Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030.

Due to complex interactions, changes in any one area of food systems are likely to impact-and possibly depend on-changes in other areas. Here we present the first annual monitoring update of the indicator framework proposed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative, with new qualitative analysis elucidating interactions across indicators. Since 2000, we find that 20 of 42 indicators with time series have been trending in a desirable direction, indicating modest positive change.

The correlation study between posterior fossa crowding and classical trigeminal neuralgia.

Objective: To explore the correlation between posterior fossa crowding and the occurrence of classical trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

Methods: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with classical TN and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included as a control group for a case-control study. All subjects underwent high-resolution 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations (including 3D-FIESTA and 3D-TOF MRA sequences).

Online energy consumption forecast for battery electric buses using a learning-free algebraic method.

Accurately predicting the energy consumption plays a vital role in battery electric buses (BEBs) route planning and deployment. Based on the algebraic derivative estimation, we present a novel method to forecast the energy consumption in real time. In contrast to the mainstream machine-learning-based methods, the proposed method does not require access to the historical energy consumption data.

Enabling next-generation engineered TCR-T therapies based on high-throughput TCR discovery from diagnostic tumor biopsies.

Adoptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) can mediate tumor regression, including complete and durable responses, in a range of solid cancers, most notably in melanoma. However, its wider application and efficacy has been restricted by the limited accessibility, proliferative capacity and effector function of tumor-specific TIL. Here, we develop a platform for the efficient identification of tumor-specific TCR genes from diagnostic tumor biopsies, including core-needle biopsies frozen in a non-viable format, to enable engineered T cell therapy.

Italian Vocal Fatigue Index: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation.

Background: Vocal fatigue involves self-perceived vocal symptoms and reduced physiological capacity. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), a tool originally designed to distinguish between patients with vocal fatigue and vocally healthy individuals, for Italian speakers.

Method: A four-step translation and validation process was employed.

Hummingbirds use compensatory eye movements to stabilize both rotational and translational visual motion.

To maintain stable vision, behaving animals make compensatory eye movements in response to image slip, a reflex known as the optokinetic response (OKR). Although OKR has been studied in several avian species, eye movements during flight are expected to be minimal. This is because vertebrates with laterally placed eyes typically show weak OKR to nasal-to-temporal motion (NT), which simulates typical forward locomotion, compared with temporal-to-nasal motion (TN), which simulates atypical backward locomotion.

Genomic and phenotypic correlates of mosaic loss of chromosome Y in blood.

Mosaic loss of Y (mLOY) is the most common somatic chromosomal alteration detected in human blood. The presence of mLOY is associated with altered blood cell counts and increased risk of Alzheimer disease, solid tumors, and other age-related diseases. We sought to gain a better understanding of genetic drivers and associated phenotypes of mLOY through analyses of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a large set of genetically diverse males from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program.

Alpha Atlas: Mapping global production of α-emitting radionuclides for targeted alpha therapy.

Targeted Alpha Therapy has shown great promise in cancer treatment, sparking significant interest over recent decades. However, its broad adoption has been impeded by the scarcity of alpha-emitters and the complexities related to their use. The availability of these radionuclides is often constrained by the intricate production processes and purification, as well as regulatory and logistical challenges.

Diagnostic and prognostic perspectives of fabry disease via fiber evanescent wave spectroscopy advanced by machine learning.

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare disorder resulting from a genetic mutation characterized by the accumulation of sphingolipids in various cells throughout the human body, leading to progressive and irreversible organ damage, particularly in males. Genetically-determined deficiency or reduced activity of the enzyme (alpha - Galactosidase; α-Gal) leads to the accumulation of sphingolipids in the lysosomes of various cell types, including the heart, kidneys, skin, eyes, central nervous system, and digestive system, triggering damage, leading to the failure of vital organs, and resulting in progressive disability and premature death. FD diagnostics currently depend on costly and time-intensive genetic tests and enzymatic analysis, often leading to delayed or inaccurate diagnoses, which contribute to rapid disease progression.

Accelerating the Future of Oncology Drug Development: The Role of Consortia in the Delivery of Precision Oncology Early Phase Clinical Trials.

Purpose: Over the past 15 years, the landscape of early phase clinical trials (EPCTs) has undergone a remarkable expansion in both quantity and intricacy. The proliferation of sites, trials, sponsors, and contract research organizations has surged exponentially, marking a significant shift in research conduct. However, EPCT operations suffer from numerous inefficiencies, such as cumbersome start-up processes, which are particularly critical when drug safety and the recommended phase II dose need to be established in a timely manner.

Conditional requirement for dimerization of the membrane-binding module for BTK signaling in lymphocyte cell lines.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a major drug target in immune cells. The membrane-binding pleckstrin homology and tec homology (PH-TH) domains of BTK are required for signaling. Dimerization of the PH-TH module strongly stimulates the kinase activity of BTK in vitro.

Highly multiplexed imaging reveals prognostic immune and stromal spatial biomarkers in breast cancer.

Spatial profiling of tissues promises to elucidate tumor-microenvironment interactions and generate prognostic and predictive biomarkers. We analyzed single-cell, spatial data from three multiplex imaging technologies: cyclic immunofluorescence (CycIF) data we generated from 102 breast cancer patients with clinical follow-up, and publicly available imaging mass cytometry and multiplex ion-beam imaging datasets. Similar single-cell phenotyping results across imaging platforms enabled combined analysis of epithelial phenotypes to delineate prognostic subtypes among estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) patients.

Formulation of Quality Improvement Methodology for Risk Mitigation in Congenital Cardiac Catheterization.

The C3PO collaborative, with a history of successful quality improvement (QI) initiatives, leveraged registry participants to develop a multi-center QI initiative to reduce adverse events (AEs) in congenital cardiac catheterization. A 32-person, interdisciplinary working group analyzed audited data for all congenital cardiac catheterization cases from 2014-2017. The primary outcome was the occurrence of any high-severity (level 3/4/5) AE.

Improvement in Temple Hollowing with VYC-20L Hyaluronic Acid Filler: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial of Safety and Effectiveness.

Background: Temple hollowing is characterized by the reduction of volume in the temporal fossa, which can result in a skeletonized look and contribute to an aged appearance. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the VYC-20L injectable gel for improvement of temple hollowing.

Methods: Adults with minimal, moderate, or severe temple hollows were randomized 2:1 to receive VYC-20L or no treatment.

Cultural innovation is not only a product of cognition but also of cultural context.

Innovations, such as symbolic artifacts, are a product of cognitive abilities but also of cultural context. Factors that may determine the emergence and retention of an innovation include the population's pre-existing cultural repertoire, exposure to relevant ways of thinking, and the invention's utility. Thus, we suggest that the production of symbolic artifacts is not guaranteed even in cognitively advanced societies.

Usefulness of Myelin Quantification Using Synthetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Predicting Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an innovative MRI technology that enables the acquisition of multiple quantitative values, including T1 and T2 values, proton density, and myelin volume, in a single scan. Although the usefulness of myelin measurement with synthetic MRI has been reported for assessing several diseases, investigations in patients with stroke have not been reported. We aimed to explore the utility of myelin quantification using synthetic MRI in predicting outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Effect of temperature and CO concentration on biological nutrient removal from tertiary municipal wastewater using microalgae .

This study investigates the potential of phototrophic microalgae, specifically Chlorella protothecoides, for biological wastewater treatment, with a focus on the effects of air temperature and CO concentration on nutrient removal from tertiary municipal wastewater. Utilizing both the Monod and Arrhenius kinetic models, the research examines how temperature and nutrient availability influence microalgal growth and nutrient removal. The study finds that optimal biomass productivity occurs at 25 °C, with growth slowing at higher temperatures (30 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C).

Virseqimprover: an integrated pipeline for viral contig error correction, extension, and annotation.

Despite the recent surge of viral metagenomic studies, it remains a significant challenge to recover complete virus genomes from metagenomic data. The majority of viral contigs generated from de novo assembly programs are highly fragmented, presenting significant challenges to downstream analysis and inference. To address this issue, we have developed Virseqimprover, a computational pipeline that can extend assembled contigs to complete or nearly complete genomes while maintaining extension quality.

Morphometrics and First Ultrastructural Characterizations of Intra-Erythrocytic Stages of So-Called Haemogregarina damiettae Ramadan et al. (1996) With Special Reference to Its Cytopathological Effects on the Infected Erythrocytes.

The current study provides the first ultrastructural observations on the intraerythrocytic stages of so-called Haemogregarina damiettae and their cytopathological effects on the infected erythrocytes (IEs) in addition to the recording of new morphometric data. The intraerythrocytic stages are attributed to the immature forms or trophozoites (Ts), and mature gamonts (Gs). Ts are typically bowling-bottle shaped with nucleus (TN) occupying its globose part, while Gs are typically banana- shaped.

Cardiac function and coronary plaque development following masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Myocardial dysfunction and the presence of calcified and non-calcified coronary plaques are predictors of cardiovascular disease. Masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy may increase cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for prospective studies to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes during gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Objectives: To evaluate changes in cardiac morphology, systolic and diastolic function, and development of coronary plaques after masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Prophage-DB: a comprehensive database to explore diversity, distribution, and ecology of prophages.

Background: Viruses that infect prokaryotes (phages) constitute the most abundant group of biological agents, playing pivotal roles in microbial systems. They are known to impact microbial community dynamics, microbial ecology, and evolution. Efforts to document the diversity, host range, infection dynamics, and effects of bacteriophage infection on host cell metabolism are extremely underexplored.

SARS-CoV-2 excretion and genetic evolution in nasopharyngeal and stool samples from primary immunodeficiency and immunocompetent pediatric patients.

Background: Primary Immunodeficiency disorders (PID) can increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and prolonged infection. This study investigates the duration of SARS-CoV-2 excretion and the genetic evolution of the virus in pediatric PID patients as compared to immunocompetent (IC) patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 40 nasopharyngeal and 24 stool samples were obtained from five PID and ten IC children.

Predictive equation derived from 6,497 doubly labelled water measurements enables the detection of erroneous self-reported energy intake.

Nutritional epidemiology aims to link dietary exposures to chronic disease, but the instruments for evaluating dietary intake are inaccurate. One way to identify unreliable data and the sources of errors is to compare estimated intakes with the total energy expenditure (TEE). In this study, we used the International Atomic Energy Agency Doubly Labeled Water Database to derive a predictive equation for TEE using 6,497 measures of TEE in individuals aged 4 to 96 years.

Water hyacinth conversion to biochar for soil nutrient enhancement in improving agricultural product.

The conversion of water hyacinth into biochar offers a sustainable solution to mitigate its proliferation and enhances its potential as a soil amendment for agriculture. This study examined the physicochemical properties of water hyacinth biochar (WHBC) and its impact on soil fertility. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was pyrolyzed at 300 °C for 40 minute with restricted airflow (2-3 m/s), producing biochar with desirable properties and a yield of 44.

Peritumoral Hyperintense Signal on Post-contrast FLAIR Images Surrounding Vestibular Schwannomas Following Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

Background And Purpose: Prior investigations have noted the presence of peritumoral hyperintense signal (a "halo") around vestibular schwannomas on postcontrast 3D T2 FLAIR images. This study evaluated this phenomenon in a cohort of patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review was completed of consecutive patients with presumed vestibular schwannomas undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery.