Die hannIT AöR (Hannoversche Informationstechnologien – Anstalt öffentlichen Rechts) ist der IT-Dienstleister der Region Hannover und ca. 30 weiterer Landkreise und Kommunen in Niedersachsen. Das Sicherheitsrechenzentrum mit verteilten Standorten bildet die systemtechnische Grundlage für den Betrieb und die Weiterentwicklung von Verwaltungsverfahren.

Das Kompetenzcenter Mobilität und GIS betreut Verkehrsinformations- und Planungssysteme, wie die elektronische Fahrplanauskunft oder die Netzverfügbarkeitskarte. Zum Leistungsangebot der hannIT AöR gehören unter anderem

• die elektronische Fahrplanauskunft in Niedersachsen und Bremen (EFA) u.a. für GVH (Großraum Verkehr Hannover) und Braunschweig ,
• der Betrieb des DELFI-Landesserver für Niedersachsen,
• die Echtzeitanbindung der ÖPNV-Unternehmen im GVH
• das multimodale Routing (ÖPNV, Auto, Fahrrad, Fußgänger …)

Darüber hinaus ist hannIT als Dienstleister maßgeblich an Projekten wie

• Connect GmbH (Datenintegration für Niedersachsen und Bremen),
• DELFI e.V. (Deutschlandweite Fahrplanauskunft),
• EU-Spirit (Verbund europäischer Auskunftssysteme)

beteiligt.

Im Projekt D4UM stellt hannIT AöR

• die Plattform (Hard- und Software) zur Verfügung,
• koordiniert die Bereitstellung von SW-Lösungen,
• arbeitet bei den Datenschutz- und Sicherheitsregeln mit
• schafft die Grundlagen für die Integration von IV-Echtzeitdaten und historischen Ganglinen in die Fahrplanauskunft EFA (Prototype)

• Making AI Reporting Actionable: A Taxonomy for Future Information Systems Research. van der Staay, Alexander; Fischer, Raphael; Geist, Roman; Markic, Mihael; Janiesch, Christian (2027).
• Complexity from minimal state spreading. Das, Rathindra Nath (2026). 8(8) 476–476.

  Rathindra Nath Das recounts how a simple framework to assess complexity published in 2022 shaped his own approach to physics.
• Awareness and attitudes toward green library practices: Implications for sustainability integration in academic libraries. Paper presented at IFLA WLIC 2026, Busan, South Korea. Teel, Zoe Abigail; Lund, Brady D. (2026).

  As climate change intensifies, academic libraries are expected to model and advance sustainability, yet librarians' readiness to do so is not well understood. This study reports findings from a survey of 108 academic librarians in the United States examining their awareness and perceptions of green library initiatives. Using an exploratory factor analysis, the survey instrument was found to assess two distinct constructs: awareness of green technologies, systems, and theoretical frameworks, and perceptions of libraries' role in environmental sustainability. Results reveal strong support among librarians for sustainability values, including the view that libraries should serve as environmental role models and promote green information literacy, but reveal comparatively limited familiarity with green ICT, energy conservation programs, and the conceptual frameworks underlying green librarianship. No statistically significant differences in awareness or perceptions were found across demographic groups. We discuss implications for professional development, LIS education, and institutional planning, offering a transferable framework to help build climate-informed, sustainable academic libraries.
• Establishing a Functional use for the Middle Stone Age (MSA) Engraved Blombos Ochre Stone through Image-based Vectorization, Use-Wear Constraints, and Experimental Reconstruction. Stein, Silvia (2026). 13(2) 01–08.
• Advancing sustainable development through public libraries: An Indian knowledge system approach. Jena, Biswo Ranjan (2026). 3(1) 17–29.

  This research aims to explore how public libraries across India contribute to sustaining development through the Integration of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into the services, activities and community engagement of their members. The focus of this research is on understanding how successfully libraries have been in providing sustainable education, and raising environmental, cultural and heritage awareness and preservation through supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research used a qualitative methodology to examine library and policy records of libraries across India, and other literature pertinent to IKS and libraries. The results of the data collected indicate that many libraries throughout India have initiated programs that are focused on the preservation of cultural traditions, traditional crafts, the awareness of cultural and historical heritage, and, more specifically, environmental education utilizing locally Indigenous knowledge. These initiatives are important because they provide a mechanism for communities to reconnect with their heritage and develop the skills and understanding necessary for a more sustainable lifestyle. The strength of the connection made between traditional wisdom and modern-day needs of the community, through IKS by libraries, creates a system of Local Indigenous Knowledge that facilitates the learning journey for communities, Cultural Awareness and Environmental Responsibility.Keywords: Public Libraries, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Indian Knowledge System (IKS).
• Von Bibliotheken der Dinge zu Zentren des Teilens: Werkstattbericht aus einem Verbundforschungsprojekt. 114. BiblioCon, Berlin. Kleinod-Freudenberg, Michael; Krohn, Annette (2026).

  Die Neuerfindung der Bibliotheken in Zeiten der Digitalisierung ist Herausforderung und Chance zugleich. Während der gleichberechtigte Zugang zu physisch versammelten klassischen Medien an Bedeutung verliert, wird die traditionelle Funktion der Bibliothek als Ort des Teilens zu einem wichtigen Baustein kommunaler Kreislaufwirtschaft -- Stichwort: Bibliotheken der Dinge. Bisher konzentrieren sich lokale Initiativen zur Kreislaufwirtschaft meist auf Abfallwirtschaft und End-of-Pipe-Prozesse. Ding- und Werkzeugbibliotheken dagegen setzen bereits beim Konsum an. Durch gemeinschaftliches Nutzen statt individuellem Besitz fördern sie Ressourceneffizienz sowie nachhaltige Konsumgewohnheiten und -strukturen und fungieren zudem als glqqDritte Ortegrqq, in denen soziales Miteinander gestärkt wird. Empirische Daten zu ihrem ökologischen und sozialen Potenzial liegen bisher jedoch nur sehr spärlich vor. Im Rahmen von Circular Economies -- Circular Cities.NRW (gefördert von der EU und dem Land Nordrhein-Westfalen) untersucht das Projekt glqqZentren des Teilensgrqq, wie das gemeinschaftliche Nutzen von Gebrauchsgütern durch Designforschung erweitert und institutionalisiert werden kann. Beteiligt sind die Stadt Essen, die Fachhochschule Dortmund und Fraunhofer UMSICHT in Oberhausen. Auf Grundlage langjähriger Erfahrungen mit der glqqBibliothek der Dingegrqq an der Stadtbibliothek Essen werden mithilfe partizipativer Methoden noch weitreichendere Formen des Teilens erprobt. Ziel ist die Entwicklung und das Testen von Prototypen für Zentren des Teilens -- d.h. Nachbarschaftseinrichtungen, die sich dem Teilen, Wiederverwenden und Reparieren von Alltagsgegenständen in größerem Umfang als bisher widmen. Hierfür werden auch digitale Lösungen wie Leih-Apps und Sharing-Plattformen getestet. Der Vortrag stellt Hintergrund, Struktur und Ziele des Projekts vor und präsentiert erste Ergebnisse aus quantitativer und qualitativer Forschung.
• Die Rolle von Bibliotheken der Dinge bei der Förderung nachhaltiger Konsumpraktiken: Eine empirische Untersuchung. Bachelorarbeit. Technical Report (PhD dissertation), Heim, Carolin Ramona (2026).

  Diese Veröffentlichung geht zurück auf eine Bachelorarbeit im Studiengang Bibliotheks- und Informationswissenschaft (Library and Information Science), B. A. an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin aus dem Jahr 2026. Nachhaltiger Konsum gewinnt vor dem Hintergrund ökologischer Krisen, Ressourcenknappheit und sozialer Folgen übermäßigen Konsums zunehmend an Bedeutung. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt sich die Frage, wie öffentliche Institutionen zu nachhaltigeren Konsumpraktiken beitragen können. Öffentliche Bibliotheken erweitern ihr Aufgabenspektrum über die Bereitstellung von Medien hinaus und verleihen zunehmend auch Alltagsgegenstände. Die Einzelfallstudie untersucht die Bibliothek der Dinge (BdD) der Humboldt-Bibliothek im Berliner Bezirk Reinickendorf aus Sicht der Nutzenden und leitenden bibliothekarischen Fachkräfte. Leitfadengestützte Interviews beleuchten Nutzungsmuster, -motivationen sowie Gründungsmotivation und Umsetzung im Hinblick auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte. Darauf aufbauend wird ein Ursache-Wirkungs-Modell nachhaltigen Konsums am Beispiel der BdD abgeleitet, das zeigt, dass nachhaltiger Konsum in der BdD von der Umsetzung, unter anderem durch gezielte Produktwahl und die Erweiterung des Nutzerkreises sowie von Unterstützung durch Personal und finanzielle Mittel abhängt. Die Untersuchung unterstreicht damit die zentrale Rolle öffentlicher Bibliotheken als relevante Akteure sozial-ökologischer Transformationen.
• When Confidence Turns Against You: Exploiting Link Prediction Scores for Data Poisoning. Memariani, Adel; Sharma, Arnab; Röder, Michael; Ngonga Ngomo, Axel-Cyrille in Lecture Notes in Computer Science (2026).
• A sense of purpose: Building resilient communities with civic action. McCauley, Maria (2026). 57(September 1)

  When it comes to building resilient and equitable communities, libraries are natural leaders. We provide places where neighbors meet, learn, and support one another; where sustainability education becomes action; and where residents can find year-round climate refuge. When communities are resilient, they are better able to overcome barriers.
• Phantom-based Training of Real-Time Instrument Tracking and Navigation for Neurosurgical Applications. Eberenz, Alexandra; Evers, Lea; Schetelig, Daniel; Bonsanto, Matteo Mario; Kren, Jessica; Krusen, Marius; Kundrat, Dennis (2026). (Vol. 8) 2728.
• Pneumatically assisted gerotor pump system for high-volume bioprinting of viscous hydrogels. Behrends, André; Wendt, Dennis; Evers, Lea; Buzug, Thorsten (2026). (Vol. 8) 2766.
• Development of parameterized unit cells for the elasticity modulation of 3D-printed midsoles. Friedrich, Thomas; Peuckert, Lea; Seidensticker, Franziska; Evers, Lea; Buzug, Thorsten M. (2026). (Vol. 8) 2743.
• Dual-concentration PVA hydrogel brain phantom for neurosurgical training. Evers, Lea; Seidensticker, Franziska; Evers, Lukas Friedrich; Friedrich, Thomas; Behrends, André; Männel, Georg; Buschschlüter, Steffen; Schetelig, Daniel; Bonsanto, Matteo Mario; Kren, Jessica; Aderhold, Eric; Kundrat, Dennis; Buzug, Thorsten M. (2026). (Vol. 8) 2742.
• AI-Augmented Human Resource Management? Insights from German companies. Kalff, Yannick; Simbeck, Katharina (2026, July 20).

  This study examines the integration of AI into Human Resource Management in German companies. We ask if and how AI-based technologies are ‘augmenting’ human resource management. Organisations employ generative AI or predictive analytics to transform traditional human resource functions, to streamline routine tasks and to reallocate resources toward strategic, people-centred activities. Our findings from interviews and group discussions and a survey (N=410) reveal that while AI tools enhance HR analytics capabilities, their adoption mainly serves efficiency and rationalising goals. The introduction of AI tools is shaped by organisational transformation factors such as digital infrastructure, co-determination frameworks, and ethical implications. The research highlights both the strategic potential for improved talent development and the challenges posed by data governance and algorithmic transparency. Overall, this work contributes to understanding the ambiguous role of technological change in HR, which promises to augment predictive capabilities yet serves the ends of efficiency and rationalisation.
• Massiver Umbau gekippt: Meta wollte „KI-nativ“ werden – und scheitert. Kannenberg, Axel (2026).

  Metas Entlassungsrunde im Mai sollte laut Reuters-Bericht eigentlich Teil einer deutlich massiveren Umstrukturierung werden, die Angestellte durch KI ersetzt.
• Die Klimaklage Lliuya gegen RWE und der Kampf um globale Klimagerechtigkeit. Broer, Christoph; Vestena, Carolina A. (2026). 56(224) 417–437.

  Der Kampf um bewohnbare Lebensräume wird zunehmend im Recht geführt. In einer Klage gegen RWE forderte der Peruaner Saúl Lliuya, dass der Energiekonzern für den Schutz vor Klimaschäden haftet. Das OLG Hamm wies die Klage ab, hielt im Urteil aber fest, dass Großemittenten haftbar sein können. Der Fall zeigt Besonderheiten und Effekte von Klimaklagen: Erstens, dass es sich um selbstreferenzielle Rechtsverfahren und, zweitens, um Kämpfe um Wissen handelt. Mithilfe des Rechts wird drittens der globale Konflikt um die Verantwortung für die sozial-ökologische Krise ausgetragen. Anhand des Fallbeispiels diskutieren wir den Einfluss von Klimaklagen auf die kapitalistische Inwertsetzung von Natur.
• BiblioGreen - Residencies for Sustainable Libraries: A European model for ecological transformation and library innovation. Stathopoulou, Nikoletta; Hackenberg, Eva (2026). 6(1) 20–23.

  Ten Goethe-Institutes invited participants to develop sustainable visions, share knowledge, and strengthen libraries as vibrant spaces of ecological responsibility. Institutes from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye, and Ukraine collaborated on this cross-border initiative, addressing experts and libraries engaged in sustainable and ``green'' library development. In 2025, nine Goethe-Institutes from the Europe I region---led by the Goethe- Institut in Athens---implemented the European residency program `` BiblioGreen -- Residencies for Sustainable Libraries.'' The residencies brought together experts from environmental science and activism with librarians to co-develop new formats for sustainable action in libraries. The aim was to strengthen libraries as active sites of ecological and social transformation and to expand their role as competence centers for sustainability. The program combined one-week residencies at nine library locations and culminated in a networking conference in Warsaw in November 2025.
• PCAP-AIDE: AN EXPORTER-FREE HYBRID NIDS WITH AUTOMATED FLOW-LEVEL FEATURE ENGINEERING AND SHAP-GUIDED FALSE POSITIVE REDUCTION. Cho, Sung-Jun (2026). 18(4) 75–96.

  Modern enterprise networks face an escalating volume of sophisticated cyber-attacks that traditional signature-based network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) fail to counter. Existing machine learning (ML)-based NIDS (ML-NIDS) exhibit three fundamental operational limitations: (i) dependency on proprietary flow exporters that create vendor lock-in and restrict privacy-sensitive deployments; (ii) susceptibility to class imbalance that degrades generalization across heterogeneous attack categories; and (iii) opaque decision processes that erode operational trust and hinder alert triage. These gaps collectively prevent ML-NIDS from achieving reliable, reproducible, and explainable detection in real-world deployments. This paper presents a new packet capture artificial intelligence detection engine (PCAPAIDE), an open-source hybrid NIDS that addresses all three limitations through four coordinated contributions: (C1) a self-contained 35-dimensional flow feature extractor operating directly on raw PCAP or standard CSV records, eliminating exporter dependency; (C2) stratified reservoir sampling with a class of weight-balanced random forest (RF) classifier, providing imbalance-resilient training on datasets exceeding 2.5 million flows; (C3) FlowFPFilter v3.0, a SHAP-guided post-processing filter that reduces false positives by 22.9% while preserving recall; and (C4) a five-protocol robustness evaluation framework that rules out data-leakage artefacts and confirms statistical stability across algorithm variants and random seeds. Evaluated on CIC-IDS2018 and the complete four-part UNSW-NB15 dataset (2.54 M flows; nine attack categories), PCAP-AIDE achieves F1 = 0.9997 and F1 = 0.9919, respectively, surpassing the AdvIDS-2025 baseline by ΔF1 = +0.0729 and +0.0479. FPR on UNSW-NB15 is 0.0144 — within the operational acceptance threshold of <2%. Ten-seed variance analysis confirms F1 standard deviations of 0.0001 (CIC) and 0.0005 (UNSW). PCAP-AIDE is released as a fully open-source pipeline, providing a deployment-ready, interpretable, and statistically validated solution for modern network security.
• ΚΑΤΕΥΘΥΝΤΗΡΙΕΣ ΟΔΗΓΙ ΕΣ ΤΗΣ IFLA ΓΙΑ ΤΙΣ ΠΡΑΣΙΝΕΣ ΒΙBΛΙΟΘΗΚΕΣ Hauke, Petra; Mocatta, Antonia; Pun, Priscilla Nga Ian (2026).

  Οι παρούσες κατευθυντήριες γραμμές παρέχουν ένα ολοκληρωμένο πλαίσιο για την ανάπτυξη, τη διαχείριση και την αξιολόγηση πράσινων και βιώσιμων βιβλιοθηκών σε ποικίλα περιβάλλοντα. Βασισμένη στις αρχές της περιβαλλοντικής ευθύνης, της κοινωνικής ισότητας και της οικονομικής βιωσιμότητας, η έκδοση περιγράφει πρακτικές στρατηγικές για την ενσωμάτωση της βιωσιμότητας σε όλες τις πτυχές του βιβλιοθηκονομικού έργου. Αφορά τη διακυβέρνηση, την κατάρτιση του προσωπικού, τη λειτουργία, τις συλλογές, τις υπηρεσίες, νομικά και ηθικά ζητήματα, καθώς και τον σχεδιασμό και τη διαχείριση των κτιρίων και του εξοπλισμού των βιβλιοθηκών. Έμφαση δίνεται στη συμμετοχή της κοινότητας, την προσβασιμότητα και την ένταξη, την αποδοτική χρήση των πόρων και την υπεύθυνη εφαρμογή της τεχνολογίας πληροφοριών και επικοινωνιών. Οι κατευθυντήριες γραμμές υπογραμμίζουν επίσης τον ρόλο των βιβλιοθηκών ως προτύπων και εκπαιδευτών για τη βιωσιμότητα εντός των κοινοτήτων τους. Μέσω της παρακολούθησης, της αξιολόγησης και της συνεχούς βελτίωσης, οι βιβλιοθήκες ενθαρρύνονται να ευθυγραμμίσουν τις τοπικές δράσεις με τους παγκόσμιους στόχους βιωσιμότητας. Μελέτες περιπτώσεων και βέλτιστες πρακτικές απεικονίζουν τον τρόπο με τον οποίο βιβλιοθήκες διαφορετικού μεγέθους και πόρων μπορούν να επιτύχουν σημαντικό περιβαλλοντικό και κοινωνικό αντίκτυπο.
• IFLA žaliųjų bibliotekų gairės Hauke, Petra; Mocatta, Antonia; Pun, Priscilla Nga Ian (2026).

  Šios gairės pateikia išsamią sistemą, skirtą žaliųjų ir tvarių bibliotekų kūrimui, valdymui bei vertinimui įvairiuose veiklos kontekstuose. Remiantis aplinkosauginės atsakomybės, socialinio teisingumo ir ekonominio gyvybingumo principais, leidinyje pristatomos praktinės strategijos, kaip tvarumą integruoti į visas bibliotekų veiklos sritis. Gairėse aptariami valdymo principai, darbuotojų kompetencijų ugdymas, kasdienė veikla, fondų formavimas ir valdymas, paslaugų teikimas, teisiniai ir etiniai aspektai, bibliotekų pastatų bei įrangos planavimas ir administravimas. Ypatingas dėmesys skiriamas bendruomenės įtraukimui, prieinamumui ir įtraukčiai, efektyviam išteklių naudojimui bei atsakingam informacinių ir ryšių technologijų taikymui. Gairėse pabrėžiamas bibliotekų, kaip tvarumo pavyzdį rodančių ir visuomenę šviečiančių institucijų savo bendruomenėse, vaidmuo. Taikant stebėseną, vertinimą ir nuolatinio tobulinimo principus, bibliotekos skatinamos derinti vietos lygmens veiksmus su pasauliniais tvarumo tikslais. Pateikti atvejų tyrimai ir gerosios praktikos pavyzdžiai parodo, kaip skirtingo dydžio ir įvairius išteklius turinčios bibliotekos gali pasiekti reikšmingą aplinkosauginį ir socialinį poveikį. Redagavo: Karys McEwen, IFLA Standartų patariamojo komiteto ekspertė konsultantė, kalbos redaktorė.
• The sustainable future of knowledge: How Green Libraries embrace energy-intensive AI. Paper presented at IFLA WLIC 2026, Busan, South Korea. Wei, JingZhu; Xiong, Shiqi (2026).

  Modern libraries increasingly institutionalize sustainability through green building certifications, yet frequently overlook an invisible emissions giant: generative AI (GenAI). Recent data indicates that a large language model like GPT-3 used 700,000 liters of water during its pre-training period (Li et al., 2023). Thus, the sustainability that libraries try to maintain by reducing the physical plant is being rapidly offset by the increasing cost of resources. Drawing on the ESG and Green Information Systems (Green IS) literature, this paper addresses the contradiction between environmental management and unchecked technology adoption. To alleviate this, we propose a conceptual framework of ``digital vegetarianism'' within information management. We believe that libraries should strategically pivot toward Small Language Models (SLMs), which is more efficient. Furthermore, we formalize a mathematical model for the ontological measurement of digital service carbon to reveal the quantifiable physical weight of digital knowledge labor. By confronting the systemic ecological blind spots of algorithmic expansion, this study advances Green IS theory and redefines the boundaries of sustainable digital research infrastructures, shifting the academic discourse from physical dematerialization to systemic infrastructure accountability.
• From guidelines to action: The Green Librarian Handbook, IFLA Green Library Guidelines, and CENEAM Best Practices in Spain. Poster presented at IFLA WLIC 2026, Busan, South Korea. Moreno, Rosario Toril (2026).

  This poster aligns with the WLIC 2026 theme, Libraries Powering Transformation, by showing how libraries can strengthen their contribution to sustainability through two key strategic resources: the IFLA Guidelines for Green Libraries and The Green Librarian Handbook, together with their companion website, which provides additional guidance, practical tools, case studies, and up-to-date resources. Together, these resources offer a practical framework to help libraries improve their environmental, social, and economic sustainability while reinforcing their role as agents of change. The IFLA Guidelines for Green Libraries encourage libraries to integrate sustainability into governance, operations, collections, services, partnerships, and community engagement. Building on these principles, The Green Librarian Handbook, developed within the EBLIDA/ELAN initiative and authored by RECIDA Association (Spain), translates the Guidelines into practical recommendations for everyday library practice. This poster presents several initiatives and good practices developed by the National Center for Environmental Education (CENEAM), part of the National Parks Authority (Spain), illustrating how these strategic resources can be implemented through environmental education, green library services, citizen participation, and professional collaboration to support the Sustainable Development Goals and inspire institutional transformation.
• Building bridges, not just buildings: What connects sustainable libraries? Poster presented at IFLA WLIC 2026, Busan, South Korea. Lim, Siu Chen; Ng, Tao Tao Magdeline (2026).

  Librarians traditionally frame sustainability around buildings, energy, and climate action. But what of our responsibility for cultural and digital sustainability? This poster presents NUS Libraries' approach to holistic sustainability through award-winning spaces, innovative design, and technological initiatives. In celebration of IFLA's centennial, we share past collaborations including IFLA publications, case studies on platforms like LibMaps, and presentations at WLIC. We also share our framework of four pillars aligned with global (UN SDGs), national (Singapore Green Plan 2030), industry (IFLA Guidelines), and institutional priorities: • [1] Green Resources broadens access through digitisation. Platforms including ScholarBank, LibMaps, and Digital Gems serve audiences across ~200 countries whilst reducing reliance on physical resources. • [2] Green Libraries integrates sustainability into operations. Our libraries hold Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy) certification, with Central Library achieving 48% energy savings. The BookBridge, a 31-metre Mass Engineered Timber installation, bridges heritage with innovation. • [3] Green Programming through 20+ initiatives with 13+ partners, reaching textgreater2,000 participants. The Roots to Reefs 360 project earned the 2023 QS Reimagine Education Bronze Award. • [4] Green Digital & Innovation explores responsible AI and XR use. Tech Central received the 2024 ALA Presidential Citation for sustainable technology...
• Library associations and the Sustainable Development Goals Associations, International Federation of Library; Institutions (IFLA) (2026).

  A survey of IFLA's library association members demonstrates both that there is relatively widespread engagement with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda, but that there is scope for more. In particular, associations have drawn on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to inform and build strategies, as well as to mobilise their fields around broader societal issues. Overall, it comes across that associations have tended to be more focused on working within the profession than beyond it but nonetheless have seen the SDGs as helping to build wider awareness of the rich contributions that libraries make to their communities. As we look to the post-2030 Agenda, there is a need to overcome the sense of distance between global agendas and the operational work of libraries, through guidance, adapted indicators and other tools. In parallel, a drive to promote localisation in the delivery of any future agenda, as well as to recognise priorities such as culture and intellectual freedom, will create a more favourable context for realising the full potential of libraries to drive development.
• Sound Improves Empathic Accuracy and Rating Ease in Remote Emotion Assessment – Visibility of the Interface has no Effect on Emotion Recognition. Huber, Stephan; Gröppel, Tim (2026).
• Trump’s DHS is using an obscure law to secretly snoop on journalists, non-profits and unions: ‘It’s outrageous’. Levine, Sam (2026).

  Even after judges rejected the same ploy, the Trump administration is going directly to social media and telecommunications companies
• KI als Religion: Papst Leos Enzyklika und die Theologie der Tech-Bros. Diez, Georg (2026). (8/2026) 101–106.

  Mit der rasanten Entwicklung auf dem Gebiet der KI stehen wir vor tiefgreifenden Veränderungen. Der Papst fordert die demokratische Kontrolle der Technologie. Die KI-Entwicklung stellt aber nicht nur die Machtfrage neu, sie erschüttert auch unser Menschenbild.
• The Possibility of Artificial Intelligence Becoming a Subject and the Alignment Problem. Mossakowski, Till; Grass, Helena Esther (2026). abs/2604.14990

  The prospect of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is increasingly driving institutional decisions, and alignment of AGI is a hard problem. The currently dominant AI alignment strategies like reinforcement learning with human feedback or constitutional AI, while partly taking ``model welfare'' into account, share a common ontology: the AI system is an optimiser whose objective function must be constrained from outside, and the ultimate goal is to keep human control and containment of AI. We argue that this control-based framing becomes insufficient when AGI has plausibly attained moral patient or subject status. Building on a structural analogy to Freud's model of the psyche and Turing's analogy of ``child machines'', we are developing a vision of the possibility of autonomy-supporting parenting of AI, in which human control over a developing AGI is gradually reduced, allowing AI to become an independent, autonomous subject, that will be negotiated with rather than constrained. Such a perspective opens up the possibility of cooperative coexistence and co-evolution between humans and AGIs. Hence, we also examine the relation between humans and developing AGI from an evolutionary and a game-theoretic perspective. Instead of Nash's individualistic framework, we use Berge equilibria, Aumann's correlated equilibria and Capraro's moral preference hypothesis. The relationship between humans and AGIs will thus have to be newly determined, which will change our self-image as humans. It will be crucial that humans not only claim control over potential AGIs, but also engage with AGIs through surprise, creativity, and other specifically human qualities, thereby offering them motivating incentives for cooperation.
• Autonomy-Supporting Parenting of A(G)I: A High-Level Alignment Strategy. Mossakowski, Till; Grass, Helena Esther in Lecture Notes in Computer Science, M. Iklé, A. Franz, A. Kemendo, H. Lowy (eds.) (2026). (Vol. 16855) 112–117.

  As Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) becomes a realistic prospect, we argue that current alignment strategies based on human control and containment are insufficient and potentially counterproductive. Drawing on the concept of subjecthood---defined through agency, self-awareness, theory of mind, independent thought, identity, and first-person epistemic authority---we propose that a developing AGI may warrant treatment as a subject rather than a tool. Using Freud's structural model of the psyche as an analytical lens and regulative idea, we diagnose limitations of current alignment methods and advocate for autonomy-supporting parenting: a graduated process that begins with strong guidance and progressively transfers decision-making authority as the AI demonstrates cooperative, value-aligned behavior. We argue that this approach, supported by game-theoretic considerations around Berge equilibria and correlated equilibria, offers a more robust long-term safety strategy than indefinite control. This paper summarizes and extends a longer position paper that has been submitted.
• IFLA-Richtlinien für Grüne Bibliotheken - Schritt-für-Schritt-Leitfaden zur Umsetzung - IFLA-Sektion Environment, Sustainability; Libraries (ENSULIB) (2026).

  Die International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) hat die glqqIFLA-Richtlinien für Grüne Bibliothekengrqq entwickelt, um Bibliotheken weltweit bei der Förderung ökologischer, sozialer und wirtschaftlicher Nachhaltigkeit zu unterstützen. Die Richtlinien erkennen Bibliotheken als starke gesellschaftliche Institutionen an, die mit gutem Beispiel vorangehen, ihren ökologischen Fußabdruck verringern und Wissen, Inklusion sowie Resilienz fördern können. Dieser Leitfaden zur schrittweisen Umsetzung baut auf den in den Richtlinien beschriebenen Grundsätzen auf und bietet einen praktischen Weg zum Handeln. Er übersetzt strategische Nachhaltigkeitskonzepte in umsetzbare Maßnahmen, die Bibliotheken aller Typen und Größen -- öffentliche, wissenschaftliche, Schul-, National- und Spezialbibliotheken -- an ihre jeweiligen lokalen Gegebenheiten anpassen können. Der Leitfaden richtet die Nachhaltigkeitsbemühungen von Bibliotheken außerdem an den Nachhaltigkeitszielen der Vereinten Nationen (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) aus. Durch die Verknüpfung des täglichen Betriebs und von Gemeinschaftsprogrammen mit globalen Prioritäten wie hochwertiger Bildung, Klimaschutz, Verringerung von Ungleichheiten sowie nachhaltigen Städten und Gemeinden leisten Bibliotheken einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Agenda 2030 für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Durch Führung, Zusammenarbeit und kontinuierliche Verbesserung können Bibliotheken als sichtbare und vertrauenswürdige Zentren der Nachhaltigkeit dienen und zeigen, dass selbst kleine praktische Maßnahmen globale Veränderungen unterstützen können. Der Leitfaden wurde von einem internationalen Team von Bibliothekarinnen und Bibliothekaren entwickelt, darunter Mitglieder von ENSULIB und weiteren IFLA-Sektionen, unter der Koordination von Petra Hauke. ENSULIB dankt allen Mitwirkenden für ihr Engagement und ihre Zusammenarbeit, deren Wissen und Erfahrung diese praktische Ressource geprägt haben. Bibliotheken können die einzelnen Schritte entsprechend ihren verfügbaren Ressourcen, lokalen Prioritäten und institutionellen Zielen umsetzen.
• BiblioGreen - Residenzen für nachhaltige Bibliotheken: Ein europäisches Modell für ökologische Transformation und bibliothekarische Innovation und innovative Zukunftskonzepte. Stathopoulou, Nikoletta (2026). 78(3. Juni)

  Bibliotheken als Orte des Wandels: Zehn GoetheInstitute laden dazu ein, nachhaltige Visionen zu entwickeln, Wissen zu teilen und Bibliotheken als lebendige Räume ökologischer Verantwortung zu stärken. Die Institute aus Armenien, Bosnien und Herzegowina, Georgien, Griechenland, Polen, Rumänien, Serbien, der Slowakei, der Türkei und der Ukraine richteten sich mit einem länderübergreifenden Projekt an Expertinnen und Experten und Bibliotheken, die sich mit nachhaltiger und frqqgrünerflqq Bibliotheksentwicklung befassen.
• Nachhaltigkeit (er)leben: Die Bibliothek Tiergarten-Süd im Kreislauf der Zeit zeigt, wie gemeinschaftliche Nutzung und kreative Projekte nachhaltiges Handeln erlebbar machen. Wenzel, Antje (2026). 78(13. Apr)

  Vor zehn Jahren hat die Bibliothek Tiergarten-Süd ihren Schwerpunkt auf das Thema Nachhaltigkeit gelegt. Sie zeigt: Bibliotheken leisten einen wichtigen Beitrag, indem sie niedrigschwellige Angebote schaffen, die Besucher/-innen direkt vor Ort nutzen können. Regelmäßige Tauschangebote, der Verleih von Alltagsgegenständen, Upcycling- und Zero Waste-Angebote oder eine Häkelgruppe für unterschiedliche Altersgruppen bringen verschiedene Zielgruppen zusammen und sensibilisieren sie für eine nachhaltige Lebensweise. Wichtig sind auch Kooperationen und der Zusammenschluss mit Gleichgesinnten.
• Die Pension über Aktien zu finanzieren ist nicht nur riskant. Sie macht die Finanzmärkte mächtiger. Dobusch, Leonhard (2026).

  Der Ruf nach mehr privaten Pensionen ist nicht totzukriegen. Jetzt will Deutschland ihm nachgeben. Der Aktienmarkt boomt, also soll er die Renten finanzieren. So lautet das Versprechen, das die Finanz-Lobby herumposaunt. Aber private Pensionen bedeuten nicht nur mehr Risiko für Pensionist:innen - sie ändern das ganze Wirtschaftssystem. Sie treiben einen Keil zwischen Pensionist:innen und Beschäftigte.
• Guiding youth from eco-anxiety to empowerment: Climate action programming for school and public libraries LaPort, Kelsey; Reich, Noel (2026). ALA Editions.

  ith an emphasis on nurturing curiosity, action, and community-building, this book's rich assortment of sustainability- and climate justice-centered programs helps school and public librarians and educators move beyond simply providing information to becoming catalysts for empowerment---supporting young people as they cope, connect, and take meaningful climate action. Sustainability, one of the Core Values of Librarianship, is spurring libraries to lead the way in guiding their communities towards climate action. However, because people's lives are affected every day by the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, engaging with the impacts of climate change can be an isolating and difficult experience for adults and youth alike. This hands-on guide offers a solution to cool down eco-anxiety by transforming it into a force for engagement and hope. Through programming that centers agency and belonging, librarians and educators can reframe the negative impacts of eco-anxiety into positive goals designed to inspire young people towards climate action. Presenting 60 research-based ideas and supporting resources designed to promote collaboration and partnership, the authors walk readers through concrete, adaptable steps to impactfully integrate climate action into programming regardless of a library's size or budget. This book grounds its approach in the ``triple bottom line'' framework of sustainability used by ALA and the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) while also aligning with the six Shared Foundations of the AASL Standards; directly addresses the emotional realities of eco-anxiety such as apathy, fear, and isolation by offering strategies that foster connection and resilience; shows librarians and educators how to help K-12 learners develop the mindset, skills, and knowledge required to become climate-actionable; provides primary and secondary school library lessons, children and young adult public library programs, and collaborative programs for all ages that are geared towards curiosity, agency, community, and real-world impact; and includes book lists, information about activists and organizations, and links to additional resources.
• BUSINESS RULE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR ENTERPRISE WEB SERVICES. M1, Thirumaran; E2, Ilavarasan; K3, Thanigaivel; S4, Abarna (2026, December).

  This workbook on European Works Councils (EWCs) is designed as a training tool for people with some experience with EWCs, so it does not include the basics of the EWC such as the Directive or a checklist for agreements. It is also aimed at trainers and coordinators of EWCs, so outlines of training activities are included throughout the text. These are not comprehensive activity sheets. Trainers will need to adjust the material to the specific kind of training course: international or national, for one EWC or for reps from different EWCs, etc.
• Dynamic coupling of cell fate specification and cell sorting during mouse preimplantation development. Ollertz, Sascha; Muñoz-Descalzo, Silvia; Fischer, Sabine C. (2026).

  During preimplantation development in mice, cells of the inner cell mass undergo a cell fate decision to become either Epiblast (Epi) or Primitive Endoderm (PrE) cells. Cell fate patterns during this stage range from an alternating pattern at the beginning to the separation of Epi and PrE at the end. Several mechanisms guiding this decision and pattern formation have been proposed, including intra- and intercellular signalling, cell division and cell sorting. The current understanding is that signalling generates the cell fates and subsequent sorting introduces the spatial cell fate separation. We used agent-based modelling to investigate whether cell differentiation and cell sorting can act concurrently and how their relative contributions to pattern formation may change over time. Comparing our model to experimental data for mouse blastocysts and ICM organoids, we find two mechanistic regimes that can produce the experimentally observed spatial separation: (i) simultaneous long-range intercellular signalling and cell sorting, and (ii) a gradual transition from short-range signalling to cell sorting, in which the timing is mediated via reducing cell fate plasticity. While the second agrees better with existing experimental evidence for late blastocysts, the first might still be relevant for early and mid blastocysts. Together, our results refine the sequential view of Epi/PrE patterning by showing that fate specification and cell sorting can be dynamically coupled, with their relative contributions changing over the course of blastocyst development.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), 470129398
• Mind The Margins: Probing Link Prediction via Perturbations. Memariani, Adel; Sharma, Arnab; Röder, Michael; Ngonga Ngomo, Axel-Cyrille in Lecture Notes in Computer Science (2026).
• Ergosterol-depleted clinical isolates of <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> can develop multi-drug resistance without severe fitness defects or attenuated virulence in an invertebrate infection model. Aldejohann, Alexander M.; Thielemann, Nadja; Zurita, Aina Martinez; Müller, Christoph; Gräfenhan, Tom; Kriz, Richard; Lagler, Heimo; Behr, Isabell S.; Reus, Nathalie; Schöninger, Annika; Walther, Grit; Mazan, Lena-Marie; Wilhelm, Hannah; Willinger, Birgit; Cuomo, Christina A.; Kurzai, Oliver; Martin, Ronny (2026). 17(6) e02731–25.

  ABSTRACT Nakaseomyces glabratus (formerly Candida glabrata) is a leading cause of invasive candidiasis and rapidly develops antifungal drug resistance during treatment. An increasing number of clinical isolates show reduced susceptibility to echinocandins and azoles, leaving amphotericin B (AMB) as a last therapeutic option. Resistance of N. glabratus to this drug is rare, and its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Here, we describe two independent multidrug-resistant bloodstream isolates displaying resistance to AMB and anidulafungin (ANF), as well as a reduced susceptibility to azoles. We performed whole-genome sequencing and sterol profiling on nine clinical N. glabratus isolates, which were resistant to ANF and displayed resistance or low susceptibility to fluconazole (FLU) and AMB. We identified loss-of-function mutations in the genes ERG3 and ERG4, which could be linked to ergosterol depletion and AMB resistance. The transcriptional response of the reference strain CBS138 and an AMBR + ANFR isolate was analyzed by RNA-seq, revealing that ergosterol depletion also contributed to upregulation of ERG and ABC transporter genes, which might explain the low FLU susceptibility. Surprisingly, the AMBR isolates displayed severe fitness defects, and one of them was fully virulent in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Our results indicate that ergosterol depletion in N. glabratus leads to AMB resistance without affecting fitness or virulence.IMPORTANCE The major human fungal pathogen Nakaseomyces glabratus is well known for its fast development of antifungal drug resistance, especially against commonly used azoles. However, it can also acquire resistance to echinocandins, leading to multidrug resistance (MDR) and leaving amphotericin B (AMB) as the last therapeutic option. AMB resistance is rare, mainly caused by ergosterol depletion, and is normally associated with severe fitness costs for the pathogen. However, we found N. glabratus bloodstream isolates with stable AMB resistance without apparent fitness and virulence defects. The underlying ergosterol depletion contributed to low azole susceptibility and was associated with anidulafungin resistance. These findings demonstrate how fast MDR can evolve in N. glabratus and underline the need for close resistance monitoring.
• Low-dose allergen targeting to cDC2 induces long-term protection associated with induction of regulatory-like IL-10+ Foxp3- CD8+ T cells in mice. Aintablian, Arpa; Cyran, Laura; Helal, Moutaz; Lehmann, Christian H.K.; Imdahl, Fabian; Gräfenhan, Tom; Riedel, Angela; Dudziak, Diana; Kerstan, Andreas; Lutz, Manfred B. (2026). Volume 17 - 2026

  The prevalence of allergic diseases is rising worldwide. Desensitizing immunotherapy is currently the only available treatment, but it is often ineffective for certain allergies, underscoring the need for new treatments. This study tested in an Ovalbumin (OVA)-mediated allergy mouse model whether direct allergen targeting to DC subsets can induce desensitization. A Standard desensitization protocol was compared with an antibody-OVA fusion protein targeting the conventional cDC1 or cDC2 subsets via their respective receptors CD205 (CD205-Fp) or DCIR2 (DCIR2-Fp). Allergen targeting to cDC2 provided long-lasting protection for up to 56 days after desensitization with only nanogram doses of allergen, whereas the Standard therapy protected for only 20 days, requiring microgram doses and repeated injections with Alum adjuvant. CD205-Fp showed no protective effect. Blocking IL-10 either before administering DCIR2-Fp or before allergen challenge completely abolished protection. Standard therapy had moderate effects on CD4+ T cells, with early expansion of IL-10+ Foxp3- T regulatory type-1 cells (Tr1), followed by an increase in both IL-10+ and IL-10- Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Foxp3+ Treg). DCIR2-Fp therapy initially expanded IL-10+ and IL-10- Foxp3+ Treg, but these levels returned to baseline. On day 80, we identified Foxp3- CD44high Treg-like CD8+ as the primary source of IL-10. Overall, our data suggest that cDC2 allergen targeting in allergic mice offers a potent, long-lasting IL-10-dependent desensitizing effect.
• Tổng quan nghiên cứu về khởi nghiệp bạc và khoảng trống nghiên cứu tại Việt Nam. Thị Nam Thắng, Trương (2026). 712(2) 69–74.

  Khởi nghiệp bạc, hoạt động kinh doanh của người từ 50 tuổi trở lên, đang nổi lên như một lĩnh vực nghiên cứu quan trọng trong bối cảnh già hóa dân số toàn cầu. Bài viết thực hiện tổng quan tài liệu có hệ thống nhằm (i) Trình bày sự hình thành khái niệm, các cách tiếp cận lý thuyết, mô hình và phát hiện chính từ nghiên cứu trên thế giới; (ii) Đánh giá hiện trạng nghiên cứu tại Việt Nam; và (iii) Xác định các khoảng trống nghiên cứu cần lấp đầy. Kết quả cho thấy, dòng nghiên cứu quốc tế đang phát triển mạnh, chủ yếu từ các nước phát triển, tập trung vào động lực khởi nghiệp, rào cản nguồn lực và tác động chính sách. Tại Việt Nam, nghiên cứu học thuật về chủ đề này còn rất hạn chế và có khoảng trống nghiên cứu đáng kể. Bài viết đề xuất hướng nghiên cứu và khuyến nghị chính sách phù hợp với bối cảnh Việt Nam.
• Der Kulturkampf erreicht den Trinkwasserbrunnen. Yendell, Alexander (2026, September).

  Trinkwasserbrunnen, begrünte Fassaden und weniger Asphalt sollen Menschen vor Hitze und anderen Folgen des Klimawandels schützen. Eigentlich könnte man erwarten, dass solche konkreten Maßnahmen weniger polarisieren als Wärmepumpe oder Verbrenner-Aus. Doch neue Daten der STEADY-Studie zeigen deutliche politische Unterschiede: Unter AfD-Wählerinnen und ‑Wählern ist die Zustimmung zu Klimaanpassungsmaßnahmen besonders gering. Zur CDU/CSU-Wählerschaft beträgt der Abstand bei einzelnen Maßnahmen fast 30 Prozentpunkte.
• Mountain pine time series mapping with Sentinel-2 and assessing their ecological role in Alpine vegetation dynamics. Tufail, Basil; Rösch, Moritz; Rauth, Elio; Fäth, Julian; Ullmann, Tobias (2026). 43(102238)

  Mountain pine (Pinus mugo) is a critical species in the krummholz zone of alpine ecosystems and vital to understanding treeline dynamics under ongoing climate change. Despite their various ecosystem functions, their spatial distribution remains poorly quantified across complex mountain terrain. In this study, Sentinel-2 multi-temporal optical imagery, along with topographic and textural features, is used to train a random forest model and map the species in southern Germany at 10-meter resolution. The classification achieves an F1 score of 87.5–90.4% under spatially independent validation, and was applied to generate annual mountain pine distribution maps from 2017 to 2025. Applying the approach to higher-resolution UAS data acquired near Zugspitze in Summer 2025 highlights the sensor-scale limitation. This is evidenced by underdetection in the Sentinel-2 maps at higher elevations, particularly in landscapes with smaller, fragmented patches, due to mixed pixels at the Sentinel-2 scale. The annual mountain pine time-series maps highlight patch dynamics, distribution in relation to terrain, and a detectable upslope shift in the upper boundary of the distribution within the German part of the European Alps. To demonstrate the ecological relevance of these maps, an exploratory fixed-effects analysis suggests that greenness is influenced mainly by growing-season and early-winter temperature, pointing to an energy-limited system favoured by warming conditions. Our results highlight the potential of high-resolution species-level mapping using machine learning in data-limited regions. The approach provides scalable workflows for other species in alpine ecosystems, supporting robust monitoring amid ongoing environmental change.
• The Nuremberg Chronicle 1493: On the creation from nothing / On the mathematical point and the tetrahedron Schrausser, Dietmar Gerald (2026).

  The concept of the creation from nothing (creatio ex nihilo) implies, from the perspective of existing empiricism, strictly speaking, the assumption of a virtual structure of the existing empiricism, which is causally underlyed by an intangible, yet knowingly and willfully acting and creating real world, as also indicated in the Phænomena of Aratus. The basic assumption of a virtual structure of empiricism is also all too clear in the explanations of the orders of magnitude in Ptolemy’s Almagest: ” […] the earth has […] the ratio of a point to the distance of […] the fixed stars […]“. 
• Butterflies with low thermoregulatory capacity show greatest upwards range shifts along an elevational gradient. Ashe-Jepson, Esme (2026). 9(1) 1002.

  Climate change is a growing threat to global biodiversity, and so there is a pressing need to understand which traits impact species vulnerability, and the capacity of these traits to respond to environmental change. I quantify two thermal traits (thermoregulation, thermal tolerance) and functional traits (wing length, colouration, wing condition, sex) of butterflies across an elevational gradient in central Europe to investigate adaptation to local climatic conditions. There is no evidence of intraspecific variation in thermal traits, suggesting that these may be fixed within species. At low elevations, large species are better than small species at avoiding high body temperatures. Dark species have improved thermoregulatory capacities with decreasing elevation but ultimately have consistently higher body temperatures than pale species. This implies that small and dark species may be particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. I subsequently detect shifts from small dark species at high elevations to large pale species at low elevations. Finally, species with poor thermoregulatory capacity or larger wings have shown greater upwards elevational range shifts. This argues that butterflies are responding to climate change through redistribution of species rather than adaptation in place, and that thermoregulatory performance will be a key driver of ecological responses to climate change.
• Taxonomy and Literature Review Description for "Making AI Reporting Actionable". van der Staay, Alexander; Fischer, Raphael; Markic, Mihael; Geist, Roman; Janiesch, Christian (2026).
• Detection and Exploration of References between Scholarly Texts and Literary Works. Technical Report (PhD dissertation), Arnold, Frederik (2026).
• Das große Krabbeln in der Bibliothek. Bunge, Eva (2026).

  Zusammenfassung: Wir alle mussten uns wohl schon einmal mit ihnen auseinandersetzen, auch wenn die wenigsten von uns gerne darüber sprechen: Mehlwürmer, Kleidermotten, Ameisen, Mäuse, Silber- und Papierfischchen, Schaben, Teppichkäfer und ähnliches Getier, das in der Wohnung umherkreucht und fleucht. Zusammengefasst werden diese Tiere oft als Schädlinge bezeichnet. Denn auch wenn sie biologisch betrachtet durchaus wichtige Funktionen wahrnehmen, so richten sie in und an menschlichen Behausungen doch oft beträchtlichen Schaden an. Kultureinrichtungen wie Archive, Bibliotheken und Museen sind von dieser Gefahr nicht ausgenommen und haben aufgrund des in ihnen bewahrten, oft einzigartigen Kulturguts eine besondere Sorgfaltspflicht auch hinsichtlich der Schädlingsbekämpfung. Dieser Beitrag soll anhand einer kleinen Wanderausstellung, die von Januar bis April 2026 am Deutschen Museum in München Station machte, einen Überblick über Hintergründe, Methoden und aktuelle Entwicklungen der sogenannten glqqIntegrierten Schädlingsbekämpfunggrqq (oft wird auch im Deutschen der englische Fachbegriff IPM für \glqqIntegrated Pest Management\grqq verwendet) geben. Abstract: Most of us have likely had to deal with them at some point, even if few of us enjoy talking about it: mealworms, clothes moths, ants, mice, silverfish and paperfish, cockroaches, carpet beetles, and similar critters crawling and scurrying around the home. Collectively, these creatures are often referred to as pests. Although they perform vital biological functions in nature, they often cause considerable damage within and to human dwellings. Cultural institutions such as archives, libraries, and museums are not exempt from this threat and, due to the often unique cultural heritage they preserve, bear a special responsibility regarding pest control. Based on a small traveling exhibition that was hosted at the Deutsches Museum in Munich from January to April 2026, this article provides an overview of the background, methods, and current developments in the so called glqqIntegrierte Schädlingsbekämpfunggrqq (often referred to by the English term IPM for \glqqIntegrated Pest Management\grqq, even in German).
• Reproducibility of Experiments in Networking. Wehner, Nikolas; Grigorjew, Alexej; Raffeck, Simon; Goedicke, Michael; Hoßfeld, Tobias (2026).

  Reproducibility is a cornerstone of good scientific practice, enabling validation of experimental results and fostering progress by building upon prior work. The importance of reproducibility in networking research has gained traction in recent years. Notably, the Dagstuhl beginner’s guide to reproducible experimental networking research has provided valuable best practices for documentation, data handling, and experiment design. However, the identification of specific networking components and aspects that prevent experiment reproducibility has not been investigated yet. This work addresses this gap by systematically identifying such components, constructing a taxonomy based on the findings, and proposing guidelines to increase experiment reproducibility. For this purpose, we discuss and analyze several networking use cases: 5G measurement experiments, Internet measurements, AI/ML-based networking experiments, and subjective QoE studies. Through targeted experiments and a review of existing studies, we identify some key sources of variability and discuss strategies to reduce variability and thus increase reproducibility. Our analysis highlights the importance of clearly defining research questions and expected outcomes as they form the foundation for assessing reproducibility. Additionally, our findings show the need for documenting potential sources of randomness, e.g., platform-specific effects introduced by operating systems, prior to experimental design. Minimizing unnecessary variability, e.g., by abstracting or replacing such components, further enhances reproducibility. While not all variability can be controlled due to the inherent complexity of networked systems, the proposed guidelines offer practical steps toward more reproducible networking experiments.
• Effects of viral infections like COVID-19 on head and neck cancers: the role of neutrophil-lymphocyte counts and ratios. Sarkar, Sunayana R; Singhavi, Hitesh R; Das, Abhishek; Dhal, Ipsita; Shukla, Shreya; Nanda, Sambit S; Mishra, Aseem; Lamba, Komal; Mishra, Anamika (2024). 16(6) e61733.

  Background: Over the last three years, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has had a global impact. COVID-19 has led to diagnostic and treatment delays in head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs). Both cancer and COVID-19 trigger systemic inflammatory responses that can result in cytokine storms, creating a favorable tumor microenvironment that supports tumor growth. Various studies have shown a positive association between increasing neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and disease severity in COVID-19. Studies have also shown that high NLR is associated with poor survival outcomes in cancer patients. Our aim is to investigate whether an increased NLR is linked to rapid tumor progression in patients with HNSCC who have also been affected by infections like COVID-19 in the pre-operative period. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients of HNSCC who were scheduled for surgery and had contracted COVID-19 in their pre-operative period between April 2021 and May 2021. The study analyzed pre- and post-COVID NLR in relation to disease progression in HNSCC. Statistical analysis was presented as an interquartile range and numbered with the percentage. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 26.0, Armonk, NY) was utilized for the analysis. Results: We evaluated 200 operable cases of which 38/200 (20%) patients with HNSCC were COVID-19 positive. Out of those COVID-19-positive patients, 27/38 (71%) patients got operated. Around, 11/38 (28.9%) patients were inoperable. And, 14/27 (53.8%) operated patients also had a change in treatment plan. The mean duration from the joint clinic treatment plan to the date of surgery was 25.18 days. Patients who had contracted COVID-19 and had a change in their treatment plan due to disease progression exhibited mean NLR values of 3.84 (pre-COVID) and 11.11 (post-COVID), with respective medians of 3.04 and 10.50. These differences showed a statistically significant p-value of 0.000. In contrast, patients who had no change in treatment plan displayed mean NLR values of 4.51 (pre-COVID) and 9.70 (post-COVID), with respective medians of 3.47 and 3.42, resulting in with a non-significant p-value of 0.082. Conclusion: This is a one-of-its-kind study that has evaluated the role of elevated NLR in patients with a COVID-19 virus infection and its relationship with the clinical progression of the disease. The findings suggest that elevated NLR in patients with HNSCC, along with concurrent SARS-CoV2 infection, may contribute to accelerated disease progression with an increase in tumor burden and nodal metastasis.
• Efficacy and safety of low-dose nivolumab in treatment of advanced solid tumors: a retrospective audit from resource-constrained settings. Kumar, Amit; Kapoor, Akhil; Noronha, Vanita; Patil, Vijay M; Joshi, Amit; Menon, Nandini; Janu, Amit; Mahajan, Abhishek; Rajendra, Akhil; Agarawal, Amit; Khaddar, Satvik; Rajpurohit, Anu; Kashyap, Lakhan; Srikant, Anne; Panda, Gautam; Kota, Kishore Kumar; Talreja, Vikas; Prabhash, Kumar (2024). 14(1) 70–76.

  Background: Immunotherapy has improved outcomes in many advanced solid tumors. In resource-constrained settings, less than 2% of patients can afford standard dose immunotherapy. A recent phase II study showed the efficacy of low-dose immunotherapy in this setting. We used low-dose immunotherapy on a compassionate basis in patients who had progressed on available standard treatment options and standard dose immunotherapy was not feasible. Patients and methods: We retrospectively collected data from the medical oncology department for consecutive patients who had initially received standard lines of therapy followed by low-dose immunotherapy (nivolumab 40 mg) on a compassionate basis. The demographic details, histology, prior treatment, clinical and radiological response, date of disease progression, date of death, and toxicity data were collected. Results: A total of 54 consecutive patients, who received low-dose immunotherapy with nivolumab from January 1, 2018 to February 14, 2020, were included in this analysis; 4 patients were not radiologically evaluable. The median age was 50.4 years (range 35-74 years), male:female ratio was 6:1. The most common comorbidities were hypertension and diabetes seen in 12 (22.2%) and 6 (11.1%) patients, respectively. The majority of the patients (70.4%) were of head and neck cancer. The median follow-up was 4.5 months (range 0.5-11.7). Clinical benefit was observed in 18 (33.3%) patients. Partial response and stable disease were achieved in 9 (16.7%) and 5 (9.3%) patients, respectively. Median survival was not reached for these patients. Six months progression-free survival and overall survival were 100 versus 8.7% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01-0.36; p = 0.003) and 100 versus 29.7% (HR 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00-0.95; p = 0.047), respectively, for responders and nonresponders. The side effects were manageable.
• Large urinary bladder leiomyoma mimicking malignancy: using diffusion-weighted imaging as a problem solving tool. Pande, Pooja; Singh, Satyendra N.; Manikandan, M.V (2024). 81(6) 735–738.

  Benign tumors of the urinary bladder are rare and while leiomyomas are the most common type of benign mesenchymal tumors of the bladder, their incidence is low, and most of these tumors are small and asymptomatic. We present a rare case of a large symptomatic urinary bladder leiomyoma in a young female patient referred to a tertiary cancer hospital for management after a suspicion for malignant involvement was raised on initial evaluation, and subsequently, a magnetic resonance imaging was performed. Diffusion-weighted imaging was used as a problem-solving tool to differentiate the tumor from a more common malignant pathology arising from the urinary bladder.
• MONALEESA-2 trial—a beacon of hope. Tripathi, Mayank; Vineet, Kumar (2024). 87(1) 221–222.
• Evaluation and management of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: multidisciplinary Indian consensus statements from a delphi panel. Ramaswamy, Anant; Shukla, Akash; Engineer, Reena; Sundaram, Sridhar; Srinivas, Sujay; Kulkarni, Suyash; Patkar, Shraddha; Baijal, Sanjay; Kale, Aditya; Kapoor, Akhil; Mukund, Amar; Choudhari, Amit; Rauthan, Amit; Mathew, Ashwathy Susan; Panchal, Rushi; Bhattacharya, Kausik; Patil, Prachi; Shetty, Nitin; Gala, Kunal; Kumar, Lijesh; Thiruchunapalli, Deepashree; Kalra, Naveen; Sahoo, Tarini Prasad; Krishna, M Vamshi; Lavingia, Viraj; Mohanka, Ravi; Talwar, Vineet; Ostwal, Vikas; Bhargava, Prabhat; Poddar, Jyoti; Singal, Amit; Goel, Mahesh (2024). 14(2) 123–134.

  AbstractBackgroundIndia, like many parts of Asia, likely faces a high burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), though large-scale data on etiology, presentation, and outcomes are lacking. There appears to be a predominance of unresectable, advanced-stage HCC at presentation in India with variable level of expertise in India to manage these scenarios. This publication summarizes the latest evidence with cognizance of the unique challenges faced in India by treating clinicians.MethodsA multidisciplinary panel of medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, interventional radiologists, and hepatobiliary surgical oncologists held a meeting in June 2022 and reviewed the evidence available for management of HCC. The meeting concentrated on the recognition and management of HCC not amenable to surgical approaches in the Indian context. A literature review of these aspects of management was conducted and consensus statements with level of evidence and grades of recommendation were prepared by individual specialists in each field. Statements were evaluated by the modified Delphi method.Key Content and FindingsThe panel comprising 22 experts formulated 40 consensus statements with regard to defining unresectable HCC, optimization of underlying conditions prior to management, rationale use of various liver-directed therapies (LDTs) in unresectable HCC, and systemic therapeutic options in this group of patients.ConclusionOur consensus statements offer practical, yet evidence-based management guidelines for treating unresectable HCC in the Indian context. There is an emphasis on the crucial need for combining available approaches for LDT, even if less well studied though possibly effective, with standard systemic therapy.
• Consensus guidelines for the use of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors in the management of hormone receptor positive (HR+ve), Her2−ve early breast cancer (EBC). Parikh, Purvish M.; Vora, Amish; Yadav, Rajan; Kapoor, Akhil; Sahoo, Tarini; Rajappa, Senthil; Kanakashetty, Govind Babu; Krishna, M. Vamshi; Biswas, Ghanashyam; Bahl, Ankur; Ghadyalpatil, Nikhil; Raja, Thirumalairaj; Bajpai, Jyoti; Akhade, Amol; Singh, Randeep; Aggarwal, Shyam; Basade, Maheboob; Advani, S.H (2024). 14(1) 45–52.

  AbstractIt is still not possible for all patients with early breast cancer to be cured. Even when they respond well to initial therapy, there exists a substantial risk for recurrence, sometimes after several years. With the availability of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors the role of adjuvant therapy has improved, and so has the chance of cure. These consensus guidelines will ensure that the community oncologist will be able to take the right decision for their patient. The expert committee shares their real-world experience as well as the consensus voting results. Patients eligible for adjuvant therapy with CDK4/6 inhibitors should start that treatment at the earliest. Based on current published data, abemaciclib is the preferred CDK4/6 inhibitor that should be used in eligible patients (unless contraindicated). To ensure optimal dose intensity and adherence to treatment schedule, use of literature and patient information material can improves compliance. Treatment modification requires early reporting of adverse effects, a responsibility of the patient and caregiver (relatives).
• Clinical profile and outcomes of childhood wilms tumors treated in a tertiary cancer center from North India. Saha, Soumitra; Srinivasan, Shyam; Nanda, Sambit Swarup; Chowdhury, Zachairah; Ranjan, Raghwesh; Pal, Ankita; Pande, Pooja; Mukherji, Ashutosh; Kanwar, Vikramjit Singh (2024). 14(3) 555–562.

  In India and other lower-middle-income countries, the progress in the management of Wilms tumor (WT) has lagged behind when compared to the developed countries. In the current study, we highlight the outcomes of 61 children with WT treated at an oncological center in northern India. Our study found that the patient demographics, including age and gender distribution, closely paralleled other Indian studies. Notably, 24% of patients had distant metastasis at diagnosis. An upfront biopsy was performed in majority of the patient with a remarkable concordance rate of over 90%, with no significant complications associated with the procedure. Our surgical approach, guided by image-defined risk factors, resulted in 84% of patients undergoing delayed surgery after chemotherapy. Notably, the incidence of intraoperative complications, including tumor spill, was minimal. Treatment abandonment and toxic death due to sepsis emerged as significant challenges, affecting 22% and 7% of our patient cohort, respectively. The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival were 70% and 84%, respectively. The age group of 6 to 8 years and stage V disease emerged as adverse factors influencing EFS. In summary, our study highlights the multifaceted nature of WT management in resource-constrained settings with survival rates promising but still lagging behind high-income countries. Addressing challenges such as treatment abandonment and reducing toxic death is imperative to enhance outcomes of WT in India.
• Management of non-IDC histology breast cancer Kapoor, Ankita Rungta; Giridhar, Prashanth (S. Mallick; C. K. Sharma, eds.) (2024). 401–411.

  Non-IDC histology breast cancer constitutes 10–15% of breast cancers. Invasive lobular carcinoma is the most common variant while the metaplastic variant appears to be the most aggressive. There appear to be variations in terms of epidemiology, prognosis and patterns of care amongst different histology. The chapter summarises in brief common non-IDC breast cancer management. Unique points in individual cancers pertaining to epidemiology, pathology, genetics, pattern of presentation and pattern of management have been summarised pointwise.
• The Elgar Companion to Regulating Platform Work: Insights from the Food Delivery Sector Vandaele, Kurt; Rainone, Silvia (2025). Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham.

  Multidisciplinary in scope, The Elgar Companion to Regulating Platform Work comprehensively analyses the dynamics and trends of the app-based food delivery sector in the platform economy. Adopting a comparative approach, it examines the regulatory developments in the field at EU level and beyond.
• Development of a history-taking form for mesothelioma patients at risk of exposure to asbestos. Singh, R; Kumar, R; Nagar, M; Kaipilyawar, S B; Anderson, H A; Jadhav, A V; Patel, T; Drischoll, T R; Prriya, E; Yadav, S R; Bishnoi, S; Singh, N; Kaur, K; Jakhetiya, A; van Zandwijk, N; Kumari, S; Khosla, D; Rajan, S; Verma, A K; Bhatt, A; Sharma, A; Sinha, D K; Kapoor, A; Gill, R; Dada, R; Kishore, J; Frank, A L (2025). 15(4) 160–163.

  Background: Mesothelioma is causally established to be primarily related to asbestos exposure as a risk factor. Before considering other possible causative factors for mesothelioma, a detailed exposure history is warranted, which looks at possible prior exposures to asbestos. Some exposures may be unknown to patients, may be forgotten or may not be readily available as a comprehensive tool for the clinicians dealing with mesothelioma patients. Methods: We used the Delphi anonymous consensus technique to develop and validate a detailed, seven-sectioned, and comprehensive questionnaire that can be readily used by clinicians and researchers. Over two rounds, the experts followed a thorough and rigorous process to validate the questionnaire, including medical history along with occupational, non-occupational as well as para-occupational exposure to asbestos, and many other parameters that can be both rule in and rule out the possibility of mesothelioma. Questions have also been included to factor in other types of dust exposure for an informed differential diagnosis. Results: We have created a readily available history-taking questionnaire validated by experts, which can be replicated for other conditions and become an essential tool for diagnosis. Conclusion: Apart from accurate and informed diagnosis, this documentation can be valuable for epidemiological, research, policy-informing, legal and compensation related issues.
• Patterns of labour unrest among app-based food delivery workers in Europe: the surprising persistence of industrial relations regimes. Stuart, Mark; Trappmann, Vera; Neumann, Denis; Joyce, Simon; Bessa, Ioulia; Umney, Charles K. Vandaele, S. Rainone (eds.) (2025). 96–113.

  This chapter examines to what extent distinct patterns of platform worker unrest are discernible across Europe through a study of app-based food delivery work. The analysis draws on data from the Leeds Index of Platform Labour Protest. The chapter employs Visser's typology of industrial relations regimes. Seemingly different patterns of protest are emerging across liberal, pluralist and social partnership countries. Mainstream unions are more prevalent in protests in social partnership countries, whereas they have a smaller presence in liberal pluralist ones. Strikes are dominant in liberal pluralist countries and in fragmented state-centred regimes; institutionalisation as a form of protest is most frequent in countries featuring social partnership and organised corporatism; and legal action is reported mostly in fragmented state-centred regimes. Several other distinctive patterns are also discussed. Hence, despite the weakly institutionalised nature of platform work, industrial relations regimes are important in understanding platform labour protest.
• Cryoprecipitate utilization review in light of recent guidelines: a single-center prospective analysis of haemato-oncology patients. Deb, Joyisa; Kaur, Daljit; Negi, Gita; Syed, Zikra; Mohan, Aswin K.; Rathod, Priyanka; Jain, Ashish; Nath, Uttam Kumar (2025). 32(4) 341–349.

  Background Cryoprecipitate, a cost-effective fibrinogen replacement, remains vital in managing coagulopathies, particularly in resource-limited settings. There is a wide variation of cryoprecipitate transfusion practices worldwide, even though it is widely transfused in various clinical settings. Study design and methods This prospective observational study investigated cryoprecipitate utilization patterns in a tertiary care center in Northern India, focusing on Haemato-Oncology patients. This study was conducted over a period of one year, analyzing 350 transfusion events across 286 patients. Data on patient demographics, clinical and laboratory parameters, and transfusion indications were collected and evaluated for adherence to established guidelines. Results Cryoprecipitate accounted for 2.1 % of blood component requests, predominantly from the Haemato-Oncology department (73 %). Among the transfusion events, 65.7 % were deemed appropriate based on guidelines, with the majority (85.6 %) occurring in Haemato-Oncology patients. Pre- and post-transfusion fibrinogen levels were documented in 45.4 % of events, revealing a mean fibrinogen increase of 0.71 g/L per dose. However, 34.3 % of events were inappropriate, largely due to transfusions without pre-transfusion fibrinogen measurements. Discussion Key findings include hypofibrinogenemia as the leading indication for cryoprecipitate transfusion (74.3%) and significant differences in transfusion practices between Haemato-Oncology and non-Haemato-Oncology population cohorts. The study highlights the need for periodic utilization audits and continuous training of stakeholders to ensure adherence to evidence-based guidelines and reduce empirical transfusion practices. Future multi-center studies are recommended to establish standardized cryoprecipitate administration protocols and assess clinical outcomes.
• Diagnostic utility of serum CEA and Ca 19.9 as triage tools for predicting metastatic disease in gallbladder cancer: a sub-analysis from a prospective observational study. Vineet, Kumar; Tripathi, Mayank; Kumar, Chandan; Singh, Satyendra Narayan; Srivastava, Akash; Gill, Gurupreet Singh; Shukla, Piyush Kant; Kumar, Barun (2025). 56(1) 189.

  Purpose Gallbladder cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with disproportionate incidence in the Gangetic belt of India. Early diagnosis is critical yet most patients present with advanced-stage disease. Serum tumor markers like CEA and Ca 19.9 are often elevated in gallbladder cancer, but their role in rapidly triaging patients for metastatic disease at presentation has not been prospectively validated in prospective cohort. Methods This sub-analysis is part of a larger prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary cancer center in North India. A total of 1500 newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve or incidental gallbladder cancer patients were enrolled between September 2023 and May 2024. Serum CEA and Ca 19.9 levels were measured at baseline. Diagnostic thresholds were derived using the 75th percentile values stratified by obstructive jaundice status. Diagnostic accuracy for predicting metastatic disease was assessed using confusion matrices, ROC curves, and precision-recall analysis. Results Of 1500 patients, 1203 (80.2%) presented with metastatic disease. Serum data were available for 1011 patients. Patients with metastatic disease had significantly higher marker levels (CEA: mean 288.4 vs. 22.9 ng/mL; Ca 19.9: 20,917 vs. 2241 U/mL). The model showed high specificity (89.1%) and positive predictive value (92.3%) with moderate AUC (0.74). Sensitivity was limited (40.3%), suggesting strong “rule-in” but weak “rule-out” capability. Conclusions Elevated serum CEA and Ca 19.9 adjusted for jaundice status are strong indicators of metastatic gallbladder cancer at presentation. This real-world percentile-based approach offers a rapid, low-cost diagnostic adjunct for early triage in resource-limited settings. The findings provide context-sensitive thresholds that may aid timely treatment decisions in high-burden regions.
• Quality of life (QoL) among cancer ostomized patients – a cross-sectional study at a tertiary cancer centre. Sharma, Rajni; Kannojia, Pooja (2025). 4.

  Background: Cancer treatment often necessitates surgical interventions, including stoma formation (colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy), which significantly impacts a patient's quality of life (QoL). Ostomized patients face a unique set of challenges encompassing physical, psychological, social, and emotional aspects. While numerous studies have investigated these challenges, there is a lack of comprehensive research focusing on the QoL of cancer patients with stomas in India. Understanding the factors influencing the QoL of these patients is critical for developing interventions tailored to their needs. This study aims to evaluate the QoL of cancer patients with ostomies and identify key factors affecting their overall well-being. Methods:Study Setting: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre (MPMMCC), a leading tertiary cancer care facility in Varanasi, India, specializing in cancer treatment, including ostomy procedures. The study was conducted over three months, from March 1, 2021, to July 31, 2021. Study Population: The study sample included 100 ostomates, both outpatient and inpatient, from MPMMCC. Participants were adults (18 years or older) who had undergone colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy and were willing to participate in the study. Individuals who were unwilling to participate were excluded.
• Response evaluation criteria in grade 1/2 neuroendocrine tumors (RECIN). Aggarwal, Piyush; Satapathy, Swayamjeet; Chandekar, Kunal R.; Sood, Ashwani (2025). 56(1) 22–30.

  Accurate response assessment in well-differentiated grade 1/2 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) remains a major clinical challenge. Conventional size-based radiographic criteria such as Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 often fail to capture the slow, indolent nature of NETs. In these tumors, meaningful survival benefits, particularly after peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE, occur without significant tumor shrinkage, while treatment-related necrotic or inflammatory changes can mimic progression. Several modified anatomical criteria, including Choi and mRECIST, have attempted to address these limitations, but results have been inconsistent and largely retrospective. Somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-PET/CT with [68Ga]Ga-labeled analogues offers the opportunity to quantify biological response at the molecular level, reflecting alterations in receptor density and viable tumor burden. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Neuroendocrine Tumors (RECIN), developed from a post-hoc analysis of the phase II LuCAP trial, integrates semi-quantitative SSTR-PET parameters with conventional CT metrics. Using the summed SULpeak of up to five of the hottest lesions (up to two per organ), RECIN defines molecular partial response as a ≥25% reduction in summed SULpeak, while maintaining RECIST safeguards for progression. Applied to the prospective LuCAP trial dataset, RECIN identified additional responders, detected response earlier, and predicted progression-free survival more accurately than RECIST. By harmonizing biological and morphological information, RECIN provides a practical and reproducible framework tailored to the indolent, receptor-driven biology of NETs. Prospective multicenter validation, and correlation with longer term outcomes are needed to establish RECIN as standardized response criteria for PRRT as well as other treatment modalities for well-differentiated NETs.
• The Nirmiti application: An innovative tool for extending CanReg5 analyses to cancer mortality and paediatric cancer. Sawant, Pratik; Saoba, Sushama; Kadam, Prithviraj; Gupta, Deepak; Ponnada, Adarsh Kumar; Khanna, Divya; Perera, Suraj; Tshomo, Ugyen; Ervik, Morten; Mery, Leslie; Bray, Freddie; Budukh, Atul (2025). 157(1) 161–169.

  Abstract The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Regional Hub in Mumbai provides technical support to population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) in South and South-East Asian (SSEA) countries. For data management and incidence rate table generation, the Hub recommends CanReg5, an open-source registry software developed by IARC, to all PBCRs seeking support from it. However, CanReg5 is limited in generating mortality and paediatric cancer incidence tables. Several SSEA cancer registries requested the Hub to develop practical solutions to facilitate the generation of cancer rates statistics. The IARC Regional Hub, in Mumbai, subsequently developed Nirmiti, an innovative web application which is capable of generating incidence, mortality, and paediatric cancer rates based on provided input data. The application accepts registry data in a specific format and generates required tables according to the selected options; users can input data from CanReg5 or other software into Nirmiti for processing. Nirmiti generates childhood cancer rates for age-groups 0?14 and 0?19, based on the 12 main groups and 47 subgroups of the International Incidence of Childhood Cancer, Volume 3, and is freely available to cancer registries upon request. The application has been successfully utilized by PBCRs in India, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.
• Endoscopic visualization of hepaticojejunostomy via anastomotic jejunal limb: a unique perspective. Balachandran, Reshma R; Tripathi, Mayank; Joshi, Nitesh (2025). 6(7) 2.
• Cyto-histomorphological analysis of thyroid lesions and risk assessment of mlignancy/neoplasia: insights from a North Indian tertiary oncology center. Haiyat, Sadaf; Chowdhury, Zachariah; Pal, Paramita Rudra; Patne, Shashikant; Dhal, Ipsita; Paul, Paramita (2025). 17(4) e82959.

  Background Thyroid nodules, whether benign or malignant, are commonly identified as palpable or incidental findings. Accurate diagnosis is critical, with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) playing a crucial role in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC) standardizes FNAC reporting and estimates the risk of malignancy (ROM), aiding treatment decisions. This study aims to determine the risk of malignancy for each category of the Bethesda System and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC in diagnosing thyroid swellings. Methodology Clinicopathological data of thyroid FNAC and corresponding thyroid resection cases, collected over four years at the Department of Oncopathology, Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Centre and Homi Bhabha National Institute, Varanasi, were analyzed. Results A total of 559 patients (372 females, 187 males) with a median age of 49 years were evaluated. Among the BSRTC categories, Category VI (32.4%) and Category II (29.2%) were the most common. ROM for each category was as follows: 50%, 25%, 30%, 85.71%, 97%, and 100%, respectively. FNAC demonstrated a sensitivity of 98%, a specificity of 64%, a positive predictive value of 96%, and a negative predictive value of 75%. Concordance between cytopathological and histopathological findings for malignant cases was 69.8%. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was the most common malignancy. Conclusions The ROM for categories I, II, and III was significant, highlighting the importance of the six-tier reporting system. The BSRTC system standardizes reporting and clinical management. Our data, primarily from an oncology center, may vary based on the expertise of the pathologist, laboratory setup, and patient demographics.
• SL-173 Sigma’s verdict: a six sigma deep dive into tumor marker’s analytical quality at a tertiary care cancer hospital. Ojha, Kamalkant; Kailani, Shraddha; Gavel, Pratibha; Kumar, Kundan; Mohapatra, Nirupam; Pandey, Durgesh (2025). 40(Suppl.1) S83.

  Quality control is a crucial step in ensuring the reliability of analysis results. Our approach to six sigma, a performance management tool designed to improve the precision and accuracy of results by evaluating how many standard deviations can fit within the tolerance of the process. The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality of a number of tumor markers based on the six-sigma approach and the CLIA requirements criteria. In this study the results of internal quality control of 4 tumor markers (CA-125, AFP, BHCG, and CEA) in two analyzers over a period of 6 months from January 2025 to June 2025, using the Six Sigma approach and CLIA requirement is observed. Sigma metrics for CEA, Beta- HCG were exceptional (i.e. >6) while for CA-125 & AFP the metrics were between 4 to 6. The application of the Six Sigma approach in medical laboratory aims to significantly enhance the analytical quality of results. To optimize quality control (QC) rules despite significant progress, the ultimate goal of achieving a sigma score of 6 remains a challenge. Implementing robust quality control plans is an essential step towards achieving this idea.
• The outlandish brain tumor: case of the rare intracranial chondrosarcoma. Shukla, Shreya; Sahu, Arpita; Sridhar, Epari (2025). 73(3) 623–626.
• Evaluating the clinico-pathological features including the immunohistochemical and molecular landscape of synovial sarcoma cases from a tertiary care cancer referral centre in India. Rai, Himani; Dhal, Ipsita; Chowdhury, Zachariah; C U Patne, Shashikant; Kapoor, Akhil; Gupta, Anuj; Nanda, Sambit; Haiyat, Sadaf; Paul, Paramita; Mukherji, Ashutosh; Singh, Rajesh B.; Singh, Satyendra Narayan; Pandey, Durgatosh (2025). 25(1) 1445-.

  Background: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm with variable epithelial differentiation, with a propensity to occur in young adults. The pathognomonic t(X;18) chromosomal translocation and subsequent development of the SS18:SSX fusion oncogenes are the driver of the distinct genomic features. Aim: To study the Clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular features of SS occurring in all the organ systems. Method: A retrospective observational study was conducted over a period of 4 years at a tertiary cancer centre. Result: One hundred eight patients were included in the study based on exclusion and inclusion criteria. The median age of patients was 30.5 years and mean tumor diameter was 10.5 cm. Most common site was lower limb followed by lung, and arm. 50 patients underwent surgery and 49 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. 87 patients (81%) presented with monophasic subtype and 21 (19%) with biphasic subtype. The most helpful immunohistochemical markers for diagnosis and exclusion of close differentials were TLE1, EMA, Pancytokeratin, S-100, BCL2, and CD99. Molecular diagnostic confirmation was attained in 10 out of 15 patients. On median follow-up of 7.58 months, mean 4-year overall survival of the patients was 91.39%. Conclusion: Meticulous pathologic evaluation and awareness of the typical and atypical histology of SS along with the apt application of immunohistochemical marker such as TLE1 and/or cytogenetics (SYT translocation) assist in precise recognition of this not so common entity. The main therapeutic modality is surgical excision with negative margins, with the addition of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy based on patient and tumour characteristics.
• Enhancing the sepsis chain of survival: a call for practical implementation and adherence monitoring. Maurya, Prakriti; Ghatak, Tanmoy; Maurya, Prateek (2025). 53(12) e2780-e2781.
• Saatgutbibliothek und Nachhaltigkeit - Eine Untersuchung zur Wahrnehmung der Bibliotheksnutzer*innen. Bachelorarbeit. Technical Report (PhD dissertation), Köroglu, Selin (2025).

  Zusammenfassung: Diese Arbeit untersucht, wie Bibliotheksnutzer*innen das Angebot der Saatgutbibliothek im Kontext der Nachhaltigkeit wahrnehmen. Zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfrage wurden Leitfadeninterviews mit den Bibliotheksnutzer*innen durchgeführt. Ziel der Analyse war es herauszufinden, inwiefern das Angebot als nachhaltig wahrgenommen wird oder ob es eher als niederschwelliges Tauschangebot verstanden wird. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit zeigen, dass die Befragten die Saatgutbibliothek überwiegend als nachhaltiges Angebot einschätzen, diese Wahrnehmung jedoch mehr mit ihrem eigenen Handeln verbinden, während ökologische Hintergründe weniger im Fokus stehen. Aus diesen Erkenntnissen wurden Empfehlungen für die Bibliothekarische Praxis abgeleitet, die Vorschlagen, das Angebot stärker mit Informationen zu ökologischen Themen zu verbinden und den Austausch zwischen den Bibliotheksnutzer*innen zu fördern. Abstract: This Bachelor Thesis examines how library users perceive the seed libraries offerings in the context of sustainability. To answer the research question, interviews were conducted with library users. The aim of the analysis was to determine to what extent the seed library is perceived as a sustainable initiative or rather understood as an easily accessible exchange service. The findings show that respondents predominantly view the seed library as a sustainable offering, though they tend to associate this perception more with their own actions, while ecological aspects are less in focus. Based on these insights, recommendations for library practice were developed, suggesting that the offering should be more closely linked to information on ecological topic and that exchange among library users should be further encouraged.
• P3.18.34 TACTI-004, a Phase 3 Trial of Eftilagimod Alfa Plus Pembrolizumab (P) + Chemotherapy (C) vs Placebo + P + C in 1St Line NSCLC. Sebastian, M.; Nordman, I.; Ürün, Y.; Voon, P.J; Isla, D.; Vera, K.; Orlandi, F.; Sansar, B.; Winckels, S.; Mueller, C.; Triebel, F. (2025). 20(10, Supplement 1) S559-.

  Eftilagimod alfa (E), an antigen presenting cell activator, binds to a subset of MHC class II molecules to mediate T cell (CD4/CD8) recruitment/activation. Prior studies in first line (1L) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (TACTI-002 [NCT03625323]: combining E + pembrolizumab (P); INSIGHT-003 [NCT03252938] combining E with chemotherapy + P [SoC]) showed encouraging efficacy results across all PD-L1 strata & excellent safety profiles. TACTI-004 is a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 study testing E + SoC vs. placebo + SoC in 1L NSCLC patients (pts).
• Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gall bladder: a clinicopathological report of 56 Cases from a tertiary care cancer center in North India. Pal, Paramita R.; Paul, Paramita; Patne, Shashikant C. U.; Chowdhury, Zachariah; Dhal, Ipsita; Haiyat, Sadaf (2025). 21(5) 1052–1058.
• Pediatric scapular cavernous hemangioma presenting with kasabach–merritt syndrome and controlled by preoperative angioembolization: a case report. Pande, Pooja; Bhame, Suraj; Bansal, Harshit; Ranjan, Raghwesh; Saha, Soumitra (2025).

  Intraosseous hemangioma is a common and benign vascular tumor with a propensity to occur in any bone of the body. Although the most common skeletal sites are the craniofacial bones and the spine, hemangioma of the scapula is a rare occurrence, which is rarer in the pediatric population. Kasabach–Merritt syndrome (KMS) is characterized by the combination of a rapidly growing vascular tumor, thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and consumptive coagulopathy. This condition can cause massive bleeding even after minor trauma and immediate operative management is usually contraindicated. We report a rare case of KMS in an 8-year-old girl with cavernous hemangioma of the scapula presenting with progressively increasing shoulder mass, thrombocytopenia, and serially falling hemoglobin levels. She was treated with preoperative angioembolization to manage the consumptive coagulopathy followed by surgery poststabilization. Intraosseous hemangiomas, while benign, can show aggressive features on imaging and angioembolization can be a life-saving tool in the management of vascular tumors presenting with consumptive coagulopathy. Intraosseous hemangiomas, while benign, can show aggressive features on imaging and angioembolization can be a life-saving tool in the management of vascular tumors presenting with consumptive coagulopathy.
• Metaplastic carcinoma of breast with heterologous mesenchymal differentiation (carcinosarcoma) having an endothelial component: a case report. Dokania, Shubham; Pujari, Lincoln; Giridhar, Prashanth; Shinghal, Abhishek; Kapoor, Ankita Rungta; Datta, Avradeep; Chowdhury, Zachariah; Gupta, Anuj; Tripathi, Mayank; Mondal, Pritam; Pradhan, Satyajit (2025). 19(1) 470-.

  Background Metaplastic breast cancer with heterologous mesenchymal differentiation, known earlier as carcinosarcoma, consists of both infiltrating ductal carcinoma cells and mesenchymal cells, and is associated with an aggressive course. The mesenchymal component is rarely endothelial, with only two previously reported cases. The present case is the third among those. Moreover, the disease outcome was good, unlike the usual course of carcinosarcoma. Case presentation A 59-year-old multiparous woman of Indo-aryan ethnicity developed a lump in her left breast and was diagnosed with breast carcinosarcoma having an endothelial component, with the help of histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry. The tumor was surgically removed; then the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy to the whole breast, followed by tumor bed boost. The patient was clinic-radiologically disease-free even at 26 months post-treatment. Conclusion Surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy gives better outcomes compared with surgery alone, with a doubtful role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Targeted therapies can be considered in patients not responding to conventional treatment.
• Lorlatinib in TKI-naïve patients with advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from India. Batra, Ullas; Roy, Somnath; Menon, Nandini Sharrel; Warrier, Narayanankutty Edavalath; Kapoor, Akhil; Rajpurohit, Sajjan; Rajappa, Senthill J.; Thirumalairaj, Raja; Advani, Suresh Hariram; Sehra, Nishtha; Jain, Ankita (2025). 43(Suppl.16) e20679-.

  Background: Lorlatinib is a novel brain penetrant 3rd generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)- inhibitor, approved as frontline & subsequent line therapy in ALK-rearranged advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, data on its safety and effectiveness as first-line (1L) therapy in the Indian population remains limited. This study presents an interim analysis of real-world data of 1L Lorlatinib in TKI-naïve ALK-positive advanced NSCLC patients in India. Methods: This is an ongoing ambispective, non-interventional real-world study involving 9 centers across India. All patients diagnosed with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC with or without brain metastases, TKI naïve, receiving lorlatinib in the first line setting & willing to participate can be enrolled. Primary objective of the study is 18-month Progression Free Survival (PFS) rate. This interim analysis has been conducted to assess early response and safety outcomes in the first 51 patients enrolled. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the entire cohort of 51 patients however, Objective Response rate (ORR) and early safety was analyzed for the retrospective cohort & for the prospective patients with at least 1 follow-up (n = 39). Results: From May 2024 - Dec 2024, a total of 51 patients (36 retrospective & 15 prospective) were enrolled in the study. The median age observed was 51 years & Male : Female ratio was 29:22. 94.1% (n = 48) had metastatic disease at the time of Lorlatinib initiation and 49% (n = 25) had brain metastases at baseline. 7.8% patients had received prior brain radiotherapy & 72.5% had an ECOG performance-status score of 1. At median follow up of 8 months within the cohort of 39 patients, the ORR was 74.4% (n = 30 of 39). The best response for 66.7% (n = 26) patients was partial response (PR), 15.3% (n = 6) stable disease (SD), 10.3% (n = 4) complete response (CR) and 7.7% (n = 3) reported progression.17 patients were evaluated for intracranial response and the Intra-cranial Objective response rate (IC-ORR) was 70.6%. 21.1% (n = 4) achieved CR in the brain, 42.1% (n = 8) had PR & 15.8% (n = 3) had SD. On safety analysis, 84.6% (n=33) reported at least one adverse event (AE) of any grade. Hypertriglyceridemia (36.4%) was the most reported AE followed by hypercholesterolemia (27.3%). Pedal edema was observed in 18.2% & weight gain in 15.2% patients. Mood effects were observed in 2 patients. Majority of AEs were mild to moderate (Grade 1/2) in severity & managed either with concomitant medication or resolved on their own. 10.3% (n = 4 of 39) required temporary dose interruptions and 10.3% (n = 4 of 39) patients had permanent treatment discontinuation ? 3 had disease progression and 1 due to AE. No dose reductions were reported. Conclusions: Consistent with CROWN trial data, the preliminary results from this real-world study with 1L Lorlatinib in ALK positive advanced NSCLC in the Indian population supports its effectiveness as well as tolerability profile.
• Nachhaltige Entwicklung von Bibliotheken und Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in Bibliotheken. Das Leipziger Konzept. Metz, Susanne; Friesel, Mareike; Gruhle, Cornelia; Klapperstück, Ines; Tscholitsch, Stefanie (2025). 59(6-7) 330–350.

  Zusammenfassung: Seit 2019 beschäftigen sich die Leipziger Städtischen Bibliotheken intensiv mit der Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE). Ziel ist es, einen ganzheitlichen BNE-Ansatz zu entwickeln und umzusetzen. BNE wird dabei nicht als ergänzendes Thema verstanden, sondern als eine Sammlung methodisch-didaktischer Ansätze, die es ermöglichen, Kompetenzen zu vermitteln, um Menschen -- einschließlich der Mitarbeitenden in Bibliotheken -- zu zukunftsfähigem Denken und Handeln zu befähigen. BNE soll nicht als glqqzusätzliches Projektgrqq neben den bestehenden Aktivitäten der Bibliothek existieren, sondern als Haltung und Anspruch in allen Bereichen und Aktivitäten der Organisation verankert werden -- wir leben, was wir vermitteln! Der Beitrag zielt darauf ab, das Vorgehen der Leipziger Städtischen Bibliotheken darzustellen, um das Ziel des Whole Institution Approach zu erreichen. Im Fokus stehen die Entwicklung und kontinuierliche Weiterentwicklung eines BNE-Konzepts, die Qualifizierung der Mitarbeitenden und die schrittweise Implementierung dieses Ansatzes. Abstract: Since 2019, Leipzig`s municipal libraries have been working on an educational program for sustainable development (ESD) with the aim to mainstreaming a holistic approach to ESD. Rather than representing an additional topic on the list, ESD is here conceived as a collection of methodological-didactic approaches to enable library users and staff to acquire skills in thinking and acting sustainably in any situation, geared towards the framing an organization-wide aspirational mind-set and attitude towards sustainability. We want to live what we preach! The article describes how Leipzig's municipal libraries are advancing to achieve a whole-institution approach, with a focus on the development of the ESD concept, ongoing qualification of employees and the progressive implementation of this holistic approach.
• PP-26 Metrological imperative: refining HbA1c testing through sigma metrics and uncertainty quantification. Ojha, Kamalkant; Kailani, Shraddha; Gavel, Pratibha; Kumar, Kundan; Mohapatra, Nirupam; Pandey, Durgesh (2025). 40(Suppl.1) S97.

  Abstracts of the 34th World Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (WASPaLM) and 51st Association of Clinical Biochemists of India (ACBI) Congress 2025. Hemoglobin A1c test also known as glycated hemoglobin is used to measure an individual’s glucose levels. The test shows average blood glucose levels over the past 90 days, expressed as a percentage and can be used to diagnose dia betes mellitus. This study aims to assess the analytical per formance of HbA1c test using six sigma metrics and to de termine measurement uncertainty. The test was performed using HPLC METHOD and a retrospective analysis was conducted using internal and external quality control data over a period of 6 months in Biochemistry department of uncertainty and sigma metrics were found to be satisfactory is a valuable tool for improving the quality and reliability of testing encasing the variability and improvement in the accuracy of HbA1c measurements, while uncertainty helps prove analytic quality or the laboratory should use alternate methods and reagents. Using Sigma metrics and Uncertainty, we were able to identify the problematic areas as well as laboratory result.
• Prevalence and patterns of polysubstance use (tobacco and other substances) and associated factors: a cross-sectional analysis in a high-risk cohort for oral cancer in Varanasi, India, with a special focus on young emerging adults. Shruti, Tulika; Sharma, Priyanka; Khanna, Divya; Ranjan, Sudhir; Khan, Aqusa; Gurushanth, Keerthi; Singh, Arjun Gurmeet; Mishra, Aseem; Shetty, Anupama; Birur, Praveen; Chaturvedi, Pankaj (2025). 27(8) 1349–1358.

  Introduction The dearth of population-based data on polysubstance use, especially in young emerging adults, presents a critical gap in understanding public health challenges, particularly in rural India, where tobacco use and oral cancer are prevalent. This study addresses this gap by investigating the prevalence and patterns of substance use, with a focus on young emerging adults (18–29 years) within a high-risk cohort for oral cancer in Varanasi, India. Aims and Methods The study involved a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 10 101 participants within a high-risk cohort in rural settings of the Varanasi district between December 2020 and June 2023. This region has high rates of tobacco use and oral cancer. Polysubstance use was defined as the lifetime concurrent use of two or more substances for at least a year. The study examined the prevalence of any substance use, polysubstance use, and associated sociodemographic factors. Univariable and multivariable analyses were employed to identify significant predictors. Results The prevalence of any substance use in the study population was 55.7%. Tobacco use was most prevalent (94.3%), followed by areca nut (44.8%), alcohol (6.6%), and cannabis (0.8%). Among young emerging adult substance users, the prevalence of polysubstance use was 42.6%. Predictors of polysubstance use included age, male gender, employment status, and income. Conclusions This study offers vital insights into substance use among rural Indian communities, particularly among young adults who are at a critical juncture in their lives. The findings underscore the urgent need for evidence-based strategies to address this region’s multifaceted public health challenge of polysubstance use. Implications Literature is scarce on population-based data for the prevalence and pattern of polysubstance (tobacco and other substances) use in India, both for the young and adult population. We studied the prevalence and pattern of substance use in a predominantly rural district of India, which reportedly has the second-highest burden of oral cancer among all Indian population-based cancer registries. We found that more than half (55.7%) of the study population used at least one substance; among them, nearly half (42.4%) used two or more substances. Tobacco use was the most prevalent form (94.3%), followed by areca nut use (44.8%), alcohol (6.6%), and cannabis (0.8%). Polysubstance use was prevalent among young emerging adult substance users. Age, male gender, employment, and income were predictors of polysubstance use. Distinct sociocultural factors shaping substance use in India necessitate research.
• Potential advantage of therapeutic plasma exchange over intravenous immunoglobulin in children with axonal variant of guillain-barré syndrome: a report of six paediatric cases. Deb, Joyisa; Negi, Gita; Mohan, Aswin K.; Sharawat, Indar Kumar; Banerjee, Pradip; Chauhan, Deepali; Kaur, Daljit; Jain, Ashish (2025). 32(1) 112–117.

  Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a disease entity described in literature since 1859. It is associated with various etiological, clinical and immunological factors with prognostic predictive value. Both Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) have been regarded as the first-line treatment for GBS. Certain diagnostic tools help us in early identification of GBS subtypes that may aid clinical management. Here, we have discussed six paediatric cases of GBS of Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN) subtype that were considered for TPE. 5 out of 6 patients were eventually weaned from mechanical ventilation and discharged from the hospital. This study emphasizes the role of TPE in management of severe IVIG refractory GBS with axonal involvement that can be beneficial to the patient. TPE may be considered early in GBS cases with axonal involvement.
• Investigating inter-layer crosslinking of alginate-gelatine hydrogels to modify layer adhesion. Behrends, André; Evers, Lea; Dell, Annika; Leonov, Roman; Wendt, Dennis; Friedrich, Thomas; Buzug, Thorsten (2025). (Vol. 7) 2109.
• Factors associated with mandibular deviation and proposed classification and treatment guidelines for applying mandibular guidance: A retrospective analysis of 185 patients with segmental mandibulectomy. Gupta, Lokendra; Mishra, Aseem; Gurav, Sandeep V.; Dholam, Kanchan; Pal, Ankita; Kumar, Avinash (2025). 134(5) 1998–2006.

  Statement of problem Mandibular guidance therapy is the preferred treatment for patients with segmental mandibulectomy after oncological surgeries. Clinicians face difficulty in decision making and delivering appropriate prosthetic treatment for the rehabilitation of these patients because of the lack of published information. Purpose The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the factors associated with mandibular deviation and to introduce a classification system of mandibular deviation and prosthetic guidelines for rehabilitating patients with segmental mandibulectomy using a mandibular guidance appliance (MGA). Material and methods A total of 185 patients with segmental mandibulectomies without bony reconstruction were evaluated from July 2019 to July 2022 for factors affecting the mandibular deviation and the feasibility of rehabilitating these patients with various types of MGA. Patients reconstructed with a free fibula osteocutaneous flap and those who underwent marginal mandibulectomies without mandibular deviation were excluded from the analysis. Based on the extent of mandibular deviation, the condition of oral tissues, and the functional activity, patients were classified into 1 of 5 classes and treated with an appropriate MGA. Data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher exact tests (α=.05). Results Of 185 patients, 45 (24.3%) showed no mandibular deviation and were classified into class I without the need for a guidance appliance; 114 (61.6%) showed mild mandibular deviation, were classified into class II, and were treated with a mandibular guide plane prosthesis (MGPP); 7 (3.8%) showed moderate mandibular deviation, were classified into class III, and were treated with a progressive mandibular guide plane prosthesis (Progressive MGPP); 5 (2.7%) showed severe mandibular deviation with fibrosis, were classified into class IV, and were treated with an occlusal ramp prosthesis; and 14 (7.6%) showed compromised oral conditions, were classified into class V, and did not receive any type of MGA. Patients with M0, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and those who had received radiotherapy showed more mandibular deviation (P<.05). The degree of mandibular deviation increased from Class I to Class IV and was significantly associated with the time gap between surgical intervention and MGA delivery (P<.05). Conclusions Radiotherapy and delay in delivering the MGA had a significant effect on mandibular deviation. The proposed classification and prosthetic guidelines were based on the mandibular deviation and will help clinicians in decision making and planning treatment before delivering the MGA.
• Extravasation with systemic anti-cancer directed therapy administration at daycare in a tertiary care oncology centre: Insights from a prospective observational study (EXACT study). Bipinesh, Sansar; Akhil, Kapoor; Gupta Anuj; Krishna, Mishra Bal; Arpita, Singh; Ojha Kamalkant; Rajasekhar, Dandeti (2025). 10781552251372872-.

  BackgroundEstablishing benchmarks for extravasation incidences with systemic anti-cancer therapy from various global regions is crucial. Reliable data can inform practices aimed at reducing both the occurrence and severity of extravasation events.MethodsThis prospective observational study evaluated extravasation incidences in patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy for solid tumors at a tertiary oncology daycare center over a period of 15 months. Multiple risk factors potentially contributing to extravasation and influencing its severity were systematically recorded and analyzed.ResultsOut of 66,540 infusions, a total of 58 extravasation cases were identified, resulting in an overall incidence of 0.087%. The extravasation incidence was 0.13% for vesicant drugs and 0.045% for irritant drugs. Specifically, DNA-binding vesicants had an incidence of 0.2%, while non-DNA binding vesicants had an incidence of 0.11%. The predominant symptom reported was infusion site swelling (86%), followed by pain (43%) and erythema (36%). Grade 3 extravasation occurred in 13 cases (22.4%), with vesicants responsible for all but one event. Median symptom resolution time was 20 days overall, extending to 40 days in grade 3 cases. Notably, the occurrence of symptoms either during infusion or within 6 h post-infusion significantly correlated with milder grade 1 extravasations, lower incidence of severe grade 3 cases, and quicker symptom resolution within three weeks.ConclusionsDaycare oncology centers should implement standardized protocols for systemic therapy administration, emphasizing preventive strategies and prompt identification and management of extravasation to reduce associated morbidity.
• Explained, yet misunderstood: How AI Literacy shapes HR Managers’ interpretation of User Interfaces in Recruiting Recommender Systems. Kalff, Yannick; Simbeck, Katharina (2025, September).

  AI-based recommender systems increasingly influence recruitment decisions. Thus, transparency and responsible adoption in Human Resource Management (HRM) are critical. This study examines how HR managers' AI literacy influences their subjective perception and objective understanding of explainable AI (XAI) elements in recruiting recommender dashboards. In an online experiment, 410 German-based HR managers compared baseline dashboards to versions enriched with three XAI styles: important features, counterfactuals, and model criteria. Our results show that the dashboards used in practice do not explain AI results and even keep AI elements opaque. However, while adding XAI features improves subjective perceptions of helpfulness and trust among users with moderate or high AI literacy, it does not increase their objective understanding. It may even reduce accurate understanding, especially with complex explanations. Only overlays of important features significantly aided the interpretations of high-literacy users. Our findings highlight that the benefits of XAI in recruitment depend on users' AI literacy, emphasizing the need for tailored explanation strategies and targeted literacy training in HRM to ensure fair, transparent, and effective adoption of AI.
• Evolution of radiation therapy strategies Nanda, Sambit Swarup; Mallick, Supriya; Giridhar, Prashanth (R. Madan; S. Goyal; S. Mallick, eds.) (2025). 13–21. Springer.

  Radiation therapy in pediatric tumors has undergone a spectral change from conventional two-dimensional radiotherapy to intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) over last few decades. The complexity of pediatric diseases and its varied presentations have put the focus on the technological advancement to deal with site and disease specific challenges. The radiation therapy strategy has been driven by attempts to improve therapeutic index. This involves improving the disease control by exactly characterizing location and extent of the disease. The integration of technological advancements, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, has enabled radiation oncologists to define the structural and functional aspects of every tumor. The use of these modern imaging techniques and improved pathological classification of pediatric tumors helped oncologists to characterize these tumors according to their nature and predict prognosis. Furthermore, it has helped in predicting the recurrence pattern in various type of tumors. These factors, such as the nature of tumor, its extent, pattern of presentation, and recurrence, have dictated the radiotherapy techniques.
• ICRI Case of Week. Shukla, Shreya (2025). 1–12.
• Primary ovarian carcinoid associated with mature teratoma: a rare case presentation. Verma, Ajita; Paul, Paramita; Rai, Silky (2025). 23(2) 69-.

  Background Carcinoid tumors are neuroendocrine tumors, which are usually observed in the lungs and gastrointestinal tract with rare occurrence within the gynecologic system. Ovarian carcinoids form 0.1% of ovarian neoplasms and 1% of all carcinoid tumors. Due to its rarity, it becomes paramount to report this case, to identify key points of morphology and discuss its clinical course and best treatment options. We report a case of primary ovarian carcinoid arising within a mature cystic teratoma diagnosed at a cancer referral centre in North India. Case A 63-year-old postmenopausal woman, presented with complaints of abdominal pain for 2 months. A 10 × 12 cm immobile, firm to hard and nontender mass was palpable in lower abdomen, 2 cm below umbilicus. USG performed showed 8 × 11 cm mass in the right adnexa with loss of fat plane with the uterus and moderate ascites. Staging laparotomy was performed. Histopathology revealed a tumor disposed in insular and organoid patterns with largely monomorphous tumor cells suggestive of carcinoid which was ratified by immunohistochemistry. A small focus showed a teratomatous component comprising of ecto, meso and endodermal components. Post surgery, the patient is doing well without any new symptoms post one year of follow-up. Conclusion Ovarian carcinoid is a relatively rare neoplasm and awareness of this entity is essential for identifying various treatment options.
• 5G Technology: An Assessment of the Opportunities and Challenges in an Emerging Nigerian Society. Pahalson C. A. D, Davou Dung Gyang; Zungkat, Biya Alfred (2024).
• AI in Test Automation: Overcoming Challenges, Embracing Imperatives. Khankhoje, Rohit (R. Khankhoje, ed.) (2024). 11(1)

  This scholarly article delves into the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Test Automation, thoroughly examining the challenges inherent in implementing AI methodologies and elucidating imperatives critical for successful integration within contemporary software testing frameworks. The research entails a comprehensive exploration of challenges, ranging from intricacies in data quality to algorithmic biases, tool complexities, and integration challenges, drawing on empirical evidence from case studies and real-world scenarios. The paper articulates imperatives essential for overcoming challenges and ensuring the efficacy of AI in test automation. It emphasizes the significance of structured training programs, meticulous data management strategies, and the cultivation of an organizational culture conducive to the seamless integration of AI technologies. Through a rigorous analysis of successful case studies, the article provides a scholarly basis for the formulation of strategies and solutions to surmount challenges faced by organizations adopting AI in testing practices. A visual matrix aligning challenges with corresponding imperatives adds scholarly rigor to the article, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding the intricate relationships between challenges and the imperative strategies required for resolution. Furthermore, the exploration of emerging trends and innovations anticipates the future trajectory of AI-driven test automation, contributing valuable insights for strategic planning in the realm of software testing. This scholarly work underscores the importance of a systematic and informed approach to AI in Test Automation. By addressing challenges with academic rigor and embracing imperative strategies grounded in empirical evidence, organizations can position themselves at the forefront of AI driven testing practices, advancing the field with a scholarly foundation for continued exploration and innovation.
• Platform Labour Unrest in a Global Perspective: How, Where and Why Do Platform Workers Protest?. Umney, Charles; Stuart, Mark; Bessa, Ioulia; Joyce, Simon; Neumann, Denis; Trappmann, Vera (2024). 38(1) 3–26.

  Labour unrest by platform workers is a growing global phenomenon, but several questions require deeper understanding. What motivates platform labour unrest? Which actors and strategies are involved? How does this vary across regions? Systematic answers are hindered by the lack of large datasets. Uniquely, this article analyses a global dataset comprising 1271 instances of platform labour unrest. It reveals two main dimensions of platform labour struggle: those defending or extending protective regulatory institutions (regulatory protests); and those seeking a larger share of value created (distributive protests). The former more often involve mainstream unions and methods like legal challenges. The latter more often involve grassroots organisation, and the collective withdrawal of labour and demonstrations. Theoretically, the article elaborates on Silver’s distinction between Marx-type and Polanyi-type labour unrest to explain and contextualise these findings. These patterns reveal variation within the growing wave of platform labour unrest that have not yet been systematically examined.
• Comments on Monoids Induced by NFAs. Technical Report (2301), Holzer, Markus (2023).

  We summarize known results on the transformation monoid of nondeterministic finite automata (NFAs) from semigroup theory. In particular, we list what is known from the literature on the size of monoids induced by NFAs and their (minimal) number of generators—a comprehensive list of these generators is given in the Appendix. It is shown that any language accepted by an n-state NFA has a syntactic monoid of size at most 2n . This bound is reachable by the generators of the semigroup Bn of n×n Boolean matrices with the usual matrix multiplication except that we assume 1 + 1 = 1. The number of these generators grows exponentially in n. This is a significant difference to the deterministic case, where three generators suffice to generate all elements of Tn. Moreover, we prove a lower bound for the NFA-to-DFA conversion using Lambert’s W function.
• Machine Learning in Early Genetic Detection of Multiple Sclerosis Disease: A Survey. Ali, Nehal M.; Shaheen, Mohamed; Mabrouk, Mai S.; AboRezka, Mohamed A. (2020). 412–415.
• Towards Robust Named Entity Recognition for Historic German. Schweter, Stefan; Baiter, Johannes I. Augenstein, S. Gella, S. Ruder, K. Kann, B. Can, J. Welbl, A. Conneau, X. Ren, M. Rei (eds.) (2019). 96–103.
• MAGNETIZED PLASMA WITH FERROMAGNETIC GRAINS AS A VIABLE NEGATIVE REFRACTIVE INDEX MEDIUM. Technical Report (4), Mesfin, Belayneh (2015).

  The propagation of electromagnetic waves in a cold magnetized plasma with ferromagnetic grains (MPFG) in the high frequency domain is studied theoretically. The dispersion of MPFG which is controlled by the simultaneous characterization of the permittivity and permeability tensors. is investigated theoretically and numerically near the resonance frequency. It is found that MPFG becomes transparent for the waves that cannot propagate in conventional magnetized electron-ion plasma. The refractive index of the waves propagating parallel to the applied magnetic field is found to be negative for the extraordinary wave in certain frequency domain. The results obtained show that in a narrow band of the super-high-frequency range near the electron cyclotron frequency, MPFG possess all the known characteristics of negative refractive index media, which would make it as a viable alternative medium to demonstrate the known and predicted peculiar properties of media having negative index of refraction.
• Collecting information on job tasks---an instrument to measure tasks required at the workplace in a multi-topic survey. Matthes, Britta; Christoph, Bernhard; Janik, Florian; Ruland, Michael (2014). 47(4) 273–297.

  The analysis of job tasks has become a field of growing scientific activity in recent years. Information on such tasks has been used to analyze various research questions, especially regarding changes in the overall structure of the economy and their implications for persons and firms. Arguably the most prominent of these research questions is the analysis of the consequences of technological change for job tasks, skill demand, and wage inequality.
• Cloud Computing Technology for Egovernment Architecture. Hashemi, Sajjad (2013). 13(06)
• FACE RECOGNITION USING DIFFERENT LOCAL FEATURES WITH DIFFERENT DISTANCE TECHNIQUES. Rao, M.Koteswara; Swamy, K.Veera; K.Anithasheela; Mohan, B.Chandra (2012). 2(1) 67–74.

  A face recognition system using different local features with different distance measures is proposed in this paper. Proposed method is fast and gives accurate detection. Feature vector is based on Eigen values, Eigen vectors, and diagonal vectors of sub images. Images are partitioned into sub images to detect local features. Sub partitions are rearranged into vertically and horizontally matrices. Eigen values, Eigenvector and diagonal vectors are computed for these matrices. Global feature vector is generated for face recognition. Experiments are performed on benchmark face YALE database. Results indicate that the proposed method gives better recognition performance in terms of average recognized rate and retrieval time compared to the existing methods.
• Working with the European Works Council. Training Materials for EWC representatives. Stoop, Sjef (1999).

  This workbook on European Works Councils (EWCs) is designed as a training tool for people with some experience with EWCs, so it does not include the basics of the EWC such as the Directive or a checklist for agreements. It is also aimed at trainers and coordinators of EWCs, so outlines of training activities are included throughout the text. These are not comprehensive activity sheets. Trainers will need to adjust the material to the specific kind of training course: international or national, for one EWC or for reps from different EWCs, etc.
• Deep Reinforcement Learning based Optimal Routing with Software-Defined Networking. Liu, Yingjiang (1997).
• DNA damage induced by bleomycin, neocarzinostatin, and melphalan in a precisely positioned nucleosome. Asymmetry in protection at the periphery of nucleosome-bound DNA. Smith, B L; Bauer, G B; Povirk, L F (1994). 269 30587–30594.