Decreased neural drive affects the early rate of force development after repeated burst-like isometric contractions

The neural drive to the muscle is the primary determinant of the rate of force development (RFD) in the first 50 ms of a rapid contraction. It is still unproven if repetitive rapid contractions specifically impair the net neural drive to the muscles. To isolate the fatiguing effect of contraction rapidity, 17 male adult volunteers performed 100 burst-like (i.e., brief force pulses) isometric contractions of the knee extensors. The response to electrically-evoked single and octet femoral nerve stimulation was measured with high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) from the vastus lateralis and medialis muscles. Root mean square (RMS) of each channel of HD-sEMG was normalized to the corresponding M-wave peak-to-peak amplitude, while muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) was normalized to M-wave conduction velocity to compensate for changes in sarcolemma properties. Voluntary RFD 0-50 ms decreased (d = -0.56, p < 0.001) while time to peak force (d = 0.90, p < 0.001) and time to RFDpeak increased (d = 0.56, p = 0.034). Relative RMS (d = -1.10, p = 0.006) and MFCV (d = -0.53, p = 0.007) also decreased in the first 50 ms of voluntary contractions. Evoked octet RFD 0-50 ms (d = 0.60, p = 0.020), M-wave amplitude (d = 0.77, p = 0.009) and conduction velocity (d = 1.75, p < 0.001) all increased. Neural efficacy, i.e., voluntary/octet force ratio, largely decreased (d = -1.50, p < 0.001). We isolated the fatiguing impact of contraction rapidity and found that the decrement in RFD, particularly when calculated in the first 50 ms of muscle contraction, can mainly be explained by a decrease in the net neural drive

MRI abnormalities in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other rapidly progressive dementia

Objective: To investigate brain MRI abnormalities in a cohort of patients with rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) with and without a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Methods: One hundred and seven patients with diagnosis of prion disease (60 with definite sCJD, 33 with probable sCJD and 14 with genetic prion disease) and 40 non-prion related RPD patients (npRPD) underwent brain MRI including DWI and FLAIR. MRIs were evaluated with a semiquantitative rating score, which separately considered abnormal signal extent and intensity in 22 brain regions. Clinical findings at onset, disease duration, cerebrospinal-fluid 14-3-3 and t-tau protein levels, and EEG data were recorded. Results: Among patients with definite/probable diagnosis of CJD or genetic prion disease, 2/107 had normal DWI-MRI: in one patient a 2-months follow-up DWI-MRI showed CJD-related changes while the other had autopsy-proven CJD despite no DWI abnormalities 282 days after clinical onset. CJD-related cortical changes were detected in all lobes and involvement of thalamus was common. In the npRPD groups, 6/40 patients showed DWI alterations that clustered in three different patterns: (1) minimal/doubtful signal alterations (limbic encephalitis, dementia with Lewy bodies); (2) clearly suggestive of alternative diagnoses (status epilepticus, Wernicke or metabolic encephalopathy); (3) highly suggestive of CJD (mitochondrial disease), though cortical swelling let exclude CJD. Conclusions: In the diagnostic work-up of RPD, negative/doubtful DWI makes CJD diagnosis rather unlikely, while specific DWI patterns help differentiating CJD from alternative diagnoses. The pulvinar sign is not exclusive of the variant form

The value of self-determination theory in marketing studies: Insights from the application of PLS-SEM and NCA to anti-food waste apps

Self-determination theory (SDT) is a theory of human motivation that highlights the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Recent research has advocated its wider use in marketing studies, suggesting that it has strong predictive accuracy for consumer behaviors, and has proposed arguments about the necessity of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for marketing outcomes. However, these statements have not been empirically substantiated. We address this gap by studying the motivations for attitude and intention to use anti-food waste apps. Data from 141 users and 227 non-users of the app “Too Good To Go” are analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and several of its methodological extensions (e.g., multigroup analysis and the cross-validated predictive ability test), and necessary condition analysis (NCA). The findings support the argument that SDT accurately predicts consumer attitudes and behaviors, while NCA provides a nuanced view of the necessity of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations

Deciphering Yet Unknown Routes Towards a More Efficient Oxygenic Photosynthesis: Genomics and Transcriptomics Insights into Chlorella vulgaris Mutants

Whole genome resequencing and time course transcriptome profiles were used to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed phenotypes in pale green and singlet oxygen resistant mutants of Chlorella vulgaris

A Feasibility Study Investigating an Exercise Program in Metastatic Cancer Based on the Patient-Preferred Delivery Mode

Background: Feasibility of exercise in patients with metastatic cancer is still a challenge. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an exercise intervention based on a patient-preferred delivery mode in patients affected by metastatic cancer. Materials and methods: Forty-four patients with a confirmed diagnosis of metastatic cancer were recruited in a 3-month exercise program. Whereas the exercise program consisted of aerobic and resistance activities performed twice a week, the participants may choose the mode of delivery: home based, personal training, or group based. The primary endpoint was the feasibility, defined by recruitment rate, attendance, adherence, dropout rate, tolerability (comparing the session RPE with the target RPE), and safety (using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0). Secondary endpoints included cardiorespiratory fitness (six minutes walking test), muscle strength (handgrip strength test and isometric leg press test), flexibility (the back scratch and chair sit and reach tests), anthropometric parameters (body mass index and waist-hip ratio), quality of life (EORTC QLQ C-30 questionnaire), and amount of physical exercise (Godin's Shepard Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire). Descriptive statistics, Student t test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyze data. Results: The study recruitment rate was 81%. Out of 44 recruited patients, 28 chose the personal training program, 16 chose the home-based program, and none chose the group-based program. Nine dropouts occurred (20%), 6 in the personal training program, and 3 in the home-based intervention. The median attendance rate was 92%, adherence was 88%, tolerability was 100%, and 9 nonsevere adverse events were registered during the exercise sessions. An increase in cardiorespiratory fitness (P < .001) and flexibility (P = .011 for chair sit and reach; P = .040 for back scratch) was observed at the end of the intervention, while no changes in anthropometric values and muscle strength were detected. Different quality-of-life domains were improved following the intervention, including physical (P = .002), emotional (P < .001), and role functioning (P = .018), fatigue (P = .030), and appetite loss (P = .005). Conclusion: A 3-month exercise program based on a patient-preferred delivery mode is feasible in patients with metastatic cancer and may improve physical function and quality of life. Trial registration: NCT04226508

Bottom-Up Initiatives for Sustainable Mountain Development in Italy: An Interregional Explorative Survey

In recent years, citizen-led initiatives have emerged to complement top-down development policies, particularly to pursue sustainability objectives and benefit traditionally left-behind communities and places. Existing research on this phenomenon in Italian mountain areas suggests a primary emphasis on revitalizing the natural environment, preserving local culture and traditions, and delivering social services to address the absence of public facilities. However, there is still a lack of understanding regarding their profiles, key features, social and environmental impacts, and challenges at the national level. As part of a broader research project, this empirical work contributes to the literature on bottom-up sustainability-oriented initiatives in mountain regions by conducting an explorative interregional online survey. We gathered original data on 196 initiatives from the mountain areas of the Italian regions of Basilicata, Lombardia, Marche, Sicilia, and Veneto. The findings indicate that our sample shares common traits, visions, and values, making a positive contribution to the sustainable development of their respective territories. However, these initiatives must contend with internal and external challenges to enhance their resilience and impact. Importantly, the research may support policymakers at various levels in the design of public policies that harness the full potential of bottom-up initiatives, ultimately enhancing the development and sustainability of these lands

Combining randomised and observational evidence in schizophrenia: how real is the real world?

[no abstract available

Cnosso, a novel method for business document automation based on open information extraction

The state-of-the-art in automated processing of unstructured business documents has evolved from manual labor to advanced AI systems in the span of mere decades. Such systems involve learning techniques, rule or clause sets, neural models – either used alone or in combination – for the extraction to work. As an example, rule-based processes operate on a perceived layout or positioning of the information, whereas model-based frameworks adopt a semantic, and often uninspectable, approach. Verb-Based Semantic Role Labeling (VBSRL) is a novel system presented in a former paper that uses a hybrid foundation to inform the extraction phase via a set of rules modeling natural language. We propose a new VBSRL-based document processing method, aided by valuable and innovative architectural choices, which has been implemented for the Italian language and experimented upon with promising results. Even in its infancy, in fact, the first implementation of this system shows better results than comparable IE solutions, obtaining an aggregate, average F-measure of nearly 79

White matter integrity in bipolar disorder investigated with diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging and fractal geometry

Background: Growing evidence suggests the presence of white matter (WM) alterations in bipolar disorder (BD). In this study we aimed to investigate the state of WM structures, in terms of tissue integrity and morphological complexity, in BD patients compared to healthy controls (HC), in an attempt to better elucidate the microstructural changes associated with BD. Methods: We collected a dataset of 399 Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (167 BD and 232 healthy controls) images, acquired at five different sites, which was processed with Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and fractal analysis. Results: The TBSS analysis demonstrated significantly lower FA values in the BD group. Diffusion abnormalities were primarily located in the temporo-parietal network. The Fractal Dimension (FD) analysis did not reveal consistent significant differences in the morphological complexity of WM structures between the groups. When the FD values of patients were considered individually, it is possible to notice some localized significant deviations from the healthy population. Limitations: DTI sequences have not been harmonized before acquisition, samples' sizes are heterogeneous. Conclusions: This study, by applying both TBSS and FD analyses, allows to evaluate diffusion and structural alterations of WM at the same time. The evaluation of WM integrity from these two different perspectives could be useful to better understand the pathophysiological and morphological changes underpinning bipolar disorder

Integrated microprofilometry and multispectral imaging for full-field analysis of ancient manuscripts

A novel workflow is proposed to combine the use of two powerful techniques in the study of ancient manuscripts: multispectral imaging and optical microprofilometry. Multispectral imaging is routinely used and allows to examine each individual folium as a superposition of layers that give different responses in the UV-Vis-NIR bands. It enables the analysis of the conservation state of an object, the mapping of previous restorations or the detection of writings no longer visible. The downside of this technique is the lack of quantitative data on surface morphology. On the other hand, surface microprofilometry on book heritage is unexplored. The optical scanning microprofilometer used in this work employs single-point, interferometric depth-sensors that enable to measure the surface topography of the manuscript (deformation and roughness) in full-field (areas of tens of centimeters) at micrometer scale. The crucial task of spatial referencing the surface topography at micrometer scale to the visible features (e.g., written text) is performed with a novel procedure that solves the problem of the lack of reference points in the microprofilometer height data. We exploit the raw intensity signal collected by the laser depth sensor to fuse the interferometric measurements with the multispectral image stack. The full-field integration of quantitative microsurface measurements and in-band imaging responses enables a more comprehensive exploration of ancient manuscripts, by integrating materials-surface analysis, advancing the diagnostic protocol