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Effect of ketamine intervention on hemodynamic responses in patients with treatment-resistant depression

Correction: Triethylamine inhibits influenza A virus infection and growth via mechanisms independent of viral neuraminidase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Astrocyte glucocorticoid receptor signalling restricts neuronal plasticity

Abstract Sensory experience refines neural circuits during critical periods of postnatal development 1–3 . Although neuronal activity is known to orchestrate the circuit wiring that underlies this process 4,5 , the environmental cues that restrain developmental plasticity as animals mature are less clear. Here we examine the experience-dependent maturation of the mouse primary visual cortex across postnatal development using paired single-cell transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility sequencing. In addition to identifying the activity-dependent gene programs that emerge within each cortical cell type, we find that light exposure drives astrocyte maturation through cell-type-specific recruitment of the glucocorticoid receptor (encoded by Nr3c1 ) to chromatin. Astrocyte glucocorticoid receptor signalling activates an extensive gene regulatory program that is partially conserved in human brain development and promotes maturation processes that may regulate critical period closure. Collectively, these findings reveal that astrocyte glucocorticoid receptor signalling restricts neuronal plasticity. Glucocorticoid regulation of astrocyte maturation may also contribute to the effects of early-life stress across the brain, and the disruption of this process may increase susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disease.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of machine learning models predicting massive hemorrhage protocol in trauma

Correction: Name use by companion parrots

Differential protection scheme for transmission lines with end-of-line UPFC compensation using sequential current components

Abstract With the rapid growth in population, the increase in power demand has outpaced the expansion of transmission line infrastructure, often leading to overload conditions. To mitigate such challenges, Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices are widely adopted to enhance system reliability and stability. While FACTS devices significantly boost the power transfer capability of transmission lines, they can also impact the effectiveness of traditional protection relays. Among these, the Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is particularly notable for its ability to regulate both active and reactive power flows independently, offering the advantages of combined series and shunt compensation. This study introduces a protection strategy based on differential current sequence components for a transmission line equipped with end-line UPFC compensation (ELUC). The proposed algorithm is validated through simulations in MATLAB Simulink and further assessed using a real-time simulator. The evaluation considers a range of scenarios including variation in fault types, fault locations, fault resistances, UPFC operating modes, simultaneous faults, and synchronization errors. The performance is thoroughly examined through real-time simulation and benchmarked against existing techniques. The results demonstrate that the proposed scheme is both selective and accurate in detecting faults under dynamic conditions.

Effect of an herbal supplement on quality of life in participants with insomnia: A randomized placebo controlled cross-over pilot trial

Background Insomnia is a common sleep disorder linked to poor quality of life. Patients with insomnia frequently rely on herbal supplements to improve sleep and quality of life; however, most supplements do not undergo rigorous testing to determine their effectiveness. The primary objective of the pilot trial was to test the effectiveness of the herbal supplement on sleep and quality of life. Methods In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot trial, participants were assigned study drinks consisting of the herbal supplement containing extracts from chicory and green tea or placebo for 7 days. This was followed by a crossover to the other arm after 2 weeks of a washout period. Participants were healthy individuals of the age of 50 years or more with insomnia. Study measures included subjective assessments of sleep, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and quality of life via questionnaires. Habitual sleep patterns and sleep architecture were objectively evaluated by a 7-day accelerometry and polysomnography. Results Ten participants (9 women; age 59 ± 6 y; BMI 30 ± 10 kg/m 2 ) with insomnia severity index of 21 ± 4 and wake after sleep onset (WASO) of 75 ± 33 min were enrolled in the study. The impact of placebo and supplement was different for measures related to daytime sleepiness and physical fatigue but not quality of life. No within and between treatment differences were observed for any objective measures of habitual sleep patterns or sleep architecture. Within group analysis showed improvement in subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and general fatigue after 7-day consumption of the placebo drink, but not after consumption of herbal supplement. There were no adverse events related to study participation. Conclusion Compared to placebo drink, daily consumption of the herbal supplement for 7 days did not improve any aspect of quality of life or sleep in our pilot study participants with insomnia. Well controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the claims related to supplements.

NoTrue, Silence and Rubbish Communications: satirical journals give Chinese academics a pressure valve

Quantifying regional contributions to sex classification from fundus photographs via a two-stage attention-based deep learning approach

Practical guidelines for producing non-replicating canine adenovirus vectors

Adenovirus vectors have been used for vaccine development, gene therapy, among others, because of their ease of genetic manipulation and high efficiency in delivering and expressing genes in mammalian cells without causing significant cytotoxicity or integrating into the host genome. Adenovirus vectors are relatively immunogenic, hence avoiding the need for adjuvant when used in vaccine design, unlike other vaccine development platforms. Human adenovirus serotype 5 (HAdV-5) has traditionally been employed in vaccine platforms; however, its clinical utility is limited by widespread pre-existing immunity in human populations, which can reduce vaccine efficacy. As a promising alternative, canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) vector offers several advantages, including low seroprevalence in humans, efficient infection of respiratory epithelial and neuronal cells, and long-lasting transgene expression. These features render the CAV-2 vector particularly suitable for vaccine applications requiring repeated administrations or booster doses. In this protocol, we describe methods for the expression, expansion, purification, and titration of a non-replicative CAV-2 vector in the AD-293 cell line. The procedure involves the release of the recombinant viral genome from the pUC19 plasmid backbone, followed by virus stock expansion in a complementing AD-293 cell line, which is able to express the E1 protein to aid virus replication. The virus stock was purified through ion-exchange liquid chromatography and titered using the Improved Kärber method. This work contributes to the growing field of alternative adenoviral vectors with implications for translational research by providing step-by-step procedures for producing a canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) vector.

A comparative study between microwaves and ultrasound assisted in- situ reduction of platinum supported γ-Al2O3 using different organic templates for enhanced catalytic activity and potential applications

Abstract In this study, mesoporous alumina was synthesized and modified with two different surfactants: cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), a cationic surfactant, and pluronic P123, a non-ionic surfactant, using the sol-gel method. The synthesis involved the co-assembly of aluminum precursors with the surfactants, followed by calcination to remove the templates, resulting in a porous alumina structure that serves as a support. Platinum (Pt) was then loaded onto the surfactant-modified alumina support (CTAB) at a concentration of 0.9 wt% Pt using microwave-assisted solution (MAS) and ultrasonic techniques. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using nitrogen adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to assess their textural properties, thermal stability, and morphology. The catalytic activity of the Pt-loaded alumina catalysts was evaluated for n-hexane dehydrocyclization, cyclohexane dehydrogenation, and ethanol dehydration. Both the ultrasonic technique and microwave irradiation were employed as in situ reduction methods to produce stable, well-dispersed platinum nanoparticles with average diameters not exceeding 6 nm. The catalytic performance results indicated that the 0.9 wt% Pt/Al₂O₃ (MAS) nanocatalyst outperformed its US-prepared counterpart. It achieved the highest conversion rate of 86% in cyclohexane dehydrogenation at 450 °C. In n-hexane dehydrocyclization, the MAS catalyst produced a maximum benzene yield of 48%. Additionally, in ethanol dehydration, it demonstrated superior activity with a maximum ethylene yield of 52% under the tested conditions.

Physician estimates of the feasibility of preserving the dying for future revival

Objectives To assess US physicians’ estimates of the feasibility of preservation procedures (cryopreservation, aldehyde-based fixation) for enabling future revival, their views on clinical interventions to improve preservation outcomes, and their positions on ethical and legal frameworks surrounding these end-of-life options. Design Cross-sectional survey conducted October 2025. Setting Sermo, an online platform for verified US healthcare professionals. Participants 334 physicians comprising 150 primary care physicians (general practice, internal medicine, family medicine) and 184 other specialists. Main outcomes and measures Estimated probability that preservation retains neurally-encoded information sufficient for future revival; support for pre-mortem anticoagulation and pre-cardiac arrest procedure initiation; views on compatibility with patient-centered care. Results Among 334 physicians, the median estimated probability that preservation under ideal conditions could retain sufficient neural information for future revival was 25.5%. Overall, 27.9% found preservation somewhat or very plausible for enabling future revival; 47.0% found it somewhat or very implausible. Most physicians (70.7%) supported prescribing anticoagulants to terminal patients to improve preservation quality; 11.7% opposed. For patients choosing preservation in combination with medical assistance in dying, 44.3% supported initiating preservation prior to cardiac arrest; 28.8% opposed. Most (58.1%) agreed preservation could be consistent with compassionate care (20.1% disagreed), and 49.1% reported comfort with patients choosing preservation (30.0% uncomfortable). Familiarity with preservation correlated with higher probability estimates (ρ = 0.26; p < 10 −3 ), while end-of-life discussion frequency correlated with support for pre-cardiac arrest procedures (ρ = 0.18; p = 0.003). Conclusions US physicians assigned a median 25.5% probability to preservation retaining neural information under ideal conditions in a manner potentially compatible with future patient revival. The majority support for pre-mortem anticoagulation and plurality support for pre-cardiac arrest initiation indicate that many physicians would consider accommodating patient requests for preservation-enhancing interventions. These findings may inform development of clinical guidelines, though the speculative nature of the estimates warrants consideration.

Curcumin-Dragon’s blood-chitosan nanosuspension for dual forensic detection

Abstract Forensic identification of latent fingerprints and bloodstains is fundamental to criminal investigations, yet conventional methods often suffer from high toxicity, low sensitivity, and substrate dependency. This study aims to address these limitations by developing a novel, biocompatible, dual-function nanosuspension formulation. The nanosuspension was synthesized using the ionic gelation method, crosslinking curcumin and Dragon’s blood resin within a chitosan nanoparticle matrix using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Formulation optimization was systematically performed using a Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to evaluate the impact of chitosan concentration, curcumin amount, and TPP concentration on particle properties. Forensic efficacy was assessed through fluorescence imaging and ridge detail analysis on both porous and non-porous substrates. The optimized formulation achieved highly favorable physicochemical properties, including an average particle size of 220.5 ± 5.4 nm, a stable negative zeta potential of – 31.2 ± 2.1 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 85.2 ± 3.1%. The nanosuspension demonstrated significant quantitative superiority in forensic application, yielding a ridge contrast ratio of 4.2 ± 0.3 compared to 2.1 ± 0.4 for standard powders. Strong fluorescence under UV illumination enabled clear visualization of fingerprints up to the 5th depletion and selective marking of bloodstains. Molecular docking confirmed a strong binding affinity of resin components with hemoglobin (8.2 kcal/mol, supporting the observed selective detection. The novel curcumin-Dragon’s blood resin-chitosan nanosuspension provides a non-toxic, highly sensitive, and substrate-versatile dual-function reagent. This formulation represents a significant advancement in forensic evidence visualization with substantial potential for practical field deployment.

A brief xerostomia inventory for young adults

Objective Xerostomia (dry mouth) is a common condition that negatively impacts life quality for adults of all ages. Yet, xerostomia has primarily been studied among older adults and populations at high risk of dry mouth, with no widely-available self-reported instrument to assess xerostomia accurately among younger populations. This study aimed to develop a brief xerostomia assessment tool specifically designed for young adults. Methods Students ages 18–24 at two California (USA) public universities (N = 278) completed a cross-sectional survey that included a 14-item xerostomia inventory, including new items and items previously tested among older adults. Using exploratory factor analysis and item response theory analysis, the inventory was reduced to a 5-item scale. Psychometric properties of the 5 items were examined. As further validity checks, associations were explored between scale sum scores and other oral health conditions and potential xerostomia risk indicators. Results A proposed 5-item Young Adult version of the Shortened Xerostomia Inventory (SXI-Y) had favorable psychometric properties in this population, including excellent internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.817) and strong correlation with a global measure of dry mouth (polychoric correlation = 0.711). SXI-Y sum scores (overall mean = 7.3; median = 6; range: 5–18) were higher (indicating more severe xerostomia) among participants who reported gum bleeding, oral pain, and halitosis and those taking prescription medications, using nicotine or cannabis, and reporting less sleep and more stress. Conclusions In this study, a xerostomia measure tailored for young adults demonstrated stronger internal consistency and retained more item-level information than an earlier tool developed for older adults. Associations of xerostomia with sleep and stress merit further investigation, as does instrument testing in additional study populations.

Monkeys that ‘draw’ reveal a neuronal population that encodes combinable actions

Hybrid machine learning for SCC strength prediction using metaheuristic optimization

Abstract Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) represents a significant innovation in modern concrete technology owing to its excellent flowability, workability, and mechanical performance. Accurate prediction of SCC compressive strength is essential for optimizing mix design, minimizing experimental effort, and promoting sustainable material usage. In this study, a hybrid Machine Learning (ML) framework was developed by integrating Gradient Boosting (GB), Adaptive Boosting (ADA), and Random Forest (RF) models, optimized through metaheuristic algorithms such as Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Mountain Gazelle Optimizer (MGO), Brown Bear Optimizer Algorithm (BBOA), and Fox Optimizer (FO). A dataset containing 691 SCC samples with varied mix proportions and curing conditions was utilized for model development and validation. Statistical analysis using the coefficient of determination (R 2 ), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Weighted Mean Absolute Percentage Error (WMAPE), and Willmott’s Index of Agreement (WI) revealed that the BBOA-GB model exhibited the highest predictive accuracy, with R 2 values of 0.9955 and 0.9645 for training and testing, respectively. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis indicated that slag content, cement content and curing age were the most influential factors affecting compressive strength. The proposed hybrid approach demonstrated improved performance compared to the considered baseline ensemble models. The novelty of this research lies in the comparative benchmarking of multiple metaheuristic–ensemble integrations and the development of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for practical SCC strength prediction. The study contributes a reliable and efficient data-driven framework that enhances decision-making in SCC design and supports the advancement of sustainable concrete technology. However, the study is limited by the use of literature-based datasets and a restricted range of mix compositions. Future research will focus on incorporating larger and real-time datasets, exploring deep learning approaches, and extending the framework toward sustainability-driven mix optimization.

Neither “lumpers” nor “splitters”: A global revision of Flabellinidae s.l. nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Nudibranchia)

Nudibranch taxonomy is a prime example of the conflict between “lumpers” and “splitters”: with rampant cryptic diversity, difficult to interpret morphological characters, plastic ecology, and variable levels of COI divergence among groups. As a result, it is extremely challenging to reach a consensus on what constitutes a species (not to mention a genus or a family). In this paper, we tackle a particularly problematic group, the family Flabellinidae s.l. Recent studies have shown that this group is polyphyletic and have suggested reclassifying the 84 described species into 29 genera across 7 families. However, further studies indicated the instability of the phylogenetic relationships between some of these species, genera, and families and suggested the need for further revisions of this group. The primary goal of the present study is a critical revision of the Flabellinidae s.l. diversity, by testing the monophyly of currently accepted genera and re-evaluating morphological synapomorphies for high-rank taxa, with the incorporation of previously overlooked taxa and some from poorly studied regions. We conducted an updated phylogenetic analysis based on four molecular markers. We also performed morphological analyses based on light and scanning electron microscopy. The analyses confirm the monophyly of Coryphellidae, Apataidae, and Paracoryphellidae. At the same time, the monophyly of Flabellinidae s.str., Samlidae, Unidentiidae, and Flabellinopsidae and the genera Edmundsella and Samla was questioned. Our results show that Samla rubropurpurata represents a new genus described herein as Launsina gen. nov . We also identify a new phylogenetic clade represented by specimens from the Kurile Islands, which corresponds to the recently established genus Mgueolia. This group is represented by at least four distinct species, three of which are described herein. We demonstrate that the facelinid genus Bajaeolis and the recently described genus Kynaria are members of the family Flabellinopsidae. Finally, we suggest that the family Piseinotecidae likely represents a senior synonym of the family Unidentiidae. Based on our comprehensive integrative analysis, we propose a new taxonomical scheme for Flabellinidae s.l. and identify consistent common traits and synapomorphies for each high-rank group.

External validation of cough-based algorithms for pulmonary tuberculosis screening from the CODA TB DREAM challenge using cough data from Peru

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation and atherosclerotic plaque regression in ASCVD: Is exercise really a game-changer? A scoping review of controlled trials

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has emerged as a promising strategy for promoting atherosclerotic plaque regression in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Although lipid-lowering drugs are firmly established for plaque regression, the impact of exercise-based CR on plaque regression remains underexplored, prompting synthesis of existing evidence. This review aims to characterize studies on exercise-based CR in ASCVD, summarize CR modalities, identify confounding factors, and evaluate evidence of plaque regression from imaging and clinical outcomes. A thorough literature search was conducted in May-June 2025 across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO. Included studies were controlled trials on CR for ASCVD adults assessing plaque changes via imaging. Data extraction followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines focusing on study design, populations, interventions, and outcomes. Five trials encompassing 217 participants demonstrated that diverse CR programmes—high-intensity interval training, aerobic exercise and resistance training—combined with standard medical therapy significantly reduced plaque volume parameters, as measured by IVUS and carotid ultrasound. CR further improved key mechanistic markers, including inflammatory cytokines and endothelial function, underpinning plaque stabilization and regression. Exercise-based CR robustly promotes plaque regression and mitigates cardiovascular risk in ASCVD, complementing pharmacological approaches. These findings affirm CR’s indispensable role in secondary prevention, though confounding from concurrent lipid-lowering therapies warrants consideration in future randomized trials.

Too little or too much sleep is linked to faster ageing throughout the body