Predicting ischemic stroke patients' prognosis changes using machine learning in a nationwide stroke registry.

Accurately predicting the prognosis of ischemic stroke patients after discharge is crucial for physicians to plan for long-term health care. Although previous studies have demonstrated that machine learning (ML) shows reasonably accurate stroke outcome predictions with limited datasets, to identify specific clinical features associated with prognosis changes after stroke that could aid physicians and patients in devising improved recovery care plans have been challenging. This study aimed to overcome these gaps by utilizing a large national stroke registry database to assess various prediction models that estimate how patients' prognosis changes over time with associated clinical factors. To properly evaluate the best predictive approaches currently available and avoid prejudice, this study employed three different prognosis prediction models including a statistical logistic regression model, commonly used clinical-based scores, and a latest high-performance ML-based XGBoost model. The study revealed that the XGBoost model outperformed other two traditional models, achieving an AUROC of 0.929 in predicting the prognosis changes of stroke patients followed for 3 months. In addition, the XGBoost model maintained remarkably high precision even when using only selected 20 most relevant clinical features compared to full clinical datasets used in the study. These selected features closely correlated with significant changes in clinical outcomes for stroke patients and showed to be effective for predicting prognosis changes after discharge, allowing physicians to make optimal decisions regarding their patients' recovery.

The mechanisms of MicroRNA 21 in premature ovarian insufficiency mice with mesenchymal stem cells transplantation : The involved molecular and immunological mechanisms.

Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSC) transplantation has been deeply explored for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) disease. However, the associated mechanism remains to be researched. To explore whether and how the microRNA 21 (miR-21) functions in POI mice with UCMSCs transplantation, the autoimmune-induced POI mice model was built up, transplanted with or without UCMSCs transfect with the LV-hsa-miR-21-5p/LV-hsa-miR-21-5p-inhibition, with the transfection efficiency analyzed by QRT-PCR. Mice hormone secretion and the anti-Zona pellucida antibody (AZPAb) levels were analyzed, the ovarian morphological changes and folliculogenesis were observed, and the ovarian apoptosis cells were detected to evaluate ovarian function. The expression and localization of the PTEN/Akt/FOXO3a signal pathway-related cytokines were analyzed in mice ovaries.Additionally, the spleen levels of CD8 + CD28-T cells were tested and qualified with its significant secretory factor, interleukin 10 (IL-10). We found that with the LV-hsa-miR-21-5p-inhibition-UCMSCs transplantation, the mice ovarian function can be hardly recovered than mice with LV-NC-UCMSCs transplantation, and the PTEN/Akt/FOXO3a signal pathway was activated. The expression levels of the CD8 + CD28-T cells were decreased, with the decreased levels of the IL-10 expression. In contrast, in mice with the LV-hsa-miR-21-5p-UCMSCs transplantation, the injured ovarian function can be reversed, and the PTEN/AKT/FOXO3a signal pathway was detected activated, with the increased levels of the CD8 + CD28-T cells, and the increased serum levels of IL-10. In conclusion, miR-21 improves the ovarian function recovery of POI mice with UCMSCs transplantation, and the mechanisms may be through suppressing the PTEN/AKT/FOXO3a signal pathway and up-regulating the circulating of the CD8 + CD28-T cells.

Enhancement of NETosis by ACE2-cross-reactive anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD antibodies in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: High levels of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation or NETosis and autoantibodies are related to poor prognosis and disease severity of COVID-19 patients. Human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cross-reactive anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (SARS-CoV-2 RBD) antibodies (CR Abs) have been reported as one of the sources of anti-ACE2 autoantibodies. However, the pathological implications of CR Abs in NET formation remain unknown. METHODS: In this study, we first assessed the presence of CR Abs in the sera of COVID-19 patients with different severity by serological analysis. Sera and purified IgG from CR Abs positive COVID-19 patients as well as a mouse monoclonal Ab (mAb 127) that can recognize both ACE2 and the RBD were tested for their influence on NETosis and the possible mechanisms involved were studied. RESULTS: An association between CR Abs levels and the severity of COVID-19 in 120 patients was found. The CR Abs-positive sera and IgG from severe COVID-19 patients and mAb 127 significantly activated human leukocytes and triggered NETosis, in the presence of RBD. This NETosis, triggered by the coexistence of CR Abs and RBD, activated thrombus-related cells but was abolished when the interaction between CR Abs and ACE2 or Fc receptors was disrupted. We also revealed that CR Abs-induced NETosis was suppressed in the presence of recombinant ACE2 or the Src family kinase inhibitor, dasatinib. Furthermore, we found that COVID-19 vaccination not only reduced COVID-19 severity but also prevented the production of CR Abs after SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide possible pathogenic effects of CR Abs in exacerbating COVID-19 by enhancing NETosis, highlighting ACE2 and dasatinib as potential treatments, and supporting the benefit of vaccination in reducing disease severity and CR Abs production in COVID-19 patients.

Broadband 2 × 2 multimode-interference coupler on the silicon-nitride platform.

In this paper, we present the design, optimization, and implementation of a sub-wavelength grating (SWG) multi-mode interference coupler (MMI) on the silicon nitride photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platform with a significantly enhanced bandwidth compared to the conventional MMI. We extend the SWG MMI theory, previously presented for the silicon-on-insulator platform, to the Si3N4/SiO2 platform. Our approach involves an initial parameter optimization for a non-paired design, followed by a shift to a paired design that offers a smaller footprint and a broader bandwidth. The optimized SWG MMI exhibits a 1 dB bandwidth of 300 nm for both the insertion loss and power imbalance, making it a significant addition to silicon nitride photonics.

The utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (EBUS-TBMC) for the diagnosis of mediastinal lymphoma.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a revolutionary tool for the diagnosis and staging of mediastinal disorders. Nevertheless, its diagnostic capability is reduced in certain disorders such as lymphoproliferative diseases. EBUS-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (EBUS-TBMC) is a novel technique that can provide larger samples with preserved tissue architecture, with an acceptable safety profile. In this case report, we present a middle-aged gentleman with a huge anterior mediastinal mass and bilateral mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy. He underwent EBUS-TBNA with rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) followed by EBUS-TBMC, all under general anaesthesia. Histopathological analysis showed discordance between EBUS-TBNA and EBUS-TBMC in which only TBMC samples provided adequate tissue to attain a diagnosis of primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. This case report reinforced the diagnostic role of EBUS-TBMC in the diagnosis of lymphoproliferative diseases.

Chloramphenicol-imprinted polychitosan bounded with carbon dots as fluorescent sensor, dispersive sorbent, and drug carrier.

Chitosan, an abundant natural polysaccharide, was conjugated with carbon dots (CDs) and self-polymerized with chloramphenicol (CAP) templates to synthesize CD-incorporated and molecularly CAP-imprinted polychitosan (CD-MIC). The CD-MIC was used for fluorescent sensing, dispersive sorption, and dosage release of CAP at different pH levels. The sphere of action mechanism, approved by emission and excitation fluorescence, UV-Vis absorption, and fluorescence lifetime measurements, regulated the fluorescence static quenching. By the Perrin model, the quenching extent was linearly correlated to CAP within 0.17 - 33.2 µM (LOD = 37 nM) at pH 7.0. With an imprinting factor of 3.1, the CD-MIC was more selective for CAP than CD, although it was less sensitive to CAP. The recoveries of 5.0 µM CAP from milk matrix were 95% (RSD = 2.3%) for CD-MIC probes and 62% (RSD = 4.5%) for CD. The Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models preferably described the isothermal and kinetic sorptions of CAP into the imprinted cavities in CD-MICs, respectively. The Weber - Morris kinetic model showed three stages involved in intraparticle diffusion, which was pH-dependent and gradually arduous at the later stage, and showed external diffusion partly engaged in the diffusion mechanism. The 20 - 70% of CAP formulated in CAP-embedded CD-MICs were released in 8 - 48 h. The release percentage was lower at pH 7.0 than at pH 5.0 and 9.0, but the equilibrium time was shorter. At pH 7.0, the release percentage reached 45% at 10 min and slowly increased to 51% at 24 h.

Metformin and statins reduce hepatocellular carcinoma risk in chronic hepatitis C patients with failed antiviral therapy.

Backgrounds and Aim: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who fail antiviral therapy have a high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the effects of metformin and statins, commonly used to treat diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidemia (HLP), on HCC risk in CHC patients who failed antiviral therapy. Methods: CHC patients with failed interferon-based therapy were enrolled in a large-scale multicenter cohort study in Taiwan (T-COACH). HCC occurrence 1.5 years after the end of antiviral therapy was identified by linking to the cancer registry databases from 2003 to 2019. After considering death and liver transplantation as competing risks, Gray's cumulative incidence and Cox sub-distribution hazards for HCC development were used. Results: Among the 2,779 CHC patients, 480 (17.3%) developed new-onset HCC and 238 (8.6%) died after antiviral therapy. Metformin non-users with DM had a 51% higher risk of liver cancer than patients without DM, while statin users with HLP had a 50% lower risk of liver cancer than patients without HLP. The 5-year cumulative incidence of HCC was 16.5% in metformin non-users, significantly higher in metformin non-users than in patients without DM (11.3%; adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio [aSHR]=1.51; P=0.007) and metformin users (3.1%; aSHR=1.59; P=0.022). Conversely, HLP statin users had a significantly lower HCC risk than patients without HLP (3.8% vs. 12.5%; aSHR=0.50; P<0.001). Notably, the unfavorable effect of non-metformin use on increased HCC risk was mainly observed among patients without cirrhosis but not in patients with cirrhosis. In contrast, a favorable effect of statins reduced the risk of HCC in both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. Conclusion: Metformin for DM and statins for HLP have chemopreventive effects on HCC risk in CHC patients who failed antiviral therapy. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized preventive strategies for managing patients with these clinical profiles.

Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Treated Isolated Diastolic Hypertension and Isolated Low Diastolic Blood Pressure.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of high or markedly low diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with normalized on-treatment systolic blood pressure on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) is uncertain. This study examined whether treated isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) and treated isolated low DBP (ILDBP) were associated with MACEs in patients with hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 7582 patients with on-treatment systolic blood pressure <130 mm Hg from SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) were categorized on the basis of average DBP: <60 mm Hg (n=1031; treated ILDBP), 60 to 79 mm Hg (n=5432), ≥80 mm Hg (n=1119; treated IDH). MACE risk was estimated using Cox proportional-hazards models. Among the SPRINT participants, median age was 67.0 years and 64.9% were men. Over a median follow-up of 3.4 years, 512 patients developed a MACE. The incidence of MACEs was 3.9 cases per 100 person-years for treated ILDBP, 1.9 cases for DBP 60 to 79 mm Hg, and 1.8 cases for treated IDH. Comparing with DBP 60 to 79 mm Hg, treated ILDBP was associated with an 1.32-fold MACE risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.32, 95% CI, 1.05-1.66), whereas treated IDH was not (HR, 1.18 [95% CI, 0.87-1.59]). There was no effect modification by age, sex, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk, or cardiovascular disease history (all P values for interaction >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this secondary analysis of SPRINT, among treated patients with normalized systolic blood pressure, excessively low DBP was associated with an increased MACE risk, while treated IDH was not. Further research is required for treated ILDBP management.

Curcumin regulates pulmonary extracellular matrix remodeling and mitochondrial function to attenuate pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the miR-29a-3p/DNMT3A axis.

Epigenetic regulation and mitochondrial dysfunction are essential to the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Curcumin (CCM) in inhibits the progression of pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the expression of specific miRNAs and pulmonary fibroblast mitochondrial function; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally injected with bleomycin (5 mg/kg) and treated with CCM (25 mg/kg body weight/3 times per week, intraperitoneal injection) for 28 days. Verhoeff-Van Gieson, Picro sirius red, and Masson's trichrome staining were used to examine the expression and distribution of collagen and elastic fibers in the lung tissue. Pulmonary fibrosis was determined using micro-computed tomography and transmission electron microscopy. Human pulmonary fibroblasts were transfected with miR-29a-3p, and RT-qPCR, immunostaining, and western blotting were performed to determine the expression of DNMT3A and extracellular matrix collagen-1 (COL1A1) and fibronectin-1 (FN1) levels. The expression of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex (MRC) and mitochondrial function were detected using western blotting and Seahorse XFp Technology. CCM in increased the expression of miR-29a-3p in the lung tissue and inhibited the DNMT3A to reduce the COL1A1 and FN1 levels leading to pulmonary extracellular matrix remodeling. In addition, CCM inhibited pulmonary fibroblasts MRC and mitochondrial function via the miR-29a-3p/DNMT3A pathway. CCM attenuates pulmonary fibrosis via the miR-29a-3p/DNMT3A axis to regulate extracellular matrix remodeling and mitochondrial function and may provide a new therapeutic intervention for preventing pulmonary fibrosis.

Nonlocal metasurface for dark-field edge emission.

Nonlocal effects originating from interactions between neighboring meta-atoms introduce additional degrees of freedom for peculiar characteristics of metadevices, such as enhancement, selectivity, and spatial modulation. However, they are generally difficult to manipulate because of the collective responses of multiple meta-atoms. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the nonlocal metasurface to realize the spatial modulation of dark-field emission. Plasmonic asymmetric split rings (ASRs) are designed to simultaneously excite local dipole resonance and nonlocal quasi-bound states in the continuum and spatially extended modes. With one type of unit, nonlocal effects are tailored by varying array periods. ASRs at the metasurface's edge lack sufficient interactions, resulting in stronger dark-field scattering and thus edge emission properties of the metasurface. Pixel-level spatial control is demonstrated by simply erasing some units, providing more flexibility than conventional local metasurfaces. This work paves the way for manipulating nonlocal effects and facilitates applications in optical trapping and sorting at the nanoscale.

Mortality of continuous infusion versus intermittent bolus of meropenem: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Meropenem belongs to the carbapenem class, which is categorized as beta-lactam antibiotics. These antibiotics are administered in intermittent bolus doses at specific time intervals. However, the continuous infusion approach ensures sustained drug exposure, maintaining the drug concentration above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) throughout the entire treatment period. This study aimed to find out the association between continuous infusions of meropenem and mortality rates. Materials and methods: We conducted a search of the PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases up to 14 August 2023. The six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified and included in our analysis. The random-effects model was implemented using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software to examine the outcomes. Results: Our study included a total of 1,529 adult patients from six randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome indicated that continuous infusion of meropenem did not lead to reduction in the mortality rate (odds ratio = 0.844, 95% CI: 0.671-1.061, P =0.147). Secondary outcomes revealed no significant differences in ICU length of stay (LOS), ICU mortality, clinical cure, or adverse events between continuous infusion and traditional intermittent bolus strategies of meropenem. Notably, we observed significant improvements in bacterial eradication (odds ratio 19 = 2.207, 95% CI: 1.467-3.320, P < 0.001) with continuous infusion of meropenem. Our study also suggested that performing continuous infusion may lead to better bacterial eradication effects in resistant pathogens (coefficient: 2.5175, P = 0.0138*). Conclusion: Continuous infusion of meropenem did not result in the reduction of mortality rates but showed potential in improving bacterial eradication. Furthermore, this strategy may be particularly beneficial for achieving better bacterial eradication, especially in cases involving resistant pathogens.

Dual regulation of cytochrome P450 gene expression by two distinct small RNAs, a novel tasiRNA and miRNA, in Marchantia polymorpha.

The miR390-derived TAS3 trans-acting short-interfering RNAs (tasiRNAs) module represents a conserved RNA silencing pathway in the plant kingdom; however, its characterization in the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha is limited. This study elucidated that MpDCL4 processes MpTAS3 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to generate tasiRNAs, primarily from the 5'- and 3'-ends of dsRNA. Notably, we discovered a novel tasiRNA, tasi78A, can negatively regulate a cytochrome P450 gene, MpCYP78A101. Additionally, tasi78A was abundant in MpAGO1, and transient expression assays underscored the role of tasi78A in repressing MpCYP78A101. A microRNA, miR11700, also regulates MpCYP78A101 expression. This coordinate regulation suggests a role in modulating auxin signaling at apical notches of gemma, influencing the growth and sexual organ development of M. polymorpha and emphasizing the significance of RNA silencing in MpCYP78A101 regulation. However, phylogenetic analysis identified another paralog of the CYP78 family, Mp1g14150, which may have a redundant role with MpCYP78A101, explaining the absence of noticeable morphological changes in loss-of-function plants. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the combined regulatory roles of miR390/MpTAS3/miR11700 in controlling MpCYP78A101 and expand our knowledge about the biogenesis and regulation of tasiRNAs in M. polymorpha.

An Approach to the Examination of the Lumbar Plexus for Neurosurgical Residents: A Video Manuscript.

The lumbar plexus provides innervation to the lower limbs and is essential in enabling motor movement and sensation in the lower limbs. Some of its branches also innervate the muscles in the pelvic girdle. Compared to the brachial plexus in the upper limbs, the lumbar plexus appears to garner less recognition among physicians and surgeons. However, it is important to understand the anatomy of the lumbar plexus and its branches along with the innervation they enable, as injury to them can cause plexopathies and pathologies that should be recognised by any treating clinician. Lumbar disc herniation, trauma and entrapment by muscles or hypertrophic ligaments are common causes of lumbar plexus or nerve injuries. A video was produced to demonstrate the examination techniques explained in this article. To provide comprehensive examination of the lower limbs, the sciatic nerve and its branches are also included in the examination video.

Lymph node volume predicts survival in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery.

Large primary tumor volume has been identified as a poor prognostic factor of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). However, when neoadjuvant CCRT and surgery are adopted, the prognostic impact of primary tumor and lymph node (LN) volume on clinical outcomes in ESCC remains to be elucidated. This study included 107 patients who received neoadjuvant CCRT and surgery for ESCC. The volume of the primary tumor and LN was measured using radiotherapy planning computed tomography scans, and was correlated with overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer failure pattern. The median OS was 24.2 months (IQR, 11.1-93.9) after a median follow-up of 18.4 months (IQR, 8.1-40.7). The patients with a baseline LN volume > 7.7 ml had a significantly worse median OS compared to those with smaller LN volume (18.8 vs. 46.9 months, p = 0.049), as did those with tumor regression grade (TRG) 3-5 after CCRT (13.9 vs. 86.7 months, p < 0.001). However, there was no association between OS and esophageal tumor volume (p = 0.363). Multivariate analysis indicated that large LN volume (HR 1.753, 95% CI 1.015-3.029, p = 0.044) and high TRG (HR 3.276, 95% CI 1.556-6.898, p = 0.002) were negative prognostic factors for OS. Furthermore, large LN volume was linked to increased locoregional failure (p = 0.033) and decreased DFS (p = 0.041). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that large LN volume is correlated with poor OS, DFS, and locoregional control in ESCC treated with neoadjuvant CCRT and esophagectomy.

Assessment of the microbial electrochemical sensor (SENTRY™) as a potential wastewater quality monitoring tool for common pollutants found in Malaysia.

Bioelectrochemical sensors for environment monitoring have the potential to provide facility operators with real-time data, allowing for better and more timely decision-making regarding water and wastewater treatment. To assess the robustness and sensitivity of the Sentry™ biosensor in local conditions, it was tested in Malaysia using domestically available wastewater. The study objectives included (1) enrich the biosensor locally, (2) operate and test the biosensor with local domestic wastewater, and (3) determine the biosensor's responsiveness to model pollutants through pollutant spike and immersion test as well as response to absence of wastewater. Lab-scale operation shows the biosensor was successfully enriched with (1) local University Kebangsaan Malaysia's, microbial community strain collection and (2) local municipal wastewater microflora, operated for more than 50 days with a stable yet responsive carbon consumption rate (CCR) signal. Meanwhile, two independent biosensors were also enriched and operated in Indah Water Research Centre's crude sewage holding tank, showing a stable response to the wastewater. Next, a pilot scale setup was constructed to test the enriched biosensors for the spiked-pollutant test. The biosensors showed a proportional CCR response (pollutant presence detected) towards several organic compounds in the sewage, including ethanol, chicken blood, and dilution of tested sewage but less to curry powder, methanol, and isopropanol. Conversely, there was no significant response (pollutant presence not detected) towards hexane, Congo red, engine oil, and paint, which may be due to their non-biodegradability and/or insoluble nature. Additionally, the biosensors were exposed to air for 6 h to assess their robustness towards aerobic shock with a positive result. Overall, the study suggested that the biosensor could be a powerful monitoring tool, given its responsiveness towards organic compounds in sewage under normal conditions.

The effect of gonadal hormones on the gene expression of brain-pituitary in protandrous black porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegelii.

In black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegelii), the brain-pituitary-testis (Gnrh-Gths-Dmrt1) axis plays a vital role in male fate determination and maintenance, and then inhibiting female development in further (puberty). However, the feedback of gonadal hormones on regulating brain signaling remains unclear. In this study, we conducted short-term sex steroid treatment and surgery of gonadectomy to evaluate the feedback regulation between the gonads and the brain. The qPCR results show that male phase had the highest gths transcripts; treatment with estradiol-17ß (E2) or 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) resulted in the increased pituitary lhb transcripts. After surgery, apart from gnrh1, there is no difference in brain signaling genes between gonadectomy and sham fish. In the diencephalon/mesencephalon transcriptome, de novo assembly generated 283,528 unigenes; however, only 443 (0.16%) genes showed differentially expressed between sham and gonadectomy fish. In the present study, we found that exogenous sex steroids affect the gths transcription; this feedback control is related to the gonadal stage. Furthermore, gonadectomy may not affect gene expression of brain signaling (Gnrh-Gths axis). Our results support the communication between ovotestis and brain signaling (Gnrh-Gths-testicular Dmrt1) for the male fate.

Developmental Differences in Reaching-and-Placing Movement and Its Potential in Classifying Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder: Deep Learning Approach.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is among the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, yet the current diagnostic procedures rely on behavioral analyses and interviews and lack objective screening methods. This study seeks to address this gap by integrating upper limb kinematics and deep learning methods to identify potential biomarkers that could be validated in younger age groups in the future to enhance the identification of ASD. Forty-one school-age children, with and without an ASD diagnosis (Mean age ± SE = 10.3 ± 0.4; 12 Females), participated in the study. A single Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was affixed to the child's wrist as they engaged in a continuous reaching and placing task. Deep learning techniques were employed to classify children with and without ASD. Our findings suggest delays in motor planning and control in school-age children compared to healthy adults. Compared to TD children, children with ASD exhibited poor motor planning and control as seen by greater number of movement units, more movement overshooting, and prolonged time to peak velocity/acceleration. Compensatory movement strategies such as greater velocity and acceleration were also seen in the ASD group. More importantly, using Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) model, we demonstrated an accuracy of ~ 78.1% in classifying children with and without ASD. These findings underscore the potential use of studying upper limb movement kinematics during goal-directed arm movements and deep learning methods as valuable tools for classifying and, consequently, aiding in the diagnosis and early identification of ASD upon further validation in younger children.