Effects of maze appearance on maze solving.

As mazes are typically complex, cluttered stimuli, solving them is likely limited by visual crowding. Thus, several aspects of the appearance of the maze - the thickness, spacing, and curvature of the paths, as well as the texture of both paths and walls - likely influence the performance. In the current study, we investigate the effects of perceptual aspects of maze design on maze-solving performance to understand the role of crowding and visual complexity.

Understanding Microemulsions and Nanoemulsions in (Trans)Dermal Delivery.

Continuously explored in pharmaceuticals, microemulsions and nanoemulsions offer drug delivery opportunities that are too significant to ignore, namely safe delivery of clinically relevant drug doses across biological membranes. Their effectiveness as drug vehicles in mucosal and (trans)dermal delivery is evident from the volume of published literature. Commonly, their ability to enhance skin permeation is attributed to dispersion size, a characteristic closely related to solubilization capacity.

Micro-nanoscale polystyrene co-exposure impacts the uptake and translocation of arsenic and boscalid by lettuce (Lactuca sativa).

The influence of micro-nanoplastics (MNPs) on the fate and effects of other pollutants present in the environment is largely unknown. This study evaluated if the root exposure to MNPs (polystyrene, PS; 20 or 1000 nm) had an impact on the accumulation of arsenic and boscalid (As and Bos) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Under hydroponic conditions, plants were co-exposed to MNPs at 10 or 50 mg/L, and to 1 mg/L of each environmental pollutant (EP).

Sociodemographic differences in modes of cannabis use among pregnant individuals in Northern California.

Background: The potential risks of prenatal cannabis use may vary depending on how cannabis is administered, but little is known about modes of prenatal cannabis use. This study characterized prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of modes of prenatal cannabis use in California.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients with pregnancies between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022 in a large healthcare system (3507 pregnancies [3454 individuals]) who self-reported prenatal cannabis use and mode of use (smoke, vape, edibles, dabs, and topicals) during universal screening at entrance to prenatal care.

Early bedtime routines and behavioral outcomes among children from low-income families: Mediating role of emotion regulation.

The establishment of early bedtime routine is essential for children's emotion and behavioral outcomes. Less is known, however, about the longitudinal effects and mechanisms predicting behavioral outcomes through early bedtime routine and emotion regulation in school-age children from low-income families. Thus, the present study examined emotion regulation at age three as a potential mediator in the longitudinal links between early bedtime routine and behavioral outcomes among racially diverse school age children from low-income families.

Genetic advances and translational phenotypes in rodent models for Tourette disorder.

Tourette disorder (TD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting approximately 0.3%-1% of children and adolescents. It is defined by motor and vocal tics but encompasses wide ranging phenotypes due to its complex genetic origins, involving hundreds of risk genes across various signaling pathways.

Activity of Platinum Chemotherapy in Men With Prostate Cancer With and Without DNA Damage Repair Mutations.

Introduction: Alterations in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes occur in 20%-30% of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) which may increase sensitivity to platinum chemotherapy. Specifically, exceptional responses to platinum chemotherapy have been reported among patients with BRCA mutations. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of platinum chemotherapy in patients with mCRPC with and without HRR.

Patient-reported outcome trajectories the first 24 months after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a Quality Outcomes Database study.

Objective: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) shows varying levels of improvement after surgical treatment. While some patients improve soon after surgery, others may take months to years to show any signs of improvement. The goal of this study was to evaluate postoperative improvement, patient-reported outcomes, and patient satisfaction up to 2 years after surgical treatment for CSM, which will help optimize the current treatment strategies and effectively manage patient expectations.

Epcoritamab plus GemOx in transplant-ineligible relapsed/refractory DLBCL: results from the EPCORE NHL-2 trial.

Patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have poor outcomes. Gemcitabine + oxaliplatin (GemOx) with rituximab, a standard salvage therapy, yields complete response (CR) rates of approximately 30% and median overall survival (OS) of 10-13 months. Patients with refractory disease fare worse, with a CR rate of 7% for subsequent therapies and median OS of 6 months.

FRESH extrusion 3D printing of type-1 collagen hydrogels photocrosslinked using ruthenium.

The extrusion bioprinting of collagen material has many applications relevant to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) technology is capable of 3D printing collagen material with the specifications and details needed for precise tissue guidance, a crucial requirement for effective tissue repair. While FRESH has shown repeated success and reliability for extrusion printing, the mechanical properties of completed collagen prints can be improved further by post-print crosslinking methodologies.

Capturing the Elusive Curve-Crossing in Low-Lying States of Butadiene with Dressed TDDFT.

A striking example of the need to accurately capture states of double-excitation character in molecules is seen in predicting photoinduced dynamics in small polyenes. Due to the coupling of electronic and nuclear motions, the dark 2Ag state, known to have double-excitation character, can be reached after an initial photoexcitation to the bright 1Bu state via crossings of their potential energy surfaces. However, the shapes of the surfaces are so poorly captured by most electronic structure methods, that the crossing is missed or substantially mis-located.

Non-Genetic Biomarkers in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Implications and Predictive Utility for Response to Anti-PD-(L)1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a skin cancer that arises due to either Merkel cell polyomavirus infection (MCPyV) or ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, presenting primarily in the head and neck region of fair-skinned males. The recent success of PD-(L)1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in locally advanced/metastatic MCC, with an objective response rate (ORR) around 50% and improved survival, as a first-line treatment has moved ICIs to the forefront of therapy for MCC and generated interest in identifying biomarkers to predict clinical response. The MCC tumour microenvironment (TME) contains various components of the adaptive and innate immune system.

Physical function and perceived pain following inpatient intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment for children and adolescents.

Background: Chronic pain among children and adolescents negatively impacts overall functioning and quality of life. Although Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment (IIPT) programs aim to reduce functional impairment and perceived pain, overall evidence is limited and restricted by small sample sizes and limited diversity in pain diagnoses.

Objective: To determine whether children and adolescents with chronic pain participating in an inpatient IIPT program experience improvements in their physical function and perceived pain.

Financial Barriers to Expanded Birth Center Access in New Jersey: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis.

Introduction: Birth centers are an underused care setting with potential to improve birth experience and satisfaction. Both hospital-based and freestanding birth centers operate with the midwifery model of care that focuses on safe, low-intervention physiologic birth experiences for healthy, low-risk pregnant people. However, financial barriers limit freestanding birth center sustainability and accessibility in New Jersey, especially for traditionally marginalized populations.

Gender-Inclusive Language in Public-Facing Labor and Delivery Web Pages in the New York Tristate Area: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) individuals are increasingly intentionally becoming pregnant to raise children, and hospital websites should reflect these trends. For prospective TGNB parents, a hospital website is the only way they can assess their safety from discrimination while receiving perinatal care. Cisnormativity enforced by communication gaps between medical institutions and TGNB patients can and has caused delays in receiving urgent care during their pregnancy.

Potential Adaptive Introgression From Dogs in Iberian Grey Wolves (Canis lupus).

Invading species along with increased anthropogenization may lead to hybridization events between wild species and closely related domesticates. As a consequence, wild species may carry introgressed alleles from domestic species, which is generally assumed to yield adverse effects in wild populations. The opposite evolutionary consequence, adaptive introgression, where introgressed genes are positively selected in the wild species, is possible but has rarely been documented.

The Assessment of TikTok as a Source of Quality Health Information on Human Papillomavirus: A Content Analysis.

Background Various studies have evaluated the quality of health-related information on TikTok (ByteDance Ltd., Beijing, China), including topics such as COVID-19, diabetes, varicoceles, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, and others. However, there is a paucity of data on studies that examined TikTok as a source of quality health information on human papillomavirus (HPV).

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Bleeding Risk in the Geriatric Population.

Introduction: The demographics of the United States (US) are evolving as time progresses. The geriatric population is growing, with many elderly people dealing with mental health issues. Major depressive episodes affect 1 to 5 percent of those aged 65 years or older, which emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health concerns in this populace.

Plains Zebras Prioritize Foraging Without Sacrificing Social Bonds During a Severe Drought.

Anthropogenically induced climate change has significantly increased the frequency of acute weather events, such as drought. As human activities amplify environmental stresses, animals may be forced to prioritize survival over behaviors less crucial to immediate fitness, such as socializing. Yet, social bonds may also enable individuals to weather the deleterious effects of environmental conditions.

Impact and Durability of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion on Lung Cancer Treatment.

Background: Medicaid expansion began in 2014 after passage of the Affordable Care Act; however, the impact and durability of the effects on lung cancer treatment utilization are poorly defined. We aimed to determine whether there is a persistent difference in utilization of lung resection, lung biopsy, and nonoperative treatment of lung cancer in states participating in Medicaid expansion compared with states that are not.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was completed analyzing the difference in utilization between Medicaid expansion states and non-expansion states in 2012-2013, 2016-2017, and 2019.

Holiday Weight Change in a US College Student Sample: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Objective: The November through January holiday period is often thought to produce weight gain, coined "holiday weight gain." While this trend has been documented among early to midlife adults, it is less certain whether college students experience similar levels of weight gain during this period, as they undergo lifestyle changes (e.g.

Geographic Variation in the Utilization of Services Surrounding Lung Cancer Resection.

Background: As value-based care models continue to gain emphasis, along with the need for improved profiling across the continuum of lung cancer care, a better understanding of geographic variation in utilization of services surrounding episodes of care is needed.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing lung cancer resection from 2017 to 2019, we examined geographic variation in utilization of services surrounding episodes of lung cancer resection. We utilized hierarchical logistic regression models to determine risk-adjusted utilization of services.

An Elusive Diagnosis of Castleman Disease.

We present the case of a 41-year-old man with an anterior mediastinal mass and constellation of clinical symptoms, including dyspnea, pleural effusions, pericardial effusions, renal insufficiency, and pancytopenia. After inconclusive results on several laboratory tests and a nondiagnostic surgical biopsy specimen, a specimen from a second surgical biopsy identified the patient's condition as Castleman disease associated with TAFRO (thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fevers, reticulin myelofibrosis, organomegaly) syndrome. This case highlights the importance of obtaining large tissue biopsy samples, interval follow-up, and acknowledging cognitive biases.