Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Perturbs the Brain-Wide Excitation-Inhibition Balance: Associations with Microcircuit Organization, Clinical Parameters, and Cognitive Dysfunction.

Excitation-inhibition (E/I) imbalance is theorized as a key mechanism in the pathophysiology of epilepsy, with ample research focusing on elucidating its cellular manifestations. However, few studies investigate E/I imbalance at the macroscale, whole-brain level, and its microcircuit-level mechanisms and clinical significance remain incompletely understood. Here, the Hurst exponent, an index of the E/I ratio, is computed from resting-state fMRI time series, and microcircuit parameters are simulated using biophysical models.

Development and Validation of a Predictive Model of Prostate Screening Compliance: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, with significant incidence and mortality, particularly in Mexico, where diagnosis at advanced stages is common. Early detection through screening methods such as digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen testing is essential to improve outcomes. Despite current efforts, compliance with prostate screening (PS) remains low due to several barriers.

Characterizing the early relationship between covert narcissism and cognitive empathy in medical students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In medicine, empathy refers to a predominantly cognitive attribute (rather than an emotional one), which is important as a foundation for positive physician-patient relationships. Physicians with a narcissistic personality trait have an assortment of characteristics that undermine their interpersonal functioning in clinical encounters with their patients. Evidence suggests an inverse relationship between empathy and certain characteristics of a narcissistic personality trait in general population.

Predictive equation derived from 6,497 doubly labelled water measurements enables the detection of erroneous self-reported energy intake.

Nutritional epidemiology aims to link dietary exposures to chronic disease, but the instruments for evaluating dietary intake are inaccurate. One way to identify unreliable data and the sources of errors is to compare estimated intakes with the total energy expenditure (TEE). In this study, we used the International Atomic Energy Agency Doubly Labeled Water Database to derive a predictive equation for TEE using 6,497 measures of TEE in individuals aged 4 to 96 years.

Structural considerations and differences between leaf canals and secretory cavities in Asteraceae.

Secretory canals are distributed among seed plants, and their diversity is concentrated in many families of angiosperms, while other internal secretory structures such as secretory cavities have been identified only in Rutaceae, Myrtaceae, and Asteraceae. Identifying and recognizing these two types of secretory structures has been complicated, mainly due to their structural similarities. In this study, the ontogeny of canals and secretory cavities in two species of Asteraceae are described and compared, to understand the structural differences between them and allow the establishment of more appropriate homology hypotheses.

Microplate method for regioselective lipase screening with structured punicic acid triglycerides: finding Lip4 lipase as sn-2-regioselective from Candida rugosa isoforms.

In this study, we propose a continuous assay that provides a high-throughput, efficient method for screening the regioselectivity of lipases at the sn-1,3 and sn-2 positions on triacylglycerols (TAGs). This assay measures the specific hydrolysis rates at the primary and secondary positions of TAGs derivates containing oleic (O) and punicic (P) acids. The method is based on the absorbance ratio of released punicic acid from the hydrolysis of sn-POP (sn-1,3 regiospecific lipases) and sn-OPO (sn-2 regiospecific lipases).

Efficiency Analysis of Healthcare Systems in Latin American and Caribbean Countries: An Application Based on Data Envelopment Analysis.

Objectives: Despite the increasing investments in Latin American healthcare, the corresponding improvement in population health is not proportional. This discrepancy may be attributed to the efficiency of resource utilization. This study used the data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology to assess the efficiency of healthcare systems in 23 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Overview of Available Treatments and Their Limitations for Hypertrophic Facet Joints-A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Physicians worldwide face the challenging task of improving patient satisfaction by reducing pain in injured patients. Currently, available therapeutic approaches provide only short-term relief of symptoms without addressing long-term satisfaction. This has led to exploring regenerative treatment options that can deliver better outcomes.

Application of artificial intelligence for nutrient estimation in surface water bodies of basins with intensive agriculture.

Eutrophication is one of the most relevant concerns due to the risk to water supply and food security. Nitrogen and phosphorus chemical species concentrations determined the risk and magnitude of eutrophication. These analyses are even more relevant in basins with intensive agriculture due to agrochemical discharges.

Ultrafast Laser-Induced Spin Dynamics in All-Semiconductor Ferromagnetic CrSBr-Phosphorene Heterostructures.

Ultrashort laser pulses are extensively used for efficient manipulation of interfacial spin injection in two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. However, physical processes accompanying the photoinduced spin transfer dynamics on the all-semiconductor ferromagnetic vdW heterostructure remain largely unexplored. Here, we present a computational investigation of the femtosecond laser pulse induced purely electron-mediated spin transfer dynamics at a time scale of less than 50 fs in a vdW heterostructure.

Rabies transmitted from vampires to cattle: An overview.

Rabies is a zoonotic infectious disease of global distribution that impacts human and animal health. In rural Latin America, rabies negatively impacts food security and the economy due to losses in livestock production. The common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, is the main reservoir and transmitter of rabies virus (RABV) to domestic animals in Latin America.

Data reuse in agricultural genomics research: challenges and recommendations.

The scientific community has long benefited from the opportunities provided by data reuse. Recognizing the need to identify the challenges and bottlenecks to reuse in the agricultural research community and propose solutions for them, the data reuse working group was started within the AgBioData consortium framework. Here, we identify the limitations of data standards, metadata deficiencies, data interoperability, data ownership, data availability, user skill level, resource availability, and equity issues, with a specific focus on agricultural genomics research.

Interactions between contaminants and the trophic ecology of two seabirds in a coastal lagoon of the Gulf of California.

Monitoring the dynamics of contaminants in ecosystems helps understand their potential effects. Seabirds have been used as biomonitors of marine ecosystems for this purpose. However, exposure and vulnerability to pollutants are understudied in tropical species, and the relationships between various pollutants and the trophic ecology of seabirds are poorly understood.

Effect of the Starchy Legume Source on the In Vitro Fermentation of the Fecal Microbiota from Normal-Weight and Obese Individuals.

The relationship between the gut microbiota (GM) and the health of human beings has been a topic of growing interest in the last few years. Legumes are a rich source of indigestible carbohydrates, including resistant starch (RS), which are substrates of the GM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the indigestible fraction of legumes on the fecal microbiota of normal-weight (NW) and obese (O) donors.

Viedma deracemization mechanisms in self-assembly processes.

Simulations on an ODE-based model shows that there are many common points between Viedma deracemization and chiral self-assemblies of achiral building blocks towards chiral nanoparticles. Both systems occur in a closed system with energy exchange but no matter exchange with the surroundings and show parallel reversible growth mechanisms which coexist with an irreversible cluster breaking (grinding). The various mechanisms of growth give rise to the formation of polymerization/depolymerization cycles while the consecutive transformation of achiral monomer into chiral cluster results into an indirect enantioselective autocatalysis.

Novel Transfer Learning Approach for Detecting Infected and Healthy Maize Crop Using Leaf Images.

Maize is a staple crop worldwide, essential for food security, livestock feed, and industrial uses. Its health directly impacts agricultural productivity and economic stability. Effective detection of maize crop health is crucial for preventing disease spread and ensuring high yields.

Great Tit () Nestlings Have Longer Telomeres in Old-Growth Forests Than in Young Forests.

Modification and deterioration of old-growth forests by industrial forestry have seriously threatened species diversity worldwide. The loss of natural habitats increases the concentration of circulating glucocorticoids and incurs chronic stress in animals, influencing the immune system, growth, survival, and lifespan of animals inhabiting such areas. In this study, we tested whether great tit () nestlings grown in old-growth unmanaged coniferous forests have longer telomeres than great tit nestlings developing in young managed coniferous forests.

Unraveling Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal Gammopathy, and Skin Changes Syndrome: Diagnostic Challenges and Therapeutic Strategies at a National Tertiary Care Center.

Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal Gammopathy, and Skin Changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic disorder caused by plasma cell proliferation and overproduction of cytokines, particularly vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This complex syndrome affects multiple organ systems and presents with a broad range of clinical and laboratory manifestations, which can complicate both diagnosis and management. Not all components of the acronym are observed in every patient, highlighting the clinical heterogeneity of the condition.

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water and risk of childhood cancer in California, 2000-2015.

Background: Few studies have investigated associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and childhood cancers. Detectable levels of PFAS in California water districts were reported in the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 2013-2015.

Methods: Geocoded residences at birth were linked to corresponding water district boundaries for 10,220 California-born children (aged 0-15 years) diagnosed with cancers (2000-2015) and 29,974 healthy controls.

"Salud Mamaria", an internet-based psychoeducational program during the breast cancer diagnosis process: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Some of the key challenges during the breast cancer diagnosis process include a lack of information and negative psychological consequences, such as distress and anxiety about the process. Implementing a psychoeducational program during the diagnosis process may enhance the well-being of women. "" is an Internet-Based Psychoeducational Program (IBPP) that comprises three interventions: A ("Improving Your Health Habits and Self-Care"), B ("Waiting for the Result of Your Biopsy"), and C ("Supporting You After Your Breast Cancer Diagnosis").

Terpene polymerization a binary neodymium-based catalytic system with di--butylmagnesium as a co-catalyst.

The development of materials from renewable resources has been increasing, intending to reduce the consumption of fossil sources, with terpenes being one of the main families that reduce the consumption of isoprene. The study of the binary catalytic system neodymium versatate/dibutyl magnesium (NdV/Mg(-Bu)), for the coordination homopolymerization of β-myrcene and β-farnesene, was carried out analysing different [Nd] : [Mg] ratios (between 4 and 10). Reporting conversions of 92% and 83% at an [Nd] : [Mg] ratio of 8 for polymyrcene (PMy) and polyfarnesene (PFa), respectively, and microstructures comprising 1,4 content above 80% for both polymers (PMy, -59% and PFa, -83%).

Stability of diluted chlorhexidine for skin testing in drug allergy evaluations.

Background: Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), a common cause of perioperative anaphylaxis, is frequently used for skin testing in allergy evaluations. Although CHX's maximal nonirritating concentrations are known, the stability of its dilutions for skin testing remains unexplored, particularly when sterile water for injection (SWFI) or normal saline (NS) are used as diluents.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the stability and precipitation of CHX when diluted with SWFI or NS for drug allergy skin testing.

Selective modal excitation in a multimode nanoslit by interference of surface plasmon waves.

Interference of surface plasmons has been widely utilized in optical metrology for applications such as high-precision sensing. In this paper, we introduce a surface plasmon interferometer with the potential to be arranged in arrays for parallel multiplexing applications. The interferometer features two grating couplers that excite surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waves traveling along a gold-air interface before converging at a gold nanoslit where they interfere.

A morpho-histological analysis of the exoskeleton of (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) reveals insights into the taxonomy of Clathrozoellidae and Hydroidolina.

The taxonomic complexity of the families Clathrozoidae and Clathrozoellidae, rooted in early 20th-century hydroid descriptions, highlights the need for comprehensive and detailed morphological analyses. This study aimed to elucidate the histology of the polypoid stage of Peña Cantero, Vervoort & Watson, 2003, with a particular emphasis on its exoskeletal structure. Specimens from the National Museum of Natural History were examined histologically using different staining techniques.