Efficient production of sodium Bose-Einstein condensates in a hybrid trap.

We describe an apparatus that efficiently produces 23Na Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in a hybrid trap that combines a quadrupole magnetic field with a far-detuned optical dipole trap. Using a Bayesian optimization framework, we systematically optimize all BEC production parameters in modest-sized batches of highly correlated parameters. Furthermore, we introduce a Lagrange multiplier-based technique to optimize the duration of different evaporation stages constrained to have a fixed total duration; this enables the progressive creation of increasingly rapid experimental sequences that still generate high-quality BECs.

A compact low-level RF control system for advanced concept compact electron linear accelerator.

A compact low-level RF (LLRF) control system based on RF system-on-chip (RFSoC) technology has been designed for the Advanced Concept Compact Electron Linear-accelerator (ACCEL) program, which has challenging requirements in both RF performance and size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP). The compact LLRF solution employs the direct RF sampling technique of RFSoC, which samples the RF signals directly without any analog upconversion and downconversion. Compared with the conventional heterodyne based architecture used for the LLRF system of a linear accelerator (LINAC), the elimination of analog mixers can significantly reduce the size and weight of the system, especially with LINAC requiring a larger number of RF channels.

New Experimental Mouse Models to Evaluate the Role of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta in Liver Tumorigenesis.

Background And Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. TGF-β is a promising therapeutic target, but its dual role, as both a tumour suppressor and promoter, complicates its clinical application. While its effects on tumour cells are increasingly understood, its impact on the tumour stroma remains unclear.

Updating the epidemiology of blastomycosis and histoplasmosis in the United States, using national electronic health record data, 2013-2023.

Introduction: Where surveillance data are limited, nationally-representative electronic health records allow for geographic, temporal, and demographic characterization of the fungal diseases blastomycosis and histoplasmosis.

Methods: We identified incident blastomycosis and histoplasmosis cases from 2013 to 2023 within Oracle EHR Real-World Data, which comprises 1.6 billion healthcare encounters nationally.

Genomic insights into a diarrheal outbreak in Bangladesh reveal novel ETEC lineages and expansion of CS23 colonization factor.

Enterotoxigenic (ETEC), a leading cause of diarrhea, is defined by heat-stable (ST) and/or heat-labile (LT) toxins and associated colonization factors (CFs). However, there is still a knowledge gap in understanding ETEC's evolution, particularly in endemic regions like Bangladesh. This study investigates the genomic attributes contributing to the rise of ETEC-associated diarrhea in Bangladesh during 2022-2023.

Chemical stimuli override a temperature-dependent morphological program by reprogramming the transcriptome of a fungal pathogen.

The human fungal pathogen changes its morphology in response to temperature. At 37°C, it grows as a budding yeast, whereas at room temperature (RT), it transitions to hyphal growth. Prior work has demonstrated that 15-20% of transcripts are temperature-regulated, and that transcription factors (TFs) Ryp1-4 are necessary to establish yeast growth.

Aerosol biome of a cafeteria and medical facility in Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA.

Aerosol sampling with next-generation sequencing was used to characterize microbial communities in a cafeteria and medical facility waiting room in Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA. We detected sequences from human, bacteria, archaea, fungi, other eukaryotes, and viruses, providing insights into the diversity of the aerosol microbiome.

Whole-genome sequences of NIH-016 isolates - a set of multidrug-resistant strains collected longitudinally from the same patient.

The complete genomes of three isolates were collected from the same patient in 2014, 2015, and 2016. NIH-016-2 is susceptible to eight antibiotics, while the other two are resistant to 11 commonly used antibiotics. Isolates were sequenced using Nanopore and Illumina short-read technologies.

Orsay virus variants isolated from wild nematodes, France.

Four new variants of Orsay virus were identified from wild isolates of nematodes collected from decaying plant matter in France. Near-complete genomes of the viruses were determined by metagenomic sequencing. The four genomes share 96.

Dissecting antimicrobial logic: species-specific strategies for intracellular pathogen defense.

Control of intracellular pathogens is a critical element of host defense. Defining the molecular mechanisms by which the host restricts or eliminates these pathogens may inform the development of novel immunotherapeutics and antimicrobial strategies, particularly in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. In parallel, understanding how pathogens subvert these immune responses may yield new approaches to disrupt virulence rather than viability.

Multimodal machine learning for staging laparoscopy: a combined image analysis and morphologic tool for the discrimination of peritoneal metastasis.

Background: Staging laparoscopy (SL) is an essential procedure for peritoneal metastasis (PM) detection. Although surgeons are expected to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions intraoperatively, this task remains difficult and error-prone. The aim of this study was to develop a novel multimodal machine learning (MML) model to differentiate PM from benign lesions by integrating morphologic characteristics with intraoperative SL images.

Generalized Functional Linear Models: Efficient Modeling for High-dimensional Correlated Mixture Exposures.

Objective: Humans are exposed to complex mixtures of environmental chemicals and other factors that can affect their health. Analysis of these mixture exposures presents several key challenges for environmental epidemiology and risk assessment, including high dimensionality, correlated exposure, and subtle individual effects.

Methods: We proposed a novel statistical approach, the generalized functional linear model (GFLM), to analyze the health effects of exposure mixtures.

Population-level bistability in quorum sensing.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a widespread signaling mechanism in bacteria that coordinates collective behaviors according to population density. A foundational assumption in this field is that QS functions as a gene expression switch that synchronizes responses at the population level. While some studies indeed report homogeneous on/off transitions, others report heterogeneity at the cellular level, challenging the canonical view.

activity of SPR206 and comparator agents against , species, and Enterobacterales responsible for infection in United States, European, Israeli, and Turkish hospitals.

Increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance require additional safe and effective options for managing difficult-to-treat infections. SPR206 is a next-generation polymyxin with improved safety profiles. This study determined the activity of SPR206 against a diverse collection of gram-negative isolates.

Evolution and structural diversity of the MotAB stator: insights into the origins of bacterial flagellar motility.

The rotation of the bacterial flagellum is powered by the MotAB stator complex, which converts ion flux into torque. Despite its central role in flagellar function, the evolutionary origin and structural diversity of this system remain poorly understood. Here, we present the first comprehensive phylogenetic and structural characterization of MotAB and its closest non-flagellar homologs.

Replication-competent adenovirus reporters utilizing endogenous viral expression architecture.

Unlabelled: Adenoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses widely used as platforms for vaccines, oncolytics, and gene delivery. However, tools for studying adenoviral gene expression in real time during infection remain limited. Here, we describe a set of fluorescent and bioluminescent reporter viruses built using the modular AdenoBuilder reverse genetics system and informed by high-resolution maps of Ad5 transcription.

Oropouche virus NSs protein suppresses host transcription by targeting the RNA polymerase II RPB1 protein.

Unlabelled: Oropouche fever is a debilitating disease caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), an arthropod-borne member of the Peribunyaviridae family. Despite its public health significance, the molecular mechanisms driving OROV pathogenesis remain poorly understood. In other bunyaviruses, the nonstructural NSs protein encoded by the small (S) genome segment acts as a major virulence factor.

The mammalian SKI complex is a broad-spectrum antiviral drug target that upregulates cellular cholesterol to inhibit viral replication.

Unlabelled: There is a need for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral compounds that can act as first-line therapeutic countermeasures to emerging viral infections. Host-directed approaches present a promising avenue of development and carry the benefit of mitigating risks of viral escape mutants. We have previously found the SKI (super killer) complex to be a broad-spectrum, host-target with our lead compound ("UMB18") showing activity against influenza A virus, coronaviruses, and filoviruses.

The ethics of Artificial Intelligence-based psychotherapy and the future of psychiatry.

With increasing use of AI in public life, various technological tools like ChatGPT are being used for psychotherapy. Psychiatrists face unique ethical challenges in understanding their use. Clinicians have an obligation to advise policymakers and to update scope of practice laws related to the mental health workforce and technology.

Changes in Housework Frequency and Subsequent Cognitive Function and Rate of Decline Among Adults Aged ≥ 65 in the United States, 2008-2018.

Introduction: Physical activity level plays a role in modifying the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. However, little is known about how changes in housework affect cognitive function among US adults over the age of 65. This study investigates the correlation between changes in housework frequency and cognitive function over 10 years.

Alcohol use disorders and pneumonia: susceptibility and severity.

Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents a major public health issue that produces far-reaching physiological effects. AUD is an underappreciated, yet critical risk factor clinicians need to be aware of and screen for to integrate preventive and therapeutic strategies when dealing with pneumonia in this vulnerable population. This research paper investigates the link between AUD and pneumonia by examining both the elevated risk of lung infection and the intensified disease severity.