bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The feasibility of M-health for people with chronic low back pain in Shanghai, China: A qualitative study
Authors: Xie Waner , Hu Guojiong , Wang Yijin , Luo Xiaoquan , Liao Linrong , Fu Allan C. L. , Lin Jianhua
Published: October 2024

Background:

Mobile health (M-health) has emerged as a promising solution for enhancing the management of low back pain. However, the feasibility of M-health among the Chinese population and its influencing factors remain unclear.

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the acceptance of M-health among people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and physiotherapists in Shanghai, China, and to explore the influencing factors of its utility in the treatment of CLBP.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 25 participants with CLBP and 20 physiotherapists, utilising a combination of group discussion and individual interview. Thematic analysis, supported by NVivo software, was employed to identify and examine the themes regarding the facilitators and barriers to the utility of M-health in Shanghai, China.

Results:

The focus group discussions revealed a broad spectrum of factors that drive or hinder participants’ acceptance of M-health. Three main themes related to the feasibility of M-health were identified from the interviews: (1) Reasons for embracing M-health; (2) Reasons for resisting M-health; (3) Recommendations to enhance the feasibility of M-health. In general, participants exhibited enthusiasm towards the prospect of offering M-health as a viable treatment.

Conclusions:

The findings of this study indicate that the feasibility of M-health depends on many factors in Shanghai, China. Efforts to promote the establishment of M-health policy or laws, rational integration of M-health and face-to-face model and improvement of the functions of M-health applications may increase its feasibility in Shanghai, China.
A quantitative evaluation method of laser treatment efficacy for pigmentary dermatosis based on image segmentation technology
Authors: Jian Haopu , Chen Qi , Yu Youjun , Wang Cheng , Wang Peiru , Wang Xiuli
Published: October 2024

A growing number of skin laser treatments have rapidly evolved and increased their role in the field of dermatology, laser treatment is considered to be used for a variety of pigmentary dermatosis as well as aesthetic problems. The standardized assessment of laser treatment efficacy is crucial for the interpretation and comparison of studies related to laser treatment of skin disorders. In this study, we propose an evaluation method to quantitatively assess laser treatment efficacy based on the image segmentation technology. A tattoo model of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats was established and treated by picosecond laser treatments at varying energy levels. Images of the tattoo models were captured before and after laser treatment, and feature extraction was conducted to quantify the tattooed area and pigment gradation. Subsequently, the clearance rate, which has been a standardized parameter, was calculated. The results indicate that the clearance rates obtained through this quantitative algorithm are comparable and exhibit smaller standard deviations compared with scale scores (4.59% versus 7.93% in the low-energy group, 4.01% versus 9.05% in the medium-energy group, and 4.29% versus 10.23% in the high-energy group). This underscores the greater accuracy, objectivity, and reproducibility in assessing treatment responses. The quantitative evaluation of pigment removal holds promise for facilitating faster and more robust assessments in research and development. Additionally, it may enable the optimization of treatments tailored to individual patients, thereby contributing to more effective and personalized dermatological care.
The John Mitchell Lecture 2022: thinking conceptually about groundwater problems
Authors: Preene Martin
Published: October 2024

Many excavations and tunnels experience problems and instability caused by uncontrolled groundwater inflows or groundwater pressures that influence stability and soil behaviour. A range of groundwater control measures can be used to overcome these problems and create stable and workably dry conditions below groundwater level. A key challenge for designers is that the performance of the various different techniques is strongly influenced by the hydrogeological conditions at a site. Furthermore, the available ground investigation data may have data gaps or considerable uncertainty regarding key parameters such as hydraulic conductivity or hydraulic boundary conditions. This means that, when working with real-world datasets, there are some groundwater problems where analysis involves so many assumptions and uncertainties that the design outcomes are of little practical value. This paper will discuss how thinking conceptually about groundwater problems can be of great benefit when developing groundwater control schemes, and propose that a robust conceptual model helps reduce the risk of designs being developed using inappropriate techniques. Historic examples from the nineteenth century and early twentieth century (before sophisticated methods of groundwater analysis were available) are described, where developing a conceptual understanding of groundwater conditions was vital in developing practical engineering solutions.
Hardware Area Efficient and Real-Time FPGA Implementation of PHMMRGB.
Authors: Şahin Suhap , Narlı Oğuz , Türkoğlu Muhammet Bahadır , Özcan Hikmetcan
Published: October 2024

For encryption applications on embedded systems, operating in real-time while using minimal system resources is essential. It is expected that efficient and rapid encryption of high-resolution images is to be accomplished with limited hardware resources. Therefore, to ensure the desired efficiency of encryption of high-resolution images, the system must possess a digital architecture capable of achieving high speeds with minimal hardware resources. This study considered the limitations of a hardware architecture for an image encryption algorithm based on the Profile Hidden Markov Model called PHMMRGB. The proposed architecture is relatively simple in comparison to its alternatives. The hardware architecture, designed with the objective of using minimal resources, has been implemented on an FPGA. Based on the results of the proposed architecture, it is believed that the implementation of the specified method on an FPGA would yield high efficiency. Experiments conducted using large-sized satellite images confirmed this expectation.
Synchronized Tracing of Primitive-based Implicit Volumes
Authors: Zanni Cédric
Published: October 2024

Implicit volumes are known for their ability to represent smooth shapes of arbitrary topology thanks to hierarchical combinations of primitives using a structure called a blobtree. We present a new tile-based rendering pipeline well suited for modeling scenarios, i.e., no preprocessing is required when primitive parameters are updated. When using approximate signed distance fields (fields with Lipschitz bound close to 1), we rely on compact, smooth CSG operators - extended from standard bounded operators - to compute a tight augmented bounding volume for all primitives of the blobtree. The pipeline relies on a low-resolution A-buffer storing the primitives of interest of a given screen tile. The A-buffer is then used during ray processing to synchronize threads within a subfrustum. This allows coherent field evaluation within workgroups. We use a sparse bottom-up tree traversal to prune the blobtree on-the-fly which allows us to decorrelate field evaluation complexity from the full blobtree size. The ray processing itself is done using the sphere tracing algorithm. The pipeline scales well to volumes consisting of thousands of primitives.
Cultivation of Brook Charr Salvelinus fontinalis: The Challenges of Disease Control and the Promise of Microbial Ecology Management
Authors: Chhanda Mousumi Sarker , François Nathalie Rose Le , Auclert Lisa Zoé , Derome Nicolas
Published: October 2024

Among salmonids, brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis has been gaining popularity in aquaculture. However, major limitations associated with opportunistic diseases that result from unstable egg and fry‐rearing conditions are experienced under intensive rearing conditions. Great losses in brook charr culture result from viral (e.g., infectious pancreatic necrosis, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus), fungal (e.g., saprolegniosis), and bacterial (e.g., furunculosis, cold water disease, columnaris) diseases. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for viral diseases for brook charr, and the chemical disinfectants and antibiotics commonly used against bacterial and fungal infections are reaching their limits (pathogen resistance, microbial community disruption), making alternative and more sustainable rearing approaches essential to bolster aquaculture. In this regard, recent studies show that many microbial species (bacteria, archaea, viruses, eukaryotes‐like protozoa, and unicellular fungi) are essential from the earliest life stages for the proper development and growth of fish. Based on ecological theory and work on marine fish, it has been hypothesized that current aquaculture practices favor r‐strategic, opportunistic microbes that are detrimental to fish health and development. Consequently, to ensure the success and sustainability of brook charr farming, a new aquaculture paradigm involving recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) that select a K‐enriched, specialized microbial community as a preventive measure against those microbial diseases is a very promising avenue. In this review, after introducing brook charr biology, the role of microbes in brook charr rearing and the general problems of disease and low fry survival due to an imbalance in the microbial community will be discussed. Various curative and prophylactic treatment methods currently used to control these diseases and their impact on microbial ecology will be covered, and we will conclude with the rationale of microbial ecology management and its effectiveness in promoting fry survival through disease prevention. To our knowledge, this is the first literature review addressing the promises of managing microbial ecology in a sustainable way in the brook char industry.
RSM‐, ANN‐, and GA‐Based Process Optimization for Acid Centrifugation Treatment of Cane Molasses Toward Mitigating Calcium Oxide Fouling in Ethanol Plant Heat Exchanger
Authors: Abo Lata Deso , Hailegiorgis Sintayehu Mekuria , Jayakumar Mani , Venkatesa Prabhu Sundramurthy , Gindaba Gadissa Tokuma , Hamda Abas Siraj , Prasad B. S. Naveen
Published: October 2024

In the present investigation, process parameters were optimized in order to enhance the reduction of calcium oxide (CaO) from sugarcane molasses using acid centrifugation treatment. To predict the effects of process factors on CaO reduction efficiency, a response surface approach with a central composite design was selected. The polynomial quadratic equation was used to predict CaO removal efficiency, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was utilized to assess the relevance of process factors. The appropriateness of the developed model was determined by regression analysis, which yielded a higher R‐squared value of 0.99334 ± 0.01. At the optimum process parameters of 100°C temperature, 50°Bx, and 3.50 pH, the CaO clarification efficacy of 66.17 wt.% was achieved. The experimental results indicated that for acidic centrifugation treatment, the experimentally observed CaO reduction of 65.94 wt% is in close agreement with the model equation’s predicted maximum CaO reduction of 66.17 wt% with a t‐test value of 0.497726. Under such conditions, 0.982 wt.% CaO sugarcane molasses was obtained, which is low when compared to the world average of 1.5% CaO content of sugarcane molasses. Furthermore, the implementation of an artificial neural network (ANN) provided a better prediction model for CaO reduction, with a substantial R‐squared value of 0.99866. However, the genetic algorithm (GA) optimization resulted in an actual CaO reduction of 66.21 wt.% with a t‐test value of 0.497726.
Herd‐Level Modeling of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Transmission in Cattle Herds in Southern Chile: Linking Within and Between‐Herd Dynamics
Authors: Alocilla-Velásquez Oscar , Monti Gustavo , Saatkamp Helmut , Mourits Monique , Lindberg Ann , Widgren Stefan
Published: October 2024

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) represents a serious threat to the cattle sector in Chile, indicating the need for a regionally defined control program. Ex-ante evaluations of program options using simulation modeling have proven to be a successful approach in providing decision‐makers with relevant supporting insights in that respect. Given the complexity of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection dynamics, simulation of BVD spread in a metapopulation requires detailed consideration of both within and between herd transmission dynamics. The aims of the study are (i) to investigate the dynamics of BVDV transmission in cattle herds in southern Chile by linking a within‐herd transmission model (WHM) that accounts for the BVDV’s unique characteristics with a between‐herd model (BHM) that meets the demands for further regional control strategy evaluation; (ii) to suggest and discuss criteria for evaluation of the model approach and plausibility for later research and for support decision‐making. This resulted in bringing forth a modeling rationale for complex disease spread simulation in metapopulations. BHM simulations under this approach show outcomes that agree with BVDV’s known situation in Chile; dairy herds prevalence at endemic equilibrium reaches and maintains 75%, which agrees with estimations of BVDV active infection in dairy herds in southern Chile (77%). For the entire herd population, the infection always reaches endemic levels with a large proportion of infected herds (median = 60%), where herd prevalence was higher in the dairy herd class than in the remaining categories. Transmission probability variation affects the new infections picked, prevalence at endemic levels, and the velocity in which the infection spreads between herds. The fact that the presented approach was able to model a complex infection dynamic such BVDV, with sufficient confidence, provides evidence that this approach can be used to explore mitigation strategies to control BVDV in southern Chilean herds.
Dietary β‐Mannanase Affects the Growth, Antioxidant, and Immunes Responses of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus, and Its Challenge Against Aeromonas hydrophila Infection
Authors: Adeshina Ibrahim , Paray Bilal Ahamad , Bhat Eijaz Ahmed , Sherzada Shahid , Fawole Olaolu O. , Bawa Dalhatu J. , Cruz Thais Pereira da , Tiamiyu Lateef O.
Published: October 2024

One of the most farmed fishes is the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Its production has increased by 20% annually on average during the last 20 years, but the occurrence of fish diseases, especially bacterial such as Aeromonas hydrophila infections, is hindering its activities. Also, the incorporation of plant‐derived substances in aquafeeds is limited since they frequently contain different antinutritional factors, like nonstarch polysaccharides (NSPs). However, supplementing fish diets with β‐mannanase could increase growth, antioxidants, and immunity. Despite the advantage of β‐mannanase, its effects on growth, digestive enzymes, antioxidants, and immunity in African catfish need to be elucidated. This study examined the effects of dietary β‐mannanase on the growth performance, liver enzymes, antioxidant profiles, immunity, and protection of African catfish, C. gariepinus, against A. hydrophila infection. Five isonitrogenous diets were prepared to have 400 g/kg crude protein and supplemented with β‐mannanase at 0, 1500, 3000, 4500, or 6000 thermostable endo, 1,4‐β‐mannanase units (TMUs)/kg diet and fed to 300 juveniles of the African catfish, C. gariepinus (mean weight 12.1 ± 0.1 g) for 12 weeks. Then, 10 fish from each tank received an intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mL of A. hydrophila (5.0 × 105 CFU/mL) and observed for 14 days. Results showed dietary β‐mannanase levels considerably improved growth performance but did not affect fish survival. Also, amylase, protease, and lipase levels were significantly promoted in the fish fed with β‐mannanase‐fortified diets than the control group (p  < 0.05). Enhanced gut villi and intestinal absorption areas, haematlogical profiles, and liver enzymes but reduced gut viscosity were observed in fish‐fed β‐mannanase‐fortified diets (p  < 0.05). In a dose‐dependent order, including β‐mannanase in the meals of African catfish raised the levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) activities and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) values in African catfish (p  < 0.05). Also, fish immunity was greatly (p  < 0.05) enhanced due to supplementation of the diet with β‐mannanase. In addition, fish‐fed diets comprising 6000 TMU β‐mannanase/kg diet showed the lowest rates of fish mortality (7.5%) (p  < 0.05). Therefore, feeding African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, β‐mannanase enhanced growth performance, increased activity of digestive enzymes, gut morphology, enhanced generation of short‐chain fatty acids, digesta potential of hydrogen (pH), and improved antioxidant profiles and immunity at the optimum dose of 5800 TMU/kg diet. Additionally, β‐mannanase protected African catfish against A. hydrophila infection.
Effects of a Nurse–Manager Dualistic Intervention (NMDI) Program on Work Engagement and Job Crafting of ICU Burnout Nurses: A Quasi‐Experimental Study
Authors: Yue Fang-Yan , Wang Si-Jia , Du Yun , Sun Feng-Ye , Wang Yu-Ping , Guo Yu-Fang
Published: October 2024

Objective: To assess the effects of the nurse–manager dualistic intervention (NMDI) program on work engagement and job crafting of ICU burnout nurses.

Background: Work engagement is crucial for nurses’ job performance and quality of clinical care. Personal and work resources are important antecedents of work engagement. However, few intervention studies focused on improving nurses’ personal and work resources to promote work engagement and job crafting of burnout nurses.

Methods: This was a quasi‐experimental study. One hundred and two ICU nurses from two tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province were recruited. Forty‐two ICU nurses from one hospital were set as the intervention group and underwent NMDI. Sixty ICU nurses from the other hospital constituted the control group, which received routine occupational health guidance from the hospital. Demographic characteristics, burnout, work engagement, and job crafting were collected at baseline (T0), postintervention (T1), and 3‐month postintervention (T2).

Results: Compared to baseline, both work engagement and job crafting scores increased in the intervention group at postintervention (T1). At postintervention (T1), work engagement and job crafting were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (βworkengagement = 3.894, p = 0.016 and βjobcrafting = 6.104, p = 0.010), but the difference between the two groups was not significant at the 3‐month follow‐up (βworkengagement = 3.618, p = 0.066 and βjobcrafting = 3.554, p = 0.15).

Conclusion: The NMDI program can significantly improve ICU burnout nurses’ work engagement and job crafting. Nevertheless, the sustainability of these effects over time has been found to be limited, indicating that future research needs to explore and implement strategies to bolster the long‐term efficacy of this intervention.

Implications for Nursing Management: Nurse managers are suggested to integrate the NMDI program into routine nursing management. Managers ought to prioritize appreciative and constructive dialog between themselves and nurses in order to support nurses in inquiring personal and work resources and encourage nurses to develop work plans to utilize resources. This will help to increase nurses’ engagement and job crafting.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2100047974
Investigating Ramifications of Climate Change on Farming Practices and Sustainable Livelihood Preferences for Farmers in Tropical Regions
Authors: Ogunbode Timothy O. , Akinkuolie Timothy A. , Oyebamiji Victor O.
Published: October 2024

The continuity of farmers in farming under the impacts of climate change (CC), especially in developing nations, is still less investigated in literature. A survey was conducted among 220 farmers in selected rural communities in Ondo, Nigeria. The data were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The results showed that male gender formed 90% of the respondents, 68% of the respondents cultivate up to 15 acres of farmland while 61% had experienced a decrease in their farmland sizes between 2000 and 2023 of which 47% (103 out of 220) claimed was due to erratic rainfall. Factor analysis identified and extracted three significant options for the sustainability of farmers’ living in the CC era, namely, (i) adoption of soil and water conservation option (35.007%); (ii) abandonment of farming for another means of livelihood (15.052%) and (iii) reduction in the farmland size (11.774%). However, in view of the combined weights of options (i) and (iii) ([74.57% of the absolute value]) which explained farmers’ preference to remain in farming, it, thus, implied that farmers will rather take options that will keep them in framing despite the impact of CC rather than abandoning it. The results are indications of the prevalence of CC and the policies that will enhance farming in CC era to be put in place to sustain the livelihood of farmers. Further studies are suggested on enhancing farmers’ livelihood to keep them in agriculture in the CC era.
Some New Variants of Hermite–Hadamard and Fejér‐Type Inequalities for Godunova–Levin Preinvex Class of Interval‐Valued Functions
Authors: A. Khan Zareen , Afzal Waqar , Nazeer Waqas , K. Asamoah Joshua Kiddy
Published: October 2024

The theory of inequalities is greatly influenced by interval‐valued concepts, and this contribution is explored from several perspectives and domains. The aim of this note is to develop several mathematical inequalities such as Hermite–Hadamard, Fejér, and the product version based on center radius ‐order relations. Furthermore, we develop several nontrivial examples and remarks to support the main findings.
Manuka Honey Inhibits Biofilm Formation and Reduces the Expression of the Associated Genes in Pectobacterium brasiliense
Authors: Joko Tri , Ava Sheila , Putri Isna Nurifa Sasmita , Subandiyah Siti , Rohman Muhammad Saifur , Ogawa Naoto
Published: October 2024

Biofilms are major virulence factors formed by pathogenic bacteria to invade their host and maintain their colony. While biofilms usually develop on diverse solid surfaces, floating biofilms, also called pellicles, are formed at the air–liquid interface. To address the problem of biofilm formation by bacterial pathogens, honey has been extensively studied. However, information on the effect of honey on biofilm formation by plant pathogens is scarce. This study aimed to determine the effects of manuka honey on biofilm and pellicle formation by Pectobacterium brasiliense and analyze the expression of genes encoding proteins needed to form biofilm by using semiquantitative PCR and RT‐qPCR. Treatment with 5% (w/v) of manuka honey significantly decreased biofilm and pellicle formation by P. brasiliense. RT‐qPCR results showed that the expression of bcsA, fis, hrpL, and expI decreased 7.07‐fold, 5.71‐fold, 13.11‐fold, and 6.26‐fold, respectively, after exposure to 5% (w/v) manuka honey. Our findings reveal that manuka honey may effectively inhibit biofilm and pellicle formation.
Effects of Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Levels on Growth Performance, Fatty Acid Profile, and NF‐κB/Nrf2 Pathway‐Related Gene Expression of Razor Clam Sinonovacula constricta
Authors: Zhu Yuxiang , Liao Kai , Huang Hailong , Liu Yang , Zhang Yang , Chen Deshui , Ma Bin , Xu Jilin
Published: October 2024

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is crucial for the optimal (Opt) growth of bivalves, but the precise dietary DHA requirement remains undetermined in bivalves. Our study identifies the optimal dietary DHA requirement for razor clam Sinonovacula constricta and demonstrates its effects on fatty acid profiles and gene expression related to inflammation and detoxification. Microencapsulated feeds with different DHA levels (DHA1–6 groups: 1.68, 4.85, 9.49, 12.6, 15.59, and 16.95 mg g−1 dry matter) were prepared using spray drying. Razor clams (initial wet weight: 3.8 ± 0.6 mg) were fed these microcapsules for a period of 20 days. The present study showed that the clams in the DHA1 group exhibited significantly lower weight and shell length gain rates compared to those in the DHA3, DHA4, DHA5, and DHA6 groups. Based on the shell length gain rate, the Opt dietary requirement of DHA for clam is approximately 6.42 mg g−1 dry matter. The clams in the DHA2 group had significantly higher crude lipid content compared to those in the DHA1 and DHA6 groups, while the clams in the DHA1 group had the highest ash content, significantly higher than that in the DHA4 and DHA6 groups. The DHA levels in the clams increased with the increase in DHA content in the microcapsules, while the levels of total n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acid (LA), and alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA) decreased. The mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (cox2) and 5-lipoxygenase type 2 (5-lox-2) were higher in the DHA1 and DHA6 groups compared to other microcapsule groups. As dietary DHA levels increased, the mRNA levels of nuclear factor kappa B (nfκb) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (nrf2) decreased. Additionally, the mRNA levels of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (gclc) and glutathione S-transferase (gst) were highest in the DHA1 group. This is the first study to determine the Opt DHA requirement for juvenile razor clams using microcapsules with different DHA levels, and this study further reveals that dietary DHA can help reduce inflammation and oxidative status in clams.
Phase I Study of ROR1-Specific CAR-T Cells in Advanced Hematopoietic and Epithelial Malignancies
Authors: Jaeger-Ruckstuhl Carla A. , Specht Jennifer M. , Voutsinas Jenna M. , MacMillan Hugh R. , Wu Qian (Vicky) , Muhunthan Vishaka , Berger Carolina , Pullarkat Shalini , Wright Jocelyn H. , Yeung Cecilia C.S. , Hyun Teresa S. , Seaton Brandon , Aicher Lauri D. , Song Xiaoling , Pierce Robert H. , Lo Yun , Cole Gabriel O. , Lee Sylvia M. , Newell Evan W. , Maloney David G. , Riddell Stanley R.
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

The receptor tyrosine kinase–like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is expressed in hematopoietic and epithelial cancers but has limited expression on normal adult tissues. This phase I study evaluated the safety of targeting ROR1 with autologous T lymphocytes engineered to express a ROR1 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Secondary objectives evaluated the persistence, trafficking, and antitumor activity of CAR-T cells.

Patients and Methods:

Twenty-one patients with ROR1+ tumors received CAR-T cells at one of four dose levels: 3.3 × 105, 1 × 106, 3.3 × 106, and 1 × 107 cells/kg body weight, administered after lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide/fludarabine or oxaliplatin/cyclophosphamide. Cohort A included patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL, n = 3); cohort B included patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC, n = 10) or non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, n = 8). A second infusion was administered to one patient in cohort A with residual CLL in the marrow and three patients in cohort B with stable disease after first infusion.

Results:

Treatment was well tolerated, apart from one dose-limiting toxicity at dose level 4 in a patient with advanced NSCLC. Two of the three (67%) patients with CLL showed robust CAR-T–cell expansion and a rapid antitumor response. In patients with NSCLC and TNBC, CAR-T cells expanded to variable levels and infiltrated tumors poorly and 1 of 18 patients (5.5%) achieved partial response by RECIST 1.1.

Conclusions:

ROR1 CAR-T cells were well tolerated in most patients. Antitumor activity was observed in CLL but was limited in TNBC and NSCLC. Immunogenicity of the CAR and lack of sustained tumor infiltration were identified as limitations.

See related commentary by Kobold, p. 437
Update on Surveillance Guidelines in Emerging Wilms Tumor Predisposition Syndromes
Authors: Brzezinski Jack J. , Becktell Kerri D. , Bougeard Gaëlle , Brodeur Garrett M. , Diller Lisa R. , Doria Andrea S. , Hansford Jordan R. , Kohlmann Wendy K. , Kratz Christian P. , MacFarland Suzanne P. , Pajtler Kristian W. , Rednam Surya P. , Schienda Jaclyn , States Lisa J. , Villani Anita , Weksberg Rosanna , Zelley Kristin , Tomlinson Gail E. , Kalish Jennifer M.
Published: October 2024

Wilms tumors are commonly associated with predisposition syndromes. Many of these syndromes are associated with specific phenotypic features and are discussed in the related article from the AACR Pediatric Cancer Working Group. Guidelines for surveillance in this population were published in 2017, but since then several studies have identified new genes with recurrent pathogenic variants associated with increased risk for Wilms tumor development. In general, variants in these genes are less likely to be associated with other phenotypic features. Recently, members of the AACR Pediatric Cancer Working Group met to update surveillance guidelines for patients with a predisposition to Wilms tumors with a review of recently published evidence and risk estimates. Risk estimates for Wilms tumor for the more recently described genes are discussed here along with suggested surveillance guidelines for these populations. Several other emerging clinical scenarios associated with Wilms tumor predisposition are also discussed, including patients with family histories of Wilms tumor and no identified causative gene, patients with bilateral tumors, and patients with somatic mosaicism for chromosome 11p15.5 alterations. This perspective serves to update pediatric oncologists, geneticists, radiologists, counselors, and other health care professionals on emerging evidence and harmonize updated surveillance recommendations in the North American and Australian context for patients with emerging forms of Wilms tumor predisposition.
Mathematical Modeling Unveils Optimization Strategies for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy of Blood Cancers
Authors: Kuznetsov Maxim , Adhikarla Vikram , Caserta Enrico , Wang Xiuli , Shively John E. , Pichiorri Flavia , Rockne Russell C.
Published: October 2024

Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is based on injections of cancer-specific molecules conjugated with radioactive nuclides. Despite the specificity of this treatment, it is not devoid of side effects limiting its use and is especially harmful for rapidly proliferating organs well perfused by blood, like bone marrow. Optimization of radioconjugate administration accounting for toxicity constraints can increase treatment efficacy. Based on our experiments on a disseminated multiple myeloma mouse model treated by 225Ac-DOTA-daratumumab, we developed a mathematical model, investigation of which highlighted the following principles for optimization of TRT: (i) Nuclide-to-antibody ratio importance. The density of radioconjugates on cancer cells determines the density of radiation energy deposited in them. A low labeling ratio as well as accumulation of unlabeled antibodies and antibodies attached to decay products in the bloodstream can mitigate cancer radiation damage due to excessive occupation of specific receptors by antibodies devoid of radioactive nuclides. (ii) Cancer-binding capacity–based dosing. The total number of specific receptors on cancer cells is a critical factor for treatment optimization, and its estimation may allow increasing treatment efficacy close to its theoretical limit. Injection of doses significantly exceeding cancer-binding capacity should be avoided because radioconjugates remaining in the bloodstream have a negligible efficacy-to-toxicity ratio. (iii) Particle range–guided multi-dosing. The use of short-range particle emitters and high-affinity antibodies can allow for robust treatment optimization via initial saturation of cancer-binding capacity, enabling redistribution of further injected radioconjugates and deposited doses toward still viable cells that continue expressing specific receptors.

Significance:

Mathematical modeling yields general principles for optimization of TRT in mouse models of multiple myeloma that can be extrapolated to other cancer models and clinical settings.
Shorter Duration of Blinatumomab Administration to 14 Days Has Same Efficacy and Safety Profile in Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Retrospective Single‐Center Study
Authors: Kong Jinyu , Miao Wenjing , Lu Jialing , Liu Yin , Kong Xin , Qiu Huiying , Song Baoquan
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r BCP-ALL) remains a significant clinical challenge. Many new strategies are changing the treatment landscape of r/r BCP-ALL in recent years. Blinatumomab has improved outcomes in r/r BCP-ALL, though high treatment costs and extended hospital stays are significant concerns. We considered that shortening the duration of blinatumomab administration during induction therapy might solve these problems. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 19 patients with r/r BCP-ALL treated with different durations of blinatumomab, where 10 patients received blinatumomab for 14 days (Bli 14D group) and 9 received it for a longer duration (LT group, 21–28 days). Results: The overall response rate (ORR) was 63.2% (12/19) of patients in total, and the ORRs in 14D and LT groups were almost the same (60% and 66.6%, respectively). The median overall survival was not reached in either groups. The median event-free survival time was 4.1 months in LT group and not reached in D14 group. The most common adverse events were consistent with previous reports, including cytokine release syndrome, neurologic toxicity, and hematological toxicity. Conclusion: A 14-day blinatumomab administration may be a promising and well-tolerated regimen in r/r BCP-ALL, offering the same ORR and survival rates.
Prognostic Evaluation of Conversion Therapy following Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy or Immunotherapy in Patients with Advanced or Transarterial Chemoembolization Unsuitable Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kuo Li-Fu , Liu Wen-Chun , Li Ming-Feng , Huang Fu-Huan , Chou Chu-Kuang , Chen Tsung-Hsien , Tsai Yi-Tseng , Hsu Ping-I. , Li Chao-Jen , Wu I.-Ting , Tsai Kun-Feng
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Patients with advanced-stage or intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) unsuitable for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) had poor prognoses. Recent advancements in hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated higher tumor response rates, which improved overall survival (OS). HAIC achieves an OS rate of approximately 14.5–15.3 months with a 39.1–42.5% tumor response rate. In comparison, ICIs have a 12–14 month OS rate with a 26–33% tumor response rate. Given these promising responses, this study evaluates the efficacy of conversion therapy with curative intent following HAIC or ICIs, focusing on survival outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 80 patients with advanced or TACE-unsuitable intermediate HCC. Patients completed two HAIC or four ICI cycles, followed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria imaging. Based on demographics, cirrhosis status, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification (BCLC) stage, treatment responses, and treatment modality, survival impacts were analyzed. OS was compared between HAIC and immunotherapy groups. The effect of conversion therapy with curative intent on survival outcomes was analyzed using a Cox regression model. Results: Among the 80 patients, 26 achieved positive response (CR/PR) with HAIC or ICIs, and 9 of them subsequently underwent conversion therapy with curative intent. Key prognostic factors included Child-Pugh stage B versus A (HR = 2.21, p = 0.041), BCLC stage C versus B (HR = 4.38, p = 0.011), and elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels (HR = 5.02, p < 0.001). Positive responders saw substantial survival benefits (HR = 0.26, p = 0.001). Patients undergoing conversion therapy exhibited significantly enhanced survival. Median OS was 13.58 months with standard therapy, while the curative intent surgery group did not reach the median OS (p = 0.002). For CR/PR patients, 48-month survival was 75.0% for the curative surgery group versus 38.0% for standard treatment. Conclusion: Conversion therapy with curative intent following HAIC or ICIs might enhance survival in patients with advanced or TACE-unsuitable intermediate-stage HCC.
Neural Synchrony of Minds and Machines: Hippocampal Mechanisms to Advance AI and Virtual Networks
Authors: Sariñana Joshua
Published: October 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) predicts behavior by learning from user data collected through digitally mediated interfaces. Virtual spaces---such as online social networks---extend the physical world into virtual worlds, leveraging AI technologies to transform user behavior into digital assets by mimicking the brain’s reinforcement networks. Social media platforms utilize AI to manipulate user behavior through rewards that can diverge from the user’s intended goals. This misalignment fragments user behavior and cognition, resulting in virtual disembodiment. Presented is a conceptual mechanism based on the hippocampus to synchronize AI and the brain, synthesizing the user’s physical and mental presence in virtual spaces.
The status of the nomen "Ovophis malhotrae" (Squamata, Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae)
Authors: DAVID PATRICK , FRÉTEY THIERRY , VOGEL GERNOT
Published: October 2024

We show that the new nomen "Ovophis malhotrae" proposed by Zeng et al. (2023a‒b) is nomenclaturally unavailable. As we consider the species for which it was coined taxonomically valid, we propose for it a new nomen, satisfying the criteria of publication of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The original description of this species is slightly expanded.
A monograph of the Oligochaete family Alluroididae
Authors: JAMIESON BARRIE G. M. , FRAGOSO CARLOS
Published: October 2024

The Alluroididae is a small oligochaete family with 8 genera and 13 known species occurring in freshwaters and in riverine soils in Africa, the Caribbean and Central and South America. It is here argued that their anatomy shows a transition from that of microdriles to that of megadriles (Metagynophora). A detailed description of comparative anatomy is given, followed by the systematics and some aspects of the ecology of all known genera, species and subspecies.
Five new species and numerous locality records of Spirobolida millipedes from Madagascar (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Pachybolidae)
Authors: WESENER THOMAS
Published: October 2024

Based mainly on the results of generalized American biodiversity inventory programmes, several samples of Malagasy Spirobolida millipedes became available to study. Based on this material, five new species of Spirobolida are described from Madagascar: four potential microendemic species, Aphistogoniulus amberivery sp. nov. from the Amberivery forest, A. manombo sp. nov., from the lowland rainforest of Manombo, Spiromimus endemicus sp. nov. from the Montagne des Français, and a species from the littoral forest of Tampolo, tentatively placed in the genus Eucarlia Brölemann, 1913, E. tampolo sp. nov.. A fifth species appears to be more widespread and is a morphologically unusual species of the genus Alluviobolus Wesener, 2009, A. omega sp. nov.. Aphistogoniulus manombo sp. nov. was previously described as a population of A. jeekeli Decker & Wesener, 2011. One of the most enigmatic Malagasy millipede species, Spirobolus olympiacus Karsch, 1881, is redescribed based on topotypic material as Colossobolus olympiacus (Karsch, 1881) new combination. Additional locality data is provided for 14 other Spirobolida species, of which 11 are listed on the IUCN Red List: Aphistogoniulus aridus Wesener, 2009, A. diabolicus Wesener, 2009, A. erythrocephalus (Pocock, 1893), A. hova (de Saussure & Zehntner, 1897), Colossobolus semicyclus Wesener, 2009, Spiromimus albipes Wesener & Enghoff, 2009, S. litoralis Wesener & Enghoff, 2009, S. simplex Wesener & Enghoff, 2009, S. triaureus Wesener & Enghoff, 2009, S. univirgatus deSaussure & Zehntner, 1901, Flagellobolus pauliani Wesener, 2009, Dactylobolus bivirgatus (Karsch, 1881), Madabolus maximus Wesener & Enghoff, 2008 and Hylekobolus rufus Wesener, 2009. Fourteen new genetic barcoding COI sequences are provided for nine species: Hylekobolus rufus, Colossobolus semicyclus, Aphistogoniulus amberivery sp. nov., A. aridus, A. diabolicus, A. erythrocephalus, A. hova, Spiromimus univirgatus and S. scapularis Wesener & Enghoff, 2009.
New records of the solitary Vespidae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae and Eumeninae s. l.) from Central Asia, with new synonyms and description of a new species of Eumenes Latreille
Authors: FATERYGA ALEXANDER V. , PROSHCHALYKIN MAXIM YU.
Published: October 2024

A new species, Eumenes selisi Fateryga, sp. nov. is described from Uzbekistan. Three new synonymies are proposed: Masaris carli von Schulthess, 1922 = M. elegans Gusenleitner, 2002, syn. nov.; Parodontodynerus ephippium (Klug, 1817) = P. ephippium dalanicus Kurzenko, 1976, syn. nov.; Psiliglossa odyneroides (S.S. Saunders, 1850) = P. odyneroides kozhantshikovi Kostylev, 1940, syn. nov. Twenty-nine new country records are presented: two from Turkmenistan, four from Tajikistan, seven from Uzbekistan, seven from Kyrgyzstan, and nine from Kazakhstan. Masaris carli is excluded from the fauna of Iran and Psiliglossa odyneroides is excluded from the fauna of Russia. Observations on flower-visiting behavior of Chlorodynerus arenicola and Euodynerus setosus are reported.
Cold Season Cloud Response to Sea Ice Loss in the Arctic
Authors: Liu Yinghui , Key Jeffrey R.
Published: October 2024

Based on satellite observations, we investigate the cloud responses during the cold season, from October to the following March, to interannual fluctuations in Arctic sea ice concentrations during September and October. It is found that the cloud responses differ between the periods 2000–18 and 1982–99. From 2000 to 2018, increased Arctic Ocean cloud cover in October and November transitioned to significantly less cloud cover and cloud radiative forcing (CRF), from January to March, in response to lower sea ice concentrations in September and October. The lower CRF from January to March preconditions the sea ice and likely contributes to higher sea ice concentrations the following September. This suggests a negative cloud feedback on sea ice concentration, which may contribute to sea ice recovery after a dramatic decrease. In contrast, from 1982 to 1999, generally increased cloud cover and cloud radiative forcing persisted from October to March following lower sea ice concentrations in the preceding September and October. The cause of the different cloud responses to sea ice changes in these two time periods remains unclear and requires further investigation.
Wavelet-Entropy Enhanced Clustering: A Comprehensive Analysis of Drought Patterns in the Southern Plains, United States
Authors: Lee Sanghyun , Nourani Vahid , Danandeh Mehr Ali , Moriasi Daniel , Mirchi Ali
Published: October 2024

Droughts may exhibit spatiotemporal heterogeneity at a regional scale. Effective drought assessment and management necessitates identifying homogeneous areas. However, previous studies often simplified clustering analysis by focusing only on a single variable. In this study, we present a novel drought clustering map for the southern plains (SP) region of the United States by integrating the wavelet-entropy approach with k-means clustering algorithm to capture spatiotemporal patterns of drought-related variables across various resolutions while eliminating redundant information. We considered multiple drought indicators and indices including gridded precipitation (P), potential evapotranspiration (PET), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) as well as geographical coordinates and topography map. Through evaluating five different combinations of input datasets, we selected the one demonstrating optimal results based on the Davies–Bouldin and Calinski–Harabasz criteria. In addition to P, PET, and NDVI, including the coordinates and elevation as secondary variables significantly enhanced the clustering performance. Using these variables, the region was subdivided into 21 clusters. Pearson’s correlation coefficients for the SPEI between centroid members and corresponding cells within clusters averaged between 0.84 and 0.94. Comparison with an existing cluster map [Drought Risk Atlas (DRA)] for the region revealed that our proposed cluster map showed higher variability between clusters for P, PET, and NDVI, confirming the robustness of the clustering results for drought conditions in the SP. The new clustering framework is expected to provide valuable insights for understanding and addressing drought dynamics in the SP region.
Invariance: What Does Measurement Invariance Allow Us to Claim?
Authors: Protzko John
Published: October 2024

Measurement involves numerous theoretical and empirical steps—ensuring our measures are operating the same in different groups is one step. Measurement invariance occurs when the factor loadings and item intercepts or thresholds of a scale operate similarly for people at the same level of the latent variable in different groups. This is commonly assumed to mean the scale is measuring the same thing in those groups. Here we test the assumption of extending measurement invariance to mean common measurement by randomly assigning American adults ( N = 1500) to fill out scales assessing a coherent factor (search for meaning in life) or a nonsense factor measuring nothing. We find a nonsense scale with items measuring nothing shows strong measurement invariance with the original scale, is reliable, and covaries with other constructs. We show measurement invariance can occur without measurement. Thus, we cannot infer that measurement invariance means one is measuring the same thing, it may be a necessary but not a sufficient condition.
Book review: Rumki Basu, The United Nations: In the New Millennium
Authors: Kumar Vikash
Published: October 2024

Rumki Basu, The United Nations: In the New Millennium. Sterling Publishers Pvt Ltd, 2022, 328 pp., ₹350 (Paperback). ISBN-10: 9393853177, ISBN-13: 978-9393853172.