Tag: News Approved

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World Models: 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now

World models recently made our list of 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now. Watch executive editor Niall Firth explain why this emerging area of AI is gaining so much attention.

Join MIT Technology Review editors and reporters for a subscriber-only Roundtables discussion, “Can AI Learn to Understand the World?” exploring how AI may evolve to better reason about the real world and what this could mean for the future of AI systems.

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Speakers:

Mat Honan
Editor in Chief
Will Douglas Heaven
Senior Editor, AI
Grace Huckins
AI Reporter
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Substance P–expressing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus mediate chronic cough hypersensitivity via the hypothalamus–airway neural pathway

Background and purposeIncreased cough sensitivity is the key pathophysiological mechanism of chronic cough. Although previous studies have focused on peripheral airway receptor sensitization, the role of the central nervous system—particularly the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN)—remains unclear. Whether substance P (SP)–expressing PVN neurons contribute to cough hypersensitivity remains unknown.MethodsThree-week-old Hartley guinea pigs were divided into three groups: citric acid (CA), saline control (SA), and blank control (CON). A cough hypersensitivity model was induced by inhalation of 0.4 mol/L citric acid. Cough sensitivity was assessed using a capsaicin challenge, with the C5 threshold defined as the lowest capsaicin concentration inducing ≥5 coughs. Locomotor activity was evaluated using the open-field test. Airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia were examined by HE and PAS staining. SP and c-Fos expression in the PVN were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot. HSV retrograde tracing was used to analyze the PVN-airway neural pathway associated with cough hypersensitivity.ResultsCompared with the control groups, guinea pigs in the CA group exhibited a time-dependent increase in cough frequency and enhanced cough sensitivity, as indicated by a reduction in the C5 threshold. Histological analysis revealed increased inflammatory cell infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia in the airways of the CA group. SP and c-Fos expression, along with the proportion of SP/Fos double-labeled neurons in the PVN, were significantly increased in the CA group (all P < 0.05). Viral tracing confirmed the presence of HSV-positive neurons in the PVN, supporting a neural connection between the PVN and the airways.ConclusionActivation of SP-expressing neurons in the PVN is associated with cough hypersensitivity and suggests the presence of a potential PVN–airway neural pathway. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the development of central-targeted therapies for chronic cough.
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Multimodal CT radiomics-clinical ensemble machine learning model effectively predicts futile recanalization after endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke

BackgroundsFutile recanalization (FR) poses a significant challenge in endovascular treatment and there is a lack of reliable predictive models for assessing treatment outcomes in stroke. The aim of this study is to develop a robust CT radiomics-clinical ensemble model that predicts FR in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) following endovascular treatment (EVT) utilizing machine learning techniques.MethodsThis study enrolled 101 patients diagnosed with AIS who underwent successful EVT. A total of 946 radiomics features were, respectively, extracted from non-contrast CT (NCCT), contrast-enhanced CT (CECT), and various CT perfusion maps (CBF, CBV, MTT, and TTP) using PyRadiomics prior to the endovascular intervention. Demographic characteristics, along with baseline clinical, laboratory, and angiographic variables, were incorporated as clinical features in the model analysis. Feature engineering was performed using SelectKBest. Five traditional machine learning algorithms were employed for modeling. The dataset was randomly split into a training cohort (n = 71, 70%) and an internal validation cohort (n = 30, 30%). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to evaluate the performance of each model.ResultsAmong the 101 patients, FR occurred in 66 individuals (65%), as determined by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days. The ensemble model integrating clinical data, NCCT, and CBV achieved the highest performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.918 using the CatBoost algorithm.ConclusionThe multimodal CT radiomics-clinical ensemble machine learning model demonstrated excellent predictive capability for identifying FR in AIS patients with large vessel occlusion prior to EVT.
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Development and validation of a measure of early adverse experiences: childhood adversity scale

IntroductionChildhood adversities disrupt the healthy development of children and often have long-term effects on their physical and mental health in adulthood. Identifying them is essential; however, the majority of the existing tools do not adequately capture their diversity and complexity. Moreover, although the age at which adversities occur and their subjective impacts are known to be important, many instruments fail to assess these dimensions.MethodsTo address these gaps, a new scale was developed based on a review of 300 client files from individuals diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID). The scale items were derived from types of childhood adversity commonly associated with the formation of alternate identities. Psychometric evaluation was conducted using data from three independent samples.ResultsExploratory factor analysis (EFA) with the first sample (n = 338) indicated that a single factor explained more than half of the total variance, supporting a unidimensional structure for the 59-item scale. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with the second sample (n = 413), refined using modification indices, demonstrated good model fit. Convergent validity was evaluated in a third sample (n = 125) using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale. A significant positive correlation was found between the Childhood Adversity Scale (CAS) and ACE, indicating strong convergent validity.DiscussionThis suggests that CAS is a reliable and valid tool that both clinicians and researchers can use for a comprehensive assessment of childhood adverseness.
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Revolution’s aftermath: population based cross-sectional study to understand the intergeneration mental health and wellbeing following the 2024 student-led uprising

BackgroundBangladesh was confronted with a nationwide student uprising in July 2024, that exposed both participants and observers to widespread unrest and traumatic events. To better understand the kind of support the population will need, it is important to understand its immediate impact on mental wellbeing.AimAim was to examine the prevalence of trauma symptoms among the Bangladeshi general population, aged 15+, within three-months following revolution.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey using the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5, five-point Likert scale), was combined with a one-off online workshop to sensitise this population on mental health, trauma, and resilience. Associations between sociodemographic factors and PCL-5 scores were examined with multiple linear regression (ANOVA/ANCOVA). Probable PTSD (PCL-5 ≥ 31) was assessed using log-binomial regression. We estimated Population Attributable Fractions (PAF), Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) to estimate the proportion of high PTSD attributable to each exposure, and applied min–max normalisation of Likert scales for cross-item comparison.ResultsMore than half of the surveyed participants (n=207; mean age 27.6 ± 9.7 years; 72% Gen Z) had clinically suggestive PTSD. This was more common among women (53.7%), and respondents from Chattogram (57.4%) and Khulna (66.7%). Adjusted analyses suggested modestly higher prevalence among Millennials (PR 1.23, 95% CI 0.87-1.74). PAF estimates indicated small contributions from age groups (Millennials +6.5%, GenX/Boomers -3.6%), and gender (men -3.1%). Under hypothetical elimination of exposure, absolute PTSD reduction was greatest among Millennials. Symptom clusters varied: women, and older adults showed consistently higher scores, while Gen Z reported more negative thoughts/feelings.ConclusionThe study underscores the potential higher prevalence of probable PTSD following large-scale demonstrations and confrontations, and recommends targeted culturally appropriate mental health interventions. Further research involving a representative sample from the population and longitudinal data is recommended to monitor long-term psychological impacts in Bangladesh.
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Comparative efficacy of non-pharmacological therapies in adolescents with subthreshold depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BackgroundSubthreshold depression (SD) is highly prevalent in adolescents and young adults aged 11–25 years, leading to impaired psychosocial functioning and a high risk of progression to major depressive disorder (MDD). Non-pharmacological therapies are the mainstay of intervention for adolescent SD, yet the comparative efficacy of different interventions remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the relative effectiveness of various non-pharmacological interventions for adolescent SD via network meta-analysis (NMA).MethodsWe initially retrieved 5,297 records from six databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, PsycINFO, CINAHL) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of non-pharmacological interventions for SD in individuals aged 11–25 years who did not meet the DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for MDD or depressive episode. The control groups received waitlist control or usual care, and the primary outcome was depressive symptoms assessed by validated scales (BDI-II, CES-D, CDI, HAMD). Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment (RoB 2.0). Heterogeneity was analyzed using the I² statistic; NMA was performed under a Bayesian framework with consistency assessment, and the CINeMA tool was used to grade the certainty of evidence. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023456264) and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement.ResultsA total of 30 RCTs involving 3,471 participants were included. Traditional meta-analysis showed that non-pharmacological interventions significantly improved depressive symptoms in adolescents with SD (pooled SMD = −0.93, 95% CI: −1.20 to −0.66, P < 0.0001), with high heterogeneity across studies (I² = 92%) driven by intervention type, delivery mode, intervention duration and participant age. NMA results indicated that behavioral activation (BA) was the most effective intervention (SMD = −3.45, 95% CI: −4.89 to −2.02), followed by physical exercise intervention (PEI) (SMD = −1.34, 95% CI: −2.68 to −0.03) and light therapy (LT) (SMD = −1.24, 95% CI: −2.17 to −0.31). No significant overall inconsistency was detected in the study (χ²=6.72, df=9, P = 0.651).ConclusionsNon-pharmacological interventions are effective for adolescents with SD, and BA is recommended as the first-line clinical option. Clinical selection of interventions should take into account individual patient characteristics and intervention features. This study has several limitations, including high heterogeneity across studies, single-study evidence for some interventions (e.g., LT, PEI), a broad age range of participants and the lack of long-term follow-up data. Further large-scale, multi-center RCTs are needed to validate these findings.
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RESCUE- expected usefulness and willingness to participate in a trauma-informed group intervention for coping with traumatic work experiences in the emergency medical services

Emergency Medical Services personnel (EMS) are confronted with potentially highly stressful and traumatic occupational experiences, placing them at high-risk for mental disorders. Avoidant coping mechanisms, internalized and occupational stigma not only impede disclosure of and processing the incident-related stress but also weaken the overall resilience of the EMS. Effective interventions are needed that operate both at the individual and group level. The aim of this study was to investigate the expected usefulness and willingness to participate in a trauma-informed intervention (Facts derived from Narrative Exposure Therapy, NETfacts). A total of 256 German EMS (67.19% men, 32.81% women) participated in the online survey. We assessed the expected usefulness and willingness to participate in NETfacts, critical incident-related stress (EMS Critical Incident Inventory EMS-CII), burnout symptoms (Professional Quality of Life ProQOL), age and work experience. Overall, about half of the EMS expected NETfacts to be at least somewhat useful, and reported a generally willingness to participate. Expected usefulness was neither associated with critical incident-related stress nor burnout symptoms. Younger participants (<35 years) showed a generally higher willingness to participate than older participants. However, the willingness is across both age groups positively associated with higher levels of critical incident-related stress. Nevertheless, burnout symptoms and the willingness are negatively associated among participants age 35 and older, while remaining stable among their younger colleagues. Early, trauma-informed and age-sensitive prevention programs are needed to mitigate the adverse effects of critical incidents among EMS. Our study presents EMS preferred circumstances to enhance employees’ uptake of such a program.