bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Figure S1 from Phase 1 Trial of ALRN-6924, a Dual Inhibitor of MDMX and MDM2, in Patients with Solid Tumors and Lymphomas Bearing Wild-type TP53
Authors: Saleh Mansoor N. , Patel Manish R. , Bauer Todd M. , Goel Sanjay , Falchook Gerald S. , Shapiro Geoffrey I. , Chung Ki Y. , Infante Jeffrey R. , Conry Robert M. , Rabinowits Guilherme , Hong David S. , Wang Judy S. , Steidl Ulrich , Naik Gurudatta , Guerlavais Vincent , Vukovic Vojislav , Annis D. Allen , Aivado Manuel , Meric-Bernstam Funda
Published: October 2024

Caption: The efficacy evaluable population was defined as those patients who met all the eligibility criteria: 1) received at least one dose of ALRN-6924 at a dose level at least 0·8 mg/kg per infusion; 2) were TP53 wild type or indeterminate (as assessed by the central laboratory or local laboratory, if not assessed by the central laboratory); and 3) had at least one post-baseline evaluation or exhibited clinical or objective progression as determined by the investigator.
Supplementary Data from Standard-Dose Pembrolizumab Plus Alternate-Dose Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma: KEYNOTE-029 Cohort 1C, a Phase 2 Randomized Study of Two Dosing Schedules
Authors: Long Georgina V. , Robert Caroline , Butler Marcus O. , Couture Felix , Carlino Matteo S. , O'Day Steven , Atkinson Victoria , Cebon Jonathan S. , Brown Michael P. , Dalle Stéphane , Hill Andrew G. , Gibney Geoffrey T. , McCune Steven , Menzies Alexander M. , Niu Cuizhen , Ibrahim Nageatte , Moreno Blanca Homet , Diab Adi
Published: October 2024

Clean version
Supplementary Figure 1 from The Prognostic Role of MYC Structural Variants Identified by NGS and FISH in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Sharma Neeraj , Smadbeck James B. , Abdallah Nadine , Zepeda-Mendoza Cinthya , Binder Moritz , Pearce Kathryn E. , Asmann Yan W. , Peterson Jess F. , Ketterling Rhett P. , Greipp Patricia T. , Bergsagel P. Leif , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Kumar Shaji K. , Baughn Linda B.
Published: October 2024

Supplemental Figure 1 shows diagrams of the predicted genomic architecture of various MYC SVs
Supplemental Figure 5 from The Prognostic Role of MYC Structural Variants Identified by NGS and FISH in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Sharma Neeraj , Smadbeck James B. , Abdallah Nadine , Zepeda-Mendoza Cinthya , Binder Moritz , Pearce Kathryn E. , Asmann Yan W. , Peterson Jess F. , Ketterling Rhett P. , Greipp Patricia T. , Bergsagel P. Leif , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Kumar Shaji K. , Baughn Linda B.
Published: October 2024

Supplemental Figure 5 shows in influence of any MYC SV on OS and PFS in either the hyperdiploid or non-hyperdiploid groups of the CoMMpass cohort
Supplemental Figure 2 from The Prognostic Role of MYC Structural Variants Identified by NGS and FISH in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Sharma Neeraj , Smadbeck James B. , Abdallah Nadine , Zepeda-Mendoza Cinthya , Binder Moritz , Pearce Kathryn E. , Asmann Yan W. , Peterson Jess F. , Ketterling Rhett P. , Greipp Patricia T. , Bergsagel P. Leif , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Kumar Shaji K. , Baughn Linda B.
Published: October 2024

Supplemental Figure 2 shows Circos and Bubble plots indicating various MYC partners genes
Supplementary Figure S3 from A Randomized, Phase III Study of Lenvatinib in Chinese Patients with Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Zheng Xiangqian , Xu Zhengang , Ji Qinghai , Ge Minghua , Shi Feng , Qin Jianwu , Wang Feng , Chen Guang , Zhang Yuan , Huang Rui , Tan Jian , Huang Tao , Li Sijin , Lv Zhongwei , Lin Yansong , Guo Zhuming , Kubota Tomoki , Suzuki Takuya , Ikezawa Hiroki , Gao Ming
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Figure S3. Kaplan-Meier plot of time to treatment failure
Data from Phase 1 Trial of ALRN-6924, a Dual Inhibitor of MDMX and MDM2, in Patients with Solid Tumors and Lymphomas Bearing Wild-type TP53
Authors: Saleh Mansoor N. , Patel Manish R. , Bauer Todd M. , Goel Sanjay , Falchook Gerald S. , Shapiro Geoffrey I. , Chung Ki Y. , Infante Jeffrey R. , Conry Robert M. , Rabinowits Guilherme , Hong David S. , Wang Judy S. , Steidl Ulrich , Naik Gurudatta , Guerlavais Vincent , Vukovic Vojislav , Annis D. Allen , Aivado Manuel , Meric-Bernstam Funda
Published: October 2024

AbstractPurpose:
We describe the first-in-human dose-escalation trial for ALRN-6924, a stabilized, cell-permeating peptide that disrupts p53 inhibition by mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) and MDMX to induce cell-cycle arrest or apoptosis in TP53-wild-type (WT) tumors.
Patients and Methods:
Two schedules were evaluated for safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor effects in patients with solid tumors or lymphomas. In arm A, patients received ALRN-6924 by intravenous infusion once-weekly for 3 weeks every 28 days; arm B was twice-weekly for 2 weeks every 21 days.
Results:
Seventy-one patients were enrolled: 41 in arm A (0.16–4.4 mg/kg) and 30 in arm B (0.32–2.7 mg/kg). ALRN-6924 showed dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and increased serum levels of MIC-1, a biomarker of p53 activation. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were gastrointestinal side effects, fatigue, anemia, and headache. In arm A, at 4.4 mg/kg, dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were grade 3 (G3) hypotension, G3 alkaline phosphatase elevation, G3 anemia, and G4 neutropenia in one patient each. At the MTD in arm A of 3.1 mg/kg, G3 fatigue was observed in one patient. No DLTs were observed in arm B. No G3/G4 thrombocytopenia was observed in any patient. Seven patients had infusion-related reactions; 3 discontinued treatment. In 41 efficacy-evaluable patients with TP53-WT disease across both schedules the disease control rate was 59%. Two patients had confirmed complete responses, 2 had confirmed partial responses, and 20 had stable disease. Six patients were treated for >1 year. The recommended phase 2 dose was schedule A, 3.1 mg/kg.
Conclusions:
ALRN-6924 was well tolerated and demonstrated antitumor activity.
Data from Tumor-Specific Major Histocompatibility-II Expression Predicts Benefit to Anti–PD-1/L1 Therapy in Patients With HER2-Negative Primary Breast Cancer
Authors: Gonzalez-Ericsson Paula I. , Wulfkhule Julia D. , Gallagher Rosa I. , Sun Xiaopeng , Axelrod Margaret L. , Sheng Quanhu , Luo Na , Gomez Henry , Sanchez Violeta , Sanders Melinda , Pusztai Lajos , Petricoin Emanuel , Blenman Kim R.M. , Balko Justin M.
Published: October 2024

AbstractPurpose:
Immunotherapies targeting PD-1/L1 enhance pathologic complete response (pCR) rates when added to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) regimens in early-stage triple-negative, and possibly high-risk estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer. However, immunotherapy has been associated with significant toxicity, and most patients treated with NAC do not require immunotherapy to achieve pCR. Biomarkers discerning patients benefitting from the addition of immunotherapy from those who would achieve pCR to NAC alone are clearly needed. In this study, we tested the ability of MHC-II expression on tumor cells, to predict immunotherapy-specific benefit in the neoadjuvant breast cancer setting.
Patients and Methods:
This was a retrospective tissue-based analysis of 3 cohorts of patients with breast cancer: (i) primary nonimmunotherapy-treated breast cancers (n = 381), (ii) triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) treated with durvalumab and standard NAC (n = 48), and (iii) HER2-negative patients treated with standard NAC (n = 87) or NAC and pembrolizumab (n = 66).
Results:
HLA-DR positivity on ≥5% of tumor cells, defined a priori, was observed in 10% and 15% of primary non-immunotherapy–treated hormone receptor–positive and triple-negative breast cancers, respectively. Quantitative assessment of MHC-II on tumor cells was predictive of durvalumab + NAC and pembrolizumab + NAC (ROC AUC, 0.71; P = 0.01 and AUC, 0.73; P = 0.001, respectively), but not NAC alone (AUC, 0.5; P = 0.99).
Conclusions:
Tumor-specific MHC-II has a strong candidacy as a specific biomarker of anti–PD-1/L1 immunotherapy benefit when added to standard NAC in HER2-negative breast cancer. Combined with previous studies in melanoma, MHC-II has the potential to be a pan-cancer biomarker. Validation is warranted in existing and future phase II/III clinical trials in this setting.
Integrating Molecular Imaging and Transcriptomic Profiling in Advanced HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Receiving Trastuzumab Emtansine: An Analysis of the ZEPHIR Clinical Trial
Authors: Rediti Mattia , Fimereli Danai , Mileva Magdalena , Wimana Zéna , Venet David , Flamen Patrick , Guiot Thomas , de Vries Elisabeth G.E. , Schröder Carolien P. , Menke-van der Houven van Oordt Catharina Willemien , Maetens Marion , Majjaj Samira , Larsimont Denis , Rothé Françoise , Sotiriou Christos , Gebhart Géraldine
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

The ZEPHIR clinical trial evaluated the role of [89Zr]trastuzumab-PET/CT (HER2-PET/CT) and 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET/CT ([18F]FDG-PET/CT) in predicting outcomes in patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1). In this study, we combined molecular/metabolic imaging and transcriptomic data to investigate the biological processes associated with [89Zr]trastuzumab and [18F]FDG uptake and to dissect the mechanisms involved in T-DM1 resistance.

Experimental Design:

RNA was extracted from metastasis biopsies obtained in the ZEPHIR trial. HER2-PET/CT and [18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging data of biopsied lesions were integrated with transcriptomic data. Lesions were compared based on the level of [89Zr]trastuzumab uptake as well as on the presence/absence of metabolic response, defined comparing baseline and on-treatment [18F]FDG-PET/CT.

Results:

We analyzed matched transcriptomic and molecular/metabolic imaging data for 24 metastases. Genes and pathways involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization and glycosylphosphatidylinositol synthesis were enriched in lesions presenting low [89Zr]trastuzumab uptake. [18F]FDG uptake at baseline correlated with proliferation and immune-related processes. Hypoxia and ECM-related processes were enriched in lesions showing no metabolic response to T-DM1, whereas immune-related processes were associated with high [89Zr]trastuzumab uptake and metabolic response. Gene signatures including differentially expressed genes according to [89Zr]trastuzumab uptake and metabolic response showed predictive value in an external cohort.

Conclusions:

To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first correlative analysis between [89Zr]trastuzumab tumor uptake and gene expression profiling in humans. Our findings suggest a role for ECM in impairing [89Zr]trastuzumab tumor uptake and T-DM1 metabolic response in advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, highlighting the potential of molecular imaging to depict tumor microenvironment features.
Phase I/II Investigator-Initiated Study of Olaparib and Temozolomide in SCLC: Final Analysis and CNS Outcomes
Authors: Meador Catherine B. , Digumarthy Subba R. , Yeap Beow Y. , Hung Yin P. , Mino-Kenudson Mari , Farago Anna F. , Heist Rebecca S. , Marcoux J. Paul , Rangachari Deepa , Barbie David A. , Piotrowska Zofia
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

Temozolomide plus PARP inhibition has shown promise in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We previously reported outcomes from the first 50 patients (cohort 1) of a phase I/II trial of olaparib/temozolomide in recurrent SCLC. In this study, we report a final analysis of this trial, including a second cohort with an alternate dosing strategy and an exploratory analysis of central nervous system (CNS)–specific outcomes.

Patients and Methods:

This was an open-label phase I/II trial testing the combination of olaparib and temozolomide in relapsed SCLC. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints were safety, progression-free survival, and overall survival. We tested escalating doses of olaparib/temozolomide across two cohorts, both of which had temozolomide dosed on days 1 to 7 of each 21-day cycle. In previously published cohort 1, olaparib was dosed on days 1 to 7; in cohort 2, olaparib was dosed continuously.

Results:

Sixty-six patients were enrolled across the two cohorts: 50 in cohort 1 and 16 in cohort 2. The confirmed ORR of cohort 1 was 41.7% (20/48 evaluable), and the confirmed ORR of cohort 2 was 7% (1/14 evaluable; closed after dose escalation to enrollment for lack of observed efficacy). Among 15/66 patients (22.7%) with untreated brain metastases at enrollment, the best overall intracranial response was complete response in 6/15 patients, partial response in 4/15 patients, and stable disease in 3/15 patients for a CNS disease control rate of 87% (95% confidence interval, 59.5%–98.3%).

Conclusions:

Olaparib/temozolomide may be effective in relapsed SCLC, especially for patients with CNS disease. Ongoing analyses with regard to optimal dosing schedule will inform potential for future use of this combination in SCLC.
Emerging Role of the p53 Pathway in Modulating NK Cell–Mediated Immunity
Authors: Chen Yu-Chi , Bazewicz Christopher G. , Dinavahi Saketh S. , Huntington Nicholas D. , Schell Todd D. , Robertson Gavin P.
Published: October 2024

The p53 pathway plays an important role in role in cancer immunity. Mutation or downregulation of the proteins in the p53 pathway are prevalent in many cancers, contributing to tumor progression and immune dysregulation. Recent findings suggest that the activity of p53 within tumor cells, immune cells, and the tumor microenvironment can play an important role in modulating NK cell–mediated immunity. Consequently, efforts to restore p53 pathway activity are being actively pursued to modulate this form of immunity. This review focuses on p53 activity regulating the infiltration and activation of NK cells in the tumor immune microenvironment. Furthermore, the impact of p53 and its regulation of NK cells on immunogenic cell death within solid tumors and the abscopal effect are reviewed. Finally, future avenues for therapeutically restoring p53 activity to improve NK cell–mediated antitumor immunity and optimize the effectiveness of cancer therapies are discussed.
Gefitinib Reverses PD-L1–Mediated Immunosuppression Induced by Long-term Glutamine Blockade in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Ma Guofeng , Jia Huiqing , Li Zhiqiang , Zhang Xiangyan , Wang Liping , Zhang Zhilei , Xiao Yujing , Liang Zhijuan , Li Dan , Chen Yuanbin , Tian Xintao , Wang Yonghua , Liang Ye , Niu Haitao
Published: October 2024

Glutamine is a major energy source for tumor cells, and blocking glutamine metabolism is being investigated as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. However, the antitumor effect of glutamine blockade in bladder cancer remains unclear, necessitating further investigation. In this study, we demonstrated that glutamine metabolism was involved in the malignant progression of bladder cancer. Treatment with the glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) inhibited the growth of bladder cancer cells in vitro in several ways. In addition, we observed inhibition of tumor growth in bladder cancer–bearing mice by using JHU083, a prodrug that was designed to prevent DON-induced toxicity. However, the antitumor immune effect of T cells changed from activation to inhibition as the administrated time extended. We found that both in vitro treatment with DON and in vivo prolonged administration of JHU083 led to the upregulation of PD-L1 in bladder cancer cells. Mechanistically, glutamine blockade upregulated PD-L1 expression in bladder cancer cells by accumulating reactive oxygen species, subsequently activating the EGFR/ERK/C-Jun signaling pathway. Combination treatment of JHU083 and gefitinib reversed the upregulation of PD-L1 in bladder cancer cells induced by prolonged glutamine blockade, resulting in the alleviation of T-cell immunosuppression and a significant improvement in therapeutic outcome. These preclinical findings show promise for glutamine metabolism targeting as a viable therapeutic strategy for bladder cancer, with the potential for further enhancement through combined treatment with gefitinib.
Elraglusib Induces Cytotoxicity via Direct Microtubule Destabilization Independently of GSK3 Inhibition
Authors: Coats Josh T. , Li Shuyu , Tanaka Tomoyuki U. , Tauro Sudhir , Sutherland Calum , Saurin Adrian T.
Published: October 2024

Elraglusib (9-ING-41) is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) with preclinical studies demonstrating broad activity against many tumor types. Promising early-phase clinical trial data led to FDA orphan drug status, and a randomized phase II study in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer has recently completed its recruitment. Similarly, single-agent responses in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and melanoma and combination treatment data in several other tumor types have been encouraging. The elraglusib mechanism of action is unknown, but it is unlikely to act through GSK3 inhibition because cytotoxicity is observed below the IC50 for GSK3, and other small molecule GSK3 inhibitors do not produce cytotoxic effects, at least in lymphoma cells. We show here that elraglusib perturbs chromosomal alignment to cause a mitotic arrest in multiple tumor lines. This arrest is caused by direct microtubule (MT) depolymerization, which prevents the attachment of kinetochores to MTs. At clinically relevant doses, these mitotically arrested cells eventually undergo mitotic slippage, leading to gross chromosome missegregation, DNA damage, and apoptosis. These effects explain the cytotoxicity of elraglusib because temporarily pausing cell-cycle progression with the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib abolishes any drug-induced genotoxicity and apoptosis. In summary, elraglusib acts as a direct MT destabilizer both in vitro and across multiple cancer types, resulting in mitotic arrest, DNA damage, and apoptosis. These effects likely account for its broad pan-cancer activity, which does not rely upon GSK3 inhibition as they are not replicated by other GSK3 inhibitors.

Significance:

Elraglusib was designed as a GSK3 inhibitor and is currently in clinical trials for several cancers. We show conclusively that the target of elraglusib that leads to cytotoxicity is MTs and not GSK3. This has significant implications for ongoing clinical trials of the compound and will help in understanding off-target side effects, inform future clinical trial design, and facilitate the development of biomarkers to predict response.
Reduction Rate of Uric Acid in Blood during Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy for Acute Kidney Injury: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Inoue Yutaro , Inokuchi Ryota , Nakano Hidehiko , Masuda Yoshiki , Nishida Osamu , Doi Kent ,   On behalf of the CHANGE Study Group
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) eliminates these small solutes with equal efficacy under the same conditions. However, variations in the reduction rates of these solutes observed in patients with CRRT are likely influenced by factors other than removal through CRRT. This study evaluated the reduction rates of these small solutes during CRRT and their possible association with mortality. Methods: This study used the data of limited patients registered in the CHANGE study, which is a large retrospective observational study on CRRT management across 18 Japanese ICUs. Reduction rates of three solutes in blood, calculated on the 1st and 2nd days, were compared in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) treated by CRRT. The potential association between solute reduction rates and mortality during CRRT or within 7 days after the termination of CRRT was evaluated. Results: In total, 163 patients with AKI were included in the analysis. The reduction rates of uric acid (UA) were significantly higher than those of urea and creatinine for the 1st and 2nd tests in the entire cohort. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that lower UA reduction rates were significantly associated with mortality during CRRT or within 7 days after CRRT termination {area under the ROC curve: 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52–0.71] for the 1st test and 0.63 [95% CI: 0.54–0.72] for the 2nd test}. After adjusting for age and SOFA score, a significant association was observed between lower UA reduction rates and hospital mortality for both tests. Conclusion: Among the small solutes, UA reduction rates in patients with AKI treated with CRRT were notably higher than those of creatinine and urea. Furthermore, the significant association between lower UA reduction rates and mortality suggests that UA reduction rate may serve as a valuable indicator of insufficient removal of uremic solutes by CRRT, although the decline in UA production must be taken into account.
Impacts of Hospital Volume and Patient-Hospital Distances on Outcomes of Older Adults Receiving Percutaneous Microaxial Ventricular Assist Devices for Cardiogenic Shock
Authors: Watanabe Atsuyuki , Miyamoto Yoshihisa , Ueyama Hiroki A. , Gotanda Hiroshi , Jentzer Jacob C. , Kapur Navin K. , Jorde Ulrich P. , Tsugawa Yusuke , Kuno Toshiki
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:

Percutaneous microaxial ventricular assist devices (pVADs) have the potential to reduce mortality of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). However, the association between the distribution of pVAD-performing centers and outcomes of CS has not been explored.

METHODS:

This observational study included Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65 to 99 years treated with pVAD for CS from 2016 to 2020. It examined the associations between patient outcomes and 2 exposure variables: hospitals’ procedure volumes of pVAD and patient-hospital distances (in quintiles [Qn]). We developed Cox proportional hazards regression for 180-day mortality and heart failure readmission rates, and multivariable logistic regression for in-hospital outcomes, adjusting for patient demographics, comorbidities, concomitant treatments, and hospital characteristics, including CS volume, teaching status, and the ability to perform extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

RESULTS:

A total of 6637 patients with CS underwent pVAD at 1041 hospitals, with the annualized hospital volume ranging widely from 0.3 to 55.6 cases/year. Patients treated at higher-volume centers experienced lower 180-day mortality compared with those treated at lower-volume centers (Qn1=reference; Qn2: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.88 [95% CI, 0.79–0.97]; Qn3: aHR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.79–0.98]; Qn4: aHR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.78–0.99]; Qn5: aHR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.74–0.95];
P
for trend, 0.026), while we found no evidence that patient-hospital distances were associated with mortality (Qn1=reference; Qn2: aHR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.89–1.09]; Qn3: aHR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.85–1.04]; Qn4: aHR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.92–1.11]; Qn5: aHR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.82–1.01];
P
for trend, 0.160). We found no evidence that the hospital volume and patient-hospital distances were associated with in-hospital bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage, or renal replacement therapy initiation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Hospital volume was more strongly associated with mortality than patient-hospital distances, suggesting that rational distribution of pVAD-performing centers while ensuring adequate procedure volumes may optimize patient mortality.
Measuring behavioral synchronization and spatial cohesion in the activity budgets of three adult white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) dyads in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand
Authors: Light Lydia E.O. , Romano Milena L.
Published: October 2024

Individual behavior of primates living in small groups is often seen to represent behavior of all group members due to close spatial cohesion. However, given that females expend more energy on reproduction than males (including lactation and infant carrying), females and males may exhibit different behaviors even when maintaining spatial proximity, particularly in highly seasonal or resource-poor environments. We collected 187 hours of data from three dyads (n = 6 individuals) of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) living in a fruit-poor environment in western Thailand during the period of fruit scarcity. We calculated activity budgets, dyad behavioral synchronization, and dyad spatial cohesion. We hypothesized that activity budgets would differ significantly between sexes or pairs would engage in behaviors independently to provide females with an opportunity to obtain more resources. We also hypothesized that pairs would remain in close proximity. Overall, activity budgets exhibited significant variation when analyzed by sex (X2 = 27.693, ) and group (X2 = 119.584, ). Females spent less time resting and vocalizing and more time traveling compared to males. Percentages of synchronized behavior were lower than expected with only 55% of records synchronized (group B: 58.6%; group D: 58.5%; group L: 49.7%). Spatial cohesion, however, was relatively high overall with adults in the same or adjacent trees in 67.1% of paired records but significantly variable across groups (B: 89.4%; D: 73.1%; L: 48.2%; X2 = 190.111, ). We suggest that behavioral synchronization and spatial cohesion may be indicators of pair bond strength, not just the result of pair living. Given differences in activity budgets, low behavioral synchronization, and variable amounts of time pair mates spent apart, we conclude that pair mates should be considered individual actors who engage in behaviors independently from one another, particularly when coping with challenging ecological conditions.
An untapped resource: social media accounts show problem solving in numerous new animal species
Authors: Rowell Misha K. , Rymer Tasmin L.
Published: October 2024

Problem solving in animals is often studied by measuring an animal’s ability to solve man-made puzzles, such as puzzle feeders. Outside of scientific studies, puzzle feeders are also presented to captive animals housed in zoos, aquaria, and sanctuaries as a form of enrichment. Footage of these interactions is commonly posted on social media accounts to increase public engagement with the institution. However, because these puzzle feeders are not presented to animals for research purposes, the problem-solving abilities of numerous species may not be recorded in the scientific literature. Therefore, we searched through three social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram and X) for footage of captive animals solving problems to determine if social media could be a useful tool for behavioural scientists. For each video, we recorded what species was featured, what the puzzle was, how it was solved, and whether this was the first documentation of problem solving for the species (to the best of our knowledge). We found 111 records of successful problem solving across 74 species, including mammals (), birds (), and reptiles (). Overall, this was the first record of problem solving in 29 of these species. We suggest that social media could be a useful tool for researchers studying problem solving, particularly of mammalian and avian species.
The Houthi Movement in Context of the Religious and Tribal Situation in Yemen
Authors: Kuznetsov Alexander A.
Published: October 2024

This article examines the role of the religious and tribal factors in the genesis, development and expansion of the Houthi movement in Yemen. The relevance of this work stems from the transformation of the Ansarullah movement into the driver of not only domestic policy in Yemen but also of regional policy and the regional security situation. The article contains: a scrutiny of Zaydism as one of the leading religions in Yemen and its connection with the Houthi movement; the genesis of the Ansarullah movement and how it became dominant in Northern Yemen; and interrelations of this movement with the Yemeni tribes. The author of the article stipulates that from a religious point of view the Houthi movement reflects the teaching of traditional Zaydism and has its roots in Yemeni history, especially in the al-Mutawakkil Imamate. The article contains an analysis as to how the Houthis succeeded in neutralizing or exploiting the tribes of Yemen, taking into account that the tribal factor was a driver of political instability in the country. The author explains, in part, the success of the Houthis and their domination in conditions of war and conflicts (wars of Saada and the war against the Arabian coalition).
Hezbollah in Lebanon
Authors: Zreik Mohamad , Yazdani Enayatollah , Caba-Maria Flavius
Published: October 2024

This paper explores the evolution of Hezbollah following Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Initially established to counter Israeli aggression and occupation, Hezbollah transitioned into a significant political and military entity in Lebanon post-2001. The organization has gained prominence as Lebanon’s leading political force, receiving substantial support from the Islamic Republic of Iran and adhering to the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih. Its transformation into a regional entity, coupled with a significant security role beyond Lebanon’s borders, has been noteworthy. However, Hezbollah’s dual existence as both a political party and an armed group has led to divergent perceptions internationally, with some Western governments labeling it a terrorist organization. The paper critically examines Hezbollah’s historical trajectory and delves into the ongoing debate over its dual roles, highlighting the internal conflicts and national controversies within Lebanon due to the concentration of military power in the hands of a single party.
Morphological characterization and varietal evaluation of Alstroemeria genotypes
Authors: Garg Arushi , Kashyap Bharati , Dhiman S.R. , Dogra R.K.
Published: October 2024

For the establishment of distinctness among the Alstroemeria genotypes, 35 morphological characters and 16 vegetative and flowering parameters were studied for two years (2019–2021) and the results were condensed in the form of draft guidelines. The study came to the conclusion that the vast variability in various vegetative and floral qualities among the sixteen genotypes of Alstroemeria offered a fantastic chance to choose the genotypes that were suitable for all economic features. With regards to performance of genotypes, ‘UHFSAlst 1’, ‘UHFSAlst 3’, ‘UHFSAlst 4’, ‘UHFSAlst 5’, ‘UHFSAlst 11’, ‘UHFSAlst 29’, ‘UHFSAlst 33’ and ‘UHFSAlst 41’ performed better in terms of economical parameters. The novel colour was observed in ‘UHFSAlst 1’, ‘UHFSAlst 11’, ‘UHFSAlst 40’ (magenta pink), UHFSAlst 3’, ‘UHFSAlst 5’, ‘UHFSAlst 29’ (dark purple), ‘UHFSAlst 33’, ‘UHFSAlst 41’ (variegated). ‘UHFSAlst 29’, ‘UHFSAlst 5’, and ‘Serena’ recorded the maximum observed plant height. Genotype ‘UHFSAlst 4’ was shortest in height. In terms of flower size, a large diameter of flower was observed in ‘UHFSAlst 29’ and ‘UHFSAlst 1’ has maximum stem thickness. The findings led to the conclusion that the morphological DUS descriptor is very effective in classifying genotypes into distinct groups for each attribute. The diversity of the genotypes can be further leveraged for trait-specific breeding programmes through a systematic and scientific method, according to the variance at the morphological level.
Bioconversion of insect protein biomass into a fishmeal alternate for freshwater fish, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) diets
Authors: Ghosh D. , Mondal K. , Das S. , Haque S. , Mukherjee K. , Das A.
Published: October 2024

The demand for alternative fishmeal has increased significantly in recent years due to the expansion of the fishing industry. Therefore, insect proteins are becoming more popular as an alternative low-cost bio-source for fish than plant-based fish feeds. In the present study, a dietary mixture of insect protein powder derived from four Indian grasshopper species, namely Oxya hyla hyla, Atractomorpha crenulata, Oxya japonica japonica, and Phlaeoba infumata (insect meal, IM) was substituted for conventionally used fishmeal (FM) in the diet formulation for growing Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) fingerlings. Three formulated diets with IM were prepared, with FM substituted at the rates of 25%, 50%, and 75%, respectively, with a control diet with no IM but only 20% FM. All dietary treatments were administered to tilapia fingerlings for 60 days under laboratory conditions. IM-incorporated diets outperform FM-incorporated diets in growth and digestibility due to their higher food conversion ratio for IM. In terms of growth and survivability in tilapia fingerlings, a 75% replacement of FM with IM demonstrated the most significant efficacy. According to the findings, mixed insect powder derived from four grasshopper species can be used as a partial replacement for FM in formulating the compound fish diet for tilapia fingerlings.
Consumer sensory profiling and liking of Bolognese-type sauces: how do insect and plant foods really fare against red meat?
Authors: de Almeida Costa A.I. , Monteiro M.J.P. , Maya C. , Rocha C. , Faria B.F. , Lima R.C. , Cunha L.M. , Roos N.
Published: October 2024

Meeting global targets for healthier and more sustainable diets calls for a substantial reduction of meat consumption in Western nations, especially red and processed meat. This requires a transition to the large-scale production, marketing, and adoption of alternative proteins. The current state of development of new plant- and insect-based foods holds good promise, but optimizing their sensory quality to the point where they can satisfactorily replace everyday meat-eating experiences remains a challenge, demanding a more consumer-oriented approach. This study investigated how Portuguese adults (, 18-40 years old, 50% female, regular meat eaters) perceived the sensory characteristics of seven Bolognese-style pasta sauces – made with 100% red meat (beef and pork), plant (soya beans or peas) or edible insect (house cricket or yellow mealworm larvae) protein – and how this affected their hedonic preferences for these products. Expectedly, the meat-based sauce was generally the most appreciated. Still, consumers liked all products slightly to moderately apart from mealworm mince. Sensory-mediated disgust affected the evaluations of some insect- and plant-based sauces, while others benefitted from formulations that enhanced savouriness and the prototypical attributes of a tomato pasta sauce. Moreover, the disconfirmation of positive sensory-affective judgements of ‘meatiness’ induced by mince-like texture cues penalized liking. High inter-individual variation in evaluations was observed. Distinct preferences for spiciness, for instance, moderated the effects of meat substitution on product liking, with over half of participants appreciating a mild or a spicy plant-based option more than the typical beef Bolognese. Sociodemographics, Beef Consumption, Healthy Eating Consciousness and Food Disgust Sensitivity were all important predictors of patterns of product liking, pointing out that the type of protein selected is just one of the many factors driving the acceptance of meat substitutes by consumers that can be leveraged by the food industry.
Proposal of a new species for a previously described elmine larva (Coleoptera, Elmidae) from the Lower Eocene of Rajasthan (India, Palana Formation)
Authors: KIREJTSHUK ALEXANDER G. , PATEL RAMAN , RANA RAJENDRA S. , PROKIN ALEXANDER A. , NEL ANDRÉ
Published: October 2024

A single elmid larva reported from a laminate maroon shale bed of Gurha opencast lignite mine (Palana Formation, early Eocene, Bikaner District, north-western Rajasthan, India: Kumar et al., 2016) is the first preimaginal fossil known up to date. It was thoroughly examined and published by Kirejtshuk et al. (2023). However, because of the absence of any unambiguous diagnostic character for a strict generic attribution of this fossil, its rather described larva remained unnamed. Taking into consideration the scientific importance of this fact for different aspects of our knowledge it is rather advisable to introduce the description of this specimen to scientific community with a concrete specific name and probable generic attribution.
New records of Cora species (Hygrophoraceae, Agaricales, lichenized Basidiomycota) from Bolivia confirmed by molecular data
Authors: OSET MAGDALENA , GUZOW-KRZEMIŃSKA BEATA , FLAKUS ADAM , RODRIGUEZ-FLAKUS PAMELA , KUKWA MARTIN
Published: October 2024

The paper presents the first records of Cora dewisanti, C. elephas and C. hawksworthiana from Bolivia. The recognition of the three species was supported by molecular data. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer region (nuITS rDNA) clustered the Bolivian collections with sequences from previous worldwide collections. Detailed descriptions of morphology, anatomy, habitat and general distribution are presented for each species.
Phylogenetic and taxonomic evidence reveal Roussoella bambusicola sp. nov. (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) from Yunnan Province, China
Authors: CHEN XUE-MEI , SUWANNARACH NAKARIN , DU TIAN-YE , LU WEN-HUA , ELGORBAN ABDALLAH M. , ALFAGHAM ALANOUD T. , TIBPROMMA SAOWALUCK , KARUNARATHNA SAMANTHA C.
Published: October 2024

During an investigation of saprobic microfungi associated with plants in Yunnan Province, China, an ascomycetous fungus collected from dead bamboo is proposed as a new species (Roussoella bambusicola) in Roussoellaceae based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, tef1-α, and rpb2 sequence data. The new species is characterized by ampulliform or lageniform to subcylindrical, slightly curved, hyaline, smooth conidiogenous cells and oblong or ellipsoidal, aseptate, smooth to rough-walled conidia. This paper provides a description, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of the new species.
Changes in Extreme Daily Precipitation over the Contiguous United States from Convection-Permitting Simulations
Authors: Stinnett Sylvia N. , Gensini Vittorio A. , Haberlie Alex M. , Michaelis Allison C. , Ashley Walker S.
Published: October 2024

The potential for changes in extreme precipitation events due to anthropogenic climate change may have significant societal impacts (e.g., agricultural productivity, property loss, and mortality). This project uses a dynamically downscaled, convection-permitting regional climate model to investigate extreme daily precipitation in the CONUS, defined explicitly as the 99th percentile 24-h accumulated value. The simulation output includes a historical (HIST) baseline (1990–2005) and two epochs at the end of the twenty-first century (EOC; 2085–2100) under intermediate and pessimistic emissions scenarios. Independent observations illustrate that HIST admirably represents extreme precipitation climatology for most locations in the domain. Comparisons between HIST and the two EOC scenarios for the 99th percentile of daily precipitation show statistically significant increases during December–May across the Midwest and Ohio Valley and statistically significant decreases for the southern Great Plains during December–February. Extreme value analysis further reveals increasing variability in precipitation extremes for eight climatologically unique cities across the CONUS by the end of the twenty-first century and significant increases in return period precipitation amounts for most cities examined. These results provide additional guidance for stakeholders to reduce societal impacts and economic loss from daily precipitation extremes and create a more climate-resilient society.

Significance Statement

This study uses a novel convection-allowing regional climate model to illustrate potential future changes in daily extreme rainfall amounts due to climate change. Future scenarios project robust increases in these events during some seasons for portions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley, whereas the southern Great Plains are projected to experience decreases. Furthermore, we find a notable increase in the variability of extreme daily precipitation across various CONUS cities by the end of the twenty-first century. Overall, our results further our understanding of how extreme precipitation events may change in the future and, therefore, help policymakers and stakeholders adapt to these impactful events.
Errors of Opportunity: Using Neural Networks to Predict Errors in the Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) on S2S Time Scales
Authors: Cahill Jack , Barnes Elizabeth A. , Maloney Eric D. , Sain Stephan R. , Harr Patrick , Madaus Luke
Published: October 2024

Making predictions of impactful weather on time scales of weeks to months [subseasonal to seasonal (S2S)] in advance is incredibly challenging. Dynamical models often struggle to simulate tropical systems that evolve over multiple weeks such as the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO), and these errors can impact geopotential heights, precipitation, and other variables in the contiguous United States through teleconnections. While many data-driven S2S studies attempt to predict future midlatitude variables using current conditions, here we instead focus on postprocessing of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) to predict GEFS errors. Specifically, by looking at when/where there are errors in the GEFS, neural networks can be used to understand what atmospheric conditions helped produce these errors via explainability methods. Our “errors of opportunity” approach identifies phase 4 of the MJO and phases 1 and 2 of the BSISO as significant factors in aiding GEFS error prediction across different regions and seasons. Specifically, we see high accuracy for overestimates of 500-hPa geopotential height (h500) anomalies in the Pacific Northwest during spring and as well as high accuracy for underestimates of geopotential heights in Northwest Mexico during summer. Furthermore, we demonstrate enhanced error prediction skill for overestimates of summer precipitation in the Midwest following BSISO phases 1 and 2. Most notably, our findings highlight that the identified errors stem from the GEFS’s failure to accurately forecast teleconnection patterns.
Pavement crack detection based on depth-supervision FRRN model
Authors: Wang Lei , Feng Qiangqiang , Yan Jiao
Published: October 2024

Timely detection of early pavement distress is crucial for effective pavement maintenance. A promising approach involves the segmenting the road surface cracks area from its images. However, the previously employed full-resolution residual network (FRRN), when employing a large number of full-resolution residual units (FRRUs), is susceptible to challenges such as exploding and vanishing gradients. Addressing these issues, this paper has introduced a depth supervision mechanism into FRRN, leading to the development of the Depth Supervision FRRN (DSFRRN) model, designed specifically for accurate segmentation of cracks in road images. This model enhances nonlinear expressiveness while retaining essential features, achieving high precision in pavement crack segmentation. Through experimental validation using a dataset comprising 1565 images of damaged pavements, the result demonstrate that DSFRRN outperforms the original FRRN in terms of both F1 score and Jaccard index, accurately delineating cracks. Consequently, the automated pavement damage detection method presented herein facilitates cost-effective and efficient pavement inspection, contributing to the safeguarding of roadway surfaces and transportation infrastructure.
A seed-epidermis-feature-recognition-based lightweight peanut seed selection method for embedded systems
Authors: Li Dehao , Huang Jinlong , Li Xincheng , Yang Zhaolei , An Xueke , Xu Pengfei , Yun Yuliang
Published: October 2024

High-quality seeds improve the germination rate. Therefore, seed selection before sowing peanuts is crucial. Current peanut seed selection methods include color sorters and sieving machines, which are efficient but lack accuracy due to their reliance on a single indicator. Manual selection is inefficient and subject to subjective influences. Although machine vision and deep learning have performed well in crops such as corn and pepper, most existing research is based on PC or MATLAB platforms, which are not portable and are prone to interference, making them unsuitable for field applications. This study developed a lightweight model for recognizing peanut seed epidermal features. The model was based on deep learning and model quantization techniques. The transfer learning method was used to use four pre-trained models, EfficientNet_b0, EfficientNetv2-b0, MobileNet_v2_35_224, and NasNet_Mobile, as feature extraction layers, the input layer was added before the feature extraction layer, and the dropout and dense layers were added after the feature extraction layer to construct a classifier. The peanut seed selection network(PSSNet) models were constructed and named PSSNet-E, PSSNet-E2, PSSNet-M, and PSSNet-N, respectively, and trained on the Huayu 22 peanut seed dataset constructed in this study. The constructed models were compressed using model quantization technology, and four quantized models were obtained, namely PSSNet-Ef, PSSNet-E2f, PSSNet-Mf, and PSSNet-Nf. Finally, PSSNet-Mf, which had the best model evaluation, was selected as the peanut selection model for this study and deployed on a prototype for testing. Compared with the unquantized model, the size of the quantized model was reduced by two-thirds and the running speed was increased by 37%. A total of 400 Huayu 22 peanut seeds were selected as test samples, and 5 selection tests were conducted.The results showed that the average accuracy was 95.3%, which met the requirements of peanut selection at the production site.
Understanding Unitized Food Choice: The Role of Social Context and Marketing Factors in Mitigating Overconsumption
Authors: Fronczek Lane Peterson , Scott Maura L. , Mende Martin , Davis Brennan , Bui My (Myla)
Published: October 2024

The unit bias, which asserts that consumption decreases as a food unit size decreases, is a prominent effect studied in psychology, health, and obesity research domains, yet little is known about when or why this effect occurs, or how marketing plays a role in the effect. To address this gap in the literature, this research extends the current understanding of the unit bias by proposing the social unitization effect, which posits that consumers’ selection of discrete unitized foods is dependent on impression management motives. That is, when impression management motives are low, consumers choose a greater number of small (vs. large) food units; however, in social (public) settings, when impression management motives are higher, this difference between numbers of small and large food units selected is attenuated. This effect is driven by a reduction in the number of small units selected when consumers are with others (vs. when they are alone). The research then demonstrates how the social unitization effect manifests in various marketing contexts via marketing-related factors like servicescape design (e.g., in-store surveillance), food branding (e.g., branding food as “mini”), and food design (i.e., the shape of food units). These findings offer novel and actionable implications for marketers, health advocates, and consumers.
School and family partnership can reduce chronic absenteeism
Authors: Capretta Thomas J. , Zhang Jingyang (Max) , Boone Barbara J.
Published: October 2024

Families are critical partners in addressing chronic absenteeism. Drawing from research, authors Thomas J. Capretta, Jingyang (Max) Zhang, and Barbara J. Boone present four throughlines and six strategies for schools to improve attendance by building trust and partnering with families. In view of chronic absenteeism’s association with negative academic and life outcomes and disproportionate impact on underserved student populations, addressing absenteeism with families as partners is essential in building shared expectations and identifying unique solutions to unique barriers. The authors outline practical, accessible, and research-informed guidance for schools to tackle the persistent challenge of student attendance in education through high-quality partnerships with parents and community members.