHN by echocardiography within 72 hours of birth. In addition, there were 30 age and sex-matched healthy neonates who served as controls. All participants were subjected to careful history taking and complete clinical examination, Laboratory investigations included complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood culture and PTX3 level. Radiological investigations included plain X- ray and two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). RESULTS: Comparison between patients and controls revealed that patients had significantly higher CRP (6.12±2.18 versus 3.69±1.25 mg/dl, p < 0.001) and PTX3 levels (2.07±0.67 versus 0.96±0.21, p < 0.001) when compared with controls. Patients with associated PDA had significantly higher PTX3 levels when compared with patients without (2.58±0.5 versus 2.02±0.51 ng/ml, p = 0.002). Also, patients with associated PFO had significantly higher PTX3 levels when compared with patients without (2.12±1.05 versus 2.05±0.46, p = 0.002). ROC curve analysis identified good performance of CRP and PTX3 levels in diagnosis of PPHN with PTX3 showing better performance. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between serum PTX3 levels and PPHN particularly those with associated PDA or PFO.

[Progress and practice of objective measurement of physical behaviors in large-scale cohort research].

Due to the limited reliability of traditional self-completed questionnaire, the accuracy of measurement of physical behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep) is not high. With the development of technology, wearable devices (e.g. accelerometer) can be used for more accurate measurement of physical behaviors and have great application potential in large-scale research. However, the data of objective measurement of physical behaviors from large-scale cohort research in Asian populations is still limited. Between August 2020 and December 2021, the 3rd resurvey of China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) project used Axivity AX3 wrist triaxial accelerometer to collect the data of participants' daily activity and sleep status. A total of 20 370 participants from 10 study areas were included in the study, in whom 65.2% were women, and the age was (65.4±9.1) years. The participants' physical activity level varied greatly in different study areas. The objective measurement of participants' physical behaviors in CKB project has provided valuable resources for the description of 24-hour patterns of physical behaviors and evaluation of the health effect of physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep as well as their association with diseases in the elderly in China.