Developmental Trajectories Research Articles

Children's nocturnal awakenings and sleep duration during the first two years of life in the NASCITA cohort study

PurposePrevious studies have analyzed the characteristics and prevalence of sleep disturbances among Italian children. Less attention has been paid, however, to the factors involved in sleep disturbances in the first two years of life. The goals of the present study were, therefore: 1) to provide a developmental trajectory of Italian infants' night awakenings and duration during the first two years of life and 2) to analyze which factors affect night awakenings the most over time. MethodsData for this study were collected in the NASCITA cohort. During the well-child visits conducted at 6, 12, and 24 months, pediatricians asked parents to report if the child had any sleep disturbances, especially frequent night awakenings. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to test the association between child and family variables and the likelihood of frequent awakenings. Results2973 toddlers, out of 5054 initially enrolled newborns, were included in this study; 875 (29.4 %) of whom presented frequent awakenings in at least one visit (peak of prevalence of 19.8 % at 12 months). Bed-sharing (adjusted OR 2.53; 95%CI:2.05–3.12) and living in the northern Italy (aOR 2.25; 95%CI:1.80–2.81) were the variables more strongly associated with an increased likelihood of frequent awakenings in the binomial logistic regression, while sleeping alone was associated with a decreased chance (aOR 0.62; 95%CI 0.45–0.89). A short sleep duration (<11 h/day) was reported for 801 (26.9 %) at 12 months, for 743 (25.0 %) at 24 months of age; in 383 cases, the short sleep duration was reported at both time points. An association was observed between frequent awakenings at 12 or 24 months and short sleep duration (OR 1.23; 95%CI 1.05–1.44 -ꭓ2 6.25, p = 0.012). ConclusionsThe current study identified some early predictors of frequent awakenings during the first two years of life. Since optimal sleep practices in children are essential for their development, effective, early interventions must be defined and integrated into pediatric care practices.

The typical developmental trajectory and energy requirements of Shitou goose during the embryonic stage

Low hatchability has been a persistent challenge in the goose industry. Establishing standard atlases and comprehending embryonic development patterns are essential to improving the hatching rates of goose eggs. However, comprehensive descriptions of normal atlases, embryonic development, and energy requirements in geese are lacking. In this study, a total of 120 fertile eggs from well-known large Shitou goose were incubated using 12 nesting purebred female geese. During hatching, both the temperature of the eggshells and the weight of eggs were recorded, and daily photographs of the embryos were captured to monitor their development closely. After hatching, count the number of pores per unit area by choosing eggs without sperm, dead embryos, or abnormal shells. Furthermore, 150 Shitou goose eggs were hatched by automatic incubator, with adjustments made based on observed normal developmental stages that incubated by female geese. The eggs were carefully opened to meticulously document embryonic morphology and create a detailed development map. Measurements were taken of the eye diameter, length of the lower beak, tarsometatarsus bone, and embryo length. Subsequently, an analysis was conducted to assess the calcium, phosphorus, crude protein, and crude fat content to study the energy requirements for embryo development. As a result, the hatch rate of the incubator reached 86.67%, and the cumulative water loss rate increased with embryo age. Notably, normally developing embryos displayed a significantly higher number of pores on the eggshell surface compared to dead embryos (P < 0.05). Additionally, embryonic body length, eyeball diameter, and lower beak length exhibited continuous growth until day 19 of incubation, while tarsometatarsus length increased steadily from days 12 to 31. Liver size measurement began on the 10th day of incubation, while both leg and chest muscles showed continuous growth from the 12th day. For energy demand, the embryo primarily relied on protein sourced from the egg yolk within the first 10 days of development. Afterward, the egg yolk provided both protein and fat for embryonic growth. In summary, this study has generated a comprehensive developmental map for Shitou goose embryos, offering valuable insights into their growth and morphological changes throughout the incubation period. This map can serve as a reference for optimizing machine incubation techniques to enhance goose egg hatching rates and provide fresh perspectives on the development of geese.

Development of Playfulness in Children with Low Executive Functions: The Role of Parental Playfulness and Parental Playtime with Their Child.

Children with low executive functions (EFs) are described as having lower levels of playfulness, the quality of children's play, compared to children with EFs within the normal range. However, how playfulness in children with low EFs develops over time remains unclear. Additionally, little is known about how parental playfulness and parental playtime with their child affect these developmental trajectories in children with low EFs. To address these research gaps, we measured playfulness in 62 children with low EFs and 62 children with EFs within the normal range aged 3 to 6 years at three time points over 2 years. We used the Children's Playfulness Scale, which captures multi-informant perspectives from parents and teachers. Moreover, the parents of children with low EFs reported their own playfulness and their playtime with their children at T1. Repeated-measures hierarchical linear models indicated significantly lower levels of playfulness in the children with low EFs than in the controls, with no significant changes observed over 2 years in either group. In the children with low EFs, we found a significant positive relationship between parental playfulness at T1 and children's playfulness 2 years later but a significant negative relationship between parental playtime at T1 and children's playfulness 2 years later. These results prompt a broad discussion on potential implications for the enhancement of playfulness in children with low EFs within the family environment.

From Social Darwinism to Sociobiology: The Developmental Trajectory of Biological Determinism in Social Sciences

Biological determinism, the theory that human behavior is primarily determined by genetic factors, has sparked extensive debate and controversy between social and biological sciences since the late 19th century with the introduction of Darwin's theory of evolution. By examining the origins, development, and impacts of these theories on modern scientific research and social policy from historical and theoretical perspectives, this article reveals the limitations and potential risks inherent in scientific research and social policymaking. The article emphasizes the complexity of using these theories to explain human behavior and social structures, as well as their importance in formulating inclusive social policies.

Impact of game format and age group on technical performance in youth football

This study aimed to analyse technical action variations among 5, 7, 9, and 11-a-side game formats and investigate the effects of age groups (U8, U10, U12, and U14) on these actions. A total of 197 soccer players aged between 6.94 ± 0.7 and 13.46 ± 0.5 years participated, with three matches conducted weekly, totalling 48 matches. Two-way ANOVA was employed to analyse age group and game format as independent factors. The study revealed the influence of age group on players' technical actions variability: front pass success p &lt; .001; side pass success p &lt; .001; back pass success p &lt; .001; short pass success p &lt; .001; reception success p &lt; .001; goal p &lt; .002; unsuccessful short pass p &lt; .001; unsuccessful long pass p &lt; .001; ball contacts p &lt; .001. Additionally, the study highlighted the impact of game format on success rates: front pass success p &lt; .001; side pass success p &lt; .001; back pass success p &lt; .001; short pass success p &lt; .001; reception success p &lt; .001; goal p &lt; .036; shot on target p &lt; .001; ball contacts p &lt; .001; interception p &lt; .001. These findings enhance understanding of how game format and age group affect technical performance in youth soccer, emphasizing the need for interventions that optimize players’ development trajectories.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals CD8+ T cell structure and developmental trajectories in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Immune cells in the human lung are associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the contribution of different immune cell subpopulations to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear. We used single-cell RNA sequencing data to investigate the transcriptional profiles of immune cells in the lungs of 5 IPF patients and 3 subjects with non-fibrotic lungs. In an identifiable population of immune cells, we found increased percentage of CD8+ T cells in the T cell subpopulation in IPF. Monocle analyzed the dynamic immune status and cell transformation of CD8+ T cells, as well as the cytotoxicity and exhausted status of CD8+ T cell subpopulations at different stages. Among CD8+ T cells, we found differences in metabolic pathways in IPF and Ctrl, including lipid, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolic. By analyzing the metabolites of CD8+ T cells, we found that different populations of CD8+ T cells in IPF have unique metabolic characteristics, but they also have multiple identical up-regulated or down-regulated metabolites. In IPF, signaling pathways associated with fibrosis were enriched in CD8+ T cells, suggesting that CD8+ T cells may have an important contribution to fibrosis. Finally, we analyzed the interactions between CD8+ T cells and other cells. Together, these studies highlight key features of CD8+ T cells in the pathogenesis of IPF and help to develop effective therapeutic targets.

DESTINOS TURÍSTICOS COM DESENVOLVIMENTO LOCAL ASSIMÉTRICO: OS “CENTROS TURÍSTICOS PLANEJADOS INTEGRALMENTE” DE LOS CABOS E LORETO, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR (MÉXICO)

Objective: This paper examines the effects of tourism on local development in two IPCs, Los Cabos and Loreto, located in the state of Baja California Sur (BCS), in northwestern Mexico. Theoretical Framework: The Integrally Planned Centers (IPC) are tourism development poles established in Mexico during the 1960s and 1970s to promote economic growth in peripheral coastal regions (then) underdeveloped but rich in natural resources and landscapes. Method: An analytical-descriptive methodology is used, specifically the analysis of principal components, which allows contextualizing the evolution of tourism and development trajectories. Results and Discussion: The results indicate the presence of asymmetric development trajectories, despite the fact that both regions started from the same development initiative, with FONATUR (the Mexican government's tourism board) in charge in both cases. Forty years after its creation, the government's tourism policy yields differentiated results. Los Cabos has become a world-renowned destination, associated with sport fishing, golf, and residential tourism. In contrast, the Loreto-Nopoló-Puerto Escondido tourist corridor has stagnated and is still waiting for its take-off towards sustained development. Research implications: The IPCs of Los Cabos and Loreto, Mexico, are the result of a public tourism policy based on an exogenous development model, fundamentally oriented to "sun and beach" tourism, where economic variables are prioritized, to the detriment of social and environmental variables, which are important elements of sustainable tourism. A markedly uneven growth process is observed between the two IPCs, Los Cabos points out, which, to date, is successful in macroeconomic variables, while in terms of development it is very limited and lower than planned. Originality/Value: In the research, inferential statistical methods are applied, through the analysis of Principal Components, from which the impact of public tourism policies on regional development is measured. This instrument is applied to two tourist destinations that show an asymmetrical development, one of which was constituted as the second international tourist destination in Mexico.

Developmental trajectories of child and adolescent emotional problems: associations with early adult alcohol use behaviors.

Whether emotional problems during childhood and adolescence are longitudinally associated with adult alcohol use behaviors is unclear. This study examined associations between developmental trajectories of emotional problems and early adult alcohol use behaviors, while considering co-occurring conduct problems, developmental change/timing, sex differences, and potential confounds. Participants were from the Twins Early Development Study (analytic N = 19,908 individuals). Emotional and conduct problems were measured by parent reports at child ages 4, 7, and 9 years and via self-reports at ages 9, 11, and 16 years on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Alcohol use behaviors (alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems) were self-reported by the twins on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test at age 22 years. Piecewise latent growth curve models described nonlinear developmental trajectories of emotional and conduct problems from ages 4 to 16. At age 22, alcohol use was regressed on emotional and conduct problems' intercepts and slopes from piecewise latent growth curve model and sex differences in regression coefficients were tested. Using twin modeling, Cholesky decompositions and direct path models were compared to test whether significant phenotypic associations were best explained by direct phenotypic influences or correlated genetic and environmental influences. Emotional problems had different associations with alcohol-related problems versus alcohol consumption. After accounting for direct influences from conduct problems, emotional problems were not associated with alcohol-related problems, while emotional problems at age 9 were negatively associated with alcohol consumption in males. Overall, findings did not support emotional problems as prospective risk factors for severe alcohol use above and beyond risks associated with conduct problems. Sex- and age-specific links between emotional problems and alcohol consumption in early adulthood may be worthy of further exploration, particularly as twin analyses improved our confidence that such links may be underpinned by causal mechanisms.

Joint developmental trajectories of victimization and nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents and the impact of childhood emotional maltreatment: “Boys’ Crisis” and “Girls’ Risk”

This study aimed to investigate the gender-specific joint development trajectory of adolescent victimization and nonsuicidal self-injury as well as the predictive value of emotional abuse and neglect in early life. A total of 1214 senior high school students were surveyed three times with an interval of six months by questionnaire method. Our study used latent class growth analysis to identify different types of developmental trajectories in boys and girls. The results showed that both the “safe group” and the “high growth group” identified in boys showed symbiotic development of victimization and NSSI, while a special “differentiated group” in girls showed reverse development of victimization and NSSI. Emotional neglect in childhood only affected the developmental trajectory categories of victimization and NSSI in adolescent girls, but not boys. Childhood emotional abuse has a significant effect on both boys and girls, leading boys to favor “boys high growth” groups and girls to favor “girls differentiation” groups. The results suggest a stronger symbiotic relationship between NSSI and victimization in boys and a greater need for attention to victimization in girls. Emotional abuse and neglect in childhood have different effects on joint developmental trajectories across genders. In the future, we need to establish gendered and targeted interventions and parenting models.

Decoding ecosystem heterogeneity and transcriptional regulation characteristics of multi-subtype renal cell carcinoma

BackgroundRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by its heterogeneity and the complexity of its tumor microenvironment. This study addresses the need to understand RCC at a cellular level, with a focus on its three main subtypes: clear cell (ccRCC), chromophobe (chRCC), and papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC). ObjectiveThis study aims to comprehensively characterize the cellular diversity and intercellular communication networks of RCC subtypes using scRNA-seq technology. By focusing on macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), we seek to reveal their functional states, developmental trajectories, and signaling pathways. MethodologyWe utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from various kidney cancer subtypes. Advanced analytical techniques, including Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and Reactome Gene Set Variation Analysis (ReactomeGSA), were employed to assess cellular heterogeneity and pathway activities. The developmental dynamics of macrophages were studied using CytoTRACE, and cell-to-cell communication was analyzed to identify subtype-specific interaction networks. ResultsOur comprehensive analysis revealed significant cellular diversity within RCC. Distinct macrophage and CAF subpopulations were identified, each exhibiting unique gene expression profiles and pathway activities. Notably, ccRCC showed prominent bidirectional communication between macrophages and CAFs, while chRCC and pRCC displayed disrupted signaling pathways. Metabolic pathway analysis reflected the adaptability of macrophages and CAFs to the tumor microenvironment, and the MIF signaling pathway was identified as a key mediator of cellular interactions. ConclusionThe study highlights the cellular heterogeneity and the intricate communication networks within RCC subtypes, underscoring the complexity of the tumor microenvironment. Our findings suggest that targeting specific cellular interactions and pathways may offer new avenues for therapeutic intervention in RCC. The unique macrophage and CAF profiles across RCC subtypes provide valuable insights for the development of personalized and targeted treatment strategies.

Key factor screening in mouse NASH model using single-cell sequencing combined with machine learning

AimsTo identify and analyze genes closely related to the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by employing a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing and machine-learning algorithms. Main methodsSingle-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was performed to find the cell population with the most significant differences between the Chow and NASH groups. This approach was used to validate the developmental trajectory of this cell population and investigate changes in cellular communication and important signaling pathways among these cells. Subsequently, high dimensional Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (hdWGCNA) was used to find the key modules in NASH. Machine learning analyses were performed to further identify core genes. Deep learning techniques were applied to elucidate the correlation between core genes and immune cells. The accuracy of this correlation was further confirmed using deep learning techniques, specifically Convolutional Neural Networks. Key findingsBy comparing scRNA-seq data between the Chow and NASH groups, we have observed a notable distinction existing in the Kupffer cell population. Signaling interactions between hepatic macrophages and other cells were significantly heightened in the NASH group. Through subsequent analysis of macrophage subtypes and key modules, we identified 150 genes tightly associated with NASH. Finally, we highlighted the 16 most significant core genes using multiple iterations of machine learning. Furthermore, we pointed out the close relationship between core genes and immune cells. SignificancesUsing scRNA-seq analysis and machine learning, we can distinguish NASH-related genes from large genetic datasets, providing theoretical support in finding potential targets for the development of novel therapies.

Analysis of factors influencing the trajectory of fatigue in maintenance haemodialysis patients: a longitudinal study.

To explore the potential categories and influencing factors of fatigue trajectory in maintenance haemodialysis patients. Between June 2023 and December 2023, a convenience sample of 306 maintenance haemodialysis patients in a tertiary hospital haemodialysis centre in Zhenjiang City was selected as the study population, and patient information was collected monthly after the baseline survey using the General Information Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale, Piper Fatigue Revision Scale, Collaborative Social Support Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale, Comprehensive Economic Toxicity Rating Scale, and Fear of Disease Progression Simplified Scale, for a total of six follow-up visits. In addition, the potential category growth model was used to identify the developmental trajectory of fatigue, and univariate analysis and binary logistic regression were used to analyse its determinants. The 6month fatigue trajectory of maintenance haemodialysis patients could be divided into two categories: persistent low-fatigue group (59.8%) and fluctuating high-fatigue group (40.2%). Age, surgical history, level of social support, sleep, economic toxicity, and changes in ultrafiltration volume during dialysis were the influencing factors for repeated fatigue in maintenance haemodialysis patients (p < 0.05). The fatigue trajectory of maintenance haemodialysis patients is heterogeneous, suggesting that clinical workers should focus on the haemodialysis patients with repeated fatigue and make targeted interventions to improve their fatigue status and reduce the occurrence of adverse events in patients.

Energy Project Management with Artificial Intelligence

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology into energy project management has emerged as a significant trend. This paper presents an extensive review and analysis of AI applications in this domain, emphasizing areas such as data analysis and prediction, intelligent optimization, risk management, and decision support systems. We systematically review the current literature, highlighting the critical role of AI in enhancing energy project management. Our discussion encompasses existing research outcomes and future development trajectories, aiming to furnish valuable insights and guidance for both research and practical applications in the field.

Infants and toddlers in the United States with more close relationships have larger vocabularies.

Young children learn language from their caregivers, family members, and friends. However, with few exceptions, contemporary developmental scientists have studied language input and language learning through the lens of the primary caregiver and the nuclear family, rather than the infants' broader communities. In many communities-and increasingly in the United States-nonnuclear family structures are common, and extended kin, fictive kin, and intergenerational relationships are relied upon for child care. Understanding children's relationships within kinship networks can allow for more inclusive depictions of children's social interactions and their language experiences. We drew upon methods used by researchers studying social networks to assess U.S. infants' and toddlers' network composition. Results showed that young children with a greater number of close relationships (but not those with larger networks overall) had larger vocabularies, after controlling for age and socioeconomic status. These findings suggest that distributed models of child-rearing are an influential factor in early language growth and call for increased attention to social networks for understanding children's developmental trajectories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Hot Executive Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Brief Narrative Review

Executive function (EF), encompassing high-order cognitive processes essential for goal-directed behavior, is often impaired in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This review addresses the problem of limited understanding regarding the distinction between &amp;ldquo;cool&amp;rdquo; and &amp;ldquo;hot&amp;rdquo; EF, their respective manifestations, and developmental trajectories in ASD. While cool EF in ASD has been widely investigated, the impairments and development of hot EF are less explored despite potentially also playing a role in ASD&amp;#39;s socio-cognitive challenges. The purpose of this narrative review is to synthesize existing literature on hot EF and its development in ASD, particularly in relation to cool EF. Our approach involves a comprehensive examination of current studies to identify gaps and propose directions for future research. The review highlights the scarcity of studies on hot EF in ASD and concludes that targeted interventions should address both cool and hot EF deficits. Future research directions include longitudinal studies, neural investigations, and culturally diverse samples to further elucidate the role of hot EF in ASD. Understanding these distinctions can refine intervention strategies, ultimately enhancing support for individuals with ASD.

Routine del sonno e risvegli notturni nei bambini durante i primi due anni di vita

Background - Previous studies analyzed the characteristics and prevalence of sleep problems in Italian children. However, less attention is shed on the factors involved in sleep disturbances in the first two years of life. Aims - To provide a developmental trajectory of Italian infants’ sleep patterns during the first two years of life and to analyze what factors affect it most over time. Materials and Methods - Data for this study were collected within the NASCITA cohort. During the well-child visits conducted at 6, 12, and 24 months, paediatricians asked parents to report if their children had any sleep disturbances, particularly frequent night awakenings. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to test the association between child and family variables and the likelihood of frequent awakenings. Results - 2,973 toddlers were included in this study; 875 (29.4%) toddlers presented frequent awakenings in at least one visit (peak of prevalence of 19.8% at 12 months). Bed-sharing (adjusted OR 2.53; 95% CI: 2.05-3.12) and living in the North of Italy (aOR 2.25; 95% CI:1.80-2.81) were the variables more strongly associated with an increased likelihood of frequent awakenings in the binomial logistic regression, while sleeping alone was associated with a decreased chance (aOR 0.62; 95% CI 0.45-0.89). Conclusion - The current study identifies some early predictors of frequent awakenings during the first two years of life. Since optimal sleep practices in children are essential for their development, paediatric care practices must define and integrate early effective interventions.

Single-cell epigenomic reconstruction of developmental trajectories from pluripotency in human neural organoid systems

Cell fate progression of pluripotent progenitors is strictly regulated, resulting in high human cell diversity. Epigenetic modifications also orchestrate cell fate restriction. Unveiling the epigenetic mechanisms underlying human cell diversity has been difficult. In this study, we use human brain and retina organoid models and present single-cell profiling of H3K27ac, H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 histone modifications from progenitor to differentiated neural fates to reconstruct the epigenomic trajectories regulating cell identity acquisition. We capture transitions from pluripotency through neuroepithelium to retinal and brain region and cell type specification. Switching of repressive and activating epigenetic modifications can precede and predict cell fate decisions at each stage, providing a temporal census of gene regulatory elements and transcription factors. Removing H3K27me3 at the neuroectoderm stage disrupts fate restriction, resulting in aberrant cell identity acquisition. Our single-cell epigenome-wide map of human neural organoid development serves as a blueprint to explore human cell fate determination.

Driving sustainable development: Role of institutional quality and future of China's mineral resource management projects

The rapid industrial progress in China along with significant dependence on minerals, raises concerns about the influence of its overall reliance on nations’ development trajectory. Moreover, institutional quality also plays an active role in shaping the economic structure of any nation. The study investigates the intricate association among mineral extraction, institutional quality, and economic development in China from 1990 to 2022. For an empirical investigation, the ARDL (Autoregressive distributed lag) co-integration method is employed based on the order of integration of the series defined by the ADF(Augmented Dickey-Fuller) stationarity test. Moreover, CUSUM and CUSUM square (Cumulative sum of square) also confirm the stability of the model. According to the findings mineral rent and mineral exports are found to be positively significant in the short and the long run and increase economic growth. While institutional quality is shown to be positively insignificant in the short term, in the long run, it is shown to have a positive significant effect. Moreover, inflation and population growth are shown to have a positive significant impact in the short term, but trade is found to be insignificant. Lastly, the study intends to suggest policy suggestions based on the results. A country should have a strong institutional setup to ensure sustainable long-term growth.

Caregiver Narratives of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploring Symptom Recognition, Diagnosis, and Interventions.

The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses myriad challenges for families, yet there is a scarcity of research focusing on their journey from recognizing initial anomalies to implementing interventions. This qualitative study examines how caregivers in Sylhet, Bangladesh, perceive and manage ASD in their children, including early symptom identification, diagnostic processes, and intervention strategies. Data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews, case studies, and observations involving 22 caregivers of children with ASD. Participants were chosen using purposive-convenience sampling, and data collection continued until interpretive saturation was achieved. The study findings unveil nuanced caregiver perceptions of ASD causation, influenced by sociocultural factors, religious beliefs, and genetic predispositions. These determinants wield significant influence over treatment modalities and the child's developmental trajectory. Importantly, the prevalence of supernatural beliefs and myths often surpasses biomedical explanations, highlighting gaps in awareness, educational outreach, and understanding of ASD. Nevertheless, religious beliefs and rituals concurrently serve as adaptive coping mechanisms, offering solace amidst uncertainty. Furthermore, a striking observation emerges: despite parents frequently identifying anomalies in their children within a 24-month, a substantial delay of 3 to 5 years persists between initial symptom recognition and formal diagnosis. This delay predominantly stems from caregiver hesitancy driven by societal stigmatization, familial dismissal attitudes, and limited diagnostic and specialized services. This study highlights the challenging diagnostic journey and caregiving for children with ASD in Bangladesh, stressing the need for systemic improvements in services, awareness, and research to enhance the well-being of individuals with ASD.

Cell type-specific expression of angiotensin receptors in the human lung with implications for health, aging, and chronic disease.

The renin-angiotensin system is a highly characterized integrative pathway in mammalian homeostasis whose clinical spectrum has been expanded to lung disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-emphysema, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and COVID pathogenesis. Despite this widespread interest, specific localization of this receptor family in the mammalian lung is limited, partially due to the imprecision of available antibody reagents. In this study, we establish the expression pattern of the two predominant angiotensin receptors in the human lung, AGTR1 and AGTR2, using complementary and comprehensive bulk and single-cell RNA-sequence datasets that are publicly available. We show these two receptors have distinct localization patterns and developmental trajectories in the human lung, pericytes for AGTR1 and a subtype of alveolar epithelial type 2 cells for AGTR2. In the context of disease, we further pinpoint AGTR2 localization to the COPD-associated subpopulation of alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2B) and AGTR1 localization to fibroblasts, where their expression is upregulated in individuals with COPD, but not in individuals with IPF. Finally, we examine the genetic variation of the angiotensin receptors, finding AGTR2 associated with lung phenotype (i.e., cystic fibrosis) via rs1403543. Together, our findings provide a critical foundation for delineating this pathway's role in lung homeostasis and constructing rational approaches for targeting specific lung disorders.