Retinoid X receptor agonist 9CDHRA mitigates retinal ganglion cell apoptosis and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of glaucoma.

Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, is characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerve damage, often associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors crucial for neuroprotection, as they regulate gene expression to promote neuronal survival via several biochemical networks and reduce neuroinflammation. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of 9-cis-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid (9CDHRA), an endogenous retinoid RXR agonist, in mitigating RGC degeneration in a high-IOP-induced experimental model of glaucoma.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazolo[3,4-]pyridine derivatives as dual CDK2/PIM1 inhibitors with potent anti-cancer activity and selectivity.

The discovery of novel, selective inhibitors targeting CDK2 and PIM1 kinases, which regulate cell survival, proliferation, and treatment resistance, is crucial for advancing cancer therapy. This study reports the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of three novel pyrazolo[3,4-]pyridine derivatives (), confirmed spectral analyses. These compounds were assessed for anti-cancer activity against breast, colon, liver, and cervical cancers using the MTT assay.

Medication experiences in the treatment of opioid use disorders: Insights from Reddit.

Background And Aims: Better understanding the challenges faced by patients on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including methadone and buprenorphine, is critical to increasing their use/retention. Social media platforms such as Reddit offer a space for patients to share their experiences with medications. We aimed to identify and characterize challenges faced by patients taking MOUD through analysis of discussions from the r/Methadone and r/suboxone subreddits.

Harnessing Intelligence from Brain Cells In Vitro.

Harnessing intelligence from brain cells in vitro requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating wetware, hardware, and software. Wetware comprises the in vitro brain cells themselves, where differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells offers ethical scalability; hardware typically involves a life support system and a setup to record the activity from and deliver stimulation to the brain cells; and software is required to control the hardware and process the signals coming from and going to the brain cells. This review provides a broad summary of the foundational technologies underpinning these components, along with outlining the importance of technology integration.

Root morphology, exudate patterns, and mycorrhizal symbiosis are determinants to improve phosphorus acquisition in alfalfa.

Differences in phosphorus (P) utilisation efficiency (PUtE) and/or yield are closely linked to differences in root functional traits under low soil P availability. However, our understanding of how soil P availability mediates the intraspecific variation in root functional traits for breeding high-P efficiency genotypes to increase PUtE and yield remains limited. We investigated that plant growth parameters and pivotal root functional traits associated with P acquisition in 20 alfalfa genotypes with contrasting P efficiencies and supplied with low, medium or high levels of P.

A case report of minimally invasive management of congenital retrocaval ureter.

Retrocaval ureter (RU) is a rare congenital malformation where the ureteric pathway is altered, passing posteriorly around the inferior vena cava (IVC). Occasionally, this leads to the IVC compressing the ureter, resulting in obstruction. In this report, we discuss a male who presented with severe right-sided flank pain and was otherwise well with no significant medical, urological, or birth history.

Threshold uncertainty, early warning signals and the prevention of dangerous climate change.

The goal of the Paris Agreement is to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C. In this agreement-and its antecedents negotiated in Copenhagen and Cancun-the fear of crossing a dangerous climate threshold is supposed to serve as the catalyst for cooperation among countries. However, there are deep uncertainties about the location of the threshold for dangerous climate change, and recent evidence indicates this threshold uncertainty is a major impediment to collective action.

KAN-EEG: towards replacing backbone-MLP for an effective seizure detection system.

The landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) research is witnessing a transformative shift with the emergence of the Kolmogorov-Arnold network (KAN), presenting a novel architectural paradigm aimed to redefine the structural foundations of AI models, which are based on multilayer perceptron (MLP). Through rigorous experimentation and evaluation, we introduce the KAN-electroencephalogram (EEG) model, a tailored design for efficient seizure detection. Our proposed network is tested and successfully generalized on three different datasets, one from the USA, one from Europe, and one from Oceania, recorded with different front-end hardware.

Beyond perfect synchrony: shared interpersonal rhythmic timing enhances self-other merging judgements.

Perfect synchrony is highly prosocial, yet interpersonal rhythms globally exhibit rich variation. In two online experiments, we tested the effect of varying interpersonal rhythms on self-other merging. First, we hypothesized that shared temporal features, acting as attentional frameworks to track and integrate self-other actions, would drive combined representations.

What passes through the extinction filter? Historical and contemporary patterns of vulnerability of the most extinction-prone bird family (Aves: Rallidae).

Patterns of extinction risk can vary across taxa, with species of some groups being particularly vulnerable to extinction. Rails (Aves: Rallidae) represent one of the most extreme yet well-documented cases of mass extinction within a modern vertebrate group. Between 54 and 92% of rail species became extinct following waves of human contact during both the Holocene and the Anthropocene eras, and a third of the extant species are currently threatened or near-threatened.

Identifying species traits that predict vulnerability to climate change.

Accurately predicting the vulnerabilities of species to climate change requires a more detailed understanding of the functional and life-history traits that make some species more susceptible to declines and extinctions in shifting climates. This is because existing trait-based correlates of extinction risk from climate and environmental disturbances vary widely, often being idiosyncratic and context dependent. A powerful solution is to analyse the growing volume of biological data on changes in species ranges and abundances using process-explicit ecological models that run at fine temporal and spatial scales and across large geographical extents.

Infectious disease as a driver of declines and extinctions.

Infectious disease is an important driver of extinctions and population declines. With a few exceptions, such as the fungal disease chytridiomycosis in frogs, disease is probably underestimated as a cause of both local and global extinction because it often co-occurs with other more overt drivers of extinction, and its signs can be easily overlooked. Here, we discuss issues around attributing extinction to infectious disease and overview key underlying factors.

Global threat status, rarity, and species distribution affect prevalence of Atlantic Forest endemic birds in citizen-collected datasets.

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened biomes globally. Data from monitoring programs are necessary to evaluate the conservation status of species, prioritise conservation actions and to evaluate the effectiveness of these actions. Birds are particularly well represented in citizen-collected datasets that are used worldwide in ecological and conservation studies.

: Estimating the number and ongoing rate of extinctions of Australian non-marine invertebrates.

Biodiversity is in rapid decline, but the extent of loss is not well resolved for poorly known groups. We estimate the number of extinctions for Australian non-marine invertebrates since the European colonisation of the continent. Our analyses use a range of approaches, incorporate stated uncertainties and recognise explicit caveats.

Parental smoking is associated with adolescent loneliness: evidence from 71 low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction: The association between parental smoking and adolescent mental health is not well understood. We aimed to examine the association between parental smoking and adolescent loneliness using global data collected from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) between 2009 and 2019.

Methods: A total of 187,552 adolescents aged 12-15 years in 71 low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) from the GSHS with cross-sectional design were included in this study.

A global survey about undiagnosed rare diseases: perspectives, challenges, and solutions.

Background: Undiagnosed rare diseases (URDs) are a complex and multifaceted challenge, especially in low-and medium-income countries. They affect individuals with unique clinical features and lack a clear diagnostic label. Although the Undiagnosed Diseases Network International (UDNI) definition of URDs is not universally accepted, it is widely recognized.

National shipbuilding strategies in Australia, Britain, and Canada.

This article conducts a comparative analysis of naval shipbuilding approaches by Australia, Britain, and Canada with a view to promoting wider understanding of naval shipbuilding in Canada. Through various strategic and tactical factors, it illuminates how Canadians got to where they are in naval shipbuilding, which processes should be kept, and where there are shortfalls. With a focus on large naval ships, defined as 1000 tons or heavier, the article finds that much of Canada's naval shipbuilding strategy makes sense and should be continued.

Case Report: Ictal hypersalivation: a stereoelectroencephalography exploration.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition with various etiologies, and recurrent unprovoked seizures characterize it. Hypersalivation is a recognized symptom of insular-opercular epilepsies. A wide range of symptoms can occur during a seizure, including hypersalivation, autonomic responses, oropharyngeal sensations, visceral sensations, somatosensory disturbances, and emotional manifestations.

Severity of Achilles Tendinopathy on Preoperative MRI and Short-term Functional Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Zadek Osteotomy.

Background: Limited literature is available to guide surgeons on which patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) may be the best candidates for minimally invasive dorsal closing wedge calcaneal Zadek osteotomy (MIS ZO). We hypothesized that the severity of IAT on preoperative magnetic resonance image (MRI) may correlate with post-operative functional outcomes and help guide patient selection for treatment with MIS ZO.

Methods: Patients who underwent MIS ZO for IAT ± Haglund deformity were identified and retrospectively analyzed.

Identification of bioprotectants against Fusarium wilt in L. (lucerne) from a collection of bacterial isolates derived from seeds.

Fusarium wilt caused by f. sp. (Fom) is an important disease affecting lucerne/alfalfa cultivations worldwide.

Further validation of the Chinese short Warwick Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale in the adult population of Macau: an application of classic test theory and item response theory.

Background: This study aims to validate the Chinese version of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) by employing both Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) approaches.

Methods: Data were gathered through a population-based, cross-sectional health survey using an online self-reported questionnaire. The scale underwent Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

Peak alpha frequency is related to the degree of widespread pain, but not pain intensity or duration, among people with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Introduction: Effective prevention and management strategies for chronic pain remain elusive. This has prompted investigations into biomarkers to better understand the mechanisms underlying pain development and persistence. One promising marker is low peak alpha frequency (PAF), an electroencephalography (EEG) measure that has been associated with increased sensitivity during acute experimental pain.

Human oocyte capacitation culture: Essential step toward hormone-free assisted reproductive technology.

Background: In vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) is not a novel concept; however, its wide-scale practice has been limited because of the lower clinical outcomes compared to conventional assisted reproductive technologies.

Methods: This comprehensive review addresses the significant advances made in oocyte in vitro maturation with the biphasic capacitation (CAPA)-IVM strategy applied to small ovarian antral follicles in humans over the last 10 years. CAPA-IVM consists of a prematuration phase wherein immature oocytes are temporarily meiotically arrested to gain competence before undergoing meiotic resumption.