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From weight loss to multimorbidity prevention: framing the anticipated contributions of SURMOUNT-MMO
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38-year delayed spinal leptomeningeal dissemination of a paediatric pilocytic astrocytoma: a case report
Get PDFIntroduction: Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is among the commonest primary intracranial tumours in children but has a low incidence among the adult population, and spinal occurrences are particularly infrequent. We report a spinal intradural extramedullary (IDEM) recurrence of this tumour a significant duration after initial treatment. Such a case is previously unreported in the literature.
Case Summary: A 46-year-old female presented with a 3-month history of worsening back pain. Reduced sensation on the right side in L1, L2, and per rectum was found on examination. MRI displayed a L3 IDEM mass. Background was significant for childhood PA, debulked at age 8 and 13. Right L3 hemilaminectomy and subtotal resection was performed. The mass was found to be composed of pleomorphic astroglial cells and was glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive with a fusion between exon 16 of KIAA1549 and exon 9 of BRAF. A recurrence of pilocytic astrocytoma in the lumbar spine was diagnosed, over 38 years after previous treatment.
Conclusion: This novel case of long-term leptomeningeal dissemination of cerebellar PA to the lumbar spine is unprecedented. The delayed dissemination of this tumour may warrant further molecular investigation of pilocytic astrocytoma to assess underlying predispositions for such a presentation
Who can choose to aspire higher? Complex interlinkage of refugee education and aspirations in Global South
Get PDFParadoxical to popular belief, developing countries host most of the refugees in the world. This article highlights the underexplored interplay between educational opportunities, aspirations, and agency for refugees in the Global South. Combining interviews, focus groups, and participatory methods, the study examines the link between learning opportunities and aspirations of refugees from Afghan, Somali, Rohingya, Chin and Tibetan communities in three major cities of India. By analysing the data through the lens of the capacity to aspire, it showcases the complex interlacing of these aspirations with the structural realities of asylum country and advocates for strengthening navigational capacity of refugees via educational opportunities
Organoids in parasitology: a game-changer for studying host-nematode interactions
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OpenRASE: Service Function Chain Emulation
No full textService Function Chains (SFCs) are one of the key enablers in providing programmable computer networks, paving the way for network autonomy. However, this also introduces new challenges, such as resource allocation and optimisation related to their operation, requiring new algorithms to address these challenges. Various tools have been used in the literature to evaluate these algorithms. However, these tools suffer from inaccuracy, low fidelity, unscalability, inflexibility, or additional code requirements. This paper introduces an emulator based on Mininet and Docker for SFCs called OpenRASE. The goal of OpenRASE is to enable the exploration of resource allocation algorithms for SFCs in a dynamic setting, allowing real CPU usage and latency to be measured. We describe the design and implementation of OpenRASE and discuss its characteristics. We also experimentally evaluate two different algorithms to address the SFC resource allocation challenge, including an online Genetic Algorithm, using OpenRASE to show its effectiveness and practicality for dynamic network conditions
Exploiting microplastics and the plastisphere for the surveillance of human pathogenic bacteria discharged into surface waters in wastewater effluent
Get PDFDischarge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is a well-characterised source of human pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes entering the environment. However, determining whether pathogens released from effluent into surface waters are viable, and consequently pose a risk to human health, is hindered by the use of transient grab-sampling monitoring approaches. Here we present a novel surveillance system using low-cost microparticles (polyethylene, cork and rubber) deployed upstream and downstream of a WWTP effluent pipe, that exploits the ability of bacterial pathogens to form biofilms. Using quantitative culture-based and molecular methods, viable E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Citrobacter spp., and Enterococcus spp. were identified after only 24-hour of deployment. Moreover, these pathogens were continually present at each timepoint (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 and 23 days) as biofilm communities matured, with all pathogens detected at higher concentrations downstream of the WWTP effluent pipe. Long-read whole genome sequencing revealed a suite of plasmids, virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance genes in bacterial pathogens isolated from biofilms formed downstream of the effluent pipe. Furthermore, recognising that pathogens are typically present at proportionally low concentrations within mixed biofilm communities, total biofilm pathogenicity was confirmed using a Galleria mellonella infection model. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that human pathogens present in microplastic biofilms (the ‘plastisphere’) dominated the microbial community of infected G. mellonella larvae within 24 hr, suggesting these bacteria remained highly virulent. Overall, this study demonstrated the efficacy of an easy-to-deploy system for the surveillance and rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria being discharged from point-source pollution. We envisage that if used as part of an integrated environmental management approach, this approach could help to reduce the public and environmental health risks of human pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes, by monitoring viable human pathogens entering surface waters
Human activity recognition using SVM-based on micro-Doppler radar data classification
Get PDFIn the context of an ageing population, research is increasingly focusing on the use of radar for fall detection to support clinical and teleassistance services. After the radar data are processed, a spectrogram of the recorded activity can be generated. We propose to extract characteristic parameters (such as Area, Perimeter or Orientation) from the activity signature contained in the spectrogram, using image processing techniques. Then, these data are input into a Support Vector Machine (SVM), which is more lightweight than other learning models. This method achieves an accuracy of 88.85%, providing an optimal solution with low resource requirements and similar or even improved performance relative to the state of the art
Urban digital twins for citizen-centric planning: a systematic review of built environment perception and public participation
Get PDFIn the context of rapid urbanization, enhancing built environment perception and promoting public participation has become critical in urban planning. Urban digital twins (UDTs) have emerged as transformative tools, enabling real-time simulation, immersive visualization, and interactive engagement with complex urban systems. This systematic review examines 84 publications (2014–2024) on the application of UDTs for enhancing built-environment perception and facilitating public participation in urban planning. Results indicate a rapid increase in UDT research post-2020, particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia, led by the United States, China, and Germany. However, significant gaps remain, notably the underrepresentation of rural and peri-urban contexts, highlighting geographic and contextual biases. UDT studies primarily focus on visual and functional perception, with limited attention to auditory and risk perception dimensions. Additionally, most research concentrates on meso-scale (neighbourhood or city-level) contexts, revealing scale-specific limitations. Public participation varied widely, with academia and government predominantly driving initiatives, while direct citizen engagement remained comparatively limited. Interactive participation through immersive visualization technologies (e.g., VR, AR) effectively enhanced stakeholder involvement and perceptual understanding, yet raised equity concerns regarding accessibility and technological inclusivity. Future UDT research should prioritize expanding into diverse geographic and contextual settings, incorporating overlooked perceptual dimensions, and developing equitable, accessible technologies. Embracing hybrid participatory models and interoperable, geospatially-aware frameworks will be crucial for leveraging UDTs as comprehensive tools for citizen-centric and sustainable urban planning
Separated Charge O-band Semiconductor Lasers
Get PDFWe present a new approach to quantum well laser design utilizing selectively-doped waveguides to enhance the efficiency and thermal stability of near- and mid-infrared lasers. For O-band lasers, we theoretically and experimentally assess the impact of this new approach on carrier recombination and Auger suppression
A Flow Control Technique for Impinging Pressure Reduction in Plume Surface Interaction (PSI)
No full textRegolith erosion and scattering occur during the descent phase of planetary probes and are critical issues for safe soft landings on planetary surfaces. We propose a jet-jet interaction technique with potential applications for controlling regolith erosion and scattering. In this study, the fundamental characteristics of the jet-jet interaction technique are investigated both experimentally and numerically, using a large vacuum facility and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with a density-field-based central-upwind scheme. The results show that the jet-jet interaction technique provides an oblique shock wave within the jet core, and the high-pressure region behind the oblique shock leads to an expansion of the main jet radius and wider dispersion of the mass flow rate. These changes in the flow field reduce the stagnation pressure on the plate surface where the hypersonic jet impinges. Based on the experimental results, the maximum pressure reduction is observed at a mass flow rate ratio of 1.36 × 10-1 between the main and injected jets and a nozzle-plate distance of 552 mm, where the pressure is reduced to 13.7% of that without jet-jet interaction
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