The opening session was devoted to a discussion of the UNESCO Conference on the Development of Higher Education in Africa held in Tananarive, September 3-12, 1962, and its implications for the United States. Speakers on the panel were Dr. de Kiewiet; Karl Bigelow, Teachers College of Colum-gia University; Robert Van Duyn, Agency for International Development; and Kenneth Snyder, Bureau of International Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Dr. de Kiewiet, introducing the panel, paid a tribute to Dr. Ras Johnson of AID, a member of the official delegation, who lost his life while returning to the United States.

Dr. de Kiewiet remarked that, having assumed official delegations went out with highly specific instructions, he had made the reassuring discovery this was not the case. The delegation had largely determined for itself what the issues were and had developed responses to them; this flexibility had been important in establishing a successful relationship between the conference as a whole and the public and private sectors of American higher education.

Cryphodera guangdongensis n. sp. was collected from the soil and roots of Schima superba in Guangdong province, China. The new species is characterised by having a nearly spherical female, with dimensions of length × width = 532.3 (423.8–675.3) × 295.6 (160.0–381.2) μm, stylet length of 35.7 (31.1–42.1) μm, protruding vulval lips, a vulval slit measuring 54.2 (47.4–58.9) μm, an area between the vulva and anus that is flat to concave, and a vulva–anus distance 49.3 (41.1–57.6) μm. The male features two lip annules, a stylet length of 31.7 (27.4–34.8) μm and basal knobs that are slightly projecting anteriorly, while lateral field is areolated with three incisures and spicules length of 27.1 (23.7–31.0) μm. The second stage juvenile is characterised by a body length of 506.1 (441.8–564.4) μm long, two to three lip annules, a stylet length 31.2 (29.7–33.2) μm which is well developed, basal knobs projecting anteriorly, a lateral field that is areolate with three incisures, and a narrow rounded tail measuring 63.2 (54.2–71.3) μm long, with a hyaline region of 35.6 (27.4–56.6) μm long that is longer than the stylet. Based on morphology and morphometrics, the new species is closely related to C. sinensis and C. japonicum within the genus Cryphodera. The phylogenetic trees constructed based on the ITS-rRNA, 28S-rRNA D2–D3 region, and the partial COI gene sequences indicate that the new species clusters with other Cryphodera species but maintains in a separated subgroup. A key to the species of the genus Cryphodera is also provided in this study.

The transition from breastmilk to solid foods (weaning) is a critical stage in infant development and plays a decisive role in the maturation of the complex microbial community inhabiting the human colon. Diet is a major factor shaping the colonic microbiota, which ferments nutrients reaching the colon unabsorbed by the host to produce a variety of microbial metabolites influencing host physiology(1). Therefore, making adequate dietary choices during weaning can positively modulate the colonic microbiota, ultimately contributing to health in infancy and later life(2). However, our understanding of how complementary foods impact the colonic microbiota of weaning infants is limited. To address this knowledge gap, we employed a metagenome-scale modelling approach to simulate the impact of complementary foods, either combined with breastmilk or with breastmilk and other foods, on the production of organic acids by colonic microbes of weaning infants(3). Complementary foods and combinations of foods with the greatest impact on the in silico microbial production of organic acids were identified. These foods and food combinations were further tested in vitro, individually or in combination with infant formula. Fifty-three food samples were digested using a protocol adapted from INFOGEST to mimic infant digestion and then fermented with faecal inoculum from 6 New Zealand infants (5-11 months old). After 24h of fermentation, the production of organic acids was measured by gas chromatography. Differences in organic acid production between samples were determined using the Tukey Honestly Significant Difference test to account for multiple comparisons. The microbial composition was characterised by amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 regions of the 16S bacterial gene. Taxonomy was assigned using the DADA2 pipeline and the SILVA database (version 138.1). Bioinformatic and statistical analyses were conducted using the R packages phyloseq and ANCOM-BC2, with the Holm-Bonferroni adjustment to account for false discovery rates in differential abundance testing. Blackcurrant and raspberries increased the production of acetate and propionate (Tukey’s test, p<0.05) and the relative abundance of the genus Parabacteroides (Dunnett’s test, adjusted p<0.05) compared to other foods. Raspberries also increased the abundance of the genus Eubacterium (Dunnett’s test, adjusted p<0.05). When combined with infant formula, black beans stood out for increasing the production of butyrate (Tukey’s test, p<0.05) and the relative abundance of the genus Clostridium (Dunnett’s test, adjusted p<0.05). In conclusion, this study provides new evidence on how complementary foods, both individually or in combination with other dietary compounds, influence the colonic microbiota of weaning infants in vitro. Insights generated by this research can help design future clinical trials, ultimately enhancing our understanding of the relationship between human nutrition and colonic microbiota composition and function in post-weaning life.

A novel entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species, Steinernema tarimense n. sp., was isolated from soil samples collected in a Populus euphratica forest located in Yuli County within the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, China. Integrated morphological and molecular analyses consistently place S. tarimense n. sp. within the ‘kushidai-clade’. The infective juvenile (IJ) of new species is characterized by a body length of 674–1010 μm, excretory pore located 53–80 μm from anterior end, nerve ring positioned 85–131 μm from anterior end, pharynx base situated 111–162 μm from anterior end, a tail length of 41–56 μm, and the ratios D% = 42.0–66.6, E% = 116.2–184.4, and H% = 25.5–45.1. The first-generation male of the new species is characterized by a curved spicule length of 61–89 μm, gubernaculum length of 41–58 μm, and ratios D% = 36.8–66.2, SW% = 117.0–206.1, and GS% = 54.8–82.0. Additionally, the tail of first-generation female is conoid with a minute mucron. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, 28S, and mt12S sequences demonstrated that the three isolates of S. tarimense n. sp. are conspecific and form a sister clade to members of the ‘kushidai-clade’ including S. akhursti, S. anantnagense, S. kushidai, and S. populi. Notably, the IJs of the new species exhibited faster development at 25°C compared to other Steinernema species. This represents the first described of an indigenous EPN species from Xinjiang, suggesting its potential as a novel biocontrol agent against local pests.

Food security constitutes a worldwide concern closely correlated with population growth. By 2050, the global population is expected to reach 9.3 billion(1). The rising population, along with increasing life expectancy and shifts toward Western dietary patterns, is expected to drive higher food demand and contribute to a rise in metabolic conditions(2). In this context, looking for alternative and sustainable food and protein sources is imperative. Pasture legumes including lucerne (Medicago sativa) and red clover (Trifolium pratense) are becoming popular as they can be used as an alternative protein and functional food source. Both crops play an important role in New Zealand’s agriculture. Their seeds can be used in human nutrition as alternative food and protein options; however, the presence of anti-nutritional factors (ANF) and their distinct taste make them less favourable for human consumption. Fermentation can be used as a possible strategy to mitigate these limitations. Lactobacillus fermentation was conducted using Lactocillus plantarum, Lactobacillus. acidophilus and Lactobacillus. casei. Proximate composition and mineral content were determined following Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods. Total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid) and ANF including phytic acid, trypsin, and chymotrypsin inhibition were assessed using colourimetric techniques. For the enzyme inhibition assays, enzyme-substrate reactions were performed with sample extracts before measurement. All the experiments were replicated three times, and the results were expressed as mean ± SD. A factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted (4 legume seed samples × 3 LAB cultures) with a Tukey’s post-hoc test for mean comparison at P < 0.05 using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0. All the legume seeds demonstrated high nutritional content, with crude protein and fibre levels around 40 and 16% respectively. The seeds were also rich in minerals, particularly magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. In addition, fermentation led to an increase (P < 0.05) in TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity, while significantly reducing ANF. For instance, fermentation led to an increase in TPC (18.8 to 47.1% increase), TFC (9.6 to 34.5% increase) and AOA via DPPH and ABTS. Lactobacillus fermentation has proven to be an effective processing technique to enhance the nutritional value of lucerne and red clover seeds. These findings support the potential of using fermentation to develop novel and sustainable protein sources, contributing to improved dietary quality and nutrition. Moreover, further work to study the effect of fermentation on the nutrient digestibility of lucerne and red clover seeds is warranted.

Background: Increased availability of genetic testing has led to increased burden of follow up of variants of uncertain significance (VUS). As of January 2025, 327 VUS were identified patients at BC Children’s Hospital. We propose a pipeline to triage and follow up of patients with identified VUS to clarify diagnosis through paternal testing. Methods: Of the 327 patients with VUS, 13 patients with high clinical suspicion for a genetic disorder were identified by their neurologist. Initial chart review for each patient was performed. Clinical phenotype data and the patient’s variant were inputted into the online tool Franklin. This program generates a variant interpretation based on 17/ 28 criteria in ACMG scoring. For each patient the variant would be assumed to be de novo in order to determine if parental testing could change variant classification. Results: 5/13 of the patients had suggested reclassification of variants. 6/13 of the patients would have reclassification of variant to likely pathogenic/pathogenic if the variant was found to be de novo, suggesting a need for paternal testing. Conclusions: This highlights a novel clinical pipeline to improve expediency and triaging of VUS reclassification for paternal testing in epilepsy genomics.

Background: Our prior six-year review (n=2165) revealed 24% of patients undergoing posterior decompression surgeries (laminectomy or discectomy) sought emergency department (ED) care within three months post-surgery. We established an integrated Spine Assessment Clinic (SAC) to enhance patient outcomes and minimize unnecessary ED visits through pre-operative education, targeted QI interventions, and early post-operative follow-up. Methods: We reviewed 13 months of posterior decompression data (n=205) following SAC implementation. These patients received individualized, comprehensive pre-operative education and follow-up phone calls within 7 days post-surgery. ED visits within 90 days post-surgery were tracked using provincial databases and compared to our pre-SAC implementation data. Results: Out of 205 patients, 24 (11.6%) accounted for 34 ED visits within 90 days post-op, showing a significant reduction in ED visits from 24% to 11.6%, and decreased overall ED utilization from 42.1% to 16.6% (when accounting for multiple visits by the same patient). Early interventions including wound monitoring, outpatient bloodwork, and prescription adjustments for pain management, helped mitigate ED visits. Patient satisfaction surveys (n=62) indicated 92% were “highly satisfied” and 100% would recommend the SAC. Conclusions: The SAC reduced ED visits after posterior decompression surgery by over 50%, with pre-operative education, focused QI initiatives, and its individualized, proactive approach.

Background: Recent research has demonstrated that DBS sites in Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD) influencing cognition are functionally connected to the subiculum. However, the results are mixed, and it is unclear how or if DBS site-subiculum connectivity can be optimized to improve patient cognition. Methods: We studied how subiculum connectivity influenced cognitive outcomes in both PD (subthalamic nucleus) and AD (fornix) DBS patients (total n = 110). We first confirmed DBS site-subiculum connectivity had opposite cognitive effects in each disease. We next investigated patient factors underlying these opposing effects. Lastly, we related our findings back to clinical practice to guide DBS programming in PD and AD. Results: DBS site-subiculum connectivity correlated with cognitive improvement in AD but decline in PD. This was dependent upon hippocampal atrophy; such that higher subiculum connectivity was beneficial when the hippocampus was atrophic but deleterious when it was intact. Finally, we related our findings back to anatomy with cadaveric dissections and present how DBS stimulation can be optimized to improve patient cognition. Conclusions: DBS site-subiculum connectivity influences cognition but depends on patient factors. Thus, to optimize cognition based on patient factors, DBS electrodes can be programmed to stimulate subregions with higher or lower subiculum connectivity.

The Mazon Creek Lagerstätte (Moscovian Stage, late Carboniferous Period; Illinois, USA) captures a diverse view of ecosystems in delta-influenced coastal settings through exceptional preservation of soft tissues in siderite concretions. The generally accepted paradigm of the Mazon Creek biota has been that of an inferred paleoenvironmental divide between what have been termed the Braidwood and Essex assemblages, wherein the former represents a freshwater ecosystem with terrestrial input and the latter a marine-influenced prodelta setting with abundant cnidarians, bivalves, worm phyla, and diverse arthropods. Here, we revisit the paleoecology of the Mazon Creek biota by analyzing data from nearly 300,000 concretions from more than 270 locations with complementary multivariate ordinations. Our results show the Braidwood assemblage as a legitimate shoreward community and provide evidence for further subdivision of the Essex assemblage into two distinct subassemblages, termed here the Will-Essex and Kankakee-Essex. The Will-Essex represents a benthos dominated by clams and trace fossils along the transition between nearshore and offshore deposits. The Kankakee-Essex is dominated by cnidarians, presenting an ecosystem approaching the geographic margin of this taphonomic window. These new insights also allow a refined taphonomic model, wherein recalcitrant tissues of Braidwood organisms were subject to rapid burial rates, while organisms of the Essex assemblage typically had more labile tissues and were subject to slower burial rates. Consequently, we hypothesize that the Braidwood fossils should record more complete preservation than the Essex, which was exposed for longer periods of aerobic decomposition. This is supported by a higher proportion of non-fossiliferous concretions in the Essex than in the Braidwood.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is more common in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients than in the general population, likely due to demyelination impacting the trigeminal pathways. While brainstem lesions are associated with MS-TN, their precise role remains unclear. Methods: This study investigates the relationship between brainstem MS plaque location, TN symptoms, and treatment response. We retrospectively analyzed brain MRIs of MS-TN patients, segmenting and coregistering brainstem plaques in MNI space. A tractographic atlas of the trigeminal system was generated using high-resolution diffusion imaging from 30 patients. Lesion involvement was determined by intersection with the trigeminal tract, and its association with pain intensity and treatment outcomes was analyzed using linear regression. Results: Our research revealed 83% of MS-TN patients had brainstem lesions near the fourth ventricle. No single lesion hot spot was identified. Lesion volume did not predict symptom recurrence or treatment response. However, 97% of lesions intersected the trigeminal tract, supporting its association with TN symptoms. Conclusions: The strong overlap between lesions and the trigeminal tract suggests a potential pain generator in MS-TN. Further research is needed to determine whether similar lesions exist in asymptomatic MS patients and to confirm this hypothesis. Future studies will explore whether tract involvement better predicts clinical response to treatment.

Background: Neck vessel imaging is often performed in hyperacute stroke to allow neurointerventionalists to estimate access complexity. This study aimed to assess clinician agreement on catheterization strategies based on imaging in these scenarios. Methods: An electronic portfolio of 60 patients with acute ischemic stroke was sent to 53 clinicians. Respondents were asked: (1) the difficulty of catheterization through femoral access with a regular Vertebral catheter, (2) whether to use a Simmons or reverse-curve catheter initially, and (3) whether to consider an alternative access site. Agreement was assessed using Fleiss’ Kappa statistics. Results: Twenty-two respondents (7 neurologists, 15 neuroradiologists) completed the survey. Overall there was slight interrater agreement (κ=0.17, 95% CI: 0.10–0.25). Clinicians with >50 cases annually had better agreement (κ=0.22) for all questions than those with fewer cases (κ=0.07). Agreement did not significantly differ by imaging modality: CTA (κ=0.18) and MRA (κ=0.14). In 40/59 cases (67.80%), at least 25% of clinicians disagreed on whether to use a Simmons or reverse-curve catheter initially. Conclusions: Agreement on catheterization strategies remains fair at best. Our results suggest that visual assessment of pre-procedural vessels imaging is not reliable for the estimation of endovascular access complexity.

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) leads to progressive functional decline and reduced survival. Identifying clinical predictors like ALSFRS-R and FVC is essential for prognosis and disease management. Understanding progression profiles based on diagnostic characteristics supports clinical trial design and assessment of treatment response. This study evaluates disease progression and survival predictors in ALS patients from the CNDR. Methods: 1565 ALS patients in the CNDR were analyzed to assess baseline ALSFRS-R, FVC, time from symptom onset to diagnosis, and their association with disease progression and survival. Results: At diagnosis, ALSFRS-R was 44.7 (SD = 5.46), with 72.3% scoring ≥44. Mean FVC was 84.2% (SD = 23.3), with 78.3% of patients having FVC ≥65%. ALSFRS-R declined at 1.06 points/month (SD = 1.33), with faster progression in patients diagnosed within 24 months (1.61 points/month). Patients with ALSFRS-R ≥44 had a median survival of 41.8 months, compared to 30.9 months for those <44 (p < 0.001). Similarly, FVC ≥65% was associated with longer survival (35.4 vs. 29.5 months, p = 0.002). Conclusions: ALSFRS-R and FVC at diagnosis predict survival and inform clinical decision-making. These findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and targeted interventions to slow disease progression and improve patient outcomes.

Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) programmes have become a key part of every major airline’s safety management system. They are primarily based on learning from unwanted deviations in flight parameters encountered during normal flight operations. Owing to its unique nature, anomaly detection of FDM presents distinct problem complexities from the majority of analytical and learning tasks. This methodology, while useful, concentrates only on a small part of the operation, leaving most of the data unprocessed, and does not allow for analysing events that had the potential to go wrong but were recovered in time by the crews. This research focused on analysing an FDM dataset of 1332 approaches between January 2018 and July 2022 at Tenerife South Airport (Spain), where there is a known phenomenon of increasing headwinds during the final approach. The flights were clustered using self-organising maps (SOM) by patterns of increasing headwinds, and the clusters were assessed in terms of clustering performance. The clusters were well differentiated. A further comparison between the results from the airline showed that 88 flights were affected by wind shifts, while 27 flights were picked up by the airline. The results demonstrate that SOMs are a meaningful tool for clustering flight data and can complement the current FDM analysis methodology. Combining both methodologies could shift FDM data analysis to look beyond exceedances into what went well, thus shifting the FDM paradigm towards a more safety-II-based method.