bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing sustainable progress: an analysis of supreme audit institutions' performance audits and information disclosure practices
Authors: Dionisijev Ivan , Bozhinovska Lazarevska Zorica
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This technical paper has two purposes. It firstly aims to explore Supreme Audit Institutions' information disclosure of Sustainable Development Goals’ related performance auditing practices by focusing on four Balkan countries: Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. Secondly, it aims to investigate whether membership in the European Union, in conjunction with the adoption of unified EU legislation and best practices in socio-economic and political spheres, influences the level of disclosure practices in SDGs’ auditing and the national approaches to auditing SDG-related topics.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a content analysis approach to examine the annual reports of SAIs as government audit bodies in the aforementioned countries. The analysis focuses on the disclosure of SDGs’ information and the level of performance auditing conducted concerning the SDGs. Furthermore, the study utilizes the Spearman rank-order correlation test to explore whether membership in the European Union influences the frequency of SDG-related audits and the amount of information disclosed.

Findings

The findings highlight that the Slovenian SAI stands out for its comprehensive information disclosure in annual reports related to SDGs or sustainability reporting. It also demonstrates a high level of performance auditing on SDG topics. Following closely are the Macedonian and Croatian SAIs, which also exhibit noteworthy performance in these areas. In contrast, the Montenegrin SAI displays the lowest level of information disclosure and has conducted fewer performance audits related to SDGs. Furthermore, the study reveals that there is no significant correlation between EU membership and the extent of SDG disclosure in the SAIs' annual reports and the level of performance auditing.

Research limitations/implications

It is important to acknowledge that this study is limited in scope, focusing solely on the annual reports of SAIs in four countries. Additionally, the research does not explore the fundamental factors that contribute to the variations in SDG auditing levels among SAIs.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the expanding literature on the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs by providing valuable insights into the extent of SDG-related performance auditing conducted by SAIs and the level of information disclosure within their annual reports. The findings have implications for policymakers, auditors, and other stakeholders involved in fostering sustainable development practices and accountability mechanisms.
Potential impact of NOTCH1 activation on venetoclax sensitivity in chronic lymphocytic Leukaemia: In vitro insights and clinical implications
Authors: Gao Ming‐Yuan , Georgiou Angela , Lin Victor S. , Jahja Michelle , White Christine A. , Anderson Mary Ann , McCormack Matthew P. , Roberts Andrew W. , Huang David C. S. , Thijssen Rachel
Published: June 2024

Despite significant progress in treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), resistance to therapy remains challenging. NOTCH1 activation, common in CLL, confers adverse prognosis. This study explores the impact of NOTCH1 signalling on venetoclax sensitivity in vitro. Although NOTCH1 activation minimally impaired the susceptibility of CLL cells to venetoclax, ex vivo cell competition studies reveal that cells with constitutive NOTCH1 activation outgrew their wild‐type counterparts in the presence of ongoing venetoclax exposure. Our findings suggest that while NOTCH1 activation is insufficient to confer venetoclax refractoriness, there is enhanced potential for cells with NOTCH1 activation to escape and thus become fully resistant to venetoclax.
Effect of addingPCSK9inhibitors to lipid‐lowering interventions on arterial stiffness: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cavero‐Redondo I. , Moreno‐Herraiz N. , Del Saz‐Lara A. , Otero‐Luis I. , Recio‐Rodriguez J. I. , Saz‐Lara A.
Published: June 2024

Background

Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of mortality, necessitates effective management of hypercholesterolemia, specifically elevated low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C). The emergence of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) has revolutionised lipid‐lowering. PCSK9i demonstrates substantial LDL‐C reduction and cardiovascular benefits, particularly in statin‐intolerant or nonresponsive individuals. However, the potential pleiotropic effects of PCSK9i, especially on arterial stiffness, remain a subject of investigation. This systematic review and meta‐analysis seek to provide a nuanced understanding of the potential pleiotropic effects of PCSK9i, specifically on arterial health. The primary objective was to analyse the influence of PCSK9i on arterial stiffness, extending beyond traditional lipid‐lowering metrics and contributing to a more comprehensive approach to cardiovascular risk reduction.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted across major databases, clinical trial registries and grey literature. Inclusion criteria comprised adults in prospective cohort studies undergoing PCSK9i augmentation in lipid‐lowering therapy, with a focus on arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWv). Random‐effects meta‐analyses, sensitivity analyses and meta‐regression models were employed to assess the pooled effect of adding PCSK9i to lipid‐lowering interventions on arterial stiffness.

Results

Five studies (158 participants) met the inclusion criteria, demonstrating a significant reduction in PWv (mean difference: −2.61 m/s [95% CI: −3.70, −1.52]; ES: −1.62 [95% CI: −2.53, −.71]) upon adding PCSK9i to lipid‐lowering interventions. Subgroup analysis and meta‐regression models suggested potential sex‐based and baseline PWv‐dependent variations, emphasising patient‐specific characteristics.

Conclusion

The meta‐analysis provides robust evidence that adding PCSK9i to lipid‐lowering interventions significantly improves arterial stiffness, indicating broader vascular benefits beyond LDL‐C reduction.
Mating system variation and gene expression in the male reproductive tract of Peromyscus mice
Authors: Voss Erin R. , Nachman Michael W.
Published: June 2024

Genes involved in reproduction often evolve rapidly at the sequence level due to postcopulatory sexual selection (PCSS) driven by male–male competition and male–female sexual conflict, but the impact of PCSS on gene expression has been under‐explored. Further, though multiple tissues contribute to male reproductive success, most studies have focused on the testes. To explore the influence of mating system variation on reproductive tract gene expression in natural populations, we captured adult males from monogamous Peromyscus californicus and polygynandrous P. boylii and P. maniculatus. We generated RNAseq libraries, quantified gene expression in the testis, seminal vesicle, epididymis, and liver, and identified 3627 mating system‐associated differentially expressed genes (MS‐DEGs), where expression shifted in the same direction in P. maniculatus and P. boylii relative to P. californicus. Gene expression variation was most strongly associated with mating behaviour in the seminal vesicles, where 89% of differentially expressed genes were MS‐DEGs, including the key seminal fluid proteins Svs2 and Pate4. We also used published rodent genomes to test for positive and relaxed selection on Peromyscus‐expressed genes. Though we did not observe more overlap than expected by chance between MS‐DEGs and positively selected genes, 203 MS‐DEGs showed evidence of positive selection. Fourteen reproductive genes were under tree‐wide positive selection but convergent relaxed selection in P. californicus and Microtus ochrogaster, a distantly related monogamous species. Changes in transcript abundance and gene sequence evolution in association with mating behaviour suggest that male mice may respond to sexual selection intensity by altering aspects of sperm motility, sperm‐egg binding and copulatory plug formation.
Repairing distorted hologram data for sound field reconstruction
Authors: Shen Yang , Bi Chuan-Xing , Zhang Xiao-Zheng , Zhang Yong-Bin , Zhou Rong
Published: June 2024

This paper proposes a distorted hologram data repair approach for sound field reconstruction. In this approach, an equivalent source model is established by placing a set of equivalent sources near the hologram surface to represent the measured hologram pressures. Each hologram pressure is simultaneously assigned an indicator to describe whether its measurement is corrupted by errors or not. This model is then formulated within a modal framework by utilizing the modes generated through the singular value decomposition of the transfer matrix between the hologram and nearby equivalent source surfaces. Subsequently, the indicators and modal coefficients are assigned the 0–1 and Gaussian prior distributions, respectively, and their posterior distributions are derived using the Bayesian method. The means of the posterior distributions are calculated to discriminate corrupted measurements and repair distorted hologram pressures. Repaired hologram pressures are finally utilized for reconstructions using the equivalent source method. Results from both numerical simulations conducted under various parameter settings and two experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in automatically discriminating all the corrupted measurements and accurately repairing the distorted hologram pressures. Furthermore, the accuracy of the reconstructions using the repaired hologram pressures is comparable to that achieved with the correctly measured pressures.
Poaching pressure on African rhinos is still at an all-time high
Authors: Eikelboom Jasper A. J. , Prins Herbert H. T.
Published: June 2024

The decrease in African rhino poaching incidents since 2015 has prompted many to praise the effectiveness of anti-poaching efforts. To test the validity of this statement, we calculated how far poachers moved on average from 2007 to 2022 to find a rhino in the context of the dwindling rhino densities. These calculations demonstrate that the total poaching pressure has remained persistently high since 2013. Given the concurrently declining arrest rates, our results show that the rhino protection practices of the past decade have been insufficient. Instead, we propose that rhinos can best be protected in small and well-monitored “safe havens” while focusing on long-term rhino horn demand reduction.
Olfaction regulates peripheral mitophagy and mitochondrial function
Authors: Dishart Julian G. , Pender Corinne L. , Shen Koning , Zhang Hanlin , Ly Megan , Webb Madison B. , Dillin Andrew
Published: June 2024

The central nervous system coordinates peripheral cellular stress responses, including the unfolded protein response of the mitochondria (UPR
MT
); however, the contexts for which this regulatory capability evolved are unknown. UPR
MT
is up-regulated upon pathogenic infection and in metabolic flux, and the olfactory nervous system has been shown to regulate pathogen resistance and peripheral metabolic activity. Therefore, we asked whether the olfactory nervous system in
Caenorhabditis elegans
controls the UPR
MT
cell nonautonomously. We found that silencing a single inhibitory olfactory neuron pair, AWC, led to robust induction of UPR
MT
and reduction of oxidative phosphorylation dependent on serotonin signaling and
parkin
-mediated mitophagy. Further, AWC ablation confers resistance to the pathogenic bacteria
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
partially dependent on the UPR
MT
transcription factor
atfs-1
and fully dependent on mitophagy machinery. These data illustrate a role for the olfactory nervous system in regulating whole-organism mitochondrial dynamics, perhaps in preparation for postprandial metabolic stress or pathogenic infection.
Exceptionally gigantic aurora in the polar cap on a day when the solar wind almost disappeared
Authors: Hosokawa Keisuke , Kataoka Ryuho , Tsuda Takuo T. , Ogawa Yasunobu , Taguchi Satoshi , Zhang Yongliang , Paxton Larry J.
Published: June 2024

Revealing the origins of aurorae in Earth’s polar cap has long been a challenge since direct precipitation of energetic electrons from the magnetosphere is not always expected in this region of open magnetic field lines. Here, we introduce an exceptionally gigantic aurora filling the entire polar cap region on a day when the solar wind had almost disappeared. By combining ground-based and satellite observations, we proved that this unique aurora was produced by suprathermal electrons streaming directly from the Sun, which is known as “polar rain.” High-sensitivity imaging from the ground has visualized complex spatial structures of the polar rain aurora possibly manifesting the internal pattern of the solar wind or even the organizations in the chromosphere of the Sun.
Supramolecular artificial Nano-AUTACs enable tumor-specific metabolism protein degradation for synergistic immunotherapy
Authors: Wang Yazhen , Yang Lianyi , Yan Chenxing , Du Yufan , Li Tinghua , Yang Wenqing , Lei Lei , He Bin , Gao Huile , Peppas Nicholas A. , Cao Jun
Published: June 2024

Autophagy-targeting chimera (AUTAC) has emerged as a powerful modality that can selectively degrade tumor-related pathogenic proteins, but its low bioavailability and nonspecific distribution significantly restrict their therapeutic efficacy. Inspired by the guanine structure of AUTAC molecules, we here report supramolecular artificial Nano-AUTACs (GM NPs) engineered by AUTAC molecule GN [an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) degrader] and nucleoside analog methotrexate (MTX) through supramolecular interactions for tumor-specific protein degradation. Their nanostructures allow for precise localization and delivery into cancer cells, where the intracellular acidic environment can disrupt the supramolecular interactions to release MTX for eradicating tumor cells, modulating tumor-associated macrophages, activating dendritic cells, and inducing autophagy. Specifically, the induced autophagy facilitates the released GN for degrading immunosuppressive IDO to further enhance effector T cell activity and inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. This study offers a unique strategy for building a nanoplatform to advance the field of AUTAC in tumor immunotherapy.
Nitazoxanide synergizes polymyxin B against
Escherichia coli
by depleting cellular energy
Authors: Jiang Xuejia , Chen Dongliang , Wang Xiaoyang , Wang Chunmei , Zheng Haihong , Ye Wenchong , Zhou Wen , Liu Guoping , Zhang Keyu
Published: June 2024

The rapid expansion of antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases is a global burden on public health. It makes sense to repurpose and reposition already-approved medications for use as supplementary agents in synergistic combinations with existing antibiotics. Here, we demonstrate that the anthelmintic drug nitazoxanide (NTZ) synergistically enhances the effectiveness of the lipopeptide antibiotic polymyxin B in inhibiting gram-negative bacteria, including those resistant to polymyxin B. Mechanistic investigations revealed that nitazoxanide inhibited calcium influx and cell membrane depolarization, enhanced the affinity between polymyxin B and the extracellular membrane, and promoted intracellular ATP depletion and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus enhancing the penetration and disruption of the
Escherichia coli
cell membrane by polymyxin B. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the combination resulted in energy depletion by inhibiting both aerobic and anaerobic respiration patterns in bacterial cells. The increased bactericidal effect of polymyxin B on the
E. coli ∆nuoC
strain further indicates that NuoC could be a promising target for nitazoxanide. Furthermore, the combination of nitazoxanide and polymyxin B showed promising therapeutic effects in a mouse infection model infected with
E. coli
. Taken together, these results demonstrate the potential of nitazoxanide as a novel adjuvant to polymyxin B, to overcome antibiotic resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes in refractory infections.

IMPORTANCE

The rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a serious threat to public health. The search for potential compounds that can increase the antibacterial activity of existing antibiotics is a promising strategy for addressing this issue. Here, the synergistic activity of the FDA-approved agent nitazoxanide (NTZ) combined with polymyxin B was investigated
in vitro
using checkerboard assays and time-kill curves. The synergistic mechanisms of the combination of nitazoxanide and polymyxin B were explored by fluorescent dye, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and transcriptomic analysis. The synergistic efficacy was evaluated
in vivo
by the
Escherichia coli
and mouse sepsis models. These results suggested that nitazoxanide, as a promising antibiotic adjuvant, can effectively enhance polymyxin B activity, providing a potential strategy for treating multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Evaluating trends in cigarette and HTP use in Japan and measurement issues in the National Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Levy David T , Issabakhsh Mona , Warner Kenneth E , Liber Alex , Meza Rafael , Cummings Michael
Published: June 2024

Introdution

Studies have reported that the rapid rise in heated tobacco product (HTP) sales in Japan accompanied an accelerated decline in cigarette sales. However, these studies do not distinguish whether those who previously smoked cigarettes became dual users with HTPs (smoking fewer cigarettes) or instead switched completely to HTPs. If HTPs present lower health risks than cigarettes, replacing cigarettes with HTPs is more likely to improve public health than cigarette users continuing as dual users.

Methods

To evaluate the role of HTP introduction relative to smoking prevalence, we examine trends in cigarette prevalence as related to trends in HTP use using Japan’s National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS) from 2011 to 2019. We develop measures of relative changes in smoking prevalence use by age and gender in the pre-HTP and post-HTP periods. We then analyse prevalence data by year using joinpoint regression to statistically distinguish changes in trend.

Results

Compared with the pre-HTP 2011–2014 period, cigarette prevalence decreased more rapidly during the post-HTP 2014–2017 period, particularly among younger age groups. However, the changing format of NHNS questions limits our ability to determine the impact on smoking prevalence, particularly after 2017.

Conclusions

While suggesting that HTPs helped some people who smoke to quit smoking, this study also shows the difficulties in eliciting accurate survey responses about product use and distinguishing the impact of a potentially harm-reducing product in an environment subject to rapidly evolving patterns of use.
Effect of water pressure on time-dependent permeability characteristics of sand conditioned with foam and bentonite slurry
Authors: Wang Shuying , Ling Fanlin , Hu Qinxin , Qu Tongming , Shang Junlong
Published: June 2024

During earth pressure balance shield tunnelling in water-rich sandy ground, both foam and other conditioning agents, such as bentonite slurry, are injected to prevent water spewing. Permeability tests were conducted to investigate how water pressure affects the permeability of sand conditioned with foam and bentonite slurry. Experimental results demonstrate that increasing water pressure at the top and bottom of the specimen extends the initial stable period of the permeability coefficient, significantly slowing down its growth rate during the fast growth period. Soil grain migration was observed in specimens exposed to sufficiently high water pressure. During the slow growth period, the permeability coefficient decreased as water pressure increased, and this decrease rate correspondingly decreased. Under a consistent hydraulic gradient, increased water pressure led to enhanced stability of foam bubbles and extended the time-dependent curves for the permeability coefficient. Furthermore, the relationship between chamber pressure dissipation and foam stability was discussed during the standstill period of shield machines. To prevent water spewing, it is recommended to use the permeability coefficient of the muck at the outlet of the screw conveyor with the lowest water pressure as the evaluation index during permeability testing.
An optimized fluorescence assay for screening novel PARP-1 inhibitors
Authors: Vuong Billy , Fang Yuhua , Tranmer Geoffrey K.
Published: June 2024

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymer chains from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) onto target proteins. PARP-1 plays an important role as a first responder in DNA damage repair and has been an attractive target for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics. This has led to high interest in the development of novel small molecule therapeutics by researchers to target PARP-1 and other members of the PARP-family of enzymes. However, identifying ideal drug candidates can be problematic as current commercial PARP-1 screening assays are cost-prohibitive for many small drug discovery laboratories (particularly for academic groups) and may require specialized equipment or techniques that many labs are not equipped for. Herein, we present a robust, low-cost and optimized PARP-1 assay that quantifies leftover NAD+ substrate as a key readout for PARP-1 inhibition via conversion to a fluorophore, while simultaneously optimizing the assay for molecules that have high background fluorescence. The assay procedure has been validated with known PARP inhibitors and has proven to be a cost-effective fluorescence assay for use as a robust preliminary PARP-1 screen.
How to Write a Company Image Brochure People Will Truly Want to Read
Authors: Yaffe Philip
Published: June 2024

Each "Communication Corner" essay is self-contained; however, they build on each other. For best results, before reading this essay and doing the exercise, go to the first essay "How an Ugly Duckling Became a Swan," then read each succeeding essay.

Well-run companies, associations, and organizations pride themselves on spending their money wisely. However, when it comes to producing a so-called "image brochure," i.e. a (usually) glossy document to present the company's philosophy, history, structure, and achievements to the public, too often they end up throwing their money away. Why does this happen? And what can be done about it?
A Smooth Penalty Function Algorithm for Computing Nonlinear Inequality Constraint Optimization Problem
Authors: Singh Dharminder , Singh Amanpreet , Singh Amrit Pal , Garg Rachit , Prashar Deepak , Khan Arfat Ahmad , Yimam Frie Ayalew
Published: June 2024

Functions in nonlinear programing optimization are sometimes not easily differentiable. When such kinds of functions are present in the optimization problem, then the process of obtaining the solution can sometimes become quite lengthy. Traditional and classical methods cannot be used to solve such optimization problems because such methods assume the functions to be differentiable. Smoothing of nondifferentiable functions is thus required to tackle such difficulties. In this study, we introduce the concept of constructing a technique to smooth such nondifferentiable functions. We begin with the smoothing of the penalty function. On the basis of it, we come up with an algorithm to find the best way to solve an optimization problem with inequality constraints. We also talk about how to figure out the error for a certain smooth penalty function. We also provide numerical examples to demonstrate that the suggested approach is practical and usable.
Links between the Incomplete Gamma Function and the Independent and Gumbel Copulas
Authors: Vini Yves Bernadin Loyara , Remi Guillaume Bagre , Frédéric Bere
Published: June 2024

To obtain the links between the incomplete gamma function and the two copulas (independent and Gumbel). We went through some integral function transformations. The transformations used are Laplace, Fourier, and Mellin. Our work can be seen as a bridge between the notion of copula in probability and Euler’s gamma function which has a lot of application in mathematical modeling. In short, a wide range of possibilities is offered to us thanks to these links that we have established.
Nature’s Solution to Aedes Vectors: Toxorhynchites as a Biocontrol Agent
Authors: Sukupayo Punya Ram , Poudel Ram Chandra , Ghimire Tirth Raj
Published: June 2024

This review summarizes the predatory potential of Toxorhynchites mosquitoes as biological control agents for Aedes vectors. A single larva can consume hundreds of mosquito larvae during its development, with preference for larger prey and higher consumption rates at higher prey densities. Studies suggest Toxorhynchites can significantly reduce Aedes populations. Beyond direct predation, they may indirectly influence prey behavior and adult mosquito lifespan. Despite the demonstrably positive effects of Toxorhynchites species as biocontrol agents, there are acknowledged limitations that require further investigation. These limitations include potential variations in effectiveness across diverse habitats and mosquito developmental stages. Additionally, long‐term ecological sustainability and potential ramifications warrant further research. Future efforts should prioritize optimizing rearing and release strategies to enhance effectiveness. Exploring the potential for combined control methods with other biocontrol agents or traditional methods is also crucial. Finally, investigating the influence of environmental factors on predation rates can further refine and optimize the application of Toxorhynchites in mosquito control programs.
Impact of the Network Size and Frequency of Information Receipt on Polarization in Social Networks
Authors: Krishnarao Sudhakar , Selvamani Shaja Arul
Published: June 2024

Opinion Dynamics is an interdisciplinary area of research. Disciplines of Psychology and Sociology have proposed models of how individuals form opinions and how social interactions influence this process. Sociophysicists have interpreted the observed patterns in opinion formation in individuals as arising out of nonlinearity in the underlying process and helped shape the models. Agent‐based modelling has offered an excellent platform to study the Opinion Dynamics of large groups of interacting individuals. In this paper, we take recent models in opinion formation in individuals. We recast them to create a proper dynamical system and inject the idea of clock time into evolving individuals’ opinions. Thus, the time interval between two successive receipts of new information (i.e., the frequency of information receipts) by an individual becomes a factor that can be studied. In recent decades, social media has continuously shrunk time intervals between receipt of new information (i.e., increased frequency of information receipts). The recast models are used to show that as the time interval between successive receipts of new information gets shorter and the number of individuals in one’s network becomes larger, the propensity for polarization of an individual increases. This explains how social media could have caused polarisation. We use the word “polarisation” to mean an individual’s inability to hold a neutral opinion. A polarisation number based on sociological parameters is proposed. Critical values of the polarisation number beyond which an individual is prone to polarization are identified. These critical values depend on psychological parameters. The reduced time intervals between the receipt of new information and an increase in the size of groups that interact can push the polarisation number to approach and cross the critical value and could have played a crucial role in polarising individuals and social groups. We also define the extent of polarisation as the width of the region around neutral within which an individual is unable to have an opinion. Reported results are for values of model parameters found in the literature. Our findings offer an opportunity to adjust model parameters to align with empirical evidence. The models of opinion formation in individuals and the understanding arrived at in this study will help study Opinion Dynamics with all its nuances and details on large social networks using agent‐based​ modelling.
The Use of Corticosteroid Randomisation after Significant Head Injury (CRASH) Prognostic Model as Mortality Predictor of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Underwent Surgery in Low‐Middle Income Countries
Authors: Halimi Radian A. , Fuadi Iwan , Alby Dionisius
Published: June 2024

Background. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption to normal brain functions caused by traumas such as collisions, blows, or penetrating injuries. There are factors affecting patient outcomes that also have a predictive value. Limited data from low‐middle income countries showed a high number of poor outcomes in TBI patients. The corticosteroid randomisation after significant head injury (CRASH) prognostic model is a predictive model that uses such factors and is often used in developed countries. The model has an excellent discriminative ability. However, there is still a lack of studies on its use in surgical patients in low‐middle income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the CRASH model’s validity to predict 14‐day mortality of TBI patients who underwent surgery in low‐middle income countries. Methods. This retrospective analytical observational study employed total sampling including all TBI patients who underwent surgery with general anesthesia from January to December 2022. Statistical analysis was performed by applying Mann–Whitney and Fisher exact tests, while the model’s discriminative ability was determined through the area under the curve (AUC) calculations. Results. 112 TBI patients were admitted during the study period, and 74 patients were included. Independent statistical analysis showed that 14‐day mortality risk, age, Glasgow Coma Scale score, TBI severity, pupillary response, and major extracranial trauma had a significant individual correlation with patients’ actual mortality outcome (p < 0.05). The AUC analysis revealed an excellent mortality prediction (AUC 0.838; CI 95%). Conclusion. The CRASH prognostic model performs well in predicting the 14‐day mortality of TBI patients who underwent surgery in low‐middle income countries.
Supplementary Table 6 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Table 6
Supplementary Table 2 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Table 2
Supplementary Figure 9 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Figure 9
Supplementary Figure 7 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Figure 7
Supplementary Figure 6 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Figure 6
Supplementary Figure 4 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Figure 4
Supplementary Figure 2 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Figure 2
Supplementary Figure 1 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Figure 1
Supplementary Data 3 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

Supplementary Table 3
FIGURE 4 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

SOS1i+MEKi co-opt an immunosuppressive microenvironment by iCAF-M2 macrophage interactions and dendritic cell activation defects. A, UMAP visualization of subsets of CAFs, myeloid cells and T/NK cells. B, Bar graph showing cell proportion/composition of indicated cell subset type in the (mean ± 95% confidence interval). C, Heat map of frequency correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient) between every pair of nonmalignant cells in the TME. D, Interaction number between nonmalignant cell types. E, Interaction strength centered around iCAF before (top) and after SOS1i+MEKi treatment (bottom). F, Pathway enrichment analysis of upregulated and downregulated genes in macrophages in response to SOS1i+MEKi treatment. G, Dot plot showing gene expression of M2 macrophage polarization genes
FIGURE 1 from Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Norgard Robert J. , Budhani Pratha , O'Brien Sarah A. , Xia Youli , Egan Jessica N. , Flynn Brianna , Tagore Joshua R. , Seco Joseph , Peet Gregory W. , Mikucka Ania , Wasti Ruby , Chan Li-Chuan , Hinkel Melanie , Martinez-Morilla Sandra , Pignatelli Jeanine , Trapani Francesca , Corse Emily , Feng Di , Kostyrko Kaja , Hofmann Marco H. , Liu Kang , Kashyap Abhishek S.
Published: June 2024

SOS1i+MEKi combination decreases proliferation and MAPK pathway activation in vitro. A, Proliferation dose–response curves in KPCY TH2 (left) and TC4 (right) cells treated with increasing concentrations of trametinib (0.08, 0.22, 0.61, 1.68, 4.62, 12.7, 35, 96.2, 264.5, 727.3, 2,000 nmol/L) and either 0.2% DMSO (red curve) or SOS1i at 4, 30, 200, 1,440 or 10,000 nmol/L. B, Immunoblotting for pERK, ERK, pMEK, and MEK in TH2 (left) and TC4 (right) cells treated with trametinib (0.1 or 1 nmol/L), SOS1i (200, 1,000, or 1,400 nmol/L) or the combination of the two drugs for 2 hours. SD is shown.
Construção social de uma variedade de mercados: capitalização de rendas e capitalismo de plataforma
Authors: Brandão Carlos
Published: June 2024

This article intends to contribute to putting together some questions from a broad agenda of reflections that will allow to advance in the construction of some of the main theoretical and historical mediations for a better understanding of the expansive and contradictory dynamics of capitalism, emphasizing the role of money, platforms and social construction of markets in the current situation. Then it is pointed out how the relationship between money and markets can allow an approach that dialogues with the perspective of Platform Capitalism as a geohistorical context of operations of economic activities, calculations, and exchanges that are mediated by digital devices and technologies. Finally, it is argued that there are other variegated and polymorphic markets in the concrete reality of everyday life far beyond capitalist markets, which can constitute a promising horizon of alternatives for insurgent and emancipatory actions.
Desafios editoriais da divulgação científica: os caminhos da Revista Geousp
Authors: Juliasz Paula , Garcia Thiago Muniz
Published: June 2024

Ao longo dos anos, a Revista Geousp passou por diversas mudanças visando o aperfeiçoamento de seus processos editoriais, adotando práticas sintonizadas com as demandas dos periódicos científicos de alto nível, chegando a 2024 posicionada entre as mais importantes publicações da Geografia da América Latina.
Constellational Modernisms: “Socialist Humanism” and “Contextual Art” in Ion Bitzan and Wanda Mihuleac's Graphic Art of the 1970s
Authors: Nae Cristian
Published: June 2024

Art exhibitions acted as facilitators of transnational encounters among artists during the Cold War. This article analyzes the emergence and local circulation of two art critical concepts which described adaptations of art practices and techniques associated with Pop art and conceptual art in Romanian graphic arts of the 1970s as an expanded artistic medium. Focusing on the way Romanian artists Ion Bitzan and Wanda Mihuleac adjusted their experimental art practices to suit different audiences in state-supported exhibitions such as the Romanian Pavilions in Venice or the Ljubljana Graphic Arts Biennale, as well as in other large-scale exhibitions organized in Romania and abroad, the text helps undermine the distinction between official and unofficial art in art under socialism. It argues for the continuities between artistic experimentation in the two spheres of artistic activity and proposes a constellational reading of their graphic art practices as examples of modernisms in translation.
Modern Art, Indigeneity, and Nationalism in Paraguay: An Introduction to Josefina Plá's “Ñandutí Crossroads of Two Worlds”
Authors: Gotti Sofia
Published: June 2024

This article introduces the first translation of the text “Ñandutí: Crossroads of Two Worlds” by Josefina Plá, pioneer of Paraguayan art and literature. The text offers an overview of this figure's life and politics, in the context of the development of Paraguayan modernism in the 1950s and in the early years of General Alfredo Stroessner's military dictatorship (1954–1989). Particularly, I address her involvement in the First Week of Paraguayan Modern Art as co-founder of the Arte Nuevo group and the close relationship with peers like Olga Blinder and Livio Abramo. Plá's historical study of Ñandutí - lace is typically made by Guaranì women and emblematic of Paraguayan craft - bear particular relevance to the ambitions of Paraguayan modernists. Ñandutí has contested origins between the European and the Indigenous – identities that Paraguayan modernists sought to remap.
Ñandutí: Crossroads of Two Worlds: The Lineage and Magic of Ñandutí
Authors: Plá Josefina
Published: June 2024

This article introduces the first translation of the text “Ñandutí: Crossroads of Two Worlds” by Josefina Plá, pioneer of Paraguayan art and literature. The text offers an overview of this figure's life and politics, in the context of the development of Paraguayan modernism in the 1950s and in the early years of General Alfredo Stroessner's military dictatorship (1954–1989). Particularly, I address her involvement in the First Week of Paraguayan Modern Art as co-founder of the Arte Nuevo group and the close relationship with peers like Olga Blinder and Livio Abramo. Plá's historical study of Ñandutí - lace is typically made by Guaranì women and emblematic of Paraguayan craft - bear particular relevance to the ambitions of Paraguayan modernists. Ñandutí has contested origins between the European and the Indigenous – identities that Paraguayan modernists sought to remap.
Militant Mappings: A Template Toolkit
Authors: Dayrit Cian
Published: June 2024

The rise of Duterte's authoritarian regime, and a series of violent dispersals to peasant-led mobilizations, prompted counter-mapping workshops in protest camps and rural communities. These workshops evolved out of the need to gather and visualize shared experiences and collective aspirations of the basic sectors-peasants, indigenous groups, and workers-who bear the brunt of oppression in a neocolonial society such as that of the Philippines. Additionally, these mapping sessions have become a potent method in exposing rights abuses, land grabbing, extractive industries, development aggression and other forms of violence perpetrated by centralized bodies. Moreover, the goal of the workshop is to find discursive ways for marginalized populations to assert their rights and author representations of their own lived environments.
Gangsters of the Pen: The Comintern and the “Prominent Americans” Who Served Stalin as Propagandists
Authors: Prown Henry
Published: June 2024

In the 1930s, as Joseph Stalin's regime in the Soviet Union adopted policies of mass repression that resulted in the deaths of millions of people, many members of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) were eager to write in praise of Stalin. Eventually, as the magnitude of the death toll under Stalin surged ever higher, some CPUSA members abandoned the movement. Most, however, continued to pay homage to Stalin. The archives of the Soviet-dominated Communist International (Comintern) in Moscow hold materials pertaining to a contingent of “prominent Americans (non-Communists) who would write effective brochures explaining and defending the peace policy of the Soviet Union”—a contingent assembled by the CPUSA's Moscow representative, Nat Ross. This article examines the publications of these individuals, including those of preeminent activists Corliss Lamont and Reverend Harry F. Ward, and also of leftwing anti-Communists such as Eugene Lyons and Harry Lang—whom the party conspiratorially labeled “Gangsters of the Pen”—to explore the longer history of the Soviet Union's anti-Western propaganda campaigns.
The Face of Soviet Espionage in the United States during the Stalin Era: Vladimir Pravdin, “Man of Truth”
Authors: Usdin Steven
Published: June 2024

Vladimir Pravdin was a senior Soviet intelligence officer in New York and Washington, DC, during World War II. He oversaw some of the most important Soviet agents of the era, including Harry Dexter White, a senior official at the U.S. Treasury Department; Lauchlin Currie, the chief economic adviser to U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt; and Judith Coplon, a U.S. Justice Department employee who provided intelligence on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Pravdin's cover in the United States was as an editor and then director of U.S. operations for the TASS news agency. In his capacity as a TASS executive, he developed relationships with numerous U.S. journalists, including Walter Lippmann. Pravdin was born in 1905 in London, and his real name was Roland Abbiate. His unusually adventurous life included serving a two-year sentence in the Atlanta penitentiary prior to his recruitment by Soviet intelligence, surveilling Leon Trotsky in Norway and Mexico, participating in the Spanish Civil War, and leading the assassination of Ignace Poretsky. His story illuminates the triumphs of Soviet intelligence in the United States during World War II, the failures of U.S. counterintelligence, and the unraveling of Soviet espionage in North America following the defections of Igor Gouzenko and Elizabeth Bentley.
A comprehensive assessment of photosynthetic acclimation to shade in C4 grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.)
Authors: Wang Guangyang , Mao Jinyan , Ji Mingxia , Wang Wei , Fu Jinmin
Published: June 2024

Background

Light deficit in shaded environment critically impacts the growth and development of turf plants. Despite this fact, past research has predominantly concentrated on shade avoidance rather than shade tolerance. To address this, our study examined the photosynthetic adjustments of Bermudagrass when exposed to varying intensities of shade to gain an integrative understanding of the shade response of C4 turfgrass.

Results

We observed alterations in photosynthetic pigment-proteins, electron transport and its associated carbon and nitrogen assimilation, along with ROS-scavenging enzyme activity in shaded conditions. Mild shade enriched Chl b and LHC transcripts, while severe shade promoted Chl a, carotenoids and photosynthetic electron transfer beyond QA− (ET0/RC, φE0, Ψ0). The study also highlighted differential effects of shade on leaf and root components. For example, Soluble sugar content varied between leaves and roots as shade diminished SPS, SUT1 but upregulated BAM. Furthermore, we observed that shading decreased the transcriptional level of genes involving in nitrogen assimilation (e.g. NR) and SOD, POD, CAT enzyme activities in leaves, even though it increased in roots.

Conclusions

As shade intensity increased, considerable changes were noted in light energy conversion and photosynthetic metabolism processes along the electron transport chain axis. Our study thus provides valuable theoretical groundwork for understanding how C4 grass acclimates to shade tolerance.