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Listening and Responding to Community Voices — The Community Wellness HUB

Polygenic and developmental profiles of autism differ by age at diagnosis

Abstract Although autism has historically been conceptualized as a condition that emerges in early childhood 1,2 , many autistic people are diagnosed later in life 3–5 . It is unknown whether earlier- and later-diagnosed autism have different developmental trajectories and genetic profiles. Using longitudinal data from four independent birth cohorts, we demonstrate that two different socioemotional and behavioural trajectories are associated with age at diagnosis. In independent cohorts of autistic individuals, common genetic variants account for approximately 11% of the variance in age at autism diagnosis, similar to the contribution of individual sociodemographic and clinical factors, which typically explain less than 15% of this variance. We further demonstrate that the polygenic architecture of autism can be broken down into two modestly genetically correlated ( r g  = 0.38, s.e. = 0.07) autism polygenic factors. One of these factors is associated with earlier autism diagnosis and lower social and communication abilities in early childhood, but is only moderately genetically correlated with attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mental-health conditions. Conversely, the second factor is associated with later autism diagnosis and increased socioemotional and behavioural difficulties in adolescence, and has moderate to high positive genetic correlations with ADHD and mental-health conditions. These findings indicate that earlier- and later-diagnosed autism have different developmental trajectories and genetic profiles. Our findings have important implications for how we conceptualize autism and provide a model to explain some of the diversity found in autism.

Snow avalanche susceptibility, hazard, and exposure assessment in the Western Himalaya using machine learning and numerical modelling

New onset autoimmune disease following a SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review protocol

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people worldwide. While most infected individuals who survive do so with no long-term consequences, approximately 10 to 70% develop long-term sequelae. Of particular concern has been the development of autoimmune diseases. Viral triggers for autoimmune disease have been thoroughly studied for previous viral infections and several recent studies have sought to investigate the link between SARS-CoV-2 and new onset autoimmune disease. Several reviews have also been conducted on the topic, however, many of these reviews are limited in focus, emphasizing biological mechanisms and case reports, as opposed to estimates of risk. Further, these reviews do not capture more recent cohort studies that have been published investigating the association between SARS-CoV-2 and new onset autoimmune disease. Therefore, there is a need for a more comprehensive and temporally updated systematically conducted review of the literature to address the question What is the risk of incident (i.e., new onset) autoimmune disease following a SARS-CoV-2 infection among adults (≥18 years)?. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and grey literature will be conducted, with results screened in duplicate in two stages: 1) Title and abstract screening and 2) Full text screening. A standardized data extraction sheet will be used on any studies passing through both stages of screening to extract details on publication, study population, exposure, and outcomes. Narrative and tabular synthesis of overall findings will be conducted, with diversity and heterogeneity of included studies discussed. If possible, a meta-analysis will also be conducted to combine findings of risk across the included studies. This protocol has been registered to PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42024594446).

Two-Year Outcomes after Transcatheter Arterialization of the Deep Veins

Plant growth promotion mechanisms of bacteria isolated from a long-term reclaimed smelter waste deposit

Abstract The use of beneficial bacterial strains is proposed as a nature based practice to support sustainable crop production. Strains exposed to extreme environmental stress may have developed robust stress resistance and the capacity to enhance plant growth under unfavorable conditions. Our study provides the new aspect in characterising bacteria from polluted soil. The novelty of our study was isolation of bacteria from a long-term contaminated site and their testing for plant growth promoting mechanisms. The aim of this research was to characterize bacterial strains, collected from the root zone of grasses growing in a heavily polluted smelter wasteland reclaimed 25 years ago using sewage sludge and by-product lime. Their capability to enhance plant resistance to stresses has not been widely assessed. The activity of the strains was assessed based on mechanisms associated with nutrient uptake: phosphate solubilization, ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N), ability to synthesize indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-like compounds, and mechanisms linked to plant stress tolerance: ACC deaminase production, polysaccharides and biofilm development. Metabolic profiling of the strains was performed. Most strains tested in this study exhibited a range of plant growth promotion mechanisms. All strains solubilized phosphates with medium to high intensity, 14 of 15 isolates produced IAA up to 60 µg/mL, all fixed N from 15.85 to 50.00 mg/ml after 72 h. Thirteen strains survived freeze-drying. Our study enabled clustering bacterial strains with capability to perform certain groups of processes. Strains intensively fixing N in general were also able to intensively produce IAA but rather were not efficient producers of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). IAA production was negatively correlated with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase (ACC) deaminase activity and average carbon utilization intensity. All three strains selected for the pot study ( Burkholderia sp., Pseudomonas caspiana, and Phyllobacterium sp.) confirmed the effectiveness in promoting wheat growth both at optimal and low soil moisture. The study shows that 25-years reclaimed smelter wastelands are reservoirs of PGPR strains potentially useful for developing biofertilizers enhancing plant growth and resistance to environmental or climatic stresses in agriculture.

Multiplets in scRNA-seq data: Extent of the problem and efficacy of methods for removal

Multiplets—droplets that capture more than one cell—are a known artefact in droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), yet their prevalence and impact remain underestimated. In this study, we assess the frequency of multiplets across diverse publicly available datasets and evaluate how well commonly used detection tools are able to identify them. Using cell hashing data to determine a lower bound of the true multiplet rate, we demonstrate that commonly used heuristic estimations systematically underestimate multiplet rates, and that existing tools—despite optimized parameters—detect only a small subset of cell-hashing multiplets. We further refine a Poisson-based model to estimate the true multiplet rate, revealing that actual rates can exceed heuristic predictions by more than twofold. Downstream analyses are significantly affected by multiplets: they are not confined to isolated clusters but are distributed throughout the transcriptional landscape, where they distort clustering and cell type annotation. In differential gene expression analysis, multiplets inflated artefactual signals while expected cell-type markers remained stable, leading to shifts in effect sizes and partial loss of significant genes despite high overall fold-change correlation. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, we visualize these effects and show that cell-hashing-informed multiplet removal eliminates artefactual clusters and improves annotation clarity, whereas computationally detected multiplets fail to fully remove artefacts in the most common experimental contexts. Our findings confirm that multiplet contamination remains a pervasive and under-addressed issue in scRNA-seq analysis. Since most datasets lack multiplexing, researchers must often rely on heuristics and limited tools, leaving many multiplets unidentified. We advocate for more robust multiplet-detection strategies, including multimodal validation, to ensure more accurate and interpretable scRNA-seq results.

Flaws in the FDA’s New Priority Voucher Program

Functional evaluation of cis-vaccenic acid in cordia dichotoma with tissue-specific biochemical insights

Leveraging the digital economy for enhanced digital service trade exports: Lessons from China

This study explores the transformative role of digital economy development on digital service trade exports, using China as a case study, to elucidate trends and lessons that may be applicable to other nations seeking to leverage digital advancements for economic growth in an increasingly interconnected global market. Analyzing panel data from 105 global economies between 2013 and 2021 with a trade gravity model, supplemented by robustness and heterogeneity tests, we demonstrate that the development level of the digital economy in trading nations significantly enhances China’s digital service trade exports, particularly impacting middle- and high-income countries. The sectors most affected include intellectual property and cultural services. Our findings reveal a notable positive correlation between digital economy indices and digital service export volumes, suggesting that advancements in digital infrastructure, market dynamics, and governance in partner countries facilitate this increase. Geographical distance and economic systems also play crucial roles, influencing trade costs and compatibility, respectively. These insights guide targeted policy recommendations to enhance digital service trade, emphasizing the need for strategic international cooperation and infrastructure investment to harness digital globalization’s full potential.

Finerenone with Empagliflozin in Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

Computational analysis of miRNA mediated KDR gene regulation and natural VEGFR2 inhibitors from Persicaria hydropiper in hepatocellular carcinoma

Family cultural capital predicts student cognitive performance: The mediating role of student academic engagement and academic self-efficacy in a comparative cross-national context

This study examines the relationships between family cultural capital and student cognitive performance, emphasizing the mediating effects of psychological and behavioral factors labeled student academic engagement and academic self-efficacy. Leveraging the PISA 2022 data, comprising 378,306 respondents from 33 OECD countries and 38 non-OECD countries/economies, we employed Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis to test the hypothesized pathways and compare the relationships. The results revealed that family cultural capital has positive direct impacts on student cognitive performance, student academic engagement, and academic self-efficacy. Moreover, student academic engagement and academic self-efficacy are also positively associated with student cognitive performance. However, when comparing the results, all the direct effect sizes vary between OECD and non-OECD countries. Furthermore, student academic engagement and academic self-efficacy partially mediated the relationships, albeit with lower effects in OECD countries. The findings support the theory that cultural capital fosters student cognitive skills, also highlighting the crucial role that psychological and behavioral factors play in mediating these relationships and considering the differences between countries for theoretical and practical implications.

Nasal Leech

Ensemble model for neoadjuvant chemotherapy response prediction and treatment sensitivity in TNBC based on DNA replication stress signatures

Sensory trial of camel milk powder among pastoralist communities of the Somali Region, Ethiopia

Background Camel milk is a vital source of nutrition for people living in many arid and semi-arid regions. Camel milk powder offers a valuable opportunity for the dairy industry to develop and launch innovative products in the milk and dairy market. Objective To evaluate the sensory preference of camel milk powder compared to fresh camel milk among pastoralist communities in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Methods A single-blinded sensory crossover study was conducted among randomly selected 248 pastoralist communities in the Somali Region. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Participants did not know whether they tasted fresh milk or camel milk powder. The sequence was randomized, assigning either fresh/camel milk powder or powdered/fresh camel milk to each participant. Data was summarized using mean, median, frequency, and percentage and was presented using charts and tables. Bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify variables associated with the outcome. Statistical associations were assessed using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with significance declared at a P-value < 0.05. A t-test was used to compare milk spending and milk liking levels between powdered and fresh camel milk. Results In this study, 31% (95% CI: 25.5%–37.1%) preferred powdered milk among pastoralists in the Somali Region. Factors significantly associated with preference of camel milk powder included being an urban pastoralist resident, AOR = 2.02 (95% CI: 1.30, 3.16), and being female, AOR = 1.94 (95% CI: 1.25, 3.01). There is no statistically significant mean difference between fresh camel milk and camel milk powder regarding willingness to pay. Conclusion Although most preferred fresh milk, the mean rating of powder was still high. Powdered milk might be a good alternative in settings where a cold chain is difficult to maintain and shelf life is an issue. Factors such as place of residence and sex of pastoralist significantly influence preference of powdered milk. There is no significant difference in willingness to pay between fresh camel milk and powdered camel milk. Focusing on nutritional advantages, safety, and convenience regarding camel milk powder is crucial for rural and male pastoralists’ adoption. Promotional efforts should be improved in accessibility and practicality without reducing cost.

<i>EGFR</i> -Mutated Lung Cancer — Letting the Butterfly Out of the Cocoon

Correction: Accurate deep-learning model to differentiate dementia severity and diagnosis using a portable electroencephalography device

Efficient pathogen screening in honey bees: Application of FTA® cards for DNA storage and PCR analysis

Screening honey bee pathogens is crucial for early infection detection, which helps prevent pathogen transmission. The most widely used method for pathogen detection in honey bees is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). FTA ® cards (Qiagen) were compared with DNA-isolation kit DNeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen) for the detection of selected pathogens in honey bee samples collected from colonies in the Czech Republic in autumn and spring. FTA ® cards provide highly accurate results for detecting N. ceranae with a sensitivity of 97.2% and a specificity of 100%. Thus, FTA ® cards represent a reliable and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods for N. ceranae detection. Seasonal variation in pathogen prevalence was also assessed using FTA ® cards, revealing significant differences between autumn and spring. In total 85 samples were analysed for main bee pathogens ( N. ceranae , Nosema apis , Lotmaria passim , Crithidia mellificae, and Serratia marcescens ). Greater diversity pathogen occurence was observed in autumn, with 32% of colonies showing no detectable levels of the tested pathogens, 48% infected by one pathogen, 16% by two, and 4% by three; whereas in spring, 40% of colonies tested negative for all target pathogens, with 51% infected by one pathogen and 9% by two. In autumn 2020, S. marcescens was the most prevalent pathogen (46%), followed by N. ceranae (28%) and L. passim (18%), while no C. mellificae or N. apis were detected. In spring 2021, N. ceranae dominated with a 60% prevalence, and other pathogens were detected in only one sample each. FTA ® were found to be a more economical and faster alternative to commercial DNA isolation kits, particularly for N. ceranae . Moreover, FTA® cards maintained DNA stability under challenging conditions, including high temperatures, UV radiation, and oxidative stress, making them highly suitable for field applications. Collecting field samples on FTA ® cards preserves DNA integrity and mitigates degradation risks associated with improper shipment of whole bees.

Misunderstandings