Rate In Response Research Articles

Association of CETP Gene Polymorphisms and Haplotypes with Acute Heart Rate Response to Exercise

Polymorphisms in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene are known to be strongly associated with increased cardiovascular risk, primarily through their effects on the lipid profile and consequently on atherosclerotic risk. The acute heart rate response (AHRR) to physical activity is closely related to individual cardiovascular health. This study aimed to investigate the effect of CETP gene polymorphisms on AHRR. Our analysis examines the association of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs1532624, rs5882, rs708272, rs7499892, and rs9989419) and their haplotypes (H) in the CETP gene with AHRR in 607 people from the Hungarian population. Individual AHRR in the present study was assessed using the YMCA 3-min step test and was estimated as the difference between resting and post-exercise heart rate, i.e., delta heart rate (ΔHR). To exclude the direct confounding effect of the CETP gene on the lipid profile, adjustments for TG and HDL-C levels, next to conventional risk factors, were applied in the statistical analyses. Among the examined five SNPs, two showed a significant association with lower ΔHR (rs1532624—Cdominant: B = −8.41, p < 0.001; rs708272—Gdominant: B = −8.33, p < 0.001) and reduced the risk of adverse AHRR (rs1532624—Cdominant: OR = 0.44, p = 0.004; rs708272—Gdominant: OR = 0.43, p = 0.003). Among the ten haplotypes, two showed significant association with lower ΔHR (H3—CAGCA: B = −6.81, p = 0.003; H9—CGGCG: B = −14.64, p = 0.015) and lower risk of adverse AHRR (H3—CAGCA: OR = 0.58, p = 0.040; H9—CGGCG: OR = 0.05, p = 0.009) compared to the reference haplotype (H1—AGACG). Our study is the first to report a significant association between CETP gene polymorphisms and AHRR. It also confirms that the association of the CETP gene with cardiovascular risk is mediated by changes in heart rate in response to physical activity, in addition to its effect on lipid profile.

The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment at Eastern Corn Belt.

The Eastern Corn Belt (ECB) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network site is one of the most agriculturally productive areas in the United States; however, nutrient and sediment losses from this region directly contribute to water quality impairment in both the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Erie. One of the largest challenges facing agricultural production in the ECB is water management, especially under a changing climate. Shifting precipitation patterns in combination with evolving infrastructure (i.e., tile drainage, irrigation) and management (i.e., crops planted; 4R nutrient management: source, timing, rate, and placement) in response to changing climate are likely to alter water quantity and quality and agricultural productivity. Through plot- and field-scale research, the ECB Common Experiment (CE) is focused on crop, soil, and water management to support sustainable agricultural intensification, with the goal of maximizing profitability, minimizing agriculture's environmental footprint, and enhancing ecosystem services. At both spatial scales, the CE aims to examine differences in water quantity and quality between the primary prevailing crop production system in the ECB (i.e., corn [Zea mays L.]-soybean [Glycine max L.] rotation, tillage prior to corn planting, free drainage, and fertility management consistent with tri-state recommendations) and an alternative system (e.g., adding small grains into the crop rotation, cover crops, limited phosphorus fertilizer, and drainage water management). Aligning producer and stakeholders needs with research objectives and long-term data collection, the ECB CE will tackle both ongoing and newly emerging research priorities and explore the effectiveness of conservation strategies to decrease nutrient and sediment losses from agricultural land.

Elevated heterotrophic capacity as a strategy for Mediterranean corals to cope with low pH at CO2 vents.

The global increase in anthropogenic CO2 is leading to ocean warming and acidification, which is threatening corals. In Ischia, Italy, two species of Mediterranean scleractinian corals-the symbiotic Cladocora caespitosa and the asymbiotic Astroides calycularis-were collected from ambient pH sites (average pHT = 8.05) and adjacent CO2 vent sites (average pHT = 7.8) to evaluate their response to ocean acidification. Coral colonies from both sites were reared in a laboratory setting for six months at present day pH (pHT ~ 8.08) or low pH (pHT ~7.72). Previous work showed that these corals were tolerant of low pH and maintained positive calcification rates throughout the experiment. We hypothesized that these corals cope with low pH by increasing their heterotrophic capacity (i.e., feeding and/or proportion of heterotrophically derived compounds incorporated in their tissues), irrespective of site of origin, which was quantified indirectly by measuring δ13C, δ15N, and sterols. To further characterize coral health, we quantified energy reserves by measuring biomass, total lipids, and lipid classes. Additional analysis for C. caespitosa included carbohydrates (an energy reserve) and chlorophyll a (an indicator of photosynthetic capacity). Isotopic evidence shows that ambient-sourced Mediterranean corals, of both species, decreased heterotrophy in response to six months of low pH. Despite maintaining energy reserves, lower net photosynthesis (C. caespitosa) and a trend of declining calcification (A. calycularis) suggest a long-term cost to low heterotrophy under ocean acidification conditions. Conversely, vent-sourced corals maintained moderate (C. caespitosa) or high (A. calycularis) heterotrophic capacity and increased photosynthesis rates (C. caespitosa) in response to six months at low pH, allowing them to sustain themselves physiologically. Provided there is sufficient zooplankton and/or organic matter to meet their heterotrophic needs, vent-sourced corals are more likely to persist this century and potentially be a source for new corals in the Mediterranean.

Solid humic substance enhanced spinach abiotic stress tolerance under combined drought, salinity, and daily heat stress

Spinach is a crop of economic importance in the Wintergarden region of Texas, where increasing soil salinity, irrigation water restrictions, and heat stress challenge its production. Improving abiotic stress tolerance and resource use efficiency are important goals for sustainable agricultural production. Although the effect of humic substances (HS) on abiotic stress tolerance in spinach has been evaluated under single stress, such as heat, drought, or salinity, their impact under combined abiotic stresses is unknown. We hypothesized that solid humic substances would be effective in alleviating multifactorial abiotic stress in spinach, which we examined in our first experiment, and further hypothesized that salinity stress in spinach would occur after a threshold intensity but that humic substance applications would ameliorate stress intensity past this threshold, which we examined in our second experiment. Three-week-old spinach seedlings (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. ‘Seaside’) were grown using an automatic gravimetric watering system in a climate-controlled high tunnel where daily maximum temperatures exceeded 32 °C. In a factorial experiment, we applied HS (control and 1 % v/v HS media amendment), drought (100 % and 50 % field capacity), and salinity (25 mL of RO water or 100 mM NaCl every other day) treatments. HS and HS×Salinity treatments more than doubled shoot and root FW and DW, leaf area, root length, and root surface area compared to other stresses, indicating HS improved growth and stress tolerance. Improved growth was matched with improved resource use efficiency, as HS and HS×Salinity treated plants exhibited the greatest WUE. Drought stress also increased WUE relative to the control but lowered transpiration rate responses to VPD in contrasts to HS and HS×Salinity treated plants, which increased their transpiration rates in response to increasing VPD. Salinity treatments increased sodium content (Na+) in both shoots and roots. No HS effect was observed in shoot Na+ accumulation, but HS reduced Na+ in roots under the Drought×Salinity treatment. Strong interactions between drought and salinity were observed for shoot and root Na+, Na+/K+, and shoot K+, showing that spinach accumulates Na+ and reduces K+ when drought and salinity stress are combined. HS had no apparent effect on leaf metabolites. Drought and salinity differentially impacted MDA, proline, and antioxidant content and activities, while HS showed no effect. Drought stress significantly increased MDA and proline while reducing TPC, TFC, ABTS, and FRAP. Salinity stress significantly decreased MDA, TPC, ABTS, FICA, and FRAP. In conclusion, HS improved overall spinach growth and WUE while decreasing root Na accumulation, and subsequently enhancing spinach stress tolerance.

Outcomes of a step-up approach to the treatment of neurogenic cough

IntroductionNeurogenic cough (NC) is thought to be related to sensory neuropathy in the hypopharynx and larynx. Defined as a cough persisting longer than 8 weeks refractory to standard therapy, it is a diagnosis of exclusion when other common etiologies (asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), medication side effects) are ruled out. It affects roughly 11 % of Americans and can negatively impact quality of life. MethodsFollowing institutional review board approval, we evaluated the medical records of adult patients seen at the University of Arizona's tertiary laryngology center from 2018 to 2023. Patients were included if their cough persisted for >8 weeks, and they either did not respond to prior proton pump inhibitor and asthma therapy or had GERD and asthma ruled out. These patients underwent a progressive escalation of therapy, which included neuromodulators with or without cough suppression therapy, superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) block, and laryngeal botulinum toxin injections. The primary outcome was patient-reported improvement in cough symptoms rated on a 1–5 scale: 1 = no response, 2 = mild improvement, 3 = moderate improvement, 4 = significant improvement, 5 = complete resolution. ResultsA total of 56 patients were included. Mean (SD) age was 64.6 (14.8) years, and 66 % were female. Overall, 42 patients (75.0 %) responded to treatment. Among responders, 7 (16.7 %) experienced mild improvement, 14 (33.3 %) experienced moderate improvement, 17 (40.5 %) experienced significant improvement, and 4 (9.5 %) experienced complete resolution of their cough.33 patients (58.9 %) were managed exclusively with neuromodulators ± cough suppression therapy; 27 responded, with an average response rating of 3.0 (SD = 1.2). 11 patients (19.6 %) failed medical therapy and underwent SLN block without subsequent botox treatment; 7 responded, with an average response rating of 2.5 (SD = 1.4). 9 patients (16.1 %) failed all previous therapies and underwent laryngeal botulinum toxin injections; 6 responded with an average response rating of 2.4 (SD = 1.3). The remaining 3 patients underwent cough suppression therapy alone, with 2 responding and an average response rating of 3.3 (SD = 1.7). ConclusionsNeurogenic cough can be effectively treated with a stepwise multimodal approach, including neuromodulators, cough suppression therapy, SLN block, and laryngeal botulinum toxin injections.

Enhancing Temperature Responsiveness of PNIPAM Through 3D‐Printed Hierarchical Porosity

AbstractMaterials with ultra‐fast responsive properties are essential for various applications. Among the responsive materials, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) stands out due to its well‐studied temperature‐responsive properties. Improving the kinetics of the responsive properties of PNIPAM is, however, still essential for advancing its practical use. Here, the responsive rate of PNIPAM hydrogels is enhanced by first incorporating sub‐micrometer porosity into the material through polymerization‐induced phase separation (PIPS), followed by introducing millimeter scale pores via 3D printing, thereby rendering the material with hierarchical porosity. The 3D‐printed porous PNIPAM structures show accelerated swelling and deswelling, when compared to non‐porous PNIPAM structures, due to enhanced water permeability associated with the continuous network of micrometer to millimeter‐sized pores. Additionally, thinner polymer structures result in faster temperature response rates. At the same time, the mechanical strength of PNIPAM hydrogels with high porosity and thinner polymer walls is not compromised, overcoming the common trade‐off between swelling and mechanical properties.

Industry Network Structure Determines Regional Economic Resilience: An Empirical Study Using Stress Testing

We evaluate the network robustness of industrial capabilities across China’s provincial administrative regions, focusing on their resilience in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis. By adopting a novel network science methodology within the context of economic geography, we leverage co-classification data from the China Statistical Yearbook to conduct stress tests on regional industrial resilience. The findings indicate a considerable variability in robustness among provincial industry networks. Through regression analysis, it is evident that regions with more robust industrial network structures exhibit greater resilience in employment rates in response to both random and targeted disruptions. Notably, regions characterized by high employment levels coupled with weak industrial foundations are identified as particularly vulnerable, facing significant challenges in sustaining economic resilience. This study highlights the imperative for further in-depth research into the relationship between the structural dynamics of regional economic networks and their resilience to economic shocks, emphasizing the critical role of robust industrial infrastructures in enhancing regional economic stability.

The effects of acute versus repeated cannabidiol administration on trauma-relevant emotional reactivity: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Despite the widespread use and perceived efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) as an anxiolytic, few controlled studies have evaluated the effects of CBD on anxiety-relevant indications, and only one has done so in the context of trauma-related symptoms. The current study was designed to address this gap in the literature. Participants were 42 trauma-exposed individuals (Mage = 23.12 years, SDage = 6.61) who endorsed elevated stress. They were randomly assigned to take 300 mg of oral CBD or placebo daily for 1 week. Acute (i.e., following an initial 300 mg dose) and repeated (i.e., following 1 week of daily 300 mg dosing) effects of CBD were evaluated in relation to indicators of anxious arousal (i.e., anxiety, distress, heart rate) in response to idiographic trauma script presentation. The results of the current study suggest that relative to placebo, 300 mg CBD did not significantly reduce anxiety, B = 13.37, t(37) = 1.71, p =.096, d = 0.09, Bayes factor (BF10) = 0.54; distress, B = 15.20, t(37) = 1.31, p =.197, d = 0.07, BF10 = 0.51; or heart rate, B = -1.09, t(36) = -0.32, p =.755, d = 0.02, BF10 = 0.29, evoked by idiographic trauma script presentation in the context of acute or repeated administration. These data suggest that CBD may not effectively reduce trauma-relevant emotional arousal; however, more work is needed to confidently assert such claims due to the small sample size. The current study extends the groundwork for additional studies in this important area.

Parent–infant interaction trajectories in infants with an elevated likelihood for autism in relation to 3‐year clinical outcome

AbstractDevelopmental antecedents of autism may affect parent–infant interactions (PII), altering the context in which core social skills develop. While studies have identified differences in PII between infants with and without elevated likelihood (EL) for autism, samples have been small. Here, we examined whether previously reported differences are replicable. From a longitudinal study of 113 EL and 27 typical likelihood infants (TL), 6‐min videotaped unstructured PII was blind rated at 8 and 14 months on eight interactional qualities. Autism outcome was assessed at 36 months. Linear mixed‐effects models found higher parent sensitive responsiveness, nondirectiveness, and mutuality ratings in TL than EL infants with and without later autism. PII qualities at 8 (infant positive affect, parent directiveness) and 14 months (infant attentiveness to parent, mutuality) predicted 3‐year autism. Attentiveness to parent decreased between 8 and 14 months in EL infants with later autism. This larger study supports previous findings of emerging alterations in PII in this group and extends on this by detecting earlier (8‐month) predictive effects of PII for autism outcome and a more marked trajectory of decreased social attentiveness. The findings strengthen the evidence base to support the implementation of early preemptive interventions to support PII in infants with early autism signs.

Outcomes with physiologic His bundle pacing in patients with narrow QRS complex

BackgroundIn patients with narrow QRS complex, both ventricular and biventricular pacing is associated with increased cardiac morbidity and mortality. This risk is not decreased by ventricular pacing avoidance algorithms, which cause nonphysiologic atrioventricular (AV) delays. ObjectiveThis study aimed to report outcomes in patients with narrow QRS complex when the paced complex is in normal range and physiologic AV delays are programmed. MethodsIn 196 patients with QRS duration of 92 ± 10 ms, permanent pacing was done at the site of the His bundle electrogram. The pacemakers were then programmed to maintain physiologic AV delays and to increase heart rates in response to exercise. Patients received usual care and were observed for 3 years. ResultsThe paced complex exhibited a delta wave, and the ventricular activation time, QRS axis, and lead I voltage remained in normal range. Physiologic programming resulted in His bundle pacing burden of 92%. In patients with decreased ejection fraction, there was significant improvement in left ventricular function, left ventricular dilation, and mitral regurgitation (P < .003). In patients with normal ejection fraction, left ventricular function remained normal without new valvular abnormalities. The 3-year all-cause mortality was 10%, and there was no increase in heart failure admissions. ConclusionIn patients with narrow QRS complex, when paced QRS morphology is maintained in normal range and AV dyssynchrony is avoided, His bundle pacing is associated with low all-cause mortality and improvement in abnormal echocardiographic parameters. The paced QRS morphology and physiologic AV delays may be important factors to evaluate in future trials of conduction system pacing.

A microstructure-based constitutive model for creep rate and damage of oxide dispersion strengthened high-entropy alloy

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) exhibit a great resistance to creep, which has a great application potential on the nuclear energy field. However, the classical creep model hardly considers the coupling effect of the cutting and Orowan bypassing mechanism as well as severe atomic lattice distortion in ODS HEAs, leading to low prediction accuracy. Here, we propose a dislocation theory-based constitutive model for strength and creep rate considering the climbing mechanism, shearing mechanism, and Orowan bypassing mechanism in ODS HEAs. In addition, the effects of the size and spatial distribution of the oxide particle on creep rate and strength are studied. The creep rate and yield strength obtained from the experiments and developed model are compared to verify the rationality and accuracy. The proposed model has demonstrated a high prediction accuracy, with the creep rate and yield strength achieving levels as high as 98.2 % and 98.1 %, respectively. The incorporation of oxide particles within a specific size range and volume fraction has been proven to significantly improve creep resistance. Interestingly, the fracture time has the potential to exceed 41 years, significantly surpassing that Zr-based alloys under the same conditions. This model would be utilized to predict the creep rate in response to a complex applied stress, offering theoretical guidance for the development of ODS HEAs with superior creep resistance for nuclear reactor cladding materials.

Patterns and inferred causes of liana mortality in a tropical forest.

Lianas are major contributors to tropical forest dynamics, yet we know little about their mortality. Using overlapping censuses of the lianas and trees across a 50 ha stand of moist tropical forest, we contrasted community-wide patterns of liana mortality with relatively well-studied patterns of tree mortality to quantify patterns of liana death and identify contributing factors. Liana mortality rates were 172% higher than tree mortality rates, but species-level mortality rates of lianas were similar to trees with 'fast' life-history strategies and both growth forms exhibited similar spatial and size-dependent patterns. The mortality rates of liana saplings (<2.1 cm in diameter), which represent about 50% of liana individuals, decreased with increasing disturbance severity and remained consistently low during post-disturbance stand thinning. In contrast, larger liana individuals and trees of all sizes had elevated mortality rates in response to disturbance and their mortality rates decreased over time since disturbance. Within undisturbed forest patches, liana mortality rates increased with increasing soil fertility in a manner similar to trees. The distinct responses of liana saplings to disturbance appeared to distinguish liana mortality from that of trees, whereas similarities in their patterns of death suggest that there are common drivers of woody plant mortality.

Appropriate mowing can promote the growth of Anabasis aphylla through the auxin metabolism pathway

Anabasis aphylla (A. aphylla), a species of the Amaranthaceae family, is widely distributed in northwestern China and has high pharmacological value and ecological functions. However, the growth characteristics are poorly understood, impeding its industrial development for biopesticide development. Here, we explored the regenerative capacity of A. aphylla. To this end, different lengths of the secondary branches of perennial branches were mowed at the end of March before sprouting. The four treatments were no mowing (M0) and mowing 1/3, 2/3, and the entire length of the secondary branches of perennial branches (M1–M3, respectively). Next, to evaluate the compensatory growth after mowing, new assimilate branches’ related traits were recorded every 30 days, and the final biomass was recorded. The mowed plants showed a greater growth rate of assimilation branches than un-mowed plants. Additionally, with the increasing mowing degree, the growth rate and the final biomass of assimilation branches showed a decreasing trend, with the greatest growth rate and final biomass in response to M1. To evaluate the mechanism of the compensatory growth after mowing, a combination of dynamic (0, 1, 5, and 8 days after mowing) plant hormone-targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics was performed for the M0 and M1 treatment. Overall, 26 plant hormone metabolites were detected, 6 of which significantly increased after mowing compared with control: Indole-3-acetyl-L-valine methyl ester, Indole-3-carboxylic acid, Indole-3-carboxaldehyde, Gibberellin A24, Gibberellin A4, and cis (+)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid. Additionally, 2,402 differentially expressed genes were detected between the mowed plants and controls. By combining clustering analysis based on expression trends after mowing and gene ontology analysis of each cluster, 18 genes related to auxin metabolism were identified, 6 of which were significantly related to auxin synthesis. Our findings suggest that appropriate mowing can promote A. aphylla growth, regulated by the auxin metabolic pathway, and lays the foundation for the development of the industrial value of A. aphylla.

Rehabilitation of cardiological patients with post-COVID syndrome: morphofunctional data report

INTRODUCTION. Post-COVID is a common complication of COVID-19, occurring in more than a third of patients, and condition will persist for more than 3 months after infection with the SARS-CoV-2. AIM. To evaluate impact and potential effectiveness of a comprehensive physical rehabilitation program on health of cardiac patients with complications of a previously suffered new coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study involved 128 cardiology patients with post-COVID syndrome. The study participants comprised three groups depending on the 12-week physical rehabilitation program. The effectiveness of rehabilitation was assessed through parameters of cardiopulmonary testing, as well as the 6-minute walk exercise test and the degree of dyspnea according to modified mMRC dyspnea questionnaire. RESULTS. The mMCR index in CPR group was 1.0 [0.0–1.0] point, compared with 2.0 [1.0–2.0] in control and comparative groups (p 0.05); exercise tolerance VO2max increased by 8.3 ± 3.8 % (p 0.05); normalization of heart rate and blood pressure in response to physical activity after 12 weeks in intervention group was 5.0 ± 2.1 % compared to comparative and control groups; 6MWT test results 688 m, in the intervention group, versus 490 m, for participants in control group (p 0.05). DISCUSSION. A comparative analysis of previously conducted studies confirmed pattern between the inclusion of combined cardiorespiratory training in the protocol for 12-week rehabilitation of post-COVID complications among cardiac patients, and a decrease in the degree of shortness of breath, as well as an increase in exercise tolerance. CONCLUSIONS. Based on experimental data obtained, it is advisable to analyze the effects of Cardiopulmonary Physical Rehabilitation program in the framework of larger randomized clinical trials. This will allow a more detailed assessment of the clinical consequences, as well as the ability to adjust mode and dose of physical activity of proposed rehabilitation program.

Neural responses to oral administration of erythritol vs. sucrose and sucralose explain differences in subjective liking ratings

IntroductionHigh sugar intake is associated with many chronic diseases. However, non-caloric sweeteners (NCSs) might fail to successfully replace sucrose due to the mismatch between their rewarding sweet taste and lack of caloric content. The natural NCS erythritol has been proposed as a sugar substitute due to its satiating properties despite being non-caloric. We aimed to compare brain responses to erythritol vs. sucrose and the artificial NCS sucralose in a priori taste, homeostatic, and reward brain regions of interest (ROIs). MethodsWe performed a within-subject, single-blind, counterbalanced fMRI study in 30 healthy men (mean ± SEM age:24.3 ± 0.8 years, BMI:22.3 ± 0.3 kg/m2). Before scanning, we individually matched the concentrations of both NCSs to the perceived sweetness intensity of a 10% sucrose solution. During scanning, participants received 1 mL sips of the individually titrated equisweet solutions of sucrose, erythritol, and sucralose, as well as water. After each sip, they rated subjective sweetness liking. ResultsLiking ratings were significantly higher for sucrose and sucralose vs. erythritol (both pHolm = 0.0037); water ratings were neutral. General Linear Model (GLM) analyses of brain blood oxygen level-depended (BOLD) responses at qFDR<0.05 showed no differences between any of the sweeteners in a priori ROIs, but distinct differences were found between the individual sweeteners and water. These results were confirmed by Bayesian GLM and machine learning-based models. However, several brain response patterns mediating the differences in liking ratings between the sweeteners were found in whole-brain multivariate mediation analyses. Both subjective and neural responses showed large inter-subject variability. ConclusionWe found lower liking ratings in response to oral administration of erythritol vs. sucrose and sucralose, but no differences in neural responses between any of the sweeteners in a priori ROIs. However, differences in liking ratings between erythritol vs. sucrose or sucralose are mediated by multiple whole-brain response patterns.

Evaluation of Local Anesthetic Blockade in Cats Undergoing Castration in a High-Quality, High-Volume Spay/Neuter Setting: A Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Sustainable high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) clinic operations require optimal efficiency and resource-management, and humane patient care. Locoregional anesthesia is not standard across HQHVSN protocols because evidence that these techniques are safe, efficient, and cost-effective in the HQHVSN environment is lacking. The objective of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of local anesthesia to placebo in cats castrated in a HQHVSN setting. Eighty-eight shelter-owned male cats presenting to a HQHVSN clinic in the northeastern US between August 2019 and October 2020 were enrolled in this blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Inclusion criteria included estimated age ≥6 weeks and ≤8 years, body weight ≥3 pounds, and ASA 1 status. Cats were assigned via simple randomization to receive an intratesticular injection of saline placebo (Group SP; n=32), lidocaine 1mg/kg (Group L; n=34), or a mixture of lidocaine 1mg/kg and bupivacaine 1mg/kg (Group LB; n=22) prior to routine castration. Standard HQHVSN protocols for anesthesia and surgery were followed. Indicators of analgesic efficacy included perioperative heart rates, requirements for additional anesthesia, surgeon satisfaction with anesthetic depth and tissue quality, and postoperative pain scores and incisional complications. Treatment groups did not differ in demographic characteristics or baseline heart rate. Group SP showed a significant elevation in heart rate in response to surgical stimulus compared to Groups L (p=0.006) and LB (p=0.002) and to their baseline heart rate (p&lt;0.001). Perioperative heart rates measured in Groups L and LB did not differ. Surgeon-reported unsatisfactory anesthetic depth during castration occurred more frequently in Group SP (z=2.68; p=0.044). Additional anesthetic requirements, surgeon satisfaction with tissue quality, and postoperative pain and incision scores were statistically similar between groups. Despite the short duration between intratesticular injection to near completion of castration (median [IQR]=5.0 [3.0-7.0] minutes), local anesthesia was effective at decreasing nociception compared to placebo without increasing the frequency of incisional complications. These perioperative benefits support the inclusion of local blocks in multimodal anesthesia/analgesia protocols for HQHVSN clinics. Additional materials and labor costs for administering intratesticular blocks were estimated at $1.07-$1.19 per 4kg cat at the study location.

Pre-existing cell populations with cytotoxic activity against SARS-CoV-2 in people with HIV and normal CD4/CD8 ratio previously unexposed to the virus.

HIV-1 infection may produce a detrimental effect on the immune response. Early start of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended to preserve the integrity of the immune system. In fact, people with HIV (PWH) and normal CD4/CD8 ratio appear not to be more susceptible to severe forms of COVID-19 than the general population and they usually present a good seroconversion rate in response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. However, few studies have fully characterized the development of cytotoxic immune populations in response to COVID-19 vaccination in these individuals. In this study, we recruited PWH with median time of HIV-1 infection of 6 years, median CD4/CD8 ratio of 1.0, good adherence to ART, persistently undetectable viral load, and negative serology against SARS-CoV-2, who then received the complete vaccination schedule against COVID-19. Blood samples were taken before vaccination against COVID-19 and one month after receiving the complete vaccination schedule. PWH produced high levels of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in response to vaccination that were comparable to healthy donors, with a significantly higher neutralization capacity. Interestingly, the cytotoxic activity of PBMCs from PWH against SARS-CoV-2-infected cells was higher than healthy donors before receiving the vaccination schedule, pointing out the pre-existence of activated cell populations with likely unspecific antiviral activity. The characterization of these cytotoxic cell populations revealed high levels of Tgd cells with degranulation capacity against SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. In response to vaccination, the degranulation capacity of CD8+ T cells also increased in PWH but not in healthy donors. The full vaccination schedule against COVID-19 did not modify the ability to respond against HIV-1-infected cells in PWH and these individuals did not show more susceptibility to breakthrough infection with SARS-CoV-2 than healthy donors after 12 months of follow-up. These results revealed the development of protective cell populations with broad-spectrum antiviral activity in PWH with normal CD4/CD8 ratio and confirmed the importance of early ART and treatment adherence to avoid immune dysfunctions.

Low–carbon regulation method for greenhouse light environment based on multi–objective optimization

Controlled environment agriculture is uniquely positioned to contribute to the decarbonization of cities due to its low carbon emissions and high energy efficiency in the food supply process. The energy consumed by the horticultural industry to supplemental lighting is enormous, but improvements in the light environment of greenhouse plants are essential. To make light regulation compatible with low carbon and environmentally friendly while improving photosynthetic production, experiments on tomato plant measurements with nested light intensity, spectra, carbon dioxide concentration and temperature were carried out in a solar greenhouse based on an infrared gas analyzer and machine learning. Based on the photosynthetic response to the photosynthetic photon flux density and red–blue ratio under multi–environmental conditions, the photosynthesis prediction model was developed using the least squares support vector regression, and model hyperparameter optimization was achieved by genetic algorithm nested cross–validation. A calculation method of carbon emissions from supplemental lighting was proposed, and the low–carbon light regulation was abstracted into multi–objective optimization for the solution. Based on the comprehensive objective evaluation method, low–carbon targets for light regulation were obtained through decision–making. The results showed that the developed prediction model with root mean square error of 1.069 and determination coefficient of 0.976, which is both accurate and fast, realizes the description and expression of the net photosynthetic rate in response to the environments. The optimal targets contain two–dimensional information of light intensity and spectra, and reduces carbon emissions by a maximum of 14.85% compared to the light saturation objective based on single–objective optimization at 95.49 % of the net photosynthetic rate. The method is energy efficient and suitable for supporting multi–spectral light environment regulation applications and guiding the greenhouse environment management under the demand of carbon reduction.

Peer support during in vivo exposure homework increases likelihood of prolonged exposure therapy completion

ABSTRACT Exposure-based treatments such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE) are effective for veterans with PTSD. However, dropout rates as high as 50% are common. The Department of Veterans Affairs employs peers to increase mental health treatment engagement, however peers are not routinely used to help patients complete PE homework assignments. The present study included 109 veterans who decided to drop out from exposure-based treatment after completing seven or fewer sessions and used a randomized controlled design to compare PE treatment completion rates in response to 2 forms of peer support: (1) standard weekly telephone-based peer support vs. (2) peer-assisted in vivo exposure, wherein peers accompanied veterans (virtually or in person) during a limited number of in vivo exposure assignments. There were no differences between instrumental vs general peer support conditions as randomized. However, post hoc analyses indicated that 87% of those who completed at least one peer-assisted in vivo exposure completed treatment, compared to 56% of those not completing any peer-assisted in vivo exposure. The dose effect of peer-assisted in vivo exposure increased to 93% with 2 or more peer-assisted exposures, and 97% with 3 or more peer-assisted exposures. The present study suggests that augmenting PE with instrumental peer support during in vivo exposure homework may reduce dropout if completed. Future research should test whether the impact of peer-assisted in vivo exposure is enhanced when offered at the beginning of treatment as opposed to waiting until the point of dropout.

Sex affects transcriptional associations with schizophrenia across the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and caudate nucleus

Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with sexually dimorphic features, including differential symptomatology, drug responsiveness, and male incidence rate. Prior large-scale transcriptome analyses for sex differences in schizophrenia have focused on the prefrontal cortex. Analyzing BrainSeq Consortium data (caudate nucleus: n = 399, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: n = 377, and hippocampus: n = 394), we identified 831 unique genes that exhibit sex differences across brain regions, enriched for immune-related pathways. We observed X-chromosome dosage reduction in the hippocampus of male individuals with schizophrenia. Our sex interaction model revealed 148 junctions dysregulated in a sex-specific manner in schizophrenia. Sex-specific schizophrenia analysis identified dozens of differentially expressed genes, notably enriched in immune-related pathways. Finally, our sex-interacting expression quantitative trait loci analysis revealed 704 unique genes, nine associated with schizophrenia risk. These findings emphasize the importance of sex-informed analysis of sexually dimorphic traits, inform personalized therapeutic strategies in schizophrenia, and highlight the need for increased female samples for schizophrenia analyses.