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Working with and for Ancestors examines collaborative partnerships that have developed around the study and care of Indigenous ancestral human remains. In the interest of reconciliation, museums and research institutions around the world have begun to actively seek input and direction from Indigenous descendants in establishing collections care and research policies. However, true collaboration is difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes awkward. By presenting examples of projects involving ancestral remains that are successfully engaged in collaboration, the book provides encouragement for scientists and descendant communities alike to have open and respectful discussions around the research and care of ancestral human remains. Key themes for discussion include new approaches to the care for ancestors; the development of culturally sensitive museum policies; the emergence of mutually beneficial research partnerships; and emerging issues such as those of intellectual property, digital data, and alternatives to destructive analyses. Critical discussions by leading scholars also identify the remaining challenges in the repatriation process and offer a means to continue moving forward. This volume will appeal to a broad, interdisciplinary audience interested in collaborative research and management strategies that are aimed at developing mutually beneficial relationships between researchers and descendant communities. This includes students and researchers in archaeology, anthropology, museums studies, and Indigenous communities.

A major effort to introduce new vaccines into poor nations of the world was initiated in recent years with the help of the GAVI alliance. The first vaccines introduced have been the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and the hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccines. The introduction of these vaccines during the first phase of GAVI's operations demonstrated considerable variability. We set out to study the factors affecting the introduction of these vaccines. The African Region (AFRO), where new vaccines were introduced to a substantial number of countries during the first phase of GAVI's funding, was selected for this study. GAVI-eligible AFRO countries with a population of 0.5 million or more were included in the study. Countries were analyzed and compared for new vaccine introduction, healthcare indicators, financial indicators related to healthcare and country-level Governance Indicators, using One Way ANOVA, correlation analysis and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Introduction of new vaccines into AFRO nations was associated primarily with high country-level Governance Indicator scores. The use of individual Governance Indicator scores, as well as a combined Governance Indicator score we developed, demonstrated similar results. Our study results indicate that good country-level governance is an imperative pre-requisite for the successful early introduction of new vaccines into poor African nations. Enhanced support measures may be required to effectively introduce new vaccines to countries with low governance scores. The combined governance score we developed may thus constitute a useful tool for helping philanthropic organizations make decisions regarding the type of support needed by different countries to achieve success.

Resistance to chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy develops through multiple mechanisms, most notably antigen loss and tumour-induced immune suppression. It has been suggested that T cells expressing multiple CARs may overcome the resistance of tumours and that T cells expressing receptors that switch inhibitory immune-checkpoint signals into costimulatory signals may enhance the activity of the T cells in the tumour microenvironment. However, engineering multiple features into a single T cell product is difficult because of the transgene-packaging constraints of current gene-delivery vectors. Here we describe a cell-sorting method that leverages leucine zippers for the selective single-step immunomagnetic purification of cells co-transduced with two vectors. Such ‘Zip sorting’ facilitated the generation of T cells simultaneously expressing up to four CARs and coexpressing up to three ‘switch’ receptors. In syngeneic mouse models, T cells with multiple CARs and multiple switch receptors eliminated antigenically heterogeneous populations of leukaemia cells coexpressing multiple inhibitory ligands. By combining diverse therapeutic strategies, Zip-sorted multi-CAR multi-switch-receptor T cells can overcome multiple mechanisms of CAR T cell resistance. A cell-sorting method leveraging leucine zippers allows for the generation of T cells displaying multiple chimaeric antigen receptors as well as receptors converting inhibitory signals into stimulatory signals.

The thymus is essential for establishing adaptive immunity yet undergoes age-related involution that leads to compromised immune responsiveness. The thymus is also extremely sensitive to acute insult and although capable of regeneration, this capacity declines with age for unknown reasons. We applied single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, lineage-tracing and advanced imaging to define age-related changes in nonhematopoietic stromal cells and discovered the emergence of two atypical thymic epithelial cell (TEC) states. These age-associated TECs (aaTECs) formed high-density peri-medullary epithelial clusters that were devoid of thymocytes; an accretion of nonproductive thymic tissue that worsened with age, exhibited features of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and was associated with downregulation of FOXN1. Interaction analysis revealed that the emergence of aaTECs drew tonic signals from other functional TEC populations at baseline acting as a sink for TEC growth factors. Following acute injury, aaTECs expanded substantially, further perturbing trophic regeneration pathways and correlating with defective repair of the involuted thymus. These findings therefore define a unique feature of thymic involution linked to immune aging and could have implications for developing immune-boosting therapies in older individuals. Here the authors identify age-associated changes in the epithelial cell compartment of the thymus that form high-density nonproductive microenvironmental niches that contribute toward thymic involution and inhibit its repair following injury.

Purpose of ReviewHeart centers for women (HCW) were developed due to the rising cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in women in the United States in the early 1990s. Our review encompasses the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostic strategies, treatments, and the role of HCW in managing women with ischemic heart disease (IHD).Recent FindingsHCW use a multidisciplinary team to manage women with IHD. Due to the paucity of randomized controlled trials investigating various manifestations of IHD, some treatments are not evidence-based such as those for coronary microvascular dysfunction and spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Sex-specific risk factors have been identified and multimodality cardiac imaging is improving in diagnosing IHD in women. Treatments are being studied to help improve symptoms and outcomes in women with IHD.SummaryThere has been progress in the care of women with IHD. HCW can be instrumental in treating women with IHD, doing research, and being a source of research study participants.

The history of conducting Western scientific research on Indigenous communities has destroyed relationships between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous academics. Using personal research experience involving searches for unmarked graves at the Brandon Indian Residential School as a case example, this chapter explores the complicated and largely unspoken process of how to begin the conversations that create the opportunities to do meaningful research with a Dakota community. From this relational starting point, this chapter details the importance of ongoing consultation and collaborative research design grounded in the community's interests, needs, objectives and concerns. In this way, we can begin the process of creating a strong relationship with an Indigenous community, capable of fostering respectful research and building alliances.

The thymus is essential for establishing adaptive immunity yet undergoes age-related atrophy leading to compromised immune responsiveness. The thymus is also extremely sensitive to acute insult and although capable of regeneration, this capacity declines with age. Focusing on non-hematopoietic stromal cells, and using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, lineage-tracing, and advanced imaging, we discovered two atypical thymic epithelial cell (TEC) states that emerged with age. Age-associated (aa)TECs formed atypical high-density epithelial clusters that were devoid of thymocytes, an accretion of non-functional thymic tissue that worsened with age and exhibited features of partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In silico interaction analysis revealed that aaTEC emergence drew tonic signals from other TEC populations at baseline, acting as a sink for TEC growth factors. Following damage, aaTEC expanded substantially, further perturbing trophic pathways, and correlating with defective regeneration of the involuted thymus. These findings define a unique feature of thymic involution linked to immune aging.

The introductory chapter situates the reader within the context of the volume. First, we review the history of the study and care of ancestral human remains worldwide. This will include an exploration of the effects that repatriation movements have had on anthropological research with Ancestors. Then, we trace the shift towards collaboration and community engagement, identifying central themes that will be discussed throughout the volume. This chapter reviews the history of the study and care of ancestral human remains worldwide. It includes an exploration of the effects that repatriation movements have had on anthropological research with Ancestors. The chapter traces the shift towards collaboration and community engagement, identifying central themes. It discusses contentious history behind the collection and study of ancestral remains, and the rise of the repatriation movement - examining its impact on research and policy. The chapter also reviews the \"collaborative turn\" in projects involving Ancestors' remains. Indigenous communities demanded the return of their Ancestors' remains and belongings, and called on archaeologists and others to acknowledge their voices, concerns, and experiences. The \"repatriation movement\" has continued to be central to Indigenous activism and is embedded within broader sovereignty movements. In response to these events, museums and professional organizations have developed a suite of policies, protocols, and ethical frameworks that now guide repatriation.