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Meaningful collaborations between archaeologists and descendant communities and nations is a necessary component of archaeological practice in the 2020s and beyond. While calls for decolonising the social sciences and humanities have become a common refrain, practical methodologies for supplanting settler-colonial research practice have been less apparent. We detail how the development of independent radiocarbon-based chronologies in archaeology is one such substantive path forward. As a joint group of Indigenous and Euro-American and Euro-Canadian researchers, we outline how collaborative research agendas that privilege the knowledge and interests of descendant communities and include independent chronology building can be developed and achieved, securing mutual benefit and distributing authority in the construction of archaeologically derived Indigenous histories.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the association between pretreatment [18F]FDG PET/CT-derived biomarkers and outcomes in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients treated with antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) Sacituzumab Govitecan (SG) and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (T-DXd). Methods: A retrospective bicentric analysis was conducted on triple-negative mBC (mTNBC) patients treated with SG and HER2-low mBC patients treated with T-DXd, who underwent [18F]FDG PET/CT scans before therapy. Key biomarkers, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and maximum tumor dissemination (Dmax), were measured. Their prognostic value for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was assessed using Cox models and Kaplan–Meier curves. Results: 128 patients were included: 71 mTNBC treated with SG and 57 HR-positive and -negative HER2-low mBC treated with T-DXd. Median follow-up was 12.9 months. In the SG cohort, median PFS and OS were 4.8 and 8.9 months, respectively. High Dmax (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–4.3) and high TMTV (HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.2–6.6) were independently associated with shorter OS. In the T-DXd cohort, median PFS and OS were 5.8 and 9.0 months, respectively. High Dmax (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.9) and high TMTV (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.0–6.5) independently correlated with shorter PFS and shorter OS, respectively. Conclusion: Pretreatment [18F]FDG PET/CT-derived biomarkers, namely TMTV and Dmax, have significant prognostic value in patients with mTNBC and HER2-low mBC treated with SG and T-DXd. These biomarkers improve prognostic prediction and may optimize treatment strategies, warranting their clinical use, but larger studies are needed to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hybrid [18F]FDG PET imaging is currently the method of choice for a wide variety of infectious and inflammatory disorders and was recently adopted in several clinical guidelines. A large amount of evidence-based articles, guidelines and appropriate use criteria have been published since the first version of this guideline in 2013. Purpose: To provide updated evidence-based information to assist physicians in recommending, performing and interpreting hybrid [18F]FDG PET examinations for infectious and inflammatory disorders in the adult population. Methods: A systematic literature search of evidence-based articles using whole-body [18F]FDG hybrid imaging on the indications covered within this guideline was performed. All systematic reviews and meta-analyses published within the last 10 years until January 2023 were identified in PubMed/Medline or Cochrane. For each indication covered in this manuscript, diagnostic performance was provided based on meta-analyses or systematic reviews. If not available, results from prospective or retrospective studies were considered based on predefined selection criteria. Results and conclusions: Hybrid [18F]FDG PET is extremely useful in the work-up and management of adults with infectious and inflammatory diseases, as supported by extensive and rapidly growing evidence-based literature and adoption in clinical guidelines. Practical recommendations are provided describing evidence-based indications as well as interpretation criteria and pitfalls. Monitoring treatment response is the most challenging but insufficiently studied potential application in infection and inflammation imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this article was to systematically review the literature on the pediatric population surgically treated for cholesteatoma and describe the applied post-operative follow-up strategies. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the Primary Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement recommendations. After running the selected search string in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, studies in English, reporting on surgically treated pediatric cholesteatoma patients (age younger or equal to 18 year-old) were retrieved. Both primary and revision cholesteatoma surgeries were included. Articles lacking specific data on post-surgical follow-up and case series with less than 10 patients were excluded. Results: Nineteen papers, published between 2000 and 2023, were included for final analysis. Fourteen studies were retrospective and five prospective, for a total of 1319 patients and 1349 operated ears. Male to female ratio was 1.8:1, with a mean age at surgery of 10.4 years (range 1–18). The mean length of the follow-up after surgery was 4.4 ± 1.7 years (range 1–6.9). Clinical follow-up was detailed in 9 studies (47%) with otomicroscopy being the most common evaluation. In most articles (n = 8, 50%), MRI alone was utilized for radiological follow-up, while in 3 studies (19%), CT scans were employed exclusively. In 5 studies (31%), MRI was combined with CT scans. The timing of radiological investigations varied widely (ranging from 6 months to 3 years). A second-look strategy was reported in 14 studies (74%). Conclusion: This systematic review highlights the heterogeneity of the follow-up strategies applied to pediatric patients after cholesteatoma surgery, both in terms of timing and types of investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: : This review aims to explore the clinical significance of atrial fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake observed in positron emission tomography (PET) scans, focusing on its association with atrial fibrillation (AF), cardiac sarcoidosis, and myocarditis. We discuss the implications of atrial uptake for patient management and prognosis. Recent Findings: : Recent studies have demonstrated that atrial FDG uptake is frequently present in patients with AF, particularly those with persistent AF, and is linked to increased risks of stroke and poorer outcomes after ablation. In cardiac sarcoidosis, atrial uptake correlates with inflammation and an elevated risk of AF. Additionally, non-granulomatous myocarditis has been associated with localized atrial FDG uptake, necessitating careful differentiation from other causes. Summary: : Atrial FDG uptake reflects underlying pathological processes such as inflammation, which can significantly impact patient management and outcomes across various cardiovascular diseases. Recognizing these findings can facilitate early intervention, improve prognosis, and support the development of clear guidelines for clinical practice, emphasizing the need for continued research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article focuses on the advancements in non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (NC-MRA) and its increasing importance in body imaging, especially for patients with renal complications, pregnant women, and children. It highlights the relevance of NC-MRA in chest, abdominal, and pelvis imaging and details various bright-blood NC-MRA techniques like cardiac-gated 3D Fast Spin Echo (FSE), balanced Steady-State Free Precession (bSSFP), Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL), and 4D flow methods. The article explains the operational principles of these techniques, their clinical applications, and their advantages over traditional contrast-enhanced methods. Special attention is given to the utility of these techniques in diverse imaging scenarios, including liver, renal, and pelvic imaging. The article underscores the growing importance of NC-MRA in medical diagnostics, offering insights into current practices and potential future developments. This comprehensive review is a valuable resource for radiologists and clinicians, emphasizing NC-MRA's role in enhancing patient care and diagnostic accuracy across various medical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmodium malariae parasites are widely observed across the tropics and sub-tropics. This slow-growing species, known to maintain chronic asymptomatic infections, has been associated with reduced antimalarial susceptibility. We analyse 251 P. malariae genomes from 28 countries, and leveraging 131,601 high-quality SNPs, demonstrate segregation of African and Asian isolates. Signals of recent evolutionary selection were identified in genes encoding putative surface proteins (pmmsp1) and putative erythrocyte invasion proteins (pmdpap3, pmrbp2, pmnif4). Amino acid substitutions were identified in orthologs of genes associated with antimalarial susceptibility including 2 amino acid substitutions in pmdhfr aligning with pyrimethamine resistance mutations in P. falciparum. Additionally, we characterise pmdhfr mutation F57L and demonstrate its involvement in reduced susceptibility to pyrimethamine in an in vitro parasite assay. We validate CRISPR-Cas9 mediated ortholog replacement in P. knowlesi parasites to determine the function of pmdhfr mutations and demonstrate that circulating pmdhfr genotypes are less susceptible to pyrimethamine. Plasmodium malariae can cause chronic asymptomatic infections. Here, Ibrahim and colleagues provide WGS data for > 200 P. malariae isolates. Describing mutations in genes associated with drug resistance, and using ortholog replacement in P. knowlesi, they identify dhfr genotypes with reduced susceptibility to pyrimethamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is motivated by an application to the EarlyBird cohort study aiming to explore how anthropometrics and clinical and metabolic processes are associated with obesity and glucose control during childhood. There is interest in inferring the relationship between dynamically changing and high-dimensional metabolites and a longitudinal response. Important aspects of the analysis include the selection of the important set of metabolites and the accommodation of missing data in both response and covariate values. With this motivation, we propose a flexible but parsimonious Bayesian semiparametric joint model for the outcome and the covariate generating processes, making novel use of nonparametric mean processes, latent factor models, and different classes of continuous shrinkage priors. The proposed approach efficiently addresses daunting dimensionality challenges, simplifies imputation tasks, and automates the selection of important predictors. Implementation via an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm appropriately accounts for uncertainty in various aspects of the analysis. Simulation experiments illustrate the efficacy of the proposed methodology. The application to the EarlyBird cohort study illustrates its practical utility in enabling statistical integration of different molecular processes involved in glucose production and metabolism. From this study, we were able to show that glucose levels from 5 to 16 years of age are associated with different circulating levels of metabolites in the blood serum and can be fitted over time for a wide range of shapes of trajectories. The metabolites contributing the most to explaining glucose trajectories tend to be involved in different central energy metabolomic pathways. The methodology provides a tool to generate new hypotheses related to obesity and glucose control during childhood and adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ground-based solar telescope THEMIS performed several observations of Mercury's sodium exosphere in years 2011–2013, when the MESSENGER spacecraft was orbiting around the planet. Typical two-peak exospheric patterns were frequently identified. In previous studies, some specific cases of THEMIS Na two-peak observations were characterized and related to IMF conditions, during specific extreme cases, in the occasion of CME arrival. The present study aims to perform a statistical analysis of Na two-peak emissions in nominal IMF conditions at Mercury, as measured by MESSEGER. The comparison between parameters of Na two-peak exospheric patterns (relative distances and intensities) versus the IMF intensity and Z-component is analysed, demonstrating, in average conditions, the existance of a direct relationship between Na peaks distance/intensity and IMF intensity. Moreover, only when IMF is very low, the shear angle seems to detrmine the occurrence of dayside reconnection when IMF-Z is negative (similarly to the Earth's case), whereas at higher IMF, it seems that reconnection may occur independently from shear angle. This study supports the idea that particle precipitation is a significant driver of the shaping of Na exosphere morphology, and that only when IMF intensity is particularly low, the dayside magnetospheric structure appears to be more similar to the Earth's configuration. These results allow to better understand the way the planet reacts to IMF conditions, thus providing interesting clues for the incoming BepiColombo measurement objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular extracellular matrix (ECM) networks play an essential role in skin architecture and function. Elastin microfibril interface-located proteins (EMILINs) comprise a family of three extracellular glycoproteins that serve as essential structural components of the elastin/fibrillin microfibril network, and exert crucial functions in cellular signaling. Little is known about the structural nature of EMILIN networks in skin. We therefore investigated the spatiotemporal localization of EMILIN-1, -2, -3 in human skin induced by aging, UV-exposure, fibrosis, and connective tissue disorder. Confocal immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy analysis identified all EMILINs as components of elastic fibers and elastin-free oxytalan fibers inserted into the basement membrane (BM). Further, our ultrastructural analysis demonstrates cellular contacts of dermally localized EMILIN-1 positive fibers across the BM with the surface of basal keratinocytes. Analysis of skin biopsies and fibroblast cultures from fibrillin-1 deficient Marfan patients revealed that EMILINs require intact fibrillin-1 as deposition scaffold. In patients with scleroderma and the bleomycin-induced murine fibrosis model EMILIN-2 was upregulated. EMILIN-3 localizes to the tips of candelabra-like oxytalan fibers, and to specialized BMs engulfing hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Our data identify EMILINs as important markers to monitor rearrangements of the dermal ECM architecture induced by aging and pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring fault tolerance in systems of multiple sources of energy (SMSE) is crucial for reliable operation. Detecting, localizing, and characterizing faults are essential tasks for system integrity. This paper presents a novel approach utilizing hierarchical Bayesian belief networks (HBBNs) to identify and isolate open-circuit faults in DC–DC power converters commonly employed in SMSE applications. Our method addresses the challenge of fault detection and isolation, significantly enhancing system reliability. In particular, we design a comprehensive system capable of detecting and isolating faults in a system of multiple DC–DC converters, leveraging the interpretability and efficiency of HBBNs. We also utilize measurements from other converters to detect and isolate faults in a single converter, enabling efficient fault management. Our approach utilizes regularly monitored variables of the system, eliminating the need for additional sensors, thereby reducing complexity and cost. Additionally, we generalize HBBNs to be adaptable to any number of converters, providing scalability and flexibility in fault detection and isolation. Notably, the interpretability and simplicity of HBBNs, with a small number of parameters compared to other data-driven methods such as neural networks, contribute to their effectiveness in fault management. Through extensive testing on simulated data generated via a developed state space model, our approach demonstrates its effectiveness in bolstering the robustness of DC–DC power converters against open-circuit faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution mapping of deep-sea polymetallic nodules is needed (a) to understand the reasons behind their patchy distribution, (b) to associate nodule coverage with benthic fauna occurrences, and (c) to enable an accurate resource estimation and mining path planning. This study used an autonomous underwater vehicle to map 37 km2 of a geomorphologically complex site in the Eastern Clarion–Clipperton Fracture Zone. A multibeam echosounder system (MBES) at 400 kHz and a side scan sonar at 230 kHz were used to investigate the nodule backscatter response. More than 30,000 seafloor images were analyzed to obtain the nodule coverage and train five machine learning (ML) algorithms: generalized linear models, generalized additive models, support vector machines, random forests (RFs) and neural networks (NNs). All models ML yielded similar maps of nodule coverage with differences occurring in the range of predicted values, particularly at parts with irregular topography. RFs had the best fit and NNs had the worst spatial transferability. Attention was given to the interpretability of model outputs using variable importance ranking across all models, partial dependence plots and domain knowledge. The nodule coverage is higher on relatively flat seafloor (< 3°) with eastward-facing slopes. The most important predictor was the MBES backscatter, particularly from incident angles between 25 and 55°. Bathymetry, slope, and slope orientation were important geomorphological predictors. For the first time, at a water depth of 4500 m, orthophoto-mosaics and image-derived digital elevation models with 2-mm and 5-mm spatial resolutions supported the geomorphological analysis, interpretation of polymetallic nodules occurrences, and backscatter response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Clinicians use the CTCAE scale to grade radiation dermatitis (RD) based on edema, erythema, and desquamation. The purpose of this study was to correlate the CTCAE scores with the severity of patient-reported symptoms using a skin symptom assessment (SSA) and the Radiation-Induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale (RISRAS). Materials and methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial involving 376 patients receiving Mepitel Film or standard-of-care for RD prophylaxis. The highest symptom categories for SSA and patient-component RISRAS assessments were selected from all time points, and a summary analysis and Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated for patients with CTCAE Grades 0, 1, 2, 3, and Grade 2/3, respectively. Analyses were conducted across all patients, within each treatment arm, and between arms in patients with only Grade 2 or 3 toxicity. Results: Weak correlations between CTCAE scores and all patient-reported skin symptoms were found across the entire cohort and each treatment arm (p < 0.05). Patients with Grade 2 (n = 72) and Grade 3 RD (n = 24) reported similar rates of patient-reported moderate-to-severe skin symptoms (11–72% vs 14–79%), with no significant difference in rates of individual moderate-to-severe symptom between these cohorts (p > 0.05). Between treatment arms, rates of patient-reported moderate-to-severe scores were similar for most symptoms. Conclusion: CTCAE RD scores are weakly correlated with patient-reported skin symptoms and cannot distinguish between patients with severe patient-reported outcomes. Clinicians should consider the limitations of CTCAE grading and incorporate patient-reported outcomes within clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objectives: Since the use of a bio stimulant should provide a response to a problem that depends on the production system implemented (crops, plant model, soil, climate, the farmer's practices...), the agricultural sector is facing concomitant challenges of choosing the best bio stimulant that suits their needs. Thus, understanding bio stimulant-plant interactions, at molecular level, using metabolomics approaches is a prerequisite, for the development of a bio stimulant, leading to an effective exploration and application of formulations in agriculture. AGRO-K®, is commercialized as a plant-based bio stimulant that improve vigor and enhance resistance to lodging in cereal crops. A recent previous untargeted metabolomics study has demonstrated the ability of this bio stimulant to improve wheat resistance to lodging, in real open-field conditions. However, the reproducibility of the impact of this bio stimulant in other filed crops is not yet investigated. Methods: Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the changes in primary and secondary metabolites in the roots, stems, and leaves of fiber flax (Linum usitatissimum L), treated with the bio stimulant, using NMR and LC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics approach. Results and conclusions: In addition to the previous result conducted in wheat, the present analysis seemed to show that this bio stimulant led to a similar pathway enhancement in flax. The pathways which seem to be reproducibly impacted are hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs), phenylpropanoids and flavonoids. Impacting these pathways enhance root growth and elongation and cell wall lignification, which can aid in preventing crop lodging. These results confirm that HCAAs, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids could serve as signatory biomarkers of the impact of AGRO-K® on improving lodging resistance across various plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sleep apnea, posing significant health risks, is frequently associated with Chiari malformation (CM), characterized by cerebellar tonsil herniation through the foramen magnum. Central sleep apnea (CSA) in CM results from impaired brain-to-muscle signaling and requires treatment. Conversely, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), arising from throat muscle relaxation, typically unrelated to CM, often coexists. This study evaluates the effectiveness of posterior fossa decompression (PFD) on sleep apnea. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients with CM-1 and sleep apnea who underwent PFD between April 1, 2004, and September 30, 2022. Data collected included demographics, clinical characteristics, adenotonsillectomy status, PFD details, and sleep study parameters like the apnea-hypopnea index and respiratory disturbance index. Statistical analysis assessed the surgery's impact on sleep apnea severity. Results: The study included eleven patients, predominantly male (63.6%). All had OSA (100%), with 63.6% also having CSA. Preoperative sleep studies classified OSA severity as 36.4% mild, 18.2% moderate, and 45.5% severe, with no change post-surgery. CSA severity initially included seven mild cases, which became three mild, one moderate, and three resolved cases post-surgery. Among seven patients who had adenotonsillectomy before decompression, five showed no improvement in OSA severity post-surgery. Conclusion: This study elucidates the complex relationship between CM-1, sleep apnea, and PFD. The findings show the persistence of sleep apnea in some patients and highlight the need for continuous monitoring of these patients in order to optimize their care after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilayer (BL) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are important materials in valleytronics and twistronics. Here we study terahertz (THz) magneto-optical (MO) properties of n-type 2H-stacking BL molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) on sapphire substrate grown by chemical vapor deposition. The AFM, Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence are used for characterization of the samples. Applying THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS), in combination with polarization test and the presence of magnetic field in Faraday geometry, THz MO transmissions through the sample are measured from 0 to 8 T at 80 K. The complex right- and left-handed circular MO conductivities for 2H-stacking BL MoS2 are obtained. Through fitting the experimental results with theoretical formula of MO conductivities for an electron gas, generalized by us previously through the inclusion of photon-induced electronic backscattering effect, we are able to determine magneto-optically the key electronic parameters of BL MoS2, such as the electron density ne, the electronic relaxation time τ, the electronic localization factor c and, particularly, the effective electron mass m* around Q-point in between the K- and Γ-point in the electronic band structure. The dependence of these parameters upon magnetic field is examined and analyzed. This is a pioneering experimental work to measure m* around the Q-point in 2H-stacking BL MoS2 and the experimental value is very close to that obtained theoretically. We find that ne/τ/ ∣ c ∣ /m* in 2H-stacking BL MoS2 decreases/increases/decreases/increases with increasing magnetic field. The results obtained from this study can be benefit to us in gaining an in-depth understanding of the electronic and optoelectronic properties of BL TMD systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study applied geostatistical and machine learning models, namely ordinary cokriging (OCK) and the support machine vector (SVM) algorithm, for mineral mapping of a gold prospect at Tikondi (East, Cameroon). For this purpose, five hundred and fifty (550) soil samples were collected and analyzed for Au, Ag, Zn, Fe, Cu, Pb, As, Sb, W and Bi. OCK and SVM models were validated using numerical and graphical methods of validation. Results showed that the gold grade ranged from 1 to 2480 ppb, with an average value of 9.973 ppb. The principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that bismuth (Bi) has the strongest association with gold grades. For OCK, the histogram of errors indicated a solid assessment when the root mean square error (RMSE = 21.41), mean absolute error (MAE = 4.76) and correlation coefficient (R = 0.841) indicated that OCK is a decent model, but with certain values poorly predicted. The confusion matrix and ROC measurement indicated clearly that SVM was a robust and efficient predictor for prospect mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread of the different Plasmodium species able to infect humans and is responsible for most malaria cases outside Africa. An effective, strain-transcending vaccine that alleviates or suppresses erythrocyte invasion would be a game-changer in eliminating vivax malaria. Recently, the binding of P. vivax Reticulocyte Binding Protein 2b (PvRBP2b) to human Transferrin receptor (TfR1) has been described as essential for reticulocyte invasion, making this parasite protein an appealing vaccine candidate. Here, using P. vivax Cambodian clinical isolates in robust ex vivo invasion assays, we show that anti-PvRBP2b polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies that inhibit binding of PvRBP2b to TfR1 do not block P. vivax invasion into reticulocytes even at high concentrations. Anti-TfR1 antibodies do not inhibit P. vivax invasion either. Combinations at high concentrations of human monoclonal antibodies targeting different PvRBP2b epitopes do not inhibit invasion. Combinations of anti-PvRBP2b with anti-PvDBP do not enhance invasion inhibition caused by anti-PvDBP alone. We also show that the invasion of Cambodian P. vivax is trypsin-resistant while TfR1 is trypsin-sensitive, and we demonstrate that TfR1 is not recycled following trypsin treatment. We determined the PvRBP2b sequence of all isolates used in the invasion assays and analyzed polymorphism within epitopes recognized by anti-PvRBP2b antibodies. We show that polymorphism does not explain the absence of neutralization. Anti-PvRBP2b polyclonal antibodies recognized all four isolates tested in immunofluorescence assays while not inhibiting P. vivax invasion. Overall, our results demonstrate that PvRBP2b binding to TfR1 is not essential for invasion into reticulocytes of P. vivax Cambodian strains questioning the relevance of PvRBP2b as vaccine candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Activation of endothelial cells and platelets in atherothrombosis is characterized by upregulation of P-selectin. As a consequence, P-selectin represents a potential target for molecular imaging to identify thrombosis at an early stage. Fucoidan is a polysaccharide ligand extracted from brown algae with nanomolar affinity for P-selectin. This first-in-human study evaluated in healthy volunteers the safety, whole-body biodistribution, and dosimetry of 99mTc-fucoidan (Good Manufacturing Practices grade). We also investigated whether we could observe binding of 99mTc-fucoidan to human thrombi ex vivo and in vivo. In ten healthy volunteers, conjugate whole-body scans were performed up to 24 h following intravenous injection of 99mTc-fucoidan (370 MBq). Moreover, 99mTc-fucoidan uptake in ex vivo human thrombi (n = 11) was measured by gamma counting. Additionally, three patients with a newly diagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were subjected to 99mTc-fucoidan SPECT/CT imaging. Results: 99mTc-fucoidan was well tolerated in all participants without any drug-related adverse events. The total-body absorbed dose in males was comparable to females (0.012 ± 0.004 vs. 0.011 ± 0.005 mSv/MBq; p = 0.97). Gamma counting experiments demonstrated binding of tracer to ex vivo human thrombi that was 16% lower after blocking with a natural P-selectin ligand, Sialyl Lewis X. 99mTc-fucoidan demonstrated specific uptake at the thrombus site in one out of three scanned patients with DVT. Conclusions: 99mTc-Fucoidan has a favorable biodistribution and safety profile. 99mTc-fucoidan exhibited specific binding to human thrombi in both in vivo and ex vivo settings. Nonetheless, the in vivo results do not support further clinical investigation of 99mTc-fucoidan as an imaging modality for DVT. Other clinical implementations of a technetium− 99m-labeled P-selectin tracer should be considered. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials,NCT03422055.Registered 01/15/2018. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03422055Landelijk Trial Register, NL7739. Registered 4/2/2019. https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/en/trial/26785 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: This review assesses recent developments in community access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). It examines literature on differentiated service delivery (DSD) and alternative delivery modes for PrEP, focusing on the role of community pharmacies and novel pick-up points. Key considerations include barriers to access, potential benefits, and strategies for implementation. Recent Findings: Challenges to optimal HIV healthcare delivery persist globally, with LMICs facing greater barriers due to resource constraints and structural obstacles. Community pharmacies and novel pick-up points offer promising avenues to expand access to HIV medication, especially in hard-to-reach populations. However, operational complexities and regulatory frameworks present significant challenges. Recent initiatives, such as collaborative practice agreements and programmes by global health agencies, highlight efforts to integrate community pharmacies into HIV prevention and care delivery. Mobile health clinics and home delivery services have also shown promise in improving treatment coverage. Summary: Community pharmacies and novel pick-up points play a crucial role in enhancing access to HIV PrEP in LMICs. Despite challenges related to infrastructure, funding, and regulatory oversight, innovative strategies like DSD and mobile outreach offer opportunities to reach marginalized populations. Real-life examples from LMICs demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of leveraging community pharmacies for HIV treatment. However, addressing policy gaps, strengthening pharmacist training, and promoting patient-centred approaches are essential for scaling up access to PrEP. Collaboration between governments, health agencies, and local communities is key to realizing the full potential of community pharmacies in HIV prevention and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peroxidase (Per) reaction is a quick and inexpensive biosensor for the screening of environmental contaminants and wastewaters. The purpose of this study was to screen various municipal wastewaters before and after 7 different types of treatment processes using this sensor to identify potential sites under stress by urban pollution. The following wastewater samples before (influent) and after the commonly applied treatments (effluent) were tested using the Per activity test: advanced biofiltration, biofiltration, aerated lagoons, secondary aeration sludge, trickling filter, secondary membrane filtration, and primary. The influents and effluents were collected for 3 days and concentrated to 500 X on a reverse-phase (C18) extraction cartridge. The ethanol extracts were examined for dissolved organic carbon, plastic-like materials, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and polystyrene nanoplastics. The samples were then tested using the Per reaction alone and in the presence of DNA to detect DNA binding agents. The results show that population size tended to increase Per activity and 60% of the effluents decreased Per activity leading to H2O2 persistence and toxicity. More advanced treatments (biofiltration, membrane biofiltration, secondary aeration) produced stronger changes from the corresponding untreated influents corroborating their performance in reducing toxicity. The addition of DNA during the Per reaction revealed that population size had no influence and that 60% of treated effluents restored Per activity suggesting release of genotoxic compounds in the aquatic environment from treated wastewaters. The toxic implications of the continuous release of wastewaters in aquatic ecosystems are discussed in the light of emerging contaminants such as nanoplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess the outcomes of robotic surgery for patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions (NLUTD). Materials and methods: Studies evaluating the outcomes (efficacy and safety) of robot-assisted ileal conduit creation or artificial urinary sphincter (R-AUS) implantation or augmentation cystoplasty or continent urinary diversion creation in patients with NLUTD were included. The search strategy and studies selection were performed on Medline, Embase and Cochrane using the PICOS method according to the PRISMA statement (PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022333157). The comparator, if available, was the use of open or laparoscopic technique. Meta-analysis was performed whenever possible. The remaining articles were synthesized narratively. Results: Eight articles were included. Five described the outcomes of robot-assisted cystectomy with ileal conduit creation, two described the outcomes of augmentation cystoplasty and continent urinary diversion creation and one described R-AUS implantation in patients with NLUTD. The risk of bias was high. Three articles comparing the outcomes of robotic and open cystectomy and ileal conduit creation were suitable for meta-analysis. According to our meta-analysis, robot-assisted surgery had better outcomes compared to open surgery in terms of high-grade early postoperative complications (OR 0.39; 0.19–0.79; p = 0.01), days to bowel recovery (Cohen’s D = − 0.62 ± 0.14, p < 0.001), length of hospitalisation (Cohen’s D = − 0.28 ± 0.13; p = 0.03) and estimated blood loss (Cohen’s D = − 1.17 ± 0.14, p < 0.001).Regarding AUS implantation, augmentation cystoplasty and continent urinary diversion creation, the outcomes from the articles included in our systematic review showed a 16–40% overall early complication rate in case of augmentation cystoplasty and 22% in case of AUS implantation. Conclusions: Robot-assisted surgery may have several advantages over open surgery in the treatment of NLUTDs. However, current evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions. Further high-quality studies are needed to better understand the role of robotic surgery in the treatment of NLUTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labels are currently numerous and diverse in the fishery and aquaculture products (FAPs) market, providing consumers with information about the different attributes of FAPs. This extensive development implies that consumers have to face trade-off situations. This paper aims (1) to identify which labels are most valued by consumers when they face a trade-off situation, (2) to study the consumption profiles behind these preferences and (3) to suggest ways of improving the efficiency of labelling policies. Based on a survey conducted in 2021 (n = 1 427), this article describes FAPs consumers' preferences for labelled FAPs. To do so, each consumer was asked to rank their favourite scheme from a pool of nine hypothetical labels related to specific FAPs characteristics. Then, we used a mixed multinomial logit model (MMLM) with marginal effects to analyse consumption profiles. Our results show heterogeneity among consumers regarding labelled FAPs. Overall, labels that ensure intrinsic qualities remain preferred to labels linked to ethical considerations. Moreover, while preferences for domestic productions are prominent, there is a very wide gap with real purchasing behaviour. Furthermore, this study shows that personal motivation, age, gender, knowledge or place of residence influence the preferences expressed. Labels are a policy tool used to reform the FAPs value chain. Nevertheless, they are struggling to achieve their objectives. Our results can be useful for better targeting the messages to be implemented, improving the efficiency of labelling policies and helping consumers to make informed and sustainable choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The study evaluated the concordance between patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and clinician-reported outcomes (CRO) of acute radiation dermatitis (RD) symptoms following adjuvant radiotherapy for early-stage and locally advanced breast cancer. Material and methods: This is a secondary analysis of a multi-center randomized phase 3 trial (376 patients). Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to compare the Skin Symptom Assessment (SSA) independently reported by both patients and clinicians. Concordance between patient- and clinician-reported SSAs for RD symptoms was measured by percent concordance, concordance index (C-statistic), and Cohen’s Kappa. Analyses were performed across all patients in the original modified intention-to-treat analysis and those with only grade 2–3 (CTCAE) RD. Results: PROs were significantly more severe than CROs across all RD symptoms (Odds Ratio [OR] > 1; p < 0.0001). Pigmentation (OR 5.4), blistering/peeling (OR 4.0), and pain/soreness (OR 3.9) were the most differentially reported symptoms. Poor-to-low concordance was noted between patient- and clinician-reported SSAs for all RD symptoms for the entire cohort (percent concordance < 50%, C-statistic 0.52–0.63, Cohen’s Kappa 13.9–23.4%) and those with grade 2–3 RD (percent concordance < 50%, C-statistic 0.56–0.66, Cohen’s Kappa 2.0–24.5%). Similarly, poor-to-low concordance was noted in both Mepitel film and standard-of-care arms. Conclusion: PROs and CROs have poor concordance in breast RD, and patients report worse outcomes than clinicians, regardless of RD severity or prophylaxis. PROs must be further integrated into routine clinical practice and clinical trial design to reduce the risk of underreporting symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asciminib is a first-in-class allosteric inhibitor of the kinase activity of BCR::ABL1, specifically targeting the ABL myristoyl pocket (STAMP). This review focuses on the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic data of asciminib, which is approved at a total daily dose of 80 mg for the treatment of adult patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase who are either resistant or intolerant to ≥ 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors or those harboring the T315I mutation (at a dose of 200 mg twice daily). Asciminib is predicted to be almost completely absorbed from the gut, with an absolute bioavailability (F) of approximately 73%. It should be administered in a fasted state, as food (particularly high-fat meals) reduces exposure. Asciminib displays a slightly greater than dose-proportional increase in exposure, with no time-dependent changes in PK observed following repeated dosing. This drug shows low clearance (6.31 L/h), with a moderate volume of distribution (111 L) and high human plasma protein binding (97.3%). The apparent terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) across studies was estimated to be between 7 and 15 h. The PK of asciminib is not substantially affected by body weight, age, gender, race, or renal or hepatic impairment. Asciminib is primarily metabolized via CYP3A4-mediated oxidation (36.0%) and UGT2B7- and UGT2B17-mediated glucuronidation (13.3% and 7.8%, respectively); biliary secretion via breast cancer resistance protein contributes to about 31.1% to total systemic clearance, which is mainly through hepatic metabolism and biliary secretion through the fecal pathway, with renal excretion playing a minor role. The potential for PK drug interaction for asciminib both as a victim and a perpetrator has been summarized here based on clinical and predicted drug–drug interaction studies. Robust exposure–response models characterized asciminib exposure–efficacy and exposure–safety relationships. In patients without the T315I mutation, the exposure–efficacy analysis of the time course of BCR::ABL1IS percentages highlighted the existence of a slightly positive, albeit not clinically significant, relationship. Higher exposure was required for efficacy in patients harboring the T315I mutation compared with those who did not. The exposure–safety relationship analysis showed no apparent association between exposure and adverse events of interest over the broad range of exposure or dose levels investigated. Asciminib has also been shown to have no clinically relevant effect on cardiac repolarization. Here, we review the clinical pharmacology data available to date for asciminib that supported its clinical development program and regulatory applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this systematic review is to investigate the inclusion of autistic individuals in the design process of immersive technologies. This study follows the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses standards for systematic literature reviews. To ensure the research questions and subsequent stages of the review incorporate pertinent parameters, the problem, interest, context framework has also been employed. Findings highlight that, while early proponents of immersive technology emphasized the importance of user involvement in design of new technology, immaturity of the technology often limited the implementation of direct user input to the design process. Nonetheless, analysis of the literature published between 2002–2022 identified 20 studies in which substantial influence of autistic individuals and stakeholders was found in the design process of immersive technologies. The roles of autistic individuals varied from active co-designers and co-creators to essential contributors in refining prototypes and providing critical feedback, ensuring the final products align with their needs and preferences. Results underscore the need to align research and design of immersive technologies more closely with the priorities and preferences of autistic individuals. Further is needed regarding actively involving autistic individuals in the design and implementation of immersive technology applications. On this basis, we maintain that more inclusive and effective deployment of immersive technologies is needed in order to ensure that resultant technologies are fit for purpose and address the actual needs of the autistic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension and diabetes are currently the most common, treatable, and controllable cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors for stroke, heart, and renal diseases in Cameroon. Hypertension affects 30% of adults aged ≥ 20 years with 90% as uncontrolled cases, while type 2 diabetes affects 6% of the same population, with 70% remaining underdiagnosed. Despite publication of the first Roadmap on raised blood pressure by the World Heart Federation in 2015, the Pan African Society of Cardiology Roadmap in 2017, and the technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care (WHO-HEARTS) in 2020, very little progress has been made in improving the diagnosis, treatment, and control of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in Cameroon. The Cameroon Cardiac Society and a dozen Cameroon non-communicable diseases societies, national organizations from the community and the civil society, along with researchers and members of academia and the health sector, came together under the patronage of representatives of the government to propose new strategies to improve hypertension and diabetes control and save lives in Cameroon. Two simple and practical algorithms for the management of hypertension and diabetes were developed. The ten recommendations tailored to be efficiently implemented in our country were summarized under the acronym 'A SMART VIEW' (Awareness, Screening, Manufacture, Activity, Research, Task-shifting, HIV/AIDS, Insurance, Education, and WHO-HEARTS). It is our hope that all stakeholders will further collaborate to remove barriers and enhance facilitators to deploy the proposed actions and reduce the burden of uncontrolled hypertension and untreated diabetes in Cameroon. Plain Language Summary: Hypertension and diabetes are very common, yet treatable, cardiovascular, and metabolic risk factors for stroke, heart, and renal diseases in Cameroon. One-third of all adults aged 20 years or more in Cameroon have hypertension, in most of whom it remains uncontrolled. In addition, while 6% of these adults have type 2 diabetes, more than two-thirds remain underdiagnosed. Despite efforts to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and control of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in Cameroon, minimal progress has been made. The Cameroon Cardiac Society, supported by input from Cameroon non-communicable diseases societies, national institutions/organizations, and representatives from the community, research, academia, and the health sector, has now developed two practical algorithms and ten recommendations specific to the Cameroonian population in an attempt to improve the control of hypertension and diabetes in Cameroon. It is hoped that these stakeholders will further collaborate to ensure the efficient implementation of these recommendations across the country, with the ongoing aim of monitoring their effectiveness over the next five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The goal of this study was to identify the preoperative predictors of pathologic nodal metastases (pN+) in cT1cN0 HER2+ breast cancer undergoing upfront surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from women with cT1-T2N0 HER2+ breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy (NAC) or upfront surgery at our institution between 2012 and 2023. Factors associated with management strategy were evaluated, and in those undergoing upfront surgery, univariate analyses were performed to identify the clinicopathologic factors associated with nodal metastases. Results: Overall, 255 women with cT1-T2N0 HER2+ breast cancer met inclusion criteria, including 170 (68.6%) upfront surgery patients and 85 (31.4%) who underwent NAC. The median age at diagnosis was 59 years (range, 27–90 years). Younger age, larger clinical tumor size, high-grade disease, ER-PR-HER2+ subtype, and year of diagnosis after 2019 were significantly associated with receipt of NAC (p < 0.05). In those undergoing upfront surgery, 25.3% were pN+ , including 32.5% of cT1cN0 tumors. Factors associated with nodal involvement included age under 50, larger clinical tumor size, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), multifocality/multicentricity, and abnormal lymph nodes on axillary ultrasound (p < 0.05). In subset analysis of cT1cN0 HER2+ cases, LVI remained the strongest predictor of pN + disease (73.3% vs. 22.6%, p < 0.001). Patients with cT1cN0 HER2+ breast cancer under 50 years had a 47.1% likelihood of pN+ disease. Conclusion: Patients with cT1cN0 breast cancer have a 32.5% likelihood of nodal metastases, with higher incidence with younger age, LVI, multifocality/multicentricity, and abnormal axillary ultrasound. The presence of these factors may identify the patients who would benefit from treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria defend against phage infection through a variety of antiphage defence systems1. Many defence systems were recently shown to deplete cellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in response to infection, by cleaving NAD+ into ADP-ribose (ADPR) and nicotinamide2–7. It was demonstrated that NAD+ depletion during infection deprives the phage of this essential molecule and impedes phage replication. Here we show that a substantial fraction of phages possess enzymatic pathways allowing reconstitution of NAD+ from its degradation products in infected cells. We describe NAD+ reconstitution pathway 1 (NARP1), a two-step pathway in which one enzyme phosphorylates ADPR to generate ADPR pyrophosphate (ADPR-PP), and the second enzyme conjugates ADPR-PP and nicotinamide to generate NAD+. Phages encoding NARP1 can overcome a diverse set of defence systems, including Thoeris, DSR1, DSR2, SIR2–HerA and SEFIR, all of which deplete NAD+ as part of their defensive mechanism. Phylogenetic analyses show that NARP1 is primarily encoded on phage genomes, suggesting a phage-specific function in countering bacterial defences. A second pathway, NARP2, allows phages to overcome bacterial defences by building NAD+ using metabolites different from ADPR-PP. Our findings reveal a unique immune evasion strategy in which viruses rebuild molecules depleted by defence systems, thus overcoming host immunity.A study shows that many phages are capable of evading antiphage defence systems of bacteria by reconstituting NAD+ from its degradation products in infected cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deposition of monosodium urate and calcium pyrophosphate (MSU and CPP) micro-crystals is responsible for painful and recurrent inflammation flares in gout and chondrocalcinosis. In these pathologies, the inflammatory reactions are due to the activation of macrophages responsible for releasing various cytokines including IL-1β. The maturation of IL-1β is mediated by the multiprotein NLRP3 inflammasome. Here, we find that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by crystals and concomitant production of IL-1β depend on cell volume regulation via activation of the osmo-sensitive LRRC8 anion channels. Both pharmacological inhibition and genetic silencing of LRRC8 abolish NLRP3 inflammasome activation by crystals in vitro and in mouse models of crystal-induced inflammation. Activation of LRRC8 upon MSU/CPP crystal exposure induces ATP release, P2Y receptor activation and intracellular calcium increase necessary for NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β maturation. We identify a function of the LRRC8 osmo-sensitive anion channels with pathophysiological relevance in the context of joint crystal-induced inflammation. Formation of urate and calcium pyrophosphate micro-crystals is responsible for painful inflammatory flares in gout and chondrocalcinosis. Here the authors show that the osmo-sensitive LRRC8 anion channel is involved with macrophage inflammasome activation by crystals involving cell volume regulation and ATP release leading to P2Y receptor activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health symptoms among healthcare professionals (HCP) in intensive care units (ICUs) are a significant concern affecting both HCP well-being and patient care outcomes. Cross-sectional studies among members of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) report up to 50% burnout rates. Determinants of burnout include communication, team cohesion, psychological support, and well-being promotion. We designed the 'Hello Bundle' intervention to mitigate burnout among ICU-HCPs by fostering positive social interactions and a supportive work environment. This justification synthesizes evidence from social psychology, positive psychology, and healthcare communication research to support the intervention. The 'Hello Bundle' aims to enhance interpersonal relationships, improve team cohesion, and reduce burnout rates. The six components include: Hello campaign posters, email reminders, integrating greetings in morning huddles, hello jars, lead-by-example initiatives, and a daily updated hello board in each ICU. This protocol describes a cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Methods: This protocol describes a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted among ESICM-affiliated ICUs, consisting of at least 73 clusters with in average of 50 respondents per cluster, totaling approximately 7300 participants. Intervention clusters will implement the 6-component Hello Bundle between October 14 and November 10, 2024, while control clusters will be wait-listed to receive the intervention in January 2025 after the RCT concludes. Clusters will be matched based on ICU size (fewer or more than 20 beds), region, and average 2023 mortality. The primary outcome is the proportion of HCPs with burnout between intervention and control clusters at the end of the intervention. Secondary outcomes include comparing the following between clusters: (1) number of HCPs with high emotional exhaustion; (2) number with high depersonalization; (3) number with loss of accomplishment; (4) perception of ethical climate (5) satisfaction at work (VAS); (6) professional conflicts; (7) intention to leave the ICU (VAS); (8) patient-centered care rating; (9) family-centered care rating. The last secondary outcome is the comparison of burnout rates before and after the intervention in the intervention cluster. Outcomes will be based on HCP reports collected within four weeks before and after the intervention. Discussion: This is the first large trial of healthcare communication, social, and positive psychology intervention among ICU-HCPs. It holds the potential to provide valuable insights into effective strategies for addressing burnout in ICU settings, ultimately benefiting both HCPs and patients. Trial registration: This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.Gov on June 18, 2024. Registration: NCT06453616. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative rectovaginal fistula leads to a loss of patients' quality of life and presents significant challenges to the surgeon. The literature focusing specifically on postoperative rectovaginal fistulas is limited. The objective of the present study is to identify factors that can enhance the success of the management of this postoperative rectovaginal fistula. Methods: This retrospective multicentric study included all patients undergoing surgery for rectovaginal fistulas, excluding those for whom the etiology of rectovaginal fistula was not postoperative. The major outcome measure was the success of the procedure. Results: A total of 82 patients with postsurgical fistulas were identified, of whom 70 were successfully treated, giving a success rate of 85.4%. On average, these patients required 3.04 ± 2.72 interventions. The creation of a diversion stoma did not increase the success rate of management [odds ratio (OR) = 0.488; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.107–2.220]. Among the 217 procedures performed, 69 were successful, accounting for a 31.8% success rate. The number of interventions and the creation of a diversion stoma did not correlate with the success of management. However, direct coloanal anastomosis was significantly associated with success (OR = 35.06; 95% CI 1.271–997.603; p = 0.036) as compared with endorectal advancement flap (ERAF). Other procedures such as Martius flap did not show a significantly higher success rate. Conclusion: The creation of a diversion stoma is not necessary in closing a fistula. ERAF should be considered as a first-line treatment prior to proposing more invasive approach such as direct coloanal anastomosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding Mercury's magnetosphere is crucial for advancing our comprehension of how the solar wind interacts with the planetary magnetospheres. Despite previous missions, several gaps remain in our knowledge of Mercury's plasma environment. Here, we present findings from BepiColombo's third flyby, offering a synoptic view of the large scale structure and composition of Mercury's magnetosphere. The Mass Spectrum Analyzer (MSA), Mass Ion Analyzer (MIA), and Mass Electron Analyzer (MEA) on the magnetospheric orbiter reveal insights, including the identification of trapped energetic hydrogen (H+) with energies around 20 keV e−1 evidencing a ring current, and a cold ion plasma with energies below 50 eV e−1. Additionally, we observe a Low-Latitude Boundary Layer (LLBL), which is a region of turbulent plasma at the edge of the magnetosphere, characterized by bursty ion enhancements, indicating an ongoing injection process in the duskside magnetosphere flank. These observations during cruise phase provide a tantalizing glimpse of future discoveries expected from the Mercury Plasma Particle Experiment (MPPE) instruments after orbit insertion, promising broader impacts on our understanding of planetary magnetospheres. Due to its proximity to the Sun, the space plasma environment of Mercury is tightly coupled with the interior and the surface of the planet, and their interaction facilitate the escape of planetary material and energy exchange. The authors present data from the third flyby of the BepiColombo spacecraft revealing new evidence of trapped energetic hydrogen (H+) with energies of around 20 keV/e and highlight the presence of cold ion population below 50 eV/e in Mercury's magnetosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Social eating (SE) is a corner stone of daily living activities, quality of life (QoL), and aging well. In addition to feeding functional disorders, patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) face individual and social psychological distress. In this aging population, we intended to better assess the influence of age on these challenges, and the role of self-stigmatization limiting SE in patients with and beyond HNC. Methods: This was an exploratory multicenter cross-sectional mixed method study. Eligibility criteria were adults diagnosed with various non-metastatic HNC, before, during, or until 5 years after treatment. SE disorders were explored with the Performance Status Scale Public Eating rate (PSS-HN PE). In the quantitative part of the study, SE habits, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Body Image Scale (FACT-MBIS) and specific to HNC (FACT-HN35) were also filled in by the patients. In the qualitative study, the semi-structured interview guide was drawn out to explore stigma, especially different dimensions of self-stigmatization. Results: A total of 112 patients were included, mean age 64.7 years, 23.2% of female. One-third (n = 35) of patients had an abnormal PSS-HN PE rate < 100. Younger patients had more often an impaired Normalcy of Diet mean (70.4 vs 82.7, p =.0498) and PE rates (76 vs 86.9, p =.0622), but there was no difference between age subgroups in MBIS nor FACT-HN scores. Seventy patients (72.2%) found SE and drinking « important» to « extremely important» in their daily life. The qualitative study reported self-stigmatization in two older patients and strategies they have developed to cope with in their behaviors of SE. Conclusion: This study confirms that SE remains of high concern in patients with and beyond HNC. Even in older patients experiencing less often functional feeding disorders, body image changes and SE issues are as impaired as in younger patients and need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combating climate change has emerged as a critical mandate for sustainable development, particularly among the top polluters. Green financial instruments have become popular in this regard as the world is shifting to a low-carbon economy to curb global environmental deterioration. This study assesses how renewable energy and two major green financial instruments, green credits (TLBs) and green securities (CAPs), affect environmental quality during the 1992Q1–2020Q4 period. We focused on China, the world's second-largest economy and one of the main CO2 emitters, as a case study from which other countries can adjust their green policies to sustainable development. In a comparative analysis, we mainly employed the method of moments-quantile regression (MM-QR) with the fixed-effects model and Granger's spectral causality in the frequency domain. First, the results revealed that green securities effectively reduced CO2 emissions in all regions at all quantiles than green credits that mainly improved environmental quality in the eastern region, unlike the central and western regions in most cases. Second, we found disparate and asymmetrical effects of the size of TLBs and CAPs on CO2 emissions across provinces. Third, renewable energy consumption enhanced environmental quality in all provinces. In contrast, economic growth, oil prices, urbanization, trade openness, and foreign direct investments have heterogeneous effects over time on CO2 emissions across provinces. Accordingly, based on the special characteristics of each region, our findings imply heterogeneous and specific green policies for sustainable development over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to conduct a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of foreign patients to analyze the impact of patients' illness perceptions on their need for professional medical interpreters. From February 2022 to May 2023, an online questionnaire was distributed to 4,962 individuals aged 18 years or older who were non-native speakers of Japanese. These individuals were enrolled in organizations such as international exchange associations and Japanese language support classes and had utilized medical institutions in Japan due to their own illness or injury or that of their children. Among the 312 valid responses, international patients with a high score for illness perception were more likely to want to utilize professional medical interpreters than those with a low score for illness perception (odds ratio, 1.968; 95% confidence interval, 1.044–3.709; P = 0.036). Our findings suggest that hospitals should be better prepared to meet the potential language needs of international patients with a higher illness perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In temperate regions, most insect species overwinter in diapause while others continue to be active, feed, and possibly reproduce despite adverse climatic conditions. For fruit flies which remain active winter long, the presence of winter-available fruit is crucial for population persistence. This study aimed to disentangle the relative effects of climatic, landscape, and local factors on infestation rates of an important winter trophic resource, mistletoe (Viscum album) fruit, by drosophilid flies. Mistletoe fruits were sampled between January and July 2022 in seven regions of France, across a wide range of climatic conditions from Mediterranean to temperate oceanic. The fruits were used both by the invasive Drosophila suzukii and by the native D. subobscura in the latter part of winter and throughout spring, suggesting that this resource may assist these species to overcome the winter bottleneck. Infestations by both flies were positively associated with the presence of fallen mistletoe fruit on the ground and semi-natural (forest, hedgerow) and anthropogenic (garden, park) habitats. The mistletoe's host tree species also influenced the fruit infestation rate. Drosophila suzukii infestation rate was positively impacted by the accumulated thermal energy ('degree days') in the previous 14 days. Mistletoe could act as a catalyst for the development of spring D. suzukii generations and should be considered in the context of integrative pest management strategies to prevent early infestation of crop fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous literature has produced heterogeneous results on StrataXRT for prevention of acute radiation dermatitis (RD) in breast cancer. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of StrataXRT in a cancer center. Methods: The study consisted of five cohorts: (1) patients with large breasts treated with local radiation therapy (RT) either in the supine position or (2) the prone position, (3) patients receiving locoregional breast RT with any breast size, and (4) patients receiving chest wall RT, either locally or (5) locoregionally. The primary endpoint of the study was RD grade as assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Secondary endpoints included incidence of moist desquamation (MD), patient- and clinician-reported skin assessments, patient quality of life as assessed by the Skindex-16, and patient satisfaction. These outcomes were compared with those from a published trial from the same institution assessing standard of care and Mepitel Film (MF) as prevention of breast RD. Results: Forty-five patients receiving RT to the breast or chest wall were enrolled. Two withdrew, leaving 43 evaluable patients. Overall, two (4.7%) patients had grade 3 RD, 14 (32.6%) had grade 2 RD, and 27 (62.8%) had grade 1 RD. Ten patients (23.3%) developed MD during/after RT. Conclusion: StrataXRT is effective in preventing grade 3 RD in patients, and the most promising results were observed within the prone cohort. Further research includes evaluating the efficacy of StrataXRT against the standard of care for the prophylaxis of RD. Trial registration: The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT05594498) on October 13, 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) proves to be a convenient and cost-effective marker with studies showing that a high NLR can serve as a mortality indicator in burn cases. We conducted a meta-analysis aiming to explore whether on-admission NLR values could serve as predictors of mortality in burn patients. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase were searched from inception until January 2024. We included all studies investigating burn patients that contain information on the NLR value at the time of hospital admission and mortality outcomes. The studies were critically appraised using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool. Results: Nine studies fulfilled our criteria with a total population of 1837 participants, including 1526 survivor Burn patients and 311 non-survivor Burn patients. The overall mean difference measured by random model showed a significant increase in NLR by 5.06 (95% CI 3.42, 6.68) p ≤ 0.001 for the non-survivor group over the survivors group with heterogeneity I2 = 67.33%, p ≤ 0.001. A meta-regression was done to investigate the potential source of heterogeneity among studies. The results showed that age (p = 0.394), gender (p = 0.164), and sample size (p = 0.099) did not contribute to the source of heterogeneity, however, the burn surface area contributed significantly (p = 0.002). A leave-one-out meta-analysis was done, showing that omitting Le Qui et al., leads to significantly decrease the heterogeneity to be I2 = 2.73%. Meta-regression repeated to assess the burn surface area again to be found noncontributing (p = 0.404). Conclusions: Our findings support that elevated NLR values can serve as a mortality indicator in burn cases. This will have a great clinical impact by aiding in stratifying the burn patients on admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the long-term outcomes after percutaneous cryoablation of abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE). Method: The Institutional Review Board approved this retrospective observational review of 40 consecutive patients, of a median age of 37 years (interquartile range [IQR] 32–40 years), presenting with a total of 52 symptomatic AWE nodules. All patients underwent cryoablation between January 2013 and May 2022 with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) that measured pain, as well as by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The pain-free survival rates were derived using the Kaplan–Meier estimator. Adverse events were analyzed and graded using the classification system of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe. Results: The median follow-up time was 40.5 months (IQR 26.5–47.2 months). The median VAS score before cryoablation was 8 (IQR 7–9). Complete relief of symptoms was documented in 80% (32/40) of patients at 3 months after initial cryoablation and correlated with the absence of residual endometriosis nodules on MRI. The median pain-free survival rates were 89.2% [95% CI, 70.1–96.4%] at 36 months and 76.8% [95% CI, 55.3–83.8%] after 60 months. No patient or lesion characteristics were found to be prognostic of failure. No major adverse events or side effects were reported in long term. Conclusion: Cryoablation safely and effectively afforded long-term pain relief for patients with AWE nodules. Clinical relevance statement: AWE cryoablation was found to be safe and effective in the long-term. Key Points: • Cryoablation is highly effective with 80% of patients experiencing complete relief of AWE symptoms after a single procedure. • Cryoablation is safe without long-term adverse events or side effects. • The median pain-free survival rates are 89.2% at 36 months and 76.8% at 60 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption of high-content omic technologies in clinical studies, coupled with computational methods, has yielded an abundance of candidate biomarkers. However, translating such findings into bona fide clinical biomarkers remains challenging. To facilitate this process, we introduce Stabl, a general machine learning method that identifies a sparse, reliable set of biomarkers by integrating noise injection and a data-driven signal-to-noise threshold into multivariable predictive modeling. Evaluation of Stabl on synthetic datasets and five independent clinical studies demonstrates improved biomarker sparsity and reliability compared to commonly used sparsity-promoting regularization methods while maintaining predictive performance; it distills datasets containing 1,400–35,000 features down to 4–34 candidate biomarkers. Stabl extends to multi-omic integration tasks, enabling biological interpretation of complex predictive models, as it hones in on a shortlist of proteomic, metabolomic and cytometric events predicting labor onset, microbial biomarkers of pre-term birth and a pre-operative immune signature of post-surgical infections. Stabl is available at https://github.com/gregbellan/Stabl. Stabl selects sparse and reliable biomarker candidates from predictive models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 26th May 2021, an earthquake with a moment magnitude Mw 5.1 hit the densely populated cities of Gisenyi (Rwanda) and Goma (D.R. Congo) which sit on the active East African Rift System. It was one of the largest earthquakes associated with the 2021 Mount Nyiragongo eruption. Although of moderate magnitude, the earthquake substantially damaged manmade structures. This paper presents field observations on the geotechnical impact, building damage, and factors contributing to the heightened destruction caused by this moderate earthquake. The damage pattern observed in the field indicates that masonry structures with inadequate seismic detailing were the most damaged buildings. In addition, the statistical analysis of the damaged buildings indicates most of the damaged structures were located in plains covered by volcanic soil. The intensity of the waves was estimated using the building damage data based on the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98). An intensity distribution map was generated for the surveyed area, suggesting EMS-98 intensity of VIII or IX along the eastern basin boundary fault and VII around the cities of Goma and Gisenyi where the land is composed of black cotton soil of volcanic origin. The higher intensity values along the eastern basin-bounding fault indicate that a reevaluation of the seismic hazard for the region is necessary. Since this is the first-ever such damage survey for the region, the developed intensity map can be used to understand the correlation between the intensity of the ground motion and damage severity which contributed to the seismic hazard assessment of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document, published in the Neurosurgical Review, provides a detailed description of the surgical technique known as "unilateral biportal endoscopy" (UBE) for the treatment of spinal disorders. The UBE technique involves the use of two small incisions to access the epidural and foraminal areas of the spine, allowing for a magnified view and precise surgical maneuvers. The document outlines the step-by-step process of the surgery, including the use of various instruments and techniques for exposure, laminectomy, flavectomy, hemostasis, and closure. The authors emphasize the benefits of the UBE technique, such as reduced muscle injury, shorter hospital stays, and improved patient recovery. They also provide specific indications and technical variations for different types of spinal hernias and cysts. Overall, this document serves as a comprehensive guide for spine surgeons interested in learning and implementing the UBE technique. [Extracted from the article]

Background and Objective: Asciminib is approved in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (Ph+ CML-CP) treated with ≥ 2 prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Here, we aimed to demonstrate similarity in efficacy/safety of asciminib 80 mg once daily (q.d.) versus 40 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) in patients with CML-CP without T315I mutation and support the use of the 200-mg b.i.d. dosage in patients harboring T315I, using model-informed drug development. Methods: Data were collected from 199 patients in the phase I (NCT02081378; 10−200 mg b.i.d. or 10−400 mg q.d.) and 154 patients in the phase III (NCT03106779; 40 mg b.i.d.) studies. Evaluations were based on population pharmacokinetics (PopPK) and exposure–response (efficacy/safety) analyses. Results: PopPK showed comparable exposure (area under the curve, AUC0-24h) for 40 mg b.i.d. and 80 mg q.d. (12,638 vs 12,646 ng*h/mL); average maximum and minimum plasma concentrations for 80 mg q.d. were 1.61- and 0.72-fold those of 40 mg b.i.d., respectively. Exposure–response analyses predicted similar major molecular response rates for 40 mg b.i.d. and 80 mg q.d. (Week 24: 27.6% vs 24.8%; Week 48: 32.3% vs 30.6%). Results also established adequacy of 200 mg b.i.d. in patients with T315I mutation (Week 24: 20.7%; Week 48: 23.7%), along with a similar safety profile for all dose regimens. Conclusions: Similarity between 40 mg b.i.d. and 80 mg q.d. regimens was investigated, demonstrating similar and substantial efficacy with well-tolerated safety in patients without T315I mutation. The 200-mg b.i.d. dose was deemed safe and effective for patients with T315I mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to describe Plenivitellinum kifi n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Azygiidae) infecting the gastrointestinal tract of the African tigerfish, Hydrocynus vittatus Castelnau, 1861 (Characiformes: Alestidae) in the Kavango River, Namibia. We revise the diagnosis of Azygiidae Lühe, 1909 to accommodate this new species. Methods: The worm was heat-killed, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, stained in Van Cleave's and Ehrlich's hematoxylins, cleared in clove oil, and mounted on glass slide using Canada balsam. Results: The new azygiid resembles species of Otodistomum Stafford, 1904 by having an elongate body, a ventral sucker that is wider than the oral sucker and that is in the anterior half of the body, a pre-testicular ovary, a uterus that primarily occupies the inter-caecal space between the ovary and the ventral sucker, and a vitellarium that is restricted to the hindbody and that is confluent posteriorly in the post-testicular region. The new genus differs from all species of Azygiidae by having the combination of a ventral sucker that is wider than the oral sucker (vs. narrower), an elongate prostatic sac that extends posteriad to near the posterior margin of the ventral sucker (vs. an ovoid prostatic sac that is wholly anterior to or slightly overlaps the anterior margin of the ventral sucker), a vitellarium that nearly fills the post-testicular space and that extends posteriad beyond the caecal tips (vs. a vitellarium that is separate posteriorly or that is restricted to the anterior half of the post-testicular space and does not extend posteriad beyond the caecal tips), and an I-shaped excretory bladder (vs. Y-shaped). Conclusion: This study documents the first record of an azygiid from Africa and the first record of an azygiid infecting a characiform fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]