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Dalia Kashash,1 Eric McArthur,2 Caroline Hamm,3 Rasna Gupta,3 Sindu Kanjeekal,3 Mohammad Jarrar,3 Lisa A Porter,4 John W Hudson,4 Adam Renaud,4 Indryas Woldie3 1Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; 2London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada; 3Medical Oncology, Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, Windsor, Ontario, Canada; 4University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, CanadaCorrespondence: Indryas Woldie, Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Email Indryas.woldie@wrh.on.caIntroduction: Outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma has significantly improved through the years. This is mainly related to the use of novel agents.Methods: This is a retrospective study that reviewed presentation and outcome of 139 patients with multiple myeloma at the Windsor Essex Regional Cancer Centre from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2019. Median age was 71 years and most patients had higher risk disease (65.5% either R ISS stage II or III). 30% had high risk FISH for myeloma including del.17P, t (4:14), t (14:16) and Gain (1q21). In terms of presentation, 38.8% had anemia (hemoglobin < 100g/L), 18.7% had hypercalcemia, 74.1% had skeletal lytic lesions, 38.8% had pathologic fracture and 17.3% had plasmacytoma.Results: Almost all (92%) of the patients were treated using at least one novel agent (proteasome inhibitor or immunomodulators [ImiDs]). Cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) was the most used treatment regimen (48.9%) followed by bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone (BMP) at 28.8% and lenalidomide, dexamethasone (LenDex) at 14.4%. With respect to response to therapy, 51.8% had at least Very good partial response (VGPR), while 9.4% had progressive disease. 33% had autologous stem cell transplant. After a median follow up of 2.4 years, median overall survival was 3.7 years. 2 years overall survival and relapse-free survival were 70% and 83%, respectively.Discussion: Our study showed comparable outcome for patients with multiple myeloma despite older age and higher risk disease. Outcome is expected to improve with the introduction of more novel agents.Keywords: multiple myeloma, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators

A major obstacle in cultivating a robust Heliophysics (and broader scientific) community is the lack of diversity throughout science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. For many years, this has been understood as a “leaky pipeline” analogy, in which predominately minority students initially interested in STEM gradually fall (or are pushed) out of the field on their way to a scientific research position. However, this ignores critical structural and policy issues which drive even later career Ph.D.s out of a career in Heliophysics. We identify here several systemic problems that inhibit many from participating fully in the Heliophysics community, including soft money pressure, lack of accessibility and equity, power imbalances, lack of accountability, friction in collaboration, and difficulties in forming mentorship bonds. We present several recommendations to empower research-supporting organizations to help create a culture of inclusion, openness, and innovative science.

This paper outlines the creation and evaluation of Benchtop-AFP, an innovative approach to producing composite materials akin to Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) but without the high capital expenses typical of traditional AFP methods. This unique technique, with further refinement, could serve as a valuable tool for research and development in automated fibre placement. As a world first, it aims to democratise AFP research, particularly for institutions where access to full-scale AFP facilities is unavailable and limited due to financial, skills, or safety constraints. This article presents the new method and provides examples of samples generated using this technique.

This paper explores the dynamics between humans and collaborative robots (cobots), focusing on the crucial element of trust. Despite robots’ limitations in reflection and adaptability compared to humans, trust plays a pivotal role in determining the success of such collaborations. By employing principles of storytelling and role-play, trust mechanisms were designed in a contextual interaction between a human and a cobot to deeply understand the human perspective in the interaction on a cognitive and affective level. A qualitative workshop involving students from engineering and product design fields provides insights into human thoughts and emotions during human-robot collaborations (HRC). The outcome of this paper is a novel HRC experience map as a method for revealing the intricacies of trust dynamics, whilst serving as a foundational exploration in advancing interaction-based manufacturing processes towards human-centricity, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Abstract Sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) are large‐scale phenomena characterized by dramatic dynamic disruptions in the stratospheric winter polar regions. Previous studies, especially those employing whole atmosphere models, indicate that SSWs have strong impacts on the circulation of the mesosphere lower thermosphere (MLT) and drive a reversal in the mean meridional circulation (MMC) near 90–125 km altitude. However, the robustness of these effects and the roles of SSW‐induced changes in global‐scale wave activity to drive the reversal have been difficult to observe simultaneously. This work employs horizontal lower thermospheric (∼93–106 km altitude) winds near 10°S‐40°N latitude from the Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging instrument onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) to present observational evidence of a prominent MLT MMC reversal associated with the January 2021 major SSW event and to demonstrate connections to semidiurnal tidal activity and possible associations with a ∼3‐day ultra‐fast Kevin wave.

A large number of heliophysicists from across career levels, institution types, and job titles came together to support a poster at Heliophysics 2050 and the position papers for the 2024 Heliophysics decadal survey titled “Cultivating a Culture of Inclusivity in Heliophysics,” “The Importance of Policies: It’s not just a pipeline problem,” and “Mentorship within Heliophysics.” While writing these position papers, the number of people who privately shared disturbing stories and experiences of bullying and harassment was shocking. The number of people who privately expressed how burned out they were was staggering. The number of people who privately spoke about how they considered leaving the field for their and their family’s health was astounding. And for as much good there is in our community, it is still a toxic environment for many. If we fail to do something now, our field will continue to suffer. While acknowledging the ongoing growth that we as individuals must work toward, we call on our colleagues to join us in working on organizational, group, and personal levels toward a truly inclusive culture, for the wellbeing of our colleagues and the success of our field. This work includes policies, processes, and commitments to promote: accountability for bad actors; financial security through removing the constant anxiety about funding; prioritization of mental health and community through removing constant deadlines and constant last-minute requests; a collaborative culture rather than a hyper-competitive one; and a community where people can thrive as whole persons and do not have to give up a healthy or well-rounded life to succeed.

Bias exists in letters of recommendation, and it is reflected in the language used to describe and evaluate different candidates for countless opportunities in academia. Professional organizations are becoming more aware of this issue, and are pursuing avenues to address it. This paper discusses the type of information, that is, useful to have on hand when writing a recommendation letter, the structure of the letter, a process to follow for proof reading, when to say no, a compilation of additional resources, and tips for people asking for recommendation letters. Specifically, we discuss common grammar mistakes, the purpose of each portion of the letter, and ways conscious and unconscious bias can influence wording and structure. This paper is intended to provide a single place where people can go to learn all of the basics needed to write a strong recommendation letter, as currently available letter writing resources in the space physics community tend to focus on one aspect of letter writing.

It is well established that, in order to perform at their peak ability, a person must feel accepted, safe, and valued at work. Therefore, it is imperative to bring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts to the forefront of Heliophysics over the next decade and well beyond. This position paper outlines three specific recommendations to make the Heliophysics community more diverse, equitable, and inclusive by improving the accessibility and accountability. These recommendations are: performing consistent collection and analysis of demographic data across different agencies, reimagining undergraduate Heliophysics internships using the SOARS® model, and providing conference funding for DEI speakers whose expertise lies outside the field of Heliophysics. These targeted recommendations have a well-documented positive impact, are simple to implement, and follow other scientific communities’ recent recommendations for making the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

The Coupling, Energetics and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) community is made of engineers, scientists, physicists, and students with a mission to understand the fundamental properties and predictability of the space-atmosphere interaction region, including the mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere, and inner magnetosphere. At the 2020 CEDAR annual workshop, community-wide feedback received on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in CEDAR warranted a grassroots effort focused on addressing the DEI issues raised. This led to the creation of the CEDAR DEI task force, whose goals were to 1) Assess and formalize DEI efforts in CEDAR; 2) Establish and normalize a DEI presence in the CEDAR community; and 3) Foster improvement in CEDAR through implementation of actionable initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Of these actionable items collecting demographic information on those participating in the Annual CEDAR Workshop was identified as the top priority. This paper therefore, reports the demographic information obtained from CEDAR registrants for the virtual workshop in 2021 and in-person workshop in 2022. In general, the demographics of CEDAR are consistent with those in broader science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, that is, most participants identify as male, White, and or Asian/Middle Eastern. On average, women and historically underrepresented races and ethnicities in STEM fields make up roughly 30% and 10%, respectively, of all 2021 and 2022 CEDAR Workshop registrants over the past 2 years. We further discuss the demographics of CEDAR relative to reports published in recent years by other organizations, where possible.

Currently, thermospheric species densities and temperatures between ∼100 and 200 km are not known to the accuracy needed to fully characterize how the thermosphere transitions from a well-mixed atmosphere to a diffusively separated atmosphere with zero temperature gradient. This greatly inhibits scientific discovery attainable from either models or observations in this region, especially the understanding of mechanisms that drive thermosphere and ionospheric variability from space weather to climatological time scales. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance and critical need for new, global, height-resolved neutral composition (O, O2, N2) and temperature measurements in the new ignorosphere: the 100–200 km region of the thermosphere. We conclude with observation recommendations and requirements for new comprehensive composition and temperature measurements in the 100–200 km altitude region that would lead to significant advances in thermosphere-ionosphere science, space weather, and space climate.

Although interest in blended learning for students has grown within elementary and secondary school contexts, limited research exists on the implementation of blended professional development (PD) for teachers. The current mixed-method action research study examined teacher participation in blended learning PD in a large California district, offered in response to the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a survey and interviews, the authors examined teacher self-efficacy and the reported influence of the PD on their practice. Findings suggest that the blended PD provided participants with the perceived self-efficacy needed to implement new instructional practices. In addition, collaboration among teachers was essential, teachers were able to learn through different pathways and at different rates, and ongoing support from a qualified PD instructor was necessary. This study sheds light on the implementation of blended PD for K-12 teachers, shares insights on practical considerations for planning and application, and suggests areas for future research.

ABSTRACT Our aim was to report the unusual case of an anencephalic fetus that was born with the umbilical cord attached to its cephalic pole. The patient was a 16-year-old pregnant woman. Ultrasound evaluation at 17 weeks revealed a single fetus without cranial vault and brain parenchyma, compatible with anencephaly. Postnatal evaluation, through an autopsy, was consistent with this diagnosis. Moreover, it was observed that the umbilical cord was attached to the area cerebrovasculosa and there was the presence of a fibrous tissue, suggestive of an amniotic band. We have found only one similar case described in the literature.

BackgroundThe complementary feeding period is a time of unparalleled dietary change for every human, during which the diet changes from one that is 100% milk to one that resembles the usual diet of the wider family in less than a year. Despite this major dietary shift, we know relatively little about food and nutrient intake in infants worldwide and virtually nothing about the impact of baby food “pouches” and “baby-led weaning” (BLW), which are infant feeding approaches that are becoming increasingly popular. Pouches are squeezable containers with a plastic spout that have great appeal for parents, as evidenced by their extraordinary market share worldwide. BLW is an alternative approach to introducing solids that promotes infant self-feeding of whole foods rather than being fed purées, and is popular and widely advocated on social media. The nutritional and health impacts of these novel methods of infant feeding have not yet been determined. ObjectiveThe aim of the First Foods New Zealand study is to determine the iron status, growth, food and nutrient intakes, breast milk intake, eating and feeding behaviors, dental health, oral motor skills, and choking risk of New Zealand infants in general and those who are using pouches or BLW compared with those who are not. MethodsDietary intake (two 24-hour recalls supplemented with food photographs), iron status (hemoglobin, plasma ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor), weight status (BMI), food pouch use and extent of BLW (questionnaire), breast milk intake (deuterium oxide “dose-to-mother” technique), eating and feeding behaviors (questionnaires and video recording of an evening meal), dental health (photographs of upper and lower teeth for counting of caries and developmental defects of enamel), oral motor skills (questionnaires), and choking risk (questionnaire) will be assessed in 625 infants aged 7.0 to 9.9 months. Propensity score matching will be used to address bias caused by differences in demographics between groups so that the results more closely represent a potential causal effect. ResultsThis observational study has full ethical approval from the Health and Disability Ethics Committees New Zealand (19/STH/151) and was funded in May 2019 by the Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand (grant 19/172). Data collection commenced in July 2020, and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2022. ConclusionsThis large study will provide much needed data on the implications for nutritional intake and health with the use of baby food pouches and BLW in infancy. Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620000459921; http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=379436. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/29048