bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vivo and In Vitro Efficacy of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Uterine Serous Carcinoma
Authors: Mutlu Levent , Manavella Diego D. , Bellone Stefania , McNamara Blair , Harold Justin A. , Mauricio Dennis , Siegel Eric R. , Buza Natalia , Hui Pei , Hartwich Tobias Max Philipp , Yang-Hartwich Yang , Demirkiran Cem , Verzosa Miguel Skyler Z. , Altwerger Gary , Ratner Elena S. , Huang Gloria S. , Clark Mitchell , Andikyan Vaagn , Azodi Masoud , Dottino Peter R. , Schwartz Peter E. , Santin Alessandro D.
Published: September 2023

Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) is a rare, biologically aggressive variant of endometrial cancer with a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. HER2 overexpression (3+ positivity) by IHC and/or FISH ERBB2 gene amplification is detected in approximately one-third of patients with USC. Clinical trials incorporating trastuzumab with standard chemotherapy have recently demonstrated improved progression-free and overall survival in advanced-stage or recurrent USC that overexpresses HER2. However, a large number of patients with USC eventually developed resistance to trastuzumab. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is a novel HER2-directed antibody–drug conjugate with a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for multiple tumor indications. Here, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of T-DXd in primary USC cell lines and xenografts with different HER2 expression. T-DXd–induced cell growth suppression in HER2-overexpressing cell lines in vitro, increased early and late apoptosis as assessed by annexin and propidium iodide staining, and, similarly to trastuzumab, T-DXd–induced significant antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in the presence of peripheral blood lymphocytes. While negligible activity was detected against USC cell lines with low HER2 expression, T-DXd demonstrated significant bystander killing against USC tumors with low/negligible HER2 when such cells were admixed with HER2 3+ tumor cells in vitro. T-DXd showed tumor growth suppression in in vivo USC PDX models that overexpress HER2 at 3+ levels, prolonging survival when compared with controls, with minimal toxicity. Future clinical trials are warranted in patients with USC failing trastuzumab treatment.
Combination Therapies to Improve the Efficacy of Immunotherapy in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Alečković Maša , Li Zheqi , Zhou Ningxuan , Qiu Xintao , Lulseged Bethlehem , Foidart Pierre , Huang Xiao-Yun , Garza Kodie , Shu Shaokun , Kesten Nikolas , Li Rong , Lim Klothilda , Garrido-Castro Ana C. , Guerriero Jennifer L. , Qi Jun , Long Henry W. , Polyak Kornelia
Published: September 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibition combined with chemotherapy is currently approved as first-line treatment for patients with advanced PD-L1–positive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, a significant proportion of metastatic TNBC is PD-L1–negative and, in this population, chemotherapy alone largely remains the standard-of-care and novel therapeutic strategies are needed to improve clinical outcomes. Here, we describe a triple combination of anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade, epigenetic modulation thorough bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) bromodomain inhibition (BBDI), and chemotherapy with paclitaxel that effectively inhibits both primary and metastatic tumor growth in two different syngeneic murine models of TNBC. Detailed cellular and molecular profiling of tumors from single and combination treatment arms revealed increased T- and B-cell infiltration and macrophage reprogramming from MHCIIlow to a MHCIIhigh phenotype in mice treated with triple combination. Triple combination also had a major impact on gene expression and chromatin profiles shifting cells to a more immunogenic and senescent state. Our results provide strong preclinical evidence to justify clinical testing of BBDI, paclitaxel, and immune checkpoint blockade combination.
Master Transcription Factor Reprogramming Unleashes Selective Translation Promoting Castration Resistance and Immune Evasion in Lethal Prostate Cancer
Authors: Santasusagna Sandra , Zhu Shijia , Jawalagatti Vijayakumar , Carceles-Cordon Marc , Ertel Adam , Garcia-Longarte Saioa , Song Won-Min , Fujiwara Naoto , Li Peiyao , Mendizabal Isabel , Petrylak Daniel P. , Kelly William Kevin , Reddy E. Premkumar , Wang Liguo , Schiewer Matthew J. , Lujambio Amaia , Karnes Jeffrey , Knudsen Karen E. , Cordon-Cardo Carlos , Dong Haidong , Huang Haojie , Carracedo Arkaitz , Hoshida Yujin , Rodriguez-Bravo Veronica , Domingo-Domenech Josep
Published: September 2023

Signaling rewiring allows tumors to survive therapy. Here we show that the decrease of the master regulator microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) in lethal prostate cancer unleashes eukaryotic initiation factor 3B (eIF3B)–dependent translation reprogramming of key mRNAs conferring resistance to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and promoting immune evasion. Mechanistically, MITF represses through direct promoter binding eIF3B, which in turn regulates the translation of specific mRNAs. Genome-wide eIF3B enhanced cross-linking immunoprecipitation sequencing (eCLIP-seq) showed specialized binding to a UC-rich motif present in subsets of 5′ untranslated regions. Indeed, translation of the androgen receptor and major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I) through this motif is sensitive to eIF3B amount. Notably, pharmacologic targeting of eIF3B-dependent translation in preclinical models sensitizes prostate cancer to ADT and anti–PD-1 therapy. These findings uncover a hidden connection between transcriptional and translational rewiring promoting therapy-refractory lethal prostate cancer and provide a druggable mechanism that may transcend into effective combined therapeutic strategies.

Significance:

Our study shows that specialized eIF3B-dependent translation of specific mRNAs released upon downregulation of the master transcription factor MITF confers castration resistance and immune evasion in lethal prostate cancer. Pharmacologic targeting of this mechanism delays castration resistance and increases immune-checkpoint efficacy.

This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 2489
Low-Cost High-Throughput Genotyping for Diagnosing Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Ibrahim Shirin , van Rooij Jeroen , Verkerk Annemieke J.M.H. , de Vries Jard , Zuurbier Linda , Defesche Joep , Peter Jorge , Schonck Willemijn A.M. , Sedaghati-Khayat Bahar , Kees Hovingh G. , Uitterlinden André G. , Stroes Erik S.G. , Reeskamp Laurens F.
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common but underdiagnosed genetic disorder characterized by high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and premature cardiovascular disease. Current sequencing methods to diagnose FH are expensive and time-consuming. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of a low-cost, high-throughput genotyping array for diagnosing FH.

METHODS:

An Illumina Global Screening Array was customized to include probes for 636 variants, previously classified as FH-causing variants. First, its theoretical coverage was assessed in all FH variant carriers diagnosed through next-generation sequencing between 2016 and 2022 in the Netherlands (n=1772). Next, the performance of the array was validated in another sample of FH variant carriers previously identified in the Dutch FH cascade screening program (n=1268).

RESULTS:

The theoretical coverage of the array for FH-causing variants was 91.3%. Validation of the array was assessed in a sample of 1268 carriers of whom 1015 carried a variant in
LDLR
, 250 in
APOB
, and 3 in
PCSK9
. The overall sensitivity was 94.7% and increased to 98.2% after excluding participants with variants not included in the array design. Copy number variation analysis yielded a 89.4% sensitivity. In 18 carriers, the array identified a total of 19 additional FH-causing variants. Subsequent DNA analysis confirmed 5 of the additionally identified variants, yielding a false-positive result in 16 subjects (1.3%).

CONCLUSIONS:

The FH genotyping array is a promising tool for genetically diagnosing FH at low costs and has the potential to greatly increase accessibility to genetic testing for FH. Continuous customization of the array will further improve its performance.
Long-Term Effects of Pulmonary Endarterectomy on Right Ventricular Stiffness and Fibrosis in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Braams Natalia J. , Kianzad Azar , van Wezenbeek Jessie , Wessels Jeroen N. , Jansen Samara M.A. , Andersen Stine , Boonstra Anco , Nossent Esther J. , Marcus J. Tim , Bayoumy Ahmed A. , Becher Clarissa , Goumans Marie-José , Andersen Asger , Vonk Noordegraaf Anton , de Man Frances S. , Bogaard Harm Jan , Meijboom Lilian J.
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Surgical removal of thromboembolic material by pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) leads within months to the improvement of right ventricular (RV) function in the majority of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. However, RV mass does not always normalize. It is unknown whether incomplete reversal of RV remodeling results from extracellular matrix expansion (diffuse interstitial fibrosis) or cellular hypertrophy, and whether residual RV remodeling relates to altered diastolic function.

METHODS:

We prospectively included 25 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension treated with PEA. Structured follow-up measurements were performed before, and 6 and 18 months after PEA. With single beat pressure-volume loop analyses, we determined RV end-systolic elastance (Ees), arterial elastance (Ea), RV–arterial coupling (Ees/Ea), and RV end-diastolic elastance (stiffness, Eed). The extracellular volume fraction of the RV free wall was measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and used to separate the myocardium into cellular and matrix volume. Circulating collagen biomarkers were analyzed to determine the contribution of collagen metabolism.

RESULTS:

RV mass significantly decreased from 43±15 to 27±11g/m
2
(−15.9 g/m
2
[95% CI, −21.4 to –10.5];
P
<0.0001) 6 months after PEA but did not normalize (28±9 versus 22±6 g/m
2
in healthy controls [95% CI, 2.1 to 9.8];
P
<0.01). On the contrary, Eed normalized after PEA. Extracellular volume fraction in the right ventricular free wall increased after PEA from 31.0±3.8 to 33.6±3.5% (3.6% [95% CI, 1.2–6.1];
P
=0.013) as a result of a larger reduction in cellular volume than in matrix volume (
P
interaction
=0.0013). Levels of MMP-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-1), TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1), and TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) were elevated at baseline and remained elevated post-PEA.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although cellular hypertrophy regresses and diastolic stiffness normalizes after PEA, a relative increase in extracellular volume remains. Incomplete regression of diffuse RV interstitial fibrosis after PEA is accompanied by elevated levels of circulating collagen biomarkers, suggestive of active collagen turnover.
Hemodynamic Determinants of Elevated Blood Pressure and Hypertension in the Middle to Older-Age UK Population: A UK Biobank Imaging Study
Authors: Li Ye , Chan Emily , Puyol-Antón Esther , Ruijsink Bram , Cecelja Marina , King Andrew P. , Razavi Reza , Chowienczyk Phil
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Increased systemic vascular resistance and, in older people, reduced aortic distensibility, are thought to be the hemodynamic determinants of primary hypertension but cardiac output could also be important. We examined the hemodynamics of elevated blood pressure and hypertension in the middle to older-aged UK population participating in the UK Biobank imaging studies.

METHODS:

Cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and aortic distensibility were measured from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in 31 112 (distensibility in 21 178) participants (46.3% male, mean age±SD 63±7 years). Body composition including visceral adipose tissue volume and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue volume were measured in 19 645 participants.

RESULTS:

Participants with higher blood pressure had higher cardiac output (higher by 17.9±26.6% in hypertensive compared with those with optimal blood pressure) and higher systemic vascular resistance (higher by 11.4±27.9% in hypertensive compared with those with optimal blood pressure). These differences were little changed after adjustment for body size and adiposity. The contribution of cardiac output relative to systemic vascular resistance was more marked in younger compared with older subjects. Aortic distensibility decreased with age and was lower in participants with higher compared with lower blood pressure but with a greater difference in younger compared with older subjects.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the middle to older-aged UK population, cardiac output plays an important role in contributing to elevated mean arterial blood pressure, particularly in younger compared with older subjects. Reduced aortic distensibility contributes to a rise in pulse pressure and systolic blood pressure at all ages.
Neuromodulation of the Left Inferior Frontal Cortex Affects Social Monitoring during Motor Interactions
Authors: Sacheli Lucia Maria , Diana Lorenzo , Ravani Alessia , Beretta Serena , Bolognini Nadia , Paulesu Eraldo
Published: September 2023

Motor interactions require observing and monitoring a partner's performance as the interaction unfolds. Studies in monkeys suggest that this form of social monitoring might be mediated by the activity of the ventral premotor cortex (vPMc), a critical brain region in action observation and motor planning. Our previous fMRI studies in humans showed that the left vPMc is indeed recruited during social monitoring, but its causal role is unexplored. In three experiments, we applied online anodal or cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the left lateral frontal cortex during a music-like interactive task to test the hypothesis that neuromodulation of the left vPMc affects participants' performance when a partner violates the agent's expectations. Participants played short musical sequences together with a virtual partner by playing one note each in turn-taking. In 50% of the trials, the partner violated the participant's expectations by generating the correct note through an unexpected movement. During sham stimulation, the partner's unexpected behavior led to a slowdown in the participant's performance (observation-induced posterror slowing). A significant interaction with the stimulation type showed that cathodal and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation induced modulation of the observation-induced posterror slowing in opposite directions by reducing or enhancing it, respectively. Cathodal stimulation significantly reduced the effect compared to sham stimulation. No effect of neuromodulation was found when the partner behaved as expected or when the observed violation occurred within a context that was perceptually matched but noninteractive in nature. These results provide evidence for the critical causal role that the left vPMc might play in social monitoring during motor interactions, possibly through the interplay with other brain regions in the posterior medial frontal cortex.
Minor Changes Change Memories: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Behavioral Reflections of Episodic Prediction Errors
Authors: Siestrup Sophie , Schubotz Ricarda I.
Published: September 2023

Episodic memories can be modified, a process that is potentially driven by mnemonic prediction errors. In the present study, we used modified cues to induce prediction errors of different episodic relevance. Participants encoded episodes in the form of short toy stories and then returned for an fMRI session on the subsequent day. Here, participants were presented either original episodes or slightly modified versions thereof. Modifications consisted of replacing a single object within the episode and either challenged the gist of an episode (gist modifications) or left it intact (surface modifications). On the next day, participants completed a post-fMRI memory test that probed memories for originally encoded episodes. Both types of modifications triggered brain activation in regions we previously found to be involved in the processing of content-based mnemonic prediction errors (i.e., the exchange of an object). Specifically, these were ventrolateral pFC, intraparietal cortex, and lateral occipitotemporal cortex. In addition, gist modifications triggered pronounced brain responses, whereas those for surface modification were only significant in the right inferior frontal sulcus. Processing of gist modifications also involved the posterior temporal cortex and the precuneus. Interestingly, our findings confirmed the posterior hippocampal role of detail processing in episodic memory, as evidenced by increased posterior hippocampal activity for surface modifications compared with gist modifications. In the post-fMRI memory test, previous experience with surface modified, but not gist-modified episodes, increased erroneous acceptance of the same modified versions as originally encoded. Whereas surface-level prediction errors might increase uncertainty and facilitate confusion of alternative episode representations, gist-level prediction errors seem to trigger the clear distinction of independent episodes.
Neuroanatomical and Functional Dissociations between Variably Present Anterior Lateral Prefrontal Sulci
Authors: Willbrand Ethan H. , Bunge Silvia A. , Weiner Kevin S.
Published: September 2023

The lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) is an evolutionarily expanded region in humans that is critical for numerous complex functions, many of which are largely hominoid specific. Although recent work shows that the presence or absence of specific sulci in anterior LPFC is associated with cognitive performance across age groups, it is unknown whether the presence of these structures relates to individual differences in the functional organization of LPFC. To fill this gap in knowledge, we leveraged multimodal neuroimaging data from two samples encompassing 82 young adult humans (aged 22–36 years) and show that the dorsal and ventral components of the paraintermediate frontal sulcus, or pimfs, present distinct morphological (surface area), architectural (thickness and myelination), and functional (resting-state connectivity networks) properties. We further contextualize the pimfs components within classic and modern cortical parcellations. Taken together, the dorsal and ventral pimfs components mark transitions in LPFC anatomy and function, across metrics and parcellations. These results emphasize that the pimfs is a critical structure to consider when examining individual differences in the anatomical and functional organization of LPFC and suggest that future individual-level parcellations could benefit from incorporating sulcal anatomy when delineating LPFC cortical regions.
Absolutism and its Limits
Authors: Hawthorne John , Isaacs Yoaav , Littlejohn Clayton
Published: September 2023

Many philosophers think that given the choice between saving the life of an innocent person and averting any number of minor ailments or inconveniences, it would be better to save the life. How, then, should one compare the risk of an innocent person’s life to such minor ailments and inconveniences? If lives are infinitely more important than insignificant factors then any risk cannot be outweighed, and that is untenable. An alternative approach seems more promising: let the values of such insignificant factors be bounded, as then there will be well-behaved tradeoffs between insignificant things and the risk to an innocent life. We argue, however, that bounding the values of insignificant factors poses myriad problems.
The Work of a Dilettante or a Grand Amateur?
Authors: Richard Nathalie , Viraben Hadrien
Published: September 2023

From 1873 onwards, Scottish antiquarian James Miln (1819–1881) undertook an uninterrupted series of excavations in Carnac, for which he used his skills as a draughtsman and a photographer. The archives and printed sources conserving the traces of his activities thus contain an extensive array of images: sketches drawn in his excavation notebooks; watercolour landscapes; engraved illustrations for his books; models sculpted from his surveys of archaeological sites. Through this visual production, Miln embodied successive and overlaying types of amateurism, from a gentleman dilettante to a grand amateur, closely resembling a specialist while being able to establish working conditions comparable to those of the (few) contemporary professionals.
Bodies and Objects in the Hispanic Occupation of Tahiti
Authors: García Moscardó Ester
Published: September 2023

Focusing on the Spanish occupation of Tahiti (1772–1776), this text deals with the plan devised by Viceroy Manuel Amat to subdue the will of the islanders. My perspective takes the analysis into the realm of seduction, emphasising the key role of objects and bodies in the project. From a wide range of colonial sources, I address the specific forms taken by technologies of domination in particular contexts, the role played by the arrangement of bodies and objects in them, and the assumptions that made it possible to think of particular bodies as mouldable raw material in the Hispanic setting of the late 18th century.
Medical Masculinity and the Sensation of Suffering in Leonard Portal Mark’s Acromegaly (1912)
Authors: Palfreyman Harriet
Published: September 2023

In 1912 physician Leonard Mark published a book titled Acromegaly: A Personal Experience. Within, he documented his life suffering from the titular condition which manifested in symptoms ranging from headaches to the hypertrophic enlargement of the head, hands and feet. As the condition began to affect Mark’s ability to perform his medical and artistic work his writing had to contend with his changing identity, body, and the problem of how to effectively explain the experience of his suffering. At the same time as the wider medical profession was becoming fixated on acromegaly as a disease defined almost wholly by its spectacular visible symptoms, Mark’s writing invited his reader to go beyond the merely visible and engage with his narrative on a multisensory level. What emerges in Acromegaly, and what this paper explores, is how Mark used contemporary ideas of medical masculinity, particularly in deconstructing them, to invite this sensorial engagement.
Sources of Government Approval During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the MENA: Economic Security or Trust?
Authors: Raisi Alireza
Published: September 2023

The article examines the determinants of the government’s approval in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in the MENA region. A preliminary examination of public opinion polls demonstrates that trust in the government is the major determinant of satisfaction with the government’s handling of the crisis. In addition, the government approval improved over time in some countries challenging the rallying around the flag explanation. The impact of economic insecurity is mixed and inconsistent across the countries of the MENA region. In countries with an economic crisis such as Lebanon, economic hardship resulting from the pandemic affected the government approval of the crisis. Yet, in other countries, economic insecurity does not impact the government’s approval of the crisis. The findings of the article have important implications for understanding what constitutes effective leadership in addressing the pandemic at the state and regional levels and how external shocks influence state–society relations in authoritarian regimes.
The ABCs of African American Women: Avoid, Be Respectful, and Comply
Authors: Cobbina-Dungy Jennifer E. , McCoy Henrika , Hernandez Emily A.
Published: September 2023

The rise of the Black Lives Matter movement has led to a hyperfocus on perceptions and attitudes of Black individuals toward law enforcement. That focus, however, fails to acknowledge the strained relationship between police and Black individuals and how it impacts their experiences of safety and security. This study examines how 28 protesters perceive safety and security for Black people. Results indicated that many were concerned about Black people’s personal safety, as they felt some were unsafe traversing various areas while others described Black people as having to preemptively make efforts to navigate safety. Those concerns and strategies are symbolic of broad societal experiences.
Comparing Risk Factors for Prison Victimization Between Foreign-Born and Native-Born Incarcerated People
Authors: McNeeley Susan , Koo Doyun
Published: September 2023

Prior research on violent victimization in prison suggests noncitizens may be less likely to experience violence while incarcerated. In an attempt to better understand this relationship, this study examined whether citizenship status predicts risk among a subsample of foreign-born incarcerated people. In addition, we modeled violent victimization separately for foreign-born and native-born individuals to identify any differences in risk factors between groups. We tested these relationships using a sample of 7,326 individuals incarcerated in Minnesota state prisons. The results of Cox regression models showed foreign-born citizens and foreign-born noncitizens had similar risk for violent prison victimization. We also found that some risk factors for victimization differed across native-born and foreign-born incarcerated people.
Impact of Iron Supplementation on Hospital Length of Stay for Pneumonia or Skin and Skin Structure Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Nies Isaac , Gourde Emilee , Newman William , Schiele Renae
Published: September 2023

Objectives: Pathogenic organisms utilize iron to survive and replicate and have evolved many processes to extract iron from human hosts. The goal of this study was to elucidate the impact of iron supplementation given in the setting of acute infection. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of Veterans Affairs patients who received intravenous antibiotics for pneumonia or skin and skin structure infections. Five-thousand subjects were included in each of the 2 cohorts: iron-receiving and non-iron-receiving. Data was analyzed using Fischer’s Exact test if categorical and independent t-tests if continuous. Primary and secondary objectives analyzed with Cox proportional hazard regression and outcome rates estimated utilizing Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Five-thousand patients were included in each cohort. The iron cohort was significantly older (Mean-years: Iron = 71.6, No-iron = 68.9; mean-difference = 2.7, P < .0001) with reduced renal function (Mean-eGFR[mL/min/1.73 m²]: Iron = 67.2, No-iron = 77.4; mean-difference = 10.2, P < .0001). For the primary outcome, the iron cohort had a significantly longer mean length of hospital stay (10.4 days) compared to the no-iron cohort (8.7 days) (mean difference 1.7 days, P < .0001). Secondary outcome analysis showed the iron cohort received intravenous antibiotics for longer (Iron = 8.2 days, No-iron = 7.1 days; mean-difference = 1.1 days, P < .0001) with a higher proportion of 30-day readmissions (Iron = 15.6%, No-iron = 12.8%; proportion difference = 2.8%, P < .0001). No significant difference was found between cohort proportions for 30-day mortality (Iron = 12.7%, No-iron = 11.3%, proportion difference = 1.4%, P = .052). Conclusions: Baseline characteristic differences between cohorts is representative of patients who would be expected to require iron replacement therapy. Given the magnitude of primary and secondary-outcomes, further studies controlling for these factors would be warranted.
La France et l’AUKUS : quelles politiques et quelles limites stratégiques en Indo-Pacifique ?
Authors: Mottet Éric , Lasserre Frédéric , Courmont Barthélémy
Published: September 2023

L’espace Indo-Pacifique est pour la France une réalité géographique, stratégique et sécuritaire. À ce titre, l’Indo-Pacifique est devenu un des axes prioritaires de l’action internationale de la France à travers une approche cohérente et structurée dont l’objectif est de maintenir un espace Indo-Pacifique libre, ouvert et inclusif, vision que Paris partage avec ses grands partenaires, notamment l’Inde, le Japon et l’ASEAN. Par opposition, l'AUKUS, construit dans le plus grand secret entre trois puissances anglo-saxonnes (États-Unis, Royaume-Uni et Australie). Toutefois, si l’AUKUS reconnaît la valeur stratégique que la France pourrait apporter à l’Indo-Pacifique, il compromet l’ambition de Paris de mettre en place des mini-coalitions innovantes qui empêcheraient l’effet de polarisation résultant d’une rivalité frontale entre Washington et Pékin.
Compliance with Open Space Standards in Residential Areas of Oyo, Nigeria
Authors: Adebara Temitope Muyiwa , Adebara Oyinloluwa Beatrice , Odufuwa Bashir Olufemi , Badiora Adewumi Israel , Taiwo Amos Oluwole , Dada Olanrewaju Timothy , Odunsi Oluwafemi Michael
Published: September 2023

Against the widespread non-adherence with statutory requirements for open space provision in virtually every segment of cities, especially in residential areas, this study examined compliance with open space standards in three distinct residential zones (core, transition and sub-urban) of Oyo, a traditional city in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted with two stakeholders: self-built house owners (SHOs) and town planning officials (TPOs). Systematic and convenience sampling techniques were used to select participants from the groups, respectively. Direct measurements of open spaces within lots were carried out to determine if they met the required standards. Information obtained from the SHOs included their socio-economic characteristics, level of awareness, perceived importance, compliance with standards and factors influencing compliance. The TPOs also provided information on standards (plot coverage and setback requirements), mechanisms and tactics for regulating open space provision. The study showed low awareness of the open space requirements among homeowners in the three residential zones. The compliance level in the core area was the lowest because the area was largely built prior to the introduction of planning regulations and coupled with the residents’ low status. On the contrary, despite the low awareness, the sub-urban area had the highest level of compliance because the homeowners in this area have a higher socio-economic status and personal preferences for ample open space in their compounds. These outcomes support the underlying concepts and propositions advocated by historic and structural theories of urban form. The study, therefore, recommends modifying the existing open space standards to align with the city’s historical development and local conditions in various residential areas to encourage compliance.
“It’s Colder On the Outside”: Lived Experiences of Internally Displaced Persons Staying Outside Displacement Camps
Authors: Atimniraye Nyelade Richard , Zhang Dunfu , Chika Chukwuorji JohnBosco , Kator Iorfa Steven
Published: September 2023

The much we know about the mental health of internally displaced persons (IDPs) today comes from studies conducted with IDPs who stay in displacement camps. Little is known about IDPs’ mental health and experiences living outside the camps. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of IDPs living outside displacement camps in Nigeria. Participants were eight IDPs ( Mage = 36, SD = 1.6) selected from villages in Benue, Nigeria. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and studied using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Overarching themes from the data analysis suggested regret, worry, anxiety, prolonged grief, suicidal ideation, depression, and cumulative trauma. Collectively, these themes indicate the possible presence or emergence of psychopathologies. The findings from the study point to the urgent and compelling need for targeted mental health services for not just IDPs within displacement camps but also those who stay outside the displacement camps.
Friction stir welding of lapped low-melt polyaryletherketone carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic laminate
Authors: Wilkins Lucas T , Strauss Alvin M
Published: September 2023

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP) have increasing use in aerospace structures due to improved process-ability and weldability. In this study, lap joints between carbon fiber reinforced low-meltpolyaryletherketone (LMPAEK) are formed by friction stir welding (FSW). This study presents novelty by applying FSW to continuous carbon fiber composites in woven laminate form. FSW disrupts the fibers in the weld zone and distributes fragments as small as several microns in length. Thermal analysis shows that the weld zones degrade at 40°C cooler temperatures than the base laminate material due to enhanced polymer mobility surrounding the disrupted carbon fibers. Though optimized joints have regions of over 9% porosity, tensile strengths of up to 73.8 MPa retains up to 50% joint efficiency of a comparable short carbon fiber reinforced composite. CFRTP also requires lower processing forces during FSW than metals, and the power consumption of 67 W during the traverse period for strength optimized welds retains energy efficient characteristics.
Structural Sexism and Preventive Health Care Use in the United States
Authors: Dore Emily C. , Shrivastava Surbhi , Homan Patricia
Published: September 2023

Preventive health care use can reduce the risk of disease, disability, and death. Thus, it is critical to understand factors that shape preventive care use. A growing body of research identifies structural sexism as a driver of population health, but it remains unknown if structural sexism is linked to preventive care use and, if so, whether the relationship differs for women and men. Gender performance and gendered power and resource allocation perspectives lead to competing hypotheses regarding these questions. This study explores the relationship between structural sexism and preventive care in gender-stratified, multilevel models that combine data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System with state-level data (N = 425,454). We find that in states with more structural sexism, both men and women were less likely to seek preventive care. These findings support the gender performance hypothesis for men and the gendered power and resource allocation hypothesis for men and women.
Auxetic materials and structures for potential defense applications: An overview and recent developments
Authors: Nguyễn Hoa , Fangueiro Raúl , Ferreira Fernando , Nguyễn Quyền
Published: September 2023

Auxetic behavior is a promising new area for use in defense applications. In comparison to a conventional material, an auxetic material has superior properties because of having a negative Poisson’s ratio; it gets broadened when stretched or becomes smaller when compressed. Furthermore, auxetic materials have enhanced properties such as shear resistance, indentation resistance, fracture toughness, energy absorption, and so on. These improved properties make auxetic materials very appealing and have the potential to revolutionize their applications in aerospace, sports, automotive, construction, biomedical engineering, smart sensors, packaging, cushioning, air filtration, shock absorption and sound insulation, and defense personal protective equipment. This article examines the most recent scientific advances in auxetic materials and structures, such as auxetic textiles (fibers, yarns, and fabrics), auxetic textile-reinforced composites, and auxetic foams, as well as their exceptional auxetic behavior and various approaches to achieving them. Although many potential applications have been proposed, actual applications of auxetic materials in defense are still limited. This is an in-depth review article, and its main goal is to serve as a foundation for future studies concerning the topic.
Occult paraquat poisoning causing pneumomediastinum and organizing pneumonia
Authors: Selvam Suresh , Simha Amar , Nawaz Rana Sadaqat , Sarmin Aziza , Gangadharappa Ramesha Chinakarihalli , Pannu Ashok Kumar
Published: September 2023

Pneumomediastinum is not an uncommon manifestation of lung toxicity in acute paraquat ingestion. The condition is almost invariably seen with other lung parenchymal abnormalities such as consolidations, ground-glass opacities and interlobular septal thickening. The diagnosis may be challenging in cases with no history of toxin exposure, presentation with a subacute illness and/or absence of typical local or systemic features of paraquat toxicity.
Factors That Influence the Intention of Smallholder Rice Farmers to Adopt Cleaner Production Practices: An Empirical Study of Precision Agriculture Adoption
Authors: Nguyen Long Le Hoang , Khuu Duong Thuy , Halibas Alrence , Nguyen Trung Quang
Published: September 2023

Sustainable agriculture is crucial for achieving SDG2 and building a resilient climate-food system. This study provides a nuanced understanding of factors that influence the adoption of precision agriculture technology by Vietnamese smallholder rice farmers as a sustainable agricultural solution. The study’s objectives are: (1) to provide a nuanced understanding of factors that influence adoption of precision agriculture technology by Vietnamese smallholder rice farmers; and (2) to identify factors associated with agricultural practice in Vietnam that may impact the adoption of precision agriculture technology. The study conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with smallholder rice farmers and agriculture experts. Data were analyzed using iterative thematic analysis. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model was used for empirical analysis. The UTAUT constructs of Performance expectancy, Effort expectancy, Government support, and Social influence were found to be determinants of adoption. Trialability and Observability impact Effort expectancy and Performance expectancy. We also discovered that the performance of agricultural cooperatives and support of lead firms play a crucial role in facilitating agricultural technology adoption by Vietnamese smallholder rice farmers. The results confirm the applicability of UTAUT in defining smallholders’ behavioural intention and predicting agricultural technology adoption. The study also provides constructive feedback on the UTAUT model by highlighting the effect of agricultural cooperatives’ performance as innovation intermediaries and of the support of lead firms.
Sequential Standoffs in Police Encounters With the Public
Authors: Raymond Geoffrey , Chen Jie , Whitehead Kevin A.
Published: September 2023

Research on interactions involving police officers foregrounds the importance of their communicative practices for fostering civilians’ perceptions of police legitimacy. Building on this research, we describe a pattern of conduct that is a recurrent source of trouble in such encounters, which we call sequential standoffs. These standoffs emerge when two parties persistently pursue alternative courses of action, producing a stalemate in which neither progress in, nor exit from, either course of action appears viable. They are routinely resolved by officers (re)casting civilians’ pursuit of one course of action as constituting resistance to the officers’ proposed course of action, and thus as warranting officers’ use of coercive violence to resolve the stalemate. In some cases, however, officers resolve standoffs cooperatively using sequentially accommodative methods. We consider how these findings advance approaches to communicative dilemmas in policing, and their broader significance for scholars of social interaction, and of the interactional organization of conflicts.
Comparison of the effect of uric acid/albumin ratio on coronary colleteral circulation with other inflammation-based markers in stable coronary artery disease patients
Authors: Toprak Kenan , Yılmaz Rüstem , Kaplangoray Mustafa , Memioğlu Tolga , İnanır Mehmet , Akyol Selahattin , Özen Kaya , Biçer Asuman , Demirbağ Recep
Published: September 2023

Background

The Uric acid/Albumin ratio (UAR) has recently been identified as a prominent marker in cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to reveal the effect of UAR on coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients by comparing it with conventional inflammation-based markers.

Methods

In this study, 415 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris and were found to have chronic total occlusion in at least one coronary artery were retrospectively included. The study population was divided into two groups as good CCC (Rentrop 2–3) and poor CCC (Rentrop 0–1) according to the Rentrop classification, and the groups were compared in terms of UAR and other traditional inflammation-based markers.

Results

In the poor CCC group, C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and UAR were found to be significantly high ( p < .05, for all). UAR negatively correlated with rentrop classification (r = −0.383, p < .001). In multivariate regression analysis, MHR, NLR, SII and UAR were determined as independent predictors for poor CCC ( p < .05, for all). The ability of UAR to predict poor CCC was superior to uric acid and albumin alone ( p < .0001, for both). In addition, UAR was found to be superior to other inflammation-based markers in predicting poor CCC ( p < .005, for all).

Conclusion

UAR was identified as a strong and independent predictor of CCC. In this context, UAR may be a useful biomarker in the risk prediction of patients with stable CAD.
Class structure without politics or history?
Authors: Pfaler Lauri von
Published: September 2023

This review essay considers Vivek Chibber’s social theory of capitalism critically and develops some of the themes that a historicist social theory of capitalist stability should integrate theoretically. I start by outlining Chibber’s notable book and present its key claim about the materiality and primacy of class structure in terms of economic decision-making. I then point out the limits and antinomies of structural theory as a historical explanation, sketch the contours of a historicist methodology and provide examples of three political phenomena that are irreducible to the class structure but that have been central for the reproduction of capitalism. The final section considers the political consequences of my historicist criticism of Chibber.
From Peaceful Civil Movement to Civil War and Sectarian Polarization: A Critical Review of Kevin Mazur’s Revolution in Syria: Identity, Networks, and Repression
Authors: Darwish Housamedden
Published: September 2023

This critical review delves into Kevin Mazur’s latest publication, Revolution in Syria: Identity, Networks, and Repression (2021), which scrutinizes the transformation of a peaceful civil movement into a civil war characterized by ethnic divisions. The review offers a comprehensive assessment of Mazur’s approach to answering the pivotal question: How did the Syrian conflict evolve along ethnic lines? Spanning 306 pages, the book’s central premise revolves around the notion that the Syrian uprising’s evolution into an ethnicized conflict can be attributed to a confluence of factors, with the predominant catalyst being the ethnically exclusive nature of the incumbent political regime. Of particular interest in this review is the emphasis on the sectarian or ethnic perspective – a prominent lens used to analyse the political and societal landscapes of the Islamicate Arab world. Mazur’s ethno-sectarian perspective, commendably, avoids succumbing to primordial essentialism. However, this review contends that a critical appraisal is warranted regarding Mazur’s conceptualization of Syrians’ identities solely through religious, ethnic, or sectarian affiliations. Similarly, the presumption that these affiliations inherently explain attitudes towards both the ruling regime and the uprising against it raises valid concerns. One notable critique lies in the characterization of Syrians within Mazur’s narrative. Strikingly, absent are depictions of Syrians as a unified populace, individual actors or civic entities. This stems from the book’s classification framework, which hinges on two primary criteria: an ethnic-sectarian criterion and a local or regional one. This duality, while serving analytical purposes, potentially undermines the complexity and diversity inherent within Syrian society. In conclusion, this review acknowledges the significant contributions of Mazur’s book, recognizing its role in shedding light on the ethnicized trajectory of the Syrian conflict. Nonetheless, it urges cautious contemplation of the assumptions underpinning the ethnic-sectarian perspective. The book’s dual classification approach warrants critical consideration for its potential to oversimplify the multifaceted nature of Syrian identities. Thus, while appreciating the book’s value, this review underscores the need to acknowledge its limitations in fostering a comprehensive understanding of the Syrian conflict’s intricate dynamics.
Contrast-enhanced mammography versus breast MRI in the assessment of multifocal and multicentric breast cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: Hafez Mona Ahmed Fouad , Zeinhom Asmaa , Hamed Dina Abdallah Abbas , Ghaly Galal Rafik Mohamed , Tadros Sally Fouad Kamel
Published: September 2023

Background

Breast cancer multifocality and multicentricity diagnosis influences the surgeon's choice between applying breast conservative therapy or performing mastectomy.

Purpose

To assess the role of contrast enhanced mammography (CEM) and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of preoperative breast cancer multifocality and multicentricity and to assess their accuracy, agreement and impact on the surgical management.

Material and Methods

The study retrospectively included cases over a 5-year period. After analysis and interpretation of suspicious breast lesions, a comparative evaluation of CEM and MRI was conducted with the assessment of diagnostic indices, including sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy. The kappa (κ) measure of agreement between both modalities was measured. The postoperative specimen pathology was the reference standard.

Results

One hundred and twenty-two female cases with 126 breast lesions were evaluated. Specimen pathology, MRI and CEM showed a single neoplastic lesion in 67.5%, 35% and 48.5% of cases, respectively, and multiple neoplastic lesions in 32.5%, 65% and 51.6% of cases, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI were 95.12%, 49.41%,and 64.29%, and the CEM values were 85.37%, 64.71% and 71.43%, respectively. The κ value was 0.592 with an intermediate agreement between both modalities. When comparing between both modalities, enhancing foci showed a statistically significant difference, although there were no statistically significant difference in terms of high breast density or molecular subtype.

Conclusion

In terms of breast cancer multifocality and multicentricity evaluation, MRI showed a higher sensitivity, while CEM showed a higher specificity, and there was moderate agreement between the two modalities.