Research Institute Research Articles

Chinese expert consensus on the systemic treatment of advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (2024 edition)

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 2% to 3% of malignant tumors in adults, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1.5∶1 worldwide. It can occur in all age groups, with a peak incidence in the 60-70 age range, and the median age is approximately 64 years. The current causes of kidney cancer are still unclear, but smoking, obesity, hypertension, and some genetic factors are considered risk factors for kidney cancer development. Conducive to the gradual popularization of physical examination and screening, more and more patients with kidney cancer are being detected and treated in the early stages. However, nearly 30% of patients still have locally advanced or metastatic kidney cancer at the time of initial diagnosis. Traditional chemotherapy drugs are generally ineffective for advanced RCC, and currently, advanced RCC is mainly treated with anti-vascular and immunotherapy. At present, first-line treatment is mostly stratified based on clinical characteristics such as International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) prognosis risk, and there are multiple options available, including anti vascular therapy, anti-vascular combined immunotherapy, and dual immunotherapy. Subsequently, first-line treatment often selects drugs based on the composition, effectiveness, and safety of first-line treatment plans. In recent years, research has found that the molecular typing and metastasis characteristics of RCC also affect the prognosis of patients, leading to many controversies in the treatment of advanced RCC. This consensus is guided by the controversial clinical issues in the management of advanced RCC. After discussion and voting by multidisciplinary clinical experts, a consensus of 10 clinical issues has been reached. At the same time, experts recommend domestic clinical and research institutions to lead or participate in more large-scale clinical trials, providing more basis for clinical decision-making and the selection of the best beneficiaries.

Abstract B093: Facilitating conversations on cancer genomic education: Development of a toolkit for community advisory boards

Abstract Community Advisory Boards are representative groups of individuals that reside in a particular area and serve an important role in the research process. Often CABs are the voice of the community, rather it be key community stakeholders, business, or community organizations. The purpose of this project is to describe the development of a cancer genomic toolkit and initial introduction of the toolkit to local community advisory boards to CAB members interested in cancer genomic topics to increase inclusion and awareness of emerging topics and activities around cancer genomic research. Existing CAB members from the Meharry Medical College/Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center/Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership (MVTCP) and the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) at Meharry Medical College were introduced to a cancer genomic toolkit that is in development. CAB members were presented the toolkit during a regularly scheduled CAB meeting for approximately 30 minutes and were allowed 10 minutes to answer questions. After the presentation of the cancer genomic toolkit, CAB members were sent a word document version of the toolkit to provide any feedback for improvement during the development stage. CAB members were allowed up to two months to review the cancer genomic toolkit. Directions for review were to use track changes and leave comments or provide direct feedback via email response. To date, one CAB member has provided individualized feedback. Group feedback included questions and open discussion around historic research participation. Next steps are to introduce the tool to a newly formed genomic community advisory board and begin to reiterate the toolkit for evaluation and implementation for other local CABs. Citation Format: Calandra G. Whitted. Facilitating conversations on cancer genomic education: Development of a toolkit for community advisory boards [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B093.

Abstract A110: The CaRE2 health equity center Contact Registry: Engaging underrepresented community participants in cancer research

Abstract Background: One of the most common barriers in community participant engagement in cancer research is lack of information, and at times, not being invited to participate. Contact Registries serve as a valuable tool to address this challenge, as they connect community members with cancer health research opportunities. Potential participants can choose to participate in studies they find of interest and are prime candidates for. The Florida-California Cancer Research, Education, and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center, Community Outreach Core (COC), developed a contact registry designed to engage Black/African American (B/AA) and/or Hispanic/Latinos/a (H/L) individuals in ongoing research studies conducted across our bicoastal center institutions which includes the University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the University of Florida, and the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. The CaRE2 Contact Registry was implemented in August 2022 by the CaRE2 COC, with the primary objective to increase the number of underrepresented minority individuals participating in cancer research. Methods: Individuals are recruited into the registry utilizing both in-person and online methods. Information is provided in English and Spanish, and data is stored on REDCap. For in-person enrollment, a consent form and OPT-IN survey is completed; our online recruitment utilizes additional screening questions to ensure eligibility. The COC in Florida and Los Angeles promote the registry at local community events and through social media accounts and website (https://care2healthequitycenter.org/the-care2-contact-registry/). A $10.00 physical or electronic gift card is provided as compensation. Results: As of April 30th, 2024, 1,328 individuals have enrolled in the Registry, with participants from FL (887 = 69.5%) and CA (389 = 30.5%); with 737 participants being B/AA (57.8%), 506 H/L (39.7%), 26 non-Hispanic White (2.0%), and 6 individuals self-identified as other race/ethnicity (0.5%). We enrolled 873 female (68.5%) and 402 male (31.5%) participants. A total of 90.4% of enrollees are willing to participate in health research involving surveys, 23% in health research studies requiring saliva (24.1%), hair (23.4%), or blood (22%) sample donations. When registrants were asked for future research interest 99.9% responded Yes. Conclusion: Community participants have a high interest in engaging in research studies regardless of race/ethnicity if its via surveys, attending focus groups, and/or joining community forums. There is greater hesitancy when asked to provide biospecimens (blood, hair or saliva). Mechanisms to understand the reasons for this hesitancy, and address them, to appropriately incentivize individuals about donation of biospecimens are needed. Community efforts that connect potential enrollees to cancer studies of interest can support increased participation in cancer research among B/AA and H/L communities. Citation Format: Carolina Aristizabal, Eduardo Ibarra, Fern Webb, IIeana Guzman, Brooke Hensel, John Luque, Rosa Barahona, Diana Wilkie, Mariana C Stern, Sandra Suther, Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati. The CaREhealth equity center Contact Registry: Engaging underrepresented community participants in cancer research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A110.

Abstract A164: Rural and religious differences in online news outlet headlines about HPV and HPV vaccines in Utah

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the penetration of online HPV vaccine information in Utah, where HPV vaccination and completion rates are low, and uncover potential disparities by religiosity and rurality in the types of language used by news headlines in the social media ecosystem. Methods: We described the language used in local news outlets' headlines about HPV and HPV vaccines. We included headlines posted on Facebook from 23 news outlets within 6 counties (including high and low vaccination, rurality, and religiosity) from 2011-2023 to represent the public online discourse about HPV vaccination. We searched each news outlet’s Facebook page for eligible posts using 11 key terms (e.g., HPV, HPV vaccination) that were identified through literature review and refined with content experts, resulting in N=851 headlines. After removing duplicates, there were a total of n=531 unique headlines for analysis. Area-level (county) measures of rurality (2013 Rural and Urban Continuum Codes) and religiosity (Public Religion Research Institute 2020 Census) were coded for each post title based on the originating news outlet. We analyzed the language used in each headline. Differences in the valence of online discourse about HPV and HPV vaccination by rurality and religiosity were compared using summary statistics and t-tests. Linguistic analyses were conducted using Linguistic Inquiry Word Count and Stata 18. Results: Overall, urban areas were less religious than rural areas (28% unaffiliated in urban areas vs. 13-26% unaffiliated in rural areas, p<0.001). There were more headlines about HPV and HPV vaccination from news outlets in urban than rural areas (69.7% vs. 30.3%). Nearly 70% of HPV and HPV vaccine headlines came from the least religious areas—counties whose religiously unaffiliated populations ranged from 28%-32%. News outlets differed in how they disseminated information about HPV and HPV vaccines by rurality and religiosity. On average, news outlets in urban areas used more positive language than in rural areas (mean 2.04 vs. 1.28 words, p<0.01). Rural news outlets used more emotion-laden terms than those in urban areas (mean 1.2 vs. 0.6 words, p<0.01) and negative emotion was more prevalent among rural than urban headlines (mean 0.73 vs. 0.42 words, p=0.02). These observations were mirrored for areas with higher religiously unaffiliated populations demonstrating titles with more positive words (mean 2.05 vs. 1.27, p<0.01), less emotional words (mean 0.63 vs. 1.17 words, p<0.01), and less negative language (mean 0.42 vs. 0.73 words, p=0.01) compared to headlines in areas with lower proportions of religiously unaffiliated, respectively. Conclusions: The penetration of HPV and HPV vaccine information in rural and religious areas is less positive, more emotionally charged, and uses more negative emotional language than in urban areas. This may, in part, perpetuate the low HPV vaccine uptake in these regions. Citation Format: Echo L. Warner, Ida Tovar, Kaila Christini, Stephen Gubler, Becca Slagle, Jennifer Smith, Michelle Litchman, Wendy Birmingham, Deanna Kepka. Rural and religious differences in online news outlet headlines about HPV and HPV vaccines in Utah [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A164.

Abstract B108: Developing and implementing an effective reflective practice toolkit on a cancer research training program

Abstract Hispanic/Latinos, Black/African Americans, Asians, American Indian or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, or individuals who report more than one race are underrepresented in the biomedical workforce. In order to combat this disparity, the Summer Cancer Research Institute (SCRI) was developed to train underrepresented minority (URM) students in cancer research. This study explored the feasibility and impact of reflective practices on trainees’ experience and learning outcomes within the SCRI training program. Reflective practice has been shown to increase metacognition, competency, feelings of belonging, and the sense of a scientific identity, all of which are crucial skills for URM trainees. In this study, we developed and implemented a robust toolkit to support reflective practice, which includes (1) four reflective journal entries, (2) four bi-weekly check-in discussion groups, (3) two social media posts, (4) two reflective practice seminars and (5) pre- and post-program surveys. The toolkit was utilized to actively engage trainees in reflective practices throughout their participation in the summer training program. The goals were to (1) enhance the trainees' ability to effectively use reflective practice for their learning, and (2) support and improve their overall learning experience and outcomes in the summer training program. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data collected to examine how the completion of assignments included in the toolkit impacted the overall learning experience of trainees. This involved assessing the trainees' ability to critically reflect on their assumptions and biases, expectations, previous and current experiences, perceived challenges, and personal growth throughout the program, as well as their visions for future education and professional careers. The findings from this study inform our understanding of how reflective practice toolkits can contribute to positive outcomes and resilience among individuals engaged in a cancer research training program. In this presentation, we plan to discuss the importance of reflective practice in cancer disparity research education and the specific mechanisms through which it improved the trainees’ learning experiences and outcomes. We will also share the successes and challenges in implementing the toolkit and explore the potential for our toolkit to be utilized by similar training programs. Citation Format: Emily R. Kaminsky, Yuku Chen, Lin Zhu, Carolyn Fang, SJ Dodd. Developing and implementing an effective reflective practice toolkit on a cancer research training program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B108.

Abstract B121: Enhancing opportunities for underrepresented minorities conducting cancer and cancer health disparities research nationwide: The Transformative Educational Advancement and Mentoring (TEAM) network

Abstract Background: The Transformative Educational Advancement and Mentoring (TEAM) network is a program funded by the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In support of the NCI’s goal to reduce cancer health disparities, the CRCHD drives workforce diversity efforts by supporting trainees from backgrounds underrepresented (UR) in cancer biomedical and behavioral sciences research. The two TEAM programs launched at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) in 2023: The Southwest TEAM (STEAM) network and San Diego State University’s (SDSU) Advancing Cancer Careers for ExceLlence (ACCEL). Each program has a unique model designed to best serve trainees in their respective regions, but both provide: 1) Diverse Training Champions (TCs), role models and navigators who act as the primary point of contact for scholars, provide direct services to trainees, ascertain member needs, develop programmatic offerings, and connect trainees to program components; 2) a mentorship program for pre and postdoctoral scholars and early stage investigators (ESIs); 3) targeted recruitment and professional development of UR scholars; and 4) tailored linkages to professional development and employment opportunities, and NCI/CRCHD funding priorities. This work summarizes the strategies planned across both programs to promote recruitment and retention of investigators from UR backgrounds and cultivate professional development opportunities for students and ESIs. Approach: The STEAM network includes the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, Northern Arizona University, and Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and leverages the unique programs and expertise of these MSIs to collectively train diverse cancer health disparities researchers with interests in serving Native American, Hispanic and rural communities in the Southwestern United States. The ACCEL Program supports excellence, inclusion and transformation of the cancer research science force, expanding and strengthening the pipeline of UR scholars pursuing cancer research. SDSU, a Carnegie Foundation high activity research institution is one of few institutions to be both a Title Ill/Title V eligible institution for diversity. ACCEL works in close collaboration with the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center. We will discuss opportunities and approaches employed by each program in support of scholars to increase the number of diverse scholars in these research pipelines and demonstrate the effectiveness of such coordinated efforts. Conclusion: Supporting TCs to focus on scholars within regional programs will prove to be an efficient and effective way to increase recruitment and retention of diverse investigators in NCI research and community programs. Using novel strategies like TCs, the programs will support the attainment of career goals and enhance and diversify workforce capacity across the cancer research and care continuum. Citation Format: Dolores D. Guest, Martha M. Grimes, Andrew L. Sussman, Elizabeth Y. Jimenez, Graciela Unguez, Ahmed Mohammed, Naomi Lee, Jani Ingram, Krystal Charley, Kristin Gosselink, Jill Nery, Avesta Basraki, Natalie Gude, Rebecca Lewison. Enhancing opportunities for underrepresented minorities conducting cancer and cancer health disparities research nationwide: The Transformative Educational Advancement and Mentoring (TEAM) network [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B121.

The mutant mouse resource and research center (MMRRC) consortium: the US-based public mouse repository system

AbstractNow in its 25th year, the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center (MMRRC) consortium continues to serve the United States and international biomedical scientific community as a public repository and distribution archive of laboratory mouse models of human disease for research. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the MMRRC consists of 4 regionally distributed and dedicated vivaria, offices, and specialized laboratory facilities and an Informatics Coordination and Service Center (ICSC). The overarching purpose of the MMRRC is to facilitate groundbreaking biomedical research by offering an extensive repertoire of mutant mice that are essential for advancing the understanding of human physiology and disease. The function of the MMRRC is to identify, acquire, evaluate, characterize, cryopreserve, and distribute mutant mouse strains to qualified biomedical investigators around the nation and the globe. Mouse strains accepted from the research community are held to the highest scientific standards to optimize reproducibility and enhance scientific rigor and transparency. All submitted strains are thoroughly reviewed, documented, and validated using extensive scientific quality control measures. In addition, the MMRRC conducts resource-related research on cryopreservation, mouse genetics, environmental conditions, and other topics that enhance operations of the MMRRC. Today, the MMRRC maintains an archive of mice, cryopreserved embryos and sperm, embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, and murine hybridomas for nearly 65,000 alleles. Since its inception, the MMRRC has fulfilled more than 20,000 orders from 13,651 scientists at 8441 institutions worldwide. The MMRRC also provides numerous services to assist researchers, including scientific consultation, technical assistance, genetic assays, microbiome analysis, analytical phenotyping, pathology, cryorecovery, husbandry, breeding and colony management, infectious disease surveillance, and disease modeling. The ICSC coordinates MMRRC operations, interacts with researchers, and manages the website (mmrrc.org) and online catalogue. Researchers benefit from an expansive list of well-defined mouse models of disease that meet the highest scientific standards while submitting investigators benefit by having their mouse strains cryopreserved, protected, and distributed in compliance with NIH policies.

Visual analysis of coal mine safety using CiteSpace V

AbstractTo intuitively and systematically grasp the development status and trend of safety evaluation research in China's coal mining operations, we consulted relevant literature in the fields of “coal mine” and “safety evaluation” collected by China Knowledge Network, and deployed CiteSpace V software to summarize and analyze research pertaining to safety evaluation in China's coal mines from three aspects: research institutions, authors, and hot keywords. With respect to research institutions, the results show that although many researchers have conducted in‐depth evaluations of coal mine safety, most of these studies were independent, and two‐way information exchange and cooperation between research institutions remains scarce. With respect to authors, most cooperation between authors has been limited to team members, and relatively stable research teams have been formed. However, most of these research teams are independent. With respect to hot keywords, the trends of coal mine safety evaluation studies exhibit continuous change, with an overall increase in richness. According to the frequency burst times of important keywords, “entropy weight method” and “mining with pressure” are expected to remain important keywords in future evaluations of coal mine safety in China.

Impact of High-density Planting Spacing on Physiological Traits of Cocoa Grown under Coconut Trees

High-density planting (HDP) maximizes land productivity. Optimizing cocoa spacing under coconut trees enhances physiological traits and yield potential. Despite cocoa's integration into coconut agroforestry, spacing's impact on cocoa physiology is unclear. Studying this influence provides insights for better planting strategies, improved crop performance, and sustainable cocoa production in agroforestry settings. The experiment was conducted at the Coconut Farm of the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Employing a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments replicated three times, the study aimed to explore how different spacing levels influence physiological traits in cocoa cultivation. The treatments involved in the experiment included a double row of cocoa planted between two rows of coconut trees, with spacing configurations as follows: T1 (3m x 1.2m), T2 (3m x 2m), T3 (3m x 2.5m), and T4 (3m x 3m). Additionally, a single row of cocoa between two coconut rows was examined, with spacings represented by T5 (1.5m), T6 (2m), T7 (2.5m), and T8 (3m). Results indicated distinct patterns among spacing treatments, with significant differences observed in various physiological characteristics. Notably, T1 (3m x 1.2m) demonstrated the highest leaf area (462.71cm2) and leaf area index (4.85), while T8 (3m) exhibited the highest light interception (74.12%). Additionally, T3 (3m x 2.5m) showcased the highest chlorophyll index (40.52) in cocoa leaves. These findings underscore the importance of spacing configurations in influencing key physiological parameters in cocoa cultivation, providing valuable insights for optimizing planting practices.

Inter‐organizational cooperation, financial constraints, and firm's innovation: evidence from five African countries

The study examines whether to collaborate or with whom to collaborate to alleviate the adverse effect of financial constraints on innovation. It utilizes a survey of 1611 firms from five African countries, using from two merged datasets: the Innovation Follow‐Ups Survey and the World Bank Enterprise Survey. The study uses the 2014 survey waves, the latest innovation survey data for African countries. The result shows that inter‐organizational cooperation effectively alleviates the adverse influence of financial constraints on product innovation, while it only reduces its effect on process innovation. Specifically, cooperation with domestic firms, foreign firms, academic or research institutions, government, and consulting companies alleviates the adverse effect of financial constraints on product innovation. However, except for cooperation with the government, other modes of cooperation reduce but do not completely alleviate the adverse impact of financial constraints on a firm's process innovation. Firms with cooperation arrangements with the government can effectively alleviate the negative effect of financial constraints on both product and process innovation. The study further shows that different modes of cooperation have distinct effects on a firm's likelihood of having product or process innovation. Managers of financially constrained companies can consider cooperation as a coping strategy to mitigate the adverse influence of financial constraints on their innovation performance but should pay attention to partner selection.

Understanding communication and stakeholder learning process affecting sustainability in multi-stakeholder platforms: The case of a Learning Alliance in Vietnam

A Learning Alliance (LA) is a multi-stakeholder approach widely used by research organizations to provide a platform for technology or innovation adoption. It heavily relies on communication among varied and interacting stakeholders with shared interests. Thus, it is important to understand how these interactions play a role in forming and sustaining the network. Using the case of a LA in Can Tho province, Vietnam, we analyzed the communication processes generated in the interactions through document analysis of project materials, focus group discussions, key informant interviews with the LA facilitators, and observation notes from eight LA events. Findings reveal that communication underlies network development and maintenance. It facilitated the alignment of stakeholders’ interest and reorganization of roles, particularly when stakeholders played an intermediary role in facilitating the LA. The network also explored inclusive strategies to upgrade the rice value chain. However, challenges arose due to communication breakdown related to the strategic positioning of the LA in the broader innovation system. Furthermore, with the network's reliance on the lifespan of bilateral projects led by research institutions, hindered its long-term success. While LA foster negotiated change and inclusivity, more reflections are needed on mechanisms for local uptake, deliberate planning, and enhancement of communication roles to support the learning processes of a LA so that the network can be intentional in pursuing desired change addressing emergent challenges.

Assessing Industrial Heritage Through Collaborative Counter-Mapping: A Case Study of Salts Mill, UK

The decline of Britain’s traditional manufacturing economy has resulted in an increase in abandoned factories and industrial structures, signifying a crucial turning point for local communities historically anchored in these industries. This research centres on the Salts Mill complex, a former textile factory that has undergone a remarkable transformation into a versatile space in the heart of Saltaire Village in Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. It delves into the revitalisation of Salts Mill, focusing on the intersection of industry and art. This approach uniquely highlights the socio-cultural and intangible elements embedded in the regeneration process, exploring strategies crafted to inject vitality into local communities intricately connected to this industrial site. Counter-mapping served as the primary participatory method, allowing insights from both rational observers (experts) and the involved users (local communities) to be integrated into three main areas of inquiry: the embodied experiences of Salts Mill, the essence of the locale as reflected in the building, and the everyday life interactions facilitated by arts-led regeneration. The authors argue that these components are indispensable for achieving comprehensive understandings and insights crucial to pioneering research on industrial heritage buildings. Moreover, reimagining the transformation of old factory structures through innovative arts-led initiatives can significantly bolster long-term sustainability and nurture resilient community development. This highlights the importance of prioritising community and broader context over merely focusing on the assessment and conservation of collections and buildings within post-industrial cities and towns.

Simple biomarkers to distinguish Parkinson’s disease from its mimics in clinical practice: a comprehensive review and future directions

In the last few years, a plethora of biomarkers have been proposed for the differentiation of Parkinson’s disease (PD) from its mimics. Most of them consist of complex measures, often based on expensive technology, not easily employed outside research centers. MRI measures have been widely used to differentiate between PD and other parkinsonism. However, these measurements were often performed manually on small brain areas in small patient cohorts with intra- and inter-rater variability. The aim of the current review is to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the literature on biomarkers commonly used to differentiate PD from its mimics (including parkinsonism and tremor syndromes), focusing on parameters derived by simple qualitative or quantitative measurements that can be used in routine practice. Several electrophysiological, sonographic and MRI biomarkers have shown promising results, including the blink-reflex recovery cycle, tremor analysis, sonographic or MRI assessment of substantia nigra, and several qualitative MRI signs or simple linear measures to be directly performed on MR images. The most significant issue is that most studies have been conducted on small patient cohorts from a single center, with limited reproducibility of the findings. Future studies should be carried out on larger international cohorts of patients to ensure generalizability. Moreover, research on simple biomarkers should seek measurements to differentiate patients with different diseases but similar clinical phenotypes, distinguish subtypes of the same disease, assess disease progression, and correlate biomarkers with pathological data. An even more important goal would be to predict the disease in the preclinical phase.

Exploiting Speech Tremors: Machine Learning for Early Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases pose significant challenges in healthcare, with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) being one such rare yet debilitating condition affecting motor neurons. Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as powerful tools in healthcare, offering insights and solutions for various medical conditions. This study focuses on utilizing ML and AI to establish an early diagnosis of ALS through tremor detection in sustained speech. The study aims to establish an early diagnosis of ALS by analyzing tremors detected in sustained speech. The dataset comprises 54 patients from the Republican Research and Clinical Centre of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Belarus, Minsk. The study adopts a two-faceted approach: (1) Exploratory voice analysis to identify tremors associated with ALS in speech samples. (2) Development of ML algorithms to construct predictive models for early ALS diagnosis based on the identified tremors. The ML models exhibit promising results in distinguishing ALS patients from healthy controls based on speech analysis. Tremor detection in sustained speech proves to be an effective marker for early ALS diagnosis. While initial findings are encouraging, larger-scale studies are required to validate the clinical applicability of this approach. The successful application of ML and AI in early ALS diagnosis by leveraging innovative approaches, such as tremor detection in sustained speech, we can enhance early diagnosis and improve patient outcomes in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS on a broader scale.

Regional socioeconomic characteristics and density of general practitioners in Germany: A nationwide cross-sectional and longitudinal spatial analysis

ObjectivesLimited healthcare availability impacts population health. Regional disparities in GP density across Germany raise questions about their association with regional socioeconomic characteristics. Study designThis longitudinal nationwide ecological German study used regional data at the county level (n = 401) from 2015 to 2019 provided by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). The outcome was general practitioners (GPs) density, defined as the number of GPs per 10,000 inhabitants. MethodsUnivariate Moran's I, cluster analysis (LISA), and spatial lag of X (SLX) models were employed to analyse the spatial distribution of GP density and its correlation with various regional socioeconomic characteristics from a cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective. ResultsIn contrast to the univariate analysis, rural counties showed the highest GP density the multivariate model. Several counties were identified as embedded in low- or high-GP-density clusters. In 2015 and 2019, larger household size (2015: std. β = −2.31, p = 0.021; 2019: std. β = −4.14, p < 0.001) and higher unemployment rate (2015: std. β = −2.84, p = 0.005; 2019: std. β = −5.47, p < 0.001) were associated with lower GP density. In the longitudinal model, a greater increase in the unemployment rate was related to a greater decrease in GP density (std. β = −2.17, p = 0.030). ConclusionA higher regional unemployment rate is linked to lower GP availability in Germany, and a greater increase in the unemployment rate was related to a greater decrease in GP availability over time. This necessitates policy intervention to avoid socioeconomic disparities in GP care.

Objective Determination of Site-of-Lesion in Auditory Neuropathy.

Auditory neuropathy (AN), a complex hearing disorder, presents challenges in diagnosis and management due to limitations of current diagnostic assessment. This study aims to determine whether diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to identify the site and severity of lesions in individuals with AN. This case-control study included 10 individuals with AN of different etiologies, 7 individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), 5 individuals with cochlear hearing loss, and 37 control participants. Participants were recruited through the University of Melbourne's Neuroaudiology Clinic and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute specialist outpatient clinics. Diffusion-weighted MRI data were collected for all participants and the auditory pathways were evaluated using the fixel-based analysis metric of apparent fiber density. Data on each participant's auditory function were also collected including hearing thresholds, otoacoustic emissions, auditory evoked potentials, and speech-in-noise perceptual ability. Analysis of diffusion-weighted MRI showed abnormal white matter fiber density in distinct locations within the auditory system depending on etiology. Compared with controls, individuals with AN due to perinatal oxygen deprivation showed no white matter abnormalities ( p > 0.05), those with a neurodegenerative conditions known/predicted to cause VIII cranial nerve axonopathy showed significantly lower white matter fiber density in the vestibulocochlear nerve ( p < 0.001), while participants with NF1 showed lower white matter fiber density in the auditory brainstem tracts ( p = 0.003). In addition, auditory behavioral measures of speech perception in noise and gap detection were correlated with fiber density results of the VIII nerve. Diffusion-weighted MRI reveals different patterns of anatomical abnormality within the auditory system depending on etiology. This technique has the potential to guide management recommendations for individuals with peripheral and central auditory pathway abnormality.

Understanding chromoblastomycosis in Sri Lanka; insights into fungal aetiology and antifungal susceptibility patterns

Introduction: Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic disfiguring fungal infection of the subcutaneous tissue found mainly in the socio-economically marginalized population in the tropical and sub-tropical regions, characterized by the presence of sclerotic cells. This study was done with the aim of identifying the antifungal sensitivity patterns of the causative agents of chromoblastomycosis in Sri Lanka from 1992 to 2019.Methodology: Study was done on the stored isolates received from patients with chromoblastomycosis since 1992 to 2019, to the Mycology Reference Laboratory of Medical Research Institute, Colombo. Isolates were revived by subculture on Potato dextrose agar. Identification was done phenotypically. Antifungal sensitivity testing was performed by E test method. Available demographic and clinical data were analysed.Results: Of the 74 isolates, 71 (96%) were caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Mean MIC for the antifungals tested were lowest for posaconazole 0.015 μg/ml followed by itraconazole 0.225 μg/ml, and voriconazole 0.768 μg/ml while amphotericin B demonstrated complete resistance with mean MIC of 30.591 μg/ml. No statistically significant differences were noted on the antifungal sensitivity of the isolates from 1992 to 2004 and 2005 to 2019.Conclusions: Fonsecaea pedrosoi was the commonest causative agent causing chromoblastomycosis in the studied population. Posaconazole demonstrated the lowest MIC values for the tested isolates followed by itraconazole and voriconazole. Amphotericin B demonstrated very high MIC values which were likely to result in clinical failure upon treatment. MIC values demonstrated minimal fluctuations throughout the tested time.

Effect of Foliar-applied Plant Growth Regulators on Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) to Regulate Growth and Yield Attributes

This investigation was conducted to obtain the effect of plant growth regulator on growth, yield and quality. The experiment utilized a randomized block design with three replications and nine treatments, including a control. The four different plant growth regulators (PGRs) used were Benzyl adenine (BA, 10 and 20 ppm), Brassinosteroid (BR, 0.5 and 1.0 ppm), Jasmonic acid (JA, 50 and 100 ppm) and Salicylic acid (SA, 50 and 100 ppm), applied as foliar sprays at 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). The experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2023-24 at the Vegetable Research Centre, Maharajpur, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The investigation revealed that BR at 0.5 ppm resulted in the maximum plant height (103.67 cm). The highest number of primary (15.53) and secondary (26.50) branches at harvest was achieved with JA at 50 ppm. Phenological observations indicated that JA at 50 ppm led to the earliest 50% flowering at 36.67 days. For yield attributes, the highest number of umbels per plant (42.13) and umbellets per umbel (6.31) were found with JA at 50 ppm. BA at 20 ppm showed the maximum number of seeds per umbel (36.40), test weight (10.84 g), harvest index (9.92), and seed yield (13.65 q ha-1). Economically, BA at 20 ppm provided the highest net return (Rs. 170735.81), gross return (Rs. 232117.39), and benefit-cost ratio (2.78). Therefore, it can be concluded that foliar sprays of BR, JA, and BA are effective on improving phenological traits, yield attributes, and economic returns in coriander cultivation.

Bridging gas and aerosol properties between the northeastern US and Bermuda: analysis of eight transit flights

Abstract. The western North Atlantic Ocean is strongly influenced by continental outflow, making it an ideal region to study the atmospheric transition from a polluted coastline to the marine environment. Utilizing eight transit flights between the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) in Hampton, Virginia, and the remote island of Bermuda from NASA's Aerosol Cloud meTeorology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment (ACTIVATE), we examine the evolution of trace gas and aerosol properties off the US East Coast. The first pair of flights flew along the wind trajectory of continental outflow, while the other flights captured a mix of marine and continental air mass sources. For measurements within the boundary layer (BL), there was an offshore decline in particle N&lt;100 nm, N&gt;100 nm, CH4, CO, and CO2 concentrations, all leveling off around ∼900 km offshore from the LaRC. These trends are strongest for the first pair of flights. In the BL, offshore declines in organic mass fraction and increases in sulfate mass fraction coincide with increasing hygroscopicity based on f(RH) measurements. Free troposphere measurements show a decline in N&lt;100 nm, but other measured parameters are more variable when compared to the prominent offshore gradients seen in the BL. Pollution layers exist in the free troposphere, such as smoke plumes, that can potentially entrain into the BL. This work provides detailed case studies with a broad set of high-resolution measurements to further our understanding of the transition between continental and marine environments.

Economic valuation of changes in ecosystem services of 77 Ramsar wetlands in West Asia over 37 years (1984–2021)

Summary In the West Asia region, the vulnerability of Ramsar Convention wetlands due to unsustainable utilization driven by water scarcity continues to grow. Here, a global surface water product generated by the European Joint Research Centre was used to assess changes in surface water in 77 wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention over a 37-year period (1984–2021). By combining this product with a quantitative valuation model, estimates were made of the economic value of the ecosystem services provided by these wetlands, enabling the determination of the economic losses resulting from any reduction in surface water. We show that 20% (7550 km2) of permanent surface waters in Ramsar sites have disappeared or are no longer classified as permanent. Based on this, USD 106 billion of the economic value of wetlands ecosystem services have been lost. Additionally, 33% (12 100 km2) of seasonal surface waters in these wetlands have experienced a decrease in area. Iran and Iraq account for 90% of water losses, primarily in 34 wetlands (30 in Iran and 4 in Iraq). These findings underscore the urgent need for water management policies and conservation strategies in the West Asia region.