Say Real-time Linguistic Guidance Supports Novices in Writing Utterances for Conversational Agent Training.

Writing utterances to train conversational agents can be a challenging and time-consuming task, and usually requires substantial expertise, meaning that novices face a steep learning curve. We investigated whether novices could be guided to produce utterances that adhere to best practices via an intervention of real-time linguistic feedback. We conducted a user study in which participants were tasked with writing training utterances for a particular topic () for a conversational agent.

Whole blood transcriptome profile identifies motor neurone disease RNA biomarker signatures.

Blood-based biomarkers for motor neuron disease are needed for better diagnosis, progression prediction, and clinical trial monitoring. We used whole blood-derived total RNA and performed whole transcriptome analysis to compare the gene expression profiles in (motor neurone disease) MND patients to the control subjects. We compared 42 MND patients to 42 aged and sex-matched healthy controls and described the whole transcriptome profile characteristic for MND.

High-dimensional multiple imputation (HDMI) for partially observed confounders including natural language processing-derived auxiliary covariates.

Multiple imputation (MI) models can be improved with auxiliary covariates (AC), but their performance in high-dimensional data remains unclear. We aimed to develop and compare high-dimensional MI (HDMI) methods using structured and natural language processing (NLP)-derived AC in studies with partially observed confounders. We conducted a plasmode simulation with acute kidney injury as outcome and simulated 100 cohorts with a null treatment effect, incorporating creatinine labs, atrial fibrillation (AFib), and other investigator-derived confounders in the outcome generation.

Looking under the hood of a hybrid two-way texting intervention to improve early retention on antiretroviral therapy in Malawi: an implementation fidelity evaluation.

Background: While key to interpreting findings and assessing generalizability, implementation fidelity is underreported in mobile health (mHealth) literature. We evaluated implementation fidelity of an opt-in, hybrid, two-way texting (2wT) intervention previously demonstrated to improve 12-month retention on antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in a quasi-experimental study in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Methods: Short message service (SMS) data and ART refill visit records were used to evaluate adherence to 2wT content, frequency and duration through the lens of the Conceptual Framework for Implementation Fidelity.

Use of alternative payment models for substance use disorder prevention in the United States: development of a conceptual framework.

Background: Alternative payment models (APMs) are methods through which insurers reimburse health care providers and are widely used to improve the quality and value of health care. While there is a growing movement to utilize APMs for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services, they have rarely included SUD prevention strategies. Challenges to using APMs for SUD prevention include underdeveloped program outcome measures, inadequate SUD prevention funding, and lack of clarity regarding what prevention strategies might fit within the scope of APMs.

Experimental Test of Perceptions of Psychedelics by Therapeutic and Recreational Use.

Recent research on the potential therapeutic value of psychedelic substances has led to changes in media representation and drug policy in some U.S. states.

Assessment of tuberculosis drug efficacy using preclinical animal models and in vitro predictive techniques.

Tuberculosis (TB) killed approximately 1.3 million people in 2022 and remains a leading cause of death from the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb); this number of deaths was surpassed only by COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The conformational landscape of human transthyretin revealed by cryo-EM.

Transthyretin (TTR) is a natively tetrameric thyroxine transporter in blood and cerebrospinal fluid whose misfolding and aggregation causes TTR amyloidosis. A rational drug design campaign identified the small molecule tafamidis (Vyndamax) as a stabilizer of the native TTR fold, and this aggregation inhibitor is regulatory agency approved for the treatment of TTR amyloidosis. Here we used cryo-EM to investigate the conformational landscape of this 55 kDa tetramer in the absence and presence of one or two ligands, revealing inherent asymmetries in the tetrameric architecture and previously unobserved conformational states.

Use of climate smart agriculture technologies in West Africa peri-urban Sahel in Niger.

Climate change affects peri-urban agricultural systems. However, most studies on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) often focused on climate-smart villages in the Sahel region. This study investigated peri-urban farming systems in West African Sahel cities.

Cut from the Same Cloth? Comparing the Sexuality of Male Cross-Dressers and Transfeminine Individuals Through the Conceptual Framework of Autogynephilia.

Autogynephilia is a natal male's propensity to be sexually aroused by the thought or fantasy of being a woman. Both male cross-dressers and transfeminine individuals (a broad range of individuals born male with a feminine gender identity; e.g.

Empowering African Expertise: Enhancing Safety Data Integration and Signal Detection for COVID-19 Vaccines Through the African Union Smart Safety Surveillance Joint Signal Management Group.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated new vaccine development. Limited safety data necessitated robust global safety surveillance to accurately identify and promptly communicate potential safety issues. The African Union Smart Safety Surveillance (AU-3S) program established the Joint Signal Management (JSM) group to support identification of potential vaccine safety concerns in five pilot countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa), accounting for approximately 35% of the African population.

Moiré-driven topological electronic crystals in twisted graphene.

In a dilute two-dimensional electron gas, Coulomb interactions can stabilize the formation of a Wigner crystal. Although Wigner crystals are topologically trivial, it has been predicted that electrons in a partially filled band can break continuous translational symmetry and time-reversal symmetry spontaneously, resulting in a type of topological electron crystal known as an anomalous Hall crystal. Here we report signatures of a generalized version of the anomalous Hall crystal in twisted bilayer-trilayer graphene, whose formation is driven by the moiré potential.

Tissue-resident memory CD8 T cell diversity is spatiotemporally imprinted.

Tissue-resident memory CD8 T (T) cells provide protection from infection at barrier sites. In the small intestine, T cells are found in at least two distinct subpopulations: one with higher expression of effector molecules and another with greater memory potential. However, the origins of this diversity remain unknown.

Experience-dependent dopamine modulation of male aggression.

Numerous studies support the role of dopamine in modulating aggression, but the exact neural mechanisms remain elusive. Here we show that dopaminergic cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) can bidirectionally modulate aggression in male mice in an experience-dependent manner. Although VTA dopaminergic cells strongly influence aggression in novice aggressors, they become ineffective in expert aggressors.

Regional and institutional trends in assessment for academic promotion.

The assessment of research performance is widely seen as a vital tool in upholding the highest standards of quality, with selection and competition believed to drive progress. Academic institutions need to take critical decisions on hiring and promotion, while facing external pressure by also being subject to research assessment. Here we present an outlook on research assessment for career progression with specific focus on promotion to full professorship, based on 314 policies from 190 academic institutions and 218 policies from 58 government agencies, covering 32 countries in the Global North and 89 countries in the Global South.

Validating the RISE Communication Play Protocol as a Diagnostic Tool for Autism in Early Childhood: A Pilot Study.

There are few validated remote tools that can be used to assess for autism and to capture subtle changes in children's social communication over time. Recently, user-centered design principles were applied to develop a parent-mediated remote assessment, the Reciprocal Imitation and Social Engagement Child Play Protocol (RISE CPP) to enable researchers to capture micro-level behaviors in children, while promoting useability for researchers and families, reducing caregiver burden, and maintaining reliability. This paper describes a pilot study to validate the RISE CPP as a tool to support clinician diagnosis of autism.

In vivo CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in mice identifies genetic modifiers of somatic CAG repeat instability in Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease, one of more than 50 inherited repeat expansion disorders, is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG expansion in HTT. Inherited CAG repeat length is the primary determinant of age of onset, with human genetic studies underscoring that the disease is driven by the CAG length-dependent propensity of the repeat to further expand in the brain. Routes to slowing somatic CAG expansion, therefore, hold promise for disease-modifying therapies.

Phage therapy could be key to conquering persistent bacterial lung infections in children.

Persistent bacterial lung infections in children lead to significant morbidity and mortality due to antibiotic resistance. In this paper, we describe how phage therapy has shown remarkable efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies, demonstrating significant therapeutic benefits through various administration routes. Ongoing trials are evaluating its safety and effectiveness against different pathogens.

Identifying outcome domains to establish a core outcome set for progressive pulmonary fibrosis: a scoping review.

Introduction: People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other forms of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) have a high symptom burden and a poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Despite efforts to offer specialised treatment, clinical care for these patients remains suboptimal and several nonmedical needs remain unaddressed. Developing a core outcome set (COS) can help to identify a minimum set of agreed-upon outcomes that should be measured and acted-upon in clinical care.

Bioactivity of the ubiquitous tire preservative 6PPD and degradant, 6PPD-quinone in fish and mammalian-based assays.

6PPD-quinone (N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone), a transformation product of the antiozonant 6PPD (N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine) is a likely causative agent of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) pre-spawn mortality. Stormwater runoff transports 6PPD-quinone into freshwater streams, rapidly leading to neurobehavioral, respiratory distress, and rapid mortality in laboratory exposed coho salmon, but causing no mortality in many laboratory-tested species. Given this identified hazard, and potential for environmental exposure, we evaluated a set of U.

Urinary selenium, cranial MRI, and cognitive function in American Indians: The Strong Heart Study.

Introduction: Selenium (Se), a trace element found in soil and groundwater, is necessary for many biological functions, including cerebrovascular health, through selenoprotein formation. However, high concentrations may be harmful. American Indians face elevated cerebrovascular disease rates, which may be associated with other trace elements, such as Se.

Efficacy and Safety of Abhal (Juniperus communis L). on Pain intensity, Uterine Artery Doppler Flow, and Quality of Life in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Incorporating ancient wisdom from Unani Medicine, this study delves into the therapeutic efficacy of Juniperus communis L. in primary dysmenorrhea. By seamlessly merging traditional knowledge with modern scientific evaluation, this research illuminates Juniperus communis L.

The allelic mutation of NBS-LRR gene causes premature senescence in wheat.

Premature senescence has a significant impact on the yield and quality of wheat crops. The process is controlled by multiple and intricate genetic pathways and regulatory elements, whereby the discovery of additional mutants provides important insights into the molecular basis of this important trait. Here, we developed a premature senescence wheat mutant je0874, its leaves started to show yellow before heading stage; with plant growth and development, the degree of yellowing worsened rapidly, and chlorophyll content in flag leaf was reduced by 93.