Research Institute Research Articles

The HADRIAN novel human–machine interface prototype for automated driving: safety and impact assessment

AbstractThe current paper was performed within the HADRIAN project and focuses on exploring the effects of innovative Human–Machine Interface (HMI) prototypes on safety, driving performance, and driver perceptions. Employing driving simulator experiments and questionnaires, this study investigates whether HADRIAN innovative HMI enhances safety and receives positive evaluations from drivers. Specifically, the research centers on a driving simulator experiment that evaluates novel HMI prototypes designed to improve automated driving at SAE Levels 2 or 3. To facilitate HMI assessment, a tailored safety and impact assessment methodology was developed using unique Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). To benchmark and generate a total score for the HADRIAN HMI, data envelopment analysis was deployed based on the aforementioned KPIs. The findings shed light on the influence of HADRIAN HMI innovations on safety and perceived impact when compared to a baseline “state-of-the-art” HMI. Subsequently, a comprehensive discussion unfolds, highlighting the key KPIs that contributed significantly to the safety and perceived impact scores. This method and its outcomes can serve as a valuable resource for other HMI stakeholders, enabling them to employ similar human-centered assessment methodologies to assess the safety and perceived impact of potential HMI configurations.

Exploring the Perspectives of Older Adults on a Digital Brain Health Platform Using Natural Language Processing: Cohort Study

Background Although digital technology represents a growing field aiming to revolutionize early Alzheimer disease risk prediction and monitoring, the perspectives of older adults on an integrated digital brain health platform have not been investigated. Objective This study aims to understand the perspectives of older adults on a digital brain health platform by conducting semistructured interviews and analyzing their transcriptions by natural language processing. Methods The study included 28 participants from the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, all of whom engaged with a digital brain health platform over an initial assessment period of 14 days. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect data on participants’ experiences with the digital brain health platform. The transcripts generated from these interviews were analyzed using natural language processing techniques. The frequency of positive and negative terms was evaluated through word count analysis. A sentiment analysis was used to measure the emotional tone and subjective perceptions of the participants toward the digital platform. Results Word count analysis revealed a generally positive sentiment toward the digital platform, with “like,” “well,” and “good” being the most frequently mentioned positive terms. However, terms such as “problem” and “hard” indicated certain challenges faced by participants. Sentiment analysis showed a slightly positive attitude with a median polarity score of 0.13 (IQR 0.08-0.15), ranging from –1 (completely negative) to 1 (completely positive), and a median subjectivity score of 0.51 (IQR 0.47-0.53), ranging from 0 (completely objective) to 1 (completely subjective). These results suggested an overall positive attitude among the study cohort. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of understanding older adults’ attitudes toward digital health platforms amid the comprehensive evolution of the digitalization era. Future research should focus on refining digital solutions to meet the specific needs of older adults, fostering a more personalized approach to brain health.

Determination of the cover coefficient for soil surfaces of the runoff of residential areas

Due to the constant increase in tariffs in the field of public utilities, the problem of the need for accurate calculation of the volume of surface runoff is becoming more acute, which must take into account not only the landscape features of the area, but also the water-absorbing properties of the soil and coatings. The purpose of this work is to determine the coefficient of coverage zi for the most characteristic types of natural and artificial surfaces. The scientific novelty lies in the refinement of the existing methodology set out in the “Recommendations of the State Scientific Research Center of the Russian Federation FSUE Scientific Research Institute VODGEO”, in particular, the establishment of a mathematical dependence of the value of the coefficient of cover zi on the fractional composition of the soil to determine the coefficient of surface runoff Ψ, on which commercial calculations for the drainage of rain and meltwater into the storm sewer system are based.

Architecture of new generation research institutions under reconstruction conditions

In the article, the authors focus on key methods and approaches that ensure optimal organization of space for scientific and research work. This contributes to achieving versatility, flexibility and the ability to transform the internal environment. Modern compositional techniques for the architectural transformation of objects of the type under consideration and methods of their application at various levels of architectural formation and development have been studied. The main criteria for the architectural and spatial formation of new generation research institutions have been identified, thanks to which an architectural ensemble is formed, the concept of spatial organization, the creation of a unified compositional structure, the organization of recognizable architecture. The basic principles and features that form the nature of sustainability, visual perception, and create a spatial structure of perception have been identified.

Information Boards as Forest Conservation Campaign in Bahorok Research Center, Langkat Regency, North Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL) in Bahorok Research Station in Bahorok Sub-district, Langkat District, is a very important location for this work. The hilly terrain of the area provides a beautiful landscape and varied flora and fauna with the main attraction being the corpse flower (Amorphophallus sp). With a preserved natural environment and unique ecological features, this research station allows other parties to participate in protecting the area in various conservation campaign, one of which is the installation/establishment of conservation information boards. Conservation information boards can raise public awareness about the importance of protecting forests and their natural environment. Information on ecosystems, flora, fauna, management, and the importance of conservation can be conveyed through these information boards. Information boards are widely used as an educational tool for local communities and visitors to the forest at the research station. They can learn about forest ecology, the negative impacts of deforestation, and sustainable ways of utilizing forest resources. They can learn about forest ecology, the negative impacts of deforestation, and sustainable ways of utilizing forest resources. Information boards can also be used to invite community participation in conservation efforts, which is expected to improve the quality of knowledge and understanding of conservation areas for communities, researchers, and tourists. Therefore, the installation/establishment of conservation information boards needs to be carried out at Bahorok Research Station, Batu Katak as one of the campaign and solutions to maintain the natural conditions in the forest and river.

Deep Learning-Based Postoperative Glioblastoma Segmentation and Extent of Resection Evaluation: Development, External Validation, and Model Comparison

Abstract Background The pursuit of automated methods to assess the extent of resection (EOR) in glioblastomas is challenging, requiring precise measurement of residual tumor volume. Many algorithms focus on preoperative scans, making them unsuitable for postoperative studies. Our objective was to develop a deep learning-based model for postoperative segmentation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also compared our model's performance with other available algorithms. Methods To develop the segmentation model, a training cohort from three research institutions and three public databases was used. Multiparametric MRI scans with ground truth labels for contrast enhancing tumor, edema, and surgical cavity, served as training data. The models were trained using MONAI and nnU-Net frameworks. Comparisons were made with currently available segmentation models using an external cohort from a research institution and a public database. Additionally, the model's ability to classify EOR was evaluated using the RANO-Resect classification system. To further validate our best-trained model, an additional independent cohort was used. Results The study included 586 scans: 395 for model training, 52 for model comparison, and 139 scans for independent validation. The nnU-Net framework produced the best model with median Dice scores of 0.81 for contrast enhancing tumor, 0.77 for edema, and 0.81 for surgical cavity. Our best-trained model classified patients into maximal and submaximal resection categories with 96% accuracy in the model comparison dataset and 84% in the independent validation cohort. Conclusion Our nnU-Net-based model outperformed other algorithms in both segmentation and EOR classification tasks, providing a freely accessible tool with promising clinical applicability.

Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma of the Azygos Vein

Background. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a malignant vascular tumor of mesenchymal origin. In the mediastinum, EHE originates from the large venous vessels of the superior vena cava.The purpose of the study was to describe a rare clinical case of EHE of the unpaired vein and analyze literature data to improve diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Case presentation. We present a rare case of EHE of the unpaired vein in a 23-year-old male patient who admitted to the Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute with a posterior mediastinal tumor detected in August 2022. It was known from the medical history that the patient had undergone diagnostic right-sided thoracotomy and tumor biopsy at the place of residence. Morphologically, the tumor was an epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. The histological re-assessment of biopsy specimens at the Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute confrmed the diagnosis of EHE. Computed tomography of the chest organs revealed a mass in the posterior mediastinum (in the projection of the lumen of the unpaired vein), measuring 16×14×41 mm, with relatively clear even contours, close to the posterior wall of the trachea at the bifurcation level, the posterior wall of the right main bronchus, the left semicircle of the esophagus (without signs of invasion). Based on the data on the presence of a vascular tumor in the posterior mediastinum on the right, a multidisciplinary medical consilium recommended surgical treatment: right thoracotomy, removal of a posterior mediastinal tumor with resection of the azygos vein, marginal resection of the superior vena cava, and thrombectomy from its lumen. The duration of surgery was 180 minutes, blood loss was 200 ml. Morphological examination confrmed EHE of the unpaired vein. No complications were observed in the postoperative period. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 8th day after surgery in a satisfactory condition.Conclusion. EHE of the unpaired vein is an extremely rare vascular tumor. The clinical feature of EHE of the unpaired vein is the absence of any pathognomonic signs, which complicates differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors. Surgery is currently the optimal treatment approach.

Adaptive Agronomic Strategies for Enhancing Cereal Yield Resilience Under Changing Climate in Poland

Climate-driven changes have raised concerns about their long-term impacts on the yield resilience of cereal crops. This issue is critical in Poland as it affects major cereal crops like winter triticale, spring wheat, winter wheat, spring barley, and winter barley. This study investigates how soil nutrient profiles, fertilization practices, and crop management conditions influence the yield resilience of key cereal crops over a thirteen-year period (2009–2022) in the context of changing climate expressed as varying Climatic Water Balance. Data from 47 locations provided by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing were analyzed to assess the combined effects of agronomic practices and climate-related water availability on crop performance. Yield outcomes under moderate and enhanced management practices were contrasted using Classification and Regression Trees to evaluate the relationships between yield variations and agronomic factors, including soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilization, and levels of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in the soil. The study found a downward trend in Climatic Water Balance, highlighting the increasing influence of climate change on regional water resources. Crop yields responded positively to increased agricultural inputs, especially nitrogen. Optimal soil pH and medium phosphorus levels were identified as crucial for maximizing yield. The findings underscore the importance of tailored nutrient management and adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability on cereal production. The results provide insights for field crop research and practical approaches to sustain cereal production in changing climatic conditions.

Measuring Research Capacity: Development of the PACER Tool.

Evaluating research activity in research departments and education programs is conventionally accomplished through measurement of research funding or bibliometrics. This limited perspective of research activity restricts a more comprehensive evaluation of a program's actual research capacity, ultimately hindering efforts to enhance and expand it. The objective of this study was to conduct a scoping review of the existing literature pertaining to the measurement of research productivity in research institutions. Using these findings, the study aimed to create a standardized research measurement tool, the Productivity And Capacity Evaluation in Research (PACER) Tool. The evidence review identified 726 relevant articles in a literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ERIC, CINAHL, and Google Scholar with the keywords "research capacity" and "research productivity." Thirty-nine English-language studies applicable to research measurement were assessed in full and 20 were included in the data extraction. Capacity/productivity metrics were identified, and the relevance of each metric was data-charted according to 3 criteria: the metric was objective, organizational in scale, and applicable to varied research domains. This produced 42 research capacity/productivity metrics that fell into 7 relevant categories: bibliometrics, impact, ongoing research, collaboration activities, funding, personnel, and education/academics. With the expertise of a Delphi panel of researchers, research leaders, and organizational leadership, 31 of these 42 metrics were included in the final PACER Tool. This multifaceted tool enables research departments to benchmark research capacity and research productivity against other programs, monitor capacity development over time, and provide valuable strategic insights for decisions such as resource allocation.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF UKRAINE'S ICT SECTOR: AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

The purpose of the paper is to examine the international competitiveness of Ukraine's ICT sector through a comparative analysis with 30 countries, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and provide actionable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders and investors to improve Ukraine's position in the global ICT market. Methodology. The research employs the composite index methodology to assess the international competitiveness of Ukraine's information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The original ITSIC comprises 35 indicators; however, this has been expanded to 58 in order to provide a comprehensive view of the competitive advantages and position of the ICT sector in the global ICT market. Results. The article presents the findings of a comparative study of the ICT sector of Ukraine with global and regional leaders in the global ICT market. In order to identify the factors influencing the formation of competitive advantages, the following groups of factors were taken into account: the state of ICT infrastructure, the availability of qualified and competent IT professionals, the state and favourability of the political and business environment, the innovative potential of the ICT sector and its involvement in international trade and cooperation. The calculations have yielded the ratings for each group of indicators and the composite index as a whole, which identify the leaders in both global and regional dimensions. Specific consideration is given to the positioning of Ukraine's ICT sector within the context of the surveyed countries, with a focus on the identification of its competitive advantages and disadvantages within the global ICT market. Consequently, it has been determined that the international competitiveness of the domestic ICT sector between 2018 and 2022 was most significantly influenced by the extent of its involvement in international trade and collaboration, the availability and proficiency of the talent pool, and the quality of the ICT infrastructure. In conclusion, this study has identified the factors and trends that have the potential to impede Ukraine's ascension as a global leader in the ICT sector. Practical implications. The findings of the study may prove beneficial to a number of parties, including public authorities, ICT companies, investors and venture capitalists, educational and research institutions, international organisations and development agencies, IT entrepreneurs and the general public. The value and originality of the study can be found in its comprehensive, data-driven, and context-specific analysis, which provides actionable insights and strategic recommendations to enhance the international competitiveness of Ukraine's ICT sector.

Overview of Food Adulteration: Its Definition, Causes, Impacts, and Detection

A tampered food, Food is any substance made up of carbohydrates, water, fats, and proteins that is consumed by humans and other animals to survive. It holds great significance for us. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon for food products to be tampered with, and dangerous situations can arise from poorly managed supply chains that handle perishable goods. Economic Customers who purchase and serve food are impacted in numerous ways; they might not receive the nutrients they are supposed to, contaminated food may be harmful to their health, and they might also suffer financial losses. So, every responsible individual, organization, and government should complete their role to protect the act of food adulteration and to reveal the recognized acts. Furthermore, there are numerous gaps in the literature that need to be filled by academics and researchers working in various research institutes. These gaps include the assessment of the situation, the identification of foods that are vulnerable to adulteration in the national context, the development and validation of detection methods, and much more. adulteration has long plagued the food business, negatively impacting both food quality and public health. The process of altering food by adding undesirable or dangerous components lowers its safety and quality, a practice known as food adulteration. Inadequate handling of this issue has led to the production of contaminated and dangerous food products, which has raised concerns throughout history. Food adulteration can harm our health and often does so without our knowledge. By addressing these issues, we may proactively work to create a better society. Food adulteration can involve adding, taking away, or replacing expensive food ingredients with less expensive (cheaper) ones in order to get unfair financial advantage. The manufacturer may profit financially from this act of food fraud, but the eventual consumers of the goods suffer losses. A variety of approaches, such as physical, chemical, biological, and other methods, are used to detect food adulteration. However, detecting adulterants can be hard when the adulterants closely mirror the food’s physiochemical properties. The right of consumers to safe and high-quality food is undermined by adulteration, hence it is imperative that people, groups, and governments take action to stop these practices.

Psychometric Features of the Emotional Climate Scale for Couples in Divorce Applicants

Background: In Iranian courts, counseling centers, and research institutes, the Family Emotional Atmosphere Questionnaire (FEAQ) by Navardgahfard in 1994 is widely used to assess the status of marital relationships. However, the FEAQ's contents are outdated, containing irrelevant questions, and lacking valid psychometric properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to revise and validate the psychometric properties of the Emotional Climate Scale for Couples (ECSC). Methods: This study was descriptive-correlational in nature and had practical implications. It was conducted from January 17th to July 30th, 2023. All divorce applicants referred by the courts to family counseling centers were included in the study population. Initially, the FEAQ was extracted from the website and modified to consist of 21 questions related to emotional climate between couples. Results: Subsequently, the face validity of ECSC was confirmed by experts, and exploratory factor analysis (N=307) demonstrated two subscales of lack of feelings and cooperation, and forced with limitations, explaining 63.26% of the variance in the 21 ECSC items. Confirmatory factor analysis (N=205) also indicated an acceptable fit for the ECSC model and showed good construct validity. The test-retest reliability (N=35, with a three-week interval) was 0.83 for the total scale, 0.82 and 0.81 for the two subscales, respectively, while Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the two factors were 0.93 to 0.94 and 0.96 for the total scale. Conclusion: Therefore, ECSC is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the emotional climate between couples and has wide applicability.

‘Col Fumetto Posso Fare Di Tutto’. Life Narratives and the Italian Graphic Novel

ABSTRACT While comics studies are now a fully recognised field within academic debate in the humanities, it wasn’t until around ten years ago, when the medium really began to flourish, that they began to be accepted as an object of study in universities and research centres, including the field of Italian studies. This collective volume brings together an international group of scholars who were invited to reflect on one of the most fruitful genres in the Italian graphic novel: life narratives. This vitality is not surprising: at a time of socio-political crisis and instability, such as the one Italy is currently experiencing, the possibility to narrate and/or represent real-life experience, whether openly or metaphorically, stands out as a powerful tool for intellectuals and artists to analyse socially relevant questions of the day and, possibly, take a stance on these issues. Cutting across genres, editorial formats, targets, and markets, graphic novels closely mirror the historical complexity of their times, problematising issues and negotiating pressing questions of our social reality.

The effectiveness of liver transplantation in reducing lipid levels in Saudi children with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

IntroductionThe lipid profiles of patients aged <15 years who have been diagnosed with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (Riyadh) were examined.MethodsThe total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of 17 patients were measured on initial presentation and compared with the levels measured after pharmacological treatment and then again after liver transplantation.ResultsAt the end of the pharmacological treatment, the total cholesterol levels decreased by an average of 3.79 mmol/L (reduced by 15.40%) (P < 0.001), and LDL-C levels decreased on average by 2.73 mmol/L (reduced by 13.46%) (P = 0.014). However, in two patients, LDL-C levels increased by 5.42% and 9.03% after pharmacological treatment. Conversely, the lipid values measured after liver transplantation decreased significantly nearly to within normal and borderline limits. The post-transplant total cholesterol and LDL-C levels declined by a mean of 19.96 mmol/L (reduced by 81.04%) and 17.47 mmol/L (reduced by 84.27%), respectively (P < 0.001 for both).DiscussionThese findings suggest that liver transplantation provides a more effective means to reduce elevated total cholesterol and LDL-C levels in patients with HoFH. Although liver transplantation is considered a better treatment for FHoH, risks, complications, and donor organ shortage may present problems.

Planning eco-sensitive zones for promoting tree diversity and ecosystem services in urban academic landscapes: a case study from the North-western Indo-Gangetic plain

ABSTRACT Urban academic greenspaces provide a protective environment for the conservation of plants and animals and ecological health benefits to human beings. Several anthropogenic activities and landscape practices lead to patches of natural and built-up areas; therefore, a better understanding of campus tree diversity and ecosystem services among natural and built-up areas may help in biodiversity management. Considering this, we assessed how landscape heterogenicity (i.e. the proportion of natural and built-up/paved surface area) and planning principles influence tree density and diversity patterns in three zones (buffer zone: natural/remnant woodland; transition zone: mixed open grassland and woody plantation; core zone: paved/built-up, grassland, and scattered woody plantation) in the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali campus (Punjab) India. We found a total of 1,993 trees belonging to sixty-eight species, mostly native flora. We found that landscape planning principles significantly influenced tree diversity patterns, with the highest tree diversity in the B3 buffer zone (H: 2.9, PIE: 0.9), which integrated elements of the original landscape and new plantations to optimise ecological value and the lowest diversity in the B2 buffer zone (i.e. H: 0.4; PIE: 0.2) with a monoculture plantation of exotic agroforestry species. We also observed that tree density was negatively influenced by impervious surface area (r = -0.68, p < 0.05) in the core zones and by the plantation of exotic species in the natural areas. The campus diversity supports birds of different feeding guilds (insectivore: 41%, omnivore: 25%, carnivore: 25%, frugivore/nectarivore: 13%, graminivore: 4%, and piscivore: 2%). Additionally, academic buildings planned with high canopy cover and density (45% and 95 ha−1) had reduced the wall temperatures of academic buildings from 12°C to 6°C compared to neighbouring buildings without tree cover. This highlighted the importance of maintaining tree diversity in urban academic institutions to promote urban sustainability.

Viral hepatitis A in children: a false prosperity?

The article presents current data on the state of the issue of Hepatitis A (HA) in children in the Russian Federation and describes clinical and epidemiologic features of rare cases of severe course of the disease, as well as pathogenetic mechanisms of liver damage mediated by cell immune response. Objective. To identify clinical and epidemiologic features of the modern course of HA and its outcomes in children of Saint Petersburg within the period of 2018— 2023. Materials and methods. The study included 89 children diagnosed with HA, undergoing treatment at the Children's Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases from 2018 to 2023. The analysis of disease progression in this group of patients was presented using clinical-anamnestic, epidemiologic, biochemical, virologic and instrumental data. Results. The analysis of infection sources showed a high frequency of HA infection within the family (44.9 ± 0.8%) and significantly less in childcare facilities and schools (7.9 ± 1.0%). The frequency of children with unidentified sources of infection remained high (47.2 ± 0.7%). One-third of all disease cases were imported from southern regions. Most hospitalized children had icteric HA (64.0 ± 0.6%) of moderate severity (79.8 ± 0.5%). Severe HA was observed in 6 patients (6.7 ± 1.0%). During the study, 17 patients (19.1 ± 0.9%) had a prolonged, complicated course of the disease, including ascites and aplastic anemia (12.6 ± 2.2%). Ascites was found in 4 patients with severe severity and in 5 patients with moderate severity of HA. Conclusions. Currently, there is an upward trend in the incidence of HA in the Russian Federation and Saint Petersburg, especially among schoolchildren (56.2%). A rather high frequency of severe (6.7%) and complicated forms (19.1%) of the disease is observed, and the growth of ascites and aplastic anemia cases in HA draws particular attention.

Role of Lower Eyelid Reconstruction in Complete Functional Rehabilitation

Objective: To present a case of reconstruction of a full-thickness lower eyelid defect.Case report: Male patient Y. aged 71 years was admitted to the Scientific Research Institute – Ochapovsky Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1 (Krasnodar, Russian Federation) with the diagnosis: cancer of skin of the lateral canthus of the left eye, T1N0M0, stage I, clinical group II. According to the medical history, the neoplasm was self-detected 5 years ago. Histology findings revealed micronodular basal cell carcinoma.After a general clinical examination, the patient underwent surgery to remove the neoplasm of the lower eyelid skin and lateral canthus and reconstruct the defect using a lateral infraorbital fat pad flap, local tissues, and a free autologous cartilage graft. The configuration of the soft tissues of the eyelid was restored. Soft tissue edema was not observed. The functional state of the lacrimal apparatus was fully preserved. The esthetics of the soft tissue was rehabilitated.Conclusions: Reconstruction in such esthetically significant area as the middle third of the face is associated with special requirements for graft formation and positioning. A gentle and functionally justified method for restoring the parameters of the tarsal plate, conjunctival sac, and lower eyelid skin ensures complete rehabilitation of patients and improves their quality of life.

Pure LATE-NC: Frequency, clinical impact, and the importance of considering APOE genotype when assessing this and other subtypes of non-Alzheimer's pathologies.

Pure limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic changes (pure LATE-NC) is a term used to describe brains with LATE-NC but lacking intermediate or severe levels of Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic changes (ADNC). Focusing on pure LATE-NC, we analyzed data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Neuropathology Data Set, comprising clinical and pathological information aggregated from 32 NIH-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs). After excluding subjects dying with unusual conditions, n = 1,926 autopsied subjects were included in the analyses. For > 90% of these participants, apolipoprotein E (APOE) allele status was known; 46.5% had at least one APOE 4 allele. In most human populations, only 15-25% of people are APOE ε4 carriers. ADRCs with higher documented AD risk allele (APOE or BIN1) rates had fewer participants lacking ADNC, and correspondingly low rates of pure LATE-NC. Among APOE ε4 non-carries, 5.3% had pure LATE-NC, 37.0% had pure ADNC, and 3.6% had pure neocortical Lewy body pathology. In terms of clinical impact, participants with pure LATE-NC tended to die after having received a diagnosis of dementia: 56% died with dementia among APOE ε4 non-carrier participants, comparable to 61% with pure ADNC. LATE-NC was associated with increased Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SOB) scores, i.e. worsened global cognitive impairments, in participants with no/low ADNC and no neocortical Lewy body pathology (p = 0.0023). Among pure LATE-NC cases, there was a trend for higher LATE-NC stages to be associated with worse CDR-SOB scores (p = 0.026 for linear trend of LATE-NC stages). Pure LATE-NC was not associated with clinical features of disinhibition or primary progressive aphasia. In summary, LATE-NC with no or low levels of ADNC was less frequent than pure ADNC but was not rare, particularly among individuals who lacked the APOE 4 allele, and in study cohorts with APOE 4 frequencies similar to those in most human populations.

Documents from Stasys Žakevičius (Žymantas) archive

In 2009, the Museum of Genocide Victims of the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania received documents from the archive of Stasys Žakevičius (who was called Žymantas since 1945), a social activist, lawyer, and participant of the anti-Soviet and anti-Nazi resistance, from the United States of America. The documents from the archive collected and preserved by Žakevičius have not yet been used much in historical research, as they are scattered in various archives and reflect different periods of his biography.

Self-Reported Unfair Police Stops and Skin Tone, Ethnic Origin, and Citizenship Status among Latino Adults

While a growing literature has documented vast ethnoracial inequalities tied to the occurrence and outcomes of police contact, less research has examined the patterning of perceived unfair police stops among Latino populations. The present study relies on insights from tri-racial stratification theory to examine associations between perceived unfair police stops and skin tone, ethnic origin, and citizenship status among Latino adults. Data come from the Pew Research Center’s nationally representative 2021 National Survey of Latinos ( n = 3,019). We regress whether a respondent perceived being stopped unfairly by police in the past year on the Yadon-Ostfeld Skin Color Scale (i.e., 1–10, 10 = Darkest), ethnic origin (i.e., Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Salvadoran, Spaniard, Central American, South American, or other), and citizenship status (i.e., U.S. citizen or not). Results showed that having a darker skin tone and U.S. citizenship were associated with higher odds of experiencing a police stop perceived as unfair. Latinos with the darkest skin tones had nearly a one in five chance of a perceived unfair police stop. Average probabilities of a perceived unfair stop were higher for Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Salvadorans than others followed by Mexicans/Chicanos. Dominicans’ probability was lower than five of the eight other groups. Findings identify heterogeneity among Latino populations such that variation in skin tone, citizenship status, and ethnic origin independently factor into self-reported unfair police stops. Research examining ethnoracial disparities in criminal legal contact and its consequences would benefit from more fully disaggregating panethnic groups.