bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chimeric antigen receptor engineered natural killer cells for cancer therapy
Authors: Zhang Yalan , Zhou Weilin , Yang Jiangping , Yang Jinrong , Wang Wei
Published: August 2023

Natural killer (NK) cells, a unique component of the innate immune system, are inherent killers of stressed and transformed cells. Based on their potent capacity to kill cancer cells and good tolerance of healthy cells, NK cells have been successfully employed in adoptive cell therapy to treat cancer patients. In recent years, the clinical success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells has proven the vast potential of gene-manipulated immune cells as the main force to fight cancer. Following the lessons learned from mature gene-transfer technologies and advanced strategies in CAR-T therapy, NK cells have been rapidly explored as a promising candidate for CAR-based therapy. An exponentially growing number of studies have employed multiple sources of CAR-NK cells to target a wide range of cancer-related antigens, showing remarkable outcomes and encouraging safety profiles. Clinical trials of CAR-NK cells have also shown their impressive therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of hematological tumors, but CAR-NK cell therapy for solid tumors is still in the initial stages. In this review, we present the favorable profile of NK cells as a potential platform for CAR-based engineering and then summarize the outcomes and strategies of CAR-NK therapies in up-to-date preclinical and clinical investigations. Finally, we evaluate the challenges remaining in CAR-NK therapy and describe existing strategies that can assist us in devising future prospective solutions.
Petrophysical interpretation of logging-while-drilling borehole measurements in the presence of electrical anisotropy, mud-filtrate invasion, noise, and well deviation effects
Authors: Bennis Mohamed , Torres-Verdín Carlos
Published: August 2023

Petrophysical interpretation of logging-while-drilling (LWD) borehole measurements in the presence of electrical anisotropy, mud-filtrate invasion, noise, and well deviation effects remains a challenge in formation evaluation. In high-angle and horizontal (HAHZ) wells penetrating electrically anisotropic sandstones, phase and attenuation apparent resistivity logs often exhibit values larger than resistivity parallel to bedding planes. Consequently, traditional interpretation methods often fail to accurately estimate hydrocarbon saturation when using only the long-spacing phase apparent resistivity log (P40H) in petrophysical calculations. We implement two approaches (analytical and Bayesian) to estimate horizontal and vertical resistivities from apparent resistivity measurements. The first analytical approach is based on the numerical simulation of LWD resistivity measurements using synthetic models under various conditions of electrical anisotropy and well inclination to derive analytical models. The relative error of analytical approximations is less than 6%. In the presence of measurement noise and shoulder-bed effects, we implement a Bayesian method for well-log inversion and uncertainty quantification. The relative error of Bayesian inversion is less than 2%. Estimates of horizontal and vertical resistivities then can be used for petrophysical analysis. A challenging set of synthetic and field examples of HAHZ wells penetrating electrically anisotropic formations is selected for examination and verification of the new methods. For radial lengths of invasion less than 20 cm (8 in), sensitivity analysis indicates that the effects of conductive mud-filtrate invasion on long-spacing resistivity logs are negligible. The long-spacing phase (P40H) and attenuation (A40H) apparent resistivities are used to estimate horizontal and vertical resistivities. In the field examples under study, electrical anisotropy is caused by intercalated laminations of coarse- and fine-grained sandstones; the volumetric concentration of shale is negligible. Considering that Archie’s parameters are direction dependent, sensitivity analysis indicates that the effective value of the saturation exponent parallel to bedding planes is less sensitive to the volumetric concentration of fine-grained sandstone layers compared with the saturation exponent perpendicular to bedding planes. Thus, water saturation of grain-laminated sandstones in HAHZ wells can be estimated using horizontal resistivity with Archie’s parameters that are consistent with petrophysical interpretations performed in vertical wells. Estimates of water saturation in the field examples using horizontal resistivity agree with saturation-height models. Compared with conventional interpretation methods that use P40H as the formation resistivity, the new approach improved the estimation of hydrocarbon saturation by 10%.
Challenging Outlook of Caring for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer in Brazil: Results of a Nationwide Survey
Authors: Kazzi Ana I.M. , Diniz Paulo H.C. , Mano Max , Nogueira-Rodrigues Angélica
Published: August 2023

PURPOSE

The global burden of cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) emerges as a major public health issue, in which remarkable challenges and unmet needs are evident. Because of sociodemographic inequalities, initiatives to change this scenario need to be expanded globally, particularly to low-middle–income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to gain information about the standards of AYA cancer care in Brazil from the physician's perspective.

METHODS

Physicians involved in AYA cancer care were invited to answer a national online survey. The questions covered several aspects from health care's demographics to specialized services availability, such as fertility and genetic counseling. The availability of a specialized AYA cancer care facility was the primary study end point, and the findings were stratified by region and treatment setting (public v private).

RESULTS

Among the physicians who responded (N = 249), 90% reported no access to a specialized AYA service. Only 20% had access to a fertility specialist, and 30% to a survivorship program in their institutions. Even external referrals to medical specialties were challenging, with 24% of the physicians reporting challenges. Despite the potential cardiotoxicity related to treatments, 43% of the respondents reported to refer patients for cardio-oncologists hardly ever. Furthermore, 36% of physicians had never enrolled AYA patients into clinical trials and 42% had never ordered a genetic test. Lack of specialized human resources was particularly evident in Northern Brazil, and delays in cancer diagnoses were frequent.

CONCLUSION

This first study addresses standards of AYA cancer care across Brazil. Importantly, the data disclose significant infrastructural gaps, implying that major investments in training and infrastructure are urgently needed. These data may mirror other LMICs reality.
“The Most Profound Confirmation of the Existence of a Dissonance”: Émile Boutroux, Georg Simmel, and Lukács’s Theory of the Novel, with an Outlook to History and Class Consciousness
Authors: Campe Rüdiger
Published: August 2023

Georg Lukács’s argument of form and formation is traced from The Theory of the Novel to History and Class Consciousness, especially “Reification and the Consciousness of the Proletariat.” The concept of form in The Theory of the Novel is compared to the contemporary philosophy of science by Émile Boutroux’s and Georg Simmel’s lectures on Kant and, in particular, Kantian aesthetics. Form and formation are in the scientific and in the aesthetic context developed against the backdrop of the deficit or even lack of formal organization and, consequently, as a necessary yet contingent intervention. This understanding of form characterizes, for Lukács, the modern novel as well as the capitalist economic and social system. Against Hegel’s teleology of the spirit but consistent with Marx, the modernity of the novel and of capitalism, respectively, appears in Lukács thus as structurally defining in and of history.
Lukács’s Theory of Metabolism as a Foundation of Ecosocialist Realism
Authors: Saito Kohei
Published: August 2023

The Anthropocene is characterized by the definitive failure of the Promethean dream of capitalism about the absolute domination over nature. As a response to the deepening of global ecological crisis, new philosophical discussions have emerged that pivot around the ontological relationship between humans and nature in the Anthropocene. In this context, Marxian ecology that draws upon Marx’s concept of “metabolic rift” is often accused of its outdated “Cartesian dualism” of Society and Nature. Against “hybridism” and “monism,” which have become increasingly dominant in critical theory of nature thanks to Bruno Latour and Noel Castree, this article examines the legacy of Lukács’s theory of “metabolism” in order to defend the contemporary validity of Marxian ecology. Although Lukács is also often criticized for his exclusion of nature from his dialectical analysis of society in History and Class Consciousness, this article shows that there is nothing wrong with categorically separating society and nature. A careful analysis of Lukács’s little-known manuscript Tailism and the Dialectic demonstrates that “ontological monism” and “methodological dualism” are unique to his historical materialism. Based on this distinction, Lukács convincingly argues that the one-sided monist understanding of the social and the natural falls into fetishism, and this is exactly why his “methodological dualism” is essential to any ecosocialist critique of capitalism.
Visualization of the biphasic calcium wave during fertilization in Caenorhabditis elegans using a genetically encoded calcium indicator
Authors: Toperzer Katie M. , Brennan Savannah J. , Carroll David J. , Guisbert Eric A. , Kim Guisbert Karen S.
Published: August 2023

Fertilization is a critical step in development, yet internal fertilization events are notoriously difficult to visualize. Taking advantage of the calcium response that is a hallmark of sperm-egg fusion, we adapted the genetically encoded calcium indicator jGCaMP7s to visualize the moment of fertilization in Caenorhabditis elegans using fluorescence. We termed this tool the ‘CaFE’ reporter, for ‘calcium during fertilization in C. elegans’. The CaFE reporter produced a robust signal that recapitulated the previously reported, biphasic nature of the calcium wave and had no significant deleterious effects on worm physiology or fecundity. Calcium waves were not observed at the restrictive temperature in the spe-9(hc88) strain, in which sperm can still trigger meiotic maturation but can no longer fuse with the oocyte. Demonstrating the utility of the CaFE reporter, we analyzed polyspermy induced by inhibition of egg-3 via RNAi and observed late calcium waves in the uterus. This finding provides support to the idea that calcium release is not restricted to the first sperm fusion event during polyspermy. Establishment of the CaFE reporter in the genetically tractable and optically transparent worm provides a powerful tool to dissect the oocyte-to-embryo transition inside a living animal.
Plyometric Exercises: Optimizing the Transfer of Training Gains to Sport Performance
Authors: Duchateau Jacques , Amiridis Ioannis G.
Published: August 2023

Rapid force production and its transmission to the skeleton are important factors in movements that involve the stretch-shortening cycle. Plyometric exercises are known to augment this cycle and thereby improve the neuromechanical function of the muscle. However, the training exercises that maximize translation of these gains to sports performance are not well defined. We discuss ways to improve this transfer.
Estonian, Russian and Samizdat Identity: Arno Tsart and Elena Shvarts
Authors: Rossi Miriam
Published: August 2023

The article explores a case of literary mystification by Elena Shvarts that occurred in samizdat during the eighties, featuring a fictitious Estonian poet. Aware of the relevance that translation played in the literary samizdat of Leningrad during the eighties, the investigation focuses on the similarities between the poetess’ hoax and the concept of pseudo-translation, analysing the reasons for and outcomes of her endeavour in terms of identity research. Engaging with Shvarts’ verses, Sergei Stratanovsky’s account of the episode and the position that Estonia played in the samizdat imagined world, the article explores the role of Shvarts/Tsart’s mystification in relation to the poetess and her readership.
An Attempt to Account for Distributed Cognition in Translating the Poetry of Juhan Viiding
Authors: McIlfatrick-Ksenofontov Miriam
Published: August 2023

This article continues the author’s research into the creative process of writing and translating poetry. It is preparatory work for translating the poetry of one of Estonia’s most widely read and appreciated poets, Juhan Viiding (1948–1995), who wrote under the pseudonym Jüri Üdi until 1978. It proposes that an understanding of Viiding’s work is enhanced when viewed in the wider human perspective of distributed cognition, as elaborated by neuroanthropologist Merlin Donald. In contrast to traditional approaches that look to socio-historical background to contextualise literature and translation research, the distributed cognition model places greater emphasis on the creative processes in culture that take place outside individual minds and focuses less on the capacities and talents of the author as the unique source of creativity. This approach is helpful for the translator of Viiding’s poetry who aspires to produce translated poems that do in another language what the original poems do in their language, for it entails thinking through language to access the working of the individual and the collective minds in the text. The significant role that social connections and public reception play in Viiding’s creative work is illustrated by an essay by Elo Viiding, a poet and Juhan Viiding’s daughter, in which she describes nine types of reader of Juhan Viiding’s poetry, each of which creates their own distinct ‘Juhan Viiding’. Drawing on poet and literary critic Hasso Krull’s study of Viiding’s poetry, Elo Viiding analyses Juhan Viiding’s method of negation as essential to his creative work and engagement with his audience. In this article the author lays theoretical groundwork for the translation of Juhan Viiding’s poetry into English.
Heart to Heart: The Power of Lyrical Bonding in Romantic Nationalism
Authors: Leerssen Joep
Published: August 2023

In nineteenth-century nation-building, the textual genres investigated by researchers are usually long-distance, mediated ones, such as journalism and the novel. This article attempts to assess the function of a much more intimate literary genre, the lyrical, in that process. Lyricism was a central poetical element in Romanticism; its emotive, affect-centered mode was seen as specifically “immediate”, non-mediatized and deeply personal (and therefore non-political). How could this register aid the formation of self-defining national communities? The article suggests a special role for female poets and a privileged position of the lyrical in the interplay between print-disseminated literature and oral-performative literature, in shaping the nation as an “emotive community”.
The Transition from Song to Poetry in Latvian Literature in the Second Half of the 19th Century
Authors: Grudule Māra
Published: August 2023

The Latvian nation is a singing nation. The Singing Revolution and similar song- and singing-related references are traditionally associated with the image of Latvians. The origins of written Latvian are also related to song: the oldest known Christian song in Latvian, dating from 1530, is also one of the oldest examples of Latvian-language text.

In the second half of the 18th century, as a result of transferring from a German to a Latvian cultural space, a new genre of song was created by the German pastor Gotthard Friedrich Stender, the secular, didactic and sentimental ziņģe (a term coined from the German verb singen, ‘to sing’). As the level of education among Latvians was low and most information spread by word of mouth, the German pastors and the first generation of Latvian poets made use of ziņges as an informative tool. Around the middle of the 19th century, the Latvian national revival began. Without denying the importance of Latvian folk songs in the creation of national culture, the main focus of this article is on the secular ziņģes that were adopted from the German literary tradition, which up until the second half of the 19th century were a favourite tool for entertainment (singing) and spreading information orally. As the level of literacy among Latvians rose, the ziņģes receded to the periphery of the literary landscape, paving the way for a new concept for denoting a rhythmic text that was for the first time not melody-bound: dzeja, or ‘poetry’. The emergence of the new concept in 1869, which was related to the Latvian national revival and the formation of a national literary culture, at the same time also marked a turning point from orality to literacy in Latvian society.
The Role of Lyrics in Estonian Literature: Three Exemplary Cases
Authors: Niinre Anneli
Published: August 2023

Song lyrics are usually positioned in the margins of literature and tend not to be in the first line when writers and their works are discussed. There have been debates about whether to consider lyrics as literature and/ or ‘real poetry’. The article examines three cases in Estonian literature where melodised poetic texts have played a significant role in Estonian culture and are considered to be core texts: “Mu isamaa on minu arm” (My Fatherland is My Love) by Lydia Koidula, songs from the feature film Viimne reliikvia (The Last Relic), lyrics written by Paul-Eerik Rummo, and “Laul Põhjamaast” (“Song of the Northern Land”), lyrics by Enn Vetemaa. These also represent three ways a text can function: “Mu isamaa on minu arm” was first written and published as a poem and later set to music; The Last Relic represents a case where texts were initially written as lyrics and later published in a collection of poems; “Song of the Northern Land”, by Enn Vetemaa, was meant to be and has remained a song and has not been included in poetry collections.
Romantic Poets in Epic Form of Nordic Countries and Estonia’s Classical Dialect Poetry
Authors: Pilter Lauri
Published: August 2023

The recently awakened academic interest in the multilingual character of the written culture of the Baltic region in more distant times calls for fresh attention to and reassessment of the poetry of the ethnic minorities that have inhabited the territory of Estonia. One such minority was the Estonian Swedes who dwelt in western Estonia up to 1944. This paper mainly focuses on the lifecourse, as reflected in his poems, of Estonian Swedish native skald Mats Ekman, who wrote in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since his work and the whole topic of Estonian Swedish culture are largely unknown in Estonia and everywhere else, except for the direct descendants of that minority, the paper offers the necessary background information, while also applying the method of close reading to a few of the author’s poems in the original Swedish dialect and in English. Parallels are drawn with the major classical authors of neighbouring Nordic countries, such as Esaias Tegnér of Sweden and Aleksis Kivi of Finland, authors who can be seen as models not only for Ekman, but also for a number of significant ethnic Estonian poets who wrote in Estonian, such as Juhan Liiv and Ernst Enno.
Juhan Liiv’s Comprehension of Poetry
Authors: Kirs Tanar
Published: August 2023

Juhan Liiv (1864–1913) is considered to be the first important innovator of Estonian poetry. So far, it has been underlined in Estonian culture that Liiv lacked any ties with world literature and thus world literature had no role to play in the birth of the innovation of Estonian poetry. In this article, I am showing that Liiv’s comprehension of poetry is closely tied to German poetic culture. These connections arise from Liiv’s essays, which have not been studied so far. I analyse Liiv’s essay Ääremärkused (Marginalia) and formulate the main theses in his comprehension of poetry.
Making a Smooth Exit? Menthol Bans and Cigarette Sales in Massachusetts
Authors: Goli Ali , Mummalaneni Simha , Chintagunta Pradeep K.
Published: August 2023

Bans on menthol cigarettes are ineffective if consumers can bypass them. Taxes might be better because they reduce smoking and generate more tax revenue.
Fair Trade factory farms: a false solution to a real problem
Authors: Canning Anna
Published: August 2023

The dairy industry is in crisis in countries throughout the world. Rising industrialization in the sector coupled with corporate consolidation is harming small-scale farmers. Indeed, low milk prices and control over regional processing benefits processors and brands, who gain profits even as farmers and farmworkers suffer.

Around the globe, various initiatives have endeavoured to address the issues facing dairy production through a Fair Trade lens. This article briefly surveys these initiatives and then examines in depth a new ‘Fair Trade dairy’ label recently released by Fair Trade USA that has been developed and piloted with Chobani and Dairy Farmers of America.

This article examines the particulars of that standard as well as posing the question whether the values and principles of Fair Trade are even applicable to industrial animal agriculture.
The role of emotional imagery exposure on Fair Trade consumption and on compassion
Authors: Musa Shireen
Published: August 2023

This conceptual article posits the effect of emotional imagery exposure on Fair Trade consumption and on compassion. The paper theorizes that as consumers are exposed to greater levels of compassionate emotional imagery exposure (CEIE), they are more inclined to consume Fair Trade products and posits the moderator effect of compassion for oneself, others and the environment (COOE), as an emotion compatible with Fair Trade consumption. In addition, this paper theorizes the effect of CEIE on COOE. For example, researchers may determine if certain images and text evoke the emotion of compassion. Moreover, the paper provides suggestions for scholars to conduct empirical studies based on the developed theories and literature review.
U.S. Semiconductor Policy and South Korea: A Delicate Balancing Act between National Priorities and International Collaboration
Authors: Lee Seong-Hyon
Published: August 2023

executive summary: This article provides insights on how U.S. semiconductor policy is reported, discussed, and perceived in the South Korean public sphere and proposes potential actions for Washington and Seoul as allies. main argumentAlthough not widely known in Washington, the U.S. faces accusations of pursuing "economic nationalism" at the expense of its allies. There are growing perceptions in South Korea that the U.S. is prioritizing its own self-interests while concurrently emphasizing unity among its allies against China. This view has led to grievances about U.S. strategy, particularly in relation to the semiconductor sector and supply chains—sensitive topics in Northeast Asia's trade-focused economies. While the U.S. has advocated for an alliancecentered reorganization of semiconductor supply chains, concerns persist that it is ultimately pursuing semiconductor hegemony. Increasing public discontent in South Korea regarding U.S. semiconductor and technology policies serves as an illustrative example and could develop into a contentious issue for the broader alliance between the two countries unless handled with care and attention to South Korea's concerns. While Washington may disregard South Korean public sentiment as inconsequential, in South Korea's vibrant and vocal democracy, public opinion can quickly shift to the extremes and significantly influence Seoul's policy choices. To maintain a strong alliance with South Korea and effectively advance its policy regarding China, the U.S. must closely monitor South Korean public opinion and confront these concerns. policy implications
• Economic sacrifices made by allies will not benefit U.S. national interests and may lead to disenchantment and resentment on the part of these partners. It is imperative that the U.S. engage in dialogue with its allies to enhance economic collaboration and explore new market opportunities. • The public uproar observed so far in South Korea's young democracy has the potential to suddenly turn volatile. Consequently, preventive public diplomacy by Washington can play a crucial role in managing the semiconductor issue. • A technology alliance commits countries to jointly secure their national interests; thus, mutual trust and a shared vision for the future are essential.
A Bishop for Virginia in 1672 Revisited
Authors: Gibson William
Published: August 2023

abstract: This note revisits a 2009 essay by William Gibson on a proposal to appoint an Anglican bishop for Virginia in 1672. The essay indicated how advanced the planning for the project was and gave information from an archival source of a meeting of five bishops to plan the funding and powers of the bishop. What was not clear was why the project failed. This note, using manuscripts from the Huntington Library, uses letters written in the mid-eighteenth century to explain the reasons for the failure of the project. Principal among these was the distraction of one of the major proposers of the plan, Alexander Murray, by Irish entanglements.
Parental Refusals of Blood Transfusions from COVID-19 Vaccinated Donors for Children Needing Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Kim Daniel H. , Berkman Emily , Clark Jonna D. , Saifee Nabiha H. , Diekema Douglas S. , Lewis-Newby Mithya
Published: August 2023

There is a growing trend of refusal of blood transfusions from COVID-19 vaccinated donors. We highlight three cases where parents have refused blood transfusions from COVID-19 vaccinated donors on behalf of their children in the setting of congenital cardiac surgery. These families have also requested accommodations such as explicit identification of blood from COVID-19 vaccinated donors, directed donation from a COVID19 unvaccinated family member, or use of a non-standard blood supplier. We address the ethical challenges posed by these issues. We describe the current screening and safety processes for standard blood donation and explore the importance of donor anonymity and challenges with directed donation and non-standard blood suppliers. We present an ethical framework using the Best Interest Standard, the Zone of Parental Discretion, and the Harm Principle when considering these refusals. Finally, we provide recommendations for how to approach these requests as they potentially become more commonplace in pediatrics.
Atomville: Architects, Planners, and How to Survive the Bomb
Authors: Molella Arthur , Kargon Robert
Published: August 2023

abstract: In the post-Hiroshima era, atomic cities—designed to survive a nuclear attack—remain in the science fiction realm. Yet Hungarian émigré Paul Laszlo, a successful architect in Southern California suburbia, had a utopian vision for a futuristic, paradoxically luxurious atomic city he called "Atomville," never built but nonetheless seriously proposed. Laszlo was one of the very few architects known to venture into atomic survival on this scale. This article focuses on why the architectural profession for the most part ignored the issues raised by the atomic bomb, and on Laszlo's role as an outlier. It also deals with the genesis of Atomville and its place among the many unrealized ideas put forward in the 1940s and 1950s for urban survival, including underground buildings, urban dispersal, linear cities, and cluster cities.
Intraoperative laparoscopic photoacoustic image guidance system in the da Vinci surgical system
Authors: Gao Shang , Wang Yang , Ma Xihan , Zhou Haoying , Jiang Yiwei , Yang Kehan , Lu Liang , Wang Shiyue , Nephew Benjamin C. , Fichera Loris , Fischer Gregory S. , Zhang Haichong K.
Published: August 2023

This paper describes a framework allowing intraoperative photoacoustic (PA) imaging integrated into minimally invasive surgical systems. PA is an emerging imaging modality that combines the high penetration of ultrasound (US) imaging with high optical contrast. With PA imaging, a surgical robot can provide intraoperative neurovascular guidance to the operating physician, alerting them of the presence of vital substrate anatomy invisible to the naked eye, preventing complications such as hemorrhage and paralysis. Our proposed framework is designed to work with the da Vinci surgical system: real-time PA images produced by the framework are superimposed on the endoscopic video feed with an augmented reality overlay, thus enabling intuitive three-dimensional localization of critical anatomy. To evaluate the accuracy of the proposed framework, we first conducted experimental studies in a phantom with known geometry, which revealed a volumetric reconstruction error of 1.20 ± 0.71 mm. We also conducted an ex vivo study by embedding blood-filled tubes into chicken breast, demonstrating the successful real-time PA-augmented vessel visualization onto the endoscopic view. These results suggest that the proposed framework could provide anatomical and functional feedback to surgeons and it has the potential to be incorporated into robot-assisted minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Distributed intelligence for pervasive optical network telemetry
Authors: Velasco Luis , González Pol , Ruiz Marc
Published: August 2023

Optical network automation and failure management require measuring the status and the performance of the different network devices to anticipate any degradation and ensure the quality of the provided services, i.e., optical connectivity. Such pervasive network telemetry entails collecting large amounts of measurements and events from different sources and with very fine granularity, which given the amount and variety of telemetry sources and the size of each measurement and event, imposes requirements that are hard to achieve without large investments. In this paper, we analyze the main limitations of telemetry architectures relying exclusively on centralized systems for data analysis and propose an architecture with distributed intelligence. Data aggregation techniques, especially conceived for optical network telemetry, are presented with the objective of reducing data dimensionality. Illustrative results from our experimental telemetry system reveal a reduction of 3 orders of magnitude in terms of total data volume without introducing significant error and processing delay and, more importantly, helping network automation algorithms to identify meaningful changes in the network status.
Virtual reality images created in back and front of a display
Authors: Ogata Yoichi , Kolchiba Mykyta
Published: August 2023

To better investigate the biological mechanism of microorganisms, we developed a novel virtual reality (VR) microscope which incorporates a head-mounted display (HMD) that creates VR images with a digital microscope. This type of VR microscope can be used with any type of optical microscope. The fabricated microscope is quite different from a common bi-focal device, and can create VR images on the back and front of the display. If the VR images are displayed with object (OBJ) images, they are observable in [2 x 2] (back and front VR images and OBJ images; 2x2=4 images). This feature can provide important information on microscopic OBJs, which can be employed in 3D biological analysis. Furthermore, if a laser light source is added to this microscope, the images can be observed in [3 x 2] (back and front laser VR images, VR images, and OBJ images; 3x2=6 images). The lasers would also enable optical trapping and tracking, leading to improved biological analysis.
Bipartite communication game-based empirical demonstration of non-trivial and universal non-contextuality without unphysical idealizations
Authors: Gu Yong-jian , Fan Xuan , Xiao Ya
Published: August 2023

Universal contextuality is the leading notion of non-classicality even for single systems, showing its advantage as a more general quantum correlation than Bell non-locality, as well as preparation contextuality. However, a loophole-free experimental demonstration of universal contextuality at least requires that both operational inequivalence and compatibility loopholes are closed, which have never been simultaneously achieved to date.
In our work, we experimentally test universal contextuality through (3,3) and (4,3) communication games, simultaneously restoring operational equivalence and circumventing the compatibility loophole.
Our result exhibits the violation of universal non-contextuality bound by 97 standard deviations in (3,3) scenario, and 107 deviations in (4,3) scenario. Notably there are states which exhibit locality but reveal universal contextuality in both two scenarios. In addition, our result shows that universal contextuality is more general than preparation contextuality in (3,3) scenario, while equivalent to preparation contextuality in (4,3) scenario.
Passband shapes that minimize the insertion loss and bandwidth of coupled-resonator bandpass filters
Authors: Zhang Xinchang , Li Dingning , SINGH MANUJ KUMAR , Popovic Milos
Published: August 2023

Numerous emerging applications of photonic integrated circuits are calling for extremely narrowband and/or low-insertion-loss bandpass filters. Both properties are fundamentally limited by resonator losses, i.e. the intrinsic quality factor of constituent resonant cavities. However, the choice of inter-cavity and bus couplings establishes tradeoffs between these two properties and the passband shape, which have been little explored. Using the widely-used second-order resonant system as example, we show that new classes of bandpass filter shapes provide the lowest insertion loss and the narrowest bandwidth for a given loss Q. They often yield an uncommon, asymmetric resonator coupling configuration, and the two classes we introduce straddle an ``exceptional point'' in the pole-zero configuration in the complex-frequency plane. A normalized design and conclusions based on a temporal coupled mode theory (CMT) model are presented, including a design tool to apply these results. These results may benefit loss-sensitive filtering applications such as quantum-correlated photon pair sources and RF-photonic integrated circuits.
The Ypk1 protein kinase signaling pathway is rewired and not essential for viability in Candida albicans
Authors: Ramírez-Zavala Bernardo , Krüger Ines , Wollner Andreas , Schwanfelder Sonja , Morschhäuser Joachim
Published: August 2023

Protein kinases are central components of almost all signaling pathways that control cellular activities. In the model organismSaccharomyces cerevisiae, the paralogous protein kinases Ypk1 and Ypk2, which control membrane lipid homeostasis, are essential for viability, and previous studies strongly indicated that this is also the case for their single ortholog Ypk1 in the pathogenic yeastCandida albicans. Here, using FLP-mediated inducible gene deletion, we reveal thatC.albicans ypk1Δ mutants are viable but slow-growing, explaining prior failures to obtain null mutants. Phenotypic analyses of the mutants showed that the functions of Ypk1 in regulating sphingolipid biosynthesis and cell membrane lipid asymmetry are conserved, but the consequences ofYPK1deletion are milder than inS.cerevisiae. Mutational studies demonstrated that the highly conserved PDK1 phosphorylation site T548 in its activation loop is essential for Ypk1 function, whereas the TORC2 phosphorylation sites S687 and T705 at the C-terminus are important for Ypk1-dependent resistance to membrane stress. Unexpectedly, Pkh1, the singleC.albicansorthologue of Pkh1/Pkh2, which mediate Ypk1 phosphorylation at the PDK1 site inS.cerevisiae, was not required for normal growth ofC.albicansunder nonstressed conditions, and Ypk1 phosphorylation at T548 was only slightly reduced inpkh1Δ mutants. We found that another protein kinase, Pkh3, whose ortholog inS.cerevisiaecannot substitute Pkh1/2, acts redundantly with Pkh1 to activate Ypk1 inC.albicans. No phenotypic effects were observed in cells lacking Pkh3 alone, butpkh1Δpkh3Δ double mutants had a severe growth defect and Ypk1 phosphorylation at T548 was completely abolished. These results establish that Ypk1 is not essential for viability inC.albicansand that, despite its generally conserved function, the Ypk1 signaling pathway is rewired in this pathogenic yeast and includes a novel upstream kinase to activate Ypk1 by phosphorylation at the PDK1 site.
Staphylococcus aureus isolates from children with clinically differentiated osteomyelitis exhibit distinct transcriptomic signatures
Authors: Hachem Ahmad A. , Filkins Laura M. , Kidane Yared H. , Raj Prithvi , Tareen Naureen G. , Arana Carlos A. , Muthukrishnan Gowrishankar , Copley Lawson A.
Published: August 2023

There is substantial genomic heterogeneity among Staphylococcus aureus isolates of children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) but transcriptional behavior of clinically differentiated strains has not been previously described. This study evaluates transcriptional activity of S. aureus isolates of children with AHO that may regulate metabolism, biosynthesis, or virulence during bacterial growth and pathogenesis. In vitro growth kinetics were compared between three S. aureus clinical isolates from children with AHO who had mild, moderate, and severe illness. Total RNA sequencing was performed for each isolate at six separate time points throughout the logarithmic phase of growth. The NASA RNA-Sequencing Consensus Pipeline was used to identify differentially expressed genes allowing for 54 comparisons between the three isolates during growth. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment pathways were used to evaluate transcriptional variation in metabolism, biosynthesis pathways and virulence potential of the isolates. The S. aureus isolates demonstrated differing growth kinetics under standardized conditions with the mild isolate having higher optical densities with earlier and higher peak rates of growth than that of the other isolates (p<0.001). Enrichment pathway analysis established distinct transcriptional signatures according to both sampling time and clinical severity. Moderate and severe isolates demonstrated pathways of bacterial invasion, S. aureus infection, quorum sensing and two component systems. In comparison, the mild strain favored biosynthesis and metabolism. These findings suggest that transcriptional regulation during the growth of S. aureus may impact the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the progression of severity of illness in childhood osteomyelitis. The clinical isolates studied demonstrated a tradeoff between growth and virulence. Further investigation is needed to evaluate these transcriptional pathways in an animal model or during active clinical infections of children with AHO.
Variation in Volatile Organic Compounds in native, synanthropic accessions and cultivars of the musk strawberry (Fragaria moschata Duchesne ex Weston)
Authors: Ritz Christiane M. , Ulrich Detlef , Buschmann Sebastian , Olbricht Klaus
Published: August 2023

Prior to the world-wide dominance ofF.×ananassain strawberry production, native species had been cultivated in European gardens for centuries. Especially the musk strawberry (F.moschata) had been highly appreciated due to its fruit size and extraordinary aroma. Detailed studies on the diversity of the species’ fruit aroma are lacking, although breeding aims to improve strawberry aroma by complex crossings during recent years. Today a few cultivars, abandoned synanthropic occurrences and native populations of this species exist in Germany. Here we characterised aroma profiles ofF.moschataaccessions by analysing Volatile Organic Compounds. In particular, differences between native and cultivated accessions as well as the diversity in aroma profiles of native populations were investigated. Profiles of Volatile Organic Compounds were analysed by immersion stir bar sorptive extraction-gas chromatography-quadrupol mass spectrometry (imm-SBSE-GC-qMS). These data were compared with a genetic characterisation of samples based on eight microsatellite loci using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. High amounts of furanones and the key compound methyl anthranilate were characteristic for the aroma profile ofF.moschata. We detected a considerable diversity of Volatile Organic Compounds among accessions ofF.moschata, particularly among genetically distinct samples from the same population. Native accessions contained more terpenoids but less esters and were moderately differentiated from cultivated samples. The observed patterns of Volatile Organic Compounds indicate that cultivated accessions had been selected for favourable aroma profiles and thus showing traces of domestication. Moreover, native populations harbour a great diversity of Volatile Organic Compounds, which could be also considered for future breeding efforts.
Pre-cleaning of hair is not beneficial in LA-ICP-MS studies of chronic metal exposure
Authors: David Gwendolyn K. , Hunter Andrew H. , Moromizato Karine H. , Allen Charlotte M. , Wheatley Rebecca , von Hippel Frank A. , Niehaus Amanda C. , Wilson Robbie S.
Published: August 2023

Chronic exposure to toxic metals is a serious global health concern. However, population-wide biomonitoring is costly and carries several sampling constraints. Though hair sampling can be a useful way to assess environmental exposure, external contamination is a long-standing concern, and a pre-cleaning step prior to metal quantification has long been recommended despite a lack of evidence for its efficacy. In this study, we quantified the spatial distribution of 16 elements in unwashed human hair samples using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), then tested how two common pre-cleaning treatments (Triton-ethanol, Triton-nitric acid) affected metal content in external and interior layers of hair using LA-ICP-MS. We show that elements differ in their spatial distribution across hair and that pre-cleaning is not consistent in its effect on element concentrations and decreases interior concentrations of some elements. We demonstrate that differences among individuals can be quantified reliably with LA-ICP-MS analysis of interior concentrations of unwashed hair. Our study tests the widespread notion that pre-cleaning is essential in analyses of hair for environmental exposure to metals, and examines the benefits of a unified approach to analysis of metals in hair using LA-ICP-MS.
Wolf contact in horses at permanent pasture in Germany
Authors: Krueger Konstanze , Gruentjens Theo , Hempel Enno
Published: August 2023

Wolves returned to Germany in 2000, leading to fear in German horse owners that their horses could be in danger of wolf attacks or panic-like escapes from pastures when sighting wolves. However, reports from southern European countries indicate that wolf predation on horses diminishes with increasing presence of wildlife. Therefore, we conducted a long-term, filed observation between January 2015 and July 2022 on 13 non breeding riding horses, mares and geldings, kept permanently on two pastures within the range of wildlife and a stable wolf pack with annual offspring. Wildlife cameras at the fences of the pastures made 984 times recordings of wolves and 3151 times recordings of wildlife in and around the pastures. Between 1 January 2022 and 23 March 2022 we observed two stable horse groups. Pasture 1 was grazed by five horses of mixed breed, four mares and one gelding, with the median age of 8 years (min. = 6y, max. = 29y). Pasture 2 was grazed by eight heavy warmbloods and draught horses, three mares and five geldings, with the median age of 16 years (min. = 13y, max. = 22y). During this period no wolf was recorded at pasture 2, but wild boar several times, whereas at pasture 1, wolves were recorded 89 times, and for the wildlife mostly hare. Wolves may have avoided pasture 2 because of the presence of wild boar or because the large group of older, heavy breed horses may have formed a stable, protective group. The latter needs to be confirmed in a follow-up field observation, which records anti-predator behavior and welfare indicators in horses. In conclusion, wolves did not attack the mature horses on pastures with plenty of wildlife and the horses did not respond to the presence of wolves with visible signs of reduced welfare or panic. This indicates that wolves may prefer to prey on easily accessible wildlife around and at horse pastures and that Central European horses become accustom to the presence of non-hunting wolves.
The effects of assessing character strengths vs. psychopathology on mood, hope, perceived stigma and cognitive performance in individuals with psychosis
Authors: Randhawa Aman , Kühn Simone , Schöttle Daniel , Moritz Steffen , Gallinat Jürgen , Ascone Leonie
Published: August 2023

Objectives

The main objective of the present study was to investigate whether assessments of psychopathology vs. character strengths were associated with systematic differences concerning transient psychological states (i.e., cognitive performance, state mood, optimism, therapy motivation, perceived stigma) in individuals with psychotic disorders. An additional goal was to evaluate the acceptance and appraisal of a subsequent online character-strength intervention, consisting of top-two strengths feedback, and to explore associations between character strengths and psychotic symptoms. The study thus aimed to contribute to the discussion on the extension of current treatment approaches for schizophrenia through positive psychological interventions.

Methods

The study was implemented online applying a randomized within-subject cross-over design in N = 39 patients with self-reported psychosis. After a baseline assessment, briefly capturing psychological states (including cognition: TMT A/B, positive and negative affect, motivation for change/ therapy, optimism, and self-stigma) participants were randomly assigned to a first questionnaire block, which addressed either individual character strengths (VIA-IS) or psychopathology (CAPE & BSI). This was followed by a second, brief assessment of transient psychological states, whereafter the second questionnaire block was conducted, this time with the respective opposite (strengths or psychopathology) assessment. A final psychological states assessment was conducted. Afterwards, participants received feedback on their top-two strengths and a brief psycho-education, followed by a qualitative assessment.

Results

Contrary to expectations, there were no differences between the psychological states after the pathology vs. character strengths assessment blocks. Character strengths mainly correlated negatively with negative symptoms, with medium to large effect sizes. Participants were generally satisfied with the intervention and rated a focus on personal strengths in psychotherapy as highly important.

Conclusion

Our main hypothesis stating that the assessment of character strengths (vs. psychopathology) is associated with differences in subsequent psychological states could not be confirmed. Qualitative findings indicate that the emphasis on individual character strengths interventions is well accepted and viewed as important. The associations of character strengths with negative symptoms are important from the background of the cognitive model or defeatist beliefs (e.g., amotivation due to perceiving the self as ‘incapable’), which could be addressed in experimental or intervention studies targeting character strengths.