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Racial and ethnic differences in epigenetic aging: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002
Background Accelerated biological aging due to differences in socially patterned exposures has been proposed as a mechanism underlying racial and ethnic disparities in morbidity and mortality. Research exploring this hypothesis has been limited by a lack of consensus regarding the measurement of biological aging. Objective The goal of this study is to examine self-reported race and ethnicity as a predictor of 13 measures of epigenetic aging. Methods Data are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2002), a nationally representative study of US residents aged two months and older. The analytic sample includes 2,402 adults aged 50–84 with epigenetic data. The exposure is self-reported race and ethnicity, and the outcomes are 13 measures of epigenetic aging trained on different aging phenotypes. Results In linear regression models controlling for age, age-squared, gender, and nativity, White respondents had higher epigenetic aging than Black respondents (the reference group) for six out of seven measures trained on chronological age (Hannum: b = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.43, 2.54; Horvath: b = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.09, 1.40; Weidner: b = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.30, 2.01; Vidal-Bralo: b = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.76, 2.84; SkinBlood: b = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.28, 1.43; Zhang: b = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.40, 0.76) and for one measure trained on telomere length (b = −0.17, 95% CI = −0.20, −0.14). In contrast, White respondents had lower epigenetic aging than Black respondents for three out of four measures trained on physiological age (GrimAge: b = −1.33, 95% CI = −2.01, −0.64; DunedinPoAm: b = −0.03, 95% CI = −0.04, −0.01; GrimAge2: b = −1.97, 95% CI = −2.74, −1.20) and for one measure trained on stem cell divisions (b = −0.01, 95% CI = −0.01, −0.01). Fewer differences in epigenetic aging were observed when comparing Mexican American, other Hispanic, and another race or ethnicity respondents to Black respondents. Conclusions White respondents had higher epigenetic aging than Black respondents for measures trained on chronological age, whereas the opposite was true for measures trained on physiological age. More work is needed to validate measures of epigenetic aging in non-White populations and to determine whether these measures are associated with health-related outcomes similarly across racial and ethnic groups.
Electrothermal co-optimization of 2.5D power distribution network with TTSV cooling
Oddball Evoked Deviant Responses Reflect Complex Context-Dependent Expectations in Mouse V1
Evoked responses in the mouse primary visual cortex can be modulated by the temporal context in which visual inputs are presented. Oddball stimuli embedded in a sequence of regularly repeated visual elements have been shown to drive relatively large deviant responses, a finding that is generally consistent with the theory that cortical circuits implement a form of predictive coding. These results can be confounded by short-term adaptation effects, however, that make interpretation difficult. Here we use various forms of the oddball paradigm to disentangle temporal and ordinal components of the deviant response, showing that it is a complex phenomenon affected by temporal structure, ordinal expectation, and event frequency. Specifically, we use visually evoked potentials to show that deviant responses occur over a large range of time in male and female mice, cannot be explained by a simple adaptation model, scale with predictability, and are modulated by violations of both first- and second-order sequential expectations. We also show that visual sequences can lead to long-term plasticity in some circumstances.
Intrareticular Energy Transfer in Dual-Photosensitized Metal–Organic Frameworks to Enhance Photoelectrochemical Performance
Arginine-<i>N,N</i>′-bisprenyltransferases: Switchable Catalysis in Consecutive Guanidine-<i>N</i>-prenylation
Unraveling SREBF1’s role in elevating colorectal cancer prognosis through proliferation and migration inhibition
Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein 1 (SREBF1), a central regulator of lipid metabolism, has unclear pan-cancer roles and clinical implications. This study integrated various databases and functional experiments to systematically investigate the heterogeneous characteristics of SREBF1 across cancers. Pan-cancer analysis revealed significant upregulation of SREBF1 in multiple cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Survival analysis demonstrated that SREBF1 overexpression serves as an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients. Focusing on CRC, functional studies revealed that SREBF1 drives tumor progression by enhancing cancer cell proliferation and migration, while its knockdown induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCT116 cells. Mechanistically, SREBF1 is implicated in lipid metabolic reprogramming and interacts with the tumor immune microenvironment, also with genetic alterations. This study highlights the regulatory role of SREBF1 in pan-cancer contexts and provides novel insights into its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target, particularly in colorectal cancer.
Deep reinforcement learning-based controller for DC-link voltage regulation and voltage sag compensation in a solar PV-integrated UPQC system
Neuropathic Pain-Like Responses in a Chronic CNS Injury Model Are Mediated by Corticospinal-Targeted Spinal Interneurons
Chronic neuropathic pain is a persistent and debilitating outcome of traumatic central nervous system injury, affecting up to 80% of individuals. Postinjury pain is refractory to treatments due to the limited understanding of the brain–spinal cord circuits that underlie pain signal processing. The corticospinal tract (CST) plays critical roles in sensory modulation during skilled movements and tactile sensation; however, a direct role for the CST in injury-associated neuropathic pain is unclear. Here we show that complete, selective CST transection at the medullary pyramids leads to hyperexcitability within lumbar deep dorsal horn and hindlimb allodynia-like behavior in chronically injured adult male and female mice. Chemogenetic regulation of CST-targeted lumbar spinal interneurons demonstrates that dysregulation of activity in this circuit underlies the development of tactile allodynia in chronic injury. Our findings shed light on an unrecognized circuit mechanism implicated in CNS injury-induced neuropathic pain and provide a novel target for therapeutic intervention.
Correction to “Trilocked Photodynamic Senolytic Inducer Potentiating Immunogenic Senescent Cell Removal for Liver Fibrosis Resolution”
Validating and prioritizing prenatal breastfeeding education recommendations: A nominal group technique study with postnatal mothers and healthcare professionals
Introduction Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, with only 60% of mothers initiating breastfeeding after giving birth, a figure that drops to 43% three months later, highlighting challenges in promoting the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding due to inadequate antenatal breastfeeding education. Our previous qualitative study revealed a disconnect between idealized prenatal breastfeeding educational approaches and the realities of maternal breastfeeding experiences, prompting a call for practical, interactive education that addresses emotional resilience, societal dynamics, and partner involvement. This study refines and prioritizes these recommendations using the Nominal Group Technique, providing insights for integrating practical content, interactive strategies, and standardized guidance into frameworks aligned with the WHO’s 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Methods This study utilized the Nominal Group Technique to prioritize and evaluate recommendations for improving prenatal breastfeeding education in Ireland, gathering insights from separate sessions with postnatal mothers (n = 6) and healthcare professionals (n = 4). Data analysis was performed using Ritchie’s framework for qualitative content analysis and conducted with NVivo (Version 14; QSR, 2024). The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) to ensure transparency and rigor in its reporting. Results This study identified key recommendations for improving prenatal breastfeeding education through a consensus-building process involving postpartum mothers and healthcare professionals. Mothers emphasized the importance of a balanced approach, including benefits, challenges, and mental support, advocating for personalized learning, interactive group sessions, and standardized guidance. They also highlighted the need for partner involvement and strategies to address societal breastfeeding barriers. Healthcare professionals evaluated the feasibility of integrating these recommendations into Ireland’s existing prenatal breastfeeding education framework and their alignment with the WHO’s 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. They endorsed the inclusion of balanced educational content and suggested flexible methods, such as recorded sessions, to encourage partner participation and public breastfeeding support. Although there were some differences in implementation strategies, both groups recognized the importance of these recommendations, offering valuable insights for improving prenatal breastfeeding education frameworks. Conclusion This study highlights the critical need to advance prenatal breastfeeding education in a manner that more effectively supports postnatal mothers while maintaining coherence with existing healthcare frameworks. Findings illustrate a shared commitment among postnatal mothers and healthcare professionals to adopt a more balanced educational model that integrates emotional preparedness, personalized learning pathways, and consistent, standardized messaging. By advocating for the inclusion of partner engagement and addressing broader societal challenges, such as breastfeeding in public, the study promotes a comprehensive and contextually responsive approach to improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Grounded in the WHO’s 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, the study provides actionable, evidence-based recommendations for enhancing the delivery of prenatal breastfeeding education within the Irish health system.
Automated multi-model framework for malaria detection using deep learning and feature fusion
Abstract Malaria remains a critical global health challenge, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. While traditional methods for diagnosis are effective, they face some limitations related to accuracy, time consumption, and manual effort. This study proposes an advanced, automated diagnostic framework for malaria detection using a multi-model architecture integrating deep learning and machine learning techniques. The framework employs a transfer learning approach that incorporates ResNet 50, VGG16, and DenseNet-201 for feature extraction. This is followed by feature fusion and dimensionality reduction via principal component analysis. A hybrid scheme that combines support vector machine and long short-term memory networks is used for classification. A majority voting mechanism aggregates outputs from all models to enhance prediction robustness. The approach was validated on a publicly available dataset comprising 27,558 microscopic thin blood smear images. The results demonstrated superior performance, achieving an accuracy of 96.47%, sensitivity of 96.03%, specificity of 96.90%, precision of 96.88%, and F1-score of 96.45% using the majority voting ensemble. Comparative analysis highlights the framework’s advancements over existing methods in diagnostic reliability and computational efficiency. This work underscores the potential of AI-driven solutions in advancing malaria diagnostics and lays the foundation for applications in other blood-borne diseases.
Is It Me or the Train Moving? Humans Resolve Sensory Conflicts with a Nonlinear Feedback Mechanism in Balance Control
Humans use multiple sensory systems to estimate body orientation in space. Sensory contributions change depending on context. A predominant concept for the underlying multisensory integration (MSI) is the linear summation of weighted inputs from individual sensory systems. Changes of sensory contributions are typically attributed to some mechanism explicitly adjusting weighting factors. We provide evidence for a conceptually different mechanism that performs a multisensory correction if the reference of a sensory input moves in space without the need to explicitly change sensory weights. The correction is based on a reconstruction of the sensory reference frame motion (RFM) and automatically corrects erroneous inputs, e.g., when looking at a moving train. The proposed RFM estimator contains a nonlinear dead zone that blocks corrections at slow velocities. We first demonstrate that this mechanism accounts for the apparent changes in sensory contributions. Second, using a balance control model, we show predictions of specific distortions in body sway responses to perturbations caused by this nonlinearity. Experiments measuring sway responses of 24 subjects (13 female, 11 male) to visual scene movements confirmed these predictions. The findings indicate that the central nervous system resolves sensory conflicts by an internal reconstruction of the cause of the conflict. Thus, the mechanism links the concept of causal inference to shifts in sensory contributions, providing a cohesive picture of the MSI for the estimation of body orientation in space.
Retraction: Tree bark scrape fungus: A potential source of laccase for application in bioremediation of non-textile dyes
A non-anatomical graph structure for boundary detection in continuous sign language
Colossal Room-Temperature Magnetoelectric Coupling in Anion-Deficient Layered Perovskite Films with Ordered Cation Distribution
The impact of early special educational needs provision on later hospital admissions, school absence and education attainment: A target trial emulation study of children with isolated cleft lip and/or palate
Background Special educational needs (SEN) provision is designed to help pupils with additional educational, behavioural or health needs. Our aim was to assess the impact of early SEN provision on health and educational outcomes for a well-defined population, pupils with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CLP) without additional anomalies. Methods We used the ECHILD database, which links educational and health records across England. Our target population consisted of children with a recorded diagnosis of CLP without other major congenital anomalies in hospital admission records in ECHILD. We applied a trial emulation framework to define eligibility into our study and investigate the causal impact of SEN provision in the first year of compulsory school (Year 1 – age five/six years) on various health and educational outcomes accumulated by the end of primary education (Year 6 – age ten/eleven years). SEN provision was categorised as: None, SEN Support, and Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP). The outcomes were: unplanned hospital utilisation, medical and unauthorised school absences, persistent absences, and standardised key stage 1 (KS1) and key stage 2 (KS2) mathematics attainment scores. To account for confounding factors affecting the observed associations and estimate the causal effects of early SEN provision on these outcomes, we used three estimating approaches: propensity score-based methods (inverse probability weighting, [IPW]), g-computation, and augmented IPW (AIPW). Causal effects were measured in terms of average treatment effects (ATE) and average treatment effects on the treated (ATT), expressed as rate ratios (RaR) for hospitalisations and absences, risk ratios (RiR) for persistent absences, and mean differences (Δ) for academic scores. Missing values of the confounders were handled via the missing covariate indicator method. We triangulated these results with those obtained by univariable and multivariable regression. Results Our study included 6,601 children with CLP and without additional major congenital anomalies. Evaluations involving EHCP were limited by the low numbers of comparative children. Thus, only comparisons of SEN Support (N = 2,009, 31.6%) versus None (N = 4,350, 68.4%) are reported. Observed rates of unplanned hospitalisation (RaRcrude = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12, 1.52), persistent absence (RiRcrude = 2.21 (1.87, 2.62)) and medical absence (RaRcrude = 1.34 (1.28, 1.40)) were higher amongst children with recorded SEN support, whilst KS1 and KS2 maths scores were lower (Δ crude = −0.85 (−0.90, −0.79) and Δ crude = −0.82 (−0.89, −0.75), respectively). Contrary to the observed relative rates and risks, we found small or no evidence of a causal effect of SEN Support on unplanned hospitalisation (ATE: RaRIPW = 1.16 (1.00, 1.34), RaRg = 0.99 (0.87, 1.12); RaRIAPW = 1.02 (0.87, 1.17) or persistent absences (ATE: RiRIPW = 1.13 (0.92, 1.34); RiRg = 1.08 (0.86, 1.31); RiRAIPW = 1.20 (0.96, 1.45)). We found that SEN support increased rates of medical absences (ATE: RaRIPW = 1.10 (1.04, 1.18); RaRg = 1.09 (1.03, 1.15); RaRAIPW = 1.04 (0.95, 1.13)), decreased those of unauthorised absences (RaRIPW = 0.86 (0.76, 0.97); RaRg = 0.98 (0.86, 1.09); RaRAIPW = 0.80 (0.66, 0.95)) and decreased – but not as extensively as the crude differences suggested- KS1 (ATE: Δ IPW = −0.18 (−0.25, −0.10); Δ g = −0.21 (−0.26, −0.16); Δ AIPW = −0.25 (−0.32, −0.17)) and KS2 maths scores (ATE: Δ IPW = −0.24 (−0.33, −0.15); Δ g = −0.27 (−0.33, −0.21); Δ AIPW = −0.24 (−0.32, −0.17)). Results for the ATT for each of these outcomes were similar to those for the ATE, indicating no observable evidence of heterogeneity of effects by treatment received. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these results. Discussion In the population of children with CLP without further major congenital anomalies, assignment to receive or not receiving early SEN Support appears to have no harmful impact on the rates of unplanned hospitalisation or persistent absences, but to increase rates of medical absences, whilst reducing rates of unauthorised absences. For the sub-populations of children with key stage results, such hypothetical intervention does not appear to completely reduce the observed disadvantage in KS1 and KS2 mathematics scores. These results relate to the impact of the intention to intervene not the actual delivery of actual SEN Support provision as this information is not available in school administrative records. Furthermore, we cannot discount the impact of unaccounted confounding factors, such as parental education and early home learning environments, particularly for the education attainment results.
Optimization of ski jumping in-run posture using computational fluid dynamics
Abstract While aerodynamic optimization during ski jumping flight phases is well-studied, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding posture-fluid interactions in the in-run phase – particularly the dominance of drag dynamics over lift enhancement for speed maximization. This study establishes an athlete-specific 3D model to investigate posture-dependent resistance through high-resolution CFD simulations. Systematically analyzing four key posture parameters – torso attack angle (α), thigh attack angle (β), ankle joint angle (γ), and hip abduction angle (ε) – reveals α as the governing factor influencing aerodynamic resistance during acceleration. The optimized configuration ( $$\:\alpha\:\in\:\left[0^\circ\:,2^\circ\:\right]$$ , $$\:\beta\:\in\:\left[20^\circ\:,22^\circ\:\right]$$ , $$\:\gamma\:\in\:\left[43^\circ\:,45^\circ\:\right]$$ , and $$\:\epsilon\:\in\:\left[-2^\circ\:,0^\circ\:\right]$$ ) reduces cumulative air resistance by approximately 5% compared to conventional postures, demonstrating that marginal angular adjustments in torso positioning significantly outweigh other joints’ contributions to drag reduction. Contrary to flight-phase strategies emphasizing lift generation, the results establish drag minimization as the primary in-run optimization objective. These findings provide evidence-based posture guidelines for athletes while advancing a paradigm shift from empirical to physics-driven training methodologies – particularly through computational fluid dynamics with practical sports biomechanics. The work positions CFD as an indispensable tool for quantifying millimeter-scale posture adaptations in winter sports equipment-athlete system optimization.
Design and Application of Cereblon-Recruiting Prodegraders
Systemic immunity-inflammation index and body mass index: A cross-sectional study
Background and aim The Systemic Immunity-inflammation Index (SII) is an emerging metric for assessing an individual’s immunological and inflammatory condition. Studies examining the relationship between SII and body mass index (BMI) are limited. This study aims to clarify the correlation between SII and BMI. Methods The current study investigated the association between SII and BMI using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Information on SII and BMI was obtained from laboratory and demographic data. The analytical approach included techniques such as linear univariate analysis, linear multivariate analysis, and subgroup analysis to explore the intricate relationship between SII and BMI comprehensively. Results A total of 1568 participants who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study; their average age was 53.6 ± 16.7 years, and they were 40.8% female and 59.2% male. Several baseline indicators showed statistically significant differences across SII groups. Curve fitting revealed an inverted L-shape, non-linear relationship between SII and BMI. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that adjusted β values were 1.7 (95% CI: 0.87–2.54, p < 0.001) for T3 and 0.46 (95% CI: −0.36–1.28, p = 0.271) for T2 in comparison to T1. Threshold analysis indicated that SII < 677.842 was associated with a BMI increase β of 0.005 (95% CI: 0.002–0.007, p < 0.001). The stratified analysis demonstrated the positive association between SII and BMI was not influenced by gender, diabetes, or smoking (all p > 0.05). Conclusions In summary, these findings reveal a robust association between SII and BMI within the examined American population.