@article {pmid42555539,
year = {2026},
author = {Oliveira, MAC and Drumond, CL and Almeida Júnior, A and Lima, CBV and Sousa, RV and Knorst, JK and Coêlho, HFC and Sampaio, FC},
title = {Intelligence quotient in children with dental fluorosis in rural areas of Paraíba.},
journal = {Caries research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1},
doi = {10.1159/cre/abuag002},
pmid = {42555539},
issn = {1421-976X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Concerns about possible neurotoxicity related to fluoride exposure remain controversial, and evidence is heterogeneous across exposure ranges and study settings. This study evaluated the association between dental fluorosis and intelligence quotient (IQ) among children living in rural areas of Paraíba, Brazil.

METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted within a cross-sectional survey. Participants were matched 1:1 by age and sex. IQ was assessed using Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices and dichotomized as Lower IQ (Levels IV-V) versus Higher IQ (Levels I-III). Dental caries (DMFT/dmft) and fluorosis (TF index) were assessed after cleaning and drying. Fluoride concentration in drinking water was determined using a fluoride ion-specific electrode. Associations with Lower IQ were tested using conditional logistic regression in the matched sample (n=136) and a sensitivity analysis using logistic regression with cluster-robust standard errors.

RESULTS: In crude matched analyses (68 pairs; n = 136), low family income was associated with Lower IQ (OR = 3.50, 95% CI: 1.15-10.63; p = 0.027), while dental caries showed a borderline association (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 0.94-3.63; p = 0.075). In the adjusted conditional logistic regression model, associations were not statistically significant (income: adjusted OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 0.89-9.58; p = 0.076; caries: adjusted OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.57-3.05; p = 0.514), and dental fluorosis (TF>0) was not associated with Lower IQ (adjusted OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.45-2.33; p = 0.965). In the sensitivity analysis using the full analytic sample (n = 175) with cluster-robust standard errors clustered at the school level, low income (adjusted OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.04-6.71; p = 0.0416) and dental caries (adjusted OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.20-3.78; p = 0.0096) were associated with Lower IQ, whereas dental fluorosis was not (adjusted OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.55-1.45; p = 0.6471).

CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic disadvantage and dental caries showed the most consistent associations with Lower IQ, whereas dental fluorosis, used as an indirect marker of earlier fluoride exposure during tooth development, was not independently associated with IQ status after adjustment when comparing Lower IQ versus Higher IQ.},
}

@article {pmid42548994,
year = {2026},
author = {Tuska-Szalay, B and Gaál, K and Horváth, M and Takács, N and Keve, G and Szabó, L and Gergely, I and Hornok, S},
title = {Apicomplexan parasites in urban corvids: Presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA and first detection of Lankesterella and Isospora DNA in the brain of Eurasian magpies, Pica pica.},
journal = {Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {100417},
pmid = {42548994},
issn = {2667-114X},
abstract = {Corvids, including crows, magpies, ravens and jays, are among the most abundant and adaptable bird species in urban and peri-urban environments, where their proximity to humans and domestic animals may facilitate the circulation of parasites. This study aimed at analyzing the presence of DNA of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and other coccidia with neurotropism in corvids. A total of 279 brain samples collected at two peri-urban locations in Hungary were examined using molecular methods. The majority of sampled individuals were Eurasian magpies (Pica pica; n = 273). In addition, Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius; n = 4) and hooded crows (Corvus cornix; n = 2) were included. Apicomplexan DNA was only detected in the brain of P. pica. In this species, T. gondii was identified with a prevalence of 3.7%, for the first time in P. pica in Hungary and Central Europe. Furthermore, DNA of a Lankesterella sp. was detected in 4% of the specimens of P. pica examined, representing the first molecular evidence of its presence in any corvid species. Because the 18S rRNA sequence of this Lankesterella sp. showed at least 1.3% sequence difference from already reported isolates/species but was 100% identical among all 11 infected P. pica at two locations, this isolate may represent a host-associated genotype. DNA of both T. gondii and Lankesterella sp. was detected in three birds. In the brain of one P. pica, an Isospora species was detected, showing the closest sequence identity to Isospora phylidonyrisae and Isospora coronoideae, which have so far been reported from avian hosts in Australia. These findings broaden our knowledge on the diversity of apicomplexan parasites harbored by P. pica and provide a basis for future studies assessing the potential One Health significance of corvids in urban environments.},
}

@article {pmid37823489,
year = {2023},
author = {Toyoshima, M and Nakaoji, K and Hamada, K and Yamanaka, A and Inaba, Y and Muraoka, K and Tohsuji, E and Sakakibara, K and Saji, N and Jinnin, M},
title = {Analysis of skin aging patterns using a facial imaging system in patients with atopic dermatitis.},
journal = {European journal of dermatology : EJD},
volume = {33},
number = {4},
pages = {383-393},
doi = {10.1684/ejd.2023.4528},
pmid = {37823489},
issn = {1952-4013},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; *Skin Aging ; *Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnostic imaging ; Face/diagnostic imaging ; Aging ; Skin ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: There are few studies on skin aging in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the characteristics of facial skin aging in AD patients.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Using facial images obtained by a digital imaging system (VISIA evolution), we compared the severity scores for 10 aging signs in 53 women in the AD group and 29 women in the healthy control group, all 35-49 years old.

RESULTS: The severity scores for fine lines on the forehead, periorbital wrinkles, nasolabial folds, and texture of the mouth contour were significantly higher in the AD group than in the controls. However, in order to exclude a direct effect of dermatitis at the time of measurement, cases with signs of AD at the evaluation site were excluded from the AD group (defined as the AD [non-lesion] group), revealing no statistical significance between the AD (non-lesion) group and the healthy control group for any of the 10 facial signs. Age subset analysis showed that for individuals in their late 40s, the AD (non-lesion) group exhibited significantly higher scores for crow's feet wrinkle and nasolabial fold compared to the healthy control group. Furthermore, these two scores correlated with one other, suggesting that they may be induced by the same factors.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that skin aging associated with AD is prominent in areas prone to transient wrinkling by frequent blinking and speaking or facial expressions. Understanding of the need for appropriate AD treatment from a cosmetic perspective may increase patient adherence.},
}

Humans
Female
Adult
Middle Aged
*Skin Aging
*Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnostic imaging
Face/diagnostic imaging
Aging
Skin

@article {pmid37829066,
year = {2023},
author = {Xu, Z and Zhang, P and Tu, M and Zhang, M and Lai, Y},
title = {Brain optimization with additional study time: potential brain differences between high- and low-performance college students.},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1209881},
pmid = {37829066},
issn = {1664-1078},
abstract = {This study investigates potential differences in brain function among high-, average-, and low-performance college students using electroencephalography (EEG). We hypothesize that the increased academic engagement of high-performance students will lead to discernible EEG variations due to the brain's structural plasticity. 61 third-year college students from identical majors were divided into high-performance (n = 20), average-performance (n = 21), and low-performance (n = 20) groups based on their academic achievements. We conducted three EEG experiments: resting state, Sternberg working memory task, and Raven progressive matrix task. Comprehensive analyses of the EEG data from the three experiments focused on power spectral density (PSD) and functional connectivity, with coherence (COH) employed as our primary metric for the latter. The results showed that in all experiments, there were no differences in working memory ability and IQ scores among the groups, and there were no significant differences in the power spectral densities of the delta, theta, alpha1, alpha2, beta, and gamma bands among the groups. Notably, on the Raven test, compared to their high-performing peers, low-performing students showed enhanced functional connectivity in the alpha 1 (8-9 Hz) band that connects the frontal and occipital lobes. We explored three potential explanations for this phenomenon: fatigue, anxiety, and greater cognitive effort required for problem-solving due to inefficient self-regulation and increased susceptibility to distraction. In essence, these insights not only deepen our understanding of the neural basis that anchors academic ability, but also hold promise in guiding interventions that address students' diverse academic needs.},
}

@article {pmid37834970,
year = {2023},
author = {Lee, SK and Kim, MS and Kwon, SH and Chung, BY and Han, SH and Kim, HJ},
title = {Efficacy, Safety, and Subject Satisfaction of PrabotulinumtoxinA for Moderate-to-Severe Crow's Feet: A Phase IV, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
volume = {12},
number = {19},
pages = {},
pmid = {37834970},
issn = {2077-0383},
support = {there is no grant number.//Daewoong Pharmaceutical (South Korea)/ ; },
abstract = {PrabotulinumtoxinA has been identified as an effective agent against crow's feet. Our study, which included Korean patients with moderate to severe crow's feet, was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of PrabotulinumtoxinA and placebo treatments. Of the 90 study participants, 60 received prabotulinumtoxinA (24 U), whereas 30 received a placebo. The primary outcome assessment included facial wrinkle grading by investigators. At week 4, 69.64% of patients in the prabotulinumtoxinA group exhibited minimal crow's feet severity; in contrast, a 0% improvement was observed in the placebo group (p < 0.0001). At week 12, the improvement rates were 30.36% for prabotulinumtoxinA and 6.90% for the placebo, demonstrating a significant difference (p = 0.0152). Based on the independent review panel's assessment at week 4, the improvement rate was 39.29% in the prabotulinumtoxinA group and 3.45% in the placebo group during maximum smiling. Additionally, patient satisfaction was notably higher in the prabotulinumtoxinA group (32.14%) than in the placebo group (10.34%) at week 4 (p = 0.0289). Both treatments displayed comparable safety profiles, with only mild local reactions reported as ADRs for one patient from the prabotulinumtoxinA group. Thus, prabotulinumtoxinA demonstrates significant potential as a potent and safe remedy for crow's feet.},
}

@article {pmid37835184,
year = {2023},
author = {Calonico, K and De La Rosa-Millan, J},
title = {Digestion-Related Enzyme Inhibition Potential of Selected Mexican Medicinal Plants (Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H.Raven, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and Crotalaria longirostrata).},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {12},
number = {19},
pages = {},
pmid = {37835184},
issn = {2304-8158},
abstract = {Medicinal plants offer a valuable source of natural compounds with specific and selective bioactivity. These compounds have been isolated since the mid-nineteenth century and are now commonly used in modern medications. L. octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H.Raven, C. aconitifolius, and C. longirostrata are Mexican medicinal plants consumed regularly, and research has shown that they contain bioactive compounds capable of promoting the inhibition of digestive enzymes. This is noteworthy since enzyme inhibitors are bioactive substances that interact with enzymes, diminishing their activity and thereby contributing to the management of diseases and metabolic disturbances. To investigate the activity of these plants, individual analyses were conducted, assessing their proximal composition, bioactive compounds, and inhibition of α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, lipase, and pepsin. The results revealed that all three plants exhibited enzymatic inhibition. When comparing the plants, it was determined that C. aconitifolius had the lowest concentration required for a 50% inhibition in α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, and lipase, as indicated by the IC50 values. For pepsin, C. longirostrata demonstrated the lowest IC50 value. By understanding the bioactive compounds present in these plants, we can establish the relationship they have with enzymatic inhibition, which can be utilized for future investigations.},
}

@article {pmid37846510,
year = {2024},
author = {Blanchet, G and Bellinger, MR and Kearns, AM and Cortes-Rodriguez, N and Masuda, B and Campana, MG and Rutz, C and Fleischer, RC and Sutton, JT},
title = {Reduction of genetic diversity in 'Alalā (Hawaiian crow; Corvus hawaiiensis) between the late 1800s and the late 1900s.},
journal = {The Journal of heredity},
volume = {115},
number = {1},
pages = {32-44},
doi = {10.1093/jhered/esad063},
pmid = {37846510},
issn = {1465-7333},
support = {BB/G023913/2/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Crows/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Hawaii ; Inbreeding ; Genome ; Endangered Species ; },
abstract = {Genetic and genomic data are increasingly used to aid conservation management of endangered species by providing insights into evolutionary histories, factors associated with extinction risks, and potential for future adaptation. For the 'Alalā, or Hawaiian crow (Corvus hawaiiensis), genetic concerns include negative correlations between inbreeding and hatching success. However, it is unclear if low genetic diversity and inbreeding depression are consequences of a historical population bottleneck, or if 'Alalā had historically low genetic diversity that predated human influence, perhaps as a result of earlier declines or founding events. In this study, we applied a hybridization-based sequence capture to generate a genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset for comparing historical specimens collected in the 1890s, when 'Alalā were more numerous, to samples taken between 1973 and 1998, when 'Alalā population densities were near the lowest documented levels in the wild, prior to all individuals being collected for captive rearing. We found low genome-wide diversity in both sample groups, however, the modern sample group (1973 to 1998 cohort) exhibited relatively fewer polymorphic alleles, a lower proportion of polymorphic loci, and lower observed heterozygosity, consistent with a population decline and potential bottleneck effects. These results combined with a current low population size highlight the importance of continued efforts by conservation managers to mitigate inbreeding and maintain founder representation to preserve what genetic diversity remains.},
}

Humans
Animals
*Crows/genetics
Genetic Variation
Hawaii
Inbreeding
Genome
Endangered Species

@article {pmid37846601,
year = {2023},
author = {Blackburn, G and Ashton, BJ and Thornton, A and Woodiss-Field, S and Ridley, AR},
title = {Cognition mediates response to anthropogenic noise in wild Western Australian magpies (Gmynorhina tibicen dorsalis).},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {29},
number = {24},
pages = {6912-6930},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.16975},
pmid = {37846601},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {//Ada Jackson Irwin Street Commemoration Award/ ; //Australian Government Research Training Program/ ; //Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Australia ; Noise/adverse effects ; Animals, Wild ; Cognition ; *Passeriformes ; },
abstract = {Anthropogenic noise is a pollutant of growing concern, with wide-ranging effects on taxa across ecosystems. Until recently, studies investigating the effects of anthropogenic noise on animals focused primarily on population-level consequences, rather than individual-level impacts. Individual variation in response to anthropogenic noise may result from extrinsic or intrinsic factors. One such intrinsic factor, cognitive performance, varies between individuals and is hypothesised to aid behavioural response to novel stressors. Here, we combine cognitive testing, behavioural focals and playback experiments to investigate how anthropogenic noise affects the behaviour and anti-predator response of Western Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis), and to determine whether this response is linked to cognitive performance. We found a significant population-level effect of anthropogenic noise on the foraging effort, foraging efficiency, vigilance, vocalisation rate and anti-predator response of magpies, with birds decreasing their foraging, vocalisation behaviours and anti-predator response, and increasing vigilance when loud anthropogenic noise was present. We also found that individuals varied in their response to playbacks depending on their cognitive performance, with individuals that performed better in an associative learning task maintaining their anti-predator response when an alarm call was played in anthropogenic noise. Our results add to the growing body of literature documenting the adverse effects of anthropogenic noise on wildlife and provide the first evidence for an association between individual cognitive performance and behavioural responses to anthropogenic noise.},
}

Humans
Animals
*Ecosystem
Australia
Noise/adverse effects
Animals, Wild
Cognition
*Passeriformes

@article {pmid37857541,
year = {2023},
author = {Prinja, S and Bahuguna, P and Singh, MP and Guinness, L and Goyal, A and Aggarwal, V},
title = {Refining the provider payment system of India's government-funded health insurance programme: an econometric analysis.},
journal = {BMJ open},
volume = {13},
number = {10},
pages = {e076155},
pmid = {37857541},
issn = {2044-6055},
mesh = {Humans ; *Insurance, Health ; *Health Care Costs ; Hospital Costs ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Government ; India ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Reimbursement rates in national health insurance schemes are frequently weighted to account for differences in the costs of service provision. To determine weights for a differential case-based payment system under India's publicly financed national health insurance scheme, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), by exploring and quantifying the influence of supply-side factors on the costs of inpatient admissions and surgical procedures.

DESIGN: Exploratory analysis using regression-based cost function on data from a multisite health facility costing study-the Cost of Health Services in India (CHSI) Study.

SETTING: The CHSI Study sample included 11 public sector tertiary care hospitals, 27 public sector district hospitals providing secondary care and 16 private hospitals, from 11 Indian states.

PARTICIPANTS: 521 sites from 57 healthcare facilities in 11 states of India.

INTERVENTIONS: Medical and surgical packages of PM-JAY.

The cost per bed-day and cost per surgical procedure were regressed against a range of factors to be considered as weights including hospital location, presence of a teaching function and ownership. In addition, capacity utilisation, number of beds, specialist mix, state gross domestic product, State Health Index ranking and volume of patients across the sample were included as variables in the models. Given the skewed data, cost variables were log-transformed for some models.

RESULTS: The estimated mean costs per inpatient bed-day and per procedure were 2307 and 10 686 Indian rupees, respectively. Teaching status, annual hospitalisation, bed size, location of hospital and average length of hospitalisation significantly determine the inpatient bed-day cost, while location of hospital and teaching status determine the procedure costs. Cost per bed-day of teaching hospitals was 38-143.4% higher than in non-teaching hospitals. Similarly, cost per bed-day was 1.3-89.7% higher in tier 1 cities, and 19.5-77.3% higher in tier 2 cities relative to tier 3 cities, respectively. Finally, cost per surgical procedure was higher by 10.6-144.6% in teaching hospitals than non-teaching hospitals; 12.9-171.7% higher in tier 1 cities; and 33.4-140.9% higher in tier 2 cities compared with tier 3 cities, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Our study findings support and validate the recently introduced differential provider payment system under the PM-JAY. While our results are indicative of heterogeneity in hospital costs, other considerations of how these weights will affect coverage, quality, cost containment, as well as create incentives and disincentives for provider and consumer behaviour, and integrate with existing price mark-ups for other factors, should be considered to determine the future revisions in the differential pricing scheme.},
}

Humans
*Insurance, Health
*Health Care Costs
Hospital Costs
Hospitals, Teaching
Government
India

@article {pmid37862096,
year = {2023},
author = {Bahafid, E and Bradtmöller, I and Thies, AM and Nguyen, TTON and Gutierrez, C and Desvoyes, B and Stahl, Y and Blilou, I and Simon, RGW},
title = {The Arabidopsis SHORTROOT network coordinates shoot apical meristem development with auxin-dependent lateral organ initiation.},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {37862096},
issn = {2050-084X},
mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Meristem ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cyclins/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Plants produce new organs post-embryonically throughout their entire life cycle. This is due to stem cells present in the shoot and root apical meristems, the SAM and RAM, respectively. In the SAM, stem cells are located in the central zone where they divide slowly. Stem cell daughters are displaced laterally and enter the peripheral zone, where their mitotic activity increases and lateral organ primordia are formed. How the spatial arrangement of these different domains is initiated and controlled during SAM growth and development, and how sites of lateral organ primordia are determined in the peripheral zone is not yet completely understood. We found that the SHORTROOT (SHR) transcription factor together with its target transcription factors SCARECROW (SCR), SCARECROW-LIKE23 (SCL23) and JACKDAW (JKD), promotes formation of lateral organs and controls shoot meristem size. SHR, SCR, SCL23, and JKD are expressed in distinct, but partially overlapping patterns in the SAM. They can physically interact and activate expression of key cell cycle regulators such as CYCLIND6;1 (CYCD6;1) to promote the formation of new cell layers. In the peripheral zone, auxin accumulates at sites of lateral organ primordia initiation and activates SHR expression via the auxin response factor MONOPTEROS (MP) and auxin response elements in the SHR promoter. In the central zone, the SHR-target SCL23 physically interacts with the key stem cell regulator WUSCHEL (WUS) to promote stem cell fate. Both SCL23 and WUS expression are subject to negative feedback regulation from stem cells through the CLAVATA signaling pathway. Together, our findings illustrate how SHR-dependent transcription factor complexes act in different domains of the shoot meristem to mediate cell division and auxin dependent organ initiation in the peripheral zone, and coordinate this activity with stem cell maintenance in the central zone of the SAM.},
}

*Arabidopsis/metabolism
Meristem
*Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism
Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Homeodomain Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Cyclins/metabolism

@article {pmid37863938,
year = {2023},
author = {Pendergraft, LT and Marzluff, JM and Cross, DJ and Shimizu, T and Templeton, CN},
title = {American crows that excel at tool use activate neural circuits distinct from less talented individuals.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {6539},
pmid = {37863938},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {S10 OD017980/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Adult ; Female ; *Crows ; *Tool Use Behavior ; Hippocampus ; },
abstract = {Tools enable animals to exploit and command new resources. However, the neural circuits underpinning tool use and how neural activity varies with an animal's tool proficiency, are only known for humans and some other primates. We use 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography to image the brain activity of naïve vs trained American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) when presented with a task requiring the use of stone tools. As in humans, talent affects the neural circuits activated by crows as they prepare to execute the task. Naïve and less proficient crows use neural circuits associated with sensory- and higher-order processing centers (the mesopallium and nidopallium), while highly proficient individuals increase activity in circuits associated with motor learning and tactile control (hippocampus, tegmentum, nucleus basorostralis, and cerebellum). Greater proficiency is found primarily in adult female crows and may reflect their need to use more cognitively complex strategies, like tool use, to obtain food.},
}

Humans
Animals
Adult
Female
*Crows
*Tool Use Behavior
Hippocampus

@article {pmid37864481,
year = {2023},
author = {Badás, EP and Bauch, C and Boonekamp, JJ and Mulder, E and Verhulst, S},
title = {Ectoparasite presence and brood size manipulation interact to accelerate telomere shortening in nestling jackdaws.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {32},
number = {24},
pages = {6913-6923},
doi = {10.1111/mec.17177},
pmid = {37864481},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {8444403//European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie/ ; BA 5422/1-1//DFG fellowship/ ; 823.01.009//NWO/ ; 823.01.006//NWO/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Crows ; Telomere Shortening/genetics ; Stress, Physiological ; Telomere/genetics ; },
abstract = {Early-life conditions impact fitness, but whether the combined effect of extrinsic stressors is additive or synergistic is not well known. This is a major knowledge gap because exposure to multiple stressors is frequent. Telomere dynamics may be instrumental when testing how stressors interact because many factors affect telomere shortening, and telomere shortening predicts survival. We evaluated the effect of manipulated brood size and natural infestation by the carnid fly Carnus hemapterus on nestling growth and telomere shortening of wild jackdaws (Corvus monedula). Telomere length, measured in blood using TRF, shortened on average by 264 bp, and on average, Carnus infection induced more telomere shortening. Further analyses showed that in enlarged broods, nestlings' telomeres shortened more when parasitized, while in reduced broods there was no effect of infection on telomere shortening. We conclude that there is a synergistic effect of number of siblings and Carnus infection on telomere shortening rate: blood-sucking parasites may negatively impact telomeres by increasing cell proliferation and/or physiological stress, and coping with infection may be less successful in enlarged broods with increased sibling competition. Larger nestlings had shorter telomeres independent of age, brood manipulation or infection. Growth was independent of infestation but in enlarged broods, nestlings were lighter at fledging. Our findings indicate that (i) evaluating consequences of early-life environmental conditions in isolation may not yield a full picture due to synergistic effects, and (ii) effects of environmental conditions may be cryptic, for example, on telomeres, with fitness consequences expressed beyond the temporal framework of the study.},
}

Animals
*Crows
Telomere Shortening/genetics
Stress, Physiological
Telomere/genetics

@article {pmid37875131,
year = {2024},
author = {Hamilton, JB and Abiri, A and Nicolas, CA and Grant, EJ and Best, NC},
title = {Black Appalachia's Oldest Old: Untold Stories of Experienced Racism and Coping With Religious Practices/Beliefs.},
journal = {The Gerontologist},
volume = {64},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/geront/gnad143},
pmid = {37875131},
issn = {1758-5341},
mesh = {Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Black or African American ; *Racism ; *Religion ; United States ; Male ; Aged ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Racism and religion are recognized as prevailing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). To explore ways in which racism and religion looms in the daily lives of African Americans, we analyzed the experiences of African Americans born during the Jim Crow years and living in the Southern Appalachian Region of the United States.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-seven African Americans participated in this qualitative descriptive study that utilized criterion sampling, open-ended semistructured interviews, and content analysis to identify a typology of categories related to experienced racism and ways in which religion was used in response to those experiences.

RESULTS: Participants were an average age of 82.22 years (SD = 5.07); primarily women (n = 19, 70.4%); married (n = 11, 40.7%); junior high school (n = 6, 22.2%), high school or general educational diploma (n = 7, 25.9%), completed college or professional school (n = 6, 22.2%); were retired (n = 27, 100.0%); and affiliated with Baptist churches (n = 18, 66.7%). Experiences with racism included inequities in healthcare and education, and racially motivated physical violence. Religious practices/beliefs included forgiveness, humility, and humanity.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Racism experienced by African American participants was likely countered by religious practices/beliefs inspired through intergenerational teachings with affiliations to the Black Church. These experiences of the oldest old) African Americans living in communities of the Southern Appalachia, United States, illustrate the pervasive nature of racism. The religious beliefs that are frequently transmitted intergenerationally through the Black Church are relevant to understand present-day encounters with racism among African Americans and possibly other communities of color.},
}

Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Adaptation, Psychological
Black or African American
*Racism
*Religion
United States
Male
Aged

@article {pmid37883792,
year = {2023},
author = {Kirschhock, ME and Nieder, A},
title = {Numerical Representation for Action in Crows Obeys the Weber-Fechner Law.},
journal = {Psychological science},
volume = {34},
number = {12},
pages = {1322-1335},
doi = {10.1177/09567976231201624},
pmid = {37883792},
issn = {1467-9280},
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Differential Threshold ; *Crows ; Cognition ; Judgment ; Neurons ; },
abstract = {The psychophysical laws governing the judgment of perceived numbers of objects or events, called the number sense, have been studied in detail. However, the behavioral principles of equally important numerical representations for action are largely unexplored in both humans and animals. We trained two male carrion crows (Corvus corone) to judge numerical values of instruction stimuli from one to five and to flexibly perform a matching number of pecks. Our quantitative analysis of the crows' number production performance shows the same behavioral regularities that have previously been demonstrated for the judgment of sensory numerosity, such as the numerical distance effect, the numerical magnitude effect, and the logarithmical compression of the number line. The presence of these psychophysical phenomena in crows producing number of pecks suggests a unified sensorimotor number representation system underlying the judgment of the number of external stimuli and internally generated actions.},
}

Animals
Humans
Male
Differential Threshold
*Crows
Cognition
Judgment
Neurons

@article {pmid37886251,
year = {2023},
author = {Mirzaghavami, M and Sadraei, J and Pirestani, M and Bahadory, S},
title = {The Role of Some Free-Ranging Animals in the Transmission of Multi-Host Species of Cryptosporidium Spp.},
journal = {Iranian journal of parasitology},
volume = {18},
number = {3},
pages = {313-323},
pmid = {37886251},
issn = {1735-7020},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: We aimed to characterize Cryptosporidium spp. in rats, cats, pigeons, and crows.

METHODS: Fifty-five animal origin Cryptosporidium spp. genome were identified, genotyped and confirmed by nested PCR and of RFLP-PCR analysis as well as sequenced based on 18s rRNA and gp60 genes in Tehran (2012-2019). Finally, the phylogenetic analysis was performed by MEGA software (version 7).

RESULTS: By the molecular method, Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 24 (15.2%), 15 (15%), 2 (2%) and 13 (13%) cases of wild rats, cat, pigeon, and crow, respectively. Among the identified species by the RFLP pattern, most isolates were identified as C. parvum (24/157) 17.8% in rats, (15/100) 15% in cats, (13/100) 13%in crew and (2/100) 2% in pigeons; and the rest of the cases were C. muris and C. felis. The results of sequencing did not prove the existence of C. parvum, C. felis, C. muris, and rat genotype. Subtyping of C. parvum was indicated that the dominant subtype family belongs to the IId family and the subtype A20G1 was the most common subtype detected in all hosts while A19G1 was detected in one isolate of cat and pigeon.

CONCLUSION: Free-ranging animals are infected by species/subtype of Cryptosporidium, which can infect humans. This shows by itself the hygienic importance of the free-ranging animals in urban ecosystems. In the transmission of human cryptosporidiosis, the multi-host Cryptosporidium species such as C. parvum, C. felis, and C. muris can be transferred potentially from these animals to humans.},
}

@article {pmid37887616,
year = {2023},
author = {Bruck, HA and Gupta, SK},
title = {A Retrospective of Project Robo Raven: Developing New Capabilities for Enhancing the Performance of Flapping Wing Aerial Vehicles.},
journal = {Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {8},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {37887616},
issn = {2313-7673},
support = {FA9550-12-1-0158 and FA9550-15-1-0350//United States Air Force Office of Scientific Research/ ; },
abstract = {Flapping Wing Air Vehicles (FWAVs) have proven to be attractive alternatives to fixed wing and rotary air vehicles at low speeds because of their bio-inspired ability to hover and maneuver. However, in the past, they have not been able to reach their full potential due to limitations in wing control and payload capacity, which also has limited endurance. Many previous FWAVs used a single actuator that couples and synchronizes motions of the wings to flap both wings, resulting in only variable rate flapping control at a constant amplitude. Independent wing control is achieved using two servo actuators that enable wing motions for FWAVs by programming positions and velocities to achieve desired wing shapes and associated aerodynamic forces. However, having two actuators integrated into the flying platform significantly increases its weight and makes it more challenging to achieve flight than a single actuator. This article presents a retrospective overview of five different designs from the "Robo Raven" family based on our previously published work. The first FWAVs utilize two servo motors to achieve independent wing control. The basic platform is capable of successfully performing dives, flips, and button hook turns, which demonstrates the potential maneuverability afforded by the independently actuated and controlled wings. Subsequent designs in the Robo Raven family were able to use multifunctional wings to harvest solar energy to overcome limitations on endurance, use on-board decision-making capabilities to perform maneuvers autonomously, and use mixed-mode propulsion to increase payload capacity by exploiting the benefits of fixed and flapping wing flight. This article elucidates how each successive version of the Robo Raven platform built upon the findings from previous generations. The Robo Raven family collectively addresses requirements related to control autonomy, energy autonomy, and maneuverability. We conclude this article by identifying new opportunities for research in avian-scale flapping wing aerial vehicles.},
}

@article {pmid37894259,
year = {2023},
author = {Martelli, L and Fornasiero, D and Scarton, F and Spada, A and Scolamacchia, F and Manca, G and Mulatti, P},
title = {Study of the Interface between Wild Bird Populations and Poultry and Their Potential Role in the Spread of Avian Influenza.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {11},
number = {10},
pages = {},
pmid = {37894259},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Water birds play a crucial role in disseminating and amplifying avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in the environment. However, they may have limited interactions with domestic facilities, raising the hypothesis that other wild birds may play the bridging role in introducing AIVs into poultry. An ornithocoenosis study, based on census-transect and camera-trapping methods, was conducted in 2019 in ten poultry premises in northeast Italy to characterize the bird communities and envisage the species that might act as bridge hosts for AIVs. The data collected were explored through a series of multivariate analyses (correspondence analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling), and biodiversity indices (observed and estimated richness, Shannon entropy and Pielou's evenness). The analyses revealed a high level of complexity in the ornithic population, with 147 censused species, and significant qualitative and quantitative differences in wild bird species composition, both in space and in time. Among these, only a few were observed in close proximity to the farm premises (i.e., Magpies, Blackbirds, Cattle Egrets, Pheasants, Eurasian Collared Doves, and Wood Pigeons), thus suggesting their potential role in spilling over AIVs to poultry; contrarily, waterfowls appeared to be scarcely inclined to close visits, especially during autumn and winter seasons. These findings stress the importance of ongoing research on the wild-domestic bird interface, advocating for a wider range of species to be considered in AIVs surveillance and prevention programs.},
}

@article {pmid37896802,
year = {2023},
author = {Nath, BK and Das, T and Peters, A and Gupta, SD and Sarker, S and Forwood, JK and Raidal, SR and Das, S},
title = {Australasian Pigeon Circoviruses Demonstrate Natural Spillover Infection.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {15},
number = {10},
pages = {},
pmid = {37896802},
issn = {1999-4915},
mesh = {Animals ; Columbidae ; *Circovirus/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Australia/epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Genome, Viral ; *Circoviridae Infections ; *Bird Diseases ; },
abstract = {Pigeon circovirus (PiCV) is considered to be genetically diverse, with a relatively small circular single-stranded DNA genome of 2 kb that encodes for a capsid protein (Cap) and a replication initiator protein (Rep). Australasia is known to be the origin of diverse species of the Order Columbiformes, but limited data on the PiCV genome sequence has hindered phylogeographic studies in this species. To fill this gap, this study was conducted to investigate PiCV in 118 characteristic samples from different birds across Australia using PCR and sequencing. Eighteen partial PiCV Rep sequences and one complete PiCV genome sequence were recovered from reservoir and aberrant hosts. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that PiCV circulating in Australia was scattered across three different subclades. Importantly, one subclade dominated within the PiCV sequenced from Australia and Poland, whereas other PiCV sequenced in this study were more closely related to the PiCV sequenced from China, USA and Japan. In addition, PiCV Rep sequences obtained from clinically affected plumed whistling duck, blue billed duck and Australian magpie demonstrated natural spillover of PiCV unveiled host generalist characteristics of the pigeon circovirus. These findings indicate that PiCV genomes circulating in Australia lack host adapted population structure but demonstrate natural spillover infection.},
}

Animals
Columbidae
*Circovirus/genetics
Phylogeny
Australia/epidemiology
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Genome, Viral
*Circoviridae Infections
*Bird Diseases

@article {pmid37903264,
year = {2023},
author = {Kirschhock, ME and Nieder, A},
title = {Association neurons in the crow telencephalon link visual signs to numerical values.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {120},
number = {45},
pages = {e2313923120},
pmid = {37903264},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {NI 618/12-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Crows ; Phylogeny ; Brain/physiology ; Neurons/physiology ; Telencephalon ; },
abstract = {Many animals can associate signs with numerical values and use these signs in a goal-directed way during task performance. However, the neuronal basis of this semantic association has only rarely been investigated, and so far only in primates. How mechanisms of number associations are implemented in the distinctly evolved brains of other animal taxa such as birds is currently unknown. Here, we explored this semantic number-sign mapping by recording single-neuron activity in the crows' nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL), a brain structure critically involved in avian numerical cognition. Crows were trained to associate visual shapes with varying numbers of items in a number production task. The responses of many NCL neurons during stimulus presentation reflected the numerical values associated with visual shapes in a behaviorally relevant way. Consistent with the crow's better behavioral performance with signs, neuronal representations of numerical values extracted from shapes were more selective compared to those from dot arrays. The existence of number association neurons in crows points to a phylogenetic preadaptation of the brains of cognitively advanced vertebrates to link visual shapes with numerical meaning.},
}

Animals
*Crows
Phylogeny
Brain/physiology
Neurons/physiology
Telencephalon

@article {pmid37903802,
year = {2023},
author = {Spironelli, C and Marino, M and Mantini, D and Montalti, R and Craven, AR and Ersland, L and Angrilli, A and Hugdahl, K},
title = {fMRI fluctuations within the language network are correlated with severity of hallucinatory symptoms in schizophrenia.},
journal = {Schizophrenia (Heidelberg, Germany)},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {75},
pmid = {37903802},
issn = {2754-6993},
abstract = {Although schizophrenia (SZ) represents a complex multiform psychiatric disorder, one of its most striking symptoms are auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). While the neurophysiological origin of this pervasive symptom has been extensively studied, there is so far no consensus conclusion on the neural correlates of the vulnerability to hallucinate. With a network-based fMRI approach, following the hypothesis of altered hemispheric dominance (Crow, 1997), we expected that LN alterations might result in self-other distinction impairments in SZ patients, and lead to the distressing subjective experiences of hearing voices. We used the independent component analysis of resting-state fMRI data, to first analyze LN connectivity in three groups of participants: SZ patients with and without hallucinations (AVH/D+ and AVH/D-, respectively), and a matched healthy control (HC) group. Then, we assessed the fMRI fluctuations using additional analyses based on fractional Amplitude of Low Frequency-Fluctuations (fALFF), both at the network- and region of interest (ROI)-level. Specific LN nodes were recruited in the right hemisphere (insula and Broca homologous area) for AVH/D+ , but not for HC and AVH/D-, consistent with a left hemisphere deficit in AVH patients. The fALFF analysis at the ROI level showed a negative correlation between fALFF Slow-4 and P1 Delusions PANSS subscale and a positive correlation between the fALFF Slow-5 and P3 Hallucination PANSS subscale for AVH/D+ only. These effects were not a consequence of structural differences between groups, as morphometric analysis did not evidence any group differences. Given the role of language as an emerging property resulting from the integration of many high-level cognitive processes and the underlying cortical areas, our results suggest that LN features from fMRI connectivity and fluctuations can be a marker of neurophysiological features characterizing SZ patients depending on their vulnerability to hallucinate.},
}

@article {pmid37907444,
year = {2022},
author = {Khorana, AA},
title = {Diversifying medical humanities: The case for Jay-Z.},
journal = {Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine},
volume = {89},
number = {9},
pages = {501-503},
doi = {10.3949/ccjm.89a.22011},
pmid = {37907444},
issn = {1939-2869},
}

@article {pmid37907616,
year = {2023},
author = {Kannoth, S and Ali, N and Prasanth, GK and Arvind, K and Mohany, M and Hembrom, PS and Sadanandan, S and Vasu, DA and Grace, T},
title = {Transcriptome analysis of Corvus splendens reveals a repertoire of antimicrobial peptides.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {18728},
pmid = {37907616},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Crows ; Antimicrobial Peptides ; Staphylococcus aureus/genetics ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Cathelicidins/chemistry ; Transcriptome ; },
abstract = {Multidrug resistance has become a global health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial peptides have been acknowledged as potential leads for prospective anti-infectives. Owing to their scavenging lifestyle, Corvus splendens is thought to have developed robust immunity to pathogens found in their diet, implying that they have evolved mechanisms to resist infection. In the current study, the transcriptome of C. splendens was sequenced, and de novo assembled to identify the presence of antimicrobial peptide genes. 72.09 million high-quality clean reads were obtained which were then de novo assembled into 3,43,503 transcripts and 74,958 unigenes. About 37,559 unigenes were successfully annotated using SwissProt, Pfam, GO, and KEGG databases. A search against APD3, CAMPR3 and LAMP databases identified 63 AMP candidates belonging to more than 20 diverse families and functional classes. mRNA of AvBD-2, AvBD-13 and CATH-2 were found to be differentially expressed between the three tested crows as well as among the tissues. We also characterized Corvus Cathelicidin 2 (CATH-2) to gain knowledge of its antimicrobial mechanisms. The CD spectroscopy of synthesized mature Corvus CATH-2 peptide displayed an amphipathic α-helical structure. Though the synthetic CATH-2 caused hemolysis of human RBC, it also exhibited antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus. Docking simulation results revealed that this peptide could bind to the LPS binding site of MD-2, which may prevent LPS from entering the MD-2 binding pocket, and trigger TLR4 signaling pathway. The Corvus CATH-2 characterized in this study could aid in the development of novel therapeutics.},
}

Animals
Humans
*Crows
Antimicrobial Peptides
Staphylococcus aureus/genetics
Escherichia coli/genetics
Lipopolysaccharides
Gene Expression Profiling
*Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology
Cathelicidins/chemistry
Transcriptome

@article {pmid37919347,
year = {2023},
author = {Han, Y and Li, C and Wang, R and Zhang, J and Wu, F and Zhao, J and Yan, S and Liu, Q and Pan, Y},
title = {A new Chinese crow's feet grading scale based on the DermaTOP system.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {18903},
pmid = {37919347},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Humans ; *Cosmetics ; East Asian People ; *Skin Aging ; },
abstract = {Many Chinese wrinkle studies continue to use non-Chinese scales because few Chinese-based wrinkle scales have been developed. The study aims to develop a crow's feet grading scale for Chinese individuals. We enrolled 608 healthy Chinese subjects and measured data through the DermaTOP system. We chose exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to reduce the dimensions of the data. A three-factor structure was obtained by using EFA, and it explained a cumulative total of 89.551% of the variance. A computational formula was obtained by calculating the total factor tilt scores and taking the variance contribution rate of three factors as the weight. Based on the computational formula, a grading map was designed and tested. The model validation was conducted using both subjective assessments from the expert panel and objective results from the model calculations. The results showed that our grading scale model is stable. This study developed a Chinese crow's feet (CCF) grading scale, which included a parameter, a grading map, and literal descriptions. The CCF grading scale is a validated tool for evaluating the effects of cosmetics or specific therapies. More importantly, the CCF scale was developed based on objective data, which may inspire new ideas for wrinkle grading scale development in the future.},
}

Humans
*Cosmetics
East Asian People
*Skin Aging

@article {pmid37929861,
year = {2023},
author = {Morales, C and Flores Ferro, E and Osorio, J and Maureira Cid, F},
title = {[Independence of the anthropometric profile, attention and intelligence in higher education students in the field of physical activity in Chile].},
journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria},
volume = {40},
number = {6},
pages = {1246-1252},
doi = {10.20960/nh.04719},
pmid = {37929861},
issn = {1699-5198},
mesh = {Humans ; Chile ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Anthropometry ; *Body Composition ; *Exercise ; Intelligence ; Students ; Attention ; },
abstract = {Introduction: kinanthropometry is the current science that studies body parameters in relation to its functioning (such as body composition, proportionality, somatotype, etc.), with established norms, techniques and criteria. Objective: to relate anthropometric profile, attention and problem solving in higher education students in the field of physical activity in Chile. Method: quantitative-correlational approach, with non-experimental and cross-sectional design. Results: there is no significant relationship between body composition (body masses) and cognitive tests (attention and Raven). Regarding anthropometric data (body composition), no significant differences were observed between the sexes for any parameter. Conclusion: it can be deduced that the results of the cognitive factors may be associated with other variables, and not specifically with the variables that may affect anthropometric parameters. These are very interesting topics for future studies, so it is suggested to continue studying cognitive abilities with other variables.},
}

Humans
Chile
Cross-Sectional Studies
Anthropometry
*Body Composition
*Exercise
Intelligence
Students
Attention

@article {pmid37932494,
year = {2023},
author = {Apostel, A and Panichello, M and Buschman, TJ and Rose, J},
title = {Corvids optimize working memory by categorizing continuous stimuli.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {6},
number = {1},
pages = {1122},
pmid = {37932494},
issn = {2399-3642},
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Memory, Short-Term ; Brain ; Cognition ; *Songbirds ; Primates ; },
abstract = {Working memory (WM) is a crucial element of the higher cognition of primates and corvid songbirds. Despite its importance, WM has a severely limited capacity and is vulnerable to noise. In primates, attractor dynamics mitigate the effect of noise by discretizing continuous information. Yet, it remains unclear whether similar dynamics are seen in avian brains. Here, we show jackdaws (Corvus monedula) have similar behavioral biases as humans; memories are less precise and more biased as memory demands increase. Model-based analysis reveal discrete attractors are evenly spread across the stimulus space. Altogether, our comparative approach suggests attractor dynamics in primates and corvids mitigate the effect of noise by systematically drifting towards specific attractors. By demonstrating this effect in an evolutionary distant species, our results strengthen attractor dynamics as general, adaptive biological principle to efficiently use WM.},
}

Animals
Humans
*Memory, Short-Term
Brain
Cognition
*Songbirds
Primates

@article {pmid37945911,
year = {2024},
author = {Bastos, APM},
title = {Crows make optimal choices based on relative probabilities.},
journal = {Learning & behavior},
volume = {52},
number = {3},
pages = {207-208},
pmid = {37945911},
issn = {1543-4508},
mesh = {*Crows ; *Choice Behavior ; Animals ; Probability ; Reward ; Reinforcement, Psychology ; },
abstract = {A recent study by Johnston, Brecht, and Nieder (2023, Current Biology, 33, 3238-3243) finds that carrion crows associate varying rates of reinforcement with novel arbitrary stimuli and make optimal decisions when they must later choose between stimulus pairs. These results demonstrate that crows are capable of not only storing information about reward probabilities in their memory but also making optimal choices based on this information even a month later.},
}

*Crows
*Choice Behavior
Animals
Probability
Reward
Reinforcement, Psychology

@article {pmid37947547,
year = {2023},
author = {Keene, S and Allen, S and McCormick, AKHG and Trottier, C and Bull Shows, B and Hallett, J and Deernose, R and Held, S},
title = {Developing and Implementing a Culturally Consonant Treatment Fidelity Support Plan with the Apsáalooke Nation.},
journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health},
volume = {20},
number = {21},
pages = {},
pmid = {37947547},
issn = {1660-4601},
support = {P20 GM103474/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 MD010619/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; U54 GM104944/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {United States ; Humans ; Behavior Therapy ; *Self-Management ; Chronic Disease ; *Health Services, Indigenous ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; },
abstract = {Treatment fidelity remains underreported in health intervention research, particularly among Indigenous communities. One explanation for this gap is the lack of culturally consonant strategies listed in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Behavior Change Consortium (BCC) treatment fidelity framework, the gold standard for understanding and measuring fidelity. This paper focuses on the development and implementation of a culturally consonant treatment fidelity support plan across two of the five BCC fidelity areas, provider training and treatment delivery, within a chronic illness self-management program for the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation. Our team selected and adapted strategies from, and added strategies to, the BCC framework, that centered on relational accountability and the Apsáalooke culture. To be culturally consonant, we approached treatment fidelity as supporting Aakbaabaaniilea (Apsáalooke program facilitators) rather than monitoring them. This resulted in the development of a fifth treatment fidelity area: building and fostering relationships. We propose that fidelity to relational accountability is the foundation of successful programs in Indigenous communities. This suggests an important shift from tracking what was conducted in an intervention to prioritizing how things were conducted. We encourage others to view the BCC framework as a starting point in developing fidelity strategies that are consonant with local cultures.},
}

United States
Humans
Behavior Therapy
*Self-Management
Chronic Disease
*Health Services, Indigenous
National Institutes of Health (U.S.)

@article {pmid37952928,
year = {2024},
author = {Gutema, BT and Levecke, B and Sorrie, MB and Megersa, ND and Zewdie, TH and Yesera, GE and De Henauw, S and Abubakar, A and Abbeddou, S},
title = {Effectiveness of intermittent iron and high-dose vitamin A supplementation on cognitive development of school children in southern Ethiopia: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.},
journal = {The American journal of clinical nutrition},
volume = {119},
number = {2},
pages = {470-484},
doi = {10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.11.005},
pmid = {37952928},
issn = {1938-3207},
mesh = {Child ; Female ; Humans ; Cognition ; Dietary Supplements ; Ethiopia ; *Iron ; *Iron Deficiencies ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins ; Male ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Iron is an essential mineral whose deficiency results in cognitive alteration, impaired emotional behaviors, and altered myelination and neurotransmission. In animal models, it has been shown that vitamin A (VA) could affect cognition.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intermittent iron and VA supplementation on cognitive development of schoolchildren, and to assess the interaction between these supplementations.

METHODS: Considering a 2 × 2 factorial design, 504 children were randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 arms: placebo VA and placebo iron supplement; high-dose vitamin VA and placebo iron supplement; iron supplement and placebo VA; and iron and high-dose vitamin VA supplements. Cognitive development was assessed using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, digit span, Tower of London, and visual search tasks.

RESULTS: The mean [± standard deviation (SD)] age of the enrolled children was 9.6 (±1.6) y. One-fifth of the children had iron deficiency or anemia, whereas 2.9%, 3.9%, and 12.1% of children had low iron stores, iron deficiency anemia, and VA deficiency, respectively. Intermittent iron supplementation did not result in any significant improvement of children's cognitive development and had a negative effect on the performance index of the visual search task compared with placebo (-0.17 SD, 95% confidence interval: -0.32, -0.02). Effects were evident among children with stunting, thinness, or children coming from understimulating home environments. High-dose VA supplementation resulted in a significant improvement of digit span z-score with a mean difference of 0.30 SD (95% confidence interval: 0.14, 0.46) compared with placebo VA. VA had a more beneficial impact for girls, children infected with helminths, and those from food secure households.

CONCLUSION: In a population where the prevalence of iron deficiency is low, intermittent iron supplementation did not have any or negative effect on the child's cognitive development outcomes. Conversely, VA supplementation improved the child's working memory.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04137354 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04137354).},
}

Child
Female
Humans
Cognition
Dietary Supplements
Ethiopia
*Iron
*Iron Deficiencies
Vitamin A
Vitamins
Male

@article {pmid37958278,
year = {2023},
author = {Palanisamy, P and Urooj, S and Arunachalam, R and Lay-Ekuakille, A},
title = {A Novel Prognostic Model Using Chaotic CNN with Hybridized Spoofing for Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy in Epileptic Seizure Prediction.},
journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {21},
pages = {},
pmid = {37958278},
issn = {2075-4418},
support = {PNURSP2023R79//Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia./ ; },
abstract = {Epileptic seizure detection has undergone progressive advancements since its conception in the 1970s. From proof-of-concept experiments in the latter part of that decade, it has now become a vibrant area of clinical and laboratory research. In an effort to bring this technology closer to practical application in human patients, this study introduces a customized approach to selecting electroencephalogram (EEG) features and electrode positions for seizure prediction. The focus is on identifying precursors that occur within 10 min of the onset of abnormal electrical activity during a seizure. However, there are security concerns related to safeguarding patient EEG recordings against unauthorized access and network-based attacks. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an efficient prediction and classification method for encrypted EEG data. This paper presents an effective system for analyzing and recognizing encrypted EEG information using Arnold transform algorithms, chaotic mapping, and convolutional neural networks (CNNs). In this system, the EEG time series from each channel is converted into a 2D spectrogram image, which is then encrypted using chaotic algorithms. The encrypted data is subsequently processed by CNNs coupled with transfer learning (TL) frameworks. To optimize the fusion parameters of the ensemble learning classifiers, a hybridized spoofing optimization method is developed by combining the characteristics of corvid and gregarious-seeking agents. The evaluation of the model's effectiveness yielded the following results: 98.9 ± 0.3% accuracy, 98.2 ± 0.7% sensitivity, 98.6 ± 0.6% specificity, 98.6 ± 0.6% precision, and an F1 measure of 98.9 ± 0.6%. When compared with other state-of-the-art techniques applied to the same dataset, this novel strategy demonstrated one of the most effective seizure detection systems, as evidenced by these results.},
}

@article {pmid37961949,
year = {2024},
author = {O'Brien, MJ and Valverde, S and Duran-Nebreda, S and Vidiella, B and Bentley, RA},
title = {Punctuated equilibrium at 50: Anything there for evolutionary anthropology? Yes; definitely.},
journal = {Evolutionary anthropology},
volume = {33},
number = {1},
pages = {e22009},
doi = {10.1002/evan.22009},
pmid = {37961949},
issn = {1520-6505},
support = {2019 BP 00206//Beatriu de Pinós postdoctoral programme in the Office of the General Secretary of Research and Universities and the Ministry of Research and Univertisites/ ; 801370//Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND/ ; //2020-2021 Biodiversa and Water JPI/ ; 101003777//BiodivRestore ERA-NET Cofund/ ; //Innovation Fund Denmark (IFD)/ ; //Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; //Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/ ; //Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)/ ; PCI2022-132936//MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ ; //European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR/ ; PID2020-117822GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033//Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the State Research Agency (AEI)/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Biological Evolution ; *Fossils ; Cultural Diversity ; Databases, Factual ; },
abstract = {The theory of punctuated equilibrium (PE) was developed a little over 50 years ago to explain long-term, large-scale appearance and disappearance of species in the fossil record. A theory designed specifically for that purpose cannot be expected, out of the box, to be directly applicable to biocultural evolution, but in revised form, PE offers a promising approach to incorporating not only a wealth of recent empirical research on genetic, linguistic, and technological evolution but also large databases that document human biological and cultural diversity across time and space. Here we isolate the fundamental components of PE and propose which pieces, when reassembled or renamed, can be highly useful in evolutionary anthropology, especially as humanity faces abrupt ecological challenges on an increasingly larger scale.},
}

Humans
*Biological Evolution
*Fossils
Cultural Diversity
Databases, Factual

@article {pmid37963613,
year = {2023},
author = {Prinja, S and Chugh, Y and Garg, B and Guinness, L},
title = {National hospital costing systems matter for universal healthcare: the India PM-JAY experience.},
journal = {BMJ global health},
volume = {8},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {37963613},
issn = {2059-7908},
mesh = {Humans ; *Universal Health Care ; *Health Care Costs ; Hospitals ; India ; },
abstract = {India envisions achieving universal health coverage to provide its people with access to affordable quality health services. A breakthrough effort in this direction has been the launch of the world's largest health assurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the implementation of which resides with the National Health Authority. Appropriate provider payment systems and reimbursement rates are an important element for the success of PM-JAY, which in turn relies on robust cost evidence to support pricing decisions. Since the launch of PM-JAY, the health benefits package and provider payment rates have undergone a series of revisions. At the outset, there was a relative lack of cost data. Later revisions relied on health facility costing studies, and now there is an initiative to establish a national hospital costing system relying on provider-generated data. Lessons from PM-JAY experience show that the success of such cost systems to ensure regular and routine generation of evidence is contingent on integrating with existing billing or patient information systems or management information systems, which digitise similar information on resource consumption without any additional data entry effort. Therefore, there is a need to focus on building sustainable mechanisms for setting up systems for generating accurate cost data rather than relying on resource-intensive studies for cost data collection.},
}

Humans
*Universal Health Care
*Health Care Costs
Hospitals
India

@article {pmid37964353,
year = {2023},
author = {Otieno, B and Elson, L and Matharu, AK and Riithi, N and Chongwo, E and Katana, K and Nasambu, C and Mutebi, F and Feldmeier, H and Krücken, J and Fillinger, U and Abubakar, A},
title = {Neurocognitive and mental health outcomes in children with tungiasis: a cross-sectional study in rural Kenya and Uganda.},
journal = {Infectious diseases of poverty},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {100},
pmid = {37964353},
issn = {2049-9957},
support = {405027164//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; KR 2245/7-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Child ; *Tungiasis/epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Uganda/epidemiology ; Kenya/epidemiology ; Tunga/physiology ; Outcome Assessment, Health Care ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tungiasis, a neglected tropical parasitosis, disproportionately affects children. Few empirical studies have reported neurocognitive and mental health outcomes of children with ectoparasitic skin diseases like tungiasis. Pathophysiology of tungiasis suggests it could detrimentally affect cognition and behaviour. This study pioneered the investigation of neurocognitive and mental health outcomes in children with tungiasis.

METHODS: This was a multi-site cross-sectional study including 454 quasi-randomly sampled school-children aged 8-14 from 48 randomly selected schools in two counties in Kenya and a district in Uganda. The participants were stratified into infected and uninfected based on the presence of tungiasis. The infected were further classified into mild and severe infection groups based on the intensity of the infection. Adapted, validated, and standardized measures of cognition and mental health such as Raven Matrices and Child Behaviour Checklist were used to collect data. Statistical tests including a multilevel, generalized mixed-effects linear models with family link set to identity were used to compare the scores of uninfected and infected children and to identify other potential risk factors for neurocognitive and behavioural outcomes.

RESULTS: When adjusted for covariates, mild infection was associated with lower scores in literacy [adjusted β(aβ) = - 8.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 17.2, - 0.6], language (aβ = - 1.7; 95% CI - 3.2, - 0.3), cognitive flexibility (aβ = - 6.1; 95% CI - 10.4, - 1.7) and working memory (aβ = - 0.3; 95% CI - 0.6, - 0.1). Severe infection was associated with lower scores in literacy (aβ = - 11.0; 95% CI - 19.3, - 2.8), response inhibition, (aβ = - 2.2; 95% CI - 4.2, - 0.2), fine motor control (aβ = - 0.7; 95% CI - 1.1, - 0.4) and numeracy (aβ = - 3; 95% CI - 5.5, - 0.4).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides first evidence that tungiasis is associated with poor neurocognitive functioning in children. Since tungiasis is a chronic disease with frequent reinfections, such negative effects may potentially impair their development and life achievements.},
}

Animals
Humans
Child
*Tungiasis/epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Uganda/epidemiology
Kenya/epidemiology
Tunga/physiology
Outcome Assessment, Health Care

@article {pmid37965549,
year = {2023},
author = {Sen, K and Llewellyn, M and Taheri, B and Turner, RJ and Berglund, T and Maloney, K},
title = {Mechanism of fungal remediation of wetland water: Stropharia rugosoannulata as promising fungal species for the development of biofilters to remove clinically important pathogenic and antibiotic resistant bacteria in contaminated water.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1234586},
pmid = {37965549},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Mycoremediation uses mushroom forming fungi for remediation of sites contaminated with biotic and abiotic contaminants. The root-like hyphae of many fungi, the mycelia, have been used to remediate soil and water. In this study mushroom mycelia biofilters were evaluated for remediation efficacy of wetland water polluted with crow feces containing antibiotic resistant (AMR) bacteria. Three strains of fungi, Pleurotus ostreatus, Stropharia rugosoannulata, and Pleurotus pulmonarius, were allowed to develop dense mycelia for 3-5 weeks on wood chips within cylindrical jars. Biofilter jars were incubated with wetland water (WW) obtained from a crow roost area that was additionally spiked with AMR bacteria isolated from previous crow fecal collections. E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Campylobacter jejuni, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enteritidis were added at concentrations of 1,500-3,500 CFU/100 ml. Remediation was calculated from bacterial counts or gene copy numbers (GCN), before and after passage of water through jars. Stropharia and P. pulmonarius biofilters remediated all bacteria, but Klebsiella, in the range of 43-78%, after 1 h. Incubation of water for 24 h showed Stropharia remediation to be superior relative to other tested fungi. Percent remediation varied as follows: S. aureus-100%, E. faecium-97%, C. jejuni-59%, P. aeruginosa-54%, E. coli-65% and S. enteritidis-27%. The mechanism of remediation was tested by removing the mycelium from the biofilter column after passage of water, followed by extraction of DNA. Association of bacterial DNA with the mycelia was demonstrated by qPCR for all bacteria, except S. aureus and Salmonella. Depending on the bacteria, the GCN ranged from 3,500 to 54,000/250 mg of mycelia. Thus, some of the ways in which mycelia biofilters decrease bacteria from water are through bio-filtration and bio-absorption. Active fungal growth and close contact with bacteria appear necessary for removal. Overall these results suggest that mushroom mycelia biofilters have the potential to effectively remediate water contaminated with pathogenic and AMR bacteria.},
}

@article {pmid37966883,
year = {2023},
author = {Watanabe, T and Tahara, K and Hirano, E},
title = {Evaluating the Impact of a Cream Containing Horse Placental Extract on Eye Corner Wrinkles in Healthy Women: Single-Blind Comparative Study.},
journal = {JMIR dermatology},
volume = {6},
number = {},
pages = {e51070},
pmid = {37966883},
issn = {2562-0959},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Placental extract has been mostly used in skin care for cosmetic purposes. However, the use of various placental extracts has been limited due to the lack of established and effective application methods.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the antiwrinkle effect of a cream formulation-LNC wrinkle eye cream (LNC-EC)-containing horse placental extract as the main ingredient.

METHODS: A total of 24 healthy women, aged 37-54 years, with wrinkle grades 1-3, were treated with LNC-EC for 2 weeks. The cream was applied on one-half of the participants' faces, and the results were compared with the untreated half of the face.

RESULTS: Visual inspection, using the wrinkle grade standard, showed that the area treated with LNC-EC had a significantly lower wrinkle grade than the untreated area when comparing before and after the application of LNC-EC. In addition, replica analysis showed a significant reduction in both the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles in the LNC-EC-treated area in comparison to the untreated area before and after the application. These results suggest that LNC-EC has an antiwrinkle effect on the corners of the eyes based on parameters like the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles.

CONCLUSIONS: LNC-EC, with horse placental extract as its main ingredient, was shown to be effective in improving wrinkles at the eye corners, presumably due to a reduction in the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles. Interpretation of the results is limited because this study was conducted only in the intervention group. A randomized controlled trial with a placebo control group is necessary to verify the antiwrinkle effects of horse placental extract.},
}

@article {pmid37968687,
year = {2023},
author = {Sandkühler, JF and Kersting, X and Faust, A and Königs, EK and Altman, G and Ettinger, U and Lux, S and Philipsen, A and Müller, H and Brauner, J},
title = {The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance-a randomised controlled study.},
journal = {BMC medicine},
volume = {21},
number = {1},
pages = {440},
pmid = {37968687},
issn = {1741-7015},
mesh = {Humans ; *Creatine/adverse effects ; Bayes Theorem ; *Dietary Supplements ; Brain ; Double-Blind Method ; Cognition ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Creatine is an organic compound that facilitates the recycling of energy-providing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in muscle and brain tissue. It is a safe, well-studied supplement for strength training. Previous studies have shown that supplementation increases brain creatine levels, which might increase cognitive performance. The results of studies that have tested cognitive performance differ greatly, possibly due to different populations, supplementation regimens, and cognitive tasks. This is the largest study on the effect of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance to date.

METHODS: Our trial was preregistered, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomised, with daily supplementation of 5 g for 6 weeks each. We tested participants on Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) and on the Backward Digit Span (BDS). In addition, we included eight exploratory cognitive tests. About half of our 123 participants were vegetarians and half were omnivores.

RESULTS: Bayesian evidence supported a small beneficial effect of creatine. The creatine effect bordered significance for BDS (p = 0.064, η[2]P = 0.029) but not RAPM (p = 0.327, η[2]P = 0.008). There was no indication that creatine improved the performance of our exploratory cognitive tasks. Side effects were reported significantly more often for creatine than for placebo supplementation (p = 0.002, RR = 4.25). Vegetarians did not benefit more from creatine than omnivores.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study, in combination with the literature, implies that creatine might have a small beneficial effect. Larger studies are needed to confirm or rule out this effect. Given the safety and broad availability of creatine, this is well worth investigating; a small effect could have large benefits when scaled over time and over many people.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was prospectively registered (drks.de identifier: DRKS00017250, https://osf.io/xpwkc/).},
}

Humans
*Creatine/adverse effects
Bayes Theorem
*Dietary Supplements
Brain
Double-Blind Method
Cognition

@article {pmid37979839,
year = {2024},
author = {Broekstra, DC and Werker, PMN},
title = {Correspondence to: Henry O'Brien, Jay Paniker and Liam Brown: Is a smartphone application as accurate as a traditional goniometer for assessing finger joint angles in Dupuytren's disease? Hand Surg Rehabil 2023 Sep 29.},
journal = {Hand surgery & rehabilitation},
volume = {43},
number = {2},
pages = {101619},
doi = {10.1016/j.hansur.2023.11.004},
pmid = {37979839},
issn = {2468-1210},
mesh = {Humans ; *Smartphone ; *Dupuytren Contracture/physiopathology ; *Mobile Applications ; *Finger Joint/physiopathology ; *Arthrometry, Articular/instrumentation ; },
}

Humans
*Smartphone
*Dupuytren Contracture/physiopathology
*Mobile Applications
*Finger Joint/physiopathology
*Arthrometry, Articular/instrumentation

@article {pmid37984348,
year = {2024},
author = {Kirubalingam, K and Nguyen, P and Kang, A and Beyea, JA},
title = {Implantable Hearing Devices in Ontario: A Population-Based Study of Access to Care and Access to Devices.},
journal = {Audiology & neuro-otology},
volume = {29},
number = {2},
pages = {136-145},
doi = {10.1159/000534384},
pmid = {37984348},
issn = {1421-9700},
mesh = {Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Ontario/epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; *Hearing Aids ; *Cochlear Implants ; Hearing ; Health Services Accessibility ; Bone Conduction ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of hearing loss in Canada is high, with many patients requiring implantable hearing devices (IHDs) as treatment for their disease severity. Despite this need, many eligible patients do not pursue these interventions. The objective of this study was to examine rates of IHD based on geographic location to understand locoregional variation in access to care.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study.

SETTING: All hospitals in the Canadian province of Ontario.

METHODS: Of all patients with IHD between April 1, 1992, and March 31, 2021, cochlear implants (CIs) (4,720) and bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) (1,125) cohorts were constructed. Place of residence was categorized based on Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN). Summary statistics for place of surgical institution based on LHIN at first surgery, name of institution of first surgery and "as the crow flies" distance (in km) between place of residence and surgical institution were calculated. Rate of implantations was calculated for LHIN regions based on number of surgeries per 1,000,000 persons/years.

RESULTS: Toronto Central, Central, Central East, and Champlain regions had >10% of patients undergoing BAHA and CI. 1,019 (90.6%) and 4,232 (89.7%) of patients receiving BAHA and CI, respectively, resided in urban/suburban regions and 94 patients (8.4%) and 436 (9.2%) resided in rural regions. The median distance between residential location and the institution was 46.4 km (interquartile range [IQR], 18.9-103.6) and 44.7 km (IQR, 15.7-96.9) for BAHA and CI, respectively. From 1992 to 2021, the number of CI and BAHA performed across Ontario increased by 17 folds and 6 folds, respectively.

CONCLUSION: This large comprehensive population study provides longitudinal insight into the access to care of IHD based on geographic factors. Our findings of the present population-based study indicate an overall increase in access to devices with disproportionate access to care based on geographic locations. Further work is needed to characterize barriers to IHD access to align with demands.},
}

Humans
Retrospective Studies
Ontario/epidemiology
Cohort Studies
*Hearing Aids
*Cochlear Implants
Hearing
Health Services Accessibility
Bone Conduction

@article {pmid37989310,
year = {2024},
author = {Harrington, KJ and Folkertsma, R and Auersperg, AMI and Biondi, L and Lambert, ML},
title = {Innovative problem solving by wild falcons.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {34},
number = {1},
pages = {190-195.e3},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.061},
pmid = {37989310},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {Animals ; Problem Solving ; Cognition ; Learning ; *Parrots ; *Falconiformes ; },
abstract = {Innovation (i.e., a new solution to a familiar problem, or applying an existing behavior to a novel problem[1][,][2]) plays a fundamental role in species' ecology and evolution. It can be a useful measure for cross-group comparisons of behavioral and cognitive flexibility and a proxy for general intelligence.[3][,][4][,][5] Among birds, experimental studies of innovation (and cognition more generally) are largely from captive corvids and parrots,[6][,][7][,][8][,][9][,][10][,][11][,][12] though we lack serious models for avian technical intelligence outside these taxa. Striated caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis) are Falconiformes, sister clade to parrots and passerines,[13][,][14][,][15] and those endemic to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) show curiosity and neophilia similar to notoriously neophilic kea parrots[16][,][17] and face similar socio-ecological pressures to corvids and parrots.[18][,][19] We tested wild striated caracaras as a new avian model for technical cognition and innovation using a field-applicable 8-task comparative paradigm (adapted from Rössler et al.[20] and Auersperg et al.[21]). The setup allowed us to assess behavior, rate, and flexibility of problem solving over repeated exposure in a natural setting. Like other generalist species with low neophobia,[21][,][22] we predicted caracaras to demonstrate a haptic approach to solving tasks, flexibly switching to new, unsolved problems and improving their performance over time. Striated caracaras performed comparably to tool-using parrots,[20] nearly reaching ceiling levels of innovation in few trials, repeatedly and flexibly solving tasks, and rapidly learning. We attribute our findings to the birds' ecology, including geographic restriction, resource unpredictability, and opportunistic generalism,[23][,][24][,][25] and encourage future work investigating their cognitive abilities in the wild. VIDEO ABSTRACT.},
}

Animals
Problem Solving
Cognition
Learning
*Parrots
*Falconiformes

@article {pmid37991482,
year = {2023},
author = {Kasimov, V and White, RT and Jelocnik, M},
title = {Draft genomes of novel avian Chlamydia abortus strains from Australian Torresian crows (Corvus orru) shed light on possible reservoir hosts and evolutionary pathways.},
journal = {Microbial genomics},
volume = {9},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {37991482},
issn = {2057-5858},
mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; Birds ; *Chlamydia/genetics ; *Crows ; Phylogeny ; *Genome, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {Chlamydia abortus, an obligate intracellular bacterium, is a major causative agent of reproductive loss in ruminants, with zoonotic potential. Though this pathogen is primarily known to infect livestock, recent studies have detected and isolated genetically distinct avian strains of C. abortus from wild birds globally. Before this study, only five avian C. abortus genomes were publicly available. Therefore, we performed culture-independent probe-based whole-genome sequencing on clinical swabs positive for avian C. abortus obtained from Australian Torresian crows (Corvus orru) in 2019 and 2020. We successfully obtained draft genomes for three avian C. abortus strains (C1, C2 and C3), each comprising draft chromosomes with lengths of 1 115 667, 1 120 231 and 1 082 115 bp, and associated 7 553 bp plasmids, with a genome completeness exceeding 92 %. Molecular characterization revealed that these three strains comprise a novel sequence type (ST333), whilst phylogenetic analyses placed all three strains in a cluster with other avian C. abortus genomes. Interestingly, these three strains share a distant genomic relation (2693 single nucleotide variants) with the reference strain 15-58d/44 (ST152), isolated from a Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) in Poland, highlighting the need for more publicly available genomes. Broad comparative analyses with other avian C. abortus genomes revealed that the three draft genomes contain conserved Chlamydia genomic features, including genes coding for type III secretion system and polymorphic membrane proteins, and potential virulence factors such as the large chlamydial cytotoxin, warranting further studies. This research provides the first avian C. abortus draft genomes from Australian birds, highlighting Torresian crows as novel reservoir hosts for these potential pathogens, and demonstrates a practical methodology for sequencing novel Chlamydia genomes without relying on traditional cell culture.},
}

Animals
Australia
Birds
*Chlamydia/genetics
*Crows
Phylogeny
*Genome, Bacterial

@article {pmid37992097,
year = {2023},
author = {Çilem Kızılpınar, S and Çiğdem Aydemır, M and Doğan, Ö and Bahar Atak-Akkus, F and Baran, Z},
title = {SOCIAL COGNITION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENTS AND FIRST-DEGREE RELATIVES OF PATIENTS.},
journal = {Psychiatria Danubina},
volume = {35},
number = {4},
pages = {523-534},
doi = {10.24869/psyd.2023.523},
pmid = {37992097},
issn = {0353-5053},
mesh = {Humans ; *Social Cognition ; *Psychotic Disorders ; Cognition ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid ; Oxidative Stress ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Neuropsychological Tests ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Misattribution of motivational salience to non-salient (neutral) stimuli could be viewed as a hallmark of psychosis in schizophrenia. Studies have recently revealed increased subjective experience of emotional arousal (EA) to neutral social stimuli in paranoid schizophrenia psychosis, suggesting a misattribution of emotional salience to them. We examined this phenomenon directly by quantifying the level of EA subjectively attributed to low-arousal, neutral-valenced faces.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with remitted schizophrenia (PG) (n=26), first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients (RG) (n=25), and healthy controls (HCG) (n=36) were compared in terms of oxidative stress parameters -serum Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Nitrite, Nitrate, Malondialdehyde, and Total Glutathione levels-, social cognition measured by the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test and working memory measured by the N-back Task. Groups were compared, assuming that HCG had a genetically lower risk of schizophrenia compared to PG and RG.

RESULTS: HCG performed significantly better than PG and RG, who were genetically at high risk, in terms of social cognition (respectively p=0.000, p=0.014), working memory (respectively p=0.001, p=0.003), and had statistically lower Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX) level than the PG and RG (both p:0.000). After controlling for the effect of the general intellectual abilities measured by the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices Test and working memory the differences between groups on the Eyes Test disappeared (p=0.057). However, this value tended to be significant.

CONCLUSION: It was concluded that social cognition and working memory and GPx level may be used as endophenotypes and social cognition, working memory, and general intellectual skills are different but strongly related constructs. Endophenotypes guide treatment targets even after the disease has developed. The results of our study showed that in addition to psychopharmacological treatments, interventions to reduce oxidative stress and approaches to improve cognitive skills will have a positive impact on the disease's progression.},
}

Humans
*Social Cognition
*Psychotic Disorders
Cognition
Schizophrenia, Paranoid
Oxidative Stress
Glutathione Peroxidase
Neuropsychological Tests

@article {pmid37999484,
year = {2023},
author = {Athanasakopoulou, Z and Sofia, M and Skampardonis, V and Giannakopoulos, A and Birtsas, P and Tsolakos, K and Spyrou, V and Chatzopoulos, DC and Satra, M and Diamantopoulos, V and Mpellou, S and Galamatis, D and G Papatsiros, V and Billinis, C},
title = {Indication of West Nile Virus (WNV) Lineage 2 Overwintering among Wild Birds in the Regions of Peloponnese and Western Greece.},
journal = {Veterinary sciences},
volume = {10},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {37999484},
issn = {2306-7381},
support = {"Integrated Program for Mosquito Control, Creation of a Control Structure and Development of a West Nile Virus Surveillance and Vigilance Mechanism in the Peloponnese Region" and "Epidemiological surveillance of West Nile Virus in wild birds and equines i//the Prefecture of Peloponnese (Peloponnisos SA) and the Joint Venture 2 INSEKO EU - Eleftheriou Bioapplications and Co. LTD./ ; },
abstract = {West Nile virus (WNV), a zoonotic mosquito-borne virus, has recently caused human outbreaks in Europe, including Greece. Its transmission cycle in nature includes wild birds as amplifying hosts and ornithophilic mosquito vectors. The aim of this study was to assess WNV circulation among wild birds from two regions of Greece, Peloponnese and Western Greece, during 2022. To this end, a total of 511 birds belonging to 37 different species were sampled and molecularly screened. WNV RNA was detected from February to November in a total of 71 wild birds of nine species originating from both investigated regions. The first eight positive samples were sequenced on a part of NS3 and, according to the phylogenetic analysis, they belonged to evolutionary lineage 2 and presented similarity to previous outbreak-causing Greek strains (Argolis 2017, Macedonia 2010 and 2012). It was more likely to identify a PCR positive bird as the population density and the distance from water sources decreased. The present report provides evidence of WNV occurrence in both Peloponnese and Western Greece during 2022 and underlines its possible overwintering, highlighting the need for avian species surveillance to be conducted annually and throughout the year. Magpies are proposed as sentinels for WNV monitoring.},
}

@article {pmid38000912,
year = {2022},
author = {Cosma, BM and Shirali Hossein Zade, R and Jordan, EN and van Lent, P and Peng, C and Pillay, S and Abeel, T},
title = {Evaluating long-read de novo assembly tools for eukaryotic genomes: insights and considerations.},
journal = {GigaScience},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {38000912},
issn = {2047-217X},
mesh = {Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; *Genome ; Algorithms ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; *Nanopores ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Assembly algorithm choice should be a deliberate, well-justified decision when researchers create genome assemblies for eukaryotic organisms from third-generation sequencing technologies. While third-generation sequencing by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) has overcome the disadvantages of short read lengths specific to next-generation sequencing (NGS), third-generation sequencers are known to produce more error-prone reads, thereby generating a new set of challenges for assembly algorithms and pipelines. However, the introduction of HiFi reads, which offer substantially reduced error rates, has provided a promising solution for more accurate assembly outcomes. Since the introduction of third-generation sequencing technologies, many tools have been developed that aim to take advantage of the longer reads, and researchers need to choose the correct assembler for their projects.

RESULTS: We benchmarked state-of-the-art long-read de novo assemblers to help readers make a balanced choice for the assembly of eukaryotes. To this end, we used 12 real and 64 simulated datasets from different eukaryotic genomes, with different read length distributions, imitating PacBio continuous long-read (CLR), PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi), and ONT sequencing to evaluate the assemblers. We include 5 commonly used long-read assemblers in our benchmark: Canu, Flye, Miniasm, Raven, and wtdbg2 for ONT and PacBio CLR reads. For PacBio HiFi reads , we include 5 state-of-the-art HiFi assemblers: HiCanu, Flye, Hifiasm, LJA, and MBG. Evaluation categories address the following metrics: reference-based metrics, assembly statistics, misassembly count, BUSCO completeness, runtime, and RAM usage. Additionally, we investigated the effect of increased read length on the quality of the assemblies and report that read length can, but does not always, positively impact assembly quality.

CONCLUSIONS: Our benchmark concludes that there is no assembler that performs the best in all the evaluation categories. However, our results show that overall Flye is the best-performing assembler for PacBio CLR and ONT reads, both on real and simulated data. Meanwhile, best-performing PacBio HiFi assemblers are Hifiasm and LJA. Next, the benchmarking using longer reads shows that the increased read length improves assembly quality, but the extent to which that can be achieved depends on the size and complexity of the reference genome.},
}

Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods
*Genome
Algorithms
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods
*Nanopores

@article {pmid38002488,
year = {2023},
author = {Parameshwaran, D and Thiagarajan, TC},
title = {High Variability Periods in the EEG Distinguish Cognitive Brain States.},
journal = {Brain sciences},
volume = {13},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {38002488},
issn = {2076-3425},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel measure of EEG signal variability that distinguishes cognitive brain states.

METHOD: We describe a novel characterization of amplitude variability in the EEG signal termed "High Variability Periods" or "HVPs", defined as segments when the standard deviation of a moving window is continuously higher than the quartile cutoff. We characterize the parameter space of the metric in terms of window size, overlap, and threshold to suggest ideal parameter choice and compare its performance as a discriminator of brain state to alternate single channel measures of variability such as entropy, complexity, harmonic regression fit, and spectral measures.

RESULTS: We show that the average HVP duration provides a substantially distinct view of the signal relative to alternate metrics of variability and, when used in combination with these metrics, significantly enhances the ability to predict whether an individual has their eyes open or closed and is performing a working memory and Raven's pattern completion task. In addition, HVPs disappear under anesthesia and do not reappear in early periods of recovery.

CONCLUSIONS: HVP metrics enhance the discrimination of various brain states and are fast to estimate.

SIGNIFICANCE: HVP metrics can provide an additional view of signal variability that has potential clinical application in the rapid discrimination of brain states.},
}

@article {pmid38016972,
year = {2023},
author = {Rolando, A and Basso, C and Brunelli, N and Bocca, M and Laini, A},
title = {The foraging ecology of yellow-billed and red- billed choughs changed between two climatically different years.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {20908},
pmid = {38016972},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Passeriformes ; Ecology ; Homing Behavior ; Italy ; },
abstract = {Climate change is affecting the alpine ecosystem at an unprecedented rate, with marked changes in spring phenology and the elevation distribution of birds. Changes in the European Alps are happening rapidly, and it is possible behaviours stand to change from one year to the next. The year 2022 was characterised by climatic extremes: Italy experienced its hottest year ever, and it was the driest since 1800. Here, we assessed whether the foraging ecology of two coexisting upland bird species, the yellow-billed and the red-billed chough, changed from 2021 to 2022. We assessed foraging stay times, flock size, propensity to mixed flocking, foraging home ranges and altitudinal distribution. Stay times of both species when foraging in monospecific flocks significantly shortened in 2022, especially in the case of the red-billed chough. The two corvids are known to influence each other when foraging together. In 2021, as expected, the stay times of the red-billed chough decreased when in the presence of the congener, but this did not occur in 2022. Instead, the yellow-billed chough increased its altitudinal foraging distribution in 2022. The results are in line with the hypothesis that large climate variations may disrupt the foraging ecology of mountain birds. However, as it is not possible to draw solid conclusions from just two years of observations, further field research will have to be planned in the future.},
}

Animals
*Ecosystem
*Passeriformes
Ecology
Homing Behavior
Italy

@article {pmid38024264,
year = {2023},
author = {Islam, A and Rahman, MZ and Hassan, MM and Epstein, JH and Klaassen, M},
title = {Determinants for the presence of avian influenza virus in live bird markets in Bangladesh: Towards an easy fix of a looming one health issue.},
journal = {One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {100643},
pmid = {38024264},
issn = {2352-7714},
abstract = {Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 endangers poultry, wildlife, and human health and is enzootic in large parts of Asia, with live bird markets (LBMs) as putative hotspots for their maintenance, amplification, and spread. To mitigate the extent of these and other avian influenza viruses (AIV) of concern, we aimed to increase our quantitative understanding of the factors determining the presence of avian influenza virus in LBM stalls. Between 2016 and 2017, we collected fecal or offal samples from 1008 stalls in 113 LBMs across the Dhaka and Rajshahi districts in Bangladesh. For each stall, samples were pooled and tested for the AIV matrix gene, followed by H5 and H9 subtyping using rRT-PCR. We detected Influenza A viral RNA in 49% of the stalls. Of the AIV positive samples, 52% and 24% were determined to be H5 and H9 viruses, respectively, which are both subtypes of considerable health concern. We used generalized linear mixed effect modelling to study AIV presence in individual stalls within LBMs as a function of 13 out of the 20 risk factors identified by FAO. We found that small and feasible improvements in cleaning and disinfection frequency, installing running water in stalls, and not mixing different breeds of chicken in the same cages had large impacts on the presence of AIV in stalls (Odds ratios 0.03-0.05). Next, cleaning vehicles used in poultry transport, not selling waterfowl with chickens in the same stall, buying stock directly from commercial farms, separating sick birds from healthy ones, and avoiding access by wild birds like house crows, also had major effects on lowering the risk of stalls having AIV (Odds ratios 0.16-0.33). These findings can be directly used in developing practical and affordable measures to reduce the prevalence of AIV in LBMs. Also, in settings with limited resources like Bangladesh, such mitigation may significantly contribute to reducing AIV circulation amongst poultry and spillover to wildlife and humans.},
}

@article {pmid38028983,
year = {2023},
author = {Felin Fochesatto, C and Cristi-Montero, C and Ribeiro Bandeira, PF and Brand, C and Dias, AF and Bandeira, DR and Mota, J and Araujo Gaya, AC and Reis Gaya, A},
title = {A network analysis involving mental difficulties, cognition, physical fitness, 24-hour movement components, fatness, and sociodemographic factors in children.},
journal = {Journal of exercise science and fitness},
volume = {21},
number = {4},
pages = {416-423},
pmid = {38028983},
issn = {1728-869X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Evidence supports the beneficial linear influence of diverse lifestyle behaviors on brain health since childhood; however, multiple behaviors -and not only one-simultaneously affect such outcomes. Therefore, the aim was to explore the multivariate relationship through a network analysis among mental difficulty and cognitive function with physical fitness (PF), 24-h movement components, fatness, and sociodemographic factors in children.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study involved 226 children (52.2 % boys) aged between six and 11 years. Mental difficulties were evaluated through the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and cognitive function by the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices Test. The body mass index and PF were assessed according to the procedures suggested by the Proesp-Br, while moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) using accelerometry. The socioeconomic level, sleep, and screen time were evaluated by questionnaires. A network analysis was carried out to evaluate the associations among variables and establish centrality measures.

RESULTS: Age and PF moderated the negative relationship between cognitive function and MVPA. Furthermore, the direct and inverse relationship between cognitive function and mental difficulties appears to be affected by the 24-h movement components. Finally, age, PF, and screen time are the nodes with higher values of expected influence, indicating more sensitivity to interventions for decreasing mental difficulty and improving cognitive function.

CONCLUSION: Mental health and cognitive function were moderated by the multivariate interaction among age, PF, and the three 24-h movement components. Nonetheless, centrality measures from the network analysis suggest that PF, MVPA, and screen time are crucial nodes in order to implement future interventions.},
}

@article {pmid38031577,
year = {2023},
author = {Davis, A and Gourdine, R},
title = {Intersectionality and Social Security Age-18 Redetermination: Reducing the Stress and Trauma of Transition for Black Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities.},
journal = {Child & adolescent social work journal : C & A},
volume = {40},
number = {4},
pages = {513-523},
pmid = {38031577},
issn = {0738-0151},
support = {R61 HD104570/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HD094687/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Greater attention is being paid to the transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities. We are also at a period of reckoning with the vestiges of slavery, Jim Crow, and a lack of constitutional protections for Black-identifying persons. The contemporary impact of inequitable access to opportunities, services, and supports that would improve the quality of life of racialized Black individuals has added consequences for Black youth with disabilities. A sub-population of youth with disabilities receives monthly support in the form of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), with a disproportionate number of Black-identifying youth qualifying for SSI. Such youth are impacted by the intersectionality of racism, disability, and poverty. The outcome of an SSI age-18 redetermination can be precarious and occurs in the backdrop of these intersectional forces, impacting the life course of racialized Black youth and their families on a scale that is concerning. The authors describe the time frames of pre age-18 redetermination, age-18 redetermination and post age-18 redetermination in the contexts of intersectionality and transition, and articulate what type of services and supports can reduce the experience of chronic stress in the lives of racialized Black youth facing an SSI age-18 redetermination, and thereby improve the outcomes of these youth as they transition to adulthood.},
}

@article {pmid38035126,
year = {2024},
author = {Brin, MF and De Boulle, K and Liew, S and Carruthers, A and Carruthers, J and Rivkin, A and Wu, Y and Kawashima, M and Yushmanova, I and Boodhoo, TI and Lee, E},
title = {Safety and tolerability of onabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of upper facial lines from global registration studies in 5298 participants: A meta-analysis.},
journal = {JAAD international},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {4-18},
pmid = {38035126},
issn = {2666-3287},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Since its discovery as a facial aesthetic treatment >30 years ago, onabotulinumtoxinA has received worldwide approval for dynamic upper facial line treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Meta-analysis examining the safety of onabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of glabellar lines (GL), crow's feet lines (CFL), and forehead lines (FHL).

METHODS: Participants (N = 5298) with moderate to severe GL, CFL, or FHL at maximum contraction received onabotulinumtoxinA or placebo in 1 of 18 registration studies (14 double-blind, placebo-controlled [DBPC]; 1 double-blind; 3 open-label). Adverse events (AEs) were analyzed by descriptive statistics and fixed-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS: In the overall double-blind placebo-controlled (DBPC) population, AEs were reported in 1443 (42.1%) and 486 (35.8%) participants in the onabotulinumtoxinA (n = 3431) and placebo (n = 1359) groups, respectively. Serious AEs were reported in 54 (1.6%) and 17 (1.3%) participants; 1 (spontaneous abortion) was considered possibly treatment related by the investigator. Using fixed-effects statistical meta-analysis, AEs of interest that were found to be statistically higher for onabotulinumtoxinA than placebo in the DBPC population were eyelid ptosis, eyelid sensory disorder, skin tightness, brow ptosis, eyelid edema, and facial pain (P ≤ .05).

LIMITATIONS: Retrospective, ad hoc analysis.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis confirms the onabotulinumtoxinA safety profile for GL, CFL, and FHL treatment, with no new onabotulinumtoxinA-associated AEs.},
}

@article {pmid38041323,
year = {2023},
author = {Lim, MG and Park, YJ and Choi, DJ and Kim, DU and Hong, MS and Her, MJ and Takabayashi, AY and Jeong, Y and Park, J and Han, S and Quack, N and Bae, Y and Yu, K and Han, S},
title = {Fully reconfigurable MEMS-based second-order coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) with ultra-low tuning energy.},
journal = {Optics express},
volume = {31},
number = {24},
pages = {40166-40178},
doi = {10.1364/OE.505295},
pmid = {38041323},
issn = {1094-4087},
abstract = {Integrated microring resonators are well suited for wavelength-filtering applications in optical signal processing, and cascaded microring resonators allow flexible filter design in coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) configurations. However, the implementation of high-order cascaded microring resonators with high extinction ratios (ERs) remains challenging owing to stringent fabrication requirements and the need for precise resonator tunability. We present a fully integrated on-chip second-order CROW filter using silicon photonic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to adjust tunable directional couplers and a phase shifter using nanoscale mechanical out-of-plane waveguide displacement. The filter can be fully reconfigured with regard to both the ER and center wavelength. We experimentally demonstrated an ER exceeding 25 dB and continuous wavelength tuning across the full free spectral range of 0.123 nm for single microring resonator, and showed reconfigurability in second-order CROW by tuning the ER and resonant wavelength. The tuning energy for an individual silicon photonic MEMS phase shifter or tunable coupler is less than 22 pJ with sub-microwatt static power consumption, which is far better than conventional integrated phase shifters based on other physical modulation mechanisms.},
}

@article {pmid38046123,
year = {2023},
author = {Srivastava, P and Jaarsveld, S and Sangani, K},
title = {Verbal-analytical rather than visuo-spatial Raven's puzzle solving favors Raven's-like puzzle generation.},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1205056},
pmid = {38046123},
issn = {1664-1078},
abstract = {Raven's advanced progressive matrices (APM) comprise two types of representational codes, namely visuo-spatial and verbal-analytical, that are used to solve APM puzzles. Studies using analytical, behavioral, and imaging methods have supported the multidimensional perspectives of APM puzzles. The visuo-spatial code is expected to recruit operations more responsive to the visual perception tasks. In contrast, the verbal-analytical code is expected to use operations more responsive to the logical reasoning task and may entail different cognitive strategies. Acknowledging different representational codes used in APM puzzle-solving is critical for a better understanding of APM's performance and their relationship with other tasks, especially creative reasoning. We used the eye-tracking method to investigate the role of two representational codes, visuo-spatial and verbal-analytical, in strategies involved in solving APM puzzles and in generating an APM-like puzzle by using a creative-reasoning task (CRT). Participants took longer time to complete the verbal-analytical than visuo-spatial puzzles. In addition, visuo-analytical than visual-spatial puzzles showed higher progressive and regressive saccade counts, suggesting the use of more response elimination than constructive matching strategies employed while solving verbal-analytical than visuo-spatial puzzles. We observed higher CRT scores when it followed verbal-analytical (Mdn = 84) than visuo-spatial (Mdn = 73) APM puzzles, suggesting puzzle-solving specific strategies affect puzzle-creating task performance. The advantage of verbal-analytical over visuo-spatial puzzle-solving has been discussed in light of shared cognitive processing between APM puzzle-solving and APM-like puzzle-creating task performance.},
}

@article {pmid38050565,
year = {2023},
author = {Seyyed Hashemi, SF and Tehrani-Doost, M and Khosrowabadi, R},
title = {The Brain Networks Basis for Deductive and Inductive Reasoning: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.},
journal = {Basic and clinical neuroscience},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {529-542},
pmid = {38050565},
issn = {2008-126X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Frontoparietal (FPN) and cingulo-opercular network (CON) control cognitive functions needed in deductive and inductive reasoning via different functional frameworks. The FPN is a fast intuitive system while the CON is slow and analytical. The default-interventionist model presents a serial view of the interaction between intuitive and analytic cognitive systems. This study aims to examine the activity pattern of the FPN and CON from the perspective of the default-interventionist model via reasoning.

METHODS: We employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate cingulo-opercular and frontoparietal network activities in 24 healthy university students during Raven and Wason reasoning tasks. Due to the different operation times of the CON and FPN, the reaction time was assessed as a behavioral factor.

RESULTS: During Raven's advanced progressive matrices (RAPM) test, both the CON and FPN were activated. Also, with the increase in the difficulty level of the Raven test, a linear increase in response time was observed. In contrast, during the Wason's selection task (WST) test, only the activity of FPN was observed.

CONCLUSION: The results of the study support the hypothesis that the default-interventionist model of dual-process theory provides an accurate explanation of the cognitive mechanisms involved in reasoning. Thus, the response method (intuitive/analytical) determines which cognitive skills and brain regions are involved in responding.

HIGHLIGHTS: The cingulo-opercular and fronto-parietal networks (FPNs) control cognitive functions and processes.The frontoparietal network is a fast intuitive system that utilizes short-time attention which is compatible with type 1 processing. In contrast, the cingulo-opercular network (CON) is an analytical time-consuming system that utilizes attention and working memory for a longer time, compatible with type 2 processing.The default-interventionist model of a dual-process theory states that our behaviors are controlled by type 1 processing unless we are confronted with novel and complex problems in which we have no prior experiences.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: The present study examined the activity of two task-based brain networks through performing diffrent type of reasoning tasks. Fronto-parietal and Cingulo-opercular are the two task-based brain networks that are responsible for cognitive control. These two brain networks direct the way to use cognitive skills and executive functions which are necessary to perform cognitive tasks especially higher-order ones as reasoning tasks. Since the two types of inductive and deductive reasoning tasks requier two different bottom-up and top-down cognitive control respectively, different cognitive skills would be needed which affect the activity of fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular brain networks. Our results showed that through inductive reasoning task which examined by RAVEN, both of the fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular brain networks were activated but deductive reasoning task which examined by Wason Selection Card test, just the fronto-parietal brain network was activated. It seems that in the case of deductive reasoninf task, there is a higher probability of errors which lead to giving less correct responses. Based on our results, subjects paid not enough attention to details, so had failure to update informations that leaded to responding with errors. Inactivity of cingulo-opercular network through dedeuctive reasoning task clearly showed that the bottom-up cognitive control did not happen successfully. As a result of that, information processing did not proceed properly.},
}

@article {pmid38055711,
year = {2023},
author = {Miller, R and Davies, JR and Schiestl, M and Garcia-Pelegrin, E and Gray, RD and Taylor, AH and Clayton, NS},
title = {Social influences on delayed gratification in New Caledonian crows and Eurasian jays.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {18},
number = {12},
pages = {e0289197},
pmid = {38055711},
issn = {1932-6203},
support = {/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Adult ; Humans ; *Crows ; *Delay Discounting ; Feeding Behavior ; *Songbirds ; *Passeriformes ; Reward ; },
abstract = {Self-control underlies goal-directed behaviour in humans and other animals. Delayed gratification - a measure of self-control - requires the ability to tolerate delays and/or invest more effort to obtain a reward of higher value over one of lower value, such as food or mates. Social context, in particular, the presence of competitors, may influence delayed gratification. We adapted the 'rotating-tray' paradigm, where subjects need to forgo an immediate, lower-quality (i.e. less preferred) reward for a delayed, higher-quality (i.e. more preferred) one, to test social influences on delayed gratification in two corvid species: New Caledonian crows and Eurasian jays. We compared choices for immediate vs. delayed rewards while alone, in the presence of a competitive conspecific and in the presence of a non-competitive conspecific. We predicted that, given the increased risk of losing a reward with a competitor present, both species would similarly, flexibly alter their choices in the presence of a conspecific compared to when alone. We found that species differed: jays were more likely to select the immediate, less preferred reward than the crows. We also found that jays were more likely to select the immediate, less preferred reward when a competitor or non-competitor was present than when alone, or when a competitor was present compared to a non-competitor, while the crows selected the delayed, highly preferred reward irrespective of social presence. We discuss our findings in relation to species differences in socio-ecological factors related to adult sociality and food-caching (storing). New Caledonian crows are more socially tolerant and moderate cachers, while Eurasian jays are highly territorial and intense cachers that may have evolved under the social context of cache pilfering and cache protection strategies. Therefore, flexibility (or inflexibility) in delay of gratification under different social contexts may relate to the species' social tolerance and related risk of competition.},
}

Animals
Adult
Humans
*Crows
*Delay Discounting
Feeding Behavior
*Songbirds
*Passeriformes
Reward

@article {pmid38059964,
year = {2024},
author = {Gonthier, C and Harma, K and Gavornikova-Baligand, Z},
title = {Development of reasoning performance in Raven's matrices is grounded in the development of effective strategy use.},
journal = {Journal of experimental psychology. General},
volume = {153},
number = {3},
pages = {689-705},
doi = {10.1037/xge0001518},
pmid = {38059964},
issn = {1939-2222},
support = {//City of Rennes/ ; },
mesh = {Adult ; Child ; Humans ; *Problem Solving ; *Cognition ; Intelligence Tests ; Memory, Short-Term ; Neuropsychological Tests ; },
abstract = {Performance in reasoning tasks such as Raven's matrices experiences a dramatic increase over cognitive development, but the mechanisms responsible for this increase are unknown. Many cognitive processes are involved in a matrix task and could potentially change with age; strategy use appears to be a good candidate, as it typically improves over development and has a large impact on reasoning performance in adults. The present study tested the role of effective strategy use in Raven's standard progressive matrices in groups of 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, 16-, and 18-year-olds (total N = 474). Strategy use was assessed with behavioral measures of gaze patterns in Raven's matrices. We also measured working memory capacity (WMC), a good predictor of strategy use in adults, using a battery of complex spans. The results showed that the effective strategy of constructive matching substantially increased with age, along with performance. Strategy use mediated over half the effect of age on reasoning performance. Older participants were also better at adapting strategy use to difficulty of the problems. Effective strategy use was beneficial to the same extent for participants of all ages. Age-related improvements in strategy use occurred in tandem with improvements in WMC, but did not appear to be primarily driven by them. Overall, our results indicate that strategy use is a critical underpinning of reasoning performance in children as well as in adults, and that theories of cognitive development of reasoning have to consider the central role of strategy use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).},
}

Adult
Child
Humans
*Problem Solving
*Cognition
Intelligence Tests
Memory, Short-Term
Neuropsychological Tests

@article {pmid38062030,
year = {2023},
author = {Jo, H and McCune, KB and Jablonski, PG and Lee, SI},
title = {Long-term memory of experienced jays facilitates problem-solving by naïve group members in the wild.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {21593},
pmid = {38062030},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Songbirds ; Problem Solving ; Memory, Long-Term ; Mental Recall ; },
abstract = {Long-term memory affects animal fitness, especially in social species. In these species, the memory of group members facilitates the acquisition of novel foraging skills through social learning when naïve individuals observe and imitate the successful foraging behavior. Long-term memory and social learning also provide the framework for cultural behavior, a trait found in humans but very few other animal species. In birds, little is known about the duration of long-term memories for complex foraging skills, or the impact of long-term memory on group members. We tested whether wild jays remembered a complex foraging task more than 3 years after their initial experience and quantified the effect of this memory on naïve jay behavior. Experienced jays remembered how to solve the task and their behavior had significant positive effects on interactions by naïve group members at the task. This suggests that natural selection may favor long-term memory of solutions to foraging problems to facilitate the persistence of foraging skills that are specifically useful in the local environment in social birds with long lifespans and overlapping generations.},
}

Humans
Animals
*Songbirds
Problem Solving
Memory, Long-Term
Mental Recall

@article {pmid38071961,
year = {2023},
author = {Kálmán, M and Sebők, OM},
title = {Entopallium Lost GFAP Immunoreactivity during Avian Evolution: Is GFAP a "Condition Sine Qua Non"?.},
journal = {Brain, behavior and evolution},
volume = {98},
number = {6},
pages = {302-313},
pmid = {38071961},
issn = {1421-9743},
mesh = {Animals ; *Columbidae ; Coturnix ; Phylogeny ; Pica ; Chickens ; *Songbirds ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The present study demonstrates that in the same brain area the astroglia can express GFAP (the main cytoskeletal protein of astroglia) in some species but not in the others of the same vertebrate class. It contrasts the former opinions that the distribution of GFAP found in a species is characteristic of the entire class. The present study investigated birds in different phylogenetic positions: duck (Cairina moschata domestica), chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), and quails (Coturnix japonica and Excalfactoria chinensis) of Galloanserae; pigeon (Columba livia domestica) of a group of Neoaves, in comparison with representatives of other Neoaves lineages, which emerged more recently in evolution: finches (Taeniopygia guttata and Erythrura gouldiae), magpie (Pica pica), and parrots (Melopsittacus undulatus and Nymphicus hollandicus).

METHODS: Following a perfusion with 4% buffered paraformaldehyde, immunoperoxidase reactions were performed with two types of anti-GFAP: monoclonal and polyclonal, on floating sections.

RESULTS: The entopallium (formerly "ectostriatum," a telencephalic area in birds) was GFAP-immunopositive in pigeon and in the representatives of Galloanserae but not in songbirds and parrots, which emerged more recently in evolution. The lack of GFAP expression of a brain area, however, does not mean the lack of astroglia. Lesions induced GFAP expression in the territory of GFAP-immunonegative entopallia. It proved that the GFAP immunonegativity is not due to the lack of capability, but rather the suppression of GFAP production of the astrocytes in this territory. In the other areas investigated besides the entopallium (optic tectum and cerebellum), no considerable interspecific differences of GFAP immunopositivity were found. It proved that the immunonegativity of entopallium is due to neither the general lack of GFAP expression nor the incapability of our reagents to detect GFAP in these species.

CONCLUSION: The data are congruent with our proposal that a lack of GFAP expression has evolved in different brain areas in vertebrate evolution, typically in lineages that emerged more recently. Comparative studies on GFAP-immunopositive and GFAP-immunonegative entopallia may promote understanding the role of GFAP in neural networks.},
}

Animals
*Columbidae
Coturnix
Phylogeny
Pica
Chickens
*Songbirds

@article {pmid38072820,
year = {2024},
author = {Bracken, A and Hauss, J and Grinshpun, S and Lasc, D and Hershkovich, A and Yang, Y},
title = {A profile of spatial abilities in people with Down syndrome.},
journal = {Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR},
volume = {68},
number = {3},
pages = {223-236},
pmid = {38072820},
issn = {1365-2788},
support = {SC2 HD103587/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; SC2HD103587/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Young Adult ; Aptitude ; Cognition ; *Down Syndrome/psychology ; *Spatial Navigation ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Spatial abilities are fundamental cognitive abilities, have direct applications in daily life, serve as a cognitive foundation for many other complex skills and are used in many specialty jobs. The current study aimed to systematically and comprehensively evaluate the spatial abilities of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) relative to mental ability-matched typically developing (TD) children based on Newcombe and Shipley's double-dimension theoretical framework for classifying spatial abilities.

METHODS: Forty adolescents and young adults with DS and 40 TD children completed a nonverbal intelligence test (Raven's), two measures of static-extrinsic skills (water-level task and cart task), two measures of static-intrinsic skills (figure ground and form completion), two measures of dynamic-extrinsic skills (three mountains task and dog task) and two measures of dynamic-intrinsic spatial skills (mental rotation task and block design task).

RESULTS: Participants with DS showed reduced performance on two dynamic-intrinsic tasks and one static-extrinsic task (i.e. cart task) relative to TD children. Performances were similar in two dynamic-extrinsic tasks and two static-intrinsic tasks. Analyses of composite accuracy for each spatial category further confirmed deficits in dynamic-intrinsic and static-extrinsic categories for people with DS relative to TD children.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed an uneven profile of spatial abilities in people with DS relative to ability-matched TD children with particular weaknesses in comprehending and manipulating dynamic-intrinsic and static-extrinsic spatial relations. Furthermore, our research has important clinical implications for more targeted interventions to improve spatial abilities in people with DS.},
}

Adolescent
Child
Humans
Young Adult
Aptitude
Cognition
*Down Syndrome/psychology
*Spatial Navigation

@article {pmid38078562,
year = {2024},
author = {Trapote, E and Moreno-González, V and Canestrari, D and Rutz, C and Baglione, V},
title = {Fitness benefits of alternated chick provisioning in cooperatively breeding carrion crows.},
journal = {The Journal of animal ecology},
volume = {93},
number = {1},
pages = {95-108},
doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.14033},
pmid = {38078562},
issn = {1365-2656},
support = {CGL2016-77636-P//Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad/ ; //SEO-Birdlife Research to ET/ ; BB/S018484/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Crows ; Cooperative Behavior ; *Songbirds ; Breeding ; Nesting Behavior ; },
abstract = {In most bird species, parents raise offspring cooperatively. In some cases, this cooperation extends to helpers-at-the-nest who assist the breeders with a range of tasks. While cooperative food provisioning might merely arise incidentally, as a result of the efforts of carers that act independently from each other, recent studies suggest that birds may coordinate by taking turns in visiting the nest. However, evidence that such coordination emerges because individuals actively respond to each other's behaviour is controversial, and the potential benefits of carers' alternation remain unknown. We addressed this knowledge gap by analysing a multiyear dataset for cooperatively breeding carrion crows Corvus corone, comprising 8693 nest visits across 50 groups. Our results reveal that turn-taking does occur in this species and that all group members, regardless of their sex and social role (breeder/helper), tend to alternate at the nest with other carers rather than to make repeat visits. Importantly, we found that the body mass of nestlings increased significantly with the degree of carers' alternation, possibly because well-coordinated groups provided food at more regular intervals. Using earlier monitoring data, the observed increase in body mass is predicted to substantially boost postfledging survival rates. Our analyses demonstrate that alternation in nestling provisioning has measurable fitness benefits in this study system. This raises the possibility that cooperatively breeding carrion crows, as well as other bird species with similarly coordinated brood provisioning, exhibit specialized behavioural strategies that enable effective alternation.},
}

Humans
Animals
*Crows
Cooperative Behavior
*Songbirds
Breeding
Nesting Behavior

@article {pmid38081583,
year = {2024},
author = {Anand, S and Reddy, RV and Omoba, OE and Detchou, D and Barrie, U and Aoun, SG},
title = {Maxine Deborrah Hyde: First Female Graduate of Case Western Reserve University's Neurologic Surgery Residency Program and Second Black Female Neurosurgeon in the United States.},
journal = {World neurosurgery},
volume = {183},
number = {},
pages = {63-69},
doi = {10.1016/j.wneu.2023.12.021},
pmid = {38081583},
issn = {1878-8769},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; United States ; Neurosurgeons ; *Internship and Residency ; Universities ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; *Neurosurgery/education ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The historical diversity gap in the neurosurgical workforce persists to this day. Women, despite constituting over half of the yearly total of medical school graduates, comprise only 6% of certified practicing neurosurgeons in the United States. Furthermore, Black Americans make up under 4% of U.S. neurosurgeons, despite making up around 14% of the national population. The purpose of this account is to highlight the life and career of Dr. Maxine Deborrah Hyde and illustrate the importance and necessity of diversity and inclusivity in advancing the field of neurosurgery. Through this paper, we aspire to encourage the development of new diversity initiatives.

METHODS: Original scientific and bibliographic materials of Hyde were examined, and an extensive analysis of her life was compiled.

RESULTS: Despite growing up during the era of Jim Crow, Dr. Hyde persevered and became the valedictorian of Oak Park High School. As a first-generation college student at Tougaloo College, she later earned her MS from Cleveland State University. Dr. Hyde graduated with honors from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1977. Thereafter, she became the first female and first Black graduate of Case Western's neurosurgery residency and the second Black woman to receive certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Later in life, Dr. Hyde established the Beacon of Hope Scholarship Foundation to assist disadvantaged students in overcoming educational barriers.

CONCLUSIONS: Dr. Hyde was a trailblazer who overcame systematic barriers and paved the way for future generations of aspiring neurosurgeons.},
}

Humans
Female
United States
Neurosurgeons
*Internship and Residency
Universities
Neurosurgical Procedures
*Neurosurgery/education

@article {pmid38081798,
year = {2023},
author = {Shaiek, A and Monot, M and Rubert, V and Cornillon, C and Vicic, M and Decocq, G and Flament, F},
title = {Applications of the new Aeva-HE™ imaging system: Its link with the visual evaluation of facial wrinkles and its potential in screening tensile products.},
journal = {Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI)},
volume = {29},
number = {12},
pages = {e13512},
pmid = {38081798},
issn = {1600-0846},
mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Cheek ; *Cosmetics ; Face/diagnostic imaging ; *Skin Aging ; White People ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To evaluate, in vivo, a recently developed imaging system (Aeva-HE™), based on fringe projection methodology: (i) its correlation with expert's assessments and real age of 85 French Caucasian women and (ii) its potential, as a screening tool, in rapidly selecting prototypes of tensile cosmetic products.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, the bare faces of 85 differently aged French/Caucasian women were photographed under standard conditions and further analyzed by the Aeva-HE™ device. An expert aesthetician graded the severity of wrinkling on a fixed scale, helped by the use of a dedicated Skin Aging Atlas. A panel of 15 judges performed the same task on full-face standard photographs. The Aeva-HE™ software yielded various wrinkle's parameters (density, volume, mean depth, etc.) on different facial locations, according to age-groups. Second, seven women, balanced in age and wrinkling severity, were recruited in a separate study. These women applied at Day 1 a prototype of the tensile product and at Day 2, they applied another prototype of the tensile product. The whole faces (before and after products application) of the seven studied women were captured and analyzed by the Aeva-HE™ system.

RESULTS: The density of wrinkles was significantly highly correlated with the aesthetician scores and, unsurprisingly, with age. Some parameters (volume, depths) of different wrinkles (glabellar, crow's feet, cheeks) were quantified, showing different absolute values and of statistically different progressions with age. The amplitudes of the rapid effects brought by the two prototypes of tensile products were clearly differentiated.

CONCLUSION: The recently developed device Aeva-HE™ is an efficient system for rapidly establishing a faithful and precise status of facial wrinkles, in vivo and seems like a precious tool in the rapid screening of tensile products, possibly performed on a rather limited number of subjects.},
}

Female
Humans
Cheek
*Cosmetics
Face/diagnostic imaging
*Skin Aging
White People

@article {pmid38084754,
year = {2024},
author = {Forbes, SL and Kjorlien, Y and Watson, CJ},
title = {The taphonomic impact of scavenger guilds in peri-urban and rural regions of central and southern Alberta. Part I - Identification of forensically relevant vertebrate scavengers.},
journal = {Journal of forensic sciences},
volume = {69},
number = {2},
pages = {415-429},
doi = {10.1111/1556-4029.15443},
pmid = {38084754},
issn = {1556-4029},
support = {RGPIN/6098/2019]//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; C150-2017-12//The Canada 150 Research Chair in Forensic Thanatology/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Alberta ; *Body Remains ; Vertebrates ; Feeding Behavior ; Birds ; Fishes ; *Ursidae ; },
abstract = {As a body decomposes in an outdoor environment, numerous taphonomic agents can act on the process of human decomposition. It is important to understand the impact of these agents as they can vary the rate of soft and hard tissue loss which may alter postmortem interval estimations. One taphonomic factor which has not been extensively investigated in many regions of the world, including Canada, are vertebrate scavengers. The current study aimed to identify scavenger guilds in the peri-urban and rural regions of two major cities in Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) where human remains are frequently located. Vertebrate scavenger activity was recorded continuously using cellular and noncellular trail cameras. Images were analyzed to determine how the scavenging profiles (i.e., scavenger species, arrival time, and feeding behavior) impacted the loss of soft and hard tissue. We identified a range of mammalian and avian scavengers and found that coyote and black-billed magpie were the predominant scavengers recorded at the Edmonton peri-urban and rural sites, and the Calgary peri-urban sites. In contrast, when a site was within bear territory such as the Calgary rural sites, black and grizzly bears were the predominant scavengers. At all sites, the large mammalian scavengers were responsible for most soft tissue loss and subsequent hard tissue dispersal. None of the scavengers demonstrated a clear preference for open versus closed sites. This taphonomic information is important to consider when searching for human remains at these locations or in other North American regions with comparable scavenger guilds.},
}

Animals
Humans
Alberta
*Body Remains
Vertebrates
Feeding Behavior
Birds
Fishes
*Ursidae

@article {pmid38097447,
year = {2024},
author = {Güntürkün, O and Pusch, R and Rose, J},
title = {Why birds are smart.},
journal = {Trends in cognitive sciences},
volume = {28},
number = {3},
pages = {197-209},
pmid = {38097447},
issn = {1879-307X},
support = {101021354//AVIAN MIND/ ; 316803389//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Birds/physiology ; *Cognition/physiology ; Neocortex ; Prefrontal Cortex ; },
abstract = {Many cognitive neuroscientists believe that both a large brain and an isocortex are crucial for complex cognition. Yet corvids and parrots possess non-cortical brains of just 1-25 g, and these birds exhibit cognitive abilities comparable with those of great apes such as chimpanzees, which have brains of about 400 g. This opinion explores how this cognitive equivalence is possible. We propose four features that may be required for complex cognition: a large number of associative pallial neurons, a prefrontal cortex (PFC)-like area, a dense dopaminergic innervation of association areas, and dynamic neurophysiological fundaments for working memory. These four neural features have convergently evolved and may therefore represent 'hard to replace' mechanisms enabling complex cognition.},
}

Animals
*Birds/physiology
*Cognition/physiology
Neocortex
Prefrontal Cortex

@article {pmid38105971,
year = {2023},
author = {Watkins, SH and Testa, C and Simpkin, AJ and Smith, GD and Coull, B and De Vivo, I and Tilling, K and Waterman, PD and Chen, JT and Diez-Roux, AV and Krieger, N and Suderman, M and Relton, C},
title = {An epigenome-wide analysis of DNA methylation, racialized and economic inequities, and air pollution.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {38105971},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R01 AG027122/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL135009/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK063491/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000040/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095166/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095160/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00002/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN268201500003C/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095161/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00005/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095168/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007358/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001079/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095169/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES000002/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK101921/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00001/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL101250/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 MD014304/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095167/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095159/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00003/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001420/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00004/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095163/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00007/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN268201500003I/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; RF1 AG054474/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL126477/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095162/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00006/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001881/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095165/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095164/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {IMPORTANCE: DNA methylation (DNAm) provides a plausible mechanism by which adverse exposures become embodied and contribute to health inequities, due to its role in genome regulation and responsiveness to social and biophysical exposures tied to societal context. However, scant epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have included structural and lifecourse measures of exposure, especially in relation to structural discrimination.

OBJECTIVE: Our study tests the hypothesis that DNAm is a mechanism by which racial discrimination, economic adversity, and air pollution become biologically embodied.

DESIGN: A series of cross-sectional EWAS, conducted in My Body My Story (MBMS, biological specimens collected 2008-2010, DNAm assayed in 2021); and the Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA; biological specimens collected 2010-2012, DNAm assayed in 2012-2013); using new georeferenced social exposure data for both studies (generated in 2022).

SETTING: MBMS was recruited from four community health centers in Boston; MESA was recruited from four field sites in: Baltimore, MD; Forsyth County, NC; New York City, NY; and St. Paul, MN.

PARTICIPANTS: Two population-based samples of US-born Black non-Hispanic (Black NH), white non-Hispanic (white NH), and Hispanic individuals (MBMS; n=224 Black NH and 69 white NH) and (MESA; n=229 Black NH, n=555 white NH and n=191 Hispanic).

EXPOSURES: Eight social exposures encompassing racial discrimination, economic adversity, and air pollution.

MAIN OUTCOME: Genome-wide changes in DNAm, as measured using the Illumina EPIC BeadChip (MBMS; using frozen blood spots) and Illumina 450k BeadChip (MESA; using purified monocytes). Our hypothesis was formulated after data collection.

RESULTS: We observed the strongest associations with traffic-related air pollution (measured via black carbon and nitrogen oxides exposure), with evidence from both studies suggesting that air pollution exposure may induce epigenetic changes related to inflammatory processes. We also found suggestive associations of DNAm variation with measures of structural racial discrimination (e.g., for Black NH participants, born in a Jim Crow state; adult exposure to racialized economic residential segregation) situated in genes with plausible links to effects on health.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Overall, this work suggests that DNAm is a biological mechanism through which structural racism and air pollution become embodied and may lead to health inequities.},
}

@article {pmid38107531,
year = {2023},
author = {Lohrasbi, S and Moradi, AR and Sadeghi, M},
title = {Exploring Emotion Recognition Patterns Among Iranian People Using CANTAB as an Approved Neuro-Psychological Assessment.},
journal = {Basic and clinical neuroscience},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {289-295},
pmid = {38107531},
issn = {2008-126X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Emotion recognition is the main component of social cognition and has various patterns in different cultures and nationalities. The present study aimed to investigate emotion recognition patterns among Iranians using the Cambridge neuro-psychological test automated battery (CANTAB) as a valid neuropsychological test.

METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical study, 117 males and females (Mean±SD of age 32.1±6.4) were initially assessed by computerized intelligence and progressive matrices of RAVEN-2. Furthermore, the excitement recognition subtest taken from the Cambridge neuro-psychological test automated battery (CANTAB) was performed. The correct response of participants to each of the six basic emotions as well as the recognition time was used for analysis.

RESULTS: The maximum correct response rate was 75.83% related to happy emotion. The correct responses for sadness, surprise, disgust, anger, and fear were 70%, 68.48%, 47.84%, 42.54%, and 38.26%, respectively. Moreover, the shortest recognition time was related to disgust at 322 ms, while sadness with a mean response time of 1800 ms and fear response time at 1529 ms indicated the longest recognition time. In addition, participants recognized happiness with a mean response time of 1264 ms better than other emotions; however, post-hoc t-test analyses showed that only the correct responses for sadness and surprised emotions did not differ significantly, (t(112)=-0.59, P=0.55, d=0.05). These results suggested that different emotions have various correct responses. However, sadness and surprise did not differ.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study could be beneficial for evaluating cognitive elements, as well as cognitive abilities and inabilities among the Iranian population. Moreover, the findings could be used for investigating social cognition in this population.

HIGHLIGHTS: Emotion recognition patterns among Iranians were investigated using a valid neuropsychological test.Iranians showed higher accuracy in recognizing happiness and lower accuracy in recognizing fear.Disgust was recognized with the shortest response time, while sadness and fear had the longest recognition time.The findings highlight cultural differences in emotion recognition and can aid in evaluating cognitive abilities and social cognition in the Iranian population.The study emphasizes the importance of considering cultural factors in assessing and understanding emotion recognition.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Understanding how people recognize emotions is crucial for effective communication and building social connections. However, the ability to recognize emotions can vary across cultures. This study aimed to investigate how Iranians recognize emotions using a reliable test. The researchers assessed 117 Iranian adults, both males and females, using a computer-based test. Participants were asked to identify six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, fear, and surprise) displayed on a screen. The researchers measured the participants' accuracy in identifying each emotion and the time it took them to recognize it. The findings revealed that Iranians were most accurate in recognizing happiness and least accurate in recognizing fear. They were better at identifying positive emotions like happiness and surprise compared to negative emotions like disgust and anger. Participants took the least time to recognize disgust and the longest time to recognize sadness and fear. These results show that Iranians have specific patterns in recognizing emotions, which can be influenced by cultural factors. Understanding these patterns is important for assessing cognitive abilities and social cognition in the Iranian population. Moreover, these findings have broader implications. They highlight the need to consider cultural differences in emotion recognition, as it can impact communication and social interactions. The study's outcomes can be valuable for various applications. For instance, they can aid in developing tests to assess emotion recognition difficulties in individuals with conditions such as autism or schizophrenia. Furthermore, these findings can be useful for professionals, such as employees in customer service or mental health providers, who need to accurately interpret others' emotions. By shedding light on cultural variations in emotion recognition, this research contributes to our understanding of human emotions and their role in interpersonal relationships.},
}

@article {pmid38109036,
year = {2023},
author = {Raymond, S and St Clair, CC},
title = {Urban Magpies Frequently Feed on Coyote Scats and May Spread an Emerging Zoonotic Tapeworm.},
journal = {EcoHealth},
volume = {20},
number = {4},
pages = {441-452},
pmid = {38109036},
issn = {1612-9210},
support = {Canada Graduate Scholarship--Master's//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; Discovery Grant (RGPIN-2017-05915)//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; Faculty of Science Research Fellowship//University of Alberta/ ; Walter H. Johns Graduate Fellowship//University of Alberta/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Coyotes/parasitology ; Animals, Wild/parasitology ; Zoonoses/epidemiology ; Cities ; *Cestoda ; *Parasites ; },
abstract = {Allocoprophagy, in which animals feed on the feces of other individuals or species, has been little studied in vertebrates, despite its relevance to parasite transmission. These relationships may be especially important in cities, where animal density, disease incidence, and spatial overlap of humans and wildlife increase. Our goal was to document the incidence and predictors of coprophagy by black-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia) at coyote (Canis latrans) scats in Edmonton, Canada. We detected scats by following coyote trails and recorded whether coprophagy had occurred. We used multiple logistic regression to determine the top contextual and environmental predictors of coprophagy. Of 668 coyote scats, 37.3% had apparently been fed on. Coprophagy was more likely in winter and when scats were not fresh and did not contain vegetation or garbage. Environmental predictors of coprophagy included proximity to other coyote scats and playgrounds, distance from water and maintained trails, abundant natural land cover, and proximity to encampments of people experiencing homelessness. Our results reveal that magpies frequently access coyote scat and often do so near human-use areas. In Edmonton, where > 50% of coyotes are infected with a zoonotic tapeworm, coprophagy likely causes magpies to transport parasites with implications for zoonotic disease risk.},
}

Animals
Humans
*Coyotes/parasitology
Animals, Wild/parasitology
Zoonoses/epidemiology
Cities
*Cestoda
*Parasites

@article {pmid38114856,
year = {2024},
author = {Wang, CZ and van Loon, JJA},
title = {Chemosensory detection of glucosinolates as token stimuli for specialist insects on brassicaceous plants: discovery and impact.},
journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology},
volume = {210},
number = {2},
pages = {243-248},
pmid = {38114856},
issn = {1432-1351},
support = {32130090//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Butterflies/physiology ; Glucosinolates ; Insecta ; Larva ; },
abstract = {In this paper, we take a historical perspective by going back to Verschaffelt's landmark study published in 1910, in which he found that glucosinolates were used as token stimuli by larvae of Pieris butterflies, specialist feeders on plants in the family Brassicaceae. This classic discovery provided key evidence for Fraenkel (Science 129:1466-1470, 1959) to elaborate on the function of secondary plant substances and for Ehrlich and Raven (Evolution 18:586-608, 1964) to put forward the hypothesis of insect-plant coevolution. The discovery by Schoonhoven (Kon Nederl Akad Wetensch Amsterdam Proc Ser C70:556-568, 1967) of taste neurons highly sensitive to glucosinolates in Pieris brassicae was an important milestone in elucidating the chemosensory basis of host-plant specialization. The molecular basis of glucosinolate sensitivity was elucidated recently (Yang et al., PLoS Genet 17, 2021) paving the way to unravel the evolution of gustatory receptors tuned to glucosinolates that are crucial for host-plant selection of Pieris butterflies. We propose a hypothetical model for the evolution of labeled-line neurons tuned to token stimuli.},
}

Animals
*Butterflies/physiology
Glucosinolates
Insecta
Larva

@article {pmid38117679,
year = {2024},
author = {Lipton, LR and Prock, L and Camarata, S and Fogler, J and Nyp, SS},
title = {Developmental Delay and Behavior Challenges in an Internationally Adopted Child.},
journal = {Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP},
volume = {45},
number = {1},
pages = {e88-e91},
doi = {10.1097/DBP.0000000000001235},
pmid = {38117679},
issn = {1536-7312},
mesh = {Male ; Humans ; Child ; *Child, Adopted ; Social Behavior ; Aggression ; *Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/diagnosis ; *Language Development Disorders/diagnosis ; },
abstract = {Jay is a 6-year-old boy who was referred to a multidisciplinary developmental clinic for evaluation because of speech/language delays and challenging behaviors. He attends kindergarten with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) supporting developmental challenges with speech/language, motor, and academic skills.Jay was reportedly born full-term after an uneventful pregnancy and lived with his biological family for several months before transitioning to institutional care. Shortly before his first birthday, he transitioned to the first of 3 foster homes. It is suspected that Jay experienced malnourishment, neglect, lack of appropriate supervision, and inappropriate levels of responsibility (e.g., providing care to an infant when he was a toddler) as well as limited language input while in foster care. Ages at which he attained developmental milestones are unknown, but he has displayed delays across all developmental domains, including speech/language development in his primary language, which is not English.Jay's adoptive parents report that he is learning English vocabulary well but has been noted to have occasional word-finding difficulties and errors in verb conjugation, pronoun use, and syntax in English. Behavioral concerns include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and aggression exacerbated by new or loud environments and transitions. Socially, he seems to be typically engaged with peers but lacks understanding of personal space/boundaries. His adoptive parents have also noted that he is very sensitive to the emotions of others around him, more irritable in the morning, fascinated by "scary" things, and seems to fear abandonment. During the initial months in his adoptive home, he had frequent night awakenings, fear of the dark, and aggression at bedtime, but all these concerns have improved with time.Neuropsychological testing was completed as part of the multidisciplinary developmental evaluation, and Jay demonstrated low-average cognitive abilities, delayed preacademic skills in all language-based areas, and receptive and expressive language delays. He was socially engaged during the evaluation. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, combined presentation, and unspecified trauma/stress-related disorder.Given what is known about Jay's early history, what factors would you consider in addressing his parents' concerns regarding his speech/language development and behavior challenges?},
}

Male
Humans
Child
*Child, Adopted
Social Behavior
Aggression
*Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/diagnosis
*Language Development Disorders/diagnosis

@article {pmid38145675,
year = {2024},
author = {Drysdale, M and Gamberg, M and Brammer, J and Majowicz, SE and Packull-McCormick, S and Skinner, K and Laird, BD},
title = {Hexachlorobenzene and omega-3 fatty acid intake from traditional foods in the northern Yukon: A risk and benefit analysis.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {914},
number = {},
pages = {169205},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169205},
pmid = {38145675},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {Humans ; *Hexachlorobenzene/analysis ; Yukon Territory ; Canada ; *Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid ; Body Weight ; },
abstract = {A human biomonitoring study was conducted in the community of Old Crow, Yukon, in 2019, finding that levels of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in plasma were elevated in the community relative to the general Canadian population. The aim of this study was to estimate dietary intake of both hexachlorobenzene, and the nutrient omega-3 fatty acids from locally harvested traditional foods in Old Crow, with the aim of identifying possible regional sources of exposure. A stochastic model was constructed to estimate intake of both hexachlorobenzene and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Average predicted hexachlorobenzene exposure levels from traditional food consumption in Old Crow were below the tolerable daily intake of 1600-1700 ng/kg body weight/day in both average (18 ng/kg body weight/day) and short-term maximum (27 ng/kg body weight/day) exposure models. The primary contributors to average hexachlorobenzene intake were caribou fat, bone marrow, ribs, and kidneys, and Chinook salmon muscle. Average estimated dietary EPA + DHA intake levels from traditional foods were below the recommendation of 2.1 to 3.2 g of EPA + DHA per week in the average (1.6 g/week) exposure model, but above this recommendation in the short-term maximum model (3.3 g/week). The primary contributors to average EPA + DHA intake were the meat of Chinook, coho, and, chum salmon muscle, and whitefish muscle and eggs. The results of this study support the message that traditional foods continue to be an important source of nutrients and other health benefits and that the health benefits of traditional foods generally outweigh contaminant risks.},
}

Humans
*Hexachlorobenzene/analysis
Yukon Territory
Canada
*Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Docosahexaenoic Acids
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Body Weight

@article {pmid38154314,
year = {2024},
author = {Simonit, F and Da Broi, U and Giudici, F and Sciarappa, OE and Innocenti, D and Desinan, L},
title = {Autopsy findings in fire deaths in relation to manner of death: Analysis of autopsy records in Friuli, Italy (1993-2020).},
journal = {Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)},
volume = {67},
number = {},
pages = {102372},
doi = {10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102372},
pmid = {38154314},
issn = {1873-4162},
mesh = {Humans ; *Suicide ; Homicide ; *Burns ; Autopsy ; Accidents ; Italy/epidemiology ; Cause of Death ; Retrospective Studies ; },
abstract = {The determination of the cause and manner of death can be particularly difficult in burned and charred bodies and autopsy remains a key element in the investigation. In this study, 39 autopsy records of fire deaths were reviewed in relation to the manner of death (25 accidents, 8 suicides, 3 homicides and 3 instances in which the manner of death remained undetermined). The analysis focused on the study of the burns, the degree to which the bodies were consumed by fire and the evidence of signs of vital exposure to fire and of non-fire-related injuries. Total surface body area (TBSA) was found to be significantly higher (p = 0.02) in suicides than in accidents. Moreover, the degree of destruction according to the Crow-Glassman Scale and the presence of a pugilistic posture tended to be higher in suicides compared to accidental deaths, whereas such parameters were found to be variable in homicides. With regard to the anatomical distribution of burns, in contrast with the literature, the feet were affected by burning in all suicides, with a significantly higher prevalence than in accidents (p < 0.01). Traumatic non-fire related injuries were noted in all homicides (with no signs of vital exposure to fire), 1 complicated suicide, 1 undetermined death and 13 accidents. We found that very few studies have focused on the analysis of burn distribution and extension according to manner of death and that there is currently no standardised anatomical model with which to study these variables for forensic purposes.},
}

Humans
*Suicide
Homicide
*Burns
Autopsy
Accidents
Italy/epidemiology
Cause of Death
Retrospective Studies

@article {pmid38155685,
year = {2023},
author = {Rajaei, N and Doosti, A},
title = {Designing a novel method based on multiplex PCR for detecting various meat of birds in processed ground meat products.},
journal = {Food chemistry. Molecular sciences},
volume = {7},
number = {},
pages = {100177},
pmid = {38155685},
issn = {2666-5662},
abstract = {Falsified food directly influences wildlife, fair trade, religion, and the health of society. Here, we report a multiplex polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the accurate determination of seven species of bird meat in meals on a single assay platform. To amplify segments of DNA from Columba livia, Corvus moneduloides, Gallus gallus, Coturnix japonica, Phasianus colchicus, Struthio camelus, and Meleagris gallopavo meats, respectively, a total of seven sets of species-specific primers targeting the mitochondrial and cytochrome b genes were developed. Gel photographs and electrochromatography from an Experion Bioanalyzer were used to identify all PCR products. Species specificity checks discovered no cross-species amplification. The applicability of its screening to find target species in processed food was shown in commercial and model meatballs. A validation study revealed that the test is reliable, quick, affordable, repeatable, specific, and accurate down to 50,000 mitochondrial copies. It might be used for raw meats and products involving processed and severely deteriorated food samples. The customers, the food business, and law enforcement would all benefit immensely from this suggested approach.},
}

@article {pmid38159630,
year = {2024},
author = {Xu, J},
title = {Comment on "neurotoxicity of 4-nonylphenol in adult zebrafish: Evaluation of behaviour, oxidative stress parameters and histopathology of brain"by Jay K. Desai. et al. [Environmental Pollution 334 (2023): 122206].},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {343},
number = {},
pages = {123214},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123214},
pmid = {38159630},
issn = {1873-6424},
mesh = {Animals ; *Zebrafish/physiology ; *Brain ; Oxidative Stress ; Environmental Pollution ; *Phenols ; },
abstract = {In a recent study by Jay K. Desai et al., (Desai et al., 2023) the authors extensively documented the effects of long-term exposure to 4-nonylphenol neurotoxicity in zebrafish, including oxidative stress markers, behavioral changes, and neuropathology results. The results indicate that, although Neurotoxicity of 4-nonylphenol did not cause evident changes in zebrafish brain tissue pathology, it significantly induced oxidative stress reactions in the zebrafish brain and altered their exploratory behaviors in response to light and dark stimuli.However, upon reviewing the results of this study, we have identified several questionable outcomes and errors in image usage, leading to some concerns.},
}

Animals
*Zebrafish/physiology
*Brain
Oxidative Stress
Environmental Pollution
*Phenols

@article {pmid38165586,
year = {2024},
author = {Rodriguez, JM and Bae, B},
title = {Political Ideology Direction of Policy Agendas and Maternal Mortality Outcomes in the U.S., 1915-2007.},
journal = {Maternal and child health journal},
volume = {28},
number = {5},
pages = {865-872},
pmid = {38165586},
issn = {1573-6628},
mesh = {United States/epidemiology ; Humans ; *Maternal Mortality ; *Policy ; Politics ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The causes for persistently high and increasing maternal mortality rates in the United States have been elusive.

METHODS: We use the shift in the ideological direction of the Republican and the Democratic parties in the 1960s, to test the hypothesis that fluctuations in overall and race-specific maternal mortality rates (MMR) follow the power shifts between the parties before and after the Political Realignment (PR) of the 1960s.

RESULTS: Using time-series data analysis methods, we find that, net of trend, overall and race-specific MMRs were higher under Democratic administrations than Republican ones before the PR (1915-1965)-i.e., when the Democratic Party was a protector of the Jim Crow system. This pattern, however, changed after the PR (1966-2007), with Republican administrations underperforming Democratic ones-i.e., during the period when the Republican Party shifted toward a more economically and socially conservative agenda. The pre-post PR partisan shifts in MMRs were larger for Black (9.5%, p < . 01) relative to White mothers (7.4%, p < . 05) during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings imply that parties and the ideological direction of their agendas substantively affect the social determinants of maternal health and produce politized health outcomes.},
}

United States/epidemiology
Humans
*Maternal Mortality
*Policy
Politics

@article {pmid38165732,
year = {2024},
author = {Wagener, L and Nieder, A},
title = {Conscious Experience of Stimulus Presence and Absence Is Actively Encoded by Neurons in the Crow Brain.},
journal = {Journal of cognitive neuroscience},
volume = {36},
number = {3},
pages = {508-521},
doi = {10.1162/jocn_a_02101},
pmid = {38165732},
issn = {1530-8898},
support = {NI 618/6-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Consciousness ; *Crows ; Telencephalon/physiology ; Brain/physiology ; Visual Perception/physiology ; Neurons/physiology ; },
abstract = {The emergence of consciousness from brain activity constitutes one of the great riddles in biology. It is commonly assumed that only the conscious perception of the presence of a stimulus elicits neuronal activation to signify a "neural correlate of consciousness," whereas the subjective experience of the absence of a stimulus is associated with a neuronal resting state. Here, we demonstrate that the two subjective states "stimulus present" and "stimulus absent" are represented by two specialized neuron populations in crows, corvid birds. We recorded single-neuron activity from the nidopallium caudolaterale of crows trained to report the presence or absence of images presented near the visual threshold. Because of the task design, neuronal activity tracking the conscious "present" versus "absent" percept was dissociated from that involved in planning a motor response. Distinct neuron populations signaled the subjective percepts of "present" and "absent" by increases in activation. The response selectivity of these two neuron populations was similar in strength and time course. This suggests a balanced code for subjective "presence" versus "absence" experiences, which might be beneficial when both conscious states need to be maintained active in the service of goal-directed behavior.},
}

Humans
Animals
*Consciousness
*Crows
Telencephalon/physiology
Brain/physiology
Visual Perception/physiology
Neurons/physiology

@article {pmid38168159,
year = {2023},
author = {Krieger, N and Testa, C and Chen, JT and Johnson, N and Watkins, SH and Suderman, M and Simpkin, AJ and Tilling, K and Waterman, PD and Coull, BA and De Vivo, I and Smith, GD and Roux, AVD and Relton, C},
title = {Epigenetic aging & embodying injustice: US My Body My Story and Multi-Ethnic Atherosclerosis Study.},
journal = {medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {38168159},
support = {R01 AG027122/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL135009/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK063491/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000040/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095166/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095160/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00002/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN268201500003C/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095161/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00005/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095168/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007358/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001079/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095169/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES000002/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK101921/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00001/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL101250/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 MD014304/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095167/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095159/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00003/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001420/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00004/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095163/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00007/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN268201500003I/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; RF1 AG054474/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL126477/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095162/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N92020D00006/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001881/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095165/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; N01 HC095164/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {IMPORTANCE: Epigenetic accelerated aging is associated with exposure to social and economic adversity and may increase risk of premature morbidity and mortality. However, no studies have included measures of structural racism and few have compared estimates within or across the 1[st] and 2[nd] generation of epigenetic clocks (the latter additionally trained on phenotypic data).

OBJECTIVE: To determine if accelerated epigenetic aging is associated with exposures to diverse measures of racialized, economic, and environmental injustice measured at different levels and time periods.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional My Body My Story Study (MBMS; US, 2008-2010) and Exam 5 Multi-Ethnic Atherosclerosis Study (MESA; US, 2010-2012). MBMS DNA extraction: 2021; linkage of structural measures to MBMS and MESA: 2022.

SETTING: MBMS recruited a random sample of US-born Black non-Hispanic (BNH) and white non-Hispanic (WNH) participants from 4 community health centers in Boston, MA. The MESA Exam 5 epigenetic component included 975 randomly selected US-born BNH, WNH, and Hispanic participants from four field sites: Baltimore, MD; Forsyth County, NC; New York City, NY; St. Paul, MN.

PARTICIPANTS: US-born persons (MBMS: 224 BNH, 69 WNH; MESA: 229 BNH, 555 WNH, 191 Hispanic).

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: 10 epigenetic clocks (six 1[st] generation; four 2[nd] generation), computed using DNA methylation data (DNAm) from blood spots (MBMS; N = 293) and purified monocytes (MESA; N = 975).

RESULTS: Among Black non-Hispanic MBMS participants, epigenetic age acceleration was associated with being born in a Jim Crow state by 0.14 standard deviations (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00, 0.27) and with birth state conservatism (0.06, 95% CI 0.00, 0.05), pooling across all clocks, as was low parental education for both Black non-Hispanic and white non-Hispanic MBMS participants (respectively: 0.24, 95% CI 0.08, 0.39, and 0.27, 95% CI 0.03, 0.51. Adult impoverishment was positively associated with the pooled 2[nd] generation clocks among the MESA participants (Black non-Hispanic: 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.12; white non-Hispanic: 0.05, 95% CI 0.01, 0.08; Hispanic: 0.07, 95% CI 0.01, 0.14).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Epigenetic accelerated aging may be one of the biological mechanisms linking exposure to racialized and economic injustice to well-documented inequities in premature morbidity and mortality.},
}

@article {pmid38170976,
year = {2024},
author = {Atiyeh, B and Ghanem, OA and Oneisi, A and Chalhoub, R},
title = {Long-Term Improvement of Crow's Feet Wrinkles in Combination With Cervicofacial and Temporal Lifting: Review of the Literature.},
journal = {Annals of plastic surgery},
volume = {92},
number = {4},
pages = {474-483},
doi = {10.1097/SAP.0000000000003740},
pmid = {38170976},
issn = {1536-3708},
mesh = {Humans ; *Blepharoplasty/methods ; *Botulinum Toxins, Type A/therapeutic use ; Facial Muscles/surgery ; Lifting ; *Rhytidoplasty/methods ; *Skin Aging ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The lateral orbital crow's feet area is one for which rejuvenation is most frequently requested by patients. Moreover, lateral canthal wrinkles are a common source of dissatisfaction after rhytidoplasty. Botulinum toxin injection has emerged as a most popular, easy, and effective solution; nevertheless, repeated injections are required periodically for long-term effect. Other nonsurgical options have also been described to have some demonstrable advantages. Orbicularis oculi surgical manipulations have been described as well.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic PubMed literature search was conducted to identify clinical cohort studies including more than 10 patients describing surgical approaches for improvement of crows' feet wrinkles in combination with face and/or temporal lifts. The search was complemented by Embase, Medline, and Cochrane searches in addition to screening of reference lists of selected studies and simple term searches about surgical treatment of crow's feet.

RESULTS: Fourteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in this review describing various muscle excision techniques including vertical strip excision, lateral partial resection, wedge resection, muscle resection in "C" pattern, and enlarged myectomy of about one-third of the whole orbital extension in addition to muscle manipulation modalities, including muscle splaying, muscle division, muscle division and splaying, muscle undermining with partial denervation, and muscle suspension. Interposition of fascia between orbicularis muscle and overlying skin was also reported.

CONCLUSION: View the few studies retrieved and the wide spectrum of reported techniques, it is not possible to determine from this review the most effective modality. Nevertheless, it seems that subcutaneous undermining of the lateral canthal area combined with splaying and traction of the orbicularis oculi muscle and fixation to the temporalis fascia with or without muscle division would yield the best long-term results. This review indicates also that surgical correction of crow's feet during rhytidectomy or temporal lift could be a positive complement to improve aesthetic outcome. Unfortunately, if not underreported, it is definitely neglected. We believe that this review may be an eye-opener for surgeons.},
}

Humans
*Blepharoplasty/methods
*Botulinum Toxins, Type A/therapeutic use
Facial Muscles/surgery
Lifting
*Rhytidoplasty/methods
*Skin Aging

@article {pmid38174442,
year = {2024},
author = {Elvebakken, HF and Christensen, IB and Vedel, C and Kjærulff, S},
title = {A proof of concept: Clinical anti-aging efficacy and safety of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LB244R® applied topically in a double-blinded placebo-controlled study.},
journal = {Journal of cosmetic dermatology},
volume = {23},
number = {4},
pages = {1233-1242},
doi = {10.1111/jocd.16138},
pmid = {38174442},
issn = {1473-2165},
mesh = {Humans ; Ointments/pharmacology ; *Skin ; *Skin Aging ; Double-Blind Method ; Aging ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: With the increasing age of the westernized population, there is also increasing economic and aesthetic interest in reducing the signs of skin aging. Additionally, the physical aspect of aging can be displeasing and have detrimental effects psychologically in individuals. Probiotics have shown potential as anti-aging agents, albeit proper studies are needed to confirm their potential.

AIMS: Proving that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LB244R® could alleviate aging signs relative to its placebo vehicle.

PATIENTS/METHODS: In total, 46 subjects were randomly assigned either the ointment with live bacteria, L. plantarum LB244R® or its vehicle ointment, and had to use the assigned ointment twice daily for 56 days. On Day 0, Day 28, and Day 56 subepidermal low echogenic band (SLEB) thickness, dermal density, skin firmness and elasticity, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin pH, collagen fiber visualization using confocal microscopy, Crow's feet, spot score, skin smoothness, and complexion radiance were assessed by dermatologists.

RESULTS: All parameters except TEWL improved relative to their baseline (D0) for the active group. L. plantarum LB244R® improved SLEB thickness, dermal density, skin elasticity, skin hydration, and Crow's feet wrinkle score relative to the placebo vehicle ointment.

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates an anti-aging effect of L. plantarum LB244R® for topical skin use in the first double-blinded, vehicle-ointment placebo-controlled clinical study.},
}

Humans
Ointments/pharmacology
*Skin
*Skin Aging
Double-Blind Method
Aging

@article {pmid38183183,
year = {2024},
author = {Zhang, L and Feng, J and Liu, C and Hu, H and Zhou, Y and Yang, G and Peng, X and Li, T and Chen, C and Xue, G},
title = {Improved estimation of general cognitive ability and its neural correlates with a large battery of cognitive tasks.},
journal = {Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)},
volume = {34},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhad510},
pmid = {38183183},
issn = {1460-2199},
support = {2021ZD0200500//STI 2030-Major Projects/ ; 32330039//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 62061136001/DFG TRR169//Sino-German Collaborative Research Project/ ; },
mesh = {Young Adult ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; Neural Pathways ; *Brain/diagnostic imaging ; *Brain Mapping ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; Cognition ; },
abstract = {Elucidating the neural mechanisms of general cognitive ability (GCA) is an important mission of cognitive neuroscience. Recent large-sample cohort studies measured GCA through multiple cognitive tasks and explored its neural basis, but they did not investigate how task number, factor models, and neural data type affect the estimation of GCA and its neural correlates. To address these issues, we tested 1,605 Chinese young adults with 19 cognitive tasks and Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) and collected resting state and n-back task fMRI data from a subsample of 683 individuals. Results showed that GCA could be reliably estimated by multiple tasks. Increasing task number enhances both reliability and validity of GCA estimates and reliably strengthens their correlations with brain data. The Spearman model and hierarchical bifactor model yield similar GCA estimates. The bifactor model has better model fit and stronger correlation with RAPM but explains less variance and shows weaker correlations with brain data than does the Spearman model. Notably, the n-back task-based functional connectivity patterns outperform resting-state fMRI in predicting GCA. These results suggest that GCA derived from a multitude of cognitive tasks serves as a valid measure of general intelligence and that its neural correlates could be better characterized by task fMRI than resting-state fMRI data.},
}

Young Adult
Humans
Reproducibility of Results
Neural Pathways
*Brain/diagnostic imaging
*Brain Mapping
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods
Cognition

@article {pmid38185709,
year = {2024},
author = {Liu, Y and Zhang, T and You, N and Wu, S and Shen, N},
title = {MAGPIE: accurate pathogenic prediction for multiple variant types using machine learning approach.},
journal = {Genome medicine},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {3},
pmid = {38185709},
issn = {1756-994X},
mesh = {Humans ; *Genome, Human ; *Machine Learning ; },
abstract = {Identifying pathogenic variants from the vast majority of nucleotide variation remains a challenge. We present a method named Multimodal Annotation Generated Pathogenic Impact Evaluator (MAGPIE) that predicts the pathogenicity of multi-type variants. MAGPIE uses the ClinVar dataset for training and demonstrates superior performance in both the independent test set and multiple orthogonal validation datasets, accurately predicting variant pathogenicity. Notably, MAGPIE performs best in predicting the pathogenicity of rare variants and highly imbalanced datasets. Overall, results underline the robustness of MAGPIE as a valuable tool for predicting pathogenicity in various types of human genome variations. MAGPIE is available at https://github.com/shenlab-genomics/magpie .},
}

Humans
*Genome, Human
*Machine Learning

@article {pmid38191864,
year = {2024},
author = {Ramos, HHA and Amaral, V and de Oliveira Afonso, LP and Campagnaro, JCM and Gazzinelli, HCG and Muzy, G and de Almeida, ART},
title = {Advanced Injection of Botulinum Toxin in the Nasal Muscles: A Novel Dynamic Change in Facial Expression.},
journal = {Aesthetic plastic surgery},
volume = {48},
number = {8},
pages = {1511-1521},
pmid = {38191864},
issn = {1432-5241},
mesh = {Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; *Facial Muscles/drug effects ; Female ; *Botulinum Toxins, Type A/administration & dosage ; *Facial Expression ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Treatment Outcome ; Nose ; Cohort Studies ; Esthetics ; Neuromuscular Agents/administration & dosage ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Among the nasal muscles, the levator labii superior alaeque nasi (LLSAN) acts as a transitional muscle that conjugates with other nasal and perinasal muscles. Thus, when treating the nasal region with Botulinum toxin (BTX), it is important to understand local nasal muscular dynamics and how they can influence the muscular dynamics of the entire face.

METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of cases treated by an injection pattern encompassing the face, including nasal muscles. Photographs were taken at rest and during motion (frontal and oblique views), before and after treatment.

RESULTS: A total of 227 patients have been treated in the last 18 months with the following results: eyebrow tail lifting, softness of crow's feet, improvement of the drooping of the tip of the nose, and shortening of the lip philtrum when smiling. We present cases illustrating the use of this approach.

CONCLUSIONS: Treating the facial muscles globally (including the frontal, corrugators, procerus, orbicularis oculi, platysma, DAO, and nasal muscles) can improve the smile and facial expressions. This is believed to occur because the elevated portion of the upper lip muscle becomes stronger as the nasal part of the LLSAN is paralyzed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .},
}

Humans
Retrospective Studies
*Facial Muscles/drug effects
Female
*Botulinum Toxins, Type A/administration & dosage
*Facial Expression
Adult
Middle Aged
Male
Injections, Intramuscular
Treatment Outcome
Nose
Cohort Studies
Esthetics
Neuromuscular Agents/administration & dosage

@article {pmid38204786,
year = {2024},
author = {Martin, K and Cornero, FM and Clayton, NS and Adam, O and Obin, N and Dufour, V},
title = {Vocal complexity in a socially complex corvid: gradation, diversity and lack of common call repertoire in male rooks.},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {231713},
pmid = {38204786},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Vocal communication is widespread in animals, with vocal repertoires of varying complexity. The social complexity hypothesis predicts that species may need high vocal complexity to deal with complex social organization (e.g. have a variety of different interindividual relations). We quantified the vocal complexity of two geographically distant captive colonies of rooks, a corvid species with complex social organization and cognitive performances, but understudied vocal abilities. We quantified the diversity and gradation of their repertoire, as well as the inter-individual similarity at the vocal unit level. We found that males produced call units with lower diversity and gradation than females, while song units did not differ between sexes. Surprisingly, while females produced highly similar call repertoires, even between colonies, each individual male produced almost completely different call repertoires from any other individual. These findings question the way male rooks communicate with their social partners. We suggest that each male may actively seek to remain vocally distinct, which could be an asset in their frequently changing social environment. We conclude that inter-individual similarity, an understudied aspect of vocal repertoires, should also be considered as a measure of vocal complexity.},
}

@article {pmid38217213,
year = {2021},
author = {Vaser, R and Šikić, M},
title = {Time- and memory-efficient genome assembly with Raven.},
journal = {Nature computational science},
volume = {1},
number = {5},
pages = {332-336},
pmid = {38217213},
issn = {2662-8457},
support = {IP-2018-01-5886//Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost (Croatian Science Foundation)/ ; KK.01.1.1.01.0009//EC | European Regional Development Fund (Europski Fond za Regionalni Razvoj)/ ; },
abstract = {Whole genome sequencing technologies are unable to invariably read DNA molecules intact, a shortcoming that assemblers try to resolve by stitching the obtained fragments back together. Here, we present methods for the improvement of de novo genome assembly from erroneous long reads incorporated into a tool called Raven. Raven maintains similar performance for various genomes and has accuracy on par with other assemblers that support third-generation sequencing data. It is one of the fastest options while having the lowest memory consumption on the majority of benchmarked datasets.},
}

@article {pmid38222241,
year = {2023},
author = {Gupta, S and Prithviraj, M and Gangwar, A and Rath, RS},
title = {Impact of Sleep Duration, Quality, and Chronotype on Learning and Academic Performance: A Cross-Sectional Study Among First Year Medical Students of a Tertiary Care Institute.},
journal = {Cureus},
volume = {15},
number = {12},
pages = {e50413},
pmid = {38222241},
issn = {2168-8184},
abstract = {Introduction The link between sleep and cognitive processes, such as memory and learning, continues to be one of the most intriguing and perplexing theories. Undergraduate medical students in their first year are particularly vulnerable to sleep disturbances. Academic achievement and learning have been linked to sleep patterns, which include not only the quantity and quality of sleep but also the timing of sleep in relation to the natural sleep onsets, or chronotypes. There have been conflicting reports on the outcomes of sleep and relatively fewer researches focused on the impact of chronotypes on learning and academic achievement among medical students. The current study thus sought to determine the chronotypes of medical students, evaluate the quantity and quality of sleep, and determine the impact of these factors on learning and academic performance. Methods The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Gorakhpur, India. Sleep health was assessed in 167 first-year medical students using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ), and sleep log books. Learning and memory assessment was performed using Raven's progressive matrices test. Grade point average (GPA) was used to assess their academic performance. The relationship of sleep scores with GPA and RPM scores were obtained by linear regression analysis. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and unpaired t-test were used to investigate other comparisons among categories of chronotypes and those of mean GPA. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as significant. Results The mean GPA and RPM scores obtained in the groups with PSQI ≥ 5 (2.67 ± 1.1, 49.51 ± 6.24, respectively) and PSQI < 5 (3.15 ± 0.59, 54.73 ± 4.01, respectively) and those in the group with ESS ≥ 10 (2.72 ± 1.17, 50.97 ± 5.92, respectively) and ESS < 10 (3.15 ± 0.6, 54.18 ± 3.91, respectively) varied with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Statistically significant R-squared values for the relationship of PSQI and ESS scores with RPM and GPA scores were obtained. No correlation between academic grades and chronotype was found. Poor GPA scores were found to be associated with reduced mean sleep duration for one week before the exams. Conclusion Learning and academic performance are negatively impacted by poor sleep quality and daytime sleep dysfunction. No definite evidence for the association of sleep chronotypes with the learning and memory could be attained. Higher test performance is more closely linked to the average sleep length over a duration of time preceding the exams.},
}

@article {pmid38225936,
year = {2024},
author = {Bugnyar, T},
title = {Why are ravens smart? Exploring the social intelligence hypothesis.},
journal = {Journal of ornithology},
volume = {165},
number = {1},
pages = {15-26},
pmid = {38225936},
issn = {2193-7192},
support = {P 29705/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; Y 366/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; },
abstract = {Ravens and other corvids are renowned for their 'intelligence'. For long, this reputation has been based primarily on anecdotes but in the last decades experimental evidence for impressive cognitive skills has accumulated within and across species. While we begin to understand the building blocks of corvid cognition, the question remains why these birds have evolved such skills. Focusing on Northern Ravens Corvus corax, I here try to tackle this question by relating current hypotheses on brain evolution to recent empirical data on challenges faced in the birds' daily life. Results show that foraging ravens meet several assumptions for applying social intelligence: (1) they meet repeatedly at foraging sites, albeit individuals have different site preferences and vary in grouping dynamics; (1) foraging groups are structured by dominance rank hierarchies and social bonds; (3) individual ravens memorize former group members and their relationship valence over years, deduce third-party relationships and use their social knowledge in daily life by supporting others in conflicts and intervening in others' affiliations. Hence, ravens' socio-cognitive skills may be strongly shaped by the 'complex' social environment experienced as non-breeders.},
}

@article {pmid38232729,
year = {2024},
author = {Wang, X and Kostrzewa, C and Reiner, A and Shen, R and Begg, C},
title = {Adaptation of a mutual exclusivity framework to identify driver mutations within oncogenic pathways.},
journal = {American journal of human genetics},
volume = {111},
number = {2},
pages = {227-241},
pmid = {38232729},
issn = {1537-6605},
support = {P01 CA206980/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA008748/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA251339/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Computational Biology/methods ; Likelihood Functions ; *Neoplasms/genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Mutation/genetics ; Algorithms ; },
abstract = {Distinguishing genomic alterations in cancer-associated genes that have functional impact on tumor growth and disease progression from the ones that are passengers and confer no fitness advantage have important clinical implications. Evidence-based methods for nominating drivers are limited by existing knowledge on the oncogenic effects and therapeutic benefits of specific variants from clinical trials or experimental settings. As clinical sequencing becomes a mainstay of patient care, applying computational methods to mine the rapidly growing clinical genomic data holds promise in uncovering functional candidates beyond the existing knowledge base and expanding the patient population that could potentially benefit from genetically targeted therapies. We propose a statistical and computational method (MAGPIE) that builds on a likelihood approach leveraging the mutual exclusivity pattern within an oncogenic pathway for identifying probabilistically both the specific genes within a pathway and the individual mutations within such genes that are truly the drivers. Alterations in a cancer-associated gene are assumed to be a mixture of driver and passenger mutations with the passenger rates modeled in relationship to tumor mutational burden. We use simulations to study the operating characteristics of the method and assess false-positive and false-negative rates in driver nomination. When applied to a large study of primary melanomas, the method accurately identifies the known driver genes within the RTK-RAS pathway and nominates several rare variants as prime candidates for functional validation. A comprehensive evaluation of MAGPIE against existing tools has also been conducted leveraging the Cancer Genome Atlas data.},
}

Humans
*Computational Biology/methods
Likelihood Functions
*Neoplasms/genetics
Genomics/methods
Mutation/genetics
Algorithms

@article {pmid38239514,
year = {2023},
author = {Fathima, A and Jeevanandan, G},
title = {Interrelationship Between Intelligence Quotient and Space Maintainers Among Children: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study.},
journal = {Cureus},
volume = {15},
number = {12},
pages = {e50752},
pmid = {38239514},
issn = {2168-8184},
abstract = {Introduction Intelligence quotient (IQ) is an indicator to measure a child's cognitive ability to learn or understand and to deal with new situations with their logical and analytical skills. Children with better IQ exhibit increased cooperation when undergoing dental treatments, leading to a positive attitude toward dental care. The primary aim of the study was to assess the interrelationship between the IQ of children, space maintainer therapy, and the behavior of children aged 6-10 years. Materials and methods A total of 104 children were divided into two groups: group 1 included children undergoing space maintainer therapy and group 2 included children who did not undergo space maintainer therapy. Their IQ scores were assessed using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices and behavior and the Frankl behavior rating scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS Version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Independent t-tests were used to evaluate the differences between IQ and children with space maintainers, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to assess the differences between behavior and space maintainers. Results The mean age of the participants was approximately 8.28 years. The mean IQ score of the group of children undergoing the space maintainer therapy was 90.69 ± 7.65 and that of the control group was 105.59±10.71. Based on the Frankl behavior rating scale, the mean score in the space maintainer group was 35.44 and that of the control group was 69.56. There was a significant association between IQ, behavior, and the presence of space maintainers. Conclusion The group of children undergoing space maintainer therapy demonstrated comparatively lesser IQ, and the majority of children exhibited negative behavior. Also, children wearing space maintainers had undergone one or multiple extractions, which is traumatic for children and may lead to them likely exhibiting a negative behavior than children in the control group. Hence, it may be concluded that intelligence, behavior, and space maintainers are all significantly associated with each other.},
}

@article {pmid38244968,
year = {2024},
author = {Domínguez, A and Koch, S and Marquez, S and de Castro, M and Urquiza, J and Evandt, J and Oftedal, B and Aasvang, GM and Kampouri, M and Vafeiadi, M and Mon-Williams, M and Lewer, D and Lepeule, J and Andrusaityte, S and Vrijheid, M and Guxens, M and Nieuwenhuijsen, M},
title = {Childhood exposure to outdoor air pollution in different microenvironments and cognitive and fine motor function in children from six European cohorts.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {247},
number = {},
pages = {118174},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118174},
pmid = {38244968},
issn = {1096-0953},
mesh = {Child ; Humans ; *Air Pollutants/toxicity ; *Air Pollution/analysis ; Cognition ; Cohort Studies ; Environmental Exposure/analysis ; Particulate Matter/analysis ; Transportation ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Exposure to air pollution during childhood has been linked with adverse effects on cognitive development and motor function. However, limited research has been done on the associations of air pollution exposure in different microenvironments such as home, school, or while commuting with these outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between childhood air pollution exposure in different microenvironments and cognitive and fine motor function from six European birth cohorts.

METHODS: We included 1301 children from six European birth cohorts aged 6-11 years from the HELIX project. Average outdoor air pollutants concentrations (NO2, PM2.5) were estimated using land use regression models for different microenvironments (home, school, and commute), for 1-year before the outcome assessment. Attentional function, cognitive flexibility, non-verbal intelligence, and fine motor function were assessed using the Attention Network Test, Trail Making Test A and B, Raven Colored Progressive Matrices test, and the Finger Tapping test, respectively. Adjusted linear regressions models were run to determine the association between each air pollutant from each microenvironment on each outcome.

RESULTS: In pooled analysis we observed high correlation (rs = 0.9) between air pollution exposures levels at home and school. However, the cohort-by-cohort analysis revealed correlations ranging from low to moderate. Air pollution exposure levels while commuting were higher than at home or school. Exposure to air pollution in the different microenvironments was not associated with working memory, attentional function, non-verbal intelligence, and fine motor function. Results remained consistently null in random-effects meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: No association was observed between outdoor air pollution exposure in different microenvironments (home, school, commute) and cognitive and fine motor function in children from six European birth cohorts. Future research should include a more detailed exposure assessment, considering personal measurements and time spent in different microenvironments.},
}

Child
Humans
*Air Pollutants/toxicity
*Air Pollution/analysis
Cognition
Cohort Studies
Environmental Exposure/analysis
Particulate Matter/analysis
Transportation

@article {pmid38244996,
year = {2024},
author = {Williams, ME and Corn, EA and Martinez Ransanz, S and Berl, MM and Andringa-Seed, R and Mulkey, SB},
title = {Neurodevelopmental assessments used to measure preschoolers' cognitive development in Latin America: a systematic review.},
journal = {Journal of pediatric psychology},
volume = {49},
number = {5},
pages = {321-339},
pmid = {38244996},
issn = {1465-735X},
support = {P50 HD105328/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD102445/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01HD102445/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; //Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development/ ; R01HD102445/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; //DC Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center/ ; P50HD105328-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; //Thrasher Research Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Latin America ; Child, Preschool ; *Child Development/physiology ; *Cognition ; Child ; Neuropsychological Tests/standards/statistics & numerical data ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to systematically review the standardized neurodevelopmental assessments used to study preschool-aged children's cognitive development in Spanish-speaking Latin America.

METHODS: The authors systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC databases for peer-reviewed articles from Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Articles were included if they measured cognitive development among children aged 2-6 years using at least one standardized assessment tool; 97 articles were included and reviewed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to assess their use of these tools.

RESULTS: Ninety-seven studies across 13 countries used a total of 41 assessments to measure cognitive development; most widely used were the Wechsler intelligence scales (n = 46/97), particularly the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (n = 23 and 29, respectively). Other common assessments included the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (n = 9), Raven's Progressive Matrices (n = 9), Child Neuropsychological Assessment (n = 8), and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (n = 7). In regions where normative data for a given assessment were unpublished, authors commonly used norms from the United States, Mexico, or Spain or did not report standard scores in their analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: The wide range of tools used in these studies presents a challenge for generalizing results when measuring the neurodevelopment of Latin American preschool-aged children. The low availability of normative data for specific regions reveals concerns if some tools are culturally and linguistically appropriate even when Spanish is a common language, particularly in low-resource settings. Future work to forge greater consistency in the use of validated measures, clarity in reporting research methods, and publication of regional normative data would benefit the field.},
}

Humans
Latin America
Child, Preschool
*Child Development/physiology
*Cognition
Child
Neuropsychological Tests/standards/statistics & numerical data

@article {pmid38255402,
year = {2024},
author = {Giancola, M and Palmiero, M and Pino, MC and Sannino, M and D'Amico, S},
title = {How Do Children "Think outside the Box"? Fluid Intelligence and Divergent Thinking: A Moderated Mediation Study of Field Dependent-Independent Cognitive Style and Gender.},
journal = {Children (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {38255402},
issn = {2227-9067},
abstract = {The interplay between fluid intelligence (Gf) and divergent thinking (DT) has widely characterized current research in the psychology of creativity. Nevertheless, the evidence on the main factors involved in this association during childhood remains a matter of debate. Present research has addressed the interplay between Gf and DT, exploring the mediating role of a field dependent-independent cognitive style (FDI) and the moderating effect of gender in 101 children (Mage = 8.02; SDage = 1.43). Participants carried out Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices, the Children Embedded Figure Test, and the Alternative Uses Task. The results revealed the mediating effect of FDI in the association between Gf and DT, providing evidence that this cognitive style represents a function of controlled mental processes underpinned by Gf, which are useful to thinking divergently. In addition, the findings reported that the interplay between FDI and DT was moderated by gender, suggesting that the impact of FDI on DT was stronger among boys. Through a multidimensional approach, these current research findings provide further insight into the primary children's factors involved in the ability to find alternative solutions and think divergently.},
}

@article {pmid38260596,
year = {2024},
author = {Summers, J and Cosgrove, EJ and Bowman, R and Fitzpatrick, JW and Chen, N},
title = {Impacts of increasing isolation and environmental variation on Florida Scrub-Jay demography.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2024.01.10.575127},
pmid = {38260596},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Isolation caused by anthropogenic habitat fragmentation can destabilize populations. Populations relying on the inflow of immigrants can face reduced fitness due to inbreeding depression as fewer new individuals arrive. Empirical studies of the demographic consequences of isolation are critical to understand how populations persist through changing conditions. We used a 34-year demographic and environmental dataset from a population of cooperatively-breeding Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) to create mechanistic models linking environmental and demographic factors to population growth rates. We found that the population has not declined despite both declining immigration and increasing inbreeding, owing to a coinciding response in breeder survival. We find evidence of density-dependent immigration, breeder survival, and fecundity, indicating that interactions between vital rates and local density play a role in buffering the population against change. Our study elucidates the impacts of isolation on demography and how long-term stability is maintained via demographic responses.},
}

@article {pmid38261918,
year = {2024},
author = {Godarzi, B and Chandler, F and van der Linden, A and Sikkema, RS and de Bruin, E and Veldhuizen, E and van Amerongen, A and Gröne, A},
title = {A species-independent lateral flow microarray immunoassay to detect WNV and USUV NS1-specific antibodies in serum.},
journal = {One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {18},
number = {},
pages = {100668},
pmid = {38261918},
issn = {2352-7714},
abstract = {Arboviruses such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and Usutu Virus (USUV) are emerging pathogens that circulate between mosquitoes and birds, occasionally spilling over into humans and horses. Current serological screening methods require access to a well-equipped laboratory and are not currently available for on-site analysis. As a proof of concept, we propose here a species-independent lateral flow microarray immunoassay (LMIA) able to quickly detect and distinguish between WNV Non-Structural 1 (NS1) and USUV NS1-specific antibodies. A double antigen approach was used to test sera collected from humans, horses, European jackdaws (Corvus monedula), and common blackbirds (Turdus merula). Optimization of the concentration of capture antigen spotted on the LMIA membrane and the amount of detection antigen conjugated to detector particles indicated that maximizing both parameters increased assay sensitivity. Upon screening of a larger serum panel, the optimized LMIA showed significantly higher spot intensity for a homologous binding event. Using a Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve, WNV NS1 LMIA results in humans, horses, and C. monedula showed good correlation when compared to "gold standard" WNV FRNT90. The most optimal derived sensitivity and specificity of the WNV NS1 LMIA relative to corresponding WNV FRNT90-confirmed sera were determined to be 96% and 86%, respectively. While further optimization is required, this study demonstrates the feasibility of developing a species-independent LMIA for on-site analysis of WNV, USUV, and other arboviruses. Such a tool would be useful for the on-site screening and monitoring of relevant species in more remote or low-income regions.},
}

@article {pmid38261937,
year = {2024},
author = {Costa, D and Giordani, A},
title = {Aristotelian universals, strong immanence, and construction.},
journal = {Synthese},
volume = {203},
number = {2},
pages = {35},
pmid = {38261937},
issn = {0039-7857},
abstract = {The Aristotelian view of universals, according to which each universal generically depends for its existence on its instantiations, has recently come under attack by a series of ground-theoretic arguments. The last such arguments, presented by Raven, promises to offer several significant improvements over its predecessors, such as avoiding commitment to the transitivity of ground and offering new reasons for the metaphysical priority of universals over their instantiations. In this paper, we argue that Raven's argument does not effectively avoid said commitment and that Raven's new reasons fail. Moreover, we present a novel ground-theoretic interpretation of the Aristotelian view, referred to as strong immanence, and introduce a new argument against the Aristotelian view, intended to sidestep any commitment to the transitivity of ground.},
}

@article {pmid38262352,
year = {2024},
author = {Johnsson, RD and Connelly, F and Lesku, JA and Roth, TC},
title = {Australian magpies.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {34},
number = {2},
pages = {R41-R43},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.017},
pmid = {38262352},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; *Songbirds ; },
abstract = {Robin D. Johnsson and colleagues introduce Australian magpies, which are not actually magpies.},
}

Animals
Australia
*Songbirds

@article {pmid38279165,
year = {2024},
author = {Ziegler, S and Srivastava, S and Parmar, D and Basu, S and Jain, N and De Allegri, M},
title = {A step closer towards achieving universal health coverage: the role of gender in enrolment in health insurance in India.},
journal = {BMC health services research},
volume = {24},
number = {1},
pages = {141},
pmid = {38279165},
issn = {1472-6963},
mesh = {Humans ; Male ; Female ; *Universal Health Insurance ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Sexism ; Insurance, Health ; India ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: There is limited understanding of how universal health coverage (UHC) schemes such as publicly-funded health insurance (PFHI) benefit women as compared to men. Many of these schemes are gender-neutral in design but given the existing gender inequalities in many societies, their benefits may not be similar for women and men. We contribute to the evidence by conducting a gender analysis of the enrolment of individuals and households in India's national PFHI scheme, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).

METHODS: We used data from a cross-sectional household survey on RSBY eligible families across eight Indian states and studied different outcome variables at both the individual and household levels to compare enrolment among women and men. We applied multivariate logistic regressions and controlled for several demographic and socio-economic characteristics.

RESULTS: At the individual level, the analysis revealed no substantial differences in enrolment between men and women. Only in one state were women more likely to be enrolled in RSBY than men (AOR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.32-5.38), and this pattern was linked to their status in the household. At the household level, analyses revealed that female-headed households had a higher likelihood to be enrolled (AOR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.14-1.62), but not necessarily to have all household members enrolled.

CONCLUSION: Findings are surprising in light of India's well-documented gender bias, permeating different aspects of society, and are most likely an indication of success in designing a policy that did not favour participation by men above women, by mandating spouse enrolment and securing enrolment of up to five family members. Higher enrolment rates among female-headed households are also an indication of women's preferences for investments in health, in the context of a conducive policy environment. Further analyses are needed to examine if once enrolled, women also make use of the scheme benefits to the same extent as men do. India is called upon to capitalise on the achievements of RSBY and apply them to newer schemes such as PM-JAY.},
}

Humans
Male
Female
*Universal Health Insurance
Cross-Sectional Studies
*Sexism
Insurance, Health
India

@article {pmid38289304,
year = {2023},
author = {Koryagina, YV and Ter-Akopov, GN and Abutalimova, SM and Nopin, SV and Akhkubekova, NK and Ukhanova, OP and Mikhailova, AA},
title = {[Effect of hyperoxic inhalations for athletes of different sports, including those who had COVID-19, when training in the middle altitude].},
journal = {Voprosy kurortologii, fizioterapii, i lechebnoi fizicheskoi kultury},
volume = {100},
number = {6},
pages = {46-51},
doi = {10.17116/kurort202310006146},
pmid = {38289304},
issn = {0042-8787},
mesh = {Humans ; Altitude ; *COVID-19 ; *Sports ; Athletes ; Hypoxia ; Oxygen ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To identify hyperoxic inhalations on the functional state of the cardiorespiratory system of athletes of different sports, who have previously had COVID-19, when training in the middle altitude.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 64 elite athletes during the preparatory period. The studies were conducted in Kislovodsk in the middle altitude (1240 meters) on the Maloe Sedlo mountain, in the conditions of training camps. We studied the parameters of heart rate variability and functional state of cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Hyperoxic inhalations were performed with the JAY-10 oxygen concentrator (LONGFIAN SCITECH CO., LTD., China). The oxygen concentration in the mixture was 93±3%, capacity - 5 l/min, exposure time - 20 min.

RESULTS: Athletes specializing in sports with predominantly anaerobic lactate and mixed mechanism of energy supply, respectively experiencing hypoxia in the process of their athletic activity during training can experience hypoxia at rest as well. The state of hypoxia during exercise in the middle altitude in such athletes is shown in heart rate variability indices (high values of heart rate and stress index, low power of high frequency waves), low saturation, increased oxygen uptake from the blood microcirculation system. The use of oxygen therapy in athletes promotes positive dynamics of the functional state, consisting in a reduced stress of regulatory mechanisms, strengthened tone of the parasympathetic nervous system in the heart rate regulation, increased economization of the central hemodynamics' parameters, improved functions of the external respiratory system.

CONCLUSION: Application of hyperoxic inhalations during intense exercise in the middle altitude has a favorable effect on the functional state of the cardiorespiratory system in all the studied sports, especially in athletes who have previously had COVID-19.},
}

Humans
Altitude
*COVID-19
*Sports
Athletes
Hypoxia
Oxygen

@article {pmid38301191,
year = {2024},
author = {Rushovich, T and Nethery, RC and White, A and Krieger, N},
title = {1965 US Voting Rights Act Impact on Black and Black Versus White Infant Death Rates in Jim Crow States, 1959-1980 and 2017-2021.},
journal = {American journal of public health},
volume = {114},
number = {3},
pages = {300-308},
pmid = {38301191},
issn = {1541-0048},
mesh = {Humans ; Infant ; *Black or African American ; *Infant Death ; United States ; *Voting/legislation & jurisprudence ; White ; },
abstract = {Objectives. To investigate the impact of the US Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 on Black and Black versus White infant deaths in Jim Crow states. Methods. Using data from 1959 to 1980 and 2017 to 2021, we applied difference-in-differences methods to quantify differential pre-post VRA changes in infant deaths in VRA-exposed versus unexposed counties, controlling for population size and social, economic, and health system characteristics. VRA-exposed counties, identified by Section 4, were subject to government interventions to remove existing racist voter suppression policies. Results. Black infant deaths in VRA-exposed counties decreased by an average of 11.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7, 21.0) additional deaths beyond the decrease experienced by unexposed counties between the pre-VRA period (1959-1965) and the post-VRA period (1966-1970). This translates to 6703 (95% CI = 999.6, 12 348) or 17.5% (95% CI = 3.1%, 28.1%) fewer deaths than would have been experienced in the absence of the VRA. The equivalent differential changes were not significant among the White or total population. Conclusions. Passage of the VRA led to pronounced reductions in Black infant deaths in Southern counties subject to government intervention because these counties had particularly egregious voter suppression practices. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(3):300-308. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307518).},
}

Humans
Infant
*Black or African American
*Infant Death
United States
*Voting/legislation & jurisprudence
White

@article {pmid38302714,
year = {2024},
author = {Jia, Y and Qiu, L and Zhang, H and Li, Z and Zhao, P and Zhang, Y and Zhang, B},
title = {Efficacy and Safety of Type III Collagen Lyophilized Fibers Using Mid-to-Deep Dermal Facial Injections for the Correction of Dynamic Facial Wrinkles.},
journal = {Aesthetic plastic surgery},
volume = {48},
number = {13},
pages = {2500-2512},
pmid = {38302714},
issn = {1432-5241},
support = {2020089//Scientific research project of Shanxi Provincial Health Commission/ ; 2021047//Scientific research project of Shanxi Provincial Health Commission/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Skin Aging/drug effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Male ; Injections, Intradermal ; *Collagen Type III ; *Dermal Fillers/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Patient Satisfaction/statistics & numerical data ; Freeze Drying ; Esthetics ; Face ; Cosmetic Techniques ; Cohort Studies ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of injecting Type III collagen lyophilized fibers into the mid-to-deep layers of the facial dermis to ameliorate dynamic facial wrinkles.

METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, clinical data were collected from patients exhibiting dynamic facial wrinkles (encompassing frown lines, forehead lines, and crow's feet) with a wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS) score of 3 or higher. In the control group, 75 participants received collagen implant injections into the mid-to-deep facial dermal layers, whereas 76 participants in the experimental group received injections of Type III collagen lyophilized fibers in similar layers. The study analyzed and compared clinical efficacy, WSRS score alterations, patient satisfaction, and safety profiles between the groups over the 30-day and 90-day treatment periods.

RESULTS: At the 30-day mark, the therapeutic efficacy was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, at 90 days, the treatment efficacy in the experimental group surpassed that in the control group, showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). After 30 days of treatment, the WSRS score improvement in the experimental group was significantly superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conversely, at the 90-day mark, the results revealed no significant variation in WSRS score improvements between the two groups (P > 0.05). Regarding treatment satisfaction among researchers and participants post-30 and 90-day treatment in both groups, no statistically significant differences were observed (P > 0.05). Similarly, the incidence of adverse reactions between the groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Injections of lyophilized type III collagen fibers into the mid-to-deep layers of the facial dermis have a definitive therapeutic effect on dynamic facial wrinkles. This treatment not only substantially diminishes wrinkle severity but also has a commendable safety profile.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .},
}

Humans
*Skin Aging/drug effects
Retrospective Studies
Female
Middle Aged
Adult
Treatment Outcome
Male
Injections, Intradermal
*Collagen Type III
*Dermal Fillers/administration & dosage/adverse effects
Patient Satisfaction/statistics & numerical data
Freeze Drying
Esthetics
Face
Cosmetic Techniques
Cohort Studies

@article {pmid38306284,
year = {2024},
author = {Clancey, E and MacPherson, A and Cheek, RG and Mouton, JC and Sillett, TS and Ghalambor, CK and Funk, WC and Hohenlohe, PA},
title = {Unraveling Adaptive Evolutionary Divergence at Microgeographic Scales.},
journal = {The American naturalist},
volume = {203},
number = {2},
pages = {E35-E49},
doi = {10.1086/727723},
pmid = {38306284},
issn = {1537-5323},
mesh = {Humans ; Bayes Theorem ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Ecosystem ; Phenotype ; Genetic Variation ; },
abstract = {AbstractStriking examples of local adaptation at fine geographic scales are increasingly being documented in natural populations. However, the relative contributions made by natural selection, phenotype-dependent dispersal (when individuals disperse with respect to a habitat preference), and mate preference in generating and maintaining microgeographic adaptation and divergence are not well studied. Here, we develop quantitative genetics models and individual-based simulations (IBSs) to uncover the evolutionary forces that possibly drive microgeographic divergence. We also perform Bayesian estimation of the parameters in our IBS using empirical data on habitat-specific variation in bill morphology in the island scrub-jay (Aphelocoma insularis) to apply our models to a natural system. We find that natural selection and phenotype-dependent dispersal can generate the patterns of divergence we observe in the island scrub-jay. However, mate preference for a mate with similar bill morphology, even though observed in the species, does not play a significant role in driving divergence. Our modeling approach provides insights into phenotypic evolution occurring over small spatial scales relative to dispersal ranges, suggesting that adaptive divergence at microgeographic scales may be common across a wider range of taxa than previously thought. Our quantitative genetic models help to inform future theoretical and empirical work to determine how selection, habitat preference, and mate preference contribute to local adaptation and microgeographic divergence.},
}

Humans
Bayes Theorem
*Selection, Genetic
*Ecosystem
Phenotype
Genetic Variation

@article {pmid38308828,
year = {2023},
author = {Kazim, AR and Houssaini, J and Tappe, D and Heo, CC and Vellayan, S},
title = {Two new records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) from the Oriental honey buzzard [Pernis ptilorhynchus (Temminck, 1821)] and house crow (Corvus splendens Viellot, 1817) in Malaysia.},
journal = {Tropical biomedicine},
volume = {40},
number = {4},
pages = {416-421},
doi = {10.47665/tb.40.4.006},
pmid = {38308828},
issn = {2521-9855},
mesh = {Animals ; *Amblycera ; *Crows ; *Ischnocera ; *Lice Infestations/veterinary ; Malaysia ; *Honey ; *Bird Diseases ; Birds ; },
abstract = {We report two new records of chewing lice from avian pets in Peninsular Malaysia: Colpocephalum apivorus Tendeiro, 1958 from an Oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus (Temminck, 1821)), and Myrsidea splendenticola Klockenhoff, 1973 from an albino house crow (Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817). The scarcity of louse records from avian pets and wild birds, and the lack of louse research in Malaysia are discussed.},
}

Animals
*Amblycera
*Crows
*Ischnocera
*Lice Infestations/veterinary
Malaysia
*Honey
*Bird Diseases
Birds

@article {pmid38314367,
year = {2023},
author = {Shenoy, C and Agrawal, R and Chandrashekar, BS and Lalchandani, R},
title = {Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Two Brands of Botulinum Toxin A for the Treatment of Lateral Canthal Lines (Crow's Feet): A Split-Face Study.},
journal = {Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery},
volume = {16},
number = {4},
pages = {270-278},
pmid = {38314367},
issn = {0974-2077},
abstract = {AIM: To compare the safety and efficacy of Stunnox with the international brand of botulinum toxin A on lateral canthal lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a nonrandomized, controlled, pilot, split-face study in 47 patients who were given two brands of Botulinum toxin A for the treatment of lateral canthal lines for 12 weeks. Evaluation of lines was assessed with grades of 0 (none), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), and 3 (severe) at a maximum smile and rest by using ANTERA 3D camera.

RESULTS: There was a statistical significance in lateral canthal lines wrinkles reduction on the Stunnox sides compared to pretreatment and at weeks 4, 8, and 12, respectively (all P < 0.05). The wrinkle reduction was similar to the effects of the control internationally available brand of botulinum toxin A. The clinical improvement of lateral canthal line wrinkles was greatest at 4 weeks after injection and the improvement lasted until 12 weeks of treatment with no adverse events observed.

CONCLUSION: In this split-face study, Stunnox botulinum toxin A showed a moderate but significant wrinkle-soothing effect without obvious side effects on the lateral canthal.},
}

@article {pmid38325410,
year = {2024},
author = {Sitko, J and Heneberg, P},
title = {Avian trematodes of central European corvids are heterogeneous regarding preferences for host species and age.},
journal = {Journal of helminthology},
volume = {98},
number = {},
pages = {e17},
doi = {10.1017/S0022149X23001001},
pmid = {38325410},
issn = {1475-2697},
mesh = {Animals ; *Birds/parasitology ; Czech Republic ; *Dicrocoeliidae ; Ecosystem ; *Trematoda ; },
abstract = {Corvids are highly adaptive birds that respond well to anthropogenic changes in their environment. Trematode communities of corvids were studied mainly in the 1950s through 1970s in regularly flooded parts of the Volga River delta in Russia; more recent studies and data from other regions where the corvids are in less contact with postflooding habitats are limited. Data for Corvus corax were lacking. Using our samples obtained from 1963 to 2023, we performed a large-scale analysis of trematode species composition and community structure in Corvus frugilegus, Corvus cornix, C. corax, Coloeus monedula, Pica pica, and Garrulus glandarius; all originated from the Czech Republic. We identified corvids as hosts of mutually overlapping component communities of only a few species of trematodes (Brachylecithum lobatum, Lyperosomum petiolatum, Lyperosomum longicauda, Tamerlania zarudnyi, Urogonimus macrostomus), with the presence of many rare and incidental findings of other trematode species. Only a few species used corvids as their core hosts (L. longicauda and B. lobatum). Trematode component communities in first-year birds included Prosthogonimus cuneatus, Prosthogonimus ovatus, Plagiorchis asperus, and Morishitium dollfusi due to an increased share of insects (intermediate hosts of Prosthogonimus and Plagiorchis) and snails (intermediate hosts of Morishitium) in the diet of juveniles. The trematode component communities of corvid species overlapped but were heterogeneous at the level of host individuals, likely reflecting differences in food sources related to the respective host ages and nesting sites.},
}

Animals
*Birds/parasitology
Czech Republic
*Dicrocoeliidae
Ecosystem
*Trematoda

@article {pmid38327363,
year = {2023},
author = {Chaprazov, T and Petrov, R and Yarkov, D and Andonova, Y and Lazarova, I},
title = {Basic blood biochemical parameters of wild common ravens (Corvuscorax).},
journal = {Biodiversity data journal},
volume = {11},
number = {},
pages = {e103271},
pmid = {38327363},
issn = {1314-2828},
abstract = {Baseline haematological and biochemical blood parameters in healthy wild birds are key to managing wild populations and to saving critically ill individuals. This knowledge is crucial for the care, rehabilitation and the release of birds after treatment in wildlife rescue centres. Plasma levels provide valuable information for the evaluation of the physical condition of animals. The objective of this study was to obtain reference values of some basic biochemical blood parameters of wild common ravens (Corvuscorax). Between 2020 and 2023, we took blood samples from the wild population of common ravens in Bulgaria (n = 36). We determined the values of 18 parameters - alanine transaminase (ALT, U/I), albumin (g/l), alkaline phosphatase (ALP, U/I), amylase (U/I), aspartate transaminase (AST, U/I), calcium (mmol/l), chloride (mmol/l), cholesterol (mmol/l), creatine kinase (CK, U/I), creatinine (μmol/l), blood glucose (mmol/l), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, U/I), magnesium (mmol/l), phosphorus (mmol/l), total bilirubin (μmol/l), total protein (g/l), triglycerides (TG, mmol/l) and uric acid (μmol/l). We made a comparative analysis including the regions in which the groups were sampled and the time of year. Most of the presented results were comparable to published values of other species from the Corvidae family and some were higher (ALP, amylase, AST, CK, total protein and uric acid levels). Most of these could be explained by the capture- and handling stress. This is the first report in official literary sources presenting some basic biochemical blood parameters of healthy wild common ravens in Bulgaria. The results may be of use to scientists, veterinarians and other researchers in rescue and rehabilitation centres and they can provide the basis for further studies with regards to animal welfare and health assessment of the species.},
}