College of New Jersey

Some powerful tools to treat refractory neurological and psychiatric disorders are neuromodulation techniques. These include Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Transcranial Stimulation (TMS). Early studies demonstrated that both weak direct current and patterned magnetic stimulation reliably alter motor cortex excitability, supporting controlled plasticity and therapeutic potential. Clinical trials confirm rTMS efficacy in depression, tinnitus, neuropathic pain, and post-stroke recovery, though outcomes vary due to anatomical differences and imprecise targeting. In contrast, fMRI and MRI-guided neuronavigation improves precision which reduces inter-individual variability, and assures enhanced patient outcomes. Neuroimaging further reveals circuit-level disruptions in depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, and stroke, supporting individualized, network-based neuromodulation strategies. To bridge this translational gap, it requires a systematic comparison of disorder-specific outcomes, which will validate if fMRI-guided targeting persistently take down superior clinical efficacy across DBS and TMS. The objective of this study is to determine whether fMRI-guided neuromodulation enhances clinical outcomes compared to traditional anatomical targeting methods. A further aim is to evaluate how the benefits of imaging-guided targeting vary across specific neurological and psychiatric disorders, including depression, tinnitus, Parkinson's disease, and post-stroke motor impairment.

Abstract Transit Timing Variations (TTVs) are deviations from the time an observer would expect to see an exoplanet transit its host star. In multiplanetary systems, significant TTVs may indicate the presence of another body in the system gravitationally interacting with the transiting exoplanet. T. Holczer et al. catalog 2599 Kepler Objects of Interest (KOIs) and provide a statistical analysis of their TTVs for candidates that have transited at least seven times. However, this conservative limit on the number of transits neglects long-period KOIs. Therefore, we extend the statistical analysis performed by T. Holczer et al. to the population of KOIs that have between three and six transits. We identify six KOIs, three of which have Kepler names (Kepler–103 c, Kepler–90 g, and Kepler–1662 c), with significant TTV signals that were originally overlooked by T. Holczer et al. Additionally, we search for trends regarding the planetary radius and orbital period of KOIs with significant TTVs. Through a survival analysis, we determine that planets with shorter orbital periods require larger TTV signals to be detected compared to longer period planets, regardless of planetary size. Uncovering trends in TTV statistics such as this one will provide targets for future forward modeling of planetary architectures.

IntroductionThe birth of an infant with congenital anomalies is a significant stressor for mothers, often leading to emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, and grief.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the relationship between psychological resilience, coping strategies, and perceived social support in mothers of infants with congenital anomalies hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).MethodsThis descriptive, cross-sectional study involved 345 mothers of infants with congenital anomalies admitted to NICUs at four hospitals. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Lazarus and Folkman’s Ways of Coping questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using Pearson correlation, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA with R software, considering a 5% significance level.ResultsThe mean resilience score was 23.52 ± 6.30, with 49% showing low resilience, 35.1% moderate, and 15.9% high resilience. Resilience significantly correlated with coping strategies (p < 0.0001) and perceived social support (p < 0.0001). Positive reappraisal was the most common coping strategy. A moderate relationship between resilience and social support from friends (r = 0.486) and family (r = 0.473) was observed.ConclusionMothers of infants with congenital anomalies in this study generally reported lower levels of resilience. Higher resilience scores were associated with the use of positive coping strategies and the presence of strong social support. Approaches that emphasize family involvement and provide targeted training in coping skills may be linked to reduced stress and potentially support more effective caregiving experiences in the NICU context.Clinical trial registrationNot Applicable.

This study examines the impact of Scoreboard for Excel, an automated grading tool with real-time feedback, in undergraduate business statistics. Compared with three prior semesters, students using Scoreboard consistently outperformed earlier cohorts. Gains occurred regardless of integrity controls, prior statistics, or Excel experience. Contrary to expectations, even when assignments were identical, students did not gain from cheating. These results suggest Scoreboard not only raises achievement but also reduces incentives for dishonest shortcuts, with a “leveling effect” that helps less experienced students match their peers.