Hygrothermal Degradation of Epoxy Electrical Insulating Material-Testing and Mathematical Modeling.

The degradation of electrical insulating materials has been a subject of interest for decades as they are commonly applied in many fields of electrical engineering. Suitably modeling such a process is important since the known and well-described degradation process reveals the effect of ambient conditions, and this allows us to possibly estimate a material's remaining useful life. However, not many studies are dealing with the effect of the hygrothermal degradation of impregnating mono-component epoxy resins in the context of electrical engineering.

Connecting genomic results for psychiatric disorders to human brain cell types and regions reveals convergence with functional connectivity.

Understanding the temporal and spatial brain locations etiological for psychiatric disorders is essential for targeted neurobiological research. Integration of genomic insights from genome-wide association studies with single-cell transcriptomics is a powerful approach although past efforts have necessarily relied on mouse atlases. Leveraging a comprehensive atlas of the adult human brain, we prioritized cell types via the enrichment of SNP-heritabilities for brain diseases, disorders, and traits, progressing from individual cell types to brain regions.

Functional subtypes of rodent melanopsin ganglion cells switch roles between night and day illumination.

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), contain the photopigment melanopsin, and influence both image and non-image forming behaviors. Despite being categorized into multiple types (M1-M6), physiological variability within these types suggests our current understanding of ipRGCs is incomplete. We used multi-electrode array (MEA) recordings and unbiased cluster analysis under synaptic blockade to identify 8 functional clusters of ipRGCs, each with distinct photosensitivity and response timing.

Egg-sensitised infants have elevated CD4 effector memory T regulatory cells from birth.

Background: IgE-mediated sensitisation to egg is common in infants. In some cases, the processes leading to egg sensitisation are established in early life, even before introduction to solid foods. The underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Impaired interferon response in plasmacytoid dendritic cells from children with persistent wheeze.

Background: Impaired interferon response and allergic sensitization may contribute to virus-induced wheeze and asthma development in young children. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a key role in antiviral immunity as critical producers of type I interferons. pDCs also express the high-affinity IgE receptor through which type I interferon production may be negatively regulated.

LPS binding protein and activation signatures are upregulated during asthma exacerbations in children.

Asthma exacerbations in children are associated with respiratory viral infection and atopy, resulting in systemic immune activation and infiltration of immune cells into the airways. The gene networks driving the immune activation and subsequent migration of immune cells into the airways remains incompletely understood. Cellular and molecular profiling of PBMC was employed on paired samples obtained from atopic asthmatic children (n = 19) during acute virus-associated exacerbations and later during convalescence.

A melanopsin ganglion cell subtype forms a dorsal retinal mosaic projecting to the supraoptic nucleus.

Visual input to the hypothalamus from intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) influences several functions including circadian entrainment, body temperature, and sleep. ipRGCs also project to nuclei such as the supraoptic nucleus (SON), which is involved in systemic fluid homeostasis, maternal behavior, social behaviors, and appetite. However, little is known about the SON-projecting ipRGCs or their relationship to well-characterized ipRGC subtypes.

Integrated Case Presentation Seminar: Bridging Parallel Fields to Improve Psychiatry and Psychology Learner Experience.

Daily clinical practice of mental health professionals often requires interaction between providers from diverse training and professional backgrounds. Efforts to engage mental health trainees across disciplines are necessary and have had varied outcomes. The current study reviews the development and implementation of a monthly one-hour integrated case presentation seminar (ICPS) as part of independent psychology and psychiatry two-year fellowships at a Midwestern teaching hospital.

Potential immunological effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy in transgender people - an unexplored area of research.

There are well-described sex-based differences in how the immune system operates. In particular, cisgender (cis) females have a more easily activated immune system; associated with an increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases and adverse events following vaccinations. Conversely, cis males have a higher threshold for immune activation, and are more prone to certain infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Epstein-Barr virus infection, B-cell dysfunction and other risk factors converge in gut-associated lymphoid tissue to drive the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: a hypothesis.

Multiple sclerosis is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, B-cell dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, and environmental and genetic risk factors, including female sex. A disease model incorporating all these factors remains elusive. Here, we hypothesise that EBV-infected memory B cells (MBCs) migrate to gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) through EBV-induced expression of LPAM-1, where they are subsequently activated by gut microbes and/or their products resulting in EBV reactivation and compartmentalised anti-EBV immune responses.

Evidence for machine learning guided early prediction of acute outcomes in the treatment of depressed children and adolescents with antidepressants.

Background: The treatment of depression in children and adolescents is a substantial public health challenge. This study examined artificial intelligence tools for the prediction of early outcomes in depressed children and adolescents treated with fluoxetine, duloxetine, or placebo.

Methods: The study samples included training datasets (N = 271) from patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) treated with fluoxetine and testing datasets from patients with MDD treated with duloxetine (N = 255) or placebo (N = 265).

Circulating Memory B Cells in Early Multiple Sclerosis Exhibit Increased IgA Cells, Globally Decreased BAFF-R Expression and an EBV-Related IgM Cell Signature.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that results in demyelination of axons, inefficient signal transmission and reduced muscular mobility. Recent findings suggest that B cells play a significant role in disease development and pathology. To further explore this, B cell profiles in peripheral blood from 28 treatment-naive patients with early MS were assessed using flow cytometry and compared to 17 healthy controls.

Sex-Specific Environmental Impacts on Initiation and Progression of Multiple Sclerosis.

The immunological mechanisms that contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) differ between males and females. Females are 2-3 times more likely to develop MS compared to males, however the reason for this discrepancy is unknown. Once MS is established, there is a more inflammatory yet milder form of disease in females whereas males generally suffer from more severe disease and faster progression, neural degradation, and disability.

IRF7-Associated Immunophenotypes Have Dichotomous Responses to Virus/Allergen Coexposure and OM-85-Induced Reprogramming.

High risk for virus-induced asthma exacerbations in children is associated with an IRF7lo immunophenotype, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we applied a Systems Biology approach to an animal model comprising rat strains manifesting high (BN) low susceptibility (PVG) to experimental asthma, induced by virus/allergen coexposure, to elucidate the mechanism(s)-of-action of the high-risk asthma immunophenotype. We also investigated potential risk mitigation pretreatment with the immune training agent OM-85.

Crisis Preparedness in Acute and Intensive Treatment Settings: Lessons Learned From a Year of COVID-19.

The impact of COVID-19 changed the use and delivery of health care services, requiring an abrupt shift in treatment and staffing models . This is particularly salient in youth acute and intensive treatment services (AITS), including inpatient psychiatric hospitals (IPH), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), because of challenging issues of maintaining high-quality care and a safe therapeutic milieu during increased demand for acute services, all while limiting transmission of COVID-19 on locked units, in close quarters, and for youths traveling back and forth to day-programs. Over the past year, AITS adapted and evolved without the ability to pause services and plan, increase staffing, or allocate additional resources.

Longitudinal Development of Refractive Error in Children Treated With Intravitreal Bevacizumab or Laser for Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Purpose: To compare the patterns of longitudinal refractive error development during the first 3.5 years in children with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) or laser photocoagulation.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled extremely preterm infants (birth weight < 1000 g, gestational age 23-27 weeks) with type 1 ROP from multiple hospitals in Dallas between 1999 and 2017; IVB group (N = 22); laser group (N = 26).

Youth and parent report of sleep-based interventions and utilization of technology resources in the treatment of pediatric mood disorders.

Objectives: Mood disorders in youth are associated with social and academic impairment, and difficulties within the family system. Engagement in sleep hygiene, and family- and technology-based treatment models can address these impairments. The current study evaluates changes in functioning for youth who participated in a family-based partial hospitalization program (PHP) for mood disorders.

Associations of serum short-chain fatty acids with circulating immune cells and serum biomarkers in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Altered composition of gut bacteria and changes to the production of their bioactive metabolites, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), have been implicated in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the immunomodulatory actions of SCFAs and intermediaries in their ability to influence MS pathogenesis are uncertain. In this study, levels of serum SCFAs were correlated with immune cell abundance and phenotype as well as with other relevant serum factors in blood samples taken at first presentation of Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS; an early form of MS) or MS and compared to healthy controls.

FcγRIIb Expression Is Decreased on Naive and Marginal Zone-Like B Cells From Females With Multiple Sclerosis.

B cells are critical to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the mechanisms by which they contribute to the disease are poorly defined. We hypothesised that the expression of CD32b (FcγRIIb), a receptor for the Fc region of IgG with inhibitory activities in B cells, is lower on B cell subsets from people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or MS. CD32b expression was highest on post-naive IgM B cell subsets in healthy controls.

Gbx2 Identifies Two Amacrine Cell Subtypes with Distinct Molecular, Morphological, and Physiological Properties.

Our understanding of nervous system function is limited by our ability to identify and manipulate neuronal subtypes within intact circuits. We show that the Gbx2 mouse line labels two amacrine cell (AC) subtypes in the mouse retina that have distinct morphological, physiological, and molecular properties. Using a combination of RNA-seq, genetic labeling, and patch clamp recordings, we show that one subtype is GABAergic that receives excitatory input from On bipolar cells.