Early Stage Research Articles

Analysis of imaging features of rare tumors in nasal cavity and paranasal sinus

Objective:To explore the imaging features of rare tumors of nasal cavity and sinuses, and to improve the understanding of these diseases, thereby aiding clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods:The CT and MRI findings of 79 cases of rare neoplasm of nasal cavity and sinuses confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed, and the imaging features were summarized. Results:Among the 79 cases, there were 16 cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma, most showing expansive and infiltrative bone destruction without hyperosteogeny and sclerosis. The sphenoid sinus exhibited a "pigeon" shape. In 28 cases of malignant melanoma, MRI signals were diverse, typical signals were rare, but mixed signals were more common. In 12 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma, MRI enhancement mostly showed "grape-like" enhancement and partial ring enhancement; There were 10 cases of olfactory neuroblastoma, the lesions were consistent with the distribution area of olfactory mucosa, most of them were lobulated, marginal nodules, and "flower ring" enhancement, and 2 cases grew across intracranial and external, with multiple cystic lesions and surrounding flaky edema bands. In 5 cases of solitary fibrous tumor, Benign tumors had regular shape and uniform density, while malignant tumors had irregular shape and uneven density, The enhancement was obviously uneven and showed a "pattern" change. There were 2 cases of sarcomatoid carcinoma, both with lobed appearance, uneven density, lamellar low-density shadow, and osteolytic bone destruction. In 4 cases of schwannoma, the enhancement showed obvious inhomogeneous enhancement. One case showed cystic necrosis, one case showed calcification, and the surrounding structure was compressed without damage. There was 1 case of neurofibroma, with many cystic components, low signal separation and compartmentalized enhancement. One case of paraganglioma showed moderate enhancement in the arterial phase and progressive enhancement in the venous phase, accompanied by significant swelling bone destruction. Conclusion:Rare tumors of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses have distinctive imaging features. CT and MRI can effectively show the extent of the lesions and the degree of infiltration into adjacent tissues and organs, which is helpful for early clinical diagnosis and staging. However, definitive diagnosis still depends on pathology and immunohistochemistry.

Brain tumour detection via EfficientDet and classification with DynaQ-GNN-LSTM

The early detection and accurate staging of brain tumors are critical for effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Existing methods for brain tumor classification often struggle with limitations such as suboptimal precision, accuracy, and recall rates, alongside significant delays in processing. The current methodologies in brain tumor classification frequently encounter issues such as inadequate feature extraction capabilities and limited accuracy in segmentation, which impede their effectiveness. To address these challenges, the proposed model integrates Fuzzy C-Means for segmentation, leveraging its ability to enhance the accuracy in distinguishing tumor regions. Bounding boxes surrounding identified tumour regions are produced by the method by efficiently utilising calculated region attributes. The use of Vision Transformers for feature extraction marks a significant advancement, offering a more nuanced analysis of the intricate patterns within brain imaging data samples. These features are then classified using a Dyna Q Graph LSTM (DynaQ-GNN-LSTM), a cutting-edge approach that combines the strengths of deep learning, reinforcement learning, and graph neural networks. The superiority of the proposed model is evident through its performance on multiple datasets. It demonstrates an 8.3% increase in precision, 8.5% increase in accuracy, 4.9% increase in recall and 4.5% increase in specificity, alongside 2.9% reduction in delay compared to existing methods. In conclusion, the proposed method offers an efficient solution to the challenges faced in brain tumor classification. The study's findings underscore the transformative impact of integrating cutting-edge technologies in medical diagnostics, paving the way for more accurate, and timely health interventions for clinical scenarios.

Strengths of fertilizer and litter effects on seedling recruitment and growth of grassland species differ depending on functional groups and seed size.

Agricultural grasslands play an important role in conserving the biodiversity of the European cultural landscape. Both, litter cover and soil nutrient availability, change with grassland management, but it is not well-studied how seedling recruitment and growth of multiple grassland species are influenced by their single or combined effects. Therefore, we studied the effects of nitrogen fertilization (100 kg N per year and ha) and litter cover (250 gdw per m2) on seedling recruitment and growth of 75 temperate grassland species (16 graminoid species, 51 forb species, 8 legume species) in a full factorial microcosm experiment. Overall, fertilizer reduced seedling emergence, while litter cover increased it even when combined with fertilization. Fertilization increased seedling height and biomass, and the combination of fertilizer and litter resulted in even stronger responses. Litter cover alone did not influence seedling biomass or seedling height. While the overall direction of treatment effects was similar across functional groups, their strengths were mostly weaker in graminoids than in non-legume forbs and legumes. Positive litter effects on seedling emergence were stronger in large-seeded species. Positive fertilization effects on seedling growth were stronger in small-seeded species, while their seedling biomass was negatively affected by litter cover. In summary, our results show for multiple grassland species that the combination of litter cover and fertilization modulates their single effects. The varying sensitivity of how grassland species representing different functional groups and seed sizes respond with their seedling emergence and growth to litter cover and nitrogen fertilization indicates that the consequences of land-use change on grassland diversity and composition already start to manifest in the earliest stages of the plant life cycle.

Dart and the Taung juvenile: making sense of a century-old record of hominin evolution in Africa.

The announcement in 1925 by Raymond Dart of the discovery of the Taung juvenile's skull in a quarry in sub-Saharan Africa is deservedly a classic publication in the history of palaeoanthropology. Dart's paper-which designated Taung as the type specimen of the early hominin species Australopithecus africanus-provided the first fossil evidence supporting Charles Darwin's 1871 prediction that Africa was where the human lineage originated. The Taung juvenile's combination of ape and human characteristics eventually led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of human evolution. This contribution focuses on the milieu in which Dart's paper appeared (i.e. what was understood in 1925 about human evolution), the fossil evidence as set out by Dart, his interpretation of how a species represented by a fossilized juvenile's skull fitted within prevailing narratives about human evolution and the significance of the fossil being found in an environment inferred to be very different from that occupied by living apes. We also briefly review subsequent fossil finds that have corroborated the argument Dart made for having discovered evidence of a hitherto unknown close relative of humans, and summarize our current understanding of the earliest stages of human evolution and its environmental context.

Forearc Variability and the Geochemical Diversity of Suprasubduction Zone Ophiolites: Insights From the Leka Ophiolite Complex, Norway

AbstractNew whole‐rock major and trace element geochemistry from the Leka Ophiolite Complex in Norway is presented and compared to the geochemical evolution and proposed tectonomagmatic processes recorded in the Izu‐Bonin‐Mariana system. These data demonstrate that the Leka Ophiolite Complex formed as forearc lithosphere during subduction initiation. A new high‐precision zircon U‐Pb date on forearc basalt constrains the timing of subduction initiation in the “Leka sector” of the Iapetus Ocean to 491.36 ± 0.17 Ma. The tectonomagmatic record of the Leka Ophiolite Complex captures only the earliest stages of subduction initiation and is thereby distinct from some other Appalachian–Caledonian ophiolites of similar age. The diversity of Appalachian–Caledonian ophiolite records may represent differing preservation and exposure of a variable forearc lithosphere.

‘An emotional stalemate’: cold intimacies in heterosexual young people’s dating practices

In this article, we consider how heterosexual young people navigate emotionality in their early dating practices. We draw on the ‘cold intimacy’ thesis (Hochschild, 1994; Illouz, 2007; 2012; 2018) that posits that emotions have increasingly become things to be evaluated, measured, quantified and categorised. Within the context of intimate relationships, research suggests that while young people are often open about the physical aspects of casual sex, they are reluctant to demonstrate emotional attachment, with vulnerability deemed shameful (Wade, 2017). Drawing on in-depth interviews with UK-based dating app users aged 18–25, we find that emotional attachment is rarely articulated, and is seen as a sign of weakness in the early stages of a relationship. For our participants, emotions become bargaining chips, with the ‘winner’ being the party with the least to lose, the least invested and the least emotionally attached. While this applies to both the young men and women interviewed, our findings demonstrate a gendered imbalance of power in intimate relationships, as female participants express a fear of emotional hurt, while male participants work to avoid potential rejection and humiliation. As a result, most connections remain suspended in what we identify as the ‘failed talking stage’. This is underpinned by the removal of channels of accountability, coupled with entrenched heteronormative sexual scripts shaping gender roles at this stage.

Exploring the Executable SysML Capabilities to Integrate and Operate Hardware in the Loop

AbstractThese days, systems engineers use advanced software tools and standardized modeling methods to break down complex systems into simpler, less complicated parts that are easier to understand. This includes CATIA Magic that allows for systems architecture, as well as more in‐depth Systems Modeling Language (SysML) modeling and simulation. The goal of this paper is to explore the capabilities of SysML to model and control hardware in the loop (HIL). The model of a weapon system was created using several different diagrams commonly used in SysML. When these diagrams are used together with the CATIA Magic simulation toolkit (Magic Model Analyzer), they can be made executable and used for simulation purposes. While CATIA Magic was selected to provide a digital model of the weapon system, a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 development kit was selected to create a mockup of a physical system. The CATIA Magic model reacts to the inputs received from the LEGO sensors and sends control signals to motors built into the LEGO model. In general, the integration between the LEGO Mindstorms and CATIA Magic can be done successfully, however, this study revealed certain limitations pertinent to the current capability of CATIA Magic to make connections between the SysML model and LEGO hardware. While these limitations did not allow for a full integration and in‐depth testing of the created dynamic model, as intended, the paper presents the current state of the project discussing what is involved in integrating CATIA Magic and LEGO Mindstorms kits and what functionality could be achieved by doing this. The paper pursues both the educational aspect that allows a deeper exploration of the modern system modeling tools, and the practical aspect, showing how a SysML model can be integrated with HIL to provide opportunities to better understand the design space at earlier stages of system development.

Progressively-orthogonally-mapped EfficientNet for action recognition on time-range-Doppler signature

Although 2D radar signal representations, such as spectrograms and range-Doppler maps have been widely used for target recognition, 3D time-range-Doppler (TRD) has been less studied, partially because of the difficulties in extracting features from the TRD representation, i.e., shallow 3D neural networks have limited discriminant power, but repeatedly applying 3D convolutions will lead to an oversized 3D network. A hybrid 3D–2D network architecture, Progressively-Orthogonally-Mapped EfficientNet (POMEN), is proposed to address these challenges. More specifically, the proposed POMEN utilizes 3D convolutions in the earlier stages to capture the information embedded in the sparse 3D TRD representation, and to avoid the oversized feature map caused by excessively applying 3D convolutions, we propose to progressively map the 3D features into three sets of 2D features corresponding to the range-time signature, range-Doppler map and time-Doppler signature (spectrogram), respectively. Subsequently, 2D EfficientNet blocks were designed to extract discriminant information from the three sets of 2D feature maps. This hybrid 3D–2D network design effectively extracts features from the 3D TRD representation, thereby avoiding oversized features from full-sized 3D networks and the information loss of 2D networks on 2D representations. Finally, a homogeneous gated fusion network was designed to fuse the three sets of 2D features. The proposed method was evaluated on the UGRS, MIMOGR, and mmWRWD datasets. The experimental results for all datasets demonstrate that the proposed POMEN significantly and consistently outperforms the state-of-the-art models in both 2D and 3D representations.

Evolution of rotating massive stars adopting a newer, self-consistent wind prescription at Small Magellanic Cloud metallicity

Aims. We aim to measure the impact of our mass-loss recipe in the evolution of massive stars at the metallicity of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Methods. We used the Geneva-evolution code (GENEC) to run evolutionary tracks for stellar masses ranging from 20 to 85 M⊙ at SMC metallicity (ZSMC = 0.002). We upgraded the recipe for stellar winds by replacing Vink’s formula with our self-consistent m-CAK prescription, which reduces the value of the mass-loss rate, Ṁ, by a factor of between two and six depending on the mass range. Results. The impact of our new [weaker] winds is wide, and it can be divided between direct and indirect impact. For the most massive models (60 and 85 M⊙) with Ṁ ≳ 2 × 10−7 M⊙ yr−1, the impact is direct because lower mass loss make stars remove less envelope, and therefore they remain more massive and less chemically enriched at their surface at the end of their main sequence (MS) phase. For the less massive models (20 and 25 M⊙) with Ṁ ≲ 2 × 10−8 M⊙ yr−1, the impact is indirect because lower mass loss means the stars keep high rotational velocities for a longer period of time, thus extending the H-core burning lifetime and subsequently reaching the end of the MS with higher surface enrichment. In either case, given that the conditions at the end of the H-core burning change, the stars will lose more mass during their He-core burning stages anyway. For the case of Mzams = 20–40 M⊙, our models predict stars will evolve through the Hertzsprung gap, from O-type supergiants to blue supergiants (BSGs), and finally red supergiants (RSGs), with larger mass fractions of helium compared to old evolution models. New models also sets the minimal initial mass required for a single star to become a Wolf-Rayet (WR) at metallicity Z = 0.002 at Mzams = 85 M⊙. Conclusions. These results reinforce the importance of upgrading mass-loss prescriptions in evolution models, in particular for the earlier stages of stellar lifetime, even for Z ≪ Z⊙. New values for Ṁ need to be complemented with upgrades in additional features such as convective-core overshooting and distribution of rotational velocities, besides more detailed spectroscopical observations from projects such as XShootU, in order to provide a robust framework for the study of massive stars at low-metallicity environments.

Analyzing the 7C psychological antecedents of vaccine acceptance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare sector workers in France: A repeated cross-sectional study (CappVac-Cov)

BackgroundAcross various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and related vaccine recommendations in France, we assessed the association of the 7C-psychological antecedents with vaccine uptake/intention for booster vaccination among healthcare-sector workers (HCSWs). We also assessed whether 7C-antecedent profiles changed over time. MethodologyThe Research Group for the Prevention of Occupational Infections in Healthcare Workers (GERES) conducted three repeated web-surveys which were disseminated by email chain-referral among HCSWs throughout France. The questionnaires waves took place: July-November 2021, February-March 2022 and January-March 2023 (P2, P3 and P4). We also reanalysed data from a prior similar study conducted late 2020-early 2021 (Moirangthem et al. (2022)) (P1). To evaluate the association of 7C-items with vaccine uptake-intention for future vaccination, we estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) using robust variance Poisson regression. We report the 7C-item population attributable loss in vaccine intention. ResultsThe four surveys (P1-P4) encompassed 5234, 339, 351 and 437 participants. At earlier stages of the vaccine campaign, the principal antecedents of vaccine intention were favorable perception of vaccination benefit-risk-balance (BRB) (vs. unfavorable, aPR: 2.32), reactance to employer encouragement for vaccination (motivates vs. dissuades-me, aPR:2.23), vaccine confidence (vs. not-being-confident, aPR: 1.71) and social conformism towards vaccination (favorable vs. skeptical opinion in private environment, aPR: 1.33). Under a vaccine mandate for HCSWs, only perceiving vaccination as a collective action was associated with current vaccine status (agree vs. disagree, aPR: 2.19). At later stages of the epidemic, hypothetical booster vaccine intentions were strongly associated with BRB perception (favorable vs. unfavorable, aPR: 2.07) and perceiving vaccination as a collective action (agree vs. disagree, aPR: 1.69). Fearing a severe side effect from vaccination decreased population vaccine intention by 26.2 %. ConclusionOur results suggest that both 7C-antecedents and their association with vaccine behaviour can change over time, and underscore the importance of assuring confidence in vaccine safety.

Preparation and size control of epoxy resin multilevel structures with SiO2 particles

In the process of preparing porous epoxy materials using reaction-induced phase separation (RIPS), the introduction of an appropriate amount of SiO2 particles enables the control of the phase separation behavior of the system and its ultimate phase structure. This study examined the role of SiO2 particles in the preparation and size control of epoxy resin multilevel structures by analyzing the phase separation and reaction kinetics in an epoxy resin blend system and characterizing the ultimate phase structure. It was found that fumed SiO2 particles (0–3 wt%) added to the DGEBA/DDCM/PEG200 blends resulted in significant interfacial stabilization, delaying phase separation. With an increase in the fumed SiO2 particle content, the phase structure stopped evolving at an earlier stage of phase separation. In addition, the fumed SiO2 particles dispersed in the porogen-enriched phase helped to stabilize the system, i.e., preventing or slowing down the segregation and aggregation of the components in the system, which may inhibit secondary phase separation in the porogen-enriched phase. When 350 nm SiO2 particles were used, an increase in the particle size resulted in a larger phase structure. The SiO2 particles were dispersed within the pore-forming agent phase, increasing the proportion of the pore-forming agent and exerting an occupancy effect, which diminished with decreasing SiO2 particle size and increasing hydrophobicity. Notably, the surface of the epoxy porous material skeleton was decorated with small pits formed by the acid etching of the SiO2 particles, and this multilevel structure contributed to the specific surface area. The multilevel structure can be precisely controlled by adjusting the size, content, and wettability of the SiO2 particles. The results of this study are universal and instructive for the preparation of porous materials using a phase separation method in combination with solid particles.

Impact of HLA Class I Antigen, Killer Inhibitory Receptor, and FCGR3A Genotypes on Breast Cancer Susceptibility and Tumor Stage.

The identification in breast cancer (BC) of novel genetic biomarkers regulating natural killer (NK) cell function, including the HLA, KIR, and CD16A (FCGR3A), may be still a challenge. We aimed to evaluate whether the combined effect of these polymorphisms has an impact on BC susceptibility and progression. 47 BC Italian patients and healthy individuals (39 females and 66 males/ females) were genotyped by Sanger sequencing (HLA-C exon 2-4 and FCGR3A- 158V/F, 48L/R/H) and PCR-SSP typing (KIR genes). HLA-C gene allele analysis showed the group C1, with HLA-C*07:02:01 allele, to be significantly associated with tumor progression (16.7% vs. 4.0%, p=0.04, OR=4.867), and instead, group C2, with HLA-C*05:01:01, was protective against disease susceptibility (0.0% vs. 7.2%, p=0.019, OR=0.087). In addition, we highlighted a significant reduction of the KIR2DS4ins in BC patients (pcorr.=0.022) and an increased combined presence of KIR2DL1 and KIR2DS1 genes in advanced BC patients compared to earlier stages (66.7% vs. 19.2%, p=0.002). The concurrent lack of KIR2DL2 and KIR2DS4 genes in the presence of HLA-C2 alleles was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to BC (p=0.012, OR=5.020) or with lymph node involvement (p=0.008, OR=6.375). Lastly, we identified different combinations of the FCGR3A-48/158 variants and KIR genes in BC patients compared to controls. Our findings suggest that in the development of BC probably exists a disorder of the NK innate immunity influenced by KIR/HLA-C gene content and FCGR3A-158 polymorphisms and that the combined analysis of these biomarkers might help predict genetic risk scores for tailored screening of BC patients in therapy.

Causal Relationship Between Kidney Function and Cancer Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Rationale & ObjectivePatients treated with kidney replacement therapy experience a 1.5 to 2-fold increased risk of cancer and cancer mortality compared to the general population. Whether this excess risk extends to people with earlier stages of chronic kidney disease is unclear. This study explored the potentially causal relationship between reduced kidney function and cancer. Study DesignTwo-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). Setting & ParticipantsGenome Wide Association Study (GWAS) summary statistics for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (n=567,460) and urinary albuminuria (UACR) (n=127,865) from the CKDGen consortium and cancer outcomes from the UK Biobank (n=407,329). ExposureseGFR and UACR. OutcomesOverall cancer incidence, cancer-related mortality, and site-specific colorectal, lung, and urinary tract cancer incidence. Analytical ApproachUnivariable and multivariable MR were conducted for all outcomes using inverse-variance weighted methods. ResultsThe mean eGFR and median UACR were 91.4 mL/min/1.73m2 and 9.32 mg/g in the CKDGen and 90.4 mL/min/1.73m2 and 9.29 mg/g in the UK Biobank. There were 98,093 cases of cancer, 6,664 colorectal, 3584 lung, and 3,271 urinary tract. There were 15,850 cases of cancer-related death, The genetic instruments for eGFR and UACR comprised 34 and 38 variants, respectively. Genetically predicted kidney function (eGFR and UACR) was not associated with overall cancer risk or cancer death. No associations of genetically predicted eGFR and UACR with overall cancer incidence were observed; odds ratio (95%CI; p-value) of 0.88 (0.40-1.97; p=0.76) and 0.90 (0.78-1.04; p=0.16), respectively. An adjusted generalized additive model for eGFR and cancer demonstrated evidence of non-linearity. There was no evidence of a causal association between eGFR and cancer in a stratified MR. LimitationsTo avoid overlapping samples a smaller GWAS for UACR was used, reducing the strength of the instrument and potentially introducing population stratification. ConclusionsThese findings did not demonstrate a causal association of kidney function with overall cancer incidence or cancer-related death.

Seamless Map of Depth to the Moho Interface in the Afro‐Arabian Region Using Gravity Data Derived From EGM2008

AbstractThe Afro‐Arabian region is one of the few places on land, where rifting processes at divergent plate boundaries can be thoroughly investigated. One of the crucial factors in understanding rifting processes involves assessing the crustal thickness. In this study, gravity data from the Earth Gravitational Model 2008 is used to create a seamless map of the depth to the Moho interface. Unlike many previous investigations that focused on specific localized areas, within the region, results from the current study provide a comprehensive view. The depth obtained from the current investigation aligns well with findings from earlier studies, exhibiting a bias of 0.69 km and a standard deviation of 3.89 km. Within the region, maximum and minimum depths to the Moho interface are observed beneath the northwest Ethiopian Plateau and the Gulf of Aden Rift (GAR), respectively. Analyzing profiles across the Red Sea, Main Ethiopian, and GARs, the study concluded that the Southern Main Ethiopian Rift is in an earlier stage of the rifting process, while the GAR is at an advanced stage. Furthermore, the interpretation of the current findings led to the inference that there might exist two potential plume tails driving the rifting process in the East Africa Rift—one originating from the Afar region and the other from South Kenya. This inference primarily relies on the isostatic compensation stages observed in the various rift systems throughout the region.

Vulnerable populations and the emergency ventral hernia: A retrospective cohort study

IntroductionVentral hernias can be repaired electively; however, many circumstances require emergency repair. The association between sociodemographic status and rate of emergency repair are unclear and the Social Vulnerability Index may be a useful tool to better understanding this association. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between Social Vulnerability Index and emergency ventral hernia repair. MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2012–2018) data for patients at a level 1 trauma center. We included patients who had an open ventral hernia repair. Social Vulnerability Index was based on residential address at the time of surgery. We conducted univariate and bivariate statistics, including χ2 and Mann-Whitney U tests to compare high and low social vulnerability. ResultsOur sample had 1,017 patients. Patients who underwent emergency operations were older (P = .025) and had higher Social Vulnerability Index (P = .029). Patients in the high Social Vulnerability Index group were 1.5 times more likely to receive emergency surgery (P = .047). Emergency repair was also associated with increased frequency of nonhome discharge (9% vs 2%, P = .001) and higher mean work relative value unit (15.4 vs 11.9, P < .001). ConclusionPatients requiring emergency ventral hernia repair have significantly higher Social Vulnerability Index than those undergoing elective repair. This vulnerable population also has increased cost associated with the repair and higher rates of nonhome discharge. This work provides a foundation for efforts to reach patients in high Social Vulnerability Index environments at an earlier stage to achieve earlier elective repair.

Biomarkers for Early Disease Detection: Advancements in Predictive Medicine and Diagnostic Testing

Biomarkers have emerged as invaluable tools in predictive medicine and diagnostic testing, revolutionizing our approach to early disease detection. This paper examines recent advancements in biomarker research and their implications for identifying diseases at their earliest stages. Through genomic, proteomic, metabolic, and microbiome-based biomarkers, coupled with the power of liquid biopsies and artificial intelligence, clinicians can now detect diseases with unprecedented accuracy and timeliness. We explore the role of genomic biomarkers, such as BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations, proteomic markers like PSA for prostate cancer, and metabolic indicators such as blood glucose levels for diabetes. Liquid biopsies offer non-invasive methods for detecting early-stage cancers and monitoring treatment response. Microbiome-based biomarkers illuminate the intricate relationship between microbial communities and disease states.

Constructing regulatory regimes for sustainable development: commitment to resolve, clarity, and reasonableness

ABSTRACT To be effective, a regulatory regime for sustainable development must demonstrate to the regulated entities its resolve to attain regulatory goals while avoiding an arbitrary exercise of authority. Yet many developing countries lack the robust political-administrative institutions to construct and maintain such regimes. The environmental reform in Guangdong, China, shows how, with underdeveloped formal political-administrative institutions, the regulatory regime must demonstrate commitment acts, including transparent enforcement, compliance benchmarking, expectation pacing, and third-party enforcement. These acts help, over time, to maintain enterprises’ perceptions of the regulatory regime’s resolve, clarity, and reasonableness. By analyzing primary data from extensive fieldwork and survey observations conducted at two separate times, we show that enterprises are more likely to adopt environmental management measures if they perceive higher regulatory resolve, clarity, and reasonableness. Their assurance needs vary at different stages of regime development. Establishing clear expectations matters at an earlier stage when regulatory goals are new and expectations relatively lax. Yet, as expectations become more stringent, maintaining reasonableness becomes essential. In both stages, a perception of resoluteness in enforcement matters.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer Patients Cared for by the Multidisciplinary Team in the Reggio Emilia Province, Italy.

Colorectal cancer emerged as the third most prevalent malignancy worldwide, affecting nearly 2 million individuals in the year 2020. This study elucidates the pivotal role of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) in influencing the prognosis, as measured by relative survival rates, depending upon the stage and age. Cases recorded in an Italian Cancer Registry between 2017 and 2018 were included. Relative survival was reported at 1 and 3 years after diagnosis comparing MDT vs. no-MDT approaches. During the study period, 605 CRCs were recorded while 361 (59.7%) were taken care of by an MDT. Compared to no-MDT, MDT patients were younger with earlier stages and received more surgery. One year after diagnosis, survival was 78.7% (90% in MDT vs. 62% in no-MDT); stratifying by stage, in the MDT group there was no survival advantage for stage I (97.2% vs. 89.9%) and II (96.8% vs. 89.4%), but an advantage was observed for stage III (86.4% vs. 56.9%) and stage IV (63.7% vs. 27.4%). Similar values were observed at 3 years where a marked advantage was observed for stages III (69.9% vs. 35.1%) and IV (29.2% vs. 5.1%). The univariable analysis confirmed an excess risk in the no-MDT group (HR 2.6; 95% CI 2.0-3.3), also confirmed in the multivariable regression analysis (HR 2.0; 95% CI 1.5-2.5). Despite the increase in the number of MDT patients in 2018 (from 50% to 69%), this does not correspond to an improvement in outcome.

A computational account of transsaccadic attentional allocation based on visual gain fields

Coordination of goal-directed behavior depends on the brain's ability to recover the locations of relevant objects in the world. In humans, the visual system encodes the spatial organization of sensory inputs, but neurons in early visual areas map objects according to their retinal positions, rather than where they are in the world. How the brain computes world-referenced spatial information across eye movements has been widely researched and debated. Here, we tested whether shifts of covert attention are sufficiently precise in space and time to track an object's real-world location across eye movements. We found that observers' attentional selectivity is remarkably precise and is barely perturbed by the execution of saccades. Inspired by recent neurophysiological discoveries, we developed an observer model that rapidly estimates the real-world locations of objects and allocates attention within this reference frame. The model recapitulates the human data and provides a parsimonious explanation for previously reported phenomena in which observers allocate attention to task-irrelevant locations across eye movements. Our findings reveal that visual attention operates in real-world coordinates, which can be computed rapidly at the earliest stages of cortical processing.

Palatal segment contributions to midfacial anterior-posterior growth.

Anterior-posterior (A-P) elongation of the palate is a critical aspect of integrated midfacial morphogenesis. Reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions drive secondary palate elongation that is coupled to the periodic formation of signaling centers within the rugae growth zone (RGZ). However, the relationship between RGZ driven morphogenetic processes, the differentiative dynamics of underlying palatal bone mesenchymal precursors, and the segmental organization of the upper jaw has remained enigmatic. A detailed ontogenetic study of these relationships is important, because palatal segment growth is a critical aspect of normal midfacial growth, can be modified to produce dysmorphology, and is a likely basis for evolutionary differences in upper jaw morphology. Variation in palatal-segment specific growth may also underlie known differences in palatal segment proportions between inbred mouse strains. We completed a combined whole mount gene expression and morphometric analysis of normal murine palatal growth dynamics and their association with palatal segment elongation and resulting upper jaw morphology. Our results demonstrated that the first formed palatal ruga (ruga 1), found just posterior to the RGZ, maintained an association with important nasal, neurovascular and palatal structures throughout early midfacial development; suggesting that these features are positioned at a proximal source of embryonic midfacial directional growth. Our detailed characterization of midfacial morphogenesis revealed a one-to-one relationship between palatal segments and upper jaw bones during the earliest stages of palatal elongation. Growth of the maxillary anlage within the anterior secondary palate is uniquely coupled to RGZ-driven morphogenesis that more than doubles the length of this palatal segment prior to palatal shelf fusion. Our results also demonstrate that the future maxillary-palatine suture, approximated by the position ruga 1 and consistently associated with the palatine anlage, forms predominantly via the posterior differentiation of the maxilla within the expanding anterior secondary palate. Our complementary ontogenetic comparison of three inbred mouse strains identified small but significant strain-specific differences in early embryonic palatal segment contributions to the upper jaw. Although early palatal segment specific growth is not primarily responsible for adult differences in upper jaw morphology between these strains, our ontogenetic series of measurements provide a useful foundation for understanding the impact of background genetic effects on facial shape and elongation. In combination, our results provide a novel and particularly detailed picture of the earliest spatiotemporal dynamics of intramembranous midfacial skeletal specification and differentiation within the context of the surrounding palatal segment A-P elongation and associated rugae formation.