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Enlarged translesional pressure gradient drives recruitment of leptomeningeal collaterals in medically treated patients with symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis
Get PDFAims: Evolution patterns and contributing factors of leptomeningeal collaterals (LMCs) in symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (sICAS) remain elusive. Methods: Patients with atherosclerotic M1 middle cerebral artery (MCA-M1) stenosis (50%–99%), who were treated medically and had CT angiography (CTA) at baseline and 1 year, were recruited. LMC status was determined by the laterality of distal vessels in anterior and posterior cerebral artery territories in baseline and 1-year CTA. Computational fluid dynamics models were constructed based on baseline and 1-year CTA, to quantify post-stenotic to pre-stenotic pressure ratio (PR) in MCA-M1 lesions. Decreased PR over 1 year indicated enlarged translesional pressure gradient. Results: Among 33 patients (median age 62 years), 18 (54.5%) and 15 (45.5%) had good and poor baseline LMCs; 11 (33.3%) and 22 (66.7%) had good and poor 1-year LMCs. Twelve (36.4%), 16 (48.5%) and 5 (15.2%) patients had worse, similar and better LMCs at 1 year versus baseline. Sixteen (48.5%) patients had decreased PR over 1 year, associated with good LMCs at 1 year (adjusted odds ratio 6.40; p=0.038), independent of baseline LMC status. Conclusion: LMCs may evolve over time in medically treated sICAS patients, when an enlarged translesional pressure gradient may be a driving force
FCRL3 genetic variants drive autoimmune pathogenesis in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
Get PDFObjective: This study aims to investigate the association of Fc receptor-like 3 (FCRL3) gene variants with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in a Chinese population cohort.Methods: In Stage 1, 154 MS patients, 109 NMOSD patients, and 301 normal controls were recruited, Sequenom MassARRAY technology was used for genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Stage 2 involved an independent cohort of 95 MS patients, 139 NMOSD patients, and 226 normal controls. Two FCRL3 SNPs (rs7528684 and rs11264799) were determined using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers.Results: Allele C of rs7528684 emerged as a protective factor for MS. Allele A of rs11264799 exhibited no significant effect on MS or NMOSD. A notable disparity in rs7528684 genotype distribution was observed between oligoclonal band (OCB)-positive and OCB-negative MS patients. Allele C of rs7528684 exhibited an association with OCB-positive MS patients.Conclusion: The findings suggest that the FCRL3 variant (rs7528684) is associated with MS rather than NMOSD. FCRL3 might significantly contribute to OCB synthesis, while the underlying mechanisms warrant further elucidation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of information privacy-Experts viewpoints
Get PDFAI's expanding role in daily life offers data-driven decision-making but risks privacy breaches. This study, using the Communication Privacy Management theory, explores AI adoption's future privacy implications. Through thematic analysis of 42 AI expert interviews, we identify six key themes: human agency, data use/abuse, AI transparency/opacity, information weaponization, cyberbullying, and privacy enforcement. These themes contextualize the evolving AI-privacy relationship. We argue that AI's advancement will challenge traditional privacy ownership concepts. This research provides insights into navigating the complex interplay between AI's growth and safeguarding information privac
Control of the Media and Information Chaos in South Sudan:Factors of Instability
No full textIndépendant depuis 2011, le Soudan du Sud a un écosystème informationnel très fragmenté avec un mélange de médias traditionnels, de réseaux oraux et de nouvelles plateformes du numérique. Dans un contexte autoritaire mais non totalitaire, un effort de réformes est indispensable pour renforcer une démocratie toujours fragile dans une région où les conflits sont présents
Strictly Come Dancing: creative public engagement methods exploring representation of inclusion
No full textStrictly Come Dancing (Strictly), airing from September to December in the UK each year, has some of the highest viewing figures of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) show. The programme has been on television for 20 years; the last five years have seen the series broadcaster consider diversity and inclusion more in their casting. There have been same-sex couples, a D/deaf celebrity and disabled celebrities and dancers. This article draws on the Arts and Humanities Research Council/BBC Public Engagement project Strictly Inclusive, examining how D/deaf, disabled and LGBT+ communities in the Midlands, UK, engaged with inclusion and representation on Strictly. The project brought dance researchers, communities (D/deaf and LGBT+), and an industry partner (BBC) together to creatively explore inclusion in Strictly. The article introduces the context for the wider project and then focuses on graphic interchange formats (GIFs) creation as a method to respond to inclusion and representation on Strictly. GIFs are made up of a sequence of images taken in a stop-motion format that create a story when placed together. We describe the methods used in the project and consider the role of dance research with public engagement in terms of ideas of bodily awareness, intimacy, spatial awareness and the role of the dancing body. We conclude with the limitations of inclusion and challenges of the creative methods.</p
How inclusive is South Africa’s green economy? A qualitative case study of the Working for Water Programme
Get PDFOver the past 15 years, South Africa has embraced ‘green economy’ policy approaches aimed at tackling social and environmental challenges. However, concerns have emerged that these approaches may inadvertently exclude marginalised communities and fail to address the systemic factors perpetuating inequities. Drawing upon field-based research in the Agulhas Plain, we critically examine how the green economy concept is understood and applied in South Africa as a vehicle to include marginalised communities. We use a multi-dimensional ‘inclusion framework’ to analyse four equity dimensions in the country’s largest green economy initiative, the Working for Water Programme (WfWP). Our findings reveal that the WfWP includes communities in a perfunctory fashion, resulting in limited distributive benefits while ignoring several equity dimensions that contribute to existing inequities. These shortcomings are attributed to the neoliberal ideological framework which not only underpins the WfWP, but forms the basis of South Africa’s broader green economy approach. We contribute to counter-hegemonic development debates by advocating for stronger forms of sustainability in South Africa’s green economy approach that challenge power inequities to effect political change
South Sudan: resuming oil exports, resuming hope?
No full textFor over a year, South Sudan’s economy has stalled due to the halt in oil exports, the main source of government revenue. With oil exports now resuming, does this signal a return to normality
Young People's Prompts for Looking at Portraits
No full textYoung People’s Prompts for Looking at Portraits is a publication created by Anthony Luvera, commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, to inspire young people to engage creatively with portraiture. Designed to deepen understanding and enrich experiences in the Gallery, this resource invites thoughtful reflection on how portraits in the NPG Collection were made and what they mean. Young People’s Prompts for Looking at Portraits is more than just a guide—it’s an invitation to slow down, look more closely, and connect with portraiture in new and personal ways
Violence in South Sudan is rising again: what’s different this time, and how to avoid civil war
No full textA rise in political tensions in South Sudan and an escalation of violence in the Upper Nile State have raised fears of a return to civil war in the world’s youngest nation. In early March 2025, neighbouring Uganda sent troops to South Sudan on the request of the government, and was involved in aerial bombardments.South Sudan’s opposition groups took issue with the Ugandan intervention, and stopped taking part in discussions to create a joint military system in the country. These developments risk unravelling the 2018 power-sharing deal between President Salva Kiir, and First Vice-President Riek Machar and other opposition leaders. This deal brought a halt to a five-year civil war. Jan Pospisil, who has researched South Sudan’s political transition, unpacks the drivers of growing discontent