Differential sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 protein expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex between schizophrenia Type 1 and Type 2

Understanding the etiology and treatment approaches in schizophrenia is challenged in part by the heterogeneity of this disorder. One encouraging progress is the growing evidence that there are subtypes of schizophrenia. Recen

Two neuroanatomical signatures in schizophrenia: Expression strengths over the first 2 years of treatment and their relationships to neurodevelopmental compromise and antipsychotic treatment

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Two machine learning derived neuroanatomical signatures were recently described. Signature 1 is associated with widespread grey matter volume reductions and signature 2 with larger basal ganglia and internal capsule volumes. We hypothesized that they represent the neurodevelopmental and treatment-responsive components of schizophrenia respectively. STUDY DESIGN: We assessed the expression strength trajectories of these signatures and evaluated their relationships with indicators of neurodevelopmental compromise and with antipsychotic treatment effects in 83 previously minimally treated individuals with a first episode of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder who received standardized treatment and underwent comprehensive clinical, cognitive and neuroimaging assessments over 24 months. Ninety-six matched healthy case-controls were included. STUDY RESULTS: Linear mixed effect repeated measures models indicated that the patients had stronger expression of signature 1 than controls that remained stable over time and was not related to treatment. Stronger signature 1 expression showed trend associations with lower educational attainment, poorer sensory integration, and worse cognitive performance for working memory, verbal learning and reasoning and problem solving. The most striking finding was that signature 2 expression was similar for patients and controls at baseline but increased significantly with treatment in the patients. Greater increase in signature 2 expression was associated with larger reductions in PANSS total score and increases in BMI and not associated with neurodevelopmental indices. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide supporting evidence for two distinct neuroanatomical signatures representing the neurodevelopmental and treatment-responsive components of schizophrenia

Interactions of Insula Subdivisions-Based Networks with Default-Mode and Central-Executive Networks in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Interactions between the brain networks and subnetworks are crucial for active and resting cognitive states. Whether a subnetwork can restore the adequate function of the parent network whenever a disease state affects the parent network is unclear. Investigations suggest that the control of the anterior insula-based network (AIN) over the default-mode network (DMN) and central-executive network (CEN) is decreased in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Here, we hypothesized that the posterior insula-based network (PIN) attempts to compensate for this decrease. To test this, we compared a group of MCI and normal cognitive individuals. A dynamical causal modeling method has been employed to investigate the dynamic network controls/modulations. We used the resting state functional MRI data, and assessed the interactions of the AIN and of the PIN, respectively, over the DMN and CEN. We found that the greater control of AIN than that of DMN (Wilcoxon rank sum: Z = 1.987; p = 0.047) and CEN (Z = 3.076; p = 0.002) in normal group and the lower (impaired) control of AIN than that of CEN (Z = 8.602; p = 7.816 × 10-18). We further revealed that the PIN control was significantly higher than that of DMN (Z = 6.608; p = 3.888 × 10-11) and CEN (Z = 6.429; p = 1.278 × 10-10) in MCI group where the AIN was impaired, but that control was significantly lower than of DMN (Z = 5.285; p = 1.254 × 10-7) and CEN (Z = 5.404; p = 6.513 × 10-8) in normal group. Finally, the global cognitive test score assessed using Montreal cognitive assessment and the network modulations were correlated (Spearman’s correlation: r = 0.47; p = 3.76 × 10-5 and r = -0.43; p = 1.97 × 10-4). These findings might suggest the flexible functional profiles of AIN and PIN in normal aging and MCI

Predicting cognitive dysfunction and regional hubs using Braak staging amyloid-beta biomarkers and machine learning

Abstract Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The presence of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) in Braak regions suggests a connection with cognitive dysfunction in MCI/AD. Investigating the multivariate predictive relationships between regional Aβ biomarkers and cognitive function can aid in the early detection and prevention of AD. We introduced machine learning approaches to estimate cognitive dysfunction from regional Aβ biomarkers and identify the Aβ-related dominant brain regions involved with cognitive impairment. We employed Aβ biomarkers and cognitive measurements from the same individuals to train support vector regression (SVR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models and predict cognitive performance solely based on Aβ biomarkers on the test set. To identify Aβ-related dominant brain regions involved in cognitive prediction, we built the local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME) model. We found elevated Aβ in MCI compared to controls and a stronger correlation between Aβ and cognition, particularly in Braak stages III–IV and V–VII (p < 0.05) biomarkers. Both SVR and ANN, especially ANN, showed strong predictive relationships between regional Aβ biomarkers and cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). LIME integrated with ANN showed that the parahippocampal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, and hippocampus were the most decisive Braak regions for predicting cognitive decline. Consistent with previous findings, this new approach suggests relationships between Aβ biomarkers and cognitive impairment. The proposed analytical framework can estimate cognitive impairment from Braak staging Aβ biomarkers and delineate the dominant brain regions collectively involved in AD pathophysiology

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Not AvailableIndia is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world next only to China. Horticulture development is currently constrained by poor marketing arrangements. The gap between prices received by the farmers and those paid by urban consumers is large, reflecting inefficient marketing arrangements. The huge production base offers India immense opportunities for export.This study estimates production trends, market efficiency and export competitiveness of vegetables in India and suggest measures to improve production, marketing and exports of Indian vegetables. The study was conducted India as whole for production and export competitiveness and for marketing efficiency in the 8 states of Indiacovering 20 crops. The study found that area under total vegetables cultivation is grown at the rate of 4.12% and production growth rates was 6.48%. Indian vegetables production depicted glorious past and expected promising future. The most common marketing channel for majority of the crops is that Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer. The resultsfurther showed that the producer share in consumer rupee was highest in Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Manipur compared to Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan. It varies from 46% to 74% in Andhra Pradesh, 26% to 60% in West Bengal, 33% to 60% in Rajasthan, 85% to 88% in Manipur 91% to 95% in Tamil Nadu and 100% in Punjab. The study clearly shows that majority of the horticultural commodity markets are operating efficiently. The highest marketing efficiency found to be producer to consumer channel. Hence, government policies should promote direct marketing models for efficient horticultural marketing. The results showed that in most of the commodity cases marketing cost, marketing margin, transport cost, labour charges are adversely affecting marketing efficiency and open market price, volume of the produce handled and net price received are increasing marketing efficiency.The trends of fresh vegetables show that its export quantity increased 18.3% and 22.2% during two periods respectively. The results show that Indian vegetables are huge potential for exports.The results show that for all vegetables the Nominal Protection Coefficient is lessthan 1 indicating they are competitive in the international markets. The study suggests that Indian government should give priority to vegetable production, processing and exports.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableIndia is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world next only to China. Horticulture development is currently constrained by poor marketing arrangements. The gap between prices received by the farmers and those paid by urban consumers is large, reflecting inefficient marketing arrangements. The huge production base offers India immense opportunities for export.This study estimates production trends, market efficiency and export competitiveness of vegetables in India and suggest measures to improve production, marketing and exports of Indian vegetables. The study was conducted India as whole for production and export competitiveness and for marketing efficiency in the 8 states of Indiacovering 20 crops. The study found that area under total vegetables cultivation is grown at the rate of 4.12% and production growth rates was 6.48%. Indian vegetables production depicted glorious past and expected promising future. The most common marketing channel for majority of the crops is that Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer. The resultsfurther showed that the producer share in consumer rupee was highest in Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Manipur compared to Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan. It varies from 46% to 74% in Andhra Pradesh, 26% to 60% in West Bengal, 33% to 60% in Rajasthan, 85% to 88% in Manipur 91% to 95% in Tamil Nadu and 100% in Punjab. The study clearly shows that majority of the horticultural commodity markets are operating efficiently. The highest marketing efficiency found to be producer to consumer channel. Hence, government policies should promote direct marketing models for efficient horticultural marketing. The results showed that in most of the commodity cases marketing cost, marketing margin, transport cost, labour charges are adversely affecting marketing efficiency and open market price, volume of the produce handled and net price received are increasing marketing efficiency.The trends of fresh vegetables show that its export quantity increased 18.3% and 22.2% during two periods respectively. The results show that Indian vegetables are huge potential for exports.The results show that for all vegetables the Nominal Protection Coefficient is lessthan 1 indicating they are competitive in the international markets. The study suggests that Indian government should give priority to vegetable production, processing and exports.Not Availabl