BackgroundParenting stress evokes harsh discipline and induces internalizing problems in children and adolescents. To test this hypothesis, this study examined the potential mediating role of harsh discipline in the association between parenting stress and internalizing problems in children and adolescents while considering the moderating effect of emotion regulation.MethodsTwo studies were conducted: Study 1 was a cross-sectional survey using questionnaires (N = 971), and Study 2 implemented a three-week online parental intervention training program combining courses and psychological diary recording (N = 123).ResultsBoth studies consistently demonstrated that harsh discipline mediated the link between parenting stress and internalizing problems in children and adolescents. Furthermore, acceptance and cognitive reappraisal reduced the effect of parenting stress on harsh discipline, whereas distraction and rumination enhanced it. Expressive suppression had no significant moderating effect. The intervention enhanced parents’ emotion regulation (increased acceptance), reduced parenting stress and alleviated internalizing problems in children and adolescents, with preliminary evidence of reduced harsh discipline.ConclusionThese findings clarify the psychological mechanisms through which parenting stress influences child adaptiveness and underscore the value of interventions focused on emotion regulation in mitigating parenting stress, harsh discipline and enhancing child mental health.
Combinatorial effects of multi-site stimulation on depression-related brain regions: clinical data analysis and predictive modeling
BackgroundDespite growing evidence supporting deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment- resistant depression (TRD), how stimulation delivered across hemispheres or across multiple targets interact to shape large-scale network activity remains poorly characterized.ObjectiveUsing a unique opportunity to simultaneously stimulate the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) and ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS) in subjects with TRD while recording neural activity across putative prefrontal networks underlying depression via intracranial electrodes, we investigated whether bilateral or multi-target stimulation has additive, synergistic/super-additive, or antagonistic/sub-additive effects on power modulation across depression-related brain networks.MethodsFour DBS leads, and ten stereo-electroencephalography (sEEG) leads were implanted in depression-related prefrontal brain regions in three subjects with TRD. Power modulation in response to unilateral and bilateral stimulation, as well as interaction classes of combinatorial stimulations, were evaluated across various combinations of frequency bands and region of interests (ROI) using marginal predictions from a linear mixed-effects model which were then used as input for machine learning classifiers to predict the additive interaction class of combinatorial stimulations.ResultsBilateral and multi-target stimulation produced additive or sub-additive interactions in most cases. A decision tree classifier identified ROI as the most important feature for predicting interaction class, followed by stimulation target and spectral frequency band.
Tracing the rise of biomedical foundation models
Nature Biotechnology, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41587-026-03135-y
A survey of biological foundation models reveals current trends and provides an outlook for future developments in this rapidly evolving field
Uncovering risk factors in the exposome for early-onset colorectal cancer
Nature Medicine, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04369-8
The alarming rise in the incidence of colorectal cancer among younger individuals is probably due to environmental factors; epigenetic signatures of exposures may help uncover drivers of this trend, but questions remain.
A data-driven risk stratification framework for clinical obesity
Nature Medicine, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04370-1
To inform precision management of obesity, this study developed and externally validated a parsimonious model (OBSCORE) that accurately predicts the risk of 18 obesity-related complications. This was achieved by integrating thousands of clinical, molecular and other health-related characteristics assessed in 200,000 individuals with overweight or obesity within a machine-learning framework.
Data-driven prioritization of high-risk individuals for weight loss interventions
Nature Medicine, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04353-2
OBSCORE is a machine learning-based risk prediction tool that uses a set of clinical features to stratify individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 27 kg m−2 by their 10-year risk of obesity-related complications, outperforming existing models. OBSCORE is generalizable across diverse populations, supporting risk-based prioritization of obesity interventions that goes beyond simple BMI thresholds.
Glucose-dependent spatial and temporal modulation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell proliferation via ACLY-regulated histone acetylation
Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02263-7
The authors identify glucose-derived conversion of citrate to acetyl-CoA upstream of histone acetylation as modulating the regional dynamics of oligodendrocyte progenitors, with extranuclear acetyl-CoA from other sources being used for myelination.
Laminar organization of cellular microcircuits modulating human interictal epileptiform discharges
Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02258-4
High-density single-neuron recordings in patients with epilepsy revealed interictal discharges are generated by structured laminar circuits. These circuits overlapped with cognitive circuits and could predict discharges up to 1 s in advance.
Bioprocessing Applications Laboratory Opened in Korea by Ecolab Life Sciences
Officials at Ecolab Life Sciences report that the company is expanding its bioprocessing business with the launch of a new bioprocessing applications lab (BPAL) in Dongtan, Korea. They say the goal is to provide biopharmaceutical manufacturers across Asia with better local access to downstream process development support.
The site is Ecolab’s first bioprocessing facility in Asia and joins an established applications network in the U.S. and U.K.
BPAL Korea supports process development from early-stage resin screening through studies designed to replicate commercial manufacturing conditions, according to Jenny Tan, vice president and general manager, Ecolab Life Sciences APAC and India. On-site scientists work alongside customers across Asia to help optimize chromatography steps, improve yield and productivity, and accelerate regulatory pathways, with the aim of reducing the need to ship resins and reference materials overseas for development work, she continues.
Asia has become one of the world’s most active biopharmaceutical manufacturing regions, with Korea, China, Japan, India, and Singapore all home to growing pipelines in biosimilars and monoclonal antibody processes that scalable downstream purification. With local technical support now in place, manufacturers across the region can shorten development cycles and maintain consistency with global operations while working to tight regulatory and cost targets, continues Tan.
“Biopharmaceutical manufacturers across Asia are under increasing pressure to scale with speed while meeting demanding regulatory and performance expectations,” she explains. “BPAL Korea strengthens our ability to work side by side with customers, bringing local expertise together with Ecolab’s global, integrated bioprocessing network.”
By combining local scientific support with Ecolab’s innovative Purolite
resin portfolio, Ecolab’s new BPAL was created to help enable manufacturers to address process challenges earlier, reduce development risk, and advance programs with greater confidence as they prepare for scaleup, says Tan.
The post Bioprocessing Applications Laboratory Opened in Korea by Ecolab Life Sciences appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.
Smog from wildfires increasingly harmful, data show
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