ABSTRACTDespite global consensus on the importance of male involvement in family planning, disparities persist in low- and middle-income countries, where women continue to bear the responsibility for these initiatives. The Philippines, with a high fertility rate and unmet family planning needs, exemplifies this challenge. We present the experiences and lessons learned from implementing the no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) program in Davao City, showcasing its potential for increasing male engagement in family planning decisions. Launched in 2008, the program aimed to address gender disparity by promoting NSV as a safe and effective contraceptive alternative to female-centric methods. Through the use of culturally sensitive information campaigns and couple-focused counseling, the program challenged traditional notions of masculinity and encouraged shared decision-making. Strong local government commitment and public-private partnerships played key roles in driving the program’s success. Results showed an average annual increase of 80% in NSV clients over the past 3 years compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring its effectiveness. The program presents a compelling intervention model for similar initiatives, highlighting how overcoming cultural barriers, infrastructure limitations, and budgetary constraints through policy advocacy, strategic partnerships, and tailored approaches can significantly boost male involvement in family planning and improve reproductive health outcomes within communities.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Nigeria has the highest number of children who have not received any vaccines in Africa. The training-of-trainers (TOT) model used to train program managers (PMs) and health care workers (HCWs) is ineffective for adult learning and limits immunization programs’ success. We incorporated adult learning principles (ALPs) in designing and delivering TOT for immunization PMs and HCWs to use data to engage communities for tailored immunization strategies.Methods: Our study was implemented in 3 local government areas (LGAs) of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. A training curriculum was developed, integrating ALPs and technical and operational content based on best practices in delivering immunization training and the training needs assessment findings. State PMs (n=10), LGA PMs (n=30), and HCWs (n=42) were trained on the human-centered design for tailoring immunization programs (HCD-TIP) approaches using ALPs. We used interviews and surveys with purposively and conveniently sampled PMs and HCWs, respectively, and observations to assess participants’ satisfaction, knowledge and competence, behavior changes, and results. The interviews were analyzed thematically, and surveys were statistically.Results: There was a high level of satisfaction with the training among LGA PMs (100%), state PMs (91%), and HCWs (85%), with significant knowledge and competence improvements post-training (P<.001). The trained participants conducted 2 HCD sessions with 24 undervaccinated communities and co-designed 24 prototype solutions for testing. Results showed increased coverage of the pentavalent vaccine first dose (54%) and third dose (188%) across 12 participating communities. Improved community colaboration, communication skills, and data-driven approaches were the most cited behavior changes in practice.Conclusion: The application of ALPs in training, use of HCD-TIP approaches and tools, and supportive supervision enhanced PMs’ and HCWs’ capacity for tailored interventions. Countries should consider adopting a holistic approach that focuses on using these approaches in immunization programs to strengthen the health system for equitable vaccine coverage.

The phase 3 VISION trial demonstrated that [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) in prostate-specific membrane antigen [PSMA]–positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients who progressed on taxane-based chemotherapy and androgen receptor–signaling inhibitors (ARSIs). The U.S. expanded-access program (EAP; NCT04825652) was opened to provide access to [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 for eligible patients until regulatory approval was obtained. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 within the EAP and compare the results with those from the VISION trial. Methods: Patients enrolled in the EAP at 4 institutions in the United States with available toxicity and outcome data were included. Outcome measures included OS, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate (RR) of at least 50%, and incidences of toxicity according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Differences in baseline characteristics, outcome data, and toxicity between the EAP and VISION were evaluated using t testing of proportions and survival analyses. Results: In total, 117 patients with mCRPC who received [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 within the EAP between May 2021 and March 2022 were eligible and included in this analysis. Patients enrolled in the EAP were more heavily pretreated with ARSI (≥2 ARSI regimens: 70% vs. 46%; P < 0.001) and had worse performance status at baseline (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score ≥ 2: 19% vs. 7%; P < 0.001) than VISION patients. EAP and VISION patients had similar levels of grade 3 or higher anemia (18% vs. 13%; P = 0.15), thrombocytopenia (13% vs. 8%; P = 0.13), and neutropenia (3% vs. 3%; P = 0.85) and similar PSA RRs (42% vs. 46%; P = 0.50) and OS (median: 15.1 vs. 15.3 mo; P > 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with PSMA-positive mCRPC who received [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 within the EAP were later in their disease trajectory than VISION patients. Patients enrolled in the EAP achieved similar PSA RRs and OS and had a safety profile similar to that of the VISION trial patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), with a putative autoimmune origin and complex pathogenesis. Modification of the natural history of MS by reducing relapses and slowing disability accumulation was first attained in the 1990 s with the development of the first-generation disease-modifying therapies. Glatiramer acetate (GA), a copolymer of L-alanine, L-lysine, L-glutamic acid, and L-tyrosine, was discovered due to its ability to suppress the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Extensive clinical trials and long-term assessments established the efficacy and the safety of GA. Furthermore, studies of the therapeutic processes induced by GA in animal models and in MS patients indicate that GA affects various levels of the innate and the adaptive immune response, generating deviation from proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory pathways. This includes competition for binding to antigen presenting cells; driving dendritic cells, monocytes, and B-cells toward anti-inflammatory responses; and stimulating T-helper 2 and T-regulatory cells. The immune cells stimulated by GA reach the CNS and secrete in situ anti-inflammatory cytokines alleviating the pathological processes. Furthermore, cumulative findings reveal that in addition to its immunomodulatory effect, GA promotes neuroprotective repair processes such as neurotrophic factors secretion, remyelination, and neurogenesis. This review aims to provide an overview of MS pathology diagnosis and treatment as well as the diverse mechanism of action of GA.

Significance Statement

Understanding the complex MS immune pathogenesis provided multiple targets for therapeutic intervention, resulting in a plethora of agents, with various mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety profiles. However, promoting repair beyond the body’s limited spontaneous extent is still a major challenge. GA, one of the first approved disease-modifying therapies, induces diverse immunomodulatory effects. Furthermore, GA treatment results in elevated neurotrophic factors secretion, remyelination and neurogenesis, supporting the notion that immunomodulatory treatment can support in situ a growth-promoting and repair environment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Previous studies have reported metal accumulation and microstructure changes in deep gray nuclei (DGN) in Wilson disease (WD). However, there are limited studies that investigate whether there is metal accumulation and microstructure changes in DGN of patients with WD with normal-appearing routine MRI. This study aimed to evaluate multiparametric changes in DGN of WD and whether the findings correlate with clinical severity in patients with WD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study enrolled 28 patients with WD (19 with neurologic symptoms) and 25 controls. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and magnetic susceptibility in globus pallidus, pontine tegmentum, dentate nucleus, red nucleus, head of caudate nucleus, putamen, substantia nigra, and thalamus were extracted. Correlations between imaging data and the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS) neurologic subitems were explored.

RESULTS:

FA, MD, and susceptibility values were higher in multiple DGN of patients with WD than controls (P < .05). Patients with WD without abnormal signals in DGN on routine MRI also had higher FA, MD, and susceptibility values than controls (P < .017). We found that UWDRS neurologic subscores correlated with FA and susceptibility values of DGN (P < .05). In addition, we also found that FA and susceptibility values in specific structures correlated with specific neurologic symptoms of WD (ie, tremor, parkinsonism, dysarthria, dystonia, and ataxia) (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with WD have increased FA, MD, and susceptibility values even before the lesion is morphologically apparent on routine MRI. The increased FA and susceptibility values correlate with clinical severity of WD.

Tam plays the waifu games for the "plot." Chris teaches his cats to play DDR. Kelley blames everyone else for her Vampire Survivors addiction.

The post RPG Cast – Episode 661: “I Got Addicted to the Pentagram” appeared first on RPGamer.

Lyra Pramuk on how collaboration, space and healing are central to her live performance.

The post Interview: Lyra Pramuk appeared first on Fact Magazine.

Stationeers and Icarus developers RocketWerkz are making a spiritual successor to beloved space sim Kerbal Space Program, which is currently titled "Kitten Space Agency" in a flagrant display of adherence to wholesome internet trends. It's based on an actual Kerbal Space Program 2 pitch the studio threw at Take-Two subsidiary Private Division back in the day. RocketWerkz CEO and original DayZ creator Dean Hall has hired several former KSP and KSP2 developers to work on the game, and is describing it on social media as a "KSP killer".

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Warframe developers Digital Extremes have announced a new round of early access for their 2025-bound fantasy action-RPG Soulframe, which I saw a bit of last year and think is pretty promising. They're now adding 2000 players to a Preludes build of the game every week, with each invite email including an additional four invite codes, so you can get your friends involved.

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Space exploration has long been a staple of sci-fi films and TV, yet most play fast and loose with the laws of physics, and scientific fact often couldn't be further from the truth

The failure of Boeing's Starliner capsule has left two astronauts stuck in space for months – but also proved how private spaceflight can go right

Andrew McConnell's otherworldly photograph captures a Russian cosmonaut in front of the just-landed Soyuz MS spacecraft in Kazakhstan's remote grasslands

Moin Hussain's debut feature film Sky Peals sees a man discover his father may be from outer space. Part sci-fi, part family drama, part coming-of-age tale, it is odd and otherworldly

Computer code dating back to the 1960s is still vital to banks, airlines and governments, but programmers familiar with the language are in short supply. Now AI models are being trained to fill the skills gap

What if tech bros ruled the world, asks Asif Kapadia's 2073. This docudrama is captivating and disturbing, but lacks enough heft to stand out

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Tesla founder Elon Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy will a new Department of Government Efficiency, a White House office given the task of cutting the federal budget.

A pilot program aimed at training women and non-binary persons for careers in cybersecurity will soon start recruiting its third group of students. The program, offered to students in computer science and related courses in seven Canadian post-secondary institutions, should start looking for candidates next month for the fall academic year, said Vivian Lee, team […]

The post Pilot cybersecurity training program for women to recruit third cohort first appeared on ITBusiness.ca.

Using a laser-based detection system, archaeologists have discovered over 6,500 pre-Hispanic structures -- including a previously unknown Maya city named Valeriana -- in Campeche, Mexico.

The post Laser Mapping Reveals Previously Unknown Maya City with Stone Pyramids in Mexico appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

A woman's brain was scanned throughout her pregnancy, adding to the growing body of evidence that dramatic remodelling takes place in preparation for motherhood

Two more people in the US have tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, highlighting the need for expanded influenza surveillance to prevent a potential pandemic

President-elect Trump announced that billionaire Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency.

Kraft Heinz has announced it is removing its Lunchables meal kits from the National School Lunch Program. With eight $1 billion+ brands, Kraft Heinz is North America’s third-largest food and beverage company and the fifth-largest in the world. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is America’s second-largest food and nutrition... Continue Reading

The reboot will be a darker version of the '90s sitcom.

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Telegram has established itself as a unique messaging platform with a strong emphasis on privacy, encryption, and an intuitive API. What sets it apart is its ability to support large group chats, with a capacity of up to 200,000 participants, which is far greater than what competitors like WhatsApp and Signal offer. This feature makes […]

The post A Comprehensive Guide on How to Find Telegram Groups to Promote Your Brand appeared first on Chart Attack.

"The goal is to complete the password updates by this evening," government says.

President-elect Donald Trump announced he has picked Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk and entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to "lead the Department of Government Efficiency."

The post Donald Trump Selects Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘Lead the Department of Government Efficiency’ appeared first on Breitbart.

1. Security beefed up at Ram temple in Ayodhya after Pannun's threat message  The Times of India
2. Security beefed up around Ram Mandir in Ayodhya after Gurpatwant Pannun’s ‘threat’  Hindustan Times
3. Pannun Announces New Dates Of Temple Attacks In Canada, India Terms Threats ‘Terror Acts’: Intel Sources  News18
4. Khalistani terrorist Pannun warns of ‘shaking Ayodhya's foundations’  The Economic Times
5. Security beefed up in Ayodhya after Khalistan`s threat  Zee News

1. Top Roles For Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy In Donald Trump's Cabinet  NDTV
2. Trump’s 'Manhattan Project' of government reform: Musk and Ramaswamy to lead efficiency crusade  The Times of India
3. Donald Trump Picks Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy For Cabinet: Internet Has This To Say  News18
4. A dope for DOGE (and Dogecoin): Trump taps Musk in efficiency team, crypto fans rejoice  The Economic Times
5. Video | Elon Musk In Trump's New Cabinet, UK Church Abuse Scandal, Saudi Megacity in Trouble  NDTV

Muhammad Musthafa’s sophomore directorial ‘Mura’ is a gangster drama that revolves around revenge and friendship starring a bunch of new as well as seasoned performers

‘Game Changer’ also stars Kiara Advani, Anjali, Samuthirakani, SJ Suryah, Srikanth and Sunil

From towering cutouts to fans dancing to the iconic Oscar-winning “Naatu Naatu” and the latest “Raa Macha Macha”, the teaser launch event was Ram Charan’s humble exhibition of the northern territories he has conquered in the wake of ‘RRR’

Music director and singer Adnan Sami said he was saddened by the demise of “one of the greatest Sarangi Maestros that the entire Indian subcontinent has ever witnessed”.

Digital Extremes has released the next big update for Warframe in the form of The Lotus Eaters update. This update …

Continue reading "‘Warframe’ Prologue Quest for Warframe 1999 The Lotus Eaters and Sevagoth Prime Now Available"

President-elect Trump announced a "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, that will be led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, focused on shrinking the federal government.

President-elect Donald Trump announced Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new agency he's calling the "Department of Government Efficiency."

Sacramento-based Zennify, a tech consulting firm for financial service companies, has acquired Terazo, a digital engineering firm based in Richmond, Virginia.

The show will premiere in January 2025

While reading through the list of Grammy nominees earlier I came across quite a surprise. There, competing for record of the year alongside the likes of Beyoncé's Texas Hold 'Em and Chappell Roan's Good Luck Babe, was Now and Then by The Beatles. No, to my dismay, this isn't a time travel situation, but the result of AI. 

So, here's the story of how The Beatles got nominated for two Grammys — they also snagged a best rock performance nod — 50 years after formally breaking up. It starts with a demo John Lennon recorded in the 1970s that was given to Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison for inclusion on the The Beatles Anthology, released in 1995. While other tracks like Free as a Bird and Real Love made it on, technology wasn't advanced enough to separate Lennon's vocals and piano without reducing the recording's quality. 

But, last year McCartney and Starr used modern machine learning technology to pull Lennon's vocals for a new track. Now and Then, released in November 2023, includes McCartney on bass, Starr on the drums, Lennon's vocals and a guitar in Harrison's style (a 1995 recording of him makes up some of the background rhythm guitar. You can watch a documentary about making the track here. 

Unsurprisingly, the song is said to be the last from the Beatles. We'll have to wait until the awards show in February to see whether or not AI will help them win another Grammy. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-beatles-are-nominated-for-two-grammys-thanks-to-ai-150004467.html?src=rss

It's rare that you'll find discounts on Apple products through the company's own retail channels, but other storefronts are often happy to slash prices on such wares. You can find early Black Friday deals on a bunch of Apple products, including MacBooks. The M3 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM has dropped to its lowest price to date at Amazon. The laptop will run you $899, which is $200 off the list price.

This is a 13-inch MacBook Air with 256GB of storage. Other configurations with more storage space are on sale too. One with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is $300 off at $999, though we'd recommend having at least 16GB of memory. It's not possible to upgrade the RAM in an Apple Silicon MacBook, but you can always add external storage if need be.

To that end, you can snag a 13-inch M3 MBA with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of built-in storage for $1,099. If a model with 24GB and the same SSD is what you're looking for, you can snap one up for $1,299. Both are $200 off.

Apple just released its first M4-powered Macs, but it has yet to slot the latest chip into the MacBook Air. To that end, we reckon the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air is the best laptop for most people. It's our pick for the best laptop for college students too.

The 13-inch MBA's blend of power and portability makes it a potent choice and we gave it a score of 90 in our review. It delivers fast performance and has a killer display. The design is sleek and sturdy and it sounds great thanks to a quad-speaker array. We like the trackpad and keyboard as well, while the upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E connectivity is a definite plus. Our main quibble is that the USB-C ports are on the same side of the unit as the one for the charger — having even one USB-C on the right side would be handy. But that's a minor complaint about an otherwise excellent laptop.

Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-m3-macbook-air-with-16gb-of-ram-is-on-sale-for-899-ahead-of-black-friday-154922025.html?src=rss

Beyoncé leads the 2025 Grammy Award nominations with 11, bringing her career total to 99 nominations. That makes her the most-nominated artist in Grammy history.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a call for proposals for its Centre for Advanced Research (CAR) initiative under the Extramural Research Programme, inviting experienced research teams to

The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), under the Quality Council of India (QCI), has announced a collaborative effort with Man─Made Textile Research Association (MANTRA) in Surat to deliver a specialized technical training programme on medical textiles testing.

Peytant has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted marketing authorisation (clearance to market in the United States as a Class II device) for the AMStent Tracheobronchial Covered Stent System, a therapy platform.

Reality has again failed to support the spin surrounding the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

For 2023, discounted purchases under the 340B program reached a record $66.3 billion—an astounding $12.6 billion (+23.4%) higher than its 2022 counterpart. The gross-to-net difference between list prices and discounted 340B purchases also grew, to $57.8 billion (+$5.5 billion). 340B purchases are now almost 40% larger than Medicaid’s prescription drug purchases.

Hospitals again accounted for 87% of 340B purchases for 2023. Purchases at every 340B covered entity type grew, despite drug prices that grew more slowly than overall inflation.

Lobbyists claim that manufacturers’ 340B contract pharmacy changes are “stripping billions of dollars from the healthcare safety net.” But every year, the data tell a very different story. Only in the U.S. healthcare system can billions more in payments and spreads be considered a cut.

Read on for full details and our analysis, along with fresh details of troubling behavior by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
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Today’s guest post comes from Chris Dowd, Senior VP of Market Development at ConnectiveRx.

Chris examines three key trends that will affect patient support programs: the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), legal/regulatory battles over copay adjustment programs, and uncertainties following a national election. He then outlines three actions that should guide manufacturers' preparation.

To learn more, register for ConnectiveRx’s free webinar on December 11: The Perfect Storm? Patient Support Programming in 2025 and Beyond.

Read on for Chris’s insights.
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The ACRO D&I Site Resource Grants Program aims to help sites acquire the resources and skills that will get them selected for studies and improve the reach of clinical research into underrepresented communities.

The post ACRO Announces Diversity and Inclusion Site Resource Grants Program first appeared on ACRO.

ACRO is pleased to announce the launch of the ACRO Diversity and Inclusion Site Resource Grants Program! The ACRO D&I Site Resource Grants Program aims to help sites acquire the resources and skills that will get them selected for studies and improve the reach of clinical research into underrepresented communities. “We are excited to invite […]

The post ACRO Announces Diversity and Inclusion Site Resource Grants Program first appeared on ACRO.