Impact of a three-week full leg cast immobilization on infant crawling kinetics and spatiotemporal parameters.

Despite its importance in the development of mobility in infants, there is a general lack of quantified data on infant crawling, and a specific lack of understanding of crawling kinetics, which includes the relative weightbearing and force generation among the four limbs. Moreover, because of the difficulty of measurement and study design, there is no longitudinal quantification of the impact of a perturbation to typical development, such as limb immobilization. This study measured kinetic and spatiotemporal outcomes in a typically developing infant prior to a fracture that necessitated a long-leg cast that immobilized the left knee and ankle, while crawling with the cast, and again one day after cast removal, and two weeks post.

Stable isotopes as a predictor for organic or conventional classification of berries and vegetables.

Organic agriculture is expanding worldwide, driven by expectations of improving food quality and soil health. However, while organic certification by regulatory bodies such as the United States Department of Agriculture and the European Union confirms compliance with organic standards that prohibit synthetic chemical inputs, there is limited oversight to verify that organic practices, such as the use of authentic organic fertilizer sources, are consistently applied at the field level. This study investigated the elemental content of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and their stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) in seven different crops grown under organic or conventional practices to assess their applicability as a screening tool to verify the authenticity of organic labeled produce.

A Phase-Space View of Vibrational Energies without the Born-Oppenheimer Framework.

We show that following the standard mantra of quantum chemistry and diagonalizing the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) Hamiltonian () is not the optimal means to construct potential energy surfaces. A better approach is to diagonalize a phase-space electronic Hamiltonian, (, ), which is parameterized by both nuclear position and nuclear momentum . Such a nonperturbative phase-space electronic Hamiltonian can be constructed using a partial Wigner transform and the method has exactly the same cost as BO for a semiclassical calculation (and only a slight increase in cost for a quantum nuclear calculation).

Accelerated Missense Mutation Identification in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Using Deep Learning.

We use a combination of Brownian dynamics (BD) simulation results and deep learning (DL) strategies for the rapid identification of large structural changes caused by missense mutations in intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). We used ∼6500 IDP sequences from MobiDB database of length 20-300 to obtain gyration radii from BD simulation on a coarse-grained single-bead amino acid model (HPS2 model) used by us and others [Dignon, G. L.

Sustainable visions: unsupervised machine learning insights on global development goals.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations outlines 17 goals for countries of the world to address global challenges in their development. However, the progress of countries towards these goal has been slower than expected and, consequently, there is a need to investigate the reasons behind this fact. In this study, we have used a novel data-driven methodology to analyze time-series data for over 20 years (2000-2022) from 107 countries using unsupervised machine learning (ML) techniques.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy and semaglutide have distinct effects on skeletal health and heart function in obese male mice.

Obesity is a global health challenge associated with significant metabolic and cardiovascular risks. Bariatric surgery and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are effective interventions for weight loss and metabolic improvement, yet their comparative effects on systemic metabolism-particularly energy metabolism, bone health, and heart function-remain unclear. In this study, obese male mice underwent vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), 6 weeks of GLP-1RA (semaglutide) treatment, or sham procedure with saline injection as controls.

Data Obfuscation Through Latent Space Projection for Privacy-Preserving AI Governance: Case Studies in Medical Diagnosis and Finance Fraud Detection.

Background: The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) systems into critical societal sectors has created an urgent demand for robust privacy-preserving methods. Traditional approaches such as differential privacy and homomorphic encryption often struggle to maintain an effective balance between protecting sensitive information and preserving data utility for AI applications. This challenge has become particularly acute as organizations must comply with evolving AI governance frameworks while maintaining the effectiveness of their AI systems.

Effect of Metformin Exposure in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on Infant Mesenchymal Stem Cell Metabolism.

Offspring exposed to metformin treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) experience altered growth patterns that increase the risk for developing cardiometabolic diseases later in life. The adaptive cellular mechanisms underlying these patterns remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if chronic metformin exposure associated with GDM treatment elicits infant cellular metabolic adaptations.

Pharmacist interventions in optimising opioid medication therapy in pain management for palliative care patients: A systematic review.

BackgroundOpioid therapy is a critical component in managing pain in palliative care, where pharmacists' specialised expertise is crucial in ensuring quality care for patients. This systematic review aims to document available evidence on pharmacist interventions and their impact on optimising opioid therapy for pain management in palliative care patients.MethodsWe searched Medline (OVID), Embase (OVID), APA PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for relevant articles published from the beginning to 31 December, 2022.

The relationship between cardiometabolic abnormalities and mortality in the Women's Health Initiative: A comparison of associations among women with cancer to women without cancer.

Background: Prior studies of participants with breast and other obesity-associated cancers in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) showed worse mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes for individuals with a higher number of cardiometabolic risk factors at study entry. The purpose of this analysis is to compare the relationship between cardiometabolic abnormalities and mortality among women with and without cancer in the WHI.

Methods: Women with one of five early-stage obesity-associated cancers (breast, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and controls without any new or prior history of cancer were selected from the WHI-Life and Longevity after Cancer ancillary study.

Total Synthesis of the Membrane Spanning Tetraether Lipid brGDGT Ia and Elucidation of its Stereochemical Configuration.

Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) are a group of membrane spanning lipids produced by both Archaea and Bacteria. Branched GDGTs (brGDGTs) are a class of these tetraether lipids known to be produced by certain bacteria and are commonly found in terrestrial environments. Due to their environmental ubiquity, high preservation potential, and role in membrane adaptation, brGDGTs form the basis of many widely employed paleoenvironmental proxies.

Quad-Nanopore Array Enables High-Resolution Identification of Four Single-Stranded DNA Homopolymers.

The solid-state nanopore technique holds the potential to develop mechanically stable and miniaturized DNA sequencing devices. However, the limited temporal resolution due to the high electric field inside the nanopore and the lack of an effective speed control strategy have hindered the realization of sequencing. Here, we reported a quad-array (four nanopores milled with ∼30 nm interpore spacing as a detection unit) that induced a redistribution of the electric field inside and outside the nanopore array and offered high-resolution discrimination of four ssDNA homopolymer types.

Inhibition Effect of HO on the Heterogeneous Reaction between Isoprene and Fe-Substituted Cryptomelane.

The transportation and transformation of biogenic isoprene are vital for the organic carbon cycle in the troposphere. As a typical mineral with high oxidation potential, Fe-substituted cryptomelane oxidizes the surface monolayer of isoprene into formic and acetic acids, and simultaneously, the Mn ions in the structure are reduced to Mn and Mn. The flow of HO in isoprene decreases the adsorption and oxidation of isoprene significantly, even at low relative humidity (10%).

Diagnosis and Monitoring Pathways Using Non-Invasive Tests in Patients With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-Associated Liver Disease: Results From an Expert Delphi Panel.

Background And Aims: The severe alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) genotype Pi*ZZ increases the risk of liver disease (AATD-LD) and lung disease. While non-invasive tests (NITs) are widely used for fibrosis stage and monitoring of all liver diseases, the consensus for use in AATD-LD is limited. A Delphi panel study was conducted to address this need.

National health care security and the dentist and dental hygienist compact: A call to action.

There appears to be some confusion, misunderstanding, and unfounded concern about state governments being asked to adopt the recent initiative from the United States (US) Department of Defense regarding a dental health provider's compact for US states and territories. Yet, there needs to be a realization of the significance and priority for joining the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, since it directly incorporates into health care security as a strategy component. While there is a gross lack of research and information shared in this area, this editorial serves to offer such research, information, insight, and clarification to emergency management professionals on the value and necessity to openly support dental compact agreements for all US states and territories.

Operationalizing Inclusion of Diverse Older Adults in Aging Services Information.

As the United States' population ages, it is also becoming more diverse. The country's Older Americans Act requires county-level offices on aging to be both service and information providers. But it is unclear to what extent offices on aging can identify gaps within the aging services information they provide and improve efforts to meet the information needs of diverse older adults.

Disrupted microbial cross-feeding and altered L-phenylalanine consumption in people living with HIV.

This work aims to (1) identify microbial and metabolic alterations and (2) reveal a shift in phenylalanine production-consumption equilibrium in individuals with HIV. We conducted extensive searches in multiple databases [MEDLINE, Web of Science (including Cell Press, Oxford, HighWire, Science Direct, IOS Press, Springer Nature, PNAS, and Wiley), Google Scholar, and Embase] and selected two case-control 16S data sets (GenBank IDs: SRP039076 and EBI ID: ERP003611) for analysis. We assessed alpha and beta diversity, performed univariate tests on genus-level relative abundances, and identified significant microbiome features using random forest.

Optimizing sample size for supervised machine learning with bulk transcriptomic sequencing: a learning curve approach.

Accurate sample classification using transcriptomics data is crucial for advancing personalized medicine. Achieving this goal necessitates determining a suitable sample size that ensures adequate classification accuracy without undue resource allocation. Current sample size calculation methods rely on assumptions and algorithms that may not align with supervised machine learning techniques for sample classification.

Re-Evaluating the Use of Glyphosate-based Herbicides: Implications on Fertility.

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are the most widely used herbicides in the United States, accounting for 19% of estimated global use. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reaffirmed that the active ingredient glyphosate (GLY) is safe for humans, recent studies on exposure have suggested association with cancer, metabolic disorders, endocrine disruption and infertility, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and psychological disorders. Current literature on the effects of GLY exposure on reproductive function suggests potential clinical implications on women's reproductive health, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, infertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Long-term dietary allyl isothiocyanate, a TRPA1 agonist, ameliorates cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction in aged mice.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a sensory channel expressed in vagal afferent nerves that detect noxious stimuli. Trpa1 knockout accelerates age-related cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction in mice. This study investigated whether TRPA1 activation with its selective agonist, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), prevents cardiac aging.

Psychometric validation of the Chronic Ocular Pain Questionnaire (COP-Q).

Background: The Chronic Ocular Pain Questionnaire (COP-Q) is a newly developed patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure intended to assess symptoms and impacts associated with Chronic Ocular Surface Pain (COSP). This study assessed the psychometric properties of the COP-Q to determine the adequacy of the COP-Q as a 'fit-for-purpose' instrument to derive trial endpoints for future clinical studies in COSP.

Methods: Patients with COSP completed the COP-Q daily for four weeks on an electronic, touch-screen, tablet device as part of a longitudinal, observational study in the United States (N = 124).

Brain Health Attitudes, Awareness and Actions in Middle-Aged Latinos.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) disproportionately impact Latinos in the US. Interventions that promote engagement in established protective behaviors throughout the life course may offer an opportunity to address disparities. To inform brain health promotion efforts, this study aimed to examine current brain health-related attitudes, awareness, and actions of middle-aged Latinos.

Naldemedine Use and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients treated with Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Results of a Real-world Study in the USA.

Introduction: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common side effect of chronic opioid therapy that significantly impacts quality of life and healthcare costs. Naldemedine, a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, has shown efficacy in treating OIC. However, real-world evidence on naldemedine use in the United States is limited, particularly in older adults.

LightViz: autonomous light-field sensing, mapping, and assessment for distributed light pollution monitoring.

Existing technologies for distributed light-field mapping and light pollution monitoring (LPM) rely on either remote satellite imagery or manual light surveying with single-point sensors such as SQMs (sky quality meters). These modalities offer low-resolution data that are not informative for dense light-field mapping, pollutant identification, or sustainable policy implementation. In this work, we propose LightViz-an interactive software interface to survey, simulate, and visualize light pollution maps in real time.