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Neuropsychological literature reports varying prevalence of cognitive impairment within patient populations, despite assessment with standardized neuropsychological tests. Within the domain of oncology, the International Cognition and Cancer Task Force (ICCTF) proposed standard cutoff points to harmonize the operationalization of cognitive impairment. We evaluated how this binary classification affects agreement between two highly comparable test batteries.Two hundred non-central nervous system (non-CNS) cancer patients who finished treatment (56% females; median age 53 yrs) completed traditional tests and their online equivalents in a counterbalanced design. Following ICCTF standards, impairment was defined as a score of ≥ 1.5 standard deviations (The correlation between total scores of traditional and online assessment was .78. Proportions of impaired patients did not differ between assessment methods: 40% using traditional tests and 38% using online equivalents, χ²(1) = .17,Our results show that binary classification can lead to a situation where two highly similar batteries fail to identify the same individuals as impaired. Additional simulations suggest that within-person agreement between assessment methods using binary classification is inherently low. Modern statistical tools may help to improve validity of impairment detection. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Shore-based surveys of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae were performed from Cape Vidal, on the east coast of South Africa (iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, Indian Ocean), from two independent platforms between 27 June and 7 August in 2018 and 2019, to estimate the relative abundance and growth rate of the C1 breeding substock of the species. Observed whale groups were tracked by analogue survey theodolites, and observed numbers were adjusted to account for daily sighting effort and the proportions of groups missed by observers. Daily sighting frequency was aggregated across the season to result in annual relative abundance estimates of 10 499 (2018) and 11 009 (2019) individuals, with peak frequencies from 28 July to 3 August in both years. When compared with previous estimates from the same study area, we estimated an average annual increase rate of 7.4% to 8.8% over 31 years from 1988. These results indicate a slowing of the rate of increase from previous estimates, which could suggest that the population is approaching pre-exploitation numbers or that yet unidentified threats are negatively impacting the growth rate. Continued monitoring of the recovering humpback whale stocks is critical to identify any possible effects of Southern Ocean ecosystem changes on the stock health of these whales.&nbsp

Supplementary Figure 5 from Tumor Necrosis Factor α Mediates Homogeneous Distribution of Liposomes in Murine Melanoma that Contributes to a Better Tumor Response

Successful treatment of solid tumors with chemotherapeutics requires that adequate levels reach the tumor cells. Tumor vascular normalization has been proposed to enhance drug delivery and improve tumor response to chemotherapy. Differently, augmenting leakage of the tumor-associated vasculature, and as such enhance vascular abnormality, may improve tumor response as well. In the present study, we show that addition of low-dose tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) to systemic injections with pegylated long circulating liposomes augmented the tumor accumulation of these liposomes 5- to 6-fold, which strongly correlated with enhanced tumor response. Using intravital microscopy, we could study the liposomal distribution inside the tumor in more detail. Especially 100 nm liposomes effectively extravasate in the surrounding tumor tissue in the presence of TNF and this occurred without any effect on tumor vascular density, branching, and diameter. Next to that, we observed in living animals that tumor cells take up the liposomes intact, followed by intracellular degradation. To our knowledge, this is an unprecedented observation. Taken together, TNF renders more tumor vessels permeable, leading to a more homogeneous distribution of the liposomes throughout the tumor, which is crucial for an optimal tumor response. We conclude that delivery of nanoparticulate drug formulations to solid tumor benefits from augmenting the vascular leakage through vascular manipulation with vasoactive drugs like TNF. [Cancer Res 2007;67(19):9455–62]

Supplementary Figure 4 from Tumor Necrosis Factor α Mediates Homogeneous Distribution of Liposomes in Murine Melanoma that Contributes to a Better Tumor Response

Supplementary Figure 2 from Tumor Necrosis Factor α Mediates Homogeneous Distribution of Liposomes in Murine Melanoma that Contributes to a Better Tumor Response

Supplementary Figure 1 from Tumor Necrosis Factor α Mediates Homogeneous Distribution of Liposomes in Murine Melanoma that Contributes to a Better Tumor Response

Supplementary Figure 3 from Tumor Necrosis Factor α Mediates Homogeneous Distribution of Liposomes in Murine Melanoma that Contributes to a Better Tumor Response

Photo-identification data for southern right whale cow–calf pairs on the South African calving grounds provide one of the longest abundance time-series for any whale population worldwide. Following a very steady increase from a heavily depleted state, surveys since 2015 reflect many notably low counts. These data are analysed to investigate whether these low counts can be explained by changes in reproduction-related parameters. This necessitates a modification to an earlier reproduction model for these whales, fit to photo-identification data to allow for early abortions; hence, a whale pregnant one year can again be pregnant the next. This can account for an increase in calving intervals in a way that differs from a whale resting for another year or an increase in late-abortion probability. This modification was able to account for the low number of sightings of cow–calf pairs over the 2015 to 2020 period (excepting for 2018), though the estimated probability of sighting a cow–calf pair in 2018 is somewhat low given a nearly unchanged annual survey effort. Hence, low numbers of sightings of females with calves for five of the years from 2015 to 2020 can be explained by changes in reproduction-related parameters rather than an increased natural mortality which is inconsistent with the photo-identification data. Changing environmental (particularly feeding) conditions seems to be the likely cause, possibly associated with a changed distribution of these whales. The estimated number of all whales in the population in 2020 is 6 470 (SE 285), with the number of parous females estimated to have increased 15-fold over the last four decades.

Connections among ecosystems and their components are critical to maintaining ecological functions and benefits in human-modified landscapes, including urban areas. However, the literature on connectivity and ecosystem services has been limited by inconsistent terminology and methods, and largely omits human access to nature and its benefits as a form of connectivity. In this paper, we build upon previous research and theory to define distinct categories of connectivity, considering both ecological and social dimensions, and identify ecosystem services that are supported by them. We reviewed the literature to determine socio–ecological benefits that depend on the categories of connectivity. We identified four distinct but interrelated categories of connectivity: landscape, habitat, geophysical, and eco-social connectivity. Each connectivity category directly or indirectly supports many ecosystem services. There are overlaps, conflicts, and synergies among connectivity categories and their associated services and disservices. Identifying the services that arise from these four categories of connectivity, and how they interact, can help build a common understanding of the value of connectivity to maximize its benefits, improve understanding of complex socio–ecological systems across disciplines, and develop more holistic, socially equitable decision-making processes, especially in urban landscapes.

The EU chemicals strategy for sustainability (CSS) asserts that both human health and the environment are presently threatened and that further regulation is necessary. In a recent Guest Editorial, members of the German competent authority for risk assessment, the BfR, raised concerns about the scientific justification for this strategy. The complexity and interdependence of the networks of regulation of chemical substances have ensured that public health and wellbeing in the EU have continuously improved. A continuous process of improvement in consumer protection is clearly desirable but any initiative directed towards this objective must be based on scientific knowledge. It must not confound risk with other factors in determining policy. This conclusion is fully supported in the present Commentary including the request to improve both, data collection and the time-consuming and bureaucratic procedures that delay the publication of regulations.

We report measured cross sections for radionuclides produced via proton irradiation of stacked nat La foils at the Isotope Production Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Incident proton energies of approximately 100 MeV were degraded to ten energy positions ranging from 88 MeV to 46 MeV. HPGe gamma spectrometry was used to quantify residuals at LANL and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Of particular interest was the cross section of 134Ce due to its potential as the imaging component of a theranostic pair with 225Ac. Theoretical values from TENDL (2017) proton libraries are compared with the experimental cross section measurements of 134Ce and other radionuclides.