bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HIF-2α/LINC02609/APOL1-mediated lipid storage promotes endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis and regulates tumor progression in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Xiao Haibing , Qu Yan , Li Haolin , Zhang Yi , Fei Mintian , Liang Chaozhao , Yang Hongmei , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: January 2024

Background

The VHL-HIF pathway and lipid droplet accumulation are the main characteristics of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, the connection between the two features is largely unknown.

Methods

We used transcriptional sequencing and TCGA database analysis to identify APOL1 as a novel therapeutic target for ccRCC. The oncogenic functions of APOL1 were investigated by cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion assays in ccRCC cells in vitro and xenografts derived from ccRCC cells in vivo. Oil red O staining and quantification were used to detect lipid droplets. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays and luciferase reporter assays were carried out to identify HIF-2α bound to the promoter of APOL1 and lncRNA LINC02609. RNA-FISH and luciferase reporter assays were performed to determine that LncRNA LINC02609 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate APOL1 expression by sponging miR-149-5p.

Findings

RNA-seq data revealed that HIF2α can regulate APOL1 and lncRNA LINC02609 expression. We also found that HIF-2α can bind to the promoter of APOL1 and lncRNA LINC02609 and transcriptionally regulate their expression directly. We further demonstrated that LncRNA LINC02609 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate APOL1 expression by sponging miR-149-5p in ccRCC. Mechanistically, APOL1-dependent lipid storage is required for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and cell viability and metastasis in ccRCC. We also showed that high APOL1 expression correlated with worse clinical outcomes, and knockdown of APOL1 inhibited tumor cell lipid droplet formation, proliferation, metastasis and xenograft tumor formation abilities. Together, our studies identify that HIF2α can regulate the expression of the lipid metabolism related gene APOL1 by direct and indirect means, which are essential for ccRCC tumorigenesis.

Interpretation

Based on the experimental data, in ccRCC, the HIF-2α/LINC02609/APOL1 axis can regulate the expression of APOL1, thus interfering with lipid storage, promoting endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis and regulating tumor progression in ccRCC. Together, our findings provide potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for future studies in ccRCC.
Machine learning for risk stratification in the emergency department (MARS-ED) study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial on the implementation of a prediction model based on machine learning technology predicting 31-day mortality in the emergency department
Authors: van Dam Paul M.E.L. , van Doorn William P.T.M. , van Gils Floor , Sevenich Lotte , Lambriks Lars , Meex Steven J.R. , Cals Jochen W.L. , Stassen Patricia M.
Published: January 2024

Background

Many prediction models have been developed to help identify emergency department (ED) patients at high risk of poor outcome. However, these models often underperform in clinical practice and their actual clinical impact has hardly ever been evaluated. We aim to perform a clinical trial to investigate the clinical impact of a prediction model based on machine learning (ML) technology.

Methods

The study is a prospective, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority pilot clinical trial. We will investigate the clinical impact of a prediction model based on ML technology, the RISKINDEX, which has been developed to predict the risk of 31-day mortality based on the results of laboratory tests and demographic characteristics. In previous studies, the RISKINDEX was shown to outperform internal medicine specialists and to have high discriminatory performance. Adults patients (18 years or older) will be recruited in the ED. All participants will be randomly assigned to the control group or the intervention group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the control group will receive care as usual in which the study team asks the attending physicians questions about their clinical intuition. Participants in the intervention group will also receive care as usual, but in addition to asking the clinical impression questions, the study team presents the RISKINDEX to the attending physician in order to assess the extent to which clinical treatment is influenced by the results.

Discussion

This pilot clinical trial investigates the clinical impact and implementation of an ML based prediction model in the ED. By assessing the clinical impact and prognostic accuracy of the RISKINDEX, this study aims to contribute valuable insights to optimize patient care and inform future research in the field of ML based clinical prediction models.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05497830. Machine Learning for Risk Stratification in the Emergency Department (MARS-ED). Registered on August 11, 2022. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05497830.
Unraveling the phylogenomic diversity of Methanomassiliicoccales and implications for mitigating ruminant methane emissions
Authors: Xie Fei , Zhao Shengwei , Zhan Xiaoxiu , Zhou Yang , Li Yin , Zhu Weiyun , Pope Phillip B. , Attwood Graeme T. , Jin Wei , Mao Shengyong
Published: January 2024

Background

Methanomassiliicoccales are a recently identified order of methanogens that are diverse across global environments particularly the gastrointestinal tracts of animals; however, their metabolic capacities are defined via a limited number of cultured strains.

Results

Here, we profile and analyze 243 Methanomassiliicoccales genomes assembled from cultured representatives and uncultured metagenomes recovered from various biomes, including the gastrointestinal tracts of different animal species. Our analyses reveal the presence of numerous undefined genera and genetic variability in metabolic capabilities within Methanomassiliicoccales lineages, which is essential for adaptation to their ecological niches. In particular, gastrointestinal tract Methanomassiliicoccales demonstrate the presence of co-diversified members with their hosts over evolutionary timescales and likely originated in the natural environment. We highlight the presence of diverse clades of vitamin transporter BtuC proteins that distinguish Methanomassiliicoccales from other archaeal orders and likely provide a competitive advantage in efficiently handling B12. Furthermore, genome-centric metatranscriptomic analysis of ruminants with varying methane yields reveal elevated expression of select Methanomassiliicoccales genera in low methane animals and suggest that B12exchanges could enable them to occupy ecological niches that possibly alter the direction of H2utilization.

Conclusions

We provide a comprehensive and updated account of divergent Methanomassiliicoccales lineages, drawing from numerous uncultured genomes obtained from various habitats. We also highlight their unique metabolic capabilities involving B12, which could serve as promising targets for mitigating ruminant methane emissions by altering H2flow.
Working under short timescales to deliver a national trial: a case study of the ComFluCOV trial from a statistician’s perspective
Authors: Harris Rosie , Thirard Russell , Baos Sarah , Lazarus Rajeka , Todd Rachel , Kirwan Jana , Joyce Katherine , Hutton David , Clout Maddie , Cappel-Porter Heike , Culliford Lucy , Rogers Chris A.
Published: January 2024

Background

In early 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK called for research on the safety and immunogenicity of concomitant administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. Co-administration of these vaccines would facilitate uptake and reduce the number of healthcare visits required. The ComFluCOV trial was designed to deliver the necessary evidence in time to inform the autumn (September–November) 2021 vaccination policy. This paper presents the statistical methodology applied to help successfully deliver the trial results in 6 months.

Methods

ComFluCOV was a parallel-group multicentre randomised controlled trial managed by the Bristol Trials Centre. Two study statisticians, supported by a senior statistician, worked together on all statistical tasks. Tools were developed to aid the pre-screening process. Automated data monitoring reports of clinic data and electronic diaries were produced daily and reviewed by the trial team and feedback provided to sites. Analyses were performed independently in parallel, and derivations and results of all outcomes were compared.

Results

Set-up was achieved in less than a month, and 679 participants were recruited over 8 weeks. A total of 537 [at least] daily reports outlining recruitment, protocol adherence, and data quality, and 695 daily reports of participant electronic diaries identifying any missed diary entries and adverse events were produced over a period of 16 weeks. A preliminary primary outcome analysis of validated data was reported to the Department of Health and Social Care in May 2021. The database was locked 6 weeks after the final participant follow-up and final analyses completed 3 weeks later. A pre-print publication was submitted within 14 days of the results being made available. The results were reported 6 months after first discussions about the trial.

Conclusion

The statistical methodologies implemented in ComFluCOV helped to deliver the study in the timescale set. Working in a new clinical area to tight timescales was challenging. Having two statisticians working together on the study provided a quality assurance process that enabled analyses to be completed efficiently and ensured data were interpreted correctly. Processes developed could be applied to other studies to maximise quality, reduce the risk of errors, and overall provide enhanced validation methods.

Trial registration

ISRCTN14391248, registered on 30 March 2021
Pragmatic randomized controlled trials: strengthening the concept through a robust international collaborative network: PRIME-9—Pragmatic Research and Innovation through Multinational Experimentation
Authors: Omerovic Elmir , Petrie Mark , Redfors Björn , Fremes Stephen , Murphy Gavin , Marquis-Gravel Guillaume , Lansky Alexandra , Velazquez Eric , Perera Divaka , Reid Christopher , Smith Julian , van der Meer Peter , Lipsic Eric , Juni Peter , McMurray John , Bauersachs Johann , Køber Lars , Rouleau Jean L. , Doenst Torsten
Published: January 2024

In an era focused on value-based healthcare, the quality of healthcare and resource allocation should be underpinned by empirical evidence. Pragmatic clinical trials (pRCTs) are essential in this endeavor, providing randomized controlled trial (RCT) insights that encapsulate real-world effects of interventions. The rising popularity of pRCTs can be attributed to their ability to mirror real-world practices, accommodate larger sample sizes, and provide cost advantages over traditional RCTs. By harmonizing efficacy with effectiveness, pRCTs assist decision-makers in prioritizing interventions that have a substantial public health impact and align with the tenets of value-based health care. An international network for pRCT provides several advantages, including larger and diverse patient populations, access to a broader range of healthcare settings, sharing knowledge and expertise, and overcoming ethical and regulatory barriers. The hypothesis and study design of pRCT answers the decision-maker’s questions. pRCT compares clinically relevant alternative interventions, recruits participants from diverse practice settings, and collects data on various health outcomes. They are scarce because the medical products industry typically does not fund pRCT. Prioritizing these studies by expanding the infrastructure to conduct clinical research within the healthcare delivery system and increasing public and private funding for these studies will be necessary to facilitate pRCTs. These changes require more clinical and health policy decision-makers in clinical research priority setting, infrastructure development, and funding. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of pRCTs, emphasizing their importance in evidence-based medicine and the advantages of an international collaborative network for their execution. It details the development of PRIME-9, an international initiative across nine countries to advance pRCTs, and explores various statistical approaches for these trials. The paper underscores the need to overcome current challenges, such as funding limitations and infrastructural constraints, to leverage the full potential of pRCTs in optimizing healthcare quality and resource utilization.
Drivers of infection with Toxoplasma gondii genotype type II in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)
Authors: Wijburg Sara R. , Montizaan Margriet G. E. , Kik Marja J. L. , Joeres Maike , Cardron Garance , Luttermann Christine , Maas Miriam , Maksimov Pavlo , Opsteegh Marieke , Schares Gereon
Published: January 2024

Background

In September 2014, there was sudden upsurge in the number of Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) found dead in the Netherlands. High infection levels with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii were demonstrated, but it was unclear what had caused this increase in cases of fatal toxoplasmosis. In the present study, we aimed to gain more knowledge on the pathology and prevalence of T. gondii infections in Eurasian red squirrels in the Netherlands, on the T. gondii genotypes present, and on the determinants of the spatiotemporal variability in these T. gondii infections. The presence of the closely related parasite Hammondia hammondi was also determined.

Methods

Eurasian red squirrels that were found dead in the wild or that had died in wildlife rescue centres in the Netherlands over a period of seven years (2014–2020) were examined. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to analyse tissue samples for the presence of T. gondii and H. hammondi DNA. Toxoplasma gondii-positive samples were subjected to microsatellite typing and cluster analysis. A mixed logistic regression was used to identify climatic and other environmental predictors of T. gondii infection in the squirrels.

Results

A total of 178 squirrels were examined (49/178 T. gondii positive, 5/178 H. hammondi positive). Inflammation of multiple organs was the cause of death in 29 squirrels, of which 24 were also T. gondii polymerase chain reaction positive. Toxoplasma gondii infection was positively associated with pneumonia and hepatitis. Microsatellite typing revealed only T. gondii type II alleles. Toxoplasma gondii infection rates showed a positive correlation with the number of days of heavy rainfall in the previous 12 months. Conversely, they showed a negative association with the number of hot days within the 2-week period preceding the sampling date, as well as with the percentage of deciduous forest cover at the sampling site.

Conclusions

Toxoplasma gondii infection in the squirrels appeared to pose a significant risk of acute mortality. The T. gondii genotype detected in this study is commonly found across Europe. The reasons for the unusually high infection rates and severe symptoms of these squirrels from the Netherlands remain unclear. The prevalence of T. gondii in the deceased squirrels was linked to specific environmental factors. However, whether the increase in the number of dead squirrels indicated a higher environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts has yet to be established.

Graphical Abstract
Assessing the microbiota of the snail intermediate host of trematodes, Galba truncatula
Authors: McCann Peter , McFarland Christopher , Megaw Julianne , Siu-Ting Karen , Cantacessi Cinzia , Rinaldi Gabriel , Gobert Geoffrey N.
Published: January 2024

Background

The microbiome is known to play key roles in health and disease, including host susceptibility to parasite infections. The freshwater snail Galba truncatula is the intermediate host for many trematode species, including the liver and rumen flukes Fasciola hepatica and Calicophoron daubneyi, respectively. The snail-parasite system has previously been investigated. However, the specific interaction between the snail-associated microbiota and intra-snail developmental stages of trematodes has yet to be explored.

Methods

Galba truncatula snails were collected from farms in Northern Ireland and trematode infection was diagnosed using PCR. High-throughput sequencing analysis of the bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA V3-V4 hypervariable regions was subsequently applied to characterise the microbiota of both uninfected and infected snails.

Results

We first showed that the snail harboured microbiota that was distinct for its environment. The microbiota of infected snails was found to differ significantly from that of uninfected snails. In particular, the bacterial genera Mycoplasma and Methylotenera were significantly more abundant in infected snails, while genera Sphingomonas and Nocardioides were predominantly associated with uninfected snails.

Conclusion

These findings pave the way to future studies on the functional roles of bacteria in host-parasite relationships.

Graphical Abstract
An insidious rectus abdominis muscle injury in an elite volleyball player: a case report
Authors: Giarda Federico , Contro Diego , Fasano Maurizio , Poli Mirko , Giacchino Maurizio
Published: January 2024

Background

Structural muscle injuries are characterized by acute and localized onset of pain. Abdominal muscle injuries are an insidious pathology in overhead athletes. However, only a few cases are reported in literature related to volleyball players, where clinical presentation may not have reflected the severity of the lesion.

Case presentation

An elite volleyball player, a 21-year-old Caucasian female, reported the onset of mild abdominal muscular pain, confirmed on clinical evaluation findings and self-reported symptoms. Abdominal muscle ultrasound was performed following 2 weeks of continuing symptoms. This evidenced a more serious structural muscle injury of the rectus abdominis (type 3b). Having this correct diagnosis allowed a personalized rehabilitation program to be instituted to enable a safe return to play.

Conclusion

In presence of persistent abdominal muscle pain, even if mild, the possibility of a structural muscle injury must be considered. Clinical evaluation must be complemented by an instrumental evaluation including an ultrasound by an experienced operator for correct diagnosis and the setting of functional recovery related to biological healing.
Deep learning-based algorithm for the detection of idiopathic full thickness macular holes in spectral domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: Valentim Carolina C. S. , Wu Anna K. , Yu Sophia , Manivannan Niranchana , Zhang Qinqin , Cao Jessica , Song Weilin , Wang Victoria , Kang Hannah , Kalur Aneesha , Iyer Amogh I. , Conti Thais , Singh Rishi P. , Talcott Katherine E.
Published: January 2024

Background

Automated identification of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) features can improve retina clinic workflow efficiency as they are able to detect pathologic findings. The purpose of this study was to test a deep learning (DL)-based algorithm for the identification of Idiopathic Full Thickness Macular Hole (IFTMH) features and stages of severity in SD-OCT B-scans.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, subjects solely diagnosed with either IFTMH or Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) were identified excluding secondary causes of macular holes, any concurrent maculopathies, or incomplete records. SD-OCT scans (512 × 128) from all subjects were acquired with CIRRUS™ HD-OCT (ZEISS, Dublin, CA) and reviewed for quality. In order to establish a ground truth classification, each SD-OCT B-scan was labeled by two trained graders and adjudicated by a retina specialist when applicable. Two test sets were built based on different gold-standard classification methods. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the algorithm to identify IFTMH features in SD-OCT B-scans were determined. Spearman’s correlation was run to examine if the algorithm’s probability score was associated with the severity stages of IFTMH.

Results

Six hundred and one SD-OCT cube scans from 601 subjects (299 with IFTMH and 302 with PVD) were used. A total of 76,928 individual SD-OCT B-scans were labeled gradable by the algorithm and yielded an accuracy of 88.5% (test set 1, 33,024 B-scans) and 91.4% (test set 2, 43,904 B-scans) in identifying SD-OCT features of IFTMHs. A Spearman’s correlation coefficient of 0.15 was achieved between the algorithm’s probability score and the stages of the 299 (47 [15.7%] stage 2, 56 [18.7%] stage 3 and 196 [65.6%] stage 4) IFTMHs cubes studied.

Conclusions

The DL-based algorithm was able to accurately detect IFTMHs features on individual SD-OCT B-scans in both test sets. However, there was a low correlation between the algorithm’s probability score and IFTMH severity stages. The algorithm may serve as a clinical decision support tool that assists with the identification of IFTMHs. Further training is necessary for the algorithm to identify stages of IFTMHs.
Electronic correlation and s-wave pairing effects in hole-doped LiNbO2: A DFT+DMFT study
Authors: Craco L.
Published: January 2024

We compute the electronic many-particle properties of the normal and s-wave superconducting state of hole-doped lithium niobite (LiNbO2), taking into account local dynamical correlations by means of density functional plus dynamical mean-field theory (DFT+DMFT). Our results for the one-band Hubbard model yield a consistent picture for the electronic structure reconstruction of Li
x
NbO2 and point at the importance of single-band electron correlations for understanding the emergent collective superfluid spectra as well as the hidden nature of the Fermi liquid electronic state that might host a s-wave superconducting phase at low teperatures.
Orbital selectivity in Sn adatom adlayer on a Si(111) surface
Authors: Craco Luis , Carara Sabrina S.
Published: January 2024

Unconventional quantum many-particle phenomenon naturally emerges when approaching the Mott-Hubbard insulating state. Finding insulator-metal transition in correlated adatoms in semiconductor surfaces provides an ideal material platform to design electronic states which may host superconductivity in two-dimensional electron systems. To uncover the microscopics underlying by multi-orbital interactions, we perform density functional plus dynamical mean-field theory calculations for the all-electron

Hubbard model, unraveling a Mott assisted Kondo insulating state in the atomic Sn layer deposited onto a Si(111) surface, also referred to as α-Sn. We propose that α-Sn is an ideal testing ground to explore hidden orbital selectivity and pseudogap behavior all arising from Mottness and discuss the relevance of our results for pure and hole-doped α-Sn in the context of spectroscopy and tunnelling experiments of adatom lattices.
Autosomal Dominant Osteopetrosis (ADO) Caused by a Missense Variant in the TCIRG1 Gene
Authors: Jodeh Wade , Katz Amy J , Hart Marian , Warden Stuart J , Niziolek Paul , Alam Imranul , Ing Steven , Polgreen Lynda E , Imel Erik A , Econs Michael J
Published: January 2024

Context

Autosomal dominant osteopetrosis (ADO) is a rare genetic disorder resulting from impaired osteoclastic bone resorption. Clinical manifestations frequently include fractures, osteonecrosis (particularly of the jaw or maxilla), osteomyelitis, blindness, and/or bone marrow failure. ADO usually results from heterozygous missense variants in the Chloride Channel 7 gene (CLCN7) that cause disease by a dominant negative mechanism. Variants in the T-cell immune regulator 1 gene (TCIRG1) are commonly identified in autosomal recessive osteopetrosis but have only been reported in 1 patient with ADO.

Case Description

Here, we report 3 family members with a single heterozygous missense variant (p.Gly579Arg) in TCIRG1 who have a phenotype consistent with ADO. Three of 5 protein prediction programs suggest this variant likely inhibits the function of TCIRG1.

Conclusion

This is the first description of adult presentation of ADO caused by a TCIRG1 variant. Similar to families with ADO from CLCN7 mutations, this variant in TCIRG1 results in marked phenotype variability, with 2 subjects having severe disease and the third having very mild disease. This family report implicates TCIRG1 missense mutations as a cause of ADO and demonstrates that the marked phenotypic variability in ADO may extend to disease caused by TCIRG1 missense mutations.
How Parental Incarceration Shapes the Timing and Structure of Fertility for Children of Incarcerated Parents
Authors: McCauley Erin J.
Published: January 2024

The timing and structure of fertility have important implications for individuals and society. Families play a critical role in fertility; however, little is known about how parental incarceration shapes fertility despite it being a common experience in the life course of disadvantaged children. This study examines the consequences of parental incarceration for children's fertility using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. I employ multiple-decrement life tables and survival analyses to estimate the relationship between parental incarceration and fertility. Individuals who experience parental incarceration have different timing of fertility, with earlier first births and a quicker pace of subsequent births, as well as more nonmarital fertility, compared with those who do not experience parental incarceration. This analysis finds consistent evidence that parental incarceration is associated with the timing and structure of fertility and suggests that a parent's incarceration carries consequences over the life course of children. This study advances our understanding of how mass incarceration shapes American families, illustrates how the broader consequences of mass incarceration contribute to social inequality, and provides evidence that the enduring implications of incarceration span multiple generations.
Responses to Sexual and Gender Identity Measures in Population-Level Data by Birth Cohort: A Research Note
Authors: Julian Christopher A. , Manning Wendy D. , Westrick-Payne Krista K.
Published: January 2024

The measurement of sexual and gender identity in the United States has been evolving to generate more precise demographic estimates of the population and a better understanding of health and well-being. Younger cohorts of sexual- and gender-diverse adults are endorsing identities outside of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) labels. Current population-level surveys often include a category such as “something else” without providing further details, and doing so inadequately captures these diverse identities. In this research note, our analysis of the most recent federal data source to incorporate sexual and gender identity measures—the Household Pulse Survey—reveals that younger birth cohorts are more likely to select “something else” for their sexual identity and “none of these” for their gender identity. The observed sexual and gender identity response patterns across birth cohorts underscore the importance of developing and applying new strategies to directly measure sexual- and gender-diverse adults who identify with identities outside of those explicitly captured on surveys. The integration of sexual and gender identity measures in population-level surveys carries broader implications for civil rights and for addressing health inequities and therefore must be responsive to cohort differences in identification.
Millennial Style
Authors: Abdur-Rahman Aliyyah I.
Published: January 2024

In Millennial Style, Aliyyah I. Abdur-Rahman looks at recent experiments in black expressive culture that begin in the place of ruin. By ruin, Abdur-Rahman means the political terror and social abjection that constitute the ongoing peril of black lives. Whereas earlier black writers and artists have employed realist modes of expression to represent racial harm and to imaginatively remediate it, the black avant-garde of today displays more experimental methods. Abdur-Rahman outlines four widely employed modes in contemporary African diasporic cultural production: Black Grotesquerie, Hollowed Blackness, Black Cacophony, and the Black Ecstatic. Mobilizing black feminist and black radical thought, she considers work by such cultural practitioners as Wangechi Mutu, Marci Blackman, Alexandria Smith, Colson Whitehead, Toni Morrison, Harmony Holiday, and Essex Hemphill. Writerly and experimental, Millennial Style theorizes contemporary black art as the holding (or hoarding) of black mortal and material resources against the injuries of social death, as the fashioning of relational ethics, and as exuberant black world-building in ruinous times.
Two-Stage Anatomic Myocutaneous Flap Dissection in Cranioplasty: Technical Nuances and Single-Surgeon Experience
Authors: Sorek Sahar , Miller Aaron , Griepp Daniel , Mathew Vincy , Moawad Stephanie , Rahme Ralph
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Temporalis muscle management remains one of the most challenging aspects of cranioplasty, which accounts for considerable rates of dissection-related complications. Since 2019, the senior author has developed and consistently used a methodical, two-stage anatomic dissection technique to separate the scalp and temporalis muscle from the underlying brain. This technique is believed to facilitate dissection and minimize the risk of brain injury, while optimizing cosmetic outcomes.

METHODS:

All patients who underwent cranioplasty between January 2019 and February 2023 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Charts were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and procedural data were extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS:

Twenty-nine patients, 20 men and 9 women with a median age of 37 years (range 17-72), were identified. Indications for craniectomy were traumatic brain injury in 18 (62.1%), hemorrhagic stroke in five (17.2%), ischemic stroke in four (13.8%), and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in two (6.9%). Median precranioplasty modified Rankin Scale and Glasgow Coma Scale scores were 5 (range in series: 0-5) and 14 (range in series: 3-15), respectively. The median time to cranioplasty was 131 days (32-1717). Cranioplasty was technically successful in all patients, with a median operative time of 106 minutes (62-182). There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative complications occurred in three patients (10.3%): hemorrhagic brain contusion (n = 1), meningitis (n = 1), and seizure (n = 1). Of those, one patient (3.4%) died 2 weeks after surgery from suspected pulmonary embolism. After a median follow-up of 4 months (1-44), all 28 survivors have either remained clinically stable or exhibited neurological improvement. Cosmetic results were good or excellent in 27 (96.4%) and fair in one (3.6%).

CONCLUSION:

Two-stage anatomic dissection of the scalp and temporalis muscle during cranioplasty can maximize surgical efficiency and result in excellent outcomes. Cranioplasty should be considered a low-risk, low-complexity neurosurgical procedure. Safe and efficient management of the temporalis muscle is key.
Establishing mouse and human oral esophageal organoids to investigate the tumor immune response
Authors: Jiang Yuan , Zhao Hua , Kong Shuai , Zhou Dan , Dong Jinxiu , Cheng Yulan , Zhang Shuo , Wang Fei , Kalra Andrew , Yang Nina , Wei Dan-Dan , Chen Jian , Zhang Yuan-Wei , Lin De-Chen , Meltzer Stephen J. , Jiang Yan-Yi
Published: January 2024

Organoid culture systems are very powerful models that recapitulate in vivo organ development and disease pathogenesis, offering great promise in basic research, drug screening and precision medicine. However, the application of organoids derived from patients with cancer to immunotherapeutic research is a relatively untapped area. Esophageal cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, including two major pathological subtypes: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma. ESCC shares many biological and genomic features with oral squamous cell cancers. Herein, we provide a versatile protocol for the establishment and maintenance of oral and esophageal organoid cultures derived from both murine and human samples. We describe culture conditions for organoids derived from normal tongue, esophagus and gastroesophageal junction, esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus. In addition, we establish an ex vivo model by co-culturing patient tumor-derived organoids and autologous CD8+ T lymphocytes to assess CD8+ T cell-mediated tumor killing. Our protocol can also be modified for organoid establishment from other squamous epithelia and carcinomas. The co-culture model can serve as a template for studies of other tumor-immune cell interactions and the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
El derecho a la desaparición. La estrategia contraproductiva de Bas Jan Ader.
Authors: Rivas Herencia Enrique , Peña Sillero Enrique "Res" , Melgar Becerra María
Published: January 2024

En la sociedad cansada de nuestra actualidad el ser humano se ve obligado a poner en práctica estrategias de escape ante la maquinaria productiva del sistema hegemónico. Para ese sujeto extenuado por el imperativo del rendimiento ya no es posible poder más. Ha de aceptar el cansancio como espacio de encuentro y reflexión, y diseñar estrategias para abandonar la libertad obligada de autoexplotación. En el presente estudio abordamos desde el prisma de la estética y el arte contemporáneo la particular maniobra de escape emprendida por el artista neerlandés Bas Jan Ader en su última performance In Search of the Miraculous (1975). Un viaje de absoluta entrega a la naturaleza que culminaría con su definitiva desaparición.
An Exploratory Study on Sandplay Therapy for Enhancing School Adaptation of Elementary School Students: A Focus on Domestic Research Since 2010
Authors: Kim Jin , Seong Nagyeong
Published: January 2024

This study examines the implementation of Sandplay Therapy in schools and conducts a comprehensive analysis of 25 domestic studies to explore its effects on the school adaptation for elementary school students. Our findings reveal that Sandplay Therapy, when applied to this demographic, primarily comprises semi-structured or unstructured case studies with a strong emphasis on individual counseling. Various assessment methods were employed, including qualitative data such as sandbox pictures, observation logs, and supervision records, as well as objective tools like K-CBCL and projective tools such as HTP and KFD. The results demonstrate that Sandplay Therapy has a positive influence on elementary school students' self-development, self-esteem enhancement, and the mitigation of maladaptive issues. Moreover, it contributes to the improvement of their social skills, ultimately facilitating a successful adaptation to the school environment. This research provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of Sandplay Therapy for enhancing the well-being and adaptation on elementary school students.
A Study on the Symbolic Analysis of Cats
Authors: Hwang Junehee , Sin Jihyun
Published: January 2024

This study explores the role of cats as symbolic mediators in the Sandplay Therapy process from various areas and perspectives. Initially, we examined the biological characteristics of cats and their relationship with humans. We then investigated the interpretation of cat symbolism from diverse perspectives, including literary and artistic perspectives, geographical and cultural perspectives, religious and mythological perspectives, as well as psychological and contemporary perspectives. Furthermore, we examined how the symbolism of cats is currently interpreted in the clinical process of sand play therapy, drawing insights from literature and real-life cases. Through these investigations, we confirmed that the multifaceted symbolism of cats can be utilized to facilitate the individuation process of clients.
A Study on Development of a Countertransference Scale Based on Variables of Therapist-Client Relationship Models in Sandplay Therapy
Authors: An Eunsun , Jang Mikyung , Sheen Nicholas A.
Published: January 2024

In this study, we aimed to develop a countertransference scale based on the therapist-client relationship model in Sandplay Therapy. Additionally, we sought to validate the developed scale by examining its relationship with therapeutic alliance and the therapeutic relationship. Sandplay Therapy practitioners participated in data collection. The collected data were analyzed by calculating frequencies and percentages, conducting factor analysis, reliability testing, and correlation analysis. As a result, the countertransference scale comprised 30 items organized into five subfactors: ‘Mother-Child,’ ‘Power,’ ‘Scenery,’ ‘Shamanism,’ and ‘Wounded Healer.’ The validation of construct validity revealed significant positive correlations between the entire countertransference scale and the entire therapeutic alliance scale, as well as between the entire countertransference scale and the entire therapeutic relationship scale. The analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the overall reverse transfer scale and the alliance scale, as well as significant positive correlations between the overall reverse transfer scale and the therapeutic relationship scale.
Hyperinsulinaemia
Authors: Winter George
Published: January 2024

George Winter discusses the need to evaluate the respective roles of diet, lifestyle, and pharmaceuticals in relation to improving glycaemic and insulin control in type 2 diabetes
Co-production of teaching content and delivery with an NHS service user group
Authors: Bell Suzanne , Coulson Arlene , Cole Sue , Barrowman David
Published: January 2024

There is national recognition that the participation of the public in educational curricula of health professionals benefits all. Feedback from both service users and students confirms that collaborative working should be considered as best practice, particularly in healthcare education. The evidence suggests that these developing models of educational delivery can lead to a change in health professionals’ perceptions, enhancing practice that may be far reaching and helping to support future service delivery.
An Empire of Laws
Authors: Burset Christian R
Published: January 2024

Until the 1750s, most Britons agreed that English law should govern the entire British Empire. The laws of Britain’s colonies were never identical to those of England (or to each other), but some version of English law generally followed the Union Jack. As this book shows, Britain’s commitment to an imperial common law collapsed after the Seven Years’ War (1754–63), when Britain adopted a new policy of legal pluralism. While it continued to impose English law on some colonies, others—including Bengal and Quebec—retained their previous legal regimes. Britain’s selective denial of English law to its colonies reflected a conscious effort to shape their political and economic development. Policymakers thought English law could turn any territory into an anglicized, commercial colony like Britain’s earlier American settlements. Just as English law had transmuted Dutch New Amsterdam into English New York, the common law could work the same alchemy on Britain’s newest conquests. Legal pluralism, in contrast, would keep colonies culturally distinct, politically dependent, and economically subordinate. Thus, by deciding how much English law each colony received, British officials could determine what kind of colony it would become. Britain’s selective turn toward legal pluralism after 1763 reflected the triumph of a particular vision of the British Empire—politically hierarchical, economically extractive, and culturally tolerant—over more assimilationist and egalitarian alternatives.
Varieties of Pluralism in Bengal
Authors: Burset Christian R.
Published: January 2024

In 1765, the Mughal emperor granted the East India Company the diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. The Company thus acquired the right and obligation to collect taxes and administer civil justice for some thirty million people. Politicians and commentators disagreed about whether to extend English law to the Company’s new subjects. On one side, populists urged Britain to transplant English institutions in order to transform northeastern India into a neo-American plantation colony. On the other side, paternalists insisted on using legal pluralism to facilitate a more authoritarian and extractive form of colonialism. At a broad level, this was similar to the debate over legal pluralism in Quebec. In Bengal, however, the anti-pluralist argument lost ground more quickly. Although some politicians continued to urge anglicization, the primary debate after the 1770s was about what kind of legal pluralism Britain ought to support, not whether to have pluralism at all.
The Poet and the Rebel
Authors: Wells Allen
Published: January 2024

This chapter examines an unusual partnership during the late 1920s between the Nicaraguan rebel Augusto Sandino and an obscure Honduran poet and bookdealer, Froylán Turcios. The goals they articulated—opposition to dictatorship, anti-imperialism, the internationalization of the Panama Canal, Central American unification, economic nationalism, and a panhemispheric, Indo-Hispanic unity—reflected an ambitious cross-fertilization of ideas shared by two generations of public intellectuals and activists. To volunteer in Sandino’s Latin American Legion idealistic students and activists first traveled to Turcios’s bookshop in Tegucigalpa, Honduras to meet with the poet, where he personally vetted prospective recruits before sending them on to the rebels’ remote, mountainous redoubt in neighboring Nicaragua.
Conclusion
Authors: Wells Allen
Published: January 2024

This chapter addresses why democratic governance was so fragile in mid-century Latin America. Castro’s decision to relinquish his nation’s secure, if dependent, place in the United States’ sphere of influence for an uncertain future in the Soviet bloc, Cuba’s export of revolution, and Washington’s single-minded determination to isolate and punish Cuba placed all of these young democracies in a vise. Just as a belated Cold War made its presence felt, reformers contended with powerful centrifugal and centripetal forces that made it next to impossible to meet their citizens’ rising expectations. The Cold War’s tardy arrival only inflamed longstanding animosities. What did change after 1959 was that Washington and Havana were now actively engaged in these disputes, raising the stakes for all concerned. Their participation complicated in no small way what up to that point had been a transnational struggle between democrats and dictators. Urban terrorism and guerrilla insurgency not only put the remaining civilian governments on the defensive, but it also spawned ideologically driven military governments. More so than in the past, the enemy within monopolized the attentions of the hemisphere’s armed forces. Leftist extremism unleashed a multipronged, counterrevolutionary response well out of proportion to the threat posed.
Extruded Fracture Dislocation of Talus, A Rare and Devastating Injury. A Series of Five Cases
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Base Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India,, Gupta Tej Pratap , Rai Sanjay Kumar ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Military Hospital, Ambala, Haryana, India,, Vij Vineet ,   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Base Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India,, Gandotra Arjun ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Dr. C Lal Hospital, Ambala Cantt, Haryana, India.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Extrusion of the talus with fracture dislocation is a very rare and devastating ankle injury usually caused by high-energy impact. There is no common consensus on the management for this type of injury. We intend to report on our experiences with its management and outcomes. Case Report: We received a total of five cases of extruded fracture dislocation of the talus between March 2016 and April 2020. All fracture talus was Hawkins Type IV fracture. All five patients were male with an age range between 18 and 54 years and have sustained an injury in road traffic accidents. They were managed with wound debridement, talar preservation open reduction, and internal fixation with an application of an external fixator for wound care. All were followed up for 2 years. Conclusion: Extruded fracture dislocation of the talus is a rare and devastating ankle injury. Its management is time-dependent and involves meticulous planning for a favorable outcome. Keywords: Extruded fracture dislocation of talus, devastating ankle injury, open talus fracture dislocation, ankle injury.
"Scaling-Out" a Student-Teacher Relationship Intervention for the High School Context: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Gaias Larissa M. , Duong Mylien T. , Brewer Stephanie K. , Nguyen Lillian , Lee Kristine , Chandler Cassandra J. , Corbin Cathy , Buntain-Ricklefs Joanne J. , Brown Eric C. , Cook Clayton
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Student-teacher relationships are critical to ensuring successful transitions to high school, but programs focused on building strong relationships have been concentrated at younger school levels. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to gather feedback from ninth grade students, teachers/staff, and administrators regarding an existing student-teacher relationship intervention, Establish-Maintain-Restore (EMR), to inform a "scaling-out" adaptation of EMR for high schools. Data were collected from 7 administrators, 8 teachers/staff, and 10 ninth-grade students from diverse ethnic/racial backgrounds. Participants quantitatively rated the acceptability and effectiveness of EMR strategy for the high school context and then described their rationale for their ratings in focus groups. ANOVAs were used to examine differences in appropriateness and effectiveness of EMR strategies across participant groups. We then used content analysis to explore identified problems and recommendations regarding discrepant strategies. We discuss implications for relationships at the high school level and for scaling-out interventions to novel developmental contexts.
Once a Fox
Authors: Kapur Kirun
Published: January 2024

Abstract: The Winter 2023-24 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and now provides readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares "the Triton among minnows." The Winter 2023-24 Issue, edited by Ladette Randolph, features poetry and prose by Richard Bausch, Jesse Lee Kercheval, Ian Stansel, Ariana Benson, Rebecca Morgan Frank, Marie Howe, and more.
Ultracompact and ultrabroadband arbitrary ratio power splitter using subwavelength gratings
Authors: Lu Mengjia , Guo Zhenzhao , Deng Chunyu , Hu Xuefang , Chen Mengmeng
Published: January 2024

An ultracompact and ultrabroadband arbitrary ratio power splitter based on adiabatically tapered silicon waveguides, with subwavelength gratings in the coupling region, is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. Various power splitting ratios (PSRs) can be implemented by flexibly manipulating the gap of two adjacent tapered waveguides. The wavelength dependence is greatly reduced by introducing subwavelength gratings. Simulation results show that our proposed device has a 400 nm (1300 nm–1700 nm) bandwidth with an insertion loss <0.5dB for PSRs of 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 80:20, and 90:10, and the corresponding total device length is only 2.9 µm. The experimental results indicate that the insertion loss is lower than 0.82 dB over a wide bandwidth of 80 nm, and there is a PSR variation less than 2.5% in the range of 1530 nm to 1610 nm.