Comparing static and dynamic emotion recognition tests: Performance of healthy participants

als.fakia shared this article with you from Inoreader Comparing static and dynamic emotion recognition tests: Performance of healthy participants Via PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles by Sara Khosdelazad, Lieke S. Jorna, Skye McDonald, Sandra E. Rakers, Rients B. Huitema, Anne M. Buunk, Jacoba M. Spikman Facial expressions have a communicatory function and the ability to read them is a prerequisite for understanding feelings and thoughts of other individuals. Impairments in recognition of facial emotional expressions are frequently found in patients with neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury, frontotemporal dementia). Hence, a standard neuropsychological assessment should include measurement of emotion recognition. However, there is debate regarding which tests are most suitable. The current study evaluates and compares three different emotion recognition tests. 84 healthy participants were included and assessed with three tests, in varying order: a. Ekman 60 Faces Test (FEEST) b. Emotion Recognition Task (ERT) c. Emotion Evaluation Test (EET). The tests differ in type of stimuli from static photographs (FEEST) to more dynamic stimuli in the form of morphed photographs (ERT) to videos (EET). Comparing performances on the three tests, the lowest total scores (67 .3% correct answers) were found for the ERT. Significant, but moderate correlations were found between the total scores of the three tests, but nearly all correlations between the same emotions across different tests were not significant. Furthermore, we found cross-over effects of the FEEST and EET to the ERT; participants attained higher total scores on the ERT when another emotion recognition test had been administered beforehand. Moreover, the ERT proved to be sensitive to the effects of age and education. The present findings indicate that despite some overlap, each emotion recognition test measures a unique part of the construct. The ERT seemed to be the most difficult test: performances were lowest and influenced by differences in age and education and it was the only test that showed a learning effect after practice with other tests. This highlights the importance of appropriate norms. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Evaluation of the relationship between non-caries cervical lesions and the tooth and periodontal tissue: An ex-vivo study using micro-computed tomography

als.fakia shared this article with you from Inoreader Evaluation of the relationship between non-caries cervical lesions and the tooth and periodontal tissue: An ex-vivo study using micro-computed tomography Via PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles by Go-Eun Lim, Sung-Ae Son, Bock Hur, Jeong-Kil Park The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the height and depth of buccal non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) and the relationship between the size of buccal NCCLs and clinical crown-root ratio of both buccal and lingual (palatal) sides using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images of the teeth and periodontal tissues from the cadavers. The micro-CT images of 56 teeth and their supporting tissues were obtained from 17 cadavers. From these images, the height and depth of NCCLs and the length of the buccal and lingual (palatal) clinical crowns were measured, and the conventional/modified clinical crown-root ratios were calculated. The height and depth ratio of NCCLs were analyzed statistically with the conventional/modified crown-root ratios by Pearson's correlation and multiple regression. According to the Pearson's correlation, the height and depth of buccal NCCLs were positively correlated with the modified buccal clinical crown-root ratio (p p = 0.013, respectively). The regression model composed of variables of crown-root ratios explained the height of buccal NCCLs, and the prominent factor of the model was the modified buccal clinical crown-root ratio (p p = 0.004). The buccal NCCLs were related to the crown-root ratios; particularly, the level of buccal gingival margin could be associated with the formation of buccal NCCLs. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Differences in location of cerebral white matter hyperintensities in children and adults living with a treated HIV infection: A retrospective cohort comparison

als.fakia shared this article with you from Inoreader Differences in location of cerebral white matter hyperintensities in children and adults living with a treated HIV infection: A retrospective cohort comparison Via PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles by Jason G. van Genderen, Malon Van den Hof, Anders C. Boyd, Matthan W. A. Caan, Ferdinand W. N. M. Wit, Peter Reiss, Dasja Pajkrt Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) persist in children and adults living with HIV, despite effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). As age and principal routes of transmission differ between children (perinatally) and adults (behaviorally), comparing the characteristics and determinants of WMH between these populations may increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of WMH. From separate cohorts of 31 children (NOVICE) and 74 adults (AGEhIV), we cross-sectionally assessed total WMH volume and number of WMH per location (periventricular vs. deep) using fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI images. WMH were either periventricular when within 10mm of the lateral ventricles, or deep otherwise. We assessed patient- or HIV-related determinants of total WMH volume (adjusted for intracranial volume) and location of WMH using logistic regression, while stratifying on children and adults. At enrollment, median age of participants was 13.8 years (IQR 11.4–15.9) for children and 53.4 years (IQR 48.3–60.8) for adults and 27/31 children (87%) and 74/74 adults (100%) had an HIV RNA viral load p3 [425–2617] vs. 109 mm3 [61.7–625], p+ T-lymphocyte nadir with a higher number of periventricular WMH. Our findings suggest that the location of WMH differs between children and adults living with HIV, hinting at a different underlying pathogenesis. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

A minimally invasive catheterization of the external jugular vein in suckling piglets using ultrasound guidance

als.fakia shared this article with you from Inoreader A minimally invasive catheterization of the external jugular vein in suckling piglets using ultrasound guidance Via PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles by Hauteclaire Furbeyre, Etienne Labussiere There is a growing interest for minimally invasive surgical procedures to improve experimental animal welfare. Minimally invasive catheterization procedures in pigs have been already developed using Seldinger technique but reproducibility is low, especially in young pigs. A novel method for a minimally invasive catheterization of external jugular vein was evaluated in suckling piglets of 21 days of age. Growth performance and haptoglobin concentration in plasma were measured throughout a four-week study in a group of seven catheterized piglets and a group of seven non-catheterized piglets. Catheterization was performed using Seldinger technique under continuous ultrasound monitoring for vein detection and needle insertion. The surgical procedure was quick and showed a great reproducibility. All catheters remained functional during the first week after catheterization. Catheterization in piglets did not significantly affect body weight (BW) and feed intake during four weeks after the surgical intervention compared to non-catheterized piglets (P > 0.10). Haptoglobin concentration in plasma was greater in catheterized piglets compared with non-catheterized piglets, with a significant increase over two weeks after catheter insertion (P View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Common childhood vaccines do not elicit a cross-reactive antibody response against SARS-CoV-2

als.fakia shared this article with you from Inoreader Common childhood vaccines do not elicit a cross-reactive antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 Via PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles by Ahmed Kandeil, Mokhtar R. Gomaa, Ahmed El Taweel, Ahmed Mostafa, Mahmoud Shehata, Ahmed E. Kayed, Omnia Kutkat, Yassmin Moatasim, Sara H. Mahmoud, Mina Nabil Kamel, Noura M. Abo Shama, Mohamed El Sayes, Rabeh El-Shesheny, Mahmoud A. Yassien, Richard J. Webby, Ghazi Kayali, Mohamed A. Ali Anecdotal evidence showed a negative correlation between Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination and incidence of COVID-19. Incidence of the disease in children is much lower than in adults. It is hypothesized that BCG and other childhood vaccinations may provide some protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection through trained or adaptive immune responses. Here, we tested whether BCG, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae, Hepatitis B, Meningococcal, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccines provide cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in BALB/c mice. Results indicated that none of these vaccines provided antibodies capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 up to seven weeks post vaccination. We conclude that if such vaccines have any role in COVID-19 immunity, this role is not antibody-mediated. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

An electrochemical biosensor for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA from sputum and urine samples

als.fakia shared this article with you from Inoreader An electrochemical biosensor for the detection of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> DNA from sputum and urine samples Via PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles by Daniel Ramos-Sono, Raúl Laureano, Daniel Rueda, Robert H. Gilman, Adolfo La Rosa, Jesús Ruiz, Raúl León, Patricia Sheen, Mirko Zimic Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global public health problem with high mortality and morbidity. In low-middle income countries (LMIC) a large number of respiratory symptomatic cases that require TB screening per year demands more accurate, fast and affordable testing for TB diagnostics. Sputum smear is the initial screening test in LMICs, however, its sensitivity is limited in patients with low sputum bacilli load. The same limitation is observed in the currently available molecular tests. We designed, standardized and evaluated an electrochemical biosensor that detects the highly specific DNA insertion element 6110 (IS6110). A PCR amplified DNA product is hybridized on the surface of the working electrode built on FTO-Glass with immobilized specific DNA probes, after which cyclic voltammetry is performed with an Ag/AgCl reference electrode and a platinum counter electrode. The response of the sensor was measured by the ratio (cathodic peak current of the hybridized sensor) / (cathodic peak current of the non-hybridized sensor). We tested the biosensor, using positive hybridization control sequences, genomic DNA extracted from M. tuberculosis strains and sputum of TB patients, and extracted DNA from the urine of healthy controls spiked with M. tuberculosis DNA. This biosensor was effective for the detection of M. tuberculosis DNA with a detection limit of 16 fM in sputum sample and 1 fM in spiked urine samples. The low cost and the relatively brief duration of the assay make this an important TB screening tool in the fight against tuberculosis. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The effects of PEGylation on LNP based mRNA delivery to the eye

als.fakia shared this article with you from Inoreader The effects of PEGylation on LNP based mRNA delivery to the eye Via PLOS ONE Alerts: New Articles by Renee C. Ryals, Siddharth Patel, Chris Acosta, Madison McKinney, Mark E. Pennesi, Gaurav Sahay Gene therapy is now an effective approach to treat many forms of retinal degeneration. Delivery agents that are cell-specific, allow for multiple dosing regimens, and have low immunogenicity are needed to expand the utility of gene therapy for the retina. We generated eight novel lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) ranging in size from 50 nm to 150 nm by changing the PEG content from 5% to 0.5%, respectively. Subretinal injections of LNP-mRNA encoding luciferase revealed that 0.5% PEG content within nanoparticles elicits the highest expression. Similar injections of LNP delivered cre mRNA into Ai9 mice revealed cell-specific protein expression in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), confirmed by fundus photography and immunohistochemistry of whole globe cross-sections. To investigate mechanisms of LNP delivery to the eye, we injected mCherry mRNA using the subretinal approach in apoE-/- and Mertk-/- mice. RPE transfection was observed in both mouse models suggesting that LNP intracellular delivery is not solely dependent on apolipoprotein adsorption or phagocytosis. To investigate LNP penetration, particles were delivered to the vitreous chamber via an intravitreal injection. The 0.5% PEG particles mediated the highest luciferase activity and expression was observed in the Müller glia, the optic nerve head and the trabecular meshwork, but failed to reach the RPE. Overall, particles containing less PEG (~150 nm in size) mediated the highest expression in the eye. Thus far, these particles successfully transfect RPE, Müller cells, the optic nerve head and the trabecular meshwork based on route of administration which can expand the utility of LNP-mediated gene therapies for the eye. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.