Limited Role Research Articles

Abstract A070: Diagnostic accuracy of Oncuria®-Detect in the detection of upper tract urothelial tumors

Abstract Due to insufficient accuracy, urine-based assays currently have a limited role in the management of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma. The robust urine-based multiplex assay for diagnosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma has the potential to address this deficiency and to assist with accurate, non-invasive diagnosis.We previously developedOncuria®-Detect, a multiplex immunoassay capable of detecting bladder cancer using a single voided urine. In this study, its application to upper tract urothelial cancer was evaluated in a multi-institutional cohort of 61 prospectively collected subjects presenting for evaluation of upper tract mass along with 61 prospective collected matched controls. The ability of the test to identify patients harboring upper tract urothelial carcinoma was assessed. Cancer status was confirmed by endoscopy and tissue biopsy or definitive surgery. Oncuria®-Detect provided an AUC of 0.868 (95% CI: 0.802- 0.933) with an overall sensitivity of 96.7%, specificity of 59.0%, NPV 94.7% and PPV 70.2%. Sensitivity values of Oncuria®-Detect for low-grade, high-grade, non-invasive and invasive upper tract urothelial cancer were 100%, 89.7%, 93.3% and 96.2%, respectively. Voided urine cytology showed an overall sensitivity of 54.5%, specificity of 100%, NPV 31.0% and PPV 100%. As a non-invasive test, Oncuria®-Detect outperformed both voided urinary cytology and selective cytology (sensitivities 96.7% vs. 54.5% vs. 81.8%, respectively). Oncuria®-Detect enabled the accurate discrimination of upper tract urothelial carcinoma and controls non-tumor bearing individuals. The Oncuria®-Detect test can achieve the efficient and accurate detection of upper tract urothelial carcinoma in a non-invasive patient setting. Citation Format: Kazutoshi Fujita, Makito Miyake, Takuto Shimizu, Jennifer Linehan, Joshua Gottlieb, Ian Pagano, Sergei Tikhonenkov, Kaoru Murakami, Riko Lee, Toru Sakatani, Sunao Tanaka, Charles J Rosser, Hideki Furuya. Diagnostic accuracy of Oncuria®-Detect in the detection of upper tract urothelial tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr A070.

Genome-wide copy number variation association study in anorexia nervosa

AbstractThis study represents the first large-scale investigation of rare (<1% population frequency) copy number variants (CNVs) in anorexia nervosa (AN). Large, rare CNVs are reported to be causally associated with anthropometric traits, neurodevelopmental disorders, and schizophrenia, yet their role in the genetic basis of AN is unclear. Using genome-wide association study (GWAS) array data from the Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative (ANGI), which included 7414 AN case and 5044 controls, we investigated the association of 67 well-established syndromic CNVs and 178 pleiotropic disease-risk dosage-sensitive CNVs with AN. To identify novel CNV regions (CNVRs) that increase the risk of AN, we conducted genome-wide association studies with a focus on rare CNV-breakpoints (CNV-GWAS). We found no net enrichment of rare CNVs, either deletions or duplications, in AN, and none of the well-established syndromic or pleiotropic CNVs had a significant association with AN status. However, the CNV-GWAS found 21 nominally associated CNVRs that contribute to AN risk, covering protein-coding genes implicated in synaptic function, metabolic/mitochondrial factors, and lipid characteristics, like the CD36 (7q21.11) gene, which transports long-chain fatty acids into cells. CNVRs intersecting genes previously related to neurodevelopmental traits include deletions of NRXN1 intron 5 (2p16.3), IMMP2L (7q31.1), and PTPRD (9p23). Overall, given that our study is well powered to detect the CNV burden level reported for schizophrenia, we can conclude that rare CNVs have a limited role in the etiology of AN, as reported for bipolar disorder. Our nominal associations for the 21 discovered CNVRs are consistent with AN being a metabo-psychiatric trait, as demonstrated by the common genetic architecture of AN, and we provide association results to allow for replication in future research.

Assessment of Babesia ovis pathogenicity in goats: implications for transmission dynamics and host resistant

Babesia ovis, commonly associated with ovine babesiosis, poses a significant threat to sheep health, often resulting in severe clinical manifestations and high mortality rates. However, the impact of B. ovis on goats has remained uncertain, prompting us to investigate its pathogenicity in caprine hosts. Experimental infections using B. ovis-infected blood inoculation and infected tick infestation, were conducted on spleen-intact (n=5) and splenectomized (n=5) goats. The experimental infection was performed using fresh blood obtained from a B. ovis-infected splenectomized sheep. One spleen-intact sheep served as a control for the experimental infection with B. ovis-infected Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. While all experimentally infected sheep (#501, #575) displayed severe clinical symptoms and high parasitemia, goats exhibited resistance, showing no significant clinical manifestations or sustained parasitemia. Notably, B. ovis was detected in two spleen-intact goats via nested PCR, prompting further investigation into their role as reservoirs for tick-borne transmission. These goats were then infested with Babesia spp.-free R. bursa larvae (0.1 gr) and adults (50 females and 50 males) for transstadial and transovarial transmission experiments respectively. Results indicated that chronically B. ovis-infected spleen-intact goats are not significant sources for maintaining the tick-borne transmission cycle of the parasite. These findings highlight the differential susceptibility of goats to B. ovis infection compared to sheep and their limited role as reservoirs for parasite transmission. Understanding the role of goats in B. ovis transmission and their resistance mechanisms can inform effective control measures and reduce economic losses in affected regions. Further research into caprine babesiosis and host immunological responses is essential to fully elucidate their possible role as reservoirs of the parasite, and underlying mechanisms of host susceptibility and parasite pathogenesis.

Exploring the Impact of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Functional Measures and Quality of Life in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent disabling condition characterized by pain, stiffness, and functional limitations, significantly impacting quality of life, particularly among older adults. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a technique that has shown promise in reducing pain and increasing the range of motion. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of IASTM on functional measures and quality of life in KOA patients. Methods: Thirty participants with unilateral KOA were randomized into IASTM and sham groups. The intervention consisted of four sessions over two weeks, combining IASTM with exercise therapy. Functional performance was assessed using the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and the timed up and go test (TUG). Quality of life was evaluated using the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) and the Lequesne Algofunctional Index (LAI) Questionnaires. Results: A mixed ANOVA revealed significant improvements in functional performance in both groups after treatment in the 6MWT (P < 0.001) and TUG (P = 0.003) tests. Significant improvements were observed in the SF-36 subgroups for physical functioning (P = 0.002), role limitations due to physical problems (P < 0.001), energy/vitality (P < 0.001), pain (P < 0.001), and total score (P < 0.001). There was also a significant time*group interaction effect for role limitations due to emotional problems (P = 0.005), with the IASTM group showing improvement after treatment while the sham group experienced a decline. The LAI questionnaire also indicated significant improvements in both groups (P < 0.001) after treatment. Conclusions: Both IASTM and sham interventions, combined with exercise therapy, led to improvements in functional measures and quality of life. However, the IASTM group exhibited a more pronounced positive trend in the 6MWT and TUG tests, as well as a significant interaction effect for emotional role limitations. These findings suggest that while exercise alone can improve function and quality of life, the addition of IASTM may further enhance these outcomes, supporting its integration into KOA management strategies to improve activities of daily living and overall quality of life.

Digital Labour Platforms in the Italian Domestic Sector: Approaching (In)Formalisation Processes from the Other Way Round

In this exploratory study, we investigate the effects of digital labour platforms (DLPs) on cleaning workers. The prevalence of informality in this sector leads us to suggest analysing workers’ experiences by combining the literature on DLPs with that on the informal economy. Through in-depth interviews with cleaners in Milan and Rome, as well as DLP representatives, the article highlights on one hand, how DLPs affect informal workers and their conditions, and, on the other hand, how workers represent their work and what meanings they associate with the terms formal and informal in the location-based platform economy. The study shows that DLPs seem to play a limited role in the formalisation of work, revealing new forms of hybridisation between formal and informal labour. The use of DLPs also results in increasingly confusing perceptions of what constitutes formal (or regular) and informal work.

The hidden emotions of therapists: An autoethnographic exploration of working with clients who self‐injure

AbstractIntroductionThis paper explores how working with clients who self‐injure generates significant emotional reactions in therapists, often difficult to manage. Drawing on my clinical experience as a researcher and counsellor, I provide an evocative autoethnographic account, highlighting hidden, forbidden or taboo feelings. The aim was to deepen understanding of therapists' emotional realities and contribute to the limited literature on this subject.MethodThrough journaling, sketching, metaphor and field notes, I detail personal experiences with clients who self‐injure. This autoethnography explores my emotions and reactions. A case vignette illustrates my experiences, promoting critical and empathic consideration of how therapist emotions are experienced.Data AnalysisI use autoethnographic methods to analyse the emotional impact and existential reflections of working with clients who self‐injure, employing layers of qualitative interpretation from various personal data sources.ResultsFindings reveal that working with clients who self‐injure forces me to confront my mortality, evoking deep existential reflections and intense emotions like vulnerability and fear. This disrupts my sense of immortality, highlighting my role's limitations and evoking shame and self‐doubt about my ability to alleviate suffering.Implications for PracticeThis paper advances research on self‐injury and emphasises autoethnography as a valuable avenue for counsellors engaging in research. Grounded in PhD study, this paper makes an original contribution to knowledge. Integrating discussions on mortality and emotional vulnerability into supervision and training is crucial, alongside comprehensive training that addresses emotional and unconscious issues. Accessible supervision fosters growth, reduces stigma and supports therapists working with clients who self‐injure.

Rice sucrose non-fermenting related protein kinase (SnRK1) has a limited role in defense against Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Sucrose non-fermenting (SNF) related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) is a master regulator of energy deprivation signaling and has also been implicated in abiotic and biotic stress regulation. SnRK1 promotes stress tolerance through metabolic and transcriptional changes and plays important roles in innate immunity against various pathogens. However, whether it plays a role against insect herbivory is not understood. To test this, using the wild type (with SnRK1) and snrk1 mutant lines in rice, we examined the potential role of SnRK1 in rice against the ruinous pest, Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda. We also investigated the response of FAW towards these lines at different time intervals after exogenous application of plant hormone, Jasmonic acid (JA), and a JA blocker (Ibuprofen). Additional experiments by feeding FAW with leaf infused diet, fresh leaves, and a short-term exposure of FAW to the lines were also carried out. FAW mass gain, growth and development, and host ecophysiological traits were observed. In addition, we also quantified the major surface defenses- trichomes, and wax before and after herbivory. Our results show that FAW response did not vary between mutants and wild type rice. Meanwhile, we found plant hormonal application influenced the ecophysiological traits regardless of mutants and wild type rice. Collectively, we show that while defense against FAW in rice is JA mediated, SnRK1 has a limited role as observed through manipulative experiments with the wild type and snrk1 mutant rice lines.

MiRNAs Regulate the Metabolic Adaptation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis during Copper Deprivation

Copper is an essential metal for cellular processes such as detoxification of reactive oxygen species, oxidative phosphorylation, and iron uptake. However, during infection, the host restricts the bioavailability of this micronutrient to the pathogen as a strategy to combat infection. Recently, we have shown the involvement of miRNAs as an adaptive strategy of P. brasiliensis upon metal deprivation such as iron and zinc. However, their role in copper limitation still needs to be elucidated. Our objective was to characterize the expression profile of miRNAs regulated during copper deprivation in P. brasiliensis and the putative altered processes. Through RNAseq analysis and bioinformatics, we identified 14 differentially expressed miRNAs, two of which putatively regulated oxidative stress response, beta-oxidation, glyoxylate cycle, and cell wall remodeling. Our results suggest that metabolic adaptations carried out by P. brasiliensis in copper deprivation are regulated by miRNAs.

Climate, predation, and the controls of island lizard abundance and community structure

AbstractAlternative ecological theories make divergent predictions about the relationship between predators and their prey. If predators exert top‐down ecosystem control, increases in predation should diminish prey abundance and could either diminish or enhance community diversity of prey species. However, if bottom‐up ecosystem controls predominate, predator populations should track underlying variation in prey diversity and abundance, which ultimately should reflect available energy. Past research, both across islands and comparing islands with the mainland, has frequently invoked the importance of predation in regulating lizard abundance and diversity, suggesting an important role of top‐down control when predators are present. However, others have posited a stronger role of food limitation, via competition or bottom‐up forces. If top‐down control predominates, then negative correlations between prey abundance and predator occurrence should emerge within and among islands. Using data from eBird, we inferred landscape‐level presence data for bird species on the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola. By summing occurrence probabilities of all known anole‐predator birds, we estimated total avian predation pressure and combined these estimates with anole community data from a mark‐recapture study that spanned spatial and climatic gradients on both islands. Avian predators and anole lizards were both affected by climate, with total predator occurrence, anole abundance and anole species richness increasing with mean annual temperature. Anole abundance and predator occurrence showed a curvilinear relationship, where abundance and predator occurrence increased together until predator occurrence became sufficiently high that anole abundance was negatively impacted. This indicates that bottom‐up ecosystem controls drive richness of both anoles and their predators, mitigating the negative effects predators might have on their prey, at least until predator occurrence reaches a threshold. We did not detect consistent evidence of predator occurrence reducing anole community richness. These findings support past research showing that islands with more predators tend to have lower prey abundances, but it does not seem that these top‐down forces are strongly limiting species coexistence. Instead, bottom‐up forces linked with climate may be more important drivers of diversity in both lizards and their avian predators on these islands.

Interleukin-11 signaling plays limited roles for liver fibrosis in a mouse model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

Liver fibrosis, an abnormal accumulation of collagen fibers in the liver, is caused due to several chronic liver diseases including viral hepatitis, alcoholic steatohepatitis, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Among the various symptoms of chronic hepatitis, liver fibrosis is the most crucial factor in determining patient prognosis. Extensive liver fibrosis leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer and shortens the lifespans of patients. However, no drug is currently approved for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Therefore, the identification of molecular mechanisms and druggable targets of liver fibrosis is urgently needed. Interleukin-11 is a member of the interleukin-6 family of inflammatory cytokines that is involved in multiple processes of inflammation and tissue repair. Recent reports also suggest the pro-fibrogenic function of interleukin-11 in various organs. In this study, we examined the fibrogenic potential of interleukin-11 in the liver using a choline-deficient, amino acid-defined high-fat diet, a mouse model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis that rapidly develops liver fibrosis. Although interleukin-11 was specifically upregulated in the liver in this pathological model, the loss of interleukin-11 signaling played minor roles in liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis, and signal transduction pathways. Our results indicate that the pro-fibrogenic function of interleukin-11 may vary among organs and disease etiologies.

Pleiomorph Sarcome of the Thigh

This article focuses on pleomorphic sarcomas, which are malignant mesenchymal tumors with a complex genetic background underlying their morphological pleomorphism. These are poorly differentiated tumors that can maintain different lines of differentiation, sometimes correlating with clinicopathological or prognostic characteristics. Accurate diagnosis in this group of tumors relies on adequate sampling due to their heterogeneity and evaluation by both microscopy and large immunohistochemistry panels. Molecular analyzes have a limited role in their diagnosis as opposed to translocation-related sarcomas, but they may provide important the anotic and prognostic information in the future

The Role of Nutrient and Energy Limitation on Microbial Decomposition of Deep Podzolized Carbon: A Priming Experiment

AbstractSoil carbon decomposition is primarily driven by microbial activities and is regulated by factors which stimulate or impede microbial functions. Deep podzolized carbon (DPC), found in the United States Southeastern Coastal Plain, is situated well below the soil surface in horizons isolated from active plant input. This carbon is characterized by high C:N ratios (>30) which could reflect nutrient limitation of microbial decomposition. To uncover the energy or nutrient limitation on DPC degradation, a 90‐day priming experiment was performed with soils from the surface horizon and DPC horizons (i.e., Bh1 and Bh2) received the additions of 13C‐labeled alanine and glucose. This resulted in prominent priming effects: addition of alanine increased basal decomposition of soil organic carbon by 918 ± 51% and 737 ± 7% in Bh2 and Bh1, respectively. Glucose relative priming was 505 ± 28% in Bh1 and 606 ± 77% of basal respiration in Bh2. These strong responses to substrate input highlight the susceptibility of DPC to loss when microbial carbon and nutrient constraints are alleviated. After 90 days, glucose addition increased the microbial biomass in DPC horizons relative to alanine addition, with the latter showing no difference from ultrapure‐water control. The response of the microbial biomass indicates constraint by a lack of energy sources both by the paucity of labile substrates and reduced availability of organic matter as a result of podzolization. Our study has important implications for predicting the response of DPC in Coastal Plain soils in the context of land management and global change.

Decoding Stock Price Movements: How Net Profit Margin and Debt-to-Equity Ratio Drive Value, with Earnings per Share as the Game-Changer

This research investigates the relationships between Net Profit Margin (NPM), Debt-to-Equity Ratio (DER), Earnings per Share (EPS), and stock prices within the context of the Indonesian stock market. Utilizing a quantitative analysis approach, the study employs panel data regression to assess the statistical significance of these financial metrics on stock valuations. The findings reveal that NPM has a meaningful and statistically significant positive impact on stock prices, indicating that higher profit margins are associated with increased investor confidence and market valuation. Conversely, the results show that DER does not significantly influence stock prices, suggesting that investors may perceive high debt levels as a risk that diminishes stock value. Furthermore, the study finds that EPS does not moderate the relationship between NPM and stock prices, nor does it strengthen the effect of DER on stock valuations. These conclusions contribute to understanding financial determinants in stock price movements, emphasizing the importance of profit margins while highlighting the limited role of leverage and earnings per share in this context. The research provides recommendations for investors and corporate managers and suggests avenues for future studies, including broader geographic comparisons and integrating qualitative factors into stock valuation analysis.

Beyond party and the pocketbook: racial resentment, hostile sexism, and perceptions of corporate political activity

Abstract Recent controversies over “woke” businesses have challenged traditional partisan political alignments, leading to increased criticism on the right of corporate political activity. This paper explores how the public evaluates corporate political activity, focusing specifically on whether individuals believe corporations are doing too much (or too little) to advance social and political goals. We are especially interested in how social identities and pocketbook considerations shape perceptions of corporate political activities not explicitly tied to social issues. Does racial resentment, for example, influence perceptions of corporate political activity designed to increase worker wages or improve health care? Or are the effects limited to efforts to achieve racial equality? We find that racial resentment and hostile sexism have spillover effects, affecting perceptions of corporate political activity across issue areas. Partisan affiliation, political ideology, and personal pocketbook considerations, in contrast, play a more limited role. Previous research has demonstrated the effect of racial resentment and sexism on support for welfare policies. We add to this literature by showing that racist and sexist opposition extends to corporate political activities that might not be explicitly identified as socially progressive.

Innovations in abortion care in France, Germany and the UK following the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background Through an international comparison of health systems and policies, we aim at assessing the contextual and circumstantial characteristics of abortion care innovation in three European countries following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. The three contrasting care models pre-pandemic constitute an interesting baseline for observing different systems’ reaction to health crises. Methods We conducted a review of the recent (2020 onward) peer-reviewed and grey literature, including national policy documents and guidelines. We then carried a comparative analysis of innovations implemented during the pandemic and their sustainability post-crisis. Results In France and the UK, where abortion care was more accessible before the pandemic than in Germany, a series of innovations were officially introduced to facilitate access during the pandemic. They included teleconsultations and the mailing of abortion medication. Most changes have been sustained since then, contributing to addressing historic and systemic health inequities in terms of access (e.g. due to geography and the existence of “medical deserts”). In Germany, innovations during the pandemic have been crafted by the civil society through NGOs offering for the first time teleabortion services (e.g. Balance Berlin and Doctors for Choice). The legitimation of those practices by professional bodies is still in the making, highlighting the limitations of the catalyst role of crises in the face of cultural barriers and resistance of health systems to innovation. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic provoked or accelerated innovation in terms of abortion care in France, Germany and the UK. Yet, its sustainability, as well as its scaling up, remains fragile, especially in Germany, where the disruptive approach of civil society organisations has not yet found its way into mainstream health care services. Key messages • International comparison of health systems’ reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of abortion care shows different paths to innovation. • The sustainability of innovation beyond the first pandemic years pertains to the wider debate on equity in access to abortion care.

Development of health care expenditures in Finland up to 2040

Abstract Background Increasing health care expenditures are threatening public health by complicating the supply of adequate health services. Exploration of possible future developments of the expenditures is needed to understand how to prepare for future or to change an unwanted course of development. We provided projections by health care sectors taking into account demographic and other developments. Methods We used national data on the realized expenditures per capita by age group, sex and health care sectors from 2017 to 2020, and official forecasts of the population in Finland up to 2040. Future per capita expenditures were projected with Bayesian linear regression models incorporating a priori dependency structure for the slope parameters of the age groups such that the time trends of adjacent groups would be more similar than other groups. These projections were then combined with the population forecasts to estimate the total expenditures. Results The greatest increase (164%) was estimated for the total costs of the primary outpatient healthcare: from 2153 to 5677 million euros in 2020-2040, such that 7% of the growth was attributed to demographic developments. The estimated growths were 68% for the primary inpatient healthcare, 14% for the specialised somatic healthcare, and 52% for the urgent and emergency health services, of which 91%, 98% and 21% were attributed to demographic developments, respectively. Conclusions Notable increases in expenditures are expected in all considered health care sectors, but there are great differences in the proportions of the growth attributed to demographic developments. Due to the limited role of demographic changes, it is worth focusing on controlling the impacts of other developments by, e.g., improving the population health and the efficiency of the health care system. Key messages • Notable increases are expected in health care expenditures up to 2040. • Impacts of demographic changes varies markedly between health care sectors.

A study on the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to promote bone fusion in lateral interbody fusion of the lumbar spine using artificial bone

BackgroundLateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) via a retroperitoneum approach has gained popularity due to minimal invasiveness, which avoids resection of the spinous process and laminae. However, as challenges in grafting autogenous bone persist, artificial bone has been tested in Japan to fill the spinal cage. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines to promote cellular proliferation and repair damaged tissues. While the effects of PRP on tendon and ligament repair are widely known, any effects on bone healing are scarcely reported. However, PRP-loaded artificial bone carries potential to improve intervertebral bone fusion.ObjectiveThis study assessed whether PRP enhances intervertebral bone fusion in LLIF surgery using β-tricalcium phosphate artificial bone.MethodsThe current study was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. We evaluated 13 consecutive patients undergoing LLIF surgery in our hospital. Patients received artificial bone impregnated with PRP or without PRP within the same fusion cage. The primary outcome was the intervertebral bone fusion rate at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, evaluated using CT imaging. The intervertebral bone fusion rates with and without PRP loading and with and without contact part between the endplate and the artificial bone were compared. Secondary outcomes included clinical evaluations using visual analog scale scores for low back pain, buttock-leg pain, and leg numbness from the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOA-BPEQ) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), plus adverse events information.ResultsOf the 13 patients (29 vertebral segments) included, bone fusion was observed in 43.4% of the PRP group and 26.1% of the non-PRP group at 6 months (p = 0.216). At 12 months, fusion rates were 60.9% with PRP and 34.8% without PRP (p = 0.074). The fusion rate was significantly higher in cases with good contact between the vertebral endplate and the artificial bone (p = 0.0004). Clinical scores improved postoperatively. Adverse events were in accordance with expectations from LLIF surgery and no PRP-specific events occurred.ConclusionPRP did not significantly improve intervertebral bone fusion rates in LLIF surgeries, particularly in cases with poor contact between the vertebral endplate and artificial bone. While PRP may have a limited role in enhancing bone fusion, maintaining good contact between the vertebral endplate and artificial bone is crucial for successful outcomes. Further research is needed to explore optimal uses of PRP in spinal fusion surgeries.

Origin of the Oligocene–Miocene Sailipu ultrapotassic volcanic rocks in southern Tibet: Melting of Asian mantle pyroxenites triggered by eastward tearing of the subducting Indian continental slab

Widely distributed Oligocene−Miocene ultrapotassic volcanic rocks in the Lhasa terrane of southern Tibet have been associated with the melting of the lithospheric mantle, plateau uplift, and porphyry Cu-Au mineralization. This study presents the mineral chemistry of olivine and clinopyroxene phenocrysts, whole-rock major and trace element data, and zircon U-Pb geochronological and Hf isotopic data for the Sailipu primitive ultrapotassic volcanic rocks. The Sailipu volcanic rocks exhibit high MgO (5.6−11.4 wt%), Cr (386−981 ppm), Co (22−43 ppm), and Ni (95−423 ppm) concentrations and have highly fractionated rare earth elements [REEs; (La/Yb)N = 23−73] and high-Fo (89.1−90.8) olivine phenocrysts containing elevated NiO (up to 0.59 wt%), which suggests a pyroxenitic mantle source that partially melted in the garnet stability field. Their high K2O contents (4.8−8.0 wt%) and global subduction sediment-like trace element patterns suggest that the metasomatic agents, which reacted with mantle peridotites to form phlogopite-bearing pyroxenites, were dominantly derived from the melting of subducted continental sediments. Their high whole-rock Ba/La and Th/Nd ratios are consistent with this hypothesis. The Sailipu ultrapotassic volcanic rocks also exhibit low initial 176Hf/177Hf ratios that resemble those of Himalayan leucogranites, and high Ca contents in olivine phenocrysts, which is consistent with contributions from the subducted carbonate-rich sedimentary strata on top of the thinned Greater Indian continental crust. The zircon U-Pb chronological data yielded concordant ages of 24.33 ± 0.19 Ma, 21.20 ± 0.62 Ma, and 17.05 ± 0.31 Ma for different exposures of the Sailipu volcanic rocks, which establishes a maximum age of ca. 24 Ma for these rocks. The northwest−southeast spatial distribution and the southeastward decrease in age (80°E−90°E) suggest west-to-east tearing of the thinned Greater Indian slab, which caused asthenospheric upwelling and melting of the Tibetan lithospheric mantle. Geothermometric calculations show relatively high primary magma temperatures (∼1250 °C) that are consistent with asthenospheric upwelling. We propose a mechanism that could genetically link the coeval Cu-Au ore-forming granitoids with the ultrapotassic magmatism of the Gangdese belt. The ultrapotassic rocks supply a large-volume of external magmatic volatiles, particularly H2O, which could trigger melting of the Tibetan lower crust and lead to the generation of the ore-forming granitoids and the establishment of oxidizing conditions for porphyry deposits. The oxygen fugacity (log ƒO2 values of ΔFMQ) of the primitive Sailipu ultrapotassic volcanic rocks (ΔFMQ = 0.48 ± 0.51 based on the Dol/melt V oxybarometer and ΔFMQ = 0.33 ± 1.19 according to the magmatic zircon U-Ce-Ti oxybarometer) is slightly lower than that of porphyry Cu-Au ore-forming granitoids in the eastern Gangdese (ΔFMQ = +0.8 to +2.9), which suggests that the direct injection of ultrapotassic melts into ore-forming granitoids played a limited role in changing oxygen fugacity, but more oxidized fluids/volatiles exsolved from these ultrapotassic melts may have facilitated the remelting of sulfide-bearing lower crust and/or directly scavenged sulfides from the mush-state reservoirs of the ore-forming granitoids in the middle−upper crust.

Interactions between sexual signaling and wing size drive ecology and evolution of wing colors in Odonata

Insect coloration has evolved in response to multiple pressures, and in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) a body of work supports a role of wing color in a variety of visual signals and potentially in thermoregulation. Previous efforts have focused primarily on melanistic coloration even though wings are often multicolored, and there has yet to be comprehensive comparative analyses of wing color across broad geographic regions and phylogenetic groups. Percher vs. flier flight-style, a trait with thermoregulatory and signaling consequences, has not yet been studied with regard to color. We used a new color clustering approach to quantify color across a dataset of over 8,000 odonate wing images representing 343 Nearctic species. We then utilized phylogenetically informed Bayesian zero-inflated mixture models to test how color varies with mean ambient temperature, body size, sex and flight-style. We found that wing coloration clustered into two groups across all specimens - light brown-yellow and black-dark brown - with black-dark brown being a much more cohesive grouping. Male perchers have a greater proportion of black-dark brown color on their wings as do species with longer wings. In colder climates, odonates were more likely to have black-dark brown color present, but we found no relationship between the proportion of black and temperature. Light brown-yellow showed similar scaling with wing length, but no relationship with temperature. Our results suggest that black-dark brown coloration may have a limited role in thermoregulation, while light brown-yellow does not have such a role. We also find that the odonate sexes are divergent in wing color in percher species only, suggesting a strong role for color in signaling in more territorial males. Our research contributes to an understanding of complex interactions driving ecological and evolutionary dynamics of color in animals.

Rule of Law Mechanisms: Remote Risk Prevention in a Disorganised Crisis Management

Abstract Over the last fifteen years, the European Union has built up its regulatory response to the rule of law crisis. That framework seeks to address rule of law-related undesirable events depending on whether or not they have already occurred. As risk prevention has a limited role in the EU’s rule of law policy, undesirable events are mostly dealt with in the context of crisis management. Evaluation, reaction and conditionality mechanisms are all affected by issues relating to operability and legitimacy which reduce their overall performance. The resulting moderate efficiency of crisis management tools may still be improved by making use of the upgraded rule of law mechanisms in a systemic way.