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Progress toward Mitigating Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis

Second-Line Antiretroviral Therapy for Children Living with HIV in Africa

Ph-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia — 25 Years of Progress

Longitudinal Changes in Airway Mucus Plugs and FEV ₁ in COPD

Evaluation of the coupling coordination effect of Hefei Rail transit station area based on supply and demand matching

The coupling of supply and demand in the rail transit station area is an important driving force for ensuring the balanced development between the traffic functions and the place performance of the rail transit station area. This study evaluates the development status of these two aspects in each rail transit station area explores the possibility of combining the TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) model with the concept of the 15-minute city, and focus on the importance of TOD planning and its optimization strategies, this paper takes 44 rail transit station areas within the Second Ring Road of Hefei City as examples. Through multi-source data, a “supply-demand” coupling coordination degree model is constructed to evaluate the matching status between the needs of “people” and the supply of facilities and resources in the rail transit station area, and analyze the influence mechanism of the allocation of public service resources in different communities on the rail transit station area, thus constructing a comprehensive analysis framework and practical guidelines for modern urban planning. For the station areas with poor coupling coordination of supply and demand, references are provided for urban planning from four dimensions: the construction of the planning reference framework, the scientific nature of the early-stage site selection, the dynamic adjustment of the mid-term monitoring, and the refinement of the later-stage governance, which is of great significance for promoting the comprehensive development and sustainable development of the areas surrounding the rail transit stations.

Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Application of stochastic fractal search algorithm in novel harmonic blocking filter design for optimizing harmonic mitigation and hosting capacity in electric distribution systems

Power networks are being transformed by the incorporation of renewable energy sources (RES), such as photovoltaic systems and wind turbines, which also promote sustainability and lower carbon emissions. However, the widespread use of inverter-based RES threatens power quality and grid stability, with harmonic distortion being a key issue. System performance is compromised by harmonic distortion, elevating the risk of resonance and overheating equipment and increasing power losses. In this study, the Stochastic Fractal Search (SFS) algorithm is used to develop Harmonic Blocking Filters (HBF), an optimized passive power filter for reducing harmonic distortion and minimizing the system active power losses (PLOSS) in electric distribution systems. Two multi-objective optimization algorithms: Multi-Objective Artificial Hummingbird (MOAHA) and Multi-Objective Atomic Orbital Search (MOAOS) efficiently determine the ideal HBF design to maximize the system’s Harmonic-Constrained Hosting Capacity (HCHC) and minimize PLOSS to support RES while minimizing voltage and current total demand distortion (THDV and TDDI). Three test systems (TS) are used to validate the HBF’s superiority in mitigating the harmonics, minimizing PLOSS, and maximizing HCHC. In TS1, the SFS-optimized HBF decreases THDV by 78% and TDDI by 90% while maintaining PLOSS almost the same as compared to the previously obtained results in the literature. In TS2, the SFS-optimized HBF decreases THDV by 16.2%, TDDI by 99.96%, and PLOSS by 27.6% compared to the uncompensated case with no filter connected. In TS3, the SFS-optimized HBF decreases THDV by 45.71%, TDDI by 99.96%, and PLOSS by 33.26% compared to the uncompensated case. For the HCHC enhancement application, MOAOS has proven superior to MOAHA and the MOAOS-optimized HBF increases the system’s HCHC by 4.18% and in TS3, this value is increased by 16.4% compared to the literature.

NEJM Outbreaks Update — H5N1 in Indiana

Evaluation of the performance of three pulse oximeters at different probe positions in awake rabbits

In rabbits, pulse oximetry plays a crucial role in monitoring oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate (PR), but it can be challenging due to their small size, variable anatomy, limited measurement sites, and potential motion artifacts during measurements. This prospective randomized study aimed to assess the reliability of three pulse oximeters on the forelimb and tail of fifty awake, healthy European rabbits. Two pulse oximeters, the Masimo Rad-5 (device 1) and the Edan VE-H100B, were tested, with the latter using both a Y-clip (device 2) and the Nellcor OxiMax adhesive finger sensor (device 3). Reliable values of SpO2 and PR were considered ≥ 95% and ≥ 151 bpm, respectively, which are normal values in a healthy rabbit. Success rates of the devices were calculated as the ratio of reliable to unreliable/missing values and compared using χ2 tests. Correlation and agreement between PR and clinically measured heart rate (cHR) were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and Bland-Altman analysis, respectively. Success rates differed significantly among devices (p < 0.001). The SpO2 success rates were 46%, 95.6%, and 94.4% for devices 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The PR success rates were 54.6%, 63%, and 72.8% for devices 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Success rates were higher on the forelimb (>66%) than on the tail (>26%) across devices. Correlation between PR and cHR was stronger on forelimb (r > 0.80) than on tail (r < 0.70). Agreement between PR and cHR was similar among devices, with a mean bias ranging from -6.6 to 6.7 bpm, and limits of agreement from -33.8 to 41.5 bpm. The Edan devices showed superior ability to detect reliable values of SpO2 and PR compared to the Masimo in rabbits. The forelimb appears to be a more reliable site for pulse oximetry in rabbits than the tail.

A fast hyperspectral change detection algorithm for agricultural crops based on spatial reconstruction

Crop change detection plays a pivotal role in ensuring agricultural sustainability and environmental monitoring. Leveraging the high spectral resolution of hyperspectral imagery and bi-temporal analysis, this study presents a Fast Hyperspectral Change Detection algorithm based on Spatial Reconstruction (FHCDSR) designed to identify subtle agricultural changes with improved accuracy and computational efficiency. The proposed method incorporates three key innovations: (1) boundary-constrained preprocessing of 3D hyperspectral data, (2) Laplacian-regularized spatial reconstruction, and (3) a novel tensor-based change detection framework. We conduct a comprehensive evaluation of FHCDSR using two datasets: the Hermiston dataset and the Yancheng dataset. Experimental results demonstrate that FHCDSR achieves superior performance on both datasets, with AUC values of 90.20% (Hermiston) and 95.39% (Yancheng), outperforming six state-of-the-art comparison methods by 3.39–14.78% in detection accuracy. Remarkably, the algorithm maintains high computational efficiency, completing analyses in 9.76 seconds (Hermiston) and 10.90 seconds (Yancheng), representing up to 94.05% reduction in processing time compared to conventional methods. The consistent performance across different agricultural landscapes highlights FHCDSR’s robustness as an unsupervised change detection solution, with significant potential for precision agriculture and wetland ecosystem monitoring applications.

Investigating the accuracy of Apple Watch VO2 max measurements: A validation study

VO2 max is a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness and a key indicator of overall health. It is predictive of cardiovascular events and shows a strong inverse association with all-cause mortality. Increased cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with reductions in coronary artery disease, diabetes and cancer. Apple Watch offers a less resource-intensive and more feasible alternative to the gold standard assessment for VO2 max, indirect calorimetry, but the accuracy of its measurements remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the validity of VO2 max estimates from Apple Watch in comparison to indirect calorimetry. Thirty participants wore an Apple Watch for 5-10 days to generate a VO2 max estimate. Subsequently, they underwent a maximal exercise treadmill test in accordance with the modified Åstrand protocol. The agreement between measurements from Apple Watch and indirect calorimetry was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and mean absolute error (MAE). Overall, Apple Watch underestimated VO2 max, with a mean difference of 6.07 mL/kg/min (95% CI 3.77–8.38). Limits of agreement indicated variability between measurement methods (lower -6.11 mL/kg/min; upper 18.26 mL/kg/min). MAPE was calculated as 13.31% (95% CI 10.01–16.61), and MAE was 6.92 mL/kg/min (95% CI 4.89–8.94). These findings indicate that Apple Watch VO2 max estimates require further refinement prior to clinical implementation. However, further consideration of Apple Watch as an alternative to conventional VO2 max prediction from submaximal exercise is warranted, given its practical utility.

The effect of different materials under the fencing piste on impact shock of the tibia during the fencing lunge on a concrete surface

Fencing has gained global popularity, with athletes often competing on hard surfaces, especially at United States national tournaments in convention centre with concrete floors. These surfaces may contribute to overuse injuries from high-impact movements like the fencing lunge. This study aimed to investigate tibial accelerations, a measure of impact shock, experienced by fencers during lunges on various surface materials placed beneath standard aluminium fencing pistes. The aim was to identify a material that could reduce injury risk by mitigating impact shock. Sixty-nine fencers (35 female) performed five lunges on six different surfaces (A–F: A–E composed of various materials placed between the aluminium piste and the concrete floor; F was only the concrete floor), during the 2024 US Senior National Championships. A triaxial accelerometer mounted on the tibia was used to measure tibial accelerations as a marker of impact shock. The accelerometer was aligned to measure acceleration along the longitudinal axis of the tibia and set to record at 1000 Hz with a sensitivity range of ± 100 g. Data acquisition was carried out via a logging system (Biometrics DL1001, Gwent, UK), which was attached to the participant using a tightly fitted backpack. The peak positive axial tibial acceleration was extracted for each lunge and the average was calculated from three lunges after discarding the highest and lowest values from each surface. Statistical analysis revealed that Surface E (a non-absorbent vinyl loop material; 12.7 ± 7.6g), significantly reduced tibial accelerations compared to the standard concrete setup (Surface F; 13.6 ± 8.4g). These findings suggest that modifying competition surfaces by incorporating cushioning materials may help reduce the impact shock of the fencing lunge, potentially lowering the risk of overuse injuries, such as tendonitis and tenosynovitis, commonly reported by fencers. Future research should investigate optimal material properties, including thickness and softness, for maximizing injury prevention while maintaining performance standards in competitive fencing environments.

Аmygdala DEGs are associated with the immune system function: A comparative transcriptomic study of high- and low-excitability rat strains

The aim of this study was to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the amygdala of Rattus norvegicus with contrasting levels of nervous system excitability (high- and low-excitability). Each group consisted of 5 intact rats (n = 5). RNA sequencing was performed at on a HiSeq1500 (Illumina) generating at least 20 million paired-end reads per sample. A total of 257 DEGs were identified: 152 genes were upregulated in high-excitability rats and 105 genes up-regulated in low-excitability rats. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that the differences in gene expression were associated with immune processes such as antigen presentation and regulation of inflammation. It is also discussed, in conjunction with previous findings, that high-excitability rats may exhibit a predisposition to increased neuroinflammatory activity even without stressor exposure, potentially contributing to varying behavioral responses to stress.

Blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio as predictor of mortality among acute pancreatitis patients in ICU: A retrospective cohort study

Objective Blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio (BAR) has served as a predictive marker for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and has been studied in patients with sepsis, post-cardiac surgery, severe COVID-19, and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). This objective indicator has demonstrated capability in prognostic prediction.However, research on the prognostic value of BAR in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients are scarce,the goal was to explore the relationship between BAR and total mortality in AP admitted to ICU. Methods A Retrospective analysis was performed utilizing the Medical Information Market for Intensive Care (MIMIC IV) database. Patients with AP admitted to ICU were included and grouped based on BAR. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were utilized to explore the relationship between BAR and total mortality. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to assess the predictive value of BAR. Cumulative hazard risk accumulation curve verified BAR’s predictive capability for short- and long-term mortality. Heterogeneity between different subgroups was excluded by subgroup analysis. Results Total 514 AP patients were divided into high-BAR (BAR ≥ 7.62) and low-BAR group (BAR < 7.62). The duration of ICU stay was significantly extended in the high BAR group. In the Cox proportional hazard model, whether adjusting for confounding factors or not, the high BAR was an independent risk factor for total mortality. AUC for BAR was 0.78 (95% C1: 0.72–0.84) at 28 days and 0.70 (95%: Cl: 0.64–0.75) at 360 days. Conclusion BAR is an objective and independent predictor of both short- and long-term total mortality in AP patients. A prompt, efficient, and uncomplicated assessment of the severity and prognosis, which facilitates ICU doctors to develop treatment plans for poor patient outcomes.

Strategically creating maximally heterogeneous lab groups did not improve group performance in an introductory biology lab class

Collaboration is a critical skill for professionals in any field to master, and group work is a prominent component of many lab courses. However, there is conflicting guidance about the best method for forming groups to maximize performance and student experiences. Based on the benefits of cognitive diversity, we hypothesized that creating maximally heterogeneous groups would improve performance on lab activities. We conducted a quasi-experiment in the lab sections of a large-enrollment 2-semester introductory biology for majors course sequence (n = 986). In these large enrollment courses, students simultaneously enroll in smaller-enrollment lab sections. Each semester, we assigned groups randomly in half of the lab sections and in the other half of lab sections we strategically assigned groups to be maximally heterogeneous in terms of race, gender, and prior preparation. We examined the impact of group assignment on students’ academic performance (their grade on their collaborative lab report and their overall lab grade), incidence of group conflict, and student attitudes towards group work (i.e., teamwork satisfaction and perceptions of collaborative learning). We found that group formation strategy had no impact on students’ grades on either their collaborative lab report or their overall lab grade. Group conflicts were reported so infrequently that we were not able to detect any differences between the two groups. Our measures of groupwork satisfaction and perceptions of collaborative learning failed to demonstrate measurement invariance between the two types of group formation, which prevented us from assessing whether student attitudes differ, but suggest that there is some experiential difference that we were unable to capture.

Microglia remodeling in the visual thalamus of the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system and mediate a broad array of adaptations during disease, injury, and development. Typically, microglia morphology is understood to provide a window into their function and microglia have the capacity to adopt a broad spectrum of functional phenotypes characterized by numerous morphologies and gene expression profiles. Glaucoma, which leads to blindness from retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration, is commonly associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and triggers microglia responses within the retinal layers, at the optic nerve head, and in retinal projection targets in the brain. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship of microglia morphology to intraocular pressure and the loss of RGC output synapses in the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), a RGC projection target in the thalamus that conveys information to the primary visual cortex. We accomplished this by analyzing microglia morphologies in dLGN sections from DBA/2J mice, which develop a form of inherited glaucoma, at 4, 9, and 12 months of age, representing distinct time points in disease progression. Microglia morphology was analyzed using skeletonized Iba1 fluorescence images and fractal analyses of individually reconstructed microglia cells. We found that microglia in older DBA/2J mice adopted simplified morphologies, characterized by fewer endpoints and less total process length per microglia cell. There was an age-dependent shift in microglia morphology in tissue from control mice (DBA/2JGpnmb+) that was accelerated in DBA/2J mice. Measurements of microglia morphology correlated with cumulative IOP, immunofluorescence labeling for complement component C1q, and vGluT2-labeled RGC axon terminal density. Additionally, fractal analysis revealed a clear distinction between control and glaucomatous dLGN, with microglia from ocular hypertensive DBA/2J dLGN tissue showing an elongated rod-like morphology. RNA-sequencing of dLGN showed an upregulation of immune system-related genes. These results suggest that microglia in the dLGN alter their physiology to respond to RGC degeneration in glaucoma, potentially contributing to CNS adaptations to neurodegenerative vision loss.

Success and limitations in adaptation of Fast-TrACC tissue culture-independent transformation in coffee, cotton, and tree tobacco

Plant transformation is a critical process for generating transgenic and genome-edited plants for use in research and agriculture. For most plant species, this process has traditionally involved genomic insertion of DNA in tissue culture and regeneration of transformed plants through hormonal induction. Recently, methods for plant transformation in a tissue culture-independent manner, through the expression of growth regulators, have been published. We attempted to adapt this promising approach to three woody species, coffee (Coffea arabica), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), and tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), using a combination of Agrobacterium strains, plasmid systems, and different promoters driving the expression of ZmWUS2 and AtIPT, which were originally adapted for this purpose in Nicotiana benthamiana. We found that tree tobacco was amenable to tissue culture-independent transformation but had difficulty developing transgenic seeds. Coffee was not receptive to this transformation method, and cotton was amenable to callus formation but did not exhibit gene insertions in the newly-formed shoots. These limitations are partially technical, such as maize WUS not affecting coffee similarly to other plants, but are in part fundamental setbacks in the use of growth regulators to drive tissue culture-independent transformation. We suggest how these drawbacks can be overcome in the future through the use of inducible or tissue-specific promoters and other means.

Financial market regulation and corporate social responsibility: Evidence from China’s new asset management regulation

This study explores how the financial market environment reshapes corporate social responsibility using a quasi-natural experiment provided by China’s New Asset Management Regulation. Our research focuses on the adaptive strategies of non-financial firms in response to stringent financial market regulation, and we use a generalized DID model to identify the causal link between the NAMR and CSR. The findings reveal a decline in non-financial firms’ CSR performance following the more stringent financial market regulation. Mechanism testing suggests that the negative impact is primarily due to the reduction in the return on financial asset investments. Furthermore, we assess the heterogeneity influences of financial regulation on the three dimensions of CSR (environment, society, and governance). Our analyses underline a significant decrease in the environment and governance CSR among non-financial firms, while no significant impact is observed on the social dimension of CSR. This study contributes to a greater understanding of the relationship between financial market regulation and CSR. It offers valuable insights for the development of effective policy guidance to ensure the optimal functioning of the real economy.

Airborne microplastics enter plant leaves and end up in our food

Self-reported health, neuropsychological tests and biomarkers in fully recovered COVID-19 patients vs patients with post-COVID cognitive symptoms: A pilot study

Substantial numbers of individuals who contract COVID-19 experience long-lasting cognitive symptoms such as brain fog. Yet research to date has not compared these patients with healthy controls with a history of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection, making it difficult to understand why certain COVID patients develop post-COVID cognitive symptoms while others do not. The objective of this pilot study was to compare two groups of laboratory-confirmed post-COVID patients, with and without cognitive symptoms, on measures of cognitive and psychological functioning, self-reported perceptions of functional status and quality of life, and biomarkers of stress, inflammation, and neuroplasticity. Using a case-control design, 17 participants were recruited from a healthcare system in western Michigan, USA in 2022–2024. All participants were aged 25–65 and had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test confirming previous COVID-19 infection. Ten participants reported cognitive symptoms (long COVID group) while seven were fully recovered with no residual symptoms (controls). All participants underwent an interview on their self-rated health and quality of life, a battery of neurocognitive tests, and blood draw for biomarker analysis. No group differences were detected for neuropsychological test measures except for letter fluency where the long COVID group scored significantly lower (p < .05). The long COVID group had significantly lower ratings than controls on quality of life, physical health, emotional functioning, and psychological well-being. Serum levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), a biomarker of brain plasticity, were significantly lower in the long COVID group, which was significantly more likely than controls to have serum levels of inflammatory marker (interleukin (IL)-10) values greater than or equal to the median (p = 0.015). Biomarker analyses suggest possible prolonged inflammatory processes in long COVID patients compared to fully recovered patients. Results of decreased neuroplastic functioning give credence to patients’ reports of post-COVID changes in brain function.