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Long-Acting Treatment and Advanced HIV Disease — Addressing a Public Health Priority

Medical records could be revealed by AI training-data vulnerability

Crude oil turns cheap porous membrane into a sieve to refine itself without heat

Daily briefing: Sperm whales have different dialects

Disparate privacy risks from medical AI

Abstract Medical artificial intelligence (AI) models hold the promise to improve global access to high-quality diagnostics 1 . However, the training data underlying these models often contain sensitive patient information that may be exposed through privacy attacks 2–7 . Previous research has primarily quantified the success of these attacks in aggregate, across all records in a dataset. Thus, the privacy risk faced by individual patients, who often contribute multiple similar records to a training dataset, is poorly understood. Here we present one of the first patient-level privacy audits of AI models for medical diagnostic applications. We focus on membership inference attacks 2–4 (MIAs), which seek to determine whether the data of a given individual were used to train a model. Across a diverse range of medical datasets, we show that MIAs can achieve near-perfect success rates for individual patients, even when the aggregate performance does not substantially deviate from random guessing. We further find that the number of patients with high attack success increases substantially with model capacity, and that underrepresented groups—stratified by disease status, self-reported race, insurance, sex or imaging protocol—face disproportionately high attack success. Together, our findings show that aggregate privacy metrics can severely underestimate individual privacy risk. Whether the disparate risk profiles we observe extend to attacks beyond MIAs remains an open question, motivating the further development of risk assessment and mitigation techniques that cater to all data-contributing patients.

Characterization of discontinuous ventilation cycles in nymphal Ixodes scapularis

Three-host Ixodid ticks, obligate blood-feeding Acari Parasitiformes, spend the majority of their lives off of hosts. They rely on morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations to address the compromise between water loss and obtaining oxygen sufficient to meet metabolic needs. Here, we characterize the patterns of ventilation of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis , providing the first measurements for Ixodes, and furthering understanding of the physiology of a medically important vector of tick-borne disease. Measuring CO 2 output of I. scapularis nymphs through a flow-through respirometry system, we confirm discontinuous ventilation in nymphal I. scapularis , describe discontinuous ventilation cycles (DVCs), and explore the basis of intraspecific variation rates of CO 2 emission. Both the frequency of the ventilation cycle and the magnitude of CO 2 emission bursts varied based on the developmental environment of the nymphs, all F1 laboratory-reared or collected from the wild. We discuss this initial measurement of DVCs in nymphal I. scapularis in comparison to other species in Ixodidae as well as the factors which have been shown to modulate the frequency of the ventilation cycles within other species.

HydroMoth as a tool for quantitative underwater SPL measurements in benthic ecological research

Quantitative passive acoustic monitoring in benthic settings requires conversion of recorded amplitudes into absolute sound pressure levels (SPL, dB re 1 µPa). We tested whether HydroMoth (HM) recorders can provide sufficiently accurate SPL estimates in the low-frequency band relevant to benthic marine invertebrates and ship noise. Nine units were calibrated by a single-point offset using a 1000 Hz reference tone in an anechoic chamber and subsequently compared to a factory-calibrated SoundTrap ST600 in a controlled playback experiment (100–1000 Hz). In the pool dataset (HM1–HM5), deviations ranged from −2.6 to +1.8 dB with mean absolute errors typically within ~1–3 dB across frequencies; field measurements (HM6–HM9) showed deviations of similar magnitude, with mean deviations ranging from −0.5 to +1.0 dB across frequencies and mean absolute errors between 0.9 and 2.4 dB. Device orientation was fixed and identical across setups, reflecting benthic use cases where orientation is constrained and orientation related sensitivity differences act as a constant factor within deployments. These results show that HydroMoth recorders, under defined benthic conditions and within 100–1000 Hz, can provide SPL estimates with deviations comparable to those observed between commercial reference systems. This enables quantitative use of low-cost recorders in applications where absolute accuracy within a few decibels is sufficient.

Role of methanesulfonic acid in atmospheric particle nucleation and growth

Abstract Dimethyl sulfide (DMS; CH 3 SCH 3 ) from marine phytoplankton is a notable source of atmospheric sulfur 1 . Its oxidation products include sulfuric acid (SA; H 2 SO 4 ) and methanesulfonic acid (MSA; CH 3 SO 3 H), which has a higher yield than SA below 10 °C (ref.  2 ). Although SA is known to drive the formation of new particles 3 , which may subsequently grow and act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), the role of MSA remains unclear 4 . Here, in experiments performed under atmospheric conditions at the CERN CLOUD (Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets) chamber, we show that MSA nucleates together with ammonia (NH 3 ) below −10 °C, at rates comparable with SA-NH 3 . Moreover, MSA and SA nucleate synergistically below −10 °C, forming multi-acid molecular clusters with NH 3 . Even at ultralow NH 3 levels, MSA drives particle growth at or near the kinetic limit below 9 °C and above 40% relative humidity (RH). Because MSA and SA generally coexist at similar concentrations in cool marine regions, our findings indicate that nucleation rates may be accelerated up to tenfold and growth rates up to twofold compared with SA-NH3 alone. Our global model simulations indicate that MSA can enhance CCN concentrations, especially in polar regions. We propose that MSA might be an important driver of biogenic particles in cool, pristine marine regions of both the present-day and pre-industrial atmospheres and yet is unaccounted for in global climate models 5 .

Survival and factors associated with intensive care unit mortality among adults with impaired consciousness in Benin, a low-resource setting: A retrospective cohort study

Introduction Impaired consciousness is a common and potentially life-threatening condition that frequently requires admission to intensive care units (ICUs). In sub-Saharan Africa, data on outcomes among critically ill patients with impaired consciousness remain limited, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to estimate survival and identify factors associated with ICU mortality among adults with impaired consciousness admitted to the ICU of the national referral hospital in Benin. Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study used secondary data from the ICU database covering January 2015 to June 2017. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and factors associated with ICU mortality were identified using Cox proportional hazards models. Results Among 416 patients, 279 died, yielding an ICU mortality of 67.1%. The median time to death in the ICU was 5 days. Survival probabilities declined from 77.6% on day 1 to 21.9% on day 15 and 13.7% on day 30. In multivariable analysis, older age and lower Glasgow Coma Scale score showed time-varying associations with ICU mortality. Lower systolic blood pressure, higher body temperature, absence of traumatic brain injury, and absence of oxygen therapy were independently associated with higher ICU mortality. Conclusion ICU mortality among adults with impaired consciousness admitted to this ICU was very high. This observation is consistent with constraints in essential critical care resources. Simple clinical parameters available at admission may support early risk stratification. Strengthening essential critical care components, particularly basic physiological monitoring and reliable oxygen supply, warrants consideration in sub-Saharan African ICUs.

Prevalence of heart failure and coronary artery disease in older adults experiencing homelessness: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol with a consultative exercise

Background Heart failure (HF) is a major global public health challenge and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly among older adults. The rising prevalence of HF is driven by aging populations and the increasing burden of chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. In Canada alone, over 750,000 individuals live with HF, with over 100,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Despite advancements in pharmacological and device-based treatments, HF remains a primary cause of hospital admissions, with readmission rates exceeding 20% within 30 days. The associated healthcare costs are projected to reach $2.8 billion annually by 2030. Objective Older adults experiencing homelessness represent a particularly vulnerable population at risk for HF. Homelessness is associated with increased exposure to cardiovascular risk factors, including inadequate access to preventive healthcare, high rates of comorbid conditions, and environmental stressors. Evidence suggests that individuals experiencing homelessness have a significantly higher incidence and earlier onset of HF compared to the general population, yet this intersection remains underexplored in the literature. This paper outlines the protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis that aims to address this gap by synthesizing the prevalence, incidence, and mortality of HF among older adults who have experienced homelessness. Methods This systematic review will follow the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines and has been registered on the Open Science Framework. We will include studies examining the prevalence, incidence, or mortality of HF among older adults (aged 50 and above) with a history of homelessness. The decision to lower the age threshold to 50 reflects the accelerated aging process observed in this population, who often experience age-related conditions at a younger chronological age. Eligible study designs include cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies. Quantitative data from peer-reviewed publications and grey literature will be included, with no language or date restrictions. A comprehensive search strategy will be applied across major electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science. We will also perform grey literature searches through Google Scholar and governmental websites. Backward citation tracking will be conducted to identify additional relevant studies. Study selection will involve independent screening by three reviewers, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Data extraction will include study characteristics, participant demographics, and HF-related outcomes. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Prevalence Studies and the ROBINS-E tool for non-randomized studies. Results The review will estimate pooled prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates of HF in older adults experiencing homelessness. Where possible, we will conduct subgroup analyses based on age, sex, and comorbidities. Meta-regression and sensitivity analyses will be performed to assess the robustness of the findings. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide the first comprehensive synthesis of HF epidemiology in older adults experiencing homelessness. By identifying disparities in cardiovascular health outcomes, this study aims to inform public health policies, healthcare delivery, and future research to improve cardiovascular care for this marginalized population.

The mutational landscape of STING-induced immunity

Editorial Note: Long-term consequences of benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction: A survey

Refined obesity, smoking exposure, and lipid metrics in mortality risk assessment: a nationwide cohort analysis

Background Obesity, smoking, and lipid imbalances are well-established predictors of all-cause mortality, but conventional definitions lead to misinterpretations commonly in observational studies. This study aims to evaluate three key refinements of obesity, smoking exposure, and lipid profiles in the context of all-cause mortality using two large-scale Korean cohorts. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed 659,494 participants from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC), with external validation in 10,477 participants from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), both linked to mortality records. Obesity was classified by BMI and abdominal obesity criteria, smoking exposure was assessed using the pack-year to age ratio, and lipid abnormalities were measured using composite lipid ratios (total cholesterol/HDL≥5.0, triglyceride/HDL > 6.0, LDL/HDL≥5.0). Cox proportional hazards models were used for primary analyses, with time-dependent Cox models as sensitivity analyses. Results In primary analyses using general Cox models, underweight individuals showed significantly elevated mortality risk across all age groups, with the combination of underweight and abdominal obesity showing a particularly high risk in those younger than 60 years (adjusted hazard ratio[AHR]=2.42, 95% confidence interval[CI]: 2.16–2.71 for underweight without abdominal obesity; AHR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.19–9.67 for underweight with abdominal obesity). In those aged 60 years or older, being underweight without abdominal obesity was the strongest predictor (AHR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.67–1.91). A pack-year to age ratio ≥1 was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality (AHR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.51–1.81). Individuals with one or more high-risk lipid profiles had an increased risk of death (AHR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07). Sensitivity analyses using time-dependent Cox models showed directionally consistent patterns with the primary analyses, and the findings were validated in an independent cohort (KNHANES). Conclusion Refining obesity, smoking exposure, and lipid profile definitions led to more interpretable and clinically consistent mortality risk estimates, avoiding paradoxical findings common in observational studies. Future research would explore whether these refined metrics improve predictive accuracy compared to conventional definitions and validate their applicability in diverse populations.

Multi-infusion setups in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) a mass transport evaluation and graphical user interface development

Autoantigen-loaded Polymeric Microparticles associate with B cells and promote tolerogenic antigen presentation in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Aridity-induced energy reallocation from green to brown food webs predicts grassland carbon storage

Increasing aridity is predicted to alter the structure and functioning of soil food webs, yet its impacts on grassland food-web energetics and the resulting consequences for soil carbon sequestration remain poorly understood. Here, we quantified energy fluxes in soil food webs along a natural aridity gradient using data from 240 observations across 30 grassland ecosystems in the eastern Eurasian Steppe, spanning temperate (Loess and Inner Mongolian Plateaus) and alpine (Tibetan Plateau) regions. We found that increasing aridity decreases total energy flux through whole food webs across all study regions, largely driven by species losses and weakened trophic interactions. Energy flux to herbivory-based “green” channels declined more sharply than microbivory-based “brown” channels with increasing aridity, resulting in greater dominance of brown energy channels under more arid conditions across temperate grasslands. This broad-scale “browning” of soil food webs aligns with declining soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in temperate grasslands, suggesting that carbon loss through decomposition outpaces plant-derived carbon inputs under increasing aridity. In contrast, alpine grasslands showed increased SOC when the energy flux ratio of herbivory to microbivory was below the threshold of ~1, likely because lower temperatures constrain microbe-based decomposition and energy transfer to microbivory channels under more arid conditions. Understanding the context-dependent metabolic processes that underlie energy reallocation across soil food webs can augment modeling efforts to predict change to Earth’s carbon cycle.

Comparing behavioral cues of self- versus other-assessed authenticity using automated video interviews

Explainable generative 3D design driven by social media semantics

SLC25A3 exports mitochondrial copper to metalate cytochrome <i>c</i> oxidase and prevent cuproptosis

Copper (Cu) is an essential cofactor for cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), a mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme that is metalated in the intermembrane space (IMS) primarily using Cu derived from the mitochondrial matrix pool. While Cu import into the matrix depends on the inner membrane carrier SLC25A3, the route by which matrix Cu is exported to the IMS for insertion into CcO has remained a major, unresolved step in intramitochondrial Cu trafficking. Here, we leveraged our recent discovery that the Cu ionophore elesclomol (ES) releases Cu directly into the mitochondrial matrix to show that SLC25A3 is required for exporting Cu to the IMS for CcO metalation. Loss of SLC25A3 decreases mitochondrial Cu content and CcO activity as expected. Strikingly, bypassing the loss of SLC25A3 with ES-mediated Cu delivery to the matrix fails to restore CcO function; rather, it drives toxic Cu retention and triggers cuproptosis, revealing that SLC25A3-facilitated Cu export is the limiting determinant of CcO metalation. Heterologous expression in Lactococcus lactis confirms that SLC25A3 can mediate Cu export. These results suggest that SLC25A3 is the long-sought mitochondrial Cu exporter with a dual role in enabling CcO metalation and gating susceptibility to cuproptosis.

Self-supervised cross frame-rate event-frame depth learning without ground truth