bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract 7591: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) show efficacy in Triple-Negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells alone and in combination with PARP inhibitor Talazoparib
Authors: Ghandali Maryam , Srinivasan Praveen , Xia Yutong , Wong Eric T. , Sobol Robert W. , zhou Lanlan , Carneiro Benedito A. , Graff Stephanie L. , El-Deiry Wafik S.
Published: March 2024

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive form of breast cancer, is usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Tumor Treating Fields therapy are FDA-approved for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).TT Fields use alternating electric fields to inhibit tumor growth through mitotic disruption, cellular damage, integrated stress response activation, and immune mechanisms and inhibit cell proliferation, induce cell death, and cause cell cycle arrest.TT Fields can induce BRCAness and when combined with PARP inhibition, this combination may result in synthetic lethality. We explored the effect of TTFields on two TNBC cell lines MDA-MB436 (BRCA1-mutant, p53-null) and MDA-MB468 (BRCA1 wild-type, p53-mutant) treated with TTFields (150 kHz) for 24 hours. Western blot analysis showed elevation of p21 independent of p53 mutational status. We examined the combination of PARP inhibitor (Talazoparib) with TTFields in MDA-MB468 cells to determine the effect of the combination in BRCA wild-type cancer cells. Western blot analysis showed p21 upregulation after 24 hours in combination without an increase in p53. p21 acts as a G1-checkpoint protein and loss of p21 expression has been observed in a high percentage of human breast cancer cells. Our results suggest a rational and potentially effective therapy that could be further developed and used for the treatment of breast cancer. Our ongoing studies are exploring potential mechanisms of synergy between PARP inhibitor Talazoparib and TTFields using various TNBC models, and the effect of the combination on cell cycle arrest in cell culture and in vivo.

Citation Format: Maryam Ghandali, Praveen Srinivasan, Yutong Xia, Eric T. Wong, Robert W. Sobol, Lanlan zhou, Benedito A. Carneiro, Stephanie L. Graff, Wafik S. El-Deiry. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) show efficacy in Triple-Negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells alone and in combination with PARP inhibitor Talazoparib [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7591.
Abstract 879: The AVERON Notebook to discover druggable cancer dependencies through the mutant-directed protein-protein interactions
Authors: Chen Hongyue (Nicole) , Yeung Sean , Revennaugh Brian , Fu Haian , Ivanov Andrey A.
Published: March 2024

Cancer is a devastating disease that takes more than 10 million lives every year. The genomic alterations, such as mutations in cancer driver genes, can disrupt the essential networks of protein-protein interactions (PPIs), dysregulating major oncogenic pathways and inducing the transformation. While some mutations can disrupt existing PPIs, others can create neomorph PPIs (neoPPIs), which are unnatural for wild-type counterparts. Discovery of such mutant-created neoPPIs is vital for understanding the molecular mechanisms of mutant-driven tumorigenesis and developing new personalized clinical strategies in cancer. However, systematic experimental interrogation of the clinical significance and biological functions of neoPPIs is highly challenging. To address this critical challenge, we develop a novel computational platform called AVERON Notebook for identifying new Actionable Vulnerabilities Enabled by Rewired Oncogenic Networks. The AVERON employs specially designed algorithms and statistical techniques to i) Assess and compare the levels of neoPPIs in cancer patients; ii) Examine their impact on clinical outcomes; iii) Identify distinctive sets of signature genes and oncogenic pathways regulated by individual neomorph PPIs; and iv) Discover clinically significant neoPPI-regulated genes with available clinical compounds and approved drugs. Together, the AVERON Notebook provides a powerful tool for exploring the functional consequences of tumor-driving mutations mediated through the neoPPI networks and sheds new light on previously unexplored clinically actionable dependencies enabled by neomorph PPIs in cancer patients. The AVERON Notebook is freely available onGitHub: https://github.com/aivanovlab/averon_notebook and Code Ocean: https://doi.org/10.24433/CO.7986101.v1

Acknowledgments: This work was supported in part by NCI’s Informatics Technology for Cancer Research (ITCR) Program (R21CA274620, A.A.I.), Mary Kay Foundation Grant for Cancer Research (A.A.I), NCI Emory Lung Cancer SPORE (P50CA217691, H.F.), NCI P01CA257906 (H.F.), Career Enhancement Program (A.A.I., P50CA217691), Winship Cancer Institute (NIH 5P30CA138292).

Citation Format: Hongyue (Nicole) Chen, Sean Yeung, Brian Revennaugh, Haian Fu, Andrey A. Ivanov. The AVERON Notebook to discover druggable cancer dependencies through the mutant-directed protein-protein interactions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 879.
Abstract 89: Comprehensive cell based bioassay approaches for characterization, and clinical development of therapeutic agonistic antibodies for cancer immunotherapy and autoimmune diseases
Authors: Chari Venkatesh , Lin-Jones Jennifer , Yang Luhan , Lamerdin Jane E. , Agrawal Gaurav
Published: March 2024

Agonistic antibodies are emerging as promising therapeutics for targeting immune checkpoints, particularly those within the TNF Receptor Superfamily, as they play a crucial role in regulating immune cell function, especially in the context of cancer treatment. In addition, there is also a growing focus on the potential of agonistic antibodies to selectively activate co-inhibitory checkpoint receptors. This offers a promising avenue for suppressing inflammation in autoimmune diseases and restoring tolerance in graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) while avoiding the complications of global immunosuppression.

While a substantial number of clinical trials are currently underway for oncology and autoimmune indications, there is a notable scarcity of commercially available assays to support the clinical development of this class of therapeutics, impacting their time-to-clinic. Existing assays frequently fail to accurately assess the agonistic activity of antibodies as they are unable to replicate the necessary physiologically relevant conditions.

In this context, we present several case studies that highlight the pivotal role of cell-based bioassay approaches developed by Eurofins DiscoverX in driving the characterization and clinical development of agonistic antibody therapeutics targeting various checkpoint receptors. Additionally, we discuss our data demonstrating the indispensable role of FcyR-mediated antibody clustering in establishing the otherwise elusive agonistic activity of antibodies.

Citation Format: Venkatesh Chari, Jennifer Lin-Jones, Luhan Yang, Jane E. Lamerdin, Gaurav Agrawal. Comprehensive cell based bioassay approaches for characterization, and clinical development of therapeutic agonistic antibodies for cancer immunotherapy and autoimmune diseases [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 89.
FIGURE 4 from D-2-HG Inhibits IDH1mut Glioma Growth via FTO Inhibition and Resultant m6A Hypermethylation
Authors: Pianka Sean T. , Li Tie , Prins Terry J. , Eldred Blaine S.C. , Kevan Bryan M. , Liang Haowen , Zapanta Rinonos Serendipity , Kornblum Harley I. , Nathanson David A. , Pellegrini Matteo , Liau Linda M. , Nghiemphu Phioanh Leia , Cloughesy Timothy F. , Lai Albert
Published: March 2024

FTO inhibition attenuates gliomasphere growth. A, Increase in U87 RNA m6A content relative to control (0 µmol/L) following the application of FTO inhibitors FB23-2 (left) or MA (right) at various doses. Dose-dependent inhibition of U87 cell viability by FTO inhibitors FB23-2 (B) and MA (C) evaluated by MTT assay. D, Time course of m6A enrichment in U87 cells treated with the FTO inhibitor FB23-2 (3 µmol/L, red) or DMSO (blue). One representative dot blot comparison between FB23-2–treated or DMSO-treated U87 cells is shown below the graph. Growth inhibition following FTO inhibitor treatment (FB23-2 = 3 µmol/L; MA = 100 µmol/L) in IDH1wt HK217 (E) and HK250 (F) gliomaspheres. G, Treatment of both vector control and IDH1mut forced expressing U87 cells with MA results in decreased viability (ANOVA, F(3,16) = 271.4, P ≤ 0.0001; asterisks indicate post hoc Newman–Keuls comparisons at each dose between IDH1mut and vector). H, Treatment of HK385 gliomaspheres with the FTO inhibitor FB23-2 (3 µmol/L) attenuates sphere growth in vector gliomaspheres but not those exhibiting IDH1mut forced expression [ANOVA, treatment: F(1,937) = 51.1, P ≤ 0.0001; vector vs. IDH1mut: F(1,937) = 29.4, P ≤ 0.0001; interaction: F(1,937) = 31.3, P ≤ 0.0001; asterisks indicate post hoc Newman–Keuls comparison with DMSO or between groups as indicated by horizontal bars]. I, IDH1mut inhibitor (C35 = 2 µmol/L; or AG881 = 1 µmol/L) treatment enhanced growth in IDH1mut forced expression HK252 gliomaspheres, thereby restoring sensitivity to FB23-2 (3 µmol/L) [ANOVA, IDHmut inhibitor treatment: F(2,1133) = 10.9, P ≤ 0.0001; FTO inhibitor treatment: F(1,1133) = 73.7, P ≤ 0.0001; interaction: F(2,1133) = 9.5, P ≤ 0.0001; asterisks indicate post hoc Newman–Keuls comparison with DMSO or between groups as indicated by the horizontal bars]. *, P ≤ 0.05; **, P ≤ 0.01; ***, P ≤ 0.001; and ****, P ≤ 0.0001 compared with relevant controls. Unless otherwise stated, P values indicate unpaired Student t test comparisons with the control or between two groups as indicated by the horizontal line.
Impact of Telephone Medical Consultation Service (937) on Users’ Outcomes in Saudi Arabia: A National Study
Authors: Al-Shroby Walid Abdelrazek Amin , Sohaibani Imen S. , Bin Dayel Maram E. , Al-Suliman Najla S. , Alhumaid Nuha S. , Alhraiwil Najla J.
Published: March 2024

Introduction: One of the telehealth tools is the telephone, which has been used to deliver healthcare in many settings in response to increase demand and pressures on existing health services. This study aimed to explore the impact of telephone medical consultation service (937) on users’ outcomes in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia. Telephone interviews were used to collect data. Study participants were selected randomly from the list of medical consultation users in December 2021. Users’ outcome was defined as service accessibility, utilization, user compliance, satisfaction, and enablement. Trained data collectors conducted the interviews between February and September 2022. All ethical issues were considered during the research, and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v.25 program was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 2,534 telephone interviews were completed and analyzed from 5,052 trials with a response rate of 50.2%. Most participants were Saudis (92.7%, 2,348), and (54.4%, 1,379) were females. Study participants used the call either for personal help or to help another family member, and more than one-third (38.8%, 983) had inquiries about COVID-19. Most (91%, 2,306) participants were satisfied with the provided service. Users who had answers to their inquiries and those who followed the provided advice were more likely to be satisfied. However, a positive medical history increases the likelihood of dissatisfaction (p value = 0.027). Users had better enablement after calling the 937 telephone medical consultation center. Conclusion: Most 937 telephone consultation calls were handled without needing face-to-face visits. Most 937 telehealth service users were satisfied and complied with the health advice.
Bladder Paraganglioma Presenting as Post-Micturition Palpitations: A Case Report
Authors: Zare Ali , Bighamian Moein , Moloudi Farzad , Narouie Behzad , Rouientan Hamidreza
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder (PUB) is an extremely rare extra-adrenal catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumor, accounting for only 0.05% of all bladder tumors and 1% of all pheochromocytomas. The clinical presentation of PUB can be diverse and challenging to diagnose. Case Presentation: This case report presents a 37-year-old man with post-micturition palpitation, headache, and sweating, with no history of hematuria or other irritative urinary symptoms. Ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a suspicious mass in the right posterolateral wall of the urinary bladder. Despite normal functional hormonal tests, the diagnosis of PUB was confirmed after surgical enucleation and histopathological examination. Conclusion: This report emphasizes the importance of considering PUB as a differential diagnosis in patients with post-micturition symptoms and paroxysmal hypertension, as well as the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the evaluation and management of such rare and complex cases. Early recognition and surgical intervention are crucial for optimal management and favorable clinical outcomes.
Superior Oblique Muscle Extramedullary Plasmacytoma in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma and a Review of Literature
Authors: Veisi Amirreza , Daneshvar Kimia , Hooshmandi Sadid , Najafi Maryam , Mohammadi Torbati Peyman , Hassanpour Kiana
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM), a plasma cell malignancy, is a systemic disease affecting various body organs. Plasmacytoma of bone and extramedullary disease (EMD) are presentations of MM. EMD is usually the sign of a more aggressive form of the disease. Herein, we report a patient with refractory MM presenting with extramedullary plasmacytoma in the superior oblique (SO) muscle. Case Presentation: A 51-year-old female presented complaining of gradual protrusion of the left eye and ocular pain from 20 days prior. She received bone marrow transplantation 1 year prior and was on a chemotherapy regimen for MM for the past 1 year. Ocular examination revealed proptosis of the left eye and mild limitations of adduction and elevation. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated remarkable enlargement of the left SO muscle with focal contrast enhancement. The patient underwent a biopsy and mass debulking. The histopathologic exam revealed fibromuscular tissue containing a neoplasm composed of sheets of plasmacytoid cells in a varying degree of differentiation with intervening scantly vascularized stromal components. The plasmacytoid cells were diffusely positive for a cluster of differentiation 138 (CD138), leading to a diagnosis of EMD involving the EOM and soft tissue of the orbit. The patient underwent palliative radiotherapy and a systemic workup. The PET-CT scan revealed involvement of the pelvic bone and left calf. Accordingly, the chemotherapy regimen was upgraded to reflect the aggressive nature of the disease. In the last follow-up, there was no sign of tumor reactivation in the orbital soft tissues. Unfortunately, the patient succumbed to her illness 7 months following her most recent presentation. Conclusion: Early recognition of disease recurrence is lifesaving in MM patients; ophthalmic manifestations should be seriously considered as a sign of MM activity.
The Impact of Educational Status on the Occurrence of Colonic Diverticula: Insights from an Austrian Cohort Study
Authors: Völkerer Andreas , Wernly Sarah , Semmler Georg , Flamm Maria , Radzikowski Konrad , Datz Leonora , Aigner Elmar , Datz Christian , Wernly Bernhard
Published: March 2024

Objective: Education often reflects socioeconomic status. Research indicates that lower socioeconomic status may increase the risk of diverticulosis, and according to data from the USA, diverticular disease is a significant and costly health problem. Our study explores the link between educational level and colonic diverticula occurrence. Subject and Methods: We conducted a cohort study on 5,532 asymptomatic Austrian patients who underwent colonoscopy, categorizing them by education level using the updated Generalized International Standard Classification of Education (GISCED). Logistic regression models, adjusting for age, gender, metabolic syndrome, diet, and activity, were used to determine the association between education and diverticulosis. Results: Overall, 39% of the patients had low educational status, while 53% had medium, and 8% had high educational status. Colon diverticula were less frequent in patients with medium (OR 0.73) and high (aOR 0.62) educational status. Medium educational level remained associated with lower rates of diverticulosis after adjustment for age and sex (aOR 0.85) and further metabolic syndrome, dietary habits, and physical activity (aOR 0.84). In higher education status, this phenomenon was only seen by trend. Conclusion: Low education correlated with higher colon diverticula risk, while medium education showed lower rates even after adjustments. This trend persisted at higher education levels, highlighting the potential for strategies for cost reduction tailored to socioeconomic conditions.
Utility of Echocardiogram in Neutropenic Patients with Gram-Positive Bacteremia: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Sternbach Neta , Ben-Zvi Haim , Wolach Ofir , Yeshurun Moshe , Raanani Pia , Yahav Dafna , Shargian Liat
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Hemato-oncology patients are vulnerable to bloodstream infections due to immunocompromised state and use of intravascular catheters. Data regarding risk of infective endocarditis (IE) among those with gram-positive bacteremia are limited. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of IE among neutropenic hemato-oncology patients and explore the yield of echocardiogram in this population. Methods: We conducted a single retrospective study of all hospitalized hemato-oncology neutropenic patients with gram-positive blood cultures between 2007 and 2021. Data regarding patients’ characteristics, blood cultures, and echocardiogram were collected. Results: The study included 241 patients, with 283 isolates. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CONS) was the most commonly isolate found, followed by Streptococcus viridans. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 45% of patients overall, of which 5.8% had additional transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Only a single case of IE was identified in a 47-year-old multiple myeloma patient with neutropenic fever, S. viridans bacteremia, and stroke caused by septic emboli. TTE and TEE failed to demonstrate valvular pathology consistent with IE. Conclusion: In our experience, the yield of echocardiogram in hemato-oncological neutropenic patients with bacteremia is extremely low, owing to reduced probability of IE in this population, and thus could be avoided in most cases.
Translating the Timing of Developmental Benchmarks in Short-Tailed Opossums (Monodelphisdomestica) to Facilitate Comparisons with Commonly Used Rodent Models
Authors: Bresee Chris , Litman-Cleper Jules , Clayton Cindy J. , Krubitzer Leah
Published: March 2024

Introduction: The gray short-tailed opossum, Monodelhis domestica (M. domestica), is a widely used marsupial model species that presents unique advantages for neurodevelopmental studies. Notably their extremely altricial birth allows manipulation of postnatal pups at timepoints equivalent to embryonic stages of placental mammals. A robust literature exists on the development of short-tailed opossums, but many researchers working in the more conventional model species of mice and rats may find it daunting to identify the appropriate age at which to conduct experiments. Methods: Here, we present detailed staging diagrams taken from photographic observations of 40 individual pups, in 6 litters, over 25 timepoints across postnatal development. We also present a comparative neurodevelopmental timeline of short-tailed opossums (M. domestica), the house mouse (Mus musculus), and the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus) during embryonic as well as postnatal development, using timepoints taken from this study and a review of existing literature, and use this dataset to present statistical models comparing the opossum to the rat and mouse. Results: One aim of this research was to aid in testing the generalizability of results found in rodents to other mammalian brains, such as the more distantly related metatherians. However, this broad dataset also allows the identification of potential heterochronies in opossum development compared to rats and mice. In contrast to previous work, we found broad similarity between the pace of opossum neural development with that of rats and mice. We also found that development of some systems was accelerated in the opossum, such as the forelimb motor plant, oral motor control, and some aspects of the olfactory system, while the development of the cortex, some aspects of the retina, and other aspects of the olfactory system are delayed compared to the rat and mouse. Discussion: The pace of opossum development is broadly similar to that of mice and rats, which underscores the usefulness of this species as a compliment to the more commonly used rodents. Many features that differ the most between opossums and rats and mice were either clustered around the day of birth and were features that have functional importance for the pup immediately after or during birth, or were features that have reduced functional importance for the pup until later in postnatal development, given that it is initially attached to the mother.
Em busca do tempo perdido: Found Footage, fotografia e a aura do tempo
Authors: Matos Olgária
Published: March 2024

Found footage is an archival document, a fragment of memory working as cluttered remembrances that evoke their arché, an unattainable origin, the index of something missing whose trace reappears as spectrum through found footage. As vestige, found footage remains auratic, an ectoplasmic halo, the contemplative investigation of the Unheimlich – the uncanny, the strangeness of the revenant which is neither past nor present, but past and present returning only in spectral messages.
O cinema como subproduto do cinema Found Footage
Authors: Veloso Geraldo
Published: March 2024

Um Homem e o Cinema nos mostra o desenvolvimento dos recursos do cinema de forma física e direta, através de um de seus mais hábeis operadores: Alberto Cavalcanti. E o faz, utilizando-se do seu próprio cinema para demonstrá-lo. O found footage, aqui em Um Homem e o Cinema, serve como trechos/capítulos de uma monografia que foge inteiramente ao formato acadêmico de extensão do raciocínio cartesiano de investigação e demonstração de teses. O filme é, cinematograficamente, um ensaio sobre o cinema. E sobre um homem que o viveu intensa e visceralmente: o brasileiro Alberto Cavalcanti.
História e ambivalência no Magellan de Hollis Frampton
Authors: Zryd Michael
Published: March 2024

Magellan is the film project that consumed the last decade of Hollis Frampton’s career, yet it remains largely unexamined. Frampton once declared that “the whole history of art is no more than a massive footnote to the history of film”, and Magellan is a hugely ambitious attempt to construct that history. It is a metahistory of film and the art historical tradition, which incorporates multiple media (film, photography, painting, sculpture, animation, sound, video, spoken and written language) and anticipates developments in computer-generated new media.
From Motion to Emotion: Visual Pathways and Potential Interconnections
Authors: Puce Aina
Published: March 2024

The two visual pathway description of Ungerleider and Mishkin changed the course of late 20th century systems and cognitive neuroscience. Here, I try to reexamine our laboratory's work through the lens of the Pitcher and Ungerleider new third visual pathway. I also briefly review the literature related to brain responses to static and dynamic visual displays, visual stimulation involving multiple individuals, and compare existing models of social information processing for the face and body. In this context, I examine how the posterior STS might generate unique social information relative to other brain regions that also respond to social stimuli. I discuss some of the existing challenges we face with assessing how information flow progresses between structures in the proposed functional pathways and how some stimulus types and experimental designs may have complicated our data interpretation and model generation. I also note a series of outstanding questions for the field. Finally, I examine the idea of a potential expansion of the third visual pathway, to include aspects of previously proposed “lateral” visual pathways. Doing this would yield a more general entity for processing motion/action (i.e., “[inter]action”) that deals with interactions between people, as well as people and objects. In this framework, a brief discussion of potential hemispheric biases for function, and different forms of neuropsychological impairments created by focal lesions in the posterior brain is highlighted to help situate various brain regions into an expanded [inter]action pathway.
Public engagement with COVID-19 preprints: Bridging the gap between scientists and society
Authors: Henke Justus
Published: March 2024

The surge in preprint server use, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates a reexamination of their significance in the realm of science communication. This study rigorously investigates discussions surrounding preprints, framing them within the contexts of systems theory and boundary objects in scholarly communication. An analysis of a curated selection of COVID-19-related preprints from bioRxiv and medRxiv was conducted, emphasizing those that transitioned to journal publications, alongside the associated commentary and Twitter activity. The data set was bifurcated into comments by biomedical experts versus those by nonexperts, encompassing both academic and general public perspectives. Findings revealed that while peers dominated nearly half the preprint discussions, their presence on Twitter was markedly diminished. Yet, intriguingly, the themes explored by these two groups diverged considerably. Preprints emerged as potent boundary objects, reinforcing, rather than obscuring, the delineation between scientific and nonscientific discourse. They serve as crucial conduits for knowledge dissemination and foster interdisciplinary engagements. Nonetheless, the interplay between scientists and the wider public remains nuanced, necessitating strategies to incorporate these diverse discussions into the peer review continuum without compromising academic integrity and to cultivate sustained engagement from both experts and the broader community.
A novel species of Phaeoisaria (Pleurotheciaceae, Sordariomycetes) from the Tibetan Plateau, China
Authors: XU KE , XU RONG-JU , LI JIA-NING , ZHAO QI , ZHU YING-AN
Published: March 2024

Phaeoisaria is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and characterized by straight or flexuous, erect, dark brown to black synnemata with parallelly adpressed conidiophores and ellipsoidal to obovoid, solitary, hyaline, aseptate, acrogenous conidia. This study’s phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, and SSU sequence data showed that the eight Xizang Phaeoisaria strains represent at least three phylogenetic species. A new species Phaeoisaria motuoensis, and two new geographical records of P. clematidis and P. sedimenticola from Xizang, China are reported. The taxa are introduced here with descriptions, color photographs, and phylogenetic analyses results and are compared with similar species.
One
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Introduction to Vera Hirsch and her family as told by Franklin Felsenstein and Vera’s own writings. Vera is one of the two main individuals this collection focuses on. Vera briefly describes her childhood and Felsenstein elaborates on aspects that her journal entries do not cover.
Two
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Introduction to Mope Felsenstein and his family as told by Franklin Felsenstein and Mope’s own words. Mope is one of the two main individuals this collection focuses on. Mope briefly describes his childhood, and his early adulthood highlighting certain aspects of his time in the military. The editor elaborates on aspects that his words and letters do not cover.
Eleven
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

This chapter focuses on Mope, featuring an article he wrote about Palestine and the mass emigration of Jews there, occurring in the early 1920s. This chapter describes some of Mope’s initial plans to emigrate to Palestine with his mother.
Fourteen
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Vera visits Annelie Freimann, a distant cousin, in Leipzig. At a bridge soirée hosted by Annelie in her home, Vera and Mope meet for the first time. The chapter features several letters between the couple, along with a few of Vera’s journal entries, recollecting their first meeting and first few days of knowing one another. These early letters give an indication of the connection between the two, despite their distance.
Sixteen
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

The couple spend some time together in England during Passover and Easter, they meet family of one another, and Mope proposes to Vera. Vera accepts the second proposal, albeit unsurely regarding the idea of settling in Palestine, they do not tell anyone about the engagement for the time being.
Seventeen
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Mope and Vera make plans to meet in Dover through their letters. When they meet, they discuss the future. Vera states that she cannot go to Palestine, Mope tells her he is willing to try living in England.
Nineteen
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

This chapter features devoted letters from Mope to Vera in some of their time apart.
Twenty
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Mope writes to Vera about new challenges in Germany, she tells him of her relationship with Mitja. His letters regarding this speak of his distress on her behalf on the subject of how it ended.
Twenty-One
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

The couple remain apart, the distance between them and the challenges facing them due to their heritage and future plans cause frustration and some disagreements.
Twenty-Five
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Vera and Mope get married, 1 August 1937. They spend their honeymoon in Europe, meeting and staying with friends and loved ones. Mope is not given permission to remain in England, and so returns to work in Russia.
Twenty-Six
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

“Max” Goedicke (an employee of Mope’s old company) visits England, bringing some of Mope’s personal possessions that had been stored for him in one of the company warehouses. Annelie Freimann visits Vera and explores opportunities to emigrate away from Nazi Germany. Vera gets a promotion and receives permanent approval to remain in Britain. The couple plan a second honeymoon together.
Twenty-Seven
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Mope is able to spend two months in England with Vera, before having to return to the Soviet Union. He is given provisional residency papers, allowing him to spend four weeks in Britain twice a year. Mope’s German passport becomes invalid, the British authorities grant him a “stateless document” that allows him to return to Russia. His work visa is subject to renewal every few months, meaning that Mope lives in fear of his possible deportation. Vera receives a small pay rise, is assigned to work at the M&S camp again, and is forced to surrender her German passport to the German Embassy in London as her citizenship is revoked. Mope’s mother is allowed to leave Germany and live in England.
Twenty-Eight
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Vera attempts to secure visas so that she might meet Mope in Russia, she is denied a transit visa through Finland so she and Mope plan to meet instead in France. Vera works to train girls for the opening of a new M&S store, following the opening of which she meets Mope in France. They return to London in October and Mope is forced to leave by December due to his visa restrictions. The couple discuss the difficult situation for Jews in Germany, with many of their loved ones working to emigrate away as a result.
Thirty-Two
Authors: Felsenstein Frank
Published: March 2024

Here the author takes the lead, describing the events that followed the end of the letter correspondence. They speak on the couple’s new challenges, how the war led to them finally being together again, but also to Mope’s arrest and internment due to his German heritage and time in Russia and being suspected as a spy. Eventually, Mope was released and became a member of the Home Guard, a part-time role that allowed him to pursue his work in the fur-trade. This chapter features journal entries regarding their choice to wait until they could be more sure of an Allied victory before they attempted to have a child, and later entries welcome their first child, and the author of this book, into the world. A birthday journal, added to on the 28th July for the first four years of the child’s life, describes the changes and lifestyle that the family experience in the years following the war. The writer elaborates on details about the couple, following the war. This includes the instance of their citizenship and many memories recalled from the writer’s childhood.
Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Metabolic Characteristics of Metabolically Healthy Obesity in Patients Seeking Bariatric Surgery: A Cohort Study
Authors: Zheng Xuejing , Tian Chenxu , Xu Guangzhong , Du Dexiao , Zhang Nengwei , Wang Jing , Sang Qing , Wuyun Qiqige , Chen Weijian , Lian Dongbo , Wang Dezhong , Amin Buhe , Wang Liang
Published: March 2024

Background

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for morbid obesity. However, a subset of individuals seeking bariatric surgery may exhibit a metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) phenotype, suggesting that they may not experience metabolic complications despite being overweight.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and metabolic features of MHO in a population undergoing bariatric surgery.

Methods

A representative sample of 665 participants aged 14 or older who underwent bariatric surgery at our center from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2020 was included in this cohort study. MHO was defined based on specific criteria, including blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio, and absence of diabetes.

Results

Among the 665 participants, 80 individuals (12.0%) met the criteria for MHO. Female gender ( P = .021) and younger age ( P < .001) were associated with a higher likelihood of MHO. Smaller weight and BMI were observed in individuals with MHO. However, a considerable proportion of those with MHO exhibited other metabolic abnormalities, such as fatty liver (68.6%), hyperuricemia (55.3%), elevated lipid levels (58.7%), and abnormal lipoprotein levels (88%).

Conclusion

Approximately 1 in 8 individuals referred for bariatric surgery displayed the phenotype of MHO. Despite being metabolically healthy based on certain criteria, a significant proportion of individuals with MHO still exhibited metabolic abnormalities, such as fatty liver, hyperuricemia, elevated lipid levels, and abnormal lipoprotein levels, highlighting the importance of thorough metabolic evaluation in this population.
The Importance of Early Femoral Access When REBOA Catheter Must Be Removed Prior to Hemorrhage Control
Authors: Fiorentino Michele N. , Smith Michael C. , Gondek Stephen P.
Published: March 2024

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a tool for hemorrhage control. We describe a case where the REBOA Catheter needed to be removed prior to hemorrhage control. The patient is a 40-year-old man that presented following motor vehicle collision. A REBOA Catheter was placed via the right common femoral artery (CFA). CT scan demonstrated extravasation from the left inferior epigastric artery. The Interventional Radiology (IR) team would only be able to perform angioembolization via contralateral access where the REBOA Catheter was in place. Prior to removing the REBOA Catheter on the right, left CFA access was obtained in the event a new catheter needed to be deployed. Ultimately, IR performed angioembolization without a second REBOA Catheter. In gaining contralateral access prior to removing the REBOA Catheter, this case provides a strategy for expeditious replacement of REBOA Catheters in situations where the catheter interferes with hemorrhage control procedures.
How do non-Western authoritarian countries respond to disasters? Structural difference from the pluralistic model
Authors: Oh Namkyung , Ding Minshuai , Kim Yunkwon
Published: March 2024

Effective coordination, networking, and voluntary civil engagement are crucial for ensuring effective disaster responses. It should be noted, however, that these recommendations are primarily derived from the experiences of Western pluralistic countries. Thus, there has been insufficient consideration given to the applicability of these recommendations to non-pluralistic countries and the ways in which non-Western authoritarian countries navigate the difficulties of coordinating and establishing networks with civil sector organizations. This study broadens the scope of research by examining non-Western authoritarian countries through an analysis of how China responded to the floods of 2020. The results of the study indicate that the Chinese flood response system was primarily government-driven, centralized, and hierarchical. According to the pluralistic model, this arrangement encounters difficulties in integrating resources and information from partners in different sectors and jurisdictions. Consequently, this poses additional challenges to the Chinese disaster response systems. Nevertheless, the study findings reveal that the Chinese system proficiently resolved problems. This was accomplished by flattening the hierarchical structure via innovative interventions and remedying the lack of voluntary civic sector engagement through mass mobilization. Consequently, it would be fallacious to hold that the pluralist model can be effortlessly transplanted to non-Western authoritarian nations without regard for their distinct political, cultural, economic, and social contexts.

Points for practitioners

To improve disaster response, practitioners should consider adapting hierarchical networks and embracing flexibility. This can be achieved by reducing bureaucratic layers, which enhances effectiveness and encourages innovative interventions for streamlined decision making. It is important to emphasize provincial–local support and mass mobilization, as seen in China, which underscores the need for engaging civil sectors in non-pluralistic contexts. Context-specific approaches are crucial and should consider political, cultural, and social factors. Transforming hierarchical structures into modular networks may improve response.
Research on AUV dynamic obstacle avoidance planning based on rolling speed obstacle method
Authors: Zhang Fei , Wang Xun , Tang Xiang , Kumar Neeraj , Hu Ying , Hu Chunlei
Published: March 2024

In this paper, aiming at the problem of poor path planning and obstacle avoidance effect of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in a dynamic environment, a feasible rolling speed obstacle method is proposed. This method combines the rolling window method with the speed obstacle method, and designs a suitable three-dimensional model predictive controller based on the rolling window method under a hybrid obstacle avoidance structure, and achieves stable tracking of the reference path by optimizing the objective function. A three-dimensional collision cone and speed obstacle cone model is constructed while the window is rolling. If the collision avoidance condition is met, the critical collision point is calculated, and the AUV is guided to avoid obstacles safely by tracking the critical collision point; if collision avoidance ends, guide AUV trajectory recovery. The final simulation and experimental results show that the performance of the rolling speed obstacle method in avoiding dynamic obstacles is 30% higher than the rolling window method and 40% higher than the speed obstacle method. The method used in this paper can effectively improve the dynamic obstacle avoidance ability of AUV in real-time path planning.
Extrusion-based additive manufacturing of aluminium-filled ethylene vinyl acetate for electrically conductive 3D part printing
Authors: Bajpai Arpit , Jain Prashant Kumar
Published: March 2024

Addition of carbon-based fillers to enhance electrical conductivity is quite popular but addition of metal fillers is still a challenge due to oxidation and unavailability of metal nano-powders. In this paper, fabrication of flexible electrically conductive parts is proposed using aluminium metal powder as filler material. Aluminium metal powder is mixed with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) by chemical mixing process. Cyclohexane is used as a mixing medium in which EVA is dissolved and aluminium powder is added by weight. An in-house developed material extrusion tool mounted on CNC milling machine is used for printing of flexible electrically conductive samples. Pellet-based extrusion process is used for printing flexible parts as conventional filament-based 3D is not suitable due to buckling. Composite with filler loading in 5%, 10%, 20% and 30% were made and samples were printed. Investigations were made on printability of composite and its electrical conductivity. The aluminium fillers presence and dispersion in polymer were ensured. The samples were printed in temperature range of 130–140 °C through 0.4 mm diameter nozzle. It was found that the resistivity drops by around 60% on varying the filler concentration from 20% to 30%; 81.6 kΩ is the lowest resistance observed with 30% filler concentration. A simulation study on thermal behaviour of material extrusion tool has been done and is validated practically. The application of flexible electrically conductive parts lies in fabrication of various electronic devices like antenna, display boards, solar panels, and wearable health monitoring devices.
Using Remote Sensing Data in Urban Crime Analysis: A Systematic Review of English-Language Literature from 2003 to 2023
Authors: Ceccato Vania , Ioannidis Ioannis
Published: March 2024

Drawing from environmental criminology principles, this article explores the existing literature to assess the utility of remote sensing data in detecting and analysing features in the urban environment that are associated with crime occurrence. A systematic review of the literature in the English language from 2003 until the first half of 2023 from two major databases, Scopus and Science Direct, is carried out. As many as 910 publications were selected, from which 36 publications satisfied the selection criteria. Findings show that neighborhood's design has a quantifiable imprint that is possible to be observed with very high spatial-resolution imagery. Given its high spatial and temporal resolution, remote sensing data can to different degrees support the identification of criminogenic features in urban environments (streets and roads, property boundaries, housing density, characteristics and density of vegetation as well as luminosity levels), but when it is used for the detection of potentially illegal activities, infringement of people's privacy and methods lacking validation still present serious concerns. The article concludes with a discussion of the opportunities and challenges of using remote sensing data in crime analysis.
Adult offspring’s education and parental mortality: A nationwide cohort study of the mediating role of lifestyle-related diseases
Authors: Sloth Mathilde M.B. , Neble Larsen Emma , Mathisen Jimmi , Nilsson Charlotte J. , Osler Merete , Jørgensen Terese S.H.
Published: March 2024

Aim: The mechanisms behind the association between adult offspring’s socioeconomic position and their parents’ mortality are not well understood. This study investigates lifestyle-related diseases as a potential mediating pathway between adult offspring’s education and parental mortality. Methods: This nationwide register-based cohort study consists of 963,742 older adults aged 65 years between 2000 and 2018. Lifestyle-related diseases were measured between 60 and 65 years and those with prior lifestyle-related diseases were excluded. Natural Effect Models were performed to assess potential mediation through lifestyle-related diseases of the association between offspring’s education and parental mortality measured by additive hazard estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Between 60 and 65 years, 150,501 (15.6%) older adults were diagnosed with lifestyle-related diseases and 149,647 (15.5%) died during follow-up. Compared with having offspring with long education, short education was associated with 631 (95% CI: 555; 707) and 581 (95% CI: 525; 638) additional deaths per 100,000 person-years for women and men, respectively, of which 15.4% (95% CI: 9.0; 21.6) and 16.8% (95% CI: 14.6; 18.9) were mediated by lifestyle-related diseases. The corresponding numbers for medium education were 276 (95% CI: 205; 347) and 299 (95% CI: 255; 343) with 26.2% (95% CI: 12.0; 40.6) and 27.6% (95% CI: 25.1; 31.8) mediated by lifestyle-related diseases. Conclusions: Lifestyle-related diseases accounted for 15–28% of the association between offspring’s education and parental mortality for both men and women.
Use of the GORE Conformable Excluder Device in Highly Angulated Aortic Neck Anatomy: Mid-term Outcomes
Authors: GnanaDev Raja , Malkoc Aldin , Hsu Jeffrey , Behseresht Jason , Tayyarah Majid , Vo Trung D. , Andacheh Iden
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Patients with complex aortic anatomy require meticulous surgical planning to optimize intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. The GORE Excluder Conformable Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Endoprosthesis (CEXC Device, WL Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) allows for endovascular treatment of highly angulated and short proximal neck abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Owing to its recent approval, short-term clinical outcomes of this device remain scarce.

Report

In this report, we present a case series of 3 patients who underwent endovascular aortic repair using the GORE Excluder Conformable device with highly angulated (>70°) aortic neck anatomy. Endografts were deployed in a radiology suite using standard 2D angiography in conjunction with a CYDAR Medical (Wilmington, Delaware) reconstructed 3D overlay. The patients’ ages were 85, 67, and 85 years. The mean abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter in these cases was 6.9 cm. The mean proximal neck length was 2.1 cm, proximal mean neck angulation was 83°. The mean operative time, total fluoroscopy time, and contrast used were 208 minutes, 28.3°minutes, and 94.5 milliliters, respectively. No adjunctive procedures, such as proximal cuff or endo-anchors, were performed at the time of index procedure.

Discussion

Type Ia endoleak was observed in 1 patient post-operatively but after treatment with an aortic cuff there was no evidence of enlarging aneurysm sac. The GORE Excluder Conformable Endoprosthesis expands access to endovascular management of AAAs. Our early experience with this device demonstrated excellent patient and clinical outcomes in a highly angulated neck anatomy.