Functional equivalence in early-stage decomposition between restored and remnant salt marshes despite differences in associated microbial communities.

Many neuropeptides have been widely conserved across species during evolution. Valuable insights may be gained by studying their biological activity in different species and identifying common functions. Standard basic local alignment search tool for proteins (BLASTP) searches often fail to detect homologous counterparts in distantly related species such as Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans, despite evidence for functional equivalents. This can be remedied by employing distant homology BLASTP with less stringent search parameters. Here, I describe the use of BLASTP searches with relaxed settings to identify the functional counterparts of kisspeptin and amylin or islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in C. elegans. By increasing the E-value and relaxing other parameters, the list of potential homologs was expanded. Follow-up analysis to validate attractive hits included searches with sequences of neuropeptides from other species and convergence of the search results on recurring hits. Strong candidates for functional counterparts of kisspeptin and IAPP were found with this approach. Moreover, the hybrid structure (part RFamide and part calcitonin-like hormone) of one hit-FLP-12-suggested that a shared distant ancestor may have been duplicated and the two copies then diverged into separate RFamide and peptide hormone families. Low homology BLASTP searching is a powerful method for identifying distant relatives of neuropeptides and for characterizing their evolutionary relationship to ancient common ancestors.

Chronic kidney disease is a major health issue and is gaining prevalence. Using a Drosophila model for chronic kidney disease, we show that a high-fat diet (HFD) disrupts the slit diaphragm filtration structure in nephrocytes, the fly functional equivalent of mammalian podocytes. The structural disruption resulted in reduced filtration function in the affected nephrocytes. We demonstrate that HFD activates the JAK-STAT pathway in nephrocytes, which has previously been linked to diabetic kidney disease. JAK-STAT activation was initiated by increased expression and release of the adipokine, Upd2, from the fat body. This leptin-like hormone is a known ligand of JAK-STAT. Both genetic and pharmacological inhibition of JAK-STAT restored nephrocyte HFD-associated dysfunction. Altogether, our study reveals the importance of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the adipose tissue-nephrocyte axis and its contribution to HFD-associated nephropathy. These findings open new avenues for intervention in treating diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease.

ABSTRACT Crops tolerant to protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicides were developed by expressing an herbicide insensitive PPO, a membrane-associated protein from Enterobacter cloacae. E. cloacae is commonly found in the environment, and PPO is present in thousands of species, including probiotic organisms with a history of safe use. Comparisons with current allergen and protein toxin databases revealed no sequence similarities between PPO and known allergens or toxins. To validate the use of Escherichia coli-produced PPO in safety studies, physicochemical and functional characterization demonstrated that the PPO produced by genetically modified (GM) soybean has comparable immunoreactivity and functional activity to that produced from E. coli, with neither being glycosylated. PPO was fully digested after exposure to pepsin and pancreatin for 2 and 5 minutes, respectively, and its activity is completely lost at temperatures of 55°C or higher. Mice dosed orally with PPO at a level of 5000 mg protein per kg body weight showed no adverse effects, as indicated in body weight gains, food consumption, and clinical observations. This comprehensive safety assessment indicates that PPO protein from GM crops is safe for food and feed consumption. Additionally, we present methods to demonstrate the functional equivalence of a membrane-associated protein from E. coli and plant, along with a novel process for formulating PPO in gram quantities at 76.3 mg/ml.

The rapid advancement of digital technology has fundamentally transformed civil legal interactions, making electronic documents such as instant messages, online transactions, and digital contracts primary forms of evidence in many civil disputes. However, their admissibility in judicial proceedings remains fraught with challenges concerning formal and material validity. This study aims to identify juridical and technical obstacles in digital evidence and to formulate an ideal model for civil procedural law that ensures reliable electronic proof. A normative-juridical approach with qualitative analysis was employed, combining doctrinal research through legislative review, jurisprudence, and scholarly literature with case studies of court decisions involving electronic evidence, particularly in divorce disputes. The findings reveal that inconsistent judicial treatment stems from the absence of specific procedural rules in Indonesia’s civil procedure framework still rooted in colonial-era HIR and RBg alongside limited digital infrastructure and low technological literacy among judicial actors. In response, the study proposes an integrated legal construction model featuring explicit provisions in the upcoming Civil Procedure Code, adoption of the functional equivalence principle, institutionalization of digital forensic experts in litigation, and procedural safeguards for vulnerable parties. The research concludes that only through holistic reform of the evidentiary paradigm can Indonesia’s civil justice system guarantee fairness, legal certainty, and relevance in the digital era.

Based on Eugene Nida’s functional equivalence theory and taking into account the temporal-spatial limitations and multimodal features inherent in film and television subtitling, this study methodically investigates the translation strategies of the English subtitles for “NeZha 2.” According to studies, the film effectively handles culturally diverse components and emotionally charged speech by employing approaches such as creative translation, cultural adaptation, and re-creation to achieve functional equivalency. This film stresses audience reception in the target language while keeping cultural authenticity over its predecessor, “Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Boy.” It optimizes translation expression through techniques like rhythmic restructuring, imagery conversion, and emotional resonance. Overseas audience feedback indicates that the subtitles effectively conveyed core emotions and spiritual essence, though barriers remained in understanding certain culturally loaded terms. Based on this, this paper proposes that Chinese film subtitle translation should establish a strategy system oriented toward cultural communication and centered on emotional resonance, seeking a balance between cultural fidelity and audience reception to enhance the global dissemination effectiveness of Chinese stories.

Henry’s short stories are celebrated for their humorous and vivid language, reflecting the local condition of late 19th-century America. His work has captivated readers worldwide since their publication. Maggie’s gift is one of his masterpieces and reflects his unique language style. At the same time, the Functional Equivalence Theory as a classical theory of translation also can be used to deal with the problems in the process of translating. Guided by Eugene Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory, this paper conducts a comparative analysis of two Chinese translations of different eras by Wang Yongnian and Cui Shuang in order to explore how the translators accurately convey the author’s thoughts and emotions. Therefore, the readers can understand the unique charm of the original literary style. According to the research, both of the translators’ work achieved the goal of the functional equivalence excellently in their unique ways, representing the reading aesthetics of readers in two different eras.

ABSTRACT This article analyses the application of restorative environmental justice in addressing watershed conflicts across four Southeast Asian civil law countries: Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Timor-Leste. Employing comparative legal analysis and the theory of functional equivalence, the study identifies common restorative functions within distinct legal and cultural contexts. The findings demonstrate the ways in which community participation, moral repair and ecological restoration complement formal environmental governance. The paper proposes a checklist for incorporating restorative principles into Indonesia’s legal framework, aligned with the emerging Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Environmental Rights Framework (AERF) to support inclusive, ethical and sustainable watershed management.

This paper presents the results of an empirical investigation into the typology of indirect causation in English and Macedonian. The study focuses on English causative analytic constructions formed with the verb get and non-finite verb forms. The aim of this research is to identify typological differences in how indirect causation is encoded in the two languages by comparing English constructions with their translational equivalents in Macedonian. Given that English, unlike Macedonian, possesses dedicated lexicogrammatical markers for encoding indirect causation – such as the grammaticalized verb get, we hypothesize that the Macedonian translational equivalents of causative get-constructions will vary depending on the construction type. To test this hypothesis, we extracted examples of these constructions from both fiction and documentary prose. The quantitative analysis of the data shows that the functional equivalents of infinitival contructions are predominantly biclausal structures, whereas the translations of present participial get-constructions tend to use monolexical verbs.

To evaluate the impact of postoperative swimming therapy on hind limb functional recovery in dogs following femoral head and neck excision (FHNE) using the symmetry index (SI) of peak vertical force (PVF) data from ground reaction force measurements and orthopedic evaluations. From February 18, 2021, through February 18, 2023, dogs undergoing FHNE were randomized to swimming and nonswimming therapy groups. Hind limb PVF and an orthopedic assessment score were recorded at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Time to functional recovery, defined as the period needed for a dog to regain use of the operated limb and determined by the SI of PVF, and lameness score of orthopedic assessment score were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimation and compared between groups using the log-rank test. The data from 27 dogs were analyzed: 12 in the swimming and 15 in the nonswimming groups. The swimming group demonstrated a faster median functional recovery time as determined by the SI of PVF at 3 months, compared to the nonswimming group median functional recovery time at 6 months postoperatively. Based on lameness scores during trotting, the operated limb achieved functional equivalence with the nonoperated limb by 3 months in the swimming group and by 5 months in the nonswimming group. Swimming therapy accelerates functional recovery and facilitates a faster return to normal hind limb function in dogs after FHNE. This study supports the use of swimming therapy following FHNE, potentially reducing recovery time and improving outcomes when used alongside other therapeutic techniques.

As a highly technology-intensive industry, the petroleum sector relies on effec-tive translation of Petroleum exploration-related texts not only to facilitate technical exchange but also to support the energy industry's transition toward green development. Such texts are characterized by professional terminology, objectivity, and conciseness. However, significant differences between Chinese and English linguistic patterns pose considerable challenges in translation. Guided by the theory of functional equivalence, this paper analyzes lexical and syntactic aspects of petroleum exploration texts and proposes translation tech-niques such as contextual analysis, sentence segmentation, and syntactic re-structuring. The study aims to provide reference for the translation of similar technical documents.

This research reconstructs the authority of notaries in the era of cyber notary by relating the function of proving authentic deeds to verification of tax compliance of the witnesses. Departing from a normative juridical method supported by limited empirical data, this study combines legislative, conceptual, and comparative approaches to harmonize various relevant regulations. The results of the study show that the probative equality of electronic documents requires strict technical prerequisites—including certified electronic signatures, authoritative time-stamping, tamper-evident trail audits—along with the functional equivalent of attendance, reading, and signing. The integration of NIK-NPWP and risk-based tax KYC protocols strengthens identity accuracy and completeness of fiscal obligations, but must be limited by the principles of privacy-by-design, purpose limitation, and role-based access control. This article proposes a draft of operational standards, deed clauses regarding the disclosure and retention of fiscal data, and an architecture of interoperability between notarial systems, trust services, population, and taxation. Policy implications include strengthening accountability, service efficiency, and legitimacy of evidence, as well as reinforcing the code of ethics and fulfilling the right to data protection in the digital legal ecosystem. Methodologically, the main contribution of this research lies in the integration of dogmatic analysis with technical specifications that can be audited as the basis for policy feasibility tests.

This research aims to deeply explore the translation strategies of artificial intelligence agreement texts from the perspective of functional equivalence, and conducts a detailed case analysis with ChatGPT as the research object. With the increasing global AI cooperation, such as OpenAI's API partnerships, the demand for AI agreement translation has increased sharply, but there are still many challenges in achieving accuracy and functional equivalence in the translation process. The research comprehensively uses the literature research method and case analysis method to deeply analyze the translation strategies of ChatGPT at the lexical, syntactic, and discourse levels. The study finds that ChatGPT performs well in the accurate translation of technical terms and other levels, but there is still much room for improvement in sentence structure adjustment and discourse coherence. Based on this, this research proposes improvement strategies such as algorithm optimization, corpus expansion, and human intervention, in order to provide solid theoretical and practical references for the development of AI agreement text translation, effectively improve translation quality, and promote exchanges and cooperation in the global AI field.

The article offers a comprehensive analysis of the use of trusts and the presence of trust relationships in international financial transactions. Owing to its doctrinal nature – namely, the split of ownership into legal title and beneficial title – the trust provides a legal and organisational framework for asset management, investor protection, and the efficient performance of contractual obligations. The article shows that employing a trust and appointing a trustee has several benefits for international financial transactions, in particular it can reduce agency and transaction costs, enable flexible structuring of security, expedite collateral enforcement in the event of default and protect assets from claims by third parties in case of bankruptcy. It emphasises the Anglo-American origins of the trust and the absence of a direct analogue in civil-law systems, which is one of the reasons for the predominance of English law as the governing law in international financial transactions. It is established that the trust is an integral element in structuring international financial transactions, including eurobond issuance, securitisation, secured financing, and securities lending. The article examines how trusts are used and how trust relationships arise in each of these transactions. It analyses the trust model used in eurobond issuance and compares it with the fiscal agency model. It also studies and summarises the role and powers of the trustee or the security trustee in securitisation, secured financing, and securities lending. In jurisdictions that do not recognise the trust, the article identifies functional equivalents of trust, and the peculiarities associated with their use. The article posits that the trust is indispensable for the effective structuring of international financial transactions by virtue of its legal nature and that it may not be fully replaced with other instruments available in civil-law systems.

ABSTRACT As the vital nexus bridging discovery and deployment, high-value patent transfer fundamentally enables research universities to transform innovations into industrial advancement. This study applies the technology–organisation–environment (TOE) framework and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze data from 35 Chinese ‘Double First-Class’ universities. Three distinct transfer paths are identified: technology–organisation synergy (including policy-supported and market-pull modes), technology driven, and comprehensively driven. These paths reflect various combinations of seven key antecedents, such as technological accumulation and market demand, through mechanisms of functional equivalence and synergistic complementarity. Furthermore, a non-unique compensation logic is studied, whereby the absence of core conditions such as technological potential can be offset by secondary factors, including market demand. Collectively, these findings provide diagnostic frameworks and actionable pathways to resolve academic patent slumber through tailored multi-driver configurations.

This paper examines the theoretical and practical dialogue between Western psychoanalysis and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), arguing for a complementary, culturally attuned psychology. It maps core psychoanalytic constructs; unconscious processes, repression, ego dynamics, and the therapeutic role of narrative, onto IKS concepts such as citta , samskara , ahamkara , and avidya . While psychoanalysis foregrounds intrapsychic conflict, developmental history, and ego strengthening to enhance adaptive functioning, IKS locates suffering in metaphysical misidentification and karmic conditioning and prescribes embodied, ethical, and contemplative practices for transformation. The paper surveys Vedanta, Samkhya, Yoga, Buddhism, and Ayurveda to highlight convergences shared recognition of non-obvious determinants of experience and divergences distinct soteriological goals and ontological assumptions. Adopting a hermeneutic methodology, the study emphasizes interpretive reciprocity and functional equivalence, cautioning against superficial appropriation or reductionism. Practical implications for clinical practice, cross-cultural research, and mental-health policy are outlined, including integrative therapeutic pathways that combine insight-oriented work with mindfulness, breath regulation, and embodied discipline. By challenging Eurocentric universalisms and honoring indigenous epistemologies, the paper advocates a pluralistic, ethically grounded psychology that integrates scientific rigor with contemplative wisdom to address the full complexity of human suffering and flourishing.

ABSTRACTTendon degeneration is common, and its risk increases with age both in humans and horses. Tendon regeneration and healing is limited due to inherent low cell density and vascularisation, and current treatments are insufficient as indicated by scar tissue formation and a high re‐injury rate. The tendon vasculature plays a crucial role in tendon homeostasis, regeneration and healing, making it a potential therapeutic target. However, the effect of ageing on the tendon microvasculature is poorly understood. Here, we provide the first comprehensive characterisation of the tendon microvasculature. We employed high‐resolution 3D imaging techniques, using micro‐computed tomography (μCT) and confocal microscopy, to investigate age‐related alterations in the vasculature within the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), a functional equivalent of the human Achilles tendon. μCT analysis revealed a well‐developed vascular network within the interfascicular matrix (IFM) and demonstrated significant age‐associated reductions in vascular volume (70%), vessel diameter (30%) and density (74%). 3D immunolabelling showed significant reductions in MYH11‐ (96%) and desmin‐positive (78%) volumes; however, there was a pronounced age‐associated increase in von Willebrand factor (VWF)‐positive volume (220%), which was accompanied by a significantly higher (249%) pericyte density. Taken together, these results indicate a loss of larger blood vessels in the IFM but an increase in small vessel formation, suggesting that neo‐angiogenesis is induced in aged tendon alongside a loss of vascular homeostasis. These insights enhance our understanding of tendon ageing and may contribute to developing new therapeutic approaches for improving tendon health and repair in older individuals.

Dentistry has indeed progressed systematically over the centuries, with ongoing innovation driving improvements in patient care, treatment outcomes, and overall oral health. The quest to replace damaged body parts with functional equivalents has been a focus in health sciences. Advances in chemistry, material science, nanotechnology, and bioengineering have led to the development of biomaterials. This review article provides insights into the evolution of bioceramics that are used in the biomedical field as well as in conservative dentistry and endodontics.

How many times have we decided to watch a movie simply because its title caught our attention? A film’s title does much more than name the story; it sets the mood, offers a glimpse into the plot or central concept, and often provides a memorable tagline. At the same time, it works as a marketing tool, much like the poster, trailer, or promotional campaign. Because films are often released at the intersection of different cultural moments and audiences, crafting the right title has become an art form in itself. This study explores how American movie titles are translated into Romanian and French, examining the linguistic, cultural, and promotional strategies that shape their adaptation. Drawing on Nida’s (1964, 1986) theory of formal and dynamic equivalence, as refined by He’s (2025) model of functional equivalence, the analysis applies four evaluative parameters: informational, expressive, aesthetic, and promotional. The selected corpus includes twelve American film titles, followed by their Romanian and French translation. Each translation is then examined at both the semantic and pragmatic levels to determine how meaning, emotion, and marketing appeal are negotiated across languages. The findings reveal clear differences between the two translation cultures. These tendencies depict each country’s cinematic identity: Romania’s emphasis on realism and communicative clarity versus France’s combination of marketable skills and international orientation.

Industry 4.0 is reshaping production, logistics, and services through cyber–physical systems, ubiquitous connectivity, data-driven automation, and platformized value chains. Financial Technology (FinTech) has evolved in parallel from a set of niche payment and lending innovations into an embedded financial substrate for these cyber–physical ecosystems, enabling programmable money, tokenized assets, machine-to-machine (M2M) commerce, and autonomous supply-chain finance. Yet this convergence foregrounds complex legal questions: how to ascribe control and possession to digital assets; how to ensure the legal equivalence of electronic trade documents; how to reconcile cross-border data, identity, and operational-resilience mandates; and how to operationalize contract law in code while preserving consumer, prudential, and market-integrity safeguards. This paper maps the co-evolution of FinTech architectures and digital commercial law in the context of Industry 4.0. It synthesizes recent regulatory instruments and standards (e.g., eIDAS 2.0, ISO 20022, MiCA, DORA, MLETR, and ETDA 2023), analyzes governance patterns of tokenization and smart legal contracts, and proposes a research agenda centered on (i) functional equivalence and reliable systems for electronic negotiability, (ii) interoperability across identity, messaging, and settlement layers, (iii) operational resilience for programmable finance, and (iv) transnational private law solutions to conflicts of laws in digital assets and electronic trade documentation. The study argues that lawful automation in Industry 4.0 depends not merely on novel code and platforms but on precise legal design and supervisory coordination that render digital transactions both enforceable and resilient