The Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) was founded in 1950 to promote the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge about countries, cultures and languages of the region. It is an interdisciplinary program of Cornell University that focuses on the development of graduate training and research opportunities on the languages and cultures of Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Cornell is known for being the "Mecca of Southeast Asian Studies.
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and generally carries a favourable prognosis. However, a subset of cases exhibits aggressive behaviour, metastatic potential, and resistance to conventional therapies. The 2022 WHO classification introduced major updates, including refined subtypes of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), recognition of high-grade follicular cell-derived carcinomas, and the introduction of grading criteria for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). These revisions reflect advances in tumour biology and are essential for precise diagnosis and treatment planning. Molecular profiling has become central to the management of thyroid cancer. Key driver mutations in follicular cell-derived tumours include BRAF V600E (common in PTC), RAS mutations (common in follicular carcinomas), and RET, NTRK, and ALK gene fusions, all of which influence prognosis and therapeutic strategies. MTC is primarily driven by RET and RAS mutations. In anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), the most aggressive subtype, evaluation of PD-L1 expression and BRAF mutations is recommended to guide treatment. Accurate molecular analysis depends on appropriate tumour sample selection and processing. Genetic testing is particularly indicated in advanced, refractory, or metastatic disease to identify candidates for targeted therapies, which have shown significant clinical benefit. Two diagnostic strategies are proposed: a sequential single-gene approach, typically beginning with BRAF testing, or comprehensive profiling using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Multidisciplinary molecular tumour boards are strongly recommended to integrate histological, molecular, and clinical information for personalised treatment decisions.
CONTEXT: Palm oil production has increased mostly via area expansion rather than yield increase. Increasing yields on existing plantation area, together with the proper regulatory and policy settings, can help meet future oil demand whilst reducing the requirement to convert natural ecosystems to agricultural production. OBJECTIVE: To develop a spatial framework delineating extrapolation domain (EDs) for oil palm that can be used to evaluate and extrapolate yield-enhancing technologies.METHODS: We developed the EDs based on climate, soil, and topographic factors that govern oil palm yields on mineral soils in Indonesia. We validated our framework using field-level yield data collected from 207 com-mercial blocks. We provided proof of concept by using the framework to identify areas suitable for yield intensification among independent smallholder farmers while possibly reducing encroachment on fragile ecosystems. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our framework consists of a combination of climate, soil, and topographic fac-tors. Most of the oil palm area was located within a relatively narrow range of biophysical conditions, with three EDs accounting for 74% of oil palm area. Validation of the spatial framework showed that EDs portrayed well spatial variation in yield across production areas. Application of the ED framework allowed identification of 1.1 M ha of oil palm managed by independent smallholders that can be targeted for sustainable intensification. SIGNIFICANCE: Our ED framework can facilitate evaluation and extrapolation of yield-improving technologies, increasing return to AR&D programs. In turn, intensification could help increase production on existing plan-tation area while avoiding conversion of fragile ecosystems. Our framework can be complemented with spatial socio-economic and environmental data to answer a wide range of questions at the intersection of agronomy, economy, and environment.
EDITORIAL article Front. Public Health, 10 August 2023Sec. Public Health Policy Volume 11 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1220268
BackgroundHealth technology assessment (HTA) is the systematic evaluation of various properties and effects of a health technology. HTA can serve as a bridge between the world of knowledge and that of decision making, offering decision makers the best summary of scientific evidence. Scoping HTA reports in the context of dentistry can help researchers identify grey areas; help practitioners make evidence-based decisions and further initiate better policy making. AimTo provide an overview on HTAs pertaining to oral health and dentistry in the past decade, map the extension and scope of the methodological practices, key findings, and limitations. MethodologyA scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. A comprehensive search for HTA reports was done through the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment Database from January 2010 to December 2020. Consecutively, electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched. Finally, thirty-six reports were included in this review and analyzed. ResultsA total of 709 articles were initially identified, of which thirty-six met the inclusion criteria. Reviewed HTAs focused on various specialties of dentistry worldwide. Maximum number of reports (N = 5) were related to "prosthodontics and dental implants" and technologies related to preventive dentistry were most commonly assessed (N = 4). ConclusionFunctional, appropriate, and evidence-based information provided through HTA pertaining to oral health on a regular basis will enable decision makers to have enough data to make decisions on the future use of new technology, modify existing policies, accelerate its translation into practice, and ensure provision of robust dental healthcare services.
