Three-year Study Research Articles

Are They Doing Artificial Intelligence? (Re)Constructing the Primary Activity in Data Science

Data science (DS) is concerned with building so-called artificial intelligence, i.e., computer systems that automate tasks based on historical data. This article is the first attempt to examine DS using Adele E. Clarke’s framework of social worlds. The main goal of this paper is to show the (re)construction of primary activity based on the example of the social world of DS in Poland. Methodological reflection on this (re)construction is an underdeveloped element in the study of social worlds; therefore, this paper strives to make this process explicit. The empirical background is a three-year ethnographic study, following Clarke’s situational analysis approach. The methodological results demonstrate the indispensability of collaborative ethnography in (re)constructing primary activity and the importance of finding palpable elements as those being crucial to understanding primary activity. The substantive results focus on the idea that data scientists do not refer to their activity as doing artificial intelligence.

Quality and Safety in Asparagus Cultivation: A Three-Year Case Study Comparing Standardized Agricultural Bases and Small-Scale Farmers

Quality and Safety in Asparagus Cultivation: A Three-Year Case Study Comparing Standardized Agricultural Bases and Small-Scale Farmers

Unraveling depressive symptom networks: A three-year longitudinal study among Chinese junior high school adolescents.

Adolescence is the peak period for the occurrence of mental health issues, particularly in the stage of junior high school. Depressive symptoms are among the most frequently experienced psychological problems. However, little is known about the symptom-level interaction features of depressive symptoms and the roles of different symptoms across the junior high school stage. To address these gaps, this study conducted a three-year longitudinal study that recruited 1301 Chinese junior high school adolescents (48.2% females; mean age = 12.46 ± 0.62, ranging from 11 to 14 in the first year). The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms. The regularized partial correlation network and the cross-lagged panel network models were used to explore the symptom-level interaction pattern. In regularized partial correlation networks, "I felt depressed" was a stable central symptom throughout the junior high school stage. Besides, "I felt lonely" and "I felt that people disliked me" were the other central symptoms in grade 7 and grade 8, and "I felt everything I did was an effort" played a central role in grade 9. Within cross-lagged panel networks, "I felt that people disliked me" and "I felt hopeless about the future" had important effects on predicting other depressive symptoms from grade 7 to 8 and from grade 8 to 9. By investigating the longitudinal interaction patterns of depressive symptoms among junior high school adolescents, the current study identifies core symptoms that could be potential prevention or intervention targets and provides a novel insight for understanding depressive symptoms during adolescence in depth.

Visible Human Project based applications can prompt integrating cross-sectional anatomy into the medical school curriculum when combined with radiological modalities: A three-year cross-sectional observational study

BackgroundCross-sectional anatomy is a challenging yet a vital foundation to clinical practice. The traditional teachings of gross anatomy cadaveric dissections do not cover adequate training of recognizing anatomical structures on CT, MRI and sonographic cross-sections. New modern technologies are emerging as teaching tools in anatomy aiming to deliver visual interactive experience. The Visible Human Project provides a library of cross-sectional images compiled from cryosectioned body donors that was utilized by modern technologies such as the virtual dissection table (Anatomage) in constructing 3D software applications visualizing the internal composition of the human body virtually. Hereby, this article explores an integrative approach utilizing the Visible Human Project based applications and basic radiological modalities. PurposeThe purpose of our newly implemented teaching approach was to test and assure technology fitness to the medical curriculum and its potential influence on students’ performance in learning gross as well as cross-sectional anatomy in much depth. Basic proceduresA three years (2021–2024) observational study was conducted by implanting a practical cross-sectional anatomy optional course by selectively utilizing Anatmage interactively beside CT, MRI and ultrasound practice. The performance of 50 participants was evaluated in the form of a written test comprised of labeling of ten cross-sectional images and drawing of two cross-section schemes. Their optional course test scores were compared to their obligatory anatomy subject test scores; and to a non-participants control group of 50 retrospective obligatory anatomy subject test scores. In addition, the participants’ attitude toward the training lessons was assessed through a survey focused on satisfaction level, competence and ability to recognize structures on radiological images. Main findingsThe participants reported a high level of practical engagement. The test scores in the anatomy obligatory subject were positively influenced by this implemented practical course. Students showed improved test scores in the standardized labeling keyword questions, while the scheme questions showed discrepancy. Principal conclusionsIntegrating Visible Human Project based applications with radiological modalities showed positive efficacy on the students’ engagement and learning performance. Inevitably, cadaveric dissection and prosection remain the cornerstone of gross anatomy education. Integrating both modalities of teaching would excel students’ practical skills in applied clinical anatomy.

Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Pediatric Snakebite Envenomation: A Three-Year Retrospective Study From a Rural Tertiary Care Center in South India

Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Pediatric Snakebite Envenomation: A Three-Year Retrospective Study From a Rural Tertiary Care Center in South India

The effect of agrotechnical methods on productivity of new winter wheat varieties on ordinary blackearth

The current study was conducted in the pre-Azov agricultural area of the Rostov region in the stationary trial of the FSBSI FRARC in 2020–2023. The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of elements of cultivation technology methods, such as methods of basic tillage, seed sowing rates and a level of mineral nutrition on productivity of new winter wheat varieties in the conditions of ordinary blackearth in the Rostov region. The objects of the study were two new winter wheat varieties ‘Bylina Dona’ and ‘Akapella’ developed in the FSBSI FRARC. The scheme of the trial included three factors for each variety. The experiment was repeated three times. When conducting the study, there was used the generally accepted methodology of a field trial. The effect of different rates of mineral fertilizers and seed sowing with different methods of basic tillage affected the grain productivity of new winter wheat varieties. As a result of three-year study, there has been found a positive effect of moldboard plowing and a seeding rate of 5 million pcs./ha against the background of N120Р80К80 kg/ha of active substance for both varieties, which provided the best productivity of 6.66–7.02 t/ha. There has been established a tendency for changes in productivity of new winter wheat varieties under the effect of the studied elements of agricultural technology, for which there have been identified individual factors and calculated the mean productivity independently of the other two factors, taking into account the experimental options for each of them. The largest mean grain productivity of the winter wheat varieties ‘Bylina Dona’ and ‘Akapella’ with 5.77 and 6.05 t/ha, respectively, was provided by the highest level of mineral nutrition, with a norm of N120Р80К80 kg/ha of active substance, which made it possible to improve productivity by 48.3–49.4 % compared to the control without fertilizers. There has been determined an optimal background of mineral nutrition N80Р60К60 kg/ha of active substance, which ensured the maximum feedback of grain due to fertilizers. The variety ‘Akapella’ in all experimental variants produced grain on 4.5–5.1 % higher than that of the variety ‘Bylina Dona’.

Improved emergency activation in interventional radiology reduces procedure delay and facilitates treatment success in patients with acute arterial bleedings.

Research of interventional treatment success in arterial bleeding cases is almost exclusively focused on technical and procedural factors. This study investigates the effect of an improved preprocedural activation algorithm for acute arterial bleedings treated by interventional radiology. During the three-year study period (2018-2021), the authors implemented an always-reachable, simple-to-remember emergency phone number routed to the responsible interventional radiologist on call and compared this pathway to the previous activation process. Data were acquired for all emergency cases with active arterial bleeding detected in CT scans and the diagnosis to treatment intervals before and after implementation were retrospectively analysed. Time signatures in CT and angiography were used to determine the interval. 1322 calls or contacts occurred during the study period. In general, 625 emergency procedures were conducted; 120 bleeding interventions met the study requirements. In the study 44 patients were treated via the conventional pathway and 76 via the emergency phone activation. The activation algorithm utilizing the emergency phone led to a slight decrease in radiation doses and fluoroscopy time and a significant reduction (15min) in diagnosis to treatment intervals (p = 0.019). After implementing the emergency phone, the technical success rate increased significantly from 68% to 94% (p<0.001). This study shows that effective communication structures, such as implementing a standardized activation pathway via an emergency phone, can significantly reduce diagnosis to treatment intervals and increase technical success rates. Effective communication is crucial for interventional radiology to deal with acute and life-threatening conditions requiring immediate treatment. This study presents a possible improvement and provides valuable insight for interventional radiology clinics seeking to optimize their communication and management strategies for emergency cases.

Subjective social status and health-related quality of life after critical illness: results from a three-year prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT Subjective Social Status (SSS) reflects one’s perceived rank within a given social structure and has been shown to be a unique correlate of physical and mental health. However, no research has been conducted to address populations of (recovering) critically ill patients. To shed light on the relationship between SSS and health in critically ill patients, we focus on survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A cohort study with N = 877 ARDS survivors was conducted in 61 intensive care units (ICUs) in Germany between 2014 and 2019. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL, Physical and Mental Component Scale: PCS, MCS of the SF-12) and SSS (MacArthur Scale) were assessed at 12, 24, and 36 months after discharge from ICU. Objective social status (Socioeconomic status [SES]) was assessed once at ICU baseline. Bivariate correlations between SSS and HRQoL (PCS and MCS) remain significant throughout the study period (r = .29 – .50, all p-values < .05). Subsequent hierarchical regression shows that SSS remains predictive for PCS and MCS even after controlling for SES (β = .335 – .486, all p values < .001). The results indicate the importance (and unique contribution) of the subjective localization within the status hierarchy for long-term HRQoL after critical illness.

‘Please, see me’; Informal and professional support of students with relatives with addiction problems: a three-year longitudinal qualitative study

Background and aimAddiction problems also affect the lives of family members. This study aims to examine: (1) young adult family members’ experiences with informal and professional support in coping with the impact of relatives’ addiction problems and (2) how these experiences evolve over time.MethodA three-year longitudinal qualitative study. Four rounds of in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. Thirty students aged 18–30 years, participated in the study at baseline. 93% participated in at least two interviews, and 80% participated three or four times. The Stress-Strain-Information-Coping-Support model was used, and Directed Content Analysis was applied.FindingsFive major themes were extracted from the data: (1) Informal support; (2) Educational support; (3) Healthcare support; (4) Resilience factors; and (5) Developments over time. Informal and educational support were more often described as effective than healthcare support, although the number of participants who sought healthcare support increased over time. Effective elements of support included being able to discuss their experiences with people listening without judgment or unsolicited advice and having long-term relationships of trust with people from the social environment and professionals. Participants were mainly treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Learning how to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate thoughts, especially about themselves, was considered effective. Body-oriented therapy was remarkably absent. Finding effective healthcare support was often a long and winding road through various therapies and therapists. Participants were not attracted to peer group interventions but needed advice on how to deal with their relatives. They also needed recognition by their relatives for harm done. This recognition was seldom given.ConclusionsIt is recommended to train educational and healthcare professionals to recognize the support needs of young people with relatives with addiction problems, to help them cope, or to refer them adequately. We also suggest broadening the scope of professional support offered to AFMs, including body-oriented and cultural interventions.

Beyond Affiliation: Leadership for Belonging in a Faith-Adjacent Foster Youth Mentoring Network

In the U.S. context, religious disaffiliation poses challenges for denominational religious educators seeking to remain faithful to God’s call. This ethnographic account of Tapestry, a West Coast foster youth mentoring ministry founded by mainline Protestant clergy, presents a case study in responding to these challenges through creative reinterpretation of familiar organizational models, meaning-making rituals, and theological values. In this article, I offer a critical appraisal of key decisions chronicled in my three-year study of Tapestry’s formation practices. This organization’s flexible, responsive leaders are valuable role models at a time when so many religious educators are reimagining approaches to our work.

Ecotypic variation and environmental influence on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) vegetative growth: A multivariate performance analysis

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a crop of significant medicinal and economic importance, exhibiting phenotypic plasticity that leads to variable vegetative growth. This three-year multifactorial study evaluated the vegetative potential of various saffron ecotypes under contrasting environments. The results revealed significant effects on shoot sprouting, leaf count, and overall growth, with the ´Tamlakoute´ ecotype (E2) performing best, particularly in the coastal field (CF2). The leaf count increased markedly from 24.9 ± 8.8 in the first year to 188.8 ± 43.9 by the third year, influenced by ecotypes and cultivation fields. In contrast, plant length variations revealed less dependence on ecotypes throughout the different growing seasons. Pearson's correlation analysis showed a weak relationship (r = 0.108, p < 0.004) between the number of shoots per original corm and per progeny corm. This implies a varied trade-off in resource allocation between vegetative growth and corm formation. The principal component analysis highlighted patterns of variations governed by environmental drivers, particularly favoring the E2 ecotype. Performance scoring and ranking, which assigned scores based on vegetative performance across all ecotypes by environment combinations, identified CF2E2 as the highest-ranking performer, followed by CF2E1 and CF2E4, with comprehensive scores of 2.4, 1.3, and 1.1, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of selecting superior ecotypes and coastal environments to promote sustainable saffron cultivation.

Prospective Evaluation of Outcomes and Complications in Ultra-Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for Pediatric Nephrolithiasis: A Three-Year Study

Objective: This prospective study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and complications of Ultra-Mini Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (UM-PCNL) in pediatric patients with renal calculi over a three-year period (2021-2023). We assessed Stone-Free Rates (SFR), operative success and perioperative complications to determine the efficacy and safety of UM-PCNL in children. Methods: Seventy-eight pediatric patients (aged 1-17 years) underwent UM-PCNL for renal calculi larger than 10 mm. Preoperative imaging, including ultrasonography and computed tomography, was utilized to assess stone size and location. Surgical outcomes, including SFR, operative time and the need for second-look procedures, were evaluated. Complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, with a significance threshold of p &lt; 0.05. Results: The mean stone size was 18.2 ± 5.4 mm and the overall SFR after a single UM-PCNL procedure was 78.2%. Clinical success (defined as either stone-free status or clinically insignificant residual fragments) was achieved in 89.7% of patients. The mean operative time was 67 ± 22 minutes. Second-look procedures were required in 11.5% of cases. The overall complication rate was 19.2%, with no major complications (Clavien grade III-V). Minor complications included transient fever (6.4%), hematuria (12.8%) and urinary leakage (5.1%). Conclusion: UM-PCNL is a safe and effective procedure for managing pediatric nephrolithiasis, offering high stone-free rates and low complication risks. The use of smaller instruments reduces renal trauma, bleeding and the need for blood transfusions. These findings support UM-PCNL as a first-line treatment option for larger renal stones in pediatric patients. Further studies with long-term follow-up are recommended to assess recurrence and long-term renal function outcomes.

Culturally responsive pedagogy for the promotion of understanding Mathematics: The case of rural situated primary schools in Post-apartheid South Africa

The language of instruction, awareness, and creativity are at the centre of the realities faced by both mathematics teachers and learners, shaped by a socio-political history whose impact and legacy transcend generations in South Africa. Consequently, the dire state of mathematics education in South Africa remains a cause for concern. Recognising the need to conceptualise and develop culturally responsive pedagogy, this paper presents the results from the third phase of a three-year longitudinal study focused on teachers' journeys in infusing indigenous knowledge when teaching geometry to senior primary learners in rural schools. This qualitative study, which followed a case study design, explored several approaches to discussing, teaching, and considering an immediate, perpetual, operative, and discursive approach as culturally disruptive pedagogy used as an indigenous way to promote geometric understanding. Observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted with two purposefully selected participants after their lesson presentations to allow them to clarify, elaborate, and introduce more detail, enriching their explanations of the artefacts used. Results indicated that teachers’ references to several artefacts and indigenous activities, such as using straws, wool, and staplers, promoted the understanding of the construction of prisms and pyramids. Recommendations include training mathematics teachers to prepare lessons that incorporate indigenous knowledge and to explore ethnomathematics as a culturally responsive teaching strategy, particularly in contextualising mathematical geometry learning, so that this concept can have relevance and meaning for rural students.

Depression Treatment Trajectories and Associated Social Determinants: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study in 66,540 Older Adults Undergoing First-Time Depression Treatment in Denmark.

This study aimed to describe depression treatment patterns, identify unique trajectory groups using a group-based trajectory approach, and explore associated social determinants in older adults undergoing first-time depression treatment during a 3-year follow-up. This Danish register-based cohort study included all adults aged ≥ 65 who initiated depression treatment by redeeming first-time antidepressant prescriptions (no prescriptions in the last 10years) between 2006 and 2015. The outcome of interest during the 2-year follow-up was depression treatment, assessed as antidepressant prescriptions redemptions and psychiatric hospital contacts for depression. Latent class growth analyses were applied to model treatment trajectories during 3years. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to analyze adjusted associations between social determinates and trajectory group membership. Among the 66,540 older adults (55.2% females, mean age: 77.3years), we identified three distinct groups with unique patterns of depression treatment trajectories: 'brief-treatment' where individuals stopped depression treatment within 6months (33.7%); 'gradual-withdrawal' (26.5%) where treatment was gradually stopped over 2years; and 'persistent-treatment' where individuals continued depression treatment for the entire 3years (39.8%). Females, single-person households, and residents of less-urbanized regions were associated with higher odds of membership in the 'persistent-treatment' group, while older age, widowhood or separation, and non-Danish ethnicities were associated with lower odds. Three distinct patterns of depression treatment trajectories were identified in older adults, indicating differential clinical courses of depression-potentially influenced by social determinants, including sex, marital status, urban residence, and ethnicity. Early patient stratification and targeted interventions are crucial in depression care for older adults.

Etiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Imaging Evaluation of Intestinal Obstruction in Adults at Tertiary Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Retrospective Study.

Intestinal obstruction (IO) is a surgical emergency with high morbidity and mortality. The leading causes in adults include adhesions, incarcerated hernias, and tumors. This three-year retrospective study reviewed adult patients with IO treated at Mogadishu Somalia Turkey Training and Research Hospital from June 1, 2019, to June 1, 2022. Of the patients studied, 67% were male, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. The most common symptoms were nausea and vomiting (93.2%), abdominal distension (90.2%), and inability to pass stool or gas (70.8%). Surgical management was required for 95.1% of patients, with only 4.9% managed conservatively. The most frequent postoperative complication was surgical site infection. Hospital stays for 52% of patients ranged from 8 to 14 days. The overall mortality rate was 4.9%. IO remains a critical surgical emergency worldwide, requiring urgent intervention. Aggressive treatment of hernias and timely surgical intervention for mechanical obstruction are essential to reduce complications and mortality. Delayed presentations contribute to higher mortality rates. Small bowel obstruction was more frequent than large bowel obstruction, with fibrous adhesions and incarcerated hernias as the leading causes. Adhesiolysis and bowel resection with anastomosis were the most common surgical procedures. Further research using prospective study designs is recommended to improve understanding and outcomes.

Calcineurin/NFAT inhibitors maintain cognition in a preclinical prevention study in an aging canine model of Alzheimer disease

Brain signaling of calcineurin (CN) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) transcription factor increases in Alzheimer disease (AD) and is associated with synaptic loss, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, amyloid-β (Aβ) production, and cognitive decline. CN/NFAT inhibitors ameliorate these neuropathologies in mouse models of AD. Further, chronic use of tacrolimus in transplant patients reduces risk of AD. Beagles naturally develop Aβ plaques and cognitive dysfunction. We evaluated the impact of FDA-approved CN inhibitor, tacrolimus, and experimental NFAT inhibitor, Q134R, on cognitive outcomes during a three-year prevention study in 37 middle-aged beagles. While beagles treated with CN/NFAT inhibitors showed differences in the pattern of cognitive maintenance and duration of their effect, there was improvement in spatial learning, as well as maintenance of memory, attention, and working memory relative to placebo dogs. CN/NFAT inhibition is a promising target for prevention of cognitive decline that may be rapidly implemented in human clinical trials.

Monitoring and management of the Nearctic leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Italian vineyards.

The Nearctic leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the main vector of the grapevine flavescence dorée (FD) phytoplasmas in Europe. To limit the impact of pest control activities on human health and the environment, EU legislation is withdrawing a growing number of active ingredients (a.i.), highlighting the need to evaluate alternative S. titanus management tools. In this context, we carried out a three-year (2021-2023) study in Italian vineyards characterized by high S. titanus populations. We compared the effectiveness of different insecticide-based strategies, i.e., targeting only nymphs (2021) or nymphs and adults (2022-2023), by spraying some of the currently allowed products (i.e., flupyradifurone, acetamiprid, sulfoxaflor, etofenprox, deltamethrin, and pyrethrins). The effectiveness of insecticide-based treatments was evaluated in terms of adult catches on yellow sticky traps. Furthermore, to achieve useful insights for optimizing current monitoring tools, we compared S. titanus catches on sticky traps of five different colors (i.e., yellow, green, blue, black, and white), as well as those achieved with two types of currently marketed yellow sticky traps. Results showed that etofenprox, deltamethrin, and sulfoxaflor were the most effective products for reducing S. titanus adult populations (33.64%, 30.30%, and 31.26%, respectively). Yellow and green sticky traps were more attractive to S. titanus adults than white, blue, and black ones. Moreover, a significant difference in capture efficiency was observed between two commercial yellow devices (i.e., tenfold higher catches using Glutor over Super color). Practical implications of our results are discussed in the context of current IPM against this key leafhopper vector of FD.

All Hands on Deck: Coordinated approaches to Indigenous early career development

The Developing Indigenous Early Career Researchers Project is a three-year longitudinal study funded by the Australian Research Council investigating the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous early career researchers working in universities across Australia. In an earlier paper we explored self-identified needs of Indigenous early career researchers regarding the development of sound research trajectories and careers in the academy (Locke et al., 2022). This paper takes a step further in investigating, who is responsible and should be held to account for supporting the development of these Indigenous early carer researchers. Data collected from across all three stages (2020, 2021 and 2022) of this project suggests that Indigenous early career researchers consider that all university staff, including themselves have certain responsibilities towards developing their academic career trajectories. Some Indigenous ECRs also pointed out the roles that external agencies such as government and funding bodies play in guiding institutions to value and promote the diversity and wealth of knowledge that Indigenous academics bring to the academy. This paper engages an Indigenist research approach and employs relatedness theory in advocating the development of policies and programs to support the career trajectories of Indigenous Early Career Researchers, from an Indigenous epistemological standpoint. To close, this paper posits that to achieve optimum outcomes for Indigenous ECR’s there needs to be systematic and coordinated institutional approaches to developing career trajectories that ameliorate challenges and barriers to Indigenous ECR career progression.

Perivascular space enlargement accelerates in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease pathology: evidence from a three-year longitudinal multicentre study

BackgroundPerivascular space (PVS) enlargement in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the drivers of such a structural change in humans require longitudinal investigation. Elucidating the effects of demographic factors, hypertension, cerebrovascular dysfunction, and AD pathology on PVS dynamics could inform the role of PVS in brain health function as well as the complex pathophysiology of AD.MethodsWe studied PVS in centrum semiovale (CSO) and basal ganglia (BG) computationally over three to four annual visits in 503 participants (255 females; meanage = 70.78 ± 5.78) of the ongoing observational multicentre “DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study” (DELCODE) cohort. We analysed data from subjects who were cognitively unimpaired (n = 401), had amnestic mild cognitive impairment (n = 71), or had AD (n = 31). We used linear mixed-effects modelling to test for changes of PVS volumes in relation to cross-sectional and longitudinal age, as well as sex, years of education, hypertension, white matter hyperintensities, AD diagnosis, and cerebrospinal-fluid-derived amyloid (A) and tau (T) status (available for 46.71%; A-T-/A + T-/A + T + n = 143/48/39).ResultsPVS volumes increased significantly over follow-ups (CSO: B = 0.03 [0.02, 0.05], p < 0.001; BG: B = 0.05 [0.03, 0.07], p < 0.001). PVS enlargement rates varied substantially across subjects and depended on the participant’s age, white matter hyperintensities volumes, and amyloid and tau status. PVS volumes were higher across elderly participants, regardless of region of interest (CSO: B = 0.12 [0.02, 0.21], p = 0.017; BG: B = 0.19 [0.09, 0.28], p < 0.001). Faster BG-PVS enlargement related to lower baseline white matter hyperintensities volumes (ρspearman = -0.17, pFDR = 0.001) and was more pronounced in individuals who presented with combined amyloid and tau positivity versus negativity (A + T + > A-T-, pFDR = 0.004) or who were amyloid positive but tau negative (A + T + > A + T-, pFDR = 0.07). CSO-PVS volumes increased at a faster rate with amyloid positivity as compared to amyloid negativity (A + T-/A + T + > A-T-, pFDR = 0.021).ConclusionOur longitudinal evidence supports the relevance of PVS enlargement in presumably healthy ageing as well as in AD pathology. We further discuss the region-specific involvement of white matter hyperintensities and neurotoxic waste accumulation in PVS enlargement and the possibility of additional factors contributing to PVS progression. A comprehensive understanding of PVS dynamics could facilitate the understanding of pathological cascades and might inform targeted treatment strategies.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00007966. Registered 04.05.2015 – retrospectively registered, https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00007966.

The effect of nitrogen management on seed yield and quality in traditional and canola-quality white mustard

The article presents the results of a three-year field study that was conducted in Poland to evaluate the yield and quality of seeds and oil from traditional (SAM) and canola-quality white mustard (SAC) in response to different N fertilizer rates (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg ha–1). Seed yields were 25% higher in SAM than SAC. The seeds of SAC contained more crude fat (by 3%) and crude fiber (by 6%) than the seeds of SAM. In turn, the seeds of SAM were a richer source of total protein (by 7%). The content of glucosinolates (GSLs) was 8–10 times lower in the seeds of SAC than SAM. The seeds of both mustard cultivars were most abundant in γ-tocopherol (γ-T) (90–94%). The seeds of SAC were characterized by a higher content of γ-T and a lower α-T/γ-T ratio than SAM seeds. White mustard oil contained mostly MUFAs (69–75%). However, C22:1 accounted for more than 50% of MUFAs in the oil SAM. In the oil SAC, the proportion of C22:1 did not exceed 6%, whereas C18:1 accounted for nearly 85% of total MUFAs. Nitrogen fertilization induced a significant increase in seed yields (by 33%), a decrease in crude fat content (by 3–4%), and an increase in total protein content (by 4%), and crude fiber content (by 7%). Nitrogen decreased GSL levels by 31% in SAM seeds. In SAC, N fertilization induced differences in the qualitative composition of GSLs, but did not affect the total GSL content of seeds. Higher N rates increased the content of α-T and γ-T, the α-T/γ-T ratio, and total T content. Nitrogen fertilization decreased the content of C18:3 in the seeds of the SAM. In SAC, the application of N decreased the content of C18, C18:1, and C18:3, and increased the biosynthesis of C18:2, C20:1, and C22:1.