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Although the cerebellum contributes to higher-order cognitive and emotional functions relevant to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), prior research on cerebellar volume in PTSD is scant, particularly when considering subregions that differentially map on to motor, cognitive, and affective functions. In a sample of 4215 adults (PTSD n = 1642; Control n = 2573) across 40 sites from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group, we employed a new state-of-the-art deep-learning based approach for automatic cerebellar parcellation to obtain volumetric estimates for the total cerebellum and 28 subregions. Linear mixed effects models controlling for age, gender, intracranial volume, and site were used to compare cerebellum volumes in PTSD compared to healthy controls (88% trauma-exposed). PTSD was associated with significant grey and white matter reductions of the cerebellum. Compared to controls, people with PTSD demonstrated smaller total cerebellum volume, as well as reduced volume in subregions primarily within the posterior lobe (lobule VIIB, crus II), vermis (VI, VIII), flocculonodular lobe (lobule X), and corpus medullare (all p-FDR

Abstract Altered functioning of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) may play a critical role in the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Chronic stressors such as racial discrimination and lifetime trauma are associated with an increased risk for PTSD, but it is unknown whether they influence the relationship between BNST functioning and PTSD. We investigated acute post-trauma BNST resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) as a predictor of future PTSD symptoms in Black trauma survivors. We also examined whether racial discrimination and lifetime trauma moderated the relationship between BNST rsFC and PTSD symptoms. Black adults (N = 95; 54.7% female; mean age = 34.04) were recruited from an emergency department after experiencing a traumatic injury (72.6% were motor vehicle accidents). Two-weeks post-injury, participants underwent a resting-state fMRI scan and completed questionnaires evaluating their PTSD symptoms as well as lifetime exposure to racial discrimination and trauma. Six-months post-injury, PTSD symptoms were reassessed. Whole brain seed-to-voxel analyses were conducted to examine BNST rsFC patterns. Greater rsFC between the BNST and the posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, left angular gyrus, and hippocampus prospectively predicted six-month PTSD symptoms after adjusting for sex, age, education, and baseline PTSD symptoms. Acute BNST rsFC was a stronger predictor of PTSD symptoms in individuals who experienced more racial discrimination and lifetime trauma. Thus, in the acute aftermath of a traumatic event, the BNST could be a key biomarker of risk for PTSD in Black Americans, particularly for individuals with a greater history of racial discrimination or previous trauma exposure.

Abstract Background Influenza infections pose significant risks for nursing home (NH) residents. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the cantonal influenza campaign, and influenza vaccination coverage of residents and healthcare workers (HCWs) on influenza burden in NHs in a context of enhanced infection prevention and control measures (IPC) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods We extracted data from epidemic reports provided by our unit to NHs over two consecutive winter seasons (2021-22 and 2022-23) and used linear regression to assess the impact of resident and HCW vaccination coverage, and participation in the campaign, on residents’ cumulative influenza incidence and mortality. Results Thirty-six NHs reported 155 influenza cases and 21 deaths during the two winter seasons corresponding to 6.2% of infected residents and a case fatality ratio of 13.5%. Median vaccination coverage was 83% for residents, 25.8% for HCWs, while 87% of NHs participated in the campaign. Resident vaccination was significantly associated with a decrease in odds of death (odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93–0.99). There was no significant effect of HCW vaccination coverage on resident infections and deaths. Campaign participation was associated with decreased odds of infection and death among residents (OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06–0.47 and OR: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02–0.17 respectively). Conclusion Our analysis suggests that in a context of reinforced IPC measures, influenza still represents a significant burden for NH residents. The most effective measures in decreasing resident influenza burden in NHs was participation in the cantonal influenza vaccination campaign and resident vaccination.

Among the letters written and received by Aldus Manutius, the ones held in the Archivio di Stato in Mantua are very interesting and rich in rare Aldus’s autographs. These letters testify both the commercial relationship between a book printer and seller and a very prestigious costumer, Isabella d’Este, and the curious episode of Aldus’s detention during his return to Venice in 1506. This contribution aims to present these precious texts and to analyse their edition by Armand Baschet in 1867, in view of a future critical edition of the whole known Aldus’s correspondence.

Background: Childhood abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) is associated with aberrant connectivity of the amygdala, a key threat-processing region. Heightened amygdala activity also predicts adult anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as do experiences of childhood abuse. The current study explored whether amygdala resting-state functional connectivity may explain the relationship between childhood abuse and anxiety and PTSD symptoms following trauma exposure in adults. Methods: Two weeks posttrauma, adult trauma survivors (n = 152, mean age [SD] = 32.61 [10.35] years; women = 57.2%) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. PTSD and anxiety symptoms were assessed 6 months posttrauma. Seed-to-voxel analyses evaluated the association between childhood abuse and amygdala resting-state functional connectivity. A mediation model evaluated the potential mediating role of amygdala connectivity in the relationship between childhood abuse and posttrauma anxiety and PTSD. Results: Childhood abuse was associated with increased amygdala connectivity with the precuneus while covarying for age, gender, childhood neglect, and baseline PTSD symptoms. Amygdala-precuneus resting-state functional connectivity was a significant mediator of the effect of childhood abuse on anxiety symptoms 6 months posttrauma (B = 0.065; 95% CI, 0.013–0.130; SE = 0.030), but not PTSD. A secondary mediation analysis investigating depression as an outcome was not significant. Conclusions: Amygdala-precuneus connectivity may be an underlying neural mechanism by which childhood abuse increases risk for anxiety following adult trauma. Specifically, this heightened connectivity may reflect attentional vigilance for threat or a tendency toward negative self-referential thoughts. Findings suggest that childhood abuse may contribute to longstanding upregulation of attentional vigilance circuits, which makes one vulnerable to anxiety-related symptoms in adulthood.

Background This project analyzed risk factors for emergency department (ED) utilization without readmission within 2 weeks post-discharge for survivors of gun violence.Methods A hundred gun violence survivors admitted to a Level 1 trauma center were surveyed. Descriptive analyses and group comparisons were conducted between patients who did and did not use the ED. Factors analyzed are rooted in social determinants of health and clinical care related to the index hospitalization.Results Of the 100 patients, 31 had an ED visit within 6 weeks, although most (87.1%) returned within 2 weeks of discharge. Factors significantly associated (p≤0.05) with a return ED visit included: not having an identified primary care provider, not having friends or family to count on for help, not having enough money to support themselves before return to work, and not feeling able to read discharge instructions.Conclusion Lack of a primary care provider, low health literacy and social support were associated with increased ED visits without readmission post-discharge.Level of Evidence Level III, Prognostic and Epidemiological

A desinformação é um problema crescente na contemporaneidade, e a fotografia tem sido usada como uma ferramenta para credibilizar peças desinformativas. Este artigo discute a importância de compreender os mecanismos complexos por trás da desinformação imagética e como a fotografia pode ser usada para influenciar e formar opiniões. Para analisar a fotografia como estratégia de desinformação, é necessário compreender suas características e estrutura verossímil. Neste sentido, foram selecionadas duas peças desinformativas: “Julgamento de Dilma no período da ditadura militar” e “Povos yanomami no Brasil”, que foram analisadas de acordo com o método de Barthes (1990). Os resultados mostram como a fotografia pode ser usada para manipular a opinião pública sobre governos, crises e atores políticos, e como é importante que jornalistas, educadores e cidadãos estejam atentos a esses mecanismos para navegar com discernimento em um mundo onde a desinformação visual desempenha um papel cada vez mais influente.

Abstract Background Ectoparasites of dogs and cats are implicated to be responsible for life‐threatening anaemia, allergic dermatitis and pruritic and non‐pruritic skin disorders. In Ethiopia, few studies have been conducted on the arthropods of dogs and cats. Objectives In order to shed light on some of these aspects, a survey was conducted to investigate the presence of ectoparasites in dogs and cats living in sympatry in the urban and rural areas of Gamo Zone, Ethiopia. Methods A total of 297 dogs and 110 cats were examined for ectoparasites, and questionnaires were employed to obtain information concerning owner's knowledge about arthropods and vector‐borne diseases (VBDs). Results The overall prevalence of ticks, fleas and lice in dogs was 36.7%, 69.7% and 4.7%, respectively. Similarly, on cats, an overall prevalence of 2.7% ticks and 21.8% fleas was recorded. On dogs, fleas (Ctenocephalides felis 69.4%, Echidnophaga gallinacea 1.3%, Ctenocephalides canis 1.0% and Pulex irritans 0.3%), ticks (Amblyomma variegatum 22.9%, Rhipicephalus sanguineus 14.1%, Haemaphysalis leachi 8.8%, Rhipicephalus praetextatus 4.0% and Rhipicephalus pulchellus 3.4%) and lice (Heterodoxus spiniger 4.0% and Trichodectes canis 0.7%) were identified. Likewise, on cats, fleas (C. felis [15.5%] and E. gallinacea [7.3%]) and ticks (H. leachi [2.7%]) were identified. The abundance of C. felis was significantly higher (p

BackgroundStructural racism produces mental health disparities. While studies have examined the impact of individual factors such as poverty and education, the collective contribution of these elements, as manifestations of structural racism, has been less explored. Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, with its racial and socioeconomic diversity, provides a unique context for this multifactorial investigation. ObjectiveThis research aimed to delineate the association between structural racism and mental health disparities in Milwaukee County, using a combination of geospatial and deep learning techniques. We used secondary data sets where all data were aggregated and anonymized before being released by federal agencies. MethodsWe compiled 217 georeferenced explanatory variables across domains, initially deliberately excluding race-based factors to focus on nonracial determinants. This approach was designed to reveal the underlying patterns of risk factors contributing to poor mental health, subsequently reintegrating race to assess the effects of racism quantitatively. The variable selection combined tree-based methods (random forest) and conventional techniques, supported by variance inflation factor and Pearson correlation analysis for multicollinearity mitigation. The geographically weighted random forest model was used to investigate spatial heterogeneity and dependence. Self-organizing maps, combined with K-means clustering, were used to analyze data from Milwaukee communities, focusing on quantifying the impact of structural racism on the prevalence of poor mental health. ResultsWhile 12 influential factors collectively accounted for 95.11% of the variability in mental health across communities, the top 6 factors—smoking, poverty, insufficient sleep, lack of health insurance, employment, and age—were particularly impactful. Predominantly, African American neighborhoods were disproportionately affected, which is 2.23 times more likely to encounter high-risk clusters for poor mental health. ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate that structural racism shapes mental health disparities, with Black community members disproportionately impacted. The multifaceted methodological approach underscores the value of integrating geospatial analysis and deep learning to understand complex social determinants of mental health. These insights highlight the need for targeted interventions, addressing both individual and systemic factors to mitigate mental health disparities rooted in structural racism.

Background Outpatient follow-up represents a crucial opportunity to re-engage with gun violence survivors (GVS) and to facilitate positive health outcomes. Current outpatient models for firearm-related injuries and trauma care are inconsistent and unstandardized across trauma centers. This project describes the patient population served by the multidisciplinary Trauma Quality of Life (TQoL) Clinic for GVS. Also of primary interest was the outpatient follow-up services used by patients prior to their clinic appointment. Subsequent referrals placed during Clinic, as well as rate of attendance, was a secondary aim.Methods This was a descriptive retrospective analysis of a quality improvement project of the TQoL Clinic. Data were extracted from the electronic medical record and were supplemented with information from the trauma registry and the hospital-based violence intervention program database. Descriptive statistics characterized the patient population served. A Χ2 analysis was used to compare no-show rates for the TQoL Clinic against two historical cohorts of trauma clinic attendees.Results Most attendees were young (M=32.0, SD=1.8, range=15–88 years), Black (80.1%), and male (82.0%). Of the 306 total TQoL Clinic attendees, 82.3% attended their initial scheduled appointment. Most non-attendee patients rescheduled their appointments (92.1%), and 89.5% attended the rescheduled appointment. TQoL Clinic demonstrated a significantly lower no-show rate than the traditional trauma clinic model, including after the implementation of the hospital’s inpatient violence intervention program (χ2(2)=75.52, p

Summary: Background: Insufficient infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in healthcare settings increase the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among health workers. This study aimed to examine the level of preparedness for future outbreaks. Methods: We modelled the experience from the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed the return on investment on a global scale of three IPC interventions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections among health workers: enhancing hand hygiene; increasing access to personal protective equipment (PPE); and combining PPE, with a scale-up of IPC training and education (PPE+). Our analysis covered seven geographic regions, representing a combination of World Health Organization (WHO) regions and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Across all regions, we focused on the first 180 days of the pandemic in 2020 between January 1st and June 30th. We used an extended version of a susceptible-infectious-recovered compartmental model to measure the level of IPC preparedness. Data were sourced from the WHO COVID-19 Detailed Surveillance Database. Findings: In all regions, the PPE + intervention would have averted the highest number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections compared to the other two interventions, ranging from 6562 (95% CI 4873–8779) to 38,170 (95% CI 33,853–41,901) new infections per 100,000 health workers in OECD countries and in the South-East Asia region, respectively. Countries in the South-East Asia region and non-OECD countries in the Western Pacific region were poised to achieve the highest level of savings by scaling up the PPE + intervention. Interpretation: Our results not only support efforts to make an economic case for continuing investments in IPC interventions to halt the COVID-19 pandemic and protect health workers, but could also contribute to efforts to improve preparedness for future outbreaks. Funding: This work was funded by WHO, with support by the German Federal Ministry of Health for the WHO Research and Development Blueprint for COVID-19.

Objective: To test whether internalized heterosexism, a form of minority stress, heightens the effect of hazardous or harmful alcohol use on frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among sexual minority and same-sex-attracted men. Method: We recruited participants online via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Inclusion criteria were adult cisgender men living in the United States who identified as a sexual minority (i.e., gay, bisexual) or who endorsed being sexually attracted to men and who reported a male partner in the preceding year. Participants (N = 198) completed self-report questionnaires measuring sexual orientation and attraction, internalized heterosexism, IPV perpetration (sexual, physical, and psychological), and hazardous or harmful alcohol use. Results: Hazardous or harmful alcohol use and internalized heterosexism were associated with frequency of IPV perpetration. Internalized heterosexism moderated the effect of hazardous or harmful alcohol use on IPV perpetration, such that greater hazardous or harmful alcohol use and higher levels of internalized heterosexism were associated with the greatest rates of IPV perpetration. Results were consistent for each type of IPV (sexual, physical, and psychological). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the association between high levels of internalized heterosexism, magnified by the presence of hazardous or harmful alcohol use, and physical, sexual, and psychological IPV. Alleviating internalized heterosexism is a potential target for decreasing IPV in this at-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of intracellular constituents from recalcitrant microalgae strains stands as a significant challenge and a crucial bottleneck in microalgae processing. This study presents a novel enzymatic approach coupling mechanical lysis through sand milling without commercial glass or zirconium beads, with subsequent snailase treatment, resulting in improved cell wall breakdown and increased release of valuable constituents. The selected microalga was Chlorella sp. L06, renowned for its sturdy cell wall structure. Initial experiments involving sand milling unveiled substantial release of proteins (1.19 mg/mL) and chlorophyll (1.80 of absorbance at 680 nm), underscoring effective cell disruption. Remarkably, the application of snailase after sand milling produced noteworthy outcomes, fostering enhanced cell wall degradation and liberating a spectrum of constituents, encompassing soluble reducing sugars (1.13 mg/mL), proteins (2.28 mg/mL), and chlorophyll (2.83 of absorbance at 680 nm). The process was optimized by applying the Box-Behnken design, which revealed distinct operational parameters that significantly improved the release of soluble sugars and proteins by 46 % and 12.7 %, respectively. Moreover, the presence of snailase also showcased a protective antioxidant effect on chlorophyll during the hydrolysis, shedding light on its multifaceted role in the hydrolysis process. This study introduces an advantageous strategy for efficiently valorizing microalgae biomass using the synergistic potential of mechanical lysis and enzymatic treatment. Furthermore, the developed method contributes achieving promising, sustainable microalgae-based biorefineries. [Display omitted] • Beadmilling with sand releases proteins and pigments. • Snailase enhances the extraction of soluble sugars. • Optimization amplifies the release of soluble sugars and proteins. • Snailase enhances the preservation of chlorophyll. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algal biomass cultivated in wastewater treatment systems is a promising feedstock for biogas production through anaerobic digestion. However, its rigid cell wall inhibits the hydrolysis of intracellular substances and limits its anaerobic digestibility. To improve anaerobic biodegradability, this study investigated the effects of different thermal and thermochemical pretreatments on the performance of anaerobic digestion of the obtained biomass. High-rate algal ponds fed with UASB effluent treating domestic sewage were used to grow algal biomass. Two methods were used for biomass harvesting: a physical method, through filtration, and a physico-chemical method, using coagulants, Tanfloc SL and Aluminum Sulfate (Al 2 (SO 4) 3). Three types of biomasses were obtained, one without coagulant (AB-P), one with Tanfloc (AB-T), and one with Al 2 (SO 4) 3 (AB-AS), which were subjected to different thermal and thermochemical pretreatments. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the pretreatment methods, showing modifications in the structures of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in the microalgae cells. The alkaline thermochemical pretreatment (90 °C-3 h-pH 11) of AB-AS resulted in higher organic matter solubilization, with a 32 % increase in soluble COD. This pretreatment also resulted in the highest biogas yield, producing 460.64 mL CH 4.gVS−1, with a 229 % increase, and the highest maximum production rate, with Rmax = 78.98 mL CH 4.gVS−1.day−1. Acidic thermochemical pretreatments that resulted in biomass with pH ≤ 4.2 inhibited biogas production. In terms of energy, the best pretreatment was 78 °C-7 h on AB-P, with an EROI of 2.20, which demonstrates a surplus of energy. These findings underscore the potential for optimizing the anaerobic digestibility of algal biomass, thus contributing to more efficient and sustainable biogas production. [Display omitted] • The thermochemical pretreatment of biomass harvested with Al 2 (SO 4)3 was the most efficient. • The maximum biogas yield was achieved with such biomass treated at 90 °C for 3 h at pH 11. • The thermal pretreatment of microalgae without coagulants was the most energy-efficient. • Successful interpretation of the anaerobic digestion using kinetic models was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) prodcution is a general mechanism employed by bacteria to thrive under stressful conditions. We report an increase in the production of EPS by Lelliottia amnigena strain LABEM through CuSO 4 exposure along with the use of low-cost carbon sources, namely sucrose (SUC) and crude glycerin (CG). The production of EPS was analyzed in relation to yield, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis. L. amnigena grew in up to 1.0 mM CuSO 4 , with a maximum EPS yield of 51.8% at 0.6 mM CuSO 4. The absence of copper detection in the enhanced EPS batches is innovative, indicating a potential reduction in purification steps and heavy metal removal from the produced EPS. This suggests a possible low copper affinity of the produced EPS until the production of 0.8 mM CuSO 4. Microbial supplementation with CuSO 4 also enhanced EPS thermostability and surface roughness, showcasing intriguing properties applicable to drilling fluids and pharmaceutical uses. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and FTIR showed the polysaccharide nature of the products and the presence of the highly valuable EPS constituent fucose. The results illustrate the relationship between exopolysaccharide and heavy metal exposure, with a focus on enhancing bioprocesses. This expands our understanding and applications beyond heavy metal adsorption and removal. EPS properties and composition suggest diverse applications, such as food additives and in other processes that employ fucose polymer. Future experiments should explore the various applications of this exopolysaccharide and the scale-up of the technology. [Display omitted] • It was valorized sucrose and crude glyceirn into Fucose containing EPS. • Lelliotia amnigena increased the EPS yield in 51.8% in response to CuSO 4 exposure. • The metal exposition reduced cell weight. • The resulted EPS showed differences in elemental and molecular composition. • It was reached a higher thermostability and roughness using CuSO 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deciphering the structural effects of gene variants is essential for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of genetic diseases. Using a neurodevelopmental disorder called Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf Optic Atrophy Syndrome (BBSOAS) as a genetic disease model, we applied structural bioinformatics and Genetic Code Expansion (GCE) strategies to assess the pathogenic impact of human NR2F1 variants and their binding with known and novel partners. While the computational analyses of the NR2F1 structure delineated the molecular basis of the impact of several variants on the isolated and complexed structures, the GCE enabled covalent and site-specific capture of transient supramolecular interactions in living cells. This revealed the variable quaternary conformations of NR2F1 variants and highlighted the disrupted interplay with dimeric partners and the newly identified co-factor, CRABP2. The disclosed consequence of the pathogenic mutations on the conformation, supramolecular interplay, and alterations in the cell cycle, viability, and sub-cellular localization of the different variants reflect the heterogeneous disease spectrum of BBSOAS and set up novel foundation for unveiling the complexity of neurodevelopmental diseases., (© 2024 The Authors. Protein Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Protein Society.)