Within-group Variation Research Articles

Comparative Pacing Profile and Chronometric Performance in Elite Swimmers with Intellectual Impairments and Able-Bodied Athletes

Pacing strategy is a complex self-regulation process, crucial for optimising sports performance. Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (IIs) face unique challenges due to cognitive limitations that may hinder their ability to pace effectively, impacting chronometric performance. This study analysed the pacing profiles and chronometric performance across 253 event entries by elite swimmers with II, divided into three groups: 100 entries for group II1 (intellectual disability), 85 for group II2 (Down syndrome), and 68 for group II3 (autism spectrum disorder). These results were compared with 112 event entries from athletes without disabilities (AWDs). Data were collected from the 2023 Virtus Global Games and the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, focusing on middle-distance and long-distance events. Performance metrics were assessed using 50 m split times, and within-group variability was evaluated through coefficients of variation. Swimmers with IIs showed slower overall chronometric performance than AWDs, with the largest deficits observed in II2 athletes. The II1 and II3 groups displayed more comparable results, with the II1 group outperforming the others slightly. Despite the slower times, pacing profiles were largely similar across all groups, following a parabolic pacing strategy, especially for longer distances. Greater within-group variability in both chronometric performance and pacing profiles was observed in II2 and II3 athletes, reflecting higher functional heterogeneity. In contrast, II1 athletes, and even more so AWDs, exhibited more consistent performance and pacing across all events. While swimmers with II recorded slower times, their pacing strategies resembled those of AWDs, suggesting that cognitive limitations may not significantly impair pacing regulation in swimming. However, the higher variability in II2 and II3 athletes highlights the potential need for revised classification systems to ensure fair competition.

To Hear or Not to Hear: Cognitive Load Theory and Learning

ABSTRACT Background: Cognitive load is the amount of information one’s working memory can process at any given time. Key components of cognitive load include germane load, intrinsic load, and extraneous load. Learning is hindered if overload occurs, thus reducing cognitive performance. This study addresses the impact of auditory stimulation on cognitive load through repeated recognition tasks. Methods: Twenty-eight Queen’s University students were recruited and randomly allocated to control and experimental groups who completed the experiment with noise-cancelling headphones and with ambient noise, respectively. The experiment consisted of learning and testing phases. The learning phase involved memorizing a series of words. Subsequently, the testing phase required participants to recall words from the list. Each trial consisted of one learning and one testing phase, with three trials per participant. Cardiovascular measurements were taken prior to the experiment, at the beginning of each phase, and after each trial was completed. Results: Primary outcomes demonstrated that the experimental group experienced greater percent changes in heart rate and rate pressure product, higher perceived mental effort, and greater within-group variation for heart rate compared to controls. Scores decreased as trials progressed. Secondary outcomes showed that the top 33% of participants were less susceptible to changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Overall, four heart rate or blood pressure responders were identified. Conclusions: Exposure to 70 decibels of ambient noise contributes to cognitive load as noted by elevated cardiovascular measure and perceived mental effort. Results can inform educational platforms and hospital logistics.

Adaptive Bi-Level Variable Selection for Quantile Regression Models with a Diverging Number of Covariates

The paper develops an innovatively adaptive bi-level variable selection methodology for quantile regression models with a diverging number of covariates. Traditional variable selection techniques in quantile regression, such as the lasso and group lasso techniques, offer solutions predominantly for either individual variable selection or group-level selection, but not for both simultaneously. To address this limitation, we introduce an adaptive group bridge approach for quantile regression, to simultaneously select variables at both the group and within-group variable levels. The proposed method offers several notable advantages. Firstly, it adeptly handles the heterogeneous and/or skewed data inherent to quantile regression. Secondly, it is capable of handling quantile regression models where the number of parameters grows with the sample size. Thirdly, via employing an ingeniously designed penalty function, our method surpasses traditional group bridge estimation techniques in identifying important within-group variables with high precision. Fourthly, it exhibits the oracle group selection property, implying that the relevant variables at both the group and within-group levels can be identified with a probability converging to one. Several numerical studies corroborated our theoretical results.

Positive character and psychological well-being: A nuanced examination among adolescents from diverse rural-urban and migration contexts.

Positive character is an integral component of positive youth development that relates to psychological well-being among adolescents, yet the literature has largely overlooked its within-group variation. This study examined the latent profiles of positive character and explored their variation in psychological well-being across four adolescent groups (i.e., migrant, left-behind, rural local, and urban local adolescents) within each profile. A diverse sample of 15,895 adolescents from 10 provinces of China (Meanage = 13.16, SD = 2.53; 47.5% girls) completed a cross-sectional survey on positive character and psychological well-being in 2017. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted based on four positive characters. We investigated the distribution of each positive character profile across subgroups, as well as if and how the psychological well-being varied across different adolescent groups within each profile. LPA revealed three subgroups, including "Thriving" (53.6%), "Moderate" (39.1%), and "Lagging" (7.4%) positive character profiles. The "Thriving" profile was more prevalent among the urban local (58.5%) and migrant (55.8%) adolescent groups, while the "Lagging" profile was most prevalent among the left-behind adolescent group (11.6%). Urban local and migrant adolescents tended to show better psychological well-being compared to rural local and left-behind adolescents, and the disparities were generally more pronounced under the "Thriving" profile as compared to the "Moderate" and "Lagging" profiles. Three positive character profiles were captured among four groups of Chinese adolescents varied in parental migration status and rural-urban residency. Tailored youth development programs are needed for different groups of adolescents varying in positive character profiles.

The mediating effects of minority stress experiences on cannabis consumption among 2SLGBTQ+ youth

Introduction Data suggest there are within-group variations in cannabis consumption among sexually diverse individuals. However, less is known about specific sexual orientations, such as Two-Spirit, asexual, pansexual, and queer (2SAPQ+), when compared with lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, as they often are not given an option to indicate their identities on surveys, leading them to be grouped with bisexuals. This study aimed to compare the relationship between LG and 2SAPBQ+ (including bisexual) identification and routine cannabis use, and whether it was mediated by minority stress. Methods Data were collected across two time points from 851 Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning (2SLGBTQ+) youth participants. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze whether latent constructs within the minority stress framework mediated the relationship between sexual identity and cannabis use longitudinally. Results A preliminary logistic regression confirmed that 2SAPBQ + individuals were more likely to consume cannabis than LG individuals. The results suggest that the minority stress constructs accounted for a significant portion of the variance within the relationship between sexual orientation and cannabis use. Conclusion The pathway between sexual orientation and routine cannabis use was complex. Findings signal that not all sexual minority individuals should be grouped into one category and call for attention to careful measurement practices.

Assessing the performance of AI-assisted technicians in liver segmentation, Couinaud division, and lesion detection: a pilot study

BackgroundIn patients with primary and secondary liver cancer, the number and sizes of lesions, their locations within the Couinaud segments, and the volume and health status of the future liver remnant are key for informing treatment planning. Currently this is performed manually, generally by trained radiologists, who are seeing an inexorable growth in their workload. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and non-radiologist personnel into the workflow potentially addresses the increasing workload without sacrificing accuracy. This study evaluated the accuracy of non-radiologist technicians in liver cancer imaging compared with radiologists, both assisted by AI.MethodsNon-contrast T1-weighted MRI data from 18 colorectal liver metastasis patients were analyzed using an AI-enabled decision support tool that enables non-radiology trained technicians to perform key liver measurements. Three non-radiologist, experienced operators and three radiologists performed whole liver segmentation, Couinaud segment segmentation, and the detection and measurements of lesions aided by AI-generated delineations. Agreement between radiologists and non-radiologists was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Two additional radiologists adjudicated any lesion detection discrepancies.ResultsWhole liver volume showed high levels of agreement between the non-radiologist and radiologist groups (ICC = 0.99). The Couinaud segment volumetry ICC range was 0.77–0.96. Both groups identified the same 41 lesions. As well, the non-radiologist group identified seven more structures which were also confirmed as lesions by the adjudicators. Lesion diameter categorization agreement was 90%, Couinaud localization 91.9%. Within-group variability was comparable for lesion measurements.ConclusionWith AI assistance, non-radiologist experienced operators showed good agreement with radiologists for quantifying whole liver volume, Couinaud segment volume, and the detection and measurement of lesions in patients with known liver cancer. This AI-assisted non-radiologist approach has potential to reduce the stress on radiologists without compromising accuracy.Graphical abstract

Modeling gender differences in the job promotion process: Replication and extension of Martell et al. (1996).

Differences in employee evaluations due to gender bias may be small in any given rating cycle, but they may accumulate to produce large disparities in the number of women and men promoted to the top of an organization. A highly cited simulation by Martell et al. (1996) demonstrates this cumulative advantage process in a multilevel organization. We replicated this simulation to uncover important details about its operating assumptions, and we extended the simulation to examine a range of variables that may impact the cumulative effects of gender bias. The replication revealed that the male cumulative advantage in the Martell et al. simulation requires (a) decades of typical promotion cycles to produce, (b) constant mean differences in the performance ratings of women and men but equal within-group variances, and (c) attrition that occurs randomly at a low and constant rate. Our extended simulation demonstrates that (a) cumulative effects of gender bias are higher when the attrition rate is lower, (b) gender biases are mitigated when attrition is more strongly associated with good or poor performance, and (c) the cumulative effects of mean gender differences in performance ratings can often be smaller than the cumulative effects of variance differences between gender subgroups. Results suggest that talent development and recognition of high performers might have a greater positive impact on female representation at top levels of a firm than programs aimed at reducing bias in employee evaluations. We encourage additional simulation work that further explores the dynamics of cumulative advantage in employment settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Aging Modulates the Effect of Dietary Glycemic Index on Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice

BackgroundGut microbiome composition profoundly impacts host physiology and is modulated by several environmental factors, most prominently diet. The composition of gut microbiota changes over the lifespan, particularly during the earliest and latest stages. However, we know less about diet-aging interactions on the gut microbiome. We previously showed that diets with different glycemic indices, based on the ratio of rapidly digested amylopectin to slowly digested amylose, led to altered composition of gut microbiota in male C57BL/6J mice. ObjectivesHere, we examined the role of aging in influencing dietary effects on gut microbiota composition and aimed to identify gut bacterial taxa that respond to diet and aging. MethodsWe studied 3 age groups of male C57BL/6J wild-type mice: young (4 mo), middle-aged (13.5 mo), and old (22 mo), all fed either high glycemic (HG) or low glycemic (LG) diets matched for caloric content and macronutrient composition. Fecal microbiome composition was determined by 16S rDNA metagenomic sequencing and was evaluated for changes in α- and β-diversity and bacterial taxa that change by age, diet, or both. ResultsYoung mice displayed lower α-diversity scores than middle-aged counterparts but exhibited more pronounced differences in β-diversity between diets. In contrast, old mice had slightly lower α-diversity scores than middle-aged mice, with significantly higher β-diversity distances. Within-group variance was lowest in young, LG-fed mice and highest in old, HG-fed mice. Differential abundance analysis revealed taxa associated with both aging and diet. Most differential taxa demonstrated significant interactions between diet and aging. Notably, several members of the Lachnospiraceae family increased with aging and HG diet, whereas taxa from the Bacteroides_H genus increased with the LG diet. Akkermansia muciniphila decreased with aging. ConclusionsThese findings illustrate the complex interplay between diet and aging in shaping the gut microbiota, potentially contributing to age-related disease.

Identifying subgroups of urge suppression in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder using machine learning

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is phenomenologically heterogeneous. While predominant models suggest fear and harm prevention drive compulsions, many patients also experience uncomfortable sensory-based urges (“sensory phenomena”) that may be associated with heightened interoceptive sensitivity. Using an urge-to-blink eyeblink suppression paradigm to model sensory-based urges, we previously found that OCD patients as a group had more eyeblink suppression failures and greater activation of sensorimotor-interoceptive regions than controls. However, conventional approaches assuming OCD homogeneity may obscure important within-group variability, impeding precision treatment development. This study investigated the heterogeneity of urge suppression failure in OCD and examined relationships with clinical characteristics and neural activation.Eighty-two patients with OCD and 38 controls underwent an fMRI task presenting 60-s blocks of eyeblink suppression alternating with free-blinking blocks. Latent profile analysis identified OCD subgroups based on number of erroneous blinks during suppression. Subgroups were compared on behavior, clinical characteristics, and brain activation during task.Three patient subgroups were identified. Despite similar overall OCD severity, the subgroup with the most erroneous eyeblinks had the highest sensory phenomena severity, interoceptive sensitivity, and subjective urge intensity. Compared to other subgroups, this subgroup exhibited more neural activity in somatosensory and interoceptive regions during the early phase (first 30 s) of blink suppression and reduced activity in the middle frontal gyrus during the late phase (second 30 s) as the suppression period elapsed.Heterogeneity of urge suppression in OCD was associated with clinical characteristics and brain function. Our results reveal potential treatment targets that could inform personalized medicine.

The economic lives of refugees

The economic lives of refugees are often viewed as relatively homogeneous, and sources of within-group variation remain largely unexplored. We describe the socio-economic diversity of refugees in one particular region: East Africa. Drawing upon first-hand quantitative and qualitative data collected in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia (n = 8,996), the article systematically compares 12 refugee subpopulations living in seven refugee camps and the three capital cities. In order to identify sources of variation, we examine three main questions: (1) What variation is there in socio-economic outcomes? (2) What strategies and resources do refugees rely upon, and how do these vary? (3) How are opportunities and constraints shaped by differences in institutions and identity? Overall, we show that, although the economic lives of refugees have some distinguishing and common features, they are also heterogeneous by host country, urban/camp context, nationality, and household. We explain why describing and understanding sources of within-group variation matters for research and policy.

The effect of maturation on children's experience of physical education: Lessons learned from academy sport

Students’ experiences of physical education (PE) are considered important for lifelong attitudes towards physical activity. Sex-related differences and the individualised tempo in anthropometric growth because of biological maturation lead to secondary school students within chronological age-ordered classes possessing vast differences in anthropometric and physical characteristics, which may negatively impact the PE experience for late- or early-maturing children. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to (i) critically discuss the influence of maturation on developmental factors related to PE and (ii) provide key stakeholders with guidance on how to manage this period of development more effectively and propose solutions to alleviate the confounding influence of biological maturity currently being implemented within sporting contexts. Secondary school children of different maturation status are often categorised using arbitrary, chronological age-ordered bandings, resulting in groups of children exhibiting large within-group variations in physical, behavioural, emotional, and educational development. This heterogeneity may lead to sub-optimal learning environments, which are confounded by complex and often negative developmental consequences for children who are at either extreme (late- or early-maturing) of the maturation continuum. This is particularly important within PE, where engagement, enjoyment, and resultant lifelong physical activity attitudes are influenced by perceived competence and relatedness, and where these needs may be thwarted because of considerable maturity-related variations. This paper posits that it is time for key stakeholders within child education to explore new ways to supplement current teaching practices and consider occasionally grouping children by maturation status (i.e. bio-banding) within secondary school PE to enhance students’ experiences.

Exploring Variability: Inflammation Mediator Levels across Tissues and Time in Poultry Experimentally Infected by the G1a and G6 Genogroups of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV).

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a significant burden for poultry production and market due to both direct disease and induced immunosuppression. In the present study, the expression of different cytokines in the bursa of Fabricius and thymus was evaluated during a 28-day-long experimental infection with two strains classified in the G1a (Classical) and G6 (ITA) genogroups. Although both strains significantly affected and modulated the expression of different molecules, the G6 strain seemed to induce a delayed immune response or suppress it more promptly. A recovery in the expression of several mediators was observed in the G1a-infected group at the end of the study, but not in the G6 one, further supporting a more persistent immunosuppression. This evidence fits with the higher replication level previously reported for the G6 and with the clinical outcome, as this genotype, although subclinical, has often been considered more immunosuppressive. However, unlike other studies focused on shorter time periods after infection, the patterns observed in this paper were highly variable and complex, depending on the strain, tissue, and time point, and characterized by a non-negligible within-group variability. Besides confirming the strain/genogroup effect on immune system modulation, the present study suggests the usefulness of longer monitoring activities after experimental infection to better understand the complex patterns and interactions with the host response.

Education, perceived discrimination, and identity voting: evidence from Brazil’s 2018 election

ABSTRACT Brazil’s electoral arena has long been characterized as devoid of identity politics. Recent analyses, however, have uncovered shifting racial subjectivities and effects of race and gender on electoral preferences. This paper leverages Brazil’s 2018 election to reassess conventional wisdom and test whether recent findings derived from racial groups extend to other subordinate social groups in this context, namely women and sexual minorities. I test two hypotheses: (1) that higher levels of education correlate with greater perceptions of group-based discrimination, and (2) that perceptions of group-based discrimination explain within-group variation in support for Bolsonaro. Analysis of national survey data show that education correlates with group consciousness among subordinate groups, and that these individuals are more likely to oppose the far-right populist candidate. This article provides a more complete understanding of the electoral salience of identity in the Brazilian context, and provides evidence that insights derived from one marginalized group can extend to others.

Implementing team-based telemedicine workflows in safety-net primary care.

Challenges in implementing telemedicine disproportionately affect patients served in safety-net settings. Few studies have elucidated pragmatic, team-based strategies for successful telemedicine implementation in primary care, especially with a safety-net population. We conducted in-depth, semistructured qualitative interviews with primary care clinicians and staff in a large urban safety-net health care system on the facilitators, challenges, and impact of implementing team workflows for synchronous telemedicine video and audio-only visits. Interviews were analyzed using modified grounded theory with multistage coding. Common themes were identified and reviewed to describe within-group and between-group variations. We used the Practical, Robust Implementation Sustainability Model framework to organize the final themes with an implementation science lens. Four themes emerged from 11 interviews: (1) having a dedicated individual preparing patients for video visits is a prerequisite for the successful introduction of video visits to patients with limited digital literacy; (2) health care maintenance during video and audio-only visits benefits from standardized workflows and communication; (3) the increased flexibility and accessibility of telemedicine visits were perceived benefits to patient care, despite barriers for subsets of patients; and (4) telemedicine visits generally have a positive impact on work experience for clinicians and staff due to increased efficiency, despite audio-only visits feeling less engaging. Understanding how to strategically use team-based workflows to expand video visit access while ensuring care quality of all telemedicine visits will allow primary care practices to maximize telemedicine's benefits to patients in the safety-net setting.

0978 A Spectrum of Altered Non-rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Schizophrenia

Abstract Introduction Multiple facets of sleep neurophysiology, including electroencephalography (EEG) metrics such as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) spindles and slow oscillations (SO), are altered in individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ). However, beyond group-level analyses which treat all patients as a unitary set, the extent to which NREM deficits vary among patients is unclear, as are their relationships to other sources of heterogeneity including clinical factors, illness duration and ageing, cognitive profiles and medication regimens. Methods Using newly collected high-density sleep EEG data on 103 individuals with SCZ and 68 controls, we first sought to replicate our previously reported (Kozhemiako et. al, eLife, 2022) group-level mean differences between patients and controls (original N=130). Then in the combined sample (N=301 including 175 patients), we characterized patient-to-patient variability in NREM neurophysiology. Sleep EEG preprocessing was conducted using an open-source package called Luna (http://zzz.bwh.harvard.edu/luna/). Results We replicated all group-level mean differences and confirmed the high accuracy of our predictive model (Area Under the ROC Curve, AUC = 0.93 for diagnosis). Compared to controls, patients showed significantly increased between-individual variability across many (26%) sleep metrics, with patterns only partially recapitulating those for group-level mean differences. Although multiple clinical and cognitive factors were associated with NREM metrics including spindle density, collectively they did not account for much of the general increase in patient-to-patient variability. Medication regime was a greater (albeit still partial) generator of variability, although original group mean differences persisted after controlling for medications. Some sleep metrics including fast spindle density showed exaggerated and accelerated age-related effects in SCZ, and patients exhibited older predicted biological ages based on an independent model of ageing and the sleep EEG. Conclusion We demonstrated robust and replicable alterations in sleep neurophysiology in individuals with SCZ and highlighted distinct patterns of effects contrasting between-group means versus within-group variances. That increased NREM heterogeneity was not explained by traditional clinical or cognitive patient assessments suggests the sleep EEG provides novel, nonredundant information to support the goals of personalized medicine. Collectively, our results point to a spectrum of NREM sleep deficits among SCZ Support (if any)

Testing the Diathesis and Transactional Stress Models Among African American Adolescents

Prior literature suggests that stress exposure is associated with elevated rates of depressive symptoms in African American adolescents. However, there is substantial within-group variability which may be attributable to differences in adolescents’ individual characteristics (e.g., self-esteem, coping styles), and interpersonal experiences (e.g., peer support). The current study first examined whether active coping, perceived peer support, self-esteem, and stress were associated with depressive symptoms. Then, drawing from the diathesis-stress, transactional stress, and stress-buffering models, we examined whether the effects of stress on depressive symptoms were moderated by self-esteem, active coping, and perceived peer support. Using a sample of African American adolescents ( n = 1,163; mean age = 13 years old; 54.2% girls), we found that active coping and stress were positively associated with depressive symptoms in contrast to self-esteem and perceived peer support. Interaction results suggested that active coping and self-esteem moderated the effects of stress on depressive symptoms. Implications are discussed.

Interaction of motor practice and memory training in expressive piano performance: expanding the possibilities of improvisation.

This paper aimed to investigate the influence of motor practice and music performance experiences on musicians' auditory memory, the effect of auditory distinctiveness on melody recognition, and the differences in the working memory of classical and jazz pianists. The study was conducted among 26 jazz and 24 classical music students at Shenyang Conservatory of Music. To achieve the goal set, a melody recognition ability was analyzed after listening, performing without sound, and simultaneous listening and performing using computer recordings and pianist-taken notes. The study was conducted following repeated measures mixed design. The within-group variable was the learning condition. As the within-participant variable, the number of melody practicing trials was chosen. The type of influence on auditory memory was chosen as a between-group variable. The dependent variables were auditory recognition score, motor imagery ability, and auditory imagery ability. Students' recognition of the heard melodies was assessed by means of a 3-point Likert scale. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to investigate the relationship between working memory and other student characteristics. The study outcomes unveiled that pianists are much better at recognizing tunes they generate themselves in auditory-motor practice than auditory practice alone. It was pointed out that the ability to recognize melody in auditory-motor learning is influenced by its acoustic characteristics. Hence, melodies that are slow in tempo and regular in time and intensity are easier to recognize than more variable pieces.

Microbial communities, functional, and flavor differences among three different-colored high-temperature Daqu: A comprehensive metagenomic, physicochemical, and electronic sensory analysis

High-temperature Daqu (HTD) is the starter for producing sauce-flavor Baijiu, with different-colored Daqu (white, yellow, and black) reflecting variations in fermentation chamber conditions, chemical reactions, and associated microbiota. Understanding the relationship between Daqu characteristics and flavor/taste is challenging yet vital for improving Baijiu fermentation. This study utilized metagenomic sequencing, physicochemical analysis, and electronic sensory evaluation to compare three different-colored HTD and their roles in fermentation. Fungi and bacteria dominated the HTD-associated microbiota, with fungi increasing as the fermentation temperature rose. The major fungal genera were Aspergillus (40.17%) and Kroppenstedtia (21.16%), with Aspergillus chevalieri (25.65%) and Kroppenstedtia eburnean (21.07%) as prevalent species. Microbial communities, functionality, and physicochemical properties, particularly taste and flavor, were color-specific in HTD. Interestingly, the microbial communities in different-colored HTDs demonstrated robust functional complementarity. White Daqu exhibited non-significantly higher α-diversity compared to the other two Daqu. It played a crucial role in breaking down substrates such as starch, proteins, hyaluronic acid, and glucan, contributing to flavor precursor synthesis. Yellow Daqu, which experienced intermediate temperature and humidity, demonstrated good esterification capacity and a milder taste profile. Black Daqu efficiently broke down raw materials, especially complex polysaccharides, but had inferior flavor and taste. Notably, large within-group variations in physicochemical quality and microbial composition were observed, highlighting limitations in color-based HTD quality assessment. Water content in HTD was associated with Daqu flavor, implicating its crucial role. This study revealed the complementary roles of the three HTD types in sauce-flavor Baijiu fermentation, providing valuable insights for product enhancement.

Functional correlates of cognitive performance and working memory in temporal lobe epilepsy: Insights from task-based and resting-state fMRI.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common form of medically intractable epilepsy. Although seizures originate in mesial temporal structures, there are widespread abnormalities of gray and white matter beyond the temporal lobes that negatively impact functional networks and cognition. Previous studies have focused either on the global impact on functional networks, or on the functional correlates of specific cognitive abilities. Here, we use a two-pronged approach to evaluate the link between whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) anomalies to overall cognitive performance, and how such abnormal connectivity alters the fronto-parietal brain regions involved in working memory (WMem), a cognitive disability often reported by TLE patients. We evaluated 31 TLE patients and 35 healthy subjects through extensive cognitive testing, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI), and task-based fMRI using Sternberg's task to evaluate WMem. As a group, TLE patients displayed cognitive abnormalities across different domains, although considerable within-group variability was identified. TLE patients showed disruptions of functional networks between and within the default mode network (DMN) and task-positive networks (TPN) resulting in associations with cognitive performance. Furthermore, during the WMem task, TLE patients showed abnormal activity of fronto-parietal regions that were associated with other forms of memory, and alterations of seed-based connectivity analyses. Our results show that different degrees of abnormal functional brain activity and connectivity are related to the severity of disabilities across cognitive spheres. Differential co-activation patterns between patients and healthy subjects suggest potential compensatory mechanisms to preserve adequate cognitive performance.

The effect of fathers’ birth attendance on paternal attachment and the perception of parental role: a randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background Fathers’ birth attendance is associated with support for mothers in infant care, positive child health outcomes, and parental well-being. Objective This study was conducted in a randomised controlled experimental design to investigate the effect of fathers’ birth attendance on paternal-infant attachment and the perception of parental role. Methodology Pregnant women during the childbirth process and their husbands were included in the study and were randomised according to fathers’ birth attendance. The data were collected with the Information Form (IF), Paternal Antenatal Attachment Questionnaire (PAAQ), Self-Perception of Parental Role Scale (SPPRS), Postnatal Paternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire (PPAQ), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The IF data were obtained from women before birth, and the EPDS data were obtained from women 15 days after birth. Results Individual characteristics of mothers and fathers in the groups, and prenatal PAAQ and SPPRS scores of the fathers were similar (p > 0.05). In the postnatal period, a significant difference was found in favour of the intervention group in the PPAQ total (p < 0.01), Patience and Tolerance (p < 0.05) and Pleasure in Interaction (p < 0.01) sub-dimensions. The within-group variation of the SPPRS scores of fathers in the intervention and control groups was analysed. The postnatal Competence (p < 0.01) and Integration (p < 0.05) sub-dimension scores statistically significantly increased in both the intervention and control groups compared to the antenatal period. Conclusion While husbands’ accompanying their wives in the delivery room positively affects paternal-infant attachment, its effect on the perception of parental role is an issue that needs to be further investigated.