bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Clearance of Plasma Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations as a Predictor of Outcome on Osimertinib in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer; Exploratory Analysis from AURA3 and FLAURA
Authors: Gray Jhanelle E. , Ahn Myung-Ju , Oxnard Geoffrey R. , Shepherd Frances A. , Imamura Fumio , Cheng Ying , Okamoto Isamu , Cho Byoung Chul , Lin Meng-Chih , Wu Yi-Long , Majem Margarita , Gautschi Oliver , Boyer Michael , Bulusu Krishna C. , Markovets Aleksandra , Barrett J. Carl , Hodge Rachel , McKeown Astrid , Hartmaier Ryan J. , Chmielecki Juliann , Papadimitrakopoulou Vassiliki A. , Ramalingam Suresh S.
Published: June 2023

Purpose:

Plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis is used for genotyping advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); monitoring dynamic ctDNA changes may be used to predict outcomes.

Patients and Methods:

This was a retrospective, exploratory analysis of two phase III trials [AURA3 (NCT02151981), FLAURA (NCT02296125)]. All patients had EGFR mutation-positive (EGFRm; ex19del or L858R) advanced NSCLC; AURA3 also included T790M-positive NSCLC. Osimertinib (FLAURA, AURA3), or comparator EGFR–tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI; gefitinib/erlotinib; FLAURA), or platinum-based doublet chemotherapy (AURA3) was given. Plasma EGFRm was analyzed at baseline and Weeks 3/6 by droplet digital PCR. Outcomes were assessed by detectable/non-detectable baseline plasma EGFRm and plasma EGFRm clearance (non-detection) at Weeks 3/6.

Results:

In AURA3 (n = 291), non-detectable versus detectable baseline plasma EGFRm had longer median progression-free survival [mPFS; HR, 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.33–0.68; P < 0.0001]. In patients with Week 3 clearance versus non-clearance (n = 184), respectively, mPFS (months; 95% CI) was 10.9 (8.3–12.6) versus 5.7 (4.1–9.7) with osimertinib and 6.2 (4.0–9.7) versus 4.2 (4.0–5.1) with platinum-pemetrexed. In FLAURA (n = 499), mPFS was longer with non-detectable versus detectable baseline plasma EGFRm (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.41–0.70; P < 0.0001). For Week 3 clearance versus non-clearance (n = 334), respectively, mPFS was 19.8 (15.1 to not calculable) versus 11.3 (9.5–16.5) with osimertinib and 10.8 (9.7–11.1) versus 7.0 (5.6–8.3) with comparator EGFR-TKI. Similar outcomes were observed by Week 6 clearance/non-clearance.

Conclusions:

Plasma EGFRm analysis as early as 3 weeks on-treatment has the potential to predict outcomes in EGFRm advanced NSCLC.
Driving Diversity and Inclusion in Cancer Drug Development – Industry and Regulatory Perspectives, Current Practices, Opportunities, and Challenges
Authors: Fashoyin-Aje Lola A. , Tendler Craig , Lavery Bea , Ghiorghiu Serban , Gerald Brittany , Kalidas Chitkala , Richie Nicole , Winson Kathleen , Warren Nicholas J.H. , Tellman Tristen V. , Retzlaff Jon , Foti Margaret , Pazdur Richard
Published: June 2023

In April 2022, the FDA issued draft guidance to help industry develop strategies to improve diversity in clinical trials. Historically, clinical trial sponsors have not systematically incorporated efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), particularly during the early design stages of clinical development plans and operational strategies. Unfortunately, a retrospective approach to DEI often results in clinical trial participants not being reflective of the diversity of patients intended to be treated with new therapies. A shift to prospective, intentional DEI strategies for clinical trials, including long-term engagement with diverse patients and communities throughout the development life cycle, is necessary to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of new drugs and devices for all patients. Sponsors’ current practices and opportunities for improving DEI address four major topics: institutional commitment, culture change, and governance; clinical development strategy; setting enrollment goals to ensure trial participant diversity; and development and implementation of the operational strategy. As DEI practices gain wider adoption in clinical trials, shared learning and collaboration among stakeholders on an ongoing and noncompetitive basis will lead to sustainable change. Prioritization of enrollment of diverse populations as an integral part of study start-up planning, clinical trial design, and recruitment capabilities will enhance the clinical development process for oncology therapies. Importantly, these efforts will help provide equitable access to clinical trials and innovative cancer therapies.
Supplementary Table S2 from Examining the Barriers and Opportunities for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Delivery in Cancer Care Settings: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Garcia Melany A. , Schlecht Nicolas F. , Rokitka Denise A. , Attwood Kristopher M. , Rodriguez Elisa M.
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Table S2 presents the qualitative findings from the survey questionnaire item pertaining to perceived roles in HPV vaccine delivery among PAYA cancer care providers.
Supplementary Table S1 from Examining the Barriers and Opportunities for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Delivery in Cancer Care Settings: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Garcia Melany A. , Schlecht Nicolas F. , Rokitka Denise A. , Attwood Kristopher M. , Rodriguez Elisa M.
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Table S1 presents the findings from our survey questionnaire pertaining to HPV infection and vaccine knowledge among PAYA cancer care providers.
Data from Examining the Barriers and Opportunities for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Delivery in Cancer Care Settings: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Garcia Melany A. , Schlecht Nicolas F. , Rokitka Denise A. , Attwood Kristopher M. , Rodriguez Elisa M.
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Although pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (PAYA) cancer survivors are at increased risks for secondary cancers, their HPV vaccine uptake rates are poor. Therefore, we conducted a mixed-methods study to identify the barriers and opportunities for HPV vaccine delivery among PAYA cancer care providers. We distributed a semistructured questionnaire to a professional organization comprised of PAYA oncology and hematology healthcare providers between April and July 2022. Questionnaire measures included demographic and practice characteristics, HPV vaccine knowledge, willingness, barriers, opportunities, and roles for HPV vaccine delivery. Descriptive characteristics were generated for quantitative data, and content analysis was used to identify themes. A total of 49 providers responded to our survey. A majority were female (68%) and non-Hispanic white (74%). Approximately 76% were oncology or hematology physicians, and most worked in a cancer center or children's hospital (86%). Over half (63%) had been practicing for >15 years, and a majority saw patients ages 11 to 17. Although less than half reported discussing HPV vaccination with their patients, 69% were willing to become involved in HPV vaccine delivery. The most frequently reported barriers identified in our content analysis were related to system-level factors. Furthermore, providers identified opportunities within cancer prevention education, transitions in care, and at the system-level. Although barriers to HPV vaccination persist in cancer care, most providers perceived there to be opportunities to become involved in HPV vaccine delivery. Identifying strategies for PAYA oncology and hematology healthcare providers to adopt a stronger role in HPV vaccination remains a significant opportunity for future implementation research.
Prevention Relevance:
This mixed-methods study is the first to investigate and assess barriers and opportunities for HPV vaccine delivery among PAYA cancer healthcare providers. Our findings can serve as an important framework for future implementation research targeted towards HPV vaccine delivery in cancer clinical settings.
Supplementary Table S7 from Immunogenetic Metabolomics Reveals Key Enzymes That Modulate CAR T-cell Metabolism and Function
Authors: Renauer Paul , Park Jonathan J. , Bai Meizhu , Acosta Arianny , Lee Won-Ho , Lin Guang Han , Zhang Yueqi , Dai Xiaoyun , Wang Guangchuan , Errami Youssef , Wu Terence , Clark Paul , Ye Lupeng , Yang Quanjun , Chen Sidi
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Table S7
Supplementary Table S5 from Immunogenetic Metabolomics Reveals Key Enzymes That Modulate CAR T-cell Metabolism and Function
Authors: Renauer Paul , Park Jonathan J. , Bai Meizhu , Acosta Arianny , Lee Won-Ho , Lin Guang Han , Zhang Yueqi , Dai Xiaoyun , Wang Guangchuan , Errami Youssef , Wu Terence , Clark Paul , Ye Lupeng , Yang Quanjun , Chen Sidi
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Table S5
Supplementary Table S4 from Immunogenetic Metabolomics Reveals Key Enzymes That Modulate CAR T-cell Metabolism and Function
Authors: Renauer Paul , Park Jonathan J. , Bai Meizhu , Acosta Arianny , Lee Won-Ho , Lin Guang Han , Zhang Yueqi , Dai Xiaoyun , Wang Guangchuan , Errami Youssef , Wu Terence , Clark Paul , Ye Lupeng , Yang Quanjun , Chen Sidi
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Table S4
Data from Immunogenetic metabolomics reveals key enzymes that modulate CAR T-cell metabolism and function
Authors: Renauer Paul , Park Jonathan J. , Bai Meizhu , Acosta Arianny , Lee Won-Ho , Lin Guang Han , Zhang Yueqi , Dai Xiaoyun , Wang Guangchuan , Errami Youssef , Wu Terence , Clark Paul , Ye Lupeng , Yang Quanjun , Chen Sidi
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Immune evasion is a critical step of cancer progression that remains a major obstacle for current T cell–based immunotherapies. Hence, we investigated whether it is possible to genetically reprogram T cells to exploit a common tumor-intrinsic evasion mechanism whereby cancer cells suppress T-cell function by generating a metabolically unfavorable tumor microenvironment (TME). In an in silico screen, we identified ADA and PDK1 as metabolic regulators. We then showed that overexpression (OE) of these genes enhanced the cytolysis of CD19-specific chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T cells against cognate leukemia cells, and conversely, ADA or PDK1 deficiency dampened this effect. ADA-OE in CAR T cells improved cancer cytolysis under high concentrations of adenosine, the ADA substrate and an immunosuppressive metabolite in the TME. High-throughput transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis of these CAR T cells revealed alterations of global gene expression and metabolic signatures in both ADA- and PDK1-engineered CAR T cells. Functional and immunological analyses demonstrated that ADA-OE increased proliferation and decreased exhaustion in CD19-specific and HER2-specific CAR T cells. ADA-OE improved tumor infiltration and clearance by HER2-specific CAR T cells in an in vivo colorectal cancer model. Collectively, these data unveil systematic knowledge of metabolic reprogramming directly in CAR T cells and reveal potential targets for improving CAR T-cell therapy.
Supplementary Video 4 from Metronomic administration of topotecan alone and in combination with docetaxel inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in aggressive variant prostate cancers
Authors: MITRA GHOSH TARASWI , Mazumder Suman , Davis Joshua , YADAV JYOTI , AKINPELU AYUBA , ALNAIM AHMED , KUMAR HARISH , WALIAGHA RAZAN , Church Bird Allison E , Rais-Bahrami Soroush , Bird R. Curtis , Mistriotis Panagiotis , MISHRA AMARJIT , Yates Clayton C. , MITRA AMIT K , Arnold Robert D
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Video 4
Supplementary Video 3 from Metronomic administration of topotecan alone and in combination with docetaxel inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in aggressive variant prostate cancers
Authors: MITRA GHOSH TARASWI , Mazumder Suman , Davis Joshua , YADAV JYOTI , AKINPELU AYUBA , ALNAIM AHMED , KUMAR HARISH , WALIAGHA RAZAN , Church Bird Allison E , Rais-Bahrami Soroush , Bird R. Curtis , Mistriotis Panagiotis , MISHRA AMARJIT , Yates Clayton C. , MITRA AMIT K , Arnold Robert D
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Video 3
Supplementary Figure 9 from Metronomic administration of topotecan alone and in combination with docetaxel inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in aggressive variant prostate cancers
Authors: MITRA GHOSH TARASWI , Mazumder Suman , Davis Joshua , YADAV JYOTI , AKINPELU AYUBA , ALNAIM AHMED , KUMAR HARISH , WALIAGHA RAZAN , Church Bird Allison E , Rais-Bahrami Soroush , Bird R. Curtis , Mistriotis Panagiotis , MISHRA AMARJIT , Yates Clayton C. , MITRA AMIT K , Arnold Robert D
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Fig. 9 shows Fluorescent-Activated Cell Sorting CD44High: PC-3M cell line stained with stemness markers (CD44) and sorted CD44+ cells, followed by CONV-TOPO, METRO-TOPO, CONV-DTX, and combination (CONV-DTX+METRO-TOPO) therapy and cell cytotoxicity and caspase3/7 levels assessed A) Cytotoxicity profiling by MTT showed combination (CONV-DTX+METRO-TOPO) reduces cell survival compared with other treatments CONV-TOPO>CONV-DTX>METRO-TOPO B) AR-mCRPC- PC-3M showed combination (CONV-DTX+METRO-TOPO) reduces levels the most of apoptosis compared to other treatments (*p<0.05).
Supplementary Figure 4 from Metronomic administration of topotecan alone and in combination with docetaxel inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in aggressive variant prostate cancers
Authors: MITRA GHOSH TARASWI , Mazumder Suman , Davis Joshua , YADAV JYOTI , AKINPELU AYUBA , ALNAIM AHMED , KUMAR HARISH , WALIAGHA RAZAN , Church Bird Allison E , Rais-Bahrami Soroush , Bird R. Curtis , Mistriotis Panagiotis , MISHRA AMARJIT , Yates Clayton C. , MITRA AMIT K , Arnold Robert D
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Fig. 4 shows Differentially Expressed Gene Signature (DEGs) based on next-gene sequencing (mRNA sequencing) and single cell RNA sequencing for all PCa cell lines.

Differentially expressed gene Signature was identified among DEGs for RNS seq and scRNAseq.
Supplementary Figure 3 from Metronomic administration of topotecan alone and in combination with docetaxel inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in aggressive variant prostate cancers
Authors: MITRA GHOSH TARASWI , Mazumder Suman , Davis Joshua , YADAV JYOTI , AKINPELU AYUBA , ALNAIM AHMED , KUMAR HARISH , WALIAGHA RAZAN , Church Bird Allison E , Rais-Bahrami Soroush , Bird R. Curtis , Mistriotis Panagiotis , MISHRA AMARJIT , Yates Clayton C. , MITRA AMIT K , Arnold Robert D
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Fig. 3 shows Differentially Expressed Gene Signatures (DEGs) based on next-gene sequencing (mRNA sequencing) for ARLow/mCRPC/NEPC (PC-3DU145), ARLow/mCSPC/NEPC taxane resistant (DUTXR and PC-3TXR) PCa cell lines. IPA predicted key pathways based on DEGs between Taxane resistant and sensitivity.

Fig. 3A. Differentially expressed gene Signature was identified among DEGs for ARLow/mCRPC/NEPC (PC-3DU145), ARLow/mCSPC/NEPC taxane-resistant (DUTXR and PC-3TXR) PCa cell lines. Venn diagrams represent unique and common DEGs for ARLow/mCRPC/NEPC (PC-3, DU145), and ARLow/mCSPC/NEPCtaxane-resistant (DUTXR and PC-3TXR) cell lines.

Fig. 3B. IPA predicted key pathways based on DEGs between Taxane resistant and sensitivity. Cluster 2 (IPA predicted activation of PPARA), Cluster 4 (ERK/MAPK signaling, MSP-RON Signaling, upregulation of FOXM1, ESR1, CEBPB, XBP1, and NPM1), Cluster 6 (ATM signaling, and MYC).
TABLE 2 from Quantitative DNA Repair Biomarkers and Immune Profiling for Temozolomide and Olaparib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Cecchini Michael , Zhang Janie Y. , Wei Wei , Sklar Jeffrey , Lacy Jill , Zhong Minghao , Kong Yong , Zhao Hongyu , DiPalermo Jassim , Devine Lesley , Stein Stacey M. , Kortmansky Jeremy , Johung Kimberly L. , Bindra Ranjit S. , LoRusso Patricia , Schalper Kurt A.
Published: June 2023

Frequency of treatment-related adverse events and laboratory abnormalities
Supplementary Figure 3 from Quantitative DNA Repair Biomarkers and Immune Profiling for Temozolomide and Olaparib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Cecchini Michael , Zhang Janie Y. , Wei Wei , Sklar Jeffrey , Lacy Jill , Zhong Minghao , Kong Yong , Zhao Hongyu , DiPalermo Jassim , Devine Lesley , Stein Stacey M. , Kortmansky Jeremy , Johung Kimberly L. , Bindra Ranjit S. , LoRusso Patricia , Schalper Kurt A.
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Figure 3: Changes in MGMT expression, yH2AX and CD8+ T cells in pre-treatment and post-treatment biopsies of patients who derived clinical benefit from the trial.
Supplementary Figure 2 from Quantitative DNA Repair Biomarkers and Immune Profiling for Temozolomide and Olaparib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Cecchini Michael , Zhang Janie Y. , Wei Wei , Sklar Jeffrey , Lacy Jill , Zhong Minghao , Kong Yong , Zhao Hongyu , DiPalermo Jassim , Devine Lesley , Stein Stacey M. , Kortmansky Jeremy , Johung Kimberly L. , Bindra Ranjit S. , LoRusso Patricia , Schalper Kurt A.
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Figure 2: Molecular Analysis
Data from Metronomic Administration of Topotecan Alone and in Combination with Docetaxel Inhibits Epithelial–mesenchymal Transition in Aggressive Variant Prostate Cancers
Authors: Mitra Ghosh Taraswi , Mazumder Suman , Davis Joshua , Yadav Jyoti , Akinpelu Ayuba , Alnaim Ahmed , Kumar Harish , Waliagha Razan , Church Bird Allison E. , Rais-Bahrami Soroush , Bird R. Curtis , Mistriotis Panagiotis , Mishra Amarjit , Yates Clayton C. , Mitra Amit K. , Arnold Robert D.
Published: June 2023

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of noncutaneous cancer-related deaths in American men. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), radical prostatectomy, and radiotherapy remain the primary treatment for patients with early-stage prostate cancer (castration-sensitive prostate cancer). Following ADT, many patients ultimately develop metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Standard chemotherapy options for CRPC are docetaxel (DTX) and cabazitaxel, which increase median survival, although the development of resistance is common. Cancer stem-like cells possess mesenchymal phenotypes [epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)] and play crucial roles in tumor initiation and progression of mCRPC. We have shown that low-dose continuous administration of topotecan (METRO-TOPO) inhibits prostate cancer growth by interfering with key cancer pathway genes. This study utilized bulk and single-cell or whole-transcriptome analysis [(RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)], and we observed greater expression of several EMT markers, including Vimentin, hyaluronan synthase-3, S100 calcium binding protein A6, TGFB1, CD44, CD55, and CD109 in European American and African American aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC) subtypes—mCRPC, neuroendocrine variant (NEPC), and taxane-resistant. The taxane-resistant gene FSCN1 was also expressed highly in single-cell subclonal populations in mCRPC. Furthermore, metronomic-topotecan single agent and combinations with DTX downregulated these EMT markers as well as CD44+ and CD44+/CD133+ “stem-like” cell populations. A microfluidic chip-based cell invasion assay revealed that METRO-TOPO treatment as a single agent or in combination with DTX was potentially effective against invasive prostate cancer spread. Our RNA-seq and scRNA-seq analysis were supported by in silico and in vitro studies, suggesting METRO-TOPO combined with DTX may inhibit oncogenic progression by reducing cancer stemness in AVPC through the inhibition of EMT markers and multiple oncogenic factors/pathways.
Significance:
The utilization of metronomic-like dosing regimens of topotecan alone and in combination with DTX resulted in the suppression of makers associated with EMT and stem-like cell populations in AVPC models. The identification of molecular signatures and their potential to serve as novel biomarkers for monitoring treatment efficacy and disease progression response to treatment efficacy and disease progression were achieved using bulk RNA-seq and single-cell-omics methodologies.
Long-Term Impacts of Preeclampsia on the Cardiovascular System of Mother and Offspring
Authors: Yang Chuyu , Baker Philip N. , Granger Joey P. , Davidge Sandra T. , Tong Chao
Published: June 2023

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific complication that is associated with an increased postpartum risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in both women and their offspring, although the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. Nevertheless, differential methylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanosine islands and alterations in the expression of microRNA, associated with an elevated risk of CVD, have been observed in women and their children following preeclampsia. Among this specific population, genetic and epigenetic factors play crucial roles in the development of CVD in later life. A series of biomolecules involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis may link pregnancy vascular bed disorders in preeclampsia to the pathogenesis of future CVD and thus could be valuable for the prediction and intervention of long-term CVD in women with a history of preeclampsia and their offspring. Here, we present insights into the cardiovascular structure and functional changes of women with a history of preeclampsia and their offspring. With a focus on various underlying mechanisms, the conclusions from this review are expected to provide more potential diagnostics and treatment strategies for clinical practice.
D’Alembert’s Cosmological View of the Sciences and its Legacy in Kant
Authors: Howard Stephen
Published: June 2023

This paper examines Jean le Rond d’Alembert’s views of metaphysical cosmology and argues that these constitute an important context for Kant’s critical-period response to rational cosmology. D’Alembert is commonly taken to have dismissed cosmology from the roster of the legitimate sciences, and there is indeed evidence of his scepticism towards Maupertuis’ cosmology no less than towards Wolff’s cosmologia generalis. I argue, however, that a broadly Leibnizian cosmological perspective underpins d’Alembert’s accounts of our knowledge and of the task of the philosopher. D’Alembert’s work thus anticipates and helps bring into focus Kant’s own nuanced engagement with the cosmological tradition.
Metrical passages in the Khotanese Saṃghāṭa-sūtra
Authors: Sims-Williams Nicholas
Published: June 2023

The Buddhist Sanskrit Saṃghāṭa-sūtra includes several longer or shorter passages in verse, mostly ślokas. Many though not all of these verse passages also appear in metrical form in the Khotanese version, which makes use of all three of the metres known from the longest Old Khotanese poem, the Book of Zambasta. The aim of the present article is to analyse these metrical passages in order to determine to what extent the treatment of the metres conforms to the practice of the Book of Zambasta. The relevant passages are therefore presented with a detailed metrical analysis as well as an English translation and brief commentary.
The Adhālaka-Mahācetiya at Kanaganahalli as a Political Monument
Authors: von Hinüber Oskar
Published: June 2023

The discovery of the Adhālaka-Mahācetiya, whose name survives in various inscriptions from the site, is among the major archaeological finds in India during the 20th century. Numerous excellently preserved images and inscriptions have substantially broadened the knowledge of Buddhist art, and, perhaps more important, allow certain conclusions on the relationship of the Buddhist Saṃgha and the ruling Śātavāhana dynasty. When comparing the corpora of inscriptions within the world of images found at other previously known Buddhist sites such as Sāñcī or Nāgārjunakoṇḍa, Kanaganahalli emerges as a unique place where politics of both the Saṃgha and the Śātavāhanas are documented. The interpretation of some royal images with their inscriptions seems to allow a rare glimpse into Śātavāhana foreign policy, particularly into their relationship with their rivals, the Kṣatrapa rulers of western India. Lastly, some images such as those of Aśoka show that Mauryan rule was not forgotten at Kanaganahalli, which is very close to the site of nearby Sannati (a find spot of Aśokan edicts). At the same time these images and their very prominent position on the Adhālaka-Mahāceitya prove keen awareness and interest in events of the past by those who designed the program for decorating the monument.
A Step Forward in Reaching toward the Indo-Iranian Background of the Avestan and Vedic Liturgies
Authors: Sadovski Velizar
Published: June 2023

This survey discusses a series of achievements in comparative Indo-Iranian studies, on the occasion of the appearance of a new representative volume. The presentation of these achievements aims to trace existing and new directions of scholarly co-operation between Vedists, Avestologists, specialists in Achaemenid and Sassanian studies, as well as, more generally, between Indo-Europeanists, philologists and scholars of history of culture and religions with the aim to continue the reconstruction of Indo-Iranian sacred texts and religious practices.
The Treasury Image of Mariazell: The Materialisation of Hope, Assurance and Security
Authors: Zika Charles
Published: June 2023

One of the key sacred objects at the Austrian pilgrimage shrine of Mariazell is the Schatzkammerbild or Treasury Image, a late fourteenth-century painting of the Virgin and child in the style of a metal-encased and adorned Byzantine icon. Originally commissioned by King Louis I of Hungary, it was later donated to Mariazell. This essay traces significant changes in the life of this precious object over approximately four centuries, focusing on how its materiality was meant to stimulate feelings of hope and assurance concerning public security. From votive image given in thanks for a miraculous victory, it was transformed into a powerful heavenly object to be used against the threats of Ottoman and Protestant enemies. Then from the 1670s it began to be appropriated by its Habsburg patrons as an assurance of the security they could provide against individual and collective threat, as King Louis had done in the past.
Transformative Experiences of Intercessory Prayers in a South African Context of Xenophobia
Authors: Nishimwe Clementine
Published: June 2023

This paper explores the effect of intercessory prayers as experienced by Black African migrant women in the context of xenophobia. Drawing on an ethnographic study of the experiences of Black African migrant women at St Aidan’s Anglican Church (saac), located in a migrant-dominated area in Johannesburg, I discuss the transformative experiences of health, wealth and relationships resulting from intercessory prayers that challenged the context of xenophobia in which saac functioned. While the transformation observed in the study was limited in time and space, I argue that certain church practices can be transformative if intentionally designed in ways that are sensitive to the specific context in which that church functions.
Doing Research with People Experiencing Profound Autism
Authors: Tam Cynthia
Published: June 2023

Researching with persons using limited speech for communication can be challenging. This paper describes methodological considerations in the research process from recruitment to data collection. A case study is included to illustrate the considerations involved in selecting appropriate qualitative research methods to support people with profound autism to be involved in research. Involving people with profound autism in ecclesial studies is essential as it allows them to speak directly into the place of faith in their lives and their needs for a faith community. Recognizing that people with profound autism are competent informants in research, combined with using suitable tools, will also allow us to understand the gifts and indispensability of this group of people to the church.
What Lucifer Taught Me About How to Be a Christian: Towards an Apophatic Ethnography
Authors: Blankenship Paul Houston
Published: June 2023

This article aims to crack open the structure of ethnographic theology. It challenges our Christian faith to nurture our love for the world, Christian and otherwise. This article is based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork with young adults experiencing homelessness in Seattle who claim to be Luciferians and hate Christianity. I query what difference an ethnographic theologian’s personal faith makes from field to text and then back to field. What really matters about ethnographic theology, I propose, is participation in the transformative power of divine love through contemplative action that necessitates apophatic practice. I demonstrate how my own apophatic ethnographic practice(s) helped me understand what is at stake with Luciferians on the streets of Seattle and take contemplative action. I also disclose a fruit of my apophatic practice: a transformed perspective on Luciferianism where I came to experience Christ in Lucifer’s wounds and the Luciferian rejection of and disgust for Christianity.
Sans érasure
Authors: Greenstein Edward L.
Published: June 2023

A curious phenomenon that is attested in the Ugaritic texts, elsewhere in the ancient Near East, the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, medieval texts, and beyond is a scribal practice I call sans érasure, a case in which a scribe leaves an error uncorrected and proceeds to write or copy the correct letter, word, line, or verse following the error. In this article, a number of rather clear examples are adduced from the Ugaritic texts, and a number of examples from the Hebrew Bible are proposed. Several of these cases would seem to be recognized in the Masoretic tradition in instances of ‮לא קרי‬‎ (written but not read). Some of the biblical examples resolve longstanding philological cruxes. Among the examples are several from the book of Job and the last verse in Lamentations. An explanation for the practice is suggested.
Argemiones stupeflip gen. et sp. nov., a new spathiopterygid wasp (Hymenoptera: Diaprioidea) from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber
Authors: BRAZIDEC MANUEL
Published: June 2023

Although infrequent in the fossil record, the extinct wasp family Spathiopterygidae have been suggested to be diverse and globally distributed during the Cretaceous, being documented in seven major amber deposits. In the present study, I describe and figure Argemiones stupeflip gen. et sp. nov. from the rich early Cenomanian Kachin amber (Myanmar). The new monotypic genus is characterized by the compound eyes with numerous ommatidia, the first four flagellomeres distinctly thinner and longer than followings, a distinctive fore wing venation, a fringe of long setae along the apical margin of fore wing, a much reduced but present hind wing, and a conspicuous petiolate first metasomal segment. The presence of Spathiopterygidae in the endemic fauna of the Burma Terrane suggests their antiquity, with a possible origin in the Upper Jurassic to the earliest Cretaceous, and dispersion between the Gondwana and the Southern and Western Laurasia during the Lower Cretaceous. I propose an updated version of the key to genera and species of the family.
Description and phylogenetic placement of a new species of Patania (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) resembling P. harutai (Inoue, 1955)
Authors: MATSUI YUKI , NAKA HIDESHI
Published: June 2023

Patania harutai (Inoue, 1955) was known to be the mixture of two species that use host plants from two different families, Styracaceae and Sapindaceae, but the type materials had not been examined until now. In this study, we confirm the identity of P. harutai based on the adult external characters of the holotype. As a result, we regard the Sapindaceae-feeding species to be true P. harutai, and describe the Styracaceae-feeding species as a novel species, P. crepuscularia sp. nov. Patania gorosoe Lee, Heo & Bae, 2022 syn.n. is treated as a junior synonym of P. harutai. In addition, we conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis using 10 Japanese Patania species, and found that P. crepuscularia and P. harutai are not sister species although they are very similar in the adult external characters.
Ride on female for “prima nocta” or close attachment in the araneid spider Caerostris sumatrana Strand, 1915 (Araneae: Araneidae)
Authors: OMELKO MIKHAIL M. , MARUSIK YURI M.
Published: June 2023

A unique type of mate guarding behavior is discovered in the araneid spider Caerostris sumatrana Strand, 1915: the male waits for the female’s maturity while staying tied to the dorsal surface of her abdomen. The species is redescribed in detail. General appearance of the male and its fine structures are illustrated by scanning electron microscopy for the first time. Genital emasculation in the male of this species is reported for the first time.
2. Human Rights in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Authors: Kuper Richard
Published: June 2023

The events in Gaza and on the West Bank, terrible as they are, are not the only – or even the most terrible – infringement of human rights to be found on the planet. One only has to think of the genocide in Darfur – or the torture camp at Guantanamo. It is necessary and desirable to ‘single out Israel’ but in doing so I have chosen to focus on universalist human-rights themes. We can – and must – debate the origins of these human-rights’ violations: the extent to which they are simply the kind of thing that happens in all prolonged occupations, the extent to which they arise from Israel’s demographic obsession with having a Jewish state and the racist fear this generates about Palestinian population growth as a ‘ticking bomb’; the old Zionist dream of a greater Israel, wanting Judea and Samaria but not wanting the Palestinians and so on. In this talk I have merely wanted to focus on what Israel is currently doing and, by implication, the need to mobilise opposition to it.
3. New-Old Thinking on Palestine
Authors: Pappe Ilan
Published: June 2023

There is a famous Jewish maxim that people tend to look for a lost key where there is light and not where they lost the key. There is a sense that the diplomatic efforts to end the Israel/Palestine conflict were a search for the key where there was light, but not where it was lost. In this chapter, I will attempt to explain why this was a shot in the dark and why it is still going on, despite its obvious failure. In the second part I will suggest a better location for the lost key and a different pathway towards a solution. We need a Palestinian change of mind, and international endorsement and BDS of such a way forward and then we might even succeed with generating a change from within the Jewish society. When all these elements will be in place, there is a hope for the torn country and its people.
9. Israeli Apartheid: A Matter of Law
Authors: Machover Daniel
Published: June 2023

Israel’s rule over the Palestinian people may be characterized as a regime of apartheid, with its individual actions constituting crimes of apartheid. I was one of the legal advisers to the Russell Tribunal On Palestine (RTOP or ‘Russell Tribunal’) which convened on six occasions, not all of which I was able to assist with (from March 2010 to September 2014) (http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com/en/index.html). The third session was held in Cape Town in November 2011 and what I will set out in this chapter is an updated summary of the RTOP’s findings – available in full but not updated via this link http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com/en/sessions/south-africa/south-africa-session-%E2%80%94-full-findings The Tribunal made findings with regard to Israel’s policies and practices vis-à-vis the Palestinian people with reference to the international legal prohibition of apartheid under the following headings: The definition and status of apartheid under international law; Application of the definition of apartheid to Israeli policies; and practices vis-à-vis the Palestinian people.
10. Dismantling Racism and Settler Colonialism: Challenges for the BDS Movement
Authors: Masri Rania
Published: June 2023

One critical tool for the struggle for equality and liberation is the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS), a vibrant, global movement, launched in 2005, to end ‘international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.’ I believe this, now more than ever, just like when comrades before us organized for the dismantling of political apartheid in South Africa and were told they are imagining the impossible, they organized and they were victorious against political apartheid. The struggle continues. I do believe there will come a day when Zionism and racism will fall. The only question we are facing is how fast it will fall. BDS is one of the paths of resistance to make that collapse of apartheid faster. The question is not whether Zionism and apartheid in Palestine will be eliminated; the question is: how fast. Let us work together to make the fall of apartheid faster, and the liberation of Palestine sooner.
12. Evicting Palestine
Authors: Green Penny , Smith Amelia
Published: June 2023

Through the use of a number of case-studies we have documented a planned and intentionally complex set of criminal practices employed by the state of Israel to remove Palestinians from their historic lands. Those practices include: village destruction, house demolitions, the destruction of farmland and olive groves, land confiscation, access restrictions to natural resources, denial of residency rights and the denial of refugee return, all underpinned by a process now defined as Judaisation. These are facilitated through a range of formal and informal practices, notably discriminatory zoning and planning restrictions, the creation of militarised zones, forestation programmes, the illegal settlement programme, ‘unrecognising’ Palestinian villages, the separation wall, security checkpoints, service removal, a programme of Bedouin urbanisation, suppression of resistance and impunity for state and settler violence. We examined forced evictions not only inside the Occupied Palestinian Territories of East Jerusalem and the West Bank (Gaza was closed to us) but inside that part of mandated Palestine which became Israel, where 1.4 million Israeli Arabs/Palestinians still live, many under threat of forced eviction.
13. Resisting Cybercide, Strengthening Solidarity: Standing up to Israel’s Digital Occupation
Authors: Aouragh Miriyam
Published: June 2023

In the years since the second intifada (2000-2005) we have seen digital technologies become a key tool for solidarity groups across the world. Mainstream media have come to function as gatekeepers by determining what stories are aired or properly contextualized. Thus, the internet has influenced Palestinian politics by disseminating textual, visual, and audio narratives beyond the confines of censorship of commercial media and political elites. More than a decade later, the Internet has by now grown into a counter-public space for Palestinian liberation politics. The relationship between technology and politics is multivalent and in contrast to a technologically deterministic view, reality is messy. Political change ultimately must emerge from human decisions and practices, themselves based on historical conditions. This implies great contradictions and therefore requires a nuanced approach. The Israeli state and its international supporters deploy the same technologies for instance. In fact, they have a far greater advantage than Palestinians. There are two sides to this, simply put the material and the immaterial. The immaterial is found for instance in the effort to mobilize pro-Israel sentiments. I have discussed this Israeli public diplomacy through social media as a form of Hasbara 2.0 . The material side has to do with the warfare and surveillance, the destruction and violence so to say, this is what I frame as Cybercide.
14. Israel’s Nation-State Law and Its Consequences for Palestinians
Authors: Karmi-Ayyoub Salma
Published: June 2023

I will take this opportunity to discuss Israel’s nation state law, passed in July 2018. Firstly, I will outline what the law says and what its effects are. Secondly, I will suggest that the law establishes Israel an ethnocratic as opposed to a democratic state, that the law is in violation of international law, and that it paves the way for Israel to practice apartheid. Finally, I will examine the political context in which the law was passed and argue that, whilst the law is fundamentally a misguided attempt by Israel to respond to a crisis of legitimacy, it must be resisted as it represents an entrenching of Israel’s discriminatory regime against Palestinians, and contributes to the erosion of Palestinian rights. The nation state law establishes Israel as an ethnocracy as opposed to a democracy, it entrenches Israel’s discriminatory regime, and it supresses the Palestinian right to self-determination. The law will undoubtedly contribute to the further erosion of Palestinian rights. It is important for those who care about the Palestinian cause to understand what the nation state law represents, and help Palestinians resist it by advocating for the international community to take action to bring an end to Israel’s discriminatory policies and practices.
15. The Crafting of the News: The British Media and the Israel-Palestine Question
Authors: Llewellyn Tim
Published: June 2023

Journalism is not a perfect art, a perfect form. News editors are faced everyday with myriad stories. They have to make instant judgements, important stories fall by the wayside and are ignored. Many other things operate to take our interest, which is in Palestine and Israel, out of focus for a while. But the main point I want to make is that when the story is covered, as it is from time to time now, and as it used to be more consistently, it should be covered properly. And my case is that over the past 20 years now, the BBC particularly, but the other broadcast media as well, and to some extent, newspapers which had been sympathetic to the Palestinian cause or Palestinian legitimate aspirations for equal rights, have not done the job properly. As to the BBC, I say this not because I am anti-BBC, and not because I’m a resentful ex-employee. I still admire the BBC. And I think the institution should remain. But it does not do the Israel/Palestine job properly. It listens to the voices of government and it takes into account the voices of pressure groups instead of listening to public opinion, which as we know, steadily over the past 25 years or so, has moved away from open support of Israel and taken, especially in Britain and in Western Europe, the Palestinian cause seriously.
Predictive Factors and Audiometric Outcome Comparison Between Titanium Prosthesis and Autologous Incus in Traumatic Ossicular Injury
Authors: Chien Chen-Yu , Tai Shu-Yu , Chan Leong-Perng , Wang Hsun-Mo , Chang Ning-Chia , Wang Ling-Feng , Ho Kuen-Yao , Li Kuan-Hui
Published: June 2023

Objectives:

To investigate the etiology and ossicular pathology of traumatic ossicular injury in Taiwan and examine the hearing outcomes and predictive factors between the titanium prosthesis and autologous incus groups.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed patients with traumatic ossicular injury from 2011 to 2020 in Taiwan. Patients were divided into the titanium or autologous group according to the surgical materials used. The audiometric outcomes and predictive factors of ossiculoplasty were analyzed between groups.

Results:

Twenty patients with ossicular chain discontinuity were enrolled (8 in the titanium group and 12 in the autologous group). The postoperative hearing threshold (26.6 ± 8.9 dB) and air-bone gap (10.3 ± 5.6 dB) improved significantly compared with the preoperative hearing threshold (50.7 ± 13.3 dB) and air-bone gap (29.9 ± 11.0 dB). The improvements in the hearing threshold and air-bone gap were not significantly different between the titanium and autologous groups. Our patients presented an improvement in hearing restoration with 65% closure of the air-bone gap in 0 to 10 dB range and 30% in 11 to 20 dB range, without sensorineural hearing loss during surgery. Univariate regression analysis revealed that vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and temporal bone fracture may serve as negative factors influencing the air-bone gap gain.

Conclusions:

Ossiculoplasty with both titanium prosthesis and autologous materials demonstrated favorable hearing recovery in traumatic ossicular injury. Vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and temporal bone fracture may serve as negative predictive factors of the hearing benefit after surgery.
Post-Traumatic Growth and Resilience of LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers in the United States
Authors: Attia Mina , Das Bagmi , Tang Shiyu , Qiu Yuqing , Li Hanyun , Nguyen Claudia
Published: June 2023

LGBTQ+ asylum seekers face persecution and discrimination leading to escape from their home countries to places where LGBTQ+ identity and HIV status are grounds for asylum. Although researchers have documented this population’s experiences of pre-, during, and postmigration trauma, there remains a gap in exploring factors that contribute to posttraumatic growth (PTG) and resilience. Researchers in this study used a phenomenological approach to examine the experiences of PTG and resilience of participants living in the United States, but originally from seven different countries. Four main themes were identified: survival mechanisms of pre-migration trauma, external resources and supports, PTG skills, and complex characteristics of resilience. Implications for counseling research and clinical practice are discussed.
Death Anxiety Among Pakistani HCWs: The Role of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Positive Religious Coping Strategy
Authors: Sarfraz Muddassar , Mushtaque Iqra , Mamun Mohammed A. , Raza Mohsin
Published: June 2023

Background: The mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this, spirituality and religious coping mechanisms have been suggested as a way to maintain well-being and reduce anxiety levels. Additionally, vaccination has been shown to play an essential role in lowering anxiety levels, including death anxiety. However, there is a lack of evidence on how positive religious coping strategies and COVID-19 immunization affect death anxiety levels. To fill this gap, this study uses a Pakistani HCWs sample. Methods: This study collected cross-sectional data from 389 HCWs on socio-demographics, positive religious coping strategies, vaccine acceptance, and death anxiety. Hypothesis testing was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) by adopting the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique. Results: The results showed that the positive religious coping strategy and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine reduced death anxiety among HCWs in Pakistan. HCWs practicing the positive religious coping strategy and vaccine acceptance had lower levels of death anxiety symptoms. Thus, the positive religious coping strategy has a direct effect on reducing death anxiety. Conclusion: In conclusion, COVID-19 immunization positively affects individual mental health by reducing death anxiety. Vaccines protect individuals from COVID-19 infection, providing a sense of security that reduces the chance of death anxiety among HCWs attending to COVID-19 patients.
Museums’ Economic Performance and Directors’ Recruitment Process: An Assessment of the Recent Policy Reform of the Italian Museum Sector
Authors: Bergantino Angela S. , Intini Mario , Spiru Ada
Published: June 2023

We study the economic effects of a reform of the national museum sector, the so-called Franceschini Reform, implemented in 2015. The reform introduced a new organization of the national museum system. One of the most innovative instruments of the policy was the establishment of a different method - an international call for applications - in the selection of directors of major museums (museums of “national interest”). The article studies the effects of this new recruitment policy on museum economic performance, focusing on revenues. Using a difference-in-difference technique for the years 2014 to 2017, we show that the new recruitment policy improved the revenues of treated museums throughout Italy by a range between 17% and 26%. We also find that the characteristics of the directors (age, field of degree, and study abroad experience) play a role in explaining the increase in revenue of these Institutions. We thus find evidence of significant benefits of the policy. The new knowledge may be useful for improving museum and cultural sector management policies.