bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene Editing of Wheat to Reduce Coeliac Disease Epitopes in Gluten
Authors: Smulders Marinus J. M. , Gilissen Luud J. W. J. , Juranić Martina , Schaart Jan G. , van de Wiel Clemens C. M.
Published: December 2023

By using gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas, precise modifications can be made in the genome. CRISPR/Cas is especially valuable for targeted mutagenesis in polyploids, as it can induce mutations of multiple alleles simultaneously, to obtain regenerants that are homozygous for the desired mutation. A range of gene-edited traits have been developed in hexaploid bread wheat, including various nutrition and health-related traits, plant architecture, pest and disease resistance, tolerance to abiotic stress, and traits that enable more efficient breeding. Wheat is also known as a cause of some human diseases, particularly coeliac disease (CD), with a prevalence of 1–2% of the population. In the EU alone, at least 4.5 million people suffer from it. CD is a chronic inflammation of the small intestine, induced and maintained in genetically predisposed individuals by the consumption of gluten proteins from wheat, barley and rye. As there is no cure, patients must follow a life-long gluten-free diet. The dominant epitopes in gluten proteins that trigger the disease, have been characterized, but they cannot be removed by classical breeding without affecting baking quality, as it concerns over 100 gluten genes that occur partly as blocks of genes in the genome of wheat. Using gene editing, two studies have shown that it is possible to modify the epitopes in several alpha- and gamma-gliadins simultaneously, while deleting some of the genes completely. In some lines more than 80% of the alpha-gliadin genes were modified. These proof-of-principle studies show that it is feasible to use gene editing, along with other breeding approaches, to completely remove the CD epitopes from bread wheat. Gene-edited coeliac-safe wheat will have economic, social and environmental impact on food security, nutrition and public health, but the realisation will (partially) depend on new European legislation for plants produced by gene editing.
Genome Editing in Forest Trees
Authors: Bruegmann Tobias , Fendel Alexander , Zahn Virginia , Fladung Matthias
Published: December 2023

Since the first CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing of poplar in 2015, an increasing number of tree species are being genome-edited. Although the availability of genome sequences, tissue culture and transformation systems are limiting factors, research is ongoing on advanced methods such as DNA-free genome editing and gene targeting approaches in addition to the optimisation of single gene knockouts. These can be used to address ambitious issues and perform genome editing more accurately, which has implications for the legal assessment of edited trees. Once technically established, CRISPR/Cas can be used to circumvent specific challenges related to forest tree species, e.g., longevity and extended vegetative phases, and to modify traits relevant for breeding, whether for direct application or to elucidate the genetic basis of individual traits. Not least due to climate change, adaptation to abiotic stress such as drought stress as well as biotic stresses caused by pathogens are strongly in focus. For the use as a renewable resource and as a carbon sink, wood productivity in forest trees as well as wood properties are of interest. In biosafety assessments, tree-specific aspects have to be considered, which result, among other aspects, from the long lifespan.
Breeding for Yield Quality Parameters and Abiotic Stress in Tomato Using Genome Editing
Authors: García-Caparrós Pedro
Published: December 2023

Growing tomatoes is an important aspect of agriculture around the world because of the positive effects it has on people’s health and the economy. Tomato breeders and growers have always been inspired by the market’s insatiable desire for high-yielding and high-quality tomatoes. Crop production, yield, and quality are all negatively affected by abiotic stress, which includes factors like drought, salinity, heat, and cold. As climate change alters weather patterns throughout the world, farmers around the world are increasingly worried about the effects of abiotic stress on their tomato crops. The CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tool has attracted attention as an alternative for solving the need for high-yield and superior-quality tomatoes, as well as for managing abiotic stress in tomato plants. This method of gene editing offers new possibilities for the development of stress-tolerant tomato varieties. The present book chapter provides a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on CRISPR/Cas9 and its potential implications in tomato agriculture, with a particular emphasis on enhancing yield quality and conferring resistance to abiotic stresses. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology has the potential to enhance the taste, appearance, and nutritional value of tomatoes by accurately altering the genes responsible for flavor, color, aroma, and nutrition. The previously mentioned condition could end up in the cultivation of tomatoes that exhibit heightened levels of sweetness, as well as elevated concentrations of crucial vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The application of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated modifications has the possibility to augment the plant’s capacity to endure abiotic stress conditions through the introduction of genes implicated in different pathways that contribute to enhanced resilience to such challenging surroundings. In conclusion, the use of CRISPR/Cas9 offers an intriguing chance for improving tomato farming through the enhancement of crop quality and yield, as well as the strengthening of tomato plants against adverse abiotic conditions.
The Awareness of the Polish Society on New Genomic Techniques
Authors: Mołodziejko Wiktoria , Nowakowska Justyna , Linkiewicz Anna
Published: December 2023

New genomic techniques (NGTs) are challenging from an ethical perspective as well as from the legal and regulatory point of view. Acceptance of solutions by society is a factor that can determine the success of a technology. Increasingly, there is a growing gap between the solutions offered by biotechnology and the public, which with certain ambiguity evaluates biotechnological innovations. Here we investigate the level of knowledge of Polish society on NGTs and the perception of this techniques. Our survey was carried out on a representative group of Polish citizens from August 2022 till January 2023, and was based on a 3-part self-developed questionnaire. Questions concerned: (i) demographic characteristics, (ii) the knowledge of the NGTs including the legal state of the NGT after a ruling European Court of Justice (Case C-528/16) and (iii) respondent’s attitudes towards the NGTs. As result, only 15% of respondents (n = 194) gave the correct definition of NGTs, 43% the respondents never encountered the term NGTs, and 35% could not define it. The majority of respondents recognised the potential benefits of using the technology in agriculture as well as in healthcare, but they were not convinced about the potential personal use of NGTs if they were allowed in Poland.
Novel Delivery Methods for CRISPR-Based Plant Genome Editing
Authors: Prestwich Barbara Doyle , Cardi Teodoro , Bakhsh Allah , Nicolia Alessandro , Bhati Kaushal Kumar
Published: December 2023

Using modern genome editing tools, scientists are increasingly able to engineer animals and plants for better traits and improved downstream outcomes that benefit humans. As part of the CRISPR-Cas system, guide RNA (gRNA) is used to identify the target sequence, while Cas is an endonuclease that performs the nucleotide cleavage. It is imperative that these two components are delivered to the nucleus of the cell in order to ensure an optimal editing process. As a consequence of differences in the cellular structure and biomolecular composition of the outer membrane, plants are not capable of being cloned genetically in the same manner as animal cells. A more optimized method and pipeline must be developed to improve the efficiency of transformations and genome editing for plants. In this book chapter, we highlight traditional and novel delivery methods used for optimal delivery of plant genome editing components. We discuss the potential and limitations of these methods in the light of recent literature and available experimental validations.
Rolle der Digitalisierung für kreislauffähiges Bauen
Authors: Gebetsroither Michaela , Honic Meliha , Kovacic Iva , Löffler Christoph , Marx Klemens , Pamminger Rainer , Robbi Steffen , Sustr Christian , Schützenhofer Stefan , Weber Gundula
Published: December 2023

Wie bereits beschrieben, setzen die regulativen Anforderungen zur Erfüllung kreislauffähigen Bauens und die darauf aufbauenden Gebäudezertifizierungen hohe und komplexe Anforderungen an Nachweisführung und Bauwerksdokumentation. Es ist nötig zu wissen, welche Baustoffe und Materialien, Komponenten und technische Gerätschaften in welchen Mengen, Massen und Qualitätsstandards verbaut sind. Es soll auch nach Jahren der Betriebsführung noch nachweisbar sein, wie die Trennbarkeit und Demontierbarkeit von Schichtaufbauten möglich ist und welchen Anteil an Recyclingmaterial die verbauten Produkte beinhalten.
Erstellung eines BIM basierten Gebäudepass
Authors: Gebetsroither Michaela , Honic Meliha , Kovacic Iva , Löffler Christoph , Marx Klemens , Pamminger Rainer , Robbi Steffen , Sustr Christian , Schützenhofer Stefan , Weber Gundula
Published: December 2023

Nachfolgend wird die Erstellung eines digitalen Gebäudepasses zum Nachweis kreislauffähigen Bauens mit zwei in Österreich etablierten Anbietern beschrieben. Geprüft wird dabei auch die Eignung von BIM als Datengrundlage.
The Modular Isomorphism Problem and Abelian Direct Factors
Authors: García-Lucas Diego
Published: December 2023

Let p be a prime and let G be a finite p-group. We show that the isomorphism type of the maximal abelian direct factor of G, as well as the isomorphism type of the group algebra over $${{\mathbb {F}}}_p$$

F
p

of the non-abelian remaining direct factor, if existing, are determined by $${{\mathbb {F}}}_p G$$

F
p

G

, generalizing the main result in Margolis et al. (Abelian invariants and a reduction theorem for the modular isomorphism problem, Journal of Algebra 636, 533-559 (2023)) over the prime field. To do this, we address the problem of finding characteristic subgroups of G such that their relative augmentation ideals depend only on the k-algebra structure of kG, where k is any field of characteristic p, and relate it to the modular isomorphism problem, extending and reproving some known results.
Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in Human Colorectal Cancer Using RNASeq Data Validated on the Molecular Level with Real-Time PCR
Authors: Elsayed Aya M. A. , Oweda Mariam , Abushady Asmaa M. , Alhelf Maha , Khalil Shaimaa R. M. , Tawfik Mohamed S. , Al-Atabany Walid , El-Hadidi Mohamed
Published: December 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Late diagnosis is a significant contributor to low survival rates in a minority of cases. The study aimed to perform a robust pipeline using integrated bioinformatics tools that will enable us to identify potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for early detection of CRC by exploring differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In addition to, testing the capability of replacing chemotherapy with plant extract in CRC treatment by validating it using real-time PCR. RNA-seq data from cancerous and adjacent normal tissues were pre-processed and analyzed using various tools such as FastQC, Kallisto, DESeq@ R package, g:Profiler, GNEMANIA-CytoScape and CytoHubba, resulting in the identification of 1641 DEGs enriched in various signaling routes. MMP7, TCF21, and VEGFD were found to be promising diagnostic biomarkers for CRC. An in vitro experiment was conducted to examine the potential anticancer properties of 5-fluorouracile, Withania somnifera extract, and their combination. The extract was found to exhibit a positive trend in gene expression and potential therapeutic value by targeting the three genes; however, further trials are required to regulate the methylation promoter. Molecular docking tests supported the findings by revealing a stable ligand-receptor complex. In conclusion, the study’s analysis workflow is precise and robust in identifying DEGs in CRC that may serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the identified DEGs can be used in future research with larger sample sizes to analyze CRC survival.
Elevated temperature and nutrients lead to increased N2O emissions from salt marsh soils from cold and warm climates
Authors: Comer-Warner Sophie A. , Ullah Sami , Dey Arunabha , Stagg Camille L. , Elsey-Quirk Tracy , Swarzenski Christopher M. , Sgouridis Fotis , Krause Stefan , Chmura Gail L.
Published: December 2023

Salt marshes can attenuate nutrient pollution and store large amounts of ‘blue carbon’ in their soils, however, the value of sequestered carbon may be partially offset by nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Global climate and land use changes result in higher temperatures and inputs of reactive nitrogen (Nr) into coastal zones. Here, we investigated the combined effects of elevated temperature (ambient + 5℃) and Nr (double ambient concentrations) on nitrogen processing in marsh soils from two climatic regions (Quebec, Canada and Louisiana, U.S.) with two vegetation types, Sporobolus alterniflorus (= Spartina alterniflora) and Sporobolus pumilus (= Spartina patens), using 24-h laboratory incubation experiments. Potential N2O fluxes increased from minor sinks to major sources following elevated treatments across all four marsh sites. One day of potential N2O emissions under elevated treatments (representing either long-term sea surface warming or short-term ocean heatwaves effects on coastal marsh soil temperatures alongside pulses of N loading) offset 15–60% of the potential annual ambient N2O sink, depending on marsh site and vegetation type. Rates of potential denitrification were generally higher in high latitude than in low latitude marsh soils under ambient treatments, with low ratios of N2O:N2 indicating complete denitrification in high latitude marsh soils. Under elevated temperature and Nr treatments, potential denitrification was lower in high latitude soil but higher in low latitude soil as compared to ambient conditions, with incomplete denitrification observed except in Louisiana S. pumilus. Overall, our findings suggest that a combined increase in temperature and Nr has the potential to reduce salt marsh greenhouse gas (GHG) sinks under future global change scenarios.
Central Industries in the Ecuadorian Input–Output Network. An Application of Social Network Analysis
Authors: Ramírez-Álvarez José , Chungandro-Carranco Vanessa , Montenegro-Rosero Nathaly , Guevara-Rosero Carolina
Published: December 2023

The present study identifies the most influential industries in Ecuador according to the Input–Output Table for 2019. For this purpose, four weighted centrality indices are used from Social Network Analysis: Degree Centrality, Closeness Centrality, Betweenness Centrality, and Alpha Centrality. The results suggest that wholesale and retail trade, transportation, and professional activities are the most influential in the Ecuadorian economy due to their high centrality in commercial relationships. According to Chenery and Watanabe's methodology, all are base sectors, that is, they mainly are supply-driven. So, these centrality measures highlight the relevance of sectors based on their forward linkages. This result is not surprising. The theory of shock diffusion suggests that productive shocks on high centrality sectors can spread cascading effects downstream and generate aggregate fluctuations.
Combined effects of drought and simulated pathogen attack on root exudation rates of tomatoes
Authors: Preece Catherine , Yang Kaijun , Llusià Joan , Winkler Jana Barbro , Schnitzler Jörg-Peter , Peñuelas Josep
Published: December 2023

Background and aims

Food production is threatened by direct climate change effects including drought. Indirect effects, including changes in plant-pathogen dynamics and increased susceptibility to pathogens, further exacerbate the risks. Root exudation, which plays a crucial role in plant defence against drought and pathogens, is influenced by both water stress and pathogens. However, the interactive effects of these abiotic and biotic factors are rarely studied.

Methods

We conducted a controlled environment experiment to investigate the effects of moderate drought and simulated pathogen attack (using pipecolic acid, an inducer of systemic acquired resistance) on the rates of root exudation of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) of four tomato cultivars grown in potting soil.

Results

Drought increased the exudation of TOC and TN per unit of root area, while pipecolic acid did not have any significant effect. Furthermore, there was no interaction observed between the abiotic and biotic factors. However, due to the reduction in plant and root biomass caused by drought, the total exudation per plant remained similar between control and water-limited plants. Additionally, pipecolic acid reduced the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of exudates and increased the total exudation of TN.

Conclusion

The increased exudation observed in drought-stressed plants may serve as a strategy to maintain root and rhizosphere activity despite reduced root growth. Notably, the impact of drought differed among the tested cultivars, highlighting their diverse levels of drought tolerance. This emphasises the importance of preserving a wide range of crop cultivars to ensure food security under increasing drought.
Dalea verticillata (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Amorpheae), una nueva especie de Oaxaca, México y segunda para el subgénero Psoropteris
Authors: Durán Ramiro Cruz , Gutiérrez Daniel Sandoval , Mendoza Abisaí García
Published: December 2023

Dalea verticillata is described and illustrated as a new species from Oaxaca, Mexico. Dalea verticillata is similar to D. filiciformis, but it is distinguished by having whorled leaves (vs. alternate in D. filiciformis), with a greater number of leaflets ((31–)39–63(–69) vs. (11–)13–29(–37)), longer stipules (4.5–8 mm vs. 0.3–1.5 mm), reflexed (vs. ascending), persistent (vs. deciduous), terminal panicle inflorescences (vs. axillary racemes), and the wing petals subelliptic (vs. ovate). This is the second species of the hitherto monospecific subgenus Psoropteris, and the whorled-leaf character is recorded for the first time in the genus Dalea.
Prevalence and Predictors of Hemorrhagic Foci on Long-term Follow-up MRI of Recent Single Subcortical Infarcts
Authors: Jiang Shuai , Shang Wen-Zuo , Cui Jing-Yu , Yan Yu-Ying , Yang Tang , Hu Yi , Cao Le , Yue Xun , Pan Ruo-Su , Ye Chen , Sun Jia-Yu , Wu Bo
Published: December 2023

Hemorrhagic foci surrounding the lacune in the long-term evolution of recent single subcortical infarcts (RSSIs) remains largely unexplored. We aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of hemorrhagic foci in patients with RSSI. From a prospective, longitudinal study of RSSIs, we recruited patients who underwent multimodal MRI assessments both at baseline and approximately one year after the stroke onset. Hemorrhagic foci were identified using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). Among 101 patients with RSSI, nearly half (n = 45, 44.6%) had hemorrhagic foci within the index RSSI lesions on follow-up SWI. RSSIs with hemorrhagic foci formation were associated with a longer time to follow-up imaging (median 449 versus 401 days, P = 0.005) and higher likelihood of being located in the anterior circulation compared to those without hemorrhagic foci (88.9% versus 64.3%, P = 0.003). Hemorrhagic foci were also associated with larger lesion size (P < 0.001), a higher proportion of cavitation formation (P = 0.003), higher baseline NIHSS scores (P = 0.004), and poorer functional outcomes (P = 0.001). In the subset of RSSIs in the lenticulostriate artery (LSA) territory, after adjustment for covariates, larger initial lesion volume (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.13–2.87; P = 0.014) and greater decreases in LSA total length (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36–0.96; P = 0.035) were independently associated with hemorrhagic foci formation. The extent of ischemia in the initial infarct is predictive of the presence of hemorrhagic residues. Our findings contribute to the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the evolution of RSSIs.
Quaternionic metamonogenic functions in the unit disk
Authors: Morais J. , Michael Porter R.
Published: December 2023

We construct a set of quaternionic metamonogenic functions (that is, in $${{\,\textrm{Ker}\,}}(D+\lambda )$$

Ker

(
D
+
λ
)

for diverse real $$\lambda $$
λ
) in the unit disk, such that every metamonogenic function is approximable in the quaternionic Hilbert module $$L^2$$

L
2

of the disk. The set is orthogonal except for the small subspace of elements of orders zero and one. These functions are used to express time-dependent solutions of the imaginary-time wave equation in the polar coordinate system.
Sweet dreams, bright futures: the relationship between sleep duration and health, income and education
Authors: Berry-Cabán Cristóbal S. , Beltran Thomas A. , Han Rachel H. , McKiernan Sharon P. , Choi Y. Sammy
Published: December 2023

Purpose

To examine the relationship between sleep duration and health, income, and education.

Methods

Sleep, demographic, income, education and wellness data from 49,365 participants aged 18 years and older were sourced from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is a cross-sectional telephone survey conducted by state health departments with technical and methodological assistance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Self-reported sleep duration was assessed as well as self-perceptions of health and wellness.

Results

Individuals with average daily sleep durations between 7 and 9 h reported significantly better physical and mental wellness as compared to those who reported fewer than 7 h or more than 9 h of sleep per day (p < 0.001). Similarly, individuals reporting adequate sleep duration of 7–9 h per day also reported the highest self-ratings of overall health and life satisfaction (p < 0.001), the highest levels of income, and the greatest percentage of 4-year college degrees of the three sleep duration groups.

Conclusion

This study suggests that adequate sleep is associated with better health, higher income, and higher education. Whether adequate sleep resulted in, or was a result of, better health, higher income and higher education, a relationship between them is clear.
A Communitarian Theory of WTO Law
Authors: Carmody Chios
Published: December 2023

Since 1995 there has been intense debate about whether the WTO Agreement is just. Many observers point to the association of the treaty with intensive interdependence and the disruptive effects of globalization to assert that it is unjust. Nevertheless, justice in sovereign terms is different from justice in human terms. This book puts forward a theory of WTO law to explain the difference and its implications for the international trading system. It details how economic interdependence gives rise to an interdependent view of the relationship between different forms of justice and to interdependent obligations in WTO law. It also suggests how the WTO dispute settlement system might have a residual value as a locus for transformative outcomes despite contemporary concerns about the system's political acceptability. Taken together, such insights may assist in identifying elements of a general theory of law.
Kant on Freedom, Nature, and Judgment
Authors: Sweet Kristi
Published: December 2023

Kant's Critique of Judgment seems not to be an obviously unified work. Unlike other attempts to comprehend it as a unity, which treat it as serving either practical or theoretical interests, Kristi Sweet's book posits it as examining a genuinely independent sphere of human life. In her in-depth account of Kant's Critical philosophical system, Sweet argues that the Critique addresses the question: for what may I hope? The answer is given in Kant's account of 'territory,' a region of experience that both underlies and mediates between freedom and nature. Territory forms the context in which purposiveness without a purpose, the Ideal of Beauty, the sensus communis, genius and aesthetic ideas, and Kant's conception of life and proof of God are best interpreted. Encounters in this sphere are shown to refer us to a larger, more cosmic sense of a whole to which both freedom and nature belong.
Between Immunity and Impunity
Authors: Zabyelina Yuliya
Published: December 2023

How do top-level public officials take advantage of immunity from foreign jurisdiction afforded to them by international law? How does the immunity entitlement allow them to thwart investigations and trial proceedings in foreign courts? What responses exist to prevent and punish such conduct? In Between Immunity and Impunity, Yuliya Zabyelina unravels the intricate layers of impunity of political elites complicit in transnational crimes. By examining cases of trafficking in persons and drugs, corruption, and money laundering that implicate heads of state and of government, ministers, diplomats, and international civil servants, she shows that, despite the potential of international law immunity to impede or delay justice, there are prominent instruments of external accountability. Accessible and compelling, this book provides novel insights for readers interested in the close-knit bond between power, illicit wealth, and impunity.
The Poetics of Prophecy
Authors: Raz Yosefa
Published: December 2023

Since the mid-1700s, poets and scholars have been deeply entangled in the project of reinventing prophecy. Moving between literary and biblical studies, this book reveals how Romantic poetry is linked to modern biblical scholarship's development. On the one hand, scholars, intellectuals, and artists discovered models of strong prophecy in biblical texts, shoring up aesthetic and nationalist ideals, while on the other, poets drew upon a counter-tradition of destabilizing, indeterminate, weak prophetic power. Yosefa Raz considers British and German Romanticism alongside their margins, incorporating Hebrew literature written at the turn of the twentieth century in the Russia Empire. Ultimately she explains the weakness of modern poet-prophets not only as a crisis of secularism but also, strikingly, as part of the instability of the biblical text itself. This title is part of the Flip it Open Programme and may also be available Open Access. Check our website Cambridge Core for details.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury including Concussion
Authors: Parker Thomas D. , Griffin Colette
Published: December 2023

Most traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases are considered mild. Precise definitions vary, but typically, loss of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia duration is brief (e.g. <30 minutes and <24 hours respectively), and standard imaging is normal. Prognosis in mild TBI is generally good, but disabling persistent symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, affective and cognitive issues are common. A focussed assessment tailored to each individual symptom is crucial for management. Advanced MRI and blood-based biomarkers of mild TBI are emerging and are likely to play an increasingly important role in the assessment of patients following a head injury.
Persianate Verse and the Poetics of Eastern Internationalism
Authors: Hodgkin Samuel
Published: December 2023

At the height of literary nationalisms in the twentieth century, leftist internationalists from Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, India, and the Soviet East bonded over their shared love of the classical Persian verses of Hafiz and Khayyam. At writers' congresses and in communist literary journals, they affirmed their friendship and solidarity with lyric ghazals and ruba'iyat. Persianate poetry became the cultural commons for a distinctively Eastern internationalism, shaping national literatures in the Soviet Union, the Middle East, and South Asia. By the early Cold War, the literary entanglement between Persianate culture and communism had established models for cultural decolonization that would ultimately outlast the Soviet imperial project. In the archive of literature produced under communism in Persian, Tajik, Dari, Turkish, Uzbek, Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian, this book finds a vital alternative to Western globalized world literature.
Exploring fs-laser irradiation damage subthreshold behavior of dielectric mirrors via electrical measurements
Authors: Bleotu Petrisor Gabriel , Udrea Radu , Dumitru Alice , Uteza Olivier , Mihai Maria-Diana , Matei Dan Gh , Ursescu Daniel , Irimiciuc Stefan , Craciun Valentin
Published: December 2023

With ultrafast laser systems reaching presently 10 PW peak power or operating at high repetition rates, research towards ensuring the long-term, trouble-free performance of all laser-exposed optical components is critical. Our work is focused on providing insight into the optical material behavior at fluences below the standardized laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) value by implementing a simultaneous dual analysis of surface emitted particles using a Langmuir probe (LP) and the target current (TC).${\mathrm{HfO}}_2$and${\mathrm{ZrO}}_2$thin films deposited on fused silica substrates by pulsed laser deposition at various${\mathrm{O}}_2$pressures for defect and stoichiometry control were irradiated by Gaussian, ultrashort laser pulses (800 nm, 10 Hz, 70 fs) in a wide range of fluences. Both TC and LP collected signals were in good agreement with the existing theoretical description of laser–matter interaction at an ultrashort time scale. Our approach for anin situLIDT monitoring system provides measurable signals for below-threshold irradiation conditions that indicate the endurance limit of the optical surfaces in the single-shot energy scanning mode. The LIDT value extracted from the LP-TC system is in line with the multipulse statistical analysis done with ISO 21254-2:2011(E). The implementation of the LP and TC as on-shot diagnostic tools for optical components will have a significant impact on the reliability of next-generation ultrafast and high-power laser systems.
Celebrating Neurodivergence amid Social Injustice
Authors: Krazinski Meaghan
Published: December 2023

Burgeoning narratives of neurodivergence increase representation in media, producing an unprecedented visibility and awareness of what it means to be neurodivergent in a neurotypical world. In this article I examine the ways in which a neurodivergent subject position can provide liberatory insights into oppressive patriarchal gender structures, while exploring productive tensions of the histories and lineages of neurodivergence marked by inequities, erasure, and epistemic injustice (Catala et al. 2021). Although self-diagnosis is often accepted among communities, individuals without diagnosis face delegitimization in navigating institutions, accentuating race, class, and gender disparities. How do we honor a lineage of stories of neurodivergent individuals who could not claim this identity, and what does it mean to celebrate neurodiversity and simultaneously hold space and honor the absences marked by intersecting oppressions? Using Maria Lugones's world-traveling as a method, I reflect on these tensions via narratives of my own discovery of neurodivergence and diagnosis, contextualizing it within a larger lineage of neurodivergent family who do not identify as such, as well as my encounters with varying levels of access, privilege, and understanding. I position my autoethnographic analysis against anecdotes and discursive media of the neurodiversity movement, finding that an autistic subject position complicates both femininity and gender.
The magnetised plasma Richtmyer–Meshkov instability: elastic collisions in an ion–electron multifluid plasma
Authors: Tapinou Kyriakos Christos , Wheatley Vincent , Bond Daryl
Published: December 2023

The influence of an applied magnetic field on the collisional plasma Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) is investigated through numerical simulation. The instability is studied within the five-moment multifluid plasma model without any simplifying assumptions such as infinite speed of light, negligible electron inertia or quasineutrality. The plasma is composed of ion and electron fluids, and elastic collisions are modelled with the Braginskii transport coefficients. A collisional regime is investigated and the magnetic field is applied in the direction of shock propagation, which is perpendicular to the density interface. The primary instability is influenced by several terms affecting the evolution of circulation, the most significant of which are the baroclinic, magnetic field torque and intraspecies collisional terms. The applied magnetic field results in a reduction of interface perturbation growth, agreeing qualitatively with previous numerical simulations for the case of an ideal multifluid plasma RMI. The only major difference in the present case's instability mitigation by applied magnetic field, relative to the ideal case with applied magnetic field, is that the elastic collisions replace and obstruct the secondary vorticity suppression mechanism through collisional dissipation of vorticity. Additionally the collisions, influenced by the combination of self-generated and the applied magnetic field, introduce anisotropy to the problem. The primary suppression mechanism for the RMI is unchanged relative to the ideal case, i.e. the magnetic field torque resisting baroclinic deposition of vorticity in the ion fluid.
Landscapes and Bandits: A Unified Model of Functional and Demographic Diversity
Authors: Huang Alice C. W.
Published: December 2023

Two types of formal models—landscape search tasks and two-armed bandit models—are often used to study the effects that various social factors have on epistemic performance. I argue that they can be understood within a single framework. In this unified framework, I develop a model that may be used to understand the effects of functional and demographic diversity and their interaction. Using the unified model, I find that the benefit of demographic diversity is most pronounced in a functionally homogeneous group, and decreases with increasing functional diversity.
System fertilization in the pasture phase enhances productivity in integrated crop–livestock systems
Authors: Freitas C. M. , Yasuoka J. I. , Pires G. C. , Gama J. P. , Oliveira L.G. S. , Davi J. E. A. , Silva L. S. , Silva I. A. G. , Bremm C. , Carvalho P. C. F. , Moraes A. , Souza E. D.
Published: December 2023

Different fertilization strategies can be adopted to optimize the productive components of an integrated crop–livestock systems. The current research evaluated how the application of P and K to soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) or Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. D. Webster cv. BRS Piatã associated with nitrogen or without nitrogen in the pasture phase affects the accumulation and chemical composition of forage and animal productivity. The treatments were distributed in randomized blocks with three replications. Four fertilization strategies were tested: (1) conventional fertilization with P and K in the crop phase (CF–N); (2) conventional fertilization with nitrogen in the pasture phase (CF + N); (3) system fertilization with P and K in the pasture phase (SF–N); (4) system fertilization with nitrogen in the pasture phase (SF + N). System fertilization increased forage accumulation from 15 710 to 20 920 kg DM ha/year compared to conventional without nitrogen. Stocking rate (3.1 vs. 2.8 AU/ha; SEM = 0.12) and gain per area (458 vs. 413 kg BW/ha; SEM = 27.9) were higher in the SF–N than CF–N, although the average daily gain was lower (0.754 vs. 0.792 kg LW/day; SEM = 0.071). N application in the pasture phase, both, conventional and system fertilization resulted in higher crude protein, stocking rate and gain per area. Applying nitrogen and relocate P and K from crop to pasture phase increase animal productivity and improve forage chemical composition in integrated crop–livestock system.
A critical assessment of Bruce L. McCormack's christological proposal
Authors: Irving Alex
Published: December 2023

Bruce L. McCormack's recent christological proposal intends to move beyond the apparent impasse in theological discourse between God's aseity and God's world relation. In describing the second mode of divine being as personally constituted by receptivity to the human Jesus of Nazareth without losing the logos asarkos, McCormack's proposed christological innovation offers a way to consider relation to the world as proper to God through the Son, without absolute pronobeity coming to dominate in the doctrine of God. This being said, his christological proposal, as it stands, implies both that election is antecedent to triunity and that the person of Jesus of Nazareth is antecedent to the act of the incarnation. With the former comes the problem of sequence in the priority of divine act over divine being. With the latter comes the problem of offering a unified account of two agencies. As such, while ontological receptivity continues to hold significant possibilities for the doctrine of God, it requires more careful coordination to the relation of passive generation as such.
OP04 The Efficacy Of Segmentectomy And Lobectomy For Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhao Kai , Xue Xinyu , Yu Jiajie , Li Youping
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The latest clinical practice guidelines for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network in 2022 recommend that patients with NSCLC (>1 and ≤2 cm) should be diagnosed as T1b. Segmentectomy and lobectomy are equally effective in treating patients with NSCLC no bigger than 2 cm, and especially for tumors no bigger than 1 cm. However, the effectiveness of these treatments for NSCLC tumors between 1 and 2 cm is unknown. We conducted a systemic review and meta- analysis to assess the efficacy of these two surgical treatments in patients with T1b stage NSCLC.

Methods

We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies investigating the efficacy of lobectomy and segmentectomy for patients with T1b stage NSCLC. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Quality in Prognosis Studies tool. We used random effects models to analyze overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS), expressed as hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The effect of covariates was assessed using subgroup analysis. All procedures were performed according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Results

We identified ten cohort studies that matched our selection criteria, with general low risk of quality, including a total of 37,691 patients. No publication bias was found. Compared to lobectomy, segmentectomy had lower OS (HR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.47; p=0.026) and LCSS (HR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.42, p=0.015) before Cox regression. After multivariable Cox regression, adjusted by age, sex, histological type, and lymph node section, segmentectomy had similar OS (HR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.37; p=0.2) and LCSS (HR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.36; p=0.8).

Conclusions

Segmentectomy can be used to treat patients with T1b stage NSCLC. Patients who undergo segmentectomy have survival outcomes that are the same as those of patients who received lobectomy. This evidence-based observation provides a reference for surgical choice in the treatment of patients with T1b stage NSCLC, which should be further confirmed through RCTs.
OP13 Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Of Sintilimab Plus Chemotherapy For The First-Line Treatment Of Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Societal Perspective
Authors: Li Fuming , Yang Yi , Xiao Dunming , Chen Yingyao
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Sintilimab is an IgG4 anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody that has a high-affinity blocking interaction with PD-1 and its ligands. The updated ORIENT-11 study showed that sintilimab plus chemotherapy significantly prolonged progression-free and overall survival, compared with chemotherapy alone, in the first-line treatment of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In China, it is uncertain whether sintilimab is a cost-effective alternative to standard immunotherapy.

Methods

A partitioned survival model with three health states (including progression-free survival, disease progression, and death) was constructed from the Chinese societal perspective using a three-week cycle with a lifetime horizon (16 years). Individual patient data were captured from the updated ORIENT-11 study, and high-risk and clinically severe adverse events were specifically added to the states. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were the primary outcomes. Costs, health productivity losses, and utilities were derived from questionnaires and supplemented by expert opinion and literature review. All costs were expressed in 2021 USD, and costs and QALYs were discounted at an annual rate of five percent. Sensitivity analyses and scenario analyses considering the healthcare system perspective were performed to explore model uncertainty.

Results

Patients receiving sintilimab plus chemotherapy incurred a mean total cost of USD67,727 and gained 2.5 QALYs during the lifetime period, compared with USD40,530 and 1.5 QALYs for patients receiving standard chemotherapy. The corresponding ICER was USD27,665 per QALY in China. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of three times the gross domestic product per capita in China (USD37,663), sintilimab plus chemotherapy was the optimal treatment in 84 percent of replications. Deterministic sensitivity analysis showed that the most significant driving determinant was the discount rate of costs and QALYs. An ICER of USD21,020 per QALY was obtained from the Chinese healthcare system, validating the robustness of the cost-effectiveness analysis.

Conclusions

Compared with standard chemotherapy, sintilimab plus chemotherapy is a cost-effective treatment regimen for non-squamous NSCLC in China. Thus, sintilimab may benefit Chinese patients and should be promoted by decision makers.
OP18 Laying The Foundation For Sustainable Health Technology Assessment Training Program In Ukraine
Authors: Kievit Wietske , Janssen Jip , Oortwijn Wija , Voitenko Anton , Piniazhko Oresta , Sucu Rabia
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Since 2017, health technology assessment (HTA) has been included in the Ukrainian Health Law fundamentals and its implementation has accelerated since it became mandatory in 2020. SAFEMed has been supporting the Ministry of Health in integrating HTA into the decision-making ecosystem and building capacity in HTA. In this 2022 to 2023 project, we aimed to create and conduct HTA training for doers, users, and trainers based on a developed model curriculum for an HTA master’s program, and to identify sets of criteria for successful training and training centers.

Methods

First, we reviewed websites and documents of current academic HTA master’s and advanced programs worldwide. Second, we performed an assessment of the training needs of HTA doers, users, and trainers in Ukraine using an online survey that captured level of experience and knowledge gaps. Third, we reviewed the capacity and quality requirements of existing academic centers that provide HTA training.

Results

We identified seven HTA master’s programs globally, which covered five HTA domains: (i) health problem and current use of the technology; (ii) description and technical characteristics; (iii) safety; (iv) clinical effectiveness; and (v) costs and economic evaluations. Other aspects of HTA, such as ethical, legal, social, and cultural aspects were also covered, but not in all programs. The needs assessment was completed by 40 doers (53%), users (43%), and potential trainers (5%) of HTA in Ukraine. Specific knowledge gaps included: comparative effectiveness, health economics, qualitative evidence synthesis, patient and public involvement, and ethical issues. The proposed program addresses these gaps and includes an introduction to HTA that is in line with the new HTA definition. We also generated a minimum set of quality assurance criteria to ensure successful training and to develop efficient training centers for delivering HTA programs.

Conclusions

Our study provides a strong foundation for planning and conducting sustainable HTA training for current and future doers, users, and trainers in Ukraine, which can be an example for other countries wishing to increase HTA capacity.
OP27 Impact Of Generic Entry Of Pharmaceuticals On Drug Prices In Australia
Authors: PG-Jones Arun , Serra-Sastre Victoria , Kim Hansoo
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Policy makers are keen to introduce cost containment measures in medicine spending due to aging populations and fiscal pressure. A major price reform was applied to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in 2014. This aimed to stimulate price reductions by increasing competition among generics, amidst growing evidence at the time of unnecessarily high generic medicine prices in Australia. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of patent expiration and generic competition on drug prices, while controlling for other determinants of drug prices in Australia.

Methods

A dataset from publicly available sources was constructed using monthly data on the price of drugs listed on the PBS from October 2014 to July 2022. The information included the generic drug name, item code, date, approved ex-manufacturer price, dispensed price per maximum quantity, and brand names. This was supplemented with monthly government spending and number of prescriptions filled per item code. A fixed effects regression model was used to estimate the effect of patent expiration and generic competition on dispensed drug prices.

Results

The model estimated that introducing generics in Australia led to an 18 percent decrease in prices, excluding further decreases resulting from other controlled variables. The price elasticity of total prescriptions filled was estimated to be -0.6, suggesting that a one percent increase in prescriptions filled resulted in drug prices being lowered by 0.6 percent. This reflects the fact that, on average, firms reacted by reducing prices to increase market share when faced with an increase in quantity demanded. Each extra competitor was estimated to result in a reduction in prices of roughly 1.8 percent.

Conclusions

These results show that entry of generics into the Australian pharmaceutical market resulted in a significant reduction in drug prices. However, this alone does not provide empirical support for the effectiveness of these price reforms in generating savings by inducing generic competition, especially over other forms of pharmaceutical regulation.