bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lost and found in humour self-translation
Authors: Takahashi Tomoko
Published: September 2022

Humour translation is extremely difficult, especially between languages as linguistically and culturally distant as Japanese and English. Often, therefore, much is lost in translation, but at the same time, there is much to be gained. In this chapter, I examine humour translation based on my experience translating my own autobiography from Japanese to English. By so doing, I ask: What have I gained from humour self-translation despite what I have lost due to difficulties? Based on this inquiry, I describe two types of experience with humour self-translation: (1) battles against untranslatability, defeats, and possible wins and gains, and (2) creative rewriting or manipulations triggered by the “distance” resulting in gains. Firstly, self-translators’ struggles with humour self-translation may lead to their deeper understanding of the source text – and to their self-realization. Secondly, self-translators may go beyond the losses and (unexpectedly) achieve gains, thanks to the creativity found in the target language or inspired by the target audience. Such gains are possible often due to a higher level of freedom that self-translators enjoy.
How funny am I?
Authors: Venzo Paul , Petkovic David
Published: September 2022

This paper explores and responds to the question: how funny am I in self-translation? Taking up Eco’s notion that translative processes involve negotiation (2004), the authors explore the way in which the self is negotiated in the process of moving across and between texts-in-translation. They examine and discuss examples of their own self-translation of short comedic forms of writing across English, Italian and Serbian. The similarities and differences in their approaches are used as a springboard for analysing how subjectivity informs and infuses the translation process. Following the work of Bhaba (1994), Braidotti (2011), Chiaro (2010), Palmieri (2018) and others, the author-translators uncover the importance of humour to multicultural, multi-lingual, hybrid and in-between identities. Through the collaborative practice of their writing and self-translation, they discover that humour functions as a drawbridge between languages, cultures and national identities: sometimes meeting, and sometimes not.
Second thoughts about second versions
Authors: Grutman Rainier
Published: September 2022

This rejoinder proceeds in a dialectical fashion. For the sake of argument, the first part takes the opposite view of the thesis according to which the translator’s identity must modify the parameters of translating different forms of humour (comedy, satire, irony, wordplay). Upon reflection, it appears that self-translators also face the constraints inherent in this exercise, whether broader cultural transfers need to be re-contextualized or specific aspects raise questions of a linguistic or rhetorical nature. This observation allows for a clearer appreciation of the specificity of self-translation in a second part of the demonstration, where received notions such as agency or intention are examined anew. Agency is not unlimited, nor is access unmediated, but both are part of the cocktail of self-translation, whose main originality resides elsewhere, however: in the possibility of embarking on a translation before completing the first text, that is, self-translating “simultaneously.” The demonstration is illustrated with many examples, and due notice is taken of articles in this volume that deal with self-translated texts and their (re)writers.
A deep learning approach to real-time volumetric measurements without image reconstruction for cardiovascular magnetic resonance
Authors: Qi Yifan , Wang Fusheng , Cao Jane J , Li Yu Yulee
Published: September 2022

Objective. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can measure ventricular volumes for the quantitative assessment of cardiac function in clinical cardiology. Conventionally, CMR volumetric measurements require image reconstruction and segmentation. There are limited clinical applications of real-time CMR for volumetric measurements because real-time images cannot provide sufficient quality for accurate segmentation. The presented work aims to develop a new deep learning approach to measuring ventricular volumes without image reconstruction and demonstrate that this ‘imageless’ approach would improve volumetric measurements with real-time CMR. Approach. We have developed a deep learning model for measuring ventricular volumes directly from real-time CMR raw data without image reconstruction. This novel ‘imageless’ deep learning model, not being as sensitive to image quality, provided reliable volumetric measurements for real-time CMR. To demonstrate ‘imageless’ volumetric measurements, we conducted a real-time CMR study with healthy volunteers. Several performance metrics, including mean absolute error (MAE), the Pearson correlation coefficient, and Bland–Altman analysis, were used to evaluate the proposed ‘imageless’ deep learning model in reference to U-net and fully convolutional neural network (FCNN) models based on conventional image reconstruction and segmentation. Main results. With the same raw data, the ‘imageless’ deep learning model gave a lower MAE (‘imageless’ ≤9.6 ml; ‘image-based’ ≥12.1 ml), a higher correlation coefficient (‘imageless’ ≥0.75; ‘image-based’ ≤0.51) and smaller measurement difference ranges in Bland–Altman analysis (‘imageless’ ≤23.1 ml; ‘image-based’ ≥33.8 ml). To achieve comparable performance, the ‘imageless’ deep learning model needed 2/3 of the raw data used in image reconstruction for U-net and FCNN models, indicating there was a gain in imaging acceleration for real-time CMR. Significance. We have demonstrated a novel deep learning framework that can provide reliable volumetric measurements from real-time CMR raw data without image reconstruction. This ‘imageless’ approach to real-time volumetric measurements will improve the quantitative assessment of cardiac function in clinical cardiology.
Spectral approaches in momentum space for dynamics of atoms in strong laser fields: application to long pulses and low-frequency regime
Authors: Ekogo T B , Tetchou Nganso H M , Abdouraman  , Wafo Soh C , Kwato Njock M G
Published: September 2022

In this work, we present in detail a novel approach to solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in the momentum space (TDSE-



). It is based on the expansion of the electron wavepacket and the nonlocal interacting Coulomb potential in a Coulomb Sturmian basis. It allows a spectral treatment of the TDSE-



from which another formulation of our previous model potential is proposed. This latter enables us to go easily beyond the 1s + 2sp states, and accordingly, may help to have more insight on the role of the Coulomb potential or the atomic structure in the ionization process. In order to bring out the improvement of this approximation and as an illustration, the case of 3spd states supported by the Coulomb potential is derived analytically, leaving the other cases for later investigations. Physical observables such as oscillator strengths, bound states populations, ionization probabilities, energy spectra, momentum and energy-angle distributions, are described in detail and their formulas employed in our ab initio computations are given in compact matrix forms The calculations can be done either by using the ionized wave function or by projecting the wavepacket onto the incoming Coulomb wave function. For illustrative purpose, we apply these theories in the dipole approximation to two one-electron atomic targets initially prepared in the ground and excited electronic states, and driven by intense low-frequency electromagnetic fields. We consider several laser parameters for long pulses recently reported in the literature. Our results compare remarkably well with reference data of atomic structure, and their agreement with the atomic dynamics outcome of previous treatments is quite satisfactory.
On FNS - Compactness in Fuzzy Neutrosophic Supra Topological Spaces
Authors: Amarendra Babu V , Aswini J , Moses K
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we introducing fuzzy neutrosophic supra first countable (FNS - FCS), fuzzy neutrosophic supra second countable (FNS- SCS) and fuzzy neutrosophic supra compactness (FNS- compactness), fuzzy neutrosophic supraQμ- compactness (FNS -Qμ- compactness) in fuzzy neutrosophic supra topological space (FNSTS). we derive the union of two FNS – compact spaces is also FNS – compact space and similarly the union of two FNS -Qμ- compact spaces is also FNSQμ- compact space. Also we define some theorems using finite intersection property and productive property. Finally we observe that our notions preserve under one – one, onto and continuous mapping.
From Soft Point Semigroups to Soft Semigroups
Authors: Maheswari Ch. , V N H Ravi Pusuluri , V.E.S. Murthy Nistala , Padmavathi V.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we show that the association, the associated soft subset for a subset of a semigroup, is substructure preserving.
Identification of Cospectral Simple Jointed Kinematic Chains using Characteristic Polynomial of Degree Matrix and Structural Matrix
Authors: H Manikandan , Kaup Vijayananda , Babu Harish
Published: September 2022

Different methods to address the isomorphism in kinematic chains existed earlier and is well reported. In all the methods, link-adjacency matrix (LAM) represents the structural information of a given kinematic chain. Having gathered a large collection of co-spectral chains belonging to a large number of chain categories possessing (containing up to 20 links and up to 13 degrees of freedom), the present work aims at addressing the isomorphism by developing and implementing a methodology for isomorphism based on characteristic coefficients of the degree matrix and structural matrix representations of a specified Simple Jointed Kinematic Chain (SJKC) being computed and comparing. While the above two tests proved to be successful in most cases, two instances of cospectral cases were discovered wherein the above polynomial-based tests failed to detect dissimilarity in the chain structures. These cases are reported in the paper.
Analysis of Copper nanoparticle suspension in a stenosed non-permeable vasculature in presence of magnetic field
Authors: Asha K N , Srivastava Neetu
Published: September 2022

In the present article, impact of shape of Copper nanoparticle with water as base fluid on the fluid flow criteria in the congested non-permeable arteries is analyzed under the magnetic effect. Mathematically, a significant response is recorded when various shapes of nanoparticles are considered in the stenosed vasculature. To explore the effect of different shaped nanoparticles, extensive range of nanofluid volume fractions, magnetic parameters and shape factors of nanoparticle is utilized. The significant parameters are solved using analytical method as well as analyzed using the graphs. It is found that the laminar nanoparticles show finer results for flow properties like flow rate in the stenosed artery and the impedance resistance.
Characterization of Biochar Bricks to be used as a Construction Material
Authors: Nithyalakshmi B. , Soundarya N , Praveen S
Published: September 2022

The experimental work on characterization of biochar bricks as a construction material is summarized in this manuscript. This is an important topic to research due to the dearth of knowledge about biochar construction materials and their potential to reduce global warming. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance formed from organic matter decomposition in the absence of oxygen at high temperatures. The use of bio char in a range of applications will help in cutting down CO2 emissions, recycling of organic and plastic waste, and in creation of more jobs. Current applications of bio-char is limited to being used as Soil additives to promote water absorption, plaster to absorb humidity, and energy alternatives to replace fossil fuels. The present study attempts to characterize bio-char bricks for usage in construction. Two types of bio-char bricks were cast and compared to normal concrete bricks. The first set of bricks had 70% biochar and 30% cement, whereas the second set contained 45 percent biochar, 45 percent plastic, and 10% cement. The bricks were characterized using five tests: compressive strength, water absorption, hardness, flammability, and insulation value.
Flexural behavior of CFRP-aluminum fuselage frames with bolted splice joints
Authors: He Boling , Lu Yuwei , Liu Yupeng
Published: September 2022

Few work concerned on the flexural strength of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)-aluminum fuselage frames with bolted splice joints used in aeronautical industry. To provide help for the design of CFRP aircraft strcutures, this paper investigated the flexural behavior of CFRP-aluminum fuselage frames with bolted splice joints experimentally. Firstly, CFRP-aluminum fuselage frames were fabricated with mid-span bolted splice joints. The joints comprised: reinforced or unreinforced aluminum splice plates bolted to the fuselage frames. The bolt diameters were 4.76mm and 6.35mm. Then, the effects of splice plate and bolt dimeter on flexural behavior of CFRP-aluminum fuselage frames with bolted splice joints were investigated through four-point bending test. It has been shown that the introduction of reinforced splice plate improves the structural load capacity. However, increasing bolt diameter lowers the flexural strength of CFRP-aluminum fuselage frames with bolted splice joints. This splice jointed structure is a representative part of the rear fuselage, and the experimental results will be commonly instructive for the the aeronautical CFRP joining applications.
Electrical performance optimization of serpentine interconnect for stretchable electronics
Authors: Han Zhiyuan , Hong Yang , Zhu Xiaojun , Gu Xiaolong , Sun Yizhang
Published: September 2022

Stretchable electronics have a wide range of potential applications in healthcare monitoring and human–machine interactions due to their softness, stretchability, and conformability. Serpentine interconnects integrating with inorganic functional materials play an important role in high-performance stretchable electronics. A lot of research has focused on how to improve the stretchability of flexible electronic devices, while ignoring the intrinsic electrical properties of serpentine wires. In this manuscript, the electrical performance of serpentine interconnects is investigated experimentally. Various structural forms of serpentine interconnects are prepared by photolithography and transfer printing techniques. The electrical properties of serpentine interconnects during stretching are systematically studied and summarized. Besides, a breathable substrate with good biocompatibility and stretchability is used. Based on these studies and the optimization of the design layout, we can guide the selection of wire structures or sensor structures in flexible electronics.
First-principles study of the properties of Cmcm-B5XO (X=Al, Zr)
Authors: Chen Hui , Zhang Zizhu
Published: September 2022

Boron oxide B6O is an excellent superhard material with good properties such as high thermal conductivity, low density and high chemical inertness. It is widely used in precision machining of construction machinery, coating of national defense equipment, and lacquering of electronic appliances. In order to improve the defects of brittle fracture of B6O, a new material Cmcm-B5XO (X=Al, Zr) is proposed, and based on the first principles, the structure, stability, mechanical properties and the influence of doping on the intrinsic mechanism of the material were studied and analyzed. The results of elastic constants show that Cmcm-B5XO (X=Al, Zr) satisfies the mechanical stability. The analysis of the mechanical properties of the material shows that Cmcm-B5AlO is harder while Cmcm -B5ZrO is more plastic. The research results provide a certain reference value for the future experimental synthesis of new hard materials and the application of optoelectronic device thin films in different scenarios.
A novel silicon photomultiplier readout architecture for low-light applications
Authors: Cianciolo V. , Efremenko Yu.V. , Fabris L. , Imam S.K. , Penttila S.I. , Ramsey J.C. , Santos Estrada R.
Published: September 2022

In this article we describe the photon detection readout
electronics for the nEDM@SNS experiment. The chosen “photon
counting” architecture, which utilizes high-efficiency silicon
photomultipliers (SiPMs) and is appropriate for low-light
applications, allows the use of a relatively high SiPM operating
voltage. This maximizes photon detection efficiency and minimizes
gain/efficiency voltage-dependence while eliminating direct optical
cross-talk.
A thermal neutron detection system based on boron-coated straw detector with prompt gamma coincidence
Authors: Pan Yongyu , Shen Fengzhao , Fu Qibin , Huang Tuchen
Published: September 2022

Accurate measurement of the neutron flux is of crucial importance for rare event search experiments in underground laboratories. The intrinsic radioactive background of the detector becomes the limiting factor for the detection of extremely low neutron flux. In this study, a thermal neutron detection system aimed at low flux measurement was developed based on boron-coated straw (BCS) neutron detectors. The neutron events can be distinguished from the detector background by coincidence measurement of neutron and the prompt gamma ray. With state-of-the-art BCS neutron detectors and NaI(Tl) gamma detector, a system sensitivity of ∼120 cps/nv was achieved, comparable to that of the commonly used 3He counters. Based on the selected coincidence criteria, the background events were rejected to 0.1% with 45.3% of the neutrons preserved. The background accidental coincidence count rate of the system was measured as 2.3×10-5 cps, corresponding to a lower limit of measurable thermal neutron flux of 1.9×10-7 n/cm2/s. The performance of the system can be further improved by using other gamma scintillator with lower neutron absorption (such as BGO) and adding extra shielding for ambient gamma rays.
Measured and GATE predicted PET-image-based activity range verification for carbon therapy: a phantom study
Authors: Pei C.X. , Zhang X.L. , Yan J.W. , Kong J. , Wang C.X. , Hu M.C. , Liang G.Y. , Duan L.M. , Hu Z.G. , Xu H.S. , Yin Y.Z. , Chen J.D.
Published: September 2022

In-beam PET is one of the imaging-based methods for monitoring carbon therapy by reconstruction of positron-emitters produced by incident particles. The accurate Monte Carlo simulation is necessary for range verification and therapeutic dose monitoring by means of the in-beam PET. GATE is capable of performing in-beam PET imaging but very few studies assess the accuracy of activity range measured from PET imaging with GATE simulated results. In this work, we present both experimental and GATE simulation studies of in-beam PET imaging of a phantom, which is irradiated by carbon ion beam, for range verification. The experiment data is acquired at Wuwei Heavy Ion Cancer Treatment Center in Gansu, China, with a dual-head plate PET prototype. The PET prototype consists of 2 panels, each arranged in 2 × 2 matrix. Each detector block is composed of 20 × 20 LYSO crystal array coupled with the position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (HAMAMATSU H8500). A homogeneous plastic phantom is irradiated with monoenergetic 131.05 MeV and 190.19 MeV 12C ion pencil beams. The irradiation and full response of PET prototype are simulated with GATE macros. A novel mathematical model is established, which is capable of calculating and revealing the variation of the positron activity. Our focus is on the reconstructed activity ranges obtained by the experimental measurement and GATE MC prediction combined with the positron activity distribution calculation mathematical model. Results show that the reconstructed activity distribution of experimental data and GATE MC prediction are in good agreement. The measured and simulated 1D activity peak and falling edge positions are within 1.0 mm in all cases. The 20%, 50% and 80% PET peak positions predicted by GATE are close to measurements. These results indicated that it is feasible to assess the accuracy of activity range measured from the dual-head plate PET system with the modeled GATE hadron-PET simulation.
Exact sum rules for spectral zeta functions of homogeneous 1D quantum oscillators, revisited
*
Authors: Voros André
Published: September 2022

We survey sum rules for spectral zeta functions of homogeneous 1D Schrödinger operators, that mainly result from the exact Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin method.
Long-term corona behaviour and performance enhancing mechanism of SiC/epoxy nanocomposite in SF6 gas environment
Authors: WANG Jingrui , LI Qingmin , GONG Yanfeng , HOU Qixin , LIU Heng , WANG Jian , REN Hanwen
Published: September 2022

Surface coating technology is an effective way to solve the interface insulation problem of DC GIS/GIL basin insulators, but the performance of the coating will change greatly, and the insulation strength will be completely lost, after long-term use in the extreme conditions of corona erosion. In this research, the multi-needle-plate electrode platform was constructed to explore the long-term use performance of SiC-doped nanocomposite exposed to corona discharge in SF6 gas. Samples with a high SiC content have advantages in maintaining physical and chemical properties such as elemental composition, erosion depth, surface roughness and mass loss. The nanocomposite doped with 6 wt.% SiC has prominent surface insulation strength after long term exposure to corona, and the others are close to losing, or have completely lost, their insulating properties. Furthermore, the degradation mechanism of physicochemical properties of composite exposed to corona discharge was investigated with the proposed ReaxFF MD model of energetic particles from SF6 decomposition bombarding the epoxy surface. The reaction process of SF particles and F particles with the cross-linked epoxy resin, and the SiC nanoparticles providing shelter to the surrounding polymer and mitigating their suffering direct bombardment, have been established. The damage propagation depth, mass loss and surface roughness change of nanocomposite material bombarded by SF6 decomposition products is reproduced in this simulation. Finally, the deterioration mechanism of insulation properties for the SiC-doped composite was elucidated with DFT analysis. The band gap of the molecule containing S drops directly from the initial 7.785 eV to 1.875 eV, which causes the deterioration of surface electric properties.
Countering Moral Hazard in Higher Education: The Role of Performance Incentives in Need-Based Grants*
Authors: Montalbán José
Published: September 2022

Using a unique reform in the Spanish financial aid program, I estimate the impact of need-based grants on student achievement and dropout decisions under different intensities of academic requirements. Utilising comprehensive administrative data from a large university, I exploit sharp discontinuities in the grant eligibility formula to identify the effect of aid on student outcomes. I find that aid eligibility has no effect on student outcomes when the academic requirements are comparable with most existing national grant schemes worldwide. In contrast, I find that need-based grants have strong positive impacts on student performance and degree completion when they are combined with more demanding academic requirements.
Complex chromosomal rearrangements induced by transposons in maize
Authors: Sharma Sharu Paul , Peterson Thomas
Published: September 2022

Eukaryotic genomes are large and complex, and gene expression can be affected by multiple regulatory elements and their positions within the dynamic chromatin architecture. Transposable elements are known to play important roles in genome evolution, yet questions remain as to how transposable elements alter genome structure and affect gene expression. Previous studies have shown that genome rearrangements can be induced by Reversed Ends Transposition involving termini of Activator and related transposable elements in maize and other plants. Here, we show that complex alleles can be formed by the rapid and progressive accumulation of Activator-induced duplications and rearrangements. The p1 gene enhancer in maize can induce ectopic expression of the nearby p2 gene in pericarp tissue when placed near it via different structural rearrangements. By screening for p2 expression, we identified and studied 5 cases in which multiple sequential transposition events occurred and increased the p1 enhancer copy number. We see active p2 expression due to multiple copies of the p1 enhancer present near p2 in all 5 cases. The p1 enhancer effects are confirmed by the observation that loss of p2 expression is correlated with transposition-induced excision of the p1 enhancers. We also performed a targeted Chromosome Conformation Capture experiment to test the physical interaction between the p1 enhancer and p2 promoter region. Together, our results show that transposon-induced rearrangements can accumulate rapidly and progressively increase genetic variation important for genomic evolution.
Polypharmacy With High Drug Burden Index (DBI) Alters the Gut Microbiome Overriding Aging Effects and Is Reversible With Deprescribing
Authors: Gemikonakli Gizem , Mach John , Zhang Fan , Bullock Martyn , Tran Trang , El-Omar Emad , Hilmer Sarah N
Published: September 2022

Aging, medication use, and global function are associated with changes in the microbiome. However, their interrelationships and changes over time require further characterization. In a longitudinal aging mouse study, we investigated the effects of aging, chronic polypharmacy with a high Drug Burden Index (DBI, measure of total anticholinergic and sedative medication exposure) and gradual cessation (deprescribing) on the microbiome, further exploring any association with global outcomes. Chronic administration of high DBI polypharmacy attenuated the aging-related reduction in alpha diversity, which was not sustained after deprescribing. Beta diversity and LEfSe (Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size) features varied with age, polypharmacy, and deprescribing. Aging with and without polypharmacy shared decreases in Bifidobacteriaceae, Paraprevotellaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Clostridiaceae, while only aging with polypharmacy showed increased LEfSe features. Microbiome diversity correlated with frailty, nesting, and open field performance. Polypharmacy deprescribing reversed changes that occurred with treatment. However, the microbiome did not recover to its pretreatment composition at 12 months, nor develop the same aging-related changes from 12 to 24 months as the control group. Overall, aging, chronic polypharmacy, and deprescribing differentially affected the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome, which is associated with frailty and function.
Why Are Old-Age Disabilities Decreasing in Sweden and Denmark? Evidence on the Contribution of Cognition, Education, and Sensory Functions
Authors: Badache Andreea C , Mäki-Torkko Elina , Widen Stephen , Fors Stefan
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Improvements in educational attainment, cognitive and sensory functions, and a decline in the prevalence of disabilities have been observed in older adults in Sweden and Denmark. In the present study, it was investigated whether better cognition, higher educational attainment, and improved sensory function among older adults aged 60 and older in these countries have contributed to decreasing rates of old-age disabilities.

Methods

The analyses were based on repeated cross-sectional data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe for the 2004–2017 period. Descriptive data were used to benchmark the declining prevalence of disabilities, improving cognitive and sensory functions, and increased educational level. The association between time and disabilities was analyzed with logistic regression models, and the contribution of the improved cognitive function, education, and sensory function to the declining prevalence of old-age disabilities was estimated using the Karlson–Holm–Breen method for mediation analysis.

Results

The analysis suggests that the declining prevalence of old-age disabilities in Sweden and Denmark between 2004 and 2017 can largely be attributed to improved cognitive function and vision and to a lesser extent by education and hearing ability.

Discussion

These findings raise important questions about the causal mechanisms producing the associations between cognition, education, and sensory functions and disability in older age. Future studies should explore the causal nature of the associations between these mediators and old-age disabilities. In addition, they should explore whether these findings differ across regional and cultural contexts and over different time periods.
Decreased Infliximab Concentrations in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Who Carry a Variable Number Tandem Repeat Polymorphism in the Neonatal Fc Receptor or VariantHLADQA1*05G>AGenotype
Authors: Choi Bethany , Sey Michael , Ponich Terry , Beaton Melanie , Kim Richard , Wilson Aze
Published: September 2022

Background

Multiple variables contribute to variation in patient exposure and response to tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonist biologics such as infliximab. This study aimed to assess the association between maintenance-phase infliximab concentrations and genetic variation in HLADQA1*05G>A and fragment crystallisable (Fc) fragment of IgG receptor and transporter (FCGRT) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in participants with inflammatory bowel disease prescribed infliximab who were in the maintenance phase of treatment. Participants were genotyped for the presence of the FCGRT variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) and HLADQA1*05G>A (rs74291249). A point estimate of the infliximab trough concentration during the maintenance phase was determined using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for each patient. Other variables associated with infliximab pharmacokinetics were collected.

Results

A total of 156 participants with inflammatory bowel disease were included from 2 tertiary care centers affiliated with Western University, London, Canada. Median infliximab trough concentrations were lower in participants who carried the FCGRT VNTR 2/3 or 2/2 (4.14 µg/mL; interquartile range [IQR], 6.48 µg/mL) vs wild type individuals (7.00 µg/mL; IQR, 7.66; P = .0027). Median infliximab trough concentrations were significantly lower in participants who were HLADQA1*05G>A variant carriers (4.73µg/mL; IQR, 4.79) vs wild type individuals (7.85µg/mL; IQR, 7.44; P = .0006). A significant decrease in infliximab trough concentrations was seen in individuals who were dual carriers of variant polymorphisms in HLADQA1*05G>A and FCGRT VNTR (no variants, 8.96µg/mL; IQR, 6.84 vs one variant, 4.96 µg/mL; IQR, 4.95 vs dual variants, 0.86µg/mL; IQR, 5.82).

Conclusion

FCGRT VNTR and HLADQA1*05G>A are associated with lower maintenance-phase infliximab concentrations, particularly among patients who carry both variants.
Shedding Light on Amoxicillin, Amoxicillin-clavulanate, and Cephalexin Dosing in Children from a Pharmacist’s Perspective
Authors: Yu Diana , Bio Laura L
Published: September 2022

Selection of an antibiotic and dosing regimen requires consideration of multiple factors including microbiological data, site of infection, pharmacokinetics, and how it relates to the pharmacodynamic target. Given the multiple dosage regimens of amoxicillin with/without clavulanate and cephalexin, we review the principles of dose selection from a pharmacist’s perspective.
Verification of dose distribution in high dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer using a normoxic N-vinylpyrrolidone polymer gel dosimeter
Authors: Watanabe Yusuke , Maeyama Takuya , Mizukami Shinya , Tachibana Hidenobu , Terazaki Tsuyoshi , Takei Hideyuki , Muraishi Hiroshi , Gomi Tsutomu , Hayashi Shin-ichiro
Published: September 2022

The polymer gel dosimeter has been proposed for use as a 3D dosimeter for complex dose distribution measurement of high dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. However, various shapes of catheter/applicator for sealed radioactive source transport used in clinical cases must be placed in the gel sample. The absorbed dose readout for the magnetic resonance (MR)-based polymer gel dosimeters requires calibration data for the dose-transverse relaxation rate (R2) response. In this study, we evaluated in detail the dose uncertainty and dose resolution of three calibration methods, the multi-sample and distance methods using the Ir-192 source and the linear accelerator (linac) method using 6MV X-rays. The use of Ir-192 sources increases dose uncertainty with steep dose gradients. We clarified that the uniformly irradiated gel sample improved the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) due to the large slice thickness of MR images and could acquire an accurate calibration curve using the linac method. The curved tandem and ovoid applicator used for intracavitary irradiation of HDR brachytherapy for cervical cancer were reproduced with a glass tube to verify the dose distribution. The results of comparison with the treatment planning system (TPS) calculation by gamma analysis on the 3%/2 mm criterion were in good agreement with a gamma pass rate of 90%. In addition, the prescription dose could be evaluated accurately. We conclude that it is easy to place catheter/applicator in the polymer gel dosimeters, making them a useful tool for verifying the 3D dose distribution of HDR brachytherapy with accurate calibration methods.
Down-regulation of tomatoSTEROL GLYCOSYLTRANSFERASE 1perturbs plant development and facilitates viroid infection
Authors: Cisneros Adriana E , Lisón Purificación , Campos Laura , López-Tubau Joan Manel , Altabella Teresa , Ferrer Albert , Daròs José-Antonio , Carbonell Alberto
Published: September 2022

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a plant pathogen naturally infecting economically important crops such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Here, we aimed to engineer tomato plants highly resistant to PSTVd and developed several S. lycopersicum lines expressing an artificial microRNA (amiRNA) against PSTVd (amiR-PSTVd). Infectivity assays revealed that amiR-PSTVd-expressing lines were not resistant but instead hypersusceptible to the viroid. A combination of phenotypic, molecular, and metabolic analyses of amiRNA-expressing lines non-inoculated with the viroid revealed that amiR-PSTVd was accidentally silencing the tomato STEROL GLYCOSYLTRANSFERASE 1 (SlSGT1) gene, which caused late developmental and reproductive defects such as leaf epinasty, dwarfism, or reduced fruit size. Importantly, two independent transgenic tomato lines each expressing a different amiRNA specifically designed to target SlSGT1 were also hypersusceptible to PSTVd, thus demonstrating that down-regulation of SlSGT1 was responsible for the viroid-hypersusceptibility phenotype. Our results highlight the role of sterol glycosyltransferases in proper plant development and indicate that the imbalance of sterol glycosylation levels favors viroid infection, most likely by facilitating viroid movement.
RNAi and CRISPR–Cas silencing E3-RING ubiquitin ligase AIP2 enhances soybean seed protein content
Authors: Shen Bo , Schmidt Monica A , Collet Kristin Haug , Liu Zhan-Bin , Coy Monique , Abbitt Shane , Molloy Lynda , Frank Mary , Everard John D , Booth Russ , Samadar Partha P , He Yonghua , Kinney Anthony , Herman Eliot M
Published: September 2022

The majority of plant protein in the world’s food supply is derived from soybean (Glycine max). Soybean is a key protein source for global animal feed and is incorporated into plant-based foods for people, including meat alternatives. Soybean protein content is genetically variable and is usually inversely related to seed oil content. ABI3-interacting protein 2 (AIP2) is an E3-RING ubiquitin ligase that targets the seed-specific transcription factor ABI3. Silencing both soybean AIP2 genes (AIP2a and AIP2b) by RNAi enhanced seed protein content by up to seven percentage points, with no significant decrease in seed oil content. The protein content enhancement did not alter the composition of the seed storage proteins. Inactivation of either AIP2a or AIP2b by a CRISPR–Cas9-mediated mutation increased seed protein content, and this effect was greater when both genes were inactivated. Transactivation assays in transfected soybean hypocotyl protoplasts indicated that ABI3 changes the expression of glycinin, conglycinin, 2S albumin, and oleosin genes, indicating that AIP2 depletion increased seed protein content by regulating activity of the ABI3 transcription factor protein. These results provide an example of a gene-editing prototype directed to improve global food security and protein availability in soybean that may also be applicable to other protein-source crops.
Meeting the New Commission on Cancer Operative Standards: Where Do We Stand Now?
Authors: Carpenter Elizabeth L , Adams Alexandra M , McCarthy Patrick M , Chick Robert C , Spitzer Holly V , Nelson Daniel W , Clifton Guy T , Bowen Donnell K , Krell Robert W , Vreeland Timothy J
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The 2020 Commission on Cancer accreditation standards 5.7 and 5.8 address total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer and lymph node sampling for lung cancer. The purpose of this review was to assess our institution’s compliance with these operative standards, which will be required in 2022 and 2023, and provide recommendations to other military training facilities seeking to comply with these standards.

Materials and Methods

A 2018-2020 single institution chart review was performed of operative and pathology reports. Identified deficits were addressed in meetings with colorectal and thoracic surgery leadership, and cases were followed to reassess compliance.

Results

A total of 12 rectal and 48 lung cancer cases met the inclusion criteria and were examined. Pre-intervention compliance for standards 5.7 and 5.8 was 58% and 35%, respectively, because of inadequate synoptic reporting and lymph node sampling. After intervention, compliance was 100%.

Conclusions

Our institution requires changes to comply with new standards, including in areas of documentation and systematic pulmonary lymph node sampling. We provide lessons learned from our own institutional experience, including practical tips and recommendations to achieve compliance. All military training facilities performing lung and rectal oncologic resections should conduct an internal review of applicable cases in preparation for upcoming American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer site visits.
Future-Proof Regulation against the Test of Time: The Evolution of European Telecommunications Regulation
Authors: Ibáñez Colomo Pablo
Published: September 2022

Regulation is sometimes designed to be future-proof, so that it can adapt to changing economic and technological realities. The EU (and UK) Regulatory Framework for electronic communications was expressly crafted to be able to adjust to the evolution of the industry. This article considers how well the regime has stood the test of time and, based on this analysis, what lessons can be drawn for regulation more generally. It appears that, by and large, the Framework has effectively accompanied the transformation of telecommunications in Europe. On the other hand, the EU legislature’s commitment to future-proof intervention has waned over time. Every new review of the regime has represented a move away from the philosophy and mechanisms conceived to ensure that regulation would adapt seamlessly to industry shifts. This experience suggests that the failure or success of future-proof intervention primarily hinges on the intertemporal consistency of legislatures.
Glucose-6-P/phosphate translocator2 mediates the phosphoglucose-isomerase1-independent response to microbial volatiles
Authors: Gámez-Arcas Samuel , Muñoz Francisco José , Ricarte-Bermejo Adriana , Sánchez-López Ángela María , Baslam Marouane , Baroja-Fernández Edurne , Bahaji Abdellatif , Almagro Goizeder , De Diego Nuria , Doležal Karel , Novák Ondřej , Leal-López Jesús , León Morcillo Rafael Jorge , Castillo Araceli G , Pozueta-Romero Javier
Published: September 2022

In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the plastidial isoform of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI1) mediates photosynthesis, metabolism, and development, probably due to its involvement in the synthesis of isoprenoid-derived signals in vascular tissues. Microbial volatile compounds (VCs) with molecular masses of <45 Da promote photosynthesis, growth, and starch overaccumulation in leaves through PGI1-independent mechanisms. Exposure to these compounds in leaves enhances the levels of GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE/PHOSPHATE TRANSLOCATOR2 (GPT2) transcripts. We hypothesized that the PGI1-independent response to microbial volatile emissions involves GPT2 action. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the responses of wild-type (WT), GPT2-null gpt2-1, PGI1-null pgi1-2, and pgi1-2gpt2-1 plants to small fungal VCs. In addition, we characterized the responses of pgi1-2gpt2-1 plants expressing GPT2 under the control of a vascular tissue- and root tip-specific promoter to small fungal VCs. Fungal VCs promoted increases in growth, starch content, and photosynthesis in WT and gpt2-1 plants. These changes were substantially weaker in VC-exposed pgi1-2gpt2-1 plants but reverted to WT levels with vascular and root tip-specific GPT2 expression. Proteomic analyses did not detect enhanced levels of GPT2 protein in VC-exposed leaves and showed that knocking out GPT2 reduced the expression of photosynthesis-related proteins in pgi1-2 plants. Histochemical analyses of GUS activity in plants expressing GPT2-GUS under the control of the GPT2 promoter showed that GPT2 is mainly expressed in root tips and vascular tissues around hydathodes. Overall, the data indicated that the PGI1-independent response to microbial VCs involves resetting of the photosynthesis-related proteome in leaves through long-distance GPT2 action.
The Ziegler Test Is Reliable and Valid for Measuring Freezing of Gait in People With Parkinson Disease
Authors: Goh Lina , Paul Serene S , Canning Colleen G , Ehgoetz Martens Kaylena A , Song Jooeun , Campoy Stephanie L , Allen Natalie E
Published: September 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine interrater and test–retest reliability of the Ziegler test to measure freezing of gait (FOG) severity in people with Parkinson disease. Secondary aims were to evaluate test validity and explore Ziegler test duration as a proxy FOG severity measure.

Methods

Physical therapists watched 36 videos of people with Parkinson disease and FOG perform the Ziegler test and rated FOG severity using the rating scale in real time. Two researchers rated 12 additional videos and repeated the ratings at least 1 week later. Interrater and test–retest reliability were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Bland–Altman plots were used to visualize agreement between the researchers for test–retest reliability. Correlations between the Ziegler scores, Ziegler test duration, and percentage of time frozen (based on video annotations) were determined using Pearson r.

Results

Twenty-four physical therapists participated. Overall, the Ziegler test showed good interrater (ICC2,1 = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.65–0.92) and excellent test–retest (ICC3,1 = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.82–0.96) reliability when used to measure FOG. It was also a valid measure, with a high correlation (r = 0.72) between the scores and percentage of time frozen. Ziegler test duration was moderately correlated (r = 0.67) with percentage of time frozen and may be considered a proxy FOG severity measure.

Conclusion

The Ziegler test is a reliable and valid tool to measure FOG when used by physical therapists in real time. Ziegler test duration may be used as a proxy for measuring FOG severity.

Impact

Despite FOG being a significant contributor to falls and poor mobility in people with Parkinson disease, current tools to assess FOG are either not suitably responsive or too resource intensive for use in clinical settings. The Ziegler test is a reliable and valid measure of FOG, suitable for clinical use, and may be used by physical therapists regardless of their level of clinical experience.
The Term Structure of Equity Risk Premia: Levered Noise and New Estimates
Authors: Boguth Oliver , Carlson Murray , Fisher Adlai , Simutin Mikhail
Published: September 2022

Levered noise occurs when no-arbitrage replication hedges fundamentals but amplifies price errors. Motivated by our theory, we use widely-available end-of-day OptionMetrics data to improve accuracy of synthetic dividend strip prices and provide longer samples than prior studies. Term structure point estimates are approximately flat in simple returns (88 bp/month vs. 87 bp/month for short-term dividends vs. index), and upward-sloping in measurement-error-robust logarithmic returns (43 bp/month vs. 77 bp/month). These results from prominent index options show the importance of diagnosing noise in no-arbitrage prices. Prior conclusions of an average downward slope in the equity term structure are not robust.
Fear of Religious Hate Crime Victimization and the Residual Effects of Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
Authors: Scheitle Christopher , Mabute-Louie Bianca , Ferguson Jauhara , Hawkins Emily , Ecklund Elaine Howard
Published: September 2022

An individual’s fear of hate crime victimization might be partially explained by direct experiences that influence their assessment of victimization risk. In some cases, though, fear of hate crime victimization is driven not by direct, personal experiences, but by historical and contemporary trauma suffered by those holding the targeted status. Using data from the 2019 nationally representative Experiences with Religious Discrimination Study (ERDS) survey, we show that part of Jewish and Muslim adults’ greater fears of victimization is explained by their past personal victimization experiences, their knowledge of close friends and family who have been victimized, and their greater religious visibility. Still, even after accounting for these factors, Jewish and Muslim adults report greater fears of religious hate crime victimization compared to Christian adults. We attribute this residual fear to the culture of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia within the United States and violence attributable to that culture, as well as the collective memory of historical religion-based victimization of Muslim and Jewish communities. These findings suggest the collective memory and knowledge of contemporary religious victimization may continue to affect Jewish and Muslim adults via a mechanism of fear, which has implications for scholarly and policy efforts to decrease religious victimization and its impact.
What have we learned about sleep from selective breeding strategies?
Authors: Harbison Susan T
Published: September 2022

Selective breeding is a classic technique that enables an experimenter to modify a heritable target trait as desired. Direct selective breeding for extreme sleep and circadian phenotypes in flies successfully alters these behaviors, and sleep and circadian perturbations emerge as correlated responses to selection for other traits in mice, rats, and dogs. The application of sequencing technologies to the process of selective breeding identifies the genetic network impacting the selected trait in a holistic way. Breeding techniques preserve the extreme phenotypes generated during selective breeding, generating community resources for further functional testing. Selective breeding is thus a unique strategy that can explore the phenotypic limits of sleep and circadian behavior, discover correlated responses of traits having shared genetic architecture with the target trait, identify naturally-occurring genomic variants and gene expression changes that affect trait variability, and pinpoint genes with conserved roles.