New zebrafish models of neurodegeneration

In modern biomedicine, the increasing need to develop experimental models to further our understanding of disease conditions and delineate innovative treatments has found in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) an experimental model, and indeed a valuable asset, to close the gap between in vitro and in vivo assays. Translation of ideas at a faster pace is vital in the field of neurodegeneration, with the attempt to slow or prevent the dramatic impact on the society's welfare being an essential priority. Our research group has pioneered the use of zebrafish to contribute to the quest for faster and improved understanding and treatment of neurodegeneration in concert with, and inspired by, many others who have primed the study of the zebrafish to understand and search for a cure for disorders of the nervous system. Aware of the many advantages this vertebrate model holds, here, we present an update on the recent zebrafish models available to study neurodegeneration with the goal of stimulating further interest and increasing the number of diseases and applications for which they can be exploited. We shall do so by citing and commenting on recent breakthroughs made possible via zebrafish, highlighting their benefits for the testing of therapeutics and dissecting of disease mechanisms

High-Precision Indoor Localization in Multi-Level Buildings

Accurate localization in multi-floor indoor environments is essential for applications such as large-scale inventory management, healthcare, and security systems. However, achieving high-precision tracking with passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags in these complex settings presents significant challenges, including managing vertical spatial data, reducing signal interference between floors, and maintaining computational efficiency. This paper presents a novel approach that leverages holographic algorithms to enhance the localization accuracy of passive RFID tags in multi-floor buildings. By deploying multiple RFID readers across floors and constructing 3D holographic representations from signal phase data, our approach effectively distinguishes vertical positions, allowing for precise floor-specific tracking. The proposed method achieves an average localization error of approximately 5 cm, even in multifloor environments, through optimized reader placement and computational overhead reduction. This advancement has broad applications in sectors requiring highly accurate object tracking across large, multi-level indoor spaces, positioning holographic localization as a promising solution for modern multi-floor localization needs

Postnatal depression among Libyan women in Derna

Background: Postnatal depression during postnatal period is a recurrence of pre-existing situation and one of the common types of mental health illness. Objectives were to explore the factors and prevalence of postnatal depression that influences on the women’s during postnatal period in Denra city and it surrounded suburbs. Methods: Design A prospective study was carried out and survey of practice. We used Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) to collect data between January 2021 to December 2021 in Derna city and its suburbs.  Participances women who took part in the study, met specific criteria such as their baby being born within the previous twelve months. Results: Overall, 100 women were included in this study. The mean age of women was 32.51±5.72 from 23 to 45 years. More than one third 36% of women were from Derna and 66% of women live in their own house. According to EPDS, found 47% of women were possible to expose to depression, 51% of women were complain from postnatal depression and 2% were attempted to suicide. The women delivered by caesarean section were at high risk of postnatal depression (p=0.001).  Conclusions: Untreated postnatal depression led to harmful effect on the relationship between mother and her baby, her partner and other family members. lead to negative impact on society screening and early diagnosis for postpartum depression is important, essential and a vital role for health care professionals such as (midwives, health visitors, nurses and GPs)

Vaginal birth after previous caesarean section in women at Al-Wahda hospital Derna, Libya

Background: Vaginal birth after caesarean section is one strategy that has been developed to decrease the rate of caesarean section.Methods: The prospective observational study was carried out over a period of 01 January 2017 to 31 December 2018 years. VBAC was routinely offered at Al-Wahda hospital Derna to women fulfilling the criteria for trial of scar, according to the hospital protocol.Results: A total of 5018 deliveries took place in the study duration, there were 1039 (20.7%) had previous one caesarean section, out of which 319 (30.7%) were the number of underwent repeat caesarean section and 720 (69.3%) were the number of VBAC. The indications for emergency repeat caesarean section at Al-Wahda hospital was (29.3%) malpresentation, (24.45%) FD, (13.47) postdate, (11.59) obstracted lab and abruptiopl (5.95%). Anemia and difficult intubation were observed in repeated caesarean section.Conclusions: This study concluded that there is a high chance of success in a trial of labor. These findings might help clinicians and women in the decision-making for the mode of delivery when it comes to pregnancy with a previous caesarean section. Women are explained about the option of trial of scar and told about the risk associated with a repeat CS, so many CSs can be avoided. 

Using ABM to explore the role of socio-environmental interactions on Ancient Settlement Dynamics

Korrigierter Nachdruck: Bildunterschrift Fig. 2 und 3 korrigiert.This paper presents a work in progress within the project « Modeling the role of socio-environmental interactions on Ancient Settlement Dynamics - ModelAnSet » developed by archaeologists, historians, palaeoenvironmentalists and computer scientists at University Côte d’Azur (Nice). Agent-based modelling is used to explore the respective role of environmental and social factors in the evolution of the settlement pattern and dynamics during the Roman period in South-Eastern France. The model aims at simulating the impact of the climatic and macro-economic conditions on the behaviour of Gallo-Roman landowners. According to the profit they derive from their farms and/or villas, which depends both on natural and socio-economic factors, the landowners can decide to maintain without change, improve, enlarge or abandon their agricultural holdings or to create a new one. Through the repeated landowners’ decision-making, the ABM thus simulates a changing macro-level settlement pattern, in terms of number, type and location of the settlements. The paper focuses on the conceptual model in order to present the model entities and the dynamics underlying their interactions, and explain our choices and hypotheses

Using ABM to explore the role of socio-environmental interactions on Ancient Settlement Dynamics

This paper presents a work in progress within the project « Modeling the role of socio-environmental interactions on Ancient Settlement Dynamics - ModelAnSet » developed by archaeologists, historians, palaeoenvironmentalists and computer scientists at University Côte d’Azur (Nice). Agent-based modelling is used to explore the respective role of environmental and social factors in the evolution of the settlement pattern and dynamics during the Roman period in South-Eastern France. The model aims at simulating the impact of the climatic and macro-economic conditions on the behaviour of Gallo-Roman landowners. According to the profit they derive from their farms and/or villas, which depends both on natural and socio-economic factors, the landowners can decide to maintain without change, improve, enlarge or abandon their agricultural holdings or to create a new one. Through the repeated landowners’ decision-making, the ABM thus simulates a changing macro-level settlement pattern, in terms of number, type and location of the settlements. The paper focuses on the conceptual model in order to present the model entities and the dynamics underlying their interactions, and explain our choices and hypotheses

Efficacy and Safety of Zilucoplan in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance: The etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease, is unknown. However, neuroinflammation and complement activation may play a role in disease progression. Objective: To determine the effects of zilucoplan, an inhibitor of complement C5, in individuals with ALS. Design, Setting, and Participants: Zilucoplan was tested as regimen A of the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial, a phase 2 to 3 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled perpetual platform clinical trial with sharing of trial infrastructure and placebo data across multiple regimens. Regimen A was conducted from August 17, 2020, to May 4, 2022. A total of 162 participants were randomized to receive zilucoplan (122 [75.3%]) or regimen-specific placebo (40 [24.7%]). An additional 124 concurrently randomized participants were randomized to receive placebo in other regimens. Interventions: Eligible participants were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to receive zilucoplan or matching placebo within strata of edaravone and/or riluzole use for a planned duration of 24 weeks. Active drug (zilucoplan, 0.3 mg/kg) and placebo were provided for daily subcutaneous dosing. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was change in disease severity from baseline through 24 weeks as measured by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale–Revised (ALSFRS-R) total score and survival, analyzed using a bayesian shared-parameter model and reported as disease rate ratio (DRR; Results: Among the 162 participants who were randomized (mean [SD] age, 59.6 [11.3]; 99 [61.1%] male), 115 (71.0%) completed the trial. The estimated DRR common to ALSFRS-R and survival was 1.08 (95% credible interval, 0.87-1.31; posterior probability of superiority, 0.24). The trial was stopped early for futility. No unexpected treatment-related risks were identified. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial of zilucoplan in ALS, treatment did not alter disease progression. The adaptive platform design of the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial made it possible to test a new investigational product with efficient use of time and resources. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04297683</p

ATXN1 repeat expansions confer risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and contribute to TDP-43 mislocalization

Increasingly, repeat expansions are being identified as part of the complex genetic architecture of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. To date, several repeat expansions have been genetically associated with the disease: intronic repeat expansions in C9orf72, polyglutamine expansions in ATXN2 and polyalanine expansions in NIPA1. Together with previously published data, the identification of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient with a family history of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, caused by polyglutamine expansions in ATXN1, suggested a similar disease association for the repeat expansion in ATXN1. We, therefore, performed a large-scale international study in 11,700 individuals, in which we showed a significant association between intermediate ATXN1 repeat expansions and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (P = 3.33 x 10−7). Subsequent functional experiments have shown that ATXN1 reduces the nucleocytoplasmic ratio of TDP-43 and enhances amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotypes in Drosophila, further emphasizing the role of polyglutamine repeat expansions in the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis