bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rasch analysis and differential item functioning of English language anxiety scale (ELAS) across sex in Egyptian context
Authors: Khalaf Mustafa Ali , Omara Ehab Mohammed Naguib
Published: October 2022

Background

English language anxiety (ELA) is a prevalent phenomenon in language education. It is one of the most commonly investigated non-linguistic variables in studies of language learning. Accordingly, numerous studies have paid great attention to the factors leading to FLA.

Methods

As instruments of ELA have not been subjected to a rigorous test of item response theory (IRT), this study conducted such analysis using the Rasch rating scale model. ELAS scale developed using classical testing theory (CTT), which consists of 32 items measuring four sub-scales (listening, speaking, reading and writing anxiety), was analysed using IRT. WINSTEPS software and SPSS version 26 were used to examine the psychometric properties, sex differential item functioning (DIF) and Rasch analysis of the ELAS in the Egyptian context. A total of 604 participants were recruited for data collection.

Results

The main findings indicated that the scale yielded a good approximation of Rasch assumptions and appears to be a valid and reliable tool. DIF was computed using the Mantel–Haenszel (MH) method and Welch’s t-test, which indicated that no sex bias was detected for any item of the ELAS.

Conclusions

This paper presents a promising ELA instrument characterized by adequate validity, reliability and objectivity in addition to potential for precise use in comparison between males and females because it is invariant across sex.
Separation or integration? Further insights from a study on chemical datasets of ancient bronze drums from South and Southeast Guangxi, China
Authors: Lu Qiuyan , Li Yanxiang , Zou Guisen , Gong Shiyang
Published: October 2022

Bronze drums of Types Beiliu and Lingshan, two of the eight types of bronze drums in China, represent the highest level of bronze industry in Guangxi during the Han and Tang dynasties. Because of their distinctive ethnic features and generous size, they have received significant attention. Through the study of 12 drums of Type Beiliu and 7 drums of Type Lingshan, the provenance of ore sources, ethnic characteristics, and their correlations are further discussed. According to the analysis results, the above two types of bronze drum share some common features in alloying patterns, lead isotope ratios, and trace elements. However, they exhibit differences in decorative traditions. This research concludes that although the above two types of bronze drums belong to different local powers, extensive communication existed regarding the boundary. A complex relationship of integration, separation, and confrontation existed among them, which was typical of ancient ethnic society.
Association between socio-economic factors and the risk of overweight and obesity among Chinese adults: a retrospective cross-sectional study from the China Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Wang Kai , Wu Caifeng , Yao Yifan , Zhang Shihan , Xie Yaxuan , Shi Kejian , Yuan Zhanpeng
Published: October 2022

Background

With the rising prevalence of obesity and overweight, increasing number of scholars paid attention to the negative effects on human health and life. Recent years, many studies have focused on the relation of socio-economic factors with the risk of overweight or obesity, but findings have been inconsistent. This study investigated the relationship between socio-economic factors and the risk of overweight and obesity among Chinese adults.

Methods

This study was based on the survey of the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2015, with 9245 Chinese adults aged 18–65 years old. Overweight and obesity were assessed by physical measurements of weight, height, and waist circumference. Multiple logistic models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the association.

Results

Overall, the prevalence rates of general obesity and abdominal obesity were 15.5% and 22.6%, respectively. We found that education and per capita household income were positively associated with overweight and obesity risk in men. However, the association between education and obesity status was negative in women [general obesity: OR = 0.64, 95% CI (0.50–0.81); abdominal obesity: OR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.51–0.76)]. Occupational status was only associated with general overweight in men.

Conclusions

Results suggested that higher education and per capita household income were associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity among Chinese men, whereas the associations were negative for women. We recommended that men with high levels of education and income, women with low levels of education, can engage in some physical activity, modify dietary, and adopt a new way of life to maintain their weight and general health.
Regularization of anisotropic full-waveform inversion with multiple parameters by adversarial neural networks
Authors: Yao Jiashun , Warner Michael , Wang Yanghua
Published: October 2022

The anisotropic full-waveform inversion (FWI) is a seismic inverse problem for multiple parameters, which aims to simultaneously reconstruct the vertical velocity and the anisotropic parameters of the earth’s subsurface. This multiparameter inverse problem suffers from two issues. First, the objective function of the data fitting is less sensitive to the anisotropic parameters. Second, the crosstalk effect among the different parameters worsens the model update in the iterative inversion. We have developed a method that statistically regularizes the anisotropic FWI using Wasserstein adversarial networks, by penalizing the Wasserstein distance between the distribution of the current model parameters and that of the parameters at the borehole locations. The regularizer can mitigate the issues of anisotropic FWI with multiple parameters and therefore it also can be applied to other inverse problems with multiple parameters.
Amplitude-variation-with-offset in thermoelastic media
Authors: Hou Wanting , Fu Li-Yun , Carcione José M.
Published: October 2022

Temperature is an important factor for evaluating the seismic response of deep reservoirs. We have developed an amplitude-variation-with-offset approximation based on the Lord-Shulman thermoelasticity theory. The model predicts two compressional (P and T) waves (the second is a thermal mode) and a shear (S) wave. The T mode is due to the coupling between the elastic and heat equations. In the thermoelastic case, the approximation is more accurate than in the elastic case. Its accuracy is verified by comparison with the exact equations calculated in terms of potential functions. We examine two reservoir models with high temperatures and compute synthetic seismograms that illustrate the reliability of the approximation. Moreover, we consider real data to build a model and find that the approximate equation not only simplifies the calculations but also is accurate enough and can be used to evaluate the temperature-dependent elastic properties, providing a basis for further application of the thermoelasticity theory, such as geothermal exploration, thermal-enhanced oil recovery, and ultradeep oil and gas resources subject to high temperatures.
A synthetic denoising algorithm for full-waveform induced polarization based on deep learning
Authors: Liu Weiqiang , Lü Qingtian , Chen Rujun , Lin Pinrong , Yan Jiayong , Zhang Kun , Pitiya Regean Pumulo
Published: October 2022

Induced polarization (IP) is a widely used geophysical exploration technique. Continuous random noise is one of the most prevalent interferences that can seriously contaminate the IP signal and distort the apparent electrical characteristics. We develop a noise separation algorithm based on deep learning to overcome this issue. The standard IP signals are first produced by combining the Cole-Cole model and Fourier series decomposition, and then the mathematical simulation is used to generate various types of random noise interferences, which are subsequently added to the IP signals. Then, a denoising autoencoder deep neural network structure is built and trained by using noisy signals as input samples and pure signals as output samples. The resulting optimum network is capable of automatically reconstructing a clean IP signal from the noisy input. This network is tested using synthetic data sets. The trained neural network can perform the noise reduction of thousands of survey points in a matter of seconds and reduce signal distortion from approximately 25% to less than 5%. Deep learning-based denoising provides superior computation speed and precision compared with the wavelet denoising and smoothing filtering approach. The data for high-quality signals do not vary considerably before and after noise reduction. The noise interferences are successfully suppressed for low-quality signals. Based on the findings, the denoising autoencoder deep neural network has a promising future for suppressing random noise interferences, which can aid in improving the quality of IP data with high efficiency and precision.
Ensemble empirical mode decomposition and stacking model for filtering borehole distributed acoustic sensing records
Authors: Zhao Yi , Zhong Zhicheng , Li Yue , Shao Dan , Wu Yongpeng
Published: October 2022

We have evaluated the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and stacking model for borehole seismic-data denoising. The borehole records collected by distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology have multitype noise contamination, and it is difficult to attenuate these noises while recovering the seismic waves well. We first perform EEMD on the seismic data to obtain the signal-to-noise modal components, then extract the time and frequency information of the decomposed modes using six feature factors, and finally introduce an ensemble learning method to classify the acquired modal features effectively. Stacking is the ensemble learning technique we used in our study. This technique integrates several diverse basic ensemble models using the meta-learning strategy and constructs a highly integrated framework with superior performance and good generalization. In addition, the basic ensemble models consist of many decision tree classifiers following two different ideas of parallelization and serialization. The feature extraction process provides sufficient DAS feature data for the training process of the framework. Synthetic and real experimental results demonstrate that the stacking integration framework effectively separates the signal-to-noise modal features of the borehole DAS records. Furthermore, the EEMD-stacking method performs better than wavelet transform, intrinsic time-scale decomposition, robust principal component analysis, k-means singular value decomposition, and median filtering on the denoising task.
An improved seismic fluid identification method incorporating squirt flow and frequency-dependent fluid-solid inversion
Authors: Lan Tianjun , Zong Zhaoyun , Feng Yanwen
Published: October 2022

Joint inversion of seismic amplitude and frequency information for fluid discrimination works as a popular approach for reservoir fluid identification. However, ignorance of the factor caused by fluid flow and the viscosity of oil and gas in current frequency-dependent inversion approaches leads to the inaccuracy of oil and gas prediction. Therefore, based on squirt flow and viscoelastic theory, a new frequency-dependent viscoelastic squirt-flow fluid factor is established, which is compared with other conventional fluid factors to verify its advantages in fluid detection. In addition, a new linearized reflectivity equation related to frequency-dependent viscoelastic squirt-flow fluid factor is derived. Finally, to verify the feasibility of the new fluid factor in predicting oil/gas, a frequency-dependent elastic impedance inversion method is introduced. Synthetic data and field data examples find that frequency-dependent viscoelastic squirt-flow fluid factor can eliminate the interference of “false bright spots” in conventional fluid factors inversion and has a higher vertical resolution, which demonstrated the effectiveness and stability of our method in fluid prediction.
Rare Germline ATM Variants Influence the Development of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Lampson Benjamin L. , Gupta Aditi , Tyekucheva Svitlana , Mashima Kiyomi , Petráčková Anna , Wang Zixu , Wojciechowska Natalia , Shaughnessy Conner J. , Baker Peter O. , Fernandes Stacey M. , Shupe Samantha , Machado John-Hanson , Fardoun Rayan , Kim Annette S. , Brown Jennifer R.
Published: October 2022

PURPOSE

Germline missense variants of unknown significance in cancer-related genes are increasingly being identified with the expanding use of next-generation sequencing. The ataxia telangiectasia–mutated ( ATM) gene on chromosome 11 has more than 1,000 germline missense variants of unknown significance and is a tumor suppressor. We aimed to determine if rare germline ATM variants are more frequent in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) compared with other hematologic malignancies and if they influence the clinical characteristics of CLL.

METHODS

We identified 3,128 patients (including 825 patients with CLL) in our hematologic malignancy clinic who had received clinical-grade sequencing of the entire coding region of ATM. We ascertained the comparative frequencies of germline ATM variants in categories of hematologic neoplasms, and, in patients with CLL, we determined whether these variants affected CLL-associated characteristics such as somatic 11q deletion.

RESULTS

Rare germline ATM variants are present in 24% of patients with CLL, significantly greater than that in patients with other lymphoid malignancies (16% prevalence), myeloid disease (15%), or no hematologic neoplasm (14%). Patients with CLL with germline ATM variants are younger at diagnosis and twice as likely to have 11q deletion. The ATM variant p.L2307F is present in 3% of patients with CLL, is associated with a three-fold increase in rates of somatic 11q deletion, and is a hypomorph in cell-based assays.

CONCLUSION

Germline ATM variants cluster within CLL and affect the phenotype of CLL that develops, implying that some of these variants (such as ATM p.L2307F) have functional significance and should not be ignored. Further studies are needed to determine whether these variants affect the response to therapy or account for some of the inherited risk of CLL.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Frontline Polatuzumab-Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, and Prednisone and/or Second-Line Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Versus Standard of Care for Treatment of Patients With Intermediate- to High-Risk Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Vijenthira Abi , Kuruvilla John , Crump Michael , Jain Michael , Prica Anca
Published: October 2022

PURPOSE

Recent studies of polatuzumab vedotin and CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) have shown significant improvements in progression-free survival over standard of care (SOC) for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, they are costly, and it is unclear whether these strategies, alone or combined, are cost-effective over SOC.

METHODS

A Markov model was constructed to compare four strategies for patients with newly diagnosed intermediate- to high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: strategy 1: polatuzumab-rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP) plus second-line CAR-T for early relapse (< 12 months); strategy 2: polatuzumab-R-CHP plus second-line salvage therapy ± autologous stem-cell transplant; strategy 3: rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone plus second-line CAR-T for early relapse; strategy 4: SOC (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone plus second-line salvage therapy ± autologous stem-cell transplant). Transition probabilities were estimated from trial data. Lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated from US and Canadian payer perspectives. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds of $150,000 US dollars (USD) or Canadian dollars (CAD)/QALY were used.

RESULTS

In probabilistic analyses (10,000 simulations), each strategy was incrementally more effective than the previous strategy, but also more costly. Adding polatuzumab-R-CHP to the SOC had an ICER of $546,956 (338,797-1,199,923) USD/QALY and $245,381 (151,671-573,250) CAD/QALY. Adding second-line CAR-T to the SOC had an ICER of $309,813 (190,197-694,200) USD/QALY and $303,163 (221,300-1,063,864) CAD/QALY. Simultaneously adding both polatuzumab-R-CHP and second-line CAR-T to the SOC had an ICER of $488,284 (326,765-840,157) USD/QALY and $267,050 (182,832-520,922) CAD/QALY.

CONCLUSION

Given uncertain incremental benefits in long-term survival and high costs, neither polatuzumab-R-CHP frontline, CAR-T second-line, nor a combination are likely to be cost-effective in the United States or Canada at current pricing compared with the SOC.
More Than 2% of Circulating Tumor Plasma Cells Defines Plasma Cell Leukemia–Like Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Jelinek Tomas , Bezdekova Renata , Zihala David , Sevcikova Tereza , Anilkumar Sithara Anjana , Pospisilova Lenka , Sevcikova Sabina , Polackova Petra , Stork Martin , Knechtova Zdenka , Venglar Ondrej , Kapustova Veronika , Popkova Tereza , Muronova Ludmila , Chyra Zuzana , Hrdinka Matous , Simicek Michal , Garcés Juan-Jose , Puig Noemi , Cedena Maria-Teresa , Jurczyszyn Artur , Castillo Jorge J. , Penka Miroslav , Radocha Jakub , Mateos Maria Victoria , San-Miguel Jesús F. , Paiva Bruno , Pour Ludek , Rihova Lucie , Hajek Roman
Published: October 2022

PURPOSE

Primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is the most aggressive monoclonal gammopathy. It was formerly characterized by ≥ 20% circulating plasma cells (CTCs) until 2021, when this threshold was decreased to ≥ 5%. We hypothesized that primary PCL is not a separate clinical entity, but rather that it represents ultra-high-risk multiple myeloma (MM) characterized by elevated CTC levels.

METHODS

We assessed the levels of CTCs by multiparameter flow cytometry in 395 patients with newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible MM to establish a cutoff for CTCs that identifies the patients with ultra-high-risk PCL-like MM. We tested the cutoff on 185 transplant-eligible patients with MM and further validated on an independent cohort of 280 transplant-ineligible patients treated in the GEM-CLARIDEX trial. The largest published real-world cohort of patients with primary PCL was used for comparison of survival. Finally, we challenged the current 5% threshold for primary PCL diagnosis.

RESULTS

Newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients with MM with 2%-20% CTCs had significantly shorter progression-free survival (3.1 v 15.6 months; P < .001) and overall survival (14.6 v 33.6 months; P = .023) than patients with < 2%. The 2% cutoff proved to be applicable also in transplant-eligible patients with MM and was successfully validated on an independent cohort of patients from the GEM-CLARIDEX trial. Most importantly, patients with 2%-20% CTCs had comparable dismal outcomes with primary PCL. Moreover, after revealing a low mean difference between flow cytometric and morphologic evaluation of CTCs, we showed that patients with 2%-5% CTCs have similar outcomes as those with 5%-20% CTCs.

CONCLUSION

Our study uncovers that ≥ 2% CTCs is a biomarker of hidden primary PCL and supports the assessment of CTCs by flow cytometry during the diagnostic workup of MM.
APOBEC Mutational Signatures in Hormone Receptor–Positive Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Negative Breast Cancers Are Associated With Poor Outcomes on CDK4/6 Inhibitors and Endocrine Therapy
Authors: Sammons Sarah , Raskina Kira , Danziger Natalie , Alder Laura , Schrock Alexa B. , Venstrom Jeffrey M. , Knutson Keith L. , Thompson E. Aubrey , McGregor Kim , Sokol Ethan , Chumsri Saranya
Published: October 2022

PURPOSE

APOBEC mutagenesis underlies somatic evolution and accounts for tumor heterogeneity in several cancers, including breast cancer (BC). In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of a real-world cohort for time-to-treatment discontinuation (TTD) and overall survival on CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) plus endocrine therapy (ET) and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

METHODS

Comprehensive genomic profiling results from 29,833 BC samples were analyzed for tumor mutational burden and APOBEC signatures. For clinical outcomes, a deidentified nationwide (United States–based) BC Clinico-Genomic Database (CGDB) was evaluated with log-rank and Cox models. Patients with hormone receptor–positive (HR+) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2–) BC who received first-line ET and CDK4/6i were included. Eligible patients from Mayo Clinic and Duke University were HR+ HER2– BC with sequencing data between September 2013 and July 2020.

RESULTS

Of 29,833 samples sequenced, 7.9% were APOBEC+ with a high rate in invasive lobular carcinoma (16.7%) and in metastatic tumors (9.7%) relative to locally biopsied BC (4.3%; P < .001). In CGDB, 857 patients with HR+ HER2– BC received ET plus CDK4/6i in the first line. APOBEC+ patients had significantly shorter TTD on ET plus CDK4/6i than APOBEC– patients, 7.8 (95% CI, 4.3 to 14.6) versus 12.4 months (95% CI, 11.2 to 14.1; hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.39; P = .0036). Clinical benefit to immune checkpoint inhibitors was observed in HR+ HER2–, APOBEC+, tumor mutational burden–high patients, with four of nine CGDB patients (TTD 0.3-11.3 months) and four of six patients in Duke/Mayo cohorts (TTD 0.9-40.5 months) with a TTD of ≥ 3 months.

CONCLUSION

APOBEC+ HR+ HER2– patients had shorter TTD on first-line ET plus CDK4/6i relative to APOBEC– patients. Further research is needed to optimize the treatment of APOBEC+ HR+ HER2– BC and to investigate the efficacy of immunotherapeutic strategies in this population.
Pertuzumab Plus Trastuzumab in Patients With Colorectal Cancer WithERBB2Amplification orERBB2/3Mutations: Results From the TAPUR Study
Authors: Gupta Ranju , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Rothe Michael , Garrett-Mayer Elizabeth , Mangat Pam K. , D'Andre Stacy , Ahn Eugene R. , O'Lone Raegan , Halabi Susan , Grantham Gina N. , Schilsky Richard L.
Published: October 2022

PURPOSE

The TAPUR Study is a pragmatic phase II basket trial evaluating antitumor activity of commercially available targeted agents in patients with advanced cancers harboring potentially actionable genomic alterations. Data from two cohorts of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with either ERBB2 amplifications or ERBB2 or ERBB3 (ERBB2/3) mutations treated with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab (P + T) are reported.

METHODS

Eligible patients with measurable CRC were selected for treatment with P + T according to protocol-specified genomic matching rules. Patients had no remaining standard treatment options, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2, and adequate organ function. Simon's two-stage design was used with a primary study end point of disease control (DC; objective response [OR] or stable disease of at least 16 weeks duration [SD16+]). Secondary end points include safety, response duration, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients with CRC with ERBB2 amplification (N = 28) or ERBB2/ 3 mutations (N = 10) were treated with P + T. For the ERBB2 amplification cohort, DC and OR were observed in 54% and 25% of patients, respectively; the median PFS and median OS (95% CIs) were 17.2 (11.1 to 27.4) weeks and 60.0 (32.1 to 102.3) weeks, respectively. For the ERBB2/ 3 mutation cohort, DC and OR were observed in 10% and 0% of patients, respectively; the median PFS and median OS were 9.6 (5.1 to 16.0) weeks and 28.8 (7.6 to 146.3) weeks, respectively. Four of 38 patients experienced grade 3 adverse events or serious adverse events including anemia, infusion reaction, diarrhea, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and decreased lymphocyte count.

CONCLUSION

Although P + T treatment does not appear to have antitumor activity in CRC with ERBB2/3 mutations, this combination has antitumor activity in patients with CRC with ERBB2 amplification and warrants further study.
Association Between Aldosterone and Hypertension Among Patients With Overt and Subclinical Hypercortisolism
Authors: Inoue Kosuke , Horikoshi Hirofumi , Omura Masao , Tsurutani Yuya , Saito Jun , Nishikawa Tetsuo
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Hypertension is one of the most common clinical features of patients with overt and subclinical hypercortisolism. Although previous studies have shown the coexistence of autonomous cortisol and aldosterone secretion, it is unclear whether aldosterone plays a role in hypertension among patients with hypercortisolism. Therefore, we examined the associations of plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) with hypertension among patients with overt and subclinical hypercortisolism.

Methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients with adrenal tumor and serum cortisol levels after 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test >1.8 µg/dL (50 nmol/L). Using multivariable regression models adjusting for baseline characteristics, we investigated the association of PACs with systolic blood pressure and postoperative improvement of hypertension after the adrenalectomy.

Results

Among 89 patients enrolled in this study (median age, 51 years), 21 showed clinical signs of Cushing syndrome (overt hypercortisolism) and 68 did not show clinical presentations (subclinical hypercortisolism). We found that higher PACs were significantly associated with elevated systolic blood pressure among patients with subclinical hypercortisolism (adjusted difference [95% CI] = +0.59 [0.19-0.99], P = 0.008) but not among those with overt hypercortisolism. Among 33 patients with subclinical hypercortisolism and hypertension who underwent adrenalectomy, the postoperative improvement of hypertension was significantly associated with higher PACs at baseline (adjusted risk difference [95% CI] = +1.45% [0.35-2.55], P = 0.01).

Conclusion

These findings indicate that aldosterone may contribute to hypertension among patients with subclinical hypercortisolism. Further multi-institutional and population-based studies are required to validate our findings and examine the clinical effectiveness of the intervention targeting aldosterone for such patients.
Pancreas organoid models of development and regeneration
Authors: Grapin-Botton Anne , Kim Yung Hae
Published: October 2022

Organoids have become one of the fastest progressing and applied models in biological and medical research, and various organoids have now been developed for most of the organs of the body. Here, we review the methods developed to generate pancreas organoids in vitro from embryonic, fetal and adult cells, as well as pluripotent stem cells. We discuss how these systems have been used to learn new aspects of pancreas development, regeneration and disease, as well as their limitations and potential for future discoveries.
IMC10 and LMF1 mediate mitochondrial morphology through mitochondrion–pellicle contact sites in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Oliveira Souza Rodolpho Ornitz , Jacobs Kylie N. , Back Peter S. , Bradley Peter J. , Arrizabalaga Gustavo
Published: October 2022

The single mitochondrion of Toxoplasma gondii is highly dynamic, being predominantly in a peripherally distributed lasso-shape in intracellular parasites and collapsed in extracellular parasites. The peripheral positioning of the mitochondrion is associated with apparent contacts between the mitochondrion membrane and the parasite pellicle. The outer mitochondrial membrane-associated protein LMF1 is critical for the correct positioning of the mitochondrion. Intracellular parasites lacking LMF1 fail to form the lasso-shaped mitochondrion. To identify other proteins that tether the mitochondrion of the parasite to the pellicle, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen for LMF1 interactors. We identified 70 putative interactors localized in different cellular compartments, such as the apical end of the parasite, mitochondrial membrane and the inner membrane complex (IMC), including with the pellicle protein IMC10. Using protein–protein interaction assays, we confirmed the interaction of LMF1 with IMC10. Conditional knockdown of IMC10 does not affect parasite viability but severely affects mitochondrial morphology in intracellular parasites and mitochondrial distribution to the daughter cells during division. In effect, IMC10 knockdown phenocopies disruption of LMF1, suggesting that these two proteins define a novel membrane tether between the mitochondrion and the IMC in Toxoplasma.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Contributions from both the brain and the vascular network guide behavior in the colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri
Authors: Thompson Stuart H. , Anselmi Chiara , Ishizuka Katherine J. , Palmeri Karla J. , Voskoboynik Ayelet
Published: October 2022

We studied the function, development and aging of the adult nervous system in the colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri. Adults, termed zooids, are filter-feeding individuals. Sister zooids group together to form modules, and modules, in turn, are linked by a shared vascular network to form a well-integrated colony. Zooids undergo a weekly cycle of regression and renewal during which mature zooids are replaced by developing buds. The zooid brain matures and degenerates on this 7-day cycle. We used focal extracellular recording and video imaging to explore brain activity in the context of development and degeneration and to examine the contributions of the nervous system and vascular network to behavior. Recordings from the brain revealed complex firing patterns arising both spontaneously and in response to stimulation. Neural activity increases as the brain matures and declines thereafter. Motor behavior follows the identical time course. The behavior of each zooid is guided predominantly by its individual brain, but sister zooids can also exhibit synchronous motor behavior. The vascular network also generates action potentials that are largely independent of neural activity. In addition, the entire vascular network undergoes slow rhythmic contractions that appear to arise from processes endogenous to vascular epithelial cells. We found that neurons in the brain and cells of the vascular network both express multiple genes for voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ ion channels homologous (based on sequence) to mammalian ion channel genes.
Feeling the heat: variation in thermal sensitivity within and among populations
Authors: DeLiberto Amanda N. , Drown Melissa K. , Ehrlich Moritz A. , Oleksiak Marjorie F. , Crawford Douglas L.
Published: October 2022

Physiology defines individual responses to global climate change and species distributions across environments. Physiological responses are driven by temperature on three time scales: acute, acclimatory and evolutionary. Acutely, passive temperature effects often dictate an expected 2-fold increase in metabolic processes for every 10°C change in temperature (Q10). Yet, these acute responses often are mitigated through acclimation within an individual or evolutionary adaptation within populations over time. Natural selection can influence both responses and often reduces interindividual variation towards an optimum. However, this interindividual physiological variation is not well characterized. Here, we quantified responses to a 16°C temperature difference in six physiological traits across nine thermally distinct Fundulus heteroclitus populations. These traits included whole-animal metabolism (WAM), critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and substrate-specific cardiac metabolism measured in approximately 350 individuals. These traits exhibited high variation among both individuals and populations. Thermal sensitivity (Q10) was determined, specifically as the acclimated Q10, in which individuals were both acclimated and assayed at each temperature. The interindividual variation in Q10 was unexpectedly large: ranging from 0.6 to 5.4 for WAM. Thus, with a 16°C difference, metabolic rates were unchanged in some individuals, while in others they were 15-fold higher. Furthermore, a significant portion of variation was related to habitat temperature. Warmer populations had a significantly lower Q10 for WAM and CTmax after acclimation. These data suggest that individual variation in thermal sensitivity reflects different physiological strategies to respond to temperature variation, providing many different adaptive responses to changing environments.
Measurements of body temperature and oxidative stress reveal differential costs associated with humoral immune function in a passerine bird
Authors: Bryla Amadeusz , Zagkle Elisavet , Sadowska Edyta T. , Cichoń Mariusz , Bauchinger Ulf
Published: October 2022

Eco-immunology considers resistance to antigens a costly trait for an organism, but actual quantification of such costs is not straightforward. Costs of the immune response are visible in impaired coloration and reduced growth or reproductive success. Activation of the humoral immune response is a slow, complex and long-lasting process, which makes the quantification of its energetic cost a potential losing game. We implemented near-continuous measurements of body temperature in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) as a proxy for the energetic cost, with a particular focus during activation of the humoral immune response until the peak of antibody release several days later. At the peak of the antibody release we additionally measured oxygen consumption (open-flow respirometry) and markers of oxidative stress (dROMs, OXY). Birds with an activated immune response maintained a higher night-time body temperature during the first 4 nights after an immune challenge in comparison to controls, implying increased night-time energy use. At peak antibody production, we did not find differences in night-time body temperature and oxygen consumption but observed differentiated results for oxygen consumption during the day. Immune-challenged females had significantly higher oxygen consumption compared with other groups. Moreover, we found that activation of the humoral immune response increases oxidative damage, a potential cost of maintaining the higher night-time body temperature that is crucial at the early stage of the immune response. The costs generated by the immune system appear to consist of two components – energetic and non-energetic – and these appear to be separated in time.
Ferroptosis, a key to unravel the enigma of the FLASH effect?
Authors: Vilaplana-Lopera Nuria , Abu-Halawa Ammar , Walker Ellie , Kim Jiyoung , Moon Eui Jung
Published: October 2022

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death dependent on iron and lipid peroxides. It has been recently described to have a role on cell death after radiation (RT) through a DNA damage independent mechanism. While the modification of ferroptosis pathways is suggested to enhance radiosensitisation, normal tissue toxicity may limit the combined treatment of RT and ferroptosis inducers. FLASH RT is given at ultra-high dose rates to reduce normal tissue toxicities, which contributes to the RT effect on the tumour. Although several hypotheses including oxygen depletion, reduced ROS, and immune responses are suggested to explain the FLASH effect, the underlying mechanisms of normal tissue sparing effects are still not well understood. Previous studies highlighting the inverse effect of RT dose rates and lipid peroxidation, along with the hypothesis by Spitz et al, suggest that oxygen depletion from the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation and differences in labile pool between normal and tumour tissues may be related to the normal tissue sparing effect of FLASH. Therefore, the role of ferroptosis in ultra-high dose rate FLASH RT needs to be investigated further as it might be the key to increase the therapeutic window of FLASH RT.
Observations on Selected Aspects of Liu Kang’s Painting Practice
Authors: Lizun Damian , Rogóż Jarosław
Published: October 2022

This article gathers, for the first time, some intriguing technical features of Liu Kang’s painting practice, which spans seven decades. These features encompass retouching, alteration as well as the painting over of rejected compositions and painting on the reverse sides of earlier artworks. As Liu Kang (1 91 1–2004) did not discuss the technical details of his artistic process, an exploration of these aspects of the artist’s expression helps us understand the motivation behind his unconventional decisions. The paint layers were characterised through imaging methods like visible light (VIS), ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF), near-infrared (NIR), reflectance transformation imaging (RTI), digital optical microscopy (DOM) and X-ray radiography (XRR). The technical analyses were additionally supplemented with archival sources. The results showed that some aspects of the artist’s painting practice may distort the provenance of the paintings, impact dating, visual interpretation of his painting technique and style, as well as future conservation and display decisions. The presented case studies discuss the influence of Liu Kang’s unconventional painting approaches on the perception and interpretation of his artworks. Additionally, some hidden alterations and entirely new compositions were revealed for the first time and presented here, adding to growing knowledge about the artist’s painting technique. Moreover, universal aesthetical and ethical considerations were discussed in the context of the conservation and display approach to the artist’s retouching work and double-sided paintings. Besides, this research promotes a need for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of Liu Kang’s painting practice and coherent guidelines to ensure proper presentation of his artworks and to prevent misinterpretation of his technique and artistic outcomes.
Born in Bradford Age of Wonder cohort: A protocol for qualitative longitudinal research
Authors: Dogra Sufyan Abid , Lightfoot Kate , Kerr Rosslyn , Hall Jennifer , Joseph Olivia , Siddig Nasiba , Nutting Hannah , Shire Katy A. , Roberts Helen , Small Neil , McEachan Rosemary R.C. , Wright John
Published: October 2022

Born in Bradford (BiB) has followed the lives of 13,776 children born in the district between 2007 and 2011. Children in the birth cohort are now entering adolescence, and the next phase of the research - Age of Wonder (AoW) - will be a whole city cohort capturing the experiences of 30,000 adolescents progressing into young adulthood. This protocol focuses on one component of the AoW programme: qualitative longitudinal research (QLR). The study will gather in depth and detailed accounts from a sub-sample of 100 young people across four major research priorities: personal life; social and community life; growing up with difference, and growing up in Bradford. As well as using traditional qualitative methods such as interviews, focus group discussions, and ethnography, we are adopting innovative creative methods including expressions through art, activism, online and digital content, portraits, and critical events. The process of engaging in and co-producing QLR potentially provides a route to empowering young people to shape the narrative of their own lives as well as informing intervention development.
Strategic management
Authors: Stepanova Galina , Biryukov Vladimir , Livson Mayya , Chvanov Robert , Borisova Svetlana
Published: October 2022

The textbook discusses the theoretical, methodological and practical aspects of strategic management in the current interpretation of the XXI century. The vision of the strategic process as proactive management in conditions of a high level of complexity of the external environment is presented. The tools of strategic management, the technology of strategic analysis, the procedure for the development and implementation of the strategy, the principles of management of strategic business units are considered. To consolidate knowledge, self-control questions, practical tasks and test simulators are provided at the end of each chapter.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For students of the direction of training 38.03.02 "Management", graduate students, researchers, specialists.
O andragogu
Authors: Kargul Józef
Published: October 2022

Ministerstwo Pracy i Polityki Społecznej na potrzeby rynku pracy zleca przygotowanie informacji o poszczególnych zawodach. W ar- tykule przedstawiam uwagi, jakie mi się nasunęły po przestudiowaniu publikacji INFORMACJA O ZAWODZIE Andragog (235101), która powstała w ramach projektu Rozwijanie, uzupełnianie i aktualizacja informacji o zawodach oraz jej upowszechnianie za pomocą nowoczesnych narzędzi komunikacji – INFODORADCA+, a została współfinansowana ze środków Unii Europejskiej w ramach Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego (zob. strona internetowa projektu INFODORADCA+. Pobrane z: http://www.infodorad- ca.edu.pl/pdf/235101_Andragog.pdf (Dostęp: 21.08.2021). W tym opracowaniu – zauważyłem wiele uchybień, które szczegółowo przedstawiam w tekście pod powyższym tytułem.
Flexible and efficient fabrication of a terahertz absorber by single-step laser direct writing
Authors: Cui Enkang , Wan Zehong , Ke Changjun , Wu Chao , Wang Du , Lei Cheng
Published: October 2022

Laser direct writing (LDW) is a promising candidate for the fabrication of all-dielectric THz absorbers for its high flexibility and material compatibility. However, multi-step processing or multi-layer materials are required to compensate for the nonideal features of LDW to realize good absorption performance. To further explore the potential of LDW in flexible and cost-effective THz absorber fabrication, in this work, we demonstrate a design method of THz absorbers fully considering and utilizing the characteristics of laser processing. Specifically, we first numerically analyze that by properly combining basic structures processed by single-step LDW, good and adjustable absorption performance can be achieved on a single-layer substrate. Then we experimentally fabricate THz absorbers by processing periodic composite structures, which are combined by grooves and circular holes, on single-layer doped silicon using LDW. Experimental results show that our method can fabricate THz absorbers at a speed of 3.3 mm2/min with an absorptivity above 90% over a broadband of 1.8-3 THz. Our method provides a promising solution for the flexible and efficient fabrication of all-dielectric broadband THz absorbers.
Nondestructive analysis of rolling contact fatigue cracks using induced scanning thermography
Authors: Zhang Xiang , Peng Jianping , Zhang Qian , Tian Kang , Tang Siying , Liang Xiao , Wang Tianxiang , Gao Xiaorong
Published: October 2022

Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) produced by wheel-rail interaction is now considered to be a critical factor that causes failure. Throughout this work, induced scanning thermography (IST) for detecting RCF defects at different depths is investigated. The original thermal sequences could not utilize the features at the heat dissipation stage; thus, a data reconstruction method, including principal component analysis (PCA) and Tucker factorization, was employed to extract the spatial and time patterns. In addition, detectability was evaluated across a range of speed studies. The Tucker-PCA combination algorithms obtained defects with improved quality, showing a clear boundary over the velocity range of 1-4km/h, which dramatically suppressed background noise. A unique gradient response characteristic in the cooling phase was summarized and utilized through experimental verification in order to recognize defect width.
Detection band expansion by independently tunable double resonances in a long-wavelength dual-color QWIP
Authors: Dai Xu , Chu Zeshi , Deng Jie , Li Fangzhe , Zhou Jing , Xiong Dayuan , Zhou Xiaohao , Chen Xiaoshuang , Li Ning , Li Zhifeng , Lu Wei , Shen Xuechu
Published: October 2022

Multi-resonance light coupling management is a promising way to expand the operating spectral ranges of optoelectronic devices. The classical strategies are either lack of independent tunability for each resonance or involved with complex fabrication. Here, we propose a new scheme for expanding the operating spectral range of an optoelectronic device through a dual-color active material integrated with a simple resonant waveguide structure. The TM waveguide mode and the SPP mode of the resonant waveguide structure are regulated to match the two active regions of the dual-color material both spectrally and spatially. Applying this scheme to a long-wavelength infrared quantum well photodetector, the absorption efficiencies at the two peak detection wavelengths of the dual-color quantum wells are both enhanced by more than 10 times compared with the case of a standard 45° edge facet coupled device with the same detection material. The simple light coupling structure is easy to accomplish and compatible with focal plane arrays. For thermal radiation detection, the absorption efficiency of the 300 K blackbody radiation by our dual-color detector is 83.8% higher than that by a single-color detector with the optimized structural parameters. Moreover, either polarization sensitive or polarization insensitive detection could be achieved in this dual-color infrared quantum well photodetector by using anisotropic or isotropic gratings.
Quantum cascade lasers monolithically integrated on germanium
Authors: Kinjalk K. , Gilbert A. , Remis A. , Loghmari Z. , Cerutti L. , Patriarche G. , Bahriz M. , Teissier R. , Baranov A. N. , Rodriguez J. B. , Tournié E.
Published: October 2022

Silicon (Si) photonics can have a major impact on the development of mid-IR photonics by leveraging on the reliable and high-volume fabrication technologies already developed for microelectronic integrated circuits. Germanium (Ge), already used in Si photonics, is a prime candidate to extend the operating wavelength of Group IV-based photonic integrated circuits beyond 8 µm, and potentially up to 15 µm. High performance quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) and interband cascade lasers grown on Si have been demonstrated, whereas no QCLs monolithically integrated on Ge have been reported yet. In this work, we present InAs-based QCLs directly grown on Ge by molecular beam epitaxy. The lasers emitting near 14 µm exhibited threshold current densities as low as 0.8-0.85 kA/cm2 at room temperature.