8,063 research outputs found
fMRI biomarkers of social cognitive skills training in psychosis: Extrinsic and intrinsic functional connectivity.
Social cognitive skills training interventions for psychotic disorders have shown improvement in social cognitive performance tasks, but little was known about brain-based biomarkers linked to treatment effects. In this pilot study, we examined whether social cognitive skills training could modulate extrinsic and intrinsic functional connectivity in psychosis using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twenty-six chronic outpatients with psychotic disorders were recruited from either a Social Cognitive Skills Training (SCST) or an activity- and time-matched control intervention. At baseline and the end of intervention (12 weeks), participants completed two social cognitive tasks: a Facial Affect Matching task and a Mental State Attribution Task, as well as resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). Extrinsic functional connectivity was assessed using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) with amygdala and temporo-parietal junction as a seed region for the Facial Affect Matching Task and the Mental State Attribution task, respectively. Intrinsic functional connectivity was assessed with independent component analysis on rs-fMRI, with a focus on the default mode network (DMN). During the Facial Affect Matching task, we observed stronger PPI connectivity in the SCST group after intervention (compared to baseline), but no treatment-related change in the Control group. Neither group showed treatment-related changes in PPI connectivity during the Mental State Attribution task. During rs-fMRI, we found treatment-related changes in the DMN in the SCST group, but not in Control group. This study found that social cognitive skills training modulated both extrinsic and intrinsic functional connectivity in individuals with psychotic disorders after a 12-week intervention. These findings suggest treatment-related changes in functional connectivity as a potential brain-based biomarker of social cognitive skills training
Multiply Folded Graphene
The folding of paper, hide, and woven fabric has been used for millennia to
achieve enhanced articulation, curvature, and visual appeal for intrinsically
flat, two-dimensional materials. For graphene, an ideal two-dimensional
material, folding may transform it to complex shapes with new and distinct
properties. Here, we present experimental results that folded structures in
graphene, termed grafold, exist, and their formations can be controlled by
introducing anisotropic surface curvature during graphene synthesis or transfer
processes. Using pseudopotential-density functional theory calculations, we
also show that double folding modifies the electronic band structure of
graphene. Furthermore, we demonstrate the intercalation of C60 into the
grafolds. Intercalation or functionalization of the chemically reactive folds
further expands grafold's mechanical, chemical, optical, and electronic
diversity.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures (accepted in Phys. Rev. B
Mandated Marketing Programs For California Commodities
Agricultural and Food Policy, Marketing,
Prevalence and clinical features of patients with concurrent HBsAg and antiâHBs: Evaluation of the hepatitis B research network cohort
The prevalence of concurrent HBsAg and antiâHBs in plasma of persons with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is variable and its clinical significance enigmatic. We examined the prevalence and clinical and virological features of concurrent HBsAg and antiâHBs in children and adults with chronic HBV infection living in North America. A total of 1462 HBsAg positive participants in the Hepatitis B Research Network paediatric and adult cohorts were included (median age 41 (range 4â80) years, 48% female, 11% white, 13% black, 73% Asians). Only 18 (1.2%) were found to be antiâHBs positive (â„10Â mIU/mL) at initial study evaluation. Distributions of sex, race, HBV genotype and ALT were similar between participants with and without concurrent antiâHBs. Those who were antiâHBs positive appeared to be older (median age 50 vs 41Â years, PÂ =Â .06), have lower platelet counts (median 197 vs 222Â ĂÂ 103/mm3, PÂ =Â .07) and have higher prevalence of HBeAg (44% vs 26%, PÂ =Â .10). They also had lower HBsAg levels (median 2.0 vs 3.5Â log10 IU/mL, PÂ =Â .02). Testing of followâup samples after a median of 4Â years (range 1â6) in 12 of the 18 participants with initial concurrent antiâHBs showed antiâHBs became undetectable in 6, decreased to <10Â mIU/mL in 1 and remained positive in 5 participants. Two patients lost HBsAg during followâup. In conclusion, prevalence of concurrent HBsAg and antiâHBs was low at 1.2%, with antiâHBs disappearing in some during followâup, in this large cohort of racially diverse children and adults with chronic HBV infection living in North America. Presence of concurrent HBsAg and antiâHBs did not identify a specific phenotype of chronic hepatitis B, nor did it appear to affect clinical outcomes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156489/3/jvh13312.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156489/2/jvh13312-sup-0001-FigS1-S3.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156489/1/jvh13312_am.pd
Blood and tissue biomarker analysis in dogs with osteosarcoma treated with palliative radiation and intra-tumoral autologous natural killer cell transfer.
We have previously reported radiation-induced sensitization of canine osteosarcoma (OSA) to natural killer (NK) therapy, including results from a first-in-dog clinical trial. Here, we report correlative analyses of blood and tissue specimens for signals of immune activation in trial subjects. Among 10 dogs treated with palliative radiotherapy (RT) and intra-tumoral adoptive NK transfer, we performed ELISA on serum cytokines, flow cytometry for immune phenotype of PBMCs, and PCR on tumor tissue for immune-related gene expression. We then queried The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to evaluate the association of cytotoxic/immune-related gene expression with human sarcoma survival. Updated survival analysis revealed five 6-month survivors, including one dog who lived 17.9 months. Using feeder line co-culture for NK expansion, we observed maximal activation of dog NK cells on day 17-19 post isolation with near 100% expression of granzyme B and NKp46 and high cytotoxic function in the injected NK product. Among dogs on trial, we observed a trend for higher baseline serum IL-6 to predict worse lung metastasis-free and overall survival (P = 0.08). PCR analysis revealed low absolute gene expression of CD3, CD8, and NKG2D in untreated OSA. Among treated dogs, there was marked heterogeneity in the expression of immune-related genes pre- and post-treatment, but increases in CD3 and CD8 gene expression were higher among dogs that lived > 6 months compared to those who did not. Analysis of the TCGA confirmed significant differences in survival among human sarcoma patients with high and low expression of genes associated with greater immune activation and cytotoxicity (CD3e, CD8a, IFN-Îł, perforin, and CD122/IL-2 receptor beta). Updated results from a first-in-dog clinical trial of palliative RT and autologous NK cell immunotherapy for OSA illustrate the translational relevance of companion dogs for novel cancer therapies. Similar to human studies, analyses of immune markers from canine serum, PBMCs, and tumor tissue are feasible and provide insight into potential biomarkers of response and resistance
Newtonian Hydrodynamics of the Coalescence of Black Holes with Neutron Stars I: Tidally locked binaries with a stiff equation of state
We present a detailed study of the hydrodynamical interactions in a Newtonian
black hole-neutron star binary during the last stages of inspiral. We consider
close binaries which are tidally locked, use a stiff equation of state (with an
adiabatic index Gamma=3) throughout, and explore the effect of different
initial mass ratios on the evolution of the system. We calculate the
gravitational radiation signal in the quadrupole approximation. Our
calculations are carried out using a Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) code.Comment: Replaces previous version which had figures separate from the text of
the paper. Now 47 pages long with 19 embedded figures (the figures are the
same, they were renumbered) Uses aaspp4.st
Adhesion of MC3T3-E1 cells to RGD peptides of different flanking residues: Detachment strength and correlation with long-term cellular function
We synthesized a series of RGD peptides and immobilized them to an amine-functional self-assembled monolayer using a modified maleimide-based conjugate technique that minimizes nonspecific interactions. Using a spinning disc apparatus, a trend in the detachment strength (Ï50) of RGD peptides of different flanking residues was found: RGDSPK â» RGDSVVYGLR â RGDS â» RGES. Using blocking monoclonal antibodies, cellular adhesion to the peptides was shown to be primarily αâ-integrin-mediated. In contrast, the Ï50 value of the cells on fibronectin (Fn)-coated substrates of similar surface density was 6-7 times higher and involved both α5ÎČ1 and αΜÎČ3 integrins. Cellular spreading was enhanced on RGD peptides after 1 h when compared to RGE and unmodified substrates. However, no significant differences were observed between the different RGD peptides. Long-term function of MC3T3-E1 cells was also evaluated by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineral deposition. Among the four peptides, RGDSPK exhibited the highest level of ALP activity after 11 days and mineralization after 15 days and reached comparable levels as Fn substrates after 15 and 24 days, respectively. These findings collectively illustrate both the advantages and limitations of enhancing cellular adhesion and function by the design of RGD peptides
- âŠ