Reproducibility of fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo across diverse community codes: The case of water-methane dimer.

Fixed-node diffusion quantum Monte Carlo (FN-DMC) is a widely trusted many-body method for solving the Schrödinger equation, known for its reliable predictions of material and molecular properties. Furthermore, its excellent scalability with system complexity and near-perfect utilization of computational power make FN-DMC ideally positioned to leverage new advances in computing to address increasingly complex scientific problems. Even though the method is widely used as a computational gold standard, reproducibility across the numerous FN-DMC code implementations has yet to be demonstrated.

Large- and small-scale population structure of pv. , a bacterial pathogen of rice.

pv. is a pathogen of rice responsible for bacterial leaf streak, a disease that can cause up to 32% yield loss. While it was first reported a century ago in Asia, its first report in Africa was in the 1980s.

A cross-disciplinary hands-on genomics curriculum adaptable for high school to undergraduate education.

DNA literacy is becoming increasingly essential for navigating healthcare, understanding pandemics, and engaging with biotechnology-yet genomics education remains limited at the secondary level of education. We present a modular, hands-on curriculum designed for high school and early undergraduate students (ages 14-21) that introduces key genomics concepts through an experiment on fermentation, a process that is key to food preservation and medicine. Students follow a complete scientific process: exploring what DNA is and how microbial succession works, analyzing real DNA sequencing data, and writing a formal scientific report.

Two-Decade Trends in MASLD and Its Complications in the Middle East and North Africa (2010-2021).

Background: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is undergoing demographic shifts potentially increasing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its complications. We assessed MASLD prevalence and liver disease burden from 2010 to 2021.

Methods: Data from Global Burden of Disease (GBD), United Nations Population Division and NCD Risk Factor Collaboration covering 21 MENA countries were used for annual percent change (APC) trends per Joinpoint regression.

MRSA Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Neck and Chest in a 3-Month-Old Infant.

We report the case of a 3-month-old infant with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) necrotizing fasciitis of the neck and chest complicated by bacteremia, pneumonia, and mediastinitis, which required multiple surgical debridements, including median sternotomy. The case is unsual given the patient's age and causative pathogen, and underscores the importance of early diagnosis, timely surgical intervention, and multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure survival.

RELA Ablation Contributes to Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with TP53 Mutation and is a Potential Therapeutic Target.

TP53 mutations are highly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common and deadly cancer. However, few primary drivers in the progression of HCC with mutant TP53 have been identified. To uncover tumor suppressors in human HCC, a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9-based screening of primary human hepatocytes with MYC and TP53 overexpression (MT-PHHs) is performed in xenografts.

A phase 1 study of IO-202, an anti-LILRB4 antibody, in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

IO-202 is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody with high affinity and specificity for leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4; ILT3), which is predominantly expressed in monocytes and monocytic blasts. IO-202 induces antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis in vitro and in patients with leukemia. Herein, we present the phase 1a dose escalation data of IO-202 as monotherapy and in combination with azacitidine (AZA) in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and R/R chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and the phase 1b dose expansion data of IO-202 combined with AZA for the treatment of hypomethylating agent (HMA)-naïve CMML.

Advancing outcome measure development and analytical approaches: Pain in Animals Workshop 2023.

Annually, millions of humans and animals suffer from chronic and acute pain, creating welfare and quality of life concerns for both humans and animals who suffer this pain. In developing new therapeutic approaches, the challenge is to accurately measure this pain to ascertain the efficacy of novel therapeutics. Additionally, there is a need to develop new and effective analgesic options that may offer alternatives to using opioids that contribute to the opioid epidemic.

Isolated Peroneal Nerve Palsy Following Bariatric Surgery in the Absence of Nutritional Deficiency: A Case Report.

Peroneal neuropathy is a recognized cause for foot drop, typically following trauma, nerve damage, immobilization, or prolonged external pressure. Recently, rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery has been recognised as a potential cause for peroneal neuropathy. This may be due to the loss of protective fat tissue near the peroneal nerve, increasing its susceptibility to compression.

Long-term outcomes of surgical repair versus replacement for tricuspid valve endocarditis - A -analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data.

Introduction: Tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (TVIE) is surgically managed by tricuspid valve repair (TVr) or replacement (TVR). However, the differences in long-term endpoints and perioperative complications between the two strategies remain unclear. Therefore, this updated -analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TVr compared with TVR.

Functional Validation of Noncoding Variants Associated With Nonsyndromic Orofacial Cleft.

Over the past decade, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have found genetic variants associated with elevated risk for nonsyndromic orofacial cleft (NSOFC). In the post-GWAS era of NSOFC genetic research, an important aim is to identify the pathogenic variants that influence craniofacial development processes, towards understanding how they lead to disease manifestation. However, two major challenges hinder the translation of GWAS results into a mechanistic understanding.

Stress and quality of life postpreterm birth during polycrises: prospective cohort study.

Background: Preterm birth remains a leading cause of neonatal mortality globally and is worsened in crisis-affected countries like Lebanon. This study explored how social determinants of health relate to preterm birth and maternal postpartum outcomes, including quality of life (QoL), perceived stress, and social support.

Objective: to explore the impact of the social environment in polycrises context on preterm birth, the association between preterm birth and maternal postpartum QoL, perceived stress, and social support.

Development and Validation of a Semiautomated Tool for Measuring Periorbital Distances.

Purpose: To validate a custom FIJI (ImageJ) program for more reproducible, faster curvilinear periorbital measurements, as compared with 2 custom artificial intelligence-based tools.

Design: Combined technical validation and method comparison study.

Subjects: Front-facing photographs of 45 cleft palate syndromic patients.

The Impact of Medical Cannabis Laws on Cannabis and Opioid Use Disorder Treatment and Overdose-Related Health Care Utilization Among Adults With Chronic Noncancer Pain.

Unlabelled: Policy Points Among patients with chronic noncancer pain, state medical cannabis laws did not impact health care use for opioid use disorder. There were no changes in health care use for opioid overdose attributable to medical cannabis laws. Medical cannabis laws do not appear to lead to reductions in adverse opioid-related outcomes.

Patterns of Genetic Diversity Within Three California Quail Species Are Best Explained by Climate and Landscape Changes.

Many North American game animals experienced severe population declines during the 19th century due to market hunting. However, estimates of the timing and magnitude of these declines often rely on anecdotal evidence, which makes it difficult to understand the lasting impacts of hunting pressures versus climate or landscape changes on the genetic diversity of contemporary populations. Historical reports suggest the California quail (Callipepla californica) suffered more significant hunting pressure in the late 19th century relative to either Gambel's (Callipepla gambelii) or mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus).

Characterization of Early Viral Populations in Infants Acquiring HIV Through Perinatal and Breastmilk Transmission: A Review of what is Currently Known and the Gaps that Need to be Addressed to Guide Passive HIV Immunization of Breastfeeding Infants.

Newborns represent only 1% of the population. Yet, HIV vertical transmissions represent 10% of all new infections globally, even though antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been shown to reduce the risk of vertical transmission to less than 2%. While vaccines still represent the most efficient and cost-effective intervention to eradicate new infections, HIV immunogens that can effectively elicit broad-spectrum protection are still at least a decade away.

Tumor-Specific Critical Intraoperative Findings Influence Multidisciplinary Therapy.

Background: Local control strategies in pediatric oncology are guided by disease-specific considerations. Effective communication of the goals of surgical procedure and associated intraoperative events plays a crucial role in shaping subsequent treatment decisions. However, accurately and comprehensively documenting these findings remains challenging, with considerable variability across different tumor types.

Tirzepatide for the Maintenance of Body Weight Reduction: Rationale, Design, and Baseline Characteristics of SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN.

Objective: SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of reducing the tirzepatide dose and/or continuing the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) versus placebo in maintaining body weight (BW) reduction achieved with tirzepatide MTD.

Methods: This Phase 3b, multicenter, randomized, parallel-arm, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 52-week clinical trial is in progress comparing treatment with once weekly tirzepatide (5 mg and/or MTD of 15 mg or 10 mg) versus placebo in achieving BW reduction maintenance from the initial 60-week open-label weight-loss period on tirzepatide MTD, in adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m or ≥ 27 kg/m with ≥ 1 obesity-related comorbidity, excluding type 2 diabetes). The primary endpoint is percent maintenance of BW reduction achieved during the weight-loss period at Week 112 among those who reached a BW plateau (i.

Inflammatory bowel disease vs. adverse in-hospital outcomes after radical prostatectomy.

Introduction: The effect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on adverse in-hospital outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP) for nonmetastatic prostate cancer (PCa) is not well known.

Materials And Methods: Descriptive analyses, propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression models were used within the National Inpatient Sample (2000-2019) RP patients, after stratification according to Crohn's disease (CD) vs. ulcerative colitis (UC) vs.

Association Between Race and Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer in Transperineal and Transrectal Biopsies.

Background And Objective: The apex-to-base transperineal (TP) prostate biopsy needle trajectory may better sample the anterior prostate than the transrectal approach. There is evidence that African American men are more likely to harbor anterior tumors, suggesting that TP biopsy would result in better detection in these men. We performed a secondary retrospective analysis of prospective randomized trial data to determine whether African American race is associated with anterior tumor location and better detection with TP biopsy.

Phase 2C clinical trial of novel short-course regimens for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis: TBTC study 38/CRUSH-TB design.

Introduction: Preclinical and clinical study data show that combining bedaquiline (B or BDQ), moxifloxacin (M), and pyrazinamide (Z), known as BMZ, has potent antimicrobial activity that might shorten treatment duration for drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis.

Methods/design: We describe the design of Tuberculosis Trials Consortium (TBTC) Study 38/CRUSH-TB (NCT05766267), an open-label multicenter international randomized controlled phase 2C trial that compares two four-month regimens, BMZ plus rifabutin (Rb) (2BMZRb/2BMRb) or BMZ plus delamanid (D or DLM) (2BMZD/2BMD), with standard 6-months isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (HRZE). All drugs are administered seven days per week, under direct observation, at least five days per week.