Interpretation of individual differences in computational neuroscience using a latent input approach.

Computational neuroscience offers a valuable opportunity to understand the neural mechanisms underlying behavior. However, interpreting individual differences in these mechanisms, such as developmental differences, is less straightforward. We illustrate this challenge through studies that examine individual differences in reinforcement learning.

Synergizing bioprinting and 3D cell culture to enhance tissue formation in printed synthetic constructs.

Bioprinting is currently the most promising method to biofabricate complex tissues in vitro with the potential to transform the future of organ transplantation and drug discovery. Efforts to create such tissues are, however, almost exclusively based on animal-derived materials, like gelatin methacryloyl, which have demonstrated efficacy in bioprinting of complex tissues. While these materials are already used in clinical applications, uncertainty about their safety still remains due to their animal origin.

Paediatric strategy forum for medicinal product development in diffuse midline gliomas in children and adolescents ACCELERATE in collaboration with the European Medicines Agency with participation of the Food and Drug Administration.

Fewer than 10 % of children with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) survive 2 years from diagnosis. Radiation therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment and there are no medicinal products with regulatory approval. Although the biology of DMG is better characterized, this has not yet translated into effective treatments.

The 2024 Assisi think tank on breast cancer: Focus on the use of a tumour bed boost after breast conserving therapy.

At the Fifth Assisi Think Tank Meeting (ATTM) on breast cancer, one key topic was the role of tumor bed boost in invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ. The need for a tumor bed boost after whole breast irradiation is controversial. A literature review assessed boost indications, target volume definition, techniques, dose fractionation, and ongoing trials.

Focused ultrasound therapy as a strategy for improving glioma treatment.

The infiltrative and diffuse nature of gliomas makes complete resection unfeasible. Unfortunately, regions of brain parenchyma with residual, infiltrative tumor are protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), making systemic chemotherapies, small-molecule inhibitors, and immunotherapies of limited efficacy. Low-frequency focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with intravascular microbubbles can be used to disrupt the BBB transiently and selectively within the tumor and peritumoral region.

One hundred thirty-four germ line PU.1 variants and the agammaglobulinemic patients carrying them.

Leukopoiesis is lethally arrested in mice lacking the master transcriptional regulator PU.1. Depending on the animal model, subtotal PU.

DDAVP response and its determinants in bleeding disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Desmopressin (DDAVP) can be used to prevent or stop bleeding. However, large inter-individual variability is observed in DDAVP response and determinants are largely unknown. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we aim to identify the response to DDAVP, and the factors that determine DDAVP response in patients.

Preoperative Anemia as a Prognostic Risk Factor for Inferior Oncological Survival Following Resection for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: A significant proportion of patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are anemic at the time of resection. In these patients, blood transfusions are omitted due to their potential negative impact on oncological outcomes. The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic value of preoperative anemia in resected PDAC patients, irrespective of blood transfusion status.

Opportunities and Challenges of a Cap-and-Trade System for Plastics.

Recently, the rapid increase in global plastics production has caused various ecological and economic issues, worsened by poor material and waste management. Among the market-based instruments that could help mitigate the environmental impacts of plastics throughout their life-cycle, we evaluate the advantages and limitations of incorporating a cap-and-trade (CAT) system into future policy mixes. Our aim is to inspire further investigation of CAT's feasibility rather than presenting it as the ultimate solution.

Fertility in transgender and gender diverse people: systematic review of the effects of gender-affirming hormones on reproductive organs and fertility.

Background: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people seek gender-affirming care at any age to manage gender identities or expressions that differ from their birth gender. Gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) and gender-affirming surgery may alter reproductive function and/or anatomy, limiting future reproductive options to varying degrees, if individuals desire to either give birth or become a biological parent.

Objective And Rationale: TGD people increasingly pursue help for their reproductive questions, including fertility, fertility preservation, active desire for children, and future options.

TCR transgenic clone selection guided by immune receptor analysis and single-cell RNA expression of polyclonal responders.

Since the precursor frequency of naive T cells is extremely low, investigating the early steps of antigen-specific T cell activation is challenging. To overcome this detection problem, adoptive transfer of a cohort of T cells purified from T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic donors has been extensively used but is not readily available for emerging pathogens. Constructing TCR transgenic mice from T cell hybridomas is a labor-intensive and sometimes erratic process, since the best clones are selected based on antigen-induced CD69 upregulation or IL-2 production in vitro, and TCR chains are polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-cloned into expression vectors.

Assessment of scattered and leakage radiation from ultra-portable X-ray systems in chest imaging: An independent study.

Ultraportable (UP) X-ray devices are ideal to use in community-based settings, particularly for chest X-ray (CXR) screening of tuberculosis (TB). Unfortunately, there is insufficient guidance on the radiation safety of these devices. This study aims to determine the radiation dose by UP X-ray devices to both the public and radiographers compared to international dose limits.

Ascertaining the Environmental Advantages of Pavement Designs Incorporating Recycled Content through a Parametric and Probabilistic Approach.

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is a widely used end-of-life (EoL) material in asphalt pavements to increase the material circularity. However, the performance loss due to using RAP in the asphalt binder layer often requires a thicker layer, leading to additional material usage, energy consumption, and transportation effort. In this study, we developed a parametric and probabilistic life cycle assessment (LCA) framework to robustly compare various pavement designs incorporating recycled materials.

Trump tariffs and the U.S. defense industry.

In March 2018, U.S. President Trump announced that the U.

Thrips dynamics in Allium crops: Unraveling the role of reproductive mode and weather variables in Thrips tabaci population development.

Thrips tabaci is the main thrips species affecting onion and related species. It is a cryptic species complex comprising three phylogenetic groups characterized by different reproductive modes (thelytoky or arrhenotoky) and host plant specialization. Thrips tabaci populations vary widely in genetic diversity, raising questions about the factor(s) that drive this diversity.

Detection and analysis of Serpin and RP26 specific antibodies for monitoring Schistosoma haematobium transmission.

Background: Schistosoma haematobium is the causative pathogen for urogenital schistosomiasis. To achieve progress towards schistosomiasis elimination, there is a critical need for developing highly sensitive and specific tools to monitor transmission in near-elimination settings. Although antibody detection is a promising approach, it is usually unable to discriminate active infections from past ones.

Predicting vasovagal reactions to needles from video data using 2D-CNN with GRU and LSTM.

When undergoing or about to undergo a needle-related procedure, most people are not aware of the adverse emotional and physical reactions (so-called vasovagal reactions; VVR), that might occur. Thus, rather than relying on self-report measurements, we investigate whether we can predict VVR levels from the video sequence containing facial information measured during the blood donation. We filmed 287 blood donors throughout the blood donation procedure where we obtained 1945 videos for data analysis.

Skin cancer risk in over 200.000 patients with haematologic malignancies in 30 years; a nationwide population-based study in the Netherlands.

Background: Patients with haematologic malignancies are at increased risk of developing skin cancer and often experience worse skin cancer-related outcomes. However, there is a lack of nationwide, population-based data with long-term follow-up on the incidence and risks of different skin cancer types across all haematologic malignancies.

Objectives: To assess population-based risk estimates for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), malignant melanoma (MM), Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) among patients with haematologic malignancies, stratified by skin cancer type and haematologic malignancy subgroup.

Young, female and scientist: exploring barriers, challenges and opportunities.

Different societal, systemic and personal barriers exist at various stages along a female researcher's career that can potentially undermine their success. The equation for women to reach higher positions in STEM is a multivariable one, and while there has been considerable progress towards addressing some of these compared with the past, current solutions are inadequate and do not address all facets. Here, we asked female winners of the FEBS Open Bio poster prize about their experiences regarding barriers they have faced at the predoctoral and postdoctoral stages, their opinions on how these can be addressed and their advice to new students entering a PhD degree.

Aurora B controls microtubule stability to regulate abscission dynamics in stem cells.

Abscission is the last step of cell division. It separates the two sister cells and consists of cutting the cytoplasmic bridge. Abscission is mediated by the ESCRT membrane remodeling machinery, which also triggers the severing of a thick bundle of microtubules.

Biofield Therapies Clinical Research Landscape: A Scoping Review and Interactive Evidence Map.

Biofield Therapies, with a historical lineage spanning millennia and continuing relevance in contemporary practices, have been used to address various health conditions and promote wellbeing. The scientific study and adoption of these therapies have been hindered by cultural challenges and institutional barriers. In addition, the current research landscape for Biofield Therapies is insufficiently documented.

Disco-Interacting Protein 2 Homolog B CGG Repeat Expansion in Siblings with Neurodevelopmental Disability and Progressive Movement Disorder.

Background: Trinucleotide repeat expansions are an emerging class of genetic variants associated with various movement disorders. Unbiased genome-wide analyses can reveal novel genotype-phenotype associations and provide a diagnosis for patients and families.

Objective: The aim was to identify the genetic cause of a severe progressive movement disorder phenotype in 2 affected brothers.